A new era dawns for Kiama
Kiama is off to the polls for the third time in the space of 12 months and the good news for those suffering electoral fatigue, you should not have to return to the ballot box until March 2027.
Almost one year to the day after the Kiama Council elections and four months after the federal election, the state electorate will choose a fresh face to replace disgraced MP Gareth Ward.
The former Liberal then independent member for Kiama is in jail awaiting sentencing next Friday after he was found guilty of four sexual assault offences with his eventual resignation triggering the by-election.
Labor candidate Katelin McInerney, who narrowly lost the 2023 poll to Ward despite an 11% swing against him, is the clear frontrunner to emerge victorious after Saturday’s polling day.
The former journalist and campaigner for unions and notfor-profit organisations has been installed as an overwhelming favourite to get the nod ahead of the Liberal Party’s former Shoalhaven Councillor Serena Copley, Community Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds and Tonia Gray, representing The Greens. Pre-polling opened last Saturday and closed on Friday. Voters can visit one of 22 electoral stations on Saturday with 60,391 people enrolled for
the oddly shaped region which covers 2275 square kilometres from Albion Park to the region to the west of Nowra.
There are nine other candidates in a loaded ballot paper: independents Lisa Cotton, Cyrille Jeufo Keuheu, Roger Woodward and Andrew Thaler, and minor party representatives Don Fuggle (Legalise Cannabis Party), Ken Davis (Sustainable Australia), Felix Nelson (Shooters, Fishers, Farmers), Joshua Beer (Libertarian Party) and Ellie Robertson (Animal Justice Party).
They are not expected to garner too many votes but the distribution of their preferences could play a part in the final equation.
McInerney has been criticised by rivals of “pork barreling” for a wave of ‘ announcements during the month-long campaign involving NSW Cabinet Ministers and Premier Chris Minns after the Government had given the electorate short shrift during Ward’s abbreviated final term in office over the past two and a half years.After missing out by just 689 votes last time around, McInerney is not counting her chickens before election day despite being the overwhelming favourite.
“I just feel like we've rolled on from the 2023 campaign because there's been work to get on with advocating for the community,” she said.
“With by-elections, it's always a bit of an unknown how it's
going to go. But it's been really lovely. I've had the chance to just get out and talk to people, which is genuinely what I love doing.
“I'm not taking anything for granted, even into this end of the campaign and honestly, I’m just trying to make every conversation count. Because we've got a lot of work that we need to get on with.
“The more conversations we can have now, the better place we'll be, if I'm fortunate enough to be elected, to get in and get running.”
McInerney said she was perhaps a little shy in not wanting to chat with every potential voter last time around because she did not want to be seen to be imposing.
“I think I've got a bit more confidence going in and having that chat now, as in not worrying about not being shy. Last time I was thinking maybe people don't want to speak to me.
“But I learnt that actually everybody really does want to have a chat. It's very rare to find someone who doesn't want to speak to you about their concerns. And especially when you show up on the doorstep.
“Door knocking is the best part of the gig because you're on their doorstep, people are like, ‘oh, someone's here asking me, no one ever does that’.
“People are just genuinely shocked that you'd do it. And I'm like, wow, that should be the bare minimum.”
Whatever the result, Kiama is oin the verge of a new era.
Paul Suttor
Liberal Party hopeful Serena Copley
Labor nominee Katelin McInerneyat her campaign headquarters in Kiama. Photo: The Bugle
Independent Kate Dezarnaulds.
Greens candidate Tonia Gray
Dr Tonia Gray, Professor of Education and former Shoalhaven Councillor, brings over 40 years of electorate experience and a fresh perspective to the Kiama by-election as the Greens' candidate.
With intergenerational ties to the area, Dr Gray understands the mounting pressures facing residents. Her academic background in education and health, combined with practical political experience, positions her to address the critical challenges confronting NSW.
Addressing system-wide failures
“It’s time we had a new, fresh, clean start in Kiama,” Dr Gray declares, emphasising the need to restore integrity and respect for community through active representation in NSW Parliament.
She argues the current government has failed to tackle systemic failures in healthcare, early childhood education, housing affordability, emergency accommodation, and the climate crisis while widening inequality between rich and poor. As a university professor, Dr Gray recognises NSW’s workforce crisis extends beyond breaking point. Critical shortages of teachers, nurses, and paramedics persist despite years of warnings.
The 2025 Public Health Report reveals patients waiting longer in emergency departments and for planned surgery, while the Australian Medical Association confirms the health system strains under increased demand and budget cuts.
Practical solutions for local issues
Dr Gray prioritises listening to residents struggling with housing challenges, advocating for increased public housing through Housing NSW. She proposes transforming Kiama Council’s demolished nursing home site at Havilah Place into affordable housing and hubstyle accommodation for rough sleepers, demonstrating practical problem-solving approaches.
Her healthcare advocacy focuses on securing resources for quality service delivery while addressing workforce retention issues affecting both major service areas. The Kiama electorate is one of the fastest growing regions in NSW and is forecast to grow by 27% in 2041.
Dr Gray is committed to:
- A midwife-led birthing unit at Shellharbour Hospital as Wollongong Hospital has seven birthing beds and over 2500 babies are currently born every year. How does this add up? It doesn’t.
- Maintaining David Berry
Hospital as a public specialist trauma facility.
- Advocating for batterypowered trains connecting Kiama to Bomaderry as a local contribution to the electrification of local communities.
Comprehensive policy framework
Dr Tonia Gray A fresh start for Kiama
Dr Gray’s vision encompasses rapid renewable energy transition with public ownership of key assets, expanded funding for world-class education, public housing, hospitals, and transport services. She champions protecting natural environments and agricultural landscapes while restoring political integrity through ending dirty donations. Her platform includes working with First Nations peoples toward sovereignty and meaningful treaties.
Dr Gray argues for local infrastructure supporting population growth, and ending preferential treatment for property developers, gambling interests, and fossil fuel corporations.
Recognition and commitment
Dr Gray’s achievements include an Australian university award as an exemplary outdoor education role model and international researcher recognition in 2019.Her climate action commitment led her to Antarctica with 80 women scientists for climate advocacy, and raising funds for the Climate Council.
“Moving to a socially just, ecologically sustainable, and clean economic future for us all are my core objectives,” she states, believing changing Kiama’s representation can transform NSW’s broken leadership model through communityfocused governance that prioritises local voices and environmental sustainability over corporate interests. Please note - this is paid content
What’s influencing the voters at Kiama by-election pre-poll
With 13 candidates running in the Kiama by-election, The Bugle asked 13 people at random at the pre-poll voting station at Kiama Uniting Church their thoughts on Saturday’s big vote. Here’s what they had to say. Question: What influenced your vote at the prepoll today?
Kate, of Kiama: “I’m worried about overdevelopment in the Kiama area. There’s not enough infrastructure to cope with the amount of people coming into the town. Also, that it’s increasingly harder to rent a property in this area. I’m a tenant and if I have to leave where I am, I won’t be able to rent in Kiama again because it’s out of my price range as a single mother.”
Catherine, of Gerringong: “Housing is a big issue, but I understand it’s not a one-trick pony. All layers of government need to work together much better to improve the housing supply and affordability. I lean left, but any government should realise the importance of good education, health and housing.”
Steve and Dawn, of Jamberoo: “We saw a couple of interviews with a particular candidate and felt this person could get things done for the community. We’ve been supporters of Gareth Ward. He got things done for the community. But obviously that’s all changed. We’re hopeful the new MP will continue the good work of Gareth.”
Rob, of Kiama: “Overdevelopment is a big concern for me. Kiama’s way too busy now, and there’s more pain coming with some of the development that’s planned, like in Akuna Street. I’d like the new MP to also look at how the harbour in Kiama could be revamped.”
Fay, of Kiama: “Transport is a big one for me. We need more buses and there’s a lack of taxis here now. I know there’s Uber, but I prefer taxis. The bus routes should also be improved.”
Beverley, of Kiama: “Nothing really. I’m just a Labor person at the moment, and Katelin McInerney is a Kiama girl.”
Mark, of Gerringong: “I’m a swing voter. I voted for the Liberals in the past two (state) elections, but I changed to Labor this time because I feel that with Labor in government, we might be able to get some of the things we really need. We need more jobs and affordable housing to keep the younger people in our community.”
Alan, of Kiama: “I’ve always voted for Labor, since the days of Gough Whitlam as PM. I’m a former teacher and just agree with their polices, and think Chris Minns is doing a good job as Premier. I’d like the next MP to focus on affordable housing so we can keep more younger people here.”
Helen, of Kiama: “I’m the same as Alan. I’ve voted Labor since we’ve been together (in the early 1970s). I agree that housing is a big issue. How can most young people possibly afford to buy a house these days?”
Robin, of Kiama: “We need better health services in Kiama. Something like a mini-hospital and more doctors here. We also need more employment for younger people in our local area. It’s so hard for young people to live in a place like Kiama now. The candidate I voted for just then can hopefully help make some of these changes.”
Kade, of Kiama: “We’ve got a local girl (in McInerney) and she’s certainly trying to do a lot for the local area. We’re long-term Kiama locals and it’s certainly a concern about housing affordability. We need funding for a lot of our groups and hopefully we’re going to get somewhere with that (with a new state MP).”
not really involved in politics. There wasn’t really much influence (on how I voted) because I don’t look into it.”
Ben, of Kiama: “I’m
Labor pledges health legacy in Berry
Mitchell Beadman
Labor candidate Katelin McInerney led the charge into the last week of the Kiama by-election campaign to formally announce the future of David Berry Hospital.
McInerney was joined by NSW Premier Chris Minns, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park and Shellharbour MP Anna Watson at the new site of the Shellharbour Hospital in Dunmore to announce the Berry hospital would remain a public asset.
“In 2023, NSW Labor made the commitment to our community that David Berry Hospital would stay in public hands, and we’re doing that,” McInerney said.
“This is a continuation of that commitment today, but it will remain a health facility into the future.”
Minns has “rolled up his sleeves” and had his work boots on for this Kiama byelection campaign - this was his seventh trip to the electorate in the space of a month.
“We know there is still
more to be done and if Katelin is elected on Saturday, she will be a strong local voice in my government to deliver better health services for this community, including at David Berry Hospital,” he said.
