Winter camping hotspots
“Sorry,” says Kiama
Will rolling hills be rezoned?
Amy Molloy
“Attention! Can you see your house? If so, you are about to lose your rolling hill sunsets.”
This was the first line of a passionate plea posted by local resident Ash Boreland on the Kiama Community Facebook page on the final week of a public exhibition for a rezoning proposal.
The local mum of two is joining the voices of residents living around the Saddleback area, who are protesting the rezoning of 2 Caliope Street, Kiama.
A planning proposal was placed on public exhibition for the month of May to “amend the Kiama LEP 2011 to rezone 2 Calliope Street, Kiama (Lot 672 DP 1308222).”
Previously, the lot was zoned for RU2 Rural Landscape and C2 EnvironmentalConservation.
As per the amendment, part of the site would change to R2 Low Density Residential. Meanwhile, the eastern part of the site would change to “an increased C2 Environmental Conservation area.”
The backlash is, unsurprisingly, due to implictions for future
development. In the area proposed for R2 Low Density Residential, approximately 13 residential lots could be developed.
The remaining larger allotment would be privately managed under a Vegetation Management Plan.
“This plan is intended to
restore and protect the site’s biodiversity including the Illawarra Zieria and areas of Illawarra Subtropical Rainforest,” states the proposal literature. However, many residents are against the amendment – and they’re voicing their displeasure. Continued on page 5
Art by Jodie Stewart
Welcome to The Bugle
In the last few weeks, I’ve bounced against the acronym “NIMBY” (not in my back yard) more times than I can count. At the Cabinet forum, on Facebook comments, in conversation with people that come into The Bugle office. Because, when the topic of development comes up, everyone wants to reassure you “I’m not a NIMBY.”
So, how can we talk about development in a way that is balanced and practical - whilst protecting the soul of Kiama? We cover this on page 5. (The tip of the ice-berg of this conversation!)
This week marked National Sorry Day, and our reporter Maria spent the week speaking to members of the Aboriginal community about issues that matter to them. (Another tip of the iceberg topic!)
Meanwhile, another Extraordinary meeting was called. When do they happen so often, they just become ordinary?
And we celebrate the local groups, businesses and artists giving us reason to feel cheerful and optimistic.
If you haven’t already, head to The Bugle website and click on “Support the Bugle” to become a Press Patron - we’ll never paywall our content, but we do rely on community investment to support courageous local journalism.
Thanks for being part of our story.
Amy
The Bugle newspaper is brought to you by locals weekly and available free throughout the Kiama LGA. Get daily news updates and the digital edition anytime via The Bugle app or at thebuglenews.com.au
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“KICKING
THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD
Councillor Melinda Lawton
... but variation gets a yes
and outsourcing measures are considered”.
On 27 May, Kiama Council voted unanimously to approve a variation to its Performance Improvement Order (PIO), which includes an extension allowing Council an extra 12 months to achieve a balanced budget.
Despite every councillor voting yes to the variation, some required clarification and reassurance.
“Are we kicking the can down the road?” asked Councillor Melinda Lawton at the Extraordinary Meeting, echoing what many residents in the area have expressed since Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig issued a Notice of Intention to vary the PIO on 13 May.
Councillor Stuart Larkins welcomed the “financial breathing space” whilst noting some elements of the new PIO were “left field.”
Under the proposed variation, Council is required to “adopt a financially sustainable budget pathway by specified dates”, prepare a strategic business case for Blue Haven Terralong Village and not outsource its domestic waste management service.
They are also required to “sequence budget repair measures before higherimpact staffing, asset sales
But what this exactly means is a grey area.
Even the phrase “extension” is contested, with CEO Jane Stroud stating, “It’s not an extension, it’s a completely new Performance Order.” The variation does, however, include an extension component.
It also requires more consistent reporting.
“The previous PIO had set milestones to deliver on,” said Stroud. “This calls for monthly reporting. We were already doing it on a bimonthly basis.”
In regard to not outsourcing waste, she acknowledged, it is a complex matter, and they need to ensure the wording of the variation does not block existing contracts.
“Because we don’t operate our own landfill, every stream of waste is picked up and taken outside the LGA,” said Stroud. “We have already outsourced because we have to.
“The wording [of the variation] needs to make sure our existing contracts can be met and honoured, or we test the market for more local solutions, for recycling for example.
“Every single waste stream leaves [the Kiama LGA] and is technically outsourced. They’re just driven in our trucks by our staff.”
In defence of “kicking the can down the road,” Stroud highlighted the progress Council have already made, calling the process “a gruelling experience” that “at times has felt unfair.”
“We are cash flow positive now if you include capitals grants,” she said. “It’s a difference of opinion … If every local government in NSW was asked to do what we are, there would be about 76 in the same circumstance as us.
“We were acting very not appropriately back in 2021. As a Council back then, we put our hands up.”
According to Council, the revised timeframe allows greater flexibility to investigate opportunities for the long-term management of its five tourist parks after recently receiving three unsolicited partnership offers from large-scale operators, which could significantly improve its financial position.
Mayor Cameron McDonald thanked the Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig for the opportunity of the variation, saying, “We’ve developed a very good relationship.”
Mayor McDonald added, “Other than kicking the can down the road, it gives us a chance to explore other options. It’s not a get out of jail card.”
Dr John Salmon • Kiama Dental Practice
Kiama has cemented its status as one of New South Wales’ premier holiday destinations, securing the NSW Top Tourism Town Award for the third consecutive year and earning a place in the NSW Tourism Awards Hall of Fame.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, 27 May, at the Local Government NSW Destination and Visitor Economy Conference in Maitland, confirming Kiama as the 2026 NSW Top Town in the category for destinations with a population over 5,000.
The result sees Kiama successfully defend its title for a third straight year, edging out competition from Wollongong, Shellharbour, Orange, Moree, Forbes, Coffs Harbour and Ballina.
The award comes with interesting timing, during a year where Kiama Council proposed drastic cuts to tourism and community services.
Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said the award reflects both the town’s appeal and its strong community spirit.
“This is a rare honour and an incredible achievement for Kiama,” he said. “We pride ourselves on being a go-to destination for visitors, whether they are coming to our town for a day trip, a weekend away or an extended stay.”
Shellharbour’s petfriendly NYE show
Shellharbour has decided to ring in the New Year with a largescale, pet-friendly drone light show after Council confirmed plans to proceed with the event at Shell Cove Harbour. Set for 9pm on New Year’s Eve, the display will feature more than 500 drones lighting up the sky above the harbour and nearby Shellharbour South Beach.
The event is being pitched as a low-noise, low-emission alternative to traditional fireworks, aimed at being more inclusive for pets and people with sensory sensitivities.
Shellharbour City Council says the decision follows feasibility studies and early strong sponsorship support, with $140,000 already secured from local businesses to help offset costs.
Deputy Mayor Kellie Marsh said the backing shows strong community support for a “modern, low-impact” celebration.
A contingency plan is also in place, with the drone show potentially shifting to Australia Day at Reddall Reserve if needed, while the NYE event still proceeds in some form.
Further details on logistics and programming are expected in the coming months.
Amy Molloy
Kiama wins top tourist town
The Bugle acknowledges the Dharawal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and tell stories, and pays respect to Elders past and present.
National Sorry Day in Kiama
Historic pain and a hopeful future:
Maria Lewis
For the oldest continuous living culture in the world, it has been a week of pain, reflection and – hopefully –healing as representatives of the Aboriginal community came together for National Sorry Day.
Despite the gloomy weather, those who braved the rain were a bright spark against a stormy backdrop at The Pavilion on Tuesday, with local artist and Elder Aunty Jodie Stewart performing the Welcome To Country.
Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald attended with local Councillors Stuart Larkins and Melinda Lawton, with a smoking ceremony conducted undercover and Dharawal Elder Aunty Gwenda Jarrett sharing her thoughts.
“When we talk about Sorry Day, we talk about past history,” she said.
“I lived in the era when big black cars would pull up and just take our kids. And that’s why they call it the Stolen Generation.
“The Government didn’t understand how Aboriginal people lived. We lived in a beautiful, pure part of the world.”
With her father the first Aboriginal Station Master in Gerringong and ancestral connections back to Werri Beach, Aunty Gwenda said it’s important to remember that although there was a lot of pain in the past, there’s a promising future.
“I’m very fortunate, I live in a community where we’re loved by many,” she said, citing Mayor McDonald specifically.
With dozens of school children in attendance from the local area, The Mayor apologised for “the ongoing pain carried by many families and communities across this country”.
“Reconciliation is something we live through our actions, our relationships, our willingness to listen, and our commitment to building a more respectful and inclusive future together,” he added.
First held in 1998 to commemorate and acknowledge the Stolen
Generations, National Sorry Day is followed by Reconciliation Week, which started on May 27 –to coincide with the 1967 referendum - and concludes on June 3 to mark the High Court Mabo decision in 1992.
Yet for husband and wife team Geoffrey and Maria Maher of the Illawarra Wingecarribee Alliance Aboriginal Corporation, reconciliation isn’t something that happens over the course of a week: it’s something that is active 365 days of the year via the work they’re doing within the local community.
“For Reconciliation Week, I’d say get to know us,” said Geoffrey.
“See where we live, how we live, so they know we’re not living in mansions with billions and billions of dollars.”
Maria agreed: “If people want to know, come to our door and have a yarn. We’re doing really good work here, but it’s hard work and we won’t be around forever.
“When we die or quit, then we want to have these young people coming through that don’t have to start at the beginning.”
The Mahers were part of a group of Aboriginal representatives who attended Community Cabinet in Kiama last week, hoping to ask a question of NSW Premier Chris Minns as the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty - David Harris MP - didn’t attend.
However, despite having their hands raised for over an hour, they weren’t called upon:
Aunty Gwenda instead getting to ask the question that is front of mind for many.
“We’re told all of this money is coming into the Illawarra region, but we just don’t see it,” Maria said.
“The larger items we wanted to touch on that day were the need for a drug and alcohol service and a preschool that’s large enough to service the whole region.
“They might seem like little things, but they’re big things to us and can have big impact to those of us here.”
With just a small team of three based out of the IWAAC office in Port Kembla, Maria said their
priorities are “housing, employment, education, law and justice”.
While no small feat, it’s “the most important work” and work that she and Geoffrey have been doing their whole lives: whether that’s boots on the ground support or the foundational building blocks like admini, logistical support and forward planning.
With a direct line to key ministers, Maria said one of their biggest assets is “strength in numbers”.
“We have eight or nine organisations here and there’s power in everyone working together,” she said.
They’re efforts that haven’t gone unnoticed by Member For Kiama Katelin McInerney, who last week spoke of the progress made by local Indigenous organisations.
“They’ve hammered down doors,” she said, following an interview with Minister for Small Business and Recovery Janelle Saffin MP on KCR.
“I just have such admiration for what they’ve done because we are an area that has a unique Aboriginal history that our community has only recently started reckoning with.
“That history of dispossession, the Minnamurra massacre, Aboriginal disenfranchisement in our area, we’re only just starting to grapple with that and they have made sure that there is a voice and a conduit for that.”
