As Kiama Council finalises its report on the inclusion of a Gerringong property in its Employment Lands Strategy, an “old bull, young bull” grapple between landowners Wes Hindmarsh and Derek McMahon is being played out.Hindmarsh, a fifth-generation landholder, is publicly voicing his concerns that including McMahon’s 5 Sims Road property in Kiama’s Employment Lands Strategy undermines protections for the region’s western rolling hills. Hindmarsh is a name which echoes throughout the history of the LGA and with a parcel of land passed down through the family since the mid 1800s – the family legacy is shaped not by tradition alone, but by a commitment to doing what is right.  Supported by neighbours Bill Folder and Brian Whatman, they shared a flurry of concerns with The Bugle which Hindmarsh says “flies in the face of the objectives of the zones [in the Kiama Local Environmental Plan 2011]” with the catastrophic potential to impact the local biosecurity, agricultural activity and the region’s tourism appeal. “The thing that grabs me about the whole development is the impact on the activities we undertake here, which could introduce seriously harmful weed seeds to rural lands,” Hindmarsh said. “It [5 Sims Road] is also in close proximity to the Crooked River Estate vineyard whose owner has invested heavily in the future of the winery and restaurant and shares the biosecurity concerns for the vineyard. “If it is to be placed into the Employment Lands Strategy, this will introduce industrialisation and in future years from now, the beautiful rolling hills won’t exist, I believe.” Currently the land surrounding 5 Sims Road is under Zone RU1 Primary Production in the Kiama Local Environmental Plan 2011, and Hindmarsh believes the Employment Lands Strategy will impede on the listed objectives of the Zone.McMahon has been advocating for his land to be considered within the Strategy and although opinions differ, he still values his neighbours’ concerns.  “No one likes change and no one wants it next door to them – that’s normal,” McMahon said. “I sympathise for people where there will be an effect for those nearby or neighbouring, the same way that the Housing Strategy is going to affect people.” McMahon concedes that while his approach is that of “a long view”, soil won’t be turned over straight away if it is successful in being included in the Employment Lands Strategy. “Should it be identified, there is still a rigorous process in government before anything is approved,” he said. “We can’t go down there and just do what we want the next day.” For Hindmarsh and his neighbours, it’s not about being a NIMBY (not in my backyard), but more about protecting what is good for Gerringong and the local region. “I’d like to keep things the way they are, but the arguments have got more gravity by the fact that what is being proposed is not a good fit for Gerringong,” Hindmarsh said. “Kiama Council should seriously consider their position and if they are to honour the Kiama Local Environmental Plan 2011, they wouldn’t proceed with approving that land as an industrial area because of the impact it will have on Gerringong now and into the future. The view from the Crooked River Estate vineyard which could potentially have an industrial outlook if the 5 Sims Road is included into the Employment Lands Strategy. Photo: The Bugle“It is vitally important that rural lands be preserved for agriculture in its many kinds so that the inhabitants of our growing nation can be reliably fed.” Kiama Council Director of Strategies and Communities Ed Paterson said Council's planning instruments (i.e. Local Environment Plan and Development Control Plan) are constantly being updated to reflect our evolving world. "Strategies like the Employment Lands Strategy and the Housing Strategy contain actions to update the Planning instruments to ensure they are living documents," Paterson said. We want to hear from you - Take The Bugle survey here

Kiama Rugby Club junior Asher Chapman has been selected to represent Australia in the Under-16 Australian squad.Chosen after his standout season with the NSW Waratahs U16s, Chapman will attend a development camp this month before lining up against the Queensland Reds U17s at Wests Rugby Club on Thursday (11 December).New Kiama Rugby Juniors president Richard Payne said he is thrilled to see a local player reach the national stage.“I watched all of his NSW games through the Super AU series on TV and he was a complete standout the whole time,” Payne said.“I think he finished as the leading try-scorer, or very close to it. He just stood out with the ball in hand, and defensively he looked very comfortable at that level - he commanded the ball, found space, had beautiful footwork and great defence. Really exciting.”Chapman was the only Illawarra rugby player selected, and he has been a long-term junior at Kiama Rugby Club.“He’s been playing since he was eight,” Payne said. “He’s been a long-term junior, and his dad was a former president of the Junior Club and is now president of Illawarra Rugby. They’re a family who have dedicated a lot of time to the club.”Despite juggling commitments with NSW, Australia and rugby league for the Illawarra Steelers, Payne said Chapman always makes time to return to Kiama.“This year he was tied up with a huge amount of representative football in both codes, and he always found time to come back and play for Kiama,” he said.“I watched him play a few games and he did some special things that not many people can do on a football field. The boys got such a thrill out of playing with him - he got them all the way to the grand final. He was a huge part of that. He’s an amazing football player, but he’s also really dedicated to the club.”Payne said Chapman is already a role model to younger players.“All the boys in that team got around him and went up to a couple of those NSW games. They absolutely loved watching him on that big stage and you could actually hear them through the TV - they were pretty loud, pretty supportive,” he laughed.“He’s a great role model for the other young kids coming through who aspire to do some pretty cool things like he is now.”What makes Chapman special, Payne said, is the combination of natural ability and hard work.“He’s always been talented - I remember watching him run at Australian Champs in primary school. He’s super quick."But he keeps getting better because natural talent only gets you so far. His greatest strengths are his work ethic, dedication and passion for the sport,” he said.“To stand out when you’re playing against Queensland, when you’re representing NSW - you’ve got to be a pretty special talent. And he certainly did. He’s put himself into that upper echelon, and Rugby Australia is clearly paying attention.”The Australian U16 squad will face the Queensland Reds U17s at Wests Rugby Club next Thursday with the match streamed live on the rugby.com.au YouTube channel.We want to hear from you - Take The Bugle survey here

