May 6, 2026
KoaLaMan hits the road to find a home
Local News

KoaLaMan hits the road to find a home

DO not be alarmed if you encounter a large koala with a blue head trudging along the road to Sydney – it is simply “KoaLaMan looking for a home”. The 550km, 30-day walk from the “Happy Frog” in Coffs Harbour to Parliament House in Sydney, is the latest in Peter Elzer’s efforts to halt logging […]

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Waratah Gadabouts reach 21 years of fundraising for respite services
Community, Health

Waratah Gadabouts reach 21 years of fundraising for respite services

THE Waratah Gadabouts, a fundraising group for Waratah Respite Service, has celebrated 21 years of supporting the not-for-profit organisation. The anniversary was marked at the club’s July meeting at Sawtell RSL Club. where the three founding members who still attend regularly, cutting the birthday cake. Waratah Respite Services has a long and proud history of […]

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Printmaking excellence on show at Yarrila Arts and Museum Christine Courcier-Jones all smiles at the opening of Airborne.
Community

Printmaking excellence on show at Yarrila Arts and Museum

Christine Courcier-Jones all smiles at the opening of Airborne. Infiltration (my breath/your breath) the mobile installation of Sara Bown. Lichen by Penelope Lawry. THE exhibition appropriately titled “Airborne”, currently showing at Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) Coffs Harbour from 28 June to 10 August, demonstrates the synergies of artists who collaborate. Sara Bowen, Penelope Lawry […]

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Bishop Druitt College to showcase online learning at AgQuip Head of School at BDC Horizon Online Craig Verbruggen, with students.
School

Bishop Druitt College to showcase online learning at AgQuip

BISHOP Druitt College (BDC) is among 800 individual exhibitors heading to Gunnedah in August for the 52nd AgQuip. Showcasing more than 2500 brands over three days from 19-21 August, AgQuip will see more than 50,000 visitors exploring and learning about many of the world’s biggest names in agriculture. They can watch live product demonstrations, check […]

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Petition calls for return of Discovery train passes
Local News

Petition calls for return of Discovery train passes

LIBERAL MLC Aileen MacDonald OAM has sponsored a petition to the NSW Legislative Council demanding the reinstatement of three-month and six-month NSW TrainLink Discovery Passes. The six-month Discovery Pass, previously available for $420, offered unlimited travel across NSW TrainLink’s regional train and coach network. The longer term passes have recently been paused by the state […]

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Streets paved with gold in alleged roadworks corruption
Police

Streets paved with gold in alleged roadworks corruption

CASH, cryptocurrency and even gold nuggets are among the alleged spoils of a long-running scheme to rig and inflate contracts for roadworks. A former department officer is believed to be in hiding, after a failed attempt to leave Australia on a US passport. The alleged rigging and inflation of contracts by Transport for NSW procurement […]

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Bello Council announces community grant winners Taranta Festival 2024. Photo: Saskia Burmeister.
Community

Bello Council announces community grant winners

BELLINGEN Shire Council has announced the recipients of the Community Grants and Environment Levy Community Program for Round 1 of the 2025/26 financial year. At the June Ordinary Council meeting, Council approved a total of $45,144 in grant funding across four categories: the Community Support Fund, Community Event Sponsorship Fund, Creative Placemaking Fund, and the […]

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Bright spots in agriculture amid market volatility Demand for Aussie beef looks set to remain strong, with reason for "cautious optimism" across agriculture after months of extreme weather and trade uncertainty.
Regional

Bright spots in agriculture amid market volatility

WITH droughts on one side of the country, floods on the other, and political volatility overseas, Australia’s agriculture industry has been right in the thick of it. But there is reason for “cautious optimism” in the $90.7 billion sector as uncertain conditions create both threats and opportunities for the nation’s producers, according to Bendigo Bank’s […]

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SCU celebrates 200 graduates at Coffs Harbour campus Dr Allyson Wilson receives the Chancellor’s Medal at the SCU graduation ceremony.
School

SCU celebrates 200 graduates at Coffs Harbour campus

Dr Allyson Wilson receives the Chancellor’s Medal at the SCU graduation ceremony. SCU’s Alumnus of the Year 2024 Jono Freeman at Club Active with a client. Graduating SCU student Thang Mang Mashinghlor with her family. THE achievements of more than 200 Southern Cross University (SCU) graduates were celebrated at the Coffs Harbour campus on Friday […]

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Sawtell Railway Station in service for 100 years Dunkerley family on Sawtell railway station's platform c.1955-56: David, father John Dyson Dunkerley (dec.), Christopher (current Sawtell resident), Roland (dec.). Photo by mother Jean Dunkerley (dec.).
Community

Sawtell Railway Station in service for 100 years

Dunkerley family on Sawtell railway station’s platform c.1955-56: David, father John Dyson Dunkerley (dec.), Christopher (current Sawtell resident), Roland (dec.). Photo by mother Jean Dunkerley (dec.). Sawtell railway station in the 1940s. Photo supplied to Sawtell Historical Museum by Linda Knight. July 2015, as the XPT zips past Sawtell Railway Station. Photo: Christopher Dunkerley. SAWTELL […]

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