Twelve months after the Hunter Valley bus crash claimed the lives of 10 people, affected communities and first responders are still coming to terms with the tragedy. 

As the nation prepares to mark the first anniversary of the Hunter Valley bus crash, steps continue to be taken to improve bus safety and ensure a similar tragedy never happens again. 

The 36-year-old was last year sentenced to nearly five years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in her Newcastle home on the night of the 2018 NRL grand final.

A bill designed to improve the lives of those living in residential land lease communities has passed through NSW parliament.

Fans' fears have been allayed with Maverick Sports Partners promising the revolving door of owners will end with them.

Mark West, who is working on songs for his first EP, says rap beats and rhymes are helping his mental health.

The Maroons were playing against the odds in Women's State of Origin II but, like the best Queensland wins, they played as if it was them against the world and the world never stood a chance. 

South Gippsland musicians Eric Collier and Janine Garvey head up the band No Promises, which has penned an open letter to the Australian music industry imploring them to "just listen". Their new song Singing My Lines asks why the industry hasn't so far.

When Bronwen and Geoff Tyler bought acreage on Newcastle’s fringe, it was to have space for the family horse. But that land turned into a vast canvas – with the help of a local horticultural guru.

The ABC will celebrate all things books from June 10 to 16, which includes Radio National's Big Weekend of Books on June 15 and 16. Tune in to ABC Local Radio through the week where we'll be talking about books, reading and community.
 

Whether you're into thrillers, non-fiction, fantasy, or anything in between, there'll be something for every kind of book lover!

King's honours: More than a dozen Hunter people were recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List for their contributions to their local community. Scone local John Brooks received an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to the veteran and local sport community. Port Stephens local Ruth Wilson was also awarded an OAM for her service to hot air ballooning, while Lake Macquarie's Audrey Koosmen (pictured above) has been recognised with an OAM for her work in animal conservation. Hunter detectives Kristi and Matthew Faber received Australian Police Medals. Ms Faber was recognised for more than 30 years of service, particularly for her role pursuing child sex offenders. Mr Faber was honoured for more than three decades of service, leading multiple strike forces combating serious and violent crimes.
 

Image supplied: Audrey Koosmen
 

Record coal jobs: Coal mining jobs in New South Wales reached record numbers in March this year, new NSW Minerals Council data shows. More than 25,000 jobs were recorded, marking the highest number of coal jobs since Coal Services began tracking the numbers in 1998. The figures show there were 14,750 coal mining jobs in the Hunter in March.
 

Respiratory infections up: There's an unseasonably high number of pneumonia and whooping cough cases in school-aged children, according to Hunter New England Health. It says the illnesses are circulating in the community at their highest levels since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The conditions are especially dangerous for infants aged under six months but are spiking in children up to 14 years.
 

Focus on Tomaree Lodge's future: It's highly unlikely the controversial Tomaree Lodge site will be turned into emergency housing, Port Stephens MP Kate Washington says. The lodge, which was formerly disability accommodation, has sat vacant for three years and cost the government $1 million annually. The government will set up a community engagement committee in coming weeks, with a call for community members to join.
 

Dog facility investigated: The state government has directed the independent regulator for the greyhound industry to investigate a dog rehoming facility in Lake Macquarie. The Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission will review several allegations made regarding the Wyee rehoming facility Greyhounds As Pets. It comes after the facility was temporarily closed in May to be repurposed for a program which rehomes dogs from the United States. The commission will review allegations relating to injuries to greyhounds at the centre and Greyhound Racing NSW's response to animal welfare concerns raised by staff. Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris says the allegations require further review as they have the potential to undermine public trust and integrity in the industry.
 

Hunter rugby event for all abilities: Former Newcastle Knight Owen Craigie has launched a disability rugby league event to be held in the Hunter later this year. The National Disability Rugby League Festival will take place on December 6 and 7, featuring graded football geared to different ability levels and special needs. Craigie, who was part of the Knights' 1997 premiership winning side, is the founder of Dreamtime Disability Services. He says rugby league is a game for all.
 

Record Origin crowd: Despite pouring rain rugby league fans in Newcastle still turned out for the city's first women's State of Origin game. A new record for a women's rugby league game was set last Thursday with a crowd of 25,872. New South Wales led for most of game, but in the end a field goal sealed victory for Queensland 11-10.
 

Knights go down in Melbourne: Despite a late fightback the Newcastle Knights fell short to the Storm in Melbourne at the weekend 36-28. Cessnock junior Fletcher Sharpe was a late inclusion at fullback, scoring a try on debut. The Knights will be looking to bounce back against defending premiers the Panthers at Hunter Stadium on Sunday.