The Bugle 27 August 2022

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“The unity of tonight’s meeting could only have helped our cause.” Mayor Reilly reports the Minister supported the pro active stance of releasing the letter from the Audi tor-General, saying it was in line with the transparency shown by Council throughout this whole scenario. “She said now is the time for decisive action,” he says. “She agrees the Council is working in unity and suggest ed it would be foolish to do otherwise.“Shesaid she will help us along the way with whatever she can do.”

The Minister immediately took the unusual step of writing to each councillor individually, to point out the urgency of the situation and their responsibilities under the Local Government Act. The letter goes on to say, “Should I view Council’s actions are not in accordance with the responsibilities out lined I will consider enacting further intervention options that are available to me.”

Trial Wardfor The Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward has been com mitted to stand trial for five charges of historical sexual violence.Heappeared via video link at the commital hear ing held in Nowra. The charges - three counts of assault with act of indecency, and one count each of sexual intercourse without consent and com mon assault - were laid in March, following an inves tigation by the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad into the historic alleged sexual abuse of a 27 year old man in Sydney in September 2015 and a 17 year old boy in Meroo Meadow in Febru aryMr2013.Ward has strongly denied the charges, but has yet to enter a plea. A trial date will be set on 14 September.

Councillors put on notice by Minister

Councillor Kathy Rice said the idea had no community support and was no quick fix given the time it would take to reclassify the land. Councillors Croxford and Brown expressed concerns about the criticism of Cllr Steel on social media, given his good intentions.

A show of unity at an Extraordinary Meeting, held to make the NSW AuditorGeneral’s letter to the Min ister for Local Government public, may have done its bit to help Council ward off intervention by the State. Immediately after tonight’s Extraordinary Meeting, Mayor Neil Reilly and CEO Jane Stroud spoke with the Minister for Local Govern ment, Wendy Tuckerman. “It was a very sobering ex perience,” says Mayor Reilly. “The Minister is seeking action and that is not going to be easy, but her message is clear.

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At the meeting, Councillor Matt Brown, who last week called for the letter to be re leased claiming that Council was insolvent (see Mayor’s response below), said, “It now falls upon us to work in col laboration with our staff and government agencies to make sure we are a going concern and that we make rational decisions that are on behalf of all of our commendedCouncillorratepayers.”Croxfordtheworkof the CEO and other key players, and spoke of the need to work together, “I would ask we continue to respect the intent that we are all trying to achieve, despite where you comeCouncillorfrom.”

At the meeting, councillors all spoke of the need to work together to correct Council’s financial situation with a sense of urgency. The letter, which relates to the 2020/21 year, notes significant concerns about going concern issues, the adequacy of Council’s books and records, and the use of externally restricted reserves (read the letter on page 4).

Draisma echoed the sentiments, “I look very much to continuing to deliver what we have promised at a previous Council meeting, to deliver long term solutions to the issues that we face, and to work constructively with our stakeholders, including the Auditor-General, the Of fice of Local Government and the Minister to come up with the appropriate solutions to the challenges we face.” She earlier unsuccessfully put forward an amendment to highlight that the situation was caused by decisions made in the past, and give protection to employees and services.

Kendalls to remain as is Council will not be progress ing with Councillor Warren Steel’s idea of looking for partners to redevelop Kendalls Beach Holiday Park into a five star hotel, with Councillors voting 7:2 against the proposal (Steel and Croxford for).

“I am also concerned about Kiama’s financial position but I don’t think this is a solution to that. We need to focus on what is fundamentally wrong and not look for quick fixes,” said Councillor Brown. After the vote, Cllr Crox ford unsuccessfully tried to have the Holiday Park includ ed on the list of assets under consideration for divestment. “If we are serious about re solving our financial matters, it does not hurt us to put this property on the list.” He pointed out that any recommendation for divest ment would have to come to Council for endorsement.

Kickstart for local events p3 Students return from London p3 Orchard comes to the Valley p9 Fit4Life gets new energy p7 Learn Dharawalmore p13 27 AUGUST 2022

While querying some as pects of the letter’s analysis, Councillor Rice said “None of us would deny that Kiama Council’s financial situation is delicately balanced and our Strategic Improvement Plan seeks to address this.

“The councillors and I are being transparent in releas ing this letter so our commu nity can see exactly what it says. Although the letter does not convey good news, it is not new information and it does verify what myself, the Councillors and our CEO have been saying publicly in regard to Council’s financial situation for the past nine months now,” said Mayor Neil Reilly on its release.

Olive

Opening

of Time Exhibition 1-7

Gerringong

live music andDownloadevents. The Bugle App for free using this QR code. Open 7 days Lunch 11.30am Dinner 5.30pm FROM 5.30PM MEMBERS PRICES VISITORS WELCOME MONDAY PIZZA NIGHT (7 varieties) $12 TUESDAY STEAK w/ chips & salad $19 WEDNESDAY TACOS OR WINGS $12 THURSDAY SCHNITZEL w/ chips & salad $14 FRIDAY BURGER + BEER $14 SUNDAY ROAST (small or large) $10 / $15

Sunday 28 August from noon at Black Beach

Jon Harris thinks he will be inspiring others to travel with his new photographic exhibition, ItWanderlust.bringstogether a col lection of travel images from locations such as Slovenia, France, Japan and The Azores, and he says he hopes to inspire people’s sense of wonder and appreciation of the “Whileworld. I’ve really en joyed discovering new places closer to home during the pandemic, I’m starting to get itchy feet with the prospect of international travel opening up again. “I find myself looking back on some of the images I’ve taken overseas, and can feel the wanderlust increasing. I want to share that feeling through my work.” He is also pleased to be able to showcase his work again. “It’s always so rewarding to chat with someone who resonates with my work, whether at a big art fair or in our beautiful little Gallery in Gerringong.”

Deborah Thomas to open exhibition Dream of travel Walk Parkinson’sfor

For a comprehensive guide to What’s On in check out The Bugle App to find out about

Tides September The Old Fire Station, 10-3pm Gerringong Pics & Flicks: The Tree 2 September Gerringong Town Hall, 8pm Studies Exhibition 3 September (see exhibition 5-11 September (see Gezza Cares Workshop 6-7 September (see 13) Music Club Concert - Luke Bowen Sunday 11 September Town Hall, 2pm Gerringong Rotary Market Saturday 17 September by the Town Hall, 8.30-1.30pm Kiama Seaside Market Sunday 18 September Black Beach, 9-3pm Folk By The Sea 23-24 September The Pavilion What’s On is compiled by Cassandra Zaucer. If you have any events coming up, please contact her at thebuglenewspaper.com.aucassandra@or0491686975.

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PrizeMoranerpassionateisCampcurrentlythenewopencomingorahmagazines,leadingDebThomas,istotowntoMeganSeres’exhibitionatDAWEStudio.MsThomas,isCEOofQuality,andwellknownasasupportofthearts.MeganwontheDougNationalPortraitin2016.This

Friday

Studies exhibition focuses on the female gaze, beyond the eye to the human heart. Exhibition opening 3 September, DAWE Studio, Manning St, 2-4pm. Then on weekends 3-18 Sept, 11-3pm, or by appointment. One of Megan Seres’ works: Inherent Resistance

Community members are invited to join the walk for Parkinson’s at the Pitch in for Parkinson’s Walk in the Park at Black Beach, Kiama. Hosted by Kiama Parkin son’s Support Group, the money raised from the walk will contribute to Parkinson’s NSW and their quest to have more Parkinson’s specialist nurses in regional NSW. Community member, Carmel Mahoney, says this is especially needed in Kiama and the “MembersIllawarra.ofthe support group have been getting sponsors, but anyone is wel come to join us and donate to this worthy cause on the day,” Carmel says. A raffle with over 20 prizes will be on offer with a sausage sizzle and drinks provided by the Rotary Club of Kiama.

