JULY 2026

Step into better foot health

Khaled Assaad, the experienced podiatrist behind Platinum Sports Podiatry, is your go-to expert for all things foot and lower limb-related in the community. With a strong background in biomechanics and years of experience, Khaled provides high quality, personalised care tailored to your needs. He offers a wide range of services, including:

• Routine nail & skin care (incl home visits)

• Ingrown toenails & fungal treatments

• Children’s assessments

• Management of growth plate issues in kids

• Specialised care for adolescents & seniors

• Treatment of sports injuries

• Help with knee pain

• Tendinitis and nerve entrapments

• Custom orthotics for comfort and support Khaled is available from Mon-Sat, and home visits in Helensburgh. Book online

PARTNER CONTENT www.platinumsportspodiatry.com.au 02 4214 4293 | 0481 796 781 (if urgent/after hours) Shop 1, Level 1, 338 Cemetery Rd, Helensburgh

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS

All Levels. First + third Tuesday of every month 10am-4pm

THE ILLAWARRA NEXT DEADLINE 17 July foreditionAugust

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COVER South Coast Readers and Writers Festival authors. Photo: Tyneesha Williams

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Meet Our Contributors

Dr Luke Harvey graduated from Western Sydney University and completed hospital training in western Sydney before qualifying as a specialist GP in 2019. He returned to the northern Illawarra in 2022 with his family and has additional training in dermoscopy and skin cancer medicine.

Ross McLean has spent over 40 years observing and recording thunderstorms everywhere from Australia to Africa and America. He travelled the world in a tall ship and been a sailing instructor in the US. Ross is a master class 4 captain with a square rig endorsement, and a former president of the Wooden Boat Association NSW. While engineering is his full-time profession, he is happiest at the helm of a tall ship or watching the vagaries of weather.

Brad Chilby is local landscape and event photographer, passionate about photographing the region’s natural beauty, promoting the Illawarra region and sharing our rich history.

KANE DOWNIE

Fireys go ‘above and beyond’

By Genevieve Swart

There’s much more to Helensburgh Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade than the name suggests. This dedicated crew are first responders, swinging into action not only for fires, but also floods, car accidents and people lost in the bush.

The brigade’s annual general meeting on Sunday, June 14 recognised all of this, as well as decades of community service.

Life memberships were awarded to Michael Pratt, Paul Brownjohn and Brett Skiller for going “above and beyond” over more than two decades of volunteering, Brigade Captain Marc Rayner said.

“There was also nine recipients of the New South Wales Premier’s Citation, for the floods in 22, 23.”

Volunteers thanked for their “extraordinary response” were Matt Wardle, Anthony Keep, Philip Driver, Iris Huizinga, Sarah Rayner, Marc Rayner, Andrew Rust and Jeffrey Dennis. Each received a pin, a certificate and a letter signed by NSW Premier Chris Minns.

While the brigade regularly attends to storm and flood damage around town, the citation recognised their emergency response to call-outs, such as the Woronora River flooding in 2022, Marc said.

“We went down there to help evacuate people out and then try to protect people’s homes. There was other members who went out Hawkesbury way and did clean-up operations.

“We’re classified as first responders to people in emergency situations, so while our primary role is bushfires and supporting fire rescue, we do support other agencies during times of crisis.

“We help the SES a lot. We will help the police with searches, like with the missing girl that was found up near Waterfall. We do a lot of other stuff, carry people out of Burning Palms and down at Figure Eight Pools to assist the ambulance.

“Some people choose not to fight big fires, they’ll help in other roles – so there’s always a role set for someone in the RFS.”

Cheers to 52 years

On the verge of turning 80, Graham Williams (aka Eggs) delivered his last treasurer’s report at the AGM, stepping down to a support role after 52 years of active service.

The brigade celebrated with a very special thank you – a chocolate cake with strawberry filling made by Marc’s wife, Sarah. “Up until most probably 12 months ago, he would still go out on the trucks,” Marc said. “He still comes up every Saturday, he still mentors the younger ones, he still shares his knowledge – so he still plays a very important role.”

Call Marc for volunteering info on 0409 127 912 or follow the brigade on Facebook

L to R: Matt Wardle, Anthony Keep, Iris Huizinga and Graham ‘Eggs’ Williams. Below: Brett Skiller with proud mum Judy and sister Kylie. Right: Sarah Rayner and Captain Marc Rayner

What will you try in Plastic Free July?

By Jadzia Wolff and Helen Lewis of Circular Plastics Illawarra

A lot of us know that plastics are in some way problematic, whether it’s plastic bags and straws ending up in the ocean, or microplastics entering the food chain. However, we are still consuming more plastic than is sustainable. So, the campaign to reduce plastic waste continues!

What does this look like in 2026? Fifteen years ago, a small group in Western Australia started a campaign called Plastic Free July to encourage people to reduce plastic waste. It is now a global movement, with an incredible 174 million participants globally, the largest plastic waste avoidance campaign on the planet.

It is not about avoiding all plastic for an entire month. Plastic Free July asks you to choose one thing to do, or not do, to reduce your plastic waste.

Ask yourself: what’s a habit of mine that I know creates plastic waste? Is there a plastic product I use which I know is unnecessary? Am I the only one of my friends or family still using single-use plastic bottles? Or should I be the first to make the switch? How can I make one small change this month?

This year, Plastic Free July aims to reach a new world record for plastic-free pledges. This would demonstrate that more people than ever care about limiting their plastic waste. Now is the time to jump on board. Just one change, for one month.

The Plastic Free July website offers several suggestions; take a look at the 2026 calendar. You can also upload your pledge through the website and check out how others are taking part!

Here are a few tips:

• Sit down to enjoy your coffee at the café instead of rushing away with a takeaway cup. Alternatively, take your own mug or KeepCup for a refill. This is a simple and incredibly effective switch.

• Make a pledge as a pair or a group – keep each other accountable!

• If you are someone who already avoids a lot of plastics, what’s something you haven’t tried? Recruit others to the pledge page, share your tips!

• Making changes can be intimidating, especially when it involves others, like asking to use a reusable cup or refusing a bag. These choices are becoming the norm and businesses are often happy to be a part of it. Take the leap. Others will follow!

Visit www.plasticfreejuly.org

Coupons as good as cash

P05130 - 1971

By Local Studies librarian Lisa Hutton

“Coupon’s saved mean money earned”. That was the slogan printed on a Water’s coupon book recently donated to the library.

The booklet is an early example of a customer loyalty programme and operated at Water’s retail stores from the 1930’s until 197. For each six pence spent, a brown trading stamp was issued and pasted in this booklet. For every 25 pounds spent,

1 pound could be saved.

The Waters family opened their first retail stores in 1895 in Wollongong , expanding later to Corrimal, Warilla, Warrawong and Shellharbour. They sold a variety of items from homewares to paint, camping equipment to electrical goods and much more. Waters Wollongong Store moved to Stewart Street in 1988 and all stores finally closed in 2002.

You can listen to reminiscences of people who worked at Waters at: https://illawarrastories.com.au/w-waters-sons/ The Local Studies team are always on the look out for material relating to the history of our city.

Contact us at localhistory@wollongong.nsw. gov.au if you would like to make a donation.

A blue puffer is not enough

By Alexander Brown, asthma program coordinator at Healthy Cities Australia

Asthma affects 2.8 million or roughly one in nine Australians and is one of the most frequent causes of illness in children. Tragically, asthma also kills 480 people in Australia each year.

Here in the Illawarra, we know asthma is a common reason local families to visit the Emergency Department, with 1110 visits due to asthma by Illawarra Shoalhaven residents in 2024. Despite being so common, asthma is often misunderstood.

The key message from leading medical bodies like Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) is that with access to appropriate treatment, most people with asthma can live active lives and breathe freely.

That’s why the theme for this year’s World Asthma Day, held on 5 May, was: “Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma – still an urgent need.”

Last year, NAC updated the Australian Asthma Handbook, the best-practice treatment guidelines for asthma. At the heart of the changes was a new approach to asthma care in adults and adolescents that emphasises prevention.

Too many people with asthma rely on over-thecounter reliever medicines to treat their symptoms, but using just a blue puffer is not enough to manage your asthma. Everyone aged 12 and over with asthma should have access to antiinflammatory inhalers.

Changes introduced by the Australian Government this year have reduced the cost of asthma medicines, with a reduction in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) co-payment from $31.60 to $25.

Many asthma medicines are also eligible for 60-day prescribing, meaning people whose asthma is stable can get the medicines they need for nearly half the usual cost. Speak to your doctor to see if

you are eligible for a 60-day script.

Fortunately, there is plenty of support available for people with asthma in the Illawarra. See your doctor to make sure you are using the right medicines to keep you safe from life-threatening flare-ups and, as viral infection is one of the leading causes of asthma flare-ups, ensure you have had your 2026 flu shot. Visit HealthDirect to find your closest vaccination provider.

Breathe Better Illawarra (BBI) is an initiative of Healthy Cities Australia that provides information, community-based asthma education programs, and advocacy for children and families living with asthma in the Illawarra. Their next workshop will be: Give Me Space! School Holiday Workshop for Families Living with asthma on Thursday, 8 October from 10am-2pm at Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre.

Ask your pharmacist

“Pharmacists play a huge role in helping patients understand that asthma is not just bronchoconstriction of the airways but that it is a chronic inflammatory condition,” says Raelee Hooton, owner of Thirroul Pharmacy on Lawrence Hargrave Drive.

“We need to help patients move away from over-reliance on quick-relieving ‘blue puffers’.

“When you ask for Ventolin at your local pharmacy, the pharmacist will ask a few extra questions to make sure the medicine is safe and right for you. They will want to know who the puffer is for and what symptoms are being treated. They will also check how often you use it, as needing it more than twice a week usually means your asthma is not well controlled. This quick chat helps us see if you need to visit your doctor for a treatment review to achieve the best asthma control.”

Visit www.thirroulpharmacy.com

Thirroul Village Committee Update

By the TVC’s Annette Jones and Elliot Stein

At the last TVC on 24th May there was discussion on a variety of hot local topics:

Timetable changes due to Mariyung trains

After many years of delay the new Mariyung trains are now operating on the South Coast Line. As part of the new trains starting full operation there will be a new timetable commencing in October.

