Two local Kiama businesses, Deer Willow and The Farmers Table, took home trophies at the recent Illawarra and South Coast Local Business Awards, held at The Fraternity Club in Wollongong. Deer Willow won the award for Most Outstanding Specialised Retail Business, while the Farmer’s Table won the award for Most Outstanding Best Café. There was a mystery shopper element to the competition to see how each business represented themselves over the phone, online and in person.The award was a fantastic way for the new owners of Deer Willow to cap their first year in charge - Julia Davidson, Caroline Villamarin and Amy Cockshutt.“We’ve had some really good year-on-year growth,” Julia said.“We’ve all come from corporate backgrounds - I’m from marketing, Amy was in corporate operations and Caroline’s been in retail and fashion. Between us we thought we had a really good mix of skills to operate the shop.“It’s been wonderful, the community has really rallied behind us. It’s been a big change going from those careers into retail.“We’ve been very grateful for the customers supporting a local business.“We were thrilled to win the award. It’s been a lot of hard work, late hours and we’re all managing juggling children and school.”The Farmer’s Table crew are all smiles after winning their award. The luxe lifestyle store on Manning Street has been running for 12 years, offering fashion, home and living, clothing and a range of products with the new owners revamping the range on offer.“Kiama locals love it. There’s a lot of local customers and then we get a lot of visitors who frequent Kiama regularly who often tell us that it’s their favourite shop to visit,” Julia added.“We’ve brought in 26 new brands to fill some gaps in the retail mix which have been very popular.“It was a successful business model so we were keen to keep that going - it would be foolish to move far away from that. It’s been interesting to see what works and what doesn’t.”The Farmer’s Table, situated in the Collins Street historic terraces, is a much newer venture and owner Alan Smith was blown away by their cafe beating out a long list of established venues in the region to take home the award.

Zonta Club of Kiama-Shellharbour is holding its major fundraising event of the year next Saturday.A Country & Western Trivia Night will be held from 7pm–11pm at Shellharbour Surf Life Saving Club where you can expect a night full of laughs, games, prizes, and cowboy hats, all in support of causes that matter. Funds raised go towards projects like: SAHSSI (Supported Accommodation & Homelessness Services Shoalhaven & Illawarra); Dressed for Success, which helps unemployed and underemployed women achieve economic independence; and Illawarra Women’s Health Centre’s Young Women’s Program which supports the needs of girls and young women and empowers them to make informed choices.Oher good causes include Birthing Kits that provide a clean birthing environment for women in developing countries and Breast Cushions that provide dignity and comfort for men and women who have undergone breast cancer surgery.Whether you come with colleagues, friends, or family, it’s the perfect team-bonding night with a purpose. BYO drinks and food, dress up for prizes, and decorate your table for even more fun.

Lauren Murphy from Travel Focus was invited on a Colorado “famil” in February, (short for “familiarisation trip” – an industry perk where travel agents are hosted to experience a destination first-hand).She expected the usual suspects: snowy peaks, buzzing ski towns, and the odd mulled wine by the fire. What she didn’t expect was how much this trip would shift the way we talk about Colorado.For starters: the sunshine. Three hundred days a year, apparently. Not something we associate with ski holidays but stepping off the plane into blue skies and crisp, dry air set the tone straight away. This wasn’t going to be your average alpine escape.Lauren’s trip took her from Denver to the snowfields of Steamboat, Vail, Aspen and Telluride - each with its own personality. While the big-name resorts of Aspen and Vail delivered as promised it was the lesser-hyped towns that left the biggest impression.Telluride had this warm, small-town vibe that makes you want to slow down and stay a while.Steamboat, on the other hand, looks like it’s been plucked straight from a western film set, only with world-class champagne powder and scenery that stops you in your tracks.There were plenty of moments off the slopes that really stood out and you don’t have to ski or snowboard to enjoy Colorado.One of Lauren’s highlights was snowmobiling in Telluride. Open trails, barely another person in sight, and that feeling of being completely out in nature.It was equally peaceful and thrilling. Another unexpected favourite was a visit to Kemo Sabe in Vail, a well-known Western outfitter specialising in custom boots, belts and cowboy hats.Lauren got to design her own hat from scratch, picking the shape, band, stitching, even branding it with initials.It was fun, personal, and a great option for families, small groups, or anyone wanting a break from the snow without feeling like they’re missing out. There’s a lot to do even if you never step foot on the slopes.In Aspen, The Little Nell hotel made a strong impression. With its unbeatable location right at the base of the lift and a team that gets what skiers need, it’s the kind of place where everything just works - easy, comfortable, and genuinely welcoming.And here’s a tip for Aussie skiers: grab an Epic or Ikon pass before you go. Not only does it unlock Colorado’s top resorts, but it also gives you unlimited lift access at ski fields in Australia, including Thredbo and Perisher.Colorado is a place where the scenery stuns, the experiences stay with you, and the people make you feel at home. There’s something here for everyone, on or off the mountain.If you’ve ever considered a ski trip to Colorado, or just want to hear more, get in touch with Lauren at Travel Focus Group. Email us at [email protected] or call 02 4209 2044.

