Mark Hughes Foundation Commits $18.9 Million Donation to University of Newcastle

 BY CAMERON TARAGEL

The Mark Hughes Foundation has donated a landmark $18.9 million philanthropic gift to the University of Newcastle to fast track brain cancer research.

The announcement this morning now brings the MHF's total contribution to the university to over $36 million. 

The donation places it as one of the largest philanthropic investments in brain cancer nationally and the university's biggest donation to date.

The foundation and university hope to collaborate to find a cure for brain cancer as it is the leading cause of cancer deaths in children and adults under 40.

Under previous donations, the university's Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research was established in 2022.

The collaboration will further strengthen Newcastle's current research centres for brain cancer and help translate current research into a clinical practice, allowing for more treatment options.

Mark Hughes Foundation Centre Director, Professor Mike Fay says the gift has boosted the first phase of research.

"We're building research platforms, forming partnerships, developing new drug developments and clinical trials," he said.

"Which is absolutely going to change the outlook for brain cancer patients across Australia." he said..

With the new funding, Professor Fay said the next 5 years will be taking research and implementing it practically.

"One of the things we are planning to develop is a treatment called theranostic treatment," he said.

"We give the patient a drug, initially it's got an imaging radionuclide on the back of it and then put the patient in a scanner so we can see where it's going in the body," he said.

"We change that over for a therapy isotope once we know the patient's appropriate for that sort of treatment," he said.

"It then floats around the body and binds to the brain cancer and we hope helps destroy it." he said.

Professor Fay hopes the new treatments like the blood test for cancer will allow the foundation to explore new treatments as quickly as possible.

"Some will be new drugs. Others will be drugs that already exist that we've found new uses for." he said.

The foundation and centre also hopes that raising awareness of brain cancer will help speed up research.

"We think with all this extra attention on brain cancer that things are starting to move an awful lot faster." he said.

Professor Mike Fay

Search Stepped Up For Missing Wallsend Teenager

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are stepping up the search for a teenage girl who went missing from Wallsend two weeks ago.

14-year-old Latanah Widders was last seen in Bousfield Street on Tuesday May 26.

She's described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 130cm tall with a thin build with dyed black/burgundy hair.

Latanah was last seen wearing a black hooded jumper, black track suit pants and black and white Nike slides.

She's known to use public transport to travel and my have been at Liverpool Train Station in Sydney's west at about 1.00am on Thursday June 4.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Singleton Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

Missing teen Latanah Widders

Hope for Merriwa Post Office As EOIs Flood In

BY SARAH BOTTRILL

Since 1888, Betting Street Post Office has served as a meeting point and place of community for Merriwa locals. 

Australia Post announced earlier this year the facility would cease operation on July 23, unless a suitable operator could be found. 

The announcement sparked widespread concern throughout the Upper Hunter community, where the post office has long served as a vital local service. 

Several small businesses lodged Expressions of Interest seeking (EOI) to stop it's doors from closing. 

Upper Hunter Shire councilor Troy Stolz, who has been advocating for the service to remain open, said the strong response demonstrates how important the post office is to local residents.

"The message has gotten out to the community, and businesses are lining up to fill that void that Australia Post has left," he said. 

Residents argue losing the facility would force some people to travel up to 45-minutes to access postal services, creating significant challenges for older residents, businesses and those without reliable transport.

The Merriwa Post Office has been in the community for generations and remains an important hub for mail services, parcel collection, banking transactions and community connection. 

"Chatting on the steps of Betting Street House is a tradition that is decades long," Cr Stolz added. 

While Australia Post has not yet announced a successful applicant, the level of interest has raised hopes that a transition to a new operator could be secured before the July deadline.

Residents are now awaiting further updates as Australia Post asses the applications and determines the future of the service. 

If a suitable operator is determined, the outcome would allow the facility to continue serving the people of Merriwa and surrounds without interruption. 

Picture: Merriwa Community Portal

Shortland MP Remains Vigilant Amidst Abbott Interest

BY LIAM COLLINS

Shortland MP Pat Conroy says nothing beats local expertise as former Prime Minister Tony Abbott eyes his federal seat.

Over the weekend, the Newcastle Herald revealed Tony Abbott's reported interest in running for seats along the Central Coast, including Shortland. 

Mr Abbott himself is yet to formally announce any interest in nominating for the local electorate. 

His former seat of Warringah saw incumbent independent Zali Steggall retain her position in the 2025 federal election, seven years after defeating Mr Abbott himself.