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The Bugle2 | 27 August 2022 WHAT’S ON Kiama Farmers’ Market Every Wednesday Surf Beach or Kiama Uniting Church, 2-5pm SENTRAL’S Open Mic Every Thursday for local youth SENTRAL Cottages, 5-7pm Kiama Makers & Growers Market Saturday 27 August Black Beach, 9-3pm Jamberoo Village Market Sunday 28 August Reid Park, 9-2pm WalkParkinsonsinthePark Sunday 28 August (see right)

5-11 September Fern Street Gallery, Gerringong, 10-4pm Long time editor of the Woman’sAustralianWeekly and other

The ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity saw the girls attend lecture demonstra tions from leading scientists, keynote lectures from Nobel Prize winners, and scientific visits to world class laborato ries and science universities, combined with interaction with students from around theArrivingworld. home from the two week Forum, all three say it exceeded their expectations.

• Folk by the Sea –$3000 + $2000 in-kind

After the stresses of the past few years on both business es and residents, Council’s CEO Jane Stroud is looking forward to putting on a series of events and activities de signed to get locals out and about.With a $240,000 grant from the State Government’s Reconnection Regional Communities Events Pro gram boosting Council’s events budget, and a windfall $92,000 profit from the skat ing at the Ignite festival, she’s after ideas that will be loved by“Welocals.are looking for things that can really activate our community by promoting and celebrating what we have right here,” she says. “I want to see local talent and local produce promoted. “I really want to see us work very closely with local businesses and local experts in events and event delivery, as we don’t have the resourc es“Iin-house.don’thave all the answers so I have put together a working group of local experts and I’m hoping they all have some really exciting ideas.”Rather than events aimed solely at bringing more visi tors into the area, Ms Stroud is keen to focus to on locals. “If tourists attend that is a real boon for us, but the most important thing is about creating events and activities that locals will enjoy, that will add to their experience of living here,” she says. She is aware that some will think the spending is rash given the financial problems Council is facing, but empha sises the money isn’t coming out of Council’s budget. “I don’t think we need to apologise for doing some thing that will be able to provide a real boost for local businesses that have been doing it hard,” says Ms Stroud.Themoney is available up until the end of March, and there will be a number of rounds for the grants.

weapons,

• Red Hot Summer Tour –$5000 + $2450 in-kind

• Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival – $6000 in addition to the previously committed $14,000 Applications for round two of Destination Event Funding close Wed 26 October. Details www.kiama.com.au/atevents-resources

underchargedcontributionsDeveloper

Funding to communitykickstartevents

will

• Kiama Sevens –$7,500 + $7,500 in-kind

“As a council we have the responsibility to protect our citizens and we should take a stand on all things that are important,” he said. “The appeal has been en dorsed by hundreds of coun cil areas across the globe.” These include Wollongong, Shellharbour and Shoalhav enIncouncils.PublicAccess, a member of the ICAN Board, Profes sor Marianne Hanson, said local government had a role to play “because it is cities that are targeted; it is local councils that have to deal with the aftermath”.

Property development in the Kiama LGA is about to get more“Weexpensive.havefound we have been significantly under charging on our development contribution fees for a very long time,” says Kiama Coun cil’s Jane Stroud. The need for a review of developer contribution fees (Section 7.11 Contribution Plans) was identified in the State of the Organisation report and included in the Strategic Improvement Plan, after being asked for by coun cillors for a number of years. The recently completed re view has found that a wrong figure was being used in the calculation.Ratherthan the actual rate for the Implicit Price Deflator (the predecessor of CPI) being used, only the rate of change has been put in the formula.Thismeans that since the Three Kiama High students – Alexa Farland, Nina Teague and Ella Johansson – have returned from the Interna tional Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) in London.

“We got to experience some really amazing places and people,” Nina says. “We got to see and learn about aspects of science that we and the wider public have never heard of, from unpub lished studies and emerging research.”Goinginto the Forum, Alexa wanted to be a psychi atrist while Nina and Ella were interested in engineer ing, but the experience has altered their plans.

“I went in there thinking mechanical and software engineering sounded inter esting as a career, but after Professor Morris’ lecture I now want to do medicine,” Ella“Comingsays. out of the lecture, I am now definitely leaning more towards biology, London experience was life-changing

• Jamberoo Car Show & Family Day –$3000 + $320 in-kind

thebuglenewspaper.com.au 27 August 2022 | 3 1300 235 345 info@carterferguson.com.au carterferguson.com.au GERRINGONG | BERRY | FAIRY MEADOW | KIAMA | NOWRA | WOLLONGONG Exceptional at Law. Human at heart. Every family is different as is every legal situation. Whether you are going through separation or a divorce, it can be quite complex and stressful, so it is important that you’re comfortable with your solicitor. Based in Kiama, Ashleigh Serafini is a south coast local and is one of our exceptional family lawyers. She’s passionate about putting people first and making sure her clients understand each step of the process. If you need comprehensive legal advice and representation, Ashleigh will be at your side. • Separation & divorce • Children & parenting • Care, protection & adoption issues • Property settlements • Estate planning & binding financial agreements • Domestic violence & abuse support. TMC1068 continued p8continued p8

Kiama Council is to become the 43rd Australian council to endorse the International Campaign to Abolish Nucle ar Weapons (ICAN) Cities Appeal, which is calling on local government to back its campaign to have their coun try ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.TheTreaty forbid all activities related to nuclear including testing, building, funding and threats to use them but requires ratification by member sign up, Councillor Stuart Larkins brought the motion to Council’s August Meeting so Kiama can call on the Federal Government to do so without delay.

countries.WithAustralia yet to

“Even a small war would create a nuclear winter that would affect the whole world,” she said. In 2017, ICAN was the first Australian organisation to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for its work in having the UN adopt the Treaty. Councillors Brown and Croxford voted against the motion. by Cassandra Zaucer

The first round of Destina tion Kiama Event Funding was approved at the August Meeting of Council. It gives the following:

Email ideas for local events events@kiama.nsw.gov.auto

Kiama takes a world view Events along the lines of the Soiree may activate the streets

“A stand-out lecture for me was Dr Michael Amoo’s neu rosurgery lecture, specifically about neurotrauma, which was very exciting. I sound young and naïve saying this, but I now want to be a neuro surgeon,” Alexa says. “I was already deadset on medicine, but it has showed me that nothing is going to distract me from my chosen path.”For Nina and Ella, their stand-out was by Professor Emma Morris, who detailed gene editing and therapy and emerging technologies involving stem cells.

• Council is unable to substantiate the extent to which RADs have been used to meet Council or Blue Haven operational expenses. The use of funds for these purposes would be inconsistent with section 52N-1 of the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth) and paragraphs 62-63 of the Fees and Payments Principles 2014 (No. 2) • $3.4 million of developer contribution funds, in tended for use on Council Chamber upgrades, ap pears to have been spent on the Blue Haven project during the 2018 and 2020 financial years. (ends)

At just eighteen, Lachlan Davidson has already been recognised for his years’ volunteering for the Kiama Lifesaving Club and Surf Rescue 50 with the presenta tion of the 2022 Robert East Community Service Award. The award is for Coun cil employees who have outstanding records in community service, and was established in memory of the lateLachlanCouncillor.worked as one of Council’s lifeguards last season, and is doing so again thisVolunteeringsummer. since he was 13 years old, Lachlan has also been named Lifesaver of the Year and Youth Lifesaver of the Year by the Club for the past two seasons. In addition to gaining his Silver Medallion in Basic Beach Management, this season saw Lachlan named Patrol Captain and spend over 118 hours patrolling the beach and leading the team, as well as joining surf rescue callouts for flood emergencies.

