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Woman meets her 'knight in shining armour' (and childhood crush) 50 years on

An Upper Hunter man who rescued a classmate from a schoolyard bully has been thanked more than 50 years later. It happened when Sydney woman Sandra Goodwin called the ABC's Evenings program to share the story of how Wayne Bailey had come to her aid when she was five (you can read about that here). Mr Bailey, who now lives in Wybong, called the station and the two have reunited.

Court rules deportation of murderer should be reconsidered

The father of a convicted Newcastle murderer says he has dreamed of the day his son walks free. Mark Basa, then 16, was convicted of killing Zane McCready in 2005. After being released from jail he was placed in the Villawood Detention Centre and has been fighting deportation ever since. This week the Federal Court ruled in his favour.

NSW ministers accused of favouritism in arts spending

It's been revealed almost 95 per cent of a $47 million arts fund was spent in Coalition seats in the lead-up to the 2019 New South Wales election. Only one Labor seat won funding of $4,000, and Labor MP for Cessnock Clayton Barr believes his local theatre's bid was rejected for political reasons.

Wambo mine to temporarily close amid coronavirus downturn

The COVID-19 pandemic and falling demand for thermal coal has prompted the owners of a Hunter Valley underground coal mine to partially shut down operations.

US energy giant Peabody said it would temporarily suspend part of the Wambo Underground Mine, west of Singleton, for 59 days while maintaining essential development to support future production.

94-year-old mother calls for release of royal commission findings

The mother of a Newcastle abuse victim, whose suicide death was the focus of a 2016 royal commission probe, fears she will die before the findings are made public. Thirteen-year-old Andrew Nash died by suicide in 1974. Audrey Nash is calling for the royal commission findings to be released.

'Big Saturday' and the wave of the day

"It almost blew me off me feet and I couldn't see a thing." People will be talking about the huge surf off Merewether last Saturday for many years to come. But one ride stood out ... local surfer Tim Dickson's huge barrel.

What else made news this week....

What people liked on Facebook....

•  While crowds flocked to Newcastle beaches to see huge waves crash onto the shore over the weekend, Stockton Beach again bore the brunt of wild weather.
•  The University of Newcastle is expected to suffer a $58 million loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. The figure was revealed by Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinsky in a recent staff update.
•  Newcastle Council will use the proceeds from the sale of three buildings to partly fund the restoration of the city's iconic ocean baths.
• The Australian Reptile Park has welcomed the first koala born at the park since the devastating bushfires. Her name is Ash and she's adorable! 
• Fire and Rescue crews have extinguished a fire in a restaurant on Newcastle harbour. The fire broke out in the flue of the kitchen in the Wharf Road restaurant just after 11am this morning. Watch a quick video here.

Best bits on air this week....

• Hanging out is okay, but hugging isn't. Coronavirus is changing our boundaries, so how do we talk about them with people close to us? Relationship coach with The Sugar Doctor, Tara Whitewood, spoke with Morning's Kia Handley.
•  A Hunter fitness industry worker has started a petition calling for the NSW Government to reopen gyms with social distancing measures in place, as restrictions ease for some other industries next week. But what needs to be done to stop the spread of coronavirus in a gym? Breakfast's Jenny Marchant spoke to Newcastle University's Professor Brett Mitchell.
•  Big swells over the weekend caused erosion along Stockton Beach, which revealed some of the beach's military history. Hunter-based military historian David Dial OAM spoke to Drive's Paul Turton. 
•  Sparrow Folk are known for their satirical songs and fun melodies, but the comedy duo has given the jokes a rest to say thank you to frontline workers. Catherine Crowley told Jenny Marchant about how an idea to serenade local pharmacy workers turned into a serious project of gratitude.

Meet journalist Giselle Wakatama

Giselle is in our Newcastle newsroom. She says her favourite thing about the job is advocating for people without a voice. She also loves making a difference for people in need and collaborating with her workmates.

Outside of work Giselle loves having barbecues with friends, scootering and walking with her son, bingeing on crime shows (when she has the time) and visiting her mum's farm.

Her favourite food is garlic prawns, and it's a toss up for her favourite movie: The Shawshank Redemption, Out of Africa or Napoleon Dynamite.

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