Neville Joseph Knight abused boys he had met while working as a boxing coach and youth worker at different PCYCs in regional NSW between 1967 and 2003.

The NSW Upper Hunter is in the Coalition's sights for a nuclear reactor. An inquiry held on Tuesday in Muswellbrook has highlighted fears about the future of employment in the region, but there was no mention of the string of earthquakes that hit in recent months.

The 25-year-old man had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and destroying property by fire after visiting the unit of Graham Cameron, who was found with fatal stab wounds.

Scone's Pauline Carrigan began the group Where There's a Will to improve mental wellbeing in the region after the loss of her son to suicide in 2015. She's announced she will now step away from the group after eight years.

ADHD made life hard, until Alliyah found something that helped. Now she’s had more than 70 commissioned artworks! 

ABC reporter Rachel Cronin met up with the group at Bar Beach to find out more about it.

A man accused of the chronic abuse of his daughter with multiple personalities has been found guilty of raping her and a sibling over several years.

Recently elected Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz speaks with the ABC’s Scott Bevan about the future of green spaces while rambling through Thomas H. Halton Park at Croudace Bay.

He spent 22 years on the ASP and WSL world tours, winning four events and finishing runner up at the World Titles in 2000. Now, Merewether boardrider Luke Egan will forever sit alongside Australia's very best, with his name etched in Surfing Australia's Hall of Fame.

Superstar fullback Tamika Upton has signed a three-year contract to return to Brisbane, in a huge coup for the perennial NRLW heavyweights.

Knights back to school: While the Knights' men's team is back at intensive pre-season training, the players found some time to get out into the community last week. Dylan Lucas, Tyson Gamble, Tyson Frizell and James Schiller (pictured above) led a wellbeing session at the Waratah Public School on Friday.
 

Image credit: ABC Newcastle/Bridget Murphy
 

Man charged over fire, explosions: A 66-year-old man will remain behind bars after being charged over an alleged arson attack on two law offices on the Central Coast last week. There werea series of explosions and fires in two office buildings in Gosfordon Thursday. Central Coast's Gary Steven Middleton was arrested on Friday at a home in Wallarah and faced court on Saturday. He didn't apply for bail and is expected to return to court in February. 
 

What's your bushfire risk? A CSIRO project to create bushfire risk maps, as a result of the Black Summer royal commission, has given insight into fire risk across the Greater Hunter. A majority of the Hunter has a slightly elevated risk of bushfire, while some areas around Singleton have a reduced risk. You can see the risk in your town through our interactive map here.
 

Nats announce Lyne candidate: The Nationals Party has selected Alison Penfold to run for the seat of Lyne at the next federal election. She previously worked as an advisor for former deputy prime ministers Mark Vaile and Warren Truss, and more recently as a staffer for retiring Lyne MP David Gillespie.
 

Review into PFAS contamination at Williamtown: A Fullerton Cove resident has welcomed a review into PFAS contamination around defence bases but says it must be acted on. The federal government announced on Friday it has agreed to almost all recommendations made in the independent review, which focused on three defence bases, including the Williamtown RAAF Base. A national coordinating body will be established to respond to the specific needs of communities affected by the cancer-linked chemicals. Lindsay Clout says the report reflected the community's concerns and now there must be tangible changes. 
 

Missile facility turns the sod: The company behind a multi-million-dollar missile manufacturing facility near the Newcastle Airport says it'll employ about 100 locals once operational. Defence technology firm Kongsberg turned the first sod on the facility on Friday. About 500 people will be employed during the construction phase. Kongsberg Defence Australia's general manager John Fry says there'll be additional jobs in the supply chain long term to support their output.
 

Denman aged care will receive $9.5m: The federal government has announced a grant of more than $9.5 million to an aged care company in the Upper Hunter to build a new facility. Merton Living operates the current aged care facility in Denman and will receive funding to help build a new 30-bed aged care centre.
 

Sangha's big knock: Newcastle's Jason Sangha scored a century in his first Sheffield Shield match for South Australia against Tasmania on Friday. Sangha joined South Australia in the off-season after a six-year stint with new South Wales. It was his fifth hundred in first-class cricket and his first in more than two years.
 

Jets slump: The Jets men's and women's sides both copped losses at the weekend. Men's coach Rob Stanton slammed his side for its 1-nil loss to Adelaide United at the Hunter Stadium on Saturday, while the women's team went down 2-nil to Adelaide in South Australia on Sunday.

From show-stopping mains to easy summer salads and fun desserts, we have your Christmas feast covered. 

Get ready for the action of a huge summer of cricket, with expert ODI, T20 and Test cricket coverage, plus the explosive men's and women's BBL live and ad-free. Join ABC SPORT's expert commentary team including Jim Maxwell, Harsha Bhogle, Sunil Gavaskar, Darren Lehmann and more.
 

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