St Agnes’ Village resident Barbara Swan with friend Marjorie Bird. Photo: Pauline Cain Lourdes Village resident Neville Ross with his colourful collection of wooden trucks and cars. Photo: Pauline Cain. Emmaus Village artworks. Photo: Pauline Cain. Beautiful quilts by Rosaleen Johnson. Photo: Pauline Cain. Henry Field, artist in residence at Emmaus Village, was drawing live […]
‘Spirit of the Bush’ competition returns to celebrate life on the land
RURAL Aid has launched the sixth annual Spirit of the Bush Photo Competition, inviting Upper Hunter residents to share striking images that capture the strength, resilience, and beauty of life on the land. Running from 14 July to 31 August 2025, the much-loved competition provides a powerful platform for rural and regional Australians to tell […]

Lions Club serving the community through friendship and support
“LIKE” a family” is how members of the Port Macquarie Lions Club describe their connection. The club has a busy round of commitments coming up and is always open to new members. President John Fulton said, “membership relies on a varied and interesting program. ”We are a service club – but we are also social.” […]

Aussie icon John Williamson takes storytime to Wild Koala Breeding Visitor Centre at Guulabaa
John Williamson reads from his new children’s book ‘Koala Koala’. Photos: Koala Conservation Australia. Signing a copy of the book for two fans. AUSSIE music icon John Williamson has taken storytime to the bush with a visit to Koala Conservation Australia’s Wild Koala Breeding Visitor Centre at Guulabaa. The visit coincides with the celebration of […]
Grace Curran hoping to get her song noticed in triple j’s Unearthed High competition
STEPPING into the spotlight can be tough when you’re a teenager, but for 17-year-old Grace Curran, it’s her best shot at breaking into the music scene. The Port Macquarie singer-songwriter has entered her original song “Out of His League” in the highly contested triple j Unearthed High competition. Open to all artists of high school […]
Port Mac Goss: Alex and Marianna Vozzo
THIS week for Port Mac Goss, I caught up with Alex and Marianna Vozzo, the proud owners of East Port Motor Inn. As relative newcomers to Port Macquarie, what do you think about the vibe of the region? It’s heaven to us! We honestly believe that Port Macquarie is the best town in NSW. We […]
Creativity, connection and sustainability at the heart of new Port Macquarie op shop
A COLOURFUL new space in Port Macquarie is quickly becoming a hub for creativity, sustainability and community. The Arts and Crafts Op Shop, founded by local social entrepreneur Dawn Tindall, offers more than second-hand craft supplies, it’s a place where people can come together, share skills and build connections. “I opened it for ArtWalk,” Dawn […]
Scammers on prowl as Tax Time begins
A recently received scam email. A Commonwealth Bank infographic illustrates that Aussies are scam-aware, but a third of us still miss the clues. Image: CBA. THE clock is now ticking to get annual tax returns in before the 31 October deadline. Sadly, this window provides a veritable hunting ground for scammers, prompting warnings from the […]
Budding presenters visit 2WayFM studio
HOME schooled children and their parents have visited community radio station 2WAY FM 103.9 in Wauchope for a tour of its facilities and studio. Hosted by Station President Dennis Owen and Treasurer Greg Hayward, the visitors were given a general overview of the operation. Viewing presenters through the studio window proved enticing for the inquisitive […]
Port Writers encouraged to find their voice through workshops, presentations and competitions
WENDY Haynes writes picture books and contemporary, historical, and fantasy fiction for young readers. She is also an inaugural member and current President of Port Writers, which was formed in 2014. Wendy started writing in 2002 after completing some online courses. “At 50 I decided I was still not a proper writer and did a […]