The road from Wauchope to Port Macquarie. Photo: Troy Thompson. The Cutty Creek Bridge between Bonny Hills and Herons Creek. Photo: Nathan Marden. Flooding in Short Street, Port Macquarie. Sandbagging at Florence Jones Cheese and Wine. The Hastings River in flood. The Hastings River at Bain Bridge. Preparing sandbags at Wayne Richards Park. Photos: Kylie […]
School AFL stars make their mark at NSW state championships
FOUR Hastings region footballers made their presence felt at the NSW Combined High School Sport Association (CHSSA) U15 Boys Australian Football (AFL) championships in Penshurst from 30 April to 2 May. Three action-packed days of competition brought together 10 representative teams from across NSW, with Jack Wilson, Riley Garel, Xavier Mat and Oto Ryan representing […]
‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
DEAR Jasminda, WE are organising a large birthday function and there are relatives that don’t get along with each other. How do we ensure no one feels left out while still making it an enjoyable experience for everyone? Harriet P. Dear Harriet, If your large family events traditionally look like an episode of Dr Phil, […]
Letter to the Editor: Reflecting on election results
DEAR News Of The Area, WHILE we may congratulate Pat [Conaghan] and his Nationals team on their election win, and thank the other candidates – especially Independent Caz Heise and her hard working team, for putting their hands up and at least giving us a choice – it might be worth reflecting on how our […]
Port Macquarie Youth Excellence Program receives NSW Gov funding
PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council is among 16 organisations awarded grants under the NSW Government’s Youth Opportunities program. The Council’s Youth Excellence Program received a $10,000 funding boost, supporting young people aged 12 to 24 to connect with their community, build new skills, and take on leadership roles. The Youth Excellence Program delivers a series of five […]
NSW Gov funds $10m for weed control and eradication
THE NSW Government will deliver $10 million to local councils to target high-risk weeds across the state. The Weeds Action Program funds local councils, known as Local Control Authorities (LCA), to detect and respond quickly to incursions of new high-risk weeds. The program focuses on prevention and early intervention to stop the spread of problem […]
Inquiry launched into illegal tobacco trade in NSW
A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry was established on 7 May to report on the illegal tobacco trade in New South Wales. Among a broad remit, the committee will inquire into links between organised crime syndicates and tobacconists, and the utilisation of money laundering schemes by tobacconists. The inquiry will also explore the impact of the illegal tobacco […]
The Big Screen
A TWIST on an established horror franchise has been applied to Final Destination: Bloodlines. The original Final Destination was born from a fairly ingenious idea for the genre: a horror film in which Death itself was the “villain”, orchestrating Rube-Goldberg machinations of misfortune that result in suspenseful, grisly deaths. In this latest instalment, college student […]
Mid North Coast students tread the boards in Shakespeare carnivals
MID North Coast students are being offered a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of Shakespeare. The Surry Hills-based Sport for Jove Theatre Company has been encouraging students across NSW and the ACT to create work inspired by William Shakespeare for the past nine years. Students are supported to direct short films, compose […]
Abbie and her rainbow beads take the stage at the Young Achiever Awards
FOLLOWING the release of her first children’s book in March, the local teenager who founded “The Rainbow Shoelace Project” (RSP) has received state recognition. Abbie Jane attended the Young Achiever Awards in Sydney where she was a finalist in the category “Create Change”. Although widely known for her innovative and love-fuelled initiative, being named as […]