THE proposed boundary for the long-awaited Great Koala National Park (GKNP) was announced on Sunday, with conservationists celebrating and the forestry industry in panic mode. The GKNP, which will cover an area between Kempsey and Woolgoolga, will add 176,000 hectares of State Forest to existing reserves to create a 476,000-hectare National Park. The announcement indicates […]
Government release 20,000 Home Care Packages
THE Federal Government has announced it will deliver 20,000 Home Care Packages in the next eight weeks. A further 20,000 packages are set to be released between November and the end of the year, with the remainder of the promised 43,000 to be delivered by mid-2026. The Australian Government subsidises organisations to provide home care […]
Council considers options for bridge repairs at Tiri and Wingham
WORK is continuing to progress the repair of The Bight Bridge at Wingham and Tiri Bridge following their destruction in the May 2025 floods. Both bridges were severely damaged during the record flood event. MidCoast Council has investigated a number of options and are working with the Disaster Recovery Authority and other government agencies to […]
‘Blue September’: Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
THE Gloucester Prostate Cancer Support Group (GPCSG) aims to increase community awareness of the disease. September is International Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and iconic landmarks such as Storey Bridge, Victoria Bridge, and Brisbane City Hall are being illuminated in blue to highlight this important issue. “Blue September serves as a timely reminder to engage in […]
Life without laundry: How astronauts survive in space
SPARE a thought for the astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). They may float 400 kilometres above Earth at 28,000 km/h, eating their dinner out of pouches while gazing down at the swirling blue planet below – but they have one very down-to-earth problem: laundry. Or rather, the complete lack of it. That’s right. […]
Australians warned to pay attention to superannuation paperwork
MILLIONS of Australians are putting their superannuation at risk by not following-through with proper, and legally binding, beneficiary paperwork, according to a nation-wide survey. Research conducted by Super Consumers Australia, an advocate for people on low and middle incomes in Australia’s superannuation system, shows that more than one in three Australians with super say they […]

Celebrating volunteers on National Meals on Wheels Day
BUCKETTS Way Neighbourhood Group (BWNG) joined communities across Australia in celebrating National Meals on Wheels Day, hosting an afternoon tea to honour local volunteers on Wednesday, 27 August. National Meals on Wheels Day recognises the invaluable contribution of approximately 14,000 volunteers across Australia who deliver far more than meals – they bring connection, care, and […]
Matthew Rozynski, 9, is saving the planet one bottle at a time
FOR local nine-year-old Matthew Rozynski, recycling cans and bottles has become a passion. “I want to save the planet,” he told News Of The Area. Matthew, who has autism, is also using this passion to contribute to the local community. “When a child has autism, they become hyper-focused,” said Linda Rozynski, Matthew’s mother. “Saving the […]

Flood recovery grant applications to be processed quicker
THE State Government last week announced it would immediately double the number of staff members working on the processing of Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) Recovery Grants for primary producers impacted by the May floods. Since June, the RAA has received almost 2,000 applications and has approved more than $23 million in payments, however the Government […]
Call for volunteers to join Rural Aid’s Farm Recovery Event in Wingham
THE charity Rural Aid has put the call out for volunteers willing to lend a hand at this coming week’s Farm Recovery Event in Wingham. Like many on the Mid North Coast and hinterland, the town is still reeling from May’s record-breaking floods. From 7-13 September, teams will be on the ground helping local farmers […]