Earthquake shakes Hunter

It's been 10 years since three people died in flash flooding that devastated Dungog. The town's artistic flair and commitment to preparedness have been crucial to its recovery and remembering those lost.

A magnitude-4.6 earthquake shook parts of the Hunter region with impacts felt as far away as Tamworth and Canberra.

The comment went largely unnoticed in the fast-paced environment of a federal election campaign, but in New South Wales coal-country it could cost the Coalition crucial seats.

A 53-year-old man has faced court, charged with Ms Griffin's murder after her body was found in a creek on the NSW Central Coast last month.

A young soldier was carrying a Bible when he was hit by shrapnel at Gallipoli — it's among the items on show in Sydney to mark 110 years since the ill-fated landing.

The Andrews family wants to revolutionise Australian farming by proving you can run a profitable farm and regenerate the natural environment.

The third leaders debate saw both Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese pulled up for using "talking points" in a clash which came after hundreds of thousands of Australians had already cast their ballots.

Find out if you're eligible to cast your vote early and where the early voting centres are near you.

The Sharks hammered the insipid Knights 34-14 in Newcastle. Earlier, the Titans led Canberra 16-0 in their contest on the Gold Coast, before the Raiders roared back to win 30-20.

Coal mine extension approved: BHP's Mount Arthur coal mine in the Hunter Valley has received state government approval to extend mining operations until 2030. BHP says it will explore developing a pumped hydro energy storage project at the site following mining. It's been preparing for a 2030 closure date since 2022, when it announced it would seek the four-year extension to allow time to responsibly transition the site and workforce.

Image credit: ABC Upper Hunter/Jake Lapham

Council seeks money for road upgrades: The Dungog Shire Council wants more financial support from the New South Wales government to complete $82 million in urgent roadworks. Council has endorsed a four-year advocacy strategy which outlines priorities the shire will advocate for in funding and support from state and federal governments. It highlights road infrastructure as the highest priority for council, saying $82 million is needed for urgent upgrades and reconstruction works. The shire will also ask the state government to reclassify several local roads and bring them under state management.

Boost for palliative care services: The state government has announced almost $300,000 to improve end-of-life care for children across the Hunter. The funding will go towards new specialised equipment, renovations to palliative care spaces and better access to transport and accommodation for families from rural and remote parts of the region. The funding is part of a $2.2-million spend on paediatric end-of-life care services in regional areas around the state.

Lord mayor retracts bullying claim: Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge has retracted comments he made accusing council staff of bullying his wife. In a social media post last week Dr Kerridge accused staff of a "campaign of bullying" against his wife. His post was in response to media reports about council staff alleging they were being told to refer to Mrs Kerridge as "Lady Mayoress". In a statement late last week the Lord Mayor apologised for making the bullying accusation, and said he'd deleted the post. He said he recognised "some members of the community use 'Lady Mayoress' by tradition" but he and his wife won't seek to use it.

Record dog breed surrenders: Thecost-of-living crisis, backyard breeders and a lack of behaviour research into dogs popular with social media influencers are factors being blamed for a spike in dachshunds being surrendered in Newcastle. On Monday last week Dog Rescue Newcastle says it had 15 dachshunds — a mother and five pups, and nine separate pups — come into care in one day. The service says it's a record for any one breed in a single day.

Jets' finals hopes dashed: The Newcastle Jets' finals hopes are over after being defeated 3-2 against Sydney FC in the A-League men's competition. The Jets had a promising start with two goals from Lachlan Rose and Kota Mizunuma, but the lead didn't last. In the women's competition the Jets finished their season in 11th position after a 2-1 loss to the Central Coast Mariners in their final game of the season.

This rich, slow-cooked bolognaise has all the classic flavours you love — plus one surprising ingredient. A splash of milk helps tenderise the meat and balance the sauce, making it even more delicious.