Shoppers were tempted by the delicious homemade cakes. Dungog local Trish Tull and Auxiliary Secretary Judy Steer at the Fathers Day Stall. DUNGOG Hospital Auxiliary’s Father’s Day Stall popped up on Saturday morning, outside the newsagency in Dowling Street. It opened at 8.30am and ran until the goods were sold out, around lunchtime. The Father’s […]
Hunter hospitals rolling-out safe staffing in EDs
TWENTY-SEVEN more hospitals across NSW are rolling-out safe staffing levels in their emergency departments. In the broader Hunter region these include Manning Base Hospital, Maitland Hospital and John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. This brings to 40 the number of hospitals across the state that have started operating with safe staffing levels as a result of […]
Loneliness Awareness Week
LONELINESS is recognised as an important public health issue, although it is something that is not often openly discussed. This week, 4-10 August, is Loneliness Awareness Week. “Loneliness Awareness Week shines a spotlight on the shared experience of loneliness and calls on all Australians, including individuals, communities, workplaces, education and government to take action to […]
Dungog to host End-Of-Life expo
COMMUNITY members are invited to attend the End-Of-Life Expo on Wednesday 23 July, from 1pm to 4pm at the CWA Hall in Dungog. Hosted by local End-of-Life Doula Jess Watkins, the afternoon event aims to open up compassionate, practical conversations around dying, death, and care. With a growing national movement towards death literacy and community-based […]

Process begins for urgent care clinic in Maitland
AN expressions of interest (EOI) process to establish a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) in Maitland closed on 15 July. The EOI was open to existing general practices, community health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. Fifty new Medicare UCCs were announced in the 2025-26 Budget, set to provide walk-in, bulk-billed treatment for urgent […]
Cheaper complementary health treatments are on the way
WHEN Peter Hill walked into his first pilates class, he had to warm-up for the warm-up. With a feeble lower back and taut hamstrings, the then 63-year-old was hoping the therapy could aid his pain. Six years later, he can dart and dash with little-to-no trouble. “Occasionally I might have a bit of a twinge […]
Dungog’s ‘death café’ sparks community conversation
AS AUSTRALIA’S population ages and health services strain to meet growing demands, there’s a renewed focus on how we die and how we can support each other through the process. The federal government has announced a one-off $25,000 payment to help more Australians die at home, a response to the fact that while 70 percent […]
Dungog’s Earth & Elm Studio triumphs at Hunter Business Awards
IN A landmark moment for regional and queer-owned businesses, Earth & Elm Studio in Dungog has taken out both the “Business of the Year” and “Personal Services” categories at the prestigious 2025 Hunter Region Business Excellence Awards. The awards, the largest of their kind in NSW, saw Earth & Elm triumph over competitors from across […]

Residents urged to be aware of mould impacts after floods
HIDDEN dangers exist in practically every house and property, many only exposed after an incident like the heavy rainfall that the region received over the last weeks. Mould, which naturally exists almost everywhere, loves moisture and poorly-lit areas that lack decent ventilation, such as walls or wallpaper, ceilings, bathroom tiles, carpets, insulation material and wood. […]

Mosquito numbers set to soar after long rains
Aedes aegypti mosquito ready for a meal, followed by laying eggs in your birdbath. Photo: Dr Cameron Webb. This backyard birdbath, filled by the recent rains, contains dozens of mosquito larvae that can mature within a week. The black spots are mosquito eggs or pupae, ready to hatch. MOSQUITO numbers are set to soar due […]