Plus, how students feel about rapid testing, Supercars event stalls, and questions linger about Hillsong camp
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| How Hunter students feel about RATs and returning to school |
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| They'll have to do two rapid antigen tests (RATs) twice a week and wear masks. Excursions and mingling with other students will be kept to a minimum. That's the NSW Government's plan to get children back to school — but what do the kids think? | | We asked them! Here's what they said... |
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| Questions linger about Hillsong youth camp |
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| Vision taken from the Glenrock scout camp of the Hillsong youth festival went viral this month. It sparked memes and public outrage as thousands of young people could be seen singing and dancing without masks or social distancing. Why did it spark such huge emotions in the community? | | Watch: The ABC 7.30 team took a closer look |
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| Paul Lobb reflects on his career and outpouring of public support |
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| It's getting harder to buy a house as Hunter land values soar |
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| It seems the Hunter is the place everyone wants to be. Total land values in the Hunter Coast rose by more than 36 per cent in the last financial year, the largest increase in the state. Residential land values rose by more than 38 per cent for the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens local government areas collectively. | | What does this mean if you're trying to buy a house? |
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| Scone doctor shortage highlighted during Omicron outbreak |
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| A Scone doctor has accused the federal government of failing to appreciate the strain COVID has placed on regional doctors. Richard Abbott says people in his community are being told to wait for more than a month for non-urgent appointments as health services are stretched. | | This is why he's 'very frustrated' |
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| Stories from the past usher in Australia Day in Newcastle |
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| Events that bring the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community together should be held more often in Newcastle, Worimi descendant Teresa Dargan says. She performed the Welcome to Country at an inaugural event in Newcastle on Tuesday night. It was such a success that there's now a push to host it annually. | | Here's how Newcastle marked Australia Day |
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| What's happening at Nobbys Lighthouse? |
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| Mobile GP clinic preparing to open in the Hunter |
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| Muswellbrook mum part of first national childhood stroke group |
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| Dolly Parton delivers free books to Cessnock |
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| What else made news in the past week? |
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Supercars postponed: It was meant to be held in March, but this week it was announced the Newcastle Supercars 500 would be postponed because of COVID-19 concerns. Supercars chief executive Shane Howard says he's determined to see the race go ahead and hopes it can happen later this year. Read the full story here.
Investigations into COVID baby death: The coroner is investigating the death of a two-month-old baby who died at John Hunter Hospital in December. Dr Kerry Chant says that after conversations with the family, the report will be made public when it is finalised. Read more.
COVID update: There are currently 81 COVID cases receiving care in hospitals and seven in intensive care across the Hunter New England health district. More than 1,800 new cases were recorded in the latest reporting period. Earlier this week, Hunter New England Health said at least 15 per cent of residents in the health district had contracted COVID so far.
Tests hard to come by: An Upper Hunter pharmacist says rapid antigen tests are still in extremely short supply, despite an extra 6 million people becoming eligible for free swabs. Concession card holders are now entitled to 10 free tests within a three-month period. Muswellbrook pharmacist Alex Counsel fielded calls from card holders looking to buy tests, but had to turn them away. She says it's unclear when they'll get stock.
Lightfoot hurdles PB: Maitland's Mitchell Lightfoot has climbed the Australian all-time rankings after winning the 110m hurdle race in a personal best time of 13.52 seconds at the NSW Country Championships in Maitland.
Hospital wait times: Federal health data shows the average wait time for non-urgent elective surgeries across all Hunter New England hospitals was more than nine months. Last year the wait time was 289 days, slightly up on the year before. All urgent non-elective surgery was completed within a recommended time in both years. But some hospitals weren't able to do all non-urgent elective surgery within a year, with a quarter of patients at the John Hunter Hospital waiting more than 12 months.
Strong trade: Figures from the Port of Newcastle show trade remained strong last year despite China's ongoing ban on Australian coal. A total of 166 million tonnes of trade was shipped through the port, an increase of 1.6 million tonnes compared to the previous year. Coal accounted for 94 per cent of the port's trade and was down slightly. But business development manager Matthew Swan says there was 10 million tonnes in other exports, including 3 million tonnes of wheat. | | Visit our website for more local news |
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| | | | The best photos from around the country |
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| | | | How's the weather looking? |
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It's the perfect weather to welcome in the last month of summer. Temperatures are nudging into the 30s and there's sunshine with just a couple of showers on the cards as we head into the weekend.
And thanks to Sara Dowling for this stunning photo of a sunrise over Dungog. | | Check the seven-day forecast for your town |
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