www.thesentinelnews.com.au CLOSING DATE FOR NEWS & ADS IN OUR NEXT ISSUE IS 10TH JUNE 3 Community & Events 3 What’s On 4 Clarence Town Progress Association Update 5 Clarence Town Community Builders 6 From the Lion’s Den 7 Shelf Life: Book Recommendations 8 Clarence Town Tennis Club 10 Rural Fire Service 11 Clarence Town First Responders 12 Council Insights 14 Business & Services 14 Dungog District Chamber of Commerce 16 Phillica IT Tips 18 Parson’s Pen & Our Churches 20 Op Shop & Treasure Centre 22 Clarence Town School 24 Contact Directory In this Issue CLARENCE TOWN • GLEN OAK • GLEN MARTIN • GLEN WILLIAM • LIMEBURNERS CREEK • WALLAROBBA • BROOKFIELD MAY / JUNE 2026 CIRCULATION 1400 Rainfall Report* (mls) 2026 March 53.2 Feb 38.4 Jan 99. 6 2025 Dec 67.6 Nov 21.2 Oct 23.8 Sept 47 Aug 118.4 July 71 June 22.6 * Source: BOM, Clarence Town Rainfall Station 061010 A Local Love Letter Firstly, a massive shout-out to Vince Willemen of CLR Carpet Cleaning. After advertising in The Sentinel for over six years, Vince is hanging up the wand for a wellearned retirement. We also welcome to our newest advertisers, Homestead Hair and Dungog Shire Palliative Care Volunteers! The Sentinel truly takes a village to produce, and I’m constantly inspired by our contributors. Recently, a beautiful appreciation post by Kristy Nott on the CT Facebook page caught my eye, and it felt right to echo those sentiments. While Dungog remains the Shire’s primary commercial hub, that gap is closing as our new land releases attract more families to Clarence Town. Even though three-quarters of our residents spend their days trekking to Maitland, Newcastle, or Port Stephens, the soul of our community remains right here. Frankly, life Bridges, Budgets and Big Plans PAGE 12 Fundraising for Cancer - May 22 PAGE 6 Moving from Vision to Action! PAGE 5 Hardware Hikes & Digital ID PAGE 16 would be a lot harder without our local legends. Think of Dannii and the ladies at the Post Office, our pharmacy, the doctors, or the IGA team keeping us fed. Need a new outfit? Lana at the hardware has a clothing selection that might surprise you! Yasmin and the crew at Williams River Vet are top-tier, as is Sonia at Shine Hair. Then there’s the social fabric: “Coffee on Grey,” the Bakery’s legendary apple turnovers, and the RSL or pub for a proper catch-up. Between our community groups and volunteers, people are always working to make this town better. To every business owner and volunteer I didn’t name: you are seen, and you are deeply appreciated. We know that running a small business can be a brutal, uphill battle of scraping by, and the margin between thriving and surviving is often razor-thin. Anything you can do to support the people featured in these pages – even just a small purchase or a kind word makes a world of difference. Let’s keep our money where our heart is and support local. — Cathy Schneider x
WWW.THESENTINELNEWS.COM.AU
COMMUNITY & EVENTS PAGE 3 Welcome to the heart of Clarence Town! Discover local happenings, events and opportunities. To list your local event for free, email thesentinel2321@gmail.com THURSDAY 6pm: Clarence Town’s Community Development Action Plan formal launch and interactive workshop at the Bowling Club. THURSDAY 6.30pm: Clarence Town Progress Association meeting. NEW VENUE: CT Senior Citizens Centre. Disclaimer: Articles submitted to this newsletter may be edited for clarity, length, accuracy, and style at the discretion of the editor. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the views and opinions expressed in submitted articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the newsletter team or affiliated organisations. Publication does not imply endorsement. SATURDAY 8am-12pm: Clarence Town Markets, at Clarence Town Bowling Club. Hosted by the Lion’s. SUNDAY 10.30am: Boer War Service. Service to be held at the Boer War Memorial, Cnr. Grey & Queen Streets, Clarence Town. All Welcome. Hosted by the Clarence Town Anzac Committee. THURSDAY Dungog District Chamber of Commerce’s strategic planning event. See their website or FB site. THURSDAY 6.30pm: Clarence Town Progress Association meeting. NEW VENUE: CT Senior Citizens Centre. FRIDAY 6pm: Dungog Archies Opening Night & Winner Announcement. Hosted by the Dungog Arts Society. CWA Hall 199 Dowling Street, Dungog (Exhibition of our local faces painted/ drawn by locals. Runs 1631 May). FRIDAY 9.30-11.30am: Clarence Town Lions Club Biggest Morning Tea, at the Clarence Town School of Arts. Fundraising for the Cancer Council. See article & ad page 6. What’s On 07 21 15 MONDAY King’s Birthday Holiday PUBLIC HOLIDAY 08 22 04 30 31 SATURDAY 8am-12pm: Clarence Town Markets, at Clarence Town Bowling Club. Hosted by the Lion’s. 27 18 MAY JUNE
WWW.THESENTINELNEWS.COM.AU Clarence Town Progress Association Paws, Paths, and Pages: A Busy Start for Clarence Town It’s been a busy and productive start to the year for the Clarence Town Progress Association (CTPA), and we are pleased to share several updates regarding our latest local community projects. We’ve been working closely with Council to relocate the offleash dog area from the Village Green over to Wharf Reserve, just across the creek. It was widely agreed that the current location is simply incompatible with the children’s playground and the outdoor gym facilities. Council is currently sourcing new signage, which will be installed on-site very shortly. In more good news for pedestrians and walkers, Council has confirmed that the footpath “missing link” located between the Bowling Club and Senior Citizens on Prince Street is officially included in their 2026/7 works programme. Additionally, the CTPA is funding new footpaths around the Rotunda on the Village Green and a further extension into Wharf Reserve. This important work will commence shortly. The 1st Clarence Town Scouts will also receive funding from us for new flags. This ensures our local youth can present an upto-date, consistent, and modern image at community events, parades, and various Scouting activities. Finally, at our March meeting, Anne Higgins outlined the wonderful progress of Dungog Early Literacy and the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This initiative aims to give every child in the Shire a monthly book from birth until school. Since Clarence Town has the largest number of eligible children, we will be proudly supporting them for the next five years. To get involved, contact Anne Higgins on 0403 029 181. John Moyes, President CTPA
