ANDREW CONSTANCE
LIBERAL FOR GILMORE
Andrew.Constance@nswliberal.org.au 0400 131 976 AndrewConstance4Gilmore nswliberal.org.au/andrew-constance PO Box 1002, Nowra NSW 2541
Authorised by Chris Stone, Liberal, Level 2, 131 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
THE BUGLE WEEKLY DIGITAL EDITION
Lynne Strong
The drama surrounding a 15 metre-yacht which ran aground outside Kiama Harbour near the ocean rockpool captivated Kiama this week.
On Monday night, the owner had moored the boat near the harbour and went ashore in his dinghy but the vessel broke free overnight.
The police have confirmed they have spoken to the skipper and the matter is being managed by Maritime NSW. Attempts to
Rockpool yacht drama captivates Kiama
free the boat from the rocks on Friday morning were unsuccessful and officials are waiting for favourable tide conditions to remove it from its location just to the north of the rockpool
The boat was spotted on the rocks in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with Kiama Council amenity cleaners alerted by a local swimmer around 4am.
“We all raced down there,” one local said. “We ran to the edge of the rock, yelling out to make sure there was no one on board. We couldn’t see anyone, so we called police and Maritime NSW.”
A Kiama local who lives above the harbour, had noticed the yacht moored in the harbour the previous evening. “I looked down just after 5.30 and saw it on its side,
half-submerged with water on board,” she said.
“I zoomed in on my camera and couldn’t see anyone. I contacted emergency services straight away.”
Local child Darcy O’Brien, before heading off to school, captured remarkable photos of the yacht’s position as waves broke around it.His images, shared with The Bugle, show rigging tangled and the bow fully breached by the swell.
“I thought maybe a shark was involved,” our intrepid scout reporter said.
As responders arrived, a search effort expanded. A dinghy was found tied up at a nearby wharf and intrigue grew. A diver entered the water, banging on the hull to listen for any response. None came. Thankfully the owner was located on
Tuesday afternoon.A Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter had conducted an aerial sweep from Kiama Surf Beach to Barrack Point.Police.
Investigations are continuing into the incident.
The yacht is registered to a Tasmanian address and had recently been in Jervis Bay. Pollution booms were deployed around the vessel to contain potential diesel leakage. A salvage team from Avcon Water Safety remained on site for the next four days.
Maritime authorities are empowered to recover costs from boat owners, who are responsible for securing their vessles and any damage caused, including environmental harm. Kiama locals have watched the unfolding drama with dozens gathering at the site each day.
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Debbie tackles two key issues
Paul Suttor
Greens candidate for Gilmore Debbie Killian believes two main inter-related issues are at the heart of the upcoming election - the cost of living crisis and the environment.
And she thinks the people of Gilmore deserve better when it comes to the solutions offered up by the Labor Party and the Coalition leading into the May 3 vote.
“The first issue is the cost of living crisis and the way that Australians are hurting in terms of their ability to keep a roof over their head and food on their table and struggling with mortgages,” she told The Bugle.“And the second one would be the environment and in particular the need to urgently change to renewables and away from fossil fuels as our energy source.
“There are many things that come under those issues so when you look at cost of living, for example, there's
issues around supermarket prices and the idea that supermarkets price gouge so that they're getting very high profits in a time when people are really struggling.”
When it comes to the debate over how to power Australia into the future, Killian said renewable energy was the only way to go.“It's well and truly established that renewable energy is going to provide us with the cheapest sorts of energy into the future, but the rate at which we transition fully to renewables is something that's a point of difference between even Labor, who accept the need to do it, and and the Greens,” Killian said.
“We think for the sake of the planet and for the sake of Australians and their energy bills we need to do this with some urgency and that means investing heavily in the things that are gonna make that possible for everyone.
around getting solar power in particular but also there's a lot of ways in which community projects can be encouraged and in rural areas where properties can be supported to shift to renewables.”
The Greens’ policy for funding more investment in renewable energy is to go after the corporations and Australia’s richest citizens to ensure they pay a higher level of tax. “We will tax the coal and gas producers who pay little or no tax - hitting them for a significant component of tax”.
Killian argued one of the main reasons that Australia’s wealthiest people and businesses get off the hook at tax time is due to the major parties being reliant on them for their own funding.
“I think that's a really positive thing to move away from the two parties,” she said.
“But it isn't parties that are the problem, it's those two parties. The Greens are a grassroots organisation but we have organisation behind us and we have very clear policies that people can see.
“When you go to a meet the candidates forum in this area, I'm the person who's standing up with 51 policies on our website that are very clear that don't change in crazy ways just before the election.
“We don't do backflips on things. We have our policies - they are developed with and by our grassroots members and they are things that you can count on.
“We are a smaller party but we are not a minor party. We have significant influence.
“There's a real undercurrent in the attitude of the current government to the Greens.
“There needs to be specific support for households
A lack of trust in the major parties has resulted in big swings away from them at recent elections and Killian thinks that change in the political landscape will mostly benefit Australia.
“They don't like to be pushed. That's our job - we’re there to push.”
Senator Mehreen Faruqi with Debbie Killian
Reverend explains flag omission
Lynne Strong
At a community meet the candidates forum hosted at Kiama Uniting Church, the absence of the Australian flag drew criticism from former Liberal MP and Shoalhaven City Mayor Joanna Gash, prompting her to write a Letter to the Editor at The Bugle.
But Reverend Kath Merrifield, who moderated the event, says the meaning behind the church’s wall display has been misunderstood.
“We do not have an Australian flag at the church. We never have,”
Reverend Merrifield said.
“It is not a political decision. It is simply not part of our worship or community space. Instead of flags, the church displays coloured fabric panels.
These include the red, black and yellow colours associated with Aboriginal identity, and green, blue and white representing Torres Strait Islander culture. They are not flags, but cloth strips that have been on the wall since January. Their purpose is to represent the Uniting Church’s ongoing covenant with First Nations peoples through its national body, the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. Andrew Constance,
Liberal candidate for Gilmore, speaking at the Meet the Candidates forum at Kiama Uniting Church.
Reverend Kath said the cloths reflect the church’s commitment to truth-telling and reconciliation.
“The colours change to mark different church seasons. It is part of our spiritual life. Around Easter they will change again.”
The community forum was organised by 350.org Australia, the Australian
Conservation Foundation and the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change. It drew a crowd of 145 locals and featured Gilmore candidates including Fiona Phillips MP, Andrew Constance, Kate Dezarnaulds and Debbie Killian. While Ms Gash criticised the lack of the national flag, Reverend Merrifield clarified the church would have displayed one respectfully if requested.
I migrated from Holland at just 8 years of age ... and proudly became an Australian citizen. I see our national flag as a symbol of this amazing country and its people. Recently I attended a candidates forum at the Uniting Church in Kiama. I was deeply saddened to see only two flags on display being the Aboriginal and Torres Strait flags. The Australian national flag was not on display. This in my opinion dishonours those many men and women who fought for our great country, many of whom would be attendees at this church and would be too polite to comment. These same men and women would have fought for or served our nation during so many different wars and many other ways of representing our country. I feel this lack of respect also dishonours all those people and their families who have obtained citizenship as migrants, or refugees fleeing conflict for a better life here in Australia To me, this is not an example to set by a church which is supposed to be apolitical. It seems that perhaps this Minister is setting a political agenda and uses her church to promote it or perhaps it was complete forgetfulness!
Joanna Gash AM JP Former Member for Gilmore (1996-2013) Former Mayor of the Shoalhaven City Council to 2021
Jamberoo residents concerned over grants
Lynne Strong
Concerns over missed opportunities and stalled projects dominated discussion at the latest Jamberoo Valley Ratepayers and Residents Association (JVRRA) meeting, held on 1 April.
Members expressed frustration that $50,000 in Rural Fire Service grant funding was lost.
The funding had been allocated for solar panels on the Jamberoo fire shed and for a community mural and garden project. Delays in securing permissions and obtaining information from Kiama Municipal Council meant both grants lapsed before the projects could proceed.
“This was a huge, missed opportunity,” one member said. “It would have saved the community thousands in electricity costs and added value to the town’s public spaces.”
Also discussed was the offleash dog park in Jamberoo, which is listed on Council’s website as due for completion by June 2025.
Members noted the lack of visible progress or public plans and hoped that the timeline remains realistic.
Heritage signage was also discussed, with the group hoping to install five interpretive signs along the main street and two in Reid Park. Council has recently given unanimous support for the concept. While earlier
grant applications were unsuccessful, members expressed a strong willingness to pursue new funding opportunities.
Flooding and stormwater management remain live concerns, with little visible progress since community meetings in 2023.
Residents say the School of Arts and nearby homes are still vulnerable to flooding due to overland water flow in heavy rain
One member suggested Council be reminded of its responsibility to act before damage occurs again.
Discussion also turned to the Draft Local Housing Strategy, with particular concern about the inclusion of land behind Macquarie Street as a potential growth area.
Many landowners were unaware their land was referenced in the strategy and questioned how development would be feasible given the steep terrain, flooding risk and lack of infrastructure.
The group also reviewed a positive community meeting on the Jerrara Rainforest and Wetlands Reserve and noted Council’s willingness to consider funding an updated Plan of Management.
The meeting concluded with appreciation for the ongoing efforts of Councillors who continue to advocate for the Jamberoo community across a range of local issues, from housing and infrastructure to green space and heritage projects.
Andrew Constance, Sussan Ley, Melissa Matters and members of the Gerringong Lions
Lights to light up Lions’ home ground
Paul Suttor
Gerringong Lions are more than just a rugby league club, they are an essential part of the local community.
A club built on hard work and camaraderie on and off the field, the Lions have saved all levels of governments hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more, over the years, by making major improvements to their ground and facilities by doing it themselves.
Michael Cronin Oval is more than just a sporting hub for the picturesque South Coast township, it is the place to be in Gerringong whenever the Lions are in action.
And the club is getting bigger in recent years with girls and women’s sides adding to their large junior base and men’s teams.
Spreading out the use of the facilities for training and matches over the course of any given week is an issue so better lighting is needed at the ground.Liberal candidate
for Gilmore Andrew Constance has promised a major funding upgrade for Michael Cronin Oval if elected on May 3.
Constance and the Liberal Party Deputy Leader Sussan Ley visited the Lions den kast week to announce they were pledging $200,000 for LED lighting at the venue if the Coalition gets the nod over Anthony Albanese’s Labor government next month.
“It's very easy to support community groups that are actually chipping in themselves,” Constance said.
“To be able to put the pledge in, in terms of the $200,000 for the LED lighting is important and the community has just worked tirelessly.”
Ley paid tribute to the local community members for doing more than their fair share of work to ensure their ground is always up to a high standard. “For us to support you is just a real privilege and a pleasure,” she said.