The letter from the Auditor-General

“It is nice to be noticed and rewarded for my volunteering but I don’t do it for the recog nition,” Lachlan says. “I do it for the satisfaction of helping someone out who is in one of the worst times of their lives – fearing of death in the Thiswater.”year’s Megan Dalley Trainee of the Year Award for 2022 was split between two young Council employees, IT cadet James Carli and gardener Ben Johnston. by Cassandra Zaucer

service for breast form fittings We look forward to serving you soon W E ' V E M O V E D ! N o w i n t h e E d e s s a

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The Bugle4 | 27 August 2022 Renata solutions@simplicitylaw.com.auMatyear4236 2559 Working with you to get you where you want to be... Offering service in all areas of law, including family law Join the 100 Club!Blue Haven invites all local centenarians (anyone aged 90 or over) in the Kiama Municipality, plus a friend or family member, to Barroul House Café for an afternoon of celebrations to mark the International Day of Older Persons 2022. Where: Barroul House Café, Blue Haven 14a Bonaira Street, Kiama When: 1pm – 3pm, Friday 30 September Go to kiama.nsw.gov.au/100-Club to register your interest.

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Adequacy of Council’s books and records Council implemented a new financial system during the 2021 financial year. Poor data migration coupled with the loss of key finance per sonnel, mean that the weak nesses communicated in my letter of 22 March 2022 have persisted and prevented a satisfactory conclusion to the audit. These issues include: • weaknesses in supporting working papers and recon ciliations of key accounts and sub-ledgers • deficiencies in the pre sentation and disclosures within the draft financial statements • an absence of ments.submittedbalancesperioddocumentationsupportingforpriorrestatementsofwithinpreviouslyfinancialstate

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Going Concern As at 30 June 2021, Council’s draft financial statements disclose $141.1 million in current liabilities and $46.1 million in current assets, in cluding $37.6 million of cash and investments. The deficit in liquid assets available to fund Council’s liabilities poses a significant risk to Council.Akeysource of Council’s current liquidity issues relates to the construction of the Kiama Aged Care Centre of Excellence, also referred to as Blue Haven Bonaira (Blue Haven). A project to significantly expand the aged care facility, which Council had been operating for the past 40 years, was approved in 2017. The original budget for the project was $74 million, but the final cost is estimated at $107.2 million. A key source of funding for the project was a $60 million loan from T-Corp, of which the remaining outstanding balance of around $45 million is payable in August 2023. Repayment of the loan was to be met in part through an asset sale, which is now delayed by legal action. There is now no certainty the transaction can be completed before the T-Corp loan is due. Council also holds Aged Care Refundable Accommo dation Deposits (RADs) on behalf of Blue Haven resi dents. Council’s draft 30 June 2021 financial statements disclose a RAD liability of $29.5 million, of which Coun cil has set aside $3.0 million, the minimum required to comply with the Council’s Liquidity Management Strat egy at 30 June 2021, leaving an unfunded RAD liability balance of $26.5 million. Separately, residents of in dependent living units (ILU) enter a Licence Arrangement with the Council whereby they make an entry payment generally, which is generally refundable within 6 months of a resident leaving the ILU. Residents do not own or have a registered interest in the ILU. Council has not funded repayment of this liability of $92.5 million at 30 June 2021.Council’s current liabili ties also include employee entitlement liabilities of $7.4 million at 30 June 2021. Council has set aside $1.5 million towards its expected short-term obligations, but the unfunded liability is $5.9 million.There are a variety of economic and circumstantial factors that will impact the timing and quantum of cash required over the short to medium term to fund these li abilities. Council is preparing but has yet to provide us with a sufficiently detailed future monthly cashflow forecast, incorporating different sce narios and assumptions that sets out the potential timing and quantum of cash inflows and payments for a period of not less than 12 months from the certification of the 2021 financial statements.

This is the full body of the letter from the AuditorGeneral to the Minister for Local Government, Wendy Tuckerman: Dear Minister 30 June 2021 Financial Statements Audit for Kiama Municipal Council I am writing to advise you of significant matters that have come to my attention through the course of my audit of the 30 June 2021 financial state ments of Kiama Municipal Council (the Council). Section 426(1) of the Local Govern ment Act 1993 (the LG Act) requires I communicate these matters to you. The more substantial of these issues is whether the Council is able to continue to pay its debts as and when they fall due. Management, Council and Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) have been made aware of all issues in relation to the 2021 audit, but the re sponse has been insufficient to conclude the audit. Work on the audit of Council’s 30 June 2022 financial state ments has not commenced.

Among the issues identified:

Use of externally restricted funds Council has never main tained separate ledgers for Blue Haven and the Council’s other operations. This means it is not possible for the Council to determine the ex act financial position of Blue Haven since it commenced operations. This creates a risk that Council has used externally restricted funds for purposes that are incon sistent with section 409(3) of the LG However,Act. given the weak nesses in Council’s books and records, and the lack of separation between the ledgers for Blue Haven and the Council, I have not been able to validate the nature or extent of the non-compliance.

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thebuglenewspaper.com.au 27 August 2022 | 5 Nerilee Antiques of Jamberoo village are proud to be celebrating 50 years and three generations of of treasure hunters finding your dream pre loved treasure We would like to thank our valued clients over this time for sharing their joy & pleasure in finding that treasure, whether it was a Art Deco engagement ring, Victorian jewellery, hallmarked silverware, porcelain or other objects of virtue We need more treasures to share, if you have any old jewellery, silver, Cameos, paintings or unique items that may be of interest, why not bring them into the store Or just come in and see what we have to offer Drop in, call or email us for valuations Professional Gemologist on staff to ensure integrity 26 Allowrie St Jamberoo Ph 02 42 360 389 Email nerile Nerilee Antiques 50 years Emeritus membership of the Australian Antique & Art Dealers Assoc International CINOA member NSW Licensed second hand dealer 2PS22720

Native plant gathering

Aunty Joyce Donovan, Wadi Wadi and Dharawal elder, human rights cam paigner and health worker, will provide the welcome to country and Professor David Keith, Professor of Botany at UNSW who is a fire ecology specialist, will give the key noteOtheraddress.speaking highlights include Costa’s ABC col league Clarence Slockee who will talk about ‘A day in the life of the First Nations peo ple’ and the ANU’s Professor David Lindenmayer, who we most recently saw extolling the virtues of Victoria’s regal Mountain Ash on the ABC program Australia’s Favour ite Tree, will talk about ‘Fire, forests, plantations and biodi GrevilliaMtsionstimingauversity’.Seewww.austplants.com.fortheprogramandtheofvariousexcurtoBarrenGrounds,AnnanandtheIllawarraPark.

Saturday 10 Sept to Friday 16 September, The Pavillion Kiama Tickets at Singlehumanitix.com/2022kiama.https://events.Wholeweek:$600.daytickets:$80-$40.

