The Lions Club of Kiama Inc. Cancer Care Trust received a $10,000 boost from Tour de Cure this week.The cheque was presented during a heartfelt community dinner hosted at the Kiama Leagues Club.The donation formed part of the Tour’s Woolworths Wheels and Walks fundraising campaign and recognised the Lions’ quiet but powerful work supporting locals affected by cancer.Accepting the cheque on behalf of the Trust were chair Gerry McInerney, current Lions Club president Cheryl Moses and Ian Chellew.McInerney, who has chaired the trust for more than 30 years, told guests how the fund began in the early 1990s as a way to honour Lions members and their partners who had died from cancer.“We thought $20,000 would be enough,” he said. “We ran a telethon from the CBC (NAB) bank, calling every number in the district and raised it. Then we just kept going.”The trust has now grown to nearly $300,000.Support continues to flow from funeral donations, local art auctions, and Bunnings sausage sizzles.“We only spend the interest and dividends,” McInerney said. “But what we do spend makes a difference. We help pay for medication, travel, or even respite holidays during treatment. We can’t cure cancer, but we can ease the load.”Tour de Cure’s Woolworths team rolled into Kiama with more than 100 riders, support staff and volunteers.All were taking part in a multi-day ride across the region to raise funds and awareness. Since launching in 2014, Woolies Wheels and Walks has raised over $7.7 million and helped fund 18 cancer research breakthroughs.Half of the funds raised go directly to PanKind, Australia’s pancreatic cancer foundation.“When we started, the survival rate for pancreatic cancer was just 4 percent,” said one of the event speakers. “It is now 12 per cent. Still far too low, but proof that our efforts are helping.”Kiama’s dinner reflected the powerful blend of humour, humility and shared humanity that defines the tour.Guests laughed at jokes about calf muscles and Star Wars references. This year’s event coincided with May the Fourth. Applause broke out for those who had ridden since the very first event.First-time riders and navigators shared their stories in a moving panel discussion. Some rode for family members lost too soon.Others were driven by recent cancer diagnoses among friends. “I was terrified,” said one first-time rider. “But this group, it’s the most welcoming, encouraging team I’ve ever met.”Many support crew members also had deep personal motivations.One volunteer spoke about a close friend who endured four separate cancer battles before passing away last Easter. “Nothing satisfies me more than doing something that might help find a cure,” she said.The “Tour bubble”, as returning riders call it, is where senior executives and frontline workers ride side by side.Titles are left behind. “Everyone is equal on the road,” one rider said. “You ride beside someone for three days and go home changed.” The dinner closed with a moment of reflection.It was a reminder that cancer research is not the only legacy being built.For the Lions Club of Kiama and for Tour de Cure, the goal is just as much about community as it is about a cure.

Raffle tickets for a stunning French-themed quilt will be on sale outside Gerringong IGA on Thursday (8 May) from 10am to 5pm, with all proceeds supporting the Children’s Medical Research Institute.The quilt, stitched from fabrics collected during a Paris quilting tour, will be raffled as part of the CMRI’s sold-out Mother’s Day High Tea at Gerringong Town Hall.With event tickets already snapped up, the raffle offers the wider community a chance to take home a truly unique piece while supporting children’s health research at the same time.When local quilter Annette Hoskins first chose the textiles in Paris, she had no idea they would end up at the centre of a local fundraising campaign.“I’d been holding on to the materials for years,” Annette said. “They were too special to use just anywhere. When I heard the CMRI team needed a raffle prize to lift their fundraising this year, I knew it was time.”The quilt was coordinated and joined together by Annette using mostly her own material, but the hexagon patches that form the design were contributed by many members of the Kiama Quilters. “It was a true group effort,” she said. “But the inspiration came from those beautiful Parisian fabrics.”Annette’s passion for creating with heart is well known across the region.A retired nurse and university lecturer, she is a long-time volunteer for CMRI and coordinates charity quilts exclusively with the Kiama Quilters group.Whether it ends up as a keepsake, a gift or an heirloom, this quilt tells a bigger story. One of community, compassion and creative generosity.

Kiama Council is seeking information from the public about vandalism over the weekend at Blowhole Point.“It is extremely disappointing that vandals have used their vehicle to damage a significant part of the grassed area near the Blowhole Point lighthouse.”“Reserves in the Municipality are recovering from recent wet weather and will now need further rate payer funding to restore.”Council asks anyone who can help identify the people or vehicles involved to contact our Customer Service team on (02) 4232 0444 or via [email protected].

