Orara High School students Crue McCoy, Ahkeem Baytieh and Matias Vera Cooke.
Coffs students log into largest AI work placement
SIX Years 11 and 12 students from Coffs Harbour have completed NSW’s largest virtual work placement. They were among 500 from across the state logging on from work hubs to learn about artificial intelligence (AI) from tech mentors at Amazon Web Services, CommBank, IBM, ANZ, and Accenture – gaining placement hours for their Certificate II […]
Letter to the Editor: The Nationals have given up – but we don’t have to
DEAR News Of The Area, THE recent decision by the National Party to abandon its commitment to net zero by 2050 has left many in regional Australia questioning what this means for our future. Net zero simply means balancing the greenhouse gases we produce with those we remove from the atmosphere, ensuring the world we […]
The 2025 Woman of the Year Award presentation. Photo: IWD Committee.
Nominations open for Coffs Coast’s 2026 Woman of the Year
NOMINATIONS have opened for the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) Coffs Coast Woman of the Year Award. The honour celebrates exceptional women in the region who have shown innovation, dedication, and a significant contribution to empowering the local community. Since its inception by the IWD Planning Committee in 2015, the award has recognised women from […]
A plaque from the 1923 Woolgoolga and District Great War Memorial. Photo: Graeme Bray.
Have your say about the new site for Woolgoolga’s War Memorial
IN supporting the reinstatement of the 1923 Woolgoolga and District Great War Memorial, members of the Northern Beaches Residents Association (NBRA) are encouraging the community to look beyond the three suggested sites. A City of Coffs Harbour’s (COCH) Have Your Say survey about the location closes this Sunday, 9 November. While NBRA members are pleased […]
Pink lights promote foster caring campaign.
Coffs Coast landmarks light up pink in push for more foster carers
LOCAL landmarks The Big Banana and Macksville Bridge glowed pink last week as eye-openers for Life Without Barriers’ “Sharing is Caring” campaign. It was part of a local push to encourage more people to consider becoming a foster carer, said Benn Anderson, Regional Director for NSW Family Base Care North. Life Without Barriers hopes the […]
Bielsdown River Footbridge currently scheduled for replacement.
Students and Elders shape Dorrigo’s new footbridge
BELLINGEN Shire Council is in the process of upgrading Dorrigo’s Bielsdown River footbridge, integrating student-led artwork. The project grew from a vision to create a piece of public infrastructure that celebrates local identity, honours Gumbaynggirr culture, and gives young people a voice in shaping the place they live. The concept was initiated by a local […]
Coffs Coast-based Sydney Swans Academy members meet Swans players and coaches at the captain’s training run. Photo: supplied.
Bombers end Swans’ season with Coffs win
THE SYDNEY Swans fell agonisingly short of a spot in this season’s AFLW finals series, going down by three points to the Essendon Bombers during their final round match in Coffs Harbour. The Bombers ended the Swans season with a gruelling 2.2 (14) to 1.5 (11) victory at a rain and wind-swept C.ex Coffs International […]
Lifeline North Coast Centre Supervisor Lyn Anderson, NSW Lifeline North Coast Volunteer of the Year Declan and General Manager, Lifeline North Coast Angela Martin.
Coffs volunteer named NSW Lifeline Volunteer of the Year
COFFS Harbour volunteer Declan has taken out the top state award for NSW at the Lifeline Australia Volunteer of the Year Awards. Named NSW Volunteer of the Year for 2025, Declan’s journey with Lifeline began as a psychology student looking to grow his skills and give back. What he found was a community, a purpose, […]
The Nationals make their net zero announcement at Parliament House. Photo: supplied.
Nationals ditch net zero as Liberals ponder policy
THE Nationals have set up a possible showdown with their political ally the Liberals after unanimously agreeing to scrap their commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. The regional party argues Australia is doing more than its fair share to reduce carbon pollution, and emissions reductions should instead be tied to an average of similar […]