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PROUDLY INDEPENDENT Printed on 100% recycled paper hunter ADVERTISEMENT MAVIS STAPLES Turn over for your entertainment guide page 11 pa Undefeated Knights’ blistering start p.13 SPORT WED 1 APR 2015 Easter church messages p.6-7 Aitchison takes the reins T he seat of Maitland is back in Labor hands after just four years under the Liberals. Labor’s Jenny Aitchison secured a convincing win over her Liberal chal- lenger Steve Thomson at Saturday’s state election, claiming 42.8 per cent of first preference votes and a 20 per cent swing towards the ALP, as vote counting continued on Monday morning. 9,054 residents gave Mr Thomson their number one vote, just 573 more than Independent candi- date Philip Penfold received. The Greens’ John Brown took home 6.4 per cent of first preference votes. On her victory, Ms Aitchison said she would do her very best to put Maitland first. “As the Member for Maitland, my door will always be open to you, our community,” she said in a statement. “I will fight against privatisation of our electric- ity network, our new hospital, and the ripping up of our rail line as well as work to save Maitland Hospital and for proper infrastructure.” Clayton Barr was returned to power in the seat of Cessnock. Mr Barr took out 61.7 per cent of the first prefer- ence vote, with 20,123 voters putting a number one next to his name on the ballot paper. Nationals candidate Jessica Price-Purnell received 7,690 number one votes. The Greens’ Lindy Williams, No Land Tax’s Voters give Labor another chance in Maitland with 20 per cent swing Member Elect for Maitland Jenny Aitchison celebrates her election win with supporters AMELIA PARROTT @amelia_parrott Domenic Lopreiato and the Christian Democrats’ Julie Johnson rounded out the field in Cessnock with, 2,765 votes, 1,077 votes and 962 votes, respectively. A re-elected Tim Crakanthorp in Newcastle said swings to Labor across all Hunter seats spoke volumes and sent a clear message to Baird Liberal Government. “We will be calling on Mike Baird to listen to the people of the Hunter - the Hunter Region has spoken and they have overwhelmingly put Labor first.” Genevieve Driver Compensation Team Turnbull Hill Lawyers If you’ve got a compensation claim, you may be entitled to a lot of money ... but aren’t aware of your rights! NO WIN NO FEE - simple conditions apply and Our Compensation Team has years of experience in these areas of law: WW14701

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Page 1: The Hunter Post - 1 April

PROUDLY INDEPENDENTPrinted on 100% recycled paper

hunter

ADVERTISEMENT

MAVIS STAPLESTurn over for your entertainment guide page 11pa

Undefeated Knights’blistering startp.13

SPORT

WED 1 APR 2015

Easter church messagesp.6-7

Aitchison takes the reins

T he seat of Maitland is back in Labor hands after just four years under the Liberals.

Labor’s Jenny Aitchison secured a convincing win over her Liberal chal-

lenger Steve Thomson at Saturday’s state election, claiming 42.8 per cent of first preference votes and a 20 per cent swing towards the ALP, as vote counting continued on Monday morning.

9,054 residents gave Mr Thomson their number one vote, just 573 more than Independent candi-date Philip Penfold received.

The Greens’ John Brown took home 6.4 per cent of first preference votes.

On her victory, Ms Aitchison said she would do her very best to put Maitland first.

“As the Member for Maitland, my door will always be open to you, our community,” she said in a statement.

“I will fight against privatisation of our electric-ity network, our new hospital, and the ripping up of our rail line as well as work to save Maitland Hospital and for proper infrastructure.”

Clayton Barr was returned to power in the seat of Cessnock.

Mr Barr took out 61.7 per cent of the first prefer-ence vote, with 20,123 voters putting a number one next to his name on the ballot paper.

Nationals candidate Jessica Price-Purnell received 7,690 number one votes.

