MARCH 2026

Meet Our Contributors

Brian Kelly first stepped into the Mercury office as the new kid from Thirroul nearly 40 years ago and is still managing (just) to hold on tight to a career he is grateful has dragged him to the UK, Perth and Melbourne before a return to the district in 2008. He deems it a pleasure to get back into grassroots stories, dipping a literal toe in the waters of sea pools and a metaphoric one into local theatre or live music.

Dr Hayley Glasson graduated from the University of NSW in 2008. She worked as a GP in the Kiama area before moving to the northern Illawarra and now works at Bulli Medical Practice. Hayley has a special interest in women’s health. She also loves paediatrics.

Elsa Evers has over 15 years of experience in strategy, marketing and engagement in the not-for-profit sector, and is a champion of community-led social and environmental change. Elsa lives in Austinmer with her partner and three kids and volunteered with the Electrify 2515 community group before taking up her current role on the pilot project.

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

www.platinumsportspodiatry.com.au

02 4214 4293 | 0481 796 781 (if urgent/after hours) Shop 1, Level 1, 338 Cemetery Rd, Helensburgh

PARTNER CONTENT

THE ILLAWARRA

NEXT DEADLINE 16 March foreditionApril

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

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TUES 3,17 Mar |7,21 Apr

Ongoing Art Classes

With Ivor Fabok

THUR 26 Mar

Small and Beautiful Clay

With Sarah Funnell

Modelling

Info: cheryloconnor1@bigpond.com Artsclifton.org

DEADLINE 16 March. Contributions welcome. COVER Thirroul Butchers and Norths Netball members. Photo: Anthony Warry

THE ILLAWARRA FLAME is a social enterprise by the Word Bureau, ABN 31 692 723 477

DISCLAIMER: All content and images remain the property of The Illawarra Flame unless otherwise supplied. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission. Views expressed do not reflect those of the publishers.

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

KANE DOWNIE

Fluffy Terminators are go

By Tyneesha Williams

A Helensburgh team of nine teenage robotics fanatics is set to take on the best the Asia-Pacific region has to offer.

With a champions and first-place innovation award under their belts from 2025 challenges, the Fluffy Terminators will compete at the Asia Pacific Open Championships (APOC) in July 2026.

Co-mentor Crystal Wilson said the whole team had grown in confidence and skills.

“We’re seeing these kids succeed both on and off the field, it flows into their school work as well as their other robotics teams,” Crystal said.

The Fluffy Terminators assembled in 2023 when two Helensburgh mums, Crystal and Tenille, began hosting six teenagers eager to challenge themselves. The original squad included Tenille’s four daughters, Crystal’s daughter, and a friend.

“Tenille and I started the team by request of the kids,” Crystal, a nurse by profession, said.

“We’re very ‘hands-off’ mentors. The kids do the work. We seek guidance from the engineering community when needed, but the students are the ones building and programming.”

For the nine current members, aged 11 to 18, the team provides a specialised education program their schools don’t offer.

“These kids have gotten so much out of this that cannot be obtained anywhere else,” Crystal said.

“The majority of our team suffers from some sort of disability, mainly hidden ones. For them to work together and be this successful is a huge achievement.”

Make date with fete

School fundraiser returns on March 14

The Holy Cross School Fete is fast approaching, and the Parents and Friends Committee can’t wait to welcome everyone to a day of fun on Saturday, 14 March, 10am-2pm. Much-loved attractions will be back, including Rides, Side Show Alley, the Lolly Tree, Putt for Dough, Chocolate Toss

The social aspect is just as important as the mechanical one. The team regularly shares meals during meetings and has formed a tight-knit circle.

“One of the biggest things they've gotten is their friendships,” Crystal said.

“These kids are often the misfits at school. This is the one place they feel they are accepted and not judged by their peers. They’ve learnt to socialise, they have developed lifelong friendships, new mechanical skills, new CAD skills, being resilient and engaging with the community.”

Every year since 2023, the team has progressed to the national level, taking on the top 40 teams from across Australia. Last year, won the top innovation award at the nationals. But their efforts as a group go far beyond a winning track record.

The Fluffy Terminators are seeking new sponsors and are available for robot demonstrations at schools or workplaces. They also offer mentorship for anyone starting their own robotics journey.

and Face Painting. There will also be thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes up for grabs on the Chocolate Wheel and in the Major Raffle, including family passes to the Easter Show, Symbio and Questacon, plus vouchers to much-loved local favourites such as Sanpo and ADA Dance.

Grab a bargain at the Second-hand Book, Puzzle and Games Stall, and the Plant Stall. Our famous Sweet Treats Stall is back and there’ll be gelato, snow cones and fairy floss galore! Funds raised will go towards wellbeing resources, such as sensory tools, communication and emotional regulation supports, outdoor learning opportunities, and nature-based initiatives. Check the HCH Fete Facebook page for updates.

Helensburgh

Local women, Local impact

As an all-female business, Raine&Horne Helensburgh is proud to celebrate International Women’s Day on Sunday, the 8 of March by recognising the women who play a vital role in our local property market and the wider Helensburgh community.

Why March Matters

Planning to relocate? Now is the time to sell

Buyer activity remains strong post-summer, with serious purchasers active ahead of Easter. Longer daylight and seasonal timing make it ideal for families planning a move before winter.

Now is the time to take the next step.

Contact Julie today for a no-obligation, free property appraisal.

Julie York 0405 128 070

julie.york@helensburgh.rh.com.au

Let’s Electrify 2516

By Elsa Evers of Rewiring Australia

It’s official! The Electrify 2515 Community Pilot is expanding to Bulli, offering the opportunity to make the shift to all-electric living with the help of financial subsidies and support.

“Lots of Bulli residents showed interest earlier on, but were disappointed they lived just outside the initial pilot border,” said John Buchelin, the pilot operations manager.

Rewiringco-founderAustralia

“Now they can take part.”

Federal rebates for home batteries prompted a reallocation of pilot subsidies. This means the funding can go further and can include Bulli, which shares a substation with the 2515 area.

“If you still cook on gas, heat your water with gas, or heat your home with gas, Bulli and 2515

residents can now access up to $1000 per appliance to upgrade to electric,” John said.

You’ll also cut your household bills.

Billy, a Thirroul participant, said: “We installed heat pump hot water, an induction cook-top, air-conditioning, solar and a battery, and we are now saving roughly $250 a month on energy bills.”

The pilot is showing Australia’s electric future in action, with households from 2515 plus Bulli working together to reduce emissions and energy bills, and provide data and insights to make the transition to clean energy easier for everyone.

Over 100 households have completed their upgrades, with hundreds more in the process of getting quotes. The aim is to transition 500 homes as part of the research. “Whether you are a renter, live in an apartment, homeowner, or landlord, come to our upcoming Info Day at Bulli Surf Club to find out how to get involved,” John said.

Sunday 22 March is Electrify Bulli Info Day at Bulli Surf Club, 3-4.30pm

How has the EV battery performed?

By Peter Aubourg

The new stay-at-home house battery has been getting all the attention over the past month. So I thought that it was about time to see how the 51kWh MG car battery has been performing –before the effect of the house battery kicks in.

I have got good data over the last two years. When the car is plugged in, my Evnex charger is set up to divert any excess solar that would have gone back to the grid, directly into the car battery. This means that most of the time the “fuel” for our car is free. However, the system is not perfect.

Sometimes we drive the car away from the house when it’s sunny and sometimes it is just cloudy. So we occasionally need to top-up the car battery straight from the grid from our fixed-rate plan.

Our average yearly travel was 11,400km and the cost of top-up grid power was $190 for the year.

I did some calculations to compare this with the diesel Qashqai that we used to own. For the same number of km/year, it would be like paying 24c/ litre for diesel. Not bad! To reduce the cost even further, I am now changing over to an electricity supplier that has an EV plan with a cost per kWh that is about a third of our current rate.

Apart from the ridiculously low running costs, the car is quiet to drive, has no gears and has

fantastic acceleration. My wife and I still compete as to who gets to drive. It’s still like having a new car, even after owning it for more than two years.

Back to the new stay-at-home house battery that we’ve had for just over a month. It is brilliant at sucking up all the excess solar power.

So far, the panels/battery combo has kept the house in power, without importing any power from the grid. We purposely bought a battery with a multi-day storage and have been pleased with the results from the 24kWh battery. The most challenging time is when there are a couple of rainy days in a row. Last month it happened twice and the battery came out with flying colours.

Dr Saul Griffith

Electrify Bulli Community Info Day

It’s

Bulli’s

turn to GO ELECTRIC

Switch out your old gas appliances and replace them with efficient electric ones. Don’t miss out!

• Access subsidies to upgrade your hot water, heating and cooking ($1000 per appliance)

• Lower your energy bills

• Make your home healthier

• Take positive climate action with your community

• Apply to join the groundbreaking research pilot Hear from Dr. Saul Griffith, author of The Big Switch and Plug In!

Where: Bulli Surf Club

When: Sunday 22 March, 3pm

Get your Free tickets

Use the QR code to book online or visit electrifybulli.org to find out more

Goodbye ‘cruel’ summer pool closure

By Genevieve Swart

Helensburgh residents were thrilled to return to their favourite free public asset when the town’s swimming pool reopened in late February.

The pool had been shut since upgrade works began in August 2025, a summer closure local GP Dr Trevor Kemper described as “cruel”.

In February, Helensburgh Public School had to relocate its swim carnival to Engadine Pool, and parents paid extra in bus fees. Melissa McCallum, P&F president at Holy Cross, said the Catholic school had a similar problem in term 4.

“As a mum of three students, it cost $66 for the children to travel and for pool entry,” Melissa said.

A registered nurse who works in Helensburgh, Melissa has driven south weekly so her children can do squad training before school. It’s made for long days, she said. “Not to mention a summer

nearly over that our local kids haven’t been able to enjoy the pool with their family, and lost time for life-saving skills to be learnt.”

Like many, the McCallums were looking forward to diving back in at Helensburgh Pool, a muchloved hub which – in the absence of a community centre – doubles as a meeting place.

