Katelin’s vision for Kiama
Paul Suttor
Katelin McInerney has identified housing, infrastructure, early childhood, public education as her big ticket items in her 500-day mission to convince the Kiama electorate that she deserves to be their long-term state MP.
McInerney became the first female state member for Kiama with her resounding by-election win on the weekend and will formally begin official duties next month after she is sworn in at NSW Parliament.
Not one to rest on her laurels, the Kiama memberelect has touched base with the three mayors in the electorate - Cameron
McDonald (Kiama), Chris Homer (Shellharbour) and Patricia White (Shoalhaven).
“Working with councils will be a very big priority of mine. I've already reached out to the three mayors across the area and made it really clear that I am in their corner and ready to advocate for what they need,” she told The Bugle
“They're on the ground, they understand the needs of our community and are not afraid to tell me. And I think it's really important that we have an honest and open relationship.
“One that's built on a drive to get what's best for our community.
“I consider all three of those advocacy plans now my focus. Some of them are very big
long-term projects, some of them are a bit easier to look at in the medium and short term.
“I'm really keen to talk to councils about how we bring genuinely affordable housing here, how we look to build housing in our communities for our essential workers and frontline health care staff.
“I'm also really keen to keep talking about how we get social and community housing up and going as quickly as possible because they are three areas we know our community really needs to have someone championing.”
McInerney said development was a hugely important issue because the region is growing but also has an ageing demographic.
“Our health care and aged care sector workforces alone are going to have to grow quite considerably to cope with the care that will be needed for our older people in our community,” she said.
“That means we have to think about housing for those workers and how we're going to continue bringing people into our community.
“What can't happen is chucking more houses up. We have to build the communities. That has to be done in conjunction with local councils and communities.”
McInerney said her campaign had gained momentum due to projects “which people felt very justifiably angry about not already having in place”
like the extension of Tripoli Way in Albion Park, the new Calderwood Public School, upgrades to Bomaderry High School and a new pre-school for the town.
“We do see that the independent vote was still pretty high.
“So I think we have a long way to go before I prove to the community that we’ve got a formula that succeeds,” she said.
“I think we need to listen to that message as a government and really knuckle down and get on with the work.
“I look at it that we've got about 500 days until the next election. And in that time we've got to deliver those big pieces of infrastructure that we've promised, that are in
the process of coming out of the ground.”
McInerney said that a frequent piece of feedback she received from the voters was the urgent need to repair the local road infrastructure
“It is very badly damaged and in need of repair. That will be an ongoing problem, in an area that's natural disaster prone, that we need to focus on,” she added.
“Working with councils to make sure they have the support they need and funding to access so they can do those repairs.”
Her predecessor, Gareth Ward, who resigned after he was convicted of four counts of sexual assault, will return to court in Parramatta on Friday for sentencing.
Title drought broken p24
Katelin McInerney celebrates with Labor supporters after he win last Saturday night.
‘Skulduggery’: Gray sees red over Labor’s deceptive green ploy
Paul Suttor
Greens candidate
Tonia Gray is far from impressed by what she described as “political skulduggery” by Labor on election day.
She said Labor volunteers in plain clothes deceptively handed out how-to-vote cards that looked like they had been produced by The Greens, asking constituents to put eventual winner Katelin McInerney as their next preference if they were putting Dr Gray first.
The Greens had placed Labor at fifth on their official how-to-vote cards behind Ellie Robertson from the Animal Justice Party, Don Fuggle (Legalise Cannabis Party) and Community Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds.
“It was political skulduggery. We had Labor No.5 on our vote ticket. They had their younger volunteers, not dressed in their usual red T-shirts, handing out these things,” Dr Gray told The Bugle.
“We tried to play a clean game but because we hadn’t given them the No.2 preference, they printed off
all these forms that look like ours. They were green. No one noticed. It was just trickery.
“They were dressing in hippy sort of clothing, even verging on green.
“It’s deceptive and not in the tone of the game we were trying to play, which was very respectful campaigning.
“It left a bad taste after such a great campaign.”
Dr Gray accused Labor of trying to leapfrog from five because they didn’t want Dezarnaulds to be above them. “I was appalled. Any self-respecting person would have thought it was a Greens flyer,” she added.
“Would they be OK if, in the next election, we do some red ones and say if you’re voting Labor, vote Greens two?”
McInerney said she was unaware of the green pamphlet being handed out and a Labor Party spokesperson said it had been approved by the NSW Electoral Commission and that several parties had used similar tactics during other election campaigns.
Dr Gray’s percentage of the primary vote dipped from 11.1% three years ago (when there were only five candidates) to 7.9% this time
around (with 13 names on the ballot paper).
The Greens’ share was reduced by a combination of a Climate 200 candidate in Dezarnaulds entering the state race, plus the Legalise Cannabis Party - which received 5% of the vote - as well as Animal Justice Party and Sustainability Australia nominees. “We were very happy with our final result given that there was 13 candidates to vote for on the ballot paper,” she said.
Dr Gray said the landslide Labor win was a massive wake-up call for the Liberal Party. “They’re reeling. The Libs are in disarray. They’re rudderless. It’s time for them to have a really hard rethink about what they stand for,” she said.
“Their leadership style probably needs a revamp.”
As for her own future, Dr Gray said “you never say never” but this was likely to be her last tilt at politics and hoped to see fresh blood representing The Greens at the next state election in early 2027. “My lived experience was the main thing driving me. I’m not a career politician, I just saw that the education system was
in crisis in the early childcare sector, I could see we could do battery-powered trains so easily. Public housing needs to be fixed,” she said.
“I want to finish on a nice campaign. We put our best foot forward. I really enjoyed it except for that last bit of skulduggery.
“We had wonderful MLCs who came down - Abigail Boyd, Sue Higginson, Cate Faerhmann and Amanda Cohn - they’re all just good, capable women at the helm.
“Politics needs more people who are willing to be a whistleblower when things go wrong. The two major parties like to coast along with lazy policy.”
Her message for McInerney and Premier Chris Minns was simple - deliver on your promises. “How many times will we see Chris Minns back in the electorate in the next 18 months? Ten times in a few weeks but will we see him on a regular basis?” she asked.
“I’d love to see Katelin engage in some really strong environmental activism. She said she was worried about her son’s future so let’s get out of native forest logging, for example. It’s time to put your promises into deliverables.”
Copley proud of fighting effort in face of adversity
Paul Suttor
Serena Copley was always up against it in her campaign to win the Kiama by-election for the Liberal Party.
The Libs on the nose with voters nationally after Peter Dutton’s resounding defeat to Anthony Albanese in May, NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman battling to stay in the role after being consistently outshone by Premier Chris Minns, and the Gareth Ward factor was always going to count against them following his conviction on sexual assault offences.
Copley knew she was facing an uphill battle when she entered the by-election race early last month but was undeterred by the challenge and proud of the way she fought against the odds.
The former Shoalhaven City Councillor attracted a tick over a quarter of the primary vote but trailed victorious Labor candidate Katelin McInerney 60-40% on a two party preferred basis. She is on track to more than double the primary vote that Melanie Gibbons received for the Libs at the 2023 election when Ward narrowly edged out McInerney.
“I was extraordinarily proud of our campaign and the effort we put in,” Copley said.
“I've never been afraid of hard work and working hard for our community has always been something that's driven me.
“We were overwhelmingly outnumbered with resources that the government threw at the by-election but our
volunteers were outstanding and put in a wonderful effort.
“It's interesting to see that with all of the resources that Labor threw at the byelection, they received less than half a per cent extra in their primary vote for all of that swarm of red across the electorate.”
Copley said she highlighted issues that Labor will need to deliver on in the next year and a half.
“The promises that they've now rolled out on a couple of occasions, we absolutely need to see those things delivered like Tripoli Way and Calderwood Public School should be well on the way to being finished by the next election,” she added.
“I'll be watching eagerly to also see what new projects the Labor government are initiating when they finish off the Liberal-funded and planned projects that they're currently working on and claiming.”
Copley said she could not say whether she will nominate again because the Liberal Party will go through its process before deciding who will be its candidate in the March 2027 state election.
“I love defending and working hard for my community and I've never stopped feeling that way so I look forward to the future and being involved in my community and working hard for it again in the future.
“I'm not going anywhere. I've lived here for 34 years and I'll just carry on doing the things that I've done in the past and helping out and volunteering where I can and advocating hard for this community that I love.”
Labor’s green vote card
How the by-election
was won ... and lost
Paul Suttor
Katelin McInerney’s landslide victory in the by-election was built around a huge improvement in the south of the Kiama electorate and an unexpectedly high number of first-time Labor voters.
McInerney is set to end up with a two-party preferred victory margin of around 6040% over Liberal rival Serena Copley. She narrowly lost the 2023 election to former independent MP Gareth Ward due to his popularity in the southern part of the electorate around Bomaderry and North Nowra.
But this time around, that area, which has traditionally voted against Labor, flooded to McInerney. She ended up winning the primary vote in 20 of the 22 polling stations with only Falls Creek and Nowra Hill going to Copley by a slender margin.
The other main factor was a large proportion of the 20,000 people across the electorate who voted for Ward last time around switching their allegiances to Labor, many for the first time.
The Labor candidate was declared the winner less than two hours after the polls. Labor announced her win at 8pm before Copley had contacted McInerney to concede defeat, which put a few noses out of joint at NSW Liberal Party headquarters. A Labor Party spokesperson said they were under no obligation to let the Libs know that they were claiming victory and the unofficial protocol is for the candidate to contact the winner when it was obvious that they had no chance of snaring the seat.
McInerney, a former journalist and union
campaigner, has become the first female to represent the electorate.
Ward’s resignation after being jailed over sexual assault offences was always going to make it difficult for the Liberals to win this election after he had represented the Party for more than a decade.
Labor, which has regained the seat for the first time since 2011, achieved the rare feat of a sitting NSW government winning a by-election, which had not happened since 1996.
It all adds up to bad news for Opposition Leader Mark Speakman's hopes of retaining the role in the leadup to the state election in early 2027.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said Labor had run a "shrewd and energetic campaign".
"The circumstances were very grave and serious that led to the by-election but to be honest with all of you, it was very advantageous to the Labor Party that a by-election fell due," he said.
"The incumbent member of parliament is sitting in jail and I think it's important that I note that those circumstances will not be repeated in another byelection or certainly in the next general election.”
With McInerney attracting 36% of the vote, Copley was a long way back on 25.2% with Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds further adrift in third spot with 10.7.
With a total of 13 candidates on the ballot paper, The Greens' Tonia Gray has received 7.9% of the diluted vote ahead of Don Fuggle (Legalise Cannabis Party) and Felix Nelson (Shooters, Farmers, Fishers) who had 4.9% each. None of the other seven cracked the 2% barrier.
