ROAM* Women Tours is pleased to support the Sunday Community Support Group, a group of women supporting vulnerable people experiencing homelessness and hardship, helping turn lives from survival to hope.You can show your support by joining them for the award-winning short film, Frances, by Australian director Sharon Lewis, followed by a panel discussion on women’s homelessness.The Community Film Night, presented by SCSG, on Thursday, 30 October, will raise awareness of the rapid increase in homelessness, especially among women over 55, and to raise much-needed funds for our support work.Frances is a short film by Lewis and Eye Candy Film Productions.It tells the story of a woman who, after a divorce, must live in her car with her dog, highlighting the hidden realities of housing insecurity and homelessness in Australia.The film has received critical acclaim and awards in London, New York, and Canada.After the screening, there will be an audience Q&A as well as a panel discussion with Lewis and fellow special guests, local businesswoman Kerry Fahey and Member for South Coast Liza Butler.They will discuss homelessness in the community and how to turn lives from survival to hope.The Community Film Night will be held at the Rural Fire Service Station in Foxground from 6-8pm and a light supper, including a glass of sparkling wine or a non-alcoholic drink, will be provided.Tickets are available from https://events.humanitix.com/fundraiser-community-film-night-francesFor further information contact Kerry Fahey at: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.fahey.378.

Members of Kiama Seaside Probus Club were treated to a most interesting and thought-provoking presentation at their September luncheon meeting by Commodore Dr Lee Cordner AM RAN (Rtd), who spoke on “The Five HMAS Sydneys – An Australian Story.”Introduced by club vice-president Garry Funnell, Commodore Cordner drew on his 49-year naval career to bring to life the proud history of the five ships to bear the HMAS Sydney name. He served on HMAS Sydneys III and IV, offering personal insights into pivotal moments, from Vietnam through to the Gulf War.Illustrated with slides, the presentation explored how the Australian Navy and naval warfare have evolved, including the introduction of women serving at sea in 1992 - now consistently 20% of the force - with what Commodore Cordner described as a noticeable boost in performance. He also reflected on the cutting-edge capabilities of the latest HMAS Sydney V, commissioned in 2020.Members were particularly engaged, asking thoughtful questions that extended discussion well beyond the allotted time, which was testament to the speaker’s depth of knowledge and the appetite of the audience for thought-provoking topics.Kiama Seaside Probus Club, formed in 2008, is a club for retired and semi-retired men and women. Regular meetings and the many social activities each month provide members with opportunities to stay mentally active, expand their interests and form new friendships in a welcoming, social setting.For more information about Kiama Seaside Probus and how to join, visit www.kiamaseasideprobus.org.au.Commodore Lee Cordner with Vice President Garry Funnell

Kiama’s Judi Sandilands Cincotta and her canine companion Ollie have been named community champions by the NSW Mental Health Commission.The awards, a key part of October’s Mental Health Month, recognise people and organisations dedicated to improving understanding, awareness, service delivery, and the mental wellbeing of communities across NSW. Wayahead CEO Sharon Grocott says Judi and her therapy dog Ollie won the Commissioner’s Community Champion Individual Award for their work supporting multiple organisations, including high schools, emergency services, paediatric clinics, Lifeline, public libraries and courts. “One of the many ways Judi her therapy dog Ollie provide comfort to those experiencing trauma and anxiety is through the Canine Court Companion Program at Campbelltown which helps vulnerable individuals manage their anxiety as they prepare to give evidence,” says Ms Grocott. Judi and Ollie were among dozens of finalists at Wayahead’s 2025 Mental Health Matters Awards. Judges, who included independent mental health experts and professionals from the sector, awarded Judi and Ollie for the work they do to improve understanding, awareness, service delivery and the mental wellbeing of communities across the state.“It was a humbling experience to be the winner of the Individual Community Champion,” says Judi, a former clinical nurse consultant in mental health before retiring and dedicating her time to improving the lives of others through volunteering. “Ollie and I are so grateful to have a small impact on the lives of others in our community.”Judi is well aware of the benefits of therapy dogs in improving wellbeing through her years working in the mental health sector.Therapy dogs are an important support for frontline staff, first responders, and school students with research proving that patting a dog can release the feel-good chemicals serotonin and oxytocin, and reduce stress chemicals like cortisol. “It’s wonderful to see how cuddles with Ollie have such a big impact on a person’s wellbeing,” says Judi. The pair are part of the Canine Court Companion Program at Campbelltown Court, offering comfort to victims of domestic and family violence. They also pop in to local police and ambulance dispatch stations for ‘fly-in, fly-out visits’ so staff can have a pat, play and cuddle with Ollie. “It’s a distraction from the difficult things they have to deal with everyday,” explains Judi.Judi and Ollie have also worked in disaster recovery centres after bushfires and floods, and have provided therapeutic support during catastrophic events like the Bondi Shopping Centre attacks. “I can read my dogs. You spend hours and hours training them everyday,” explains Judi. “I knew that having a therapy dog like Ollie outside Westfield Bondi would be so beneficial for so many people. We didn’t speak to anyone about what happened, we were just there for people to come and pat or cuddle Ollie, or for kids to sit with Ollie while their parents spoke to the mental health volunteers on site. “I just knew in my heart that cuddles with Ollie was exactly what this community needed. When people are at their absolute lowest, that’s when we see the benefit of therapy dogs the most.”Ollie is now one of the hardest working therapy dogs in the region, supporting people’s mental health across a range of programs since coming into Judi’s life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Judi began volunteering with Guide Dogs NSW in 2018 and spent thousands of hours teaching and nurturing Labradors as a puppy raiser. But in 2020 when COVID hit, the guide dogs training program went into lockdown. “COVID was a real shift for me,” says Judi. “Everything shut down at guide dogs and if you’ve ever tried to train a dog on zoom, well it’s just about impossible.”Ollie was on the Guide Dog Pathways Program with another puppy raiser during COVID, but medical issues meant she was no longer suitable to become a guide dog so Ollie was rehomed with Judi, who soon realised she would make a brilliant therapy dog, due to her gentle, calm, loving nature. Now Ollie and Judi spend most days visiting schools, court, libraries and first responders to support mental health and literacy. The dynamic duo even have their own special outfits with Kiama local business owner Esther Keenan, from Known Design & Print, printing the logos on Judi’s uniform free of charge.“This month is all about celebrating steps that we take towards improving our mental health and wellbeing,” says Ms Grocott. “The theme ‘Taking Steps on Your Wellbeing Journey’ encourages us to embrace progress, growth, and ongoing self-improvement, while reminding us that wellbeing is not a final destination but a continuous journey. Judi and Ollie are passionate about supporting their communities to do just that.”