Polling day kicked off at Werri Beach with sunshine, salt air and the kind of chilled community spirit that makes you want to hug a stranger.There were no democracy sausages in sight (a national scandal, frankly), but the vibe was golden.Volunteers handed out how-to-vote cards without ambushing anyone.You could chat, laugh and still feel your personal space intact. I was off to a flying start.Wandering south, things took a more sombre turn.Tucked beneath the trees stood the Forest of the Fallen, white silhouettes representing those lost after COVID-19 vaccinations. It was a quiet moment. People slowed. Some stopped. Some looked away.Whether you agreed with the message or not, it made you think. Democracy is layered like that.Over in Kiama, the main booth had undergone a personality transplant since pre-poll.Earlier in the week, it felt like walking into a wind tunnel made of pamphlets. But polling day had a new mood. The circus had left town. Or maybe mellowed.One standout was Liz Ashcroft, owner of Moist 'n Glazed, who rocked up holding a spoof campaign sign that read Vote 1 Moist ’n Glazed, Candidate for Calories.She had a box of freshly baked donuts and a grin big enough to win votes on charm alone. The samples were superb. Satire, sugar and local business spirit in one neat bundle.Kate4Gilmore’s crew brought the cute vote, with tiny dogs in yellow bandannas trotting about like they ran the joint.And the Liberal corner? Let’s just say a couple of diehard farmer types I’ve known for years were handing out flyers. The day was full of surprises.And then, the sausage salvation I had been waiting for.The Uniting Church barbecue was in full swing, expertly run by Rev Kath’s boys, who were turning snags like seasoned professionals.I arrived late and looking desperate. Fortunately, a long friendship paid off. I scored two sausages and the last of the onions. This, my friends, is the taste of democracy done right.Then came the grand finale, Jamberoo. The Red Cross stall had sold out by lunchtime.The Jamberoo P and C barbecue was flat out, thrilled, and sending out extra sausages. But the real scene stealers were the kids.Next-gen entrepreneurs had set up mini market stalls. One sparkly stand of resin earrings and keyrings caught everyone’s eye.What started as a post-Christmas craft project had blossomed into a sweet little side hustle.With her mum’s help, the young maker now crafts joy in pastel and glitter. The customers could not get enough.And finally, the legends themselves, Betsy’s ballot butterflies. Iconic butterfly cakes with cream centres and fluffy wings, known to vanish within minutes.One local swears her friend lines up early just to get the first batch.If elections were judged by dessert, Jamberoo would be in government by now.

Voters arriving at Werri Beach on Saturday morning were met with a confronting sight.An installation called Forest of the Fallen had been set up beside the polling booth.Dozens of placards lined the walkway, each bearing a name, photo and story of someone whose family believes they were harmed or killed by a COVID-19 vaccine.The display, peaceful but emotionally charged, is part of a national campaign challenging vaccine safety and advocating for medical choice.As someone who spent years working as a pharmacist, I understand where some of this anxiety comes from.No medicine is without risk. But it is also true that vaccines have protected millions, probably billions, of lives across generations.Before we had vaccines, children routinely died from diseases we no longer see.Back when I was working as a pharmacist, many countries required certain vaccines for entry.Yellow fever was one of the few with strict international rules. If you were travelling to or from parts of Africa or South America, you had to show proof of vaccination or risk being turned away at the border.Other vaccines, like typhoid and cholera, weren’t usually compulsory but were strongly recommended depending on where you were going and how you were travelling.These days, for most destinations, vaccines are no longer a formal requirement but a choice.That’s a sign of how successful public health efforts have been.But it also means we’re losing the collective memory of what life was like before vaccines became part of the background.The danger in displays like this one is not just the stories.It is the doubt they plant, especially among people too young to remember a world before routine immunisation.The personal grief is real and should be treated with compassion, but public health is built on collective protection, not individual anecdotes.Science is not perfect, but it is our best tool for navigating uncertainty.That matters on election day, and every other day too.