The Greens’ Lindy Williams, No Land Tax’s

Voters give Labor another chance in Maitland with 20 per cent swing

Member Elect for Maitland Jenny Aitchison celebrates her election win with supporters

AMELIA PARROTT @amelia_parrott

Domenic Lopreiato and the Christian Democrats’ Julie Johnson rounded out the field in Cessnock with, 2,765 votes, 1,077 votes and 962 votes, respectively.

A re-elected Tim Crakanthorp in Newcastle said swings to Labor across all Hunter seats spoke

volumes and sent a clear message to Baird Liberal Government.

“We will be calling on Mike Baird to listen to the people of the Hunter - the Hunter Region has spoken and they have overwhelmingly put Labor first.”

Genevieve Driver Compensation Team

Turnbull Hill Lawyers

If you’ve got a compensation claim, you may be entitled to a lot of money ... but aren’t aware of your rights!

NO WIN NO FEE - simple conditions apply

and

Our Compensation Team has years of experience in these areas of law:

WW14701

Page 2: The Hunter Post - 1 April

Editor's Desk [email protected]

Metadata not as big a deal as some would have you imagineThe metadata laws passed by the senate last week are still leaving some in the community with concerns over their privacy.

While it goes against the basic idea of freedom we value in this country, I think unfortunately it has become a necessity in the world we live in today.

It’s important to point out that metadata deals with only who the person is and relatively basic details like the date, time, duration and type of communication.

It does not allow access to the actual content of a person’s internet browsing history, phone call or text message.

I guess the simple answer to those objecting to the laws is that if you aren’t doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about.

Police and security agencies are not going to bother going after people’s metadata unless they have suspicions of their involvement in serious crime or planned terror-related activities.

There was plenty of money promised to fix the roads in NSW in the lead-up to last week-end’s state election, but the projects mentioned pale in comparison with a plan announced by Russia last week.

The Siberian Times reported on Russia’s idea to build a 20,000km-long highway from London to New York, passing through Moscow on its way

to entering the USA in Alaska and finishing on the east coast of America.

With the estimated cost expected to be in the trillions of dollars, the USA and UK might have to chip in some of the cash to get the project moving.

Whether it ever happens is debatable but full credit to them for thinking on a grand scale.

There certainly would be some challenging terrain to deal with during the construction and I’m not sure how fast you’d want to be driving on the highway in the icy conditions in the middle of winter across Russia and Alaska.

But there have been many engineering feats throughout history that were considered impossible when first suggested and this may be another to into that category.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released the latest figures on population growth in our country.

As at September 2014, Australia’s population was 23.6 million an increase of 354,600 (or 1.5%) on the previous year.

‘Natural’ increase (number of births less the number of deaths) was 150,700 and migration contributed 203,900.

The population in NSW came in at just over 7.5 million with an increase of 106,000 people or 1.4%.

It does not allow access to the actual content

PAUL MONFORTE

the hunter post

www.thehunterpost.com.au www.facebook.com/newcastlepost

19 Pearson St, Charlestown NSW 2290PO Box 2321 Dangar, NSW 2309P (02) 4961 0310

Editorial: [email protected]

Advertising: [email protected]

Printed by: Spotpress Pty Ltd

Editor: Paul Monforte Journalists: Stephen Bisset (TE), Amelia Parrott

Sales Manager: Rhonda Campbell

Sales: Glenda Peate, Gary Scott (Trades), Dan Hawkins (TE), Alison Hislop (Hunter), Jo Jones (Hunter), Michael Cleary

Administration: Lauren Pollard

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Page 3: The Hunter Post - 1 April

N athan Thompson, the man respon-sible for killing nine puppies at Kurri Kurri last month will have to

wait until May to learn his fate. Mr Thompson, 25, appeared in

Newcastle Local Court last Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to an additional nine charges and was banned for life from owning any animals.

The matter was adjourned to May 9 at Newcastle Local Court.

It was Mr Thompson’s second court appearance after pleading guilty to charges of animal cruelty in East Mait-land Local Court last month.

