Category: Newcastle News

Newcastle Museum’s largest ever exhibition will showcase the terrifying creatures that ruled the oceans during the time of the dinosaurs.

Designed for visitors of all ages, Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Ocean Predators is an immersive exhibition that features hands-on installations alongside real fossils from millions of years ago.

Gigantic life-sized replicas, including a 13-metre long Elasmosaurus and 9-metre Prognathdon, will demonstrate the sheer scale of these ancient marine reptiles alongside other incredible specimens including a huge 1.4 metre Kronosaurus jaw and a five-metre long fish that died after swallowing another fish whole.

Newcastle Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said Sea Monsters provides a unique opportunity to learn more about these fascinating prehistoric creatures.

“Now open in time for the upcoming school holidays, Sea Monsters gives visitors the chance to learn more about the giant prehistoric sharks and reptiles that hunted the depths of the oceans at a time when the land was ruled by the might of the dinosaurs,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

“This fun and educational exhibition is perfect for the whole family to enjoy as they walk through the giant ribcage of a sea monster, reach out and touch a replica of a fossilised Megalodon tooth and feel the thrill of the hunt with a 180-degree immersive video that puts you right inside the action.”

Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Ocean Predators is an Australian National Maritime Museum touring exhibition in partnership with Queensland Museum Network.

Newcastle Museum Director Julie Baird said it was a real coup for City of Newcastle to host this significant exhibition, which has taken a team of 10 staff from the Newcastle Museum and Australian National Maritime Museum two weeks to install.

“Newcastle Museum is committed to bringing engaging, high quality touring exhibitions to the Hunter Region that enrich Newcastle’s cultural offering and give local communities access to national and international exhibitions,” Ms Baird said.

“This is the largest exhibition ever hosted by Newcastle Museum, as well as being the first time Sea Monsters has been displayed in Australia outside a capital city.

“Newcastle Museum plays a key role in the rich diversity of experiences that help attract visitors to our city and we’re thrilled to be able to share exhibitions of the calibre of Sea Monsters with our community.”

Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Ocean Predators is on display now at Newcastle Museum and will run through to 26 February 2023. Ticket prices start from $7.50 for children, $15 for adults and $40 for a family of four, and are on sale now at Newcastle Museum or online via www.newcastlemuseum.com.au.

A second youth has been charged over the alleged assault of another teenager on the state’s Hunter region.

On Thursday (8 September 2022), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced an investigation after receiving information regarding an assault at a skatepark in Charlestown.

Police were told a 14-year-old male was allegedly assaulted by a group of males, causing him serious facial injuries. The teenager remains in John Hunter Hospital undergoing treatment.

Following inquiries, a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged by detectives on Friday (9 September 2022). He remains before the courts.

About 5.30pm yesterday (Saturday 10 September 2022), investigators arrested as 12-year-old boy at a unit in Cooks Hill.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with assault with intent to rob in company cause grievous bodily harm.

The boy was refused bail to appear before a children’s court today (Sunday 11 September 2022).

Investigations continue.

A teenager has been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged assault of another teenager on the state’s Hunter region.

On Thursday (8 September 2022), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced an investigation after receiving information regarding an assault at a skatepark in Charlestown.

Police were told a 14-year-old male was allegedly assaulted by a group of males, causing him serious facial injuries. The teenager remains in John Hunter Hospital undergoing treatment.

Following inquiries, a 14-year-old boy was arrested by detectives at a home in Cooks Hill, about 9.30pm (Friday 9 September 2022).

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with assault with intent to rob in company cause grievous bodily harm.

The teenager was refused bail to appear before a children’s court today (Saturday 10 September 2022).

Investigations continue.

A second man will face court today after allegedly stealing an Aboriginal flag from Maitland Police Station earlier this month.

On Wednesday 24 August 2022, a representative from the Mindaribba Aboriginal Land Council laid a floral arrangement and an Aboriginal flag at Maitland Police Station as a tribute to Chief Inspector Tony Townsend – who passed away that week – and his dedication to serving the community.

The flag was displayed at the front of the station along with the floral tribute until it was stolen on Thursday 1 September 2022.

A review of CCTV revealed two men attended the station about 6.45pmand one of the men went inside while the other removed the flag from display and allegedly concealed it in his jacket before they both left the area.

Following extensive inquiries, a 60-year-old man was arrested by officers attached to Port Stephens/Hunter Police District just before 3pm on Thursday (8 September 2022) at Victoria Street Train Station.

He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station, where he was charged with larceny.

The East Maitland man was refused bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court yesterday (Friday 9 September 2022) where he was granted conditional bail to re-appear at Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 26 October 2022.

About 7.50pm yesterday (Friday 9 September 2022) – as a result of further investigations – a 36-year-old man from East Maitland, was arrested at Maitland Police Station.

He was charged with larceny and breach of bail. The man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court later today (Saturday 10 October 2022).

The Aboriginal flag has since been recovered and will be returned to display in due course.

A man will face court today after allegedly stealing an Aboriginal flag from Maitland Police Station earlier this month.

