News Just In

If you’d like your event listed in What’s On, please send the information to: news@scone.com.au. Friday, October 18 Scone Films Presents: The Keeper What: Based on an incredible true story, The Keeper follows Bert Trautmann (David Kross, The Reader), a German prisoner of war sent to Northern England at the end of WWII, who went […]

INGLIS has issued a statement following the ABC’s 7:30 Report The Dark Side of the Racing Industry, calling for an immediate investigation into abattoirs. Mark Webster, managing director of Inglis said he condemns the alleged action of animal mistreatment and said the following: The alleged vision shown was appalling and the abattoirs involved need to […]

THE Civil Aviation Safety Authority has today confirmed there are no current or outstanding safety issues for the Scone airport, further adding there has been “no recent contact between CASA and the Aerodrome operator.” The clarification was sought following a statement from the general manager of Upper Hunter Shire Council, published yesterday: CASA will not […]

WHILE the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has confirmed Scone airport will not be forced to close if it does not meet new regulations being introduced in August next year, if the airport operates as an uncertified airport, instrument flight procedures would need to be cancelled. Initial advice from a local aviation operator was the cancellation […]

THE Upper Hunter Shire Council has claimed if they do not make urgent upgrades to the Scone Airport to comply with legislation being introduced in August next year, the airport will close, however the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has confirmed this is not the case. As recently as this week, the General Manager of Council […]

Dear Editor, It is broken and we do need to fix it. Council is committed to saving the Upper Hunter’s only regional airport. It has been operating for over 60 years and Scone Regional Airport could still be operating in another 60 years. But if we fail to act now, it will not be licensed […]

AT the September Council meeting Cr Sue Abbott asked a question about any conflict of interest with the airport sub-committee and proposed redevelopment of Scone airport, which was met with indignation by Mayor Wayne Bedggood who exclaimed he was “personally affronted” by the simple question. Cr Abbott explained it was a question she had been […]

THERE have been more than 130 joeys born at the Aussie Ark this breeding season, marking the most successful season since the Ark opened in 2011. Tim Faulkner, president of the Aussie Ark, said the team is over the moon with the bumper year of parma wallabies, Tasmanian devils, eastern quolls and bettongs, which will […]

By Graham Turvey Twenty-five Vets gathered at Denman Golf Club on a delightful day for their stableford event. The course was relishing the good fall of rain last weekend. Ross Banks made it two wins in a row when he recorded an eagle and four birdies for 39 points, on a count-back from Gary Ashmead […]

Dear Editor, I have read and listened to the “spin” being generated by the Upper hunter Shire Council in their endeavour to justify their decisions to spend $26million at the Scone Airport. I am very concerned with the decision-making process including the so-called justifications and business rationale on which decisions have been made. I provide […]

THE Scottish left an indelible mark on the Upper Hunter, with many of the earliest white settlers naming townships and properties in honour of their birthplace and on Saturday the organisers of the Aberdeen Highland Games officially unveiled a cairn to commemorate the Scottish connection. Read more…

By Ross Banks THERE was 13 ml of welcome rain which fell late on Friday, October 11 at Scone. The golf course will benefit greatly from the natural watering. The Saturday golfers needed to be wary of where they travelled and the shoe cleaning mats were out. A field of 35 played an 18 Hole […]

YESTERDAY, Bill and Sarah Howey opened their garden at Geraldton, one of Scone’s oldest homes, drawing more than 100 people to raise money for Scone’s Australian Decorative Fine Arts Society (ADFAS). See photos of the garden below… Sarah Howey, said they were surprised how many people came to the open day and they enjoyed having […]

UNFORTUNATELY the Bureau of Meteorology is not predicting further rain, but a cool change moving through on Wednesday night, could bring a 20 percent chance of a shower. There will be light winds today, warming up Tuesday and Wednesday reaching 35 degrees. With the change coming through it will create westerly winds on Thursday creating […]

RAIN clouds moved through the Upper Hunter yesterday afternoon and actually delivered some rain! Aberdeen also had some light hail. The Bureau of Meteorology recorded the following: Aberdeen: 12ml Blandford: 18ml Bunnan: 17ml Cassilis: 4ml Merriwa: 5ml Moonan: 17ml Murrurundi: 25ml Scone: 13ml

If you’d like your event listed in What’s On, please send the information to: news@scone.com.au. Saturday, October 12 Scone Park Run What: A free park run each Saturday at the Bill Rose Complex. More information: Community Calendar. Sunday, October 13 Geraldton Open Day What: Bill and Sarah Howey are opening Geraldton, one of the oldest […]

UPPER Hunter Shire Council are offering residents who don’t have kerbside waste collection a Waste Disposal Tciket, to save money when they go to the tip. There are three different books of tickets: $500 Maxi – 52 car or waste bin loads and 2 trailer loads (save up to $420) $300 Medium – 26 car […]

SCONE has a new gold medalist in Cassie Fisher, who arrived home to Scone today with a gold and silver medal after representing Australia at the International Special Needs Taekwondo Games in New Zealand. Cassie was proud to talk about her medals, but even more enthused to talk about all the friends she met at […]

THE Department of Primary Industries is scouting for four young farmers to join its Young Farmer Business Program Advisory Committee. Brett Fifield, deputy director general of engagement and industry at the DPI, said they hope the views of young farmers will give fresh insights into emerging issues and industry trends.  “The program aims to improve […]

