Category: Newcastle News

A man will face court in Newcastle today after being charged with 17 offences following an ongoing investigation in the state’s Port Stephen-Hunter region.
Since October 2018, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District have been investigating multiple alleged stealing, break and enter, traffic, fraud, drug and firearm offences committed across the Port Stephens-Hunter, Hunter Valley and Tuggerah Lakes Police Districts.
Following inquiries, about 10am yesterday (Friday 22 February 2019), police executed a search warrant at a house on Government Road, Weston, where a 31-year-old man was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station.
Officers seized a number of items from the premises including a motorbike and keys belonging to a vehicle, both allegedly stolen.
He was charged with 17 offences including receive/dispose stolen property (x4), possess prohibited drug, break enter and steal, steal firearm or imitation firearm, unlawfully sell firearms, take & drive conveyance without consent of owner (x2), drive motor vehicle during disqualification period (x3), drive recklessly/furiously or speed in manner dangerous, dishonestly obtain property by deception, police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly (Skye’s Law), and goods in personal custody suspected stolen.
The man was refused bail to appear in Newcastle local court today (Saturday 23 February 2019).

A nationally significant exhibition will open at Newcastle Art Gallery on Saturday 2 March 2019, drawn from the Gallery’s substantial collection of Japanese Sodeisha ceramics and the result of a collaboration of curators and artists across Australia and Japan.
SODEISHA: connected to Australia celebrates Newcastle Art Gallery’s significant holdings of Japanese ceramics with 10 displays of contemporary ceramic artists from Australia and Japan alongside the Gallery’s Sodeisha collection.
The Australian artists involved include Alterfact Studio, Penny Byrne, Juz Kitson, Julie Bartholomew, and Kenji Uranishi, while artists Takashi Hinoda, Satoru Hoshino, Yusaku Ishida, Rokubei Kiyomizu, and Hideo Matsumoto will represent Japan in the exhibition.
Satoru HOSHINO Beginning Form – Spiral ‘17 2017 smoked earthenware 850°C, black stoneware Artist collection
Photography Oginuma, Hidekazu
“This is the first major exhibition in Australia to celebrate the legacy and influence of the pioneering Sodeisha group on contemporary ceramics, and is testament to the strength of Newcastle Art Gallery’s collection,” said Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton.
“More than 37 years after the acquisition of this internationally significant collection, it continues to be a valuable cultural asset for the city of Newcastle as well as the nation”.
SODEISHA: connected to Australia  provides the first opportunity for Newcastle Art Gallery to develop an international, cultural partnership project based on the city’s collection.
The exhibition brings together curatorial advisor Kevin White – a MEXT Scholar and exhibiting artist Satoru Hoshino – an original member of the Sodeisha group. Hoshino will arrive in Newcastle from Japan to install a major wall and floor mounted ceramic installation, and joins Professor White and Gallery staff to take part in a range of dynamic public events.
^{Exhibition installation image (detail) 19/12/2005 Newcastle Art Gallery From left to right: Masatsugu HITOMI
Gate of sound c1980; Yosuke NAKANISHI Globe A n.d; Yosuke NAKANISHI Globe B n.d Gift of members of the
Sodeisha Group 1981 Newcastle Art Gallery collection}
About the Japanese Sodeisha ceramics in the Newcastle Art Gallery collection
Newcastle Art Gallery holds 58 Sodeisha ceramics, one of the largest collections by this important group of avant-garde post-war artists outside of Japan.
In 1979 Newcastle Art Gallery hosted a contemporary Sodeisha Japanese ceramics exhibition arranged by the Australian Gallery Directors Council in association with the Crafts Board of the Australia Council and the Japan Foundation.
It was the first major exhibition held in Australia that brought attention to the groundbreaking work of the Sodeisha group of ceramic artists, and featured 62 works of art by 32 members of the group including founding members Osamu Suzuki (1926-2001), Kazuo Yagi (1918-1979), and Hikaru Yamada (1924-2001). After two years of touring the exhibition to a number of state and regional Australian galleries, the Sodiesha group elected to gift 58 of the original 62 works of art to Newcastle Art Gallery.
Public programs supporting the exhibition
A comprehensive suite of public programs will support the exhibition, including masterclasses, artist-led workshops and forums, and regional clay community activities, drawing in new audiences for this ancient and contemporary art form.
A summary of the highlights of the program have been provided below, however several more public events are scheduled to support the exhibition.
For more information visit: www.nag.org.au/whats-on
Tadayasu SASAYAMA Waves cube B n.d stoneware plates on wood base 28.5 x 21.0 x 14.5cm Gift of members                                             of the Sodeisha Group 1981 Newcastle Art Gallery collection
SODEISHA: connected to Australia Opening event.
Friday 1 March 2019, from 5.30pm
Refreshments provided.
The official launch of the exhibition SODIEHSA: connected to Australia, opened by the Consul-General of Japan in Sydney, Mr Keizo Takewaka.
Artist Forum: Sodeisha and ceramics today
Saturday 2 March 2019, 2.00pm-3.00pm, Free event
Speakers: James Collis Exhibitions Coordinator Newcastle Art Gallery, Prof. Kevin White RMIT Melbourne, exhibiting artist Saturo Hoshino, exhibiting artist Kenji Uranishi.
At this free talk, the panel will explore their personal historical connections with the Sodeisha movement, and discuss the impact and influence of this movement on ceramics in Australia and Japan today.
Exclusive Performance: Crawling through mud
Commissioned by Newcastle Art Gallery through Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub
Saturday 2 March 2019 from 7:00pm
Refreshments provided.
Award-winning Australian choreographer and performer Kristina Chan presents an exclusive commissioned work, inspired by the seminal 1955 performance Challenging Mud by Kazuo Shiraga.
One-day Raku Clay Masterclass with Satoru Hoshino
Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March 2019 (two sessions)
10.30am – 3pm
Most materials provided
For intermediate and established ceramicists
Join visiting Japanese artist Satoru Hoshino, for the rare opportunity to attend this five-hour masterclass using raku clay.

