A man has been charged following a pursuit with police in the Hunter region this afternoon.
About 1.30pm (Wednesday 22 June 2022), officers from Forster Traffic and Highway Patrol attempted to stop a Porsche Cayman on the Pacific Highway, Coolongolook, inland from Forster, after reports regarding its manner of driving.
The Porsche failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated, with the vehicle travelling southbound on the highway allegedly at speeds over 200km/h.
The vehicle travelled into the Heatherbrae township and entered a local car park, travelling around the carpark for some time.
The vehicle eventually exited the carpark onto Banks Street, before crashing into a fence.
The driver – a 20-year-old man – was not injured. He was arrested by police and was taken to Maitland Hospital for mandatory testing.
Subsequent inquiries revealed the vehicle was reportedly stolen from a South Brisbane address on Sunday (19 June 2022).
The man has since been taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with 11 offences including:
Larceny
Destroy or damage property
Receive etc property stolen outside NSW
Police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed
Police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously
Drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous
Negligent driving (3)
Possess prohibited drug
Never licensed person drive vehicle on road
He was refused bail to appear before Raymond Terrace Local Court on Thursday 23 June 2022.
A man has been charged after a pedestrian was allegedly fatally hit by a truck in the Hunter Valley yesterday.
About 6.30am (Tuesday 21 June 2022), emergency services were called to Cessnock Road, Maitland, following reports a male pedestrian had been hit by a truck.
The driver of the truck – a 47-year-old man – immediately stopped and attempted to render assistance; however, the 62-year-old man died at the scene.
The truck driver was uninjured and taken to Maitland Hospital for mandatory testing.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District and the Crash Investigation Unit attended and established a crime scene, which was forensically examined.
Following inquiries by Crash Investigation Unit officers, the driver of the truck was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station, where he was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death.
He was granted conditional bail and will appear at Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 27 July 2022.
A pedestrian has died after being hit by a vehicle in the Hunter Valley this morning.
About 6.30am (Tuesday 21 June 2022), emergency services were called to Cessnock Road, Maitland, following reports a male pedestrian had been hit by a truck.
The driver of the truck – a 47-year-old man – immediately stopped and rendered assistance; however, the 62-year-old man died at the scene.
The truck driver was uninjured and taken to Maitland Hospital for mandatory testing.
Inquiries are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A passion to make a positive impact in the community has seen second year Communications student Courtney Yeandle named as the inaugural recipient of the Meg Purser Scholarship.
The $5,000 scholarship was initiated by City of Newcastle in memory of one of Newcastle’s most prominent and community-focused communications businesswomen, Meg Purser, following her passing in January 2021.
Image: The late Meg Purser’s partner Scott Mills, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the College of Human and Social Futures at the University of Newcastle Professor John Fischetti,Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Meg Purser Communications Scholarship recipient Courtney Yeandle, Bob Purser and Head of the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social SciencesProfessor Catharine Coleborne.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle is pleased to see the scholarship awarded to a recipient who embodies the community spirit that was shown by the late Meg Purser.
“This scholarship will go a long way to supporting the talent and drive shown in Courtney, who is studying communications with the aim of supporting the media’s power to impact audiences and inspire action and improvement towards positive change,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Courtney’s aspirations are reminiscent of the positive influence Meg had on the local community by using her communication skills to support local initiatives and causes.
“I’d like to congratulate Courtney on being the first University of Newcastle student to be awarded the Meg Purser Scholarship and look forward to watching her communications career progress, as well as witness her positive contribution to her community.”
Courtney Yeandle relocated from Sydney to undertake a Bachelor of Communication in the School of Humanities, Creative Industries, and Social Sciences at the University of Newcastle and said the scholarship will ease the financial burden of living away from home, allowing her to concentrate her efforts on pursuing her dream to become a journalist.
“Studying communication at the University of Newcastle offers me many opportunities for professional and personal success and I am so appreciative to City of Newcastle for this scholarship,” Miss Yeandle said.
“Meg’s story really inspired me and I would love to be able to use my degree to make an equally positive impact on my community.
“I aspire to become a journalist working in news media where I can inform and educate the public on important issues, igniting conversation and hopefully inspiring change.
“I hope that during my study and in my professional life I can act as a positive ambassador and give back to the City of Newcastle and the University of Newcastle.”
Pro-Vice Chancellor of the College of Human and Social Futures at the University of Newcastle Professor John Fischetti welcomed the contribution from the City of Newcastle and said the scholarship will make a huge difference in the lives of students over the coming years.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support from the City of Newcastle in helping our students to pursue their potential and achieve their dreams,” Professor Fischetti said.
Meg Purser was a successful communications professional who is remembered for her charitable and behind-the-scenes work for organisations such as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Hunter Breast Screen and Got Your Back Sista. She invested considerable time in mentoring young people and worked tirelessly to make a positive contribution to the city until her passing in January 2021 following an 18-month battle with breast cancer.
