MAY 2025

Meet Our Contributors

Caroline Baum is a journalist, author and the ambassador for the Older Womens’ Network (OWN) in NSW. She lives in the Northern Illawarra and is the artistic director of Coledale’s annual True Story Festival.

Rob Brander – aka ‘Dr Rip’ – is a coastal geomorphologist and professor at the University of NSW. A resident of Coalcliff, he’s been studying beaches for more than 30 years, starting in Canada where water temperatures convinced him to come to Australia. He is an international expert on rip currents and beach safety and runs a community education program called The Science of the Surf.

Darryl Best began in mines as an apprentice electrician, ending his career in senior management roles at Dendrobium, Wongawilli and Russell Vale. Darryl has witnessed the ups and downs of the coal industry and seen what happened to miners in the UK and the US. He is passionate about establishing renewable industries in areas where fossil fuel industries will eventually close as we transition to cleaner energy sources. Darryl is married, with three children and four grandchildren. He serves on the board of Hi Neighbour, loves the environment, his native garden and the Wollongong lifestyle.

Amanda De George is a naturalist, writer and photographer. Her passion lies in discovering interesting critters in urban environments and bringing them to the followers of her Facebook and Instagram page Backyard Zoology. Oh, and adventures and naps and wine; she’s passionate about those things too!

Dr Amy Harkness graduated from the University of Sydney in 2003 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. She completed her medical degree in 2007. After working in Sydney and Wollongong hospitals, she settled in the Illawarra with her family. Amy’s interests include paediatrics, women’s health and antenatal shared care.

Stephen Young is a retired farmer and software developer who has lived in Thirroul since 2015. He is a keen bushwalker and volunteers for Hewitts Creek Bushcare, Electrify 2515, MCCI refugee support, Illawarra Table Tennis, and the Greens.

Podiatrist in Helensburgh

Khaled Assaad, the local podiatrist behind Platinum Sports Podiatry, is your go-to expert for all things foot-related. With an impressive arsenal of experience, he delivers top-notch care. Khaled specialises in biomechanics and offers a selection of services, including dry needling, foot mobilisations, custom orthotics, and shockwave therapy. His expertise covers:

• All routine nail & skin care (Home Visits)

• Pediatrics (in toe/out toe walking)

• Sever’s and other growth plate conditions

• Adolescents & geriatrics

• Sporting related injuries

• Knee pain

• Tendinitis, Nerve Entrapments & Foot orthotics

Helensburgh: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday Kirrawee: Friday & Saturday

www.platinumsportspodiatry.com.au 02 4294 9990 | 0481 796 781 (if urgent/after hours) 2/20-24 Walker Street, Helensburgh NSW 2508

PARTNER CONTENT

EDITORS Genevieve Swart, Marcus Craft

CONTACT hello@theillawarraflame.com.au; 0432 612 168; PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508. TheIllawarraFlame

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DEADLINE 21 May. Contributions welcome.

COVER Jeff Tougher. Photo: Anthony Warry

THE ILLAWARRA FLAME is published by a family business, The Word Bureau, ABN 31 692 723 477

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

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.

THE ILLAWARRA

KANE DOWNIE

CWA installs defibrillator

By Jan Johnston of Stanwell Park CWA

Stanwell Park CWA has installed a defibrillator at our hall at 15 The Drive. It is on the deck and available 24 hours a day for community use. Anyone can access the defibrillator and the location is perfect, given the proximity to the tennis courts, parks and various functions in the hall itself. This is a gift to the community and we are confident that it will be taken good care of and valued by everyone.

CWA members have since undertaken training in CPR and use of the defibrillator with the Dave

Winner Foundation. We urge other community members to take advantage of this free CPR training, which we can highly recommend. Go to davewinnerfoundation.org

On May 12, the CWA hall will be the venue for a talk about the Women’s Weekly cookbooks and their influence on Australian food culture. There is a generation of women who moved forward from the Commonsense Cookbooks and embraced the colourful books that were geared to modern-day recipes and ingredients. It will be interesting to learn how these much-loved books were involved in gradual changes to cookery, taste and society.

Food historian and local author Lauren Samuelsson will give a talk about her new book, A Matter of Taste, on Monday 12th, from 5-7pm at the CWA Hall, 15 The Drive, Stanwell Park. Everyone is welcome. A donation of $5 will cover light refreshments and Lauren’s book will be available for sale and signing.

Also, do visit us on May 3 at the Election Day cake stall at Stanwell Park Public School. We’ll be selling lovely home-cooked treats and potted plants, and a local artist has donated one of her pots for a raffle. All money raised will be used to donate to charities that CWA supports.

Remember Mother

By Local Studies librarian Jenny McConchie

‘A million ways to remember mother’ was the newspaper slogan used to draw shoppers into Anthony Horderns for their 1963 Mother’s Day Sale. Featured items included; tomboy spotted flannella pyjamas ($4.99) and brunch coat with satin bow ($3.99), chenille nightgowns ($2.99), and swami slip and brief sets. For a touch of elegance why not give mum a rhodium plated marcasite brooches and earrings from ($1.25).

To further encourage spending, a Mother’s Day Lucky Barrel was set up in store. Shoppers placed sales dockets in the barrel for a chance to win £1 ($2) every five minutes. The picture above features two-year-old Craig Lunney, sitting below the barrel which was being set up by employee Mr Childs.

Anthony Horderns began trading in Keira Street, in 1960. It was the first Wollongong store to feature automatic opening front doors and escalators. Described as a drive-in city shopping centre, it featured a lift to rooftop parking for 160 vehicles, a unique feature at the time.

Anthony Horderns was possibly Australia’s

largest retail company from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. Sadly, a takeover by rival retailer Waltons resulted in the Wollongong store’s closure in July 1972. The Keira Street building went on to be used by Norman Ross, then Bing Lee. It was demolished to make way for the Wollongong Central shopping centre that opened in 2014.

Wollongong City Libraries holds over 50,000 photographs of the people and places and events that make our city great. Digital copies of images may be viewed online via the library catalogue.

List & sell your property & you could WIN a $2,000 travel voucher!

List & sell your property with Julie before 30/06/2025, to go into the draw to win a $2,000 travel voucher.

Plus, sign a Management Agreement with our Property Manager Olivia, before the deadline, and you could win an $800 travel voucher.

On this special day, we honour the incredible strength, love, and dedication you bring into homes and hearts everywhere.

2024’s 1st prize winner, Etched in time, by artist David Manks

An outlet for artists

By Tareyn Varley

Usually, if David Manks is about to win at Thirroul’s art show, the organisers give him a quiet heads-up to make sure he’ll be there on the night. But last year, the phone never rang – so he assumed it just wasn’t his year.

Then, as he stood chatting outside the packed Thirroul Community Centre on opening night, he suddenly heard his name. At first he wasn’t sure what was happening – until it became clear he’d just taken out the main prize.

“It was a complete surprise,” David says. “I was very chuffed.”

Guest judge Amber Creswell-Bell, a leading curator and respected art book author, awarded him first place for his oil painting Etched In Time, which captures the moody sandstone escarpment around Austinmer and Wombarra. The win was a popular one, with the work among the first to sell.

David has entered the Thirroul art show nearly every year since moving to the area 25 years ago –and has several successes, including winning the main prize twice. He’s part of a core group of around 100 Illawarra artists who return each year to show their latest work.

But this year is different. With two gallery exhibitions coming up – a solo show at Artsite Contemporary in Sydney and a group exhibition in Armidale – David won’t be entering. Still, he’s proud to have been part of a show that supports local artists.

“One of the special things about a community art show like this is that so many artists who don’t usually have an outlet for their work get the chance to display it,” he says.

As one familiar face steps back, a new wave is stepping in. More than 30 first-time entrants have already submitted work this year – a strong sign,

organisers say, that the exhibition’s popularity continues to grow.

The Thirroul art show runs from May 31 to June 1 as part of the annual Seaside & Arts Festival, which raises funds for Austinmer Thirroul Lions Club charities. Opening night will be launched by guest speaker Daniel Mudie Cunningham, the new director of Wollongong Art Gallery, with the guest judge to be revealed at the event.

By mid-May, entries are expected to reach the 300 mark. The main rooms will be filled with sculptures, paintings, drawings, prints and photographs – plus the ever-popular tiny works in the dedicated Minis Room.

The festival’s prelude, Art in the Shops, also returns, with local artworks displayed in shopfronts around the village from May 17 to June 1; nine new businesses have signed on to take part.

The exhibition opens to the public at 7pm on Friday, May 30.

Volunteers power the show

The Thirroul Arts Festival has been around for more than 30 years, but organisers say it’s getting harder to keep it running without fresh, digitalsavvy volunteers.

“We all enjoy the camaraderie,” says organiser Christine Hill, “but we are anxious we don’t have enough younger people coming in – especially with the computer skills now essential to organising anything, like our new online entry system.”

The art show remains a major draw, with hundreds of works for sale.

Minis start at $100, most pieces sit between $400 and $1000, and a commission goes to Lions Club charities.

Last year, 158 works were sold, raising up to $25,000 despite rain cutting the festival short.

STARS help ease bed block

By Tyneesha Williams

STARS stands for Support Transition Assistance Response Service. Simply put, these volunteers really are the stars of aged care in the Illawarra, providing practical advice for people stuck in hospital, waiting for a place in a care home.

“Our role is basically to myth-bust any misconceptions that the ageing population might have about aged care,” says Olivia Decker, a STARS volunteer who works with patients at Bulli Hospital.

“We also want to be there to support the family because it can be quite a challenging system to navigate.”

STARS volunteers are much needed locally. The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District has Australia’s worst case of ‘bed block’ or ‘delayed discharge’, which means that each night up to 150 people are stranded in public hospitals, well enough to leave, but without a safe place in residential care to go to.

Community Industry Group, the Port Kemblabased peak body for community service organisations, runs the STARS program as part of a wider Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional and Aged Care Taskforce. While their STARS volunteers help at an immediate and hands-on level, CI Group is also investigating the causes of ‘bed block’ and working towards a solution supported by industry, not-for-profits and government.

“Community Industry Group is amazing,” says Deb Fisher, a STARS volunteer from Oak Flats who helps at Shellharbour Hospital.

Deb’s volunteer work is inspired by having looked after her mother, who had dementia, for 10 years. “She swore black and blue that she would never go into a nursing home,” Deb says.

“One morning, when she was really with it, she said ‘I think it’s time I went into a nursing home’.

That was the best thing I’d heard in my life.”

Olivia came to STARS via a different path. She grew up in Central West NSW, studying nursing through Charles Sturt University.

“I was very close with my grandparents, and after I lost them, I volunteered at the respite community centre for a little while, when I was 13 or 14. I’ve just always had a really good relationship with more mature people,” Olivia says.

Olivia has worked at the Illawarra Retirement Fund (IRT) for 10 years, first as a care manager and most recently as a clinical assessor for applicants.

“I’ve been very exposed to the system. I can see it all from different sides,” Olivia says.

Through their experience, empathy and excellent communication skills, STARS volunteers help people take charge of their own care plans.

“A lot of older people have a really terrible idea of nursing homes and aged care, but it’s not how it used to be,” Deb says.

Having worked in nursing homes, Olivia likes to reassure people about food and accommodation. She says that in the past 10 years, national regulator the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has made changes to improve services.

“Very few aged care centres have shared rooms now, because it’s not what people are wanting,” Olivia says. “They’re trying to make it as much like home as it can be.”

Deb says it’s important to discuss care options ahead of time. “Talk. Openly talk about these topics. People don’t make these decisions until they’re in a crisis. We are all going to be faced with it at some stage.”

To learn more or volunteer with STARS, visit communityindustrygroup.org.au

Olivia Decker (at left) and Deb Fisher. Photos: Tyneesha Williams

Merrigong Theatre Company manages IPAC

Wollongong City Council.

A sting in the tail?

By Amanda De George

I’m telling you, blue dragon nudibranchs bring people together. After finding her very first blue dragon (and then another and another) after the recent big seas, my friend excitedly sent me a photo and the location. While I was running and grabbing my husband, she was messaging her entire dive group. Once down on the beach, as we were carefully scooping them up with wet sand – more on if they can sting later – and setting them down into pools of water, their ‘wings’ unfurling and uncurling and revealing their absolute jawdropping beauty, people stopped and looked on in fascination.

specimen. Their very small, soft, squishy bodies are often smooshed up and caught in debris so can be really tricky to find. But once we spotted our first, an innate need to try to save them kicked in and we all worked quickly to put them back in water; scooping them up with wet sand or on scallop-like shells and into rockpools. We all knew this was a pretty fruitless task and watched with a sad sense of inevitability as later the tide rose and washed them out of the safety of their little pool and back up on the sand.

So, what is it about this tiny blue marine creature that makes us all drop what we’re doing and look on in awe?

While blue dragons (Glaucus atlanticus) are nudibranchs and nudibranchs are mostly found on the ocean floor and in the lower water column, these guys swallow an air bubble and float on the ocean surface. They’re often floating along up there with what’s known as the ‘Blue Fleet’, which features other surface floaters: bluebottles, blue buttons, by-the-wind sailors and violet snails.

As they are usually found out on the ocean, they’re not an everyday sight, which means any stranding will get locals talking. Now this statement is loaded with a bold assumption and a good dash of anthropomorphism but here goes anyway: blue dragons love nothing more than feeding on bluebottles. They store away the stinging cells, which they’re immune to, in the tip of their ‘wings’ so in theory, these nudis can give you a sting. And here’s where I come in.

When we got to the beach, it took a minute or two of walking the tide line to find our first

And while we waited and watched, I noticed a strange sensation. My fingers, which I had used to help the nudis unfurl once in the water, felt cool. Like they’d been dipped in a tub of toothpaste or maybe chilli. Definitely no stinging, but a cool sensation all the same. Was I getting a taste of the nudibranch’s defence system?

Australian Geographic asked sea slug expert Steve Smith about the stinging potential of the blue dragon. He said, “I’ve picked them up many times and I haven’t been stung. They’re not like bluebottles. They may have the capacity to sting but it doesn’t mean they’re going to do it every time.”

