THE MidCoast Festival of Stories is set to spin a series of yarns across the district from 26 April to 23 May. The event is promoted as a “rich tapestry of storytelling through workshops, discussions, and interactive sessions, led by local creative visionaries and industry specialists”. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth […]
Easter Saturday equals egg-cellent Gresford Billy Cart racing
THE much-loved Gresford Billy Cart Derby, a project of the Rotary Club of Dungog, is back this Easter Saturday (19 April). The event promises a fun-filled day for the whole family, packed with racing, entertainment, and plenty of community spirit. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. […]
State of Origin twist at the Stroud Show
THE 2025 Stroud Show is set to bring a whirlwind of family fun to the region from 25-27 April. This three-day event celebrates country life, showcasing agriculture, horse and split post competitions, and a variety of eccentric contests, along with products and produce from the Stroud Valley and beyond. This year, Stroud will host the […]

Alligator weed bites in Barrington
ALLIGATOR weed has been spotted in the Barrington area, and MidCoast Council is currently working with the local community to find and remove it. MidCoast 2 Tops Landcare raised the alert after spotting the aggressive weed in the Tibbuc area. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. […]
Nominations now open for 2025 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll
THE community has an opportunity to celebrate the incredible women who volunteer their time to make a difference, by nominating them for the 2025 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll. The Honour Roll, an initiative by the NSW Government, highlights the vital contributions of female volunteers across rural, regional and remote New South Wales. Since its inception […]
Penfold pledges $500k for Gloucester district ‘Community Package’
WITH a Federal Election just weeks away, Nationals candidate Alison Penfold has pledged $500k in funding for four projects in the Gloucester region. If the Coalition is elected to government on 3 May, the following funding has been promised: – A $380,000 contribution towards replacing four existing light poles at the Gloucester netball courts, and […]
Nationals announce $20 billion future fund
RURAL and regional Australians could share in billions of dollars to fill gaps in infrastructure, childcare and health services that local authorities can’t afford. The Nationals have pledged a regional Australian future fund worth $20 billion, if the coalition wins the 3 May election, with $1 billion to be set aside for projects each year. […]
Community groups to join ‘speed networking’ session
MIDCOAST Council hosted a fundraising workshop for Gloucester community groups in December 2024. During the workshop, attendees suggested the idea of organising a community group networking session. In response, MidCoast Council will hold a speed networking session for Gloucester community groups on Friday, 4 April at 10am in the Gloucester Council building. Gloucester is home […]
Coles, Woolies guilty of increasing margins: watchdog
COLES and Woolworths are two of the most powerful and profitable supermarkets in the world but should not be split up, the competition watchdog has found in a major review of the sector. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released its final report into supermarkets on Friday, finding major chains had little incentive to be […]
Gloucester keeps strong show tradition alive
ALMOST 2,000 entries and exhibitions were on show at this year’s local Gloucester Show, which ran from 21-22 March. Over 1,000 entries were entered across the pavilion halls, ranging from flowers, farm and garden produce, handicrafts and the arts. The photography section received record entries this year, said steward Adele Compton. “The judge was very […]