A man reported missing from the Newcastle area has been located safe.
The 49-year-old man was last seen at a care centre on Broadmeadow Road, Broadmeadow, about 6pm on Saturday (18 March 2023).
When he was unable to be located or contacted, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were notified and commenced inquiries to locate him.
Following extensive inquiries, the man was located safe in Crows Nest about 6.50am yesterday (Tuesday 21 March 2023).
Police would like to thank the community and media for their assistance.
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from Newcastle.
Robert Manning, aged 49, was last seen at a care centre on Broadmeadow Road, Broadmeadow, about 6pm on Saturday (18 March 2023).
After he could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were notified and commenced inquiries to locate him.
Family and police hold concerns for Robert’s welfare.
Robert is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, of medium build, brown eyes and buzz cut hair.
He is believed to be in the Jesmond or Hamilton areas.
Anyone with information about Robert’s whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
A man will face court today charged over allegedly deliberately lighting fires near Newcastle.
About 11.40am yesterday (Saturday 18 March 2023), emergency services were called to grassland near Weakleys Drive, Beresfield, following reports of four fires.
Fire and Rescue NSW attended and extinguished all four blazes. No one was injured.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Following inquiries, investigators arrested a 43-year-old man nearby on John Renshaw Drive a short time later.
He was taken to Maitland Police Station, where he was charged with four counts of intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread and breach of bail.
The Maroubra man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Sunday 18 March 2023).
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM is encouraging as many local Hunter residents as possible to support the event, which will take place on Sunday 26 March at Speers Point Park, Speers Point.
“As we prepare to host the Memory Walk & Jog to Hunter for another successful year, we hope everyone will consider joining us,” Ms McCabe said.
The Hunter event is one of 20 scheduled at various locations around the country in 2023. Participants can register as an individual or an entire team, to remember a loved one with dementia, or in support of a loved one who is currently living with the condition. Each event offers a wonderful opportunity for people impacted by dementia and their supporters to come together, walk or run, at any fitness level, and raise money and share stories.
Hunter local, Marina was living abroad when her mother, Geertje, was diagnosed with dementia. Sadly, Geertje passed away having lived with Alzheimer’s. Marina explains why she is taking part in Memory Walk & Jog on Sunday.
“Just knowing that you are surrounded by people who are going or have gone through the same thing you have is comforting. It’s like a kindred spirit feeling. I lived 25,000 km away from my parents. To me, it seemed that my mother disappeared overnight, since I never really experienced the gradual decline. One minute she was mum, the next minute she was a stranger. What people really need to do is enjoy every moment you have, good or bad. Before you know it, it will all be gone. “
Why walk for dementia?
There are more than 400,000 people of all ages living with some form of dementia in Australia. Without a medical breakthrough, the number of people living with dementia is expected to almost double in 30 years. Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia and the leading cause of death for women.
Walk or jog with us. We are in this together.
* Sign-up to join in or volunteer at a Memory Walk & Jog event at www.memorywalk.com.au
Decide to walk, jog or run and select from a variety of distances.
Share your Memory Walk & Jog experience on your socials.
Donate today to support people living with dementia across Australia.
If you can’t attend an event, why not organise your own group or individual walk or jog, with a My Way event. Choose your own date and location and register at www.memorywalk.com.au
Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for more than 400,000 people of all ages, living with dementia, and the almost 1.5 million people involved in their care. We advocate for positive change and support vital research. We are here to support people impacted by dementia, and to enable them to live as well as possible. No matter how you are impacted by dementia or who you are, we are here for you. For support, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. An interpreter service is available. The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government. People looking for information can also visit dementia.org.au
Construction is set to begin this month on a major redevelopment of the Passmore Oval Wickham grandstand, delivering dedicated female changerooms, improved disability access and new community function areas.
The $2.35 million project is a collaboration between City of Newcastle (CN) and the Hamilton Hawks Rugby Union Club, which successfully applied for $1 million from the NSW Government under the Greater Cities Sport Facility Fund.
