“WE’RE just people who care about locals going through a difficult time.” That’s how Annette O’Neill describes the members of Dungog Shire Palliative Care Volunteers Inc. For 31 years, the local group has enabled people living with life-limiting terminal illnesses to continue living at home in communities across the shire. The group is unique: there’s […]
Dogs at risk as hot car laws languish in Parliament
EVERY year in NSW, authorities receive hundreds of calls about animals left in hot vehicles. Temperatures inside a car can rise to dangerous levels and can rapidly reach more than double the outside temperature – even on mild days. Tinting, parking in the shade or leaving the windows open do not help to reduce the […]
A sweet way to support palliative care volunteers from Dungog and the Hunter Valley
THEY are the ‘win-win’ mangoes. Win #1: You get a tray of delicious Bowen mangoes. Win #2: Every tray Friends of Palliative Care (FOPC) sells in its Mango Fundraiser funds more support for Lower Hunter people with life-ending illnesses. FOPC receives a percentage of the $29 from each tray sold. As of last week, 54 […]
You can help make NSW roads safer
MOTORCYCLISTS on NSW roads are at far greater risk of being killed in a crash than other motor vehicle users, according to the NSW Government’s Towards Zero campaign. Motorcycle fatalities accounted for 20.7 per cent of all road fatalities and nearly 4,500 injuries in 2024 despite motorcycles making up only 3.7 per cent of registered […]
Entries open for Humans of Aged Care photo contest
IT’S time for aged care workers around the country to strike a pose, because Ageing Australia is looking to showcase photographs of the best in the sector. So many people contribute in positive and amazing ways to the care of older Australians, and Ageing Australia is holding a Humans of Aged Care photo competition to […]
Screen-time restrictions set in NSW public schools
SCREEN time in all NSW public schools will be capped from the beginning of Term 1, 2027, as the NSW Government takes action to help curb excessive screen use, improve students’ attention, and lift educational outcomes. Public schools will limit Kindergarten to Year 2 students to 15 minutes a day on laptops, tablets or desktop […]
A sea lion has tested positive for bird flu, sparking fears of a possible extinction event. Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS.
First case of bird flu in endangered sea lion
AUSTRALIA’S rarest seal species has recorded a case of bird flu for the first time, with an animal dying from the disease while recovering from a shark attack. The first case in an Australian sea lion has raised concerns for the species’ already dwindling population. A sea lion at South Australia’s Seal Bay on Kangaroo […]
New dads in NSW set for more support
NEW fathers in NSW will benefit from new health and mental health checks thanks to a $1 million donation from the NSW Government to men’s health charity Movember. The funding will allow NSW Health to partner with Movember to pilot health and wellbeing checks for new and expecting dads. The initiative will focus on the […]
Coalition call to make tobacco products legal and affordable to smash black market
AUSTRALIA must smash the illicit tobacco market that is fuelling organised crime, hurting legitimate businesses and making a mockery of our laws, according to Federal Member for Lyne, Alison Penfold. “Illicit tobacco is not a victimless crime,” Ms Penfold said. “It has become big business for organised crime.” Ms Penfold says she has backed a […]
Combat and collision-based ‘sports’ catch Government’s eye
IF you or members of your family spend time on social media, there’s every chance that you have been exposed to new and emerging forms of combat and collision-based activities. They include bareknuckle boxing, power slap (which is exactly what it sounds like) and something called Run Nation Championship (RNC). Google describes RNC as “a […]
