Leading the charge is Queensland's Amy Shark who will headline the event, at Old Bar beach on Saturday April 21, alongside huge names like Angie McMahon, Maddy Jane, ELKI, Tomgirl and Kinder. The event runs from 11am to 10pm on the airstrip.

Tickets are on sale and children under 12 get free entry when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.

An Anzac Sunday service will be held on April 22 at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Old Bar commencing at 10am. 

Taree parish rector, Father Peter Tinney will officiate at this annual event in Old Bar.

In addition to the normal holy eucharist held that day, members of the Old Bar Beach RSL Sub-branch will be in attendance and an RSL tribute will be conducted. Everyone is welcome.  Full size medals may be worn.

A new session of bridge lessons for beginners will begin on April 27 at Club Old Bar starting at 10am.

Now is your opportunity to learn one of the world’s most fascinating card games, build a new social network and stimulate the grey matter while having fun.

Lessons are free. Call Jill on 0407 733 537 to register your interest or just come along.

Old Bar Bridge Club meets every Wednesday and Friday afternoon at Club Old Bar starting at 12.15pm and any bridge player is more than welcome to join us. Just call Pam on 6553 3440 to organise a partner.

Last Friday, Old Bar Public School took the time out to recognise the spirit of Anzac.

As they do every year, they hold a very special service in the assembly hall, completely led by the school leaders. This showcases what great leadership we have coming through our school system.

The service consisted of tributes, songs and prayers and wreath laying.

Members of the Old Bar Beach RSL Sub-branch were special guests of the school and Peter Vidler gave a short address on the Anzac theme. Sub-branch members were then treated to morning tea.

Dawn Service: Assemble at 5.15am at corner of Clerke and David Streets, Old Bar for commencement of march to the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall. Dawn service and wreath laying 5.30am. At the conclusion, a light breakfast will be provided.

Anzac Day March and Service: Assemble in Waterman Street, Old Bar between Old Bar Road and Bryan Street at 11.45am for commencement of march  at approximately 12.10pm to Club Old Bar main entrance, Belford Street. The Anzac service and wreath laying ceremonies will start at approximately 12.30pm and finish at about 1.30pm.

The Taree City Band will be assisting with the march and providing music for the service but are unable to provide entertainment in the club this year. They will be missed.

You are also invited to a free sausage sizzle in the club after the service.

Raffles and then two-up will commence at 3.30pm.

Because  RSL sub-branches in NSW are currently prevented for carrying out any fund raising, the proceeds from these activities will for the benefit of the Old Bar Soldiers' Memorial Hall, which is not an RSL entity.

The third annual Old Bar Health Expo was again a vibrant gathering and attracted a lot of interest.

Organised by the Old Bar Men's Shed and sponsored by Club Old Bar, it provided displays by 38 exhibitors from a very broad range of services from physical and mental health professions, service/community clubs, state and federal government agencies, home care as well as nursing home style care for seniors.

Between 100 and 150 people are estimated to have attended however the exhibitors also interacted, learning more about other services available in the area.

Guest speakers included NSW Police on domestic violence; financial services offered by Department of Human Services; legal support available from Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre; joint pain relief by Nigeria Therapies as well as a talk about the local association which use Club Old Bar as their home base.

The expo was opened by the choir from the Old Bar Public School performing Welcome to Country and the National Anthem.

At the recent meeting of the Old Bar Manning Point Business and Community Association, it was revealed that $44,000, part of the overall grant of $110,000, has been received  from Transport NSW for the construction and installation of 10 bus shelters in Old Bar, Manning Point and Wallabi Point.

MidCoast Council has supplied the specifications for the shelters, including the colours.

Local contractor, Mid North Coast Concreting has been engaged to lay the slabs. Despite approaching four local engineering firms, the association was not able to find a local company prepared to undertake construction. Instead, they will be sourced from Coffs Harbour and that adds to the cost due to delivery charges.

Affected residents have been written to and objections noted. In some cases, the positions have been able to be moved to accommodate concerns but not all are able to be relocated.

A new tourist book for the area should be printed this week. This publication replaces the tourist maps currently being used.

The footpath from the school to the beach has been commenced but the route has been altered from the original plan. After it swings out of Smith Street into Ungala Road, it will then meander through the reserve to the beach.

The Lions Club of Old Bar Beach will be holding a special fundraising venture at the Old Bar markets this Sunday, April 22. 

They will be raising funds for the Childhood Cancer Research Foundation.

This is an annual event and since 1996 Lions Australia have contributed more than $5 million to childhood cancer research. This effort has resulted in safer and more effective blood stem cell transplantation for leukaemia patients following chemotherapy, leading to more rapid recovery and shorter hospital stays. 

Lions have done a lot but the job is not over because they believe " that every child has the right to a healthy life". 

Please join your local lions at the Old Bar markets by purchasing our delicious barbecue treats or by just contributing to this worthwhile cause.  They are committed to 100 per cent survival for kids with cancer.