Monday, 28 April marked the final day of the summer season for Kiama’s volunteer surf lifesavers - but they were on duty right until the final moment, rescuing a rock fisherman just three days earlier.Last Friday on Anzac Day a man in his 40s was swept into the water near the Kiama Blowhole - fortunately, he was wearing a lifejacket.“It was before patrol officially started - around 9:40am - when a member of the public alerted our team that fishermen had been swept off the rocks at Blowhole Point,” says Kiama Surf Life Saving Club president Phil Perry.“Two patrolling members, Ben George and Dave Gorman, launched the IRB (inflatable rescue boat) and found a fisherman floating in the water, conscious. The massive thing that saved him was the fact he had a lifejacket on."George and Gorman transported the man to Kiama Harbour, where paramedics and emergency services were waiting. He was later taken to hospital with minor injuries sustained from the rocks.Perry emphasised the importance of safety gear: “It’s so important for the general public - especially fishermen in that area - to wear a lifejacket. If you get washed in and hit your head, your chance of survival is much higher if you're buoyant.”The rescue capped off a busy and successful season for Kiama SLSC, which recorded 46 rescues and approximately 770 preventions. Perry noted a visible rise in beachgoer numbers.“We’ve definitely seen more people on the beach this year. Our patrolling membership grew from 84 to 102 members, which made a huge difference,” he says. “We’ve also put a big focus on developing our youth and cadet programs. Our board training sessions now attract 50 kids per session, up from 40.”Kiama SLSC patrolling membership grew from 84 to 102 members. Source: Kiama SLSCThis year, the club trialled a flexible volunteer roster system, which proved particularly effective for frontline, shift, and FIFO workers.“It’s a minimum of three hours per shift, and volunteers can come when they’re available. It’s worked really well, and we really appreciate the support,” says Perry.Looking ahead to next season, Perry encouraged more community members to get involved with the club.“You don’t have to be an ironman or ironwoman to be a surf lifesaver. "There are so many roles - from radio operator to first aid and advanced rescue. It’s about being part of the village and having fun.”The club will celebrate the season’s achievements at its annual presentation night on 17 May, held at the Kiama SLSC auditorium.

Passions are running high, but beneath the noise sits a bigger question.Who really owns the buildings funded by our rates and taxes? And how do we protect essential services in tough financial times?Recent events have sparked a wave of petitions and social media campaigns, suggesting that Kiama Municipal Council is blocking vital volunteer services.In reality, Council is standing by a simple principle: community-owned buildings must serve the whole community.This is not about stopping volunteers. Council is working to open up access, ensure transparency, and manage every community facility responsibly.It is about ensuring the public assets we all fund deliver the maximum benefit for everyone, not just a privileged few.Acting Mayor Melissa Matters said she stood by her election commitment to be both community minded and business focused.“At the November Council meeting, I asked for information on every Council-owned asset, including every building and every parcel of land, to understand exactly what they provide for the community and what they return to Council," she said."This work is about making sure our assets are activated, accessible, and delivering the best possible outcomes for the whole community."That includes improving access, including ambulant and accessible bathroom facilities, financial sustainability, and broader community use."We need to make sure every community asset is working for everyone, not just a few.”Some groups are fortunate to have access to state-of-the-art facilities and built-in fundraising opportunities.Meanwhile, other frontline volunteers, like our rural firefighters, continue their critical work out of modest garages, without cafés, function rooms or private bars to help raise money for their essential services.Councillor Erica Warren said Council must take a responsible approach to community assets.“Given the financial constraints Council faces, it is imperative that we manage community facilities in a way that increases income that can be further spent on the community," she said."What is the alternative? That rates go up? We need to be smarter with what we have.”We must not lose sight of the bigger picture. Every public building must be a living, working part of our community.Council is not taking anything away. It is trying to create opportunities for broader use, fairness, and sustainability.Strong communities are built when everyone has a seat at the table, not when public spaces become private clubs. Protecting our facilities means protecting our future.

She didn’t get to show her slides on the night, but if you asked Jacqui Forst what Kiama should be doing differently, she’d answer with one word: partnerships.At last week’s housing forum, Jacqui - a social worker and service innovator with experience across NSW Health, aged care and the not-for-profit sector - proposed something bold to flip Kiama’s housing narrative from stuck to strategic.Her slide deck, titled “Innovate Kiama”, points to global and local models that are already delivering housing solutions with social, environmental and economic impact.Among them:Nightingale Housing, a not-for-profit group delivering architect-designed, low-energy apartments for low to middle-income residents, underpinned by values of affordability, transparency and community.Havilah Place, right here in Kiama, was named as a potential Nightingale-style demonstration site.International examples like Birmingham Dreaming City, Dark Matter Labs, and Glasgow’s Our Town initiative, all of which use strategic partnerships to drive regeneration and social infrastructure.Jacqui’s key proposal was to activate Draft Housing Strategy V2 Recommendation 26 of the Draft Housing Strategy, the final action line most readers skipped over, and turn it into something real.She wants KIama Council to help convene a housing reference group of local residents, funders, venture capitalists, urban futurists and strategic risk holders such as insurers and superannuation funds.The goal? To co-design and support a portfolio of real world, system-led demonstrations that tackle the housing crisis through local innovation.She also proposed a Kiama Hackathon, where residents, planners, architects and builders could prototype new ideas and break through regulatory constraints together.“This doesn’t have to be a pipe dream,” Jacqui said. “We’ve got the land, the knowledge and the urgency. What we need now is structure, trust and investment.”

