HomeTributes & FuneralsView PhotoFuneral NoticesESSEX Dearly loved wife of the late Lindon Essex Family and friends of Dawn are warmly invited to attend a celebration of her life to be held in The Private Chapel Mayfield West this Friday 15th July 2022 service commencing 1.30pm anticipation is building once again for the most magical time of the year Families throughout the Hunter region are transforming their homes into cosy havens of holiday cheer signalling the imminent arrival of Santa Claus through twinkling lights and festive displays you enjoy the simple pleasure of taking a leisurely drive or stroll to soak in the quiet beauty of Christmas lights Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here Click through to read our latest Issue of Newcastle Weekly Subscribe to Newcastle Weekly. News, Community, Lifestyle, Property delivered direct to your inbox! 100% Local, 100% Free. HomeTributes & FuneralsView PhotoFuneral NoticesFowler Members and friends of Newcastle Netball it is with deep sadness that we wish to advise the passing of our Life Member Flo Eather Flos funeral was held on Friday 20th of May Members and friends of Newcastle Netball it is with deep sadness that we wish to advise the passing of our Life Member Shirley Fowler Shirley's funeral will be held on Monday 23rd May 12 30pm Pedigrews Belmont Skip to main content The City of Newcastle Local Government Area is divided into four wards Click on the map to find out the Councillor details for that ward.Please note so if you type only the house number and street name You can change the map type to aerial photography by clicking on the basemap gallery icon on the toolbar Open in full screen Ward 1 map (PDF 569KB)Carrington Ward 2 map (PDF 557KB)Bar Beach Ward 3 map (PDF 594KB)Birmingham Gardens Police are searching for the driver of a Subaru Impreza that slammed into a power pole at Adamstown Heights in the early hours of this morning, injuring two men. Emergency services were called to Brunker Road just before one o’clock, discovering the black sedan and debris strewn everywhere. Two 26-year-old male passengers were found in the wreckage and taken to John Hunter Hospital. a touching gesture she will cherish for the rest of her life All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMrs Dean touched the hearts of Morpeth Gallery staff when she wrote to them about an upcoming exhibition on the Burragorang Valley Mrs Dean told them she had many fond memories of the valley where she holidayed as a teenager She shared stories in her letter about climbing a mountain and having her photograph taken by a man who later used the images on postcards and to promote the location WHAT A JOY: Joy Dean of Adamstown was surprised when she was chauffeured to Morpeth Gallery for an exhibition on the Burragorang Valley Picture: Marina Neil.“I couldn’t travel to Morpeth because I don’t drive my husband (Allan) has passed away and my two sons don’t live in Newcastle,” Joy said in her letter Trevor Richards from Morpeth Gallery said the story struck a chord with staff member Sue Jarrett. Mrs Jarrett offered to pick Joy up and bring her to the gallery to meet author and painter of the the book Paintings from Burragorang The Lost Valley Mr Richards went a step further and organised a driver and limousine to transport Mrs Dean to and from the gallery on Saturday “I was so surprised,” Mrs Dean said. “The day was so very special to me it was all lovely and I didn’t want it to end,” she said “I can’t thank everyone enough. I’m here looking at the book reminiscing View +12 PhotosPhotos by Marina Neil.In her letter to the gallery Mrs Dean said she loved visiting Morpeth when she was able to get there many years ago At that time she joined their mailing list and learnt of the exhibition through a newsletter When she was 19 Mrs Dean holidayed at a Burragorang guest house called Mountain View. “Across from the house was a river and then a very tall mountain,” she said in her letter “A young man asked who will risk climbing the mountain with him and what a view,” Mrs Dean recalled. “I always felt I was a model for one day of my life when he took photos of me sitting on the edge of the mountain “I was sent copies and my photos were made into post cards to sell at the guest house My photo was also to promote the Burragorang Valley at the shop where you booked holidays in Newcastle called Jayes.” most of that time spent visiting the isolated near Sydney and painting its remaining beauty. Her book is the story of those years and some of the paintings were created from it She returns to the gallery for a book signing and art exhibition in August Today's top stories curated by our news team Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over Your digital replica of Today's Paper Newcastle is increasingly becoming an attractive alternative for buyers priced out of Sydney Fact Checked After prices tapered through the second half of 2023, there was a brief window where some buyers might have found opportunies in Sydney traditionally among the world’s most expensive Many NSW residents are simply being priced out of the Sydney market An increasingly viable alternative is the state’s second largest city Newcastle has always been known for being the largest coal port in the world Buyers Agent and Founder of Chad Dunn Property Buyers recent development means it is evolving into a more sophisticated city “They used to say build the accommodation and the businesses will follow and we are seeing this come to fruition in Newcastle,” Mr Dunn told Savings.com.au the city centre was cut off from the waterfront when the trains divided the city to the water but this has all changed with the train station being moved and trams brought in “The area is now thriving faster than most regional cities in Australia.” Founder and Director of Aus Property Professionals we’ve picked out some Newcastle suburbs that could be ripe for big growth in 2024 The table below features home loans with some of the lowest interest rates on the market for owner occupiers Median price and rent data from Realestate.com.au Mayfield has traditionally been an industrial area hosting several steel works and iron manufacturers over much of the 20th century While there are still some steel mills in Mayfield the major BHP steelworks was closed in 1999 and the suburb has since reinvented itself as a go-to residential spot local buyers agency Arnold Property dubbed Mayfield ‘Newcastle’s favourite suburb' but property remains attractively priced even compared to other suburbs close to the centre of Newcastle let alone equivalent areas in other cities the underlying drivers of demand are solid and the suburb looks a good bet to continue to attract buyers and affordable housing options make it a desirable location for first-home buyers and young professionals," Mr Edge told Savings.com.au Mayfield also made its way onto REA’s hot 100 suburbs for 2024 with commentators highlighting its appeal to those craving both a city lifestyle and a “coastal vibe” naturally demand for higher density housing will continue to increase high density unit blocks in the city centre are concentrated in three areas with mostly established units between 10 and 30 years old where the new developments are starting to emerge Newcastle West and Wickham…is where the new train station terminates,” he said but most unit sales are still off the plans This is where buildings will have the highest height limits.” For first home buyers and downsizers these new units could be a way to bet on the continued prosperity of the Newcastle CBD Median price (Adamstown Heights): $985,000 for houses Median price (Kotara): $925,000 for houses Median rent (Adamstown Heights): $690 pw for