“Reopening of the pool means we will have a venue for my son’s birthday party next month if opening goes to plan, meaning we won’t have to travel and save money on not having to hire a venue,” said Melissa, who is looking forward to swimming herself, “to rehab some sporting injuries that require low-impact exercise”.

The pool did not reopen in January as tiles were delayed. However, with a $3.2 million NSW Government grant for local facilities announced three years ago, residents wondered why it took so long to order the tiles. Council said they had to wait until pool shell repairs were done, as this determined “the final specifications” for the tiles.

In March, 2508 residents will be focused on Helensburgh’s new community centre and library.

Council’s debut showing of its plans on 25 February was sold out, with more information sessions on 4 March (online 12pm, register via Eventbrite), 12 March (4-6pm, at Helensburgh Community Rooms) and at Stanwell Park Playground on Saturday 14th, 10am-12pm.

School spirit makes a splash

By Matthew McCoy and Annaye Chisholm of Helensburgh Public School

Our annual Swimming Carnival took place on 4 February at Engadine Pool, as Helensburgh Pool was closed for renovations.

With perfect weather and an excellent venue, the day was a great success for students, teachers, and parents. Many swimmers came close to breaking longstanding school records and it was encouraging to see students working hard to improve their personal best times.

The carnival showcased not only strong performances in the pool but also impressive displays of determination, skill and sportsmanship. The students supported one another, contributing to a lively and positive atmosphere.

Thank you to the many parent volunteers. Your support was invaluable.

The McCallum siblings are happy to train in their home pool again.

Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf

By Prof Rob Brander. This month: The Perils of Inflatables

I am still in awe of the incredible story of Austin Appelbee, the 13-year-old boy who in early February swam four kilometres back to shore on a West Australian beach to save his family, after they had been blown offshore while playing on inflatable paddle boards and a kayak. Aside from future movie potential, the story has a valuable, but often overlooked, beach-safety message: using inflatables in the ocean can be dangerous!

Austin and his family started their day close to shore under calm conditions, but a strong offshore wind quickly developed and their kayak and inflatable SUPs, which sit above the water (as well as their own bodies), literally acted as sails and they quickly found themselves heading rapidly out to sea. Paddling back to shore against a strong wind, choppy waves and surface drift that the wind creates is no easy task. It also didn’t help that they’d lost some of their paddles.

This sort of situation is not a common occurrence along our beaches, because the surf we get does not lend itself well to using inflatables. Most kayakers and stand-up paddle boarders are experienced and use boards made of more robust material that are streamlined to handle the ocean. Inflatable devices invariably come with strong warnings that they should be used with care and not in an open ocean environment. Nevertheless, lifeguards and lifesavers are always on the lookout for people entering the water with inflatable rafts or rings (or even giant flamingos!), because if the wind shifts offshore, it’s a recipe for a rescue.

I have an inflatable kayak that’s perfect for lakes and estuaries, but for the first time ever I used it in

Bird of the Month

By Ewan Auld

A big thank you, 2515!

David Hyslop - Your local agent

0417 784 945 davidhyslop@mcneice.com.au A truly humbling moment — I’m incredibly grateful to be named Top Agent of 2025 in Austinmer. Thank you to everyone who has trusted me with their property journey; your support means more than I can say. I look forward to continuing to serve our community and helping those considering a move in 2026.

The dunes and desire lines

By architect Ben Wollen

I didn’t realise there is some contention over how Sharky’s Beach is spelt. Is it Sharky, Sharkie or even the old Sharkey. Does it have an apostrophe or does it not. Just to confuse matters more, and according to a previous article in the Flame, it’s two of the above! The unpatrolled beach section is ‘Sharky Beach’ and the reef at the northern end is ‘Sharkies’ (Sharkey is an old council spelling no longer in use). I shall call it Sharkies as it seems to roll off the tongue better – so in this article, I will refer to it only as Sharkies even though my spellcheck is attempting to correct it incessantly.

Why, might you ask, is an architect concerning themselves with such semantics? Well, this article will not have an architectural focus. For this month, I’m putting on my dog-walking, beachgoing, environmental-conservation hat. You see, I spend a lot of time on Sharkies. Primarily because it’s dog friendly but also because it’s close to home and generally has available car parks. While I also love Little Austi (another proximate doggy beach), there just aren’t as many parks and so this doesn’t get as much of a look in.

Needless to say, I feel a sense of protection towards Sharkies and in recent times have been perturbed about people and their dogs tramping all over the remnant dune system as if it was just any old part of the beach. I’m not going to give you a lecture on the importance of dune systems. If you want to find out about their importance in the beach ecosystem you can start at Council’s webpage (www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/ environment/coast-and-waterways/dunes). I know Sharkies’ dunes probably aren’t the most developed dune systems in the Illawarra but needless to say they need to have some protection. That’s why I’ve got together with a fellow ocean lover, Coledale local Susie Crick, to lobby government, seek grants and gather community interest in fencing off some

of the sections of the dune system at Sharkies. Part protection but also part curiosity is driving us to see this happen. Currently there are plenty of little access tracks, called desire lines, made from the carpark to the beach via the dunes. I’d be interested to find out if we fence off an area – to restrict the amount of traffic, dog excrement etc – whether the dune system would start restoring itself. There’s a whole regenerative gardening movement that pushes this idea. Outside of a bit of weeding and fencing off, there’s very little else done to allow nature to take its course. I’d love to see the beach crabs return. I remember as a kid always being fascinated by the little holes and the little markings they leave when they go in and out of their little burrows. They’re just not going to set up home if they keep getting trampled on.

I’d also love to see some of those beautiful native plants return to help stabilise the dunes. Although a terrible name for a pretty plant, pigface aka Carpobrotus sp. has also held much interest to me. How does a plant survive on seemingly dry salty sand in sometimes searing heat and still have the ability to pump out beautiful flowers and fruits (which are edible, I’m told) is beyond me!

Are you interested in getting involved? Council has been advertising plans for the next stage of the Grand Pacific Walk. As part of these works, they’re proposing to move the foot/bike path to the ocean side of the car park. I think this is a mistake both for traffic and dune-impact reasons.

By the time this article is in print, the feedback period will be over, but don’t hesitate to send some feedback via email to engagement@wollongong. nsw.gov.au and if you would like to help out with groundwork, grant writing, or just being the squeaky wheel, please contact Susie and I at the following address: sharkiesdunes@gmail.com

At Sharky Beach: Ben Wollen with Susie Crick, children and staff from Planet, the early learning centre in Coledale. Photo: Tyneesha Williams

Curries find favour in the ’Burgh

By Patrick Breen

Chef’s Signature restaurant has fast become a favourite flavoursome destination in a town previously without Indian cuisine.

The cafe-restaurant is the first of its kind in Helensburgh, offering delicious north Indian cuisine and providing local teens with jobs.

Samina Nowsheen and Baljinder Thukral, the married couple who run the restaurant, first opened Chef’s Signature as a cafe in December 2023 and quickly captured Helensburgh’s hearts and bellies. The restaurant opened six months later.

“We decided to start the cafe first to gain some experience and get to know the locals, get some feedback,” Samina said.

“And the locals would say they would love for the Indian to start, ‘We are waiting for Indian for ages – there’s no Indian restaurant around here’.”

“It’s a very nice community, very nice people,” Baljinder said.

The head chef has 25 years’ experience cooking Indian food, having worked at Surjit’s Indian Restaurant in Sydney, catering for up to 4000 customers a week.

“He is a very passionate chef, and he used to work in the top-rated Indian restaurant in Sydney, so I’m taking advantage of his experience,” Samin said. “We get lots of British customers. They come here because they are familiar with the food, they really know the Indian taste, and they give us the very honest feedback that our food is better than some Indians in England.”

It might seem strange that Helensburgh has been

without an Indian restaurant for many years considering Sri Venkateswara Temple, one of the southern hemisphere’s most famous Hindu temples, is just down the road. The reason for this is that Australia’s Indian restaurants typically serve north Indian cuisine featuring rich creamy curries, naan and roti breads and meats, whereas Hinduism, which originates in southern India, has followers who are typically vegetarian.

Chef’s Signature’s menu features lamb, beef, chicken, goat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan dishes in all the classic curry options as well as authentic specialties such as palak gosht, a Mughlai-style dish with green spices, and railway curry, developed by Indian chefs during the British Raj era.

Visit chefssignature.com.au

Group gives girls a little get up and glow

By Tyneesha Williams

A gap in meaningful support is driving a Helensburgh program that helps teenage girls navigate the pressures of growing up.

Glow Girls is a group for high school girls led by youth practitioner and therapist Sammy Mahler, who provides mentoring to help the teenagers become resilient and self-aware young women.

Sammy founded Glow Girls two years ago after seeing that girls still faced the same challenges she had at school. “There’s so many young girls out there struggling with anxiety, which is on the rise, low self-worth, being emotionally overwhelmed with peer pressure, and even I think with identifying who they are, that sense of self.”

Glow Girls is for girls in Years 7 to 10 and groups are limited to a maximum of 10. Small groups

allow the girls to speak honestly while developing leadership skills, resilience and confidence.

“The whole thing around the program is just focusing on practical tools and skill sets that they can use in their everyday lives,” Sammy said.

“It has been incredible. I feel like the outcomes of what I wanted for the program have been very successful. The girls feel like they’re safe to talk and to express themselves and feel supported around what they’re talking about.”

Next Sammy wants to build school partnerships and secure resources to expand. While she operates out of a room provided by Indigo Design, her goal is to establish a permanent wellness hub.

Email sammahle@bigpond.com

Samina Nowsheen and Baljinder Thukral at Chef's Signature. Photo: Patrick Breen

Audley Weir from downstream on the eastern bank. Migrating fish are attracted towards the strong culvert outflow at the centre. The Fishway’s tubes would pass through the culvert and under the roadway. Right: The endangered Australian grayling. Photo: Dr Tarmo Raadik

Fix for fish to migrate again

By Dr Bill Peirson and Dr John Harris, experts in river engineering, ecology and fisheries

A breakthrough proposal by our company, Tube Fishways Pty Ltd, has been presented to restore the Hacking River’s ecology while improving traffic access at Audley Weir in the Royal National Park.

