SEPTEMBER 2023

THE ILLAWARRA

September 2023

Keeping community news alive

Spring calls

Join the Edible Garden Trail

F r e e t o 1 1 , 0 0 0 l e t t e r b oxe s / www.thei llawarraflame.com.au

Meet Our Contributors Brigid Collaery is a resident of Helensburgh, where she has lived with her family since 2007, and loves living between the forest and sea.

Brigid is a strategic project manager at the Opera House, and a member of the Coalcliff Surf Life Saving Club and local Community Fire Unit. One of Brigid’s passions is ‘underwater forest bathing’, aka swimming in the ocean.

Jeremy Lasek has spent decades in

media, marketing, events and PR. His career began in the Illawarra with the Lake Times, ABC Radio and WIN-TV. He was executive director of ACT Government Communications, Events, Arts, Heritage and Protocol for many years. Before returning to Wollongong, Jeremy was CEO of the National Australia Day Council and head of communications for the Australian Federal Police.

He’s now volunteering on the YES23 campaign.

Dr Hayley Glasson graduated from

the UNSW in 2008. She worked as a GP in the Kiama area before moving to the northern Illawarra and now works at Bulli Medical Practice.

Hayley has a special interest in women’s health. She also loves paediatrics and has a Diploma of Childhood Health from Sydney University.

Melissa Barnard is a professional

cellist and occasional writer who lives in the northern Illawarra with her partner, daughter and two dogs. She performs and tours widely within Australia and internationally as a full-time musician of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and lived in London, Boston and New York before returning to Sydney to join the ACO. Melissa is currently on the volunteer organising team for the Scarborough Art Show.

Denise Aubourg is enjoying an

active retirement in Coledale after many years as an IT Project Manager.

Denise volunteers with Electrify 2515. She is inspired by Saul Griffith’s practical guide on how households and communities can play a significant part in the transition to renewable energy and reduce our living costs. Denise is also a keen golfer, cyclist, gardener and campervanner.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The publishers acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their cultural and spiritual connection to this land. Their stories are written in the land and hold great significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, from the mountains to the sea.

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September

T H E I L L AWA R R A

NEXT DEADLINE 18 Sept for the Oct edition

EDITORS Genevieve Swart, Marcus Craft CONTACT editor@theillawarraflame.com.au; 0432 612 168; PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508.

TheIllawarraFlame ADVERTISING www.theillawarraflame.com.au 0432 612 168 | T&Cs apply DEADLINE 18 Sept. Contributions welcome.

COVER The Illawarra Edible Garden Trail team.

Photo: Anthony Warry THE ILLAWARRA FLAME is published by a family business, The Word Bureau, ABN 31 692 723 477 DISCLAIMER: All content and images remain the property of The Illawarra Flame unless otherwise supplied. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission. Views expressed do not reflect those of the publishers.

KANE DOWNIE

Stairway to Bald Hill heaven Photos: Melanie Russell

The steep, slippery old goat track from Stanwell Park to Bald Hill has had a stunning makeover.

After months of work, including 150 tonnes of sandstone steps delivered via helicopter, the new 1km staircase is complete.

With more than 400 sandstone steps, it’s a great morning workout for locals and is being hailed as

the first of three ‘missing links’ in the Great Southern Walk, which will stretch 67km from Kurnell to Sublime Point. The NSW government expects it to be completed by late 2024.

Have a say on wind farm zone The government wants your feedback by October 16

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is calling on the community to have their say on a zone off the Illawarra coast proposed for future offshore renewable energy projects – particularly offshore wind, but potentially also solar, wave and tidal energy projects.

The proposed 1461sq/km area is from Wombarra to Kiama, and is at least 10km from the coast. Six community drop-in sessions will be held.

• Mon, 18 Sept, 4-7pm, Bulli Senior Citizens Centre, 8 Hospital Road, Bulli • Tue 19 Sept, 10am-12 noon, Port Kembla Senior Citizens Centre • Tue 19 Sept 4-7pm, Wollongong Art Gallery, 46 Burelli Street • Wed 20 Sept, 10am-noon, Shellharbour Surf Lifesaving Club • Wed 20 Sept, 4-7pm, Kiama Leagues Club, 110 Terralong Street • Thu 21 Sept, 10am to 12pm, Gerringong Town Hall, 106 Fern Street Have your say by October 16.

Go to consult.dcceew.gov.au/oei-illawarra

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Helensburgh

Are you or someone you love considering downsizing?

We are holding a Downsizing Information session this month to help downsizers understand the process of selling their home & buying a smaller one.

Our Downsizing Information Session will be held on Thursday 07/09/2023 from 4.00pm – 6.00pm in our office at 1/114a Parkes Street Helensburgh.

This has come about because a number of locals have asked for advice in understanding what is involved.

Julie York 0405 128 070

We will have several guest speakers which include a local conveyancer, broker, financial advisor, an e"pert in removing clutter and two residents who have already made the transition.

We are e"cited at the opportunity to help others within our community make a stress free transition.

To register please email admin@helensburgh.rh.com.au or call our office on 4294 9800.

julie.york@helensburgh.rh.com.au

How the Rose family’s nursery grew

By Verity Snaith of Heathcote’s Sydney Wildflower Nursery

Celebrating its 40th year this spring, Sydney Wildflower Nursery has been in the Rose family for generations. Beginning as an offshoot of John Rose’s landscaping business, Forest Native Nursery was founded in Duffys Forest in 1973.

Son and owner David Rose recalls growing up in the business.

“I worked in the nursery as a teenager,” David says. “In the school holidays I used to get in the truck and drive to Canberra and Melbourne with my father, I just had that desire to be really involved since I was a little kid.”

Working weekends for a bit of pocket money, he remembers how intertwined the family business was with his home life.

“Where we lived we had no public transport, and we were too young to drive so the nursery kept us entertained. Our parents normalised working hard and we were lucky we had a business we could work in at home. We literally grew up in it.”

All those native plants the Rose family were growing had to go somewhere, and in 1983 David’s mother, Penny, noticed an ad at Ryde TAFE for a piece of land being leased in Heathcote.

“My father loved native plants, he was passionate about native gardens. No one was doing them at the time, but my mum was the decision maker. We had 10 acres of plants growing in Duffys Forest when she saw the ad at TAFE and decided it would be the perfect place for a native plant nursery.”

Sutherland Shire local John Brett offered the land for lease in Heathcote. He had a vision to green and beautify the suburb and bought the land at 9 Veno Street because it was nestled between two national parks. John loved the serenity of the area and Penny jumped at the opportunity to establish a second native plant nursery in southern Sydney. In 1983, staff member Phil Congdon moved south to open the nursery in Heathcote, where it remains today.

Still helping his father in the northern Sydney nurseries, David honed his plant knowledge. He would drive the sales van around, showing stock, taking orders and getting to know what retailers wanted. Following a gap year abroad in South Africa, David returned to Australia in 1991, right before a devastating storm tore through northern Sydney.

“That storm wiped out the production nursery – it decapitated every plant, every pot was smashed.

We lost the lot.”

Seeing the devastation that wiped out his parents’ business overnight, David deferred his studies to lend a hand to rebuild the nursery. He started working under his father as an assistant manager at the production nursery, which relocated to the 6

local business

South Coast, and helped regrow the business.

In 2005, David purchased Sydney Wildflower Nursery in Heathcote from his parents. Alongside a team of dedicated and knowledgeable staff, he has taken the nursery from strength to strength, creating a plant-lover’s paradise in suburban Heathcote.

“As soon as you drive in and feel the crackle of the gravel and the crunch of the pebbles, it just transports you,” he says. “You could be in the country somewhere. People just love coming here – you feel like you’re on a bush walk as you wander around all these beautiful plants.

“The additions we’ve done, including the rainforest and pond creek bed, and the display gardens, means people can wander for hours…

You’re surrounded by nature – there’s parrots, cockatoos, frogs, lizards – it’s a haven not just for the wildlife but for the people who visit and work there.”

What do the next 40 years at the nursery look like? “There’s a big future for native plants, especially with climate change and global warming,” David says. “I’d love to see the nursery expand again with independent, satellite nurseries across suburban Sydney. People want what we offer – the widest range of quality plants, alongside knowledgeable staff with a passion for native plants.”

Then and now: the nursery turns 40 this spring

HAPPY 40

TH

CELEBRATE 40 YEARS WITH

Sydney Wildflower Nursery Bring in this page to receive one FREE plant* Offer valid to the first 40 customers ONLY. *No purchase required. One plant per customer up to the value of $19.50.

For the largest range of Australian native plants Open 7 days 9am to 5pm 9 Veno Street, Heathcote 2233 www.sydneywildflowernursery.com.au

Meet iBUG’s new president

By Genevieve Swart

Thirroul’s Edward Birt is the new president of the Illawarra Bicycle Users Group (iBUG). His role at the volunteer organisation adds to an already impressive cycling CV. Ed is Wollongong’s Bicycle Mayor, the local representative part of the global Bicycle Mayor Network run by BYCS, an Amsterdam-based NGO. In 2021, Ed cycled more than 5000km across Australia, averaging about 250km a day, raising about $30,000 to buy bikes for the CycleAbility program run by the not-for-profit Disability Trust, where he is the chief operating officer.

It was this day job that drew him into the advocacy side of cycling.

“As I was turning 50 [in 2021],” Ed says, “I really wanted to set up a program for people with disability to get on bikes and enjoy cycling, because I see a lot of dependency created for people with disability who may not be able to get their driver’s licence or own a car.”

Today the shipping container in the Disability Trust’s Spring Hill car park is packed with custom bikes, which cost from $8000 each.

“We’ve got trikes, we’ve got adult bikes with stabiliser wheels. We’ve got adult balance bikes, which are cool, we’ve got e-bikes, we’ve got hand cycles, we’ve got all sorts of things. We just want to see more people with disability on bikes.”

The free CycleAbility program runs on the last Saturday of each month in the trust’s car park, which is empty on weekends. Ed says, “People can go round and round, get their confidence – cycling’s all about time in the saddle.”

When Ed meets the Flame at the Disability Trust’s cafe, he has just ridden to work, from Thirroul to Spring Hill. “It’s 24 kilometres and it takes about 50 minutes,” he says. “I’ve always been a cyclist. It’s just been a normal part of my life. The most logical way to get from A to B.”

Edward Birt (above, at left) at CycleAbility in August.

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Like many cyclists, Ed has felt the pain motorists’ abuse, including a truck driver who once threw an egg at him on a highway. He would like to see a cycling culture revived in Australia. “That culture has atrophied and effectively died and now everything we do is in our cars. And we are used to throwing stuff in our cars. They’re so convenient.

“They’re about 1600 or 2000 kilos in weight to carry a 70 kilo animal. It’s a very inefficient form of getting a 70 kilo parcel to its destination.”

For local cyclists, speeding cars are a big problem, says Ed, who supports the 30 Please campaign. And, finally, cars are antisocial. “People don’t connect with their community. They’re inside a bubble … there’s a lot of rage associated with cars.

They’re just bad for us. They’re a bad habit.”

Ed took over from outgoing iBUG president Beth Robrahn in July. The group now has more than 100 members. “We write to council and get involved with their strategic planning around what the city looks like.” iBUG will have an expo stall at September’s first Ride Wollongong festival, a 2022 UCI Road World Championships legacy event, “the start of a great annual event”, Ed says. “We’ll have community rides, all ability rides, family rides, as well as some races. I’m looking forward to supporting some of the people that we have coming along from CycleAbility, zipping down Marine Drive and up around Flagstaff Hill, and feeling safe to do so.”

Outside of work and iBUG, one of Ed’s favourite things to do is go for a ride with his family.

“I ride regularly with my parents still and my nieces and nephews, as well as my son … it’s very nice to go out for the day because the journey then is the destination.”

For anyone feeling disheartened about the state of the world, Ed says don’t let feeling powerless stop you. “Do it anyway … buy a bicycle.”

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Back again in 2023!!

Sunday 15th October

come & enjoy an afternoon on the coast

Includes: Includes:

11.30am - 4.30pm Tasting glass 5 tasting vouchers extra vouchers for sale on the day 17 Craft Brewers Music Food available for purchase Free return shuttle bus transfers from The Bowlo to Thirroul or Helensburgh 2.30-6.30pm

Get tickets from Bowlo.com.au The Bar at The Bowlo QR Code (eventbrite)

$ 35 Entry

Memories surface in TV drama

Ahead of One Night’s premiere in Thirroul, screenwriter Emily Ballou spoke to Caroline Baum

Screenwriter Emily Ballou and (at right) local actor Yael Stone in a scene from One Night. Photos supplied

When poet, novelist and screenwriter Emily Ballou returned to the Northern Illawarra last year for the production of One Night, the six-part TV drama she has written for Paramount Plus and Easy Tiger, she found it both familiar and unfamiliar. Twenty years ago, Emily lived in Thirroul, when her former partner set up Steel City Cycle Works. It was a welcome reprieve from the squat she shared in Newtown.

Then, as now, she was struck by the power and drama of the landscape, particularly the looming presence of the escarpment. “It’s the way you can see its shadow crossing the road and landing on the beach after three in the afternoon,” she says, speaking via Zoom at her home in Glasgow, where she lives with Scottish novelist Ewan Morrison.

“That shadow is physical and symbolic. As a beach walker with a dog, living in Austinmer, I was very aware of it and of having to navigate the tides.

You cannot ignore how dominant the landscape is.”

One Night is the story of a close friendship between three women – played in the series by Nicole Da Silva as a first-time published novelist telling a story that impacted on her friends Tess, played by UK actor Jodie Whittaker and Hat, played by local actor Yael Stone. Recalling shared trauma tests the bonds between the three.

It’s a subject close to Emily’s heart that she has been thinking about for more than three decades while building up a list of credits on shows like the TV adaptation of Christos Tsiolkas’ The Slap.

Like The Slap, One Night challenges the versions of an event remembered differently.

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“Maybe because I had two sisters, triangles have always fascinated me,” Emily says.

The narrative of One Night interrogates who has the right to tell a story of buried trauma, and explores that question from the perspective of both victim and witnesses.

“There is a bit of an injunction in our culture to not speak unless you have permission. We are more tentative and cautious today,” says Emily.

There is a very personal angle to her exploration of memory. “My mother’s father committed suicide when she was seven. It was never spoken of again, but that silence corrodes like a cancer. It is as much her story as it is his, and needs to be told, even though there will be variations and nuances in how it is remembered.

“We understand a lot more about memory now, and of how we build layers of memory on memory each time we tell the story of something that happened, which makes it rich material for a writer.”

Unlike many writers with US citizenship (Emily is also an Australian), she is not a member of the Writers Guild of American and therefore not on strike, “though I am in solidarity with their demands”. She has a full slate of projects at various stages of development, but none that have brought her back to a place she once called home.

Screen Illawarra helped One Night filmmakers find locations and local talent. With Paramount, the industry group was set to host a premiere screening at Anita’s Theatre on August 31. Check our website for photos

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Invite to Open Day and Book launch

By Janet Lee

Save the date for Helensburgh and District Historical Society’s Open Day and Book Launch.

The Old Mine Surgery at 78 Parkes Street, Helensburgh will be open Saturday, 23 September 2023, from 10am to 2pm.

Join us at 11am as we launch our new publication, Historic Helensburgh New South Wales.

Tour Dr Cox’s 1935 surgery, look through our photo collection, get help with your family history, or update us with new information and photos.

Great bargains on local history books! Pay by EFTPOS or cash or pre-order for pick-up. The new Historic Helensburgh book will be available for $25.

Contact us at info@historichelensburgh.org.au or Jan 0418 681 384.

Once upon a time of few books

By Local Studies librarian Jo Oliver

Marie Glass.

Below: Bookmobile borrowers in the 1980s. P18509 from the Collections of Wollongong City Libraries

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Local nonagenarian and retired librarian Marie Glass remembers her high school library as two ornate glass-fronted bookcases with a few heavy tomes locked away. “At home our few books were treasured, given to us as a birthday or Christmas gift – we read them, reread, and reread them.”

Marie’s mother was one of a small group of women from a WEA discussion group who decided to do something about the lack of books for children. She recalls, that in the midst of World War II, “this small group of women, all with large families, arranged a letterbox drop around the town and surrounding districts, asking for donations of children’s books.

“Eventually, [in 1944] they opened a delightful Children’s Free Library right in the heart of the Wollongong shopping area, quite central to bus transport. They had acquired the use of a large room in Brights Arcade in Crown Street, approximately where Crown Centre is now. This wonderful group of mothers then continued to run this library for the next couple of years until the war ended. Then they appealed to the Municipal Council to take it over. But the Town Council first had to adopt the NSW Local Government Library Act… eventually the Council Aldermen came to the party and took on the responsibility of providing free library services for children. Having adopted the Act [in 1945], the Council then took over the Wollongong School of Arts Library and so began the Wollongong Library Service.”