Kiama and Minnamurra Lions have taken matters into their own hands and “slashed” red tape and the grass to help bring the circa 1850s former police residence on Terralong Street back to its former glory.  With the local heritage listed residence in a rundown state, the clubs used their initiative to help make a difference and help ease public concern with their motto “where there is a need there is a Lion” and cut the metre-high grass.  “There were seven of us here today and everyone chipped in,” Lions member Jim Webb said. “A lot of people have been talking about how terrible this place is and looks over the last couple of months, with people asking why somebody doesn’t do something about it.”But it wasn’t as simple as opening the gate and getting to work, there was approval required from NSW Planning and Development.  “We had to get permission to walk through the grounds and also from the NSW Police to park the trailer out the back,” he said. “So, it is a fair amount of toing and froing to get today underway, but as you can see things need to be fixed. “Overall, it was a lot better than it was going to be – we didn’t find any red-bellied black snakes in the long grass!” Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Adell Hyslop told The Bugle that she was thankful for the effort the Lions went to and hopes this leads to further action. “We are grateful for the further support of the Lions club to reach out and undertake the project,” Hyslop said.  “We are hoping that there will be upgrades through Property and Development NSW in regard to restoring the building to some former capacity.” At the Kiama Council’s November meeting, Councillor Matt Brown put forward a Notice of Motion to the meeting requesting that the Kiama Council write to Kiama MP Katelin McInerney. Webb explained it is part of the Lions Club’s ethos to help Kiama maintain a presentable image running into the tourist season. “We try and make sure that the way Kiama is presented, like the grass and the parks, looks better this time of year,” he said.We want to hear from you - Take The Bugle survey here

This week's edition of The Bugle is filled with the latest news and views from our local South Coast community.Our main report is on Kiama MP Katelin McInerney voicing her disapproval for the high-rise development in the pipeline for Akuna Street.READ THE DIGITAL EDITION HEREMcInerney says it’s “completely inappropriate” for a developer to want to build a 14-storey development in the town centre.Level 33 is set to request the Housing Delivery Authority to allow a much higher development on the corner of Akuna and Shoalhaven Streets.The developer has dropped its legal action against Kiama Council in the Land and Environment Court and is expected to lobby Housing Minister Paul Scully and the Housing Delivery Authority to have the project declared a State Significant Development, which would effectively sideline Council from limiting its height to the already approved level of seven storeys.You can also read plenty of great community stories including a look back in history at Charles Kingsford Smith's exploits at Gerroa, Saltwater Cafe winning a national award and a charity making a difference in Nowra.In sport, you can read about Minnamurra's young star on the rise who has won the national under 10s 100m and 200m sprint gold medals as well as a teenage rugby player going places.Kiama Rugby Club junior Asher Chapman has been selected to represent Australia in the Under-16 Australian squad.Chosen after his standout season with the NSW Waratahs U16s, Chapman will attend a development camp this month before lining up against the Queensland Reds U17s at Wests Rugby Club on Thursday, 11 December.New Kiama Rugby Juniors president Richard Payne said he is thrilled to see a local player reach the national stage.We want to hear from you - Take The Bugle survey here

When the owner of Saltwater Café on Terralong Street, Gülçin Töpel stepped onto the stage to accept the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Award in the café category, she carried with her the story of an immigrant who has spent more than a decade turning hard work into hospitality, community and local jobs.The Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards are designed to celebrate not just profitability but contribution - how businesses employ locals, support suppliers and show up for their communities.In the café category, judges look for more than good coffee and a great seafood platter; they look for leadership, resilience and the creation of a identity, all qualities that Saltwater has demonstrated through COVID-19 lockdowns, labour shortages and rising costs.For Töpel, receiving this and other accolades (Saltwater won the Most Outstanding Restaurant at the 2023 Illawarra & South Coast Local Business Awards) has been deeply personal; she has spoken about her pride in achieving this as an immigrant and her belief that others can do the same, framing the award less as a finish line and more as an invitation for others to back themselves.On social media, the Saltwater team has cast the win as a victory for “family, friends, staff and community,” a reminder that small business success is rarely an individual act.After spending her childhood in Adana, a city in southern Turkey, Töpel relocated to Sydney in 2020 where she felt that experience and city had a distinct lack of alignment with her values.Thankfully, for us, she decided to purchase Saltwater Café in 2021 and the rest as they say is (award winning) history.“They were a bit hungry for money” she says of the Sydney hospitality industry.“Money may help a business grow, but money is not everything."If you don’t have a great heart, you can’t do anything.”For Topel, these words are an important reflection of who she is, why she’s here, and what she wants to contribute. They are certainly not “just talk”.Immediately after the 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake, Töpel donated 100% of Saltwater’s earnings to Turkish charities and was well supported by Kiama locals and visitors.In the national conversation, immigrants are often reduced to numbers in a population growth spreadsheet, blamed by some for soaring rents and tight vacancy rates and unaffordable house prices.Concerningly, this narrative is well entrenched across our community’s social media pages.Yet this story is one of many, detailing how migrants expand economic prosperity rather than simply consume it - creating jobs, taking entrepreneurial risks and drawing visitors who spend money in regional towns.A busy café like Saltwater supports local landlords, food producers and wholesalers, and helps keep Kiama’s high street vibrant, which in turn sustains broader investment and a positive outlook in the town.As Canberra and Macquarie Street wrestle with migration caps, zoning reforms and housing targets, Kiama’s newest national champion stands as a reminder that people are more than inputs into the housing crisis equation.The Bugle’s View is that instead of striving to keep immigrants out to “protect” housing affordability, the better approach is to celebrate our community and those that have had the wherewithal to leave Turkey and make a new home in Terralong.We want to hear from you - Take The Bugle survey here