When two gifted quilters answered a quiet call for help, they stitched more than fabric.They stitched memory, respect and community into every thread.The two quilted panels now hanging in Jamberoo’s RSL Hall began their journey in Broken Hill.Barbara Adams, president of the local Red Cross, saw them in a craft store and immediately felt their potential.Robyn Thomson (L) and Teresa MacPherson (R) at Jamberoo RSL Hall, where their handmade remembrance quilts honour generations of service and sacrifice.Photo: Linda FaiersShe brought them back home, hoping they’d find someone to bring them to life.That connection was made by Annette Hoskins, the Community Coordinator of the Kiama Quilters Guild and a long-time volunteer with the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI). Annette is known for quietly connecting people and projects with purpose. She brought the panels to the Guild and asked if anyone might be willing to quilt them. Two members,Teresa MacPherson and Robyn Thomson, stepped forward.What followed was a labour of love, generosity and quiet pride.Teresa, who moved to Kiama five years ago, discovered the quilting group through The Bugle and has found a deep sense of belonging through her involvement.Though she modestly downplays her role, describing herself as “just one of a team,” it’s clear her contribution was heartfelt.“Anything that involves community, I love to be part of,” she said. “And being able to contribute to the Anzac spirit means a great deal to me. I lost relatives in the World Wars, so this was personal.”For Robyn, quilting has been a part of life for 30 years, but it wasn’t until moving to Kiama that she joined a group.Originally from Australia, she spent decades living in Scotland and the United States before returning with her husband, who now works remotely in immunology research.“It’s a pleasure, really,” Robyn said. “But it’s selfish too. I do it because I enjoy it.”Teresa MacPherson and Robyn Thomson in front of a commemorative poppy quilt at Jamberoo RSL. The quilt, stitched with teamwork and care, honours those who served and includes handmade poppies contributed by fellow community quilters. Photo: Linda FaiersThe pair are long-time contributors to community quilting projects, especially those that support the Children’s Medical Research Institute through the Genes for Jeans campaign.But last Saturday’s unveiling of their Anzac quilts in Jamberoo was something new. They were present. They were celebrated. “A little overwhelming,” Robyn said. “But very, very nice.”Each quilt, while based on a pre-printed panel, was brought to life by hand.Other members of the quilting group were invited to create beautiful crocheted and knitted poppies, which were then carefully attached to the quilts, adding a special handmade touch.The added details, including crocheted poppies and careful stitching, reflect a shared effort. It’s a striking example of what happens when quiet craft meets community care.As Teresa put it, “We thought we’d just send them off and maybe one day get down to Jamberoo to see them.🎥✨ A stitch in time... unveiled! Watch this beautiful moment as Barbara Adams, President of the Jamberoo Red Cross, unveils two stunning quilts honouring Vietnam War veterans.But then we were invited to the march and the morning tea. It was such a lovely acknowledgement.”Now hanging in Jamberoo’s RSL Hall, these quilts are not just beautiful.They are a reminder of those we honour, and of the people who quietly, lovingly, remember them.

A total of 180 call-outs in 12 months and a team of local volunteers who quietly keep us safe. Now it is our turn to step up for Jamberoo Rural Fire Service.They do not ask for much. In fact, the Jamberoo Rural Fire Service volunteers spend most of their time asking for nothing at all.They simply show up, again and again, whenever the pager sounds.Last year, they answered 180 call outs across our region. Fires, floods, car crashes, rescues, you name it, they were there.Rain or shine, day or night, these local legends are first on the scene, bringing calm, skill and courage when it matters most.The vital funds raised help the brigade purchase specific equipment that directly contributes to the incidents they respond to.Recent investments include:🔥 A thermal imaging camera that allows firefighters to see through smoke, assist with search and rescue, and quickly gain control over a fire environment.🔥 A piercing nozzle specifically designed for tackling pile burns, hay fires, car fires and rubbish fires by injecting water into the centre of the fire.These tools can be the difference between saving a life or losing a property.Every dollar raised genuinely helps our RFS volunteers do their job better and safer.This Friday 24 May, you can help — and have a fantastic night while you are at it.The FUKERS Fundraising Concert at Jamberoo School of Arts Hall promises live music, singing, dancing, food, drinks, and a chance to throw your support behind the people who are always there for us.Paul Taylor and the FUKERS are donating their time and talent, and every ticket sold will help Jamberoo RFS stay equipped and ready for whatever challenges come next.If you are thinking of coming, please jump online and book now.Bring your friends, your neighbours, your family, and show our RFS they are not standing alone.”The important details📍 Jamberoo School of Arts Hall🗓️ Saturday 24 May🕖 7 pm till late🎤 Live music, singing and dancing🍷 Food and drinks at bar prices🎟️ $40 from Humanitix here

