Media Response Newcastle

09/12/2024

We are apart of this and you will see alot of our stuff featured within this news site.

We still will be providing our services out to all the news teams in the Hunter but this will be also another place we will be lending support to.

- Michael

📢 Welcome to Key News Newcastle! 📰

We’re excited to introduce Key News Newcastle, your new source for timely, accurate, and independent news covering the Newcastle, Hunter, and Central Coast regions.

We’re two local freelance photojournalists with deep roots in the area and a passion for telling stories that matter. Our goal is simple: to bring you up-to-date news that’s honest, reliable, and community-focused.

Stay connected for breaking news, in-depth reports, and compelling visuals straight from the heart of our region.

Follow us, share our stories, and be part of this journey as we shine a light on the issues and events shaping our community.

📸 Your Insight, Your Community, Your News

04/12/2024

The lovely Newcastle Transport Christmas bus.

This bus looks so good on the road but has been a tradition for decades.

This will be driving around for the next few weeks until Christmas so jump aboard and experience if yourself.

27/11/2024

This just in from Hunter St, Newcastle 📸

Not every moment in the day involves flashing lights and sirens - sometimes, it’s about the simple things that make the biggest impact. 💙🥹

14/11/2024

08/11/2024

07/11/2024

ALLAN HEPPLEWHITE AFSM

It is with great sadness that Raymond Terrace Rural Fire Brigade reports the passing of our longest serving member, Allan Hepplewhite AFSM. Allan joined the then bush fire brigades in 1974, and has held a range of volunteer and salaried roles within the service over a period of 50 years. Allan also served as SES Controller and continued his involvement with that service, as well as the RFS, until very recently.

As Fire Control Officer for Port Stephens Shire, Allan was instrumental in the establishment of the Port Stephens Headquarters Bush Fire Brigade in 1977. That brigade continues today as Raymond Terrace Rural Fire Brigade, which arguably owes more to Allan Hepplewhite than to any other single person. Allan also designed a number of cutting edge fire appliances (usually on tight budgets) to ensure the safety and efficiency of Port Stephens firefighters.

Allan was recognised for his service by being made a life member of the Raymond Terrace Brigade and was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in 2014. Over five decades Allan was a constant presence at our station and in more recent times was a fire investigator for the Lower Hunter District. Allan has been instrumental in the progression of hundreds of rural firefighters across Port Stephens and beyond, as a trainer, mentor, friend and colleague.

We offer our sincere condolences to Allan’s family, friends and emergency services colleagues.

Rest in peace Allan. You will be missed.

06/11/2024

🔥The Fire Danger Rating for Thursday 7th November 2024 is HIGH 🔥

Be ready to act.

🟡 There’s a heightened risk. Be alert for fires in your area

🟡 Decide what you will do if a fire starts

🟡 If a fire starts, your life and property may be at risk. The safest option is to avoid bush fire risk areas.

Stay alert for fires in your area by downloading the Hazard Near Me app and set up watch zones for you area.

To find out more about fire danger ratings visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fdr-and-tobans

06/11/2024

A hazard reduction burn is being undertaken on Saturday 9th November at Dunmore Rd, Largs, Maitland LGA.

If you live nearby, please consider doing the following:
Keep doors and windows closed to prevent smoke entering buildings.
Outdoor items such as outdoor furniture, trampolines, playground equipment etc should be either taken inside or covered. Where this is not practical, items should be hosed down regularly to prevent ember damage.
Retract plastic or synthetic pool covers to prevent ember damage, remove washing from clothes lines and ensure any outdoor pets have a sheltered area.
If you have asthma or a lung condition, reduce outdoor activities. If smoke levels are high and if shortness of breath or coughing develops, take your reliever medicine or seek medical advice.
If you are driving a vehicle, slow down, keep windows up and turn headlights on.
Never fly drones or Remotely Piloted Aircraft near bush fires or hazard reductions, where other aircraft may be operating. Penalties apply.

For more information check the Hazards Near Me NSW App or visit https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me

04/11/2024

Bushfire season is upon us once again, so it’s a good time to brush up on the rules when flying during the summer months.

Whether you’re flying fixed wing or rotary, all crewed aircraft must remain 5 nm and 3,000 ft AGL away from bushfire boundaries.

Drones should stay away from bushfires altogether.

Learn more about aviation bushfire safety and download our bushfire safety poster at: https://civilaviation.au/flying-near-bushfires

29/10/2024

Who and What is Media Response Newcastle?

While its currently quiet, we thought we might do an about us but feel free to ask any questions below on what we do and how we do it.

Who Am I?
I am Michael, I am the owner of this page and the main person who runs this page, I do have people in the background who assist and help with posting stuff for me when I am out in the field. Just going to throw thanks to that team who do assist me, you guys know who you are.

What do we do?
We are an emergency photography business who attends emergency related incidents. For the past 10 years we have covered bushfires, car accidents and other related incidents.

What equipment do we use?
We run a 90D and a 70D for all of our work, most of the time we are shooting with a 18mm-400mm lens, we also shoot via an iPhone 15 Pro Max in some situations for videos if we need to grab something quickly and get it out. We also have mics for setting up one of the cameras to do video footage or interviews as well.

