Newcastle News

Meanwhile, spaghetti bolognese and banana muffins were the order of the day, at an Oz Harvest cooking class at the Matthew Talbot centre in Wickham. It’s part of a program teaching the homeless and disadvantaged how to make healthy meals. “The NEST program is a five week program that we run, it stands for nutrition, education, sustenance training or nice easy simple tips.” It will run for another three years thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Greater Charitable Foundation.

A football stadium sounds like an unlikely place for yogis to gather – yet hundreds are going to bend over backwards at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday morning. It’s all for a cause close to the hearts of the Newcastle Knights, and rugby league supporters. MORE INFO AND YOGA DONATIONS: https://borneocoasttocoast2018.everydayhero.com/au/cveta-and-jess MARK HUGHES FOUNDATION: https://markhughesfoundation.com.au/news/news-borneo-trek/

A slice of history was sealed away on Wednesday, as Newcastle school students put the lid on a new time capsule,  to replace a century-old one unearthed just days ago at Lambton Park. Letters, photos and even an iPhone were placed inside. “This time capsule was buried 100 years ago almost to the day, and we’ll be doing the same thing with a new time capsule, and hopefully some of our younger Novocastrians will be around in a hundred years to actually unearth that time capsule.” – Cr Nuatali Nelmes, Newcastle Lord Mayor The capsule will be lowered into the ground this Saturday.   (AUDIO IN PARTS)

It’s a sure sign Christmas is approaching – volunteers at the Adamstown Pudding Kitchen hard at work making festive treats. And this year, they’re flipping the traditional dessert on its head, in a move sure to tempt taste buds and raise money for a good cause or two.

A shed and dozens of hay bales have been destroyed, in an early morning blaze just outside of Muswellbrook. Shortly after 5am, Fire and Rescue and Rural Fire Service crews were called to a property on Kayuga Road. Crews have spent hours trying to bring the fire under control, but it’s believed nothing is salvageable. Firefighters remain on site at a hay shed fire Kayuga Rd, #Muswellbrook. #NSWRFS & #FRNSW crews responded to the fire just after 5am. Around 20 – 30 bales destroyed. As crews allow the remaining bales to burn out smoke will be visible from Muswellbrook township. pic.twitter.com/ghZv9OZL4E — NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 16, 2018 (VISION ONLY – SUPPLIED BY FIRE & RESCUE MUSWELLBROOK)

A 74-year-old man has been charged, after allegedly indecently assaulting a teenage female employee at a Hunter takeaway shop. Detectives started an investigation earlier this week, after reports a young girl had been indecently assaulted while at work. Following investigations, an elderly man was arrested at a shop on Tarean Road, Karuah yesterday. Police will allege in court that the girl was indecently assaulted on a number of occasions while working alone with her employer at a takeaway store at Karuah. He was formally refused bail at Raymond Terrace Local Court yesterday, to reappear on November 6. Investigations are continuing.

A whale carcass has washed ashore at One Mile Beach in Port Stephens. Council has closed parts of the beach until further notice, with the remains of the animal increasing the risk of shark activity in the area. It’s believed the decomposing carcass washed up sometime yesterday. Port Stephens Council has closed One Mile Beach today and NPWS has also closed Samurai Beach due to a large decomposed whale carcass washing up and risk of increased shark activity @slsnsw @PSCouncil @BeachwatchNSW — Environment+Heritage (@OEHmedia) October 16, 2018 (VISION ONLY)

A 35-year-old man has been charged for allegedly grooming a teenage girl and meeting her for sex in Newcastle. Police say the man, who was posing as a 17-year-old, sexually and indecently assaulted the 15-year-old girl after they met online in September. It’s alleged the pair met on a social media site designed for teenagers, connected and then met in person. The incident was reported to police and referred to the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad for further investigation. The man was arrested at a unit at Valentine early Monday morning, while a search warrant was executed at a home in Whitebridge, police seizing a number of items for investigation. The man was charged with nine counts of sexual intercourse with a person aged 14-16, two counts of indecent assault against a person under 16, grooming a child for …

When it comes to passion and dedication to a job, you’d be hard pressed to find a better example than Graham Nickisson. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter aircrew officer has seen the best and worst of events, in some 38 years flying emergency missions across northern New South Wales. Now, he’s retiring from the frontline… but he won’t be lost to the service entirely.

There’s been a win for Upper Hunter residents, with the Land and Environment Court finding Martin’s Creek Quarry has been operating unlawfully outside the approved footprint. Owner Daracon had increased the number of trucks moving through surrounding towns, upsetting many locals. Daracon has been given a fortnight to make a new plan for reducing such operations. (FILE VISION ONLY)