IT’S time for people across the Mid North Coast to nominate family, friends or work mates for the 2026 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, to help celebrate the enormous positive impact of volunteers across the state. The awards are in their 20th year and are run by The Centre for Volunteering to recognise the […]

JULIA Reynolds is one of those quiet achievers who just gets on with helping others. Living in Laurieton since December 2014, her connection to Camden Haven goes back much further. “I’ve been coming here for over 47 years on holidays,” she said. “My in-laws lived in Dunbogan, so I’ve always felt very connected to the […]

FOR Bonny Hills volunteer Casey Whitehouse it was becoming a parent that truly opened her eyes to the importance of strong support networks. While she had always believed in the importance of community, motherhood gave her a deeper understanding of how vital connection and support can be. “Parenthood can be incredibly joyful, but it can […]

FRANK Deguara embodies the Lions Club’s motto “We Serve”. Last year he and his wife Jeanette raised funds for the flood-affected areas of Taree, and this month they set their sights on assisting the RFS Brigades at Camden Haven and Lake Cathie. With the support of Hometown manager Mark Ennor, and fellow residents, a fundraising […]

ONE of the Port Macquarie-Hastings region’s most recognised organisations, Willing & Able marks 60 years of supporting people with disability, while continuing to evolve to meet the needs of the community. Despite its long history, many people are still unaware of the full scope of services it provides and the impact it has had on […]

BETWEEN 2pm and 4pm on 29 April, Hastings Community Radio presenter Liz Faassen will broadcast her final program of “The Sounds of the Swinging 60’s and 70’s”. Liz became a 2WAY FM presenter in 2014 after completing the required training. She had listened to 2WAY FM for many years prior to this, and was a […]

A 49-YEAR-OLD married father of three, Dylan Luke is very clear on his life goals. He wants to play more cricket with his kids, spend time with his devoted wife, and hang out at the beach. In early February, a niggling pain that wouldn’t go away saw him visit the hospital for scans, leading to […]

WITH Anzac Day around the corner, News Of The Area gets to know Laurieton RSL sub-Branch president Allan ‘Buster’ Beatty. Buster, tell us about your journey to the Hastings region. My wife Sandie lived in Port Macquarie for most of her life before joining the Army. We met in Townsville in 1982 and spent many […]