Latest news with #NewcastleHerald
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Car flips after crashing into bus, shutting down road in Singleton
Emergency services have been called to the scene of a crash between a car and a bus on a major road in Singleton. A vehicle reportedly flipped on its head after it came into contact with a bus in the town on Friday, May 30 at about 8.40am. The incident occurred along the New England Highway between Kennedy Street and Kelso Street. According to Live Traffic NSW northbound roads remained closed at 9am. Transport for NSW have warned drivers to expect significant delays and to use an alternative route. It is unknown when the road will reopen. Police officers have been directing traffic at the site and westbound motorists have been diverted down Kelso Street. NSW Police said there were no reports of serious injuries at this time. This story is developing and the Newcastle Herald will update it as more details become publicly available. Do you know more? Email news@ Emergency services have been called to the scene of a crash between a car and a bus on a major road in Singleton. A vehicle reportedly flipped on its head after it came into contact with a bus in the town on Friday, May 30 at about 8.40am. The incident occurred along the New England Highway between Kennedy Street and Kelso Street. According to Live Traffic NSW northbound roads remained closed at 9am. Transport for NSW have warned drivers to expect significant delays and to use an alternative route. It is unknown when the road will reopen. Police officers have been directing traffic at the site and westbound motorists have been diverted down Kelso Street. NSW Police said there were no reports of serious injuries at this time. This story is developing and the Newcastle Herald will update it as more details become publicly available. Do you know more? Email news@ Emergency services have been called to the scene of a crash between a car and a bus on a major road in Singleton. A vehicle reportedly flipped on its head after it came into contact with a bus in the town on Friday, May 30 at about 8.40am. The incident occurred along the New England Highway between Kennedy Street and Kelso Street. According to Live Traffic NSW northbound roads remained closed at 9am. Transport for NSW have warned drivers to expect significant delays and to use an alternative route. It is unknown when the road will reopen. Police officers have been directing traffic at the site and westbound motorists have been diverted down Kelso Street. NSW Police said there were no reports of serious injuries at this time. This story is developing and the Newcastle Herald will update it as more details become publicly available. Do you know more? Email news@ Emergency services have been called to the scene of a crash between a car and a bus on a major road in Singleton. A vehicle reportedly flipped on its head after it came into contact with a bus in the town on Friday, May 30 at about 8.40am. The incident occurred along the New England Highway between Kennedy Street and Kelso Street. According to Live Traffic NSW northbound roads remained closed at 9am. Transport for NSW have warned drivers to expect significant delays and to use an alternative route. It is unknown when the road will reopen. Police officers have been directing traffic at the site and westbound motorists have been diverted down Kelso Street. NSW Police said there were no reports of serious injuries at this time. This story is developing and the Newcastle Herald will update it as more details become publicly available. Do you know more? Email news@
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Ticket price of direct Newcastle to Perth spring flights revealed
With direct flights from Newcastle to Perth four months away, the Newcastle Airport has announced a three-day sale on tickets. For 72 hours Novocastrians can book a flight to the West coast starting from $299 one-way. It is understood that the year-round cost of flights would sit around $400 one-way. Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said the airport had been working with their counterparts in Perth for about 12 years and closely for the last five. "If you think about that price and how much it costs you just to get down to Sydney, you're avoiding all of that," Mr Horton said. "It feels like such a long time coming but to be able to say we now have a direct flight to Perth, is a great relief because it is what our region has asked for and now we've got the opportunity of delivering it," he said. On Wednesday, the Newcastle Herald reported QantasLink would offer Perth flights from September 8 and run three times a week on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays with a 150-seat Airbus A319. The five-hour flight was expected to carry 900 passengers a week and 45,000 passengers annually. In the same time period, flights from Sydney to Perth start at around $295 on average with Jetstar offering $259 tickets, Virgin Australia with $229 and Qantas with $399. Mr Horton said their plan was to hopefully expand and grow its Perth flights to potentially more days in the future. "For locals in the Hunter Region it means you can avoid the three-hour down the freeway to Sydney and you can connect if you're working in the resource industry, visiting friends and family, and other businesses and general tourism," Mr Horton. "You can fly through the network, fly to Perth and then go on a plane to Europe," he said. The CEO said tourists, businesses and workers alike would hopefully take advantage of the new flight path. Travellers took to social media to celebrate the new flight route, saying they were excited to be able to visit their family and friends with more ease. While others said they had their eye on a west coast holiday this summer. General manager of Mount Pleasant Wines Adrian Sparks said the new flights would only help the winery industry as well as all tour operators in the region. "Anything that can attract visitors to the Hunter Valley is worth its weight in gold," he said. He said the route would be beneficial as there were some Hunter businesses that also operated wineries in the Margaret River in Western Australia. "The more flights we can get in and out of Newcastle the better," he said. Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the route helped foster the ongoing business connections with Perth. He said partnerships existed across multiple sectors including manufacturing, energy and defence. "I think it is incumbent on the rest of the visitor economy infrastructure that we have here, in and around region to take it from there and hopefully impress people," he said Chair of Newcastle Tourism Industry Group Dominic May said he hoped visitors would come and explore the region and take in the "beautiful" beaches, bays, lakes and vineyards. "I'm really excited for Hunter locals to not only explore Western Australia but to also explore the world and easily connect to Europe," he said. With direct flights from Newcastle to Perth four months away, the Newcastle Airport has announced a three-day sale on tickets. For 72 hours Novocastrians can book a flight to the West coast starting from $299 one-way. It is understood that the year-round cost of flights would sit around $400 one-way. Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said the airport had been working with their counterparts in Perth for about 12 years and closely for the last five. "If you think about that price and how much it costs you just to get down to Sydney, you're avoiding all of that," Mr Horton said. "It feels like such a long time coming but to be able to say we now have a direct flight to Perth, is a great relief because it is what our region has asked for and now we've got the opportunity of delivering it," he said. On Wednesday, the Newcastle Herald reported QantasLink would offer Perth flights from September 8 and run three times a week on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays with a 150-seat Airbus A319. The five-hour flight was expected to carry 900 passengers a week and 45,000 passengers annually. In the same time period, flights from Sydney to Perth start at around $295 on average with Jetstar offering $259 tickets, Virgin Australia with $229 and Qantas with $399. Mr Horton said their plan was to hopefully expand and grow its Perth flights to potentially more days in the future. "For locals in the Hunter Region it means you can avoid the three-hour down the freeway to Sydney and you can connect if you're working in the resource industry, visiting friends and family, and other businesses and general tourism," Mr Horton. "You can fly through the network, fly to Perth and then go on a plane to Europe," he said. The CEO said tourists, businesses and workers alike would hopefully take advantage of the new flight path. Travellers took to social media to celebrate the new flight route, saying they were excited to be able to visit their family and friends with more ease. While others said they had their eye on a west coast holiday this summer. General manager of Mount Pleasant Wines Adrian Sparks said the new flights would only help the winery industry as well as all tour operators in the region. "Anything that can attract visitors to the Hunter Valley is worth its weight in gold," he said. He said the route would be beneficial as there were some Hunter businesses that also operated wineries in the Margaret River in Western Australia. "The more flights we can get in and out of Newcastle the better," he said. Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the route helped foster the ongoing business connections with Perth. He said partnerships existed across multiple sectors including manufacturing, energy and defence. "I think it is incumbent on the rest of the visitor economy infrastructure that we have here, in and around region to take it from there and hopefully impress people," he said Chair of Newcastle Tourism Industry Group Dominic May said he hoped visitors would come and explore the region and take in the "beautiful" beaches, bays, lakes and vineyards. "I'm really excited for Hunter locals to not only explore Western Australia but to also explore the world and easily connect to Europe," he said. With direct flights from Newcastle to Perth four months away, the Newcastle Airport has announced a three-day sale on tickets. For 72 hours Novocastrians can book a flight to the West coast starting from $299 one-way. It is understood that the year-round cost of flights would sit around $400 one-way. Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said the airport had been working with their counterparts in Perth for about 12 years and closely for the last five. "If you think about that price and how much it costs you just to get down to Sydney, you're avoiding all of that," Mr Horton said. "It feels like such a long time coming but to be able to say we now have a direct flight to Perth, is a great relief because it is what our region has asked for and now we've got the opportunity of delivering it," he said. On Wednesday, the Newcastle Herald reported QantasLink would offer Perth flights from September 8 and run three times a week on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays with a 150-seat Airbus A319. The five-hour flight was expected to carry 900 passengers a week and 45,000 passengers annually. In the same time period, flights from Sydney to Perth start at around $295 on average with Jetstar offering $259 tickets, Virgin Australia with $229 and Qantas with $399. Mr Horton said their plan was to hopefully expand and grow its Perth flights to potentially more days in the future. "For locals in the Hunter Region it means you can avoid the three-hour down the freeway to Sydney and you can connect if you're working in the resource industry, visiting friends and family, and other businesses and general tourism," Mr Horton. "You can fly through the network, fly to Perth and then go on a plane to Europe," he said. The CEO said tourists, businesses and workers alike would hopefully take advantage of the new flight path. Travellers took to social media to celebrate the new flight route, saying they were excited to be able to visit their family and friends with more ease. While others said they had their eye on a west coast holiday this summer. General manager of Mount Pleasant Wines Adrian Sparks said the new flights would only help the winery industry as well as all tour operators in the region. "Anything that can attract visitors to the Hunter Valley is worth its weight in gold," he said. He said the route would be beneficial as there were some Hunter businesses that also operated wineries in the Margaret River in Western Australia. "The more flights we can get in and out of Newcastle the better," he said. Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the route helped foster the ongoing business connections with Perth. He said partnerships existed across multiple sectors including manufacturing, energy and defence. "I think it is incumbent on the rest of the visitor economy infrastructure that we have here, in and around region to take it from there and hopefully impress people," he said Chair of Newcastle Tourism Industry Group Dominic May said he hoped visitors would come and explore the region and take in the "beautiful" beaches, bays, lakes and vineyards. "I'm really excited for Hunter locals to not only explore Western Australia but to also explore the world and easily connect to Europe," he said. With direct flights from Newcastle to Perth four months away, the Newcastle Airport has announced a three-day sale on tickets. For 72 hours Novocastrians can book a flight to the West coast starting from $299 one-way. It is understood that the year-round cost of flights would sit around $400 one-way. Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said the airport had been working with their counterparts in Perth for about 12 years and closely for the last five. "If you think about that price and how much it costs you just to get down to Sydney, you're avoiding all of that," Mr Horton said. "It feels like such a long time coming but to be able to say we now have a direct flight to Perth, is a great relief because it is what our region has asked for and now we've got the opportunity of delivering it," he said. On Wednesday, the Newcastle Herald reported QantasLink would offer Perth flights from September 8 and run three times a week on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays with a 150-seat Airbus A319. The five-hour flight was expected to carry 900 passengers a week and 45,000 passengers annually. In the same time period, flights from Sydney to Perth start at around $295 on average with Jetstar offering $259 tickets, Virgin Australia with $229 and Qantas with $399. Mr Horton said their plan was to hopefully expand and grow its Perth flights to potentially more days in the future. "For locals in the Hunter Region it means you can avoid the three-hour down the freeway to Sydney and you can connect if you're working in the resource industry, visiting friends and family, and other businesses and general tourism," Mr Horton. "You can fly through the network, fly to Perth and then go on a plane to Europe," he said. The CEO said tourists, businesses and workers alike would hopefully take advantage of the new flight path. Travellers took to social media to celebrate the new flight route, saying they were excited to be able to visit their family and friends with more ease. While others said they had their eye on a west coast holiday this summer. General manager of Mount Pleasant Wines Adrian Sparks said the new flights would only help the winery industry as well as all tour operators in the region. "Anything that can attract visitors to the Hunter Valley is worth its weight in gold," he said. He said the route would be beneficial as there were some Hunter businesses that also operated wineries in the Margaret River in Western Australia. "The more flights we can get in and out of Newcastle the better," he said. Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the route helped foster the ongoing business connections with Perth. He said partnerships existed across multiple sectors including manufacturing, energy and defence. "I think it is incumbent on the rest of the visitor economy infrastructure that we have here, in and around region to take it from there and hopefully impress people," he said Chair of Newcastle Tourism Industry Group Dominic May said he hoped visitors would come and explore the region and take in the "beautiful" beaches, bays, lakes and vineyards. "I'm really excited for Hunter locals to not only explore Western Australia but to also explore the world and easily connect to Europe," he said.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
