UPDATE! Concerns For Woman Missing From Stroud

 BY IAN CROUCH

Good News!

After a public appeal for information, Vicki was found safe and well at Booral at about 10.20am on Wednesday.

 Police have thanked the public and the media for their assistance.

 EARLIER:

Police are asking for help from the public to find a woman missing from Stroud.

62-year-old Vicki Davey was last seen leaving a business on Memorial Avenue at about 2.00pm on Tuesday and the alarm was raised when she could not be located or contacted.

Vicki's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 150cm tall with a thin build and short blonde hair.

She was last seen wearing a light blue and white dress, grey cardigan and thongs.

Vicki is known to frequent the New Lambton area and may be hitchhiking.

Anyone with information is urged to call Port Stephens Police or Crime Stoppers.

Missing woman Vicki Davey

Homes Destroyed In Girvan Bushfire

BY OLIVIA DILLON

There's been mixed reactions among Girvan residents today, after a major fire tore though bushland Southeast of Stroud overnight. 

RFS crews have been carrying out a fire ground assessment off Booral Road today (Tuesday the 17th of October, 2023), as they work to determine how many homes were damaged or destroyed by the blaze. 

The fire has now burned through more than 700 hectares of bushland and was at one stage upgraded to Watch and Act level. 

Although it's since been downgraded to Advice level, it's still yet to be extinguished by firefighters. 

Local Cheryl Graves, says some residents were given 5 minutes to evacuate their homes last night, as the fire started threatening properties.

She says while her home was able to be saved, others nearby weren't so lucky. 

"A lady up the back, we were standing up the road with her yesterday... their house is gone, she's lost her house," she said. 

"It's just on the ground; it's burned to the ground."

As crews continue battling the blaze, Mrs. Graves, says her home wouldn't have been saved without the help and dedication of local firefighters. 

"When you see the devastation around our house, you just realise how close it was to going into our house; although our house is brick it's just unreal.

You just look out into the yard and think how lucky we are to have a house to sleep in tonight at least," Mrs Graves said. 

It's not yet been confirmed how many homes have been lost in the fires. 

UPDATE: Body Found in Search for Missing Stroud Teen

BY IAN CROUCH/ OLIVIA DILLON

UPDATE:

A body has been located during the search for a girl reported missing from Stroud.

17-year-old Melanie O'Sullivan was last seen on Mill Creek Road at about 9:00am yesterday morning.

After failing to return home, police were notified by family and commenced inquiries to locate her. 

At about 10:00am today, it's believed the body of the missing girl was located by police near where she was last seen off Mill Creek Road. 

Police are not treating the circumstances around her death as suspicious. 

A report is now being prepared for the Coroner.

Hunter residents who are struggling or with loved ones in need of support are encouraged to contact Lifeline: 13 11 14

EARLIER:

Police are asking for our help to find a teenage girl who's gone missing from Stroud.

17-year-old Melanie O'Sullivan was last seen on Mill Creek Road at about 9.00am on Tuesday and police and her family hold concerns for her welfare as her disappearance is out of character.

Melanie is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm tall with a thin build and very long brown hair, possibly in braids.

She was last seen wearing a beige shirt, grey track pants, brown boots and was pushing an aqua coloured mountain bike.

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

Missing teen Melanie O'Sullivan

Helicopter Brought In To Douse Large Grass Fire At Stroud

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire crews have contained a large grass fire which broke out at Stroud on Monday afternoon.

RFS crews from Dungog, Vacy, Paterson, Bendolba, Bolwarra, Clarence Town, Flat Tops, Gresford, Booral, Seaham, Stroud, North Arm Cove, Wards River and Bulahdelah were called to Stroud Hill Road at about 1.00pm to reports of a running grass fire.

A water bombing helicopter was also brought in to help battle the flames, which burnt through 35 hectares before it was finally brought under control.

No properties were under direct threat from the fire. 

A water bombing helicopter attacks the flames at Stroud Picture: Paterson RFS

Police Investigate Fatal Crash Near Stroud

 BY IAN CROUCH

A report is being prepared for the Coroner after a man died in a head-on smash near the Barrington Tops National Park.

A truck and a Nissan X-Trail SUV collided on the Bucketts Way at Stroud Road just before 1.00pm on Wednesday.

The 63-year-old driver of the SUV died at the scene and the 31-year-old truck driver was taken to Manning Base Hospital for mandatory testing.

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers.

Stroud Show going from strength to strength

BY CONNOR MARSELOS

The Stroud Show will be up and running again in 2022. 

One of the top 20 Agricultural shows in NSW, the event is set to run over three days in the run-up to ANZAC Day.

Stroud Show Association President James Harris says he is proud of the committee's efforts to make the show even bigger than in 2021.

"It's a win-win-win there, for the farmers getting to showcase what they produce and since the drought's broken 18 months ago, it's been a fantastic season for everything," Mr Harris said.

While COVID-19 has presented challenges to many other agricultural shows in the area, the Stroud show was one of 40 able to be staged in 2021. 

With restrictions easing, it is hoped that the show can surpass the records set in 2021.

Mr. Harris believes that with the current conversation surrounding mental health, it is his opinion that people just want to get involved with the community. 

"We find so many people just come to the show to interact, to be part of the event and be with people and for the town to socialize," Mr Harris said.

Family Day passes cost $40, which Mr. Harris says you can't get anywhere else. 

Not only does it give farmers and the community the opportunity to come together, but it comes as relief for the farmers of Stroud and beyond, who have dealt with drought, bushfires and the pandemic within the last three years alone.