We humans share this planet with an immense array of creatures. On a daily basis, whether consciously or not, we interact with a variety of living organisms, some of which are welcome in our space, and some which are definitely not.Let's start with the insect. The brazen mosquito mercilessly irritating you with its buzz at night whil you're trying to sleep; that plump and shiny black cockroach scurrying across your kitchen floor and suddenly darting under the fridge before you can thwack it; the pesky fly which relentlessly bombards you, but only when your hands are full; the beetle, the ant, the bee, the spider all have a reason for being, and have been eminently successful at it. They are true survivors.Humble dogs and cats, our beloved pets, give us unconditional love, loyalty and companionship. We sometimes affectionately call them our fur babies and they are a treasured part of family life. Humans develop deep and loving relationships with these creatures, and it is always a two-way street. As it is with pet horses and ponies.We depend on farm animals in a different way - we raise them for their meat, milk, eggs and wool.Then there are pet birds, snakes, mice and reptiles. Humans interact with and care for these creatures, as we do for those that are free and wild, both on land, and in the sea.Over many years travelling extensively in Australia, and then in other parts of the world, I have had the good fortune of many encounters with a variety of these animals, sometimes planned, sometimes by chance.Living in Kiama is such a blessing for a sea-loving person - our town is on the coast, our waters are clear, we can boast of octopuses being born in our rockpool, of pods of dolphins surfing in the waves of our beaches, of whales visiting annually as they head north to give birth, and then south again along the whale trail.I was at Kiama's round rockpool one very wet day last year during whale season. It was icy cold, the wind was howling and pushing the waves violently onto the surrounding rocks.There was not another soul there. I was standing at the top of the stairs looking south, watching the huge sudsy surf swirling, crashing and launching spumes of brown froth skyward.Suddenly, a hill appeared to slowly raise itself out of the water. It looked as if the sea bottom had risen. It was only after it dived again and then resurfaced that I realised what it was. If I'd been crazy enough in those conditions to stand on the pool wall, I could have reached out and touched a whale. I stood, totally awestruck, waiting for it to rise again. But no more, it had gone.On another occasion, this time in Monkey Mia in Western Australia quite a few years ago, I came even closer to another beloved sea creature.I had for years wanted to interact with dolphins, and apart from seeing them from afar while I was in the surf, or from even further on land, this bucket list desire of mine hadn't eventuated.Until we were in Monkey Mia. Handfeeding of dolphins was offered as a must do for tourists, and I bought my ticket.But it wasn't to be.Unlike years ago, there are restrictions now put in place when it comes to animal welfare. Today, the rangers quite rightly, strictly control dolphin feeding, to maintain their wellbeing. If we feed them too much, they won't hunt their own food. They become reliant on humans, to their own detriment.These days, at each daily feeding session, with hundreds of onlookers, four or five children are given a tiny bucket each with one or two fish, which they feed to the few dolphins on show.This was the delightful, caring and correct way to interact, but nevertheless I was a bit dejected. I'd not achieved what I came to Monkey Mia to do. So, behaving like an overgrown sulky toddler, I headed for the nearby beach and its warm, comforting water, lilo under arm, to ponder what might have been. Within a few minutes of luxuriating on my lilo, spirits now uplifted as I bobbed around lazily on top of the water with the sun shining down on me, I happened to turn my head slightly, and saw a dark shape pacing through the water, headed my way, and it definitely wasn't human. In that instant, my worst fear made its way into my disbelieving mind. This couldn't be happening to me. I was about to be attacked by a shark.In another instant, the creature was there, and then it was under me. It had dived under me on my lilo!It was a dolphin. A gorgeous, glistening, graceful creature of the sea, gliding so smoothly through the water, and it had found an unexpected toy floating along on top, with a human attached.For only a minute or two it stayed to play, and then just as suddenly as it had appeared, it was gone. It felt surreal - had that just happened? By sheer wonderful chance, I'd had my dolphin encounter after all. So had hubby, sunning himself on the shore, phone in hand. He got the photo, and to this day when I look at it I am still amazed by how lucky I was.There have been many other encounters with creatures. I have swum with manta rays at Ningaloo reef, and reef sharks on Dunk Island.I have sat on an open-sided truck in Kruger National Park, a little too closely in my opinion, watching lions eating a wildebeest. The smell in the searing afternoon heat was indescribable.I have been divebombed by micro bats in the CuChi tunnels of Vietnam. And rushed at by a foam-mouthed dog in a Phnom Penh street. Fortunately, hubby took aim with a rock and scared it off.I have ignored a python living under my bedroom, and a red-bellied black snake living for a short time in a drain near my front door on Berry Mountain. And still on the mountain, I persisted with creating gardens despite my resident wombats tromping them as they blissfully and blindly went about their nocturnal wanderings.I have been stung relentlessly by bluebottles, bitten by mozzies, and traumatised by rats who lived in the bar I worked in at the Menzies hotel back in the 1970s. It was all part of my job to bash ferociously on the metal fridge doors as I opened the bar at 11am daily, in order to warn the rats off. Customers would never have known.These encounters with all manner of creatures has enriched my life. I have enjoyed and been positively inspired by most of them, and will set my sights on having many more in the future.

Kiama’s retail community is about to get a major boost, thanks to the Walkbuy app designed to bring shoppers and local businesses closer together.Launching in Kiama this month, Walkbuy is a free app created to connect residents with real-time updates from their favourite local shops and services. Whether it’s a cafe letting you know the muffins just came out of the oven, or a clothing store with new stock on the rack, Walkbuy brings local shopping to you and encourages you to shop around the corner, not just online.“It’s all about connection,” says Walkbuy founder Peter Walsh. “Retailers get a quick and easy way to reach people nearby and shoppers get a simple and interactive way to discover what’s available locally, right now.”Walkbuy is launching in Kiama, with the support of the Kiama Business Network. To make it even better, it’s free for shoppers and retailers. Kiama retailers can list their business and start posting updates immediately.The idea is simple but powerful: build stronger local economies by helping people rediscover the value and convenience of shopping in their own community."We are very committed to Kiama, and the success of Walkbuy in the region, and excited about achieving our core goal of generating awareness and connectivity in the local retailing community", says Charlotte, who is head of marketing for Walkbuy.Walkbuy is available now on the App Store and Google Play. If you live in Kiama, now’s the perfect time to download it, support your local businesses and be part of something made for your community, with a vision for communities nationwide.Please note - this is paid content