Kate optimistic for future despite falling short again
Community
Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds is optimistic about the future despite falling short in the Kiama by-election.
After finishing third in Gilmore in the federal election in May, she again got the bronze medal in the state by-election with 10.3% of the primary vote.
It was her first crack at the state seat and the Berry businesswoman believes the Community Independent group can move forward from this base.
Dezarnaulds described the election campaign, which had a “wild and woolly” ballot paper of 13 nominees, as genuinely enjoyable.
“Respectful, friendly, and focused on ideas and the needs of our community,” was how she described the byelection race.
“There are also valuable lessons here for our growing Independent for South Coast movement.”
She said at the federal level, where compulsory preferential voting applies, it is easier for an independent to succeed but the optional preferential voting system in NSW made it hard for an outsider to impact the final twocandidate count.
“There is no doubt that the major parties are united in their desire to stem the threat of community-backed independents,” she said.
to use their preferences, we attracted strong secondpreference support across the spectrum - from Liberal, Labor, Greens, and minor
dominance. We now have Labor at a state and federal level from south of Sydney to the border. That lack of diversity says far more
Dezarnaulds claimed the nine candidates from the minor parties and “non-local independents” had made it difficult for her mission to break the LaborLiberal stranglehold.
“Our scrutineers reported that where voters did choose
in touch or visit our Collins Street office in Kiama.
Exceptional at Law. Human at heart.
parties alike. The Liberal Party recommended ‘just vote 1’, a strategy that ultimately has helped entrench Labor’s
about the current state of the Liberal Party than it does the popularity of Labor‘s platform in the regions.”
“With no genuine prospect of success, this noise made it trickier for our communitybacked, sensiblecentre campaign to distinctively stand out from the crowd,” she said.
“Despite those challenges, we achieved real growth this time to be really proud of.
“Across the Kiama LGA and northern Shoalhaven, we now consistently hover at around 15% of the primary vote, a super strong platform for the future.
“This foundation puts us in a strong position for the next contest. We may have fallen a few percentage points short of our goal this time, but we’ve earned our bronze medal, learned the lessons, and built the foundations again.
“In 18 months we have the opportunity to be back, stronger, more time to be organised, and ever more determined to keep challenging the broken two-party system with genuine community-led solutions. “Politics remains too important to be left to the politicians.”
Kate Dezarnaulds with some of her supporters last Saturday.
Festival’s future in doubt
The sounds of fiddles, guitars and poetry drifted across Kiama over the weekend as the 12th annual Folk by the Sea Festival brought together more than 30 bands and artists from across Australia.
Held mainly at The Pavilion, the program offered audiences everything from traditional bush ballads to contemporary folk. Festival director Neil McCann said this year’s edition was among the strongest yet.
“It was fantastic. The numbers were slightly up from last year, with about 600 people attending the festival, and we’ll get our money back,” he said.
“The performances were
just incredible. There was not a dud act.”
Among the award-winning names on the bill were Darren Coggan, recipient of multiple Golden Guitars and Independent Country Music Awards, acclaimed duo The Weeping Willows, and rising stars Charley Castle and the Boys in the Well, winners of the Tamworth Busking Competition.Local acts were prominent, including the Kiama Sea Shanty group and the Kiama Pipe Band, ensuring a mix of hometown pride and national talent.
McCann said this year’s line-up showcased an impressive breadth of genres and cultures. “We had over 30 acts - individuals, duos, bands - and three cultural groups: Sicilian, Galician (from
Passion and polish on show at Hotbumper Rod Run
near Portugal) and South American,” he said.
“The Weeping Willows had just come off a European tour, and we had a young guy from Melbourne, Rhys Crimmin, who’s just amazing. He’s a one-man band who plays didgeridoo, guitar and about four drum aspects at once. Just incredible.”
Wollongong’s Kane Calcite wowed audiences with his songwriting and voice, while Melbourne duo Hand Over Hammer impressed as a “modern-day Simon & Garfunkel”. “There are all these people that very few have heard about, but when they apply we look at their videos and get a sense of their quality. We were pleased with the breadth and talent we selected,” McCann said.
Matty Taylor
Chrome, colour and craftsmanship were on full display in Kiama over the weekend as the Romans Hot Rod Club staged its biggest event yet.
The three-day Romans Kiama Hot Rod Run drew enthusiasts from across the state, with more than 230 entrants showcasing rare and restored vehicles.
Event co-organiser Steve Poulton said this year’s gathering marked the pinnacle of the run’s 10-year history.
“This year’s event is as good as we’ve ever had. It’s testament to the location of Kiama, the support we get from our sponsors, Kiama Council and The Bugle, and of course all our members at the club, including co-organiser of the event, Chris Cassar,” he said.
“When you look at some of the cars, and what they were like when the owners started with them, you just shake your head and think, ‘that’s unbelievable what they’ve done to restore that’.”
He said more than 100 visitors booked into local caravan parks over the
Traditional Australian folk was also well represented, with bush dancers and bush poets drawing strong crowds.
“The feedback was only positive,” McCann said.
“Musically, it was the standout year.”
Despite the artistic success, organisers remain frustrated by an issue that is preventing the festival from reaching its full potential: the lack of camping at Kiama Showground. “We always struggle with bigger numbers, and I know it’s a direct correlation with the inability to provide camping for our visitors,” McCann said.
“We should have had 2000 people attend the festival based on the quality of acts, not 600.
“We’re the only folk festival
weekend, giving the Kiama economy a welcome boost.
With around 70 members in the Romans club and 40 volunteering, Poulton said the event had become as much about community as classic cars. “Hot rodding isn’t just about the guys. Ladies get into it too. The custom line that won a trophy today is owned by a lady,” he said after announcing the event’s Top 5 awards on Sunday.
“The history of hot rods is a big lure. A hot rod is a pre1948 car of American origin, but these days they’re so hard to get that you see more modern classics like Falcons, EH Holdens and Valiants joining the runs. It’s keeping the hobby alive.”
The highlight of the weekend was the Top 5 awards on Sunday, where entrants were judged on the style, presentation and attention to detail in their machines.
Taking out the most votes was Jason Cavanagh, of Mount Ousley, with his immaculately restored burgundy 1936 Ford three-window coupe.
“It means a lot to win this trophy. There’s a lot of nice cars here so it’s really good to get the recognition,” he said.
in Australia that doesn’t have camping.”
He said the problem stems from a council decision made after a two-year campaign by organisers to allow festival camping at the showgrounds.
“The sort of reasons we’ve been given is they don’t want Kiama to look like a shantytown,” McCann said.
“We had people who bought tickets for the festival but couldn’t get accommodation here, so they got a refund on their tickets,” McCann said.
The restriction has left organisers questioning whether the festival’s future lies outside Kiama.
“Do we look at moving it out of Kiama to somewhere we can have camping? There’s a lot of stuff up in the air,” McCann said.
Cavanagh’s coupe is a labour of love that has consumed more than a decade of his life.
“I bought it about 12 years ago and it was extremely rusty,” he said.
“The first restoration took about three years, then I drove it for a while before pulling it off the road again for another two-year rebuild. It’s all roadworthy now.”
The coupe, which reflects the art deco curves of the 1930s, has been subtly modified.
“It’s not chopped like a lot of cars, it’s a standard roof height. I’ve welded the guards and running boards together and converted the dicky seat into a boot lid. It’s also got a little blower on it,” he said.
The car has already earned recognition on the national stage, making the top 26 out of about 800 entrants at this year’s Bendigo Hot Rod Nationals. Cavanagh joked that his professional reputation was also on the line in showing off his coupe.
“I’ve got a shop in Fernhill (called Classic Fabrications) where I do car restorations, so I have to do a good job with mine,” he added, laughing.
Second in the voting was John Dyer, from Tomerong,
south of Nowra, with his sleek 1932 Ford 500D Coupe, powered by a 351 Cleveland V8 with a C4 transmission and 9-inch Ford diff.
“I’ve had it for just over a year. It’s basically brand new. I bought the body out of the US from United Pacific Industries, who remanufacture those ’32 bodies,” he said.
He says the build cost around $80,000, with the finished car valued at about $110,000.
“It drives beautifully,” Dyer said.
“It’s got a Kugel independent front suspension, automatic beaming, cruise control, electric windows and airconditioning.
“We’ve camped at Kendalls Beach caravan park this weekend, driving up from Tomerong. It’s a great run.”
For Poulton and the Romans club, the success of the weekend reinforced Kiama’s reputation as a car-lover’s destination.
“This event helps stimulate the local economy with all these people coming to stay and eat out,” he said.
“It’s a real team effort in promoting hot rodding and custom cars.”
Matty Taylor
By-election bringing a fresh change for Kiama
In the end, there was a sense of inevitability about it all.
Katelin McInerney has won the opportunity to represent the seat of Kiama.
She has also won the responsibility to secure better outcomes, better funding, and better recognition for our community. We hope it is not a responsibility she treats lightly, because politics is a fickle thing.
Historically, a byelection is a chance for the community to tell the Government of the day exactly what they think, and more often than not, the feedback is not positive.
This is not a Kiama, or New South Wales or even an Australian phenomenon.
It is a symptom of western democracy whereby we, the people, generally just like to “stick it to the man” every opportunity we get.
So much so that not since 1996 has a NSW Government gained a seat through a by-election that was previously held by the opposition or an independent.
While history was against the Minns Labor Government, this was no ordinary by-election.
When talking heads say “all politics is local”, they generally refer to local issues.
What is being done about local transport?
Housing affordability for our locals? Further investment in roads and traffic improvements for our local commuters?
But this time around, the politics was not about local issues at all.
It was purely about the fact that our former representative is now in jail, a fact that some in the community still cannot believe or accept.
The election may well be an accurate reflection of how the electorate views the competence of both major parties, but for McInerney and NSW
Premier Chris Minns to interpret the results this way, and take the result for granted, would be a grave mistake.
Clearly, our electorate could not, would not, and did not disassociate the Liberal Party from Gareth Ward.
Serena Copley conducted a valiant campaign, but even she would have understood
the inevitability of it all. Campaigning under a party platform which had been completely tainted was always going to be difficult.
Having to make byelection commitments knowing they could not be delivered unless the Liberals were voted into Government in 2027 made the task of convincing the masses impossible.
As vote counting continues, Copley and the Liberal Party might retain a skerrick of hope in the fact that McInerney’s first preference vote is hovering around 36%an improvement of only around 2% from her 2023 result.
Nevertheless, it is a great achievement for McInerney, who has wrested back Kiama from what was ultimately Liberal Party control for the last 15 years, and becomes the first woman to represent the seat (perhaps the most refreshing outcome to come out of this entire political process).
As with most things these days, we and McInerney are probably thinking – what’s next?
How does she shore up her vote ahead of March 2027?