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has called on the Morrison Government to match Labor’s tough superannuation policy after it was revealed that Newcastle-Hunter workers are losing out on almost $150 million in superannuation payments each year.
Ms Claydon said she was appalled but not surprised that one-third of Hunter-Newcastle workers were owed superannuation payments totalling $146 million.
“Too often I get calls from Novocastrians at their wits end after being short-changed thousands of dollars that is rightfully theirs,” Ms Claydon said.
“Even when the ATO officially confirms the money is owed, workers can’t chase this money as the debt isn’t technically owed to them.”
Ms Claydon called on the Government to match Labor’s policy to get tough on dodgy bosses and make it easier for employees to recover unpaid super.
“Unpaid super is theft, pure and simple. It’s about time the law treated it as such,” Ms Claydon said.
“Under Labor, employers who underpay superannuation to their staff because of a false or misleading statement will be fined an amount equal to 100 per cent of the unpaid super. Employers who fail to tell the ATO about unpaid superannuation when asked will face fines equal to 300 per cent of the unpaid super.
“Labor will also enshrine a right to superannuation within the National Employment Standards, giving workers the power to pursue their unpaid superannuation through the Fair Work Commission or Federal Court.”
Ms Claydon said there needs to be more serious repercussions for employers that shortchange workers on super.
“At the moment, too many employers are withholding superannuation as a means of cashflow management. That’s an appalling business practice, but there’s not enough incentive to do the right thing,” Ms Claydon said.
“Good employers who pay their workers’ superannuation entitlements are at a competitive disadvantage to the bosses who shirk the rules.”
Ms Claydon said the Morrison Government’s failure to get tough on unpaid superannuation was yet another betrayal of Australian workers.
“Australian workers are already being hit by record low wage growth, rising costs and a decline in the standard of living,” Ms Claydon said.
“It’s time the Government stood up to dodgy bosses who are failing to pay their workers the super they deserve.”

