Hunter Athlete Set to Compete at Invictus Games

 BY PETER HYSLOP

Lake Macquarie local Alex Hale says competing at this year's Invictus Games in Canada has given him a sense of independence, following an impressive recovery from adversity.

The 41-year-old's time with the Australian Navy was cut short after he was hit by a car in 2023 which made him a paraplegic.

He says sport has given him a way to work on his mental and physical health in his recovery.

"Sport has been crucial to recovery and getting my independence back," he said.

"The Invictus program has ... given me an avenue to get back into the community and aid in my rehabilitation journey.

"I haven't done a lot of winter sports before ... we'll see how it goes!" he said.

Alex will be in action in the biathlon on Tuesday, Vancouver time, before competing in indoor rowing on Sunday.

Alex Hale. Credit: Invictus Australia

Hunter Sports High Named Olympic Pathway School

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Hunter Sports High has officially been named an Australian Olympic Pathway School. 

It's one of seven schools in NSW given the honour, as part of an Australia-first initiative to support future Olympians and Paralympians. 

It's the first time schools have been recognised as Olympic Training Centres. 

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens, said the program will start supporting athletes at a school level.

"The initiative will provide programs to help young people stay focused and motivated while studying, and trying to forge a pathway in their respective sports." 

Survey open for feedback on new Morisset sport centre

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Office of Sport has launched a community survey for locals to have their say on the new sport and recreation centre planned at Morisset. 

It's set to replace the former Myuna Bay site, after it was shut due to concern around the integrity of the coal ash dam in the event of an earthquake. 

The new centre will be located between Morisset Hospital and Bonnells Bay Public School.

Consultants will use the feedback to put together early designs for the new centre.

You can have your say on the project here.

It's open until December 22.

Maitland Triathlon postponed ahead of wet weekend

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The annual Maitland Triathlon won't be going ahead this Sunday, with the Hunter expecting severe weather and heavy rain conditions over the weekend.

It's been postponed until March 12 next year.

The race includes a swim in the Hunter River, as well as run and cycle courses around Morpeth township and countryside, but the conditions mean it's unlikely to be safe on the day.

The event has been postponed over the last few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and last year's triathlon had to forgo the swimming section after a flood event the day prior.

Image credit: Maitland Triathlon.

Newcastle Knights receive Key to the City after NRLW win

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hundreds of fans gathered at Newcastle City Hall on Tuesday evening to celebrate the Newcastle Knights claiming the 2022 NRLW Premiership.

The 32-to-12 victory over the Parramatta Eels is Newcastle's first trophy since the men's Premiership win in 2001.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes also presented the 24-woman squad with a Key to the City at the civic reception, accepted by captain Millie Boyle.

Ms Boyle says it's an incredible moment.

"On behalf of the entire team, I’d like to thank the Lord Mayor for opening the doors to City Hall to celebrate the team’s victory," she said. 

"It means so much to the players, captains and coaches to have such strong support from Novocastrians, which has kept us buoyed throughout the season. It's wonderful to share this celebration with the city."

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and the Newcastle Knights at City Hall.

Lord Mayor puts jersey on the line for NRLW Grand Final

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes has accepted a challenge from her Parramatta counterpart ahead of the NRLW Grand Final clash on Sunday.

The Knights are headed to Accor Stadium to take a shot at the Women's Premiership, less than a year after claiming the wooden spoon in their inaugural season.

In their round three meeting earlier this month, Newcastle came out just ahead of the Sydney side with an 18-16 win.

"We were one of the inaugural sponsors to ensure that we got a women's NRL team here, and I couldn't be more proud of those young women," Cr Nelmes said.

"They've represented Newcastle perfectly and I'm expecting a very good result."

The stakes are high for the Lord Mayor too, however - if the Eels come out on top, Nuatali Nelmes will don the blue and gold at Newcastle Council's next meeting.

And if the Knights claim victory, Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis will wear a Newcastle jersey instead.

Cr Nelmes says she's looking forward to a Grand Final win, here in the Hunter.

"I'll be sending you down a Knights W-League jersey for your next council meeting," she said.

"When the men can't get it done in Newcastle, just ask the women. They'll get it done."

The Knights came out on top of the Eels earlier this month.

Lake Macquarie to leap ahead with Trampoline Centre of Excellence

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Lake Macquarie is set to be the epicentre of Australian trampolining, with the NSW Government signing off on a $12.5 million grant for a new Trampoline Centre of Excellence at Glendale.

