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OCTOBER - 15 OCTOB ER
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“If this was the wizard of Oz, Dorothy would be in trouble..” Myah Garza
A
rare tornado swept through Ulladulla on Saturday afternoon, ripping roofs from homes, tossing boats into a car park and causing cafe customers to
seek shelter. The tornado struck shortly after 1pm on October 3, when what had been a relatively calm, overcast day suddenly turned dark. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) said the tornado produced a wind-gust front
of 98 kilometres per hour and impacted 15 properties, with more than half a dozen severely damaged. At Native Cafe, owner Julius Machado was serving a busy lunch crowd when the weather changed in a matter of seconds.
“It was dark everywhere and suddenly a small mini tornado came through the Green Street and swept away all the tables, chairs, umbrellas, whatever comes in its way,” Mr Machado said. “It just swept away everything.”
The cafe was full, with customers enjoying lunch during the school holidays and long weekend, when the sudden burst of wind sent people rushing inside. Mr Machado said there was little time to react. “It was like a sudden, in a
matter of 30 seconds, it just happened,” he said. “People were sitting having coffee and lunch and suddenly just bang!” Staff directed customers into the kitchen, front and restaurant areas as the tornado passed.
Océane
sticking around p13
Whale ya look at that! p6
Best for breast p14
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9 October - 15 October 2026
Welcome to The Bugle If you thought the weird weather was over, think again! Spring on the South Coast is now reaching Biblical levels, with the Bogong Moth plague fluttering into its second week and now inspiring poems (see P.5). While their alleged migration is yet to happen, the whales have decided to show us their best moth impression by getting airborne themselves. In amazing pictures captured by visiting photographer Tim Van Leeuwen, the humpback migration south got up close and personal with surf life savers from Kiama SLSC surprised during a training session when the gentle giants made themselves known (see P.6). Contrary to reports in the Illawarra Mercury, which included a distant photo of surf ski competitors labelled as ‘paddleboarders’ – a recreational activity that has nothing to do with the 124+ year volunteer organisation of surf life saving – the cadets did not intentionally put themselves in the path of whales (LOL). That, in fact, is something almost physiologically impossible to do with human arms unable to match the speed, pace and positioning of whales in the open ocean – particularly with young calves in attendance. Meanwhile, an actual tornado made ground in Ulladulla – the first on the South Coast since 2013 – so seemed only right to assign our resident American Myah Garza to the unusual phenomenon (P.7). She spoke with eye witnesses who watched boats blown from the harbour into a car park and our favoruite Environmental Science expert Dr Daryl ‘Dazza’ McPhee. Then those appreciating art at Daisy Spring Festival on Saturday afternoon found themselves dodging hail stones as ice balls the size of marbles were shot from heaven (see P.15). What can we expect next? Only time will tell, but to quote Twister: “I gotta go, Julia. We got cows …”
2
Yeah the girls!
M xx @maria__lewis
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The Bugle sweeps nominations for 2026 Country Press Awards
V
ery rarely do we take an opportunity to blow our own bugle, as it were, but following five nominations for the upcoming 2026 Country Press NSW Awards Of Excellence it’s time to put ourselves on blast. With the full list of nominees for Australia’s oldest running media awards announced last week, The Bugle received recognition across most major categories in what General Manager Belle Wood said is a “proud moment for our whole team”. “With five nominations spanning journalism, photography, advertising and front-page design, the recognition reaches across so much of what we do,” she said. “We’re a small team, and we know the effort behind every
edition, so seeing that work recognised by our industry means a great deal.” With nominations for Best Front Page and Best Advertising Feature Or Campaign, Digital and Design Editor Veronica Bardsley said it was a recognition of the more creative visual direction The Bugle has taken since March. “In Kiama, there are a lot of artists that find their way down here,” she said. “It’s such a beautiful and creative area, it’s nice to have a newspaper that matches that vibe. “And colour makes you happy – why wouldn’t you want to be happy?” The Bugle’s former editor Amy Molloy is also nominated for Best News Story, while
current editor Maria Lewis is nominated for Journalist Of The Year, with the nods an acknowledgement of the paper’s ongoing commitment to free, independent community journalism. “Being free to read shouldn’t mean readers have to expect less from their local newspaper,” Wood said. “Our community deserves accurate reporting, thoughtful coverage and a publication that takes their concerns seriously. These nominations recognise the value of that work. “They’re also something our readers and advertisers can share in, because their support makes independent local journalism possible.” A familiar face on the beach at local surfing events and the
South Coast’s resident sporting savant, photographer Brian Scott was also nominated for Best Sports Photo marking multiple nominations for The Bugle across multiple years. “I think repeated recognition speaks to the care and consistency our team brings to the paper, even as people and roles change,” Wood said. “We keep showing up, asking questions and telling the stories that matter locally. “Awards are encouraging, but the real measure is whether our community continues to find The Bugle useful, trustworthy and relevant to their lives.” The winners of the 2026 Country Press NSW Awards Of Excellence will be announced in Orange on Friday, October 23.
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9 October - 15 October 2026
Does New South Wales Top Tourism Town need a top police presence?
Maria Lewis
T
here was a time when uniformed police officers were a familiar presence in Kiama. You would see them walking along Terralong Street in pairs, you would catch them grabbing a bite to eat in a local café, you would see – and try to avoid – them as they waited at the bottom of Manning Street, looking for traffic infringements. Yet it has been over a decade since that was a sight and with Kiama booming, there are calls for law enforcement to be bumped up to meet increasing demand. Retired Senior Constable John Ernst was staffed at Kiama Police Station in the seventies and said he has watched in surprise as the local population has dramatically increased while the local police presence has dramatically decreased. “We had one officer for roughly around 1,250 residents back then,” he told The Bugle, having staffed the station from 1972 to 1975. “We covered shifts from 7am to 11pm, then one officer would be nominated as the on-call person so if something happened after hours when you’d gone home – and most of us lived in the area – then you would hop in your car and deal with it. “It was covered 24 hours a day. “By 1994, 10 officers were stationed here on a permanent basis. “Now if it warranted 10 officers in 1994 and we didn’t have the tourism influx we have now, then the situation we’ve got is madness.”
With Kiama’s estimated population around 6,720 residents when Ernst was on the local beat, its current estimated population of more than 23,000 – a number that swells drastically every holiday season in-line with its status as New South Wales Top Tourism Town three years in a row – has only one officer to service the Local Government Area. With primary operations conducted out of Lake Illawarra some 20 kilometres away, residents, business owners, visitors and local politicians have been asking whether that is enough to tackle the increasing issues around E-bike riders, vandalism, theft and dangerous behaviour on train lines. “This station has been a bugbear for me from day one,” Councillor Yasmin Tatrai told The Bugle, having frequently spoken out on the issue over the years. “When they were walking along the street saying hello to people, when the police knew people by name and people knew them from having dinner at the local pub, it was much better. “That kind of community policing doesn’t exist here anymore and that’s why I think you’re seeing this rise in youth crime: they think they can get away with it.” Built in 1884, Kiama Police Station is a heritage listed building and although no longer staffed with half a dozen officers, is not ‘abandoned’ as members of the public have claimed. “I have as recently as last week confirmed with a Superintendent in Lake Illawarra that the station has one officer there during the
daytime hours,” said Member For Kiama Kateline McIernay. “What the Superintendant’s caveat on that was is if they are short staffed at the command more, general duties officers are not in the stations, they’re out in their cars and are responding to jobs from the cars. “What he said to me was every police vehicle is a mobile police station, so if you knock and there’s no answer, the reality is our general duty officer is out on the road, responding to police calls.” In regards to an increased number of permanent officers at Kiama Police Station, McIernay added “we’ve
dedicated Kiama command and a dedicated Warilla command,” she told The Bugle. “That structure from the seventies is just no longer how our police districts are shaped.” As recently as October last year, Minister For Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley held a press conference on the lawns of the Kiama Police Station announcing that it was reopening and would be “serviced 24-hours a day” by the Lake Illawarra Police District with officers patrolling in fully equipped police vehicles and “patrols ensuring round-the-clock
definitely had many calls from community members seeking that”. “Because we are now part of the Lake Illawarra police command, there used to be a
coverage for the community and surrounding areas, backed by specialist units and intelligence-based deployments as needed”. “The Kiama Police Station
has stood the test of time and remains a much-loved part of this beautiful town,” Minister Catley said at the time. “Face-to-face interaction with police is important for many people, and this building provides just that. It stands as a place of connection for the community and complements the outstanding work of officers across the Lake Illawarra Police District. “The Minns Labor Government is committed to backing our police with the safe workplaces, facilities and resources they need to keep communities right across the South Coast safe.” However, for many locals – including Ernst – they’re yet to see the investment in local policing on the ground they were promised a year ago, prompting him to write to Minister Catley on the issue. “Basically it’s not even a satellite station like all these smaller stations we used to have back in the day, such as Dapto,” he said. “They use this as somewhere to come and have a cup of coffee, get some lunch, they’ll do some paperwork here, but there’s nobody here. “If a resident came in and said look, I’d like to report an accident or someone just got assaulted, you can’t report that to someone in person – you have to ring. And if you don’t have a phone, who helps you?” Liberal candidate Serena Copley said it is one of the issues she hears about most frequently from the public as she’s pounding the pavement heading into an election year. “The community are talking to me with their concerns,
that I’m taking seriously and making sure they’re heard and then escalated and addressed,” she said. While it is a State Government issue and has been sent up the chain, McIernay wanted to remind the public about the importance of formally reporting issues to law enforcement as the fight for increased staff numbers continues. “Officers tell me consistently police allocation and resources are done based on evidencebased reporting,” she said. “That means the number of incidents being reported is crucial. “If you do have a close call with an illegal E-bike rider or a young person riding in a reckless fashion, if that does not get reported to police it does not go into our statistics and it means police find it much harder to respond. “Reporting it on Facebook does not count towards crime statistics.” With police operations like Operation Spoiler and Operation E-Voltage conducted over these school holidays and previous school holidays this year specifically to target illegal E-Bike riders and “anti-social behaviour”, it’s a step in the right direction – but one that’s not large enough for some. “I thought they should have brought back permanent staff members here 10 years ago,” said Ernst. “I’ll put it to you this way, if you’re driving and you see a highway patrol car, what do you do? You slow down. “If you’ve got police that are proactively patrolling, you’re going to get a downturn in the problems we have here with the kids and the E-bikes.”
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Amy Molloy
G
erringong dad, Adam Dunn, never meant to create a commercial product when he started playing with an idea for a card game. “I was just trying to teach my daughter an old family game that I used to play with my grandparents,” he said. “She didn’t find it interesting, using a standard deck of cards, so I decided to make up different characters to make it more interesting to her – goblins and dragons.” The brief was simple: keep the social speed of a casual card game, but give the strategic depth that rewards thinking. Add a cyberpunk skin, “because cyberpunk rules.” With two children under the age of 15, the first testers of the prototype were harsh critics, but they enjoyed it. The game took off in their family, but it would take multiple years and multiple evolutions to create the finished product. “The second version took off amongst the family,” says Dunn, whose wife Angie was also part of the game’s creation. “That drove us to introduce it to a wider circle.” They trimmed the rules and changed the card count
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Ahead of the game: Gerringong dad’s cyberpunk card game takes world stage “to make sure it doesn’t turn into this never-ending thing, or something that ends too quickly.” Two years of playtesting later, Wireburn arrived as a 59-card deck for 2–6 players where you stack sequences across three shared docks, attack opponents, defend with NULL shields, and trigger the Final Firewall to win. Games last 20– 40 minutes. No app, no batteries. Just cards on a table. Described as “a fastpaced, cutthroat cyberpunk card game” for one to six players, Wireburn involves “data packets”, three docks, and maths with the goal of “hijacking colours” and damaging your opponent. Dunn, who works as an electrician by day, says the game’s creation was “just a bit of a gamble.” “These may end up in the garage forever,” he says. “We’re still at the cusp of whether this will happen – we need to offload them. Worst case, we give them out to friends so the game can live on.” An early stockist was Kiama Toyworld, followed by independent stores in Melbourne and Sydney. A game-changing
milestone came when it was announced that Wireburn had been selected as one of twelve games to be showcased at PAX Aus, Australia’s ultimate gaming festival, which takes place in early October. The PAX Aus Indie Showcase powered by Superloop is an honour bestowed by a select panel of judges to some of Australia’s greatest independent tabletop and video games submitted by game developers, with selected winners of the Aus Indie Showcase securing a booth at PAX to share their creations with the world. “I’m excited for the vibe and being able to put it out there in front of a more experienced audience that can give me more feedback,” says Dunn. “It’s landed well within our inner circle, but these people know about games and will give me proper feedback.” He also hopes PAX will open doors to reach new audiences. “I’ve reached out to bigger chains [stores], but it’s harder to get into them,” says Dunn. “I think PAX might be the turning point with all that. If that happens, we need to order more. Either way, it’s been a great experience.”
