HAVE you ever wondered why summer days last forever (well, almost!), and winter nights feel like they never end? It all boils down to two amazing celestial events: equinoxes and solstices! These are like nature’s cosmic calendar flips, marking the shift between seasons in Australia, down under where things are a bit opposite compared to […]
‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
DEAR Jasminda, I am going away with a group of school friends and we are sharing rooms. To save money, we booked a room with two queen beds, but one of our group members has become an incessant snorer. I’m a light sleeper. How do I tactfully ask that she is not my bed companion […]
The Big Screen
HOW to Train Your Dragon is at the top of the schedule for cinemas and families this week, as the beloved franchise transitions to live action. Your kids could probably fill you in on the basics: young Hiccup (Mason Thames) is an innovative but hopeless Viking in training who forms a bond with the dragon […]
Love Letters to Nature exhibition at Port Macquarie’s Roto House
Cafe owner/operator, Jess Davidson.. Photo: Pauline Cain. Melanie Evans’ artwork ‘Compassion’. Photo: Pauline Cain. JESS Davidson, cafe owner and operator of Home at Roto House, says it is “business as usual” even though the Koala Hospital next door is closed until 2026 for renovations. This month, an art exhibition is being staged in the dining […]
Heartbeat of the Hastings: Sherrill Weidenbohm
THROUGH heartbreak and happiness, Sherrill Weidenbohm’s story is one of kindness, resilience, and the joy that can be found in helping others. Born and raised in Kempsey, Sherrill came from a family of eleven kids. “My dad passed away when I was only three, so my mum Kathleen raised us on her own but we […]
Hastings Choristers treat audiences to a taste of Broadway with musical medley
Mark Morabito (L) and Craig M. Wood. Photo: Paul Colla Photography. Hastings Choristers performing in ‘Patterns – A Musical Medley’. Photo: Paul Colla Photography. HASTINGS Choristers are known for their high standard of musical performance. Founded in 1990 by Robyn Ryan OAM, they are now under the musical direction of Craig M. Wood. The choristers […]
NSW Gov announce funding to expand crisis and transitional housing
THE State Government has announced $30.4 million for a new crisis intervention package to “ensure more vulnerable people can access homelessness services and find a safe place to live”. The 2025-26 NSW Budget will include $20 million to expand existing crisis and transitional housing, and $10.4 million over four years for homelessness charity the Bill […]
Beyond the bite: How our fishing community rises above the floods
AS we transition into winter, we’ve been blessed with a couple of lovely, calm and sunny days. However, the recent floods unfortunately the mackerel season has drawn to a close. While the fishing report highlights the bounty the region offers its impossible to ignore the impact of the recent floods and the incredible resilience of […]
Dr Maarten De Brauwer of SCU and Fisheries Technician Kait Harris conduct estuarine monitoring in Yamba.
First-ever DNA mapping of NSW river mouths and estuaries
Dr Maarten De Brauwer of SCU and Fisheries Technician Kait Harris conduct estuarine monitoring in Yamba. Dr Maarten De Brauwer and Kait Harris collect samples to send to Wilderlab for processing. Dr Maarten De Brauwer and Kait Harris collect samples to send to Wilderlab for processing. A MAJOR study of NSW estuaries using a novel […]
Road safety educator Luke Ramm receives national award
LUKE Ramm has been recognised with the prestigious Road Safety Education (RSE) Facilitator Award for his outstanding contribution to road safety education in the Port Macquarie region. Presented by RSE Limited in partnership with BOC, Toyota, Bridgestone and Boral, the annual award celebrates individuals who go above and beyond in delivering the Ryda program – […]
