August 19, 2026
Honouring those who bring us together in harmony If you know someone who is helping people from diverse cultural backgrounds feel connected,put in an Honour Roll nomination. Photo: Magnific.
Community, Local News

Honouring those who bring us together in harmony

DO you know someone in the community who is making, or has made, an outstanding contribution to our multicultural society by fostering belonging, inclusion and understanding? The NSW Government is calling for nominations for the 2027 Multicultural Community Medals and Honour Roll. These prestigious awards celebrate people and organisations from across the state. The Multicultural […]

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Honour history by nominating a person or place for a Blue Plaque commemoration A Blue Plaque commemorating the historic 1965 Freedom Ride advocating for Aboriginal rights. Photo: Heritage NSW.
Community, Government, Local News

Honour history by nominating a person or place for a Blue Plaque commemoration

An opportunity exists to help preserve and honour history by nominating inspiring people and defining moments that have helped shape the state of New South Wales. The NSW Government is inviting everyone, from individuals to community organisations, to share a story that deserves to be immortalised with a Blue Plaque. There are more than 70 […]

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A funding boost puts rural local community halls in line for an upgrade The upgraded Rowena Community Hall, originally built in 1934. Photo: Supplied
Community, Local News, Regional

A funding boost puts rural local community halls in line for an upgrade

The upgraded Rowena Community Hall, originally built in 1934. Photo: Supplied Community Association member Vanessa Radford standing at the Rowena Community Hall. Photo: Supplied FOR many rural towns, the local hall is far more than a building. It is where neighbours gather, volunteers organise events, children perform in concerts, emergency information is shared and communities […]

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Peter Gambrill and Mia Finch claim top honours at Stroud Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing Competition
Community, Local News, Regional

Peter Gambrill and Mia Finch claim top honours at Stroud Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing Competition

PETER Gambrill and Mia Finch claimed the Men’s Open and Women’s Open titles as hundreds of competitors and spectators gathered for the annual Stroud Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing Competition during the town’s bicentenary celebrations. The pair emerged as the day’s top throwers at the Stroud Showground, where one of regional Australia’s most distinctive sporting […]

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Citizen scientists photograph and catalogue fungi A stinkhorn, one of many fungi that may be found in Australia. This one smells very, very bad, as the name suggests. Photo: Nico Lombardo.
Community, Event, Local News, Regional

Citizen scientists photograph and catalogue fungi

THE Great Aussie Fungi Hunt 2026 is on, and community members are playing their part in a worldwide effort to catalogue mushroom species. The Great Aussie Fungi Hunt is a yearly event organised by Fungimap, a not for profit, citizen-science organisation dedicated to researching and protecting Australian fungi. One of the chief goals of the […]

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Seven suspected bird flu cases in native species Seven suspected cases of bird flu have been detected in greater crested terns, a common coastal species in Australia. Photo: AAP Image/Andrew Stafford.
Business, Community, Health, Local News, National, Regional

Seven suspected bird flu cases in native species

THE poultry industry is on alert after seven suspected bird flu cases were found in native species, potentially marking a new phase for the outbreak. The poultry industry is on alert after seven sick greater crested terns were found in South Australia’s southeast, sparking fears of a local transmission. Five were collected from Southend in […]

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New editor for News Of The Area newspaper group Eve with a few of her favourite things - eight different mastheads of News Of The Area. Photo: Angus Cheetham.
Business, Community, Local News, Regional

New editor for News Of The Area newspaper group

Eve with a few of her favourite things – eight different mastheads of News Of The Area. Photo: Angus Cheetham. Freckle, the sick little bird who grew up and identified as a homing pigeon, with his rescuer. Photo: Angus Cheetham. EVE Nesmith has been named Editor of News Of The Area, the family-owned independent local […]

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East coast NSW councils encourage residents to take the Plastic Free July pledge Council encourages the community to get involved in the Plastic Free July pledge. Photo: Engin Akyurt/Pexels
Community

East coast NSW councils encourage residents to take the Plastic Free July pledge

THOUSANDS of Australians are being encouraged to make one simple change this month by taking the Plastic Free July pledge. Councils along the east coast of New South Wales are supporting the global campaign, encouraging residents to refuse just one unnecessary plastic item during July and help reduce plastic waste in their communities. The Plastic […]

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