THE next time you see the sunrise, take a moment. That big ball of nuclear fire lighting up your morning sky is not just sitting there politely waiting for you to make coffee. It’s racing around the Milky Way at an eye-watering 828,000 km/h, dragging Earth and the rest of the solar system along for […]
The fascinating life of Penny Drake-Brockman
Penny getting ready to do some planting. Penny tickling the ivories. MOST people enjoying Gloucester District Park are likely to be unaware that they have 90-year-old Penny Drake-Brockman to thank for many of the trees and shrubs that give the park its beauty. Until a recent hip replacement temporarily curtailed her activities, Penny could often […]
No plans to improve Barrington’s mobile phone service
LOCAL resident Shelley Faull has described the Telstra mobile phone service to the village of Barrington and its surrounds as being “woeful”. According to Telstra’s Network Coverage Map the whole village of Barrington is covered by its mobile service, and there is nothing to indicate that Barrington residents are likely to experience issues using their […]
Housing package announced in response to floods
THE State and Federal Governments have announced a $50 million Housing Support Package to assist eligible homeowners, renters and primary producers impacted by recent severe flooding. Caravans and self-contained pod homes will be deployed for eligible flood-hit residents and primary producers whose homes were uninsured and uninhabitable so they can stay on their property during […]
The NOTA needs you! News Of The Area is seeking quality writers to join the team
TELLING the incredible stories of Gloucester is what News Of The Area (NOTA) is all about. The independently-owned NOTA is proud to keep locals up to date with the happenings of the area. Now, NOTA is seeking more enthusiastic locals with a background in writing to join the team in Gloucester. “If you have a […]
Police have been warned about the practice of entering property to check on bail compliance. Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS.
Cops transfer from other jurisdictions to strengthen NSW Police Force
TWENTY-ONE officers joined the ranks of the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) last week after graduating from the Professional Mobility Program (PMP). A State Government initiative, the PMP allows current serving police officers from other jurisdictions within Australia and New Zealand to train and become police officers in NSW, while keeping their equivalent rank (up to […]
Amelia Johnson made a mid-career switch to become an aviator and now mentors young female pilots. Photo: supplied.
Female pilots won’t let gendered headwinds divert them
A GROWING number of female pilots are making their mark in one of the most male-dominated industries in Australia, saying more women should fly planes. “The aircraft doesn’t care what gender you are. It responds to skill and judgment,” pilot Amelia Johnson tells AAP. “The feeling of flying yourself for the first time is unlike […]
Farmsafe launches campaign: ‘Second Chances – Who Knows How Many You’ll Get?’
FARMSAFE Australia has launched its 2025 National Farm Safety Week campaign with the theme “Second Chances – Who Knows How Many You’ll Get?” It comes with a national call to action. “If you’ve had a near miss on a farm, don’t just move on. Learn from it, share it safely, and use it to protect […]
Enforcement of safety standards could lower farming deaths involving quad bikes, research indicates. Photo: Mark Tadic/AAP PHOTOS.
Quad bike standards saving lives as crackdown urged
FARMERS, their families and workers are returning home safely after a day on the land due to stronger quad bike safety standards, but tougher enforcement could save even more lives. Quad bikes have long been a leading cause of deaths on farms, with 10 fatalities in 2024 and 46 reports of injuries, according to Farmsafe […]
$500k to boost community road safety across NSW
TRANSPORT for NSW has announced $500,000 in funding for the latest round of its Community Road Safety Grants program. Chadi Chalhoub, Executive Director for Transport Safety at Transport for NSW, said this funding matches the significant investment made in 2024 and reflects the importance of community-led efforts to help make roads safer. “Local communities know […]