He has been charged with killing nine Bull Terrier-cross puppies, hitting them over the head with a rock and dumping their bodies in bushland off McLeods Road, Kurri Kurri.

Police said Mr Thompson obtained the litter free of charge online.

A witness, walking his own two dogs, allegedly saw the sickening incident unfolding on March 11, but when confronted Mr Thompson drove from the scene with five of the puppies.

The RSPCA was called and an inspec-tor later recovered the puppies in nearby

scrub. Three were dead but two were still clinging to life.

They were taken to the RSPCA veteri-nary clinic in Rutherford but one puppy

died on the way. The surviving puppy, named Lucky by veterinary staff, is continuing to improve and will soon be re-homed.

Kurri Kurri puppy killer’s court case adjourned to May for sentencing

Crime

Nine more charges and a life ban

Lucky, the puppy that survived a brutal act of animal cruelty at Kurri Kurri last month. Image: RSPCA NSW

AMELIA PARROTT @amelia_parrott

Your new-look Post available from April 22

The Post has been a local institution since 1956 and is now undergoing the biggest change in its long and successful history in the region.

From Wednesday, April 22, the Post moves to a new gloss magazine format and with a reach from Morisset in the south to Nelson Bay in the north and the vineyards to the west.

The Post has a new look, a better delivery model and an exciting new format – and a continued focus on delivering the stories and content our readers want.

Bulk-dropped and available to pick-up free of charge in more than 600 hundred high-visibility locations around Newcas-tle and beyond, the Post will significantly increase its brand awareness and ease of access to the publication – a big tick for readers and advertisers alike.

The Post will include fantastic feature-length stories, special themed editions, competitions, entertainment, local news and information plus real estate, lifestyle content and more – making it your complete weekly read.

“The Post has a long and successful history in the Newcastle region and beyond, and this next step in our devel-opment will see the publication go to an all new level,” the Post’s editor, Paul Monforte said.

“We’ve listened to readers and adver-tisers and we believe we’ll provide the perfect mix of content that will make the Post a must-read every week.

The fully gloss, new-look Post will be released every Wednesday. All in gloss, always free.

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MAITLAND PRIVATE HOSPITAL was established 14 years ago and since then has been the major provider of private healthcare in the area. The hospital has 113 beds and provides quality care in the following specialties:

Surgery including orthopaedics, general, urology, gynaecology, oral, and ophthalmologyMedical conditionsRehabilitation inpatients and Day ProgramMental Health inpatients and Day ProgramPost natal

The hospital is constantly undergoing redevelopment to meet the needs of the community and the most recent addition to services is the commencement of a standalone Outpatient Clinic operated

by allied health professionals and catering for conditions such as lymphoedema, musculo skeletal injuries, chronic and acute pain, vestibular abnormalities, foot and hand abnormalities, fractures, and other conditions in need of general physio.

Services including radiology, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, and pathology are all available in the onsite Medical Centres along with a number of doctor consulting suites, and a pharmacy is available in the hospital itself. The facility is virtually a one stop shop for many patients.

Free wifi and Foxtel are now available for all patients.

We look forward to seeing you and providing the best service and care possible.

175 CHISHOLM ROAD, EAST MAITLAND NSW 2323 PHONE: 02 4933 8400

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Page 4: The Hunter Post - 1 April

Emily LloydDayna Tonks Jack Anderson

K urri Kurri High School helped kick of the annual Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival in style on Friday by host-

ing a lavish high tea event at the school. Hospitality students served up tea and

an array of tiny sweet morsels, like cakes, scones and biscuits, while music and

dance students entertained diners with renditions of rock and roll classics.

The highlight of the event was a fashion parade, featuring garments from Cess-nock retailer Elsie George Boutique and MisKonduct Klothing at Tighes Hill.

Students who took part in the fashion show were given some primping and posing advice by Miss Pinup Australia contestants.

