Join us as we explore the ultimate festival for pet lovers happening on Sunday, November 9th. Highlights include dog competitions, a petting zoo, educational shows, markets, and ways to help local rescue organisations. Bring the whole family for a day full of furry fun!

Join us as we explore the ultimate festival for pet lovers happening on Sunday, November 9th. Highlights include dog competitions, a petting zoo, educational shows, markets, and ways to help local rescue organisations. Bring the whole family for a day full of furry fun!

Weekdays from 3, The Hunter Today brings you the stories that matter, the music you love and the lifestyle that’s uniquely Newcastle and the Hunter.

Stay connected, stay informed and enjoy your afternoons on 2HD.

Weekdays from 3, The Hunter Today brings you the stories that matter, the music you love and the lifestyle that&rsquo;s uniquely Newcastle and the Hunter.
Stay connected, stay informed and enjoy your afternoons on 2HD.

The Hunter Today

Pets Life Festival 2025: A Day for Animal Lovers in Newcastle

For most families, medical history involves a few bad knees or poor eyesight. But for Luka-Angel Cairns, heart transplants are woven right through her family's story.

To mark DonateLife Week 2026, David sits down with Luka-Angel, who received a life-saving heart transplant at age 13—following her father, brother, and grandfather, who all underwent heart transplants due to an inherited heart condition.

In this deeply moving episode, we explore what it's like to wait seven years for a donor heart, the complex mix of gratitude and grief that comes with survival, and how organ donation completely transformed her life from watching ballet from the wings to performing on stage.


The Cairns Family Legacy: How four members of the same family overcame a rare inherited heart condition through the power of transplantation.


The Waiting Game: What it's like growing up with severe cardiomyopathy and the reality of waiting years for the call.


The Emotional Reality: Navigating the profound gratitude for a donor's gift alongside the complex sadness attached to it.


The Simple Call to Action: Why 4 in 5 Australians support donation, but only 36% are registered—and how you can fix that in just one minute.

If you’ve ever thought about becoming a donor, this is the story that will inspire you to take action.

For most families, medical history involves a few bad knees or poor eyesight. But for Luka-Angel Cairns, heart transplants are woven right through her family's story.
To mark DonateLife Week 2026, David sits down with Luka-Angel, who received a life-saving heart transplant at age 13&mdash;following her father, brother, and grandfather, who all underwent heart transplants due to an inherited heart condition.
In this deeply moving episode, we explore what it's like to wait seven years for a donor heart, the complex mix of gratitude and grief that comes with survival, and how organ donation completely transformed her life from watching ballet from the wings to performing on stage.
<ul data-path-to-node="5">
<li>
The Cairns Family Legacy: How four members of the same family overcame a rare inherited heart condition through the power of transplantation.
</li>
<li>
The Waiting Game: What it's like growing up with severe cardiomyopathy and the reality of waiting years for the call.
</li>
<li>
The Emotional Reality: Navigating the profound gratitude for a donor's gift alongside the complex sadness attached to it.
</li>
<li>
The Simple Call to Action: Why 4 in 5 Australians support donation, but only 36% are registered&mdash;and how you can fix that in just one minute.
</li>
</ul>
If you&rsquo;ve ever thought about becoming a donor, this is the story that will inspire you to take action.

A Family Legacy of Hope – Inside the Miracle of Organ Donation

Continuing our deep dive into rose season, Dave Wright is back with Gav from Lee Rowan’s Garden Centre to talk about one of the most important decisions a gardener can make: choosing the right colour to bring your garden to life.

Roses are more than just a flower; they are an expression of mood and style in the garden. In this segment, Gav breaks down the diverse world of rose colours—from the vibrant, show-stopping reds that signify classic romance, to the soft, tranquil yellows and pinks that create a peaceful sanctuary. We discuss which varieties perform best in our local climate, how to pair colours for the most striking visual impact, and how to maintain the vibrancy of your petals from the first bud to the final bloom. Whether you are designing a modern monochrome garden or a wild, colourful cottage display, this chat provides the expert insight you need to curate the perfect rose collection.

Continuing our deep dive into rose season,&nbsp;Dave Wright is back with Gav from Lee Rowan&rsquo;s Garden Centre to talk about one of the most important decisions a gardener can make: choosing the right colour to bring your garden to life.
Roses are more than just a flower; they are an expression of mood and style in the garden. In this segment, Gav breaks down the diverse world of rose colours&mdash;from the vibrant, show-stopping reds that signify classic romance, to the soft, tranquil yellows and pinks that create a peaceful sanctuary. We discuss which varieties perform best in our local climate, how to pair colours for the most striking visual impact, and how to maintain the vibrancy of your petals from the first bud to the final bloom. Whether you are designing a modern monochrome garden or a wild, colourful cottage display, this chat provides the expert insight you need to curate the perfect rose collection.

Gardening with Gav: The Language of Roses

Get ready to rev your engines! In this episode, we’re gearing up for one of the biggest community events of the winter. We sit down with car enthusiast John McCoy-Lancaster to preview the 2026 Winterfest Port Stephens Car Show, taking over the heart of Nelson Bay on Sunday, July 12th.

With over 400 vehicles on display—ranging from vintage muscle to modern high-performance machines—this isn't just a car show; it's a full-scale community celebration. John takes us under the hood of what to expect, from the live entertainment at Apex Park to the special appearance by Australian motorsport legend John Bowe at the Welcome Night Dinner. Best of all, the event is fueling a vital cause, with all fundraising efforts supporting the Mark Hughes Foundation in the fight against brain cancer. Whether you’re a petrolhead or just looking for a fantastic family day out, this is the episode that will get you ready for the weekend!

Get ready to rev your engines! In this episode, we&rsquo;re gearing up for one of the biggest community events of the winter. We sit down with car enthusiast John McCoy-Lancaster to preview the 2026 Winterfest Port Stephens Car Show, taking over the heart of Nelson Bay on Sunday, July 12th.
With over 400 vehicles on display&mdash;ranging from vintage muscle to modern high-performance machines&mdash;this isn't just a car show; it's a full-scale community celebration. John takes us under the hood of what to expect, from the live entertainment at Apex Park to the special appearance by Australian motorsport legend John Bowe at the Welcome Night Dinner. Best of all, the event is fueling a vital cause, with all fundraising efforts supporting the Mark Hughes Foundation in the fight against brain cancer. Whether you&rsquo;re a petrolhead or just looking for a fantastic family day out, this is the episode that will get you ready for the weekend!

Pets Life Festival 2025: A Day for Animal Lovers in Newcastle

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