Premier Chris Minns is saying all the right things and preparing his Government and McInerney for an 18-month battle.
“(The result) was not a pat on the back from the electors of Kiama.
“I think that the clear message from the electorate was that they expect us to work even harder.
“It’s not a gift or a permanent situation. We’ve got to keep working on behalf of the people of NSW, particularly the South Coast”.
Touché Premier.
The Bugle’s View is that we expect Minns and McInerney to work tirelessly over the next 18 months for our community.
We expect serious investments in the NSW budget directed at infrastructure in our community.
We expect to see real progress over the next 18 months that positively impacts our community.
Now it’s time to get to work!
McInerney celebrates election win with a ‘crackerjack’ party
Mitchell Beadman
As the sun went down behind the rolling hills shadowing the Albion Park Bowling club, Labor candidate Katelin McInerney was preparing to enter her political career for the second time with “an air of certainty”.
“It’s because of your support I can be standing up here, second time lucky, as the new Labor member for Kiama,”
McInerney told the jubilant crowd in her victory speech at Albion Park Bowling Club.
The Ruth Williams room slowly filled with loyal Labor members, but the energy went to another level when
the young Labor supporters arrived.
Amongst the chatter of the crowd there was a cheer “we’ve got Nowra – that’s the most conservative part!” and you could feel the excitement of the room crescendo.
Throughout the night, the drinks were flowing, and it became not only a sea of red shirts, but also a choir of cheers from the young Labor supporters.When the news spread of Liberal candidate Serena Copley conceding, the room's energy reached exponential heights.
“Katelin, Katelin!” the room roared.
With the crowd gathered by the door, the anticipation was electrifying as the room waited for the new member for Kiama to arrive.
Dressed in the Labor colours of red, McInerney walked in alongside Wollongong MP Paul Scully, to which Scully raised McInerney’s hand to the cheering crowd.
As McInerney made her way to the stage for her speech, she embraced her now fellow Labor MPs, providing not quite a majority government, but another seat filled.
Scully presented McInerney officially to the crowd, as the new member for Kiama, praising the Labor family for rallying behind the local candidate in the election.
“This result is an invitation for us to continue the hard work that the Minns government has been doing over the past few years,” he
said.
As McInerney stepped up to the lectern the roar from the crowd was all consuming and she thanked and pledged to the 200 strong crowd her commitment to the electorate.
“Today, many people of this electorate voted for the NSW Labor team for the very first time,” McInerney said.
“And many people voted for Labor for the first time in a long time. I just want to say I thank them deeply for putting their faith and their trust and their confidence in me and in the NSW Minns Labor Government.
“Whoever you’ve supported in the past, whoever you chose to support today, it doesn’t matter.
“I will be a strong advocate and a strong voice in the NSW Parliament on your behalf, representing this community every day. As I rightly said, the work starts today.”
The new member of parliament for the Labor party thanked the Premier Chris Minns and her new party members, both state and federal for their support, as well as bringing her partner Brian Fernley on stage to thank him and also her family and friends. McInerney then joined the crowd and ran straight for her family and friends to celebrate and just like that, the Minnamurra born local took her first steps to Macquarie street as the first female elected member of the Kiama electorate.
Katelin McInerney with her parents, Paul and Clare.
Council considering new option for Sporting Complex revamp
Kiama Council is set to push ahead with “Option 4” for the Kiama Sporting Complex after being inundated with feedback from the public over its masterplan for the outdated venue.
As part of the masterplan devised to revamp the site, the Council provided three options for the community to provide feedback from 10 June to 5 August with 177 submissions received and considered in full.
Option three received twice the vote of the other two alternatives. Director of Strategies and
Communities Ed Paterson told The Bugle that Council would combine the strengths of each option with the community feedback to come up with a plan to get final approval early in the new year.
With costs for a full revamp of the Complex expected to be around $100 million, Council will need significant investment from the state and federal governments to bring its vision to life.
“We're going to now go offline and come up with ‘option four’, which is the best of all the elements that we heard back from the community,” Paterson said.
“We will have a full-blown
engagement strategy for how we move forward with this and how we try and seek funding because it’s certainly not something that Council could do under the current financial situation, nor probably a project we could ever fund ourselves, so we would be relying upon federal and state funding.”
Of the individual submissions to the three initial masterplan options, there was an overwhelming 95% that were against the removal of the skatepark with a common theme that “the current park is one of the best in the area. It is a great facility for all ages and a great community space. It’s a cultural hub for Kiama”.
Paterson said there was much to consider regarding the location. “I know the consultant [had] ideas of Hindmarsh Park and around Surf Beach,” he said.
“There’s a clear desire to retain a skate park of that size and of that calibre in the LGA and if it’s not where it is then where else does it go?”
Council confirmed it is currently investigating how ‘option four’ can include the community preference for the skate park facility to remain in the current location. In July, The Bugle highlighted Kiama Netball Association’s calls for urgent repairs to the netball courts at the Kiama Sports Precinct, with two of the seven courts unusable. A recent byelection promise from the NSW Labor government was for a $1.1 million pledge for a series of sporting improvements around the Kiama state electorate, including $250,000 to repair the netball courts.
Phillips on mission to clean up Black Spots
Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips drives on South Coast' roads every day, which is why she is thrilled to be reappointed chair of the NSW Black Spots Consultative Panel.
The Black Spot Program, an important tool for reducing the national road toll under the National Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan, has helped fund several projects in the region.
It provides for infrastructure such as roundabouts, pedestrian crossings, safety barriers and audio-tactile line marking (ATLM) to reduce the risk of further crashes.
Phillips said she was proud of the improvements to Forest Road at Comberton, Woodburn and Woodstock Roads west of Milton, and the recently completed roundabout at the intersection of George Bass Drive and Broulee Road at Broulee.
“Road safety has always been a top priority for me,” she said.
“The state of our region’s
roads is one of the biggest complaints I hear locally, and our communities deserve to have the safest roads possible.
“As chair of the NSW Black Spot Consultative Panel, I am proud to be in a position to help make roads right across NSW safer.”
The NSW Black Spots Consultative Panels are an opportunity for people to nominate a black spot, and ensure that nominations of the highest priority and importance to the local community are recommended for approval.
The panel that reviews priorities includes representatives from the National Roads and Motorists’ Association, the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia, NSW Police Force, the Federation of Parents & Citizens Associations of NSW, the Traffic Management Association of Australia and Transport for NSW.
“Local people know the roads that feel unsafe in their community,” Phillips said.
The finalists for next month’s Combined Country Press NSW and Victorian Country Press Association awards night have been revealed, with Lleyton Hughes from The Bugle receiving nominations in two prestigious categories.
The event will take place on Friday, October 24, at the picturesque Silverwoods Resort, located on the shores of Lake Mulwala.
Hughes has been nominated for Best Sports Story and Young Journalist of the Year.
This marks the second-ever collaboration between the VCPA and CPNSW, with the first occurring in 1992.
The awards night will be co-hosted by CPNSW president Lucie Peart and VCPA chairman Jared Loughnan.
"We’re excited to celebrate the historic milestone of 125 years of Country Press NSW and to join colleagues who share our passion for the in-
“I encourage anyone who knows of a dangerous intersection or stretch of road that would benefit from safety improvements to consider nominating that site for investigation.
“I’m really pleased to see the duplication of the Princes Highway continuing, which includes the new Jervis Bay Flyover that is under construction, and the upgrade of six kilometres of the highway south to Hawken Road, thanks to an injection of $400 million from the Albanese Labor Government.
“I drive these roads every day, so I understand the frustration during peak times, which is why I’m pleased to see the Princes Highway duplication moving forward and the Nowra and MiltonUlladulla Bypass planning well underway.”
Anyone can nominate a Black Spot for consideration. Visit the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program online for full details.
CPNSW/VCPA Conference will also feature presentations from Deakin University on the world-first Victorian government advertisement commitment. As well as a keynote from Australia's leading investigative reporter, Nick McKenzie, an update on AI in the workplace from Google, and an engaging, interactive advertising session led by former Colac Herald creative, Josh Stevens.
This year’s Country Press NSW Awards attracted a record 227 entries from publishers across 19 categories. The night promises to be a memorable celebration.
Mitchell Beadman
Kiama’s netball courts are in urgent need of repair. Photo: BrianScott
LleytonHughes
Supply in demand: Local businesses speak up on Employment Land Strategy
Council rejects housing lot development as red tape debate heats up
Kiama Council rejected a development application for a house on Mount Brandon Road at Jerrara at Tuesday night’s monthly meeting, igniting debate over red tape, planning policy and the future of rural-residential development in the region.
Councillor Mike Cains spoke passionately to the motion to approve the development application for a two-storey house, garage and pool on the lot but was far from happy when it was voted down. “The lot was legally created with the express purpose of housing,” Cr Cains said. “I think it would be a most regrettable scenario if we ended up in a position where our policy position was to not approve this perfectly reasonable application.”
Councillor Yasmin Tatrai seconded the motion, frustrated at the bureaucracy holding back development
agreed with this frustration but there were components that could not be overlooked.
“There are inherent challenges that are very specific to this block of land and they mostly relate not to just the application of the Local Environment Plan, but fundamental aspects of our planning documents, both state and LEP,” she said.
Councillor Erica Warren voted with Cr Cains and Cr Tatrai in favour of the proposal but Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald, Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters, Draisma and fellow Councillors Matt Brown, Melinda Lawton and Stuart Larkins defeated the motion.
Cr Cains told The Bugle that this rejected application was not an isolated incident.
“We [Council] estimate that there’s up to 100–150 odd lots like this across the LGA, where essentially we would be relegating them to being sterile,” Cr Cains said.
“It is impractical, it’s not
the recommendations of our Planning Team in refusing the application.
“Approving development on a rurally zoned lot that does not meet a significant number of development standards, including falling short of the minimum lot size by 99%, potentially opens the floodgates to urban sprawl in all of our rural areas – the very green rolling hills we know our community are passionate about retaining. At the same time we need to empower our rural land holders.
“We as a Council recognise the need for planning review. Council should not seek amendment of our LEP one lot at a time. We need to review our LEP in a strategic fashion, including via our Housing Strategy, Employment Lands Strategy and Rural Lands Strategy, rather than DA by DA, as this will shape residential and rural living in our LGA for years to come.”
Tthe NSW Government has
in the LGA. “We have two choices – we say no, and we move a sterilised block of land, or we say yes, and we allow these people to call it home,” she said.
“They’ve paid for land [and] yes, they missed the sunset clause, but isn’t it up to us to start cutting red tape?” she added in reference to a clause which expired in 2016 for rural development proposals affected by the advent of the Local Environment Plan five years earlier.
The lot in question was purchased by the current owners around two years ago, several years after the clause had expired.
