No appointment needed: Pop up vaccination hub in Windale this Saturday

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Windale Community Medical Centre is hosting a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination hub this Saturday and next.

The clinic says the AstraZeneca vaccine will definitely be available, however a request for Pfizer has not been met.

Dr Melissa Collogan says setting up the vaccination hub is in response to the recent positive COVID case in the suburb as well as the low vaccination rates.

"The Windale community is a disadvantaged an a vulnerable community and we have many patients with chronic illness and socioeconomic disadvantage.

"If they were to contract COVID-19, their risk of  morbidity is high and so far we have found their ability to access a vaccination has proven to be difficult," Dr Collogan said.

The team at the centre are urging anyone in Windale and surrounding suburbs to head along and get the jab. The clinic will run from 9am and people are asked to bring along photo ID and their Medicare card.

Pictured: Windale Community Medical Centre
Image: Google Maps

Two new COVID-19 cases in the Hunter, as Premier outlines plans for return to school, HSC

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Hunter has recorded two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the regions total to 170 cases since August 5.

The two new cases are in Cessnock and Port Stephens. One in Kurri Kurri who was infectious in the community. The other is from Tomago but was infected at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney and remains there. The Tomago case is not a risk to the community.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro warned on Thursday afternoon that he already know of some new COVID cases in the Hunter. The news came after the region recorded its first day of zero cases.

Statewide, NSW recorded 882 cases statewide, a welcome drop from the record 1029 cases recorded on Thursday.

A new exposure site was added overnight in Windale. Anyone who attended the Windale Takeaway on Lake Street on Saturday 21 August from 5:35pm - 5:45pm is considered a casual contact and must get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced the details of a plan for school students to return to the class room as well as a new date for the HSC.

It follows an announcement on Friday morning from the Prime Minister that children aged 12 to 15 will be able to book in for a Pfizer vaccination from September 13 following a recommendation from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

Vaccinations will be mandatory for all school staff across all sectors will be mandatory from 8 November.

A staggered return of students to face-to-face learning will begin on Monday 25 October. 

Kindergarten and Year one will return from 25 October, Years two, six and eleven from 1 November and Years three, four, five, seven, eight, nine and ten from 8 November.

Year 12 students are already able to return in a limited way and this will continue for the remainder of Term 3. From 25 October, Year 12 will have full time access to school campuses and their teachers.

If stay at home orders are lifted in an LGA or region before 25 October, all students living or learning in that area will return to face to face learning under the Department’s COVID-safe schools framework.

HSC exams will be delayed until 9 November with a revised timetable and guidelines for a COVID-safe HSC to be released by NESA in early September. The delay of the HSC exams will not disadvantage NSW students when applying to university. 

Windale apartment complex locked down after occupant tests positive to COVID-19

BY JARROD MELMETH 

Residents of a Windale apartment complex have been forced into isolation after an occupant tested positive to COVID-19.

Hunter New England Health says the confirmed case is now in isolation off-site and testing has been arranged for affected residents who are now in isolation while they await the results.

The health district is urging anyone who visited the apartment complex from the evening of Friday 20 August to the morning of Tuesday 24 August to immediately isolate and get tested.

Health authorities are working with police, and building management to implement health and safety measures.

If residents are required to isolate for 14-day quarantine period, food and other services including daily welfare checks will be provided to the residents. 

Hunter New England Health is reminding residents and visitors of apartment complexes to wear a face mask in any shared areas including lifts, stairwells and corridors. 

Pictured: The apartment complex now in lockdown
Image: Google Maps

Police Investigate Windale Road Rage Incident

BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie Police want speak to the person who videoed a group of people bashing a man at Windale in front of a group of onlookers.

About half a dozen people including young children, are seen kicking the middle-aged man in the head while he was lying in the middle of the road.

The man then gets up and walks back to his car.

2NUR-FM News understands the incident happened late on Tuesday afternoon near the intersection of Merrigum Street and South Street after the driver failed to negotiate the corner and crashed into a fence.

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

PCYC Funding for Lake Macquarie

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Police Citizens Youth Club at Lake Macquarie has received a share in almost $143,000 in funding for Youth Diversionary Projects.

The Lake Macquarie initiative is set to support at-risk youth by combining supervised recreational activities and educational workshops with evening meals and bus transport home.

The funding will also employ a specialist youth worker for the PCYC Club in Windale for a year to develop and deliver structured programs and will provide the club with entertainment facilities, including air hockey and a pool table.

NSW Minister for Police Troy Grant said the diversionary programs will take the idle time away from young people who would normally be getting up to mischief.

"We partner with government and non-government agencies to develop programs to divert young people from the criminal justice system.

"Having worked in the Lake Macquarie area Detectives office at Charlestown, I knew the area well and for a long time, it has had some socioeconomic and youth crime problems," Mr Grant said.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the programs will provide a supportive environment to engage at-risk youth to keep them off the streets.

"Around that Windale area, people would like to think that they have got the opportunity to engage in positive activities, good networks and good mentors.

"It provides a place for people who are having trouble at home to go and talk to some adults or their friends who are going through similar growing up challenges.