He did, however, still urge caution. Which I didn’t listen to.

So do they sting? Well, I didn’t get stung. Not painfully so, anyway. I also, thankfully, didn’t have an allergic reaction. But something happened. Maybe it was the night air coming in. Maybe it was my own stupidity with a bit of bluebottle ingenuity thrown in, but when news of a blue dragon stranding gets you running to the beach (and it will), use your brain and not your hands when trying to help them out.

HammondCare is a leader in health and aged care. We’re seeking compassionate people like you to bring comfort and connection to people living at home or in residential care in the Illawarra region.

Regular visits from volunteers can help reduce isolation, providing support and connection outside of their usual routine. Volunteering is a rewarding experience, so come and share your time, skills and compassion to brighten someone’s day.

Types of volunteering:

• Social home visits

• Bring your pet

• Gardening

• Board games

• Treats trolley

• Mini van drivers

• Men’s shed

• Pastoral care

For more information: 1800 79 33 99 volunteer@hammond.com.au hammondcare.com.au/ volunteer

Women watching whales

By Genevieve Swart

At the peak of their careers, two local mothers each made a life-changing switch that gave them time to volunteer and pursue a passion for marine conservation.

Lyndell Roberts comes from the world of construction, Jody Langlois from nursing. Their worlds collided when they joined the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA).

“I’ve always loved animals, been driven by sustainability, and the core of that is just nature and loving nature,” says Lyndell, who is Wollongong’s Pod Leader, coordinating about 80 volunteers from the Royal National Park to Gerringong.

Lyndell worked in the male-dominated world of construction and had risen to be project director of construction projects at TSA Riley when she decided to take leave and study. She now works for the same company but in a different job.

“I’m doing sustainability consulting,” she says. “I’m just really lucky, I made the transition at the right time, following a passion rather than searching for a career.”

Her new role offers not only the flexibility that all parents need, but also the time to volunteer and help ORRCA’s four focus marine mammals: whales, dolphins, seals and dugongs.

Jody, ORRCA’ secretary, has been in awe of whales since seeing the giant eye of a humpback through a porthole as a child. But for most of her career, she has owned and run Essential Care, providing aged care and palliative care. Then in 2023, she and her husband set off around Australia in a caravan with their three children.

“It was the best thing I’ve ever done,” Jody says. “They’d known nothing other than mum’s always on the phone, mum’s always working.

“I realised how much I’ve missed … spending 50-plus hours a week on the business, and decided I didn’t want to go back.”

On the cusp of 40, Jody changed her life and hired a manager for her business, so she could study for a Bachelor of Marine Science. It’s a long-held dream, delayed by high school teachers who said she wasn’t smart enough to be a marine biologist and that women’s work lay in nursing.

“I got involved with ORRCA because I’m pursuing a passion that I’ve always had, ever since I was a little kid,” Jody says.

The 2025 whale migration has begun and ORRCA’s hotline, 02 9415 3333, is open 24/7. The volunteer-run charity relies heavily on donations and the dedication of team members. Visit www.orrca.org.au

A humpback and calf.

Photo: Ashley Sykes @ ausmashmash

Moving Arts Hub opens at Coalcliff

By Tyneesha Williams

With its new sprung floor ready to support dance, yoga and Pilates classes, Coalcliff Community Hall is now officially the Illawarra’s Moving Arts Hub. Wollongong Council appointed AUSTI. Dance & Physical Theatre as Coalcliff hall’s licensee last year and, as well as providing a home for the company’s own programs, the space will host local groups.

“We’ll continue to run our regular program on three days a week. And we have our newly established youth program for 12- to 17-year-olds, run by our gorgeous alumni, every Sunday in here,” said AUSTI’s artistic director Michelle Maxwell.

“Alongside that, we can see regular pilates and yoga classes, other movement-based practices happening here.”

In February, AUSTI hosted a studio launch with special guest Maryanne Stuart, the Member for Heathcote, who helped secure $25,000 towards the Coalcliff hall’s newly installed portable sprung floor through the Premier’s Discretionary Fund.

“Thank you to our funding bodies, the NSW Government with assistance from Maryanne Stuart, Tanja Liedke Foundation, the Australian Cultural Fund, our sponsors and supporters, Merrigong Theatre Company, National Strength Performance Centre, Wollongong City Council and STM Studio Supplies,” Michelle said.

AUSTI’s founder also thanked her “incredible board”, including Vyvian Wilson, Linda Luke and Zebastian Hunter.

In March, AUSTI welcomed international choreographer Daniel Navarro Lorenzo to the studio to create a new piece for their May season.

Nothing More premieres at the IPAC on May 30 and 31. Tickets via Merrigong’s website

Dress for Success holds sale

By Tyneesha Williams

Global charity Dress for Success has its own success story to share. Their services – from providing a quality wardrobe to careers advice – have empowered more than 3000 women a year to gain financial independence.

Rachel Dyer, operations manager at Dress for Success Illawarra, is proud to be a part of an organisation that has supported women since 1997.

“We exist because of people’s donations of time, money and clothing,” Rachel says.

“The clothing that’s donated – we curate very carefully … We also try not to accept anything that’s from fast fashion.”

Dress for Success has a boutique in Warrawong, open for three days a week, though Rachel would like to make it five. “I see these wonderful women coming in who’ve had challenges, and I see these wonderful volunteers that give up their time to help these ladies, and sometimes that’s all it takes, and it’s transformative,” Rachel says.

“We can’t fix the complex problems that these ladies walk in with. We can do one thing: we can give them confidence and we can empower them to

help them put their best foot forward.”

Dress for Success has a ‘client first’ policy and clothing that is deemed inappropriate for an interview, a court appearance, a graduation or other major event is sold at discounted rates at their ‘Bubbles and Bargains’ Sales.

The next one is on May 18 at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre, with tickets via Humanitix.

“It’s really great clothing at really good prices,” Rachel says. “It keeps us going, but it’s also about saving things from landfill and providing good clothing in an affordability crisis.”

2025 Federal Election

What’s On

More events at theillawarraflame.com.au

Sat, 3 May Polling opens at 8am and closes at 6pm. Find your nearest booth at aec.gov.au/where Wollongong Spinners and Weavers

Sat, 3 May Annual exhibition from 9am to 3pm at the Fairy Meadow Community Hall on the Princes Highway. There will be demonstrations throughout the day, a fashion parade at 10.15 and food and drinks are available. Most items will be for sale.

Bulli Corner Quilters’ Mammoth Quilt Sale

Sat, 3 May 9am-3pm at Northern Illawarra Uniting Church, corner Princes H’way and Point St Bulli. Over 60 quilts for sale, gold coin entry.

FOGO Tours

Sat, 10 May As part of International Compost Awareness Week (4-10 May), Council is offering behind-the-scenes tours of SOILCO’s facilities at Kembla Grange. See how your garden and food waste is transformed into sweet-smelling soil and take home a bag of GO-compost. Limited places, bookings essential via Eventbrite.

Dreaming Inside launches

Thu, 22 May 6:30pm at Wollongong Art Gallery. Ngana Barangarai (Black Wallaby) invites you to the launch of two anthologies: Sista’s Green Sea Dreaming Volume 2 and Dreaming Inside Volume 13, collections of poetry and narratives from incarcerated First Nations writers, reflecting on themes of family, justice, resilience, and identity.

Illawarra Choral Society – Fauré Requiem Sat, 24 May The society will present Fauré Requiem and Bach Cantata BWV 4 at St Francis Xavier Cathedral. The orchestra will also perform

Grieg Holberg Suite Op. 40. Spiritually uplifting music accentuating emotion. Book via Humanitix. Stanwell Park U3A Mondays, Hillcrest House, 9.30am-noon.

5 May Historic City of Ravenna, David Christian 12 May Portugal and Spain Gardens, Jim Powell 19 May Would Australia be Better Off Without an Army? Brian Martin

26 May Two Canals, a Frenchman & World Shipping, Mike Traynor.

U3A Wednesday Talks Program at Thirroul 7 May Jessica Rich, Remondis, waste education 14 May Emma Rooksby, Landcare Illawarra 21 May Peter Windsor, What are we doing about cattle & greenhouse gases?

28 May Ainslie Lamb, National Reconciliation Week, Group Discussion – Moving Forward.

Helensburgh Library

Wed, 14 May Author talk with Janet Lee, 5:30-6:30pm. Join historian Janet Lee to discuss Teaching the 3Rs, Pioneer Schoolteachers of the Helensburgh District. Free, bookings required.

Wed, 28 May John Clegg – Enjoy live music with a talented singer and musician, 5:30-6:30pm. Free, bookings required.

Fri, 6 June Family trivia night. More info: www. wollongong.nsw.gov.au/library/whats-on/events

Comic Gong

Sat, 24 May Brought to you by Wollongong City Libraries, Comic Gong is Wollongong’s free celebration of comics, gaming, pop culture and cosplay – and the people who create and love them. This year’s celebration will be held at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre. You can expect an actionpacked day with cosplay competitions, entertainment, activities, and incredible trade and artist stalls – all under the one roof.

Have your say on fire plan

It’s the first in 10 years and will be in place for the next five years

A draft of the first Illawarra Bush Fire Risk Management Plan in a decade went on public exhibition in April and the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) is calling on everyone to share their feedback Bush Fire Risk Management Committee Executive Officer, Acting District Manager Insp David Bartlett, said Bush Fire Risk Management Plans generally last for five years and the draft was held up due to new mapping

technology. There are five focus areas: Darkes Forest, Garrawarra, Helensburgh to Stanwell Tops, Scarborough to Mount Pleasant and Carrington Falls. “Once we get on the other side of 1st of June, this plan will be in place for the next five years and what we’ll work towards,” Insp Bartlett said. Have your say by June 1 via the RFS website, email or post. The draft plan can be viewed online or at any Wollongong libraries.

Barracks Art Studios open

Step inside to shop for bargains and meet the artists during Thirroul’s Seaside Festival

The exceptional visual artists at Barracks Art Studios Thirroul will open their work spaces to the public on Saturday, 31 May and Sunday, 1 June from 10am-4pm as part of the Seaside Festival.

Located in an old brick building near the railway line at 1 Church Street, the Thirroul studios are home to well-known local painters and sculptors, including David Hull, Graham Sinclair, Skye Zaracostas, Frank Nowlan and Judy Bourke, star of the Flame’s cover in May 2024. “Climate change is the theme for me now,” Judy says. “Creating artist books and outdoor and inside sculptures have taken my time and interest in 2025. Collecting used and interesting objects still interests me.”

At the open days, Judy will have pure woollen beanies and hand-dyed silk scarves for sale, as well as prints and artist books.

Contemporary painter David Hull – whose art provides an interpretation of an area’s industrial landscape – has entered his work in the main festival exhibition. He’ll have small and large canvases, and works on paper for sale.

Free entry, barracksartstudiosthirroul.org

To coincide with the Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival, we have invited Sydney eyewear designer Chris Savage to teach you how to combine traditional artisan techniques with the latest technology to hand make spectacles reflecting your own personal style. 18th May 10am Deposit required, to secure a spot call into See Side Optical

Judy Bourke and David Hull

Support the Salvos

Local branch launches Red Shield appeal

The Salvation Army has a small mission in Helensburgh that helps locals in need, creates community for people feeling lonely and isolated, and delivers individual and family empowerment and well-being programs. This is all free – the mission is funded purely by public donations.

Every May, the Salvos runs its annual Red Shield Appeal fund-raiser, aiming to raise enough money to keep operating in this local area.

“Over the past year, we have assisted numerous people experiencing homelessness, survivors of family-domestic violence, and people who are really struggling to make ends meet,” said mission leader Lauren Martin. “We have had some beautiful moments – seeing three of our community members who were struggling with homelessness get safe, affordable accommodation … We have also journeyed with families struggling to cope with loved ones who have challenging behaviours through our See Change and Family Empowerment programs.”

Lauren said that more people need help because of the prolonged cost-of-living crisis and the goal of this year’s local Red Shield Appeal is to employ the local Salvos community worker an extra day a week.

“We recognise that our local businesses, families and individuals are really doing it tough right now,” said Lauren. “But for those who can afford to give, we are encouraging them to consider a substantial donation to our local Red Shield Appeal so that we can increase our presence in the local area.”

To help your local Salvos, donate by scanning the QR code above or via EFTPOS or cash at fundraising events in Helensburgh, Coledale or Bulli. Donations made elsewhere do not stay in this area.

Guides go canoeing

By Isla Cormican, age 12

The Helensburgh Girl Guides unit recently went on a fun canoeing adventure.

We met up at Bindaree Water Activities Centre, got all the canoes out, and put them on the water. We paddled around for a bit, getting used to it, and then we went all the way out to the bridge.

The funniest thing happened when my hat flew off and almost sank! It was so funny, but we got it back. It was a really fun day.

If you would like to volunteer at the Helensburgh Girl Guides, visit www.joinguides. com.au or call 1300 447 548. Join Helensburgh Girl Guides and be part of something amazing!

Lions sponsor hearing assistance dog

By Fran Peppernell of Helensburgh Lions

It was a busy April with a lot of activities, such as supporting Warwick’s Boot Scooting Fundraising event, the Easter Scramble and the Anzac Day Service at Stanwell Tops memorial park.

Now it is with great pleasure that we announce your Helensburgh Lions Club will sponsor the training of an Australian Lions Hearing Assistance Dog. As a sponsor, we get to name the puppy and we are going to ask our community to help.

For over 40 years, the Australian Lions Hearing Dogs program has given people who are deaf or hard of hearing a set of ‘furry ears’ free of charge. Hearing Assistance Dogs provide significant benefits, including better health and safety and less discrimination against the person with hearing loss. We’ll receive updates on the puppy’s progress and share photos on our Facebook page.

Facebook @ helensburghlions

Whatever the election result, first home buyers will be the winners

By Ian Pepper of Ray White Helensburgh

With the federal election set for 3 May, housing has quickly become a central focus for both major parties. After months of limited discussion on affordability, new policy announcements have pushed the issue into the campaign spotlight.

