FOUR brand-new public preschools are set to be operational on the Mid North Coast by early 2027. Each preschool will be co-located with an existing public primary school. The four public preschools will be built at Bowraville Central School, Moorland Public School, Tacking Point Public School, and Taree Public School. Once open, the four sites […]
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 […]
Red Cross volunteers Libby Rooney (Ulladulla) and Lyndall Nairn (Port Macquarie) at the Wauchope Flood Recovery Centre.
Flood recovery centres encourage locals to ask for help
FLOOD Recovery Centres on the Mid North Coast have assisted more than 9500 people in the past few weeks. Various local and state organisations are on-hand to provide assistance with ID documentation, accommodation, legal and financial support, insurance and mental health support. Centres have operated this past week at the Indoor Basketball Stadium on Hibbard […]
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 […]
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 […]
NSW residents urged to purchase firewood collection authorisations this winter
FORESTRY Corporation is reminding residents to purchase firewood authorisations before collecting wood from State forests. Recent updates have been made to Forestry Corporation’s online firewood permit page. The conditions for firewood collection have also been updated and should be understood prior to entering State forests. The system now distinguishes some locations between pine and native […]
Member for Oxley Michael Kemp has spoken to hundreds of local farmers since the floods. Photos: supplied.
Businesses and farmers to ‘take matters into their own hands’ over flood relief
Member for Oxley Michael Kemp has spoken to hundreds of local farmers since the floods. Photos: supplied. MICHAEL Kemp fears as many as 95 percent of flood affected farmers and businesses in the Oxley electorate will struggle to stay in operation if the state doesn’t request a Category D declaration from the Federal Government. The […]
St Columba students win Global Innovators of the Year for waste reduction app
YEAR 8 students Lizzy Collett and Eloise Flower of St Columba Anglican School have been named “Global Innovators of the Year”. The prestigious win puts the pair at the pinnacle of student innovation. Run by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) through the “Go Innovate Together’ (GoIT) initiative, the competition recognises and celebrates the ingenuity and creativity […]
‘Can’t afford to hold our breath’: MPs angry at lack of Wrights Road funding in NSW Budget
PHOTO 1: Rob Dwyer pointed out the issues at Wrights Rd during a site visit by Opposition Leader Mark Speakman and Shadow Roads Minister Natalie Ward. File photo.
‘Can’t afford to hold our breath’: MPs angry at lack of Wrights Road funding in NSW Budget
THE MPs driving the campaign to fix traffic congestion at Wrights Road and the Oxley Highway in Port Macquarie, say they are “angry” and “disappointed” that Tuesday’s NSW Budget failed to deliver the funds needed to progress an upgrade. Member for Port Macquarie Rob Dwyer said while he welcomed confirmation of funding to commence the […]
A parliamentary inquiry has been told imported fruit pickers were subjected to prolonged suffering. Photo: AP PHOTO/ Robert F. Bukaty.
Estimated thousands trapped in Australian farm slavery
A BACKPACKER hoping for a memorable working holiday on an Australian farm finds himself crammed into a house with 17 people, eating dry bread and deprived of sunshine and fresh air. After arriving on a visa from China, the young man had headed to a small town on the NSW coast in 2024 to pick […]