houses and was identified by both of our experts for its growth potential "Adamstown Heights offers a family-friendly environment close to Newcastle's business district making it an attractive option for a range of buyers,” Mr Edge said one of the area’s major advantages is the Kotora Westfield centre which he called the “major shopping centre district for the Newcastle area and Broadmeadow.” Hamilton was the other Newcastle suburb to make it onto the REA hottest 100. About 4 kilometres west of the city centre, Hamilton is a traditionally blue chip suburb, like the Brisbane suburb of the same name Property in Hamilton NSW though remains reasonably priced compared to other suburbs near the Newcastle city centre one of the area’s major entertainment precincts While there are plenty of opportunities for buyers in the inner city suburbs of Newcastle the area in the region that is likely to see the most capital growth over the next few years is Port Stephens He said 2024 could be the perfect time to get in an area he is in “no doubt will see some major upswing in the years ahead.” “A lot of people do not realise that Newcastle and Port Stephens have their own airport flying to other states daily What they also do not realise is that this airport is starting international flights mid-2024 An influx of tourists will impact property prices and supply and demand,” he said “Anna Bay is the closest surf beach to this airport and is a sleepy little surf village too often overlooked "It's not the next Byron Bay but it will be something special and we will no doubt see some major upswing here in the years ahead.” Anna Bay offers more chances for entry level buyers to bet on the Port Stephens area but Soldiers Point was Mr Dunn’s tip for those buying at the premium end of the market “Soldiers Point is the closest Marina and access point to the Port Stephens waterways and it has always held its prices well,” he explained the largest coastal saltwater lake in the country The coastal suburbs at the southern end of the lake not only is the area attractive for those who don’t want to stray too far from the capital but the lake is increasingly attracting Sydney residents northwards “The area has a very proactive council that is unlocking a lot of value with new housing estates and leisure projects that are attracting the hordes coming out of Sydney that enjoy the boating and lifestyle,” he said “It is understandable that now that the Central Coast has already gone through its boom years and become an extension of Sydney that Lake Macquarie would be next to benefit from the shift north not too far from Sydney.” He called the region around Morisset the “epicentre” of the region highlighting the award winning Trinity Point Marina on Morisset point in a city that could be poised for rapid growth in the coming years it would be remiss to not mention the development opportunities The Newcastle Council has plans for some major zoning changes with the land around seven train stations “In these areas I would say that Broadmeadow Booragul and Kotara should be on every investors radar,” Mr Dunn told savings.com.au Learn everything you need to know about buying property – from choosing the right property and home loan tips to save money and more!With bonus Q&A sheet and Crossword Harry joined Infochoice Group in November 2022 as a financial journalist having completed a Bachelors Degree in 2021 and enjoys helping other people try to make sense of the financial system Compare thousands of home loans rates and features from 100+ leading Australian lenders Speak to a broker and get help
choosing the right home loan Comprehensive property information at your fingertips Hear from the experts shaping Australia's financial future © 2025 Savings.com.au   ·   AFSL and Australian Credit License Number 515843 The information provided constitutes information which is general in nature and has not taken into account any of your personal objectives Savings.com.au may receive a fee for products displayed Our company, Savings.com.au, has obtained accreditation as a data recipient for the Consumer Data Right (CDR). You can view our CDR policy by clicking on this link Savings.com.au provides general information and comparison services to help you make informed financial decisions We do not cover every product or provider in the market Our service is free to you because we receive compensation from product providers for sponsored placements these commercial relationships do not influence our editorial integrity For more detailed information, please refer to our How We Get Paid, Managing Conflicts of Interest, and Editorial Guidelines pages we are passionate about helping Australians make informed financial decisions Our dedicated editorial team works tirelessly to provide you with accurate We pride ourselves on maintaining a strict separation between our editorial and commercial teams ensuring that the content you read is based purely on merit and not influenced by commercial interests Learn more about our commitment to editorial integrity in our Editorial Guidelines thanks to support from our partners through sponsored placements We earn compensation by promoting products For more details, see How We Get Paid We strive to cover a broad range of products Products in our comparison tables are sorted based on various factors featured or sponsored and may appear prominently in the tables regardless of their attributes certain products may present forms designed to refer you to associated companies (e.g our mortgage broker partner) who may be able to assist you with products from the brand you selected You can customise your search using our sorting and filtering tools to prioritise what matters most to you although we do not compare all features and some results associated with commercial arrangements may still appear For more details, visit How We Get Paid and Managing Conflicts of Interest the base criteria include a $500,000 loan amount over 30 years the base criteria include a $30,000 loan over 5 years the base criteria include a $20,000 loan over 5 years These rates are only examples and may not include all fees and charges *The Comparison rate is based on a $150,000 loan over 25 years Warning: this comparison rate is true only for this example and may not include all fees and charges fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate Monthly repayment figures are estimates that exclude fees These estimates are based on the advertised rates for the specified term and loan amount Actual repayments will depend on your circumstances and interest rate changes once the base criteria are altered by the user will be based on the selected products’ advertised rates and determined by the loan amount loan term and LVR as input by the user/you Savings.com.au is proudly part of the InfoChoice Group The InfoChoice Group is associated with the Firstmac Group We may include products and services from loans.com.au these brands are treated like any other commercial partner Learn more about how we manage conflicts of interest The information provided by Savings.com.au is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives We recommend seeking independent financial advice before making any financial decisions obtain and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) Rates and product information should be confirmed with the relevant credit provider. For more information, read Savings.com.au’s Financial Services and Credit Guide (FSCG) Stay up to date with the latest rate movements across home loans By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy Join thousands of Aussies getting smarter with personal finance news expert insights and more in our regular roundup email