Alasdair McDonald
Bega, NSW
Alasdair began his career as a music journalist and has since gone on to break important news stories for various Australian news outlets. He has a passion for uncovering the truth and giving a voice to those who feel they are not being heard.
Latest by Alasdair McDonald
Court hears police officer will plead not guilty to tasering manslaughter of 95yo with dementia
Kristian White, 33, made a surprise appearance at court this morning, while other charges in relation to the tasering of Clare Nowland last year were withdrawn.
Venomous baby snake found under coffee machine in NSW restaurant
Just after service began on a busy night for the Far South Coast venue, staff noticed the snake's tail poking out from under the bar.
Rescuers resume search for missing 60yo fisherman after boat with engine running washes up on beach
Emergency teams will face the challenge of high winds and a large swell as they resume a search today for a Victorian fisherman whose boat was found washed up on shore near Bermagui in NSW yesterday.
Police officer charged with manslaughter over taser death ordered to hand over passport
A NSW Police Senior Constable has been deemed a flight risk and ordered not to leave the country after appearing in court for the first time since charges against him were upgraded to manslaughter over the death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland.
Giiyong Festival set to light up Thaua Country with celebration of First Nations arts and culture
This year's festival on the far-south coast of New South Wales will feature Deadly Award-nominated soul singer Emma Donovan, Kamilaroi and Tongan singer Radical Son and Darwin-born rapper J-Milla.
Renaming of national park once honouring slave trader part of 'truth telling' about Australia's past, elder says
Traditional custodians and South Sea Islander elders gather to officially mark the removal of Ben Boyd's name from a national park on the NSW far-south coast.
Sacha was determined to help save an endangered swan. So she followed it for 7,000km in a powered paraglider
The Australian biologist braved freezing temperatures and battled through thunderstorms to track the migratory journey of the Bewick's swan. Now, her efforts have been recognised with a prestigious conservation award.
Logging operations halted in NSW forest after dead glider discovered
The EPA has issued a stop-work order for timber harvesting in Tallaganda State Forest following the discovery of a deceased endangered glider.
Dead teenager's family calls for changes to child protection policy after inquest
The family an Indigenous teenager who died while in state care says recommendations of a coronial inquest into his death have not gone far enough.
RFS repeatedly attended hazard reduction burn before it led to Yankees Gap bushfire, coronial inquiry hears
The Yankees Gap bushfire destroyed four homes and covered 20,000 hectares in southern NSW in 2018, with an inquiry this week hearing RFS crews attended a hazard reduction burn and left before it broke containment lines and spread on August 15.
Wanderer Festival 2023's final line-up includes Sampa the Great, Ben Lee
They join the likes of Tijuana Cartel, Mourning [A] BLKstar, Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, Lonnie Hollie, Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers, and BATTS.
'It baffles me': Five years on, the Yankees Gap bushfire inquest is about to start and survivors have big questions
The 2018 fire destroyed homes, burned 20,000 hectares of bush over more than six weeks and cost the government millions to fight. Residents are still waiting for answers.
Man dies in highway crash, traffic affected in both directions
A crime scene has been established on the Princes Highway on NSW's south coast after a man died and two other adults were injured in a two-vehicle crash.
Court hears of horrific final moments of man’s life before 'brutal' murder by laughing, meth-crazed killer
A Cooma man who stabbed his friend more than 15 times during a paranoid drug-fuelled rage on an isolated Snowy Mountains road in 2021 has been sentenced to 24 years behind bars for his murder.
Witness to meth psychosis stabbing murder struggles with flashbacks, night terrors
A Cooma man will be sentenced later this month over the stabbing murder of a friend during a drug-fuelled rage.
Court orders child sex abuser to pay $1.4m in damages but advocates say his victim may not see a cent
Former Bega Cheese boss Maurice Van Ryn is ordered to pay one of his child sex abuse victims $1.4 million in damages and court costs after the judge found he had been left "very confused and depressed" by the repeated incidents.
Magistrate 'disgusted' with prosecutors as police officer charged with tasering 95yo faces court via video link
NSW Police Senior Constable Kristian White appears in court via video link charged with tasering 95-year-old dementia patient Clare Nowland, who died days later.
This 128-year-old bridge is a tourist drawcard, and its proposed upgrade has divided the community
The Wallaga Lake Bridge is 128 years old and has even featured in a Hollywood film, but its frequent repairs have some people asking if it is time to retire it.
A rail link connecting Canberra to Eden gets another look
The NSW transport minister promises to "have a fresh look" at a community proposal as "transport is a social determinant of health, education opportunity, and jobs".
NSW Ambulance apologises after industrial action delays sick toddler's transfer by 12 hours
The one-year-old boy was meant to be moved from Moruya to a larger hospital in Bega for treatment, but paramedics refused to transfer him.
Woman in tears during successful animal cruelty appeal
A woman sentenced earlier this year over animal cruelty offences and failing to comply with a court order restricting her ownership of horses, weeps while being told her prison time will be reduced on appeal.
Couples who lost everything in defective bushfire rebuilds plead for help
They were insured when the bushfires came, but not when they lost everything after signing up with builders who have now been stripped of their licenses. Now they are asking the federal government to step in and help.
'I can't believe it': Australian teen joins elite guest list for King Charles's coronation
When Tayla Green-Aldridge received a phone call inviting her to one of the biggest events of the century, the 18-year-old thought it was a prank.
Bush kids hit the beach as $50k wheat crop funds ultimate excursion
A tiny school of just 11 kids in northwest New South Wales has made a 900-kilometre journey to meet their small school pen pals.
Snowy Hydro and contractor fined $30k over Kosciuszko National Park pollution
The EPA says the companies caused a two-kilometre sediment plume to appear in Yarrangobilly River.