WILLIAM died at 48 without a will, leaving an estate valued at $360,000. His assets included a small rural property, a motor vehicle and minimal cash. Under intestacy rules, the estate passed to his sister, Amelia, with whom he had limited contact. William had, however, been in a long but volatile relationship with Kristina for […]
Letter to the Editor: Listen to the people
DEAR News Of The Area, I NOTE that Local Member Gurmesh Singh has been pre-selected by the Nationals to contest the 2027 State Elections (NOTA 20 Feb 2026). I note also that Gurmesh stated that he would “listen to the people of the Coffs Coast and act in their best interests”. Well it seems that […]
Letter to the Editor: Why fear campaigns work
DEAR News Of The Area, I FIND it hard to find sensible discussion about migration coming from the opposition. Instead they seek to politicise the issue and turn it into a fear campaign. Fear campaigns work because they do not require facts, merely a grievance, and appeal to our natural desire for simple solutions to […]
From the Mayor’s desk: Cr Nikki Williams
FROM major sporting to community events and cultural experiences, the calendar has been packed and it’s fantastic to see locals and visitors alike getting out and enjoying what’s on offer. These events create great experiences and play an important role in supporting local businesses right across the coast. It’s no secret that many small businesses […]
Legal Hypothetical: Banking on Mum – A gift or undue influence?
EVELYN died at the age of 89, leaving an estate valued at approximately $3 million. Her will divides the estate equally between her four adult children. In the final months of her life, however, Evelyn transferred $180,000 to one of her children, Amanda. At the time, Evelyn was frail and relied heavily on Amanda, who […]
Letter to the Editor: How did we get here?
DEAR News Of The Area, AGAIN, in response to Ashley Love’s Letter of 11 March 2026, I feel it is necessary to highlight his hypocrisy regarding plantations within the proposed Great Koala National Park footprint. His last two paragraphs say it all. Koalas trump taxpayer investment in plantations, no matter what. The plantations within the […]
‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
DEAR Jasminda, MY daughter’s class is holding a fundraiser to raise funds to paint the play equipment. I’ve let the relatives know and now they are getting competitive with their offers. Kylie G. Dear Kylie, Fundraisers used to be done in a clandestine way, much like nanna slipping little Jimmy a cool fifty bucks in […]
Petrol
Letter to the Editor: On being brave and hindsight
DEAR News Of The Area, SINCE my teens, following the 1973 Arab oil embargo, we have been acutely aware of the finite nature of fossil fuels. And although scientists have warned that burning fossil fuels contributes to climate change for over a century, these concerns have become urgent since the 1980s. So, in Australia we […]
Letter to the Editor: We are proud of our CEO
DEAR News Of The Area, AS a volunteer and staff member at Lifeline North Coast, based in Coffs Harbour, I would like to acknowledge Angela Martin, who was recently nominated as Coffs Harbour Woman of the Year and say how proud we are to have her as our CEO. Angela works tirelessly to highlight the […]