“When Andrew came forward to the team and
mentioned some of the projects that mattered to him, this one really stood out, and he's fought really hard for it, because everything that you undertake to make a promise about in an election campaign, you personally have to care about, you personally have to fight for.
“We want to demonstrate that we're here for you, that we care about what you care about, and we want Australians to get ahead, and we want to back our sporting teams and our smaller communities.”
Lions president Alan Miller said the logistics of getting all their teams onto the field is a constant struggle so better lighting would enable them to have more nighttime training sessions and matches.“We are a big footy town and we've only got one dedicated this size for a lot of teams. We've got 18 junior teams and five senior teams, and we've all got to share this field,” he said.
“So by getting the lighting, we'll be able to have games
and training at night, so it will make a huge difference to how we run.
“We've got eight junior women's teams and a couple of senior women's teams and it's just getting stronger and stronger. It's great - they play a pure form of football. They're taught properly from the start and they're good to watch and we, as a town, come out and watch them.”
Miller said their clubhouse was built by voluntary labour and a lot of drainage work at the ground has been done by locals rolling up their sleeves.
Junior club secretary Jodie Egan, whose son Dylan made his NRL debut for St George Illawarra recently, has been a driving force in fundraising to keep the Lions strong.
Kiama Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters said the new lights would pay for themselves within a year because the extra night-time activity would bring more revenue to the club and the town with people flocking to the ground whenever matches are on.
Warren questions Council’s travel claims
Councillor Erica Warren has asked for a full breakdown of how much Kiama Council is spending on councillor conferences and events, prompted by concerns that public funds may be stretched too thin to justify multiple attendees at external forums.
Her question with notice (Item 19.3 on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting) seeks details on average costs per event, year-by-year totals, and what has been allocated in Council’s budget for these expenses. Cr Warren says she’s interested in whether multiple councillors need to attend the same conference, especially when those funds could be spent on community services.
“I understand that the Mayor or Deputy Mayor may be expected to attend some events,” she wrote, “but we have to ask: are these trips all necessary, or are we just used to saying yes to everything and are we coming in under budget annually?” The CEO’s detailed response reveals that Kiama councillors have collectively spent $21,992 in 2023–24, $22,336 in 2022–23, $37,112 in 2021–22 and $13,369 so far in 2024–25 with more events to come.
Salvos launch South Coast appeal
The Salvation Army is calling on the South Coast community to sign up for the Red Shield Appeal, raising local funds to support people who are struggling most in our region. Across Australia the Salvos are aiming to raise $38 million for Australia’s largest and longest-running door-knock appeal, the 61st annual Red Shield Appeal which culminates in the Red Shield Weekend (May 24 and 25). The funds raised for the Red Shield Appeal will be used to help the South Coast’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable.
Phillips goes into bat for mental health
Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips has announced there will be more options for free, public mental health care backed by Medicare due to a billion-dollar investment by a re-elected Albanese Labor Government. Locals will have access to free, walkin mental health support and care with the upgrade of the existing Shoalhaven Mental Health Hub to a new Medicare Mental Health Centre in Nowra.
Medicare Mental Health Centres provide free, walk-in mental health support and care for people in distress and ongoing care for more complex mental health needs. The centres are staffed by a multidisciplinary care team, including social workers, nurses and peer support workers, who will provide wraparound support and care across extended hours.The Centre in Nowra is part of a $225 million election commitment to roll out 31 new and upgraded Medicare Mental Health Centres.
Britton dumped by Libs in Whitlam
The Liberal Party disendorsed Ben Britton as its candidate for Whitlam at the federal election over controversial comments he made on a podcast. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton removed Britton on Sunday from the race for the South Coast electorate which covers Shellharbour, Dapto and the Southern Highlands.
It came days after the National Party candidate, Katrina Hodgkinson, pulled out of the race.The Disability Trust chief executive Carol Berry is the favourite to win the seat after she was chosen by the Labor Party to replace retiring MP Stephen Jones.
Former member for Wollondilly, Nathaniel Smith, has been parachuted in by the Liberals to stand for Whitlam less than a month before the electorate votes on May 3. or Wollondilly, Nathaniel Smith, has been parachuted in by the Liberals to stand for Whitlam less than a month before the electorate votes on May 3.
Belle’s
Banter
Easter Eggstravaganza
It’s that glorious shoulder season in Kiama - when summer's heat is a fading memory, autumn’s golden light starts creeping in, and suddenly Easter is right around the corner.
You can feel the shift: the kids are counting down the last school days of term, the shops are lined with chocolate eggs in impossible-to-ignore positions, and parents are starting to quietly wonder how to keep the kids occupied for two whole weeks.
Luckily, Gerringong Bowlo has a fabulous new playground - just in time for the holidays!
Kiama is delivering a school holiday line-up worthy of a chocolate-fuelled standing ovation.First up, Kiama Golf Club is bringing the fun with a jam-packed Easter-themed Saturday on 13 April. Kids Easter Craft runs from 3.30pm to 5pm, followed by a groovy Kids Disco from 6pm to 8pm. It’s just $5 per child per activity - grab your tickets at Club Reception before they hop away. And don’t forget, kids eat free every Sunday night with any main meal purchase. (Now that’s what we call a sweet deal.)
Over at Kiama Leagues Club, the school holiday fun continues with an exciting calendar of events with a kids Disco on Thursday 17 April at 5pm - free entry! Free Kids Bingo on Tuesday 22 April at 11am - no bookings required, and a kids Magic Show on Thursday 24 April from 2:30 - just $10 per child (free for adults and under 2s). A great way to beat the holiday boredom without breaking the bank.
Feeling creative? Palette Knife Fun is the perfect pick for teens and adults wanting to splash out. Guided step-by-step, you'll create a masterpiece of your choice using palette knife techniques. It's on during the holidays, strictly for ages 13 and up, and no experience is needed – just bring your imagination, snacks, and maybe an old shirt thanks to Expressive Art at their EAE Studio Kiama Downs Wednesday 16th April 1pm. Then on Easter Sunday
Election signs spark debate across Kiama
Lynne Strong
Election signs have started popping up across Kiama, and not everyone is happy about it.
Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has taken aim at candidates who have installed corflutes on public land leading into the formal election period, calling the practice “visual pollution” and a breach of the rules.
“It’s not a free-for-all. The law is clear, and everyone should play by the same rules” the state member said.
“It’s time to do politics differently.”
(20 April), Yves is hosting a vibrant family lunch overlooking Kiama Harbour from 1pm to 3pm. There’ll be free kids' activities, including face painting, a visit from the Easter Bunny, and a classic Easter Egg Hunt. Meanwhile, grown-ups can enjoy great food, Easter-themed cocktails, and the smooth sounds of James Vann in the courtyard. If you're after a truly eggcellent afternoon of free fun, don’t miss the Easter Fun Day at Kiama Anglican Church, Saturday 19 April from 1-4pm. It’s become a Kiama tradition – and for good reason. Think Zorb Balls, jumping castles, face painting, crafts, games, and a giant egg hunt, all wrapped in a festive, familyfriendly atmosphere.
Of course, for many, Easter is also a time of quiet reflection and community connection. Several local churches will be holding Good Friday and Easter Sunday services, open to all who wish to mark the occasion with meaning. Whether you attend out of tradition, faith, or curiosity, it’s a lovely way to pause and take in the spirit of the season. So whether you’re crafting, dancing, painting, praying, picnicking, or just trying to keep your sugar intake under control, there’s something for everyone this Easter in our LGA. Check out somewhere you haven’t been beforewhether it’s Boneyard or 7 mile beach or further. We have a plethora of options North, South and West. Enjoy the holidays, take a breath, and may your hot cross buns always be fresh and your chocolate eggs safely hidden from sneaky snackers.
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He criticised signs being placed on fences, poles and other publicly owned infrastructure, and said he has only ever put his signs on private property.
“If a small business was caught doing this, they would be fined – and so too should these candidates.”
Community Independent candidate for Gilmore Kate Dezarnaulds’ team is certain
their campaign has acted well within the law and in the spirit of long-standing Australian electoral practice.
“On Saturday 22 March, we placed signs across Kiama in public locations commonly used for community notices, such as fences that regularly display banners
for local sporting events and community activities,” a spokesperson said. “The law allows election signage from either the date the election is called or up to eight weeks before polling day, whichever comes first. We believe we have followed both the letter and the spirit of the law.”
The team also raised concerns that some Kate4Gilmore signs have been taken down, while other signage nearby was left untouched.
“If Council’s concern is signage on public land, we would welcome clarity on the approach being taken, to ensure all campaigns are treated consistently.”
While Ward encouraged residents to report unauthorised signs to Council, Kate4Gilmore’s campaign struck a different note: “Our focus remains on engaging respectfully with our community about the big issues, from housing and health to the rising cost of living.
“Our signs are just one way of letting people know we are here, we are listening, and we are ready to work hard for our region.”
With voters watching closely, the question may be less about where signs go up and more about who is willing to listen when they do.
Calls for clarity over Minnamurra depot plan
Lynne Strong
Amotion calling for deeper environmental scrutiny and community accountability ahead of any move to relocate Kiama Council's works depot to the Minnamurra River catchment will be debated at Tuesday's Council meeting.
Cr Melinda Lawton has lodged a notice of motion (Item 20.1 on the agenda) urging Council to commit to a formal environmental impact analysis, costed flood and runoff studies, and a comprehensive assessment of road access and long-term maintenance issues. She also
wants the findings formally presented to councillors and costed into the 2025–26 Delivery Program and Operational Plan. Cr Lawton says her motion aligns with the Coastal Management Act 2016, which mandates the protection of coastal wetlands and littoral rainforests, rehabilitation of degraded areas, and strengthened resilience to climate change.
"We can't pursue economic efficiency at the expense of the Minnamurra catchment's environmental, social and recreational value," she said. "The community deserves to see the full picture, not just the financial upside."
While Council staff note these assessments will be required under existing legislation, Cr Lawton's motion seeks explicit commitment and transparency at a public level.
In a staff response, the CEO confirmed that the proposal is currently in its early scoping phase under a newly adopted Project Management Framework. A working group including risk, finance, waste and infrastructure staff has been formed, and preliminary funding has already been flagged in the draft 2025–26 Capital Works Program.
The CEO also noted that although the motion does
not strictly meet the Code of Meeting Practice, it has been included in the business paper as relevant funding and briefings are already in place.
In summary This motion is a call for greater environmental transparency and community accountability before the relocation of Kiama’s depot to the Minnamurra catchment.
While Council staff are already required by law to carry out many of these assessments, Cr Lawton is advocating for explicit Council commitment and reporting, with the goal of protecting a sensitive and significant ecological and recreational area.