Labor is offering a scheme that allows first home buyers to enter the market with just a 5% deposit, backed by a government guarantee to avoid extra insurance costs. They’re also promising $10 billion to deliver 100,000 homes reserved for first home buyers, forming part of a wider goal to build 1.2 million homes.

The Coalition, on the other hand, wants to let first-time buyers of new properties claim mortgage interest on loans up to $650,000 as a tax deduction, potentially saving families thousands. Their plan also includes a $5 billion infrastructure fund aimed at freeing up land and enabling the construction of 500,000 new homes.

Friends channel grief into tender film about loss and love

By Tyneesha Williams

For their graduation showcase short film, Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) students Ruby Reardon and Layla Philippou have made Nothing And The Sun, a work born of their unexpected and profound friendship.

“Our parents were in the same hospital at the same time last year. It was kind of this crazy coincidence that brought us together – we were texting one day and realised we were sitting in waiting rooms of the same Intensive Care Unit, just a floor apart,” says 21-year-old Layla.

“Each of our parents passed away quite close together, and we thought ‘we have to make something out of everything we’re feeling – this whole experience and the synchronicity between us.’”

They became creative partners, co-writing and directing their 11-minute grad film Nothing And The Sun based on their own grief and friendship.

“It’s basically been us really directly putting our personal experiences into the film and reimagining it through the perspective of two 11-year-olds,” says Ruby, who is 22.

“We both really naturally leant towards writing from a child’s perspective. We sort of felt that going through this whole experience and this loss brought us back to being children that just wanted their parents and wanted a feeling of safety.”

The film tells the story of 11-year-old Mallee and his best friend, Alby – who, like Ruby and Layla, are navigating the loss of a parent. Nothing And The Sun is a tender story of friendship and perseverance.

“So much love also coexists with so much grief, and that’s just always going to be the case,” Layla says. “We wanted to make something beautiful out of loss, not to romanticise the loss but to acknowledge that there’s beautiful parts within it.”

Reuben Reynolds and Nicholas Davies star in the film alongside Jen Boxer, who plays Alby’s mum. It was Reuben’s first lead role and the three actors met just a week before filming.

“The thing that was special to us was exploring the way that their childhood was still there and the beauty of their friendship and how special that is. Moments of catharsis and pure joy that sort of bleed into all the grief,” Ruby says.

Ruby and Layla will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, and Nothing And The Sun will be submitted to film festivals in the coming months, giving audiences the chance to see the film as it tours the festival circuit.

The film had industry eyes on it last month at the AFTRS graduate showcase. “It has kind of opened up relationships with people we hadn’t connected with before the film,” Layla says.

Ruby and Layla were supported by their production team: producer Riti Ramanujachari, cinematographer Tavishek Sharma, production designer Madeleine Massey, editor Cooper Kahui-Chee, sound recordists Chloe Russell Alexander, Tegan Krempl, Jake Smith, Wentian Jin, Grace Rodgers, and Marcus Tran, sound designer James Yeremeyev and composer Daniel Duque.

Ruby is from Stanwell Park and began filmmaking during her degree at AFTRS.

“Our friendship has led me to a place of understanding my grief, which has just completely formed and shaped this project into something I don’t think it could be without a friendship.

“My perception of everything circling around me is shaped by my identity as a Pacific Islander. On the Islands, overwhelming suffering is being endured as they front the climate crisis. Creating means connecting to a world of grief and gives me an opportunity to voice the silenced.”

Layla, who lives in Penshurst, has also directed a short documentary, Ode To An End, about Denise Love, Australia’s first ‘death doula’.

Ruby and Layla are hoping to start their own production company after graduating next month.

Instagram @nothingandthesun_film

Food Intolerances: What To Watch For

By Dr Amy Harkness of Bulli Medical Practice

Is your child experiencing unexplained symptoms after meals? Unlike food allergies that cause immediate reactions, food intolerances can be subtle and difficult to identify, affecting up to 25% of Australians. Any age group can be affected, but it is a common concern for parents of young children.

Common symptoms to watch for:

• Food preservatives and additives (colourings, sulphites, benzoates)

How are food intolerances diagnosed?

Unlike allergies, there’s no single test for food intolerances. Diagnosis typically involves symptom assessment, food diaries, and sometimes elimination diets under medical supervision.

• Gut-related issues: diarrhoea, stomach pains, bloating, constipation

• Respiratory problems: sinus congestion, recurring coughs

• Nervous system effects: headaches, behavioural changes, fatigue

• Skin reactions: rashes, eczema flare-ups

Most common intolerances in children include:

• Milk products (particularly in children under 2 years)

• Lactose (the sugar in milk)

• Wheat and gluten

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Many children can tolerate small amounts of trigger foods, and some may outgrow their intolerances. However, others may experience symptoms long-term, requiring ongoing dietary management.

Important note: Food intolerance is different from food allergy, which involves immune system reactions and can cause immediate, potentially life-threatening symptoms.

If you suspect your child has a food intolerance, speak with your GP before eliminating food groups. This ensures proper diagnosis, adequate nutrition, and appropriate management for your child’s specific needs.

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

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

Going Postal

By architect Ben Wollen

I’ve written about all of the other details of a street that you get to experience whilst riding a bicycle. Because you’re travelling slower than in a car, there’s time to say hello to passers-by, you can check out the different front gardens, and these days the odd bunny hopping about (no, I don’t mean Easter bunnies, I mean those cute little ferals that seem to be proliferating about the place). One of the details of front yards I love to check out are people’s letter boxes. There’s so much diversity and I think the humble letter box can say a lot about a house and the occupants within.

Take mine, for example. It was once a freestanding cream-coloured basic metal type in a rounded bread loaf shape with some basic stick on numbers at the front. There’s room up top for the newspaper (rarely used) and a hatch underneath for the letters. Since we’re in the process of renovating and haven’t quite sorted out the front yard, I did a quick red paint renovation and bought some nicer numbers. A definite reflection of what our house is behind it with a not-quite-finished renovation and a million and one jobs on the list – they say a builder’s house is never finished, same goes for architects!

One could argue that the postbox is redundant – but how else would you receive your hard-copy Illawarra Flame every month? One could argue that we need more of a waterproof tub or locker than a shoebox-sized tin box. This is for all of the online shopping, meal kits and pizza deliveries. I recently noticed one of those big plastic storage

tubs out the front of a place in Austinmer which had a note on it – “Australia Post deliveries in here please”. La Niña hasn’t been kind to home deliveries.

Despite the changing nature of the post and direct couriers, I don’t think the humble postbox is going anywhere. It’s a requirement for all new developments regardless of whether they ever get used. And just like physical cash or vinyl records, I think that’s a good thing – some things just need to stay in an old format. And so let us look into the wide world of local postboxes!

I have attempted to group their designs into three categories.

1. The store-bought standard

These range from your standard bread loaf shape like ours, to the designer sleek stainless steel box. There’s your ye olde worlde variety and sleek modern to complement your house’s style. A popular souvenir from New Zealand is to bring home one of their famous colourful plastic numbers. Sometimes they are integrated into a front fence, other varieties require a concrete anchor and some even suspend from a post.

2. The haphazardly repurposed

Last time I was driving out in the country, I noticed there were two types of mailboxes that seem to dominate front gates. Microwaves and fridges. There’s the classic stainless-steel milk jug perched on its side. I’ve seen beer kegs and all sorts of cans, tubs and tins with a slot cut out of them. Many a farmer will dress them up as a small front-entry sculpture, which leads me to my most favourite variety…

3. The unique & quirky

This is where some people go to town on creative exploration and experimentation. Popular among these are surfboards, mosaic tile numbers, or even the mini-me version of the house behind. Then there’s the budding sculpture artist taking their work skills to the front yard: I’ve seen tin kangaroos, metal chains welded together to give the impression they’re defying gravity, outboard motors and, of course, the classic Ned Kelly. If you’d like to see more kooky examples, a Sydney architect is documenting unique ones he finds on Instagram @letterbox_architecture

Have you seen a unique letterbox in your neck of the hood? I’d love to see a photo. Please email me at ben@wollenarchitecture.com.au

Time to

reflect

Janice Creenaune meets Wombarra’s David Roach, a filmmaker, visual artist and president of the Clifton School of Arts committee

Turning 70 came as something of a surprise to Wombarra resident David Roach. “It’s not the age itself, it’s the fact that I am still getting the same kick out of doing the things that I used to do as a teenager; jumping on my bike to go and check the surf, wandering about in the bush, getting lost in a novel. My 16-year-old self could never have imagined that this was what life would be like at 70.”

David and his wife, journalist and author Caroline Baum, moved from Sydney to Wombarra 23 years ago. “It’s the wild landscape of Wodi Wodi Country that you fall in love with first, the escarpment and the coastline. It’s extraordinary and magnificent. That’s the reason you move here. But getting to know this community, that’s the reason you stay.”

David grew up a bit further down the coast in Moruya, Yuin Country. It was a fantastic childhood, he says. “Not much money, and a huge amount of freedom.” His father was a house painter. “By the time he retired, my dad reckoned he’d painted every house in the town three times. When I finished school, I had no idea what I wanted to be. Not a clue. Dad suggested that I become a butcher. His logic was, ‘Everyone has to eat.’”

Instead, David spent some time travelling before enrolling in the National Art School.

“It was the best education anyone could have,” he says.  Eventually he became a screenwriter and director. Best known for such films as Beneath Hill 60, Young Einstein and Red Obsession, he figures he has spent almost 50 years living the creative life.

He admits that it’s not for everyone. “It can be a

roller-coaster ride. If you’re lucky you could have some successes and get a few awards. But for every project that breaks through there are others that disappear without trace. There are periods of isolation and self-doubt, times when you wonder whether you should have chosen something more secure.”

A few years ago, David volunteered at the nearby Clifton School of Arts (CSA), became a member and joined the committee. “I guess I did it out of some kind of civic duty. I had no idea that it would become such a rich and meaningful experience. You realise that you are part of this chain of committees that stretches back over a century. Your job is to not only maintain the beautiful heritage building, keep the doors open and the lights on but to actively support artists, run workshops and exhibitions, to bring fresh new ideas and experiences to our little part of the world.”

Now the committee’s president, David and his team are working on one of the most ambitious projects CSA has undertaken since the building was saved from demolition in the 1990s. They plan to build a multi-purpose gallery at the rear of the heritage building that will incorporate disabled access and facilities. “The original building was built by local miners over 100 years ago.  A dance hall was always planned as a second stage but it never eventuated. This beautiful extension will complete the work that those miners started.”

He says the committee is spending a lot of time applying for grants and raising funds. “With the support that we receive and the generosity of our members and volunteers, I’ve no doubt that we will achieve our goal.”

Recently CSA won the 2025 City of Wollongong Arts and Cultural Achievement Award. David says it was a real honour for the whole team. “This sort of official recognition really helps.”

When he reflects on what is going on in the world he says, “There is no doubt that we are living through dark times. With what is happening politically, with wars, inequity and the massive challenges of climate change and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. I do feel we can make change at the community level, but it takes a common vision, it takes time, effort and certainly camaraderie.”

He says he will continue making films and working on other projects, (like Life Sentences, a podcast about contemporary biography that he produces with Caroline,) but he has taken the pressure off himself. “The local community work more than sustains me.”

More info: artsclifton.org

Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation Australia. Email janicecreenaune@gmail.com

Burials hidden for a century

By Helensburgh Historical Society researcher Jenny Donohoe

The society has had a field survey with Wollongong City Council’s Cemetery Supervisor, Paul Gooda, regarding the Flame article by Genevieve Swart in the April 2025 edition.

Society members have been researching for years to discover where all the missing burials would have taken place in the Helensburgh General Cemetery. Over the years, bush has encroached inside the cemetery boundaries and it has always been suspected there may be unknown burials somewhere.

The bushland burial site of 16-year-old miner Emile Cunningham, who died in 1908. At top: Jenny Donohoe with the current map

Travel to Outback

By trip organiser Helen Slade

Helensburgh Seniors Travel Group all had a wonderful time on our ‘100-Year-Old Pub Tour’ this month, it was very much the fun trip we had hoped it would be.

Our next tour is to Outback South Australia & Flinders Ranges, September 14 to 27. This includes three nights at Wilpena Pound, and three nights at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the Gammon Ranges National Park. During our stay in the ranges, we get to do an Insider’s Tour of this stunning national park, visit Stokes Hill for

Evidence that about 200 unknown burials took place were recorded in 2006 in Max Negel’s ‘Helensburgh General Cemetery’ report, with ‘Grave Unknown’ listed beside people’s names.

In the society’s archives, an old 1892 Helensburgh Cemetery Survey Map had been scanned and digitally filed, but where it came from is still a mystery. On this document there are four sections at the south-eastern boundaries of the map individually marked. These four sections have always been completely covered in bush with small and large trees. When the cemetery was controlburned late last year, this area was suddenly free of undergrowth to be surveyed. Prior to the current survey, this area of four sections was not registered on Council’s cemetery maps.

Society member Stephen Donohoe and I, along with WCC’s Paul Gooda, walked into the section we are talking about and found remnants of graves and an old water pipe connecting from the current cemetery. From Negel’s Cemetery Register, there could have been over 100 burials in this section from 1892 to the 1920s. What a discovery, as no one has walked into this bush section for a very long time, probably 100 years.

Thanks to previous research, we know the location of the graves of stillborn babies, paupers and other unknown Anglican burials, and the newly discovered section could amount to another 100 unknown burials. Hopefully, Wollongong Council will prepare new signage to include this section on their map as well as the other unknown burial sites. We are just starting to give the unknown burials recognition – we have their names from Negel’s Cemetery Register and are getting closer to knowing where they lie.

Sundowners and venture out on a 4WD Ridge Top Tour, driving along mine tracks through rugged mountains. We’ll visit Yudanamutana Gorge and Sillers Lookout, enjoy a 35-minute Scenic Flight over the Gammon Ranges (optional) and a Tour of the Universe from the Astronomical Observatory facility. And so much more!

This will be followed by a night at Port Augusta before travelling on to Adelaide where we spend four nights at Hotel Alba while exploring the best of the south coast, the Adelaide Hills and Adelaide City before flying home.

