cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/27147265

Program here: https://www.risingtide.org.au/pb2025-program

6:25pm - The Herd
~~7:45pm - Montaigne~~ CANCELLED DUE TO CANCELLED FLIGHT
9:00pm - Lime Cordiale

Paramedics called to Redhead shark tower on the spot to treat cardiac arrest

By Sam Rigney

Updated November 23 2025 - 4:05pm, first published 4:03pm

📷 Paramedics treating the man on the shark tower before the other man had a medical episode. Picture by NSW Ambulance

PARAMEDICS who had been called to the Redhead beach shark tower to check on a sleeping man on Sunday morning were on hand to provide immediate care to another man who collapsed coming out of the surf.

Police and NSW Ambulance paramedics had been called to Redhead beach about 7.10am after a man in his 20s was spotted lying on top of the large wooden structure.

Specialist operations team paramedics were able to safely reach the man, who had been sleeping and was in a stable condition.

Police said it was believed the man was intoxicated and they were able to get him down from the tower about 8.50am.

He did not need to be taken to hospital.

But as paramedics completed their assessment, a second emergency unfolded nearby.

A man, aged in his 40s, was coming out of the water when he suffered a suspected cardiac event.

Paramedics, including the intensive care paramedics who had been part of the earlier shark tower rescue, immediately responded and transported the man to John Hunter Hospital.

In short:

The residents of 16 homes in a quiet Newcastle suburb were evacuated after a landslip in May.

Residents are frustrated at the management of the recovery and have been told they could be out of their homes into 2026.

What's next?

Residents will meet with Newcastle council for the first time in three months on Wednesday.

'Hits home': thousands march down King Street to demand action on Gaza

By Josh Leeson
Updated August 24 2025 - 6:23pm, first published 6:00pm

📷 Pictures by Marina Neil

Novocastrians turned out in their thousands on Sunday to send a clear message that they want the war in Gaza to cease immediately.

The eastbound lane of King Street was closed to traffic as an estimated 3000 to 4000 people marched from Birdwood Park to Civic Park, chanting and waving flags and placards in a show of unity for Palestine.

It was part of an Australia-wide march demanding that the federal government place sanctions on Israel and end any arms trade.

Co-organiser Lily Campbell from the University of Newcastle Students for Palestine said the response exceeded expectations.

"I was anticipating maybe 400 to 500 people, but this looks a lot bigger," Ms Campbell said.

"It just shows what people know, which is that a vast number of the population have a negative view of Israel now.

📷 The pro-Palestine march finished in Civic Park. Picture by Marina Neil

"They've had enough of genocide. They've had enough of our own government's complicity in it.

"They want to see crippling sanctions placed on Israel and want to see an end to the two-way arms trade."

People of all ages participated in the rally, holding signs such as "Children Are Not The Enemy," "There's No 2 Sides To Genocide" and "No More Gestures, Sanctions Now".

Many people also wore shirts with the Palestine flag, and others wore clothes depicting sliced watermelon, which has long been a symbol of Palestinian resistance.

📷 Newcastle's Naomi Hodgson, holding the sign, took part in the rally after participating in the march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Picture by Marina Neil

Newcastle's Naomi Hodgson and Nissa Phillips attended last month's 100,000-strong rally across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and said the groundswell of support for Palestine and outrage at the actions of Israel was growing.

"What's happening in Palestine is heartbreaking and horrific and one of the most unjust things I've ever witnessed happening in the world," Ms Hodgson said.

"I feel it's essential that every person with a heart stands up and does something about what's happening."

Since Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1195 people and saw another 251 taken hostage, 62,622 Gazan people have died in the subsequent war, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

📷 'Hits home': thousands march down King Street to demand action on Gaza

Ms Phillips said the recent news reports of thousands of Palestinians, many of them children, being starved to death in Gaza were making it impossible for Australians to ignore.

"There's a declared famine now," Ms Phillips said.

"This is real. We have footage livestreamed to our phones; it cuts through Israeli propaganda spin."

There were many children being pushed in prams or holding their parents' hands as they walked down King Street.

Among them was two-year-old Felix, who was there with his mother Jess McEnalley-Hall and father, Luke.

Ms McEnalley, who is pregnant with her second child, said reports of thousands of children being killed and starved in Gaza "hits home".

"I think it's important to show up," she said.