"Kids at that age need support and that is why I think it is very important that we do not overcategorize every child at that age as an issue or a problem, but sometimes you just need that little bit of positive mentoring," Mr MacDonald said.

Lake Macquarie PCYC. Source: PCYC Facebook.

Cutting down injuries in tree work industry

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI and JESSICA ROUSE

SafeWork NSW is raising concerns about worker safety in the tree work industry, following a serious incident at Windale last month.

A 25-year-old man fell 6 metres while lopping a tree at Windale and suffered suspected spinal injuries. It's not the only worrying incident with three other workers also involved in similar incidents throughout April, suffering head injuries and lacerations.

"Unfortunately, three workers were fatally injured last financial year and there's a lot of ongoing incidents including serious head, spinal and severe lacerations. So we really need to work closely with industry so we eliminate these issues," said Lawrence Richy from SafeWork NSW.

The Tree Work project will see SafeWork NSW work with tree industry businesses across NSW over the next six months to ensure they're meeting work health and safety, and workers compensation responsibilities.

Lawrence Richy said SafeWork "would like workers to ensure that they're working closely with their employers if they're in the tree work industry and utilising all the safe working systems of work and consulting with their employers," and importantly if there are any concerns no one should hesitate and ring up SafeWork on 13 10 50.

"We will be able to get an inspector out to walk through the proper processes and make sure everyone returns home safely after their days work."

Image www.maalikitreeservices.com.au

Police Recover Alleged Stolen Jewellery at Windale Property

BY GEORGIA LUPTON

A man is set to face Newcastle Local Court today after police found 55 pieces of allegedly stolen jewellery following a break-in at a Charlestown store.

It's alleged the store was broken into on the night of the 27th and 28th of December this year.

Police from the Lake Macquarie Property Crime Reduction Team were investigating the break-in, leading police to execute a search warrant at a Windale property yesterday morning.

A 44-year-old man was arrested and later charged with break enter and steal, shoplifting, goods in custody, possess prohibited drug and hinder police in the execution of their duty.

He was refused bail.

A woman was also arrested at the Windale property in relation to revocation of parole warrant.

Lake Macquarie break in

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 33-year old man has been charged with break, enter and steal after entering a home at Windale in Lake Macquarie.

Residents of the home were woken when the man allegedly stole an item from the balcony just after 6am yesterday.

At about 830am Lake Macquarie Local Area Command officers with the assistance of the Dog Unit attended a shopping centre in Windale where they arrested the man.

He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged and granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on 3oth November 2016.

Woman To Front Court Over $10,000 Spending Spree

BY IAN CROUCH

 A woman's been charged with stealing a wallet from a Lake Macquarie sporting complex and going on a spending spree.

A 63-year-old volunteer last week noticed her wallet was missing but didn't cancel her credit card for two days - by then, more than $10,000 worth of purchases had been racked up around Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

Officers from the Lake Macquarie Target Action Group caught up with the 25-year-old alleged culprit at her home on Nooroo Close, Windale yesterday.

She was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with 30 counts of fraud, receiving stolen goods, posessing a prohibited drug and breach of bail.

She's been refused bail and is due to appear in Toronto Local Court today.

Windale Break In

BY MONIQUE SMITH

 Police are investigating a break-in at Windale over night, where two occupants of a James Street home were confronted by a man wearing a mask and carrying a baseball bat.

A 49-year-old male occupant was assaulted by the intruder during a struggle and was left with a broken arm.

The man has been described to police as being Caucasian in appearance with olive skin and dark brown short hair. He was clean shaven, aged in his late 30's or early 40's, and of average height and build.

The intruder left the premises without any property and was last seen getting into a white 1990's Mitsubishi sedan with a red P plate.

Detectives from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended the home and established a crime scene. A full investigation is now under way and anyone with information are urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.

Time to Scrub Up, Scrubby Creek

BY BRIDGET GUNN

Rehabilitation at Scrubby Creek at the end of James Street near Windale is continuing, with Lake Macquarie Council working hard to remove debris from the waterway.

Recent efforts have seen the removal of 28 shopping trolleys from the creek, and Mayor Jodie Harrison says the rehabilitation of the creek depends on residents acting responsibly and working with Council to preserve the area.

"It's really about everybody working together to ensure that Scrubby Creek is a healthy creek, we need residents to be mindful of what they do," says Harrison.

"It's not just putting things directly in the creek, it's litter. It really is about residents thinking about what they do and it's also about Council putting in place plans to improve the health of the creek."

Scrubby Creek
Source: The Newcastle Herald

Two men charged following assault with machete

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Two men have been charged following an alleged assault with a machete at Windale in April this year.

It is alleged a 26-year-old man stabbed a 37-year-old man three times during an altercation. The men then went to a home in Windale where a 22-year-old man was already inside armed with a machete.

Police will allege the 22-year-old man struck the 26-year-old man three times with the machete who was then treated at the scene with serious injury before being conveyed to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

The 22-year-old man attended Belmont Police Station for an unrelated matter on 27th June where he was arrested and charged with cause to grievous bodily harm with intent. He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 7 July 2016.

Today, the 37-year-old man was arrested and charged with cause grievous bodily harm with intent. He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today, Wednesday 29 June 2016.