MP McInerney said that “a seat at the table” is vital for the cultural makeup of our rapidly growing region, something the Mahers are continuing the fight to have with the hope that nonIndigenous members of the community will want to get involved as well.
“We want to create pathways and jobs for mob and part of the way we do that is by having mentors on board who want to share their skillset,” Maria said.
“That can be anyone willing to donate their time and help (people) upskill … education gives you an opportunity for employment and that’s everything.”
Sorry day, school days
Amy Molloy
Across the Kiama LGA, schools commemorated National Sorry day in educational and creative ways.
Lake Illawarra High School celebrated the publication of a new Dharawal Dreaming story called Gudgad the Greedy Frog written and created through a powerful collaboration between aboriginal students, staff, local Elders and community organisation Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation.
A group of Indigenous students from Lake Illawarra High School worked alongside respected Elders Aunty Narelle and Aunty Lorraine at Coomaditchie to illustrate the Dreaming story, learning about Dharawal culture through storytelling, art and shared knowledge.
Lake Illawarra High School Principal Jenny Perry said the published book celebrates local Aboriginal culture and reflects the importance of authentic community partnerships in education.
“Being part of the creation and launch of Gudgad the Greedy Frog
has been an incredible experience for the school community, strengthening connections with local Elders and deepening students’ understanding and appreciation of Dharawal culture,” Perry said.
“The project has empowered students by giving them a meaningful role in preserving and sharing Indigenous stories through art and storytelling, while fostering cultural pride and respect.”
Kindergarten students from local primary schools attended a special reading of Gudgad the Greedy Frog and participated in interactive activities connected to the story at the official ceremony and will be followed by a community celebration recognising the contributions of students, Elders and project partners.
At Minnamurra Public
School, students took part in a walk for reconciliation. The event began with “a heartfelt assembly” led by students, who shared reflections, stories and performance that highlighted the importance of reconciliation and celebrated First Nations Culture.
Carers and families were invited to join students for a “peaceful walk together” through the school grounds and onto the banks of the Minnamurra River (followed by a sausage sizzle).
Students from local schools, including Kiama Public School and Jamberoo Public School, attended the Sorry Day commemorations at The Pavilion.
Students had the opportunity to participate in a meaningful smoking ceremony and engage in cultural activities alongside local Elders.
Husband and wife team Maria and Geoffrey Maher at the Illawarra Wingecarribee Alliance Aboriginal Corporation 2
“The rangers are out” Families sidelined by soccer parking fines
Amy Molloy
“Rangers are out!”
It’s become the online version of flashing your headlights to warn other drivers about speed traps. (Which is a legal grey area, so beware – your mateship could cop a fine.)
Kiama residents are taking to Facebook to alert drivers to rangers in the area – and Kiama Leisure Centre is becoming a hotspot for tickets.
The cost of watching your kid’s soccer game? $330 if you don’t park between the
(parking) lines.
“Parking rangers are out and about,” posted Tim Stockdale on Saturday morning. “Just got fined [for] parking on the grass at the leisure centre. Drove around twice for a parking bay but nothing, so had to park on the verge, otherwise I was going to miss my kids’ games.
“Bit harsh to be fined when the Council can’t provide enough parking bays. $330.”
Anyone familiar with Kiama Sports Complex at the weekend knows parking can leave you in the penalty box.
The leisure centre is known for its limited parking spots.
Add in multiple soccer games, swimming lessons and visitors to the netball courts and skate park and driving in circles for half an hour is common.
Historically, soccer families parked on the grass verges around the car park with no repercussions – until November 2025, when Kiama Council “welcomed new Parking Inspectors to our team”, and all that changed.
The need for additional parking around the Sporting Complex was highlighted during community consultation for infrastructure upgrades. However, with
those upgrades dependent on state funding, additional spots are still a long way off.
For those playing along, yearly parking fine totals are listed in Council’s Quarterly Business Reports. There has been $171,286 in fines issued for parking violations from 1 July 2025 until 31 March this year, according to records.
A spokesperson for Kiama Council acknowledged there has been an uptick in rangers in the leisure centre area.
“With the number of parking rangers increasing from one FTE to two full-time employees last November,
there has been a rise in parking compliance monitoring in recent months, including at Kiama Sports Complex,” said the spokesperson.
“Council has received complaints about drivers parking on the verge at the Kiama Sports Complex because of the safety and access problems this creates.
“There is a higher risk of pedestrian and vehicle interaction if cars park on the grassed areas.”
More parking is planned, but currently unfunded.
“In Kiama Council’s Kiama Sports Complex masterplan,
additional car parking has been included, with a proposed multi-deck car park with 99 spaces per level to increase the overall parking capacity to approximately 410 spaces,” said the Council spokesperson.
The revised design of the Sports Complex includes a multi-deck car park with 99 spaces per level, increasing the overall parking capacity to approximately 410 spaces. Until then, for many local families, finding a parking spot on game day may remain the toughest contest of the weekend.
Kiama Sporting Complex being used for football - one of the many sports played there.
Source: Kiama Junior Football Club.
Photo: Brian Scott
Not bad for a Tuesday afternoon!
After all is said and done, it cannot be overstated that Katelin McInerney did very well to secure the NSW Government’s first Community Cabinet of 2026 for Kiama. Held at The Pavilion on 19 May, with Premier Chris Minns and senior ministers coming to town for a public question-andanswer session (or open mic night) with local residents, more than 300 people attended.
The numbers alone showed the NSW Government that the community is engaged with politics and understands that, if it does not get outcomes, it can retaliate with a shift in vote. This factor gave the event the weight of a genuine civic moment rather than a routine political doorstop.
The win for Kiama is visibility. Whereas we were previously represented by an “Independent” Member of Parliament, we can now see the clear benefits of being represented by a member of the Government. Suddenly we’re at the table, and sitting opposite? The most powerful political figures in the State.
Council put its major priorities directly in front of the Premier: freeing up the Spring Creek landholding, getting the Bombo Waste Treatment Plant into Sydney Water’s long-term planning, and securing funding for the Kiama Sports Complex. These are not abstract asks. They go to jobs, housing capacity, environmental
health, sport, recreation and Council’s long-term financial sustainability.
The cynics amongst us will say there was little in the form of steadfast commitments, and the same systemic issues remain unresolved. If Kiama is expected to accommodate growth, the community deserves a straight answer on the Bombo Waste Treatment Plant. Residents also raised housing and development, roads and transport, health and community services, showing that local concerns extend well beyond a single capital works wish list.
The Premier said the visit was about hearing directly from locals, not simply governing from Sydney. That is welcome.
But Kiama should judge the visit by what follows: timelines, funding pathways, ministerial accountability and written responses – and subsequent solutions to the issues raised.
That’s not to say there were no solutions or commitments. Whilst the expected questions from the community centred around stopping development and the need for new infrastructure, Mark Burns from The Man Walk was the only one able to secure a tangible commitment from the Premier – $250,000 to keep the charity going. Bravo!
Community Cabinet gave Kiama the microphone. The test now is whether the NSW Government was only listening, or whether it is ready to act.
“Attention!”
“If this is your view, you are about to lose your rolling hill sunsets”
Continued from Page 1
In response to proposed rezoning, Boreland told The Bugle, “Past councils worked hard with the Land and Environment Court to rule and keep this as protected Rural Landscape and Environmental Conservation.
“But today’s Council is supporting a rezoning change and backing development at 2 Calliope Street. A site with critically endangered zieria, rainforest and heritage rock walls in the immediate runoff zone of this proposed development.
“We’ve seen it in Flinders, Dapto, Albion Park and Shell Cove. It will be one rolling hill gone after the next, if this rezoning gets approved.”
Not everyone is opposed to the changes.
Responding to Boreland’s Facebook post, many wrote in support, saying, “I’m 100 per cent in agreement”. Others observed, “Take that same photo 100 years ago and see if your house was there” and “Your house was probably farmland at one stage. Development has to happen; people need places to live.”
Rather than halting development, residents have proposed an alternative to the R2 rezoning.
In the final week of public
exhibition, Tania Goodman and Doctor Brett Lemass wrote a letter to The Bugle voicing their unease.
Goodman, who moved the city to the South Coast 30 years ago, has been actively involved in business chamber and professional business associations.
Doctor Lemass has over 30 years of experience advocating for social justice, the retention of Community Land and harmonious Community living within the Kiama Municipality.
Both acknowledge that development is necessary; however, they are “justifiably alarmed” by the amendment.
“Prior to this endorsement, Kiama Council had worked with the community to keep 2 Calliope Street (Lot 672 DP 1308222) intact as protected Rural Landscape and Environmental Conservation land on three separate occasions over the past eight years,” they collectively wrote.
“This fruitful work has retained Kiama’s resplendent farmland/seascape synthesis and maintained the rural charm and unique tourist attraction that the town depends upon for its economic and environmental sustainability.”
For them, the height of the buildings is not the primary issue; it’s the proximity of houses to each other.
The Minns government’s Low and Mid-Rise housing policy, which came into effect in February 2025, removed the restriction on developing terraces, townhouses and lowrise residential flat buildings on R1 and R2 zoned land,
According to Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, “This policy fills a gap in new housing supply. Allowing low and mid-rise housing in more locations.”
According to the NSW Department for Planning and Infrastructure, low-rise housing is generally one to two storeys and includes dual occupancies (two dwellings on the same lot), terraces, townhouses, and low-rise apartment buildings. It does not include freestanding houses.
“Rezoning this rural land to R2 would be the beginning of the end for the Green Belt of Saddleback Mountain,” argue Goodman and Doctor Lemass.
“The subsequent rubberstamp approval of the proposed double-storey buildings would result in the construction of a visual environmental aberration
and discriminate against nearby residents whose dwellings have been restricted to a single habitable level.”
Rather than rezoning to R2 Low Density Residential, they suggest a different approach.
“If the decision to rezone this rural land to residential land is now legally irreversible, adoption by Council of Large Lot (R5) zoning with singlestorey dwellings for the rural component of the site would satisfy the dual needs of maintaining Kiama’s rural charm and providing future housing,” they wrote.
“This solution concept would supply an environmentally sensitive and sympathetic integration of the site with the surrounding Environmental Conservation and Rural zonings.
“Moreover, it offers a transition buffer between urban and rural land use to retain the Green Belt farming essence that sets Kiama apart as the premier tourist destination in NSW.”
Submissions relating to Planning Proposal PP-20251821 can be made on the NSW Planning Portal page before 5pm on 31 May 2026: https://yoursay.kiama.nsw. gov.au/planning-proposal-2caliope-street-kiama
A new path forward for Kiama Council
There’s been a lot said recently about Kiama Council receiving a “12-month extension” to its Performance Improvement Order.
This decision is about far more than giving Council extra time.
What the NSW Government has proposed is in fact not an extension, it’s a whole new varied Performance Improvement Order, a new document that recognises the enormous amount of work already completed while setting a more measured and practical pathway toward longterm financial sustainability.
Recently, CEO Jane Stroud and I met directly with Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig at Parliament House during the LG8 meetings to discuss Kiama’s situation face-to- face.
Importantly, the Minister demonstrated a detailed understanding of the progress Council has made and the challenges that remain.
