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15 APRIL 2022 ISSUE 015

OVONEWS ISSUE 015 15 APRIL 2022

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Limelight on HER

Disadvantaged members of the Newcastle community now have access to free tax advice and assistance. See page 3

NovoSociety

Two young Novocastrians passionate about theatre, acting and directing have launched a production company, providing equal opportunities for females and underrepresented individuals in the creative arts industry. See page 7

Grandmothers for Refugees are calling on Novocastrians to prioritise meaningful policy change ahead of the federal election. See page 15

NovoCulture

Charlotte De Wit and Marigold Pazar have launched their brand new production company, HER Productions. Photo: Alyssa/Alpha Sierra

Two Newcastle artists created a public photo exhibition honouring the lives and stories of the local elderly community. See page 18

NovoSport

Jackson Baker is the first local to hoist the Mark Richards Trophy above his head after winning the WSL QS5000 at the 2022 Newcastle Surfest. See page 23

Recovery funds needed for local charity The local organisation, Bikers For Kids, is hosting a series of fundraising events to help recover from the impacts of the Wickham woolshed fire, where it lost over $18,000 worth of equipment used in the iconic Newcastle Toy Run. Bikers For Kids exists to provide financial and material support for marginalised members of the Newcastle and Hunter community. While the organisation actively supports many motorcycle-focused charity initiatives, the flagship event is the annual Newcastle Toy Run, which enlists the support of thousands of fellow motorcyclists to ride and donate funds and gifts for kids in need during Christmas. Bikers For Kids was amongst the

hundreds of enterprises affected by the devastating Wickham woolshed fire on March 1. Over $18,000 worth of Newcastle Toy Run equipment was lost, including promotional banners, flags, gazebos, road and traffic management bollards, signage, barrier boards, and electrical equipment. Treasurer Stephen Meek said they wanted to raise some much-needed funds to help replace their lost equipment and recover before their major event in December. “We lost all of our event equipment which is pretty devastating. Although we will eventually recover, it’s still very hard, especially when we had over 40 years’ worth of accumulative stuff in that warehouse,” Meek said.

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“We’ve had a couple of generous people step up and help us replace some gear, but it will take us a while to recoup.

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Upgrades to begin for John Hunter Health Precinct The transformation of the John Hunter Health Precinct into a new state-of-the-art facility will begin this month following the appointment of an early works contractor. Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, and Minister for Regional Health, Bronnie Taylor, appointed Multiplex Constructions as the enabling works contractor for the NSW Government’s $835 million investment in the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct project. “This is a significant milestone for a huge expansion of health services that will transform health care for the Hunter region,” Hazzard said. “The Precinct will also support research and innovation, driving collaborations

Novo News is published monthly by Community News Partners Pty Ltd (CNP), an independent, family-owned business. CNP aims to serve the interests of the community in three important ways: 1. To fulfill the ultimate purpose of the free press in a democracy, that is, to hold powerful interests to account through high-quality, independent journalism without fear or prejudice; 2. To provide an affordable medium for local businesses to advertise their products and services, including discounted rates for eligible not-for-profit organisations; and, 3. To keep the community informed about local issues and ensure important public notices are available to ALL members of the community irrespective of their socio-economic circumstances. Our content is originated through both our own team of local journalists as well as external sources, including media releases, websites and public notices. All our news content is subject to strict editorial standards which are available on our website. Wherever possible, our news includes source lines that provide information about where information was sourced so that readers can judge for themselves the veracity of what they are reading. For enquiries on advertising please call 0490 341 705 or email us at sales@novonews.com.au Advertising rates are impacted by two key things: – the size of the advertisement, e.g. a halfpage or a one-quarter page; and the number of editions that the advertisement runs in. NovoNnews offers significant discounts for advertisements that run over multiple editions and across multiple newspapers – see novonews. com.au We also offer discounts for not-for-profit organisations and other community groups.

Editor: Ross Barry Journalists: Hayley McMahon & Maia O’Connor Design & Production: Kirrily Dures & Justin Stanley Phone: 0491 012 983 E-mail: editorial@novonews.com.au Website: novonews.com.au Social: @novonewsau

An elevated garden will connect the new Acute Services Building with the existing facility. Photo: NSW Government

between the health, education and research sectors to improve patient outcomes. “The new, seven-storey Acute Services Building will see a 60 per cent increase in Intensive Care Unit capacity and almost 50 per cent more theatres, and the new Emergency Department will see treatment spaces for patients increase by almost 40 per cent.” The NSW Government revealed that the new Acute Service building would deliver additional operating theatres, a new Emergency Department, and expanded critical care services for adult and paediatric care. Meanwhile, expecting families will also have access to a new birthing suite, an inpatient maternity unit, a new neonatal intensive care unit and a special care nursery.

A rooftop helipad and increased car parking with more than 900 spaces for staff and visitors are also part of plans for the new precinct. Minister for Regional Health, Bronnie Taylor, said John Hunter Hospital was already one of the busiest hospitals in NSW. She said the region’s population was set to increase by 22 per cent over the next 15 years. “This expansion and enhancement of health services will ensure Newcastle, greater Hunter and northern NSW communities have access to cuttingedge health care now and into the future,” Taylor said. Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Taylor Martin, said the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct

redevelopment would provide work for local builders, sub-contractors and tradespeople throughout construction. “This significant infrastructure project will create jobs for the community and deliver a big boost to the local economy with 70 per cent of the work being delivered by Hunter New England businesses,” Martin said. “Multiplex will be holding information sessions for interested businesses in the coming months, and we’re encouraging people to find out how they can be involved.” Main works on the precinct are expected to commence later in the year, while the project is scheduled for total completion in 2026. The project is part of the NSW Government’s record $10.8 billion investment in health infrastructure from 2024 to 2025, with nearly a third of the capital allocation going towards regional and rural health facilities this financial year. Maia O’Connor

The project is scheduled for completion by 2026. Photo: NSW Government

Newcastle gearing up for electric buses Preparations are underway for three Zero Emission Buses to join the Newcastle Transport fleet, signalling the beginning of a major energy transition in Newcastle’s public transport network. In a visit to the Hamilton Bus Depot on April 5, Minister for Transport and Veterans, David Elliott, said the delivery would mark a major milestone for Newcastle. “The NSW Government is committed to transitioning the state’s fleet of more than 8,000 diesel and gas buses to zero emissions technology, and this is only the start for our outer metropolitan areas,” Elliott said. “Electric buses will deliver a more sustainable transport option for the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie communities, encouraging more people to make the switch to public transport.” He said this would be the first time the technology was permanently introduced outside of metropolitan Sydney. Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Taylor Martin, said the new buses were a win for the region. “The introduction of Zero Emission Buses into the Newcastle transport network will be great for our environment

Minister Elliot visited the Hamilton Bus Depot on April 5 to announce the new electric buses.

and health, and will benefit commuters,” Martin said. Keolis Downer Hunter General Manager, Emmanuel Genlot, said transport staff were currently undertaking training to operate the new buses, while the Hamilton Bus Depot was being upgraded for the arrival of electric chargers that power the vehicles. “While the electric buses will look very similar to what is operating today, customers will notice a quieter and smoother ride, giving Novocastrians another reason to leave the car at home

and get onboard,” Genlot said. The vehicles are being manufactured by BusTech Group and are capable of completing a full day’s operation on a single charge. BusTech Group CEO, Dan Marks, said the company was proud to be designing, engineering and manufacturing the buses in Australia for Newcastle. “This creates lasting economic benefits, generates employment opportunities for Australians and ensures the lowest carbon footprint possible,” Marks said. Maia O’Connor

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Newcastle’s free tax clinic opens Disadvantaged members of the Newcastle community now have access to free tax advice and assistance following the opening of the University of Newcastle’s Tax Clinic. Founded by Professor Christina Boedker and Christian O’Connor, the free and confidential service opened on March 25 and is located at the University of Newcastle’s Greater Bank Finance Lab at the NuSpace campus. Clinic co-founder and manager, Christian O’Connor, said the service provided help for individuals and small business clients who wanted to regain control of their finances and manage their tax obligations. “We’re looking for unrepresented taxpayers and people in need who are seeking assistance with their tax matters and who don’t currently have an accountant of their own as they can’t afford one,” O’Connor said. The clinic welcomes a range of people who have experienced financial hardship, from single-parent families to the elderly. “If they have a choice of putting food on their table or paying for an accountant, we are here to help them,” O’Connor said. Assistance with MyGov, lodging tax returns, managing tax debt repayments and responding to ATO notices are among the clinic’s services. Advice and assistance are provided to clients of the tax clinic by students from the Newcastle Business School and Newcastle Law School, under the supervision of experienced tax practitioners and academic staff. “If someone has incurred debts for any reason, we’ll assist them with advocating on their behalf with the ATO to get them a solution they are happy with,” O’Connor said. Due to the intensive nature of the program, O’Connor said appointments could take anywhere between half an hour to two hours.

FederalMmember for Newcastle Sharon Claydon attended the clinic’s opening on March 15.

While it’s only early days for the clinic, O’Connor said the University of Newcastle had been getting appointment inquiries every day. “The response has been really good,” he said. “A lot of our inquiries have been coming from financial counsellors who have been referring us. “The Financial Counselling Network in the Hunter was particularly excited that we’ve opened because they have a lot of clients they can’t assist with tax matters, whereas we can, as we’re legally allowed to do that with our registration.” The clinic has capabilities to service the entire region and will provide an outreach program for people who are unable to attend the in-person Newcastle clinic. The outreach program will offer popup clinics, a mobile tax clinic and online

technology to ensure the most isolated groups will have access. The University of Newcastle said a particular effort would be made to access Indigenous and other lowincome communities, including Muswellbrook and Cessnock. The clinic provides an opportunity for students to assist their community while integrating real-world issues and experiences into their studies. “We are here for the clients primarily to assist them, but it also is a teaching clinic, so both are involved,” O’Connor said. “We plan to have four or six students in the clinic per semester – while that’s our current capacity, we may be able to extend that. “The students come in, spend one semester here and learn what it’s like to work in an office with real-life clients, assisting them with the real issues they have.”