Marie was interviewed for the library’s oral history project. To hear more of her memories, visit illawarrastories.com.au/marie-glass/

Dear Valued Patients

Helensburgh GP Dr Annette Beaufils will retire in December It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement after more than 40 years of serving the town of Helensburgh.

The time has come for me to close the door of Dr Annette Beaufils’ practice, and while I will miss every one of you, I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life.

Throughout my career, it has been an incredible privilege and honour to be a part of your lives, providing medical care and support to you and your families. I have cherished the relationships we have built over the years, and I am grateful for the trust you have placed in me.

Effective 22nd December 2023 Dr Beaufils surgery will officially close its operations. In preparation for this transition, I want to ensure that your medical records are well taken care of.

If you would like to obtain a copy of your medical records, we will be providing them on a convenient and secure USB drive.

To request a copy of your records, please follow these steps: • Complete the Medical Records Request Form which can be obtained from 4/131 Parkes Street or • Download the form from Dr Annette Beaufils website: https://drannettebeaufils. com.au/ Submit the completed form: • in person: at the clinic (a valid photo ID will be required when requesting records in person).

• mail: PO Box 374, Helensburgh NSW 2508 • email: heather@dramb.com.au Please note that, in accordance with patient confidentiality laws and regulations, your records will only be released to you or your authorised representative. We aim to process all records as quickly as possible, but we appreciate

your understanding if there is a slight delay due to the volume of requests during this time.

For any further inquiries or assistance, you can contact us at (02) 4294 3173 or heather@ dramb.com.au until 31st March 2024.

Once again, I want to express my deepest gratitude for allowing me to be a part of your lives and your healthcare journey. I will always cherish the memories and experiences we shared together. Although I will no longer be your physician, I wish you all good health and happiness in the future.

With warm regards Annette Beaufils September 13

Empowering young people UOW’s Dr Peter Andersen is one of the chairs at September’s AAEE conference

nexus of industry, innovation, Indigenous culture, multiculturalism and a shared greener future.

What are some of the highlights?

Tell us about yourself and how you came to specialise in Sustainability Education.

I am the Head of Students and Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Wollongong. My journey towards becoming an environmental educator, specialising in Sustainability Education, began when I was a schoolteacher. I realised that while my students were hearing lots of bad news about the environment, and their futures, they were not given many opportunities to lead environmental change in their schools and communities.

My subsequent teaching and research have been underpinned by my philosophy that adults need to do all in their powers to support children to become environmental change agents. Young people need to have a voice on environmental issues that so profoundly impact on their lives.

The AAEE conference is coming to town – what is it and why is this a big deal?

The Australian Association for Environmental Education is Australia’s peak professional body for environmental educators. We promote exciting national and international environmental initiatives; support our members to become effective environmental educators and build inspiring, collaborative networks.

This is a big deal for AAEE and Wollongong, as it provides us with the opportunity to bring to Dharawal country environmental educators from across Australia and overseas to Listen to Country, Learn together and Transform our future – this year’s theme. The University of Wollongong, and Wollongong itself, is nestled under the ‘learning mountain’, Geera – Mt Keira, and represents the 14 news

The highlights will be our amazing invited and workshop presenters and field trips on Country.

We’ll be bringing speakers and guests from around the country and overseas including keynote presentations from Tim Flannery, Costa Georgiadis, Tanya Plibersek, Daniella Tilbury, Gina Chick and many more!

We have some incredibly pertinent sessions including Cynthia Houniuhi (Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change): Taking climate change to the world’s highest court; Dr Angela Lunda (University of Alaska): I’m a Killer Whale – The process of cultural identity development from the perspectives of young Indigenous children; Nicole Maher (Murrumbidgee Landcare): Connecting young people with nature.

Who is welcome to come along?

We welcome anyone who is passionate about caring for Country and our shared future. I began my journey as a novice environmental educator.

I was inspired but I didn’t have a community for support, strategy and creative problem-solving.

After many years of teaching, I attended the AAEE NSW conference in Coffs Harbour and it just lit a fire in me that still burns strongly today.

I would encourage local educators from across community, schools, pre-schools, university, government and the private sector to come along to connect with like-minded people and deepen their understanding of sustainability, climate action, connecting to country and First Nations’ perspectives. The other great thing is that money raised at the conference goes straight back into supporting environmental education programs and networks across the country, such as Sustainable Schools NSW and SeaWeek Australia.

What local projects will you show visitors?

On the Monday of the conference the field trips will be a fun and interactive way to stretch our legs.

These tours offer opportunities for our participants to walk on Dharawal Country, experience natural beauty, culturally significant locations and meet local environmental educators. We’ll have tours with Warrawong High School’s ‘living classroom’ student permaculture garden, the Green Connect Farm Tour, Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation, a bird-watching session and more.

Check it out: www.aaeeconference.org.au

E 2 0 2 3 E A A P E A K E R S

S

PROF. TIM FLANNERY

GINA CHICK

PROF. DANIELLA TILBURY

COSTA GEORGIADIS

BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

25 - 27 SEPTEMBER 2023 University of Wollongong

aaeeconference.org.au

Rockpool Rambles Welcome to a new series by Amanda De George

Photo: Amanda De George

One of the most underrated tidal pool inhabitants is the good ol’ anemone. If you’re anything like me, you’ll give the anemones tucked into nooks and crannies a bit of a cursory glance and then move on. I’ve been trying to right my wrongs lately and be an equal opportunity rock pooler, and have been giving them the love they deserve. As a result I’ve gone and fallen in love (and, incidentally, actually fallen hard on the rocks) with the swimming or wandering anemone, king amongst all anemones.

Here’s why.

They might look like plants, particularly flowers with their tentacles unfolding like brightly coloured and often patterned petals, but anemones are animals. And predatory animals at that. Their tentacles are covered with stinging cells and they use them to catch prey and then to move it to their mouth. Mostly you’ll see anemones attached to rocks in the intertidal zone, but if you spot a swimming anemone (aka a brain anemone, for obvious reasons. I mean, just look at it!) it’ll likely be rolling along the sand or attached to some weed.

Swimming anemones (Phlyctenactis tuberculosa) are the largest anemone commonly found in local rockpools, growing up to 25cm. Sure, you’ll find 16 science & nature

itty bitty baby ones too, but if you see an adult, you’ll know it. They’re absolutely stunning and range in colour from shades of red, to green, orange and even mauve, making them really stand out amongst the weed that they’re often attached to.

They do get referred to as baked beans and, with their tentacles tucked away during the day and their bubble-like sacs on display, I kind of get it.

And if that means that I find baked beans stunning, so be it. These anemones are nocturnal and they use the night to move around to feed.

The common name ‘swimming anemone’ is a bit misleading as they don’t swim as such. They can easily detach themselves from whatever substrate they are on and either rely on the tide to roll them across the shallow seabed or using their basal disc they’ll crawl along and even climb up weed where they will wait, tentacles unfurled to catch prey.

If you’re zooplankton, watch out as you’re on the menu.

If you’re a curious human with a tendency to touch all the things, you should also watch out, as unlike baked beans, these anemones can give you a nasty sting.

Get Ready for fire season

By Iris Huizinga

Most long-term residents know it is important to understand the bushfire risk, based on the current seasonal outlook for 2023. But for new residents this summer might be the first time they’ve had to think about how to plan and prepare for a bushfire.

RFS NSW Superintendent Martin Surrey told the Illawarra Flame that two rainy years had allowed a lot of fuel to build up in the bush.

“We’re taking every opportunity we can to carry out hazard reduction work. It is highly likely we’ll go into an El Niño throughout the remainder of the year, which will mean warmer temperatures, drier weather, setting us up for a bushfire season.”

To make sure all locals, including newcomers, are well-informed, Brett Skiller from the Helensburgh Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade teamed up with Mattias Samuelsson from Ray White Helensburgh and Julie York from Raine and Horne to add special bushfire information to their welcome packages for new residents.

Brett, who has been with the fire brigade for 23 years, said: “We’ve put together a welcome letter for residents who buy a house in the area, detailing what apps they should download, when the fire season starts and contact details of local brigades.

And we also ask them if they would like to join their local brigade.”

Supt Surrey said: “Particularly in the areas between Helensburgh and Bulli, where people have to drive through bushfire risk areas: make sure that you are set up for a possible lengthy stay away from home as you may get stuck in road closures. And

Brett Skiller has helped to include bushfire info in real estate welcome packs. Photo: Iris Huizinga

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make sure the kids know, if they’re going to be home on their own, that they know exactly what it is they are going to do.

“Make sure you touch base with the neighbours also. And make sure the kids know what they are going to do in the event they are disrupted coming home from school by fire as well.

“I think it is really important for the local community to understand the risks of the area they live in, to make sure that they download their own bushfire survival plan, so that everyone in the household knows exactly what it is that they’re going to do in the event of a bushfire.”

Throughout Spring and Summer it is important to stay up to date on conditions in your area and leave early.

4 simple steps to plan and prepare

• Discuss what to do if a bushfire threatens your home • Prepare your home and get it ready for bushfire season • Know the bushfire alert levels • Have all bushfire information numbers, websites and smartphone app on your phone.

Your Bushfire Need-to-Know List

• In an emergency call Triple Zero (000) • Hazards Near Me NSW free smartphone app.

A mobile application on IOS and Android to help you stay up to date. This application replaces Fires Near Me NSW. • Contact your local brigade on Facebook, visit a Get Ready information day on 16-17 September or contact Illawarra Fire Control Centre, Albion Park. Talk to RFS volunteers at the Helensburgh Lions Club Country Fair on October 28.

• NSW Rural Fire Service: rfs.nsw.gov.au • Bushfire information line: 1800 NSW RFS (1800 679 737). Facebook @nswrfs • Local radio: ABC Illawarra 97.3 FM • Stanwell Park Rural Fire Brigade: 108 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Facebook @stanwellparkrfs • Darkes Forest Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade, 302 Darkes Forest Road, Facebook @darkesforestrfs • Helensburgh Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade, Facebook @NSWRFSHelensburgh • Austinmer Rural Fire Service, Buttenshaw Drive, Facebook @AustinmerRuralFireService • Bulli Rural Fire Brigade, 8 Dumbrell Rd, Facebook @bulliruralfirebrigade • Otford Rural Fire Brigade, Otford Road Join your local RFS! Visit rfs.nsw.gov.au

Stanny Cup debuts at Spring Fair

By Stanwell Park Public School parent Tyronne O’Callaghan

Our community gets to welcome back the iconic Stanwell Park Public School Spring Fair this September. The first since the pandemic, but that’s not the only first this year.

As part of the wonderful next instalment, a unique local experience will be included – The Stanny Cup! The Stanny Cup is an opportunity the community to come together and ignited the passion we have for soccer and showcase the great junior talent we have in 2508. What is it exactly?

Running over the whole day of the Spring Fair will be three invitational matches, each played on the school’s boutique astro turf pitch. Limited to primary school students, there will be exclusive Stanny Cup trophies and bragging rights up for grabs across three age groups: • Kindergarten to Year 2 • Year 3 to Year 4 • Year 5 to Year 6 Each round will not only showcase some of the local talent we have, but also focus on being inclusive. The invited teams will not be limited to those from Stanwell Park Public School, but come from across the community. Furthermore, in the year of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, The Stanny Cup will also champion diversity through a balanced mixed-gender approach in teams.

However, if someone is not part of a team, do not despair. During the day, we will also have skills competitions. These skills competitions will test both the agility and accuracy of participants.

Limited to children of primary school age, all you need to do is turn up and enter for a chance to win some fantastic prizes.

The Stanny Cup is on Sunday, September 17, 10am-3pm at Stanwell Park Public School Spring Fair, 56 Stanwell Ave, Stanwell Park

L to R: Stanwell Park students Mila, William, Grace, Winnie and George with Border collie Scrabble. Photo: Melanie Russell

What’s On

Stanwell Park School Spring Fair: Sunday, 17 September, from 10-3pm.

After months in the making, the fair promises to be an exciting event with 37 stalls plus a full line-up of entertainment. Besides all the fun stalls and activities, there will be some unique offerings: • Doggy photo booth – new! Book a professional portrait of your dog, choose between three different looks, including a pink, blue or yellow background and props to match! Bookings essential!

• Massage room • Soccer comp • Live music, roving play, performances

by ADA Dance and Treetop Arts • Beeswax Wraps Making • Other attractions: curries, tacos, pulled pork rolls, bubble tea, cakes, inflatable, dunk tank, kids spa, games, chocolate wheel, kids crafts room, plants, books plus more.

Book now

Inflatable wristbands and massage and doggy portrait bookings at www.trybooking.com/ eventlist/stanwellparkschoolspringfair 20 clubs & community

See Side

ptical

Protecting children’s vision from myopia

In recent years, there has been a concerning increase in myopia cases, especially among children (visual correction generally given for activities such as driving or watching television). Factors like reduced outdoor time and increased screen use contribute to this trend. Additionally, it’s essential to be aware that myopia often has a hereditary component.

To combat the potential long term effects of this vision condition, such as Retinal detachments, glaucoma and cataracts, early management is crucial.

At See Side Optical, we offer effective ways to reduce myopia progression using specialised contact lenses and prescription lenses.

Taking proactive measures now can help safeguard your child’s vision.

Don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule an appointment with us today.

Anita’s Theatre Shop 10, King St Thirroul Call for an appointment today on 42683933 September 21

Are we at a Boiling Point?

Every September, I generally do an article on bushfires to dovetail with the RFS’s Get Ready weekend in mid September. As I write this (early August), I’m torn because there are so many topics I want to cover!

There’s been the heatwave in Europe, extreme temperatures in the Andes (it hit 34 degrees midwinter) and the bushfires in, of all places, tropical Hawaii. The fires in Maui have blown my mind. To put it in perspective, the mountain peak of Puu Kukui on Maui is the 9th wettest place on Earth and yet we are now seeing bushfires on the island. As a member of the Rural Fire Service, this has me thinking I might want to swap the hose for sandwich duties this Summer!

The other topic I thought about covering was Commonwealth Bank’s record profits ($10.4 billion last financial year). What’s that got to do with architecture, you wonder. Well, when you have Mum and Dad clients being refused home loans to renovate their property, or investors who have been told they can only afford to build half their Dual Occ, all while banks are making record profits – to be honest, I feel like it’s completely “on the nose”!

Elected officials have suggested these super profits are to the benefit of all of us because it means we have a strong banking system and those with healthy super balances are benefiting due to the super funds investing in the big four. All of this means nothing to the thousands of Australians without super, affordable housing or a foothold in the property market. Really it’s indicative of the widening gap between the haves and have-nots.

The Italian government has introduced a super profits tax on its banks that will be used to help mortgage holders and cut taxes. What happened to Australia’s social contract to leave no one behind!

Speaking of leaving Australians behind, there’s also the topic of the upcoming referendum for the Seasonal Bushfire Outlook

Increased Risk of Fire

22 clubs & community

Voice to Parliament and giving agency to Indigenous Australians in our constitution.

There’s a whole world of work to be done in remote housing for our Indigenous populations. In the past, we have poured loads of money into second-rate cheap housing for these communities that’s not built for purpose. The housing becomes dilapidated quickly because it’s cheaply built, poorly designed and hasn’t gone through very little community consultation, if any. Architects in this space are few and far between. I mentioned Paul Pholeros in my last article. Sadly he’s not with us anymore but his work continues via his eponymous foundation.

Voting yes for the Voice will give agency in this sector. It’s the least we can do for a baby step towards reconciliation.

Other topics that crossed my mind – Victoria’s government banning further logging in native forests as of this December which will put further pressure on timber supply; sneaky Russian-grown timber finding its way into our engineered timber supplies, heat island effects and black roofs, the proposed masterplan at Port Kembla by BIG.DK architects, the Corrimal Cokeworks redevelopment, and I really want to do an article on Donald Trump but it’s been tricky to determine a link to him and local architecture issues.

But there’s two things I want to plug. Firstly, Get Ready Weekend – with La Niña a distant memory, this time it’s for real. Visit the Austi RFS at Austinmer Beach to learn what to do around the house to prepare for bushfire season. Bring the kids so they can climb up in the trucks and put their hands to using the hoses.

The other plug is for the Inaugural Festival of Architecture and Design on November 25. We’re putting together a humdinger of a program that will cover issues mentioned in this article.