COMMUNITY & EVENTS PAGE 5 Clarence Town Community Builders Clarence Town’s Community Action Plan Launch It is an exciting time for our township as we prepare to move from vision to action. After much anticipation, Clarence Town’s Community Development Action Plan is officially ready for liftoff! We are thrilled to invite everyone to the formal launch and interactive workshop on Thursday 18th June, 6pm at the Bowling Club. This plan is much more than just a document; it is a true reflection of the aspirations of our community. It outlines a range of inspiring projects that we can now begin to bring to life together. Whether it is improving our shared spaces or strengthening local connections, the roadmap is set—but the next steps depend on you. A key focus of this evening will be identifying our immediate priority projects. These will be the first to utilise the vital seed funding provided by Rural Aid. To ensure success, we will be establishing dedicated working groups to commence project planning and implementation. This is where we rely on the engagement, participation, and collaboration of local individuals and organisations to take ownership of these initiatives. We are incredibly fortunate to welcome back Steph Walsh from Rural Aid, who facilitated our Community Opportunity Workshop in March last year. Steph will be present at the launch to guide and assist with a hands-on planning workshop, helping us turn ideas into reality. Please come along, lend your voice, and help us build a stronger, more vibrant Clarence Town. Your involvement is the key to making these projects a success! Contact us at ctowncommunitybuilders@hotmail.com A caring hand to help Our Service is FREE to all within the Dungog Shire with a Life Limiting Illness Includes: Transport, Equipment, Linen/Laundry Service, Respite Enquiries: Coordinator Ph/text 0457 846 806 Email: admin@dungogcarers.com.au Webpage: dungogcarers.com.au DRESSMAKER Specializing in Alterations DEBBIE 0448 999 625 Clarence Town PROMPT SERVICE debbiehammond24@dodo.com
WWW.THESENTINELNEWS.COM.AU Clarence Town Lions Club Report From the Lion’s Den The Clarence Town Lions Club continues to stay active in our community, working hard to foster local spirit. We’d love your support at our upcoming Biggest Morning Tea on Friday 22nd May, from 9:30am–11:30am. We encourage you to bring a friend and join us for a relaxed morning connecting with others while supporting a truly great cause. Please bring a plate of food to share, along with some gold coins for our raffles, tombola, and a small auction—there will be plenty of fun to be had by all! If you’d like to donate items, contribute in any way, or get involved with the event, please contact Trudy on 0409 645 469. Our monthly markets, held on the last Saturday of each month, continue to grow in popularity. They are a wonderful way to support local stallholders and small businesses within our region. We sincerely thank the community for your ongoing support and always welcome new stall holders to join our vibrant marketplace. We’re also excited to share that plans are well underway for the installation of a new water bubbler at C/T Lions Park. This facility will include a dog water station and a bottle refill point all in one unit. This project is a proud joint initiative between the Clarence Town Lions Club and Hunter Water, made possible thanks to a Love Water – Hunter Water Grant. It will be a fantastic addition for families, visitors, and our beautiful outdoor space. Stay tuned for further updates as this project progresses toward completion. As always, we welcome new members with open arms. If you have some spare time, unique skills, or simply a desire to give back to the community, we’d love to hear from you. Meetings are held at The Bowling Club, 2nd Tues monthly from 6pm. Contact: Trudy Balstad – 0409 645 469. Follow us on Facebook: @Clarence Town Lions Club
COMMUNITY & EVENTS PAGE 7 Book Recommendations Shelf Life Looking for your next page-turner? The Sentinel’s curated book recommendations make finding the perfect read a breeze – for adults and kids alike! “Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan – Reviewed by Anne Higgins Claire Keegan’s historical fiction novella is a great, quick read, adapted into a 2024 film starring Cillian Murphy. Winner of the Orwell Prize and shortlisted for the Booker, it is set in Ireland during the cruelly abusive Magdalene Laundries. The story follows Bill Furlong, a fuel merchant, who discovers a young girl locked in a convent outbuilding. He faces a choice: remain silent to protect his family from the Catholic Church or risk reprisals by helping those trapped in suffering. Exploring themes of moral courage, poverty, and coercion, this thoughtful, beautifully written book is indeed a tender tale of hope against a grim background. “You are light” written and illustrated by Aaron Becker – Reviewed By Anne Fisher “You are light” is an elegant celebration of light. This interactive board book features cut-outs and coloured plastic discs. Combining play and poetry, it appeals to all ages. Discs glow when raised to light. Readers learn how light warms us, makes rain, helps crops grow, and lights the moon. As pages turn, primary colours overlap to form secondary colours and a rainbow. The evocative poetry speaks to light’s power: “It feeds the leaves that shade the earth. It brings to life each blossom’s birth.” It is ideal for teaching colours and a child’s connection to the world. Brought to you by “Books & More,” 232 Dowling St, Dungog. Explore our $5 book collection and support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Contact Anne Higgins at 0403 029 181. 29 years experience OPENING HOURS Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm Open SOME Saturday mornings 9am - 11.30am We cater for all your pet, farm, equine medical and surgical needs We provide comprehensive mobile and farm services for small and large animals, including consultations, vaccinations, routine surgery, ultrasound, x-ray, dental and pathology. Additionally, we offer a wide selection of quality pet foods, accessories, natural health products, and various parasite control products. Call 4996 4441 28 Grey Street, Clarence Town| Dr Jasmin Klocker BVSc & Assoc. The Tooth Whisperer Horse Dentist Brad Whalan EqDT www.thetoothwhisperer.com.au CLARENCE TOWN 0417 245 244
