The Tomaree Cultural Development Group will stage a series of four concerts at Tomaree Lodge Hall in November, bringing artists from across NSW to Port Stephens. Profits will go back to the group to support its campaign for a Performing Arts Centre for Port Stephens. The series opens on 7 November with Elysian Fields, a six-piece ensemble playing Scandinavian folk, jazz and classical music. Stars of Opera Hunter perform on 14 November, and pianist Anthony Chen follows on 21 November. Sax Blue will play on 28 November, with an encore on 29 November after its first show sold out.
A community barn dance at Soldiers Point will raise funds for Dog Rescue Newcastle, a volunteer group that rescues vulnerable dogs and cats. The Boots for Barks event on 14 November is open to all ages and needs no dancing experience, as a caller guides participants through each dance. Port Stephens Council's Vibrant Spaces program supports the evening. Organiser Brian Heywood said a similar event in Medowie two years ago drew strong local interest. Donations will help cover veterinary treatment, food, rehabilitation, transport and rehoming.
Sixty guests gathered at Restaurant 2317 in Soldiers Point on Friday 16 October to raise money for the youth counselling service Jupiter: Space to Talk. A young speaker described how counselling helped her return to activities she enjoyed. Money raised will help young people receive counselling when they cannot afford it. The evening also honoured Geoffrey Basser OAM, one of Jupiter's founders, and included a silent auction and raffles.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
A quiz by John Clarke asks readers how much they know their local area. Each yes answer earns points for visiting or climbing places such as Tomaree, Broughton Island, Stockton Beach and Gan Gan lookout. Extra points are given for overcoming mobility difficulties, while points are deducted for spending more than eight hours a week on the golf course. Scores of 25 points show full involvement, while lower totals are described as needing more effort. The score remains personal to each reader.
Port Stephens Council is inviting residents to take part in its annual Community Satisfaction Survey. The survey asks about roads, footpaths, waste collections, parks, beaches and libraries. Mayor Leah Anderson said last year's feedback led to a $29 million Roads Acceleration Program and a draft Road Futures Strategy. This year, Taverner Research Group may phone residents for anonymous verbal feedback. Residents can also complete the survey online or collect a hard copy from council facilities.
Emily Wilson was the most decorated player from the Port Stephens Pickleball Club at the 2026 Australian pickleball championships on the Gold Coast. She won gold in the 19+ Women's Skinny Singles and silver in two events, plus bronze in mixed doubles. Twenty club players returned with 14 medals in total from the event at Pimpama Sports Hub, which drew more than 1300 players. Club president John Grace praised the squad's performance. Nine members reached the podium across singles, doubles and mixed doubles divisions.
Soldiers Point paddler Brendan Jones has gained selection in a provisional Australian Auroras squad preparing for the 2027 World Dragon Boat Racing titles in China. The 53-year-old head coach of the Port Stephens Dragon Boat Club took up the sport in 2021 and has since become a gold medal-winning NSW representative. Jones is aiming for a place in the Auroras Performance Crew in the Senior B category. He will compete with five clubmates in Saturday's Region v Region regatta at Sydney International Regatta Centre.
An exhibition on shipwrecks off the Newcastle and Port Stephens coast has drawn 1,032 visitors in its first week. The display, called Shipwrecked, features models, artefacts, and videos of vessels lost in disasters since the 1800s, including the Catterthun, Maitland, and Psyche. The free exhibition at the Tomaree Headland Precinct in Shoal Bay runs until 23 October 2026, with organisers expecting strong visitor numbers during the school holidays.