It will include a new two-storey building constructed at the back of the existing grandstand, which will deliver accessible sports facilities and viewing for both Passmore Oval and its adjacent Hawkins Oval.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the extension and upgrade of the grandstand will set an inclusive benchmark for Newcastle’s sporting facilities.
“City of Newcastle is committed to making our city more liveable and inclusive for all people,” Cr Nelmes said.
“This project will deliver dedicated female changerooms to cater for the growing number of women and girls playing rugby union and cricket in Newcastle.
“It will also ensure the spectator facilities meet the needs of all members of our community, with lift access and amenities that will enhance the comfort and experience for people with a disability visiting the Wickham Park sporting complex.”
Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the project aligns with the recommendations in CN’s Strategic Sports Plan for the wider Wickham Park precinct and would provide a great outcome for all its user groups including the Hamilton Hawks, Hamilton Wickham District Cricket Club and the Newcastle District Cricket Association.
“We have worked collaboratively with the Hamilton Hawks Rugby Union Club to bring long-held ambitions for the upgrade of this facility to life with a design created by EJE Architecture that will ensure both Passmore and Hawkins Ovals can be enjoyed by everyone in our community,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.
Specially designed female dressing rooms for both the home and away teams will be housed on the ground floor of the new building, along with a shared exercise and training area and storage rooms.
Amenities for people with a disability will be included on both levels of the building, while a lift will ensure the facility is fully accessible. The upper level will feature a community room, a kitchen area for food and drinks service and a balcony overlooking Hawkins Oval.
The existing grandstand will also include a new community meeting room and viewing space for wheelchair users overlooking Passmore Oval.
Hamilton Rugby Club President Lesa Mason said the improvements and additions at Passmore Oval would be a massive boost for the Club and the community, but especially for the booming number of young female sports participants.
“The purpose-built female dressing rooms will see the end of our junior and senior women’s teams getting changed in cars or waiting for ‘their turn’ in the men’s dressing rooms,” Ms Mason said.
“Participation rates in women’s 7s Rugby and the 15-a-side game are booming so the timing of the development is excellent, with Passmore Oval in the heart of the rapidly expanding Wickham/West End growth corridor and female player registrations at the Hamilton Hawks reflecting the rapid growth nationally.
“Members of the public with mobility issues will also now be catered for with accessible toilet facilities both on the ground floor and new viewing spaces and further facilities on the upper level, accessible by lift.
“We are very grateful to City of Newcastle for its advice and support in seeing the development come to fruition.”
City of Newcastle is adding a dash of greenery and a splash of colour throughout New Lambton’s shopping precinct with the installation of shopfront “smart” gardens and a vibrant four-metre-high community mural.
The projects are being supported through City of Newcastle’s Special Business Rate (SBR) program following an expression of interest process in consultation with the local business community.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said local businesses in New Lambton are set to directly benefit from the beautification projects, which will enhance the appeal of the precinct.
“The input of business owners to activate their precincts is vital to creating thriving business communities and increasing visitation to suburban areas like New Lambton,” Cr Nelmes said.
“As a result of the latest suburban SBR round, the creative projects selected for New Lambton are set to enhance the precinct for residents and visitors, making it an even better place to eat, drink and shop.”
Nine local businesses have seen their facades turn green with the installation of vertical “smart” gardening systems by Herb Urban, whilst a black cockatoo is the hero of a four-metre-high community mural underway on the exterior of New Lambton Library, which is being delivered by Up&Up Inspirations with the help of New Lambton High School students.
Business owner Kathy Slevin from clothing boutique Kate Devine said customers are noticing the recent addition of the vertical gardens on her store’s façade in Alma Street.
“I’ve received a lot of positive comments from customers who are noticing, stopping, commenting and appreciating the installations,” Ms Slevin said.
