Category: Newcastle News

Just before 5am (Tuesday 15 October 2019), police attended Boreas Road, Hamilton North, following reports of an explosion heard in the area.
Police canvassed the area and located a damaged letterbox.
No one was injured, and no other property was damaged.
Following extensive investigations, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District executed a number of search warrants at various residences and commercial properties.
The officers allegedly seized a number of firearms, prohibited weapons and various items used to manufacture and use explosive devices.
Further inquiries led officers to a location on Macquarie Street, Belmont where a 35-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were arrested.
They were both taken to Belmont Police Station.
The man was charged with possession of multiple firearms, replica firearm, prohibited weapons and malicious damage by explosion.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow Saturday 2 November 2019.
The woman was released pending further investigations.

Jill Emberson counts being named 2019 Newcastle’s Citizen of the year as one of her greatest achievements and said it’s something she never imagined would happen in her life.
“To get an accolade like this gives me a spring in my step and makes my days here happier. There is a pride and joy that it has given me,” she said when reflecting on the honour.

Jill was recognised for her contribution to journalism and advocacy in the fight against Ovarian Cancer, a disease she has lived with since 2016. In the lead up to and after receiving her prestigious award Jill has shown she truly embodies the very spirit of the Citizen of the Year Award.
As unique and outstanding as Jill is, Newcastle is fortunate to be home to many other likeminded courageous, passionate and inspirational citizens who strive to improve the lives of others and make our community a better place.
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said now is the time to put their names forward for recognition.
“Nominations are open for Newcastle’s 2020 Citizen of the Year Awards, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Group of the Year which will be presented on Australia Day,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Recipients don’t necessarily need to be high profile individuals. We’re looking for people who are motivated and passionate about improving the lives of others and are role models in our community.”
“Nominating someone is simple, so we want to see as many worthy people as possible nominated and considered for these annual awards.” Previous winners include, Mark Hughes, whose Foundation has raised more than $1.75 million for brain cancer research, Newcastle refugee advocate Sister Diana Santleben and legendary wheelchair athlete Kurt Fearnley.
Junior John Hunter Hospital doctor Bhavi Ravindran was named 2019 Young Citizen of the Year while Luisa Amosa, Charlotte Boulus and Mae Anagnostis were recognised for starting The Y Project, which hosts safe space events for young people, and raises awareness about social justice and environmental issues.
Nominees must be residents of the Newcastle local government area, except for Community Group of the Year which can be from outside the LGA in exceptional circumstances.
They must also be Australian citizens and must be turning at least 16 years of age in 2019.
Hard-copy nomination forms can be downloaded from City of Newcastle’s website and can also be completed and lodged online. A panel of judges will consider each nomination on its merits, with the awards presented at a ceremony on Australia Day, 2020. Nominations close on Sunday 8 December.

A man and a woman will face court today charged with allegedly importing MDMA into the Hunter region.
In September 2019, an international package was intercepted which allegedly contained 500gm of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-benzylcathinone, commonly known as MDMA.
Detectives from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District then commenced an investigation into the importation and supply of MDMA in the area.
Following extensive inquiries, yesterday (Wednesday 30 October 2019), a search warrant was executed at a home on Tarrango Street, Cliftleigh where a 32-year-old woman was arrested.
Later that day, a 30-year-old man returned to the home and he was subsequently arrested.
Both were taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with attempt possess commercial quantities of unlawfully imported border controlled drug and supply prohibited drug.
They were refused bail to face Maitland Local Court today (Thursday 31 October 2019).

