Two men have been charged after a police officer was injured during an arrest in the state’s north this morning.
Just after 3.20am on Saturday 6 July 2024, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were called to Awaba Road in Toronto following an alleged domestic incident.
On the arrival of police, two men become hostile and barricaded themselves inside the home before entry was forced through the rear door.
Inside, police arrested two men – one in possession of knuckle dusters and a ring knife – who struggled against them.
During the arrest, one officer suffered a laceration to his leg, hand and torso, and was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Other officers on scene suffered minor injuries.
The men were taken to Toronto Police Station, where the 35-year-old man was charged with 8 offences, including:
Intimidate police officer in execution of duty,
Wound person with intent to resist/prevent arrest etc,
Cause grievous bodily harm to police officer on duty reckless as to actual bodily harm,
Use etc offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention etc,
Armed with intent commit indictable offence,
Possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit,
Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty, and
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV).
The 28-year-old man was charged with five offences, including:
Two counts of intimidate police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm,
Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty, and
Destroy or damage property (DV).
Both men were refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Sunday 7 July 2024).
A trail bike rider has died following a crash in Lake Macquarie today.
Just after 3pm (Saturday 6 July 2024), emergency services were called to Watt Street in Windermere Park, Lake Macquarie, following reports of a trail bike crash.
On arrival, officers attached to Lake Macquarie were told the 50-year-old rider was travelling on Watt Street before he allegedly lost control and crashed into a tree.
The man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, could not be revived.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has commenced.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
A woman will face court after being charged following an unauthorised protest in Maitland today (Saturday 6 July 2024).
About 6am, police received information that a number of protesters had entered the rail corridor at Farley and were causing obstruction to trains.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended the site and arrested a 21-year-old woman from Queensland.
She was taken to Maitland Police Station where she was charged with three offences – enter inclosed non-agricultural lands serious safety risk, cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and hinder working of mining equipment.
She was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 6 July 2024).
A teenage boy has died following a single vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter Valley.
About 10.45pm yesterday (Friday 6 July 2024), emergency services were called to Lemon Tree Passage Road, Salt Ash, following reports of a single-vehicle crash.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District arrived to find a white Ford Falcon sedan containing five young persons, aged 14-17, had left the roadway and impacted with a tree.
Despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance Paramedics and first responders, a teenage boy, aged 16, died on the way to hospital.
Three other teenage passengers, aged 14 and two 17-year-olds, were taken to John Hunter Hospital for various non life-threatening injuries.
A crime scene was established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this crash commenced.
The driver of the vehicle, a 17-year-old boy, was subject to a roadside breath test and allegedly retuned a positive reading. He was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
A man has been charged following the alleged wounding of another man in Maitland earlier this week.
About 8.45pm on Wednesday (3 July 2024), a man attended Maitland Police Station to report an alleged wounding at a business on George Street, Morpeth.
Police attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were told two men were involved in an altercation before a 36-year-old man allegedly threw a knife at a 26-year-old man, causing a serious injury.
The 26-year-old man was taken to Maitland Hospital before being taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment to an eye injury.
Police attended the scene, where they established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the incident.
About 11.40am on Friday (5 July 2024), a 36-year-old man attended Maitland Police Station where he was arrested and charged with reckless wounding and wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday 9 July 2024.
A woman will face Court after being charged following an unauthorised protest in the Hunter Valley yesterday.
About 2.30pm (Friday 5 July 2024), police received information that a number of protesters had entered the rail corridor at Lochinvar railway station, near Maitland, and were causing obstruction to trains.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District, with assistance from Police Rescue, attended the site and arrested a 69-year-old woman from South Australia.
She was taken to Maitland Police Station where she was charged with three offences – enter inclosed non-agricultural lands – serious safety risk, cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and hinder working of mining equipment.
She was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court later today (Saturday 6 July 2024).
A woman will face Court after being charged following an unauthorised protest in the Hunter Valley last night.
About 6.15pm (Friday 5 July 2024), police received information that a number of protesters had entered the rail corridor at Branxton and were causing obstruction to trains.
Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District, with assistance from Police Rescue, attended the site and arrested a 70-year-old woman from South Australia.
