LONG Flat Pub has been bought in an off-market sale, according to industry publication The Hotel Conversation, marking a homecoming for the venue’s new owners. The pub was reportedly sold by JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group on behalf of Flower Hotels, led by Port Macquarie hotelier Alistair Flower. Flower Hotels acquired the pub in 2021 […]

Ashleigh Patterson and Justin Foord. Photo: Michelle Jones. Ann Cox, Neroli Reid, Chrissy Hopkins and Nurelle O’Toole. Photo: Toni Walls. THE Panthers auditorium was rocking as the Port Macquarie Panthers Rock and Roll Dance Club hosted an unforgettable night of music and dancing, drawing over 120 attendees from across the region. Visitors journeyed from Tamworth, […]

Pasture dieback can start in small patches. Photo: DPI. Pasture dieback can start in small patches. Photo: DPI. THE region’s producers are being urged to report any sign of pasture dieback this Summer to the Department of Primary Industries, following detections in the North Coast and Hunter. Pasture dieback is a destructive condition that targets […]

The Point Plomer campground in Limeburners Creek National Park. Photo: NPWS. Kayaking in the Barrington River. Photo: NPWS. WITH temperatures high and visitors flocking to the region’s stunning beaches, rivers, and waterholes, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is urging everyone to stay vigilant and safe. National parks offer countless opportunities for swimming, fishing, […]

THE NSW Government has completed its first comprehensive statewide koala survey. It says it provides the most accurate picture to date of where koalas live and how populations are distributed across the state. Using new tools such as heat-detecting drones and acoustic recorders, scientists surveyed more than 1,000 locations across national parks, state forests and […]

Dolphin friendships can last decades­ – they surf waves together, rest side-by-side and build deep, stable alliances that look remarkably like human relationships. Photos: Dr Simon Allen, Shark Bay Dolphin Research. Dolphin friendships can last decades­ – they surf waves together, rest side-by-side and build deep, stable alliances that look remarkably like human relationships. Photos: […]

Dad’s pride and joy – his 1964 Ford Falcon station wagon. Photos: Pauline Cain. My grandmother and aunt with my siblings and cousins in the mid-1970s in Murwillumbah. Photos: Pauline Cain. THE car was packed and we were off – heading north on the Pacific Highway. The car, a 1964 Aqua Blue Ford Falcon Station […]

UNIVERSITY of South Australia scientists say they have developed a powerful new way to uncover the genetic interactions that fuel cancer progression, paving the way for earlier and more precise treatments. The AI-driven method, published recently in the Royal Society Open Science journal, reveals that tumour progression is driven by cooperating groups of genes, rather […]

JULIE Richardson is the new president of the Port Macquarie Art Society, following last month’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). Lisa Intemann takes the role of secretary, with Pam Foye as treasurer, alongside three committee members. Ms Richardson said she was excited to head the Society in this next phase of recovery and revitalisation, following the […]

NSW State Forests are open for free, pet‑friendly camping from the coast to the high country. There are almost 500 State Forests and many offer camping facilities where dogs, under their owner’s control, are welcome. Campfires are also permitted, outside of fire bans. “State Forests are a fabulous resource for the community,” Manager Tourism and […]