PEOPLE from throughout the state are booking early to be in Scone and hear from Christos Tsiolkas, well known Australian author of “The Slap”, which was made into an ABC TV series.  Janie Jordan, president of the Scone Literary Festival, said they were excited by the interest in this year’s Patrick White Oration. “The Oration […]

THERE is chronic shortage of rental accommodation throughout the Upper Hunter Shire area and the average waiting time for social housing is a up to two years at best and more than 10 years in some towns.  See the latest data below. Today, to mark World Homelessness Day, St Vincent de Paul, is urging residents […]

ANTHRAX can lie dormant in the soil for decades, the last confirmed case was in February and the Department of Primary Industries is urging farmers across the state to vaccinate their cattle and sheep annually. Dr Graham Bailey, senior veterinary officer for the DPI said it is an unpredictable disease which can kill stock of […]

By Graham Turvey The Vets say “thank you” to treasurer Bob Minch for shouting the prizes when 25 Vets played a stableford event at Scone Golf Club on Tuesday, October 8. Local Ross Banks did best with 38 points on a C/B from Jock O’Connor 2nd C/B 38, Graham Turvey 3rd 38, Peter Leehy 4th […]

By Lyn Banks On Saturday, October 5 at Scone Golf Course an 18 Hole Stroke event for the Scone RSL Group Monthly Mug and Scone Golf Club trophies was played. In the morning the conditions were overcast, but the afternoon players had it warm and windy. The field was a little hindered by the long […]

THE Westpac Rescue Helicopter had two calls to Merriwa during the long weekend. On Saturday at approximately 11:30am they were called to care for a 60 year old man who had fallen from a horse at Merriwa and suffered head and chest injuries. The man was stabilised on scene by local ambulance before being flown […]

THIS morning the Council’s development and environment committee recommended rejecting the rezoning of land in Phillip Street and to refer the matter back to the NSW Department of Planning.  The residents of Phillip Street and industrial land owners were pleased with the initial recommendation and hope the Council vote to prevent the rezoning at the […]

THE Upper Hunter Shire Council claimed vacant residential blocks in Phillip Street were unsalable, however, one of the four blocks has sold to a young couple who plan to build a home. The Council told NSW Planning the blocks were unusable and undesirable for residential, in complete contradiction to Council’s own Local Environment Plan, which […]

UPPER Hunter Shire Council were considering an application to rezone three residential blocks in Phillip Street, to light industrial, however the goal posts have shifted and on Tuesday Council’s Development and Environment Committee will now consider rezoning to mixed business. Community members who want to speak about the potential rezoning on Tuesday, need to register […]

If you’d like your event listed in What’s On, please send the information to: news@scone.com.au. Friday, October 4 Merriwa Campdraft When: 4pm, Friday, October 4, 2019. Where: Merriwa Showground, Dutton Street, Merriwa. Cost: Free for spectators. More information: Community Calendar Saturday, October 5 Trout Season Opens What: Trout season opens this weekend and despite the […]

TROUT season begins tomorrow and anglers are urged to come on up to the Upper Hunter! There is always plenty to see and do in the Upper Hunter and you can check what is happening each weekend in the What’s On post published each week on scone.com.au. During the drought, what better way to help […]

A six month old Parma wallaby joey is lucky to be alive after being rejected by its mum. Fortunately, the wallaby was found and now calls the Aussie Ark home, where it will be part of a program to keep the threatened species alive. Now it just needs a name, so the Aussie Ark are […]

BILL and Sarah Howey will be opening “Geraldton” to the whole community on Sunday, October 13, to raise money for the local Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society. Geraldton is one of the earliest homes built in Scone, dating back to 1857 when Matthew Miller purchased the land and built the first four bedroom cottage.  […]

THE driver of the car which collided with the rock face on the New England Highway approximately 10 kilometres south of Wingen this morning, has been treated on scene by two ambulance crews and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter from Newcastle. The 26 year old female driver from Scone sustained head and chest injuries and will […]

By Graham Turvey Fifteen Vets played a medal round stableford event at Muswellbrook Golf Club on an ideal day for golf. The installation of the new irrigation system is going well. Six players were away, representing UHVGA at Port Macquarie. President Paul Gorman won with 40 points from Gary Morley 37 C/B 2nd and Terry […]

AT approximately 10:48am local ambulance were called to an accident on the New England Highway, 10 kilometres south of Wingen.  A car has collided with a rock face and a female passenger is being freed from the vehicle. Two ambulance are on scene and to treat the patient and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter is on […]

THERE has been an accident on the New England Highway near Wingen. Initial reports are the accident occurred at approximately 10:55am, near the “bends” and traffic in both directions is affected. We will update when more information is known. Updates: 12pm: Update: Accident Near Wingen. 12:52pm: Scone Driver To Be Flown To Newcastle 1pm: LiveTraffic […]

THE Upper Hunter Shire Council has announced the 18 community groups which have received cultural activity grants ranging from $200 to $1,500. Mayor Wayne Bedggood congratulated the groups awarded for this year and said he hopes more organisations apply for next year’s funding. Groups which were successful this year included: Aberdeen Local Studies Group – […]

AMBULANCE have sent two crews to an accident on the New England Highway in Blandford and confirmed they are treating two patients, one male and one female, for minor injuries. They report a car collided with a horse float, causing no injury to the horse. Ambulance were first called at approximately 3:15pm and the accident […]

TRAFFIC in both directions on the New England Highway is affected, following a crash between two cars, one carrying a horse float. The incident was published in LiveTraffic at 3:24pm, emergency services are on scene and motorists are warned to expect delays. New Story: Update: Accident at Blandford.