Frenchs Forest Archives - Frenchs Forest News

A World Cup Is Coming to Frenchs Forest, But You May Never Have Seen the Sport

Frenchs Forest will host an international World Cup over the October long weekend, when competitors from five countries gather at Lionel Watts Reserve for four days of pesäpallo, Finland’s distinctive bat-and-ball game.

The 12th Pesäpallo World Cup will run from 2 to 5 October 2026 at Lionel Watts Reserve on Blackbutts Road. The Finnish Society of Sydney is hosting the event, with men’s, women’s and mixed divisions. Organisers say the tournament is open to the public and spectators do not need to RSVP.

*Photo Credit: Belrose, Davidson, French’s Forest & Forestville Community Page ·*

Lionel Watts joins the World Cup circuit

Sydney becomes the third Australian host of the Pesäpallo World Cup. Melbourne staged the tournament in 2000 and the Gold Coast followed in 2012, according to the Finnish Pesäpallo Association’s complete World Cup chronology. Previous editions have also been held in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and India.

The World Cup began in Helsinki in 1992 and most recently returned to Hyvinkää, Finland, in 2023. Registration for the Sydney tournament was opened to national teams and individual players, with competition across men’s, women’s and mixed categories.

Competitors from five countries will take part at Lionel Watts. Precise daily playing times have not been included here because published event listings currently give differing overall hours, although the tournament dates of 2 to 5 October are consistent.

*Photo Credit: Pesäpallo World Cup 2026/Facebook*

A game built around a vertical pitch

Pesäpallo has obvious connections with baseball — a batter hits the ball, runners advance through bases and the fielding side tries to stop them scoring — but the similarities quickly give way to a different style of play.

Instead of pitching across the plate, the pitcher stands beside the batter and tosses the ball vertically. Runners move through bases arranged differently from a baseball diamond, while batting strategy places considerable emphasis on directing the ball into useful areas of the field rather than simply hitting for distance.

The sport was developed in Finland in the early 20th century and became closely tied to the country’s sporting culture. Its international reach later extended through Finnish communities overseas, including Australia.

Pesäpallo has been played in Australia since the 1950s. Finland’s official diplomatic service traces the tradition to Finnish migrants who arrived during the 1950s and early 1960s, including people who had played the game before emigrating. Pesäpallo became part of the Easter Games, later known as the Finnish Festival, where Finnish communities from around Australia gathered for sport and cultural events.

From community tradition to Sydney World Cup

Australia’s connection with the World Cup goes beyond hosting it. Finland Abroad records that the idea for an international pesäpallo World Cup emerged in Australia in 1990 through former Superpesis player Kaija Tanner and Finnish migrant Esko Kankaanpää. The inaugural tournament followed in Helsinki two years later.

More than three decades later, the competition returns to Australia at Lionel Watts, where Frenchs Forest joins Melbourne and the Gold Coast as the three Australian locations to have hosted the Pesäpallo World Cup.

Published 23-Sept-2026

24-Hour Security In Place At Former Frenchs Forest School

Photo Credit: The Forest High School- The Last Hurrah/Facebook

Round-the-clock security is operating at the former Forest High School campus in Frenchs Forest as the NSW Department of Education works with police over unauthorised entry at the closed school site.

Security Maintained At Frenchs Forest Site

Alarm systems and security guards are in place at the property 24 hours a day, while police have attended the former campus on at least one occasion in relation to teenagers trespassing.

People entering inclosed land without permission in NSW can face fines of up to $550. For school premises, the maximum fine can reach $1,100.

The security arrangements remain in place as footage from inside the closed campus continues to circulate online.

*Photo Credit: The Forest High School- The Last Hurrah/Facebook*

Videos Show Entry Into Closed Campus

One video posted in August 2026 shows people inside parts of the former school where furniture and equipment had not yet been removed.

