Recent News

THE saying ‘may you live in interesting times’ is certainly true right now as we all adapt to a new world, but there are always some comforting constants and through this time the nature of a small community remains. I’ve always been passionate about the importance of small regional towns having local news and we’ve […]

THE Premier of New South Wales has announced $140 million for primary industry in New South Wales and the Deputy Premier John Barilaro flagged the NRL playing in regional areas of the state. Premier Gladys Berejiklian did not clarify if the money to regional New South Wales would be in the form of loans and […]

AT approximately 6pm last night the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to care for a 15 year old Merriwa girl who had been kicked in the face by a horse. NSW Paramedics treated the girl at a property in Merriwa, before transporting her to the Denman sports field to meet the Westpac’s critical care medical […]

BRAD Hazard, NSW Minister for Health confirmed a 58 year old woman has died in Tamworth Hospital from Covid-19, with the source of her infection still being investigated. The woman was one of two patients to die in New South Wales in the last 24 hours, the other was an 83 year old man from […]

THE Upper Hunter Shire Council has again issued a warning to residents in between the Kelly St and Mount St intersection, to the Bill Rose Sports Complex, Scone not to light any fires or have any potential ignition sources in the open, as they managed a fuel leak which was detected on Thursday afternoon (HAZMAT […]

THE Upper Hunter Shire Council has announced Scone Golf Course will reopen, with some restrictions and other local non-contact sports may soon follow.  While golf has not been banned during the pandemic and many golf courses throughout the state have remained opened, Council had closed the Scone Golf Course. The Council has undertaken a risk […]

UPPER Hunter Shire Council has issued a warning to residents between the Kelly Street and Mount Street intersection to the Bill Rose Sports Complex in Scone, not to have any fires or naked flames in the open, as a fuel spill is managed. Council said residents have been initially advised by staff conducting door knocking […]

TODAY staff at the Scott Memorial Hospital in Scone began a drive through Covid-19 test clinic and are calling on all resident who have experienced any symptoms to be tested. The criteria for testing has expanded from only people who have been overseas or in contact with a know case to broader testing of anyone […]

PETROL detected yesterday at Scone’s sewerage treatment plant has been confirmed as coming from the BP service station at the intersection of Guernsey Street in Scone. NSW Fire and Rescue are coordinating flushing the lines and a truck is on the way to decamp the tank. Atmospheric testing is being conducted along the sewerage line. […]

DR Kerry Chant, chief medical officer for New South Wales has said a study on school children has indicated they are not driving the infection. “The study suggests children are getting infected, but their not driving the infection from children to children, it’s more around adults infecting children and adults passing it on from adult […]

THIS morning Premier Gladys Berejiklian said while they are planning for more face to face teaching in term two, it does not mean school will return to normal and a roster system is being considered. In New South Wales, the first two weeks of term two will be the same as the final weeks of […]

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison said Australian data showed we are managing to suppress the virus but restrictions will remain in place for the next four weeks while testing capabilities were mobilised. “Let’s look to the experience of what’s happened overseas, if you too quickly too early then you end up making the situation even worse […]

FIRE crews have traced fuel found at the Scone sewerage treatment plant through the main sewer line and are now investigating if the spill has come from the BP Service Station at the intersection of Guernsey Street on the New England Highway. The BP Service Station will close operations while the possible source of the […]

AT approximately 1:15pm there was a 000 call to report a “strong smell of petrol” from the Scone sewerage treatment plant. UPDATE: Fire Crews Investigating BP As Fuel Spill Source. NSW Fire and Rescue crews from Scone and Rutherford are currently on site, with another two crews from HAZMAT in Newcastle and the duty commander […]

SCONE is being represented proudly on the Facebook page Bin Isolation Outing which has more than 840,000 members and given people from around the world a much needed laugh during isolation. Danielle Askew, from Harvey Bay in Queensland opened the page on March 28 to post a photo of her and her friend taking out […]

TESTING for Covid-19 is expanding and the Premier has called on people who are vulnerable or work with vulnerable people to come forward for testing, no matter how mild the symptoms. “New South Wales has one of the highest rates in the world (of testing) which is why we’ve been able to contain the spread […]

HAVING the influenza vaccine this year is more important than ever to protect the community and take the pressure off the local health system, explained Dr Richard Abbott from Scone Medical Practice. “The vaccine prevents you from getting the main strains of flu for the flu season,” said Dr Abbott. “As people are now well […]

THE Premier reported there have only been 16 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed in the past 24 hours but cautioned there were only 1,300 tests conducted. The government is aiming to get back to testing 4,500 per day and strongly encourage people in suburbs where community transmission is being identified to be tested no matter […]