This announcement provides security to not only a community health asset, but also a land asset, being 30 acres of prime real estate in the township of Berry.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has been pushing the government for clarity on the Berry Hospital.
“Labor opposed legislation last year to keep this in public hands, where the Liberals supported it,” Speakman said.
Park returned serve to Speakman emphatically.
“You cannot trust the Liberals when it comes to privatisation of our public assets.
“We have seen time and time again they will say one thing before an election and backflip the second they’re given the chance,” Park said.
“David Berry Hospital has been part of the community for more than a century and, although no longer suitable for its original purpose, it’s important that the continued
future use of the site aligns with the values and needs of the local community.
“The Minns Labor Government has kept its promise to keep David Berry Hospital serving locals and we’ve listened closely to the community’s feedback about keeping the site for healthrelated purposes.”
The Minns led government’s decision on David Berry Hospital weighed heavily on around 1200 people who responded to the 2024 Have Your Say survey, sharing their views on the future of health and wellness services at the hospital.
Through independent consultants, 130 community members were engaged through focus groups and pop-up events.
The hospital has been important in the local Indigenous community for decades because of its century-old history of providing support for First Nations people.
When asked specifically on the official use for the hospital’s facilities and whether Indigenous groups have been part of the consultation process, the Premier said they would be
included in the vision for its future.
“We could have a look at a range of different resources in relation to that. An Aboriginal medical service I know has been touted in the past.
“I want to get this right.”
Both the Liberal and Greens parties have supported Aboriginal consultation for the future of the David Berry Hospital.
Recently, the Greens candidate for the Kiama byelection Dr Tonia Gray and Greens MLC Dr Amanda Cohn campaigned for the Hospital to be established as a centre of excellence for trauma-informed care.
“A centre like this would benefit a huge range of people, from victim survivors of family violence and sexual assault, to people who have served in the emergency services or in the defence forces,” Dr Cohn said.
She chaired the inquiry into equity, accessibility and appropriate delivery of outpatient and community mental health care in NSW in 2023, where 39 recommendations were proposed.
Folk by the Sea Festival lights up Kiama
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of music with the 12th annual Folk by the Sea Festival invigorating Kiama this week.
The festival has an impressive line-up of over 35 bands and artists from across Australia, performing in nine venues at the Kiama Pavilion and surrounds on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Festival director Neil McCann is excited for what the festival has in store. Around 200 performers applied to perform so organisers had the luxury of selecting 30 to 40 acts based on quality.
“This is a small festival compared to many folk festivals, but it attracts really
good quality musicians," he said.
This year’s program includes award-winning acts like Darren Coggan, recipient of multiple Golden Guitars and Independent Country Music Awards, The Weeping Willows, and Charley Castle and the Boys in the Well, a young band that recently won the Tamworth Busking Competition.
There will also be local favourites performing at the festival, including Kiama Sea Shanty and Kiama Pipe Band.
"The Weeping Willows have just come back from a European tour, and you've got to have a fair bit of quality to pull off a sold-out European tour," McMann said. The festival offers diverse
venue experiences, from The Pavilion accommodating over 200 people, to more intimate venues that host around 20 to 30 people.
“People come to the folk festival to take in the music, and they watch, they listen, and they enjoy the music,” McMann said.
“The audience love it because they're up close and personal with the musicians, and they can hear everything.”
The festival kicked off on Thursday night with a free charity concert at the Kiama Leagues Club, with entry by donation to Lifeline South Coast.
Tickets are available online at folkbythesea.com.au/ tickets or can be purchased at the gate on the day.
Shelby Gilbert
Broken Creek
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Serena rolls with the punches
Serena Copley knows she’s the underdog in the Kiama by-election campaign but the Liberal Party candidate is a fighter who has found out the hard way that politics can be a tricky game.
Ward clashes with Minister over rail delays
NSW Liberal Party
Deputy Leader Natalie Ward has launched a late appeal to the voters in the Kiama electorate to send a message to the government at the ballot box over the inadequate South Coast rail line.
Ward - who is also the Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads, and the Illawarra and South Coast - said nearly 40 per cent of services have been late in the region in 2025.
The rail line between Kiama and Bomaderry has been an ongoing cause of angst for local commuters and there have been calls for several years for a passing loop to be installed at Toolijooa.
Former Kiama MP Gareth Ward had promised to build a $125 million fourkilometre stretch at Toolijooa in 2019 and Labor Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison said the government was in the process of investigating
the situation through its $10 million Illawarra Rail Resilience Plan which is looking at several ways to improve the network
Aitchison said the plan would be presented to the government by the end of this year with the community to be consulted in early 2026.
Ward said the Liberals would commit to installing the loop if they win government in early 2027.
“We will continue to invest in upgrades to rail. I’m disappointed that rail reliability is so bad in the area.
“Labor talks a good game and puts out press releases but doesn’t actually deliver.
“As Transport Shadow Minister, I’m very aware of how much that line needs those upgrades and we would commit to it.
“There’s a lot that we have delivered. You can’t realistically do everything.
“With the South Coast line, we know that ongoing service reliability is not good enough for regional commuters.
“Given around 40% of services have been late in 2025, that’s not good enough for a service where people are relying on that to get to jobs, to the city, to schools and appointments.
“It’s not just an inconvenience, it’s an absolute impediment and this government needs to do better and we certainly would be looking at that in 2027.”
Aitchison countered by saying Ward’s comments were off the mark.
“This is just situation normal for the Liberal Party.
“They started projects, talked about projects and never actually delivered them and then are critical that we haven’t managed to fix everything in our time in government when they had 12 years to do it,” she said.
“We’ve been implementing a lot of change on the network. We have the Illawarra Rail
Resilience Plan and that is about looking at ways we can improve that network.
“Under the formal government there wasn’t a plan to look strategically at the network in Sydney, outer Sydney or the rural/regional area of the state.”
When asked about the issue of trains running late, Aitchison said a combination of a lack of rolling stock, track conditions and timetabling problems that they have inherited from the previous government were the main factors.
“You can’t undo 12 years of neglect and lack of maintenance and delivery in a short time. I think we’re doing a good job in getting the improvements there and we’ve got a plan for the future.”
Ward claimed the transport issue was a prime example of why the Kiama electorate should choose Liberal candidate Serena Copley over Labor frontrunner Katelin McInerney at Saturday’s byelection.
“It’s very easy to do a press release, it’s very easy to talk about things. It’s actually in the delivery that people should judge you over time. The old saying that action speaks louder than words,” Ward said.
“The proof is in the pudding. You can’t do that overnight five weeks before a by-election. Judge us on our record but what I’m not seeing from Labor is a commitment over the years they’ve been in.
“I’ve seen a lot of lighton announcements, lots of sprinklings of a little bit but they are light on detail on delivery dates and they don’t fully fund the upgrades that have been promised.
“What you have is a true local who’s been there for 30 years in the area who’s a vocational training expert, a former Councillor who understands how to deliver and what the community wants intimately rather than a union hack who’s been delivered a job from head office.”
Copley was elected to Shoalhaven City Council in 2021 but her time in the role came to an abrupt end last year when an administrative error from Liberal Party HQ meant she was unable to stand again because the nomination forms for more than 100 unlucky candidates had not been submitted by the deadline.
This time around there was no such problem with the Liberal Party staffers checking and doublechecking to make sure the NSW Electoral Commission had received her nomination well before the cut-off date.
When asked what she learned from that debacle, Copley said: “That my will to serve my community wasn't diminished by an administrative error.
“Things happen, and I was disappointed but pragmatic. It was something that was out of my control. But I'm a very positive person, so I'm still here.My values haven't changed. My focus on the community hasn't diminished.
“And what I'm seeing under the current government is concerning, and I'm the sort of person who will step up and fight for what I believe in, and this community's worth fighting for, and that's what I want to do.
“It never changed my desire to serve my community and fight for our local community. It just meant those plans were put on hold a little bit.”
When disgraced former Liberal MP Gareth Ward resigned in the wake of his convictions for sexual assault offences in July, Copley said she saw it as “a natural progression” to nominate for the vacant seat.
“I've always been interested in state politics. And it was always the intention there that if the timing was right and the seat ever became available for one reason or whatever, it would be something that I would definitely look at,” she said.
“You know what they saya day's a long time in politics.”
“I don't think there were that many people were surprised that I would naturally step up. One door closes, another one opens.”
Copley has been
buzzing up and down the geographically vast Kiama electorate which stretches from Albion Park to west of Nowra.
“The four-week campaign has been challenging for everybody,” she said.
“I think anybody would like to have more time to get their message across. But it's a level playing field.
“I'm hearing from the community that they are feeling forgotten down here. And my message to them is we can't reward that with handing the seat to Labor.
“We need to have somebody who wants to fight for our patch and make sure we're getting our fair share. And not just being focused on when there's a byelection.”
One of her major issues with the NSW Government, particularly if Labor rival Katelin McInerney is elected, is the plans for housing growth and associated infrastructure in the region.
“There's definite concern about how we grow. And also the lack of facilities that are being discussed with that growth,” Copley added.
“So there's a big push and targets from the Minns Labor Government to councils for housing. But there's no discussion about what supporting infrastructure will come with that growth. They're not talking about schools.
“They're not talking about road upgrades. They're not talking about water or sewerage upgrades, waste transport stations. All the things that will be impacted by a growing community.
“They're just focused on the housing targets. We shouldn't be just growing fast. We should be growing well.
“It's about the cost to build too. There's so many fees and charges imposed on buildings under this government. That makes it not viable to build homes.
“It's important for a government to get the settings right.
“And we're not seeing that at the moment. We're seeing a lot of focus on housing, but we're not seeing small businesses being supported.
“They're the lifeblood, the engine room of our economy. When our small businesses are doing well, our communities are strong.
“The cost of doing business in NSW is getting more and more expensive.
“And harder and harder to manage. That is something that has to stop.” Copley will be joined by Opposition Leader on the hustings on election day.
Paul Suttor
Paul Suttor
By-election bringing a fresh change for Kiama
Spring is here - though you wouldn’t know it from the wet and windy weather that’s battered us through the final days of the Kiama by-election campaign.
Candidates have been popping up everywhere: online, on the streets, even down the alleyways with their superiors and entourages.
After months without a local member, Kiama is ready to have someone in the seat again.
Curiously, no party has promised the return of New Year’s Eve fireworks.