Belle Wood
Brown wants to ‘stick up for the underdog’
Graham Brown is entering politics for the first time by running for Family First in the seat of Gilmore because he wants to help fellow small business owners and represent the majority of constituents rather than a vocal minority.
The Moruya businessman is the managing director of Euro Civil, a company he started with his wife Julie a quarter of a century ago that installs safety barriers.
He will go up against Labor incumbent Fiona Phillps, Liberal veteran Andrew Constance, Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds and The Greens’ candidate Debbie Killian in the battle for Gilmore in the May 3 federal election.
Brown said he decided to throw his hat into the ring because he believes Family First’s policies on a range of topics, including housing, immigration and support for small business.
“I’m standing because I love this country,” he said.
“I’ve had both sides of working on the farm and also working in the civil industry and you see a lot of stuff going on and I see that the frustration with the cost of living, the power prices going up when we were promised a reduction in power bills. I’m
very passionate about seeing the government being held accountable to and coming back to the core basics of what they stand for. They’re quick to throw money around to try and get people to vote for them but they’re missing a lot of the main points.”
“I guess I’m representing the underdog in a lot of ways, the people that own small businesses and don’t get too much say in politics.
“I left school at 15, worked on the farm and started my own business in between milkings, running mobile discos at night time and fencing contracting in the day. Through hard work and determination I’ve given the customers what they want and that is what I stand for and I think that can apply to politics. Giving people what they want without leaning towards a minority.
“Basically, I just want to see the right thing done by this country. There are a lot of decisions that are being made that aren’t in the country’s interest. They might be in the minority’s interest but not in the whole country’s interest.”
Brown’s view is families are spending too much time working extra hours to cover for the rising cost of living, which has flow-on effects.
“Family values is the biggest thing that I’m all for,”
he added. “I see mums and dads working hard, their families are left in daycares and the mums and dads are working on separate jobs and there’s no family life.
“We’re living in a world now where we’re paying high interest rates and the families have just got to spend their time working and not spending family time.
“They’re missing out on a lot of the family values and they don’t get too much say. The schools tend to be helping to raise the kids instead of the parents because they’re either in daycare or they’re in schools and the parents get home at night.
@It’s causing a lot of issues with juvenile crime going through the roof. A lot of it’s because they’re not spending enough time with their parents.
“Parents are too busy trying to pay the bills and the kids are left without proper parenting.”
The ballot draw for Gilmore was held on Friday with incumbent member Fiona Phillips getting top spot.
Kate Dezarnaulds was second, followed by Melissa Wise (Trumpet of Patriots), Debbie Killian (The Greens), Brown, Andrew Constance (Liberal), John Hawke (One Nation) and Adrian Carle (Legalise Cannabis Party)
Graham Brown with his wife Julie.
Photo: Supplied
Creek crossings, cows and courage
Most of us get nervous when the roundabout near Woolies backs up, spare a thought for Carla Rogers. She lives on top of a hill in Jamberoo, runs a national business and relies on a single, temperamental creek crossing to stay connected to the world. When it floods, Carla doesn’t just miss brunch. She misses meetings, radio
interviews and even the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir, which would have been her eighth time seeing them.
Carla doesn’t complain. She laughs. And she documents the drama with the flair of a travel blogger who swapped Europe for electric fences and a possibly aggressive bovine.
The same goes for Carla’s daughter Talise and Bardi Elder Aunty Munya Andrews, who, with Carla from the top
of the hill, run Evolve. It is an award-winning organisation building communities for a kinder, more inclusive Australia that values First Nations peoples and wisdom. When the floods roll in, their work doesn’t stop. They simply switch gears. Their flood tales are the stuff of local legend. There was the morning Carla promised her daughter she’d get her to a Year 10 school excursion no matter
what. On the way to the shed to grab umbrellas, she found their pup, Rango, midmouthful of rat bait. She bundled him into her handbag, navigated paddocks and 99 electric fences, rushed to the vet in Albion Park to get his stomach pumped, then made it just in time to get Talise to the excursion. All before morning tea.
There have been interviews with Radio National conducted while lying under a barbed wire fence because she didn’t make it back in time and daring return hikes through rising waters after late-night Sydney concerts or to meet with Stan Grant.
Luckily, they made it through both trials and the
HSC last year without a single flood run. Carla considers that her biggest achievement yet. Her beloved VW Van50H wasn’t so lucky.
It was left at Fountaindale Road and succumbed to the rising creek waters. Vale, Van50H.
This week’s challenge, with Talise now at uni, involved facing the classic “bull or cow?” dilemma. That is an important distinction when you’re on foot and trying to reach a waiting rescue vehicle so uni commitments can still be met.
Thanks to clever logistics like a second car stashed at a neighbour’s, community kindness from people like Alan and his tractor, Nick and his gator, Angela’s Subaru, Jen and Donna from the Jamberoo Rural Fire Service and the neighbours who
helped get the rescue vehicle out of a bog with a cup of tea in hand and a bit of satellite magic, Carla stays online and upbeat.
From the hilltop, they beam in to lead national training sessions where participants don’t just learn about allyship. They learn how to live it.
Most people’s gap year starts in London. Carla’s started in the Kimberley. It was the beginning of a lifelong journey to listen, to walk alongside First Nations people, and to help others do the same. Rain, mud, runaway cows and the odd bull might slow her down, but they have never stopped her.
In the end, Carla is all heart and steady footing. Come rain, flood or chaos. And if you’re lucky enough to be her neighbour, you’ll know. When the skies open, she’ll have chocolate, a smile and a story to share.
Lynne Strong
‘This funding is at risk’: Teachers concerned over $4.8 billion agreement if
Lleyton Hughes
With the federal election on the horizon, teachers are concerned that a change in government could mean a change in their funding.
The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments announced last month they had agreed to provide $4.8 billion for NSW public schools over the next 10 years.
Members of the Teachers Federation met with the union's president and Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, at Nowra High School on Tuesday to receive an update on the funding agreement.
Phillips shared findings from a new survey of teachers across the Gilmore, Whitlam, and Cunningham electorates.
The survey revealed more than three quarters (76%) of teachers are concerned that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will scrap this historic funding agreement for public schools if he becomes Prime Minister.
Both the President and Organiser of the NSW Teachers Federation, Henry Rajendra and Duncan McDonald respectively, cited the Coalition's previous history while in government
Dutton becomes PM
as a key reason for growing concern.
“This funding is at risk should Peter Dutton be elected PM.
“The Liberal-National Coalition government cut school funding agreements the last time they were in power, denying children vital support.
“Most concerningly, Peter Dutton has failed to offer bipartisan support for the new
school funding agreement,” Rajendra said.
McDonald added: “Since 2013, successive Coalition governments have delivered cuts to New South Wales public schools.
“In fact, just the day after the agreement was signed, shadow finance minister Jane Hume refused to commit to the additional $4.8 billion in funding for NSW public schools.
“The Coalition under Peter Dutton has also made no commitments to increasing school funding in NSW.”
The 10-year agreement, signed by the federal and NSW governments, aims to raise funding for public schools to 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) - a minimum funding level, as defined by McDonald.
“We call it 100% of the SRS, but it’s actually the minimum
level of funding required to meet the needs of all students.
That’s why it’s so significant. It will allow schools to focus on areas of need and on equity for students,” he said.
The same survey released by Phillips showed two thirds of teachers across the Gilmore, Whitlam and Cunningham electorates believe this funding is critical to support students who have fallen behind in literacy and
numeracy. “There are teachers in our area expressing these concerns because they see students in need every day. They go above and beyond to support them, but they lack the necessary resources.
“What we’re seeing is teachers burning out,” McDonald said.
“We’re also seeing statelevel departments of education struggling to attract and retain teachers due to burnout and heavy workloads.”
Rajendra also highlighted the positive impact of the funding agreement on NSW public schools.
“The more than 15,000 public school students in the Gilmore electorate have much to look forward to with the new school funding agreement signed by the Prime Minister and the NSW Premier.
“They can expect smaller class sizes, more one-on-one attention for students who need it, and additional school counsellors, just for starters.”
As the May 3 election approaches, the future of this crucial funding agreement remains uncertain, leaving teachers and students hoping the commitment to public education will remain a priority for whichever government is elected.
NSW Teachers Federation president Henry Rajendra with teachers and students from Gerringong Public School. Photo: Supplied
Kate irate over Gilmore’s healthcare neglect
Paul Suttor
Community Independent candidate for Gilmore, Kate Dezarnaulds, is demanding better health care for the electorate, claiming people are waiting too long, paying too much or going without care.
Dezarnaulds is adamant the communities within the vast geographical area which covers the South Coast from Kiama to Moruya are tired of political quick fixes while the real cracks in our health system keep widening.
“The major parties are busy fighting over headlines and handouts, while our health system is being held together by burnt-out workers, unpaid overtime and short-term grants,” she said.
The age-old problem of people in regional areas getting the rough end of the pineapple, compared to their city counterparts, is rearing its ugly head again.
“Despite having the same Medicare card, people in Gilmore receive far less federal investment in their health than those in the city,” she added. “Regional Australians get $848 less per person each year on average. That’s an $80 million shortfall for Gilmore alone.”
The flow-on effect spreads to added financial burdens
in a range of areas, she argued. “When people can’t access care locally, they’re forced to travel long distances, take time off work, and cover extra costs for fuel, accommodation, and childcare - carrying the emotional and financial burden themselves,” she said.
“For regular check-ups, it’s the hassle and cost of travelling. But when it’s time to give birth, the choice is even harder: either relocate the whole family into
temporary accommodation, or face the lonely experience of being separated during one of life’s most joyful and stressful moments.“People in regional areas often pay the same premiums as those in the city, but get far less back because there simply aren’t enough local specialists or services to claim against.
“Research shows regional Australians face higher outof-pocket costs, even when they’re insured. So, while city residents are using their
cover for things like massages and wellness perks, people here can’t access basics like maternity care, elective surgery or radiotherapy.”
Dezarnaulds warned voters not to be fooled by the two major parties announcing new clinics and services.
“If there’s no one to staff them, it’s just headlines,” she said.
“We’re seeing this across the board. From GPs and aged care to psychologists and paediatricians. Teenagers
are waiting months for assessments and diagnosis that are essential to their mental health support, and families are desperate for solutions.”
Her health care priorities for Gilmore are to make Medicare work better for rural and regional communities by funding time with your GP, whole-person care, and early intervention, while reforming the funding model to reward health outcomes with a focus on primary preventative care.
She is backing community-led solutions and wrap around family services, especially those that address the social and economic drivers of poor health, wants to fix the workforce crisis with a local strategy to train, attract and retain health professionals, expand specialist access and create sustainable business models that acknowledge the fundamental role that allied health and pharmacists as small businesses play in keeping us well.