Over the past four years, Council staff, councillors and our community have worked through one of the most difficult periods in Council’s history. There have been hard decisions, difficult conversations and significant pressure on everyone involved.
But there has also been an extraordinary amount of work happening behind the scenes to rebuild confidence in Kiama Council’s future.
That work is now being recognised.
The proposed variation to the PIO comes with a new series of requirements around governance, financial management and long-term sustainability measures, including the future operating model of Blue Haven Terralong retirement village, additional financial reporting measures and revenue strategies to strengthen Council’s longterm cash position.
Importantly though, this pathway now allows Council to retain many of the services our community values, including youth services, tourism services, our libraries, the Visitor Information Centre and Kiama Leisure Centre.
That does not mean all difficult decisions suddenly disappear, but it does provide Council a longer time to make careful decisions while maintaining service levels.
This position reflects years of work by Council staff, constructive engagement with the Office of Local Government and advocacy to ensure Kiama’s unique circumstances were properly understood.
There is still significant work ahead.
But these past weeks represented an important turning point for Kiama Council. Not because the job is finished, but because there is now a clearer and more achievable path forward for both Council and our community.
This is paid content.
“What you see in a Council meeting is only the surface”
Former Mayor of Kiama speaks out
With the work of Kiama Council continuing to be in the spotlight, former Mayor of Kiama Neil Reilly asks the pressing question: what does a councillor do, and how much power do they really have?
When people ask what a councillor does, I’m never quite sure where to start.
There is the formal answer – “meetings, reports, policies, budgets” – but that rarely satisfies. It sounds procedural, even dull, and it doesn’t really explain why decisions sometimes take so long, or why outcomes don’t always match expectations.
After 17 years as a councillor, and the last term as mayor, I’ve come to think the better place to begin is with what the role is not.
A councillor is not a chief executive. They don’t run the organisation. They don’t manage staff, direct dayto-day operations, or make unilateral decisions.
If something needs fixing tomorrow, there is a good chance the councillor you’re speaking to doesn’t have the authority to simply make it happen. This is where the trouble starts.
That can be frustrating for the community and, often, for the councillor as well.
Some of the louder voices in the community and on social media call for greater participation by the community beyond voting. The assumption is that
another layer over the council structure will be better informed, more honest and get things done “properly”.
I know local government can be captured by narrow interests, dominated by loud voices and resistant to change. Across the broader Australian local government sphere, some councillors are incompetent or driven by ego or self-interest. Some councils make poor decisions.
But dismissing democratic accountability and deferring to the will of another unelected body is reckless.
Local government is the closest thing we have to direct democracy. Ordinary people – part-time amateurs, for the most part – put themselves forward to serve their communities.
Much of their work is not visible.
It happens in reading through reports that run to many hundreds of pages. It happens in conversations with staff to understand what sits behind a recommendation. It happens in discussions with other councillors, trying to find a position that can attract enough support to move forward.
And that last point matters more than most people realise.
A single councillor, no matter how committed or articulate, cannot make a decision alone. Every outcome requires a majority. That means listening,
persuading, adjusting and sometimes accepting that a good idea will not proceed –not because it lacks merit, but because it lacks the numbers.
It also means that what you see in a council meeting is often only the surface of a longer process. By the time a matter reaches the chamber, positions are usually well formed. The debate is important, but it is rarely the beginning of the conversation.
This is not to suggest the system is perfect. It is not.
There is another layer that is often invisible. Many of the decisions councils deal with are not fresh questions. They are shaped by policies, agreements and planning decisions made years –sometimes decades – earlier, often for reasons that made complete sense at the time. What presents today as a simple issue can, on closer inspection, be the endpoint of a long chain of earlier choices.
Changing those settings is rarely straightforward. It can involve legal obligations, financial consequences or unintended impacts elsewhere in the system.
Even where there is broad agreement that something should be different, the pathway to get there can be slow and, at times, unsatisfying. That is not reluctance so much as the reality of working within a structure that carries accountability with it.
There are times when it feels slow. There are decisions that could be better explained. There are moments when the gap between what a community expects and what a council can deliver is wider than it should be. But it is a system designed to balance competing interests rather than elevate a single point of view. It asks for compromise more often than it rewards conviction. That can make it appear less decisive than people might hope.
Over time, I’ve found that the most effective councillors are not always the most visible ones. They are building support, understanding constraints, and knowing when to push and when to pause.
That may not be as satisfying as the idea of a single-minded individual driving change through force of will. But local government was never designed that way. It is slower, more deliberate and, at its best, more representative. If there is a thread that runs through all of this, it is that local government works through people – many of them – with different views, priorities and experiences, all trying to reach decisions that hold together for our community as a whole. That doesn’t always produce the outcome any one person wants. But it is, for better or worse, how it works.
Former councillor and Mayor, Neil Reilly
End of the bottleneck Jervis Bay flyover opens
The $164 million upgrade of the Jervis Bay Road intersection is one step closer to completion, with the new flyover bridge set to open to traffic from Monday, 1 June.
Motorists travelling southbound will be the first to use the new bridge, with northbound traffic to follow shortly afterwards.
The full project was originally forecast to open in late 2027, but thanks to the efforts of 110 workers who have contributed a combined 472,000 hours, it is now expected to be completed almost a year ahead of schedule, in early 2027.
For South Coast locals, it marks the beginning of the end for the infamous Jervis Bay Road bottleneck.
The upgrade will make navigating the Princes Highway intersection far simpler, allowing drivers to travel continuously under the bridge before merging onto the highway — a change expected to significantly reduce congestion and delays at one of the region’s busiest choke points.
The new bridge will open to traffic in two stages over the coming week.
From Monday, 1 June, southbound traffic on the Princes Highway will move onto the new bridge, with two lanes open in each direction.
The new southbound off-ramp will also open, giving motorists easier access to Jervis Bay Road via the eastern roundabout.
The eastern roundabout is expected to improve traffic flow between the Princes Highway and Jervis Bay Road, the key connection to Huskisson and surrounding Bay and Basin villages.
From Wednesday, 3 June, northbound traffic will also move onto the new bridge.
However, motorists will not be able to turn right from the Princes Highway into Jervis Bay Road for several months while work continues on the western roundabout.
During this time, a detour will be in place via Comberton Grange Road.
Following the traffic switch, work will continue on the western roundabout and surrounding local road network to ensure traffic can move safely and efficiently in all directions once the full upgrade is complete.
The intersection upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($100 million) and the NSW Government ($64 million).
“This upgrade is about making the Princes Highway safer, more reliable and more efficient for locals, visitors and freight operators,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who visited the flyover the week before it officially opened.
Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said locals know all too well how frustrating the intersection can become during busy periods.
“Anyone who travels through this intersection knows how busy it can get, particularly during peak periods and holiday times,” she said.
Meanwhile, Member for Kiama Katelin McInerney described the bridge opening as an “exciting milestone” for the South Coast.
“This bridge opening is an exciting milestone for the South Coast and a sign of real progress on a project our community has been waiting for,” she said.
“The Jervis Bay Road intersection is one of the busiest points on the Princes Highway between Nowra and the Victorian border, so improving safety and reducing delays here matters.
“I’m pleased to see this project moving ahead of schedule, and I thank the workers who are helping deliver it.”
Amy Molloy
Little Foragers Co
The business of messy play
Anew sensory play experience for young children is coming to Kiama with the launch of Little Foragers Co, a locally run program designed for children aged four months to five years old.
Created by local mum Chelsea Hourigan and her mum Kylie, the business was inspired by Hourigan’s search for engaging sensory activities while on maternity leave with her baby.
Running from Burnetts on Barney’s glass house
space in Kiama, the sessions will focus on messy, hands-on sensory play designed to encourage creativity, exploration and development in a fun and relaxed environment.
“It’s a gentle space for little hands to create, explore and discover the magic of messy play,” says Hourigan
“Inspired by nature, curiosity and those slow meaningful moments of childhood- Little Foragers Co is all about nurturing growing minds through play. Think earthy textures, natural materials and
AKiama nurse is inviting allied health practitioners to share consulting rooms in a Collins Street space, in a move aimed at improving local access to services and supporting flexible use of clinical rooms.
Fallon Nash, founder of Micro Ear Care, is based at 66 Collins Street, just behind Carter Ferguson Solicitors. The premises include three offices, a treatment room, reception and waiting area, kitchenette, toilet facilities and parking.
Nash said two of the offices are fitted out and available for part-time or sessional hire, depending on practitioner needs.
“I’ve got a couple of offices that are pretty much set up with a desk and chair ready to go,” she said. “There’s also a treatment area at the back which is what I use.”
She is seeking interest from allied health professionals including psychologists, speech pathologists and other patient-facing services.
“It would probably suit allied health psychologists,
open-ended experiences designed for babies and toddlers.”
Sustainability is also a key focus, with Little Foragers Co incorporating recyclable, repurposed and secondhand materials wherever possible while supporting local businesses.
The first eight-week term begins on June 15 and will run across the school term, excluding school holidays.
Keep an eye on Little Foragers Co’s socials for updates on a fun trial day in the coming weeks, with bookings now open. littleforagersco.com
Local clinic opens doors to collaborative health services
speech pathologists… anybody that sees patients,” she said.
While reception is currently unstaffed, Nash said the space is set up for a shared clinic model and suited to flexible arrangements.
She said the aim is partly practical, helping smaller practitioners manage overheads, but also focused on keeping services local.
“It’s also just about bringing people into a space and giving really great services in the community in Kiama, so they don’t have to travel,” she said.
Nash said many patients still travel to Wollongong for specialist ear care, including microsuction, and she sees value in expanding access locally.
“If we can put more really amazing local allied health services all in the one spot, then people also become aware that these services are available right here in town,” she said.
Micro Ear Care has been operating for about three years, with Nash moving into the Collins Street premises earlier this year after previously leasing a room in another Kiama audiology
clinic.
She said the move has allowed greater flexibility, including after-hours and short-notice appointments.
“It’s a lovely little space… there’s just sun in the waiting room in the morning,” she said. “It’s not sort of a cold clinical space. It’s very friendly and warm.”
The clinic provides ear health checks, microsuction ear wax removal, foreign body removal, and postsurgical and infection-related ear care.
Nash said awareness of the service remains a challenge, with many patients still unaware it is available locally.
“I still get people that come in that go, ‘I didn’t know you were here,’” she said.
She is also planning a “Mums and Bubs” session with local speech pathologist Mel, aimed at supporting parents with early childhood ear and speech concerns in a shared setting.
“It’s just really cool to have two professionals in one spot,” she said.
Contact Micro Ear Care at microearcare.com.au or via Instagram @fallonhurt_ microearcare.
Can an AI chatbot help you to buy a bargain? The Bugle’s property columnist Sam Scobie weighs in.
With AI becoming a more common tool for real estate agents, one question I have always asked myself is how accurate is it in appraising a property. I often use sites like ChatGPT and Gemini as a means to reduce my administration hours and for that purpose, it works just fine. I believe that it can fall short in providing an accurate price for a property in our market.
Over the years we have come to understand that while AI is an incredible tool, automated models fail because they rely strictly on historical data and algorithms.