The footage includes classrooms as well as the science laboratory, food technology kitchen and gymnasium. Desks, chairs and other equipment can be seen inside parts of the buildings. The August video attracted thousands of views and interactions.

Separate footage filmed in January shows three teenage boys inside the former campus. They are seen walking through near-empty classrooms and corridors and looking through storage cupboards.

One of the boys was also filmed in the gym using a small trampoline before making a basketball dunk.

unauthorised entry — *Photo Credit: The Forest High School- The Last Hurrah/Facebook*

Forest High School Left Site In December

The buildings had only recently stopped operating as a school when the January footage was recorded.

Students and staff left the Frenchs Forest campus for the final time in December 2025 after the site had housed The Forest High School since 1961.

Before leaving, members of the school community recalled years of activities associated with the campus, including sport, music, school performances and everyday classroom routines.

The Forest High School began the 2026 school year at a newly built campus at Allambie Heights, about 1km from the former location.

Facilities at the new school include a library, canteen, outdoor sports courts, landscaped recreation and learning areas and a multi-purpose sports and performance hall. The campus also provides more than 180 spaces for bicycles and scooters.

Old Campus Earmarked For New Use

The former school buildings are earmarked for demolition as part of plans for the Frenchs Forest Town Centre.

A current proposal for the land provides for up to 1,000 dwellings, including a minimum of 150 affordable homes. Shop-top apartment buildings of up to at least 12 storeys are also proposed for the site.

Published 9-September-2026

Frenchs Forest Hospital Car Park Generating $3.55m-a-year Goes on the Market

The car park serving Northern Beaches Hospital has been put on the market after generating about $3.55 million in revenue in the 2025 financial year.

Colliers is offering investors a 32-year leasehold interest in the 1,389-bay facility at 105 Frenchs Forest Road West, Frenchs Forest. The car park was purpose-built for the hospital in 2018, and the operating tenure runs until October 2058. Expressions of interest close on 24 September.

Hospital traffic underpins the investment pitch

Northern Beaches Hospital serves a catchment of more than 270,000 people and attracts about 730,000 visits a year, according to the sale campaign. More than 2,000 patients, staff and visitors use the hospital each day.

The car park operates 24 hours a day and includes ground-level parking, six upper levels, rooftop parking and two basement levels. A further 41 bays covered by separate arrangements are excluded from the sale.

Colliers is marketing the leasehold as a long-term infrastructure investment tied to hospital demand. Its $3.55 million figure represents annual revenue rather than profit, and the public Colliers listing does not provide a breakdown of operating expenses or net earnings.

Parking charges remain tied to hospital arrangements

The successful buyer would acquire the leasehold interest subject to existing arrangements governing access and parking charges. Current sale reporting says the car park must remain accessible to hospital patients, visitors and staff under a deed involving NSW Health.

Northern Sydney Local Health District states that parking rates at Northern Beaches Hospital are set by NSW Health. Motorists currently receive the first 30 minutes free, followed by charges of $8.70 for up to one hour, $12.80 for one to two hours and $17.30 for two to three hours. The maximum daily fee is $25.80.

Concession rates are available to eligible patients and carers, including people receiving long-term treatment, those attending more than twice a week, daily outpatient dressing patients, eligible concession-card holders and people experiencing financial hardship. Cardiac rehabilitation education and exercise class attendees are also listed as eligible. Seniors Card holders are not eligible under the published criteria.

Eligible users can obtain a $7.20 single-visit concession ticket for parking longer than three hours, a $14.40 three-day ticket or a $28.80 seven-day ticket. Multi-day tickets allow multiple entries and exits.

Frenchs Forest growth forms part of sale campaign

Colliers has also cited population growth, additional housing and increased hospital activity as potential drivers of future parking demand. The campaign points to a planned high-volume surgery hub expected to accommodate up to 5,000 additional procedures a year.

Current sale reporting says about 5,360 new homes and 2,300 additional jobs are proposed across the broader Frenchs Forest precinct over about 20 years. The Northern Beaches catchment is also forecast to approach 300,000 residents by 2046.