Dezarnaulds said she had the genuine courage needed to tackle the impact and causes of diseases of despair by supporting services that address trauma, addiction, poverty and social isolation
“Aboriginal health organisations like Waminda, or local wraparound services like The Family Place in Moruya, show what works: care that treats the whole person, not just the symptoms,” she said.
“We should be backing these models, not treating them as fringe. True equity of access means every community, in every postcode, gets the support they need.
“Health isn’t a luxury, it’s a right. It’s time to fund what works, and that means backing our people.”
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Kate Dezarnaulds is concerned about the state of healthcare in the Gilmore electorate, claiming major parties are neglecting the issue.
A High Tea with heart
Lynne Strong
The scones are rising, the teacups are polished, and the tables are filling fast.
The Gerringong Committee of the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is getting ready to host its much-anticipated Mother’s Day Weekend High Tea on Saturday 10 May at 2pm, and tickets are expected to fly out the door.
Held at Gerringong Town Hall, the event is known for its warmth, elegance and generosity of spirit. Guests can expect delicious homemade treats, dainty sandwiches, and plenty of good company – all served by the hardworking
volunteers of one of the town’s most enduring community groups.
Tickets are $35 per person with tables of up to eight people, and go on sale from Sunday 28 April at trybooking. com/CZYKA.
As regulars know, tickets often sell out within hours so don’t delay.
Behind the High Tea is a story of remarkable local commitment. The Gerringong CMRI Committee has been raising funds since 1959 – through catering, craft shows, raffles, trivia nights and, of course, tea.
"You never know when you're going to need it," says Gwen Wishart, who joined the group in 1964.
Now a great-grandmother, she still gladly volunteers,
still bakes, and still believes deeply in the cause.
CMRI supports vital research into childhood disease, and local committees like Gerringong’s ensure nearly every dollar raised goes directly to science. It’s a cause that inspires loyalty and laughter, from long-standing members to newcomers.
"I don’t quilt and I don’t cook, but I can wash up and run a Bunnings barbecue," says Brenda Davy, who moved to Gerringong in 2020 and found herself part of the team after Lorraine Peade helped cater her wedding.
embroiders coat hangers. Holly Fogarty (née Bailey) and Kate Cutri (née Cronin) represent a new
Landcare wants to see lots of locals lining up for coastal walk
Lorraine, a member since the 1990s and now the group’s publicity officer, says the strength of CMRI lies in its community. "There’s a place for everyone. If you care, you belong."
Joyce, 94, is a founding and Life Member who still attends meetings and hand-
generation, bringing cupcakes and creativity to the cause. While the tools have changed – events now sell out online, and card readers have replaced cash boxes – the commitment hasn’t.
"We laugh a lot, and we work hard," says Lorraine. "And if something goes wrong, we just pour more tea."
The next meeting is Monday 2 June at 7pm at Gerringong Town Hall. Everyone is welcome.
All you have got to do is just bring a smile – and maybe a sponge cake.
Landcare Illawarra is inviting members of the community to take part in the coastal walk on Saturday 12 April, from the Little Blowhole to Minnamurra Headland.
The full walk is approximately 9km, but there is no expectation to complete the entire distance. You are welcome to join at any of the four Landcare sites along the way and walk a section that suits you.
The walk is part of the Kiama Coastal Community Planting Program, supported by the BUPA Healthy Cities Landcare grant. It will highlight the work being done by our five local Landcare groups to restore native vegetation and care for the coastal environment.
We would love to walk alongside you, even briefly
If you would like to take part, please register here and let Landcare Illawarra Coordinator Meredith
Hall know which section you are most interested in. Meredith will coordinate approximate timings and can send a message on the day when we are around 15 to 20 minutes from your preferred meeting point. This is a great opportunity to meet volunteers, hear their stories and see firsthand the quiet, consistent impact of community-led restoration along our coastline.
Estimated timings
8.30am Meet at Little Blowhole
9.00am Kaleula Headland (South Kendalls)
10.00am Bombo Beach
10.45am Bombo Headland
11.15am Jones Beach /Kiama Downs (no Landcare site here) 11.45am Minnamurra Headland
12pm Morning tea at Minnamurra site.
We’d love to see you there. To take part or find out more see the event flyer here Landcare Illawarra Coordinator Meredith Hall can be contacted on 0499 027 770 on the day.
BrendaDavyandGwenWishart
Brenda Davy and Peter Matthes at the buffet table
Lynne Strong
Local skies, lost stories and brave souls remembered
Full house at the Kiama History Centre for Russell Fredericks’ riveting account of three forgotten plane crashes
It was standing room only at the Kiama History Centre on Friday as fifth-generation local Russell Fredericks took the audience on a wild ride. Or rather, a tragic nosedive through three remarkable military aircraft accidents that took place in the hills and skies around our region. It was the kind of talk that made you lean forward, forget to sip your tea, and wish history had a rewind button.
Gordon Bell, who opened the event with affectionate banter, joked that Russell was “chicken” — too young, at least compared to his Jamberoo
local knowledge and knack for detail were the real deal. With warmth, wit and a surprisingly slick PowerPoint for someone who claimed not to do technology, Russell took us through three aviation incidents that had been all but erased from collective memory.
Saddleback Mountain’s deadly silence
The first story took us to 1939 and the side of Saddleback Mountain. A Hawker Demon fighter, piloted by young Jack Ohlmeyer from Clare, South Australia, spiralled out of the clouds and into the earth. His parachute failed. Locals from Jamberoo rushed to the wreckage. Wal Alexander, a dairyman, got there first. Jack died within seconds in his arms. His body, taken by ER ambulance, was eventually buried with full military honours back in
Russell revealed that Jack was not only the first pilot from No. 3 Squadron to die in WWII, but possibly
the first RAAF pilot overall. The moment hit hard. Not just for history buffs, but for everyone who has walked the Saddleback trails and never known.
A plane lost in the mist of Foxground
Fast forward to 1943. A Bristol Beaufort bomber vanished above Foxground in dreadful weather. Its crash was so secretive that locals did not even know it had happened, until Bullocky Brennan came upon the wreckage while carting timber with his bullocks. He found four crew members charred inside the plane, and one slumped against a tree, lifeless. Decades later, Gerringong
Scouts and locals trekked to the site to install a plaque. It was a poignant reminder that war often leaves its mark quietly, deep in the bush, under the ferns, and in the memories of people like Molly Irvin, who rode across Wallaby Hill to milk cows for two shillings and remembered those men as if they had just fallen.
A fatal mistake in the night sky
Then came 1957. A Fairey Firefly crashed west of Foxground during a training exercise. Two young naval officers died instantly after mistaking Kiama’s lighthouse for Point Perpendicular. A flare seen shortly after raised
false hope. It was just the intense heat igniting ammunition. A naval prayer was said on the hillside that night.
It was an accident that could have been avoided by 20 feet. A tragic miscalculation that has haunted the escarpment ever since.
Honour, humour and a humble historian
Russell peppered the afternoon with vivid asides.
A radar operator who was not believed when she tracked a Japanese flight over Kiama. A mysterious 1920 crash near Chapman’s Point. Bullock teams and Scout maps. The room chuckled and sighed in equal measure.
The final slide called for a small gesture. To remember the airmen who died here, often in training, far from
enemy fire but no less brave. Graham Kinnane, aviation sleuth and son of a local wartime navigator, helped piece these stories together. But it was Russell’s voice, steady and respectful, that brought the forgotten back into focus.
As we filed out, the murmurs said it all. “Incredible,” someone whispered. “I had no idea.” Neither did most of us. Until Russell gave us wings.
Fountaindale Rd Saddleback mt Crash Site
The future of aged care in crisis as demand rises and beds vanish
By Jacqueline Forst
Aged care is heading towards a crisis point. More Australians are living longer, but too many are spending those extra years in poor health.
As our population ages, demand for care is soaring, costs are climbing, and both government and providers are under pressure to keep up. Australia’s population is ageing at an unprecedented rate. Over the next 40 years, the number of people over 85 is expected to triple.
Yet our health span lags 12 years behind our lifespan, meaning many Australians spend their later years with limited mobility and high care needs.
In the IllawarraShoalhaven, the effects are being felt. ISLHD CEO Margot Mains estimates the region is now short 1,025 beds as of March 2025. The cost of care has climbed significantly, with the Productivity Commission reporting average aged care bed-day costs have risen from $71,420 in 2014 to $85,891 in 2022–23 (adjusted for inflation).
The federal government passed the Aged Care Bill in November 2024, with the new Aged Care Act set to take effect on 1 July 2025. It introduces reforms aimed
at stabilising the sector, like increased funding, higher wages for care workers, expanded access to nursing, and more direct care hours.
Local governments like Kiama Council have struggled to navigate the evolving aged care environment. Despite the good intentions behind Blue Haven Bonaira, the council underestimated the financial and structural shifts that have reshaped the industry. Meanwhile, larger not-for-profit providers were consolidating, reducing risks, and stepping away from unprofitable ventures.
Under the new legislation, around half of new aged care residents will face higher costs. While hardship provisions remain, those with fewer resources may need to travel further to find suitable care.These pressures are particularly urgent for Kiama. According to the 2021 Census, our median age is 48, ten years older than the national median. By 2036, the number of Kiama residents aged 65 and over is projected to grow from 4,950 to 8,550. Planning for this now is essential.
Jacqueline Forst is a Consumer and Carer Advocate with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and Carers NSW.
Matters calls on governments
Paul Suttor
Kiama Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters says Council is determined to solve the area’s housing issues but is growing increasingly frustrated by a lack of collaboration from federal and state governments.
Matters, Mayor Cameron McDonald, CEO Jane Stroud and director of planning, environment and communities Ed Paterson represented Council at the Australian Property Institute conference last week at The Pavilion, the first time the event has been held in Kiama.
They spoke about Council’s achievements, challenges and the progress in confronting the property issue in Kiama.
Matters told The Bugle that Council had no problem with the NSW Government imposing housing targets of 900 new homes by 2029 but “we’ve also got employment land to think about”.
“The LGA is already extremely short on employment land,” she said.
“It's OK for the state government to want this many houses but without upgrades to infrastructure - water, sewage works, road infrastructure connections, on and off ramps to freewaysit's impossible.
“We can't have growth without infrastructure. And
we can't have infrastructure without growth.
“I just don't think there's enough collaboration between state and federal governments with local governments.”
Matters comes from a small business background and said “if we didn't communicate and collaborate in small business, we just wouldn't survive”.
