The McClymonts

Individually, Brooke, Samantha and Mollie McClymont are among the most talented performers of their generation. But put them together, and The McClymonts weave a very special kind of musical magic. The talented trio will hit the stage at Laurieton United Services Club later this month, and we talk to Mollie McClymont about the show and their recent successes. > After releasing your debut album... [Read more]

Mid Coast Old Holden Car Club

Mid Coast Old Holdens Car Club has been established for less than 6 months. We catch up with club secretary, Sue Kennerson, to find out more… > How did the Club first come about? The club was officially formed on June 16, 2009, due to popular demand to have an Old Holden club in the Manning Valley, Gloucester & Great Lakes regions. There was a desperate need for a local Holden Car Club,... [Read more]

Glasshouse Seat Endowment Program

The Play a Part Seat Endowment Program is an initiative of the Glasshouse that allows you to bestow a seat in the name of a loved one or group. The first people to take part in this program, Jack and Patricia Ross, tell us about the significance of their donation. > What are your impressions of the Glasshouse? Patricia: I think it’s beautiful in every way. I think it’s a big asset to Port... [Read more]

Wauchope Bonsai Club

Ever wondered how they grow miniature trees in a tray – aka a Bonsai? Wauchope Bonsai club tells us more. > Tell us about the origins of the Wauchope Bonsai Club. The group was formed by a group of local enthusiasts in 2003, when it outgrew a backyard friendship group. Since then the club has continued to grow, with new members moving to the area and members from the now defunct Port Macquarie... [Read more]

Festival of the Sun 2009

Festival of the Sun is back in December and promises to be a not to be missed music event. We talk to Scott Mesiti about this year’s lineup. > Now in its fifth year, FOTSUN 2009 is soon approaching. Tell us about this year’s event. Yeah, 5 years is a long time. We are stoked with the support we have had … we took an idea and ran with it and we are still standing. This year is our biggest... [Read more]

Brandenburg Soloists

On October 22, the Glasshouse will host its first fine music performance, the Brandenburg Soloists. Melissa Farrow and Matt Bruce, two of the performers, invite us to experience this unique classical concert. > You are both high profile musical performers. Tell us about your background in music and how you achieved success at this elite level. Melissa: I started playing music when I was 8. I started... [Read more]

Graham Bell – Angel Flight

There is an angel in Port Macquarie. Granted, he’s a bit hard to recognise as such, dressed as he usually is in his trademark polo shirt, Bermuda shorts and long socks. But he’s a genuine angel, all right. People living in remote locations across New South Wales, needing non-emergency treatment in city hospitals, know what an angel he is. Remote Australia is brilliantly served by the Royal Flying... [Read more]

Mic Rees – iPhone art

Amazingly talented Port Macquarie artist Mic Rees is pushing the boundaries … using a mobile phone to create his latest works. > We’re extremely impressed with your latest artwork, and more astonishingly you’ve created it using the equivalent of a mobile phone. What was involved in the process? The artwork is created on an iPhone or iTouch using a program called ‘Brushes’.... [Read more]

St Leonards – Shane Fritsch

St Leonards front man, homegrown local Shane Fritsch is pleased to announce the band’s debut album launch, with a special event to be held this month. We catch up for all the goss about the album and the people behind it. > Tell us how your band and its new name ‘St Leonards’ came about. St Leonards is an evolution from my solo project. We all played under the ‘Shane Fritsch’ banner... [Read more]

Leila Brulee – Burlesque Dancer

Leila Brulee is living her passion, inspired by the artform and era of Burlesque epitomised by the infamous Gypsy Rose Lee. What is Burlesque? Burlesque is a theatrical form of satire. It is usually tongue in cheek, and involves song, dance, mime and bit of risque humor – but it is never smutty! It is about sensuality in its various forms and giving the audience something to think about or giggle... [Read more]

Jack and Brodie White – Waterskiing Brothers

Chrissy Jones speaks with talented waterskiing brothers Jack and Brodie White. The Wauchope boys tell us about their achievements and where they think their chosen sport may take them. Jack and Brodie water-ski behind their family boat Per4ma, spending many hours training on the Hastings River at Wauchope, and both have had some great successes to be proud of. Fifteen year old Jack has competed all... [Read more]

BMW 135i Sport Coupe Test Drive

This month we buckle up tight as Andrew Richmond takes a spin in BMW’s new 135i Sport Coupe, courtesy of McGuigan BMW. When I took on the task of writing for Focus Magazine Motoring section five cars ago, I promised to deliver cars that provided a sense of excitement and enjoyment in everyday driving. We’ve put to the test cars such as the Evolution X Lancer, Mercedes Benz AMG C63 and the ultra... [Read more]

Francis Furniture

Francis Furniture has been in the business of creating beautiful specialty timber pieces locally for over 27 years. Kim Francis shares their unique style.. > Hi Kim. You and your brother Chris have been making furniture in the Hastings for more than 27 years now. How did you become involved in furniture making, and where do you get your inspiration from? I was working in Sydney making doors and... [Read more]

Port Maritime

John Gwalter is passionate about our local area and more specifically, everything involving our waterways. After visiting hundreds of locations and gathering details and images from the Hastings waterways, John has complied a thorough and detailed directory of our waterways, boat ramps, public wharves, fishing spots, wild bait spots, slipways and much more. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. >... [Read more]

Nude at Miners Beach

Miners Beach in Port Macquarie has always been known as an unofficial but widely used nude beach. In what was once a secluded location for nude bathers to get in touch with nature, Miners Beach has now found itself in the middle of a newly built public walkway. The new walking track is part of a bigger plan being promoted by local member for Port Macquarie Rob Oakeshott; to link the Port Macquarie... [Read more]