The Kiama Illawarra Pride Choir is in high demand to perform at events. Fresh from its resounding success at the recent prestigious Blackheath Choir Festival in the Blue Mountains, KIPC has launched a fundraising campaign to continue its travels beyond the Illawarra and share its rainbow joy.“We love to meet up with other choirs, to share and grow from that experience,” says Jonnell Uptin, KIPC’s assistant music director. “There are so many choir festivals we can be part of – there’s the annual Festival of Voices in Tasmanian, and the international Out & Loud LGBTQ+ choral music celebration in Perth next year.“But we need money for that. We have choir members who work three jobs to keep their head above water – that’s the reality of the Australian economy at the moment. “So the more we can raise, the less pressure we put on our members to say, ‘We want to sing in the Blue Mountains and you need to get there.’ With petrol, transport, accommodation, it’s a big ask. “Not all our members could join us in Blackheath, though we were 16 strong – that was wonderful.”A not-for-profit group, KIPC began in April 2021, seeded with a $2500 grant from Kiama Municipal Council. “We don’t have any grant money from council at present,” Jonnell explains. “We would love to put a concert on in Kiama, but there’s no venues – the Kazador Festival isn’t on this year, and we can’t use Fillmore’s because it can’t have any live music.“Yet council is very aware that it needs to create queer spaces for people – diversity is vital in regional towns. "I think the choir is an incredibly important part of the Kiama community because there are a lot of LGBTQ+ people and allies here who want to celebrate who we are, who they are.“It’s a long-term goal to run singing workshops for young people. We’d love to go down the South Coast and create belonging for other LGBTQ+ people. There’s so much we could do.”The choir is invited to sing at many colourful occasions, some of them paid performances, including the opening of Wollongong’s 2025 Pride Arts Festival, Shellharbour City Council’s Carols by Candlelight, Jamberoo Public School’s upcoming Christmas festivities, and Christmas carols at Bunnings Shellharbour. Part of its regular fundraising efforts include Bunnings sausage sizzle stalls – there’s one on October 25.Choir members attend weekly rehearsals (see below) and booked gigs on a voluntary basis, depending on their availability. One recent private event saw just 11 members sing their hearts out for a party crowd. They’re an eclectic bunch of about 20, among them a Uniting Church minister, a UOW professor, a midwife nurse practitioner, and an Order of Australia (AM) honouree. The musical director is Tia Wilson, best known as half of the popular comedy music act Rheinberger & Wilson.Jonnell has been singing with KIPC for three years and steps in when Tia is absent. She is a teacher education lecturer at Sydney University, a former high school music and drama teacher, and a proud mum and grandmother. As a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Jonnell has found a warm and accepting place at KIPC.“The moment I walked into the Pride Choir, I relaxed. I could say, ‘My partner’s Jen’, and I was allowed to love her. I was allowed to just be normal. I do this for my fulfilment, to bring meaning into my life,” she said.“Ours is not a voice of anger. It’s not a voice of advocacy or politics. It’s a voice of expression, of hope, of kindness, of thoughtfulness, of joy. And belonging. “We underestimate the power to belong to other human beings and the power to belong to something bigger than ourselves.”KIPC has charity status for its community work and is currently taking part in GiveOUT, a Rainbow Giving Australia fundraiser.The donation site is open now and, on October 16 – GiveOUT Day – donations will be matched dollar for dollar by the Pride Foundation (conditions apply). Donations are welcomed here.To learn more about Jonnell and KIPC, catch her on Kiama Community Radio’s Chat Tuesday with Bernie Hems on October 14 at 10am. The choir accepts new members at rehearsals: Mondays, 7-8.30pm, Kiama Uniting Church (1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays), and the Phoenix Theatre Community Hall in Coniston (2nd and 4th Mondays).

