Stuart Carless, 41, has been appointed the News’ chief of staff and has relocated from Ulladulla with his wife Margun and children Lewis, 12, Ally, 11, Darcy, 6, Harper, 3 and Amelie, 22 months.

 Mr Carless has more than 20 years’ experience in the media industry, 15 of them with newspapers.

 He has spent the past six years editing the weekly Milton-Ulladulla Times and has also edited newspapers in Swan Hill (Victoria) and Eden on the state’s far south coast.

 Mr Carless also has experience in local government and spent five years as media and corporate promotions coordinator with Bega Valley Shire Council.

 He is looking forward to his new role at the Port News and getting involved in the local community.  Mr Carless’ arrival in Port Macquarie comes just weeks after his former newspaper, the Milton-Ulladulla Times, picked up one of the most prestigious awards for regional newspapers in NSW, the EC Sommerlad Memorial Award for Editorial Leadership and Community Involvement.

 The award recognised the newspaper’s stance on a number of issues including the need for increased patrols on some of the South Coast’s most dangerous beaches and the push for a group home for young people with disabilities in the Milton-Ulladulla region.

 He is keen to use his skills as a campaign-focused journalist to help facilitate positive change in the Port Macquarie region.

 Mr Carless, a former Victorian Country Press Association sports photographer of the year, has exhibited at galleries in NSW and Victoria and is currently putting together a new body of work, including images from the Port Macquarie region, for a local exhibition.

 He is keen to get involved in one of the local camera clubs and is also dusting off his hockey stick in preparation for the 2013 season.

 Stuart’s wife, Margun, is currently working on a follow-up to her self-published cook book ‘Love Menu’ and is eager to experiment with some of the local produce.

 The two of them were responsible for bringing back Ulladulla’s hugely successful food and wine festival, Harbourfeast, in November last year and are about to start working their way through the Port Macquarie region’s many eateries.

  Mr Carless can be contacted by phone on 0417 289 284 or via email at:

stuart.carless@fairfaxmedia.com.au