COLLABORATION between the Port Stephens, Maitland and Dungog councils will bring emergency services together to teach residents how to prepare for floods, fires, storms, and other disasters. The Emergency Management and Community Resilience Expo will take place at the Maitland Showgrounds, with more than 25 emergency services and government organisations in attendance, including NSW Police, […]

TEN years ago, 10 Australians lost their lives during the world’s largest and most catastrophic thunderstorm asthma event. Several thousand others, including people who had no past history of asthma, experienced breathing difficulties. With the grass pollen season now under way, the National Asthma Council of Australia is reminding Australians to protect themselves and their […]

King Billy Ridgeway, sons and grandsons culling oysters at Pindimar 1915. Large numbers of Worimi people formed a trusted and extremely competent work force in the local oyster industry for many years. Photo: Supplied by John Clarke. John Ridgeway and Neville Lilley were raised in the Karuah Mission and spent many hours working in oyster […]

IS it the light, crisp icing-topped pastry? Is it the decadently rich and creamy custard filling? Or simply a wickedly delicious combination of the two? Decide for yourself by visiting the place unofficially crowned the Vanilla Slice Capital of the World (or at least the Hunter Valley). Sure, that’s a big claim. But it’s well […]

IF ever there was news that illustrated how catastrophic experts viewed a developing situation, the Australian Government’s decision to withdraw expeditioners from Macquarie Island research station must near top of the list. The Australian Government’s Antarctic Division has made the difficult decision to temporarily withdraw staff from Macquarie Island research station due to the psychosocial […]

UPPER Hunter Local Government Areas began their Bush Fire Danger Period on Tuesday, 1 September. The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) is warning that now is the time to prepare. The RFS is urging all residents to take 10 minutes to think about the bushfire risk you, your property and your community face. The plea […]

The winning photograph, ‘R.I.P. Queen’. Photo: Nikki Kenwrick. Usually the one behind the camera, Nikki Kenwrick captured “in the wild”. A RARE moment in a Port Stephens backyard has earned local wildlife photographer Nikki Kenwrick two major honours in the 2026 Australian Native Bee Association Photography Competition. Nikki was named both Overall Winner and People’s […]

Peter Cronin, Managing Director of Bring The Noise Fireworks, Lochinvar. Heidi Saurs, Katie Manderson, Taleah Sliwa, and Liz Kauter, Paterson Public School. Larissa Proctor and Louise Charlotte, entertainers from Fyrestorm. Alwin Huber and Mandy Huber, volunteers from Rotary Club of Paterson. Ben Davies, Aimee Davies, Nate Davies and Indi Davies from Bolwarra. Julie Sternbeck, Ascher […]

A YOUNG new hotshot has been the talk of the town after her community radio debut on 2DCR Radio Dungog. Clarence Town’s Emily Robinson is in her final year of high school and has recently started a new program called “Album Of The Hour.” During the program she plays an album from beginning to end […]

IF you have a top-loading washing machine and are a pensioner, veteran, social housing tenant or part of a low-income household, you may be eligible to trade your machine in for a brand new 8kg water and energy-efficient front-loader for just $250. The NSW Government’s Washing Machine Exchange Program is back with another 6,000 discounted […]