Category: Newcastle News

Knights’ superstars Kalyn Ponga and Hannah Southwell have kicked off Newcastle Museum’s crusade to immortalise the history of rugby league in the region.

The NRL and NRLW captains have donated signed jerseys as the Museum begins a campaign to create a landmark exhibition in 2027 that will celebrate the Knight’s 40^th anniversary season and 120 years of rugby league in the Hunter.

City of Newcastle is now inviting rugby league fans, current and former players, officials and referees to be part of this momentous project by donating original objects that will help tell the story of the game in our region and detail the rich history of the Knights.

Newcastle Knights CEO Philip Gardner, Director of Museum, Archive, Libraries and Learning Julie Baird, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Knights NRLW captain Hannah Southwell, Knights NRL captain Kalyn Ponga, Knights legend Danny Buderus and Newcastle Rugby League General Manager Adam Devcich at the announcement of Newcastle Museum’s landmark exhibition.Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the exhibition will demonstrate why Newcastle is considered the heartland of rugby league.

“The Newcastle Rebels helped form the NSW Premiership in 1908 and our region has gone on to produce some of the greatest players of all time including Clive Churchill, Wally Prigg and Les Johns,” Cr Nelmes said.

“That list has only grown since the establishment of the Knights in 1988, and this exhibition will examine the role the club has played in shaping local identity through a period of significant change for Novocastrians.

“The men’s team winning grand finals in 1997 and 2001 led to a surge in civic pride with street parades and major celebrations, and that tradition has continued with our all-conquering Newcastle NRLW side winning back-to-back premierships in 2022 and 2023.

“The exhibition will blend original objects and archival footage with stories of staff, players, and fans to place the story of the Knights in a broader celebration of Newcastle’s expansive history with rugby league.”

Knights CEO Philip Gardner said Newcastle has always been a rugby league town.

“Newcastle has one of the oldest competitions in Australia and the fans waited a long time to have a presence on the national stage,” Mr Gardner said.

“Since 1988 our members and fans have continued to demonstrate they’re among the most passionate in the competition and I’m sure they’ll want to contribute to this historic collection.”

Ponga has lived in Western Australia, Queensland and New Zealand but after signing with the Knights in 2017 now calls Newcastle home. 

“It’s an honour to donate a jersey from my Dally-M winning season to a collection that will highlight the importance of the Knights to the community,” Ponga said. 

“I love playing footy for our Novocastrian community. We don’t have fans, we have genuine supporters, who stick with us through the good times and the bad.”

Kotara Bears junior Hannah Southwell grew up following the Knights, watching the likes of the Johns brothers, Paul Harragon and Danny Buderus. 

“I’m so proud to be a part of the history of this amazing club,” Southwell said. 

“Newcastle is a town built on hard work and earning the respect of the people, it’s unique to all other places around the world. 

“It’s not just about winning or losing, it’s about how you perform and giving it your all every time you represent the people of this region.”

General Manager Adam Devcich said the Newcastle Rugby League competition is among the strongest in NSW.

“Newcastle has long been one of the great rugby league nurseries,” Mr Devcich said.

“This exhibition is a terrific opportunity to showcase the outstanding talent of generations past, such as the 2008 Newcastle Rugby League Team of the Century and the 1964 State Cup winning team.

“It can also show the strength of the current players, including the modern version of the Newcastle Rebels who have won the past two NSWRL men’s Country Championships.”

City of Newcastle Director of Museum, Archive, Libraries and Learning Julie Baird said Newcastle Museum is looking to build a permanent Newcastle Knights collection that can facilitate a temporary exhibition and also commemorate the significant story of the history of rugby league in our city in perpetuity.

“The collection will help to expand our ability to tell the story of the Knights, ensuring future generations will be able to learn about the club’s impact for years to come,” Ms Baird said.

“Rugby league grew out of the working-class roots of our city and the sport is bound to our identity and history.

“This will be a major self-curated exhibition. It will require significant research, development, community engagement and object sourcing via loans and donations, and will also help to launch celebrations for Newcastle Museum’s 40th anniversary in 2028.”

Anyone wishing to donate items to the Knights Collection can visit the Newcastle Museum website for more details.

