It’s a tradition that draws the eyes of swimmers every year, and Saturday was no exception. The Macedonian blessing of the waters was held at Newcastle Baths, and dozens came to celebrate a turning point in the faith’s history.

Food and wine lovers flocked to Merewether beach for a Sunday lunch, featuring some of the Hunter’s best flavours. Newcastle’s Inner City Winemakers and Urban Mess partnered together, creating french and catalonian style meals to match a range of urban wines. “We’re here to have a heap of fun and hopefully Newcastle catches on to that we’re expressing ourselves in this venue, and we hopefully start selling out these events more often.” – Tony Harrison, Urban Mess Chef. (AUDIO IN PARTS)

A spike in festival-related drug overdoses over the new year has left many calling for organised pill testing. Now, the Newcastle University Students’ Association plans to re-introduce free testing kits on campus in O-week.

It’s the biggest inter-club outrigger canoe race in the state, and on Saturday Newcastle got to welcome back some of the sport’s best. Dozens of teams coloured Newcastle Harbour for the seventh Pasha Dasha Grand Prix.

Newcastle Transport issued a warning on Friday for people to take more care around light rail infrastructure. Since November, there’s been several reported cases of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians crossing the tracks in a dangerous manner. Some of the main issues include drivers performing U-turns, queuing over the tracks, cycling and walking along the tramway. Newcastle Transport says many are oblivious to the dangers, and current behaviour could affect how the trams operate. The Light Rail is expected to be open for public use in the coming weeks.

It’s been a busy summer for the Hunter’s waterways, and Port Stephens is no exception. Police were out in full force alongside Marine Rescue on Saturday, in a new joint initiative to improve the safety of jetskis.

They’re often described as the transport of the future – but for one Dutchman, the future is now. He’s on the final stretch of a monumental journey to prove the worth of electric cars – a journey that’s brought him to Newcastle.

Nine Mile Beach is always popular over summer – but sadly not all visitors left the coastal stretch in a pristine state over Christmas. After spending several days picking up rubbish, Lake Macquarie residents say something has to change.

Firefighters were kept busy at Aberglasslyn on Tuesday night, after a substation blew up. Crews were called to Jacaranda Close shortly after seven o’clock. Nearby homes were without power for several hours while the blaze was put out. The incident’s understood to have been caused by a power surge. A temporary back-up was put in place, and supply has since been restored.

One of the Hunter’s oldest communities, Maitland is steeped in history – but its museum operates out of a small room. Two years after opening, it wants to expand its collection… but it’s reached a crossroads in terms of government funding.