Three Lake Macquarie men pass away from COVID

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 2,911 new COVID cases today and 3 deaths.

1,645 of those cases were from PCR tests and 1,266 were from RAT tests.

This brings the region to 92 cases in hospital, with five people in intensive care. 

 

Sadly, three men in Lake Macquarie have passed away due to the virus.

One was aged in his 60s, one was in his 70s and, one was in his 80s.

 

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 30,825 new COVID cases and 25 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,781 cases in hospital, with 212 in intensive care.

29 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

BREAKING! Employee stabbed in armed robbery in Morpeth

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A man's been wounded during an armed robbery at a Morpeth grocer early Thursday morning.

Three men entered the Swan Street store around 5:15am and began to rob the tills.

A 47-year-old employee challenged the men, and was stabbed.

He's been taken to the John Hunter, suffering wounds to his abdomen.

The three men fled the store in a white sedan.

Police are continuing their inquiries.

94-year-old man dies after horror crash on the M1

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A 94-year-old man has died after a crash on the M1 near George Booth Drive at Killingworth yesterday afternoon.

The man's car and a truck collided around midday.

The 33-year-old truck driver was treated at the scene and taken to the John Hunter Hospital, suffering shock.

He'll undergo mandatory testing.

Police say they're investigating the crash.

Former Cessnock MP Stan Neilly passes away at 79

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Former Cessnock MP Stan Neilly has passed away this week at the age of 79.

Mr Neilly was born in Abermain and joined the Labor Party in 1959, the same year his father was elected as the state member for Cessnock. 

He later served as the state member himself from 1981 to 1988, and then again from 1991 to 1999.

Current Cessnock MP Clayton Barr commemorated the loss in a Facebook post, writing that Mr Neilly had served the region his whole life.

"Nearly everyone around here has a story about Stan doing them a favour, or helping them sort out a problem," Mr Barr wrote.

"He gave his time to dozens of local groups who needed some advice or needed someone to run an eye over the books."

Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon described him as a "smart, effective & hard working MP".

"Stan Neilly's passing is a very sad loss for the community," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

"He was a person always helping others, but never sought any credit or thanks for his work."

3,189 new COVID cases across Hunter New England

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 3,189 new COVID cases today and 1 death.

1,986 of those cases were from PCR tests and 1,203 were from RAT tests.

This brings the region to 100 cases in hospital, with six people in intensive care. 

Sadly, a man in his 90s from Tamworth has passed away.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 32,297 new COVID cases and 32 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,863 cases in hospital, with 217 in intensive care.

27.8 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Man stabbed in neck during domestic incident in Muswellbrook

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A man has been arrested in Muswellbrook on Wednesday morning, after stabbing another man in the neck in a domestic incident last night.

About 9.20pm on Tuesday night, emergency services were called to Brooke Street, Muswellbrook, following reports a 47-year-old man had been stabbed to the neck.

The injured man drove himself to Muswellbrook Hospital, before he was moved to the John Hunter, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

After investigations, police attended Hunter Terrace, Muswellbrook and arrested a 53-year-old around 2am. 

He's also been taken to the John Hunter for treatment, under police guard.

Inquiries are continuing. 

Newcastle councillors elect Deputy Lord Mayor for entire council term

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Declan Clausen has been elected as Newcastle's Deputy Lord Mayor at a council meeting last night.

He came ahead of Liberal contender Jenny Barrie to score the job, nine votes to four. 

Council also voted to extend the Deputy's term for the full length of the council's, meaning they won't vote again until the next election.

Mr Clausen was originally voted in as the city's youngest-ever deputy in 2017.

Greens councillor John Mackenzie pushed unsuccessfully to reduce the length to just six months.

He says a rotating roster for the position would set a more collaborative tone in the chamber. 

"It's a really low stakes gesture towards showing that we're actually making an effort to cross the political divide, to get good outcomes for the City of Newcastle," Dr Mackenzie said.

"You're also building up the skills of councillors to take on some of these larger community roles during their time on council."

Ms Barrie, as well as independent John Church, also backed the proposal, but the move was shot down by the Labor majority, who argued the chamber needed stability.

Image credit: www.nuatalinelmes.com/declan