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People in the Port Macquarie electorate can recognise an outstanding older person in their community with nominations now open for the NSW Seniors Festival Local Senior of the Year Awards. Robert Dwyer said the awards celebrate the tremendous contribution seniors offer to their community. “If you know a senior who strives to make our community a better place through volunteering, innovation or simply supporting family and friends, now is the time to nominate them for recognition,” Mr Dwyer said. “We are fortunate to have so many seniors in our local community who are generous with their time, energy and commitment. “By highlighting seniors’ continued efforts in helping Port Macquarie thrive, we are continuing to challenge ageism and empower seniors to overcome social stigma.” Previously known as the NSW Seniors Local Achievement Awards, the awards highlight the diverse ways seniors enrich their communities. Each year, MPs across the state use the awards to recognise seniors in their community by hosting a small awards ceremony where recipients are celebrated. Nomination forms are available from all MP’s offices across the state and need to be completed and returned by Friday 16 January 2026. Successful recipients will receive their awards during the NSW Seniors Festival 2026, which runs from 2-15 March 2026. The annual festival is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and attracts more than 500,000 people at almost 50 DCJ-run and sponsored events across metro and regional areas. The festival commenced in 1958 and in 2026 will mark its 68th year. The festival promotes social inclusion and connection and encourages older people to attend events and become involved in art, sport, music, entertainment, technology, travel, health, wellbeing and recreation. For more information about NSW Seniors Festival Local Senior of the Year Awards, contact us by emailing portmacquarie@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Member for Port Macquarie, Robert Dwyer has welcomed measures to strengthen compliance and enforcement of tobacco laws in NSW.

I have recently recognised the recent outstanding sporting success of many students at MacKillop College, Port Macquarie. It has been a bumper term with several students selected in either the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges team or NSW All Schools teams through their individual representative sporting pathway, truly outstanding results for students in a regional area. Congratulations goes to: Lily Mosely, Milla Swain, Arliah Morris - competing at the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships in Townsville. Ben Romer & Blake Collins - Basketball Team competing in Sydney Oto Ryan – AFL competing in Albury and NSW All Schools under 15’s on the Gold Coast Indigo Duncan - Cross Country in Sydney Cooper Dawson & Bianca Harrion – Swimming in Sydney Lane Jordan - Open Girl's Cricket team in Sydney Rocky Mann and Tobias Rowlatt - U15 Rugby League Team in Sydney Eddie Coombes - Golf Team in Forster and NSW All Schools Open's Golf Team in Dubbo Tobias Toohey - Hockey Team in Newcastle Bianca Harrison - NSW All Schools Swimming Team in Brisbane The level of success is testament to the students' talent and determination to pursue their sporting aspirations.

Recently I had the chance to visit Tim Bale’s family dairy farm in Hannam Vale - one of more than 100 dairy farms still operating across our region, from Kempsey through to Gloucester. It was a valuable opportunity to hear directly from a local farmer about the real challenges and opportunities facing the dairy industry here in the Port Macquarie electorate. Tim’s message was clear - while the dairy industry often flies under the radar, it remains a vital part of our regional economy . Our farms don’t just supply fresh milk across NSW, some even supply into Queensland and every dollar generated on the farm supports multiple local industries, from transport and logistics to feed, wages, and equipment. In fact, a single farm turning over $1 million can generate up to $4 million in local economic activity’. These are small, often family-run operations with deep roots in our region. They care about the land, the animals, and the legacy they’re leaving for the next generation. As Tim said during our chat, “We’re only really custodians of the land - someone else will take it on after us.” It’s this long-term, stewardship-based mindset that’s often misunderstood by those outside the farming community.

This month I had the opportunity to talk with Catherine Vaara, CEO of Lifeline Mid Coast, to discuss the critical work they’re doing right here in our region, and why changes to the Suicide Prevention Act are so important for our community. Most people know Lifeline for their 13 11 14 crisis support line. But what many don’t realise is that our local Lifeline service also provides vital suicide prevention and postvention support, funded entirely through the Lifeline Mid Coast op shops. That’s right - every item bought or donated helps fund services that support those impacted by suicide, including bereavement groups, community outreach, and support for people who have attempted suicide. In the past year alone, Lifeline Mid Coast has supported over 200 people in bereavement and 40 people through their closed support group for those who have attempted suicide. Their trained volunteers and peer support workers also respond to communities in crisis following local suicides and natural disasters. Catherine and I spoke about the current amendments to the Suicide Prevention Act, which are making their way through Parliament. These changes aim to ensure a whole-of-government approach to suicide prevention, with better collaboration across health, police, education, and community sectors. This kind of strategy is long overdue. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for men aged 15 to 44. Nationally, around 3,000 Australians die by suicide every year, more than are lost on our roads. In regional areas like ours, the impact is even more profound. Lifeline Mic Coast alone answers around 25,000 calls each year as part of a national total of over one million. One of the most sobering insights from our conversation is that nearly 50% of people who die by suicide haven’t reached out for help in the previous 12 months. When someone is in crisis, the part of the brain responsible for reasoning and decision-making can shut down, leaving only emotion. That’s why timely, compassionate intervention is so important, and why Lifeline’s model of care and warm referrals is making such a difference. The amendment to the Suicide Prevention Act recognises that no one agency can solve this alone. It calls for a coordinated, consistent, and inclusive strategy that reflects the different needs of young people, First Nations communities, culturally diverse groups, and those facing social isolation or mental health challenges. Catherine’s message was clear: suicide is not about wanting to die, it’s about wanting the pain to stop. With the right supports in place, people can be connected to hope, to community, and to the help they need. This is about rebuilding lives and restoring hope. And that’s why I fully support the amendments to the Suicide Prevention Act and will continue advocating for more funding, better collaboration, and stronger recognition of the incredible work being done by services like Lifeline Mid Coast. To everyone involved with Lifeline - from volunteers in the shops to the trained crisis supporters on the phones - thank you for the work you do every day to keep our community safe, supported, and connected. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 - support is available 24/7.