National Archives - Port Stephens News Of The Area

Weather Bureau updates unpopular $96.5m website

THE Bureau of Meteorology has implemented the first round of changes to its heavily-criticised $96.5m website. Since launching, the site has attracted 400,000 “items of feedback”. As a result, the rain radar and weather map have been improved and there is more information about daily temperature highs and lows on state, territory and district pages. […]

National

Study shows being social slows ageing in dolphins

NEW research shows male bottlenose dolphins with strong friendships age more slowly than their solitary peers. The University of NSW (UNSW) study is the first to reveal that social bonds in non-human species can slow ageing at the cellular level. Lead author Dr Livia Gerber conducted the study and now works at CSIRO’s National Research […]

Community, National

Paradise interrupted: Tomaree WWII story captures nation’s attention and an award

WHEN Judy Washington learned she had won the Australian Society of Archivists’ Mander Jones Award for her book Paradise Interrupted: Tomaree Headland Port Stephens in World War II, her reaction was immediate and overwhelming. “Immense disbelief,” she said. “It was an Australia-wide award and only one book was chosen in its category. “On reflection, the […]

Community, National

Karuah Public School named a finalist in reconciliation award

Karuah Public School Principal Toni Lyle (holding sign) with Elders involved in the judging of the award. Photo: KPS. KPS students engaging in Indigenous-focused class activities. Photo: KPS. Narragunnawali Awards Judging Panel members Professor Grace Sarra, Sharon Davis and Professor Joe Sambono. Photo: Tom Hoy, Wirrim Media. KARUAH Public School (KPS) has been named a […]

Community, Event, National

Tea Gardens WWII veteran Roy Day receives medal from Governor-General

Roy received his VP Day commemorative medal from the Governor-General in Canberra. Photo: Facebook. Roy and Lynette at the Tea Gardens Vietnam Veterans Memorial day in Tea Gardens. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Wreaths were laid at the reflecting pool inside the Australian War Memorial before the Last Post. Photo: Facebook. WORLD War Two veteran and Tea […]

Government, National

Ex-PM lauded over honours gong but not everyone’s happy

FORMER prime minister Scott Morrison has been congratulated after receiving Australia’s highest civilian honour, but there is at least one call for him to decline the gong. Mr Morrison is one of 14 people named as a Companion of the Order of Australia in the annual King’s Birthday Honours List, alongside filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and […]

National

Direct Newcastle to Bali flights to launch in October

JETSTAR will launch a direct route between Newcastle and Denpasar (Bali) from 21 October. Denpasar is a major international aviation hub offering connections to over 40 countries. The service is set to be run three times a week, and will be the first international route offered from Newcastle’s new international terminal. Minister for Jobs and […]

National

Ill landholder urges compassion in shift to renewables

FILMMAKER Ian Barry hoped to live out his final years in peace and tranquility on his bush property. But Mr Barry, who has motor neurone disease, is instead locked in a fight to save his NSW Hunter sanctuary from being damaged by a planned renewable energy zone. He and his wife Vicki have had a […]

National

Knife-edge recounts could decide parliament’s make-up

IT could take weeks to confirm the members of Australia’s next parliament, with one seat sitting on a margin of only eight votes and an incumbent in another requesting a second tally. Independent MP Zoe Daniel has requested a recount in the Melbourne seat of Goldstein. The Australian Electoral Commission finalised a margin of 260 […]

National

Coastal areas assess damage after days of rain, floods

MYALL Coast towns were spared the worst of the recent rain and flooding event, due mainly to their topography, but the connections to surrounding townships are proving as important as ever. North Arm Cove and Bundabah benefited from their hilly, rocky terrain, providing natural drainage for the heavy downpours last week, although fallen tree and […]