Category: Hume Travel Radio Network

A man will appear in court next month after police seized an electronic stun-gun from a motorcyclist in Albury overnight.

About 10.45pm (Saturday 17 January 2015), a 33-year-old motorcyclist attended a service station on Wodonga Place.

Officers attached to Albury Local Area Command approached the rider – a member of the Gypsy Jokers outlaw motorcycle gang – where it’s alleged he became aggressive toward police.

Police attempted to arrest the man; however the situation allegedly escalated and officers deployed OC spray.

During a subsequent search of the man, police located a torch that officers allege could also be used as a stun gun.

The item was confiscated and the man was taken to Albury Police Station.

He was charged with possess prohibited weapon, offensive language, resist arrest, and assault police.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear Albury Local Court on Wednesday 18 February 2015.

Police are investigating the robbery of a car wash near Albury yesterday.

About 12.45pm (Saturday 17 January 2015), a 71-year-old man working at a car wash on Kaylock Road, Lavington (about 4km north east of Albury), went into an office to answer a phone.

Police have been told a man appeared in the office, before he approached the employee and assaulted him.

A brief melee ensued between the two, before the man fled the scene with cash.

The employee suffered bruising to the face and body. He did not require treatment.

Officers attached to Albury Local Area Command were called and commenced investigations.

As police continue to investigate the incident, they would like to speak to a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his mid 20s, of slim build, and about 183cm tall.

Anyone with information is urged to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers.

A Wangaratta truck driver is counting his blessings after his truck was hit by a mystery missile on the Hume Freeway where it crosses Oddies Creek on Wednesday night.

He believes “kids” threw something heavy at his truck because “I don’t think there would be an adult who would be that stupid”.

Shane Garner was heading north about 8.30pm when his truck was hit.

Mr Garner said there was a loud bang when the missile struck but because he was unsure what had happened and didn’t see who might have thrown it, he kept driving.

But curiosity got the best of him and he stopped to inspect the truck on Thurgoona Drive.

He found the missile had hit the passenger side of his truck above the fuel tank.

“There was a bloody big dint,” he said.

“I didn’t see anyone throw anything.”

Mr Garner said the missile could have caused serious damage or distracted him from driving.

“If they are caught, they should be punished for it,” he said.

Albury truck driver and Australian Trucking Association board member Doug McMillan, who has had 45 years in the business, said he knew of several people being killed or injured by objects being thrown.

He said he had seen several pieces of railway ballast on the Lincoln Causeway on Wednesday night and feared they might have been thrown at vehicles by “bored kids”.

“They think they’re funny, but it’s a pretty bloody dangerous thing to do,” he said.

“It’s a stupid thing to do.”

Wodonga Sgt Damian Bould said while such incidents were rare, they were not unheard of.

“We don’t get many reports of it,” he said.

“They do pop up from time to time.”

Albury’s Insp Anthony Moodie said there hadn’t been any reports of similar incidents this week.

He said many highway overpasses were covered by protective screens to avoid such incidents.

The “Elvis to the Max” show has successfully toured Australia for over a decade, always to sell-out crowds. Max goes beyond mere impersonation. His recreation of the Kings looks, moves, vocal style, impressions and humour is so accurate, its awe inspiring.

The Australian tour will capture Elvis through the decades, recreating the, early years, the black leather of the ’68 comeback tour, right through to the white eagle costume – featuring exact replicas made by Elvis’ own tailor Bill Bellow.

There are lots of Elvis impersonators around, but Max is considered as the best. Critics have described him as Elvis ‘resurrected’ and ‘reincarnated’. It seems people just can’t help falling in love with Elvis to the Max.

Saturday 28th February
at 8:00pm

THE drive from Sydney to Melbourne may soon become a “trip down memory lane” for motorists with a new organisation aiming to bring the Old Hume Highway back to life.

Old Hume Highway 31 represents 40 bypassed towns along the Hume Freeway, aiming to bring these communities together to preserve and market the former road as a touring route, similar to the famous Route 66 in the United States.