"It's so easy to feel like you can't make a difference with anything you do, but when you come here, it gives you that energy to keep fighting and that it's not hopeless.

"People do care, even when it feels like nobody cares."

Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp, walked along King Street and mingled with protestors in Civic Park, despite a few hecklers claiming he had "blood on his hands" and that Labor was "not welcome here."

📷 Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp was heckled by a vocal minority in the crowd. Picture by Marina Neil

"It's a very big turnout today, and I'm not surprised," Mr Crakanthorp said.

"Newcastle is the sort of community that has a lot of compassion and strength and comes out when people believe injustice is going on."

Mr Crakanthorp said he supported the Albanese government's recent announcement to recognise the state of Palestine.

"All the footage coming out of Gaza has struck a chord with so many people," he said.

"It certainly has with me, and I'd like to see a stop to the war immediately."

Image gallery

From the Newcastle Transport Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2424228564637515

'Hunger Games': university to slash $5.58 million with first job cuts

By Madeline Link
Updated August 4 2025 - 9:46am, first published 5:30am

STAFF have likened job cuts at the University of Newcastle to the "Hunger Games", as they are forced to compete against their colleagues for remaining positions.

Internal documents seen by the Newcastle Herald reveal the Academic Division is first on the chopping block, with cuts expected to save the university $5.58 million and affect more than 50 positions.

Of those, about 30 occupied positions will be cut, 11 vacant positions will be done away with, and 11 fixed-term contracts will not be renewed when they expire.

The university's (UON) own documentation claims the Academic Division plays a "pivotal role" in supporting students and staff while "shaping the future of teaching, learning and academic success".

National Tertiary Education Union Newcastle branch president Terry Summers said the union was trying to support staff as best it could to minimise the impact.

"Anytime that people are going to lose their jobs, they get very nervous," he said.

"Staff are worried, of course, really, really worried."

With a goal of $20.6 million in cost-cutting this year, more job cuts at the university are expected to be in the pipeline.

UON's 2024 Annual Report shows its operating result, including controlled entities like NUSport, was a surplus of $61.3 million.

The university's adjusted operating result, which excludes non-core activities or one-time events like grants, donations, investment and commercial income, shows a deficit of $16.3 million.

UON vice-chancellor professor Alex Zelinsky said the proposed changes in the Academic Division were part of its 'Business Improvement Program' aimed at getting costs and spending "back in line".

"In reducing our costs, our goal is to minimise the impacts on people," he said.

"We've focused first on improving our operations and, critically, we've sought to remove vacant positions or find savings through options like early retirements."

Professor Zelinsky said the university proposed to introduce 17.8 new roles, and where new or different positions had been created, affected staff could choose redundancy or be redeployed.

He said staff in the Academic Division had received information about the proposed changes and would have the opportunity to provide feedback.

"Ensuring our staff are well-informed and supported during any proposed change is a key priority," he said.

"Affected staff will receive detailed communication from their leaders about what any proposed changes mean for them, and we'll keep staff updated and communicate with them first regarding any changes in other parts of the organisation."

UON documents show that about 10 staff on fixed-term contracts will continue in their roles on a permanent basis, and structure changes will see staff shifts across the division.

Staff losing their jobs could be gone as soon as September, with all cuts expected to be made by December.

In areas where a number of people do the same job but a position is cut, staff will have to put in an 'Expression of Interest' to reapply for their role, in what the university calls a 'ring-fenced' process.

Mr Summers said the "spill and fill" arrangement forced employees to compete against their colleagues for a job.

"The vice-chancellor doesn't like the word 'Hunger Games', and I've never seen the movie, but people tell me it's like that," he said.

"You're all competing for the same spot, like musical chairs or something, so I think that's how it's going to work.

"It's quite a horrendous process, you've got your workmates competing against each other for the same bloody jobs, it's horrible."

The university will hold an all-staff forum on Wednesday, where Professor Zelinsky will provide employees with an update.

'Credible threat': musicians vow to 'Make Some Noise' for Palestine

By Lisa Rockman

Updated August 1 2025 - 8:03am, first published July 31 2025 - 8:00pm

An event organised by Newcastle musicians on Friday night to Make Some Noise for the people of Palestine has been cancelled due to "credible threats" made against the venue.