Gerringong Rotary is organising a Trivia Night at the Gerroa Fishermen’s Club on 25 October to raise money for ROMAC, Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children.ROMAC is a project of Rotary Clubs in Australia and New Zealand. It facilitates medical aid for children in Oceania in the form of life saving and/or dignity restoring surgery, not accessible to them in their home countries. As well as organising medical care, ROMAC also organises carer families to look after the patient and a family member during the recuperation period. See their website for stories on ROMAC’s terrific work.Top Blokes indeedGerringong Rotary supports Top Blokes, a charity addressing young men’s mental health issues. Daniel and Jacob from Top Blokes spoke to one of our August meetings to tell us more about what they do.Top Blokes started in Wollongong, then expanded to Sydney and the Central Coast, then elsewhere in regional NSW. In 2020 they moved into Queensland and are now looking at taking their programs to Victoria and New Zealand.Top Blokes focuses on young men’s mental health – suicide is the biggest killer of young men in Australia. Young men are suffering from a lack of good male role models and the pressure of social media and access to pornography, leading to them bringing unhealthy attitudes into their relationships.Poor mental health leads to poor physical health, with sufferers more likely to use alcohol, drugs and vapes. Conversely, introducing healthy routine also improves mental health. Top Blokes teach the importance of the Big 6: Diet, Exercise, Sleep, Water, Hygiene and Routine.With 75% of mental health issues emerging before young men turn 24, early intervention is vital. Top Blokes have three programs, targeting different age groups.For ages 10-13, a mentor goes into school for a term to explore the concept of masculinity.For 14-17, two mentors go in and the program lasts for six months. It is billed as a leadership program and the school selects a mixture of boys from different friendship groups who will benefit from the program, with a view to them then teaching their peers. The high school program deals with alcohol, drugs, mental health, relationships and pornography. Schools that have adopted the program have experienced improvements in behaviour that have flowed through to cost savings for the school from a dramatic reduction in detentions and suspensions.The third program is for young men aged 18-24 and is running with air force recruits. It deals with mental health, body image and gambling. It started in Williamstown and is now being extended to Darwin and Brisbane.Top Blokes gets boys and young men to open up about the mask they feel they have to present to the world – strong and in control - and how they really feel inside.Realising that everyone feels anxious and uncertain is transformative.New members and friends are always welcome at Gerringong Rotary - see www.gerringongrotary.com.au or contact [email protected].

With a social media ban for kids under 16 just months away, research from a national child protection organisation found many children would rather spend time with family than be online.To mark Child Protection Week, which runs until September 13, Act For Kids commissioned a nationwide survey of more than 300 people aged 10-16.The research found that, contrary to popular belief, 41 per cent of the children surveyed would rather connect with family in real life compared to 15 per cent who preferred to spend time online. Three-quarters of children reported feeling most connected to their families when talking about their day in person and 74 per cent felt positive about a close adult being in the same room while they were online, including 17 per cent who felt safer. The findings prompted Act for Kids to launch their Let’s Connect IRL (In Real Life) campaign, which was rolled out nationally to mark the start of Child Protection Week on September 7.The theme for Child Protection Week - Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action - is a timely reminder for adults to listen to, and value, what children have to say, says Act for Kids CEO Katrina Lines. Let’s Connect IRL was co-designed by children and provides practical tips for parents and carers to prioritise positive connections and conversations with kids by going back to basics and moving away from the fast-paced digital world. It also encourages parents to join their kids when they are online to help them feel shared and create a shared connection. “The campaign and research results come at a critical time with Australia becoming the first country to implement social media restrictions for children under the age of 16,” Dr Lines said. “It highlights that despite the conversations we are having about children spending too much time on devices and their social media habits, we have ignored the most important voice in this issue – the voice of children.“As a society, we need to listen to what children are saying and explore different ways to connect with them, whether that’s in real life or by trying new things such as playing games together online.” Kiama Unplugged founder Jane Bourne who, along with her husband Ian Harvey-George hosts a monthly phone-free family afternoon at Fillmores and a weekly reading group at Cin Cin, agrees.“The fact that young people are saying that they want to connect in real life is fantastic, and we must listen to this,” she says. “We have to meet our young people where they are, and be open to their interests and hobbies, and make sure we approach them with an open mind. “This means they are much more likely to share with us, and also confide in us, especially if something doesn't feel right, or if there is online bullying.”Dr Lines says screens are an important part of a young person’s life and parents should find a way to incorporate a child’s digital world into their own. She says the survey results provided “an important insight for parents and carers to keep kids safe online by simply being in the same room as them when they are on devices”. “Our research found playing games is the most popular activity kids like to do online (41 per cent) and yet only a third (29 per cent) of families play games online together, which shows there’s an opportunity here for adults to connect with kids,” says Dr Lines.“International research also shows young people who feel less connected to their family often turn to social media for support. Unfortunately, we know that social media can sometimes lead to negative experiences with children feeling isolated, lonely, anxious and at-risk of cyberbullying. Jumping online with them can reduce this.“Most people are time-poor and juggling many competing demands, which is why it’s important to understand that short, meaningful moments spent together can be just as impactful as spending long periods of time together.”With digital demands increasing and new regulations on the horizon, the child protection body and local groups like Kiama Unplugged are encouraging adults to seize “everyday opportunities” to connect with children.“It is clear from the research that young people want their parents to be involved in their interests; so playing an online game with them, or taking an interest in their shows would be a great way to do this.” says Jane. “We also understand that young people feel safer being online when there is an adult in the room, and we would certainly encourage families to keep screens in communal areas of the home, and not behind closed doors, in bedrooms.”Jane recommends chatting in the car and asking open-ended questions, sharing a favourite movie or book together, baking, playing a boardgame, listening to vinyl records or building Lego are great ways to connect with kids, as well as joining them in their digital spaces, or simply being present in the room while they’re online. The Let’s Connect IRL (In Real Life) campaign offers practical tools, videos, and resources to support stronger real-life connections and help keep kids safe both online and offline.

