Women bring splash of red and purple to hotel

A splash of red and purple that descended on the Woy Woy Hotel on Friday July 25, when 120 women from Newcastle, Maitland, Hunter Valley, Sydney and Wollongong joined to celebrate 24 years of "red hatting" in Australia.

"It is a world wide organisation, especially for women over 50 to get out and about, and always good to hear the laughter and chat when they meet up," said Central Coast representative Ms Marlene Klintworth ..

The Roving Rubies of the Central Coast will be celebrating their 21st birthday in September, so there will be another gathering with a big splash of red for the "Paint the Town Red" party.

SOURCE:

Media release, 28 Jul 2025

Marlene Klintworth, The Roving Rubies Red Hatters

Government announces program for urban greening

The State Government has announced that Central Coast Council will now be able to apply for a share of $10 million to plant trees, shrubs, and native vegetation in parks, plazas, and other public spaces.

It will extend the Greening Our City program to include the Illawarra and the Hunter, as well as the Central Coast.

"Heat islands and biodiversity loss are a growing challenge and urban environments must be part of the solution," said Minister for the Environment Ms Penny Sharpe.

"Our cities play an important role in supporting a diverse range of flora and fauna, while providing critical habitat for endangered species."

Eligible councils will receive funding and will be able to access data and strategic planning support to assist in effective urban greening.

Ms Sharpe said a new advisory panel, comprising experts from industry, academia, and local government, would be established later this year to guide the program's delivery, provide feedback on policy, and help test new initiatives.

The grant round is open until 5pm on Friday, September 26.

SOURCE;

Media release, 4 Aug 2025

Penny Sharpe, Minister for the Environment