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Younger Cohen going his own way: Turn over for your entertainment guide pages 15-16pa

Magical Millfi eldretreat p.12

PROPERTY

Marking fl ood anniversary p.4

WED 4 FEB 2015

Boundaries battle talk

M aitland City Council will seek discus-sions with Newcastle, Cessnock and Port Stephens councils to review the areas’

local government boundaries.The resolution follows a recommendation from

the State Government that Maitland, Cessnock and Dungog councils merge under the Fit for the Future local government reform.

Dungog Shire Council has approached Maitland City Council seeking a discussion on the possibil-ity of a merger.

But a report presented to the council suggested that boundaries at Greta (Cessnock LGA), Walla-long (Port Stephens) and Beresfield (Newcastle) also be examined.

“Council . . . if approached by Dungog, suggests a more detailed exploration into voluntary amal-gamation with Maitland, potentially coupled with a series of boundary adjustments involving the adjoining LGAs,” the report said.

In November, 2014, Councillor Arch Humphrey attempted to move a motion to have an independ-ent review into the city’s boundaries, but it did not receive a seconder.

At the time, he told The Hunter Post that it was unfair to Maitland ratepayers that residents of other LGAs were using services for which they weren’t paying.

Cr Humphrey said last week that he would not support a merger with Dungog if it meant “getting

Maitland council to discuss Dungog’s off er of an LGA merger

Cr Arch Humphrey in Woodberry, a Maitland suburb that is mainly accessed through Beresfield

a dollar from Maitland ratepayers”.“It’s all very well for somebody well-meaning

in Sydney to say take on this debt [Dungog’s $42 million infrastructure backlog], but we see a situ-ation where common sense would tell you that

Beresfield [should be a part of Maitland],” he said.“Someone needs to say, ‘this is how it won’t be

detrimental to your ratepayers’.”Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore said it was only

the beginning of the discussion.

MELISSAH COMBER @melcomber

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Editor's Desk richard.french@newcastlepost.com.au

Back in the game to give ourgreat community a better sayWhat an exciting time to be back at the helm of a community newspaper dedicated to serving Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and the smaller cities, towns and hamlets of our Coalfields cousins in Cessnock and Maitland who, along with our Upper Hunter farmers, have built this region into the great powerhouse of not just this state but the whole nation.

This newspaper has a proud tradition of serving both the battlers in our community, whether they are local, often small, businesses or those people who are the heart and soul of our region; who unlike Prince Philip never get the recogni-tion they deserve.

The Post has had various guises, owners and directions in its long and proud history in this region, but it has always been an outlet for local people and businesses to express their views, highlight their enterprise or appeal for help for the good causes to which the normally hardened, but far-from self-interested, people of this area flock. Witness the day I drove to work, in the media, past Newcastle Workers Club and saw ordinary folk clawing at the earthquake rubble with their bare hands.

In this era of big corporate media, local readers with issues and the advertisers and enterprising business and community groups who don’t get an airing from traditional media (because we live in a global age of instant news, even if it’s

just a woman who makes millions by taking a lucky picture of a cat) deserve their time in the spotlight.

This newspaper, into which some brave busi-ness people have put their hard-earned cash and employees just their faith, is dedicated to providing an outlet for both the little person and as a value-for-money instrument to promote local business, research, innovation and product improvement in the interests of sellers and buyers, and the welfare of all in this region.

The Post represents this region with pride, passion and commitment, and all we ask in return is that those people in business, like us in it for the long haul, might think long and hard about where they put their advertising dollars.

We want you to feel like you can take owner-ship of our newspapers, The Newcastle Post, The Hunter Post and our amazing TE section.

We want to work with and for you, featuring what is important to you, in your home, street, suburb, town, city, workplace and play spaces; whether you’re a reader or a local business.

The Post is open for business, for advertisers, and to its readers who represent those in our community, just like all the advertising, admin-istration and editorial staff at the newspaper, who live, work and play here in the fantastic Hunter Region. As the song says, “We’re all in this together”.

The Post represents this region with pride and passion

RICHARD FRENCH

the hunter post

www.thehunterpost.com.au www.facebook.com/newcastlepost

19 Pearson St, Charlestown NSW 2290PO Box 2321 Dangar, NSW 2309P (02) 4961 0310

Editorial: editorial@newcastlepost.com.au

Advertising: enquiries@newcastlepost.com.au

Printed by: Spotpress Pty Ltd

Editor: Richard French Journalists: Paul Montforte, Stephen Bisset (TE), Amelia Parrott, Melissah Comber

Sales Manager: Rhonda CampbellSales: Glenda Peate, Gary Scott (Trades), Dan Hawkins (TE), Alison Hislop (Hunter), Jo Jones (Hunter), Denis Phelan, Michael Cleary

Administration: Lauren Pollard

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T he truncation of the heavy rail line into Newcastle has proven to be a double-edged sword for

Hamilton business owners and Hunter residents using the station as reports have surfaced of increased crime in the area.

