Monthly Archives: February 2016

Police investigate after shots fired – Albury

Police are investigating after shots were fired at a home in Albury early this morning.

About 12.40am (Friday 19 February 2016), police were called to a home on Alma Street, Albury, following reports of shots fired.

On arrival, officers located a hole in the front of the house and damage to the ceiling in the front bedroom.

The 22-year-old male resident was uninjured.

A crime scene was established at the home, which was examined by specialist forensic officers.

Initial inquiries indicate the incident is targeted.

Detectives from Albury Local Area Command are investigating the incident and are appealing for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

Two charged following alleged assault – Wagga Wagga

Police have charged two men following an alleged assault yesterday evening.

About 7.30pm (Wednesday 17 February 2016), emergency services were called to a block of units on Chifley Crescent, Kooringal, following reports a man had been injured.

Police have been told two men allegedly assaulted a 58-year-old man. He suffered a laceration to his face.

Officers from Wagga Wagga Local Area Command attended and commenced an investigation.

A short time later, about 8.10pm, police arrested two men – aged 18 and 19 – and they were taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station.

The 18-year-old man was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence, and affray.

The 19-year-old man was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence, affray and possess prohibited drug.

Both men were refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court today (Thursday 18 February 2016).

They were remanded in custody to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court on Monday (22 February 2016).

Tumbleweed plants takeover Wangaratta and block residents homes

A weed is creating havoc for residents in Victoria’s northeast.

Some Wangaratta locals are frustrated after large amounts of tumbleweed rolled into town — blanketing their homes, cars and driveways.

The tumbleweed, known as hairy panic grass, has reportedly inundated an entire Wangaratta street.

Resident Jason Perna said it took hours to clean the grass from his property.

“It is frustrating. You know that you’ve got a good couple hours work ahead of you and that’s always sort of displeasing,” he said.

Neighbour Pam Twitchett said the weeds had covered her outdoor dining setting.

“We’ve got a table and chairs and a daybed and probably a few plants,” she said.

Ms Twitchett said clearing the tumbleweed was tiring.

“It’s physically draining, and mentally more draining,” she said.

Cheryl Lengrand spent a day clearing her yard of the weeds, only for them to return the next day.

“I spent eight hours yesterday cleaning up the tumbleweed and this is what I’ve got today,” she said.

Hairy panic grass is common in the Wangaratta area, but this year’s dry conditions has contributed the problem.

The residents believe an unkept property across the street is to blame for the tumbleweed.

Woman wanted on warrants – Newcastle City LAC

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman wanted by virtue of arrest warrants in the Newcastle area.

Jaquara Morgan, aged 33, is wanted in relation to two outstanding warrants for stealing offences.

She is described as being Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander in appearance, 160 to 170cm tall, with dark hair and a large build.

She is known to frequent the Hamilton, Islington and Elermore Vale areas.

Anyone who sees Jaquara Morgan is advised not to approach her but to contact Newcastle City police (02) 4929 0999 or Waratah police (02) 4926 6599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Man charged with pursuit, weapon and other offences – New Lambton

A man has been charged with a range of offences after allegedly leading police on several pursuits in the Newcastle area this month.

About 3.15pm on Monday 1 February 2016, Traffic and Highway Patrol officers were conducting speed enforcement duties in a school zone on Hillsborough Road, Charlestown, when they noticed a white Toyota Yaris allegedly exceeding the speed limit.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle, when it’s alleged the driver drove away.

A pursuit was initiated; however, it was terminated a short time later when police lost sight of the vehicle.

About 11.30pm on Monday 8 February 2016, officers stopped a black Holden Commodore on University Drive, Jesmond.

As they were speaking to the driver and passenger, the car allegedly drove away on the wrong side of the road, causing police to initiate a pursuit.

The vehicle was seen on Newcastle Link Road, Wallsend and was pursued through several suburbs including Cameron Park and Edgeworth. It was terminated due to safety concerns.

About 11.20pm yesterday (Wednesday 17 February 2016), police were patrolling the Newcastle Link Road at Wallsend, when they sighted a black Holden Commodore and initiated a pursuit.

