If you happened to see what you thought was a bus crash on the weekend, it was not what it appeared.More than 100 emergency personnel had their skills tested at a simulated bus and car crash exercise in the Illawarra on Saturday.Planning started last November for the BUSted simulation exercise – led by NSW Police – aimed at enhancing multi-agency responses and preparedness to a major incident.Emergency personnel go through their paces at the training exercise. Photo: NSW Police ForceThe exercise involved a simulated bus and car crash on Mount Ousley Road, where a driver was trapped in a vehicle after colliding with a bus which was carrying 26 passengers.About 130 emergency services personnel – including NSW Police attached to the Lake Illawarra, Wollongong, South Coast Police Districts, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit and Crash Investigation Unit – were joined by Fire and Rescue NSW, State Emergency Service, Rural Fire Service and NSW Ambulance at the Fire and Rescue NSW training centre at Shellharbour Regional Airport, in Albion Park for the training exercise.A range of government and non-government agencies were also involved, including NSW Health, Homes NSW, Volunteer Rescue Association, Transport Management Centre, Red Cross, Wollongong City Council, Rapid Relief Team, Office of Transport Safety Investigations, Premier Buses.Participants were provided with a range of challenges including managing road closures on the main arterial road, extricating trapped patients who were seriously injured, and assisting patients from a non-English speaking background.A training exercise is run each year as part of the Illawarra Local Emergency Management Exercise Schedule to test the emergency response to a major emergencies.Southern Region Commander and Regional Emergency Operations Controller (REOCON) for the Illawarra South Coast, Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar, said the exercise was an opportunity to test the multi-agency response and build confidence and trust between emergency services and welfare agencies.“This scenario was chosen as historically we have had a large number of incidents on Mount Ousley Road requiring a multi-agency response…. once you cut off that main arterial road, it becomes very problematic, not only for people approaching that location but the immediate drivers that are locked in that footprint,” Assistant Commissioner Cassar said.“Not only do we need to respond to the actual site, we have to look at how we can move people are in the gridlock.. so, it’s important that we establish a command and control response at the first instance and then we start to activate that response to clear those roads and get people to safe environments.“The exercise was developed to mirror a real-life scenario and challenge emergency services to troubleshoot while under immense pressure. We had role players as patients, bystanders who stepped in to assist, media arriving on scene, as well as family members wanting to get access to their loved ones. "These are all aspects emergency service personnel are faced with, in addition to the initial response to the patients in danger.“The exercise was a success and I think all agencies should be proud of their own individual response and more importantly of the emergency management response."NSW Police Regional Emergency Management Officer Jenna Conran organised the exercise as part of their mission to be at the ready when large transport incidents occur in NSW."When something major like a bus crash, plane crash a larger car crash any incident of that nature, it’s important emergency services have the chance to exercise their response and test their inter-agency relationships to make sure we are providing the best service for our community,” she said.“Exercises like this allow us to test any new policies that have been implemented to circumvent any issues that emergency services might find such as convergence or communication. "It provides us with a playground to work out those processes, cut out the teething problems and allows us to activate efficiently and effectively on site to an event like this.”

With power costs on the rise, local residents are being encouraged to access affordable solar and battery solutions, helping cut bills and boost energy resilience.Kiama is one of four local councils who have teamed up for the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (ISJO) Community Renewables Program.The program aims to make it easier for residents and businesses across the region to have access to cleaner, cheaper energy options.In partnership with delivery provider Shine Hub, the program provides an end-to-end solution to support the community's shift to solar power, battery storage, and participation in a Virtual Power Plant (VPP).ISJO net zero manager Patrick Whitford said the program's goals were to reduce energy bills, cut carbon emissions, and empower households and businesses to take control of their energy future.“The Community Renewables Program is a region-wide opportunity for our residents to access affordable, sustainable energy options,” said Whitford.“This initiative removes key barriers to renewable energy, while building local economic resilience and reducing emissions across all four council areas.”The program was developed in direct response to community demand for accessible and practical ways to contribute to climate action. It offers information sessions, tailored guidance, and access to high-quality solar and battery systems at exclusive rates.A key feature is the opportunity to participate in a regional VPP, allowing communities to share energy and enhance the local grid’s stability.Key goals of the program include:• Reducing upfront costs of solar and battery storage technologies.• Expanding access to renewable energy for households and businesses, including renters and those without suitable rooftops.• Supporting job creation through partnerships with local installers and service providers.• Educating the community on energy efficiency and the benefits of distributed energy systems.“Kiama Municipal Council is pleased to see the launch of the Community Renewables Program – reducing emissions is something our community has told us repeatedly they’re interested in and this regional solution helps us get closer to our net zero goals," Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said.Residents and businesses can express interest and access further information at: www.shinehub.com.au/isjo.

