November 24, 1922 – May 29, 2014 Born at Wynyard in 1922, Dodger was one of five children. He began his schooling at Mount Roland Primary School, as his father was stationed to work at a railway nearby. During their time at Roland, the Longs became good friends with the Blake family. Having no children …

Service. Stanley is next on the list to receive the National Broadband Network, with sections of Smithton’s old lines to be decommissioned in October. NBN Co, the company appointed to rollout the new system set to provide high-speed internet and phone services, says construction of fibre optic lines into the seaside town will be carried …

Program. Children have no excuse for being bored these school holidays, with free discovery ranger activities running throughout the region. As part of Parks and Wildlife Service’s holiday program, children have had fun creating sand sculptures at Sisters Beach, playing devil detectives at Stanley, discovering whales at Black River and spotting creatures in the rock …

Ancestry. From 1857 to 1930, the Ford family resided at Stanley’s Highfield House, creating a legacy as the property’s longest-serving occupants. Over 80 years later, three generations of the Ford family have returned to the place where it all began, travelling from as far as Cairns to visit the spectacular sea-view property that holds so …

Infrastructure. The Bass Highway/Stanley Junction is all but complete, with only minor finishing touches remaining. The upgrade is part of a $1.5 million project addressing community safety concerns at the intersection. A spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources said the project, which involved community consultation with key stakeholders including the council, the …

Marine. Spine-tingling video footage has captured the moment two local residents came face-to-face with one of the ocean’s most intimidating creatures. Experienced recreational divers Kendrick “Bill” Bramich and Casey Spinks were nearing the end of a routine search for crayfish and abalone 300 metres off the coast of North Point, Stanley, when Bramich noticed a …

Watch the moment recreational diver Bill Bramich spots a broad-nosed shark while searching for cray and abalone with Casey Spinks off the coast of Stanley.

Life. Former resident Cynthia Kilby says growing up in Circular Head has made her the woman she is today. That woman is Gaia Star (meaning Mother Earth) as she is known in her home country of 14 years, India, where she has helped set up a school for underprivileged children in the village of Puttaparthi, …

Tourism. A $500,000 funding package for Highfield House and Dip Falls has been pledged by the Liberal Party if elected as a majority government this year. The announcement would see $430,000 committed to a new function centre and refurbishment works on Highfield House in Stanley, while a further $70,000 would go towards the construction of …

Golf. A full field of 75 players descended on the Stanley Golf Course last Saturday for the town’s annual Pro-Am competition, with picture-perfect conditions providing a smooth day’s play. Twenty-nine professional golfers made the trip north-west to mark the event’s ninth year in action, with $5500 up for grabs and $3000 for the amateur winner. …