This year’s Jeans for Genes campaign was the 31st to be launched in Gerringong and the community again supported this fundraising with generosity and goodwill.A total of 180 people attended the Trivia Night at Gerroa Boat Fisherman’s Club and they bought lots of raffle tickets on the night and at Gerringong IGA prior to the event.CMRI Gerringong members worked tirelessly to ensure the event was a success with lots of friendly competition between tables and fast questions by emcees Glen Isemonger and Dave Peade. The Jeans for Genes fundraising target is traditionally around $10,000 for the Gerringong committee and this year the target was met again thanks to our generous supporters. These included the businesses who donated prizes, the Boat Fisherman’s Club, Gerringong Public School students and Kiama Quilters’ Guild which creates and donates a beautiful denim-look quilt each year. The aim is always to support the ground-breaking research carried out by the scientists at Westmead to find cures for childhood diseases: cancer, neurobiology, embryology, genomics and gene therapy. Nationally, the Jeans for Genes campaign was held on 7 August and raised $2.5 million. Families of children living with genetic conditions held sporting events, formal dinners, denim days at their schools and cake stalls. Lucy Hill, President of the CMRI Gerringong Committee geared up for Jeans for GenesThe families of the 1 in 20 kids facing a birth defect or genetic disease are used to hearing words like “incurable” or “lifelong effects”. It doesn’t have to be this way. Right now, we’re working on gene therapy to find cures for previously incurable genetic diseases. Kids just want to be kids, but instead of playing sports with their friends or catching butterflies on a sunny day, these kids are getting liver transplants, taking dozens of medications, or getting their next dose of chemotherapy.Your support helps the scientists at Children’s Medical Research Institute find cures, so these kids and millions more like them can go back to being kids. Gerringong Breakers players Romy Christiansen and Louis Astin helped spread the news about the Trivia NightAlessia is one of the 2025 faces of Jeans for Genes the iconic fundraising day that supports the labs at Children’s Medical Research Institute so scientists can do work today to change lives tomorrow.She was born perfect in the eyes of her parents Adriana and Adam but one call, when she was two weeks old, delivered devastating news. Alessia had become the first child in NSW to be picked up for Spinal Muscular Atrophy on the newborn screening test.Mum Adriana said Alessia who had the severe form of the disease, was pre-symptomatic, and they had to act fast.“The natural course of the condition is that the nerves connecting to her muscles would waste away, and it would affect her ability to sit up, to crawl, to walk, to meet all of her milestones, to the point where she would lose the ability to breathe,’’ Adriana said.“Ultimately it would take her life! As a best case scenario, we were looking at a lifespan of two years.’’ As Alessia’s parents tried to comprehend this news – they were told something equally life-changing! NSW was taking part in a trial of a new gene therapy following its success overseas. With one injection, Alessia’s genetic error could be corrected within her cells, effectively curing her condition.“I couldn't believe what I was reading with gene therapy,’’ Adam said. “It was truly amazing. Reading about it was incredible, but then for it actually to be happening in front of our eyes was, next level.’’Alessia slept through her gene therapy infusion and went home. Over the next few years her parents waited and watched as she reached many childhood milestones that should never have been possible, and today, she is a happy and healthy seven-year-old lacking only a small amount of muscular strength in her legs.To find out more about the research a monthly Discovery Day held at the Westmead CMRI laboratories allows members of the community to tour the labs, meet the scientists, learn about the research and enjoy a wonderful lunch. To book a Discovery Day visit contact CMRI on 1800 436 437 or email [email protected].

Katelin McInerney has won the Kiama by-election in a Labor landslide, becoming the state electorate's first female MP.The win was declared for Labor around 8pm on Saturday after McInerney had attracted more than 37% of the primary vote.At the end of the night, after more than 44,000 votes - more than two thirds of the overall electorate - had been counted, McInerney held an unassailable lead and was ahead 63-37% on a two-party preferred basis. Liberal rival Serena Copley was a distant second with 26.2% of the overall vote."What an amazing feeling," McInerney said in her acceptance speech. "Second time lucky," she added in reference to narrowly losing the previous election.She paid tribute to the other 12 candidates for the "respectful and peaceful" nature of the campaign."Many people voted Labor for the first time. And many people voted Labor for the first time in a long time."I will be a strong advocate and a strong voice in the NSW Parliament, representing this community every day. The work starts today."Community Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds had received just under 11% and Greens nominee Tonia Gray was tracking at just over 8%.Don Fuggle (Legalise Cannabis Party) and Felix Nelson (Shooters, Fishers, Farmers) were the best of the minor candidates with 5.1% apiece.Minns issued a statement to say his government would "continue to work to deliver a fairer NSW – rebuilding essential services, reinvesting in frontline workers and building a better NSW for all"."I want to make clear, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made so far, but our whole Labor team knows there’s still a lot more work ahead," he said."My government views this result as an invitation to work even harder for the entire state."I want to thank the people of Kiama for putting their trust in Labor. We do not take that trust for granted."We promised if Katelin was elected, the people of Kiama would have a strong local voice inside government, fighting for better schools, better hospitals, and the infrastructure the community deserves."Kiama now has that voice inside government, and I know Katelin will be a fierce advocate for her community."We take seriously the message from voters that we need to do better. We know we have more work to do."The fact that there are 13 candidates on the ballot paper is diluting the vote slightly for the four main frontrunners.McInerney and her supporters have gathered at Albion Park Bowling Club for election night with Labor regaining the seat for the first time since 2011 when Gareth Ward claimed victory over Matt Brown.Copley and the Liberal Party faithful are watching the count from Nowra Golf Club.Ward held the seat for more than 14 years - for more than a decade under the Liberal banner and as an independent in recent years - until he resigned early last month before he could be expelled from NSW Parliament after being convicted of four sexual assault offences.He will be sentenced next Friday.Sunny spring weather greeted the voters on Saturday as they flocked to polling booths throughout the electorate.Serena Copley voting in North Nowra. NSW Premier Chris Minns visited Albion Park in the morning to lend his support once again to McInerney.“I love when we run a positive campaign,” he said. “We’ve laid out our plan for the future (of the Kiama electorate).”More than 60,000 people voted with more than a quarter doing so at pre-polling in the week leading up to election day.

