Coffs Harbour’s biggest stories of 2022: Miriam Rullis, Coffs Cup, The Planto’s biggest moments
Some were joyous, others heart-wrenching – all were powerful. Look back on the stories which framed 2022 on the Coffs Coast.
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It’s a uniquely human habit at year’s end to reflect on the past 12 months.
On the Coffs Coast, we have seen plenty of highs and of course tragedy – for only a deluded optimist would see any entire year as being sunny side-up.
Today, we look back at the moments which moved you – the standout stories and photos which most engaged (court-based reports were excluded from this list).
Rullis family’s touching farewell to ‘visionary’ matriarch
The Rullis family has helped countless other Coffs Harbour families in their time of grief.
Now they are grieving the loss of their matriarch Miriam who died on Friday, February 11, after battling a grade 4 glioblastoma brain tumour.
Her husband Victor took a shovel at the weekend and broke the ground on the first plot on their recently approved private cemetery at their property Miriamvale in Lowanna.
The couple’s four children each took turns digging the grave and Miriam was laid to rest in a coffin adorned with one of her favourite flowers – sunflowers.
“She designed the coffin herself,” Victor said.
MEGA GALLERY: All the action from the Coffs Cup
Sunny skies met fashionistas from across the state for Coffs Harbour’s annual Coffs Cup.
Thousands of attendees, from as far as Sydney and Melbourne, made the trip up as bets were placed.
Coffs Harbour residents were handed a half-day public holiday, allowing many to enjoy a few drinks in the sun.
Coffs Coast sports physiotherapist Tom Paff is originally from Tamworth and said it was a great “community day”.
“The sun’s shining and everyone looks lovely,” Mr Paff said.
‘Our hearts are breaking’: Grief for North Coast crash victim
Tears and tributes have flowed for the young man who died after a tragic – and for a time, undiscovered – crash near Coffs Harbour.
Jack Crittle, 26, from the Ocean Shores area in Northern NSW, was found dead after a single vehicle accident on the Pacific Mwy on Monday, November 28.
It’s believed the crash may have happened four days earlier – and was only discovered by a truck driver who was stalled in highway traffic due to an unrelated accident.
The popular DJ was apparently able to walk a short distance from the wreckage of the black Audi A4 – which wound up down an embankment near the intersection of the Pacific Mwy and Archville Station Rd off ramp – before succumbing to his injuries.
80+ FACES: Massive waves prompt surf boat carnival shift to river
Mountainous waves derailed Plan A for a major surf boat carnival but the back-up strategy was more than a winner for punters.
Competitive racing roared through the heart of Macksville township on the NSW Mid North Coast.
Some 280 rowers attended the two-day event – with crews from as far south as Umina and north to Maroochydore on the Queensland Sunshine Coast attending.
Hosted by the Macksville-Scotts Head Surf Life Saving Club, racing was originally set for open waters – but pounding 4m high waves ruled that out.
“It was graded as dangerous. Surf boat rowers are risk-takers but the risk was too high because you can get serious injuries and broken gear,” local boat captain Michael Coulter said.
Coffs Coast dodges rain bomb as system moves offshore
Coffs Coast residents and emergency service workers were anticipating a wild night – only for fear to be replaced by relief and hope as an intense rain system unexpectedly moved offshore.
SES Coffs Harbour deputy unit commander Ian Horncastle said the system – which was parked off Wooli for seven or eight hours on Monday, February 28 – was forecast to track south and dump as much as 300mm on an already saturated Coffs Harbour area.
As late as 7.30pm an alert was issued for Bellingen, only for the system to soon after start moving southeast.
‘Pure heart of gold’: Touching tribute to loving dad lost in tragedy
Loren Jones has been left devastated at the loss of her only brother Brent, 33, who was killed on the Waterfall Way in the early hours of Saturday, June 18.
“He had a pure heart of gold – a great sensitivity for the world around him,” Loren said.
They were born and raised in Sawtell to proud parents Rick and Roslyn Jones.
Brent was born on July 24, 1988 and Loren followed two years later and they both went to Bayldon Primary School, then Toormina High.
“We are very similar, did everything together. We had a really close bond.”
50+ photos: Magic moments from The Planto through the years
The Plantation Hotel was established by Edwin ‘Ted’ Russell and officially opened its doors in February 1955.
Here we take a trip down memory lane – trivia nights, masquerade balls, bands, football presentations even the original sketch for the iconic building – it’s all captured in our mega gallery.
Park Beach tragedy: teen lifesavers’ heroic efforts revealed
A number of teenage lifesavers were involved in the heroic effort to save a woman swept out to sea from Coffs Creek.
One boy even jumped into the wild surf in a bid to swim to the woman before she was taken out – only to be rescued himself after he too got into difficulty in the huge current.
Coffs Harbour Surf Lifesaving Club junior activities chair Dan Backhouse told of their bravery and said they were currently receiving counselling.
The group of young members included five who had just completed their surf rescue certificate (SRC) and three who had acquired their bronze medallion.
‘Like a zoo animal’: Inside Coffs Harbour’s ‘tent city’
Roxy Quinn’s life was never straight forward.
At 15, she was taking heroin and by the time she was 17, she had two children.
Ms Quinn had three children by the time she was 20, while dealing with an abusive relationship.
In 2015, she was brutally attacked and suffered 27 stab wounds.
“It was massive for me,” she said.
After suffering from serious drug addiction, she had to resort to living in a rundown part of Coffs Harbour known as Tent City.
GALLERY: St John Paul College Year 12 formal
The Year 12 St John Paul College (JPC) students were put through many challenges, battling Covid, fires and floods to get to where they are.
The JPC cohort of 2022 had to adapt to the challenges of online learning and several cancelled events – but came out in flying colours to celebrate their Year 12 formal.
Year 12 co-ordinator Mark Sultana said he’ll greatly miss the students who “were one of the best groups we’ve had”.
‘Amazed you were conscious’: Drunk as skunk driver slammed
A slurring, dishevelled Mid-North Coast council worker, who blew one of the highest blood alcohol readings a magistrate has ever seen, has been sentenced.
‘Kill yourself’: Youth worker appeals knife threat conviction
A Mid-North Coast youth worker who held a knife up to her wife and said “kill yourself” before ripping the shirt off her back when she tried to run, has launched an appeal in the district court.