Port Macquarie Airport

Recently Port Macquarie Hastings Council released for public comment some plans for the future development of the airport. Residents are being invited to comment on proposed development plans, but most residents have little idea of what goes on at the airport, or how air traffic operates. This article attempts to illustrate some of the issues that many people may not understand. Story by Gregg Faulkner. Port... [Read more]

Circus Oz

One of the first shows to be performing at the newly completed Glasshouse Arts, Conference and Entertainment Centre will be the famed Circus Oz. After 30 years of international touring, the show will WOW local audiences with breathtaking feats and good ol’ fashioned circus humour. Focus chats to Circus Oz Artistic Director Mike Finch and General Manager Linda Mickleborough about the upcoming show. ... [Read more]

Artist Glenn Dick

Glenn is a supremely talented painter – traditionally accomplished, but devoid of any commercial reality. He’s been in hiding for not months, but years (more than 20 of them as an artist, at least). Inconsistent flashes of brilliance in his art have been hidden from mass view, only fuelling the isolation. Glenn spent 12 or so years preserving the local heritage of Port Macquarie – a hard fought... [Read more]

Carnegie Cove – Bonny Hills

We had a chance to catch up with ARG Pty Limited’s managing director Peter Walsh (pictured far right) recently when he was in town, officially handing over the site to the construction group for the start of Carnegie Cove, the company’s over 55s private estate development at Bonny Hills. > Hi Peter. The dirt has finally been turned for Carnegie Cove – this has been a long time coming. You... [Read more]

BMW Z4 Test Drive

McGuigan BMW have just finished the renovation and extension of their new showroom. It looks great, and more importantly, fits many more toys inside … so if you’re in the market for a new BMW, you’ll now be able to see more of the range in the flesh, right here in Port Macquarie. Upon arrival at the new showroom, the hardest decision was what toy I should drive for a day? Would I take the black... [Read more]

The Glasshouse

Greater Port Macquarie Focus is proud to present our readers with exclusive pictures from our behind the scenes tour inside the all new Glasshouse Arts, Conference and Entertainment Centre. Chances are you have managed to catch a glimpse of the new Glasshouse during construction, as it rose out of the ground. More recently with the scaffolding down and lights glowing, we can clearly see the potential... [Read more]

Grace Church in the Philippines

The first thing the pilot said to me was, “Whoa, here come the storms. We’d better take off now or never.” We climbed into this tiny 6 seater Cessna, headed down the grassy, wet runway and took off. The dark clouds kept rolling in. Story by Todd Murray. The plane climbed higher and higher. The aim was to cross over the mountain tops before the clouds hindered our visibility. Our pilot, Ben,... [Read more]

Anthony Sarks

Ricardoes Tomatoes’ farm gate enterprise looks deceptively simple. Behind the scenes there’s experience, hard work – and big plans ahead, as co-owner Anthony Sarks reveals. I’ve won a quiet hour of Anthony Sarks’s time, a big victory where a dynamo who prefers energetic activity is concerned: planting tomato, strawberry seedlings at dawn; plucking, sorting, packing fruit; running... [Read more]

Bootcamp Sumatra

Fresh back from their very first successful and exhilarating adventure, we talk with Sue Parish and Sheldon Reed from Bootcamp Sumatra about their amazing journey … > What is Bootcamp Sumatra? Bootcamp Sumatra is about fitness, fun and adventure. It’s about getting out of your comfort zone and not just dreaming it, but doing it! It’s a specialised (awesome) program for those looking for... [Read more]

Carey Bellamy

If you’ve had coffee at Café 66, driven past the Fylnns Beach Resort or shopped at the Growers Market, then chances are you have been touched by Carey Bellamy’s art. Wendy Hall gives Focus an indepth portrait of the artist who is bringing art to our streets … What brings an award winning fabric designer and artist all the way from Zimbabwe to Port Macquarie? This is the question I put to... [Read more]

Graeme Connors

Renowned Aussie Country Music legend Graeme Connors makes his way back to the Mid North Coast this month to perform at the Laurieton Servicemens Club. A show not to be missed, as this 11 time Golden Guitar winner will be sure to wow audiences. > You are returning to the Mid North Coast in May to perform at LUSC. What other venues will you be playing? This is the beginning of my touring year, which... [Read more]

Hydro goes to Vegas

The team from Hydro Photographics Port Macquarie recently attended the annual PMA conference in Las Vegas. Focus chats to the team about what new skills and techniques they have learned and brought back from the Las Vegas conference. > What roles do each of you have in the different departments within Hydro Photographics? Iain: My role at Hydro is to coordinate the School and Team section of... [Read more]

Don Burke

Don Burke is a horticulturalist, tree surgeon, TAFE and guest university lecturer and founding member of Year of the Tree, Greening Australia and Sustainable Development Australia. Focus talks to Don about his new radio show The Lazy Gardener on local radio 531 and FM 93.5. > Congratulations on your new radio program. What has the transition been like back behind the microphone, given that your... [Read more]

Camden Haven Music Festival

The spirit of music is alive and well in the Greater Port Macquarie region this month, with the 14th Camden Haven Music Festival off and running for 10 days of inspiring and diverse entertainment. > Friday 24 to Sunday 26 April The Festival’s first weekend presents sublime concerts in Kendall and Port Macquarie. Opening with ‘Candlelight Fantasie’ in the historic Kendall School of Arts, UK-based... [Read more]

Mitsubishi Evolution X Test Drive

Andrew Richmond, Director of Oxley Insurance Brokers was lucky enough to test drive the Mitsubishi Evolution X thanks to our friends at John Oxley Motors of Port Macquarie. A quick trip to North Brother Mountain gave Andrew just a sample of what the Evo is capable of. For those of you who are motoring enthusiasts, this car needs very little introduction at all. The word Evolution is to Mitsubishi what... [Read more]