The old saying there’s safety in numbers has never been truer, as adventures for solo female globetrotters become one of the travel industry’s fastest growing sectors.Gerringong travel agent Kelly Morrison, one of the many women travelling alone or on female-only tours, has tapped into the growing market with Travel Focus Group’s new business venture – ROAM, a travel experience designed specifically for women. A 2025 travel trends report found solo female travellers are on the rise, with Tourism Research Australia and Austrade data showing women travelling alone made up 40 per cent of the domestic market, with 30 per cent of women heading overseas solo.Morrison, who joined Travel Focus Group as an agent three months ago after moving to the area for a sea change, embraced solo travel after divorcing and becoming an empty nester.But she says there are downsides to going it alone, with clients reporting safety as the top concern for female travellers, not to mention the higher cost of a singles supplement.When Morrison and her sister decided to embark on a Moroccan adventure, they chose to travel with an all-women’s group tour “for the safety aspect”.“It was one of the best trips I’ve been on,” she said.After the group tour ended, the sisters had two days on their own in Morocco’s bustling capital and safety quickly became an issue.“We got followed by a male and had to duck into a shop and hide behind the racks,” she explained.Kelly in Morocco. The safety scare sparked the idea for ROAM and Morrison held the group’s first breakfast recently for like-minded females to travel together.The get-together was a hit, with more than a dozen women registering their interest in the small-group, female-only adventures. The first tour, in November, will be to New Zealand and include good food, fine wine, a health spa and jet boat ride.“There are a lot of adventurous women out there who want to go off the beaten track but still have that safety net of travelling with a group,” she addedMorrison has designed the inaugural itinerary around the things she likes to do as a traveller; a bit of sightseeing, an off-the-beaten track adventure, excellent food and wine and boutique accommodation.“Many organised tours are extremely structured; you have to get up at 6am to be on a bus by 7am to visit multiple tourist attractions every day. Those sorts of tours are very cookie-cutter, very generic.”Her idea of a good holiday involves more peace than pace.“You won’t experience jam-packed schedules or tourist traps on our tours. ROAM is all about leisurely mornings, local culture and meaningful experiences.“My mum did a bus trip through Europe and she said it was the most exhausting holiday she had ever been on. One day she just refused to get out of bed, maybe that’s where I get it from!”ROAM group tours will be much more fluid, allowing people to linger over a nice breakfast before they “go off and do things” and incorporating experiences that allow women to give back to the communities they visit.“On a trip to India or Vietnam we might visit an orphanage and ask women to bring some baby clothes to donate. It’s all about letting women share experiences in a safe environment,” Morrison said.“The beauty of these tours is that they try and cater for everyone’s interests. Travelling doesn’t have to be go, go, go, it’s just as important to slow down, take things in, immerse yourself in the experience so you have a chance to enjoy it while you’re there.”Photo: Lara MathewsonMany solo female adventurers are also looking to link with other women to share the cost of the dreaded singles supplement - an extra fee charged to those travelling alone when booking accommodations or tours designed for dual occupancy.With enquiries on the rise, Morrison also plans to link up solo travellers interested in similar experience, with a view to them sharing the cost of a double room or tours for two.“We’ve had several women in their 80s come in and say I really want to go to Antarctica but they don’t want to travel by themselves,” she explained. “The single supplement is so expensive and we help them find a like-minded person who they can travel with and share a room with to avoid that cost. It’s not only cheaper but much more fun when you share the experience with someone else.”Morrison said all-female group tours are the opposite of a “draincation” - a phrase coined to describe travelling with kids or a partner where the mental load is still high – and involve more wine and less whine.“Travelling with children or a partner is not always a holiday, you still carry the same burdens as at home, just in a different location,” said Morrison. “Sometimes it’s even harder because kids are out of their routine and comfort zone.“On a ROAM tour you don’t have to worry if everyone has packed enough underwear or will eat what’s on the menu, you just get to focus on yourself and the things you like to do. And let’s be honest wine always tastes better with girlfriends.”

