Port Macquarie, Author at Port Macquarie News Of The Area

The first astronomers: Australia’s Indigenous stargazers

LONG before observatories dotted the land and satellites blinked overhead, the First Peoples of Australia were reading the stars. For over 65,000 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have looked to the sky – not for abstraction, but for connection, direction, and survival. Theirs is the oldest continuous astronomical tradition on Earth. To these […]

Port Mac Goss: Mark Stone

The Stone family. Mark Stone. THIS week’s edition of Port Mac Goss features Mark Stone, who has owned and operated Billabong Zoo with his family since 2003. Mark, what is it like running a zoo with your family? My wife Danena and I are owners and directors of the business. Brooke and Blake, my kids, […]

Event

Celebrating 170 years since the birth of Port Macquarie’s ‘Rudyard Kipling of the South Pacific’

Louis Becke (1855-1913). Photo: from the book ‘Louis Becke’ by Professor Grove Day (decd). Dr Chrystopher J Spicer in Port Macquarie with David Bawden ahead of the 170th birthday celebrations. Becke’s family cottage at the corner of William and Owen streets was known as Becke’s Corner and is now the Luxor Apartments. THE descendants of […]

Community

Heartbeat of the Hastings: Elsa Barbosa

BORN and raised in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, Elsa Barbosa arrived on Australian shores in 1983 aged just 17. “I cried all the way on the plane,” she said. “I was leaving my friends behind and it was so hard.” Despite that tough start in Australia, Elsa always had a strong desire to help […]

Regional

Flood recovery centres encourage locals to ask for help

FLOOD Recovery Centres on the Mid North Coast have assisted more than 9500 people in the past few weeks. Various local and state organisations are on-hand to provide assistance with ID documentation, accommodation, legal and financial support, insurance and mental health support. Centres have operated this past week at the Indoor Basketball Stadium on Hibbard […]

Fishing

Casting before the clouds: Mid North Coast anglers reel in catches ahead of wet weather forecast

WHILE this past week offered a delightful stretch of sunshine, allowing many to enjoy the outdoors, it appears the coming week might bring wetter conditions. So, it was certainly a good time to get out and about while the weather was fine. The Macleay River continues to be a prime location for fishing enthusiasts. Anglers […]

Event

Port Macquarie and Districts Family History Society celebrates turning 40

Society founders Cheryl Perry and Barbara Robins. Photo: supplied PMDFHS members Secretary Jennifer Mullin, President Diane Gillespie and Publicity Officer Karen. Photo: Pauline Cain. PORT Macquarie and Districts Family History Society is celebrating its 40th birthday with a luncheon for current and former members. It will be held at the racecourse on Saturday 28 June. […]

Community

Much-loved locals celebrate 300 combined years of life

Rohan Smith, Neroli Reid, Roselyn Winwood-Smith and Bruce Hardy. The deck came alive with dancing for the birthday celebration. ROCK ‘N’ ROLL tunes, sea breezes and 60 smiling faces filled the deck of Port AdVenture Cruises on Sunday, 15 June, as four much-loved locals celebrated a combined 300 years of life. The two 70-year-olds and […]

Community

4YP ‘Smiley Bus’ rolls into town with Youth Support on board

Paul and Amy are ready for chats, games and a feed by the smiley bus. Photo: supplied. Social worker and co-founder of 4YP Paul Condon. Photo: supplied. Amy Trotter is all smiles for the youth program. Photo: supplied. LOCAL teenagers across the Hastings region are finding a new source of connection, support, and fun, all […]

Event

Library launches decodable readers collection to support children with dyslexia

DECODABLE readers, now recognised as an effective tool for supporting early and struggling readers, will form a new permanent collection in the children’s section of local libraries. The resources will be distributed across Port Macquarie, Laurieton, and Wauchope branches, ensuring access for families throughout the Hastings and Camden Haven regions. The readers will be officially […]