Rugby League Fast Facts

• Newcastle was one of nine foundation clubs in the inaugural New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1908 after breaking away from the local rugby union competition.
• The Newcastle Rugby League competition formed in 1910, featuring four teams.
• The Newcastle Knights were established in 1988, taking the total number of clubs in the NSW Rugby League competition to 16.
• A dispute over broadcasting rights saw the formation of two top-flight rugby league competitions in Australia in 1997, the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and Super League.
• The Knights won the 1997 ARL grand final in Sydney, defeating the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22 points to 16.
• The game reunited in 1998 with the formation of the National Rugby League (NRL).
• The Knights won their second premiership, defeating the Parramatta Eels 30 points to 24 in the first ever night-time grand final in Sydney.
• The NRL Women’s Premiership (NRLW) formed in 2018 with four teams.
• The Newcastle Knights entered the NRLW in 2021 and failed to secure a win.
• The Knights won the NRLW grand final in Sydney in 2022, defeating the Parramatta Eels 32 points to 12.
• The Knights claimed back-to-back premierships, defeating the Gold Coast Titans 24 points to 18 in the 2023 NRLW grand final.

Newcastle Museum Fast Facts

• Newcastle Museum was established in 1988 in the restored former Castlemaine Brewery in Newcastle West as a major Bicentennial project.
• It temporarily closed in 2008 to allow for its shift to the former Honeysuckle Railways Workshop, which was the original preferred site for the Museum.
• The relocation involved the major refurbishment of the three existing Heritage-listed railway buildings. The Locomotive Boiler Shop is now home to Supernova, the New Erecting Shop is home to Fire and Earth, and the Blacksmith’s and Wheel Shop now house enclosed exhibition spaces and the theatrette. A new Link Building was constructed to form a connection between these spaces and contains the main public foyer and orientation spaces.
• The museum re-opened on 4 August 2011. In the first six months it welcomed 100,000 visitors through the doors to explore the innovative and interactive new displays.
• Newcastle Museum welcomed its two millionth visitor to the Honeysuckle site in July 2024.

Residents and visitors are being encouraged to drop in and enjoy a free community event this weekend to celebrate the reopening of the renewed Bathers Way precinct at South Newcastle Beach.

Skateboarding, roller skating and BMX bike demonstrations in the newly-built skate bowl will be among the highlights of the family-friendly activities, which will be held between 8.30am and 11.30am on Sunday.

Community members using the new facilities in the Bathers Way precinct at South Newcastle Beach.

A wheelchair-dedicated session will also be held to celebrate the inclusive aspects of the South Newcastle Beach project, including the Hunter’s first wheelchair-accessible (WCMX) skate bowl.

Pop-up stalls from local business and community organisations will provide on-the-spot bike check-ups, free coffee and plenty of information, with Camp Quality ensuring the crowds are well fed with a fundraising community barbecue.

Face painting stations and a DJ will keep the vibe pumping as community members make the most of the new recreational facilities in the spectacular coastal precinct.

City of Newcastle delivered the next stage of its landmark Bathers Way coastal revitalisation project this month, transforming South Newcastle Beach into a vibrant hub for community activity.

The upgraded shared pathway provides a more accessible connection between Shortland Esplanade and King Edward Park and forms a key link in Bathers Way coastal walk, which links the city’s five iconic beaches. 

New seating, shade and viewing areas along the upper and lower promenades make the most of the panoramic location, while exercise equipment, the inclusive skate bowl and terrain park for skaters, scooters and riders including wheelchair athletes of all skill levels provide a range of active and passive recreation opportunities.

New accessible amenities, murals by local artists and the restoration of the 115-year-old heritage stone arches and shelter cap off the multi-faceted project, which has transformed a long dormant part of the coastline.

For the latest information about the free community event visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/bathersway

City of Newcastle is inviting Mayfield residents and businesses to take part in a series of “walk-shops” to uncover ideas for the future of their suburb. 

Two walking tours will visit four locations within the Maitland Road shopping precinct to explore how locals use these areas now, and what could be done to make them more vibrant, active spaces.

The feedback will help guide concept designs for future placemaking activities and start to inform the development of the Mayfield Local Centre upgrade.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle was committed to collaborating with the Mayfield community.

“Our Local Centre upgrades are designed to refresh and revitalise neighbourhood shopping precincts across Newcastle, which in turn encourages residents to support local businesses,” Cr Nelmes said.

“We want to work with the community to implement revitalised infrastructure, improved landscaping, and public art that aims to create an inviting space for people to meet, relax and enjoy retail offerings in a safe and welcoming environment.

“This first stage of consultation will help inform future planning for Mayfield, allowing us to capture the community’s thoughts on how they use their local centre, and how we can better activate these spaces for the benefit of all.”

