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ABC Newcastle journalist relives deadly train crash 30 years on

It's 30 years on from a deadly New South Wales rail disaster, involving a steam train and a passenger service on the line between Newcastle and Sydney.

Journalist Giselle Wakatama was on one of those trains and remembers that day.

Upper Hunter principal puts spring back in students' step

One Upper Hunter school principal is doing everything he can to put a smile on his students' faces through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Muswellbrook's St James Primary School principal Aaron Moon wears fancy dress each day to help put his school community at ease.

Mr Moon has also reached out to high profile people asking them to send a video message to his students.

Ruby Princess passenger vows to sail again

A Lake Macquarie man, who was on board the Ruby Princess cruise ship and contracted coronavirus, says doctors at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital saved his life.

Jim Hamilton was rushed to hospital two weeks after disembarking the ill-fated cruise ship, which has been linked to 21 deaths and more than 600 cases of COVID-19.

Flower growers rejoice as business booms

Four weeks ago Joe Olivieri from Doyalson had to destroy $50,000 worth of flowers as florists shut and events were cancelled due to coronavirus.

He feared the worst for his business but Mr Olivieri says there's been a complete reversal of fortunes.

Coronavirus case numbers remain stable in the Hunter

The number of coronavirus cases has not risen in the Hunter region for more than a week.

The number of confirmed cases stand at 277.

What else made news this week?

• Monday: Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp has slammed the State Government for trying to make changes to how victims of crime can access support during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Tuesday: Hunter New England Health says a coronavirus clinic, capable of testing up to 900 people a day, will open at Hunter Stadium on Friday.
• Wednesday: The Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association says it's disappointing wine growers,whose vineyards were impacted by smoke taint, won't benefit from a Federal Government bushfire recovery fund.
• Thursday: A salvage operation, for containers lost overboard from a Taiwanese-owned ship almost two years ago off the coast of Newcastle, has resumed, after rough seas and strong winds delayed works.

What people liked on Facebook this week

• How beautiful are these bins? During the coronavirus lockdown people have been looking for anything to brighten their day. A bin isolation outing group was formed on Facebook, with people dressing up to put out their garbage bins. Newcastle resident April Newman took a different take on it and instead decorated her bins!
• Corrective Services NSW says inmates' calls for drug withdrawal therapy sparked a riot at Cessnock jail.
•  A Port Stephens oyster grower says he's lost around 90% of sales due to coronavirus. Oyster farmers across NSW are experiencing a significant downturn in demand due to the closure of restaurants and pubs.
•  Newcastle musician and former Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns has acknowledged an apology issued by The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, regarding a story in published in August last year. 

Best bits on air this week

• Lake Macquarie teenager Lawson Rankin was critically injured in a motor scooter accident in Bali last year. Lawson's father Phil spoke to Drive's Paul Turton and explained why his son's journey to recovery has made him a better man.
• As health restrictions are relaxed, what can you do to help stop the spread of coronavirus? ABC's Dan and Jenny spoke to Hunter New England Health Public Health Physician Dr David Durrheim about the importance of getting yourself tested.
• Imagine a time when cancer isn't as scary as it is now. That's the world researchers are trying to create as they get up and personal with cancer cells. The University of Newcastle's Associate Professor Nikki Verrills spoke with Morning's Kia Handley.
• It was a mozzie season to remember but thankfully recent cold weather is bringing it to an end. ABC Breakfast's Dan and Jenny spoke to mosquito specialist with NSW Health Pathology, Dr Cameron Webb, about the unusual season. 

Meet ABC Newcastle Breakfast producer Christine Sheridan

Christine Sheridan starts work most mornings at 4.30am as one of the producers on the Breakfast show with Dan and Jenny. She says the best thing about her job is listening to other people's stories. Christine says work is never boring and she loves her Breakfast team.

After work Christine loves going for a swim at Newcastle's Bar Beach and on the weekend she likes to catch up with friends over a margarita!  She also loves her mum's cooking and her border collie Jackson!

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