AUSSIE Ark has achieved a nationally and globally significant outcome with the koalas residing in the Barrington Tops Wildlife Sanctuary. Aussie Ark, Ecosure and Endeavour Veterinary Ecology (EVE) began their journey in November last year, when the team captured and vet checked the eight koalas living ‘wild’ in the sanctuary. All koalas were recently recaptured […]
Alison Penfold succeeds Dr David Gillespie as Lyne MP
THE National Party’s Alison Penfold will be the next Federal Member for Lyne, succeeding the long-serving Dr David Gillespie. As of Monday morning, Ms Penfold held 60.55 percent of the Two candidate preferred count over Labor’s Digby Wilson (39.45 percent) after Saturday’s federal election. Ms Penfold took 37.20 percent of first preference votes, with Mr […]
Dungog Shire Council and Hunter Water aim to strengthen partnership
REPRESENTATIVES from Dungog Shire Council and Hunter Water met on Monday, 28 April to discuss the organisations’ interests in common. A spokesperson for Council said the meeting focused on progressing shared priorities including faster development assessment processes, updated catchment protection guidelines, and future servicing plans to support sustainable growth, particularly around Clarence Town. Mayor Digby […]
Winner

Wallabies eye crucial World Cup seeding amid nasty run
WITH much unfinished business to tend to, Joe Schmidt has detailed the immense challenges confronting the Wallabies as he plots to secure Australia an all-important top-six seeding for the 2027 home Rugby World Cup. The Wallabies have 12 Test matches between July and November in which to claw their way from eighth in the international […]
Gardening with the wildlife: Gloucester Garden Club explore Stroud forest garden
GLOUCESTER Garden Club members found “many gems of nature” in the forest garden of Bente and Mogens Siefert during the club’s recent monthly meeting. Situated on Listening Hill to the east of Stroud, the property is one of 15 situated in a community-living arrangement among a natural forest setting. Bente and Mogens showcased their work […]
Clarence Town’s most highly decorated soldier
SGT Leslie Spurgeon Holmes in Egypt, 1917. Photo: Mr LG Holmes. Major Martin Holmes CSM (retired) pictured at the War Memorial at Clarence Town on Anzac Day. SGT Leslie Spurgeon Holmes was Martin’s great-grand uncle. THE most highly decorated soldier memorialised on the Clarence Town War Memorial is SGT Leslie (Les) Spurgeon […]
Election signs in the firing line as Lyne campaign heats up
CANDIDATES from across the political spectrum have complained of campaign signs being damaged and defaced during a tense campaign for the seat of Lyne. Earlier this month, Libertarian candidate Mark Hornshaw told NOTA his campaign banner on the Pacific Highway at Herons Creek had been vandalised. The banner featured images of Mr Hornshaw and Libertarian […]
Funding approved for Sculpture on the Farm
COUNCIL has endorsed a $10,000 funding request to support Sculpture on the Farm. In a statement to media, Dungog Shire Council said the event “attracts thousands of visitors and the acclaim of world-renowned sculpture artists”. A much-loved exhibition run by a dedicated band of local volunteers, the three-day event has previously brought around 2000 visitors […]
Dungog Shire Council’s strategic plan on public exhibition
DUNGOG Shire Council will seek feedback on its most significant long-term planning document – the Draft Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035. It will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days alongside key supporting documents including the Delivery Program, Operational Plan, Resourcing Strategy, Budget, and Fees and Charges. “The draft documents have undergone robust review by […]