“There would not be many people that disagree that we desperately need more housing. And we've got a council that is very proactive in that area. And we're very, very keen to work with people, keen to work with state government, keen to work with developers,” she added.“We've got five housing blocks in Glenbrook Drive, which is a two-minute drive out of town.
And the state government have a covenant placed on that. Five blocks from 30 years ago. And it was because it's near a quarry but that's no longer applicable.
“Council has tried for two years to get that lifted with this state Labor government.
“It could virtually have signs put on it that said housing blocks coming soon. They're all powered. They're all ready to go, ready to build.”
McDonald said covenant was imposed on the five lots of residential land near Spring
Creek in 1991 which stops anyone from constructing any homes on these fully serviced lots.“Australia is in the grip of a housing crisis and Kiama Municipality has been issued a NSW Government target to build 900 new homes by 2029, which we’re obliged to comply with,” he said.
“Further, we’ve been ordered to improve our financial sustainability by the NSW Government. It makes no sense at all that we have five build-ready blocks here that we’re not able to
utilise, preventing a number of family homes from being built and annual rates from being collected.”
Kiama Council has written on numerous occasions to the NSW Government over the years requesting the covenant be lifted. In August 2022 Council received a letter from the previous NSW Government Minister for Regional Transport and Roads advising that he would not lift the covenant.
Last November, Mayor McDonald and members
governments to collaborate on housing
of Council’s executive team met with the NSW Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison and repeated the request.“It’s absurd that we’ve been issued a Performance Improvement Order by the NSW Government instructing us to improve our finances, and yet that same government is preventing us from doing just that,” McDonald added.
“Times have changed, quarrying practices have changed. We are divesting
provide muchneeded homes for families. We call on the NSW Government to lift this 30-year-old covenant so we can move forward and continue our journey towards financial sustainability.”.
Matters is concerned that there has not been any new housing estates in the LGA for more than a decade.
“I get people saying to me where are my kids going to live? I think people are sick and tired of it,” she said.
“We've pushed our young kids out of town. And I know not everybody can afford
town with some lovely apartments. We need infill in our town centres.”
She believes the draft Local Housing Strategy can set Kiama up well for the future with a mix of housing options.
“You've got to give variety. And I think there needs a lot of work and consultation before we sort of eat too much into the rolling green hills. We're talking 30-40 years of planning here. And if we didn't include a little bit of urban expansion, I think that would be a bit naive of us if we didn't think we had to consider that,” she said.
“I'm a bit worried people think Bombo Quarry is the magic bullet. Well, that's not for possibly 20 years down the track either.
“We don't have to go to the rolling green hills. But then are there lifestyles for young people that want that? Are there people that want an acre and want a bit of space for their family?
“What do the people want? That's why we're encouraging people to engage with this local housing strategy. It's not about what I want or other councillors. It's about what the community wants.If we don't plan now, we will get substandard developments and the infrastructure won't be there to facilitate that. And that's my biggest concern about the infrastructure around it.
“I still would like very much to see Kiama keep its own identity and we don't have to be the same as Shellharbour or Nowra. We're very different. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't be giving our young people somewhere to live, but we don't need to be overdeveloped as well.
“There's people that actually moved out of town with their first house that are ready to come back now, but we're not giving them anything to come back to.”
Volunteering
feels different when you’re not doing it alone
Lynne Strong
Even though Mat King is a new face on the board of the Kiama Business Network, he’s quickly become one of its most passionate voices.
“I’ve volunteered before,” he says, “but it’s always been a bit of a solo journey. This time, it feels completely different, it’s a team. And I’m learning something every time we sit down together.”
As Vice President of the Network and owner of Creative Kooks, Mat brings an energy that blends grassroots enthusiasm with a hunger to learn.
He’s the first to say he’s not the most experienced person at the table and that’s exactly what motivates him.
“I believe if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room,” he says with a grin.
“So I know I’m in the right place. I’m learning from people with backgrounds in HR, banking, law, people who’ve led careers, juggled families, and still show up with their hearts in the right place.”
For Mat, the standout is the group culture itselfopen, inclusive and powered by shared values.
“There’s no ego, no
hierarchy. If you bring an idea and it’s got heart, the board gets behind you.”
That’s exactly what happened when he proposed a partnership with Headspace to run a mental health first aid course.
Initially hoping for 10 participants, the event was overwhelmed by demand, with 47 people signing up in just a few days.
“The community response was huge. It reminded us we were on the right trackthat what we’re doing really matters.”
It also showed Mat the unique impact of volunteering as part of a structured, supported team. The Network gave him the space to run with the project and the confidence to think about what’s next.
Beyond his mental health initiatives, Mat is now working with the board on refreshing the local “Buy Local” campaign - aiming to better include online businesses and digital-first entrepreneurs.
“I’ve realised volunteering like this isn’t just giving back - it’s building up. You grow your own business skills, make meaningful connections, and feel part of something bigger than yourself.”
Griffith’s stark climate truth session passes the pub test
Lynne Strong
Saul Griffith stood in front of a packed room at the Grand Hotel in Kiama with a beer in hand and a message that cut through the political noise: Australia can lead the world in climate action, but only if we stop waiting for others and start doing the work ourselves.
Griffith, an inventor and engineer with deep experience in global climate policy, brought urgency and optimism to a community event hosted by local independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds.
more than $4000 a year.
Scaled nationally, this would lead to savings of nearly $2 trillion by 2050.
Griffith has advised governments around the world, including working on the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States.
In recent months, he has seen that progress unravel. His own organisation lost more than $2 billion in US government contracts as political winds shifted.
“Political flip-flopping costs us. It destroys trust, delays progress and kills opportunity. Australia has a chance to show another way.”
That way, according to Griffith, is full electrification. Australian households that electrify their cars, appliances and heating systems, and install rooftop solar, could save
“This is not a sacrifice,” he said. “It is an opportunity. But we have to fight for it. The system is not going to change itself.”
Griffith also addressed the Coalition’s recent decision to embrace nuclear energy, describing it as a distraction rather than a solution. “It’s not serious policy,” he said.
While he supports nuclear technology in countries without other viable options, he argues it makes no sense for Australia. It is costly, slow to build and relies heavily on water.
“We have sunshine, we have momentum, and we know what works. We are the driest inhabited continent, we don’t need nuclear,” he said.
“We need courage and the right incentives.”
He explained Australia’s electrical grid is already experiencing a transformation - 40% of substations now send electricity both ways due to rooftop solar.
But regulators are still operating as if we live in the 1950s. Griffith argues Australia has the best sunshine in the world and the perfect conditions to electrify homes, businesses and even heavy industry.
What’s missing, he said, is the political will.
Griffith is not aligned with any party, but he is passionate about the role independents can play in restoring integrity and ambition to Parliament.
He has worked with the current crossbench and describes them as some of the hardest working and most
values-driven MPs in Canberra.
He believes more independents could help hold major parties to account and push for real progress.
That’s where Kate Dezarnaulds comes in. While Griffith joked that everyone in the room already knew she was great, he also made it clear her campaign is serious.
Dezarnaulds has spent years working with community organisations across Gilmore, listening to concerns about affordability, infrastructure, environmental protection, and political integrity. Her campaign is backed by Climate 200 and supported by a growing grassroots movement.
Griffith reminded the room the energy transition will not only lower bills and cut emissions but can also help address inequality.
With the right policies, renters, low-income households and small businesses can share in the benefits. But if we wait or get distracted by expensive dead ends like nuclear, the window will close.
“We know what to do,” he said. “Electrify everything. Start in your community. And vote for people who will make it happen.”
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Constance pledges
$1.39m
funding to enhance Shoalhaven Marine Rescue base
Lleyton Hughes
In a significant boost to the Shoalhaven community, a Dutton Liberal Government has committed to the development of a $1.39 million Marine Rescue base in the region if they are elected.
The new facility will replace the existing base at Crookhaven Heads, with plans to demolish the current structure and build a stateof-the-art Search and Rescue Control Centre.
This upgraded base will feature enhanced radio operations, improved storage, and better accessibility, ensuring that the region’s emergency services can operate at peak efficiency.
The facility will be equipped to provide the best possible response times and safety measures for those in need on the water.
Liberal candidate for Gilmore, Andrew Constance, expressed his pride in the
announcement, noting that the project would not only enhance safety but also serve as a fitting recognition of the volunteer work that has been vital to the region for decades.
“This commitment acknowledges the decades of work by Marine Rescue Shoalhaven volunteers to keep our community safe on the water. It will save lives and bring our community together for many years to come,” Constance said.
The commitment was made official during an event at Culburra, attended by Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Sussan Ley MP. Ley praised Constance for his advocacy on behalf of the local community, highlighting his dedication to the South Coast.
“Andrew has fought hard to make this commitment possible, but it will be his unrivalled experience of delivering for the South Coast that will bring this important project to life,” Ley said.
Christine Waite, Solicitor
What’s On?
‘Wounds’ by Jaz Corr
29 March - 10 May
SEVENMARKS Gallery Kiama
Kiama Farmers Market
*Time change*
9 April - every Wednesday 2-5pm
Coronation Park
Daylight Savings is over so that means the Kiama Farmers Market is back to trading hours of 2-5pm (with ready-to-eat stalks open until 5.30pm).
Kiama Coastal Landcare Walk
Saturday 12 April
Little Blowhole - Minnamurra Headland
Call or text Meredith Hall on 0499 027 770 for more information.
Jambero RFS and The Fukers
Jamberoo School of Arts
Saturday 24 May
Get tickets from humanitix.com
Mothers day weekend high tea
Saturday May 10
Gerringong Town Hall 2-4pm
106 Fern St Tickets $35 from April 28th at trybooking.com
Johnny Warren Golf Classic
Thursday 15th May
Jamberoo Golf Course
To honour Socceroos legend, Johnny Warren, who would be turning 82 years old.
Kiama red cross fun run/ walk
8th June
Kiama Coastal Walk
21.1km or 8km or 5km. Prams, strollers & dogs welcome More details: kiama.com.au/events/kiama-fun-run
OpenField Arts Festival
June 13 - 15
OpenField Arts Festival 2025 invites travellers to swap the city rush for a weekend of contemporary art, gourmet dining, and boutique shopping in this charming South Coast town.
Entries close for Country Press NSW Short Story
Competition
4 July Pick up entry forms from The Bugle offices.
Five local artists present red-hot Retrospective at the Old Fire Station
Lleyton Hughes
Collective 25, a group of five local photographers and artists, received rave reviews for Retrospective, a new exhibition at The Old Fire Station in Kiama.
The exhibition showcased the diverse works of Kiama residents Rowan Hollingworth and Olga Baldock, Wollongongbased artists Geraldine and Brian Lefoe, and Kiama photographer Diane Goodman.