Sunshine has greeted the Kiama electorate for Saturday's polling day with NSW Premier Chris Minns making yet another visit to the region in a last-ditch bid to get Katelin McInerney over the line.Minns joined his Labor candidate at Mount Terry Public School in Albion Park as she cast her vote while the Liberal Party nominee, Serena Copley, visited the ballot box at Illaroo Public School in Nowra.Speaking at a morning media conference, Minns praised the depth of the field for the Kiama by-election.“It’s a strong field of 13 candidates for voters to choose from, and I think that’s a good sign of our democracy,” he said.He singled out McInerney’s work ethic, describing her as a candidate who “doesn’t give up” and has “run a great campaign” over the past five weeks.“I love when we run a positive campaign,” he said. “We’ve laid out our plan for the future (of the Kiama electorate).”Katelin McInerney casts her vote with her son, William. Housing affordability was the biggest concern raised with The Bugle by voters at pre-poll this week, and Minns acknowledged it was the defining issue for many younger people.“I hear it myself all the time … the pressure on housing and the inability to get into the market, and pressure on rents,” he said.“We’ve lost an astronomical amount of young people in the last 12 months, mainly going to Queensland. It’s a massive problem.”Minns said that while the problem “won’t be fixed overnight, we’re working incredibly hard to increase supply” and cut red tape.McInerney said she had spoken with “hundreds and hundreds” of voters during the campaign and pledged to be a strong advocate.“People want someone who listens, understands and is ready to go to work for this region,” she said.McInerney has been installed as an overwhelming favourite to get the nod ahead of Copley, Community Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds and Tonia Gray, representing The Greens.There are nine other candidates in a loaded ballot paper: independents Lisa Cotton, Cyrille Jeufo Keuheu, Roger Woodward and Andrew Thaler, and minor party representatives Don Fuggle (Legalise Cannabis Party), Ken Davis (Sustainable Australia), Felix Nelson (Shooters, Fishers, Farmers), Joshua Beer (Libertarian Party) and Ellie Robertson (Animal Justice Party).Copley was refusing to give in.“This is about representing the community with a strong local voice who understands their needs,” Copley said.Serena Copley votes.“[I’m] a local who has lived here for many years, I literally live around the corner from where we’re standing today.”Copley reiterated her foundational election promises of what the Liberal Party has done for this community and has the potential to do.“I just bring it back to the community, Liberal values and the track record that the Liberals have in their seat [and that] is to deliver,” she said.“We’ve delivered hospitals, we’ve delivered infrastructure and local people know that. They know that when the Liberal is in the seat, delivery happens.“At the moment that’s not what we’re seeing under Labor. There’s a lot of talk and no action. We’re seeing promises that were rolled out in 2023 being rolled out again because they have not been delivered.”When asked how she think’s she will go in today’s by-election, Copley was reserved, yet optimistic.“I think we’ll know that tonight, soon after six o’clock. I think it’s been a great, positive campaign,” Copley said.Dezarnaulds said she was running to make sure the values and needs of this community are represented."I’m running as an independent because like so many people I am sick of the culture of politics in this country," she said."As a sensible centre person I've never seen my socially progressive values and belief in the value of small business represented in the major parties."Kate Dezarnaulds with her supporters.Ballots close at 6pm. More than a quarter of the electorate voted before Saturday in the week of pre-polling.The count will begin immediately after the polling stations close.Postal vote scrutiny and counting cannot be completed until the last day that a postal vote may be received - by 6pm on Friday, 26 September.

Kiama’s waterfront has been transformed into an open-air gallery, with 20 striking outdoor sculptures on display from Hindmarsh Park to the harbour until October 15.Thanks to ArtPark Australia, locals and visitors can wander through an eclectic mix of bronze, stainless steel and Corten steel creations, each a contemporary talking point designed for gardens and public spaces.Among the many people appreciating the works in a unique way is local photographer Darren Parlett, who has lived in Kiama for nearly four decades.On a whim one recent morning, during a hectic week of rehearsals for a stage show at Wollongong’s Phoenix Theatre, Parlett grabbed his camera phone and headed to the foreshore at sunrise.“It was a seemingly perfect morning,” he told The Bugle.“There was plenty of cloud about, but that helped create these spectacular backdrops. I tried to position each sculpture so the light and colours played into the shot.”The resulting images are as much about Kiama’s landscape as they are about the art itself.They join a growing portfolio of local landscapes Darren has been compiling, including aerial drone shots of Kiama Harbour.One of those harbour photos will feature in his upcoming calendar, due to be released on October 31.Photography became a passion for Parlett nearly 20 years ago, sparked by an unlikely experience: a ghost tour at Picton.“Every time you take a photo, you’re actually telling a story. It’s capturing history, a moment in time,” he said.But his creative streak extends well beyond the camera. Since the early 1990s he has been involved with the Roo Theatre Company in Shellharbour.He encourages others to give acting a try.“You don’t have to be a NIDA graduate to participate,” he said. “All you need to do is touch base and ask about the acting classes.”He has also found himself in front of the cameras as a film and television extra, including an extra’s role alongside Pamela Anderson in Place to Be, a part in ABC’s Return to Paradise, and most recently, in a thriller dark comedy called Fangs, starring Joel Edgerton, due for release next year.

This week's special edition of The Bugle is filled with all the latest about the final days in the lead-up to the Kiama by-election on Saturday.We have printed a limited print run 16-page newspaper which has hit the streets on Friday and also published our usual 26-page digital edition filled with even more local news, sport and community interest stories.CLICK HERE TO READ THE DIGITAL EDITIONCandidates have been popping up everywhere: online, on the streets, even down the alleyways with their superiors and entourages.After months without a local member, Kiama is ready to have someone in the seat again.We have features on the four main candidates - Katelin McInerney, Serena Copley, Tonia Gray and Kate Dezarnaulds - as well as an article on Don Fuggle, the charismatic Legalise Cannabis Party nominee who has turned a few heads during the election campaign.There is also all you need to know about this weekend's Folk By The Sea festival which will be music to the ears of Kiama residents.You can also read plenty of great community stories including the drama at Jamberoo over red tape delays in development, Kiama Woodcraft Group's clash with Kiama Council over missing books and the Shoalhaven First Nations Film Festival.In sport, you can read about Kiama Junior Football Club's grand final success, a couple of rising stars who have been rewarded by the Illawarra Academy of Sport and Kiama Rugby Club's grand final preparations for this weekend's big game.Kiama will feature in the reserve and first grade grand finals at Collegians Sporting Complex in Figtree on Saturday at 1pm and 3pm respectively.