It comes alongside a $25.7 million expansion of the Hunter Sports Centre, co-funded by Council and the Commonwealth.

It's estimated, the centre will generate more than $2.5 million a year in visitor revenue, much of it from athletes, support staff, families and spectators travelling into the Hunter.

The facility will also feature a 1500sqm arena with nine trampolines, two tumbling strips, two double mini-trampolines, a foam pit, warm up areas and seating for 450 spectators. 

There'll also be space for other aerial sports, such as skateboarding and skiing.

The venue is expected to open in early 2025.

Max McMahon Oval scores $3 million facelift for Rutherford athletes

BY JORDAN REGNIS

Max McMahon Oval in Rutherford has scored $3 million dollars from the Federal Government for a much-needed upgrade.

It comes after a push from Liberal Candidate for Paterson Brooke Vitnell.

The upgrade will include the knocking down of the clubhouse and building a new grandstand, change room facilities, canteen, timekeeping room, and social meeting room. 

The oval currently has a limited number of facilities but is used by local primary and high schools, the Maitland Saints AFL club, and the Rutherford Little Athletics Club.

Maitland Mayor Philip Penfold says it paves the way for the next generation of young athletes.

"When I was the age of these young boys, I was playing here," Cr Penfold said. 

"This was the facility, and now I've just had my 50th birthday, so this building has seen better days.

"We're ready to get going to deliver this facility, not just for the Maitland Saints, but for Rutherford Little Athletics, and for Rutherford Technology High School, and Rutherford Public School, and Wests Cricket Club.

"We have a great paddock here that certainly can be improved as well, but it's the size of the MCG."

Maitland Councillor Ben Mitchell, Paterson Candidate Brooke Vitnell, Minister Paul Fletcher, Mayor Philip Penfold, and Maitland Saints Chairman Dwayne Roy.

Air Race World Championship to hit the skies above Lake Macquarie

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Air Race World Championship is headed to Lake Macquarie, with a local date now pencilled in for the calendar in November.

The State Government's putting in $2.5 million to help the city host the Red Bull race, where current World Champion Matt Hall is currently based.

Mayor Kay Fraser says it's reassuring to see this sort of investment in the Hunter.

"The skies will be filled with all Air Race World Championship planes, and obviously the shores of Lake Macquarie will be filled with excited spectators," Cr Fraser said.

"It'll be absolutely fantastic for our city, great to boost our profile, and obviously it'll bring millions of people viewing the air race from all around the world."

The Championship hasn't been held since 2019 due to waning corporate interest, but it's understood a new promoter is backing the tour for 2022.

It's hoped the revival will be a chance to bring the series back and better than ever.

Cr Fraser says it'll be great to see the region on the world stage.

"It's really important, not only for Lake Macquarie, but for the Hunter," Cr Fraser said.

"It's making us to be a destination for people not only in Australia, but worldwide, so while we can showcase our beautiful lake, our beautiful beaches, and all the opportunities and the things that they can do here.

"It really ticks all the boxes for people who just want to come here, be involved in an event, watch an event, or just spend some time in Lake Macquarie."

Image credit: Air Race World Championship

Hunter athletes set to take on statewide sporting tournament

BY BRIANNA PORTER

Hunter athletes are set to tackle the 2022 Your Local Academy Games commencing from Friday 8th April until Sunday 10th April.

The event, previously hosted by the Hunter Academy of Sport (HAS) in 2018, 2019 and 2021 will now be hosted by the Southern Sports Academy, and will be held across various venues throughout Wagga Wagga region. 

The Games will feature athletes from 11 competing Regional Academies of Sport across New South Wales. 

The competing academies include Central Coast, Far West, Illawarra, Hunter, North Coast, Northern Inland, South East, South West Sydney, Southern, Western Region and Western Region Academies of Sport. 

The tournament will feature emerging talent of 1300 athletes across 7 sports including basketball, cycling, golf, hockey, netball, triathlon and indoor volleyball. Of these 1300, 189 Hunter athletes will be competing.

Chief Executive Officer of HAS Brett O'Farrell says they are highly anticipating the event.

"We are extremely excited to be travelling to Wagga Wagga for the Your Local Club Academy Games in the Southern Region," Mr O'Farrell said.

"We handed over the reins of hosting duties last year, after 3 years of running the event throughout the Hunter Region, generating an estimated 7000 bed stays with a total economic tourism value of $2.16M."

