THIS question is one we all face every three years and, of course, it relates to the next Federal election. Do we elect the party with the best policies to suit my circumstances? Do we elect a good local guy or girl because they tell a good tale, or do we actually know them in […]
DEAR News Of The Area, FROM October 1, businesses across Australia can no longer add a surcharge when customers pay by Visa, Mastercard, eftpos or American Express. The Reserve Bank says the change is designed to make pricing simpler and more transparent for consumers. But there is a very obvious question that needs to be […]
DEAR News Of The Area, WALK into the Hawks Nest Community Hall and you can see what decades of neglect looks like. This is our only community hall. It is supposed to be a neutral place where the whole community can meet, hold events and come together. Instead, it is falling apart. There are holes […]
DEAR News Of The Area, A CONVERSATION with an Uber driver on my way to Brisbane Airport got me thinking about where Australia is heading. We talked about youth crime, housing, cost-of-living pressures and immigration. I came away wondering whether our political debate focuses too much on who to blame and not enough on what […]
The Søren Larsen, as photographed by Dale Sim.
DEAR News Of The Area, I SNAPPED a few pictures of the Søren Larsen tall ship in Fingal Bay. She sheltered [overnight on 22 September, 2026] in lee of Fingal Island and was still there this morning. According to the Sydney Harbour Tall Ships website, the Søren Larsen, built in 1949, was one of the […]
ELON Musk has built a career on chasing ideas many people once thought impossible. Now the SpaceX founder has revealed perhaps his boldest dream yet: creating permanent human settlements on the Moon and, eventually, Mars. The first steps could begin before the end of 2026. But instead of astronauts leading the way, Musk wants fleets […]
DEAR Jasminda, MY friend lets her dog ‘prewash’ the dinner plates and dessert bowls by licking up any leftovers before she puts them in the dishwasher. As much as I love going there for dinner, I am disgusted by this unhygienic act. How do I sensitively raise this issue? Isla F. DEAR Isla, PEOPLE with […]
DEAR News Of The Area, THE NSW Government’s proposed changes to bag limits for snapper and yellowtail kingfish should concern every recreational fisher in this state. Once again, recreational fishers appear to be the easiest target when the Government wants to be seen to be doing something about fish stocks. But where is the evidence […]
BECAUSE we are living in similar circumstances to the rest of the Western world, what is the reality for real estate values in our country? International news agency Reuters put together a report on real estate markets in Canada and New Zealand, which has become available in Australia this month. It caught my eye because […]
WHEN astronauts eventually set foot on the Moon for months at a time, or establish the first human settlement on Mars, they’ll face a challenge that’s just as important as rockets and spacesuits: growing fresh food. Taking enough supplies from Earth simply isn’t practical for long missions, so future explorers will need thriving gardens millions […]
