TEN years ago, 10 Australians lost their lives during the world’s largest and most catastrophic thunderstorm asthma event. Several thousand others, including people who had no past history of asthma, experienced breathing difficulties. With the grass pollen season now under way, the National Asthma Council of Australia is reminding Australians to protect themselves and their […]

When Kadabra was found, the team thought she had already passed away. Photo: Ryan Pereira. It took five people to carry the 100kg turtle onto the beach. Photo: Althea Guinsberg. After a month of critical care, Kadabra was released back into the ocean. Photo: Althea Guinsberg. A sea snake found on the beach. The advice […]

THE mystery surrounding the metal telecommunications-style boxes appearing across Medowie and surrounding suburbs continues, with government representatives and engineering experts confirming that there is still no clear explanation for the installations. Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said the matter had now been escalated to the Federal level, noting that telecommunications infrastructure fell under Commonwealth responsibility. […]

Volunteer Peter Dowling and Kevin Stokes, Deputy Chairman of the Board, with the Wyong sun orchid. Photo: Althea Guinsberg. The endangered Wyong sun orchid in bloom. Photo: Hunter Region Botanic Gardens. THE delicate Wyong sun orchid (Thelymitra adorata) may be small, but keeping it alive involves much more than placing a seed into soil and […]

AUSTRALIA’S rarest seal species has recorded a case of bird flu for the first time, with an animal dying from the disease while recovering from a shark attack. The first case in an Australian sea lion has raised concerns for the species’ already dwindling population. A sea lion at South Australia’s Seal Bay on Kangaroo […]

Irrawang High School Irrawang High School is proud to be a Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) school and a valued partner in the Raymond Terrace Community PBL program. Through our PBL framework, students are encouraged and recognised for consistently demonstrating our core values of Respect, Responsibility and Personal Best. These values are reinforced both in […]

North Entrance – Elsie and dad Mike plant along the creek where Giant Reed once stood. Photo: Supplied by Friends of Tomaree National Park. North Entrance – Restoring and connecting habitat below the Tomaree Coastal Walk. Photo: Supplied by Friends of Tomaree National Park. South Entrance – Amy enjoys planting in the carpark lookout on […]

Young Westy at work. Photo: Supplied by John Clarke. Young Westy at work. Photo: Supplied by John Clarke. THERE were two fishermen by the name of “Westy Davis”.  “Old Westy”, Alfred George, was born in Nelson Bay in 1890, enlisted in the First A.I.F in 1915 and was a member of the first group to […]

Frogbit discovered in the waterway around Anna Bay. Photo: Port Stephens Council. The waterway after the Frogbit infestation was removed. Photo: Port Stephens Council. MORE than 100 tonnes of Frogbit has been removed from properties around Anna Bay after Port Stephens Council uncovered the region’s first known infestation of the invasive aquatic weed. The discovery […]

The winning photograph, ‘R.I.P. Queen’. Photo: Nikki Kenwrick. Usually the one behind the camera, Nikki Kenwrick captured “in the wild”. A RARE moment in a Port Stephens backyard has earned local wildlife photographer Nikki Kenwrick two major honours in the 2026 Australian Native Bee Association Photography Competition. Nikki was named both Overall Winner and People’s […]