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GLOUCESTER SCORES! CONGRATULATIONS Gloucester Soccer Club on a massive start to the 2026 season scoring NSW Government grant funding. Facilities at the Gloucester Soccer Complex are set for improvement after securing $254,603 from the ClubGrants Category 3 Fund Infrastructure Grants Program. The funds will allow the Scorpions to construct all-ability toilets, showers and referee facilities at their Boundary Road home ground. The announcement comes as the Scorpions prepare to

SERVICE RETURNS GLOUCESTER, Dungog and Maitland will have the Sydney-Grafton XPT back as a transport option from next week. Northbound services resume on Tuesday, 28 April, with return services from Grafton to Sydney on track from Wednesday 29 April. The first Grafton XPT return service will run as a full set in the train’s original livery of distinctive black, red, silver and warm white branding used by the State Rail Authority in the 1980s when the XPTs began their service.

ALL ABOARD! PATERSON and Branxton will share the nostalgia when Hunter Valley Steamfest takes pride of place on the Hunter and North Coast rail lines this weekend. Steam locomotive 3265 departs Maitland for five return trips to Branxton on Saturday and four return journeys on Sunday, with steam loco 3526 making three return trips to Paterson on Saturday and a further two runs on Sunday. Paterson’s Rail Motor Society will have the 1920s era rail motors CPH 1, 3 and 7 carry pas

FUEL SECURITY THE NSW Government has agreed to the National Fuel Security Plan to coordinate a consistent national response to the restriction on crude oil exports from the Persian Gulf. The plan is guided by four levels of action: Plan and prepare Keeping Australia moving Taking targeted action Protecting critical services for all Australians Our current status is level 2, Keeping Australia Moving. Everyone can participate in getting fuel to those who need it most by onl

FUEL ACTION THE NSW Nationals are calling on the Minns Labor Government to use its emergency powers to guarantee diesel and fuel supplies to regional NSW. The Premier already has the power to direct fuel companies where supply goes, so we are not asking for something new, just that he uses the powers he’s got. Regional communities are being hit hardest with fuel supply disruptions continuing right across the state. Additionally, the NSW Nationals and Liberals wrote to the Pri

FUTURE OF COAL TWO reports have been released by the NSW Government which will guide the future of the Upper Hunter Electorate’s coal industry. The NSW Coal Industry 2026-50 statement will continue to support coal production where it is already occurring, while placing strong guidelines on future development. This ensures New South Wales can meet its commitments to key trading partners, meet the state’s own needs and provide stability for workers, families and local communit

FUEL WARNING NSW POLICE Rural Crime Prevention Team is urging rural landowners to be vigilant with monitoring fuel tanks as the price of petroleum products increases. Officers advise that strategies to help strengthen your resilience against fuel theft include installing surveillance cameras, securing the bowser handle with a lock, and keeping detailed records of all fuel usage using the NSW Police Force Fuel Theft Report. If you are a victim of rural fuel theft, report it to

REGIONAL GRANTS AVAILABLE UPPER HUNTER Electorate councils, major organisations, community and sporting groups are encouraged to start preparing projects for the NSW Government’s Active Regional Communities Package. The $50 million fund will consider projects of all sizes that are smart and practical, embrace the uniqueness of regional communities, and embed resilience. The new package delivers support through three funding streams for non-profit local community groups, local

Passionate advocate for the Cassilis district, Jane Hegarty, has been announced as the Upper Hunter Electorate 2026 Woman of the Year at the NSW Women of the Year Awards in Sydney. The Local Women of the Year Awards celebrate local champions, advocates and trailblazers who make a difference to their local community and recognise the outstanding contributions of women and girls across the state. Member for Upper Hunter, Dave Layzell, said the annual awards are an important

GOOD LUCK, EMMA! CONGRATULATIONS to Emma Spartalis of Clarence Town, who is a finalist in this year’s NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award. Emma is founder of Spartalis Consulting, an artificial intelligence and digital capability consultancy helping organisations understand, adopt and apply emerging technologies. Or, as Emma explains it, she is focussed on reducing operational strain and building practical digital capability, so rural women can lead sustainable, commercia

FIREFIGHTERS WANTED DUNGOG is one of the Upper Hunter Electorate brigades hoping to secure new recruits from a Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) campaign to bolster the ranks of on-call firefighters. The “Become an On-Call Firefighter” drive urges people to join FRNSW to help their communities and learn new skills, while being paid an hourly rate to supplement their income. FRNSW Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell, is rolling out the welcome mat to potential recruits describing on-call

‘OUT OF STEP’ AMENDMENTS have been successfully secured for businesses by the NSW Nationals and Liberals from a Minns Labor Government’s bill to grant unprecedented digital access powers to union officials. The Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Work Systems) Bill 2025 clarifies duties of a person conducting a business or undertaking when using a digital work system. A 48-hour notice period before a union official can gain access to a business’ digital systems is amon