The University of Newcastle Tax Clinic is part of the National Tax Clinic Program – an Australian Government initiative and grant program O’Connor described as competitive to secure. The Australian Government will inject $300,000 into the program over the next three years, in conjunction with funding from the university itself, which contributes to staffing, free rent, access to technology and other resources. In the meantime, O’Connor has encouraged Novocastrians to contact the clinic to determine their eligibility status. “We’re keen to get the word out more … we’re here to help.” Residents have been encouraged to email the clinic to request an appointment. Maia O’Connor

Spirit Super works hard for Newcastle

Consider the PDS and TMD available at spiritsuper.com.au/pds before making a decision. Issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (AFSL 238718, ABN 14 008 650 628).

Liam, Teterin Engineering Hardworking Novocastrian

APRIL 2022 OVONEWS 15 ISSUE 015

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Federal election forum to help locals vote The Newcastle Institute hosted a public forum on April 13 to discuss Australia’s key political issues, helping locals make their vote count in the upcoming federal election. Newcastle Institute is a not-for-profit community organisation that aims to provide a forum for innovative and critical thinking to influence the development and debate of public policy at all levels. Held at the Newcastle United Sports Club on Bryant Street, Adamstown, the forum featured four expert panellists, including Walkley Award-winning columnist Jane Caro AM, CEO of Business Hunter Bob Hawes, Australian National University Professor Mark Kenny and former Senator of Australia Cheryl Kernot. The experts used their different perspectives to critically analyse Australia’s place in the world and potential policy responses to current challenges.

Newcastle Institute committee member, Robyn Considine, said this election was one of the most critical in recent years, and a close result was expected. Considine said there was a complex interplay of issues impacting the community and economy both nationally and locally. “We are also seeing community members expressing their frustration and anger with political parties and their policy decisions,” Considine said. “In line with citizens’ voting rights comes the responsibility to be informed about the issues and the policies of parties and candidates.” A range of topics were explored, including equity, the economy, women’s rights, housing, climate change, trust and integrity, international relations and voter disillusionment. For those who missed out, the event’s livestream can be viewed on the Newcastle Institute’s Facebook page and website, newcastleinstitute.org.au. The forum was held at the Newcastle United Sports Club in Bryant St, Adamstown.

Hayley McMahon

Recovery funds needed for local charity From page 1

“The team behind the Toy Run, while devastated, are bouncing back quickly. They are raising money to replace lost equipment, and planning is underway for some recovery events leading to the main event in December.” Meek said the team would be at various fundraising events to help raise the recovery funds. A sausage sizzle will be hosted at Kotara Bunnings on May 15 and July 5 and at Wallsend Bunnings on May 28. “If you’re a Novocastrian out for a ride or a drive, drop by and grab a sausage or make a donation,” Meek said. “We will be at the first weekend of the Offshore Superboat Championships at Lake Macquarie during the car show in Speers Point Park on May 15 and we are also planning a benefit day at Ka-Fey Cafe on Hunter Street Mall on May 25.” Meek said plans were also being made for their Christmas in July event, in which they would start opening up collection points for their toy donation drive. “It’s a spectacular parade of elaborately decorated motorcycles and riders laden with gifts,” Meek said. “The community is always invited to join in on the fun with live bands, food trucks, markets, kids rides and motorcycle and trade displays.” This year will mark 45 years of their toy collection drive, which will see thousands of motorcyclists ride from Ballast Ground Park in Stockton to Wickham Park on December 4. From less formal origins in 1978, where the original ride was from the Federal Hotel on Hunter Street, Bikers For Kids was established in 1990 by motorcycle enthusiast and community figure, Big

Treasurer Stephen Meek said they wanted to raise some much-needed funds before their Newcastle Toy Run event in December.

John Young, who coordinated and continued the tradition. In 2016, it was incorporated as an association and appointed a board of directors, which is now headed by Big John’s son Daryn. The committee comprises seven members who meet regularly to plan ways of funding, supporting and raising awareness of disadvantaged kids and families in the Newcastle and Hunter region. For more information on donating or purchasing raffle tickets, visit the Bikers For Kids Facebook page or newcastletoyrun.com.au. Hayley McMahon

The team will be down at Kotara Bunnings to raise much-needed recovery funds on May 15 and July 5.

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Young entrepreneur bootcamp kickstarting new beginnings Young entrepreneurs can participate in a new program that will help push their potential business ideas to the next level.

(L-R) Young entrepreneur Matthew Schilcock, City of Newcastle Community Development Facilitator Richelle Hedstrom, Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen and program facilitator Anoushka Naik launch the Youth Entrepreneurs Hub at the Digital Library. Photo: City of Newcastle

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Officially launched on April 14 to coincide with Youth Week, the Youth Entrepreneurs Hub offers free access to resources and mentoring for people aged 15 to 25 looking to start a business. The program kicked off at the City of Newcastle’s Digital Library with an intensive Entrepreneurs Mindset Bootcamp teaching participants how to identify and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Program sessions are run by leading entrepreneurs from the Newcastle Business Centre and the Sydney School of Entrepreneurship. Participants can also make the most of the Digital Library’s technology and resources, including the podcast room, digital wall and 3D Printers. The program includes monthly “Up Hustle” workshops that create a testing environment for generating and pitching ideas. Members have access to a range of features in the program, including individual mentoring sessions with

entrepreneurs, access to industry speakers and complete nationally accredited training through the Newcastle Business Centre. Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor, Declan Clausen, said City of Newcastle was committed to supporting employment and career opportunities for young people. “Youth unemployment is one of the most significant issues impacting young people in regional areas including Newcastle, a situation that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Cr Clausen said. “As part of our commitment to the Greater Newcastle Youth Employment Charter, City of Newcastle is working with other organisations to create new opportunities for young people by fostering the development of entrepreneurial skills in the region. “Through initiatives such as the Youth Entrepreneurs Hub, we can help young people develop the skills and confidence they need to turn fledgling ideas into viable business opportunities while also expanding their network of like-minded people and industry experts.” Hayley McMahon

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Macquarie Pier highlights Newcastle’s history The multi-stage facelift for Newcastle’s iconic Macquarie Pier is now finally complete, featuring a heritage walk that commemorates the city’s rich maritime history. Local historians and archivists from Hunter Living Histories were consulted in the making of the audio tour and signage along the newly revitalised Macquarie Pier Heritage Walk. The heritage walk explores everything from volcanic activity 300 million years ago that created Nobby’s Headland to the period when Newcastle was shelled in wartime. The interpretive signage and audio guide complete the Port Authority’s overall revitalisation of Macquarie Pier. In the first stage, the walkway was reconstructed with features such as a widened waterside footpath, a space for gathering and relaxing, sandstone seating and maritime-style fencing. Minister for Transport and Veterans, David Elliott, visited Newcastle on April 6 to officially open the Macquarie Pier Heritage Walk. “Novocastrians should be proud of their city’s rich history and this $1.85 million project is just another way we can pass the tales of the past onto another generation,” Elliott said. “From kids to history buffs, tourists to locals, this walkway with new signage and an interactive audio tour captures the importance of the harbour and maritime industries.”

Minister for Transport and Veterans, David Elliott, visited Newcastle on April 6 to officially open the Macquarie Pier Heritage Walk.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Taylor Martin, congratulated the Port Authority of NSW for the creative initiative. “Stage 2 of the Macquarie Pier Revitalisation Project provides the finishing touch on an iconic walk visited by hundreds of people daily,” Martin said.

Port Authority CEO, Philip Holliday, said this project was about giving back to the people who live, work and enjoy the areas around the harbour. “It’s been terrific to collaborate in developing this immersive audio tour and informative signs packed with historical facts and photos – we hope others love it as much as we do,”

Holliday said. The Macquarie Pier Revitalisation Project is jointly funded by the NSW Government in association with Port Authority of NSW and has been supported by contributions from Port of Newcastle. Hayley McMahon

Eyes in the sky to eradicate invasive weeds

Dominic Edmonds and Jordan Skinner prepare to fly out on their aerial surveillance mission. Photo: Lake Macquarie City

Council officers from across the Hunter region have championed a collaborative approach to environmental conservation by jointly taking to the sky to combat invasive weeds causing havoc on the ground. Comprising of councils and large public land managers, the Hunter Regional Weeds Committee uses helicopter surveillance to identify problem areas on the coast, Branxton

in the west, Wyee in the south and as far north in Taree. Hunter Local Land Services General Manager and Hunter Regional Weeds Committee Chair, Brett Miners, said the program demonstrated the effectiveness of a collaborative approach to tackling weeds. “Utilising technology and combining resources across the region is a great way to combat invasive weeds impacting the Hunter and Mid Coast,” Miners said.