Residents and holiday-makers in the Shoalhaven will soon have faster access to urgent medical care, with Nowra set to welcome a new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic on 19 January.The clinic will operate out of the Grand Pacific Health Centre located at 107 Scenic Drive and was officially announced on Thursday by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips, following a competitive tender process run by COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN.Open seven days a week with extended hours, the clinic will offer walk-in, fully bulk-billed care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions.It’s designed to treat everything from sprains, minor fractures and burns to cuts, wounds, bites, and common ear or eye issues.The Australian Government is rolling out Medicare UCCs nationwide to ease pressure on emergency departments -- pressure that’s being acutely felt locally. In 2023–24, more than half of all presentations at Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital were for non-urgent or semi-urgent issues.Phillips said the new clinic would help residents get treatment sooner while reducing strain on hospital staff.“This new Medicare UCC will make it easier for people in the Shoalhaven to get the urgent treatment they need from highly qualified doctors and nurses,” Phillips said.“The clinic will ease pressure on Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital, allowing them to concentrate on higher priority emergencies.”COORDINARE CEO Prudence Buist said the service will be a convenient option for families who need timely care without the cost or long waits of a hospital visit.“The clinic will be completely bulk-billed, meaning people needing urgent but non-life-threatening care will save on out-of-pocket costs,” Buist said.The Shoalhaven’s growing and ageing population has increased demand for accessible health services. The Nowra site will join 90 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics already operating across Australia, which have seen more than two million patient visits since mid-2023, including established clinics in Wollongong, Dapto, Queanbeyan and Batemans Bay.

When Dave and Ula first began tinkering with booking software more than a decade ago, it wasn’t a business – it was a side project squeezed between commutes, newborn babies and late-night emails.“It was literally me from 10pm until 1am, tapping away at my computer answering queries and building it whilst raising two kids at that time,” Dave said. “Now it’s four,” Ula said.“Some of those first customers still remember when it was just Dave replying in the middle of the night.”Today, that side project is Ovatu – a global booking and automation platform used by 8,000 businesses worldwide, supported by a team across Australia and the UK.The Berry-born software company is now gaining international acclaim, with features in Forbes, Vanity Fair and Business Insider, and a 2025 Global Recognition Award for Customer Service Excellence.The couple now run the company from their home in Berry, where they’ve lived for the past ten years, even though locals have only recently realised the scale of what they’ve built.“It actually spread faster around the world than it ever did in our own community,” Ula laughed.“Only in the last year have people in Berry started saying, ‘Hey, I’m opening a salon – can you set me up with software?’”The Bugle met Dave and Ula at their home – a quiet oasis tucked down a winding drive in the countryside – where their business has grown from a passion project into a tool used by thousands of small operators around the world.Their home reflects the philosophy behind their work: calm, practical, uncluttered and centred on what they call “the simple things.”“We have this joke whenever we hire a new person — they go out and buy a dog,” Ula said.“They can finally be at home, enjoy home more, and do something they’ve wanted to do for a long time but their work has prevented them from.”“It’s just kind of a metaphor for better work–life balance.”That idea of simplicity is key to Ovatu’s design.“Ovatu is essentially an appointment booking system,” Ula said.“It’s for anyone who takes appointments, but it’s become more widely used in the hair and beauty aesthetics space. It’s designed to make the business admin and appointment booking process really simple and intuitive.”Their aim has always been to take the stress out of running a small business for those who may not be as tech-savvy.Ula and Dave at their home office in Berry“It’s to take that sort of daunting aspect of running a business away from people who really just want to get on with doing what they’re really good at and practising their craft – not having to stress about the business or technological aspect,” Ula said.The platform handles invoices, taxes, rostering, reminders – all the things that quietly eat up a workday.“A lot of our businesses are sole traders, and they don’t really have the time or capacity to set up a really complex operation,” Ula said.“They just want something that will be simple, work for them, and help them.”Ovatu first took shape in 2010 after the couple returned to Australia from London.Dave was looking for work and experimenting with ideas on the side on his daily commute.“ It started sort of mucking around with it,” Dave said.Friends kept asking him to help improve their booking systems, which sparked his curiosity.“I started looking into what sort of products were around for that and thought they were kind of clunky and expensive – so I got to work from that angle,” Dave said.He was also doing consulting and development work, but being hands-on with ideas had always been part of who he is.“Dave’s always been really into tech and always tinkering and trying entrepreneurial ideas, always doing things in our own house too to make things more efficient,” Ula said.The software grew steadily until, by around 2014, it became clear that Ovatu was no longer just a project – it was a business.“It’s almost like an outlet that I needed – that just happened to work,” Dave said.Today, the couple works with what they describe as a small but exceptional team of 17 employees. Strong customer service, they say, has been central to Ovatu’s growth – especially at a time when many businesses are turning toward automation.“We feel really fortunate with the people we have,” Ula said. “Everyone is incredibly talented, but they’re also just genuinely good humans. They care about our customers, and they understand the values behind Ovatu.”Dave said the team is one of the main reasons the business has been able to stay true to its mission.“We give our team flexibility to work around their life, and I feel that improves the quality of the work they do,” Dave said.Ula agreed.“We always wanted Ovatu to feel personal,” she said. “Our team is the reason we can support thousands of businesses around the world without losing that sense of connection.”Despite the global reach, the heart of the business remains unchanged.Their days still start with small routines and, whenever possible, that walk with the dog – the symbol of the simplicity that started it all.For Dave and Ula, Ovatu has always been about giving people space to live their lives, not fill them with more stress. And after 14 years, that simple idea continues to shape everything they do.

South Coast residents are being warned that extreme temperatures are on the way for the region with a heatwave forecast on Friday and Saturday.The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a heatwave warning for residents to expect maximum temperatures in the high 20s to mid 30s with overnight minimum temperatures in the low to mid teens.Accoring to the BOM, "temperature will increase towards the end of the week, with maximum temperatures reaching the mid 30s to low 40s and overnight minimum temperatures in the mid teens to low 20s" in some parts of the state.Locations likely to be impacted include the Sydney metropolitan area, Newcastle, Batemans Bay, Gosford, Camden, Mona Vale, Nowra, Richmond and Wollongong.Severe heatwave conditions are developing and will extend north along the coast in the coming days before peaking during Friday and Saturday.Heatwave conditions are expected to ease on Sunday as a cooler change extends across the state.Extreme heatwaves can be dangerous for everyone.The BOM advises that severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.For further safety information before, during and after heatwaves, visit Ambulance NSW.Visit ‘Beat the Heat’ for advice on staying healthyCheck the latest weather and warnings at www.bom.gov.au/nsw.Find information on power outages here.