For 135 years, the weir has disrupted the river’s aquatic ecosystem, with the fauna having been degraded by blockage of essential fish migrations.

Native fish species in the river need to migrate between tidal and freshwater habitats to complete their life cycles. While some of these fish may occasionally pass over the weir in floods, those events are too infrequent to enable the populations to spawn regularly and then recruit in adequate numbers to maintain populations. Although detailed survey data are not available, it is believed that some species such as freshwater herring and common jollytail have disappeared and many other populations, such as Australian bass, mullets and estuary perch, are severely depleted.

The only fish that can climb vertical barriers such as the weir are baby eels and gudgeons and climbing galaxias.

Regional residents are acutely aware of the Audley Weir’s other adverse effect: traffic interruptions in wet weather. The weir’s low roadway level and limited flow capacity result in frequent traffic diversions and delays.

Three previous attempts to resolve the weir’s fish-passage problem were unsuccessful because of design challenges, high cost and the need to maintain traffic flow. However, our company has designed and costed a novel and affordable solution that can also reduce flood interruptions to traffic.

The innovative Tube Fishway concept was developed, tested and patented over more than a decade, after integrating the key technical

specialties of fish biology and hydraulic engineering.

Research in fish hatcheries, the laboratory and river sites has been published, showing that the design can attract and rapidly and safely transfer large numbers of multiple species of fish. The basic design has been documented for diverse sites including low-level culverts, coastal and inland weirs and dams exceeding 100 metres in height.

A report proposing our Tube Fishway plan to restore upstream fish passage at Audley Weir has been presented to NSW Fisheries, Transport for NSW, and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, which manages the Royal National Park.

The proposal has modest geotechnical, structural and financial support requirements and is expected to be substantially less costly than previous attempts. The fishway is estimated to have a capacity of up 1000 fish per hour. In addition, the report also recommends an improved flow management technology for the weir that is projected to significantly reduce traffic disruptions in Hacking River floods.

Restoring fish passage at Audley Weir would be a notable environmental achievement for Australia and the Royal National Park.

Significantly reducing the flooding frequency at the weir will benefit commuters and others in the regional community. We have recommended that a trial installation should be commissioned to demonstrate and optimise Tube Fishway operations at Audley Weir.

The costs of a trial installation of a Tube Fishway, installed by qualified professionals, is estimated to be $125,000, and could be used to prove its performance and support permanent design.

INTEREST RATES & TODAY’S MARKET

At its first meeting for 2026 on 3rd of February, the Reserve Bank of Australia increased the cash rate by 0.25% to 3.85%.

While inflation has eased significantly from its 2022 peak, it re-accelerated in the second half of 2025, prompting the RBA to act. The decision was widely anticipated by markets and economists, and reflects the Bank’s continued focus on keeping inflation within its target range.

Notably, Australia is among the first developed economies to move back to a rate-hiking stance after a period where global central banks had been cutting or holding rates — a reminder that local

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

economic conditions still matter.

For buyers and sellers, this reinforces the importance of pricing, timing and strategy in today’s market. If you’re considering your next move, informed advice has never been more important.

The common garden tree that is uncommonly toxic to dogs

By Amanda De George

Puppies are a lot like toddlers, seemingly hell-bent on throwing themselves into dangerous situations and wanting to put everything in their mouth.

We welcomed our newest family member, George, in late September, and, having been a dog-mum three times before, I was certain I had adequately puppy-proofed the house and garden. We were about to find out just how wrong I was.

I knew to keep things such as chocolate and grapes out of reach, to not leave toys unsupervised and to keep him away from plants such as peace lilies and cycads, but I was about to find out that one of our much-loved backyard trees was actually incredibly toxic to dogs and that most locals and very few vets know about it.

A tree to encourage wildlife

The cheese tree (Glochidion ferdinandi) is a gorgeous sprawling tree. We have three in our little backyard and they are an absolute hit with the wildlife. Right now, I have three tawny frogmouths perched up in the canopy, while possums love to nibble at the leaves, and king parrots, brown cuckoo doves and cockies are always nibbling at the small white and red fruits, which give the tree its common name.

Our dogs played in the yard, chewing on fallen sticks, scooping up the odd fruit and digging at the cheese tree’s roots. Then our older dog started vomiting and urinating excessively, ending up in hospital. It was treated as gastroenteritis and, after several days, she recovered.

When George started exhibiting the same symptoms two weeks later, I searched online to see if the cheese tree was known to be toxic to dogs. I found only two references, the first a comment on a post about common plant toxins and a paper about liver failure in two dogs after ingesting the roots of the cheese tree. We raced to the vets.

A very dangerous, little-known toxin

Pooja Mehta, operations manager at the Australian Animal Poisons Centre, said that until recently, there were few reported cases of ingestion in dogs.

“However, there have now been two reported cases in the Australian literature of dogs developing acute liver injury following ingestion of cheese tree material,” said Pooja, also the centre’s clinical toxicology pharmacist.

Blood tests confirmed George had an acute liver injury, and he was first admitted locally and then transferred to Sydney as he developed functional

George was 13 weeks old when he had liver failure after ingesting parts of the cheese tree.

Amanda De George, Emma Rooksby

liver failure. There is no antidote to the toxin, and treatment is supportive. Overall, he spent six nights in hospital receiving vitamin K, liver supplements, anti-nausea and IV support while the possibility of plasma transfusions was discussed. All we could do was wait to see if his liver would recover.

Happily, George was discharged on Boxing Day, but the healing process has been a long road. His liver results are normalising at last, and it has been a harrowing and a very expensive process.

As to how he ingested the toxin, we really can’t pinpoint it. “From the reported cases, it appears that toxicity has mainly been documented from ingestion of the roots,” Pooja said. “Unfortunately, there is not enough case data to confirm the toxicity of the rest of the plant but the risk cannot be excluded at this time.”

George was lucky. Until more is known about the tree’s toxicity, the best bet is to be very cautious, fencing off the tree if needed, particularly with puppies, who explore the world with their mouths.

Contact the Animal Poisons Hotline (a fee is charged) 24/7 on 1300 869 738.

Photos:

Understanding infant sleep

By Dr Hayley Glasson of Bulli Medical Practice

Human babies are born with beautifully complex, rapidly developing brains. In fact, a large amount of brain growth occurs in the first 12 months of life, and this process requires significant energy –much of which happens during sleep.

Although babies often sleep many hours across a 24-hour period, they are not designed to sleep in long, uninterrupted stretches early on.

Their small stomachs require frequent feeding, and biologically they are primed to stay close to a caregiver for warmth, safety and nourishment, both day and night. Waking is not a sign that something is wrong – it is a normal and protective feature of infancy.

It’s also important to know that sleep needs vary widely between babies. Some may need as little as 9-10 hours in a day, while others require 15-16 hours. Over time, sleep gradually consolidates.

By around 12 months, about half of infants can sleep for eight hours without signalling to

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their parents, increasing to around 95% by two years of age.

Infant sleep is a common source of stress for families. Understanding the biology of sleep, your baby’s temperament, and the two key sleep regulators – sleep pressure and circadian rhythms – can help you navigate this stage with greater confidence.

Neuroprotective Developmental Care (also known as the Possums approach) is an evidence-based, responsive, attachment-focused framework that supports infant sleep, feeding and family wellbeing. We’re fortunate in the Illawarra to have health professionals trained in this model.

If you’re concerned about your baby’s sleep, a one-hour comprehensive sleep support consult at Bulli Medical Practice can provide guidance tailored to your family’s values, goals and unique circumstances.

To book an appointment, call 4284 4622 or book online via HotDoc.

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

Thirroul Village Committee Update

By Annette Jones, secretary of the TVC

The new amenities block in Thomas Gibson Park is nearing completion. No official opening date yet.

Sandon Point Seniors Living Development

The TVC approached Anglicare for an update on the Sandon Point Seniors Living Development. The TVC was advised that nothing much has changed since June 2025, when it was reported that environmental and social studies required by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), as part of its Environmental Impact Assessment, continue to be undertaken. This follows the submission to the DPHI in late 2023, known as ‘Modification 6’.

Submission to Transport for NSW

The TVC was busy in February lodging submissions about the draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan

(SRITP) that Transport for NSW had on exhibition, as well WCC projects open for feedback.

The TVC made a submission to TfNSW about the draft SRITP. The TVC championed the case for road improvements in the northern suburbs, including the need for an extension to Memorial Drive to take pressure off Bulli town centre and the failing Bulli Pass; a secondary route to and from Thirroul, even if only for emergency services; improved cycleways and facilities for cyclists and better public transport.

Submissions to WCC surveys

The TVC lodged a submission regarding beaches, suggesting improvements to the 85-year-old Thirroul beach promenade as part of it is subsiding; recognising the need for better lighting in the area; better seating; suggesting another picnic shelter and trees at the southern end of Thirroul Beach.

A submission was also lodged in relation to the importance of local pools. Thirroul pool is one of a few supervised Olympic-size saltwater pools where the seawater is pumped into the pool by two centrifugal pumps, therefore replacing the seawater on a regular basis.

Next TVC meeting: Sunday, 1 March, 4pm, TRIPS Hall, Railway Parade, Thirroul

NIRAG/NF3 Report

By Ross Dearden, secretary of Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group (NIRAG)

6–10 Southview St, Bulli

Homes NSW’s proposal to replace 3 existing homes has been revised but still exceeds the R2 zone limit. At December’s meeting with the CEO of Homes NSW, Rebecca Pinkerton, it was suggested that the height should be limited to 2 storeys. No advice has been received yet of the outcome of submissions.

Amy Street, Thirroul: DA 2025/374

Ongoing management of the C2, Environmental Conservation part of the land is essential as this is a vital Green Corridor. Council has agreed to review the value of having this land as public reserve. It could be a natural area destination, complementary with the Sandon Point Aboriginal Place.

Draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan

NIRAG made a detailed submission. We would like to improve frequency or speed of rail connections,

with improvements to local public transport. There was disappointment at the lack of focus to facilitate more active transport and reduce car use, and the issue of making LHD safer and providing alternative emergency access has not been addressed or funded.