The Games are set to provide a significant tourism boost to regional NSW.

"Over the last three years where the Hunter hosted it, there were 21,000 hotel bed stays booked. We do know at this point, we expect close to 7000 bed stays in Wagga Wagga," he said.

For emerging Hunter athletes, Mr O'Farrell says the games are expected to be a great stepping stone for greater opportunities to come.

"From these games, the state and national selections occur from the states national sporting bodies and what we hope is that some regional athletes are recognised and promoted into state teams," Mr O'Farrell.

"We're now 10 years out from the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and the majority of athletes competing in Wagga are 15 and 16, so really what we're looking at will be those superstars we will be cheering on in 2032".

Lake Mac Women's Sport Festival to Launch in March

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A Hunter-first festival aimed at inspiring the region's next generation of female athletes is set to launch in March. 

The inaugural Lake Mac Women's Sport Festival will encourage women and girls of all ages to be successful athletes and businesswomen. 

The festival will run from the 11th to the 13th of March, and boasts a combination of talks, workshops, sports matches and live entertainment. 

Headlining the event will be world-champion cliff diver Rhiannon Iffland, Olympic gold medalist Kerri Pottharst, and Australian netballer Sam Poolman. 

Cultural Engagement, Marketing and Tourism Coordinator for Lake Macquarie Council Bianca Gilmore, said the event comes at a great time, as women's sport continues to grow and thrive throughout the country. 

"Women's sport has come a long way, and it's really exciting to be able to showcase a number of these inspirational female sportswomen locally," she said. 

"The festival ties together themes of empowerment and celebration, athletic excellence, and community and support." 

"It will offer something for everyone, from sporting newcomers, to aspiring athletes, to coaches and sports administrators." 

Information on ticket prices and event times can be found on the Lake Macquarie Council website. 

Sam Poolman with young netballers

Sports grants hoping to get Newcastle off the couch after COVID

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Applications are now open to sport clubs in Newcastle for the Local Sports Grant Program.

$50,000 is on offer in four categories across the electorate, with grants up to $2,000 available for Sport Development, up to $5,000 for Sport Event or Sport Access, and up to $15,000 for Sport Facility.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp says the program is a great opportunity, and for better or for worse, "very oversubscribed".

"We get well over $100,000 in applications, people love getting money for their sporting club and so they should," Mr Crakanthorp said.

It's hoped the State Government grants will be a much-needed boost to sport as the regions open up.

"Coming out of COVID, it's really important to get money to our sporting groups, and particularly those for young girls and young women and the disadvantaged and disabled in particular," Mr Crakanthorp said.

"It's good for your mental health, good for your physicality, good to get the kids off the Xbox, it's all good."

You can find out more at https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/local-sport-grant-program. Applications close on Friday 19th November.

World Surf League Kicks Off in Newcastle

BY KAYNE STEPHENS

The World Surf League's 2021 Championship Tour has officially launched in Newcastle.

Local and international champions took to the sands at Merewether to kick off the Tour, with competition for the Newcastle Cup starting tomorrow.

Reigning World Champion, Italo Ferreira was joined by the League's Asian Pacific General Manager Andrew Stark and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes this morning.

The World Championship Tour makes it's first Australian stop in Newcastle thanks to Newcastle Council's partnership with the State Government through Destination New South Wales.

Merewether surfer Ryan Callinan says it's a different feeling when the world champions are the ones doing the travel.

"As much as I feel at home here, having everyone here makes it feel a lot different," he said.

"Normally when you go away to events, I find it a lot easier to lock in and set your routine for that event.

"So being at home it's really different because I'm just waking up every morning and it feels like another day and I'm like, 'Oh yeah, it's actually here'," Mr Callinan said.

For those who can't make it beachside, a big-screen projection of the action will be shown at a special event precinct at the former Newcastle Railway Station.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes says the live site precinct will allow locals to enjoy the festival atmosphere brought by the Championship Tour event. 

“WSL has had a huge response to its free ticket ballot being run through Ticketek, and it’s looking like each surfing day will be at capacity at the Merewether Beach event precinct," Lord Mayor Nelmes said.

“City of Newcastle’s live site will be the place to catch the action for anyone who missed out on tickets or simply looking for a fun, family-friendly atmosphere to watch the surfing while having a drink and a bite to eat."