Real estate is inherently an emotional industry and
highly localised, creating scenarios that a machine simply cannot see. Whether it is two bidders battling it out at an auction or an off market sale, these sales create a problem for AI with a distorted understanding of the market.
At Ray White Kiama, we utilise predictive technology like NurtureCloud to match real buyers who have made offers and inspected properties within the last 90 days to properties, but we know that pinpointing a home’s actual value also requires a human touch and deep understanding of each individual purchaser to best market your property.
If you want a realistic look at what your home is worth in today's market rather than a digital guess, I am always here to help. This is paid content.
knowledge. Personal service. Trusted experience. Based in Kiama | Servicing the Illawarra and beyond Taking the stress out of property transactions — one settlement at a time.
Emily Crisp
Kiama’s locally based conveyancing practice
With Leesa Mak
Myah Garza
Tiffany Springett
On Instagram, Aboriginal artists are using visual storytelling to share culture, connection to Country, and lived experience with wide and growing audiences. Through their creations, they bring ancient knowledge and contemporary perspectives together in powerful ways, often weaving language, symbolism, and storytelling into their work
Behind the culture Contemporary Aboriginal artists on Instagram
Dreaming By Shaylee @Dreamingbyshaylee
Shaylee Davies is a proud Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi, and Dharawal woman whose artwork is deeply connected to culture, storytelling, and identity. Born and raised on Dharawal Country, Shaylee discovered the power of expressing culture through Aboriginal art during her high school years. Guided by teachers and elders, she has continued to grow her artistic practice, using sacred symbols and traditional storytelling elements to create meaningful works that honour her heritage and share cultural stories.
Caressa Designs
@Caressadesigns
Werombi Studios @werombi_studios
Werombi Studios is the creative practice of a proud Wiradjuri woman, Kay, living on Dharawal Country, whose artwork reflects culture, connection to Country, storytelling, and lived experience. With more than two decades as a recognised practicing artist and formal training, her work blends Based in Gerringong on the NSW South Coast, Werombi Studios offers fine art, handmade prints, and painted designs, often exhibiting these pieces around the area.
Caressa Designs is a First Nations fashion label blending textile design, cultural storytelling, and intentional production to create garments that carry meaning, identity, and connection to place. Founded by proud Gumbayngirr woman Caressa Murphy, these bright pieces celebrate living culture that honour tradition while embracing fashion. Through Caressa Designs, she continues to champion First Nations creative voices and inspire pride in cultural identity through modern storytelling and design.
Jazz Corr
@Jaz_corr
Jazz Cor is a visual artist and teacher whose practice engages with land, material, and tutelage to explore how art is created, experienced, and returned. Her work examines the space between object, process, and structure, using repetition, erosion and casting to reflect on time, intervention, and displacement. Alongside her art practice, Jazz Cor also teaches Wayapa Wuurrk, an indigenous workshop that explores gentle movement, breath, and reflection to connect with Country.
Honourable mention … Jodie Stewart
Whilst not on Instagram, we couldn’t miss off Jodie Stewart, whose art graces our front cover – a proud Traditional Owner and Aboriginal Elder within the Kiama Local Government Area. You may have spotted Stewart’s signage around Kiama – this year, she was commissioned to design and create bespoke artworks depicting the sacred and significant cultural heritage of the Dharawal people across the LGA. For over 40 years, she has expressed her cultural knowledge and lived experience through contemporary Aboriginal art. gerringongculturaldreaming.com.au
What began as an unbelievable bargain holiday for myself, and my daughter nearly became a personal travel disaster, after we unknowingly boarded one of the final AVG Travels tours before the company collapsed into liquidation.
We had booked what appeared to be an extraordinary deal – 10 days in China for just $1,000, including flights, accommodation, guided tours and sightseeing. It honestly sounded too good to be true!
Looking back now, the warning signs were already there.
After calling looking for information weeks beforehand, and even having our numbers blocked from the many calls, our itinerary arrived only a week before departure, while flight tickets landed in our inbox just 20 hours before take-off which was highly unsettling as we had been given no prior indication of our flight dates or times. At the same time, Facebook travel groups were erupting with complaints and confusion from worried customers.
“That level of chaos is always a sign something is very wrong inside a company!”
Despite the uncertainty, the trip itself exceeded expectations.
We toured Beijing and Shanghai, visiting iconic sites including the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City. We viewed exquisite pearls and silk, drank all the tea in China and were blown away with traditional Chinese medicine diagnoses - while soaking up the rich culture and history of places like The Great Wall.
The timing of our trip
Final boarding call Bargain travel chain collapses
also coincided with a remarkable political moment in Beijing.
American and Chinese flags adorned a highway route the USA president was due to proceed down on his visit – so itineraries were changed and we sandwiched in our visit to the Temple of Heave between Trump and Putin’s visit! It felt like an incredibly powerful week in the city!
The trip even included an unexpected encounter with Chinese police after a minor incident on the tour.
We were fascinated by the way the police handled the situation - everyone was brought together on the spot, various agreements were discussed and actioned, and everyone moved on without convictions or ongoing conflict. The Chief Inspector said this is the way of Chinese Law – to reach agreement. Cameras are absolutely everywhere one goes in China which would tend to moderate behaviour!
As the tour came to an end, the reality behind AVG Travels began to unravel. Plans were changed, social media was livid and because of this we knew what was happening before AVG staff!
Our tour guides were given notice a couple of days before the trip concluded. AVG Travels had officially collapsed. They still testified to being a great company.
We were effectively the final passengers through the gate.
Fortunately, after some tense last-minute uncertainty, we secured flights back to Sydney.
Others were not so lucky.
In the days that followed, social media channels filled with devastated customers reporting cancelled holidays and losses of up to $20,000 and more in prepaid travel costs.
Among them was traveller Marie-Rose, who had paid for her family’s China tour in full back in November 2025 for a planned May 19 departure this year.
Under the agreement, flight tickets were supposed to arrive one month before departure. But when April 19 came and went without confirmation, alarm bells rang.
Marie-Rose spent weeks desperately trying to contact
both her travel agent and AVG’s support centre.
“Instead of answers, we received generic responses and were told there was no supervisor available,” she said.
The experience mirrored what many customers described online, with callers struggling to get through despite repeated attempts. Some frustrated travellers even turned up at the company’s Melbourne office seeking answers.
The uncertainty left one customer Marie-Rose deeply distressed. “I was anxious all month,” she said.
Then came another shock.
AVG accidentally included her and 228 other customers in an un-blinded group email chain, exposing personal email addresses and triggering a flood of frantic replies.
“The emails completely crashed my app,” she said. “It was also a major breach of privacy.”
Soon after, her tour was officially cancelled. AVG advised customers they would need to wait 30 to 60 days for refunds - refunds that now appear highly unlikely following the company’s liquidation. Journalists highlighted the issue and some customers received quick refunds accordingly! But that was just prior to the bankruptcy announcement.
For many travellers, travel insurance may offer little relief, with some policies excluding company insolvency or liquidation events. The insurance AVG offered is redundant and claw backs from the bank are only possible in some situations, however the main banks seem to being compassionate with customers.
Questions are now being raised about whether AVG’s pricing model was ever sustainable.
Industry observers point to mounting fuel costs, cash flow pressures and heavily discounted tours as possible contributors to the company’s downfall. The practice of delaying flight ticket issuance until immediately before departure has also fuelled speculation the business may not have had sufficient funds available to secure bookings earlier.
Although the tours
Kiama Business Awards offer mentor support
reportedly had backing through Chinese tourism partnerships, it ultimately wasn’t enough to keep the business afloat.
Documents show the Coy name for AVG Travels was changed to Alder Journeys on 26 May and is continuing operating out of the UK. They have had offices in Australia, NZ, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. The CEO and founder of AVG Travels (also known as Asia Vacation Group) is Duc Tiem Dao who apparently gained Australian citizenship in recent weeks. It seems staff and customers have all been victims of a business operating under insolvency.
Approaching a local accredited travel company for comment, Travel Focus spokesperson Kelly said the collapse of AVG Travel was a timely reminder for travellers to check a company’s accreditation and reputation before booking overseas tours.
“We’re really conscious of who we book through and making sure they’re reputable and properly accredited with ATIA [the Australian Travel Industry Association],” she said. “A lot of people are attracted to very cheap deals, but it’s important to know there are protections in place if something goes wrong.”
She said the agency had already become more cautious after AVG reportedly lost industry accreditation in recent years, adding that using a local travel agent could provide extra support and guidance if disruptions occurred overseas.
For us, the experience now feels surreal.
We came back with incredible China memories and photos from the Forbidden City and beyond. Meantime members of our extended tour in China are now having to foot the bill for the remainder and buy new air tickets home. For hundreds of others, AVG Travels has delivered nothing but heartbreak and a masterclass in corporate failure.
For any effected by the demise of this travel coy please contact liquidators McGrath Nicol on AVGTravels@ mcgrathnicol.com
For those considering entering the Kiama Business Awards 2026, a mentor is now available to assist with submissions.
The Kiama Business Awards are an exclusive opportunity for all Kiama Business Network members. Winners in each category will progress as finalists to the Illawarra Business Awards.
Categories include Outstanding Employee, Outstanding Young Business Leader, Excellence in Sustainability and Outstanding New Business, among others.
Last year’s 2025 winners included Slow Dough for Outstanding New Business,
The Old House Studio for Excellence in Micro Business and Sarah Bebek from Kiama Leagues Club for Outstanding Employee. Meanwhile, Business of the Year went to Burnetts on Barney.
“Whether you are still preparing your entry or have already submitted, you are welcome to receive guidance and resubmit an updated version if you wish,” says KBN Executive Officer Mel Scarr.
“The mentor is available after hours and on weekends, with support offered both in person and online.”
To take advantage of this opportunity, visit kiamabusinessnetwork.com. au. Entries close Sunday, 5 June.
Travel Focus Group hosts a Wednesday Breakfast Club and you are invited: 3 June 8am Travel Focus Group, 131 Belinda St Gerringong. Come along for a relaxed morning of coffee, conversation, and travel inspiration as we share handy travel tips and tricks. It’s a great chance to meet fellow travellers, swap ideas, and pick up some helpful advice for your next trip. We’d love you to join us, please RSVP to roam@ travelfocusgroup.com with your coffee order.
Amy Molloy
Belle Wood
Belle at The Great Wall
Suzhou Old Town River Cruise
A bridal party on Lake Taihu
Winners from 2025
Street Side Medics: t he little van changing lives
For Bernie Goodwin, a lot can change in a year.
This time 12 months ago, he was dealing with blackouts and loss of time.
But getting to the bottom of his medical issues was the least of his worries — he was sleeping rough and trying to figure out where his next meal was coming from day to day.
One day, while visiting non-profit SASSI’s Nowra headquarters, he was encouraged to pay attention to the little red-and-blue van parked in the driveway.
It was staffed by smiling volunteers operating something called Street Side Medics, offering free medical appointments and consultations with a GP for anyone who needed it, especially those without a fixed address, like Bernie.
“They were very warm, very open,” he said.
Yet just because people say they want to help doesn’t always mean they do.
So Bernie didn’t go. But the following week, there they were again at SASSI. And the week after that. Eventually, curiosity got the better of him — and it changed everything.