THERE is conflicting advice about the distance to keep from people being 1.5 metres or 2 metres. Elizabeth Flaherty, editor of Scone.com.au sat down with Steve Davis, who was a doctor in the Australian Defence Force for 28 years, was responsible for health planning including pandemic planning, to explain what is the right distance to […]

HUNTER New England Health have confirmed there are 276 of Covid-19 in the local health district. Of those cases, six patients are being cared for in local hospitals, two patients are in intensive care and 21 people are being cared for through hospital in the home. Dr David Durrheim, public health physician with HNEH said […]

A recent study in China found cats could contract the coronavirus, so what does that mean for pet owners? Dr Dani Muscat from Scone Pet Medical said the study is no cause for concern for cat owners and pet owners can continue to be with their cats. “I think originally you have to consider that […]

GOOD Friday was especially good in the Upper Hunter with some rainfall, but the Bureau of Meteorology does not see further rain on the horizon this week. (Read: Rainfall on Friday) There will be a steady ridge bringing cool mornings, light winds and clear skies. It will be warmer on Wednesday ahead of a cold […]

THE Bureau of Meteorology recorded the following recent rainfalls in the Upper Hunter: Rainfalls before 9am on Saturday: Aberdeen: 1.6mm Merriwa:  14.2m Murrurundi: Friday 3.6mm and 18.8mm Scone: 25mm Merriwa also recorded 23.2mm by 9am on Friday. Unfortunately, the Bureau could not access rainfall data for Moonan or Ellerston areas, but if you have a rain […]

THE number of new cases in New South Wales continues to decline, with only seven new cases in the last 24 hours, but the Premier cautioned testing was down during Easter and her most significant concern remains the community to community transmission. “Everyday people say to me every morning you must be pleased with the […]

WHILE the Easter Bunny has been given the green light to visit everyone one on his list, astounding new research has found the Easter Bunny is not only immune to the virus, but his fur retards the virus and he poses no risk of cross-contamination between houses. Dr Dani Muscat veterinarian with Pet Medical, said […]

THE first virtual meeting of the Upper Hunter Shire Council meeting was held last night, with Councillors, staff and the public logging on with Zoom. Unusually, the Merriwa Service Station proposal which was refused by Council in February, was back on the table due to Council not properly adhering to meeting process during the meeting. […]

NEW legislation has been introduced to protect frontline workers who are being abused, intimidated, threatened and assaulted. People can be issued an on the spot $5,000 fine and may be given a court attendance notice where they may incur an $11,000 fine and six months gaol. Editorial note: Local frontline workers have shared with us […]

THE Upper Hunter Shire Council has submitted a list of local projects in an application for $1million in funding from the federal government’s Drought Community Program. There were 45 projects put forward and after community consultation the following nine projects were put forward: Murrurundi Rosedale canteen upgrade: $250,000 Merriwa Pool barbecue area: $20,000 Aberdeen river […]

SCONEITES are called to help track the flu and covid-19 this year as part of this year’s flutracking program. Researchers want to encourage more people living in regional areas to be part of their analysis and local doctors agree the data can paint a valuable picture for communities. For you and your family to help […]

THE Premier faced many questions from the media this morning on why Minister Don Harwin had been staying at Pearl Beach for three weeks and not at his home in Sydney. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Minister Harwin had told her he had gone to Pearl Beach three weeks ago prior to the rules being changed […]

ST Mary’s school teachers have spent the last two afternoons in a car convoy driving by all of the students homes to view their Easter Hats and throw out some Easter cheer in the form of chocolate. They have travelled to all ends of the Shire driving past each home and this afternoon after driving […]

THE Prime Minister addressed Parliament this morning reporting on the government’s progress with managing the coronavirus as the national death toll reaches 50, currently 5,956 Australians are infected and 2,547 have recovered. “Together we have established the key baseline supports and measures that have brought us much needed time during this crisis to get us […]

PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has said the isolation measures are working as new cases of coronavirus have declined, but warned relaxing restrictions was a risk to lives. The Premier said the current restrictions would be reviewed on a monthly basis and weighed carefully. “Every time you relax a restriction more people will get sick and more […]

FROM tomorrow only 100 customers will be allowed into the supermarket at any one time, to ensure the staff and customers can observe social distancing and reduce the risk of infection for everyone.  See below for opening times during Easter. While the local supermarket is often where we bump into people we have been meaning […]

INSPECTOR Jo Schultz, from Hunter Valley Local Area Command said police are encouraging people to really think about how they can reduce the risk of the spread of the virus and stressed the importance of parents talking to their children about staying at home. “We really want to encourage parents to have a conversation with […]