April 20, 2026
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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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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Thursday Walkers limber up for another year of tramping trails The Thursday Walkers somewhere in the depths of Myall Lakes National Park. Photo: Thursday Walkers.
Community, Health

Thursday Walkers limber up for another year of tramping trails

The Thursday Walkers somewhere in the depths of Myall Lakes National Park. Photo: Thursday Walkers. The Walkers hiked their way to Johnson’s Hill and beach in the Myall Lakes National Park. Photo: Thursday Walkers. THE Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Thursday Walkers group will head off on its first trek for 2026 in early March. The […]

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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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NSW Health offering subsidies to future health workers Medical student Aimee Long is one of the 7,900 students who have benefitted from the program since 2024. Photo: NSW Health.
Health

NSW Health offering subsidies to future health workers

UP TO $12,000 in financial support is on offer for students enrolled in medical, nursing, midwifery, dentistry, Aboriginal health and allied health degrees across NSW. The new round of applications for the Tertiary Health Study Subsidies Program opened on 28 January. This year, support will be available for up to 4,000 students across the state. […]

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Record urgent care and surgery demand across Hunter New England Health district The number of emergency and urgent care patients is the highest since reporting began.
Government, Health

Record urgent care and surgery demand across Hunter New England Health district

THE latest Bureau of Health Information report shows increased demand for hospital care and urgent surgery across the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD). The quarterly report is based on the period between July – September 2025. There were 108,152 presentations to emergency departments (EDs) across the district, which is 2174 fewer than in […]

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Thursday Walkers enjoy drier November The historic old shops at Raymond Terrace. Photo: Bea.
Community, Health

Thursday Walkers enjoy drier November

The historic old shops at Raymond Terrace. Photo: Bea. Along Stockton’s shipwreck walk. Photo: Robyn. Through the rocks at Glenrock. Photo: Robyn. View from Leichhardt’s Lookout at Glenrock. Photo: Judy. THURSDAY Walkers laced up their year of trekking around the region with several successful and fair-weather outings during November. The first Thursday took the Walkers […]

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Dr Paul Hardisty speaks to Myall U3A about Great Barrier Reef and an environmental ‘trilemma’ Dr Paul Hardisty explaining the great ‘trilemma’ of food, energy and water that awaits the near future. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe.
Health

Dr Paul Hardisty speaks to Myall U3A about Great Barrier Reef and an environmental ‘trilemma’

ENVIRONMENTAL scientist, engineer and author Dr Paul Hardisty shared the ecological realities surrounding the Great Barrier Reef during a visit to the Myall U3A on Friday 31 October. Originally from Canada and now based in Perth, Dr Hardisty also shared his long-held love of writing, fostered by his parents. “Write what you know, and what […]

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Spring relief for Thursday Walkers Salamander Bay, 4 September. Photo: Bea.
Community, Health

Spring relief for Thursday Walkers

Salamander Bay, 4 September. Photo: Bea. On the way to Johnson’s Beach, 18 September. Photo: Judy. Mt Sugarloaf Cliff Top Walk, 25 September. Photo: Judy. THE local Thursday Walkers ventured out on a delightful series of Spring walks during September. The first Thursday was blessed with mostly sunshine and a slight breeze as the group […]

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Nature at the doorstep: how to bring biodiversity to your yard
Community, Health

Nature at the doorstep: how to bring biodiversity to your yard

IT is often said that there are many benefits associated with spending time in nature. “Increasingly, being in nature is recognised as being important,” explains Mat Bell, Senior Ecologist with MidCoast Council. “Contact with nature benefits human health and well-being by reducing stress, improving mental health, enhancing physical health, and improving cognitive function, like concentration […]

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