Receive episode alerts plus special invites to have your questions or savings tips read out on the show By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy. All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueJayden Wallace, 21, and Axel Williams, 19, spent Monday night in the cells after they were arrested near Hudson Park and later charged with property and trespassing offences. Wallace pleaded guilty to trespassing and possessing house-breaking implements in Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday and was granted conditional bail ahead of being sentenced later this week. Meanwhile, Williams pleaded not guilty to four charges and was granted bail ahead of a hearing in Newcastle Local Court in March. The pair were both placed on curfews and Williams was banned from entering Jesmond, New Lambton and Adamstown Heights. Police said they were called to Adamstown Heights about 9.45pm on Monday after reports of suspicious activity near a residence and a parked car on Lucas Crescent. "Occupants of the home allegedly saw two individuals on their property and gave chase after the pair before they stopped nearby at Hudson Park," police said in a statement. Newcastle City police arrived a short time later and arrested the men, searching Wallace and finding the house-breaking implements. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Don't miss your weekly Knights update Get the latest property and development news here Test your skills with interactive crosswords City of Newcastle is capitalising on autumn rain by planting hundreds of street trees across Newcastle as part of the Living Streets Program to expand the City’s urban forest Crews have been busy digging holes on street verges and reserves for around 500 trees - 40 different species - across Wallsend, Adamstown and Adamstown Heights (click here for the full list of streets) Around 1,000 street trees will be planted this year as part of the City’s commitment to deliver cleaner air Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Ward 4 Cr Jason Dunn planting a tree in Tyrrell Street who joined City staff to plant trees along Tyrrell Street Wallsend today said autumn offered the perfect weather for new plantings and that today’s work followed a council decision to join a global initiative aimed at enhancing nature in and around cities “While most community requests for tree plantings come during Summer when we are all feeling the need for more trees Summer isn’t the ideal time to plant and establish trees,” Councillor Nelmes said “The weather conditions are more favourable at this time of year as it’s cooler and more rain is about “Under our Living Streets program and in line with the City’s Urban Forest Policy we are committed to sustaining and expanding our urban canopy cover as we know a five per cent increase can reduce summer temperatures by one to two degrees and that 17 trees will offset the use of one car a year in terms of carbon emissions “We want to see more trees and nature in our cities which is why earlier this week Council voted to accept an invitation to become a pioneer city of the CitiesWithNature initiative aimed at promoting the many benefits of bringing urban communities closer to nature These include mental and physical health and wellbeing urban cooling and climate change adaptation “CWN is a unique partnership initiative founded by ICLEI or Local Governments for Sustainability that provides an online platform to connect cities and subnational governments researchers and urban communities to share Council’s City Greening Services team will complete regular maintenance of the new trees among 6,000 recently planted across the local government area The City is running a series of education activities in conjunction with tree planting encouraging children during the COVID-19 lockdown to observe animals that visit their favourite tree and write a love letter to it Ward 4 Councillor Jason Dunn said kids were invited to submit a letter and photo of the tree to [email protected] to encourage conservatory thinking and see which trees are the most popular across the local government area. “We want kids to take a moment to visit their favourite tree and stop, watch and listen and then write to us about how many different animals visit the tree, how long they think it’s been here and what could be lost if it was cut down Councillor Dunn said. “As well as planting trees, we want to educate the next generation about how native and non-native trees support a huge amount of life in urban environments.” A drawing submitted by Astrid, 7, from Wallsend, of her favourite trees. All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSeveral people suffered minor injuries in the early morning crash Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. Get the latest property and development news here. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOne day she might be lacing up her ballet shoes; the next picking up a driver to set out on the golf course Brianna umpires netball games at her school Brianna has been dancing at Northcott Dance since she was three and dreams of performing with Russian dance company the Bolshoi Ballet Brianna has also played netball from a young age This year she took a break from the court to focus on umpiring having attained her nationally accredited C Badge But the 15-year-old Hunter Academy of Sport product's main talent and passion is golf Brianna started playing 2½ years ago and has loved the sport ever since but as I started to meet more people it became fun," she said "I have made heaps of friends and when I play well it's a really good feeling." Brianna practises four times a week under the guidance of Newcastle coaches Jason Laws and Paul Robinson starting at cadet level with Belmont Golf Club and quickly reaching state level the latest being a trip to New Zealand with the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation in January She won this as the NSW Combined High Schools Championship nett champion The competitive teen's most recent achievement was placing first in the girls' nett division at the Pennant Hills Junior Classic in July Her other tournament wins this year include the Newcastle High School girls' competition the Srixon International Sub Junior and the North Ryde Junior Classic While three activities are a lot to juggle Brianna said she wouldn't give up any of them Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueRoads and Maritime Services (RMS) will carry out work to move the southbound merge lane on Northcott Drive 100 metres south The RMS claims this will improve safety around a pedestrian refuge which was built last year as part of a $350,000 upgrade of the section between Westfield Kotara and the Fernleigh Track “No U-turn” signs were also erected at the Wade Street intersection many residents were unhappy with the changes saying they had made the intersection more dangerous and the RMS ignored residents’ input Wade Street resident James Grindey is part of a core group of three or four residents who lobbied against the pedestrian refuge and merge lane before they were constructed He said they were concerned about motorists concentrating on merging lanes right where people were crossing the road “The issues we raised at the start have since come to light,” Mr Grindey said Only a few months ago there was a major accident at the merging point many cars were also turning into Wade Street to do three-point turns The RMS hopes to mitigate these issues by moving the merge lane and installing and upgrading signage But Mr Grindey said it was too little too late “They’re just bandaid fixes to a failed project in the first place,” he said “Ninety per cent of the issues we’re