Hawkesbury organisations urged to register for 2026 Australian Heritage Festival
Community groups, councils and businesses across the Hawkesbury are being encouraged to register now to take part in the 2026 Australian Heritage Festival, one of Australia’s largest celebrations of heritage. Coordinated by the National Trust of Australia (NSW), the month-long festival will run from 18 April to 18 May
Vince Takes Hawkesbury to Idol
At just 25 years old, Hawkesbury’s own Vince Phillips is making waves on this season of Australian Idol, captivating audiences nationwide with his big heart, country charm, and undeniable talent. The youngest of 10 siblings, Vince grew up in a lively, musical household where singing was second nature. Surrounded
Poppets Netball Registrations Now Open
The Poppets Junior 5, Junior 6 and Inter 3 teams all secured premiership victories in the 12pm timeslot, a fantastic achievement that highlights the club’s depth of talent, teamwork and strong development pathways. The wins are a proud moment for players, coaches, families and supporters, and reflect the club’
Truck Stop Closure Sparks Safety Debate as Authorities Clarify Council is responsible
Concerns about road safety along Bells Line of Road continue following the quiet closure of a former informal truck rest area, with Transport for NSW and Hawkesbury City Council clarifying their roles in the decision. Transport for NSW confirmed the land off Bells Line of Road is owned and maintained
Hawkesbury Australia Day Award winners
Community champions honoured at 2026 Hawkesbury Australia Day Awards Outstanding community members and organisations were celebrated at the 2026 Hawkesbury Australia Day Awards, with Mayor Les Sheather praising the dedication, compassion and leadership shown across the Hawkesbury. Hawkesbury City Mayor Les Sheather said he was delighted to recognise the incredible
Hawkesbury City Council Welcomes New Citizens on Australia Day
On Australia Day, Hawkesbury City Council proudly hosted a Citizenship Ceremony welcoming twenty-nine new Australian citizens from diverse backgrounds to the region. The event was a heartfelt celebration of Australia’s rich multicultural fabric, community spirit, and the shared values that unite people from all walks of life. Each new
NDIS Reforms Leave Mental health supports falling through the cracks
3,780 people in the Hawkesbury area are likely living with a disability
Historic Federal Childcare Pay Rise but Hawkesbury still faces a Childcare Crisis
The nationwide pay rise for early-childhood educators is welcome news but for many families in the Hawkesbury, it arrives against the backdrop of a deepening childcare shortage and controversial Council rent hikes that threaten existing services. What’s new nationally: a pay increase for ECEC workers A government-backed wage boost
Windsor Ten Pin Bowling Strikes 40 Years in the Community
Windsor Ten Pin marks 40 years as Hawkesbury’s retro bowling hub—keeping free-fall pins, league spirit, and local memories rolling.
Bilpin’s Harvest Farms: Growing Organics the Right Way
By Phil Burkitt For many years, Aaron Brocken has been quietly leading the way in organic vegetable production in the Bilpin district. His farm, Harvest Farms, has become a local landmark of organic vegetable production, where innovation and hard work go hand in hand. Aaron’s operation stretches across several
Hawkesbury Classics proving age is no barrier to great cricket
While many people think of cricket as a young person’s game, every second Sunday at Bensons Lane a different story unfolds, one of skill, friendship and enduring passion for the sport. The Hawkesbury Classics Over-50s and Over-60s Veterans teams are thriving as part of the Sydney-wide Senior Cricket Association,
Small Fighter, Big Victory for Local Taekwondo Champion
Arrow Porter is a 7-year-old martial artist from the Hawkesbury who has achieved extraordinary success on the international stage. She comes from a family where martial arts is a way of life. Arrow trains alongside her parents and her two brothers, Boston (11) and Rush (9). The Porter family originally
Kurrajong-Bilpin Athletes Show Grit at State Relays, Claim Bronze Against the Odds
Kurrajong-Bilpin Little Athletics Centre athletes delivered a standout performance at the 2025 State Relays, showcasing determination, teamwork, and resilience against some of the strongest clubs in New South Wales. With the recent merger of ANSW and LAANSW significantly increasing competition numbers, the small Hawkesbury-based club faced fields packed with powerhouse
Australian All Schools Performances Continue!
Here’s another Kurrajong-Bilpin Little Athletics Centre alumni and former Club Captain making waves on the national stage — Alex Sinnett has won Bronze in the U18 5000m Walk at the 2025 Australian All Schools Championships in Melbourne! It marks a brilliant finale to his school athletics journey, with this national
World Braille Day: Celebrating the Power of Touch and Inclusion in the Hawkesbury
World Braille Day: Celebrating the Power of Touch and Inclusion in the Hawkesbury Every year on January 4, the world marks World Braille Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of Braille, an essential communication tool for blind and partially sighted people. This year, as we celebrate
Volunteer grants roll out to 21 local organisations
Making things easier for the volunteers who step up to provide hot meals, groceries, and a friendly face for a chat has been a focus of the Volunteer Grants program, according to Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman. Across the Hawkesbury there are 21 not-for-profit groups who have been supported
The Ritual of the Third Thursday Coffee Club
Every month, around 9 a.m., the men trickle into the Park Mall Café on Richmond’s main street. These men are all former employees of Prospect County Council (PCC), once responsible for the electricity distribution west of the Hawkesbury River.
The Wollemi Pine and its Small Southern Family
By Phil Burkitt Hidden deep within rugged sandstone gorges northwest of Sydney, the Wollemi pine stands as one of Australia’s most remarkable botanical discoveries, a living link to the age of the dinosaurs. Discovered only in 1994 by a bushwalker David Noble in Wollemi National Park, just north of
Acreage Living With Charm, Comfort and Kurrajong Heights Serenity
Set on just over an acre in peaceful Kurrajong Heights, this captivating family home offers the perfect blend of timeless elegance and modern convenience. Soaring ceilings and generous windows flood the home with natural light, while open plan living creates a warm, welcoming environment ideal for family life, entertaining and
6 Dillwynia Avenue, Cattai.
Exceptional Lifestyle Property on 2 Acres Discover the perfect blend of comfort, luxury, and country living with this beautifully presented and immaculately maintained MAV Built home set on a generous 2-acre parcel. Offering an outstanding lifestyle choice in a scenic location, this property boasts stunning views from nearly every window,
Local Author Shares Powerful Journey Through Rare Illness in New Memoir
When life changed in an instant, Hawkesbury mother Mary Anne Allen faced a future she never imagined sudden paralysis that stripped her of independence, identity, and certainty. Yet through hardship, grief, and loss, she found a voice not just for herself but for many others, culminating in her deeply moving
Swallow Launches Down Under
‘If you knew where you were, you could control where you were going.’ Captain William Swallow.
How “Nature Heals” Celebrates Healing Through Country, Coast, Community
In a world that moves fast and city-scapes dominate, a quiet but powerful movement is growing one rooted in soil, green shoots and the quiet whisper of leaves. The book Nature Heals offers a heartfelt invitation to reconnect with nature, and reminds us that healing doesn’t always come from
Editor's Picks
The Hard Talks of Life: From the Sex Talk to the Death Talk
Now, decades later, the roles have reversed. As our parents age, it’s up to us—often their adult children—to initiate another essential, uncomfortable conversation: the death talk.