Kiama Council will develop a Night-Time Economy Strategy and to establish a trial of a Special Entertainment Precinct. New state MP for Kiama, Katelin McInerney, committed $200,000 to Kiama Council towards establishing a Special Entertainment Precinct in the town in August alongside Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham.The funding will be discussed at Council’s monthly meeting on Tuesday night following a report by e Director Strategies and Communities Ed Paterson.The SEP will designate an area where trading hours and sound conditions are tailored to support live music and entertainment. It aims to reduce administrative burdens for venues, encourage performances, and provide certainty for businesses, residents, and patrons. Measures include acoustic monitoring, soundproofing standards for new developments, clear complaints processes, and incentives such as reduced liquor licence fees and extended trading hours on live performance nights.Council plans to consult extensively with stakeholders, including licensed venues, live performance operators, NSW Police, and the Kiama Business Network, to finalise the precinct boundaries. Acoustic assessments and draft policies will inform the Night-Time Economy Strategy, which is expected to go on public exhibition next June and be adopted by October.The one-year SEP trial will begin before June 2027.Mayor Cameron McDonald has described the initiative as "a fantastic opportunity to support live music, strengthen our hospitality sector, and give visitors and locals more reasons to enjoy Kiama after dark”.

When beloved Australian author Rachael Johns “accidentally” broke up with her high school sweetheart it became the catalyst for her writing career.“Yes, you can accidentally dump someone,” laughs Johns from her home in suburban Perth. “I was in Year 12 and my boyfriend did something I didn’t like so I said ‘I don't think this is working out’ hoping he'd say ‘no you’re the love of my life, don't leave me’ but instead he said ‘yeah I think you're right’.” A heartbroken Johns didn’t know it at the time but the break-up kick-started her career as an award-winning fiction writer. “I've never been a journal keeper and I wasn’t a die-hard book reader in high school. You know the ones, the kids who would be reading in the library at lunchtime or under the covers at night with the torch, that wasn't me,” she recalls.“But for some strange reason I just started writing our story, and no, nobody has ever read it and they never will, it’s terrible. But instead of accidentally breaking up with him I gave him a horrific disease and killed him off. “I can joke about it now, but I came to writing through therapy, I fell in love with the process of creating characters, exploring feelings and relationships.”That was almost three decades ago and Johns has never stopped writing, although it took nearly 15 years from first putting pen to paper to getting her work published. She now has more than 30 titles to her name, including her latest book The Lucky Sisters, released on October 21, and has twice been a recipient of the Romance Writers of Australia RUBY award and won the ABIA general fiction award for The Patterson Girls. This month Johns will host several events at Batemans Bay, Nowra and Shellharbour libraries, to share The Lucky Sisters - which gave her a chance to “stretch her writing muscles and deal with some big issues” around life, death and family relationships - with her South Coast fans.Johns says the idea for The Lucky Sisters came to her after she read an article about Lisa-Marie and Elvis Presley both dying young, possibly due to genetics. But it is book titles which most often inspire her writing trajectory.“I really love titles and covers, we know everyone judges books by their covers, but I think titles are just as important,” she says. “I’ve got a couple of other titles in my head that don’t have stories to go with them yet, but they will!”When Johns began writing her latest book, the working title was ‘The Last Day of Your Life.“I still quite like that but my publisher was keen on The Lucky Sisters,” she says.While relationships between sisters is a recurring theme in Johns’ writing, readers are always surprised to learn she didn’t grow up with any.“I think my fascination with sisters does come from actually not having that relationship myself, but you have to have the ability to step into other people's shoes as a writer,” explains Johns, whose work covers everything from rural romance to romcom and what she likes to call “life-lit”.“I enjoy elements of romance but my first love has always been the nitty-gritty of all the relationships in our lives, the highs and lows, the family drama that comes from the different ways people think.”Johns is a voracious reader and has “five novels on the go at the same time”, while also writing and editing her own work, co-hosting two book-related podcasts and leading an online book club with almost 7000 members.Despite her busy schedule, Johns is generous with her time and, much like the characters in her novels, warm, witty, and honest. She’s unashamedly open about a universal fear that cripples many creatives.“I admit I struggle with quite a lot of self-doubt, that fear can sometimes make the writing hard, when you’re trying new things you're always questioning yourself,” says Johns.“It's such a gamble, putting your heart and soul into a book and spending years writing it, then wondering if it will do well once it gets out into the world. It’s scary but the only thing you can do is remember why you write and hold onto the joy of it.“I was a teacher at one point in my life, because you know you have to earn money, but I'd still write even if I didn't have the success that I have. I just don't know how to live without fictional characters in my head any more. I couldn't imagine doing anything else.”When asked if she’s ever thanked the ex for her successful writing career she laughs and says, “well I certainly didn’t in Year 12.”“But I did dedicate my book Flying the Nest to him, it says something like ‘this one's for the boy who broke my heart at 17 and caused me to start writing, it's probably time I thanked you’,” she says.“Perth isn’t a huge place and we have mutual friends so we've crossed paths and he’s proud of me and says he loves seeing my books on the shelves. It turned out well in the end.”Rachael Johns will hold author talks at Batemans Bay Library on October 28 from 12-1.30pm, Nowra Library on October 28 from 5.30-6.30pm and Shellharbour Library on October 29 from 6-8pm.