The first slab of concrete has been poured on the site of the new Shellharbour Hospital, a significant milestone in the construction of the much-needed facility. The concrete forms the foundation of the hospital’s perioperative unit, which will house new state-of-the art operating theatres. As the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region's specialist elective surgical centre, the new hospital will help deliver improved health outcomes and enhance patient care for local communities.The new Shellharbour Hospital is part of the more than $780 million New Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services Project, jointly funded by the NSW and Australian governments.This initial pour used close to 300 cubic metres of concrete, with more than 33,000 cubic metres of concrete expected to be poured throughout the life of the project.It comes after weeks of site preparation and marks the start of a series of concrete pours that will continue in the months ahead as the new hospital’s seven-storey structure begins to take shape.Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said it was exciting to see this construction milestone reached for the new hospital. "I can’t wait to see the building take shape, which will transform the delivery of healthcare for the Illawarra community.“The NSW Government is committed to improving health services and infrastructure for regional communities across the state and is proud to invest in projects like this that will make a genuine difference.”Once complete, the new Shellharbour Hospital will transform access to healthcare for the Shellharbour community, providing a wide range of modern and expanded health services and reducing the need to travel out of the area for a range of treatments. The new hospital will include an expanded emergency department, enhanced paediatric services, including a new Paediatric Assessment Unit that will function closely with the emergency department, rehabilitation and aged care services, acute medical services, specialised elective surgery and mental health services, renal dialysis and outpatient care services, as well as car parking and improved public transport links. Designs for the new Shellharbour Hospital also enables the construction of a future rooftop helipad.“This initial concrete pour represents more than just a construction milestone - it represents our commitment to the future health and wellbeing of our growing region of the Illawarra," said Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson.“Thank you again to everyone contributing to the delivery of our new Shellharbour Hospital. I look forward to seeing the progress continuing over the coming months.”Community members can stay up to date on the project via shellharbourdevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au.

Opinion A motion to protect the Minnamurra River is testing whether Kiama Municipal Council’s governance reforms have real bite, or just better branding. At first glance, the Strategic Finance and Governance Improvement Plan (SFGIP), adopted in response to a state-imposed Performance Improvement Order, is full of promises, better systems, improved accountability and streamlined decision-making.It is the kind of plan that comes with charts, timelines, and a digital dashboard called Pulse. But at the last Council meeting, the real test of those reforms came from outside the official agenda, through a public access presentation by Minnamurra Progress Association spokesperson Jacqui Forst. Speaking in support of Councillor Melinda Lawton’s motion to undertake a full environmental assessment before a possible relocation of the Council depot near the Minnamurra River, Forst offered more than advocacy.She offered a mirror, asking whether a Council promising high governance standards can justify self-assessment under outdated legislation. CEO Jane Stroud's written response to Cr Lawton’s motion confirmed that a self-assessment under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 would be carried out and stressed that the project was already being managed within Council’s new internal framework, the very one established by the SFGIP.In other words, trust the process. But Forst gently challenged that trust, pointing out that 1979-era assumptions about rivers as “dumping sites” no longer meet modern community standards or expectations.Her call includes quadruple bottom line reporting, economic, environmental, social, and cultural costs, in the assessment process, and collaborating with Shellharbour Council to create a joint strategy for the catchment. This is not the first time the CEO’s approach to transparency has raised concerns.In her Item 13.1 progress update on the Performance Improvement Order (PIO), Stroud noted the governance plan was “operational in nature” and therefore did not require community feedback. But this distinction, as the river debate shows, is exactly what troubles residents - decisions made under the banner of “operations” still affect public land, natural resources, and community amenities.Whether it is selling aged-care facilities or moving a depot near a fragile river ecosystem, these decisions are lived, not abstract. Tellingly, the PIO progress report flags a quiet risk, that councillors might “make new commitments beyond capacity.”In plain terms, it is a warning against councillors overstepping.But it also raises a deeper issue - are elected representatives being empowered to lead, or managed into silence under the guise of reform?Cr Lawton’s motion, and Forst’s evidence-backed support, suggest that community leaders are still trying to ensure environmental integrity is not sidelined by financial convenience.The test is not whether the system can absorb such motions. It is whether it can act on them. Just months after finalising the Blue Haven Bonaira sale and launching a new digital governance tool, Council is now facing a different kind of audit, not by the Office of Local Government, but by residents who are asking what does improvement actually look like? As Jacqui Forst put it, “Safe and inclusive discussions are essential in this time of change.” So is listening.

