Aeroclub Instructor Sheds Light on Rutherford Crash Landing

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE 

Newcastle Aero Club's Chief Flying Instructor says this morning's light plane crash landing at the Rutherford airstrip wasn't as serious as it appeared from the major emergency response it attracted. 

Around 9:30, a 65-year-old male pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was about to return to the aerodrome when he lowered the landing gear and noticed that he had an unsafe undercarriage warning. 

There are three main wheels on this type of twin-engine aircraft, a nose wheel and two main wheels forming a triangle. In today's incident, the left main wheel was down but not properly locked in. 

It was then the pilot contacted Flying Instructor Phil Unicomb on the ground. 

"I ran him through some emergency checks, just to make sure he'd tried everything that he could have," Mr Unicomb said, "then I got him to fly-by low overhead so I could visually check it and it didn't appear to be properly locked in. So then I notified emergency services as we have to do...

"We got him back down again, no harm done." 

The Beechcraft Duke aeroplane landed on its belly shortly after 10, running off into grass alongside the airstrip. Firefighters expelled foam around the plane to prevent it catching on fire. 

NSW Ambulance Paramedics assessed the pilot at the scene - he'd sustained only minor bruising. 

"People see ambulances, police cars and firefighters rushing towards an aerodrome and everybody panics," Phil Unicomb said, "but it wasn't nearly as serious as it appeared." 

However, the Flying Instructor says the malfunction was a very rare occurrence and all precautions were taken to ensure a safe landing. 

Image: Grant McIntyre NBN. 

Students Strike on Climate Change

BY KYLE CARROLL

Dozens of Newcastle students have put on a display of activism today, after striking at 12 and gathering at Sharon Claydon's office.

Students read speeches, played music and chanted slogans about the urgency of climate change, increasing pressure for the Government to respond.

Newcastle High Student, Miette Xenith says as young people they will deal with the lasting effects of climate change.

"It's our planet, if we destroy it, there's no going back," she said.

"It's one of the most important things we can do," she continued, "we're not old enough to voted or participate in politics, so what we can do is go on strike," she said.

Hundreds of school students in 25 towns across Australia including Canberra, Cairns, Byron Bay, Perth and many more also participated in the strike today, over the political inaction on climate change.

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has supported national action on climate change by students saying she supports the right of students to engage in peaceful protest.

“These kids are an inspiration. They’re not sitting back and accepting what adults are doing – they’re making their voices heard,” Ms. Claydon said.

A smaller number gathered at the same time at State MP Jenny Aitchison's office in Maitland.

Students gathered outside Sharon Claydon's office in protest. Photo: Half Nelson 

Young Man Stabbed in Clarence Town

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A 22-year-old man has been stabbed overnight in Clarence Town, resulting in the arrest of a 32-year-old man.

Emergency services were called to a unit on Grey Street around 11pm, where Port Stephens-Hunter Police found the victim with stab wounds to his hand, hip and leg.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics and rushed to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Police arrested a man nearby - he was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, destroy or damage property less than $2000, and other charges related to a previous outstanding warrant.

He was refused bail and will appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today. 

BREAKING! Light Plane Crash Lands At Maitland Airport

BY IAN CROUCH

A twin-engine light plane has crash-landed at Maitland Airport.

The pilot, who was the only person on board, radioed the aerodrome just before 10.00 o'clock this morning to advise his aircraft was having problems with the landing gear.

It promoted a major emergency response from NSW Ambulance and NSW Fire and Rescue crews.

The pilot executed a belly landing on the runway, with the plane running off into grass alongside the airstrip.

He managed to get out of the aircraft and is being treated by paramedics - it's reported he's suffered only light bruising to his left arm.

Firefighters have laid a layer of foam around the aircraft as a precaution.

Police Launch Critical Incident Probe Into Fatal Cessnock Crash

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have launched a critical incident investigation into a single vehicle crash which claimed the life of a 60-year-old man at Cessnock.

Officers were making inquiries to locate the man when they spotted him driving a Nissan Navara on Richmond Vale Road at about midday yesterday.

However, he drive off at high speed when he saw them and crashed into a tree and died at the scene.

Officers from the Newcastle Police District have been appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and are appealing for anyone who can assist their investigation to come forward.

Help UoN Researchers Understand Drought

BY HOLLIE HUGHES

 

Drought affected residents in regional and rural areas of New South Wales are being invited to participate in an online survey by climate researchers at the University of Newcastle which focuses on the links between drought and individual well-being.

 

Research lead, Emma Austin says information gained from the survey is crucial to the implementation of initiatives to better support residents within communities frequently experiencing drought.

 

"We invite anyone living across regional New South Wales who is over 18 to participate in this survey and help us inform new programs for regional residents."

 

Survey participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences of adapting to drought and the ways in which they have developed resilience in adversity.


"We know that drought is a global issue impacting people's mental and physical health, the more residents who participate in the survey...the more information we will have to better inform programs to support those impacted."

Austin says that gathering the information is significant in order to build our knowledge regarding the ways people have coped and adapted to past and present droughts, allowing for the development of programs to assist those in the same situation in the future.
 "The survey questions are focused on the ways in which residents have adapted to drought in the past and will provide us with information regarding the relationship between drought and well-being, along with adaptive capacity and how to develop resilience when overcoming adversity."

The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete with all participants going into the draw to win a $400 VISA gift card.

For more information or to complete the survey visit the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health website at https://www.crrmh.com.au/.

Image Sourced: https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=drought&FORM=HDRSC2

 

 

 

 

Bikie Arrested in Muswellbrook After Extortion Investigation

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

An Upper Hunter member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang has been arrested among four others over an alleged extortion attempt against a fellow bikie. 

Strike Force Raptor officers launched investigations in August after a 51-year-old man was seriously assaulted and had his house set on fire as part of the alleged extortion.

Yesterday, police executed search warrants at 10 properties across the state, at Mudgee, Dubbo, Gulgong, Yarrawonga, and Muswellbrook seizing 14 firearms and prohibited drugs.

A 47-year-old bikie was arrested in Muswellbrook and charged with gun offences - He'll face court in January.

Criminal Groups Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Deborah Wallace, praised the work of officers.

“Strike Force Raptor is relentless in its pursuit to disrupt the activities of OMCG members that pose a risk to the community at large,” Det Supt Wallace said.

“We will not tolerate any form of thuggery and will continue to knock on their doors and put them in the back of police cars until these criminal groups are dismantled.

“Anyone in the community who has information on organised criminal activity across the state, we want to hear from you.”

Image: Herald Sun.