January 28, 2026
Research looks to boost hempseed yields and supercharge production Kavasil Pty Ltd Chief Executive Andrew Kavasilas and lead investigator Professor Tobias Kretzschmar. Photo: SCU.
Health

Research looks to boost hempseed yields and supercharge production

A NEW Southern Cross University (SCU) research project is aiming to increase the seed yields of hemp plants by up to 50 percent. The university describes the research as a potential “game-changer for the industry’s productivity and profitability”. The project, looking at naturally occurring variations in the sex determination of hemp plants, has the backing […]

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Feedback sought on farm connectivity program
Gloucester District

Feedback sought on farm connectivity program

THE Australian Government is seeking input from community and industry stakeholders on the “On Farm Connectivity Program” to ensure it is delivering the best possible outcomes for primary producers through the upcoming third round. Through over $30 million in rebates provided over the first two rounds, the government says thousands of primary producers have been […]

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From Gloucester High School to a Qantas cockpit Karly at the controls.
Community, School

From Gloucester High School to a Qantas cockpit

ANY Gloucester local catching a Qantas Airbus 330 out of Sydney to Tokyo, Manilla, Singapore, Hong Kong or Bangalore might recognise the familiar voice of Second Officer Karly Hawkins. Both of Karly’s parents grew up in Gloucester, and although Karly was born in Newcastle in 1993, the family moved back to this area when she […]

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Arrests over ‘abhorrent’ child-like sex doll imports
Regional

Arrests over ‘abhorrent’ child-like sex doll imports

SEVERAL middle-aged men have been arrested for trying to get child-like sex dolls shipped to their homes in rural towns. Australian Border Force officers raided and searched properties around the Newcastle and Hunter Valley area arresting four people over the span of about a year in their crackdown on the “disturbing rise in attempted importations.” […]

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Gloucester poet Alison Gorman launches first collection
Community

Gloucester poet Alison Gorman launches first collection

NEW Gloucester resident Alison Gorman has released her first collection of poetry, titled “A Woman Speaks To Her Tongue”. Alison has previously had poems published in journals including Meanjin, Cordite Poetry Review, Contrapasso and Southerly. In 2016, she won the Dorothy Porter Poetry Prize, and in 2023 was awarded a Varuna Residential Fellowship. “Spectacular” was […]

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Seeding the future for Sydney Cockles in flood affected estuaries Readily found in shallow estuarine waters, cockles are popularly harvested by recreational fishers for bait and are important culturally for Aboriginal communities as a food source.
Local News

Seeding the future for Sydney Cockles in flood affected estuaries

Readily found in shallow estuarine waters, cockles are popularly harvested by recreational fishers for bait and are important culturally for Aboriginal communities as a food source. Readily found in shallow estuarine waters, cockles are popularly harvested by recreational fishers for bait and are important culturally for Aboriginal communities as a food source. THE NSW Department […]

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Mayor: More funding required for flood recovery
Gloucester District

Mayor: More funding required for flood recovery

MIDCOAST Council Mayor Claire Pontin has celebrated the announcement of Category D funding for primary producers impacted by recent floods, but said more funding is required for others in the community too. Cr Pontin wants to see increased funding extended to business owners, homeowners, renters and for public infrastructure. “The Category D funding for primary […]

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