Newy Tees, Newcastle, NSW

Newy Tees launched in early 2025. It was borne of frustration. After getting my step-father-in-law in Secret Santa one year, I was stumped for what to get. He's a difficult person to buy for at the best of times and his two main loves - travel and tech - were way outside our agreed budget, but I did have one idea: the man loved souvenir T-shirts.

He often picked up a tee on his extensive travels. Think 'I??NY' but not always so iconic. He collected them from Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina through the States and all across Asia. But, living in Queensland, I knew he didn't have one from Newcastle in his collection.

Try as I might, I couldn't find anything. No, 'I??NewY', nothing showcasing the city's many iconic structures and very little celebrating the city's sporting success. I eventually came across one but couldn't help feeling this was a huge missed opportunity. If I've learnt one thing about Novocastrians, it's that they're proud of their hometown. While there may be a bit of self-deprecation involved, as soon as an outsider badmouths Newcastle, people will be clamouring to defend it.

From its fine beaches, beautiful architecture and sporting heroes to the things that we've lost (whether it's trains, towers or steelworks) or the oddities that define its history (not everywhere has huge ships land on their beaches), the people here love their city.

I hope I'll be able to help highlight some of these stories, show off some off these quirks and invigorate some fond memories.

• Newcastle