“I was the first one to go and see them,” he said. “Nobody else wanted to go, we were all a bit suss, but I just rocked up and went, ‘Okay’.”
“They helped me out with my epilepsy. They helped me get diagnosed.”
Having seizures in random locations, Bernie said he would black out and wake up at the local shopping centre confused about how he got there, “having arguments with security guards”.
“I couldn’t work out how I walked across the highway in Nowra, but someone recognised me and took me back … I kept losing time and shit.
“I would’ve had to wait over a year just to see the doctor, but the doctor here got me diagnosed and all medicated
up.”
Street Side Medics is now celebrating one year of its Nowra clinic and Bernie is celebrating with them, telling “everyone I can, everyone I can talk to” about the benefits of seeing the medical professionals who volunteer their time helping unhoused people access healthcare.
Doctor Christopher Darragh is one of the general practitioners who “immediately” volunteered when he learned about Street Side Medics, only to discover several younger colleagues had done the same.
“The funny thing was when I signed up, I just did it myself, and then when I rocked up to the training day I was already friends with six of the seven GPs,” he said.
“These were people who all shared the same values, who I knew really well, and I was like, ‘Cool, I’m in the right place’.
“The idea is to provide as much help as possible, because that’s the job: do as much good as we can, show people they have value and that they deserve healthcare.”
Street Side Medics doesn’t prescribe any “heavy-duty drugs” and Dr Darragh said most of the problems they see week to week are things like injections, skin lesions, broken bones and longerterm problems such as heart conditions requiring ongoing treatment.
“Talking to our demographic — the unhoused — the general message is we’re not assholes,” he said.
“We’re not judgy. We’re not looking to cause any kind of trouble, we just want to help and if you need us, we’re here.”
The first anniversary of the Nowra clinic is “very exciting” for Clinical Nurse Lead Kate Webb, who Bernie credits as the reason he keeps coming back and staying on top of his
medical appointments.
“It has been amazingly successful and because of our success here in Nowra as the first daytime clinic, Street Side Medics has been able to open three more daytime clinics — two more here in New South Wales and one in Victoria,” Webb said.
“We’re really proud to show that it is doable and that it’s important to put clinics in regional areas.”
Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of the world, Webb said it can be easy for those living in the region to forget many people are still doing it tough, with most of their clients aged between 25 and 43.
“I was able to take part in the Illawarra Homeless Count earlier this year with the Department of Communities and Justice, with the purpose of providing real-time information on those doing it rough on the streets,” Webb
said.
“Hopefully, with the numbers showing higher this year, that will enable more funding to come down this way.”
With Kiama and Gerringong included in the street counts for the first time, Webb said key areas identified included the Minnamurra tunnels, bushland camps and a high number of young people sleeping in cars.
Funding remains one of the most challenging aspects of running Street Side Medics, with one van currently shared between Nowra and Wollongong thanks to an initial grant from COORDINARE — the South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network.
Other funding has come from unexpected places, including a young terminally ill man who saw a story about Street Side Medics on the
news and asked his mother to donate part of his estate after he passed away.
“Through that we were able to get another clinic set up in Geelong thanks to his funding of $300,000,” Webb said.
“That generosity is just incredible.”
From nurses and drivers to doctors and administrators, the volunteer team hopes another funding miracle may help launch a third service in Port Kembla, which they say is “greatly in need”.
“For everyone else, you can help too,” Dr Darragh said.
“That’s not necessarily by donating time or money to us, but by remembering that the people you’re looking at on the street are humans too.”
For Bernie Goodwin, he knows the power of being valued can change a life — because it changed his.
“It’s not just medication.
One of the nurses here helped my mate get his dog neutered
and registered because she knew a vet,” he said, tugging thoughtfully on his Rabbitohs jersey.
“They remind me about appointments, helped me out with an Opal card and everything so I’ve got transport … Mate, come and see them, come and visit them and don’t be scared.
“At first, that can be the hardest part, but once you do you’ll be so f*cking glad you did.”
The Bugle reached out to Kiama Council for comment on the issue. Council responded by saying its role is primarily as a “referral service” to local support organisations and pointed to links on its website, including Illawarra Homelessness and Housing Services, Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra, and Southern Youth and Family Services.
Maria Lewis
Street Side Medics celebrate one year of the Nowra clinic
(L - R) Rob Lee, Maddy Von Glildes, Kate Webb, Dr Christopher Darragh
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea brought warmth, generosity and a powerful sense of community spirit to Kiama on Thursday, as Cedar on Collins Retirement Community hosted its third annual fundraising event at The Pavilion. With 90 guests in attendance, the morning tea raised an impressive $5,200 for the Cancer Council, supporting all those impacted by cancer.
Drinks on arrival set a cheerful tone despite the chilly weather outside. Inside, guests
CEDAR ON COLLINS’ BIGGEST MORNING TEA
enjoyed a beautifully curated high tea featuring fresh scones with jam and cream, sweet treats, delicate sandwiches, and a selection of hot pastries. Tea and coffee flowed as freely as the conversations and connections.
DJ Lee Cordner from Kiama Community Radio kept spirits high with music that encouraged laughter, bidding wars and even a few dance floor moments.
Cedar on Collins Community Manager Laura Hooper said the event once again showcased the strength and compassion of the local community. “It’s been a wonderful morning tea raising
awareness and funds for the Cancer Council. We’re so proud that Cedar on Collins can host this annual event and bring our community together for such an important cause.”
The morning featured several special guests, including Ms Katelin McInerney, MP (Labor) and Serene Copley, MP (Liberal), who joined residents and visitors in supporting the cause. Guest speakers included Kylie Moffitt, founder of CanConquer – Lymphatic & Cancer Rehab, shared insights into the role of exercise in cancer treatment. “At the clinic what we see first-hand is so many changes on multiple
levels…They're a bit more energetic, psychologically, emotionally as well. When you've been diagnosed with cancer, you get put on this roller coaster…this is a way of taking back control.”
She also expressed hope that exercise will one day be embedded into standard cancer treatment plans.
Also taking the stage was Rita Sullivan, well known in Kiama for her 20 years of running Knickerboxers, a service combining clinical knowledge with warm, personalised service to help women look and feel their best after breast cancer treatment. Reflecting on her years of
service, she shared, “It became more than a shop… it was very much a safe place for them to be.”
In a deeply moving moment, MC Bernie Hems shared her own recent diagnosis, saying:
“From presenting [this event] last year to presenting this year, my experience of cancer has really grown… when you're surrounded by people that care, it really makes a big difference.” Her honesty and vulnerability brought a renewed sense of solidarity to the room.
The event was made possible thanks to the generosity of local sponsors, including Endota Spa, Kiama Leagues
As guests departed, it was evident that the event’s success was more than just about fundraising. Belinda Edwards, General Manager of Retirement Living at Fresh Hope Communities summed it up, “These moments remind us of the true power of community and its innate ability to help carry us through life’s hardest seasons.”
Nikki Sealey
Club, Dovida Home Care, The Sea and Beau, Keith Borland, Tiny Homes Joadja, Billy Jo Fashion, Silica Restaurant and Indigo Rose Home Living. Their donated items helped drive enthusiastic bidding and contributed significantly to the fundraising total.
Free milk and inkwells
Mark Emery
Gerringong Public School is having its 150th anniversary this year. I know lots of people will be talking about their experiences during their time at the school and I would like to list a few of my memories.
Catching a bus to and from school had a few difficulties.
The bus had to take the students to Gerringong and then carry on to take the High School aged students onto Kiama High School. This meant that I had to catch the bus at Gerroa quite early.
We also had to wait for quite a while after school for the bus from Kiama HS to arrive to pick us up and take us home. A teacher was, of course, on duty to look after us. One teacher would have a ‘talent quest’ with students performing a song, skit, etc. to entertain the tribe and use up time.
My favourite one was performing an old Johnny Horton song on a record my brother had, ‘Sink the Bismarck’. The memory of it makes me embarrassed to this day.
The school was where a
Kiama LGA Matters
Minister for Small Business Janelle
Saffin dropped into Kiama Community Radio (KCR) last Wednesday morning alongside local MP Katelin McInerney for a relaxed chat with Gabriela Cabral as part of Gabi’s weekly program Living Local, airing Wednesday mornings at 9am.
park is now, and we had a back oval with a cricket pitch.
Houses are there now. Every recess and lunch a cricket game would go on in earnest. However, ‘Sir’ was also a keen cricketer and would join us.
We would always make sure that ‘Sir’ got into bat with only a minute or so till the bell.
Bowlers would always make sure that ‘Sir’ got juicy balls.
‘Well done, Sir’, ‘Great shot, Sir’, ‘You’re in form today, Sir’. Sometimes we might be 20 minutes late back to class.
One great memory most children at school have around the same time I was there, was the free milk. The government had the idea that children had to drink more milk. Free milk was provided, and we would line up to get our allocation. The best thing about Gerringong was that it came straight from the factory just down the road. Fresh and chilled. My wife, who grew up in Sydney, does not have such fond memories.
In Year 4 we used lead pencils. In the senior classes they used fountain pens. Fountain pens were a pen that had a nib on the end with a place to store ink. A student had an ink well on their desk. That is why old desks have a
hole at the top of the desk.
A student would dip the pen in the inkwell and write in the schoolbook. You would have blotting paper in the other hand to ‘mop up’ any drips. Naughty boys would carefully take a girl’s ponytails, if they sat at the desk in front of them, and dip the ends in the ink.
I was so looking forward to using fountain pens when I got to fifth class. Then somebody invented ball point pens and the fountain pens disappeared.
At the end of the year, we would have a school concert. Great plays were rehearsed in term 4 and a concert was performed next door in the Town Hall. One year I was a thief robbing Santa’s toy factory.
You you could order school lunches from Athol Noble’s up in the store opposite the church.I was allowed to order mine once a week on a Monday. The reason for this was that our bread had run out and we had to wait until the baker delivered it to a bread box outside our house sometime on Monday. The meat pies were wonderful. Gerringong PS would play rugby league games against
other schools in a carnival. Our jumper was just a blue colour, similar to Newtown. Sixth class was also the time when we went away to school camp. We went to a national fitness camp at Point Wollstonecraft. It was a load of fun. My best memory was learning how to throw a boomerang.
One thing I remember about teaching that is not a fond memory was twice a year having to write reports. These are huge efforts that take weeks to complete. Compare this to the single page report that we received at school. Teachers can only dream of something like this. Recently I put in some Gerringong PS photos. I found the names my mother had written out on the 1913 class. I also posted a picture of a 1945 class and asked if anybody knew who they were. I had a visit from a wonderful lady whose name I will not mention as she asked me not to. However, she is in the photo. She was able to name a lot of the members. I was quite impressed. If anybody else can fill in the blanks it would be most appreciated. Email news@ thebuglenews.com.au
threatened species.
Old school in Gerringong Tuned in: KCR
Edwin Humphries and Boni Maywald joined Bernie Hems for a discussion about the impact on residents of Council’s proposals for the future of Blue Haven Terralong. Movers and shakers
Journalist and KCR presenter Karen Lateo spoke with Gabriela Cabral about volunteering in Kiama and the fundraising she is undertaking for the Illawarra Pride Choir.
