Drivers queue, waiting to turn from Bucketts Way onto the Pacific Highway.
THERE is still no relief in sight for long-suffering motorists trying to turn right from Bucketts Way onto the Pacific Highway during busy periods. On 8 January 2025, News Of The Area reported that “those travelling south from Gloucester will, for the foreseeable future at least, continue experiencing the often-long delays, and significant risks associated […]
DUNGOG Showground is hosting the Hunter and Coastal Regional Scout Corroboree camp this week. More than 250 Scouts are attending the event, representing the Hunter and Coastal Region as well as Sydney, the Blue Mountains and other areas of NSW. In addition, around 100 Scout leaders will be busy organising and keeping an eye on […]
FOR the first time in more than two decades, foster and kinship carers across NSW have received a 20 percent increase to their care allowance. The increase aims to ease cost-of-living pressures and strengthen support for vulnerable children in out-of-home care. The tax-free increase took effect from 1 January 2026 and applies to authorised carers […]
The Family Fun Day offered a range of activities for young and old.
LOCALS enjoyed a day of art, craft and entertainment at a Family Fun Day held at the Gloucester Baptist Church on Saturday, 22 November. Organiser Francis Wood said the purpose was to raise funds for Angel Tree Australia. Run by Prison Fellowship Australia, Angel Tree works with churches and volunteers to purchase and deliver Christmas […]
Val Pritchard, Claire Reynolds, Jeanette Murray, Cheryl Farley, Leonie Benson and Catherine Wright at Ronda’s kitchen.
SERVICE clubs like Gloucester Quota are always looking for creative ways to raise funds. In 1991 Quotarian Margaret Andrews suggested making and selling Christmas puddings to fundraise and support the club’s service goals. Fellow members agreed and they hired the Gloucester Bowling Club kitchen, brought in an electric copper, and got cracking. “We made 30 […]
Free camping is available at Chichester State Forest, near Dungog. Photo: NSW State Forests.
NSW State Forests are open for free, pet‑friendly camping from the coast to the high country. There are almost 500 State Forests and many offer camping facilities where dogs, under their owner’s control, are welcome. Campfires are also permitted, outside of fire bans. “State Forests are a fabulous resource for the community,” Manager Tourism and […]
Stroud Customer Service Point and Library.
MIDCOAST Council will trial reduced hours of operation at the Stroud Customer Service Point and Library. From 5 January, the service will open from Tuesday to Thursday 9am – 12pm each week for a three-month period. According to Council, the aim of the trial is to align opening hours with service usage by the community. […]
A tale as old as Christmas itself: the mystery of the so-called Christmas Star.
EVERY year, as the festive season picks up speed, the night sky quietly rolls out its own holiday display- no tinsel, no blinking bulbs, just a crisp dome of stars performing the same cosmic pageant they’ve been staging for thousands of years. And woven into that ancient canvas is a tale as old as Christmas […]
TRANSPORT for NSW is encouraging motorists travelling on the Pacific Highway through Hexham to plan their trip and allow extra travel time during the Christmas New Year period, with high traffic volumes and delays expected. The M1 Pacific Motorway at Beresfield and the Pacific Highway at Hexham are linked via John Renshaw Drive and the […]
The number of emergency and urgent care patients is the highest since reporting began.
THE latest Bureau of Health Information report shows increased demand for hospital care and urgent surgery across the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD). The quarterly report is based on the period between July – September 2025. There were 108,152 presentations to emergency departments (EDs) across the district, which is 2174 fewer than in […]
