DURING the past 50-odd years I have spent in Fingal Bay, I have met numerous characters, mainly fishermen from a bygone time. They were all storytellers. None were better than Bill Croft, who worked for the Water Board and fished illegally in Grahamstown Dam, which he told me was full of monster mullet, bass and […]
A FREE shuttle bus service in the Tomaree area will be discontinued after trials returned what Port Stephens Council determined were disappointing results. In 2025 and 2026, Port Stephens Council funded shuttle bus trials throughout Birubi Headland, Anna Bay and the Tomaree Peninsula. The shuttles were intended to be used by visitors and residents, alleviating […]
The General Store on the main street in Karuah, 1921. Photo: Supplied by John Clarke.
The General Store on the main street in Karuah, 1921. Photo: Supplied by John Clarke. Original settling family Janet Cromarty with nine-month-old Ross. Photo: Supplied by John Clarke. CONGRATULATIONS to the Tomaree Museum Association (TMA) for yet another highly successful presentation – this time, on Shipwrecks. Based at Tomaree Lodge, the display, which concluded last […]
Young trick-or-treaters show off their costumes during Halloween celebrations in Medowie. Photo: Althea Guinsberg.
A skeleton tea party adds a touch of Halloween fun to Therese Mace’s Medowie yard. Photo: Althea Guinsberg. Pumpkins and scarecrows welcome visitors to Therese Mace’s Halloween display. Photo: Althea Guinsberg. Cobwebs, skulls and colourful characters fill the yard for Medowie’s Halloween celebrations. Photo: Althea Guinsberg. Medowie locals explore the Halloween display, complete with a […]
TENS of thousands of NSW public school teachers are up to $20,000 better off as the latest increase to salaries hits bank accounts. The pay rise for NSW public school teachers was a key measure to address teacher shortages by lifting the status of the profession and restoring competitiveness with other states. As part of […]
North Harbour - home to Greek fishermen. Photo: Supplied by John Clarke.
DURING the week, I visited Broughton Island with a very interesting passenger list that included bird watchers, a geologist, and an archaeologist. The twitchers were excited to explore the island and hopefully sight some of the 66 species of birds that have been recorded on the island. They also strained to see the rare Goulds […]
AT just 16, Micah Katon is juggling Year 12 studies with running her own car detailing business. What began last December with cleaning cars for neighbours, friends and family has grown into a business with regular customers. “From that point, I was like, ‘What if I turned this into a business?’” Micah said. “I was […]
One of the biggest challenges during a whale rescue is keeping sight of the entangled animal so rescue teams can reach it. Photo: ORRCA.
A WHALE caught in ropes can be clearly visible one moment and gone beneath the water the next. For ORRCA volunteers watching through binoculars from the beach, finding it again is far from easy. Now the Port Stephens and Newcastle pod is asking the community to help buy a drone so volunteers can better track […]
Movement such as walking can significantly reduce symptoms of depression, as can regular social connection. Photo: Magnific.
OCTOBER marks the start of Mental Health Month, and with spring in full swing, Black Dog Institute is calling on Australians to put One Foot Forward. As the weather warms and the days grow longer, many people find it easier to get outside and get moving, making October an ideal time to build habits that […]
The Simplex, owned and worked by the Lambourne family in the early 1900s. Photo: Supplied by John Clarke.
The ferry Yacaaba, skippered by George Lambourne. Photo: Supplied by John Clarke. The Simplex, owned and worked by the Lambourne family in the early 1900s. Photo: Supplied by John Clarke. PIONEERING families on the Tomaree Peninsula were mostly seafarers or fishers, with the Cromarty family the first to arrive in 1824. Boats were a part […]