Don't be concerned if you see emergency services descending on Shellharbour Airport on Saturday.NSW Police have advised local residents that a training exercise will be conducted on Saturday in and around Shellharbour Airport.The exercise will be conducted between 8am and 5pm, and residents are advised there may be an increase in emergency services vehicle movements in the vicinity.There will also be a drone in operation, all part of essential emergency services training.Strict safety protocols will be adhered to at all times.NSW Police have assured the community there will be no risk to the public.

Roadworks will continue to cause disruptions in Kiama to make the area safer in the long term.Sydney Trains has been replacing the collision protection beams on Terralong Street and extra work on the underbridge is being carried out until Friday 27 June on weekdays only. The work has included piling and plant movement within the rail corridor and along Terralong Street. Meanwhile, motorists will soon experience safer journeys on the Princes Highway at Kiama Bends with the installation and upgrade of safety and motorcycle barriers.Work will be carried out at night for the next month on Sunday to Thursday from 8pm-4am, weather permitting.Changed traffic conditions including single lane closures, traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will be in place for the safety of workers and motorists.Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.A Transport for NSW spokesperson said due to a poor crash history, three kilometres of barriers will be upgraded, and additional ground level barriers installed along the 80 km/h section of Kiama Bends.“We are making these changes to improve safety to this stretch of road that has seen 26 crashes, seven involving motorcycles, in the five years to June 2022,” the spokesperson said.“As part of this work we are adding ground level safety barriers specifically to reduce the impact and severity for motorcyclists when impacting a standard guardrail barrier.“Known as a motorcycle underrun, the ground level safety barriers are most commonly installed on tight curves, and roads that carry significant numbers of motorcyclists.”The spokesperson said research by Transport found the inclusion of motorcycle underrun as an addition to roadside barriers would result in a 20 per cent reduction in the severity of a single vehicle off-carriageway motorcycle crash.This work is being delivered as part of the Australian and NSW Governments’ Road Safety Program which aims to improve road safety by minimising the occurrence of severe injuries and fatalities, with a focus on vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists.

