Deb’s legacy of love
is a true work of art
John Stapleton
Walk into Number 19 Gallery in Jamberoo, and one of the first things you spot is a collection of vibrantly coloured paintings instantly evocative of the South Coast.
Behind that flash of colour lies a remarkable story of talent, triumph, love and loss.
Painter Deborah Chisholm passed away on 15 December.
She leaves behind a griefstricken husband, Ross, who mists up multiple times a day and says little beyond: “I miss her so much. She was such a talented person.
“She loved this place, the cows, the horses, the lyrebirds, the blue wrens. We have blue wrens everywhere. She was inspired.”
A flyer for her 2024 exhibition at Fern Street Gallery in Gerringong, before her cancer diagnosis, declared: “Colours pop and fizz, and patterns cleverly emerge, layer upon layer, like Russian nesting dolls, suggesting the grandeur of everyday existence built upon the microscopic framework of life itself.”
Deb described her creative process: “Suddenly I’ll visualise a painting, its colours and patterns. The South Coast is truly my haven – the green hills, the bird life, the vastness of the ocean –all hold a powerful artistic potency.”
Their beautiful house up on Fountaindale Road edges the local rainforest known as The Brush, a remnant of the region's lush temperate rainforest.
Each evening, the loved-
up couple sat at a table in the garden, admiring the Jamberoo Valley view with a glass of wine.
“It was unreal,” Ross recalls. “Just the two of us and the dog. You couldn’t get any life any better.”
New arrivals in Jamberoo since moving into their forever home in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, both professionals from the Sutherland Shire – Ross an engineer, Deb a graphic designer with her own business, they named their new home Omaroo, an Indigenous word meaning “beautiful view”. It was their retirement dream.
They poured money, love and effort into remodelling gardens and lawns.
The house brims with Deb’s paintings. Prints sell well in Allowrie Street, but Ross will never part with the originals.
Covid isolation deepened their bond, sparking Deb’s artistic renaissance. After decades as a graphic artist, she turned to vivid paintings of South Coast landscapes.
Their dreams were shattered on 24 August 2024 with her diagnosis of aggressive brain cancer and she was given six months to live.
Surgery left her severely disabled - Ross became her full-time carer. Early efforts to get help from the NDIS frustrated him deeply, leaving him with the conviction that the scheme is heavily rorted and in urgent need of reform.
Often unwell, she painted one-handed; her studio holds half-completed works.
After 14 years together, they married on 1 January 2025. “It
was a perfect day,” Ross recalls. They knew it couldn’t last.
Loss echoes everywhere: an unused pizza oven on the back lawns, an unused, covered spa, a brand-new Porsche SUV driven only once - to bring Deb home from hospital. She wanted to die at home, but illness returned her to hospital for her final weeks. Her last wish: Ross by her side at the end.
He missed the moment by five minutes. Telling the story, he chokes up again. A terrible regret.
Artistic to the end, Deb left a final card in elegant script with a splash of colour on the cover:
“Dear husband, my soulmate, my rock.
“I am so glad we found each other! We’ve had plenty of fantastic times away overseas and not only that at home spending time together and enjoying life.
“You have given me more than I could ever ask for in dedication and devotion in looking after me through thick and thin, and I am eternally grateful for your support.
“Even though you can’t see me, I will always be hanging around sitting next to you on the chair looking over the beautiful valley. My spirit will be mingled with the mist rising from the valley. It will be in the song of the lyrebird singing to you melodies from the bush. It will be the rustling of the wind through the trees.
“Just talk to me. I will hear you. I may not answer but just know I can hear you.
“Be brave and soldier on. And I love you more than you could ever know.”
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Back Inn to the future
Paul Suttor
The Kiama Inn Hotel is set to go back to the future with plans to install a new steel balcony which will sweep around the corner of Terralong and Shoalhaven Streets.
When the local landmark was built in the late 1800s it had a wrought-iron verandah with 13 posts dotted around the footpath on the corner.
Kiama Inn has lodged a development application with Kiama Council, which is on a 28-day public exhibition period until 18 February.
The $990,000 upgrade to the hotel also includes the installation of a new lift to cater for all floors and moving the gaming room to the covered barbecue area in the south-eastern part of the hotel.
If approved, the balcony will encroach on Council land but that is unlikely to be a conflict of interest issue.
Kiama Council’s Director of Strategies and Communities, Ed Paterson, said they were seeking community feedback
about the retro design.
“Reinstatement of the double hung verandahs is something that the Kiama Town Centre Study and Development Control Plan certainly encourages,” he said.
“We've just got to work through the finer detail.”
As far as a potential conflict of interest, under the Planning Act, whenever a DA is lodged that includes Council land, or involves an employee or a Councilor, Council is required to hold an extended notification period and submit declaration to say how they will manage the conflict.
The site was initially home to the Fermanagh Hotel, which was built by James Barton in 1849, before the two-storey wooden structure was demolished and replaced four decades later by George Tory, who built a three-story masonry hotel.
Tory’s Hotel included 60 rooms and wrought-iron lattice verandah in the late Victorian era architectural style.
Architect Peter Jay, in his submission to Council, wrote that the proposed development would be beneficial without detracting from the hotel’s historical significance.
“The proposed new gaming room, lift, and balcony at the Kiama Inn Hotel, which involves relocating the existing gaming by converting an existing covered BBQ area, the provision of a new balcony and lift, and associated works, will have no adverse impact on its established heritage significance.
Kiama Council has also reached an agreement with Sydney-based developer Level 33 over the proposed Elan development at Burroul Street which overlooks Surf Beach. Level 33 initially lodged a DA for a four-storey development with 15 housing units before requesting an additional level with five more residences.
“Rather than it being a separate standalone DA it was a new development application that sought to amend the approved development application and we were seeking legal advice around purely the mechanics of how that worked,” Paterson explained. “The applicant took the matter to court on a deemed refusal and that was the only contention Council had - just around the mechanics of that process working and through mediation, that was very quickly resolved at little to no expense to both parties.”
The NSW Government changed the height controls as part of its low-mid rise reforms and Elan fits the criteria for a five-storey development as an R3 zone piece of land as it is just within 800 metres of the town centre.
The developer, which is also building the controversial Akuna St eight-storey building, took the matter to the Land and Environment Court and after a conciliation conference, the two parties agreed to a modified plan which will allow for the extra five units on the fifth floor.
Council asked for fireworks guarantee
Destination Kiama is getting in early and calling on Kiama Council to guarantee that the New Year’s Eve fireworks display will be reinstated this year. The Tourism and Economic Advisory Committee met recently and resolved to request Council to ensure that $94,000 in funding is allocated to deliver the Sky Show in the 2026-27 budget.
TEAC chair Matt Brown said TEAC voted “unanimously and emphatically” for the immediate return of the fireworks display after describing Kiama as a ghost town on New Year’s Eve after Council’s decision to cancel the event due to the financial
constraints brought about by the NSW Governmentimposed Performance Improvement Order.
“All members are wanting to see the re-introduction of the New Year's Eve fireworks and Sky Show,” he said.
“Destination Kiama moved a motion requesting Council put fireworks in its upcoming budget for the next financial year.
“We do not want to go through another New Year's Eve where our streets are empty and a lot of the shops are empty as well. New Year's Eve fireworks in Kiama is an institution - many local families look forward to it and plan around it.
“They love having fireworks in their own backyard. It saves them from travelling outside
the area and of course it attracts a lot of visitors as well.
“I'm looking forward to putting this motion in front of my fellow Councillors and working out a way so we can find money in the upcoming budget to ensure that this tradition continues well into the future.”
Cr Brown said he had been inundated with robust feedback from locals over the lack of atmosphere in the town on New Year’s Eve without the fireworks.
“Whether I'm at a local coffee shop or doing my surf patrols, the feedback is very strong in people’s disappointment that this year there were no fireworks,” he said.
“The sad thing is when we didn't deliver fireworks,
Wollongong spent extra effort promoting their fireworks and we also had a lot of rogue fireworks getting set off around the local area, which is just unsafe.
“I believe that is a result of us not providing the fireworks that we usually do.
“Our New Year's Eve fireworks is the biggest event in Kiama by a long shot. It attracts close to 20,000 people and more than half of them are local residents.
“Our local fireworks are a complete community event. For instance, Jamberoo Rural Fire Brigade manage the parking at the Leisure Centre and people donate to them.
“The last couple of years we've had local surf clubs use the fireworks to sell raffle tickets and to raise funds for
much-needed life-saving equipment.
“This event is more than simply a 9 o'clock fireworks. It is a significant community gathering. A lot of these things you can't measure but if they're not there you certainly feel the disappointment.”
Councillors Yasmin Tatrai and Erica Warren are also set to enter motions regarding plans for New Year’s Eve fireworks at the 17 February meeting which could be superseded by TEAC’s proposal.
TEAC is not in favour of organising a ticketed event for the Sky Show due to the location of the event at Black Beach.
“We understand that this is a large expense and we're looking forward to sponsorships from local
businesses and contributions from businesses to mitigate the cost to Council,” Cr Brown added.
Kiama businesswoman
Anne-Marie Esler has recently joined TEAC as Kiama Business Network’s representative, replacing KBN president Cathryn Lyall with Cr Warren and local businessman Ryan Rievely also leaving the committee.
“We welcome AnneMarie Esla as a new board member on Destination Kiama and I certainly valued her contribution in her first meeting,” Brown said.
“And I'd like to thank Cathy Lyall, Ryan Rieveley and Councillor Warren for the contributions they made to Destination Kiama over the past year.”
Paul Suttor
Tory’s Hotel in 1890.
Jerrara’s four-legged therapists
Ihorses are doing something no doctor could: helping a non-verbal child find his voice.
Disabled Association (RDA) Illawarra Centre, the air is still, but the impact is profound. It’s a place where "magic moments" are part of the weekly schedule, and where the bond between a horse and a human transcends the need for words.
dedicating their time at the site, the reward isn’t in a pay cheque – it’s in the giggles and breakthroughs.
Horsing around is a lifeline for families
nothing to do with it for three
The centre has three riders on Tuesdays and Saturdays, but the need for help is constant. Because some riders require up to three volunteers at once – one to lead and two to "sidewalk" for safety – the program's capacity is entirely dependent on community hands.
legend at the centre involves a young boy, a grey pony named Chloe, and a father who just wanted to hear his son’s voice. into a slow trot down the lane," RDA secretary Carmen Power recalled, the emotion still evident in her voice. "Suddenly, the dad was in tears. He hadn’t heard his son speak – and there he was, shouting: ‘More! More!’ I still come out of here with goosebumps. That’s why we do it."
While these moments feel like magic, they are backed by significant clinical evidence.
Equine therapy is increasingly recognised as a multimodal intervention that uses the horse to enhance core impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Research shows the horse's rhythmic movement improves social communication, sensory processing and emotional regulation.
For children with Cerebral Palsy, the benefits are equally striking. Because a horse’s walking gait mimics the human pelvis’s natural movement, riding helps improve trunk posture, muscle tone and gross motor function.
