A year in which Australia was rocked by hard-hitting stories is drawing to a close. Some of the more noteworthy incidents included the revival of a high-profile cold murder case, a horrific rape and the mystery of needles appearing in strawberries, sparking a nationwide recall of the fruit. Knife-wielding terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali left Melbourne reeling in November after he stabbed three people, including the fatal stabbing of Sisto Malaspina and a spate of vicious shark attacks occurred at the Whitsunday Islands. Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the most ground-breaking stories across Australia in 2018. NEW SOUTH WALES UNDERWORLD: Former Comanchero boss Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi is gunned down outside a gym, years after he stepped away from his colourful life in Sydney’s underworld. (Feb) Two members of the rival Lone Wolf club and a third man are charged with the killing months after Hawi’s extravagant funeral. FIRE: Bushfires rip through idyllic holiday village Tathra on the state’s south coast, cutting the only road out of town and raining embers down on homes. More than 60 houses are destroyed and asbestos is strewn throughout the town, prompting a massive and ongoing recovery effort. (March) FAREWELL: Family and friends…