Families will be able to enjoy free activities including circus workshops in Civic Park and pushcart races in Hunter Street Mall over the Supercars Newcastle 500 weekend as activity from the race precinct spreads across the city.
City of Newcastle today launched ‘Enjoy Newcastle’, a program of events and activities to create a festival atmosphere in the city centre over the Newcastle 500 event.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the 2019 Supercars finale is set to bring thousands of visitors to Newcastle, giving us the perfect opportunity to share all that we enjoy about our growing destination city.
“Now in its third year, the Newcastle 500 has firmly cemented its place as the city’s most anticipated sporting event,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The inaugural race in 2017 attracted a crowd of more than 190,000, with visitors spending over $12.5 million in the region. In 2018, Newcastle Airport announced a record number of passengers arriving on the first day of the event and Supercars set a record-breaking year in viewing audiences across television and digital platforms for the Newcastle 500.
“As thousands of event goers arrive for this year’s big race weekend, we’re poised to show-off our spectacular natural coastline and fabulous eateries. There will be plenty of fun for the family with opportunities for visitors and locals to soak up the atmosphere on and off the racetrack.
“Enjoy Newcastle will kick off on Thursday 21 November at Civic Park, with all 26 Supercars drivers on hand for a signing event, and a live broadcast of “Trackside” on Fox Sports.
“Over the weekend, Hunter Street Mall, next to the race precinct, will be abuzz with billy cart challenges, pop-up shops, family-friendly activities and live entertainment. It’s all free, action-packed fun. This is a great opportunity for locals to see what’s on offer in the Mall and for event goers to step outside the precinct and get a taste of local life.
“The entertainment will continue at Civic Park throughout the weekend with a super-sized Newcastle-themed monopoly board, monster truck slide, jumping castles, obstacle course and an auto-race simulator. There’s also a dedicated under-six play area and an adrenalin-rush obstacle course suited to both big kids and adults.
“Enjoy the race on Saturday and then make your way to Newcastle West to see international superstars KISS at No.1 Sportsground. Local rockers The Screaming Jets, led by original front man Dave Gleeson, will be special guests.
“Enjoy Newcastle is just one way the City will help businesses take advantage of the influx of visitors here to attend the Newcastle 500.
“It’s about highlighting all the great things to do in our city and encouraging visitors to venture beyond the race precinct to discover more of our City.”
Super-duper Karts is the brainchild of local business owner Lucy Glover. Over the weekend Lucy and other mall traders will deliver a fantastic range of free activities in the mall for the whole family while raising money for local charities.
“We want to showcase what Hunter Street Mall and our businesses have to offer by bringing the place alive and community together. I’m excited to watch the Super-duper Karts – Pushcart Challenge head-to-head races and take part to see if I can win any of the ‘Mall Money’ prizes,” Lucy said.
The Enjoy Newcastle line up includes:
Super Signing Session – free
Thursday 21 November
From 4.30pm in Civic Park
Meet all 26 Newcastle 500 Supercar champions and get their autograph. Plus watch a live broadcast of “Trackside” as it goes to air on Fox Sports.
Superkids Pitstop – free
Saturday and Sunday
From 10am – 4pm in Civic Park
Play Newcastle’s version of Monopoly on an oversized board. Kids can also enjoy a monster truck slide, obstacle course, circus workshops and there’s a dedicated under 6 zone.
Super-duper Karts
Saturday and Sunday
Hunter Street Mall
Take a spin down the Mall in the pushcart challenge for a shot at some great prizes. Live entertainment, pop-up shops, and delicious local food.
KISS
Saturday
From 5.30pm at No. 1 Sportsground
Enjoy the race on Saturday and rock and roll all night. Don’t miss global superstars KISS and hometown heroes The Screaming Jets at the Newcastle 500 concert.

Emergency services are currently at the scene of a truck crash on the M1 on the Central Coast this morning.
About 2.10am (Wednesday 30 October 2019), a B-Double was travelling through a roadworks zone heading north on the M1 at Halloran, just past the Sparks Road overpass, when it crashed into three work trucks that were stopped at the location.
The B-double has caught alight, the fire quickly spreading to the three heavy vehicles involved in the crash.
Fortunately, there are no reports of injuries.
The northbound lanes of the M1 at Halloran will remain closed for some time as the fire is extinguished and inquiries into the cause of the crash continue.
Motorists are advised to visit www.livetraffic.com for the latest traffic information.

A 17-year-old youth has been charged after a police pursuit in the Hunter Valley yesterday.
Police will be alleging in court that the young person was seen driving a PT Chrysler Cruiser through the Hunter Economic Zone, Pelaw Main, about 6.15pm (Wednesday 30 October 2019) at excessive speed.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle, however, the driver failed to comply, and a pursuit was initiated.
The vehicle continued onto Hospital Road, Kurri Kurri before tuning left onto a dirt track where it was met with dense bushland.
The vehicle quickly reversed and crashed into two police vehicles – causing minor damage – before it sped away.
The pursuit was terminated, and a description of the vehicle was broadcast via police radio.
The Cruiser was found soon after in Hebburn Road, Pelaw Main and officers called for the vehicle to be seized.
While waiting for a tow truck, the 17-year-old alleged driver returned to the scene with a support person and spoke with police.
He was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station where he was charged with Skys Law and drive manner dangerously.
He was granted conditional bail and will appear in Kurri Kurri Local Court on Tuesday 26 November 2019.