Matthew Meynell and Catherine Scott are handling the expressions-of-interest campaign for Colliers. No price guide has been released, and no buyer had been announced as of September 7.

Published 7-Sept-2026

Spring Cleaning In Frenchs Forest Starts Where The Clutter Ends

Photo Credit: Pexels

Spring cleaning in Frenchs Forest can extend beyond clothes, cupboards and household clutter this September, with residents able to clear unwanted paints, cleaners, oils and other chemicals stored around the home.

A free Household Chemical CleanOut at Warringah Aquatic Centre will give residents a weekend option for disposing of potentially hazardous products that should not be placed in household bins.

The drive-through collection will run at the aquatic centre car park, 1 Aquatic Drive, on Saturday, 5 September and Sunday, 6 September from 9:00am to 3:30pm each day.

Looking Beyond Cupboards And Clutter

Household chemicals can be stored in many parts of a property, from kitchens, bathrooms and laundries to garages, carports and sheds.

Balconies, patios, decks, pool areas and gardens can also contain products suitable for the Frenchs Forest CleanOut, widening the spring clear-out beyond the more familiar task of sorting household belongings.

Residents can bring solvents and household cleaners, floor care products, ammonia-based cleaners, pesticides, herbicides, poisons, pool chemicals and hobby chemicals.

Motor oils, fuels and fluids can also be accepted, along with cooking oils, fluorescent globes and tubes, acids and alkalis, smoke detectors, gas bottles, fire extinguishers and car and household batteries.

Paint and paint-related products, including strippers and varnishes, are also included.

Vapes can be dropped off as part of the Embedded Batteries Trial, which ends in September 2026.

Limits Apply At Frenchs Forest CleanOut

Household quantities are generally limited to 20 litres or 20 kilograms for each waste type.

Trade painters can dispose of up to 100 litres of paint at the Frenchs Forest event, provided the paint is carried in containers holding no more than 20 litres each.

Business-related and commercial quantities of other chemicals are not accepted through the Household Chemical CleanOut service.

The collection is being run by the NSW Environment Protection Authority and Northern Beaches Council.

Frenchs Forest Spring Cleaning — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

Getting Chemicals Ready For The Trip

Residents clearing chemicals from around the home are advised to keep products in their original containers wherever possible and make sure they are clearly labelled and well sealed.

Chemicals should never be mixed because dangerous reactions can occur. Where the contents of a container are not known, it can be labelled as an unknown chemical.

Liquids should be secured carefully before transport. Containers can be wrapped in newspaper, placed inside sturdy plastic bags and then carried in plastic buckets or trays to reduce the chance of leaks.

Chemicals should also be kept away from passengers, including by placing them in the boot of the vehicle.

Drive-Through Collection Over Two Days

Visitors to the CleanOut must remain inside their vehicles while contractors remove the unwanted items.

Traffic controllers will direct vehicles through the collection area, and some queues and minor delays may occur.

Containers collected by staff cannot be returned.

The Frenchs Forest CleanOut will operate from 9:00am to 3:30pm on both days at the Warringah Aquatic Centre car park.

Published 31-August-2026

Wakehurst Parkway Rock Wall Work to Begin Near Oxford Falls Road

Photo Credit: Transport for NSW

Construction on the Wakehurst Parkway upgrade will continue near Oxford Falls Road, with rock breaking, stabilisation, earthworks, drainage and utility work planned.

In September, work will continue between Trefoil Creek and Oxford Falls Road, where crews are preparing to widen the southbound side of the parkway and build a larger sandstone retaining wall near the intersection.

Oxford Falls hillside to be cut back for 230-metre wall

The road widening requires crews to cut into the existing hillside on the southbound side of Wakehurst Parkway, where a smaller rock wall is currently located.