Councillor Imogen Draisma
ethical or responsible or just, for us to say to people ‘that’s great, you’ve got a vacant block of land, enjoy mowing the grass’.”
Cr McDonald told The Bugle that there is a Rural Land Strategy in the pipeline and explained the complexity of the “red tape” surrounding LEP.
“Red tape’s an interesting way of putting it. As a Council we have development standards provided for in our LEP. “
Concerns around bushfire safety considerations, stormwater, and engineering and earthworks were also raised as part of Council’s decision to reject the proposal. Council has followed
Paul Suttor
Kiama Business Network members aired their grievances to Council on Monday over the lack of options for local businesses to expand their operations within the area.
KBN hosted a roundtable discussion with Director of Strategies and Communities Ed Paterson regarding Kiama Council’s Employment Land Strategy. Around 20 local business operators took the opportunity to grill Paterson on the draft strategy which was recently placed on public exhibition.
things going on in our towns and villages that Council has within our responsibility and power to make changes to, or if it's things that, for example, have to do with superannuation and public liability and workers’ comp claims, which are not something that we have the power to change but we can advocate in partnership with KBN and Business Illawarra to the other tiers of government to change.”
Council will consider community feedback before it hopes to finalise the Strategy by the end of the year.
of the current supply.
“We'll start re-crunching numbers. I don't think you can get much better feedback than what we heard in the room from a supply point of view.
McMahon added that there were several of hectares of land, particularly around Gerringong, that had been allocated as future employment land in the draft strategy which was useless for local business because it was a riparian zone or part of the rail corridor.
announced the introduction of landmark legislation to “cut the red tape”. The NSW Planning System Reforms Bill 2025 has been put forward as a way to fast-track the development approval process.
“The current system has become a bottleneck in the state’s ability to build more homes – hurting housing supply, increasing costs and reducing community confidence,” Premier Chris Minns said.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman wrote to the Premier and Planning Minister Paul Scully, proposing a bipartisan approach on the issue.
Paterson said on the back of the roundtable discussion, Council had decided to extend the period for community engagement and the Strategy would now be on public exhibition for a further fortnight until 19 October. At the information session, Paterson discussed how the draft strategy sat within the Housing Strategy which was approved by Council in July as well as the assumptions and potential shortcomings within the document, as well as barriers to economic growth in the LGA and how they can be overcome.
“Most of the conversation was around supply, but I want to tease out those other barriers to sort of economic development and employment growth at the moment,” Paterson said.
“I'm really keen to understand are there other
Gerringong businessman Derek McMahon, who has been lobbying Council to include his Sims Road property as part of the available employment lands, said there were dozens of local businesses that were dismayed by the lack of options in the LGA.
“It was a good opportunity for the planning department to learn how the business community felt about it,” he said.
“We certainly felt that we were listened to but it’s just a start.”
McMahon said the key takeaway from the meeting was that the Council planning department agreed that the baseline numbers for current available space were wrong and that would be reconsidered.
Paterson said Council had already started reviewing the accuracy of the assessment
KBN is keen to set up another meeting with its members and Council in the near future, ideally with the elected Councillors, to emphasise to them about the critical shortage of employment land in the LGA.
As part of the Employment Land Strategy, Council is aiming to vastly improve the area available for businesses to operate to more than double the industrial space, an extra 12,000 square metres of retail outlets and 8885 square metres of commercial space. This is to be achieved through the enhancement of existing areas as well as extra supply in Bombo Quarry, south and west Kiama, and Gerringong.
Bombo Quarry has again been raised as a potential long-term option for employment land but it would require years of restoration work before it could be suitable.
Mitchell Beadman
Bombo Quarry is often cited as an option for employment land expansion.
Councillor Mike Cains
Ash dashes to crash in a flash on the way to awards bash
Ashley Sullivan’s boots were polished, dress uniform ironed and hair styled.
The SES fleet manager and Kiama volunteer was meticulously prepared for the 9 September ceremony at Government House, where he was due to receive the prestigious Emergency Services Medal as part of the King’s Birthday awards.
“The weather was horrendous,” says Ashley. “So I gave myself an extra 45 minutes contingency time to drive to Sydney because the rain was torrential and I knew the traffic would be bad. I always like to be early and I teach my kids that on time is late.”
Despite his best-laid plans Ashley, who has been an SES volunteer since he was a teenager, and on staff since 2010, ended up being late for the ceremony; but for good reason.
He was the first on scene at a serious car crash on an isolated stretch of road north of Helensburgh. When a car aquaplaned in front of him and slammed into a rock wall Ashley did not hesitate, springing into first responder mode to help the injured driver.
Ashley grabbed his radio and called for help before comforting the driver, who had been knocked unconscious by the car’s airbag and was struggling to breathe.
“There was a bit of smoke coming from the front of the car and one of the front doors was severely damaged so I just sat with the driver and kept her calm until help arrived,” he says. “I was in constant communication with the ambos and fire and rescue but the weather was horrendous so help was a while away.”
For the next 30 minutes, Ashley - who was now “absolutely drenched”stayed with the driver while his children, on their way to see their dad presented with his award, watched him in action.
“I did stop and think for a minute ‘oh do I really want to meet the Governor drenched to the core?’ but there was no time to change out of my good uniform,” says Ashley.
“I had my full kit in the car but the rain was so torrential it was too late, eventually I put on my wet weather jacket but by that stage everything was soaked through.”
A week after the rescue Ashley received an email from the injured driver,
who made a full recovery, thanking him for his help.
“I didn't do anything out of the ordinary,” he says modestly. “I just did what we’re all expected to do as part of being in the emergency services.”
For almost three decades, Ashley has come to the rescue of community members in crisis across the region.
Chances are if you live in the Kiama, Jamberoo or Gerringong and you’ve been hit by torrential flooding, had trees come down in galeforce wind or a roof ripped off in a rare tornado, then Ashley has been part of the SES crew arriving on scene for cleanup, recovery and support duties.
When a series of tornadoes devastated Kiama in 2013 Ashley was one of the first team members on the ground to help with the recovery effort in a scene he described as “like a war zone”.
He has pulled people from cars in rising floodwaters across the state, has used his skill as an SES Fleet Services senior manager to develop unimog vehicles used in deepwater rescues, and co-ordinated the state’s SES response to a NSW Government flood inquiry.
It is no surprise Ashley was awarded the prestigious Emergency Services Medal and in the end he was only 10 minutes late for the awards ceremony.
“It was a worthwhile excuse to be late,” laughs Ashley.
“And I turned the heater up and dried out a bit on the rest of the drive. But my socks were still wet when I shook hands with the governor.”
Driving test delays push frustrated Kiama learners out
Matty Taylor
AKiama teenager was forced to wait nearly two months for his driving test, only to have it cancelled minutes before it began, leaving his family to travel 100km to Miranda so he could finally sit the exam.
Seventeen-year-old Eddie Peade had been preparing for his test for weeks, but just 15 minutes before the appointment at Kiama Service NSW last Friday, he received a call from the instructor that it could not go ahead.
Eddie’s dad, Matthew, said it was cancelled at the last minute due to a “perceived conflict of interest” because the assessor had once filled in for part of a soccer game that Eddie was involved in this year.
“They were never even in the same regular team, the season had finished, and Eddie isn’t even with that club anymore,” Matthew told The Bugle this week.
“To call that a conflict of interest is bureaucracy gone mad.”
The cancellation capped off an already frustrating wait for an appointment at Kiama Service NSW, where slots are in short supply.
Peade said his family had invested time and money in preparing Eddie for the test,
and he took a day off work to drive his son to the service centre.
“Then on the way to the test we get the call that the test is off. Eddie was gutted,” Matthew said.
With no local spots available “anytime soon”, the Peades were forced to accept the only immediate alternative offered: a booking at Miranda the next day.
Eddie passed the exam, but it meant doing it in unfamiliar surrounds in Sydney’s south.
“The test is stressful enough without being in a place you’ve never even been to before,” Matthew said.
“It’s not just us. I know another family who had to go as far as Goulburn. One of Eddie’s mates sat his test there (on Monday) after his parents drove up the night before.”
Matthew said it appeared people from Sydney were also booking into the Kiama Service NSW centre, adding further pressure on locals trying to secure a test.
“They told us at Service NSW that spots were being taken up by people coming from Sydney. That’s just not fair on local kids who should get priority at their own centre,” he said.
The Kiama father has lodged a formal complaint with Service NSW, arguing the decision breached the
John Salmon
agency’s own customer charter, which promises fairness and accessibility.
He also cited the NSW Government’s conflict of interest policy, which requires decisions to be proportionate and made in the public interest.
“The Government talks about integrity and accountability, but where’s the common sense?” he said.
“In smaller communities, everyone’s connected in some way. If they apply the rules this rigidly, no one’s going to be able to do their test locally.”
For the Peades, the practical impact was a day’s lost income for Matthew, extra expenses and weeks of unnecessary stress.
“I’m not usually a complainer, but this was just wrong. Eddie had been waiting nearly two months and did nothing wrong. He got caught up in bureaucracy without logic.”
Matthew called on the NSW Government to urgently review their approach.
“Local kids are being pushed to the back of the queue. We need common sense, not red tape,” he said.
Service NSW did not respond to questions from The Bugle on Kiama drivingtest wait times, out-of-area bookings and conflict-ofinterest policies.
Danielle Woolage
Eddie with his P Plates
Ashley Sullivan (back) with (l-r) fellow SES volunteer Gregory Steele, NSW Governor Margaret Beazey and Deputy Commissioner Damien Johnston.
Ash on the scene of the accident.
From pews to paradise:
Church conversion hits the market
Ahistoric Southern Highlands landmark that once called the faithful to prayer is now answering a very different calling as a one-of-akind home and incomeproducing estate.
The former church at 39 Hoddle Street in Robertson, built in 1902, has been reborn as a unique estate blending heritage, artistry and modern lifestyle.
Converted in 2018, it now includes a striking private
residence and two boutique self-contained apartments, each offering character and income potential.
Belle Property Southern Highlands principal Debbie Pearce said early buyer interest had been strong since it was listed last week.
The selling agent said the property was expected to fetch somewhere in the high$2 million range, though no official guide price has been released.
Rather than a family home, she sees the estate appealing to lifestyle buyers
keen to leave the bustle of the city while enjoying passive income from short-term accommodation.
The property’s three distinct zones each tell their own story.
The former hall has been transformed into a New York–style retreat with soaring ceilings, dramatic light and a freestanding bath framed by a cathedral-style window.
The “Angel Place” wing, filled with murals, colour and theatrical flair, offers another playful take on church living.
And the main conversion, with its black-and-white
palette and soaring windows, shows off a more contemporary side.
Pearce said the work had been carried out with respect for the building’s structure.
“I think it’s been done very sympathetically, so the key features have been retained.