By Neil Reilly - Unpacking bureaucracy, regulation, political will and community psychology. An essay and some suggestions.The term Invisible Architecture is often used in literary and poetic discussion to describe the underlying, unseen frameworks that give a work its form and meaning.In my retirement, I’ve taken up some writing and literature courses, where I first encountered the phrase. I found it a powerful and versatile metaphor, apt not just for novels and poetry, but also for the planning system in NSW.Our system is shaped by layers of rules, assumptions, and relationships that influence every decision, yet are rarely visible to the public.This invisible architecture determines how, where, and why our communities grow, or don’t.What’s more, I’ve come to believe that the complexity of the NSW planning system is not accidental. It is, in many respects, by design. It isn’t just bureaucratic inefficiency; it is a structure that privileges certain players while locking out others.Land use planning shapes every street, suburb, skyline, park, and paddock. Yet, for most citizens, its workings are obscure, buried beneath acronyms, shifting strategies, and often unintelligible documents. While some see this complexity as necessary, I see an architecture that is long overdue for redesign.Who benefits from the complexity?In NSW, planning complexity often functions more as a feature than a flaw. It benefits some while burdening the rest.Professional intermediaries, planning consultants, lawyers, and lobbyists are among the biggest winners. Their livelihoods depend on navigating ambiguity. When legislation is open to interpretation, their services become indispensable.Simplification would threaten their market.Large developers also benefit. With the financial resilience to absorb delays and the legal firepower to push through disputes, they are well positioned to exploit loopholes or negotiate Voluntary Planning Agreements (VPAs). Smaller operators are often drowned in paperwork or priced out of participation.The state government plays referee and participant. Ambiguity allows it to override local planning frameworks under the guise of housing supply or state significance. This flexibility means state intervention can be politically convenient but procedurally opaque.Councillors and political actors who understand the system’s grey zones can wield quiet but significant influence. Amendments, referrals, and procedural delays become tools of strategy rather than governance.Certain residents’ groups, often well organised and resourced, also use complexity to their advantage, objecting through appeals, exploiting obscure planning clauses, or delaying projects indefinitely. Heritage, character and overshadowing concerns, while sometimes valid, can be used tactically rather than constructively.Access to influence in planning often depends less on merit than on one’s capacity to engage the system.Are there better models?To reimagine planning, we must look outward. Globally, planning systems fall into three broad categories: mixed, decentralised-flexible, and centralised-directive models. Each offers lessons, some cautionary, others inspiring.Mixed models: Comparable but cumbersomeVictoria & Queensland: These states are structurally similar to NSW. Victoria’s “Planning Schemes” and Queensland’s Planning Act mirror our layered approach. While intended to offer clarity, both systems are equally prone to delay and interpretation. For instance, Melbourne’s inner-north has seen compliant developments dragged through months of VCAT proceedings, often over design minutiae.United Kingdom: The UK combines local development plans with national policy oversight. Ministers can “call in” major developments, overriding local objections. In 2021, a new coal mine in Cumbria was approved this way, despite strong opposition and environmental concerns. However, the North West Cambridge Development shows the system’s potential: a well-planned innovation precinct delivered quickly thanks to consistent policy alignment and community engagement.Canada (Ontario, British Columbia): Canada balances municipal autonomy with provincial oversight. Toronto’s “Eglinton Connects” project rezoned entire corridors around new transit lines to allow mid-rise development, executed through clear planning rules and community involvement. In Vancouver, projects like Olympic Village demonstrate how performance zoning and design review can create sustainable, high-density communities.The lesson is mixed systems like ours can deliver good outcomes, but only when roles are clearly defined, policies are stable, and community trust is maintained.Decentralised and flexible systems: Fast but unevenUnited States: Planning is highly local. In Houston, there is no formal zoning, just development codes and deed restrictions. This has allowed rapid, low-cost development, but also inconsistency and urban sprawl. By contrast, Portland, Oregon uses tight growth boundaries and a “20-minute neighbourhood” model to deliver compact, walkable communities, driven by strong civic values and participatory planning,.Japan: They use uses only 12 zoning types nationally, permitting mixed-use by default. Development approvals are quick - often taking weeks, not months. Despite being the world’s largest city, Tokyo remains surprisingly affordable and liveable. This is a result of low barriers to development, minimal local veto power, and emphasis on small-lot flexibility. The result is vibrant, evolving streetscapes with housing supply that keeps up with demand.The lesson is flexibility and speed are possible, but only if rules are simple, political interference is limited, and development rights are respected.Centralised and directive systems: Clear but authoritarianSingapore: Planning is governed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), which controls land use down to the block. The Marina Bay precinct, built from reclaimed land, is a masterclass in state-led planning: integrated transport, high design quality, and flawless delivery. Yet public consultation is minimal, and dissent is rare.China: Planning is rapid, hierarchical, and economic-growth-driven. Shenzhen transformed from a fishing village to a tech powerhouse in a generation. But speed has come at the cost of transparency. Projects like Ordos, a city built with no residents, highlight what can go wrong when planning is disconnected from community need.The lesson is centralisation ensures coherence, but at the cost of democracy, adaptability, and human-scale nuance.The psychological layer: Community expectations and political willPlanning is not just procedural; it’s emotional and political. Communities expect fairness, clarity, and a chance to be heard. When they instead encounter jargon, delays, or abrupt overrides, frustration sets in. Trust is slowly eroded.Councillors are caught in a three-way tug-of-war: constituent expectations, legal constraints and political alliances. Planning becomes performative, motions deferred, reports commissioned, decisions postponed, not to resolve issues, but to delay accountability.Meanwhile, constant reform, often sold as progress, breeds fatigue. Those with resources adapt; others fall behind. Reform churn makes long-term thinking impossible.Highly visible corrections to the invisible architectureOver years of observing, debating, and working within the system, I’ve kept notes on changes that might help. Reduce discretion: Shift from subjective assessments (“no unreasonable impact”) to clear, objective criteria.Commit to stability: Establish a 10-year legislative horizon with scheduled reviews, avoid reactive, piecemeal reforms.Improve access: Fund plain-language guides, digital planning assistants, and training for community members and councillors.Clarify roles: Define decision-making boundaries across councils, panels, departments, and courts. Too many think they’re the "planning Lion King."Borrow from others: Streamline zoning like Japan. Embrace local autonomy like Canada. Seek clarity like Singapore, but keep our democracy.Pathways to reformThe people of NSW deserve a planning system that is transparent, efficient, and fair, one that delivers housing without endless delay, empowers local voices without silencing innovation, and eliminates the backroom trade-offs that undermine trust.To achieve this, we need a bold reform agenda:Merge LEPs and DCPs into a unified zoning code.Establish an independent Planning Commission to depoliticise decisions.Expand fast-track approvals (CDCs), backed by objective, measurable rules.Digitise the entire planning process, from application to appeal, and enforce strict timelines.Introduce penalties for unjustified delay and enforce transparency in developer contributions.These steps would shift power away from NIMBYs, consultants, and bureaucratic gatekeepers, restoring integrity and clarity to a system too long lost in its own maze.Rebuilding the foundationLand use planning is more than a technical exercise; it reflects how we understand community, growth, and fairness. Today, NSW’s system mirrors the values of caution, complexity and control. But that is a choice, not a necessity.We can design something better: a planning framework that reflects transparency over opacity, stability over churn, and accessibility over exclusion. The Invisible Architecture does not need to stay hidden. We can, and should, bring it into the light.

The humpback highway is busier than ever before with citizen scientists counting a record number of whales, including almost 150 off Kiama, during the latest annual census.More than 5000 whales were spotted across the east coast during this year’s event on June 29, organised by volunteer rescue and research organisation ORRCA.The census encourages community members - dubbed citizen scientists - to count and log whale sightings from their favourite viewing spot, with the data used by ORRCA to track the population size and types of species migrating north.ORRCA president Ashley Ryan says this Whale Census Day was the most successful in its 26-year history, with more than 600 volunteers across 159 locations - from Tasmania to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast - registering for the count.“Over the course of the day more than 5000 humpback whales were officially sighted by volunteers at various vantage points, including 142 off the headland at Kiama Heights,” said Ryan.She believes the huge community involvement likely contributed to the increased number of whale sightings with “records broken on every front”.“So many people were out for the count and this is testament to the growing passion Australians have for their marine environment,” said Ryan. “Every set of eyes made a difference.”Experts believe more than 40,000 cetaceans, predominantly humpbacks, traverse Australia’s east coast during their northern migration to warmer waters.Ryan said the annual census played a critical role in identifying individual whales, mapping habitat use, and informing broader conservation strategies.“Citizen science is powerful not just because of the numbers, but because it brings people into the story,” she says.“This year’s data will directly contribute to ongoing research and protection work. It's science made stronger by the community.”Kiama’s David Finlay knows the value in environmental interaction and education.The industrial chemist by trade has been a citizen scientist for decades patiently documenting the best Mother Nature has to offer through a camera lens.He has captured the stunning Aurora Borealis off Gerringong, glow worm colonies in Helensburgh, fireflies at Macquarie Pass, ghost fungi mushrooms in Kiama frontyards and bioluminescence in the harbour.Most recently he captured incredible footage of the humpbacks “playing tag” with a pod of dolphins off Kiama’s Blow Hole point on the weekend of the census.“I’ve never seen whales and dolphins play so purposefully together, and for such an extended period, they were playing tag,” said Finlay who filmed the breathtaking scenes from his drone.“This behaviour went on for over an hour. The six whales just chased the dolphins everywhere, and the dolphins were teasing them with their speed and manoeuvrability."It was like a long trip with a car full of kids and taking a playground break. It was such a joy to watch.“The more people that you can teach how to enjoy being in nature, while also preserving it, the better we all are.”Data collected by citizen scientists during the census is collated and used in ORRCA’s East Coast Whale Migration Research Program, which helps document and understand the movement patterns of humpback whales along the state’s coastline.Research and data will also be used to better manage whale strandings, a distressing phenomenon that is not fully understood, with the state’s latest stranding on Wollongong’s City Beach on Tuesday.ORRCA volunteers and National Parks and Wildlife Service tried to refloat a female melon-headed whale after it was spotted circling unusually close to shore.Despite the best efforts of rescuers the whale could not be saved.

