Category: Newcastle News

One man is dead and a second man critically injured in an aircraft crash in the Hunter Valley yesterday.
Emergency services were called to a property on Old Goorangoola Road, Goorangoola, about 35km north-west of Singleton, shortly after 1pm (Sunday 4 July 2021), after reports a recreational light aircraft had crashed.
Police from Hunter Valley Police District attended and located the body of a 40-year-old man, who was a passenger on the aircraft.
The 46-year-old pilot was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics, before being airlifted to the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney in a critical condition.
There were no other passengers onboard.
The Australian Sports Rotorcraft Association and Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified of the incident.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Two teenagers have been charged following an alleged armed robbery in the Hunter overnight.
About 10.30pm (Sunday 4 July 2021), a 26-year-old male employee and a 32-year-old female customer were inside a service station on the New England Highway at Rutherford, when two people entered the store.
Police will allege in court that a male threatened the employee with a knife and demanded cash and cigarettes, while a female threatened the customer also demanding cash and credit cards.
The pair fled the store on foot a short time later and officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified.
Responding police observed a man and a woman crossing the highway and as part of their inquiries, they attempted to stop the pair.
Both ran from officers, who then engaged in a short foot pursuit before they were arrested on Queen Street.
The pair – a 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl – were taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon, while the girl was also charged with demand property with menaces with intent to steal.
Both teenagers were refused bail to appear at a children’s court later today (Monday 5 July 2021).

A teenager has died following a crash on the state’s Central Coast yesterday.
About 4.15pm (Monday 5 July 2021), an unregistered trail bike – being ridden by a 19-year-old man – was travelling south along Torrens Avenue in Cardiff.
The rider lost control of the bike after clipping a ute at the intersection of Delasala Drive and crashed into a power pole.
The 19-year-old rider suffered fatal injuries.
The 28-year-old driver of the ute stopped and spoke with police.
Investigations are now underway, and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A man will face court today charged with murder after a body was found in a home unit near Newcastle last night.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District were called to a unit on Regent Street, Mayfield, about 6.30pm (Saturday 13 March 2021), after a man’s body was found in a bedroom.
A crime scene was established, and an investigation commenced.
Following inquiries, a 35-year-old man was arrested in Argenton an hour later and was taken to Waratah Police Station.
A short time ago, the Mayfield man was charged with one count of murder.
He has been refused bail to appear by AVL in Newcastle Bail Court today (Sunday 4 July 2021).
A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted tomorrow (Monday 5 July 2021).
The deceased man is believed to be aged 63.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing on the state’s Hunter Valley area.
Phillip Carter, aged 47, was reported missing to Police by a family member about 10.30am this morning (Sunday 4 July 2021).
He has not made contact with friends or family members since that time, which police believe is out of character for him.
Phillip is described as being of Casucasian appearance, about 170-175cm tall, of a medium large build, medium complexion, with short grey hair and brown eyes.
He is known to frequent the Gosford and Brandy Hill areas and may have been seen in the Newcastle area.
Family and police hold serious concerns for his welfare and urge anyone who sees Phillip to come forward.
Anyone who sees Phillip or knows of his whereabouts is urged to contact Raymond Terrace Police Station on 02 4983 7599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

It’s been almost four decades since members The Castanet Club first graced the stage at the back of the Clarendon Hotel with their irreverent mix of comedy, theatre, music and dance.
Now, for the first time since 1991, the iconic Newcastle ensemble are getting the band back together for a very different gig – as the stars of a new exhibition at Newcastle Museum.