Image: Australasian Fire Authorities Council

By architect Ben Wollen

September 23

Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf With Coalcliff’s Prof Rob Brander. This month: The Sands of Time, Part 2

Last month I wrote about the marvels of the beautiful golden stuff that makes up our beaches. Ah, but it’s not always golden as beaches come in a wide range of colours.

Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay claims to be the whitest sand beach in the world, but Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays makes the same claim as do many other beaches around the world.

How white is white? In the case of Hyams, the sand is extremely old and was deposited in the region during higher sea levels about 120,000 years ago. Over that time all the impurities of the sand grains have been abraded away leaving behind almost pure quartz crystals and a ton of Instagrammers seeking a selfie.

Locally, beaches like Stanwell Park or Thirroul contain quartz sand that is a little younger and still coated with material giving it a browner colour.

Then there’s the multi-coloured sands of Rainbow Beach in Queensland, which supposedly contain 72 different shades of colours.

The different colours are all related to the

Almost pure quartz sand grains from Hyams Beach under a microscope.

Photo: Rob Brander

amount of iron contained within the ancient river deposited sand found in the beach and dunes. As iron oxidises (or essentially rusts) it creates various hues of reds, oranges, pinks and yellows. The more iron present and the longer the oxidation process has been going on, the redder the sand gets.

Black sand is volcanic in origin which is why you only get well-developed black sand beaches in places like New Zealand, Hawaii and Iceland. The source rock is also different and, instead of quartz minerals, you get sand grains made up of heavy minerals (which are black) like zircon and rutile.

Hawaii also has green sand beaches, which at first appear to be growing a layer of mould. The green sands are also volcanic in origin and form under special conditions where molten lava cools very quickly when it enters the ocean. This creates olivine minerals, which are green in colour.

If you ever travel to a coral reef island, the sand is often a beautiful white, but it’s not quartz grains, it’s almost entirely made up of calcium carbonate sediments derived from coralline algae and broken bits of coral from the surrounding reefs.

Do your research before you head to a tropical island as the beaches are not always made of nice, powdery white stuff. More often it’s made up of rough and jagged bits of coral that can make mince-meat of your bare feet.

Finally, there’s Shell Beach in Shark Bay, Western Australia, which is completely made of small shells, that become so sticky that the public toilet is made of blocks cut out from the beach. Impressive stuff!

Have a question? Email rbrander@unsw.edu.au

Winning poets At August’s South Coast Writers Festival Congratulations to everyone involved in the 2023 South Coast Writers Festival, an inspiring mix of creative writing, big concepts and thought-provoking conversations at Wollongong Town Hall and Art Gallery from August 18-20.

The festival wrapped up with the announcement of the winners of the 2023 SCWC Poetry Awards and the WAG Poetry Award. In 1st Place: My Pink Ashes by Meredith Wattison (pictured with festival director Sarah Nicholson and Peter Ramm); 2nd Place: Outside The Cyanometer, by Scott-Patrick Mitchell; Member Award: Crab Nest, by Kathleen Bleakley; and Wollongong Art Gallery Award: Pigmentworld by Carolyn Leach-Paholski.

Find September’s events at southcoastwriters.org

24 science & nature

Women’s Health Month: focus on UTIs

By Dr Hayley Glasson, a GP at Bulli Medical Practice

Urinary Tract Infection (or UTI) is an infection in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder and urethra.

Around one in two women will develop a UTI in their lifetime, compared to one in 20 men, due to a short and straight urethra.

Babies and older people are also at higher risk.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of an UTI include: • The need to urinate more frequently and urgently than usual • Pain or burning sensation during urination • Cloudy, pinkish-coloured urine with a strong unpleasant odour • Pelvic or lower abdominal pain • Feeling unwell, fatigued and achy.

If you experience the symptoms of a UTI it is important to visit a health professional as soon as possible. If left untreated, UTIs can worsen and lead to more severe complications, especially if the infection reaches the kidneys.

If the UTI progresses and affects the kidneys,

Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm Saturday: 8am - 12 noon Full range of general practice services including women’s and men’s health, child and adolescent health, older adult health and nursing home visits, and specialised clinics including:

additional symptoms may include fever and pain in the back usually on one side, just below the ribs.

Your GP can diagnose a UTI through review of symptoms, physical examination, and a urinalysis or urine culture. They can perform a urinalysis during your appointment and send off a urine sample to be examined by a laboratory. Other possible causes for the symptoms, such as a sexually transmitted infection, may need to be ruled out through other investigations.

Treatment and recurrent UTIs

Most UTIs are effectively treated with a short course of antibiotics.

Occasionally UTIs can become recurrent. This can be due to inadequate treatment of the initial infection (as can happen with antibiotic resistance), or an ongoing underlying abnormality (eg. chronic constipation or genitourinary syndrome of menopause).

If you have ongoing symptoms despite treatment, your GP can help investigate and manage.

74 Park Road, Bulli 4284 4622 Book online* via our website: www.bullimedicalpractice.com.au scan QR code:

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*Please call 4284 4622 for an appointment if you have any respiratory symptoms

QUALITY PERSONAL HEALTHCARE AND TRAVEL MEDICINE September 25

How I get the most out of my rooftop solar

By Denise Aubourg

The cheapest electricity you can get in Australia is the electricity generated from your rooftop solar system. Since we installed a 6.6kW system 18 months ago, our two-person household is saving $1600 on energy bills a year (from $500 down to $100 a quarter – an 80% reduction!) and we expect to pay off the system in about three years.

Of course we still use power from the grid so we tried to determine how to make the most out of our rooftop solar. Currently on our plan we are

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paying 38c / kWh to buy power from the grid, and only get paid 12c kWh to put excess solar power back into the grid. So, it makes sense to use as much of the energy we generate ourselves during the day and minimise the amount we draw from the grid.

What we do to take advantage of solar was: • Put a timer on our electric hot water system so it heats up during the day.

• Run the dishwasher, washing machine, oven and other household appliances during the day wherever possible (many modern appliances have auto-timers).

We’ve also been trialling a monitoring system called Clipsal Cortex as part of the Electrify 2515 project which has helped us understand our energy usage patterns. For instance, this (diagram, at left) is what 2nd May 2023 looked like on the Clipsal Cortex monitoring system.

You can see the fridge cutting in and out throughout the 24-hour period. The midmorning session baking sourdough bread is totally powered from solar (yup, I’m still hooked on the Covid sourdough fad!) Solar does not quite cover the energy needed for the hot water system on this day and a smallish amount of electricity was drawn from the grid to cover this.

The afternoon got cloudy, so the solar generation was a bit sporadic. Even so, when we turned on our reverse-cycle heating mid-afternoon, most of the power was covered by the solar system. In the evening we continued to have the reverse-cycle heating on and had the cooking dinner peak in the early evening.

Even on this late autumn day that clouded over and got cool in the afternoon, the yellow sections show there was plenty of excess solar generated.

This was fed back to the grid to help offset some of the cost for electricity we draw from the grid outside daylight hours.

If you have rooftop solar, the new “off-peak” is between 9am and 3pm when your electricity is effectively free!

I volunteer with the community group Electrify 2515 who have a Solar Rollout Program for all Illawarra residents to support more local households to join Australia’s solar revolution.

More info at www.electrify2515.org/solar

Feed the dinosaur addiction

By Banksia Bushcare artist Kieran Tapsell

Parents have known for a long time that many children between the ages of four and six develop an obsession with dinosaurs. For the last 30 years, child development scientists have been writing learned papers about it. They have concluded that unlike some other childhood addictions, this one is entirely healthy, encouraging increased knowledge, heightened attention and deeper levels of processing with the result that young dinosaur addicts are smarter.

When I started making some plain white porcelain eggs to put into the giant nests of slain lantana, ochna and senna weeds in the Stanwell Avenue Reserve, I did it as a joke, not realising that I was unwittingly becoming a dealer for dinosaur

Tree of the Month

By Kieran Tapsell, of Banksia Bushcare

Cabbage Tree Palm (Livistona australis)

The Cabbage Tree Palm is the most common palm throughout the Illawarra. They are fan palms, instantly recognisable even in their different forms throughout South-East Asia. There are about 20 different species of Livistona palms in Australia.

28 science & nature

addicts. Several mothers told me that their children loved coming to the Reserve because they were convinced that the nests were made by dinosaurs, and they were wondering when the eggs would hatch. They needed answers.

Given the scientific evidence that dinosaur addiction produces smart kids, I made dinosaur hatchlings from 15 different species emerging from cracked eggs in the Baby Dinosaur Exhibition in the Reserve. Many new dinosaur species are discovered each year, and addicts need to keep up with developments. I have therefore added to the exhibition another five of the most bizarre species, Kritosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Shamosaurus, Argentinosaurus and Sinornithosaurus.

Parents need not be concerned. Dinosaur addiction is known to pass once the psychological advantages of the obsession have been won. Not only will addicts visiting the exhibition become smarter, but they will also be exercising in fresh air, with added opportunities to learn about modern art, bush regeneration and native Illawarra trees.

And there is not a screen in sight.

Some grow in rainforest, but others can grow almost anywhere, even in otherwise desert areas, if they have a good supply of ground water.

Livistona australis extends from Queensland to Victoria. The Cabbage Tree Palm is significant in Aboriginal culture. In the Illawarra, it was called “Dharawal”, also the name of the local language.

New growth from the top of the tree could be cooked or eaten raw and the heart of the trunk could be cooked as a medicine to ease a sore throat.

Its leaves were used for shelter and its fibres for string, rope and fishing lines.

Some may wonder why there are more Cabbage Tree Palms in the Illawarra than the area’s other native palm, the Bangalow Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana). The answer is that the Cabbage Tree palm has a huge capacity to survive even the fiercest fires, sprouting green shoots out of the top of their blackened trucks within weeks. Bangalows die in bushfires, as I discovered in the 2020 fires.

Cabbage Tree Palms proliferate through the Royal National Park, but the only Bangalows you will find are in dense rainforest that has never been burned for a long time.

! ?

CE ns lp VI estio to he D t A qu s NT ur r be WA ng yo o ou ri l d – b wil e w nd

a

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Free Lots to explore and photograph – expansive native display gardens; rainforest walk; sensory walk; picnic areas.

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September 29

Artists of the Illawarra Northern Illawarra Art Trail chair Edith McNally introduces Phill The Potter

Phill Davis, aka “Phill The Potter”, is a quirky character who became an art entrepreneur. He quotes Douglas Adams’ advice to travellers in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to “carry a towel and “Don’t Panic” as useful advice for “would-be” ceramic artists as it can be messy, throws up many a conundrum, surprise and alarming experience, and almost always involves immersion in mud!

Phill’s journey began in 1976 when he was mysteriously seconded to the Riverina as an Art Consultant for primary school teachers. Not being an artist, it soon became obvious to him that he should do “something” within the field, so he enrolled part time in a Fine Arts Dip at Wagga CAE. It was here that he discovered a new world of ceramics and pottery.

In 1980 Phill and his wife, Val, started “Earth, Wind & Fire Pottery” in their Stanwell Tops backyard shed. They developed a range of kitchen and tableware using their own designs and stoneware glazes. Their business expanded into a dedicated factory space in Helensburgh, which allowed them to take on apprentices and trainees.

Phill and Val were thrilled to welcome and host many contemporary potters and ceramic artists, both to visit and work within their group. Working with other people allowed Phill the time to develop more individual pieces, participate in various exhibitions and see his award-winning work selected for collections here and overseas.

As usual, life evolved, the business was sold and a new backyard in Coalcliff became where the pots

were made while Val ran three very successful retail outlets specialising in Australian Arts & Crafts.

Finally a move to Wombarra gave them a backyard studio with a terrific view of the ocean.

Sadly perfection rarely lasts and Phill’s “bit of a health scare” put the pottery on hold for a few years until the indomitable “Phill the Potter” re-emerged in Coledale working from his underground garage/ studio, producing a new range of works.

Auditions for Panto

Auditions were to be held on 22 August, 7-9pm (at Hillcrest House, 1 Railway Crescent, Stanwell Park) and Sunday, 3 September, 12-2pm (at CWA Hall, Stanwell Park). If you are reading this in the weeks after these dates and have missed out, get in touch at spartstheatre@gmail.com! We may still be looking for the right fit. If you simply can’t make it to either of the auditions, get in touch as we may be able to organise a video audition.

We will be looking for adults of all ages for the main roles, and a children’s chorus. All main roles require singing ability. We are also seeking a stage manager and volunteers to assist with costumes, sets, props, lighting and front of house.

Any adults aged 18+ will need to have a valid Working with Children Check to participate.

All the information you need can be found at www.spat.org.au where you will find an downloadable pack with performance dates and links to help you get audition-ready. Chookas!

By Beth Farmer, of Stanwell Park Arts Theatre

Crazy how quickly time flies because can you believe it? It’s panto audition time already!

This year we are delighted to present an original musical play written and directed by our very own Rod Lander, The Critters’ Revenge. Set in an idyllic village beset by a deluge of dastardly developers hell-bent on turning it into a Gold Coast-style resort town complete with casino, this fun caper pits the local villagers, gardeners, and nature’s-own tiny critters against an army of blood-sucking lawyers, hapless councillors and ne’er-do-wells in a David and Goliath fable for the ages!

With original music and lyrics by Rod Lander, director of our Singers group, who just celebrated 40 years of harmonising together – if you enjoyed that, this is right up your alley.

30 clubs & community

Contact Philldavis_98@yahoo.com. Phill also opens his studio on the Northern Illawarra Art Trail (NIAT) Open Studio weekends, the next being on November 18-19.

Concert raises $18k

Felicity Woodhill reports on a night of exceptional music for an exceptional cause

The August 17 Music for Medicine concert at Wollongong Town Hall raised $18,000 for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières through ticket sales and donations.

Audience members who arrived early were treated to a pre-concert by the accomplished Wollongong Flute Ensemble conducted by Suzanne Cowan in the Music Lounge.

The lights dimmed, then, with the Town Hall close to full, the evening’s music began. The rhythmic beat of traditional clapping sticks by Dr Jodi Edwards resonated through the hall as she made her way to the stage. Her Welcome to Country was in the Dharawal language. Jodi transitioned to English as she spoke of how medicine, music and healing connect. She told of her people’s tradition of crossing borders for medicines, drawing a poignant parallel to Doctors Without Borders. On stage with Jodi was the BlueScope Youth Orchestra; she spoke of the need to look out for and nurture our youth.

BlueScope Youth Orchestra’s joyful and inspiring performance drew on folk music and dance traditions. The orchestra’s polished performance reflected a demanding 2023 concert schedule, including tours to Bali and New Zealand, allowing for exceptional growth in their musicianship and performance flair. Their music offered a perfect opening, contrasting to the music that followed: a selection of works from the 1920s and 1930s that were jazz-infused and innovative.

Legendary Australian pianist Simon Tedeschi and brilliant young violin soloist Cedar Newman took to the stage with lightness and grace, a mood that would permeate their performance and invite the audience to share their joy in making music.

Individually, a command of and love for their instruments shone. Still, their exceptional ensemble playing allowed them to captivate the audience with a repertoire less well-known.

One of Newman’s first solo performances was at the Town Hall when, at age nine, she performed Vivaldi’s Spring at an Illawarra Choral Society concert. For many who have followed Newman’s development for over 10 years, the opportunity to see her perform with an artist of the calibre and generosity of Tedeschi was a special occasion.

MC Malika Reese entertained and informed the audience with her blend of enthusiasm and sincerity. And Stephen Dupont donated a stunning image to the highest direct donor to Médecins Sans Frontières. Look out for another concert in 2024.

Above: Dr Jodi Edwards delivered the Welcome to Country. Below: Cedar Newman and Simon Tedeschi. Photos: Caligari Photography

Conveyancing Family Law Wills Estates and Probate Small Business Law Your local lawyer.

Office: 32 Walker Street, Helensburgh Phone: 02 4294 9980 Email: lynda@babisterlegal.com.au www.babisterlegal.com.au

September 31

What’s On

Submit events at theillawarraflame.com.au Our September theme is ‘Spring’

Celebrating the turn of the season in September?

Tag @theillawarraflame or #springflame

Exhibition of works by Max Mannix 9-17 Sept Possibly the last major exhibition of the

artist’s work at Articles Fine Art Gallery in Stanwell Park, this show launches on Saturday, 9 Sept, with music by Fiddledance, champagne and savouries.

Pictured is Max’s Dryzabone oil.

VIEW Club Meeting 19 Sept At Helensburgh VIEW Club was formed

in 1991 and we are always looking for new members to ensure our sponsorships continue and hopefully increase. We welcome women of all ages.