Community

The finest fashion from yesteryear at Kurri Kurri

AMELIA PARROTT @amelia_parrott

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Page 5: The Hunter Post - 1 April

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Chloe Musgrave Britney Porter Chloe Myers Kevin Cook

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Page 6: The Hunter Post - 1 April

Easter is a reminder of our need for compassion and love to those who may be suffering

Easter church messages - Anglican

G ood Friday may not be so good for some people. In a city that has considered the recent election of

leaders, a crucified leader may not be so good for the electorate or for confidence among their followers.

Yet the Good Friday story tells us that true leadership bears witness to suffering and often bears suffering.

The Australian of the Year Rosie Batty’s leadership reminds us that the trauma of violence in families has been borne by many people who have lost much, but their lives continue to speak to us about the changes that are needed if we are to have safe communities.

Domestic violence is not at all domestic in scale, for it tears down lives and under-mines our social and spiritual fabric. We need to heed the voices of those who suffer and be prepared to seek lasting change among us. As Jesus was crucified outside the city, in our time we cannot hide from the knowledge of violence within the walls of our communities and homes.

On the first Good Friday Christ bore witness to suffering and to love for all

people even for those who walked away from that cross. Such compassion and love by Christ may be seen as weak to the powers that rule.

Michael Leunig wrote, “He found God. God spoke to him. God lay bleeding on the ground. ‘You’re not God’, said the man, ‘God is all powerful’. ‘I am all vulner-able,’ said God. ‘I am in pain. I am at your mercy.’” These words were so unbearable to the man, so infuriating, that he finished God off, right there and then.

A similar voice is heard in the gospel story, “He saved others, he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the king of Israel come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” As if to say ‘how can the real messiah be on a cross?’ This mock-ing disbelief in the Son of God because he is a suffering person tells us much about the human inclination to be blind and deaf to those on the margins of power who often bear suffering.

And as we watch so much suffering on our TVs or through social media, we become accustomed to be observers and less responsive to pleas for help. May Christ save us from our inhumanity to those we lock up, not wanting to know their stories and instead offering the cold face that says “they brought it on themselves”.

In the Good Friday story, the Centurion standing at Calvary says as a counter to other voices; “Truly this man was the Son of God.” He was naming Christ as the Son of God, because he chose to bear the world’s pain with love. Christ’s cross, his kingly act, confronted sin, pain and death, once for all and answered it with love. This ought to change the way we look upon the suffering of others and how we respond.

When we recognise the Son of God in the broken and crushed people of the world, the form of the wounded Christ, we recog-nise the strange and demanding nature of the gospel’s call to mercy and justice; to wrap ourselves with Christ’s towel and to wash his feet, those bloody, wounded, exhausted feet in our home, community and nation. Whether this is undertaken in women’s shelters, detention centres, homeless services or community centres, each of us are called to turn to those who need our help not away from them. In this we may see Christ among us.

May your Good Friday be a time to acknowledge the suffering that others may bear at this time around the world or nearest us. May we respond in hearing the voices of the hurting with the Resur-rection love of Christ in new steps towards help and healing in our communities.

A time for consideration of others

Bishop Greg Thompson

BISHOP GREG THOMPSONANGLICAN BISHOP OF NEWCASTLE

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Page 7: The Hunter Post - 1 April

Easter is the source of Christian hope.

The very first Christians were those whose lives were changed by their experience, first, of seeing Jesus Christ cruelly put to death and then, soon afterwards, of meeting him alive again, risen from the dead.

The next group of Christians were those who believed that unlikely story because they could see how the apostles had been changed, how meeting Christ alive from the dead had filled them with hope and joy.

The hope that Christians have can, of course, be parodied and trivialised.

It can be dismissed as ‘pie in the sky when I die’, the simple childish belief that, if I am very, very good I will one day go to heaven.

But Easter is about much more than that. It is profoundly about how meet-ing Christ transforms our lives now.

