Former city girl Amber Lawrence stumbled across country music by default over ten years ago, and it has grown as a passion from there. She was recently awarded the Telstra Horizon Award at the Golden Guitars and has released a fresh, new album, ‘When it all comes down’. Kim Gould chats with Amber about her album’s inspiration, life lessons and life on the road with fellow artists on the ‘Country’s... [Read more]
She’s one of Port’s best known identities – although she lives and works in Tamworth. But everyone recognises Fiona Ferguson and, every day, thousands of us are keen to hear what she’s got to say. “I’m the news editor and presenter of Prime News for the region, which effectively means I have the final say on the bulletin. But I rely heavily on my people on the ground – in... [Read more]
Lois Wilkinson’s met more Port people than most of us. With the formal title of postal services officer, she’s one of the friendly faces at Port’s main Post Office where over the past two decades she’s served more than half a million people. “I’ve been a PSO, casual and permanent, at Port Macquarie Post Office for about 19 years and before that I worked at the Lake Cathie agency for... [Read more]
Coming out of retirement to bring Australia his ‘wrong hole tour’, Rodney Rude promises to leave audiences in fits of laughter with his renowned comedic style, which includes, more often than not, explicit language and offensive references, while poking fun at everyone from heckling audience members to the odd politician or two. But there is also a down to earth, serious side to Rude. > Rude,... [Read more]
Carol is a Style Coach, using a combination of personal styling skills and positive psychology to help her clients be the people they want to be. She tells us about her business, CMStyle … > Hi Carol. How long have you lived on the Mid North Coast? My family and I moved to the Mid North Coast in 1991 and made Port Macquarie our home, and we have resided here in this beautiful destination... [Read more]
You have seen his face, heard his name plenty of times before and travelled with him across the world. Ernie Dingo is an Australian Icon, with a television career spanning nearly 20 years. He is also passionate about his country and education. > Hi Ernie. Where are you at the moment, and what are you up to today? I am back in Melbourne. And I am going to get a haircut! I am on my way over to Western... [Read more]
After 46 years in rural NSW, Helen Shallick now operates her award-winning day spa and calls the coast home. > Full Name: Helen Cecilia Shallick. > Time spent living in Greater Port Macquarie? Seven years. > Current Profession? Owner of Port Macquarie Day Spa – beauty therapist, remedial massage therapist and laser operator. > My previous career was … a farmer on a 2,000 acre property. I... [Read more]
Legendary Australian rockband Grinspoon have received global accolades throughout their 12 years in the music industry limelight. Currently touring for their latest album ‘Six to Midnight’, they will be stopping by the home shores of Port Macquarie to give the fans a little of what they have been missing. Louise Beaumont chats with frontman Phil Jameison and talks touring, his home and all things... [Read more]
Sara Jane Oakeshott, mum of three with one on the way does not take the limelight very often. She tells FOCUS about her busy life behind the scenes … raising a young family and being the glue that keeps this busy family together. When we stepped into the Oakeshott home, it was a flurry of activity! At 8am everyone was dressed and ready for their day. Sophie (6) takes command in welcoming us,... [Read more]
Despite being one of Australia’s earliest settlements, Port Macquarie’s really quite new. Bob Todd came here in the ‘70s, a latter-day pioneer in a town of just 8,000, a tenth of its size today. He gets a kick out of reminiscing – and is looking forward to our future. He’s one of nature’s gentlemen, I decide, before I’ve spent very long in Bob Todd’s company. His grin gives him... [Read more]
Meet the voice behind Star FM’s morning crew, Stacey White. > Full Name: Stacey White (but only for a few more months!) > Star Sign: very Aries. > Time living in Port Macquarie? I grew up in Wauchope, but I have been away dancing, working, studying and travelling for the past 11 years. > What I loved most about growing up in Port Macquarie was … being able to walk from home to school,... [Read more]
Last year celebrity chef Serge Dansereau visited Port Macquarie to judge the Mid North Coast Signature dish awards. This year Serge is back … and he’s bringing his knives. > Tell us about your background as a chef … I was basically a chef at the Regent Hotel for 15 years. We had Kable’s restaurant. I was known for working with all the small producers all around Australia. Twenty-five,... [Read more]
When Gael Donaldson-Stiff came to NSW from Western Australia to be the Anglican Rector of the Parish of Wauchope, she never dreamed that within 18 months she would be running a health food shop. Chrissy Jones chats with Gael about her spiritual journey. >Tell us about your life as a woman Priest Gael … I was trained and ordained in Bunbury, in the South West of WA, and was the fourth woman... [Read more]
In July 2009, over their daily coffee, Cathy, Gloria and Simone, decided they wanted and needed to create. Frustrated with the mass manufacturing of generic goods in big chain stores, we craved high quality, individual pieces at a fair price. We decided it would be nice to bring back the cottage industry – designing and hand-creating gifts sold locally, never compromising on quality. We began... [Read more]
Colin and his wife Delilah have created a veritable ‘Garden of Eden’ at Comboyne. Producing an incredible variety of fresh organic, chemical free fruits and vegetables, they supply tasty, nutritious food to health conscious customers at the Hastings Farmers Markets. > Tell us how long the property has been in the family and how the farm was started? The farm was started by my grandfather. The land... [Read more]