While Coalition MPs have lauded the interim interchange at Hamilton Station for attracting more consumers to Beau-mont Street, the chair of the Hamilton chamber of Commerce, Deb Cook, told The Post the new arrangement had also brought about an increase in petty crime and anti-social behaviour along the eat street.

“We’ve had more customers coming through, which is great,” said Ms Cook, who also runs The Spot Café.

“But we’ve also had a fair few loiter-ers, which is not an image we want for Hamilton.

“There have also been more incidents of shoplifting at the IGA [supermarket].”

Ms Cook said the police were well aware of the issues being created by the interim transport arrangements but she felt they weren’t doing enough to address them.

Hamilton Station opened as the city’s interim transport terminus in early January and will continue to act as an interchange for commuters changing to connecting trains and shuttle buses

until the new Wickham Transport Inter-change is complete in 2016.

A spokesperson from Newcastle Local Area Command said police had not been made aware of any spike in crime.

Business and travellers to and from Hamilton station face new problem

News

Rise in petty crime around rail line

Commuters disembark shuttle buses outside Hamilton Station, Newcastle’s interim transport interchange

AMELIA PARROTT @amelia_parrott

Health professionals are warning Hunter residents to be on the lookout for mosqui-toes, with the mosquito-borne Barmah Forest virus being detected in the area.

Hunter New England Health public health physician David Durrheim said the recent warm weather, together with good rainfall and king tides, had resulted in excellent breeding conditions for mosqui-tos responsible for spreading the Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses.

“Good rainfall in coastal areas during the past few weeks has contributed to a rise in mosquito numbers, while the warm weather allows mosquitoes to survive longer and transmit the virus to people,” Dr Durrheim said.

The symptoms of Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus include fever, skin rash, painful joints and tiredness.

Most people will have a mild illness that lasts a few days but some people can expe-rience joint pain and lethargy for months.

The only way to prevent infection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

To avoid being bitten, people should try not to go outside unprotected before dawn and after dusk.

If heading out, loose fitting, light coloured clothing that covers the arms and legs should be worn.

It is also a good idea to use insect repell-lant on exposed skin.

After the recent rain, homeowners should also ensure there are no containers still containing water lying around their yards, as the insects can breed in them.

Mozzies bringbad virus to area

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Sunday 1st - Saturday 7th February

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Turning back Time

The 1955 fl oods were not the only time lives were lost in Maitland, writes Melissah Comber

In the flood of June, 1950, 10-month-old Peter Hickey was killed when he crawled off his family’s Berry Park verandah into the rising water.

His death was just one of 39 confirmed flood deaths in Maitland prior to the infamous 1955 flood, but local historian Peter Bogan

described it as a “real tear-jerker”.“It’s a story that isn’t told very often, but

it’s a sad one,” Mr Bogan said.“But then there are plenty of stories

where people should have died but didn’t.”

One of these involved the rescue of a Raworth family in 1930 in a floodboat commandeered by members of the rowing club.

“As the boat came back through town it struck a fence post and it went down,” Mr

Bogan said. “Not one person was lost and there were 14 in the boat.”

Recent arrivals to Maitland may not be aware of the city’s flood history, with the construction from 1957 of a series of levees and spillways largely protecting

the city from major flood events. But between the installation of a flood gauge on the Belmore Bridge in 1867 and the 1955 flood, the Hunter River peaked above the declared major flood level of 10.5 metres eight times.

City’sbig wettimes

A scene from the 1893 Maitland floods. Picture courtesy of Maitland City Library and the Chapman family

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Minor floods, peaking above 5.9 metres, were recorded 95 times in that same period.

Each major flood brought with it a new tide of destruction, taking lives, homes and animals, but each time the city would pick itself back up and start again.

Growing up in the river-nudging Horse-shoe Bend, Mr Bogan knows this better than a lot of people. He was 13 years old in 1949, when the city recorded its fourth-highest flood since 1867, peaking at 10.96 metres.

Mr Bogan described 1949 as a “backwa-ter” flood, saying that the water didn’t

actually come from the river but flowed in from the other side of town.

“The men sandbagged across Free-church Street, the Mercury corner, across the sportsground and around the bottom of the tin fence, but an army DUKW [pronounced ‘duck’] went by and the bow broke the sandbank,” Mr Bogan said.

