Hunter Westpac Rescue Chopper headed to Carnival Spirit Cruse Liner

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter is headed out to the Carnival Spirit cruise liner east of Port Macquaire.

A 76-year-old female is reportedly suffering a medical condition.

The chopper will rendezvous with the ship and winch the patient off and take her to hospital.

Man Killed In Workplace Accident At Thornton

BY IAN CROUCH

A report is being prepared for the Coroner after a man died in a workplace accident at Thornton.

It's understood the 56-year-old Lake Macquarie man was unloading a portable building from the back of a truck at an industrial estate in Huntingdale Drive at about 8.15 on Wednesday morning when the structure fell on top of him.

The man died at the scene.

Police and SafeWork NSW are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Officers At The Scene Of Workplace Accident at Thornton picture:theherald.com.au

Hunter Domestic Gas Supply at an All Time Low

BY LAUREN KEMPE

There will be a shortfall in domestic gas supply in the Hunter, after the ACCC'S energy interim report found the east coast's shortage will be three times larger next year than previously forecast.

Several politicians have said a domestic reservation policy is not necessary as Australia has enough gas, but a Hunter businessman says the government should be prioritising the domestic market.

Weston Aluminium Managing Director Garbis Simonian says it's crucial a bipartisan law on domestic gas energy is established at state and federal levels.

'Both state and federal governments are all accusing each other, and passing the blame. What we want is politicians to sit down around a table, both Labor and Liberal, and in the bipartisan fashion decide and work on a National Energy Policy. The economy is suffering, jobs are suffering, families are suffering and it's not good enough.'

Mr Simonian says higher gas prices drive up electricity prices, and the current situation is not sustainable.

'Now this is just common sense that any country or any state applies the gas and energy it finds, to satisfying the domestic market first, and then if there's a surplus, you can export it.

'All countries in the world give their domestic market a priority when it comes to gas, Australia is the only country that doesn't have a Domestic National Interest Policy.'

Image Caption: https://www.google.com.au/search?rlz=1C1GGRV_enAU751AU751&biw=1141&bih=859&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=gas+shortage+aus&oq=gas+shortage+aus&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i24k1l4.7788.8589.0.9221.4.4.0.0.0.0.192.371.0j2.2.0.dummy_maps_web_fallback...0...1.1.64.psy-ab..2.2.371...0.0.X3yhoOA7P98#imgrc=9Saiqg1TO6FgfM:

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness in Newcastle

BY LAUREN KEMPE

The Federal Government has approved over $500, 000 in prevention funding over the next three years for a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder consortium in Newcastle.

The disorder is caused by a woman's consumption of alcohol whilst pregnant, and it's estimated around 25, 000 newborns are affected by FASD in the Newcastle area.

Alcohol is a grade 1 carcinogen and neurotoxin. The substance has the ability to damage a developing fetus' genes and cause permanent physical and intellectual birth defects, including holes in the heart and irreversible brain damage.

FASD is more common than autism, cerebral palsy and SIDS amongst newborns, but there is currently little awareness and diagnosis.

Local Drug Action Team Chairperson Tony Brown says it's crucial the whole community drive awareness and support of the preventable disorder.

'We know that the prevalence rate of FASD is higher than those addicted to ice or crystal methamphetamine. In terms of drug and alcohol-related harm, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is one of the highest forms of harm, but it's completely preventable.'

International research shows more than 90 percent of children diagnosed with FASD will have a mental health issue or a drug and alcohol problem, and 60 percent will engage with the juvenile justice system.

Mr Brown says we have a long way to go with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder prevention.

'The Hunter New England local health district has one of the highest rates of risky drinking of all health districts in New South Wales.

'FASD has profound effects on brain development, and this can really adversely affect a child's learning capacity and their behaviour, which can lead to crime and other behavioural problems.'

Newcastle Local Drug Action Team will be hosting a public forum on Tuesday the 5th December in the Town Hall. The forum will give people the opportunity to hear a number of national speakers, community and agent representatives and a community reference panel to help raise awareness for the disorder.

Image Credit:https://www.google.com.au/search?q=pregnant+woman+drinking&rlz=1C1GGRV_enAU751AU751&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiF2tzqvtPWAhWFipQKHQDLA9MQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=949#imgrc=_TFdor2zc6FvgM:

Operation Slow Down wraps up the Long Weekend

BY JESSICA ROUSE and IAN CROUCH

It's been a tragic long weekend on the Hunter's roads, with three lives lost.

A 57-year-old man died when his Honda Jazz crashed into a fence on Kalaroo Road at Redhead on Sunday night - police believe he suffered a medical episode prior to the crash.

Meanwhile, Blake Mins and Matt Lambert died in a firey crash at Morisset on Saturday morning.

And a woman in her 70's suffered serious injuries after she was hit by a car on Turton Road at Waratah yesterday.

Across the state, the NSW Police Force's Operation Slow Down booked just over 6,200 people for speeding and charged 215 people with drink driving. More than 188,300 were breathalysed.

14,429 people in total were issued with infringements and five people died over the long weekend.

During the same operation last year, only one person lost their life.

Acting Assistant Commissioner David Driver from Traffic and Highway Patrol said even with the extra police presence out on the roads, it was quite disheartening to see drivers continue to speed or act dangerously behind the wheel.

"These deaths bring the number of lives lost on our roads this year to 290. That is 290 people who set out on a journey and didn't make it home, changing the lives of their family and friends forever."

One Mile's New Surf Life Saving Facility Officially Open

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The brand new One Mile Beach Lifeguard facility has opened in Port Stephens today.

The $840,000 dollar building is a massive improvement on the last facility and now features new storage for surf life-saving equipment, a first aid room and an elevated shark observation tower.

Community and Recreation Coordinator Brock Lamont says the council has worked with the local surf lifeguards to ensure the building meets their needs.

The new facility at One Mile Beach. Image supplied.

"It's a massive upgrade from the previous building that our lifeguards were operating from. There was a small facility there that was quite dated - it was a timber structure that had been there for quite some time so the guys were very happy to see the back of that building."

The shark observation tower is a particularly good part of the upgrade giving lifeguards better oversight of the beach and they'll be able to respond faster to shark sightings.

"One Mile is one of our more popular beaches and with the caravan park nearby we get quite a lot of people just dropping in to use the beach there so in terms of giving them a better facility to make sure that everyone is using the beaches is far safer," said Brock Lamont.

The facility will be open every day and operate between 9am and 5pm and 9am to 6pm during school holidays.

Port Stephens Lifeguard Supervisor Phil Rock really only has one message to beachgoers.

"As always, we're keeping the message simple - always swim at a patrolled location, always stay between the red and yellow flags, and never swim alone."

Another Confirmed Case of Meningococcal Disease in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man is in a Hunter hospital with a confirmed case of meningococcal disease.

Hunter New England Health reports he's in a stable condition.

It's the eighth reported case of the disease in the Hunter this year.

While it is a rare and potentially life-threatening disease, in most cases early detection and treatment can result in a full recovery. 

The first signs of meningococcal disease may include pain in the legs, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin colour. Later symptoms may include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights, nausea and vomiting, a rash of reddish-purple spots or bruises, and drowsiness.