having now are issues [residents] raised before construction started.” Mr Grindey said the residents would like to see the RMS consider installing traffic lights at the intersection The RMS will be working on the road from Thursday traffic control measures and a reduced 40-kilometre per hour speed limit will be in place during work to ensure workers’ and motorists’ safety drew inspiration from her experience working as a mental health nurse to pen her winning story for the Newcastle Herald short story competition Picture: Simon McCarthyThey say you should write what you know Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHunter writers Maree Gallop and Holly Bruce have managed to do both drawing respectively on years of experience and a deep connection to the local landscape to narrate their winning works of fiction in the 2021 Newcastle Herald short story competition there is still time to vote for the people's choice category Mrs Gallop, of Adamstown Heights, who has taken out the top prize this year, drew on her years of experience as a mental health and workplace health and safety nurse to pen an emotionally complex tale of a toxic workplace culture and its effect on a struggling young apprentice "I guess I have seen a lot of that theme running through different work cultures I think young people coming into the workforce can be quite vulnerable and sometimes those work cultures can be quite damaging." SHORT STORIES: Read this year's short story competition entries Mrs Gallop's story paints a scene of complex power relations and toxic masculinity narrated by an observing nurse Her nod from the judges this year levels the score in her literary home after her husband "There is a bit of friendly rivalry because John and I will often enter the same competition," Mrs Gallop said. Mr Gallop also entered in this year's competition with a piece titled Dawn Patrol Ms Bruce, the Herald's 2018 competition winner, returned to the listings this year as the judges' highly commended writer with a moving tale of a son's troubled relationship with his father set on the Hunter's beaches who describes herself as a swimmer and "frustrated surfer" grew up at Eleebana and writes with a local's love of the region "I ride my bike to the beach every morning," she said the 2018 Herald short story competition winner was honoured again this year as the judges' highly commended writer PIcture: Marina NeilAs her young surfer struggles with his father's ailing health the city's beaches call to him "I tend to write about what is going on underneath the surface of people's lives," Ms Bruce said I think what is happening on the surface is often not what is happening underneath Mrs Gallop has been awarded a trove of 50 new books a double weekend pass to the 2021 Newcastle Writers Festival as well as a Lenovo Tab10 tablet device courtesy of Domayne Kotara with a weekend pass to the writers festival Edward Bassingthwaighte of Hamilton South was another clear popular favourite taking out the people's choice category for the 2021 Herald short story competition described himself as an amateur writer who struggles a bit with confidence and said he was excited to have received the encouragement "I spent a lot of time working on it and I got a lot of help from my wife and daughter they're very tough and very honest," he said Mr Bassingthwaighte has also won 10 new books plus a weekend pass to the writers festival But Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Huw Baker on Monday told a three-judge bench of the CCA that who sentenced Hill in Newcastle District Court "[The DPP] would say the court has to intervene because it would be an affront to the administration of justice to allow for a sentence that is this erroneously lenient to remain." PREDATOR: Brett Hill was jailed for at least 17 years in December for kidnapping and raping an 11-year-old girl at Adamstown Heights the Court of Criminal Appeal heard appeals in relation to the length of his jail term Mr Baker said Judge Ellis's assessment of the objective seriousness of the offending as "extremely high" was correct but said the indicative sentences for each charge were too lenient and the overall sentence was afforded too large a degree of concurrency said the sentence given to Hill was not inadequate and even it was found to be lenient it was not so lenient that the CCA should intervene After hearing submissions from both parties Hill has lodged a notice of intention to appeal against the severity of his sentence, intending to claim it was "manifestly excessive", but the actual appeal is yet to be filed. is currently not eligible for parole until 2035 at the age of 64 While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here the sexual predator who kidnapped and raped an 11-year-old girl at Adamstown Heights last year has been jailed for a maximum of 23 years and six months in Newcastle District Court Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe young girl courageously confronted Hill in court on Tuesday and read a powerful victim impact statement that outlined the profound effects the attack has had on her Looking Hill in the eye before she began to speak the girl's voice never wavered as she articulated the deep emotional trauma she is suffering tomorrow and for years ahead I will forever be scarred," the young girl said "You stole my body that day and you also stole my happiness and my life as I knew it." crying as he claimed he felt genuine remorse for what he had done But he also made a halfhearted attempt to blame synthetic cannabis or "bath salts" for his behaviour and actions on the day he kidnapped the young girl But that attempt at mitigation was quickly abandoned under cross-examination from Crown prosecutor Lee Carr and Hill admitted he knew exactly what he was doing Judge Roy Ellis sentenced Hill to a maximum of 23 years and six months Hill will be eligible for parole in 2035 at the age of 64 detained the girl as she was walking through Hudson Park about 9.15am on June 12 and sexually assaulted her a number of times and the police examining the scene of the abduction in June The crimes triggered widespread outrage and hysteria like few criminal offences have in Newcastle in recent memory sparked an investigation by police and a manhunt by members of the public who searched for the man in the red Holden Commodore Hill was arrested four days later in Beaumont Street He initially pleaded guilty to detaining the girl and sexually assaulting her but denied a number of other more serious sexual assault allegations Those matters were expected to be the subject of a trial in October but Hill pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated sexual assault with a victim under the age of 16 Hill's late guilty pleas did not spare the young girl from having to come to court and give evidence The girl had already given her evidence during a pre-recording a method routinely used for child victims and complainants of sexual assault We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Police have labelled the abduction and sexual assault at knifepoint of an 11-year-old girl in Newcastle a "horrendous" and "worrying" crime, as they hunt for her assailant. The girl was walking to school through Hudson Park in Adamstown Heights just after 9.15am on Tuesday when she was attacked, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Jacob said. "An 11-year-old girl was approached from behind by a male offender and attacked, threatened with a knife, sexually assaulted, placed into a car [and] driven to another location in bushland where she was further offended against," he said. The chief inspector, from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad, said the girl was