Gundagai Truck Museum opening soon

Buoyed by the success of recent fundraising activities, the Australian Road Transport Heritage Centre (ARTHC) plans to open a truck museum in a temporary home at Gundagai, New South Wales, this month.

ARTHC Chairperson Kerry Campbell and his team are assembling a collection of historic trucks and exhibits in a shed at the corner of Tor Street and Jack Moses Avenue, North Gundagai.

The ARTHC has over 100 members and the museum will be staffed by volunteers.

Treasurer Jim Morton says the ARTHC will open the doors of the museum’s temporary home when electricity is connected. An announcement will be made on the museum’s website, arthc.com.au

But Jim says the ARTHC remains determined to build a permanent museum at Middle Street, Gundagai. The committee will continue to raise funds and apply for grants for the $1.5million project.

The ARTHC raised $30,000 with events held at Gundagai over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

A highlight was Sylvia’s Gap Road Run on June 12 which attracted 76 trucks. They travelled a section of the old Hume Highway which is now on private property. Landowners opened their gates, allowing trucks to travel through Sylvia’s Cutting and over Hannah’s Pinch.

The weekend began with the inaugural Gundagai Truck Show on Saturday, June 11. Scott Menz of Wagga Wagga won People’s Choice with his 1988 Kenworth T650. Paul Eccleston won the Vintage Choice section with a 1953 International AR130.

After the truck show, 217 people attended a Hume Highway Reunion Dinner and auction.

Last week the ARTHC accepted a donation of $2780 which was raised by an auction at the Finemore Livestock Transport drivers’ recent reunion at Wagga Wagga.

To donate to the ARTHC’s proposed truck museum, or to become a member of the ARTHC, phone Jim on 0408 441 495 or Daryl Weston on 0427 756 983.

Man charged after attempted armed robbery – Yass

A man will face court today following an attempted armed robbery in the State’s Southern Tablelands.

About 4pm yesterday (Friday 1 July 2016), a 37-year-old man entered a business on Laidlaw Street, Yass.

Police have been told the man approached a female employee and demanded drugs.

The man produced a modified razor and threatened the store manager.

At this point, two police officers attached to The Hume Local Area Command, entered the business and witnessed the attempted robbery.

The officers secured the weapon and arrested the man.

He was taken to Yass Police Station where he was charged with attempted armed robbery.

The 37-year-old man was refused bail and will appear in Goulburn Local Court today (Saturday 2 July 2016).

Police investigate following robbery – Tamworth

Police are investigating after a woman was robbed in the states New England region.

About 6pm yesterday (Friday 1 July 2016), a woman returned to her home on Woodward Avenue, Tamworth.

Police have been told, as she attempted to open her front door, a man approached her from behind and pushed her to the ground before fleeing the scene with the woman’s handbag.

Officers attached to Oxley Local Area Command were contacted and conducted a canvass of the area.

Investigations into the incident are continuing.

Police appeal for assistance following armed robbery – Armidale

Police are appealing for information following an armed robbery outside a registered club in the state’s northern tablelands this morning.

About 12.20am (Friday 1 July 2016), two armed men approached three people in the car park of the club on Golf Links Road and demanded a woman’s purse.

A male in the group suffered lacerations, swelling and a possible fracture to his left elbow.

The two armed men fled the scene with a purse containing credit cards and a sum of cash. They were last seen heading east across the golf course.

The injured man was treated at the scene before being taken to Armidale Hospital by New South Wales Ambulance paramedics.

Police from the New England Local Area Command are now seeking two men who they believe can assist with inquiries.

The first man is described as being between 170-180cm tall, aged in his late teens to early 20’s and with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a dark-coloured bandana over his face.

The second man is described as being between 170-180cm tall, aged in his late teens to early 20’s and with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a light-coloured jumper and a black bandana with a white pattern over his face.

Police are urging anyone with further information to come forward.

Two charged after warrants – Central Hunter LAC

Police have executed three search warrants and charged two men, including a pharmacist, after warrants in the Hunter Valley targeting drug supply.

Strike Force Blacklock was established by Central Hunter detectives to target the supply of prohibited drugs within Central Hunter and surrounding Local Area Commands.

About 9.20am yesterday (Wednesday 29 June 2016), police executed a search warrant at a home on Allan Street, Lorn, and arrested the resident, a 36-year-old male pharmacist.

The warrant follows further search warrants earlier in the month which were executed at the man’s home, as well as his main place of work; a pharmacy in Rutherford.

During the warrants police allegedly located over 100 boxes of prescription medication, a number of steroid injections, pseudoephedrine tablets, and dexamphetamine tablets, as well as other restricted substances.

He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with supply prohibited drug (x5), supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug (x2), possess restricted substance (x2), goods in custody (x2), and possess precursor.

He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Thursday 30 June 2016).

About the same time, strike force detectives executed two further search warrants, one on Valley Drive Tenambit, and one on Murray Street, East Maitland.

At the Tenambit address, officers allegedly located about an amount of cocaine and an amount of cash.

A 30-year-old man was arrested at the address. He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with supply prohibited drug, deal with proceeds of crime, and goods in custody.

He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Thursday 30 June 2016).

At the Murray Street, East Maitland address, police seized numerous scripts for prescribed substances, as well as a number of licensed firearms and prohibited knives.

The 53-year-old male resident’s firearms license was suspended and inquiries continue.