The timetable has two significant changes to our current service. Trains will not stop at Wolli Creek and they will now terminate at Central. This is due to two factors - the length of the new 10 car trains and the ‘decoupling’ of the South Coast and Eastern Suburbs lines.

In good news these changes will mean an extra service in peak hour and a train every 30 mins in off peak. But it will come at the expense of those who wish to travel to the airport with a single change at Wolli Creek and for those who wish to travel on after Central to the city loop and through to Bondi Junction.

Residents have expressed their frustration about these negative parts of the changes and the inconvenience for those travelling to the airport. The TVC has written to the Member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart MP on this, who has shared her concern for these impacts and is representing them to the Minister for Transport. Residents can also write to Maryanne on this matter.

Disposal

of whale carcass

Concerns were raised as to how badly the recent disposal of a whale carcass from Era Beach was handled. The towing of the animal’s body down the coast and the process of removal from Bellambi boat ramp without warning to swimmers, surfers and boaties alike was deeply concerning. It was reported that several large sharks were attracted by the remains while people were in the water, unaware of what was happening. Apparently, Council was told not to inform anyone that the whale was being moved. The TVC has been informed that a conversation has started about offshore disposal. The question was asked if removal was necessary at all as the carcass was located in an isolated spot.

Need for pedestrian crossing between Thirroul and Austinmer

Member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart has been approached by residents about the need for one, or more pedestrian crossings north of Thirroul shops to ensure safe passage for pedestrians, as well as for motorists. Maryanne held a meeting with a

number of TVC and NIRAG members to discuss the issue before meeting with Transport for NSW (TfNSW). It was suggested that at least one or two safe (pram) crossings of Lawrence Hargrave Drive (LHD) were needed north of Thirroul shops through to Mountain Road, Austinmer.

Resident Elizabeth Edwards has been working on developing a community campaign to help highlight the issue. The campaign will bring attention to the real, negative issues experienced by residents and visitors trying to cross on foot, or turn right by car, onto LHD, from the western side of the road between Mountain Road, Austinmer and King Street, Thirroul.

Elizabeth will communicate with the TVC and NIRAG and information will be shared once the action has been organised.

Progress of Grand Pacific Walk

The Grand Pacific Walk project is funded in partnership between WCC and the NSW Government through TfNSW. It is being done in a number of stages with work in front of Austinmer Beach currently in progress. From here it will progress to Little Austi and Coledale, which are more complex. To find out more head to: https:// www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/council/works-andprojects/ongoing-projects/grand-pacific-walk.

The next TVC meeting (AGM) will be held on Sunday, 30 August 2026 commencing at 4pm at TRIPS Hall, Railway Parade, Thirroul. Visit https://thirroulvillage.com.au

The sperm whale carcass washed up at Era Point, was towed to Bellambi boat ramp on May 1, then taken to landfill. Boaters and surfers criticised the operation, saying they weren’t warned. Large sharks were seen and beaches later closed. Photo: NSW National Parks

Side ptical

Call for an appointment today on 4268 3933 Anita’s Theatre

Shop 10, King St, Thirroul

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS = THE PERFECT TIME FOR AN EYE TEST

INDEPENDENT EYE CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

DO YOU WEAR GLASSES? HAVE YOUR CHILDREN HAD THEIR EYES TESTED?

There can be a hereditary link with vision, and many children don’t realise they aren’t seeing clearly because they’ve never known any different. The school holidays are the perfect opportunity to book an eye examination.

A decade of supporting the Mark Hughes Foundation

Pick up your beanie this month from our Ray White Helensburgh or Ray White Thirroul office and support an important cause.

Music school strikes a chord with the next generation

By Patrick Breen

A pair of music fanatics who have known each other for three decades are behind a music school bound to focus on developing talents in Helensburgh.

Curtis Deville, owner of Deville Music in the town, and Craig Woodward, owner of Menai Music, have partnered to bring Helensburgh Music School to life, building the town’s only music studio, which will be run by Craig and outfitted with instruments from Deville Music.

Curtis and Craig grew up playing in bands in the Sydney scene; Curtis went on to work in the technical and retail side of the music industry while Craig founded a music school.

“I’ve known Craig for probably close to 30 years as mainly just guys on the scene playing in bands when we were young – just bumping into each other over the years at different points in our musical careers,” Curtis says.

After opening his shop in late 2025, Curtis noticed Helensburgh’s music scene could do with a much-needed boost in the form of musical tuition and support in the area.

“Craig came in to check out my new store and congratulate me,” Curtis says.

“I suggested that a music school here would be a good idea because there’s been a lot of requests for it.”

In 2008, Craig founded Menai Music, which has grown to two locations with about 400 students and 15 teachers, and, after recognising the need for music in Helensburgh, he has opened up his latest school.

“We’re teaching drums, piano, singing, songwriting, ukulele, bass, artist development, HSC music and we have a recording studio as well,” Craig says.

Craig’s long list of instrument proficiencies and his experience in teaching and performing means Helensburgh music students will be in good hands. He also knows that Curtis’s expertise will be of great benefit to the district’s budding musicians.

“I’ve known him since I was 16 – he used to get me into bars,” Craig says.

“He was rock and roll… they call them lifers when you’re going to do music.

“So he’s definitely a lifer, a good guy and very honest.”

The pair have their sights set on developing the music scene in Helensburgh.

“We spent our whole life doing it and we really just want to keep that passion rolling on forever to other generations,” Curtis says.

“We want to make Helensburgh a centre for the hub for the arts, encourage musicians, encourage people who love music, and ones who never thought about learning,” Craig says.

Craig Woodward, owner of Menai Music (left) and Curtis Deville, owner of Deville Music

Australia’s 2026 Federal Budget has introduced significant proposed changes impacting property investors, particularly around negative gearing and capital gains tax (CGT).

Key dates are critical. Changes to negative gearing apply to properties purchased after 12 May 2026 (Budget night), with deductions for established homes phased out from 1 July 2027. From this point, losses on existing properties will generally only offset rental income, not personal income.

CGT reforms will take effect from 1 July 2027, replacing the current 50% discount with an inflation-based model and

lan Pepper 0403 570 041 Joshua Pepper 0437 790 052 ian.pepper@agencyhq.net.au joshua.pepper@agencyhq.net.au 9/17 Cemetery Road, Helensburgh

introducing a minimum 30% tax on gains.

Importantly, owner-occupied homes remain exempt, with the main residence CGT exemption unchanged.

However, these changes are not yet fully legislated, with elements still subject to Senate approval and refinement.

For now, property owners and investors should exercise caution, seek advice from appropriately qualified experts, and avoid making rushed decisions until the final legislation is confirmed.

Call the Pup-arazzi

Post pet pics to our socials or email hello@theillawarraflame.com.au

Cusco, a King Charles Cavalier

Likes: Running around the Stanwell Park Beach off-leash zone, puppacinos from Elena’s Delicatessen, and pats from everyone.

Dislikes: Being cold and bathtime.

Likes: Chicken, he loves his family, walks at the beach, dinner time… he’s pretty well behaved.

Dislikes: The postie. And anyone with a hat on.

Ruby, Ros & John’s rescue border collie

Likes: Other border collies, especially the ginger variety. Absolutely loves TV, especially the ads. She knows all the ones that feature dogs and koalas and will come running from another room to see it!

Dislikes: Scooters or skateboards or being without us.

Likes: People, going for a walk. “She considers it her duty to do the community clean-up. So any stray chips on the ground near the picnic tables, any little rusks or bikkies kids have thrown out of their prams... it’s all her job to pick up.”

Dislikes: Rabbits, shiny wood floors and stairs.

June the perfect pooch

Likes: Finding the biggest stick on the beach, foraging for food after picnics. She also has a special talent: June can look into your eyes and push all your love buttons; one glance and you’d do anything for her.

Dislikes: Wind, unpredictable moving things like flags, not getting enough love and attention.

Nemo, age 8, a King Charles Cavalier from Thirroul

Likes: Kids, food, walks and treats, and loves seeing the grandchildren.

Dislikes: Thunder, lightning and big dogs.

Congratulations, Nemo! You win a $50 pet store voucher.

Leroy from Austinmer

Targhee from Bulli

Manage Respiratory Infections This Winter

By Dr Luke Harvey of Bulli Medical Practice

Winter is here and with it comes the season of coughs, colds and flu.

Respiratory infections are extremely common — and it is entirely normal to catch several in a single year, particularly for children. It can feel relentless but understanding what to expect and how to manage your symptoms well can make a real difference to your recovery.

Symptoms to Watch For

antibiotics will not help. Treatment is focused on managing your symptoms while your body does the work. Plenty of rest and paracetamol for pain and fever remain the best approach. Recent research also shows that saline nasal sprays can help reduce the duration of a viral illness — a simple and affordable addition to your winter medicine cabinet.

When to See a Doctor

Common symptoms include sore throat, runny or blocked nose, cough, headache, fatigue and body aches. Influenza often brings a high fever or chills lasting around five days. One thing worth knowing: you may feel unwell for longer than you expect. Research suggests the median duration of a respiratory infection is around three weeks meaning roughly half of all people will feel under the weather for longer than that.

Treatment

The overwhelming majority of respiratory infections are caused by viruses which means

PARTNER CONTENT

Open 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:

y Travel medicine - accredited Yellow Fever vaccination centre

y Skin cancer checks

Most respiratory infections can be managed at home but please come and see us if you notice any of the following:

• High fever lasting more than five days

• Coughing up blood

• Difficulty breathing

• Symptoms that are worsening or you are not sure about

At Bulli Medical Practice we run a dedicated respiratory clinic every day. Please note this clinic is available by telephone booking only — call us on 4284 4622 to make an appointment.

Book online* via the website: www.bullimedicalpractice.com.au or scan QR code:

*Please call 4284 4622 for an appointment if you have any respiratory symptoms 74 Park Road, Bulli 4284 4622

AND TRAVEL

Bush care legend awarded OAM

June’s King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List recognised 949 Australians, including a long-time protector of littoral rainforest, Genevieve Swart reports

What do you call an environmental activist who leaves 3D graffiti in the rainforest?

Banksia, naturally.

That secret is well and truly out now, with 81-year-old artist and Banksia Bush Care legend Kieran Tapsell awarded one of Australia’s top honours, a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to conservation and the environment.

