A tale as old as Christmas itself: the mystery of the so-called Christmas Star.
EVERY year, as the festive season picks up speed, the night sky quietly rolls out its own holiday display- no tinsel, no blinking bulbs, just a crisp dome of stars performing the same cosmic pageant they’ve been staging for thousands of years. And woven into that ancient canvas is a tale as old as Christmas […]
Some of the symbols and decorations associated with Christmas date to ancient times.
HAVE you ever wondered why we decorate cone-bearing trees, eat turkey and ham, light candles, pull bonbons, hang Christmas stockings, decorate homes, make wreaths and credit Santa with delivering presents via flying reindeer? Most of us know that many Christmas traditions from the Northern Hemisphere sailed south with immigrants. But many so-called Christmas traditions originated […]
Alfred celebrating his birthday on Tuesday. Alfred celebrating his birthday on Tuesday. Alfred was surrounded by family and friends on his birthday. Alfred was surrounded by family and friends on his birthday. Alfred was surrounded by family and friends on his birthday. A young Alfred, a proud soldier. ALFRED Roy Boyle celebrated his 102 birthday […]
Ladies in black: Jean Ball, Ann Cain and Duna Miranda with Miss McGregor in her shop in 1958.
The recipe written in Mum’s hand in 1958. Photos: Pauline Cain. Ladies in black: Jean Ball, Ann Cain and Duna Miranda with Miss McGregor in her shop in 1958. Soaking the fruit in Grandma Cain’s bowl. Mum wrote the recipe in the back of this well worn Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union cookbook, which I suspect […]
PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has unanimously adopted a new set of public forum rules, bringing its meeting procedures into line with updated State Government requirements. The decision was made at last week’s council meeting following a public exhibition process and the release of a new Model Code of Meeting Practice by the Office of Local Government […]
Rick Thomson-Jones with his Christmas installation at Shelly Beach this week. Photo: Matt Taylor. Rick’s letter of love and hope to the community. AT a time of national grief following the Bondi tragedy, a simple message at Shelly Beach is helping locals pause, reflect and reconnect. That message comes courtesy of Rick Thomson-Jones, a much-loved […]
LOCAL author Blair Montague-Drake, 83, has made his popular title “A Biblical Herbal” available at Collins Booksellers Port Macquarie, just in time for the Christmas season. The book explores the plants and herbs mentioned throughout biblical history. It outlines their traditional uses, known benefits, and the ways they have been used for cooking, healing and […]
Some of those who dressed for the occasion, admiring the afternoon tea. Photo: Pauline Cain.
Some of those who dressed for the occasion, admiring the afternoon tea. Photo: Pauline Cain. Jeannie Bennett (best costume), Claire from Bookface (who donated prizes) and Angela Frimberger (quiz winner). Photo: Pauline Cain. IT’S been 250 years since celebrated writer Jane Austen was born in the village of Steventon in North Hampshire, England. Port Macquarie […]
THE Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) will require newly connecting retail gas customers to pay the upfront cost of their connection, often more than $2000, moving away from the old system where these costs were often shared across all customers. The recent final determination responds to a rule change request from Energy Consumers Australia and […]
IF you’ve been wetting a line this holiday season, you’ve likely been rewarded with bent rods and full eskies. The festive period has kicked off with a resounding success in our local river systems, ensuring plenty of fresh seafood has made its way onto Christmas tables. In the Hastings River, the mud crab scene is […]