Kiama’s Acting Mayor, Cr Melissa Matters, says it is time for the State and Federal Governments to stop turning their backs on regional communities like Jamberoo.From early childhood education to critical transport links, Cr Matters says Kiama Municipal Council is being forced to carry the load while higher levels of government remain silent.“Kiama is a childcare desert,” she said.“Families are stuck on waitlists for months. In Jamberoo, our community pre-school is on a floodplain, one heavy rain away from being unusable, and we still have no funding commitment for a safe, modern facility.”The need for a new Jamberoo Community Preschool is now listed as a top priority in Kiama Council’s Draft Delivery and Operational Plan.Cr Matters is encouraging residents to make a submission and show their support during the public exhibition period.“This is more than just education,” she said. “It is about safety, equality and whether young families in our region are given a fair go.”Another pressing concern is Jamberoo Mountain Road, a vital route for locals, tourists and emergency services, which will again be closed for major repairs in May.Council will carry out the work, but under disaster funding rules, the repairs must follow outdated standards.“We are doing the heavy lifting, rebuilding a road from the 1800s, but the funding rules stop us from building it to modern safety standards,” Cr Matters said. “That is not just frustrating. It is dangerous.”Kiama Council is calling on the NSW Government to assume responsibility for Jamberoo Mountain Road and for both levels of government to fund a long-term solution before another landslip or tragedy occurs.“We are not asking for handouts,” Cr Matters said. “We are asking for common sense and a fair go. Until we get it, Council will keep fighting.”

Opinion: It is easy to assume that if you criticise government decisions, you are taking a side.I am not. What I am challenging is the process, not the party.A perfect example is the Labor government in NSW.When they came to power, they swiftly shut down a raft of vital programs funded by the former Department of Regional NSW, programs that were quietly changing lives for young people in rural and regional areas.Mentoring schemes, skills development, and youth leadership initiatives were scrapped almost overnight.Not because they were failing, but because they had been set up under a different political banner.That is not reform, that is vandalism.And before anyone thinks this is an attack on Labor, let us be clear. The Liberal and National parties have been just as guilty.Remember Barnaby Joyce’s push to decentralise government agencies by relocating them into his own electorate?The idea was sold as supporting the regions, but the outcome was a hollowed-out public service.Staff refused to relocate, expertise was lost, and millions were wasted on temporary contractors and consultants.The agencies involved became weaker, not stronger, and the real losers were the farmers and rural communities who needed skilled, experienced support - not a shell of an agency run from a half-empty office hundreds of kilometres away from Parliament House.There are career public servants still trying to work out what job title they are supposed to have.The bigger the change looks on paper, the more it feels like 'something is happening'.In reality, the actual work on the ground grinds to a halt.Energy that should go towards delivering better services is instead wasted on finding new logos and rewriting organisational charts.This is not about blue or red. It is about the chronic addiction to 'optics over outcomes'.It is about a political culture where dismantling the past is valued more than building the future.And the real losers are the people who rely on services that do not make headlines.Young people in country towns who were finally getting a leg up.Farmers trying to deal with biosecurity risks. Local communities fighting to hold onto their hospitals, their schools, their chances.Every time a government wastes millions rearranging the deckchairs, it is our lives, not theirs, that are made harder.The challenge for all of us is to stop falling for it.Let's stop cheering when our team gets into power and starts tearing down everything built by the last one.Ask instead, who benefits? Who loses?And what good work might we be throwing away, just because it came from the 'wrong' side?The answer, too often, is that the work we need most is the first to go.