'Not acceptable': Health Minister to meet hospital management over mould and leaks
The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable. The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment". The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks. "No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National. "I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda." Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community. "It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said. "We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible." Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins. The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further. Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks. The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare has not responded to requests for comment. Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose. Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning. In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services. "We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said. The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable. The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment". The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks. "No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National. "I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda." Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community. "It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said. "We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible." Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins. The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further. Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks. The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare has not responded to requests for comment. Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose. Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning. In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services. "We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said. The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable. The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment". The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks. "No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National. "I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda." Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community. "It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said. "We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible." Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins. The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further. Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks. The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare has not responded to requests for comment. Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose. Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning. In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services. "We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said. The state's health minister will meet with Calvary Mater Hospital management this week, after describing the building's mould outbreak and persistent leaks as unacceptable. The meeting follows the Newcastle Herald's ongoing coverage of the hospital's maintenance mess, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has labelled "appalling" and a "dangerous environment". The hospital is battling a mould outbreak in the air conditioners, including in a ward with immunocompromised patients, while chemotherapy treatments had to be cancelled due to internal flooding caused by severe leaks. "No, it isn't [acceptable] and we are working with that hospital on that issue," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC Radio National. "I'm meeting with the hospital this week with [NSW Health] Secretary Susan Pearce. It will be an issue on top of the agenda." Mr Park, who initially declined to comment when the Newcastle Herald broke the story, said he understood the frustration of the community. "It's very important that we try and get that issue resolved," Mr Park said. "We are working on it with the organisation, and we'll hopefully get that resolved as quickly as possible." Last week the Herald revealed SafeWork NSW inspection in April seemingly missed the leaks, which have become so bad that leaking windows are being patched up with plastic garbage bags and drained into bins. The watchdog stated "enquiries were ongoing" and declined to comment further. Following the Newcastle Herald's questions, SafeWork inspected the hospital's leaks. The lack of action to fix the Mater's long list of issues has brought the hospital's complicated management structure under scrutiny. The Mater is managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) by a consortium called Novacare, which is composed of four companies: Westpac Banking, Abigroup, Honeywell and Medirest. Novacare has not responded to requests for comment. Plenary, who provides Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) management services for Novacare, such as administration and invoicing, also declined to comment. An SPV is a separate legal entity established by a company or group of companies for a specific purpose. Within the Novacare consortium Westpac Banking is the equity investor and financier, Abigroup handles the design and construction contractor, Honeywell looks after infrastructure and maintenance, and Medirest supplies the soft facility management contractors, such as cleaning. In March, the government passed Joe's Law to ban future PPPs for the state's acute hospitals after the death of a toddler at Northern Beaches Hospital. Mr Park has previously stated he does not support PPPs for future acute hospitals. Hunter New England Health (HNEH) provides the Mater's in-patient and clinical services. "We are working closely with both Novacare and Calvary Mater Newcastle to address the current facility management issues and ensure all required standards are met," a HNEH spokesperson said.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
New life planned for Kurt's Coffee House: 'friendly, casual, signature dishes'
THERE are some exciting things happening in Devonshire Street with plans to breathe new life into the former Kurt's Coffee House. Mortgage broker Darby Franklin and operations manager Kris Saunders bought the property after it was passed in at auction last year. "I first noticed it on the internet and then I walked past it," Mr Saunders said. "It looked like a cool building, it has nice character about it." Despite the derelict appearance of the two-level property at 3 Devonshire Street, the pair discovered the building was, for the most part, structurally sound. "We want to keep it pretty much the same out the front, and we want to keep the aesthetic of the building," he said. While the opening might be 12 to 18 months away, the pair have already locked in Matt McFarlane for the project, who formerly ran the popular Carrington haunt Franky's Dumplings & Noodles. The beloved Chinese restaurant closed in March 2024. At the time, owner Mr McFarlane said he'd "run out of puff" after operating the business with his late business partner, Hua "Franky" Fan, since 2018. But it seems this new project in the heart of Newcastle has caught his attention. "It is definitely going to be Franky's style, but it is going to be something new," he told Newcastle Herald. "Friendly, casual, signature dishes with a small menu and live music. We will have to have a picture of Franky on the wall somewhere." Mr Franklin was a regular at the dumpling house and approached Mr McFarlane with a business proposition. "I was