December 25, 2025
Marine Rescue legend signs off after 8,600 volunteer hours
Community

Marine Rescue legend signs off after 8,600 volunteer hours

AFTER 19 years of steady, silent service through the night, Peter Bliss, a dedicated member of Marine Rescue Port Stephens, has hung up the headset on his final overnight shift. Often working while the rest of the community slept, Peter was one of the unit’s most reliable night radio operators, logging a remarkable 1,323 shifts […]

Read More
Dolphin census day invites community participation A dolphin takes to the air. Photo: Elsa Cabanie.
Community

Dolphin census day invites community participation

A dolphin takes to the air. Photo: Elsa Cabanie. Dolphins surf an unbroken wave. Photo: Jodie Lowe. A pod of dolphins travels together. Photo: Selina Guckenbiehl. LOCAL residents are once again invited to take part in the Port Stephens Dolphin Census, Australia’s longest-running community dolphin count. This year’s event will be held by ORRCA (Organisation […]

Read More
Tea Gardens Lions cooking up a storm for the community
Community

Tea Gardens Lions cooking up a storm for the community

Lions Carole, Jo and Annette faced the crowds while Doug, John and Peter cooked up a storm and Rob oversaw the operation. The queue of Jayco partygoers was never-ending. Doug and John got hot and heady over the barbecues. MEMBERS of the Tea Gardens Lions Club have stepped up on multiple occasions to serve their […]

Read More
Registrations soar for Newcastle Permanent Maths Competition Hunter students preparing for the competition. Photo: supplied.
Community

Registrations soar for Newcastle Permanent Maths Competition

MORE than 13,000 students from over 200 schools across the Hunter will put their numeracy and problem-solving skills to the test this week in the 45th Newcastle Permanent Primary Schools Mathematics Competition. The competition is one of Australia’s largest and longest-running primary school mathematics contests, giving participants a unique opportunity to shine. Newcastle Permanent spokesperson […]

Read More
Appeal to find missing man Scott Hayden
Community, Health, Police

Appeal to find missing man Scott Hayden

THE family of Tinonee resident Scott Hayden is pleading for the public’s help to help locate the missing 46-year-old. Scott was last seen on the evening of 30 May in his car on Thunderbolts Way, Tibbuc. The vehicle was found abandoned the following day, parked on the side of the road near Tibbuc Road. The […]

Read More
‘Pioneer Poles’ repaired and returned to Myall River Lion Rob Dorman oversees the digging and installation of the poles at their new home near Tea Gardens Library.
Community

‘Pioneer Poles’ repaired and returned to Myall River

Lion Rob Dorman oversees the digging and installation of the poles at their new home near Tea Gardens Library. The Motum and Engel families in their new position, half of them renewed, with the under-construction Tea Gardens Library extension in the background. The McRae family watches over the estuary from Winda Woppa again, two of […]

Read More
XPT replacement trains unlikely to arrive anytime soon An artist’s impression of the XPT replacement trains. Photo: TfNSW.
Community, Government

XPT replacement trains unlikely to arrive anytime soon

THE wait for XPT replacement trains looks set to continue for the foreseeable future, with Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary Camilla Drover unable to put a date on when the new trains would come into service. “I’m not willing to commit to a hard and fast date,” she said at a recent Parliamentary budget estimates […]

Read More
Tea Gardens Public School P&C host Winter Disco Brodie, Hudson and Isla at the TGPS disco. Photo: R Faunt.
Community, School

Tea Gardens Public School P&C host Winter Disco

Brodie, Hudson and Isla at the TGPS disco. Photo: R Faunt. Hudson gets a look at DJ Jomeca’s turntables. Photo: R Faunt. TEA GARDENS Public School (TGPS) students enjoyed a rollicking evening at the P&C Disco on Thursday 3 July. “This night was all about the kids and they had an absolute blast!” TGPS P&C […]

Read More
Progress Association cleans up public facilities in Tea Gardens
Community, Health

Progress Association cleans up public facilities in Tea Gardens

Unseemly graffiti was painstakingly removed from inside the public toilets. This mural was defaced and has since been rejuvenated. The men’s room door is solid and impenetrable again. MEMBERS of the Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Progress Association (HNTGPA) have dug in to keep their area beautiful and liveable, attacking several projects of late in collaboration […]

Read More
No creature too great or small for WINC WINC volunteers help care for recovering wildlife like this feather-tailed glider.
Community

No creature too great or small for WINC

AS any pet owner will tell you, with no government subsidies such as Medicare, treating injury and illness in companion animals can be an expensive prospect. What hope is there, then, when native animals are struck by cars, or traumatised by bushfires? That’s where the volunteers of Wildlife In Need Of Care (WINC) get involved. […]

Read More