Central Coast Home & Lifestyle Magazine Autumn 2026

understanding and an increase in total body strength. We have a Facebook Page under Dragons Breast Central Coast (Coastbusters) where we can keep everyone up to date with happenings. We have a mix of ages within the group, and everyone is welcome!! We try to have a coffee after training and it’s good to relax and chat. You can come for a tryout for up to 5 times and then join our group, we do get a little wet as it’s a water sport so come with exercise /casual clothes, water type shoes and a bottle of water and be prepared to get great instruction and support for this energetic sport. CONTACT US TO ENQUIRE! Email: coastbustersda@outlook.com Mobile: 0434 472 745 Perhaps the most meaningful benefit is the sense of connection it brings. Planting natives is a way of honouring place — acknowledging the landscape’s history and contributing to its future. It’s gardening that feels grounded, sustainable, and quietly powerful. Whether you’re filling a courtyard or transforming a full backyard, native plants offer a beautiful, loweffort path to a healthier garden and a healthier environment. The Power of Native Plants P lanting native species in your garden is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to create a thriving, resilient outdoor space. Native plants — those naturally found in your region long before modern landscaping — are uniquely adapted to local soils, rainfall patterns, and climate. This means they settle in more easily, require less maintenance, and reward you with a garden that feels deeply connected to the land beneath your feet. One of the greatest benefits of choosing natives is their natural hardiness. Because they’ve evolved to suit local conditions, they generally need far less watering, fertilising, and fussing than exotic species. Once established, many natives can withstand drought, heat, and poor soils, making them ideal for gardeners who want beauty without constant upkeep. This resilience also means fewer chemicals, less water use, and a garden that works with nature rather than against it. Native gardens also play a vital role in supporting local wildlife. Birds, bees, butterflies, and small mammals rely on native plants for food, shelter, and nesting sites. When you plant species like grevilleas, banksias, teatrees, or lomandras, you’re creating a miniature ecosystem that invites life back into your yard. Pollinators, in particular, flourish in native gardens, helping to strengthen biodiversity in your neighbourhood and beyond. There’s also a unique aesthetic pleasure in gardening with natives. Their forms, textures, and colours reflect the natural beauty of the region — from the sculptural lines of grass trees to the soft movement of native grasses and the vibrant blooms of bottlebrushes. A native garden can be designed to feel wild and bushlike, or clean and contemporary, depending on your style.

Central Coast Magazines Home & Lifestyle

Publisher/Editor Alison Robinson - Central Coast Magazines Typesetting and design Hub Graphic Design - Nicole Chambers - nicole@hubgd.com.au

Contributors Central Coast Council

Geoff Garlinge - Certified Health Counsellor Dip.HC MRA (Medical Register of Australia) RSPCA Dragons Abroad Central Coast NSW Parks & Wildlife

Central Coast Home & Lifestyle Magazine ABN 77 022 324 758 To subscribe for FREE eMagazines each issue go to www.centralcoasthomeandlifestyle.com.au Advertising contact Alison Robinson alison@centralcoasthomeandlifestyle.com.au 0408 630 214

Conditions: Articles in the ’Central Coast Home & Lifestyle’ magazine express the opinions of the contributors and not necessarily those of the ‘Central Coast Home & Lifestyle’ magazine. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of any statement contained in the text or advertisements. All material appearing in the magazine is copyright. All rights reserved.

Recovering from breast cancer? Come join us for strength, fun and exercise!

D ragons Abreast Central Coast is the name of a group of women and men who have survived breast cancer, or supporters of the survivors, who participate in dragon boat paddling! In Peel St, Toukley we have a local Dragons Abreast group, a subgroup of Central Coast Dragon boat Club, and we train twice a week on Wednesday afternoons and Sunday mornings. Many of the girls train just once a week but still enjoy the fun of dragonboating. We can join in general regattas or just come to training to keep up our fitness level, everyone’s choice. We have a meeting every 2 months, so we’re not bogged down in meetings! After the shock, surgery and treatment of breast cancer, dragon boating offers fun, camaraderie, support and

4 Home & Lifestyle Magazine | Autumn 2026