flattered," Mr McFarlane said. "It is going to be so much work, but I think it is great. I love what Bernie's are doing and I think it will be great to be part of that community." The building dates back to the early 1900s and operated as Kurt's Coffee Lounge from the 1970s to the 1990s. The first owner, Kurt Piccardi, was a well-known businessman and after whom the cafe was named. The plans for the new restaurant and small bar have been lodged with Newcastle council. They include a dining space downstairs for 20 patrons, a bar, toilets and commercial kitchen. Upstairs will be an open-plan dining area for 48 patrons within the building and a rebuilt balcony with insulated roof sheeting and louvre roof. When looking at a bird's-eye view of the building it is easy to see why the balcony needs to be rebuilt. "I love old buildings," he said. "It is a shell of a building, and we don't want to change it too much, but I really want to use the deck out the back." The property is zoned for mixed-use, and the team hopes the plans for a smaller venue will get the green light from the council. Most people already use apps to share rides, get food deliveries and organise their dating lives, but a service that matches people and businesses with places has recently cracked the Hunter market. Vennu is a platform that lists community assets and matches them with people seeking spaces for all kinds of activities and events. For example, the platform has partnered with Marine Rescue NSW, and one of the newest listings is the Marine Rescue Newcastle meeting rooms, which can be hired by other businesses that require a conference space. It is not just business suites and formal events either, Vennu has a collaboration with Screen NSW and hires out spaces and locations for filming. Glenworth Valley's 3000-acre wilderness Epworth House on the Central Coast is one of the sites listed for hire for film and television The platform is open to people who need venues for workshops, events, meetings, or creative projects. University of Newcastle Emeritus Professor Rick Middleton is now a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. He is internationally renowned for his contributions to electrical engineering, having pioneered work on fundamental limitations in control system design and practical aspects of process control, telecommunications, power electronics and systems biology. Professor Middleton described the appointment as "a great honour" and thanked colleagues and students for creating the "amazing and rich intellectual environment that nurtured and supported my work". President of the Academy, Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC, said the new Fellows of 2025 represented the exceptional breadth and depth of Australian scientific excellence. "Each Fellow has made remarkable contributions in their field, demonstrating the vital role that science plays in addressing our most pressing challenges and expanding human knowledge," he said. With the election of the 26 new Fellows in 2025, the Australian Academy of Science Fellowship now stands at 638. Design lovers and treasure seekers have a new reason to visit the Hunter Valley. It's called The Trove, and it's a homewares and art collective housed at Leaves & Fishes in Lovedale. Blending global aesthetics with local character, The Trove is an ever-evolving collection of homewares, furniture, living plants and original artworks - each piece handpicked for its craftsmanship, story, and ability to transform a space. "We wanted to create a space that celebrates individuality and promotes sustainability," Kristy McGuigan said. She bought Leaves & Fishes with her husband, Aaron, in early 2023. "Every piece has been selected to reflect a sense of discovery and a global perspective, while staying true to the relaxed, earthy essence of Leaves & Fishes and the Hunter Valley." Hunter Valley artist Rebecca Rath's large-scale oil paintings have featured in The Trove's first exhibition, Of Land and Light, including pieces from her My Pokolbin, Hawkesbury and Wollemi series. "These paintings represent pivotal moments in my artistic journey," Ms Rath said. "Bringing them into a space designed for beautiful living feels like the perfect way to share their story." Ms Rath began her artistic journey at Hornsby TAFE in 1992 before completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at UNSW. Her chosen medium is en plein air painting and drawing. "After moving from Sydney to the Hunter Valley over 20 years ago, my work naturally shifted toward painting landscapes," she said. "My practice is grounded in the act of finding, both literally and metaphorically. "I seek out landscapes that evoke stillness, tension, or transition - places where light shifts, seasons change, and the land sits on the edge of development. "These spaces offer both visual inspiration and moments of personal reflection." Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and her solo exhibition, Found, opens at Maitland Regional Art Gallery on June 7. THERE are some exciting things happening in Devonshire Street with plans to breathe new life into the former Kurt's Coffee House. Mortgage broker Darby Franklin and operations manager Kris Saunders bought the property after it was passed in at auction last year. "I first noticed it on the internet and then I walked past it," Mr Saunders said. "It looked like a cool building, it has nice character about it." Despite the derelict appearance of the two-level property at 3 Devonshire Street, the pair discovered the building was, for the most part, structurally sound. "We want to keep it pretty much the same out the front, and we want to keep the aesthetic of the building," he said. While the opening might be 12 to 18 months away, the pair have already locked in Matt McFarlane for the project, who formerly ran the popular Carrington haunt Franky's Dumplings & Noodles. The beloved Chinese restaurant closed in March 2024. At the time, owner Mr McFarlane said he'd "run out of puff" after operating the business with his late business partner, Hua "Franky" Fan, since 2018. But it seems this new project in the heart of Newcastle has caught his attention. "It is definitely going to be Franky's style, but it is going to be something new," he told Newcastle Herald. "Friendly, casual, signature dishes with a small menu and live music. We will have to have a picture of Franky on the wall somewhere." Mr Franklin was a regular at the dumpling house and approached Mr McFarlane with a business proposition. "I was flattered," Mr McFarlane said. "It is going to be so much work, but I think it is great. I love what Bernie's are doing and I think it will be great to be part of that community." The building dates back to the early 1900s and operated as Kurt's Coffee Lounge from the 1970s to the 1990s. The first owner, Kurt Piccardi, was a well-known businessman and after whom the cafe was named. The plans for the new restaurant and small bar have been lodged with Newcastle council. They include a dining space downstairs for 20 patrons, a bar, toilets and commercial kitchen. Upstairs will be an open-plan dining area for 48 patrons within the building and a rebuilt balcony with insulated roof sheeting and louvre roof. When looking at a bird's-eye view of the building it is easy to see why the balcony needs to be rebuilt. "I love old buildings," he said. "It is a shell of a building, and we don't want to change it too much, but I really want to use the deck out the back." The property is zoned for mixed-use, and the team hopes the plans for a smaller venue will get the green light from the council. Most people already use apps to share rides, get food deliveries and organise their dating lives, but a service that matches people and businesses with places has recently cracked the Hunter market. Vennu is a platform that lists community assets and matches them with people seeking spaces for all kinds of activities and events. For example, the platform has partnered with Marine Rescue NSW, and one of the newest listings is the Marine Rescue Newcastle meeting rooms, which can be hired by other businesses that require a conference space. It is not just business suites and formal