February 21, 2026
Young angler Sean Leeman tags 92.8kg blue marlin at Port Stephens Game Fishing competition NPSGFC’s Sean Leeman and Noah Tubman featured on Junior Team Tantrum at the annual Garmin Billfish Shootout.
Fishing

Young angler Sean Leeman tags 92.8kg blue marlin at Port Stephens Game Fishing competition

TWO of Port Stephens finest young anglers experienced a huge thrill when they competed in the prestigious Garmin Billfish Shootout last weekend. Sean Leeman and Noah Tubman demonstrated their fishing prowess against world class anglers in Australia’s premier game fishing competition. The outstanding duo from the Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fish Club (NPSGFC) were […]

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Motorfest revs up for 21st birthday in March The Motor Club finds new members while raising funds for community causes. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe.
Event

Motorfest revs up for 21st birthday in March

The Motor Club finds new members while raising funds for community causes. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Keith’s blue 1970 XW Falcon, Jock’s red 1973 Camaro, and Bob’s green 1960 Wolseley. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. MOTORHEADS across the Myall Coast are gearing up for the 21st birthday of the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Motorfest, and some have shared […]

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Faith meets funny: Pastor ‘Uncle Nath’ to take stage at Tea Gardens Baptist Church Newcastle-based comedian and pastor Nathan Ranclaud. Photo: YouTube.
Entertainment

Faith meets funny: Pastor ‘Uncle Nath’ to take stage at Tea Gardens Baptist Church

TEA Gardens Baptist Church is set to host Nathan Ranclaud – known to his fans as “Uncle Nath” – for a free event that promises to bridge the gap between the pews and the comedy club. Ranclaud, a Newcastle-based comedian and pastor, has carved out a unique niche in the Australian entertainment scene. Known for […]

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Nerong fires continue to burn and smother towns in smoke Diggers clear burnt trees and open up hidden ground fires near the pine plantation. Photo: Pindimar-Tea Gardens/RFS Facebook.
Community, Event, Health

Nerong fires continue to burn and smother towns in smoke

The 6500ha bushfire sits just a few kilometres north of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest. Image: Fires Near Me website. A water-bombing helicopter refills at a dam on a property near Nerong. Photo: Pindimar-Tea Gardens RFS/Facebook. Diggers clear burnt trees and open up hidden ground fires near the pine plantation. Photo: Pindimar-Tea Gardens/RFS Facebook. Grass […]

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Tea Gardens Lions celebrate national birthday in classic local style
Event

Tea Gardens Lions celebrate national birthday in classic local style

The fluttering flag was proudly raised by 2025 Citizen of the Year Jan Peeters. Photos: Thomas O’Keefe. The 2026 Young Citizen Gingerlily Shelton, Lion Helen Watkins, and 2026 Citizen of the Year Paul Bendy. Quinn Hadfield is remade into “Spidergirl” by volunteer facepainting artist Pam Ness. The volunteer facepainting artists were a hit with the […]

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Australia Day at Bennetts Beach returns after years off
Event

Australia Day at Bennetts Beach returns after years off

Lifesavers prepare to launch the rescue jetski for a demonstration. The IRB demo hit a few waves on the way out. DJ Jomeca kept the tunes pumping all the way down to the beach all afternoon. Photos: Thomas O’Keefe. FEW better ways exist to celebrate Australia Day than a day at the beach, unless it […]

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Stinker’s History: a great contributor Family and friends gathered on Broughton Island to honour the memory of Bob Dyer.
Fishing

Stinker’s History: a great contributor

FAMILY and friends gathered on Broughton Island to farewell legendary islander Bob Dyer, who passed away recently. No one did more for the betterment of recreational fishing, the environment, and Broughton Island, than Bob. It was 1969 when Bob, a Life Member of Maitland Off-Shore Fishing Club, was first lured to Broughton Island by the […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: flathead central Just one of the cracker flatheads landed by the Coles boys.
Fishing

Stinker’s Fishin’: flathead central

THERE are many champion fishers, some are specialists in one or two species of fish – snapper, mulloway, kingfish and all the others. Only a very few local recreation fishers can lay claim to catching anything that moves. Lemon Tree’s Wayne Coles is one such champion. There is nothing that swims that “King Coles” can’t […]

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Myall University of the Third Age sees near-record sign-up for classes Deb and Del prepare to share the love of ukuleles and other strings. Photos: Thomas O’Keefe.
Event

Myall University of the Third Age sees near-record sign-up for classes

Jan, Sue and Rozz with the ever-popular Art Group. Deb and Del prepare to share the love of ukuleles and other strings. Photos: Thomas O’Keefe. HUNDREDS have returned for the annual Myall University of the Third Age (MU3A) sign-on day, hosted at Hawks Nest Hall on Tuesday 20 January. The MU3A is home to more […]

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Pearls of Port Stephens sell your wardrobe Two of the Pearls, Sue Collins and Kerry Patterson, with a tithe of the clothes on offer, and MU3A members’ paintings on display in the Hall. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe.
Event

Pearls of Port Stephens sell your wardrobe

LOCAL women’s charitable group, the Pearls of Port Stephens, set up yet another successful ‘Buy My Wardrobe’ in Hawks Nest on Saturday 24 January. In a prime location at the new Myall University of the Third Age (MU3A) hall, next to Hawks Nest Community Hall, the Pearls attracted plenty of interest. The hall was made […]

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