Kiama’s growing reputation as a foodie tourist destination has been enhanced after making two appearances on an analysis of the top 10 destinations nationwide.ROLLiN’ Car Insurance experts analysed Australia’s most popular road trips, ranking them on factors like the number of stops, quality, and ratings of its culinary offerings, revealing which journeys come out on top for hungry travellers.Two of Australia’s top 10 foodie road trips pass through Kiama - the Grand Pacific Drive, which ranked fifth nationally, one ahead of the Sydney-to-Melbourne coastal route.Saltwater is a popular cafe.Kiama itself offers 22 highly rated food stops along these routes, each rated 4/5 or higher.Three of these dining hot spots ranked among the top five food stops with the biggest social media buzz.Two popular Terralong Street eateries proved popular: Saltwater Cafe, a favourite among locals and visitors, and Miss Arda, known for offering a unique dining experience with Middle Eastern inspiration.Kiama Council tourism and economic development manager Sally Bursell is not surprised by the high rankings for the area.“Because we have so many natural endowments here in Kiama, it becomes a natural thing that we build our pillars on but food is one of the things that always gets people’s attention,” she said.“It’s one of the most enjoyable things in life and it can be tied into your health and wellness, or indulgence, or whatever you want it to be.Kiama is renowned for its seafood“The Sydney to Melbourne touring route is popular if you haven’t got time restrictions. Meandering along through the coastal towns is a fun adventure.”Bursell said Saltwater Cafe was a great place for seafood “with a Mediterranean twist” and Miss Arda liked to try different options on its menu to spice up the offerings for diners.“In our local eateries, there has always been a big push for local produce and people from out of town like to see that showcased on a menu,” she said.“We could build on using local wines. It’s always good when you are travelling to pair your meal with a local wine.”Social media is a part of modern restaurant life and places like The Hill in Gerringong, with its stunning coastal views, benefit from diners posting photos and videos of their meals with beautiful scenery in the backdrop.“It is helpful for businesses for people to be posting on social media, that organic, authentic reviewing that is instant,” Bursell added.A taste of the Middle East from Miss Arda in Kiama.“From a marketing point of view it really plays into the hands of our operators.”ROLLiN’ executive manager Brendan Griffiths said working out where to eat is an essential part of any good road trip.“Before you hit the road, it’s important to plan ahead for your trip, including where you’ll take rest breaks,” he said.“Food stops can be some of the best parts of the journey, so take the time to map out where you’ll eat along the way – or come prepared with supplies if you’re travelling a more regional route.”Silica delivers mouth-watering meals.

Julia O’Keefe knows the therapeutic value in taking small steps to effect big change.For the past four years the Gerroa woman has signed up for the Black Dog Institute’s annual walk to raise funds and awareness of mental health and the supports available.The Institute’s One Foot Forward walk, held throughout October, is a way for communities to come together and show their support for those living with mental ill health, while also raising funds for Black Dog to improve national services.Most people know someone experiencing mental illness, or experience it themselves at some point in their life, with 1 in 5 Australians living with a mental illness.According to the Black Dog Institute, of the five million Australians experiencing mental ill health, half won’t seek professional help and this can have a devastating impact on not only those living with it, but those around them.“I originally started walking for One Foot Forward in 2021,” explains Julia.“We had a few tragedies happen within our local community and I started doing it as a way to quietly show my support for those people affected and to raise money for mental health education and support services.”The first year Julia walked in One Foot Forward she set herself a goal to cover 200km throughout October and raise more than $1500.Each year she has increased her goal by 100km and last year she raised a whopping $5499.“This year, I’ve set myself my biggest goal yet – to walk 600km and raise $10,000 to put ground-breaking new mental health treatment, education, and digital services into the hands of the people who need them most.”Julia knows first-hand the difference mental health support services can have on those feeling the "black dog”, a term famously used by Winston Churchill to describe his own experiences with periods of severe sadness and low mood.“I suffer with anxiety and I found that by participating in One Foot Forward each year, it gives me purpose, a fresh perspective and a feeling of community joy, strength and resilience,” says Julia.“One of the not so joyous parts about anxiety is that you never know exactly when it is going to hit or how hard.“But what I have realised over the years of participating is that through talking about it and reducing the stigma and silence around mental health, we also reduce its power to take over.“We can let others know that ‘it’s OK not to be OK, you aren’t the only one’ and that there are organisations you can go to for support and education.”Julia says having resources, training and education available to everyone, through Black Dog’s digital platform, is “absolutely life changing, that’s why I love supporting this charity".Over the four years participating in One Foot Forward Julia has covered 1400km, the equivalent of walking from Gerroa to Bundaberg in Queensland, and raised over $13,500.This year Julia will include an ambitious 24-hour walk, covering 100km, as part of her goal to increase funding and support for Black Dog Institute’s crucial mental health research, education, and digital services.“It surprises me every year how many people say to me when I start to talk about my anxiety that they would never imagine that I would struggle with mental health, because I’m so happy,” says Julia.“But mental health struggles don't discriminate and we all have experience of it, it's just about where on the continuum we are sitting at any point in time.”If you see Julia pounding the pavement with her dalmatian Murray throughout October give her a shout out, or better yet donate through her fundraising page https://www.onefootforward.org.au/fundraisers/juliaokeefe.

Kiama Council has acted upon concerns from Councillor Matt Brown that the upgrades to the railway bridge on Terralong Street will create an eyesore that the local scenery could do without.Cr Brown raised a question with notice at last month’s Council meeting to ask whether staff could liaise with Transport for NSW about the design of the collision bar on the railway bridge. “I'm concerned about the aesthetics of what is occurring there and we, as a community, would like the best-looking upgrade of that collision bar, because the last one was particularly ugly,” he said.“It is quite visually intrusive.”A Council spokesperson said an artistic approach will be taken with the rail bridge.“We understand that enhancing the visual appeal of the bridge and Kiama’s town centre is important to our community. “As part of this commitment, Kiama Council is launching a new public artwork that will soon transform the underbridge wall on Terralong Street. “Mural production is expected to begin in early to mid-November.”Transport for NSW spent three weeks last month on work to upgrade the collision protection beams.The work is being completed in stages during scheduled weeknight and weekend rail close-downs again from next Monday (13 October) to Friday 31 October. The final stage includes creating a new median, some work on the footpaths, kerbs and gutter, removal of the old protection beams and painting. A Transport for NSW Spokesperson said: “Safety is our number one priority.“The Terralong Street rail bridge is a vital route for both passenger and freight trains, and the collision protection beams prevent overheight vehicles - like trucks, campervans, buses and cranes - from hitting and damaging the rail bridge.“Sydney Trains has been undertaking work to replace the collision protection beams on the approach to the rail bridge on Terralong Street at Kiama to make them compliant with today’s safety standards. “As part of the work, the crash beams were moved back five metres from the bridge and reinforced.”