9 October - 15 October 2026 Supplied Lucky African Dance
4
World culture comes to Kiama Myah Garza
K
iama will celebrate the many cultures represented across the region this Saturday, October 10, with the first “major” Kiama Culture Fest taking over Hindmarsh Park. The free festival will run from 11am to 5pm, with live music and dance, cultural demonstrations, food stalls, workshops and activities planned throughout the day. The program will feature performers representing cultures from around the world, including African, Indian, Brazilian, Peruvian, Macedonian, Irish, Japanese and Chinese traditions, as well as a Welcome and Corroboree by Traditional Owners. Among the many talented performers will be Lucky African Dance, led by Ghanaian-born dancer, choreographer and visual artist Lucky Lartey. The Sydney-based company will bring performers from Ghana, South Africa, Guinea and Senegal to Kiama, with its set featuring traditional West and Southern African music and dance. The performance will include South African gumboot dancing, where performers use their boots and bodies to create rhythms, alongside the kora, a 21-string West African instrument, and djembe drums. Lartey said the festival is an opportunity to share more than just a performance, but
“a form of celebration” and “a way of sending a message.” “It’s always a great pleasure to be able to showcase African culture on an Australian stage and share with everyone,” he said. “I think the most important is really to be able to educate people about where we come from and also give them a taste of what African music is really about. “ He said drumming could be a way of bringing people together, while also being used for celebration, healing, stress relief and exercise. “We also work a lot in juvenile detention centres using drums as a healing tool and also as a way of, you know, getting people to work together as a team.” “It’s not just for entertainment,” he said. “It's really about bringing people together – the drums are a way of bringing people together.” Lartey said he was looking forward to connecting with a new audience after returning from a month in Africa, where he had been visiting family and researching a new dance work. The festival will also feature a range of free creative activities, including Turkish tile painting, Spanish fan decorating, traditional shell art, crochet and mosaicinspired paper plate making. Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said the festival had grown from previous cultural events, including
“Kiamasala", and was made possible through an $82,500 Multicultural NSW grant. “It gives us an opportunity to explore all the different cultures that make up not only Kiama, but Australia, and showcase them,” he said. McDonald said the festival was also an opportunity for people to experience cultures and traditions they may not otherwise encounter in their everyday lives. “I think it really is about being exposed to something that potentially you're not often exposed to in your own daily life,” he said. Food will also accompany the festivities, including local vendors such as: Indian street food from By The Sea, Turkish street food from Saltwater Cafe, Mexican food from… Kiama Leagues Club, Macedonian dishes and Asian fusion from Uncle Fukus. The Orry Kelly Stage will host the performances throughout the day and will be Auslan interpreted, with accessibility support from Uniting. Free shuttle buses will run between Kiama Leisure Centre and Kiama Leagues Club from 11am to 5pm. Culture Fest will be held at Hindmarsh Park on Saturday, October 10, from 11am to 5pm. The festival map and lineup can be found here: https:// kiama.com.au/kiamaculture-fest
Supplied Lucky African Dance
SEE WWW.THEPAVILIONKIAMA.COM.AU FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
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NEWS www.thebuglenews.com.au
9 October - 15 October 2026
BLOW YOUR BUGLE
If you have something to say, email your letter to editor@thebuglenews.com.au
Waste not, want not, why not?
M
ayor Cameron McDonald Kiama Council is right to ask whether its bulky waste service is still fit for purpose, and more importantly, fit for Council’s financial future. But the test of any replacement should be more than savings: residents must have an affordable, practical way to dispose of unwanted household items. Consultation on the proposed changes to the bulky waste service, open until 26 October, offers three choices: end the twice-yearly drop-off events while retaining paid kerbside collection and providing a waste-charge rebate; introduce dropoff vouchers alongside the rebate; or retain the existing events. These are meaningful and pragmatic alternatives, deserving careful consideration rather than a reflexive defence of the status quo, it is clear that Council needs to find savings, somewhere, in order to peel back the $4.5 million budget deficit that is a key feature of the State Government’s
Performance Improvement Order. Mayor McDonald says workplace safety is also driving the review, citing repeated incidents and a facility that is not fit for purpose. That is a serious argument. Residents should not expect council workers to accept avoidable risks simply because a familiar service is popular. Through the Mayor’s Column in The Bugle, McDonald also points to encouraging results from July’s move to fortnightly recycling. In August, recycling-bin presentation rose from 66 to 76 per cent compared with the previous year, while average bin weight increased from six to eight kilograms. Simply, less trips and more recycling, surely a good news story. But we should be careful to not conflate the experience of yellow recycling bins, to the management of bulky waste. A voucher system looks worthy of exploring, particularly if it offers greater flexibility than two annual events. But its
Willo’s Wayfinders wants a village for youth
Myah Garza
A
local project is encouraging parents and carers to rethink how young people are supported through the often challenging transition from childhood to adulthood. The Wayfinders Project runs modern rites of passage in Kiama, creating intentional experiences for tweens and teens to test themselves, build confidence and resilience, and have their growth recognised by the adults around them. Founder Willo Boniface said rites of passage had traditionally brought families, elders and mentors
together to mark an important stage in a young person’s life. “Many moons ago, we used to intentionally guide our kids into adulthood, and it was an event that the whole village came together for,” she said. “It was a celebration, and our young people got to experience what they were capable of.” The Wayfinders Project is hosting a free information night, It Takes A Village, at the Joyce Wheatley Community Centre on Thursday, October 15, from 6pm to 7pm. The evening is aimed at parents, grandparents and carers of tweens and
value will depend on the discount, eligible materials and assistance for people without suitable vehicles. A rebate means little if the replacement service becomes unaffordable. Illegal dumping should be treated as a risk to prevent, not an inevitable consequence or a reason to abandon reform. Council should publish how it would monitor dumping, respond quickly and preserve accessible disposal options. Unsafe disposal also deserves attention. In January 2025, a Kiama waste truck caught fire and its load was emptied at the pavilion carpark. Incorrect battery disposal was suspected. That incident was not evidence of illegal dumping, but it illustrates the dangers when hazardous items enter ordinary waste streams. The Bugle’s View is that change can be reasonable. The strongest proposal will protect workers, make legitimate disposal easier and demonstrate that savings are not merely shifting costs and rubbish, elsewhere.
teens and will explore how families can create their own modern rites of passage — meaningful experiences that help young people recognise their capabilities while giving them a clear sense of moving into a new stage of life. Recent local activities have included a 30km walk from Stanwell Park to Wollongong Lighthouse for 11 to 13-yearold girls, accompanied by a mentor chosen by the group. Another involved a 24km walk from Kiama Harbour to Werri Lagoon and back to Kiama Lighthouse, where families gathered to celebrate the young people’s achievement. Boniface said the aim was to give young people experiences that showed them they could “do hard things”, while surrounding them with adults who could support and guide them. “It gave everyone involved a sense of belonging; the child felt seen, elders felt valued as they shared their wisdom, and mentors stepped in when it was time for mum and dad to step back,” Boniface said. The It Takes A Village information night is free, with limited places available through The Wayfinders Project.
Millions of Moths by Linda Davidson Millions of moths, Bogong they’re called. Fluttering down Bong Bong Street And on yachts, where they’re moored. Covering the Pines, Near Kiama Blowhole. Dancing on Bottlebrush Sharing Little Corella’s pole. Is the Daisy Spring Festival What they’ve come here for? Dislike them or love them, They’re hard to ignore. Like a frolic of fairies Dear Editor, Kiama readers may have noticed Shoalhaven Council asking the state government for $100 million for roads, spread across the Kiama and South Coast electorates, ahead of the March election. It is worth knowing how we got here. In 2024 the Shoalhaven Independents Group (SIG) promised to “fix Shoalhaven’s roads and potholes – fix it once, fix it right”, to stop outof-control rate rises, and to end block voting. Two years on, the council’s CEO says the roads backlog keeps growing and that bringing roads up to an acceptable standard needs
Such a magical site. The whisper of moths Fly towards light. Inside people’s homes, Moths are clustering on walls. Finding cracks in the door, They’re inundating halls. Then we awake one morning And the spell has been broken. “Bogongs begone!” Must have been spoken. An eclipse of mocha Migrating to Australian Alps caves. Leaving Kiama’s shore, Saying goodbye to crystal blue waves.
more than $800 million over ten years. Council voted a permanent 12 per cent rate rise in December 2024, three months into the term. In July, the land-sales package and a motion to assess the sites one by one were each decided 7–6 by the same working majority. This month the Mayor quit SIG, but the other six councillors in that majority are all still in the chamber. Council’s own papers also show road spending falling from about one dollar in five of the operating budget to one in seventeen, as Acting Mayor Peter Wilkins told the 28 July meeting. Lobbying Sydney is reasonable. So is asking what Council is putting up itself. Disappointed voters are
now being courted by One Nation, polling around 25 per cent nationally. In the past month a former state leader has told Four Corners it is run “more like a small business”, and would-be Victorian candidates have described a $150 application fee and a further $5,500 if chosen. In NSW the party removed its state leader in 2023, his successor quit in 2024, and it has no NSW MPs. Different badge, same question. Whoever asks for your vote in March, ask what they promised, what they delivered, and when they last voted against their own side. Steve Prothero Eye on Shoalhaven Council
YO U ’ R E I N V I T E D TO O U R F I N A L O P E N DAY FO R 2 02 6 THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER 9:30AM – 12:30PM Explore our vibrant community, experience the lifestyle firsthand, and discover why so many residents are proud to call Cedar on Collins home.
TO REGISTER CALL LAURA ON 1800 470 585, VISIT CEDARKIAMA.COM.AU OR SCAN THE QR CODE SPACES ARE LIMITED You may have to pay a departure fee when you leave this village.
6 Book fair gives pre-loved reads a new chapter THE BUGLE NEWS
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9 October - 15 October 2026
Whale ya look at that! Surf lifesavers get a surprise visit from local humpbacks
Photo by Tim Van Leeuwen
uwen Van Lee im T y b o Phot
Maria Lewis
I
t started out just like any other training session for Kiama surf lifesavers, with the cadets and their coach paddling out from Surf Beach on Saturday morning.
Yet a pod of humpback whales migrating south had other plans, surprising the seven paddlers with an awe-inspiring display as they breached from below. “The kids all came in wideeyed,” Kiama SLSC President David Griffin told The Bugle. “They couldn’t believe it.
The whales tend to come in closer when they’re heading back south, depending on the currents. “So it’s not that unusual, but we used to say that Father’s Day was peak whale – that was the last time you’d see them for the season. “Obviously that’s in September and we’re well into October now and they’re looking thicker than they did heading north, they’re hanging around longer and way more playful.” With the beginning of the surf life saving season dedicated to long distance, Griffin said other cadets have had whales come up “within a few hundred metres” during endurance paddles from Bass Point. “It was the same on Wednesday,” he added. “I was on the beach with the little tackers and there was just so much whale activity out there.” It was a case of right place, right time for professional photographer Tim Van Leeuwen, who was visiting from Melbourne and managed to capture the spectacle at the perfect moment. “It was an amazing thing to witness, honestly,” he told The Bugle. “I’m an avid bird photographer, so had the right gear with me to get a close shot on a long lens. “We were making our way from the Blowhole along the same side as Surf Beach when we saw the kids paddling out and hugging the coast. “I actually had them in focus and then the breach happened. It came out of nowhere.”
Van Leeuwen said people had been “standing and watching” on the headland for a long while as the whales made their way towards Kiama. However, when they disappeared under the surface for a long while he thought the show was over and diverted his photographic attention to the surf life savers. “It was an incredible thing to see,” Van Leeuwen said. “The little whale was performing the whole way.” The incredible shots come after a very active month of humpback whale sightings, which Bond University’s Associate Professor of Environmental Science Dr Daryl McPhee said is to be expected with the “population boom”. “There’s more of them, they’re more active, and they’re sticking around longer,” he told The Bugle. “That’s what we’re seeing up the entire coastline. “Part of it of course is when you have more whales, you start to see a diversity of behaviour. “We’ll have hundreds of reports come in, only to realise it’s the one whale – the same whale - having the time of their life. “Probably what’s more relevant is how close they are, how they’re moving closer and closer to the coast and moving into places they may have never visited before. “I think it’s the new normal.” Dr McPhee said keen whale watchers can “expect to see more” of this kind of behaviour as the tail end of the season continues, with the humpbacks braver and bolder than ever before.
Emily Crisp
A
book donated from one South Coast bookshelf could help support someone in crisis when Lifeline South Coast’s Big Book Fair returns to Berkeley this October. Running from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October at the Illawarra Sports & Community Precinct, the fair will bring together thousands of pre-loved books, with proceeds supporting services across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and South Coast. One regular visitor said the fair offered a chance to give back while adding a few new titles to their bookshelf. “It’s a great opportunity to support Lifeline and pick up a few books for your stash. I often find new releases when I’m there.” Fiction, biographies, children’s books, cookbooks, history and hobby titles will be among the books available, all donated by members of the community and prepared for sale by volunteers. Behind the tables of books is a substantial community effort, with volunteers sorting and organising thousands of titles before shoppers arrive. Lifeline South Coast CEO Renee Green said that shared contribution was what made the event special. “People donate books, volunteers give their time, local businesses and community groups
get behind us, and then thousands of people come through the doors to find their next great read.” “What makes it even more meaningful is knowing that every purchase helps support the important work Lifeline South Coast does in our local communities.” The organisation provides crisis support, suicide prevention services, mental health training and community wellbeing programs. Money raised through the fair helps it continue supporting people experiencing distress, loneliness, mental health challenges and crisis. This year’s event will also include a sensory hour from 4pm to 5pm on Saturday 24 October, with reduced noise, softer lighting and a relaxed atmosphere for visitors who prefer a calmer environment. “Providing an inclusive and supportive atmosphere is a priority for us,” Ms Green said. School students attending the fair can also nominate their school for a chance to win $200 worth of books. The fair opens on Thursday 22 October from 5pm to 9pm, with a $10 entry fee. Entry is a gold coin on Friday and Saturday, when opening hours are 9am to 5pm, and Sunday, when the fair runs from 9am to 4pm. More information is available at lifelinesouthcoast.org.au/ book-fair.