It’s a wonderful way to make new friends and help sponsor disadvantaged students through the Smith Family Learning for Life Program. If you would like to learn more about becoming a member of View, we meet the 3rd Tuesday of every month, 10.30am, at the Helensburgh Centennial Hotel.

Enquiries: Patty Hamilton 0407 020 668.

Emerging Artist Concert Series

Music & Tea at Wollongong Art Gallery at 11am.

Thu 7 Sept Jazz Stories and Spanish Evocations, with Michael de Huy, piano.

Thirroul Centenary Sat 28 Oct St Michael’s Catholic church, Thirroul,

will celebrate the centenary of the parish in October. The new parish, previously part of Bulli parish, was declared on 31 October 1923, covering the area from Bulli Pass to Stanwell Park.

Celebrations are planned for Saturday, 28 October.

Stories and photos about the parish are sought for a celebration publication. Contact Judy Bull, judy. bull@bigpond.com 32 clubs & community

Annual Illawarra Public Dementia Forum 20 Sept Fraternity Club, 11 Bourke Street, Fairy

Meadow. 10am-3pm. MC: A/Prof Lyn Phillipson.

Speakers include Maree McCabe AM, CEO Dementia Australia. Free. Register at https://forms. office.com/r/9DXk3RHt63, or call 0417 468 977.

Thirroul Library 2 Sept Music in the Library, 11am-12noon 4 Sept New Monday Book Club 10-11:30am.

No bookings required. Cuppa and a lively chat.

4 Sept Boomerang Bag Workshop 2.30-4.30pm 6 Sept Knit, Stitch, Yarn 10.30am-12.30pm 7 Sept Justice of the Peace 10am-1pm 12 Sept Talk @Thirroul. Breaking down barriers around Mental Health, 1-2pm. Bookings via Eventbrite. An interactive session. Connect with each other via board games and conversations.

Regular Children’s Programs In school term.

Tuesdays Preschool Storytime 10-10.45am Wednesdays Duplo 10am-12noon 13 & 27 Sept LEGO Club 3.30-4.30pm Thursdays Baby Bookworms 10-10.45am Fridays Toddlertime 10-10.30am School Holiday Activities Book via Eventbrite 26 Sept Paint ‘n’ Snack 12-18 years Tuesday 26th September 10.30-12pm 27 Sept Rainbow Serpent 8+ years 10:30-11.30am.

28 Sept Rainbow Fish 5+ years 10.30-11.30am.

Decorate your own Rainbow Fish.

4 Oct Offbits ages 8+, 10.30-11.30am. Create a robot with our nuts-and-bolts construction kits.

Helensburgh Library School Holiday Activities Book via Eventbrite 27 Sept Movie – Puss In Boots 5+ years, 10.30-

11.45am. Rated PG, 102 minutes

29 Sept Learn to Play Guitar 8+ years,

10.30-11.30am

4 Oct Rainbow Fish 5+ years 10.30-11.30am 6 Oct Harry Potter Breakout Room 8+ years ,

10:30-12:30. Solve all the puzzles.

Regular Programs Held during school term.

Wednesdays Baby Bookworms 10.30am Mon 4 & 18 Sept Wriggle and Jiggle 10.30-11.00 Fridays Storytime 10.30am 6 & 20 Sept Lego Club 3.30- 4.30pm Stanwell Park U3A

Mondays at Hillcrest House. 9.30am to 12pm.

Contact Jenny on 0406 350 025. All welcome.

4 Sept Journey to the Nullarbor, Doug White.

11th Arctic Alaska & Aleutian Islands, Roy Laurie U3A Northern Illawarra Film Appreciation Group Program

Sundowners (Sept 6) & The Tami Show (13th).

Contact Margaret Stratton 0411 526 899.

2023 SEPTEMBER OUTINGS

Bookings can be made through the office. Please call in advance as some tickets need to be pre purchased. Limited number on buses. Pick up and drop off direct to your home.

DATE

SEPTEMBER OUTINGS AND SHOPPING TRIPS

COSTS

Friday 1st September

Dapto Shopping

Transport $12

Tuesday 5th September

Bunnings Kirrawee

Transport $6

Thursday 7th September

Music & Tea at Wollongong Art Gallery

Transport/Admin $11

Friday 8th September

Warrawong Shopping

Transport $12

Wednesday 13th September Movies at NINA – Being the Ricardos

Transport $6 Admin $5

Thursday 14th September

Memory Lane Café with Dementia Australia

Transport $6

Friday 15th September

Shellharbour Shopping

Transport $12

Tuesday 20th September

Outing to Tulip Time, Bowral

Transport/Admin $23, Ticket $TBC plus Lunch

Friday 22nd September

Figtree Shopping

Transport $6

Friday 29th September

Macarthur Square Shopping

Transport $12

LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY?

NINA is seeking volunteers. No time is too little.

We have a wide variety of opportunitie s from driving clients to appointments, com pleting grocery shopping, delivering meals or helping at our social support groups and outi ngs. Get in touch with the office if you’re interest ed.

For CHSP & HCP clients (over 65 years) the catchment area to access NINA services is 2508 to 2517.

All tickets purchased in advance for outings are non-refundable.

Monday–Friday (8.30am-4.30pm) | telephone 02 4294 1900 18 Walker Street, Helensburgh

Fiona’s Butter Cake to Save the Day This is an extract from From Scratch by Fiona Weir Walmsley, published by Hardie Grant Books, rrp $48. See Fiona at November’s True Story festival

Ingredients • 125g (4½ oz/½ cup) butter, softened, plus extra • for greasing • 220g (8 oz/1 cup) white sugar • 2 free-range eggs • 300g (10½ oz/2 cups) self-raising flour (page 25) • 250 ml (8½ fl oz/1 cup) full-cream (whole) milk • Buttercream icing (page 124; optional)

Method • Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F).

• Prepare a 20 cm (8 in) round or square cake tin by greasing well with butter then lining with baking paper.

You can split the cake between two smaller tins and sandwich together with jam and cream. You can make it in a loaf (bar) or a ring (bundt) tin – whatever you like.

• Cream the butter and sugar together until light.

• Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix well. Beat in the first cup of flour, followed by half of the milk.

• Beat in the second cup of flour, then the rest of the milk. Scrape the cake batter into your prepared tin and bake immediately for approximately 30 minutes, or until golden and a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.

• Cool in the tin for 15 minutes, then carefully remove and cool on a cake rack before icing (if you like).

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Festival program launch: True Story of AI with Tracey Spicer

Photos: Alan Benson

Simple Butter Cake, serves 8-10

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34 arts & culture

Scan me to learn more

In this curtain raiser for November’s True Story Festival of non-fiction writing, award-winning journalist Tracey Spicer talks to Caroline Baum about the scary and unexpected ethical and everyday implications of AI in our lives. How have age-old prejudices around gender and race been built into robots? What can we do to make algorithms more representative of who we are? An unmissable conversation for anyone who cares about the human race.

Join us as Tracey Spicer speaks about her new book, Man-Made: How the Bias of the Past is Being Built into the Future, and the True Story festival program is revealed.

True Story is a partnership between South Coast Writers Centre, The Illawarra Flame, and Life Sentences podcast.

Saturday, 7 October, 6-7.30pm at Coledale Community Hall. Tickets via southcoastwriters. org/upcomingevents

Give Dad books By the team at Collins Booksellers Thirroul

Dance For Every Body

By Vyvian Wilson

collins BOOKSELLERS thirroul

books, games and gifts for all ages

AUSTI Dance and Physical Theatre (AUSTI) are excited to announce the introduction of public dance classes for adults – Dance For Every Body – in the Northern Illawarra.

AUSTI is the Illawarra’s premier contemporary dance and physical theatre company and understands the value of regular exercise through dance, movement and stretch to improve fitness, co-ordination, strength and balance.

AUSTI’s artistic director, Michelle Maxwell, believes that dance is a fun and creative way to get our bodies moving and our minds focused. “Our contemporary dance style classes will be structured to allow you to move within your individual capacity,” she said.

Inspired by ABC TV’s Keep On Dancing, AUSTI has collaborated with former AUSTI company member Amber Jackson to run this program as a pilot for ongoing dance classes at the Coalcliff Community Hall. Amber is studying a Masters of Creative Arts Therapy (Dance) at the University of Melbourne and is well qualified to provide a program for people of all ages.

“If you love to dance but need to return to movement in a way that is easy on your body, playful and supportive then Dance For Every Body is for you,” says Woonona-based Amber.

“The classes will include a safe, fun and supportive space for all abilities, starting with a simple warm-up. We will learn basic movements and practise creative expression and some repeated movement combinations.”

Classes will be held in the gorgeous 1950s retro Coalcliff Community Hall at 270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive in Coalcliff. AUSTI. Company members have loved being based at this hall since early 2022 and enjoy its tranquil bush surrounds.

Classes will run on Mondays, starting on October 9, from 10-11.15am. A block of 5 costs $10. You can buy a one-off taster class and class sizes will be limited so bookings are essential.

Tickets will be available from 11 September via events.humanitix.com/dance-for-everybody

This Father’s Day, there’s a book for every father figure in our store. Music, sport, science, gardening, art, current affairs, politics – you’ll easily find that special book to make his day a little brighter.

We have an event for news buffs on Wednesday 13th at Ryan’s. Awardwinning journalist Erin O’Dwyer will lead the discussion with ABC’s Tracey Kirkland and Gavin Fang on their new book, Pandemedia, looking at news media in Australia. On Sunday 10th we’ll celebrate the new memoir from Margaret Reeve, Illawarra’s own living legend of the dance floor. Meet the author and enjoy champagne in store between 2.30-3.30. Finally, the Pages & Pints Book Club is on Thursday 21st, when we’ll be discussing Mark Brandi’s Southern Aurora. Register for events via thirroul@collinsbooks.com.au

Shop 5/264 Lawrence Hargrave Drive

www.collinsbooksthirroul.com.au @collinsbooksellersthirroul

More info: Vyvian at vyvwilson@gmail.com

September 35

NIRAG re-elects committee Thanks to Secretary/Treasurer Ross Dearden for providing this report

Flame’s website at www.theillawarraflame.com.au.

• Members took part in consultation for the Wollongong Integrated Transport Strategy workshops, to plan for the future and reduce car dependence by improvements to public transport.

• Importantly the meeting voted to support the YES23 vote campaign and the referendum to have a Voice to Parliament to give First Nations peoples the right to have a say over laws that affect them.

One of NIRAG’s key objectives is “To support Aboriginal Reconciliation and recognise the cultural rights of Indigenous Australians”.

• There was a motion that Council ban fossil fuel Throughout the year NIRAG has taken on the gas connections in new homes and ask that more role of NF3 which covers the suburbs from Woonona to Austinmer, until a new Convenor can be done to require solar and PV friendly power in be found. NIRAG continues to support the creation homes and apartments, new commercial buildings of a Keeping Place at Sandon Point, Hewitt’s Creek and community facilities. It is understood that Council will be following up these ideas and ways Bushcare volunteers, and assists the community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the next with local issues and development applications.

Climate Mitigation Plan.

NIRAG also lobbied to improve conditions for The committee gave particular thanks to cyclists in the Illawarra. There has been success in the better prioritising of cycleway upgrades, and in Cr Martin, Cr Walters, and Maryanne Stuart, MP for attending and participating in our meetings planning for wider paths and safer road crossings. throughout the year and to Jo Page (Director The reconstructed cycleway via Pioneer Estate in Infrastructure and Works) for her commitment its present location, rather than in a completely new location to the south was a good achievement. and assistance. This contribution is really appreciated and helps make meetings NIRAG collaborates with other community more productive. groups, such as Thirroul Village Committee, Illawarra Bicycle Users Group, the Bulli Hospital The next NIRAG quarterly meeting will be on Community Group and Better Planning Network Wednesday, 1 November 2023 at 7pm. and the Illawarra Escarpment Alliance.

All welcome Contact Ross Dearden by email After the AGM, NIRAG held its quarterly nirag@bigpond.com. meeting. The minutes are available on the

The Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group (NIRAG), held its annual general meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, 2 August at the Bulli Community Centre. There were no new nominations for the committee and all office bearers were re-elected: • President: John Croker • Vice President: Dave Beswick • Secretary: Ross Dearden.

• Treasurer: Ross Dearden • Membership Secretary: Susannah Cavill • Public Officer: Michael Crighton

Book a stall at Lions Country Fair

By Fran Peppernell, Helensburgh Lions Publicity Officer

We hope everyone has been enjoying the mix of lovely sunshine and rain to water our gardens.

Our club is forging ahead with preparations for the Country Fair in October. Don’t forget to save the date Saturday, 28 October, starting at 10am with our official opening to get the Fair underway.

Lots of fun and laughter are the order of the day.

Entertainment is looking great with dance groups and singers, a petting zoo, carnival rides and our local Rural Fire Service. We’ll also have market stalls for you to enjoy browsing and shopping plus importantly tasty food.

36 clubs & community

There is still time if you would like to have a stall on the day, go to www.helensburghlions.org.au to get an application. Also make sure to keep up to date on our Facebook page!

As with any volunteer group the number of our members is small and we have a strong belief in making a difference. We continue to do this by giving people the opportunity to contribute to the causes that matter to them as individuals and their community. While we aren’t asking for you to give a large amount of your time we ask if you can come along and see how you can help. It is a reward in itself to help your community.

So please reach out and contact us via our email info.helensburghlions@gmail.com or Facebook.

We meet every 2nd Monday of the month at Helensburgh Hotel, 6.30pm and our Fair meetings on the 4th Monday of the month, same time and venue. See you at the Fair!

Thirroul Village Committee Report

FULLY LICENSED AND INSURED

+

FREE QUOTES

By TVC secretary Annette Jones EV Charging Points

No doubt many residents would have noticed that two EV Power Pole Charging Points are scheduled to be installed in Railway Parade, Thirroul. This is a great initiative by Council.

Only issue is that parking is at a premium in Thirroul and the loss of two spots, although small in number, can have significant implications on customer turnover for local businesses. The TVC is aware that there are a number of potential spots around Thirroul where EV charging could be made possible without adversely impacting local businesses and has written to Council with a few suggestions. This includes the railway overflow car park in Church Street, Thirroul. This carpark has ready access to power and would not take away valuable car spots from the centre of Thirroul.

There are other potential sites such as parking spaces to the northern side of Thomas Gibson Park in Station Street, as well as Raymond Road and Phillip Street, close to the shops. If residents have other suggestions, please contact Council directly.

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Access around Thirroul

In late July, members of the TVC and Save Thirroul Village escorted the local member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart and local councillor, Richard Martin, on a fact-finding trip around Thirroul, highlighting the traffic and access issues in Thirroul. Maryanne was able to see where an access road between Thirroul and Bulli was planned to go and where potential emergency access is still possible. There was also discussion about alternative access to and from McCauley Estate.

Offshore Wind Farms

An area in the Pacific Ocean from Wombarra to Kiama is being considered for an offshore wind farm and other renewable energy projects. The Federal Government is starting a conversation about this proposal and people have been asked to provide feedback. You can either submit a survey via the following link: https://consult.dcceew.gov. au/oei-illawarra/take-the-survey or attend one of six question-and-answer sessions, including at Bulli Senior Citizens Centre from 4-7pm on Monday, 18 September at 8 Hospital Road, Bulli.

All residents are invited to the next TVC meeting on Sunday, 24 September at 4pm at TRIPS Hall, Railway Parade, Thirroul.

Email the TVC at the new email address: thirroulvillagecommittee@gmail.com

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Home grown talent Cover

Genevieve Swart meets the Edible Garden Trail team

feature

38 clubs & community

ANNA JANE

CLAUDIA

Sixteen edible gardens at schools, bushcare sites and private homes have signed up and more may join the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail, be held from Helensburgh to Woonona in November.

“The Trail started in the Blue Mountains by Susanne Rix in 2018 and has since spread to Sydney, the Central Coast and now the Illawarra,” said program manager Anna Jane Linke, aka AJ. “Two sponsors, Gilly’s Kitchen Garden and Treemates, jumped on board early to seed fund the project. We couldn’t have done it without their help.”

AJ issued an edible garden call-out in our June issue and said the response has been fantastic. “It’s been awesome to see and we can’t wait to expand to Wollongong in 2024 and Windang in 2025!”

Food Fairness Illawarra, part of Healthy Cities Illawarra, will be hosting the Edible Garden Trail.

Look out for the logo featuring a well-known local character, the original sticky beak.

AJ said, “We know the sulphur-crested cockatoo is a sore point amongst local gardeners, so it’s a playful reminder that gardening can test our resolve in more ways than one, but in the end it’s all about sharing and ‘losing’ a little here and there to the creatures that call the escarpment home too!