Archie Taylor-Wright, 9, has
riding is like three hours of physiotherapy," explained coach and committee member Kerry Southwell. "They use muscles in the saddle that a physio can’t even touch."
The "therapists" here have four legs and a lot of patience. The centre cares for nine horses, including Bluey, a little grey pony who "clicked" with 13-year-old rider Carter, and Tricky, an impeccable thoroughbred who, despite her racing pedigree, is "the biggest sook you’ve ever seen".
"She’s the laziest thoroughbred we’ve ever come across," laughed Power. "She doesn't even walk; she mopes. If you could piggyback her, she’d be happy. But put a rider on her, and she never puts a foot wrong. She counterbalances them. If they start slipping to one side, she’ll walk across to keep them centred … It’s like a switch goes off."
For parents, the RDA is more than an extracurricular; it’s a lifeline. For Carter, who is on the spectrum, the rhythm of the horse provides emotional regulation that lasts all week.
up and give a speech about RDA to his entire school at the end of Year 6, a tremendous milestone Tenele attributes to his time in the saddle.
The breakthroughs aren't limited to school speeches. Carmen recalled a rider with CP who arrived using a walker and struggled to move across the grass.
"He needed two sidewalkers just to keep him on the pony. But after a while, he gained so much strength and balance that we were just there for support – not to hold him up. He was doing it himself."
Assistant coach and mother Justine Proksch shared a similar journey with her son, Luke Vanduin, 34.
"He was so shy, a late walker. We put him on a pony when he was barely two.
He couldn't walk at the time, but he could sit up. You can't pedal a push-bike when you can't walk, but suddenly, here he was on a pony, grinning like a Cheshire Cat. For his fifth birthday, all he wanted was pony rides for his friends."
The centre is kept alive by a crew of dedicated South Coast locals. Some, dubbed the "farm boys," have been volunteering for over 33 years. They arrive at the crack of dawn to drive the old tractor, slash the paddocks, and repair fences damaged by the notorious Jerrara natural springs.
"I became involved 33 years ago and I’m still here doing farm boy work," volunteer Norm Power said. "I liked it that much I just had to come back."
Despite these outcomes, the Jerrara centre does not receive government funding. It relies on lesson fees – which at $30 barely cover electricity and water –and "miracle" donations.
A few years ago, the Parliament House Cricket Club donated $10,000 to replace an ageing, 25-year-old wooden arena.
"We got a brand-new, spickand-span arena, and then COVID hit," Kerry said. "We had this beautiful arena and
"You don't need to be a horse expert," the team stresses. "We’ve had 'horse virgins' come in who didn't know how to do up a bridle, and now they’re part of the furniture."
If you’re a local looking to make a difference, Jerrara’s best-kept secret is waiting for you. Volunteers are always wanted and encouraged to help support the riders and the nine very patient horses that call this valley home. Contact RDA Illawarra via their website at rdansw.org.au or visit their Facebook page to enquire about volunteering or riding placements.
Myah Garza
The RDA family at Jerrara and, below, Archie with Bluey. Photos: The Bugle
Kells back on board to give Rugby Sevens a kick-along
Kells is continuing its tradition of giving back to the community by returning as the major sponsor of the Kiama Rugby Sevens for the fourth year in a row. And they will be on board for the next two as well. The 54th annual tournament will be held at Kiama Showground on Saturday, 28 February, starting from 8am with 44 teams coming from far and wide to compete.
Kells has been in Kiama since April 2020 after acquiring Martin & Holmes Legal, becoming the sixth office for the law firm throughout the Illawarra and Sydney regions. Martin & Holmes Legal had
operated out of the Kiama area for over 20 years and Hatfield said the acquisition by Kells was a smooth process due to the aligned values and the synergies of each firm. It was a tricky time to set up
the Kiama office given the start of the COVID-19 pandemic but Kells negotiated their way through the turbulent period to establish a foothold.
Kells were initially located at offices on Terralong Street before moving in mid 2024 to their current picturesque location overlooking Black Beach. “It was challenging, as you could imagine. But we've got great people here.
The vast majority of the firm were working remotely,” Kells partner Michael Hatfield said.
“It’s been great being here in Kiama. We've expanded the service offering. We've got commercial law services, family law services, personal injury services. We now have at any given time three lawyers here that provide a full complement of legal services.”
Hatfield, who lives in Kiama with his family, said the Rugby Sevens was a great event.
“We are thrilled at the chance to support a flagship local sporting event, and
it brings the community together, showcasing what Kiama has to offer,” he said. “It reinforces our commitment that we have to supporting local initiatives.
“And the event itself is a fun weekend. You get really high quality teams. It’s the hottest ticket in town.”
Kells also maintains a strong commitment to grassroots sport and community initiatives across its office locations in Sydney, Thirroul, Wollongong, Dapto and Shellharbour. The firm has sponsored Kiama Junior Football Club for the past five years, Kiama Surf Club and Kiama OzTag teams for four years, and The isability Trust’s annual Charity Golf Day for five years.
Kells has also supported the Dapto Women’s Cricket Club and Woonona Bushrangers Junior Rugby League Club, and has contributed funding to the Southern Youth and Family Services Ride4Rotary event.
Copley accuses Labor of ‘marking time’ in Kiama electorate
Paul Suttor
Serena Copley is fed up with what she perceives as a lot of talk but not enough action in the Kiama electorate.
The former Shoalhaven councillor has been endorsed to run again for the Liberal Party in the state election early next year after she was a distant runner-up to Katelin McInerney in last September’s by-election. Copley said “the desire to serve my communities never left me”.
“I think it's important to have as much time as possible to work with the community - issues don't just turn up a matter of weeks before an election,” she said.
“They are there all the time and if you're serious about the community you want to
work on them for as much time as possible and I was very keen to keep going and keep talking to people and working towards solving some of the concerns that people have in our electorate.
“I'm in it for the long haul, not just you a flash in the pan before an election.”
Copley said it appears McInerney and the Labor Party are happy to “mark time” in the 18-month period from the by-election to next year’s statewide poll.
“There's a lot of reading of Labor media releases and talking points but we still have Ground Zero, same old, same old with a lot of our issues.
“Our infrastructure is at breaking point. We're not getting the movement on promised infrastructure that we should be getting and
those are the things that I will be pointing out.
“The community is coming to me and making it quite easy to do my job because they're coming to me and saying what about this, what about that? And I agree with them.
“We can't just mark time until the next election, we actually need to get things done now and it's important to act now for the community. I'll be fighting for those improvements.
“People that are coming to me are starting to get really frustrated. It's one thing to just trot out statements about good intentions but what we absolutely need is a Member of Parliament who will actually fight for and deliver for that community.
“I do have a track record of delivering for my community
and I will continue to be a community champion - that's what's important to me.”
Copley is pleased to see increased development occurring on the South Coast but warned that transport, schools and big-ticket infrastructure items needed to be planned in conjunction with the expected population explosion.
“My real concern is with projects of the volume and density that are being proposed that we absolutely need to make sure that the current infrastructure is upgraded to be able to handle the increased density and so that it provides quality living for our residents and our community into the future,” she added.
“We need to be delivering more schools and it can't take
the amount of time it's taken so far. Calderwood Public School has been on the table since 2023.
“We need to get these facilities built and being delivered for the public as soon as possible because you can't retrofit these thingsthey need to be planned with the projects that they are announcing, otherwise our community into the future is going to be dealing with bigger issues, unless we get this sorted now. We are going to need to have a world-class transport system.
A major change since she was unsuccessful in the by-election in September is Kellie Sloane taking over from Mark Speakman as the leader
of the Liberals in a bid to reinvigorate the Opposition.
“Kellie is an outstanding person and a wonderful leader so I'm really excited to continue on with her and have her representing us as a leader,” Copley said.
“I got to know her quite well through the by-election. She's such an authentic person who cares deeply about local issues in the community. She is a wonderful communicator and as you've seen just in the recent tragedy that happened in Bondi, she's genuine.”
Serena Copley.
Interest rate hike hurts
It has been a little more than two years since the Reserve Bank of Australia raised interest rates.
A two year-long reprieve allowed for family budgets to be more flexible and gave us all an opportunity to tackle our debts and maybe even get ahead of mortgage repayments. That’s all come to a screeching halt.
The RBA’s latest rate rise might look like a neat 0.25 percentage point adjustment on a graph, but in Kiama it lands particularly hard.
As we all know, Kiama is one the most expensive places to buy a home in regional NSW, with a median house price around $1.5 million.
For many owner-occupiers, that translates to mortgages comfortably above the state average of about $828,000 in NSW, with plenty of local families carrying loans in the $900,000 to $1.1 million range.
On a $1m mortgage over 30 years, a 0.25 percentage point rate rise typically adds around $150 a month to repayments, and households with larger debts will feel even more.
These are not abstract figures for investors in distant capitals - they are dual-income parents in Minnamurra and Jamberoo, hospitality workers in town, and health and education staff commuting up and down the coast. When your loan is already stretched to match a premium coastal market, every extra dollar in interest slices directly into groceries, kids’ sport fees and the chance to put anything aside.
It continues to challenge the idea that locals can stay local, particularly as the next generation with young families struggle to balance housing with child care and a commute to employment hubs.
Kiama households earn a little above the regional NSW average,
at about $1,572 a week, but that uplift is quickly swallowed by housing, food and utilities.
Rents have climbed as well, with median house rents around $800 a week and unit rents near $650, leaving both tenants and new mortgage-holders exposed as rates rise.
Nationally, the cost of living is still rising faster than wages for many households, driven by housing and supermarket bills that never come down once they go up.
Around town, that pressure shows up in local business closures, quieter café mornings outside peak tourist weekends, trimmed grocery baskets at IGA and Woolies, and local families delaying renovations or trading down holidays to a single night away instead of a week. Kiama’s economy remains anchored in tourism, hospitality, construction and services, with tourism alone supporting close to a thousand jobs and forming a major pillar of local employment.
Regional plans emphasise growth and resilience, but service-based and visitor-dependent economies feel rate rises quickly as locals cut discretionary spending and visitors shorten stays.
The paradox is that rate hikes aimed at cooling inflation risk chilling the small businesses that give Kiama its character: the family-run restaurants, tradies dependent on home-improvement work, and the hospitality and tourism operators that rely on city guests already stretched by their own mortgages.
While this rate rise was predicted and pundits were calling this rate rise the least-worst option, it is certainly not how we wanted to ring in the second month of the new year. We just hope the RBA and Government get a handle on the economy and we do not see successive rate rises to come.
Whisky no longer just an old man’s drink
Paul Suttor
It used to be that whisky was an old man’s drink but connoisseurs nowadays are much younger with women now making up nearly half of consumers.
Central Coast-based distillery Amber Lane has been at the forefront of Australia’s rising reputation as one of the world’s finest producers of Scotland’s most famous export.
Amber Lane co-owner, Figtree resident Rod Berry, will be in attendance at The Drink Show at The Pavilion in Kiama where he will be talking to attendees about the finer points of whisky.
