May 2, 2026
CHARITY FEATURE: Port Stephens Westpac Helicopter Support Group Crews draw upon extensive experience and training to respond to missions for those who are injured or requiring urgent specialist care.
Community

CHARITY FEATURE: Port Stephens Westpac Helicopter Support Group

THE Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is a community-owned and operated aeromedical, search and rescue service operating across the Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, New England and North West regions of NSW. Since 1975, thanks to the generosity and support from people right across Northern NSW, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter has grown to become a […]

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Nelson Bay community craft afternoon brings parents and children together for Easter Assorted Easter crafts. Photo: Nico Lombardo.
Community

Nelson Bay community craft afternoon brings parents and children together for Easter

Organiser Jema Moore. Photo: Nico Lombardo. Assorted Easter crafts. Photo: Nico Lombardo. A FREE community craft session helped get local families firmly into the Easter spirit.  Ahead of the long weekend, the Wood Oven in Nelson Bay’s d’Albora Marina dedicated their free monthly Community Craft Afternoon to the task of creating Easter-themed crafts. “Each time […]

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1800 petrol stations inspected for fuel price compliance
Government

1800 petrol stations inspected for fuel price compliance

THE NSW Government has inspected just under 1800 petrol stations for fuel price compliance, issuing 93 penalty infringement notices. Over the last fortnight, the government fast-tracked a statewide fuel price compliance blitz to “strengthen fuel price transparency and protect motorists from misleading pricing”. Around 75 percent of stations in NSW were inspected by the beginning […]

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Councils want guarantees on fuel supplies
Local News

Councils want guarantees on fuel supplies

MORE than 60 Councils from across the state have issued a call for the NSW Government to guarantee fuel supplies for local government garbage and waste collections in the face of increasing shortages and costs. The meeting of councils convened by Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Mayor Darcy Byrne also proposed that any fuel cost […]

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The man turning beaches into temporary galleries The whimsical beach artwork titled ‘UFO abducting a cow’. Photo: supplied.
Local News

The man turning beaches into temporary galleries

The whimsical beach artwork titled ‘UFO abducting a cow’. Photo: supplied. A geometrical sand imprint made by artist Brian from Badeye Chalkart last weekend. Photo: supplied. BEACHGOERS strolling along the shoreline at One Mile Beach last week were treated to a fleeting spectacle of intricate sand artworks destined to disappear with the turning tide. The […]

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Medowie students take on STEM challenges Raphael, Navrin and Lucas.
School

Medowie students take on STEM challenges

Raphael, Navrin and Lucas. Ava, Annabelle, Bethany and Lydia. Terran, Nayte and Harry. LOCAL students put the textbooks down and got their tools out for a full day of real world problem solving at the annual National Science and Engineering Challenge. Year 10 students from Medowie Christian School recently travelled to the University of Newcastle […]

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Port Stephens Athletics Club holds fundraiser to support young athlete Pippi Cullimore The Port Stephens Athletics Club calling the numbers for the raffle. Photo: Nico Lombardo.
Community

Port Stephens Athletics Club holds fundraiser to support young athlete Pippi Cullimore

The Port Stephens Athletics Club calling the numbers for the raffle. Photo: Nico Lombardo. Young athlete Pippi Cullimore. Photo: GoFundMe. THE Port Stephens community has banded together to support young athlete Pippi Cullimore. Pippi, who was nominated for the 2025 Port Stephens Young Person of the Year award, has been fighting a rare form of […]

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Stinker’s History: Port Stephens boat register Working boats ‘Stella Maris’, ‘Ventura’ and ‘Ivy May’ played a major role in the growth and development of the oyster industry. Photo taken circa 1975.
Local News

Stinker’s History: Port Stephens boat register

THE Tomaree Museum Association (TMA) is asking members of the Port Stephens community to contribute their knowledge to establish a record of all working boats moored in the port. They are interested in the boats involved, throughout history, in the oyster industry, fish and prawn trawlers along with lobster boats, ferries and supply boats. Long […]

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Why more Medowie locals are joining this friendship club The Combined Probus Club of Medowie’s new committee, which was elected at the AGM in March. Photo supplied.
Community

Why more Medowie locals are joining this friendship club

THE Combined Probus Club of Medowie is quietly building something many retirees seek but don’t always find: genuine connection. Meeting on the third Wednesday of each month at Medowie Hall from 10am, the club offers more than a calendar of events. It provides a consistent space for friendship, fellowship and shared experiences among locals enjoying […]

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Walkable towns help regional Australians exercise 75 minutes more each week The report shows walkability has a bigger impact on the amount of time spent walking in regional communities. Photo: David Guerrero/Pexels.
Health

Walkable towns help regional Australians exercise 75 minutes more each week

AMID soaring fuel prices which are prompting Australians to explore alternative transport options, a new study highlights the health benefits of walkable neighbourhoods. New research shows that regional residents living in walkable towns and centres walk 75 minutes more each week, prompting calls for Governments to invest more in well-connected, safe footpaths to boost community […]

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