January 28, 2026
‘The physical scars are there for all to see’: floods the focus of Penfold’s first speech Alison Penfold is only the second woman from the NSW Nationals elected to Federal Parliament.
Regional

‘The physical scars are there for all to see’: floods the focus of Penfold’s first speech

THE ongoing challenges of the May floods were the focus of Alison Penfold’s first speech to Federal Parliament on Wednesday 30 July. Ms Penfold was elected the new Nationals MP for Lyne on 3 May. The poll was yet to be officially declared when record flooding hit parts of the electorate, claiming lives and livestock, […]

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Billabong Zoo farewells much-loved snow leopard Khumbu Khumbu was a favourite with Zoo staff and visitors. Photos: supplied.
Community

Billabong Zoo farewells much-loved snow leopard Khumbu

Khumbu was a favourite with Zoo staff and visitors. Photos: supplied. BILLABONG Zoo’s snow leopard Khumbu passed away peacefully on 3 August at the age of 21, surrounded by the keepers who had cared for him for the past 10 years. “Khumbu holds a special place in our history as our very first big cat,” […]

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SES springs into action with more wet weather on the way
Local News

SES springs into action with more wet weather on the way

Port Macquarie SES members were called to secure a severely damaged skylight at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Port Macquarie SES members were called to secure a severely damaged skylight at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Members secured broken windows and damaged roofs, with many homes experiencing a ‘near miss’. Members secured broken windows and damaged roofs, […]

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St Columba Anglican School to introduce International Baccalaureate Diploma St Columba Anglican School Principal Allan Guihot. Photo: supplied.
School

St Columba Anglican School to introduce International Baccalaureate Diploma

ST COLUMBA Anglican School has officially announced its candidacy to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. It will be the first school on the Mid North Coast to deliver the globally recognised qualification. Set to commence in 2027 for Year 11 students, the IB Diploma Programme will sit alongside the HSC, giving families a […]

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Community grants awarded to 22 groups across Port Macquarie electorate Zac Campbell, the manager of grant recipient Port Macquarie PCYC, with Robert Dwyer MP. Photo: supplied.
Local News

Community grants awarded to 22 groups across Port Macquarie electorate

MEMBER for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer has announced the successful recipients of Community Building Partnership Grants. Twenty-two community groups across Harrington, the Camden Haven and Hastings, will share the $450,000 allocated to the Port Macquarie electorate. Mr Dwyer said the State Government funds will deliver much needed improvements to local facilities. “The Community Building Partnerships […]

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Heartbeat of the Hastings: Troy Zrebiec
Community

Heartbeat of the Hastings: Troy Zrebiec

ALTHOUGH Troy Zrebiec didn’t grow up in the Port Macquarie region, he’s wholeheartedly embraced life here since making the move in January 2025. “When I landed in Port Macquarie, I quickly found work on the Port AdVenture and realised how much I loved being out on the water,” he said. Troy is now volunteering with […]

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NSW Government moves to protect Port Macquarie coast from climate change The coastline south of Tacking Point Lighthouse. Photo: Sis Higgins.
Government

NSW Government moves to protect Port Macquarie coast from climate change

PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has secured nearly $200,000 for the next phase of its Coastal Management Program (CMP). The long-term initiative is aimed at safeguarding the region’s estuaries and coastline from the impacts of climate change. The NSW Government funding follows a previous grant of $216,667, which helped Council identify and assess coastal hazards including erosion, […]

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Severe storms wreak further havoc as SES heroes respond again SES vehicles respond to calls for help. Photo: Supplied
Regional

Severe storms wreak further havoc as SES heroes respond again

THE region has again been battered by wild weather, with emergency services mounting a second major response in just over two months. On Saturday 2 August, severe storms lashed the Mid North Coast, bringing heavy rain and damaging winds to the Port Macquarie Hastings, Kempsey and Nambucca regions. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) received […]

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Lord Howe volunteers return exhausted sailors to safety The sailors and their 10m yacht were rescued in rough seas and towed to shore. Photo: NSW Marine Rescue.
Local News

Lord Howe volunteers return exhausted sailors to safety

The sailors and their 10m yacht were rescued in rough seas and towed to shore. Photo: NSW Marine Rescue. The sailors and their 10m yacht were rescued in rough seas and towed to shore. Photo: NSW Marine Rescue. The sailors and their 10m yacht were rescued in rough seas and towed to shore. Photo: NSW […]

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Port parishioners celebrate 1700 years since the Nicene Creed Concelebrating clergy (l-r) Rev. Paul Gooley and Rev. Shane Hyland, St Agnes’ Catholic Church; Rev. Yoshiya Sakamoto and Rev. Leanne Smith, St Thomas’ Anglican Church; Rev. Lofa Anga'aelangi, Uniting Church; Right Rev. Professor Stephen Pickard, Retired Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn; Rev. Jon Cornish, St Columba Anglican School; and Pastor Dr Mark Worthing, St Peter’s Lutheran Church. Photo: Pauline Cain.
Community

Port parishioners celebrate 1700 years since the Nicene Creed

Concelebrating clergy (l-r) Rev. Paul Gooley and Rev. Shane Hyland, St Agnes’ Catholic Church; Rev. Yoshiya Sakamoto and Rev. Leanne Smith, St Thomas’ Anglican Church; Rev. Lofa Anga’aelangi, Uniting Church; Right Rev. Professor Stephen Pickard, Retired Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn; Rev. Jon Cornish, St Columba Anglican School; and Pastor Dr […]

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