Rhys Dawson from Kiama Fire and Rescue spoke with Gabi about the brigade’s current volunteer recruitment drive. And Renee Green from Lifeline spoke with Gabi about the new Lifeline Op Shop opening soon on Terralong Street.
Expansion of National Park
In a recent community focused podcast discussion, the Gerroa Environmental Protection Society (GEPS) outlined its proposal to extend Seven Mile Beach National Park to provide greater protection for Coomonderry Swamp and the surrounding natural habitat of the endangered Greater Glider.
The proposal highlights growing concern for the conservation of this sensitive ecological area, with GEPS advocating for stronger protections to safeguard biodiversity and ensure the long term survival of
To encourage broader community engagement, GEPS also organised a public meeting inviting local residents to hear more about the proposal, share their views, and participate in discussions around the environmental and planning implications of the plan.
Take my word
Cam McConachie has begun podcasting back episodes of The Kiama Book Space, which he presents Friday mornings at 10.30am with Neil Reilly, Dianne Ellison, Karen Lateo, and until recently – Jane Parbury. Candy Andersen has also recorded the Friends of Kiama Library Author Talk featuring Candice Fox and Natasha Lester.
The shop around the corner
Michael Bowden spoke with Gabriela about Cin Cin, as well as his new business Assured Transport, as part of Gabi’s regular program The Shop Around the Corner, which promotes local businesses in partnership with the Kiama Business Network.
The way we were The Gerringong Historical Society recently held a special event celebrating 100 years since the original release of the Werri Estate. Listeners can hear an interview with Society President Geoff Webb, coverage of the official launch of the book Celebrating 100 Years Werri Beach – now available – as well as Geoff’s presentation to the Kiama Historical Society.
Stuart Richards presented to the Kiama Historical Society his proposal to install heritage plaques in the streets of Jamberoo, helping visitors and locals better understand the history of the area.
Winter camping hotspots
Amy Molloy
Camping doesn’t have to be a fair-weather holiday. With the winter school holidays rapidly approaching, these fuelfriendly locations will warm your bank balance without sacrificing adventure, fresh air or family fun.
Coolendel
A sustainable, family-friendly bush camp on the Shoalhaven River, one upside of Coolendel is that it’s campfire-friendly – a major bonus during winter camping. While the river might feel icy at this time of year, and the campsite owners warn people to take precautions, that doesn’t stop kids from floating down the river on inflatables and leaping off the “jump rock”. Or stay on land and be entertained by the wildlife, including peacocks and wombats. There are also glamping options and two cabins available.
(Book in advance to avoid disappointment.) www.coolendel.camp
Killalea Campground
Fifteen minutes from Kiama – so you can even camp overnight and still do the school run – campfires aren’t permitted in this National Park, but you still won’t get cold thanks to a recent facility makeover. A brandnew toilet and shower block – with showers arguably more powerful than yours back home – and a generous camp kitchen with plenty of barbecues make this spot comfortable, even in the offseason. Get too cold? You can always dash home for extra blankets. BYO hot toddy! nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
Holiday Haven Swan Lake
A favourite with our littlest Buglers because of the “double-decker” cabin option, you can choose to camp or book one of the “lake houses”.
(Check out their website
for off-peak school holiday deals.) Set in the tiny coastal hamlet of Cudmirrah, the holiday park sits on the edge of Swan Lake and is a short walk or cycle to the beach. Insider tip? It’s also home to some of the best sushi on the South Coast, served out of a caravan (yes, we know how that sounds) on the edge of the neighbouring caravan park. There’s a reason so many National Park rangers line up there at lunchtimes. islandsushi.com.au
NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Resort
If you’re willing to travel a little further, the NRMA beachfront resort in Murramarang National Park offers perks that make winter camping far more comfortable. The pool is heated, there’s an on-site restaurant, café and bar, plus a kids’ club with activities running every weekend to keep children occupied with games and craft. You can choose between
camping – with or without an ensuite bathroom – or a range of cabins and safari tents. Pack bikes for the kids or hire go-karts and zoom around the campsite, Mario-style. nrmaparksandresorts.com.au
Cave Beach Campground
A short hike-in campground located in Booderee National Park, the downside is coldwater showers. The upside? Campfires are generally permitted and there’s often a sizable pile of chopped wood for campers to use. (Or there was the last time we visited.) You’ll spot the return campers straight away – they’re the ones who’ve packed carts or trolleys to wheel their gear down the short descent to the campsite. You’ll need to carry your equipment about 300 metres from the car park, but the proximity to the beach, surf breaks and wildlife makes it worthwhile. Bookings are essential, rangers are roaming.booderee. gov.au
NRMA Murramarang Beachfrom Resort
Holiday Haven Swan Lake
The jump rock at Coolendel
NRMA Murramarang Beachfrom Resort
Coolendel campground
“Never bored”
Life lessons from 106-year-old
Gwen Wilson
Myah Garza
At the Gerringong Uniting Church hall on Monday, balloons, laughter and light purple cake filled the room as Gwen Wilson was celebrated ahead of her 106th birthday on June 7. The Probus Club gathering brought together friends and community members to honour a woman whose life spans more than a century and who, by her own account, is still far from slowing down.
When The Bugle attended Wilson’s 105th birthday the year prior, the hall was decorated in the same light purple, a colour she says is her favourite.
She explains it was originally her daughter’s favourite colour. After her daughter’s passing following a long battle with cancer, Wilson says it became her own and she thinks of her every day.
Wilson was the second of twin girls, a complete surprise for her parents. Her twin sister, Jeane, passed away in 2019.
Her husband David passed away in 2005, and her eldest daughter Judy in 2007.
Ask Wilson about the secret to longevity, and she doesn’t hesitate with grand theories or miracle cures.
“Eat good food,” she says simply. “And get plenty of exercise. I’ve always said that to my children and grandchildren.”
At 105, turning 106, Wilson still lives with a sense of structure and curiosity that fills her days, describing herself as “never bored”.
“I spend a lot of time in my room,” she says, “because I’ve got so many things to do.”
That includes crosswords, jigsaw puzzles on her iPad, word games to “keep the brain working,” and a steady rotation of library books.
At her peak, Wilson says she could read 100 pages a day. Even now, she is determined to return to that pace.
“I used to read the whole six library books in a month,” she says. “I’ll get back to it.”
Reading has long been central to her life. She still reads quickly, she says, “just not as fast as I used to.”
Alongside her collection of books, Wilson has always been “an outdoor person.”
Walking and hiking have been lifelong habits, and she credits her active lifestyle for keeping her well.
“I like walking and going for a hike sometimes,” she says. “I don’t go in the sun now, but I used to every day.”
Born in Summer Hill, a suburb of Sydney, her path to Gerringong was almost accidental.
“We came to look at my ex-fiancé’s brother’s holiday cottage here,” she recalls. “And we all found ourselves here.”
What was meant to be a holiday in 1957 became home.
In those early years, Wilson and her husband David bought a block of land at Werri Beach and built a weekender, spending many holidays there with their children. Both couples later became foundation members of the Gerringong Bowling Club.
When David retired in 1976, the couple built their retirement home in the community they had come to love.
Sport and social connection also shaped her decades. Wilson once surfed, and later took up golf, then balls, playing competitions with her husband.
“We played a lot of competitions,” she says.
Now, as she approaches 106, Wilson’s days are quieter but still structured and engaged.
“I’m never bored,” she says. “I’ve got books to read, puzzles to do… I enjoy the rest.”
Asked what advice she would give younger generations, Wilson returns again to simple fundamentals: movement and food.
“Get plenty of exercise,” she says. “Even just going for a walk. Step out. It’s as simple as it is.”
Gratitude also carries Wilson through her days.
“I’ve been lucky,” she says.
“I’ve been very lucky.”
For a woman who has lived through more than a century of change, relationships and shifting eras of technology, Gwen Wilson’s philosophy remains disarmingly simple: keep moving, keep thinking, and keep going.
Wilson will celebrate her 106th birthday with family on June 7.
“Seeking help is a strength”
Landmark 10-year Men and Boy’s Health Strategy
Emily Crisp
The South Coast is all too familiar with the impact of mental health struggles for boys and men.
In 2020, seven people died by suicide in as many weeks, ranging from a 14-year-old boy to a father of two primary school students.
The scope of mental health related illness in the IllawarraShoalhaven district is consistently higher than NSW and national averages.
Due to Kiama’s proximity to the HMAS Albatross, and the high number of defence families in the area, many individuals and their families are impacted by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Historically, men and boys are less likely to see a doctor promptly, and to see psychologically support.
Now a new initiative, spearheaded by the NSW Liberals and Nationals, hopes to change all that.
Liberal candidate for Kiama Serena Copley has backed the NSW Liberals and Nationals commitment to introduce a dedicated 10-year Men and Boys Health Strategy, saying long-term action is needed to address rising mental health concerns and suicide rates in
regional communities.
The strategy will set clear targets for reducing male suicide, strengthen prevention and early intervention pathways, and improve access to services in regional and outer metropolitan communities.
Speaking with The Bugle, Ms Copley said the issue was deeply important across the region, particularly as many men still struggled to seek support or speak openly about mental health challenges.
“Too often, after a tragedy, we hear family and friends say, ‘I had no idea’ or ‘I didn’t know they felt that way’,” she said.
“This is especially true for many men, who can be reluctant to speak out or seek help.”
Ms Copley said financial pressures, relationship breakdowns and social isolation were among the most common concerns affecting men across the Kiama electorate.
“One of the most painful experiences can be losing time with their children, or children they have formed strong bonds with, after a relationship ends,” she said.
“These challenges can leave many men feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn for support.”
pressures facing boys and young men, including bullying, peer expectations and social media influences.
“As a community, we need to create an environment where people feel accepted for who they are, where seeking help is seen as a strength, and where no one feels they must suffer in silence,” she said.
The Opposition also committed to hosting a twoday Men’s Health Summit next year, bringing together health professionals, men and boy’s health organisations, researchers and men’s health advocates to help inform and shape the delivery of the Strategy.
Ms Copley said the aim was to create stronger intervention pathways and improve access to services before people reached crisis point.
“Having a ten-year strategy means we refuse to accept things as they are,” she said.
“It means committing to a better future for the boys and men in our community and recognising that lasting change requires long-term planning, investment, and action.”
The Liberal candidate also highlighted the role local grassroots organisations continue to play in supporting mental wellbeing across the
Walk, which began locally before expanding nationally.
“An initiative like The Man Walk literally provides the first step to feeling supported and is a safe and welcoming environment for men to feel connected to others in their community,” Ms Copley said.
“A casual walk provides both exercise and opportunity to share experiences, for others to get to know you and perhaps identify when something feels ‘off’ and reach out.”
Ms Copley also praised the work of SENTRAL Youth Services, describing early intervention services for young people as “critically important”.
“The issues facing young people, such as family breakdowns, homelessness, bullying, social isolation, substance abuse, and difficulty navigating education or employment pathways, can lead to lifelong disadvantage,” she said.
Ms Copley said smaller communities such as Kiama were often well placed to support mental health through strong volunteer networks and social connection.
