RECOGNITION has been awarded to MidCoast Council for its efforts in helping local primary producers diversify their businesses through agritourism. Council’s agritourism product development and mentoring program recently earned the economic development team a highly commended excellence award at the Local Government Professionals awards. The program was designed to help primary producers build the skills, […]

REGIONAL Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDAMNC) has appointed Kate Dunn as the new Local Connector for the MidCoast local government area, with the role commencing on 1 July. The appointment follows the NSW Government’s decision to expand The Welcome Experience into the MidCoast Local Government Area, with RDAMNC delivering the program across MidCoast, Port […]

BARRINGTON Tops wildlife sanctuary Aussie Ark will welcome visitors back to its popular Devils in the Wild tours from August, following a short winter break. The fully guided two-hour experiences take guests behind the scenes of the organisation’s conservation work at its Tomalla sanctuary in the Barrington Tops. Upper Hunter MP David Layzell highlighted the […]

Evelyn eating a lunch she didn’t cook. “What year was this song written?” asks Norm Harwood. EVELYN Rumble watched her mother serve in the Salvation Army kitchens and made the decision that she would serve others too. She was seven years old when her mum died but already she was determined to learn to cook, […]

GLOUCESTER locals doing their shopping might soon bump into a few local firefighters as Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) takes to the streets of Gloucester to attract a new generation of on-call firefighters. Gloucester Fire Station is currently looking to fill multiple paid firefighter roles to bolster local fire protection. On Monday 15 June from […]

JACK Laurie, a sixth-generation cattle breeder from Moppy, has been named the 2026 National Herd Improvement Association of Australia (NHIA) Young Achiever Award recipient. This prestigious honour recognises his exceptional contributions to the cattle industry. Mr Laurie was nominated for the award by Debbie Mills of Holbrook Breeders Australia, who praised his dedication to the […]

DOGS and koalas do not always have positive interactions, with dog attacks being a primary threat to their survival. More than 80 per cent of dog attacks on koalas prove to be fatal. However, it is not all bad news, because dogs are also playing an increasingly important role in helping to locate and save […]

A REPORT has been published examining the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s response to the severe weather event that hit the east coast in May 2025. The review was undertaken by the Joint Select Committee on the NSW Reconstruction Authority, composed of MPs from across the political spectrum. “This inquiry had a focus on the severe weather […]

THE NSW Government has released an online tool for comparing connectivity quality across the state, producing some surprising outputs for the Hunter and MidCoast regions. The NSW Digital Connectivity Index, accessible via the NSW Government website, breaks digital connectivity down into three key areas: Access: how strong is the coverage, how well the network performs […]

FANS of true crime are in for a treat this month as Gloucester Library’s author event features renowned true crime writer, Alan Leek. Leek is the author of several books including Confronting Murderous Men and Rendezvous with Death. Most people accept that when they leave for work, they will return home safely. But for those […]