For 54 years, ever since moving into his Stanwell Ave home as a young lawyer, Kieran has been quietly weeding, planting and bringing back the endangered littoral rainforest. In 2017, he captured the community’s imagination with a creative solution for the big piles of weeds he’d pulled out (and that council insisted he dispose of on site).

“I made giant nests with the lantana, senna and ochna sticks,” Kieran says. “I filled the nests with leaf litter, and as a joke, put white porcelain eggs in them (I am a potter). I wrote on the bottom of each egg, ‘Art in the Park’, and signed it ‘Banksia’.”

Like British street artist Banksy, his identity was a mystery – but not for long.

The giant nests along the track to Stanwell Park kiosk became a popular outing for children, who asked their mothers when dinosaurs would emerge. This led to Kieran’s hatchlings series, including velociraptor, triceratops and ankylosaurus eggs. When Covid came in 2020, the outdoors officially became a public art gallery.

“I invited locals to paint old masters on the eggs. About 100 locals volunteered. We ended up with two MATE Exhibitions, (Modern Art Tributes on Eggs), an international section which runs from a track from Stanwell Avenue to the Kiosk and an Australian section along the track to the beach next to Doran House. The international exhibition has Picassos, Modiglianis, Dalis, Van Goghs etc, and the Australian has Nolans, Whiteleys and several

Aboriginal artists. Art, like most things in life, should never be taken too seriously.”

Perhaps less well known is the huge scale and achievement of Kieran’s regeneration work, which stretches over 4.5 hectares in and around the Stanwell Avenue Reserve. The littoral rainforest here was cut down in the 1920s for a housing subdivision then resumed by the state government in the 60s. When Kieran started weeding, it was a tangled mess of lantana, asparagus fern and other invaders. Five decades on, 3000 rainforest trees, mostly Illawarra natives, are thriving, including about 52 species that regenerated naturally.

The nests – which now number more than 200 – each take about five hours and five wheelbarrows of sticks to build. They act as compost heaps, feeding trees downhill. Kieran has planted 60 saplings of his favourite, the Illawarra Flame Tree, and the added nutrients are his best guess as to why they’re flowering years earlier than expected.

The Commonwealth government lists the littoral rainforest and coastal vine thickets of Eastern Australia as critically endangered. “It represents only 1% of all rainforests,” Kieran says.

“I really started getting stuck into it the last 20 years, once I retired from my partnership.”

Over the years he’s had help from locals, as well as backpackers from Europe and South America, who swapped bush care for board and lodging. “Some of them who live in forested areas of Europe have told me that they will adopt the nest compost method of dealing with forest fuel.”

Kieran was among 949 Australians recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday honours list last month.

“I must admit I had to swallow some republican sentiments,” he says. “But what is really nice about it is that quite a few people seem to appreciate what I’ve done here, fixing up this forest.”

Why a Grevillea Park?

By John Elton

Almost 40 years ago, Ray Brown OAM dreamed of building a park to showcase our most spectacular plant, the Grevillea. What began as an idea soon evolved into the wonderful Botanic Garden we now have at Bulli.

With heavy machinery and volunteers, acres of land were shaped into gardens beds, a rainforest planted, and bushwalking tracks around Slackey Creek constructed. In the early days the Park housed mainly grevillea species, but has now expanded to much more. Colourful drifts of Grevillea hybrids, mass plantings of banksias, and a garden interspersed with other natives from all over Australia and draw thousands to the Park each year.

Now a Botanic Garden, the Grevillea Park educates, conserves and promotes our precious native flora. It also serves to fill the void left by the demise of small specialist nurseries. It is a special place unique amongst Botanic Gardens.

Winter Open Day are on the weekends of July 4 & 5 and 11 & 12, 10am-4pm, visit illawarragrevilleapark.com.au

On the origins of Ornament

By architect Ben Wollen

Something I’ve noticed lately is a kind of façadism in the dual occupancies developers seem to be knocking up around the Illawarra. Out the front it’s all show: grand arches, concrete planter boxes overflowing with greenery, oversized entry doors and matching batten garage doors. But look down the side and the fun disappears into a line of highlight windows, services and airconditioning units. The carefully composed frontage often feels like a Hollywood movie set attached to what amounts to a timber-framed shed behind.

I understand the economics driving it. Housing is expensive to build and developers need enough internal “features” to win the inevitable real estate arms race: walk-in robes, butler’s pantries, studies, multiple living rooms and four or five bedrooms. The more you can fit inside, the better, and there needs to be the front money shot to grab attention — even if the backyard is barely large enough to swing a clothesline.

These building types are generally approved under state legislation and, whilst there is technically a Design Verification Statement accompanying the application, I’ve never heard of one being rejected because the design failed to meet the stated objectives. Objective 2.1D-1 requires that “the built form, articulation and scale relate to the local character of the

area and context”. Yet many of these developments relate more to the streets of instagram than the local character. What these buildings get me thinking about is ornament, and how its meaning may have changed. One idea I remember from architectural history is that ornament often grew from memorialising real objects or rituals. A wreath of flowers draped over an arch eventually became carved in stone. Decorative motifs originally carried memory.

During this year’s Anzac Day commemorations, I was reminded of this while visiting the Wollongong Cenotaph in McCabe Park, where wreath-like carvings are etched into the stone. The ornament still recalls an act of remembrance. So what does the ornamental frontage of the modern dual occupancy memorialise?

Aspiration? Resale value? In an age of Social Media and online listings, façades are increasingly consumed as images rather than lived experiences. I don’t dislike ornament itself. In fact, I welcome the integration of real planting into façades. But I’ve long believed we should orient our homes around solar access than the street. Historically, Australian verandahs, courtyards and outdoor rooms mediated between climate and domestic life. In our rush to deliver more housing, are we turning our face from the Sun?

From pioneers to present

By Janet Lee of Helensburgh and District Historical Society

Helensburgh Historical Society’s latest publication is back from the printers!

A comprehensive history of the village of Otford from its pioneers to the present, from several contributing authors, and over 150 photos!

Topics include the early history of the area, pioneer families, Otford Public School, the Croker Island children, historic Otford businesses, industries and community organisations, Otford’s heritage and the nearby villages of Lilyvale, Bald Hill and Bulgo.

Support your local Society by ordering your own copy. Order your book by email to receive bank

deposit details and receive a $5 discount on postage. Book costs $25 to pick up from Helensburgh (cash or bank deposit) or Stanwell Park (eftpos, cash or bank deposit). Postage & handling costs $15.

Email Jan on info@ historichelensburgh. org.au or SMS 0418 681 384.

Train users upset at changes

By Jeremy Lasek

There’s growing anger among rail commuters over the changes to South Coast train services, with the introduction of the new Mariyung fleet that is currently being phased in.

Long-suffering travellers had hoped the new trains would provide a more efficient service, saying the travel time to Sydney hasn’t improved in 50 years. MPs have pointed to more frequent trains during peak hours, but Illawarra residents are struggling to understand how, for many of them, the situation is now getting worse.

Under the new timetable to be introduced later this year, South Coast Line trains will no longer stop at Wolli Creek Station, inconveniencing airport commuters who will need to make an extra stop at Hurstville or Central.

Dawn Peacock, from Woonona, has petitioned Keira MP Ryan Park, raising concerns about the extra hurdle for domestic and international airport commuters. The new trains were launched amid fanfare in April but Dawn says the true impact on commuters is only just being understood.

“It’s not acceptable,” Dawn said. “I think there are a lot of people on the South Coast that don’t even know about this yet, and when you speak to them, they’re totally shocked, and they can’t see the logic of it whatsoever.”

Based on figures from Transport for NSW, the Illawarra Flame has calculated the true numbers of commuters who currently travel to and from the airport from South Coast railway stations – and they could be in excess of 120,000 a year.

Dawn is critical of the lack of public consultation and invited The Illawarra Flame to Thirroul Station to hear from other regular travellers.

“These changes to current services are falsely dressed up as improvements and new services, and

they don’t give any consideration to less mobile travellers and will create chaos on the South Coast line,” Dawn said.

“The NSW Government’s drip feed of information on the impact of the introduction of the new trains on the South Coast rail line is shameful. I think it could become an election issue.”

John Prior, from Figtree, described the introduction of the new trains as “a decline in what is a popular service”.

“The local members need to be reminded that this has not always been a Labor seat. In the past we have had independent members, and if there are enough of these issues and we will actually change the politics of this area.”

Christine Thorn, from Gwynneville, said: “My biggest beef is the chopping and changing at Hurstville. I’ve had joints replaced and arthritic bones, and so I certainly don’t want to be adding to this trip by having to change trains and clamber upstairs with luggage.”

Kate Morritt, from Bulli, didn’t mince words.

“I think this is appalling. It’s going to be very awkward for people like myself, along with elderly people.”

Joan Fisher, from Woonona, agreed. “So many retired people live down here and further south, and consequently trying to manage suitcases as you get older is very difficult. I just don’t understand the reason why this is happening.”

Figtree’s Margaret Lorenz is worried about commuters who start at Bomaderry. “It concerns me that there are people travelling from the Shoalhaven, who also have to change trains at Kiama, and that could add hours to the trip.”

Mother and daughter Margot and Alison Druce

SCAN FOR FULL STORY

rely on the trains for their regular catch-ups.

“I travel from Hobart with my husband,” Margot said. “We come up here about six times a year… it will mean family will have to come up to the airport to pick us up.”

Margot’s daughter, Alison, said: “We relocated a few years ago from Melbourne to Thirroul specifically because of this train stop. We commute from Thirroul back to Melbourne for work every second week and changing this journey will add significant time and reduce my productivity…

“I think I’ll have to start driving to the airport.”

Maxine Lacey also prefers train travel: “There are currently so many people going through Wolli Creek. It gets cars off the road; it’s much more economical and environmentally friendly… The old service has all the benefits and I don’t see the Illawarra and South Coast should miss out.”

Louise, from Figtree, says she travels a lot.

“There’s a lot of confusion. It takes extra time and of course you’re carrying your luggage a lot further, and it just makes it tricky to do, and it’s a disincentive. I thought they were trying to get cars off the roads and this is not helping,” Louise said.

Port Kembla’s Jill Vickery worries about how the changes will impact her travels to the airport. “Right now, we know exactly how long it takes, but it’s going to add at least a half an hour plus changing with luggage.”