Cedar on Collins’ open day offered up a glimpse into their style of retirement living that’s a world away from the usual stereotypes. The modern retirement community on Collins Street, boasts 56 luxury apartments, and blends high-end facilities with a connectivity that community manager Laura Hooper says has become its defining feature. A total of 33 residents now call Cedar home.Residents gathered at the open house event “We’re very much connected and enjoy each other’s company,” Hooper said.For nearly 90 years, Fresh Hope Communities has operated retirement, respite and residential services as well as outdoor group accommodation and more recently affordable housing.They developed Cedar on Collins with a focus on independence, wellbeing and community. The Kiama site offers residents a maintenance-free lifestyle: maintenance requests are handled through a resident app and 24/7 emergency alarms and secure key-fob access provide peace of mind. Concierge services give the personal touch.What really sets Cedar on Collins apart is the way residents have turned the place into a true home. “What’s evident within our space now is that it’s actually their home, and that’s really important.” Hooper said.Spacious outdoor patioWithin walking distance to Kiama’s shops, cafes, and beaches, the location makes day-to-day life easy. Residents say the best part is what happens inside the community. “There’s a big social side,” one resident said. “We’ve got a gym, and the people here are really good – and it’s right in the middle of Kiama.”Along with the 24/7 gym, facilities include a wine cellar, workshop, landscaped gardens, rooftop terraces, secure underground parking and pet-friendly options. The on-site workshop, known as The Studio is stocked with materials for painting, woodwork, knitting and crocheting for residents and visiting family to enjoy. With its airy common spaces and manicured courtyards, the community feels more like a coastal resort than a traditional retirement home.Ocean view from rooftop terraceApartments range from around $900,000 to $1.5 million.One of the most-loved features is the rooftop garden, tended by a group of 10 residents who each look after a section of the space. Harvest days have become a highlight.“I love it,” Hooper said. "The Creative" workshop centre“They harvested yesterday and made deliveries to everyone’s door … They’re getting out of control,” she joked. “Last year, we had to end up making relish – so many tomatoes.” Updates from the gardening club appear in each resident newsletter, and the rooftop offers panoramic views across Kiama.Visitors are welcome, with dedicated parking onsite. “Just let staff know and we’ll go get them,” Hooper said.Fresh Hope Communities says Cedar on Collins is designed to offer independence while strengthening residents’ ties to the wider community. Its proximity to Kiama’s galleries, markets, beaches and entertainment venues means residents can maintain an active and engaged lifestyle. Blooming rooftop gardenIt’s truly reshaping the retirement experience. For more information visit cedarkiama.com.au.Dining area

Just over 200 kids took to the rough waters at Jones Beach for the Saddleback Mountain Cup, enjoying a day of friendly competition and fun for young nippers.Hosted this year by Kiama Downs Surf Life Saving Club, the Saddleback Cup brings together nippers from Kiama, Kiama Downs, Gerringong, Shoalhaven Heads and Sussex Inlet surf clubs for a mixture of relay-based events.“It’s a fun nippers mini-carnival aimed at getting all the kids involved in some sort of activity,” said Kiama Downs SLSC Junior Activities Coordinator Ben Woods. “It’s usually their first experience of competition, and it’s also an opportunity to have a bit of fun with the local clubs - with just a little bit of rivalry.”This year marked the second time the competition had expanded to include Shoalhaven Heads and Sussex Inlet. Despite some rough weather before and during the tournament, the event was a success.“It was a really good day,” Woods said. “After a lot of rain throughout the night, I was a little bit worried it was going to keep raining, but at six o’clock the sun came out and it ended up being pretty warm down on the beach.”Over 200 nippers participated on the day. Photo: Ben WoodsThe surf conditions were challenging for some of the younger nippers, so organisers adjusted the courses accordingly. “We didn’t send the young ones all the way out the back,” Woods added.The program was packed with team-based events: age relays, over-and-under relays, all-age relays, sprint relays, and even a tug of war. But the highlight of the day, as always, was the parent relay.“The big highlight for all the kids is always the parent relay at the end, where the parents face off against the kids,” Woods said.While the focus of the day was on participation and enjoyment, Kiama Downs ultimately finished with the overall win.Woods said that despite the low-stakes atmosphere, the event plays an important role in the surf club calendar.“I think it really celebrates nippers as an activity, and it’s important in the grassroots development of surf life saving,” he said. “It gives kids that first taste of competition. Sometimes the bigger carnivals can be a bit daunting, so having a fun, smaller carnival can be the springboard into those bigger events later on.”He thanked all the participating clubs, along with the volunteers, age managers and water safety personnel whose efforts ensure the tradition continues each year.

