Daily Archives: 25/01/2015

Wangaratta Events

1. OUTDOOR BALL

The good people of Wangaratta have been practising for months, rehearsing their salsas and polishing up their cha-chas for next weekend’s annual Outdoor Ball. This is a free community event held around sunset under the old magnolia trees in King George V Park. Melbourne-based Latin American outfit Vatos Locos will be performing and local wineries Silent Range Estate and Amulet Vineyard will be pouring wines, Yowie Lager pouring beer, while paella and Thai food is dished up. For some it’s a serious chance to strut their stuff and hit the dance floor in hard-heeled shoes. For others it’s enough to don thongs and a Mambo T-shirt and look on from the sidelines. This is a free, family-friendly event where all are welcome.

Outdoor Ball, Jan 31, 7pm-11pm, King George V Gardens, corner Ovens and Rowan streets, no BYO alcohol, wangaratta.vic.gov.au

2. NAMATJIRA

If you’re heading up the Hume or going anywhere near Wangaratta, drop by the city’s gallery to spend time with a wonderful exhibition of works by Albert Namatjira, his sons and other family members in central Australia. This is a rare chance to see original works that have been lent by private collectors, as well as large-scale responses in oil by contemporary Sydney artist Richard Dunn to some of Namatjira’s iconic works. Dunn is appearing at the Wangaratta Art Gallery on Friday, January 30, for an informal discussion about his life and work. Cheese and wine will be served.

Namatjira and Beyond, until February 2, Wangaratta Art Gallery, 56 Ovens Street, free entry, open daily, 5722 0865, wangaratta.vic.gov.au

3. NED KELLY SINGS

North-east Victoria is Ned Kelly country, where his legacy as freedom fighter or colonial terrorist is still a topic of heated debate. Folk musician and composer Felix Meagher has written a dramatic play with music, Barry Versus Kelly, that depicts the courtroom confrontation between Kelly and his nemesis, Judge Redmond Barry. There was bad blood between the two as Barry’s sentencing of Kelly’s mother to three years prison prompted Kelly’s violent outrage. The play explores Barry’s conflict with his own Irish upbringing and concerns that he will create a martyr out of Kelly. The show is produced by Meagher’s band Bushwahzee with Meagher playing Barry and Ballarat singer Anthony Penhall playing Kelly.

Barry Versus Kelly, Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, 33 Ford Street, February 8, 2pm call 5722 8105, wangarattapac.com.au

4. THE RIVER

In recent years this busy rural city has embraced its riverside district, building an esplanade along the banks of the Ovens River that is softly lit at night and lined with cafes and restaurants. Try Watermarc Restaurant (56 Faithfull Street, 5722 4000) for reasonably priced casual meals served al fresco on a covered deck looking out onto the old river red gums. Further downstream is Sydney Beach, a small strip of sandy gravel on a bend in the river where locals come to cool in the waterhole on hot days.

5. BLACK DOG BREWERY

Young winemaker James Booth grew up surrounded by fermenting barrels of wine but his thoughts turned to beer when he was 18. He trained as a winemaker at his family’s Taminick Cellars but continued his hobby in brewing until he turned pro, opening Black Dog Brewery onsite. Recently he invested in some beautiful Italian-made equipment and is creating some really interesting brews using hops from the Rostrevor Hop Gardens up the Ovens Valley at Eurobin. Try them at the cellar door or meet Booth at the upcoming High Country Hops Festival, at Bridge Road Brewers, Beechworth, on the weekend of March 28-29.

Black Dog Brewery, 339 Booth Road, Taminick, open noon-5pm Thursday-Monday, 5766 2282, blackdogbrewery.com.au

6. THE PLOUGH INN

A gas lamp sits outside this great old pub on the road between Wangaratta and Beechworth, a drinking hole that serviced the miners as they made their way back from the diggings in the hard granite hills. Today that country is producing some of the best wines in the country and not only is this pub serving great food, it is making a name for itself selling local wine at its Hidden Gem Cellar Door, offering wines from Giaconda, A. Rodda, Fighting Gully Road and Willem Kurt amongst others.

The Plough Inn, 2322 Wangaratta Beechworth Road, Tarrawingee, open six days (closed Tuesday), 5725 1609, theploughinn.com.au

Teen charged after police car allegedly damaged – Newcastle West

A teenager has been charged after a police vehicle was allegedly damaged at Newcastle West overnight.

About 9pm (Saturday 24 January 2015), police from Newcastle City Local Area Command were called to a shopping centre in Newcastle West for an unrelated matter.

The officers were some distance from the fully-marked vehicle when it’s alleged a 17-year-old youth smashed a rear passenger window, then scratched the paint and slashed a tyre.

Police arrested the boy and seized a screwdriver, knife and permanent marker.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with malicious damage, possess knife, possess offensive implement, and possess graffiti implement.

The boy, from Berowra, was refused bail to appear in a children’s court today (Sunday 25 January 2014).

Man charged over stabbing – Wallsend

A man is due to appear in Newcastle Bail Court today charged after allegedly stabbing another man at Wallsend this morning.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command have been told it was shortly after midnight (Sunday 25 January 2015), that the two men were fighting in a house in Walford Street, Wallsend.

A short time later, one of the men allegedly stabbed the other man twice.

Both men are aged 28.

The injured man was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he is reported to be in a stable condition.

Police arrested the other man nearby and he was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and breach AVO.

He was bail refused and will attend Newcastle Bail Court later today.

