DEAR News Of The Area, I WANT to call out the blatant hypocrisy and political opportunism driving the aggressive campaign against offshore wind projects in Port Stephens. Opponents of offshore wind made alarmist claims about its potential impact on the marine environment, while at the same time aligning themselves with the Liberal Party, a party […]
Letter to the Editor: Let us build ourselves a home
DEAR News Of The Area, TODAY the Minns Government’s announcement fast tracking to build 105,000 new homes across regional NSW. I had to ask myself why-oh-why, today, did MidCoast Council identify their top three priorities as roads, financial sustainability and customer experience. Not housing. Not tourism. If MidCoast Council wants to fix its finances it […]
The Write Direction: Scrap the tax
MY article published in NOTA 17/1/24 titled “Going Global” covered the so-called “luxury tax” on new vehicles. This issue was again raised when discussing tax prior to the federal election. As a long-time motoring buff, I’m strongly against that tax and have for many years tried to raise this issue with politicians. However I’m also […]
Write Direction: Beefing up the cost of living
TALK about kicking yourself in the shins. I can’t think of any other response to President Trump’s tariffs on the importation of beef into the USA. As an owner of rural properties for nearly 40 years I am acutely aware of the pressures on the beef, lamb and grains industry in our country. Plus, as […]
‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
DEAR Jasminda, YET again I have destroyed my healthy eating plan over Easter. The couple of kilos I lost following my New Year’s resolution are back on the scales. It all feels like a waste of time trying to get fit and healthy. Do I just give in and give up? Tina P. Dear Tina, […]

Memories of the Paragon
WHEN reading of the 30 year anniversary of Tillermans restaurant, I was taken back 80 years to when it was known as the Paragon. Len and Lal Holbert opened their café in 1936 and extended the building with a large living area on the left. Fortunately, most of the original building has been kept. Len […]
The Write Direction: What’s in it for us?
IT was US President Kennedy that said voters should think about what is good for their country rather than the selfish option of asking “what’s in it for me”. I don’t know if my fellow Aussies are that way inclined at present, so I set my thought processes to look harder at what is being […]
Anzac
Letter to the Editor: A haven amid turbulent times
DEAR News Of The Area, WE live in turbulent times. Internationally we’ve got US President Trump “The Wrecker” trashing treaties and world economic and financial systems, the Ukraine fighting for its life against Putin “The Russian Murderer”, China threatening Taiwan and dissent everywhere. Locally we’ve got the federal election coming up with Albo versus Dutton, […]
Letter to the Editor: Proposed cuts to public servant jobs
DEAR News Of The Area, WHEN Peter Dutton announced that 41,000 Public Servants would lose their jobs under his government I began to ponder who they are and why the current government had re-employed them. Many had been moved to much more costly roles as consultants, and the current government actually saved money putting them […]