“Grant, one of our amazing committee members, drew the initial design and then we had the awesome Georgia from Leeway Studios translate it into a digital print.”

Gardeners are still welcome to sign up, AJ said.

“We’re looking for all types of growing spaces to showcase, from verge gardens to balcony gardens to big backyards.”

The Flame’s cover shoot took place at Gilly’s Kitchen Garden, the property at 35 Station Road owned by Otford local Claudia Walters. Thanks to the four key team members for taking the time to tell us a bit about themselves – and how edible gardening has changed their lives.

Anna Jane Linke, 30, is a Stanwell Tops horticulturist and the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail’s program manager.

I’m passionate about all things mother nature, conserving her diversity, advocating for her protection and experiencing her beauty. My appreciation for nature and the adventures it has to offer started from a young age growing up in the Snowy Mountains with my mum. I now live in an

GRANT

ZAN

off-grid tiny home in the bush. I like to spend my time either in the surf or meandering through the escarpment on foot or bicycle.

Who taught you to grow food?

My mum introduced me to growing herbs and berries when I was young. It wasn’t until more recently that I’ve had the chance to experiment a lot more in more own and in others gardens.

What was the first thing you grew and ate?

I think it was an eggplant… nothing is more rewarding than cooking with the produce you’ve grown yourself!

Home-grown dishes for me are often a bit of a pot luck, because I have a little bit of this and lots of that. Usually one veggie, like Zucchinis, comes on really strong for a couple weeks and I’m making every Zucchini recipe I can get my hands on! A particular favourite was a Zucchini soup I was making by grilling it and then blending it up with herbs and parmesan.

Please tell us about your own veggie garden.

I started with one veggie bed back in 2021, surrounded with a fence that did not hold up to the deer, sheep nor horses that I share the property with. It took a few demoralising crop losses to get serious. I did a flower farming course, which taught me lots about soil, climate, succession and companion planting, whilst I was trialling growing all varieties of edible things.

Now I have some proper fences surrounding three veggie and flower beds that provide a lot of leafy greens, beans, beautiful blossoms, garlic... it depends on the season, of course! I do have a heavy clay soil, that is on the acidic side, so despite my best efforts to continually amend the soil I am somewhat limited to what I can grow.

How has growing food changed your life?

In so many ways! I’m more connected with the seasons and observant of the weather. I find myself surrounded by passionate and knowledgeable people who care about soil, bugs, water, plants, which feels very aligned with my values to care for nature. Growing food has not only made me healthier and stronger, it gives my mind moments of much-needed downtime and mindfulness.

September 39

Edible Garden Trail committee member Claudia Walters, 60, is an Otford resident and the director Gilly’s Kitchen Garden.

Growing my own food has given me a second family of beautiful people who care deeply about our community and our planet. Mum and dad used to spend weekends out in the veggie patch while my brother and I sat glued to the TV as kids. Now it’s my turn. Having started growing late in life, I’m busting to share this new-found joy.

That’s why I started the gardening and cooking school at Gilly’s Kitchen Garden. It’s early days yet, but I’ve found my tribe, and, having worked in community my whole life, the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail feels like a natural next step.

Having chooks is my favourite part of the garden. I love the way the girls follow me around, clucking and scratching, finding bugs or dust bathing. Plus I love the look on kids’ faces when they open up the nest box and find some eggs!

My favourite dish is my Nonna’s tortilla. It’s a really simple recipe with sliced potato and finely chopped garlic (heaps of it). Shallow fry the lot in a pan with some olive oil and then add the mixture to fresh, whisked and well-seasoned, home-grown eggs. Back in the fry pan till a delicious golden brown on one side, flip the tortilla (a tad tricky but 40 clubs & community

part of the fun) and it’s done. Wonderful memories of hovering in the kitchen while she made it and sitting around the dinner table waiting for my slice!

Otford local Grant Lubyckij, 31, is a productive garden tutor, Edible Garden Trail team member & creative consultant

Growing our own food makes us so joyful! Every time we have the opportunity to put something home-grown on the table we just feel so chuffed, it really is the best feeling.

It means we are connected to the place we live, the seasons and cycles of the natural world are observed so much more intimately. It makes us grateful for the rain, instead of complaining about the weather. Growing our own food is humbling and, from what we’ve found, meets a primal desire to know where your food comes from. It has enabled us to meet people in our community through local crop swaps, gardening programs and workshops and really brings a sense of connection socially that would be very much missed if we weren’t digging around in the soil together.

We live in a shady place under the rainforest canopy, so growing food is hard, but we have a beautiful flock of 18 chooks and five ducks who keep our kitchen full of farm fresh eggs every day!

All photos: Anthony Warry

What is your favourite home-grown dish?

Homemade pasta! We get out our pasta machine, roll and knead our dough made from flour, salt and our lovely ladies’ fresh eggs. Then pass it through the machine to create long flat sheets, which are versatile and can be used for lasagne, ravioli or passed through the machine again with the fettuccine or spaghetti attachment to make homemade noodles! It tastes so fresh and the texture is so delicate and soft… all it needs is salt and pepper, a drizzle of olive oil, fresh herbs, voila!

Zan Schmidt, 33, is an Otford ecologist and part of the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail team

The first time I had a decent productive veggie garden was during Covid and it was a real godsend for my mental health. It is always amazing to be so hands-on and tactile in the garden, and there is so much learning at every stage. From the weird and wonderful shapes of different seeds, to how the same plant grows differently at opposite corners of the garden bed. And then watching the plants grow and eating what you’ve grown is the best!

Having our own garden gives us access to super-fresh food – especially greens and herbs which wilt easily – and allows us to discover and eat new things… like yacon, gifted to us by a

gardener we met in Milton. It has also led to amazing community, new friends, and cool events like the garden trail!

I have lived in numerous Illawarra neighbourhoods and found that my current home in Otford presents the most learning opportunities (read challenges) for growing – with an abundance of wildlife and largely shady growing space. So far greens like lettuce, mizuna and mustard greens grow best, and surprisingly celery.

Favourite home-grown dish?

My go-to recipes are pickles (you can seriously pickle anything) or pesto. Pesto is great for greens and herbs, and again can be made with almost any greens – from kale to radish tops. For pesto, use a food processor and add your greens, fresh garlic, lemon, salt, pepper, olive oil, any nuts you like (I like walnuts) and parmesan cheese (optional).

I don’t follow a strict recipe, but adjust according to taste.

The Illawarra Edible Garden Trail will be on 11 and 12 November, 10am-3pm, at gardens from Helensburgh to Woonona. Tickets via Eventbrite, $5 to $25. More info: gardentrail@ foodfairnessillawarra.org.au

September 41

South32 sponsors Ride Wollongong A naming rights sponsorship deal has alienated the community this festival would like to attract, writes Genevieve Swart

The decision to appoint miner South32 as the naming rights sponsor of September’s Ride Wollongong festival has shocked the climateconscious cycling community.

“The event’s a great idea. But I don’t want to go to it now, unless it’s part of an action to oppose the sponsorship,” says local cycling advocate Jess Whittaker.

“We’re in a climate emergency. I can’t look my kids in the eye and say, ‘We’re going to this cycling event – it’s paid for by a coal mine. And by the way, they’re burning your future and stuffing the water catchment.”

The Ride Wollongong Festival of Cycling is a 2022 UCI Road World Championships legacy event by Destination Wollongong, a not-for-profit tourism body majority funded by Wollongong City Council. Set to take place in the city on September 23 and 24, the festival was announced on July 20, when local media were invited to a photo opportunity at Lang Park featuring Mark Sleigh, general manager of Destination Wollongong, and the city’s Lord Mayor, Gordon Bradbery, who rode a tandem bicycle with a South32’s Illawarra Metallurgical Coal community relations representative, Antony Leone.

The Climate Council’s head of advocacy, Dr Jennifer Rayner, described South32’s sponsorship of Ride Wollongong as “sports washing”, a form of greenwashing. “Sports washing is when they

[companies] use their association with the sports, arts and public events Australians love to try and purchase social licence, to purchase the idea that they are good companies.”

In May 2023, the independent Climate Council published Calling Time: How to Remove Fossil Fuel Sponsorships from Sports, Arts and Events, a voluntary code for organisations.

Dr Rayner said, “The South32 sponsorship of Ride Wollongong is a really good example of the problem that we’re talking about here. So that is a big mining company that has a really significant role to play in the coal market. And that company is contributing to harmful climate change through its product at the same time as it’s sponsoring a community event, which is at increasing risk of disruption because of extreme weather and the risk of harmful climate change.”

L to R: Mark Emerton, CEO of Elite Energy Events, Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery AM, South 32 representative Antony Leone and Mark Sleigh, general manager of Destination Wollongong.

Above, Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery and South32’s Antony Leone. Photos supplied by event publicists

42 news

In a statement on August 28, Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said: “Ride Wollongong is not a Council run event but I attended the launch because I want to promote cycling in our City. I don’t believe South 32’s sponsorship of Ride Wollongong detracts from a key objective of the event, namely to encourage cycling for fun and for active transport.”

View from ‘Beyond Coal Coast’

July’s Lang Park media call – which locals dubbed a “bikewash” – came nine days after South32 made national headlines after agreeing to pay a record sum of $2.9 million. The Natural Resources Access Regulator had found works at South32’s Dendrobium mine at Mt Kembla had drained up to five megalitres a day – the equivalent of two Olympic swimming pools – from the Sydney water catchment without a licence from 2018 to 2023.

Sallie Moffatt, a spokesperson for grassroots group Beyond Coal Coast, said while a Festival of Cycling was fantastic, it needed sponsorship “from companies whose corporate values enhance a positive environmental message and not from those who seek to launder their image through sportswashing”.

“Beyond Coal Coast would like to see Destination Wollongong and the Lord Mayor collaborating with responsible corporate citizens in the upcoming Festival of Cycling.”

More questions than answers

Neither South32 nor Destination Wollongong responded to questions about how much money the mining company contributed to the festival.

South32 declined to comment.

Destination Wollongong general manager Mark Sleigh did not directly respond to questions, with publicity outsourced to a Wollongong firm and event management to a Nowra company.

The Illawarra Flame received a statement from ‘the Ride Wollongong team’ signed by Mark Emerton, CEO of a Nowra-based multi-sport events company, Elite Energy Events. It read: “Grassroots community events such as the Ride Wollongong Festival of Cycling are only possible through the support of commercial partners …

South 32 was involved in the delivery of the World Championships in 2022 and is keen to continue supporting cycling within the region.”

The full statement is available on our website.

Ms Whittaker, a Port Kembla health care worker who ran as the Greens lead candidate in Ward 3 at the last Wollongong City Council election in December 2021, said: “You don’t have to have hundreds of thousands of dollars to put on a community event. The council should just be funding that.”

Destination Wollongong is a not-for-profit body funded by Council with more than 200 business partners, who pay annual fees of $400 to $3500.

(The Illawarra Flame is a member.)

“Wollongong City Council will provide $1.55 million to Destination Wollongong this financial year (2023-2024). This equates to 85% of their total funding,” a council spokesperson said.

South32’s Appin Mine Community Consultative Committee meeting minutes, dated 21 Sept 2022, show the company contributed $50,000 to the 2022 UCI Road World Championships. Its records for Ride Wollongong were not published at press time.

Destination Wollongong is a separate entity to Wollongong City Council, with an independent board and its own charter.

Council referred questions about rate payers’ response to South32’s sponsorship to Destination Wollongong, and a Destination Wollongong publicist referred that question to Council.

Bigger than one local event

Ultimately the ‘sportswashing’ problem is bigger than any one company, said Dr Rayner, who cited the Santos Tour Down Under as another example of an event feeling the heat of climate change. “And yet the companies that are doing so much to fuel harmful climate change are still slapping their logos all over those events,” she said.

Of South32’s sponsorship of Ride Wollongong, Ms Whittaker said: “In some ways it’s good it’s happened because it’s so bad that it really highlights why we need to ban fossil fuel advertising.”

Despite being a keen cyclist, Ms Whittaker won’t be attending this month’s South32 Ride Wollongong festival.

“I just can’t do it. It was the same feeling I got at UCI when they were handing out all those yellow hats with South32 logos and I just felt so embarrassed. All these people come over from Europe and we’re in a climate emergency and here’s good old Wollongong handing out the hats for the coal mine.

“I actually took a hat home and embroidered ‘end coal’ on it and then wore it back the next day.”

Jess Whittaker’s repurposed hat.

Photo: Jess Whittaker, 2022

September 43

Sally’s View on the Voice

By YES23 supporter Jeremy Lasek

At the official launch of the YES campaign in July, Wollongong’s 2023 Citizen of the Year, Sally Stevenson AM, challenged our city to strive for the highest ‘yes’ vote in the country.

A trailblazer for women’s support programs and social issues, Sally believes the vote in the referendum should be personal “for all of us”.

“I’m voting Yes for the extraordinary Aboriginal women I know and work with in the Illawarra,” Sally said. “I’m voting Yes for me, and for my children. I’m voting Yes to make true the words I say at every Acknowledgement of Country – to respect Elders, past and present and all Aboriginal people in our presence.”

Photo: Jeremy Lasek

Shaped by experience

At the YES campaign launch, Sally called on her personal experience working in the small Western Desert community of Nyirripi more than 30 years ago and her subsequent employment by the Arnhem Land Program Association to support the establishment of a credit union in Arnhem Land.

“In 1991, the era of privatisation in Australia had started in earnest, with the sale of the first tranche of the Commonwealth Bank. This meant ‘unprofitable’ branches were being closed, including and especially in remote Aboriginal communities. Access to a bank was not considered a right, nor a community service,” Sally said.

“People were left with no structure with which to manage or protect their money. There were no institutions to support financial planning, saving, or offer loans or credit. People would receive their income via cheque which would be cashed in the local store.

“Two weeks of cash in your pocket – to put food on the table consistently for two weeks, to pay expenses, and to manage pressures to share. It is impossible for anyone. One consequence of this situation was the well documented ‘feast or famine’ cycles that existed in communities.”

Sally explained how the local progress association, an organisation handed over to community control in the 1970s, decided to address the problem by establishing the first Aboriginal owned and governed financial institution in Australia.

Persistence paid off

“The stonewalling, overt racism and unabashed resistance from those in power to support this project was evident on a daily basis,” Sally said.

“Because of course, Aboriginal people ‘can’t manage their own money’. However, the sheer 44 news

persistence and belief in the project by the board and the communities led to the opening of the first branch of Traditional Credit Union in Milingimbi in 1994.”

Sally said it was hoped one of the positive health outcomes arising from the creation and support of a locally run financial institution would be an improvement in the consumption of fresh food.

“Within the first three months, fresh fruit and vegetable sales had increased 30% and remained consistent across the pay fortnight.

“Within 12 months, the first loan based on kinship relationships between women was made for a washing machine – so they could wash blankets and reduce scabies. The loan was paid back ahead of time, and white goods constituted the majority of small loans. The rate of loan defaults was close to zero.”

Sally described this story as just one example of how communities with a voice and access to resources “can change and save lives”.

“They can close the gap,” Sally said.

“To have self determination you must have control over your resources. And there is no greater resource than your voice.”

Visit yes23.com.au/wollongong_for_yes

Annette Sirec, of Stanwell Park

Growing up in the 1960s there were lessons at school about explorers, convicts and new settlers but nothing about our First People. It wasn’t until I worked on the Railway Stations – mainly at Erskineville near Redfern – that I came to know the Aboriginal community.

Over the past 20 years I have travelled to Darwin, the Tiwi Islands, the Daintree rainforest and more. I listen to Indigenous storytelling, music and language. I have felt so included. But I have also seen the price of fresh food, the poor housing and the lack of medical assistance. We need to Say Yes to a better future for All Australians Together.

Tammy Small (family name Gordon), Manager Projects – Indigenous Advancement, UOW

Yuwin Ngadhi (my name is) Tammy and I am a proud Wiradjuri woman who is currently living on the lands of the Dharawal-speaking people … the unremitting work of Indigenous activists throughout Australian history helped create one of the most culturally resilient groups of Indigenous peoples in the world. We have been faced with the torment and legacy of historical powerlessness in Australian classrooms, media, research, textbooks etc …Vote yes to ensure that Indigenous voices are heard, valued and respected.

Stanwell Park's Kieran Tapsell, retired lawyer, author and Banksia Bushcare artist

There is a certain amount of déjà vu about some of the No campaign. We heard the same objections to native title after the Mabo and Wik decisions, that our backyards would be under threat. It never happened. That an apology for the Stolen Generation would result in a flood of court compensation claims. It never happened. The claim that the High Court will be inundated with challenges arising from the Voice is unfounded.