“At the same time water broke through the sportsground and all the uncles came racing in saying that we have to get out now.”

Mr Bogan spent the next few nights in the ladies’ room at the Palace Theatre, but someone whose accommodation was not

quite as luxurious was Horseshoe Bend resident Judy Hardy.

Also 13, Ms Hardy spent several weeks living in the Greta Migrant Camp after her family lost everything.

“There were kitchens and concrete all along where the migrants stayed, and the trucks would come in and dump all the rabbits and fish on the concrete, then the men would clean them and the women would cook them,” she said.

Mr Bogan is holding two historical walk-ing tours on February 8 for $10. Bookings can be made by calling the SES Hunter Region Headquarters on 4931 3222.

Christopher Briggs can’t talk about Maitland Repertory Theatre’s new production without “giggling like a little kid”.

“It’s a comedy that involves old people talking about their sex drive,” he said.

“That’s funny enough.”Sex Please We’re Sixty looks at the sex

lives of older folk and their possible need for assistance to fulfil their duties in the bedroom. It marks Mr Briggs’s directorial debut with the theatre, 13 years after he first trod the boards in A Woman of No Importance.

“I decided to throw my hand up because I’ve been here for so many years feeling like I’ve only given my minimum,” he said.

“I really wanted to show to myself and Maitland Repertory what I could do, and they were kind enough to give me a fair go when I did my first show so I want to give back by giving my best.”

Sex Please We’re Sixty runs from February 11 to February 28. Bookings can be made at the Maitland Visitor Information Centre on 4931 2800 or at www.maitlandreptheatre.org.

The Post is giving you the chance to win a double pass to the opening night of Sex Please We’re Sixty. To enter, email your name and contact details to editorial@newcastlepost.com.au with ‘Repertory’ in the subject line, by no later than 5pm on Friday, February 6. Winners will be notified by phone.

Repertory tickets for free

West Maitland railway station under water in 1930. Picture by Sydney William Smith Maitland residents take refuge in 1893

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MAITLAND PRIVATE HOSPITAL was established 14 years ago and since then has been the major provider of private healthcare in the area. The hospital has 113 beds and provides quality care in the following specialties:

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Services including radiology, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, and pathology are all available in the onsite Medical Centres along with a number of doctor consulting suites, and a pharmacy is available in the hospital itself. The facility is virtually a one stop shop for many patients.

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A swelling population at Rutherford Public School has seen additional demountable classrooms deliv-

ered for the start of the school year.An education department spokesperson

confirmed to The Hunter Post that two demountables had been installed at the approximately 780-student school over the holidays, raising the ire of the school’s Parents and Citizens Association.

“They [the school] said that they just had to do it because we need the room, we need the classes,” assocation presi-dent Rachael Henderson said.

“Our issue is that we’ve got all these demountables up here, but there’s no toilets in the close vicinity, the kids have

to run all the way back down and there’s no covered walkways up there.”

The association has welcomed a Labor announcement dedicating $100 million to replacing demountable classroom if elected in March.

Labor candidate for Maitland Jenny Aitchison said that the announcement was to replace the $280 million lost when the demountable replacement program was rolled into the state’s capital works budget.

“We obviously can’t afford to put it all back at this stage until we know better about the situation with the budget, but it gives us the opportunity to go back to systemically looking at the needs for schools,” Ms Aitchison said.

Liberal candidate Steve Thomson said that Labor had no credibility on school

infrastructure and maintenance.“Labor has even conceded that they

didn’t do enough when they had their chance,” Mr Thomson said.

“In their release they admit that ‘almost one in five of the around 4500 demounta-bles in NSW have been at schools for more then 15 years’.”

Independent candidate Philip Penfold said it was a good start but noted that divided among the total number of demountables, this equated to about $20,000 per building.

“After 16 years of financial mismanage-ment in government, voters will be look-ing closely at the ALP for a full costing of their commitments, particularly since they oppose every government proposal to improve the financial outlook,” Mr Penfold said.

School’s growth to see more students crammed into fill-in classrooms

News

Dismay on demountables

Students (front) Kealey Murrell and Rheid Tipping, with (back) parent Gail Kriel, candidate Jenny Aitchison, P & C president Rachael Henderson, vice-president Cassandra Tipping and students Ella Henderson, Liana Murrell and Ciena Tipping

MELISSAH COMBER @melcomber

School zone flashing lights worth $542,000 have been installed at 35 schools, completing the State Government’s rollout in the Maitland area.

Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Roads, Ray Williams, made the announcement last week and said that the last set was installed in Fieldsend Street East Maitland, just before Christmas.