For many locals, that annual celebration was more than just a spectacle - it was a symbol of community, a reward for making it through the year together. At around $95,000, the cost might sound steep, but as one commenter pointed out online, that’s about the same as a luxury SUV.
The reputational damage of cancelling our long-standing fireworks, though, is far greater.
Tourists plan months ahead, book accommodation, and expect Kiama to deliver.
Some have suggested alternatives for the future - laser shows like Sydney’s Vivid, for example - but they come at an even higher cost and would need much more sponsorship.
Thankfully, Kiama is rich with event expertise, and ideas keep bubbling up. No doubt something will be salvaged. Still, it’s a sad thought that 2025 will dawn without that shared moment by the harbour.
In the meantime,
there’s plenty to celebrate this weekend.
Folk By The Sea will light up The Pavilion with a three-day program of music, community, and connection. From the lively barn dance at the Anglican Church on Friday night to the stellar line-up across the weekend, the organising team deserves real applause for pulling together such a feast of talent.
If you haven’t already, grab a ticket online or at the gate - there’s truly something for everyone.
Log on to The Bugle app to have a full program of the Folk By The Sea events at your fingertips.
The Bugle published a four-page guide to the festival recently and these will be available at the concert venues.
Sunday will also bring a splash of chrome and colour as the hot rods roll into town at Black Beach Reserve for their 10th anniversary - covering the grounds with gleaming paintwork and polish.
They’ll gather at the Lighthouse on Saturday morning before heading off on their annual social road run - a chance for enthusiasts to get up close before they roar off down the coast.
And, of course, don’t forget to vote. Polling stations will be open across the electorate on Saturday.
Whatever the outcome, let’s hope a fresh wind blows through Kiama - one that restores community pride, champions our traditions, and celebrates what makes this place so special.
Heavy hitters lend helping hand for Dezarnaulds’ cause
Lleyton Hughes
Community Independent
candidate Kate Dezarnaulds called in some high-profile support in her push to win the Kiama byelection.
Former South Coast Independent John Hatton and Independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich got their hands dirty on the election trail at Burnetts on Barney garden centre in Kiama to lend a hand to Dezarnaulds' bid for the vacant state seat.
Hatton, recognised as an Australian Living Treasure by the National Trust for his 22-year career in politics highlighted by his crusade against corruption, said Dezarnaulds would make a fine local representative.
“The difference with independents is you will count as a citizen because independents do not survive if they don't work with the community, for the community, and embrace the community in decisionmaking,” the 92-year-old said.
“The thing that the Premier will say is, 'They're not part of the government, they've got no influence.' I'm telling you that I was in the top nine in capital works here in the South Coast in the state.”
Hatton argued that electing an independent is the only way the Kiama community would truly have a voice in Parliament. “We're in a prime situation to bring about change because we’ve got
Where can I vote?
Polling places will be open from 8am-6pm on Saturday.
Albion Park High School
Albion Park Rail Public School
Berry Public School
Bomaderry Public School
Cambewarra Public School
Centenary Hall, Albion Park
Falls Creek Public School
Gerringong RSL Soldiers Memorial Hall
Gerroa Neighbourhood Centre
Illaroo Road Public School
Jamberoo Public School
Kangaroo Valley Community Hall
Kiama High School
Kiama Uniting Church
Minnamurra Public School
Mount Terry Primary School
North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre
North Nowra Public School
Nowra Hill Public School
Nowra Public School
Shoalhaven Heads Community Centre
Werri Beach Progress Hall
a number of independents in Parliament. And that's growing - it's growing because of the discipline within parties. They are told how to think, they are told how to vote,” he said.
“Back when I was in Parliament, they were actually disciplined if they disagreed with caucus or were an embarrassment.”
Greenwich - often described as the key independent in Parliament - said Kiama deserved better representation after Gareth Ward's resignation following his conviction for sexual assault offences.
“We have seen the Labor government ignore Kiama, and the man who represented Kiama until he was convicted and left Parliament - almost being expelled. So this is a time for a fresh start, for an Independent who can work with the government but also hold them accountable,” he said.“Someone who doesn't have the drama and chaos associated with Gareth, but who can get their questions answered by the government and hold them to account.
“We don't have to worry about party politics - we get to be the voice of our community on the floor of Parliament.” But if it’s agreed that an independent can bring about real change in Parliament, why Kate Dezarnaulds? What would she change?
“If I were elected the Independent member, small business support, backing the energy transition, and making sure the benefits spread to small businesses and community organisations would be really important,” said Dezarnaulds.
She also agrees with Greenwich that housing is the state's top priority and something she is deeply passionate about. Dezarnaulds recently revealed her voting preferences for the Kiama by-election, placing herself first, followed by The Greens in second, Labor third, then Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Felix Nelson in fourth, and the Liberals fifth.
“If you’d told me before all of this that I would say yes to Mr Shooters and Fishers, I would have been very surprised. But his platform - he’s done no deals with anybody on preferences - he is really there,” she said, explaining her decision to rank them above the Liberals. “What he’s advocating for is really close to a lot of the things I’ve heard through all of the listening we’ve done.”
"The thing that the major parties have the biggest problem with when it comes to independents is that we work too hard and deliver too much for our communities.
Kate Dezarnaulds is flanked by Alex Greenwich and Australian Living Treasure John Hatton. Photo: The Bugle.
Gray puts Kiama on red alert for Greens over sluggish major parties
Paul Suttor
Greens candidate Tonia Gray hopes the Kiama electorate thinks twice before filling in their ballot paper on Saturday about whether a major party deserves their vote.
Dr Gray is standing for the state seat for the second time and with Labor tipped to regain the seat ahead of the Liberal Party, Kiama is all but certain to be represented by a major party for the first time in four years.
She wants to keep the government honest by getting the chance to represent Kiama in NSW Parliament but she believes Labor’s Katelin McInerney is a shoo-in to win based on the campaign so far.
“We get lazy governments, blue or red, where they don't have to listen to the people. But when you put in someone who is a minor party, like the Greens, we become like a stone in the shoe and it rubs and annoys and you actually have to pay attention,” Dr Gray said. “That's part of why we in Kiama need to elect someone who is a minor party to be the voice of the community rather than a voting machine with bloc votes, which both major parties do.
“No one crosses the floor.
“If you want same old, same old and the status quo to remain the same, vote big. But if you want big change, now we are on the cusp of change.”
Dr Gray was furious that the Labor Government had not appropriately delivered for the Kiama electorate since its election win in 2023 due to its disdain for former local member Gareth Ward, who survived Chris Minns’ attempts to oust him from Parliament soon after the Premier came into power.
“The electorate was held political hostage. It's like we were being politically tortured. So any demand he made, fell on deaf ears. So we were the poor country cousins,” she said.
“We were at the disadvantage, which should never be the case. Politics shouldn't play that game. You should be here for everyone, not just your voting base. I'm really pissed off about it.
“The political inertia is what's held Kiama back. We need someone who will agitate for better.”
But since the by-election was called last month, Dr Gray said government funding has materialised out of thin air.
“We are agitating and
looking for better outcomes because at the moment I'm finding that magic sprinkle dust that's going around where we have money here, money there. Why didn't that happen beforehand?” she asked. “Whether it's Kangaroo Valley Bridge, whether it's sporting fields, whether it's better roads we're getting. Why so slow?
“We've got the finances, we've got the knowledge, we've got the technology. What was missing? Political willpower.”
Dr Gray predicted the major parties would probably only get “66% to 70%” of the primary vote but she was expecting her own percentage to be affected by the fact there is a field of 13 candidates who will dilute the vote.
She said he idea for a batterypowered train between Kiama and Bomaderry had struck a chord with the electorate as well as her calls for a maternity ward at the new Shellharbour Hospital.
“People are having births by the side of the road because of a lack of facilities,” she said.
“You're either going to be shunted to Wollongong or shunted to Nowra. And half an hour, if you're having a baby, is a lot.”
Fuggle pushes for cannabis clarity and compassion
Mitchell Beadman
Legalise Cannabis Party’s Kiama candidate Don Fuggle believes that Australia and its states are behind much of the world when it comes to laws around cannabis.
The by-election hopeful wants voters to know that he is advocating for what he deems is a modern-day civil rights issue.
“I think it [the legalisation of cannabis] is a step for civil rights, to recognise that people do have the right to choose and body autonomy is a choice,” Fuggle said.
“You can’t find a product that is more misinformed than cannabis. It has been called the devil’s weed but this has proven to be not true. It still has stigma around it.”
A pertinent issue Fuggle sees is the Road Transport Amendment (medicinal cannabis-exemptions from offences) Bill 2025, which
has been adjourned. There is no technology for testing impairment, but there’s plenty of scientific evidence that after a number of certain hours, you’re not intoxicated by cannabis,” Fuggle said.
Fuggle is of the opinion that “when” cannabis is legalised, there should be an age limit.
“We need to look after our children,” Fuggle said.
“I was brought up in the alcohol world and I was allowed to drink from quite a young age and I don’t think that was good for me.
“I’d agree at a minimum 18, and then you can make a choice.
“If we moved it out of the criminal justice system into the health and education, we’d save so much money to start with and we’d be able to educate children.”
In the Impact of the Regulatory Framework for Cannabis in NSW inquiry, which was chaired by
Legalise Cannabis MLC
Jeremy Buckingham, there were nine recommendations and 20 findings.
The Bugle asked if there should be different rules around how cannabis is cultivated and Fuggle was optimistically honest.
“When it becomes legalised, then proper description [cultivation of product], you’ll know what you are getting,” he said.
“But we can be out there and it becomes a health and education issue.
“So we educate people, educate growers, educate everyone.
“At the moment it is all in the hands of the black market [recreational use], so people can sell cannabis laced with stuff.”
Within the by-election campaign, Fuggle doesn’t see himself as an outlier among the candidates but just doing the right thing campaigning with the cannabis law.
Broke and broken Councils - and why an Independent MP matters for Kiama
Kate Dezarnaulds
I’m standing as an independent candidate in the Kiama by-election because our community deserves better and this is a once-in-a generation opportunity to deliver it.
Across the electorate, our three independent councils — Kiama, Shoalhaven and Shellharbour — are under the pump. Rates rise, roads crumble, coastal risks grow, and the cultures can get toxic. The reflexive response is our national sport of council bashing. The true story is local government is created and constrained by NSW law, and the funding architecture councils rely on has been eroded and gamified over decades to suit major parties.