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THE BUGLE NEWS
9 October - 15 October 2026
“If that was in The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's in trouble”
NEWS www.thebuglenews.com.au
tornadoShoalhaven city coucil
Trees targeted by vandals Myah Garza
K Ulladulla tornadov ia: Facebook
Ulladulla Native. FionaPhillips
Tornado tears through Ulladulla in minutes Continued from page 1
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hile the experience was frightening, nobody at the cafe was injured. “That was our main priority,” Mr Machado said. “Damages, we can recover, you know.” The tornado lasted only a couple of minutes before conditions quickly settled. However, outside the cafe, the damage was more dramatic. “There were some boats on the harbour. They flew away in the car park.” Native sits beside the harbour, giving Mr Machado a front-row view of the chaos. “That was like a Hollywood kind of movie scene, to be honest,” he said. “Just feel like laughing about it, but during that moment it was so scary. I was just worried about the safety of customers and staff.” Customers and staff helped clean up after the storm. The cafe closed early on Saturday to deal with the mess, with broken glasses and plates scattered throughout the premises. By Sunday, Mr Machado and his team had the cafe back open. The tornado also caught the attention of Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Bond University, Dr Daryl McPhee.
With wild weather unusual for the South Coast, he said he was shocked to see footage confirming the severity of the Ulladulla event. “I was surprised to see it was a genuine tornado,” he told The Bugle. “Looking at the Ulladulla footage, if that was in The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's in trouble. “It’s not an area known for extreme weather, like the Darling Downs or the Gold Coast where anything can happen over summer.” Dr McPhee said tornadoes could produce highly localised destruction, with a narrow path of damage leaving one area severely affected while nearby streets remain relatively untouched. “There was one that struck Helensvale on the Gold Coast on Christmas night in 2023,” he said. “There was some disagreement as to whether that was a tornado or a downdraft, but you could drive around and one street is completely demolished. “Then the next street over has got a leaf blown off a single tree or a branch down.” Hailed as a rare phenomenon, it’s not as unusual as people think with another tornado striking between Berry and Gerroa in February, 2013. Occurring overnight as multiple thunderstorms collided, witnesses at the
time reported an “extreme roar” as the storm tore through, with much of the destruction occurring in uninhabited areas of bush in and around Seven Mile National Park. In contrast, Mr Machado said this 2026 tornado was unlike anything he had experienced on the South Coast or anywhere in the country. “I have never seen in Ulladulla – or anywhere in Australia – like that before,” he said. “It was like the rarest moment.” The SES received more than 90 calls for assistance across NSW following the severe weather, including 29 around Ulladulla. SES volunteers from Ulladulla were joined by crews from Nowra, Batemans Bay, St Georges Basin and Sutton as they worked through the damage. The Ulladulla Sea Pool was also temporarily closed after the storm destroyed its entry shelter, gate and front fence. Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips visited Native Cafe after the storm and praised Mr Machado, co-owner Lalita and their team for keeping customers safe and reopening the business. For Mr Machado, the damage was secondary to the fact that everyone made it out safely. “At the end of the day, nobody got hurt,” he said.
iama Council is increasing ranger patrols at Bombo and Minnamurra headlands following reports of trees being vandalised, as police continue increased operations targeting antisocial behaviour during the school holidays. The additional Council patrols come alongside operations including Operation Spoiler and Operation E-Voltage, which have been conducted over the school holidays to target issues including illegal E-bike riding and anti-social behaviour across Kiama. Landcare volunteer Bob King said trees had been cut down using hammers, nails and saws, with fires, rubbish and drug paraphernalia also allegedly left at the sites. A Council spokesperson said: “Kiama Municipal Council has been made aware of tree vandalism which has occurred at the Bombo and Minnamurra headlands. “Council will be increasing ranger patrols at these areas as a result of this antisocial behaviour.” Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said: “I am appalled by the actions of the vandals who have attacked trees on our coastline. This is
senseless behaviour and if anyone has witnessed this vandalism, please contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or Kiama Council on 4232 0444.” Under Council’s Public Tree Management Policy 2022, penalty infringement notices will be issued by Council for minor offences, while more serious acts of vandalism may result in further action being taken through the Local Court or the Land and Environment Court. The increased ranger patrols add another layer of enforcement during a period when police have already been stepping up operations across Kiama. Residents are encouraged to report incidents directly to police or Council so they can be formally recorded.
FeaturedRecipe CHOCOLATE TRAIL MIX SLICE This deliciously crunchy, chewy slice is packed with oats, fruit, coconut and peanut butter, then finished with a layer of chocolate —making it a perfect treat for morning tea or the lunchbox. PREP TIME
COOK TIME
SERVINGS
15 MIN
3HR
24
Method
Ingredients 140g (1 ½ cups) rolled oats 55g (1 ½ cups) rice bubbles 130g (1 ½ cups) desiccated coconut 6 Weet-Bix, crushed 165g (1 cup) dried apricots, chopped 90g (½ cup) sultanas 205g (1¼ cups) lightly packed brown sugar 180ml (¾ cup) honey 200g (¾ cup) peanut butter 180g butter, chopped Chocolate topping 200g dark cooking chocolate, melted 30g butter
1.Grease and line a 4cm deep, 22cm x 32cm slab pan or medium roasting pan with baking paper, allowing the long edges to extend 2cm. 2. Combine oats, rice bubbles, coconut, Weet-Bix and fruit in a large bowl. 3.Stir brown sugar, honey, peanut butter and butter in saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. 4. Increase heat to medium and simmer for 5 mins, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens slightly. 5.Stir honey mix into dry ingredients until well combined. Press evenly into the prepared tin. 6.Refrigerate for 3 hours or until set. 7. Combine melted chocolate with butter, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over slice. 8.Refrigerate until set. 9.Lift slice from pan. Cut into squares. Tips: Line the tin with baking paper, leaving a little overhang on the sides, to make the slice easy to lift out once set. Allow the slice to chill completely before cutting for neat, even squares. For cleaner cuts, use a sharp knife warmed slightly under hot water and dried before slicing.
CWA Kiama Evening Branch meets at 6.30 pm on the first Wednesday of the month at Kiama Downs Surf Life Saving Club, 150 North Kiama Drive, Kiama Downs. Send an email to secretary.cwakiamaevening@gmail.com to find out more. We would love to hear from you and welcome you to our CWA branch.
THE BUGLE NEWS
BUSINESS www.thebuglenews.com.au
Rooted in Country
9 October - 15 October 2026
Migrant workers vital as hospitality shortage grows Myah Garza
K Andrew Storer, Cuba Foster-Connolly and Aaron Taylor, Marring Country Opening, Bundanon, 2026. Photo Anthony Rigby- Smith
Country Opening, dancers, Marring nt de stu ng rri Ma Rigby-Smith . Photo Anthony Bundanon, 2026
Raymond Timbery and Rachel Kent , Marring Country Opening, Bundanon, 2026. Photo Anthony Rigby-Smith
Myah Garza
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new native plant nursery at Bundanon is giving Marring Country a new way to turn cultural education into jobs, training and hands-on work caring for Country. The First Nations-led nursery, established and operated by Indigenousowned organisation Marring, officially opened last week after three years of planning and development. Marring CEO Ray Timbery, said the nursery is the latest piece of a much bigger picture. Marring began in 2021 and has grown from delivering cultural education programs to one school in Nowra, now to several schools, and its current evolution as an organisation with a focus on education, leadership, employment and connection to Country. Its new nursery at Bundanon is focused on creating a base for horticulture, plant propagation, restoration and future employment opportunities. “It didn't happen overnight,” Mr Timbery said. “A lot of people see that …
the plane taking off ... but they don't see the work that goes on, building the runway and training the pilot.” That work has included building relationships, securing planting opportunities and developing a business model that can operate beyond government funding. The nursery was established with $119,740 from the NSW Government's Aboriginal Economic Development and Business Growth Program, which funded site works, a greenhouse and other infrastructure. It will employ three Indigenous staff in its first year, including a nursery manager and two junior staff who will receive on-the-job training. But Timbery sees the employment potential extending well beyond those initial positions. Marring already runs a junior ranger program, with about 160 children taking part each year. The nursery provides another step in a pathway that can begin with learning about plants and Country at school before moving into horticulture, land management and eventually employment.
“Before you start looking at employment pathways, we wanted to make sure that we were educating kids around nursery, horticulture, plant propagation, all of that sort of stuff,” Mr Timbery said. “So that's kind of the stepping stone. So we've got the junior ranger, then we're going to start working with the high schools. And then the final piece is then that employment opportunity.” The nursery is already growing 10,000 plants, including she-oaks propagated from seed collected from feed trees used by the endangered glossy black cockatoo. Timbery said the work opened up opportunities beyond the nursery itself, including revegetation and rehabilitation teams, ranger programs and native food production. “The opportunity of employment is huge in that regard because the work is endless,” he said. “There's so many different branches.” Bundanon has provided land for the nursery and plans to source plants directly from Marring to support its bush regeneration work. Bundanon CEO Rachel Kent said the relationship between
the organisations began in 2024 and had grown through a series of collaborations. She described the partnership as being based on “mutual trust and respect”, while emphasising that the nursery is Marring's project, with Bundanon providing space and support. The nursery’s environmental role is interested in restoring habitat and food sources affected by the 2019-20 bushfires. Kent said she-oaks were a particular focus because they provide food for glossy black cockatoos, with the nursery able to propagate trees from identified feed trees. For Timbery, the nursery is ultimately about creating another way for people to connect with Country. “We just see this as a place where we can really talk about that reconciliation piece and say like, well, let's care for Country together,” he said. Marring Country is now looking to grow the nursery and the opportunities around it, with Timbery saying the organisation could rapidly expand its workforce as the new business unit develops. “This Marring Country unit was just a no-brainer, really,” he said.
iama hospitality businesses are facing increasing pressure to find and retain staff, with industry bodies warning a reduction in skilled migration could make the shortage worse. The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and Accommodation Australia say there are currently more than 40,000 vacancies across hotels, pubs, restaurants and bars nationally. The groups are calling for greater investment in hospitality training, while maintaining access to skilled migrant workers to fill positions that cannot be recruited locally. Saltwater Cafe owner Gülçin Töpel said finding experienced and reliable staff had become more difficult in recent years, particularly in a regional area like Kiama. “There are fewer suitable applicants, and when you do find good people, retaining them can also be challenging because there is so much competition between hospitality businesses,” she said. “For a small business, staffing shortages can have a very direct impact on how many hours we can open and the level of service we can provide.” Töpel said migrant workers were an important part of the cafe’s workforce and the broader hospitality industry. “They bring experience, skills and a strong work ethic, and they often fill roles that are already very difficult to recruit for locally,” she said.
The AHA has warned proposed changes and caps to migration could put further pressure on operators, particularly in regional areas. AHA National CEO Stephen Ferguson said hospitality businesses were already struggling with vacancies, with some regional venues limiting service or closing kitchens on certain days because they cannot find enough workers. Accommodation Australia CEO James Goodwin said targeted migration was needed to fill workforce gaps, while also calling for more of the $74 million hospitality employers contribute to the Skilling Australians Fund to be directed towards hospitality training. The groups are calling for a dedicated hospitality training fund, increased incentives for apprentice cooks and chefs, and the return of employer incentives for hospitality traineeships. Töpel said addressing the shortage would require both stronger local training and continued access to skilled migration. “We should continue investing in training and encouraging more local people into hospitality, but skilled migration also needs to remain accessible to businesses that genuinely cannot fill positions locally,” she said. She said regional operators also faced challenges including housing availability, transport and a smaller local workforce. “Making the visa and sponsorship process simpler and more practical for small businesses would also make a real difference,” she said.
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THE BUGLE NEWS
BUSINESS www.thebuglenews.com.au
9 October - 15 October 2026
From solar to home vatteries & EVs: Is your solar power system ready for what’s next?
