THE Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre (KNC) is offering free help with community recovery in the aftermath of the May 2025 floods. Running until October and funded by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, residents in Local Government Areas (LGAs) including Coffs Harbour and Bellingen Shire, can phone or drop in to the centre on Wednesdays between 10.30am-12.30pm and […]
Big Banana lights up purple for International Overdose Awareness Day
THE Big Banana glowed purple on Sunday 31 August as a sign of awareness, remembrance and hope on International Overdose Awareness Day. More than 2000 Australians lose their lives each year to unintentional overdose. This is more than the number of people killed in road accidents each year. Overdose isn’t about one drug or one […]
Coffs Coast volunteers take out major regional awards
Tania Hrbacek (front row, centre) volunteering with the Mountain Network group. Toby Mitchell, the 2025 Mid North Coast Young Volunteer of the Year, with his mum at the awards ceremony. Toby Mitchell’s books. The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate presents Toby Mitchell his award. Tania Hrbacek was represented at the awards ceremony by Ulong […]
Council greenlights Urunga CBD reference group
BELLINGEN Shire Council has voted to endorse the formation of the Urunga CBD Community Reference Group (CRG). The CRG will play an important role in the design phase of the $6.5 million Urunga CBD Redevelopment. It will ensure community voices are heard and reflected as the project moves from the vision outlined on the Urunga […]
Coffs Harbour Conservatorium strengthens the city’s live performance scene
Lewis Hackfath in a recent production at The Con. Jade Naidu, a welcome addition to local live theatre. The building that houses The Con, is a former night club. WHAT was once an old nightclub on Bray Street has been transformed into one of the city’s important cultural hubs. The Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium, known […]
Singing group enjoying new home at The Shoreline
Steve, Graham and Dave singing ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’. Coffs Harbour Sing Australia’s first afternoon at their new home at The Shoreline. SING Australia Coffs Harbour has a new home in The Pavilion at Shoreline Luxury Retirement Living near Park Beach Plaza. The move came about after the group’s four leaders – Isabella […]
Stargazing: that big ball of nuclear fire
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 […]
Rate cuts welcomed, but cost of living still looms over regional Australia
THE Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates by 0.25 percent on Tuesday 13 August, has been welcomed as a positive step for households across the nation, particularly the three million families managing mortgages. The reduction equates to a saving of $74 per month on a $500,000 mortgage. Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan, who is […]
Safe staffing in Mid North Coast hospital EDs
TWENTY-SEVEN more hospitals across NSW are rolling-out safe staffing levels in their emergency departments. On the Mid North Coast, these include the Coffs Harbour Health Campus, Macksville District Hospital, Kempsey District Hospital, Port Macquarie Base Hospital and Manning Base Hospital, This brings to 40 the number of hospitals across the state that have started operating […]
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 […]
