WHEN Peter Hill walked into his first pilates class, he had to warm-up for the warm-up. With a feeble lower back and taut hamstrings, the then 63-year-old was hoping the therapy could aid his pain. Six years later, he can dart and dash with little-to-no trouble. “Occasionally I might have a bit of a twinge […]

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 […]
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. […]
Weed removal and replanting to be undertaken at Fingal Bay
Alison uncovered a young banksia when she cut away an overshadowing bitou bush. Rob and Rob removing ground asparagus. While Bitou bush has a pretty yellow flower, the plant can smother native vegetation. THE Friends of Tomaree National Park have been working since March to protect the natural beauty of the National Park around Fingal […]
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 […]
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 […]
Qantas launches direct flights between Newcastle and Perth
QANTAS has announced it will be the first airline to offer direct flights from Newcastle to Perth. The new route will launch on 8 September and flights will operate on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. “These flights will boost connectivity for Newcastle residents and mean they no longer have to drive to and from Sydney when […]

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 […]
Youth crime committee tables first report
THE first report of an inquiry into community safety has been tabled, highlighting an urgent need for early intervention to deal with the complex social drivers of youth crime in regional and rural NSW. Since adopting the inquiry on 20 March 2024, the Committee of Law and Safety received almost 200 submissions and conducted hearings […]
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 […]