If we want reliable services and resilient communities, as local MP I am determined to tackle the root cause of council challenges and use the power of the position to fix the system. Most people don’t realise councils exist under the NSW Local Government Act. Their powers and obligations are set in Macquarie Street. They deliver local public goods - roads, libraries, parks, waste, stormwater, local planning - from a revenue mix they don’t control: rates capped by a state-set peg, fees constrained by regulation, and grants determined by postcode for political gains.
When the state shifts costs
or changes rules, councils wear it first.
Federal Financial Assistance
Grants once sat near 1% of Commonwealth tax revenue; today they’re about 0.51%. Restoring the pool toward 1% would almost double predictable, untied funding - meaning planned maintenance, not photo ops.
Cost shifting: responsibilities pushed down without matching, permanent funding - from parts of emergency services to new compliance burdens. The rate-peg straitjacket: annual caps rarely keep pace with construction,
insurance and disaster repair spikes. Constraining special variations leaves ageing infrastructure unfunded.
The Emergency Services Levy (ESL): councils must pay a fixed share of the state’s emergency services budget. When budgets lift mid-year, councils cop unplanned billsevery dollar diverted is a dollar not spent on roads, drainage or coastal protection. Disaster “replace, don’t improve”: recovery funds too often rebuild what failed rather than building back better to prepare for the next event.
Competitive grants that
gamify investment: projects follow political calendars, not logic or need, and too often projects start without the enabling works in place.
We’re living the consequences. Kiama faces structural deficits and serious coastal risks. Shoalhaven carries a huge roads and bridges backlog after fires and floods. Shellharbour’s delivery is dragged by governance “noise”. These are predictable outcomes of a narrow, volatile, politicised funding model. This is where an independent MP can make all the difference.
I’m not bound by party factions or backroom deals. I
can name the root causes and fight to fix them.
I already have strong relationships with Independents in the NSW Parliament, including Alex Greenwich MP, Jacqui Scruby MP and Judy Hannan MP.
They’ve shown what’s possible when you aren’t tied to a party machine - from landmark reforms in Sydney to millions delivered for Wollondilly.
They encouraged me to step forward. If elected, I’ll bring those connections to work for Kiama from day one.
An Independent MP’s job is not to splash money to shore
up support for a major party, it is to ensure that money goes where it’s needed, not where it suits the party in power. That means insisting on planning-led synchronisation: when the state funds highways and hospitals, the local enabling works - feeder roads and bridges, sewer and water upgrades, public transport links, and social and keyworker housing - must be funded and timed together so projects open ready to help, not hurt liveability.
It also means making building back better the default in disaster recovery: drainage upgrades ahead of storm season; resilient pavements and bridges; coastal adaptation that protects public and private assets; bushfire buffers designed for today’s risk. We must clean up governance so councils become safe, stable workplaces that retain good staff and deliver for residents. That requires independent complaints handling for top roles and a standard integrity framework that targets real misconduct (fraud, corruption, undue influence). If we stop the councilbashing and fix the architecture, we can turn “broke and broken” into stable and delivering - vibrant streets, reliable services and homes people can actually afford. Please note - this is paid content
Walkbuy app is elevating Kiama’s shopping experience, one ‘Pulse’ at a time
Kiama’s retail community is about to get a major boost, thanks to the Walkbuy app designed to bring shoppers and local businesses closer together.
Launching in Kiama this month, Walkbuy is a free app created to connect residents with real-time updates from their favourite local shops and services.
Whether it’s a cafe letting you know the muffins just came out of the oven, or a clothing store with new stock on the rack, Walkbuy brings local shopping to you and encourages you to shop around the corner, not just online.
“It’s all about connection,” says Walkbuy founder Peter Walsh. “Retailers get a quick and easy way to reach people nearby and shoppers get a simple and interactive way to discover what’s available locally, right now.”
Walkbuy is launching in Kiama, with the support of the Kiama Business Network.
To make it even better, it’s free for shoppers and retailers. Kiama retailers can list their business and start posting updates immediately.
The idea is simple but powerful: build stronger local economies by helping people rediscover the value and convenience of shopping in their own community.
"We are very committed to Kiama, and the success of Walkbuy in the region, and excited about achieving our core goal of generating awareness and connectivity in the local retailing community", says Charlotte, who is head of marketing for Walkbuy.
Walkbuy is available now on the App Store and Google Play.
If you live in Kiama, now’s the perfect time to download it, support your local businesses and be part of something made for your community, with a vision for communities nationwide.
Matty Taylor
Jamberoo’s housing future remains stuck in limbo after years of delays on a vital sewer main upgrade, with a new development on hold and residents unable to even build granny flats until Sydney Water acts.
The Fountaindale Group, which is ready to deliver a 50-lot subdivision on Golden Valley Road, says it has offered to fully fund, design and construct the new main.
Despite nearly a decade of discussions and repeated offers to cover the upfront cost, Sydney Water has yet to confirm the size of the new main. It leaves the project, and the town’s growth, at a standstill. Fountaindale director Jennifer Macquarie said it had been about 18 months since Sydney Water last gave any meaningful direction. “They keep saying, ‘we need to do a study, we need to figure it out’ and then they never do the work. It just keeps getting deferred.”
Macquarie said the issue went beyond one developer, with local families blocked from connecting granny flats or secondary dwellings, even as NSW Government policy encourages them as part of the housing solution.
The State Government and councils are encouraging people to add granny flats as part of the housing crisis … but it’s just not possible in Jamberoo,” Macquarie said.
“That affects local families, whether it’s for elderly parents or young people who can’t afford to rent.”
She said the new subdivision would also help sustain the town’s services, with some businesses struggling to stay afloat with the existing small population.
“We’ve already had a significant number of enquiries about lots in the subdivision, and extra families in the area will boost the local economy,” she said.
She suspects regional projects like Jamberoo’s fall behind larger city priorities.
Red tape leaves Jamberoo high and dry
“But we feel like we’re not the only ones. We know Sydney Water is a hold-up for projects across Western Sydney too, so it just leads me to believe they’re stretched and under-resourced,” she said. “That means smaller projects that are a bit more regional fall through the cracks.”
In July 2017, the rezoning application for the Golden Valley development started, and Sydney Water had no objection to it.
According to Macquarie, the project has since been riddled with delays, shifting requirements and studies that never started.
She estimates that once the sewer main is designed and approved, it could be built within about nine months.
Macquarie last month wrote to NSW Water and Housing Minister Rose Jackson, urging her to intervene and authorise the project to move ahead “It’s such a long-running issue, and it seems it’s just a matter
of making a decision because all the solutions are being placed in front of Sydney Water,” Macquarie said.
Jackson said the Government was focused on ensuring housing and infrastructure were delivered side by side in communities like Jamberoo.
“That is why now that the Golden Valley development has received Council support, Sydney Water is actively working with the Fountaindale Group to service the project,” she said.
“I expect Sydney Water to prioritise collaboration and ensure infrastructure planning and delivery keeps pace with approved growth.”
A Sydney Water spokesperson said it was now working with the developer to progress the sewer main and broader capacity upgrades in Jamberoo. “We are working with the Fountaindale Group to define the technical scope of work, delivery and funding arrangements,” the spokesperson said
Sculptures, sunrises and stage lights:
Darren’s camera captures it all
Matty Taylor
Kiama’s waterfront has been transformed into an open-air gallery, with 20 striking outdoor sculptures on display from Hindmarsh Park to the harbour until October 15.
Thanks to ArtPark Australia, locals and visitors can wander through an eclectic mix of bronze, stainless steel and Corten steel creations, each a contemporary talking point designed for gardens and public spaces.
Among the many people appreciating the works in a unique way is local photographer Darren Parlett, who has lived in Kiama for nearly four decades.
On a whim one recent morning, during a hectic week of rehearsals for a stage show at Wollongong’s Phoenix Theatre, Parlett grabbed his
camera phone and headed to the foreshore at sunrise.
“It was a seemingly perfect morning,” he told The Bugle.
“There was plenty of cloud about, but that helped create these spectacular backdrops. I tried to position each sculpture so the light and colours played into the shot.”
The resulting images are as much about Kiama’s landscape as they are about the art itself.
They join a growing portfolio of local landscapes Darren has been compiling, including aerial drone shots of Kiama Harbour.
One of those harbour photos will feature in his upcoming calendar, due to be released on October 31.
Photography became a passion for Parlett nearly 20 years ago, sparked by an unlikely experience: a ghost tour at Picton.
“Every time you take a photo, you’re actually telling a story. It’s capturing history, a moment in time,” he said.
But his creative streak extends well beyond the camera. Since the early 1990s he has been involved with the Roo Theatre Company in Shellharbour.
He encourages others to give acting a try.
“You don’t have to be a NIDA graduate to participate,” he said. “All you need to do is touch base and ask about the acting classes.”
He has also found himself in front of the cameras as a film and television extra, including an extra’s role alongside Pamela Anderson in Place to Be, a part in ABC’s Return to Paradise, and most recently, in a thriller dark comedy called Fangs, starring Joel Edgerton, due for release next year.
‘Gagged and ignored’: Woodcraft Group clashes with Council over missing books
Kiama Woodcraft Group
president John Hanna is removing the “gag” and speaking out against Kiama Council after the club’s cabinet of books went missing.
Hanna is unhappy with the Council’s handling of reimbursement of misplaced books by sweeping it under Section 10A(2)(a) and (f) of the NSW Local Government Act 1993 which was voted on and against confidentially by Councillors.
“Because of the silent treatment, [in the end] you couldn’t talk to anybody,” Hanna said. “I got gagged.”
Last September, Kiama Woodcraft Group relocated their meetings to Jamberoo due to the renovations taking place at the Joyce Wheatley Community Centre in Hindmarsh Park.
They were told by Council
that they could leave their secured collection of bookswhich the group has valued at $4021.80 - at the Centre.
Upon returning to the renovated Centre, the collection had vanished into the ether.
“They (Council) went looking for it (the library of books) and there was some shrugging of shoulders,” Hanna said.
Council workers returned three milk crates of books, but this was “a couple of cows short of a dairy” in comparison to the inventory KWG provided the Council and The Bugle.
After a volley of informal correspondence between KWG and Council, club member Mal MacRae sent a detailed timeline of events to Kiama Council CEO Jane Stroud.