Pat Conroy, also Defence Industries Minister, said the public would have no reason to elect Mr Abbott into the Shortland seat.

"Why they would choose someone from the affluent Northern Beaches, who cut $50 billion from hospitals and $30 billion from schools, and attacked workers' rights - including coal miners' rights - is beyond me, but that's their decision ultimately," Minister Conroy explained.  

"I generally don't understand how they can represent our community if they don't live in or have a history in our community."

The Labor MP has held the local electorate since 2016, and has no current plans to retire.

Shortland has been under Labor leadership since 1949, with four members across its 77-year history. 

The Herald also reported local Liberal party members believe the current candidate Emma King is a better fit than Mr Abbott.

Ms King lost in her first federal election last year, with Minister Conroy landing a 5.5 per cent swing, but is still deemed as a worthy long-term prospect for the party.

"I'm prepared to run against whoever the Liberal Party put up," said Minister Conroy. 

"That's the beauty of democracy - anyone can stick their hand up and say 'I want to represent our community'. 

"And that's something that people have fought and died for."

When asked about his thoughts on the added pressure of One Nation's rising popularity, Minister Conroy said he's willing to go up against any opposition coming his way. 

"I expect [One Nation] will run, and I'll run on my record," he said.

"I'll also point out that One Nation has consistently voted against workers' rights. 

"They voted against Same Job, Same Pay that's delivering tens of thousands of dollars of pay rises to coal miners, to transport workers right now."

He said the importance of local governance and community cannot be overstated.

"I'm proud to be a local, raising my family in the electorate, and we'll see what comes around in 2028," he said.

"But the important thing is I'm working every day to represent the people of Shortland -- delivering records, spending on Medicare, and delivering manufacturing jobs for our community."

Federal Shortland MP and Defence Industries Minister Pat Conroy. Picture: Australian Labor Party

Fire Rips Through Kurri Kurri Unit

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has caused extensive damage to a unit at Kurri Kurri overnight.

Newcastle Fire Command says 6 trucks were called to a duplex on Burns Street just after 7.30pm on Monday (1 June  2026) to find one of the units up in flames.

It's taken 25 firefighters around 90 minutes to fully extinguish the blaze which they managed to contain to the one unit.

All residents were accounted for and no-one was injured.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.  

Crews at the burnt out unit at Kurri Kurri. Picture Kearsley Fire & Rescue

 

Concerns Mounting For Missing Teenage Boy From Metford

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fears are held for the welfare of a young teenage boy who's been reported missing from Metford.

14-year-old Xavier Powrie was last seen on Marshall Avenue at about 1.00am on Saturday May 30.

The alarm was raised when he couldn't be contacted or located.

Xavier's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall with a thin build, short curly hair with a rat's tail and a diamond earring in his right ear lobe.

He was last seen wearing a black Nike zip up jumper and black baseball pants.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Maitland Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

Missing teen Xavier Powrie

 

 

E-Petition Launched For Link Road Forest to Be Labelled National Park

BY MARLEY RAE

An environmentalist group have launched an e-petition calling for the State Government to recognise the Link Road Forest as a national park.

On Saturday, members of the Save Link Road Forest campaign met and cycled with Greens MP and spokesperson for the Environment, Sue Higginson at the Glendale Wallsend Tramway Track where the petition was launched.

Members of the campaign presented Ms Higginson with questions to ask Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, as well as inviting the Minister to meet with campaigners and experience the forest. 

Spokesperson for the Save Link Road Campaign Ian McKenzie said it's time politicians take notice.

"It is vital that our elected representatives listen to what the community is saying about Link Forest Road," he said. 

Last year, the State Government announced the rezoning of the 574-hectare bushland to be fast-tracked for the Eden Estate Housing project, where an estimated 4200 dwellings would be developed.

Buildings would include a mix of housing types with a focus on affordable housing, employment and supporting community facilities. 

The project, which is one of the largest Hunter land rezonings in decades, straddles the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie council areas and is bound by Wallsend, Cameron Park, Elermore Vale and Glendale.

Mr McKenzie said the loss of the bushland, if rezoned, would have a negative impact on the area.

"It's real value for wildlife and community will be lost forever," he said.

"Sue Higginson's interest in and support for Link Road Forest is commendable. 

"It is time for other NSW politicians to step up and get involved with this issue." 

Information about the campaign can be found on the group's website, with the e-petition requiring 20,000 signatures to be considered in parliament. 

Picture: Save Link Road Forest Campaign