The Write Direction: A matter of trust
IT’S a tricky world that we live in today. Scams seem to be everywhere, so safety is our primary concern. Australian think tank the Lowy Institute has conducted polls on Australians’ attitudes towards the rest of the world since 2005. The annual poll is the leading Australian survey on foreign affairs, and informs policy and […]
‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
DEAR Jasminda, My wife is preparing for the latest weather event like we are getting ready for a world war. What can I do to put her mind at ease? Kevin B Dear Kevin, I received your conundrum during the calm before the storm, so to speak, at which point some media outlets were using […]
The Write Direction: It moved for me too
TALK about excitement generated by the earthquake near Singleton on the early morning of Wednesday 23 April. A number of people I had never met previously were in avid conversation with other locals at the shops in Tea Gardens. Different experiences were felt by caravanners and campers near Pindimar and Jimmys Beach to those of […]
Letter to the Editor: The challenge of social licence
DEAR News Of The Area, LAST Monday night, I attended an industry seminar down in Martin Place in Sydney with the Australian Institute of Energy (AIE) and electrical industry professionals. I’m a member of the AIE Newcastle branch and this seminar was called “The Challenge of Social Licence in the Energy Transition” which was basically […]
Letter to the Editor: Offshore wind fear ‘very NIMBY’
DEAR News Of The Area, I write in response to Cherylle Stone’s letter ‘Nothing responsible about it’ in NOTA on 26 June 2025. She states that offshore wind development ”has the potential to seriously deplete and further distress the ocean, our main already overburdened heat and carbon sink”. Depleting the ocean implies diminishing its quantity, […]
World Conflicts
The Big Screen
THE official film of the Formula One World Championship revs into theatres this week with F1, starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem. Produced in collaboration with Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile – the governing body for Formula 1 racing – and Hollywood legend Jerry Bruckheimer, this boasts some of the most thrilling […]
‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
DEAR Jasminda, I WAS scrolling through the local community page on the weekend and came across a cheeky post. The post didn’t raise an eyebrow, but what did was the pile-on from adults hating on this young person. It seems strange that people over a certain age would stoop this low. Why are people so […]
Letter to the Editor: Nothing responsible about it
DEAR News Of The Area, THE concurrent use of the terms “responsible” and “offshore wind farm development” in Australian waters is oxymoronic. There is nothing responsible in developing something offshore that costs twice as much as a similar development onshore, will take twice as long to get up and running and has the potential to […]