He will also be providing a masterclass between the first and second of the three twohour sessions where he will teach budding brewers “The Secret Blend Behind Australia’s Best Whisky 2025”.
Amber Lane’s 2025 limited release Silk Road took out the highly coveted Best Small Batch Single Malt Whisky title at the World Whiskies Awards in London last week.
Silk Road was also among a slew of Amber Lane whiskies to be recognised in the 2025/2026 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, released recently.
“Whisky is definitely experiencing a revival. There's a massive whisky culture across the world. Australia now has more whiskey distilleries than Scotland has, so it's really really captured the Australian imagination but the production volumes of those distilleries is a lot less.
“But we're doing very well internationally.
“It's not just a parochial local idea that our whisky is good. It's being assessed against the best whiskies in the world and we just keep doing fantastically well.
“Amber Lane has now won 14 international gold medals
which means that our whisky is rated up there with some of the best whisky in the world.
Berry founded Amber Lane in 2017 with his friend Phil Townsend and started production the following year, waiting for it to age sufficiently before releasing it to the market in 2022.
The secret to their success is the use of 60-year-old barrels, imported from the famous sherry regions of southern Spain,
“What I'm going to be doing in that session is providing everyone with samples direct from our barrels and making the blend of our internationally acclaimed whisky, the Equinox.
“Each person has their own barrel samples and then we create the blend together and then people get to take home their own 50ml bottle of this magnificent whisky.
Berry said Amber Lane prides itself on the consistency of its mash bill, the grain combination used in fermenting the spirits “to make sure the flavours are consistent”.
“And then we use really premium quality barrels to mature the whisky. We have imported some of the most exclusive barrels in the world, up to 60 years old from the very old Spanish bodegas (wine cellars) in the south of Spain.”
The Drink Show features three sessions from 12.30pm2.30pm, 3pm-5pm and 6pm-8pm, with a range of independent craft distillers and modern drinks producers showing their wares.
Berry’s half-hour masterclass will be held at 2.30pm, followed by Felix Clarke from Ester Spirits at 4pm on Summer Drinks.
Each masterclass is strictly limited to 30 ticket holders so get in quickly to reserve your spot at drinkshow.com.au.
Rod Berry with his Amber Lane Distillery crew.
across the east coast - could be considered just as daunting as scouring croc-infested waters.
“I’ve checked the walls and ceilings of an embarrassing number of public toilets in parks since 2015,” says Bayless on his hunt for the bat poo fly.
The Fly Hunter flocks to stinky loo in Jamberoo
Wildlife educator Steve Irwin’s work with a much-maligned reptile not only earned him his famous Crocodile Hunter moniker, but shone a spotlight on environmental conservation.
Now CSIRO entomologist Keith Bayless - nicknamed The Fly Hunter by colleagues - is on a similar mission, to inspire kids to love bugs and science by documenting his search for a rare Australian fly which he rediscovered in a stinky loo near Jamberoo.
Bayless found the Clisa australis - or what he colloquially calls the bat poo fly after its main food source
- at Barren Grounds national park more than 30 years after it vanished from Australian records.
The rare Australian fly was first discovered deep in a bat cave near Kempsey in the 1960s by entomologist David McAlpine. It later turned up in pit toilets in a northern NSW national park in the 1990s before disappearing again.
Bayless spent more than 10 years hunting for the tiny insect, before he finally found it near Jamberoo. His dogged hunt earned him his nickname and, like The Crocodile Hunter, Bayless hopes his research will spark young people to be “curious about nature”.
The fly specialist, who grew up in the United States in
suburban New Jersey and got his PhD from North Carolina State University before travelling to Australia to work at the CSIRO, recalls hunting flies in his suburban backyard and being inspired by Irwin as a young nature lover.
“The Crocodile Hunter was certainly beloved when I was growing up,” says Bayless.
“And while crocodiles might be a lot bigger than flies, they are sometimes just as hard to see as they hide so well. So I don’t know which is more difficult to spot but I'm certainly happy that I work on flies and not crocs.”
While the scientist’s target is much smaller, less aggressive and far more elusive than a saltwater croc his hunting ground - national park dunnies
“If I’m driving I’ve been known to take a peek inside drop toilets if there’s a car park nearby. Often entomologists will check structures like toilets because tiny insects are more visible on walls and, in the case of the bat poo fly, the larvae develop in the pit and eat poo.”
When Bayless visited the Australian museum and met McAlpine, the first person to describe and discover Clisa australis, it inspired his decade-long hunt for the bat poo fly.
Bayless visited the original cave site near Kempsey where McAlpine worked with bat experts to discover the species but found that the cave was “on a cliff and surrounded by stinging trees“.
“I didn’t have the right gear to get in,” says Bayless.
So instead he started looking in the last place they were sighted - national park pit toilets.
After years of painstakingly scouring smelly dunnies found the rare species in a trap he had set up near a pit toilet in Barren Grounds, off Jamberoo Mountain Road.
“It was nestled under land leeches in a sample from a dark, humid gully,” he says. “That fly had never been
collected by trapping before.”
Bayless says he felt “elation and relief” after years of searching for his tiny target.
“But there was also a fair amount of confusion because it hadn’t been spotted this far south before,” he explains.
The finding spurred him on to widen his hunt and not long after his first discovery Bayless spotted a live Clisa australis sitting on a “loo roll” near Merimbula.
“It really stood out, blue and shiny, on the white background of toilet paper,” says Bayless.
Now the entomologist’s hunt for the tiny fly - which is closely related to the fruit fly species - has been turned into a children’s book called The Very Stinky Fly Hunt.
Written by CSIRO science communicator Andrea Wild, the book aims to inspire kids to follow their own scientific adventures just like Bayless and to also elevate the humble fly from household pest to important pollinator.
Bayless says the rediscovery of the Clisa australis could help scientists better understand the migration patterns of the rare species - it has since been spotted in Victoria - and also mitigate the spread of agricultural diseases.
“Clisa australis is closely related to fruit flies so it's useful to compare the two to develop better ways to control agricultural pests,” says Bayless.
“We need to learn a lot more about these flies and their rediscovery will help
us understand their role in the ecosystem and how flies evolved from feeding on waste to feeding on plants.”
Bayless says flies have an unfair reputation for bringing disease and ruining crops but only one per cent of the species has a negative impact on humans and agriculture. The rest have an important role to play in building healthy ecosystems.
“Flies are the second-most important pollinating insect after bees,” says Bayless. “The cacao tree, grown for chocolate, can only be pollinated by flies and the blow fly is the main pollinator of mangoes alongside bees.
“Farmers often throw fish heads under their mango trees just to attract flies for pollination. The Very Stinky Fly Hunt is a great way for curious young people who want to learn more about the species and what it’s like to be an entomologist.”
Danielle Woolage
An unholy mess at Church dumping site
Kiama Presbyterian Church is appealing to the public for information after its charity bins were damaged and mattresses were dumped at the Op Shop.
Reverend Andrew Satchell said the two incidents have caused problems and raised the question of whether the church should keep those bins on their property.
“This has been compounded by some attempts over recent months by certain people to break into the charity bins, taking of some items and dumping the rest over the driveway of the church property,” he said.
“This has caused much stress and worry for our opshop volunteers and for the church.
“We are grateful for the donations that we receive for our Op Shop and we know that Anglicare (who operate the charity bins) are grateful for the clothing donations received through their bins.
“However, the continued
dumping of these mattresses and other items as well as the attempts to break into the charity bins, Kiama Presbyterian Church may have to look at increasing our security or having the bins removed all together.”
Rev Satchell said the church would like to continue operating its charity bins but if the incidents continue, they may not have an alternative.
“This is not something we want to consider but for the sake of the safety of our volunteers and other people coming onto the property, as well as the time and expense which takes away from the work of our Op Shop we may have to consider taking this course of action.”
The Op Shop is open 10am3pm on weekdays and some Saturdays, offering secondhand goods at a reasonable price.
If anyone has any information about the recent incidents, email the church at kiama.presbyterian@gmail. com.
Society needs help bringing history back to life
South Coast History Society has grown significantly over the past decade but it needs help to continue bringing the stories of yesteryear to life.
The Society, which covers the vast coastal expanse from Wollongong to the Victorian border, publishes the popular Recollections quarterly magazine and runs an indepth website featuring tales of the past.
It is “Australia's largest, most innovative, most active history society”, according to founder and president Peter Lacey.
But it can’t run on volunteers alone and the Society is putting out the call for donations to keep its operations running smoothly.
The Society needs to raise $40,000 per year to meet current demands, an ongoing challenge for the communityfocused, volunteer organisation.
“We’re run totally by volunteers, and what we're trying to do is to simply provide interesting South Coast history to anybody, anywhere in the world who's
interested, and particularly to people who live on the South Coast,” Lacey said.
“I guess you could say that we're Australia's largest purveyor of history, and the beneficiaries of that are the people who are interested in history or live on the South Coast. We've been going for almost 10 years now.
“Our philosophy is that it's our history, it's your history, and we shouldn't charge a monetary amount of money to share it with anybody.
“So right from the start, Recollections magazine has been free and it has been extremely popular as a result of that. We now have to print at least 4,000 copies of each edition.”
The Society’s website has been live for a year and has received hundreds of thousands of hits from people all around the world.
Lacey said they also deliver talks to community groups and liaise with the other 22 locally-based historical societies up and down the coast.
The local history groups are generally focused on their town and running a museum whereas the South Coast
Society is concerned with recounting the tales of the past.
“We don't have a museum. We don't have a library. We just are interested in the stories,” Lacey explained.
“Using a marketing analogy, we're interested in the sizzle, not the sausage.”
Lacey said he would much prefer to be focusing on history rather than appealing for donations but “fundraising is just a fact of life”.
“We get nothing from councils. We get nothing from the state or federal governments. We're totally reliant on commercial organisations, Rotary Clubs or groups like that, and primarily on individuals who simply support the Society.
“With the latest edition of Recollections, we made an appeal to people saying, would you assist us by giving us a donation? Last year, we spent $40,000 basically on printing Recollections. So we've got to raise a considerable amount of money for a small volunteer group organisation.
“If you're interested in history, if you're interested in supporting us, please do.”
Lacey said one of the
joys of the Society was reliving quirky events from the distant past, such as the article in the most recent edition about whales at Twofold Bay around the turn of the 20th century providing “a miracle cure” for rheumatism.
Patients were rowed to the whaling station where blubber would be cut out of a carcass and the sufferer, stripped naked, would stand inside the whale for two hours at a time.
“The whalers would dig out a piece of blubber and you would climb in there,” Lacey said.
“It's a fascinating story.”
A patient told the Sydney Bulletin in 1896: “For exactly 12 months, the rheumatism left me. Then it came back again as bad as ever. The smell has never left me: that dead whale haunts me still.”
If you would like to help fund Recollections, send a cheque to South Coast History Society, 90 Whitby Wilson Road, Quaama NSW 2550, via a deposit into account (100112005) with Horizon Bank (BSB 802-124) or over the phone at 0448 160 852.
The mess left behind at Kiama Presbyterian Op Shop
Paul Suttor
Rheumatism patient Bob Wiles in the carcass of a whale at Twofold Bay in 1902.