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iama has embraced rooftop solar. Around 45% of homes in the 2533 postcode now have solar, and the average system is 6.6kW. This is a great starting point – but it may not be enough for many households’ likely future usage. When the bulk of Kiama’s solar systems were installed, the goal was simple: generate electricity during the day, use what you can and send any extra back to the grid (and get paid handsomely for it). But Solar Feed-In Tariffs have dropped from extremely generous to a pittance; and usage in most of our homes is increasing. Bit by bit, many of us are replacing gas appliances with electric alternatives, running more air-conditioning, installing batteries and, increasingly, buying electric vehicles (EVs). An EV significantly adds to a household’s electricity use (most EV batteries are around 70-80kWh). A 6.6kW solar power system only generates around 25kWh/day; not enough to cover daytime
household needs and regular daytime EV charging – particularly in winter or on cloudy days. If you want to be genuinely self-sufficient, expanding your solar power system can make sense – especially if you plan to install batteries or get an EV soon. The 2026 solar & battery rebates both shrink at the end of this year. Systems have to be fully installed to get the full 2026 rebate value). If you choose to install between now and the end of this year, you’ll get the maximum available solar & battery rebates. If you’re thinking you’ll make the switch to an EV in the next two or three years, it will be financially prudent to install sooner rather than later. The more solar you can generate during the day, the more energy you have to fill your batteries and use later in the evening – or even sell to the grid when it’s needed as part of a Virtual Power Plant. Of course, bigger isn’t automatically better. The
right size depends on your electricity use and when your household uses the most power. A good solar assessment will look at what your home uses now and what you expect to use in the future. If you are considering expanding solar, adding a battery or preparing for an EV, getting advice now will help you understand what incentives you’re entitled to and how much you can save with solar, storage & an EV. It would be wise to book an assessment sooner rather than later, given the cut-off date for end-of-year installations is expected to be early-mid-October. Want to know whether your existing solar system is large enough for your future needs? Contact The Energy Experts for an assessment. We’ll look at your existing system, electricity bills and future plans for batteries and/or an EV, and help you work out whether expanding your existing solar will be worthwhile.
Quick call gives clarity
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ome buyers I work with get their building and pest report back, flick to the summary page and make up their mind from there. It's long and technical, and it usually arrives when you'd rather be negotiating on the home you've fallen in love with. The summary is where good decisions go wrong, in both directions. Some buyers walk away from a solid home over a line that sounded worse than it was. "Major defect" or "timber pest activity" look alarming, and sometimes they are serious. Other times they describe something
inspectors find in most homes of that age, which happens often in Kiama. Others skim past items that cost real money: moisture, drainage, or a note recommending a specialist take a closer look. If you're buying a unit or townhouse, the strata report deserves the same attention. It covers the owners corporation's records: meeting minutes, money set aside for future repairs, and any special levies raised or discussed. Those details can turn an affordable purchase into an expensive one. I'm not a building inspector
or a solicitor, so I won't interpret your report. Ring the inspector and ask them to walk you through it: what's urgent, what's normal for the age of the home and what should take priority. Ask your conveyancer or strata inspector the same about the state of the strata. A quick call gives you clarity on the biggest purchase most of us make. If a property hasn't had these reports done, I'm happy to point you in the right direction on who to speak with anytime. Sam Scobie, Ray White Kiama
THE BUGLE NEWS
BUSINESS www.thebuglenews.com.au
9 October - 15 October 2026
HOUSE LIKE PROPORTIONS
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Artist impression
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THE BUGLE NEWS
9 October - 15 October 2026
1st Kiama Scout Group c.1920. Source: Kiama Library
Veronica Bardsley
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n 12 June 1926, a public meeting was held at the Council Chambers for the purpose of forming a Boy Scout troop in Kiama. The response was so strong that, within weeks, organisers were already anticipating more than one troop and the formation of a Wolf Cub section for younger boys. “It is most gratifying to know that the movement for the formation of a troop of Boy Scouts has been so warmly taken up and speaks well for the enthusiasm of our town in such a grand association,” the Kiama Independent reported on 23 June 1926. Now, 100 years later, Kiama Scouts are putting out the call again. With the group celebrating its centenary this year, members are hoping the
Vee’s Vault
milestone will bring former Scouts back through the doors, while encouraging a new generation of young people – and volunteers – to give Scouting a go. Few know how much can come from putting on the uniform better than Greg Croft OAM. Greg has been involved in Scouting for almost 52 years – more than half of Kiama Scout Group’s official history – and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2024 for his service to Scouting. For Greg, some of the greatest rewards are the friendships that have lasted almost as long as his time in the movement. “You make some amazing friendships. I’ve got friendships still from 50 years ago,” he said. “And whenever we meet, it all comes back to the same
story – what we did, what we didn’t do, and what we got away with, and what we shouldn’t have got away with.” After the group officially registered, with Ray Walker as Scoutmaster, meetings were held in the basement of the old Kiama Theatre, on the site of what is now Kiama Leagues Club. Twenty-seven years later, Walker – by then Mayor of Kiama – would return to officiate at the opening of the group’s new Scout Hall in 1953. But the path to a permanent home wasn’t easy. Construction began in October 1952 and continued for more than a year, with volunteers turning up week after week to help build the new hall. By July 1953, more than £1,000 had already been spent on the project, while voluntary labour worth
BUSINESS www.thebuglenews.com.au
several hundred pounds had also been contributed. Despite that effort, another £300 was still estimated to be needed to finish the building. The Scouts found plenty of creative ways to raise it. There were concerts, dances and competitions, a £10 donation from the Kiama Agricultural and Horticultural Association – and even bottles collected by the boys and Mr Tom Mitchell, which raised another £18.60. The Kiama Independent reported that the work had progressed “without borrowing money”, with the committee hoping to raise enough to see the project through to completion. By November 1953, their efforts had paid off. The newspaper described the official opening of the new Scout Clubroom as “a milestone in local Scout history”, and said the building compared “more than favourably” with any other Scout Hall on the South Coast outside Wollongong. After more than 12 months of work, Kiama Scouts finally had a home of their own. Over the decades, the group has seen uniforms change, girls welcomed into its ranks in the 80s and generations of Kiama families pass through
the hall. There have also been a few bumps along the way – including a request to borrow Kiama Council’s new bunting to decorate the hall for its opening, which was knocked back - (maybe council will lend some 100 years later?) But through it all, the focus has remained on giving young people somewhere to learn, make friends and try things they might never have imagined themselves doing. Scout leader Nicole Murray said the thing that kept her coming back was watching the growth of the kids. “The thing that keeps me coming back to Scouts is the growth of the kids,” she said. She recalled one Scout who, when he first joined the group, couldn’t even make it through a night away from home. “When he started in Scouts, we couldn’t get him to stay overnight. He would not go on an overnight camp. Now he’s going on five-day treks through the bush.” It’s those transformations, big and small, that Nicole finds most rewarding. “It’s just that growth and watching the kids, the smiles on their faces when they finally get that knot that they’ve been trying to [tie],
they run over to you and they show you.” Now, as Kiama Scouts celebrate 100 years, they’re hoping former members will return to share their memories – and that a few future Scouts might walk through the doors for the first time. The group currently has around 18 young members and is looking for both new Scouts and volunteers to help carry it into its next century. “You don’t need any Scouting experience at all,” Nicole said. On 5 December, the Scout Hall will open its doors for a centenary Open Day, bringing together the old and the new. The hall will be open from around 10am to 4pm, with historical displays, old uniforms and memorabilia alongside activities showcasing what Scouting looks like today. “We’re hoping to get new members as well as attract the old ones to tell us a few stories,” Nicole said. After all, reaching 100 years is worth celebrating – but Kiama Scouts already have their sights set on 101.
THE BUGLE NEWS
COMMUNITY www.thebuglenews.com.au
9 October - 15 October 2026
Heading to Europe?
DISCRETIONARY TRUSTS: PROCEED WITH CAUTION and his late wife Karen took deliberate steps to shield substantial family assets from a potential claim by their estranged daughter, Susannah. They established two discretionary t r u s t s ,
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arents considering lifetime transfers of control via discretionary trusts should understand that such steps are extremely difficult to reverse. PAUL ELL from RMB Lawyers explains: Parents may wish to transfer control of their assets to their children while still alive to protect the family wealth from a potential family provision claim by a child they intend to exclude. A recent decision of the NSW Court of Appeal reinforces just how effective these structures can be at protecting assets. In McLennan by his tutor Kennedy v McLennan [2026] NSWCA 102, retired pharmacist John McLennan
PUBLIC NOTICE. Know All Earthlings By These Presents, Greetings - Notice To Agent Is Notice To Principal, Notice To Principal Is Notice To Agent that i, john robert lamont©, not presumed dead or lost at sea, who was born a free permanent living soul, and a Pre-1973 private inhabitant, Non-Australian Citizen/ Non-Resident, with Hague Apostille Treaty Number 2025/4935, has exercised his right of nationality pursuant to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has elected to divorce and separate himself from the presumption of Australian citizenship on the 6th day of the 1st moon/ month in the Adamic year 5,998, and has opted out of the provincial territorial jurisdiction of Australia as a citizen as expressed in the document entitled “Notice of Repatriation and Diplomatic Ecclesiastical Relations”, Registered Mail number: RR161046836AU, ISBN: 9781-7638450-0-8
appointed their son Ruskin as the controlling Appointer, and gifted him the shares in the companies that owned the trusts — including the family home at MacMasters Beach. The couple retained a right to continue living in the home. A 2018 note from their financial planner stated the goal was “to ensure Ruskin assumes control of most assets, with the view of limiting access to funds by Susannah.” After his wife’s death in 2022, and a reconciliation with Susannah, Mr McLennan sought to unwind the key transactions. Acting through a tutor due to his age and reduced capacity, he challenged his son’s
appointment as Appointer of the family trust; and the transfer of the MacMasters Beach property. He argued the arrangements were the product of unconscionable conduct. Among other things, he claimed the steps taken were vastly disproportionate to the risk posed by his daughter’s potential claim, and that he had not received proper “evaluative” advice about the dangers of relinquishing control. The NSW Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge. Key findings included: • No special disadvantage: Mr McLennan understood the legal nature and effect of the transactions at the time. • S o l i c i to r s ’ obligations: Lawyers are not required to give “evaluative” advice on whether a transaction is a good idea. The critical question is whether the client had the opportunity to obtain appropriate advice and was capable of understanding the legal consequences and weighing the merits. • Irrevocability of gifts: A gift freely made cannot later be undone simply because family relationships change or the donor regrets losing control. The law will intervene where someone under a special disadvantage is unconscientiously taken advantage of. However, it will not unwind a transaction merely because, with hindsight, the strategy proved financially disadvantageous or family circumstances evolved.
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The rules are changing
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f Europe is on your travel wish list for 2027, there are a couple of new acronyms worth knowing: EES and ETIAS. They sound complicated. Thankfully, they’re really not. The first, the Entry/Exit System (EES), is already operating. Since April this year, the old-fashioned passport stamp has largely been replaced by a digital system for Australians and other non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area for a short stay. On your first entry, you’ll generally have your photograph and fingerprints taken and your passport details recorded. After that, future border crossings should become quicker, as your digital record can be verified rather than created again. The EES is free and there is nothing
you need to apply for before you travel. However, there is one very practical thing travellers need to know: allow extra time. The Australian Government has warned that the new system has caused significant delays at some European airports, particularly while travellers and airports adjust. So that tight international connection that once looked perfectly reasonable may deserve another look. Then there’s ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. This one is different. Once introduced, Australians travelling visa-free to participating European countries will need to obtain an ETIAS travel authorisation before travelling. Despite plenty of information already circulating online,
ETIAS is not yet operating and applications are not currently open. The EU is expected to announce the commencement date in advance. That last point is important because unofficial websites are already appearing offering to “process” ETIAS applications. Don’t hand over your passport details or money to a website simply because it looks official. There’s another consideration for dual European citizens. Depending on your citizenship, different rules can apply, including which passport you should use to enter Europe. It’s worth checking this well before departure rather than discovering it at the airport. And no, none of this means Australians suddenly need a visa for a normal European holiday. The existing rule generally remains: Australians can visit the Schengen Area visafree for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. EES simply makes those movements much easier for authorities to track. The good news? Europe remains as wonderful and accessible as ever. There are simply a few new rules to understand before you go. And if you’ve booked your European holiday with Travel Focus Gerringong, you don’t need to spend the next six months keeping track of every announcement. If requirements change before you travel, we’ll let you know what has changed and what you need to do. That’s part of what having a travel professional in your corner is all about. Planning Europe in 2027? Talk to the team at Travel Focus Gerringong on 02 4209 2044 or pop into our new office in Fern Street, Gerringong.
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THE BUGLE NEWS
COMMUNITY www.thebuglenews.com.au
9 October - 15 October 2026
Océane by name, ocean by nature
Calling all music lovers!
