January 21, 2026
Stinker’s History: Geoffrey Wikner’s extraordinary story Wikner’s Halifax bomber named ‘Waltzing Matilda’ at Mascot Airport on 20 June 1946. Photo: John Hopton Collection.
Local News

Stinker’s History: Geoffrey Wikner’s extraordinary story

Geoffrey Neville Wikner (1904-1990) was born in Grafton. Wikner’s Halifax bomber named ‘Waltzing Matilda’ at Mascot Airport on 20 June 1946. Photo: John Hopton Collection. The original entry to Halifax Park, then in the early stages of its development. The person in the photograph looking at the big game fish is likely to be Mrs […]

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First Nations arts residency program now accepting applications Renae Lamb. Photo: Stuart Marlin
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First Nations arts residency program now accepting applications

Renae Lamb. Photo: Stuart Marlin The TCI studio space. A CREATIVE arts hub in Newcastle (Muloobimba) is offering a First Nations Artist in Residence program, with applications now open for Hunter-based artists. On offer is a 12-month, rent-free studio residency at The Creator Incubator (TCI) in Hamilton North. TCI is a lively creative hub housing […]

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Humpback whale migration begins with prime viewing from Port Stephens A humpback whale breaching off the east coast. Photo: Jonas Liebschner, NPWS.
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Humpback whale migration begins with prime viewing from Port Stephens

A humpback whale breaching off the east coast. Photo: Jonas Liebschner, NPWS. A playful humpback close to the shoreline. Photo: Jonas Liebschner, NPWS. HUMPBACK whales are passing Port Stephens on their annual migration. Each year, approximately 40,000 humpback whales leave their Antarctic feeding grounds and travel north to the warmer waters off NSW and Queensland. […]

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Tomaree walk included in statewide campaign The Tomaree Coastal Walk. Photo: Daniel Parsons.
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Tomaree walk included in statewide campaign

THE State Government is rolling out a new ‘Find Your Path on a NSW Great Walk’ campaign that highlights seven spectacular multi-day walks across NSW. The new campaign highlights an impressive 275km of walking tracks in regional NSW that have opened to the public within the last two years, including the Tomaree Coastal Walk. The […]

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The art of sand sculpture explored at Fingal Dennis Massoud at work on Fingal Bay beach.
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The art of sand sculpture explored at Fingal

Dennis Massoud at work on Fingal Bay beach. Dennis Massoud at work on Fingal Bay beach. Some of the art works created on the day. Some of the art works created on the day. Some of the art works created on the day. WORLD-RENOWNED sand sculptor Dennis Massoud gave a unique workshop on Fingal Bay […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: Bream hit Fingal Mav (left) and Alby Nancarrow with a couple of 42cm bream caught off Fingal Beach last Sunday. The boys were using live nippers and ended up with 18 bream, seven whiting and one flathead.
Local News

Stinker’s Fishin’: Bream hit Fingal

HERE we go! Bream are pouring onto all the beaches from Stockton north to Fingal. Young Maitland visitors Alby Nancarrow and his cousin Nav wandered along Fingal Beach last weekend with a bucket of nippers that were pumped on the sand flats at Corlette. Tossing just behind the shore break the boys hit the jackpot […]

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Latest rounds of PBL winners revealed Students from across the region have been recognised for their positive impacts.
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Latest rounds of PBL winners revealed

A MASSIVE group of local students have been recognised for having a positive impact on the people and communities around them. Here are the latest recipients of Raymond Terrace Community Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) awards. Irrawang PS: Sage has been nominated for respectfully representing Irrawang Public School at the Raymond Terrace ANZAC Service. She […]

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Recovery continues after flooding event
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Recovery continues after flooding event

THE NSW Government says it is “working around the clock” to help flood-affected communities get back on their feet following the recent severe weather event on the east coast. Service NSW Centres that were closed due to dangerous conditions, including in Taree, Wauchope, Kempsey and Port Macquarie, have now reopened, with the last centre resuming […]

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Stinker’s Fishin’: A Marine Park for the future Marine Parks are not all about fishing.
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Stinker’s Fishin’: A Marine Park for the future

WITH the Marine Park Advisory Committee soon to be announced it is time for all of us in the community to consider the best possible outcome for the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park (PS-GLMP). The largest by area of the six Marine Parks in NSW, the PS-GLMP stretches from Forster in the north along the […]

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