WWW.THESENTINELNEWS.COM.AU Open the 2nd Sat of each month, 10am till lunch or by appointment 115 Prince St, Clarence Town 0491 346 491 CLARENCE TOWN & DISTRICT HISTORICAL MUSEUM Clarence Town Tennis Club One Point in it: Summer Wrap & Autumn Starts Our eight-week Summer social competition saw five teams of four playing every Tuesday and Thursday night in a great display of community spirit and fun. In a nail-biting finish, Team 4 – Kathryn, Graham, Andy, and Cherie – took out the top spot, winning the competition by just one point! We are now getting into the Autumn night competition and look forward to another successful social competition. Our kids Hotshot’s on Saturday mornings has returned following the school holidays. There continues to be good use of the courts with general social court hiring. Hopefully we have a continued run of good weather so more people can enjoy the courts with friends and family. Our AGM will be coming up soon so keep an eye out for this and we are always happy to see new interested people at our meetings. For general court hire please call or text Gai 0419 600 219 or Brad 0417 651 577. Going on Holidays? Can’t take your pet with you? Pet Accommodation Phone Sue on 4996 5528 Dogs and Cats - $15.00 per day Sorry—we are CLOSED GOOD FRIDAY and CHRISTMAS DAY Clarence Town Tennis Club Our AGM was held in June and the same members were returned to the committee positions. We have not run a night competition through Winter however we are preparing for the upcoming warmer weather and our Spring night competition. This will start when school term three commences and I am taking names now for anyone keen to have a game.. It is a social night competition so no sheep stations. Our Hot Shots has continued through winter with reduced numbers due to other sporting commitments and we look forward to seeing our young people back with us as those sports wind up for the year. Clarence To SPOTLIGHT ON CLA Term 3 has been an ex Clarence Town Public S have had the opportunit term reflect the developm and social to academ environmental education, We had multiple sporting with the Zone Athletics our school at this event. sportsmanship and partici sport pathway for our st congratulated for their s continued last week with PSSA Competition. Thi Clarence Town Public S with this great sportsman Netball Team participate were undefeated across sportsmanship was on dis Week 3 saw us start ou Education in NSW. Edu Week 3 of Term 3. The past, celebrating our achi confidence. Our school showcased our partners classrooms and great tea was followed by our Com was hosted by Dungog H performed at this event. dedicated staff in preparin and lifelong learners fro post-school pathways. This week is National S exciting week of activitie Science on display at Lun its robotics and lava lamp education continues eac recycling, nutrition, and t a poll to determine their f After a week of in scho each stage we now have Hunter Schools Public S we are represented by R Evie, in Stage 2 by Mati and Shae. This is a wo showcase their talents t amazing things are happe all areas of developmen continued success and weeks and years to come. Mr Tom Bannister, who our annual ANZAC servi had been attending our A coordinating the Dungog Presentation Day. He w students and will be sadly We send our condolen family and friends. See you on the court. Brad (0417 651 577), Gai (0419 600 219) Dannii Jeffery 0411 444 242 Begin your journey to a better life! Improve your Strength & Flexibility Nourish your Body, Mind & Spirit Thursdays 5pm in the Anglican Church Hall Please call Maggie 0467 325 034 YOGA YOGA Open Tuesdays from 9am and the last Saturday of every month 8am–12pm PLUS ENJOY MORNING TEA & AN AMAZING LUNCH Please join us to... MEET NEW PEOPLE GET CREATIVE WITH RELAXED CRAFTING PLAY CARDS SORT & SELL 2ND HAND CLOTHING CLARENCE TOWN SENIOR CITIZENS CENTRE 126 Prince St, Clarence Town For more details contact: Owen Giggins 0409 603 995
COMMUNITY & EVENTS PAGE 9 Clarence Town Bowling, Sport & Recreation Club Ph- (02) 49964222 Email - admin@clarrobowlo.com.au Socials - FB: Clarence Town Bowling Club IG- @clarencetownbowlingclub_ OPENING HOURS: Monday-Sunday - From 11am MONDAY- Bingo 11:30am start, $12 for 20 games & 2 jackpot sheets TUESDAY- Euchre 6:30pm Bingo! 6:30pm start, $12 for 20 games & 2 jackpot sheets WEDNESDAY- Happy Hour 4-6pm THURSDAY- Bingo 11:30am start, $12 for 20 games & 2 jackpot sheets Happy Hour - 4-6pm FRIDAY- Meat & Voucher Raffles, Members Draw & Live Music (tickets on sale at 6pm and drawn at 7pm) SATURDAY- Meat Raffles (tickets on sale at 2pm & drawn at 4pm) Happy Hour- 2-4pm LAST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH-Meat& Voucher Raffles + Members Draw (tickets on sale at 5pm and drawn at 6pm) Maria’s Kitchen Opening Hours: Lunch: 12:00-2:00 Wednesday- Sunday Dinner: 5:30-8:00 Tuesday- Sunday COURTESY BUS RUNS EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY FROM 5PM! DONATIONS APPRECIATED, CALL THE CLUB AND FOLLOW THE PROMPTS TO BOOK A RIDE! speedycycles.com.au Enjoy the Ride! 146 Dowling Street, Dungog Open: Thurs, Fri, Sat & Mon 10-4pm 0408 607 272 speedycyclesdungog Inspired By Design A Treasure Trove of - Curios - Fashion Homeware - Gifts - Haberdashery Chalk Paint - Pressed Tin Panels Open Thurs - Sat 10am-3pm or by arrangement inspiredbydesign.com.au inspiredbydesignaustralia inspiredbydesign.au 0429 694 506 146-150 Dowling Street, Dungog
WWW.THESENTINELNEWS.COM.AU New South Wales Rural Fire Service WORKING Smoke Alarms Save Lives NSW legislation states all residential buildings have at least one working smoke alarm per floor and one where people sleep. Manufacturers advise replacing smoke alarms every 10 years. Residents are being encouraged to replace their older smoke alarms with photoelectric smoke alarms - the type now widely recommended by Australian fire services. In New South Wales, smoke alarms hardwired into a home’s 240V mains power must comply with specific maintenance, testing, and replacement regulations to ensure they are functional and legal. • Monthly Testing: Press the test button on each alarm for at least five seconds to ensure the battery, electronics, and alarm sound are functional. • Cleaning (Every 3-6 Months): Vacuum dust and debris from the vents using a soft brush attachment to prevent false alarms and ensure sensors work correctly. • Annual Backup Battery Replacement: If the hardwired alarm uses a 9-volt backup battery, it must be replaced annually. Photoelectric smoke alarms Photoelectric smoke alarms ‘see’ the