The beautiful Oregon ceilings were sourced locally,” she said.
Outside, mature plantings, citrus trees and lawns complete what Pearce
describes as an inviting indoor-outdoor flow.
The half-acre block sits behind a classic white picket fence in the heart of the village.
Robertson, she added, is increasingly seen as a lifestyle location in its own right.
“Robertson itself is becoming quite progressive, and we are seeing a lot of families moving to the area to enjoy the village-feel lifestyle,” she said.
“The Southern Highlands is highly attractive for weekend getaways, so this
has that opportunity to offer somebody who is wanting to purchase and utilise the property for that reason.”
She said the listing offered a rare chance to secure not just a house, but a piece of history reimagined.
“The mature trees and planting give it a really nice indoor-outdoor flow, but also the owner has an exceptional eye and has retained the charm while adding a very eclectic, quirky feel to it,” Pearce said. Check out Belle Property Southern Highlands website for details.
Matty Taylor
Micro dairy farmers
Kel and Mahlah Grey have become experts at adapting.
To the ups and downs of farming, the fickleness of the elements, the demands of balancing parenthood with a 24/7 job and to the impact of global politics and the fluctuating economy on milk prices.
Most people in Kiama have shared the cheeses and gelato handcrafted by Kel and Mahlah, who run The Pines, a micro dairy milking 26 cows on the picturesque Saddleback Mountain. But few are aware of the blood, sweat and tears
required to run a successful, sustainable dairy farm.
Earlier this year Kel and Mahlah planned a trip to Mahlah’s native New Zealand. It was the first overseas family holiday for the couple and their three daughters since the birth of their six-year-old, the youngest of their children.
Just days before they were due to fly out, galeforce winds and arcing powerlines sparked a grass fire on their 40-hectare property.
“How do you know a farmer is about to go on holiday? Shit starts hitting the fan,” joked Mahlah.
Despite the chaos and lastminute scramble of literally putting out fires, the family
enjoyed a well-deserved break and have returned to continue serving delicious gelato at their shop on Collins St and at the weekly Kiama Farmers Market.
Cheesemaking has been put on hold, with The Pines famous cheddar and brie flying off the shelf as production wound up on the back of COVID and a dramatic drop in supplier demand.
“We never thought we would have cheesemaker on our resume,” laughs Mahlah. Nor did she expect to be working the land surrounded by “huge cows”.
“When I first arrived here I thought ‘Why are these cows so huge’ but Holsteins
Blood, sweat and tears behind The Pines’ success
are specifically bred to be bigger animals for better milk production.”
Kel is a sixth-generation dairy farmer whose family immigrated from Ireland in the 1840s, among the original immigrants given a clearing lease. The Greys were also skilled cattlemen and began dairy farming in 1854.
Kel grew up surrounded by cows but was never particularly drawn to farming, preferring to travel and ski. Mahlah was raised in New Zealand and grew up with a deep love of horses. She became a professional rider and moved to Australia 20 years ago to work for Kerry Packer at his famous Ellerston Estate.
Mahlah went on to study equine nursing and after qualifying, she decided to take a short break skiing at Thredbo before moving to Sydney to work as an equine nurse.
“Then I met Kel at the snow and that threw all those plans out the window,” she says smiling and pointing to her husband as he expertly maneuvres the tractor around the steep hillside. “The rest is history.”
With a background in large animals, Mahlah took to dairy farming like a duck to water. But it’s her passion for sustainability and regenerative farming that saw The Pines pivot from conventional milk production to a micro dairy, focused on farming from paddock to plate and creating community connections.
The family has turned The Pines into a destination dairy with the farm opening its gates to visitors each month throughout the milking season so people see the challenges and triumphs of dairy farming, which Mahlah describes “as a lovely, complete circle of primary industry”.
“You can see it all the way through, you're not losing animals as you go, you're seeing them every day,” she explains. “But the labour is so intense you either have to commit to working seven days a week, all year long or focus on scalability and sustainability.”
The Greys chose
sustainability and work-life balance.
“Kel and I are both critical thinkers with a thirst for knowledge,” says Mahlah. “Both of us entered into this dairy system, handed over to by the last generation, and thought ‘how can we make this work better for us? The landscape is changing, our climate is changing, economic times are changing, so what do we need to do to remain viable?’
“Just producing milk to sell into a co-operative or on contract with someone wasn't going to make enough money. Cows can require a large amount of grain and hay to maintain high levels of milk production but the pastures on The Pines weren’t good enough to maintain a large number of Holsteins.”
So Mahlah, who also has a keen interest in genetics and breeding, began looking into a cross-breed of dairy and beef cows and ways to diversify the grazing land to provide constant access to fresh pastures.
Mahlah and Kel soon learned that being at the mercy of the elements meant sustainability was the key to successful farming.
”We just couldn't afford to keep farming in the manner that we were with the amount of grain and hay that we were having to buy in, the financial pressure was too much so we turned to regenerative farming where we created a functional ecosystem where it's not just one species that is thriving.”
A mix of 16 different species including plantain, chicory, rye, and peas were seeded throughout winter to sustain the herd and create healthy, biodiverse soils. At the height of The Pines cheese
production the farm was supplying restaurants across the state with their awardwinning cheese.
They also began selling their products direct to the public through The Pines Gelato Bar, now a destination break for ice-cream lovers up and down the coast.
The Greys are also big believers in creating a connection between farmers and consumers through education and sharing an authentic glimpse into daily farm life with the wider public.
So once again Mahlah and Kel pivoted, branching into agri-tourism, and opening the farm gates to thousands of visitors each year on the back of a “massive increase in tourism” post-pandemic.
“We've got Grounded Education up here four days a week running a schoolbased education program and Kerryn from The Passion Project who has created a biodiverse, permaculture garden selling produce direct to the public,” says Mahlah.
“Then we've got Laura from That Local Honey who runs a bee breeding program. Our little Grounded students open the hive and check on the bees, they extract some honey and get to learn about where their food is coming from and the role that they can play.
“Our education programs and open days are all about showing how farming can balance tradition with innovation and the connection between the wisdom of past generations and the opportunities for the next.”
The Pines Gelato Bar, located at 26 Collins St, is being refurbished and will be ready to relaunch on 27 September. Farm “Pop Ups” will resume for the September school holidays.
Danielle Woolage
GLaM asks
“who do we think we are?”
reinventing itself and the variety of objects donated by the public for the exhibition demonstrates this.
The exhibition opens on 7 October, with the official opening two days later with “A night at the Museum” featuring guest speaker, Ann Glynn.
She is a Dharawal-based Australian artist from the NSW South Coast, whose imagery creates an Australia you will recognise but have never seen before.
Defining Symbols of Australia is a collaborative exhibition between the National Museum of Australia, the Gerringong & District Historical Society and the local community.
The National Museum has identified several symbols that define Australia, such as Uluru, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, wattle and fire, explored through explanatory wall panels.
permission, she began a series which celebrated the work of Margaret Preston.
It includes three Best of Australia winners. Her quilts have been exhibited internationally and she has been invited to nominate a quilt to be acquired by a committee seeking to preserve the quilting of
Australia. The work to be raffled is from the Margaret Preston series, called “Christmas Bells”, in 2018. The border fabric was chosen to complement the theme of Christmas decorations and will be on display at the exhibition.
“Defining Symbols of Australia, GLaM Gallery, 10 Blackwood Street, Gerringong. Open to the public from October 7, 10am-3pm, Tuesday-Saturday Official Opening October 9, 5.30-7.30pm, $10 entry including refreshments.
One of the aims of the exhibition is to start the conversation of how we think of ourselves.
The exhibition is a playful exploration of what makes us Australian and how we express our identity in the objects we have around us.
Around Australia, popular
A major part of the local community, donated by people in the district who have searched their homes, cupboards and sheds for objects they think represent Australia.
people and places have been printed across plates, money, textiles and mugs.
Murals have been painted on building surfaces to define one district from another.
Large bananas, prawns and pineapples differentiate the entry to coastal towns while inland, wheat silo art now draws tourists into areas to contemplate rural and agricultural identities.
The language of symbols and national sentiment is always changing and
Compost: The gardener’s gold
By John Gabriele
If you haven’t got a compost heap, let’s be honest - you’re not really gardening. Compost is the gardener’s gold: rich, natural, and the secret to vibrant, healthy plants.
I want to walk you through two easy composting methods you can use in your own backyard - even if you're just getting started.
Method 1: The compost tumbler
The first method is the compost tumbler - a great system for beginners. It’s as simple as loading it up with a variety of organic matter. Think kitchen scraps, garden clippings, leaves, and even some shredded newspaper. The more diverse your materials, the better your compost.
Once it’s full, all you need to do is turn the tumbler every few days to aerate the mix and keep moisture levels consistent. The turning action speeds up decomposition and helps prevent any nasty smells.
The tumbler I use has
been going for a while now, and it’s producing that beautiful, earthy material we’re all chasing - rich, dark compost filled with worms and life. That’s your garden gold right there.
If space is tight or you're new to composting, a tumbler is a brilliant way to get started. It typically takes 6–8 weeks to break down fully, but in warmer weather and with regular turning (say every 2–3 days), you'll have beautiful compost in no time.
Method 2: Traditional bin composting
The second method is the traditional compost binyour standard backyard set-up. Mine is made
from an old bin, roughly half a square metre, and it’s filled with a mix of materials: lawn clippings, kitchen scraps, garden waste, and plenty of leaf litter, which provides valuable carbon.
One tool I love using is a compost screw. It lets me dig deep into the pile and lift sections to introduce air, which is vital for keeping your compost "cooking."
Inside this bin, you’ll find a mini-ecosystem hard at work - worms, slaters, springtails, and other decomposers that signal your compost is alive and thriving. That’s exactly what you want to see.
This method takes a bit longer, especially if you're working with tougher materials like dried leaves, but the end result is the same: nutrient-rich compost that works wonders in veggie gardens and ornamental beds alike.
Whether you’re aiming for a flourishing vegetable patch or lush ornamental plantings, composting is the key. So if you want to create your own little Eden - start composting.
Glynn draws on images from the colonial past to give us an understanding of the present through her multimedia skills of layering images.
At the opening night, GDHS will also be launching a beautiful work by Gerringong quilter, Merelyn Pearce, who has generously donated one of her works to be raffled.
She had no interest in quilting until she pieced her first block in 1989 and saw the unlimited creative potential.
Her preferred method of creation is hand applique, which allows for a lot of detail.
In 2000, with copyright
Kiama Cares:
New community campaign supports locals doing it tough
The Bugle is proud to launch Kiama Cares, a monthly community kindness initiative designed to lift the spirits of locals who are experiencing hardship or quietly giving back without recognition.
Each month, residents are invited to nominate a neighbour, friend, volunteer or family who could use a helping hand.