BLUES IN THE NIGHT
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hat does a tiny, volunteer-run radio station in a musicloving town do to survive? It hosts a huge fundraising Blues concert… in the hope 200 ticket-buying live music fans will help keep its studio lights on. Kiama Community Radio is hosting Blues In The Night, a one-night-only contemporary Aussie blues music event, on Saturday, November 7. KCR is famous for punching above its weight, so it’s little wonder the team aimed high with the lineup, scoring Memphis International Blues Challenge winner Frank Sultana as the concert’s headline act. Frank is fresh from a sellout Canadian solo tour and a string of interstate blues festivals. The guitar and songwriting great, a passionate supporter of community radio, will blast the Leagues Club with his band of consummate Australian Blues pros. Supporting Frank at Blues In The Night are: • Jr & the Jewel-Tones, Aussie music veterans lead by Bruce & Jr & Bongers, delivering deep Chicago-style Blues grit, swinging grooves, and slick guitar licks from Kiama’s own Dave Shaw. • Shane Flew & Matt Ross, specialising in warm, honest Americana-seasoned Blues and Roots. Recent winners of the prestigious Sydney Blues Society Solo/ Duo Challenge (the same title that shot Frank Sultana to fame), they’re touring with their debut album, Once Upon a Long Time Ago. True to the station’s “smell of an oily rag” tenacious spirit, Blues In The Night will be held in a sponsor-donated venue – the Kiama Leagues Club – with sound and lighting generously provided by local tech wizard Brendan Comber. The event honours the long-standing reputation of Kiama as a music and arts festival hub, with Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival marking 40 years in 2027 and top-line Aussie and international touring acts regularly selling out at community, club and independent venues. Yet Blues In The Night is more than a concert – it’s a lifeline. Every ticket sold will help keep KCR on air, supporting local voices, local
stories, and local music. The station launched in 2020 as a podcast service, aiming to help combat social isolation during the Covid pandemic. It has been kept afloat as free community asset ever since by sponsorships, memberships, and donations. Its physical location is secure: in September, KCR won a fiveyear lease on its premises from landlord Kiama Council, with access granted to extra space. That space will be converted into a much-needed second studio – again, through the generosity of sponsors, donors, events, raffles and whatever our marketing team can conjure! Volunteers log hundreds of hours of unpaid labour to keep listeners entertained and informed, so buying a Blues In The Night ticket is one way for the community to show that effort is appreciated. With its 80-strong membership, KCR pumps out almost 40 diverse radio programs – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Yes, there are KCR blues music shows – two, in fact – but listeners also tune in to world music, heavy metal, folk, disco… you name it. The adept on- air crew also produces important magazine-style interview and feature programs covering local issues, newsmakers, personalities, and topics of interest: think sport, gardening, literature and more. Drawing on the expertise of key volunteers, KCR offers training in broadcasting, presentation, and podcast production, and has a library of more than 600 podcasts. KCR is a streaming station, meaning it can be heard not only by the Kiama LGA’s 23,000 residents but around the world via KCR.org.au, through the KCR app on most devices, and via all streaming services. And let us emphasise this: it’s FREE. Isn’t that worth supporting? Event Details BLUES IN THE NIGHT Saturday 7 November Kiama Leagues Club Doors open 5pm. Music from 6.00pm Tickets events. humanitix.com $50 ($40 for KCR members) + booking fee
Maria Lewis
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or as long as she can remember, Océane Allen has been inspired by the ocean – which makes sense, given her name is quite literally ocean in French. Now the artist, photographer, surfer and nature lover is bringing that passion to life by making her own hand drawn stickers that have been popping up all over the South Coast. “I love stickers,” said the 26-year-old. “I’ve always collected them, l have a bunch like inside my car, and I was like ‘you know what? I should just make my own!’ “I love when you go to a beach and you see all of the stickers on the poles of places that people have been or you'll be in the most random, isolated location and you'll see a sticker that you know and ‘think, oh my god, this is so cool’. “I wanted to do that and they all naturally have some ocean undertones and that trad tattoo style I love so much.” With the first collection of stickers going live a few weeks ago, they all feature various aquatic elements with a humorous twist: whether that’s a reverse mermaid with a fish head and human body - complete with platform pumps - or a whale shark with a South Cross tattoo. Having drawn since she was a child growing up in a small town in Western Australia, it was her time working in a tattoo studio that “really inspired” Allen to continue the pursuit as an adult. Beginning with an online shop at first, she said she didn’t expect to be blown
away from the response as orders began flowing in. “It made my heart feel really, really warm,” she told The Bugle. “It was crazy seeing how many of my friends, even friends that I hadn't spoken to in years or months, support me and purchase from my website. “Then seeing them on poles or on the back of cars around town … even orders coming in from people and places I’ve never heard of.” A familiar face at local institution Natural Necessity in Gerringong, Allen said she has plans to stock her stickers physically in the surf store where she works and eventually start expanding further into clothing. Until then, she has “loved” the physical process of packing, shipping and personalising each order before sending it off into the world. “On every order I pack up, I’ve really enjoyed writing a different little quote that promotes positive mental health or might make someone’s day,” she said. “I just feel like I always want people to know that they're not alone and it's okay to not be okay. “That's a really big one for me too, letting people know that whatever you’re going through it won’t last forever.” Better known amongst the local surf community for her photography, that mental health message became increasingly important for Allen while going through recent health issues and returning to her first love: illustration. “I sort of started doing it because I was dealing with a lot of health issues
and I was really struggling to get out and do all my normal activities,” she said. “Because I'm also a photographer, I was getting annoyed at having to wait on other people to go take photos. “So with this, it was a really nice way to get my mind off everything I had going on and be able to draw while I was in the hospital waiting room. “I draw them all from scratch and if I think of something cool in my head, I love being able to get it down on paper or on my iPad first. “Then I get the stickers made, they go up on my website, but if you bump into me I’ll probably just give you one too – I’ve handed so many out to my friends.”
The local community of artists, surfers, and youth on the South Coast is part of what encouraged Allen to take the leap by seeing the way everyone showed up for each other. “That fear of imposter syndrome, like, I’m not good enough or not cool enough to do that, it helps when everyone else around us is doing cool stuff as well,” she said. “Seeing other people do it makes me feel like I can do it too, like if there’s a Feral Femme Surf event on we’ll all go and support that or a movie night at Natural Necessity. “Everyone shows up for each other.”
THE BUGLE NEWS
COMMUNITY www.thebuglenews.com.au
9 October - 15 October 2026
Why Kiama’s cafe merch is having a moment
Illawarra Dragons Abreast paddlers excel in the French Alpine Riviera
Team hope takes France
Heather McAlpine
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celebration of courage, friendship and remembrance on Lake Bourget. For one unforgettable week in late August, the beautiful shores of Lake Bourget at Aixles-Bains, France, were filled with colour, laughter, drums and an extraordinary sense of friendship as 4,500 breast cancer paddlers from around the world gathered for the 2026 International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission (IBCPC) Dragon Boat Festival. Held every four years, the festival is much more than a sporting event. It brings together people who have experienced breast cancer and discovered in dragon boating not only exercise, but friendship, encouragement and the wonderful strength that comes from being part of a team. Among the paddlers were four members of the Illawarra Dragons Abreast Club, proudly representing their local community on this international stage. Joining with 16 other paddlers from around Australia, Katrina Love, Heather McAlpine,
Yvette Murada and Ann Boulton formed a composite team, ‘Team Hope.’ For all involved, the festival was a chance to paddle hard, share stories, celebrate life and survivorship with people from across the world who understand the journey in a very personal way. The week began with training, reunions and new friendships before the spectacular Parade of Nations and Opening Ceremony. Teams proudly carried their national flags along the Alpine Riviera lakeside, singing, cheering and waving to the crowds. There was certainly plenty of competitive spirit as teams took to the water, but the real heart of the festival could not be measured by finishing times. It was found in the encouragement between teams, laughter in the tents, enthusiastic warmups and dances, the friendships crossing language barriers and the simple recognition that every paddler carried her own story. Heather McAlpine explained, “the true spirit of Team Hope came on the last day of racing a 1km race, where we just glided
through the water in total synchronicity. To think a few days before, we’d never trained together, nor even met. It was palpable to feel from the front, not one team member being a millisecond out. The rhythmical precision made us look like we’d been a team for years!..... Paddling nourishes me individually but as a collective team we are indeed strengthened. It’s a reminder that nothing is impossible when we move forward united.” The most powerful moment came as the festival drew to a close with the traditional Flowers on the Water Ceremony. Dragon boats filled the lake, each paddler holding a pink gerbera. As the flowers were gently placed onto the water, the noise and excitement of the racing gave way to stillness and reflection. Each flower represented someone remembered — a friend, teammate, sister, mother or loved one who had passed from breast cancer. Heather added, “the flowers also allow us to pause, honour our journeys and be thankful for those who have shaped our lives… Against the backdrop of the French Alps
and the evening light across Lake Bourget, the sight of the flowers floating together was deeply moving. There was sadness certainly, but there was also gratitude, hope and a powerful celebration of life.” The Closing Ceremony brought the nations together one final time, with music, flags, applause and celebration. The paddles were eventually put away and the drums became quiet, but the message of the week remained loud and clear: no one needs to face breast cancer alone. “The IBCPC Festival was ultimately about far more than dragon boats. It was about women supporting women, remembering those no longer beside them, celebrating those still paddling, and discovering that when people pull together, they can move much more than a boat.” The flowers drifted across the water, the dragon boats returned to shore, and thousands of women carried home the same message: celebrate life, find ways to thrive, and keep paddling forward. Dragons Abreast Illawarra w w w. i d b c . o r g . a u /n e w paddlers/dragon-pass
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Amy Molloy
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orget band T-shirts or wearing a singlet from your favourite bar – in a hospitality town like Kiama, cafe merch is having a moment. In the name of brand awareness, South Coast cafes are branching into merchandise, from T-shirts to caps and hoodies – and it’s working because, well, we noticed. Leading the way was The Hungry Monkey, whose “Good food, good vibes, and good times!” T-shirts can be spotted at school gates. Becks Kiama has teamed up with another local initiative, Breakfast Shirts. Their “Meet at Becks” shirts, available in-store at the café, are currently half price after being printed in the wrong colour. But rather than let the mistake go to waste, Becks is turning it into a win for the community, donating the profits from all the “wrong colour” shirts to local charity SASSI. Some cafe merch has a deeper meaning. The Bugle’s former cover star, Blak Cede in Nowra, has a range of merch perfectly aligned with the ethos of the
Aboriginal women-led social and cultural enterprise. Its “deadly” merch range includes Imperfect Ally tees and caps, and “Women Keep the Fire Burning” hoodies. The list goes on, with Berry General Store caps, Parfait Patisserie kid’s tees – featuring illustrations of their mouth-watering pastries – and, further down the coast, “But first coffee” caps from 5 Little Pigs café in Huskisson. And don’t forget eateries on wheels – local food trucks. Kiama farmers’ market favourite Lick My Bowls has some of the brightest merch around, including caps, crop tops and T-shirts. It’s a smart marketing strategy, too. Research shows that something as simple as a branded T-shirt can foster belonging, strengthen identity and build lasting emotional connections between people and places. Whether it’s a cheeky tee, a trusty cap or a hoodie you can throw on for the school run, cafe merch is becoming another way for locals to show where they feel at home – or, at the very least, where to find their favourite almond croissant.
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THE BUGLE NEWS
RAIN, HAIL, AND HORSES:
Isla Downes winner of teen category
Kate Burke winner of adult category
Spring has sprung for annual Daisy Festival Tiffany Springett
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COMMUNITY www.thebuglenews.com.au
9 October - 15 October 2026
espite a week of unpredictable weather - hail included - the Daisy Spring Festival wrapped on a high with art, horses and plenty of paint bringing the Kiama community together for its third year. The festival was organised and run by local artist and Expressive Art Experience founder Michelle Springett, who brought together a week of exhibitions, workshops, painting sessions and live music in Kiama. Running from October 1 to October 7, the festival was packed with activities across three locations. The Old Fire Station was transformed into a gallery from 9am to 5pm each day, filled with paintings of horses created by local artists. Works were divided into three categories: adults, teenagers and children, with an overall winner selected from each category by Ray White’s Sam Scobie, who donated the prize money, and local artist and president of the Kiama Art Society, Michelle Skuza.
Violet Heery took first place in the kids’ category, while mum Kate Burke was named the winner of the adult category. It was a family double win, with both mother and daughter thrilled to take home top prizes in their respective categories. Isla Downes won the teenagers’ category for the third year in a row and also took out the People’s Choice Award, which was judged throughout the week by more than 1,500 visitors, each casting their own vote. Another artwork that caught plenty of attention throughout the festival was the much-loved Daisy, Kiama’s decorated cow, which received a fresh makeover for this year’s event. Two years ago, I painted the cow as part of the inaugural Daisy Spring Festival, when the artwork theme was, appropriately, cows. Remarkably, the original design has remained on the statue ever since. This year, I redesigned the cow, with several of Michelle’s art students taking turns throughout the week to paint different sections. “It was really amazing
Drop-in classes at the Joyce Wheatley building
seeing it come together festival to head outdoors throughout the week,” one for watercolour painting local passerby commented. in Hindmarsh Park, a new Over at the Joyce Wheatley addition to the festival. With Building, the paint was live music providing the flowing from 10am to 2pm soundtrack, locals were able each day, with people of all to paint, relax and enjoy the ages invited to get involved. park as the festival continued, On multiple mornings, eager sponsored by Destination painters were already lining Kiama. up outside before the doors Now in its third year, the even opened. Daisy Spring Festival has “We went through over continued to grow from a 400 canvases over the six local art exhibition into a days,” Michelle exclaimed. week-long celebration of Families in particular creativity and community. enjoyed the opportunity, with parents and children sitting down together to create their own pieces. “Art is so important for the community. Thank you for creating opportunities for expression, creativity and engagement with third spaces!” Darian and James wrote in the review book. The creativity continued into Saturday night with a paint and sip session, where participants swapped traditional Outdoor brushes for palette knives watercolour and had a go at creating classes their own textured artworks. Sunday brought a break in the rain, allowing the
Great Ideas, Inflated Expectations?