McCauley’s Beach, Sandon Point Clean-up Monday 2nd March. Volunteers should have gloves, sun protection and enclosed shoes. Meet at 9am at Hewitts Creek bridge.

Next NIRAG quarterly meeting: 13 May. Email at nirag@bigpond.com

Amenities block in Thomas Gibson Park

Time to play bluegrass

Janice Creenaune meets Jim Dempsey, who returned to his first love of music after a career in aged care, law and child protection. Jim is now the frontman for The Dempsey Brothers

At 70, Jim Dempsey is passionate about singing and playing guitar with his band, The Dempsey Brothers, and loves promoting the bluegrass tradition in the northern Illawarra and beyond.

“In our band, we don’t give ourselves constraints about our music selection – we like to broaden both our repertoire and our playing styles,” Jim says. “We play artists like Chris Stapleton and Paul Kelly. But while we are eclectic, we still do the traditional songs because of their wonderful simplicity and to acknowledge our musical heritage.”

Bluegrass is huge in the US, but Jim says the genre is not always well known in Australia even though it has had plenty of pop culture influence.

Jim, Bruce Fumini and their colleague Mark Ballesi have been running regular bluegrass nights at the Railway Institute in Thirroul, presenting a mix of local talent and fabulous international acts.

Supporting young players is key.

“I not only want to see more young people playing bluegrass; I hope to see more young people

at our concerts, enjoying the extraordinary harmonies and the musical mastery of the players,” he says.

The bluegrass community centres on the tradition of jamming or “picking”, and it’s through these picks that people learn new techniques of playing together and collaborating.

Jim says musicians are also incredibly lucky to be able to play at an intimate venue like the Railway Institute, run by members of the Thirroul Institute Preservation Society (TRIPS). “It has great acoustics and a unique trade union history, which complements the rural, hard-working origins of this music.

“We are also very grateful to locals like Mark Ballesi and his partner Shoshana Dreyfus, who have set up the hall for these gigs, sold tickets, offered promotional expertise, and provided food and accommodation for visiting guests, helping us all to keep going with our love of bluegrass.”

The Thirroul Pick is on Facebook or email dempseybrothersband@gmail.com to join their mailing list.

Key changes at Steel City Strings

By Vivien Twyford

In 2014 Yve Repin, Adrian Davis and Kyle Little got together to create a string orchestra. Kyle’s energy and enthusiasm attracted players from around the Illawarra and built pride, passion and personal commitment to create music together. Yve and Lyndall Fowler established the organisation and provided administrative and logistical support.

Collaborations with the Wollongong Conservatorium, the BHP Youth Orchestra and the South Coast Big Band followed while SCS won an APRA Art Music award in 2019 and Yve Repin was awarded the OAM for her service to music.

Covid restrictions cancelled live concerts in 2020 but luckily young manager Jeremy Boulton kept supporters listening to the ensemble online.

In 2022, supported by funding from CreateNSW, concerts featured Aboriginal Australian composer and vocalist William Barton, as well as Londonbased violinist Emily Sun. The third concert

featured the premiere of a percussion concerto Steeling Fire, composed by Natalie Williams.

Change came as Kyle, the artistic director of SCS programming, handed the baton to violist Adrian Davis. Then Yve and Lyndall both retired. Their musical knowledge, generosity and commitment has been at the heart of Steel City Strings.

Unfortunately, late last year the orchestra learned it had missed out on Create NSW funding for 2026-27, which makes its future tenuous.

While there is no planned season, there is a celebration of a decade of music making in March with concerts in Wollongong and Berry.

Steel City Strings has commissioned two new pieces by Australian composers Barry Conyngham and Adriel Sukumar. Also featured are Dvorak’s Nocturne in B major, Mendelssohn’s String Symphony No. 10 in B minor, plus music by Andrew Ford and Elena Kats-Chernin.

Exhibition 10–19 April 2026

Open Thursday to Sunday 10am – 3pm

Collection Abstraction POEM is an exhibition of selected abstract paintings from John Morrissey’s private collection; a shared curatorial exercise with Jelle van den Berg.

338 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Clifton

22 March 2026 Berry School of

Karl Wiebke 'Lakes and Bridges' Oil on board 1988

Mum turned lawyer steps up at human rights firm

Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, Genevieve Swart meets a change maker

Never dismiss a mum with a sense of social justice. Last month Helensburgh’s Naomi Lai – who became a lawyer to help refugee children – stepped up as acting CEO at the National Justice Project, proving an individual can help change the system.

This time 10 years ago, Naomi ran a small rally in Charles Harper Park. About 30 people gathered to show their support for refugees. They held signs reading #LetThemStay and emailed a photo to the then immigration minister, Peter Dutton, as part of nationwide protests.

As a mum of three young children, Naomi was horrified by the idea of detaining kids.

“There was so much evidence already out at the time that locking up young children does very serious harm very quickly,” she says.

But a loophole in Australian law permitted indefinite detention, and Naomi knew this was a problem well beyond the means of her Bible study group’s Cook for a Cause campaign.

“We started trying to talk to our local politicians, and realised quickly people weren’t really listening.”

With the support of her husband, dentist Dudley Lai, Naomi returned to university in 2015 to do a law degree. She would spend the next four years studying part-time online while raising three children and running the family dental practice.

“It was [driven by] my strong sense of what’s right – to do right, to be that person who speaks up against injustice and care for marginalised people, which the Bible tells us to do,” she says.

Her first degree was in theology and Naomi had worked as a chaplain in hospitals and schools. “The idea of going back to do law didn’t feel like a career change. It just felt like another step in that journey of justice and truth,” she says. “I really love Australia …We have some good services, yet it

doesn’t take much effort to realise that our government also has several really unfair rules and policies that harm people.”

Her initial goal was to help refugees but through her legal studies Naomi learned of even deeper injustice. “We talk about the Stolen Generation and how absolutely abhorrent that was, but we have more Indigenous kids in care now. We have the highest rate of Indigenous people, in terms of per capita, in jail anywhere in the world.

“There’s something wrong with the system.”

When the National Justice Project, a not-forprofit human rights law firm, opened its doors, Naomi watched in admiration. In 2018, she sent a late-night message to CEO George Newhouse, who had won a big case, asking if he needed volunteers.

“And I got this message back, saying, ‘Why don’t you come to the office at 9am tomorrow?’

“I turned up, all excited … and George wasn’t even there. He was down in Melbourne, running a case, and he hadn’t told anyone that I was coming. It still makes us all laugh.”

Naomi volunteered for two years while finishing her degree then working as a solicitor. In 2020, NJP was growing and, thanks to 15 years of running the family dental surgery, she had business and legal skills, and was appointed NJP’s general manager.

Now 47, Naomi loves being part of a team of 24 working to challenge and reform public systems.

“We have a few social justice free tech tools we have created, like Hearmeout.org.au, one of the world’s first ever AI-driven complaints platforms, and with the Jumbunna Institute, Callitout.com.au – Australia’s only First Nations racism register …

“It’s a real privilege to be able to work in an organisation that aligns with your values, and you can actually make a big difference.”

Left: The #LetThemStay protest in Helensburgh in February 2016. Above: Naomi Lai today

Kayaking into climate action

By Genevieve Swart

Former city councillor Cath Blakey is facing a long legal battle and a fine of up to $1100 after taking part in a mass act of civil disobedience at Rising Tide’s blockade of Newcastle coal port last year.

Cath, who represented the Greens in ward 2 for eight years, made headlines after her arrest on November 30 at the Rising Tide “protestival”.

Organisers had planned a “people’s blockade” to disrupt coal shipping and highlight calls for the government to stop approving new fossil fuel projects. It was Cath’s third Rising Tide, but the first time she was set to defy police orders.

She launched her action near the Hunter River mouth, clambering down rocks and kayaking towards the shipping channel. “It was very calm, easy kayaking. I’m pretty experienced, and we had some practice sessions at Wollongong Harbour.”

Nonetheless, entering the water was stressful, not knowing if the drones above belonged to police or media, and Cath remembers paddling on an adrenaline rush into the shipping channel, where police were prioritising retrieval of swimmers.

She wasn’t there long. Less than two hours later, after being arrested, processed and discharged, Cath was met by volunteers bearing water, lollies and fruit who drove her back to camp, where she was reunited with family.

“We gave each other a big hug,” she says. “My daughter was nervous about me doing it, because I guess what she knows of police is mostly just from Peppa Pig and TV shows … I felt very well supported. It’s a very well organised team at Rising Tide, where there’s volunteers that are professional psychologists and public interest lawyers.”

Cath now expects a long legal process, with no ruling for at least a year. “I was doing what I was doing, with a conviction that I would be held accountable for it,” she says. “We did disrupt and delay some of the coal ship movements, but that is only really a minor part of it. When it comes to climate action, it’s quite a long-term campaign goal to change the direction of an energy system.”

Illawarra discount when booking with Teagan TravelManagers

0400 260 695 teagan.underwood@travelmanagers.com.au www.travelmanagers.com.au/teaganunderwood T&C apply discounts not available for cruises under $5000

LEARN TO SEW COURSES

SEWING WORKSHOPS

More signs of Aboriginal patch burning

Part 2 in a history by

Bill Gammage in The Biggest Estate on Earth quotes Alexander Harris in his 1847 book, Settlers and Convicts, where Harris described the Illawarra escarpment as “thick tangled bush”, with patches of “grassy forest” on the hills, extending down the shoulders. Gammage also quotes an anonymous but similar description of the Illawarra possibly from around 1854. It described the Illawarra as “grassy meadows” interspersed throughout “lofty cedars, graceful tree ferns and stately palms” above “thick undergrowth of wild vines, creeping plants and shrubs”.

Kieran Tapsell

greatly by his always occupying the best and most valuable portion of it.”

This might explain why Matthew Gibbons described “Little Bulli” as not commercially viable.

In land cleared for grazing, nature seems to have a memory. A good modern example is the regeneration of the natural vegetation around Bulgo which, from 1828 to the 1980s had been used to graze cattle. After it was purchased by the NSW government in the 1980s to become part of the Royal National Park, it is slowly returning to littoral rainforest protected by Coastal Banksias.

