January 5, 2026
Family Fun Day supports Angel Tree Australia The Family Fun Day offered a range of activities for young and old.
Local News

Family Fun Day supports Angel Tree Australia

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 […]

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Plum pudding, anyone? Val Pritchard, Claire Reynolds, Jeanette Murray, Cheryl Farley, Leonie Benson and Catherine Wright at Ronda’s kitchen.
Local News

Plum pudding, anyone?

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 […]

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Free dog-friendly camping from coast to high country Free camping is available at Chichester State Forest, near Dungog. Photo: NSW State Forests.
Local News

Free dog-friendly camping from coast to high country

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 […]

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Trial to reduce hours at Stroud customer service point and library Stroud Customer Service Point and Library.
Local News

Trial to reduce hours at 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. […]

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Christmas under the stars: The sky that started a story A tale as old as Christmas itself: the mystery of the so-called Christmas Star.
Local News

Christmas under the stars: The sky that started a story

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 […]

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Record urgent care and surgery demand across Hunter New England Health district The number of emergency and urgent care patients is the highest since reporting began.
Local News

Record urgent care and surgery demand across Hunter New England Health district

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 […]

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Sonja and Richard’s extraordinary motor bike odyssey Sonja ready to start her journey. Photo: supplied.
Local News

Sonja and Richard’s extraordinary motor bike odyssey

Sonja ready to start her journey. Photo: supplied. Camping in Africa. Photo: supplied. Rugged up at the top of Norway. Photo: supplied. WHEN most people think of “roughing it” in Africa their thoughts might extend to a bumpy four-wheel guided tour through a wildlife reserve, or perhaps sitting on a log by a fire sipping […]

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Accident sparks concerns over reliability of NSW Live Traffic App
Local News

Accident sparks concerns over reliability of NSW Live Traffic App

A RECENT accident has raised questions about the reliability of the NSW Live Traffic app. According to information on the App, “Live Traffic NSW provides real-time information about incidents and changes in traffic conditions that affect your journey. “Our aim is to help customers make the best possible travel decisions that will, in turn, contribute […]

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Tributes flow for firefighter after Bulahdelah fire tragedy
Local News

Tributes flow for firefighter after Bulahdelah fire tragedy

TRIBUTES have flowed for John Lohan, 59, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) firefighter who lost his life protecting the townships of Bulahdelah and Nerong. In a statement to social media, the NPWS said Mr Lohan was a “treasured and long-serving staff member” who was based at the service’s Lake Munmorah depot for […]

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