smoke. They detect visible particles of combustion, eg smoldering cigarette smoke. They respond to a wide range of fires, but they are particularly responsive to smoldering fires and the dense smoke given off by foam filled furnishings or overheated PVC wiring. Ionisation smoke alarms (what you probably have in your home now) Ionisation smoke alarms ‘feel’ the smoke. They detect invisible particles of combustion, eg from cooking toast. They activate more quickly for fast, flaming fires with little visible smoke. Alarms for the hearing-impaired There are specialised smoke alarms available for people who are Deaf or have a hearing impairment. These have a flashing strobe light and/or a vibrating pad that can be placed under the pillow which activate when the smoke alarm sounds and are designed to interconnect with conventional audible alarms in different locations within the home. If one of the alarms senses smoke, all alarms will sound, the strobe will flash and the vibrating pad will operate. We are out of the permit season of course but you will still need to abide by the same rules, you just don’t need the permit. You need to comply with the Dungog Council “Clean Air Policy”. You can find this on the council website. www.dungog.nsw.gov.au/council/council-documents/councilpolicies/control-open-burning Notify neighbours and the RFS 24 hours before lighting. THIS APPLIES ALL YEAR ROUND – EVEN OUT OF FIRE SEASON. Members of the public can now use their mobile phone or desktop computer to lodge their notifications about planned hazard reductions or burn offs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify. You can still lodge your notification during working hours at 4015 0000 if you are unable to go online. Your Bush Fire Survival Plan, Fire Danger Ratings, Bush Fire Alerts and Neighbourhood Safer Places can be found at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au PREPARE, ACT, SURVIVE. Stay safe until next time, Di Bennett OAM Lower Hunter Zone Community Engagement Team New South Wales Rural Fire Service
COMMUNITY & EVENTS PAGE 11 Clarence Town First Responders (CFR) Growing Our Local Lifeline The team continues to be active in responding to incidents, with an average of around 20 jobs being attended each month across our local area. With two new members having completed the first phase of their training and attending call-outs now as well, we have more members to cover the requests for assistance, ensuring help is available whenever it is needed. We also have another new member ready to start initial training in May, further strengthening our local response capabilities. We have received a lot of positive feedback from members of the community and we really appreciate all the sentiments expressed; it truly encourages our hardworking volunteers. The team is driven by their ability to provide this essential service to those in their time of need and the real reward comes from being able to provide this positive response for our neighbours. To ensure we are prepared, the team continues to train regularly to maintain our skills and knowledge to do what we do with the great support from Ambulance NSW. If anyone has an interest in joining our team and helping the community, please give me a call, Brad 0417 651 577. Domestic Services Your local in-home aged care provider for over 30 years Speak with our local team today: neighbourcare.org.au 4992 3348 Nursing& Allied Health Respite for Carers Social Groups Meals on Wheels LowCost Transport u
WWW.THESENTINELNEWS.COM.AU Dungog Councillors Report 2026-27 Operational Plan & Budget The Operational Plan & Budget is still on public exhibition for a another few weeks. This year the total collected from general property rates will increase by the 4% rate pegging limit ($454,000) to $11,799,445. Total capital works will amount to $25,546,000 including $11,000,000 for the new Clarence Town bridge, which with all associated road works is expected to be fully completed by December 2026. The new bridge will be used in traffic before then, but traffic lights will regulate traffic. The capital works program includes rehabilitation of Limeburners Creek Road from the bridge to the Glen Martin Road intersection. Rates Calculations The NSW Valuer-General’s Office has updated the valuation of every rateable property in Dungog Shire for a combined total of total $3,836,779,584. This is an increase of $102,494,991 or about 3% over the 2022 valuation, which was $3,734,350,593 . However, some individual property valuations will have increased more than others within the same rating category i.e. Farmland, Residential Clarence Town, and Residential (large lots residential) etc because property sales affect changes in land values. Larger increases occur in areas with more sales and this can lead to changes in rate distribution across the LGA. The valuations only consider the value of the land itself and do not include the value of a home or other structures. The new valuations will become effective in our rates notices from 1 July 2026. They only have an indirect affect because the general rates for each property are calculated using a combination of the Base Amount and the Ad Valorum component, which applies the valuation. This happens every year whereby the IPART approved rate pegging increase is added to the total of rates collected the previous year. For FY26-27 the total of the Base Amount will be $3,115,097 and Ad Valorem will be $8,684,348. The Base Amount is not affected by changes in land value, it is applied so that every property contributes towards the cost of providing common services regardless of its valuation. The Ad Valorum component considers property valuation within each rating category. The individual property valuations are all added together and divided into the total Ad Valorum component to produce a cents-in-the-dollar rate for that category. It ends up a very small fraction that is multiplied by the valuation of each individual property to determine the rates payable. So it becomes a matter of how your new value compares with others in the same rating category. The Ad Valorum rate is shown on the Council rates notice. Your local B Ward Councillors: James Campbell 0484 599 709 james.campbell@dungog.nsw.gov.au Steve low 4996 4022 steve.low49@gmail.com Photos by Andrew Graddon
