January 19, 2026
Health district awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer Reg Craig with Aboriginal Health Practitioner Laurie Clay accepting the Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare award for the Hastings Aboriginal Diabetes Education Service.
Community, Health

Health district awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership

Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer Reg Craig with Aboriginal Health Practitioner Laurie Clay accepting the Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare award for the Hastings Aboriginal Diabetes Education Service. NSW Health Chief Experience Officer Anne-Marie Hadley with Tara O’Brien and Zoe Chaffer from the Paediatric Complex Care Coordination Service who won the Transforming the Patient Experience Award. MNCLHD […]

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Donations sought for St Thomas’ Soup Kitchen’s ‘Sponsor a Box’ flood appeal Volunteers at St Thomas’ Soup Kitchen assemble much needed donations for flood affected families. Photo: supplied.
Community

Donations sought for St Thomas’ Soup Kitchen’s ‘Sponsor a Box’ flood appeal

ST THOMAS’ Soup Kitchen has launched the “Sponsor a Box Flood Appeal” to support families impacted by the May floods. The appeal invites individuals, businesses, and organisations to sponsor a box that will be delivered to households experiencing loss. Each box includes vouchers for items such as furniture, clothing, white goods, building materials, and other […]

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SES helps nurse deliver lifesaving chemo to flood isolated patient
Community, Health

SES helps nurse deliver lifesaving chemo to flood isolated patient

PORT Macquarie-based cancer nurse Helen Adair delivered vital chemotherapy to a Crescent Head resident on Wednesday 28 May, thanks to the quick response of the State Emergency Service (SES). Helen is a registered nurse with chemo@home and needed to reach her patient Christopher Dockrill, to administer his scheduled chemotherapy infusion for multiple myeloma. With Crescent […]

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Port Macquarie’s Bogan Bingo fundraiser for junior rugby and mental health Silent auction legends Shannon Collins, Jane Keegan and Abby Eakin rocking their Bogan gear.
Community

Port Macquarie’s Bogan Bingo fundraiser for junior rugby and mental health

Silent auction legends Shannon Collins, Jane Keegan and Abby Eakin rocking their Bogan gear. Big hearts Rebecca Hutton and Guy Walker, winners of the silent auction prizes Bogan Bingo DJs delivering for the Port Macquarie Sharks. PANTHERS was packed with flannies, thongs, and thunderstruck energy on Saturday 31 May as Bogan Bingo took over for […]

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Heartbeat of the Hastings: Cassie Clark Cassie Clark.
Community

Heartbeat of the Hastings: Cassie Clark

CASSIE Clark is one of those people who always seems to be doing something for others, and she’s been that way since she was a kid. “My very first memory of giving back was when I was about eight,” Cassie told NOTA. “One of my sisters was in the Miss Australia Quest, raising money for […]

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Landslips close Oxley Highway at Mt Seaview in both directions Photos taken by the operators of the Ginger’s Creek Roadhouse, show the damage from one of last week’s landslips.
Community, Government, Regional

Landslips close Oxley Highway at Mt Seaview in both directions

THE Oxley Highway between Forbes River and Clay roads will remain closed until further notice because of landslips. More than 100 new landslips have been detected on this section of the highway since heavy rainfall over the past week. Engineers are urgently assessing damage and planning clean-up operations and long-term repairs. Transport for NSW (TfNSW) […]

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Dreams of a puppy and meeting Oscar Piastri come true for two of Port’s ‘wish kids’ Make-A-Wish volunteers Crystal, Tammy and Vanessa celebrate Bronson’s wish with his sister Dahlia, mum Alicia and new puppy Butter. Photo: supplied.
Community

Dreams of a puppy and meeting Oscar Piastri come true for two of Port’s ‘wish kids’

VOLUNTEERS from Make-A-Wish Port Macquarie are helping local children facing serious illness. The branch, founded in 2015, has 10 active volunteers from Crescent Head to Diamond Beach. Together, they create tailored Wish Journeys that give children a chance to focus on something positive, even in the middle of treatment. Tammy Frater has been a volunteer […]

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Heartbeat of the Hastings: Julie Bowes
Community

Heartbeat of the Hastings: Julie Bowes

PORT Macquarie’s Julie Bowes is a strong believer in the importance of giving back and helping others. Born in Camden, NSW in 1961, Julie got married in 1980 and moved to Canberra, where she and her husband raised three children. Once the kids were off to school, Julie began working in retail. “I’ve always enjoyed […]

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Successful meeting for Zonta Port Macquarie Zonta Port Macquarie President Elaine Schofield. Photo: supplied.
Community

Successful meeting for Zonta Port Macquarie

A VERY successful, well-attended meeting was held by the local branch of Zonta on Sunday 18 May, in The River Room at the Westport Bowling Club. The aim of the meeting was to attract new members during the organisation’s 2024-2026 biennium. President Elaine Schofield gave an in-depth speech on the activities of the local branch […]

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Through the drizzle came the dazzle for Port’s Pride Walk Event organiser Dr Jake Little, with Voices4Cowper’s Caz Heise. Photo: supplied.
Community

Through the drizzle came the dazzle for Port’s Pride Walk

Event organiser Dr Jake Little, with Voices4Cowper’s Caz Heise. Photo: supplied. The 60 walkers and their dogs unite halfway for a celebratory picture. Photo: supplied. Donated Rainbow cupcakes from Baked by Katie. THE pre-flood drizzle cast itself aside to celebrate the dazzle of the very first Port Pride Walk. Town Beach came alive with sunshine […]

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