Walking tours will be held at 11am on Thursday, 22 August and 10.30am on Sunday, 25 August. 

Participants will be encouraged to give their feedback on each of the sites located within the Maitland Road precinct between Kerr Street and Silsoe Street. 

Visit https://PlanningMayfield.eventbrite.com.au to sign up for one of the tours, or visit the Have Your Say page on City of Newcastle’s website to share feedback online before 13 September.

The Mayfield project will be delivered through City of Newcastle’s Local Centres program, which invests in communities across Newcastle. 

Concept planning and detailed design work for priority sites in Mayfield is expected to occur in 2025, along with further engagement, with construction earmarked for 2026.

Previous projects have delivered upgrades in Beresford Avenue, Beresfield; Mitchell Street, Stockton; Young Street, Carrington; James Street Plaza, Hamilton; Llewellyn Street, Merewether; Joslin Street, Kotara, Sandgate Road, Shortland; Nelson Street, Wallsend, Blackbutt Village, New Lambton and Darby Street, Cooks Hill.

A man has been charged following a serious crash in the state’s hunter region last week.

About 9.30pm on Thursday (8 August 2024) police were called to a hospital on Metford Road, Metford, after a teenage girl presented with serious injuries, believed to be sustained in a crash.

Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District attended the hospital and were told the 17-year-old girl was struck in a fail-to-stop crash on Camp Road, Greta earlier that evening.

The 17-year-old was transferred to John Hunter Hospital with serious lower body injuries.

Police commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Following inquiries, about 2pm yesterday (Wednesday 14 August 2024) police arrested a 20-year-old man at Greta and took him to Singleton Police Station.

He was charged with seven offences, including:

Dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm (manner dangerous)
Negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm
Fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm
Operate vehicle do driving wheels undergo sustained loss of traction
Never licensed person drive vehicle on road
Use unregistered registrable Class A motor vehicle on road
Use uninsured motor vehicle on road

Police will allege in court the 20-year-old man was performing burnouts in a Ford Falcon when he lost control of the vehicle and struck the 17-year-old girl.

The 20-year-old man was refused bail to appear before Singleton Local Court today (Thursday 15 August 2024).

Motorists and community members travelling to, from and around the Dungog Shire will soon benefit from safer journeys with close to $9 million committed to support improved flood-resilient infrastructure.

Dungog Shire Council will receive funding as part of the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package which is jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

As part of the funding, a new 76-metre concrete bridge will be built across the Paterson River at Gresford.

Work will also be carried out on 21 river crossings targeting rural, predominantly low-level causeways and small bridges across the region.

The package also funds pavement strengthening on Hooke and Lord Streets which will improve resilience and reduce ongoing maintenance costs for council.

Senator Jenny McAllister, Minister for Emergency Management:

“The Albanese Government is working with the NSW Government and regional councils to ensure communities have resilient infrastructure they can rely on every day.

“Not only will this funding enable Dungog Shire Council to boost their efforts in fixing the current damage, but it will also improve the resilience of the community during future flooding events. 

“This project will deliver more reliable infrastructure and assets that keep regional communities in NSW connected, especially during times of severe weather.”

Paul Scully, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces:

“We’re changing the way we traditionally address disasters, by focusing on prevention, mitigation, adaptation and resilience by making planning decisions that improve community resilience over the long term.

“Today’s announcement is proof of this new focus with the funding package to strengthen local infrastructure for the Dungog community.”

Jihad Dib, Minister for Emergency Services:

“The Dungog Shire has experienced flooding as a result of severe weather in the past, which is why these upgrades are so important to the community.

“These projects are important for building resilience in the region, helping communities bounce back quicker after heavy rainfall.”

Jenny Aitchison, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads:

“The Minns and Albanese governments, along with local councils, are prioritising efforts to improve and clear the natural disaster damage repair backlog for communities across the whole of regional NSW.

“We are proud to be delivering these vital investments in the Dungog Shire.

“In particular, Gresford residents will benefit from the new bridge across the Paterson River, providing a flood-resilient link that will service our community well in all types of weather for many years to come.”

Emily Suvaal, NSW Labor’s spokesperson for the Upper Hunter:

“This important work will improve the daily lives of motorists, residents and visitors to the Upper Hunter.

“These upgrades will improve safety significantly while also ensuring a stronger and more reliable road network that keep communities better connected when natural disasters hit.”