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has called on the Morrison Government to fund a rebuild of the Boscawen Street Bridge at Wallsend to protect against future flooding.
Ms Claydon said Newcastle City Council had requested support for the $3 to $4 million Boscawen rebuild, which has been identified as a priority under the Wallsend Flood Mitigation Strategy.
“Boscawen is one of the three bridges that need rebuilding, along with Tyrell Street and Nelson Street, in Wallsend,” Ms Claydon said.
‘While Council has already allocated funds for the Tyrell Street bridge replacement, it is seeking funds elsewhere for Nelson Street, and I would like to see the federal government pitch in to rebuild Boscawen.”
Ms Claydon said the current structure presents an unacceptable flooding risk.
“A number of issues have been identified, including the low clearance on the bridge, the handrails and the intermediate piers, which have a high chance of trapping cars, shopping trolleys and items that come down through the drainpipes, causing blockages.
“To solve this, the bridge has to be reconstructed. It has to have those piers removed, creating a single-span bridge which would improve the flow capacity in large flood events, allowing for the future channel-widening project.”
Ms Claydon said the rebuild would bring peace of mind to the people of Wallsend and encourage business investment.
“It’s been nearly 12 years since the superstorm wreaked havoc on Wallsend, but every time it rains hard the people of Wallsend—the residents and business owners—are on tenterhooks wondering if this is going to happen again.
“Some shops are empty today for this very reason. These rebuilds will be a shot in the arm to drive confidence in the region.”
Ms Claydon said she wanted to build a strong community campaign to send a message to Canberra about the importance of the project and is urging people to sign her petition at www.sharonclaydon.com
“There’s a Federal Budget coming up in a few months, and this presents a great opportunity to put pressure on this government to commit to a very worthwhile local infrastructure project that is beyond the capacity of local government to fund alone,” Ms Claydon said
“Given we are so close to an election, I am also impressing upon my Labor colleagues the importance of this project.
“I think we’ve got a great chance. It’s a great project. And I’d like nothing more than to see it become a reality.”

A man has died following a single-vehicle crash at Morisset today.
Shortly after 10.30am (Tuesday 19 February 2019), emergency services were called to Wyee Road, after a Volkswagen Amarok left the road and hit trees before stopping in bushland.
The driver and sole occupant, 36-year-old man, was pulled from the vehicle. Despite attempts to resuscitate him, he died at the scene.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, and whether the man may have suffered a medical episode prior to the crash.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A man has been charged with mid-range drink-driving following a pursuit near Newcastle this morning.
Just before 1.20am today (Tuesday 19 February 2019), officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were conducted stationary speed enforcement duties on the M1 motorway at West Wallsend, when they detected a Lexus sedan allegedly travelling at 178km/hr in a 110km/hr area.
The driver, a 39-year-old man from Neutral Bay, allegedly failed to stop as directed by police and a pursuit was initiated.
The man stopped the sedan a short distance away on the George Booth exit ramp and allegedly returned a positive roadside breath test.
He was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station where a subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.109.
The man was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, drive with mid-range PCA, and exceed speed greater than 45km/h.
The man was granted bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 9 April 2019

A woman has died after her car crashed in the Hunter region overnight.
The crash happened about 7.30pm (Sunday 17 February 2019), when the 47-year-old driver lost control on Windermere Road at Lochinvar, and hit a tree.
Police, paramedics and Fire & Rescue NSW officers responded to the crash site; however, the driver had died at the scene.
It’s believed the woman lived in nearby Windermere.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner by officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Police searching for a woman missing in the Lake Macquarie region have today located a body.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District have been searching for a 37-year-old woman, who was last seen on Wednesday (13 February 2019).
About 3pm today (Friday 15 February 2019), a body was located near Dudley Bluff.
While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing woman.
Her death is not being treated as suspicious.
Police would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

A large search is underway for a woman missing in the Lake Macquarie region as serious concerns are held for her welfare.
Ashly Bates, aged 37, was last seen on Wednesday (13 February 2019) at a home in Whitebridge.
Police were alerted when she failed to contact her family. Her mobile phone was then located by a member of the public near Dudley Bluff.
Police from Lake Macquarie Police District are conducting a large search of the area for Ashly, with assistance from PolAir and the Dog Unit.
Ashly is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 168cm tall, with dark shoulder-length hair, fair complexion and tattoos on the inside of her wrists.
She was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and pyjama pants.
Anyone who sees her or believes they know her whereabouts is urged to contact police immediately.