ABC Newcastle Breakfast in Port Stephens: Our Breakfast team hosted the program from Raymond Terrace on Friday to check in with the community following damaging storms earlier this month. The storms caused tens of thousands of local customers to lose power.
Photo: ABC Newcastle Breakfast host Paul Culliver interviews New South Wales Families and Communities Minister and Port Stephens MP Kate Washington alongside Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson.
Inquest investigates aged care attack: More than four years after a Lake Macquarie nursing home resident died from a broken neck, an inquest will look at how and why he was attacked by a fellow resident. War veteran Robert Driver, 89, died in hospital after a one-punch attack by a fellow resident at a Bolton Point aged care facility at Lake Macquarie in 2020. Deputy state coroner Derek Lee will examine what happened before he was allegedly hit from behind, causing him to fall to the ground.
Man dies in Medowie house fire: Investigations are continuing into a fire which claimed the life of a 62-year-old man. Emergency services were called to Coolabah Road at Medowie on Sunday afternoon following reports of a house fire. Seven crews from New South Wales Fire and Rescue, supported by the Rural Fire Service, worked for more than an hour to extinguish the blaze. They later found the body of the man at the scene.
Inquest findings into baby's death: An inquest into the death of a baby in the Upper Hunter has found a lack of child support caseworkers in the area contributed to his death. The seven-month-old was found limp and blue by his mother at an Aberdeen home in May 2020. The New South Wales Coroner's Court heard the cause of death was a concussive brain injury, and the partner of the baby's mother was being investigated as a suspect before his own death last year. The inquest found the Department of Communities and Justice had received four reports about the baby's family which were never responded to because of a lack of staff.
Psychiatrists resign: Almost a dozen public health psychiatrists have resigned in the Hunter over a pay dispute with the NSW government. About 200 psychiatrists across the state were set to resign last week, but about half of them either changed their mind or pushed it back. It comes as the Industrial Relations Commission agreed to arbitrate the dispute, but the hearing won't take place for two months.
Australia Day honours: Education, sport, disability and emergency services are just some of the fields people in the Hunter have been recognised in as part of the Australia Day Honours list. Hunter Valley Rural Fire Service captain John Hedley was among them, honoured with an Australian Fire Service Medal. Mr Hedley has served on the Bulga Rural Fire Brigade for more than 50 years and has been group captain of the Hunter Valley District for nearly 25. His experience was invaluable in the battle against the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires.
Stockton Centre offers new housing: Seven homes at a former centre for people with disability in the Hunter have been transformed into emergency short-term accommodation. The Stockton Centre has undergone a $2.45 million upgrade funded by the New South Wales government so it can house about 25 people each night. It includes a six-bedroom house, two four-bedroom houses and four five-bedroom houses for families in crisis. Homes New South Wales and Home In Place are working together to support families who'll be able to access accommodation from this week.
Koala map to be updated: The Port Stephens Council says scat dogs and thermal drone imaging will be used to better identify where koalas are located in the area. Council is updating its vegetation and koala habitat mapping in a bid to protect local koalas. The current Port Stephens koala habitat map was prepared more than 20 years ago. The mapping will cover 250 survey sites across the local government area.
Work to begin on Chisholm shopping centre: Construction is expected to begin in March on a delayed major shopping centre development in Chisholm. The 15,000-square-metre centre slated for Heritage Drive was approved by Maitland Council in 2022, and was initially expected to be completed in 2024. A recent promotional video from developer Revelop shows it will include two major supermarkets, a pharmacy, healthcare centre, tavern, liquor store and a major fast food outlet. It will be adjacent to St Aloysius Primary School and St Bedes Secondary College.
The 'Sharpest' Knight skills up: Newcastle Knights junior Fletcher Sharpe says he's trained in multiple positions, including the halves, during the off-season. The 20-year-old made his top grade debut at fullback last season and then played on the wing and as a utility off the bench. Sharpe has extended his contract with the NRL club until the end of the 2028 season.
Jets' double draws: The Newcastle Jets men have shared the points with Perth Glory at the weekend. It was a two-all draw at Hunter Stadium on Saturday. Coach Rob Stanton says after leading twice during the match the team threw it away. The women's side played out a two-all draw with Canberra United.