“Identifying priority weed species and working together to control and reduce weed spread benefits the whole community.” Almost 30 stakeholder groups form the Hunter Regional Weeds Committee, including local councils, Crown Lands, the Australian Rail Track Corporation, Hunter Water, Local Land Services and the NSW Farmers Association. Aerial inspections by the group have specifically targeted groundsel bush, a dense, woody shrub native to the United States that competes with native vegetation and reduces agricultural land productivity. “Groundsel bushes are covered in white flowers at this time of year, so they’re very easy to spot from the air,” Lake Macquarie City Council Senior Natural Assets Officer, Dominic Edmonds said. “Using a helicopter, we can cover the same amount of terrain in a few hours that would take weeks to survey from the ground.” Crews pay particular attention to bushes along the region’s rail lines, where passing trains blow and spread the shrub’s seeds. Once identified and mapped, ground crews are sent to eradicate the weed. Port Stephens Council Environmental Operations Team Leader, Jordan Skinner, said officers were also targeting

pampas grass, which outcompetes native vegetation and creates fire hazards. “This is a really effective, efficient program that limits the spread of these weeds, saving our environment and protecting important agricultural areas,” Skinner said. Groundsel bush was first introduced to Australia as an ornamental plant in the 1800s, spreading to northern NSW by the mid-1960s. It tolerates a wide range of soil types and thrives even in waterlogged, acid and saline conditions, posing a significant threat to the Hunter’s protected coastal salt marsh environment. Skinner said it was gradually moving further south. “In its native habitat in the United States, it is frost-tolerant and occurs in places where there are regular snowfalls,” he said. “That means there’s the real possibility of it spreading further inland into colder areas, where it could cause serious issues.” The program is funded through the Hunter Local Land Services Weeds Action Program. Aerial surveying is expected to finish up soon, with crews sent out to eliminate the weeds in the coming weeks. Maia O’Connor

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Limelight on HER Two young Novocastrians passionate about theatre, acting and directing have launched a production company, providing equal opportunities for females and underrepresented individuals in the creative arts industry. HER Productions is the brainchild of co-artistic directors Charlotte De Wit and Marigold Pazar, who decided to join creative forces and establish their own company. “Our main goal is to provide opportunities for women and underrepresented people in all aspects of the industry,” Charlotte said. “So not just telling stories for women, written by women, but providing opportunities for stage managing, lighting design, costume design, directors and writers. “There are female producers, but many successful theatre companies in Newcastle are run by men, and they are choosing stories that interest them, which is absolutely fair, but we really wanted to offer a space for more diverse stories and more diverse people.” Marigold said they were focused on producing professional work and finding cast and crew from all skill ranges and backgrounds. “With every production, we will try for funding and get people involved not only at an amateur level but also include professionals,” Marigold said. “This way, everyone can get something out of the experience, and the whole theatre company can really grow and evolve. “Once I was in communication with Charlotte about the idea of a theatre company in Newcastle, it all just made perfect sense. We were both on the same page about what work we wanted to produce, so we just naturally came together.” Officially launching at a special event inside the iconic heritage-listed Victoria Theatre on April 9, HER Productions showcased a taste of their debut theatre production Annie Baker’s adaptation of the Russian classic, Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekov.

The full show will be presented from May 25 to 29 at The Lock-Up, located on Hunter Street, Newcastle. It was a rare opportunity to access the 1870s Victoria Theatre, which is still undergoing restorations since its closure in 1966— both Charlotte and Marigold were honoured to reignite the flame of the oldest theatre in NSW. “It was so amazing, and I was really proud for both Charlotte and I to have such a successful launch,” Marigold said. “We had a beautiful, supportive crowd, and our actors were thrilled. “I feel like we really gifted our audience with a real treat – we felt really supported, and that’s the most important thing, to be shaping this with a community that wants it.” Charlotte said the audience had missed the “magic of live theatre” and were excited to see the full production soon. “We had such great feedback from our launch, and we are so excited to showcase the full show come May,” Charlotte said. The theatre production of Uncle Vanya was scheduled for release in September last year but was unfortunately postponed due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Luckily, HER Productions was recognised by the City of Newcastle, who awarded the company Special Business Rate (SBR) funding to help produce the show. The SBR program is a funding pool available for local businesses to directly run creative projects to promote, beautify and develop Newcastle’s business precincts. HER Productions is a collaboration and creative fusion of Charlotte and Marigold’s collective 20 years of experience in acting, directing and theatre production. Marigold began acting at the age of 22, where she studied at various Sydney studios and schools, from the Actors College of Theatre & Television (ACTT) to ScreenWise Film and TV School for Actors. “Throughout my 20s, I have continued

Charlotte De Wit and Marigold Pazar have launched their brand new production company, HER Productions. Photo: Alyssa/Alpha Sierra

to try and keep up with my education, so I can keep training and refining my skills,” Marigold said. “Over the last four or five years, I have made two short films which required directing, producing, writing, acquiring a crew and collaborating with other creatives. “I’m also an actor, so I swing between producing and acting roles, which are both completely different experiences.” As well as co-directing and producing the upcoming production of Uncle Vanya, Marigold is also performing in the show as Yelena. Charlotte is a Newcastle local and started theatre classes at 14, where she “absolutely fell in love”. “I did classes for many years at Hunter Drama and was given plenty of

opportunities to perform, assistant direct and direct, so that was really rewarding,” Charlotte said. “I went on to study in New York City at the Atlantic Theatre Company for their Summer Intensive Program when I was 21 and fell in love with it. So I came back to Newcastle, where I’ve produced, directed, acted and performed for the past 10 years. “After working for other companies, I’m really excited to be producing and directing work that I’m really passionate about, and it’s really nice to have a supportive partner to do it all with!” To purchase tickets to see HER Productions’ debut theatre show, Uncle Vanya, visit herproductions.com.au.

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Hunter prepares for its largest agricultural show

Kids enjoying Tocal Field Days at last year’s event.

It is less than two weeks until the largest agricultural show in the Hunter gets underway, with event organisers preparing for recordbreaking crowds and almost 300 exhibitors.

Held between April 29 to May 1 at the Tocal Agricultural Centre in Paterson, Tocal Field Days is the number one field day in the Hunter region, with 28,000 people in attendance last year. Manager Charise Foulstone said visitors could expect a plethora of new

@novonewsau attractions and the return of some crowd favourite activities. Foulstone said they were looking forward to putting the impacts of COVID-19 and flooding behind them and enjoying a great weekend out. She said Tocal Field Days also played an important role in connecting communities and showcasing Hunter’s outstanding produce and farming sector. “Tocal Field Days educates people about the importance of agriculture and where food comes from,” Foulstone said. “It also gives farmers and farm suppliers a chance to get together, share ideas, and buy from each other. “Local community groups also benefit from grants issued from the event’s proceeds – 12 groups shared $35,000 last year.” Highlights of this year’s event include cooking demonstrations by TV chef Fast Ed, horse demonstrations, future farming displays, a milking barn, and a billy boiling competition. Other crowd favourite activities include piglet races, fencing demonstrations, working dog demonstrations, gumboot throwing competitions, bee-keeping displays, food and wine, art and craft displays, fashion parades, gardening talks, cooking demonstrations and cooking workshops. Local musical school students will provide live entertainment on Saturday and Sunday and are paid through the Talent at Tocal program. “Once you have a ticket, most activities

and competitions are free, making it an affordable day out for the family,” Foulstone said. “People can also use their $25 NSW Government Discover vouchers if they buy tickets at the gate. “The CWA will provide a free Devonshire tea to make up the difference in ticket prices.” Parking is available at the event, but a free park and ride shuttle bus from Maitland Railway Station via Lorn will run every hour to make it easy for people to get to the event. For information on tickets and pricing, visit tocalfielddays.com. Hayley McMahon

Manager Charise Foulstone with one of the Clydesdales on exhibition.

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Newy businesses to benefit from a free mural program

Merewether artist Nick Fintan painting a colourful mural for a small business.

Businesses in Newcastle’s city centre are set to benefit from a council-funded mural program, which seeks to deter vandalism and beautify the streets. The Small Walls program will deliver 10 murals throughout the CBD between May and October, supporting local artists and increasing physical appeal for businesses. Project organiser Jacinta Fintan said she was motivated to act after repeatedly encountering vandalism in the city. “After the last lockdown I went back to my office in Newcastle’s CBD and there was so much graffiti and tags around my building and throughout the city precinct,” Fintan said. “It’s not a good feeling walking around the city and it’s all grimy and there are tags everywhere. “So I thought it was important that something should be done to beautify the area.” Inspired by a similar initiative developed in Sydney, Fintan set out to secure funding from the City of Newcastle. “In Sydney, there was this great initiative that matched businesses with artists who installed murals on walls that were being regularly vandalised,” Fintan said. “So I thought it would be great if we could get some funding from the council to run a similar version of that here in Newcastle.” Fintan, who is an art consultant and curator promised it would bring a plethora of benefits to small business owners, and increase the overall aesthetic of Newcastle’s wider CBD.

“For cafe or restaurant owners where patrons are dining outside it can be demoralising to have big tags and vandalism right in front of you,” Fintan said. “If a space doesn’t look vandalised and grubby, people are more likely to congregate in the area. “Murals also improve the sense of place, and activate spaces to make them feel safer.” Fintan engaged in an extensive community consultation process before applying for the grant, and revealed the response from local businesses had been “really supportive”. “I went around door knocking and chatting to business owners in the CBD area to get their feedback and to see if they thought a program like this would be relevant to them,” Fintan said. “I got some really good support and letters of support from a number of businesses and organisations within the CBD.” She said that while she only just launched the initiative last week, she’s had a lot of contact from interested business owners and artists wanting to participate. “Businesses are beginning to register for the information session that I’m hosting in April so they can learn more about the program.” As a pilot project of sorts, Fintan said she wanted to minimise the costs associated with large-scale mural work. “What you find with larger mural walls is that you need big lifts and so much paint, so the costs are much higher,” she said. “I applied for a smaller amount of funding so that I could work with

emerging artists – Small Walls is all about installing murals on walls that you can access with a standard 3- metre A-frame ladder.” She said the plan would create opportunities for emerging artists across the Hunter and diversify art throughout the city. “It allows me to work with artists who are at the beginning of their career as far as painting murals goes,” Fintan said. “While they may be successful artists who exhibit regularly in galleries, they may be looking to step into large scale outdoor mural paintings which is really important. “It’s a great way to bring in the next

generation of street artists and mural artists in Newcastle.” Artists selected for the program will embark on a collaborative process to ensure the murals were appealing to all stakeholders. “I’m going to secure the walls, then I’ll talk to the different business owners about what might be relevant to put on their walls,” Fintan said. “Some owners may say anything will do, while a different business may want flora and fauna specifically.” After Fintan gets a sense of direction of what business owners have in mind, she will link them with different artist portfolios to determine which artist is the right fit. “If the business owner and their landlord are happy to proceed, the artist and I will have a discussion with the business owner about the theme.” A spokesperson for the City of Newcastle said the council was pleased to support the initiative. “The initiative has been supported through CityCentre and Darby Street Special Business Rates funding, which is reserved exclusively for the promotion, beautification and development of these business precincts,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that more mural initiatives would be delivered in the coming year to further beatify the CBD precinct such as Big Picture Fest, and the inaugural Little Festival. Fintan has encouraged small businesses and artists to get involved. “I just really encourage small businesses in the CBD to apply,” she said. “It’s a great way to beautify the street fronts if they’re getting vandalised regularly, and it’s a great way to put yourself on the map.” Maia O’Connor

Small businesses targeted by vandals within Newcastle’s CBD have been encouraged to apply.

