January 25, 2026
Local producers urged to report pasture dieback this Summer Pasture dieback can start in small patches. Photo: DPI.
Local News

Local producers urged to report pasture dieback this Summer

Pasture dieback can start in small patches. Photo: DPI. Pasture dieback can start in small patches. Photo: DPI. THE region’s producers are being urged to report any sign of pasture dieback this Summer to the Department of Primary Industries, following detections in the North Coast and Hunter. Pasture dieback is a destructive condition that targets […]

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Region’s national parks users urged to ‘stay vigilant and safe’ The Point Plomer campground in Limeburners Creek National Park. Photo: NPWS.
Local News

Region’s national parks users urged to ‘stay vigilant and safe’

The Point Plomer campground in Limeburners Creek National Park. Photo: NPWS. Kayaking in the Barrington River. Photo: NPWS. WITH temperatures high and visitors flocking to the region’s stunning beaches, rivers, and waterholes, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is urging everyone to stay vigilant and safe. National parks offer countless opportunities for swimming, fishing, […]

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NSW Government completes first statewide koala survey The government says the updated estimate of 274,000 koalas reflects ‘improved technology and more extensive survey work’. Photo: Koala Conservation Australia.
Local News

NSW Government completes first statewide koala survey

THE NSW Government has completed its first comprehensive statewide koala survey. It says it provides the most accurate picture to date of where koalas live and how populations are distributed across the state. Using new tools such as heat-detecting drones and acoustic recorders, scientists surveyed more than 1,000 locations across national parks, state forests and […]

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Friends with benefits: Social connections slow ageing in dolphins, too Dolphin friendships can last decades­ - they surf waves together, rest side-by-side and build deep, stable alliances that look remarkably like human relationships. Photos: Dr Simon Allen, Shark Bay Dolphin Research.
Local News

Friends with benefits: Social connections slow ageing in dolphins, too

Dolphin friendships can last decades­ – they surf waves together, rest side-by-side and build deep, stable alliances that look remarkably like human relationships. Photos: Dr Simon Allen, Shark Bay Dolphin Research. Dolphin friendships can last decades­ – they surf waves together, rest side-by-side and build deep, stable alliances that look remarkably like human relationships. Photos: […]

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Memories of a 1964 summer family road trip Dad’s pride and joy - his 1964 Ford Falcon station wagon. Photos: Pauline Cain.
Local News

Memories of a 1964 summer family road trip

Dad’s pride and joy – his 1964 Ford Falcon station wagon. Photos: Pauline Cain. My grandmother and aunt with my siblings and cousins in the mid-1970s in Murwillumbah. Photos: Pauline Cain. THE car was packed and we were off – heading north on the Pacific Highway. The car, a 1964 Aqua Blue Ford Falcon Station […]

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New gene-mapping method unlocks hidden drivers of cancer
Local News

New gene-mapping method unlocks hidden drivers of cancer

UNIVERSITY of South Australia scientists say they have developed a powerful new way to uncover the genetic interactions that fuel cancer progression, paving the way for earlier and more precise treatments. The AI-driven method, published recently in the Royal Society Open Science journal, reveals that tumour progression is driven by cooperating groups of genes, rather […]

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New team elected to lead Port Macquarie Art Society’s revitalisation
Local News

New team elected to lead Port Macquarie Art Society’s revitalisation

JULIE Richardson is the new president of the Port Macquarie Art Society, following last month’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). Lisa Intemann takes the role of secretary, with Pam Foye as treasurer, alongside three committee members. Ms Richardson said she was excited to head the Society in this next phase of recovery and revitalisation, following the […]

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Free dog-friendly camping from coast to high country Free camping is available at Chichester State Forest, near Dungog. Photo: NSW State Forests.
Local News

Free dog-friendly camping from coast to high country

NSW State Forests are open for free, pet‑friendly camping from the coast to the high country. There are almost 500 State Forests and many offer camping facilities where dogs, under their owner’s control, are welcome. Campfires are also permitted, outside of fire bans. “State Forests are a fabulous resource for the community,” Manager Tourism and […]

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Carrie Wong joins on-air team at 2Way FM
Local News

Carrie Wong joins on-air team at 2Way FM

HASTINGS Community Radio 103.9 2Way FM has welcomed Carrie Wong as a presenter, known on air as “Garfield”. Carrie lived in Hong Kong prior to moving to Australia and had long held an interest in broadcasting, undertaking industry courses and voice training. Carrie left the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong some years ago to […]

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Christmas under the stars: The sky that started a story A tale as old as Christmas itself: the mystery of the so-called Christmas Star.
Local News

Christmas under the stars: The sky that started a story

EVERY year, as the festive season picks up speed, the night sky quietly rolls out its own holiday display- no tinsel, no blinking bulbs, just a crisp dome of stars performing the same cosmic pageant they’ve been staging for thousands of years. And woven into that ancient canvas is a tale as old as Christmas […]

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