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n exciting idea, rising prices and the fear of missing out: financial bubbles often begin with a story that sounds entirely convincing. A financial bubble develops when asset prices rise substantially above what underlying fundamentals can reasonably justify. For shares, these fundamentals include profits, cash flow and realistic growth prospects. Buying becomes increasingly driven by the expectation of selling at a higher price, rather than the investment’s earning potential. Long before tech stocks, Dutch tulip mania saw the most expensive bulbs priced around 5,000 guilders— comparable to a house— before the February 1637 collapse. Not your average garden-centre splurge, although stories of widespread economic devastation are exaggerated. In 1920s America, prosperity, new technologies and borrowing to buy shares helped drive prices higher; buyers using borrowed money often paid just 10% upfront. The Dow Jones Industrial Average subsequently fell 89% between September 1929 and its 1932 low. Japan’s Nikkei 225 took over 34 years to exceed its December 1989 closing high, finally doing so in February 2024. Then came dot-com mania. The Nasdaq Composite fell almost 80% between March 2000 and October 2002, keeping in mind an 80% loss requires a 400% gain to recover… The internet changed the world, but that did not make every internet investment a winner. So why do investors join the party? Optimism, herd behaviour and easy money can reinforce one another: rising prices attract buyers, pushing prices higher.
Cheap borrowing gives the excitement a bigger budget. When everyone else appears to be getting rich, sitting out can feel like a costly mistake. But popularity is not a valuation method, and borrowed money must still be repaid. Japan illustrates this. Its central bank cut the official discount rate from 5% to 2.5% during 1986–87, holding it there for over two years. Loose monetary policy and aggressive lending helped fuel speculation in shares and property. Then came sharp tightening: five increases between May 1989 and August 1990 lifted the rate to 6%. Importantly, a bursting bubble is not the same as an economic depression. Banking failures and deflation deepened the Great Depression, while banking weaknesses and structural problems prolonged Japan’s difficulties. Speculation does not explain everything that follows. Investor and Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio assesses bubbles through six measures: valuations, unrealistic growth assumptions, new buyers, widespread optimism, borrowed money and unusually large commitments to future purchases. His framework looks beyond price increases alone to examine how expectations and financing interact. Today’s debate about a possible AI bubble raises familiar questions about productivity, profits and valuations. But “Will this technology change our lives?” and “Does this investment make sense at this price?” are different questions. How much lasting profit will AI generate? Which businesses will capture it? And how much success are investors already paying for? The technology may be new. Those questions are not.
THE BUGLE NEWS
WHATS ON www.thebuglenews.com.au
9 October - 15 October 2026
Golf and family fun day to support Kiama and Jamberoo preschools Emily Crisp
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round of golf, an afternoon at the bowls club and plenty of activities for children are on the program for a community fundraiser supporting Kiama and Jamberoo Community Preschools on Friday 23 October. The day begins at Jamberoo Golf Club, with registration from 7.30am ahead of an 8.30am shotgun start. Golfers will play 18 holes in teams of four using the Ambrose format, where the team plays
from its best shot each time. Committee member Alex Gough said people did not need to be experienced golfers to take part. “Even if you’re not a serious golfer, we’d love for you to play golf on the day. The Ambrose format means you don’t have to be the best golfer, and it’s all about fun in any case,” Alex said. A cooked breakfast and catered lunch are included for golfers, along with novelty competitions and prizes for the winning teams. From 2.30pm to 5pm, the
event moves next door to Club Jamberoo for a family afternoon with face painting, dancing, games, ice cream and a sausage sizzle. There will also be a raffle draw and a small charity auction. No ticket or registration is needed for the afternoon at the club. “More than anything, it’s a chance to come together and have a fun afternoon as a community,” Alex said. Money raised will support both community preschools, with a major fundraising focus on a new building for Jamberoo Preschool. Its current site faces closure in 2028 because of recurring flooding. Jamberoo Preschool director Belinda Hibbert said land had been offered for a new site. Once the next stage of the development is finalised, the preschool can begin planning its new building. She hopes the golf day can raise at least $10,000 towards architectural and design costs, and encouraged locals to book a place or sponsor a hole. “We would love some people to jump on board and buy tickets to play golf on the day or even sponsor a hole,” she said. People who cannot attend can make a donation or buy raffle tickets when they go on sale, with updates to be shared through the preschool’s Facebook page. Raffle ticket holders do not need to attend to win. Golf bookings, hole sponsorships and donations are available through https:// jamberoopreschool.org.au/ events/
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Nature Walk by Crooked River Estate Sat 10 Oct, 8:30am Crooked River Estate, Gerringong Nature walk with insight of the Estate Kiama Culture Festival Sat 10 Oct, 11am-5pm Hindmarsh Park, Kiama Live dance, music, handson activities, family-friendly fun Fair Trade Fair Sat 10 Oct, 10am-2pm Uniting Church, Kiama Various hand-made products for sale A Railway JourneyFamily Fun Day Sun 11 Oct, 10am Illawarra Light Railway Museum Steam and miniature train ride DIY Chocolate Box Workshop Wed 14 Oct, 2pm The Treat Factory Berry Create a selection of handcrafted Belgian chocolates Art Vision Exhibition Thu 15 Oct-Wed 21 Oct Old Fire Station, Kiama 7 Local Artists, multi-style art, ceramics and jewellery. Author Michael Robotham talk Thu 15 Oct, 6pm-8pm Shellharbour City Library Hear Robotham about his latest books and writing journeys Comedy For A Cause Thu 15 Oct, 7am Kiama Leagues Club Showcase of comedians from international comedy festivals Hidden Lines exhibition Fri 16 Oct-Sat 21 Nov Seven Marks Gallery, Kiama
Solo exhibition by Cesar Cueva Gerringong Rotary Markets Sat 17 Oct, 8:30am-1:30pm Gerringong Town Hall Kiama Seaside Markets Sun 18 Oct, 9am-3pm Black Beach, Kiama Festival of the Choirs Sun 18 Oct, 12pm The Pavilion, Kiama Hosted by The Kiama Rotary Club, variety of choirs Golf and Family fun day Fri 23 Oct, 7:30am Jamberoo Golf Club Raising money for Kiama and Jamberoo preschools Author Fiona McIntosh talk Sat 24 Oct, 6pm-5pm Shellharbour City Library Hear McIntosh about her latest books and writing journeys Kiama Picnic Train Sat 24 Oct-Sun 25 Oct Kiama Journey from Sydney to Kiama and return. Jamberoo Village Markets Sun 25 Oct, 9am-1pm Reid Park, Jamberoo Jamberoo Car Show Sun 25 Oct, 9am-2pm Kevin Walsh Oval, Jamberoo Over 600 cars to view, activities for families Berry Village Market Sun 25 Oct, 10am-3pm Berry Bowling Club Kid’s Halloween Disco Thu 29 Oct, 6pm-7:30pm Kiama Leagues Club Dress up and dance, free entry Gallery Clearance Show Thu 29 Oct-Wed 4 Nov Old Fire Station Kiama Original paintings, illustrations and prints by Guy Morgan
Shellharbour SUP Festival Fri 30 Oct-Sun 1 Nov, 7am Mia Beach, Lake Illawarra Flat water races, SUP surfing, market stalls, food trucks and entertainment \ Halloween at the Co-op Sat 31 Oct, 6pm The Co-op Gerringong Night of music and costumes Halloween Party Sat 31 Oct, 8:30pm-12am Kiama Leagues Club Spooky cocktails, dance floor, costumes and DJ Melbourne Cup Luncheon Tue 3 Nov, 12pm-4pm The Pavilion Kiama Two course lunch while watching the races Berry Writers’ Festival Fri 6 Nov-Sun 8 Nov Berry Weekend Open Day – Cedar On Collins Thu 19 Nov, 9:30am Cedar on Collins Explore the exceptional living experience on offer to their residents Twilight Market Fri 27 Nov, 1pm-7pm The Pavilion Kiama Variety of stalls selling homemade goods Jamberoo Community Carols Tue 8 Dec Reid Park, Jamberoo Kiama Carols in the Park Wed 9 Dec Hindmarsh Park, Kiama The Wiggles Sparkle Big Show Thu 17 Dec WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Tickets on Sale from 2 July
KIAMA LEAGUES KIAMA LEAGUES CLUB CLUB PRESENTS PRESENTS
AYY A THHUURRSSDDB T R ER OBE O T T C C O O 155 00PPMM 1 7::33 7 18+
FREE TICKETS FREE TICKETS MUST MUST BE BE RESERVED RESERVED AT: AT: COMEDYFORACAUSE.NET/EVENT/KLC26/ COMEDYFORACAUSE.NET/EVENT/KLC26/ 18+ EVENT 18+ EVENT
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THE BUGLE NEWS 9 October - 15 October 2026
Gerringong Uniting looks beyond Sundays
A BARRA BIRTHDAY FOR KIAMA JIU-JITSU SCHOOL
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erringong Uniting Church has appointed Gerringong resident Libby Henderson as its new Community Support Worker, creating a new role dedicated to identifying needs within the Gerringong community and finding practical ways the church can help. For Henderson, the appointment is a natural progression from work she has already been doing voluntarily throughout the year. “I love this community, and I think sometimes helping people starts with something really simple: noticing what people need and then asking, ‘What can we do about it?’” Henderson said. Church Council Chair Helen Harrison said an important part of the new role is listening first. “We don’t want to assume we know what Gerringong needs. We want to talk to people. What are families finding difficult? Where are people falling through the cracks? What could make life a little easier? And are there things our church, our buildings, our volunteers or
our wider community could do to help?” One early example is the Gezza Kids Holiday Club, which began after a conversation with a local parent who was struggling with what to do with her children on a school pupil-free day. “One mum had a problem that I knew would be a problem for plenty of other families too,” Henderson said. “We had a hall, we had people willing to help and we thought, why don’t we do something?” The first Gezza Kids Holiday Club was held in July. Following its success, the church will hold its next Gezza Kids Holiday Club, Rainforest Falls, on the pupil-free day on Monday, October 12, with 38 Safe Church trained volunteers from the local community and church helping to bring the day to life. “There is a huge amount of goodwill in this town. Sometimes you just need to connect the people who want to help with the people who could use a hand,” Henderson said.
fter an impressive showing at Nationals last month, Gracie Barra Kiama celebrated their second birthday in the most thematically appropriate way possible: on the mat. “We spent the morning and afternoon with our students, celebrating new belts and stripes, with lots of emotion, laughter and special memories,” said Fernanda Castro. “The energy was just perfect, and we couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate these two
Memorial Arch gets a glow up years.” Adding that they “have the best team ever”, the sweat sessions were followed by a barbecue spotlighting Brazilian cuisine beloved by Professor Thiago Machado, who runs the local branch alongside Fernanda and their daughter Maria. Gracie Barra Kiama sent 31 students to the Nationals, bringing home 14 gold, 12 silver and four bronze medals and finishing fourth among the Gracie Barra academies competing – a huge achievement.
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0433 251 794 www.gerringonganglican.org.au admin@gerringonganglican.org.au
Retired orthopaedic surgeon Warwick Huntsdale reported a severe swooping to Kiama Council after a magpie scratched his 14-yearold grandson on Saturday
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ust over 100 years since it was first unveiled in 1925, the Memorial Arch has been getting some much needed aesthetic love over the past two weeks. Kiama Council workers have been spotted labouring away on the Kiama landmark, which was officially opened to the public on April 25, 1925 by then Premier of NSW Sir George Fuller.
Originally erected for those who served in World War I, it’s now a memorial for all those who have served in the local area with names and plaques commemorating their contributions. It’s great to see it will be in its best possible shape for the upcoming Remembrance Day ceremony held on November 11.
HARRISON Ian Maxwell of Jamberoo
Passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday 26th September 2026. Beloved husband of Carole. Dearly loved father and father-in-law of Fleur and PJ, Patrick and Jay. Cherished Grumpo of Sebastian. Loved brother and brother-in-law of Nicky and Nick. Ian will be sadly missed by his loving family and many dear friends here and overseas.
SWOOPING SEASON GETS UNDERWAY AS LOCALS WARNED TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT
ith spring comes swooping season as reports are starting to come in to The Bugle about territorial magpies, plovers and even the odd kookaburra.
out & about
afternoon near Kiama Oval. “It was so quick, it was all over in a blink of an eye,” he said, with warning signs along Bong Bong St and several more erected in regards to magpies in Gerringong, Gerroa, Jamberoo and Kiama Downs. “We were in a group of four adults and he was the smallest amongst us. It went straight for him, aiming for his eye and scratching underneath. “I’m told that it happens, but people should be warned – I’ve never seen a bird behave like that.”
In contrast and much less aggressive was this beautiful Scarlet Honeyeater photographed in the wild at Berry by Tim Van Leeuwen. If that name sounds family, Van Leeuwen is the eagleeyed snapper who captured the breaching humpback whales off Surf Beach this past week that graced our front page. Plenty of birds about and not all of them as friendly as the Scarlet Honeyeaters, so be on the lookout.
Aged 81 years Stoic to the end. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Ian’s funeral service to be held at H.Parsons Funeral Home, Kiama, 125 Manning Street Kiama on Friday 9th October 2026 at 2:30 pm. For those who are unable to attend you are invited to view Ian's service via the link found on funeralannouncment.com.au
Kiama 42322371
18
THE BUGLE NEWS
PUZZLES www.thebuglenews.com.au
9 October - 15 October 2026
PUZZLES
1 Author of fables (5) 2 Telegram (9) 3 Make thin (9) 4 Wrinkle (7) 5 Sores (7) 6 Jewish teacher (5) 7 Extended community (5) 8 Electrical components (9) 13 Mocking commenters (9) 15 Withered (9) 16 Those with exceptional abilities (9) 18 War galley (7) 19 Prisoner (7) 21 Slow speech (5) 22 White English-speaking person (5) 24 Jungle cat (5)
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Curve (3) Speed pedal (11) Those who damage deliberately (9) Entices (5) Primp
10 11
13 14 17 19 20
9-LETTER
No. 354
Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in ‘s’.