She was taken to Singleton Police Station where she was charged with five offences – enter inclosed non-agricultural lands – serious safety risk, cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock, enter inclosed land – not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, cause/attempt to cause train in motion to be stopped and interfere with equipment without permission.
She was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court later today (Saturday 6 July 2024).
Newcastle will celebrate the cultural richness of its First Nations during NAIDOC Week with a march from Civic Park and a City of Newcastle program for the senses.
Awabakal Corporation will kick off their annual Community Day at Civic Park on Monday with a flag raising ceremony and morning march from Civic Park, followed by a family-friendly celebration at Foreshore Park.
The Awabakal Community Day, supported by City of Newcastle, will feature singing, dancing, stalls, rides and chances for cultural connection inspired by this year’s NAIDOC theme – “Keep the fire burning! Blak, Loud and Proud”.
NAIDOC Week celebrations will continue with activities across City of Newcastle libraries and the Museum, designed to create connections with culture for the next generation.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said NAIDOC Week is a calendar highlight for City of Newcastle, offering a chance to celebrate the oldest living cultures of Australia’s second oldest city.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aren’t just in the fabric of Newcastle, they are the first people of this place we love today,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Newcastle has a long and rich history of standing side-by-side with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to enact positive change, including being the first city in Australia to raise an Aboriginal Flag over a civic building under Lord Mayor Joy Cummings,” Cr Nelmes said.
“NAIDOC Week is an extremely important time of year and an opportunity for our community to acknowledge that the story of Australia began far before European settlement, while recognising that First Nations peoples have occupied and cared for our land for over 65,000 years.”
Awabakal Corporation CEO Jason Smith said NAIDOC is a marquee week for his organisation and for celebration of Aboriginal culture by City of Newcastle and the community.
“NAIDOC Week means a great deal to all of us at Awabakal and it’s pleasing to see what City of Newcastle does to engage Aboriginal people this week and every week,” Mr Smith said.
“The Guraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee is just one vital initiative City of Newcastle helps facilitate. The events this NAIDOC Week, including the march from Civic Park and the Awabakal Community Day in Foreshore Park supported by City of Newcastle, are highlights any Novocastrian should experience.”
Councillor Deahnna Richardson, a proud Wiradjuri woman, said Newcastle Museum Park, Newcastle City Library and Wallsend Library will all host NAIDOC Week festivities.
“This year’s theme – ‘Keep the fire burning! – is a call to elevate our mob and our spirit,” Cr Richardson said.
“We’re creating new connections to our culture for the next generation with a range of events delivered in partnership with local First Nations groups. These activities are designed to celebrate the rich history and diverse cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the oldest continuing cultures on the planet. We’re lucky in Muloobinba to live among the cultures of Awabakal, Worimi and many other people. I can’t wait for NAIDOC Week to kick off.
“I encourage our community to celebrate our Indigenous culture this NAIDOC Week and take advantage of the free events on offer throughout the city.”
Newcastle Museum will host Darkinjung woman Sarah Corrigan on Tuesday with Rainbow Crow Collective: Tastes of Australia, a chance to try bush tucker including syrups and finger limes, and take home a recipe card to continue the culinary journey.
The Museum will also screen The Last Daughter, the documentary directed by Wiradjuri author Brenda Matthews with Nathaniel Schmidt that holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
On Thursday the festivities move to Newcastle City Library with a stringybark rope-making masterclass by Uncle Amos Simon. The proud Worimi, Birpai and Wiradjuri elder will be sharing Language and music including a silent disco.
Rainbow Crow Creative will cap off the city’s NAIDOC Week program on Friday at Wallsend Library and then Newcastle Museum with low sensory sessions of the popular Wayapa earth connection practice, which uses mindfulness and Indigenous inspired movements to create a healing space through yarning, sharing and connection.
NAIDOC Week will be celebrated across Australia from 7-14 July to recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Trains are not running on the Hunter Line due to a police operation until daylight tomorrow. Buses will replace trains between Newcastle Interchange and Maitland/Scone/Dungog. Buses will not run to the normal train timetable. Please allow plenty of extra travel time.
