Category: Newcastle News

A police officer has been charged following an investigation into alleged neglect of duty.
In January 2020, an investigation was commenced by officers from a northern region police district after an officer allegedly failed to appropriately investigate a reported domestic violence incident.
Following inquiries, a male senior constable was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice yesterday (Tuesday 21 July 2020), for neglect of duty.
He is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 3 September 2020.
The officer is currently suspended with pay.

City of Newcastle has introduced a program to conduct COVID-19 safety inspections on food businesses in Newcastle.
The City’s Environmental Health officers will educate local businesses about COVID-19 Safety Plans and will also now undertake proactive compliance inspections of local cafes, restaurants and food courts.
The trial program aims to provide a positive impact to both food businesses and the community through improved COVID-19 safety compliance reducing the risk of virus transmission.
The program has been developed in response to requests for the City to support local food businesses to implement safety plans and will also respond to compliance complaints.
Food businesses must prepare and implement an effective COVID-19 Safety Plan in accordance with the NSW Public Health Order.
For further information on COVID-19 support including access to a food safety checklist, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/

The Civic Theatre will serve up a much-needed dose of laughs to lift our spirits when the Newcastle landmark reopens its doors to the public from the 27th of July.
The 90-year-old iconic Theatre will begin welcoming audiences back with a staged reopening to allow for small scale shows and ensure COVID-19 safety measures.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the reopening of the Civic Theatre would help activate the city’s night-time economy in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions.
“COVID-19 has brought Newcastle’s vibrant live performance industry to a standstill, with restrictions and shut-downs proving devastating for the livelihoods of many performing artists,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Reopening the Civic Theatre is a positive step in our city’s journey towards recovery, allowing us to support our local performing arts community.”
Audience numbers will be capped to comply with social distancing requirements and manage the flow of patrons through the venue, with an initial limit of 150 people in the Civic Theatre and 50 in the Playhouse. Later this year it plans to increase the audience capacity to an allowable 500 under the current Public Health Order.
Civic Theatre Manager Leonie Wallace said the performance spaces would be reactivated with an intimate comedy event on 1 August, which will give audiences a whole new perspective on the venue.
“With restrictions around capacity and social distancing in place, we’ve decided to take the opportunity to show the Civic Theatre in a new light,” Ms Wallace said.
“The audience will enter via the loading dock to enjoy an intimate comedy club experience, being held in conjunction with Big Dog Comedy, with both the performers and audience together on the Civic Theatre stage!
“This will provide a unique ambience to welcome back anyone looking for a night out with a twist.”
Tickets for the show are now on sale, giving Novocastrians their first chance to experience the Civic Theatre’s new in-house ticketing system.
The Civic Theatre box office is now the authorised seller for all tickets to the Civic Theatre, the Playhouse and City Hall Concert Hall.
Tickets are still sold through the Civic Theatre website and the new system provides an enhanced online customer experience with lower transaction fees.

A man will face court today charged over the alleged sexual abuse of a young child in Port Stephens last month.
On Tuesday 30 June 2020, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a child was sexually abused by a man who was known to her.
Following extensive inquiries, investigators, assisted by officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District, arrested a 44-year-old man at a home at Narara about 7.45am on Sunday 5 July 2020.
The man was taken to Gosford Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of intentionally sexually touch child under 10 years.
Police will allege that the man sexually abused the five-year-old, while staying with her family in April this year.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Tuesday 21 July 2020).
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Police are investigating a suspicious building fire at a fast food restaurant in the Hunter region.
About 3.30am today (Sunday 19 July 2020), emergency services were called to the business on Allandale road, Cessnock, following reports of a fire.
Upon arrival, an external playground and dining area was found to be well alight and the blaze was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW.
The restaurant was closed at the time and no one was injured, however, the fire caused significant damage to the outdoor area and roof.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire which is being treated as suspicious.
Inquiries are continuing.

A man has been charged following the alleged online grooming of a child in the Newcastle region.
On Thursday (16 July 2020), police attached to Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation following reports a 15-year-old girl had been sent messages of a sexual nature by a man who was known to her.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a 45-year-old man at a home in Windale about 7.20pm yesterday (Friday 17 July 2020).
Police seized two mobile phones at the home which will undergo forensic examination.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with use carriage service to menace/harass/offend, groom child for unlawful sexual activity and use carriage service to groom under 16 years for sex.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court today (Saturday 18 July 2020).