Every Sunday at 4pm, outside the Nowra Medical and Skin Centre, Junction Street fills with people seeking something that many of us take for granted – a warm meal, friendly faces and a place to feel safe. Within 30 to 60 minutes, every one of the 250-500 meals prepared by the Guru Nanak Darbar South Coast Sikh Temple is gone.For almost three years, the Guru Nanak Free Kitchenette has quietly become one of the Shoalhaven’s most relied-upon weekend support services, feeding the homeless, the isolated and anyone who needs some help to get by.“We cook on Saturday evening and start preparing meals again from 5am Sunday,” said secretary Dr Gurdeep Singh, who also volunteers his medical services. Sikhs are known to provide service during the bushfires and floods along with providing free services to the whole community not only in Nowra, but all over the world.“We’re always looking for volunteers … anyone can join, any time. There’s no restriction – you just need to be willing to provide service.”The temple’s work extends far beyond food. Free medical appointments – including international travelers and people without Medicare – skin cancer checks, general treatments and even emergency shelter are offered seven days a week as part of the Sikh practice of seva, or selfless service.“We do get a lot of people here who are looking for doctors, especially over the weekend, they can’t find doctors and they always come here and say we are so nice to be having doctors work on the weekend,” Dr Singh saidNowra Medical and Skin Centre The temple will soon move from 125 Bells Lane, Meroo Meadow to 13 Westbrook Road, Nowra, where food and shelter will continue to be available not only Sunday, but everyday. A kiosk is also planned to be installed inside the medical centre in the near future to help people at any hour.“The service itself is rewarding. We don’t want anything out of it, so we are happy and blessed to be able to provide service to our community,” Dr Singh said.The weekly operation is supported by a dedicated network of South Coast locals, among them Kerry Fahey, owner of Kiama’s Coastal Fusion, and Maura Cato of Fox Ground.Fahey began collecting clothing, bedding and towels during the floods earlier this year, then coats during a bitter winter, eventually establishing the temple’s Sunday gatherings in Nowra.“There’s really nowhere else on the weekend you can get free food in Nowra if you’re homeless,” Fahey said. South Coast MP Liza Butler has also become a regular supporter, arriving with her hands full.“Liza has been a big support,” Dr Singh said. “She brings lots of grocery bags, at least 20 a week”Butler has also recently secured a home for a woman who had been without stable housing for decades.“It’s really great because then people that wouldn’t normally come to me – I can sit with them in a corner in there and talk to them, help them with whatever’s in their lives,” Butler said. Fahey also credited Butler for her aid with the housing.“We can support them with love, care, food and clothing, but Liza can really help,” Fahey said. On Thursdays, Fahey and Cato join a group of local women in collecting bread from Baker’s Delight Kiama to help support the Sunday event. “We get to know people and bond,” Fahey said. “Everyone gets on with what they can. I just wish we had more space.”Volunteers say the need is growing. .Many people stepping off the last train from Sydney at Bomaderry are looking for a safe place to start again. “There’s homeless in Kiama and Berry, but nowhere near the number in Nowra,” Cato said. Others have lived locally through long-term hardship. One woman who visits the kitchen has been homeless since she was 11 - she’s now 40. “That's a long time to be homeless isn’t it?” Fahey said, “ She lives with no electricity, no capacity to cook– Liza’s working with her at the moment.” Cato added: “They just really had a hard life, or it’s the family you’re born into, as simple as that.”International research on the gap in life expectancy consistently reveals large differences among those who are experiencing homelessness compared with those who are not.According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, studies have found people who are homeless die an average of 22 to 33 years younger than those who are housed.Research has shown much of the mortality gap is due to causes which could be effectively treated with appropriate health care.The people who come each week to Junction Street remain, in Fahey’s words, “beautiful and so appreciative.”For Dr Singh, the solution is simple. “Just like a beehive,” he said, “Bees collect nectar not for themselves, but for others. Our purpose is the same. "Our main reason for life is to be of service. That should be the motto of every member of the community.”Anyone wishing to volunteer can visit the Guru Nanak Darbar South Coast Sikh Temple Saturday from 6pm or Sunday from 5am. 

A couple of weeks ago, two junior cricket teams made their way down to Kiama’s one-of-a-kind ocean-view pitch at Blacks Beach for a weekend match.Dressed in their whites, they walked out at sunrise only to discover that, sometime in the previous days or nights, the pitch had been damaged.“They noticed some damage to the wicket caused by an e-bike,” said Kiama Cricket Club president Bernie Brown. “Someone had ridden their bike there and melted the synthetic, and then ridden off.”Fortunately, the damage was in a spot that didn’t affect play, and the match went ahead. But Brown said the situation could easily have been much worse.“If that vandalism is in the wrong spot, it makes the pitch dangerous and unplayable, and the kids miss out. We have to transfer them to other fields outside the region, potentially, and they don't get to enjoy one of the most picturesque sporting fields in the country,” he said.“It’s a wonderful facility. Everyone loves playing down there. It’s heavily used by our junior teams midweek and on weekends, so it would be really unfortunate - and a significant cost - to patch, repair or replace the synthetic surface.”A close up of the vandalism at the Blacks Beach cricket pitch. Photo: Bernie BrownAdding to the frustration, Brown noted the pitch had been rebuilt and resurfaced just three years ago using a Kiama Council grant.“A lot of hard work from our volunteers and community money went into restoring that facility. It’s disheartening to see that time, energy, and community investment being destroyed by vandalism,” he said.Although the damage is outside the line of play, Brown hopes it can be repaired quickly to avoid encouraging further incidents.“We don’t want it looked at and replicated by another e-bike user thinking they can copycat. So we’re working with Council to have it patched and repaired - even though it’s not in play - just for the amenity and ongoing safety of the facility,” he said.This isn’t the only instance of vandalism the club has faced. The Gainsborough Oval cricket nets were also vandalised in a similar e-bike incident.“We’ve just been successful in getting a grant to have the damage at the nets replaced and repaired, so the juniors can continue to use that area safely,” Brown said.The new gate installed at the Gainsborough Oval cricket nets. Photo: Bernie BrownTo protect the nets, Brown has been forced to install a gate - something he had hoped to avoid.“It’s unfortunate because we want the facility to be available to the public and the community at all times, not fenced off and padlocked just to stop this behaviour,” he said.“However, we can’t continually ask for grant funding or raise money ourselves to keep replacing facilities that are being attacked by vandals on e-bikes.”Despite both incidents involving e-bikes, Brown stressed that the club has no issue with the bikes themselves.“We’re not against legal e-bikes, but we’re definitely against vandalism and the destruction of community assets. "There are plenty of other places they could use them on private property - not on cricket wickets. It’s really disheartening.”Brown even extended an invitation to those responsible for the vandalism - at the pitch or anywhere else in Kiama - to join the cricket club instead.“We want to put it out there: come and enjoy a game of cricket. Come to our training. Learn to enjoy the sport as much as we do, and hopefully gain greater respect for community infrastructure by seeing the effects of vandalism,” he said.“It affects the kids, the sporting outcomes, everything. We’d invite them to come along and enjoy cricket. I’d love it if they walked away thinking cricket was a better use of their time.”

