Huntlee Academy

15/10/2026

A reminder that North Rothbury Rural Fire Brigade will be holding their BBQ tomorrow at Bridgestone Select Huntlee!

If you can, pop in, grab a sausage and show your support for the local volunteers who give their time to help keep our community safe. Every bit of support makes a difference.

Come down on the 17th of October to meet your local rural fire brigade at Bridgestone Select Huntlee ! We will be hosting a sausage sizzle in the carpark.

The sausage sizzle is supported by Bridgestone Select Huntlee and Huntlee Academy 🌭

15/10/2026

Before the Hike for Brighter Futures, Zaine knew what he was expecting: fun, challenging and rewarding. 🌱

By the end of the day, he said it had topped all three.

Run by Barnardos Australia, the hike raises funds to help children and young people build safer, brighter futures. Zaine joined the team on the track, ready for whatever the day would throw at him.

And yes, it was a challenge. The whole walk tested him, but the toughest part surprised him. It wasn't the distance. It was keeping himself fuelled. Eating well along the way and drinking lots of water, far more than he usually would. Step by step, he kept at it and made it to the finish. 🤝

Together, the hike raised $25,000 for Barnardos.

When we asked Zaine what he'd like to say, he kept it simple:

"Without you guys, it wouldn't have been possible. So thank you for giving me the opportunity."

Thank you, Zaine, for showing up, pushing through and making it count!

12/10/2026

Every piece of gear on a Huntlee Academy crew is there for a reason. ☀️

Week two of National Safe Work Month is all about health, and what good work health and safety actually protects.

Spring in the Hunter means warmer days, more hours outdoors and plenty of physical work on landscaping and fencing jobs.

Here is how our crews look after their health on site:
• Sun protection: hats, long sleeves and sunscreen guard against UV damage that builds up year after year
• Water, often: staying hydrated keeps you alert and helps prevent heat stress
• Lifting smart: bending the knees, sharing heavy loads and using the right equipment protects your back for the long run
• Eye and ear protection: glasses and earmuffs around mowers, whipper snippers and power tools protect senses you cannot replace
• Gloves and boots: protect hands and feet from cuts, splinters and heavy objects

None of it is complicated, and that is the point. Small habits, repeated every day, keep people healthy across a whole working life.

Tackling a spring clean-up at home? The same rules apply in your own backyard.

11/10/2026

With a Total Fire Ban in place today, we encourage everyone in our community to stay informed, follow the fire restrictions and take care.

A Total Fire Ban will be in place tomorrow, Monday 12 October 2026, for the Greater Sydney area with forecast Extreme fire danger and the Greater Hunter area with forecast High fire danger. Warm and windy conditions are forecast across parts of the state, increasing the fire danger.

Take action now. Know your fire risk and what you will do if fire threatens. Report all unattended fires to Triple Zero (000).

For more information on Total Fire Ban rules, visit the website: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fdr

10/10/2026

Behind a lot of people heading off to work each morning, there is someone who helped them get there. 🤝

This is National Carers Week, and it is a good time to recognise the carers and support networks in our community.

The parents and partners. The grandparents, siblings and friends. The support workers and case managers. The people who do the early lifts, the pep talks and the everyday care that nobody sees.

When someone at Huntlee Academy reaches a milestone, like a first certificate, a driver's licence or a job offer, it is their effort that gets them there. But very few people get there alone.

To every carer and support person across the Hunter Valley, thank you. What you do helps make independence and work possible for so many people, and it deserves to be recognised.

Local businesses and organisations can be part of that support network too. Partnering with Huntlee Academy, or choosing us for your property and maintenance work, helps fund training and opportunity for people in our community.

Get in touch with the team on 02 4938 2172 or visit https://huntleeacademy.com/contact-us/

09/10/2026

Today is World Mental Health Day.

Together We Thrive. That is the theme for Mental Health Month this October, and we see it on our crews every day. 💚

This year's theme is all about connection. Life can feel like a lot right now, and staying connected to the people around us is one of the most powerful things we can do for our wellbeing.

Rising costs, constant change and a lot of noise can leave people feeling stretched and disconnected. But what we all need has not changed much: to feel safe, to feel understood, and to know we matter.

At Huntlee Academy, a lot of that connection happens on the job. Working side by side. Sharing a laugh at smoko. Noticing when a mate is having an off day, and asking about it.