Dungog Shire Council Mayor John Connors:

“This is a wonderful outcome for the people of the Dungog Shire and, in particular, the people of Gresford who have had to contend with access issues for years.

“The improved river crossings and causeways across the shire will ensure access for residents and emergency vehicles after heavy rainfall events is returned more rapidly, and a new bridge over the Paterson River at Gresford will allow for all-weather access for the community and better economic opportunities for rural producers to utilise larger vehicles, with reliance on the natural river crossing a thing of the past.

“We have been advocating for this funding for almost two years on behalf of the community, who deserve roads and infrastructure that can withstand the sometimes-challenging environment.

“We’re very grateful to the Australian and NSW Governments for providing this funding so we can deliver these vital projects.”

A nine-metre-tall swing that reimages the popular playground equipment on a grand scale will be a highlight of the free and family-friendly events on offer at this year’s award-winning New Annual festival.

Set up opposite the Civic Theatre, SWING will allow participants to become part of a giant public art installation as they soar high above Wheeler Place during the closing weekend of City of Newcastle’s flagship cultural event, which runs from 27 September to 6 October.

Worlds Collide will be one of the headline acts at the Global Gathering event in Museum Park.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the free, wheelchair-accessible activity demonstrates how New Annual provides something for the whole community as it celebrates the city’s commitment to arts and culture.

“New Annual has become a catalyst for Newcastle’s cultural events sector to take centre stage alongside leading national events, cementing Newcastle as a creative city where exciting, ambitious and accessible contemporary art and culture grows and thrives,” Cr Nelmes said.

“One of the key aims of the program is to provide a mix of free and low-cost, family-friendly events, which will ensure every member of our community can enjoy the New Annual experience.

“The 2024 festival is also dedicated to amplifying multicultural voices and creativity from our culturally and linguistically diverse communities, fostering a sense of belonging and community involvement.

“From the childhood nostalgia of the swing in Wheeler Place to the cultural melting pot of our Global Gathering event in Museum Park, New Annual will deliver a fun, interactive program not to be missed.”

Almost 5000 people flocked to last year’s Global Gathering event, which will once again deliver a vibrant celebration of diverse traditions, food, art forms, and cultural expressions in Museum Park on 5 October supported by a Multicultural NSW Festival and Event grant.

The free community event will feature cooking demonstrations, interactive kids workshops and a wide range of musical and dance performances including a colourful lion dance by Jin Woo Koon, belly dancing and African drum and dance displays, as well as a fire show and DJ sets.

The night will be capped off by world music favourites Ghana Road Show, which fuses thrilling circus acts with traditional African dance and rhythmic drum beats set to the freshly curated tunes of DJ Lady Chika, while Worlds Collide delivers an intersection of seven cultures who fuse hip hop rhymes, melodic hooks, languages and genres into a fun, authentic and powerful experience.

Culture is also at the heart of the expansive program being delivered in conjunction with MEGAN COPE: Ngumpi Kinyingarra Oyster House at Honeysuckle Marina, which is proudly presented by Newcastle Art Gallery and supported by the University of Newcastle, Create NSW and Thermidor. 

The temporary, custom-built space will be activated with a series of free talks, hands-on workshops and performances including a professional oyster shucking competition and a daily Scrub Club that celebrates local oysters and the ongoing research practice of internationally acclaimed Quandamooka artist Megan Cope. 

Gomeroi hip-hop artist and Triple J favourite Kobie Dee will bring the Marina to life after dark as he headlines the first of two Friday Night Sounds events on 27 September supported by proud Aboriginal man Maanyung, while local DJ Jun Wan’s genre-bending sets will keep the Friday night party going on 4 October. 

New Annual will run from 27 September to 6 October, offering a vibrant mix of immersive dance, music, circus, visual art and theatre. It will kick off with a free family-friendly First Night street party in the precinct around City Hall, which has been supported by a grant from Transport for NSW.

The success of City of Newcastle’s flagship event was recognised at the recent Local Government Week Awards, where New Annual won the prestigious Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award.

Visit www.newannual.com for more details about the full program.

Newcastle Museum has welcomed the two millionth visitor to its Honeysuckle site as it prepares for one of its busiest events of the year. 

Thousands of people are expected to flock through the doors this Sunday for the free Hunter Science Festival, which in previous years has set new attendance records for a single-day event at the Museum. 

Electric Vehicle exhibit at the Hunter Science Festival, Newcastle Museum.