Non-members are welcome. Enquiries: Helen Slade 0427 043 774

Children’s Art in the Park

By Kieran Tapsell of Banksia Bushcare

The Stanwell Park Children’s Centre in the Stanwell Avenue Reserve has been involved in Banksia Bushcare’s work since its formation in 2017.

We invited the Children’s Centre to have their pupils paint some of the eggs for the nests we created from the invasive Lantana, Senna and Ochna sticks. The children’s enthusiasm for egg painting was such that we ended up with too many painted eggs.

We then made a special giant nest to house the children’s eggs outside the centre fence. It stands at the back of the centre. We have put the artists’ names on signs so that they can see them from the centre. Some of the early childcare artists would now be going to high school.

Surprisingly, there has been little vandalism of the painted eggs within the reserve, partly because we don’t draw attention to the bush tracks with signs in the picnic area, and partly because of the involvement of local children in Art in the Park.

Bird Watch

By Ewan Auld

The Children’s Centre staff take the children for walks along the bush tracks a couple of times a week where they can learn about the tree species and about the 20 species of dinosaur hatchlings in some of the nests. They also have the opportunity to swing on the giant Wonga vines that climb up into the rainforest trees.

Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)

The Buff-banded rail is May’s bird of the month. This rail species is found sparsely throughout eastern and coastal areas of Australia, inhabiting wetlands, swamps and other vegetated waterways. In the Illawarra, they can sometimes be seen foraging on mudflats and among vegetation fringing local lagoons and will also venture along creek lines and into parklands. They are a naturally shy species, and rarely stray far from dense vegetation cover, which they will quickly retreat to if disturbed or startled. In Stanwell Park, there are now established breeding pairs at the northern and southern lagoons. I was lucky to photograph this adult out in the open grass on an early, overcast weekend morning – just before the stir of people sent it scurrying off into the nearby reeds.

ENTRY TO PLANT SALES AND GARDENS $7. CHILDREN FREE

Illawarra Grevillea Park Autumn Open Days 2025

Saturday May 3rd and 10th, 10am-4pm; Sunday May 4th and 11th, 10am-4pm

Expansive native display gardens; rainforest, sensory trail and vine forest walk; picnic areas

Huge range of natives for sale including tubestock and special grafted plants

Want advice? – bring your questions and we will do our best to help!

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JESS WHITTAKER

A Green voice on Wollongong City Council

Grevillea Park Rd , Bulli Illawarra Grevillea Park/Facebook

jesswhitt 0491 316 123

cr.jwhittaker@wollongong.nsw.gov.au

WOLLONGONG VOLUNTEERING EXPO

Meet a range of organisations and get involved in your community

WOLLONGONG TOWN HALL

WEDNESDAY 21 MAY 2025 9.30AM – 2PM

wollongong.nsw.gov.au/vol-expo

Renters reap rewards of electrifying

By Electrify 2515’s Elsa Evers

Josh lives in Austinmer with his wife and two-year old daughter. With support from their landlords, they are the first tenants to take part in the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot. Josh explains why it’s so important for renters to be involved.

What motivated you to join the pilot?

Having a child and thinking about what I can do personally to improve the future for my kid, for other kids, and for generations to come.

How were you able to get involved in the pilot as a tenant?

Our landlord is very engaged with electrification already so they actually knew about Electrify 2515 before we told them.

What did you get upgraded via the pilot?

We were lucky enough for our landlord to agree to upgrading the hot-water system from instantaneous gas to a heat pump, and replacing our gas cook-top with induction.

What do you think the benefits will be? Our power bills are going to go down. We now have a healthier kitchen without gas burning. The health of our daughter is paramount to us. We’ve also got a couple of pet birds, and they’re really sensitive to noxious gases, so we can now bring them inside more often.

As renters we are more susceptible to cost-ofliving changes. Electrification helps with that.

The Electrify 2515 team are seeking renters and landlords to take part in the pilot to accurately reflect the demographics of the area. For applications and more info, visit electrify2515.org

Lobbying for change for all

By Denise Aubourg of Electrify Illawarra

It’s been a busy month. Electrify Illawarra shared a stall with Renew Illawarra at the Corrimal Rotary GreenFest on April 13. We chatted to locals about how they can reduce their bills and carbon footprint by going all-electric. The BYD Dolphin and Tesla electric vehicles sparked conversations about what it’s like to own an EV for the first time.

Electrify groups across Australia have been inviting federal candidates to meet them and to champion energy policies that would permanently reduce energy bills, build healthier homes and support thousands of Aussie jobs. We’ve been meeting with Cunningham and Whitlam candidates to lobby for bi-partisan support for a

no/low-cost loan scheme to enable every home to afford to upgrade their appliances and cars, as well as large-scale investment to train more tradies, who are the heroes of the energy transition.

On April 16, we joined other climate groups to call for a Local Energy Hub in the Illawarra.

In March, Rewiring Australia released The Electrification Tipping Point report, showing that households that switch to an EV, solar and electric appliances could save more than $4000 a year, even when including upfront costs. Worth a read.

Coming up

Curious about what an all-electric home looks like? Don’t miss Renew’s Sustainable House Day on May 4. Four Illawarra homeowners have offered to host a small group tour of their properties. Google ‘Sustainable House Day 2025’, bookings essential.

On Monday, May 5, Wollongong Council will discuss Development Control Plan for Ecologically Sustainable Development (2009 chapter A2). Local health and sustainability groups are calling for new builds to be all-electric. We will rally outside the Burelli Street Chambers from 5-6pm before attending the meeting as part of the public gallery to hear the outcome of public submissions.

Road tripping

Chapter 14 in Peter Aubourg’s Diary of an EV Driver

We set off on our second road trip, this time to Wodonga. The MG4, bought as a run-around car, has a 350km range, which is fairly low for modern EVs. However, there are plenty of charging stations along the Hume, so it seemed like a good idea. We had learned from our first trip to get set up with RFID cards to run the chargers, and plan our trip using the ABRP app. The 350km range is a bit theoretical. On the road, you seldom charge to over 80% and it is good to arrive at the next charging point with at least 20%. With these settings in the planning app, we were going to have three stops on our way: Sutton Forest, Yass, then Tarcutta. The trip went as planned, with only one slight adjustment.

But this article is really about EV batteries. EV batteries are weird things. They are not like fuel tanks where you can just fill them up at any speed. If you keep filling batteries up at a fast speed when they are close to full (> 80%), it is a bit like pouring a beer from a great height and getting miles of froth. It does not go well! The battery-management system automatically throttles down the charging speed so you can’t fill too fast, and the battery stays happy. At a fast charger, we found the charger would fill at 60kW at first, but as soon as the battery got to 80% the car would throttle it down to less than 20kW.

This creates a whole new etiquette at the charging station. It is very uncool to keep charging your car beyond 80%, if there are other people waiting. The % charge is displayed on the charger window, so you cannot get away with it.

With the rapid increase of public chargers each year, this issue will hopefully be resolved soon.

This leads on to another tip: leave enough charge to be able to have a plan B. On the trip to Wodonga, we had planned to juice up at Tarcutta, but found both bays in use, with three other cars waiting. We still had 36% charge, so went via Wagga where there were six Tesla chargers – all vacant! We arrived much brighter than you would expect after a 500km drive. Maybe that is because the car is a lot quieter than an ICE car, or maybe because we had three enforced 20-minute breaks for charging. Either way, a successful trip.

TVC Update

By Thirroul Village Committee secretary Annette Jones

Telstra Building

Over the years the Telstra building in Station Street Thirroul has been tagged, rendering the site an eyesore. Tony Horneman from the TVC contacted Telstra many times to have the graffiti removed. After inaction, he escalated the matter to the Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes, who contacted Telstra. Telstra agreed it would be a good idea if a mural was painted. A local street artist, Jack Miller-Hendry, was commissioned to paint the mural and a design agreed upon after consultation with the immediate neighbours, St Michael’s Church and St Michael’s School. You may have noticed the mural being painted over the last few weeks. The TVC is pleased to announce that it is now complete and thanks Jack for doing an amazing job. Check it out and follow his work on Instagram @jackmillerhendry_91. Thanks also to Tony for following through, working with Telstra and Alison Byrnes to find a suitable solution.

McCauley Lodge and

Tasman Court

On 14 March 2025, the Land and Environment Court released its decision in relation to the

NIRAG/NF3 Report

By secretary Ross Dearden

The Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group (NIRAG) was formed in August 1984 as a reaction to proposals to construct 40m high Coal Bins at Sandon Point, Bulli. We support preservation of open space and the retention and enhancement of our Natural Environment, European and Indigenous Heritage.

Since 2020 in the role of Neighbourhood Forum 3 (Woonona, Bulli, Thirroul and Austinmer) residents of this area have been welcome to attend NIRAG quarterly meetings to discuss and contribute to local community issues and concerns.

Draft Community Strategic Plan 2035 and draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2025-2026

These are now on public exhibition for the period until Wednesday, 7 May 2025. As this closes before the next NIRAG meeting the link to the Strategic Plan 2035 and the Draft Delivery Program has been shared by email, and copies are in all libraries. Your comments and suggestions should be sent by email directly to Council and copied to

nirag@bigpond.com to contribute to a community submission.

Green corridor: Lot 303 (7ha) Amy St, Thirroul

This land is needed to link to Sandon Point.

A meeting was held with Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart to explore what assistance is available and what needs to be done to support the strong community support to have this land in public ownership. We are expecting a meeting with Penny Sharpe, Minister for the Environment, can be arranged soon. To date Council has not seen merit in obtaining this huge area 70,000m² of land (7 ha). Green corridors are generally supported but this land is not yet identified on any strategic plans for Council to acquire.

NIRAG is asking for support for acquisition of this land to be included in the Strategic Plan and brought into public ownership as recommended by the COI and the Charles Hill Report years ago. Volunteers would be willing and able to reduce ongoing maintenance and management costs, and funding assistance is sought from State Government and other funding sources.

redevelopment of McCauley Lodge and Tasman Court, which are both located on Tasman Parade, Thirroul. Commissioner Porter approved the development application subject to a number of conditions of consent (Annexure A). The judgement and conditions can be found at https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/ decision/1958c85d62ee884625de18fb

Approval is for a two- and three-storey building with 18 independent living units and basement parking for 24 vehicles to be built on the McCauley Lodge site and another 20 independent living units with basement parking to be built on the Tasman Court site.

Meeting with Heathcote MP

The Member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart, invited members of the TVC, Save Thirroul Village and NIRAG to meet on April 11 to discuss emergency access to and from Thirroul. This is the first time in recent history that a sitting member has shown interest in this vexed issue. This was a fact-finding mission in preparation for discussions with Council. The TVC will keep the community up to date on any developments in this space.

Next TVC meeting: Sunday, 25 May, 4pm at TRIPS Hall in Railway Parade, Thirroul

Tribute to Max Ackerman

Max Ackerman, one of the founders of NIRAG and a well-known Bulli identity, volunteer, and community leader, passed away on 20th March, aged 88 years. He was the spokesperson and NIRAG secretary for many years. The link to view his memorial celebration service, held at 10am on Wednesday, 3rd April is at www.tastefultransitions. com.au/maxwell-ackerman/.

Next NIRAG meeting: 14 May, 7pm, Bulli Community Centre upstairs. All welcome. Email Ross at nirag@bigpond.com

EMAIL: info@asquithlegal.com.au

WRITE TO: PO Box 3048, Austinmer NSW

VISIT: WorkLife Coledale, 741-743 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coledale – by appointment

FIRSTSCHOLARSHIPPOWER

Soundscapes at Clifton

By Caroline Baum

The experience of performing at Clifton School of Arts as a musician is unique: not just because of its famously good acoustics, well-suited to intimate concerts by solo instruments, but because the venue has such an active soundtrack of its own.

Performers and patrons are likely to be serenaded by the jazzy syncopations of passing trains, the clang of a safety barrier being lowered, the distant shrill whistle from a Sunday steam locomotive. It’s the sounds of the neighbourhood, the screech of parrots and black cockatoos drifting down from the escarpment, cicadas harmonising with the Harleys thumping up the hill from Sea Cliff Bridge.

There’s no point in being precious about it: the venue, with its spectacular setting, sits on an axis that defines the character of the Illawarra – that very specific collision of looming escarpment and wild coastline mixed with remnants of the area’s industrial past. The School of Arts building was erected by striking local miners in 1911.

Seasoned musicians take it all in their stride. You see them smile as they tune their instruments, waiting for the right moment to begin. The unconventional atmospherics add charm and character to performances, which helps explain why so many well-established professionals come back year after year, building a CSA date into their touring program.

With just 60 seats, concerts are exclusive by necessity, with ticket prices low to keep them affordable. This is one venue that is not struggling to lure patrons following the great Covid break.

Guitarist Sako Dermenjian finds the history of the building appealing and resonant. “Maybe because I come from an old culture myself, I think about what those walls have witnessed.”

The Armenian-born Syrian refugee – who has

cut a swathe through the music scene with an exciting repertoire that draws on classical and flamenco traditions – has played several sold-out shows at CSA. “The distant sound of the ocean and the closeness of the audience make it feel like a place where music is more like a conversation, less like a performance. It’s informal and friendly, which makes it easy for me to chat about what I am going to play. I very much hope to come back later this year and bring other musicians with me.”

Others see it as a perfect place to try out new works without too much stress. When local jazz composer and bass player Lucy Clifford returned from a stint studying at a prestigious music school in the US, she assembled a cracking band for a memorable album launch at CSA that ended with a standing ovation.

“It was nothing short of incredible,” Lucy says. “It’s such an inspiring place that provided the most beautiful sonic experience not only for us but for the wonderful and supportive community that came to be immersed in local music making.” On that night even a swallow joined in, chirruping from the ceiling beams.

Cellist Anthony Albrecht, a member of the Bowerbird Collective, has been drawn back to CSA as a soloist many times. “My favourite memory is playing to a packed house. I glanced out the window just as a whale was breaching!”

That’s how it is at the CSA: nature and the neighbourhood are part of the performance.

