With the Sydney Northern Beaches cluster growing, the Premier has flagged imposing restrictions and many states and territories are reacting with changes to border restrictions. Stay up-to-date with the latest news via the ABC live blog here.

COVID-19 LIVE BLOG

Thank you to all of you, our amazing ABC Sydney listeners! Together, we have raised over $250,000 for The Smith Family during the ABC Sydney Christmas Appeal over the past two weeks, with 90% of it in one day on 10 December.

It has been a big year, with plenty of ups and downs, and we are so grateful to be ending 2020 on a high with you, our generous ABC Sydney community.

Your donations will help Australia's largest education-focused charity, The Smith Family, to give thousands of children a gift to open on Christmas morning and help fund ongoing learning programs in 2021.

This is our last e-newsletter for the year, thank you for reading and joining us on the ride that has been 2020! We'll be back in the new year, with all your favourite local programs returning from 18 January 2021.  

Stay safe, and happy holidays,

Everyone at ABC Radio Sydney

ABOUT THE APPEAL

All your Christmas gift problems sorted - reader by reader! Drive presenter Richard Glover's annual Booksellers Forum is back and this year your passionate booksellers this year are Jon Page from Dymocks, Lindy Jones from Abbeys and David Gaunt from Gleebooks.

THE 2020 LIST

Western Sydney student Caleb hit Year 5 well behind his peers in academic achievement, his mum says largely as a result of not keeping up with homework. The Smith Family's Learning Club has helped turn that around.

CALEB'S STORY

On Afternoons, James Valentine wanted to know your Christmas memories - and one particular toy really stood out! Listeners shared their loving (and traumatic) memories of the iconic Baby Alive doll, which was on the Christmas list of many.

READ THE STORIES

A rollout of a key aspect of the NSW budget is delayed for quieter economic times, as businesses see an uptick in foot traffic across Sydney's CBD.

LEARN MORE

"You can't play with that — you're a girl."

For parents trying to raise respectful sons, hearing their boy utter a comment like this can be confronting. It can also raise questions about how to respond: Should you laugh it off, gently correct them, or launch into a full-blown lecture on gender equality? 

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

A beautifully glazed ham is a Christmas showstopper and it couldn't be simpler to glaze your own. We've got the tips to make it as stress-free as possible. 

GET COOKING