Personal trainer, part-time firefighter and full-time dad Dan Ensbey moved from Lambton to Dudley with his daughter Keziah in 2014. They share the house with another housemate as well.

He loves the location and how the area is family oriented with many blue-collar workers.

"It hasn't been quite developed, we've got a local pub. Redhead and Dudley beach are two minutes away," he says.

"It's a really homey calm neighbourhood," Keziah says.

Ensbey is originally from Coffs Harbour. He came down to Newcastle, fell in love with the city and never left.

"It's got enough going on. People are friendly, Central Coast, Nelson Bay, the wineries, great place," he says.

Now Ensbey is spending more time than ever in his three-bedroom home. His usual work shut down overnight because of COVID-19. So Ensbey decided to take work home with him, literally.

"Probably 80 per cent of my clientele had financial hardships, [they were working in] hospitality, tourism, had their own businesses. To the ones who wanted to stay on, I said 'come work out in the backyard' and they were willing," he says.

Ensbey began his business, The Real Trainer.

"I just had a bunch of gear in the garage collecting dust," he says.

"Everyone that is gym mad bought everything (gym equipment) at Rebel.

"Gym supplies were like toilet paper," he jokes.

He found many people were keen to work out and willing to pay. He had the space and time, so he made it happen.

He started personal training sessions with eight people in the backyard.

He had kettle bells, battle rope, resistance bands and barbells.

There was a concrete slab in his back garden so he a builder created the deck for work outs. Now he's able to show his clients that gyms aren't mandatory to get fit.

The pandemic just hastened his long-held plan to one day make his business work from home.

He has about 10 clients of all ages. They come over for 45-minute sessions.

His home business has made him feel more connected to the community as it accommodates others who are in a similar boat. He and his clients sometimes trade services. For example, in exchange for personal training sessions, someone cleans his house.

"My end goal is to work from home and my own hours. It's so personal, you do want to pick people you connect with," he says.

It's a good space to get fit, but it's also just a lovely, spacious and comfortable house.

The house was built on a double block around 2011 and 2012, and it's on a heritage listed street.

He's done a bit of renovating since he moved in, such as adding a balcony. It catches the afternoon sun, so it's a great place for tanning or enjoying a wine with cheese.

The large black couches and workout equipment definitely give a youthful, bachelor vibe.

But Ensbey also has many mementoes from his travels on display, including pieces from Mexico, Greece, Brazil and Colombia.

Keziah loves the kitchen and the big island bench, where she and her dad can cook at the same time.

The two also enjoyed creating a garden together in what used to just be a mud pit out the back.

It's a strange time in history, but Keziah and her dad are dealing with things well in Dudley.

The two are proof that when times are tough, you have to be strong.