Stroud responded to KWG with a letter in March addressed to MacRae which was shared with The Bugle
addressing the formal complaint to Council stating:
· Council staff have no knowledge of the whereabouts of the alleged missing books and strongly deny the accusations that they were stolen by staff during the renovation works.
· The matter of the books was investigated with our outdoor crew, who assisted with the removal of excess
furniture and materials during and after the refurbishment.
· The group’s public liability insurance should cover the loss of property.
· Council has no records for the property of groups utilising the Joyce Wheatley facilities and therefore are not covered under Council’s insurance.
The process of investigation escalated to involving NSW
Police, but the consensus among KWG was a continuation of conflicting reports on the conga line of Council workers right up to the CEO. “When the Police report was done, they visited MacRae and verbally informed him that it had been investigated,” Hanna said.
A formal NSW Police report is yet to be passed on to the necessary parties.
Hanna and the group are frustrated with how the leadership of Kiama Council has handled the matter.
“Where do we go from here? It just makes us angry,” Hanna said.
“Is this the Mayor’s responsibility to clean up Jane Stroud’s mess?”
The Bugle can confirm that Mayor Cameron MacDonald has been in contact with the group and has offered to meet the group in October.
A spokesperson for Kiama Council said that it considers
the matter of the request for reimbursement from the KWG to be resolved.
“Council is satisfied that a thorough investigation of the matter was undertaken, including a police investigation, which we cannot comment on,” the spokesperson said.
“In terms of Community Hall Hire, Council’s information on public liability and storage equipment is clear: For regular hirers storage of equipment within a hall is at your own risk. Council is not liable for damage to your equipment, stored or otherwise.
Kiama Municipal Council is in the process of updating its Community Hall Hire terms and conditions and finalising its Lease and Licence Policy.
KWG contests the Council’s stance on storage equipment by saying it was not stated to members regarding their tenancy until after the books went missing.
Mitchell Beadman
Photographer Darren Parlett with his beloved pooch Charly with a chain sculpture on Kiama Harbour this week. Photo: The Bugle
Kiama Woodcraft Group members Mal MacRae and John Hanna
Photos: Darren Parlett
Danielle Woolage
On any given day across the nation, nine people will take their lives, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
More than 3200 Australians died by suicide in 2023 and in NSW alone suicide deaths rose to 954 last year. Veterans and first responders, who have often witnessed the worst humanity has to offer while protecting communities, are among those most at risk of taking their own lives.
The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 - Changing the Narrative on Suicide - is a timely reminder for communities to make discussion about mental health a priority.
Groups across Kiama are doing just that, with a range of events being held to increase awareness and support for those in crisis.
On Saturday a group of veterans, first responders, their family and friends and members of the Kiama Surf Lifesaving community will walk from Kiama Blowhole to Werri Beach to remember those who have taken their own life.
Walk organiser Kim Daniel says people can join the walk “to remember a loved one, as a personal tribute for a friend or family member, or to show your support for Australians experiencing emotional distress or mental illness”.
“We want to make sure no one has to face their darkest
Changing the narrative
moments alone,” says Kim.
“Through connection, compassion and hope, we want to unite to raise awareness, overcome stigma and commit to preventing further deaths by suicide.”
Fortem Australia, a not-forprofit organisation supporting the mental health and wellbeing of first responders, estimates over 25 first responders have taken their own lives in the last 12 months.
“That is at least one life lost every fortnight,” says managing director and co-founder John Bale.
“We know employees and volunteers in the first responder sector report having suicidal thoughts over two times more than adults in the general population and are more than three times more likely to have a suicide plan.
“Our first responders protect and care for our community. The fact that they are tak-
ing their lives highlights that we need to do more. They deserve more from us.”
Lifeline South Coast CEO Renee Green says there is no single solution to suicide and “a mixed approach is needed to ensure people receive the right support at the right time”.
"Suicide is complex, and every person in crisis has their own story and set of challenges,” she says.
“Changing the narrative on suicide means creating open, compassionate conversations and breaking down stigma. When people feel safe to reach out, we can connect them to lifesaving support.”
The Lifeline Out of the Shadows Walk is one of the many ways individuals can help raise funds and awareness for suicide. The Suicide Prevention Collaborative Illawarra and Shoalhaven has a range of resources listing mental health support services in the region.
Let’s connect, Kiama: Our kids are craving real life interactions
Danielle Woolage
With a social media ban for kids under 16 just months away, research from a national child protection organisation found many children would rather spend time with family than be online.
To mark Child Protection Week, which runs until September 13, Act For Kids commissioned a nationwide survey of more than 300 people aged 10-16. The research found 41 per cent of the children surveyed would rather connect with family in real life compared to 15 per cent who preferred to spend time online.
Three-quarters of children reported feeling most connected to their families when talking about their day in person and 74 per cent felt positive about a close adult being in the same room while they were online, including 17 per cent who felt safer.
The findings prompted Act for Kids to launch their Let’s Connect IRL (In Real Life) campaign, which was rolled out nationally to mark the start of Child Protection Week on September 7.
The theme for Child Protection Week - Every
Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action - is a timely reminder for adults to listen to, and value, what children have to say, says Act for Kids CEO Katrina Lines.
Let’s Connect IRL was codesigned by children and provides practical tips for parents and carers to prioritise positive connections and conversations with kids by going back to basics and moving away from the fastpaced digital world.
It encourages parents to join kids when they are online to help them feel shared and create a shared connection.
“The campaign and research results come at a critical time with Australia becoming the first country to implement social media restrictions for children under the age of 16,” Dr Lines said. “We need to listen to what children are saying and explore different ways to connect with them, whether that’s in real life or by playing games together online.”
Kiama Unplugged founder Jane Bourne who, along with her husband Ian HarveyGeorge hosts a monthly phone-free family afternoon at Fillmores and a weekly reading group at Cin Cin, agrees. “The fact that young people are saying that they want to connect in real life is fantastic, and we must listen to this,” she says.
“We have to meet our young people where they are, and be open to their interests and hobbies, and make sure we approach them with an open mind. This means they are much more likely to share with us.”
What’s On?
Folk by the Sea
Fri 12 to Sun 14 Sep
Kiama Showground Pavilion
Folk by the Sea is a music festival that showcases a rich blend of folk, world, roots, Celtic, bluegrass, and gypsy music. Tickets on website.
Book Hour
Thurs 18 Sep, 4pm-5pm
Cin Cin Wine Bar
Bring a book and enjoy a drink and some quiet time every Thursday afternoon.
Kiama Blowhole Mystery
Thurs 18 Sep, 6pm-9pm
Cin Cin Wine Bar
Get ready to unravel the mystery of the Kiama Blowhole Body. Bookings essential.
Kiama Spring Garden Competition
Entries are now open and close Fri 19 Sep
Email kiamagcsecretary@ gmail.com for your entry form and further details Free Workshop with Yolŋu artists
Tues 16 Sep, 2pm-3:30pm
SevenMarks Gallery Bookings essential Disco Revolution
Sat 20 Sep, 4pm-10pm The Co-Op Gerringong Tickets available online.
Kiama District Sports Association meeting Mon 22 Sep, from 7pm Kiama Leagues Club
KDSA Annual General Meeting, all positions will be declared vacant and any nominations for positions can be sent to the Secretary.
Parkinson’s Support Kiama - Walk in the Park Sun 28 Sep, from 12pm Black Beach Kiama
All money raised goes to support people impacted by Parkinson’s Disease Dementia Inclusive
Dancing
Fri 3 Oct, 10am to noon
Community Hall - Uniting Mayflower Gerringong Meeting on the first Friday of every month, everyone is welcome to join in at Dementia Inclusive Dancing with a fully qualified dance teacher.
Bundanon Artists & Makers Market
Sat 4 Oct
Join us for our biggest market yet! Set alongside the shores of Bangli/the Shoalhaven River, discover ceramics, textiles, jewellery, weaving, and more.
Kiama Unplugged at Fillmore’s Sun 5 Oct, from 3:30pm Fillmore’s
Kiama Unplugged wish to encourage the community to take a step back from smart phones and social media.
Defining Symbols of Australia
Tues 7 to Fri 24 Oct
GLaM Gallery, Gerringong Gerringong Historical Society is hosting an exhibition of objects that define Australian culture. Join the opening night with guest speaker Anna Glynn on 9 October 5:30pm-7:30pm
Shelby Gilbert
Sevenmarks Gallery is hosting a significant exhibition titled Guyurrmirr dhimurru-makarr djalatha gapu bur'nap monuk lik (Going to the Southeast Saltwater), a collaboration with artists from Ramingining in Arnhem Land.
The exhibition runs until 11 October and is the second collaboration between Sevenmarks and Bula’Bula Arts, building off of last year's successful showcase.
This year the exhibition is shifting from weaving to traditional and contemporary painted stories and new works by emerging Yolŋu artists from Bula’Bula Arts in the Northern Territory.
One of the Sevenmarks directors, Cobi Cockburn, explains that what makes this exhibition special is the cultural exchange it facilitates. There will be three artists coming over from Arnhem Land as well as the Bula’bula arts manager, Mel George, where they will be “sharing
Notice
of a
culture across saltwater and land”.
“It's my understanding that two of those people have never even left Arnhem Land," she said.
“The works that we have here within the gallery are very indicative of their landscape and their environment.”
The gallery has organised an extensive programme of free community events, including workshops for local primary schools, an opening event, a public talk about life in Arnhem Land, and a public hands-on workshop.
“We wanted to remove finances out of it … from an exchange of knowledge and an exchange of communication and cultural awareness, we really tried hard to make that free for Kiama,” Cockburn said.
Cockburn explains how the exhibition will address a gap in Kiama’s cultural offerings, having raised four children, she stresses the importance of cultural engagement and communication at an early age.
“We don't have many
Special Meeting
of Members of Country Women's Association of NSW Kiama Branch will be held at CWA Hall, 70 Shoalhaven Street, Kiama at 2 pm on Tuesday 16th September 2025 to discuss selling the property. BRANCH MEMBERS ONLY.
Cheryl Pearce, President, Kiama Branch.
Arnhem Land artists share stories at Sevenmarks Gallery
offerings, we don't have a cinema… so with arts and culture in here, I kind of go, how can we engage the younger crowd?
And how can we also show them about First Nations people,” she said.
