Hunter Greyhound Racing identities banned

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Thomas Pullman, a licensed Hunter Greyhound trainer has been banned from the sport for 15 years after being found to have played a major part in the mass greyhound grave site uncovered near Cessnock.

The Greyhound Racing NSW inquiry into the remains of 99 dogs found at the Keinbah Trial Track in 2015 has found that five trainers were responsible including Mr Pullman.

He ran the trial track between 2009 and 2015 and has had the lengthy ban imposed for being found to have killed and buried a "substantial number" of the 99 greyhounds found, failing to provide veterinary attention, providing false and misleading statements and engaging in conduct detrimental to the racing industry.

His wife Helen was also found guilty of providing false and misleading statements in regards to the grave site and was disqualified for four years.

It appears to have been a family affair - Mr Pullman's daughter Kayla Spliet was disqualified for four years and her husband Corey was disqualified for two years. Both for providing false and misleading statements.

Lastly an employee of the track Wayne Weiss was disqualified for three years.

All will be notified about their rights of appeal.

Image smh.com.au

Horror weekend for Port Stephen's koalas

BY DECLAN PAYNE and JESSICA ROUSE

Port Stephen's koala population have had a horror weekend with at least five hit by cars.

Sadly one koala has died, and another is reported to have a fractured leg.

The warmer weather is said to be to blame for the increasing number of koalas on the move and being put in harms way.

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington believes the government could be doing a lot more to stop this devastation to the species.

"What it could be doing and should have done last year is not sell the Mambo Wetlands which is core koala habitat. The other thing the government could be doing is helping support a great initiative which is the development of a koala hospital here in Port Stephens."

She said it's also the responsibility of the community to be more aware on the road.

"We must all take some responsibility and keep a good eye out because our koalas in Port Stephens are under threat. They're under threat from over-development and we must all stay very alert of that fact."