A small selection panel will choose one recipient to receive a tailored “Care Package” of goods and services - provided by local businesses and community supporters.
The program will kick off in October with the generous support of Flash Window Cleaning, which will give our first recipient’s home a sparkle with a full window, gutter and exterior clean.
“This is about more than just help around the home,” says Belle, Kiama Cares coordinator at The Bugle.
“It’s about showing people they matter, reminding them they’re part of a caring community, and celebrating local generosity.”
Businesses of all sizes are invited to get involved - from offering a meal voucher or a haircut to donating time, services or seasonal treats.
Each partner will be recognised in The Bugle’s print edition, app, and social media, showcasing their contribution to the community.
How to get involved
Nominate: A household or person that you feels needs a helping hand.
Sponsor: Offer a product, service, or funding to help make the monthly Care Package complete.
Email belle@ thebuglenews.com. au for the nomination form or phone 0428 662 499 for enquiries.
Belle Wood
MHelping Kiama’s older residents stay connected
isolated in their homes. By bringing them The Bugle, we’re helping them stay connected with their community - to know what’s happening, meet the local candidates, (for the by-election) hear their stories and feel a sense of ownership and belonging.”
It’s a reminder that community life doesn’t stop at the front door. Around the world, loneliness among older people is being recognised as a public health crisis. In fact, Australian older people are now considered the second most isolated group globally. In the UK, the issue is taken so seriously that there is a Minister for Loneliness.
spreading the word, you can help ensure no one in our community feels forgotten.
As Joanne reminds us: “It’s critical that older people remain connected to their communities. When they get the local paper and know what’s happening in real life around them, it makes an enormous difference.”
What you can do to help:
Volunteer a few hours a week to deliver meals (and smiles).
Support Meals on Wheels Kiama with a donation.
Share the message –connection matters.
Check in on neighbours who may be living alone.
Manager Joanne North says this small act carries enormous weight.
“Many of our clients are
eals on Wheels is best known for delivering hot, nutritious meals, but in Kiama the service is also delivering something just as vital: connection. Through a partnership with The Bugle, volunteers are making sure that older residents who are isolated in their homes don’t just receive food, but also the news and stories of their own community.
Here in Kiama, Meals on Wheels and The Bugle are working together to counter this disconnection. The local paper in the letterbox isn’t just newsprint – it’s a thread that ties people back into real life, real people, and their own community.
But they can’t do it alone. Meals on Wheels depends on local volunteers and community support. By giving your time to deliver meals, making a donation, or simply
Kiama Meals on Wheels has always been about more than meals. It’s about kindness, inclusion and belonging. With all of us playing a part, we can make sure older residents continue to feel valued and connected right here in Kiama. Contact the office on 02 4232 3735 to see what you can do.
Joanne North
Kiama Quilters Guild celebrates 40-year anniversary
The Kiama Quilters Guild has marked a significant milestone, celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special high tea at the Joyce Wheatley Community Centre.
Founded in 1985 by friends who shared a common interest in sewing and quilting, the group has grown from meeting in members' homes to becoming a community group with 36 active members.
Kiama Quilters Guild president Sue Lovett, joined the group 14 years ago, following in her mum's footsteps.
“My mum was a founding member as well, but they used to do it in their homes, and then they got too big and came to the group," she said.
The Kiama Quilters have found a home away from home in the Joyce Wheatley Community Centre for the past 35 years, with inaugural members Pat Stewart and Margaret Carmichael among those present at the 40-year celebration.
Meeting every Wednesday from 10am to 2pm, the group has an impressive attendance rate with approximately 26 to 28 members regularly participating. Most members live locally but one member travels from as far as Wollongong, and some travel
from Gerringong to be a part of the close knit community.
“We're branching out into doing lots of different stitches and stuff like that, and that keeps us all going,” Sue said.
The group is committed to giving back, with members regularly supporting various charities and causes, including the Children's Medical Research Institute, a ‘Jeans for Genes’ quilt every year, local raffles and donations, and contributing to Share the Dignity bags.
“We've had a gentleman come and his grandson needed surgery, so we've made a couple of quilts for him to raffle to raise money,” said Sue.
The Kiama Quilters
welcome new members and actively teach new skills, running a monthly in-house workshop for members to learn from each other.
Sue says she thinks the group will run for a long time, with recently gaining two younger members, the guild has an optimistic future ahead of them.
“Come along, if you've got something to share... we welcome anybody that wants to come and join us,” she said.
Kiama Quilters Guild’s longevity not only lies in their skills and community service but in their ability to foster a creative and social space that creates long-lasting friendships that span over four decades.
Kiama businesses gaining traction with Walkbuy
Walkbuy is continuing to immerse itself
in Kiama’s retail scene, bringing local businesses and shoppers together as its main purpose – and now, there’s even more reason to get involved.
Since launching this month, Walkbuy has received excellent support from the Kiama business community, with more than 40 local retailers, cafes, creatives, and service providers jumping on board.
These include favourites like Kai Lunar, The Coffee Emporium, Cin Cin Wine Bar, Zink Surf, The Collective Beat, Burnetts on Barney, Felicity Gardner Illustrations, the Sea and Beau, KG cafe, Mermaid&Me Boutique, Barber Industries Kiama, to name a few.
Using the app is simple – receive real-time notifications (called “Pulses”) from these local businesses as you Walkbuy and discover new arrivals, special offers, or what’s fresh out of the oven.
Whether you're after boutique fashion, great coffee, handmade goods, or weekend plans, Walkbuy helps you shop around the
corner, and be part of the community. And here’s the kicker: every time you activate a Pulse in September, you’ll automatically go into the draw to win $500 cash. No strings attached – just shop local, explore what Kiama businesses are offering, and you could be $500 richer by the end of the month.
“The response from the community has been incredible,” says Walkbuy founder Peter Walsh.
“Every weekend we’re out on the streets chatting to locals and businesses, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“People love how easy it is to use, and they’re genuinely excited to discover and support local shops in a new way. We are also learning ways to improve, which is priceless.” Walkbuy is free to download and for Kiama businesses, 12-month free trials are automatically activated when signing up! Kiama locals, now is the time to get involved! Download Walkbuy today on the App Store or Google Play, support local, and be part of Kiama’s shopping evolution!
Shelby Gilbert
What’s On?
Going to the Southeast Saltwater - exhibition
Sat 6 Sep to Sat 11 Oct
Sevenmarks Gallery
This is a rare opportunity for audiences on the South Coast to engage directly with the unwavering creative vision of Yolŋu artists from Ramingining, Arnhem Land.
Land of Milk & Honey
Fri 19 and Sat 20 Sep, The Pavilion
Tickets are available online.
Disco Revolution
Sat 20 Sep, 4pm-10pm The Co-Op Gerringong
Tickets available online.
Kiama Record Fair
Sat 20 & Sun 21 Sep, 10am4pm
Masonic Hall
Men’s Shed Chorale
Sun 21 Sep, 2pm-3:30pm Gerringong Town Hall
Kiama District Sports
Association meeting
Mon 22 Sep, from 7pm
Kiama Leagues Club
This meeting will also be the KDSA Annual General Meeting, all positions will be declared vacant and any nominations for positions can be forwarded to the Secretary before the meeting.
Book Hour
Thurs 25 Sep, 4pm-5pm
Cin Cin Wine Bar
Bring a book and enjoy a drink and some quiet time every Thursday afternoon.
Kiama Triathlon
Sat 27 Sep, from 9am
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 reconnect with their community, friends and family.
Defining Symbols of Australia
Tues 7 to Fri 24 Oct
GLaM Gallery, Gerringong
Join the opening night with guest speaker Anna Glynn on 9 October 5:30pm-7:30pm Natura Viva Art
Exhibition
Thurs 9 to Wed 15 Oct, 10am3pm Old Fire Station Gallery
“Natura Viva: A Latin American Celebration of the Natural World” Featuring works by Spanish-speaking artists exploring nature, heritage, and identity.
William Campbell College Annual Fundraising Dinner Fri 10 Oct, 6pm-11pm Kiama Pavilion RSVP by 29th September. Soil Health and Your Wealth Sat 11 Oct, 7:30am-5:30pm Joyce Wheatley Community Centre
Outdoor Fiesta Sat 11 Oct, 11am-4pm
Hindmarsh Park, Kiama This is a free and family friendly event.
Melbourne Cup Calcutta Mon 3 Nov, from 6pm Kiama Bowling Club Calcutta raffle tickets are $10 and on sale now!
Jamberoo Croquet Club
Wed 5 Nov, from 5pm Club Keith Irvine Oval Jamberoo No charge, no experience needed. Bookings necessary.
Gerringong Music Club welcomes Men’s Shed Chorale
Shelby Gilbert
The Gerringong Music Club is hosting The Men’s Shed Chorale for the first time on Sunday 21 September, bringing their unique blend of friendship and music to the local stage at Gerringong Town Hall.
The Men’s Shed Chorale is no ordinary choir, with the youngest members in their sixties and the eldest being an energetic 92-year-old. Formed in 2012, from a few singing sessions in front of a home piano, they have grown into a choir that has performed more than 150 concerts across the Sydney region.
Gerringong Music Club’s musical director Imogen Stewart has nothing but praise
for the group.
“I booked them last year after seeing them on television…I thought it would be a really lovely Sunday afternoon concert,” she said.
“They have a great sound, they sing in beautiful harmony, and they perform many well-known songs.”
The group will present a diverse repertoire including well loved classics like Danny Boy, as well as solo performances and instrumental pieces.
For these men, the music represents far more than just entertainment, it offers a sense of wellbeing, purpose, and camaraderie.
“The support we’ve given each other through sickness and loss has been invaluable…
And of course, there’s the fun - the absolute joy of singing together,” said choir member John Boland.
This upcoming show reflects Gerringong Music Club’s commitment to showcasing diverse performances to the local community. Established in 2003 by Gem Buck, the club has been branching out and trying to include world music, like previous performances by Estampa and Sonido.
“We are wanting to bring music to everyone, to all different age groups and demographics in our area,” Stewart said.
“As a non-profit organisation, we are all volunteers, we are endeavouring to maintain a low price point. We pay our
artists as well, but we also make it accessible for the public.”
“We're just trying to keep live music happening.” Stewart notes that The Men’s Shed Chorale are not affiliated with The Men’s Shed movement but takes its name and ethos of the movement: friendship, companionship, and working together for a bigger purpose.
The Men’s Shed Chorale is being held at Gerringong Town Hall on Sunday 21 September 2025, 2-3:30pm (doors open 1:30pm).
Tickets are available online at gerringongmusicclub.com. au or at the door.
Members, children and students get free entry. Visitors pay $30.
Celebrating the Church on the Hill
Gerringong’s Catholic community gathered to commemorate the 143rd anniversary of the start of services at the Church on the Hill.