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Strong demand has resulted in land shortages across the Hunter Region over the past couple of years.

Novocastrians tackling housing affordability in their own backyards By Kerri-Ann Hooper With the federal election now imminent, talk of housing affordability has never been more hotly debated. But, as Australia looks to the politicians, Novocastrians are, quite literally, looking to their own backyards, with a local trend of granny flats, dual key homes and rebuilds on the rise. Strong demand has resulted in land shortages across the Hunter Region over the past couple of years, causing prices to rise about $100,000, with the median price of land alone now sitting around $500,000. This was kick-started by the home-builders grant and escalated with the influx of city residents relocating to the Hunter as a result of COVID. Combined with the recent surge in Newcastle’s housing prices, it’s become even more difficult for first-time buyers to break into the market. The humble granny flat provides a two-way solution. Parents can help adult children get a head start and, in turn, when parents are looking to downsize, switching homes keeps the family intact and provides safety and security for aging parents. Granny flats are an appealing option for investors, too. Rent out the granny flat whilst you remain living in the house or maximise the return by renting out both dwellings. Newcastle isn’t short on generously

sized blocks, and granny flats are commonly suitable for a minimum land size of around 600 square metres. However, they come with a starting price tag of around $160,000-$220,000 for entry-level, which works for investors who don’t want to overcapitalise. If you are looking to live in the dwelling, there are plenty of options to personalise. Upgrade finishings with timber flooring, stone benchtops or a waterfall shower. Maximise space by opting for a high ceiling, additional storage, or by adding a verandah or garage. With elderly parents in mind, consider safety features, particularly in the bathroom, and mobility considerations, like wheelchair access. Dual key homes are also becoming a popular option to help support relatives or as a rental investment. They’re appealing in that they look like one home – something that gets a big tick from local councils – but offer separate entries and living, with the second entry commonly located down a side path. Dual key homes are generally set on a minimum land size of 500 square metres and cost in the ballpark of $450,000$500,000. A couple of considerations to bear in mind, though. First, come sale time, the title can’t be separated, so it must be listed as one property. If looking to build in an estate, be aware that some don’t allow dual key homes due to the impact they have on traffic and parking.

If you’re bursting at the seams or want a brand new home but love the street you’re in, knockdown-rebuilds are a great way to upsize and update. A knockdown-rebuild is a little extra compared to a new build. For example, a standard four-bedroom home with an extra living area is around $330,000, but with a knockdown, you need to budget demolition costs of approximately $30,000 and extra site costs of around $50,000, which could include soil removal, the upgrade of services to the new house, or a lollypop person if the house is on a busy road. You’ll also need to factor in moving into a rental property for the build duration. Before you set out down this path, a

feasibility study will help flag any hidden costs, like a contour survey to assess how level your land is and a geotech report to locate underground rocks. Before you let housing affordability get you down, consider maximising the land you already have or think outside the box for your next property investment.

Kerri-Ann Hooper is a local building broker and director of Carnelian Projects. She is a licensed real estate agent and holds a Certificate IV in Building and Construction. As a secondgeneration real estate specialist, she is passionate about helping people build their own homes.

Kerri-Ann Hooper is a local building broker and director of Carnelian Projects.

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Happy 26 years to the Merewether Ladies Probus Club! This is an updated community notice OVOFORUM from NovoNews issue #014. Merewether Ladies Probus Club is celebrating its 26th anniversary on May 23 at the Souths Merewether Leagues Club, 46 Llewellyn Street, Merewether.

Every fourth Monday, the club also meets at Souths Merewether Leagues

Club for monthly meetings, including guest speakers and general activities. There are numerous interest groups such as walking, crafts and choir. If you’re looking for friendship, fellowship and fun, contact Mary Jensen on 0412 635 362

Mr Perfect invites you to a free BBQ Please join us on Sunday, April 17, from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm at the Carrington Bowling Club, 1 Cowper Street, Carrington. Mr Perfect provides a free BBQ in Newcastle on the third Sunday of every month. The format is simple, informal, and completely inclusive. Men can come along and meet a bunch of top blokes. It’s a chance to get out of the house, socialise, meet some great people and form a supportive community. Friends,

OVOFORUM family and pets are welcome too! Mental health is discussed sometimes but is purely optional. The Carrington Bowling Club does not admit unvaccinated people. Meat and veggie options are available as well as soft drinks and water. Let co-ordinator Greg Millan know if you are coming by emailing greg@ menshealthservices.com.au or texting 0417 772 390.

Volunteers needed

St Vincent de Paul is looking for dedicated Member Volunteers right across the Newcastle region.

Are you compassionate, empathetic, and have a genuine desire to make a difference to those in need by: • Offering short term financial support to people in financial crisis • Offering a friendly ear to people experiencing hardship

OVOFORUM

• Making 3rd party referrals to a professional organisation Whilst it is necessary for your values to align with St Vincent de Paul, full training and mentoring is provided so no experience is necessary. Send an email to maitland.newcastle@ vinnies.org.au or call 0490 255 100 to find out more.

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The erosion of Stockton Beach Counter currents create the beaches of NSW. These work off the major north-south current, about 10 kilometres offshore. Stockton, south end, is in the “shadow” of the breakwater. It is ongoing and getting worse with rising sea levels. A north arm can permanently protect this—about 3 kilometres in length. It would be costly to fill, but it is possible to use large concrete pontoons semi filled with seawater, thus providing a series of platforms. A “barrage” of renewable power stations like wind, wave and even solar could be on these pontoons. Think of them as relocatable power towers. Each might be 100 metres, forming an array of 30. Say 50 metres max in height—forming a wall that could be made very visually attractive; think of night lighting. Stockton has the advantage of not

OVOFORUM only being an ideal position to supply power but an endless source of energy. It is relatively windy at that site. Wave Swell power pontoons are being tested now by the Tasmanian Hydro. Newcastle would be able to design and construct such a Stockton power barrage and breakwater; it could be by a private commercial undertaking. As the build would be one unit at a time, the financing would be progressive. A major industry could develop power towers for both land and floating applications. Thus, a new Stockton would emerge. An aquatic recreational harbour, including shark proofing by nets, resulting in a massive real estate boom injection into the future. All without taxpayers’ involvement. F. Whitaker, Newcastle

OVOFORUM

A voice for all Novocastrians Do you have an opinion about something in the Newcastle community? A compliment? A concern? A rebuttal? Or simply an observation that you believe serves the public interest.

NovoForum is here to provide an outlet for Novocastrians to discuss, offer insight, share knowledge, and have their say about local issues that matter to them. NovoNews encourages all groups and individuals in Newcastle to

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contribute their news, opinions, community comments, notices and items of interest for publication. Please send your entries to editorial@novonews.com.au and include a full name and suburb to be published. All entries are subject to our final editorial discretion. All content must be readable and coherent and must not be offensive or defamatory – the Editor reserves the right to truncate, amend or not to publish any material sent to us.

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University of Newcastle climbs global rankings

The University of Newcastle has continued its steady growth as a world-renowned educative institution, with new rankings released showing improvements across every broad subject area. The 2022 QS World Rankings by Subject assessed more than 1,500 institutions across the globe for their research quality, academic reputation and international research network in five broad subject areas. University of Newcastle Vice-

Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky AO, revealed the institution improved across all five broad subject areas, including Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management. Professor Zelinsky explained the results reflected the University’s dedication to improvement across all disciplines. “Arts and Humanities jumped 49 places to 253, Engineering and Technology 46 places higher to rank in

the top 200 for the first time, and Social Sciences and Management moved an impressive 52 places to rank 251 in the world,” Professor Zelinsky said. “To improve so significantly across the board is a real testament to our talented and dedicated staff who have excelled through an incredibly challenging two years.” Data also revealed the University ranked in the top 200 universities for Engineering and Technology and Life Science and Medicine. The Natural Sciences broad subject area moved from the 401 to 450 band to rank 348. The scale evaluates universities according to six different metrics, including their academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio and other metrics such as citations per faculty, international faculty ratio and international student ratio. Professor Zelinsky said the results painted a positive picture when investigating disciplines within the broad subject areas. “The University’s research and teaching in the discipline of Minerals and Mining remain among the best in the world, ranked 29,” Professor Zelinsky said. He said it included the University’s Civil Engineering courses, where the

undergraduate course was highly ranked for educational experience in the national Student Experience Survey in 2019 and 2020. “Nursing also maintained its position as a leader at our University, ranking 35th in the world … and in Law, an area that the University has focused on as an area of growth,” he said. “We were pleased to rank in the top 300 in the world.” The QS World Rankings by Subject ranked 1543 institutions across 51 subjects in five broad subject areas. This year, Australia’s top-ranked University was the Australian National University in Canberra, ranking 27th globally. In global university rankings, the University of Newcastle retained its place at 197. “The University of Newcastle is committed to being a world leader in education and research and to see our university rank so highly among world leaders reaffirms our position as a leading institution for the region,” Zelinsky said. “Students who attend our university can feel confident they are receiving a world-class education from experts in their fields.” Maia O’Connor

HMRI announces new Institute Director The Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) has announced Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin as the new Institute Director for the next five years. Professor Kay-Lambkin is a registered Psychologist and an award-winning mental health researcher with over 20 years of experience in the university sector. She has over 10 years of experience in research leadership, most recently holding the positions of Head of School of Medicine and Public Health and ProVice-Chancellor at the University of Newcastle. In addition, she is chair of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Women in Health Science Committee and a member of the NHMRC Research Committee. Professor Kay-Lambkin said she felt privileged to take on the leadership role. “Having spent many years as an HMRI researcher, I know HMRI’s importance to Newcastle, the Hunter and our communities,” she said. “My time outside our region has demonstrated to me that the impact of HMRI is global, and it has a stellar reputation across Australia and internationally. “Our work delivers high-quality research that results in real-world health benefits in real-time.” Professor Kay-Lambkin said her appointment was an opportunity to pay forward the investment and support the region had shown her over her career.