COUNCIL INSIGHTS PAGE 13 Get Spruced Local painter servicing all Maitland, Clarence Town and Dungog areas * Interior and exterior painting * Water pressure cleaning * Solar panel cleaning Phone Greg - 0404 682 759 Web: www.getspruced.com.au 347 Glen Martin Road, Glen Martin At Thomsen Automotive, we’re committed to reliable, personalised vehicle service you can trust. BookNow Thomsen Automotive we’re committed to reli Mechanical Repairs Log Book Servicing Rego Inspections Air-Conditioning Mechanical Diagnostics Fully licenced & Insured MVRL: 61001 AU-64093 Phone Bryce 0407 250 355 Email: t_giuffre@bigpond.com
WWW.THESENTINELNEWS.COM.AU The Dungog District Chamber of Commerce A Growing Vision: Updates on Waste, Youth, and Infrastructure What a remarkable and challenging beginning to the 2026 year it has been for us all. We currently find ourselves navigating a political landscape that is so volatile it makes solid concrete look like shifting quicksand. Furthermore, we are witnessing an international landscape that has the genuine potential to take our local economy to places that we have simply not been or seen before. In these unpredictable times, the role of our local business collective and the strength of our Chamber become even more vital for our shared success. Since our AGM last year, the committee has been working incredibly hard to continue and enhance the work of the Chamber. Our ongoing efforts to support the region and provide value to our members have included several key highlights and successful initiatives: We held a highly successful networking dinner at Clarence Town where Tony McLeod from Williams River Steel spoke in detail about his significant $8M development of a new tavern and function centre in Grey Street. This is a massive win for our local infrastructure and a testament to the investment occurring in our region. In March, we held a second productive networking event at The Royal, Dungog. Our featured speakers were Balaji Seshadri, Project Officer for the Waste Management Department at Dungog Council, who provided an essential update on new waste management initiatives now available to businesses within the Shire. We also welcomed Kristen Kilpatrick from Dungog Early 9 SOLICITOR W J Enright & Prentice Solicitors & Conveyancers 124 Dowling Street, Dungog. 2420 Phone: 4992 1730 Email: mail@felixprentice.com.au To get in touch our email is CTmuseum@outlook.com , Our phone number is 0491 346 491 , or you can reach us through Facebook. Around The District Saturday the 29th of July saw perfect weather as the Port Stephen’s Choir began the day with their mix of music: the Mid- Winter Festival Museum Open Day had begun! Next was the fashion parade with four female and one male as models. As each model walked the concrete podium, a representative from the Australian Museum of Clothing in Maitland described the garments’ history as an item of fashion, and the materials used, and the original owners if known. While this continued, there was a chance to have valuables appraised by an expert. Once again, Cotton Sax entertained us with his eclectic mix of songs and instrumental tracks. The local scouts provided a BBQ and there was coffee or fresh ice cream available. Young James provided tours as required and young Jack took photos of the event. Two weeks later, the Museum hosted morning Tea and BBQ lunch for the Dungog Rattlin’ Bones and Engine Groans Club AGM and Ordinary Meeting. The museum also received a $100 donation from this Club. Yours truly wore two suits from the 1970’s and by an interesting coincidence, one of our lovely Senior Citizens had known the owners of these suits, John Morris OAM, Foundation member of the Maitland Repertory Theatre, and Mr N Pyle, from when she was growing up in Rutherford! A gentleman from Queensland sent some information about his German descendants who arrived at Clarence Town in 1855. They are the Heinz family and the Krohmann family. Their connections here seem tenuous. They remained only a short time here, although owning a block of land in Marshall Street till 1910, before finding much success at Hill End in goldmining and very successful at real estate in Woollahra in Sydney. Chris O’Neill (Secretary) Counc Brig O Joh Thank you to governm is to be ful to avoid a l restoration In 2021, gr was approv December Heritage N required to While the e Governmen with every $8.8 millio earliest. Draft Dun 2023-2043 Council’s D Action Pla month and Over the ne consequent 45%. But d the present ignored. Sadly, loca multitude o stream inst produced in considerati Firstly, the legislation important t 2030. Ther materials in are suppose every tonne with the CP Secondly, e considerati expensive strategy co of the land One option collection s (FOGO). T up to 50% FOGO serv collection c Waste char be revenue funds in or capacity lim selected, ou Your Loca Jessica Cla jessica.clar Steve low: Sam Benson 0467 051 502 Literacy. Kristen shared moving insights into the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, a wonderful initiative fostering a love of books and reading from birth. Dungog Early Literacy is keen to raise awareness and welcomes any support from local businesses and individuals. Additionally, we have auspiced the Dungog Shire Youth Council and met directly with the General Manager of Council to discuss a range of pressing issues affecting our members. We have officially commenced the planning phase for the Dungog Street Party – be sure to save the 27th Nov 2026. We have also progressed with updating our website, responded to the many draft planning documents prepared by Council, and further developed a Shire-wide Welcome Pack for new residents. We were saddened to hear the news that the Gloucester Chamber has now folded. This is a stark reminder that we must continue to meet the needs of our business community to remain strong and viable. Consequently, our Chamber will be holding a vital strategic planning event in May on the 21st, at what would normally be a networking dinner. Following a couple of recent resignations, our committee is currently down to 5 members. Under our Constitution, the committee can consist of up to 9 members, and ideally, about 7 members are required to share the workload effectively in running the Chamber. Our committee would like to broaden its membership with members from of Vacy, Paterson, and Gresford (Clarence Town is already heavily represented). Even if you don’t want to be formally on the committee, you could help organise events, such as the networking dinners for example. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. If you are interested, please contact Alan (president@ddcc. org.au). The broader the representation of members on our committee, the more we can achieve and the better we can deal with village-specific issues. Together, we can ensure our business community thrives. Stay tuned to DDCC’s social media channels for updates on these exciting events. Contact secretary@ddcc.org.au or visit www.ddcc.org.au Individual Tax Returns, Small Business Accounting & Self-Managed Super Funds Stuart Flinn - CPA & Tax Agent 0407 956 264 stuart@flinnaccounting.com.au