The Australian Native Plants Society Australia (ANPSA) is this year holding its Biennial Conference at The Pavilion in Kiama for the first time. While the overall theme is Australian Flora: Past, Present and Future, it is Thursday’s session on Inheriting the Future that is shaping up as one of the highlights of the week. “Young people are our fu ture,” says Ralph Cartwright, ANPSA Conference commit tee“Andmember.Thursday’s session, which will be moderated by ABC TV Gardening Aus tralia’s Costa Georgiadis, will include a session with several students from Kiama schools.“Weare also delighted that 10 local students doing horticulture courses at Yallah TAFE have been sponsored by APSNSW to attend.” He says that the confer ence has been designed with non-experts in mind. Organisers are keen to at tract those people who want to learn about threats and opportunities to their local environment and why local indigenous plants might be the“Wesolution.expect around 250 delegates from every state and territory in Australia –the majority being members of their local Australian Plant Society groups in their home states – with other delegates coming from Holland and the US and one speaker coming from Slovakia,” he says. Anyone can attend the Conference for one day, for the whole week or take an excursion with the group. Sunday’s giant native plant sale is certain to attract all kinds of Specialistgardeners.nurseries from the Illawarra, such as Kiama’s Burnetts on Barney, Berry Public School Plant Propa gation Nursery, Native Grace Landscapes from Robertson, Tomerong’s Wirin Wirra Native Nursery and Suther land Community Nursery, will showcase the best of our local native species and offer advice on where to plant and how to “Nativetend.plants are not only good for the homeowner, but are positive for nature,” says Luke Maitland, owner of Native Grace Landscapes. “Increasing awareness of drought, bushfires and threats to Australian wildlife are inspiring more people to choose native plants for their sustainable credentials and unique aesthetic appeal. “When I design a garden, first and foremost the garden has to give back – to the birds, bees, butterflies and other“Andwildlife.combined in the right way, Australian native plants can give you the breathtaking colour, fragrance and variety we seek in our gardens.”

The Bugle6 | 27 August 2022 READY FOR AN IDYLLIC LIFESTYLE? 2 Michael Crescent, Kiama Downs David Hall 0431 270 673 david hall@ccfn com au Terry Digger 0417 760 669 terry.digger@ccfn.com.au SCAN TO VIEW 4 2 8 J jason.stalgis@ccfn.com.au Kim Vaux 0403 204 969 kim vaux@ccfn com au COAST AND COUNTRY LIFESTYLE Looking for a rural lifestyle change but still want to be close to the coast? This beautiful property in Far Meadow is the ast and country, surrounded by beautiful expan and and just a few minutes' drive from ands of Seven Mile Beach and the historic town h its boutique shops and eateries SCAN TO VIEW 39 Roxbrough Road, Far Meadow David Hall 0431 270 673 david.hall@ccfn.com.au EXECUTIVE CENTRAL APARTMENT SCAN TO VIEW Terry Digger 0417 760 669 terry.digger@ccfn.com.au 7/133 Terralong Street, Kiama2 2 2 4 2 2

thebuglenewspaper.com.au 27 August 2022 | 7 3 2 2 We are so excited to announce that we have been selected again as a finalist in the Real Estate Institute of NSW 2022 Awards for Excellence in the Residential Sales Team category! This is a huge honour, these awards are the biggest and most respected industry awards in NSW! The event celebrates the best, bravest and brightest work across the industry! The winners will be announced at the Awards Night this month Well done to our CCFN team! Jason Stalgis, Terry Digger First National Coast & Country Principals coastandcountryfn.com.au Princ pal J A S O N S T A L G I S Principa T E R R Y D I G G E R Sales Agent A N G I E R I T C H I E Sales Agent J O E D I G N A M Sales Agent D A V I D H A L L Sales Agent J U L I E V A U X Sales Assoc ate to Terry Digger A B B E Y M U R P H Y Sales Associate to Jason Stalg s K I M V A U X Sa es Agent C L A I R E N U N N 96 Merrick Circuit, Kiama SWEEPING RURAL AND COASTAL VIEWS Kiama | 4232 2888 Gerringong | 4234 1911 Shoalhaven Heads | 4448 8344 SCAN TO VIEW Y o u r L i f e s t y l e & R u r a l P r o p e r t y S p e c i a l i s t s Finalist in the REINSW 2022 Awards! @coastandcountryfn @coastandcountryfn Sales Agent A N D Y W H A R T O N Sales Agent R Y A N S T A L G I S S a l e s T e a m Kim Vaux 0403 204 969 kim.vaux@ccfn.com.au Jason Stalgis 0403 648 375 jason.stalgis@ccfn.com.au

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Jamberoo’s landmark antique shop is celebrating its 50th year, now as a third genera tionNerileebusiness.Antiques was opened by Mark Linnertson’s grandparents in 1972 when they moved to the Valley. The shop was passed onto Mark, from his mother, five yearsApartago.from the local trade, the business has long partic ipated in fairs across Sydney and Melbourne, where their antique stall has often been voted the most professional and“They’vefriendly.been highlights for me because I’ve been able to take the shop to the city and watch people get drawn into the stands,” Mark says. “We get the same reaction in the shop. I get a lot of people who come here that have been all around the world and say this is one of the nicest and most genuine antique shops they’ve seen. “With a long history in the Valley there has been a lot of special moments including a proposal that happened right here in the shop when the woman chose a ring.” Mark is urging the commu nity to continue with local support by not only buying antiques but selling their quality antiques to the shop. “Nerilee Antiques is not about the items we sell, but rather the story behind them,” Mark says. “Because it is antique, it has been loved several times, so you are actually getting something really special. “We need more recycling of these good things. Things that have brought people joy that now needs passing.” Mark says he is planning to celebrate the shops’ 50th anniversary by going extra lengths with Christmas dec orations.“Christmas seems to be the community highlight so we will make it special this year. The Salvation Army band has already been lined up to play in the driveway,” he says. After Christmas, plans are in motion to turn the house attached to the shop into an antique bed and breakfast experience. by Cassandra Zaucer

Secretary of the Kiama Lions Club, Bobbie English, says the money can help fund research into diabetes, eye sight and spinal cure, as well as help children with degener ative offTherewakeandinofbersBobbie.addedleavingPavilionthelidsmarkedBobbiecommunity,”andthiswement.cancercannotpeopleproblemsmuscularandwhoaffordtreat“Themoneygetfromspreadsfarwideinthissays.Thistimethespeciallybinshavehadtheblowtorchedofftostealcontents.WorkersatThespottedtheculpritsinaHilux,whichsalttothewoundfor“Itisashamethatmemandvolunteersputaloteffortinandthensomeoneadecentcarcomesalongstealsfromus,”shesays.“Thesepeopleneedtouptothemselves.arepeoplefarworsethantheyare.”

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Kiama Lions Club is disap pointed that its Return and Earn Bins at The Pavilion have been vandalised and the bottles stolen for the second time.Around $10,000 a year is made from the bins - which are filled up with empties from functions - with Lions donating the funds raised to charities, schools, and any groups that need help.

from p3 calculation was first applied in 1993, developers of new estates, units, medium densi ty, dual occupancy, secondary dwellings and tourist devel opments have been charged just a fraction of what they should have been per lot or newThedwelling.capped maximum fee is now $20,000 and many recent contribution fees that should have been at that level have been charged at around $7,000/dwelling or lot. An increase in fees was implemented immediately on discovery of the error, but it is not possible to get back the undercharged amount from past developments.