A Corrective Services NSW officer has been charged over an alleged intimate relationship with a parolee in the state’s Hunter region.
Earlier this month, detectives from the Corrective Services Investigation Unit commenced an investigation following reports a community corrections officer and a parolee had been in an intimate relationship.
Following inquiries, detectives arrested a 30-year-old woman at Maitland Police Station about 10am today (Monday 28 October 2019).
She was charged with engage in sexual conduct etc compromise sentence/order.
Police will allege in court that the woman, who is a community corrections officer, was involved in a romantic relationship with a 29-year old male parolee.
The woman was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 11 December 2019.
She has been suspended by Corrective Services NSW.

Two men have been charged over the alleged sexual touching of a teenage girl at Nelson Bay earlier this year.
In May 2019, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a 14-year-old girl had been sexually touched by two men who were not known to her.
As part of their inquiries, a 31-year-old man was arrested at Port Macquarie on Tuesday 17 September 2019.
He was charged with three counts of intentionally sexually touch child between 10 and 16 years.
The man was refused bail and appeared at Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday 18 September 2019, where he was granted strict conditional bail to re-appear at the same court on Thursday 21 November 2019.
Following further investigations, a 36-year-old man was arrested by officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District about 3pm yesterday (Monday 28 October 2019).
He was charged with three counts of intentionally sexually touch child between 10 and 16 years.
Police will allege in court that the men sexually touched the girl at a public toilet near Victoria Parade, Nelson Bay, in February 2019.
The Salt Ash man was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Tuesday 29 October 2019).
 

Judging is complete, and the results are in for the long-standing Australian Children’s Music Foundation’s (ACMF) National Song writing Competition 2019.
Now in its 17^th year, the competition has inspired over 28,000 students across Australia to take the opportunity for self-expression, and enter their original song composition.
ACMF CEO and Founder, Don Spencer says, “Song-writing is a highly creative process. We want children to free their imagination, and engage with learning in a fun way.”
With four categories, and two exciting new awards for students from Year 4 to Year 12 to enter — the calibre, content, and talent behind the songs continue to astound its panel of judges.
This year saw the introduction of two new awards:  APRA AMCOS Young Songwriter of the Year; and Songwriting School of the Year.   The ACMF are thrilled by the on-going commitment from APRA AMCOS to encourage young songwriters. With the introduction of Songwriting School of the Year, the ACMF emphasise the importance of music education within Australian schooling.
This year’s judging panel met at APRA/AMCOS’ Sydney office this month to review over 80 songs, shortlisted from thousands of submissions nationally. Judges assessed various aspects of each song, including their lyrics, melody, song structure, and originality.
The 2019 competition is sponsored by supporting partner:, APRA AMCOS, Ampal, and oOh! Media. Winners will receive substantial prize money to be put towards music education, tuition and more.
The National Song writing Competition is an extension of what the ACMF achieves through its free music programs – within schools, hospitals, and juvenile justice centres across Australia.
The Foundation inspires creativity and imagination by providing life changing long term music education to disadvantaged children and youth at risk.
The ACMF’s nationwide creative competition comes at a time when the remarkable cognitive benefits of music education, particularly in learning and early-childhood development, are being more publicly recognised and explored.
Winners of the ACMF’s 2019 National Song writing Competition are as follows:

