A NATIONAL childcare worker register should show the employment history of staff after revelations an accused child abuser was sacked from one facility but continued working unimpeded. Joshua Dale Brown, 26, has been charged with more than 70 sex offences against eight alleged victims aged under two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Authorities have […]
DUNGOG Shire Council, in partnership with Dungog Regional Tourism, is inviting the community to help find the perfect location for a new scenic viewing platform that will showcase the region’s stunning natural landscapes and rich heritage. Renowned for its rolling hills, sweeping ridgelines, and tranquil river valleys, Dungog Shire boasts some of the most stunning […]
THE Brig O’Johnston Bridge at Clarence Town has reopened to traffic following the early completion of essential maintenance and safety improvement work. Pedestrian and vehicle access across the bridge returned to normal on Friday. For more information on this work, visit www.livetraffic.com/incident-details/240007, download the Live Traffic NSW app or call 132 701. To receive updates […]
Grants of up to $3000 are availanble to community groups across rural, regional and remote Australia.
THE Regional Tech Hub has announced a new grants program, offering up to $3000 to community groups across rural, regional and remote Australia. The Connect Grants are open to grassroots projects that help people navigate the complex world of phone and internet connectivity. Regional Tech Hub General Manager, Jennifer Medway, said the program is about […]
LIBERAL MLC Aileen MacDonald OAM has sponsored a petition to the NSW Legislative Council demanding the reinstatement of three-month and six-month NSW TrainLink Discovery Passes. The six-month Discovery Pass, previously available for $420, offered unlimited travel across NSW TrainLink’s regional train and coach network. The longer term passes have recently been paused by the state […]
RURAL Aid has launched the sixth annual Spirit of the Bush Photo Competition, inviting Upper Hunter residents to share striking images that capture the strength, resilience, and beauty of life on the land. Running from 14 July to 31 August 2025, the much-loved competition provides a powerful platform for rural and regional Australians to tell […]
Geese at the hobby farm. Tanya’s prize-winning Giant Dewlap Toulouse. Chinese Brown gander. TANYA Quant and her family have been quietly raising eyebrows, and geese, from their hobby farm in Brookfield for the past 25 years. Specialising in rare and heritage breeds, their feathered fascination has blossomed into national acclaim, with their flock dominating poultry […]
AN additional 29 suburbs in the Hunter and Mid North Coast are now eligible for the East Coast Severe Weather Personal Hardship Assistance payment for people impacted by recent floods. In the Hunter this includes Balickera 2324, Brandy Hill 2324, Butterwick 2321, Duns Creek 2321 and Glen Oak 2320, and comes following further assessments by […]
Urgent care clinics provide walk-in, bulk-billed treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening emergencies.
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 […]
WINC volunteers help care for recovering wildlife like this feather-tailed glider.
AS any pet owner will tell you, with no government subsidies such as Medicare, treating injury and illness in companion animals can be an expensive prospect. What hope is there, then, when native animals are struck by cars, or traumatised by bushfires? That’s where the volunteers of Wildlife In Need Of Care (WINC) get involved. […]