The exhibition spans a range of styles, from traditional photography to more contemporary, abstract, and emotive works. Each artist brings a unique approach to the medium, using photography to go beyond the typical "record shot" and instead creating expressive and interpretative images.
Olga Baldock's innovative use of in-camera multiple exposure techniques results in oneof-a-kind images that blend creativity and technical skill. She has recently expanded her practice to include multimedia works, such as collage and gelli pad printing.
Rowan Hollingworth, known for his flower photography, also explores landscapes and natural subjects around Kiama. His works combine surreal
and abstract images, often enhanced through Photoshop compositions.
Geraldine Lefoe captures the magic of Wollongong’s beaches using natural light and Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) techniques. Her work reflects an expressionistic style, focusing on the relationship between people and nature.
Brian Lefoe’s striking blackand-white landscapes are complemented by vibrant color works that often lean towards abstraction. His photographs take viewers from the waterfalls of Tasmania to the deserts of Morocco.
Diane Goodman, with over 30 years of experience, blends photography with traditional media like watercolor and acrylics. Her work explores the intersection of digital and traditional practices, reflecting on nature, memory, and emotional connections.
Retrospective brought an intimate look at the creative practices of these local artists. It is great for Kiama residents and tourists alike to experience the diverse and thoughtprovoking works of these talented local photographers.
Artists and art-lovers at the Old Fire Station for the Retrospective collection
Brigade always at the ready
Lynne Strong
You may hear the siren, but what you don’t always see is the quiet discipline, teamwork and sacrifice from Jamberoo Rural Fire Service.
In 2024, this volunteer brigade responded to a record-breaking 180 call-outs, averaging one every two daysthe busiest operational year in its history. For a small village, that’s a big commitment.
What’s even more remarkable is how fast they do it. From the moment the call comes in, it takes just 4.5 minutes on average for the first fire truck to hit the road - one of the fastest response times in the region. Their callouts aren’t just fires.
They respond to structure fires, car crashes, grass fires, downed trees, welfare checks, animal rescues, and even landbased flood rescues. They’ve searched for missing persons, helped in multi-agency hazardous material events, and assisted other regions during the Hawkesbury floods and the Varroa mite biosecurity emergency.
While their primary responsibility is to the Jamberoo valley and
surrounds, this brigade also supports the broader Shoalhaven, Illawarra and Sutherland areas, and when called upon, they deploy across NSW - wherever the need is greatest. But it’s not just what they do - it’s how they do it. The brigade’s strength lies in its diversity, inclusion and deep community roots. Their members range from 16 to 86 years old, representing a cross-section of Jamberoo life - from retired engineers and school students to small business owners and even religious ministers. Everyone brings something unique, and
everyone is welcomed.
In 2025, 50% of the brigade’s operational officers are women, including Deputy Captains Leanne Deen and Corrine Wesche.
At the helm is Captain Hannah McInerney, the first female brigade captain in the Illawarra. She is credited with transforming the culture of the brigade from a traditionally blokey space to a collaborative, supportive team grounded in professionalism and mutual respect.They work hand-in-hand with groups like the Kiama Show Society, Red Cross, CWA, Jamberoo Tennis Club, the RSL sub-branch, and
local schools and pre-schools. In 2024 alone, their fire education programs reached more than 350 children across 10 pre-schools - planting seeds of safety and confidence for the next generation. It’s not all sirens and smoke. Sometimes, it’s a food drive for the Salvation Army, or a “Get Ready” day to prepare locals for bushfire season. Sometimes it’s quietly standing beside someone in crisis.
In a time when many communities struggle to maintain volunteer numbers, Jamberoo RFS shows what’s possible when people from all walks of life come together.
A tough life for early settlers
Mark Emery
By nature and circumstance, Australia’s early European settlers had dwellings of bark and poles.
In the rugged and untamed bush, it was far more convenient to take from the bush what it could provide in the way of a place to rest one's head, like a cave, a burnt-out tree-trunk and subsequently a slab-walled hut.
The quickest and easiest method was to use the available materials the bush could provide and that was bark and poles.
No bushman was without an axe, and with this implement he could cut and erect a skeleton building of poles and sheet it over with bark stripped from a tree. The Australian stringybark provided the best covering but if that was not available, bark from most eucalyptus trees was a good alternative.
Green bark had a tendency to curl as it dried, so the roofing had poles laid lengthwise on the top section to keep it flat and also to prevent it being dislodged by wind.
Walls could be bark or slab - a decision of the builder and the estimated permanency of the structure. Loose boards provided a doorway.
That this could be the very first building of a man and his wife in the early days of settlement is legend. Poets and writers wax lyrical
about the sense of isolation and privation, but to hear of it first-hand from one's grandparents and to see their weathered hands is to know the truth of it.
After building a home there were many things to consider - beds were made of hempen bags strung on poles, which was slightly better than sleeping on the earth, especially when a thunderstorm flooded the inside of the hut.
How to keep provisions dry and free from ants was an ever-present battle. It may be years before circumstance and availability when corrugated iron could be used to roof the dwelling, and sawn slabs replaced the bark walls. Corrugated iron was used to provide a chimney and fireplace at one end of the hut, having the structural timbers on the outside for safety.
logs, or in many cases a single pole suspended on forked sticks at either end and this was known as the ‘long drop'.
A neighbour could be a half-hour walk through the forest, even after a walking
Diversity belongs on the front line - and everywhere else
Lynne Strong
It takes courage to run into danger when others run away. And in Jamberoo, that courage wears ponytails, work boots and smiles that hide sleepless nights.
The local Rural Fire Service brigade, like Kiama’s Surf Life Saving Club, is quietly reshaping what frontline service looks likeand who belongs in it.
Half of Jamberoo RFS’s operational team are women. Its captain, Hannah McInerney, is the first female brigade leader in the Illawarra. She says the pushback was so intense she still asks herself daily why she didn’t walk away. But she stayed - and so did dozens of others who now feel safer, stronger and more seen because of her leadership.
Their message is simple: inclusion isn’t just nice to have. It’s critical to capability. It makes our emergency services more resilient, more responsive and more connected to the communities they serve.
That’s why it is so disheartening to hear public figures still clinging to outdated beliefs about
Nethervale. Just south of Kiama
netting was too heavy to be managed on the one journey.
Men became beasts of burden until a horse or a bullock could replace him, and the settler was
Sparks were a constant danger once the bark walls had dried. Water was carried from mountain streams in tin buckets and billies.
Toilet facilities consisted of a hole in the ground walled in by sheets of bark which was propped,and held in place by shortened logs, with the roof also of bark. A crude and serviceable seat was a wooden slab cut smooth with a square hole morticed through appropriately, and rested on round blocks or
who belongs in what roles. When a would-be federal representative questions whether women should serve in combat, it is not a policy debate.
It’s a warning signal.
It tells every girl who dreams of making a difference that her ambition will always be secondguessed - not because of her skills, but because of her gender.
Normalising diversity in frontline roles doesn’t weaken the system. It strengthens it. It sends a powerful message that courage, leadership and care are not defined by age, gender or background. When the community sees inclusive teams protecting their homes and livelihoods, it reshapes old stereotypes and opens the door for everyone to contribute. These women are not asking for praise. They are asking to be recognised as capable. To be seen for the hours of training, the split-second decisions, the physical toll, the emotional weight. They are showing up, sometimes risking their lives. What they should never have to risk is their right to belong.
to give their man a chance to rest, and a kangaroo dog or two had to be added to the set-up.
track had been cleared. To have a neighbour was a bonus; there would be the inevitable case of an accident to either party during the hard and dangerous clearing of the brush and forest and there was also the necessity of a woman to assist at births, unskilled as she invariably was, and a baby brought a new dimension to the striving couple. It could be more than a day’s walk or further to the nearest settlement - if there was a settlement at all. Returning with supplies or necessary means of survival this could mean a hazardous adventure as well, only to be repeated if the burden of fencing wire or wire
a fortunate man if he had an area of grass upon which to graze his animals.
To have the fortune to possess two bullocks to yoke raised the status of a pioneer immensely for he then had the means of cultivation and hauling materials and logs into position for fencing.
Crops would be damaged by the kangaroos and wallabies seeking succulence, with the only means of preventing their incursion was eternal vigilance, lighting fires and tending them at nighttime, with fires in themselves a hazard if the forest litter should catch alight.
Wives shared these duties
If the hapless settler had the luck to have cedar trees in his location, the harvesting of this timber would be a means of cash if it could be taken to one of the few ports of call of the sailing ships plying the coast and thence to the city markets.
This involved the cutting of tracks through the bush and the hauling or carrying the lumber some miles in many cases, a painstaking task at best. Although the commodity was mostly received by agents at the wharf-side, and who had the responsibility of payment for the article the cutter received little recompense in comparison to the retail value when received in Britain when sent on by the wily trader.
It was the beginning of the appearance of the adventitious “middleman”' or trader who bought and onsold produce for personal
profit or loss. During the next 20 years our settler may have a family of seven, a small herd of cattle and a few accoutrements in the way of labour-saving devices, a plough and six or eight bullocks, a stock horse and a dray.
His children may have all been born without the aid of a doctor, and a neighbour's wife may have developed into a renowned midwife servicing a small community striving to achieve enough recognition to have a local town available to them as a trading post, where farm produce like eggs and milk and butter and hides could be traded for tea and sugar and farm necessities.
His wife was usually never recognised for the duties she was expected to perform and her contribution to the union. However, she stuck to job of having and raising children and supporting her man with a stoicism not unremarkable in her day but liable to be forgotten and unrehearsed 150 years later.
Is this housing strategy right for Kiama?
Karen Fowler
The Draft Local Housing Strategy could reshape our towns and villages - but is it heading in the right direction?
At a recent Kiama Matters Inc meeting, I asked people to ensure they help shape the future of Kiama by engaging with the Housing Strategy process and providing feedback to our Council and Councillors.
The Draft Housing Strategy will define the way our urban environment grows and guide priorities for infrastructure and services.
The Strategy will determine what our villages will look like in a decade’s time. It outlines four key priorities: well-located housing supply, diverse housing options, supporting infrastructure, and thriving centres. The question I’d like people to consider is whether the Strategy actually delivers on them.
One concern being raised by the community is that the document relies on outdated population projections.
It draws from 2022 data suggesting Kiama will grow by 6917 people by 2041.
However, updated 2024 figures project growth of just 2180. We appear to be planning for almost double the expected number.
Even using the older figures, the Strategy seems to propose more housing than needed.
The plan identifies an existing capacity to deliver 2341 new homes by 2041, mostly through in-fill development in Kiama and Gerringong.
To meet the projected shortfall, Kiama Municipal Council has proposed four Urban Expansion Areas across the Local Government Area. The largest - in Kiama - could accommodate 4200 lots yet we only need to cater for
1028 new dwellings to meet the shortfall.
