Our Journalists

Cydonee Mardon has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, specialising in crime reporting. She has also worked as a sub-editor and covered court, health, politics and general news on country, suburban and regional newspapers and wire services. The highlight of her career so far remains her current job and covering the four-month trial of backpacker serial killer Ivan Milat in 1996.

@cydmardon

Cydonee Mardon

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Police & Courts

Police on the scene of a shooting in Wollongong CBD on January 6, 2021. Picture: 9 News

Prison officer hasn’t returned to work after shooting

A female Corrective Services officer remains off work after an inmate stole her gun and shot himself. The “medium risk” prisoner has been identified as an investigation is under way.

LiveNSW Coronavirus News

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NCA NewsWire Photos JANUARY, 09, 2021: NSW Health workers dressed in Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) are seen waiting for patients at the St Vincent's Hospital drive through COVID-19 testing clinic at Bondi Beach, in Sydney. The Northern Beaches of Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

One new local COVID case; Northern Beaches lockdown ends

NSW has recorded one new local case of COVID-19 linked to the Berala cluster while the upper section of the northern beaches is due to finish its three-week lockdown. LATEST COVID REPORTS

Police & Courts

Charges laid after two employees detained during Ermington armed robbery, Two men have been charged after two employees were allegedly detained during an armed robbery at a business in Sydney’s north-west earlier this week., About 8pm on Tuesday (5 January 2021), three men – armed with knives – entered a business at Betty Cuthbert Avenue, Ermington., The men allegedly threatened two male employees – aged 20 and 34 – before demanding cash and physically assaulting the older staff member., Both employees were then detained and bound, before the group allegedly stole cash and left the area., Emergency services were contacted a short time later after a customer located the men and rendered assistance., The younger man was treated at the scene, while the older man was taken to Westmead Hospital with head injuries., Officers from Cumberland Police Area Command, with assistance from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad, commenced inquiries into the incident., Following extensive investigations, Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives, with assistance from Bass Hill Region Enforcement Squad, executed search warrants at homes at Bankstown and Bardia from 7am yesterday (Friday 8 January 2021)., During the searches, officers seized a number of items relevant to the investigation., Two men – aged 19 and 21 – were arrested during the operation and taken to Liverpool Police Station., The younger man was charged with armed with intent to commit indictable offence, commit s114 offence (having previous conviction), police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, unlicensed for Class (Class C, R, LR or MR), steal motor vehicle, two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon and two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner., The older man was charged with two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon and three counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner., Police will allege in court that the men were involved in the armed robbery at the Ermington business earlier this week., It will also be alleged that the men were involved in an armed robbery at a telecommunications store at Dampier Place, Prestons, in November last year., , They were both refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Saturday 9 January 2021)., , Investigations are continuing., , Anyone with information that may assist detectives is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.,

Arrests after Sydney-wide string of armed robberies

Two men have been charged over a series of armed robberies across Sydney.

LiveNSW Coronavirus News

Pair in self-isolation after leaving airport; Strict new mask rules

A NSW couple who sparked a manhunt after leaving Melbourne Airport without going into quarantine claim they “got caught up with the confusion” of changing rules. This comes as masks will be mandatory on public transport and other indoor settings as NSW records seven local cases.

PicturesNSW

WEEKEND TELEGRAPHS SPECIAL. MUST TALK WITH PIC ED JEFF DARMANIN BEFORE PUBLISHING. MUST NOTE EMBARGOED TILL SUNDAY THE 27TH DECEMBER 2020. Mogo Wildlife Park baby Lion cubs in the care of Chad Staples. Zoo keeper Chad is still devastated by the death of his stunning lioness Zuri, yet he can comfort in caring for her two adorable cubs, who would not have survived in the wild. Chad will now be the primary carer of the cubs. Pictures supplied., , ,

Orphan lion cubs lost a mum but gained a dad

Mogo zookeeper Chad Staples is taking care of two adorable lion cubs after the harrowing death of their mum, lioness Zuri, who died from complications of childbirth.

ExclusiveNSW

WEEKEND TELEGRAPHS SPECIAL. MUST TALK WITH PIC ED JEFF DARMANIN BEFORE PUBLISHING..Australian Army officer, Commanding Officer 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Adam Gower, stands at attention in front of the Ready Battle Group on parade, RAAF Base Edinburgh. *** Local Caption *** The 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (7 RAR) have marked their transition to Ã¢â‚¬Å“ReadyÃ¢â‚¬Â with a parade at AdelaideÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s RAAF Base Edinburgh on Thursday, 10 October 2019. The soldiers will form part of the 1st BrigadeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Ready Battle Group (RBG), which provides the Australian Government with a reliable, scalable and flexible option to respond to a range of operational contingencies at short notice. Over the next 12 months, 1st Brigade soldiers will deploy into known theatres of operation while the RBG remain poised Ã¢â‚¬Å“ReadyÃ¢â‚¬Â in South Australia to support short notice local and regional contingencies. The RGB may be supplemented by other capabilities depending on the mission, including engineers, military police and logistics specialists. The last time 1st Brigade assumed responsibility for Ã¢â‚¬Å“ReadyÃ¢â‚¬Â was back in 2017. The responsibility is rotated through each of the Australian ArmyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s three combat brigades on a 12 month cycle.

‘Mentally unstable’ soldiers sent onto shooting ranges

Medically unfit soldiers claim senior officers are ordering troops onto shooting ranges, armed with live weapons — essentially overriding medical certificates.

ExclusiveNSW

BOWEN, AUSTRALIA - JULY 22: An Australian infantry soldier from 2 RAR (Royal Australian Regiment) walks along the beach after disembarking in an amphibious operation on July 22, 2019 in Bowen, Australia. Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 is the largest exercise that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) conducts with all four services of the United States armed forces. The biennial exercise focuses on crisis action planning and humanitarian missions, enhancing participating nations' capabilities to deal with regional contingencies and terrorism. It is the first time the NZDF has been invited to participate fully, with NZDF personnel to be working as part of a large force led by the Australians and NZDF military assets will be integrated with those of the ADF and the US armed forces. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

‘Poo smeared on car’: Young soldier’s pain at bullying

An Australian digger claims he was sexually assaulted on base by a “bully”, had his car smeared with human faeces and told to “go ahead and kill himself”.

ExclusiveNSW

Generic pictures of students leaving school. Check with legal and students not to be identified.A 17-year-old student at Epping Boys High School has become the subject of a formal investigation by counter-terrorism police, The Australian has reported. NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Murdoch, who heads up the state's counter-terrorism police, told the newspaper a student was being investigated over alleged attempts to "influence students in his school to adopt extremist views.

High school investigates teacher over classroom safety SOS

At least one teacher is being investigated at a Sydney high school after staff raised concerns about classroom safety.

ExclusiveNSW

Diggers’ ‘piss and poop’ tracking humiliation

A classified ‘Piss and Poop Tracker’ recording the toilet habits of defence personnel has been slammed as a blatant attempt to strip them of their dignity.

NSW

WEEKEND TELEGRAPHS SPECIAL. MUST TALK WITH PIC ED JEFF DARMANIN BEFORE PUBLISHING. Leading Aircraftman Robert Phillips, 33, died by suicide on November 1 this year Danny, 10, and Isla, seven and partner Kylie Tonon.

Digger deaths: 10 ADF suicides in three weeks

Soldiers and their families are calling on the Australian Defence Force to ‘do better’ at supporting troubled troops after 10 suicides in a horror three weeks.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/journalists/cydonee-mardon/page/74