Austinmer couple Richard and Lynda Willson say they already have an extra stop, changing at Helensburgh to get to Wolli Creek.

“If you’re just catching a train it’s not such a problem,” Richard said. “But if you’re carrying luggage and trying to get in and out of crowded trains it makes it a lot more complicated and difficult. I know I’m getting older and often I’m trying to help my wife with her bags. It just makes it so much more difficult to get there.”

Richard said the option of getting off at Central to double back to Wolli Creek was even worse. “It’s such a monumental task, a bit of a nightmare, having to take your bags from one platform right across the station to your next connecting train.”

Richard’s wife, Lynda said she “dreads the thought of having to get off at Hurstville with a bag because at the moment you nearly get run over by people trying to get in to the train”.

“When you’re coming home and you’ve been how many hours on a plane, and you’re tired, where do we have to go to get a train to come home? It‘s just ridiculous.”

Local state MPs Ryan Park and Paul Scully have responded to the concerns raised, acknowledging the issues and saying they’ll try to find options to minimise the inconvenience.

Port Kembla’s Jill Vickery said: “I think they [local politicians] need to actually get on a train.”

Thunderstorm 101

By Ross McLean

Part two in the science of storms series looks at the dangers nature can unleash through thunderstorms.

Lightning

Lightning can strike the ground near you from as far away as 20 nautical miles (37.04km), even though you cannot see the thunderstorm clearly – perhaps just the top of the anvil*. (* The Bureau of Meteorology describes a storm’s anvil as “a flat, often fibrous cloud sheet, above and usually ahead of the [storm’s] core”.) In 2019, six people were injured when lightning struck a tree at a PGA Tour Championship golf tournament in the US – the top of the thunderstorm’s anvil was reportedly only just visible beyond mountains in the far distance. Here’s a good rule: If you can hear it, fear it, but if you can see it, flee it.

Strong winds and microbursts

A microburst is a localised column of sinking air (downdraft) within the thunderstorm and usually less than or equal to 2.5 miles (4.02km) in diameter. As a thunderstorm develops, water droplets/hailstones are suspended within the updraft. Sometimes an updraft is so strong it suspends large amounts of these droplets and hailstones in the upper portions of the thunderstorm. Many factors can lead to

evaporative cooling (sinking air) and a weakening of the updraft. When this occurs, the updraft is no longer capable of holding up the large core of rain/ hail in the thunderstorm. As a result, the core plummets to the ground and, as it hits the ground, it spreads in all directions. The location in which the microburst first hits the ground experiences the highest wind speeds and greatest damage.

Hail and heavy rain

Thunderstorms create varying amounts of hail and rain. Some of the most severe hail and rain occurs when a thunderstorm forms a cluster and continues to affect a location for an extended period of time. An example of this is the 2010-2011 Queensland floods, which resulted in threequarters of the flood-affected state being declared disaster zones.

Tornadoes and waterspouts

All thunderstorms rotate, supercells more than others. As a thunderstorm rotates, it can develop a spiralling column of air that reaches the ground or surface of the ocean. The more dynamic the thunderstorm, the more dynamic are the tornadoes/waterspouts. It is not uncommon for a thunderstorm to spawn several waterspouts. Part three will look at types of thunderstorm.

Mist opportunities

By Illawarra photographer Brad Chilby

The peaks of the Illawarra escarpment are regularly shrouded in a thick blanket of fog, typically forming in the wake of a cold front, after storms or most commonly when warm, moisture-laden coastal air collides with the escarpment and rises up its steep slopes.

Certain areas are particularly prone to fog, with Bulli Tops and Maddens Plains among the region’s most notable locations.

Different types of fog are commonly seen along the Illawarra escarpment, including orographic fog, also known as upslope fog, advection fog (sea mist) and radiation fog.

One of the region’s most spectacular weather phenomena occurs during periods of strong onshore winds, when fog surges dramatically up the escarpment. Watching the cloud race up the mountainside before spilling over the plateau is an unforgettable sight and one of the Illawarra’s most impressive natural displays.

For photographers, the Illawarra offers exceptional opportunities to capture dramatic fog scenes thanks to its accessible lookouts and regular fog events. Some of the best locations include Bulli Tops, particularly between Sublime Point and the Wollongong visitor information centre, where fog can move up the escarpment at remarkable speed.

Having your phone or camera ready to also capture video is worthwhile, as the movement of the fog can be an impressive spectacle.

Other stand-out locations for fog photography include Stanwell Tops, Broker’s Nose, the summit of Mt Keira, Mt Kembla and Robertson.

Fog provides photographers with a fantastic opportunity to create atmospheric images in soft, even lighting. It can add depth and mood to a scene while helping define distinct layers within a composition.

During early-morning fog, be prepared for the sun to break through the cloud, creating spectacular lighting conditions. If photographing in the evening, carry a tripod and use a low ISO setting to help produce cleaner, sharper images.

Zoom lenses can also help enhance the fog effect by allowing you to isolate subjects and compress the scene, making the layers of mist appear more dramatic. I often shoot at around 200mm in foggy conditions and look for lone or unusually shaped trees, rainforest vegetation, leading lines such as laneways, firetrails or old fences, and historic buildings emerging through the mist.

Paris

The final tip is to see what your images look like in black and white as fog and black and white often work very well together.

Music of the Belle Époque

After Dark at Wollongong Art Gallery

Celebrating: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Day

Pioneering aviator, writer, journalist & poet.

6:00 canapé & drinks — 6:30 concert

$40 Adult, $30 Conc.,$20 Stud. BOOKINGS: humanitix_paris_dreams _music_of_the_belle_epoque

ph/txt:0408 422 427

FRIDAY 31 JULY

5:30 canapes & champagne — 6:15 concert

Down to the wire

Saul Griffith’s electric dream made ABC’s ‘Australian Story’, writes Elsa Evers of the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot

ABC’s Australian Story recently profiled local resident Dr Saul Griffith. It was the origin story of his electric dream, but it was also a story about us – our streets, our homes, and the collective choices many are making to demonstrate electrification in action.

The Australian Story episode captured the reality of the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot: the installation of efficient heat-pump hot water systems and reverse-cycle air conditioning; it’s the transition to rooftop solar and batteries. These tangible, day-to-day changes are being made by hundreds of our neighbours.

As Saul Griffith says, we are creating a “postcard from the future”.

“We’ve got an up-and-running pilot that … was just a concept that we were working hard on as a bunch of volunteers. And then it’s actually just kick-started a whole lot of other things nationwide,” he says.

“It’s a lot of two steps forward, one step backwards. But then if you’re not maintaining optimism, you’re giving up,” Griffith says.

For many of us, this project has been the antidote to climate despair. We’ve moved from feeling overwhelmed by the scale of the climate

Creative cupcakes rise to state prize

By Marion Cook

Keiraville CWA members have had outstanding success at this year’s Country Women’s Association State Conference competitions, with members earning top honours across a range of categories.

crisis to feeling like we can do something. Every induction cooktop installed and every rooftop solar array activated is a data point that helps prove to the rest of Australia that the transition is not only possible but beneficial.

Even people in the US are looking to Australia’s household energy revolution for hope and inspiration.

Saul says: “Australia has done some good things. But it requires a steady drumbeat from all of the little community groups and all of the civil society organisations.”

When a community leads, we can create change, and give our politicians the confidence to do more.

Watch the episode of Australian Story featuring Dr Saul Griffith on ABC iview.

Eight-year-old junior member Harper Jarvis impressed judges with her creativity and baking skills in the Land Cookery competition. Entering the contest in February, Harper created four sea creature-themed cupcakes, which earned her first place at the Branch level.

Her Branch win qualified her to compete at the Illawarra Group competition, where she again secured first place, earning a coveted spot at the State Conference competition.

Competing against entrants from across NSW, Harper’s imaginative cupcake creations were awarded second place at state level. She received a

certificate and prize money in recognition of her achievement.

Keiraville CWA celebrated further success at the State Conference, with Tracy Meyer taking out third place in the Light Fruit Cake section and Bek Ryan placing third in the state in the article of craft – woodwork category. Eleanor Brash, a non-member, was awarded second place in the felted item with her beautiful hat. Congratulations also to Deirdre Bowman, another non-member, for third place with a hank of wool.

Ivy Jarvis, a junior member, was highly commended for her entry in the junior handicrafts, Kayla and Bianca Jarvis were both highly commended for their artwork entries.

These achievements highlight the creativity of Keiraville CWA members and friends of all ages and showcase the strong community spirit within our branch. Congratulations to all our entrants.

Contact us via keiravillecwa@gmail.com

Local engineer Dr Saul Griffith, co-founder of Rewiring Australia

Your Letters

Write to hello@theillawarraflame.com.au

Beware the innocent fridge magnet

Drip, drip, drip – my bathroom basin was obviously in need of new washers! I’m 84, a widow now, and the job was outside of my expertise. Hmm! I know, I’ll use one of my fridge magnets and call a plumber!

Sure enough, a plumber rang my doorbell in a few days, but he wasn’t carrying a tool bag. In fact, he was dressed immaculately!

“Come on in,” I invited, noting his magnificent van, emblazoned all over with plumbers’ attributes.

He examined the dripping taps, then I showed him the laundry taps which I thought could also use new washers. After a few minutes he said: “I’ll ring my manager and get a quote”, which he did.

On his return from the van, out of my earshot, he said “six fifty”.

I assumed, being 84, that he meant $6.50c! Wow, I thought! That’s great! Imagine my shock when he clarified his quote as $650!!!!

I gasped “Sammy, I’m not paying that! For four washers!! You’re worse than the dentist!!”

“Oh,” he said. “There’s a lot involved. We have to check your water pressure and there are other issues, like warranty.”

“My water pressure is fine,” I assured him.

“Well,” he said, “I’ll ring my manager again and see what I can do,” which he did. “Mrs Aftermath, my manager said he can take $100 off, but you’ll still have to pay GST.”

When I did the maths, that still came to $605! For four washers!!! So I said: “Sorry Sammy, I’m not paying that.”

He asked: “So how much did you expect to pay?”

I said: “I expected you to have an itemised list of costings for all your different jobs.”

He said: “See that vehicle out there. That cost me $75,000!”

