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 […]
LETTER: Climate change defeats Europe’s nuclear plants
DEAR News Of The Area, Nuclear power plants consume millions of litres of water per day to cool their extremely hot reactor cores. This year summer heatwaves and falling rainfall have defeated several of Europe’s nuclear plants, forcing them to reduce power or shut down completely, and leading to an energy crisis. One vital water […]
Step up for Red, Set, Go! and join the August challenge to help save little lives
AS communities across the News Of The Area readership prepare for another busy month of local events, residents are being encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and take part in the ‘Red, Set, Go!’ 3km-a-Day Challenge throughout August. The month-long fitness challenge is the centrepiece of this year’s Red Nose Day campaign, culminating in […]
Local author’s memoir reaches #1 Bestseller on Amazon Australia
LOCAL author Carmen Allen has celebrated an outstanding milestone in the wake of the release of her latest book, reaching the ‘#1’ spot on Amazon Australia’s Best Sellers rankings in multiple categories, among them Christian Death & Grief Counselling, and Christian Inspiration, on 18 and 19 June. The latest book, Grief’s Gift, is part memoir, […]
Dungog historical society welcomes Thalaba book launch
A NEW book about the Thalaba area of Dungog has been published. “Belonging In Thalaba: Settlers And Their Descendants 1845 – 1921” was written by Dr Narelle Borrott and was launched at an event at the Dungog Museum last Saturday. The book details the stories of prominent farming families that settled in the Thalaba Parish […]
New RFS tanker strengthens emergency response for Gresford district
THE Gresford Rural Fire Service Brigade has received a new firefighting vehicle as part of a $4.1 million fleet rollout across the Lower Hunter, providing local volunteers with upgraded equipment ahead of the bushfire season. The brigade was one of ten across the Lower Hunter to officially receive a new vehicle during a handover ceremony […]