“We prioritised a lot of the areas where we saw there were major traffic flows and obviously the Hunter is one of those as a growing area,” Mr Williams said.

“It’s proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that whilst you can put up as many speed signs as you want, the 40-kmh flashing signs are the most effective way that motorists can actually visibly see the signs.”

The State Government announced in June, 2013, an accelerated rollout program to ensure every school had flashing lights by the end of 2015.

Roads and Maritime Services told The Post that 70 schools in Newcastle have had flashing lights installed at a cost of almost $1.3 million, while 91 schools in Lake Macquarie had received the lights, costing close to $1.4 million.

Beware: kidsare on crossings

Mackenzie Thomson, aged 7, with Ray Williams MP and Liberal candidate for Maitland Steve Thomson

Dental cadetshipsAboriginal people interested in a dental health career are being asked to nomi-nate for two new cadetship positions to boost services in NSW rural and remote communities.

The NSW Dental Council, NSW Centre for Oral Health Strategy and the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health are offering the cadetships.

For information or an application kit, phone 9114 1118 or email graham.s.white@sydney.edu.au by 5pm on February 27.

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N ine medical graduates have begun their internships at Maitland Hospital, the largest intake the

hospital has seen.They will complete five rotations, in

emergency, surgery, medicine, an elective and one relief rotation.

Maitland Hospital’s director of medical services, Dr Pooshan Navathe, said that the internship program had benefits for both the intern and hospital.

“It’s not just being altruistic, they do help us,” Dr Navathe said.

“They start off by doing minor proce-dures but as they get better they are able to support the hospital.”

While some interns will rotate through hospitals in the Hunter New England Health network, Dr Justin Kelly will spend two years at Maitland, which he said provides unique opportunities.

“There’s less interns and you get more familiar with your teams, so there’s that opportunity to get involved more and take the reins from time to time,” Dr Kelly said.

“You also get more exposure to little bits and pieces that you don’t sometimes get at a bigger hospital because you’re moving so

quickly.”The interns were welcomed to the

hospital last week by Member for Maitland Robyn Parker and Liberal candidate for

Maitland Steve Thomson.A 10th intern will join the cohort later

this year. Outgoing Maitland MP Robyn Parker

said an internship at a local hospital would provide the interns with great experience working with the community and along-side the other dedicated medical staff.

Intake of nine interns hit the ground running at the start of their medical careers

News

Young doctors for city hospital

(Standing) intern Dr Justin Kelly, Dr Pooshan Navathe, MP Robyn Parker, Steve Thomson, intern Dr Luke Vlismas and (seated) interns Dr Madeleine-Rose Cain and Dr Meredith Schulson

MELISSAH COMBER @melcomber

I f you’re a Cessnock resident and have fallen victim to illness or misad-venture, chances are you would be

familiar with the work of Dr John Holly.Cessnock’s newest, and most humble,

Citizen of the Year has practised medi-cine in the town for 36 years, both in his private clinic, formerly in Vincent Street and now Cumberland Street, along with many years of service at Cessnock Hospital.

“The award was very much a surprise, because I’m just here doing my normal work,” Dr Holly said.

“It’s nice that people recognise my work but also very humbling.

“I received a letter when I came back from holidays and my secretary told me I had better make sure I was available on Australia Day because I had been nomi-nated for an award.

“I didn’t know which award I was nominated for and certainly didn’t know that I had won anything.

“I was listening as they were reading out the winners of each award and when they got to Senior Citizen of the Year, I thought ‘Well, I qualify for that one’.

Arriving in Australia from South Africa in the late 1970s, Dr Holly was trained as an anaesthetist and obstetrician and delivered numerous babies locally before the closure of Cessnock Hospital’s mater-

nity unit in 2003. He was working at Sydney’s Prince of Wales Hospital when approached about a relocation by Dr Alex Chen who was practising in Cessnock.

“In those days, cancer patients from the Hunter had to travel to Sydney for treatment,” Dr Holly said.

“I happened to be looking after one of Dr Chen’s patients and she came back to Cessnock and told him about me.

“I agreed to come up and work as a locum for three months. After that, Dr Chen asked me to stay on.”