Newcastle Art Gallery will reveal the winner of the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 via a livestreamed announcement by Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes on Friday 31 July 2020 at 3pm.
To comply with the latest advice from NSW Health and ensure social distancing is practiced, the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 winner announcement will be strictly limited to KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 finalist artists, invited guests and media. The livestream will be available to audiences on the Art Gallery’s Facebook and Instagram.
One of Australia’s major art prizes, the KILGOUR PRIZE awards $50,000 for the most outstanding work of art selected by Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton and invited judges, who this year comprise Rachel Arndt – Gallery Programs and Touring Exhibitions Manager, Museums and Galleries of NSW and Stephen Gilchrist – Curator and Lecturer Art History, The University of Sydney.
The KILGOUR PRIZE also awards a People’s Choice of $5,000 to the painting voted most popular by the general public.
This year’s 30 finalists were selected from more than 350 entries received from across the country. The 2020 finalists include artists from the ACT, NSW, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The list also features two local artists, Michael Bell and Peter Gardiner, who have both been regular entrants to the KILGOUR PRIZE, with the latter winning the prize in 2016.
“Every year the KILGOUR PRIZE presents some of the best contemporary Australian portrait and figurative painting. Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian arts sector, the KILGOUR PRIZE has been an incredible opportunity to encourage and support artists to continue producing and creating works of art. This year’s selected artists present diverse interpretations of the brief, resulting in a very dynamic exhibition,” Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said.
Funded by a bequest from artist Jack Noel Kilgour, the KILGOUR PRIZE has encouraged innovation within portrait and figurative painting since 2006.
The KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 will be on display from 1 August – 15 November 2020.
For information on the 2020 Finalists and Judges visit- www.nag.org.au/Exhibitions/Future/KILGOUR-PRIZE-2020
ABOUT THE KILGOUR PRIZE
Jack Noel Kilgour (1900–1987) was an Australian artist well-known for his academic approach to landscape and portrait painting. In 1987 Kilgour bequeathed funds for the creation of a major figurative and portrait art competition to be run in perpetuity. As one of Australia’s major art prizes, Newcastle Art Gallery is proud to be the home of the KILGOUR PRIZE.
More information:
https://www.nag.org.au/Kilgour-Prize

A man will face court today after allegedly sexually touching a child at a Newcastle shopping centre earlier this week.
About 2.20pm on Monday (13 July 2020), an 11-year-old girl was with a family member at a Newcastle West supermarket, when it is alleged a 49-year-old man sexually touched the child whilst inside the store.
The man fled and officers from Newcastle City Police District were notified, commencing an investigation.
Following extensive inquiries, a 49-year-old man attended St Mary’s Police Station and was placed under arrest.
He was charged with intentional sexual touching of a child and was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court today (Thursday 16 July 2020).

A man has been charged after an alleged brawl and glassing at a Newcastle pub at the weekend.
About 11.45pm on Saturday (11 July 2020), two groups of men were inside a licensed premises on Croudace Road, Elermore Vale, when they became involved in a verbal altercation.
It escalated into a physical altercation between two men – aged 26 and 38 – before a 24-year-old man allegedly hit the 38-year-old in the face with a schooner glass which shattered on impact, before a larger brawl ensued.
The older man suffered a deep laceration to the right side of his face, he was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District were called and commenced an investigation.
Following extensive inquiries, police attended a home on Nott Street, Edgeworth, and arrested a 24-year-old man about 8.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 15 July 2020).
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and breach of bail.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 16 July 2020).

Police are appealing for information from the community to locate a man wanted on an arrest warrant for breaching his reporting obligations.
Fakatou Lokuvalu Heitonga, aged 41, is wanted for failing to comply with his reporting obligations as a registrable person on the Child Protection Register.
Mr Heitonga was last seen in the Mayfield area in March 2018.
He is described as being of Pacific Islander appearance, with an olive complexion, shaved black hair, a medium build and approximately 170cm tall.
Mr Heitonga has family in the Mayfield area and has previously held employment in the Thornton and Chester Hill areas.
Police have conducted numerous inquiries and so far, been unable to locate him.