The inquiry, overseen by a NSW Upper House select committee, rolled into Newcastle on Tuesday, 4 February, following hearings and site visits in the Blue Mountains, where water samples recently collected in Katoomba revealed high levels of PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The acronym PFAS refers to a group of over 4000 chemicals, many of which are very effective at resisting heat, stains, grease and water. This makes them useful chemicals for a range of applications, and notoriously difficult to break down, hence the nickname ‘forever chemicals’. In the Hunter, the historic use of PFAS in fire-fighting foams at the Williamtown RAAF base has resulted in extensive contamination and the establishment of management zones around the site. Fronting the inquiry last Tuesday, Mr Rooms expressed concerns over “recent levels of PFAS and PFOA [Perfluorooctanoic acid] located at the Pacific Dunes golf course in Medowie and its spread outside the so-called red zone”. Mr Rooms’ interest in the issue began when he noticed “foam” and “bubbles” in watercourses running through the Pacific Dunes golf course, where he resides. He and Mr Walton claim that an independent test revealed levels of PFAS in the sample taken from Pacific Dunes to be approximately 54 times the Australian standard for fresh water. The PFAS National Environment Management Plan 2.0 has four fresh water ecological criteria for comparison based on specific exposure scenarios. From the evidence given at the inquiry, it is not clear which criterion was used by Mr Rooms and Mr Walton. The pair advocated for more extensive PFAS testing outside the Williamtown “red zone” area, and expressed a lack of confidence in government agencies to effectively manage the issue. “I would say there is systemic organisational failure across multiple organisations, and I believe one of the things that stems from this is because the cost of knowing the truth of the spread of PFAS and PFOA – the economic, business, health and environment costs are such that the executive really don’t want to know,” Mr Walton said. Hunter Water, which manages the Lower Hunter’s drinking water from “catchment-to-tap”, has been monitoring the region’s drinking water for PFAS for the past eight years. Samples are taken at the Hunter’s six drinking water treatment plants, and at 83 locations across the drinking water network. “The results demonstrate that the drinking water we supply to our customers and community is safe,” the water body said in a statement to NOTA. “We have a comprehensive monitoring program for both our raw (groundwater, dams and catchments) and treated (water treatment plants and drinking water distribution network) waters, which includes PFAS. “In the vicinity of Medowie, our sampling includes monitoring of raw water from Grahamstown Dam, Campvale Canal and at Pump Station 12 in the Tomago Borefield. “Treated water in the Medowie area is monitored at Grahamstown Water Treatment Plant and at three locations in the drinking water distribution network.” The statement said that Hunter drinking water “remains safe”, meets the current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines for PFAS, and that “analysis indicates that it will meet the requirements of the proposed new ADWG PFAS guidelines”. “These guidelines are derived on the basis of human health risk over a lifetime of exposure and apply to the treated water supplied to customers, as opposed to raw water from the drinking water catchments.” Following last week’s inquiry, Hunter Water confirmed it has not undertaken specific testing at the Pacific Dunes golf course. “In assessing the issues raised by the submission, Hunter Water has identified new information regarding the historic vehicle accident and related firefighting activity within the Tomago Sandbeds catchment at Medowie,” the statement said. “Hunter Water has written to the NSW Environment Protection Authority and will work with them and other relevant agencies as required.” Sampling from Hunter Water’s closest groundwater pump station (Pump Station 12) south of the golf course has detected PFAS on one occasion, at a very low concentration. Sampling undertaken in Campvale Canal regularly shows the presence of concentrations of PFAS compounds higher than at Pump Station 12, consistent with the urban nature of the surrounding environment. Around 500 samples have been analysed from Campvale Canal since 2016 as part of the routine monitoring program, with the sum of PFOS and PFHxS (Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) consistently around 0.01 micrograms per litre since sampling commenced. At this concentration, authorities believe the PFAS contribution from Campvale Canal does not impact the safe supply of drinking water from Grahamstown Water Treatment Plant. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) confirmed to NOTA it has not seen results from water sampling undertaken by the community in Medowie or Pacific Dunes. “Medowie and Pacific Dunes are not part of the Williamtown Management Area, however the EPA is aware of community concerns and we are investigating,” it said in a statement. Pacific Dunes CEO David Wightman said the issue of potential contamination at the golf course had not been raised with management ahead of the inquiry, and that localised testing had not occurred on site to his knowledge. In May 2018, the Federal Government’s PFAS Expert Health Panel released a report into health effects from forever chemical exposure. While it concluded that there is no current evidence to suggest an increase in overall health risk related to PFAS exposure, it also said health effects cannot be ruled out. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Picture by Laura RumbelAt just 11-years-old Jack Townend knew that the growing community of Medowie needed a better skate park for its young people 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 areaContinueJack and his mum Emma Townend founded Medowie Skate and Scoot in 2022 and put forward a petition and proposal to Port Stephens Council to build a new skate park in the Medowie town centre Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson announced $750,000 for a new skate park in Medowie and Jack "When I heard $750,000 of funding for a new skate park Emma said they had an overwhelming response from residents when they started circulating the petition "From pre-schoolers starting out on three-wheel scooters to young adults we envision the new skate park will be part of the heart of the Medowie community," she said Jack has made a real difference in his community." The existing skate park at 49 Ferodale Road Medowie has fallen into disrepair with cracked concrete covered in black mould Emma described the current skate park as deserted and poorly lit and said she would like to see lighting at the new skate park and CCTV to keep the area safe for all users She would also like to see the new skate park complimented with other facilities such as a children's playground "Not everyone can afford organised team sports once a week and a well designed skate park in a central location will bring families together every day of the week," Emma said Medowie man Tyson Kalischer often travels out of the area to take his three-year-old son Maritez to better skate parks "We rarely come to the skate park at Medowie because of the state it's in," he said Picture by Laura RumbelA Year 8 student at Catherine McAuley Catholic College Jack has been pushing for a new skate park for more than three years "The new skate park is going to mean that local kids will be able to be a lot more active and I can't wait to see them enjoying the new skate park," he said Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson said the local commitment is part of a broader Place Plan for Medowie "We have been hearing so much about the need for further infrastructure for young people in Medowie because the community is a growing one," she said Ms Swanson said the federal funds will be delivered to establish the new skate park to assist Port Stephens Council in bringing the town centre development plans to fruition Upon formal confirmation of the funding following the election council's community assets coordinator Clinton Bridge said the project will be prioritised within council's capital works program Mr Bridge said council's approach to designing the skate park will be highly collaborative "We will actively engage with the Medowie community to ensure their input shapes the final design and features," he said When it comes to the design of the future skate park Jack said he would like it to cater for all ages and abilities "I really want kids who aren't local to Medowie to want to come here to our skate park," he said Emma would like to see the new skate park relocated to opposite Woolworth's on council owned land Laura Rumbel is a journalist who has always called Maitland home. She has been with the Maitland Mercury since 2022, and is passionate about all areas of local news. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy chatty and always helpful’ – that’s how Russell Magrath is being remembered tonight after he lost his life in a house fire at Port Stephens Plans to build a new high school in Medowie have reached a “massive milestone” according to Port Stephens MP Kate Washington Her excitement follows the release of the project’s Review of Environmental Factors (REF) which is now open for public exhibition until 30 March Residents have an opportunity to review the proposal and provide feedback The NSW Department of Education acquired 6.6 hectares of land at 6 Abundance Road last year marking a significant step towards delivering the inaugural public high school for the local community “This is huge for the area,” Ms Washington said “Our community has been crying out for a local public high school for years and the Minns government is delivering it “I encourage people to be involved in this consultation period “This is a school for Medowie’s future… and local voices matter “I know the community is eager to see it take shape.” The venture will provide essential education infrastructure and accommodate an anticipated increase in enrolments in the area driven by an expected population increase under the Medowie Planning Strategy 2016 Labor has also committed $1.4 billion to upgrade and rebuild schools across regional NSW including several major projects in the Hunter It includes a new public school and high school in Huntlee “The NSW Government is delivering on its promise to provide world-class education facilities for growing communities like Medowie… and I’m pleased to see this important project moving forward,” NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said “I am proud Labor’s looking after the families of Medowie who were told by the Liberal and Nationals that a quality public school was not needed for their community “With Medowie’s population expected to grow significantly this project is a critical step in ensuring every child has access to a quality public education close to home.” 