Professor Kay-Lambkin will officially commence her new role in late May. Photo: University of Newcastle

“I have experienced first-hand the transformative effect that donors have on our research,” she said. “A HMRI donor changed the course of my work at a time when I was considering a career change, so it is extra special that I am now in a position to work with

the many supporters and donors of HMRI and bring more of those opportunities to our researchers.” Professor Kay-Lambkin’s work on the comorbidity of mental health and drug use disorders has received more than $30 million in successful research

funding, leading to new treatments and better patient outcomes. HMRI Chair Kyle Loades was delighted with the appointment of Professor KayLambkin and said that a local person was the clear standout from a strong international field of applicants. “Frances is a leading national and international research professional,” Loades said. “To have such a strong candidate who is also so well known to HMRI and the Hunter region is an amazing win for us all.” “HMRI’s purpose is to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities, and Professor Kay-Lambkin has embodied this mission throughout her stellar career as a researcher and advocate for mental health and research.” Professor Kay-Lambkin will officially commence her new role in late May, taking over from current Director Professor Mike Calford. “The board and I are so grateful to Mike for his outstanding leadership of HMRI during the unprecedented challenges of the ongoing pandemic,” Loades said. “Mike leaves HMRI with an incredible legacy of achievements and in an even stronger position than when he took the reins. “I know that Mike is keen to enjoy his well-earned semi-retirement and his other commitments to education and research, and we all wish him the best of luck for the future.” Maia O’Connor

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Hunter researchers crowned with national honours

Laureate Professor Clare Collins. Photo: HMRI

Two Hunter researchers who are helping to improve the health and wellbeing of communities worldwide have been bestowed prestigious medical research awards. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) awards are presented annually to top-ranked researchers and teams following peer-reviewed applications to NHMRC’s highly competitive grant schemes. At a March 30 gala event in Canberra, the two University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute researchers were recognised. World-leading dietitian researcher, Laureate Professor Clare Collins, received the NHMRC Elizabeth Blackburn Investigator Grant Award for Leadership in Clinical Medicine and Science. Professor of Nursing, Brett Mitchell, who is investigating strategies to prevent healthcare-acquired infections, was awarded the Peter Doherty Investigator Grant Award for Emerging Leadership. Laureate Professor Collins focuses on nutrition technologies and methods to support personalised medical nutrition therapy, including dietary biomarkers and telehealth models of care. Currently, 7 million Australians live with at least one diet-related chronic disease risk factor, while 27,500 die from causes directly due to unhealthy dietary patterns.

Her research targets under-served population groups based on life stage, socioeconomic status and geographic location, generating new knowledge on cost-effective models of care to reduce diet-related health risks. “If you could click your fingers and instantly every Australian was able to eat healthily in a way that aligned with nutrition guidelines, estimates from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare are that the disease burden attributed to heart disease would drop by 50 per cent and type 2 diabetes would drop by 25 per cent,” Laureate Professor Collins said. Before her research, no Australian dietary assessment tools could measure usual dietary patterns in real-time or generate personalised reports. “The tools my team created are transforming how dietary advice is delivered both in-person and for telehealth,” she said. “My vision is to translate precision and personalised nutrition technologies that improve diet-related health and wellbeing into settings that are easily accessible for health care practitioners and vulnerable communities. “My greatest hope is that these nextgeneration nutrition technologies will transform access to cost-effective models of nutrition support available through Medicare, hospitals and primary healthcare.” Professor Brett Mitchell’s research is tackling the global threat of microbial resistance and emerging infections by

researching methods to prevent infections from occurring in the first place. His research focuses on increasing patient safety by preventing and controlling infections within hospitals, healthcare settings and businesses. One in 10 patients in an Australian hospital acquires an infection while in hospital. The burden of healthcare-related infection is significant, with associated morbidity, mortality and, for those acquired in hospitals, increased length of stay. Despite being common and affecting 165,000 Australians a year, strategies to prevent healthcare-acquired infection are underpinned by low-quality evidence. “My research program consists of three discrete, inter-related projects. The work will provide evidence for practical measures to reduce common infections – urinary tract infection, pneumonia, as well as improving cleaning in healthcare,” Professor Mitchell said. “The program of work will provide a strong foundation for transformations in clinical practice and policy in Australia and internationally. “This will, in turn, reduce patient morbidity and mortality, control healthcare expenditure and help to prevent antimicrobial resistance.” His expertise has also contributed to designing a portable single isolation

room, used extensively in the United Kingdom as part of the COVID-19 response. “Through this award, my research and working alongside patients, clinicians, academics and industry, I hope we can reduce the burden of infection for patients who receive healthcare across the country.” University of Newcastle Deputy ViceChancellor Professor Zee Upton said the innovative research was making a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of thousands of Australians. “The NHMRC Research Excellence Awards are highly prestigious, celebrating excellence and leadership in the health and medical research sector,” Professor Upton said. “On behalf of the University of Newcastle community, I congratulate both Laureate Professor Collins and Professor Brett Mitchell on their awards, which recognise the paths they are each forging in their respective fields.” HMRI Director Professor Mike Calford said both recipients were well deserving of their awards. “Hospital-acquired infections and diet-related disease are two important fields of research with clear outcomes for individuals and community health,” Professor Calford said. “It is gratifying to see Hunter researchers continually at the top of the pack in terms of research and recognition.” Hayley McMahon

Professor Brett Mitchell. Photo: Eddie O’Reilly

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Grief support for Hunter youth

Kids will work with a mentor and participate in psychoeducational sessions and fun physical activities.

Intern Journalist Wanted

Hours Flexible

Are you community minded? Committed to public interest journalism? Are you organised? Can you work independently? Do you have experience in reporting local news? Do you live in the Newcastle area?

If you said yes to most of these things, you could be Novo News’ new intern journalist! This position would be perfect for a final year Media & Communications student.

Interested? Call 0490 341 705

Hunter youth dealing with the death of a loved one will have access to vital support, helping them face, feel and heal with their grief. Feel the Magic is an NSW based notfor-profit charity providing early intervention grief education programs and other resources for kids aged seven to 17 following the death of a parent, guardian or sibling. The charity is hosting its first regional Camp Magic in Lake Macquarie from June 17 to 19. Over the three-day camping experience, kids will work with an adult mentor specifically matched for them and participate in psychoeducational sessions and fun physical activities. Feel the Magic co-founder, Kristy Thomas, said they saw a need for grieving kids to come together and meet others in their situation. “We were sending families on Disneyland adventures and saw they were creating their own community,” Thomas said. “So, we wanted to touch more kids’ lives by bringing them into camp, and just by meeting one other person who may have been through the same thing as them, it just changes their world. “Camp Magic provides a place for them to reshape their future and grow from their grief instead of suffering.”

Through Newcastle Permanent’s Community Assist program, employees have donated $15,000 to enable 15 local kids to attend the camp. Feel the Magic CEO, Adam Blatch, said the Community Assist program helped them bring the much-needed program to the Hunter. “Childhood bereavement causes disruptions in relational, academic and occupational functioning later in life, and is associated with greater risk of maladaptive coping, mental health disorders, substance abuse, suicide and early mortality,” Blatch said. “Grieving children can feel isolated and alone. “They require ongoing support to develop strategies to cope and move forward with their lives.” Blatch said more than 300,000 Australian children lose a parent before they turn 18. “Our evidence-based programs have been developed by a clinical psychologist and are delivered by mental health trained professionals,” he said. “We go beyond traditional young people’s grief support groups by offering free camps, programs and resources plus support for parents to create a community of families to support each other.” He said an independent evaluation of Feel the Magic’s programs for kids aged seven to 11 showed a 12 per cent increase in their ability to cope through challenging times. Additionally, there was an 11 per cent growth in their ability to manage emotions when feeling overwhelmed and a 9 per cent shift in mental wellness and belief in the ability to get through tough times. Newcastle Permanent business manager, Sabina Andersson, nominated Feel the Magic to her colleagues as a charity worthy of support. She said losing an immediate family member would have a devastating impact on a child’s wellbeing and potential. “Feel the Magic is helping individuals deal with their grief and supporting them towards a positive future which benefits the community as a whole,” Andersson said. “I also like the whole family approach. There is support for parents and carers to simultaneously navigate their grief and their child’s grief to move forward as a family. “The other great thing about Feel the Magic is that it brings families in similar situations together to support each other and create a community rather than feelings of isolation.” The charity’s annual fundraising bike ride will run in the Hunter Valley from June 16 to 19 and finish at the Lake Macquarie camp. To find out more about Feel the Magic’s programs, to volunteer or donate, visit feelthemagic.org.au. Hayley McMahon

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Grandmothers for Refugees call for change Local advocacy group, Grandmothers for Refugees, hosted a vigil at Civic Park on April 6, calling on Novocastrians to prioritise meaningful policy change ahead of the upcoming election. Co-ordinator of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Grandmothers for Refugees branch, Marion Gevers, said attendees sought to raise awareness of the increasingly desperate situation of refugees and asylum seekers globally. “In view of the poor weather and the late event notice, we were very grateful for the support of our vigil … we had a lot of support from people driving past and tooting horns and the like,” Gevers said. Grandmothers for Refugees have long been active in Newcastle, with the group recently commemorating six years of weekly vigils. “Aside from the vigils, we have a nationwide network of advocacy groups with whom we meet to keep informed about different developments,” Gevers said. “We discuss what sort of policies and strategies we need to promote with government, especially if another party comes to power. “Many of us also write letters and make phone calls to ministers and politicians.” With a federal election looming in May, Gevers said her group was among a raft of advocacy groups campaigning for government reform.