By James Seymour It was a great pleasure to present Geoff England with a copy of my new novel ‘Turner’s Strength’, the third book in the Turner Series. Geoff is an avid reader and won the Bugle Competition by answering a question from the first two novels. Part of his prize was a copy of ‘Turner’s Strength’ when it debuted in July 2025. I wish him the best with his reading. James Seymour, Australian Author. Turner’s Strength, published by Vivid Publishing, is a historical fiction novel with an international flavour. Being the third book in the series, it builds upon the past and introduces new characters, intrigue, challenges, joy and sorrow. Here’s what one recent reader said, “Hi James. You have such a gift of writing that I feel as though I’m there on location. It’s like seeing a movie! Give me more, and when is the next novel coming out?” Available at all good bookshops, online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online retailers. RRP at Vivid Publishing is $39.95 plus postage. eBooks are also available. If you're looking for a great Christmas present, go online and purchase now – you won’t be disappointed.More details can be found at www.vivdpublishing.com.au/turnersstrength.

Meals on Wheels is best known for delivering hot, nutritious meals, but in Kiama the service is also delivering something just as vital: connection.Through a partnership with The Bugle, volunteers are making sure that older residents who are isolated in their homes don’t just receive food, but also the news and stories of their own community.Meals on Wheels manager Joanne North says this small act carries enormous weight.“Many of our clients are isolated in their homes. By bringing them The Bugle, we’re helping them stay connected with their community - to know what’s happening, meet the local candidates, (for the by-election) hear their stories and feel a sense of ownership and belonging.”It’s a reminder that community life doesn’t stop at the front door. Around the world, loneliness among older people is being recognised as a public health crisis. In fact, Australian older people are now considered the second most isolated group globally. In the UK, the issue is taken so seriously that there is a Minister for Loneliness.Here in Kiama, Meals on Wheels and The Bugle are working together to counter this disconnection. The local paper in the letterbox ties people back into real life, real people, and their own community.But they can’t do it alone. Meals on Wheels depends on local volunteers and community support. By giving your time to deliver meals, making a donation, or simply spreading the word, you can help ensure no one in our community feels forgotten.As Joanne reminds us: “It’s critical that older people remain connected to their communities. When they get the local paper and know what’s happening in real life around them, it makes an enormous difference.”What you can do to help:Volunteer a few hours a week to deliver meals (and smiles).Support Meals on Wheels Kiama with a donation.Share the message – connection matters.Check in on neighbours who may be living alone.Kiama Meals on Wheels is about kindness, inclusion and belonging. With all of us playing a part, we can make sure older residents continue to feel valued and connected right here in Kiama. Contact the office on 02 4232 3735 to see what you can do.

Greens candidate Tonia Gray hopes the Kiama electorate thinks twice before filling in their ballot paper on Saturday about whether a major party deserves their vote.Dr Gray is standing for the state seat for the second time and with Labor tipped to regain the seat ahead of the Liberal Party, Kiama is all but certain to be represented by a major party for the first time in four years. She wants to keep the government honest by getting the chance to represent Kiama in NSW Parliament but she believes Labor’s Katelin McInerney is a shoo-in to win based on the campaign so far.“We get lazy governments, blue or red, where they don't have to listen to the people. But when you put in someone who is a minor party, like the Greens, we become like a stone in the shoe and it rubs and annoys and you actually have to pay attention,” Dr Gray said.“That's part of why we in Kiama need to elect someone who is a minor party to be the voice of the community rather than a voting machine with bloc votes, which both major parties do.“No one crosses the floor. “If you want same old, same old and the status quo to remain the same, vote big. But if you want big change, now we are on the cusp of change.”Dr Gray was furious that the Labor Government had not appropriately delivered for the Kiama electorate since its election win in 2023 due to its disdain for former local member Gareth Ward, who survived Chris Minns’ attempts to oust him from Parliament soon after the Premier came into power.“The electorate was held political hostage. It's like we were being politically tortured. So any demand he made, fell on deaf ears. So we were the poor country cousins,” she said.“We were at the disadvantage, which should never be the case. Politics shouldn't play that game. You should be here for everyone, not just your voting base. I'm really pissed off about it. “The political inertia is what's held Kiama back. We need someone who will agitate for better.”But since the by-election was called last month, Dr Gray said government funding has materialised out of thin air. “We are agitating and looking for better outcomes because at the moment I'm finding that magic sprinkle dust that's going around where we have money here, money there. Why didn't that happen beforehand?” she asked.“Whether it's Kangaroo Valley Bridge, whether it's sporting fields, whether it's better roads we're getting. Why so slow? “We've got the finances, we've got the knowledge, we've got the technology. What was missing? Political willpower.” Dr Gray predicted the major parties would probably only get “66% to 70%” of the primary vote but she was expecting her own percentage to be affected by the fact there is a field of 13 candidates who will dilute the vote. She said he idea for a battery-powered train between Kiama and Bomaderry had struck a chord with the electorate as well as her calls for a maternity ward at the new Shellharbour Hospital.“People are having births by the side of the road because of a lack of facilities,” she said.“You're either going to be shunted to Wollongong or shunted to Nowra. And half an hour, if you're having a baby, is a lot.”