The explorer, Edward John Eyre, in his Journals published in London in 1845, commented on the colonial practice of taking over land cleared by Aboriginals: “the localities selected by Europeans, as best adapted for the purposes of cultivation, or of grazing, are those that would usually be equally valued above others, by the natives themselves, as places of resort, or districts in which they could most easily procure their food... The injustice, therefore, of the white man’s intrusion upon the territory of the aboriginal inhabitant, is aggravated

Even the famous Bald Hill overlooking Stanwell Park started slowly losing its baldness once the area below the lookout was taken over by the National Parks in the 1980s. The smaller bare crown is now being kept low by hang glider and paraglider pilots who need a take-off clear of turbulence.

Another example of regeneration of the rainforest is the Stanwell Avenue Reserve.

It was cleared of all trees in the 1920s by the real estate developer Henry Halloran, who had bought it from the Hargrave family. While old photos can

Landcare wages war on weeds

By Genevieve Swart

Helensburgh’s Glow Worm Tunnel is haunted but not by an old coalminer. Instead, it is weeds that rise, time after time, from the dead.

Merilyn House, an award-winning local Landcare leader, has tried drowning, poisoning, cutting off their flowerheads, and experimenting with biological controls. But even after three decades of work, Helensburgh and District Landcare has not been able to eradicate the alien invaders.

It’s not for lack of effort or ingenuity. Right from the start, this site has been a labour of local love.

Trains once ran through the Glow Worm Tunnel to the Metropolitan Colliery but its eastern exit was buried in rubble for 70 years. In 1995, Merilyn’s husband, Allan, realised what lay beneath and worked with the mine to excavate the old station platform and the tunnel.

Helensburgh Landcare volunteers have worked since to restore the site to its natural glory.

In 2018, Crown Lands appointed Helensburgh Landcare as the site manager and today the group – mostly made up of volunteers in their 70s and 80s – raises money through commercial filming fees to

pay contractors to come and do the heavy weeding. So Disney’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, shot here in October 2022, not only generated publicity, it also boosted the environment.

While the tunnel is a beautiful place, three weeds remain a particular problem: wandering trad, arum lily and ginger lily.

Merilyn has tried a CSIRO solution: a leafspotting fungus (Kordyana brasiliensis) that targets trad, the South American groundcover that grows

Lycett’s Aborigines using fire to hunt kangaroo (c.1817)

be deceptive, those from 1886 onwards show the dark foliage typical of littoral rainforest.

In 1968, most of the land was resumed to create a park close to the beach. The forest was allowed to regenerate, and the littoral rainforest has returned with its protective barrier of Coastal Banksias.

The conclusions from these historical sources and modern experience of regeneration of formerly cleared land is now supported by scientific inquiries of patch burning conducted close to the Illawarra around the Picton area. Read more in the UNSW article “A dive into the deep past reveals Indigenous burning helped suppress bushfires 10,000 years ago”.

These studies demonstrate that the practice of Aboriginal patch burning to create grasslands has had a long history.

The team at Transitus Legal is dedicated to helping you navigate your legal journey.

We offer assistance in the following areas:

in dense mats, clogging water courses and outcompeting native plants.

“The CSIRO provides pieces of trad that have the fungus in it – so you plant them in amongst the trad, and it spreads,” she says.

“It's definitely made a difference.”

Arum lilies – South Africa’s ‘funeral flower’ – are another challenge to remove as volunteers need to dig out the whole root system. By hand, this is back-breaking stuff. After a tip from a botanist friend, Merilyn tried injecting herbicide into the stems. This works well, she says, but takes out only one plant at a time, and there are hundreds alongside creeks and drainage lines in Helensburgh.

The Landcare team has not yet found a shortcut for removing ginger lilies, ornamental natives of India, Bhutan and Nepal that thrive in shady spots such as the Glow Worm Tunnel.

“You really need to dig up the rhizomes – the traditional hard work way,” Merilyn says.

Landcare will hold a Clean Up Australia Day event on Sunday, March 1. Ring Merilyn on 0414 819 742. Volunteers can also help out on two Sunday afternoons a month at the Glow Worm Tunnel and Wilsons Creek.

Contact our office today

Office: 32 Walker Street, Helensburgh Phone: 02 4294 9980

Email: hello@transituslegal.com.au www.transituslegal.com.au

Art, kites and family fun in Thirroul

By Seaside & Arts Festival volunteer Kim Morris

The Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival, one of the South Coast’s longest-running and most beloved community events, is back on the last weekend of March, 27-29 March. Proudly organised by the Austinmer Thirroul Lions Club and volunteers, the festival will feature three major events.

Art Show, 27-29 March

On all weekend, our Art Show showcases the work of local artists, with sales supporting both the artists and community projects run by the Lions Club. It’s a colourful, creative celebration that showcases over 350 pieces of art, sculpture & photography. The exhibition is at the Thirroul District Community Centre. The Art Show opens at 7pm on Friday 27 March - $25 includes canapes, wine & soft drink. The winners of the art prizes are announced that evening.

Kite Day – Saturday, 28 March

Held at the Thirroul Beach Reserve, the family friendly Kite Day is supported by the Australian Kiteflyers Society, who bring spectacular big kites and run hands-on kite-making sessions for kids.

Retired headmaster awarded OAM

By Tyneesha Williams

Reading the news, you may think the world’s in trouble. But teaching in high schools around the state for 50 years provides a different perspective.

“I look at the young people today and I am really excited and really positive about the future,” says retired headmaster John Weeks. “Young people today are so much more in tune with everything than we were as children of the 50s.”

In the 2026 Australia Day Honours List, the Thirroul local has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for his service to secondary education.

Over the past five decades, John has taught at

The visuals are incredible, bright and joyful.

Festival in the Park – Sunday, 29 March

The weekend concludes with a full community festival featuring carnival rides, market stalls, live entertainment, and food trucks – all set against the backdrop of Thirroul’s beautiful coastline.

Visit www.thirroulfestival.com.au

country schools and city schools, government and independent. He was headmaster of The Illawarra Grammar School (TIGS) from 1997-2003 and Knox Grammar School from 2004-2018.

“I think my greatest achievement has been making a positive contribution to the education of young people across many areas of our state, and seeing them flourish,” he says.

John is also proud to have co-founded and led the Australian Positive Psychology Learning Institute (also known as the Positive Education Schools Association) in 2009. He has also served his local community, including as a warden at Austinmer Anglican Church and a coach with Thirroul Cricket Association.

John feels fortunate to have spent a lifetime in education, praising the “unbelievably dedicated teachers and support staff” he’s met over the years.

Other locals recognised in the 2026 Australian Day Honours List included Ross Taylor OAM, a life member of Coalcliff and Thirroul Surf Lifesaving Clubs and the Early Morning Swimmers Club at Austinmer (where he is also their poet laureate).

Congratulations to Stanwell Park Bush Fire Brigade’s long-serving Gary Laker – who joined the RFS at age 14 in 1976 and received the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) for his five decades of distinguished service.

Changers GAME feature Cover

By Brian Kelly

It’s been covered in cowpats and carnivals and has hosted everything from rained-out shows to royalty, so opening its gates to accommodate a boom in youngsters playing footy would seem no big deal for Bulli Showground.

But for Thirroul’s junior rugby league players, the move is a game-changer.

With the young Butchers teams filling Gibson Park to overflowing, finding alternative space to train was becoming a headache for club officials –until a deal was struck late last year.

Club president Ryan White said a breakthrough with Illawarra Rugby League and Greyhounds Racing NSW created a lease so the Butchers juniors could train and play a few home games at the Bulli venue.

‘’We had a situation where we would have up to seven teams training at the same time on a space 100m in length and 68m wide – it was chaos,’’ he said. More than 500 junior players and 180 seniors have been sharing the one facility.

Rugby league has been part of Thirroul’s community since 1913, and the junior outfit was formed in 1930. At least 4000 players have worn the famous stripes, and the 230 kids representing 120 families who attended the club’s season launch on February 6 shows the blue and white bandwagon is not slowing down.

The launch was held at Bulli Showground, allowing players to get a feel of the grass they’ll soon tackle and run on.

The advent of competitions for girls and women

Members of Northern Suburbs Netball and Butchers Junior Rugby League

has been but one factor behind Thirroul’s rising player figures. Another key link to growth has been a partnership formed with Norths Netball Club seven years ago.

Ryan said the affiliation had led to benefits including keeping children playing sport well into their teens and even saving parents money.

“To encourage kids to take up and stay in sport, you need to develop programs on and off the field, which requires funding,” he said. “With our partnership with Norths Netball, we have been able to increase our sponsorship revenue dramatically.

“For one sponsorship payment, our sponsors get exposure across both clubs. Also, combining our buying power drives better deals and savings. A prime example is combining our clothing purchases to go to the market with greater volume to get lower prices.”

Norths Netball president Katie Rollinson said the “remarkable” growth in her club’s player numbers was matching a national trend.

“Our membership is up 36 per cent over the past three years – roughly 10 per cent year on year, which is an outcome we’re incredibly proud of, and one that simply wouldn’t be possible without the support and enthusiasm of our partners at the Butchers,” Katie said.

“Kids are getting more opportunities to play sport and our clubs are stronger because of it.

“Parents regularly tell us they value the sense of community, weekly routine, and inclusive team environment that netball provides. That consistency makes it easy for families to plan around sport, and with many netballers now also playing league tag or junior rugby league, the appeal just keeps broadening.

“The sport’s accessibility also makes it a natural fit for busy families. It’s inexpensive to play, easy to pick up at a young age, and teams operate in most communities including the northern suburbs.”

Ryan said both clubs were great at providing off-the-field experiences for players and families,

regarding it as vital for player inclusiveness. Officials recognise the value of events such as team dinners, ten-pin bowling and memory-making experiences such as NRL game days.

“In 2025, we took 120 players to the women’s State of Origin game in Sydney and also the men’s match. Both clubs also hold end-of-season presentation days that are second to none,” he said.