Karaoke bar injects energy into nightlife
Olivia Funnell
Dumplings, cocktails and bad advice is the name of the game at Uncle Fuku’s, which is now open for business on Collins Street.
The team behind Miss Arda, Emily Lewisman and Lauren McWatters, are the masterminds behind the Japanese-inspired tapas and karaoke bar.
The two colleagues and friends truly are what many would consider the dream
team as they designed and refurbished the entire venue themselves.
Stepping inside Uncle Fuku’s is like entering a giant, red cheeky lantern. And yes, you read that correctly, cheeky.
There are various posters on the walls such as, Send Noods and Surely Not Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting that certainly set the mood. That’s the thing about Uncle Fuku’s, it pushes the boundaries of what Kiama is used to and it’s here to inject some new energy into the local nightlife.
"It's different, it’s fun, it’s exciting,” Lauren said.
“For those concerned about the name (pronounced fookoo) Lauren assures me Fuku is simply a unique name and isn’t intended to be offensive.
Fuku primarily means good fortune, luck, or blessing. It is an auspicious term frequently used to represent happiness and prosperity, such as in "fukubukuro" (lucky bags) or on lucky items like the maneki-neko cat.
The food at Fuku’s is top notch and while it is designed
to be shared, I will admit I guarded my food like a hangry hound because it was that good.
The edamame beans alone were enough to convince me as they came drizzled in oil and garnished with sesame seeds.
This created a melt-inyour-mouth experience that’s unusual for edamame beans.
Next on the menu were the vegetarian spring rolls, which were satisfyingly chunky (because when it comes to spring rolls, size does matter)
and crispy. Sashimi is also on offer at Uncle Fuku’s. As someone who usually chases her sashimi with a side of raw fish anxiety, I was relieved to discover the sashimi was more akin to smoked salmon.
Also of note, was the Mushroom Bao, which comes served in a bamboo steamer and is a filling option for the vegetarians among us.
For the less adventurous, there are also potato gems with a secret house seasoning (I’ll let you discover the name of it for yourself).
Once dinner is over, there is the option of karaoke in the Tone Deaf Temple, but don’t worry if you are a selfconscious singer, it’s soundproofed. If you do suffer from stage fright, you can summon a spirit with a helpful button for a little bit of Dutch - or in this case, Japanese - courage. Before wrapping up your evening, don’t forget to leave some sage advice on the Mirror of Misguidance. Uncle Fuku’s is open from 11am-10:30pm, Thursday through to Monday.
Walkbuy is growing, thanks to communities like Kiama
Kiama was one of the first communities to welcome Walkbuy, and it continues to play a special role in shaping what the platform is becoming.
From the beginning, local businesses embraced the idea of connecting with customers in real time through short, snappy ‘Pulses’ (Deals) on the Walkbuy app.
As Walkbuy continues to evolve and expand into new regions, Kiama remains at the heart of that journey.
Since launching in Kiama, Walkbuy has been learning, refining and improving the platform based on real feedback from towns just like this one.
Businesses are becoming more comfortable experimenting with Pulses, and shoppers are starting to discover new deals, new products and new reasons to stay local.
Behind the scenes, Walkbuy is also working on the upcoming release of new
and exciting innovations, designed purely to increase customer and retailer engagement.
These improvements are focused on making it easier for businesses to connect with their community and for locals to see what’s happening around them in real time.
We’re looking forward to rolling these out and continuing to enhance what is becoming a genuinely valuable local connector.
One of the key partners
in this journey has been Burnett's on Barney, a muchloved Kiama business that has shown how Walkbuy can be used not just to promote offers, but to build stronger connections with customers.
From homewares and local art to garden essentials and great coffee, Burnetts has embraced Walkbuy as another way to stay visible and engaged with the local community.
As more retailers join and share their own
updates, Walkbuy becomes increasingly valuable for locals and visitors alike.
Every Pulse adds to the wider story of what makes Kiama unique and worth supporting.
We’re proud to still be working alongside Kiama businesses as Walkbuy continues to grow, and we’re excited about what’s ahead.
If you're a local business and not yet on Walkbuy, now is a great time to get involved.
The app is completely free
to use, easy to get started with, and designed to help you reach customers who may not yet know you exist. Likewise, for local shoppers, downloading Walkbuy is a simple way to see what’s happening just around the corner.
Walkbuy is about making local shopping easier, more visible and more vibrant.
Thank you, Kiama, for continuing to support us as we build something together. Please note - this is paid content
Photos: Darren Parlett
Six generations, one stage:
Generation Women making a difference
Myah Garza
In a world that often overlooks the wisdom of experience, one storytelling movement is making sure women of all ages are seen, heard, and celebrated.
On Tuesday, February 17, the award-winning Generation Women Australia brings its "On the Road" tour to Fillmore’s in Kiama for a night of raw, reallife storytelling.
The concept is a straightforward but powerful bridge across the ages: six women, representing six different decades of life (from their 20s to their 70s+), each tell a seven-minute story based on a shared theme.
The movement began in New York in 2017, founded by Georgia Clark. The inspiration was deeply personal as Clark was moved by conversations with her mother, Jayne, regarding the feeling of "disappearing" as an older woman. Determined to create a space where every decade is valued, Clark launched the series.
By 2018, the movement reached Australian
shores and today, under the leadership of Donna Logue, Generation Women Australia is driven by the bold vision to unite and empower 100,000 women through the power of story over the next decade.
This month’s Kiama show, “Matriarchs, Mentors and Aunties,” focuses on the elder women who showed us what’s possible.
The performers for the Kiama show represent a powerhouse of creative and professional achievement:
Sarah Collins (20s): A Jamberoo-based classical singer who recently made her international operatic debut in Berlin.
Adara Enthaler (30s): A Dharawal-based spokenword poet and host of Enough Said Poetry Slam.
Angela Blake (40s): Co-founder of the global SmartFone Flick Fest (SF3) and inclusive filmmaking tutor.
Lillian Rodrigues-Pang (50s): An internationally acclaimed bilingual storyteller with 20 years of experience in "healing stories."
Lynne Strong (60s): A researcher dedicated to ensuring women’s names and labour are preserved in history.
Tiang Lim (70s+): A comedian, Raw Comedy finalist, and dementia care educator with a background in nursing and psychology.
Presented in partnership with the South Illawarra Older Women’s Network (OWN) and funded by Create NSW, the event is a reminder that strength multiplies when it is shared across generations.
Whether you are in your 20s looking for a path, or in your 70s looking to share one, the night promises a mix of laughter, reflection, and deep connection.
Event Details
When: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Where: Fillmore’s, 38 Manning Street, Kiama Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM | Show starts at 7:00 PM Tickets: Available at generationwomenaus. com/next-show/ all/kiama/feb-26
How 10-year-old Indi is feeding Kiama
‘Take what you need, give what you can’
Myah Garza
In April 2024, 10-year-old Indi Whittaker had a vision for Kiama: a street pantry where the community could look after its own. She drew up designs, created the slogan “Take what you need, Give what you can,” and wrote to the Council.
Fast-forward 18 months, and Indi’s vision is a reality. Standing proudly at the Kiama Uniting Church grounds on Manning Street, the Community Care Cupboard has officially opened its doors and the response has been tremendous.
The project came to life through a massive community effort. After Indi’s letter was referred to the church, Reverend Kath Merrifield and the congregation stepped in to host the site.
Kiama Men’s Shed built the structure based on Indi’s original drawings, with architectural guidance from Madeleine Scarfe. For Rev Merrifield, the cupboard fills a desperate gap in support services. "What we know is that there's nothing within Kiama for anybody outside of office hours," she said.
"It was a no-brainer for us to find a way to meet the needs
of people sleeping rough or families doing it tough. It’s a dignity thing – people can access help on a Saturday afternoon when there’s nothing in the fridge without having to engage with formal service providers."
While the cupboard has only been operational since just before Christmas, it is already being heavily utilised.
Following a "social media blitz" by project coordinator Annie O’Sullivan over the Australia Day long weekend, the community rallied to restock the shelves after they were wiped nearly bare.
"When I came back after the long weekend, pretty much everything was low–food and toiletries," Rev Merrifield noted. "The community responded amazingly to the shout-out, and it’s now nicely stocked again."
While the cupboard holds books and toys, it’s the essentials – toiletries, soap, and non-perishable meals –that are moving the fastest, proving that the cost-of-living crunch is being felt right here at home. The challenge now is sustainability. The team wants the cupboard to become a permanent fixture of Kiama life, rather than just a holiday project.
"I hope it becomes part of how we function as a community," says Rev Merrifield. "If you’re doing your shopping and walking past, check in – if the pasta is running low, feel free to top it up. It’s really about the community providing for each other."
Despite some early battles with rain-proofing the unit, the message from Manning Street is clear: Kiama looks after its own.
If you would like to help keep Indi’s vision full, the cupboard is seeking: Non-perishable food: Pasta, rice, canned meals, and longlife milk.
Toiletries: Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and feminine hygiene products.
Comfort items: Towels and blankets (especially as we head toward the cooler months).
Local hands, local news:
Men’s Shed crafts eye-catching Bugle stands
Myah Garza
If you’ve recently picked up a copy of The Bugle from a fresh-looking black stand around town, you’re looking at more than just a newspaper rack – it’s a labour of love from the Kiama Men’s Shed.
In a heartwarming display of community synergy, three stalwarts of the Shed – Greg Brown, Steve Dalton, and Eddie Lyon – were commissioned to design and build six custom newsstands
to ensure The Bugle reaches every corner of Kiama in modern fashion.
For the men at the Shed, the project wasn’t about hitting a corporate deadline; it was about the joy of the build.
“You gotta realize that most people here are over 60, and some people are over 80 pushing 90,” the team shared.
“We don’t have to worry about time, it means nothing – we just do it.”
True to their mission of community service, the KMS
volunteers don’t charge by the hour. Instead, they focus on quality and camaraderie.
The collaboration began when The Bugle reached out with a vision. The Shed men took that idea and ran with it, creating a sleek, durable design specifically for local shopfronts and walkways.
“Belle from The Bugle wanted the boxes made to hold their newspapers in various places around Kiama, so we came up with this design,” the team explained.
The production was a true group effort. Eddie, described as the "eldest statesman" of the group, was a prime mover in the project’s coordination.
Meanwhile, Greg took on the role of the "labourer," meticulously handling the painting to give the stands their professional finish.
“We had a lot of fun making them,” the group said.
“We’ve got another three more to make and we look forward to seeing them be used all around Kiama. The
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PAPER
Bugle boxes by the Kiama Men’s Shed - we love it!”
The project is a perfect example of what the KMS stands for. With 60 members, the Shed is a vital hub for male camaraderie and mental wellbeing.
While they are famous for finely crafted chairs, tables, and personalised signage, their most important product is the sense of belonging they provide for local men.
Whether it’s a complex jewellery box or a sturdy
SHARE THE BUGLE
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newsstand, it seems there is nothing these men can't make.