Mission personal for local GFR co-ordinator Gevers said that her passion for justice was a product of her upbringing, making her particularly sympathetic toward those fleeing war and persecution. “My grandparents were refugees in the First World War, and my parents were refugees in the Second World War,” Gevers said.

Grandmothers for Refugees recently commemorated six years of weekly vigils in Newcastle.

“Every person has a right to live in dignity, a right to safety, and a right to an education – these are rights that people should not be deprived of and that are part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “All the people who have come to Australia in the last 10 years have been deprived of the most productive years of their life—what they’ve gone through would break any man, woman or child. “It has been a terrible, slow torture inflicted on those mostly young people, whose names were obliterated in favour of a number that they were addressed by, the cruelty of indefinite detention and, even when freed, the temporary status they still live in, resulting in separation from their families for over a decade.” Gevers said it was the obligation of all Australians to advocate for this vulnerable demographic and prioritise the issue during the upcoming election. “It’s up to people who are privileged in their way of life to offer refugees and asylum seekers safety and refuge,” Gevers said. “We are one of the wealthiest countries on earth, and we owe that to people who aren’t so lucky and are driven out of their country by war and persecution,

Co-ordinator of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Grandmothers for Refugees branch, Marion Gevers.

seeking a safe place to live to restart their lives.”

Cr McCabe leads council agenda Novocastrian’s ongoing commitment to refugees was recently proven by the unanimous decision of City of Newcastle (CN) councillors to request the urgent settlement for all refugees who sought sanctuary and a safe home in Australia. Councillors asked Newcastle Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes, to request assistance from the current Minister for Home Affairs, Karen Andrews, along with ministers in the NSW Senate and House of Representatives. Councillors also endorsed adding CN to the list of local councils supporting the Back your Neighbour campaign, a joint mayoral petition asking the Prime Minister to take meaningful action for those seeking asylum. Greens councillor for Ward 2, Charlotte McCabe, introduced the Notice of Motion at CN’s Ordinary Council Meeting on March 22 after becoming inspired by the actions of other councillors in Hobart, Moreland and Greater Dandenong.

“I thought it was a good opportunity for the City of Newcastle to add their voice to this renewed call to free the refugees,” Cr McCabe said. Cr McCabe’s Notice of Motion noted that Australia held 66 refugees and asylum seekers in locked detention, approximately 448 in community detention and approximately 504 on short-term bridging visas. It also noted that 104 people were detained in Papua New Guinea and 112 at Nauru. “We must speak up to support refugees and asylum seekers because it is their legal right to seek asylum in our country,” Cr McCabe said. “We know that with the serious global tensions and increasing pressures resulting from climate change, we will see an increase in refugees forced to flee their homes. “It is a moral responsibility for Australia to provide refugees and asylum seekers with a safe place to live.” Grandmothers For Refugees will continue its advocacy work in Newcastle, including a vigil every Thursday from 5 pm to 6 pm at Civic Park, except in the first week of the month when the vigil is on Wednesday. Maia O’Connor

Cr Charlotte McCabe introduced a Notion of Motion calling for City of Newcastle to support the urgent settlement for all refugees.

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Hunter’s tragic colonial history revealed WARNING: Readers are advised that this story contains information about historical massacres of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that may be distressing.

An informative mapping tool developed by Newcastle researchers has challenged common misconceptions about early colonial history, calling for Australia’s national identity to be re-evaluated. The online map and database project records the violent frontier massacres of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including site locations, details of the individual massacres and corroborative evidence of the killings. Led by University of Newcastle historian, Emeritus Professor Lyndall Ryan, the Australian-first research project is currently in its eighth year and estimates the tragic loss of more than 10,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lives in more than 400 massacres. This new statistic is up from a previous estimate of 8,400 lives lost in 302 massacres. Contrastingly, it is estimated that 168 non-Aboriginal people were killed in 13 frontier massacres. Project researcher, Dr Jennifer Debenham, said new evidence discovered that attacks during the spread of pastoral settlement in Australia did not wane as time passed but instead intensified. Due to the Hunter Valley being settled in the earlier 1800s, Dr Debenham said the region was largely saved from the height of brutality. She said the frontier moved inland and weaponry advanced over time, resulting in more brutal and extensive massacres committed after 1860. “From the entire project, what we do know is that the Hunter Valley massacres occurred at a much earlier time than others, at around the 1820s,” Dr Debenham said. “We see the methods are a little different due to the kind of weapons technology that was available.” The map documents five massacres,

Led by University of Newcastle historian Emeritus Professor Lyndall Ryan, the Australiafirst research project is in its eighth year. Photo: Penny Harnett

which Dr Debenham described as the murder of six or more people near Seaham, Dungog, Muswellbrook, Barrington and Stroud. The killings resulted in the deaths of 57 Aboriginal people in just 15 years and were perpetrated by a range of settlers, including shepherds, workers, government officials and local settler authorities.

Local massacres were “statesanctioned murder” Dr Debenham said that despite the early settlement of the Hunter Region and the less brutal killings, there were still a number of violent acts committed in the area. “Massacres were lower in number and

Due to funding limitations, the map will most likely remain in its existing form, with some minor updates added when necessary.

were related to pastoral and agricultural issues … most of the conflict occurred when Europeans moved into the area, and Aboriginal people were dispossessed of their land,” she said. “There was also a reasonable amount of interference with Aboriginal women by the settlers that caused a lot of conflict around the area as well.” In a lot of cases, Dr Debenham said massacres were premeditated by settlers, and often “state-sanctioned murder”. “In many cases, particularly in the Hunter and further north, magistrates and police were involved in massacres,” Dr Debenham said. “If they were carried out by pastoralists, the magistrates and police just turned a blind eye to it and allowed it to happen without consequence.” On March 3, 1827, Sydney newspapers,

The Australian (1824-1848) and The Monitor (1803-1842) reported that a shepherd at the Paterson River in the Hunter Valley had killed a dog belonging to Wonnarua warriors. According to the newspaper reports, the Wonnarua wounded the shepherd and set fire to the corn crop before the shepherd gathered other settlers on the estate and attacked the mob, killing 12. In 1877, a man present for the incident told the Maitland Mercury that, in actuality, a party had formed to punish the Aboriginal people for taking cobs of maise to take back to their camps. The man said the group fired upon a number of men, women and children at the camp, killing some and wounding others. Dr Debenham revealed that some settlers were aware that the harsh massacres and reprisal killings of Aboriginals often outweighed the crimes that incited them. “In one newspaper article that reported the massacre, an anonymous writer really puts into question the sanction behind the murders of these people,” Dr Debenham said. “They say that the murder was over the top for what had happened to incite the massacre in the first place.” Dr Debenham said that investigating colonial history had been no easy task. “It’s a painstaking, needle in the haystack kind of history where you confer with government and police reports and a lot of archival evidence, such as diaries and newspapers,” she said. “Some reports make you cry, and on those days, it affects you more than on other days.” The team’s map project is already beginning to inform the next generation and has been embedded in the NSW curriculum as an education tool. With National Reconciliation Week in May, Dr Debenham hopes the map will better assist Australians to understand the trauma inflicted on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To read the full story, visit novonews. com.au. Maia O’Connor

Despite the early settlement of the Hunter Region and the less brutal killings, there were still a number of violent acts committed in the area.

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Creatives shine a light on the elderly and their stories

Participant Joan Calverley was one of many Novocastrians who shared their story for the exhibition. Photo: Melanie Muddle

Two Newcastle artists created a public photo exhibition honouring the lives and stories of the local elderly community. “Every time an old person dies, it is as if a library burned down.” This was the quote by Amadou Hampâté Bâ that resonated with creatives Hannah Robinson and Melanie Muddle, inspiring their latest exhibition, And Then, They Were No Longer Invisible. The creative duo recently embarked on a journey with Novocastrians aged 70 years and older to create new narratives around aging, isolation and ageism. “Photography is used to tell stories – rather than documenting people, we wanted to create a space where they could invite older folk to share their stories and images for the broader community could connect,” Muddle said. The installation was located within the East End Village, in Newcastle’s CBD, and remained in place until April 15. “We both knew from personal experience that older people in our communities were a bit unseen and unheard, and the pandemic amplified

that,” Muddle said. “We wanted to raise consciousness around ageing in our society, people’s experiences and how isolation has come into that. “It’s a cultural and historical preservation process on the one hand, but it’s also this uplifting therapeutic process for participants as well.” Both creatives utilised connections in the community to approach potential participants and opened up a nomination process, where people were nominated by their family, friends and loved ones. “Through that process, people provided information and part of their story, and we were able to build a database of people,” Muddle said. “We were overwhelmed with nominations; we had more nominations than places available.” Muddle said the project encompassed a diverse group of Novocastrians, which made it all the more rewarding to be a part of. “Within this project, we were constantly challenged and were delighted to engage with the beautiful diversity across the age group – each person’s experience and what they have navigated through their lives is just remarkable,” Muddle said.

