THE National Party’s Alison Penfold will be the next Federal Member for Lyne, succeeding the long-serving Dr David Gillespie. As of Monday morning, Ms Penfold held 60.55 percent of the Two candidate preferred count over Labor’s Digby Wilson (39.45 percent) after Saturday’s federal election. Ms Penfold took 37.20 percent of first preference votes, with Mr […]
Council calls for a rethink on sporting venue sponsorship to ease pressure on clubs
PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council will revisit its approach to sporting venue sponsorship after unanimously backing a move to consult with the Sports Council before making any final decisions on fees. The motion, put forward by Councillor Nik Lipovac and seconded by Cr Rachel Sheppard, marked a clear departure from the original staff recommendation, which had proposed […]
Heartbeat of the Hastings: Kylie Brown
WELCOME to Heartbeat of the Hastings, a regular NOTA feature which highlights the incredible people that make our region so special. If you know of someone making a difference in the community, who is deserving of some recognition, let us know! Email Chan@newsofthearea.com.au. WHEN Kylie Brown moved to Port Macquarie in 2001, she didn’t know […]
Airport’s 20-year vision takes flight: draft master plan heads to public exhibition
PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has endorsed a new Draft Master Plan for Port Macquarie Airport, setting out a 20-year vision for the key regional infrastructure asset. At the 17 April meeting, councillors voted unanimously to place the draft plan on public exhibition for at least 28 days, inviting community feedback on the future direction of the […]

Overwhelming turnout for Laurieton Anzac Day dawn service
IN the stillness of the morning on Friday, 25 April, more than 1000 community members gathered in silence at the Cenotaph at Laurie Memorial Park, Laurieton, to commemorate the nation’s veterans on Anzac Day. The annual event embodies the unyielding spirit of remembrance and pays tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives […]

Anzac Biscuits and a cuppa as Birdon honours veterans
NO cup of tea or coffee is complete at this time of year without an Anzac Biscuit – or three. Birdon made sure they didn’t run short on Tuesday, when 300 were on offer for staff at its Port Macquarie headquarters. It was part of a company-wide morning tea to honour Australian Defence Force (ADF) […]

Boy’s drowning adds to ‘most horrific’ Easter toll
HOLIDAYMAKERS are warned to avoid any unnecessary risks as powerful swells lash the east coast, resulting in record drownings in one state. Seven people are confirmed dead – six in NSW and one in Victoria – with the search for two others missing since Good Friday continuing on Easter Monday. In the latest tragedy, a […]
Public input sought on hemp industry’s future
A DRAFT NSW Hemp Industry Development Plan is now open for public comment. The draft plan from the NSW Government proposes an industry vision to establish hemp as a mainstream crop and sustainable source of products in NSW. “Supporting the vision, four development objectives provide strategic direction for actions to capitalise on the key opportunities […]
Meet your Gloucester Australia Day award nominees
MEET the nominees for the 2025 Gloucester Australia Day awards. Winners will be announced across four categories: Local Young Citizen of the Year; Local Citizen of the Year; Local Project of the Year; and Local Community Business of the Year. Local Young Citizen of the Year Nominee Findlay McIntosh Findlay is the youngest Gloucester […]