The retaining wall will be extended and enlarged to about 230 metres in length and up to 4.4 metres in height. Transport for NSW says the finished wall will be designed to resemble the sandstone rock faces already found along Wakehurst Parkway.

Sections of the rock face needing additional support will be stabilised with rock bolts and shotcrete. Rock bolts involve steel bars being inserted into drilled holes to reinforce the rock, while shotcrete is concrete sprayed directly onto the rock surface at high pressure.

Any shotcrete used will be colour and texture-matched to the surrounding sandstone.

Excavated sandstone may also be crushed and processed for reuse as fill elsewhere within the project. The approach would reduce the amount of material sent to landfill while allowing excavated rock to be reused on site.

After-midnight rock breaking scheduled near Oxford Falls Road

September works will take place during standard construction hours and at night.

Standard hours are Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. Out-of-hours work may take place between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Rock breaking near Oxford Falls Road west will include some noisy work after midnight. Nearby residents will be contacted before higher-impact activities take place.

Temporary lane closures and reduced speed limits may be introduced while work is underway, with traffic controllers and signage directing motorists through changed conditions.

Work may generate noise, light and vibration, while workers and construction vehicles will continue moving through the site.

Measures planned to reduce disruption include non-tonal reversing alarms, watering exposed areas to manage dust and targeted lighting to minimise light spill. Oversized deliveries are expected to take place later at night when traffic volumes are lower.

Rare Angus’s Onion Orchid salvaged from work area

Environmental work near Oxford Falls Road has also involved the salvage of a threatened plant species found in only a small number of locations on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Microtis angusii, commonly known as Angus’s Onion Orchid, was identified near the construction area before work began in that section. The orchid has a single hollow, onion-like leaf and can produce up to 60 small green flowers.

Flora ecologists worked with the project team to recover the plants before construction moved into the affected area. The salvaged orchids were donated to the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.

The orchid salvage forms part of environmental management work associated with construction along the Wakehurst Parkway corridor.

September program follows construction that began in June

Construction on the Wakehurst Parkway improvement project began on 1 June after several years of planning and design. Early works included vegetation clearing, installation of safety barriers and temporary fencing, excavation and drainage activity along the southern section of the corridor.

The broader upgrade covers sections between Frenchs Forest and Narrabeen and includes intersection changes, additional lanes, flood mitigation works and safety improvements.

Published 27-Aug-2026

Blackbutts Road Among Northern Beaches Pothole Hotspots

Blackbutts Road at Frenchs Forest has been identified among local pothole hotspots as Northern Beaches Council examines the durability of its road repairs. More than 9,000 potholes were repaired across council-managed roads during the 12 months to June.

Council weighs longer-lasting pothole treatments

Cr Vincent De Luca is seeking a review of pothole repair materials and techniques used by other Australian councils and road authorities. His proposal asks staff to examine more durable options, including full-depth asphalt patching and polymer-modified asphalt.

Northern Beaches Council says temporary pothole repairs can cost between $30 and $200 per hole, depending on the location and work required. Interim repairs are used to keep damaged roads safe before longer-term treatment is undertaken, while recurring failures can lead to heavier patching or resurfacing.

Questions about the durability of temporary repairs have previously been raised with the council. In September 2025, De Luca asked about repairs failing after rainfall and whether more cost-effective long-term methods had been investigated.

*Photo Credit: Northern Beaches Council*

Wet weather adds pressure to damaged roads

Council has said prolonged rain can allow water to enter cracks in road surfaces, weakening pavement as traffic continues to pass over affected areas. During a wet period in 2025, 1,568 potholes were recorded between July and August, with 1,355 made safe.

Longer-term treatments used across the Northern Beaches include crack sealing, microsurfacing, heavy patching and road resurfacing. Additional funding from the council’s Special Variation to rates has supported road maintenance and renewal projects across the Northern Beaches, including works in several suburbs where potholes have been reported.

