May 5, 2026
Seafood industry calls for urgent reinstatement of Stay Afloat mental health program Port Oyster Co.’s Paul Wilson on the ‘farm’. Photo: Port Oyster Company/Facebook.
Regional

Seafood industry calls for urgent reinstatement of Stay Afloat mental health program

Port Oyster Co.’s Paul Wilson on the ‘farm’. Photo: Port Oyster Company/Facebook. Cowper MP Pat Conaghan with Bob St John, GM of Coffs Harbour Fisherman’s Co Op. Photo: supplied. THE loss of a key mental health program for Australia’s seafood industry has prompted urgent calls for funding to be reinstated.  Federal Member for Cowper Pat […]

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Documentary features Port Macquarie dancer Conor Bann-Murray Conor at front, auditioning at Brent Street with Arabella Meleo, Savannah Pillay and Jake Sergi. Photo: David Alrich, Perpetual Entertainment.
Entertainment, Film

Documentary features Port Macquarie dancer Conor Bann-Murray

YOUNG dancers in Port Macquarie dreaming of a career on the global stage are being reminded that no matter where you live, it is possible to make it. Local talent Conor Bann-Murray is currently appearing in the feature documentary Dance For Your Life, which hit cinemas nationwide on Thursday 2 April. The film follows 10 […]

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Port Macquarie Boxing Club’s historic Fight Night returns The card will be stacked with many promising seasoned and amateur fighters, supported by the coaches from Port Macquarie Boxing Club. Photo: supplied.
Sport

Port Macquarie Boxing Club’s historic Fight Night returns

Local fighter Jess Messina is the main event at The Homecoming Fight Night on 18 April. Photo: supplied. The card will be stacked with many promising seasoned and amateur fighters, supported by the coaches from Port Macquarie Boxing Club. Photo: supplied. IT’S been a decade in the making, but Port Macquarie Boxing Club is ready […]

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Celebrations for Tacking Point Dippers The Dippers celebrate their Presentation Day.
Local News

Celebrations for Tacking Point Dippers

The Dippers celebrate their Presentation Day. The donation of $10k will go towards specialist equipment. (L-R) Laurie and Barb Smith, Page Leishman, Fran Scutts, Di Collocott, Sue Warner, Brian Johnson and Stephen Collocott. TACKING Point Dippers (Autism Swim) celebrated their presentation day on Saturday 28 March, with many smiles on the faces of the medal […]

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Port Phoenix Always Able softball team finishes season strong The Port Phoenix Always Able women's softball team.
Sport

Port Phoenix Always Able softball team finishes season strong

THE Port Phoenix Always Able women’s softball team finished their season with a decisive win in the Mid North Coast Softball Association competition last month. The competition has been in existence for more than 50 years, and the team of ten comprises players aged 14 to 70.  Long-time player Michelle Nohotima is 54 and juggles […]

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Councils want guarantees on fuel supplies
Local News

Councils want guarantees on fuel supplies

MORE than 60 Councils from across the state have issued a call for the NSW Government to guarantee fuel supplies for local government garbage and waste collections in the face of increasing shortages and costs. The meeting of councils convened by Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Mayor Darcy Byrne also proposed that any fuel cost […]

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Get to know Laurieton RSL sub-Branch president Allan ‘Buster’ Beatty Laurieton RSL sub-Branch president Allan ‘Buster’ Beatty. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography.
Community

Get to know Laurieton RSL sub-Branch president Allan ‘Buster’ Beatty

WITH Anzac Day around the corner, News Of The Area gets to know Laurieton RSL sub-Branch president Allan ‘Buster’ Beatty. Buster, tell us about your journey to the Hastings region. My wife Sandie lived in Port Macquarie for most of her life before joining the Army. We met in Townsville in 1982 and spent many […]

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Hastings Valley Fine Art Society Prize highlights creative hub Suzanne and David Edwards, Christina Unger, Michelle Randone, Kerry Fox and Chris Higginbotham.
Regional

Hastings Valley Fine Art Society Prize highlights creative hub

Carly Marchment won Best in Show. Photos: Pauline Cain. Deputy Mayor Nik Lipovac, Hastings Fine Art Society committee member Jill Cairns and judge Vivianne Hazenveld. Suzanne and David Edwards, Christina Unger, Michelle Randone, Kerry Fox and Chris Higginbotham. Artist Maddalena Piola with friend Suzi Nichols. Julie Mills with her artwork ‘Bonny’s Due North.’ Artist Kim […]

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