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. Port Stephens Council is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the purchase or lease of Medowie's social hub. Medowie Social opened in 2020 and has since been leased as a Multipurpose Sports and Community Facility. In 2024, Council surveyed the community about the future of the venue with 80% of over 1,200 residents who participated supporting a change of Medowie Social to a registered club. A change of use development application (DA) was submitted and has been approved for the venue to be converted into a registered club. Mayor Leah Anderson said this will allow the venue to transform into a bigger drawcard for residents and visitors. "This is an exciting opportunity for a business operator to take charge of the venue and turn Medowie Social into a thriving club for the community," Mayor Anderson said. "It's an incredible community facility and we're excited to see what the future holds for Medowie Social as a registered club." The EOI process is now open and is expected to close in late April. "During this process, the current vendors will continue to operate from the facility and we encourage the community to support them," Mayor Anderson said. "Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their thoughts on the future of Medowie Social. "I know the Medowie community have been waiting patiently for the outcome and it's fantastic to see the community getting what they desired with this facility," Mayor Anderson added. Situated at 36A Ferodale Road, Medowie Social has been designed to be a central place for the local community to come together. The venue includes a commercial kitchen and bar, a seating area for 200 patrons, two function rooms for an additional 160 patrons, one office, two meeting rooms and an area that could be used for a second bowling green or further development (subject to Council approval). Picture suppliedFAMILIES have had their first look inside the proposed design plans for a new "world-class" high school at Medowie 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 areaContinueThe development comes after more than a decade of campaigning by the local Hunter community The first public high school to be built to service the growing area is expected to allow children to be educated closer to home The proposed design for the site on Abundance Road at Medowie includes modern classrooms and facilities for support classes A 'kiss and ride' zone and other traffic improvements have been included in the project An artist's impression of the view of the quadrangle from the southern playing field including the hall to the left and the main buildings to the right Picture supplied The state government held an information session on Wednesday to outline the proposed plan which will be shared with supporting documents early next year The design was developed in consultation with the Project Reference Group (PRG) The school is slated to open on the first day of Term 1 in 2027 Medowie Public School principal Allison Thompson said the new school would allow Year 6 students to continue their education within their community "This new high school will provide a seamless transition for students into secondary education," she said "It's wonderful to see investment in educational infrastructure in our growing community." An artist's impression of the view of the quadrangle from the northern entry Picture suppliedEducation minister Prue Car said the government was committed to ensuring all students could access quality education close to home "This high school will be transformative for local families in Medowie," she said "This development marks an important milestone in creating a world-class local public high school allowing students to thrive within their community "The master plan for Medowie's new high school will ensure the school is designed to meet the needs of today's students as well as future generations." Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said the community fought hard for the project "With the growth we're seeing in Medowie and the Hunter region it's more important than ever to invest in essential infrastructure," she said 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. 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Picture by Jonathan CarrollA MAN has died in a housefire at Port Stephens on Sunday afternoon 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 areaContinueEmergency services responded to reports at about 2.30pm on January 26 that a property was alight on Coolabah Road at Medowie Multiple Rural Fire Service (RFS) and Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze It's understood members of the neighbourhood had also tried to help when the fire erupted Port Stephens Hunter police officers were deployed to the home He had not been formally identified on Sunday evening Police have set up a crime scene and launched an investigation into the circumstances of the fatal housefire Multiple fire trucks from the RFS and Fire and Rescue NSW were at the scene on Sunday afternoon Picture by Raymond Terrace Rural Fire BrigadeNo details about the cause of the fire had been confirmed at that time Police will prepare a report for the coroner A NSW Police spokesperson said traffic diversions were in place as emergency services worked and motorists should avoid the area Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily 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 Your digital replica of Today's Paper Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over emergency services were called to Abundance Road following reports a motorcycle and motor vehicle had collided officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District found the rider with life-threatening injuries Despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance paramedics He was later identified as local man Joel Perkins anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage of the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 a fundraiser was set up for Mr Perkins’ wife “Joel and his wife Alex recently bought a home expecting twin baby boys come April 2025,” fundraiser organiser Eilish Jones wrote on the gofundme page “The couple [were] still on a high from their wedding only just four weeks ago and about to get ready to head off on their honeymoon.” “He touched the hearts of many people with his time here on earth and started building a beautiful life with his wife and two beautiful baby boys on the way.” visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/joel-perkins and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" the Medowie Yowie has been an elusive creature within the Hunter for decades The famous Australian folklore entity is commonly described as a bipedal with a height much taller than an average man local cryptozoology enthusiasts have reported sightings of a mysterious hairy creature lingering around the Medowie It has since become a wide-spread urban legend within the Hunter One of the earliest recorded sitings of the creature is from 1999 with a lengthy blog post by a local resident on the website Dean Harrison’s Australian Yowie Hunters The post tells the story of a man and his sister hunting in the Medowie area where they spotted what they thought to be a koala It wasn’t until the creature stood up on two legs and walked towards them did they realise it was the famous creature it ran like a human with its arms going up and down like a jogger,” said the witness extremely arched feet and was covered in greyish white fur While the common description of a Yowie lists them as towering at more than 2 metres tall this recount seemed to have found a variation of the creature Another more recent account said they spotted a Yowie in the swamps near Hexham with broad shoulders and glowing yellow eyes.” Others have taken to social media to prove their sightings and hearing strange noises from deep within the bush While many speculate the Medowie Yowie is just a simple fable many maintain their beliefs the creature is real 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 Picture supplied.Port Stephens Council is seeking Expressions of Interest for the purchase or lease of Medowie's social hub 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 areaContinueMedowie Social opened in 2020 and has since been leased as a Multipurpose Sports and Community Facility.In 2024 Council surveyed the community about the future of the venue with 80 per cent of more than 1,200 residents who participated supporting a change of Medowie Social to a registered club A change of use development application (DA) was submitted and has been approved for the venue to be converted into a registered club Mayor Leah Anderson said this will allow the venue to transform into a bigger drawcard for residents and visitors "This is an exciting opportunity for a business operator to take charge of the venue and turn Medowie Social into a thriving club for the community," Cr Anderson said "It's an incredible community facility and we're excited to see what the future holds for Medowie Social as a registered club "The EOI process is now open and is expected to close in late April "During this process the current vendors will continue to operate from the facility and we encourage the community to support them "I know the Medowie community have been waiting patiently for the outcome and it's fantastic to see the community getting what they desired with this facility." Medowie Social has been designed to be a central place for the local community to come together The venue includes a commercial kitchen and bar two function rooms for an additional 160 patrons two meeting rooms and an area that could be used for a second bowling green or further development (subject to council approval) A young Hunter man – whose heart literally stopped while watching an A-League game at McDonald Jones Stadium – has been reunited with the doctors who brought him back to life 21-year-old Aaron Bray was all-but dead in