This raises important questions about scale, sustainability, and the ability to keep Kiama liveable.
Council argues it needs a pipeline of greenfield land because it cannot control when developers build.
While I understand this, the community still needs to consider whether the size of this proposed pipeline is justified.There are positives. I welcome the “non-negotiable principles” in the Strategy and the inclusion of a requirement for a Structure Plan to coordinate planning proposals and infrastructure across the area. The actions in the document around infrastructure planning have also been strengthened.
Good strategic land use planning requires consideration of not only economic outcomes. It must also weigh up environmental, social and cultural outcomes.
Economic outcomes are easy to measure. Environmental impacts can be assessed by experts. But social and cultural values - our sense of place, our heritage, our access to housing and services – the things that create a healthy and happy community, they are harder to quantify and need to be defined by the people that live here. This is why we need your input.
I keep hearing that our cultural values are embedded in our love of green hills, our beaches, and relaxed outdoor lifestyle.
If we want a future that protects these, we must ensure planning decisions are guided by more than population targets and dollars.I urge residents to read the Strategy. Reflect on whether it reflects our community’s needs. This is more than a plan. It is a vision of our future.
Preventative medicine key to better health care
Danielle Woolage
Bomaderry Pharmacy
can now test customers’ blood sugar and cholesterol levels as part of an innovative pilot to deliver accessible, affordable health services to the community.
Owner and pharmacist Katrina Farrington says the point-of-care testing pilot program was designed to take pressure off overstretched GPs and hospitals.
Her business, part of Independent Pharmacies of Australia, is one of 29 chemists across the nation offering testing to detect those at risk of diabetes or heart disease, with the simple prick of a finger.
“We get a little spot of your blood and test your glucose and cholesterol levels and you get the results while you’re in the shop,” she says.
“So in 10 minutes you can
have two tests done and the results in your hand. People don’t have to wait weeks at a GP to get these tests or results and they’re not clogging up the emergency department because the pilot is a preventative health care measure based on early detection and treatment.”
Kiama MP Gareth Ward, who visited the pharmacy this week, pointed out that pharmacists were at the coalface of the COVID-19
pandemic, deliver National Immunisation Program vaccines, and provide urinary tract infection treatment for women over 18 across Australia. Point-of-care testing is another feather in a pharmacist’s cap.
“This pilot program showcases how pharmacyled testing can fill gaps in healthcare access,” says Mr ward.
“It also assists in reducing the number of hospital
emergency centre admissions and lowers overall healthcare costs for patients which is critical.
“Our local pharmacists are often the backbone of many regions like ours, however, they remain an oftenunderutilised health resource despite their advanced training,”
Mrs Farrington said customers were charged a small $20 fee for the testing which was subsidised by a pharmacist program and the manufactures of the testing machines.
“We would like to see governments step up and fund the program long-term, we believe the cost is worth paying because it will save so much money in the long run by preventing people from losing a limb (from diabetes) or ending up in hospital with a heart attack.”
Kiama Matters aims to strengthen community voice and connection with power of advocacy
Lynne Strong
Residents from across Kiama’s LGA gathered to vote on a proposal to transform the Kiama Community Precinct into Kiama Matters Inc. The motion passed with strong support to signal a fresh chapter in community-led advocacy.
Many attendees voiced concern about Council’s inconsistent approach to community engagement, and a broader desire emerged: to be heard by those in power.
As The Bugle continues to report on the formation and actions of Kiama Matters, there is growing interest in how local media can help close the gap between the community and government.
By covering events, providing clear summaries, and amplifying local voices, the media can serve as a bridge between residents
and decision-makers. Chair Janet Peters introduced the purpose of the meeting, the interim committee, and invited nominations for future leadership roles.Tracey Henderson, who is leading the group’s engagement strategy, acknowledged her initial hesitation. “Apathy felt a bit more comfortable,” she admitted, “but the energy and diversity in this group rebuilt
my faith in what’s possible.” She encouraged both active and passive involvement.
Active members might organise events or drive campaigns, while passive members support by signing petitions or simply being counted. “We hope to reach 200 members by 30 June and 500 by year’s end,” she said. “Come visit us at the Kiama Markets on 30 April.”
Ian Robertson, part of the group’s tech team, explained how Kiama Matters plans to keep people informed. A website will launch by midMay as the central hub for news, events and access to key government documents. Regular email updates will highlight important issues, and surveys will be used to gather feedback. He welcomed new volunteers, especially those with tech or grant-writing skills.
In the short term, updates will be shared via the Kiama Community Facebook page.
Karen Fowler presented on the Draft Local Housing Strategy Version 2. She urged residents to read the document and make a submission. his is a big document with big implications,” she said. “Please engage, whatever your view.”
4 3 2 1 4 3 2
Mark Whalan, operator of Kiama mystery events, enjoying a chess game on the foreshore. Bakers Chemistry have been a favourite for the past three years coming each week from Sydney. The activated charcoal and quinoa loaf is out of this world.
is the Aussie cinnamon
When life gives you lemons! Hywel Kemsley of Hywell’s Lemonade joins us weekly from Mittagong and has being doing so for the past two years. 1
Pauline Farrugia from South Coast Blends is from Albion Park and says the crowd favourite
almonds.
1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 5 7 6 5 6 7
Volunteers rest after their labor on the main street of
Previously joining us in Kiama for eight years with Kareelah Farms, and for the past three with her condiments. Kathy East hails from Marshall Mount. She says her best seller is her lemon butter
Labor stalwarts campaigning in
Market operator Trish says don’t forget our Easter markets from 2pm next week with the annual spud hunt on the beach.
Guy McPhee from Egan’s Farm has been coming to Kiama for three years with his popular eggs from Batemans Bay.
Troy Annakin been coming to the markets for two years from the Blue Mountains - his most popular item is the Swiss Brown mushroom - divine for a holiday breakfast.
Angela Jones’ says her best seller is Iron Bark Honey with Kangaroo Valley Gourmet foods.
Kiama
Kiama.
Use QR code to Vote for top tourist town
out & about
and
Cathryn Lyall, Vida Carden-Coyne and Mel Scarr at Cin Cin’s.
The big nights keep coming in Kiama, not just for tourists.
1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 5 7 6 5 6 7
Imelda Laidler Sally Bursell, Julie-anne Ratz catching up at Tourism After Dark.
Manuel - not quite where you would normally find the waiter!
On 10 April, local business owners, councillors and tourism champions gathered at Cin Cin Wine Bar for an evening hosted by Destination Kiama. The event celebrated resilience, reinvention and rising visitor numbers.
With Mediterranean share plates and ocean views setting the tone, guests heard from Cin Cin’s owner Michael Bowden, who recalled the bar’s love story beginnings and his vision for a welcoming space where people can share food, wine and connection. The evening also marked a symbolic moment, as Ann Goddard formally handed over her much-loved charter boat business - Kiama Charter Service - to Melissa Walker and Leigh Achis.
Leigh spoke of continuing the legacy while building community partnerships, drawing on his and Mel’s experience in running major events with a focus on local benefit. Tourism figures revealed an average stay of 3.3 nights per visitor and a 16 percent increase in total nights spent in the region.
Cr Matt Brown proudly held up the 2024 Top Tourism Town trophy, urging locals to vote again and help Kiama secure a back-to-back win. A second win would see Kiama enter the Hall of Fame, keeping the spotlight on local success.
Lions members enjoying the conviviality and beverages at a sold out Kiama Leagues Club event
A fabulous time had by Lions members and their guests at the leagues club.
On the evening of the 10th of April, the Kiama Leagues Club was transformed into the chaotic world of Faulty Towers, thanks to the efforts of the Kiama Lions.
The dining experience was nothing short of hilarious, right from the moment diners arrived.
As guests entered, they were greeted by the eccentric Basil, who took charge of the organisa-tion of the seating. The everobliging Manuel and the sharp-witted Sybil showed diners to their tables, setting the tone for an unforgettable night.
The actors' performances were exceptional, with their amusing banter and comedic timing keeping the audience engaged throughout the night. The event was a great success, bringing joy and laughter to the community.
Kiama Lions and Kiama Leagues Club would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Lara, Sean, and James for providing such an entertaining evening. Their talent and dedication ensured that the Faulty Towers dining experience was a night to remember.
The event was designed purely as an evening of fun, with no fundraising motives. The aim was to provide entertainment that would leave everyone in stitches, and it certainly delivered. From Manuel's mischievous rat to the cook's mishap with false teeth, every gag was met with roaring laughter.
Cr Melinda Lawton Dr Astin Lee
Cr Yasmin Tatrai are all smiles at Cin Cin’s.
Sally Bursell with Alicia Terry and Rae Begley from Bundanon Art Museum at the wine bar.
A Night of Hilarity: Fawlty Towers Dining Experience in Kiama
Cin Cin’s Wine Bar hosts ‘Tourism After Dark’
Raising a glass to frivolity, hilarity and conviviality at KLC Fawlty Towers Dining experience
Kiama Council, in partnership with the Kiama Business Network, hosted a Local Housing Strategy information session breakfast at the Kiama Sebel on Friday. The information session is part of Council’s extensive consultation on our draft Local Housing Strategy, which is on public exhibition until 27 April.
Five keynote speakers gave their expert insights into the housing debateEd Paterson from Kiama Municipal Council, Simon Kersten from Colliers Wollongong and the Urban Development Institute of Australia, Natalie Allan from Southern Cross Community Housing, local architect Madeleine Scarfe and Cathryn Lyall from Kiama Business Network.
Sam Scobie from Ray White and Sam Lathbury from First National having time out at The Sebel
Andrew Constance and Gareth Ward enjoying networking at the Sebel Breakfast
Connor from Dandy Loans and Abby from First National catching up
Council hosts of the breakfast Claire Doble and Ed Paterson 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 5 7 6 5 6 7
Kate Dezarnaulds with Panel speakers Cathryn Lyall, Simon Kersten, Natalie Allan, Madeleine Scarfe and Ed Paterson
Cr Melinda Lawton with former councillor Cathy Rice
KCR Radio crew who recorded the session. Kerrie Lakeman, Madeleine Scarfe and Bernie Hems
Attendees enjoying a fabulous breakfast at The Sebel
Allan
The Sebel hosts local housing breakfaststategy 8 8 9 9
Natalie
from Southern Cross Community Housing, Fiona Phillips MP and Cathy Lyall president of the Kiama Business Network
Kiama keen to power up for season of growth
Lleyton Hughes
Kiama AFL club will have their Family Day at Bonaira Oval on Saturday as all three teams take on Figtree in what is shaping up to be one of the strongest seasons the Power have had in years.
