The Pindimar Tea Gardens Rural Fire Service brigade formed in 1997 when the Rural Fire Service became a quasi-government organisation. The brigade is now raising money to refurbish the Tea Gardens station, with plans needing approval from the Rural Fire Service and MidCoast Council. Original member Betty Economos recalls that a community meeting after a fire led to the founding of a volunteer bush fire service. Volunteers raised funds locally, and a fire shed was built by volunteer labour. Later, state government funding began, though recruiting volunteers remained difficult.
Maureen Shelly has celebrated her 100th birthday in Tea Gardens with fellow Legacy members. She was born in Charlestown in 1926 and grew up on land her family was granted near Warners Bay Road. Her husband Jimmy served in the RAAF during World War II, and the couple later moved to Tea Gardens in 2008. After Jimmy died in 2009, Maureen joined the local Legacy group. The local Legacy members held a lunch for her at The Garden Eatery, with birthday cake for dessert. Maureen says she feels more like 50 than 100.
Members of the Tea Gardens Lions Club are running a 58km Walk for Breast Cancer during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The walk aims to raise awareness and money for research into the disease. The distance reflects an average of 58 people diagnosed with breast cancer each day, according to official statistics. A Lions Fashion Show on 1 November, themed around op shops, will raise money for victims of domestic violence. Proceeds from ticket sales, raffle money and Tim's Bags will support new housing for those victims.
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Dementia Australia held a support and information morning tea for carers at St Stephens Catholic Church Hall in Tea Gardens on Monday, 12 October. Annette Noffke led the session, which focused on understanding the range of dementia behaviours. Dementia is caused by several diseases that affect the brain and gradually reduce thinking skills, and it is not a normal part of ageing. Dementia Australia says up to 45 per cent of cases can be avoided through steps such as quitting smoking, eating healthily and reducing alcohol intake.
Close to 7,000 signatures have been collected in a renewed push to improve safety at two Pacific Highway intersections, with Bucketts Way and Medowie Road. Petition organiser Leah Veksins says the petition will stay open until it reaches 10,000 signatures. She describes it as the fourth petition seeking improvements, after earlier efforts in 1995, 2005 and 2015. While an overpass is among her preferred options, she is also open to traffic lights or stop controls. The petition asks governments and road authorities to work together on a redesign of both junctions.
Close to 7,000 signatures have been collected for a renewed petition seeking safety improvements at the Pacific Highway intersections with Bucketts Way and Medowie Road. Organiser Leah Veksins says the petition will stay open until it reaches 10,000 names. She is open to an overpass, traffic lights or stop controls, and wants a redesign of both junctions. Veksins said two friends were seriously injured in a crash at the Bucketts Way intersection. Paper copies are also circulating in several surrounding communities.
Tea Gardens historian Anne Johnson has recalled her family's connection to the coastal trading ships of New South Wales. Her great-grandfather, ship's captain William Forbes, settled at Swansea in 1862, and his sons became boat builders. The Phil Forbes, built in 1899, carried timber and coal along the coast before being wrecked at Esmerelda Bay on Broughton Island in 1922. The Coweambah was requisitioned during the Second World War and wrecked in Trial Bay in June 1945 while returning home after its wartime duties in New Guinea.
MidCoast councillors have voted to trial an extended outdoor swimming season, running to Saturday, 24 April 2027. All of the council's outdoor pools will stay open during the April school holidays. Supervised pools at Tea Gardens, Gloucester and Taree will operate shorter hours, from 11am to 3pm. Unsupervised pools at Nabiac, Krambach, Stroud and Bulahdelah will keep their normal summer hours. The trial is estimated to cost $57,203, and council will monitor visitor numbers and costs before deciding whether to continue it in future years.
Crowds flocked to the two-day Myall University of the Third Age Art Show in Hawks Nest after grey weather sent visitors indoors. Dozens of local artists exhibited more than 300 works in the hall, ranging from first-time creators to long-established painters. Sales began before the show opened, and 33 of 36 artists sold work, including 92-year-old Marilyn at her first exhibition. Sales exceeded last year's figures, with over 130 paintings and 90 smaller items sold. Organisers said more than 650 visitors came through the doors across the two days.
MidCoast councillors have voted to trial a longer outdoor pool season in 2026-27, keeping all council outdoor pools open through the April school holidays. The extension responds to community feedback asking for pools to stay open later into autumn. It is expected to cost $57,203. The extended season will run until Saturday, April 24, 2027. Supervised pools at Taree, Gloucester and Tea Gardens will operate reduced hours from 11am to 3pm, while unsupervised pools at Nabiac, Krambach, Stroud and Bulahdelah keep their normal summer hours.
The Myall River Action Group has called for urgent action on dangerous sand shoals in the Myall River, which have caused boat accidents and hospitalisations. The group took local and government representatives on a tour to highlight the issue, particularly the stretch from Tea Gardens to Black Oak. Maritime Infrastructure Delivery Office and Mid Coast Council representatives acknowledged the need for urgent attention, including a hydro survey and potential dredging. The river is crucial for tourism, commercial fishing, and access to the Ramsar-listed Myall Lakes.
The Probus Club of Hawks Nest and District is celebrating its 15th anniversary in October 2026, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Australian Probus movement. The club, founded by Ray Hosking and Rex Sargeant, has grown to a membership of 160, with a waiting list. Members marked the milestone with a day out at Winda Woppa, featuring a sausage sizzle and a large cake made by Mema’s Bakery. Hosking, a former president of Epping Probus, has been a key figure in the club’s success.
