Police Investigate Break-In At Muswellbrook High School

 BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley Police are appealing for witnesses after a break-in at Muswellbrook High School overnight.

Police say neighbours reported the sound of smashing glass at the King Street school at about 11.00pm on Tuesday 20 January 2026.

Officers were quickly on scene, with two males spotted fleeing the school grounds.

They'd managed to gain access to a uniform room.

Police say several windows were smashed during the break-in but it's not clear if anything was taken.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Muswellbrook Police Station.

Muswellbrook High School

 

Fears Held For Missing Gillieston Heights Teen

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fears are growing for a teenage boy who's gone missing from Gillieston Heights.

14-year-old Raymond Anderson was last seen on Paradise Street last Friday and extensive inquiries have failed to locate him

Police have concerns for his welfare due to his age.

Raymond is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 155cm tall with a thin build and brown hair.

He's known to frequent the Newcastle and Maitland areas.

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

Missing teen Raymond Anderson

 

Police Step Up Appeal For Help To Find Man Missing For Months

 BY IAN CROUCH

 Police are asking Hunter residents for help to find a man who was last heard from almost 5 months ago.

43-year-old John White was last contacted on the 3rd of January, 2025.

He's known to frequent the Cessnock,  Hunter and Tamworth areas.

John's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall with a medium build and brown hair.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Missing man John White Picture: NSW Police

Fears Held For Missing Muswellbrook Man

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fears are growing for the welfare of a man reported missing from Muswellbrook.

41-year-old Robert Baker was last seen in the area at about 2.30pm on Saturday April 19.

Police and family say his disappearance is out of character.

Robert's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall with a thin build, shaved head, fair complexion, brown eyes with tattoos on his forearms.

Police believe he may have been seen recently in the Hamilton and Newcastle areas.

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

Missing man Robert Baker

 

Concerns Growing For Missing Man From Lake Macquarie

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police are appealing for help to find a missing man.

60-year-old Patrick Murphy, who's known to the Morisset area, was last seen at the Kotara and Awaba train stations.

Concerns are held for his welfare as he suffers from multiple serious medical conditions and is without his medication.

Patrick is described as being Caucasian with grey long hair and a grey beard and was last seen wearing jeans, grey shoes, a white t-shirt and vest.

It's believed he could be travelling by train and has previously travelled to Rutherford, Maitland, Scone and Lismore.

Patrick Murphy

Police Hold Concerns For Missing Man In Newcastle

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for our help to find a man who's gone missing from the Newcastle area.

54-year-old Gavin Wellard was last seen at about 5.00pm on Friday and there are concerns for his welfare because he has a number of health conditions.

Gavin's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall with a medium build, short brown hair and unshaven.

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

Missing man: Gavin Wellard

Newcastle Hit With Flash Flooding In Overnight Downpour

 BY IAN CROUCH

Parts of the Newcastle CBD went under water on Thursday night as a torrential downpour triggered flash flooding.

Merewether recorded 75mm, while Blacksmiths had 70mm and Swansea 60mm.

At one stage, water completely covered the intersection of King and Steel Streets, but Newcastle Police say the water subsided quickly once the rain stopped around midnight.

Many people took to social media calling on Newcastle Council to address the need for better drainage in the city.

The heavy rain came on top a major electrical storm on Wednesday afternoon, which also brought a downpour, causing many streets and drains to quickly fill with water.

The intersection of King and Steel Streets went under water at about 11.00pm on Thursday. Picture: Corey Crookes

Man Found Guilty Of Murdering Stockton Grandmother Stacey Klimovitch

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A jury has reached its verdict in the case of a man accused of murdering Stockton Grandmother Stacey Klimovitch. 

48-year-old Jason Paul Hawkins has been found guilty of shooting the 61-year-old at the front door of her home in 2021.

He's the second man convicted over the shooting, with 65-year-old Stephen John Garland last month being found guilty of driving Mr. Hawkins to the Queen Street address. 

They're both due to be sentenced in February. 

13-Year-Old Angel Missing From Wallsend

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenager missing from the Newcastle area. 

13-year-old Angel Baker, was last seen on Tyrrell Street at Wallsend, at about 1:40pm on Monday the 7th of August.

Police hold serious concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Angel is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 150cm tall, with a thin build, red hair and green/hazel eyes.

She was last seen wearing grey pants, white shoes, and a lavender crop top.

She is known to frequent the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas.

Anyone with information into Angel’s whereabouts is urged to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police Appeal For Help To Find Missing Woodberry Teen

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for help to locate a missing teenager from Woodberry.

15-year-old Adam was last seen on the evening of Thursday June 1 and his family and police hold concerns for his welfare due to his age.

He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 165 and 170cm tall with a solid build, fair complexion, brown hair and brown eyes.