Andrew Wilson never set out to be Kiama Golf Club’s official historian but, after more than 50 years of membership at the club, it was a gimme. On Saturday Andrew will host a talk for the Kiama Historical Society, sharing 122 years of the golf club’s history from its early years at Chapman Point, to a brief period at what is now Kiama High School, to the past 90 years at Minnamurra. Andrew grew up in the area and became a Kiama Golf Club member in 1971. Four decades later, when a member of the board discovered Andrew’s passion for playing golf with hundred-year-old hickory clubs, he was asked to delve into the club’s dusty archives. “Hickory clubs are the golfing equivalent of driving around in a Model T Ford,” laughs Andrew. “Presumably as a consequence, I was asked to take on the role of Kiama Golf Club historian.” The rest, as they say, is history. Andrew found himself going down the proverbial rabbit hole, and his sleuthing not only uncovered a treasure trove of fun facts but unearthed his passion for research. Nell Caird the 1909 NSW Ladies Amateur Champion. Photo: Kiama Golf ClubWhen he first began trawling through old newspapers and documents, Andrew made an interesting discovery; Kiama Golf Club had celebrated its centenary in 2005 but the club had in fact opened in 1903 not 1905 as first thought. “A story published in 1903 in the Shoalhaven Telegraph says: ‘Kiama can now claim a golf club … and with a goodly number of members there is every prospect of (the club) having a very successful career’,” explains Andrew. He has since spent almost 15 years documenting the club’s ‘very successful career’ after being given a box of documents, photos and old newspapers as the newly-minted club historian. “It was all hard copy,” says Andrew. “I didn’t really know what to do but just started reviewing, scanning and recording the documents. I also used Trove, an excellent research tool, and interviewed long-time club members like Margaret Boyd to fill in the gaps. The Boyds continue to have strong links to the club, 90 years after Cyril Boyd made the land available for the Minnamurra course in 1935. “Margaret won 23 club championships over six decades,” says Andrew. “She could really hit a ball. Her sister-in-law Val Boyd probably stopped Margaret from winning more. Val won 10 out of 12 championships between 1961 and 1972. “Margaret and Val were the respective wives of Alan and Sam, Cyril’s sons. Sadly Alan died suddenly in 1972 while president of the golf club, but the Boyd family continues to play a significant role in the club’s history.” Margaret’s daughter Noni and granddaughter Amy are upholding the Boyd tradition of strong female golfers at Kiama. Andrew’s research also shows the pivotal role a large number of women historically played in the club’s success. Nell Caird plays a shot while Nancy Parbury, the eventual runner-up, looks on in 1909. Photo: Kiama Golf Club“You go right back to the very, very early days and there are quite a lot of women who were active golfers at the club,” says Andrew. Kiama golfer Nell Caird was the runner-up in the Inaugural NSW Ladies Country Championship in 1906 and crowned the NSW Ladies Amateur Champion 1909. Press reports called the club ‘one of the most progressive’ in NSW. In 1935 there were 35 associate members (women were only allowed to be associates at the time, not full members) and only 30 male members. “That was the same year that the new course at Minnamurra was unveiled with great fanfare,” says Andrew. The president of the suburban country golf association did the honours and was quoted in the Kiama Reporter and Illawarra Journal as saying that ‘golf is primarily a man’s game’ but the ladies ‘excelled themselves in serving a truly delightful meal on the verandah’. “I don't know whether he was aware of the fact that the women actually outnumbered the men at the golf club,” laughed Andrew. “But, by all accounts, he got out of Kiama with his skin still intact.” By the 1980 and ‘90s golf was booming, Greg Norman was at the peak of his power, and Kiama’s playing membership grew to over 1000. The battle for places on the competition timesheet was fierce, with ladies and men both playing midweek. This sparked the ‘Great Wednesday Competition Controversy’ with female golfers taking their concerns to the anti-discrimination board. “Increasing pressure on tee times for the Wednesday comp led to a proposal to move the ladies’ comp to Thursdays,” explains Andrew. “This was not well received by the ladies but thankfully the matter was resolved.” If you’d like to find out how, or you just want to know more about Kiama’s rich golfing history join Andrew’s talk – The History of Golf in Kiama – at the Kiama Library Auditorium on June 21 from 2pm. Tickets include afternoon tea and are $3 for members and $5 for non-members.

The Gerringong Golf Club, joined by Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips, officially opened its new fuel storage tanks and cart wash bay on Wednesday morning.Funded in part by a $17,500 grant from the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program, the project marks the first stage of the club’s long-term clubhouse development plans.The new facilities will provide safer and more environmentally friendly ways to maintain the club’s golf carts, helping to improve compliance with fuel storage safety standards and reduce water use through recycling.“It really is a delight to be able to fund projects that not only benefit our environment, but assist organisations that bring so much joy to people in our community,” Phillips said.“These upgrades will improve safety for members, visitors and golf club staff and the water recycling facility will help keep the course looking fantastic as well.”As one of the few golf courses in Australia where you can see the ocean from every hole, Gerringong Golf Club welcomes around 18,000 visitors each year. The upgraded infrastructure helps ensure the club continues to offer high-quality facilities for locals and tourists alike.“This stunning golf course, in the most sublime location overlooking the ocean, is a huge attraction for visiting golfers who support our local economy and jobs year ‘round,” Phillips added.Gerringong Golf Club was one of 17 community organisations in Gilmore to share in $134,500 worth of funding through Round 8 of the Stronger Communities Program.