This week's edition of The Bugle contains plenty of local news and views from the community.There is a feature on the Glenbrook Drive land sale saga finally coming to an end, stories on some great fundraising initiatives for local causes and the latest on the controversy surrounding Andrew Constance's appointment as Shoalhaven Council CEO.CLICK HERE TO READ THE DIGITAL EDITIONConstance returned serve at critics of his appointment as Shoalhaven City Council CEO by saying if he could be Treasurer of the state, then he was more than qualified for this role.He started his tenure on Wednesday and fronted the media alongside Mayor Patricia White to address concerns about him getting the job despite no local government experience on his resume.You can also read plenty of other great community stories including a warning about the upcoming bushfire season, a couple of authors who will be visiting soon and the Terralong Street rail bridge upgrade.In sport, you can read about Kiama's preparations for the South Coast cricket season which gets underway this weekend, a soccer legend's tribute to Johnny Warren and the four generations of a little athletics family.More than 30 years ago, Craig Scott married into what could only be described as a Kiama Little Athletics dynasty - and today, he finds himself part of four generations of the same family still actively involved in the club.

The saga over the Glenbrook Drive land sale is nearly over but due to the scarcity of lots in Kiama, the five sought-after blocks are expected to fetch a pretty penny.After years of negotiations to cut through bureaucratic red tape to have a long-standing covenant on the land removed by the NSW Government, Kiama Council recently convinced Minister for Transport John Graham to clear the way for the land sale.The covenant was placed on the land way back in 1991 because it was deemed too close to Bombo Quarry but many other houses have been built in the cul-de-sac a two-minute drive west from the Kiama town centre.Council has moved swiftly since last month’s removal of the covenant at 17-25 Glenbrook Drive, engaging First National Coast & Country to put the land on the market and an auction will be held on site on 25 October at 1pm with each lot going under the hammer individually.With Council aiming to comply with the state government’s target of 900 new homes by 2029, it is a step in the right direction as part of its overall housing strategy.Based on recent sales and the scarcity of alternative options, each lot could sell for more than $1 million.First National Coast & Country sales representative Sam Lathbury said the Glenbrook Dr auction was an outstanding opportunity to secure a near flat vacant lot in a superb location. “We’ve had lots of enquiries but because it's an auction and there's not a guide price set with them, a lot of that is price enquiry but the general interest on the back of those is really strong,” he said.“It seems to be ramping up.“The majority have had some local connections. People coming back to Kiama. Lots of families looking at buying and building their own home. There's some development interest, some builders interested. We've got a bit of everything.”The lots have bushland scenery across the road and residents can walk to Bombo Beach through a track near the Spring Creek lagoon.“Easier blocks to build on are so rare,” Lathbury added.“There's been nothing like this in Kiama for so long. There's a development potential but Mum and Dads can build their own house, grandparents can build a single-level house - it fits so many of the criteria on what people are going to want, which means that we're not then just selling something to someone who wants to build a duplex. “We're not entertaining offers before because it's a Council sale - they want everything to be transparent and to be as open as possible, hence why we're doing all the auctions at the same time and doing an auction on site.”The lot sizes range from 531sqm to 559.6sqm.Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald was relieved to see the land sale finally going ahead.“This is a win for the community and for our Council’s advocacy efforts,” he said. “The listing of the Glenbrook Drive lots was one of our key Advocacy Plan objectives, and I’m proud we’ve now achieved it. “We still have important advocacy priorities to deliver - particularly the lifting of restrictive covenants on Council’s Spring Creek landholdings.“Unlocking this land would allow us to provide more housing and employment lands for our growing community, which would in turn help support local families, and strengthen Council’s ability to deliver essential services in a financially sustainable way.”Prospective buyers can register their interest in the Glenbrook Dr lots at the First National Coast & Country Kiama website.

The NSW Government announced the sites for a new high school in Flinders and primary school in West Dapto on Thursday to meet growing demand as the Illawarra population rises significantly.Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said the new high school in Flinders, which was a Labor 2023 election commitment, will be located at 11 Murray Way, next to Flinders Public School.No date for its construction has been set yet."The announcement of these sites means the communities of West Dapto and Flinders are one step closer to having world-class public education at their doorstep," he said."Having access to high-quality public schools close to home can make all the difference for students and their families."Communities in the Illawarra region are continuing to grow, and we are making sure they have the essential services they need now and into the future."The public school and co-located public preschool for West Dapto will be built at Shone Avenue, Wongawilli, close to the growing suburbs of the West Dapto area.Construction is expected to begin in late 2026 with the school scheduled to open on Day 1, Term 1, 2029.The high school will accommodate up to 600 students while the preschool will cater for up to 60 places a day, or 120 children across the week. Plans for the school include modern classrooms, support learning classrooms and multipurpose shared spaces, plus a library, hall, covered outdoor learning area and a large playground.The government says it is delivering a record $9 billion in investment for school infrastructure from the 2025-26 Budget, including $2.1b for schools in regional areas, including several projects in the Illawarra: Dapto High School – new COLANew primary school and public preschool in CalderwoodCringila Public School – new public preschoolLake Heights Public School – new public preschoolBerkeley West Public School – new public preschoolHayes Park Public School – new public preschoolLake Illawarra South Public School – new public preschoolBarrack Heights Public School – new public preschool “This is a proud day for our community and it is fantastic to see this investment making a real difference here for local families," said Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson.“Families are flocking to West Dapto and Flinders. The Illawarra region has always been a great place to raise a family, and with these schools on the way, these suburbs will be even better places to live.“Our students deserve the very best opportunities and this new school is a vote of confidence in the future of our region.”