R
E
C
R
Today’s Aim: 18 words: Good
K
27 words: Very good
T
36 words: Excellent
SOLUTION
1 3 9
Those who support another (9) Superficial (7) Hair-washing mixture (7) Storm (7) Orange vegetables (7) Emission of energy (9)
E A A
CODEWORD No. 344 12 10 23 23 20 6 Each number corresponds to a letter of the alphabet. Two have been filled in for you, can you work out the rest?
22
26 25 24 23 19
F K A P M G E
13 12 11 10
L Q N
9
21
J 7 6
W B
I
17 16 15
18
4 3 2
5
T O Z D X S
2 3 7 5 1 4 6 8 9 1 9 5 2 6 8 3 7 4 4 8 6 9 7 3 1 5 2 3 4 8 6 5 2 9 1 7 9 5 1 3 8 7 2 4 6 6 7 2 1 4 9 8 3 5 7 1 4 8 2 6 5 9 3 8 6 3 7 9 5 4 2 1 5 2 9 4 3 1 7 6 8
V U H R C Y
8
9 6 1 3 2 8 5 4 7 3 5 4 7 1 6 9 2 8 2 7 8 5 4 9 6 1 3 1 2 7 4 5 3 8 6 9 4 8 3 9 6 7 1 5 2 6 9 5 2 8 1 7 3 4 7 4 2 6 9 5 3 8 1 8 3 6 1 7 4 2 9 5 5 1 9 8 3 2 4 7 6
20
EASY
MEDIUM
14
6
14
2
19
16
26
N
6
21
SOLUTIONS
1
5
2
9
1
4
6 21 23 8
12
19
26
N
16
23
6
24
6
23
2
12
12
23
4
18
24
16
16 9
15
23
9
1
26 4
16
11
4
21
16 12
2
12
24
24
N
2
22
N
15
17
19
26
17
4
1
24
6
6
19
6
10
23
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
14
15
16
17
18
19
N
2
2
18
20
N
7
19
11
25 9
Q
11
19
11
24
11
23 4
4 19
24
13
23
16 20
24
23
11 1
3
23
24
11
15
2
24
4
24
13
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
the ‘World’s Best’ in the Skytrax World Airline Awards the most times?
2. The book-gifting program
Imagination Library was founded by which musician?
3. Dannebrog is the name for the national flag of which country?
4. The 2014 song Bang Bang by
Jessie J features Nicki Minaj (pictured) and which pop artist?
5. Standing over 10m tall, the Head of Franz Kafka is a kinetic sculpture located in which city?
STUD
CUE
USER
DAD DEN
5 LETTERS
EAR
ABHOR
EKE
ABIDE
ELM
ADORE
HOT
ALERT
INN
ALIBI
KEN
ALIKE
LED
ALIVE
LIT
ANNUL
LOP
BANAL
OKS
DREAD
ONE
EERIE
ORE
ELEGY
RUN
FINED
SAT
GLOAT
TAN
GRITS
TIE
HALOS
PURSE
TOTES
MAGENTA
PALOMINO
HARED
RESET
UNION
TENSEST
REPORTED
INNER
RIVER
UNITE
UNSTUCK
LAPEL
SENDS
ALAS
LEAVE
SLYER
6 LETTERS
8 LETTERS
HOURGLASSES
ALMS
LEVEL
SNARE
ANNALS
DELETION
RESPIRATORY
OVERSTEP
U N I T E
11 LETTERS
EELS
LIBEL
SPELL
DELUDE
EMIR
LIFTS
SPIKE
STRODE
HIRE
LOSES
SPOTS
UNMANS
IDLE
MERES
STAGS
NEAR
NESTS
STAMP
7 LETTERS
PAIR
NIECE
STILL
DEEPENS
PATE
NOVEL
TABLE
HARDEST
PITY
OBOES
TOTAL
LATERAL
SUDOKU
No. 353
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
EASY
6
2 8 3 7 6 9 7 8 5 4 1 5 6 8 9 7 5 9 8 4 9 5 3 8 6 1 4 5 8 3 7
Q N
6. In Mario Kart, what colour is
the shell that automatically targets and attacks the racer in first place?
7. Originating from a satirical
obituary after Australia defeated England, what name is the biennial Test match between the two countries known by?
8. Which poet has won the
Pulitzer Prize the most times, with a total of four awards?
9. What is the endpoint of the Melbourne Marathon?
10. What is the second highest rank of British nobility?
MEDIUM
3 7 5 1 9 2 4 9 3 4 8 9 8
1 2
8 5
4
6 8 3 5 6 3 5 2 3 1 7 6
0910 | PUZZLES AND PAGINATION ©
WORD SEARCH
QUICK QUIZ 1. Which airline has been rated
SETS
BEE
1
23 16
6 19
9
19
REED
ASH
4 LETTERS
26
26
ACT
UTE
acre, cake, carat, care, career, caret, CARETAKER, carr, cart, carte, carter, cater, caterer, cere, crake, crate, crater, creak, create, creek, erect, race, racer, rack, racket, react, reck, recta, retrace, tack, teacake, terrace, trace, tracer, track, tracker
ACROSS
PODS
SOLUTION
DOWN
3 LETTERS
No. 263
SOLUTION
23 Daub (5) 25 Jargon (5) 26 Evoking (9) 27 Outlined (11) 28 Knight (3)
WORDFIT
No. 264
I N T E G R A L A C U T E D T A L O B A R A P D I V I D E N G E O M E T R Y U M B O S E R L I M I T R A R E A S D A T A E C O N G R U E N T R O O T T C Q U S T A T I S T I C S H I C O U R S E Q U E N C E H Y O A L U A V O L U M E L N A P M P M I N T E G E R E V C P O E E O S G T I X C C O I E E T A R D W L S I O S O B L I N E N C E L E R V O N U S U M A N E E L M T R S I C F E I S D U M N I A Y I S R A N G E N D S T T M E R I E R A D I A N E E S
Can you find all the words listed? The leftover letters will spell out a secret message.
PLUS
ACUTE
GEOMETRY
ADD
HYPOTENUSE POWER
ANGLE
INTEGER
RADIAN
AREA
INTEGRAL
RANGE
CONGRUENT
ISOSCELES
RATIO
COSINE
LIMIT
ROOT
COUNT
LINE
SEQUENCE
CUBIC
MATRIX
SET
CURVE
MEAN
SHAPE
DATA
MODE
STATISTICS
DIVIDE
ODD
SUM
EQUATION
PARABOLA
TIMES
EVEN
PERCENT
VOLUME
SECRET MESSAGE: Numbers can solve life’s mysteries
No. 354
H A L O S A B H O R S T A G S L E A V E T A B L E A L E R T M E R E S U N I O N R I V E R E K E O K S D R E A D D A D N E S T S S E T S D E L U D E T E N S E S T H O T H I R E P A T E B A N A L O N E P A I R P A L O M I N O D E E P E N S U N S T U C K P O D S C U E R E P O R T E D E M I R E E L S G R I T S R E E D L A T E R A L L A L A S E L E G Y U N M A N S U N I T E I N N L O P S A T F I N E D A L I V E S P O T S T O T A L L I B E L E E R I E S N A R E S T I L L S L Y E R
CROSSWORD
ANSWERS: 1. Qatar Airways 2. Dolly Parton 3. Denmark 4. Ariana Grande 5. Prague 6. Blue 7. The Ashes 8. Robert Frost 9. Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) 10. Marquess
19
THE BUGLE NEWS
TRADE www.thebuglenews.com.au
9 October - 15 October 2026
Trade spotlight: Joel Gibson Studio
O 15
wner / operator: Owner Years in the trade:
What services do you provide? I work across furniture, art, sculpture and design. I make custom and designed furniture, paint, build sculptures and work on graphic design and branding projects. I also have my own
children’s beachwear brand, GIBSUN. It’s a fairly mixed practice, but there’s a common thread through all of it: I like making things, and I like giving a lot of thought to how they look, work and are made. I’ve gradually realised I’ve essentially created a small design studio without ever really setting out to define it as one How long have you been
working in the Kiama area? I’m pretty new to the Kiama area. After living overseas for nearly seven years, I’m really happy to have settled here and to be able to live and work in the same place. My workshop is only about two minutes from my house, which is a pretty great way to work. I like being part of the local community and having my work, studio and home all connected to the place I live. What do you enjoy most about your trade? I enjoy the process of turning an idea into something tangible. There’s something very satisfying about starting with an idea, working through the details and challenges, and eventually having something physical in front of you that didn’t exist before. What makes your business different?
Advertise with the bugle!
simply buy off the shelf. That might be a piece of furniture made specifically for their home, an artwork, a sculpture or another design project. There’s something special about having something that has been made by hand, with thought put into the materials, proportions and details, and that is intended to last for a long time. I enjoy making things that people can live with and hopefully enjoy for many years, rather than things that are simply replaced when the next trend comes along. What’s one piece of advice for homeowners? Don’t rush the things you’re going to live with for a long time. It’s worth taking the time to think about how something will work in your space, how you’ll use it and whether you’re going to enjoy looking at it every day.
Sometimes the most mundane things in a home — a dining table, a chair, a light fitting or even something you use every morning — are the things we interact with the most. I think those everyday objects deserve to be beautiful as well as functional. A little more thought at the beginning can make a big difference to how you feel about something for years to come. Why do you choose to advertise in The Bugle? Because I’m making things here, for people who live here. The Bugle reaches the community I’m actually part of. Best way to contact you: info@joelgibsonstudio. com.au Instagram @ joelgibsonstudio Unit 2/2 Brown St Kiama 2533
AMAROO GARDENS
Design and Landscaping
0418 685 223 amaroogardens.com.au admin@amaroogardens.com.au
Contact us for your tailored quote:
advertising@thebuglenews.com.au
0428 662 499
I don’t really see what I do as fitting into one particular trade or genre. I enjoy being able to move between furniture, art, sculpture, fashion and design, because each one engages me in a completely different way. I find that shifting between different creative disciplines keeps the work fresh. I might spend a week thinking about the construction and proportions of a piece of furniture, then a month of painting or sculpture, or be working on a completely different problem around a product or brand. I like that nothing has to become repetitive. What’s a common issue homeowners call you about? I think people come to me when they’re looking for something a little more considered and individual than something they can
License no: 342498C
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0414 534 990 | kiamapainters@bigpond.com
CALL 0419 240 302 BASED IN KIAMA, SERVING THE ILLAWARRA & SHOALHAVEN ILLAWARRA'S
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20 | ARTS
THE BUGLE • thebuglenews.com.au
9 October - 15 October 2026
Cueva looks beyond the surface in new SEVENMARKS exhibition
Lleyton Hughes
W
hat happens when you look so closely at an object that it no longer looks like the object at all? That is the question local
artist and designer Cesar Cueva explores in his new exhibition, HIDDEN LINES, which opens at SEVENMARKS Gallery on Saturday, October 17. Cueva, who is also a codirector of SEVENMARKS,
N TO
H
U BEE AVE YO
has spent much of his career working across photography, jewellery, objects and exhibition making. But HIDDEN LINES takes his fascination with materials to a much smaller
ELY? T A L E GOLFI
mysticsatthegolfie
scale, using extreme macro photography to explore structures hidden within gemstones and other naturally formed materials. The exhibition grew from Cueva's work photographing jewellery, where he began noticing details that could not be seen with the naked eye. “Rather than just looking at the material, I wanted to start looking into it,” Cueva said. “The closer I went, the more those tiny structures started to take on their own scale. A fracture could feel architectural, an inclusion could look like a landscape, and something only millimetres across could suddenly feel enormous.” That idea became the starting point for HIDDEN LINES, with Cueva using focus stacking to construct images from hundreds of individual photographs taken at different focal depths. The technique allows him to overcome the extremely shallow depth of field created by extreme macro photography and bring together details from across the material into a single image. But the final photographs are more than simply highly detailed pictures of gemstones. “It started with inclusions in gemstones. Through a macro lens I was seeing things I just couldn't see with the naked eye, and I became fascinated by them,” he said. “Inclusions are traditionally seen as flaws and can reduce the value of a gemstone, but I started looking at them differently. Some interact with light in extraordinary ways and can create unexpected colour and optical effects.” That curiosity eventually
led Cueva to visit New York's American Museum of Natural History, where he saw extreme macro photographs of insects by photographer Levon Biss. “These tiny specimens had been photographed in incredible detail and presented at an enormous scale. I went home, looked into how he'd made them and discovered focus stacking. "Focus stacking gets around that by allowing me to make hundreds of exposures at different focal points and assemble them into a single image,” he said. “What I love is that the final image isn't really something I ever saw at one moment. It's constructed from many moments of looking.” For Cueva, the camera has become a “tool for excavation”, allowing him to enter the material and search for structures that would otherwise remain hidden. He begins by controlling the lighting and conditions before exploring the material through the camera, looking for fractures, inclusions, growth lines and other disruptions. “I’m not trying to impose an image onto it. I’m looking for something that’s already there but isn’t immediately visible,” he said. Those tiny structures can hold evidence of the material's history, from growth and pressure to fracture and change. But once they are removed from their original scale, their identity can begin to disappear and that ambiguity is central to HIDDEN LINES. “I’m interested in the point where identification becomes less important,” Cueva said. “Once you stop asking ‘what is this?’ you start noticing line, colour, scale, space, tension and structure.” “It’s a little like staring at a formation of clouds,” he said. “We can all be looking at exactly the same thing and
see something completely different.” While the technical process behind the photographs is highly controlled, Cueva said there is also an element of chance in what ultimately appears. “It’s a combination of control and chance,” he said. “I begin with an intention and control the conditions quite precisely, but I try not to decide too early what the image is supposed to be. The material still gets a say.” That balance between precision and experimentation also reflects the different parts of Cueva's artistic practice. His background in jewellery has taught him to think about material, precision and scale, while object making has developed his interest in structure and space. Photography, however, has given him an opportunity to introduce more uncertainty. “Photography allows me to loosen that control,” he said. “I can create the conditions, but I don’t always know what I’m going to find.” For Cueva, presenting HIDDEN LINES at SEVENMARKS is particularly personal given his role as codirector of the gallery. He said it was a privilege to be able to present the result of his own artistic enquiry in a space he has helped establish. But he hopes visitors leave with more than an appreciation of the technical process behind the photographs. “I’d rather they leave looking differently,” Cueva said. “If someone walks outside and notices a fracture in concrete, the structure of a leaf, a reflection or some tiny detail they might normally pass over, then the exhibition has done something.” HIDDEN LINES opens at SEVENMARKS Gallery on Saturday, October 17, from 5pm to 7pm.