Cost orders are powerful disincentives against people making silly claims.

Prue Watson, Clifton School of Arts

A project came from the conversation I had with a friend who was wearing a YES badge outside Thirroul IGA. The conversation started… how can I support a Yes vote? An art exhibition at the Clifton School of Arts (CSA)?

With Vyvian Wilson’s willing assistance, I took this on.

Show success: The Art from our Hearts exhibition in August featured 64 works donated by 40 local artists. It raised $14,000 for the YES campaign.

These 4 Views on the Voice are edited extracts – read in full at www.theillawarraflame.com.au

Your Letters While Yes campaigners have been busy sharing information at railway stations, craft markets and beaches, the Flame is not aware of a local No campaign. For more about this side, visit the Voice.gov.au. Here are a few letters received: “Thank you for including a positive story about John Corker and the Referendum in the latest issue. With so much misinformation flying around online, it is reassuring to read something calm, informative and non fear mongering in a grass roots publication.

Well done.

Stewart, via email Thanks for the piece on the Voice Yes Vote (meet John Corker article). Very informative.

Will you be balancing your reporting with a piece on the No case in your next edition?

I’d really like to get both sides of the story.

Matt, via email I used to read your magazine, but I won’t now after seeing you support the yes campaign.

It is a referendum that people vote in, it should not be shoved on a neutral community magazine like you have.

Paul, via email NOOOOo is what intelligent Australians are Voting!!!! STOP Telling us how to vote! Give us both sides!!!!! Shied his biased and left your media really is!’ {sic} Anonymous, via email

September 45

Guides compete, Masterchef style

By Helensburgh Guide Isla

During term two on Thursday nights in the guide hall, the Helensburgh Girl Guide unit participated in Masterchef, where we would team up to meet a set cooking challenge.

In attendance was Raven, Isla, Liana, Bella, Josie, Maya, Evelyn , Sadie and the judges, Tilly and Charlotte (past youth Girl guides).

How Masterchef worked was we cooked a particular recipe in teams and we were judged to see who had made the best. We had three competitions in total, making pizzas, cupcakes and scones. We also learnt how to make a campfire and cooked baked potatoes in it.

Firstly, we picked a partner to cook with. Next, Raven gave us a recipe to follow and we measured out our ingredients. Then my partner and I followed the recipe and cooked it. We got to choose the topping for our pizza and the decorations for our cupcakes.

After that Tilly and Charlotte walked around all the entries looking and tasted our food. The winner

had the best appearance and taste. Finally, we had to clean up and we got to eat our own creations.

Something I found interesting was when we made to pizza dough. It was really easy.

It was really funny when someone dropped a bowl of icing and put many too many things on their cupcakes. My favourite part of the activity was making the icing and eating my cupcakes. They were yummy. Next time I would like to try different toppings on my pizza.

Clarence Slockee visits Austi Scouts

By Paul Rustomji

All sections at Austinmer Scouts gathered for a night of learning and activity related to Aboriginal history. The group were joined by Clarence Slockee, from the Bundjalung Nation on the NSW North Coast, who is the education officer at the Sydney Botanic Gardens.

Clarence presented the group with an Aboriginal flag that now sits proudly alongside the Australian flag in the hall. He also provided the group with an ‘Acknowledgement of Country’, which is read out by a group member at every group meeting.

Clarence shared his knowledge of the local

Dharawal country, told stories and engaged the kids in song, dance and language. We then gathered by the fire and enjoyed bush tucker including sea lettuce, paperbark-wrapped flathead, Warrigal greens and kangaroo skewers.

Some thoughts on the evening by two of our Cubs, Jack and William Allen: “Holding the implements used for hunting and digging was awesome, and I learnt how to welcome people to this place in language.”

The Scouts (12-15 years old) attended the NSW State Rally at Cataract Scout Park over a recent weekend, and Austi Scout Group has as its next cam a ski trip to Perisher in early September.

Austinmer Scout Group is looking for volunteer leaders for our Joey and Cub sections. Joeys (aged 5 to 8) meet Wednesday nights 5-6pm and Cubs (aged 8 to 11) meets Wednesday 6:30-8pm.

Jenny Yule, one of our current Cub Leaders says: “The best bits of being a leader is watching the kids grow. They come into the hall like mice, quiet and timid, but leave as confident young mini leaders.”

For more information, please contact Group Leader Steve Turner on 0409 695 575.

46 clubs & community

Art and Craft festival on the cliffs The 25th Scarborough ArtShow will be held from October 6-8, writes Melissa Barnard

This year marks a milestone for the Scarborough ArtShow – it is 25 years since the little school on the cliff overlooking the ocean first opened its doors to artists, art lovers and families for this annual fundraising weekend of art, food and fun!

Since then it has grown into a much-anticipated event, attracting artists and visitors from up and down the coast.

With a wide range of high-quality art and crafts from renowned professional artists to innovative local craft makers, visitors can browse, buy fine art and craft, or relax and mingle with friends and the local artistic community. Artists generously donate a commission to Scarborough Public School and all profits go towards supporting school students through the art literacy programme, learning support services and practical items for the school.

This year we welcome back many fine artists including Ashley Frost, Tanya Stubbles, Ash Leslie, Hal Pratt, Chris Duczynski, Anthea Stead, Anh Nguyen, Kate Broadfoot, David Manks, Christine Hill and many more. Our Student Gallery will be

displaying the kids’ ArtSpark competition, showcasing art from primary school students all across our area. Pop in and vote for your favourite!

Families can enjoy kids activities plus food, coffee and live music from local acts: a treasure hunt, face-painting and an interactive community artwork are just some of the things that will be on offer to keep everyone entertained.

Opening night on Friday, October 6 will be a special highlight (18+ only) with live music from The Godriguez Trio (from acclaimed band Godtet) and canapés, wine and beer included in the ticket price. Advance ticket purchase only via the website www.scarboroughartshow.com. Be the first to see the show, find a beautiful piece of art and experience the buzz of a great night out!

Drop in and let your imagination wander as you browse the art between the cliffs and the ocean.

October 6-8 at Scarborough Public School 371-381 Lawrence Hargrave Drive. Sat/Sun $5 adults/$3 concession/under 13 free

Kate Broadfoot’s View North from Sandon Point; (at left) Anthea Stead’s Scarborough

at the Heritage Club to give the men How Sheds started group purpose, for socialising and ultimately to improve

their health. It worked. And now there are more than 1200 men’s, women’s and community sheds in This year is the 30th anniversary of Men’s Sheds in Australia, and almost 1000 around the world.

This encouraging story was included in a Australia – and who do we have to thank for that? presentation to Engadine Probus in August, and A woman, of course! your writer was well-received by over 100 ladies In 1993, Maxine Chaseling (nee Kitto), coordinator of The Heritage Club in Goolwa, South and men. We discussed men’s health, the things we do at our Shed, as well as the Glowworm Tunnel Australia, conceived the idea of a men’s shed after and the Helensburgh Station Sign the Shed made. her father had become depressed, stuck at home and no longer able to work after a heart attack.

She noticed that the only thing giving her father Visit Helensburgh Men’s Shed, 199A Parkes St, purpose was working in his shed. Maxine started a open Mon-Wed 9am to 3pm. 0478 892 485

By Paul Blanksby of the Men’s Shed

September 47

NF1 Report

By Neighbourhood Forum 1 convenor Warwick Erwin

Councillors present at August 9 meeting – Crs Richard Martin and Cameron Walters Otford Road Causeway

Council has started work; it’s a construction zone with no access. Council hasn’t given a completion date but it won’t be before the start of bushfire season. Council has not responded to the request from Otford Residents and NF1 for 40kph speed limit on Otford Rd. Council has not released the design of the replacement causeway to the community. Updates via wollongong.nsw.gov.au/ council-projects/current-works/otford-causeway Draft Helensburgh Park Crown Land PoM

Council is seeking feedback on the Draft Helensburgh Park Crown Reserves Plan of Management (PoM). The Crown land under this PoM includes Charles Harper Park, Rex Jackson Park and Helensburgh Memorial Pool.

This Plan of Management is below standard compared to PoMs of other NSW Councils.

Numerous NF1 members have said Helensburgh Park is a sporting area and they believe Council only wants the permission to build a centre in front of the pool so Council can build a cheaper building than if it was to build a new centre either at the existing site or the blocks of land next to the current Library that Council bought for $3.6M. Go to our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/drafthelensburgh-park-crown-reserves-plan-ofmanagement – page 27 gives a plan view that may indicate Council has preliminary plans for allocations of the new building/s. It would be good it Council was transparent with the plans.

Have you say on the PoM even though submissions closed 30 August. Do you want the new Community Centre and Library at the pool?

Phone Council on 4227 7111 and ask for Council’s Community Land Management Officer, Martha Tyndall. Email engagement@wollongong. nsw.gov.au and use “Draft Helensburgh Park PoM” in the Subject Title of the email. If you don’t tell Council your opinion, don’t complain later.

Parkes Street Road Works

Council’s response to residents’ complaints has been to refer them to Council’s page on road resurfacing – wollongong.nsw.gov.au/councilprojects/road-resurfacing – which in part states: “A temporary spray seal of bitumen and stone chip will be put on top of the road surface. We know this is not popular with most people, but it 48 clubs & community

provides waterproofing and protects the road while the binder hardens. Driving on this surface helps to settle loose stones, but it’s best to slow down on recently spray-sealed roads.

“The spray seal will be left for about 3 months while the road settles before it gets its final surface. There’s no way to speed up this process.”

There is already a mud hole and blocked drainage. Council did not advise residents of these roadworks.

Wollongong Police Senior Constable Wes Dallas, Crime Prevention Officer

Snr Constable told the forum that manning of Helensburgh Police station is being held up as the site is subject to a land claim by Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council. Issues affecting the area include speeding vehicles on Parkes St, dirt bikes illegally riding on roads, break and enter into cars and houses. Lock all doors and report crimes to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, NSW Police Non-Emergency 131 444, Wollongong Police on 4226 7899 or through the portal on the NSW Police website. Statistics drive the resourcing – report it if you see something.

Draft Wollongong Industrial Lands Review

WCC is asking for comment on the Draft Wollongong Industrial Lands Review 2023 (Draft Review) by 11 September. Pages 99 to 101 of the document refer to the “industrial lands” in Helensburgh. Parkes St and Cemetery Rd and 159 to 169 Walker St ( the area that drains to C2 Environmental Conservation land and into the Hacking River – rezoned in 2015 on the floor of Council against recommendations from Council staff). Comment now – draft report recommends no change. Bus depot is not in the area and exists under existing use rights.

In General Business

• When will the The Ridge footpath be done?

• Coles supermarket and pedestrian crossing at the post office flooded on night of 5 August.

Not a large storm. What will Council do?

• Embankment collapsed on Lady Carrington Rd, Otford on way to the station.

• Erosion on Maxwell Crescent and Park Parade Stanwell Park • Tree on council land on Bulgo Rd, Helensburgh destroying the drain.

• Council has begun work on cemetery portico.

• Maryanne Stuart Member for Heathcote to look into the 10% discount on council rates for residents suffering hardship.

• Proposal for basketball court in Helensburgh Next meeting: 13 Sept, 7pm at Otford Hall

Your Letters

Submit letters via the Get In Touch page at www.theillawarraflame.com.au Give feedback on windfarm zone

I am writing to inform local residents of the government’s proposed Illawarra offshore renewables area. The area extends from Wombarra in the north to Kiama in the south and is 10km from the coast. If a wind farm is approved the turbines within the proposed area will be visible from all local beaches, lookouts, nature reserves as well from many homes and businesses in the Illawarra. The window for community feedback on the proposal ends on 16 October 2023. Give your feedback is via the survey https://consult.dcceew. gov.au/oei-illawarra/take-the-survey Please read up, research and let the government know your opinion on this project which, if it proceeds will impact all our lives here in the beautiful Illawarra.

– Brad, via email Please return rare book

This book was borrowed from the Wollongong library.

It seems that it was not registered at the desk. If the borrower has finished reading it, it would be appreciated if it could be returned.

– Anthony Jones, via text Find a free JP at your library

NSW Justice Association Wollongong Branch provides free JP Service at Community Desks at Thirroul & Corrimal & Wollongong & Dapto & Warrawong Libraries, with times from 10am to

1pm. All services given by JPs are free of charge.

They cannot give legal advice and there are certain forms and documents that they are unable to sign or witness but they can assist you in finding where these can be dealt with.

– Morgan Prosser, president of the Wollongong NSWJP Branch, 0432 378 318.

A poem titled ‘Wombarra’,

by Kevin Carter, 2023

Between the great divide and the sea Wombarra is the place for me With stunning views north and south Its hard to pick a favourite out And if you go north to the Seacliff Bridge You will pass two old pubs that are kind of neat Back to the South the Bowlo’s there To wet your whistle and calm you down And if it is a feed that is required The Black Duck there is much desired And when you die and want a view The Scarborough Cemetery is the place for you.

September speaker at Probus

At our next monthly meeting of Helensburgh and District Probus Club on 14 September, our guest speaker will be Tom Sweeney, from the Willoughby Theatre Company. Tom and his wife have over 40 years experience in producing shows, regularly travelling to New York’s Broadway to catch up on any new ideas.

For more information contact Lilian, our Membership Officer on 0408 668 987.

– Pete, publicity officer

Meet a Co-op volunteer Kate Tracey is an acupuncturist and a doctor of Chinese herbal medicine at the Saltbush Clinic in Austinmer, a mother of two, an environmental activist and a volunteer at The Flametree Co-op in Thirroul. Kate shared her story

The Illawarra has changed a lot over the past decade but the Flame Tree Co-op is one of those places that has been a constant presence. It caters to people wanting organic produce and produce with low packaging as well as a way of shopping that has a low impact on the environment. It’s honestly my favourite place to shop and I am always impressed with what I purchase.

Over the years I have volunteered in the shop for community, for fun and for discounted organic produce. Every week I work for two hours in the shop and get 20% off all my shopping. It makes a

huge difference and it encourages me to eat primarily organic food and to try new products.

I couldn’t live without the locally-made tempeh wrapped in banana leaf and I love buying all my dry goods, sauces and oils without packaging.

I started volunteering five years ago and have met so many lovely people. Every shift is a dynamic mix of food curating ideas, political discussions, health strategies and musical education. I love the quality of the produce and everything the Flame Tree stands for. I feel very grateful to have this unique shop as part of our community.

September 49

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September 51

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September 53

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September 55

community event closer to home. “I’ve been a Lace up for new parkrun free part of running now for quite a long time and I use

By Caitlin Sloan

[parkrun] as training runs… and they’re both about 30 to 40 minutes away,” Harley said.

“For people in this area, you’ve got to travel to get to them, so it’s more about logistics, and the fact that there was an opportunity once I looked around the area to have one here because it [meets] the criteria for having a community run.

“Being a pretty sporting town, it just makes sense… ” Though promoting an active lifestyle is the bedrock of parkrun, its beauty also lies in the social benefits, Harley said.

“It’s basically a weekly community running or Parkrun, the phenomenon that sees people across the globe meet at local parks for a 5km run or walk walking event, [and] it’s not necessarily a running each Saturday morning, is headed for Helensburgh. race. It’s just you against the clock, it’s your race to run or walk – and we want people out there While Australia boasts hundreds of parkrun walking it too – it’s just about getting out, meeting locations, Wollongong only has two – at Sandon up every week and doing something in that group Point and Fairy Meadow. For Helensburgh sort of environment … residents, the next closest parkrun is at Cronulla.

“I do anticipate that mostly locals will come, but For almost 12 months, Helensburgh trail runner Harley Mangham has been determined to bring the people do want to go out and try other parkruns.

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Time to surf

Janice Creenaune meets Donna Brown who, at 59, runs her own business and remains as passionate as ever about surfing.

Photo by Janice Creenaune

Donna is passionate about her surfing. She was never going to give up on her dream to follow the ‘breaks’, both locally in the Northern Illawarra and around the world, despite the numerous challenges she has faced.

After growing up in Sydney, the water was embedded in Donna’s psyche. Holidays on the South Coast of NSW, with encouragement from her brother, cemented her addiction.

“My father was a lifesaver and we all loved the beach. After moving to Bondi with my husband (who was another avid surfer), I renewed my yearning. But it was intimidating for women surfers at this time and local territorialism was rampant.”

At 40, Donna attended a Women’s Surfing Day Out and renewed her ambitions.

“Fiona Hunt from Essential Surf instantly opened my world to surfing and after a couple of lessons I was completely hooked.