events either, Vennu has a collaboration with Screen NSW and hires out spaces and locations for filming. Glenworth Valley's 3000-acre wilderness Epworth House on the Central Coast is one of the sites listed for hire for film and television The platform is open to people who need venues for workshops, events, meetings, or creative projects. University of Newcastle Emeritus Professor Rick Middleton is now a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. He is internationally renowned for his contributions to electrical engineering, having pioneered work on fundamental limitations in control system design and practical aspects of process control, telecommunications, power electronics and systems biology. Professor Middleton described the appointment as "a great honour" and thanked colleagues and students for creating the "amazing and rich intellectual environment that nurtured and supported my work". President of the Academy, Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC, said the new Fellows of 2025 represented the exceptional breadth and depth of Australian scientific excellence. "Each Fellow has made remarkable contributions in their field, demonstrating the vital role that science plays in addressing our most pressing challenges and expanding human knowledge," he said. With the election of the 26 new Fellows in 2025, the Australian Academy of Science Fellowship now stands at 638. Design lovers and treasure seekers have a new reason to visit the Hunter Valley. It's called The Trove, and it's a homewares and art collective housed at Leaves & Fishes in Lovedale. Blending global aesthetics with local character, The Trove is an ever-evolving collection of homewares, furniture, living plants and original artworks - each piece handpicked for its craftsmanship, story, and ability to transform a space. "We wanted to create a space that celebrates individuality and promotes sustainability," Kristy McGuigan said. She bought Leaves & Fishes with her husband, Aaron, in early 2023. "Every piece has been selected to reflect a sense of discovery and a global perspective, while staying true to the relaxed, earthy essence of Leaves & Fishes and the Hunter Valley." Hunter Valley artist Rebecca Rath's large-scale oil paintings have featured in The Trove's first exhibition, Of Land and Light, including pieces from her My Pokolbin, Hawkesbury and Wollemi series. "These paintings represent pivotal moments in my artistic journey," Ms Rath said. "Bringing them into a space designed for beautiful living feels like the perfect way to share their story." Ms Rath began her artistic journey at Hornsby TAFE in 1992 before completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at UNSW. Her chosen medium is en plein air painting and drawing. "After moving from Sydney to the Hunter Valley over 20 years ago, my work naturally shifted toward painting landscapes," she said. "My practice is grounded in the act of finding, both literally and metaphorically. "I seek out landscapes that evoke stillness, tension, or transition - places where light shifts, seasons change, and the land sits on the edge of development. "These spaces offer both visual inspiration and moments of personal reflection." Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and her solo exhibition, Found, opens at Maitland Regional Art Gallery on June 7. THERE are some exciting things happening in Devonshire Street with plans to breathe new life into the former Kurt's Coffee House. Mortgage broker Darby Franklin and operations manager Kris Saunders bought the property after it was passed in at auction last year. "I first noticed it on the internet and then I walked past it," Mr Saunders said. "It looked like a cool building, it has nice character about it." Despite the derelict appearance of the two-level property at 3 Devonshire Street, the pair discovered the building was, for the most part, structurally sound. "We want to keep it pretty much the same out the front, and we want to keep the aesthetic of the building," he said. While the opening might be 12 to 18 months away, the pair have already locked in Matt McFarlane for the project, who formerly ran the popular Carrington haunt Franky's Dumplings & Noodles. The beloved Chinese restaurant closed in March 2024. At the time, owner Mr McFarlane said he'd "run out of puff" after operating the business with his late business partner, Hua "Franky" Fan, since 2018. But it seems this new project in the heart of Newcastle has caught his attention. "It is definitely going to be Franky's style, but it is going to be something new," he told Newcastle Herald. "Friendly, casual, signature dishes with a small menu and live music. We will have to have a picture of Franky on the wall somewhere." Mr Franklin was a regular at the dumpling house and approached Mr McFarlane with a business proposition. "I was flattered," Mr McFarlane said. "It is going to be so much work, but I think it is great. I love what Bernie's are doing and I think it will be great to be part of that community." The building dates back to the early 1900s and operated as Kurt's Coffee Lounge from the 1970s to the 1990s. The first owner, Kurt Piccardi, was a well-known businessman and after whom the cafe was named. The plans for the new restaurant and small bar have been lodged with Newcastle council. They include a dining space downstairs for 20 patrons, a bar, toilets and commercial kitchen. Upstairs will be an open-plan dining area for 48 patrons within the building and a rebuilt balcony with insulated roof sheeting and louvre roof. When looking at a bird's-eye view of the building it is easy to see why the balcony needs to be rebuilt. "I love old buildings," he said. "It is a shell of a building, and we don't want to change it too much, but I really want to use the deck out the back." The property is zoned for mixed-use, and the team hopes the plans for a smaller venue will get the green light from the council. Most people already use apps to share rides, get food deliveries and organise their dating lives, but a service that matches people and businesses with places has recently cracked the Hunter market. Vennu is a platform that lists community assets and matches them with people seeking spaces for all kinds of activities and events. For example, the platform has partnered with Marine Rescue NSW, and one of the newest listings is the Marine Rescue Newcastle meeting rooms, which can be hired by other businesses that require a conference space. It is not just business suites and formal events either, Vennu has a collaboration with Screen NSW and hires out spaces and locations for filming. Glenworth Valley's 3000-acre wilderness Epworth House on the Central Coast is one of the sites listed for hire for film and television The platform is open to people who need venues for workshops, events, meetings, or creative projects. University of Newcastle Emeritus Professor Rick Middleton is now a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. He is internationally renowned for his contributions to electrical engineering, having pioneered work on fundamental limitations in control system design and practical aspects of process control, telecommunications, power electronics and systems biology. Professor Middleton described the appointment as "a great honour" and thanked colleagues and students for creating the "amazing and rich intellectual environment that nurtured and supported my work". President of the Academy, Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC, said the new Fellows of 2025 represented the exceptional breadth and depth of Australian scientific excellence. "Each Fellow has made remarkable contributions in their field, demonstrating the vital role that science plays in addressing our most pressing challenges and expanding human knowledge," he said. With the election of the 26 new Fellows in 2025, the Australian Academy of Science Fellowship now stands at 638. Design lovers and treasure seekers have a new reason to visit the Hunter Valley. It's called The Trove, and it's a homewares and art collective housed at Leaves & Fishes in Lovedale. Blending global aesthetics with local character, The Trove is an ever-evolving