The Kiama Lions Club are currently in search of new members and Bobbie is wor ried people may think twice about joining if someone less deserving will be benefiting from their hard work. “It is just disappointing that so many people give up their time and then have someone do this,” Bobbie says. Bobbie and Ron Micallef, Board Member of the Kiama Lions Club, will be taking the issue to Council in the hope of getting hidden cameras installed. by Cassandra Zaucer

The Bugle8 | 27 August 2022 STAN CRAPP FUNERALS Stan Crapp Funerals, supporting the community for over 50 years Call: 4232 2371 • Email: info@stancrappfunerals.com.au • Visit us: 125 Manning St, Kiama www.keithlester.com.au Offering maximal care & minimal intervention to ensure your oral health. Our services include sedation using Relative Analgesia. Your Local Dental Team • Kiama Call 4233 1313 for appointments Tues, Wed & Fri 8.30am to 5.30pm 3/5 Railway Parade Kiama (Next to Kiama Library)

“It is very frustrating as councillors, including Andrew operational matter. “When questions were asked we were told we were aligned with other councils. “I don’t think the amount that has been foregone will ever be known, but it must be significant over close to 30Msyears.”Stroud says improved governance will mean that policy frameworks like these will be reviewed every year as a matter of course. The Municipal wide s7.11 plan was adopted in 1993, and was first amended in 2022. The Plan is now being updated to bring it up to best practice, including bringing the CPI and updated pop ulation into the calculation as it is 22 years outside of its expected lifespan when it

Developer contributions

Lack of respect for Lions’ fundraising from p3 biotechnology or even medicine. It is a complete one-eighty but I suppose that is what the program is for –exposing you to new niches of science,” Nina says. “I would love to study in the UK especially now having seen the insane level of study overWiththere.”graduation just around the corner for the girls, Ella is looking into university abroad in medical science next year, while Alexa has been accepted into an early offer of advanced medical sciences at Western Sydney Universi ty, with plans to do a lateral transfer into medicine. Nina hasn’t made any firm decisions of what next year will hold but has a clearer view of what she wants to pursue in biology or medicine. by Cassandra Zaucer

The orchard has been planted with apples, pears, oranges, lemons, figs, apricots, peaches, nec tarines, cherries, plums, persimmons, blueberries, raspberries, mulberries, grapes, mangoes, passion fruit, bananas, avocados and almonds, plus some seasonal vegetables and herbs. “It’s a diversified orchard,” he says, “and, with only five acres, we are really growing for a boutique market as there won’t be masses of fruit at any one time.

Mark, explaining that constraints on other parts of the land –sleep slope, rockshelf, areas of native vegetation and riparian zones – meant there was only one suitable site, at the rear of the Park Mount home.“The sloping paddocks at the corner of Jerrara and Jamberoo Roads were too steep and the visual impact would be high. This steeper land we lease to the dairy next door and we plan to fence the creek line which is the riparian zone to protect it from cows.”

A temporary panel that was erected to show how the netting will look in the landscape

thebuglenewspaper.com.au 27 August 2022 | 9

An organic orchard on a farm in Jerrara has been given a green light by Kiama Council to erect a very large perma nent black netting structure to protect plantings from bats and birds. Sited at 92 Jerrara Road, the five acre orchard is on a farm of just over 32 ha (79 acre) which currently has just a farm building on it, although there is a DA in place for a future residence. The owner bought the farm in 2018 and wasn’t aware that he would require a DA to erect the netting or develop an orchard, as the land is zoned RU1 Primary Produc tion, RU2 Rural Landscape and C2 Environmental Con servation.“Heinitially planned the five acre orchard as his own big family garden – it’s really too small to be a major com mercial venture,” says farm manager Mark Nelson. “Vince came to Australia from Italy as a young boy and has worked hard to build a business in Miranda. He’s now in his 80s. Some people spend money on speed boats, fast cars or on big caravans to drive around Australia. It’s always been Vince’s dream to get some land and have an orchard.“He’slooked at this specific piece of land for the last 10 years and in 2018 it came on the market.”

It was only when objections to the 4.5m high steel pipe netting posts were made by the owner of the historic Park Mount home, which sits on a one acre subdivision in the middle of the farm, that the owner was informed he would have to apply for a DA for both the orchard (as it is classed as intensive chosesitenorthorchardlocationtylistedonandtheexpressedconcernsinwasnets.agriculture)plantandParkMountbought2020,andwereaboutlossofviewsitsimpacttheheritageproperduetotheofthetoitswest.“Theorchardprettymuchitself,”says

Farm manager Mark Nelson with the orchard in the background

“When Vince bought the land, he brought me on to develop the orchard. We took a truck up to his home in Bangor. The whole front yard to the curb was covered in established fruit trees. They were wall to wall. “We took an excavator to dig them up. There were also many in pots. “We brought back around 350 trees, which is about one-third of what is now planted.” by Perrie Croshaw

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Orchard comes to the Valley

The netting will cover an area of 19,600m2, and is the first of its type in the LGA. After assessing the project, Jessica Rippon, Kiama Council’s Director of Envi ronmental Services, advised councillors that an orchard with netting was suitable for the site and the DA was approved by six to three councillors at the August Council meeting. Mark says that now the DA is in place, the farm can con sider selling its produce at the Kiama Farmers’ Market.

The Bugle10 | 27 August 2022

If you can’t get to either library, you can donate online au/kiamalibrarygreatbookswaphttps://go.greatbookswap.org.at by Perrie Croshaw

Swap your books for a good cause Council’s Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Keith Brandy, and Mayor Neil Reilly

Indigenous Literacy Day is September 1 and to celebrate, Kiama and Gerringong Libraries have organised ‘The Great Book Swap’ to raise money to help make a difference and support First Nations literacy, languages and cultures.OnTuesday 6 Septem ber between 10am and 4pm, people in Gerrin gong are invited to bring along to the Gerringong Library and Museum a book they have read and enjoyed and would like to share with others and swap it for another book of their Peoplechoice.inKiama are invited to do the same thing at Kiama Library on Wednes day 7 September, 10am to 4pm. You could go to both. Books can be fiction or non-fiction, for kids or adults, but please only bring books that are in good condition. Entry is by gold-coin dona tion (or a fiver), with all funds raised going to the Indige nous Literacy Foundation (ILF), a national charity of the Australian Book Industry, working with remote First Nations communities across Australia.Yourdonation helps pro vide culturally relevant books and learning resources to children and families living in remote Communities across Australia. Donations also support the publishing of books written by commu nities, for communities, in languages of their choice. So far, the ILF has donated more than 600,000 books to 400 remote communities and has published more than 140 books. In 2022, the ILF aims to raise $4 million to support its programs. The ILF receives no Government funding and relies 100% on donations from supporters.

The weekly sessions of the PCYC Fit4Life program, now being held at Surf Beach, have become a truly collab orative effort with two other community groups joining Makuta to support the initia tive.Makuta, a local charity raising funds to support established suicide preven tion and wellbeing initiatives in our community, has been involved with the Fit4Life program for two years. They have now been joined by Kiama SLSC, which is happy to provide a wet weather venue in their func tion room and get actively involved to introduce more kids to their club, and Kiama Rotary, which has taken over the cooking responsibilities.

thebuglenewspaper.com.au 27 August 2022 | 11 DON’T DISPOSE! TRADE, SELL OR GIVE AWAY YOUR UNWANTED ITEMS. Everyone is welcome to come along and grab a bargain. Enjoy the atmosphere, meet your local community and help preserve your local environment. If you are a Kiama Municipal resident, earn some extra $$$. Get involved by registering a site in Second Hand Saturday for a gold coin donation. Reuse, repair and recycle! Date: Saturday 3 September 2022 Time: 8am-12noon Venue: “School Flat”, Black Beach, Shoalhaven Street, Kiama Register before 1 Sepember online at www.kiama.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 4232 0444 Only second hand items are to be sold/traded/given away. Site registrations are only available to Kiama Municipal Council residents. Proudly brought to you by: SECOND HAND SATURDAY FREE GIVEAWAY!PLANT Look for theCouncil ute.

