Mark Morabito (L) and Craig M. Wood. Photo: Paul Colla Photography. Hastings Choristers performing in ‘Patterns – A Musical Medley’. Photo: Paul Colla Photography. HASTINGS Choristers are known for their high standard of musical performance. Founded in 1990 by Robyn Ryan OAM, they are now under the musical direction of Craig M. Wood. The choristers […]
One Act Play Festival win for Harry and Pearl Ensemble
Judy Campbell and Bill Harrow of the Harry and Pearl Ensemble took out Best Production. Bill and Judy as Edmund and June. THE Harry and Pearl Ensemble took out the major award of Best Production in the One Act Play Festival at The Players Theatre over the June long weekend. The winning play, “Edmund and […]
Port Mac Goss: Janette Hyde OAM
JANETTE Hyde OAM, President of the Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association (GPMTA), has a simple message after the recent flood disaster: “We are open for business”. Janette, we have experienced floods in 2021 and now 2025. We deserve a break don’t we? We certainly do. One thing that we cannot control is the weather, but […]
Port Macquarie to host major photography conference
PORT MACQUARIE will welcome photographers from across regional NSW on Friday 23 May, as the Panthers Photographic Club hosts the 2025 Northern Zone Annual Conference. The event, held at Panthers Port Macquarie, is expected to attract around 350 photographers and their partners from nine regional clubs including Forster, Grafton, Armidale, and Port Macquarie. Commencing at […]
Digital concerts celebrate Mid North Coast artists
ARTS Mid North Coast has announced the launch of a series of MiNi (digital) Concerts, as a celebration of the incredible musical talent emerging from the region. Delivered in partnership with MusicNSW, MiNi (digital) Concerts is an online music series that offers local artists both a platform to reach wider audiences and a professional development […]
Port Macquarie Goss with Scoop Lazarus
WELCOME to Port Macquarie Goss, a new regular NOTA feature from Dave “Scoop” Lazarus. Each instalment will feature a local mover and shaker, visiting celebrity or someone with an interesting story to tell. I have been involved in the entertainment industry for many years, and I have a little black book of showbiz types, sporting […]
Kate Simpson treading the boards in her directorial debut
Kate Simpson. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. Kate Simpson. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. FORMER Camden Haven High School (CHHS) student Kate Simpson will make her directorial debut on Friday, 2 May, when an adaptation of the musical “Bonnie and Clyde” begins its run at the Players Theatre in Port Macquarie. Kate’s journey into the world of theatre began […]
Stinker’s Fishin’: Much to learn
I TOOK the opportunity over the past couple of weeks to return to my hometown of Tweed Heads where unsurprisingly I found plenty of time to go fishing. The old family home is situated on the Terranora Lakes, fed by the Tweed River, some five kilometres (km) from the river mouth. A pontoon in […]

Stinker’s Fishin’: Protecting our turtles
AROUND this time last year, it was reported that over 40 turtles had died in Port Stephens between October and December as a result of boat and jet ski strike, ingestion of plastics and entanglement in fishing line and crab traps. This was an alarming figure as we, as a community, had made a […]