DARBY STREET - Popular Festival to Make a Return

BY IAN CROUCH

Thousands are expected to flock to Darby Street later this year when local traders revive a popular street festival.

It's been more than 10 years since the Darby Street Fair and shopkeepers and eateries have secured council funding to stage the Darby Street Festival on Saturday the 8th of November.

Organiser Sally Hill says they hope to create a street party atmosphere with local food and entertainment to compliment the 50 stalls lining the street.

"This event is strictly local to Darby Street," she said.

"We've got some young local entertainers and then our headline is a local band which will be sure to get everyone dancing," she said.

 

Darby Street traders on Friday.

Police Believe Missing Sydney Man Could Be In Newcastle

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are renewing their appeal for help to find a missing man from Sydney who they believe could be in the Newcastle area.

49-year-old Samuel Fallshaw was last seen at Penrith Railway Station on Tuesday May 28.

He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall with a large build, brown medium-length hair and hazel eyes.

He's known to frequent the Hamilton area and It's believed he was spotted in Newcastle in July.

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

 

Missing man Samuel Fallshaw

 

CARDIFF – Remotely Controlled Trailers Score Federal Funding

 BY PETER HYSLOP

3ME Technology at Cardiff has scored nearly $3 million for the production of four battery-powered transport trailers.

The trailers can be remotely controlled, allowing vehicles to tow more tonnes than they could otherwise, and with the capacity to decouple and be remotely operated, keeping soldiers in combat and mining workers out of harm’s way.

3ME Technology Staff with Hunter Defence Chair Tim Owen and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy

The Federal Government has awarded the funding under the Industry Growth Program, to use the technology in the Defence Force.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy says it’s an exciting project.

“I have seen [3ME’s] work up close for years, and I cannot wait to see the exciting progress they make with the support of this program,” he said.

From left: Hunter Defence Chair Tim Owen, 3ME CEO Justin Bain, and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy

3ME CEO Justin Bain says there’s not much else like it on the market.

“Because it’s got electric motors in the wheels, you can have a high tonnage payload, in that off-highway environment like a mine site.

“You could be carrying 20 tonnes on a vehicle that ordinarily might only be able to tow a few tonnes,” he said.

Bomb Threat Forces Lockdown At Summerhill Waste Management Centre

 BY IAN CROUCH

The Summerhill Waste Management Centre is expected to re-open today after being placed in lockdown.

Police say around 4.30pm on Tuesday 5 August a call was received from a person claiming to represent the pro-Palestinian movement saying a bomb had been planted in specific area at the tip.

Staff and customers were safely evacuated and several ambulance crews were sent to the scene as a precaution.

Police conducted a thorough sweep of the waste management facility and gave the all clear at about 9.30pm on Tuesday night.

 

BREAKING! Man Arrested After Siege At Jesmond Shopping Centre

 BY IAN CROUCH

A dramatic siege at a Jesmond shopping centre has ended with the arrest a man.

Police say just before 10.00pm last night (Tuesday 5 August, 2025), staff at the Woolworths in Jesmond Central on Blue Gum Road alerted police and evacuated the store when a man told them he was carrying a bomb in a bag and threatening to set it off.

Dozens of police, ambulances and fire crews were dispatched to scene including specialist negotiators and officers from the Tactical Operations Unit from Sydney.

The 36-year-old Newcastle man eventually surrendered to police at about 4.30am on Wednesday.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station and is expected to face Newcastle Local Court today.

Police say the bag he was carrying contained remote controls and no bomb was found after a thorough sweep of the store.  

 

Concerns Held For Woman Missing From Singleton

 BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley police have issued a public appeal for help to find a woman who's gone missing from Singleton.

39-year-old Cassandra Mallard was last seen in the vicinity of Kennedy Street at about 12.50pm yesterday (Tuesday 5 August, 2025).

When she couldn't be located or contacted, local police were notified and a search commenced.

Cassandra is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 165cm tall with a medium build, fair complexion and brown hair.

She is known to frequent the Singleton area and a geotext message has been circulated in the community. 

Missing woman Cassandra Mallard

 

Report Shows Majority Support For Rising Tide Event In Newcastle

 BY IAN CROUCH

A report to Newcastle Council shows overwhelming majority support for Rising Tide's application to host it's protest event later this year.

The climate action group has applied to use Richardson Park and Camp Shortland in November.

The report shows 86% of more than 1850 submissions were in favour of the event going ahead.

Of those, 458 were pro forma responses coordinated, collected and submitted by Rising Tide.

Those in support raised democratic freedoms and the need to increase awareness of climate change.

The 13% of submissions against the event sighted public safety and fears of potential illegal activity.

Councillors will consider whether to grant the event licence at an extraordinary meeting next Tuesday, August 12.