Local communities are preparing for a full schedule of Christmas activities in the lead-up to Santa’s arrival on 25 December, with carols, parades, workshops and gatherings.​Christmas celebrations begin in Jamberoo on Tuesday, 9 December, with the Jamberoo Community Carols in Reid Park from 6:30pm.The following night, Wednesday, 10 December, Kiama will host Carols in the Park at Hindmarsh Park from 6:30pm.Families are invited to roll out a picnic blanket, enjoy a sausage sizzle and sing along as local musicians and school choirs fill the evening with beloved Christmas favourites at these two events.​Carols continue across the region with the Shellharbour Carols at Croom Regional Sporting Complex on Friday, 12 December with stalls and pre-show activities from 5pm and the festivities finishing at 9pm.Bomaderry Nowra Lions Club will host Christmas Carols in Harry Sawkins Park on Sunday, 14 December - with the Nowra Town Band and fireworks part of the fun.Outdoor Christmas Carols will be at Kiama Presbyterian Church on Sunday, 21 December at 2pm, followed by Christmas Eve Carols at Jamberoo Anglican Church on Wednesday, 24 December at 5pm.​Both churches will also host Christmas morning services at 9am on Thursday, 25 December.A range of community events will complement the carols program.Berry’s Grand Christmas Street Parade takes place on Saturday, 13 December at 11.30am along Queen Street, while Gerringong will hold its Street Parade on Saturday, 20 December at 10am. That same afternoon, the Gerringong Bowling Club will run Christmas on the Greens from 4-7pm.Families can also join the Gingerbread Cookie Decorating workshop at Expressive Art Experience, Kiama Downs, on Saturday, 13 December, from 10am to midday.For entertainment, Cin Cin Bar hosts The Ultimate Christmas Movie Mystery on Thursday, 11 December at 6pm, offering an interactive Christmas-themed storyline.Transport enthusiasts can board the Christmas Kiama Picnic Train, operating 20–21 December between Sydney and Kiama from 10am to 7pm.On Christmas Day, Bella Char Restaurant and Wine Bar in Gerringong will host a Christmas lunch from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.With events spanning music, community gatherings, creative activities and family outings, the region is set for a diverse and engaging Christmas season.

Kiama Pipe Band’s first “Pipes and Drums by the Sea” has been hailed a success, drawing around 90 community members for a hands-on introduction to Scottish music.Held last Saturday at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, the event exceeded expectations, with people of all ages trying their hand at pipes, drums and learning about the band’s tartans, history and instruments.Band treasurer and bass drummer Deb Riley said members were “over the moon” with the response.Photo: Ella Gunning“We were really, really pleased with how it all turned out. We had around 90 people, from the really young kiddies right through to older locals,” she said.“Everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun. It was very relaxed, and people were genuinely interested in everything - from the instruments to the tartans on the walls.”The interactive sessions proved so popular that some attendees stayed for both performances. Riley said younger children gravitated toward the drums (“making a bit of noise, of course”), while others took the opportunity to ask about the band’s history and culture.Feedback was overwhelmingly positive.“Because it was a grant-funded event, we handed out feedback forms and most people gave us full five stars,” Riley said. “Some told us how wonderful the band played and how excited they were to be part of it.”Mayor Cameron McDonald attended and officially opened the event, staying to chat with band members and showing a particular interest in the bagpipes.Photo: Ella GunningThe day also helped generate interest in the band’s free 10-week introductory program, funded through a Kiama Council cultural grant.Several people registered their details on the day, and Riley emphasised that enrollments remain open to anyone even if they did not attend the event.The Rotary Club of Kiama supported the day with a free sausage sizzle, and musicians from the Shoalhaven City and Sydney Thistle pipe bands joined in to perform.“It was just a great effort by everyone. We were so humbled by how the community reacted to us and the great feedback they gave."When you put something on, you always worry people won’t come but we had to get out extra chairs.”Kiama Pipe Band will next perform at the Homestead of Hope Christmas lunch on Tuesday (9 December), followed by the Gerringong Christmas Parade on 20 December.

If you’ve ever wondered how people once travelled to and from the South Coast - long before buses, highways or a reliable rail line - historian Kevin Setter has spent years uncovering the answers.The Moruya-based researcher has traced the early transport and mail contracts that linked the railhead at Campbelltown with communities across the Illawarra and South Coast.His new book Stagecoaches and Royal Mail Illawarra Region follows routes through Appin, Bulli, Waterfall and Milton, as well as the connections from Moss Vale through Kangaroo Valley to Nowra and Braidwood. Covering 1837 to 1914, Setter documents everything from passenger conditions to railway delays, coach accidents and shifting mail schedules.Setter said the book “gives account of the conditions the coach drivers and passengers had to endure, placed upon them by the postal authorities and courts in relation to numbers they were permitted to carry in the various coaches; accidents, holdups, disputes between the various drivers”.The 244-page, fully indexed book draws heavily on historical newspapers and original court and rail records. “I use much of the local newspapers to gather all this information,” he said.Setter also used Trove, which he has done for his previous publications. “Even on Trove, there’s gaps in information.” he said.“There’s lots of papers that were destroyed accidentally or maybe through fires and things like that, the old copies were lost.“A lot of records have been lost. They’re just gone unless you can find it in another paper, a lot of the time you’ll get quotes from other areas of things that have happened.”His passion for transport history and drive to learn dates back to his studies in the 1990s. “When I was doing an associate's diploma in local and applied history at New England back in the '90s, I was going through court records and I’d seen where the stagecoaches were registered by the courts.” Those early notes eventually formed the basis for his later work.Setter’s interest also runs through his family - his great grandfather, Jamed Edwards drove coaches in Victoria.He hopes the book will prove useful to anyone researching their own ancestry. “It would be a great book for people doing family history to be able to check what their ancestors were up to.”Through his extensive research, Setter’s work launches you back in time by capturing what early travel really felt like, shaped entirely by mail timetables and the arrival of trains. “People don’t know what others before us had to endure to get around without any means of communication,” Setter said.“They relied on the mail so much to communicate with the city, relied on mail to arrive so they had time to answer it before the outgoing mail went again – especially businesspeople.”The book also includes major incidents from the era.“There’s lots of holdups, lots of accidents – there’s a big fatal accident on Bulli pass at one stage, plus other accidents have occurred that are documented.”Its cover, something Setter created himself years ago, features a tapestry version of a Tom Roberts painting.This is his third transport history title, and he’s already working on the next.“It’s kept me going for the last couple years – I’ve done the three – I got another one in progress of prisoners in the shipwrecks of the Eurobodalla coast – over 30 of them.”He is also preparing a history of the Catholic Church in Moruya. “It’s the sort of thing I’ve had an interest in, doing local history and trying to preserve some of it before it’s lost completely. It gives me a greater appreciation of what people had to endure in the past. I like local history – I’m very, very keen on it.”Setter was the 2023 recipient of the Fergus Thomson OAM Heritage Award for his previous publication Stage Coaches and Royal Mail Southern Eastern NSW 1841–1913.Copies of his new book are available by emailing [email protected] for $40 plus $15.25 postage.

