EACH year the NDIS funds almost $600 million dollars for the purchase and maintenance of assistive technology such as wheelchairs. But as the scheme continues to experience cost blowouts and participants wait up to a year for wheelchairs to be funded, millions of dollars’ worth of equipment is going to waste. For Wauchope resident Lorraine […]
Settlement Point Road, Port Macquarie during the May 2025 floods on the Mid North Coast. Photo: Port Macquarie SES.
Warning after extreme weather’s financial toll revealed
AUSTRALIANS are counting the ballooning cost of extreme weather events after they caused almost $5 billion in insured losses in 2025, more than 700 percent up on the previous year. And the financial toll is only expected to get worse, with independent analysis indicating it could blow out to $35 billion annually by 2050. The […]
EOIs open for Community Building Partnership grants
Wauchope Men’s Shed was granted $39,000 for a workshop extension. The Camden Haven Rural Fire Service received $54,792 for station upgrade works in last year’s CBP grants. EXPRESSIONS of Interest (EOIs) are now open for the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership (CBP) Grants Program, with up to $450,000 available for projects in each electorate. Local […]
The centralised body will support existing local arrangements by coordinating resources and using technology to plan and deliver hazard reduction more efficiently across the state. Photo: NSW Government.
Taskforce launched to accelerate hazard reduction in NSW
A NEW multi-agency taskforce has been launched to accelerate hazard reduction and better protect communities across NSW. Launched by the NSW Government, Taskforce Fire Guard will bring together fire agencies and land managers to strengthen coordination and prioritise high risk areas over the coming months. Operating from the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) State Operations […]
The report shows walkability has a bigger impact on the amount of time spent walking in regional communities. Photo: David Guerrero/Pexels.
Walkable towns help regional Australians exercise 75 minutes more each week
AMID soaring fuel prices which are prompting Australians to explore alternative transport options, a new study highlights the health benefits of walkable neighbourhoods. New research shows that regional residents living in walkable towns and centres walk 75 minutes more each week, prompting calls for Governments to invest more in well-connected, safe footpaths to boost community […]
Stargazing: April showers set to thrill
EVER stood under a quiet night sky and caught a sudden flash, like the heavens just struck a match? That fleeting streak we casually call a “shooting star” is anything but ordinary. And over the coming week, the sky is set to put on a show that rewards patience, curiosity, and a willingness to lose […]
Top marks for sports uniform proposal to boost students’ physical activity
NEW research suggests most Australians support a simple change that could significantly boost children’s physical activity levels: letting students wear sports uniforms every day. The majority of young Australians are still not active enough, despite well-established evidence that regular physical activity improves children’s physical and mental health. Schools are seen as an important setting to […]
Statewide approach to community consultation welcomed by building body
THE NSW Government is attempting to introduce a statewide approach for how communities have their say on planning proposals. A draft statewide Community Participation Plan is now on public exhibition. Currently there are more than 100 different Community Participation Plans across the state, each with its own approach, timeframes and thresholds for consultation on planning […]
Young artists inspired by exhibition to paint their own version ofTacking Point beach and lighthouse
Artist Peggy Eather demonstrating her techniques. Photo: supplied Composition, colour and capturing the horizon. YOUNG aspiring artists were treated to a “Paint and Shake” workshop hosted by Port City Bowling Club (PCBC) as part of the fourth annual Hastings Valley Open Art Prize. Artists Peggy Eather and Jan von Schoenberg from the Hastings Valley Fine […]
Markham sisters clock up more than five decades of service to the Wauchope Show
THE Markham sisters have been part of the backbone of the Wauchope Show for more than 55 years. The family’s involvement, however, goes back to 1956, when Les Markham started carting Hill brothers’ cattle from Yarras Station to the showgrounds for the campdraft and bulldogging competitions. Les and his wife Pattie spent hours assisting with […]
