CHARITIES, community groups and not‑for‑profit organisations delivering community‑led projects across Essential Energy’s network area are encouraged to submit their applications for the 2026 Essential Grants program before the end of March. The program is offering grants of up to $15,000 to help eligible organisations bring their initiatives to life and deliver real benefits for people, […]

SEVENTEEN-year-old Bellingen High school student Laura McNeil is a passionate musician and youth leader. She has also lived with Juvenile Arthritis since the age of nine. Common signs of the disease include prolonged stiff, swollen or sore joints. Laura is sharing her story during Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Week, 16–22 March, an initiative of the Juvenile […]

RATIONING fuel in Australia’s major cities to supply the regions would cause unnecessary economic and social issues, a peak motoring body says. Iran has closed the strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil corridors, after the country was attacked by US and Israeli forces. The conflict in the Middle East has spiked […]

AUSTRALIA has stockpiled billions of litres of fuel – more than a month’s supply – as frustrated motorists grapple with rising petrol prices and an explosion in demand. The country is “as prepared as possible” with 1.6 billion litres of petrol or 37 days’ supply, Energy Minister Chris Bowen told reporters on Saturday. The stockpile […]

THE latest quarterly report into the performance of Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHF) hospitals shows the health services are coping well with a surge in demand. Patient numbers for October to December 2025 were up by 1,166, according to the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Healthcare Quarterly Report. This is a three percent […]

Horticultural staff member Shona presenting during the Seniors Festival. Photo: Jessica Miller. Participants at the Seniors Festival seed planting day. Photo: Jessica Miller. BELLINGEN Shire has joined in the festivities of NSW Seniors Festival 2026, with a slew of free events including film screenings, aqua aerobics, a ball, talks and tours. News Of The Area […]

Jane Bettison is helping local women to connect and make friends. Casual drinks with (l-r) Caroline, Liane, Debbie, Francesca and Loran. Enjoying a boat ride. Getting outdoors for a bushwalk. AS INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day is celebrated, one local woman is quietly making a difference by creating a space where local women can feel welcome, safe […]

WITH the prospect of paying at least $1 million for a home in many of Australia’s capital cities, buyers are once again looking to escape to the country. The regional property market surged in the three months to January, outpacing the capitals, according to figures from data firm Cotality released on Wednesday. Dwelling values rose […]

TIM Ayliffe award-winning Australian author is visiting the Yarrila Library in Coffs Harbour on Monday, 2 February to give a talk on his latest crime thriller “Dark Desert Road”. Set in the NSW Riverina, the novel delves into the rise of sovereign citizen movements and extremist ideologies in regional Australia. While the story is fictional, […]

A FUNDRAISER has been launched to repatriate the bodies of the two men who drowned in the Never Never River near Bellingen on Sunday. Launched on GoFundMe by Sunita Kalkal of Melton West in Victoria, the stated aim is to cover the cost of repatriation to India and funeral expenses, and to support family members […]