Kiama Men’s Shed continues to welcome new faces. Those interested in joining the team or seeing their work firsthand can make an in-person inquiry at the Shed to receive an application. KMS is a pillar of the community, and seeing their craftsmanship supporting local journalism reminds us of what makes Kiama thrive: locals looking out for locals.
Tuned In: KCR
Myron and METALmorphosis
KCR is welcoming a new voice to the airwaves this year, and he brings with him a lifetime of music, radio, and community experience.
Myron grew up in Melbourne in the 1970s, where his love of music was shaped by listening to community radio.
Those early days of tuning in sparked a passion that would stay with him for life.
Deep Purple’s Made in Japan album was an early favourite, and the Geelong second-hand markets meant he could buy cassettes for as little as 50 cents. He loved those bargain bins.
Over the years, Myron went on to present programs on several well-known community stations, including 3RRR FM in Carlton, 3PBS FM in St Kilda, and 2UUU FM in Nowra.
Along the way, he built a reputation for thoughtful programming and an openminded approach to music.
After moving to Kiama in 1985, Myron settled into the community while also building a long career in health. He worked across Victoria, Queensland, and NSW for more than 33 years, always keeping music close to his heart.
Myron is bringing his experience and enthusiasm to KCR with a new program, METALmorphosis.
The show looks at how heavy metal and hard rock developed over time.
It traces the influences of Baroque and classical music, the rise of blues and rock, and the growth of modern metal in all its forms - progressive, symphonic, gothic, thrash, and more.
Myron’s taste in music is broad. He enjoys everything from “baroque ’n’ roll” to progressive metal, and that wide interest is reflected in each program.
Every week features a different theme, along with a regular segment called “Can’t Believe It’s True”, sharing surprising stories and little-known facts from music history.
For Myron, METALmorphosis is about showing how music connects across generations and styles, and how today’s sounds are shaped by the past.
With his background in community radio and his genuine love of music, Myron is a welcome addition to the KCR team.
Listeners can tune in every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm on kcr.org.au and join him on a journey through the many layers and stories behind heavy music. Please note - this is paid content
Local faces wanted: Casting a net for extras to break into film industry
Myah Garza
Ever wondered how major productions like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Return to Paradise, or Anyone But You find their background talent when they roll into town?
This Saturday (February 7), local not-for-profit organisation Screen Illawarra is hosting an Extras Casting Workshop at Gerringong Town Hall to help locals break into the industry.
The workshop features industry heavyweights Miriam Spry, an extras casting director with 23 years of experience, and professional actor Karen Cobban. Screen Illawarra chair Nick Bolton said they first ran this event in Wollongong 18 months ago.
"It was very, very popular for emerging or low-entry level practitioners in the industry to try and get some work as an extra," he said.
"One of the reasons we do
this is that we work with a lot of the major productions that come down to the Illawarra, and having a database of extras available to these major productions is really beneficial.
“It's a bit of a win-win for both the individual and for the production company."
The session is designed to offer real-world insights into breaking in, understanding the "who’s who" of agents and casting directors, and mastering the "toolkit"including what makes a strong headshot and the nuances of self-taping.
Bolton’s advice for beginners is clear: "Be professional, be courteous, don’t be on time, be early. A very, very common mistake is that people don't have their file naming conventions with their names in it. You know, they'll send a headshot and it'll be IMG-4932. It’s really simple, basic stuff like that."
Beyond the logistics, the
workshop highlights how being an extra serves as a vital learning experience for all.
"Most people start off as an extra and then do some acting training and then go to short films," Bolton explained.
"The benefit is just by being an extra you are on set and observing the hierarchies and methodologies and the very specific processes of what happens on a film set. It happens all the time that an extra might become a featured extra or be asked to stand right next to the lead cast."
The event runs from 10am to 2pm at Gerringong Town Hall. It is a catered event, and while Fern Street has restricted parking on Saturdays, Belinda Street is recommended for unrestricted options. Tickets are free for members and $15 for non-members via Humanitix.
Bolton also invites the community to the Wollongong City Council
Short Film Festival on March 7 at the Sunset Cinema in the Botanical Gardens, where six Screen Illawarra films will be commissioned. "If anybody wants to come along and meet the local filmmaking community, that would be a great event," Bolton added. For those hesitant to sign up, Bolton emphasised the supportive nature of the group.
"I'm very proud of Screen Illawarra – people always say that it's a very welcoming and open and inclusive organisation.
“Karen and Miriam are lovely. Most people are all in the same boat as extras. Everybody comes with a little bit of nervousness, but the beauty of this workshop is that Miriam and Karen will just talk them through in a very safe place what goes on and how to do it.
“What have you got to lose? Just come along and have some fun."
Steelworks at centre of new SEVENMARKS exhibition
Kiama’s SEVENMARKS Gallery will soon present Rising Tide, a new exhibition by artist Alexander Boynes that features an unlikely subject as its focus - the Illawarra Steelworks.
Rising Tide brings together
a major new body of paintings and drawings alongside a large-scale painting, a video projection, and an original score by cellist and composer Tristan Parr all about Port Kembla and its surroundings.
“At its core, the project is about Port Kembla and the Illawarra as places shaped by industry, ecology, labour, and
deep time,” Boynes said. Boynes was inspired by the way the steelworks embody a tension between beauty and destruction.
“I personally find them quite beautiful - there’s something mesmerising about industrial landscapes, even though they’re producing things that are harmful,” he said.
“Art historically talks about the romantic sublime; maybe this is an industrial sublime. Beauty can exist in these spaces too.”
Beyond their imposing presence, the steelworks are deeply embedded in the social and cultural fabric of the region.
“The Illawarra is one of Australia’s most significant industrial landscapes. Port Kembla, in particular, has literally helped build modern Australia through steel,” Boynes said.
“It has also been central to major cultural movementsmigrant rights, women’s rights protests, labour struggles - and that history is important.”
At the same time, Boynes is clear-eyed about the environmental consequences of industry.
“This has always been Dharawal country. These landscapes were shaped over millennia by coastal systems, wetlands, escarpments, and cultural knowledge long before industry arrived.
“Industry has rapidly transformed those environments, and I want the work to begin from that deep history,” he said.
“That tension - prosperity and sacrifice existing side by side - is central to the work.”
SEVENMARKS describes Boynes’ work as presenting
“fractured, atmospheric visions, where structures and figures hover between endurance and erasure, presence and collapse.”
The project is also deeply personal for Boynes.
His mother, the late Australian artist Mandy Martin - renowned for creating the largest commissioned artwork in the Australian Parliament - worked extensively in and around Port Kembla during the 1980s.
“Port Kembla has a personal connection for me,” Boynes said. “My mother made a lot of work in that area when I was a kid. In that sense, this project is tied to my own history and her legacy. It helped shape the way I think about landscape, ethics, and responsibility.”
While Rising Tide engages with major issues such as climate change and green energy, Boynes does not see art as offering direct solutions. Instead, he believes in its power to provoke reflection and emotional engagement.
“Art bears witness. It can reflect back to us what’s hidden in plain sight,” he said. “Its ability to make people feel operates very differently from statistics or reports. Humans are emotive beings, and when we feel something deeply, that’s often when we’re motivated to act.”
“This is one of the biggest
challenges civilisation will face in our lifetimes, and every approach matters. Art just happens to be the language I have to engage with these issues - to ask questions, create pauses, and encourage people to reflect on their own impact.”
Boynes is careful to emphasise that the exhibition is not intended to instruct viewers on what to think.
“The exhibition is really about witnessing transformation and asking what responsibility looks like now,” he said.
“In many ways, the show aims to be a monument to labour, but also a reminder of environmental cost. I’m not trying to be didacticI’m talking about ethics and asking us to consider the systems that shape our lives.”
Rising Tide is a special multi-disciplinary exhibition, combining painting, drawing, moving image, and sound.
“All these forms are communicating the same ideas, but at different rates of release and decay. Seeing how they work together, each in its own way, is really interesting to me.”
Rising Tide opens at SEVENMARKS Gallery on 14 February from 5–7pm and runs until 14 March. More information is available via the SEVENMARKS Gallery website.
Final four artists revealed for Shoalhaven’s $440M healthcare milestone
The final team of artists has been assembled to transform the new Shoalhaven Hospital into more than just a clinical facility as the $440 million redevelopment enters its final stages of construction.
The project’s Arts in Health program has officially confirmed its full cohort, with Glenn Barkley, Antonia Pesenti, Claire Foxton, and Nastia Gladushchenko joining previously announced artists Lara Merrett and Kirli Saunders OAM.
Together, the group will
deliver a series of integrated works across the new sevenstorey acute services building, covering public spaces, paediatric treatment rooms, and the Mental Health Unit.
The initiative marks a shift toward healing architecture, where the environment is considered as vital to recovery as the medical equipment.
A central feature of the plan is an outdoor respite area designed specifically for staff and families who requested a space to connect with nature during breaks. Artist Glenn Barkley is creating Skiesful/ Treesful, a sandstone garden sculpture with local materials.
Barkley is collaborating with BirdLife Shoalhaven and students from the Aboriginal Cultural Arts Program at Bomaderry TAFE to ensure the space reflects the local community.
“This work is about creating a space where someone can stop, take a breath, listen to the birds and simply be,” Barkley said.
Inside the hospital, the focus shifts to reducing the stress of medical treatment.
A massive 23-metre mural by Claire Foxton and Nastia Gladushchenko will greet people at the Shoalhaven Street entrance. Foxton noted
that “public art has the power to create connection and a sense of belonging, especially in a hospital environment,” while Gladushchenko added that her work aims to encourage people “to connect with nature, with place and with each other.”
In the paediatric wards, Antonia Pesenti is designing vibrant illustrations to provide a sense of play for young patients.
“As an illustrator, to bring imagination, play and local connection into paediatric treatment spaces is an incredibly meaningful opportunity for me,” Pesenti
said.
These works join contributions from Kirli Saunders OAM, who drew inspiration from the grounds' large blackbutt tree, and Lara Merrett, who collaborated with staff on pieces for the Mental Health Unit.
The decision to integrate art into the $440 million build is backed by public health research suggesting that creative environments provide measurable benefits for physical and mental wellbeing.
Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital general manager Frank Bazik said that "public
health and cultural policy research show that taking part in creative activities has measurable benefits for physical and mental health."
He noted that each artwork has been carefully considered to enhance the experience of consumers, staff, and families, "creating spaces that support healing."
Construction of the new Acute Services Building is expected to be completed later this year.
The artists are working with the project team to finalise the design and construction of the artworks ahead of their installation.
Lleyton Hughes
Myah Garza
Antonia Pesenti
Nastia Gladushchnko
Glenn Barkley Claire Foxton
Danielle Woolage
Recently I was lucky enough to travel to Bali with a group of like-minded friends as part of a “spiritual rejuvenation” holiday.
We had all marked a midlife milestone birthday and decided it was time for our own Eat, Pray, Love moment of self care. So we left our teenage kids at home and headed to the hills for a traditional Balinese purification ritual.