The annual Kiama Tennis Club "Vets and Legends” tournament was well supported by locals and visiting South Coast players recently.Club president David Lehman was pleased with the turnout with many Kiama players dominating the events.The Round Robin events were briefly halted by a morning storm on the Saturday but play resumed after an hour.Kiama’s Tracey Coleman performed well in the ladies doubles with Chris Stiller, recording victories in the aged and combined aged ladies doubles.In the singles events played on the Friday, KSDTA Ladies Competition secretary Jan Horspool was successful in the Group B singles event, defeating Leoni Murphy.In the men's open singles, two local tennis coaches - Joe Moseley from Kiama and Shaun Rose (Blowhole) were the finalists.Moseley picked up the "Quad Crown" with wins over Shaun Rose in the singles and combining with Shaun in the aged men's doubles to defeat Michael Veith and James Cain (Kiama).In the Aged doubles, Joe and Shaun defeated Manual Radich and Todd de Leeuw from Wollongong.Joe's fourth event victory was with Tammy McDonald (Kiama), defeating Lehman and Alana Green in the Group A mixed doubles final.Tournament director Ross Smith paired up with Kay Daniel to take out the Group C mixed doubles with a close win over Bob Morgan and Hilary Brigden.The final of the Group B aged mixed doubles was a local affair with James Brown and Helga Pimm defeating Ralph Szulerowski and Katie Sharpe.A relative newcomer to tournament tennis, Maree Hackett, teamed up with Colin Elliot to lose a close Group C mixed final.David Graham (Kiama) teamed up with his son Simon Graham (Canberra) to take out the combined aged Group B doubles event.Other locals to feature in finals included Mark Coleman, Wilco dal Haas, David O'Keefe and James Brown.The tournament committee was very pleased to receive continued sponsorship support from the ANZ bank and the Big 4 Caravan Park Resort at Easts Beach and the winner of the major raffle prize was Alana Green from Wollongong.

It was a week of losses against competition leaders for the Kiama Cavaliers Cricket Club - with the only victories coming from teams not facing ladder-topping opponents.The round began with an excruciatingly close match on Friday between the Kiama Cavettes and the undefeated Kookas at Bonaira.The Cavettes put themselves in a strong position early.“They held the competition leaders to only 147 from the allotted 20 overs, which was a fantastic effort with the ball and in the field. "Then they went out chasing in fine style with the two openers both retiring not out,” said Kiama Cricket Club president Bernie Brown.Despite Ebony Winston’s 55 not out and Ava Sloan’s 35 not out, both forced to retire after facing their allotted 40 deliveries, Kiama’s run rate slowed and they fell just six runs short of the target.“The Cavettes worked really hard. However, they just couldn't reel in the last six or seven runs. It was an amazing effort by the girls,” Brown said.“We've now completed a full round and will start again, pushing through to the finals in the new year. They did really well.”First grade faced top-of-the-table Lake Illawarra and batted first at the Kiama Sporting Complex, but never managed to build momentum.“They struggled to get the innings going, with the accurate bowling from Lake Illawarra proving difficult to get away,” said Brown.“In reply, Lake Illawarra cruised to victory only two down, with Kerrod White unbeaten on 98. "You’ve got to give credit where it’s due - White took four wickets and scored 98 not out. He had a day out. He’s a class player and always a danger for the Cavs.”Third grade also took on their competition leaders, the undefeated Oak Flats Rats, away from home.The Cavaliers posted 187 from their 40 overs, with captain Nathan Battishall top-scoring with 55.“The Cavs took the field with their tails up and got stuck into the Rats, but it took a while to break a dominant opening partnership. Once they took the first wicket, they applied pressure, but their total ultimately proved 30 to 50 runs short, with the home side passing the score six down,” Brown said.There was brighter news for second grade, who claimed a dominant win over Shellharbour away.“The Cavs piled on 251, with new club recruit Sheldon Hall scoring 60 to top the tally. The Cavs then bowled brilliantly from ball one, restricting the home side to just 179,” Brown said.Hall also contributed with the ball, taking four wickets.Fourth grade secured another strong win, this time against Albion Park, lifting them to second on the ladder.Adam McCrone led the way with 68 not out from only 32 deliveries, asserting his dominance on the competition.“But it was the performances from the young players who stood up again for the Cavaliers - led by Oliver Wilson with 34 not out off 56, including four fours, and youngsters Nash Rendell and Harry McCrone reaching double figures," Brown added.The Cavaliers set 206 for victory and were excellent with the ball in reply, restricting Albion Park to 115.“The ever-elderly Giles Brown took 4-19, and Adam McCrone completed an excellent day out with 3-19.”This week, the Cavettes will play Shellharbour at Bonaira on Friday, while the T20 season begins with first grade taking on the Kookas away from home.On Saturday, first grade will face Bay and Basin and fourth grade will meet the Kookas away. Third grade will play Albion Park at home, and in a double-header, second grade will host Jamberoo before travelling to Oak Flats for their first T20 match of 2025.