Andrew Constance returned serve at critics of his appointment as Shoalhaven City Council CEO by saying if he could be Treasurer of the state, then he was more than qualified for this role.Constance started his tenure on Wednesday and fronted the media alongside Mayor Patricia White to address concerns about him getting the job despite no local government experience on his resume.Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig launched a "preliminary investigation" into Constance’s appointment last week after Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said the move "smacks of political bastardry".“If I was qualified to be Treasurer of NSW, I'm confident with the experience and the knowledge that I have to be an incredible advocate for our region and working to serve Mayor White, the democratically elected councillors, but most importantly also as the CEO of the organisation, the 1500 men and women who are working around the clock,” Constance said.“There is no doubt that for me, the interface that I've had with local government over almost two decades is varied and it wouldn't matter if it was as the Treasurer signing off on natural disaster declarations to sitting alongside the local emergency management officer during a black summer in the Euobodalla Shire, that the regard and respect that I have for local government is a sector that I see has challenges which we've got to convert into opportunities.“Shoalhaven has been my home for many years and I know the community and I know how to get around government so for me, making sure that we have the best opportunities for the Council moving forward is one of the most key roles. “Working alongside the Mayor and the Councillors is also key because I have to implement their decisions, their policies, their strategic direction, but at the same time, I have worked for many years making sure we see good government and good governance that sits alongside that and I have every intention of making sure that the council is performing at a level which drives the opportunity for the community.“Knowing the community partnerships that can be formed, because I know the community, is also very important.”Constance claimed that despite a lengthy career in the Liberal Party, he should no longer be viewed along political lines.“Professionally, I'm now an apolitical public servant,” he said. “I ceased my membership to the Liberal Party after 30 years and at the same time, I bring an extraordinary network across government. “Everyone forgets I was Leader of the House in NSW. That means working with the crossbench, the Labor Party, the Liberal Party members, everybody. “So I have a demonstrated capacity and ability to work with people and ultimately, in terms of government at state and federal levels, I want to ensure that the advocacy and the work that we do, delivers the best outcomes.“Not only in terms of grants, because it's deeper than just grant applications. We're going to have to form incredible partnerships with the Minns (Labor) government to derive the greatest benefit for Nowra as a result of the new development of the hospital and the waterfront. “These are people that I've worked with previously. I will treat the CEO's role with utmost professionalism.”Constance said he was “well within my rights to be able to apply for this role”.“Ultimately this is a merit-based process and I would ask everybody to respect the Office of Local Government's inquiry into that. When asked about the Office of Local Government investigation into Constance’s appointment, Cr White said she was not prepared to comment on any of the process “because it's a confidential preliminary investigation”. “I have been informed from the Office of Local Government what they want to see and exactly what documentation has to be provided and the Council is going to provide everything that we have been requested to provide. “There will be an investigation. At the end of the investigation it will be up to the Office of Local Government and the Minister to say whether that will be released to the community, residents etc. “I think the privacy of other candidates needs to be kept private and needs to be kept confidential.”Cr White admitted to handing out flyers for Constance in his failed federal election campaign for Gilmore earlier this year but claimed that she was not aligned to the Liberals.“I was not actively supporting Andrew in that campaign. I handed out for him for about an hour in Ulladulla - that was it,” she said.“I could make the same claims about state and federal members across NSW and across Australia.”

Kiama Uniting Church will host a Fair Trade Fair on Saturday with a large variety of stalls - all undercover. Come along and explore the stalls and the stories behind the items on sale as the Church seeks to support local workers in developing countries.There will be a range of gifts, clothing, food, handmade wooden products, ethical sustainable products and gifts, folk art, handcrafted alpaca goods, jewellery, homewares, olive oils and traditional foods from Palestine.Plus, organic soaps, eco-friendly, sustainable products from India, ethically sourced fairtrade men’s clothing, hats, baby swings, hammocks and dresses.And more!The fair will run from 9am-1pm at the Church at 48 Manning Street.