After an agonisingly narrow defeat at the last federal election, Gilmore candidate Andrew Constance has dusted himself off for another shot at Australia’s most marginal seat.Pre-polling suggests he may again come up short but the former NSW Treasurer is keeping the faith heading into Saturday's election day showdown with Labor incumbent Fiona Phillips. Community independent Kate Dezarnaulds, The Greens’ candidate Debbie Killian and One Nation nominee John Hawke are also expected to play a crucial part in the final count once preferences are distributed.“People are quite complimentary by the fact that I haven't walked away and I'm still fighting fighting for them,” Constance said.“We will continue to fight hard on issues to support people financially during the cost of living crisis that everyone's in. Inflation is such a huge issue with this election."Constance also points to housing, development and the controversial windfarm proposal for the Illawarra coastline as major issues that will be on the electorate’s mind when they are in the ballot box on Saturday.“There is such a significant number of people who are undecided and polls are not always indicative of what happens with elections,” he added.“I think given the very significant undecided vote, our internal research is saying that the people will make their mind up at the very last minute. It would be brave to come out and predict the election result.“It's a big seat - 200km in length from Kiama down to Moruya - there’s different issues in different towns and that means that the election campaign can be very localised and very focused in that sense.“We've got so much to do in the region and a good plan to deliver and that's what I hope to do.”Constance has been forced to endure a bumpy week in the lead-up to voting day.He was forced to respond to claims that religious extremists had infiltrated the Liberal Party’s volunteers at pre-polling booths in marginal seats, including Gilmore, and a funding announcement at Sanctuary Point with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was disrupted by three anti-nuclear protesters.

Community Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds believes younger voters will be instrumental in deciding the outcome of Saturday’s vote in the federal electorate of Gilmore.With a notional margin of a mere 0.1 per cent, the seat was already held by a slender margin by Labor incumbent Fiona Phillips and this time around, as well as renewing acquaintances with Liberal rival Andrew Constance, she is facing pressure to stave off Dezarnaulds. Citing her camp’s internal polling, Dezarnaulds claims she has the strongest support among undecided voters and if she can convince enough of them to go the independent route, the Berry businesswoman could usurp Phillips after preferences are distributed.“It’s pretty clear the country isn’t excited about either Dutton or Albanese - only one in three voters are backing them,” Dezarnaulds said. “That makes this the perfect moment for an underdog Independent to break through - and that’s how we win.“People are tired of the point-scoring and party politics. They want someone who listens, who shows up, and who puts the community first.”Irrespective of the result on Saturday, Dezarnaulds said the Community Independent camp would stay around to contest the next state election at a number of South Coast seats. “Independent for South Coast, the organisation that we established in December last year, will run independent candidates for state and federal elections from here on into the future,” she said.“So the South Coast is just getting its first taste of a genuine community independent but it won't be the last.”Dezarnaulds said Gilmore was a “genuine three-horse contest” despite the major parties claiming that she had little hope of getting the jump on them.“I think the influence of young people on the outcomes of this selection are the real wild card in the system,” she told The Bugle.“This will be the first election where there are more Gen Z and Millennials than there are Baby Boomers and Builders. And what that portion of our population votes on Saturday is really still to be seen. “I don't think they have felt the power of demographic weight until after the election on Saturday but I hope that they know that there are positive alternatives willing to fight for a better future for our young people on the ballot for the first time in Gilmore.“We know that they are more progressive and more willing to vote with independents than any other generation and I'm excited to see how that translates into results on Saturday.“There's no doubt that we are an outside chance for this first tilt and if we are not successful on Saturday we will be back again for the next federal election.”

The time has come for Gilmore to decide whether Labor incumbent Fiona Phillips will retain the most marginal federal seat in Australia.Liberal rival Andrew Constance is out for revenge after losing the 2022 count by a mere 373 votes while independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds believes she has a groundswell of support to get the jump on the major parties after preferences are distributed. More than a quarter of the Gilmore electorate voted within the first week of pre-polling being opened after Easter Monday. But the people who enter their choice in the ballot box on election day on Saturday are traditionally swinging voters who often leave it until the last minute to decide which candidate they prefer.Polling by YouGov released last weekend shows the Labor Party is ahead of the Liberals in Gilmore on a two-party preferred basis by 54-46 per cent.Phillips is tipped to attract 36.2 per cent of the primary vote with Constance at 33.5 per cent, which is well down on the 42 per cent he received three years ago.“I just do not pay any attention to polls, they can be wrong,” Phillips said.“The only poll I'm concerned about is when I'm out talking with voters and that's why I have spent a lot of time at pre-poll stations, talking with voters - they're the votes that matter and on May 3 as well.”Constance is quietly confident that he can exceed expectations to get the nod in Gilmore and as the campaign reaches its climax, he believes the controversial wind farm project slated to be installed off the Illawarra coastline is a recurring theme in the feedback he is getting from the electorate.“It’s having an impact on the vote, I have no doubt,” he said.“People are wanting to send (Federal Energy Minister) Chris Bowen, Fiona Phillips and Anthony Albanese a very clear message on the floating turbine proposal. “A lot of people are expressing concern about the intrusive nature of it and the fact that Chris Bowen has said we're holding it off until after the election. Under Labor it will certainly happen.” Dezarnaulds is hoping to follow the path that Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie took in the 2010 election when he won his seat from third place with just 21% of the primary vote.“We’ve done the maths, and we think we can do the same," she said.The Greens’ candidate, Debbie Killian, and One Nation’s John Hawke could potentially play a factor in the final outcome with each party predicted to attract around 8 per cent of the primary vote.Graham Brown (Family First), Adrian Carle (Legalise Cannabis Party) and Melissa Wise (Trumpet of Patriots) are also in the race for Gilmore.

