WHEN Ronda Teece and her team turned up on 26 March to open up the Gloucester Charities bookshop, they were greeted with a shock. The store had suffered significant vandalism, with two doors, drawers, cupboards and a filing cabinet badly damaged. A laptop was stolen, as were cash and gift cards intended for distribution to […]
Trains returning but no firm timeline on Regional Rail fleet
WHILE trains between Sydney and Grafton resume next week, a date has yet to be set for the introduction of the long-awaited XPT replacement fleet. “A timeline for the new Regional Rail fleet’s entry into service on the North Coast line will be confirmed once the trains have progressed through testing and the relevant verifications […]
Free fire safety visit could be the difference between life and death
LOCAL Ray Fitzgerald, who has been a firefighter with Gloucester Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) for 14 years, knows better than most the importance of smoke alarms in saving lives. Ray strongly supports the current campaign by FRNSW to encourage Gloucester residents to book a fire safety visit. FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell has indicated that […]
Clubs raise $70k for farmers
THIRTEEN regional clubs have collectively raised more than $70,000 to support farmers impacted by the devastating floods of May last year. Member for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer said the fundraising effort brought together clubs from across the region with the support of Clubs NSW. “[It] highlighted the strong community spirit and commitment to supporting those […]
Buckett’s Radio recording Gloucester’s past
BUCKETTS Radio is Gloucester’s local radio station, broadcasting a rich mix of music and community content produced entirely by its dedicated volunteer announcers. According to Tim Carroll, one of the hosts of “The Old Mates Radio Show”, the station is “jumping with some exceptional input from the dedicated group of volunteers”. One such project, “Stories […]
Progress in Scotch Broom battle, but Barrington Tops weed fight far from over
The Scotch Broom infestation near Polblue in 2023, which has now been cleared. A large area recently cleared of Scotch Broom by the mechanical muncher. LIKE many other plant and animal pests, Scotch Broom was brought to Australia by the early European settlers. Apparently, it was imported here in the early 1800s by Governor King […]
Angus Taylor is being accused of trying to replicate One Nation's anti-immigration stance. Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS.
Liberals’ migration plan ‘strange’, from ‘another time’
THE coalition’s hardline migration plan has been lashed as divisive and Australia’s multicultural communities say they are tired of being dehumanised by all sides of politics. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has unveiled a plan to boot migrants from the nation if they do not exhibit “Australian values”, shut the door on some asylum seekers and […]
Sydney to Grafton XPT service to resume this month
The XPT trains have been painted to reflect their history. The XPT trains have been painted to reflect their history. THE Sydney to Grafton XPT train service is set to return from 28 April, after a year of coach replacements during fleet upgrades. Sydney to Grafton train services – travelling through the Central Coast, Hunter […]
Gloucester RSL sub-Branch celebrates as patron turns 99
A proud Toby Wilson OAM turns 99 on 19 April. A young Toby Wilson in his Navy days. GLOUCESTER RSL sub-Branch members gathered on Saturday to celebrate the birthday of branch patron Alan Laurie ‘Toby’ Wilson OAM. Mr Wilson turns 99 on 19 April. “It was truly heartening for all present to see Toby in […]
MP launches survey to gauge electorate’s priorities
LYNE MP Alison Penfold has launched “Lyne’s Biggest Survey”, an electorate-wide consultation over local priorities. The survey is being delivered to households across the Lyne electorate. “This survey is about giving a voice to the concerns of each and every Lyne resident, whether you live in the big centres of the electorate, the small towns, […]