The final day of the campaign before Saturday's by-election vote brought NSW Premier Chris Minns and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman back to the electorate yet again.And they will be back in the area on Saturday for the final push on polling day.The focus of NSW politics has been centred on Kiama for the by-election over the past month with Labor desperate to regain the seat for the first time since 2011 and Speakman hoping to salvage his job by turning the tide for the Coalition.All signs point to a Labor landslide win after Katelin McInerney has fronted up again after she was narrowly defeated in 2023 by now disgraced former independent MP Gareth Ward, whose resignation over sexual assault offences set the by-election in motion more than a month ago.Minns dropped by Bomaderry High on Friday with McInerney and Acting Minister for Education, Courtney Houssos to spruik the government's efforts to upgrade the school.He said construction of the $41 million upgrade is progressing ahead of schedule, with students set to benefit from a new school building three months earlier than planned.A new Technological and Applied Studies building will open on Day 1 in Term 4, which includes three new state-of-the-art classrooms as well as three new workshops for woodwork, metalwork, and food technology.The school is also undergoing refurbishment of 46 existing classrooms and the installation of a new vocational education kitchen.“We’re delivering more teachers in classrooms while also delivering world class schools right here in the Shoalhaven, so every kid has access to a world class education.“Despite this project being promised by the former government in 2021, when we were elected not one shovel had been put in the ground, designs hadn’t been finalised, and contracts hadn’t been awarded.“We know there is more work to be done but we are getting on with the job of delivering on the things that matter for the Kiama region."McInerney said she would "make sure that we continue to deliver the critical infrastructure and services that our community needs and relies on”.Serena Copley and Mark Speakman on the campaign trail in Kiama on Friday.The Liberal Party shot back by saying it was a by-election stunt, the previous Coalition government had funded the school's improvements and that finishing three months ahead is within the standard margin for error for a project this size so to call it “ahead of schedule” is stretching the truth. Liberal candidate Serena Copley said the "overwhelming message" from Kiama electorate is that they have been forgotten by the NSW Government."What I'm hearing is Liberal projects being claimed as Labor's own," she said."Local people are very disappointed in the Minns Labor Government and they should not reward them for the lack of attention."While the major parties were bickering, Community Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds and The Greens' Tonia Gray were standing side by side at Kiama Uniting Church, showing that politics does not need to be about point-scoring and mud-slinging.NSW Greens Upper House MP Cate Faehrmann pressed the flesh with the voters to help Dr Gray's penultimate day of the campaign.Kate Dezarnaulds and Tonia Gray. Photo: The BugleFaehrmann said Labor and the Liberals could not be trusted equally to truly represent the interests of the people in the Kiama electorate."There's a big group of candidates, it's 13, it's very confusing for voters but the Greens have a great track record on climate, environment and the community. Every time we vote we put that first," Faermann said."A vote for Labor in this election would just give the government more power. More power really is the last thing the government needs. "They have not done enough, frankly, while they've been in government on key issues that the community cares about."The Greens have been campaigning on environment, climate, social justice for many decades. "You know where we stand, you know that we will represent those key interests every time and very crucially we don't stand for vested interests like Labor and the Liberals do. Greens trio Howard Jones, Tonia Gray and Cate Faerhmann. Photo: The Bugle"So when you vote for a Labor candidate or for a Liberal candidate you actually don't know ultimately what they're going to do when they're in the Parliament."She said developers, the fossil fuel and gambling industries held sway over the major parties and that influence can have flow-on effects on a range issues."People are seeing the threats to their beautiful coastal bushlands from the threat of overdevelopment. I've done quite a bit of work on trying to stop those zombie DAs from clearing some of the last beautiful pockets of bushland," she added."Also under Labor, in terms of those climate events, what we have seen is the continued approval of coal mine expansion. So even though Labor might talk about net zero, everything they're doing in terms of the climate space is actually increasing global emissions."Even if the Greens don't get elected this time, a strong Greens vote sends a message to whoever does ultimately become the successful candidate that the people of Kiama care about the environment, climate and they want to make sure that their views are represented in whoever wins a seat. "We can build houses sensitively and make sure that that future neighbourhood is walkable, healthy for the community that lives there, is connected, but the government isn't thinking that way and one of the reasons that it isn't is because developers are in their ear wanting to capitalise in some ways on this. In their ear."

NSW Liberal Party Deputy Leader Natalie Ward has launched a late appeal to the voters in the Kiama electorate to send a message to the government at the ballot box over the inadequate South Coast rail line.Ward - who is also the Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads, and the Illawarra and South Coast - said nearly 40 per cent of services have been late in the region in 2025. The rail line between Kiama and Bomaderry has been an ongoing cause of angst for local commuters and there have been calls for several years for a passing loop to be installed at Toolijooa.Former Kiama MP Gareth Ward had promised to build a $125 million four-kilometre stretch at Toolijooa in 2019 and Labor Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison said the government was in the process of investigating the situation through its $10 million Illawarra Rail Resilience Plan which is looking at several ways to improve the network.Aitchison said the plan would be presented to the government by the end of this year with the community to be consulted in early 2026.Ward said the Liberals would commit to installing the loop if they win government in early 2027.“We will continue to invest in upgrades to rail. I’m disappointed that rail reliability is so bad in the area. “Labor talks a good game and puts out press releases but doesn’t actually deliver.“As Transport Shadow Minister, I’m very aware of how much that line needs those upgrades and we would commit to it. There’s a lot that we have delivered. You can’t realistically do everything. “With the South Coast line, we know that ongoing service reliability is not good enough for regional commuters.“Given around 40% of services have been late in 2025, that’s not good enough for a service where people are relying on that to get to jobs, to the city, to schools and appointments.“It’s not just an inconvenience, it’s an absolute impediment and this government needs to do better and we certainly would be looking at that in 2027.”Aitchison countered by saying Ward’s comments were off the mark.“This is just situation normal for the Liberal Party. They started projects, talked about projects and never actually delivered them and then are critical that we haven’t managed to fix everything in our time in government when they had 12 years to do it,” she said. “We’ve been implementing a lot of change on the network. We have the Illawarra Rail Resilience Plan and that is about looking at ways we can improve that network.“Under the formal government there wasn’t a plan to look strategically at the network in Sydney, outer Sydney or the rural/regional area of the state.”When asked about the issue of trains running late, Aitchison said a combination of a lack of rolling stock, track conditions and timetabling problems that they have inherited from the previous government were the main factors.“You can’t undo 12 years of neglect and lack of maintenance and delivery in a short time. I think we’re doing a good job in getting the improvements there and we’ve got a plan for the future.”Ward claimed the transport issue was a prime example of why the Kiama electorate should choose Liberal candidate Serena Copley over Labor frontrunner Katelin McInerney at Saturday’s by-election.“It’s very easy to do a press release, it’s very easy to talk about things. It’s actually in the delivery that people should judge you over time. The old saying that action speaks louder than words,” Ward said.“The proof is in the pudding. You can’t do that overnight five weeks before a by-election. Judge us on our record but what I’m not seeing from Labor is a commitment over the years they’ve been in. I’ve seen a lot of light-on announcements, lots of sprinklings of a little bit but they are light on detail on delivery dates and they don’t fully fund the upgrades that have been promised.“What you have is a true local who’s been there for 30 years in the area who’s a vocational training expert, a former Councillor who understands how to deliver and what the community wants intimately rather than a union hack who’s been delivered a job from head office.”