McIntosh Road moves to major pavement works

McIntosh Road between Dee Why and Narraweena has drawn particular attention after repeated pothole complaints. Council has said about $1.5 million will be spent on the worst-affected section, including pavement strengthening, kerb and gutter replacement and resurfacing.

A separate Australian Government project listing for McIntosh Road records an estimated project cost of $1.25 million and describes the pavement as affected by cracks, potholes and patches.

Broader renewal work is continuing across the area. Council reported $1.41 million in road resurfacing during April across Bayview, Beacon Hill, Dee Why, Narraweena and North Balgowlah.

ConnectSydney separately completed about 532 pothole repairs on contracted state roads in the Northern Beaches local government area from January 2025.

Residents can report council-road damage to Northern Beaches Council, while potholes on state roads including Warringah, Pittwater and Mona Vale roads are handled through the NSW Government.

Published 27-Aug-2026

New 2.7km Path Connects More Of Frenchs Forest And Davidson

Photo Credit: NSW Gov

A completed 2.7km Frenchs Forest shared path has added new walking and cycling connections through Frenchs Forest and Davidson, improving access to schools, shops, recreation areas and community facilities along the route.

The finished section runs through Prahran Avenue, Blackbutts Road and Kambora Avenue, bringing together parts of a wider active transport network planned between Beacon Hill and Davidson.

Construction started in September 2025 and was completed in June 2026, with the new route ranging from 2.5 to 3 metres wide. Raised priority path crossings and continuous footpaths at side streets have also been added along the network.

Frenchs Forest Shared Path Reaches Local Destinations

The completed route improves access to several familiar destinations across the area, including Glen Street Theatre and Library, Glenrose Village, Frenchs Forest Showground and Lionel Watts Reserve.

Connections to Mimosa Public School, Davidson High School and Wakehurst Public School have also been improved.

The wider project was developed around short local trips and recreation, with a particular focus on providing safer walking and cycling routes for families and children travelling to and from school.

Across the broader planned network, the route is intended to connect seven local schools as well as shopping centres, recreation facilities, public transport and other neighbourhood destinations.

Frenchs Forest shared path — *Photo Credit: NSW Gov*

Trees Added Along The New Network

Changes along the streets have extended beyond the shared path itself.

A Tree Management Plan formed part of the project, with some exotic trees removed and replaced by locally occurring native species. Additional planting increased the overall tree canopy around Frenchs Forest, Beacon Hill and Davidson.

The completed section also includes continuous shared pathways and new crossing arrangements intended to create more consistent walking and cycling connections along the route.

Community input had been sought before construction, beginning with consultation in September and October 2024. Feedback was later used in the detailed designs for Sections 1 to 3 and in the development of the Tree Management Plan.

Detailed designs went back on exhibition between June and July 2025 before work began several months later.

Part Of A Longer Beacon Hill To Davidson Route

The Frenchs Forest works sit within a broader 7.7km active transport network planned between Beacon Hill and Davidson.

The wider proposal includes 6km of new shared walking and cycling paths, upgrades to existing paths and 26 new or upgraded raised crossing facilities. Reduced speed limits were also proposed for selected quiet residential streets.

Earlier funding allowed the project to be delivered in stages, with the sections along Blackbutts Road, Kambora Avenue and Prahran Avenue among those prioritised.

The Prahran Avenue section was shortened to fit the available funding, while another planned section was cancelled following the closure of Kambora Primary School.

Next Connection Heads Towards Forest Way

The network is now set for a further extension towards Forest Way shopping centre and nearby bus stops used by express services to Chatswood and the Sydney CBD.

Northern Beaches Council has been awarded $1.2 million through the Get NSW Active program for that next section.

The extension would add another connection between the Frenchs Forest shared path and local shopping and public transport destinations beyond the sections completed in June.