INAUGURAL NIMBIN ROOTS FESTIVAL SHOWCASES UP-AND-COMING TALENT 17-18 SEPTEMBER 2016 | NIMBIN, NSW

A CELEBRATION OF AMERICANA, EARLY BLUES, ALT COUNTRY, AUSTRALIANA AND TRADITIONAL MUSIC

Nimbin Roots Festival will make its debut this September, celebrating all facets of the roots genre. Curated by ARIA and Golden Guitar nominee Lou Bradley, the inaugural festival will embrace the independent music scene. Celebrating Americana, early blues, alt country, Australiana and bluegrass music, the festival will feature a huge lineup of up-and-coming Australian talent. Plucked from over 150 applicants, the musicians will perform across four of Nimbin’s most iconic venues — the Bowling Club, the Nimbin Bush Theatre, the Phoenix Rising Café and The Church.

Australian singer-songwriter Lou Bradley is no stranger to festival curation. A very well respected veteran in the Australian music industry, Lou assisted in the coordination of the one-off event, Murwillumbah Country Roots Festival, which welcomed over 2,000 punters and some of the biggest names in Australian country music across four days in the Tweed Shire. A passionate ambassador to promoting local talent, Lou is well-respected for her ongoing support of independent and commercial artists alike. Channeling her energy into a festival that showcases Australian talent was a natural progression.

The ethos behind Nimbin Roots Festival continues to embrace everything Lou is passionate about – it is first and foremost about the music. “As a writer and grassroots musician myself I’m a firm believer in the importance of where music starts and where it comes from,” she says. “That’s what music is, and the Nimbin Roots Fest really represents that.”

The line-up for Nimbin Roots Festival is modest and eclectic, opening its musical arms up to artists in all stages of their careers. “After being around in the industry for so long I really don’t see the difference between a high profile artist and low profile artist,” says Lou. “To me, the art is the same and I can’t fathom the reason why one should have more attention than the other. I see a lot of artists out there who aren’t getting as much commission as they need. The public needs to hear music that’s a little more real.”

A familiar face in Nimbin, Lou says she can’t imagine a more perfect town to host the festival. “Nimbin has a very colourful culture, but it also has a strong foundation in natural living and a roots lifestyle,” she says. “It fits perfectly with the festival and it wouldn’t hurt to give it (Nimbin) a little more grounding. The venues involved and the people who are aware of the forthcoming festival are really excited about it.”

The two day Nimbin Roots Festival is setting aside the normal parameters of a festival and is instead drawing the entire town into its planning. Instead of basing itself in one venue with multiple stages, the event actually features four of the town’s most iconic venues – and everything in between. While punters can attend each venue to discover new music, there is also the opportunity to soak up the Nimbin culture, which is unlike anywhere else in the country. The venues – the Bowling Club, the Nimbin Bush Theatre, the Phoenix Rising Café and The Church – each has a history, presence and uniqueness that perfectly reflect the values and premise of the festival.

Officer charged – Northern Region

A police officer has been charged after the alleged on-duty assault of a man in Newcastle in January.

On Wednesday 27 January 2016, the senior constable, attached to a local area command in the Northern Region, was involved in a pursuit with a vehicle in the Newcastle Area.

When the pursuit came to an end the officer allegedly assaulted the 29-year-old male driver during the arrest, causing minor injuries.

Following an investigation, the officer was yesterday (Tuesday 28 June 2016), served with a Future Court Attendance Notice for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault.

He is expected to appear before Newcastle Local Court on 11 August 2016.

The officer has been suspended from duty with pay.

Two men charged following an assault with a machete – Windale

Two men have been charged following an alleged assault with a machete at Windale earlier this year.

On Friday 1 April 2016 it is alleged that a man stabbed another man three times during an altercation. Police were informed of the incident but the 26-year-old injured man refused to co-operate with officers.

Shortly before 11.00am on Thursday 16 June 2016 it is alleged that the 26-year-old man went to a home on Balemo Crescent, Windale, with the 37-year-old man. A 22-year-old man was already inside the house, allegedly armed with a machete.

Police will allege the 22-year-old man struck the 26-year-old man three times with a machete.

The 26-year-old man sustained serious injuries including a severed finger during the attack.

The 26-year-old man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics and conveyed to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

On Monday 27 June 2016 the 22-year-old man attended Belmont Police Station for an unrelated matter where he was arrested and charged with cause grievous bodily harm with intent. He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 7 July 2016.

On Tuesday 28 June 2016 police conducted a crime scene warrant at Balemo Crescent, Windale where the 37-year-old man was arrested and charged with the cause grievous bodily harm with intent. He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today, Wednesday 29 June 2016.

Explosion damages surf club – Redhead

Police are appealing for public assistance after an explosion caused significant damage to a surf club in the Lake Macquarie region.
About 10pm (Tuesday 28 June 2016), there was an explosion in the public toilets of the Redhead Beach Surf Club.

The blast caused serious damage to the ceiling and roof of the premises and also caused a window to blow out.

Police attended and established a crime scene which was examined by forensic specialists.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command are conducting inquiries.

Police are treating this as a hoodlum incident.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Two people arrested as police investigate building fires – Goulburn

Police have arrested two people following investigations into two building fires in Goulburn yesterday.

About 8pm (Monday 27 June 2016), emergency services were called to a commercial building on Auburn Street where a fire had broken out on the second floor.

NSW Fire & Rescue officers worked to extinguish the blaze which had engulfed the building.

The property sustained extensive damage.

Officers on scene were alerted to a second fire, about 200 meters away, which had broken out in a vacant building on Verner Street. This fire was quickly brought under control by fire crews with the building sustaining minimal damage.

Both fires were deemed to be suspicious.

Following investigations, two teenagers aged 17 and 19 were arrested and taken to Goulburn Police Station.

They were each charged with destroy property by fire in company x 2, aggravated break and enter to commit serious indictable offence and aggravated enter dwelling with intent.

The 19-year-old man was refused bail to appear at Goulburn Local Court today (Tuesday 28 June 2016), while the teenage boy was refused bail to appear at a Children’s Court.