STEPPING into the spotlight can be tough when you’re a teenager, but for 17-year-old Grace Curran, it’s her best shot at breaking into the music scene. The Port Macquarie singer-songwriter has entered her original song “Out of His League” in the highly contested triple j Unearthed High competition. Open to all artists of high school […]
Streets paved with gold in alleged roadworks corruption
CASH, cryptocurrency and even gold nuggets are among the alleged spoils of a long-running scheme to rig and inflate contracts for roadworks. A former department officer is believed to be in hiding, after a failed attempt to leave Australia on a US passport. The alleged rigging and inflation of contracts by Transport for NSW procurement […]

Bright spots in agriculture amid market volatility
WITH droughts on one side of the country, floods on the other, and political volatility overseas, Australia’s agriculture industry has been right in the thick of it. But there is reason for “cautious optimism” in the $90.7 billion sector as uncertain conditions create both threats and opportunities for the nation’s producers, according to Bendigo Bank’s […]
Letter to the Editor: The climate is changing, so must we
DEAR News Of The Area, THE Mid North Coast is no stranger to tough times, but the weather is becoming more extreme and harder to live with. In just a few years, our region has faced devastating bushfires and record-breaking floods. The recent floods are another hit to our region, hurting our people, our livestock, […]
Lake Cathie suffer narrow loss to Urunga in State Cup final
LAKE Cathie Football Club’s Women’s Northern League A Grade suffered a narrow defeat to Urunga FC in the final of the Community Plate at the Women’s State Cup on Sunday, 13 July. Hosted at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, Urunga secured a 1-0 victory in a hard-fought encounter which could have gone either way. […]
‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
DEAR Jasminda, Since the recent heavy rain events, we now have a flock of bin chickens in our yard. They are not a very attractive bird, but I can’t seem to shoo them away. How do I get rid of them? Jonathan R. Ah, Jonathon Using the term bin chicken tells me everything I need […]
The Big Screen
THIS is the week this particular cinephile has been awaiting, with the all new Superman flying into theatres. While films based on comics owned by Warner Bros. have been a mixed bag (to be generous), the involvement of James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) as writer, director and creative head for films under the “DC […]
Cabaret, circus fusion lights up ArtWalk
Lucy Gamsby Frost performs her Lightning Lucy Cowgirl show. Photo: supplied. The Anua Alchemy Fire Show. Photo: Pauline Cain. Daniel Thwaites drawing in the crowd for The Space Cowboy’s augmented reality exhibition. Photo: Pauline Cain. Antonio Giri Mazzella serenading locals Chloe Moye and Sienna Macfarlane. Photo: Pauline Cain. HUSBAND and wife duo Gordo Gamsby and […]
NSW Seniors Festival Grant Program now open for applications
MORE funding is now available to celebrate and support older Australians, with the NSW Seniors Festival Grant Program 2026 offering $200,000 statewide for inclusive community events. Member for Oxley Michael Kemp is encouraging not-for-profit groups and councils across the Mid North Coast to apply for the grants, which will support activities held during the 2026 […]
Illy brings the Good-er Life Tour to Port Macquarie
AUSSIE hip-hop heavyweight Illy is bringing his The Good-er Life show to town in August as part of a 27-date regional tour. “It’s going to be a whole lotta fun,” Illy, whose real name is Alasdair David George Murray, told News Of The Area. “We’re bringing the energy, and the vibes, and anyone that’s seen […]