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They'll have to do two rapid antigen tests (RATs) twice a week and wear masks. Excursions and mingling with other students will be kept to a minimum. That's the NSW Government's plan to get children back to school — but what do the kids think? 

Vision taken from the Glenrock scout camp of the Hillsong youth festival went viral this month. It sparked memes and public outrage as thousands of young people could be seen singing and dancing without masks or social distancing. Why did it spark such huge emotions in the community? 

Former NBN newsreader Paul Lobb says it's been a "great honour" to have held the job of TV news anchor in the Hunter for 10 years. In December he was told he was no longer required, sparking a public outcry from Novocastrians. 

It seems the Hunter is the place everyone wants to be. Total land values in the Hunter Coast rose by more than 36 per cent in the last financial year, the largest increase in the state. Residential land values rose by more than 38 per cent for the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens local government areas collectively. 

A Scone doctor has accused the federal government of failing to appreciate the strain COVID has placed on regional doctors. Richard Abbott says people in his community are being told to wait for more than a month for non-urgent appointments as health services are stretched. 

Events that bring the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community together should be held more often in Newcastle, Worimi descendant Teresa Dargan says. She performed the Welcome to Country at an inaugural event in Newcastle on Tuesday night. It was such a success that there's now a push to host it annually.

There's something happening in the cottages around the lighthouse on the Nobby-Whibayganba Headland. Artists have taken over and they want you to look inside. 

It's #vanlife with a difference. Instead of fitting out a van to travel the nation, doctor Daniel Nour has created a mobile medical clinic and, after being named the Young Australian of the Year (read more about that here), he wants to bring a van to the Hunter. 

Kylie Facer was faced with the unthinkable when her daughter had a stroke in 2016. It led her down a path of research and learning to help other families, and now she's part of the first Childhood Stroke Live Experience Advisory Group. 

Young readers are singing Dolly Parton's praise in Cessnock. The singer's Imagination Library has delivered a shipment of books to the library to help improve the literacy levels of young readers. 

Supercars postponed: It was meant to be held in March, but this week it was announced the Newcastle Supercars 500 would be postponed because of COVID-19 concerns. Supercars chief executive Shane Howard says he's determined to see the race go ahead and hopes it can happen later this year. Read the full story here.

Investigations into COVID baby death: The coroner is investigating the death of a two-month-old baby who died at John Hunter Hospital in December. Dr Kerry Chant says that after conversations with the family, the report will be made public when it is finalised. Read more.

COVID update: There are currently 81 COVID cases receiving care in hospitals and seven in intensive care across the Hunter New England health district. More than 1,800 new cases were recorded in the latest reporting period. Earlier this week, Hunter New England Health said at least 15 per cent of residents in the health district had contracted COVID so far.

Tests hard to come by: An Upper Hunter pharmacist says rapid antigen tests are still in extremely short supply, despite an extra 6 million people becoming eligible for free swabs. Concession card holders are now entitled to 10 free tests within a three-month period. Muswellbrook pharmacist Alex Counsel fielded calls from card holders looking to buy tests, but had to turn them away. She says it's unclear when they'll get stock.

Lightfoot hurdles PB: Maitland's Mitchell Lightfoot has climbed the Australian all-time rankings after winning the 110m hurdle race in a personal best time of 13.52 seconds at the NSW Country Championships in Maitland. 

Hospital wait times: Federal health data shows the average wait time for non-urgent elective surgeries across all Hunter New England hospitals was more than nine months. Last year the wait time was 289 days, slightly up on the year before. All urgent non-elective surgery was completed within a recommended time in both years. But some hospitals weren't able to do all non-urgent elective surgery within a year, with a quarter of patients at the John Hunter Hospital waiting more than 12 months.

Strong trade: Figures from the Port of Newcastle show trade remained strong last year despite China's ongoing ban on Australian coal. A total of 166 million tonnes of trade was shipped through the port, an increase of 1.6 million tonnes compared to the previous year. Coal accounted for 94 per cent of the port's trade and was down slightly. But business development manager Matthew Swan says there was 10 million tonnes in other exports, including 3 million tonnes of wheat.

Here's a throwback for you: this photo was taken at Pelaw Main a few years ago after a fire. The breathtaking orange sky looks as if it has been altered, it is so surreal. A big thanks to Sue Joy of @twicebittenwithsuejoy for sharing it with us via #ABCmyphoto on Instagram. 

You can show everyone what the world looks like where you live by using the hashtag on Instagram or by uploading your photos online here. 

It's the perfect weather to welcome in the last month of summer. Temperatures are nudging into the 30s and there's sunshine with just a couple of showers on the cards as we head into the weekend. 

And thanks to Sara Dowling for this stunning photo of a sunrise over Dungog.

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ABC Newcastle acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.