“Both club committees are open to players freely moving between the two sports. Having the association enables kids to be able to experience both sports and change with total comfort and confidence. This is seeing kids find their niche and staying involved in sport longer.

“I know I continue to learn from the netball committee on how they run their organisation and have copied their strengths, such as social media. This has led to us being a better club with these improvements and has also made volunteering easier and less time-consuming.”

In senior ranks, five Butchers got their 2026 seasons off to a flying start in a different code. Ivy Foster, Keita Shipton, Cleo Monagle, Violet Noonan and Ava McCarthy were part of the University of Wollongong rugby sevens squad that went to Japan in January and became undefeated Asia Pacific champions.

In the men’s teams, first grade will be looking to hand off last year’s wooden spoon. Reserve grade fared better in Harrigan Plate fixtures, finishing third on the ladder behind Wests and Avondale.

Exciting off-season signings include backline specialist Brent Naden, 29, while former St George Illawarra player Corey Allan will also bolster the backs. Four under-18s Butchers – Max van Loo, Cooper Maroun, Ben Levy and Logan Fenwick –were selected for St George Illawarra for a squad due to face a Newcastle Hunter team in Laurie Daley Cup first round action in January.

Enquiries to 0427 671 286 or presidentthirroulbutchers@gmail.com

Join storytelling mentor for film night

By Tyneesha Williams

A film industry legend who never had access to television until his 20s is hosting screenings at Coledale Community Hall on the first Saturday night of the month.

Graham Thorburn has had a stellar career as a director, screenwriter and teacher. He directed iconic TV shows Countdown and BeatBox, served as the president of the Australian Directors Guild, taught at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and worked as a “book doctor”.

South Coast Writers Centre director Dr Sarah Nicholson said the group was “ridiculously lucky” that Graham had volunteered his time to lead a screenwriting program and film nights.

Graham took an unusual path to film. He was born in Australia, but spent his first 12 years in Tanganyika (later Tanzania), where his parents were missionaries. “My family traditions meant I never lived in a house that had a television until I was in my 20s,” he said. “It was only at university that I started discovering cinema, theatre and all these things I’d never been exposed to.”

His career began in electronic engineering but Graham switched to designing sound and lights for theatre before stepping into the limelight himself.

“I went into acting pretty full-time professionally for about five years. I moved away from acting because I found I didn’t have any control over the situation, and moved into directing and writing. That search for purpose led me to education,

How co-op cuts waste

By Mark Fetterplace

Thirroul’s Flame Tree Community Food Co-op aims to produce no waste. It’s something we should all aim to do at home too. Behind the scenes we are prioritising re-use with our suppliers. The co-op can return some containers for reuse, such as egg crates, some drums and all waxed cardboard.

including becoming the head of directing and then the head of teaching at the film school [AFTRS].”

Instead of Sydney, Graham has chosen to run his film courses and club from the modest community hall at Coledale – it’s from here that SCWC organises writing events for people across the South Coast. Graham volunteered after noticing the centre didn’t offer a course in screenwriting.

“I think the Illawarra offers the necessary distance and perspective to foster genuine Australian creativity,” he said.

The SCWC Film Club will next meet at 7:30pm on Saturday, March 7, to watch 1997’s Wag the Dog, starring Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman.

Visit southcoastwriters.org

on 7 March

When supplier re-use is not possible, we encourage the community to take anything useful. If you need 20L plastic buckets or drums, come and get them!

Food waste is put in the fogo bin. Cardboard is collected by Flagstaff for recycling. Polystyrene is taken to the Whyte’s Gully waste collection centre. We separate all soft plastics and take to Circular Plastics Illawarra/Council soft plastics drop-off points, or to Flagstaff.

Our customers say they shop with us as they can buy almost everything without packaging. There are no plastic stickers on the fruit and vegetables, the bread is not in bags, the Kangaroo Valley eggs can be bought by the egg, spices and grains, even dishwashing powder, can be measured out into jars or bags customers bring from home, or there are jars and egg cartons available for re-use in store. And food scraps go to the manager Dean’s very happy chooks. Some customers tell us they hardly need to put out their red bins at all.

Shop online at flametree.coop

Graham Thorburn will host Film Club at Coledale hall

Dance school steps up for charity

By Tyneesha Williams

For two decades, Miss Zoe’s School of Dance has provided a space for Illawarra dancers to embrace the joy of movement without the pressure of competition. Founder Zoe McCarthy says she set up her school in a small community hall in Coniston in 2006 with a simple idea: a noncompetitive dance model.

“We really want to make sure that everyone feels happy and included and safe, and that’s the biggest message for us here at Miss Zoe’s … everyone is welcome,” Zoe said. “We’re a really inclusive, friendly, fun dance school. We don’t do any competitions or exams or eisteddfods or anything.”

Growing up in Jervis Bay, Zoe loved dancing.

“I had a beautiful teacher who was similar to me, so I felt very safe and included in class all the time, and that’s what I wanted to pass on to my students.”

After moving to Wollongong for university, Zoe opened her own studio and studied psychology and primary teaching. Her studies informed her work as a dance teacher focused on the developmental and emotional benefits of dance.

Last year, Miss Zoe’s School of Dance was recognised for the third consecutive year as a finalist in the champion performing arts category for the 2025 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards. But Zoe says that the most rewarding feedback comes from students’ parents.

“It’s about the students who have maybe struggled, whether it be with their confidence or if they have a disability. When parents have come back and said, ‘we really appreciate how included they felt in class’,” she said.

Former students who grew up in the studio are now returning as adults, bringing their own children to experience the same supportive atmosphere they enjoyed.

This year, with classes in four locations, including Coledale, the school is looking forward to giving back, supporting the Cancer Council through Stars of Wollongong and Relay for Life.

“It’s been a fantastic journey,” Zoe said.

Visit www.misszoesschoolofdance.com.au

Author talks in March

With the team at Collins Booksellers Thirroul

Our events program really kicks off this month. More detailed information and registration for all events can be found on Humanitix or by calling the bookshop. Here’s an overview of what’s coming up:

• March 3: Courtney Peppernell – The Last Poem is the debut novel from this internationally bestselling poet

• March 7: Yvette Farmer – Event for children 7 years+ launching Yvette’s new book Nature Knows

• March 14: Catherine Cole

– A French House – come Francophiles one and all

• March 17: Starre Vartan

– The Stronger Sex – science debunks the myths around women’s strength –inspiring!

Shop 5/264 Lawrence Hargrave Drive

www.collinsbooksthirroul.com.au

@collinsbooksellersthirroul

collins BOOKSELLERS thirroul

Beetling About

With Australian Museum entomologist Dr Chris Reid

This month’s insect is a parasitic wasp called Echthromorpha intricatoria, but happily it also has a vernacular name, the Cream Spotted Ichneumonid (CSI). I caught it flying around the garden a few weeks ago.

Ichneumonids are wasps that parasitise other insects. This one attacks the pupae of large moths and butterflies and seems to prefer pupae ‘protected’ by hairy silky webbing.

Ichneumonid wasps get their name from the Greek word for ‘tracker’, as the females are constantly hunting in low vegetation for a host. Once a suitable host is found they stick their long ‘sting’, which is actually their egg-laying organ or ovipositor, into a caterpillar or pupa. This CSI specimen, about 2cm long, is clearly a female as it has a long ovipositor sticking out the tail end. Different types have different lengths of ovipositor because they attack different kinds of host. This one has quite a long ovipositor to get through the layers of the silk cocoon around a moth pupa and then penetrate the pupa to lay an egg. There is a common pale-brown ichneumon in the Illawarra with a short ovipositor – it lays its eggs in smooth bodied caterpillars like cutworms – the ovipositor doesn’t have far to penetrate. Species with the longest ovipositors, often several body lengths, use them to drill through wood so that they can lay in wood-boring larvae.

The CSI lays eggs in pupae – that means its larva must develop rapidly as larvae are generally not

long-lasting. These wasps lay particularly large eggs, in which the larva is well-developed. The eggs hatch in days and the larva inside the host sheds its skin to grow every 2 or 3 days. The larva basically kills its host immediately, so the host becomes a ‘lump of meat’ (as described by the British Museum expert), rather than being paralysed. Other insect parasitoids often keep the host alive for as long as possible, as the host provides a protective shell. We call all these wasps (and similar flies) parasitOIDS, because they kill the host, unlike parasites, for example the fleas and lice on humans that just suck blood and thankfully don’t kill. Echthromorpha intricatoria is a common species in our area.

Thanks for 49 years of CWA service

By Jan Johnston of Stanwell Park Country Women’s Association

Our outgoing president, Carol Pugh, has been awarded a Life membership after 49 years of service to the CWA. This is a huge achievement. Carol joined in 1976, and in the early years, even as she was juggling young children and part-time work, Carol was able to win a Group Fundraiser of the Year award. On retiring in 2011, Carol became branch president and helped drive the upgrade of the CWA hall, which included a new roof and deck, upgrading toilets and painting. Each of these activities are complex and time consuming. In 2025 when Carol stepped aside from her role as president, she left a legacy of an active and positive membership, and a meeting hall in

excellent condition for community use. On Valentine’s Day, we held a very successful cake stall and BBQ at Bunnings Bellambi. We had a mountain of beautiful cakes and treats, discounted bread from Helensburgh Hot Bread Shop, the support of great husbands and friends, and members who arrived early to set up and stayed late to pack up. It was a great team effort. Thanks to the generous locals who supported our two stalls. Funds raised will go to a maintenance issue with our hall as well as donations to charities that the CWA supports. We can be found at the CWA hall, 15 The Drive, Stanwell Park on the first Tuesday of the month at 10am. Just turn up or email stanwellparkcwa@gmail.com

The Cream Spotted Ichneumonid Wasp.

Photo: Elaine Tan, Australian Museum

New legislation could protect workers as coal mines close

By Darryl Best, retired miner and Good for the Gong board member

Tahmoor coal mine has sat idle for a year now. While workers are still technically employed, their future is uncertain, with ongoing speculation about a potential buyer or permanent closure. This is not a good situation for those workers or the businesses who rely on Tahmoor for their survival.