Lifts for Life offers practical and stylish lift solutions with a commitment to helping their clients stay comfortable in the homes they love.Based in Albion Park Rail and open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, the family-run business makes homes and businesses across the Illawarra more accessible.Lifts for Life CEO Fiona Wilkinson says the highlight of working in this region is being able to work within the local community to help people stay in their homes and make their lives more accessible. “One of the most rewarding experiences was a guy who was house bound for three years and he was unable to get out of his home,” Fiona said. Lifts for Life was able to assist this client with their custom-designed lift solutions that suited his needs, making his home accessible and comfortable. With years of experience in accessibility solutions, Lifts for Life offers home lifts, wheelchair lifts, commercial lifts, comprehensive services, and ongoing maintenance.“Home lifts are becoming quite popular, and there are lots of options for different types of homes and different needs,” Fiona said. In towns like Kiama, where older generations value staying in their family homes, installing a lift can be the alternative to moving. Not only does it improve accessibility, it can also add value to the property.“They’re not your shopping centre lifts, they’re made specifically for home and there are a lot of options, we can generally find the right option for everybody,” said Fiona. “We provide consultations where people can come and figure out what’s right for them.” Lifts for Life offers reliable service and personalised options to clients, helping them to make their spaces safer and more comfortable for years to come. 

Created by a Bunny, poured by The Grumpy Bunny: South Sydney Rabbitohs player Jai Arrow visited Kiama during the week to launch his new coffee blend, The Arrow, at local café The Grumpy Bunny.Arrow has played 162 NRL games and represented Queensland in 12 State of Origin matches, but he is also a passionate coffee lover.“I love my coffee,” says Arrow. “I got involved with my mates’ coffee company and decided to make my own blend. I was lucky enough that The Grumpy Bunny was looking for a new coffee, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”The Arrow is the result of a collaboration between Arrow and longtime friend Jayson Matheou, founder of specialty coffee roaster Willy’s Beans.“Jai and I grew up together,” says Matheou. “He was always promoting my coffee, so I asked him - instead of just promoting it, would he like to have his own product?”The Grumpy Bunny is the first café to stock The Arrow blend - a fitting partnership for the Bunnies star. According to Matheou, the café will now be serving the highest-grade coffee in the region.“Willy’s Beans started when I invested in a coffee farm in Colombia,” says Matheou. “I wanted to showcase what real specialty coffee is - from a farmer’s perspective.“I travel to Colombia every three months, import the beans, and roast them on the Gold Coast. There’s no other café in this area serving a blend of this grade.”Matheou and Arrow ended up collaborating on the blend with other Rabbitohs players to craft the perfect blend.“Jai is very particular - not necessarily about the variety, but he wants a really smooth, rich coffee,” says Matheou. “He came up to the roastery and we tried different roast profiles and origins. He liked all of them, so we had the Souths boys at the club taste them - since they all drink his coffee now - and they helped pick the final blend. That’s how it all came together.”Willy’s Beans prides itself on full traceability and direct involvement in every step of the process - from farm to cup.Jai and Jayson enjoying their own brew.“If you can’t tell me who the farmer is, where the farm is, what kind of soil they use - to me, that’s not specialty coffee,” Matheou said. “With every coffee we roast, I can tell you where and when it was harvested, who grew it, how it was processed, how it arrived in Australia, and how it was roasted and brewed. That’s what real specialty coffee is.”The Arrow blend is available exclusively at The Grumpy Bunny. And if you’re wondering what the creators themselves drink - Jai Arrow’s go-to coffee order is a strong flat white, while Jayson Matheou prefers an espresso or a filter coffee.