“Being in the water was always special, but in this area, the northern Illawarra in particular. It is not only the ocean, but that escarpment when you turn around. It is truly magnificent from the ocean perspective. It is imposing and it, too, changes all the time.”

Donna started on a second-hand soft-top

surfboard, but now has a quiver of boards.

“My surfing buddies and I have developed life-long friendships and have surfed in Bali, Taiwan, the Maldives, the North and South Coast of NSW. We are like-minded women in age and outlook. We have been lucky enough to engage Pam Burridge for lessons in Bendalong. Our confidence grew exponentially.”

Donna and her friends have tackled breaks where they experienced dangerous conditions, yet it has not impacted their passion for surfing.

“Once, in Bali, years ago, we didn’t have the local break knowledge and we were more inexperienced at the time. Some serious injuries were developed by some of us, and though our resolve to continue surfing has not waned, we did learn from our experiences.

“We now study the conditions much more thoroughly and watch for important tidal changes, such as we experienced in Taiwan. We know what we experienced was dangerous, but we remain resilient.

“And as we have aged, none of us have given up.

Our mantra remains: enjoy it while you can.”

In its 31st year of operation, the Bellambi Layback Longboarders Yearly Club Championship: C Grade section was won by Donna. While this success is remarkable – it’s only the second time in 30 years a woman has won – what is even more remarkable is the work it took her to get there.

“It was extremely territorial to begin with a few years ago, and the club tried many different approaches to allow women to participate on ‘just terms’.

“Some failed, but after years of trying different approaches and negotiating, the club culture began to change and we understood we all needed to work together.

“We persisted and inclusivity remains important.

We all learn from each other, and we all teach each other.

“Our club is not about ability as such, but respect, communication and surf etiquette.

I continue to love the social part of the club.”

Donna remains an active community member and is a force in action when she sees a need for change. Whether it be as a member of Save Thirroul Village, Save Coledale RSL or in the Winter Classic Invitational for Longboards 2023, which is open to all comers and a fundraiser for the “Laybacks” and for charities, Donna gives her all to the occasion, all while running her own business.

It is inspirational for many of us.

Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation Australia. Email janicecreenaune@gmail.com for further information.

September 57

Sprint kayakers show promise

By Genevieve Swart

Back row: Jasmine Locke, Terry Prosser, Adam Dean, Tarren Elliott.

Front: Kynan Burke, Callum Elliott and Kia McIlwraith. Photos: Anthony Warry

Sprint kayaking is an amateur sport in the Illawarra only in the sense that paddlers are in it for love, not money. In all other respects, the Illawarra Canoe Club is training dedicated and skilled future champions, including Jasmine Locke, who carried the flag for Australia at July’s U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Italy.

“I like the sheer passion that’s involved with being in an amateur sport,” says Adam Dean, the U23 NSW Sprint Kayak coach.

“There’s no money or anything in it to drive people. Everyone who is in it, whether they’re coaching or paddling, is in it for a good reason and that’s to succeed and become better athletes and better humans.”

Rising star paddler Jasmine Locke, a 21-year-old pre-med student at the University of Wollongong, co-captained the Australian team at July’s U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Italy.

Jasmine achieved a 12th in the U23 K1 500m and a 10th in the U23 K4 500m.

“She’s got a very good mindset,” Adam says.

“She’s on an upwards trajectory.”

There are more young paddlers coming up through the ranks at the Illawarra Canoe Club.

“We’ve got Callum Elliott who’s just come 58 sport & leisure

up to the U23s now. He made the U18 world team last year.

“We have Kynan Burke and Tarren Elliott, still in the under-18s. They made the under-16 Asia Pacific team last year; they went to Japan.

“Kia McIlwraith is in the state under-21 team.”

All are young sports people to watch.

“It’s still early days yet,” Adam says.

“Kayaking is a sport where you mature in your mid- to late 20s. So there is still a long road ahead, but it’s great that they’re showing promise, already making junior teams.

“We all train out of Minnamurra. We paddle around five sessions per week on the water and they do three gym sessions, plus they’ll do probably between two and three swim and run sessions as well.

“They’re virtually going training twice a day, nearly every day of the week. They have Sundays off. So it’s a lot involved and a big sacrifice to make for an amateur sport – there’s no money or anything involved. It’s just the self-gratification of making an Australian team.”

Adam’s own kayaking career highlight came in 1997, when at age 26 he was part of the Australian team that won a bronze medal in the K-4 1000m at

the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.

“My goal was to compete for Australia one day, so to get an actual world championship medal was something else. Something that I’ll never forget.”

Today, Adam is a volunteer, coaching in between running a business and with the help of a supportive family. “I used to compete, so I know the sacrifice that’s involved. I know what it’s like at the other end and needing that constant support from someone to get you to go where you want to go. I fortunately had that in Terry Prosser when I was paddling.”

Terry Prosser – now 82 – is a legendary coach at the Illawarra Canoe Club who has been lured out of retirement to help train Jasmine, a paddler he’s described as “one of the top ones I’ve had”.

Adam, who trained under Terry for six years ahead of his K-4 triumph, says Terry has also taught him “the intricacies of coaching”, including much about technique and personal development.

Your local, experienced and educated

For local, experienced and educated real real educated estate professional For local, experiencedestate and Pathway to paddling advice, callreal Ian today!

For teenagers wanting to try the sport, the pathway estate advice, call Ian today!

Ian Pepper to sprint kayaking is via surf life saving, Adam says.

“That’s how I got into it when I was young. It’s still 0403 570 041 Ian Pepper ian.pepper@raywhite.com the same case today.

0403 570 041 “Once they start kayaking, it’s a lot more raywhitehelensburgh.com.au disciplined than surf life saving, so we don’t get aian.pepper@raywhite.com very big conversion rate from surf life saving toraywhitehelensburgh.com.au kayaking. But once they start succeeding at kayaking, they generally do very well at surf life saving as well.”

In July, Jasmine – who is a member of Bulli Surf Life Saving Club – won Athlete of the Year at Illawarra Surf Life Saving’s Awards of Excellence.

All the club’s young sprint kayakers are very Savings rates are plummeting and have dedicated people, says Adam. now reached lows not seen for more than “It’s refreshing to see that there’s still kids that 15 years. Rising cost of goods, higher rents are determined to take on a lifestyle like this. and higher mortgage payments are now There’s not many kids that do this any more.” leading us to dig deep. We are not yet spending more than we earn, as happened The Illawarra Canoe Club has two divisions: in the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). All of the competitive juniors and an older group of this has implications for where the Reserve social seniors who paddle twice a week.

Bank of Australia will next move and, by To find out more or join the club, contact the extension, property. With savings rates ICC via its Facebook page. now plummeting, what does this mean for property? Interest rates remained on hold in August and markets are currently pricing in a 93 per cent chance of another hold in September. With more property coming on to the market, this greater certainty about the outlook is likely to make this a much better spring selling season than last year.

Savings rates plummeting – impacts on property?

ianpepperraywhite @peppersrealestate September 59

Hello Fish

What shark species turn up when – part 2 in a data series by columnist Duncan Leadbitter

This is the second in a series of four articles where I analyse the data coming from the shark-listening station located offshore from Stanwell Park.

The data sent by text include the species, time and date of the detection, the time, date and location of the last detection and the date and location the shark was first tagged. Sometimes some of the data are not available and the system may collect more than is made publicly available.

In this article I look at what species turn up in each month and the time of day. Three species are tagged – whites, bulls and tigers – but I have dropped the tigers from the analysis as the number of detections is very low (5). I have also dropped detections where the time between the most recent and the previous one was short as its likely the shark just swam in and out of the detection zone whilst visiting the beach.

Figure 1 shows the number of detections of whites and bulls each month. The total number of tagged individuals for each species isn’t known (or available via the Shark Smart website) so it’s not feasible to compare relative numbers across the two species. However, there is a clear pattern where the whites are more common during the cooler part of the year and the bulls when the water is warmer.

Both species are fish feeders so may be chasing mullet during their spawning migration in late April onwards, or Australian salmon which migrate in the summer. Larger whites (3m+) are mammal feeders and so may be chasing whales during their migration (northwards in May/June and southwards in September to November).

Figure 2 shows detections by time of day and there is little variation (numbers too small at this stage). Departmental advice regarding not swimming/surfing at dawn or dusk is based on the times that most attacks have occurred. The detections show that sharks can be around at any time of the day and most surfers here don’t seem to worry anyway.

This is only one year of data and the numbers are small so I wouldn’t get too focused on trying to explain the results at this stage.

Go Kempy!

Taking out our Open Women final was in-form Kasey Hargreaves and the Open Men was dominated by Mannix Squiers.

But who could forget the wave of the day which was ridden to perfection in the 55 and Overs division. David Kemp scored a head-high right-hander from out the back on the inside and rode it to shore with multiple turns and a WSL-quality finishing turn. The crowd on the beach erupted and was calling for a perfect 10 to be awarded. In the end, one judge agreed, however, the overall score fell short at 9.13. The score actually ranked 8th in the world for the weekend on the liveheats platform, which tracks surfing events all around the world. Well done, Kempy!

By Ian Pepper

Pointscore number 8 was held on Sunday, August 20 at Sharky Beach in Coledale for the second month in a row. Sand build-up around all the beaches in the area has meant most have no banks until we get another decent swell to mix things up.

However, Sharkies provided a beautiful righthander off the reef, leaving the left to the public and free surfers to utilise all day, meaning everyone was happy!

The morning started with beautiful offshore conditions in the sunshine with the wind dying off around mid-morning and then only gently blowing onshore in the afternoon final sessions. All surfers, including our new 10 and under division, had plentiful waves for their heats and finals.

60 sport & leisure

Number of detections by month (June 2022-May 2023)

Number of detections by 4 hourly time block starting midnight (June 2022-May 2023)

Whites

Bulls

Coalcliff Surf Club turns 100 and Ocean Swim Club returns

By Brigid Collaery

This year, Coalcliff Surf Life Saving Club celebrates 100 years of ‘vigilance and service’, and we’re thrilled to invite the community to celebrate with us!

We have exciting things happening across the season, from fortnightly Nippers, the return of the Coalcliff Ocean Swim Club, centenary merchandise, a photo digitisation project and a special centenary club dinner in February 2024.

The patrol season kicks off in late September, and Nippers returns on Sunday, October 8 with Coalcliff Ocean Swim Club straight after Nippers.

In October, we’ll be hosting another photo digitisation day, where we invite the community to share their photos of Coalcliff for us to scan and record to become part of Coalcliff SLSC’s archives and for storytelling. Look out for dates on our Facebook page and on the Flame’s Events page.

Last year, we were delighted to welcome more than 50 new members to the surf club, over half of them women, joining us as associate members to participate in the ocean swim club.

It was a wonderful first season of the club’s new initiative focused on improving community members’ ocean-swimming skills in a friendly, supportive and fun environment. A big thanks to those who joined us – from Cronulla to Unanderra!

It was a first for the Illawarra – a regular,

non-competitive, ocean-swimming club with a surf lifesaving club providing water safety at each session. During the season, everyone increased their comfort level and ocean-swimming fitness, always under the watchful eyes of the water safety team made up of Coalcliff SLSC’s wonderful volunteers, and sometimes leaping dolphins too!

Thanks to Equilibrium Healthcare, our wonderful local sponsor of the swim club who is supporting Coalcliff SLSC again this season to provide a special swim club season membership fee of $75, as well as swim caps and other equipment.

Coalcliff is a small, friendly and inclusive surf lifesaving club that, like other clubs across the Illawarra, provides an important service to the community. We’d like to extend an open invitation to new members to join us in this special year, whether for the kids to take part in the fortnightly Nippers, joining the ocean swim club, or to volunteer some time in the many varied club roles, on and off the beach, we welcome you. There are excellent training opportunities for members, including certified First Aid training and more.

If you’d like to join, go to coalcliffslsc.com.au/ membership and click renew/join, and keep up with our latest news on Facebook. Looking forward to seeing you this season at Coalcliff!

Well done, local winners!

As the Flame was going to press, we received great news from Surf Life Saving NSW’s Awards of Excellence – volunteers from Illawarra and South Coast took home one third of the evening’s categories on August 26. Well done to: Youth Lifesaver of the Year – Brody Robertson, Bellambi SLSC; Youth Volunteer of the Year – Halle Bone, Bellambi SLSC; Services Team of the Year – Bellambi SLSC Call Out Team; Trainer of the Year – Jaclyn Percy, Bellambi SLSC; Coach of the Year – Glenn Beveridge, Wollongong SLSC; Patrol Captain of the Year – Rachelle Balez, Scarborough Wombarra SLSC; and Volunteer of the Year – Brigid Collaery, Coalcliff SLSC (pictured).

September 61

Time

m

Time

m

Time

m

Time

m

0.31 1.07 0.36 0 0.181.13 1.120530 0145 0302 1.08 0.05 0036 0250 0346 0407 1.00 0254 0334 1.070031 0436 1.41 0.67 1.61 1 1.700.60 0.611039 0718 0903 0.64 1.51 0610 0855 0844 1020 0.76 0804 0954 0.690640 0956 0.41 0.34 1635 0.20 1.48 1.49 0.23 1528 1.41 1445 1.54 1633 SA 1449 MO 1615 FR 1452 SUMO FR 1256 TH 1406 SA1.50 SU1.63 TU0 SU 1717 TU 1211 1.38 1 1.560.28 0.53 1.56 2252 2243 2118 2114 0.56 1.90 2000 2100 0.53 2203 2214 0.391830 2330

22 16 10

7 1

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0.33 0.45 0.40 0 0.281.23 0307 0345 1.01 0.09 0151 0317 0503 0445 1.04 0414 0404 1.120108 1.050015 0534 17 11 17 11 2 0949 226 8 23 0927 1.4681.14 1029 1.6481 1.56 0715 1104 1.710.50 0.660613 0822 0.70 23 1002 0.75 0928 0.670716 1103 PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES

Port Kembla Tidal Chart

0.41 0.34 1730 0.25 1.491133 1.46 0.25 1639 1.40 1602 1.561258 1733 SU 1529 TU 1658 SA 1546 MO TU WE0 FR 1513 SU0.61 MO1.74 SA 1405 MO WE 1.50 1.55 1.31 1 2234 2202 0.54 1.77 2122 2135 2347 2332 0.50 1.39 2307 2256 0.331911 LAT 34° 29ʼ S0.491804 LONG 150° 55ʼ E

0345 0.36 0.46 0 0426 0523 0.400.18 1.02 0.18 1.06of 0559 1.10 0519 0437 1.210140 0051 0.40 0020 and 0319 Heights High and Low Waters September 2023 18 18 12 3Times 327 9 0430 24 12 1000 1.4991.20 1106 1.6591 1036 1.59 0837 1148 1.691.35 0933 0.71 24 0.670649 1114 0.70 1045 0.600749 0623

NOVEMBER SEPTEMBERSA 1620 OCTOBER 0.43 0.36 1826 0.33 1.47 0.30 1.54 1740 1.42 1712 1.61 1202 MO 1609 WE 1745 SU 1642 TUWE SU 1522 MO0.55 TU0.38 TH0 TU 1218 TH 1339 M M 1.59 TIME M 1.59m TIME M m2342 1948 2212 1.41 1.23 2331 0.50 0.391845 1827Time 1.82 1 TimeTIME m 2252 Time Time m Time2233m

TIME Time

0514 0.53 1.24 0415 0.41 1.130124 0031 0.46 0000 0.260210 1.07 0.30 0250 0530 0.31 0506 0334 0.36 0024 0411 0.05 04070436 0444 0105 0.11 190.18 190.50 4 1124 428 10 1039 1001 100.36 1 0302 160722 125 160820 13 13 1.59 0601 0.52 1148 1.63 1036 1.51 0.60 0.67125 0640 1.18 0612 1.33 1.41 0954 1.61 1046 0903 1.51 16 0855 10200956 1.70 1116 1.75 1.26 0708 1.47 1741 0.38 1234 1.63 1837 0.39 1654 0.46

FR 1452 0.23 2114 1.90

1.63 1211 0.63 1153 0.41 1615 0.34 1738 16351633 0.20WE 1809 0.310.49 1259 1418 1257 0.28 TU TH MO 1.50SU MO WE TH SU 1717 FR0 TU0.49 SA 1449 MO WE WE FR TH 0.421.84 2252 1.31 0.281920 1830 1.46 1812 1.652024 2100 1.56 2343 1.39 2214 1.38 1926 2337 22432330 1.56 1.62 1 1916