his mother’s arms when two women jumped fences and rows of seats a man has died in a house fire at Medowie on Sunday afternoon Emergency services were called to Coolabah Road about 2.30pm on 26 January following reports a home was alight Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended alongside several Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews and NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) personnel A crime scene has been established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is underway Police will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner Parents have been given a sneak peek at what the new Medowie High School is expected to look like where locals also raised road safety concerns in the wake of a fatal crash near the site The Department of Education acquired 6.6 hectares of land at 6 Abundance Road Medowie last year to build Medowie’s first public high school The REF assesses the potential environmental impacts which could arise from the development of the new facilities community members are invited to review the proposal and provide feedback Details can be accessed via the NSW Planning Portal Due to Medowie’s rapid population expansion Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said the school was a “critical step in ensuring every child has access to a quality public education close to home” Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said and I encourage the community to have their say on this important project “This project is a vital investment in the future of our growing community and I’m proud to be part of this transformative development “This new high school will not only meet the demands of a growing population but will also create an inspiring space for learning and innovation “I look forward to seeing it become a hub for future generations of students.” Official sampling at Medowie has confirmed PFAS levels are below the relevant Australian water quality guidelines The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) undertook the tests recently in Port Stephens in response to community concerns raised by residents near the Pacific Dunes Golf Club It’s understood the EPA examined three dams used for irrigation of the course “The results for all samples showed concentrations of PFAS were below the level of reporting of 0.01 micrograms per litre which is roughly equivalent to a drop of water in an Olympic swimming pool,” a spokesperson said “This means there were no exceedances of relevant recreational water or the 95% ecological water quality guidelines in any of the dams sampled we also considered reports of a truck crash in the area in 1994 which could have resulted in firefighting foam entering the groundwater there were no drains or water in the vicinity to sample.” PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) make products non-stick It’s been used in a range of consumer products PFAS is commonly detected in low concentrations in the environment “Residents in Medowie and surrounding Pacific Dunes Golf Club consume reticulated (tap) drinking water from Hunter Water’s network meaning their drinking water supply is safe and regularly tested by Hunter Water for a variety of contaminants,” the EPA spokesperson added The Fire Brigade Employees Union is calling for more resources in the Medowie area following the tragic death of a 62-year-old man in a house fire It says the suburb has more than 10,000 people – but no Fire and Rescue station Medowie residents have waited a long time for this… a glimpse of the proposed masterplan for the area’s first public high school After more than a decade of campaigning by the local community the educational facility will soon accommodate increased enrolments in the region the school is set to include modern classrooms and amenities for specialist support classes The project will also include traffic improvements and a Kiss and Ride Zone to ensure safe pick-up and drop-off “This is fantastic news for our students who will have the opportunity to graduate Year 6 and continue their education at a local high school within their own community,” Medowie Public School principal Allison Thompson said “This premises will provide a seamless transition for pupils into secondary education “It’s wonderful to see investment in educational infrastructure in our growing community.” The design has been developed in consultation with the Project Reference Group (PRG) An information session took place during the week to outline the proposed plans and next steps for the project “Our community has fought hard for this school after the previous Liberal government promised it then backflipped by falsely claiming we didn’t need it,” Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said “The new high school will get kids off buses and in schooling locally “With the growth we’re seeing in Medowie and the Hunter region it’s more important than ever to invest in essential infrastructure “Our high school will support local families and deliver local jobs enhancing and strengthening our beautiful community with educational opportunities close to home.” It’s expected students will start on day one The institute is part of a pipeline of school infrastructure projects the Minns government is delivering to cater for the growing population in the region after years of neglect under the Liberals and Nationals This includes upgrades at Hunter River High School and Irrawang High School redevelopments at Newcastle High School and Gillieston Public School as well as a new public primary and high school in Huntlee “The NSW Government is committed to ensuring every student has access to a quality learning environment,” Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said “This high school will be transformative for local families in Medowie “The development marks an important milestone in creating a world-class local public high school allowing students to thrive within their own community “The masterplan for Medowie’s new high school will ensure the school is designed to meet the needs of today’s students as well as future generations.” the young Bumblebees savoured a bumper 2024 campaign by clinching the minor premiership and championship double with a classic 2-1 Grand Final victory over rivals Charlestown in extra time There was no stopping the Medowie whiz kids who demonstrated a unique team chemistry and extraordinary skills under the coaching of Sam Ross and Brad Hunt to dominate the Under 12A series which included an early loss to Nelson Bay FC in torrential rain and drawn matches with Singleton Strikers Emerging strikers Lachlan Wright and Ryan St Pier bagged 30 goals between them for the season and were ably supported by promising midfielders Zachary Poole and Byron Hunt; wingers Beau Wheeler Spencer Boon and Flynn Jones; defenders Mpilo Nala Hudson Petersen and Seth Davies; and goalkeeper Jordan O’Dwyer The gifted Wright finished as the team’s top goalscorer with sixteen followed by St Pier (14) So impressive was the Medowie unit throughout the season that they often drew praise from referees and officials the squad proved that teamwork and talent can lead to amazing success,” team manager Stacey Hunt told News Of The Area “They quickly grew into a strong combination and showed tremendous skills to bring home the championship title.” The players thrived under the positive energy of coaches Ross and Hunt Ross’s emotional connection with the kids was evident as he passionately celebrated their achievements throughout the season Hunt and Cox – helped the Newcastle Under 12s representative team capture the Community State Cup trophy The promising trio combined to grab fourteen of the eighteen goals scored by their team with Byron and Toby finishing the joint topscorers in the under 12s State Cup series with five goals each Their success in front of the net during the inter district junior competition was complemented by a formidable defence led by the skilful Butler and stellar performances by keeper O’Dwyer the squad entered the Grand Final with confidence having posted emphatic 4-0 It proved a thrilling contest with Beau Wheeler nabbing an early goal for the Bumblebees before Charlestown grabbed a late equaliser to force the match into extra time The atmosphere was electric at King Park when the elusive Butler delivered a crucial pass to Cox who sprinted down the sideline before setting up Hunt for the winning goal A key factor in the Under 12s championship triumph was the unwavering support of parents and friends the Medowie young guns are eager to return next year to defend their title and to continue developing as a unit I WAS disappointed to read that Port Stephens Council has now asked for expressions of interest to develop Medowie Social as a Registered Club Contrast this decision with one made by a previous council in 2011 when Council rejected a bid by the Motto Farm Motel in Heatherbrae to change part of the motel to include a hotel with poker machines Port Stephens Council received a petition and 88 submissions – including from health authorities high schools and the Port West Community Drug Action Team (CDAT) – concerned about the social impacts of a hotel “relating to alcohol consumption and gambling” It was called a “landmark decision” with the Land and Environment Court then backing the council finding unacceptable social and safety impacts warranted its refusal Those who originally advocated for Medowie Social would not be pleased with Council’s decision It was developed in 2020 as a multipurpose sports and community facility On its website its core values are Community was adamant that it should never become a pokies venue Council has hidden behind a community survey to say this is what the community wants Councillors are elected to make the best decisions for the community This decision to introduce yet more poker machines into the community because that’s what a registered club will do is not in the best interests of the community Victoria’s Responsible Gambling Foundation released a report into the social costs of gambling finding that for every dollar lost to poker machines there is a $1.20 cost in social harm Has Port Stephens Council considered the social costs of their decision We all know that Australians are voracious gamblers losing more on the punt than any other country in the world Defenders of registered clubs say that clubs give back to the community through sporting and community grants state government enquiries have shown that this can be less than one percent of the club’s