FIFTEEN talented young singers from the Port Macquarie region had an unforgettable moment in the spotlight when they performed alongside Opera Australia’s cast in ‘Don Giovanni’ at the Glasshouse on Saturday 8 August. The Children’s Chorus has become a much-loved part of Opera Australia’s regional touring productions, connecting local communities with world-class performing arts while […]

DESPITE being only halfway through the year, Marine Rescue Camden Haven have already completed 11 search and rescue missions, exceeding the eight missions recorded across all of 2025, with those operations helping return 19 adults and nine children to safety. Over the same period, volunteers monitored 510 logged-on voyages, compared with 708 for the whole […]

BARRY Sainsbury, his wife Doreen and four of their children moved to the Camden Haven in 1972. As a postmaster Barry had done numerous three-year stints in various NSW locales and the family was more than ready to put down roots. Mr Sainsbury, who celebrated his 90th birthday this week, oversaw the opening of the […]

PATHFINDERS’ Support Your Path (SYP) program has been recognised as one of Australia’s leading regional disability service providers after winning a national Enablement Award for the second consecutive year. The team received the 2026 Enablement Award for Most Outstanding Regional Not-for-Profit Providing NDIS Services for Children, Youth and Families in Australia at the Enablement Awards […]

I AM continually amazed that so many residents of Port Stephens are yet to visit Broughton Island. I recently returned from a few days, fishing, swimming and wandering around the island, which I believe to be a ‘jewel in the crown’ of this beautiful region. Despite the many times I have visited the island and […]

A GROUND-penetrating radar survey at Port Macquarie’s historic Allman Hill Burial Ground could reshape understanding of the town’s earliest colonial years, with researchers hoping to reveal the true extent of the forgotten cemetery. The survey, being undertaken by University of New England Professors David Andrew Roberts and Martin Gibbs, will examine the site without disturbing […]

WINTER has claimed two more lives in separate house fires, prompting Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) to issue an urgent reminder for residents to check smoke alarms and take extra care with heating appliances. Two people, both believed to have been in their 70s, died in separate residential fires within five days of each other. […]

STATE farmers will benefit from simpler vehicle registration rules after changes to primary producer concessional registrations came into effect on 1 July. NSW Farmers welcomed the updated eligibility requirements, which replace the previous 50 per cent primary production income rule introduced in 2021. The organisation said the former rule created barriers for genuine farming businesses […]

THE Nambucca Heads Cenotaph is set to undergo much-needed repairs and security upgrades following the successful award of funding through the Australian Government’s Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program. Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan recently joined Nambucca Heads RSL sub-Branch President Denis Lane and Trustee John Kent OAM to celebrate the successful funding application. […]

FIRE & Rescue NSW FRNSW statistics record that more than 1000 accidental house fires occur across the state each winter, with the incidents accounting for up to 50 per cent of the deaths that occur each year in fires. May 2026 marked 20 years since the installation of smoke detectors became mandatory, but research by […]