I replied: “That’s not my problem, Sammy. My vehicle cost me $9,000, because that’s what I can afford,” and I showed him out the door.

“Hmmm.” I have a kind odd-job man, whom I found in your magazine, so I rang him. “Courtney,” he said, “I’m not a plumber, but I CAN do washers.” So up he came, carrying his tool bag. He turned the water off, took out his spanner, extracted the old washers, and replaced them, all within 25 minutes!

“That’ll cost you $50, thanks, Courtney, and promise me two things. One, you won’t turn your taps off TOO tightly because that’s what ruins your

washers, and two, that you’ll NEVER ring anybody who leaves you a fridge magnet!!”

Sound advice – which I intend to follow.

– Courtney Aftermath (aka Sandy Brenchley)

Council blitzes it

On behalf of everyone in Helensburgh, I would like to sincerely thank Wollongong City Council for the recent “blitzing” works carried out throughout the CBD area. Billy, John, and the entire crew were friendly, professional and highly efficient, using their expertise to transform the area and make it look absolutely beautiful. Thank you again for your hard work and commitment to improving our community.

– Julie York, Raine & Horne Helensburgh

Re: ‘Nannas rock Gong with protest songs’ MP Paul Scully’s comment that the NSW Coal Industry 2026-50 balances energy security with the need to reduce emissions is hard to agree with. The last coal fired power station, Mount Piper, will close around 2037. Our six major export countries for coal have all announced they are moving to clean energy sources. The Government Treasury department has predicted that our coal exports will drop by 50% by 2030.

How does keeping coal open until 2050 fit into this equation?

Mr Scully also said that “a small group of Greens Political Party members and local activists with long-held beliefs on mining” gathered. This is a disturbing statement.

Firstly he has ignored that the protest was about mining under the Sydney water catchment area. Is his government willing to play Russian roulette with our water supply? Secondly are his beliefs that all mining is good no matter where it is conducted?

Thirdly, there were people in attendance from the coal industry and unions. Why is mining under the Woronora Dam catchment so vital that it will risk our water supply when Dendrobium Mine can supply the metallurgical coal required, as can many mines in the Hunter region?

I understand Mr Scully may have been unaware of the gathering. I am also very disappointed that he failed to address what the rally was about and it sounded like he was trying to belittle or trivialise the people who were there outside his office.

– Darryl Best, retired coal miner

Aunty Barb’s ‘peace and love’ book project continues to change lives

More than 100 people gathered at Wollongong Art Gallery for May’s launch of the 14th volume of ‘Dreaming Inside – Voices from Junee Correctional Centre’, Jeremy Lasek reports

When Aunty Barbara (Barb) Nicholson steps into Junee jail, as she’s done more than 300 times over many years, a kind of calm comes over the place.

Aunty Barb, a proud Wadi Wadi Elder, is credited with changing lives, even saving lives, in what is one of our nation’s harshest environments.

Now in her 90s, the 2024 Wollongong Citizen of the Year shows no sign of slowing down, recently launching her 14th volume of stories and poems from the inmates at Junee Jail.

Aunty Barb dedicates the book, Dreaming Inside – Voices from Junee Correctional Centre, to “the sacred memory of all those warriors who fell on the battlefield of colonisation”.

To mark June’s National Reconciliation Week, the Illawarra Flame paid tribute to Aunty Barb, a strong and respected leader, a champion for her people, and a tireless advocate for underdogs –black and white. She makes our city, state and nation a better place.

How does she keep going?

In her book’s introduction, Aunty Barb answers the burning question, at a time when she should probably be putting her feet up and enjoying her senior years, how and why does she keep going?

“When this program began 15 years ago it was only intended to be a one-off desktop publication, never to be repeated. Yet here we are in volume 14, with volume 15 in the pipeline, and I scratch my head in awe. How did this happen?

“When we see the impact, the value this program has on the inmate writers, on their friends

and their families, we have to ask ourselves; how can we stop? Truth is, I don’t know how to stop.

“The inmate writers make it very clear they want these books to last forever, how can we stop? No pressure then. So, I keep on going, and every year I tell myself ‘this might be the last one’. I want the writers and readers of these works to understand that all things come to an end eventually and one day this program may do just that.”

In the meantime, Aunty Barb is mentoring, inspiring, cajoling, caring and publishing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners who, for whatever reason, find themselves in trouble, in custody.

“We bring news from the outside world.”

Stepping into prison

At the launch, Aunty Barb said she was often asked: “What happens when you step foot in prison?”

“Well, I take a big breath and think, ‘OK, what are we going to get today?’ We get a hell of a lot of fun. They’re all eager. We sit them down and get to know them and then we get down to the business of writing.

“One of the good things that happens at Junee, we’re a breath of fresh air. We are aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters; we’re family and we are the conduit to the outside world. We bring news from the outside world. We are the mother confessors.

“It’s like a green haven, a haven of peace in this steel and concrete environment. Everyone we

Left: Aunty Barb and her daughter, Charlie. Above: Supporting Aunty Barb at the launch were 2026 Wollongong Citizens of the Year, Teresa and Phong Tran and 2023 Citizen of the Year, Sally Stevenson.

engage with is totally and utterly unjudged. It is their sacred space. We don’t want to talk about their crimes. They understand we come with love and peace, and they respond accordingly.”

A chance to belong

Former inmate Barbara Brennan told the 100-strong crowd: “To be in one of Aunty Barb’s books is to belong. I’m lucky enough to be a part of those books. So, thanks to Aunty Barb for all the beautiful work you do for all of us.

“Aunty Barb was the power for me to belong somewhere. I went to university and started an advocacy group for First Nations women across NSW.”

Lesley Marks, who works at Junee Prison as an Aboriginal mentor, told Aunty Barb at the launch: “You underestimate the influence of the project and the program. You provide a culturally safe space and the boys look forward to you coming. You give them a place to start healing.”

Giving inmates a voice

Josh Mestre is an Aboriginal Practice Officer at Cobham Youth Justice Centre at Penrith, where Aunty Barb compiled her first volume of writings by young offenders.

“Thanks for not turning your back on those young people in custody,” Josh told Aunty Barb.

“We all need to carry them and hold them.”

Aunty Barb described it as “a joy to witness their excitement when the group applaud a reading of a completed poem or short piece of prose”.

“I see pride swell on their faces. I see eagerness to continue writing take hold and wish we could have more time with these literary aspirants.

“We are not just visiting as teachers, we are Aunties and Uncles, surrogate families, conduits to cultural knowledges, safe havens. Even if we are with them for only a brief period of time, our presence there provides them with cultural sustenance and has a lasting value to these young residents behind the razor wire. We wish them well.”

‘A beautiful request’

In a very special moment at the launch, Aunty Barb introduced Aunty Pam Honeysett who had travelled from Wagga Wagga for the event.

While compiling content for her latest book, Aunty Barb heard from Aunty Pam, who asked if she would include a poem written by her brother.

“Terry passed away shortly after being released from custody last year,” Aunty Barb said. “The poem was read by the prison chaplain at Terry’s funeral. Aunty Pam has given us permission to publish the poem under Terry’s name.”

Aunty Barb’s daughter, Charlie, read Terry’s poem at the launch.

‘Behind the 8 Ball’ by Terry Honeysett

It started with just one shot

But ended up being a lot

When I started it was fun

Then all the crap and stuff begun

I got myself deep in debt

And done some things I regret.

I owed my dealer some serious money

I could not pay this was not funny.

So I made a choice to do a job

Started to steal, take and rob.

I ended up doing a B&E

And I got caught, someone seen me.

Now I’m in jail, locked in a cell,

Look where it bought me right here to hell.

I know there is hope, even for me

They will let me out one day and I’ll be free.

But I need to write these things on my heart

To stay away from ice and make a new start I need to straighten up my life

And stay out of strife.

I need the understanding, strength and love I can only get from God above.

The Ngana Barangarai books are available via southcoastwriters.org

A screenshot from footage of the May 23 incident shared by She Shapes History tours

‘Horrifically ironic’

An incident involving a women’s history tour and group of boys on e-bikes has sparked calls for a national conversation on misogyny and the ‘manosphere’, writes Genevieve Swart

At 2pm on Sunday, May 23, nine women and young girls gathered at Wollongong Lighthouse for a She Shapes History walking tour to learn about past heroines, such as pioneering Aboriginal activist Pearl Gibbs. Instead they were confronted by a modern-day problem: a group of boys on e-bikes who encircled and shouted at the women.

“There was about 30 of them in total,” said Lua Jones, a Helensburgh mother of two, who was on the tour because of her interest in women’s history, feminism and empowerment.

“They were hurling abuse of ‘lesbians’ and ‘bisexuals’ and ‘old hags’. It was misogynistic.”

Lua found it “intimidating and overwhelming”, with the e-bikers ignoring requests to leave the group alone, riding close, revving and carving up the grass, and laughing at the idea of police being called.

Jane Jukes, who was on the outing with her 16-year-old daughter, thinks their all-women group stood out among the usual Sunday crowd.

“Lindsay [the guide] was wearing the She Shapes History pink T-shirt, and we were obviously talking about something. The boys had detected something ‘other’ in us, and that made it more fun to disrupt what we were doing,” Jane said.

“They were mostly around the 12 to 13 age group. They started circling us, some of them driving their e-bikes really close to us.”

One girl, who has seen plenty of bad behaviour on trains, was distressed when the boys came near and a group member was touched without her consent.

“I was just kind of trying to encourage the group to try and ignore them as best we could,” the schoolgirl said. “Stick together, just stand superclose to each other. Don’t look at them, don’t film them, none of that.

“Usually ignoring and keeping your head down and showing no acknowledgement does [work] –eventually they get bored.

“I was hearing awful slurs, you know, homophobic slurs, racial slurs and sexist slurs, like

from all of them all at once. They were saying the N-word quite a lot. It was awful.”

Jane said: “I felt threatened, but I didn’t, in my heart, think that they were going to attack us. Some of the group felt absolutely terrified, and there were people crying and really upset.”

The group tried to move away but the e-bike riders followed, she added. Phones were drawn on both sides, but Jane said the women were determined not to flare up and give the boys the footage they were “clearly after”. It was a “Lord of the Flies” moment for the screen age, she said.