Category	First	Second	Third	Highly Commended
4 – 6	Samuel Stephens – ‘Nanna Jean (Taree, NSW)	Claudia Pitts – ‘Tashi Tree (Montrose, VIC)	Gabriella Aarons, and Benjamin Fram – ‘Stuck on the Sidewalk (St Ives, NSW)	Nina Collie – ‘Leadbeater Possum’ (The Patch, VIC) and Jaz Fennell – ‘Kindness’ (Ashmore, QLD) and Yasmin Taunton – ‘Girls have the right to say no’ (Georges Hall, NSW)
7 – 10	*Ashton Masters – ‘The devil’s play thing’ (Huntleys Point, NSW)	Esme Stripp – ‘All the things I can’t tell you (Brighton East, VIC)	Sophia Angilletta – ‘Piece of my emotion’ (Newtown, NSW)	Bennita Rodda – ‘We are glorious (Maitland, SA) and Teagan Klooger – ‘Teenage Years’ (Werribee, VIC) and Ruby Archer – ‘But they’re only my dreams’ (Erina Heights, NSW)
11 – 12	**Samantha Timcke – ‘Paper People’ (Adelaide, SA)	Lauren Studley – ‘Falling Again’ (Melbourne, VIC)	Taylah Silvestri – ‘Somehow’ (Adelaide, SA)	Noah Ryland – ‘Leaves’ (Melbourne, VIC) and The Leftovers Band – ‘One in a million’ (Trafalgar, VIC) and Emily Grace – ‘Bad Intentions’ (Adelaide, SA)

 
*Also Winner of Allan Kendall Award 2019: A special award for most creative and original across all categories
**Also Winner of APRA AMCOS Young Song writer of the year 2019
 

Special Awards		WINNER
Alan Kendall Award 2019	Yearly special award for most creative and original across competition	Ashton Masters – ‘The Devil’s Play Thing’ (Huntleys Point, NSW)
APRA AMCOS Young Song writer of the Year 2019	Newly introduced award sponsored by APRA AMCOS – $5,000 toward supporting one song writer	Samantha Timcke – ‘Paper People’ (Adelaide, SA)
Song writing School of the Year 2019	Newly introduced award category – $5,000 toward supporting one school music program	St Pius X High School – Unplug and Connect (Adamstown, NSW)

Unplug and Connect
By Cooper Lloyd and Frankie Parris
Chorus:
What is happening to our world                                       
Society has been all curled
We need to change all of this now     
Don’t want to leave this world with a frown
Verse 1
Everybody always looking down at their devices
That is one sign that humans are going through a crisis
We’re thinking why should we consider the feelings of others
This is hurting all your friends, siblings, fathers and mothers.
Get off the screens, it’s now or never,
There isn’t a lot of time to spend together,
Thanks to technology, you’re not being you,
Thanks to technology, you feel more blue.
You find it hard to get outside and fly a kite
You can’t see the whiteboard due to bad eyesight,
An innovative invention has ruined who we are,
We gotta stop this now, we’ve taken it too far.
Chorus:
What is happening to our world                                       
Society has been all curled
We need to change all of this now     
Don’t want to leave this world with a frown
Verse 2
When you played outside last, you probably won’t remember
You’ll say something like ‘Oh, maybe last September’
I’ll then say to you ‘You’re not the only one
We need to get outside we need soak up the sun’.
Go to the pool, have a dip in the water
Go with your family, cause you can spend a quarter
Of your day having fun, care free
Do it for yourself, and do it for the
Seven billion people who will follow your actions,
Show the world what you’re made of, just like Michael Jackson,
If you don’t spread your wings, you’re making it hard for yourself,
It will make you happier, it will boost your health.
Chorus:
What is happening to our world                                       
Society has been all curled
We need to change all of this now     
Don’t want to leave this world with a frown
Bridge
Trying to hide your emotions
Trying to keep it all in
Hiding away from those special moments
Living  like this you feel so broken
Chorus:
What is happening to our world                                       
Society has been all curled
We need to change all of this now     
Don’t want to leave this world with a frown

North-easterly winds are pushing the smoke along the coast to areas including Newcastle, Sydney and the Illawarra.
The smoke is expected to settle in these areas and may continue for the next few days.
NSW Health reminds people that children, older adults and people with heart and lung conditions are most susceptible to the effects of air pollution and excessive smoke.
If you have asthma or a lung condition, reduce outdoor activities if smoke levels are high and if shortness of breath or coughing develops, take your reliever medicine or seek medical advice.
Asthma sufferers need to follow their Asthma Action Plan and take their relieving medication where necessary. If symptoms get worse, seek medical advice. Further advice is available from the Asthma Foundation website. https://www.nationalasthma.org.au