Published 26-August-2026

Breastfeeding Class at Northern Beaches Hospital Gives Expecting Parents a Head Start

Photo Credit: Australian Breastfeeding Association

For many new parents, the prospect of breastfeeding can feel both exciting and daunting — and that’s exactly the gap a regular antenatal breastfeeding class at Northern Beaches Hospital is aiming to fill. The breastfeeding class at Northern Beaches Hospital runs on selected Tuesday evenings through to late November 2026, offering expectant parents in Frenchs Forest and the surrounding area a practical, supportive space to prepare for one of early parenthood’s biggest milestones.

Held on Level 4 of the hospital at 105 Frenchs Forest Road West, the sessions are led by experienced lactation consultants and cover the fundamentals — from getting a good latch to understanding how milk production works, and recognising when something might need attention. The format is deliberately interactive, with plenty of room for questions and group discussion, making it just as useful for first-time parents as it is for those who’ve been through it before and want to do things differently this time around.

At $50 per couple, the class is a one-off session rather than an ongoing commitment, which makes it easier to fit around busy schedules in the final weeks of pregnancy.

With the 25 August session already closed, the next available dates are 29 September, 27 October and 24 November 2026, with spots still open across all three. Anyone interested in attending can check availability and register through the Northern Beaches Hospital website.

Published 23-August-2026

Blinking Light Plaque To Restore A Familiar Frenchs Forest Marker

Photo Credit: Trevor Watson/Lost Manly Northern Beaches (LMNB)/Facebook

The Blinking Light plaque in Frenchs Forest is set to return later this year, restoring a marker for an intersection name that has remained familiar to generations of northern beaches residents.

The bronze plaque was stolen from its sandstone plinth at the corner of Warringah Road and Wakehurst Parkway in February 2026. Its disappearance prompted disappointment among residents, including people who still refer to the junction as the Blinking Light Intersection decades after the original beacon was removed.

Transport for NSW is now investigating a suitable replacement, which is expected to be installed later in the 2026 calendar year.

Blinking Light plaque stolen — *Photo Credit: Trevor Watson/Lost Manly Northern Beaches (LMNB)/Facebook*

A Frenchs Forest Name That Lasted

The Blinking Light name dates to October 1952, when an experimental warning beacon was suspended above the intersection.

At the time, Warringah Road and Wakehurst Parkway had been dirt tracks through bush, with the junction having been the scene of multiple high-speed collisions. The blinking signal was introduced to test whether a beacon could encourage motorists to slow as they approached potentially dangerous intersections and allow enough time to stop if necessary.

Blinking Light plaque — *Photo Credit: Trevor Watson/Lost Manly Northern Beaches (LMNB)/Facebook*

The light soon became a local landmark. Although traffic signals replaced it in 1966, the name remained part of local usage.

That connection was evident after the plaque was stolen. Residents recalled travelling through the area during the 1960s, while others said they had continued to call the junction the Blinking Light long after the beacon itself disappeared.

Changes To The Intersection

The intersection has undergone several upgrades since the original signal was removed.

Later works associated with increased traffic around the Northern Beaches Hospital substantially changed the junction. Warringah Road was widened to 12 lanes, including a four-lane slot for through traffic, while an overpass was built for Wakehurst Parkway.

Blinking Light intersection — *Photo Credit: Transport NSW*

During the upgrade period, Roads and Maritime considered formally recognising the Blinking Light name as a tribute to the area’s history. A community working group was established to consider how the intersection could be commemorated.

The current layout opened in 2020.

Blinking Light Plaque Marked The Earlier Junction

A commemorative bronze plaque was unveiled in 2021, recognising the blinking light that had once hung above the intersection.

Placed on a sandstone plinth on the north-eastern corner of the junction, the marker recorded that the beacon had been installed in 1952 to alert road users approaching the intersection and had been replaced by traffic signals in 1966.

The plaque remained there until its theft in February.

The loss prompted calls for the marker to be replaced, along with a request for measures to better secure its successor against another theft.

Transport for NSW has confirmed it is aware of the missing Blinking Light plaque and is investigating a suitable replacement. The new marker is expected to be installed later this year.