Jeans for Genes Day is coming up on 8 August and all funds raised by Children’s Medical Research Institute Gerringong Committee will support the research that is finding cures for genetic diseases.One in 20 children face a birth defect or genetic disease.Tickets for the Trivia Night at the Gerroa Boat Fisherman’s Club are on sale from next Wednesday (14 July) at http://www.trybooking.com/DCRXB. Cost is $30 per person with tables of up to eight people. Nibblies are provided, drinks at bar prices and a courtesy bus can be booked through the club. There will be a multi draw raffle and denim quilt raffle tickets for sale and drawn on the night. The quilt was created by the Kiama Quilters Guild and donated to CMRI. Jeans for Genes pens and badges as well as quilt raffle tickets will be sold at IGA Gerringong on 1-2 and 7-8 August. Students at Gerringong Public School will be helping us to raise funds by having a mufti day and gold coin donation. Local businesses also support the cause with donations for the raffle and by selling merchandise. Come to the Trivia Night and enjoy a fast game with music trivia included and comperes Glen Isemonger and Dave Peade keeping the fun and the questions moving! It’s all about raising funds for research that gives us the cures.Every day, Ollie’s parents are thankful for the cancer research that saved their son’s life, but they won’t stop campaigning for more to be done for the families who have lost their children. “The importance of research and the importance of Jeans for Genes Day is that it benefits the families who – like mine – have a sick child and make it through their journey,’’ Nathan said. “But there are families we’ve met along the way who don’t get that outcome. They receive the information that the treatment hasn’t been effective and that they have to go home, knowing that their child will fall asleep, and pass away.’’ Ollie is one of the 2025 faces of Jeans for Genes the iconic fundraising day that supports the labs at Children’s Medical Research Institute so scientists can do work today to change lives tomorrow. Ollie was a happy and seemingly healthy child when he complained to his mum Naomi about hearing problems, dizziness, headaches and double vision. When his right eye dramatically turned, she knew something was wrong. His parents took him to hospital where they performed scans and found he had a tumour in his skull. Ollie was then diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. “They said there is tumour in your son's head,’’ Nathan said. “And half the things that he said, I didn't hear. Everything stood still. It scared the living hell out of me.’’ The family of five had to move to Sydney and live near the hospital for almost two years. Surgery was not an option due to the location of the tumour, so Ollie had 67 rounds of chemotherapy and 32 rounds of radiotherapy before he went into remission. While Ollie used his incredible talent as an artist to get through, his parents have put their energy into advocating for better investment in medical research. “I just started envisioning Ollie finishing high school and doing a year 12 speech about his journey and about life and about his future, and that gave me optimism that Ollie will be alive, and he will beat this. “I know that if the research done prior to our diagnosis wasn't done - it scares me to think that if we didn't help scientists learn more about the specific cancers, learn more about the treatment processes, he might not be here today.’’Nathan said he remembers taking part in Jeans for Genes Day when he was at school and now realises that it went to help the cancer research being done at Children’s Medical Research Institute and he loves the idea that his gold coin helped Ollie. “It's interesting to feel and to think that my gold coin donation that I made years and years ago actually had an effect on the research that was done that kept my son alive.’’ Jeans for Genes is one of Australia’s oldest charity days and this year it will move to the first Thursday in August – after finding that many of our capital city streets and offices are quiet on a Friday. It may be on a different day but the challenge of finding treatments and cures for 1 in 20 Aussie kids with conditions like cancer, cystic fibrosis and other devastating genetic diseases remains the same. Jeans for Genes Day allows labs to stay open, science to continue and lives to be saved.