“Customers are appreciating the fact that the added greenery softens the concrete façade and lots of other local businesses are wanting them installed on their shop fronts. They’ve been a positive addition and good for business and the precinct.”
Popular coffee haunt, Chaddies on Regent, is located in the courtyard overlooking the New Lambton Library community mural. Café owner Jo Grace said the mural was already creating a lot of interest.
“It’s really exciting seeing the mural take shape. It’s going to inject so much colour and our customers get to benefit from viewing a beautifully designed mural rather than look at a plain brick wall,” Ms Grace said.
Sharon Lance, from fashion retailer Papango, said the mural is creating a buzz and will bring new life to the courtyard precinct once it’s complete.
“The mural is just so happy and colourful with its bold use of lavender and orange, but the real star of the show is the black cockatoo, who frequents our deciduous tree here in the courtyard and can be found nearby in Blackbutt Reserve.”
Special Business Rates are collected from businesses in Newcastle City Centre / Darby Street, Hamilton, Mayfield, New Lambton and Wallsend for the promotion, beautification and development of those precincts.
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a missing woman known to frequent the Lake Macquarie region.
Lynn Scaife, aged 62, last spoke to relatives on Monday 6 March 2023.
When her family could not contact her again and she could not be located, she was reported missing to officers from Hunter Valley Police District yesterday (Tuesday 14 March), who commenced inquiries to locate her.
Family and police hold serious concerns for her welfare.
Lynn is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, of medium build, with shoulder-length red hair clipped up.
She is believed to be travelling in a white Subaru station wagon with NSW number plates.
Lynn is known the frequent the Dora Creek, Wyee, and Wyong areas.
Anyone with information about Lynn’s whereabouts is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The race may be over for 2023 but the chequered flag has not yet fallen on the chance to have a say about the return of the Newcastle 500.
Last weekend’s event was the final race to be delivered under the agreement between City of Newcastle, Supercars Australia and Destination NSW signed in 2016.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle was committed to capturing views from across the community on the future of the Newcastle 500.
“The community have now experienced the Newcastle 500 four times, so we’re really keen to hear their thoughts on the Newcastle 500 and the possibility of extending its time in our city,” Cr Nelmes said.
“At this time, no decision has been reached on the future of the race.
“If the NSW Government decides it wants to extend the Newcastle 500 for another five years then our Council will have the final decision on whether Newcastle continues as the host city.
“We’re committed to undertaking a robust, open process of consultation through consultants KPMG, who are using a range of online, in-person and telephone surveys before, during and after the race period to gather feedback from as wide a range of people as possible.
“This feedback will allow councillors to better understand the community’s views on issues around liveability, economic benefit or challenges, perceptions of the event and its impact on the visitor economy.”
Thousands of people have already responded to an online survey launched last month ahead of the event, while face-to-face questionnaires completed during the race weekend will provide insight into the behaviours of racegoers, including their visitation to local businesses.
Randomised telephone surveys commenced this week to capture views from across Newcastle’s demographic profile while an upcoming letterbox drop of every property in the Newcastle local government area will include information on how to provide their feedback online.
Residents, business and industry representatives will be asked to provide additional commentary during four post-event stakeholder workshops next month, with the feedback from all consultation activities to be completed in a report to be released mid-year.
A trailbike rider has died in a two-vehicle crash in the state’s Port Stephens-Hunter Police District yesterday.
About 7.30pm (Friday 11 March 2023), emergency services were called to the intersection of McKeachie Drive and Oakhampton Road at Abberglassyn, near Maitland – after reports a trailbike rider had collided with another vehicle.
Witnesses rendered first aid to the rider – a man believed to be aged in his 20s – before the arrival of NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, he died at the scene.
The driver and single occupant of the other vehicle – a silver Nissan Dualis – a 17-year-old female – was not injured and was taken to Maitland Hospital for mandatory testing.
Officers from the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