poker machine earnings YES Australia – we have a gambling problem I urge Port Stephens Council to reconsider this decision The NSW Government revealed Medowie was slated for a new public high school less than a fortnight ago jubilant residents found out the location of the site: 6 Abundance Road It comes on the back of a primary-secondary educational institute being built on the corner of Reading Road and Personia Boulevard in one of the region’s growing suburbs The NSW Department of Education is acquiring 6.6 hectares of land marking a significant step towards delivering the first public high school for the local community Port Stephens MP Kate Washington admitted it was a win-win situation for everyone “[Sunday] marked an important milestone for the Medowie community as we announced the site for our very first public high school,” she said we will be transforming our town and our kids’ futures “After almost 20 years of fighting for this school it’s difficult to describe how excited I am to be announcing the site where our government is going to finally make it a reality.” the new public high school will include modern classrooms It’ll provide Medowie children with access to a high-quality education in their local area and accommodating for the LGA’s forecast growth in enrolments Designs for the facility are well underway The new school is instrumental in the NSW Government’s commitment to address the infrastructure backlog left after 12 years of neglect under the Liberals and Nationals as it prioritises building better communities for the people of NSW we’ve dedicated an historic $1.4 billion to upgrade and rebuild schools across regional NSW including several major projects in the Hunter region,” Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said “This includes planning for a new public and high school in Huntlee and major upgrades at Newcastle High School Hunter River High School and Irrawang High School I am delighted that we can share the location of the new public high school with the Medowie community “This follows more than a decade of inaction by the Liberals and Nationals “This new high school will give Medowie families access to a world-class education in their local area.” 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 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 areaContinueThe Rural Fire Service (RFS) and NSW Fire and Rescue are undertaking reviews into their respective responses to the blaze, which claimed the life of a 62-year-old man. It was also revealed on Wednesday that Medowie is the largest residential suburb in the state covered by the RFS. The RFS has defended its response to Sunday's fire. RFS records show town's crew, based at Ferodale Road, was advised smoke was coming from a yard in Coolabah Road, Medowie at 2.31pm. Three minutes later, following advice from an RFS member who was passing the scene, the incident was upgraded to a structure fire. The RFS then requested NSW Fire and Rescue NSW also attend in accordance with a mutual aid arrangement between the two services. Multiple fire trucks from the RFS and Fire and Rescue NSW were at the scene on Sunday afternoon. Picture by Raymond Terrace Rural Fire Brigade.The first RFS pumper arrived on the scene at 2:42PM. The first NSW Fire and Rescue appliance, which travelled 15 kilometres from Raymond Terrace, arrived 10 minutes later. A total of 26 RFS personnel and seven RFS trucks attended the incident, while NSW Fire and Rescue crews from Stockton, Mayfield, West Tarro and Lambton also assisted. Despite their efforts crews were unable to save the building's male occupant, whose body was found in the rear of the property. FBEU secretary Leighton DruryFBEU secretary Leighton Drury praised the work of Rural Fire Service volunteers, but said the weekend's fatality highlighted the need for a fully equipped NSW Fire and Rescue station. "Under the Fire and Rescue Service NSW Act we give a guarantee of service. The RFS Act does not have that," he said. "This started as a yard fire that got inside the house. It's an example of where minutes can potentially save lives." Mr Drury said Medowie was the largest suburb in the state that is covered by the RFS. "We are calling for extra resources to deal with incidents that growing communities face," he said. "Some of these boundary areas need to be looked at, especially around built-up populations to make the fire service more appropriate." He added NSW Fire Brigade crews also received more advanced training in the use of breathing equipment, which allowed them to enter spaces that RFS members couldn't. In relation to the Medowie fire, the RFS spokesman said the first RFS members on the scene were fully trained structural firefighters and compressed air breathing operators, qualified for both internal and external firefighting. He said the community was best served through a collaborative approach between the two services. "Both the RFS and Fire and Rescue NSW provide fire services to Medowie and the surrounding community through established mutual aid agreements," he said. "The local agreement requires that structure fires are responded to by both agencies. These agreements also ensure a coordinated approach, with each agency responding under pre-determined arrangements or at the request of the other. "This collaboration ensures that the community receives the best possible fire and emergency services." Port Stephens MP Kate Washington declined to comment. A spokesperson for the Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, said any loss of life was tragic. "We extend our sympathies to the family of the person killed in this house fire and the affected community," he said. "In Medowie and across the state, fire services operate under established mutual aid agreements - between Fire and Rescue NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service - ensuring that both agencies respond to fires in a coordinated manner." Forensic investigators are still working to determine what caused the blaze but it is believed that a large amount of machinery and scrap metal may have been the ignition source. 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 4 March 2025 6:47 am · Hunter News · Ian Crouch Plans for a high school at Medowie are progressing with blueprints on public exhibition from today. The Department of Education acquired 6.6 hectares of land on Abundance Road last year, with a scheduled opening for 2027. The Review of Environmental Factors is available through the State Planning Portal and is open for feedback. The State Government says a school at Medowie is aimed at lightening pressure on other institutions with population growth expected. 2NUR FM acknowledges Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and community. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders both past and present. All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Rural Fire Service (RFS) and NSW Fire and Rescue are undertaking reviews into their respective responses to the blaze, which claimed the life of a 62-year-old man. We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. Paul Rooms and Michael Walton told the hearing that they had collected a surface water sample from within the Pacific Dunes community precinct at Medowie containing levels of PFAS 54 times greater than Australian best practice guidelines. The site where the contaminated water was collected from was about 3.5 kilometres from RAAF Base Williamtown and about 5 kilometres from Grahamstown Dam. Paul Rooms (L) and Michael Walton gave evidence about a water sample collected at Medowie containing levels of PFAS 54 times greater than Australian best practice guidelines.It was also outside the Williamtown Red Zone. Mr Rooms said he was shocked when he received the reading from an independent testing laboratory. "I was totally astounded, in fact, I was devastated," he said. "Children have been playing in these water courses. It was just gut-wrenching." Despite raising the alarm with local MPs and government agencies, no meaningful action was taken. Mr Rooms and Dr Walton called for greater transparency about what was known about PFAS contamination outside the immediate Williamtown Red Zone. "If they (Hunter Water) are regularly testing bores outside the Red Zone they are doing it for a reason," Mr Rooms said. "I have suggested many times that they should be a lot more transparent with the residents around the region because people really have a right to know if they are living in a polluted environment. They should have the right to either get out or be able to address the concerns by getting it remediated." They said their overall experience of trying to get bureaucrats to take PFAS contamination seriously had left them with "zero confidence" that governments were genuine about the management of PFAS. "I would say there has been a systemic organisational failure across multiple organisations," he said. "The economic, business and health and environment costs of knowing the truth about the spread of PFAS are such that the executive don't want to know." As a way forward, they suggested that an independent agency be formed to oversee the response of existing agencies. "Honestly, I think our only solution is to get an independent body involved to make sure that our agencies have the best interest of, not only residents, but just the basic outcomes of what we're going to face," he said. "The latest international research shows that it will cost $82 billion if we don't do anything about PFAS." Hunter Water managing director Darren Cleary told the hearing that Hunter Water was aware of the concerns relating to elevated PFAS levels at Pacific Dunes. Darren Cleary. "We have a good understanding of how the groundwater is moving. We do extensive testing and we are confident that the issue that has been raised is not a concern in respect to our drinking water source," he said. He said no PFAS had been detected in the bore station closest to where the PFAS had been found. Mr Cleary said information about a tanker accident in the area had been referred to the Environment Protection Authority. The committee is hearing from stakeholders including scientific experts, environmental groups, local government stakeholders and Government authorities from across the state. It is set to report its findings on June 20, 2025. First elected to council in 2012, Mr Doohan has lived in Medowie for almost twenty years. He served as Port Stephens’ Deputy Mayor in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020. Currently working in