“People are more likely to know their neighbours or have a work or sporting connection already, which makes people feel less isolated,” she said.
Gwen Wilson celebrating her 106th Birthday
Muddy, medieval fun for merry revellers
Berry Celtic Festival
Last year’s event may have been rained out, but in 2026 punters donned their gum boots, polished their swords and happily trudged through the mud to celebrate the Berry Celtic Festival.
Over 3,500 lovers of all things Celtic took over Berry Showgrounds, with historical re-enactments and horseback jousting keeping the crowd entertained across the Saturday.
For the Stanger family, it was their first time at an event like this with siblings Aalia, 6, and Oscar, 4, getting their knight costumes from Spotlight the day before.
“I think they’re having a hard time taking everything in,” laughed mum Divya.
“There’s just a lot for them to look at, it’s pretty great.”
It was also the first time at the festival for Andrew and Rebecca Bonanno, who run Ben Rean Highlands farm in Camden.
“We were supposed to come last year when it was washed out so this is our first time,” said Andrew.
“These kind of festivals didn’t used to be such a popular thing, then COVID happened and I think people were like ‘oh wow, look at this’.
“It snowballed and it’s great
The upcoming Kiama Winter Street Festival is set to transform Terralong Street into a vibrant winter celebration this July, with organisers emphasising accessibility and inclusion for all attendees.
Presented by Destination Kiama, the festival will feature a range of accessibility measures aimed at ensuring the event is welcoming to people of all ages and abilities. A dedicated Sensory Tent, delivered in partnership with Uniting, will be located on Terralong Street. The space will provide a quiet, supportive environment for attendees who may need a break from crowds or sensory stimulation. Water and shaded rest areas will also be available, with St John Ambulance on site to assist if required.
to get out there, meet new people and talk to them about the breed.”
With around 70 Highland Cows on their property, it was their young calf Benji who stole the show with kids and adults lining up to pat his signature ginger coat.
“Our daughter actually had an imaginary friend name Benji who had boogers, and he had boogers, so that’s where the name comes from,” Andrew said.
Bagpipes and the sound of weaponry firing fought for dominance as the day’s soundtrack, with hundreds of musicians making the journey including the Penrith RSL Pipes and Drums Band, who will be taking part in their own Highland Festival in Penrith on October 3.
“We’re a community band, so our youngest member is seven and our oldest member is in his late seventies,” said Secretary Stacey Christensen.
“We’re about seventy per cent veterans and are one of the newer bands, but we’re slowly growing this following of people who will pop up at events like this and ask for photos.”
Having played at Carols In The Domain this past December, Christensen said the Berry Celtic Festival was a great opportunity to play
Families will also be able to access the upgraded inclusive playground at Hindmarsh Park, which has been designed to support a range of physical and sensory needs.
Guide and assistance animals are welcome throughout the festival, and accessible parking is available via an online application process. Support is also offered through phone assistance and interpreter services via TIS National.
Organisers are encouraging the use of public transport where possible, with a free shuttle bus running from Kiama Leisure Centre. Limited parking will be managed by volunteers, with a small donation requested on entry. Road closures will be in place along Terralong Street between Collins and Shoalhaven Streets during the event.
alongside the likes of The NSW Police Pipe Band and The St George-Sutherland Pipe Band, which was formed way back in 1946.
One of the most popular items on the program was the Highland Muscle Games – often referred to as Heavy Events - where strong men and women compete in everything from tossing the caber and the hammer throw.
“This has been going on for hundreds and hundreds of years,” said Terry Sparkes, with the Berry Celtic Festival his eighth Heavy Event of the year so far.
“It’s what the clans used to do to put their best and strongest against each other.
“The clans would have gatherings, just like this,
at castles with games and dancing and Heavy Events.”
Coming from a background as a power lifter, Sparkes said the calibre of competitor at the Berry Celtic Festival was “as good as anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere”.
Dr Shona Gibson, event coordinator and Chieftan on the day, said it was great to see “all that hard work” pay off with such an impressive turn out.
what’s on?
What Holds Exhibition
Until 20 June
Seven Marks Gallery, Kiama
Exhibition by Isobel
Rayson
KidsFest lantern parade
Sat 30 May, 2pm-7pm
Shell Cove Marina
Festival for kids and families
Bundanon Make Good
Festival
Sat 30 May-Sun 31 May
Bundanon Art Museum
Featuring an inspiring lineup of artists, authors and doer
Providore Marketplace
Sun 31 May, 9am
Bundanon Art Museum
Tasting, selecting, and savouring an array of handmade, and crafted goods
Travel Focus Breakfast
Club
Wed 3 Jun, 8am
Travel Focus, Gerringong
Morning tea, coffee, and travel inspiration
Boots, Beats & BBQ
Fri 5 Jun- Sun 7 Jun, 7pm
Kiama Leagues Club
3 days of country music
Winter Wine Festival
Sat 6 Jun-Sun 7 Jun
Crooked River Estate
Two days of live music
Stay Weekend: Winter I
Sat 6 Jun-Sun 7 Jun
Bundanon Art Museum
Discover the magic of Bundanon, where art and nature collide in a breathtaking landscape
Felt Journeys
Exhibition and sales
Sat 6 Jun-Sun 7 Jun, 9am4pm
The Masonic Hall, Kiama By The illawarra
Feltmakers Inc
Kiama Red Cross Fun
Run
Sun 7 Jun, from 7am Kiama
3 distances to walk/run, fundraiser for Australian Red Cross
Vinyasa Yoga
Sun 7 Jun, 9am-10am
Boyd Education Centre, Illaroo
A morning Vinyasa Flow class to refresh body, mind and soul.
Worldwide Knit Day
exhibition
Sat 13 June
Blue Haven Terralong,
Kiama exhibit of locally handmade charity
blankets
Bundanon Built Architecture Tour
Sat 13 Jun, 11am
Bundanon Art Museum Tour of the awardwinning architecture
The Main Line Steam Train Family Fun Day Sun 14 Jun, 10am Illawarra Light Railway Museum
Annual opening day
Endless Taco Night at Bella Char
Thu 18 Jun, 5pm Bella Char, Gerringong Food and drinks served Vinnies CEO Sleepout Thu 18 Jun
Fundraiser for the homeless
Kiama Coastal Classic Sun 21 Jun, 7am Kiama
Run event with multiple distances for different levels of fitness
Christmas in July Sat 4 Jul, 5pm
Gerringong Co-op Festive dining, live classical music, and seasonal atmosphere Kiama I do Sat 4 Jul, 10am-2pm Kiama and surrounds Offering an inspiring showcase of wedding venues
Drop In Art Play – Six Days Thu 9 Jul-Wed 15 Jul, 10am-3pm Old Fire Station, Kiama Drop in, buy a canvas and paint
Sydney Hotshots
National Tour 2026 Fri 10 Jul, 7:30pm Kiama Leagues Club Girl’s night out Kiama Winter Street Festival Sat 11 Jul, 12pm-8pm Terralong St, Kiama Festival filled with art, music, dance, and workshops The Creative Business Summit Thu 30 July, 9:30am The Pavilion, Kiama One-day business conference
Kiama Rod Run 11 Sep-13 Sep Kiama
Maria Lewis
Myah Garza
Kiama Winter Street Festival
Lanterns on parade:
KidsFest returns to Shell Cove
Amy Molloy
On Saturday, 30 May, KidsFest @ The Marina returns to Shell Cove — part of the week-long KidsFest Shellharbour festival for children and families.
For the past 18 years, KidsFest has worked with local businesses, government and non-government organisations to host a vibrant, free, week-long festival for children aged 0–12 and their families and carers, promoting the Shellharbour LGA as a child-friendly community.
And the KidsFest event at the Marina is always a highlight.
Join Junkyard Rascals (who we’ve previously featured in The Bugle) for a play zone with a difference. Their loose-parts “junkyard” is an ever-changing space made up of 100 per cent recycled or second-hand items and natural materials. There’s also a “milk crate” circus drop
zone for kids to unleash their inner acrobat.
The culmination of the event is a lantern-making workshop from 2pm–4.30pm, followed by a lantern parade starting at 5.15pm.
“In 2026, as the world celebrates the United Nations International Year
of Volunteers, KidsFest Shellharbour celebrates the heart of our community — you,” says a KidsFest spokesperson.
“For 18 years, KidsFest has brought families together through creativity, inclusion and joy — and we’re proud to once again deliver a free
week-long festival across Shellharbour City from 24–30 May.
“Every event, every smile and every moment of delight is made possible by the helping hands and generous hearts of our volunteers, partners and community organisations.”
Werri Beach artists at Old Fire Station
Myah Garza
Agroup of Werri Beach artists will present a new exhibition at the Old Fire Station Gallery in Kiama from June 5–10.
The artists first came together in an unplanned way.
Meeting regularly while walking the Werri Beach walking track, conversations naturally turned to art and shared creative practice. Over time, those encounters developed into a collaborative exhibiting group, with members contributing to joint
talked to whoever’s walking in the same direction… and we worked out we all did art.”
The group now exhibits together regularly, with different combinations of artists taking part in each show depending on availability and venue. The upcoming Kiama exhibition features five artists.
“It’s whoever’s around at the time,” Suttonberg said.
The opportunity for members in the group to exhibit is an invitation that never closes.
Each exhibition is shaped collaboratively, both in planning and in the gallery itself, with artists bringing a
with it,” painter Carolyn McDonald explained. “If something doesn’t work in the space, we adjust it. We curate it together.”
The result is an exhibition that spans multiple mediums and approaches, reflecting both individual practice and a shared connection to place – often taking Gerringong’s natural beauty as inspiration.
McDonald has explored a variety of subject matter and media in her art practice. She uses contrast and simple lyrical lines in compositions that are often influenced by life on the coast and under the
with movement and the play of light.
Kay Dibley has been painting, drawing and using different mediums since high school. She attended classes in soft pastel, a medium that she loves, but currently she has been experimenting with acrylics and textural work. Kay enjoys the relaxation art gives her.
Photographer Peter Sutton captures and digitally transforms images ranging from underwater environments and natural landscapes to earlier figurative work, creating altered
just plain fancy,” Sutton says, “I think that my task is to entertain the viewer with my personal delight in the things I photograph and the stories suggested by those things.
As a Retired art teacher, Kerry Suttonberg says she has enjoyed spending time painting, drawing and printmaking in her home studio. Her subject matter is varied although she is very much influenced by the spectacular surroundings in which she lives.
While no single theme defines the exhibition, the artists say their work is
theme,” Suttonberg said, “but this exhibition is really about what we’ve each been working on recently.”
The group also shares responsibilities across exhibitions, from installation to gallery sitting, allowing each artist more time to focus on their practice while still engaging directly with the public.
“If you have an exhibition on your own, you’re sitting in a space for days by yourself,” one said. “This way we share the space, the costs and the duties.”
The Werri Beach Artists
Kerry SuttonbergPeter Sutton
Elizabeth O’Donoghue
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KNIGHTS, LIONS BACK IN WINNERS CIRCLE
Lleyton Hughes
After facing setbacks in round six, the Kiama Knights and Gerringong Lions both recorded big wins over the weekend.