collection of homewares, furniture, living plants and original artworks - each piece handpicked for its craftsmanship, story, and ability to transform a space. "We wanted to create a space that celebrates individuality and promotes sustainability," Kristy McGuigan said. She bought Leaves & Fishes with her husband, Aaron, in early 2023. "Every piece has been selected to reflect a sense of discovery and a global perspective, while staying true to the relaxed, earthy essence of Leaves & Fishes and the Hunter Valley." Hunter Valley artist Rebecca Rath's large-scale oil paintings have featured in The Trove's first exhibition, Of Land and Light, including pieces from her My Pokolbin, Hawkesbury and Wollemi series. "These paintings represent pivotal moments in my artistic journey," Ms Rath said. "Bringing them into a space designed for beautiful living feels like the perfect way to share their story." Ms Rath began her artistic journey at Hornsby TAFE in 1992 before completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at UNSW. Her chosen medium is en plein air painting and drawing. "After moving from Sydney to the Hunter Valley over 20 years ago, my work naturally shifted toward painting landscapes," she said. "My practice is grounded in the act of finding, both literally and metaphorically. "I seek out landscapes that evoke stillness, tension, or transition - places where light shifts, seasons change, and the land sits on the edge of development. "These spaces offer both visual inspiration and moments of personal reflection." Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and her solo exhibition, Found, opens at Maitland Regional Art Gallery on June 7. THERE are some exciting things happening in Devonshire Street with plans to breathe new life into the former Kurt's Coffee House. Mortgage broker Darby Franklin and operations manager Kris Saunders bought the property after it was passed in at auction last year. "I first noticed it on the internet and then I walked past it," Mr Saunders said. "It looked like a cool building, it has nice character about it." Despite the derelict appearance of the two-level property at 3 Devonshire Street, the pair discovered the building was, for the most part, structurally sound. "We want to keep it pretty much the same out the front, and we want to keep the aesthetic of the building," he said. While the opening might be 12 to 18 months away, the pair have already locked in Matt McFarlane for the project, who formerly ran the popular Carrington haunt Franky's Dumplings & Noodles. The beloved Chinese restaurant closed in March 2024. At the time, owner Mr McFarlane said he'd "run out of puff" after operating the business with his late business partner, Hua "Franky" Fan, since 2018. But it seems this new project in the heart of Newcastle has caught his attention. "It is definitely going to be Franky's style, but it is going to be something new," he told Newcastle Herald. "Friendly, casual, signature dishes with a small menu and live music. We will have to have a picture of Franky on the wall somewhere." Mr Franklin was a regular at the dumpling house and approached Mr McFarlane with a business proposition. "I was flattered," Mr McFarlane said. "It is going to be so much work, but I think it is great. I love what Bernie's are doing and I think it will be great to be part of that community." The building dates back to the early 1900s and operated as Kurt's Coffee Lounge from the 1970s to the 1990s. The first owner, Kurt Piccardi, was a well-known businessman and after whom the cafe was named. The plans for the new restaurant and small bar have been lodged with Newcastle council. They include a dining space downstairs for 20 patrons, a bar, toilets and commercial kitchen. Upstairs will be an open-plan dining area for 48 patrons within the building and a rebuilt balcony with insulated roof sheeting and louvre roof. When looking at a bird's-eye view of the building it is easy to see why the balcony needs to be rebuilt. "I love old buildings," he said. "It is a shell of a building, and we don't want to change it too much, but I really want to use the deck out the back." The property is zoned for mixed-use, and the team hopes the plans for a smaller venue will get the green light from the council. Most people already use apps to share rides, get food deliveries and organise their dating lives, but a service that matches people and businesses with places has recently cracked the Hunter market. Vennu is a platform that lists community assets and matches them with people seeking spaces for all kinds of activities and events. For example, the platform has partnered with Marine Rescue NSW, and one of the newest listings is the Marine Rescue Newcastle meeting rooms, which can be hired by other businesses that require a conference space. It is not just business suites and formal events either, Vennu has a collaboration with Screen NSW and hires out spaces and locations for filming. Glenworth Valley's 3000-acre wilderness Epworth House on the Central Coast is one of the sites listed for hire for film and television The platform is open to people who need venues for workshops, events, meetings, or creative projects. University of Newcastle Emeritus Professor Rick Middleton is now a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. He is internationally renowned for his contributions to electrical engineering, having pioneered work on fundamental limitations in control system design and practical aspects of process control, telecommunications, power electronics and systems biology. Professor Middleton described the appointment as "a great honour" and thanked colleagues and students for creating the "amazing and rich intellectual environment that nurtured and supported my work". President of the Academy, Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC, said the new Fellows of 2025 represented the exceptional breadth and depth of Australian scientific excellence. "Each Fellow has made remarkable contributions in their field, demonstrating the vital role that science plays in addressing our most pressing challenges and expanding human knowledge," he said. With the election of the 26 new Fellows in 2025, the Australian Academy of Science Fellowship now stands at 638. Design lovers and treasure seekers have a new reason to visit the Hunter Valley. It's called The Trove, and it's a homewares and art collective housed at Leaves & Fishes in Lovedale. Blending global aesthetics with local character, The Trove is an ever-evolving collection of homewares, furniture, living plants and original artworks - each piece handpicked for its craftsmanship, story, and ability to transform a space. "We wanted to create a space that celebrates individuality and promotes sustainability," Kristy McGuigan said. She bought Leaves & Fishes with her husband, Aaron, in early 2023. "Every piece has been selected to reflect a sense of discovery and a global perspective, while staying true to the relaxed, earthy essence of Leaves & Fishes and the Hunter Valley." Hunter Valley artist Rebecca Rath's large-scale oil paintings have featured in The Trove's first exhibition, Of Land and Light, including pieces from her My Pokolbin, Hawkesbury and Wollemi series. "These paintings represent pivotal moments in my artistic journey," Ms Rath said. "Bringing them into a space designed for beautiful living feels like the perfect way to share their story." Ms Rath began her artistic journey at Hornsby TAFE in 1992 before completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at UNSW. Her chosen medium is en plein air painting and drawing. "After moving from Sydney to the Hunter Valley over 20 years ago, my work naturally shifted toward painting landscapes," she said. "My practice is grounded in the act of finding, both literally and metaphorically. "I seek out landscapes that evoke stillness, tension, or transition - places where light shifts, seasons change, and the land sits on the edge of development. "These spaces offer both visual inspiration and moments of personal reflection." Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and her solo exhibition, Found, opens at Maitland Regional Art Gallery on June 7.