Officers approached the vehicle which was parked on Chiplin Street, New Lambton, and attempted to arrest a 24-year-old man who was disqualified from driving until 2051.

It’s alleged he resisted arrest, necessitating the deployment of OC spray.

The man was removed from the vehicle and officers conducted a search of the car.

During the search, police allegedly located and seized a quantity of amphetamine and several weapons including a knife and machete.

The 24-year-old was taken to Newcastle Police Station where a revocation of parole warrant was executed, and he was charged with a number of offences, including:

– Disqualified driving (x4);

– Driving in manner dangerous to the public;

– Exceed 30km/h in a school zone;

– Police pursuit – drive dangerously (Skye’s law) (x2);

– Display misleading number plate (x2);

– Resist arrest;

– Possess prohibited drug; and,

– Possession of a knife in a public place.

He has been refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Thursday 18 February 2016).

Dozens of suspected stolen goods seized during search warrant at home – Wagga Wagga LAC

Police have seized laptops, mobile phones, bicycles, watches, rings, car keys, golf clubs and numerous other items – all of which are suspected to be stolen goods – from a home near Wagga Wagga.

As part of ongoing inquiries into property theft and drug supply, Wagga Wagga Police executed a search warrant inside a home on Mumford Street, Ashmont, shortly after 10am yesterday (Tuesday 17 February 2016).

Inside the property, officers located and seized numerous items suspected of being stolen, including:

– A ride-on lawn mower;

– Three bicycles (including an expensive road-racing bike);

– 22 laptops;

– 43 x watches;

– 61 mobile phones;

– Numerous electronic items including video game, digital cameras, tablets, hard drives, USB sticks, and DVDs;

– Jewellery, including more than 100 dress rings;

– Golf clubs;

– Car keys; and,

– Personal identification documents.

Police also seized five grams of a crystal substance, believed to be Ice, and a quantity of firearm ammunition.

A 32-year-old resident of the home was arrested at the property, before being taken to Wagga Wagga Police station where he was charged in relation to an outstanding domestic violence warrant. Granted conditional bail, he is due to appear before Wagga Wagga Local Court on 18 May 2016.

As yet, no one has been charged in relation to the suspected stolen items; however police do expect to lay charges once their inquiries are complete.

Wagga Wagga Local Area Commander, Superintendent Bob Noble, said police are now in the process of cataloguing all of the property.

“We expect the cataloguing process will take us around a week,” Superintendent Noble said.

“After that time, we will endeavour to reach out to victims of recent robberies to see if any of their goods may be among the items we retrieved yesterday.

“We ask victims to hold off calling us for the next week while we catalogue the property. To speed up the process of getting goods back to their rightful owners, we encourage victims to pull together details of their stolen items – receipts, photographs, warranties – so that we can cross-check them with the items we now have in our possession.”

Police inquiries are ongoing.

Whats on at Newcastle Conservatorium

‘HYPOCHONDRIA AND OTHER MADNESSES’ presented by Thoroughbass
Friday 18 March | 7.30pm

Acclaimed early keyboard performer Israeli-born Michael Tsalka joins Diana Weston and Monika Kornel for a regional tour of NSW in a program for two harpsichords. Michael’s list of awards and achievements is long. Performer on piano, harpsichord, fortepiano, clavichord, square piano and chamber organ, he is also the artistic director of a number of early music festivals and a prolific recording artist for Naxos and other labels. A keen supporter of new music for keyboard, Michael has premiered many new works in his concerts all over the globe, a tradition we continue in this program. Music by Vivaldi, Handel, Couperin, Soler, Zelenka and topped off with a celebratory new work by Ann Carr-Boyd.

Cost: Adult $30.00 Concession $25.00

Purchase online from Thoroughbass or buy tickets from the Box Office one hour prior to the performance

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: IMPACT, TRANSLATION, ENGAGEMENT: A public lecture by Professor Malcolm Gillies
Monday 21 March | 5.30pm
Public Lecture:
5.30pm – 6.30pm
Q&A: 6.30pm – 7.00pm
Refreshments served: 7.00pm – 7.30pm
Malcolm Gillies considers how the ‘creative industries’ came about, and what their global and Australian prospects are in meeting student aspirations, research benchmarks, industry needs and cultural expectations. He then draws on exciting impact findings arising from the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework, as well as a 2015 study of research translation by Australia’s Learned Academies, and the recent Watt Report on research policy and funding.

