Darren will be raising awareness about The National Broadband Network at the T.H.E. Exchange event in Coffs Harbour on 21 June.  Read more

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community. The ability of people to willingly donate their time and energy to meaningful causes and organisations makes for much enrichment of our community.  Read more

According to the Cancer Council of NSW, every 12 minutes someone in Australia will die from cancer … We know the disease does not discriminate and that it stretches across all cultures and communities. Read more

In 2000, Mary Dumas, Taree TAFE Aboriginal Teacher Coach, very sadly and unexpectedly became a widow, meaning she had the sole responsibility of raising her four children, whose ages at the time ranged between nine to nineteen.

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The Gloucester Writers Festival is taking place from May 4 – 6. Festival Director, Lindy Dupree, tells us about the intimate festival for readers and writers. Read more

Blackhead local artist, Jeanette Smith, has long held a passion for the visual arts, previously consulting as an Interior Designer and more recently completing a Diploma in Fine Arts in 2009.

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The Anaconda Adventure Race was hosted for four years by the Great Lakes, during which time adrenalin junkies and racers came from right across the country to participate in the challenging event … Building on this success, the event has since been streamlined to take on the very best aspects of the Anaconda Adventure Race and has now been revamped as the Forster Adventure Race. Read more

WaterAid is a charity organisation exclusively dedicated to providing safe and drinkable domestic water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world’s poorest people. Read more

Scott Fletcher, Coaching Director of Tuncurry Forster Football Club, talks to us about soccer in the Manning-Great Lakes … Read more

Rodney O’Regan comes from a background of farmers and horses, with grandparents having served in the Light Horse in the First World War. Read more

National Youth Week is taking place from 13 – 22 April and encourages young people aged from 12 to 25 to get involved in a myriad of activities, including events and competitions. As part of Youth Week’s festivities on Saturday 14 April, Homebase Youth Service is hosting its King of the Krater event – an annual skate, bike and scooter competition – expected to draw 500 spectators to Tuncurry Skate Park. Read more

The future of the Hastings and Manning Valley regions has taken a giant leap forward, with the opening of the new Charles Sturt University campus in Grant Street, Port Macquarie. Dr Muyesser Durur is the new Campus Director, a dynamic leader who’s equally passionate about education and sustainable regional development … Read more

Many people can benefit by enhancing their quality of life, improve life expectancy and receive social benefits from accessing services that help them to live more independently in their own home and remain in the community, rather than prematurely entering a residential care facility. Read more

An accomplished businessman and avid sports enthusiast, Dave Collins’ talent for art provides therapy for his soul.

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As part of Killabakh Garden Club’s 25th Anniversary celebrations, the Club is opening six of its members’ gardens to the public on Sunday 29 April 2012. Varying greatly in size, style and character, the gardens each share the common setting of the picturesque Killabakh Valley. Club President and garden aficionado, George Hoad, tells us about the open day … Read more

I confess I’m not naturally drawn to Country Music, but I could be converted to it by an experience I recently had interviewing Troy Cassar-Daley over lunch regarding his new album, Home. Read more

2012 is the Australian Year of the Farmer – a Year designed to acknowledge and celebrate the farmers’ contributions to feeding and clothing the nation… Read more

Assistance Dogs provide independence and freedom plus great companionship for people with physical disabilities who are not able to do everyday activities such as open and close doors, pick up dropped items and press the buttons at traffic lights. Read more

Spring is often the time people most savour to get out into the garden, although autumn can also be a terrific time to harvest or to plant new flowers, vegetables or trees. Kelly Beauchamp, owner-manager of Tate’s Nursery in Forster, talks autumn magic… Read more

The sport of Rugby Union has a long history on the Mid North Coast and has enjoyed mixed fortunes. We speak about Rugby to Phil Wilkins, Club Member of the Forster Tuncurry Dolphins and Old Bar Clams Club President, Tim Brown. Read more

The sport of Rugby Union has a long history on the Mid North Coast and has enjoyed mixed fortunes. We speak about Rugby to Phil Wilkins, Club Member of the Forster Tuncurry Dophins and Old Bar Clams Club President, Tim Brown. Read more

Born and raised in Sydney, Donna was always a hard worker. After winning a scholarship to study education at university, she became a school teacher. She taught in the Dubbo community for 15½ years, until she became the victim of a crime which changed her life. Read more

It’s getting more and more popular: super size and upsize to a bigger meal for only a couple of dollars more. Read more

Photographer Brett Adams was recently flown on assignment to both Melbourne and Japan to capture images of a couple’s wedding. With an Australian-born groom and a Japanese bride, the couple decided to host two separate weddings in their native homelands … We talk to Brett about these very disparate ceremonial experiences. Read more

How lucky are we? Moving to Diamond Beach 18 years ago, having endured the mind numbing daily commute into the Sydney CBD,  Jacqui and I have carved out a better lifestyle, selecting the Great Lakes because of the spectacular waterways, proximity to Sydney and its climate. Read more

Extremely high stakes ride on wedding photography being of the finest quality, with enormous pressure placed on the photographer to capture top-notch images of the ceremony, reception and of course, the bridal party. Proffesional weddings photographer, Craig Mason, tells us about the tricks of the trade for taking breathtaking wedding photos. Read more

First Round Boxing was opened in the main street of Forster approximately eight months ago, by owner-operator Paul Cheers. The gym provides newcomers to the sport and professional boxers alike with access to expert trainers, who will assist in learning new skills and knock-out tactics in the ring. ‘Cheersy’ tells us all about the business of boxing. Read more

The Breakwall Belles is a group of friends who act as the fundraising arm for Marine Rescue NSW. The Group is inviting people to get their knitting needles out for the Cosy Up Exhibition and Competition. Breakwall Belles member, Jill Nash, fills us in on all the details… Read more

The co-curators of the exhibition are Taree-born Brian Wallace, who founded the internationally renowned Red Gate Gallery in Beijing in 1991 and Catherine Croll, Director of Cultural Partnerships Australia. 2012 is The Year of Chinese Culture in Australia. We talked to Brian Wallace about his work in China and the importance of bringing this exhibition to his hometown of Taree … Read more

Local artist, Helga Visser, studied art in Sydney with the late Archibald Prize winner, Arthur Murch. Helga now resides in Taree, where nature, light and patterns provide fascination and inspiration for her work …

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