A powerful moment of mateship and inclusion has captured hearts at Minnamurra Public School, where a Year 6 student with multiple disabilities was cheered to the finish line by his fellow classmates in a moving show of support.Eleven-year-old Viaan only began attending Minnamurra Public School six months ago after moving to Kiama from Melbourne in late 2024.Born with a rare neurological condition known as MPPH syndrome, Viaan also lives with ASD, ADHD and an intellectual disability.Viaan with mum Priya and her partner, Mark, on holiday in Fiji this week.Despite those challenges, he took part in the school’s athletics carnival held just before the winter break in late June.Viaan’s parents, Priya and her partner Mark Houghton, were initially unsure whether he would even attend the carnival.“We actually got a call from the school in the morning saying Viaan was feeling unwell,” Priya recalled this week.“He was excited about our upcoming trip to Fiji and wanted to come home early. But we decided he could stay and do one race before leaving.”That one race turned out to be a 200-metre event organised by one of Viaan’s favourite teachers, Miss Hughes. What happened next stunned Mark, who recorded the race on his phone, and those watching on.“There was a whole group of boys rallying together, saying, ‘Viaan’s racing, who wants to run with him?’,” Mark said.“Viaan ran the first 50 metres, then walked most of the next stretch. But as he came around the final bend, something beautiful happened.“Several boys who had already completed the race doubled back to join him. They clapped him on, offered encouragement, and jogged beside him down the home straight.“Seeing the way the kids got around Viaan and were cheering him on was amazing. I got emotional.“Even after I stopped filming, parents were coming up to me saying how amazing it was to watch.”When Priya later saw the video, she described it as “electrifying”.The moment came just a day after Viaan’s classmates gave him nearly 20 handwritten cards wishing him well ahead of a short placement at the Aspect South Coast School, before he rejoins his Minnamurra mates at Kiama High School next year.“So, this level of support wasn’t just about one race. It showed how inclusive and kind this school community is,” Mark said.“We had been quite worried about Viaan getting bullied and him not being included before he started at Minnamurra. But it’s been the complete opposite.”Priya said the environment at Minnamurra Public had helped her son grow.“From a social point of view, Viaan can be very introverted,” she said.“But this experience has helped him come out of his shell. It’s helped him grow as a person, which is great.”Minnamurra Public School principal Linda Wilbraham said the closing moment of the 200m race spoke volumes about the school’s values.“When I saw the video, I was touched by how naturally and spontaneously Viaan’s peers stepped in to support him,” she said. “They saw a mate in need of encouragement, and they were by his side.“Everyone has their strengths, and at Minnamurra Public School we value a culture of inclusivity, kindness and care, where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, knowing they belong.”Carol Goddard, a regular contributor to The Bugle, watched the race unfold after enjoying her grandchild compete at the athletics carnival earlier in the day.She said it was a moment she would never forget after tipping The Bugle off about this wonderful story.“A young boy, clearly struggling at the 150m mark, was surrounded by fellow students who’d already crossed the finish line. “They walked with him, clapped him on the back, and cheered him to the end,” she said.“If I saw nothing else at the athletics carnival to gladden my heart, this did. And it made my day.”

Rail commuters will face disruptions on the South Coast line until next Friday with buses replacing trains until next Friday (18 July).Buses will be used instead of train services between Thirroul and Sutherland. Express buses will also run between Wollongong, North Wollongong and Sutherland, where passengers travelling to the City can join a T4 Illawarra rail service. T4 services will continue to run between Bondi Junction and Cronulla and Waterfall.Sydney Trains is carrying out planned critical upgrades and essential maintenance work. The South Coast Line is vulnerable to bad weather due to its topography, particularly between Waterfall and Thirroul. In a statement, Sydney Trains said "we are proactively working to improve the resilience of the South Coast Line with our ongoing maintenance programs". "Sydney Trains undertakes an extensive maintenance program across the rail network to ensure passenger journeys continue to run smoothly and safely."To minimise disruption to passengers, the work is being carried out during the school holidays when fewer people are travelling on the network."Sydney Trains apologises for the inconvenience and thanks passengers for their patience as we carry out this essential work."The work includes ballast cleaning between Waterfall and Coalcliff, cutting and embankment works at Waterfall and Scarborough, cyclic track maintenance at Helensburgh, drainage and vegetation maintenance, and defect removal and routine inspection for electrical, signal and track assets.

A historic piece of Kiama’s original Cottage Hospital site has hit the market, now transformed into one of the town’s most luxurious properties.Perched on 1,739 square metres in a peaceful cul-de-sac, 1 Elouera Place occupies land that once formed part of the original Kiama Cottage Hospital site, first established in the mid-1800s to support the booming population of quarry workers in the area.The hospital was opened at the top of Barney Street in 1887, before Kiama Hospital was moved to Bonaira Street in 1930.The site at 1 Elouera Place retains historic links through its original dry-stone walls and majestic fig trees.“This isn’t just a magnificent home, it’s a piece of Kiama’s story,” selling agent Helena Crumpton, of Stone Real Estate, said.From its rich past to its contemporary luxury, 1 Elouera Place now blends European elegance with relaxed coastal living, a combination Helena describes as “peaceful, private and perfect for entertaining”.The first Kiama Cottage Hospital was opened at the top of Barney Street, close to what's now 1 Elouera Place, back in 1887. Pictures: The BugleAt the heart of the estate is a five-bedroom residence with soaring cathedral ceilings, herringbone oak floors, and full-length windows that flood the home with natural light.French doors open to a broad terrace overlooking the in-ground saltwater pool, framed by sweeping district views that stretch all the way to the ocean.“The layout is designed to bring the outside in,” Helena said. “Whether you're hosting friends by the cabana or enjoying a moment under the fig trees, it’s all about lifestyle.”Inside, the home features a Carrara marble island kitchen with SMEG appliances, a walk-in butler’s pantry, and seamless flow to open-plan dining and living zones.The beautiful five-bedroom property on the historic Kiama site.There’s also an electric fireplace, ducted air-conditioning, and solar panels to boost comfort and efficiency.The estate includes two additional structures - a gorgeous two-room studio with a kitchenette and bathroom perfect for a wide array of purposes and a ‘tiny home’ like no other complete with kitchen, two modern bathrooms and a large entertaining deck.One of the standout outdoor features is a custom-built cabana with an outdoor kitchen, perfect for long summer lunches or evening gatherings. There’s even a heritage-inspired outdoor shower built into the base of an old fig tree - a nod to the land’s past life.The walkway, between two magnificent fig trees, to a tiny home like no other.But it’s not just the home turning heads, it’s the agency that’s marketing this spectacular property, which has a price guide of $4.9 million to $5.3 million.Stone Real Estate Illawarra, which covers Thirroul to Gerroa, has recently become the No.1 selling agents in the region.The Kiama patch - from Minnamurra to Gerroa, and west to Jamberoo - is led by the Crumptons, Helena and Greg, who have helped propel the office’s strong results.Views from the main bedroom on the second storey.“Our office has had over 400 sales transactions over the last 12 months, and our office as a whole has just leapfrogged other leading brands that have been going well for many years,” Greg said.While Stone is now a growing national brand with more than 70 offices, the Crumptons believe it’s their grassroots reputation that sets them apart.“We’ve been very conscious since we moved to Kiama just over five years ago about building and maintaining a very good reputation and we have been really well received by the local community,” Greg said. “Our whole office is ethically driven, and Stone is very strict with procedures and compliances.”With a premium home, a prized location and a well-performed local agency behind it, 1 Elouera Place represents the rarest of real estate combinations: heritage, luxury, and growing market confidence all in one.For further details or to arrange a private viewing, contact Greg (0418 557 185) or Helena Crumpton (0415 119 019) at Stone Real Estate.

