CHICKEN TAKES CASSOWARY UNDER ITS WING

A humble chicken is helping to ensure the survival of the diminishing cassowary population.

It’s taken a newborn cassowary under its wing, at the Australian Reptile Park.

ONLINE WORKSHOP TO HELP STUDENTS WITH INTERNET SAFETY

More than one in 10 school children will become the victim of cyber bullying, and the psychological impacts can stay with them for life.

With that in mind, a Central Coast school has trialled a new cyber safety workshop to help kids become more aware of internet risks.

NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL WANTS RAIL TO STAY … FOR NOW

Newcastle City Council has finally taken a stance on the GPT rail debate.

Councillors last night unanimously agreed to support retaining the line, at least until the state or federal government comes up with a better alternative.

FLOOD GATES KEY TO BETTER PRAWN CATCH

The Hexham flood gates are on the verge of being re-opened, in a bid to restore one of the most productive fish and prawn nurseries on the east coast.

Just a day after a poor opening to the Hunter River prawn season, fishermen say the environmental flows can’t resume fast enough.

AIRFORCE PUT TO THE TEST

The Royal Australian Airforce’s ability to deal with disasters and civil unrest is being put to the test.

Personnel have come under attack from militia groups and faced a number of emergencies during a defence force training exercise in the Hunter Valley.

EMISSIONS SCHEME TO AFFECT JOBS

The Hunter Business Chamber is calling on the federal government to give the Hunter more consideration when developing its new emissions trading scheme.

A report being finalised in the region has revealed that up to 30,000 jobs could be affected.

CENTRAL COAST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IN CRISIS

The Central Coast is facing a shortage of specialist emergency doctors at its two public hospitals, with six extra full-time staff needed to cover the rosters.

And it’s only set to get worse, with another position to be vacated early next year.

GUNNEDAH FLOODS

As Tamworth mops up after one of the town’s worst floods, neighbouring towns, Gunnedah and Manilla, are dealing with their own emergencies.

Dozens of people were evacuated when the water peaked at 6.4 metres in Manilla this morning.

Gunnedah was also hit harder than expected.

TAMWORTH DECLARED NATURAL DISASTER ZONE

The city of Tamworth has been declared a natural disaster zone, after being lashed with unprecedented heavy rain.

Storms have dumped more than 160-millimetres across the district, with the Peel River peaking at six metres.

When it overflowed the city was cut in two, and hundreds remain isolated tonight.

TAMWORTH THANKS HER VOLUNTEERS

Returning to the flood crisis in Tamworth now, and mother nature’s worst has brought out Tamworth’s best.

Many owe their lives to volunteers who worked throughout the night to secure the city.

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