Coming up on Thursday, June 12th, local violinist Cedar Newman – freshly returned from the US and Germany – will perform a 50-minute program, including works by Bach, Paganini, Ysaÿe and Ernst. Doors open at 6:30pm.

Book for Cedar’s ‘Soundscapes’ at Humanitix

May&JuneUpcoming Classes

tue-wed 06–07/05

Artist Bookmaking Workshop

With Liz Jeneid

fri-sat 16–17/05

Collage Workshop

cedar newman

SOUNDSCAPES solo violin

Dramatic, Playful, Ethereal

With Elspeth McCombe wed 18+25/06–wed 02+09/07

Watercolour Workshop

With Christine Hill

To get involved or know more: Cheryloconnor1@bigpond.com // Artsclifton.org

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

We offer assistance in the following areas:

Conveyancing

Wills

Family Law

Estates & Probate

Small Business Law

Contact our office today Office: 32 Walker Street, Helensburgh Phone: 02 4294 9980

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

Echoes of folk tunes & dance rhythms, beautiful melodies & moving harmonies.

Paganini - Bach - Ysaÿe - Ernst

$40

$35

$25

Thur 12th June|7:00 pm

CLIFTON SCHOOL OF ARTS

Timbermill Gallery

May 9 - 26

Every piece has a story

We live in a world largely disconnected from our natural resources. This exhibition of local woodworkers will reconnect you to the stories behind the makings and the makers.

Opening Night Friday May 9 6pm - 8pm

Food, drinks and live music by Taylor Davis and Jess Reiss. Come celebrate and appreciate the amazing world of wood!

Meet the Makers

Friday May 16

6pm - 8pm

Nibbles and drinks

Stuart Montague Illawarra Woodwork School

Brett Davis Woodstories

Timbermill Gallery 2/6 Molloy St. Bulli

Full festival program announced

By Elizabeth Heffernan of the South Coast Writers Centre

The South Coast Readers & Writers Festival returns to Thirroul over the weekend of 5 and 6 July with a vibrant line-up of literary talent.

The full festival program is now live, featuring local voices, return guests, and internationally bestselling authors, with sessions covering current affairs, fantasy and mythology, writing YA, literary fiction, history and storytelling, the business of publishing, poetry, Aboriginal voices, and more.

Festival highlights Saturday, 5 July – Best-selling fantasy authors Isobelle Carmody (Comes the Night) and Kate Forsyth (Psykhe, pictured at left) are joined by A.L. Tait for a session on fantasy and mythology.

Saturday 5 July – Internationally

Can local action change the world?

After more than 200 millimetres of rain fell on the Illawarra in just a few hours in April 2024, locals rolled up their sleeves and did what they do best in a crisis.

By Tareyn Varley

They turned up at the hardest-hit homes with mops and shovels, asking where to start or just quietly getting on with it. They brought food, cleaned out garages and offered their homes and hoses to people they’d only just met.

Wollongong writer and activist Nick Southall says the region’s response wasn’t unusual – it was typical. He calls it “disaster communism” (also the title of his book released last year), the idea that when a crisis hits, most people don’t look away. They pitch in. They organise.

“The common response was to take action to look after those they care about, look after their neighbours, look after their communities,” he says

of the floods.

“Doing repairs or recovery work, counselling, giving money, giving hours, helping with housing – a whole range of things that are probably still going on to this day.

“Most people respond to disasters in positive ways – people do incredible things to help each other, to redistribute wealth, resources, power.”

It’s a view he’ll bring to this year’s Sydney Writers’ Festival: Live & Local, which combines live-streamed headline sessions from Sydney with in-person events with local writers at the Music Lounge in Wollongong Town Hall.

Nick will join author Claire O’Rourke for Grassroots to Global, a panel hosted by journalist Joanna Macey, to discuss whether local action can actually make a difference when it comes to threats like climate change.

bestselling author of The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho Pip Williams sits down with Catherine McKinnon to talk all things linguists and bookbinders.

Saturday, 5 July – Darren Rix, co-author of Warra Warra Wai, and Ryan Butta, author of The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli, talk history, lost and found, with Jeremy Lasek.

Sunday, 6 July – Political commentator Amy Remeikis, independent journalist Antony Loewenstein, and scientist and author Tim Flannery discuss current affairs with Jan Fran.

Sunday, 6 July – For a special session on Gaza and Lebanon, Theodore Ell (Lebanon Days), Omar Sakr, and Safdar Ahmed (The Nightmare Sequence) are joined by Antony Loewenstein (The Palestine Laboratory).

Sunday, 6 July – Emily Maguire (Rapture) and Gail Jones (The Name of the Sister) sit down with Hayley Scrivenor (Girl Falling) for a panel on literary fiction.

Plus, so much more! Dive into a celebration of writing, with voices that inspire, challenge and connect us, in the picturesque village of Thirroul.

To see the full program and buy early bird tickets, visit southcoastwriters.org/festival

See you in July!

He says the conversation will cover “some of the most important issues of our lives, and what we’re going to do about them”.

“It’s also a chance to have some more engagement with hopeful ideas about the future and the potentials for transforming the world into a better place to live.”

The UOW academic says he’s optimistic because people have always stepped up and found ways to build fairer, stronger communities.

“I have seen in the past that those who have remained hopeful and have struggled against things like fascism, war and oppression have been successful in many ways,” he says.

“They haven’t got rid of those things, but they have created alternatives. They’ve supported growing relationships, solidarity, forms of genuine democracy and better ways of living.

“That’s happened in the past, it’s happening now – and I think we can keep doing that.”

Live & Local at Wollongong Town Hall Sydney Writers’ Festival: Live & Local is on Saturday, May 24 from 9.30am to 6.30pm. From 1-2pm, in the ‘Grassroots to Global’ panel, Nick Southall and Claire O’Rourke will join Jennifer Macey to ask: can local action really change the world? More info: southcoastwriters.org

Essay discussion

From the team at Collins Booksellers Thirroul

At Coledale Community Centre on 10th May, Jess Hill, journalist and author of Quarterly Essay ‘Losing It’, will be in conversation with Regina Featherstone, a senior lawyer from the Human Rights Law Centre. Bookings essential for what will be an incredible event. Next, bring the kids into the bookshop any time in May to colour a leaf for our Reconciliation Week window display. This year’s theme, “Bridging Now to Next”, emphasises the ongoing connection between past, present, and future, urging us all to learn from the past and continue the push forward towards reconciliation. So very important! And finally, wishing all the mother figures in our lives a wonderful and special 11th May.

collins BOOKSELLERS thirroul

books, games and gifts for all ages

Shop 5/264 Lawrence Hargrave Drive

www.collinsbooksthirroul.com.au

@collinsbooksellersthirroul

LAW feature Cover Steven’s

By Marcus Craft

On April 14, 2023 NSW paramedic Steven Tougher was fatally stabbed in Campbelltown while on a break during his shift.

Steven’s family – his then-pregnant wife Madison, his father Jeff, mother Jill and sister Jessica – have suffered unimaginable grief since that terrible day.

The attacker later admitted in court that he’d stabbed Steven multiple times, but he was found not criminally responsible for the fatal act on mental health grounds.

To the family’s immense credit, they have been fighting ever since to change the law through state parliament so the kind of brutal attack Steven suffered will never happen to another emergency frontline worker in NSW.

Essentially, Steven’s Law calls for a minimum 12-month jail term for anyone who assaults frontline workers, but that sentence is suspended if the offender attends a rehabilitation program.

The family’s campaign also includes a series of recommendations such as body-worn cameras and stab-proof vests (see ‘#ZeroTolerance’ on the opposite page for more details).

The family has been selling Steven’s Law stickers

($5 each) to the general public and placing them on NSW Ambulance vehicles to promote the cause. Starting in mid-December, in the space of three months Jeff posted 6000 stickers to supporters.

“The idea of the stickers,” Jeff said, “is to get the message into as many electorates as I can, so that the pollies are seeing them on the road all the time and then when they come back to parliament and someone mentions Steven’s Law, they’ll say, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve heard about that’, or ‘I’ve seen that’.”

Steven’s Law supporters also held Silly Socks events in April to raise awareness of the campaign to change the law.

Jeff and Jill left Wollongong on April 14 – the second anniversary of their son’s death – to drive around NSW distributing Steven’s Law stickers to ambulance stations across the state as part of a week-long tour to build greater awareness about the issue.

Before they left, Jeff told us that the aim of the trip was to “meet the ambos while they’re on the job ... and give them the stickers to put on the ambulance, so they’re on every ambulance”.

Judging from their warm reception on the road, the Toughers are close to mission accomplished.

Jeff Tougher.

Photo: Anthony Warry Photography

Steve Tougher. Photos: Supplied

When the Flame contacted Jeff and Jill towards the end of their trip they were feeling “really positive” about the reaction from the public and NSW Ambulance staff.

“It’s been awesome,” Jeff said. “We’ve smashed it. It’s been amazing.”

Overwhelming interest from media outlets has also forced Jeff and Jill to become adept at wrangling journalists, photographers and TV news camera crews.

“We’ve done two and a half thousand kilometres and we’ve learnt so much from so many paramedics – it’s been fantastic.”

As well as the trip being a positive push for the Steven’s Law campaign, Jeff said the visits to numerous NSW Ambulance stations had also reinforced just how difficult everyday work was for emergency frontline staff – and that is a point he plans to make at the Paramedic Security roundtable scheduled for May 22.

“It’s amazing what they [emergency frontline workers] actually put up with on a day-to-day basis and how much the public gets away with.

“So that’s basically what we’ll bring into that meeting. I’ll be letting them know because they

1. Body-worn cameras for all ambulance paramedics working in the wider community

At least one per crew – to gather evidence of assault. Regulations to be implemented to inform the public of the camera and its use.

2. Stab vests to be issued to all paramedics

To be worn at the discretion of the paramedic, but must be stored in the ambulance, in a position of easy access.

3. Steven’s Law

Legislation to impose a mandatory minimum 12 months’ jail term for assaulting any frontline worker. Regardless of circumstance or state of mind. Sentence can be suspended, provided the perpetrator attends regular programs to address anger management, drug and alcohol problems and mental health issues. (Programs to be supplied by the government.)

Failure to comply with the terms of these programs will result in incarceration for the remainder of the sentence. Steven’s Law is designed to support the evidence gathered by the cameras or by witness account. This support will take away the onus on the victim to press charges.

The aim of this law is to put a 12 months period between the victim and the perpetrator. Thus eliminating the chance of the frontline worker being confronted again in the workplace by the perpetrator.

already know what we’re after and what we want. So it’s more about access to politicians now.

“That’s the idea of getting it into the electorates. And I think it [Steven’s Law] would have absolute bipartisan support. This is not an issue. You’d have to be a mug to put your hand up and say ‘No’, wouldn’t you?”

Jeff said that from the start, when Premier Chris Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park visited the family home immediately after Steven’s death, state government ministers have been very supportive.

“Chris Minns rung me the other day talking about things and I didn’t want to get too into it with him because it was more about ringing up about Steven.

Warrawong paramedics (below left) putting a Steven’s Law sticker on one of their ambulances. Jeff (below right) on sticker duty. Photos: supplied

“And I happened to say to him: ‘You’re aware of what we’re trying to do?’ And he said ‘Mate, you just do what you have to do. Don’t you worry about us.’ They’ve given us plenty of access to the ministers. They’re very positive.”

The Tougher family will attend a Paramedic Security roundtable on May 22 with representatives from the Health Services Union, NSW Ambulance paramedics, experts, NSW Health department officials and NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park, the Member for Keira.

How to buy Steven’s Law stickers

Send an email to stevenslaw12@gmail.com with details of your order, Jeff will respond with bank details and after receiving your payment he’ll mail out the stickers – postage is free.

Paramedic Security roundtable called

How will the government respond to the Tougher family’s calls to implement Steven’s Law?

“The family of Steven Tougher is in the forefront of our minds at this difficult time,” NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park told the Illawarra Flame in a statement last month.

“Jeff, Jill, Jess and Madi continue to advocate for change and we have worked closely with them to understand their views and how we may be able to assist in further improving safety for all frontline workers.

“All frontline workers have a right to come to work without being hurt or injured and the NSW Government is deeply committed to continuously improving their safety.

“We continue to develop a range of

strategies and initiatives developed with Steven’s family:

“Evaluation of the body-worn cameras research trial; in-vehicle cameras; mobile phone alerts; further occupational violence prevention training; and police information sharing.

“A 12-month research project is also being conducted in collaboration with Charles Sturt University to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of stab-resistant body armour.

“A Paramedic Security roundtable will be held next month with the Health Services Union, NSW Ambulance paramedics and experts which I will have the privilege of attending along with representatives of the Tougher family.”

The history-making career of Ken Habak

By Tyneesha Williams

The Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI) turns 50 this year and, to celebrate, Ken Habak OAM has been helping out on a history book.

As MCCI’s longest-standing chairman, leading the board of directors for the past 20 years, Ken made an invaluable contribution to the newly published Voice, Participation, Service – A 50-Year History of MCCI, by the charity’s CEO, Chris Lacey.

“Chris and I have done a lot of work together,” Ken says. “He takes a lot of weight off my shoulders. He’s been working on that book, sending me segment after segment after segment every month or two for the last three years.”

Ken came to Australia five decades ago.

“I fled war-torn Lebanon in the 1970s with my wife [Salma], and didn’t even resign my schoolteacher’s position!”

When the couple landed at Sydney Airport, their family in Australia had not received the telegram saying they were on their way. “We put the luggage in a taxi and we came here. Really and truly, when we got to the top of Bulli, and I looked at the escarpment, I felt inside me that this is home.”

Ken went on to work at BlueScope Steel for four decades, open the Illawarra’s first Arabic school and, in the 1980s, he and leaders of the Antiochian Orthodox community bought land to build St Elias Church on Kenny Street. Ken is still the president of the South Coast Lebanese Association.

His service with MCCI dates to its early days as the Illawarra Ethnic Communities Council. “I was

involved from the second week that I was here in Australia,” he says.

From “a handful of staff” and funding of about $900,000, he’s seen the charity grow.

“Today,” Ken says, “we are a $15 million organisation with 165 staff and 140 volunteers servicing and supporting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Illawarra, Shoalhaven and ACT.”