the aerospace industry, Mr Doohan previously ran a fishing charter business in Nelson Bay, and served for twelve years as an aircraft technician in the Royal Australian Air Force. His diverse working life also took him to Saudi Arabia for seven years. Seeking re-election on Saturday, in a media statement to NOTA Mr Doohan highlighted the need for infrastructure improvements across Port Stephens. “[I am] incredibly passionate about enhancing local infrastructure, with a particular focus on roads and community facilities,” he said. “[I aim] to address issues related to road conditions and drainage on sporting fields.” Mr Doohan also described himself as a “staunch opponent” of the proposal for offshore wind farm development off Port Stephens’ coast. Committed to remaining an independent councillor, Mr Doogan said he “strives to keep party politics out of council, ensuring his focus remains on serving the people of the community who elect him”. Picture suppliedMore than 200 runners and walkers participated in the inaugural Grahamstown Aquatic Centre parkrun 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 areaContinueHeld at the Grahamstown Aquatic Centre every Saturday at 8am Event director and Medowie resident Tim Twelvetree said the idea for a parkrun at Medowie came about at a community led event by Port Stephens Council on how to improve the community "My wife and I used to travel to go to parkruns and we thought it would be great if Medowie had its own parkrun," he said With a population of more than 10,000 people Mr Twelvetree said he believes there was a great need for a parkrun in Medowie an enjoyable one but frustrating at times so to get it to the start line was just brilliant," he said From the inception of the idea for a parkrun to hitting the start line earlier this month Participants from as far as Melbourne travelled for the inaugural event Mr Twelvetree said participants are welcome to grab a post parkrun coffee at Medowie Social "It really is a community within a community," he said parkrun volunteers get a free drink and anybody who has participated in parkrun For more information, visit: parkrun.com.au/grahamstownaquaticcentremedowie/ or visit their Facebook page Designed in consultation with Port Hunter Touch Football, Medowie Football Club, and Medowie Cricket Club, the $2.6 million facility features modern amenities to cater to the growing needs of these local sporting groups. Councillor (Cr) Chris Doohan is passionate about ensuring there are facilities available to keep the community active. “With new unisex toilets, an accessible toilet, change rooms, a kiosk, storage, and a dedicated space for referees and first aid, the new amenities building will support increased participation in sports for both men and women,” Cr Doohan said. Councillor Jason Wells, a strong advocate for youth sports development, called the new facility a game-changer for Medowie. “Being involved in local sport in Medowie myself, I know how valuable a facility like this is – it’s a huge win for the entire community,” Cr Wells said. Medowie Football Club President Eric Dorn shared the club’s excitement about the new building. “We’re thrilled to have these upgraded facilities for our members and the community,” Mr Dorn said. “With these new amenities, we look forward to hosting even larger local and state-wide sporting carnivals,” he added. The project was possible thanks to funding from the NSW Government’s Regional Sport Facility Fund, NSW Club Grant scheme, Stronger Communities Fund, and developer contributions. Picture supplied.Medowie and Hinton have clinched the 3rd Grade Division 1 and 4th Grade Division 2 minor premierships as Maitland cricket heads into semi-finals next weekend 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 areaContinueRaymond Terrace has also qualified for finals in 4th Grade Division 2 and 5th Grade Raymond Terrace held onto fourth spot despite losing to Norths on the Duckworth Lewis System as fifth-placed Kurri Weston Mulbring (9/128) were beaten in the final over by Wests (9/130) Medowie finished a mammoth 17.5 points in front of second-placed Paterson in 3rd Grade Division 1 and will meet fourth-placed Tenambit Morpeth in a semi-final at Kurri Central Paterson will play Thornton in the other final at Morpeth Oval All three games in the division were abandoned because of wet grounds on Saturday Hinton won the minor premiership in 4th Grade Division 2 on 57 points with Raymond Terrace third on 51.5 and Western Suburbs on 49.5 Hinton play Wests at GUOOF in the first semi-final and Rutherford meet Raymond Terrace in the other at King Edward Park Hinton won the 4th Grade Division 2 minor premiership Raymond Terrace will play minor premiers City United at SMR while Northern Suburbs play Eastern Suburbs at Louth Park Terrace Lions Stage 3 will meet minor premiers Kurri Weston Mulbring in the Stage 3 Division 2 grand final at Fieldsend Oval on Saturday The Lions and Warriors advanced as the top two teams after Saturday's semi-finals were washed out Terrace Lions bowed out of the Stage 2 Division 3 finals with Thornton and Tenambit Morpeth progressing as first and second after the semi-finals were washed out on Saturday Port Stephens Pythons will host semi-finals in Newcastle District Cricket Division 1 and 2 after a wet end to the regular season saw their games on the weekend washed out The Pythons had already clinched the Division 1 minor premiership and will host Cardiff-Boolaroo in the knockout final at Eighteen33 Park on Saturday Port finished second in Division 2 and will host third-placed The Gardens Falcons at King Park 4 on Saturday In the case of a wash-out the two Port Stephens teams will advance to their respective grand finals Nelson Bay's Division 8 team was knocked out in the elimination final stage losing to Merewether by five wickets in a high scoring match Vice-captain Shannon Jackson made 45 off 46 balls Simon Falkner 42 off 66 and Bradley Thomson 36 off 49 to get the Makos off to a flying start but they lost 6/37 to be limited to 167 off their 35 overs Patrick Tully took 2-30 as Merewether made 5/168 in reply with four overs to spare Nelson Bay smashed Port Stephens by eight wickets in their final game of the Division 6 season it wasn't enough to secure a spot in the finals one point behind second to fourth-placed Mary Ellen Mudrats Port Stephens were dismissed for 89 after being left reeling at 4/6 Matthew Hardman took 3-17 and Rowan Connick 3-16 for Nelson Bay Connick made 37 off 36 balls to complete a player-of-the-match performance and Tom Mccoy 38 off 43 Since starting in 1985 at the then Melbourne Herald, journalism has taken me around Australia from Victoria, to the Northern Territory, Cairns in Queensland and now Port Stephens. After all those years there is still something special about informing and connecting with readers. 30 January 2025 3:14 pm · Hunter News · Ian Crouch The State’s Fire Brigade Employees Union (FBEU) is calling for better coverage of the Port Stephens region including a station at Medowie, following a tragic house fire.On Sunday, 62-year-old Russell Magrath died after he couldn’t be saved from his home, which was well alight by the time crews arrived.State Secretary Leighton Drury has told 2NURFM minutes are precious in crew responses, but calls directed at the State Government for a station have fallen on deaf ears. “We’ve been calling for extra resources for the Medowie area for a number of years now,” he said. “Medowie has over 10,000 people, thousands of dwellings, and certainly extra resources are critical in times like this. “Unfortunately it’s crickets from the Minister. They need to fund the services that will keep people safe,” he said. Scheduled to open Day 1, Term 1, 2027, the new public high school will include modern classrooms, a library, a school hall, outdoor play and sports areas, and administration facilities. According to government officials, designs for the school are well underway. Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “I am delighted that we can share the location of the community’s new public high school with the Medowie community. Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said, “Today marks an important milestone for the Medowie community as we announce the site for our very first public high school. “By building Medowie’s public high school at this site, we will be transforming our town and our kids’ futures. “After almost 20 years of fighting for this school, it’s difficult to describe how excited I am to be announcing the site where our government is going to finally make it a reality.” IT may have been a nine year wait but Medowie FC’s Under 14 boys are finally savouring a long awaited Northern NSW Community Football inter district championship. After coming close to honours in recent seasons, the young Bumblebees have something to crow about following a 2-0 Grand Final victory over Rutherford Dragons in the C Grade division. Since forming as a team in the club’s Mini Roos junior development system, the Medowie colts have grown in stature. They qualified for the Under 12 finals in 2022 but were denied an opportunity to take to the field due to washouts. Last season, the team was pipped for an Under 13s finals berth on percentages but have bounced back bigger and stronger in 2024 to capture a deserved minor premiership and championship double. “The boys were determined to succeed in this year’s competition and have worked hard since the pre-season on all aspects of play,” an ecstatic coach Emile Pacevski told News Of The Area. “It was the team’s first ever grand final appearance and they supported each other all the way with strong performances on a weekly basis.” The long-serving mentor was ably assisted by manager Felicity Pacevski. Medowie were well-served by talented skipper Caleb Pacevski, goalkeeper Cooper Brewster and rising prospects Shannon Furey,
Harrison Mills,
Brandon Pollock,
Koby Spencer,
Lucas Ross,
Levi Addison,
Nevaeh Wilson,
Flynn Tolhurst,
Jayden Thornton,
Archie Heagney,
Logan Gammie,
Terran Sikora