“If we don't bring those storytellings in and those experiences in, and we don't integrate them at an early level, then I think it probably remains a separate entity. And I'd love it to not be a separate entity.”
The exhibition's opening event is being held on Saturday 13 September from 5pm7pm, featuring a Welcome to Country by Gumaraa, artworks by the visiting artists and the artists themselves, and Silica is providing canapés alongside local beers and wines.
A public talk ‘Life in Arnhem Land’, with Bula'Bula Arts Manager Mel George is being held on Sunday from 11am-12pm, followed by a hands-on public workshop on Tuesday from 2pm-3:30pm. More information and tickets for the events can be found on Sevenmarks Gallery website. Exhibition entry is free.
Hannah rewarded for service
Jamberoo Rural Fire
Service Captain Hannah McInerney has been recognised as the Regional Adult Volunteer of the Year in the 2025 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, celebrating her exceptional service to the community.
Hannah joined the Jamberoo RFS at 18 and, at just 33 years old, has already made history as the first female brigade captain in the Illawarra.
She has held the top role for eight years, leading a team of 55 members –including 39 operational firefighters and 16 support volunteers – in one of the most active brigades in the region.
Today, three out of four of the brigade’s officer positions are held by women, a shift Hannah has championed by mentoring and encouraging emerging leaders.
In the last calendar year, the brigade responded to 180 incidents, ranging from bushfires and structure fires to road accidents, powerline damage and flood recovery. Twice during 2024, the brigade faced more than ten emergencies in a fourhour window, deploying all three of its appliances under
Hannah’s calm leadership.
Her influence, however, goes far beyond emergency response. Hannah has reshaped brigade culture, fostering inclusion and diversity in what was once a
Hannah also runs fire safety and preparedness programs for the community, reaching more than 350 preschool children each year, and works closely with local businesses, schools,
male-dominated space.
“If there is an opportunity in your local area, it’s an opportunity to get involved in the community, and to give back a little bit, and learn new skills and gain new qualifications,” she said.
churches, and community groups to strengthen Jamberoo’s resilience.
“The preschool program is focused primarily on understanding basics of fires, starting the conversation, and allowing kids to go
Inspirational guest speakers
Gerroa Combined
Probus Club welcomed two inspirational speakers to their recent luncheon meeting.
Peter Dover is the CEO, Senior Minister and Founder of the Salt Ministry in Nowra, helping those in need. He is pictured here with one of our members, June Wardle.
Carolyn Robinson is the oldest trekker to take on the 17-day 130km hike to Mount Everest Base camp. She is pictured with Ken Hutt, the trekking group leader from Berry Rotary - they are raising money to help eradicate polio.
home with a pamphlet and encouraging parents to continue the conversation,” Hannah said.
Her volunteering doesn’t stop at the fire shed. Hannah is also an active surf lifesaver with Kiama Surf Life Saving Club, where she has served as Club Captain. She helps coordinate local events from Anzac Day to the Jamberoo Car Show and was a visible leader in local flood recovery efforts.
Hannah admits the role hasn’t always been easy. Taking on captaincy as a young woman brought challenges and resistance, but she persevered with professionalism and respect. Over time, she has earned the trust of her team and transformed the brigade into one of the region’s most respected and inclusive.
Hannah has previously been named Kiama’s Young Citizen of the Year and was a finalist in the Rotary Emergency Service Awards in 2025.
As the judges noted, Hannah is much more than a brigade captain, she is “the calm in the storm, a mentor to the next generation, and a symbol of what modern volunteerism can be.”
support local
Second annual Shoalhaven First Nations Film Festival to feature Prison Songs
The Second Annual Shoalhaven First Nations Film Festival will take place at Huskisson Pictures on Saturday, showcasing a remarkable collection of films by First Nations filmmakers.
One of the standout features is the groundbreaking 2015 documentary-musical Prison Songs, which tells the stories of inmates inside Berrimah Prison in Darwin - not through talking heads, but through powerful original songs performed by the prisoners themselves.
In an Australian first, in-
mates express their experiences, regrets, and reflections through music - offering an emotionally resonant glimpse behind the prison gates.
As of 2024, First Nations people make up 36% of Australia’s prison population, despite representing only about 3.8% of the overall population. Writer and director Kelrick Martin, a Ngarluma man
from Broome in Western Australia, says the idea for Prison Songs came from a desire to humanise those confronting statistics.
“We all know First Nations people are overrepresented in the prison system, both juvenile and adult,” Martin said.
“But for me, the question was: how do we get people to really understand that? How
do we humanise those numbers?”
The answer, for Martin, was music. “The idea of using songs was a unique way to tell those stories,” he said.
“We worked with Brian Hill, a hugely influential UK filmmaker who made Feltham Sings, a musical documentary inside a British prison.
We teamed up with him to create an Australian version with a strong First Nations focus - particularly in the Northern Territory, where overrepresentation is staggering.”
Importantly, Hill wasn’t there to take over.
“Brian didn’t tell us what to do - he helped us navigate the hurdles. And I think what came out of it is one of the
most innovative projects I’ve worked on.”
Martin and his team spent time inside Berrimah Prison, holding auditions - not for musical talent, but for stories.
“We auditioned people based on their lived experiences,” said Martin. “We wanted a diverse cross-section of voices from across the prison.”
From there, musicians including Shellie Morris worked closely with the inmates to help shape songs that reflected their own personal journeys. “Often, they didn’t even realise the lyrics were based on their own stories - until they were performing them,” Martin said. “That made it all the more powerful.”
The result is a documentary
unlike any other - moving, defiant, and deeply human. And while Martin doesn’t believe a single film can fix systemic injustice, he does believe it can spark necessary conversations - and provide something meaningful for the people involved.
“Look, I don’t think one film can fix the system. But it can start a conversation,” he says. “And for the inmates, just being involved in something creative - seeing themselves onscreen in a new way - that can be powerful. If it gave them a moment of pride, or helped them reflect, then I’m grateful for that.”
Prison
Songs screens as part of the Festival on Saturday at Huskisson Pictures.
Australia’s first musical documentary Prison Songs poster. Photo David Silver
‘One last step’:
Kiama seeking redemption
Mitchell Beadman
In the lead-up to the Illawarra rugby grand final
this Saturday, Kiama are using the lessons from last year’s defeat to make that “one last step” for redemption against Shoalhaven.
Kiama No.8 Dante Patrick says coach, James Patrick, who is also is father, has the team ready to go one better.
“We’ve been living off a little message that our coach ingrained in us at the start of the year and that is to go one step further for both grades and hopefully we can get that,” Dante said.
Having last weekend off, Kiama used the extra time to reflect on areas of improvement and rest the bodies.
“The first training session this week was probably our best that we’ve had all season,” Dante said.
“But it only counts out on the paddock this weekend.”
Leading into a big match, many players have different rituals with Dante said while each team member was different with their routines, there was more of a focus on club culture.
“There are a few boys that like to watch movies or cartoons before, and others just want to get out there and play 80 minutes of footy,”
Dante said. “We make sure that the club culture stays intact and by that, I mean being punctual, staying on time, if you count that as sort of a ritual then I guess we’ve got it.”
Overall this season, the team has been fortunate enough to avoid any serious injuries.
“We’ve managed our injuries and our time off really well,” Dante said.
“I think coming into the ‘business end’ of the season everyone just sort of grew an extra leg. A bit of concrete and pickle juice.”
Dante paid tribute to the club’s loyal fans for their contributions to the club’s success in 2025.
“Our supporters, our families are the ones that sort of make the sacrifices and allow us to do what we love on the weekend,” he said.
If successful, coach James Patrick will complete a rare feat of captaining and coaching a premiershipwinning Kiama team, albeit 24 years apart.
Kiama were back-to-back premiers in 2001 and 2002 with James’ brother Trevor Patrick (assistant coach) captaining in 2002.
The reserve and first grade grand finals will be played at Collegians Sporting Complex in Figtree on Saturday at 1pm and 3pm respectively.
Knights, Lions staying alive
Paul Suttor
The possibility of a Kiama vs Gerringong grand final in the Group Seven is still alive after both teams advanced in last week’s opening round of the playoffs. Gerringong survived their sudden-death match by the skin of their teeth to come back from eight points down against the Shellharbour Stingrays while the Knights also had a nail-biter, edging out Albion Park-Oak Flats 3028.
The Lions trailed 8-0 after a scrappy first-half showing but after coach Scott Stewart laid down the law at the break, they responded with four tries in the second stanza to
complete a 20-12 triumph at Flinders Field.
Tom Knox and Nathan Ford crossed the stripe early in the second term but the Stingrays responded with a four-pointer of their own before Beau Doosey touched down with a few minutes to go to seal the victory.
Gerringong’s hopes of a three-peat will again go on the line this Saturday when they travel to Centenary Field hoping to bring down the Eagles, who were narrowly beaten by the Knights.
Kiama and the Park went toe to toe in the opening 40 minutes at Kiama Showground
After scores were locked up at 20-20 at half-time, the
Eagles stretched out to an eight-point lead before centre
Max Jennings brought Kiama back into the contest and fullback Brad Killmore scored the match-winner with five minutes remaining.
“We just finally got a bit of field position,” coach Matt O’Brien said in explaining their late surge to victory.
“Once we held the ball for a few sets in a row, we were able to put them under pressure with our defence.”
O’Brien said the Park have an imposing pack but young Kiama prop, Taj Roberts, in his first year out of the under 18s, stood up to the challenge.
“It was probably his best game of the year,” he said.
“We needed Taj to stand up
in the middle and he did, particularly in his first stint.” They now face the minor premiers, Shellharbour Sharks, on Sunday at Ron Costello Oval with the winners earning the right to go straight through to the grand final.
“It’s been a pretty tight comp all year,” O’Brien said.
“Going into the weekend you would have thought any of the five teams can win. You’ve got to be playing your best footy or the other team will have the wood on you.”
Kiama will also take on the Sharks in reserve grade this Sunday and the Knights are aiming to make the grand final in both grades for the first time since back-to-back years in 2017-18.
Kiama hosting football festival after dual grand final success
Paul Suttor
Kiama Junior Football Club is celebrating a successful season, capped off with a couple of premierships, but the onfield action is not over yet.
Nine of the club’s 12 graded teams qualified for the recent finals, four progressed to the grand final and two of those teams - the under 12 girls and mixed under 15Bs emerged victorious.