While we happily traversed the streets of Kuta to cries of “g’day mate, how’re ya goin” from cheerful Balinese shop owners, our real purpose was connection - not only with each other, but our spiritual selves.
And we found it, deep in the mountains of Ubud, during a traditional Hindu cultural ceremony called Melakut.
Don’t get me wrong, we still enjoyed Bintangs on the beach and laughed at the crude stickers and wood carvings targeting the widely loved but gently mocked Aussie Bogan traveller.
It was, however, a trip to Taman Beji Griya temple for the cleansing Balinese water ritual that was at the heart of our holiday.
The temple sits deep in the lush, green mountains of Ubud, surrounded by waterfalls believed to flow with holy water designed to purify and cleanse those who come to worship.
The Balinese take part in the traditional Melukat cleansing ritual during a full or new moon, when the water is at its purest and has the power to wash away negative energy.
Our ceremony is scheduled a few days after the full moon and we wake at dawn, filled with negative energy from the wine-soaked night before, to beat the busy morning traffic.
As we weave our way up the mountain, through tiered rice paddies and small villages, the slower-paced countryside is a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Kuta’s busy streets.
When we arrive at Taman Beji Griya temple we have the place to ourselves for a private ceremony. It is well worth the extra cost as the temple quickly fills with visitors by mid-morning.
Taman Beji Griya has been used by local families for religious ceremonies for generations but was only opened to the public in 2017, allowing westerners
A watershed ceremony reveals the ‘real’
Bali
to take part in purification ceremonies for the first time.
Hundreds of visitors now cross the temple threshold each week and the best time to visit is early morning on a weekday.
As we walk through the tropical forest to the entrance of Beji Griya we are greeted by our guide Karen Bayu Aditya Putra.
Bayu is a photographer and artist - he designed the logo for the uniform worn by the temple’s guides - and is renowned for the stunning images he captures of those visiting the spiritual site.
Bayu asks us to each choose a brightly coloured sarong, which we wear into the temple
as we walk though waterfalls, canyons and grottos offering gifts, known as Canang Sari, to the gods.
The intricate baskets, woven from palm leaves, are filled with flowers, incense and rice, and are a fundamental part of Balinese Hindu culture, representing gratitude, balance and devotion.
As we approach dozens of intricately carved stone gods
Bayu instructs us to take a deep breath, close our eyes, give thanks for that which we are grateful, and place a Canang Sari in front of each deity.
We offer our thanks and feel our limbs begin to loosen and relax. Bayu tells us to reach out
and touch the ancient, gnarled banyan tree guarding the temple’s entrance.
The Balinese believe banyan trees connect the physical world to the spiritual realm.
The tree - skirted in the black-and-white checked Balinese poleng cloth which represents the harmony between good and bad, light and dark - is a balance of opposites, rooted in the earth while its branches reach for the sky, its leaves smooth and limbs rough.
We touch the tree and ask for a blessing.
“Feel its energy, it is the home of our spirits and ancestors,” explains Bayu.
While the banyan tree is an important part of the purification ritual, the temple’s waterfall is the centrepiece.
As we stand underneath it, getting flogged by fast-flowing water, Bayu yells instructions over the noise: “Scream as loud as you can, let out all the bad energy”.
We do as we are told and it feels oddly liberating to shout louder than the crashing water.
We move to a slower flowing waterfall - a relaxation massage compared to the deep-tissue hammering of its neighbour - and Bayu tells us to “dance and give thanks for our blessings”.
We laugh and dance, careful not to slip as we celebrate, holding each other upright in our silliness.
Next a holy priest chants mantras to bless the water which he pours over our head - it signifies rebirth and cleansing.
Bayu explains Melukat will wash away stress and bad luck, help our body and mind feel calm, bring balance and inner peace and open our hearts to blessings.
“Now you will feel calm and new again,” says Bayu as he ties a band of tri-coloured string, known as tri datu, or three powers, around our wrist.
The red string signifies Brahma the god of fire and knowledge, black is Vishnu the god of water and giver of life and white is Shiva the god of destruction and cleansing.
“Don’t cut it,” instructs Bayu. According to local legend the band falls off when the wearer is spiritually cleansed.
We leave the ceremony feeling lighter, careful not to break our tri datu and grateful for the opportunity to experience the “real” Bali and its ancient traditions and culture.
what’s on?
Nowra Show
6-7 Feb, from 7:30am
Nowra Showground
Two full days of entertainment- art, shows and food
Cultural Connections
to Waterways Kiama
Sat 7 Feb, from 9am Minnamurra River
Cultural Connections to Waterways SUP Tour led by the local Dharawal people & a SUP Shellharbour instructor.
Screen Illawarra: Extra Casting Workshop
Sat 7 Feb, 10am-2pm
Gerringong Town Hall
Hands-on workshop with professional actor Karen Cobban and Miriam Spry from iSpry Agency
The Drink Show
Sat 7 Feb, 11am-8pm Kiama Pavillion
Tasting event and masterclass with samples, bottle sales, meet-themaker moments.
Kiama Cavaliers
Cricket Club 170th
Anniversary Dinner
Sat 7 Feb, 7pm-11pm
Kiama Leagues Club
170 years, with Guest Speaker Mike Whitney Open Gallery WeekendRobyn Sharp
Sat 7 Feb- 8 Feb, 10am-4pm Cedar Ridge Studio
Open Gallery to see Sharp’s studio where she creates her art.
Down the LineFamily Fun Day
Sun 8 Feb, 10am-2pm Illawarra Light Railway Museum
Step back in time and travel in style through the golden age of railways
Super Bowl LX at Cedar Cutters
Mon 9 Feb, from 10am Kiama Leagues Club
Super Bowl LX live on big screens, drinks and food available
After School Art
Class with Expressive Art Experience
The Simple Gift of a Bag’s Thu 12 Feb, 9:30am-1pm
North Kiama
Neighbourhood Centre
Sewing workshop and morning tea
Friday Art ClubExpressive Art Experience Fri 13 Feb, 9:30am-12pm
Expressive Art Experience, Over Five weeks you’ll work on a few different projects with oil paints
Rising Tide Exhibition Fri 13 Feb
Seven Marks Gallery
Works by Alexander Boynes featuring a major drawing, painting, and movingimage collaboration.
Create & Sip: Valentine’s Love & Connection Workshop Fri 13 Feb, 7pm-9pm Gadhu Meeting Room, Shellharbour Civic Centre
Guided by Michelle Springett, you’ll work side by side to create an artwork together.
Cows and ClayValentines edition Sat 14 Feb, 10am-1pm
Abergail Farm, Nowra Highland cow farm experience, sculpting clay cows with a valentines twist Kiama Textiles Group Meeting Sat 14 Feb, 10am-12:30pm
Kiama Library
Every second Saturday of the month, creating art with the group
Generation Women Australia: On The Road Tue 17 Feb, 7pm-9pm
Filmore’s Kiama Stories that Celebrate the Elder Women in our Lives Berry Comedy Gala Thu 19 Feb, from 7pm Berry Hotel
Three of Australia’s most entertaining comedians hit the stage for an evening of stand-up.
Paint n Sip - Margaritas & Masterpieces Fri 20 Feb, 6pm-8:30pm
Berry Show full of flavour
The Berry Show attracted competitors, exhibitors and crowds of people from far and wide to the Berry Showground on a very hot Saturday last weekend.
Many were dressed in western gear, interlopers from the western districts of NSW.
The gigantic horse transport trucks, floats and caravans filled the eastern side of the showground while laughter and screams could be heard coming from patrons enjoying the rides and games in Sideshow Alley over in the west. This year’s Berry Show Committee and volunteers produced a fantastic show.
A relaxed, happy, friendly and exciting atmosphere was in abundance as people caught up with old friends and
reminisced over past shows.
There was something for everyone. The Berry Rotary and the Show Society provided high quality food options and the hot day ensured ice cream and cold drink vendors were kept busy.
The Hawkesbury Working Kelpies display had a huge crowd watching this very intelligent Australian working dog breed at work – moving sheep on command, pushing sheep up a race and barking on the simple command of “speak”.
It was like a scene from the ABC’s Muster Dogs program. Mittagong’s Frensham Girls School brought its cattle to the Berry Show for judging. Future champions were seen competing in the junior
woodchop event which at first looked dangerous but it was soon evident they had developed great skills.
The Exhibition Pavilion, now fully air-conditioned, provided great relief from the heat for patrons to enjoy the entries on displaythe artwork, photography, delicious baking and beautiful flowers. The Animal Nursery was a delight for children, especially those not familiar with seeing and patting kid goats, lambs and donkeys.
The Poultry Shed was noisy and it wasn’t just the ducks, chickens, roosters, turkeys and geese quacking, clucking and crowing at the top of their voices.
Guy McLean is a true “horse whisperer.” A huge crowd
1 BELINDA STREET, GERRINGONG NEW SOUTH WALES 2534 0405636316 | FURBABIESFARM@GMAIL.COM
watched in silence as he worked his horses and then cheered loudly in appreciation of his skills.
At one stage Guy was mounted on his horse, had hold of two horses and then asked another horse to sit down. He proceeded to walk sideways over the sitting horse with two horses and amazingly the horse sitting down didn’t move an inch and only stood up when Guy asked him to do so.
To finish his display, Guy gave a beautiful rendition of his own poem, “My Promise to You”, the you he said could be his horse, his wife or whoever. He then allowed his audience to pat his horses which brought not only smiles but tears to some.
Shellharbour to defend title at South Coast Lifeguard Challenge
Shellharbour’s lifeguards will be out to cement their dominance when they host the Illawarra and South Coast Lifeguard Challenge at Shellharbour Surf Life Saving Club next Thursday. Fresh off three consecutive wins, the Shellharbour team heads into the annual challenge as the competition favourites, taking on crews from Wollongong City, Kiama Municipal and Shoalhaven City councils.
The Lifeguard Challenge is a friendly but fiercely fought contest, pushing competitors through a demanding mix of beach and water-based relay events that test strength, speed and teamwork — the same skills relied upon to keep local beaches safe throughout summer.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer, a former lifeguard himself, said the event showcases the dedication and professionalism of the region’s frontline beach safety teams.
“The Lifeguard Challenge is a great way for teams from across the Illawarra and South Coast to come together, celebrate their hard work and push each other in good spirit,” Mayor Homer said.
“Our lifeguards do an incredible job keeping locals and visitors safe across six patrolled beaches each summer.”
Now a fixture on the regional calendar, the challenge also plays an important role in strengthening connections between councils, promoting
water safety and inspiring future generations to consider lifeguarding as a rewarding career.
Each nominated team consists of six competitors, including at least one female participant and one member aged over 30.
The first race is set to get underway at 7pm.
Shellharbour City Council said it is looking forward to cheering on its crews as they aim to defend the title and continue the proud tradition of the event.
Nowra’s historic Waratah March flag to be preserved
Myah Garza
Apiece of Nowra’s World War I history will be preserved after Federal Government funding was awarded to restore the historic Waratah March red ensign flag.
