ON THE COUCH: What should I do with my parent’s ashes
DEAR Jasminda, My parents recently indicated they would like their ashes scattered at a beach. I want to be composted. Could I keep some of their ashes to go in with my remains? Patricia L. DEAR Patricia, Though this is a rather macabre subject, it is important that your parents’ wishes are adhered to. Since […]
‘Woke’ agenda could cause civil war
I COULD be wrong but, in my humble opinion, it would appear that Labor, Liberals, Greens and Teals seem to be behind woke communism, using schoolkids to march against Australian democracy. This may send Western society broke and cause civil war. Regards, Mick Edgar, Nelson Bay.
Man charged over alleged $11k Port Stephens shoplifting spree
A MAN has been charged over numerous alleged shoplifting incidents in the Port Stephens area. Last month, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District began an investigation into a number of reported shoplifting incidents that affected retailers in the Salamander and Nelson Bay areas. Around 8;30pm on Saturday, 8 August 2026, police arrested a 27-year-old […]
Some of the glitz, glamour, dance and song on stage at the 2026 NSW Premier’s Gala Concert. Photo: NSW Seniors via Facebook.
2027 NSW Seniors Week Premier’s Gala Concerts group ticket register now open
THE 2027 NSW Seniors Festival Premier’s Gala Concerts group ticket register launched on Monday, 10 August. Community groups, residential aged care facilities, social groups, Aboriginal organisations, culturally and linguistically diverse organisations and disability organisations with 10 or more attendees are all eligible to secure a spot on the register until 5pm on Friday 11 September. […]
STINKER: No fish was safe when ‘Morgo’ was on the prowl
IT was back in 1974 when I arrived in Port Stephens to take up an appointment as PE Teacher at Nelson Bay High School the following year. Having no knowledge of the area I was fortunate in that I knew Ken McCray, a teacher at Anna Bay Public School. My wife Ella and I were […]
Bushfire could come out of Dungog Common
DEAR News Of The Area, IT puzzles me that no-one seems to be alert to a really obvious (to me at least) risk that is staring all of us, who live in and near Dungog, in the face. That risk is the possibility of a bushfire coming out of the Dungog Common. I am not […]
Club celebrates the people who make it great.
THIS Saturday, August 15, promises to be a day to remember when the Paterson River Rugby League club hosts the Morpeth Bulls in their final home game of the 2026 season. Prior to the men’s D Grade clash, ladies’ league tag will take the field from 2pm, with Morpeth battling it out with Gloucester. The […]
1 in 4 Australians forego heating or cooling due to cost
TEMPERATURE extremes at either end of the thermometer carry inherent risk for vulnerable people, such as the elderly or young children, yet more than one in four admit they’ve gone without in times of need due to the cost. A recent survey revealed that 27 per cent of Australians, which is 5.7 million people, fell […]
Helping kids and teens build relationships offline
WITH the ban on under-16s using social media, the Government has recognised a need to fill the void and help youth connect in real life (IRL) and invested more than $2million in grassroots programs across NSW to help children and youth build healthy relationships offline. The Connect IRL program is the direct result of feedback […]