“I was taken by the resilience of the people we worked with – they had all experienced this accumulative loss that can happen in a lifetime of losing husbands, partners, siblings and children, as well as homes and businesses. “All sorts of stories were shared within this project.” Muddle said it was inspiring to see how their resilience and approach to living had shaped who they were today. “There’s a lot we can learn as younger folk in this community from our elders regarding how you navigate bankruptcy, how you navigate losing a partner or the loss of a child,” she said. “There’s a lot of wisdom and knowledge we can gain from them.” As a culture, Muddle said it was to our detriment that we often stereotype people based on their age, resulting in a feeling of great redundancy and lack of purpose on our elderly counterparts. “One of the participants used to be the Mayor of Cessnock,” Muddle said. “She shared how older people have so much to give – they’re still capable of thinking and learning new technology and all of the things we seem to write off as a society as people get older.” As a Redhead resident, Muddle sought the contribution of one particular

ageing icon to prove their existing community contribution. “There’s this beautiful gentleman John and his dog Monty,” Muddle said. “They’re iconic in our suburb – John has lived here for 60 years, and everybody knows who he and his dog are … they walk daily, they’re recognised on the street, and John used to take Monty to the preschool to play with the kids. “It was really important for me that he was included – he’s had such a role to play in this suburb, and it was so beautiful to engage with him and his daughter and see the community connect with his images on the wall.” From listening to the elders’ stories, Muddle said the duo learnt many valuable lessons. “One of the other things we learnt is relationships and maintaining strong connections for health and wellbeing, especially later in life,” she said. “Those relationships help people cope with the challenges they face in their lifetime.” Time is of the essence for the duo, whose goal is to record more valuable stories before they are lost forever. “Once these people are gone, their stories are gone, and the visual representation of a whole era and generation disappears.” Muddle said the project was made possible by the City of Newcastle’s Community Grant Program and Lake Macquarie City’s Creative Industries Seed Grant, covering printing and material costs. “This is the first round of a long term project – our goal is to run this program and project across regions and states across Australia to create an archival collection of imagery and recordings that help document this generation and their stories,” Muddle said. “It’s the first part of a very big and beautiful project.” Melanie said they also intended to further diversify the project by including Indigenous and refugee communities, as well as the elderly living in rural environments. Maia O’Connor

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OVOCULTURE

Major Australian documentary premiers in Newcastle Over 100 people attended the Newcastle premiere of Where the Water Starts, a documentary that reveals the unique threats and challenges facing the Snowy Mountains and its water sources. Made in collaboration with Director Amanda King, Producer Fabio Cavadini and Indigenous ambassador of the Invasive Species Council, Richard Swain, Where the Water Starts investigates the destruction of the fragile alpine ecology of the Snowy Mountains, in particular Kosciuszko National Park. The screening was held at Event Cinemas in Westfield Kotara on April 4, featuring a special Q&A with the film crew and a Welcome to Country by Worimi Elder, Aunty Theresa Dargin. Members of the local Hunter Aboriginal community and Paakindji Elder, Uncle Owen Whyman from Wilcannia and Kamilaroi man Lawrence Brooke were also in attendance. The film aims to promote national discussions about the protection of rivers and headwaters, calling for action from governments to address outstanding environmental issues. Told from the perspective of respected Indigenous and non-Indigenous community leaders, the film gives insight into the region’s vital ecological role. These different perspectives illustrate that Aboriginal connection and regenerative science can work together for a better future for the mountains and the planet.

The documentary is told from the perspectives of Indigenous community leaders. (L to R) Richard Swain, Major Moogy Sumner and Uncle Max D Harrison. Photo: John Ford

Richard Swain, a Wiradjuri descendant, born in Cooma, has a strong voice in the film. He details the environmental challenges facing the headwaters of three iconic

rivers in the region and what must be done to protect them.Having witnessed the destruction of the environment by hard-hoofed animals, Swain decided to speak out on the issue.

Swain said traditional farming techniques and the impact of feral animals were doing great harm to waterways, Indigenous species and Indigenous cultural heritage. He said 34 species of native plants and animals were now under threat due to hard hoofed animals, like horses, trampling on the region’s unique habitats and endangering the viability of the headwaters of the rivers. “This environment is meant to be pristine, and we can no longer ignore the damage being done by these feral animals,” Swain said. “It is the responsibility of all Australians to accept this land as your heritage, care for it and protect it as your culture. “It’s at the tipping point now. If we get the horses off and do a little bit of remediation, this will recover.” Swain concluded the night with an invitation to the audience to share in the custodianship of the land. He said the community could help by getting involved in progressing government policy into action, volunteering at wildlife support organisations, signing petitions, donating funds or even hosting a screening of the film. For more information on the film and the issues facing the Snowy Mountains, visit documentaryaustralia.com.au. Hayley McMahon

Exhibition takes young minds on a curious adventure Take a trip down the rabbit hole at the Newcastle Museum’s latest exhibition, exploring numeracy, literacy and science concepts with the help of Alice in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll’s literary classic has been transformed into a colourful, hands-on experience designed to introduce children to everything from optical illusions and wordplay to physics, timetelling and maths. Newcastle councillor, Elizabeth Adamczyk, said the Alice’s Wonderland – A Most Curious Adventure exhibition provided parents with the perfect mix of education and entertainment to keep their kids occupied during the Easter school holidays. “The wondrously bizarre and sometimes illogical story of Alice in Wonderland is the ideal inspiration for a playful exhibition that will ignite the natural curiosity of young children while also introducing them to a range of numeracy, literacy and science concepts,” Cr Adamczyk said. “This exhibition provides a fantastic option for parents looking for a fun, low-cost activity for toddlers and junior

primary school-aged children during the upcoming holidays.” Running until July 10, the exhibition features familiar scenes such as the rabbit hole, the hall of doors and the Mad Hatter’s tea party. The touring exhibition from Museums Victoria encourages visitors to explore how they perceive the world around them, with interactive fun for parents and children to enjoy together. “It is yet another example of the engaging, innovative touring program and locally produced exhibitions that ensure Newcastle Museum continues to be a highly popular destination for locals and tourists of all ages,” Cr Adamczyk added. Visitors to Newcastle Museum can also take a free trip through Australia’s rural, remote and regional hearts thanks to the amazing photography shown in Portrait of Australia: Stories through the lens of Australian Geographic. The stunning series of large-format photographs will transport audiences across Australia, from the bush to the coast, as they showcase the country’s diverse environments and the people who call them home.

A Portrait of Australia: Stories through the lens of Australian Geographic is on display at Newcastle Museum until June 19. Tickets for Alice’s Wonderland – A Most Curious Adventure cost $10 for

adults, $7 for concessions, $5 for children and $25 for a family of four. Children aged two and under are free and Dine and Discover NSW vouchers are accepted. Maia O’Connor

Newcastle Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk with Mason Akers and Newcastle Museum Curator David Hampton at the Alice’s Wonderland – A Most Curious Adventure exhibition at Newcastle Museum. Photo: City of Newcastle

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Superboats will roar across Lake Macquarie as part of May’s fast and loud festival. Photo: Lake Macquarie City

Get ‘Fast and Loud’ in May Lake Mac is set to come alive with the sights and sounds of the inaugural Fast and Loud Festival in May, with two thrilling weekends of action planned on and off the water. The festival will play host to the Australian Power Boats Grand Prix, the local round of the Offshore Superboat Championships and the popular Belmont Beers, Blues and BBQ evening.

Paul Bennet air-shows, motocross displays, concerts and family-friendly lakeside activities are also among the activities on offer. Lake Macquarie Mayor, Kay Fraser, credited the return of large-scale outdoor events and festivals to easing COVID restrictions. “After two long years where events have been few and far between, Fast and Loud will be fantastic fun for all ages,” she said.

“We’ve spread the action across two weekends and both sides of the lake to appeal to the largest possible audience.” A free Friday night Super Sounds event featuring live music and food stalls along the foreshore will kick off the weekend on May 13, before the Offshore Superboat Championships roar into action from May 14 to May 15. Lake Macquarie City promised something for everyone with food vendors, children’s rides, a petting zoo

and family-friendly live entertainment at the foreshore to continue the festival off the water. Matt Hall Racing aircraft will do flyovers on both days, while Speers Point Park will host farmers’ markets on May 14 and a vintage car show on May 15. The park’s Multi-Arts Pavilion Mima is set to host ARIA Hall of Fame blues legend Russell Morris on May 14, supported by The Viper Creek Band, The Appointments and Piper Butcher. Council Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism, Jacqui Hemsley, said the second weekend included a host of activities on the western side of the lake at Rathmines Park. “This will be an amazing weekend out,” she said. “We’ll have the Australian Powerboat Grand Prix, a freestyle motocross show and the incredible stunts and aerobatics of the Paul Bennet Airshow, together with live entertainment, food and drinks.” The Australian Power Boats Grand Prix will take place from May 21 to May 22, with accompanying lakeside action at Rathmines, including a ticketed Lake Macquarie Food and Wine Festival featuring more than 100 food and drink stalls. Lake Macquarie City revealed that Blues singer-songwriter Ash Grunwald is set to headline this year’s event, supported by Caitlin Harnett and the Pony Boys and Justin Ngariki and the Dastardly Bastards. Community members have been encouraged to visit the Lake Macquarie City website for more information on events and tickets. Maia O’Connor

Toronto mum delivers baby on roadside The mother of a baby born on a Toronto roadside has thanked the helpful stranger who assisted with the emergency delivery.