The fundraising event, which was to have been held at the Hamilton Station Hotel, is the brainchild of Rhys Drury and his brother Anyerin. They say they felt "helpless" watching the televised death and destruction in Gaza in recent months and needed to do something, anything, to help.

The Hamilton Station Hotel posted this on social media on Thursday night:

"We are disappointed that we can no longer host tomorrow night's 'Make Some Noise' Charity Event. Safety at the venue is our first priority. NSW Police have advised us of credible threats made against the venue, and we must proceed in the interest of the safety of our staff and customers. It's disappointing that these threats have been made towards us and the venue. Refunds for all ticket holders will be sent out through Oztix as soon as possible."

ARIA-nominated hip-hop artist Urthboy (aka Tim Levinson, formerly of The Herd) was part of the Make Some Noise line-up alongside Boudicca, Krisp, Bardvarkk, Anyerin, Herd Immunity, Michael McNaughton, Redlight Trolley and Marimayi.

A Palestinian woman living in Newcastle was going to share her story and that of her family. A Sydney spokesperson for the Al-Nuseirat Camp Kitchen in Gaza and Campbell Knox (Maitland Greens) was also going to address the audience.

"It's horrific in Gaza, absolutely horrific," Rhys Drury told the Newcastle Herald earlier this week.

"Friday night's event will raise funds for Al-Nuseirat Camp Kitchen, a group run by Palestinians who live in Gaza. They raise funds to purchase whatever food and water they can get and distribute it around Al-Nuseirat refugee camp.

"They were cooking for a while, but it's hard to find any ingredients now, so what they're doing is buying water and flour and distributing it among the community."

Worldwide, it is musicians who have received the most press for speaking out against the atrocities occurring in Gaza. Mr Drury says if it helps to "normalise and popularise" the conversation, it could lead to positive change.

Anyerin agreed.

"We have an opportunity here to show our politicians that we won't ignore the atrocities we are seeing committed on the other side of the globe with weapons parts manufactured right here in the Hunter," he said.

"I think it's incredible that here in Newcastle we have so many artists giving up their time and income to stand for Palestine.

"The aim is not just to raise funds, but to raise awareness, start conversations, and inspire real action within the local community."

Mr Drury told the Newcastle Herald on Thursday night that he and the other Make Some Noise musicians were looking for an alternative venue to hold the fundraising event.

Looks like they've found a new venue: https://www.facebook.com/events/1443147206679597

In short:

The federal government has committed $432 million help kickstart hydrogen production in the Hunter.

The funding aims to incentivise action on a hydrogen hub slated for Newcastle despite Origin Energy pulling out of the project.

What's next?

The hub is expected to be operational by 2028.

archive.org

The last V-set passenger train service to Newcastle will pull out of Sydney’s Central Station at 9.20pm on Friday, marking the end of an era that has spanned more than five decades.

archive.today
web.archive.org

According to an update from the site issued on Friday morning, key road closures include:

• The Pacific Highway in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet
• The Oxley Highway between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview
• Giinagay Way between North Macksville and Nambucca Heads
• Waterfall Way between Bellingen and Raleigh, and again between Dorrigo Mountain and Thora
• Failford Road between the Pacific Highway (Maitland Road) and the Newcastle Inner City Bypass
• Nelson Bay Road between Richardson Road and Williamtown Drive
• The Illawarra Highway in both directions at Macquarie Pass

Other closed roads in greater Sydney are:

• Springwood Road at Yarramundi Bridge
• Cattai Road at Eldon St and Millers Road at Pitt Town
• Pitt Town Road at McGraths Hill
• Wakehurst Parkway at Oxford Falls
• Audley Weir at Royal National Park

In short:

Parts of NSW have received more than 200mm of rain in 24 hours, leading to dozens of flood rescues and residents being evacuated from their homes.

Riverine and flash flooding is affecting the Hunter and Mid North Coast and numerous warnings are in place.

What's next?

People are urged to exercise caution and avoid floodwater as the rain travels north.

In short:

The lawyer of a man accused of murdering teenager Ekampreet Sahni Singh says his client did not mean to kill or injure the victim.

Hundreds of mourners joined Mr Sahni's parents at a vigil at the Bar Beach car park in Newcastle where their son was fatally shot on Wednesday.

What's next?

Decklen Deaves-Thornton was denied bail on Saturday and will face Newcastle Court on June 18.