This week's edition of The Bugle brings you the heart-warming tale of a local boy with disability who was cheered to the finish line by his classmates at his school athletics carnival.It was a powerful moment of mateship and inclusion has captured hearts at Minnamurra Public School, where a Year 6 student with multiple disabilities was cheered to the finish line by his fellow classmates in a moving show of support.Click here to view The Bugle digital editionEleven-year-old Viaan only began attending Minnamurra Public School six months ago after moving to Kiama from Melbourne in late 2024.Born with a rare neurological condition known as MPPH syndrome, Viaan also lives with ASD, ADHD and an intellectual disability.There is also a feature on the whales who frolicked off our coastline with dolphins recently and all articles on the winners from the inaugural Kiama Business Awards ceremony last week as well as a bunch of social photos from the night.You can also read plenty of great community stories including an update on Kiama's Housing Strategy, a historical real estate listing in Kiama as well as a column by former Mayor Neil Reilly.And there is more on a local cafe getting a revamp under new ownership, a female travel service, the Gerringong Gazette, the upcoming Folk Festival and all the latest in local sport, including league, rugby, AFL and a teenage surfer who is making a name for herself.Gerringong surfer Lucy Darragh has risen to the top of the Oceania/Australia Qualifying Series rankings following her standout victory at the Nias Pro in Indonesia.Our intrepid photographer Brian Scott has taken lots of pictures of our local sporting community, there is a full list of What's On in our region and our puzzles page filled with brain teasers.And for the greenthumbs, we also have our first column from gardening guru John Gabriele about pruning roses with a video as well.

Welcome to The Bugle’s new gardening column with local expert John Gabriele, helping you get the best out of your patch year-round.We’re kicking things off with a winter must-do: pruning your roses.If you’ve got roses in your garden, now’s the time to give them a good cut back. It might seem daunting but it’s easier than you think when you do it correctly.Winter pruning is one of the most important things you can do to keep your roses healthy and blooming beautifully come spring. The trick is to follow a few simple rules.First, get yourself a good, sharp pair of secateurs. And gloves! Those thorns can do a number on your hands.Step one is removing any dead or diseased wood - that’s always the starting point. Then we move on to shaping the plant. The goal is to open up the centre of the bush so air can flow through, which helps prevent fungal diseases in the warmer months.I like to prune fairly hard. Roses are very forgiving and respond with strong, fresh growth. Always cut back to an outward-facing bud on a 45-degree angle to direct water away from the bud.Once you’ve finished pruning, it’s time to apply lime sulphur.This acts as a fungicide and helps protect against black spot, rust, and other common rose diseases. Make sure you cover the cuts, spray the bush, and treat about a metre around the base to eliminate any spores hiding in the soil or mulch.Give your secateurs a clean and sharpen before packing up - and you’re done!Come spring, you’ll be rewarded with lush new growth and stunning flowers.What to plant nowNow’s the perfect time to get into your veggie patch.I recommend planting oriental cabbage, pak choi, sun choi, Asian broccoli - and two of my favourites: snow peas and sugar-snap peas.You can grow peas from punnets or seed. I like to soak the seeds in seaweed solution for 20 minutes before planting.Space them about 5cm apart and make sure they’ve got something to climb on. A strip of fencing wire is ideal.It’s a great way to get the kids involved in the garden, too.

A new era of local storytelling at The Bugle has arrived, and it’s presented on YouTube. Click on the YouTube link to view our first episode.The Bugle Bulletin, our brand-new weekly news and sport broadcast, launched on Thursday at 5pm on The Bugle News Kiama YouTube channel.Airing every Thursday at the same time, the bulletin will bring you the best of the week’s local community news and sport, with footage to match the stories.Our first episode leads with one of the most heartwarming moments you’ll see all year: the powerful vision of an 11-year-old Minnamurra Public School student, who has multiple disabilities, being cheered across the finish line in a 200m race by his classmates.It’s a raw and beautiful act of mateship, captured on video.Also in this week’s launch episode is stunning drone vision of whales cruising just off the Kiama coastline, plus a fast-paced local sport wrap to keep you in the know.The Bugle Bulletin is proudly produced by locals, for locals. And we’re just getting started.Subscribe now to The Bugle News Kiama on YouTube and don’t miss a moment.