The encounter lasted for 15 to 20 minutes.

One woman called the police, who confirmed that Wollongong Police District officers responded to reports of e-bike riders harassing people on Marine Drive at about 2.20pm on the Sunday.

“Police patrolled the area; however, both groups were unable to be located,” a NSW Police spokesperson said. On Monday, the incident was reported to Helensburgh Police Station.

Afterwards, She Shapes History’s Dr Zoe Condliffe posted a response, with a content warning: “harassment and intimidation in public space”. That footage has since been viewed more than 20,000 times on their Facebook page alone.

‘Clear example’ of manosphere, says CEO Nothing like this has ever happened on a She Shapes History tour, said CEO Sita Sargeant, who founded the social enterprise in Canberra in 2021, then expanded to Sydney and Melbourne, before launching a Wollongong branch last November.

“We gather peacefully every single tour,” Sita said. “I don’t think I would have imagined that something like this would have happened in Australia.

“If you do not feel comfortable gathering in a public space to hear women’s stories, god help us –where can we go from here?

“We are having a conversation about the manosphere, but no one has that much hard

evidence. This is such a clear example of how these online spaces are shaping how people show up in the real world and shaping behaviour.

“Just to see [the film footage of] 20 young boys surrounding a group of middle-aged mums is pretty confronting.”

To prevent further incidents, She Shapes History will cut back to mornings-only events.

“So that we can work to the sleep schedules of teenage boys, who would be sleeping at 10am when we usually run our tours,” Sita said. “It’s been this real sharp reminder that we’re not living in this feminist utopia where women are just able to be.”

Sita employs three part-time guides in Wollongong, and Sunday’s clash has only made them more determined, she said.

“As a team we’ve gone, this is why we do this. Because women are made to feel unsafe and unwelcome in the cities that they live in – that is why we show up and share these stories.”

‘How do we talk to our boys?’

Helensburgh mum Jane, who tried to engage the e-biker leaders in conversation, thinks the boys were taunting them to generate “viral” content for social media. As a mother of four, including two boys, she’s uncertain about the best way forward.

“How do we talk to our boys, and what can we put in place to prevent this level of disconnection and lack of empathy and this behaviour?” Jane said. “I hate that idea of – for me, personally – feeling like the only option is to shut down and to not respond. To not give them the Instagram fodder, or risk that

I’m going to be shamed online later if I have a perfectly reasonable reaction to being threatened.”

A schoolgirl on the tour, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the e-bikes allowed the boys to “line up”, “move together as one unit” and have a getaway vehicle at the press of a button. “If these kids had no mode of transport, no vehicles or anything, they wouldn’t have at all approached us. It would be less intimidating, it’s less gang-like for them.”

Jane agreed the bikes were used intimidate: “It felt very much like they were weaponised in that way and, of course, they were emboldened by the fact that they had this big piece of heavy machinery that they could then use at any point to disappear.”

Women keep calm, carry on Lua praised their tour guide, Lindsay. “She carried on and was very professional.

“It was horrifically ironic, and made me feel like digging my heels in further around feminism…”

Jane said: “We did manage to have a joke about what a brilliant set-up that was for our tour, and we thanked Lindsay for arranging this special display to really get us into the right mindset.”

One story, that of Hilda Gertrude Condon, an Illawarra Hotel publican from the 1930s, made a strong impression. “She was this amazing, larger than life, glamorous character, who was known as the Blue Wren of the Illawarra,” Jane said.

“She would not have put up with that. If she knew how to handle all the rowdy sailors that were coming into Wollongong at the time, she would have sorted those boys out for sure.”

Show of solidarity: A week after the incident, She Shapes History guide Shane LadyMoon led a sold-out city walking tour that included Tania Brown, Lord Mayor of Wollongong; Alison Byrnes, Member for Cunningham, and David Laing and Craig Morris, executive members of Healthier Illawarra Men (HIM). Scan the QR above to read their reviews. Photo: Tyneesha Williams

SCAN FOR FULL STORY

Could ‘tactical urbanism’ reduce roadkill?

By Genevieve Swart

In June, a long-nosed bandicoot joined the rising wildlife toll on suburban roads in the shadow of the northern Illawarra escarpment.

The backroads where animals are at risk include Morrison Ave, Cater St, Denmark St, Asquith St, Foothills Rd, Kirton St and Buttenshaw Drive, also known to Coledale locals as ‘the river of death’.

In March, we reported on the death of a young male lyrebird, one of 40 species, including pythons, wallabies and echidnas, found dead on these roads, according to records kept by a local family.

Residents’ calls for action have met a bureaucratic knot hard to untangle. Wollongong City Council told the Flame Buttenshaw Drive was not a funding priority for traffic calming, while Transport for NSW said without calming measures to slow cars, the rural road would not be a priority for a 30km/h zone.

In response, a reader suggested “tactical urbanism”.

“I think some rope bridges spanning the road and connecting treetops on either side could potentially help with the tree-dwelling mammals. Crowd-funding might help as a funding source too,” wrote Jennifer Kay.

Invented in America, ‘tactical urbanism’ is a

term for community action, such as guerrilla signage, street art and pop-up bike lanes. The idea features in book called Tactical Urbanism: Shortterm Action for Long-term Change.

So could this work in Wollongong?

“The idea of tactical urbanism is always a cool idea,” said Ed Birt, president of the Illawarra Bicycle Users Group (IBUG). “Time and organisation and expense involved is a bit of a barrier but it’s a good idea.”

Ed thought rope bridges might be an option, but too costly for the public purse. “I mean they haven’t built the underpasses for the koalas up at Appin yet – if that isn’t a priority I don’t know what is. Australia is pretty useless at taking care of our animals – cars are all that matter it seems…”

Is crowdfunding possible

The Illawarra Flame asked Wollongong City Council if it was possible to crowdfund speed humps as part of tactical urbanism. The answer appears to be ‘definitely maybe’, with a council spokesperson saying: “While the community may consider crowdfunding traffic calming measures, Council’s capacity to fund ongoing costs associated with this infrastructure (i.e. maintenance and

Cr Mithra Cox with residents in July 2020. At right: Cr Jess Whittaker with residents in May 2026

replacement) would need to be considered and prioritised against funding ongoing costs associated with other traffic calming priorities across the Wollongong Local Government Area.”

Some Buttenshaw residents have already acted to protect wildlife, cyclists and pedestrians. They’ve tried a strategically parked yellow trailer, bin stickers, spraypainting the road, handmade signs.

Ecologist Kylie Madden – who has advocated for safer backroads for seven years – said the idea of tactical urbanism was tempting, but rope bridges are “not legal and probably of limited benefit because the trees almost touch in most places”.

Kylie is mourning the loss of two lyrebirds killed near her home in Coledale. After finding lyrebird feathers on Buttenshaw Drive one night in March, Kylie told the Flame she felt “sick to the stomach”.

She wrote to council and Maryanne Stuart, the Member for Heathcote, saying the lyrebird was likely the son of ‘Frank’, who lived in the area for more than 10 years before dying on the same road. “For those of us who have lived in this community for decades, and who have been watching this road claim wildlife and near-miss pedestrians for years, it is a moment that is difficult to put into words.”

At the time, residents again called for safety measures, such as speed humps.

Three months later, Kylie said: “It’s disappointing because we’re left with very few options. “Council records and long-time residents both admit we’ve been saying the same thing for decades and it’s only getting worse. Of course we understand that Council has a lot of competing priorities but all of us who lived up here have lived other places and we’re not making it up. It is dangerous. And I want to be confident I’ve done all I can to point this out before some serious accident takes place.”

Residents are not only worried about wildlife –they also fear the safety of cyclists and pedestrians is at risk, particularly on Cater Street, a steep descent to the public school that lacks footpaths.

In May 2026, Ward 1 Cr Jess Whittaker became the first politician to visit residents on Buttenshaw Drive since July 2020, when the Flame reported on a meeting with then Greens councillor Mithra Cox.

“Wildlife strikes, the popularity of the route for exercisers and school kids were all discussed,” Cr Whittaker said. “Some options we discussed was for the road to be a 30km/h zone, installing speed cushions, better maintenance of verge grass and painting large ‘wildlife signs’ on the road.”

Ed said the visit inspired residents to make submissions to council’s Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan on exhibition in May.

“So I think they would have had a number of submissions from us on the back roads about wildlife and safety for kids to school and need for traffic calming etc.”

Where to see our own Royal family

By Genevieve Swart

If you go down to the Royal National Park today, you could be in for a big surprise at Wattle Forest Picnic Area, just south of Audley.

After being locally extinct for 50 years, platypus are back and breeding, and this is the place to spot them.

Thanks to three years of rewilding work by University of NSW researchers, there are more than 20 of the shy little monotremes paddling about in the Royal. Sightings can be reported via the Platy Project to add to our scientific knowledge – which has come a long way since these egg-laying mammals with bills like a duck were thought to be a taxidermy prank.

“They’re really quite a challenging animal to monitor,” said lead researcher Associate Professor Gilad Bino, who recently found a new young male hatched in the park.

“We glue little transmitters on – that gives us like a short window, just to know where they’re hanging around and foraging. It’s really all along the Hacking River, even past the upper weir pool. One easy, accessible location is Wattle Forest Picnic Area … if you’re lucky, you get to see them.”

Since May 2023, scientists have reintroduced 17 platypus to the Royal, from wild populations round the state. At least four have hatched in the park while one named Chaos was found dead last year. “It sustained some sort of trauma,” Gilad said. “It may have been trampled by a deer or maybe some debris fell on it.”

Uncle Dean Kelly has named each platypus, including the hatchlings, who are Gili (Flame), Djumalung (Platypus), Djurawalinjang (We grow together) and Narjong (Freshwater).

Deer cull in Royal National Park Rain hampered May’s shooting operation, which removed 48 deer, NPWS said.

ONCE UPON A TIME

in Thirroul

By Genevieve Swart

Right from the first fireside chats, people have come together to share stories in midwinter, and no advances in artificial intelligence will change that in Thirroul.

Real-life connection is the major drawcard at the South Coast Readers and Writers Festival, five local authors told the Illawarra Flame ahead of July’s gathering at Thirroul Community Centre.

“It’s the best,” says Helensburgh author Pamela Cook. “Just being in a place where everybody is there for the stories and for the connection that those stories bring – there’s nothing like it.”