Cessnock

Medical man humbled byCitizen of Year recognition

Mayor Bob Pynsent and Dr Holly

PAUL MONFORTE

BERESFIELD AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY CARE: Meals, domestic assistance, home maintenance, including lawn mowing, social support, centre-based daycare, shopping, transport, flexible food options, personal care to frail, aged and disabled people to assist them to remain in their own homes. Ph: 4964 1131. www.beresfieldcommunitycare.org.au

COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION: Branxton-Greta branch - meeting 9.30am first Thursday at 2 John Rose Avenue, Branxton. Secretary: Marie Shearer 6574 7174. Cessnock branch - meeting 1pm second Tues-day at 163 Vincent St, Cessnock. Secretary: Betty Holdcroft 4990 9880. Cessnock evening branch - meeting 7pm first and third Monday at 163 Vincent St, Cessnock. Secretary: Joy Potts 4990 5420. East Maitland branch - meeting 10am first Wednesday (second and fourth Wednesday craft and friendship) at 162 George St, East Maitland. Secretary: Sharyn Buck 0410 694 910. Maitland branch - meeting 10am first Monday at 46 Church St, Maitland. Secretary: Chris-tine Meyers 4933 2842. Maitland City evening branch - meeting 7pm second Wednesday at 163 George St, East

Maitland. Paterson branch - meeting 9.30am at St Columba’s Hall, Church and Prince Sts, Paterson. Secretary: Catherine Walsh 4938 5585.

EAST MAITLAND ANGLICAN CHURCH: Play Time meets in the Ministry Centre, 47 William Street, East Maitland every Friday in term time for pre-school children and their carers from 10 am – 12 noon. Everyone welcome.

HOUSEHOLD CHEMICAL CLEANOUT: CleanOut is a free service for the safe disposal of a range of common household chemicals which could cause harm to human health and the en-vironment if not disposed correctly. Saturday, 7 February 2015, 9am – 3:30pm at Cessnock Council Works Depot, Old Maitland Rd.LIONS CLUB MEETINGS: Cessnock Wine Coun-try - First Thursday of the month, 6.30pm at Cessnock Supporters Club, Darwin St. Contact: Sue Burns 4990 5020. East Maitland - First and third Wednesday of the month at Easts Golf and Leisure Club, Tenambit Street, East Maitland. Contact: Pauline 4933 7085. Kurri Kurri - First and third Monday of the month at Station Hotel, Coronation Street, Kurri Kurri. Contact: 0450 084 030. Maitland - Second and fourth Monday of the month, 6.30pm at Maitland Park Bowling Club, 138 Elgin St. Contact: Kevin 4938 5767.

MAITLAND COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES: Range of services to support frail, aged and younger people with a disability to remain living at home within the Maitland Local Government Area. Services include disability support, home maintenance, Meals on Wheels, domestic assistance, social support services, personal care and community transport. Office location: Units 3-6, 27 Johns Street, Telarah. Ph: 4932 5755

COMMUNITY

NOTICEBOARD

editorial@newcastlepost.com.au

The Post, 19 Pearson St, Charlestown NSW 2290

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O ver the past few years Maitland City Library’s Look Who’s Talking program has brought some very

inspiring and entertaining speakers to our city.

This year’s program again includes another bumper schedule, with the likes of Helen Garner, Geraldine Doogue and Blanche d’Alpuget just a few of the respected thinkers and compelling story-tellers locked in.

The Look Who’s Talking program is well worth a look but remember book-ings are essential and can be made online at maitland.nsw.gov.au/library.

As part of the Look Who’s Talking program, Maitland City Library is partner-ing with the National Film and Sound Archive to help us mark 60 years since the 1955 Maitland flood.

The flood continues to be a historical moment for our community and together with the library we will ensure it’s a very special event, so stay tuned for more information.

We are very fortunate to have such dedi-cated and engaging libraries which are an important piece of the fabric that makes up our community.

Big names are lined up for book talks in the library

Maitland MattersCR PETER BLACKMORE Maitland City Council Mayor

www.maitland.nsw.gov.au

Bottle shop worker suffersterror of an armed robbery

Police are investigating after the armed robbery of a bottle shop in Lemon Tree Passage last week.

A man carrying an axe and wearing a scarf round his face entered the shop, which is located on Cook Parade, at about 8.45pm on Friday.

A 34-year-old woman was working alone in the shop.

She told police the man grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to the office, ordering her to open the safe.

The woman complied but the safe was empty.

Then a second man armed with a knife and also with his face covered appeared in the office.

This man took the woman to the cash register. He demanded she open it and put cash into a bag.

Meanwhile, the other man took tobacco from a drawer and personal items from the woman’s handbag.

Both men then fled on foot. The woman was not injured.

Police from Port Stephens Local Area Command are investigating this incident.

The men were both described as being 170 to 180cm tall, with dark-brown eyes, black eyebrows and tanned skin.

Man surrenders after keeping police at bay for two hours

A man appeared in court last Sunday after being arrested following a stand-off with police in Cardiff.