0445 0.47 0035 1.15 1.11 0.45 0.42 1.230154 0108 0.41 0047 0.200238 0317 0015 0.33 0546 0404 0.40 0120 0456 0.09 04450534 0007 0147 0.09 200.28 201.15 5 1214 529 11 0613 110.33 1101 170753 170850 2 0345 226 14 14 1115 1.51 0558 0.59 1.57 0643 0.62 1.14226 0.50 0716 1.26 0659 1.46 1.46 1029 1.64 1133 0949 1.56 17 0927 11041103 1.71 0523 0.59 1.31 0752 1.57

SA 1546 0.25 2202 1.77

1745 0.50 1236 1.60 1324 0.61 1.74 1258 0.56 1253 0.38 0.41 1658 0.34 1832 1730 0.25 1200 1.67 1336 1456 1350 WE FR TU 1845 TH FR SA0 MO 1133 TU 1733 WE0.45 TH0.21 SU 1529 MO0.47 TH1.55 THTU SA FR 2338 1954 1.21 1939 0.42 1 0.49 1911 1.49 1906 1.662059 2135 1804 1.50 1.55 2332 1.39 2256 1.31 2032 1901 0.39 1.62 2005 1.80

0523 0.55 0138 1.09 1.03 0.40 1.21 0140 0.37 0130 0.180305 0.180222 0345 0051 0.36 0039 0437 0.46 0226 0033 0.18 05230020 0100 0228 0.11 210.40 211.08 6 0629 630 12 0649 120.31 1201 180824 180921 3 0426 327 15 15 1200 1.50 0653 0.66 0.54 0734 0.71 1.20327 0749 1.34 0744 1.59 1.35 1.49 1106 1.65 0548 1036 1.59 18 1000 11480623 1.69 0606 0.67 1.36 0836 1.65

SU 1642 0.30 2252 1.59

1845 0.53 1335 1.56 1420 0.55TU1.53 1339 0.49 1349 0.29 0.38 0.43 1745 0.36 1225 18261202 0.33 1245 1.58 1413 1443 1535 TH SA WE 1306 FR SA TU 1218 TH0.42 FR0.18 SU0 WE MO 1609 FR1.47 FRWE SU SA 2051 0.43 0.53 1.59 0.54 1827 1.822028 1948 1.51 1957 1.642135 2212 1845 1.41 1958 2342 1.23 2144 1932 1958 0.45 1.61 2054 1.70 1

0036 0254 0.36 1.08 0.34 1.00 0.19 1.07 0.11 1.12 0415 0124 0.41 0145 0514 0210 0.53 0346 0136 0.30 00240105 01590211 221.24 7 0718 7 0844 221.04 13 0722 13 0820 13 190.61 190.69 4 0506 0.64 0.76 0804 0610 1.26428 1.41428 1.69 1.47 1.51 1148 1.63 0648 1124 1.59 19 1036 06010708 0.52 06570827 0.74

MO 1741 0.38 2343 1.39

1445 1256 0.49 0.43SA1.41 0.22SU1.54 0.28TH1.48 0.46 1837 0.39 1323 1234 1.63 1335 1.49 FR TH 1406 SA 1528 SU WE 1259 FR 1418 SA 1443 TH 1257 MO TU 1654 WE1.49 2203 2000 1.62 0.56 1.51 0.53 1.57 0.39 1.84 0.53 2024 2252 2252 1920 1.31 2118 2035 19261916 0.42 20572046 0.50

0414 0151 0.33 1.01 0.33 1.04 0.09 1.05 0.24 1.12 0445 0154 0.47 0307 0035 0238 1.15 0503 0.42 01200147 03050250 0245 8 0822 8Commonwealth 231.04 231.11 14 0753 14 0850 14 5 0546 20 ©20 Copyright of Australia 0.70 1002 0.75 0928 0.67 0715 0.66 1.31529 1.49529 1.57 1.77 1.51 0558 0.59 1214 1.57 20 1115 06430752 0.62 08020910 0.77 0759

TU 1845 0.47

PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES

1602 1405 0.45TH1.46 1456 0.39SU1.40 0.21 1535 0.20 0.50 1236 1.60 1324 1.55 1435 1.41 1429 FR 1513 SU 1639 MO SA TH 1336 SA FR 1350 SU TU WE 1745 FR1.49 MO1.56 Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronom 2307 2122 1.62 0.54 1.49 0.50 1.80 0.49 1.47 0.33 2338 1954 1.21 2234 1939 2059 0.42 2347 20322005 0.49 21552136 0.52 2137

LAT 34° Times 29ʼ S are LONG 55ʼ Etime (UTC + in local150° standard

1.02 0319 1.10 0519 0.31Times 0.11 1.06 0305 0.34 Low 0329 0.32 1.21 0523 0222 0.55 0430 0138 1.09 0559 0039 1.21 02260228 1.03 0413 1.07 0351 and Heights of High and Waters New Moon Moon Phase Symbols 0837 0.67 1114 1045 1.36 0.71 1.65 0921 1.55 0.70 1.80 0.60 1200 0824 1.50 0933 0653 0.66 0629 0.54 07340836 0.71 09170952 0.78 0915 NOVEMBE SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 1522 1712 0.42FR1.47 0.18 0.36 0.21TU1.61 0.53 1335 1.56 1420 1.47 15421626 1.37 1538 SA 1620 SU MO 1740 TU FR 1413 SA 1443 SU 1535 MO WE TH 1845 SA1.54 WE 1306 1.53 MO1.42 2233 2028 1.61 1.70 2051 2135 0.43 1.44 1958 Time 0.54 m 21442054 0.53 22482226 0.501.36 Time m Time 2331 m 0.50 Time m 0.39 Time m 2233

21 15 9

6

630 24 21 15 9

630 24 21 15

0436 0000 0.41 1.12 0530 05090406 1.14 0451 1.08 0.05 0036 0250 0346 0407 1.00 0254 0334 1.07 0031 0.36 0.46 0.31 1.07 0.181.13 0444 0.500.26 10 10 25 22 0610 221.33 7 0145 220.60 16 0855 16 0954 11034 1 0302 125 16 0956 1.18 0612 1.80 0.61 1039 1031 0.74 1031 0718 0.64 1.51 0844 0.76 0804 0.69 0640 1.61731 1.4170.67 0903 1020 1.70 1116 1.75

1633 1153 0.25 1.48 1646 1.36 1645 1.49 0.23 1528 1.41 1445 1.54 0.34 0.41 1635 0.20 1809 0.31 SU 1717 TU 1211 WE TU FR 1256 TU0.63 WE0.49 TH 1406 SA1.50 SU1.63 SA 1449 MO 1615 WE1717 FR 1452 SU MO TH 2330 1812 1.25 1.65 0.53 1.56 2252 2243 23342315 0.47 2325 2118 2114 0.56 1.90 2000 2100 0.53 2203 2214 0.39 1830 1.38 1.46 1.560.28

0534 0047 0555 0007 1.22 0545 1.01 0.09 0151 0317 1.05 0015 0503 0445 1.04 0414 0404 1.12 0108 0.33 0.45 0.40 0.41 0.281.23 1.150.20 11 11 26 81.26 23 8 0307 23 0715 230.50 17 17Australia 17 2 0345 226 2Bureau © Copyright of 2022, of Meteo 1.14 1103 0659 1.46 1135 0.68 1142 0822 0.70 1.56 0.66 0613 1002 0.75 0928 0.67 0716 0927 1.468Commonwealth 1029 1.64 0949 1104 1.71 0523 0.59

1133 1258 0.56 1253 1741 1.37 1748 1.46 0.25 1.49 1639 1.40 1602 1.56 1529 0.41 1658 0.34 0.25 1.67 MO of TU WE TIMES TH WEAND TH0.38 FR 1513 SA 1405 SU0.61 MO1.74 SU TU FR SA 1546 MO 1730 TH 1200 Datum Predictions is1733 Lowest Astronomical Tide 1911 2234 2202 0.54 1.77 2122 2135 0.49 1804 2347 2332 0.50 1.39 2307 2256 0.33HEIGHTS OF 19011906 1.50 1.55 1.31 1.49 0.391.66 Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savin HIGH AND LOW 0130 0020 0430 0426 1.02 0.18 0319 0345 0559 0523 1.10 0519 0437 1.21 0140 0014 0100 0.44 0011 1.06 0051 0.36 0.40 0.46 0.37 0.400.18 1.080.18 WATERS New Moon First Qua Moon Phase Symbols 0749 0744 0623 0933 1036 0.71 1.59 0837 1000 1114 1148 0.70 1045 1106 0.60LAT 0634 0606 1.32 0633 0.67 0649 1.49 1.20 1.65 1.691.35 0.671.59 3401.34 29’ 1339 0.49 1349 1202 1.47 0.30 1740 1.42 1712 1.61 1229 0.61 1246 1.54 0 FR 1245 0.43 0.36 1826 0.33 1.58 TU 1218 THLONG SA 1620 MO0.55 TU0.38 TH FR0.29 SU 1522 MO 1609 WE 1745 SA SU 1642 TU WE 150 55’ FR 1957 1827 1.82 2342 1948 2331 2252 0.50 1.59 2233 2212 1828 1958 1.38 1845 0.39 1845 1.41 1.59 1.23 1.51 0.451.64

9 3

24 18 12

9 327 24 18 12

9 327 24 18

0211 0105 1.07 0.30 0436 0415 0.46 0.26 0210 0.41 1.13 0124 0.41 0.36 0.53 0.34 0024 1.240.11 0159 1.040.19 13 10 05304 0506 10 0031428 25 0000 10 0047428 25 0054 25 19 13 19 0514 19

1.26 0820 1.41 0827 0708 1.47 1039 1124 0.67 1.59 0956 0640 1.18 0612 1148 1.33 0709 0657 1.41 0719 0.60 0722 1036 1.51 1.63 0601 0.52 0.741.69 MOON PHASE SYMBOLS New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter 1259 0.49

1257 0.28

1418 0.43

1443 0.22

1.50 of 0.63 of1.63 1153 0.49 0.53 1.49 1633 1.63 1654 0.39 0.38 WE FR Astronomical SA TH SU 1717 TU 1211 WE FR 1315 SA 1345 MO TU THis1837 SU MO 1741 WE 1234 SA © Copyright Commonwealth Australia 2022, Bureau0.46 of Meteorology.

Datum Predictions Lowest Tide.1335 1.51 2046 1916 1.84 1830 time 1.46 1812 1.65 2024 1911 1.38 1940 0.28or1920 2252 1.31 1.62 2343 1.39 1926 0.42 0.501.57 Times are in local standard time 2330 (UTC +10:00) daylight savings (UTC +11:00) when in effect.

The Bureau of 2057 Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise in respect to the availability, 0154 0238 0.33 0147 0.09 0250 accuracy, currency, completeness, quality or reliability the information or1.11 that the information be fit for any 0305 0119 0.39 0135 0015 0.45 1.23 0108 0.41 0047 0.20will 0445 0.47of0.33 0035 1.15 0546 0.42 0534 0120 1.040.24 particular0613 purpose or will 1.57 not infringe any1115 third Intellectual rights.

Bureau’s liability for any1.49 loss, 0802 0753 1.31 0850 0752 1.57 0910 0743 1.51 0803 1.14 1103 0.50party 0716Property 1.26 0659 1.46 1.51 0558 0.59 1214 0643 0.62The 0.771.77 damage, cost or expense resulting from use of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded.

1350 0.21 1535 0.20 1359 0.45 1439 1133 0.61 1733 1.74 1336 0.45 1258 0.56 1253 0.38 1456 0.39

11 5 MO

26 20 14 11 529 26 20 14 11 529 26 20

1.55 1.41 TH 0.50 SA 1.60 FR SU SA SU 1435 SU MO TU WE 1745 WE TH 1324 TH FR 1236 TU 1845 0.47 2005 2136 1951 2155 1.38 2032 1804 1.55 1911 2032 1.49 1906 1939 1.66 2059 2338 1954 1.21 1.62 0.42 1.49 0.491.80 0.521.47

0228 0329 0150 0413 0.39 0.40 1.21 0020 0523 0.18 0222 0140 0226 0.37 0130 0138 0.18 0305 0215 0.55 0.31 1.09 0.34 0039 1.030.11 1.070.32 62 sport0051 & leisure

15 15 121.55 12 06496 0629 27 0623 121.36 271.65 271.80 21 1200 21 0653 630 630 21 0836 0952 0815 1.60 1.20 0.54 1.35 0824 0749 1.34 0744 1.59 0921 0846 1.50 0.66 0734 0.71 0917 0.78

1443 1626 1440 0.38 0.55 1.53 0.38 1339 0.49 1349 0.29 1530 0.53 1.56 1.47 1542 1.37 FR 1413 SA SU 1535 SU0.36 TU 1218 WE 1202 TH0.42 FR0.18 MO0.21 TH 1845 SA 1335 WE 1306 FR 1420 MO MO TU 2054 2226 2031 2248 1.36 1845 1958 1.59 0.54 1827 1.82 2028 1.61 1948 2144 1.51 1957 2051 1.64 2135 2123 0.43 1.44 0.531.70 0.501.36 0124 0145 0.36 1.08 0105 0036 0.11 1.12

0210 0346 0.34 1.00 0211 0254 0.19 1.07

0406 0221 0509 0.40 0254 1.140.41

Golf

news

Tradies Social Golf Barry Thompson reports

Jerry Reilly played under the wind (no, Terry, I didn’t say under the weather!) to record a net 66 to take the tournament with Gary Overton (68) and Jack Hardacre (70) filling the minor placings.

Gary’s round also saw him beat Mick Carroll 6 and 5 in Match Play, with Kynan Ainslie defeating Rod Vaughan one up in the other Match Play tussle. Murmurs of same old faces were heard as Paul Morahan won the Bucket of Balls voucher. It rankled when Mick Carroll beat me in count-back for the Bradmans. (This event is my main source of new balls to replace those at the bottom of the ponds and I don’t believe it should be contested

by A graders!)

I noticed dozens of burnt balls in the burnedoff area on the 12th. I’d like to know how many of them were once owned by T.M. Expect an early email from Mick with details of the upcoming Gold Jacket Tour. Ivan considers he cuts a dash in said garment and he is determined to retain it. Book early and brush up your games to prove him wrong.

Remember to support Tradies, Helensburgh Butchery, Gallardo’s Pizzeria and Helensburgh Driving Range.

Our next outing is on September 16th at Boomerang. We tee-off at 7am, so please arrive early to assist our starters. See you there!

Helensburgh Sunday Social Golf Club Robert ‘Indy’ Jones reports

Rounds 2 & 3 of the HSSGC Championships took place on August 6th and August 20th at Hurstville GC. No ball-washing to be witnessed, but a few wayward shots left some of us wondering if their two best rounds would be enough to claim a Championship prize.

Round 2 saw Peter Gardner head the pack from Mark O’Connor and Mark Buckley, net scores of 69, 74 and 74 respectively. It seems the Marks are stuck on 74 (see the last round). Once again eight swingers out on course, including an “A” grade longest drive, took the bounty. Round 3 and Group 1, the “Professionals” as I will call them, led the way in their charge to top the HSSGC Championship hierarchy – the “A” Graders (Mark, Peter, Frank and Frank) even raced their carts down the fairways.

True to form, Mark O’Connor unleashed himself from “74” to score 71 leaving Frank Morgan and son Blake tied on 73 to complete the placings. The fairway duels centered on five players with so many of us unable to land on the

fairways and set longest drives. Special mention to “C” grade exponent Luke, who monstered the 15th par 5, 250m+ off the tee, less than100 out after 2, and parred. Another mention goes to Rob Aspromonte, a serious contender after three cards.

Next event is our “Father’s Day”, September 3rd, where we Dads do what we want to do! Right?

Updates to members via text and email, contact Tony on 0418 863 100 for membership information. Please continue to support our sponsors Christian’s Premium Meats and Helensburgh Golf Range. The weather is hotting up, so join us to enjoy a game of golf, the outdoors and good company.

Indy signing off: I shot under at golf – one under a tree, and one under the water.

PUPPIES NEED A HOME! Meet brother and sister, Whatsit & Wendy, mixedbreed puppies who, along with their siblings, are waiting for their forever families. They are nearly three months old, cute, vaccinated, desexed and lifetime registered.

For more details, email ccarpetrehoming@tpg.com.au Country Companion Animal Rescue

Helensburgh Car Services

4294 2930 Tune & Service • E Safety Checks All Makes & Models LPG Rego Checks • Blue Slips Licence no. MVRL 17877

Child Restraints Fitted John Hine (Proprietor) 187 Parkes St Helensburgh 2508 September 63