released at Kotara Station about five hours later, just before 2.15pm. She then walked the 1.5 kilometres home, and police were called. "It’s quite a worrying crime committed in broad daylight to a young person; a very brave young girl who has been assisting us with their inquiries, and while she was on her way to school," Chief Inspector Jacob said. "It is horrendous ... and it’s our mission to get this person and remove him from the community as quickly as we possibly can." Detective Chief Inspector Paul Jacob from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad said the girl had been very brave. Credit: Seven News Police from the Newcastle Police District and the State Crime Command's Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad have forensically examined a crime scene at Hudson Park, and Chief Inspector Jacob said officers were also canvassing the area and checking surrounding CCTV footage. However, police have not yet found the bush location the girl was taken to, but they were "following a number of lines of inquiry". “We are very open to where these further crimes were committed against this young lady. We just don’t know for certain [where they happened] at this point,” Chief Inspector Jacob said. The girl was with her family, Chief Inspector Jacob said, and "being strongly supported". "She is doing remarkably well," he said. "Police, through the John Hunter Hospital and the clinic there, are supporting her with counselling, and that will continue onwards as much as she needs. "She’s extremely lucky ... and a very brave young girl who has committed to helping us get to the bottom of this." The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.Credit: Marina Neil/Newcastle Herald Chief Inspector Jacob said the girl's attacker had a distinctive black and grey hoodie with a blue panel on the front. The jumper was zipped up over his chin so the girl could not see his full face, but she was able to describe him as having wrinkles around his forehead and around sides of his mouth, with chubby hands and black messy hair. Police examine a crime scene after a 11-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in Newcastle.Credit: Marina Neil/Newcastle Herald “There would be people out there who saw this man and probably saw him before the offences, and we’re asking those people to come forward and help us solve this brutal crime.” The chief inspector urged anyone who was in the Adamstown Heights area on Tuesday or anyone with information that may assist to contact Crime Stoppers - particularly, anyone who may have dashcam footage of a red car, possibly a Holden Commodore, that was in the area at the time. Police have labelled the abduction and sexual assault at knifepoint of an 11-year-old girl in Newcastle a \\\"horrendous\\\" and \\\"worrying\\\" crime, as they hunt for her assailant. The girl was walking to school through Hudson Park in Adamstown Heights just after 9.15am on Tuesday when she was attacked,\\u00A0Detective Chief Inspector Paul Jacob said. \\\"An 11-year-old girl was approached from behind by a male offender and attacked, threatened with a knife, sexually assaulted, placed into a car [and] driven to another location in bushland where she was further offended against,\\\" he said. The chief inspector, from\\u00A0the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad, said the girl was\\u00A0released at Kotara Station about five hours later, just before 2.15pm. She then walked the 1.5 kilometres home, and police were called. \\\"It\\u2019s quite a worrying crime committed in broad daylight to a young person; a very brave young girl who has been assisting us with their inquiries, and while she was on her way to school,\\\" Chief Inspector Jacob said. \\\"It is horrendous ... and it\\u2019s our mission to get this person and remove him from the community as quickly as we possibly can.\\\" Police from the Newcastle Police District and the State Crime Command's Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad have forensically examined a crime scene at Hudson Park, and Chief Inspector Jacob said officers were also canvassing the area and checking surrounding CCTV footage. However, police have not yet found the bush location the girl was taken to, but they were \\\"following a number of lines of inquiry\\\". \\u201CWe are very open to where these further crimes were committed against this young lady. We just don\\u2019t know for certain [where they happened] at this point,\\u201D Chief Inspector Jacob said. The girl was with her family, Chief Inspector Jacob said, and \\\"being strongly supported\\\". \\\"She is doing remarkably well,\\\" he said. \\\"Police, through the John Hunter Hospital and the clinic there, are supporting her with counselling, and that will continue onwards as much as she needs. \\\"She\\u2019s extremely lucky ... and a very brave young girl who has committed to helping us get to the bottom of this.\\\" Chief Inspector Jacob said the girl's attacker\\u00A0had a distinctive black and grey hoodie with a blue panel on the front. \\u201CThere would be people out there who saw this man and probably saw him before the offences, and we\\u2019re asking those people to come forward and help us solve this brutal crime.\\u201D sex assault of NSW schoolgirlNSW Police have thanked the community for helping them arrest a 47-year-old man after a schoolgirl was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted ShareGet SBS News daily and direct to your InboxSign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.Your email address *Morning (Mon–Fri) a cyclist passes the signal box ruins at Fernleigh Loop a passenger train at Fernleigh Loop in 1966 Pictures: Ron Preston and Max Mason-Hubers REACHING the point where the Fernleigh Track crosses Burwood Road at Kahibah you are provided with a reminder of what makes this path in the midst of suburbia and our busy lives so special Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueScurrying along the road is a stream of vehicles their occupants' eyes fixed on the bitumen and their daily schedules dead ahead missing the moment in pursuit of what is next to revel in the moment and the environment I'm pedalling through I have to wait for the crossing signal to turn green I could look ahead and see something wondrous But I shall experience that once I cross the road passenger trains stopped at a small station here The train was seen as a key to the growing residential areas up the hill As a Newcastle Morning Herald story in 1925 reported "The train service has been considerably improved within recent years and has brought the township within more frequent touch with the Newcastle district." there is a replica "Kahibah" platform sign Not that there was very much at this station for a long time going by the description given by local author Stephen White in his novel which is set in a time straight after the Second World War A passenger train on the Belmont Line at Fernleigh Loop in 1966 Picture: Ron Preston The book's main character is an artist scarred by his war service and carrying a broken heart He has left Sydney and is heading to a shack in the bush above Glenrock Lagoon David first has to catch a train - "the hissing engine three submissive carriages in tow" - along the Belmont Line to the little station at Kahibah "To all appearances the railway station had been placed in the wilderness as a point for him to alight and when he passed it would vanish," White wrote As soon as you pedal across Burwood Road and into the Glenrock State Conservation Area Quite a few of the vehicles on Burwood Road have mountain bikes strapped to their backs NATURAL GEM: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger Kate Harrison