A teenage boy has died following a single vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter Valley.
About 10.45pm yesterday (Friday 6 July 2024), emergency services were called to Lemon Tree Passage Road, Salt Ash, following reports of a single-vehicle crash.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District arrived to find a white Ford Falcon sedan containing five young persons, aged 14-17, had left the roadway and impacted with a tree.
Despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance Paramedics and first responders, a teenage boy, aged 16, died on the way to hospital.
Three other teenage passengers, aged 14 and two 17-year-olds, were taken to John Hunter Hospital for various non life-threatening injuries.
A crime scene was established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this crash commenced.
The driver of the vehicle, a 17-year-old boy, was subject to a roadside breath test and allegedly retuned a positive reading. He was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
A man has been charged following the alleged wounding of another man in Maitland earlier this week.
About 8.45pm on Wednesday (3 July 2024), a man attended Maitland Police Station to report an alleged wounding at a business on George Street, Morpeth.
Police attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were told two men were involved in an altercation before a 36-year-old man allegedly threw a knife at a 26-year-old man, causing a serious injury.
The 26-year-old man was taken to Maitland Hospital before being taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment to an eye injury.
Police attended the scene, where they established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the incident.
About 11.40am on Friday (5 July 2024), a 36-year-old man attended Maitland Police Station where he was arrested and charged with reckless wounding and wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday 9 July 2024.
A woman will face Court after being charged following an unauthorised protest in the Hunter Valley yesterday.
About 2.30pm (Friday 5 July 2024), police received information that a number of protesters had entered the rail corridor at Lochinvar railway station, near Maitland, and were causing obstruction to trains.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District, with assistance from Police Rescue, attended the site and arrested a 69-year-old woman from South Australia.
She was taken to Maitland Police Station where she was charged with three offences – enter inclosed non-agricultural lands – serious safety risk, cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and hinder working of mining equipment.
She was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court later today (Saturday 6 July 2024).
A woman will face Court after being charged following an unauthorised protest in the Hunter Valley last night.
About 6.15pm (Friday 5 July 2024), police received information that a number of protesters had entered the rail corridor at Branxton and were causing obstruction to trains.
Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District, with assistance from Police Rescue, attended the site and arrested a 70-year-old woman from South Australia.
She was taken to Singleton Police Station where she was charged with five offences – enter inclosed non-agricultural lands – serious safety risk, cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock, enter inclosed land – not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, cause/attempt to cause train in motion to be stopped and interfere with equipment without permission.
She was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court later today (Saturday 6 July 2024).
Newcastle will celebrate the cultural richness of its First Nations during NAIDOC Week with a march from Civic Park and a City of Newcastle program for the senses.
Awabakal Corporation will kick off their annual Community Day at Civic Park on Monday with a flag raising ceremony and morning march from Civic Park, followed by a family-friendly celebration at Foreshore Park.
The Awabakal Community Day, supported by City of Newcastle, will feature singing, dancing, stalls, rides and chances for cultural connection inspired by this year’s NAIDOC theme – “Keep the fire burning! Blak, Loud and Proud”.
NAIDOC Week celebrations will continue with activities across City of Newcastle libraries and the Museum, designed to create connections with culture for the next generation.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said NAIDOC Week is a calendar highlight for City of Newcastle, offering a chance to celebrate the oldest living cultures of Australia’s second oldest city.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aren’t just in the fabric of Newcastle, they are the first people of this place we love today,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Newcastle has a long and rich history of standing side-by-side with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to enact positive change, including being the first city in Australia to raise an Aboriginal Flag over a civic building under Lord Mayor Joy Cummings,” Cr Nelmes said.
“NAIDOC Week is an extremely important time of year and an opportunity for our community to acknowledge that the story of Australia began far before European settlement, while recognising that First Nations peoples have occupied and cared for our land for over 65,000 years.”
Awabakal Corporation CEO Jason Smith said NAIDOC is a marquee week for his organisation and for celebration of Aboriginal culture by City of Newcastle and the community.
