April 30, 2026
What to know about the often overlooked larval tick nest
Regional

What to know about the often overlooked larval tick nest

TICK nests, or tick bombs to some, are a common phenomenon in the Australian bush. However, few people have heard of them, let alone know what to do when encountering one. News Of The Area spoke with Bellingen local Rosie Lewis, who recently had a severe reaction to a tick nest. She ended up in […]

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Warning after extreme weather’s financial toll revealed Settlement Point Road, Port Macquarie during the May 2025 floods on the Mid North Coast. Photo: Port Macquarie SES.
Regional

Warning after extreme weather’s financial toll revealed

AUSTRALIANS are counting the ballooning cost of extreme weather events after they caused almost $5 billion in insured losses in 2025, more than 700 percent up on the previous year. And the financial toll is only expected to get worse, with independent analysis indicating it could blow out to $35 billion annually by 2050. The […]

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Wauchope Show pavilion filled with record number of cakes, slices and biscuits
Regional

Wauchope Show pavilion filled with record number of cakes, slices and biscuits

Cookery Stewards, Lorraine Wedge and Lexie Burton. Photo: Pauline Cain. Sheryl Workman was the most successful cookery exhibitor. Photo: Pauline Cain. Evelyn Park was the most successful competitor in the junior cookery competition. Photo: Pauline Cain. Anzac Biscuits were the most popular class. Photo: Pauline Cain. THE Wauchope Showground pavilion was bursting with treats during […]

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Wauchope CWA’s busy contribution to the Show Lyne MP Alison Penfold (centre) with CWA members (l-r) Deirdre Pfeiffer, Gail Kirkpatrick, Jenny Gaudry, Doreen Burns and Mary McEnallay. Photo: supplied
Regional

Wauchope CWA’s busy contribution to the Show

Lyne MP Alison Penfold (centre) with CWA members (l-r) Deirdre Pfeiffer, Gail Kirkpatrick, Jenny Gaudry, Doreen Burns and Mary McEnallay. Photo: supplied Wauchope CWA members (l-r) Doreen Burns, Gail Kirkpatrick, Donna McKenzie, Deirdre Pfeiffer. Photo: Pauline Cain. Mid North Coast CWA Group President Lynn Moore and member Lea Taylor. Photo: Pauline Cain. Damage to Wauchope […]

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New Giving Fund rules spark debate over charity system gaps in Australia Philanthropy Australia pushes for donations to be equal. Photo: Julia M. Cameron.
Regional

New Giving Fund rules spark debate over charity system gaps in Australia

MID North Coast residents, like most in regional Australia, are known for helping others in need. But changes to charity funding rules have led to concerns that the system isn’t working as well as it could. The Federal Government has announced that “Giving Funds” will be required to distribute six percent of assets each year, […]

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Liberals’ migration plan ‘strange’, from ‘another time’ Angus Taylor is being accused of trying to replicate One Nation's anti-immigration stance. Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS.
Regional

Liberals’ migration plan ‘strange’, from ‘another time’

THE coalition’s hardline migration plan has been lashed as divisive and Australia’s multicultural communities say they are tired of being dehumanised by all sides of politics.  Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has unveiled a plan to boot migrants from the nation if they do not exhibit “Australian values”, shut the door on some asylum seekers and […]

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Seafood industry calls for urgent reinstatement of Stay Afloat mental health program Port Oyster Co.’s Paul Wilson on the ‘farm’. Photo: Port Oyster Company/Facebook.
Regional

Seafood industry calls for urgent reinstatement of Stay Afloat mental health program

Port Oyster Co.’s Paul Wilson on the ‘farm’. Photo: Port Oyster Company/Facebook. Cowper MP Pat Conaghan with Bob St John, GM of Coffs Harbour Fisherman’s Co Op. Photo: supplied. THE loss of a key mental health program for Australia’s seafood industry has prompted urgent calls for funding to be reinstated.  Federal Member for Cowper Pat […]

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Hastings Valley Fine Art Society Prize highlights creative hub Suzanne and David Edwards, Christina Unger, Michelle Randone, Kerry Fox and Chris Higginbotham.
Regional

Hastings Valley Fine Art Society Prize highlights creative hub

Carly Marchment won Best in Show. Photos: Pauline Cain. Deputy Mayor Nik Lipovac, Hastings Fine Art Society committee member Jill Cairns and judge Vivianne Hazenveld. Suzanne and David Edwards, Christina Unger, Michelle Randone, Kerry Fox and Chris Higginbotham. Artist Maddalena Piola with friend Suzi Nichols. Julie Mills with her artwork ‘Bonny’s Due North.’ Artist Kim […]

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Fuel stockpile topped up as minister says supply secure Fuel has been running short in regional areas, prompting calls for supply to be rationed in cities. Photo: Jay Kogler/AAP PHOTOS.
Regional

Fuel stockpile topped up as minister says supply secure

AUSTRALIA has stockpiled billions of litres of fuel – more than a month’s supply – as frustrated motorists grapple with rising petrol prices and an explosion in demand. The country is “as prepared as possible” with 1.6 billion litres of petrol or 37 days’ supply, Energy Minister Chris Bowen told reporters on Saturday. The stockpile […]

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