St Mary’s Star of the Sea, on the corner of Fern Street and Jupiter Street, was placed on the NSW Heritage Register in 2011.
The foundation stone was laid in November 1875, but the church was not completed until 1882. An earlier wooden schoolhouse and chapel was constructed on the same site in 1864 with the school closing in 1871.
From 1866, the Catholic community hosted an annual Picnic and Sports Day for non-denominational district entertainment.
This ran for 63 years until August 1929, and at times since then. The first of many news reports is in The Kiama Independent of Thursday, 22 August 1867:
“The arrangements for a day’s recreation and amusement were excellent, and all present seemed intent upon making the best of a treat so rare in this tame locality.
“Running, jumping, throwing weights, and numerous other athletic sports were engaged in by those desirous of displaying their muscular strength and agility, while others betook themselves to cricket, drop-
handkerchief, kiss-in-thering and dancing to the enlivening strains of a wellplayed violin which was kept up throughout the day in a large marquee erected for the occasion.
“At two o’clock, the company sat down in real picnic fashion to an excellent repast provided for them: the usual abundant supply of tea, cake, sandwich, ham, roast fowls, turkeys.
“An evening social function is first recorded in 1875 after the Catholic picnic took place at the chapel paddock.
“Many availed themselves of an evening’s pastime at the soiree at night”, held at the late residence of William Connor at Toolijooa, “which was not over till daylight did appear”.
In 1878, “the number that sat down to tea or dinner could not have been much
less than 400”.
“Before and after tea the company betook themselves to the various kinds of amusements such as dancing, foot-racing, jumping, and other athletic games; while others, principally young gents with their ‘girls’, went for a walk towards the Boatharbour, there to perhaps study the language of the heart.”
By 1893, the evening festivity was advertised as a Grand Ball, although in 1894 it was called merely a “social”, and was held at the School of Arts in Blackwood Street, attended by about 50 couples.
“The costumes worn by the ladies were pretty and becoming”.
Two years later, most young ladies were attired in “nuns veiling”.
Again in 1897, “by one o’clock upwards of four
hundred persons were present” at the annual picnic and ball, “and visitors came in large numbers from all directions”.
“When the wants of all had been satisfied an excellent program of sports was negotiated on the recreation ground”:
“The Ball at night was one of the best ever held in connection with this annual event, about 100 couples attending.”
“Amongst those who were attired in evening dress were many handsome and costly costumes.”
In August 1898, the “Catholic Press” congratulated Father Barlow and his committee on “having organised the best day’s enjoyment for many years on the South Coast.”
“The picnic was held on Weary [sic] Beach, which is a great improvement on the old recreation ground.”
In 1899, first prize for the Picnic Handicap was £8, with £2 for the Hunting Contest, 7/6 for Kicking the Football and the Hop, Step and Jump, 5/- for the Boy’s Race. For Throwing the Weight (56 pounds), the placegetters received a factory can and two buckets.
The Annual Ball was held continuously from 1882 until the “One Last Time” theme on 17 August 2012.
Mayor outlines strategic vision for Kiama Rotary
Kiama Rotary recently welcomed two new members, Alison Spice and David Stevens, to the club.
Club president Phil Whyte also expressed his pleasure at the attendance of the newest honorary member, Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald, who addressed the meeting regarding his first year in office and discussed the forthcoming challenges facing the area.
“We are honoured to have Kiama’s Mayor as an honorary member of the club,” Whyte said. “We welcome him back to outline the Council’s challenges for the future.”
He also thanked Alison and David for seeking membership: “It is great for our club to have two new members wishing to give service to the Kiama community. We welcome all interested in our ideals and who look for a way to make a difference in our area.”
Mayor McDonald provided an overview of his initial 10 months in the role, highlighting the commitment of the Council team to addressing the needs of the community.
He emphasised the importance of safeguarding the local area while striving to strengthen the Council’s financial position and ensuring the municipality
responds effectively and equitably to State Government policy directives.
The Council is complying with the State Performance Order on financial recovery.
A significant challenge is the NSW Government’s mandate to accelerate housing development, which necessitates the delivery of an additional 900 housing units within the Council area by 2029. To address these requirements, Council has released its Housing Strategy and has released its draft Employment Lands and Rural Lands strategies, aiming to balance local aspirations and state obligations.
Cr McDonald underscored the necessity for development growth to proceed, where possible, in alignment with local priorities. A central concern for any development remains infrastructure, which demands close collaboration and funding among Council, developers and the state government.
Key considerations include sewerage, roads, drainage and maintaining the high standard of services. Cr McDonald referenced effective regional cooperation through the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation of Councils and highlighted the potential opportunities emerging from the Kiama by-election.
Josmi Abraham & Ann Barron
support local
The things you learn
Carol Goddard
IIt never occurred to me at the time. I thought I was set, knew it all. There was no need to change anything in my life, I was doing just fine.
I was drifting along, healthy, happy and enjoying the delights and the challenges of grandparenthood which for us had just begun. I believed that, at my age and stage, I'd learned everything I needed to know to make the most of my cruisy life by the sea in Cronulla. How wrong I was.
Hubby was champing at the bit to get out of Sydney after a lifetime there. Retirement wasn't shaping up to be all that exciting. Let's sell up and move to the country with a bit of land to play with.
I wasn't keen. I felt we had a great lifestyle. Besides, what would our children think? They'd lose their babysitters.
From the day we left Cronulla to start life again on a six-acre property on Berry Mountain, I learned so much. I had never driven on country, or mountain roads. Ever. Yet here I was taking on Kangaroo Valley, Moss Vale and Jamberoo roads, without a care in the world.
My driving at snail pace annoyed the local tradies if they happened to be stuck behind me. I did pull over when I could to let them pass.
The learning curve in the garden was the next adventure. I learned how to use a mattock, and a whippersnipper, build garden beds, ride on an ATV,
trim hedges and trees, grow an almost industrial-sized veggie garden, build a pile burn, plant, weed, and raise my own plants from seeds. . I started to bake as a bit of a hobby. This led me to try my hand at cheese making, yoghurt making, bread making. I had never done anything like this and how rewarding it was.
And this particular learning curve led me to start entering local annual agricultural shows. What joy it brings to enter a cake or a bloom into your local Show, and wait to see if you won a prize! I love it.
One of the most interesting things I learned in this period was how to cohabit with animals that were there living on my property much earlier than me. Wombats, snakes, king parrots and rats.
Wombats are delightful, seemingly slow moving until you see them running, and they take a path which does not divert. If something is in their path, they trample it. .
Pete the python lived under our elevated bedroom, and regularly dropped his skin around the place. He kept the mice down for us, and got quite plump. One day he was curled up in an ivy hedge surrounding a pond.
He looked for all the world like an old discarded tyre just lying there. You should have heard the screams when my granddaughter went to investigate! Poor Pete, we didn’t see him sun baking there again.
The front step was also a favoured place for a large
red-bellied black snake to enjoy some warmth.
Red and green king parrots frequented our deck and window ledges so seed bells became an edible adornment.
They were so enjoyable. Unlike our crazy magpie who lived in a gnarled old tree and used me for target practice three months of the year.
Probably the most enriching and heartwarming thing I learned in these four years was horse and donkey behaviour. Our property was adjoining one homing a very elderly ex showjumper named Cherry, a pony called Boston, and four donkeys, (a mum, twin girls, and a boy).
We left our paddock gates open on request so these adorable creatures had more room to roam and graze.
We then added a rescue horse called Nina, a 19-yearold beauty, also an exshowjumper. I found out horses are just giant sized dogs. Nina would loyally follow me around the paddock as I pulled fireweed, and she loved a good pat and a scratch behind her ears. She
was so elegant, so graceful. Just watching these magical animals in their frolicking was a delight. When they galloped in the paddock, it was hypnotising to me, a city girl who’d always wanted to ride but never did. Nina couldn’t be ridden due to a back injury from many years ago. But she could run like the wind.
Feeding the donkeys, which we often did as a favour when our neighbours were away, was a military operation. Mumma was a viper who greedily ate her hay, then kicked and bit her children in order to eat their hay. And so strategy was required, using timing and multiple buckets. We won, but it took a lot of planning.
Those years on the mountain were a time of immense pleasure and learning. We had sought out and tried a completely different type of living, and found we loved it. We achieved and learned so much in those years, provided our children and grandchildren with a taste of country living, which they love as well, although we don't live there now.
The most interesting thing in looking back to that time is that my whole outlook on life changed for the better. I never thought it possible, but leaving the Big Smoke was the best thing we did. And I had to be cajoled into doing it. Clever hubby!
I now know that every day brings the possibility of adventure, and there is always something new to learn.
Notice of a 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 Wednesday 1st October 2025 to discuss selling the property. BRANCH MEMBERS ONLY.
Cheryl Pearce, President, Kiama Branch.
Mogo Zoo
Joadja Heritage Town
Kiama Pavilion to host William Campbell College fundraiser
Gilbert
William Campbell College, a specialised school supporting children who have difficulty learning in mainstream settings, will hold its annual fundraising dinner at Kiama Pavilion on Friday, 10 October.
The Nowra Hill-based school has an innovative approach to education, supporting 27 students who face social, emotional, mental health, and disability challenges.
They support students from kindergarten through to Year eight who have struggled with
mainstream education or who are at risk of school placement breakdown
The school’s traumainformed and student-centred approach is producing attendance and learning outcomes that exceed national averages.
Providing academic, emotional, physical, social, cultural, and spiritual support within an inclusive environment they aim to meet every child's needs.
However, the school’s success has brought its own challenges. The William Campbell College has a
growing waitlist, showing an increasing demand for this type of special assistance education.
The fundraising dinner aims to address this need by raising money for facility expansion and a school bus to make excursions and community engagement more accessible.
The evening will host presentations from teachers and students, offering a look into the school’s education programmes.
Attendees can expect live and silent auctions, raffles, music, and catering by Culinarius. The event is
being hosted by master of ceremonies Marty Haines, CEO Sonia Liddicoat, founder William Campbell, and Principal of William Campbell College Amie Hunter.
The William Campbell College Fundraising Dinner is on 10 October from 6pm11pm, RSVP by Monday 29 September. Tickets can be purchased online at the College website.
▶https://williamcampbell-collegefundraisingdinner.raiselysite. com/#ticketform
Letter to the Editor
Water balloons thrown at cars
I wanted to share an incident I experienced on Manning Street, in front of the Old Fire Station in Kiama.
As we were driving towards the Blowhole, a group of young boys threw a water balloon at the left side of our car as we passed a pedestrian. This occurred on Saturday, 6 September, just after 9pm.