Knowing that God raised Jesus from the dead, is knowing that Jesus was right to put his trust in a good and loving God.

It is knowing that Jesus was right to believe that the least important and most abandoned human beings were still sons and daughters who mattered to God and had a great destiny.

It is knowing that history, life, God, are ultimately on the side of goodness and truth, not power and fate.

People who believe those things live in this world in new and different ways.

They don’t sit around waiting to go to heaven; they see how Christ’s life mattered, how what happens in this world, in our lives, really does matter.

They are world changers, not disen-gaged observers, waiting for the next life.

Of course, Christ rose from the dead very long ago.

We can’t meet the people who saw him alive, we can’t feel how utterly their lives were changed by that experience.

We can and do, however, still meet people filled with joy and hope by their own meeting with Jesus alive today.

Their experience is more like that of St Paul who never knew Jesus but, to his great surprise, had an overwhelm-ing experience of being suddenly in his presence, suddenly hearing him speak to his heart, though those around

him saw and heard nothing. There are “St Pauls” in every age, people who encounter Jesus alive and with them, albeit in ways that are very hard to explain or describe.

Pope Francis has written about how ‘the joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus’.

He invites people everywhere to ‘a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them’.

‘The Lord does not disappoint’, he writes.

‘Whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realise that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.’

I wish everyone a Happy Easter. I mean by that, of course, much more than a day’s celebration or a pleasant long weekend.

I pray that all those who are short of hope and joy will be transformed by meeting Jesus alive, possibly this Easter.

May you be, ever afterwards, more alive yourself, more filled with hope and faith and love every day of your life.

That is what the Easter experience does.

Easter is about how meeting Christ and placing your trust in Him can transform your life here and now

Easter church messages - Catholic

Opportunity to discover hope and joy

Bishop Bill Wright

BISHOP BILL WRIGHTCATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE

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Page 8: The Hunter Post - 1 April

Rally draws 300 people to raise awareness of issues concerning Indigenous Australians

Community

Show of support for Aboriginal pride

Demonstrators gather in Newcastle’s Civic Park last week to stand up for Aboriginal Australia

AMELIA PARROTT @amelia_parrott

B lack and white Australia stood united in Civic Park last week, call-ing for an end to what some have

called modern genocide currently taking place in Aboriginal communities across the country.

About 300 people attended the emotion-ally-charged gathering, which was held off the back of comments made by Prime Minister Tony Abbott earlier this month that Aboriginal people made a “lifestyle choice” to live in remote communities.

Mr Abbott made the statement in support of the West Australian Government’s plan to close 150 remote communities.

Speaking at Wednesday morning’s rally in Newcastle, Mick Young said Aboriginal-ity was not a choice. “It’s not a lifestyle choice to be Aboriginal,” he said.

“It’s who you are. It’s in your blood.”But rally organiser Brian Dowd said the

event was about more than Mr Abbott’s recent gaffe.

He said the Aboriginal youth suicide rate being among the highest in the world, life expectancy in some Aboriginal commu-nities being as low as 40 years, and the alarmingly high numbers of Aboriginal

people in custody were serious causes for concern, not just for Indigenous Austral-ians, but for all Australians.

“Their trying to destroy our communi-ties and culture,” he said of the WA Government’s plans.

“They want us in larger towns and cities living and working under Western values even though reports show we’re

much healthier and happier living on the land.”

Mr Dowd accused the WA Government of shutting down Aboriginal communities in order to free up mineral rich land.

“Those countries are rich not in minerals but in culture,” Mr Dowd said.

The rally was followed by a march to the foreshore, where a healing circle took place.

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LIMITED STOCK IF WE SELL OUT . . . YOU MISS OUT!

WW16023

Page 9: The Hunter Post - 1 April

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WW16470

Page 10: The Hunter Post - 1 April

T his weekend many families and friends will come together to celebrate Easter.