and Jacob Mowbray. Pacevski, Brewster and Spencer all represented Newcastle in this year’s annual Community State Cup tournament at Speers Point Park. They were part of Medowie FC’s club record 25 juniors who lined up for Newcastle squads in the Under 12s, 13s, 14s and 16 years age groups. A couple is lucky to be alive, after their home was destroyed by fire at Port Stephens. The blaze quickly spread to a neighbouring property – local residents and fire crews, rushing to help. Josh Moxey and budding juniors Marcus Wilson and Levi Wenham Picture by Michael HartshornThe Port Stephens Cricket Club is excited to announce the launch of a free Cricket Blast program for children aged five to 10 at Medowie from October 17 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 areaContinueSubsidised by the club the programs offers a zero-cost sporting opportunity for families in the area and has the backing of former Australian Test cricketer and umpire Paul 'Blocker' Wilson the program is set to get some more star backing with NSW Breaker and Melbourne Renegades star Sarah Coyte to attend a session and former Australia Test and ODI bowler Nathan Bracken also expected to participate The program will run on Thursday afternoons with the 5-7 year-old program from 5-6 pm and 7-10 year-old program from 6-7 pm There will be a special registration at registration afternoon at Kindlebark Oval on Thursday his son Marcus and his mate Levi Wenham were at Kindlebark Oval in Medowie with Port Stephens Cricket Club president Josh Moxey on Friday to publicise the 10-week Cricket Blast said and it was time for cricket to regain its foothold with other sports like soccer thriving in the area with Medowie FC registering approximately 620 junior players in 2024 Moxey said the cost of living crisis biting they believe that financial constraints should not be a barrier to junior sports participation "We truly believe that cost should not be a barrier to children having access to sport," he said "Junior cricket is not just about learning the game; it's about developing friendships junior cricket participation in Port Stephens He said they were thrilled to have the support of Wilson who has been instrumental in driving the program to date as well as Coyte and Bracken "We are extremely grateful to them for giving up their time to support junior cricket in our region," he said I'm thrilled that we are able to bring superstars to Medowie to provide that experience for the next generation of stars It's something I'd have loved when I was their age." Parents interested in registering their children can go along to the registration afternoon at Kindlebark Oval on Thursday Registrations will also be taken during the first two sessions at Kindlebark Oval or parents can register online by searching for Port Stephens Cricket Club at playcricket.com.au Strike Force Trawler detectives launched an investigation into the 52-year-old man in May. Following extensive investigations detectives executed a search warrant at a Medowie home last Thursday morning. During the search, detectives located and seized an electronic device and arrested the occupant. The man was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with using a carriage service to groom a person under sixteen, and four counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations. He was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court last Friday. Investigations under Strike Force Trawler continue. Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices. Picture suppliedA MAN who crashed into a house at Medowie and a petrol station at Maitland in two separate high-speed police pursuits 10 days apart will be out of jail in September Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDane Frederick Simms who was previously jailed for his role in the brutal bashing and shooting of a man at Aberglasslyn in 2021 was responsible for causing two near-fatal crashes over the Christmas period his car ripping a power pole out of the ground and doing the same to a petrol bowser He pleaded guilty in January to 12 charges stemming from the two pursuits and on Monday in Maitland Local Court was jailed for a maximum of 21 months The sentence means Simms will be eligible for parole on September 30 The Newcastle Herald previously reported that Simms - who has a 60-plus page criminal history of violence driving while disqualified and leading police on dangerous pursuits - was given a chance in Newcastle District Court in 2022 a judge finding that returning him to jail after a successful stint in rehabilitation would ultimately be "deleterious" to the community But over a 10-day period between December 22 and New Year's Eve last year overtaking cars on the wrong side of the road before he twice lost control and crashed Simms was lucky to be alive after the first crash when he sped straight into a T-intersection and careered into an embankment striking a power pole and ripping it out of the ground before hitting a house Simms and two other men scrambled out the doors leaving behind 14 grams of heroin and two grams of methamphetamine But despite the close call and the fact he was disqualified from driving Simms was back behind the wheel again on New Year's Eve This time he sped away from police on the New England Highway heading towards Maitland He headed over the Belmore Bridge but doubled back sideswiping a car as he overtook it on the wrong side of the road He was flying along Ken Tubman Drive when he again lost control and crashed into a petrol bowser at a service station ripping the bowser out of the ground and sending fuel spilling everywhere Police were right behind as Simms climbed out of the driver's side window and tried to flee on foot He was chased into bush and turned to confront police who hit him with a blast of capsicum spray The spot where Dane Simms destroyed a petrol bowser after crashing his car during a high-speed police pursuit Picture suppliedAfter resisting arrest he was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed At the time of the pursuits Simms had not long finished a stint on parole for his role in the brutal beating and shooting of Scott Papworth at Aberglasslyn in March, 2021. the bullet shattering in his abdomen and nearly claiming his life during a brutal attack outside his home in Golden Whistler Avenue about 9.40pm on March 9 The Herald had revealed that Mr Papworth had been targeted by three men after he allegedly intimidated a woman over a drug debt Simms and Jak Farmer were initially charged over the shooting but those charges were dropped and they were granted bail to attend a residential rehabilitation Another man, Dylan Gee, later pleaded guilty to the shooting and was last year jailed for a maximum of five-and-a-half years. Simms ultimately pleaded guilty to concealing the shooting and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company in relation to the assault on Mr Papworth and was sentenced to 10 months behind bars, time served after he had successfully completed a period of residential rehabilitation. Picture suppliedMedowie families have had a first look at the proposed master plan for the first public high school to be built for the growing area 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 areaContinueAfter more than a decade of residents campaigning the new high school will accommodate increased enrolments in the area and enable families to access educational facilities close to home in the years to come The school will be located at 6 Abundance Road Medowie and will include modern classrooms and facilities for specialist support classes Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said the NSW Government is committed to ensuring every student has access to a quality learning environment The master plan will ensure the school is designed to meet the needs of today's students as well as future generations." An information session was held last week to outline the proposed plans and next steps for the project The design for the new high school has been developed in consultation with the project reference group (PRG) Design plans and supporting documentation will be shared with the community early next year An artist impression of the entry plaza from Abundance Road Picture suppliedMember for Port Stephens Kate Washington said the community has fought hard for Medowie's new public high school which will open on day one of Term 1 "Our new high school will get kids off buses With the growth experienced in Medowie and the Hunter region Ms Washington said it's more important than ever to invest in essential infrastructure "Our high school will support local families and deliver local jobs enhancing and strengthening our beautiful community with educational opportunities close to home," she said For Medowie Public School principal Allison Thompson the master plan for the new high school in Medowie is welcome news "This is fantastic news for our students who will have the opportunity to graduate Year 6 and continue their education at a local high school within their own community," she said Medowie students have to travel to either Irrawang High School at Raymond Terrace or Hunter River High School at Heatherbrae and Ms Thompson said the new public high school will provide a seamless transition for students into secondary education "It's wonderful to see investment in educational infrastructure in our growing community," she said Fellow Port Stephens public high schools Hunter River High School and Irrawang High School are also receiving crucial upgrades with a $33 million dollar investment from the NSW Government It’s been on the wishlist for more than a decade – now a new public high school at Medowie is a step closer to reality. The Minns Government today unveiled the site… and locked in an opening date. Picture suppliedMedowie Christian School is inspiring and encouraging their senior students to think bigger about their schooling 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 areaContinueThe Tall Trees Academy was established in 2024 for the college's Year 11 and 12 students with an aim to enhance students' academic capacity Medowie Christian School principal Daniel Weeks said the idea of the Tall Trees Academy was for student's to support one another on the road to success "The program seeks to enhance students' academic capacity an opportunity to genuinely explore faith and wellbeing as well as engage in leadership opportunities and develop skills for life," he said Mr Weeks said there is time to teach students more about the HSC and how it works and the key skills to successful study "We enable students to complete microcredentials as a part of their workload We acknowledge this alongside their traditional course work to demonstrate more of who they are and what they are truly capable of." The students have so far engaged with camps and excursions aimed at enhancing their wellbeing and skill sets for approaching their learning "They've attended workshops surrounding mindsets and enjoyed many varied