At about 10am on Saturday, police were called to a home on Arthur Street after neighbours reported hearing screaming and yelling coming from the property.

Police attended and spoke to a man, armed with two knives, who was standing at the end of the driveway in the property’s backyard.

For about two hours the man refused to drop the knives or move from the rear of the property.

Following discussions with police negotiators, who arrived at the location shortly after 11am, the man dropped the knives and surrendered himself to police around 12.30pm.

He was taken to Charlestown Police Station and charged with using an offensive weapon to avoid arrest and being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.

The man, 38, was refused bail and appeared in Newcastle Court on Sunday.

Man on charges over 40offences refused bail

Police charged a man with 40 offences after his arrest in Charlestown last Friday.

The man, 34, was wanted for three warrants over alleged offences including using a carriage service to menace, larceny, and goods in custody.

After investigations by police, the man was arrested at a doctor’s surgery in Charles-town at about 11.15am on Friday,.

He was taken to Lake Macquarie Police Station and charged with 40 offences and was refused bail in Newcastle Local Court on Saturday.

Police snapshot

The Look Who’s Talking program is well worth a look

The services they provide extend way beyond book lending and are available to everyone.

The first council meeting for 2015 was held last week and one of the most excit-ing decisions to come out of the meeting was the adoption of a new Hall of Fame policy.

This will give us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate some of our community’s true icons who have achieved so much in their fields.

A Hall of Fame committee will soon be established, which will include two community representatives.

Expressions of interest for these commit-tee representatives will be made available on council’s website in the near future.

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David Evans General Manager 285–287 High Street, PO Box 220 Maitland NSW 2320t 02 4934 9700 info@maitland.nsw.gov.au

Agendas are available from our website or by contacting customer service. For information on development applications please visit our website – maitland.nsw.gov.au

PUBLIC NOTICESPECIAL EVENTS In accordance with Council’s Special Events Policy notice is hereby

given of the following proposed event occurring in Woodberry.

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David Evans General Manager 285–287 High StreetPO Box 220 Maitland NSW 2320t 02 4934 9700 info@maitland.nsw.gov.au

Agendas are available from our website or by contacting customer service.For information on development applications please visit our website – maitland.nsw.gov.au

– High Street northern side from St Andrews Street to Church Street;

– Stillsbury Lane; and– Cathedral Street full length.

The proposed route for runners will include the above streets and the river bank area. The start will be near the High Street/Church Street

adjacent to Bulwer Street.

Comments relating to the running of the event

management), should be made in writing, addressed to the General Manager, Maitland City Council, PO Box 220, Maitland 2320, endorsed ‘Maitland River Run Event – File 150/5’. The closing date for comments relating to the special event is 4.00pm Wednesday, 11 February 2015.

Public comments regarding the proposed road closures should also be forwarded in writing (addressed to the General Manager at the above address), endorsed ‘Maitland River Run – Road Closures – File 122/944’. The closing date for comments will be 4.00pm on Wednesday, 25 February 2015.

‘STEAMFEST 2015’

The annual ‘Hunter Valley Steamfest’ is to be held on the weekend of Saturday, 18 and Sunday, 19 April 2015. The following temporary

parking restrictions were requested by the Steamfest Panel and are listed below for public exhibition and comment:

12.00 midnight Thursday, 16 April to 12.00 midnight Sunday, 19 April 2015:– Maitland Railway Station (sealed car park);– Maitland Railway Station (gravel car park);– Maitland Railway Station (sealed car park

adjacent to station building).

Saturday, 18 and Sunday, 19 April 2015 – 7.00am to 6.00pm:– Church Street between Ken Tubman Drive

and Les Darcy Drive;– Elgin Street between Olive Street and

Railway Line;– Olive Street between Church Street and

Elgin Street;– Railway Street between Church Street and

Elgin Street;

Interested residents are welcome to attend.Next meeting: 10 | 24 FEBRUARY – 5.30pm

– Station Street between Elgin Street and cul-de-sac;

– Athel D’Ombrain Drive between Elgin Street and Victoria Street (taxis excepted);

– Allan Walsh Drive between Ken Tubman Drive and Church Street (taxi’s excepted);

– Ballard Street between Steam Street and Church Street;

– Fran Dawson Road between Ballard Street and end of road;

– Steam Street between cul-de-sac and Elgin Street;

– Napoleon Lane south of Olive Street.