As much as I look forward to the chocolate eggs as the next person, it also carries an important religious significance for many in our community and around the world.

So whatever way in which you plan to celebrate this weekend, I hope it is fulfill-ing, spent with close family and friends, and free of chocolate remorse on Easter Monday. I wish everyone a safe and happy Easter.

Easter also coincides with the start of the April school holidays, when many of us pack up the family car and enjoy a family trip. This is a busy time on our local and national roads, so if you do have plans to travel, please drive safely and take regular breaks.

Remember, double demerits apply form this Thursday 2 through to Monday 6 April.

If you are staying home over the school holiday break there are lots of things for kids to do with holiday programs running at the Maitland City Library, Maitland Gaol and Maitland Regional Art Gallery.

Maitland City Library’s Holiday Fun program features the chance for kids

to discover heroes, both real and make believe. Kids will get to meet a real life firefighter when the fire brigade visits East Maitland and Maitland Libraries, then they can use their imagination to create their own superhero, costume and villains.

Bookings are essential and can be made by visiting maitland.nsw.gov.au/library

Maitland Gaol is always popular during the school holidays with a range of tours available that take visitors behind the walls and into the cells of this historic maximum security facility.

Hear from an ex-inmate about what life was really like behind bars or from an ex-warder about what it was like to look after the prisoners and the many escape attempts. Tours are run regularly, visit maitlandgaol.com.au for more information and to book a tour.

Beginning in the second week of school holidays is Maitland Regional Art Gallery’s program which includes something for kids aged form 0 to 15 years.

Get creative with your children and let their imaginations run wild as they have fun experimenting with different materi-als. Bookings are essential and for the full list of activities visit mrag.org.au

Plenty on offer over Easter and the school holiday period

maitland mattersCR PETER BLACKMORE Maitland City Council Mayor

all council matters: maitland.nsw.gov.au

U nmanned drones will soon be put to use in the Hunter Valley, protecting sheep from wild

dogs. Next month, University of Newcastle

alumni Dr Chris Renton and Ilche Vojdanoski will begin trials of their new HiveUAV drone technology.

The system, which has potential uses in the agriculture, construction, mining and media sectors, automates the way unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, operate, keeping the monitoring devices in the air longer.

“Drones can usually only fly for 20 minutes because of battery life,” Mr Vojdanoski said.

“And you have to manually operate them to take off, land and then get the imagery off the card and process it.

“We thought, there’s got to be a better way.

“Why not automate the whole process and operate it from your iPad or computer?”

Making use of the National Broad-band Network, HiveUAV, uses one-square-metre mobile “hives” that carry multiple pre-programmed drones that can be launched via the internet.

Using the system, firefighters manag-ing bushfires, police managing a high-way crash, or farmers tracking pests, could gather continuous data, as one drone seamlessly takes over when the other needs to recharge.

Dr Renton and Mr Vojdanoski have secured support from Slingshot’s Jumpstart start-up program and will be undertaking trials of HiveUAV with emergency services, and businesses involved in agriculture, construction and mining throughout 2015.

Community

Game of drones unveiled to keep sheep safe in the Hunter

HiveUAV founders Dr Chris Renton and Ilche Vojdanoski will be testing their new drone technology in the Hunter Valley next month

AMELIA PARROTT @amelia_parrott

A nytime Fitness Rutherford know the importance of making sure you feel something better.

They want to spread the holiday cheer this Easter by donating Easter eggs to the local Children’s wards at Maitland Hospital.

Club Manager Rachel Daly said that they are aiming to collect a total of 100 eggs, and are encouraging all their members to donate an Easter egg this month.

“Members of the local community who aren’t already a member are invited to contribute as well and donate an Easter egg in exchange for a 10-day free start. It’s a great way to involve the entire community and also allow people to come in and experience our club,” Ms Daly said.

“Holidays can be lonely when you aren’t at home with your friends and family, especially for children. We want the children in our community to know that we’re thinking of them and try and brighten up their day,” says Rachel Daly. It is a fantastic local initiative and a great way to be involved with the wider community.