On Wednesday 24 August 2022, a representative from the Mindaribba Aboriginal Land Council laid a floral arrangement and an Aboriginal flag at Maitland Police Station as a tribute to Chief Inspector Tony Townsend – who passed away that week – and his dedication to serving the community.

The flag was displayed at the front of the station along with the floral tribute until it was stolen on Thursday 1 September 2022.

A review of CCTV revealed two men attended the station about 6.45pmand one of the men went inside while the other removed the flag from display and allegedly concealed it in his jacket before they both left the area.

Following extensive inquiries, a 60-year-old man was arrested by officers attached to Port Stephens/Hunter Police District just before 3pm yesterday (Thursday 8 September 2022) at Victoria Street Train Station.

He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station, where he was charged with larceny.

The East Maitland man has been refused bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Friday 9 September 2022).

The Aboriginal flag has since been recovered and will be returned to display in due course.

Inquiries are continuing.

A third man has been charged after a joint investigation by detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District into an alleged home invasion and public place shooting in Lake Macquarie earlier this year.

Police had been told a 24-year-old woman attended John Hunter Hospital about 11pm on Tuesday 8 March 2022 suffering a laceration to her leg and head, after two men allegedly forced entry to her home in Edgeworth and slashed her with a machete.

Local police later attended the Laurel Avenue home and commenced inquiries, which were later taken carriage by detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad under Strike Force Jigsaw.

Then about 9.10pm on Friday 8 April 2022, emergency services responded to reports of a public place shooting at a carpark on Arnott Street, Edgeworth. 

A 27-year-old man was found suffering gunshot wounds to the right leg and was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

Detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced investigations into the shooting under Strike Force Undola.

Initial investigations led detectives to believe the incidents were linked and allegedly involved members of the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

Two people – a 42-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man – have since been charged for their alleged roles in the incidents, they both remain before the courts.

Following further inquiries, strike force detectives attended a correctional centre at Nowra, where they arrested a 47-year-old man yesterday (Wednesday 7 September 2022).

He was charged with 10 offences, including special aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, fire firearm in or near public place, discharge firearm intend cause grievous bodily harm, possess unauthorised firearm, and knowingly direct activities of criminal group.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Toronto Local Court tomorrow (Friday 9 September 2022).

City of Newcastle welcomed more than 220 new Australian citizens from 51 countries today in what was the city’s largest face-to-face Citizenship Ceremony since the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the Democratic Republic of Congo to Azerbaijan and the Ukraine, Newcastle’s newest citizens, their families and friends joined with dignitaries to make the pledge of commitment to Australia at the iconic Civic Theatre.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Newcastle is a diverse and inclusive community that embraced new citizens from all cultures and religious backgrounds.

“Newcastle has a long and proud history as a progressive, welcoming city in which 14 per cent of residents were born overseas and 134 different languages other than English are spoken at home,” Cr Nelmes said.

“It is an honour to welcome our city’s largest cohort of new citizens face-to-face since before the start of the pandemic and wish them well on their journey to a bright new beginning.

“City of Newcastle has gained more than 160 new Australian citizens this year, and today’s cohort takes that tally to more than 380. Our new citizens are now able to enrol to vote in elections, exercising their democratic rights, apply for an Australian passport and seek broader employment opportunities.”

Among those taking the pledge today was Olha Hoshko from the Ukraine, who settled in Stockton in 2016 after meeting her Novocastrian-born husband and has since gone on to receive her Certificate III in Childcare.

“This is a happy yet sad time for me as I lost my mother in the Ukraine last year and my family are unable to travel due to the war to be here to celebrate with me today,” Mrs Hoshko said.

“I love Newcastle. I’ve visited Sydney and Melbourne and only wanted to move to Newcastle as it’s a smaller city and reminds me of home, Lviv, in western Ukraine.

“I’ve also recently started working for the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) on a helpline called Witness to War as a Ukrainian bi-cultural support worker.”

Today’s ceremony featured a traditional didgeridoo performance by the Deadly Callaghan Yidaki Group, as well as musical items by The Grainery Church.

Proud Newcastle Aboriginal Elder Aunty Cheryl Smith continued the tradition of her father, the late Uncle Bill Smith, in delivering a Welcome to Country that acknowledged the lifestyles, cultures and spiritual beliefs of the traditional custodians of the land.

City of Newcastle’s next citizenship ceremony will be held in January 2023 at the Civic Theatre.

Police will speak with the media following the death of a man after a shooting in Newcastle overnight.

About 11pm (Tuesday 6 September 2022), emergency services were called to a unit on Fowler Street, Hamilton South, after reports of a shooting.

Upon arrival, police located a 57-year-old man at the front door of a premises suffering a gunshot wound.

The man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, however, he died at the scene.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District established a crime scene and have commenced Strike Force Alcheringa to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.

Initial inquiries suggest this is a targeted incident.

A woman missing from the Lower Hunter Valley area has been found safe and well.

The 41-year-old was last seen in the Maitland area in late August 2022. 

Officers from Brisbane Water Police District were notified of her disappearance by family members on Sunday 4 September 2022, after they were unable to contact her. 

Following inquiries, the woman was found safe and well at Darling Harbour about 4pm yesterday (Monday 5 September 2022).

Thank you to everyone who shared our appeal.