It is just one of the popular exhibitions and events that have helped attract more than two million visitors to the iconic Newcastle institution since it transformed the former Railway Workshops into a state-of-the-art cultural facility 13 years ago. 

The Museum eclipsed the milestone in July and by August had recorded a grand total of 2,015,000 visitors. 

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Newcastle Museum plays a key role in the city’s cultural and tourism attractions. 

“Since reopening at the Honeysuckle site, Newcastle Museum has become a cornerstone of City of Newcastle’s cultural facilities in the Civic precinct, adding to the diversity of experiences that help attract visitors to our city,” Cr Nelmes said. 

“Welcoming two million visitors is an impressive milestone and a wonderful testament to the expertise of our hard-working Museum staff, who deliver an innovative program of exhibitions and events each year. 

“The Hunter Science Festival is a highlight of that annual programming, providing a fun, free day out for the whole family in Newcastle as part of more than one thousand activities being held across Australia for National Science Week.” 

The original Newcastle Region Museum opened in 1988 as a Bicentenary project in Wood Street, Newcastle West, and closed in 2007 before making the move to Workshop Way in Honeysuckle. 

City of Newcastle Director of Museum, Archive, Libraries and Learning, Julie Baird said the present-day institution has forged an identity in Honeysuckle, and a reputation for exceptional exhibitions.  

“From our current, unmissable A Place Called Hollywood exhibition all the way back through the thousands of events we’ve delivered during the past 13 years, I’m proud of the hard-working, knowledgeable and friendly team who continue to preserve and share the stories of our city through our collections, exhibitions, and audience engagement,” Ms Baird said. 

“This year’s Hunter Science Festival has something for everyone. It’s a chance to meet astronomers, inventors, marine biologists and countless other brilliant people who live in our city and beyond.  

“It could be the start of a lifelong love of knowledge, or the inspiration you’ve been searching for. Our museum has that effect in Science Week and every week of the year.”  

The Hunter Science Festival is delivered by City of Newcastle in conjunction with Hunter Innovation and Science Hub (HISH) and features additional displays and demonstrations from a range of organisations including Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI). 

Attendees can expect perennial favourites such as the revolting and revealing HMRI ‘Poo Palace’ – a giant inflatable digestive system – and the chance to build and race electric vehicles with HISH.  

There will also be interactive fun presented by the Hunter Geological Society’s School of Earth, bushfire science shows by Fizzics Education and displays by the Irukanji Shark and Ray Centre, Hunter Wetlands Centre and Hunter Landcare, among others. 

The Hunter Science Festival will run from 10am to 2pm on Sunday 18 August. For more information visit newcastlemuseum.com.au 

Ms Claydon recently wrote to the community asking them to share their experiences and the response has been overwhelming.

The community’s fight for better services has now been taken to the floor of the Parliament with Ms Claydon delivering the following speech this week.

“Almost 5,000 people live in Stockton, which is just a few minutes by ferry from the city of Newcastle. It’s a tight-knit, strong and resilient community. But ongoing problems with mobile phone reception and poor wi-fi and internet connectivity are really taking their toll.

“Newcastle is Australia’s sixth-largest city, which makes these poor telecommunications experiences for Stockton residents especially shocking. In 2024, mobile phone reception, wi-fi and reliability of connectivity are essential services, yet too many people in Stockton have been let down.

“I recently met with Telstra and Optus to raise Stockton community residents’ concerns directly with them. I’m pleased that Telstra has agreed to investigate its telecommunications network in the suburb, and I’ve asked the same of Optus because we need to identify these problems and get them fixed. I’ve also written, with the support of Stockton Community Group, an expression of interest under the Peri-Urban Mobile Program for a grant aimed at improving coverage. Hopefully, that will be of help too.

“More recently, I’ve written to all residents of Stockton to ask them to share their lived experiences of the telecommunications services in the suburb. Residents have been inundating me with their experiences. They speak about fears of constant dropouts and not having reliable tools for study for their children. These are unacceptable in 2024, and we’re doing everything we can to fix them.”

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenager missing from the state’s Hunter Region.

Storm Cooper-Ryan, aged 17, was last seen in Heddon Greta about 4pm on Tuesday 6 August 2024.

When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified yesterday (Thursday 8 August 2024) and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold serious concerns for her welfare.

Storm is described as having a fair complexion, and about 155cm tall with slim build and blonde hair.

She is known to frequent Metford, Maitland and Sydney.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.