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Newborn Charlie Jay Hoover’s dramatic arrival on March 21 made it the “most memorable day” of his mother’s life. “On that morning, I woke with a bit of discomfort, which gradually worsened as time went by, and by 11 am, I was sitting on my bed thinking back to when I was in labour with my daughter – I knew the pains were familiar,” mother, Chey Hoover said. “As the day went by, the contractions got worst, and by around 5 pm, I called John Hunter Hospital to ask when I should arrive at the hospital. “They told me to hold off until the contractions were two to four minutes apart, which they never got down to.” By 6.30 pm, Chey, who was still at home, called her sister after her pain became unbearable. She said her hardest task during the labour was walking down 18 stairs to reach her vehicle. “Once we got out of my driveway, I had a gut feeling I had left it too late to get to a hospital or to have an ambulance make it to me,” she said. “Three minutes after leaving home and not even making it out of Toronto, my water broke. I started to freak out

because I knew the baby was coming.” The pair pulled over on Anzac Parade before calling 000, and Charlie was delivered at 7.17 pm that night. “I had a sudden urge to push … my sister could see Charlie’s head, and I knew Charlie wouldn’t wait until an ambulance arrived,” Chey said. Chey said she was grateful for the intervention of a stranger, who saw the desperate pair and decided to assist. “A woman appeared out of a house nearby … she must have seen us on the side of the road with our car hazard lights on,” she said. “My sister was down on her knees trying to deliver Charlie, and the woman came racing over with a towel and took over talking to the 000 operators.” Chey said despite the labour being quick, Charlie’s delivery was far from smooth sailing. “Whilst pushing, Charlie got stuck and after what felt like forever, we finally delivered him,” she said. “As my sister delivered Charlie, she unwrapped the umbilical cord that was wrapped around his neck and got him breathing. “After a long 10 or so seconds, he let out a little cry, and we knew everything was okay.” As no ambulances were in the area, the pair waited on the side of the road for 17 minutes until assistance finally arrived.

Chey Hoover with her sister Samantha, who helped deliver her newborn.

“Two ambulances arrived with four beautiful paramedics, and for one, it was her first night on the job,” Chey said. “It was the most memorable day of my life, and I’m so happy my sister was by my side to do what she did because things may not have had the same outcome as they did without her.” As for the helpful stranger, Chey tracked her down on Facebook, and while she hasn’t had the chance to thank her personally yet, she intends to in the coming weeks. “I’m so thankful for her help … she’s someone I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” Maia O’Connor

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OVOCASTRIAN

Walking 1000km in the name of climate change The 24-year-old will walk from Melbourne to Newcastle unassisted.

Mitchell Drover has set himself a monumental task and is walking 1000 kilometres from Melbourne to Newcastle in just 29 days, with hopes to raise funds and awareness for conservation and sustainability. Starting on June 3, the 24-year-old will leave for his journey, which will raise money for environmental organisations the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and Take 3 for the Sea. “I’m doing the walk completely unassisted,” Mitch said. “It’s just me, my backpack, and the open road.” Hailing from Port Macquarie on the Mid-North Coast, Mitch was motivated to complete the mammoth task to fulfil an inherent sense of social responsibility. “I’m filled with so much remorse and frustration at what is happening to people worldwide who are suffering at the hands of climate change,” Mitch said. “My goal is to help educate people on living a more sustainable lifestyle and bring everyone together so we can make a greater change and enjoy this place for years to come.” Along the way, Mitch will be visiting rural towns to witness the impacts of natural disasters.

Among them is Howlong on the Murray River, impacted by flooding, and Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, which has experienced landslip events caused by extreme weather conditions. He said while the fundraising component of his trek had not begun, his current focus was on promoting his Instagram and embarking on a strict training regime. “For my main portion of training, I’ve been progressively doing pack walks along the Fernleigh Track … it’s the perfect route to clock up the kilometres and maintain a consistent pace,” he said. “To further condition for the daily walking, I’m doing some training on the Great North Walk (GNW) at the end of the week.” While Mitch had planned on undertaking the entire Great North Walk (GNW) track from Sydney to Newcastle this week, nature had other plans. “I was supposed to be leaving tomorrow for the GNW, but ironically, we’re forecasted for potential flash flooding … my sister made a joke that the changing climate I’m trying to raise awareness about is actually stopping me from training.” Instead, Mitch will undertake a portion of the walk on April 8 from Woy Woy to

Newcastle, which he expects will take four days. Growing up in Port Macquarie had a huge influence on Mitch’s appreciation for the planet, embodied by his chosen charities ACF and Take 3 for the Sea. “Growing up in a small coastal town, it was always so important to keep our beaches and oceans clean because we used them every day,” he said. “As plastic pollution is killing wildlife, devastating oceans, and threatening the health of the planet, I wanted to support Take 3’s goal to close the gap through education that inspires participation. “Additionally, ACF is taking on pollution, climate damage and habitat destruction by challenging the big polluters, the rigged rules and the politicians who forget they represent the people.” While Mitch said environmental awareness was increasing, further education and action often fell behind. “The issues of conservation and climate change have been neglected by news outlets because of the pandemic, so I’m trying to bring people’s attention back to these issues whilst also providing lessons to incorporate into their day to day lives.” He said a recent study completed by The Australia Institute found that 75 per cent of Australians were concerned about climate change and 82 per cent were concerned about further climate fuelled bushfires, droughts and flooding. “The awareness is evident all around us, but what is missing is the education on what we can collectively do to change it. Mitch said that by showing how rewarding climate action was and making information easily accessible, he would positively influence people to act.

Aside from donating to charities such as ACF and Take 3, Mitch said the community could help by being more consumer conscious and integrating their daily routines with sustainable practice. “The best thing about trying to live sustainably in 2022 is everyone has done the hard work for us, we just simply have to join in,” he said. “As consumers, we can decide which companies get to have our money, and with this power, we can create any future we want.” Mitch said incorporating small things into household routines such as recycling, supporting sustainable companies and ditching single-use plastics in favour of reusables was a great start. “A massive tip for Newcastle is to ditch single-use coffee cups and get a fun reusable one,” he said. “Australians use 1 billion disposable coffee cups each year. “I always find this statistic so crazy; I recently punched the numbers, and it totals to $405,000 worth of cups being thrown out each day.” He also advocated for using closed loops systems that take waste products and repurpose them, such as Return and Earn. “My perspective is that this planet, out of the million others in the universe, was lucky enough to be able to cultivate life and we are even luckier to be able to enjoy it,” Mitch said. “I want future generations to be able to enjoy it just as much as we have.” Novocastrians who want to support Mitch on his mammoth task can donate on his fundraising page or stay updated with his trek on the @DroversWalk Instagram page. Maia O’Connor

The route Mitch intends to walk in June, which is over 1000kms.

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OVOSPORT

New heights for rising Baker on home waters

Jackson Baker (Newcastle) and Macy Callaghan (Central Coast) win the Men and Women’s Newcastle Surfest WSL QS 5000. Photo: WSL/ Gary Luke

Novocastrian, Jackson Baker, was victorious in the World Surf League’s Qualifying Series (QS) 5000 Men’s event at the 2022 Newcastle Surfest, the first local to hoist the Mark Richards Trophy above his head. Running from March 29 to April 3, the Surfest brought professional surfers from Australia, New Zealand and Europe to Merewether Beach in search of qualifying points for the upcoming Challenger Series. For Baker, entering his home waters competition was for the purpose of

building on his form and confidence throughout his rookie Championship Tour (CT) season. His performance across three round heats, quarter and semi-finals steadily improved and reached a peak in the Grand Final against fellow Novocastrian, Ryan Callinan, as well as New Zealander, Billy Stairmand and Nathan Hedge from Narrabeen. Baker posted his best two-wave score of 15.50 (out of a possible 20), with Hedge placing runner-up with 11.23, then Callinan with 10.90 and Stairmand with 9.90.

The win is a new career-high for Baker, earned less than two weeks before the re-commencement of the CT for the Pro event at Bells Beach, Victoria, currently underway as of Monday, April 11. “To win this event on home turf and be able to dedicate it to my mum and repay the people who put this thing on every year feels amazing,” Baker said. “To have my biggest win and MR (Mark Richards) be on the trophy is crazy. “I had to think a lot about doing this event but thought it would be a good warm-up for Bells, and a few of those

waves were quite Bells-like, so I want to head down there with this confidence and make the cut and bring on the rest of the year. “This win means so much to me, my family and my community, so I couldn’t be happier.” In the opening round of the Pro Bells Beach, Baker finished first ahead of Hawaiian, John John Florence in second and fellow Australian, Connor O’Leary in third. The CT event is scheduled to run through till April 20. Haakon Barry

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New heights for rising Baker on home waters

Women encouraged to kick goals

Dr Romany McGuffog and Sensei Kelie Fisher, who worked together to develop the empowerment program.

Hunter Valley Martial Arts Centre (HVMAC) has invited girls and women to kick their goals during a free empowerment program hosted in May. As the centre’s Mother’s Day gift for the Hunter community, females aged six and over can become the best version of themselves throughout the

four-week program, which includes Karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu exercises. “The empowerment program is designed to help women and girls realise their potential both physically and mentally,” Sensei Kelie Fisher said, who leads the initiative. “Women’s self-defence is more than just physical, it’s about the way you carry

yourself and being able to use your voice.” The Women’s Empowerment Program incorporates a combination of physical ground and stand-up work and mental exercises that help develop participants’ intuition and inner strength. “We want to teach the mental and emotional side of self-defence, so I’ve boiled it down to four lesson themes; finding your strength, finding your power and your voice, building trust and intuition, setting and maintaining boundaries,” Fisher said. “The main focus for this program is to actually have women and girls recognise their strength within their bodies.” Fisher said she had become particularly passionate about female empowerment after experiencing an emotionally abusive relationship in the past. “I lost a lot of strength during that time, and I allowed someone else to take my power, so by being able to stand strong within myself, I can now take that power back from people wanting to stand over me, physically and mentally,” Fisher said. “That’s why I’m so passionate about empowerment.” She also voiced concern about the impact of social media on society. “There are young men and boys who need to be able to stand strong and be resilient, but particularly for me, it is about women and girls,” Fisher said. “I think at the moment, social media puts a lot of pressure on people to strive for perfection, and it tends to put

people down – they don’t think they can live up to social media standards. “When they realise how strong they are and that they’re the best version of themselves, that’s very empowering for them.” Fisher said the response to previous programs had been strong, with approximately 130 people from the centre and wider community joining their classes per week. “A lot of people think the program teaches you how to fight, but it’s not about learning to fight,” she said. “It’s about standing strong and connecting to yourself so you can connect to others. “That way, you’ll be the best version of yourself.” For more information on locations and to book a spot, visit huntermartialarts. com.au. Maia O’Connor

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