June 24, 2025
First aid facilities upgraded at Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club The plastic table and chairs will be upgraded with a proper kitchenette for lifesavers on duty. Photo: David Lau.
Community, Health

First aid facilities upgraded at Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club

Newly built walls and false ceilings divide the original space. The frame of the new wall going in. Photo: David Lau. First aid was relegated to a bed in the corner of the old single room. Photo: David Lau. The plastic table and chairs will be upgraded with a proper kitchenette for lifesavers on duty. […]

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Regional platypus initiative pushes forward Platypus Becan and the Easter Bunny go head-to-head at the Gresford Billy Cart Derby. Photo: supplied.
Community

Regional platypus initiative pushes forward

Rachel Barry, platypus mascot ‘Becan’ and Callaghan kids at May’s Tocal Field Day. Photo: supplied. Regional Platypus Initiative coordinators Sian Ineson, Rachel Barry and Julie Overton during a planning session. Photo: supplied. Platypus Becan and the Easter Bunny go head-to-head at the Gresford Billy Cart Derby. Photo: supplied. THE “Barrington Rivers Platypus Initiative” has been […]

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Pindimar-Tea Gardens RFB welcomes vintage truck to new home The new recruit hitched a ride with Green and White Transport to get from Lochinvar to Tea Gardens.
Community

Pindimar-Tea Gardens RFB welcomes vintage truck to new home

The new recruit hitched a ride with Green and White Transport to get from Lochinvar to Tea Gardens. Captain David Bright, with ‘maintenance men’ Gary, Keith and Karl (driving) near the Tea Gardens Station. David and Karl air out the compartments. THE latest addition to the Pindimar-Tea Gardens Rural Fire Brigade fleet is a vintage […]

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Direct Newcastle to Bali flights to launch in October Minister Steve Kamper at Newcastle Airport for the announcement.
Community, National

Direct Newcastle to Bali flights to launch in October

JETSTAR will launch a direct route between Newcastle and Denpasar (Bali) from 21 October. Denpasar is a major international aviation hub offering connections to over 40 countries. The service is set to be run three times a week, and will be the first international route offered from Newcastle’s new international terminal. Minister for Jobs and […]

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King tides add to coastal flooding The corner of Cunningham St and Curlew Ave shows sand washed over the low beach, cutting access.
Community, Regional

King tides add to coastal flooding

KING tides flooded the coastlines and estuaries around Port Stephens from Thursday 29 May, coinciding with the riverine flooding that rocked the hinterland and Mid North Coast. Masses of seaweed and sand were lifted by the tides over the roads at Pindimar North and South, leaving salty flooding, seaweed and debris in its wake. This […]

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Dave Owens appointed Hunter and Mid-North Coast Recovery Coordinator Former NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens.
Community

Dave Owens appointed Hunter and Mid-North Coast Recovery Coordinator

FORMER NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens has been appointed as the Recovery Coordinator for the Hunter and Mid-North Coast in the wake of devastating floods. Mr Owens commenced the role last week and will be based out of Taree. “Dave Owens has a lot of experience helping communities after natural disasters, so I am […]

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‘Thursday Walkers’ group treads carefully in wild weather A grey day on the harbour. Photo: Ray Hughes.
Community

‘Thursday Walkers’ group treads carefully in wild weather

A grey day on the harbour. Photo: Ray Hughes. On the way to Robinson’s Flat. Photo: Ray Hughes. Coffee and a chat replaced a scheduled walk after wet weather intervened. Photo: Ray Hughes. Walkers in the rain in Columbey National Park. Photo: Ray Hughes. BIG plans have been washed away for the ‘Thursday Walkers’ group, […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: Give the Leatherjacket a go The brilliantly-coloured sixspine leatherjacket is common over the shallow reefs.
Community

Stinker’s Fishin’: Give the Leatherjacket a go

OF all the fishing articles I have written over the past 40 years, very few have featured leatherjacket. Appropriately named, this weird looking fish has sandpaper skin and no scales with a spike protruding from the head. They have a mean set of dentures which they are keen to use if you get too close, […]

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Myall Coast locals rally to support flood victims A strong collection initiative began at Galleries in the Gardens even before the rains abated.
Community, Regional

Myall Coast locals rally to support flood victims

Widespread flooding occurred in the wetland areas of Tea Gardens near Myall Way. A strong collection initiative began at Galleries in the Gardens even before the rains abated. Stroud SES units have done flood assessments around the area, such as here in Nerong. MASSIVE rainfall over the last few weeks has led to widespread flooding […]

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Fodder drops provide lifeline to flooded farmers Fodder is being air-dropped to farmers in need.
Community

Fodder drops provide lifeline to flooded farmers

HELICOPTERS have provided isolated farmers with emergency fodder for their stranded livestock, as part of a range of support available to flood-affected farmers across the Mid North Coast, North Coast and Hunter. As of midday Saturday, 24 May, there had been 43 helicopter aerial drops of fodder, and nearly 131 emergency fodder drops by other […]

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