PINK buns, pink outfits, and plenty of community spirit were on display at Port Central on Saturday 17 May as part of the annual Pink Bun fundraiser supporting Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA). The campaign, which runs from late April through early May, sees 100 percent of proceeds from the sale of the iconic pink […]
Celebrating the heart of Little Wings during Volunteer Appreciation Week
LITTLE Wings is putting its helpers in the spotlight during Volunteer Appreciation Week, 19-23 May. As a 90 percent volunteer-led organisation, Little Wings relies on the dedication of its pilots, drivers, ground crew and events team: each playing a critical role in supporting seriously ill and injured children and their families. The service is honouring […]

Garden Village Auxiliary funds scholarships for future nurses
Vaughan Howarth and Jessee Bevan, Enrolled Nurse Scholarship Recipients, with CEO Craig Wearne and Kate Boath of TAFE NSW: Photo. supplied. Residents and retired nurses, June, Jill, Glenda, Daphne, Janette and Faye, pictured with Cheryl Pearson, the Garden Village Auxiliary President. Photo: supplied. Donna Scott NUM, Tammie Gough GM, Jessee Bevan PCA, Narin Searle EN, […]
Public meeting called over delays to Wauchope Community Gardens
THE Hastings Residents Association (HRA) has called a public meeting to address ongoing concerns surrounding the delayed opening of the Wauchope Community Gardens, which remain in limbo. The meeting will be held at 6pm on Wednesday 28 May at the Wauchope RSL Club. It aims to update the community on the progress of the gardens […]

NSW Advocacy Award for Port’s ‘champions of heritage’
Historical Society VP Debbie Sommers accepted the Heritage Award in Sydney. Photo: Port Macquarie Museum. Volunteers Bronwyn O’Brien and Betty Cleary welcome overseas visitors to the museum. Photos: supplied by Debbie Sommers. Pride of place: volunteer Betty Cleary (left) shows off the museum’s latest ‘exhibit’ to a visitor. Historical Society President Clive Smith and fellow […]

Advocacy on the agenda as Port and Wauchope CWA attend state conference
NEWS Of The Area joined more than 600 delegates and another 200 observers at the Country Women’s Association’s 103rd State Conference in Wagga Wagga this week. In a statement to media ahead of the conference, CWA of NSW president Joy Beames said, “The high number of motions delegates will be asked to vote on this […]

CSU awards more than $300k in scholarships to Hastings students
FIFTY-SEVEN students from the Port Macquarie-Hastings region will receive financial support through the Charles Sturt Foundation Trust this year. The total value of the scholarships is $335,926. The amount is part of the $3m awarded to students across all six CSU campuses. Recipients in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region were the first to be presented with […]
Defib
Letter to the Editor: Election reflections
DEAR News Of The Area, LOOKING back at the results of the election in the seat of Cowper, there were 10,727 people or 9.31 percent whose vote meant nothing as they voted informally. Those votes could well have changed the outcome of the result in our electorate if those voters had taken a little bit […]
Port Mac Goss: In conversation with Marty Rhone
THE iconic sounds of Neil Diamond and Olivia Newton-John will grace the stage of The Glasshouse for one night in July, with Australian music royalty Marty Rhone producing the show. It was a pleasure to interview him for this week’s edition of Port Mac Goss. Marty, coming up in July your first Australian hit record […]