Kiama Council’s much-debated Housing Strategy will be presented at Tuesday night’s meeting with a recommendation to be adopted so that the local government area has a clear direction for the future.Council’s director of strategies and communities Ed Paterson will urge Councillors to give the Strategy the green light after a lengthy process which started in March last year.The Councillors will likely debate whether the Strategy is now ready to be implemented before a vote will be held.The second version of the Strategy was placed on public exhibition between February and April and received 280 submissions from the public.In his report to Council, Paterson said the feedback had been considered but there are “only minor changes proposed to the exhibited Draft v2 in the final Strategy”.The changes include:• Update the population projection sections to refer to the housing targets and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan as these are the only statutory requirements.• Greenfield Opportunities have been restructured to provide one consolidated table of greenfield sites and updated information for each site.• Minor mapping changes – update the boundary for Riversdale Road Precinct, Dido Street Precinct, Kiama West (Springside Hill) and 86 Campbell Street Gerringong.• Updated wording of the “Non-negotiable principles for greenfield development”.Paterson endorsed the Housing Strategy as one that identifies the housing needs of the Kiama LGA, along with four key objectives for housing and growth in Kiama:1. Sufficient and well located housing supply2. Diversity of housing options3. Infrastructure is provided to support population growth and vice versa4. Our centres and villages thrive.“The Strategy also includes a vision, information about the Kiama LGA and our community, a housing supply and demand analysis, land use opportunities and constraints, as well as place-based opportunities and actions,” he wrote.“In terms of supply, the Strategy proposes a mix of both infill and greenfield development.“The majority of infill development is expected to occur in and around the Kiama and Gerringong Town Centres, with some also occurring throughout surrounding suburbs.”The Kiama Urban Expansion Area - which includes the Bombo Quarry, Riversdale Road and Dido Street precincts, along with Kiama West (Springside Hill) - has “the potential to deliver approximately 4200 residential lots”.Paterson wrote the area could also be the home to new educational facilities and regionally significant recreational spaces.“The area’s proximity to the Princes Highway and Bombo Train Station presents unique opportunities to ensure future development is integrated with these regional transport spines.”He also listed a raft of “non-negotiables”, which included appropriate road, pedestrian and public transport networks and connections, State Government infrastructure, a Sydney Water system with capacity to provide sewer and water services and that any financial liability to Council is minimised.Heritage places and areas of high environmental significance must be identified and preserved while the provision of social and affordable housing must also be adequately considered.“The Local Housing Strategy will be an important strategic planning document that will guide future development in the Kiama LGA,” he concluded.Tuesday’s meeting will also revisit the issue of Council’s controversial decision to not allocate funding for the New Year’s Eve fireworks display, which could be cancelled unless sufficient sponsorship is found.Council has appealed to the business community to help bail out the budget for the iconic event.Councillor Yasmin Tatrai will ask whether Council can confirm whether funds allocated to Tourism Kiama in 2017 are available to save this year’s fireworks display.CEO Jane Stroud has indicated that the issue will be resolved at the August meeting following an investigation into the financial resources available.Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald will also update Council about a recent review into Section 7.11 and 7.12 developer contributions after Councillor Erica Warren called for an urgent engagement of specialist staff in May to look into whether correct governance procedures were being followed.The review found: “It is be noted that the review determined that there was no wrongdoing by staff and no incorrect information given to Councillors.”

To celebrate NAIDOC week this year, Kiama Council is holding an exhibition with local Wodi Wodi women Aunty Jodie and Lila Stewart from the Dharawal nation at the Old Fire Station in Kiama from Friday 11 July to Wednesday 16 July.Whilst exhibiting their artworks and traditional pieces, this is also the chance for the community of the Kiama region to engage and connect with the longest living culture during NAIDOC week.“We’re excited about showcasing and selling our stuff, but also delivering the workshops for the community,” Aunty Jodie said.“There are four workshops - two on Saturday and two on Sunday.“There is going to be a sign out the front (for the workshops), if you wanted to do any of the workshops, put your name down so we can get a number of how many people.”Aunty Jodie sees the connection from the greater community with Indigenous culture is through engagement.“Join Aboriginal people and sit with them and yarn,” Aunty Jodie said.“Talking about yarns and culture and history, gets everyone on the same page.“Art is the most formal thing of all because people look at colours and that’s what draws them in.”When talking about where they gain their inspiration from, Aunty Jodie reflects on her upbringing.“When you are growing up by the sea, living between the mountains, I have lots of different stories,” Aunty Jodie said.“Every Aboriginal person has their own tribes and languages; I got all my information (which) I collated from the Dharawal and Yuin nations.”For Aunty Lila, paintbrushes are not her forte, with her talent and storytelling transmitted through the craft side of Aboriginal culture.“I do weaving and Aunty Phyllis Stewart showed me how to start it all off,” Aunty Lila said.“I watched her a little bit and then I just sat one day, and I thought, I am going to start doing some weaving and I started making earrings.“I find it very therapeutic.”Speaking on the strengths of Aboriginal culture, both Aunty Jodie and Aunty Lila agree that teaching the younger generation and kinship are significant pillars within culture.“They need the knowledge, and they need to know about their identity,” Aunty Jodie said.“I love teaching the younger generations about culture, about knowledge, about dreamtime stories, about living from the past to where we are now.“How you can transform a creative story onto a canvas, that is how I do a lot of the story telling.”This exhibition and workshops at The Old Fire Station is part of Kiama Council’s celebration of NAIDOC week, “recognising and honouring the rich traditions, creativity and voices.” Later this month on 26 July, the Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards are being hosted by Shellharbour City Council at the Shellharbour Civic Centre.The awards are collaboratively organised by Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, and Shoalhaven Councils “recognising the talents, achievements and outstanding contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make to improve the lives of people in their communities and beyond.”The theme for NAIDOC week this year is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy and marks 50 years of a legacy celebrating NAIDOC week.For more information head to www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Events/Exhibitions-at-The-Old-Fire-Station/NAIDOC-Week-art-exhibition

Jamberoo Rural Fire Service Captain Hannah McInerney has been recognised as one of only four NSW RFS finalists in the 2025 Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards.The Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards (RESCA) recognise outstanding community service performed by both volunteer and paid members of NSW emergency service agencies.They celebrate those who demonstrate Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self" through their dedication beyond normal duties.McInerney, who also serves as District Instructor and Assessor across the Illawarra Sutherland team, was selected from thousands of potential recipients across the NSW Rural Fire Service.Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib announced the 28 RESCA finalists across seven emergency service categories on Wednesday 25 June at NSW Parliament House.McInerney joins three other RFS finalists, Deputy Group Captain Phil Hurst AFSM from Hawkesbury, Firefighter Kingsley Hunt from Murrumbateman, and Deputy Group Officer Sarah Mika from Uralla.Other finalists in the Illawarra and South Coast region are Fire and Rescue NSW senior firefighter Peter Bugden in Nowra and Marine Rescue NSW Zone Duty Operations Manager Stuart Massey in Ulladulla.However, McInerney says the recognition belongs to her entire team, not just her as an individual.“If I could change one thing, it would be to change the nomination from me to the brigade,” she said.“Emergency services isn't a one-person game…It's all the people behind that do the work and do as much, in some cases do as much, but don't get recognition”.The day of the Parliament House announcement demonstrated her commitment to service as she attended as many calls as she could.Starting at 3am, McInerney attended four emergency calls before travelling to Sydney for the awards ceremony, then returned to respond to another three or four calls that afternoon.“I didn't want to leave,” she said. “I would have much preferred - if I had the opportunity, I would have said, I can't make it. I'm just going to help the guys out locally”.Under McInnerney’s leadership, the Jamberoo RFS has transformed into what she describes as a “significantly diverse brigade that's on the map for gender equality across the services”. The brigade now spans from ages 16 to 85, including “students, lawyers, doctors, priests, you name it”.Despite being selected as a RFS finalist from across the state, McInerney maintains her humility.“If you asked me, am I special, I'd say no. I'm no different to any other person that is in uniform or outside of uniform,” she said.“I wouldn't ask someone to do something that I would never do…I try and blend in as much as I can and be one of them, be one of the team”.She hopes her nomination helps to highlight diversity in emergency services recognition as well as put the Jamberoo brigade on the map.“It's shone the light on the brigade and the brigade activities and achievements…it's highlighted the diversity and inclusion, and it promotes the emergency services,” McInerney said.The winners of the 2025 Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards will be announced at an awards dinner on 2 August.