Pamela writes contemporary women’s fiction, specialising in page-turners about “longing and belonging”, most recently Cross My Heart

She will appear in a panel titled ‘From Pen to Published’ on Saturday, 25 July, with Farmborough Heights writer Courtney Peppernell.

“Our panel is about writing about grief and loss, and also about our publishing journeys, so that’ll be really interesting,” says Pamela.

Like Pamela, Courtney’s path to publishing took a non-traditional route. She’s the poet behind the global hit series Pillow Thoughts and this year released her debut novel The Last Poem, about an author who joins a grief group run by a librarian who uses poetry as a tool for healing.

Courtney is eager to meet people who share a

love of the same stories and books. “When you gather to connect and talk about these stories, you find common ground with others and it can make you feel less alone in the world,” she says.

“Often when faced with any inner doubt about my own writing, I stop and consider who out there is currently reading a book or listening to a story that brings them comfort in some way.”

Facilitating Pamela and Courtney’s discussion will be novelist Meredith Jaffe, whose latest book is The Importance of Being Delia, about women ready to reclaim their own identity after a lifetime of sacrifice on the altar of love.

Meredith will talk about her work at Sunday, July 26’s ‘Journeys Through Publishing’ panel with Claire Zorn, who is known for her picture books and young adult novels, such as The Protected, winner of the 2015 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction. Claire will be presenting her first book for adults – Better Days, “a story of love, chaos and the music in-between”.

“Writing can be a very isolating activity,” Claire says, “you live in this fictional world that no one else can access, with imaginary people, until the book is released and then it goes out into the world and often you don’t get a lot back.

“To actually meet and talk to readers is a good reminder of why we do it in the first place.”

Meredith agrees, saying the chance to catch up face to face with readers and fellow writers is a highlight. “Because we live in little burrows, right, where we’re just in our tracky-dacks, tapping away, and so to actually glad-rag up and see each other again is actually a really big drawcard.”

Unity through shared stories

In the splintered world of modern culture, journalist Dr Erin O’Dwyer loves the idea of gathering to discuss shared stories.

“We used to say, ‘What did you watch on TV last night?’, and we all watched the same thing. That doesn’t happen anymore.

“We’re all watching screen content out of sync, for the most part, we’re listening to audio out of sync for the most part, and so those water cooler conversations that we used to have about stories that we were consuming are not happening.

“So I’m looking forward to a festival that actually brings us together specifically with that intention – to discuss story, to talk about what we’ve been listening to, reading, watching, seeing, and to tease out some of those great things, and to connect in a very deliberate way.”

Erin, the winner of an Australian UN Media Peace Award, is a writing coach who helps people ghostwrite novels. These include Blake Johnston’s Swellbeing and Accessory, Felicia Djamirze’s true story about being a former Miss Australia, convicted drug trafficker and gangland girlfriend.

Don’t miss Erin and Felicia in conversation with the ABC’s Nick Rheinberger on Saturday, 25 July.

Creativity in the age of AI

Festival director Dr Sarah Nicholson says readers consistently praise the annual event’s intimacy and

energy, with one attendee saying: “I found an arts community that was passionate, engaged, engaging – and I just loved being there.”

Yet amid the warmth of a writers festival, creatives will also be confronting the cold reality of AI, a potential threat to everything from the act of creation to ownership and copyright of it.

For Meredith Jaffe, who also directs South Coast literary event StoryFest, there is reason for optimism. “I’m not in the camp that think it’s all doom and gloom about AI,” she says.

“I think AI does have a place, and I think that place is to be my admin assistant or my virtual organiser. Its place is not to creatively write a damn thing, because it can’t. So I think if you put it in its box and pat its head, AI is amazing.

“It’s certainly been really useful, for instance, in putting together a publicity tour. In terms of the logistics, it’s great at that. It saves me hours…

“I don’t really think that the kind of people that read books are all that troubled by AI either, because what they’re looking for is story.

“People go to story – they want to escape from their reality and read a story. They will tend to go back to their favourite authors and their favourite books and their favourite series. They just love meeting authors, getting their book signed and they love having a chat. AI can’t do that.”

Claire Zorn agrees. “Storytelling is the ultimate act of creativity in the way it can make whole worlds out of nothing. Essentially, storytelling is about connection; which is surely the most fundamental of human needs, our need to understand each other and be understood.”

The festival is at Thirroul Community Centre, July 24-26. More info: southcoastwriters.org

L to R: Courtney Peppernell, Erin O’Dwyer, Meredith Jaffe, Pamela Cook, and Claire Zorn. Photos: Tyneesha Williams

Author Q&A

Tim and Emma Flannery

Tim Flannery is a paleontologist, an explorer, a conservationist and a leading writer on climate change. His award-winning titles include The Weather Makers, as well as collaborations with his daughter, Emma Flannery: Big Meg and their latest book, A Brief History of Climate Folly.

What inspired you to write A Brief History of Climate Folly?

I’m constantly amazed at the willingness of humans to tamper with Earth’s life-support systems, and in our age of trillionaire oligarchs, I fear that more insane and dangerous schemes may be proposed in future. Our best antidote is to assess the crazy schemes of the past. After all, in my lifetime governments were seriously considering using

What’s On

More events at theillawarraflame.com.au

Tannic Skin & Sweet Flesh book launch

Sat 4 July 2-4pm, join poet Linda Godfrey for the launch of her new book at Thirroul Railway Institute Hall, 14 Railway Parade.

North Illawarra Probus Club meeting

Tue 14 July 10.30am at Woonona Bulli RSL. July’s speaker is Steve McKenna from Service NSW presenting the NSW Government’s Savings Finder Program. Info: Shelley Tough on 0418 218 959.

What’s On @ Your Libraries

Winter Holiday Activities – see library website. Thirroul Library

Tue 14 July Let’s Try Speed Puzzling, 5.30-7.30pm. Complete a 500-piece jigsaw at lightning speed. Fri 24 July South Coast Writers Festival: The Library That Made Me, 5.30-7pm. Celebrate the 200 years of the State Library of NSW. Sat 25 July Journal Making, 10-11am (ages 8-12).

nuclear weapons to destroy the Arctic ice cap, in an effort to improve the climate!

What are you reading right now?

Rupert Everett’s To the End of the World.

What is your writing routine?

An hour or two (at most) when I’m inspired. Usually in the morning.

What is one book that changed your life?

Matt Ridley’s The Red Queen.

Is there a writing project on your bucket list? Yes, an ecological history of Antarctica.

Festival program highlights

Tim Flannery will appear in a ‘Climate & Cartography’ panel at the South Coast Readers & Writers Festival on July 26, 3:30-4:30pm with geographer Sarah Hamylton (Plotting the Oceans) and Claire O’Rourke.

Highlights of the 2026 program include Evelyn Araluen (Dropbear, The Rot) on her blistering new collection, journalist Antoinette Lattouf (Women Who Win) on the courage needed to stand up to censorship, Kate Holden on her new book The Ruin of Magic and a discussion titled ‘Crime Done Differently’ with James Bradley (Landfall), author Sulari Gentill (Five Found Dead) and Andy Muir.

On July 25, 5 Islands Press presents an unmissable poetry showcase and Pat Simmons holds a journal-making workshop for children.

Helensburgh Library

Tue 14 July French Film Evening, 5-7pm. Celebrate Bastille Day with an iconic French film. Tue 28 July Tech n Tea, 1-3pm. Bring your device.

Probus Club of Helensburgh & District Thu 9 July Helensburgh Tradies 10am for 10.30 start. Peter Thorpe will talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI). On 23 July, join our Christmas in July lunch at Como Hotel. Info: Carol 0432385524 or email helensburghprobus@y7mail.com.

Helensburgh Men’s Shed Mon-Wed 9am to 3pm, welcomes new members, men & ladies, 624 Darkes Forest Rd. 0478 892 485.

NAIDOC Week 2026

Tue 7 July Warrawong NAIDOC Family Fun Day, 10-12 July Screen Illawarra First Nations Film Festival, Gala Cinema Warrawong Fri 10 July Bellambi NAIDOC Family Fun Day More events at www.naidoc.org.au

Magic found in toy workshop

By Jan Johnston of Stanwell Park CWA

Our visit to the Toy Restoration Centre at Jannali was great fun. We were privileged to have a tour of the workshop where all the magic happens to transform donated toys into sparkling new toys ready for display and sale in the shop. The workshop is operated by volunteers and we were struck by the quality of the toys for sale and their reasonable prices. The money raised from these sales is donated to local Women and Children’s charities which is close to our heart as well as our desire to promote recycling efforts.

We have continued to engage with guest speakers and this month we welcomed the Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Tania Brown. It was a learning curve to realise the number of issues that involve local council. Also stressed was the importance of community engagement and letter writing to inform council of local issues which need attention.

A special guest at our last meeting was a local real estate agent, Mattias Samuelsson, who addressed a current topic of conversation for many people – the issue of whether to downsize. His excellent preparation anticipated so many of our questions with practical insights and explanations.

A lovely lunch while providing community support was organised at the Embark Restaurant at Loftus TAFE. Here, hospitality students prepared a diverse menu which they served in a restaurant setting. The three courses were delicious, and we were able to engage with the students and congratulate them on their individual contributions to the meal.

We can be found at the CWA hall, 15 The Drive Stanwell Park on the first Tuesday of the month 10am. Just turn up or you can send us an email on stanwellparkcwa@gmail.com

Beatles show ‘a great success’

By SPAT publicity officer Lauren Mitsak

SPAT Singers Dinner Show

The SPAT Singers afternoon performance of Beatles and Other Animals on June 28 was a great success. The next performance, a supper show on July 4, includes a three-course meal (provided by choir members), followed by a soiree on July 5.

SPAT Film Society

On June 20, the society screened the awardwinning Rental Family to a good turn-out. There are still two more films to be shown this year and the annual membership fee of $25 for adults and $15 for students, school-aged children, or concession holders, still offers great value.

Youth Workshop

SPAT is seeking an experienced, passionate person to run a youth drama workshop to inspire our young people in the September/October school holidays. If you think you fit the bill, email us at spartstheatre@gmail.com

Late August/Early September show

We have a play and director for our August/ September show, but we have not yet secured the performing rights. We’ll know in a few weeks’ time if we have the green light. If not, we have a back-up play. We will reveal all in the next Flame.