Kiama local business, Making Faces Makeup Studio has won the 2025 Wedding Industry Award for Bridal Hair and Makeup in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands.The Wedding Industry Awards, recognise excellence over 30 regions of Australia and are considered the pinnacle of recognition in the Australian wedding industry.Owner of Making Faces Makeup Studio, Meryll Faulkner, and her team of six, bring world-class expertise to South Coast clients. Meryll has trained under Oscar-nominated makeup artist Tina Earnshaw in Los Angeles, in Paris with Atelier Maquillage, and with renowned fashion artist Victor Noble in New York.“It’s good, not just for me, it's for all our team. Which is really lovely,” said Meryll.“I think it's great for the industry to know that you're experienced. You know what you're doing. You're pretty professional”.After establishing Making Faces Makeup Studio in Sydney, Meryll made the decision to relocate her business to Kiama. The move was a significant shift for someone who spent years building a reputation in Sydney’s beauty industry.“I was just married to the business… life is about balance,” said Meryll.“I think you can have a business run you, instead of you running it. So, I think that coming to Kiama has been a good thing”.As a multi-year winner of the Australian Bridal Awards for Excellence and nominee for Australian Makeup Artist Awards, Meryll has trained leading makeup artists and worked across television, film, and high-profile events including a Channel Nine Today Show wedding segment.What distinguishes Meryll’s bridal work is her combination of skill, experience and personal approach to each client's unique style and needs.“Brides have to connect with you. I think that's really, really important, and it's such a special day,” she said.Beyond weddings, Meryll actively supports the Illawarra’s growing film industry, working as a lead makeup artist for the Channel 10 TV series ‘Mass to You at Home’, and local productions including ‘I’ve Got You’ and ‘Lesley’.As a NSW and ACT distributor for Atelier Maquillage professional makeup, her company supplies artists across television, theatre, and film.“It's really not about me, it's about the client and it's about being reliable and professional when things happen...experience just tells you how to handle a challenge,” Meryll said.Meryll’s achievements demonstrate what’s possible for creative professionals based outside major cities. She successfully navigates servicing local and Sydney clients whilst gaining herself national recognition for her work.As Making Faces Makeup Studio grows its local presence, Meryll remains committed to supporting local creative industries and emerging talent.The Wedding Industry Award recognises not just individual achievement, but the quality of talent in the area. For Illawarra brides, having access to award winning artists in the local area reinforces the region's growing reputation for wedding excellence.Making Faces Makeup Studio is located in Kiama and services the South Coast, Highlands, and Sydney regions.More information can be found on their website makingfacesmakeup.com.au

Shoalhaven Mayor Patricia White has returned serve at the United Services Union after its claim that as many as 110 Council staff members would be losing their jobs. USU issued a statement last Friday claiming that Council would be sacking one in five of its staff under a plan the Mayor had “rammed through Council” three days earlier.The union claimed Cr White had assured staff at a meeting in December their jobs were safe.Cr White has responded by saying “I cannot believe that the Unions would put a media release OUT on a Friday afternoon stating that Shoalhaven Council was cutting jobs and alarming employees and their families”. “This is old news, as in late 2024 following the elections they ran the same stories. Obviously, it is a slow news day.“I can confirm that Council continues to work on the financial sustainability project that we have implemented since the 2024 elections. "Council has a plan that has been shared with staff, residents and community in an open and transparent way and continues to work with Councillors, staff and the independent Finance Committee on implementation.”Cr White said ratepayers should look behind the scenes at the agenda of some Councillors, calling out Jemma Tribe, who she said was last year’ claiming Council was reducing staff around the same numbers up to 500.“This has not happened. In my opinion Cr Tribe has a vested interest in wanting to become mayor,” she said.“Many people have commented to me that Cr Tribe, following her mayoral loss at the 2024 election, said ‘It was my god-given right to be the Mayor and I won’t stop’. “She has attacked me on travel allowances, trying to stop myself and Councillors from representing ratepayers (as Council business) and much serious matters. "I believe she will not stop with this agenda over the next three years.”Last Tuesday night, Council discussed the Office of Local Government financial results of 128 councils in NSW based on parameters like population and land size. Cr White said Shoalhaven Council had agreed to a target to be no more than 20% above the average of our peer group by June 2027.Tribe and fellow Councillors Matthew Norris, Ben Krikstolaitis, Gillian Boyd and Natalee Johnston opposed the plan.“We just must maintain our focus on justifying how ratepayers' money is being spent with every decision Council makes and we will achieve for our residents and communities,” Cr White added.She issued an open invitation to USU industrial officer (Southern Branch) Stuart Geddes to discuss Council’s plans to reduce its workforce and he has accepted the offer to meet.“I look forward to meeting with Mayor White to find out on behalf of our members how many of their jobs she plans to cut,” he said. “The Mayor has been talking about percentages thus far, she says the council is 31% overstaffed and she wants to bring that down to 22%, but people aren’t percentages, they’re human beings and they deserve to know if they’re being shown the door.“We need to know how many jobs the Mayor wishes to cut and from what departments, will they be the people who conduct rhyme time at the libraries, will they be the road workers who fix potholes in the district or will they be the people who mark the fields for Saturday sport? “We’re still dealing with the fallout from the Mayor’s decision in February to privatise local child-care services, leaving local children and parents facing lesser services for higher costs and six council staff at Centrelink.”