“It is about exercise and building up self-esteem,” says local policeman and Youth Engagement Officer, Jake Graham, who runs other sessions at the PCYC at Lake Illawarra.“It’sgreat to be hanging out with happy, friendly people once a week to build com munity and help with their mental health. “It also gives local kids the opportunity to get to know me, so they have a point of contact if they have any issues. “We are trying to promote healthy living and healthy lives.”The free sessions are open to all children aged 8-16 during term. “The idea is to give those kids that aren’t busy with school sport an opportunity to do something before school,” says Makuta’s Rachael Peedom.“Itisa varied workout – some mornings boxing, others bootcamp or playing a game of soccer or tag. “It is run in a very inclusive way, with everyone having a bit of exercise before school starts, followed by a decent healthyKSLSC’sbreakfast.”BenGeorge says the Club has been talking about getting involved for some time to support com munity programs, and he hopes the collaboration goes from strength to strength. “It will be a great way to introduce the kids to what the surf club is all about.” Barry Wilson says Rotary is only too happy to help, “Our involvement cooking the breakfast allows the others to focus on the kids. It is great for all the ages to interact and see them having so much fun.” Sisters Tricia and Inah Gould were the oldest there on the morning The Bugle vis ited. They have been coming every week since it started. “It is a fun experience and you get to meet new people while getting fitter,” says Tricia.They enjoy the mix of ages and really like the new location outside or inside the Surf“It’sClub.agreat wet weather op tion – the views are amazing.” Makuta funds the break fasts with the help of dona tions from local businesses, including the Top Shop. “It’s not just the bacon and egg roll, but we like to set them up for the day with yoghurt and fruit as well,” says Rachel. Kids wishing to join in are welcome to come down to Surf Beach on atTuesdays,7-8am. Rotary and KSLSC have joined Makuta in backing the initiative

Fit4Life gets new energy

Tonight, at the time of my writing this, we’ll have a Council meeting to table a letter from the NSW Auditor General to the Minister for Local Government. It’s accurate and spells out the errors of the past that plague the present and mean the Auditor is unable to con clude our audit for Financial Year 2020-21. It’s not pretty. But it does validate what we have been openly saying about the seriousness of our financial situation ever since we were elected.Myhope is we’ll accept the letter, acknowledge the issues, share the information and set about resolving the problems as a matter of urgency.Theunfortunate downside of openness, however, can be that people respond by be having badly. This is usually due to shock, fear and the terrifying prospect of change and the unknown. This creates more tension and unease. Inside even the most functional teams, neg ative emotions can take up space that we should be used to consider what’s best for the community. But there will always be some who can’t accept less than perfection, some who want to change everything around, and some who want to deny the past. The reality of this moment is that the office of Local Government is watching every move we make, which doesn’t make things any easier.Butwe’ve got to keep doing what we’ve been elected to do. Make decisions, deter mine our best future and resolve to reach it. As a Council, we are under going a massive reform. Most of us here are feeling like we have been dice in a cup and we’ve been shaken up and thrown out onto a board and wherever we landed, that’s our new role. Lots of us have found ourselves in quite different places than where we started in 2022. I want everyone in the com munity to know that we are all doing the best we can. There’s enormous pressure on us right now to keep up the pace, even though we are doing new work with new people, with information that is relatively new to come to light.More than all this, this Council have chosen to be more open than any Council beforeThat’sus.not to say we can slow down for a minute, but please forgive us if we make a few mistakes on the way. For instance, I have been known to get a bit techy three-and-a-half hours in to a four-hour meeting at the end of a long day, but I’m OK after a good night’s sleep and I apologise for being Mr Cranky-Pants to everyone. My take-home message here, is we all need to look after ourselves, and each other.Becompassionate and try to remember that everyone is in the same boat. We all care about the same things: that our Municipality is well-run, well-managed and continues to be the best place in the world.Aswe move through the significant challenge that openness brings, it’s entirely normal to wobble for a while. This is OK because we’re on a learning curve, we’re righting the ship. People are tired, stressed and under pressure but they’re still showing up and working hard. For this I am truly grateful. Lastly, a shout out to the entire Council team and those helping us. Your curiosity, consider ation and desire to serve our community has brought reas surance and inspiration to me and everyone who bene fits from your work.

like to know more please call the practice and make an appointment.

Last time I explained how rates of myopia are increasing in our children. In the past, we would simply prescribe stronger and stronger glasses to keep the child able to see clearly, but that is no longer a good way to treat these kids. We now know of ways to give good vision whilst also slowing or stopping progression. My #1 way to do this is with a contact lens treatment called Withorthokeratology.OrthoK,we prescribe rigid contact lenses to be worn during sleep, much like a dental retainer. This has the effect of flattening the front surface of the eye temporarily, correcting the vision for a day or two. When repeated every night, the effect is semi-permanent. The bonus is that this elegant way of correcting the vision also dramatically reduces the likelihood that the child’s myopia will get worse over Othertime.methods

cil,

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An award important to the Kiama Rotary club, the 2022 Bill Wheeler Award, has been given to University of Wollongong (UOW) PhD stu dent Mitchell St Clair-Glover. The annual Bill Wheeler Symposium honours a valu able member of Kiama Rota ry who passed late 2007. The President of the Rotary Club of Kiama, John Clarke, says Bill was an ac tive member in the Illawarra community who had inter ests in bionics research at UOW.“Fortunately, through his connection with UOW and Professor Graeme Clark, his legacy of giving back to the community continues through the annual Bill Wheeler Award given to an outstanding UOW Bionics research student,” Mr Clarke says.The Kiama Rotary con tinues to support this work through donations over the years and has donated $1,000 to the work of the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI). “This prize is awarded to the applicant who best com municates the social impact of their research and how the prize will benefit their work,” Mr Clarke says. This year’s winner has a passion for research and em bracing evolving technologies and works in the fields of tissue engineering, neurosci ence and stem cell biology. by Cassandra Zaucer PhD student

are prescribing special eyedrops to be used every day, and sometimes multifocal glasses or contact lenses can help, but I’m a firm believer in OrthoK and I encourage my patients to consider it if they or their children suffer from Ifmyopia.youwould

we

we

we

supportRotary for

Since January, have seen an already difficult work environment become even tougher.Whatwe discovered when started planning for the short, and long-term sustainability of Kiama Coun was that things were not as had expected.

Jean Anderson EyeQ Optometrists 124 Terralong St, Kiama 4232 Convenient2610 online bookings eyeq.com.au Myopia Control

Gezza Cares is bringing the world’s leading suicide intervention workshop to the Kiama LGA. The Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a NSW Health funded two day interactive workshop in suicide firstaid.The free program, facil itated by highly qualified trainers, has a record of helping participants become more willing, ready and able to intervene with someone at risk of suicide and is proven to reduce suicidality.Participants will learn ways to safely provide guidance and suicide firstaid, recognize aspects of suicide prevention such as life-promotion and selfcare, identify elements of an effective suicide safety plan and the actions re quired to implement it and more.ASIST is open to anyone 16 years or older, with no need for any prior formal training.TheMercure Gerringong is supporting the initiative by providing the venue. 5-6 September The Mercure Gerringong,9-4pm. To attend the workshop, register at www.trybooking.com/CBSPV

Terralong Street, Kiama

Dharawal: Words, Phrases and Activities is for sale through Woolworths Shellcove, Sutherland and Miranda or from UOW’s www.uow.edu.au/about/IndigenousWoolyungaCentre.services/woolyungah-indigenous-centre/ by Perrie Croshaw 102 NSW 2533.