Annual Pantomime

This year’s delightful panto, Save the Mood: A Cheesy Pantomime (written by Cameron Sharp), has great roles for adults and children. Rod Lander is director and musical director and Catherine Rostrum will accompany on piano. Parents, consider putting up your hand for an acting or backstage role. The kids love it when it’s a family affair.

Neighbourhood Forum 1 Report

By NF1 convenor Warwick Erwin

Inquiry into the existing Helensburgh Memorial Community Hall and its proposed replacement

The Forum has responded to a letter written by the Wollongong City Council (WCC) General Manager to Maryanne Stuart, MLA for Heathcote in which it detailed the concerns of the Helensburgh community arising from the proposed demolition of the existing Community/ Memorial Hall and the proposed new Library and Community Rooms project.

The response is a 25-page letter and report prepared by volunteers.

A. The report elevates our concerns, concluding:

(1) There has been no attempt to view the proposal laterally so as to address the potential benefits that would arise from a broader view of the development and its relationship to the Helensburgh CBD and the broader community: (a) car parking at the southern end of the Helensburgh CBD; (b) the proposal’s relationship to the existing road network; (c) the relative opportunity costs to the WCC budget offered by alternative, innovative proposals;

(2) the building had not been designed to the principles adopted by the Australian Passivhaus Association) as claimed;

(3) the building is functionally inefficient, resulting in: (a) long corridors; (b) lack of utility in the location of the kitchen; (c) inappropriate concentration of toilet facilities on the ground floor;

(4) the proposal’s estimate fails to consider the impact of: (a) the extensive external works on the final cost; (b) the rise in storeys on the cost of structure and servicing; (c) the additional cost of fenestration as a result of large glass areas being oriented east (rising sun) and west (setting sun).

B. In the community’s view, WCC has failed in its obligations to both residents and businesses who use or live/work in the Helensburgh CBD by:

(5) Council was the consent authority that approved the development of the residential flat development at 9, 11 and 15 Stuart St, particularly in relation to Gibbons Lane, when either it or the development’s contractor resurfaced and raised the public road along the lane’s eastern boundary. That work was done without reference to its impact on the loss of protection from stormwater entry into the community hall and its neighbours. The failure to act to correct this road design flaw is a direct and originating cause of the damage to the hall, an act of negligence by the Council;

(6) concealing the issues arising from its failure to control the lane’s resurfacing, allowing the developer of 6 residential blocks (3 lots of 2 blocks) to adjust levels in the lane without adjusting the detailing on the eastern side of Gibbons Lane and the resulting stormwater flows (evident by the small Helensburgh curb at the rear of the bakery in Gibbons Lane);

(7) concealing mould, stormwater penetration and consequential effects from the community by handling the matter by the council officers under delegation established the Administrators (2008 – 2011), a delegation that continues to the present day: (a) deceiving or attempting to deceive the Community by dramatising the need to shut down the hall without acknowledging the decisions taken, particularly in relation to cost; (b) the Forum obtained internal WCC Management Committee correspondence that shows the officers decided to demolish the existing hall (valued about $8 million) in favour of the cheapest option (cost of $75k); (c) relied on statistics based on dates after the hall’s closure related to the use of community facilities to size the WCC proposed development – failing to consider the historic use of the hall for over 30 years since it was built by the community both for general activities and in the case of emergency.

New South Coast Trains and Timetable

New Mariyung trains operating on the South Coast Line have fewer seats than older trains, hence more carriages are required. Trains will eventually have 10 carriages, meaning Mariyung trains must terminate at Central (Country platforms), because 10-carriage trains are too long to fit into the underground platforms and turnaround tracks on the Eastern Suburbs line. A new timetable begins in October and South Coast trains will no longer stop at Wolli Creek. Concerned about travel to the airport and city? Write to Maryanne Stuart MP.

NF1 next meets on Wed, 8 July in Helensburgh Community Rooms at the old centre.

BEACH

ROCK

BEACH

ROCK

RIVERS,

Swimming

BEACH

ROCK

RIVERS,

Photo: Nic McLaren

By Ian Pepper & Nic McLaren of the Scarborough Boardriders

Our May 31 pointscore was an absolutely incredible day at Wombarra Reef, where we scored some epic conditions across all our divisions. It’s not often Wombarra fires up with the last Pointscore held there three years ago according to local folklore. It was on for young and old with the chance for many to try for the green room or take advantage anyway possible. Congrats to Mannix for taking the win in A grade and Shyla Short in Open Women’s.

Wave of the day went to young Mara Giddings in Junior Girls Parent Assist, scoring 9.4 and backing it up with an 8.4, resulting in the highest heat total of the year so far: 17.8. Then there was Austin Wilson charging in the Mixed 10 and Under Division scoring an 8.67 for this wave and backing up an 8.00 scored earlier in the heat. There was much debate about sending the youngest age group out into the hollow waves breaking into shallow sand – but they more than rose to the occasion with this group showing ability well beyond their young years. Everyone was cheering and frothing from the shore.

A number of our junior and senior members travelled north after the event to Coffs Harbour for Surfing NSW State titles. Well done to all and especially Talina Wilson taking the win in the Over 30’s Women for the second year running.

On June 7 we hosted the inaugural NSW RSL Winter Chill Surf Comp. Coordinated by the NSW RSL and Coledale RSL, this event involves former and existing defence personnel competing in a tag team format. There were nine teams competing from all different defence disciplines, currently serving and past veterans of all ages were involved. It was a pleasure to coordinate the event and inspiring to be around these amazing people.

Our squad put in an incredible effort over the June long weekend in the Sandon Point Team’s Event. We finished in 4th place overall, claiming $2000 in prize money. Incredible performances from everyone and it was awesome to see all the crew there cheering the team on! Congratulations to North Steyne Boardriders getting the win! Big thanks to all the Sandon Point Boardriders crew for putting on a fantastic event!

Austin Wilson at Wombarra Reef.

Fire safety for 1st Austi Joeys

By Korrin Marshall

To kick off the winter months, 1st Austinmer Joey Scouts were thrilled to welcome firefighters from Thirroul Fire Station 461 for a special visit focused on fire safety education. With a campfire night coming up soon, the Joeys were eager to learn how to stay safe and be prepared.

The firefighters taught the Joeys important firesafe practices, including how to Stop, Drop, Cover and Roll, what to do if there is a fire at home, and how to identify a safe meeting point. The highlight of the afternoon was exploring the fire truck – complete with very loud sirens – and watching how quickly the crew can gear up for an emergency.

The Joeys shared some of their favourite moments:

• “I learnt that you go to your letterbox as your meeting point if there is a fire at your house.” — Lachlan, 6

• “I liked timing and seeing how fast Darren was at getting dressed in all his firefighting gear.” — Amelia, 8

• “It was such an amazing afternoon learning about fire safety.” — Joshua, 7

• “The firefighters told us how they get everyone out of the house and how to call triple zero in an emergency.” — Emily, 8

A big thank you to Belinda, Elliott and Darren for giving their time and sharing such valuable firesafety knowledge with the Joeys. The Joeys left feeling confident, informed, and excited to put their new skills into practice.

1st Austinmer Joey Scouts (5-8 years) meet every Tuesday during school term from 5pm–6pm at Austinmer Scout Hall, Moore Street.

For more, email GL.1stAustinmer@nsw.scouts. com.au

Cub Scouts take over restaurant

By Scott Bradburn, 1st Austinmer Cubs Section leader

On Wednesday 20 May a brave local restaurateur handed over the keys of Coledale’s Saltie Dog restaurant to the 1st Austinmer Cub Group. As part of the activity, the Cubs came up with a new restaurant theme and name, designed a menu, set tables, prepared three courses and served 50 paying guests. Some of the food prepared included home-made sushi, Japanese hot pot, home-made pasta and meatballs, waffles and apple crumble.

Cub Leader, Scott Bradburn, had some apprehension: ”I was surprised when Leigh, Saltie Dog’s owner, immediately said yes when we floated the idea. The reality of it was a little daunting but the Cubs have a habit of surprising us. Of course it

was wild and chaotic, but the kids managed to deliver three courses in good time and did not break a single plate, which was a relief to Leigh as we found out afterward just how much their stoneware costs! Beyond what the kids got out of it, 20 local families took pause from a busy working week, sat down together and enjoyed a meal. It was a great community event.”

All proceeds are for an end-of-year camp. Upcoming Cubs’ activities include a night walk through Stanwell Park rail tunnel, a filmed drama night and a three-day Shoalhaven River camp.

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© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2025, Bureau of Meteorology. Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide. Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect. The Bureau of Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise in respect to the availability, accuracy, currency, completeness, quality or reliability of the information or that the information will be fit for any particular purpose or will not infringe any third party Intellectual Property rights. The Bureau’s liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense resulting from use of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded.

Young Butchers meet Bulldogs

By Brian Kelly

They’ve shared the same club colours for decades – now something else is connecting the Thirroul Butchers and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs rugby league clubs.

It proved a melding of the blue-and-whites when members of Thirroul’s under 12 and under 14 squads trained alongside Bulldogs seniors at Belmore Sports Ground in an event organised by Future Form, a firm which sponsors both clubs.

And it wasn’t just a matter of chasing a ball round the paddock – the youngsters were mentored in areas including leadership, teamwork, confidence, resilience, and community connection, led by Bulldogs favourite Josh Reynolds.

The evening gave the young athletes firsthand exposure to a professional rugby league environment while creating memorable moments both on and off the field.

Future Form founder and managing director Nabil Hafza said the initiative was designed to inspire the next generation and reinforce the importance of giving back through sport and mentorship.

“This was about creating an experience the kids will never forget,” Nabil said.

“Sport has an incredible ability to build confidence, discipline, and belief in young people. To see the players engaging with the kids, sharing stories, encouraging them, and helping inspire them was incredibly powerful.”

Future Form executives Nabil and Ibrahim Hafza spent time talking to players throughout the evening, reinforcing the importance of hard work, community support and leadership away from the game itself.

Parents, coaches and players described the experience as highly motivating, with many of the young athletes inspired by the opportunity to train alongside professional players on one of rugby league’s most recognised grounds.

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