Hunter roads: All Hunter roads are clear this morning.
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Hunter trains: There is a good service on the Central Coast and Newcastle line and the Hunter line.
Hunter weather: Cloudy day with a windy afternoon expected in Newcastle (26 degrees), cloudy and windy day for Raymond Terrace (26 degrees), clouds clearing in Maitland with winds in the afternoon (32 degrees) and a cloudy day with strong winds in the afternoon in Scone (37 degrees).
Hunter beachwatch by Dave Anderson: A few solid at times sets about and wind is going to be onshore today. Swells come from the South at 1.5 to 2m.Light winds early before freshening East to N/E. Shallow low tide on dawn to cause beach breaks to close out.Try the reefs off Nobbys and Merewether.To the south Dudley,Caves and Catho.More protected at at Stockton and One Mile. Dangerous on the rocks and sweeps to the north.Only swim at patrolled beaches today.Water temp 21C.
► SUSAN Christie never considered not seeking another job after she was made redundant. Ms Christie, from Waratah West, registered with Centrelink but also worked casually for four employers during the 2011 financial year. More here.
► JETS coach Mark Jones preferred to look at his glass as being half-full after an eventful 2-all draw with Perth at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday. More here.
► When Phillip Noyce first drove into the Wollombi Valley almost half a century ago, he recalled how he clattered over colonial history. “Parts of the road were stone, built by chain-gang convict labour,” said the acclaimed film director and Wollombi vineyard owner. More here.
► THE Hunter’s 106 dairy farms are under pressure after the loss of more than two-thirds of all farms since deregulation in 2000, the closure of another four farms in 2016, and mining and urban encroachment that has led to questions about the industry’s long-term viability. More here.
► AN exclusive “inner west” enclave similar to Sydney is opening up in Newcastle, with new land value data revealing the city’s traditionally working class suburbs are now among the most desirable to live. More here.
► IF Mark Wenban is looking for an escape for him and his family, he takes to the water. “I just like to unwind and relax, and I like fishing,” said Mr Wenban, as he packed up his runabout at the Carrington boat ramp, after being out on Newcastle Harbour with his partner and three-year-old daughter. More here.
► THE long-term owners of the Salisbury Lodges in the Barrington Tops have reassured the public the popular bush retreat will remain open despite a blaze which has caused about $500,000 worth of damage. More here.
► A Newcastle family of four are in Canberra Hospital, and a truck driver has been charged, after a crash near Goulburn. More here.
► Newcastle detectives have made a quick arrest following the violent robbery of a woman waiting for a bus at Jesmond on Saturday. More here.
► Tom Christie grew up in the city but always longed for a life on the land. So four years ago he bought a small farm in the tiny township of Marshdale, near Dungog, with his wife Dominique and quit his masters in philosophy. More here.
► Central Hunter police saw a drop in the number of domestic violence reports during the recent Christmas period compared with 2015. According to police data, there were 81 reports of domestic violence in December, down from 92 in the same month of 2015. More here.
► Walk in the door at Amorelle Dempster’s East Maitland cafe and you’ll smell the aromas of fresh produce. More here.
► There are still two weeks of the school holidays to go – and plenty happening in Cessnock and its surrounding towns. More here.
► Marlie Chapman is one brave little girl. The three-and-a-half-year-old from Kurri Kurri was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer called a Wilms tumour late last year. More here.
► ESSENTIAL Energy crews were quick to respond after storms caused unplanned power outages for around 8000 households and businesses in the Hunter, New England and North West areas on Thursday, including 550 premises in Murrurundi. More here.
► SEAN Cadman is running his own race. He has wanted to raise money for Cancer Council NSW for a number of years now. More here.
► From the state of the grounds to not being able to contact the caretaker and make a booking, there have been quite a few complaints about the management of Lake St Clair doing the rounds on social media. More here.
► KRUZAH, a beautiful one-year-old colt from Anna Bay, has taken the internet by storm. The video of Kruzah having the time of his life playing with his beloved rubber chicken has been seen eight million times. More here.
► A BIG afternoon of Australia Day activities will culminate in an evening concert by Pseudo Echo at Speers Point Park on Thursday, January 26. More here.
►Take a look at the photos from the 2017 Downhill National Series, Round 1 held at Awaba State Park on the weekend. More here.
State of the nation
Need a national news snapshot first thing – well, we have you covered.
Regional news
ULLADULLA, NSW: Child recovery experts have helped reunite New Zealand girl Que Langdon with her mother. The six-year-old is at the centre of an ugly custody battle after she and her father disappeared after leaving Kawhia Harbour on New Zealand’s north island, on December 17...read more.
CASTLEMAINE, VIC: A cleaning services company has been forced to pay back almost $3000 to an underpaid cleaner in Castlemaine, following intervention by the Fair Work Ombudsman...full story.
TASMANIA: A boating accident that claimed the lives of two elderly men has capped off a horror weekend for the state after two other men were killed in separate incidents...read the full story.
PORT MACQUARIE, NSW: The heightened price of fuel has hit businesses, who rely on its supply to carry out operations. Wauchope Parcel Express owner Troy Bell said the increase of fuel prices is ‘bloody ridiculous’...full story.
GRIFFITH, NSW: A seven-year-old boy remains in hospital after the quad bike he was riding fell on him on Sunday afternoon...read more.
National news
►A book about about growing up in Sydney as a child of Afro-Caribbean descent has forced many readers to reflect on their own schooldays, and experiences of racism or not standing up for classmates. The Hate Race has been listed on the diverse nonfiction shortlist for the 2017 Indie Book Awards.
►Controversies over politicians' entitlements and the Centrelink debt recovery system have taken their toll on the Turnbull government, new polling shows.
►SYDNEY: A Blacktown man had five children in his car and was three times over the blood-alcohol limit when he was caught speeding on a Sydney street, police allege...catch up on the full story.
► It takes two-year-old Brodie Atkinson 21 seconds to scale the pool-like fence, in a video that has sent chills through Australian parents. Brodie’s mother shared the video saying: "After much deliberation I am reposting this because I refuse to have another child drown before every parent has had a chance for my beautiful 2-year-old son to educate them."...full story and video.
National weather radar
International news
► ANTARCTICA: Just as Malcolm Turnbull smiled and shook hands with Japan's Shinzo Abe in Sydney at the weekend, Japanese whalers were caught carrying out a bloody slaughter in the icy waters off Antarctica...read more.
PHILIPPINES: Controversial President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered his security forces to bomb kidnap-for-ransom groups and referring to hostages, he said: "sorry, collateral damage"...full story here.
Faces of Australia: Pauline Douce
Pauline Douce has used art to help overcome the grief of losing her daughter.
In 2002 a counsellor recommended she pursue a creative outlet for the emotions she was feeling and handed her a flyer for Bellingen’s annual five-day Camp Creative.
“I have been coming ever since and I’ve healed so much.”