Round 1 of the AFL South Coast competition took place over the weekend with only the Kiama Power women’s premier division and men’s reserve grade teams taking to the field.
The women recorded a 28-7 over Bomaderry but the reserve grade men narrowly went down 81-71 to Bay and Basin.
Family Day this weekend will coincide with the first game of the season for first grade and committee member Andrew Grady says the club is at its strongest position in years.
“We’ve had a lot of new people turning up over the preseason, so we’re probably in the healthiest place we’ve been in for years in terms of numbers,” he says.“At training we’ve had upwards of 60 plus, which hasn’t been seen definitely in the last five, six seasons, especially since COVID, so that’s a positive.”
Grady says a big part of attracting these new players has to do with the club’s environment and culture, which has caused many players to stay loyal despite the last few tough seasons.
“The last two, three seasons have been pretty hard in terms of results. We haven’t really won many games, but the focus has just been on building that culture off the field that people feel like they want to be a part of,” he says.
“So we feel like we’ve done that really well, we’ve seen the majority of the men’s side over the last few seasons remain at the club despite all the results that haven’t gone our way on the field, so that’s been very positive to see.”
Family Day is a testament to the culture that Kiama Power have been building at their club. The day will join the seniors and the juniors as the junior teams present the seniors teams with their jerseys on Saturday 12 April and then vice versa on Sunday 13 April.
There will also be face painting and inflatable slides for kids on the Saturday as well as a fundraiser for Heart
Research Australia - a cause very close to the club.
“We lost our former president Darren Williams in 2019 - he had a heart attack at the game, so it’s a very important cause to us and we’re raising money for that this weekend as well,” says Grady.
As for the upcoming match against Figtree, Grady is optimistic despite Figtree being the benchmark team across all divisions. The return of key players like Lachlan Kirk, Charlie Wood, and Callum O’Toole, along with the addition of new players like Hamish Robertson, Luke Fallance, and Matt Walker, brings a fresh energy to the men’s team.
On the women’s side, the club has added Imogen Fowles, an Australian indoor hockey representative, as well as a new coach Arthur Chilcott, the first Illawarra player to represent the Swans.
“Arthur’s expertise will be invaluable as he coaches the girls this season,” Grady said.
Head down to Bonaira Oval on April 12 for a weekend full of exciting footy, fun, and a celebration of Kiama Power’s growing culture.
Greater support helping Kiama Netball reach their goals
Kiama Netball Association kicked off their season last weekend with their Presidents Round, honouring the generations of presidents who have run KNA since it began in 1986.
The beginning of the season also marked the launch of KNA’s all-abilities program for young children with additional needs. Thanks to support from Greater Bank, the association has received funds to assist with registration fees, uniforms, operational costs, and more.
KNA President Michelle Gregory is excited about the program, as she sees local netball as a crucial step in helping young netballers achieve their dreams.
focus on netball umpires this year.“Our goal for this year is a fun, positive season where everyone enjoys the sport. We will continue to work on the growth of our players and coaches and would love to do more work with our umpires - without them, we have no sport,” she said.
Kiama well
represented
in New Zealand Oztag series
Lleyton Hughes
Eight players and two coaches from Kiama Oztag proudly represented Australia over the weekend when they made the long trip to New Zealand for the Trans-Tasman series.
Held in Auckland from April 4-6 across 15 divisions, the Australian Tagaroos faced off against the New Zealand Tag Blacks in five consecutive matches - one on the first day and two on each of the following two days.
Kiama had players competing in the men’s and women’s open divisions, the men’s under-45s division, and the men’s under-60s division. Meanwhile, the two Kiama coaches managed the mixed under-21s team.
To have so many representing Australia from a town as small as Kiama is an incredible achievement.Four of the five teams with Kiama representatives finished undefeated against New Zealand.The men’s open team lost two games, won one, and drew one before their final match.
“The boys were losing the series and went into their fifth game needing a win by a certain margin,” says Kiama Oztag coordinator Keiron Duncan.“That game went into a drop-off, where the teams played five on five, and Kiama’s Cooper Lee was involved in Australia’s five. The Aussies ended up winning that game and ultimately the series.” At the end of the series, an all-star team was selected, and Cooper Lee was chosen to be part of that squad - an incredible achievement.
important areas of the club.
“The support from Greater Bank allows us to shift our focus and set some new goals for this year’s season,” Goodair said. “We have big goals again this season to provide quality programs for our players as well as offer coaching development, pathway programs and increase men’s participation in netball.”
Gregory is enthusiastic about the season ahead and specifically mentioned that she wants to place a greater
“All young netballers have dreams to be an Australian Diamond, but without grassroots netball and the trust and support of organisations such as Greater Bank, opportunities are limited and the pathway to success becomes much harder to navigate,” Gregory said.
Over the past few years, KNA has been dedicated to improving their courts and ensuring the playing environment is of the highest quality.
Illawarra District Netball Association Secretary Jude Goodair says the funds from Greater Bank will allow Kiama to shift their focus to other
Shellharbour manager Matt Tonkin said Greater Bank were proud to support such a great community sport.
“I love seeing people come together to cheer along their family and friends from the sidelines - it’s great to see our sense of spirit come to life!”
Duncan, a man of many talents, was one of the individuals representing Australia in the men’s under45s division. “Any time you get to represent Australia is special. Your teammates come from all overQueensland, Gold Coast, ACT, Central Coast, everywhere. Sometimes, there are only a few people you know on the team,” he said.
The Trans-Tasman series marks the end of Duncan’s Oztag year, as he now prepares to rest before gearing up for the next season. He’s excited about the upcoming season and the plans he has in place to make it even better.
Lleyton Hughes
Stirling effort by Ryan to improve in tennis
Ryan Stirling spent his younger years in Cowra and participated in tennis lessons organised by local club members from the age of four. He moved to Tenterfield where he played basketball, volleyball, golf, squash and Aussie Rules but no tennis as there was a lack of organisation. “The courts seemed to be never in use,” Ryan said. After completing his secondary studies at Tenterfield High School, Ryan completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial
Chemistry) at the University. of NSW at Randwick. Ryan then went to work for Masterfoods at Wyong for four years, then travelled to Canada on a skiing holiday before moving to England where he worked for an engineering consulting company from 2004-2008.
He made his comeback to tennis when he joined the Jamberoo Tennis Club in 2018 and started playing night competition in Division 4 with Shaun Thurkettle, Ryan Stalgis and Nick Kofod. Ryan came to live in
Jamberoo in 2020 and works for the Shellharbour Council at the waste depot at Dunmore.
This year he was promoted to Division 3 night comp, teaming up with two of the club’s most experienced members - Noel Faulkner and Joel Edwards.Ryan has performed well in the club championships, winning the B Grade Men’s Doubles in 2023 with Harley Fry and in 2024 with Shaun Thurkettle.
Every dog has its Day but Ali has plenty on the beach
Lleyton Hughes
Kiama’s Ali Day continues to reign supreme over Surf Life Saving Club ironman competitors at 34, as he cruised to his fourth Australian open ironman crown at the 2025 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
The five-leg race includes a board, run, swim, run and ski. Day was at least 30 metres in front of all competitors as he hopped out of his surf ski and ran the last stretch to the finish line, fist raised to the sky as he realised he had done it again.
Day at 34 says he relishes every event as he comes to the end of his career. “I wanted to seize the moment and not leave anything out there,” Day told Surf Lifesaving Australia.
Last October, Day claimed his tenth Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold Ironman, and he credits his long career experience as a main reason why he continues to be so successful.
“The Aussies finals are different,” he said. “I don’t know how to explain it, but
it’s not necessarily faster than your semis and it’s definitely harder, but it’s just another pressure situation. You got to
stand up and deliver.I guess that’s experience for me now being in things, that’s my 10th or 11th Australian Ironman
final I know how to stick to the race plan.”
The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships were
held at North Kirra, and Day was racing out of the Surfers Paradise SLSC.
The beach holds a special
place in his memories.“North Kirra is a lucky beach for me. I came down here as like a 15-year-old and marveled at Shannon Eckstein, Zane Holmes and Ky Hurst and thought, you know, how cool would that be to one day be in the same arena… and now I’m mentioned in the same sentence as them, it’s really special,” he said.
At 34, there has to be more than a few of his rival Ironman competitors dreaming about the time Day decides to give it a rest, but he assured Surf Life Saving Australia that he will be back next year to do it again.
“I’ll definitely be back next year. I think there’s a bit of pressure going in today, looking at that under 19 age group coming up, and they get harder and harder to win.
“To win another one today, I’m over the moon,” he said.
This may have been the Kiama local’s fourth Australian open ironman win, but it remains to be seen whether it will be his last.
For now, Day's grip on the competition remains strong, and his passion for the sport shows no signs of waning.
Ali Day celebrates moments before crossing the line. Photo: Surf Life Saving Australia
Ryan Stirling (left) with Noel Faulkner.
Kiama and Gerringong set pace in Group 7 with emphatic wins
Lleyton Hughes
Kiama and Gerringong kicked off their South Coast Group 7 campaigns with a bang last weekend and will both be aiming to stay in the winner's circle as they approach round two.
The Knights will travel to Nowra on Sunday to face the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets, who will be eager to bounce back after their 28-22 loss to Milton Ulladulla.
Kiama’s revamped side downed the Jamberoo Superoos at Kiama Showground last weekend to get their season off to a strong start.
The hosts established their dominance early by scoring within the first 10 minutes and kicking on with a commanding 26-0 win.
Fullback Brad Killmore, returning from injury, acknowledged the team’s performance, noting they weren't quite perfect despite keeping Jamberoo scoreless - a promising sign for the season ahead.
“It was a solid first hit-out. With new players coming into the team and a few of the 18s stepping up, there were a few clunky patches, but everyone did their job.
"We’ll only get better. I’m very happy with our defenceholding them to zero was a great effort by the team,” Killmore says.
The scoreless Jamberoo firstgrade side will be hoping it was just first-game jitters as they face the defending premiers, the Gerringong Lions, on Saturday.
Gerringong also started the season with a win against the Berry Magpies.
The Lions found themselves trailing after Berry scored the first try in the 11th minute. However, Gerringong responded before halftime, with the game locked at 6-6.
The second half, though, was all Lions as they surged ahead to a 28-6 victory.
The Jamberoo vs Gerringong clash is always a tough local rivalry, and with this being the first 2025 match at Kevin Walsh Oval, the Superoos will be hoping to secure their first home win of the season.
In other grades, Kiama also triumphed over Jamberoo in reserve grade but were unlucky in both Ladies League Tag games.
Meanwhile, Gerringong defeated Berry in both reserve grade and U18s games, but were not good enough in their Ladies League Tag 1 match.
