ABC North Coast resident arts reviewer, Jeanti St Clair looks at the latest music and theatre to hit the region.

Sam Neill says he's in the "cheering-up" business. Acting is his profession, winemaking is his passion and now in times of COVID-19, the 72-year-old is delighting the masses on social media.

MORNING BRIEFING: Photos shared on social media appear to show two NRL players defying coronavirus restrictions on a camping trip on the NSW Mid-North Coast, while aged care homes say the PM's advice on visitors is "cavalier and careless".

An angry nursing home operator says she will keep the doors of her facility firmly closed to visitors, claiming the aged-care sector has been "demonised".

An entomologist says it's been a 'bumper year' for moths on the Gold Coast but when will our backyard lights be safe from these 'drab' insects?

Experts warn unemployment could soar to 20 per cent in the Shoalhaven, so how will a region that relies on tourism survive when no tourists are allowed in?

NSW's social-distancing shutdown will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future, despite just two new coronavirus infections being recorded yesterday and some other states relaxing their laws.

NSW has recorded two new coronavirus infections with 4,400 tests conducted. It is the lowest number of new cases recorded in the state since March 8.

A Mid North Coast school is bucking the state trend planning to have all its students on campus by May 11 and says a previous COVID-19 case has adequately prepared it for any future outbreaks.

MORNING BRIEFING: The NSW Premier's leadership through the coronavirus crisis receives a 70 per cent approval rating, while Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beaches reopen for exercise only.

Australia's COVID-19 death toll rises to 88 after four more fatalities at a western Sydney aged care facility, bringing the total number of coronavirus fatalities at the centre to 11.

Metadata has not provided any evidence the allegedly falsified annual report was downloaded from the City of Sydney website by anyone in Energy Minister Angus Taylor's office, NSW police confirm.

Farmers are finally starting to pick up the pieces from a devastating drought, but now those on the land say they have an even bigger issue as the wild dog problem strengthens.

There have been five new cases from over 4,112 people tested in the last 24 hours in NSW.

A 79-year-old "miracle man" blows kisses to the medical team at Dubbo Base Hospital and fights back tears as he heads home after making a full recovery from coronavirus.

Coronavirus survivor, Jayson O'Brien has thanked medical staff at Western New South Wales Local Health District for saving his life.

Walgett Cafe 64 closes its doors due to dwindling income revenue caused by coronavirus.

Tributes flow from across the political divide after Ian Causley, one of the NSW North Coast's longest serving members of Parliament, dies aged 79.

NSW Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant has declared Lithgow to be a COVID-19 hotspot after an untraceable case emerged over the weekend.

Police charge Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr with firearms offences after a weekend getaway as the NRL fines the pair and two other players for "putting the game and community at risk".

It started with a "scratchy throat", but now almost every day at Newmarch House brings another death — here's what we know about the nursing home at the centre of a massive coronavirus outbreak.

Mr Millard says all residents have been provided mobile phones but it's not always possible to assist with calls.

Police hunt two men they believe broke into a Cherrybrook home and assaulted 86-year-old Colin Saliba, who sustained fatal head injuries in the attack, and his wife Josephine, who remains in hospital.

A family warns that compassionate exemptions to the coronavirus ban on interstate travel are unclear after dad was turned back at the border.

After spearheading the fight to combat the summer's devastating bushfires, NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons leaves his job today and says his new role will take on the bushfire recovery efforts.

Jeered in more conservative times for ordering a swimmer "wearing nothing but a smile" to cover up, lifesaving legend Warren Young now looks to call it a day.

A New South Wales Rural Fire Service shed that was destroyed last year, while firies battled to save homes in their community, is set to be rebuilt.

For Muriel Halsted, being part of the world of social media isn't something she's ever given much thought to.

Long-serving Federal Labor MP Mike Kelly ends months of speculation by making the "gut wrenching" decision to resign from Parliament.

As bushfire victims work to rebuild their lives after the devastating Australian summer, a group of quilters is stitching together beautiful handmade squares from around the world to offer a gift that is like a "nice warm hug".

Given only weeks or months to live, Gail Baker's dying wish is for her sister to travel from New Zealand to care for her toward the end of her life. But red tape is preventing her from doing so.

A judge finds BOC Limited is not responsible for the actions of a "disobedient" contractor involved in a gas mix-up at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital that left a newborn baby dead.

Widespread soaking rain in the New South Wales Central West has upped farmers' confidence for a bumper winter cropping season.

Police find NRL player Nathan Cleary committed no offence after videos emerged of a group of women at his home, but the five women have been slugged with $1,000 fines.

The Government's stimulus packages have been set up to get people through the COVID-19 pandemic, but how will unemployed Australians fare as we come out the other side?

On March 31, the Premier enacted stricter social-distancing measures "for our own good" — here's how people in Australia's worst-affected coronavirus state survived, and thrived amid the lockdown.

Historians often argue about the nature and extent of Aboriginal resistance to European settlement but one person who is clearly linked to that resistance is Pemulwuy.

The number of coronavirus fatalities at the Newmarch House aged care home in Western Sydney continues to climb, as the NSW Premier asks the Federal Government to intervene in the "horrific" situation.

There's no fuss, no entourage and no star ego, writes producer Vanessa Gorman, on filming with Sam Neill.

After a frustrating wait, the bushfire clean-up effort is set to ramp up in South East NSW with around 300 properties to be cleared each week.

A judge says the attack on Pakistani national Zeeshan Akbar, who was stabbed to death at a Caltex outlet in Queanbeyan in 2017 during a robbery, was an act of "unmitigated cowardice".

Gold Coasters are warned that eased restrictions on travel in Queensland may not apply in NSW, with stiff fines for non-essential travel south of the border a possibility.

The Illawarra union movement pays tribute to a Dapto man who has not missed a May Day march in 88 years.

As temperatures plunge it is possible you are reviewing your home's heating and thinking 'could I be snugger?'"

A disability carer has been charged with 16 offences including counts of producing child abuse materials, after an investigation into a care home in Sydney's west.

Health authorities in NSW carried out more than 8,800 tests yesterday, and they're delighted that only five came back positive.

The number of positive coronavirus diagnoses have fallen dramatically since the end of March.

While no Australian state or territory has made the call to release inmates early because of the coronavirus, COVID-19 is being considered in bail applications, including in the case of Chantelle Baker.

If you're thinking of sending flowers for Mother's Day next week, order early because some growers are predicting a sell-out of supply.

Last week the ABC published the story behind a tiny 66-year-old handprint found in a garden shed. After seeing the story, family and friends have now filled in the details about the life, and tragic death of Ian Redman.