Cost: FREE

PERCY GRAINGER AS INNOVATOR: A public lecture by Professor Malcolm Gillies

Tuesday 22 March | 10.30am
Lecture: 10.30am – 11.30am
Q&A: 11.30am – 12.00pm

Percy Grainger (1882-1961) was one of Australia¹s most famous musicians. Although the composer of many folksy short pieces, by which he is best known, he was a serious musical innovator, aiming for a music ‘free’ from fixed pitches and rhythms and ‘democratic’ in its involvement of the whole community. Gillies describes the stages of Grainger’s innovations, pointing out how his ideas sometimes crossed over into other arts and life itself.

Malcolm Gillies is co-author or editor of five books about Percy Grainger, including The All-Round Man, Grainger on Music, Portrait of Percy Grainger, Self-Portrait of Percy Grainger, and Bird¹s-Eye View. A professor of music since 1992, he holds a PhD from the University of London and a higher doctorate in Music from the University of Melbourne. He now lives in London.

Cost: FREE

Woman arrested for harbouring escapee – SCC Robbery & Serious Crime Squad

A woman who allegedly harboured an escapee who fled a Glen Innes correctional centre last year has been arrested and charged by Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives.

Two prisoners escaped from the minimum security facility on Tuesday 27 October 2015 with one of the men detained by a correctional officer the following day.

Detectives from State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad and Mid North Coast Local Area Command established Strike Force Mirool to investigate the activities of the second man, now 34, who was arrested in Newcastle last month (Thursday 14 January 2016).

Following further inquiries, detectives arrested a 33-year-old woman on Monday 15 February 2016.

Police will allege the woman harboured the escapee at her Raymond Terrace Home for a period of up to six weeks prior to his arrest.

She was charged with harbouring an escapee and has been granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 10 March 2016.

Man charged with assault police, drug supply and other offences – Jesmond

A man will face Toronto Local Court after being charged with numerous offences, including assault police and drug supply.

Shortly after 10pm yesterday (Tuesday 16 February 2016), police approached a man and a woman who were standing on Blue Gum Road at Jesmond.

Upon seeing the officers, the man allegedly threw a clear resealable bag at the woman and ran from the scene.

Officers seized the bag and chased the man, apprehending him a short distance away. During the arrest, the man – aged 38 – allegedly assaulted police on a number of occasions.

Police transported the man, and the resealable bag, to Waratah Police Station.

The bag was examined and found to contain just under four grams of an amphetamine-type-substance, while the man was charged with a number of offences, including:

– Assault police;

– Resist arrest;

– Possess prohibited drug; and,

– Supply prohibited drug.

Bail refused, the man is scheduled to appear before Toronto Local Court today (Wednesday 17 February 2016).

One male constable sustained minor injuries as a result of the assault.

City Recital Hall SYDNEY CHAMBER CHOIR: CARMINA BURANA

SATURDAY 19 MARCH, 7:30PM

The Empress of the World, Dame Fortune, accompanies us as we walk together through the springtime. She leads us to a tavern where… the liquor does its work. We gamble, we drink, we sing, we dance, we eat roast swan and, regrettably, drink some more and experience our first taste of remorse…

So begins Carmina Burana, Carl Orff’s thrilling masterpiece. Greed, gluttony, lust and laughter are celebrated with music as bold as it is beautiful. And who better to conduct but Richard Gill OAM, who will bring a new level of excitement to this well-known work.

Plus, hear Machaut’s Messe de Notre Dame, one of the masterpieces of medieval music, its glorious resonances reaching out to us undimmed across six and a half centuries.

ARTISTS
SYDNEY CHAMBER CHOIR
RICHARD GILL – CONDUCTOR
ALEXANDER KNIGHT – BARITONE