Country Energy manager Brian Mclean reckons he’s been “lucky”. Susie Boswell discovers he’s mostly made all his own luck. I’d expected a dry luncheon engagement discussing electricity with a Country Energy executive. It’s all in the spotlight thanks to escalating charges (up to 60 per cent in the next three years, with greater dividends to government) but it is, after all, just a commodity.... [Read more]
Lynne Bickhoff’s life turned upside down when she emigrated to Australia as a child with her family. Her experiences and memories, interests and her environment since have all combined to fuel her passion as an artist. She shares her progress. > You were born in Staffordshire in England. How did you come to live in Port Macquarie? My family emigrated here when I was 11 years old – against my... [Read more]
Introducing Brenda Fernandez from East Coast Laser & Cosmetic Clinic. Brenda trained as a Registered Nurse and is now working as an experienced Cosmetic Nurse. Brenda has worked as an operating room nurse as well as a Practice Nurse for a local GP and Dermatologist. This is where her interest in skin began. She started working for Dr Julie Knight at Coolenberg Clinic, assisting in cosmetic procedures,... [Read more]
After forming only 12 months ago, local band The Foreign Objects have just launched their debut EP ‘Amongst Ghosts, By The Sea’. Kim Gould catches up with frontman Luke Hall as the band prepares to take their ferocious rock ‘n’ roll sound on the road. > How old were you when you first picked up an instrument? I was 23. There has always been a guitar kicking around the Hall house, but music... [Read more]
Known to many Port Macquarie locals for her bright and bubbly personality, Bethmay Jones has spent the past 16 years pampering clients and entertaining them with her sense of humour. Well now you can be entertained and pampered from her own home. With children Adabella 3 and Zaide 1 in tow, she is embracing a new venture and has opened ‘Tonic Beauty Therapy’. We dropped in for a chat about family... [Read more]
Film producer Brent Williams’ first film ‘The Garden’ was the realisation of his childhood dream to be a movie director. Now together with an ensemble of other Australian short films, his work will be seen on the big screen at the inaugural ‘Flix in the Stix‘ outdoor film festival, April 10 at Cassegrain Winery. > Brent, when did you first become involved with short film production &... [Read more]
Ema Taylor is strutting catwalks for fashion week, is managed by one of Australia’s top agencies, and speaks with Focus about her soaring career in modeling. Ema, you’re originally from Port Macquarie. How did you become a professional model? I have only recently started modelling full time this year. The previous three years I had been doing it part time when I could fit it around school, work... [Read more]
Peter Thurtell is Mid North Coast Local Area Commander of Police, appointed eight months ago and based in Port Macquarie. His career has spanned more than a quarter of a century and included bringing someone back from the brink … literally. In his spare time Superintendent Thurtell, a 46-year-old lawyer, is also an international champion target shooter. Geographically, the MNC command covers an... [Read more]
Wauchope woman, Kathryn Stephens chats with Chrissy Jones about a recent trip to the Canadian Rockies. What makes Kathryn’s holiday different from anyone else’s? A car accident in 1992 left Kathryn unable to see or smell. This hasn’t stopped her though, from completing a journey that many of us would love to undertake, but never seem to have the time for. > Well Kathryn, you have just spent... [Read more]
Wauchope brother and sister team secure Kumho Future Champions Award in the wild west. Chrissy Jones chats with Helen about their experience and what they have accomplished. Wauchope rally driver, Michael Boaden and his co-driving sister, Helen Cheers have just returned home after competing in the Quit Forest Rally of Western Australia in the Nannup area, three hours south of Perth. > Michael and... [Read more]
When Focus spoke to Doctor Frederik Lips shortly after speaking with Dr Gillespie, he had just announced his candidacy for the ALP. We asked the same questions of both men and, with the PM’s hospitals’ takeover plan in flux at the time of going to press, we excluded its specifics from our story. I graduated MBBS from Sydney University in 1970; my clinical student years were spent at... [Read more]
Northern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Carlene York APM, has responsibility for Port Macquarie amid an overall territory covering the NSW coast from the Hawkesbury to the Queensland border and inland to the Hunter. Appointed two months ago, based in Newcastle, she’s in charge of 2265 police and 320 support staff. I joined the force in 1980; I’ve held various roles including general... [Read more]
Shannon Wright from Cuckoo For Coco specialises in handmade creations for little people. We talk to Shannon to find out more about her passion for art and how her creations have gone global. >Tell us how you came to be an artist and what you create? I never really considered myself an artist, my idea of what an artist is has always been a little old fashioned. But then I recently read this quote,... [Read more]
From flying guts and gizzards to the delicate art of processing grapes for fine wine production – rural jobs cover a broad field, Susie Boswell learns. My guest at the table today is slim and petite-boned with fine features that all together give the impression she’s perhaps fragile, or at least a little delicate. We’re dining on duck (her) and rice-crusted fish on a pancake of prawn, corn... [Read more]
When Focus asked Doctor David Gillespie, the first to declare he would contest the federal election later this year, to discuss his candidacy for the National Party, he and 15 other citizens had just completed a cold, noisy sleepover on Town Green to help raise funds to improve conditions for Port’s homeless youth. I’m a gastroenterologist, interventional endoscopist and specialist physician.... [Read more]
