The invention that's got bee keepers buzzing and other top stories

The invention that's got bee keepers buzzing

It may look like any other suburban Newcastle home, but in the backyard of one particular house in the suburb of Waratah, a buzz of excitement fills the air. Along with the incessant drone of hundreds of bees, a family is gathering around a timber box ... >> view original

NSW parliamentary inquiry to examine Newcastle rail line cabinet documents ...

A parliamentary inquiry will examine confidential cabinet documents which reveal the NSW government rejected advice about a light rail route into Newcastle in favour of one that may cost about $100 million extra and gives more opportunity to property ... >> view original

Johnny Bongo and the Big Band in the Sky

Well-known Newcastle character, busker and street identity John Pittman aka Johnny Bongo aka John Rainbow passed away recently. A somewhat controversial figure, few would disagree the city is less colourful for his absence. Although, his musical talent ... >> view original

Remembering the Hunter Valley flood sixty years on

In late February 1955, the NSW Hunter Valley was hit by one of the worst natural disasters in its history. For a number of days, .... day photos by Robert Virtue. 1233 ABC Newcastle's Phil Ashley-Brown spoke to the witnesses of the 1955 Hunter Valley ... >> view original

Maori culture comes to life on Lake Macquarie

Despite Waitangi Day occurring a week ago, the Maori community in the NSW city of Newcastle is staging belated commemorations this weekend at Bolton Point Park on the shores of Lake Macquarie. Amid singing, dancing and a traditional 'hangi' meal, the ... >> view original

Local man using his expertise to fight Ebola

Having spent five weeks in Sierra Leone fighting Ebola for the Red Cross, Newcastle's Peter McArdle says it's satisfying to see your work make a difference to the thousands impacted by the deadly illness. Peter isn't a healthcare worker, but rather a ... >> view original

Berry contamination scare opens door for local growers

The Chief Executive of Raspberries and Blackberries Australia, Jonathan Eccles is based at Ourimbah, south of Lake Macquarie in NSW. He says while most of NSW's berry farms are located north of the Hunter and in the Southern Highlands, local production ... >> view original

Shark attack prompts renewed calls for safety training

... as the record-breaking closure of Newcastle's beaches for 10 days in January due to persistent shark sightings has prompted many to be increasingly vigilant when at the beach. The Operations Manager at Surf Life Saving NSW, Adam Weir says surfers ... >> view original

Junior surfer making waves at Merewether's Surfest

Morgan grew up in the northern NSW coastal town of Angourie, but moved to Newcastle in 2012 when his parents got new jobs. "I didn't like it so much at the start, but now I don't want to move because I love it so much," he says. With an older brother ... >> view original

Gladys Berejiklian backed preferred Newcastle light rail route in draft ...

In May 2014, the government announced it had chosen a "hybrid" route running a small way along the rail corridor but also along Hunter Street, despite Transport for NSW having confidentially advised this could cost almost $100 million extra and deliver ... >> view original