“More people today un derstand the significance of culture and the link between culture and language,” says Dr“YouEdwards.might ask a young child, ‘what is your culture?’ They would say, ‘I don’t know’. But on inquiring, they would tell you that they sing and dance at home and every September they make tomato sauce and pasta and the whole family comes over. They then understand that this is their culture, their ancestors did it in their homeland and they have never been persecuted for doing“Butthis.forAboriginal people, being able to hunt kangaroo, fish, make a possum skin cloak, all of this culture was stopped. The last document ed ceremony occurred in Kiama in 1836. That’s not to say ceremonies haven’t hap pened since, but this was the last ceremony that occurred without any retribution.” Australia has one of the worst records of language loss. An AIATSIS 2018-19 survey shows that there are more than 250 Indigenous languages in Australia, but only 123 Aboriginal and Tor res Strait Islander languages are still in use and of those only about 12 are relatively strong and being taught to children.“Dharawal is not lost,” says Jodi, “and this was the whole premise of my PhD (Weav ing the past into the future: the continuity of Aboriginal cultural practices in the Dharawal and Yuin nations). “Many non-Aboriginal people believe there is no culture inside the Dharawal footprint. But we still have the rock art that litters the escarpment, we still have our stories, our dances, we still practice coming together albeit in different form of ceremony, we still go out on country to camp, we have alwaysAccordingfished.”to Professor Jakelin Troy, a Ngarigu woman and linguist at the University of Sydney, “Young Australians love … being Australian [and] engaging with who and what we, as the Indigenous people of Australia, are. They want to be part of it.” Jodi says she is ready to hand over her work collect ing Dharawal words and phrases to this new genera tion.Nandawanjing (see ya later).

Spreading the word about the local Dharawal language toHerehelp ADVERTISEMENT GARETH WARD MP Independent Member for Kiama Authorised by Gareth Ward MP,

thebuglenewspaper.com.au 27 August 2022 | 13 Dine In Hours Thurs to Sat 12 3pm, 5 9pm Saturday 12 3pm, 5 9pm Sunday 11am 3pm Book now 4233 0572 or online at www.silicakiama.com.au 72 Manning St, Kiama ƒ Conveyancing & Property Law ƒ Business & Commercial Law ƒ Wills & Probate ƒ Leasing - Residential, Commercial & Rural ƒ Elder Law & Estate Planning ƒ Property & Divorce ƒ Insurance & General Litigation PERSONAL SERVICE FROM YOUR LOCAL PROFESSIONAL Christine Waite, Solicitor P 4234 3033 E office@gerringonglegal.com.au W gerringonglegal.com.au Millers Arcade, Ground Flr 12/125 Fern Street Gerringong EXPERT ADVICE QUALITY PLANTS & OPEN80PERSONALLANDSCAPINGSUPPLIESSERVICEBARNEYSTKIAMAPH:423313227AM-4.30PMWEEKDAYS&7AM-4PMSATURDAYS Nagangbi (hello). When visiting a country, most make the effort to learn a few words of their language and to understand aspects of their culture out of respect. Aboriginal woman Dr Jodi Edwards has published a ground-breaking Dharawal language and activity book which she hopes will be used in schools throughout the Illawarra to foster this understanding in the next thethewhoseYuin“supportlistsgatherednityceivedNAIDOCAugust’sWomannamedArtsTreestionAboriginalyears,peopleprogramsgeneration.JodihaspioneeredforAboriginalintheIllawarraforestablishingGumaraaCulturalEducaandtheIllawarraFlameAboriginalPerformingGroup.InMarchthisyearshewasShellharbourLocaloftheYearandinLocalGovernmentAwards,sheretheAboriginalCommuRepresentativeoftheYear.Since1996shehasDharawalwordandphraseswiththeofDharawalandknowledgeholdershomelandsarewheremeetings,theyarnsandcupsofteatookplace”to record the Languagelanguage.isastrong part of identity for people around the world, and a symbol of place. Making the Dharawal language more accessible to people will bring an appreci ation of culture.

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Produced using Parliamentary entitlements. 02 4232 1082 02 4232 garethwardmp.com.auKiama@parliament.nsw.gov.au3577

“The day we drop the ball and forget that that’s what we are here for, we may as well goMshome.”North says after the cel ebrations, Meals on Wheels will continue to “keep the wheels turning”. by Cassandra Zaucer Marion Witheridge, Shirley Kehlet and Jan Weaver receive awards

Meals on Wheels Kiama have celebrated their belated 50th anniversary with a luncheon with the volunteers,organisation’sclientsand their families at The Pavilion. After two cancellations of the event – due to COVID restrictions – members of the organisation were recognised for their years of service.

Sandy Walker, Ruth Logan and Lyn Milton Edith Clark

The Bugle14 | 27 August 2022 At Meals on Wheels 50th OUT AND ABOUT AW3971444 Kt Call Kerrianne today for your personalised itinerary 4421 7596 E: sales@kennedystours.com.au | www.kennedystours.com.au Call now for your local PICK UP SPOT Request a FREE new 2021 Brochure www.kennedystours.com.au 1300 133 477 | THEATRE SHOWS - DAY TRIPS - EXTENDED TOURS Wednesday, 10th February 2021 Tuesday 23rdSaturday 27th March 2021 AW3971444 EVENTS AND DESTINATIONS TO EXPERIENCE Kt Call Kerrianne today for your personalised itinerary 4421 7596 E: sales@kennedystours.com.au | www.kennedystours.com.au Call now for your local PICK UP SPOT Request a new 2021 Brochure www.kennedystours.com.au 1300 133 477 | THEATRE SHOWS - DAY TRIPS - EXTENDED TOURS Wednesday, 10th February 2021 LUNCH CRUISEPORK HACKING RIVER From $125 Tuesday 23rdSaturday 27th March 2021 MELBOURNEFLOWERINTERNATIONALSHOW From $1,299 NORFOLKEXPERIENCEISLAND From $3,950 Moulin Rouge The Musical Wednesday 23rd November 2022 $179 per person Take a day trip to the Sydney Capitol Theatre to watch this must-see theatrical event. Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess of glitz, grandeur, and glory!

Photos: Ross Vaux

Joanne North, the Kiama Meals on Wheels Manager, says it was a long time com ing and events coordinator, Wendy Toomey – who took on the role as a volunteer –was happy to see the event unfold three years later.

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Gail Rinny and Van Dyk Brendan Toomey (MC), Joanne North and Wendy Toomey Wendy Toomey (event coordi nator) and Noel Creighton

“52 years later, two of those ladies are still with the organ isation so that is a real effort and a real triumph.” Meals on Wheels is much more than simply delivering meals as their volunteers do welfare checks on their clients and will follow-up with their families if there are“Duringissues.COVID lockdowns, we played a very fundamen tal role in keeping people who were isolated connected and having them know that there were people around that cared,” Ms North says. “It is underestimated the value of having a nourishing meal, regular social contact with the volunteers, and just having someone to talk to. We capture a wellness and holistic approach to our clients that are the heart and pulse of the organisation.

Wednesday 16th November 2022 $80 per person for coach travel and morning tea

Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Price includes coach travel, morning tea and theatre ticket

Susan Terry and Alison Turner

“We were all very excited that the event was actually happening. We had a lot of local dignitaries attend, representatives from NSW Meals on Wheels and our local programs came to sup port us,” Ms North says. “Having families there to watch the volunteers receive the awards was really spe cial.”Alison Donald, who helped fundraise for the first and only Meals on Wheels vehicle was in attendance as well as Marion Witheridge and Ann Dawes being represented by her daughter. All three have been with the organisation since the beginning. Meals on Wheels Kiama was formed 52 years ago by people in the community who were concerned about the welfare of elder residents who could no longer cook or prepare meals themselves. “It is a real achievement for people in the community that had that foresight to set up something like this,” Ms North says.