Sunday, 19 April 2015 – 7.00am to 6.00pm:– Internal road through Maitland Park between

Main Entrance and Swimming Pool.Council also proposes to implement the usual temporary parking restrictions in various streets for Steamfest, to assist with the movement of public transport and public safety around the main Steamfest site in the vicinity of Maitland Railway Station.‘No Stopping’ restrictions will be placed on both sides of the New England Highway from Church Street to the Trzecinski Bridge, and on both sides of Cessnock Road for 100m from the roundabout. Comments relating to the core event or any of the sub-events (not related to road closures) should be forwarded in writing, addressed to the General Manager, Maitland City Council, PO Box 220, Maitland 2320, endorsed ‘Steamfest 2015 Special Event – File 150/5’. Submissions will be received up until 4.00pm on Wednesday, 18 February 2015.Comments regarding temporary road closures should be forwarded in writing, (addressed to the General Manager at the above address), endorsed ‘Steamfest 2015 Temporary Road Closures – File 120/944/2’. The closing date for comments relating to the road closures is Wednesday, 4 March 2015.For further information regarding the event, please contact the Appearance and Infrastructure Division on 4934 9700.

PUBLIC NOTICESTEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES GROOVIN’ THE MOO MUSIC FESTIVAL ANZAC AND BLOMFIELD STREETS AND

Council has received an application from Cattleyard Promotions to temporarily close some streets surrounding the Maitland Showground area to ensure safe movement of

proposed Groovin’ the Moo music festival. Closure details are as follows:

Devonshire Street;– Anzac Street from Cracknell Lane to

– Pender Road full length to Trappaud Road;– Cultivation Road full length to Trappaud Road;– Louth Park Road from Les Darcy Drive to

Park Street;

– Both sides of Louth Park Road from Les Darcy Drive to Trappaud Road;

– North side of Cracknell Lane from Anzac Street to Cultivation Road;

– Both sides of Cultivation Road from Cracknell Lane to Trappaud Road.

Access will be provided for local residents within the temporary closure area.Comments regarding the above temporary closures for this event should be forwarded in writing, endorsed ‘File 122/944 – Groovin’ the Moo Road Closures’ and addressed to the General Manager, Maitland City Council, PO Box 220, Maitland NSW 2320. The closing date for comments relating to the temporary road closures is 4.00pm Wednesday, 25 February 2015.

MAITLAND RIVER RUN

Council wishes to advise that it has received an application to temporarily close the following streets in Maitland to conduct the Maitland River Run special event. Date and times are as follows:

– High Street from Church Street to Cathedral Street;

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The home is set on fully fenced, dog-proofed 1391 square metre block with lots of space but not the responsibility that comes with a larger acreage.

This period home with a very interesting past has three bedroom plus a study.

The charming house features an open fireplace, high ceilings, ornate cornices and polished hardwood floors.

But it also has modern touches such as an ensuite to the master bedroom, built-in robes, air-conditioning, ceiling fans and stainless-steel Miele kitchen appliances.

The renovated bathroom has a large corner spa bath and the newly renovated laundry has plenty of storage space.

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T he Hunter Valley is set to lure large-scale events away from metropoli-tan venues following the opening of Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley’s Con-

ference and Events Centre last week “We want to be a credible option to

places like the Gold Coast that have the facilities to hold large events,” the resort’s general manager Robert Coates said.

“It’s a great location. One hour from Newcastle Airport, which is soon to be an international airport and only two and a half hours from Sydney.”

The Lovedale venue has a combined room capacity of 1600 people with flexible acoustic folding walls allowing separate events to be held simultaneously in 780 and 390 square metre rooms.

There is an additional 650 square metres of adjoining exhibition space and eight other meeting and event rooms.

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley opened in October, 2006, with 150 rooms, with 166 two- and three-bedroom villas added over the next three years.

Guests from across Australia at last Friday night’s grand opening were able to sample a wide range of produce from local providers.

Centre a boost forall area’s businesses

Staff celebrate the opening of Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley’s Conference Centre

PAUL MONFORTE

REAL ESTATE «

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3 MAY Mother’s Day Gala

7 JUNE Queen’s Birthday

5 JULY Christmas in July

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Wednesday 4 February 2015

Comment

Never mind the red and blue of the current Newcastle Jets, nor the gold strip of their first championship in-carnation, perhaps those few, those

lucky few, a band of brothers, who will front their home crowd on Friday night should be wearing a black, white and red shirt with two lions in combat over their hearts, as worn by the old Northern NSW Soccer Federation rep-resentative teams which I watched in awe as a young soccer reporter.

These blokes, who mostly paid for the privi-lege of playing, for their clubs and many for the national team, came together at short no-tice since Reg Date was a boy and stuck it to everyone from top first-division clubs from around the world to national sides including our own Socceroos.