Published 31-July-2026

Frenchs Forest Sprinter Returns From Crutches To Commonwealth Games

Photo Credit: Luke van Ratingen/Instagram

Luke van Ratingen’s return to running began without starting blocks or a full lap. After slowly progressing from walking to jogging, bends and spikes, the Frenchs Forest athlete is now preparing to make his Commonwealth Games debut for Australia.

The 24-year-old has been selected for the mixed 4×400-metre relay at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, less than two years after a serious big-toe injury ended his attempt to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games.

Two surgeons considered the injury likely to prevent him from running competitively again. Van Ratingen spent about six months moving on and off crutches before beginning the eight-month rehabilitation program that eventually brought him back to the track.

National Success Before The Setback

Van Ratingen’s athletics journey began in Little Athletics, but his development accelerated after he joined coach Ben Liddy’s squad in 2020 at the age of 18.

His 400-metre personal best stood at 47.47 seconds in 2021. By the 2022–23 domestic season, he had lowered that mark by almost two seconds.

After finishing second to American sprinter Fred Kerley at the Sydney Track Classic, van Ratingen claimed the 2023 Australian 400-metre title in 45.88 seconds.

He left for Germany the following day to begin a year-long university exchange while completing a business and international studies degree through the University of Technology Sydney. His European season ended early after two hamstring injuries.

Luke van Ratingen — *Photo Credit: Australian Athletics*

Van Ratingen returned for the 2023–24 campaign and lowered his personal best to 45.57 seconds. He finished second at the Australian Championships before winning the 400 metres at the Oceania Championships in Suva.

Behind those results, however, was a recurring overuse stress fracture affecting the sesamoid area of his big toe.

The injury deteriorated after his final race in Germany in June 2024, when he was pursuing Olympic qualification. His Paris campaign was over, and the long-term medical assessment placed the rest of his running career in doubt.

Frenchs Forest Athlete Starts Again

With support from Liddy and physiotherapist Andrew Clark, van Ratingen followed a rehabilitation program that gradually exposed his injured foot to the demands of sprinting.

He progressed from leaving a protective boot and walking to jogging and completing short repetitions. Bends were introduced later, with running in spikes forming the final stage.

Although the toe did not fully heal, van Ratingen returned to competition at the NSW championships in March 2025.

His first 400-metre heat ended in 47.86 seconds. In the final the following day, he cut more than two seconds from that performance to win in 45.64 seconds.

The result changed the direction of a season in which he had been uncertain about continuing to the national championships. He eventually competed and finished third, again running 45.64 seconds.

A month later, van Ratingen joined Australia at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou. He ran the opening leg of the mixed 4×400-metre relay, producing a 45.10-second split as the team set an Australian record and won silver.

The performance helped qualify the relay for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where he competed later that year.

*Photo Credit: Australian Athletics/Facebook*

Records And A Place In Glasgow

Van Ratingen opened the 2026 domestic season with three consecutive personal bests.

He first ran 45.21 seconds, followed by 45.10 and 45.03. He then finished second at the Australian Championships and claimed bronze at the Oceania Championships in Darwin with a time of 45.04.

His season continued at the World Athletics Relays in Botswana, where he competed in both rounds of Australia’s men’s 4×400-metre campaign.

The team set an Oceania record of 2:57.30 in the opening round before improving to an Australian record of 2:55.20 in the final. Van Ratingen ran the opening leg in 44.86 seconds as Australia secured bronze.

Away from the track, he has balanced elite athletics with study and a career in finance. His education included business and international studies at the University of Technology Sydney and an exchange at the University of Cologne.

He has since reduced his working week to four days to allow more time for training, gym sessions and physiotherapy.

Glasgow will mark van Ratingen’s fifth appearance on an Australian national team and his first at the Commonwealth Games. He will compete in the mixed 4×400-metre relay during the Games, which run from 23 July to 2 August.

Published 20-July-2026