TOORMINA High School held its annual swimming carnival recently, with Marlin being declared the champion house for 2009. The carnival was held at the Sawtell pool in perfect conditions. The senior students provided the entertainment with a ‘fashion parade’. The student attendance at the carnival was the highest in a number of years and the novelty events ensured every student had the opportunity to get wet and raise points for their house.

Budding scientists

COFFS Coast littlies experienced the wonders of science this week when the Questacon Science Play program visited the region. The hands-on science program is designed for children aged 2-5 years and aims to encourage young children to explore and learn about the world around them. The six sessions in Coffs Harbour were fully booked out, with more than 120 children participating in a range of activities that included a shadow play tent, homemade musical instruments and stick insects.

Billabong Pro Junior surfs into town

Competitors at the Billabong Pro Junior Surfing event at Diggers Beach included three Californian girls, Bo Stanley and Jenna Balester, both 19 years and Sara Taylor, 18 years. They plan to travel and compete in another surfing competition in Newcastle before returning home in March. Jenna Balester said, “you seem to have a lot more surfing comps for girls in Australia – there’s not too many comps in California.”