MACKILLOP College’s Tournament of the Minds (TOM) team is competing in the state finals at the University of NSW in Sydney this weekend, Sunday 14 September. TOM is a problem-solving competition, which aims to develop diverse skills, enterprise, time management and collaboration. MacKillop’s students were successful at the regional stage of the competition, held recently […]

Westport Primary School students receive prizes and certificates from CWA President Jill Adams and International Officer Christa Lobb. Photo: supplied. Winning poster entries from Westport and Telegraph Point Primary Schools. Photo: Pauline Cain. International Officer Christa Lobb (left) and CWA members enjoying the day. Photo: Pauline Cain. MEMBERS of the Port Macquarie Branch of the […]

AS bat season nears in Port Macquarie, health authorities are warning residents to take extra care and avoid all contact with flying foxes or microbats. A spike in sick and distressed bats arriving at wildlife hospitals across Northern NSW and Southern Queensland in recent weeks has prompted the alert. Authorities stress that touching or handling […]

FAN Artists at their exhibition opening. Photo: Pauline Cain Gloria Muddle ‘Tidal Edge’, textile. Photo: Pauline Cain. Catherine Erskine’s ‘Swamp Creature’ and ‘Falling Leaf’ make use of dead vine wood. Photo: Pauline Cain A chest made in China in 1879 and belonging to T.K. Steanes, inspired Joanne Steanes’ work. Photo: Pauline Cain “LOOKING Back Moving […]

THE State and Federal Governments have announced a $50 million Housing Support Package to assist eligible homeowners, renters and primary producers impacted by recent severe flooding. Ashlee Abbott, Acting Head of Preparedness and Recovery at the NSW Reconstruction Authority said, “We understand the community has been anxiously awaiting this package and we have been working […]

John Ruddick MLC, Cr Mark Hornshaw and Libertarian Party President Ross Cameron. Comboyne residents Tony and Josie Makin with daughters Adelle and Sofia, son-in-law John, and granddaughter Catherine. OWNERS of rural properties across NSW are celebrating a major breakthrough with the establishment of an Upper House inquiry to simplify the rules around building second dwellings […]

YEAR 9 students at Kempsey High School (KHS) were treated to cultural experience at The Glasshouse in June, supported by funding from the Coastline Bank Community Foundation. The students were provided tickets to a performance of ‘Scenes from the Climate Era’ by Sydney’s Belvoir St Theatre. “The performance was deeply moving – exploring the political, […]

Councillor Nik Lipovac. Port Macquarie MP Robert Dwyer. A NSW GOVERNMENT commitment to provide $5.5 million for a noise wall as part of the Coffs Harbour Bypass has been met with contempt from Port Macquarie-Hastings councillor Nik Lipovac. Cr Lipovac, speaking in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the wider council, has strongly […]

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, […]

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 […]