The Knights faced the Berry Magpies in wet conditions at home after their 12-12 draw in a grand final rematch against the Shellharbour Sharks last weekend.
Kiama struck early in the seventh minute with a set play ending in a try to centre Jack McDonald.
But a loose carry from the kickoff gave the Magpies a
perfect opportunity to hit back and they took full advantage, with McDonald’s opposite centre Ned Cooper crossing at the other end
Leading only 6-4, the Knights endured a nervous few minutes until winger Tom Atkins muscled his way over to extend the lead.
Before halftime, Matt Nicholson shrugged off a Magpie defender to score, before Josh Hitchens ran a strong line off Vazzoler to give the Knights a 24-6 lead after Berry closed the half with a penalty goal.
The second half belonged to Knights hooker Daniel Martin
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who, only a couple of games back from injury, scored three consecutive tries to seal the match for Kiama.
“He’s always one of our best,” fullback Brad Killmore said. “But rarely does that get reflected on the scoresheet, so it was great to see him get three.
“Two of them were just him staying alive and always backing up his teammates, and that’s a credit to the fact he never switches off.”
A late try to centre Kye Deane capped off the match for Kiama, which finished with a 48-6 win.
“It was a good hit-out,”
Killmore said. “A bit messy with the weather, but we’re very happy with how the boys went.
“We also had a lot of players out for various reasons, so people were playing out of position, but everyone did their job well and it was so good to be back in the winners circle.”
The Lions suffered their first setback of the season last week in a 22-14 loss to the Albion Park Oak Flats Eagles, which cost them top spot on the ladder.
But their round seven clash against Jamberoo couldn’t have started better, with the
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Superoos ruled offside from the opening kickoff to hand Gerringong an attacking set in the opening minute.
Moments later, a brilliant Wes Pring cut-out pass put Lions winger Wyland Hall over in the corner.
The score remained 4-0 to Gerringong until the 27th minute when the Superoos attacked the short side and crossed through Ben McIntyre to take a 6-4 lead.
The advantage was shortlived though, as minutes later a Wes Pring line break led to Hall’s second try to make it 10-6 heading into halftime.
Like Kiama, Gerringong
dominated the second half, scoring through centre Tyrell Taione in the 47th minute to make it 14-6.
A scare in the 58th minute through a disallowed Jamberoo try quickly turned into an attacking opportunity as Gerringong pounced on a loose ball and went the length of the field to score through Tyler Dolenc.
Further tries to Pring and Beau Doosey sealed a convincing 26-6 victory for the Lions.
The two teams now sit second and third on the Group 7 ladder as the season reaches its midpoint.
The Knights are back in the winners circle this week. Photo Kiama Knights
Figtree spoils Power’s Families Day
Lleyton Hughes
The Kiama Power men’s and women’s premier division sides both suffered losses to Figtree over the weekend.
The men’s side recorded only its second loss of the season against the Kangaroos, who currently sit second on the AFL South Coast ladder.
Figtree took the lead early, but the Power fought back to take a seven-point advantage into halftime.
However, the visitors proved too strong in the second half, with the Kangaroos running out 51-42 winners.
“It was a tough contest,”
coach Sean Byrne said. “It was great to test ourselves against Figtree, a club we’ve got a lot of respect for.
“I thought we were up for the challenge all day, but unfortunately we didn’t make the most of our opportunities in front of goal.”
Byrne praised the efforts of several younger players, including debutant Jamison Lynn.
“It was really pleasing to see the growth of some of our younger players, with Ollie Baget and Kade Overdon continuing to develop strongly in a short period of time,” Byrne said.
“They were well supported by Dan Freeman, who’s
putting together a terrific season, and Nash Graham, who played his best game so far. Jamison Lynn was also huge behind the ball in his debut game.”
The women’s premier division side also fell short against Figtree, going down 28-14
The result marks the Power’s fourth consecutive loss as the side remains winless in 2026.
In contrast, both reserve grade teams recorded dominant wins, with the men winning by 105 points and the women by 48, conceding just one point.
Both reserve grade sides now have only one loss each for the 2026 season.
Families Day featured all four grades playing at Bonaire Oval as the club raised funds and awareness for Heart Research Australia in memory of Kiama Power life member Darren Williams.
“Families Day was a special occasion for the club, with a huge turnout in support of Heart Research Australia,” Byrne said. “The support around the ground showed what community footy is all about.”
This week, the Power’s men’s and women’s premier division sides will travel to face the Wollongong Lions, while the reserve grade teams will take on Bay and Basin, also away from home.
Police City vs Country clash coming to Gerringong
Lleyton Hughes
Some of the state’s best police rugby league players will head to the Kiama LGA next week when Gerringong hosts the annual NSW Police Rugby League City vs Country clash.
The annual fixture sees players selected from the NSW Police Rugby League competitions represent either City or Country based on where they attended high school.
NSW Police Rugby League vice president Stephen Wilson said the concept gives officers a chance to step away from work while representing the communities they grew up in.
“It’s an opportunity for police officers to get away from work and also play football representing the places they grew up,” he said.
“We also take the game to country areas so we get to see different parts of New South
Wales and this year we’ve decided to base ourselves in the Kiama and Gerringong area.”
Wilson said the competition has been running for around 50 years, while the City vs Country matches themselves have been held on and off for more than two decades.
The matches also act as selection trials for the NSW
Police representative teams, with standout players to be chosen to face Queensland later this year.
“From that game we’ll pick a men’s and women’s NSW team to play against Queensland in the interstate series on the Gold Coast in July,” Wilson said.
The event will also feature local representation, with
former Kiama High School student and current Kiama Knights player Tom Murray named on the wing for the Country side.
Now based in Sydney and working in the Eastern Suburbs, Murray will return home to play in front of a local crowd at Mick Cronin Oval.
“A lot of officers move from their hometowns to work in the Sydney metro area, so it’s great that players still get the chance to represent and take pride in where they grew up,” Wilson said.
Country enters the men’s clash chasing a fourth straight win, while City claimed last year’s women’s match.
The games are open to the public, with spectators encouraged to head down and support the players.
The women’s match will kick off at 10am on Wednesday, June 3, before the men’s clash at 11:30am, with both games to be played at Mick Cronin Oval.
Kiama Golf Club welcomes new golfing Gunn
Lleyton Hughes
Kiama Golf Club’s new club professional Will Gunn has already travelled the world through golf, but says the South Coast feels like the perfect place to settle down.
Originally from Port Macquarie, Gunn recently took over the role at Kiama after spending time working at clubs across Australia and overseas, including several years coaching in Canada.
Gunn said golf had taken him to some incredible places since beginning his traineeship in 2012.
“I grew up in Port Macquarie and played all my junior golf there before doing my traineeship,” he said.
“I was fortunate enough to move to Canada in 2017 and worked at a couple of Vancouver city-run courses, Langara and Fraserview.
“I coached at the Fraserview Golf Academy for a few years which was a great experience. I’ve even got videos of myself giving lessons in the pouring snow.”
After returning to Australia during COVID, Gunn worked at Ashgrove in Brisbane before most recently spending several years at Forbes Golf Club in regional NSW.
“Forbes was a great little country course and a really good community,” he said.
“I love country people, they’re very down to earth, and it was great being able to support country golf out there.”
Now settling into life at Kiama, Gunn said he was
excited by what the club has to offer both competitively and socially.
“We’ve got a really busy period coming up,” he said.
“The Kiama Open is coming up and there’s plenty of strong local players to watch including Bo Fraser, Braden Taylor and some exciting juniors like Archie Hollins and Ash Duncan.”
The club will also soon host its ladies championships and men’s foursomes championships as part of a packed calendar heading into winter.
Away from tournaments, Gunn said he was looking forward to expanding the club’s coaching opportunities.
A fully qualified coach, Gunn plans to introduce more lesson availability as well as junior and ladies clinics in the near future.
“We’ll definitely be looking at junior classes and ladies classes moving forward,” he said.
“There’s already a really strong ladies membership here which is great to see.” Gunn also praised the club’s progressive culture, including its female club captain.
“At Ashgrove we also had a female captain, so it’s good to see clubs continuing to move in that direction,” he said.
Having grown up on the coast himself, Gunn said Kiama already feels like home.
“My partner and I both wanted to get back to living near the coast,” he said.
“I can’t think of a better place to do that than Kiama, so hopefully we’ll be here for a while.”
Kiama Powers premier division side suffered their second loss of the season on the weekend.
Photo: Kiama Power
Kiama’s Tom Murray playing in the Wombats vs Sea Eagles police rugby league match. Photo NSW Police Rugby League
KIAMA JFCUNDER 16 SOCCER
KIAMA DOWNS IRB PREMIERSHIP ROUND 1
Local shredders put
It was a bad day to be anyone who wasn’t a shredder from Kiama, with local girls Alice Hodgson and Ruby Neill taking out the 2026 VW State Classic in Coffs Harbour last weekend.
Both members of the Jones Beach Boardriders, the duo competed as a team to win first place for Illawarra Sports High in the Senior Girls Division, which saw surfers from high schools across New South Wales face-off against each other in team and individual events.
“We’re kinda the underdogs,” said Hodgson, 17.
“The Gold Coast gets all
the accolades, they’re all noticed, but there’s so many girls around here that go surf big, slabby waves. I think it’s so good to show that we can do what other people can do without help.”
“We don’t need sponsors, we just need to surf.”
And surf is what they had, with what Neill called “big and challenging waves” keeping the conditions unpredictable with a large chunk of heat times spent on the paddle out.
“There’s some really good girl surfers in the competition, they all rip, so me and Alice knew it was going to be hard to win,” said Neill, who at 13 was one of the youngest competitors.
“But I have the best time competing with her, she’s such a great person to compete with and learn from.
“She has more years doing this than I have, so she has a lot more knowledge and she just brings a really good vibe and helps me stay calm.”
Focusing on wave selection and going in without too much expectation were key strategies for the girls, with Hodgson blown away by Neill stepping up an age group to compete in waves that she joked were “probably nearly triple overhead for Ruby”.
“It’s so reassuring to have someone else in the line-up
with you who’s on your team, who’s not aggressive and can be kind and humble,” she said.
“I try to step up a bit and be a good role model, think about how I would look up to someone when I was surfing at 12 or 13 like them and who I would want to surf alongside.”
It has been a huge year for Hodgson, who has been undoubtedly one of the most dominant female surfers in the country with back-to-back wins at the Parko Junior Pro and becoming the first female to win the annual Jones Beach Boardriders comp in their 43year history.
“I’ve been doing it my whole life and I don’t have a sponsor yet,” she said.
“And I think that’s partly because we live so far away from all that commotion.
“It’s just you, the waves, and your friends here.”
How much longer they’ll remain off the radar though is up for debate, with the South Coast girls rapidly becoming ones to watch with Neill also shouting out fellow Jones Beach Boardriders competitor Lani Carncross who competed for Warilla High School at the state champs.
“Our whole club is killing it at the moment, there’s so many kids who are surfing so well and there were so many kids up at state,” said Neill.
“It’s so good to see the club
grow and succeed. I think people are paying attention to what we’re doing down here … or I hope they are.”
Local surfers Ruby Neill and Alice Hodgson
Photo : Brian Scott