June 4, 2026
Don’t punish smokers who started long ago
Opinion

Don’t punish smokers who started long ago

DEAR News Of The Area, I HAVE never been a smoker and I grew up in a time when smoking was allowed on buses, airplanes, and inside public buildings. I have congratulated the various public health initiatives that have driven smoking out of public spaces, the banning of tobacco advertising, the shunning of tobacco sponsorship, […]

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Letter to the Editor: Wage and house gap widening
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Wage and house gap widening

DEAR News Of The Area, I would like to respond to this letter: “Today’s young people want everything now” (NOTA, 22 May.) Yes, Dawn Lewis from Bellingen, both wages AND house prices were lower in our parents’ day, but that gap has been widening significantly. In 1984, the average home cost about 3.3 times the […]

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Legal Hypothetical: family frozen in funeral feud
Hypothetical

Legal Hypothetical: family frozen in funeral feud

MATTHEW passes away in hospital at the age of 80 years after a short battle with an aggressive form of cancer. He is survived by his wife, Wendy, and their daughter, Penny. The medical practitioner responsible for Matthew’s medical care completes the form required to notify the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages of the […]

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Letter from the Editor: Fond farewell
Letter to the Editor

Letter from the Editor: Fond farewell

By Doug CONNOR, Group Editor AFTER just shy of six years manning the News Of The Area news desk, I have made the difficult decision to leave my role as Group Editor. Before I officially depart next Friday (29 May), I wanted to take the opportunity to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has […]

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NOTA seeks sales superstar in Coffs Coast/Nambucca Valley
Opinion

NOTA seeks sales superstar in Coffs Coast/Nambucca Valley

NOTA advertising representatives Chan Ansell and Tracey Bennett. Hunter-based NOTA ad rep Tracey Bennett. NEWS Of The Area (NOTA) is seeking an experienced advertising sales representative to strengthen the impact of its print and digital publications in the Coffs Coast and Nambucca Valley regions. This key role – available either full-time or part-time for the […]

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Letter to the Editor: Robbing Mark to pay Richard
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Robbing Mark to pay Richard

DEAR News Of The Area, LAST week Health Minister Mark Butler announced cuts to the $50 billion NDIS budget with little detail other than the end of support which is coming for an estimated 160,000 current recipients; not to mention future hopefuls. While few would disagree that there are national budgetary constraints and the NDIS […]

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