The Advertiser
26-05-2025
- The Advertiser
A month on, family of teen shot at Bar Beach car park call for justice
It's been a month since the Sahni family lost their son in a way no parent should ever have to. With wet eyes, Jasmeen Kaur Sahni and Amrinder Singh Sahni held onto one another as they called for justice for their 18-year-old son Ekampreet Singh Sahni, who was shot at Bar Beach car park on the night of April 23. "We just want justice as soon as possible," Mr Sahni said. A crowd gathered on Sunday, May 25, afternoon where Ekam died, all holding signs reading "justice for Ekam" and battery-operated candles. People came from far and wide, and from all walks of life to remember the young man, family friend Sukhjit Singh said. "It's almost been a month now that our charming boy has been gone forever, and after a month we're still trying to find the reasons," Mr Singh said. "We're still trying to get answers but we don't have any yet," he said. "But we have hope for justice." He said while he knew the pain of their son's death would be with the family for a long time, he hoped they would have answers as soon as possible. "Let's keep Ekam's memory alive," he said. "We don't want this to be forgotten that Ekam lost his life at such a young age, 18 years is the age when people share their dreams." Ekam's father, Mr Sahni previously told the Newcastle Herald that his son was an "intelligent" young man who worked hard at his job at Harris Farm, helping his parents, taking his younger brother to and from school and looking after him while his mother worked at a restaurant. Police allege Ekam was shot in the torso by a person a complete stranger to him. He died at the scene. Mr Singh translated Ekam's grandmother Manmohan Kaur Sahni Ekam words at the vigil into English. She said her grandson had left the house at 10.15pm that night to say he was going to his friends but he never returned home. "This is the spot where Ekam lost his life, without any reason, without knowing the guy who killed him," she said. Family friend Ravinder Kalara said the family had gone through so much over the past month and she couldn't imagine what was going through their minds. "We can feel just 1 per cent of the pain they are going through," she said. "We are all here to show our solidarity against the crime." Investigators have been told that 22-year-old Windale man Decklen Deaves-Thornton was drawn in by two groups of people fighting in the car park late at night. He was accused of repeatedly jabbing the gun into Ekam's chest before the weapon discharged and he was shot dead. The 22-year-old handed himself in to detectives on April 25 and was later charged with murder and faced Paramatta Bail Court on April 26. He did not enter a plea or apply for bail. His matter was adjourned to Newcastle Local Court on June 16. Brendan Tobin, a friend of the Sahni family, said they had met with detectives who had assured the family that they were completing a full investigation. He hoped that the matter could be resolved before 18 months time. "I didn't have the opportunity to know Ekam but I feel his spirit through this family and his younger brother, and through this community. It's a terrible tragedy," he said. State member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp attended the late weekend vigil and spoke about how his daughter worked with Ekam at Harris Farm. "She said he was an absolutely lovely young man," he said. "It is absolutely heartbreaking to be here to fight for justice," he said. It's been a month since the Sahni family lost their son in a way no parent should ever have to. With wet eyes, Jasmeen Kaur Sahni and Amrinder Singh Sahni held onto one another as they called for justice for their 18-year-old son Ekampreet Singh Sahni, who was shot at Bar Beach car park on the night of April 23. "We just want justice as soon as possible," Mr Sahni said. A crowd gathered on Sunday, May 25, afternoon where Ekam died, all holding signs reading "justice for Ekam" and battery-operated candles. People came from far and wide, and from all walks of life to remember the young man, family friend Sukhjit Singh said. "It's almost been a month now that our charming boy has been gone forever, and after a month we're still trying to find the reasons," Mr Singh said. "We're still trying to get answers but we don't have any yet," he said. "But we have hope for justice." He said while he knew the pain of their son's death would be with the family for a long time, he hoped they would have answers as soon as possible. "Let's keep Ekam's memory alive," he said. "We don't want this to be forgotten that Ekam lost his life at such a young age, 18 years is the age when people share their dreams." Ekam's father, Mr Sahni previously told the Newcastle Herald that his son was an "intelligent" young man who worked hard at his job at Harris Farm, helping his parents, taking his younger brother to and from school and looking after him while his mother worked at a restaurant. Police allege Ekam was shot in the torso by a person a complete stranger to him. He died at the scene. Mr Singh translated Ekam's grandmother Manmohan Kaur Sahni Ekam words at the vigil into English. She said her grandson had left the house at 10.15pm that night to say he was going to his friends but he never returned home. "This is the spot where Ekam lost his life, without any reason, without knowing the guy who killed him," she said. Family friend Ravinder Kalara said the family had gone through so much over the past month and she couldn't imagine what was going through their minds. "We can feel just 1 per cent of the pain they are going through," she said. "We are all here to show our solidarity against the crime." Investigators have been told that 22-year-old Windale man Decklen Deaves-Thornton was drawn in by two groups of people fighting in the car park late at night. He was accused of repeatedly jabbing the gun into Ekam's chest before the weapon discharged and he was shot dead. The 22-year-old handed himself in to detectives on April 25 and was later charged with murder and faced Paramatta Bail Court on April 26. He did not enter a plea or apply for bail. His matter was adjourned to Newcastle Local Court on June 16. Brendan Tobin, a friend of the Sahni family, said they had met with detectives who had assured the family that they were completing a full investigation. He hoped that the matter could be resolved before 18 months time. "I didn't have the opportunity to know Ekam but I feel his spirit through this family and his younger brother, and through this community. It's a terrible tragedy," he said. State member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp attended the late weekend vigil and spoke about how his daughter worked with Ekam at Harris Farm. "She said he was an absolutely lovely young man," he said. "It is absolutely