Picture: Jonathan Carroll Kate Harrison is a ranger with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is a popular entry point to both the track and Glenrock's trails for riders and walkers She reckons that the track and the park have complimented each other particularly in these times of COVID restrictions as visitor numbers have increased "dramatically" "I do think it exposes people who may not have been aware of the conservation area or the track so exploring one interests them to explore the other," Kate Harrison says Within the 550 hectares of the Glenrock State Conservation Area there are 14 kilometres of mountain biking trails and another 20 kilometres of multi-use roads and tracks The track slides through a section of the western part of the conversation area with only a kilometre or so before I reach the tunnel but that short ride offers a variety of vegetation Picture: Jonathan Carroll In the conservation area you can find everything from the deliciously named Sydney peppermint and smooth-barked apple forests to rainforest remnants where light trickles through the canopy and splotches onto the undergrowth near the track "It is remarkable to have this," says Kate Harrison "to be exposed to such a mosaic of vegetation types in such a small area." Little wonder the renowned Prussian explorer and naturalist Ludwig Leichhardt was rhapsodic in his description of the landscape as he looked down the valley to Glenrock Lagoon Leichhardt noted the "most luxuriant vegetation" growing in the "Valley of the Palms" you journey back further than the 19th century the Awabakal camped at the mouth of the lagoon Picture: Jonathan Carroll The Awabakal also had a quarry in the area and it is believed that part of the Yuelarbah track where walkers now tread was part of an important Aboriginal trading route Indigenous artefacts and sites have been found and identified and Kate Harrison says more surveys are being done around Glenrock "We're finding it's a rich canvas of both physical and spiritual significance," the ranger says an area littered with artefacts from a more recent time it was used to signal to drivers if another train was approaching from the opposite direction along the single line Ed Tonks inspects the remaining section of tracks and says this was operated 24/7," says Ed of the signal box explaining that trains went up and down this line night and day Historical photos of the signal box depict a little weatherboard building It must have been a lonely existence for the staff any feeling of isolation has all but disappeared with houses having crept close to this part of the track A cyclist passes the ruins of the signal box at Fernleigh Loop Picture: Max Mason-HubersTrains heading north would stop at Fernleigh Loop in readiness for the long and steep descent to Adamstown a retired railway man who worked on the Belmont Line for 18 years when they had a line of wagons loaded with coal and the fireman would take up the slack on all the handbrakes and the guard would do the same," he explains So it was Ray's job to help apply the brakes to try to defy the forces of several hundred tonnes of coal and gravity pushing the train down the hill The tunnel was just around the bend from Fernleigh Loop Picture: Max Mason-Hubers Most know it as the Fernleigh Tunnel a reference to the mining company that had the rail line built in the late 1880s and 1890s to transport coal The tunnel was officially opened in 1892 and was seen as an engineering achievement "The tunnel through the ridge allowed for the transfer of the coal from the various collieries through to the port and to local markets," Ed Tonks says and it just so happened to look rather impressive." The tunnel's southern entrance is more subtle than impressive burrowing under the Pacific Highway at Adamstown Heights But then the hole reveals a string of lights through the 181-metre-long tunnel The mandarin-coloured light gently illuminates the ellipsis of bricks curling over us A couple of kids ahead add a soundtrack to the atmosphere making ghost sounds that bounce off the walls and die You don't see light at the end of the tunnel Rail historian Ed Tonks and Sydney visitor Deborah Goodman inspect the tunnel Picture: Max Mason-Hubers The historian explains the curve in the tunnel was to help slow the trains down as they negotiated the descending slope and that design feature has only added to the heritage value of the tunnel 130 years later "This was transport technology from England at the time transferred to the other side of the globe when it was 'the world's best'," Ed Tonks says curved tunnel could be an uncomfortable experience for the steam train crews Ray and his workmates carried breathing apparatus kits which he describes as being a metal mask and mouthpiece with a hose that would connect to a compressed air outlet from the engine The air through that mouthpiece "tasted like oil" but it was better than breathing smoke and fumes all the polished handrails and operating wheels would have a yellow film by the time we came out These days a journey through Redhead Tunnel is breath-taking for different reasons And it's an experience that is attracting tourists she is visiting the Fernleigh Track for the first time when we were Googling the area," Deborah Goodman explains "I cannot believe a train got through this!," Deborah Goodman says the rail historian delights in the Sydney visitor's reaction to the tunnel which was integral to the operation of the line for a century "So this is so significant because it enabled that functioning," Ed Tonks says as he gazes up at the brickwork "It has intrinsic historical value in itself and also it's one of the few instances where people can appreciate the interior of a tunnel legally and safely." I can see the light at the end of the tunnel And that means our Fernleigh Track journey is also nearing its end A cyclist riding past Fernleigh Loop in the early evening Picture: Max Mason-Hubers Tomorrow: "On The Fernleigh Track with Scott Bevan" concludes "On the Fernleigh Track with Scott Bevan": Part 1 "On the Fernleigh Track with Scott Bevan": Part 2 "On the Fernleigh Track with Scott Bevan": Part 3 "On The Fernleigh Track with Scott Bevan": Part 4 "On The Fernleigh Track with Scott Bevan": Part 5 Writer Scott Bevan at the southern entrance to Redhead Tunnel on the Fernleigh Track Picture: Max Mason-Hubers Our journalists work hard to provide local This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: Scott Bevan is a senior writer for The Newcastle Herald. He has also worked in radio and television and is the author of six books. Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSo is this pants-down style a hipster thing or a hip-hop thing And those in the rap subculture do tend to wear their jeans quite low rappers aren't known for wearing Hawaiian shirts Glen said the image made him recall the wise words of civil rights activist General Larry Platt: "Pants on the ground lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground." General Platt released the protest song in 2010 He earned his nickname during the American civil rights movement It expressed opposition to the males wearing trousers or jeans that sag below the waist This practice of "sagging" has been taken up by many males in the US Women do sometimes wear low-rise jeans to reveal G-string underwear but this apparently doesn't fall under the sagging category It was hip-hop artists and skaters who made sagging popular Some claim the style originated from the US prison system where pants can sag because of belt bans and ill-fitting clothes Barack Obama said on MTV that laws banning the wearing of low-slung pants showing underwear were "a waste of time" brothers should pull up their pants," Obama said In response to our stories about the top of town Nulkaba's Max Burke recalled memories of his group of friends at Cessnock High in 1954 "The girls soon organised a group of about a dozen to go to the beach on Saturday We met on the station at Cessnock and climbed on board 'the rattler' They travelled in "a carriage or the dog box" "The girls took a picnic for our collective lunch We ate this feast on top of the pavilion at Newcastle Beach as a group," he said "The boys part of the deal was to take the girls to the Treasury Cafe or the Brown Derby for tea We lads pooled our available cash for this treat but if collectively we came up short then it would be Shipmates for a sit-down open hamburger with chips and a milkshake with ice cream and maybe a fritter deep-fried pineapple or banana with ice cream." they'd go to the "Fruit Crush Company" - a shop on a southern corner in Hunter Street chop it in pieces and put it into a blender saying something like: "I'm watching you lot "These trips to the beach went on after we finished school for perhaps a year by which time some of us had a motorbike and some of the girls were away student-nursing "Jim Hunt's Saturday night dance at the Maitland town hall soon became the social event of the week." With a little help from Christmas Lights in the Hunter we have compiled a list of the finest Hunter Christmas light displays on offer this year If you stumble upon any spectacular exhibits that have escaped our radar, feel free to share your finds with us here Happy hunting and Merry Christmas! If you know of any hidden gems, share your finds with us here Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here Superstar in the making, Kalyn Ponga, has credited the Knights for keeping him in rugby league. The born competitor is gifted at many sports, but says it’s Newcastle that helped him achieve his State of Origin dream at just 20 years of age… now he’s learning from the best. A man is in custody after an 11-year-old girl was allegedly abducted in broad daylight and raped in a horrific five-hour ordeal. Photo / Channel 9 A man is in custody after an 11-year-old girl was allegedly abducted in broad daylight from a park and raped in a horrific five hour ordeal, near Newcastle in NSW. The 47-year-old man was arrested during a vehicle stop in Hamilton just after midday and has been taken to Newcastle Police Station where he is expected to be charged later today. The Year 6 schoolgirl told police she was walking through Hudson Park on Terrance Street, Adamstown Heights, when she was allegedly grabbed from behind and threatened by a man with a knife, sexually assaulted, and forced into a red car, just after 9.15am on Tuesday. According to police, her attacker then drove her to bushland where she was sexually assaulted for several hours before being released at Kotara Railway Station just before 2.15pm — five hours after she was abducted. Police were called when the girl walked 1.5km home and told her grandmother of the attack. She was taken to John Hunter Hospital for medical examination and later released. "The identification of the car was one of the very key aspects of it but also the description provided by the very brave, young victim," Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec told reporters earlier. "I don't know the motive or why someone would perpetrate this crime." He said the family of the victim felt "some comfort" in knowing the man had been caught. "They have some comfort knowing this person is now off the streets," he said. "It's been a traumatic and very challenging few days. They were worried as everyone else was in the community." Earlier in the week, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Jacob, from the sex crimes squad, said the girl was doing "remarkably well" given what she endured. "I am very thankful we have a very brave young woman who has been able to help us so valuably in our continuing inquiry," he said. A parent of a friend of the girl told The Daily Telegraph the community would rally around the "quiet polite little girl" and her family. "I saw her yesterday get into the ambulance … she was just so distraught," she said. "It's horrible, it's devastating to think a child has been treated like that." The newspaper reported a spokeswoman for the NSW Education Department did not answer questions about whether the family was notified when the girl didn't show up for school. The NSW Department of Education provided a letter for schools to give to parents and Kotara South Public School principal Susan Maxworthy said stranger danger talks had taken place in classrooms and assemblies. A crime scene was established at Hudson Park and forensically examined, according to police Detectives from State Crime Command's Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad and Newcastle City Police District have established Strike Force Bradly to investigate the incident. Earlier in the week, they scoured the area for CCTV, seeking dashcam footage and sifted through bushland next to Belair Public School for clues to catch the predator. Text messages showed Erin accusing husband Simon of being a 'bare minimum parent'. ABC News News HomeCourt papers reveal elaborate Newcastle Council fraudShare Court papers reveal elaborate Newcastle Council fraudTopic:Local Government Newcastle City Council's Lisa Scully (Supplied by Newcastle City Council) Link copiedShareShare articleCourt documents give an account of an elaborate Newcastle Council fraud at the hands of an ex-worker, lauded for overhauling the city's garbage services. Lisa Diane Scully, 43, had one of the highest profile roles as council's manager of city presentation. She overhauled the garbage system, overseeing the three-bin system that came in in 2011. Scully's work was deemed so outstanding she won a Minister for Women award in 2013. But behind the scenes, police allege the Adamstown Heights woman approved fake invoices for whitegoods and electronic gear, defrauding council of $31,000. The invoices were for computers, tablets, video cameras, smart phones, ovens, a dishwasher and a fridge, and were falsely generated by company called Australian Software Professionals. The documents say the fraud occurred between January 2011 and April 2013. Scully was originally charged with six fraud-related offences, and now stands accused of eight. She no longer works for council, and the ABC has been told it has since overhauled its systems and processes to stop a similar fraud in the future. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Pictures: Lizzy Hodgins/Basic Black CreativeTo some the thought of preschoolers doing yoga and meditation might sound far-fetched All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBut for Maitland’s Kylie Humphreys it’s not only possible it’s vital to improve their mental health and wellbeing Ms Humphreys has founded Head and Heart Mindfulness – a program for kids aged 3-12 teachers and parents to reduce anxiety build resilience and improve concentration and memory “Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment on purpose and in a non-judgmental way,” Ms Humphreys said FOCUS: Bolwarra Public School students practicing techniques to improve their wellbeing.The idea came about after Ms Humphreys attended a mindfulness workshop while working as a teacher at Bolwarra Public she realised she wanted to take it further I need to be able to share this with other children,” she said “As a child I was really anxious. I want to be able to help kids who are like me.” So she left her job and took up teaching mindfulness in Hunter schools last year Two of her colleagues, Brooke Vitnell and Erin Visser, are also former teachers who left their jobs to become mindfulness educators, having seen first-hand the difficulties many children face in the classroom According to the Mission Australia Youth Survey Report 2017 mental health was the top issue of national concern for young people About one in seven young Australians experience a mental health condition “Mindfulness is such a valuable tool for children calm down and make positive choices and decisions,” Ms Vitnell said behaviour and students’ overall wellbeing.” BENEFICIAL: The program is suited for children as young as 3-years-old Pictures: Lizzy Hodgins/Basic Black CreativeAnd schools are coming on board Ms Humphreys started with a preschool and a primary school last year but now has 25 schools booked in this year with teachers saying students are more responsive and parents saying their kids practice methods in real-life situations “One of the parents said her daughter used the techniques in a bullying incident I value it so much but it’s so good to see the community value it too.” Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020. Many parents believe they are ‘purchasing’ a better education for their children by choosing a private school When Australian parents shell out fees to send their children to private schools, they like to think they’re getting many things for their money. So they may be surprised to learn that superior student growth in literacy and numeracy is not one of them. Conventional wisdom holds that private schools generally perform better than government schools academically. Many parents believe they are “purchasing” a better education for their children by choosing a private school. But new Grattan Institute research suggests the conventional wisdom may be wrong. Read moreYes, a cursory glance at Naplan achievement test scores (the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) shows students at private schools are, on average, ahead of students at government schools in numeracy and literacy. But Naplan achievement scores at a point in time prove nothing about the standard of teaching in private schools compared to government schools. We look at the learning growth of students at government and private (that is, independent and Catholic) schools, and we make comparisons on a like-for-like basis (that is, we compare schools with similar levels of advantage). This kind of analysis has only recently become possible. Naplan, the first standardised test in Australia, was introduced in 2008. So it is only in the past few years that we have seen the results of students all the way from year three to year nine. The results of our analysis are clear. We find only very modest differences in student growth among sectors. At primary school, between years three and five, students at independent schools make similar rates of progress as students at government schools, while students at Catholic schools make slightly less progress. At secondary school, between years seven and nine, independent schools do only very slightly better than government schools – less than one month of extra progress per year. This is not to say to the parents of private school students that you’re wasting your money on those school fees. Our analysis focuses solely on student progress in numeracy and literacy; it does not examine other subject areas that may be of specific interest to students and parents. Our analysis also does not measure everything parents would be looking for their children to get from a school. The non-government school sector in Australia is very diverse. Many parents may choose an independent or Catholic school for the pastoral care, extra-curricular activities and leadership opportunities, or for a specific peer group and type of learning environment they believe is best for their child. No dataset can say how well these varied decisions pay off. Read moreBut our findings debunk the idea that private schools do a better job of stretching students to their full learning potential in core subjects of literacy and numeracy It’s not that school choice is irrelevant for parents: our analysis finds large differences among individual schools with students at some schools making consistently more literacy and numeracy progress than students at similar schools It’s just that once student background is taken into account high performing schools are equally likely to be government or private schools The lesson for parents is clear: if you think sending your children to a private school guarantees that they will make more progress in the classroom Grattan Institute’s new analysis will be published later this year Peter Goss is program director of school education and Owain Emslie associate at the Grattan Institute EACH year schools discard between 100 and 200 kilograms of uniforms but one Newcastle school is ensuring their old threads don't add to landfill Belair Public School in Adamstown Heights was in the process of changing over uniforms last year and has since delivered 10 large boxes filled with their old garments to a school in Fiji P&C volunteer and uniform shop coordinator Lindsay Wachs said with a stock room full to the brim of old uniforms there was a need to find a new home and prevent them from going to waste very quickly that we were going to be having a massive amount of donations coming in of the old uniform," she said There was an idea to send the clothes to a textile recycling facility but Ms Wachs fell in love with the idea of donating them to a school in a less advantaged country "Textile recycling would have been the next plan the first goal was to get it to kids who could use them because they're perfectly good articles of clothing," she said After eight months of trial and error to find a way to get the uniforms overseas Ms Wachs went "down a bunch of rabbit holes and got told no a bunch of times" "I almost gave up but then I managed to get a contact and I was elated because it was exactly what I needed to hear," she said a youth mission group who make occasional trips to third world places like Solomon Islands "They left Australia on a plane with the 10 giant boxes on December 31 last year and were filled with all kinds of jumpers The donations arrived in January to Nabua Primary a school for children aged between kindergarten to eight-years-old "It all worked out really well and none of this would have been possible if it weren't for the donations and generosity of the community," Ms Wachs said According to the NSW EPA only 28 per cent of textiles are recycled and re-used With that in mind, Hunter schools are moving towards more sustainable clothing with Islington Public School adopting 100 per cent compostable shirts as their uniforms and St Columban's Primary School Mayfield using a gold coin donation clothing pool to promote reuse St Columban's principal Penny Banister said her school community was passionate about the environment and sustainability as well as helping families in the cost-of-living crisis "We have a clothes rack that hangs out in our foyer of clothes that have been donated basically parents come in and give a gold coin donation - there's no specific prices - and they find what they need," she said "Our community is really aware there's people out there that need support and we are focused on the environment so we try to ensure our uniforms are being passed through students siblings and not going into the ground as wastage." Ms Banister said there was also a high number of refugee students that rely on donations when arriving at the school "We do get a lot of refugee children here who obviously arrive in our country who have nothing so we do use those second hand clothing to actually clothe these children so that they have a starting uniform," she said.