The flag, presented to recruits as they left Nowra in 1915, will be conserved after a successful $2,420 application by Shoalhaven Historical Society under the Federal Government’s Saluting Their Service (STS) Commemorative Grants Program. The application was supported by Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips.
Phillips said the red ensign was an important reminder of the service and sacrifice of young men from Nowra who enlisted during the First World War.
“The Waratah March red ensign is such an important piece of local military history that represents the sacrifice that so many young men from right across the Shoalhaven made in WWI,” Phillips said.
“I’m really proud to support the restoration of the fragile flag so that it can be safely stored and displayed at the Nowra Museum.
She thanked members of the Shoalhaven Historical Society for their work in
preserving the flag, ensuring future generations can learn about a significant chapter in Nowra’s history.
The red ensign was presented by Red Cross President Mrs Rodway to Captain Blow when the Waratah March departed Nowra on 30 November 1915, bound for Centennial Park in Sydney.
At the time, the Shoalhaven News reported an “enthusiastic demonstration” outside the Nowra Post Office in Junction Street, where a group of about 70 recruits gathered before answering what was then described as the “call of the empire”.
Phillips said it was important that stories of military service continued to be commemorated and shared in a defence community such as Nowra. The funding forms part of more than $1.3 million awarded to 72 community organisations across Australia under the latest round of the 2025–26 Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program. Since its inception, the program has funded thousands of projects nationwide recognising Australia’s military history and the sacrifices made by veterans.
Lions
The Lions Clubs of the Kiama–Shoalhaven region is celebrating a big win for local kids’ eye health, following the successful accreditation of new Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP) screeners and the completion of the first children’s vision screening by Minnamurra Lions.
The screening was delivered with strong support from Kiama Lions, Gerringong Lions Club, Shoalhaven Heads Lions Club, Lions Club of Tahmoor Inc, and Woonona and Canberra Lions Clubs, demonstrating the depth of collaboration across the region.
The activity was
proudly conducted in partnership with Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club, strengthening ties between local service organisations.
Training for the new screeners was led by District N2 LEHP Instructor Jenny Barclay, whose expertise has been central to building capability across the zone.
As a result of her program, the Kiama–Shoalhaven region now has more than 24 accredited screeners, significantly expanding local capacity to deliver early-intervention vision checks for children.
The accreditation also welcomes two new
LEHP-active clubsGerringong Lions and Shoalhaven Heads Lions - further strengthening the region’s long-term commitment to improving children’s eye health.
Planning is already underway to develop at least six trained facilitators, with the potential for one or two new instructors in the near future.
This momentum continues, with Kiama Lions set to conduct the third Lions Eye Health Program – Australia screening on 1 March at the Kiama Surf Life Saving Club, delivered in partnership with the Kiama Kingfishers. The event will provide
another important opportunity for local families to access free, early-detection vision screening for their children.
A Lions spokesperson said the achievement reflects “the best of Lions collaborationclubs working together, sharing skills, and building a service that will benefit children and families for years to come.”
For the Kiama–Shoalhaven region, these milestones mark the beginning of a stronger, more coordinated approach to children’s eye health, one built on teamwork, training, and a shared commitment to community wellbeing.
Myah Garza
Going, Going, Gone
short story by
Jenny England
Iscanned the queue and estimated it would be at least another 40 minutes until it was my turn.
Damn. I hate public Time Transporters. They are so busy, especially before a public holiday or the weekend. It was only the wealthy who could afford their own personal one. It wasn’t the cost of the device itself, it was the cost and reliability of the electricity required to run it that made it impossible.
I pulled my Universal Time and Space Locator from my bag, clicked the App and zoomed to double-check the time and pace co-ordinates. I also double-checked current atmospheric conditions as they could sometimes cause issues for the transport.
The co-ordinates had to be absolutely correct if I was going to make it there safely. I reset them into the Locator memory, repeated them a few times to myself to memorise them and put the Locator back into my bag.
The queue moved a few steps closer to my longanticipated trip.
It was my second venture through time. The first was part of a research project on the role of women in the late C19th in rural Australia. Although I was only there for a short time and didn’t have a chance to fully participate in the lives of the women I visited, it was amazing.
This time my venture was more important but it had been an uphill battle to try and get the passport, visa and associated documentation that would place me in the queue for a trip.
I sensed a bit of a kerfuffle directly behind me. It seemed someone was trying to push their way into the queue. Annoyed, I turned to confront them. “Where do you think your going?” I quizzed an anxious-looking guy.
“The C17th,” he replied. “It was great back then,” he added.
“No. Never mind. You can’t push in no matter how urgent it is. If you have booked and checked in your place in the queue has already been set. You just have to be patient.”
I continued, but just as I was going to reassure and calm him down and perhaps find out a bit more of whatever was troubling him, an announcement came over
the loud speaker: “Due to a sudden unexpected increase in solar flares, the Space and Time Transporter will be shut down while we establish whether the electromagnetic interference will make it too dangerous for us to operate them today.”
“Damn,” I muttered to myself again as I watched the queue disperse, including the interloper who was making a hasty retreat towards the exit.
Others appeared to be heading to the Travellers Lounge. Shutdowns of vital electrical equipment had become a regular occurrence recently causing a multitude of issues. Thinking about it, I remembered reading that recent auroras had become more spectacular lately giving scientists a few clues.
Our reliance on an uninterrupted supply of electricity was certainly being put to the test.
My lifelong interest in the past had eventually got me where I was today – a very well-respected historian. My books didn’t last long when they came out. Over the last 20 or so years people have become fascinated in the past as it was such a contrast to our current late C21st technologically dominated and rather sterile lives.
Like so many people I had become increasing frustrated with life in the late C21st with all the problems caused by the neglect of climate change 50 years ago, the political unrest, constant wars between countries vying for world dominance, the rise of authoritarianism and decay of democracies, and the overriding threat of a devastating nuclear disaster.
I desperately needed a change. I was keen to venture back even further than my first trip. The ancient world had always been my favourite era to study and not a lot had been researched in depth about the lives of ordinary people in these eras yet.
I picked up my bag but before I had time to decide what to do next, a voice from behind caught my attention. It was a Time Transport Terminal Usher.
“Excuse me. Are you Sally McKenna? I have been looking for you. Your transport has been upgraded to premium so you can take your trip today through one of our Special Time Transporters that have maximum power back-up. They are restricted to important people such as
celebrities and politicians so you must be someone significant.”
“I guess must be,” I replied.
“Actually, I recognise your name now. I regularly follow your podcasts and I have read a few of your books. It’s hard to keep up with everything these days and I know how much everyone respects your accurate creative interpretation of the past,” he commented’
“Thanks. It’s my life work and what I pride myself on.
I eagerly followed him to the restricted section of the Time Transport Terminal pleased to know I would now be on my way, sooner than planned.
As we reached the Special Time Transporter the important questions from the Usher came fast: “Just to be sure,” he began, “you don’t have any metal implants, body jewellery, buttons or buckles etc. Anything metallic can cause major issues during the transport.”
“No. I’m good to go,” I replied, handing him my phone and keys that he would put into a secure locker for me but I knew I wouldn’t need them again.
Without delay he unlocked the hatch and I went inside. I settled my bag down, and prepared to punch the coordinates into the console but was interrupted by a call from outside.
“Wait, I need to check your passport and visa documents before you go”.
I unlocked the hatch, came out and handed him the relevant paperwork. “All looks good”, he started. “I see it’s 400 BC: Classical Greece: the birthplace of democracy.
“You need special permission to travel so far into the past. And you must be counselled on the many risks associated with it.”
“I know, but it’s all in order” I lied.
“Oh,” he said as he started to usher me back inside the unit.
I settled down again and once again started to key the coordinates into the console.
“Hang on. Wait.” I heard the usher call out again. I immediately thought he had just realised that the passport was fake and the documents forged. But no. It was something else. “You don’t have a return date and time.”
Some months ago while pleasantly engaged in nanna babysitting duties, I was summoned by Grandson No.2 to curl up on the couch with him and watch a film of the stage puppet show featuring Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli.
Now if you happen to be unfamiliar with these names, you need to do some research. Because if you don't, you'll be missing out on some good old-fashioned fun.
And quite possibly, one of Australia's most beloved creative products, now seen by the world, and certainly loved by young and old.
There is a sweetness, a wide-eyed innocence to Bluey that has endeared the show to so many .
Learning through immersive play is the theme, and in each episode, there is a lesson taught and learned. It's a simple, and universal concept. Just think of how baby lion cubs learn survival skills from their mum.
Most humans learn through play from a very young age. As do, apparently, Blue Heelers.
For fans of the animated ABC series Bluey, watching a film of a live stage play, with puppeteers manipulating larger than life doggy characters onstage, is yet another way of enjoying this wonderful creation. Grandson has watched it so often, I'm sure he knows the script.
Bluey’s Big Play a huge success
we enter the theatre to take our seats.
Oh, the cacophony!
The unmistakable sound of countless excited small children shrieking with anticipation, in a confined, dimly lit theatre space is an initial shock to my system, but we look down at the stage and grandson turns to me with the biggest grin, and hugs me, and I know this is going to be so worthwhile.
This is, after all is said and done, Making Memories.
The show begins with larger than life dancing ibis, and flying birds on very long thin poles, wielded by talented and very lithe young puppeteers, who are wearing kneeguards.
As the show progresses, it's obvious why. These puppeteers could possibly be gymnasts - their puppetry is stunning. They move with speed and get themselves into the most awkward positions with absolute grace.
Of course, the puppets are what you are supposed to be watching, and I'm sure the children are, but I am marvelling too at the talent and the athleticism of the puppeteers.
The colour, the flashing lights, the music, the set changes, the storyline, the invited audience participation, it is all so cleverly done.
The performance lasts just under an hour, and rightly so. Any longer may be a bit torturous for some, possibly the accompanying adults.
is limited.
The show's creators know this and so the storyline teaches a simple life lesson. Bandit, Bluey's Dad, uses his phone too much.
Bluey and her little sister Bingo want him to play with them, so they hide his phone. Chilli, Bluey's mum, helps them, and also talks affectionately to Bluey about how important it is to be a kind big sister to Bingo.
Simple.
No show for young children is complete without bubbles cascading down from the heights above. Or a raucous game of KeepyUppy, which literally has the audience yelling for more, including me.
For the uninitiated, Keepy Uppy is a game of yes, you guessed it, the audience members keeping very large inflated balls up in the air by way of batting them in the air with their hands, back and forth, up and down through the seating.
Perhaps you've seen this practice before, at sporting events. Let me assure you it was a very well received finale for Bluey’s Big Play on that wet afternoon in Wollongong. Now it's time to leave the auditorium, show's over.
Did I mention the merchandise being lavishly and magnificently displayed in the foyer? And the crowds of adults being separated from their dollars by way of small human coercion? Blocking the exit?
“I know,” I called in reply, as I pressed the ‘go’ button hastily.
“I’m not coming back.”
And so imagine my absolute delight when a new stage show is advertised, coming to the Wollongong Entertainment Precinct recently. An absolute holiday must, a treat for Grandson, or that is my story. (I am actually using him as my excuse for buying tickets).