BUSINESS & SERVICES PAGE 15PAUL CLARKE & ASSOCIATES Official Rainfall 2023 Clarence Town Rainfall Station
WWW.THESENTINELNEWS.COM.AU Phillica IT Tips Hardware Hikes & Digital ID: What You Need to Know Memory and Hard Disk Shortage Continues Artificial Intelligence data centres are consuming a significant proportion of global memory and storage resources. Crucial has stated they will no longer make memory for consumers and only for AI Data Centres. Western Digital has allocated all of their hard disk to AI Data Centres until 2028. Samsung now makes more money making memory for AI Data Centres than it makes selling phones; hopefully, they continue to make phones and tablets for consumers. These are just a few examples, but the price of memory and storage is increasing, sometimes doubling every month. This is a significant problem for new computers and repairs, but it is now filtering down to televisions, electronic devices, mobile phones, and even cars. They all use memory and storage. Be aware this problem will not go away until the AI demand quietens down. Age Verification to be Included inside Operating System by 2027 Age verification laws are currently multiplying like a virus across the globe. Australia has age verification on social media plus porn and gambling sites in 2026. The UK Online Safety Act’s child safety duties went into force in July 2025. Brazil has gone even further. The Digital Statute of the Child and Adolescent comes into effect on March 17, 2026, and it explicitly names operating systems and app stores by definition. Singapore’s approach skips the OS side of things and goes straight for the app stores themselves. They require Apple, Google, Huawei, Microsoft, and Samsung to implement age verification by March 31, 2026. Half of all U.S. states have some form of age verification law around. Nine of those were passed in 2025 alone, covering everything from adult content sites to social media platforms and app stores. California’s Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043) is all the rage right now, which targets not only websites and apps but also operating systems. Come January 2027, every OS provider must collect a user’s age at account setup and provide that data to app developers via a real-time API. Predictably, the Linux community has not taken this quietly. While there is a bunch of misinformation strewn about, they have 3 options: include age verification in all versions, restrict its use in regions that require age verification, or face fines for every operating system currently in use. Looking for Expert IT Services? Phillica specializes in repairs, virus removal, networking, and troubleshooting Visit: 410 Tarean Road, Karuah or call Phill: 4987 0188. servicing dungog shire, maitland port stephens and newcastle SHOP SIGNAGE – OFFICE SIGNS – LIGHTBOXES – 3D LETTERING – WINDOW GRAPHICS –PRIVACY FROSTING – AWNING SIGNS – NEON & ILLUMINATED SIGNS – HOARDING SIGNS – DIRECTORY & WAYFINDING – BRAILLE SIGNS – CARPARK SIGNS – RECEPTION Contact Justin on 0431 000 330 justin@schweaverandson.com.au From shopfronts to factories, we design and install eye-catching signs that make a lasting impression. Attract customers with signage that works 24/7. Sam Benson 0467 051 502
BUSINESS & SERVICES PAGE 17 Call James: 0402 260 166 Email: info@builtwithintegrity.com.au License No: 304102c Services: Renovations Bathroom Kitchen Laundry Extensions New Builds Outdoor Living Carpentry builtwithintegrity_ All areas of carpentry and construction ~Decks & Pergolas ~Bathrooms ~Kitchens ~Renovations ~Residential fencing CONSTRUCTIONS RRC 0448 095 767 Call Jack for a quote today 17
WWW.THESENTINELNEWS.COM.AU From the Parson’s Pen The Other Visitor An old man lay very ill, and the Rector of the Parish called to see him. As the Rector sat down on a chair near the bedside, he noticed on the other side of the bed, another chair placed at such an angle to suggest that a visitor had just left it. “I see that I am not your first visitor”, said the Rector. The old man looked up in surprise, and the Rector pointed to the chair. “Ah”, said the old man, “I’ll tell you about that chair. When I first became ill, I found it difficult to say my prayers. I always seemed to fall asleep. Then I read somewhere about someone who placed a chair opposite him and he imagined that Jesus was sitting in it, and would talk to Him as he would talk to a friend. I have been doing that myself and I find it is a great help. That is why you see the chair placed like that”. A week later, the old man’s daughter knocked at the Rectory door. When she saw the Rector she burst into tears. “Father died last night”, she sobbed. He died quite suddenly. I saw that he was sleeping peacefully, so I took the chance to lie down for an hour. When I came back, he had gone. He hadn’t moved, except his hand was out on the empty chair beside his bed. Do you understand?” “Yes, I understand” said the Rector. The old man, by an imagination which had become faith, had accepted the gift of friendship, and made the Master real. The reality of His Friendship is reached, not through argument, but through experience. From “Spotlight” January 1950. St. Patrick’s Catholic Church 41 Rifle St, Clarence Town Pastor: Rev Andrew Doohan Service Times: Every Sunday 8am Greetings and blessings from all at St. Patrick’s. The joy of the Easter season is still with us and we ask that those blessings continue and help all that are struggling in this difficult time in our world. The need is great, but we trust in our God and He will sustain us. It was wonderful to see our little church full on Easter Sunday. Our Good Friday Stations of the Cross were very moving and ‘thank you’ to all who help these services come to fruition. Once again, we ask for the gift of rain. Everything is very dry. There will be morning tea after Mass on May 3rd. Open invitation to Mass held every Sunday at 8am. All welcome. God bless all. Marilyn Amos