My wife and I were surprised by this event, especially since we have lived in the Kiama municipality for over 19 years and have never encountered such unruly behaviour. It wasn't just us - two other vehicles, a caravan and a sedan, also had water balloons thrown at them. I discovered this when I got out of the car to try and chase the boys. Two gentlemen emerged from their cars and informed me that they had also been targeted with water balloons. I was surprised, as I initially thought we were the only ones affected. I asked the gentlemen if they were local residents, and they stated they were visitors.
This behaviour is unacceptable and should not be tolerated.
I reported the incident to the police, and they mentioned they would send a patrol car to investigate. However, I have not received any further communication following my report. If the police were to take this seriously, I am confident the numerous CCTV cameras in the area could help identify the individuals involved.
Wilbur, Kiama Downs
Shelby
As we shift from winter into spring, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights in Kiama are about to come alive with people of all ages heading out to play the town’s most popular sport: Oztag.
Kiama Oztag coordinator Keiron Duncan says the competition is booming, with around 150 teams registered for their 16th season. While registrations have officially closed, there may still be room for a few latecomers.
“We closed on the 15th of September, but if you get in touch about entering a team, we may still be able to fit you in,” Duncan said.
Last year, Kiama Oztag added the Kiama Sporting Complex to its growing list of venues to cater to the huge number of players - and they’ll be back there again this season. “We’ll be at the sporting complex this year on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and of course, we’ve got our regular Monday comps,” Duncan said.
“We’ve got a full women’s comp with nine teams in it, which is really great.”
But even with the added space, finding enough fields is becoming a challenge.
“We’re starting to run out of fields and space now. As you know, there aren’t a lot of fields in Kiama. That’s why we’re using the sporting complex on Tuesdays as well. You really need a minimum of six fields to keep it to a few nights and not stretch the comp across too many days.
So it’s been great to lock those fields in.”
Duncan also shared details
Kiama gearing up for another massive local Oztag season
about a proposal for upgrades at the Kiama Sporting Complex - particularly focused on lighting and drainage. “We’re a night sport, or afternoon into night, so we definitely need lights. A lot of the facilities either don’t have them or the lights aren’t great,” he said.
“Drainage is another big one. The complex can get quite wet, so better drainage would really help.”
“But we’re adaptablewe’re only on one afternoon or night per week, so we can make do for now.”
Duncan has teamed up with Kiama Leagues Club to introduce weekly Player of the Match and Referee of the Week vouchers.
“Kiama Leagues Club gives us Player of the Match vouchers for every game, every week, across all three days. We’ve also added a Referee of the Week voucher to recognise our refs - we have around 70 referees, both juniors and seniors, and they do a fantastic job.”
Duncan has his sights set on strengthening Kiama’s presence at the Junior State Titles.
“Last year, we had solid numbers in most age groups, but this year the goal is to fill every age group, which is a big ask for a small area,” he said.
“But we’re the biggest sporting group in Kiama and we’re still growing. I’d love to see us continue to be competitive on the representative stage.”
To support the rep program, Kiama Oztag will also be hosting a fundraising Golf Day on Friday 12th December, with proceeds helping cover costs for players heading to representative carnivals.
If you missed the deadline but still want to play the biggest sport in Kiama, there’s hope.
For more information or to enquire about joining a team, email kiama@oztag.com.au.
Double time for Kiama (again):
Both grades reach Group 7 grand final
Following on from Kiama Rugby's dual grand final appearance, the Kiama Knights have followed suit - both their first grade and reserve grade teams have qualified for their respective Group 7 decider after wins on the weekend.
Playing at Shellharbour’s Ron Costello Oval, the Knights faced off against the Shellharbour Sharks in both major grand final qualifiers.
In first grade, Kiama surged to an early 20-point lead within the opening 30 minutes, thanks to three impressive tries involving five-eighth Sam Hooper, and a penalty goal from fullback Brad Killmore.
The first try came in the sixth minute, when Hooper’s kick to the sideline rebounded perfectly into winger Tom Atkins’ arms.
Six minutes later, Hooper slipped through the Shellharbour defence to score
Lleyton Hughes
For the first time in its history, all four Kiama Hockey Club women’s teams have qualified for the grand final this weekend.
The women’s fifth, fourth, third, and second-grade teams will compete for the championship on Saturday at the Illawarra Hockey Centre in Unanderra.
"I believe this is the first year that Kiama has had all of its women's teams make it to the grand final, and it's also one of our biggest years in terms of female player numbers," said Kiama Hockey Club committee member Emily Wright.
Wright admits that, at the start of the season, she never could have predicted such a historic outcome. "If you’d told me at the start of the season that all four teams would be
one himself. Then, in the 18th minute, he delivered a pinpoint grubber for Atkins to collect his second.
Shellharbour struck back before the break, with Palu Tausala crashing over from close range in the 33rd minute to cut the margin to 20-6 at halftime.
The Sharks continued their fightback in the second half, with Jayme McElhone scoring in the corner in the 48th minute and Wayde Aitken adding another in the 55th.
But a second penalty goal from Killmore, combined with desperate defence, helped Kiama hold on for a hard-fought 22-16 victoryand a spot in the grand final.
“We got out to a good start and then sort of fell away a little in the middle there, but I’m so proud of how we stuck in there,” said Killmore.
“It’s so easy, when a team is on a roll like Shellharbour were, to let them run away with the game. But I think we did a great job keeping
our heads up and staying composed. When that final siren went - it was all worth it.”
Earlier in the day, the Knights’ reserve grade side delivered a dominant 20-8 performance to punch their ticket to the big dance. Killmore said having both grades in the grand final adds extra meaning.
“To have them with us all week at training, and then there on the day - it’s just fantastic. We’re one club, and having them there really lifts us. I’m so happy they’ll be part of it,” he said.
As for a preferred grand final opponent, Killmore said the Knights will be ready for whoever they face.
“We’ve beaten both of those teams in the last two weeks, so we know we can do it. We’ll rest up, enjoy the week off, and come back ready to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
The Knights will meet the Sharks again or the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles - who
Kiama Hockey Club makes history
in the grand final, I would've been flabbergasted," she said.
"I’d have said it would be a dream come true. But everyone’s worked incredibly hard and been really committed.
knocked out the defending premiers, the Gerringong Lions, with a convincing 38-16 win on Saturday. The Lions’ hopes of a threepeat ended at Centenary Field, with the Eagles dominating early, scoring two tries in the opening 10 minutes. Gerringong responded in the 13th through second-rower Noah Parker, and both teams added another try each before halftime to make it 18–10 in favour of Albion Park.
After the break, Eagles halfback Kane Ball took control, scoring a try in the 48th minute and then setting up another with a brilliant grubber for centre Jiye Ellis in the 56th.
Gerringong showed signs of a comeback when Tom Knox crashed over in the 64th minute, but a late try from the Eagles sealed the result. Kiama will now enjoy a week off, while Albion Park and Shellharbour battle it out for the remaining grand final spot on September 28.
every week, and our coaches have put in a lot of effort.
“But there’s been a big focus on having fun, coming together as a team, and supporting each other. I think that’s the secret to our success," she said.
The third and fifth-grade teams finished the regular season as minor premiers and have been dominant throughout the year.
"They’re the favourites for their grand finals, but our second and fourth-grade teams, though they haven’t been as dominant during the season, ended up second on the ladder,” she said.
Wright believes that 2025 has been a breakthrough year for the club, with players making a concerted effort both on and off the field.
"Everyone’s been really dedicated, attending training
“The spirit within the club has been amazing, and we’re all looking forward to a great day on Saturday."
“They’ve peaked at the right time, so hopefully we can secure all four wins.”
All four women’s teams will take the field at the Illawarra Hockey Centre on Saturday, September 20, with the first game kicking off at 8:50 am.
Lleyton Hughes
Lleyton Hughes
Kiama Hockey Clubs four grand finalists. Top (Left) 5th grade and (Right) 4th Grade. Bottom (Left) 3rd grade and (Right) 2nd grade.
Sam Hooper was a standout for the Knights on the weekend.
The Kiama Knights are through to their first grand final since 2019. Photos: @SticksPix_ Keiron Duncan and Cooper Lee and their winning medals. Photo: Kiama Oztag
Photo Brian Scott
KIAMA RUGBY UNION
WERRI BEACH BOARDRIDERS
KIAMA JUNIOR RUGBY
KIAMA JUNIOR NETBALL
Kiama break drought in grand final cliffhanger
Mitchell Beadman
Kiama went “one more step" higher than last year with a thrilling 3736 victory over Shoalhaven on Saturday afternoon in the Illawarra rugby grand final at Collegians Sports Stadium.
Kiama began emphatically to claim a 22-point lead but that was cut to 12 points by half-time with the second half turning into a real nailbiter. It came down to a Joseph Cowley try, and the precision of a Tom Baker conversion for Kiama to claim their first premiership since 2002.
Shoalhaven’s Luke Marnane scored a try in the final minute which could have stolen the trophy from Kiama but Mark Brandon’s conversion was off target.
Popular player and former St George Illawarra Dragons star Junior Amone was awarded the Geoff Shaw medal for player of the grand final after scoring in the first half and being a key play maker throughout the game.
The ‘one more step’ mantra was instilled in the players at the beginning of the season by coach James Patrick after missing out on the premiership last year.
Coach James Patrick’s mantra of “one more step” was instilled in his players at the beginning of the season and Patrick shared the meaning of it to The Bugle.
“That slogan was all about heart –understanding where we were and getting through” Patrick said.
“I’m proud of our boys and proud of the club.
“From where they’ve come, to now – there has been a big hiatus for Kiama rugby.”
Kiama win signalled the end of an era for Patrick, with this season being his last at the club. “There’s got to be a change of the guard where somebody else has got their stamp on it,” he said.
“We’ve sort of built their culture.
“Whoever it may be, we’re there to help in some capacity.” Patrick is mindful that
Australian rugby has been around for over a hundred years and the Illawarra competition might not mean much to others, but for Kiama Rugby this was different.
“We’re very dominated by league, but for a small town to be able to bring back a premiership, it’s a huge thing.”
When Patrick rejoined the club in 2019, Kiama Rugby was
at the bottom of the ladder and paid tribute to his wife for her support and understanding during the season.
“I refuse to go away during rugby season because I’ve committed to the cause,” Patrick said.
“Everybody says it’s [coaching] a volunteer’s job, and it is, but it is a little more than that as you need to make yourself available.
“It’s a big job.” It was a bittersweet afternoon for Patrick with Kiama’s reserve-grade team, which he also coaches, going down to Woonona Shamrocks 13-7.
He was not happy with the lopsided penalty count of 32-6 against his side.
“I thought we were a little bit hard done by,” Patrick said.
“Our discipline was good, but 50-50 calls just weren’t going our way. I thought our boys were a lot better than what the scoreboard was.”
Photo: Linda Faiers
Photo Arwen Patrick