On a very rainy afternoon we battle the holiday traffic, and the accompanying parking juggle, and because Nan has foolishly underestimated the weather conditions and therefore the extra time needed to circumnavigate Wollongong, we arrive, breathless from running, with mere minutes before showtime.
I artfully dodge the merch table, so cleverly placed for us to have to walk past, though Grandson is aware, very aware. I foil him though, and
The average small human attending is probably no older than five or six, with some a lot younger, and so the audience’s attention span
Did I pull off a sneaky Nan ploy? Did I manage to escape into the rainy street, having foiled Grandson for the second time?
I'll leave you to guess.
A
Carol Goddard
Lakers celebrate dual title success
Lleyton Hughes
South Coast cricket
premiers Lake Illawarra celebrated wins in first and second grade in the T20 competition finals at Geoff Shaw Oval on Sunday.
The Lakers knocked over Oak Flats in a rain-interrupted clash in the main game after their second-graders accounted for Gerringong in the curtain-raiser.
After the Rats opted to bat, they were in strife at 4-29 after Jake O’Connell (2-25) and Jarryd White (2-32) ripped
through the top order. Shawn Condello counterattacked for the home side with 41, including six boundaries, as they scrambled to 9-107.
Off-spinner Rafiulbari Angan struck in the second ball of Lake’s run-chase but after a rain delay, captain Kerrod White’s unbeaten 45 from 41 and 25 from opener Jackson Ingram propelled them to the revised target of 81 from 13 overs for the loss of just two wickets. In the second-grade final, Lake trio Mark Ulcigrai (50),
Jackson Haddon (48) and Brendan White (35 not out) found the boundary frequently in their total of 3-154 despite 2-24 from Gerringong’s Eric Davies.
The Jets crumbled in reply to be 6-38 before recovering to post 100 but nowhere near their target with Aaron Henry (3-12) and Jamie Crowhurst (316) the destroyers. In Saturday’s combined South Coast-Shoalhaven oneday competition, Ingram took 5-21 as Lake bowled Albion Park out for 100 in their sevenwicket win.
Oak Flats looked in trouble at 6-42 against Bomaderry but Zaied Bin Khalid thumped 47 not out to get them to the target of 127 to record an upset win at Artie Smith Oval.
Shellharbour opener Alex Brown belted 104 in their total of 9-277 which proved to be too much for North Nowra Cambewarra, who finished on 240 despite 81 from skipper Nathan Thomas.
Kiama rose to fourth after posting 277 against Ex Servos with Brad Ison top-scoring with an unbeaten 74.
Chris Buckley stood tall with
60 not out in the reply of 131 as Michael Norris (4-24) and Glenn Cleary (3-27) starred with the ball for the Cavaliers.
Bay and Basin strengthened their finals chances with a 207-113 win over Kookas with Jack Allen and Tobias Eyland bagging three wickets apiece.
This Saturday, Kiama are at home to Oak Flats, Bay and Basin head north to Albion Park, the Kookas are away to North Nowra, Lake also head south to face Ex Servos at Hayden Drexel Oval and Bomaderry host Shellharbour in the match of the round.
Ladder: Lake 75, Shellharbour, Bay and Basin 65, Kiama 60, Bomaderry 58, North Nowra 53, Oak Flats 39, Kookas 33, Park 31, Ex Servos 22.
In the South Coast women’s competition, Jennifer Kitchen’s 72 and 42 from Mel Nolan helped the Kookas retain top spot by beating the
Ratettes. The Kookas posted 3-173 before Angela Hazlewood took 4-6 to keep their opponents to 8-93.
Oak Flats’ other team, the Ratatouilles, cruised to a ninewicket triumph over Albion Park after restricting the home side to 7-66.
Ex Servos beat Kiama by seven wickets despite 37 from Cavettes opener Ava Sloan while Lake Illawarra’s 2-175 was far too much for Shellharbour (3-95) with Farrah Cody’s 52 smashing nine boundaries.
This Friday night, Lake play the Ratettes and the Kookas meet Ex Servos at Myimbarr, Kiama are at home to the Ratatouilles, and Shellharbour take on Albion Park at Albion Oval.
Ladder: Kookas 36, Ratatouilles 26, Ratettes 22, Lake 20, Kiama 18, Ex Servos, Park 16, Shellharbour 2.
A lovely game of cricket at Gerringong 1895
Mark Emery
There was a lovely article in a recent issue of The Bugle about the 170th anniversary of the Kiama Cricket Club.
All congratulations to them.
Now it makes logical sense that other cricket clubs would be celebrating something similar such as Gerringong and Jamberoo as of course Kiama needed somebody to play against.
But having a dig through the pile of junk in my home I came across an old scorebook from the Gerringong CC from 1895, more
than 130 years ago. On the first page was the first match of the season at what is now Michael Cronin Oval. Gerringong were playing Kiama CC.
In Kiama’s first innings, they scored 67 with Richardson the top scorer with 30 runs.
Gerringong had some luck in getting the opening bat McCaffrey out cheaply for two. More on him later.
Gerringong responded with 66 with King and Woods getting four wickets each.
In Kiama’s second innings, Gerringong were not as lucky with
Cricket scorecards from long ago
McCaffrey blasting 53 not out in an innings of 4/121. Gerringong were not able to match it in their second innings, only scoring 91. Sefton was chief destroyer with seven wickets.
It is wonderful to sit under the trees at Gerringong and imagine the battle happening in the middle 13 decades ago, with a cool breeze on your face.
I wonder how many of these names remain in the Kiama district 130 years later.
Not many remain from the Gerringong team although I can swear blind there is a Miller or two around somewhere.
Lleyton Hughes
The Kiama Cavaliers first grade side made a significant move in the tightly contested South Coast finals race with a strong win over the Ex Servos on the weekend.
Playing away from home at Worrigee, the Cavaliers were sent in to bat first and quickly slipped to 5-108 before Ryan Butta (56 off 59) and Brad Ison (74* off 79) steadied the innings.
“They put on a run-aball 108-run partnership, setting up a total that proved out of reach for the home team,” said Kiama Cavaliers president Bernie Brown.
“It was an excellent innings from Brad, who has shown grit and ability with the bat and is proving to be a genuine all-rounder. Butta was equally solid, raising his bat for his second 50 of the season.”
Kiama went on to post an imposing 9-227, with valuable contributions from Joe Burgess (31) and Dave Coleman (24).
With the ball, the Cavaliers
made the perfect start, with Niall Owers dismissing Ex Servos opener Lukas Janes with the first ball of the innings.
From there, the home side never looked like threatening Kiama’s total and were eventually bowled out for 131 in 34 overs.
“Mick Norris was outstanding with the ball,” Brown said. “He took 4-24, Glenn Cleary 3-27 and Niall Owers 2-32.”
The win sees first grade sitting fourth on the ladder with five rounds remaining in the regular season. They face T20 finalists Oak Flats this Saturday at Cav Park.
Around the grounds, it was a strong start to 2026 for Kiama’s lower grades, with both third and fourth grade recording wins.
Third grade travelled to face Shellharbour and bowled the hosts out for just 70 in the first innings, with Daniel Reilly, Bernie Brown, Nick Webster and Geoff McIntyre all taking two wickets each.
With the bat, Bernie Brown and Brendon
Czewlowski combined for 64 runs between them as Kiama reached 2-71 off 13.3 overs to secure the win. Third grade currently sit sixth on the ladder.
Fourth grade hosted the Kookas in a T20 clash and posted a commanding 182, built on contributions from Adam McCrone (48), Brett Nortje (52*), Zach Gervaise (40) and Milo Brown (21).
The Kookas responded well but fell 26 runs short, leaving Kiama second on the ladder.
Second grade, however, endured a tough outing, bowled out for 97 batting first. Jamberoo chased the total in 25.3 overs, despite a four-wicket haul from Kiama’s Joseph Timbs. Second grade remain third on the ladder.
The Cavettes also went down at home, posting a competitive 93 thanks largely to Ava Sloan (37*), but Ex Servos chased the target in 15.3 overs. The Cavettes sit one win outside the top four.
This weekend, first grade, third grade and the Cavettes all take on Oak Flats at home.
Cavs make their mark in top four
Jamberoo Sevens to pack village this weekend
Nearly 2000 people are expected this weekend for the annual Jamberoo Sevens - a summer football competition that has grown into one of the South Coast’s largest and most anticipated sporting events.
In its 26th year - and its third year being run independently by Jamberoo Football Clubthe tournament will feature close to 90 teams across men’s and women’s competitions, drawing players from across NSW and beyond.
Jamberoo Football Club president Alan Smith believes the event’s continued growth reflects its timing and its unique sense of community.
“We deliberately schedule it for the end of the school holidays, before the winter season starts,” he said.
“It’s a marker for preseason - a chance to get the band back together, have a weekend away with mates, play some football and have a bit of fun.”
While the competition has a long history - Smith is clear the Sevens has always been about more than just football.
“This is a community event first and foremost. Last year we had around 1500 people in town with no issues at all.
This year we’re expecting close to 2000. Local cafés, the bakery, the pub - everyone benefits. The whole town gets behind it.”
On Saturday alone, more than 130 matches will be played across multiple fields, with age divisions ranging from over-30s to over-55s, alongside rapidly growing women’s competitions.
Smith says the women’s divisions, in particular, highlight how far the tournament’s reach has expanded.
“At one point we only had two women’s teams,” he said. “This year we’ve got teams coming from the Far North Coast, Central Coast, Canberra, the Far South Coast and the South Coast. That growth has been really exciting to watch.”
Despite its size, teams are still encouraged to prioritise
participation over results, with flexible squad sizes and a strong emphasis on fair play. “It’s about having fun, not winning at all costs,” Smith said. “If a team’s short a player, lend them one. Everyone’s insured, everyone’s here for a good time.”
At the same time the tournament is fully sanctioned by Football Australia, with accredited referees overseeing matches. Smith has also worked with Football South Coast to use the event as a development opportunity for young referees. “They get exposure to different age groups, men’s and women’s games, and real match situations,” he said.
“It’s a great training ground, and it supports the future of the game.”
While the standard of play continues to rise - with returning champions and fiercely competitive divisions - Smith believes the enduring appeal of the Jamberoo Sevens lies in its balance of competition and community.
“Some teams come to win, some come for the weekend away, and most come for both,” he said. “That’s what makes it special.”
Smith first attended the tournament as a player more than 15 years ago, a visit that ultimately led him to move to Jamberoo permanently.
“This tournament brought me here,” he said.
Midweek ladies back on court to defend title
The Ladies Midweek Wollongong Competition starts next week and the local Kiama Division 1 side is in heavy training for the Tuesday competition.
Teams from Wollongong and Bulli dominate the line-up of entrants but the Kiama side became the "quiet achievers" to take the trophy for the competition at the end of last year.
Kiama’s team is Kate Sharp, Merrilyn Glaister, Kathy Wallace and Vicky Pritchard.
Vicky is a member of the Kiama Tennis Club and a Tennis Australia coach based in Bomaderry and she travels north each Tuesday to compete.
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