The sudden cessation of operations at Tahmoor came with no meaningful plan for creating new jobs for workers, or re-training. This is all too common and creates great uncertainty among those who depend on mines for their livelihoods.

Last month, NSW Parliament was considering legislation which, if implemented correctly, could help to prevent this from happening again. It is called the Future Jobs and Investment Bill 2025.

The bill aims to establish both a Future Jobs and Investment Authority and a Future Jobs and Investment Fund. There will be four administrative bodies set up that correspond to the four coal mining regions in NSW. The purpose of these bodies is to advise the Minister for Natural

MEN’S SHED

Rocking horse restored

By Paul Blanksby of Helensburgh Men’s Shed

Resources on what industries and businesses could be set up locally to ensure the community and economy thrive as mining winds down.

Put simply, it’s about investing real money into coal regions to attract new industries and create secure jobs, rather than abandoning communities once mines and power stations shut down.

This authority will replace the now dismantled and totally ineffective Royalties for Rejuvenation Fund. That fund had $140 million sitting unspent that came from mining royalties. The workers at Tahmoor coal mine or Russell Vale coal mine –which closed last year – would have welcomed that money being invested in new career opportunities.

A commitment of $150 million per year – equal to 5% of the coal royalties collected by NSW – is needed to properly fund the agency’s work across the four regions. The State Government has allocated $25 million per year from the royalties… less than 1% of what is received. There are critical learnings to be made from that failure.

I travelled to parliament as part of a delegation of coal region residents to speak with MPs about the bill. Encouragingly, it includes obligations for mine owners to announce closure dates well in advance and to provide transition support for their workforce. These provisions must be strengthened and enforced. The penalties for non-compliance are equivalent to five to 10 minutes of operation on a longwall face, a pitiful amount.

We were successful in getting a commitment from the Minister for Natural Resources, Courtney Houssos, to make several changes. Disappointingly, the need for rehabilitation of the environment and mitigating climate change are still missing.

Well, what a month at the Shed! Three new lady members are ready to start projects on Wednesdays. A couple of blokes joined up, with interesting lives to share. And, an old favourite returned: Brownie the Rocking Horse, from a Heathcote preschool. She’s had a rough life, but it’s not off to the knacker’s yard yet, not when the Shed blokes get their vet gear out. Fill those cracks with Gorilla glue, shine those stirrups up, new red paint on the base, feed the leather with neatsfoot oil, and even shampoo the mane and tail; and of course, dowel and glue her head back on!

Join us at 624 Darkes Forest Road. Open Mon-Wed 9am-3pm. 0478 892 485, helensburghmensshed.org.au

What’s On

Emerging Artist Concert Series

Wed 4 March 11am at Wollongong Art Gallery. The Orpheus Quintet brings a fresh edge to music for a wind ensemble. Free, donations appreciated. Book via Humanitix, contact 0408 422 427

Thirroul Library

2 March Grandparents Special Storytime, Winnie the Pooh – 10am, Seniors Festival activity

4 March Estate Planning 2-3pm with experts at NSW Trustee & Guardian. Free, bookings required.

Helensburgh Library

4 & 18 March Lego Club, 3.30 - 4.30pm

11 March Book Club, open to members, 12pm

13 March Grandparents Special Storytime, celebrate Winnie the Pooh 100th birthday 10.30am

Northern Illawarra U3A Open Day

Wed 11 March Presentation at 9.30am, Wednesday 11th March in the Excelsior Hall, Thirroul Community Centre. Come along and see a showcase of some of our programs from various groups including Painting and Drawing, Drama, Creative Writing and Line Dancing. Morning Tea is provided. All welcome!

Climate Action Week event

Sat 14 March Electrify Illawarra will be among those with a stand at the Science Centre, UOW Innovation Campus.

Plein air artist captures industrial landscape

By Jennifer Macey

If you visited Port Kembla Harbour last year you may have seen a solitary figure on a camp stool, painting on grey linen paper. If you looked over her shoulder you would

Debate: U3A v Bulli High School

Wed March 18 The debate will be in the Excelsior Hall, Thirroul Community Centre at 9.30am. The topic is: “That there should be a sugar tax,” with the students choosing to speak to the Negative. All welcome. Contact Barbara on 0413 047 687.

Arawarra

26-28 March at Wollongong’s IPAC. Created by Dharawal language teacher Jake Māra and director Lincoln Smith, this new MerrigongX play tells of a freedom fighter, a Ngandah, a protector and a First Nations leader at the time of colonisation.

GreenFest 2026

Sun 29 March 10am-2pm, Corrimal High School. The Rotary Club of Corrimal presents its free annual GreenFest sustainability expo, a family fun day exploring environment protection, climate change and renewable energy.

Melanoma March Wollongong

Sun 29 March Join the family friendly fundraising event at Lang Park, 8-10.30am

Illawarra Postcards

10 March-30 May Before cameras or phones, postcards were a way people preserved memories and shared images with friends. This exhibition at Wollongong Library presents originals and images from postcards in the City Libraries’ collection. Some free copies of postcards will be at all library branches. Visit illawarrastories.com.au/exhibitions/ illawarra-postcards

have seen Port’s industrial landscape emerge, as if by magic, in soft watercolour.

Award-winning artist Zuza Zochowski has shifted her plein air practice from sea and streetscapes to paintings of cobalt-blue cargo ships, mountains of coal and clouds puffing out of grey stacks. Her goal is to explore contrasts: “The contrast of human structures and organic shapes, but also the contrasts of what I feel about this area. I’m in awe of industry but also know that it’s not working well for our environment.”

Zuza’s show, The Familiar and the Strange, will be at Sydney’s Damien Minton Presents in Surry Hills, March 3-14, follow @ zuzazochowski on Instagram.

Gotta catch 'em all!

Symbio is climbing into the tech sector with new animal app, writes Genevieve Swart

Symbio Wildlife Park has launched a new app that hopes to ride on the back of Pokemon GO to global popularity.

The new augmented reality (AR) educational game for ages 5 to 12 follows a wild 2025 for the Helensburgh zoo, which won three trophies at the Illawarra Business Awards, launched a conservation charity arm and partnered with scientists and coalminers in research.

The app is called KoalAR, a nod to the iconic marsupial on Symbio’s logo. It will be offered free to NSW primary schools this year with the aim of making learning fun.

Symbio business development and innovation manager Kevin Fallon said he wanted to change how conservation was being taught to children.

“I wanted to make it more relevant to the times, and make it in a way that the teachers can engage the kids outdoors whilst also familiarising themselves with technology,” Kevin said.

Students at Mt Kembla Public School helped test KoalAR, using their tablets like a compass to track animals, listen for radar pings and move around a field to locate and learn about Australian animals, such as koalas, Tassie devils, kangaroos, emus, dingoes and snakes.

Developed with Sydney studio Noble Steed Games, the app has cost “quite a few hundreds of thousands”, Kevin said, with funding coming from

Meet great women

By Marion Cook

We are the Keiraville branch of the Country Women’s Association. About 60 of us meet regularly to connect, fundraise and teach each other skills. Some love cooking and craft, some come for the conversations, the walking group or book club, but all of us value the friendships. We’re part of a statewide organisation, but what really matters is showing up for Keiraville: supporting local projects, learning about the world, and creating a welcoming space. Join us – contact keiravillecwa@gmail.com

The KoalAR launch at Mt Kembla last year.

the zoo’s new charity arm, Symbio Conservation Foundation, and coalminer GM3.

Symbio’s fledgling conservation charity is headed by long-time employee Jarrad Prangell, with big plans for 2026. “We’re in the feasibility study phase currently around the development of a Koala and Wildlife Hospital,” Kevin said.

The new foundation, which achieved deductible gift recipient (DGR) status in 2025, is run from the same offices as the Helensburgh zoo, and zoo-goers will make a contribution simply by visiting.

“Symbio is donating $1 for every visitor into the Conservation Foundation,” Kevin said.

KoalAR will be free to schools in 2025 and, when subscription fees start, app income will boost the foundation. “Profits from this will only ever be used for conservation initiatives.”

SPAT fees are due

By Lauren Mitsak

Stanwell Park Arts Theatre (SPAT) membership fees are three months overdue. Only a handful of people have remembered. If you are involved in any capacity in any shows, membership is mandatory for insurance purposes. It’s a modest $15 for adults and $10 for under-17s a year, and you receive a $5 discount to all our shows. To pay your membership, go to www.spat.org.au.

In other SPAT news: the date for the bush dance has changed to May 30 to allow more time for rehearsals. SPAT Film Society held their first event on February 28, a screening of heartwarming British drama/comedy The Ballad of Wallis Island. The SPAT Singers Dinner show, titled Beatles and Other Animals, will be on June 27 and July 4 with a possible soiree on July 5. Join the Singers on Friday nights at the CWA Hall at 7:30pm. Singers founder Rod Lander has written a musical, which he will stage in August.

Photo: Tyneesha Williams

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Rovers invite over-18s

By Assistant Rover Unit Leader Sharntel Mortimer

Are you aged between 18-25 and looking for an adventure or to make new friends in 2026? Join 1st Austinmer unit Rover Scouts.

Rover Scouts is a young adult-lead organisation, focusing on adventure, fun and socialising. 1st Austinmer Rover Scouts meet fortnightly or monthly on a Sunday afternoon at Bulli Scout Hall, 5 Pitman Lane, Woonona. There is flexibility to meet on a different day and on a weekly basis with more expressions of interest.

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Swimming lessons for all ageschildren, adults and families of refugees and asylum seekers in the Illawarra area.

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Swimming lessons for all ageschildren, adults and families of refugees and asylum seekers in the Illawarra area.

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Swimming lessons for all ageschildren, adults and families of refugees and asylum seekers in the Illawarra area.

Learn to stay safe in the water at the:

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Text or Call Peter - 0424 199 299

1st Austinmer Rover unit participates in a wide variety of activities, from casual nights of arts and crafts, board games and cooking nights to kayaking, hiking, caving and camping.

