2Way FM’s Liz Faassen. Dave ‘Scoop’ Lazarus and Liz Faassen discussing community media. 2WAYFM Hastings Community Radio celebrates 40 years of broadcasting in 2026. Liz Faassen has been with the station for more than 11 years, as a presenter, program manager, sponsorship coordinator and committee member. It was a pleasure to interview Liz for this […]
Funding boost for Deadly Brains program on Mid North Coast
NEUROSCIENCE Research Australia (NeuRA) will expand its Deadly Brains program to the Mid North Coast after receiving a $200,000 grant from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation. The funding will support the development of culturally safe research practices aimed at promoting brain health equity. This project marks the first phase of a research initiative focused on […]
St Agnes’ teacher joins national education panel
St AGNES’ Primary School Year 3 teacher Mrs Laura Stapleton has been selected to work with the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) as a member of its Panel of Educators, Teachers and Leaders (PETL). Mrs Stapleton is contributing her professional insights to help guide the development of national educational research and resources. Her involvement ensures […]
Bathe in the sounds of yesteryear at the annual Port Macquarie Record Fair
GET ready to bathe in the sounds and songs of yesteryear as the annual Port Macquarie Record Fair returns. Now in its eighth year, the fair will spin back into action at Flynns Beach Surf Lifesaving Club on 20 July, between 12pm-4pm. This year’s fair promises to be bigger, better, and more relaxed, with an […]
Construction of 94 social and affordable units to start in October
A concept drawing of the apartment block. Image: supplied. The empty land near the corner of Grant and Gordon streets. THE VACANT block of land across the road from the Port Macquarie Library and Memorial Pool is about to be home to 94 social and affordable housing apartments. Member for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer has […]
Lake Cathie’s Alyce Roberts becomes third generation Justice of the Peace
LAKE Cathie local Alyce Roberts has been officially sworn in as a Justice of the Peace (JP), proudly continuing a family legacy that spans nearly six decades. Ms Roberts follows in the footsteps of her grandfather Warren Miller of Port Macquarie, who first took on the role in 1965 at just 21 years old, and […]

Douglas Vale Conservation Group to celebrate 30 years of community-led heritage restoration
TV gardening personality Costa Georgiadis visited Douglas Vale Vineyard earlier this year. Photo: supplied. Curator Ian Cupit with the Mayor Adam Roberts. Photo: supplied. COMMUNITY action stepped in when neglect took hold of the historic Douglas Vale site in 1995. Following a series of newspaper reports, residents formed the Douglas Vale Conservation Group to save […]
Surge in flood victims seeking legal help
HUNDREDS of people are seeking legal advice following widespread flooding on the Mid North Coast. Lawyers from the Legal Aid NSW Disaster Response Legal Service (DRLS), together with lawyers from Community Legal Centres, have been attending Recovery Centres established by the NSW Reconstruction Authority in flood-hit regions to help people deal with multiple issues. The […]

Backlash over ‘quiet cut’ to train passes
LIBERAL MLC Aileen MacDonald has called for the NSW Government to immediately reinstate three-month and six-month NSW TrainLink Discovery Passes, describing the removal as a “quiet cut” that disproportionately hurts regional communities. Speaking in the Legislative Council last week, Ms MacDonald moved a motion highlighting the significant impact of the removal of the passes on […]
Road safety educator Luke Ramm receives national award
LUKE Ramm has been recognised with the prestigious Road Safety Education (RSE) Facilitator Award for his outstanding contribution to road safety education in the Port Macquarie region. Presented by RSE Limited in partnership with BOC, Toyota, Bridgestone and Boral, the annual award celebrates individuals who go above and beyond in delivering the Ryda program – […]