Clarence Town Presbyterian Church 29 Marshall Street, Clarence Town (Opposite the School). Pastor: Rev Allan D. Welch Service Times: 10am Gathered Worship every Sunday, with morning tea provided. The new church is quickly taking shape. Floor, walls, concrete paths, plumbing, rafters and gutters all done! Next is the electrical & AV system followed by cladding and covered alfresco deck and old church renos. Thanking God for his amazing provision and we continue to pray for the ministries to follow upon completion! Watch this space for the official opening of the new church building. Sunday services, Mainly Music (every Wed), SRE (Scripture) at Clarence Town Public School (every Wed) Dungog Public School (every 2nd Wed), Craft & Chat (1st Sat of Month 10am2pm) continue as usual during construction. Growth Groups (Bible study) are in recess and will recommence Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th May – where we’ll be taking a close look at 2 Corinthians ‘The Gospel in all of life’. From the pulpit we are mid-way through our series on the letter to the Hebrew Christians, where we hear why Christ is the anchor for our souls. Next celebration of the Lord’s Supper is on 31st May followed by fellowship lunch. All welcome! “And what does the LORD require of you? To do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 In Christ, Rev Allan D. Welch 0402 387 690
OUR CHURCHES PAGE 19 22 PROMPT SERVICE 4938 5441 Email: t_giuffre@bigpond QUALITY SERVICES Driveways Dams Arenas House Sites Landscape Supplies D6 Dozer Posi 8 & 14 Ton Excavators Hammer Tipper Hire wisemansexcavation@gmail.com debbiehammond24@dodo.com EARTHWORKS & EXCAVATIONS SPECIALIST Earthworks Jobs completed by our Professional Operators Your job not listed? Give us a call to discuss your project. Specialising in: • Driveways and Driveway Maintenance • Tank and Shed Pads • Post Holes and Pier Holes • Trenching & Drainage work • Site Leveling & Site Cleans • Grass removal & Turf Preparation • Rubbish Removal • Earthworks, Excavation jobs & Landscape Supplies We get your job done with our 1.8, 2.5, 2.7 or 6 ton Excavators, Skid Steer Loader with 4 in 1 Bucket or Tynes, Roller/ Compactor and our 6 wheeler Tipper or Smaller Tipper Trucks. Call Andrew 0417 475 844 flanneryearthmoving.com.au FLANQUIP SERVICES PTY LTD. With years of experience in the industry, we provide reliable, efficient, and professional service – wherever you need it. We specialise in: On-Site Repairs & Maintenance – No need to tow your own equipment, we come to you! Caterpillar Equipment Specialists - Expert diagnostics and repairs for all CAT machinery. Air Conditioning Repairs - Stay cool and comfortable while you work. Routine maintenance to keep your machine reliable. Licensed and insured.
WWW.THESENTINELNEWS.COM.AU Christ Church, Dungog Dowling Street, Dungog Service Times: Every Friday 10.30am, Sunday 8.30am Sunday night service: 4th Sunday of every month at 5pm The Parish of Dungog are excited that we have our new priest the Rev Amanda Brockwell with us. We had a wonderful commissioning service with lots of parishioners and visitors in attendance. We had a lovely supper and fellowship afterward. Rev Amanda had to then get into the Easter Services once she arrived. They were all lovely and we now can relax a little. We hope Rev Amanda enjoys her time with us all. The Op Shop at Dungog continues to keep a lot of us busy. We thank all those who work at it and donate us some wonderful goods so that we can sell to all, or come for a look and purchase. It is held each Friday 8 am to 2 pm and the first Saturday of each month when the Markets are on. The markets are going well with some new stall holders and many of the existing ones coming still. We have some very hard working volunteers who man the BBQ each Saturday the Markets are on. Thanks to all. Cuppa ‘n Chat continues each Friday in the hall at 51 Dowling St, all welcome for a cuppa and chat with others. We have our Friday service at 10.30 am and our Sunday service at 8.30 am each week. Now that we have Rev Amanda here we will have our 5 pm Sunday service on the Fourth Sunday. St Peter’s service is the First Sunday at 5 pm. Blessings to all. Margaret Flannery St. John’s Anglican Church 36 Grey St, Clarence Town Pastor: Rev Beatrice Pate Service Times: Every Sunday, Holy Communion at 10.30am, followed by morning tea. We had a wonderful Harvest Festival at St. John’s raising $1,051 to help support our Mission Projects overseas in Myanmar to provide clean water for villages, and locally, the Nungalinya College in the Northern Territory which is a College where indigenous people are trained for ministry. Thank you so much to all who donated goods for sale, and for those who were so generous in spending. Thanks also to our auctioneer, Alan and his team of helpers. We have welcomed the Reverend Amanda Brockwell as our parish Priest at a Commissioning Service in Dungog with all the pomp and ceremony of those occasions. After a very busy time, she now deserves a well-earned rest. Our Easter services were well attended with people coming together to remember and give thanks for the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us on Good Friday, and of course, the wonderful resurrection on Easter Morning where we celebrate our risen, living Lord. The central panel of our lovely stained glass window has now been restored and re-installed. Our grateful thanks to Lee Howes and her son Zac for an amazing job done. We had a lovely rededication service at our Harvest Festival and there were some members of the Robards family in attendance. The window is in memory of Stephen Thwaites and Mary Ann Robards. Lovely to have it back in place. Our Green Superintendent (lawn moving man) has had to retire due to health issues and we thank him for his care of our lawns at St. John’s. We now welcome Alwyn who is doing a wonderful job in keeping the lawns neat and tidy and the looking loved. Thank you Alwyn. Our Holy Communion services are at 10.30am each Sunday morning, and you would be most welcome. Sue Flannery Clarence Town Op Shop & Treasure Centre Fashion, Finds and a Heartfelt Thank You! Our lovely Autumn/Winter fashions are now available with a ‘fill-a-bag’ for only $15. Our Treasure Centre too, has a great range of stock, from furniture down to bric-a-brac. Do come in and look around and enjoy a cuppa and a chat as well. I wish to personally thank all those who sent in congratulations to me for my Australia Day Award. It was such a surprise to me. I am only one of many who serve here. It is a team effort and I want to thank all my volunteers, both past and present for your wonderful dedication. We couldn’t do it all without you. Thank you everyone, so much. Blessings to all Gillian Finch 4994 9168 / 0477 326 142 St. John’s Anglican Church, Cnr of Grey & Queen Sts Robyn Keller Religious Marriage Celebrant 02 4996 4061 0400 033 873 robynak@aapt.net.au It is your wedding