“NAIDOC Week means a great deal to all of us at Awabakal and it’s pleasing to see what City of Newcastle does to engage Aboriginal people this week and every week,” Mr Smith said.
“The Guraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee is just one vital initiative City of Newcastle helps facilitate. The events this NAIDOC Week, including the march from Civic Park and the Awabakal Community Day in Foreshore Park supported by City of Newcastle, are highlights any Novocastrian should experience.”
Councillor Deahnna Richardson, a proud Wiradjuri woman, said Newcastle Museum Park, Newcastle City Library and Wallsend Library will all host NAIDOC Week festivities.
“This year’s theme – ‘Keep the fire burning! – is a call to elevate our mob and our spirit,” Cr Richardson said.
“We’re creating new connections to our culture for the next generation with a range of events delivered in partnership with local First Nations groups. These activities are designed to celebrate the rich history and diverse cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the oldest continuing cultures on the planet. We’re lucky in Muloobinba to live among the cultures of Awabakal, Worimi and many other people. I can’t wait for NAIDOC Week to kick off.
“I encourage our community to celebrate our Indigenous culture this NAIDOC Week and take advantage of the free events on offer throughout the city.”
Newcastle Museum will host Darkinjung woman Sarah Corrigan on Tuesday with Rainbow Crow Collective: Tastes of Australia, a chance to try bush tucker including syrups and finger limes, and take home a recipe card to continue the culinary journey.
The Museum will also screen The Last Daughter, the documentary directed by Wiradjuri author Brenda Matthews with Nathaniel Schmidt that holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
On Thursday the festivities move to Newcastle City Library with a stringybark rope-making masterclass by Uncle Amos Simon. The proud Worimi, Birpai and Wiradjuri elder will be sharing Language and music including a silent disco.
Rainbow Crow Creative will cap off the city’s NAIDOC Week program on Friday at Wallsend Library and then Newcastle Museum with low sensory sessions of the popular Wayapa earth connection practice, which uses mindfulness and Indigenous inspired movements to create a healing space through yarning, sharing and connection.
NAIDOC Week will be celebrated across Australia from 7-14 July to recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Trains are not running on the Hunter Line due to a police operation until daylight tomorrow. Buses will replace trains between Newcastle Interchange and Maitland/Scone/Dungog. Buses will not run to the normal train timetable. Please allow plenty of extra travel time.
A woman will face Court after being charged following an unauthorised protest in the Hunter Valley last night.
About 6.45pm (Thursday 4 July 2024), police were called to the rail corridor at Belford, near Singleton, following reports persons had allegedly entered the rail corridor and were causing obstruction to trains.
Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District, with assistance from Police Rescue, attended the site and arrested a 65-year-old woman from Bega.
She was taken to Singleton Police Station where she was charged with five offences – cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock, enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, cause/attempt to cause train or tram in motion to be stopped, interfere with equipment without permission and destroy/damage/obstruct mine shaft/duct/airway.
She was refused bail to appear before Singleton Local Court later today (Friday 5 July 2024).
A woman will face court after being charged following an unauthorised protest in the Hunter Valley this morning.
Just after 7am (Friday 5 July 2024), police were called to the rail corridor at Glennies Creek, near Singleton, following reports a person had allegedly entered the rail corridor and was causing obstruction to trains.
Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District, with assistance from Police Rescue, attended the site and arrested a 27-year-old woman from Victoria.
She was taken to Singleton Police Station, where she was charged with enter inclosed non-agricultural lands serious safety risk, cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock, and enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse.
She was refused bail and appeared before Singleton Local Court today (Friday 5 July 2024).
Some trains are running late up to 30 minutes due to flooding on the tracks at Cockle Creek earlier. Services will be less frequent and trips may take longer than usual. Stops may also change at short notice. Buses may also supplement some trains between Newcastle Interchange and Fassifern. Please allow plenty of extra travel time, listen for announcements, check information screens and transport apps before getting on trains.