Kiama will be part of The Regional Sessions when it returns early next year, giving songwriters and musicians across five locations the opportunity to connect with their local community and learn from top Australian music creators. Run by music rights management organisation APRA AMCOS, with support from the NSW Government through Sound NSW, the one-day events bring keynote speakers, workshops, panel discussions, live performances and networking opportunities to beginner, emerging and mid-career songwriters, producers and composers in each area.A local MusicNSW representative will also be at each session to connect and provide support to artists and people working in music across regional NSW.Kiama will host the third event of the series on Monday, 16 February. There will also be sessions held at Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre (9 February), Broken Hill Civic Centre on 12 February, the Glasshouse at Port Macquarie on 18 February and Lennox Head Cultural Centre on 21 February.Speakers and mentors already confirmed to attend include Agum, Anna Laverty, Bec Sandridge, Casey Barnes, GLVES, Joel Ma, Kevin Mitchell (Jebediah/Bob Evans) and Zeppelin Hamilton (Velvet Trip). Tickets are $40 with limited $30 early bird tickets on sale now until 23 January. The price includes the fully catered day and post-event networking, and spots are limited to just 50 attendees per location. “The Regional Sessions provide a fantastic opportunity for local music creators to come together in their own town to form connections and gain valuable skills from leading songwriters, composers and producers," APRA AMCOS director of creative programs Chris O’Neill said. "We’re really proud of the program and thrilled to be delivering the program again in regional NSW." Emily Collins, Head of Sound NSW, added: “Sound NSW is proud to support The Regional Sessions as they return across the state, creating vital opportunities for regional songwriters to learn, connect and grow within their own communities. "Investing in programs like this helps ensure that talent from every corner of NSW has access to the mentors, networks and industry pathways they need to thrive.” The Regional Sessions was introduced in NSW in 2021 as a way to support and reconnect local music creators following the pandemic. It has since run in Victoria in 2022, Western Australia in 2023 and NSW earlier this year. Previous mentors have included Ben Lee, Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Jem Cassar-Daley, KLP, Mo’Ju and Oscar Dawson. Several have gone on to create new music with past attendees including Ben Lee with Rainbow Sally and Loren Ryan with Tim Levinson (Urthboy). For further information and tickets, visit apraamcos.com.au/regionalsessionsnsw.

Saltwater Kiama owner Gülçin Töpel has been named the national winner in the café category of the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards– and the community she credits for her success has been quick to celebrate with her.When The Bugle met Töpel this week, customers congratulated her from across their tables. The flow of handshakes, hugs and well-wishes made one thing clear: Töpel isn’t just a business owner in Kiama – she’s a familiar face everyone seems to know.“It was not easy, to be honest,” Töpel said.Töpel's reaction when announced winnerTöpel moved to Kiama from Sydney with her husband Tolga Gürel in 2020 and bought the café the following year.She grew up in Turkey, raised by her grandparents, and traces her hospitality instincts back to them.“You know old people always look after, always giving. Maybe it comes from that side. I’m so glad they raised me up,” she said.Before relocating, she worked in Sydney’s hospitality scene but felt the culture didn’t align with her values.“They were a bit hungry for money. They don’t respect what we were doing or how the system works,” she said.“I didn’t like how they treated people, so I made my decision and thought I’m not making any money for them. I’ll go somewhere else, try my own business and put in my effort and love.”“Money may help a business grow, but money is not everything,” she said. “If you don’t have a great heart, you can’t do anything.”Gürel was the one who pushed for a fresh start – right when she was pregnant and unsure about leaving everything behind.“I was scared, and I was pregnant at the time,” she said.“I thought, ‘If I’m going to lose my job, what am I going to do?’ But my husband, he’s a very brave man and he said, ‘Okay, let’s go; let’s see what will happen.’”When they arrived in Kiama, something instantly felt familiar. “I’ve always grown up very close to the community where everyone knows each other,” she said.“Kiama looks like my childhood area, to be honest. That’s why I ended up here. I’m so happy.”That sense of community quickly became the backbone of Saltwater’s survival – especially in its early days.“I came here when they first opened,” a regular joked, “we used to put $20 bills under the salt and pepper shakers to help them out a bit.”“We didn’t know how they got there,” Töpel laughed.“I was lucky because COVID made people get to know each other,” she said.“People said ‘Oh, you’re going to lose the business,’ but it’s always good to try, and I’m not that kind of person to give up. I just push and push and push.”Years later, she says the timing, the effort and the trust of locals have all come full circle.Töpel previously managed restaurants and retail businesses across Darling Harbour, Paddington and Chippendale, though her background is actually in logistics.But Saltwater, she said, is where everything clicked — because Kiama made space for her.“Kiama community helped me a lot. They noticed who I am, where I’m coming from, and then they recognised me and what I could do,” she said.Gulcin Töpel in Saltwater Kiama. Photo: The BugleKiama Mayor Cameron McDonald also praised the achievement.“We congratulate Saltwater Café on winning the Women’s Small Business Champion Award. This success is a proud moment for Kiama and an inspiration for women-led businesses across our region,” he said.“Gülçin has been a great supporter of many community initiatives and we are thrilled that she has received this outstanding recognition.”Töpel keeps the same philosophy with her staff and customers.“We’re all human. Today you’re a customer or a worker — it doesn’t matter. We have to help each other, that’s it,” she said.“I don’t call myself boss, to be honest. I don’t like it. I’m a good leader. I’m holding lots of things: food, businesses, community.”She says a key to their business is listening closely to her customers.“They bring us ideas. We don’t see what we’re missing, but others will answer and say, ‘Hey, what about this?’”Saltwater’s most popular dish is the Blue Oscar, though Töpel’s favourite is the Saltwater Basket.“I know, not very healthy — all fried, all the butter — but it’s so yum,” she laughed.After years of determination, risk and resilience, Töpel said the award is a dream — but it also comes with a responsibility to keep lifting the standard.“We’re all here to make your life easier, and you’re going to make our life easier too,” she said.“We’re all just having fun.”