22 Grey Street, Clarence Town Ph: 4996 4555 warmup… Gas bottle deliveries, firewood, kindling, fire tools, fire pits, axes & splitters OUR CHURCHES PAGE 21
WWW.THESENTINELNEWS.COM.AU Clarence Town Public School Bees, Badges and Bunny Ears: Term 1 Wrap-Up CTPS sports report Our swimming carnival and cross-country event were held in Term 1, with excellent student participation, led by our sports house captains. Congratulations to all the students who represented Clarence Town Public School at the zone events. A special shout-out to Evie and Lewis, who qualified for the Hunter Regional Cross Country to be held next term. Cultural Day Our Aboriginal students had a fantastic day at Dungog Public School for a combined Dungog and District schools Cultural Day. Students enjoyed engaging in traditional games, researching our own Worimi Country, creating clay art using meaningful symbols, and learning the Gathang language. It was a wonderful and meaningful day of connection, culture, and learning. Thank you to Dungog Public School for hosting such a special event. Around the school grounds We are delighted to see Marshall Street open to traffic again. The work has provided additional parking spaces and a dedicated pedestrian crossing. Thank you to everyone for their patience and commitment to safety during the construction. We also extend our gratitude to the council workers, who were wonderful to work with. Beehive visit This term, our Stage 3 students were fortunate to visit our school beehive, located at The Dirty Gardener Nursery. Students suited up and observed the hive in action, spotting baby bees, exploring how honey is made, and even helping to retrieve honey for sale. It was a hands-on learning experience that brought science to life in an exciting way. To top it off, students also enjoyed feeding the nursery animals, making it a truly memorable day. Our Stage 3 students and Garden Club members also hosted a very successful honey and succulent sale in the last week of term. Our prize-winning honey is absolutely delicious! Please feel free to contact the school office if you would like to purchase a jar or two. Easter hat parade Students, staff, and families had a fantastic time celebrating the end of term with our annual Easter Hat Parade. There was an amazing array of creative, fun, crazy, and exotic hats on display. Families donated a generous amount of Easterthemed items to our P&C, who packaged them into packs for a huge Easter raffle. What a great way to end a busy term! 2026 P&C Executive Congratulations to the following members who were elected to executive positions at the CTPS P&C Annual General Meeting: • President: Jess Allen-Atkins • Vice Presidents: Jacinta Allen and Vashti Phillips • Secretary: Sacha Anderson • Treasurer: Sharon Dick • Uniform Coordinator: Gabbie Brown • Canteen Convenor: Sarah Beynon • Sports Coordinator: Lana Batey I look forward to working with the team again this year. I also extend my deepest gratitude to outgoing president Sarah Beynon for her dedication to the students and families of Clarence Town Public School over the last three years. Kim Smith, Principal clarenceto-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au / (02) 4996 4156 Beehive Visit Honey and Succulent Sale Easter Hat Parade
OUR SCHOOLS PAGE 23 94 John Street, Singleton NSW 2330 upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6543 1065 Authorised by Dave Layzell MP, 94 John Street, Singleton NSW 2330 Funded using Parliamentary entitlements. HOW I CAN HELP YOU Gloucester Dungog Singleton Muswellbrook Aberdeen Scone Broke Branxton Luskintyre Lorn Bolwarra Maitland Vale As your State MP I can make enquiries and representations on your behalf for matters involving NSW Government departments and agencies. Upper Hunter Electorate Office Dave Layzell MP MEMBER FOR UPPER HUNTER CTPS Cross Country
The Sentinel is proudly brought to you by: CLOSING DATE FOR NEWS & ADS IN OUR NEXT ISSUE IS 10TH JUNE EMERGENCY (life threatening) 000 POLICE ASSISTANCE LINE 131 444 CRIME STOPPERS 1800 333 000 Contact Directory John Moyes 0432 019 017 clarencetownprogress@gmail.com Advertising includes insertion in both the print and online versions of The Sentinel, for the 2 month duration of the edition. Annual Subscription includes Ad typesetting (if required). Please supply good quality logo, photos and text. Otherwise supply your own artwork as a high-res PDF or JPG. * Pricing is per edition, including gst. To book please email The Sentinel News team at thesentinel2321@gmail.com 20% ANNUAL DISCOUNT Book for a full year and enjoy a 20% discount across 6 editions. Half Page $200 180mm w x 127mm h Standard $50 88mm w x 62mm h 180mm w x 272mm h Full Page $400 Quarter Page $100 180 w x 62 h OR 88 w x 128 h ADVERTISING THE PAGE 24 Church Contacts Anglican: Pastoral Ministry 0491 007 193 Dungog Baptist 4992 2122 Dungog Uniting: Joy Shelton 4992 1508 Presbyterian: Allan Welch 4025 5638 Roman Catholic: 4992 1477 Medical/Health Contacts Clarence Town Medical Centre 4996 4003 Prince Street Surgery 4009 5991 Clarence Town Pharmacy 4996 3300 Health Services 4931 2003 Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 Lifeline 13 11 14 Samaritans 1300 656 336 Destiny Haven Women’s Shelter 4996 5558 AL-ANON 4969 3889 *To list your community service email: thesentinel2321@gmail.com Animal Welfare Contacts WIRES Emergency Rescue 1300 094 737 Wildlife Rescue 0418 628 483 Williams River Vet Clinic 4996 4441 WINC 1300 946 295 Snake Catchers Bill from Largs 0408 301 544 Dylan from Medowie 0466 694 540 Ryan from Medowie 0431 100 177 Community Contacts Country Women’s Assoc: Helene Leane 0403 733 776 Clarence Town Scouts: Robyn Keller 4996 4061 Clarence Town Lions Club: Trudy Balstad 0409 645 469 Dungog Shire Palliative Care Volunteers 0457 846 806 Fire Permits : Scan the QR code top right to apply online Neighbourcare Bus 4992 3348 School of Arts Hall: Robyn Barco 0412 673 386
thesentinelnews.com.auRkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1