January 19, 2026
Heartbeat of the Hastings: Elsa Barbosa Elsa and Dave on the airwaves.
Community

Heartbeat of the Hastings: Elsa Barbosa

BORN and raised in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, Elsa Barbosa arrived on Australian shores in 1983 aged just 17. “I cried all the way on the plane,” she said. “I was leaving my friends behind and it was so hard.” Despite that tough start in Australia, Elsa always had a strong desire to help […]

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Much-loved locals celebrate 300 combined years of life The deck came alive with dancing for the birthday celebration.
Community

Much-loved locals celebrate 300 combined years of life

Rohan Smith, Neroli Reid, Roselyn Winwood-Smith and Bruce Hardy. The deck came alive with dancing for the birthday celebration. ROCK ‘N’ ROLL tunes, sea breezes and 60 smiling faces filled the deck of Port AdVenture Cruises on Sunday, 15 June, as four much-loved locals celebrated a combined 300 years of life. The two 70-year-olds and […]

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4YP ‘Smiley Bus’ rolls into town with Youth Support on board Paul and Amy are ready for chats, games and a feed by the smiley bus. Photo: supplied.
Community

4YP ‘Smiley Bus’ rolls into town with Youth Support on board

Paul and Amy are ready for chats, games and a feed by the smiley bus. Photo: supplied. Social worker and co-founder of 4YP Paul Condon. Photo: supplied. Amy Trotter is all smiles for the youth program. Photo: supplied. LOCAL teenagers across the Hastings region are finding a new source of connection, support, and fun, all […]

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St Agnes’ and St Thomas’ to shine with light, art and music for ArtWalk 2025 Rev. Dan Berris at St Thomas’ Church. Photo: supplied.
Community

St Agnes’ and St Thomas’ to shine with light, art and music for ArtWalk 2025

Rev. Dan Berris at St Thomas’ Church. Photo: supplied. Fr Paul Gooley at St Agnes’ Church. Photo: supplied. TWO of Port Macquarie’s historic churches, St Agnes’ Catholic Church and St Thomas’ Anglican Church, will combine for a luminous night of creativity, community, and Christian unity at this year’s ArtWalk. On Friday 4 July from 5pm […]

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More support sought for flood-affected farmers Cowper MP Pat Conaghan and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
Community, Government

More support sought for flood-affected farmers

THE Liberal and National parties are continuing calls for Federal and State governments to urgently amend Category C and D disaster recovery funding to the maximum thresholds of $50,000 for small businesses and $75,000 for primary producers. Local MPs say the current $25,000 threshold is simply not enough, however Labor Ministers have urged primary producers […]

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Heartbeat of the Hastings: Sherrill Weidenbohm
Community

Heartbeat of the Hastings: Sherrill Weidenbohm

THROUGH heartbreak and happiness, Sherrill Weidenbohm’s story is one of kindness, resilience, and the joy that can be found in helping others. Born and raised in Kempsey, Sherrill came from a family of eleven kids. “My dad passed away when I was only three, so my mum Kathleen raised us on her own but we […]

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King’s Honours for Port Macquarie health and childcare advocates Hastings Home Hospice volunteer Marita Crighton OAM and her husband Doctor Colin Crighton OAM. File photos: Mid North Coast Health and PMQ Clay Target Club.
Community

King’s Honours for Port Macquarie health and childcare advocates

Hastings Home Hospice volunteer Marita Crighton OAM and her husband Doctor Colin Crighton OAM. File photos: Mid North Coast Health and PMQ Clay Target Club. Disability advocate and Autism Swim founder Erika Gleeson OAM. Photo: Erika Gleeson Consultancy. Childhood educator Karen McKay OAM: Photo: Semann & Slattery.   THE Port Macquarie-Hastings was strongly represented in […]

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