April 21, 2026
‘Rocking the Boat’: A sailor’s tale of adventure and adversity Sailor Ruth Boydell has released a compelling memoir covering her adventures across the globe. Photo: Galen Boydell.
Community

‘Rocking the Boat’: A sailor’s tale of adventure and adversity

HUNTER-BASED sailor and death doula Ruth Boydell has released a memoir, “Rocking the Boat: A Life in Three Voyages”, outlining global ocean adventures in the days before GPS and chartplotters. Ruth’s story begins at the age of 17, when she joined a thirty-something Englishman who was single-handing a sailboat around the world. The adventures came […]

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Home caring options explained at Probus meeting Ten-year Probus pin recipients (L-R): Jan MacDonald, Inga Reed, Carol Harrap, Keith Harrap, with President John Lamb. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe.
Community, Health

Home caring options explained at Probus meeting

Ten-year Probus pin recipients (L-R): Jan MacDonald, Inga Reed, Carol Harrap, Keith Harrap, with President John Lamb. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. President John Lamb with new Probus member Judy Binnie. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Jo Sheehan, from Home Caring Myall Coast, spoke to the members in April. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. MEMBERS of the Hawks Nest and District […]

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Local Red Cross knits Trauma Teddies to mark 35th anniversary Some of the Trauma Teddies produced by Tea Gardens Red Cross. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe.
Community

Local Red Cross knits Trauma Teddies to mark 35th anniversary

Tea Gardens Red Cross members knitting Trauma Teddies in March. Photo: Elizabeth Fenton. Some of the Trauma Teddies produced by Tea Gardens Red Cross. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Jane and Narelle from Tea Gardens Red Cross share the comfort that Trauma Teddies bring children worldwide. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. TRAUMA Teddies, those vital comforters that help children […]

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Stargazing: Dreamtime astronomy
Community

Stargazing: Dreamtime astronomy

HAVE you ever wondered who the first astronomers were? What an interesting question. Astronomy is the oldest science, but it’s also the newest. Everything we know about the night sky has been passed down through history, and we find the oldest continuous culture on Earth, the Australian Aboriginal people, were very likely the world’s first […]

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Council hosting another series of Community Conversations
Community

Council hosting another series of Community Conversations

MIDCOAST Council is calling on residents, community groups, and business owners to attend the next round of “Community Conversations”. A series of open forums have been scheduled, designed to give locals a chance to hear from and talk to councillors and senior council staff in person. These upcoming sessions provide an opportunity for the community […]

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Thursday Walkers pound the pavement through March Getting wet on the way to Johnson’s Beach. Photo: Jane.
Community, Health

Thursday Walkers pound the pavement through March

Newcastle’s spacious new art gallery was a March destination. Photo: Bea. Newcastle’s spacious new art gallery was a March destination. Photo: Bea. Getting wet on the way to Johnson’s Beach. Photo: Jane. WALKING has become an apt pastime with recent world events, and the Thursday Walkers group has relished the regular return to their long-established […]

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Bitou Busters begin season with strong turnout Before the Bitou Busters: Volunteer Adrienne Ingram helped remove invasive asparagus fern beside Peter Sinclair Gardens.
Community

Bitou Busters begin season with strong turnout

Before the Bitou Busters: Volunteer Adrienne Ingram helped remove invasive asparagus fern beside Peter Sinclair Gardens. Bitou Busters volunteers Trish and Brian show what a morning of work can achieve. The rest of the Bitou Busters team win another asparagus weed battle. ELEVEN enthusiastic Bitou Buster volunteers braved unseasonable cold and strong winds at their […]

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Maintaining clear access to water meters Meter readers have reportedly been encountering a variety of obstacles across the region.
Community

Maintaining clear access to water meters

MIDCOAST Council is asking residents to make life easier for its staff by maintaining clear access to water meters. According to Council, meter readers have been encountering a variety of obstacles across the region as they undertake their quarterly readings, with the most common hindrances being water meters enclosed behind fences or overgrown by plants […]

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Meals on Wheels farewells long-serving manager Meredyth Rae
Community

Meals on Wheels farewells long-serving manager Meredyth Rae

MEALS on Wheels Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest has bid official farewell to one of their long-serving staff, as Meredyth Rae stepped down from the manager’s role at the end of March. Meredyth, whose family roots spread deep around the region, returned to Bulahdelah 27 years ago, and initially got involved with the Meals on Wheels service […]

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Walkable towns help regional Australians exercise 75 minutes more each week The report shows walkability has a bigger impact on the amount of time spent walking in regional communities. Photo: David Guerrero/Pexels.
Community

Walkable towns help regional Australians exercise 75 minutes more each week

AMID soaring fuel prices which are prompting Australians to explore alternative transport options, a new study highlights the health benefits of walkable neighbourhoods. New research shows that regional residents living in walkable towns and centres walk 75 minutes more each week, prompting calls for Governments to invest more in well-connected, safe footpaths to boost community […]

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