July 30, 2025
Belt from TV series ‘Castaway’ returned to its Bonny Hills maker The Bonny Hills-made belt gifted to the cast and crew of Castaway.
Editor's Picks

Belt from TV series ‘Castaway’ returned to its Bonny Hills maker

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 […]

Read More
Marine Rescue NSW boosts flood readiness in North Coast exercise Participants displayed a great degree of skill.
Editor's Picks

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 […]

Read More
50 years of NAIDOC celebrated in Port Macquarie Josh Wright, Uncle Bill O’Brien and Chris O’Brien Photo: Pauline Cain.
Editor's Picks

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 […]

Read More
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.
Editor's Picks

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 […]

Read More
Contract awarded for koala hospital redevelopment
Editor's Picks

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 […]

Read More
The first astronomers: Australia’s Indigenous stargazers The Emu in the Sky - not formed from stars, but from the dark dust lanes of the Milky Way.
Editor's Picks

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 […]

Read More
Port Mac Goss: Mark Stone The Stone family.
Editor's Picks

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, […]

Read More
Lifeguards update skills in the off-season Beach Operations Management course candidates and educators at Horseshoe Bay, South West Rocks, having completed a simulated search and rescue.
Editor's Picks

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 […]

Read More
Wauchope community pays tribute on Anzac Day Wauchope CWA members served tea and biscuits after the service.
Editor's Picks, Regional

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 […]

Read More
Anzac Biscuits and a cuppa as Birdon honours veterans Melanie Barnes, Andrew McAlary, John White, Jamie Bruce, Veteran Mark Albertson, Natasha Hamblin, Brady Pinkstone and Meg Teasdell enjoying the Aussie favourite at the Birdon Anzac Biscuit Morning Tea.
Editor's Picks

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) […]

Read More