And almost without exception, for more than a century, those players, some coming back from higher levels and other young guns who went on to bigger and better things elsewhere, stood tall and strong, often drawing with, beating or at least scaring the daggy shorts off all comers, including some of the top dogs in the world game.

Most people in this region have also probably forgotten that long before that fantastic night the Jets defeated Central Coast Mariners in the A-League grand final, a bunch of mainly part-timers and one or two hard-headed British

Jets need to take leaf out of book of legends

Under-fire Newcastle Jets coach Phil Stubbins

imports won the National Soccer League Cup on a wet and windy Melbourne night in 1984 under Scottish-born coach Willie Gallagher.

At 4-0 down in Adelaide the other week, the old players I saw do battle might just have taken a one-game “holi-day”, without ending a bloke’s career, by going straight through one or two of their opponents just to let them know “we’re still here next time we meet”; the long memories of Hunter people.

So, to those youngsters who may get a chance to shine on Friday night, with nothing to lose but pride, get out there, suck it up, take a deep breath and dig in, for yourself, your family and the fans, to show up those whose egos and pay pack-ets - management or players - leave them lacking the spirit of the fighting, clawing and biting Lions of the North.

Show that sort of mettle and perhaps they can escape the mess that is the Newcastle Jets; like so many current A-League players and the great men of the past who had to take their talents else-where, but never forgetting their true roots and often returning when they could to again appear for their home-town club.

No matter what is happening within the club management or coaching struc-ture, the players should have the pride

and sense to keep on playing with pas-sion so they too might find an outlet for their futures.

Once again this area has fallen for the three-card trick of the temptation of overnight success without the structure, grit and hard yards (and real cash in the bank, not the ground) it takes to truly compete.

As we all know, even now, if all the real-ly decent players we have let go for want of stability, patience and on-time super payments were brought back together this city could be an A-League dynasty.

What is needed is to forget the over-whelmed British or European markets and instead, particularly given our Asian Cup success, look north to Asia where surely a giant Japanese, South Korean or Chinese club, perhaps one already as-sociated with a European gargantuan, would pay well to open up a new market in Newcastle and the Hunter, for players, fans and sponsors.

So now is the time for all good men of football in this region, particularly those who have done very well in business due to their football contacts, to come to the aid of their greatest love: the world game of association soccer football which grew in this country from the hearts and souls of the men who first hewed the coal in this tough town.

Two wins, two losses and no injuries summed up an encouraging weekend for the Knights at last weekend’s NRL Nines tournament in Auckland.

Like a number of clubs, the Knights sent a relatively inexperienced side across the Tas-man but opened their campaign on Saturday with a convincing 18-7 victory over St George Illawarra.

Winger Jake Mamo, who also starred in last year’s tournament, crossed for a hat-trick against the Dragons and said he felt more com-fortable this time around.

“I didn’t feel as nervous as I did last year. I knew my role in the team so it was quite easy going into it,” Mamo said.

“It was a really good win and everyone was working hard from the middle and our defence was really good and that made it really easy to score tries off the back of that.”

The Knights then ran into eventual semi-finalists Parramatta and found themselves down 15-4 before recovering to lock the scores up at 15-all with four minutes remaining.

But a converted Eels try in the final minute meant Newcastle’s final round-robin match against Manly took on greater importance.

Against a Sea Eagles side featuring Daly Cher-

Knights come through Nines hitout with plenty of positives

Two of the Newcastle Knights doing a junior coaching clinic in Auckland

PAUL MONFORTE

RICHARD FRENCH

ry-Evans, the Knights secured a tight 20-17 vic-tory to book themselves a spot in the quarter-finals.

Hooker Adam Clydsdale scored the winning try with two minutes remaining.

The luck of the draw pitted the Knights against tournament favourites South Sydney in the opening quarter-final.

The Rabbitohs side contained a number of last year’s grand final-winning team, including Adam Reynolds, Isaac Luke and Dylan Walker, and the premiers proved far too strong in a 30-6 victory.

Mamo opened the scoring for the Knights in the first minute of play after a break from full-back Nathan Ross and were still in with a hope at halftime, trailing 13-6.

But the experience and size of the Rabbitohs saw them pull away for a convincing win.

The Knights will next be in action on Satur-day, February 14, at 6pm in a trial against the Port Macquarie Sharks and the Wauchope Blues at Lake Bain Sporting Complex, Wau-chope.

The Knights will play one half against each of the country sides with coach Rick Stone ex-pected to take a large squad.

The following Saturday, February 21, will see Newcastle head down to Queanbeyan to take on the Canberra Raiders at Seiffert Oval at 6.30pm in their final trial.