Anytime Fitness are the number one health and fitness club in Australia. With over 390 clubs open, all throughout the country. The key to their success is convenience and accessibility.

When you join one club, your 24/7 access key gains you access to any club world-wide, so you can work out at the time that

best suits you. They offer members world class facilities and state of the art equip-ment, which includes cardio and strength training, group fitness options and an online health portal.

“As a local gym it’s important for us that we contribute to our local community. We’ll have the basket on display in the club, so it is really easy for members to donate.

“Best of all it’s for a good cause.” For more information on Anytime

Fitness Rutherford and to find out how you can get involved, visit www.anytimefitness.com.au/gyms/AU-1049/rutherford-nsw-2320 or phone 4931 9785

Community

Easter egg donations needed at Anytime Fitness Rutherford

Anytime Fitness Rutherford club manager Rachel Daly

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David Evans General Manager 285–287 High Street, PO Box 220 Maitland NSW 2320t 02 4934 9700 [email protected]

Agendas are available from our website or by contacting customer service. For information on development applications please visit our website – maitland.nsw.gov.au

PUBLIC NOTICEEASTER 2015 ARRANGEMENTSCouncil operating hours and services will be changed during the forthcoming Easter period. The following arrangements will apply during that period

Closes 5.00pm on Thursday, 2 April and will reopen on Tuesday, 7 April.

Rutherford and Thornton close at 5.00pm and Maitland and East Maitland Libraries close at 7.00pm on Thursday, 2 April and all will reopen Tuesday, 7 April.

Closed Good Friday only. Closes 5.00pm on Thursday 2 April. Open

Saturday, 4 April 10.00am to 5.00pm. Open Sunday, 5 April 10.00am to 5.00pm. Closed Monday, 6 April and will reopen 10.00am on Tuesday, 7 April.

Closed Good Friday only.Maitland and East Maitland Pools: Closed Good Friday. Open

Saturday, 4 April, 7.00am to 4.00pm; Sunday, 5 April 11.00am to 4.00pm; Monday, 6 April 11.00am to 4.00pm.

Closed Good Friday only.Closes 3.30pm on Thursday, 2 April and will reopen on

Tuesday, 7 April.Please note that Garbage Collection times may vary so please place your bin out the night before.

Interested residents are welcome to attend.Next meeting: 14 | 28 APRIL – 5.30pm

WW16566

Page 11: The Hunter Post - 1 April

SD & L RUBBISH REMOVALALL RUBBISH

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with us!TRADIE IN NEED OF WORK?ADVERTISE YOUR TRADE OR SERVICE WITH US!Our Trades and Services section is the most comprehensive weekly guide available in the Hunter region.Some of your sections include• Carpentry• Concreting

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STONEMASON Could your yard do with some

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Page 12: The Hunter Post - 1 April

For your convenience

We accept!

Advertise Here Ph: Gary 4032 8151

WW12719

LAWN MOWING & CLEANUP GARAGES. PensionerDiscounts.Ph: (02) 4971 6172 or0412663339

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STAPLES TransportRefer to Trades & Services.P h : 4 9 5 7 7 6 9 5

REMOVALISTCALL JOHN ATACQUIRE PEST

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All types of pest controlincluding termite work.

PUBLIC NOTICES

WW16569

NOTICE BOARD

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CHRIST ISONLY WAY TOLIVE FOREVER

ENQUIREHunter Valley Christians,East Maitland, Bruce St

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0401 516 287

KNITTING & CROCHETCLASSES Ph: 49297255 or49575501

QUINTREX DART BOATAluminium run-about. 25horse-power engine. $5,500ono.Ph: 4965 7548

PUBLIC NOTICESLARGE CAMPHOR BOX.$100.Ph: 4965 7548

TRAINING COURSES& CLASSES

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Allergies, Hayfever Food IntoleranceSneezing, infl amed itchy skin, dermatitis,

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SUNDAY 5 APRIL

EasterMarkets

Open Easter Sunday!

