Highlight of the evening was the announcement by retiring president, Dr Bob Brien, that $3900 raised this year had brought the Apex Club to within $200 of its $12,000 goal for the heated swimming pool at the Hastings District Hospital.

Mrs Gwen Griffin on behalf of the committee of the Asthma Foundation presented a cheque for $500 to Dr Brien and a further cheque for $500 to Dick Kelly, and congratulated Apex on the effort put into the hydrotherapy pool.

The mayor Ald D.S. Kennedy added congratulations to Apex on behalf of the citizens of Port Macquarie.

Two retiring 'senior' Apexians, Eric Grogan and Col Bailey, received engraved walking sticks and a pair of silver Apex cuff links.

The cup for the Apexian of the Year went to Brian Tierney.

On the final night of Bye Bye Birdie well-wishers, and members of the audience took the opportunity of expressing personal appreciation of the efforts of numerous members of the cast.

Cast members received flowers, boxes of chocolates and even a couple of bottles of Scotch.

Port Macquarie CWA held their annual international night last Thursday.

The organising committee, headed by the hard-working international officer, Mrs D Thomas, were very pleased to see such a large gathering of both men and women at the CWA evening which was designed to study Norway.

President of the local Branch, Mrs. Enid Osborne welcomed the many guests which included the mayor Ald D.S. Kennedy and the reigning Carnival of the Pines queen Miss Jackie Buchanan.

Queen Jackie was later called upon to cut the cake made for the occasion from a Norwegian recipe by Mrs Thomas.

Mrs Pickett of Avoca Beach CWA gave a talk on Norway and films on the country were shown. The mayoress Mrs Kennedy moved a vote of thanks to the guests who had helped to make the Port Macquarie

CWA international night such an outstanding success. Ald. Kennedy added: "It is a pleasure to be here this evening as we people of Port Macquarie, are very proud of the CWA and of how it has carried on over the years."

He spoke of the wonderful site on which the CWA hall was located and said: "even though the face of Port Macquarie is changing at the present time, here you have a spot that will always remain.

"I can only say that the first women in the CWA in Port Macquarie were not only good workers, but good thinkers as well."

At the conclusion of the films and speeches, a delightful supper was enjoyed by all guests present.

Open days, exhibitions and a careers and vocational guidance evening are among Education Week features at Hastings Schools this week.

Wauchope High School will be open for inspection but classes will be as usual, parents being invited to observe the school functioning normally.