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Wild storm hits Newcastle, knocking out power to 20,000 homes | |
| After a scorching Monday, many of us were looking forward to a cool change that night, but Newcastle copped a battering as some of the strongest winds ever recorded here hit the region. There were blackouts as trees and powerlines came down and a local nursing home lost its roof for the second time in as many years!
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Road rage video goes viral | |
| Horrifying images of a car ploughing through traffic and colliding with another car at a major Newcastle intersection went viral on social media this week. Police called the driving an "abomination" and praised the efforts of local tradies who tried to intervene. | |
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Listen up! Surgeon recognised for work | |
| There were cheers all round for Newcastle ear, nose and throat surgeon and Worimi man Kelvin Kong, who was recognised for his work to improve the ear health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Associate Professor Kong, Australia's first Aboriginal surgeon, was this week awarded the prestigious Menzies Medallion. | |
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From cockpit to coffee machine | |
| Former Virgin Australia pilot Dave Everingham is way out of his comfort zone behind the coffee machine at a rustic cafe he's opened in regional NSW. But after being made redundant due to the pandemic, he had to completely reinvent himself. As our friends at ABC Mid North Coast report, the risk has paid off for Dave and his partner, and the cafe is helping to boost the economy in the small town of Comboyne. | |
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New Maitland hospital build gets big budget boost | |
| The NSW budget was handed down this week and the overwhelming response from local MPs was disappointment at the lack of new funding and projects for the region. The new Maitland hospital (pictured) got the lion's share of local money, with $220 million allocated, and there was another $60 million for the region's roads. | |
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Sailors saved after week at sea | |
| It was a happy welcome home for three sailors on board the 11-metre yacht, Solar Coaster, at Nelson Bay on Saturday. Anxious family members waited as the boat was towed in by Water Police, five days after it sent out a distress call off the coast of Lord Howe Island.
There were three sailors on board the yacht when it lost its mast on Monday. Supplies were dropped to the yacht on Tuesday and a Water Police vessel was sent to tow it back. Family members told the ABC it had been an anxious wait.
Police praised the sailors for their good preparation. Sergeant Tony Hogg described the 54-hour rescue as one of the toughest of his career. | |
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 | | Photo supplied: Jacqui Challinor/Seafood Industry Association |
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How to support Aussie producers over Christmas | |
| The Hunter has plenty of great local produce that comes into its own during the festive season. So, how can you support Australian producers when you're planning your Christmas lunch? We've done the hard yards to find out for you. | |
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Should you be getting another COVID test? | |
| Testing rates for COVID-19 in the Hunter have dropped since mid-August, but they're ramping up again with the emergence of a common respiratory virus in the community. Are we getting complacent? Dan and Jenny asked local public health physician Dr David Durrheim about what we should be doing if those symptoms return. | |
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Smell a rat? It might not be... | |
| Reckon you might have rats at your place? Don't go setting the traps just yet, because that little furry creature could be an Antechinus, or a native marsupial mouse. Paul Turton spoke to ecologist Damien Cook to find out more. | |
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What else made news this week? | |
Albo visits the region: Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese (pictured) came to the Hunter this week, visiting a pre-school at Kurri Kurri and touring the Tomago Aluminium smelter near Newcastle. He insists gas as a transition fuel is key to the survival of the Hunter manufacturing industry. War crimes report: A Newcastle soldier who served in Afghanistan says today's release of the Brereton report will be a necessary but difficult chapter in Australia's military history. The chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell released a redacted version of the report detailing alleged war crimes committed by special forces in Afghanistan. Last week Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned it would be a difficult day for Australians. Founder of Newcastle-based veterans mental health charitry Swiss 8, Adrian Sutter, says the public shouldn't judge the entire defence force based on the actions of only a handful. Fight continues: Members of Murrurundi community in the Upper Hunter Valley are in a stand-off with the NSW Health Department over the fate of the original Murrurundi Wilson Memorial Hospital. The building is set to be demolished, but the community hopes to save it and preserve its historical significance. Read more here. Inquest into missing man: The NSW Coroner this week confirmed there will be an inquest into one of the Hunter's most baffling missing persons cases. Zac Barnes, 18, went missing in November 2016 and was last seen in Thornton.
Happier days: An increasing number of Upper Hunter farmers are making hay while the sun shines with recent rain leading to a spike in machinery sales. The drought brought some dark times for Scone machinery dealer Mick O'Brien, who considered selling his house to avoid financial ruin. But he says the rain has brought with it a much-needed boost in morale and sales.
Wallabies meet Knight: Former local rugby juniors, now Wallabies, Nic White and Harry Johnson-Holmes caught up with Newcastle Knights five-eighth Blake Green at Merewether Beach this week, ahead of the Wallabies game against Argentina this Saturday at Hunter Stadium. Tickets have almost sold out for the game, with the venue allowed just 50 per cent capacity due to COVID restrictions.
Park plans: Newcastle Council is calling for ideas on how the city's largest community open space can be improved. National Park is a 20-hectare multi-purpose reserve between Union and Parry Streets in Newcastle West, which includes the city's largest sportsground. With 4,000 homes expected in the CBD by 2036, the council wants residents to give their feedback about the best use of the space. Community engagement in person and online will be open until December 7.
Newcastle celebrates Sister City milestone: The City of Newcastle hosted a visit from Japan's Consul-General to celebrate the 40-year sister city anniversary for Newcastle and Ube.
Renewable energy zone: The Hunter Valley is one step closer to being a renewable energy zone after amendments to the NSW Government's Energy Infrastructure Bill passed the Lower House. The changes mean the Hunter will become the state's fourth renewable energy zone. | |
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Jake of all trades | |
| A big welcome to journalist Jake Lapham, who has been working with our news teams in Gosford, Muswellbrook and this week in Newcastle. He grew up in Wollongong before studying law and journalism at the University of Wollongong. He completed an internship at ABC Illawarra before doing stints in the Wagga Wagga, Central Coast and Upper Hunter newsrooms.
In his spare time, Jake can be found mountain biking, running, and taking weekend trips to the snow during winter. He's passionate about combining photography and videography with his journalism work, and that's pretty easy in the picturesque surrounds of the Upper Hunter! | |
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14 chocolate recipes. You're welcome | |
| Okay, it's nearly Friday. We're almost there. If you need something to cheer you up and get you over the line, check out these ah-mazing chocolate recipes put together by our friends over at ABC Life. Whether you're baking a chocolate cake for a birthday or a batch of choc chip cookies, these are the recipes you need. | |
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