Jane Goldsmith has spent 25 years asking the questions that matter to the Hunter.
Now she's facing one herself: what's next?
The warm personality who delivered the news every weekend at 6pm signed off her final bulletin with NBN News last week.
Leaving her supportive team in the newsroom behind and a career she sees as a privilege is one of the hardest stories she's had to tell.
"You never switch off, your brain is always thinking about what's the next story or following up on a story, checking in on contacts, I lived and breathed it," Goldsmith said.
"I feel like NBN News and journalism is part of my DNA. It's hard, but it was time."
Goldsmith accepted a redundancy following WIN's decision to cut NBN News' weekend bulletins as part of a broader restructure.
The changes will gut at least 19 journalists, presenters and camera operators from newsrooms in Newcastle, Central Coast, Coffs Harbour, Tamworth and Lismore.
While other roles were available in the newsroom, Goldsmith chose not to apply.
There have been tears, countless hugs from colleagues and what she describes as an "avalanche of support" from viewers who have struggled to imagine their weekend routine without her.
"I didn't want to vie for another position or compete against my colleagues for a job, that's just not my style," Goldsmith said.
"I'm feeling comfortable with my decision and positive about the future. I still have a passion for journalism and I feel like I have a lot left to give, whether it's a career in journalism or not."
For Goldsmith, the job was never just presenting a bulletin. She was on the road covering the Pasha Bulker storm, the Hunter Valley bus crash, elections, bushfires and floods.
Some stories, like the setbacks and breakthroughs of the Newcastle Art Gallery expansion, took decades to see through.
Others, like the disappearance and suspected murder of teenager Gordana Kotevski in the 1990s, which Goldsmith has followed closely for years, remain unresolved.
Goldsmith said telling the Hunter's stories, preserving the region's history and helping fight for the community's fair share has been a "real privilege".
"It's meant everything to me, that's what has driven me," she said.
"We're part of history in this job.
"I am like a dog with a bone with certain stories, and if I know there's an issue within the community that people are really passionate about, they need a hand with or need a politician held to account, that always spurred me on.
"I relished that part of the job, to stand up for the community."
As well as reading the weekend NBN News bulletin, Goldsmith presented Nine's national late news and filled in as a presenter on the Today Show over the years.
When WIN took over NBN News, Goldsmith knew its way of delivering news was different but hoped it might have preserved the model Novocastrians had grown to love.
Even with the shift to a 5.30pm bulletin, Goldsmith urged viewers to continue to support local journalism.
"The people there are good people, they're talented people, and they're my dear friends and I want that to be successful," Goldsmith said.
"We need those local stories, we need the stories from our backyard to continue to be told and so we need the audience to keep switching on now at 5.30pm."
Under the changes, trusted face Natasha Beyersdorf will present the new-look weekly bulletins, Adam Murray will present sport and Lauren Kempe will continue to deliver the weather report.
Newcastle chief of staff Olivia Dillon has been promoted to NBN state news director.
Among the thousands of messages of support she received, one viewer wrote that she was so used to having dinner with Goldsmith every weekend that she now wanted to know what the former newsreader would be doing at 6pm, and joked about joining her.
"You become part of the family," Goldsmith said.
"I've been taking some time to read the messages and it's been beautiful. There have been so, so many touching messages and a huge outpouring of support.
"I'm really treasuring that at the moment."
This weekend marks the start of school holidays, and for the first time in years, Goldsmith won't be juggling rosters, bulletins and family schedules.
Her next chapter is still unwritten. It may be journalism, it may not.
But each night when NBN News goes to air at 5.30pm, one familiar viewer will be watching from home.
"I'll be cheering them on," Goldsmith said.
"I will miss being part of people's weekend routine. I'm really grateful that they allowed me into their lounge rooms every weekend for such a long time.
"I just hope that they will continue to support my friends and colleagues and local journalism in the years to come."