Gerringong Lions NRL utility Tyran Wishart has capped a tremendous season for the Melbourne Storm by earning selection in the Prime Minister’s XIII squad. It is the second season in a row that Wishart has made the squad, recognition of his reputation as one of the emerging stars in the NRL who could be an Origin or Test player in the future.Anthony Albanese announced the Australian men’s and women’s Prime Minister’s XIII squads earlier this week for the clashes with their Papua New Guinea counterparts at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday.The men’s team will be captained by South Sydney forward Keaon Koloamatangi with Wishart joined by the likes of Storm teammate Nick Meaney, Rabbitohs duo Jye Gray and Tallis Duncan, Canberra trio Ethan Strange, Tom Starling and Corey Horsburgh.The women’s Prime Minister’s XIII will be captained by Cronulla hooker Quincy Dodd.Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters will oversee the PMs XIII before heading off to the UK later this month for a three-Test Ashes series against England.“The squad has a really strong mix of experienced representative players and some of the best young talent that we saw showcased in the NRL this season,” he said."There is a lot of strike across the park with the likes of Ethan Strange, Jye Gray, Bradman Best and Jason Saab and some real power and mobility up front, led by Keaon Koloamatangi who is getting the opportunity to captain the side."I’m excited to get to work with the team this week and put on a great display in Port Moresby on Sunday.”For Wishart, selection in the PMs XIII was a pick-me-up after Melbourne went down 26-22 in the NRL grand final on Sunday night at Accor Stadium after holding a 10-point lead at the break.Wishart was brought into the game early off the bench after centre Jack Howarth suffered a groin injury.The versatile 25-year-old faced a tough task filling in on the left edge against Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs.He made 18 runs for 128 metres and made 11 tackles, missing just one.Unfortunately for Wishart, he has now lost two grand finals on the trot, doubling the tally of his father Rod, whose last match was St George Illawarra’s 20-18 defeat in the 1999 premiership decider.Wishart is entering the final 12 months of his contract with the Storm and with the Perth Bears coming into the competition the following season, he is likely to command a sizeable upgrade after becoming a permanent member of Melbourne’s line-up over the past two years.

A 45-year-old disqualified driver will face Kiama Local Court in November after he was caught speeding during the Labour Day long weekend traffic operation by NSW Police.Lake Illawarra Highway Patrol officers at 8.25am on Monday allegedly stopped a vehicle travelling 124km/h in a 110km/h zone along the Princes Highway at Dunmore. Inquiries revealed the 45-year-old male driver’s provisional licence was disqualified in 2011 until 2042. He was served with a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive motor vehicle during disqualification period - 2nd offence and is due to appear at Kiama Local Court on Monday 3 November. The driver was also issued a $592 infringement for class A motor vehicle exceed speed > 20kph – Lidar.NSW Police conducted an extensive traffic operation over the Labour Day long weekend and three lives were lost on roads in the state.The high-visibility operation saw police across the state targeting drink and drug driving, fatigue, mobile phone use, speeding and seat belt and helmet offences, with double demerits in place for the duration of the four-day operation from Friday to Monday.Across the state, police issued 11,389 Traffic Infringement Notices, including 4026 for speed-related offences, 302 for mobile phone usage, and 174 seatbelt/helmet related offences.Police conducted more than 214,906 breath tests, with 300 drink-driving offences and conducted 11,283 drug tests with 724 drug-driving offences detected, with 285 major crashes reported.A total of 277 people have been killed on NSW roads in 2025.Over this long weekend three people lost their lives – all of which occurred in northern NSW.Acting Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Ryan Park said still too many lives are being lost to recklessness on our roads.“Three people lost their lives over the weekend, not because of bad luck, but because of bad decisions taken on our roads,” he said.“These crashes aren’t accidents, they’re preventable. Every time someone speeds, looks at their phone or drives under the influence, they’re putting lives on the line.“As we head into one of the busiest times of year on our roads, the message couldn’t be clearer. Slow down, pay attention and never drive if you’ve been drinking or taking drugs.“Police will be out in force again coming up to Christmas, targeting dangerous driving, speeding, distraction and impairment. Real change starts with every driver taking responsibility. "One careless decision is all it takes to destroy a life.”

All options are on the table for Kiama Council for the Blue Haven nursing home site at Havilah Place which is being demolished six years after it was closed down. Demolition started last week on the site which was previously the home to Kiama’s first retirement village for four decades from 1979 onwards.Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said Council was open to ideas about how the area should be used once the derelict buildings are removed over the next two months.Council will form a finance and major projects committee to spearhead the process of working out what to do with the community asset.“Basically it’s an open book,” he said.“That committee is an acknowledgement that Council is not the expert on all things and the scope of work for that committee will be to look at all our catalyst sites owned by Council and understand where they might be in the next 20-30 years as well. The old State Quarry at Kiama.“Sites in desperate need of repair, such as this Havilah one, the existing Terralong Street site, the Council Chambers themselves and some of the other sites we’ve got, including the Minnamurra Depot.“There has been many people in the community saying what should happen with that Havilah Place site and nothing is off the table as far as Council is concerned.“It will become a part of a larger jigsaw puzzle as to how our community assets might look into the future.”Council is revisiting the Kiama Sporting Complex masterplan after gauging community feedback to come up with a preferred plan for its redevelopment following responses about the initial three options.The future of the Havilah Place site will also play into how the Sporting Complex could end up.There have been calls for the demolished Blue Haven complex to be converted into affordable housing, more retirement homes, sporting facilities, retail and commercial space, or even parkland. After the committee is formed, Council will proceed with the community consultation process before working out what will happen with the subdivision of the site.The nursing home after opening in 1979.Blue Haven Terralong will not be affected by the redevelopment of the abandoned section of the old retirement village and Kiama Community Garden will also remain as is.Long-time Kiama local Nick Hartgerink wrote the book, literally, on Blue Haven: The First 40 Years, which was released in 2019.“It was a great facility in its time, but it reached its use by day,” he said.“The whole process started because around 1970 the Kiama Hospital was full of elderly residents and there was nowhere for them to go and they would have had to go to nursing homes 30, 50, even 100km away in Sydney because there was nowhere to accommodate them anywhere in the Illawarra. Thus the Kiama and District Retirement Village Committee was born on 19 November, 1970 with Kiama Mayor Paul Saphin elected president.They raised money and the retirement village was set to get the green light in 1975 but the government funding was cut off due to the nationwide financial uncertainty surrounding the turbulent final days of Gough Whitlam’s time as Prime Minister. Eventually, Malcolm Fraser’s government reopened the purse strings and the retirement village was built and finally opened in 1979.As Hartgerink wrote in his book, “long-serving Kiama doctor, Jon Phipps, remembers that he and his medical colleagues were forced to use Kiama District Hospital as a de facto nursing home. “Kiama Hospital had a lot of long-term patients who were kept there because they needed to be looked after full-time.“They were beyond rehabilitation and too sick to live at home, but there were no nursing homes nearby to send them to. “Sometimes we sent them to nursing homes as far away as Sydney, but that was very hard for them and their families. So we tried to look after them in Kiama Hospital.“That was a real problem because they were taking up the beds, but what else could we do?”The land for the site was initially home to the State Rail Quarry from the 1870s where blue metal was mined with a tramline down Terralong Street taking the stone to ships in Kiama Harbour to be loaded up to be taken to Sydney.By the 1970s, the disused quarry land was owned by local businessman Tony Freedman, who generously donated an acre to Council as the site for the nursing home before more land was purchased from him for the sports complex.