Why do we do what we do?
We capture raw images of situations that are unfolding for the subject of news, an image can tell a thousand words on how bad a situation can be as much as it is devastating it tells a story.

Where do our photos and videos go?
We are a trusted source of images and videos for local news teams in the Hunter Valley. Most of our content has appeared on such websites as Newcastle Herald and on NBN NEWS, and a lot of the radio stations will use our images like Newy FM and NewFM then they will eventually be posted here ether the night of or the day after they have had their run though the networks as this page wasn’t designed for getting information or photos out, just as a profile of the work we do minus the car accidents as we just don’t like sharing those type of incidents unless we need to throw a message out like we have in the past.

How do you get so close?
For bushfires and anything NSWRFS related, We are accredited to be boot on the ground during those incidents. For other incidents that are FRNSW or Police, its more subject to their rules and requirements but we always in contact with the incident controller on where we can and can’t go and will never push the boundaries, In some cases they know we are there and just let us do our job knowing we have our heads on a swivel for truck movements or changes in the incident, plus we also keep our distance if it is required.

If you have any other questions we are happy to answer them below?

27/10/2024

23/10/2024

Elevated fire danger is forecast for areas in the north west of the state until Friday, ahead of a cool change that is expected to cross the state over coming days. Thunderstorms with dry lightning (little to no rain) are also forecast for the north east areas of NSW tomorrow.

Know your fire risk and what you and your family will do if fire threatens. Report any new fires to Triple Zero (000) immediately.

It's also important landholders and residents monitor any pile burns. For more information on safe burning, visit the RFS website: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/safeburning

16/10/2024

Severe thunderstorms are forecast to impact large parts of the country today, tomorrow and Friday.

Spring and early summer is the peak time of year for severe thunderstorms, which can last many hours and travel long distances. ⛈

What is the difference between a regular thunderstorm and a severe thunderstorm?

There are several different criteria which a thunderstorm can reach to be classified as 'severe', depending on the type of weather it is causing.

⚠️ The Bureau issues Severe Thunderstorm Warnings when we start to see the severe criteria being reached.

This means Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are updated extremely frequently and have a short life span, unlike our other Severe Weather Warnings, which are issued up to 24 hours before the start of the severe weather event.

For the latest forecasts and warnings for your area, go to www.bom.gov.au or the BOM Weather app.

14/10/2024

The NSW SES advises people in the following area(s) to MONITOR CONDITIONS for forecast heavy rainfall:

Gosford
Sydney
Penrith
Parramatta
Campbelltown
Taralga

The Bureau of Meteorology advises a surface trough moving across central NSW today is aiding storm formation across eastern NSW in a moist and unstable airmass.

This event may change quickly. We will monitor the situation and update our warnings if the situation changes.

What you need to do:
Avoid unnecessary travel, move indoors, bring children and pets with you.
Park your car under secure cover and away from trees, powerlines and drains.
If safe to do so, secure or put away items, such as outdoor furniture, trampolines and roofing iron that could blow around in strong winds.
Grab your emergency kit in case you lose power or need to leave your home.

View the full warning: https://hazardwatch.gov.au/

Download the Hazards Near Me App and set up ‘Watch Zones’ to receive warnings in real time. https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/hazards-near-me-app

For emergency help in floods, storms and tsunamis, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In life-threatening situations, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Post current at 3:37pm on Monday 14 October 2024.

13/10/2024

Today we remember the emergency services volunteers who paid the ultimate sacrifice while protecting their communities, at the annual Emergency Services Volunteer Memorial Service.

Names of volunteers enshrined on the Memorial recognise personnel from NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW State Emergency Service, Marine Rescue NSW and VRA Rescue NSW.

The event, held at Mrs Macquarie's Point at Sydney Botanical Gardens, will begin at 11am. A live stream of the service can be viewed on the website: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/nsw-emergency-services-volunteers-memorial-2024

11/10/2024

11/10/2024

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have battled to contain a workshop fire early this morning at Kurri Kurri, in the Hunter Region.

More than 60 firefighters and 15 fire trucks responded to multiple Triple Zero (000) calls to flames and smoke issuing from the plastic repurposing facility.

The blaze broke out just after 11pm on Thursday, and continued through the night taking firefighters 4 hours to get the ‘4th alarm’ fire under control.

Upon arrival, FRNSW crews were faced with heavy smoke and flames issuing from the building and immediately began attacking the fire, battling the blaze externally.

The fire caused a significant roof collapse.

Firefighters contained the blaze and were able to protect neighbouring properties.

Specialists from FRNSW Hazmat were on the scene to monitor air quality and protect the environment from firefighting water run-off.

It appears the fire started from outside the property and further investigations continue.

No evacuations were required and there were no injuries. One firefighter was assessed by ambulance for possible heat stress and was subsequently cleared and returned to operations.

https://newy.com.au/2024/10/11/fire-rages-through-kurri-kurri-furniture-workshop/
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/8788865/massive-fire-breaks-out-at-kurri-kurri-industrial-site-overnight/

09/10/2024

It's officially bush fire season again, so it's time to get ready. It can take just a few days of hot and windy weather for fire conditions to return.

Bush fires are a part of life in NSW, so you need to live bush fire ready. You can make your plan online in as little as five minutes at www.myfireplan.com.au