heartbreaking to be here to fight for justice," he said. It's been a month since the Sahni family lost their son in a way no parent should ever have to. With wet eyes, Jasmeen Kaur Sahni and Amrinder Singh Sahni held onto one another as they called for justice for their 18-year-old son Ekampreet Singh Sahni, who was shot at Bar Beach car park on the night of April 23. "We just want justice as soon as possible," Mr Sahni said. A crowd gathered on Sunday, May 25, afternoon where Ekam died, all holding signs reading "justice for Ekam" and battery-operated candles. People came from far and wide, and from all walks of life to remember the young man, family friend Sukhjit Singh said. "It's almost been a month now that our charming boy has been gone forever, and after a month we're still trying to find the reasons," Mr Singh said. "We're still trying to get answers but we don't have any yet," he said. "But we have hope for justice." He said while he knew the pain of their son's death would be with the family for a long time, he hoped they would have answers as soon as possible. "Let's keep Ekam's memory alive," he said. "We don't want this to be forgotten that Ekam lost his life at such a young age, 18 years is the age when people share their dreams." Ekam's father, Mr Sahni previously told the Newcastle Herald that his son was an "intelligent" young man who worked hard at his job at Harris Farm, helping his parents, taking his younger brother to and from school and looking after him while his mother worked at a restaurant. Police allege Ekam was shot in the torso by a person a complete stranger to him. He died at the scene. Mr Singh translated Ekam's grandmother Manmohan Kaur Sahni Ekam words at the vigil into English. She said her grandson had left the house at 10.15pm that night to say he was going to his friends but he never returned home. "This is the spot where Ekam lost his life, without any reason, without knowing the guy who killed him," she said. Family friend Ravinder Kalara said the family had gone through so much over the past month and she couldn't imagine what was going through their minds. "We can feel just 1 per cent of the pain they are going through," she said. "We are all here to show our solidarity against the crime." Investigators have been told that 22-year-old Windale man Decklen Deaves-Thornton was drawn in by two groups of people fighting in the car park late at night. He was accused of repeatedly jabbing the gun into Ekam's chest before the weapon discharged and he was shot dead. The 22-year-old handed himself in to detectives on April 25 and was later charged with murder and faced Paramatta Bail Court on April 26. He did not enter a plea or apply for bail. His matter was adjourned to Newcastle Local Court on June 16. Brendan Tobin, a friend of the Sahni family, said they had met with detectives who had assured the family that they were completing a full investigation. He hoped that the matter could be resolved before 18 months time. "I didn't have the opportunity to know Ekam but I feel his spirit through this family and his younger brother, and through this community. It's a terrible tragedy," he said. State member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp attended the late weekend vigil and spoke about how his daughter worked with Ekam at Harris Farm. "She said he was an absolutely lovely young man," he said. "It is absolutely heartbreaking to be here to fight for justice," he said. It's been a month since the Sahni family lost their son in a way no parent should ever have to. With wet eyes, Jasmeen Kaur Sahni and Amrinder Singh Sahni held onto one another as they called for justice for their 18-year-old son Ekampreet Singh Sahni, who was shot at Bar Beach car park on the night of April 23. "We just want justice as soon as possible," Mr Sahni said. A crowd gathered on Sunday, May 25, afternoon where Ekam died, all holding signs reading "justice for Ekam" and battery-operated candles. People came from far and wide, and from all walks of life to remember the young man, family friend Sukhjit Singh said. "It's almost been a month now that our charming boy has been gone forever, and after a month we're still trying to find the reasons," Mr Singh said. "We're still trying to get answers but we don't have any yet," he said. "But we have hope for justice." He said while he knew the pain of their son's death would be with the family for a long time, he hoped they would have answers as soon as possible. "Let's keep Ekam's memory alive," he said. "We don't want this to be forgotten that Ekam lost his life at such a young age, 18 years is the age when people share their dreams." Ekam's father, Mr Sahni previously told the Newcastle Herald that his son was an "intelligent" young man who worked hard at his job at Harris Farm, helping his parents, taking his younger brother to and from school and looking after him while his mother worked at a restaurant. Police allege Ekam was shot in the torso by a person a complete stranger to him. He died at the scene. Mr Singh translated Ekam's grandmother Manmohan Kaur Sahni Ekam words at the vigil into English. She said her grandson had left the house at 10.15pm that night to say he was going to his friends but he never returned home. "This is the spot where Ekam lost his life, without any reason, without knowing the guy who killed him," she said. Family friend Ravinder Kalara said the family had gone through so much over the past month and she couldn't imagine what was going through their minds. "We can feel just 1 per cent of the pain they are going through," she said. "We are all here to show our solidarity against the crime." Investigators have been told that 22-year-old Windale man Decklen Deaves-Thornton was drawn in by two groups of people fighting in the car park late at night. He was accused of repeatedly jabbing the gun into Ekam's chest before the weapon discharged and he was shot dead. The 22-year-old handed himself in to detectives on April 25 and was later charged with murder and faced Paramatta Bail Court on April 26. He did not enter a plea or apply for bail. His matter was adjourned to Newcastle Local Court on June 16. Brendan Tobin, a friend of the Sahni family, said they had met with detectives who had assured the family that they were completing a full investigation. He hoped that the matter could be resolved before 18 months time. "I didn't have the opportunity to know Ekam but I feel his spirit through this family and his younger brother, and through this community. It's a terrible tragedy," he said. State member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp attended the late weekend vigil and spoke about how his daughter worked with Ekam at Harris Farm. "She said he was an absolutely lovely young man," he said. "It is absolutely heartbreaking to be here to fight for justice," he said.