The Tour starts with the Newcastle Cup on Thursday, and will run in Newcastle until 11 April.

Merewether surfer Ryan Callinan

 

Hunter Sports Clubs Urged to Submit to Inquiry into Sports Rorts Scandal

BY GEMMA FERGUSON

Hunter sporting clubs and organisations are being encouraged to share their experience following the Sports Rorts scandal.

An independent review by the Auditor General, into the Community Sports Infrastructure Grant program, found the Morrison Government had used the exercise to pork-barrel funding with the aim of winning seats in marginal areas.

The Labor held Hunter electoratse of  Paterson received $167,000 and Shortland was granted $277,113.

Meanwhile the Coalition seats of Lyne and Robertson were awarded a total of over $2.1 million from the $100 million dollar fund.

A select committee to further investigate the issue has been launched, with Newcastle MP, Sharon Claydon saying now is the time for locals to have their say.

Ms Claydon believes there were a lot of local organisations that were overlooked in their applications, and now is their chance to contribute to the discussion.

"These organisations have an increasing demand on their field and ovals, change-rooms, canteens and more," she said.

"They applied on what should've been a competitive, merit-based grants program, but they got completely by-passed by a very cruel and selfish focus from a Government just trying to win marginal seats. That is not okay, by anyone's measure."

Ms Claydon says the committee will look into the delivery and decision-making processes involved throughout the grants program.

She explains that the inquiry will put the program guidelines, the assessment process, and the requirements places on applicants under the microscope.

"It will also look at the role of senior Government offices, including that of the Prime Minister's own office, in hand picking winners in marginal seats," she said.

Ms Claydon is encouraging locals who applied for the funding to contribute to the committee.

She's hoping to get a lot of feedback from Hunter Valley sporting bodies and organisations before submissions close on 21 February.

The committee is scheduled to report in late March.

Ms Claydon urges anyone with further information about the program to get in touch with her office before then.

Young Athletes in the Hunter Region Formally Recognised During Presentation

BY HANNAH-LOUISE ANDERSON

The Federal Member for the Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon has formally acknowledged the sporting achievements of young local athletes during a presentation at Cameron Park on Monday 29th April.

Aged from twelve to eighteen, twenty-eight sports competitors were awarded cash donations ranging from five-hundred to seven-hundred-and-fifty dollars to support their future endeavors. Regional- based athletes were provided larger cash-bonuses in appreciation of the distances they have traveled to compete.

Participants in sports such as Athletics, Soccer, Netball, Ice Skating and Tenpin Bowling were included amongst those who were awarded during the presentation.

The Honourable Joel Fitzgibbon stated, "The recipients of the Local Sporting Champions grants have displayed dedication and drive to reach a high level of achievement in their chosen fields."

Mr. Fitzgibbon also took the time to acknowledge the contributions of the coaches, families, and friends that have supported the athletes, "Thank you also to the parents and carers, sporting coaches and the many volunteers at local sporting clubs who have invested time and effort in helping these young athletes reach their best."

Photo by https://agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au

National Trampoline Centre Proposed for Glendale

BY OLIVIA WILSON-WHEELER

A proposal for a $10 million dedicated Trampoline Centre of Excellence at Glendale was announced this morning.

The project has received support from Lake Macquarie City Council, the Hunter Region Sports Centre and Gymnastics NSW as Australia's first dedicated trampoline centre.

According to Lake Macquarie Mayor, Kay Fraser the state-of-the-art facility will "encourage people not only from the state but also from throughout Australia to come and use this high-performance area."

However, Council needs the state government's support.

"Council is prepared to put in $3 million," Mayor Fraser said, "and we've applied for a $7 million grant through the state government."

The facility will have a 12-metre ceiling height, seating for 450 spectators, audiovisual equipment and a 1500-square-metre arena with nine trampolines, two double mini trampolines, two tumbling strips, a foam pit and a warm-up area.

The Trampoline Centre of Excellence is proposed as part of a $30 million initiative to expand the Hunter Region Sports Centre and is predicted to generate $2.5 per year in visitor expenditure.

"It'll be a fun place to be, it'll be safe and it'll have trampolining for all abilities and all ages."

Watching the amazing Ty Swadling in action at today’s launch of our plan to build a $10m Trampoline Centre of Excellence at the Hunter Sports Centre. @lakemac pic.twitter.com/wwIRhBKwhE

— Mayor Kay Fraser (@MayorKayFraser) June 29, 2018