“It was a good year for us, that’s for sure,” president Ben Morgan said.
“The big challenge is always retaining players, not just at the club, but within the sport itself. We’ve got a good technical director, Alan Appleby, which always helps.
“He’s always trying to advise other coaches to maintain our level of playing ability but also the enthusiasm and willingness of kids who just want to stay in the sport.”
The under 15Bs beat Shellharbour 2-1 while in the under 12 girls’ decider, they took on Port Kembla and after a scoreless first half, Kiama scored the only goal of the match with about 10 minutes remaining.
“They played really well. It was a strong performance from the girls,” Morgan added.
Kiama have invested heavily in girls football in recent years and it’s paying dividends
“Our female numbers have been growing year on
year. We’ve got about 615 players and a third of them are females, which is great,” he said.
“They’re getting really strong and we’ve got a big crop of girls in the under 9s and under 10s. It’s partly due to the Matildas effect with the World Cup being here a couple of years ago, there’s been a big boost in female numbers.”
The club is also hosting a football festival this weekend with around 80 boys and girls teams from far and wide converging on the Kiama Sporting Complex. Under 7s and Under 9s sides will take to the field on Saturday with Under 10s and Under 12s doing likewise on Sunday.
As part of the weekend of
football, there will also be an event at Kiama Leagues Club on Saturday night where Sydney FC players will drop by to chat to the youngsters and pass on a few tips.
There will also be plenty of kids activities including a Silent Disco and EA FC free play, as well as live music from 8:30pm, exclusive Sky Blue meal deals, and raffle prizes (signed jersey, signed Xbox + more!).
The event kicks off at 6pm and to secure your table, head to the Kiama Junior Football Club’s Facebook account for booking details.
It is the third year that the event has been held in Kiama with Sydney FC, thanks to a partnership with Destination Kiama and it will be on again for the next two years as well.
The victorious Under 15Bs team and the Under 12 Girls side after winning their grand finals at Myimbarr.
Around the Grounds
Kiama dynamic duo dazzles
Local athletes honoured at Illawarra Academy
Lleyton Hughes
Two local female athletes were celebrated at the Illawarra Academy of Sport (IAS) 40th Anniversary and 2025 Athlete Awards Night, held recently.
Kiama’s Ginger Siasat was named Rugby 7s Athlete of the Year, while Sage Laird received the Golf Athlete of the Year award.
Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters represented Kiama Council on the night and expressed pride in the local athletes' achievements.
“I'm just so pleased to see Sage and Ginger take out their awards in their categories.
“It goes to show that Kiama’s investment in the Illawarra Academy of Sport is making a real difference. That’s our community’s contribution - supporting young people like them,” she said.
“At IAS, they’re not only developing their sporting
awards night
skills but also receiving media and nutrition training. It’s just wonderful for their overall development.”
Ginger Siasat, who plays rugby sevens for Kiama, was recently selected to represent
NSW in the under 15s at the Australian Schools Rugby 7s Championships. She received $250 with her award to assist with her athletic development.
Sage Laird, 15, has had a
standout year, winning the Kiama Open in June, placing second overall at the Brett Ogle Junior Masters, and earning a scholarship at the famous St Michael’s Golf Club in Sydney.
At a celebration held in June, Laird reflected on the positive impact IAS has had on her sporting journey.
“My journey with the Illawarra Academy of Sport started when I was just
13 years old, and I was wfortunate enough to join the Development Squad,” Laird said.’
“This year, I’m proud to be the only female golfer in the Academy. I know I have their full support, and being part of this team for the past four years has been an amazing opportunity.”
Nearly 300 guests attended the event, including Australia’s most decorated Olympian and IAS alumna Emma McKeon AM, along with fellow Olympians and IAS alumni Kieran Govers, Ryan Gregson, and cycling legend Brad McGee OAM. The night’s top honour, The DRB Group Tobin Family Athlete of the Year Award, was awarded to snowboard cross athlete Marci Davis-Cook, who will receive $10,000 to support her future training and competition.
Gerringong surfing star Lucy Darragh was one of four nominees for the main award and narrowly missed out.
Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters (middle) with Ginger Siasat (middle left) and Sage Laird (middle right) at the IAS Athlete Awards Night.
Around the Grounds
@SticksPix_
It was a history-making day for the Kiama Junior Knights, with two of the club’s teams crowned premiers after nail-biting extra-time victories at WIN Stadium.
The Under 14-2s kicked off the celebrations in dramatic fashion, defeating Culburra 14-10 with a golden-point try to Temana Searle. The boys showed incredible heart and resilience in a game that will be remembered for years to come, with Quinn Garvey named Player of the Match.
@SticksPix_
The Under 16-2s then produced their own extra-time heroics, edging out Shellharbour 21-20. Five-eighth Max Laird calmly slotted the match-winning field goal, capping off a brilliant performance that also earned him Player of the Match honours.
All creatures have distinct features
Carol Goodard
We humans share this planet with an immense array of creatures.
On a daily basis, whether consciously or not, we interact with a variety of living organisms, some of which are welcome in our space, and some which are definitely not.
Let's start with the insect. The brazen mosquito mercilessly irritating you with its buzz at night whil you're trying to sleep; that plump and shiny black cockroach scurrying across your kitchen floor and suddenly darting under the fridge before you can thwack it; the pesky fly which relentlessly bombards you, but only when your hands are full; the beetle, the ant, the bee, the spider all have a reason for being, and have been eminently successful at it.
They are true survivors.
Humble dogs and cats, our beloved pets, give us unconditional love, loyalty and companionship. We sometimes affectionately call them our fur babies and they are a treasured part of family life. Humans develop deep and loving relationships with these creatures, and it is always a two-way street. As it is with pet horses and ponies. We depend on farm animals in a different way - we raise them for their meat, milk, eggs and wool.
Then there are pet birds, snakes, mice and reptiles. Humans interact with and care for these creatures, as we do for those that are free and wild, both on land, and in the sea.
Over many years travelling extensively in Australia, and then in other parts of the world, I have had the good fortune of many encounters with a variety of these animals, sometimes planned, sometimes by chance.
Living in Kiama is such a blessing for a sea-loving person - our town is on the coast, our waters are clear, we can boast of octopuses being born in our rockpool, of pods of dolphins surfing in the waves of our beaches, of whales visiting annually as they head north to give birth, and then south again along the whale
I was at Kiama's round rockpool one very wet day last year during whale season. It was icy cold, the wind was howling and pushing the waves violently onto the surrounding rocks.
There was not another soul there. I was standing
at the top of the stairs looking south, watching the huge sudsy surf swirling, crashing and launching spumes of brown froth skyward.
Suddenly, a hill appeared to slowly raise itself out of the water.
It looked as if the sea bottom had risen. It was only after it dived again and then resurfaced that I realised what it was.
If I'd been crazy enough in those conditions to stand on the pool wall, I could have reached out and touched a whale. I stood, totally awestruck, waiting for it to rise again. But no more, it had gone.
On another occasion, this time in Monkey Mia in Western Australia quite a few years ago, I came even closer to another beloved sea creature.
I had for years wanted to interact with dolphins, and apart from seeing them from afar while I was in the surf, or from even further on land, this bucket list desire of mine hadn't eventuated.
Until we were in Monkey Mia. Handfeeding of dolphins was offered as a must do for tourists, and I bought my ticket.
But it wasn't to be.
Unlike years ago, there are restrictions now put in place when it comes to animal welfare. Today, the rangers quite rightly, strictly control dolphin feeding, to maintain their wellbeing.
If we feed them too much, they won't hunt their own food. They become reliant on humans, to their own detriment.
These days, at each daily feeding session, with hundreds of onlookers, four or five children are given a tiny bucket each with one or two fish, which they feed to the few dolphins on show.
This was the delightful, caring and correct way to interact, but nevertheless I was a bit dejected. I'd not achieved what I came to Monkey Mia to do.
So, behaving like an overgrown sulky toddler, I headed for the nearby beach and its warm, comforting water, lilo under arm, to ponder what might have been.
Within a few minutes of luxuriating on my lilo, spirits now uplifted as I bobbed around lazily on top of the water with the sun shining down on me, I happened to turn my head slightly, and saw a dark shape pacing through the water, headed my way, and it definitely wasn't human.
In that instant, my worst fear made its way
into my disbelieving mind. This couldn't be happening to me. I was about to be attacked by a shark.
In another instant, the creature was there, and then it was under me. It had dived under me on my lilo!
It was a dolphin. A gorgeous, glistening, graceful creature of the sea, gliding so smoothly through the water, and it had found an unexpected toy floating along on top, with a human attached. For only a minute or two it stayed to play, and then just as suddenly as it had appeared, it was gone. It felt surreal - had that just happened?
By sheer wonderful chance, I'd had my dolphin encounter after all. So had hubby, sunning himself on the shore, phone in hand. He got the photo, and to this day when I look at it I am still amazed by how lucky I was.
There have been many other encounters with creatures. I have swum with manta rays at Ningaloo reef, and reef sharks on Dunk Island.
I have sat on an opensided truck in Kruger National Park, a little too closely in my opinion, watching lions eating a wildebeest. The smell in the searing afternoon heat was indescribable.
I have been divebombed by micro bats in the CuChi tunnels of Vietnam. And rushed at by a foammouthed dog in a Phnom Penh street. Fortunately, hubby took aim with a rock and scared it off.
I have ignored a python living under my bedroom, and a red-bellied black snake living for a short time in a drain near my front door on Berry Mountain. And still on the mountain, I persisted with creating gardens despite my resident wombats tromping them as they blissfully and blindly went about their nocturnal wanderings.
I have been stung relentlessly by bluebottles, bitten by mozzies, and traumatised by rats who lived in the bar I worked in at the Menzies hotel back in the 1970s. It was all part of my job to bash ferociously on the metal fridge doors as I opened the bar at 11am daily, in order to warn the rats off. Customers would never have known.
These encounters with all manner of creatures has enriched my life. I have enjoyed and been positively inspired by most of them, and will set my sights on having many more in the future.
Tales of old Gerringong corn growing
As a child I can vaguely recollect my father growing corn. My sister Merelyn confirmed this by saying he grew corn at Gerroa to feed the cattle. But the growing of corn was very important for farmers many years before that.
Clive Emery wrote a tale about his father growing corn at Foxground.