The long-awaited transformation of the Bombo Quarry into a housing area is a step closer after the Independent Planning Commission has recommended that proposed rehabilitation works be declared a State Significant Development.For decades, the land has been viewed as a potential solution to Kiama's lack of housing and the IPC's decision has been welcomed by Mayor Cameron McDonald.“It is a really great announcement for the community of Kiama,” he told The Bugle.“It’s the first necessary step in a long process. Council certainly doesn’t have the ready set of consultants that would be required to look at the remediation of the site such as geotechs, hydraulic engineers and other specialist analysts.“What it means for the ratepayer is the State Government steps in and does all that work underneath the State Significant Development umbrella, the ratepayers get the benefit of that work to progress it and to stay in control of the site.“It is excellent from a Housing Strategy point of view. This is a significant signal from the State Government that it’s a much shorter timeframe than what the community is expecting.”It is a common refrain around the Kiama LGA that the Bombo Quarry redevelopment has been “10 years away” for several decades but it now looks like it will happen with a new estate in place sometime within the 2030s.“The State Government, with the housing crisis, is keen to get things moving, Cr McDonald added.“We haven’t lost sight of the fact that with this Bombo Quarry site there’s all this significant infrastructure that will be required to be addressed alongside it.”That includes the road network, Sydney Water’s needs, the Bombo sewage treatment facility as well as school, pre-school, shopping, and sporting and community group facilities.Later this year or in early 2026, Kiama Council will begin to come up with a plan, in consultation with the State Government, about its long-term vision for the precinct and how that can be achieved.There could be as many as 2000 houses in the redeveloped quarry site but that could fluctuate depending on the density put in place and other amenities that are built for the area.Cr McDonald said Council’s housing goal of 900 new homes by the end of this decade would be more than accommodated by in-fill development as well as projects already underway in Shoalhaven Street, the Sunnymeade site in Gerringong, South Kiama and Golden Valley in Jamberoo.The goal of 3400 new dwellings by 2040 isn’t a mandated number by the NSW Government but Council is planning for those numbers to come to fruition.IPC’s decision to recognise the state importance of the Bombo Quarry rehabilitation project progressed after a Ministerial call-in request from the NSW Transport Asset Manager and Boral, supported by Urbis.While the project does not meet the statutory thresholds in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Planning Systems) 2021, the Commission found the development warranted consideration as a State Significant Development due to its broader significance.“Bombo Quarry has played a significant role in the state’s infrastructure and construction story for decades," Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said."The Independent Planning Commission’s advice makes clear that its rehabilitation is a matter of state importance.”Newly elected Kiama MP Katelin McInerney said this was an important milestone for the local community.“The rehabilitation of Bombo Quarry has been talked about for many years, and it’s clear the scale and complexity of the project means it should be treated as state significant," he said."I welcome the Commission’s recommendation and the attention it brings to getting the best possible outcome for the people of Kiama.”

Kiama Library is hosting a writing workshop with a difference, with well-known writing teacher Keith Whelan. Writing a eulogy can be daunting. Often we’re grieving while trying to put our thoughts into words, and it can be challenging to write a speech that strikes the right tone and that does justice to someone’s life in a few short minutes. Perhaps you’re writing a eulogy for an important person in your life? Or perhaps you’re writing your own? Not as strange as it sounds. Writing your own eulogy can be a creative exercise in self-reflection, preparation, or clarifying priorities in how you want to live your life and be remembered. It can also be a gift for friends and family to ease their stress at a time of grief. A eulogy or tribute can be a special part of a funeral, but where do you start in summing up your own or someone else's life? Do you write a formal summary of milestones and achievements, or something more personal based on stories, memories and anecdotes?This workshop will show you how to:Choose the most appropriate type of eulogy, depending on the person and the circumstancesIdentify your own or someone else's most noteworthy characteristicsFocus on what people love most about you or the person you are writing about. This workshop will provide samples and written exercises to help you write clear, concise and compelling memories.Whelan is an experienced author and teacher. He has been teaching creative writing for 17 years in Australia and Ireland. He has also worked as a journalist, sub-writer, critic and editor, and has judged writing competitions. He also teaches creative writing workshops at the University of Sydney Centre for Continuing Education.The workshop will be held on Saturday 25 October from 10am-12pm at Kiama Library Auditorium. Cost is $10 and no experience is necessary. Book online via the Kiama Library website or call 02 4233 1133.