Ken was Multicultural NSW’s 2008 Volunteer of the Year, he’s received the Order of Australia Medal, a human rights medal from the NSW premier, and in 2018, he was asked to be an Australia Day ambassador. This February, he was named Wollongong’s Senior Citizen of the Year, an honour he describes as “the icing on the cake”.

Ken has two daughters and two sons, who all graduated from university with distinction. He returned to Lebanon in 1992, with his oldest daughter, and officially resigned from his job as a teacher there. “I knew that I would not leave Australia for good, for the rest of my life. I have been here for 55 years. I love the freedom of this country, the fairness of this country. I love the inclusion and respect and harmony in this country. Especially the City of Innovation, Wollongong.”

Ken will retire from MCCI’s board at the end of the year. “But I will always be available to advise and support MCCI and the wider community.”

To buy a copy of Voice, Participation, Service, visit www.mcci.org.au

Ken and Salma Habak. Photo: Tyneesha Williams

Sole Liberal voice on council

By Genevieve Swart

The unfortunate tale of the NSW Liberals’ nominations bungle – when forms were not submitted on time, leaving about 150 members unable to stand in last year’s council elections –has had a happy ending for the party in Ward 1 of Wollongong.

Austinmer dad Ryan Morris – who had recently retired from the Australian Defence Force after serving primarily in the Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment – ran as an independent and on October 2 was elected as one of four councillors for Ward 1.

Then, about four months ago, Ryan joined the Liberal Party. “I just realised running as an independent was a difficult circumstance and to get somewhere in politics – if you choose to go that

‘Let me fight for you’

Scan to read more about the pre-election event

On April 7, Responsible Future volunteer turned Liberal Party candidate for Cunningham Amanda Ivaneza urged a crowd of about 220 people at Warilla Bowls Club to “fight for the Illawarra”.

“Put some trust in me as a grassroots candidate and let me fight for you and fight for our communities because only a Dutton Coalition government will stop these wind farms,” she said.

An HR manager at coal miner Peabody who is running for election for the first time, Amanda became emotional on the subject of renewables during her allocated three minutes to address the Illawarra Offshore Wind and Energy meeting.

“It goes to show how, just how emotional it is for me and how much I want to protect our landscape for our children,” she said.

way – you need a party or some heavy backing behind you as a general rule,” he said.

“And the Liberal Party is the one that’s closest to my values. So I decided to join the Liberal Party.”

Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group (NIRAG), which acts as Neighbourhood Forum 3 for residents of Woonona, Bulli, Thirroul and Austinmer), learned the news last month.

Like many local parents, the Austinmer father also shoulders family commitments – including as an Ethics teacher and surf club volunteer – and finds it difficult to attend evening events. “I don’t get to attend as many of the forums that I would like to … unfortunately, they all have their meetings usually on an evening and I’m looking after the kids at that stage.”

Ryan was inspired to run for council after seeing flood damage in his community and last year listed remediating the stormwater and flood management plan as one of his top priorities.

He is not a member of any of the local ‘no-offshore wind’ groups, but had their support during his campaign. “I still don’t think that the wind farms are a good idea economically for Australia,” he said.

Ryan said he’s not making decisions according to a party line. “I make decisions based on the people that I talk to in the community – they talk to me about what their problems are and I try to make a value judgment based on that.

“I do try to do my best for Wollongong at the end of the day.”

The Liberal candidate was one of 10 speakers at the event, put on by Responsible Future Illawarra Chapter, a local group campaigning against offshore wind that recently featured in an ABC investigation.

“We are a 100 percent grassroots organisation,” Responsible Future president Alex O’Brien said in his opening address. “We are not funded by the fossil fuel industry, or Trump or whoever else they may think is behind our movement.”

Visit the Shed in the Forest

By Paul Blanksby of Helensburgh Men’s Shed

There are over 1000 Men’s Sheds in this wide brown land. Your Helensburgh Men’s Shed has been part of the 2508 community since 2016, helping charities, sports groups, single parents, and everyone else who needs a hand with a project.

We’ve operated in Stanny Park, out of the Anglican Hall. Then we grew and grew, and had great success at Parkes Street. And now, as we get closer (fingers crossed) to getting land to build a permanent facility, we’ve moved to a beautiful part of our region – Darkes Forest. We’re actually so far into the Forest we’re in Wollondilly Shire, but we’re still Helensburgh Men’s Shed. Why would you come down Darkes Forest Road to visit our Shed? Well, as you come, you can pick up a lovely meal (best chips ever) from Binners Food Truck. Do you like apples and crisply

delicious cider? Then Glenbernie, the longest-running family-owned orchard in the area, is for you. Do you love horses, the outdoors, and fresh air? Go for a gallop at Darkes Forest Riding Ranch.

Then there’s Dharawal National Park at our doorstep, ready for bushwalking, mountain-bike riding, or a visit to Maddens Falls for a foot bath. And, right at the end of the road, at #624, is the Men’s Shed. It’s a place of leisure, learning, relaxation, creation, and fun, open Monday to Wednesdays, 9am to 3pm. We would love you to visit us on our first Open Day in the Forest, Saturday, May 3. Have a vote and a Democracy Sausage, then pop down for a chat.

Contact the Shed on 0478 892 485 or info@helensburghmensshed.org.au

Join our Probus Club

By publicity officer Judy Duckett

The Combined Probus Club of Helensburgh & District is looking for new members!

Are you newly retired or semi-retired and looking to make new friends, stay active, and enjoy life? Why not join us? Probus is all about fun, friendship and fellowship in retirement. We’re a warm, welcoming and not-for-profit group of men and women who enjoy good company, new experiences, and staying connected with our community. We are open to retired and semi-retired men and women. Annual membership is $75 and you can try before you join – attend two meetings as a guest.

Join us on the second Thursday of each month at Tradies Helensburgh, 30 Boomerang Street. Our next meeting will be on 8 May, 10am for 10.30 am start. Our guest speaker will be John Watson whose subject will be ‘This Crazy Language English, Consistently Inconsistent!”

We also have monthly outings like golf, bowls, scenic walks, and lunches. Contact Val on 0419 129 984 or email helensburghprobus@y7mail.com

Brilliant clarinetist

By Lyndall Fowler of Steel City Strings

Steel City Strings are excited to announce Lloyd Van’t Hoff as a featured soloist in their next concert series Echoes about Asian influences on Australian music. A former ABC Young Performers Award winner, a concerto soloist with Australian and international orchestras, Lloyd is Head of Woodwind at the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium. He says: “This work is a stunning example of musical storytelling –delicate, witty, and profoundly lyrical.

“Performing in regional centres is something I value immensely. It’s in these communities that music often finds its most enthusiastic and heartfelt audiences. There’s something deeply rewarding about sharing new Australian music in these settings – where cultural connection and appreciation run deep.”

June 21, Wollongong Art Gallery, www. steelcitystrings. com.au; photo by Keith Saunders

Let us entertain you

By Wombarra playwright Lindsay Fisher

My husband and both my children are professional performers, so I have collected a million stories around what it really means to make a career as an entertainer. From singing in a bar while the footy plays on the big screen overhead to being asked to perform for beers, entertainers are often undervalued and under-appreciated.

And so began Let Me Entertain You, a fun, musical ‘playsical’ that makes its debut at Coledale Community Hall in May.

It’s the story of a talented young woman, and a mother who would prefer her daughter gets a ‘real’ job, so does all she can to wipe out entertainment, and entertainers!

The show is a family affair because I’ve roped in my husband, Stephen Fisher-King, to play Barry Tone, an entertainer falling victim to the changes

and his

Singers plan Supper Shows

By Lauren Mitsak

The premiere of Tap Cats of the Sunshine Coast was a huge success, with all four shows sold out. Congratulations to author/playwright Christine Sykes, director Katie Peach and their sterling cast!

facing the industry. Stephen is an experienced musical theatre performer, having starred in major productions of Evita (Che Guevarra), Cats (Gus/ Growltiger/Bustofer Jones), The Rocky Horror Show (Brad) and the Australasian tour of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber with Anthony Warlow and Sarah Brightman. He’s also a multi-award-winning Variety entertainer so is perfect for the role.

Our daughter, Darcy, will take the stage as Little Bird. Darcy is a Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts graduate who has performed in numerous musical theatre productions (most recently Bonnie and Clyde at Sydney’s Hayes Theatre). She’s currently releasing original music and performing in music venues, as is our son Billy, who performs with Jack Ladder and toured internationally with The Killers. They all have loads of experience, and lots of stories to share!

With a raw script in my hand, I joined the South Coast Writers Centre/Merrigong Playwright’s Program, where, under the guidance of Tom Peach, I did a lot of polishing before being offered the opportunity to stage the play.

And here we are!

We have a wonderful cast made up of experienced local actors, including Sally Evans, who is perfect as The President, Nick Kilpatrick as her long-suffering sidekick Hugh Jeffort, the wise Scribe is played by Tim Collins and The Elusive Agent of Mystery is brought to life by radiostalwart David Rogerson, who is now a lecturer at the Australian Institute of Music and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS).

Basically, I have morphed from writer to producer and director, but I am loving every minute and can’t wait to share our wonderful production that will leave you singing, long after you leave the theatre!

Coledale shows on May 16, 17 and 18. Tickets via www.southcoastwriterscentre.org

With mulled wine and a three-course meal Riversong, this year’s Singers Supper Show, will be staged on the evenings of June 21 and June 28. After a glass of mulled wine on arrival, guests will enjoy a three-course meal prepared by volunteers under the direction of Sian Morgan. We are also offering a soiree performance on Sunday, June 29 with light refreshments after the show. If you enjoy cooking, have menu suggestions, and want to get involved with your culinary skills, we would love to hear from you. Email me at lmitsak@y7mail.com.

Stephen

daughter Darcy perform together in cabaret and variety shows

Behind the Curtain

With Brian Kelly

Quite apart from making it a habit, Cathy Bates is quite looking forward to having her eyeballs torn out again. Or rather, her character’s.

Not that the Illawarra theatre veteran is pro-violence or detests being the Duke of Gloucester; it just means she’s back on the boards doing what she has loved for decades.

Fans of Coniston’s doughty Phoenix Theatre last year saw Cathy’s Gloucester relieved of his globus oculi (by the Duke of Cornwall, played by Andrew Gorban) in a superb rendition of King Lear.

Mild-mannered public servants off stage, Shakespearian rivals on stage, Cathy and Andrew revive their roles in The House of Gloucester, an adaptation steered by Phoenix champion Steen, who also directed King Lear

‘’With this new version we wanted to explore the ritual nature of the play – themes deeply embedded in the original are brought to the surface,’’ said Steen, giving short shrift to any purists who might claim such work dishonours the Bard.

“Shakespeare has been re-interpreted by companies ever since the first production. It is not the word of God – it is a script written by a working actor for the audience of the day. Frankly, the ‘butchering Shakespeare’ line is spoken by those who learnt it at school with no real notion of how theatre works.’’

Cathy inherited her mother’s love of theatre,

This year’s show has a range of songs from classical to farcical, interspersed with plenty of audience participation. It also showcases our members’ instrumental talents as they accompany some songs with flute, violin, accordion, saxophone, clarinet, piano and even an oboe.

If you’re interested in checking out SPAT Singers, under the direction of the multi-talented Lindy Sharp, come along to the Stanwell Park CWA Hall Friday evenings at 7:30 and partake of beautiful music, wonderful company and delicious eats!

often putting her hand up at school before her first Arcadians role in South Pacific in 1978. Beyond musicals, she headed outdoors on two Shakespeare in the Gardens productions in Wollongong before a move to Workshop Theatre for several productions, including Dangerous Liaisons, then to Dodo Express under Steen for Wuthering Heights

She took a 15-year hiatus to sing professionally, first in duos, then a seven-piece soul band, before returning to theatre.

Cathy has loved playing several small roles in one production. “That’s a real challenge – finding a different ‘voice’ and physicality for each is exciting. I also like to play against type.

“Villains are fun, as long as I can find something to like about them,’’ she said. “Complicated characters give you so much to work with and I also love gender-swapped roles as you can bring a new perspective to the character.

‘’I do love Gloucester because he/she gives me a chance to play someone in extremis.’’

With multi-sensory storytelling and technical elements, The House of Gloucester is on stage from May 2 to 10. Tickets from trybooking.com.

It’s virtually a Shakespeare season at Phoenix, with a staging of Much Ado About Nothing from July 25 to August 2nd.

Also in May: Workshop Theatre is staging Crimes of the Heart, from May 2 to 17.

Peter and the Wolf

We are in discussions with the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music about collaborating on the staging of Peter and Wolf. We are very excited about breaking new ground and testing unchartered waters with this joint endeavour.

The show is set to be staged on the first week in July, on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th, and on the last weekend in August, Friday 29th and Saturday 30th.

Stay tuned.

Why we need a Local Energy Hub

An opinion piece by Darryl Best

There is so much change going on in Australia and the rest of the world.

Sometimes it can be quite overwhelming.

One of the great problems we have as a community and as a society is to be able to guarantee that the information we are getting is factual and from a reputable source. If you are from a particular side of politics, you tend to believe what that side is saying. If you are on social media, your feed ends up being what reinforces your view. We all end up in our little bubbles and it is often easier to stay there rather than risk the opposition that invariably comes of speaking up.

centre, depending on a community’s needs. Several features make the hubs very appealing. They will be independent of government influence and staffed by trusted locals. They will have information on all renewable initiatives being proposed for our area and across the nation, so we know what is happening and how we fit into the grand plan.

I have been very vocal in support of renewable industries being established in areas where fossil fuel industries will close. I am not saying they will close immediately, but it is far too late to wait until the closure of a coal mine, for instance, to say we need to establish a major industry so those workers are not lost to our communities. When I have said this, the response has varied from “Yes, that is desperately needed” to “You are an idiot, a blow-in and are trying to destroy our community”. People are using all sorts of platforms and strategies to stifle views different to those they endorse.

I could be right or totally wrong, depending on your view. Such is the polarisation – and the almost non-existent opportunity for debate –in our country at the moment.

