The Bonny Hills-made belt gifted to the cast and crew of Castaway. Mike Dodkin and Ross Bennett with the Castaway belt. A LEATHER belt gifted to one of the cast and crew of the ABC TV series “Castaway” has been returned to its maker, Ross Bennett of Bonny Hills. Castaway was a 1974 Australian drama […]
Marine Rescue NSW boosts flood readiness in North Coast exercise
Participants displayed a great degree of skill. During weather emergencies Marine Rescue NSW can be requested to assist by NSW SES. Marine Rescue NSW multi-purpose vessels were used in the exercise. Marine Rescue NSW volunteers from seven units across the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast took part in the Red Rock exercise. Participants from […]
50 years of NAIDOC celebrated in Port Macquarie
Josh Wright, Uncle Bill O’Brien and Chris O’Brien Photo: Pauline Cain. The Smoking Ceremony at Town Green. Photo: Pauline Cain. The Yapun Yapun dancers. Photo: Pauline Cain. Cleansing smoke fills the air at Town Green. Photos: PMHC. Cleansing smoke fills the air at Town Green. Photos: PMHC. NAIDOC Week celebrations began on Monday morning with […]

Celebrating excellence in Mid North Coast surf lifesaving
Rookie of the Year Geoff Craig from Tacking Point SLSC and Mick Lang, newly inducted SLSMNC Life Member. Members from Port Macquarie SLSC – Club of the Year. SLS NSW President Peter Agnew AM, Port Macquarie SLSC President Sara-Jane Oakeshott, Surf Lifesaver of the Year Andy O’Brien from Tacking Point SLSC and SLSMNC Branch President […]
Contract awarded for koala hospital redevelopment
CONSTRUCTION firm AW Edwards has been awarded the contract to undertake the redevelopment of the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. The project will transform the hospital into a wildlife rehabilitation, research, and education centre, supporting Koala Conservation Australia’s mission to conserve koalas and their habitats for future generations. A W Edwards was selected to undertake the […]
The first astronomers: Australia’s Indigenous stargazers
LONG before observatories dotted the land and satellites blinked overhead, the First Peoples of Australia were reading the stars. For over 65,000 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have looked to the sky – not for abstraction, but for connection, direction, and survival. Theirs is the oldest continuous astronomical tradition on Earth. To these […]
Port Mac Goss: Mark Stone
The Stone family. Mark Stone. THIS week’s edition of Port Mac Goss features Mark Stone, who has owned and operated Billabong Zoo with his family since 2003. Mark, what is it like running a zoo with your family? My wife Danena and I are owners and directors of the business. Brooke and Blake, my kids, […]

Lifeguards update skills in the off-season
PROFESSIONAL and volunteer lifeguards from the Mid North Coast are undertaking maintenance and upgrading of qualifications in the off-season. At South West Rocks, a class of 16 professional lifeguards have undertaken a new and compulsory two-day Beach Operations and Management (BOM) course under the guidance of the Australian Lifeguard Service’s James Turnham (Mid NSW Lifeguard […]
Wauchope community pays tribute on Anzac Day
Members of the Military Brotherhood MMC Wilson Sub Branch. Port Macquarie Wauchope RSL Pipe and Drums supported the service. Port Macquarie Wauchope RSL Pipe and Drums supported the service. Wauchope CWA members served tea and biscuits after the service. THE Wauchope community gathered in solemn reflection at the town’s cenotaph for an Anzac Day dawn […]

Anzac Biscuits and a cuppa as Birdon honours veterans
NO cup of tea or coffee is complete at this time of year without an Anzac Biscuit – or three. Birdon made sure they didn’t run short last Tuesday, when 300 were on offer for staff at its Port Macquarie headquarters. It was part of a company-wide morning tea to honour Australian Defence Force (ADF) […]