Kiama Council is gathering ideas and viewpoints to help develop a Kiama Visitor Economy Strategy for local tourism and events that will balance economic growth with community benefit.Council has also appointed DTM Tourism to lead the development of the Strategy.With over 30 years of expertise in destination management, tourism strategy, and visitor experience development, DTM Tourism brings a wealth of experience in creating practical and achievable tourism strategies for regional destinations.Council manager of tourism & events Sally Bursell said an important element of any new strategy would be balancing economic growth with community benefit.“Our local visitor economy continues to play a vital role in our region’s economy, with up to 1.2 million visitors a year spending a record $392 million.”"Tourism is the backbone of our economy, but we must manage it carefully to protect what makes our region special.”“This strategy will help us balance visitor numbers, easing seasonal peaks and and encouraging longer, more meaningful stays."The Strategy will focus on:Enhancing Kiama's reputation as a boutique event and visitor destination;Supporting local businesses and operators to build capacity and skills;Strengthening connections to state-level initiatives, including Destination NSW’s Visitor Economy Strategy and NSW Vibrancy Reforms;Identifying opportunities for infrastructure investment, transport connectivity and visitor accommodation growth;Supporting Kiama’s night-time economy through strategic placemaking and collaborative visitor experiences.“Now the NSW Government is pushing its vibrancy reforms and other new initiatives, and we need a local roadmap that responds to this new direction we’re heading in," Destination Kiama chair Matt Brown said.Kiama Council is providing a variety of ways for people to contribute to the Kiama Visitor Economy Strategy, including an online survey and ideas board, as well as face-to-face discussions at our community pop-ups.Have your say at the Kiama Council Visitor Economy Strategy website.

Shoalhaven-based business SMETEC Services has been awarded two grants from the Federal Government.The funding boost of just under $300,000 was announced on Monday by Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips. As part of the first round of the Defence Industry Development Grants program, the Woollamia business will receive $81,106 under the Sovereign Industrial Priorities funding stream to acquire and commission advanced coating facilities for fabricated metal components used in armoured combat vehicles.The specialised material processing, engineering and fabrication service will also receive $218,373 through the Export Funding stream to purchase, install and commission a fibre laser cutter.This new laser cutter will be used for the manufacturing of large steel sheeting to support the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle, and the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise.Phillips said the grants would support the local veteran-owned manufacturing business operated by Tim and Louise Smeets.“It’s crucial that we support smart, innovative local businesses like SMETEC that work alongside Australian and international defence companies, including Global Defence Services and Sikorsky Australia also located here in Nowra,” she said.“These companies provide hundreds of local jobs and training opportunities, boost our local economy and play a crucial role in supporting the Australian Defence Force.“The local defence industry continues to grow and evolve. And is not just important to Nowra, it’s important to the nation.”SMETEC director Louise Smeets said the grants would significantly enhance the company’s ability to manufacture and finish high-quality components for key defence programs.“This investment improves our productivity, precision, and capacity to meet defence’s stringent quality and security standards,” she said.“As a veteran-owned SME based in regional NSW, we specialise in precision fabrication and finishing for defence projects.“We employ and upskill local tradespeople and engineers, creating sustainable, skilled jobs and helping to build Australia’s sovereign industrial base.“We’re proud to continue serving Australia through industry, contributing to national security and capability.“These grants help us grow, innovate, and support the people and platforms that protect our country.”

