Monthly Archives: June 2016

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.

Police appeal after kangaroo dragged through town – Goulburn

Police are appealing for information after a kangaroo was allegedly attached to the back of a vehicle and driven through Goulburn last night.

Officers from The Hume Local Area Command located the animal at the intersection of Auburn and Montague streets at about 11.40pm last night (26 June 2016).

Police have been told that the kangaroo was attached to the back of a green Nissan Pulsar and driven through the township of Goulburn before two occupants of the car cut the animal free and the car fled.

Police from The Hume Local Area Command are currently working alongside a number of people to determine whether the kangaroo was alive before being attached to the vehicle, and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Police urge community to show their support for ‘Dob in a Dealer’ as campaign continues in The Hume LAC

A week into the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign in The Hume Local Area Command (LAC), police and Crime Stoppers are urging residents to show their support in stamping out the spread of illicit drugs.

The Commonwealth-funded campaign is currently taking place within States and Territories across Australia.

In NSW, the campaign is being held in 21 metropolitan and regional LACs over a six-month period between March and September 2016.

It will run in each LAC for two weeks, during which local residents will be urged to help police shut down drug-manufacturing syndicates and arrest drug suppliers by reporting relevant information to Crime Stoppers.

Since the launch of The Hume LAC campaign last Monday (20 June 2016), local officers have been out in the community distributing information and educating the public on how they can support the campaign.

The Hume Local Area Commander, Acting Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis, urged the community to get behind ‘Dob in a Dealer’ as the campaign continues this week.

“Our officers will continue their work this week in sharing information with members of the community about how they can support this important campaign,” A/Supt Koutsoufis said.

“They’ll be spending time at transport hubs, speaking with commuters and local residents and educating people on how they can report information to Crime Stoppers.

“I’d like to remind everyone not to underestimate the positive contribution you can make through a simple call to Crime Stoppers – if we know what’s happening in your neighbourhood we can take action,” A/Supt Koutsoufis said.

“Prohibited drugs – including ‘ice’ – continue to have a devastating impact on our community. Regular use of these substances can lead to the disruption of careers, family breakdown and it can isolate users from their family and friends.

“These drugs do not discriminate; they can affect people from both disadvantaged and affluent social and economic backgrounds,” A/Supt Koutsoufis said.

“There is simply no place for these substances in our community. But if we work together, we can detect those who seek to manufacture and supply these drugs, and in doing so make our neighbourhoods a safer place.”

Crime Stoppers NSW CEO, Peter Price, said drugs can have devastating consequences for the whole community, and putting a stop to the flow of drugs requires a whole-of-community response.

“Local residents often hold the key to information that can help reduce crime, and we are asking people who live within The Hume LAC to play an active role and report those people that are bringing harmful drugs into the area,” Mr Price said.

“If you have already reported something to Crime Stoppers, we thank you; if you have not and know something, we ask that you let us know immediately.

“By making that one anonymous phone call or online report, you could save not only your community from drugs, but also someone’s life,” Mr Price said.

Man charged following barricade incident – Waratah

A man has been charged following a barricade incident in north-western Newcastle overnight.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command were contacted by a man who was allegedly making threats from inside a unit complex on Station Street, Waratah, at about 11pm on Sunday (26 June 2016).

Upon arrival, the man allegedly armed himself with a knife and made threats towards officers.

Police secured a perimeter and with the assistance of Police Negotiators, the man surrendered himself to police at approximately 2am (27 June 2016).

No one was injured during the incident and no other persons were home at the time.

He was taken to the Mater Hospital for assessment and was later taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with the following offences:

-Use weapon to avoid apprehension;

-Threaten injury to persons with intent to prevent lawful detention; and

-Two counts of intimidate police.

He has been refused bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (27 June 2016).

Man wanted on warrants – Albury LAC

 

Police from Albury Local Area Command have released details of a man they are seeking in relation to outstanding warrants.

Eric Williams, 31, is wanted by virtue of three outstanding warrants.

The first warrant was issued in April 2016 relating to break and enter offences. The remaining two warrants were issued by the Albury Local Court in May 2016, for assault, and traffic offences.

Eric Williams is described as being Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 165cm to 170cm tall with olive skin and a medium build. He has short black hair which could be shaved and may have black facial hair.

Mr Williams is known to frequent the areas of North Albury, Glenroy and Lavington.

Truck stuck in the muck

A TRUCK driver has narrowly avoided serious injuries after running off the side of the Hume Highway.

The white Xtra Transport Services B-double had been travelling southbound on Thursday night.

The vehicle left the right side of the road about 10pm and collided with several trees before coming to a stop in the median strip.

The incident occurred several kilometres south of Holbrook and the 55-year-old driver was taken to Albury hospital.

The man had non-life threatening injuries.

The accident occurred in wet conditions and the truck became bogged down to its axles in dirt and mud.

Heavy haulage equipment was brought in for a lengthy removal process which required the southbound lanes of the road to be closed to traffic for a short period of time.

The towing job was made more difficult by the wet weather.

The driver from the Sydney-based company had narrowly avoided several large trees but the truck cabin was damaged by smaller trees and bushes.

Police attended the scene and helped with traffic control as the area was cleared.

The crash was one of several incidents emergency services have responded to in recent days as extensive rain and strong winds caused problems.