City of Newcastle established the scholarship with the blessing of Meg’s father Bob Purser, a former journalist and communicator, to honour the significant contribution Meg made to the corporate communications community and recognise her passion for the many local community organisations and charities she supported.
“Meg took great pleasure and pride in helping young people develop into talented communicators. This link between one of her most valued clients and the university from which she graduated would have made her very proud as it does her family,” said Mr. Purser.
The Meg Purser Communications Scholarship was supported by Councillors in 2021 to provide $5,000 to an undergraduate student completing the second year of their Communications degree at the University of Newcastle. A new recipient will be named in 2023 and 2024, under the initial funding arrangement.
A landmark exhibition of Torres Strait Islander art has scooped the pool at the 2022 Museums and Galleries National Awards (MAGNA), securing a trifecta of titles for Newcastle Art Gallery.
Announced in Perth this morning, ‘WARWAR: The Art of Torres Strait’, won all three of its shortlisted categories, picking up awards for the best Learning or Interpretation Initiative, Indigenous Project, and Temporary or Travelling Exhibition.
Developed by Newcastle Art Gallery in collaboration with Torres Strait Islander artist and curator Brian Robinson and local artist and traditional performer Toby Cedar, the exhibition featured more than 130 works of art including several pieces that had not previously been seen outside of the Torres Strait.
It was presented in English, Kala Lagaw Ya (Western Torres Strait Islander), and Meriam Mir (Eastern Torres Strait Islander) languages and timed to coincide with significant dates in 2021 including Mabo Day, National Reconciliation Week, Coming of the Light and NAIDOC Week.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the award acknowledges the importance of connecting with local communities and raising cultural awareness through art.
“As the most significant First Nations exhibition project in Newcastle Art Gallery’s 65-year history, WARWAR provided an important opportunity for City of Newcastle to engage with our large Torres Strait Islander community and celebrate their culture in a meaningful way,” Cr Nelmes said.
“By raising the Torres Strait Island flag on City Hall for the first time to celebrate the opening of the exhibition, and leaving it in place permanently to fly alongside the Aboriginal flag, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to and support of our First Nations communities.”
The three MAGNA awards follow on from previous recognition for the exhibition, which last year also won the Promoting Indigenous Recognition Award at the National Local Government Awards, as well as the Museums and Galleries NSW IMAGinE Award for best exhibition project.
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM was thrilled to accept the MAGNA awards at the ceremony in Perth today.
“To be recognised nationally as the winner in every nominated category is incredible. Having conceived this exhibition over four years ago, it has been an absolute honour to collaborate with Brian, Toby and our TSI community on this very special project,” Ms Morton said.
“WARWAR is an Eastern Island word in the dialect of Meri am Mir, and it translates into English as ‘marked with a pattern’. It was always my hope that this exhibition, our events, and programming, would leave an indelible ‘mark’ on all that experienced the art and culture of the Torres Strait Islands for the first time at Newcastle Art Gallery.
“I share this success with Brian Robinson, Toby Cedar, Genus Passi Jnr, Gabriel Bani, Benjamin Bua Mabo, the Sailor and Whaleboat families, the University of Newcastle Design students, exhibiting artists, lenders and my wonderful team.
“The exhibition showcased the evolution and strength of Torres Strait Islander tradition and society through arts practitioners from the 19th century and the emergence of the contemporary art traditions of today.
“With over 130 works of art, many from major Australian institutions and the Torres Strait Islands that have never been publicly displayed before, the exhibition provided an incredible opportunity for our local Torres Strait Islander community and visitors to experience and gain a new appreciation and understanding of TSI culture in Newcastle.”
Newcastle Museum was also recognised for its high-quality programming, with its tribute to iconic Newcastle ensemble The Castanet Club being highly commended in the Temporary or Travelling Exhibition category at this year’s MAGNAs.
The quirky and colourful Castanet Club: an exhibition you can dance to was curated by Museum staff to celebrate the city’s role as an incubator for the arts, theatre, music and comedy.
The Museums Australasia Multimedia and Publication Design Awards (MAPDA) were also announced in Perth today, with Newcastle Art Gallery being highly commended in the best exhibition Film category, while also being shortlisted in the Exhibition Branding Package, and Virtual Tour or Exhibition awards for WARWAR. The MAPDAs celebrate excellence and quality in design of publications and multimedia produced for the museums sector.
Detectives have laid 12 additional charges as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged sexual offences in the Hunter region.
In May 2022, detectives from Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force REDFA to investigate a number of sexual offences that occurred between Friday 22 April and Monday 16 May 2022 in the Singleton Heights area.