9 October - 15 October 2026
21 |
thebuglenews.com.au • THE BUGLE
Kiama hockey sticks it to Illawarra
Despite losing in the grand final, Kiama Hockey’s fifth grade won the 2026 minor premiership. Photo Cara Laves
Lleyton Hughes
T
he Kiama Hockey Club’s fourth-grade women’s team has gone one better than last year, claiming a 1- 0 premiership victory over Wests Illawarra in a grand final rematch at Unanderra. Playing in temperatures approaching 30 degrees, Kiama scored late in the first quarter before producing a determined defensive effort to hold Wests scoreless for the remainder of the match. For player Cara Laves, who returned to Kiama Hockey in recent years after first playing for the club as a junior, the premiership was the result of a team that had managed to bring together returning players, new faces and juniors
coming through the ranks. “We just continued to all work well together and integrate the new players into the team and it all just came together in the end,” she said. The result also reversed last year’s grand final defeat against Wests, which Laves said was not something the team was particularly disappointed about. “Last year’s loss was not a loss at all for fourth grade,” she said. “We were the underdogs in that game and we played absolutely amazingly and there was no shame in that loss.” Laves said the side had also been able to find the right balance between enjoying their hockey and knowing when to lift for the big moments. “We had a big focus on
The fourth grade Kiama Hockey premiership winning team. Photo Cara Laves
having fun and enjoying ourselves, but also knowing when to step up and be serious and that was a trademark of our whole club this season,” she said. There was no single player responsible for the team’s success, with Laves instead pointing to the collective effort of the group. “No key players in this team - and that is what made it so special,” she said. “The beauty of it was we are all there for fun and the social side of the game, with a little bit of a competitiveness on the side, but first and foremost we are all there for each other.” The premiership was the highlight of a season which saw plenty of change across Kiama’s women’s program. After all four teams from
second to fifth grade reached grand finals in 2025, this year saw an influx of new players and junior players moving into the senior ranks. Third grade finished fourth and reached the semi-finals despite injuries and a number of players moving up to first grade. That first-grade team was the biggest milestone of the season, with Kiama fielding a women’s first-grade side for the first time in more than 20 years. The team combined experience and youth and provided the club with an important foundation to build on in the coming seasons. “It meant so much to the club to field a first-grade team,” Laves said. “It’s been a big aim for the club in recent years and now they have a great base to
build on next year.” The club’s fifth-grade side also reached the grand final after finishing minor premiers, but fell agonisingly short against Albion Park Rail. With the score locked at 0-0 and the game heading towards the final whistle, Rail scored literally in unison with the full-time buzzer to claim a 1-0 victory. Despite the disappointment, grand final day demonstrated the depth and support within the club, with Kiama players and families turning out in force to support both teams. For Laves, that family atmosphere is one of the things that makes Kiama Hockey so special. She played for the club as a child, her mother also played when she was growing up, and now her own daughter
is following the same path. “It is such a family-oriented sport and club with so many families with multiple people who play - from mums and dads to brothers and sisters,” she said. “It’s such a great thing to be a part of.” With a first-grade team now established and juniors continuing to progress through the grades, Laves believes the club is building something that can last. “This club is a place where all are welcome - from the mums who are there for the socialising and the ‘me time’, to the juniors coming through the ranks,” she said. “There’s strong ties and connections throughout the whole club where we all support each other and all want each other to succeed.”
More is more for Kiama Cavaliers Lleyton Hughes
T
he Kiama Cavaliers Cricket Club is heading into the 2026/27 season with more teams, more players and plenty of excitement as the club continues to grow. The Cavs have added a second men’s fourth-grade side and a second women’s team this season, with more than 200 players now registered across the club’s senior, junior and Blasters programs. “The mood around the club is as strong and positive as it has ever been,” said vice president Dane Parnaby. That enthusiasm has been building since June, when the Cavaliers began pre-season training in preparation for the new season. More than 60 senior players have already taken part in training, with the club putting a strong emphasis on player development and building team culture ahead of the opening round on October 10. The club officially launched
The Kiama Cavaliers are back bigger than ever for season 2026. Photo Kiama Cavailers
its season last week at the Kiama Leagues Club, with sponsors and members from all seven senior grades coming together to celebrate the season ahead. For Parnaby, the addition of the two new teams is a reflection of the opportunities the club is now able to provide for players. “These additions are a reflection of the continued growth of the club and the opportunities we are creating for more players to be involved, develop their skills and contribute to the Cavs community,” he said.
That growth has also brought changes behind the scenes, with the club undertaking a significant restructure of its Board and establishing several new subcommittees to help manage its expanding programs. The Cavaliers currently have 90 senior players, 95 juniors and 18 Blasters registered. But while the increase in numbers is a positive sign for the club, it has also created a new challenge. With more teams and players comes greater pressure on the club’s existing facilities, particularly its training
infrastructure. One of the club’s key priorities this season will be securing additional cricket nets and upgrading its current facilities to ensure it can continue to accommodate its growing playing base. “Our biggest challenge this season is not the significant increase in player numbers, but managing that growth within the limitations of our current facilities,” Parnaby said. The club is now working with relevant stakeholders on longer-term plans to improve its facilities, with the Board
hoping to find practical solutions as the Cavaliers continue to expand. On the field, however, the focus will turn to what the club can achieve during the season. The Cavaliers finished second in the Club Championship last season, and Parnaby said the goal is now to take the next step. “On the field, our ambition is for every Junior and Senior grade to compete strongly, make finals and put themselves in a position to challenge for premierships,” he said. “Most importantly, we want
to see the entire Cavaliers community get behind all of our teams throughout the season.” With every team now registered and ready to compete, the Cavs will begin the season with a strong playing group, new teams and plenty of momentum behind them. And while the club has its sights set on success on the field, Parnaby believes the strength of the Cavaliers will ultimately be measured by more than results. “We also want to continue strengthening our club culture, building strong relationships across all grades and creating an environment where everyone involved with the Cavaliers feels valued and connected,” he said. With the first round approaching on October 10, the Cavaliers now have the chance to turn months of preparation into results and begin what promises to be an important season for one of Kiama’s growing sporting clubs.
| 22
THE BUGLE • thebuglenews.com.au
KIAMA JFC - SYDNEY FC FOOTBALL FESTIVAL DAY 1
9 October - 15 October 2026
9 October - 15 October 2026
23 |
thebuglenews.com.au • THE BUGLE
GERRINGONG BREAKERS UNDER 10 RED
WHAT’S ON WEEKLY www.kiamabowling.com.au
Monday
Tuesday
MAHJONG 1pm-4pm
Eureka Euchre 2pm
Happy Hour 4pm-5pm
Happy Hour 4pm-5pm Bowls Coaching 4pm
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Meat raffle 6:45pm Happy Hour 4pm-5pm
Sunday FREE Pool 1pm-6pm
Seafood raffle 6:30pm Tez’s Trivia 7pm
Karaoke 7pm
Live Music
Meat raffle 5:30pm
| 24
9 October - 15 October 2026
THE BUGLE • thebuglenews.com.au
OZTAG, YOU’RE IT! Lleyton Hughes
K
will be seen in the women’s competition, with 11 standalone women’s teams taking the field this season. “We’ve got 11 standalone women’s teams, which is massive,” Duncan said. “Plus ten over 35s teams, so we’re really starting to see representation right across the board.” The growth means Kiama Oztag has had to make some changes to where games are played, with the Monday night competition moving from Gainsborough Oval to the Kiama Leisure Centre after outgrowing the venue. The move comes as the sporting complex benefits from a grant of more than $900,000 for lighting, which will allow local sporting groups to use the fields later into the evening. “The fields also just had a bit of a renovation as well, so we’ll actually be moving our Monday night comp, which is normally at Gainsborough Oval, because we’ve grown a bit too big for the venue,” Duncan said. Finding enough green space remains one of the biggest challenges for the association, with Duncan saying the club
est
may eventually need to look further afield if numbers continue to increase. “A little bit more green space would be nice, ideal, but it’s hard to get, as you know, in Kiama,” he said. “If we need to grow and push south to Gerringong or Jamberoo or whatever, we’re open to that as well.” For now, however, the association is making the most of the facilities available, with around 155 teams registered across the competition. And while the sheer number of local players is impressive, Kiama Oztag will also have a big presence at the World Cup, with 21 players from the association selected to represent Australia. The players range from under-16s through to the 60s, with Kiama also sending a
referee and officials to the tournament. For Duncan, who will play in the men’s 45s and serve as assistant coach of the Australian under-16 boys, the representation is a reflection of the strength of Oztag in the local area. “From a small-ish association, that’s a huge representation,” he said. “We’ve obviously got a very strong rugby league community through Gerringong, Jamberoo, Kiama and neighbouring Shellharbour as well,” he said. “Probably the non-contact form helps a lot with the kids. And also a lot of people play Oztag that play other sports as well, like soccer and AFL.” The World Cup, which begins on October 15 in Coffs Harbour, will be followed by
another busy period for Kiama Oztag. The association has already opened applications for representative players and coaches, with trials for the new State Cup and State Shield competitions scheduled for November. The competitions will introduce promotion and relegation, with teams able to move between the two divisions depending on their results. For Duncan, it means there will be little time to slow down once the local season begins. “We’ll go straight into the season and then Junior Nationals, World Cup and then trials and State Cup,” he said. “And before you know it, we’ll be at Christmas.”
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iama Oztag is set for another big season, with around 155 teams registered and 21 local players preparing to represent Australia at the Oztag World Cup in Coffs Harbour next week. The local competition gets underway on Monday, with players from under sixes through to seniors returning to fields across Kiama for another summer of Oztag. The World Cup will mean a slightly different start to the season,
however, with Wednesday night’s competition taking a bye in the opening week as players, referees and officials from Kiama head to Coffs Harbour. Kiama Oztag coordinator Keiron Duncan said the association had once again reached capacity for registrations. “We’re full again now. Our registrations are full, we’re pretty much closed and we’re kicking off next Monday,” Duncan said. While the competition continues to grow, the biggest numbers
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CHALLENGE CHALLENGE CHALLENGE CHALLENGE CHALLENGE
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$25 SNEAKY MID-WEEKY
This Month: Chipotle Beef Tacos (2) & Mini Marg Fridays & Saturdays | 4-6pm
SOCIAL HOUR
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SUNDAY SESSIONS
Live music every Sunday This Month: 4 Oct | Sultans of Spin 11 Oct | James Vann 18 Oct | Matt Harvey 25 Oct | Cameron Little
12 OCT - 6 C 12 OCT - 6 C 12 OCT - 6 C 12 OCT - 6 C 12 OCT - 6 C
2 October - 8 October 2026
thebuglenews.com.au • THE BUGLE NEWSPAPER
33 |
KIAMA SWIMMIMG CLUB
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THE BUGLE • thebuglenews.com.au
2 October - 8 October 2026
KIAMA JFC UNDER 10 PINK
2 October - 8 October 2026
KIAMA KNIGHTS 14-2 BT GRAND FINAL
thebuglenews.com.au • THE BUGLE NEWSPAPER
35 |
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THE BUGLE • thebuglenews.com.au
KIAMA POWER RESERVE GRADE WOMEN GRAND FINAL
2 October - 8 October 2026
2 October - 8 October 2026
thebuglenews.com.au • THE BUGLE NEWSPAPER
KIAMA QUARRIERS ALL AGE WOMEN DIVISION 1 GRAND FINAL WINNERS
37 |
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THE BUGLE • thebuglenews.com.au
2 October - 8 October 2026
KIAMA JFC SYDNEY FC FOOTBALL FESTIVAL - DAY 2
2 October - 8 October 2026
thebuglenews.com.au • THE BUGLE NEWSPAPER
39 |
SHOT OF THE WEEK Kiama Power’s Mikayla De Jong takes an absolute screamer during the Reserve Grade Women’s Grand Final against Northern Districts.