Legalise Cannabis Party’s Kiama candidate Don Fuggle believes that Australia and its states are behind much of the world when it comes to laws around cannabis. The by-election hopeful wants voters to know that he is advocating for what he deems is a modern-day civil rights issue. “I think it [the legalisation of cannabis] is a step for civil rights, to recognise that people do have the right to choose and body autonomy is a choice,” Fuggle said. “You can’t find a product that is more misinformed than cannabis. It has been called the devil’s weed but this has proven to be not true. It still has stigma around it.” A pertinent issue Fuggle sees is the Road Transport Amendment (medicinal cannabis-exemptions from offences) Bill 2025, which has been adjourned. “There is no technology for testing impairment, but there’s plenty of scientific evidence that after a number of certain hours, you’re not intoxicated by cannabis,” Fuggle said. Fuggle is of the opinion that “when” cannabis is legalised, there should be an age limit. “We need to look after our children,” Fuggle said. “I was brought up in the alcohol world and I was allowed to drink from quite a young age and I don’t think that was good for me. “I’d agree at a minimum 18, and then you can make a choice. “If we moved it out of the criminal justice system into the health and education, we’d save so much money to start with and we’d be able to educate children.” In the Impact of the Regulatory Framework for Cannabis in NSW inquiry, which was chaired by Legalise Cannabis MLC Jeremy Buckingham, there were nine recommendations and 20 findings. The Bugle asked if there should be different rules around how cannabis is cultivated and Fuggle was optimistically honest. “When it becomes legalised, then proper description [cultivation of product], you’ll know what you are getting,” he said. “But we can be out there and it becomes a health and education issue. “So we educate people, educate growers, educate everyone. “At the moment it is all in the hands of the black market [recreational use], so people can sell cannabis laced with stuff.” Within the by-election campaign, Fuggle doesn’t see himself as an outlier among the candidates but just doing the right thing campaigning with the cannabis law. “I suppose that is what sets us apart. Although it can look like we’re a single issue, it’s really bigger issues about civil rights and things like that."

Serena Copley knows she’s the underdog in the Kiama by-election campaign but the Liberal Party candidate is a fighter who has found out the hard way that politics can be a tricky game. Copley was elected to Shoalhaven City Council in 2021 but her time in the role came to an abrupt end last year when an administrative error from Liberal Party HQ meant she was unable to stand again because the nomination forms for more than 100 unlucky candidates had not been submitted by the deadline.This time around there was no such problem with the Liberal Party staffers checking and double-checking to make sure the NSW Electoral Commission had received her nomination well before the cut-off date.When asked what she learned from that debacle, Copley said: “That my will to serve my community wasn't diminished by an administrative error. “Things happen, and I was disappointed but pragmatic. It was something that was out of my control. But I'm a very positive person, so I'm still here.“My values haven't changed. My focus on the community hasn't diminished.“And what I'm seeing under the current government is concerning, and I'm the sort of person who will step up and fight for what I believe in, and this community's worth fighting for, and that's what I want to do.“It never changed my desire to serve my community and fight for our local community. It just meant those plans were put on hold a little bit.”When disgraced former Liberal MP Gareth Ward resigned in the wake of his convictions for sexual assault offences in July, Copley said she saw it as “a natural progression” to nominate for the vacant seat.“I've always been interested in state politics. And it was always the intention there that if the timing was right and the seat ever became available for one reason or whatever, it would be something that I would definitely look at,” she said.“You know what they say - a day's a long time in politics.”“I don't think there were that many people were surprised that I would naturally step up. One door closes, another one opens.”Copley has been buzzing up and down the geographically vast Kiama electorate which stretches from Albion Park to west of Nowra.“The four-week campaign has been challenging for everybody,” she said.“I think anybody would like to have more time to get their message across. But it's a level playing field. “I'm hearing from the community that they are feeling forgotten down here. And my message to them is we can't reward that with handing the seat to Labor.“We need to have somebody who wants to fight for our patch and make sure we're getting our fair share. And not just being focused on when there's a by-election.” One of her major issues with the NSW Government, particularly if Labor rival Katelin McInerney is elected, is the plans for housing growth and associated infrastructure in the region.“There's definite concern about how we grow. And also the lack of facilities that are being discussed with that growth,” Copley added.“So there's a big push and targets from the Minns Labor Government to councils for housing. But there's no discussion about what supporting infrastructure will come with that growth. They're not talking about schools. “They're not talking about road upgrades. They're not talking about water or sewerage upgrades, waste transport stations. All the things that will be impacted by a growing community.“They're just focused on the housing targets. We shouldn't be just growing fast. We should be growing well.“It's about the cost to build too. There's so many fees and charges imposed on buildings under this government. That makes it not viable to build homes.“It's important for a government to get the settings right. And we're not seeing that at the moment. We're seeing a lot of focus on housing, but we're not seeing small businesses being supported. “They're the lifeblood, the engine room of our economy. When our small businesses are doing well, our communities are strong. “The cost of doing business in NSW is getting more and more expensive. And harder and harder to manage. That is something that has to stop.”