Following inquiries, a 21-year-old man was charged by Hunter Valley Detectives on Thursday 9 June 2022. He remains before the courts.
Following further investigations and analysis of forensic evidence, a search warrant was executed at a home in Singleton Heights yesterday (Thursday 16 June 2022), where clothing was seized and an additional 12 charges were laid at court today (Friday 17 June 2022). The charges include
Carry out sexual act with another without consent (x2)
Wilful and obscene exposure in/near public place/school (x3)
Enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse (x3)
Peep or pry (x2)
Take person intend commit serious indictable offence
Sexually touch another person without consent
Enter building/land with intent to commit indictable offence (x2)
The man remains on remand and is due to appear at Singleton Local Court.
A new footpath connecting Blackbutt Village in New Lambton to Blackbutt’s Richley Reserve along Freyberg Street has been completed as part of a $3.7 million upgrade of the popular local centre.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said this connection is a first step in delivering a safer, more attractive place for visitors and locals to spend time.
“It’s great to see improved accessibility for the community linking these two important locations,” Cr Nelmes said.
“The addition of over 30 street trees along Freyberg Street also creates a more appealing environment with increased shade and colour, with more trees being introduced along Dunkley Avenue in the coming weeks.
“Our staff are preparing to commence upgrades to stormwater infrastructure and road surfaces in the western car park area in the next few weeks, as well as seeking community feedback on timed parking options across the broader local centre area.
“When we spoke to the community during the development of this upgrade we heard concerns about pedestrian safety, and also the availability of short-term parking for visiting the shops and local services.
“We look forward to hearing community views on the range of timed parking options which were developed in consultation with local businesses during a workshop held with them earlier this year.”
Construction is scheduled for overall completion in early 2024. The upgrade has been supported with a $591,677 grant from the NSW Government under Round Seven of the Resources for Regions program.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said Resources for Regions has delivered 242 projects worth $420 million for mining communities in the last 10 years.
“The NSW Government is committed to supporting regional mining towns that supply our state with these precious resources, and I am grateful to the City of Newcastle for putting forward this project which will support the ongoing prosperity of the local community,” Mr Toole said.
“Mining plays a very important part in the NSW economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs across the state and it will continue to play a role in Newcastle for years to come.”
The project is being delivered as part of City of Newcastle’s Local Centres program and follows similar upgrades at Carrington, Beresfield, Joslin Street in Kotara, Llewellyn Street in Merewether, James Street Plaza in Hamilton, and the upgrades currently under construction in Stockton and Shortland.
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teen missing from the Lake Macquarie Area.
Jessica Simpson, aged 15, was last seen at a residence on Francis Street, Cardiff South, about 5.30pm on Wednesday 1 June 2022.
Unable to be located since, Jessica was reported missing to officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District, who commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.
Police hold serious concerns for Jessica’s welfare due to her age.
Jessica is described as being of Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Islander appearance, medium build, approximately 170 to 175cm tall, with long black hair and brown eyes.
She is known to utilise public transport and frequent the Bathurst area, as well as the Sydney CBD and surrounding suburbs.
Anyone with information into the whereabouts of Jessica is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Large and powerful surf conditions combined with high tides have impacted sections of Newcastle’s coastline over the weekend, compounded by the recent impact of the severe weather events in March and April.
Newcastle’s southern beaches, particularly Bar Beach, has been significantly stripped of sand leaving a large drop off between the sea wall and the promenade. Beach accessways at Merewether, Bar Beach and Dixon Park have been closed due to the safety of access ramps and stairs. City of Newcastle is conducting daily inspections across the southern beaches to ensure public safety and is finalising plans for repair work.
At Stockton Beach, waves overtopped some sections of the coastline including the Kyowa rock bag structures at Barrie Crescent, the Mitchell Street Seawall at Flint Street and some of the beach dune and accessways at Meredith and Beeston Streets and the Stockton Holiday Park.
Several beach accessways remain closed at Stockton until beach conditions improve and repair works are completed. There has been no reported impact to private property in Stockton.
City of Newcastle has supported the NSW Government’s application for funding for Stockton Beach nourishment under the Federal Government’s Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program. The total cost of a long-term solution to coastal erosion is estimated at $27.5 million and will require the approval of a licence to mine sand offshore.
The Deputy Premier’s Taskforce is scheduled to meet on June 23 to discuss mass sand nourishment sources. The initial volume of sand required for Stockton Beach is around 2.4 million cubic metres or the equivalent of 960 Olympic sized swimming pools.
Image: The late Meg Purser’s partner Scott Mills, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the College of Human and Social Futures at the University of Newcastle Professor John Fischetti, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Meg Purser Communications Scholarship recipient Courtney Yeandle, Bob Purser and Head of the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences Professor Catharine Coleborne.
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM was thrilled to accept the MAGNA awards at the ceremony in Perth today.