For as long as my Dad lived, corn was his favourite crop.
times, my kids were crying round the table and there was nothing to eat, but the missus ground the corn and made gruel and baked to fill their little bellies! We have lived on corn for weeks on end, when there was no money to buy food!”
The sincerity of this declaration was so real Dad took it to heart and it may have been the trigger which energised him to carry it out. Whatever, 80 years since that remark I am still growing maize!
and old Joe the cat, and of course so many birds.
Corn was a staple food for the fowl as a matter of course - ground for the chicks and cracked for their mothers.
The crows, the Rosella Parrots, the White Cockatoos would raid the crop in the paddock.
Always make sure you have some corn in the barn...
Never a season went by without us having acres of maize growing in our best grain. I never did discover how many years he had grown this variety, but every year throughout my young life that was the variety grown.
I was sorry for Dad's sake when we changed the breed to Giant White because of its
Dad stood a Scarecrow at the end of the paddock to frighten them away. It was so lifelike that our neighbour rode down one day to have a yarn to the fellow standing at the edge of the crop.
But the birds were
Hickory King - the cobs of which we learned first to husk as boys.
Dad supported this variety because he said Kellogs used it to make Corn Flakes, so it must be the best!
Rightly or wrongly, it was the favourite - that was until Cliff and I decided to try some of the new varieties coming on the market.
I honestly believe it was the grain he grew as a boy, and saved the seed each year to keep it pure.
He said when he went to the North Coast, an old farmer gave him some advice which he heeded well throughout his life.
“Emery,” the old fellow said, “always make sure you have some corn in the barn. In bad
There was something about family husking bees when we all sat under a hurricane lamp in our barn husking the cobs until our little heads began to nod, and Dad told us stories of his life until all we wanted to do was curl upon his lap and be buried in husks!
He would pick the two of us over his strong shoulders and carry us off the bed.
The hempen bags we used for collecting the corn cobs had many uses on the farm; used often for overcoats during inclement weather or for bagging the potato crop in season and in many homes used for bedding, then called a "Wagga Rug'.
The peculiar thing about corn is that every animal on our farm liked it. The cows were fed corn in the stalls, the pigs in their pens, the horses in their nosebags, the dogs
ploughing and cropping as it was so steep.
We usually retired about ten at night, when we would hang our husking pegs on a nail and carry the husks out to the paddock where the herd was waiting to chew on them.
We often had wrestling bouts in the pile of husks for fun. We piled our barn lofts with cobs, to be left there to dry before being ground for the cattle.
When we moved to Foxground, nothing changed. For years we went on with the husking bees, with this difference.
their meal of corn.
My mother would come to the barn some nights to help with the husking. She did not use a husking-peg like the rest of us but tore the husks off with her hands; it was good to have Mum there because she could tell stories too.
She did not know much about corn until she married Dad, because the property
Mother and Olive made it into a Valley night picnic and so many young folk came to help and have fun in the barn, while their mothers stayed with Mum in the house.
But they were not idlewe all shook the corn hairs and dust from ourselves and enjoyed the repast our mothers had prepared.
They were happy events, and many a lass was grabbed
roll in the pile of husks before the night was over, and released in time to prevent being smothered.
In the dim light of the hurricane lamp nobody knew who was rolling who, nor did anyone care, and everyone was happy and joyous laughter filled the barn.
It was during the husking bees I learned that cobs of corn always had even rows of grain, and Dad offered anyone 10 shillings if they could bring forth a cob with uneven rows.
He found it was counterproductive for we counted the rows on each cob before tossing it into the heap and husking less cobs. No one got the money, however.
Why we didn't husk the cobs in the paddock was never really explained. When I began farming on my own that is what I did - it meant less handling - but Dad always seemed to have plenty of labour.
It is strange how we stick to the old routine at times until a total stranger will correctly make a suggestion. Up until
then it was a matter of: 'if it was good enough for my father it is good enough for me!'
Somehow, I am glad to be able to tell of the simple fun we had at our husking bees. Thinking it over, I wouldn't have missed it for the world !
As Hickory King was laid aside, so has the plough and Cydesdales that pulled it. Where we used to walk nine and a half miles behind the plough to turn an acre of furrows, with the tractor we did that before breakfast.
The steel machine that made it possible did not rub its head on your chest, nor nuzzle your shoulder as you exchanged winkers for nosebags, nor do you pat it on the shoulder.
Strangely, mechanisation has not kept the farmer in the field, and houses are growing where once they trod! The art and science of farming is dying.
Mark Emery
Letter to the Editor
An Open Letter to Kiama candidates on issues facing older women
The South Illawarra Older Women's Network has developed some pertinent questions for the by-election candidates seeking their positions on the issue of older women facing housing insecurity in the Kiama electorate.
We present these as an Open Letter to the 13 candidates.
The questions are:
Relative to the whole of NSW, Kiama LGA has a high proportion of unoccupied dwellings and therefore a lower average occupancy rate of existing housing. This reflects Kiama's role as a popular holiday-home destination. About 6% of dwellings are used for short-term rental accommodation - a figure that is also above the NSW average. Given this underutilisation of our housing stock, what are your plans for increasing the number of permanent rental properties available, particularly for highly vulnerable cohorts such as women over the age of 55, and at rents that are affordable?
Can you tell us about any practical solutions you are considering to provide safe and secure housing for older women escaping domestic violence? Currently, refuges are not geared for the specific needs of older women and are at capacity on any given day. In addition, wait lists for social housing are up to 10 years.
SIOWN and Supported Accommodation & Homelessness
Services Shoalhaven Illawarra (SAHSSI) are keen to facilitate grassroots support to older women in the local area. Initially they wish to get a better understanding of the extent of housing insecurity in this group by inviting women to share their stories. By increasing the visibility of this often invisible problem, they can start to fine-tune the kind of support that would be most effective. Ultimately their aim is to establish a program that enables older women to find secure homes when they find themselves at risk of homelessness through no fault of their own. If you were to become our State Government representative, would you be prepared to commit to supporting such an initiative, and in what ways?
Kind regards, Julie McDonald, Coordinator South Illawarra Older Women's Network
Youth issue neglected at candidates forum
I attended the Meet the Candidates session at the Kiama Pavilion last Wednesday.
The candidates delivered their speeches, mainly about their ability and willingness to listen to the community and take the community’s issues up to the state government level.
They spoke about their volunteer and employment histories and personal interests which had led them to stand in the byelection.
Youth was mentioned once and that was in relation to sport. There was an absence of social issues other than the cost of renting.
There were no questions asked from the audience.
The prepared questions from the MC for the candidates were all about small businesses and tourism.
The first was about the demise of small businesses, the impact of payroll tax, the need for government-funded programs to support and advise businesses.
The second question focused on Kiama’s recent national bronze award as a Tourist Town, and the impact of the government withdrawing support for the tourist industry.
Kiama was the only town mentioned other than the lighting for Michael Cronin Oval in Gerringong.
The majority of the audience was over 70 years of age. A smaller number were over 50 years of age and younger voters were nowhere to be seen.
There was no mention of the need for youth services and facilities with programs, no mention of homeless youth.
It was all about tourism and small businesses.
Liberal money, $26 million, has been pledged for the Kiama Leisure Centre and sports facilities and $200,000 to upgrade lighting at Cronin Oval.
Labor has provided $200,000 in funding for a designated entertainment precinct and $3 million for potholes and roads. Issues concerning the needs of everyday mums and dads and their children were not addressed.
I made contact with the candidates after the formal part of the evening had finished and alerted them to the fact that there was a need for a Community Youth Centre in Gerringong to address the needs of our young people.
Margaret Lester
Chairperson: Gerringong Community Action Group for Youth
Bargains galore at Car Boot Sale
Black Beach hosted the biannual Giant Car Boot Sale, a Kiama Council event held to encourage reuse and reduce waste going to landfill.
Residents from across the local government area took part, selling, swapping, trading and giving away their unwanted pre-loved items. Bargain hunters were out in force, with plenty of treasures finding new homes. One youngster took off with a treasured item with passers-by wondering if the “make an offer” sign included the infant.
A gold coin entry donation supported the nominated local Rotary, while Council ratepayers who brought along their rates notice were rewarded with two free plants from the Council ute. Despite the sunshine, stall holders felt there were not as many people at the event than usual.
The event showcases the benefits of recycling and reusing, proving one person’s unwanted item really can be another’s bargain.
Kiama Councillors face stricter discipline under state reforms
Neil Reilly
The NSW Government is moving to toughen up the system for dealing with councillor misconduct, shifting many cases from the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) to the Land and Environment Court (LEC).
Under the proposed reforms, serious breaches of the Councillor Code of Conduct would be handled more quickly, with stricter penalties and less room for procedural gamesmanship.
Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig, was blunt in explaining the changes. “The process for holding councillors to account for serious misconduct is too weak and is hamstrung by procedural complexity. The system is long, slow, and ineffective.”
Kiama Council CEO Jane Stroud agrees that reform is overdue. She said the code had too often been “weaponised” for political point-scoring.
“The Court will deal with
serious matters of a breach of the code of conduct, and this formality will deter petty, political squabbles,” she said.
The changes would also empower mayors and CEOs to dismiss frivolous complaints outright.
In cases where complaints are lodged in bad faith, councillors could even be made to pay part of the investigation costs.
Although Kiama’s current Council is still relatively new, there have already been three breaches of the code of conduct, along with several unrecorded but frivolous complaints.
Reports across NSW show this is not unusual, with allegations and formal complaints a regular feature of council terms.
The problem is twofold: the personal toll on councillors subjected to long and stressful investigations, and the financial cost borne by ratepayers.
Each complaint triggers administrative processes
that can include external investigators, legal reviews, and significant staff time.
Perhaps the greater cost, however, is to democracy itself.
When councillors fear that speaking up might trigger a retaliatory complaint, the quality of debate suffers and the community misses out on robust, open discussion.
While stricter penalties may reduce misconduct and discourage abuse of the system, reform should also include better training.
All councillors, new and experienced, would benefit from learning practical ways to navigate conflict and disagreement without reaching for the code of conduct.
Productive disagreement is not only inevitable in politics, it’s essential.
A handful of councillors misusing the system can undermine trust in the whole council, but when debate is genuine and respectful, collaboration thrives and the community is better served.
Mayor Cameron McDonald and CEO Jane Stroud.
Photo: Veronica Bardsley