Last year groups nationwide put a proposal to the government for Local Energy Hubs. Fifty hubs Australia-wide are being proposed and will need to be funded by governments. They are a wonderful initiative for communities to be able to access facts about all aspects of renewable initiatives and how households can reduce energy costs. They can be anything from a shopfront to a mobile information

They will only have information on renewables from trusted scientific institutions and groups that are genuinely concerned for the environment. This could be the latest Greenpeace report on the interaction of offshore wind farms and whales, or what is happening with community batteries, which will help everyone but especially those who cannot afford rooftop solar.

Hubs will also give people the chance to go to a safe space to get the information they need. Hubs will also have information about communities that have negotiated great benefits from renewables for their area, and tips on how to work together to get those benefits by talking to the companies that own and operate the renewables. These are all things that are just so hard to find out about at the moment without getting a biased opinion.

Yes, Local Energy Hubs are about Renewables. The Illawarra region has also been declared a REZ or Renewable Energy Zone, so renewables are definitely coming. A Local Energy Hub here will help us understand what is coming and how people can transition to or find work in one of these emerging industries.

Pictured; On April 16, demonstrators – including Cr Jess Whittaker – turned an empty shopfront in Crown St Mall into a pop-up event to promote Local Energy Hubs. Yes2Renewables and Good for the Gong led the action. Photo supplied

At right: Greg Simeon at a section where fencing is missing. Below right: Sylvester Ho believes the fisherman could still be alive if the fence had been fixed. Photos: Jeremy Lasek

Calls for urgent safety audit

By Jeremy Lasek

The tragic drowning of a 58-year-old Sydney fisherman in the early hours of Good Friday has sparked calls for an urgent review of safety along the Wollongong Harbour breakwall.

As reported by The Illawarra Flame a fortnight earlier online, the breakwall is in a poor state of repair, with two large sections of the rusting safety fence falling into the water.

It was through one of those gaps in the fence that the Sydney fisherman was washed into the water by a wave just before sunrise on April 18 as huge seas pounded the wall.

Onlookers said a second man, believed to be the son of the fisherman, jumped into the water to try to save him. He was unable to be revived.

“It’s just tragic,” said Sylvester Ho, from Earlwood, who has been fishing regularly on the breakwall for the past six weeks.

“It’s a big safety issue. If this fencing was fixed, he probably wouldn’t have gone over.”

Safety audit required Sylvester said the popular fishing spot required a thorough safety audit to protect the lives of those who use it.

Three years ago a Balgownie man drowned in similar circumstances when he was washed through a gap in the fence.

“There need to be angel rings [life buoys] right along this breakwall and this rusting fencing needs to be replaced with stainless steel,” Sylvester said.

Greg Simeon, who was back on the breakwall

fishing just 24 hours after the tragedy, said that people have been asking for safety improvements for a long time.

“They can’t keep putting it off. You must be deaf, dumb and blind not to know about this,” Greg said.

Current fencing is not safe

Wollongong Greens Councillor Kit Docker fears more lives will be lost if steps aren’t taken to improve safety and education.

“In terms of opportunities to improve safety, the current state of the fencing clearly shows that it has deteriorated to a point that it no longer provides the level of safety that it was installed to provide,” he said. “The relevant government bodies could also explore immediately installing life buoys along the breakwall to assist with rescues.”

The Ward 2 councillor there’s also a need to educate people who choose to fish off the breakwall. “In addition to physical safety measures like fencing, there’s also a real need for increased investment in community education programs –particularly those that are accessible to all, including Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.”

While additional fencing had been put in place to discourage people from fishing at the end of the breakwall, at sunrise on Easter Monday dozens of people had returned to use the fishing spot.

Transport for NSW Maritime said an urgent review would be conducted and NSW Police are preparing a report for the coroner.

Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf

By Prof Rob Brander. This month: The danger of rock platforms

The Easter holiday weekend this year was one of the worst on record for coastal drowning in NSW, with six people tragically losing their lives. All were swept off rocks, and a breakwall at Wollongong Harbour, and some people were fishing.

Questions have been raised about why so many died and what could have been done to prevent these tragedies. Some questions are easier to answer than others.

First, it was a holiday weekend with warmer than usual temperatures that unfortunately coincided with massive swell waves generated from a distant cyclone. Despite numerous warnings made by authorities about the dangerous surf conditions, large numbers of people flocked to the coast, many completely oblivious to the hazards awaiting them.

Lifesavers and lifeguards closed the beaches to swimming and prevented people from going in, or getting too close to the water, and it was also easier visually for the public to recognise the dangerous conditions. However, it’s a totally different story along rocky coast locations, many of which are easily accessible and completely unpatrolled.

Rocky coasts can also be very deceptive in a long period (time between waves) swell. Long period waves are also characterised by wave sets, which are groups of larger waves separated by lulls that can last for tens of minutes. What might look safe to someone on a rock platform during a lull becomes extremely dangerous when the larger wave set arrives seemingly out of nowhere,

smashing into rocks and sweeping large volumes of water across the platforms with great force, easily capable of knocking people over.

But that doesn’t explain what people were doing in those locations in the first place despite all the warnings. Unless, of course, they weren’t getting them.

With so many online distractions, how many people, especially infrequent coastal visitors, actually read the news or listen to the radio on the way to the beach? How many people actually understand the severe hazard that large waves represent at rocky coasts? How many rock fishers are wearing life jackets? It also doesn’t help that social media helps promote images of spectacular wave conditions, which can attract people to the coast to watch, often from dangerous locations. Communicating warnings has never been harder.

Coastal visitation is increasing, so how do we get safety messages through to all those people? The reality is that we probably can’t. Perhaps during these sorts of conditions – which are uncommon, but predictable – local councils and national parks could have lifeguards and rangers situated at the entry points of popular rocky coast locations warning people about the dangers.

Sure it’ll cost money, but it would be money well spent. And if you see people who are clearly unaware of the danger they are putting themselves in, please tell them. It could save a life.

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

Crowds of people, including fishers and families, along a rock platform in the northern Illawarra on Easter Monday –after widespread news of the weekend’s drowning fatalities. Photos: Rob Brander

L to R: Cr Jess Whittaker, NF1 convenor Warwick Erwin and Cr Richard Martin at April’s meeting.

Forum re-elects long-term convenor

By Genevieve Swart

Warwick Erwin is heading towards his 10th year as Neighbourhood Forum 1 convenor, after being re-elected unopposed at the group’s April 9 meeting at Helensburgh Community Rooms.

Warwick was first elected on 9 November 2016, the same year that council introduced an accessibility area at the Wollongong Harbour New Year’s Eve celebrations. Warwick has supported this

initiative since it began and at 2024’s Lord Mayor’s Recognition Reception he was honoured as champion of the accessible viewing area.

Matters for the community forum take him away from his own business, Stanwell Tops Technical Services, for at least one day a week, but Warwick likes representing the community.

“I enjoy it because it’s fighting for the things in the 2508 area,” he says. “It is also using my people management skills, but it’s also having an influence in what council staff are doing and how they’re actually presenting it to the community.”

Over the past 12 months, Warwick is proud of three key achievements. “The completion of the Helensburgh town centre plan… Getting the Witty Road Camp Creek headwall drain finally out to contract. The Otford Causeway – not there yet, but council acknowledging they’ve got to do more with warning signs.”

Coming up are “a whole list of things”, including one problem that is at least eight years old.

“There are some things that have been asked of council over the years that nothing has happened about. A good example is bin locks.”

Warwick said there’s been no progress since a 2017 trial to stop cockatoos raiding rubbish bins. “To me that’s a bad thing, because you haven’t got a result and you’ve wasted a whole lot of money.”

NF1’s co-convenor position remains vacant.

Neighbourhood Forum 1 Report

By Warwick Erwin, convenor of NF1, an independent group supported by council

Three Ward 1 Councillors and four senior Council staff, including Director Infrastructure & Works Joanne Page and Manager Libraries & Community Facilities Sarah Taylor, attended April’s meeting to present on the draft Community Strategic Plan 2035 and draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2025-2026. The major items for the 2508 area are:

• Helensburgh Community Centre & Library – Design 25/26 Construct 26/27 – 27/28

• Helensburgh Pool Renewal / Refurbishment –to be completed by end of Dec 25

• Otford Community Centre replacement –Design finished and DA in progress –Construction 25/26 – 26/27

• Norm O’Brien Park Playground replacement – Construct 25/26

• Otford Playground replacement –Construction 26/27

• Parkes St Shared Path Lilyvale St to Cemetery Rd – Design only 25/26 no construction date. Previously 22/23

• Wilson Creek Rd path – construct 25/26

• Vera St embankment – construct 25/26

• 16 Tunnel Rd – Construct 25/26

• Otford Causeway Flood Warning signs – Design 26/27 – 27/28, no construction date

• Helensburgh Former Landfill Rehabilitation – Design 25/26 – Construct 26/27 onwards

Give feedback by May 7 via OurWollongong.nsw. gov.au. Send any items you feel should be in next year’s Budget to ourfuture@wollongong.nsw.gov.au

Otford Causeway Monitoring and Gates Council has installed a live monitoring system at the causeway for testing. NF1 requested simple warning signs and gates.

Whitty Road and Walker St –Camp Gully Rehabilitation work

Work to start on the headwall rehabilitation in May. Residents should have received notification.

Next NF1 meeting will be held at 7pm on 14 May at Helensburgh Community Rooms

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Hello Fish at Waniora Point

By Duncan Leadbitter

FREE “LEARN TO SWIM” CLASSES

It’s been a mixed year for snorkelling – lots of rain has made for poor visibility and then we had some monster swells. Waniora Point is located just to the south of Sandon Point. Known for the surf spot –Peggys – it has a good car park, a coffee shop, a headland to check out conditions and showers at the surf club.

SERVICING

CUSTOM APPAREL

FREE “LEARN TO SWIM” CLASSES

PARTS & ACCESSORIES

FORNIXWHEELS@GMAIL.COM

WWW.FORNIXWHEELS.COM.AU 0423 489 432

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

FREE “LEARN TO SWIM” CLASSES

Learn to stay safe in the water at the:

BEACH

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

ROCK POOLS

HOME POOLS

Learn to stay safe in the water at the:

RIVERS, CREEKS & DAMS

BEACH

ROCK POOLS

HOME POOLS

RIVERS, CREEKS & DAMS

Text or Call Peter - 0424 199 299

Text or Call Peter - 0424 199 299

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:

BEACH ROCK POOLS

HOME POOLS

RIVERS, CREEKS & DAMS

Text or Call Peter - 0424 199 299

Having said that, Waniora is not a place for beginners. The entrance/exit points are shallow, making it tricky even in a small swell or wind wave and very sensitive to tide height. The reef itself has very little above the high tide and so both north and south are affected by wind and waves from the other side, which makes for a challenging mix of currents and chop.

However … there is lots to see. On the northern side it slowly slopes off into water of about 4m or so and I have seen wobbegongs, lots of crimson banded wrasse, luderick and blind sharks.

On the southern side there are some drop-offs and ledges where I have seen southern eagle rays, tailor, stingrays and plenty of blue groper.

At the eastern end, which is quite a swim, there are some spectacular gullies where I have seen schools of yellowtail, hulas, southern pomfrets, sea pike and the odd yellowfin bream. I always think the gutters should hold grey nurse sharks, but all I have seen there so far is a couple of small bronze whalers, and a dive buddy reckons he recently saw a young black tip shark.

There are large meadows of the introduced green seaweed, Caulerpa filiformis, which can be seen easily in the drone footage in the linked video.

When checking the place out, have a thought about how the exit point may change if the tide changes or the wind gets up. There are beach bail-outs on the northern and southern side so it’s possible to avoid getting mashed on the rocks. On Saturday mornings the carpark can fill up quickly as runners gather for their 8am start.

Scan the QR to watch Duncan’s film of this snorkel or follow his YouTube channel, Illawarra Underwater

Another championship for Wollongong!

By Tony Ryan

The triumphant team with the spoils of their carnival victory.

The Illawarra Hawks may have won the NBL25 championship, but another local team has flown under the radar to win a prestigious AFL title…

Local Ben Shum saw an expression of interest for teams to register for an AFL Masters Carnival at Murrumbateman (50km north-west of Canberra) for the last week in March. He thought the comp might be a fantastic opportunity to get a few old Northern District Tigers back together.

Under the tutelage of fitness guru and current u17’s coach, Jason ‘Dream Crusher’ Ibrahim, former legends hit the track. Hamstrings and calves popped like champagne bottles at a wedding, but we had enough players to attend the carnival.

On the big day, the team left from Bulli Workers Club. The enthusiasm of a busload of over-40s blokes was like kids going to the Easter Show.

Just under three hours later, we arrived at the ground and knew we’d be the under dogs as other teams had marquees, proper trainers, and ice packs – the only ice we had was in the eskies for our

Tigers set for 2025

By Marcus Craft

Trial games and a productive pre-season across the grades have signalled a positive start to the 2025 season for Helensburgh Tigers rugby league club.

At time of writing, the club’s Over 30’s Ladies League Tag side, who played their first comp season in 2024, had just faced off against De La Salle in a round 2 clash; the Open Ladies League Tag team, who made it to the 2024 grand final, continue to impress this year; and the new Under 18’s boys had a trial game against the Collies in the bag and were looking forward to the start of the official 2025 season.

after-match beers. Most of our blokes were just there for the bus trip!

Our first game was against Balmain, who have won Masters premierships and carnivals. Coach Mark McPhee started with Tigers ex-Best and Fairest winners Andrew ‘Ondi’ Craig and Dale Perrett in the centre. These two guns, who have not touched a football for almost a decade, started like a house on fire. We suffered a narrow loss but were buoyed by the fact we were extremely competitive.

The next game was a good win over McArthur. Highlights? Kev Pritchard banging in a goal on his left foot from 35m out, and Mark Perrett and ‘Gentleman’ Jeff Burton’s strong marking. Reserves Coach ‘Funky’ O’Rourke reminded everyone why he is one of the greatest players to don a Tigers jumper with some sensational play.