thebuglenewspaper.com.au 27 August 2022 | 15 ACROSS 1. Baseline Holden model name from 1968 4. Mid-range Holden model name from 1968 9. Edible material making up the witch’s house in Hansel & 11.GretelInEurope in Cold War times there was the Iron Curtain, in the East there was the -----13.curtainInStar Wars Han Solo’s ship was called the Millennium -----14. What relation were Huey, Dewey and Louie to Donald 18.DuckCafe coffee maker 20. Ribonucleic Acid 21. The villains in Donald Duck comics (6,4) 24. Slang for chemicals used in 25.tattoosRumcut with water name 26. Second of two gumnut babies in stories written by May Gibbs 30. Board that some believe can communicate with the spirts of dead people 31. Captain of ship in Moby 32.DickA new broom sweeps 33. Upmarket version of the 1960/80 Holden car 34. Which east coast marine creature has been named Port Jackson 36. Dog Star, Canis Majoris, brightest star in the night sky 39. Popstar Ms Goodrem’s first name 41. Two door Ford Falcon model in 1960s 43. First of two gumnut babies in stories written by May 44.GibbsDinner entree description of a London fog (3,4) 45. New name for Facebook holding DOWNcompany 1. Villains in the Gumnut books (3,3,7,3) 2. Flowering plant species named after French botanist. Trees and shrubs. 3. Overweight Australian male in Life Be In It ad series of 1990s 5. Clumps of animal poo 6. Curved path of a spacecraft around a planet or a star 7. Submerge or flood an 8.areaDried European plum 10. European snowy 12.mountainsSampson’s girlfriend 15. Former PM and Minister for Health, Finance, Home Affairs, Treasury and 16.ResourcesTopofthe line luxury Holden model 1969-1971 17. Australia’s heaviest and the world’s 2nd heaviest bird 19. This bank permanently closed its Kiama branch on 22.19/08/22Porto Rican/Mexican popular white rum 23. Type of pants worn when riding a horse 27. NSW public holiday at start of October (6,3) 28. Odds of one to one 29. Popular Qld rum 35. Volume of cylinder is area of circle multiplied by 37. City where 2022 Rugby League Grand Final is to be 40.38.heldBelchDominant male animal in a particular group 41. Italian car manufacturer 42. How many stepsisters does Cinderella have Crossword compiled by Steve Law. Correspondence welcome to thebuglenewspaper.com.aucrossword@ THE BUGLE CROSSWORD 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 N I T M A B O I L E R M A K E R E N G T U E D B M A J O R T O M M O R N I N G O E U O M B A Y E T I R N O U N J A D E L A I D E L A C N U U R I V L E T D O W N S J A R L S B E R G D I U G O T T A E G O W O R S T L R C A M E N B E R T B N F E T A K E G M H I C I L T E I G A G H A L L O U M I B A R O N E T M A R L A O U E P U M P K I N C N I P P O N D P E T S H U T E O U A L A U N D E R E W L S P A M E T R D K Y L I E L P E A D O S A L A M I B R I C K L A Y E R S N E Y R K E N T K E R B LAST ISSUE'S SOLUTION It’s often the small things in life that become the biggest memories. For people with hearing loss, this could mean missing out on those little moments where we all find meaning. Oticon More™ hearing aids provide access to the important moments that sound brings to life, presenting these details with balance and clarity. So, you can appre ciate life’s little, meaningful moments – like talking with family and friends, or even just taking some time out for yourself. Hearing Sound Solutions is a local, independent audiology clinic offering the latest hearing technology. Contact us to find out if Oticon More is right for you. Contact us Call 02 4232 1797 Shophearingsoundsolutions@gmail.com1/142TerralongStKiamaNSW 2533 This product is not available for purchase by the general public without a consultation with a hearing healthcare professional. Hear more of the big things in life’s little moments For all mechanical repairs Brake & Steering Specialists 60 Gipps Street Kiama t 4232 2250

from p1 The multiple challenges to Council’s finances and efficiencies remain, and we must all keep working together to turn this situation around.”Councillor Keast, a prac tising chartered accountant, spoke of the challenges of not having reliable financial figures on which to base deci sions while needing to move forward. “Today we have to formally acknowledge what the issues are. We have a strategic improvement plan, we are securing our revenue and we are looking at our costs. We are communicating what our action plan is and we will continue to provide regular updates. “Our community needs cer tainty and clarity about the way forward, and collectively we will work to improve the financial and operational performance of Council.”

Councillor Renkema-Lang spoke of the need for all the councillors to work collabo ratively and respectfully, and said, “Importantly, while we must as a matter of urgency demonstrate that we are a going concern, that we have sufficient liquid assets to fund Council’s liabilities, we must also understand any risk with decisions that we make in haste now and what they will mean for the longer term sustainability of the Council.”

Greg Martin Vale, Kiama

Mayor Reilly warned that given the need urgency there is a risk in delaying decisions to wait for more information, “Sometimes that means taking excellence over per fection. I know those people who are keeping an eye on this Council are after us to be decisive, intelligent and in sightful with our judgment.” He told The Bugle earlier in the day that Council isn’t insolvent.“Ifwedon’t take some seri ous steps, in twelve months’ time we may be. The big problem is the $45 million we owe TCorp in August next year. We have $28 million set aside for that, plus some money from Akuna St and other asset Unfortunatelysales.”the possible sale of five blocks Council owns at Spring Creek is now off the agenda, with the State Government declining to lift a covenant that limits the ability to build housing on the parcels, until the quarry activities cease. “I understand that the covenant might have been needed 31 years ago, to pro tect quarry operations. But surely in the last three de cades there have been many improvements in how the quarry is operated, such as to minimise noise and dust, that would enable housing to occur in proximity with little or no impact on operations,” said CEO Jane Stroud.

We had not been anywhere near an airport for three years, so given an oppor tunity to finally get to see dear loved ones in the UK, we thought, three years is enough, bit the bullet, fully vaxed and took off. All went well, but the high light of our return journey was a seven night cruise down the Danube from Deggendorf in Bavaria to Budapest.Wehadtraveled to Budapest 21 years ago and loved what we saw in a brief stopover. This time, we spent three nights there after saying goodbye to the ship. What a delight it was to have the time to fully explore this dear historic city. When we first visited, many buildings were still shaking off the shroud of the com munist occupation. Glorious old buildings seemed to be enveloped in restoration scaffolding.Thistime, most of the restorations were complete and we spent every minute enjoying them. Most fabulous was the beautifully restored Hungarian State Opera House, for a performance of Onegin the Ballet. One ticket to the same production at the Sydney Opera House would be close to $350. We saw this beautiful production for two tickets at half that price. One of the joys of travel is the anticipation. The worst thing to do with travel is to get to a destination and not be fully informed of the best things to see. Time is precious. Hence the joy of Google and looking up the top 10 experiences certain cities have to offer. So apart from the Hun garian State ballet, one of my suggested delights was to travel to the 15th floor roof top bar of the President hotel. There we watched the sunset over the amazing old roof line of the old Budapest post office building as the sun went down over the Par liament spires and domes. After not having been to central Europe for a few years it is now a great com fort too to have the younger population of most countries quite fluent with English. Same with tap and go with a credit card. Hardly any need to have the local currency as the card does it all (remember traveller’s cheques?).Another joy of travel to Europe or anywhere right now is the local community’s welcome to tourism. Three years without tour ists’ cash flow have made them realize how valuable our dollar is to their liveli hoods. Be it a hotel bed, taxi driver or lunch in the piazza. Happy too, to report that, out of seven weeks away, no bags were lost, airports were tolerable, and touch wood COVID did not affect our movements.Greatnow to be back home, but fully satisfied with a jour ney well worth embracing.

Councillors put on notice

The Bugle POSTCARD HOME If you’d like to share your travel story, send your postcard to: thebuglenewspaper.com.aunews@ 02 - 4858 0368 Landscape Design | Native Plant Specialists | Vintage Pots | Onsite Cafe Open 7 days 9am till 4pm TM 98 Hoddle Street, Robertson NSW 2577 So much more than a nursery... www.nativegrace.com.au Bugle August.indd 1 9/2/22 4:49 pm

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