Woman critical after being swept off rocks – Lake Munmorah

A woman is in a critical condition in hospital after she was swept off rocks while fishing near Newcastle overnight.

The woman was with a friend fishing on a rock platform at Frazer Park, Lake Munmorah, about 7.35pm (Saturday 24 January 2015), when she was washed into the water.

Her friend grabbed a floatation device and jumped in after her but he was unable to bring her back to safety.

Emergency services were called to the scene, while a police officer attached to the Tuggerah Lakes Drug and Anti-Theft Unit patrolling nearby, entered the water to assist the pair.

He kept the woman afloat until she was winched out by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Newcastle Water Police and Maritime officers then assisted the officer and the man from the water and returned them to shore.

The woman was taken to John Hunter Hospital where she is reported to be in a critical condition.

Inquiries are continuing.

Motorcycle confiscated after rider caught riding at more than 60km/h over limit – Yass

A man with alleged links to an OMCG, had his licence suspended and motorcycle confiscated after he was stopped travelling at more than 60km/h over the legal limit in Yass yesterday.

About 5pm (Saturday 24 January 2015), police from Goulburn Traffic and Highway Patrol were conducting speed enforcement duties on the Hume Highway.

They detected a Harley Davidson motorcycle travelling at an alleged speed of 154km/h.

The motorcycle was stopped and the rider, a 26-year-old Yass man, was spoken to.

Police will allege the rider was the holder of a P2 provisional license, restricting him to a maximum speed of 90km/h, the motorcycle was not displaying P-plates, and the engine exceeded the capacity limit.

Police confiscated the motorcycle and issued the rider infringement notices for the offences, before suspending his licence on the spot.

Amber Lawrence wins her first Golden Guitar and wins Best Female Artist for her album SUPERHEROES

She Will celebrate by opening for KENNY ROGERS at his Tamworth show on Sunday, 25th January.

Amber was nominated in the Best Female Artist category alongside Kasey Chambers, Harmony James, Kristy Cox and Lyn Bowtell. She was also nominated for the Toyota Heritage Song Of The Year for THE LIFESAVER, the 2nd single from SUPERHEROES.

“I am so honored and proud to have won this award. I am enormously proud of this album and to have won this award for SUPERHEROES is one of the happiest moments of my life. This is a dream come true,” said Amber immediately after collecting her award.

This win follows Amber taking out the Bush Laureate Award for Contemporary Australian Song Lyric of the Year for ‘The Lifesaver’ on Tuesday, 20th January

Amber will celebrate her win by opening for the legendary KENNY ROGERS tomorrow night at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre, capping off what’s been a memorable and special week for her in the country music capital

Amber’s win celebrates a milestone year for the Tamworth veteran. Since the release of SUPERHEROES in September, 2014 Amber has toured extensively and celebrated this new album with country music fans across the country. Her touring schedule has seen her play in towns across Australia and delivered her two chart-topping singles – SUPERHERO and THE LIFESAVER.

Amber will release the third single from SUPERHEROES, I WILL LOVE YOU on February, 27th February.

SUPERHEROES is out now through Social Family Records. For tour information please go to www.amberlawrence.com.au

Album/Background Information:

‘Superheroes’ is Amber’s fourth album and a departure from her former sound, with an earthy, rockier feel, bordering on alt country. Recorded in Nashville with producer Matt Fell at the helm (Sara Storer, Graeme Connors, McAlister Kemp and Damien Leith, and ‘Producer of the Year’), Amber lyrically grapples life’s ups and downs through love, loss, freedom and
reflection within each song.

Amber has performed up to 1000 LIVE shows since the release of her debut EP, “I’ve Got The Blues” in 2006. During that time she has performed with Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts, Melinda Schneider, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole and Jason Owen and featured at all the major country music festivals including Tamworth Country Music Festival, Gympie Muster, Deni Ute Muster, CMC Rocks The Hunter and Nth QLD, Caboolture Urban, Mud Bulls and Music, Boyup Brook and more.

Amber is also a proud ambassador of “Cruisin’ Country”, “Mack Trucks”, and “The Stroke Foundation”.

TOUR DATES

SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY
TAMWORTH ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
(with Kenny Rogers)
www.trecc.com.au

SUNDAY 1ST FEBRUARY
LAUNCESTON COUNTRY CLUB
(with Kenny Rogers)
www.tixtax.com.au

SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY
LIZOTTES NEWCASTLE, NSW
www.lizottes.com.au

SUNDAY 8TH FEBRUARY
LIZOTTES KINCUMBER, NSW
www.lizottes.com.au

SATURDAY 21ST FEBRUARY
DEVIL COUNTRY MUSTER
SMITHTON, TASMANIA
www.devilcountrymuster.com.au

SATURDAY 28TH FEBRUARY
DERWENT VALLEY MUSTER
NEW NORFOLK, TASMANIA

SUNDAY 8TH MARCH
MOTOR CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL
GEELONG, VICTORIA

SATURDAY 14TH MARCH
CMC ROCKS QLD
IPSWICH, QLD
www.cmcrocks.com/2015/

SUNDAY 15TH MARCH
CAMPFIRE FESTIVAL
HOPE ESTATE, HUNTER VALLEY, NSW
www.campfirefestival.com.au

SATURDAY 9TH MAY
THE HYDRO MAJESTIC
BLUE MOUNTAINS, NSW
www.hydromajestic.com.au