Those moments might not look like much. A quick chat at the ute before the day starts. A crew member showing someone new how it is done. A thank you at the end of a long, hot shift. But they are the things that make people feel part of something.

Good work gives people other things too:
• A routine that gives shape to the week
• New skills, and the confidence that comes with them
• Finishing the day with something to show for it
• A team where you know you matter

That is why we see what we do as more than a job. It is about building skills, confidence and a sense of belonging that people carry into every part of life.

And connection does not stop at the site gate. It is the partners, local businesses and community groups who back what we do, and the families and friends who cheer people on at home. When a community pulls together like that, everyone does a little better.

So today, start a conversation. Check in with the people you work alongside. Small moments of connection add up.

If today is a hard one, support is available any time:
• Lifeline 13 11 14
• 13YARN 13 92 76
• Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

In an emergency, call 000.

08/10/2026

Our local North Rothbury Rural Fire Brigade volunteers do so much to protect and support our community, often putting themselves on the front line when we need them most.

Next Saturday, 17 October, is a great chance to give a little support back. Head down to Bridgestone Select Huntlee to meet the brigade and grab a sausage from the BBQ. Every bit of support counts, so come along and show our local volunteers that the community is behind them.

Come down on the 17th of October to meet your local rural fire brigade at Bridgestone Select Huntlee ! We will be hosting a sausage sizzle in the carpark.

The sausage sizzle is supported by Bridgestone Select Huntlee and Huntlee Academy 🌭

07/10/2026

When Ashton signed up for the Hike for Brighter Futures, the goal was simple: get from A to B. 🌱

What he found along the way was a little bigger than that.

The hike, run by Barnardos Australia, raises funds to help children and young people build safer, brighter futures. So Ashton laced up alongside the team and a group of people he'd never met before, all working towards the same finish line.

Out on the track, it came down to focus. Bushland all around, plenty going on, and one job to do: keep your mind on the task and keep moving forward.

"Being able to set my mind to a task and being able to complete it." That's what Ashton took away from the day. 🤝

He also took away the people. For Ashton, the most memorable part wasn't the trail itself. It was meeting everyone, sharing a goal and accomplishing it together.

And together, the hike raised $25,000 for Barnardos.

"I'm very proud to be a part of something like this, to help change a child's life."

We're proud of you too, Ashton. Thank you to everyone who walked, donated and made this possible!

03/10/2026

A shout-out to our friends at Mt Dyrring Wholesale Nursery. 🌱

Mt Dyrring is a family-run nursery just outside Singleton that has been growing plants since 2000. It was started by Pat, whose lifelong love of gardens led her to study horticulture and open the nursery. Over the years she has designed plenty of local gardens, including the Singleton Hospital Memorial Garden.

Today the team has horticulturists on site and thousands of plants on hand, from box hedges, roses and advanced trees to natives, herbs and bonsai. You will also find indoor and outdoor pots, fountains, birdbaths and water plants. And if they do not have what you are after, they can grow it or order it in.

What really sets them apart is the old-fashioned personal service. Real advice from people who know their stuff, and who will happily help you work out what will actually thrive in your garden.

Partnerships like this matter more than people realise. Local businesses backing local work helps our crews deliver quality landscaping, and every job helps fund training and employment in our region. Strong business partnerships create stronger employment pathways.

Planning a spring garden or chasing the right tree? Pay them a visit. Check their page for public open days and times.

Mt Dyrring Wholesale Nursery, 561 Dyrring Road, Singleton
https://www.mtdyrringnursery.com.au/

01/10/2026

A timely reminder as we head into the warmer months. Staying prepared and knowing the rules can make a big difference when it comes to keeping our community safe.

🔥The Bush Fire Danger Period starts today 🔥

From 1 October, the Bush Fire Danger Period is in place across the Lower Hunter, which means you’ll need a fire permit if you’re planning to burn off.

📋 Fire permits are free and easy to obtain through the NSW RFS. Before lighting up, make sure you understand the rules and have everything in place to safely manage your burn.

🔥If you’re burning off:
• Get your fire permit
• Notify the NSW RFS at least 24 hours before burning
• Check the weather and conditions
• Make sure you have the equipment and people needed to control the fire
• Never leave a fire unattended

🚒 Now is also the time to review your Bush Fire Survival Plan.
✅ Prepare. Act. Survive.
👉 Visit myfireplan.com.au

☎️ See an unattended or out-of-control fire? Call 000.

For the latest information affecting our local community, keep an eye on the NSW RFS and Fires Near Me app.