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

Told that country hospitality and high-octane action are taking a backseat? Think again! dust off your boots because we are talking all things rodeo.

With David Wright in the chair, we are joined live on the line by David from the Stroud Rodeo Association to look ahead to one of New South Wales's most loved country events. From international-standard facilities and bone-jarring bull rides to high-speed barrel racing and family-friendly community spirit, we are breaking down what it takes to put on a world-class weekend at the Stroud Showgrounds. 


The Ultimate Country Tradition: Unpacking the rich history and adrenaline-pumping events that put Stroud on the national circuit map.


Behind the Chutes: What goes into organizing a massive full-scale rodeo and campdraft program. 


Riders & Livestock: Celebrating the elite competitors, brave bull riders, and incredible animal athletes that keep crowds cheering from start to finish. 


Community Pride: How the iconic regional event brings locals and visitors together for an unforgettable weekend on the Barrington Coast.

If you love dust, determination, and proper country heart, this is an absolute must-listen.

Told that country hospitality and high-octane action are taking a backseat? Think again!&nbsp;dust off your boots because we are talking all things rodeo.
With David Wright in the chair, we are joined live on the line by David from the Stroud Rodeo Association to look ahead to one of New South Wales's most loved country events. From international-standard facilities and bone-jarring bull rides to high-speed barrel racing and family-friendly community spirit, we are breaking down what it takes to put on a world-class weekend at the Stroud Showgrounds. 
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
The Ultimate Country Tradition: Unpacking the rich history and adrenaline-pumping events that put Stroud on the national circuit map.
</li>
<li>
Behind the Chutes: What goes into organizing a massive full-scale rodeo and campdraft program. 
</li>
<li>
Riders &amp; Livestock: Celebrating the elite competitors, brave bull riders, and incredible animal athletes that keep crowds cheering from start to finish. 
</li>
<li>
Community Pride: How the iconic regional event brings locals and visitors together for an unforgettable weekend on the Barrington Coast.
</li>
</ul>
If you love dust, determination, and proper country heart, this is an absolute must-listen.

Holding Onto Your Hats – Inside the Stroud Rodeo with  Special Guest David Gorton

Every single day in Australia, an average of nine families face the ultimate heartbreak of losing a loved one to suicide. 

Behind every statistic is a grieving community, but local grassroots action is proving that connection truly saves lives. For World Suicide Prevention Day, local Hunter organisation UMatter is hosting a powerful community gathering at Maitland Park. David Wright is joined by UMatter Chairperson Lyndsay Walker to talk about local support, breaking the stigma, and why every single person needs to know they matter.


Rooted in Lived Experience: How the Hunter-based charity was born from the Mendyk family’s unimaginable double tragedy in 2017.


The Shocking Toll: Unpacking the national numbers—including nine lives lost daily, 65,000 annual attempts, and the deep ripple effect touching at least 125 people per loss. 


Maitland Park Memorial: Highlighting the community events and formal World Suicide Prevention Day memorial service at Maitland Park.


Bridging the Gap: How UMatter acts as Maitland's Suicide Prevention Network, connecting vulnerable locals dealing with isolation, housing stress, and financial hardship to vital professional services. 

If you want to understand how grassroots peer support is changing lives in our own backyard, this is an absolute must-listen.

Every single day in Australia, an average of nine families face the ultimate heartbreak of losing a loved one to suicide.&nbsp;
Behind every statistic is a grieving community, but local grassroots action is proving that connection truly saves lives. For World Suicide Prevention Day, local Hunter organisation UMatter is hosting a powerful community gathering at Maitland Park. David Wright is joined by UMatter Chairperson Lyndsay Walker to talk about local support, breaking the stigma, and why every single person needs to know they matter.
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
Rooted in Lived Experience: How the Hunter-based charity was born from the Mendyk family&rsquo;s unimaginable double tragedy in 2017.
</li>
<li>
The Shocking Toll: Unpacking the national numbers&mdash;including nine lives lost daily, 65,000 annual attempts, and the deep ripple effect touching at least 125 people per loss. 
</li>
<li>
Maitland Park Memorial: Highlighting the community events and formal World Suicide Prevention Day memorial service at Maitland Park.
</li>
<li>
Bridging the Gap: How UMatter acts as Maitland's Suicide Prevention Network, connecting vulnerable locals dealing with isolation, housing stress, and financial hardship to vital professional services. 
</li>
</ul>
If you want to understand how grassroots peer support is changing lives in our own backyard, this is an absolute must-listen.

UMatter – Turning Personal Tragedy into Local Hope with Lyndsay Walker

Stuck on what to get the dad who has everything this Father's Day? Put down the novelty socks and step away from the golf tees because the ultimate gift guide for the green-thumbed father has arrived! 

In this episode, our resident gardening guru Gav from Lee Rowan’s Garden World joins David Wright for our regular weekly dirt-therapy segment. We are skipping the usual gift card routine and diving straight into the best plants, high-end tools, and clever gear guaranteed to impress any dad who loves spending his weekends out in the yard.


The Ultimate Dad Plants: From hardy native shrubs and heavy-cropping fruit trees to advanced feature plants that instantly upgrade any backyard.


Tools & Gadgets: Upgrading Dad's arsenal with ergonomic hand tools, heavy-duty pruning gear, and smart watering tech.


Backyard Projects: Great ideas for hands-on weekend projects you can tackle together, from building raised vegetable patches to setting up a new vertical herb garden.


Lee Rowan's Expert Picks: Gav’s top recommendations for what's looking prime in the nursery right now across the Hunter and Newcastle region.

If you want to score serious brownie points with Dad this weekend, this is an absolute must-listen.

Stuck on what to get the dad who has everything this Father's Day? Put down the novelty socks and step away from the golf tees because the ultimate gift guide for the green-thumbed father has arrived!&nbsp;
In this episode, our resident gardening guru Gav from Lee Rowan&rsquo;s Garden World joins David Wright for our regular weekly dirt-therapy segment. We are skipping the usual gift card routine and diving straight into the best plants, high-end tools, and clever gear guaranteed to impress any dad who loves spending his weekends out in the yard.
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
The Ultimate Dad Plants: From hardy native shrubs and heavy-cropping fruit trees to advanced feature plants that instantly upgrade any backyard.
</li>
<li>
Tools &amp; Gadgets: Upgrading Dad's arsenal with ergonomic hand tools, heavy-duty pruning gear, and smart watering tech.
</li>
<li>
Backyard Projects: Great ideas for hands-on weekend projects you can tackle together, from building raised vegetable patches to setting up a new vertical herb garden.
</li>
<li>
Lee Rowan's Expert Picks: Gav&rsquo;s top recommendations for what's looking prime in the nursery right now across the Hunter and Newcastle region.
</li>
</ul>
If you want to score serious brownie points with Dad this weekend, this is an absolute must-listen.

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

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