AS bat season nears in the Hastings region, health authorities are warning residents to take extra care and avoid all contact with flying foxes or microbats. A spike in sick and distressed bats arriving at wildlife hospitals across Northern NSW and Southern Queensland in recent weeks has prompted the alert. Authorities stress that touching or […]
‘Looking Back Moving Forward’ exhibition at The Glasshouse
FAN Artists at their exhibition opening. Photo: Pauline Cain Gloria Muddle ‘Tidal Edge’, textile. Photo: Pauline Cain. Catherine Erskine’s ‘Swamp Creature’ and ‘Falling Leaf’ make use of dead vine wood. Photo: Pauline Cain A chest made in China in 1879 and belonging to T.K. Steanes, inspired Joanne Steanes’ work. Photo: Pauline Cain “LOOKING Back Moving […]

$50m housing support package announced for residents impacted by recent flooding
THE State and Federal Governments have announced a $50 million Housing Support Package to assist eligible homeowners, renters and primary producers impacted by recent severe flooding. Ashlee Abbott, Acting Head of Preparedness and Recovery at the NSW Reconstruction Authority said, “We understand the community has been anxiously awaiting this package and we have been working […]
St Joesph’s littlest learners celebrate 100 days of learning
Staff and students of St Joesph’s celebrating 100 years of learning. Photo: supplied. Olive celebrating 100 days of big school. Lincoln celebrating 100 days of learning. SCHOOLS across the state have experienced a peculiar phenomenon in recent weeks, reporting an unusual influx of walking canes, knitted cardigans, and grey wigs. The occurrence appears to coincide […]

Camden Haven High School inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders
CHHS educator Jane Gallagher and Alison Penfold, Federal Member for Lyne. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. Tim Polo from Port Macquarie Engineering. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. Curtis Gibson from AE Gibson and Sons. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. James Langley from CHHS. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. Alison Penfold MP with Trinity Perry. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. CLASSROOMS across Camden Haven turned into […]

Camden Haven students take win in robot soccer competition
Gem Fowley and Trinity Perry, winners of the Open Division of the Hunter Regional RoboCup Championships. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. Members of the CHHS Robotics Team at work. Photo: Kim Ambrose/SaltyFoxFotography. GEM Fowley and Trinity Perry, two talented Year 7 students from Camden Haven High School (CHHS), have broken boundaries in the competitive world of robotics. […]
Breakthrough for rural landowners as NSW inquiry launched
John Ruddick MLC, Cr Mark Hornshaw and Libertarian Party President Ross Cameron. Comboyne residents Tony and Josie Makin with daughters Adelle and Sofia, son-in-law John, and granddaughter Catherine. OWNERS of rural properties across NSW are celebrating a major breakthrough with the establishment of an Upper House inquiry to simplify the rules around building second dwellings […]
Coffs bypass funding draws ire from Port Macquarie councillor and MP
Councillor Nik Lipovac. Port Macquarie MP Robert Dwyer. A NSW GOVERNMENT commitment to provide $5.5 million for a noise wall as part of the Coffs Harbour Bypass has been met with contempt from Port Macquarie-Hastings councillor Nik Lipovac. Cr Lipovac, speaking in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the wider council, has strongly […]
‘The physical scars are there for all to see’: floods the focus of Penfold’s first speech
THE ongoing challenges of the May floods were the focus of Alison Penfold’s first speech to Federal Parliament on Wednesday 30 July. Ms Penfold was elected the new Nationals MP for Lyne on 3 May. The poll was yet to be officially declared when record flooding hit parts of the electorate, claiming lives and livestock, […]
Severe storms wreak further havoc as SES heroes respond again
THE region has again been battered by wild weather, with emergency services mounting a second major response in just over two months. On Saturday 2 August, severe storms lashed the Mid North Coast, bringing heavy rain and damaging winds to the Port Macquarie Hastings, Kempsey and Nambucca regions. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) received […]