Contact 1st Austinmer Rovers via Facebook, Instagram, or email: Steph.cowling@ nsw.scouts.com.au or Sharntel.mortimer@nsw. scouts.com.au

Lions’ share of good

By Lauren Martin of Helensburgh Lions

If you’ve ever enjoyed a tasty Lions Club sausage sizzle outside Helensburgh Coles, you were donating to a good cause. Every year, the Helensburgh Lions Club donates thousands of dollars to worthy local causes. In fact, if the club wasn’t in town, October’s much-loved Helensburgh Country Fair would cease to exist.

But with just 12 members, the club is stretched, and is calling on locals with a passion for their community, to lend a hand.

“Helping out at one of our monthly BBQs for a few hours is a great way to support your local community,” says Helensburgh Lions Club President, Rod Peppernell. “And it’s a whole lot of fun as you get to chat to locals and passers-by.”

The Lions are preparing for another big year, including the ANZAC Day Service at Stanwell Tops.

Email info.helensburghlions@gmail.com to find out how you can be involved

Ocean Queen Classic the third

The all-women comp is back at Woonona! By Anna Martin, with photo by Georgia Matts stepped onto the international stage with a runner-up finish at the 2024 Nias Pro and another runner-up finish at the 2025 Phillip Island Pro.

The Ocean Queen Surf Classic will celebrate its third year at Woonona Beach on Saturday, 28 March, and the all-women’s event is already proving its worth as more than just a local contest.

Launched in 2024 as the Illawarra’s first all-female invitational, the OQC has become a favourite among up-and-coming surfers.

With equal focus on junior and open divisions, contest directors Yvonne Turner and Kirby Mowbray say the goal has always been to create a professional-quality platform for women and girls in a traditionally male-dominated sport.

“The initial idea came because there wasn’t anything out there just for women and girls, so we wanted to create an event that the girls would love to compete in and that would give them a helping hand in terms of prize money and exposure,” Kirby said.

It’s an idea that’s clearly working, with more Ocean Queen Classic surfers now competing – and getting results – around Australia and the world.

Gerringong’s Lucy Darragh, who first won the junior crown at OQC, has become Australia’s top-ranked under-16 girl and recently claimed a breakthrough victory at the ultra-competitive World Surf League Qualifying Series Nias Pro.

Regular OQC finalist Oceanna Rogers has also

Culburra’s Keira Buckpitt, a past OQC winner, recently became the 2025 Australian Open Women’s Shortboard Champion and will represent Australia at the World Surfing Games.

“When you look at what surfers like Lucy, Oceanna, and Keira are doing now, it’s nice to think that the Ocean Queen Classic has contributed in some way to that success, be it through prize money helping with travel or extra exposure as a result of the competition,” Kirby said.

This year’s Ocean Queen Classic will again run junior and open women’s divisions from 7.30am, with finals in the afternoon and presentations at Woonona SLSC, and Woonona Beach as the preferred venue with nearby breaks on standby.

Boardriders begins at home beach

By Ian Pepper of the Scarborough Boardriders Club

We started the year off nicely on Sunday, 1 February with our club’s junior divisions blessed with some fun waves at our home base –Scarborough Beach.

Congrats to our winners: Noah Kornek, Austin Wilson, Indi Martin, Ari O’Connor and Charlie Gooch, who each picked up a dinner voucher from our sponsor, Headlands Hotel Austinmer.

Also congrats to Ruby Forbes who surfed amazingly well and was awarded the Micro Award and voucher from Banabae Thirroul.

The following Sunday, we had classic small-wave surfing for our senior divisions at Scarborough Beach (car park!). Glassy conditions were on offer all day and some epic surfing was shown across all the divisions on a declining swell.

Congratulations to Shyla Short who won the Open women’s final and Fin McLaren who won our A grade. There were a few newcomers to A-grade this year with young surfers graduating from the 18s and B Grade. Still technically a junior, Ashton Mekisic came out of the blocks flying, literally, to take out 2nd spot in his first A Grade final. Definitely one to watch!

March is a busy month: Pointscore on March 1, Australian Boardriders Battle National Final at Burleigh Heads, QLD on March 7 and 8, and then Treachery on 15 March, and Kirra Teams (Senior) from March 27 to 29.

Bike shop owner backs young talent

By Lauren Martin

Northern Illawarra mountains bikers were well-represented at the country’s largest downhill mountain bike event – the Cannonball Mountain Bike Festival at Thredbo in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains in February.

Among those racing were members of the Fornix Race Team, a group of developing mountain bikers from Helensburgh and surrounding suburbs who are being supported and mentored by Helensburgh’s Dan Irwin, the owner of Fornix Wheels bike shop who also runs the RideAus coaching business.

When Dan was a kid, he loved motocross. He has fond memories of his parents taking him to Yellow Rock on the NSW South Coast, where moto legends like Stephen Gall and Stephen Hunter would teach skills and encourage young riders like himself. Dan went on to race across several disciplines including motorcycles, downhill and enduro mountain biking and triathlon. Now, he is considered one of Australia’s top coaches.

“I’m very grateful for the people who gave me the opportunity to race,” he said.

“That’s why I started RideAus [a mountain bike coaching business]… and towards the end of 2024 we started the Fornix Race Team as an extension of RideAus in order to champion good, solid young people in the sport, those who are showing maturity, are good role models and are progressing with their skills and training.”

Team Fornix are: Tyrah Beckinsale, Kalea Krummer, Annie Martin, Connor Mielke, Charlie Mielke, Charlie Norton, Daniel Scobie, Jett Sullivan and Max Thraves. Liam Stewart is the Fornix Ambassador. Most of Team Fornix are also members of Helensburgh Off Road Cycle Club

(HORCC) and have grown up riding the local Helensburgh and northern Illawarra trails.

Each of the team members competed in the 2026 Cannonball Mountain Bike festival, with a highlight occurring on day two of the four-day event, when 18-year-old Daniel Scobie from Helensburgh won the Flow Motion Cup in the Pro-Men’s category.

Other significant results included 13-year-old Charlie Norton from Helensburgh placing first in the under-15 men’s Oakley Pump Track Challenge; 16-year-old Tyrah Beckinsale from Austinmer placed second in her under-19 women’s category; and Connor Mielke placed third in Pro Woman. In the Rock-Shock Australian Open Downhill race, 17-year-old Annie Martin from Helensburgh came second in the under-19 women’s category.

14-year-old Helensburgh local Kalea Krummer and Daniel Scobie took part in the invitation-only “Deity Whip Wars”, showcasing their freestyle riding and jump skills to a large crowd on the closing afternoon of the festival.

Dan said it’s been wonderful to watch the team of young people progress.

“They are awesome to have on board to be able to help them, to champion and nurture them. And just hope that they stay on a good, safe path for their lives and keep enjoying riding their bikes!”

(Fornix Wheels also sponsors some “not so young” riders – several parents of the team who also compete.)

Upcoming events for the team include the 2026 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships in Mount Buller, Victoria, where last year Kalea Krummer placed second.

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Scan the QR to download a fresh Tide Chart each month

TIMES AND HEIGHTS OF HIGH AND LOW WATERS LAT 340 29’ LONG 1500 55’

© 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

or

resulting from use of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded.

Vale Kurt Drysdale

By Marcus Craft

Kurt Drysdale of Stanwell Tops has died at the age of 31 after contracting pneumonia.

Kurt was a rugby league star on the rise when, in June 2015 at the age of 20, he suffered a devastating spinal injury and was left a quadriplegic after being tackled while playing for the Cabramatta Two Blues in the Ron Massey Cup competition.

Up to then Kurt had played for the Helensburgh Tigers, attended Endeavour Sports High School and played as a junior at the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the U17 Harold Matthews Cup and the U19 SG Ball Cup before being selected in the Sharks’ U20s squad for the NRL’s then National Youth Competition in 2014.

After his catastrophic injury, Kurt was rushed to Westmead Hospital, then to the state’s premier spinal injury treatment centre at Royal North Shore Hospital. He was later transported to Wollongong Hospital before eventually returning to Stanwell Tops to live in a new house, built on the site of the original Drysdale family home by his family (mum Sonya, dad Steve, sister Skye and brother Blake), close family friends, local 2508 residents and the wider sporting public. The house was specially designed to help Kurt navigate his new life-changing challenges as a ventilated quadriplegic who required full-time care.

Kurt remained busy throughout his post-injury life, improving his plumbing skills (he was an apprentice when he was injured), committing to a gruelling rehab schedule, learning how to fly a drone, and attending numerous fundraisers.

He was a Cure Crusader Ambassador for the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation, which fondly remembered him in a Facebook post: “His cheeky grin and kind, caring personality brought so much joy to everyone who knew him.”

Kurt Drysdale is being remembered for his courage, determination and ‘cheeky grin’.

Photo: Unicorn Studios

Tributes flowed in from far and wide. The Cronulla Sharks described Kurt as “a classy dummy half”, “a courageous figure” and “an inspiration to many”.

Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club honoured their former member’s “courage, determination, and kindness”.

“Kurt brought people together and left a legacy of compassion, perseverance, and unity. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family and friends; his spirit will always be part of our Club.”

Helensburgh Tigers remembered Kurt as “a warrior and inspiration”, while their junior division, where Kurt began his rugby league career at age seven, were saddened to hear of his passing, posting: “Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Helensburgh Sunday Social Golf Club

By Robert ‘Indy’ Jones

“Loud Shirts” paraded on February 8 at Boomerang Golf Course. Blake O’Connor amassed 43 points, 5 clear of Peter Gardner and Scotty G. We welcomed Shay Carter (Hollywood’s partner), Jesse Ingleton and Bailey Helson. On course winners were Craig N., Peter G., Shay (birdie on the 7th), Chris P. within 0.5m of cashing in on the 9th, Mark H., Rob C. and Tristan. Next events: March 8 (8:30am Tee-off), April 12 and May 3 (both 8am Tee-offs).

Call Tony on 0418 863 100 for details.

Indy signing off: Remember, it’s not hard to keep your ball in the fairway, so long as you’re not picky about which fairway.

OUTDOOR

Movie Night

Screening How to Train Your Dragon

Sat 4 April at Rex Jackson Oval, Helensburgh 6.15pm Egg Hunt, 7pm Movie