Castanet Club: an exhibition you can dance to (if you were allowed) will transport audiences back to the 1980s through a kaleidoscope of band posters, photographs, scripts, records, VHS and cassette tapes.
Newcastle Museum Director Julie Baird said Newcastle is known as an incubator for the arts, theatre, music and comedy.
“Newcastle is a creative and innovative community with a vibrant cultural history and an amazing depth of talent within its performing and visual arts sector,” Ms Baird said.
“Exhibitions such as this provide a vehicle through which we can share our stories, explore our identity and celebrate the collaborative nature of the city’s creative and performing artists.
“The Castanet Club began as a group of friends living, studying and working in Newcastle in the early 1980s and went on to become a legend of the Australian cabaret circuit, gaining national and international acclaim.
“This exhibition uses items from the Museum’s own collection, which were donated by former Castanet manager Jodi Shields, and includes additional memorabilia borrowed from members of the band, as well as a new artwork by acclaimed local artist Michael Bell, who created the original pop-art aesthetic of the Castanets.
“The story of the Castanet Club will also be brought to life through a newly commissioned film by Stories of Our Town filmmakers Glenn Dormand (Chit Chat von Loopin Stab) and Tony Whittaker, while art curator Therese Kenyon and artist Stephen Clarke will use the exhibition to launch their new book celebrating the remarkable history of the group.”
The free exhibition was supported by the Create NSW Triennial Program Grant.
Castanet Club: an exhibition you can dance to (if you were allowed) will open at Newcastle Museum on 11 July and will run through to 31 October.
For more information visit https://newcastlemuseum.com.au/exhibitions/special-exhibitions
Fast Facts – The Castanet Club

• The Castanet Club was formed by a diverse group of friends living in Newcastle, including drama students, visual artists, amateur musicians, a payroll clerk, an industrial chemist and a typesetter.
• They began performing at Newcastle’s Clarendon Hotel in 1982, with up to 12 people on stage during performances acting out various regular comic personas.
• The Castanet Club gained national and international recognition for their off-beat blend of music, dance, and comedy, touring Australia, winning the best of the Adelaide Fringe award and performing at Edinburgh’s famous comedy festival.
• Many of the band’s members have since established high profile and successful careers in the arts including comedians Stephen Abbott (Triple J breakfast – “Sandman”) and Mikey Robins (Triple J breakfast host, co-host of Good News Week), actor Glenn Butcher (Full Frontal, Fisk), writer/director Warren Coleman (Oscar-winning movie Happy Feet), writer-performer Russell Cheek (stage play Who Am I? based on his experiences winning Sale of the Century), radio personality and podcaster Maynard (Triple J), and children’s TV presenter Angela Moore and pianist Penny Biggins (Play School).
• Leading director of theatre, opera and film, Neil Armfield, made a film about The Castanet Club in 1990.
• The band stopped performing in 1991.

Are you interested in representing your community as a Councillor?
Becoming a Councillor is an exciting opportunity to represent your community and the interests of City of Newcastle’s residents by providing leadership and guidance to the community.
City of Newcastle is hosting two candidate information sessions on 6 July before the 4 August deadline for candidates to register with the NSW Electoral Commission.
The next local government general election will be held on Saturday 4 September 2021.
The sessions allow people to identify key requirements of becoming a Councillor, understand the rules and processes for registering as a candidate and running a campaign and to understand the role of Council, Councillors and the key elements of council meetings.
These sessions will be facilitated by Jenny Dowell, who previously held the role as a Lismore Councillor for 12 years and was the Mayor of Lismore between 2008 and 2016.
The sessions can be attended in-person at City of Newcastle’s Council Chambers at the City Administration Centre, 12 Stewart Avenue Newcastle Wests or via zoom. Registration is essential.
Sessions:
Tuesday 6 July 2021 – 2pm to 5pm
Tuesday 6 July 2021 – 6pm to 9pm

A man wanted on outstanding warrants has been charged after allegedly entering the water at Lake Macquarie to flee police earlier today.
About 11.20am (Wednesday 30 June 2021), officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District attended a home on Mariam Street, Mannering Park, to arrest a man wanted on outstanding warrants.
On arrival, police observed a man run from the home and jump over the back fence.
Police followed and commenced a foot pursuit, before the man ran onto a jetty and jumped into the waters of Lake Macquarie at Mannering Park.
Officers entered the water and with assistance from PolAir, he returned to shore and was arrested about 11.30am.
During a search, police seized more than $1100 cash, and a crystal substance which returned a positive result for methylamphetamine.
The 33-year-old man was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with destroy/damage property with intent to endanger life, possess prohibited drug, aggravated robbery and inflict actual bodily harm and two outstanding warrants.
The man was refused bail to appear at Wyong Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 1 July 2021).