microcredentials from engineering to project management financial literacy and first aid," Mr Weeks said Mr Weeks said Medowie Christian School is grateful for the way the community is stepping up for opportunities for student's growth "We're inspired for what this program will become in the future," he said Competing against players two years their senior in the Intermediate Four division the gifted team members demonstrated exceptional skill to be crowned undefeated champions The competition was for players aged eleven twelve and thirteen and underlined the team’s enormous potential the Medowie whiz kids trounced the Dungog Divas 33-11 in the trophy decider to secure a second consecutive title Under the guidance of coach Felicity Pacevski and managers Katie Thornton and Kerrylea McDonald the team has proven a force to be reckoned with over the past two seasons The eight girl squad comprises four eleven-year-olds; goalkeeper Madison Thornton wing defence/wing attack Charlotte Barry and goal defence Asher McDonald They are joined by twelve-year-old goal shooters Zahlia Stone and Clair Cousins Ten-year-old pocket dynamo Olivia Pacevski may be the smallest and youngest team member but she is one of the best goal attack prospects to emerge from Port Stephens Netball’s junior ranks The Medowie sharp shooter and team captain was named best on court on grand final day and received the Most Valuable Player award Olivia finished the competition as leading goalscorer and earned selection in this year’s Port Stephens 11-years development squad along with teammates Madison Rising goal shooter Tahlia also represented the Port Stephens 12-years side at the 2024 Netball NSW State Age championships in Sydney coach Felicity and manager Katie took on new roles during the season by preparing the association’s 13-years representative squad At the Medowie club’s recent presentation event Felicity was named Volunteer of the Year while outstanding defender Asher received the Junior Sportsperson of the Year award “We are a family club and the girls have a strong connection and affinity with netball,” Felicity told the News Of The Area “They are a pleasure to coach and have so much fun together on court as they display their natural skills and eagerness to develop as a team.” So dominant were the Glitter Bombs that they racked up incredible scores of 72-0 before eliminating St Brigid’s Hot Shots 29-13 in their semi-final The girls are keen to move up a division in 2025 ‘What they lack in size they make up for with determination and skill but most importantly they share a close bond and have fun on court.” After a twelve month sabbatical the underrated lock forward has returned to the premiers with a new zest of life and a lead-by-example motto The teak-tough Affleck has lived up to his reputation as a fearless warrior in the Nelson Bay ‘engine room’ with tireless performances for the Gropers this season He is the son of stalwart Gropers centre Dave Affleck and the younger brother of second rower Mitch Affleck Following the loss of key forwards Isaac Laracy skipper Hamish Bartlett and Jordan Byfield the super fit number eight has stepped up to become one of the competition’s most respected figures Lewis remains a vital cog in the Gropers’ quest for back to back titles His tenacious defence and powerful running has been a feature of Nelson Bay’s winning streak with the twenty-year-old tyro leading the way “It is great to be back playing rugby with the Gropers and sharing some memorable moments with my teammates,” an excited Lewis told News Of The Area “We are gaining momentum in the lead up to the finals and I’m enjoying my role as a forward leader.” he stated It has been a meteoric rise for young Affleck who caught the eye of club officials with strong performances for the Nelson Bay Premier Three and Under 18 rugby teams in 2022 Last Saturday he was best on ground in the Gropers’ 32-0 victory over Medowie Marauders at Boyd Oval along with flanker Sam Rocher centre Michael Hotene and industrious forward Mitch Workman For club stalwart and ex-Marauder Danny Murphy it was a farewell appearance at Boyd Oval before retirement with former teammates in Medowie prop and skipper Eric Tolhurst and number eight Sam Ellul chairing the wily utility half from the field at full time The mercurial Dunn capped a top display by scoring two of the Gropers’ six tries in the muddy conditions Classy halves Illisoni Vonomatairatu and Khace Petera Khai Poulsen and Hotene also grabbed five pointers with rookie half Jake Langsford kicking the lone conversion Nelson Bay’s seventh successive win lifts the club into second spot on the ladder on 37 points behind competition leaders Singleton Red Bulls (40) and was an ideal tune up for this Saturday’s match of the round against the undefeated Cooks Hill Brown Snakes at Empire Park in Bar Beach from 3pm The premiers are keen to avenge their 19-17 first round loss to the Brown Snakes who have pushed their title claims under the guidance of clever hooker and skipper Nick Niven talented goalkicking centre Cameron Logan and former Gropers utility Jake Alexander 23 July 2024 5:31 am · Hunter News · · · · Ian Crouch Police are investigating a fire which destroyed a home at Medowie overnight.Several RFS and Fire and Rescue crews were called to the single level weatherboard and tile home in Silver Wattle Drive just after 5.30pm on Monday to find the house and a Toyota Landcruiser up in flames.It’s not clear at this stage if anyone was home when the fire broke out.Crews worked for three hours to extinguish and mop up the blaze, which also caused minor damage to a neighbouring property. Police say no-one was injured and a crime scene has been established as investigations continue Newcastle Fire Command says there were numerous rubbish fires at the rear of the home when crews arrived. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueColleagues will colour their hair on Thursday to show solidarity with Ms Whiteley after she was disciplined for dyeing her hair red said management "forced me to change my hair colour to a more professional - in their words - natural colour" This was despite the fact her hair was naturally red "I got an ultimatum of do not return to work unless your hair is a normal colour," Ms Whiteley said "I felt attacked and like it was a complete waste of time She said it "shouldn't matter what colour my hair is" We go to people in cardiac arrest and I don't think they would care if my hair was rainbow Ms Whiteley had been a paramedic for three years a nurse for 10 years and had five years of medical training She added that paramedics were "being pulled up for having more than one earring She said management had previously opposed tattoos Her colleagues at Medowie Ambulance Station were "standing by her" Paramedics in the Hunter zone from Nelson Bay to Belmont will take part in the protest Ms Whiteley dyed her hair red in September and was reprimanded under the NSW Ambulance uniform policy HSU secretary Gerard Hayes said it made no sense for the ambulance service to be concerned about the colour of paramedics' hair "They're treating the ambulance code like it's 1970," Mr Hayes said "Paramedics are reflective of their community people colour their hair and have different forms of haircuts "Why would a paramedic be any different to those they're looking after?" A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said its uniform policy was "currently due for review" "The changing views of the community and workforce will be considered as part of that review," it said It added that the review would ensure "the appropriate professional standards expected of registered healthcare practitioners" "NSW Ambulance is reaching out to contact the paramedic involved." Paramedics will colour their hair together on their shift to show concern that the ambulance uniform policy was being used "in a draconian manner" Mr Hayes said the disciplinary action was "completely overcooked" The anger of paramedics is red hot," he quipped Mr Hayes will support the action by dyeing his hair blue but we are determined to show collective strength against petty management nonsense," he said The HSU stated that NSW Ambulance had "one of the strictest uniform policies in the state" "Many members are not impressed," it said on social media The HSU statement added that the NSW Ambulance executive "preaches inclusion and self-expression" It said the uniform policy was "unbelievably inconsistent in application" A NSW Ambulance Instagram post on July 16 showed a female paramedic at the Western Sydney Careers Expo with the same hair colour as the disciplined woman the service doesn't mind dyed hair that much It's time for the policy to change," the HSU statement said Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition. Email: dcronshaw@newcastleherald.com.au library facilities and a medical centre are just a few of the proposals that Port Stephens Council has put forward for the community's consideration for the future of the Medowie Social 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 areaContinueThe Medowie Social is a council owned building which was constructed to provide a high quality facility that can be utilised by the growing population of the suburb The facility was opened in 2020 and was leased to a food and beverage operator following a public expression of interest process the tenant elected not to renew their lease it was resolved that council requests that the general manager prepares a development application (DA) for a change of use to a registered club It has also been requested that the general manager engages in community consultation with the Medowie community to present them with a range of long-term options for the use of the Medowie Social Director Corporate Strategy and Support Zoe Pattison said to ensure council is providing a facility that continues to meet the needs of the community they're investigating the community's preferred long term use of the facility "Medowie Social includes multipurpose events spaces fenced children's playground and 100 car parking spaces," she said The survey is open until Sunday, June 23. To find out more and complete the survey, visit: haveyoursay.portstephens.nsw.gov.au/medowie-social "Once the survey is closed and the responses analysed council will further investigate the preferred option," Ms Pattison said The Bumblebees showcased their array of junior talent in four Grand Finals – winning titles in the Under 12A, Under 13A and Under 14 C Grade Boys divisions and finishing runners up