Annual Lord Mayor’s prayer breakfast. 

In 1990 after the Newcastle earthquake (1989), the city leaders along with people from churches across the region gathered at the West Leagues Club. In 2009 a group of Newcastle pastors approached the then Lord Mayor Cr John Tate about establishing an ‘Annual Lord Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast’ in Newcastle. He hosted the prayer breakfast from 2009 through to 2012. The breakfast was hosted by Lord Mayor Jeff McCloy in 2013 and 2014. During this period the associated Student Leadership Forum was established as a leadership development opportunity for high school students throughout the region. Lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes hosted the breakfast from 2015 to 2024, noting that “civic, business, community, and church leaders gathered and celebrated shared values that benefited our community.” 

In 2025 new Lord Mayor, Dr Ross Kerridge hosted the breakfast.  The event moving back to the Newcastle City Hall.

Each year a charity is chosen by the Lord Mayor to be recognised for the work they do. Over a decade more than   $169,000 has been donated to local charities. It is the support of the event sponsors that has helped to achieve these great outcomes.