Kiama Community Radio is celebrating a major milestone, having reached 500 locally produced podcast episodes since launching in mid-2020.Founded as a pandemic project by three passionate locals, the community-driven station has grown into a trusted voice for the Kiama region, capturing the stories, music and conversations that shape local life.“This has been an extraordinary journey,” KCR founding member Madeleine Scarfe said.“I’ve been putting together the podcasts because it’s pivotal to KCR’s mission to be the voice of our community, capturing a snapshot of life in this place and time for future generations.”The 500-episode achievement reflects hundreds of interviews with artists, community leaders and changemakers, along with countless hours of behind-the-scenes work from its small team of volunteers.The idea for KCR emerged in March 2020 as COVID-19 lockdowns began. Scarfe was one of three founders, alongside Karen Renkema-Lang and Graeme Gherashe.“The original idea came from Cathy Law (then owner of The Bugle), and the three of us took it up,” Scarfe said.“We started out meeting on Zoom and recording on our phones. We published a notice in The Bugle and soon gathered a skilled and willing group of contributors.”Early volunteers included Diana McLaren, who set up the podcasting service and designed the website and graphics, along with Gabi Cabral, who brought radio experience, and Helen Lear.“Everyone simply contributed what they could. Karen had governance expertise, Graeme was a project manager, and together we managed to establish KCR as an incorporated association and launched podcasting in July 2020,” Scarfe said.KCR has become a hub for local voices and special-interest groups, as well as playing an important role in preserving Kiama’s oral history.“We record historical society meetings relevant to Kiama because that’s a record of our oral history, and many of the presenters won’t be around forever,” Scarfe said.“We’re always keen to welcome new volunteers who want to be part of a friendly, creative community radio team.”KCR chair Glenn Shepherd, host of Around the Arenas, said the 500-podcast mark was a tribute to community pride and persistence.“This achievement proves how much our community values having a local voice,” he said.“From the playing fields to the Council Chambers, we’ve created a platform that genuinely reflects life in Kiama and surrounds. I’m proud to be part of something so real and so local.”

For most kids, they would love that new shiny bike in the shop window, but for Kiama local Caleb Goodwin, it was his new trike which was donated by the Australian Lions Children’s Mobility Foundation (ALCMF) recently that had him smiling.Born with Global Development Delay, Caleb’s mother Lauren Goodwin was thrilled with the opportunities that the trike has provided for her son.“The exercise is going to be great for him, but just the joy it brings him. I’ve never seen him so happy. He gets very excited and claps and yeah, it just warms my heart,” she said.“It is very hard to find inclusive things for him, especially at his age. Now he can ride his bike with his siblings and have that inclusivity.”Due to funding constraints within the National Disability Insurance Scheme, bikes and trikes are not included. However, there are community foundations like the ALCMF that support those with a disability like Caleb.“We had no idea it (ALCMF) existed,” Lauren said.“They had a couple of bikes at the therapy, and they said we can put in an application for funding.“They (therapists) sent all the paperwork off to the foundation.”Caleb requires intensive therapy once a week, travelling to the NAPA Centre in North Sydney, as well as intermittent three-week intensive therapy.“Caleb has Global Development Delays, so he has developmental delays with everything he does,” Lauren said.“He uses a device and some sign language, which he’s not very good at. So, it is basically a guessing game.“He’s not very steady on his feet. He didn’t start walking until he was about three and half. He is building up muscles in his legs and his arms and learning how to navigate stairs and uneven surfaces.”There are many barriers the Goodwin family and Caleb face, but they are not letting that break their stride.“We have to advocate for everything,” Lauren said.“The hardest one is dealing with the NDIS, (it’s) not easy to deal with. Especially with all these changes at the moment.“We didn’t get to choose where Caleb went to school, the school board chooses for you. That was a big stress last year because we didn’t know where he was going to go.“Just out in public, the amount of people that look at you and look at him funny because he has got disabilities.”Lauren shared that although life has dealt Caleb difficult circumstances, like everyone, he is unique and special.“There is not just one thing that makes him special, (it’s) everything and anything,” she said.“Caleb is such a joy. He can’t do things other children can do, but he lives in his own little world and he drags you into it.“He loves music and he will come and drag you into his little music bubble and make you dance and sing with him and spin him around.“He knows what he wants.”Part of the advocacy work for the ALCMF is the collection of donated stamps, where recently a rare Penny Black stamp was donated in Kiama.It is the ongoing goal for the ALCMF to provide a walker for every child in Australia, who needs one."I just cannot thank them (ALCMF) enough. Unless you have got a child or somebody that has a disability that needs these kinds of things, you don't think about it. And it is just a small thing," Lauren said.The Lions that were involved with the donation to Caleb were Kiama, Gerringong, Shoalhaven Heads, Bomaderry/Nowra, Jervis Bay, Oak Flats, and Minnamurra clubs.For more information on ALCMF, head to www.alcmf.org.au