Man charged after police seize electronic stun gun from Gypsy Joker – Albury

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 investigate car wash robbery near Albury

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.

Truck hit by rock at Wangaratta

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.

 

SISTER BLISS JOINS RADIO BONDI RADIO SYDNEY MORNING MIX 9AM Mondays

Sister Bliss is Behind all-time anthems like “Insomnia”, “God Is a DJ” and “We Come 1”. 

The show is a 1 hour weekly program playing a cross-section of electronic music – from
deep house to progressive to the chilled “Blissfull moment” and a superstar DJ on the
phone each week, playing their ultimate end-of-night-anthem in “Not Going Home”

Elvis at Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre

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

Singer-songwriter, CATHERINE BRITT, has announced her brand new album BONESHAKER will be released Friday May 1st

Singer-songwriter, CATHERINE BRITT, has announced her brand new album BONESHAKER will be released Friday May 1st through the prestigious label LOST HIGHWAY AUSTRALIA (Universal Music). Since launching, Lost Highway has signed locally Shane Nicholson, Ruby Boots, Mustered Courageand internationally some of the biggest roots and country artists including Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, the late Johnny Cash and many others.

Anyone who has heard Catherine’s latest single, “Good To Bad”, will know the track marries a dark alt-country atmosphere to a confronting lyric about a desperate young farmer driven to drug-cropping to save his farm. It’s a bold departure for Catherine who recorded her fifth studio album BONESHAKER with Ryan Hadlock ( Strokes, Foo Fighters, Lumineers and Vance Joy) in Seattle and sends the first message that this is her most courageous recording ever made.

The alt-country artist will support her forthcoming release with BONESHAKER TOUR including a must see one show performance at the 2015 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

While Hadlock may have had a big influence on the sound of BONESHAKER what still remains is the same honest, earthy song writing that has won Britt a host of awards and accolades in the past.

Catherine Britt commenced her career in 1999 at the age of 14 and since then has been awardedCMAA Female of the year (2009, 2013), CMAA Single of the Year (2012), CMC Artist of the yearand APRA and ARIA Award nominations. In 2010, Catherine was presented with the CMA Global Artist of the Year award and still to this day remains the youngest Australian to have ever performed at the prestigious Grand Old Opry in Nashville.

Without question Catherine’s unique voice instantly gets your attention. An annual event at theTamworth Country Music Festival, Catherine will be returning to The Pub to perform new music from BONESHAKER as well her biggest hits like “Ramblin Girl”, “Can’t Change a Thing” and “Sweet Emmylou”. Expect to see a star studded stage with musical friends joining the multi-award winning singer-songwriter on stage.

BONESHAKER TOUR

For further tour information: www.catherinebritt.com

Thursday Jan 22 – The Pub – Only 2015 Tamworth Country Music Festival appearance (NSW)
Friday March 6 – Port Fairy Folk Festival (with Band) (VIC)
Saturday March 7 – Port Fairy Folk Festival (with Band) (VIC)
Sunday March 8 – Port Fairy Folk Festival (Solo) (VIC)
Friday March 13 – CMC Rocks QLD – Ipswich (QLD)
Friday March 2 – Snowy Mountains Country Festival (NSW)
Thursday March 26 – The Hallam Hotel (VIC)
Friday March 27 – The Gateway Hotel – Geelong (VIC)
Saturday March 28 – Bairnsdale RSL Club (VIC)
Friday April 17 – Dubbo RSL Club (NSW)
Saturday April 18 – Lizottes Newcastle (NSW)
Sunday April 19 – Lizottes Kincumber (NSW)
Friday May 1 – Rooty Hill RSL Club (NSW)
Saturday May 2 – Kidgeeridge Music Festival (Milton – NSW)
Friday May 8 – Sawtell RSL Club (NSW)
Saturday May 9 – Casino RSM Club (QLD)
Sunday May 10 – Inverell RSM Club (NSW)
Friday May 15 – Club Old Bar (NSW)
Saturday May 16 – Grafton District Services Club (NSW)
Sunday May 17 – City Golf Club – Toowoomba (QLD)
Friday June 19 – Broadbeach Country Music Festival (QLD)
Saturday June 20 – Broadbeach Country Music Festival (QLD)
Wednesday June 24 – Capella Cultural Centre (QLD)
Thursday June 25 – Proserpine Entertainment Centre (QLD)
Friday June 26 – Burdekin Theatre – Ayr (QLD)
Saturday June 27 – The Dalrymple Hotel – Townsville (QLD)

Injured Workers unite in Newcastle. Tim Crakanthorp first guest speaker in 2015

The Injured Workers Support Network (IWSN) Newcastle network will play host to Mr Mr Tim Crakanthorp MP at the first meeting for 2015.
Injured and ill workers and their families are invited to attend our meeting on the 6th of February starting Level 2 Newcastle Trades Hall Devonshire House, King Street. Newcastle.
“Injured or ill workers and their families do it tough. The workers compensation system is a maze of conflicting agendas and ideologies. Injured Workers are caught like mice in the middle of this. Not only are they trying their hardest to overcome their injury but they have to continue to support their families, fight with insurance companies for their weekly pay and medical expenses and then try to get back to work before the boss fires them.” Injured Worker Support Network Coordinator Rowan Kernebone said. “The IWSN network meetings give injured workers a safe place to vent, to lean on each other, learn from each other and work together for a better outcome, both personally and in changing the system that’s stacked up against the injured worker”.

“I am pleased that Mr Crakanthorp, as the new member for Newcastle, has agreed to attend and listen to the stories of our members.” Rowan added.
The Injured Workers Support Network assists and supports workers who have sustained work related injuries & disabilities; provides and shares information and experiences about the workers compensation system and the rights of injured & disabled workers, Forms networks between injured workers and other organisations that have similar aims and objectives and assists and encourages injured workers to establish links within their local community health system, Government Departments, organisations and other individual support groups who can assist injured workers.

Injured workers needing assistance please call our Helpline on (02) 9749 7566
To find out more about the Injured Workers Support Network: www.injuredworkerssupport.org.au

Date: 6 February
Time: 11am
Venue: Level 2 Newcastle Trades Hall Devonshire House, King Street. Newcastle

Man charged over child approach – Charlestown

A man has been charged following an incident at a shopping centre in Charlestown last month where a woman and her child were approached.

On Saturday 20 December 2014 a 55-year-old man approached a woman and her daughter at a shopping centre.

Police will allege that the man attempted to procure the child for a sum of money.

The woman reported the matter to police and officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command commenced their investigations.

Police located the man at the shopping centre earlier today and he was arrested without incident.

The man was conveyed to Charlestown Police Station where several items were seized for forensic examination.

He was later charged with attempt procure child under 14 for sexual activity, offensive behaviour and intimidation.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 4 February 2015.

Man charged with armed robbery – Lake Macquarie

A man has been charged following an armed robbery at a business in Bonnells Bay earlier today.

About 1.10pm today (Thursday 15 January 2015) a man entered a newsagency on Fishery Point Road armed with a piece of metal and threatened the female store owner demanding money.

The woman was not injured during the robbery.

The man took a quantity of cash and fled to a car which was parked nearby.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command were alerted and commenced a search of the area.

A short time later police located and stopped a vehicle which was travelling on Freemans Drive at Freemans Waterhole.

Police detained a 26-year-old man and two females in the vehicle which was seized for forensic examination.

The man was later charged with armed robbery and an outstanding warrant.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Friday 16 January 2015).

The two women were released pending further inquiries.

Old Hume Highway's 'Route 31' is our piece of history

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.