Police say they need to speak to him to ensure he's okay.

If you've seen Adam or know where he is, contact Maitland Police or Crime Stoppers.

Missing teen Adam

Newcastle Police Search For Missing Teen

 BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Police are appealing for help to find a missing teenager.

13-year-old Angel Baker is known to frequent the Wallsend, Edgeworth, Kurri Kurri and Jesmond areas, including the Jesmond Shopping Centre.

Police have concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Angel is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 150cm tall with dark brown hair.

She was last seen wearing grey track pants, black hoodie, blue t-shirt and black joggers.

Anyone who's seen her or knows her whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Missing teen Angel Baker

Essential Hunter Workers Call to Scrap the Public Sector Wage Cap

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Essential workers from the Hunter gathered at the John Hunter Hospital this morning, in a bid to address issues surrounding wages and staff shortages. 

Ahead of the event, Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey, launched a new report, detailing how much health and education workers will be out-of-pocket if the wage cap for public sector workers isn't scrapped. 

The research into the impact of the wage cap on the pay packets of essential workers shows it will leave nurses, paramedics and teachers worse-off by between $10,000 and $12,000 dollars when adjusted for inflation over 3 years.

It also details how the 3% wage cap is adding to critical staff shortages, noting vacancies for education professionals in the region have tripled. 

Mark Morey said something needs to be done. 

"We're calling on the NSW Government to get rid of the cap, and to negotiate wage increases for its essential workers," he said. 

He said scrapping the cap is the only way to address mass vacancies across the Hunter. 

Image: Newcastle Herald

Concerns Martins Creek Quarry Expansion Will Wear Down on Locals

BY SHY-ANN ARKINSTALL

The Independent Planning Commission have reopened public submissions for the Martins Creek Quarry Project for locals to have their say.

The proposed expansion would see a further 1.1 million tonnes of material excavated, which could in turn bring more jobs to the local community.

However, Labor Candidate for the Upper Hunter Peree Watson has spoken to locals who have voiced concerns about the increased wear on local roads and how this could affect the community.

"Of course we don't want to say that we don't want businesses operating or we don't want jobs, but it should be done in a way that is mindful of the community around and it shouldn't be at the expense of the local community," she said.

Locals have also voiced concerns about the effect of this project on the local infrastructure and how this would impact daily life.

"The community is concerned about the traffic movements and the impacts that will have on their small community and their way of life. It's really important that everyone has their say so that the commissioner can hear how this development will impact their everyday life," she said.

Ms Watson said with the state already severely backed up in infrastructure and road repair costs, it is important to preserve local roads which are often forgotten by the government.

Public submissions close on January 30. 

Image: NEWFM

Alleged Drunk Driver In Stolen Car Arrested In Newcastle

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front Newcastle court on Monday accused of driving a stolen car while intoxicated.

Police say a Toyota Prado stolen from Sydney was spotted heading north on the M1 just before 7.00pm on Sunday.

Officers followed the vehicle down Newcastle and Griffiths Road before the SUV stopped near McDonald Jones Stadium.

The 26-year-old driver and his 16 female passenger were arrested.

He's facing several charges including being carried in a stolen car and breach of bail.

The girl was granted bail to face Windsor Children's Court at a later date.  

Grant program to get Hunter country shows back on track in the new year

BY CONNOR MARSELOS

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW is encouraging the Hunter to take advantage of recently announced grants from the State Government to stage country and agricultural shows in 2022.

The Country Show Support Package, worth up to 5 million dollars, will help show organisers with supplies and equipment, and provide them with clarity about their financial situation during the pandemic.

190 agricultural shows across the Hunter and rural NSW will be supported in the funding. 

General Agriculture Manager Murray Wilton says he's confident the grant money will go a long way for rural communities. 

"The country shows are often the largest event that are held in the area," Mr Wilton said.

"They hold the community together."

It comes as a number of Hunter shows were forced to cancel their events for the second year in a row. 

Applications opened on the 14th of December and will close on the 29th of April 2022 or when the available funding is exhausted.

Newcastle Tennis Community serving up a helping hand for people with a disability

BY CONNOR MARSELOS

The Newcastle Community Tennis Centre is partnering with Clear Sky Disability Service to create opportunities for people living with a disability.

The partnership comes as part a celebration being held for International Day of People with Disability, which is aimed at raising awareness for people living with disability.

The partnership program will see up to eight participants participate in a work-experience environment, learning skills in hospitality, maintenance and customer service skills, as well as tennis skills.

Tennis NSW Development Officer Kathy Barber says that there is a lot to get excited about the partnership moving forward.

"We've got the Newcastle Death Games going to be hosted at the Newcastle Community Tennis Centre and also within our Special Olympics program, Danial Stredder will be hosting some come-and-try tennis days," Ms Barber said.

