| Newcastle hosts Wallabies: The Wallabies arrived in the Hunter last week, ahead of their test against Fiji at Hunter Stadium on July 6. The match will be the Wallabies' only hit out before the British and Irish Lions tour beginning in late July. Squad members held an open training session in Mayfield where they signed autographs and even ran the canteen at the Hunter Wildfires' match on Saturday. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will attend Sunday's match. It will be the first time the Wallabies have faced Fiji since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Pictured: Wallabies player Joseph Sua'ali'i signs autographs at an open training session in Newcastle. Image credit: ABC News/Bridget Murphy
Fatal chopper crash report released: Several factors contributed to a deadly helicopter crash near Hawks Nest, a final report into the incident has found. Pilot Edwin Kraft, 57, and his dog were killed when the helicopter went down off the coast in October 2023. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the aircraft encountered turbulence and was flying faster than recommended on autopilot for such conditions. A recovered on-board camera also revealed the pilot was eating lunch in the lead up to the crash. The safety bureau says that reduced Mr Kraft's ability to slow the chopper's turn in a reasonable time frame, causing the helicopter to roll to the right and crash into the sea. The bureau says a stabiliser fitted to the aircraft also significantly contributed to the right roll.
Lake Macquarie tiny homes trial: A trial of tiny homes in the Lake Macquarie local government area is part of a multi-pronged approach to tackle the housing crisis, according to its mayor. As part of the trial two self-contained transportable homes will be moved onto council-owned residential land at Belmont North and will be made available to families in need. Lake Macquarie City Council Mayor Adam Shultz says the trial is one of the ideas that came out of a housing forum held earlier this year.
Heritage Newcastle buildings get $2m: Two historical Newcastle buildings that have been closed for years will share state government funding to help reopen their doors to the public. Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp says the $2 million in funding will help revitalise the Victoria Theatre and the former Newcastle Post Office building in the CBD. He says the grants will ensure the heritage of each site is protected.
Youth crime affects local retail workers: Retail workers say they're copping the brunt of a spike in youth crime across the Hunter. The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association says there's been a rise in physical assaults, petty theft and aggression across the region, and hotspots have included Maitland's Green Hills Shopping Centre and Westfield Kotara. The union says giving young people better options is the key to reducing anti-social behaviour.
Cessnock's new fire station opens: A new $7 million fire station has opened in Cessnock to replace the old station which was built in 1916. The facility is centrally located, about four times the size of the former station, and houses two fire trucks.
Cliff dive win: Lake Macquarie diver Rhiannan Iffland has won the second leg of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Italy. Iffland remains at the top of the women's rankings after also winning the opening Cliff Diving World Series event in the Philippines in April. It's Iffland's 10th time entering the competition in Italy and her ninth time winning it. Last year she won her eighth consecutive world title. | 