As temps passed 32°C, sunscreen was getting a good workout. There was a two-hour wait before the final game so old bones were creaking and muscles were pinging like kids at a nightclub.

Fatigue was a major player in the last game, which was pure poetry in slow motion. Highlights included Matt Hiscock’s towering mark, Jade Collier’s boundary-line snap, Captain Kenny tearing his groin, ‘Dream Crusher’ failing to handpass to the team’s oldest player, a 59-year-old with a grade two Achilles strain. The coup de grâce was Ben Shum’s magnificent 54m torpedo punt through the big sticks to secure victory.

We all headed to the Murrumbateman Hotel for the presentation. It was a great surprise that on aggregate the winners of the carnival were … the Northern District Tigers! Our rag-tag bunch of mates, who came out of retirement for a kick and a bit of fun, were taking the trophy to Wollongong!

Photo: Tony Ryan

Helensburgh Tigers Over 30’s Women’s League Tag side in action. Photo: Helensburgh Tigers

Fairy Meadow Beach/Puckeys Walk

By Geoff Whale, author of Northern Illawarra Beachwalks (bcw.grwpub.info)

The described walk can be shortened by omitting the northern section to Towradgi Point. Pass through the dunes to . Head north along the shared pedestrian/cycle path that’s part of the Grand Pacific Walk. After 1.5km you reach the Towradgi Surf Club, the Bass & Flinders landing site marked with an information board, and recreation areas at Towradgi Point . Views south to the city are wonderful.

Step down before the pool onto Towradgi Beach, which is patrolled in summer.

Beachwalking is most pleasant if you stay close to the water where the sand is firmest, best on a falling tide. It’s a long (3.2km), meditative stroll along some of the most picturesque beach landscapes in the Illawarra. Fairy Meadow beach is about half way, with dense coastal vegetation on your right.

As you approach Stuart Park you’ll need to cross the Fairy Creek lagoon outlet. It’s often easy to step across, but after rain it becomes a wide, ankle-deep channel. (If you prefer you can leave the beach at the dog off-leash zone sign and cut straight to the historic sites.)

Exit at the grassy picnic areas, continue through the park and pick up the paved path on Squires Way. Turn right into Puckeys Estate Nature Reserve, an annexe of the Botanic Gardens and home to many bird species, marshlands and remnant forest.

After the boardwalk, take the right-hand fork to visit the salt-works site, including the remains of Puckey’s graduation tower

Return to the main track and turn northward. The main trees are she-oaks bordering the water, with banksias, other natives and some exotic shrubs and grasses. Near the end the left fork leads past a bridge to a small island.

Northern Illawarra Beachwalks is available from Collins Thirroul.

DISTANCE 4km to 7km circuit, flat. | DIFFICULTY Easy. SUMMARY Combines paved path with bush tracks through remnant coastal forest and a long beachwalk with views to Wollongong.

HAZARDS Cyclists; beach water crossing.

TRANSPORT Park at the end of Elliotts Road near the Fairy Meadow Surf Club, or add a 1.5km return walk to Fairy Meadow station.

Is the Wodi Wodi Track upgraded? Yeah Nah

Review & photos by Stephen Young

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) announced last December that one of my favourite little walks in the Northern Illawarra had re-opened after a multi-million-dollar upgrade. Our local member, Maryanne Stuart, repeated this announcement in her newsletter shortly after.

So with great excitement, I set off on the Wodi Wodi track from Coalcliff to walk to Stanwell Park station.

The trailhead sign encouraged me to believe the full trail was open (see photo 1).

Whoops, I got to Stanwell Creek, enjoying the new sandstone steps and upgraded path, but was then confronted with a washed-out gully where the track used to go to head uphill north towards the station (photo 2). No upgrade here.

I no longer have mountain goat mode so I searched for alternatives. Then I noticed a faded painted arrow on a tree and a tiny yellow arrow in the distance pointing downstream, and a tree with red tape around it (can you see them in photo 3?).

After following the creek down about 100m, I saw some old sandstone steps ascending to the north. Ah, this is the track! Sure enough I could get through to Stanwell Park Station, but this section of track has had no work done on it, is slippery when wet, and is steep and washed out in places (photo 4). Only recommended for fit, agile people.

So, is the Wodi Wodi Track upgraded? Yes and no. The green section in the trail map (photo 5) is great and has been upgraded.

The blue section is manageable but only obscure signage directs walkers where to find it. The red section is OK but not easy in places, traversing steep slopes, and slippery when wet. I have requested NPWS to update the signage at the trailheads and place clearer signs along the creek. This information is accurate as of 8 April 2025.

PS: After a tip from a friend, I take an old credit card to flick off leeches before they get too attached. 1 2 3 4 5

Newer, safer tools than shark nets

By Tareyn Varley

The NSW Government may have brought down its shark nets early this year, but it’s still refusing to scrap them for good – even after its own expert panel found no solid proof they actually work.

A new report from the state’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee backs what ocean advocates have been saying for years: shark nets offer no real protection to people and come at a serious cost to marine life.

Of the 255 animals caught last season, 94 per cent were non-target species – including dolphins, turtles and critically endangered grey nurse sharks. Just 36 per cent were released alive.

Environmentalists saw progress at the end of March when the 51 beach nets between Newcastle and Wollongong were removed a month early –a move aimed at protecting migrating turtles. The government says it will review the results of this season’s shark mitigation strategies before deciding what comes next.

But Laura Wells, a Woonona-based science communicator and board member of Surfrider Foundation Australia, isn’t convinced a major shake-up is on the way.

“Politicians stick with shark nets not because they work, but because they’re visible,” she says. “It’s about peace of mind – something they can point to and say, ‘No one was hurt on my watch’.”

Shark nets, which have been around since the 1930s, are short, shallow and only cover part of the beach, meaning sharks can swim over, under or around them.

“These are outdated methods,” Laura says. “They don’t belong in a modern world.”

“We know at least 40 per cent of animals are caught on the beach side – the side swimmers are

dolphin died in a shark net off Thirroul last year.

on. They’re not offering real protection. It’s just the illusion of safety.

“In the Illawarra, for example, we have seven shark nets, but hardly anyone could tell you where they are – they swim at beaches and feel completely safe, not realising there’s no net at all.”

The nets are off Coledale, Austinmer, Thirroul, North Wollongong, City Beach, Garie and Wattamolla – all popular beaches, but not necessarily where shark activity is highest.

Last year, drone footage shared by Peter Armstrong, showing a dead dolphin tangled in a net off Thirroul, reignited calls to scrap the program.

“Some of the footage is really upsetting, but it’s helping shift public perception,” Laura says.

Since 2021, Surf Life Saving NSW has used drones to patrol beaches and issue real-time shark alerts. There are also listening stations along the coast that detect tagged sharks.

“These are modern tools that work – and don’t kill marine life,” she says. “They help keep beaches safe.”

How the drone patrols work

Surf Life Saving NSW runs drone patrols at five Illawarra locations: Stanwell Park, Coledale, Shellharbour, Kiama and Gerringong. If a shark is spotted, a siren sounds and swimmers are warned via loudspeaker. Lifeguards are notified and may use jet-skis or rescue boats, while alerts are sent to the SharkSmart app and X. A second alert is issued when the beach reopens. Sixteen preventative actions were taken in the Illawarra last summer, while the drones have also helped rescue swimmers outside the flags.

A

Photo: Peter Armstrong.

Inset: Laura Wells

Record turnout of 130 surfers

By Scarborough Boardriders’ Ian Pepper

A perfect weather day of sunshine and light winds for pointscore #4 with fun waves on offer for all our divisions at Sharkey’s Beach. Waves were a bit on the smaller side, but the April pointscore went off with action a plenty, both in the ocean and on the beach. We double banked for an hour to get it all done with 130 surfers registered, which set a new club record.

The A-Grade final was a thriller with the Robson brothers making it together for the first time, while Mannix defeated his old man in the final for the first time ever – an historic event! Mannix took it out with speed, agility and air, while Jarvie was just a point behind, going to town on the small Sharkey rights. Fin, Jai and Angus were all left on eight points looking for more.

In the open women’s, Shyla comboed the field with a series of vertical backhand snaps. She caught just two waves, a 9.07 and 7.43. Crazy. Speaking of crazy, Mitch Burroughs in B Grade launched into a backhand air-rev first wave of the heat, stomping it for a 9.23. Brought the house down with calls of “straight to A-Grade” from cheering fans on the beach. Liam, Jobi and Sebastian, all on eight points, were vying for second.

The following weekend was the rescheduled Australian Boardriders Battle National Final –

Burleigh Heads, Qld, 12-13 April 2025. The top 42 clubs from across the country battled it out and Scarborough and Sandon Point Boardriders qualified after finishing first and second in our regional qualifier last year.

A nice two-to-three foot swell made the event very contestable and it was a great spectacle to see some of Australia’s top surfers, including Owen Wright, Mikey Wright, Layne Beachley and Josh Kerr, just to name a few. Unfortunately, Scarborough and Sandon Point did not make it through to the finals but both clubs put on a show with some impressive scores.

The following weekend, Good Friday was blessed with a huge swell for the annual Steel City Surf Classic. The event is held in memory of Ty Delaney and involves all surfers and boardriding clubs across our area. Due to the huge waves, the event was reconfigured to “Ty’s Big Wave Battle” held at Sandon Point. The surf looked more like something in Hawaii as 65 surfers took on the giant 10-foot-plus waves. A vibrant crowd gathered on Sandon Point hill for the final, which was ultimately taken out by Taj Air.

Next Pointscore: Sunday, May 18

The Scarborough Boardriders’ Billy Banyard and Nic Squiers took on ‘Ty’s Big Wave Battle’ at Sandon Point. The annual event is held in memory of Ty Delaney. Photos: Ray Smith @ waxheadsonline

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Port Kembla Tidal Chart

PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES

1 TH MAY Time m 0516 0.27 1118 1.29 1638 0.63 2313 1.90

2 FR 0619 0.34 1223 1.22 1732 0.72

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5 MO 0217 1.58 0928

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8 TH 0512

9

18

19

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18

3

LAT 34° 29ʼ S LONG 150° 55ʼ E Times and Heights of High and Low Waters

24

18

May 2025

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

4

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2

25

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20 TU 0102 1.61 0815 0.50 1427 1.25

6

3

7

8

28

29

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4

22

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5 TH 0329 1.37 0957 0.58 1631 1.44 2241 0.77

9

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6 FR 0423 1.32 1034 0.58 1713 1.52 2338 0.71

25

7 SA 0515 1.29 1110 0.59 1752 1.60

11 SU 0129 0.55 0716 1.38 1305 0.55 1937 1.69

8 SU 0027 0.64

9

20 FR 0239

© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2024, Bureau of Meteorology. Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide. Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect. The Bureau of Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise in respect to the availability, accuracy, currency, completeness, quality or reliability of the information or that the information will be fit for any particular purpose or will not infringe any third party Intellectual Property rights. The Bureau’s liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense resulting from use of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded. Scan the QR to download a fresh Tide Chart each month

PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES

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12 MO 0208 0.51 0756 1.35 1335 0.58 2008 1.74 13 TU 0246 0.48 0836 1.32 1406 0.61 2041 1.77 14 WE 0325 0.46 0917 1.28 1439 0.65

MOON PHASE SYMBOLS New Moon  First Quarter  Full Moon  Last Quarter

Sunday Social Golf Club report

By Robert ‘Indy’ Jones

On Sunday April 6th, warm sunshine and the fresh fairways of Boomerang greeted members, who with an extra hour of rest, were looking to shoot low scores and receive a coloured jacket. Well, maybe not “The Masters”, but a low score to amass 45 stableford points gave Bruce Gersback the win and the Christian’s Premium Meats voucher. In a distant second were Rosco with 36 and Blake O’Connor in third with 34, receiving a Bunnings voucher and the Helensburgh Golf Range voucher.

Michael Deura and Kyle Brown returned on 2nd cards and on course the winners were Rosco, Bruce, Chris, Frank Z., El Presidentè and Chucky. It was a rooster in March turned feather duster in April for Dan who scored “The Chips”.

Next events at Boomerang, May 4th Tee Time: 8:30am and June 1st Tee Time: 8:30am. Contact Tony, 0418 863 100, for membership details and remember to register your attendance and cart requirements on the Tuesday ahead of the date of our next event.

Indy signing off ...

Weird instructions: “Place your left hand HERE, and your right hand HERE, your left foot HERE and your right foot HERE! Bend your knees slightly, and swing – NO, DON’T MOVE YOUR HEAD!” – I’m sure we can all visualise it.

Tradies Social Golf

By Barry Thompson

Did Mick hit two into the drink on the 7th to justify a change in his handicap? Will Terry winning the Bucket of Balls voucher save a flagging career? These riveting questions may be answered in coming articles, but they probably won’t be.

Gary Overton won the Stableford event in a countback from Steve ‘Bluey’ Morgan, both carding 39 points. Gary is a veteran on the podium, and we knew it wouldn’t be long before Steve reached the dizzy heights. Popular old stager Paul Morahan filled third place with36 points, John Towns defeated Mick two up in Matchplay as well as winning the Eagles Nest on the 10th. Well worth turning up, John!

The Matchplay rounds will be well underway during our next round. This will be a Stroke event and the first round of the Club Championships. Please turn up, fully pumped and ready to chase the glory on Saturday, 10th May at Boomerang. We Tee Off at 7am, please be early to aid our starters.

An early advice is that our weekend away (Gold Jacket Tour) will be held 25-27 October. We will

stay in Mittagong and play the Moss Vale and Highlands courses. Mick will give details closer to this prestigious event.

We extend an invitation to golfers of all standards to join our social group. If you enjoy playing golf in a competitive, but friendly, club, ring Mick Carroll on 0414 734 353 for details.

Thanks again to our sponsors, Tradies, Helensburgh Butchery, Gallardo’s Pizzeria and Helensburgh Driving Range.

WYATT NEEDS A HOME

This 10-week-old mixed-breed puppy needs a forever home. Beach life in the Illawarra would be a dream come true… Email ccarpetrehoming@tpg.com.au Country Companion Animal Rescue