January 19, 2026
Port Stephens Council urges residents to prepare for hot January days
Local News

Port Stephens Council urges residents to prepare for hot January days

RESIDENTS of Port Stephens were urged to prepare for the heat as January temperatures reached the high 30s. The Bureau of Meteorology forecast severe to extreme heatwave conditions across southeastern NSW on 10 January, including in coastal areas like Port Stephens. From Monday 12 January, coastal winds remained mostly east to northeasterly. By the end […]

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Stinker’s History: still much to learn
Local News

Stinker’s History: still much to learn

THIS is my 50th year in Port Stephens and I still feel like I am scratching the surface. Being a Fingal Bay resident for all those years I know every rock on the land and in the water. Fishing in my tinny everywhere from the Outer Light south to Rocky Point for all those years, […]

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NSW foster and kinship carers to receive allowance boost Member for Port Stephens and Families and Communities MP Kate Washington.
Local News

NSW foster and kinship carers to receive allowance boost

FOR the first time in more than two decades, foster and kinship carers across NSW have received a 20 percent increase to their care allowance. The increase aims to ease cost-of-living pressures and strengthen support for vulnerable children in out-of-home care. The tax-free increase took effect from 1 January 2026 and applies to authorised carers […]

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Free legal help available for fire-affected residents
Local News

Free legal help available for fire-affected residents

LEGAL Aid NSW is urging anyone impacted by the recent bushfires in the Central Coast, Mid North Coast, Upper Hunter and Central West NSW to seek free legal help early. The Legal Aid NSW Disaster Response Legal Service (DRLS) can advise people about issues relating to insurance claims, tenancy rights, accessing disaster grants and payments, […]

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New gene-mapping method unlocks hidden drivers of cancer
Local News

New gene-mapping method unlocks hidden drivers of cancer

UNIVERSITY of South Australia scientists say they have developed a powerful new way to uncover the genetic interactions that fuel cancer progression. The AI-driven method, published recently in the Royal Society Open Science journal, reveals that tumour progression is driven by cooperating groups of genes, rather than mutated genes acting alone. Lead researcher Dr Andres […]

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New report provides roadmap to strengthening regional music
Local News

New report provides roadmap to strengthening regional music

MUSICNSW has released a new report detailing how to strengthen regional and remote music, setting a map for action for government, industry and communities across NSW. The report gathers insights from 80-plus representatives from across the NSW music sector. The contributors participated in a NSW Roundtable held at the 2025 Regional and Remote Music Summit […]

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Stinker’s History: the fate of the Italia Star The Italia Star aground in the middle of the harbour.
Local News

Stinker’s History: the fate of the Italia Star

IT WAS in the early evening of Sunday March 15 1959, that a cyclone had built a huge sea with crashing surf and whitewater breaking across the entrance to Port Stephens. The sea was rolling into the Port as far as Corlette. Conditions on the water were extremely hazardous. Sydney based, Italian owned trawlers had […]

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Appeal to locate missing woman Brittany Cleary
Local News

Appeal to locate missing woman Brittany Cleary

POLICE are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from Nelson Bay. Brittany Cleary, 32, was last seen on Teramby Road on Wednesday 31 December. When she was unable to be located or contacted, she was reported missing on 2 January. Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District have commenced inquiries into her […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: Rise early in January East of the Outer Light.
Local News

Stinker’s Fishin’: Rise early in January

WITHOUT doubt January is the craziest month of the year in Port Stephens. We are a tourist town and we survive on tourism so for all the local business houses this is the time to pay the rent. For we fishers problems do arise including access to boat ramps and cleaning tables. There is an […]

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