September 2, 2026
Top marks for sports uniform proposal to boost students’ physical activity University of Newcastle’s Belinda Peden of HMRI’s Population Health Research program.
School

Top marks for sports uniform proposal to boost students’ physical activity

NEW research suggests most Australians support a simple change that could significantly boost children’s physical activity levels: letting students wear sports uniforms every day. The majority of young Australians are still not active enough, despite well-established evidence that regular physical activity improves children’s physical and mental health. Schools are seen as an important setting to […]

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Aboriginal organisations combine in vision for ‘healthy country’ Crew leader Grant Brown.
Local News

Aboriginal organisations combine in vision for ‘healthy country’

ABORIGINAL organisations from across the North Coast have combined to care for Country, protect threatened species and strengthen intergenerational cultural knowledge. The Visions for Healthy Country project continues to build momentum across the region as Aboriginal organisations lead practical, on-ground conservation work across multiple sites in coming months Funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage […]

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Letter to the Editor: Train service unacceptable
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Train service unacceptable

DEAR News Of The Area, Thank you Mike Hely for your article on the issues with the XPT service (NOTA 3 April Edition). I wrote in a few times complaining about this ‘non’ service and that their explanations were unacceptable. As I said neighbours actually went into the office at the Coffs station and were […]

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Farmers hit hard by food waste Data shows Australian horticulture experiences average food loss rates of about 20 percent per farm.
Local News

Farmers hit hard by food waste

AUSTRALIAN fruit and vegetable growers are missing out on the sale of up to a million tonnes of produce annually that never makes it to market. That’s a whopping $2.5 billion a year but a figure dwarfed by the costs linked to such a huge loss. Data shows Australian horticulture experiences average food loss rates […]

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Pacific Highway has the most dangerous drivers in NSW The Pacific Highway is the most dangerous road in NSW. Photo: Andrew Vivian.
Local News

Pacific Highway has the most dangerous drivers in NSW

NEW data reveals that the most dangerous drivers in Australia can be found on the Pacific Highway. The study by LHD Lawyers analysed speed camera activity and government road incident data to identify the NSW roads with the worst “total danger-driver index score”. From texting while driving, to running a red light, the study pinpoints […]

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Inaugural Foster-Rudner Shield played at Bowraville Cherylene Lee, Lou Ahearn, Fr James Foster, Alan Rudner, Mary Dorahy and Tammy McLaren at the presentation. Photo: Jen Hetherington.
Sport

Inaugural Foster-Rudner Shield played at Bowraville

Cherylene Lee, Lou Ahearn, Fr James Foster, Alan Rudner, Mary Dorahy and Tammy McLaren at the presentation. Photo: Jen Hetherington. The gathering at the Hub. Photo: Jen Hetherington. Lots of action on the courts. Photo: supplied. THE inaugural Foster-Rudner Shield, a bi-annual intertown pickleball competition between the Nambucca Valley and Kempsey, took place on Saturday […]

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Talented Female Program enjoys unprecedented growth
Sport

Talented Female Program enjoys unprecedented growth

Talented Female Program Under 13s players. Talented Female Program Under 14s players. Talented Female Program Under 16s players. NORTH Coast Football’s (NCF) Talented Female Program is benefiting from the surge in popularity of the women’s game, with 2026 participation numbers hitting record highs. NCF general manager Duncan Marchant says the growth is unprecedented. “So far […]

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Letter to the Editor: Address to the nation
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Address to the nation

DEAR News Of The Area, WHO didn’t appreciate the address to the nation by our esteemed leader? However, he omitted to utilise time honoured props: say Harris Tweed jacket complete with leather elbow patches, Toto in the background lazing in front of an open (electric fire), carbon free of course. No fossil fuel for Toto, […]

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