LOCAL NEWS LOC Page 7
LIFE & STYLE Page 15
INSIDE TE Page 13
LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE LEAR
TREATING BURNS IN KIDS
ROLLING THUNDER
DECEMBER 12 2012 WWW.NEWCASTLEPOST.COM.AU
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT PH: 49 610 310
If the walls could talk New audio tours set to reveal more of Maitland Gaol’s secrets AMELIA PARROTT
HELL AND BACK More than 200 people fi lled the Catholic Cathedral Complex in Newcastle West for the emotional launch of Hunter woman Pat Feenan’s book ‘Holy Hell’, which tells the story of her son Daniel’s abuse by paedophile priest, Father James Patrick Fletcher. Ms Feenan said she was “overwhelmed and humbled” by the impressive turnout to the launch last Thursday evening.
V
isitors to the award-winning Maitland Gaol will soon have plenty more to discover at the site with the launch of three brand new audio tours. Supported by Destination NSW and the State Office of Environment and Heritage, Maitland City Council has developed The Escapes audio tour, a children’s audio tour and an updated version of the existing audio tour. The three tours will be available on an updated iPod device. Maitland City Council marketing coordinator, Matt Vanderwall, said the new devices had been on trial at the gaol for five weeks and had received positive reviews from visitors. He hoped the updates would encourage more people to revisit the gaol. “Being on an iPod means the audio tours are a lot more user-friendly and are more flexible as we can easily take content on and off the devices and even change the application the content is delivered through.” He said the new tours give a fresh perspective to life behind the bars in the former maximum security prison. “A lot of the visitors we get to the gaol are particularly interested in the escapes,” he said. “The Escapes tour focuses on the many breakout attempts seen at the gaol over its 150 year lifespan. “And the children’s tour is narrated by Snitch the Rat, [who] leads them through a maze of interesting facts and secrets about what really went on inside the walls.” NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris MP, will today officially launch the new audio tours at Maitland Gaol, which will be attended by Maitland MP Robyn Parker, Maitland Mayor, Peter Blackmore, Maitland City Council general manager David Evans, as well as councillors and Maitland Gaol Staff. For more information on the tours, visit www. maitland.nsw.gov.au.
PAGE 5
TAKING ORDERS Metford man receives Order of Australia PAGE 3
LACK OF FOCUS Poor concentration blamed for Jets’ loss Maitland City Council marketing coordinator, Matt Vanderwall, tests out the new Maitland Gaol audio tour
PAGE 24
Christmas Catalogue Sale on now! Can’t decide? Grab an
AUTOPRO GIFT CARD
Hurry in and grab some great specials! OPEN
7 DAYS
PARTS PROFESSIONALS
Ph: 4933 9244 194 High Street, Maitland (opposite Rivers) 25 Port Stephens Street, Raymond Terrace Ph: 4987 1100