to Maitland Magpies in the Under 12/3 G Grade. Medowie’s All Age women’s team also figured in a trophy decider but crashed to a 4-0 defeat against South Maitland. Club officials are delighted by the achievements of the Medowie junior sides in 2024, with nine of the Bumblebees’ twelve teams qualifying for the finals. They can also boast a record 25 Newcastle junior representatives that brought home five Northern NSW Football Community State Youth Championship titles in various age groups. Medowie FC secretary Luke Radcliffe told News Of The Area that “the future looks rosy” with an abundance of talent in the club’s junior nursery. “Four of our teams finished minor premiers during the regular season with three of those sides going on to claim the championship,” revealed Radcliffe. “Our Under 15A Boys squad claimed the minor title but were bundled out after two losses in the finals series,” he added. The club’s Under 15B side also showed tenacity to reach their first-ever finals series. Medowie FC clinched the Under 12A Boys championship with a 2-1 victory over Charlestown in extra time at King Park. They produced impressive team displays in their first season of competitive football and were rewarded with silverware. Emerging striker Lincoln Prout grabbed a hat trick of goals in Medowie’s thrilling 3-2 extra time win over Nelson Bay FC in the Under 13A Boys competition. It was a superb performance by the talented marksman who helped the Bumblebees clinch a second successive title. Prout was one of six Medowie juniors that helped the Newcastle representative team claim the Under 13s Community State Youth Cup. Medowie’s Under 14 colts captured the C Grade championship double with a 2-0 triumph over Rutherford Dragons. File picture A MAN has been charged with 12 offences following two alleged separate police pursuits in Medowie and Maitland that ended with the cars crashing into a house and a petrol bowser Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIn the first pursuit police attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attempted to stop a black Holden Commodore sedan leaving a hotel on Ferodale Road Medowie in the early hours of Sunday morning on December 22 It was about 3am when the vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated Medowie where the car crashed into a home and the driver ran from the scene on foot police attempted to stop a blue Holden Commodore about 10.30pm on New Year's Eve The car was travelling along Aberglasslyn Road Rutherford and police said it failed to stop where the vehicle crashed into a fuel bowser at a service station on Ken Tubman Drive and the driver fled on foot Officers stopped the man a short distance away; however he allegedly resisted arrest when OC (pepper) spray was deployed The 37-year-old man was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station He was charged with 12 offences including two counts of police pursuit not stopping and driving recklessly 2nd+off-T2 two counts of driving a motor vehicle during disqualification period 2nd+off goods suspected stolen in/on premises (not m/v) He was refused police bail to appear before Parramatta Bail Court on Wednesday Alanna is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald with a focus on education. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at alanna.tomazin@austcommunitymedia.com.au Picture: Simone De PeakMAKING Medowie families' dream of a local public high school a reality would help stimulate the economy and create local jobs in the fallout of COVID-19 as well as save children hours travelling on school buses and take pressure off crowded classrooms Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThat's the message from Opposition Leader Jodi McKay and Port Stephens MP Kate Washington who launched the Building Schools Creates Jobs campaign in Medowie on Thursday to kick-start construction across the state "What we've said to the government is 'Stop focusing on those big infrastructure projects like moving the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney but look at school projects'," Ms McKay said "If you're focusing on building schools in areas they're needed you're not only focused on bettering the education of young people Welcome: Catherine McAuley Catholic College will open next year Picture: Simone De Peak"We're saying to the government Labor has made that commitment during the last two elections." They met at a Ferodale Road site that has been allocated for a public high school since 1983 Meanwhile the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is building Catherine McAuley Catholic College The suburb is already home to the independent Medowie Christian School "What does it say about this government when every other sector can realise there is a need here in Medowie but this government is failing to even see the need or if they are She said there were five housing developments underway - Bower Estate Blue Heath and Tallowood - that will create 1000 new dwellings "We have over 1000 kids travelling on buses to get to secondary school so that's only going to get worse." Ms Washington said both the suburb's public primary schools Medowie and Wirreanda and the two closest public high schools Irrawang and Hunter River were over capacity "The government talks about earmarking them for upgrades to increase capacity and that frustrates me because it's just locking in the status quo," she said "There are more families coming in and the growth is here But increasing capacity locks in the awful status quo." Mum of three Marnie Coates' two oldest children attend Medowie Public School but are facing an uncertain future "I'm going to cross that bridge when I come to it it's I guess a quandary for all parents." They are zoned for Irrawang High and are likely to have to travel to Newcastle or Raymond Terrace for high school "The kids already do a long day at school and then they've got an hour or more travelling each way to get to school and it doesn't leave time for them to get home to do extra curricular activities or get their homework done or just have downtime as a family." 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 Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting. Picture by Laura Rumbel For as long as Therese Mace can remember 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 areaContinueThe Medowie resident is now putting smiles on hundreds of children's faces when they see her front yard's extraordinary Halloween display Mrs Mace's family's yard is set to be a Halloween hot spot for the fifth year in a row The idea to start decorating her front yard with Halloween props started in 2020 "It was during the first COVID lockdown in 2020 because we usually do Halloween at Valla Beach when we go away and we couldn't do that so we thought we'd bring it here," she said It started off as a small display but Mrs Mace said her grandchildren quickly encouraged her to expand the display year after year "I really do love it and I love it because it brings the community together This is our biggest year of decorations so far," she said hundreds of children and adults have visited the Kirrang Drive property on Halloween and Mrs Mace said she expects no different on October 31 "We had to go and buy more lollies last year because we just had so many people stopping by," she said the community has jumped on board and have been dropping off lollies to the Mace residence "It's such a joy to see people happy and I do it because I enjoy it but because I know the community does too," Mrs Mace said View +7 PhotosTherese Mace's family home might just be the spookiest house on the block this Halloween Pictures by Laura Rumbel The Mace family generally start handing out lollies from 4.30pm on Halloween and Mrs Mace said they get groups of people any time from 3pm "Last year we did about 600 lolly bags and everything went and we still had people stopping by at 10pm last year," she said with the assistance of her family have been setting up the front yard with trick or treaters set to travel far and wide to visit the Medowie Halloween house Cessnock all travelling to come and take a look," Mrs Mace said Mrs Mace usually dresses up as Beetlejuice for Halloween but said she's got that many costumes that she thought she'd try something different this year "I have a rockabilly dress with skulls on it so I was thinking I could wear that and tease my hair madly and put on some face paint," she said Another highlight for Mrs Mace is seeing so many families get into the spirit of Halloween and get dressed up "We've had people come and do photo shoots before," she said The Mace's Halloween House is located at 45 Kirrang Drive Picture suppliedA different method of teaching is engaging students in Medowie Public School's classrooms 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 areaContinueThe teaching method of explicit teaching is used to break down literacy and numeracy in the classroom Medowie Public School principal Allison Thompson said explicit teaching is a matter of looking at the current practices and refining them to maximise the most out of the learning experiences "It allows teachers to give feedback to students and checking their understanding with effective questioning," she said Ms Thompson said staff at Medowie Public School have really tuned into their learning intentions "The way that we've been doing that is by conducting what we call learning walks and talks," she said "Myself and stage executives go into classrooms regularly and we speak to students and record the data afterwards so we can focus our energies into the areas that may need refining." The first question they ask is what are you learning and why and Ms Thompson said that directly links back to explicit teaching of the learning intention and the why connects to the students learning "We've certainly seen a positive shift in the data we have collected so far especially with students understanding the why component," she said The reworked NSW primary-school curriculum aims to clearly set out classroom expectations replacing a pupil-led model formerly in vogue with experts Education Minister Prue Car said the shift will help teachers ensure students understand what they are being taught teachers and principals had found the curriculum needed to be simpler," she said "Our teachers can now see the benefits when the kids can actually articulate what they're learning and why they're learning it," Ms Thompson added The updated syllabuses will be rolled out in all NSW primary classrooms in 2027