Dysons North East regional manager Brett Drinnan is a committee member and is a Wodonga spokesman for the group.

He said they wanted to get people reacquainted with history by getting them off the freeway and onto the old roads.

“Dysons owns Cobb & Co Coaches and they were one of the first runners up and down the old highway,” Mr Drinnan said.

“I travelled up and down the old Hume when I started driving buses back in the mid 80s.

“I think it’s just a trip down memory lane, the old highway used to pass right through the centre of town.”

The group is already working with VicRoads and the Roads and Maritime Services to develop a standard sign for the whole length of the old Hume Highway.
Convenor of Old Hume Highway 31 Ltd Frank Burke said a professional map of the route would be made.

“There are no comprehensive maps available of the old Hume Highway 31 nor is there any standardised signage to let people know whether they have found it.

“So how can we expect holiday makers and travellers to visit the old Hume Highway 31 if they can’t find it?

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the people of Australia to learn about Australia; this is the road around which our nation was built.”
Mr Burke said promotion of the tourist route would also help combat driver fatigue, the second biggest killer on the nation’s roads.

“Drivers need more rests and the best rest they can have is in the 40 towns along the old highway,” he said.

“Getting people to spend money in the smaller towns rather then just stopping at big multi-national convenience stores is also a win.”

The organisation was established at a meeting at Cooma Cottage, the house of Hamilton Hume, in Yass in July last year.

About 70 people representing VicRoads, the RMS, the National Trust and councils attended and unanimously agreed the organisation should be formed.

The group has received international publicity by working with Route 66 in the US and has been gaining momentum on its Facebook page.

GRDC announces new appointments – Agriculture – Cropping – Grains – The Land

Police have charged a man after an armed robbery at Yass yesterday.

About 9.40pm (Tuesday 13 January 2015), a 32-year-old man entered a supermarket on Polding Street, Yass, and allegedly stole a kitchen knife and consumed a drink from the store before leaving.

He entered an adjoining bottle store, where he allegedly approached the counter and threatened the attendant with a knife demanding cash.

The attendant complied handing over a sum of cash before the man ran from the store.

A short time later, the man attended a residence on Hume Street, Yass. He left the home and walked to a Laidlaw Street and used a pay phone.

Emergency services and police from The Hume Local Area Command attended.

The man was taken to hospital for treatment to a hand injury. When he was released he was arrested and taken to Yass Police Station.

He was charged with armed robbery with offensive weapon and was bail refused. He appeared at Goulburn Local Court today (Wednesday 14 January 2015) and refused bail to appear at Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday 18 March 2015.

Inquiries are continuing.

A 33-year-old man clocked exceeding the speed limit by more than 100km/h on the Hume Highway is on the run.

Police allege Umar Farouk Ben Anas was travelling in a grey Holden Commodore at 215km/h in a 110km/h zone on the Hume Highway at Tumbalong about 7.30am on October 13.

Anas, whose international licence was suspended in NSW that day, failed to front Gundagai Local Court on December 1, pleading guilty in writing.

Magistrate Beattie deemed the offence too serious and put a warrant out for his arrest on a first offence charge of driving recklessly, furiously or at speed.

Beattie dropped a second back-up charge of exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.

The United Kingdom man had a Victorian address listed while in Australia.

The warrant remains out for his arrest.

A second UK man was also clocked exceeding the speed limit by more than 100km within two weeks of Anas’s offence.

Benjamin Peter Debidaph, 29, was allegedly clocked travelling south on the Hume Highway at 216km/h in a 110km/h zone near Mundarlo about 1pm on October 25.

Debidaph, who had a West Australian address, had his international licence suspended on the spot.

Magistrate Beattie dropped the back-up charge of exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h in Gundagai Local Court on December 1 and had the first charge of driving recklessly, furiously or at speed transferred.

Debidaph was fined $2000, his licence disqualified for 12 months and sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond by Magistrate Wahlquist in The Downing Centre Local Court on January 6.