It's hoped those participating in the program will gain both the confidence and skills necessary to pursue any and all potential future employment opportunities.

New Initiative in Place for Mayfield Business Scene

 BY CHARLOTTE LLOYD 

Locals of the Hunter's Mayfield Suburb, is part of a new initiative to support and revitalise local businesses the communities and the environment. 

The One Cool Thing + Happy Business Initiative in conjunction with the Mayfield Business Association has a particular focus on providing businesses and retailers with resources and ideas that improve their business revenue and local engagement. 

Following the pandemic, local businesses within and beyond the Hunter have seen drop in their numbers with locals turning to online shopping from big organisations for convenience and ease. 

Novocastrian Entrepreneur and founder of the project Evan Sutters is calling on the community to support their local with a focus on where they spend their time and money. 

"It is our hope that the result will be a business precinct that is more creative offline, with less vacant shops, more foot traffic and re-energised streets."

Founder of Hapzly, Sutter is hoping this new initiative will be more engaging for locals rather than the usual CSR initiatives that lack the 'human' factor and as well as this, doesn't have a focus on the economic, social and environment aspects. 

'Conscious Consumerism' has been a claimed as the way for businesses to focus their attention on benefiting people, planet, customers and the community with the initiative offering up to 115 ideas and resources moving forward. 

Maitland Road, Mayfield
Image Credit: https://www.newcastleonhunter.org

New Facilities for Students in the Hunter

 BY CHARLOTTE LLOYD 

The Morrison Government has announced funding for three Hunter schools as part of the Capital Grants Program. 

The successful school applicants of the program are ALESCO Senior College in North Lakes, St Phillip's Christian College, Salamander Bay and St Brigid's Catholic College in Lake Munmorah. 

Each school will be receiving varying funding amounts based on their reconstruction and infrastructure proposals. 

The refurbishments are all set to modernise  schools with up-to-date facilities which is in hopes to help kids thrive in the classroom with high-end learning facilities. 

Among the redevelopments are general learning areas, outdoor breakout areas, and administration and staff amenities, to benefit both students and teachers of the schools. 

Patron Senator for The Hunter Region Hollie Hughes says, 

"This money is going to ensure that where students actually learn and look to the future and come out with the best result, have the absolute best facilities that they can have." 

Australia Post reminds Hunter residents to look out for posties as new tech is installed on vehicles

 BY JAMES CARTER    

Australia Post is reminding Hunter residents to watch out for posties as the busy Christmas parcel delivery period gets underway. 

With online shopping surging during the holiday season,  Australia Post expects a record-breaking Christmas and is using telematics, with data and video from devices installed in thousands of electric delivery vehicles, motorcycles, vans and trucks to help identify hazards, educate drivers and reduce risks on the road. 

Australia Post's National Head of Network Implementation Col Hindle said common incidents occur when reversing out of driveways or when dogs are not secured. 

"As Christmas and school holidays come around, we do see a lot of incidents," Mr Hindle said.

"The end game is just to ensure our people are going home safe and that we interact with the community in a safe manner." 

Australia Post will use video footage from cameras mounted on vehicles to improve service and ensure drivers meeting customer expectations by following road rules. 

The upgraded vehicles will also feature a duress button, which can be used during an incident get help. 

Australia Post Electric Delivery Vehicle
Source: Australia Post

Hunter records 39 new COVID-19 cases, as statewide daily deaths hit zero

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Hunter New England region has recorded another 39 fresh COVID-19 infections. 

There are currently 888 active cases across the district. 18 of these are in hospital with the virus, including three in intensive care.

3,809 cases have been detected across the Hunter New England Health District since August 5.

CASE BREAKDOWN

MID COAST - 7

Taree 33, Wingham 2, Forster 1, Purfleet 1.

INVERELL - 7

Inverell 4, Tingha 3.

MOREE PLAINS - 5

Moree 5.

TAMWORTH - 5

Tamworth 3, Hilvue 1, Oxley Vale 1.

NEWCASTLE - 5

Wickham 3, Maryland 1, Warabrook 1.

PORT STEPHENS - 4

Heatherbrae 3, Raymond Terrace 1.

LAKE MACQUARIE - 2

Cameron Park 1, Windale 1.

ARMIDALE - 2

Armidale 1, Old Mill 1.

CESSNOCK - 1

Greta 1.

DUNGOG - 1

Clarence Town 1.

STATEWIDE

NSW has recorded 250 new local cases and zero deaths

228 people are in hospital with the virus, including 332 in intensive care.

The statewide vaccination rates are currently at 90.8 per cent double dose and 94.1 per cent single dose.

EXPOSURE SITES

There are no local exposure sites to report.