| Australia Day honours: Dozens of Hunter residents were awarded national honours on Australia Day. NAIDOC Person of the Year Professor Kelvin Kong was recognised for services to medicine and Indigenous health. Geneticist Professor Tracy Dudding and stroke advocate Kylie Facer were also awarded for their services to health. Newcastle Professor Jenny Gore (pictured above) has been awarded for her work in educating teachers, and John Tulloch received a nod for winemaking. Others from across the region were awarded for their work in a wide range of fields including bushwalking, swimming, disability work, music, conservation, and Indigenous advocacy.
Image supplied: University of Newcastle
Chopper flipped, crash report reveals: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released a preliminary report following its investigations into a fatal chopper crash near Hawks Nest last year. A helicopter piloted by Jindabyne man Edwin Kraft broke apart and crashed into water off Providence Bay, near Hawks Nest. The bureau says footage from a camera attached to the helicopter's roof details the aircraft's final movements, and show it flipped before hitting the water after the chopper's autopilot was turned off.
Tricky turbine transport: The community will face a challenging time as renewable energy companies look to transport huge wind turbines to inland New South Wales, according to Muswellbrook Shire Council Mayor Steve Reynolds. The council has agreed to work with the state government to reinforce local back roads so that vehicles transporting the turbines can avoid narrow bridges in Muswellbrook and Denman. However Cr Reynolds hopes the long-promised Muswellbrook bypass can be sped up to make transport easier.
Upper Hunter rates to increase? The Upper Hunter Shire Council has taken the next step towards a possible special rate variation. At Monday's council meeting councillors agreed to notify the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of its intention to apply for the variation. A report has shown that without more income the council won't be able to maintain a satisfactory level of service to the community. Three options have been explored, including a 7.5 per cent annual increase for four years.
Rock quarry approved: The state's Independent Planning Commission has approved the Deep Creek Quarry proposal at Limeburners Creek, which will result in up to 500,000 tonnes of hard rock extracted per year over 30 years which will be used in the construction sector. The commission found the proposed site is "suitable given its hard rock resources, topography, avoidance of major environmental constraints and access to the regional road network". It acknowledged concerns raised by objectors but says any impacts can be offset with strict environmental conditions and monitoring.
Australia's fastest woman: Sprinter Torrie Lewis has claimed the title of Australia's fastest woman after toppling a national 100-metre record. The 19-year-old, who now lives in Queensland, went to school in Newcastle and launched her sports career in the Hunter.
Rhiannan dives in for a win: Lake Macquarie world champion cliff diver Rhiannan Iffland says despite having a strong lead in the last event of the world diving series, she felt pressure to perform. The 32-year-old secured her seventh World Series title at the weekend after winning the final event in New Zealand. She'll now travel to Doha to defend her World Aquatics Championships high diving title. Listen to this 2020 audio about how she overcame her fears to became a world-champion cliff diver.
Jets mid-season struggle: It was a rough weekend for Newcastle Jets fans, with both the men's and women's sides losing their clashes. The men went down 2-1 to Wellington Phoenix, while the women lost the F3 Derby against the Central Coast Mariners 2-0. Both sides sit outside of finals contention at the half-way mark of the season. | 