• FREE face painting

• FREE Easter eggs

& colouring competition

WW16587

PUBLIC NOTICESNOTICE BOARD NOTICE BOARDFOR SALE

Page 13: The Hunter Post - 1 April

Sport the hunter post // www.thehunterpost.com.au

Wednesday 1 April 2015

A strong start spurred on by a big home crowd has the Knights flying high undefeated on top of the NRL after knocking over the Penrith Panthers

26-14 on Saturday afternoon.More than 20,000 people were on hand at

Hunter Stadium to see the Knights skip out to an 18-0 lead after just 18 minutes.

The win was more convincing than the final score indicated with Penrith scoring twice in

the final 15 minutes when the game was all but gone.

While obviously extremely pleased to de-feat one of the competition heavyweights, Knights coach Rick Stone said the latter stag-es of the match “didn’t look pretty”.

“There were plenty of tired bodies out there,” Stone said.

“I think there was plenty of will at the end of the game, we didn’t manage the last little bit as good as we would have liked.

“The effort, the scramble and the despera-tion was there for everyone to see, and that’s really important for us.”

As is now usual at Hunter Stadium, both lower grades were played on Saturday with the Knights’ Holden Cup under 20s team re-cording a comfortable 34-8 win over the tra-ditionally strong Panthers.

In the NSW Cup, a penalty goal after the fulltime siren gave Newcastle an 18-16 vic-tory over the defending premiers Penrith.

Knights interchange player Danny Kerr attempted a field goal which was charged down by a Panthers defender with the ball ending up in the hands of one of his team-mates who was penalised for being in front of him.

Chad Redman took the easy shot at goal to win the match.

The Knights are back at Hunter Stadium this weekend when they take on the St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday night at 7.30pm.

The Dragons have found form of late with victories over Canberra and Manly after at-tracting plenty of criticism for their attack, or lack thereof, in two losses to begin the sea-son.

The NSW Cup side will head to Wollongong to take on the Illawarra Cutters at 3pm on Saturday at Ziems Park, Corrimal.

Knights fans out in forceA crowd of more than 20,000 packed into Hunter Stadium to see the Knights record their fourth win from as many matches this season. Photo: Courtesy of Newcastle Knights

PAUL MONFORTE

It was a familiar story for the Newcastle Jets in the 1-0 loss to Adelaide United on Sunday afternoon - plenty of chances cre-ated but with nothing to show for it.

Adelaide took the lead in the 28th minute when Sergio Cirio’s shot rebounded off Jets goalkeeper Ben Kennedy for Marcelo Carr-usca to finish.

The statistics showed Newcastle had 14 shots on goal, ten of them from inside the box, but were unable to find an equaliser.

Adelaide’s Nigel Boogaard, who will join the Jets next season, was taken from the field in the 77th minute after landing awkwardly on his head.

The visitors played out the remaining min-utes with only ten men having already used their three substitutions.

The Jets will be in action at Hunter Stadium again on Easter Monday against Perth Glory with kick-off at 5pm.

Perth head into the match full of confidence after a 3-2 win over the Western Sydney Wan-derers, their first victory since January 2.

A-League ladder (after round 23): Wel-

lington Phoenix 42pts (+13), *Melbourne Victory 41pts (+19), Sydney FC 41pts (+13), Perth Glory 41 (+8), Adelaide United 40pts (+13), Melbourne City 33pts (0), *Brisbane

Roar 25pts (-6), Central Coast Mariners 20pts (-17), Western Sydney Wanderers 14pts (-14), Newcastle Jets 14pts (-29). * denotes game in hand.

Jets gallant again butback of the net again proves hard to fi nd

The Jets fought hard against Adelaide United but were unable to score a goal. Photo: Courtesy of Newcastle Jets