Kiama is off to the polls for the third time in the space of 12 months and the good news for those suffering electoral fatigue, you should not have to return to the ballot box until March 2027.Almost one year to the day after the Kiama Council elections and four months after the federal election, the state electorate will choose a fresh face to replace disgraced MP Gareth Ward.The former Liberal then independent member for Kiama is in jail awaiting sentencing next Friday after he was found guilty of four sexual assault offences with his eventual resignation triggering the by-election.Labor candidate Katelin McInerney, who narrowly lost the 2023 poll to Ward despite an 11% swing against him, is the clear frontrunner to emerge victorious after Saturday’s polling day.The former journalist and campaigner for unions and not-for-profit organisations has been installed as an overwhelming favourite to get the nod ahead of the Liberal Party’s former Shoalhaven Councillor Serena Copley, Community Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds and Tonia Gray, representing The Greens.Pre-polling opened last Saturday and closed on Friday. Voters can visit one of 22 electoral stations on Saturday with 60,391 people enrolled for the oddly shaped region which covers 2275 square kilometres from Albion Park to the region to the west of Nowra.There are nine other candidates in a loaded ballot paper: independents Lisa Cotton, Cyrille Jeufo Keuheu, Roger Woodward and Andrew Thaler, and minor party representatives Don Fuggle (Legalise Cannabis Party), Ken Davis (Sustainable Australia), Felix Nelson (Shooters, Fishers, Farmers), Joshua Beer (Libertarian Party) and Ellie Robertson (Animal Justice Party).They are not expected to garner too many votes but the distribution of their preferences could play a part in the final equation.Where can I vote?Polling places will be open from 8am-6pm on Saturday.Albion Park High SchoolAlbion Park Rail Public SchoolBerry Public SchoolBomaderry Public SchoolCambewarra Public SchoolCentenary Hall, Albion ParkFalls Creek Public SchoolGerringong RSL Soldiers Memorial HallGerroa Neighbourhood CentreIllaroo Road Public SchoolJamberoo Public SchoolKangaroo Valley Community HallKiama High SchoolKiama Uniting ChurchMinnamurra Public SchoolMount Terry Primary SchoolNorth Kiama Neighbourhood CentreNorth Nowra Public SchoolNowra Hill Public SchoolNowra Public SchoolShoalhaven Heads Community CentreWerri Beach Progress HallMcInerney has been criticised by rivals of “pork barreling” for a wave of announcements during the month-long campaign involving NSW Cabinet Ministers and Premier Chris Minns after the Government had given the electorate short shrift during Ward’s abbreviated final term in office over the past two and a half years.After missing out by just 689 votes last time around, McInerney is not counting her chickens before election day despite being the overwhelming favourite.“I just feel like we've rolled on from the 2023 campaign because there's been work to get on with advocating for the community,” she said.“With by-elections, it's always a bit of an unknown how it's going to go. But it's been really lovely. I've had the chance to just get out and talk to people, which is genuinely what I love doing.“I'm not taking anything for granted, even into this end of the campaign and honestly, I’m just trying to make every conversation count. Because we've got a lot of work that we need to get on with.“The more conversations we can have now, the better place we'll be, if I'm fortunate enough to be elected, to get in and get running.”McInerney said she was perhaps a little shy in not wanting to chat with every potential voter last time around because she did not want to be seen to be imposing.“I think I've got a bit more confidence going in and having that chat now, as in not worrying about not being shy. Last time I was thinking maybe people don't want to speak to me.“But I learnt that actually everybody really does want to have a chat. It's very rare to find someone who doesn't want to speak to you about their concerns."And especially when you show up on the doorstep.“Door knocking is the best part of the gig because you're on their doorstep, people are like, ‘oh, someone's here asking me, no one ever does that’.“People are just genuinely shocked that you'd do it. And I'm like, wow, that should be the bare minimum.”

The possibility of a Kiama v Gerringong grand final in the Group Seven is still alive after both teams advanced in last week’s opening round of the playoffs.Gerringong survived their sudden-death match by the skin of their teeth to come back from eight points down against the Shellharbour Stingrays while the Knights also had a nail-biter, edging out Albion Park-Oak Flats 30-28.The Lions trailed 8-0 after a scrappy first-half showing but after coach Scott Stewart laid down the law at the break, they responded with four tries in the second stanza to complete a 20-12 triumph at Flinders Field.Tom Knox and Nathan Ford crossed the stripe early in the second term but the Stingrays responded with a four-pointer of their own before Beau Doosey touched down with a few minutes to go to seal the victory.Gerringong’s hopes of a three-peat will again go on the line this Saturday when they travel to Centenary Field hoping to bring down the Eagles, who were narrowly beaten by the Knights.Kiama and the Park went toe to toe in the opening 40 minutes at Kiama Showground After scores were locked up at 20-20 at half-time, the Eagles stretched out to an eight-point lead before centre Max Jennings brought Kiama back into the contest and fullback Brad Killmore scored the match-winner with five minutes remaining.“We just finally got a bit of field position,” coach Matt O’Brien said in explaining their late surge to victory.“Once we held the ball for a few sets in a row, we were able to put them under pressure with our defence.”O’Brien said the Park have an imposing pack but young Kiama prop, Taj Roberts, in his first year out of the under 18s, stood up to the challenge.“It was probably his best game of the year,” he said. “We needed Taj to stand up in the middle and he did, particularly in his first stint.”They now face the minor premiers, Shellharbour Sharks, on Sunday at Ron Costello Oval with the winners earning the right to go straight through to the grand final.“It’s been a pretty tight comp all year,” O’Brien said. “Going into the weekend you would have thought any of the five teams can win. You’ve got to be playing your best footy or the other team will have the wood on you.”Kiama will also take on the Sharks in reserve grade this Sunday and the Knights are aiming to make the grand final in both grades for the first time since back-to-back years in 2017-18.

Spring is here - though you wouldn’t know it from the wet and windy weather that’s battered us through the final days of the Kiama by-election campaign. Candidates have been popping up everywhere: online, on the streets, even down the alleyways with their superiors and entourages. After months without a local member, Kiama is ready to have someone in the seat again.Curiously, no party has promised the return of New Year’s Eve fireworks. For many locals, that annual celebration was more than just a spectacle - it was a symbol of community, a reward for making it through the year together. At around $95,000, the cost might sound steep, but as one commenter pointed out online, that’s about the same as a luxury SUV. The reputational damage of cancelling our long-standing fireworks, though, is far greater. Tourists plan months ahead, book accommodation, and expect Kiama to deliver.Some have suggested alternatives for the future - laser shows like Sydney’s Vivid, for example - but they come at an even higher cost and would need much more sponsorship. Thankfully, Kiama is rich with event expertise, and ideas keep bubbling up. No doubt something will be salvaged. Still, it’s a sad thought that 2025 will dawn without that shared moment by the harbour.In the meantime, there’s plenty to celebrate this weekend. Folk By The Sea will light up The Pavilion with a three-day program of music, community, and connection. From the lively barn dance at the Anglican Church on Friday night to the stellar line-up across the weekend, the organising team deserves real applause for pulling together such a feast of talent. If you haven’t already, grab a ticket online or at the gate - there’s truly something for everyone.Log on to The Bugle app to have a full program of the Folk By The Sea events at your fingertips.The Bugle published a four-page guide to the festival recently and these will be available at the concert venues.Sunday will also bring a splash of chrome and colour as the hot rods roll into town at Black Beach Reserve for their 10th anniversary - covering the grounds with gleaming paintwork and polish. They’ll gather at the Lighthouse on Saturday morning before heading off on their annual social road run - a chance for enthusiasts to get up close before they roar off down the coast.And, of course, don’t forget to vote. Polling stations will be open across the electorate on Saturday. Whatever the outcome, let’s hope a fresh wind blows through Kiama - one that restores community pride, champions our traditions, and celebrates what makes this place so special.