Food pantry appeal in its final week

The second week of a food pantry appeal in Ettalong ends this week.

The appeal, for the last two weeks of April, is being run by Ettalong Diggers in support of the Ettalong Baptist Church's Ministry of Leftovers.

Donations are being sought of non-perishable items to benefit the homeless and disadvantaged in our local area.

A promotional area has been created in the Diggers' club foyer.

The appeal finishes on Monday, April 28.

A variety of donations are wanted including pasta, rice and noodles; flour, polenta and couscous; and tinned tomatoes and pasta sauces.

Othe supplies wanted include dried or canned beans, chickpeas and lentils; tinned soups, curries and vegetables; as well as baby goods, nappies and formula.

Also wanted are spreads such as jam and vegemite; long-life milk; tea, coffee, milo and sugar; stir fry sauces and soy sauce.

Long life coconut milk and coconut cream; breakfast cereal and muesli bars; and biscuits are also wanted.

Donations should be of undamaged, packaged, non-perishable items, with the label visible.

Food should be within its expiry date and it should be sealed.

SOURCE:

Social media, 13 Apr 2025

Ettalong Diggers

Marine Rescue jetski exercise emphasises safety

More than 25 people commandeered eight jetskis and a rescue vessel in an exercise on Lake Macquarie designed to improve the emergency response tactics of Marine Rescue volunteers.

The event, which involved Brisbane Water volunteers, was tagged as a Rescue Water Craft Operator Development Day.

Organisation of the day had taken several months for Central Coast co-ordinator Mr Regan Mitchell and Lake Macquarie co-ordinator Ms Jane Shirriff.

"The program was designed to enhance rescue water craft operators' skills, safety, and operational readiness through practical training and scenario-based exercises," said Mr Mitchell, a trainer at the Point Clare unit as well as at Terrigal and Lake Macquarie.

"The goal was to reinforce standardised rescue techniques and risk management while fostering inter-base teamwork and knowledge sharing," said Ms Shirriff.

Mr Mitchell said the event was also designed to lift the profile of the correct and responsible usage of jetskis in the two largest waterways in New South Wales with high public visibility underlining the importance to maintain safety and professionalism.

"Jetskis have been banned from some sections of Sydney Harbour and the local Marine Rescue units hope to encourage jet ski drivers to use their craft in a responsible fashion on the local waterways to avoid a similar local ban."

Those who attended from Marine Rescue Brisbane Water included Steve Maneschi, Shane Rigney, Brooke Heyward, Antony Price and Mitch Giles

SOURCE:

Media release, 7 Apr 2025

David Wicks, Marine Rescue Central Coast