By Jacqueline ForstThe new Aged Care Act was set to take effect next month but the Federal Government has wisely decided to delay implementation until 1 November as providers are not ready.We have seen little in the mainstream media about the changes coming our way. For decades, we've expected significant government support in our later years and that’s about to change.The Aged Care Royal Commission’s 2021 report exposed harrowing conditions and called for sweeping reforms.Improvements have been made, but they have come at a cost. Rising expenses are pushing the sector’s financial sustainability to the brink.For Kiama residents, given our demographics, access to aged care remains a pressing concern.Although the Act has been passed, key regulations are still being drafted and may not be released until just before implementation, which creates uncertainty for providers and residents.Two significant changes will impact older residents in Kiama: a substantial increase in user fees (with existing arrangements “grandfathered”) and the removal of planning controls and bed licenses.This shift allows providers to open or close facilities at will, leaving access to care in the hands of market forces, not community need.Wealthier areas will likely attract investment, while lower-income regions are left behind. The Kiama region is attractive to aged care investors, particularly as lifetime accommodation fee caps are lifted for those without a pension.Some of the new charges being asked are staggering.Profits lie in luxury retirement apartments, not in aged care beds. Yet, as our population ages, the demand for beds will rise.The government claims that fewer will be needed, assuming most prefer to age at home. But residential care is often a necessity, not a choice.Many people can’t afford a luxury aged care apartment; more vulnerable people with high needs will be pushed to remain at home, relying on increasingly expensive in-home care.Both major parties support these reforms, but many Baby Boomers won’t be able to afford the needed support.The new “Support at Home” program replaces existing Home Care Packages.It promises more funding tiers (from 4 to 8) but less flexibility and higher costs.As a carer of an elderly person, I know it’s a privilege but it comes with sacrifices.For at-home care to be effective, more families will need to bear the load. The new model must not deepen intergenerational inequity.In Kiama, our updated Housing Strategy must expand lower-income housing options for the elderly and support innovative intergenerational living arrangements.The answer is not simply down-sizing as pensioners on fixed incomes cannot afford high strata fees in luxury Kiama apartments on top of increased co-payment fees for assistance with showering or dressing.We cannot become a town of holiday homes and luxury retirement apartments while the elderly who built Kiama, the workers, and the families we rely on are priced out.Jacqueline Forst brings extensive experience as a consumer and carer advocate with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and Carers NSW. With postgraduate qualifications in Commerce and Social Work and a background in human services design, she is deeply committed to social equity and community-led innovation.

A lot has changed in teaching since Kiama resident Belinda Mackinnon first started more than 40 years ago but she has adapted to the changes to become a role model for students and fellow educators.Belinda was rewarded with a Public Service Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours List when they were announced on Monday.After recently being informed that she was receiving the honour, Belinda had to keep it a secret, not even telling her husband Rod until it was officially announced on Monday morning.“No one knew until it was announced. I had to keep it strictly confidential so I didn’t even tell my husband,” she told The Bugle.“I showed him on my phone and that set everything in motion. First of all he said ‘what is it’, just bleary-eyed, waking up. Then it was ‘oh my goodness’. He was very proud of me.”Belinda was recognised for “outstanding public service to TAFE NSW in the delivery of education and organisational leadership”.The executive director of Business Enablement at TAFE NSW, she started as a fill-in when a staff member was off sick after spending the first five years of her career as a primary school teacher.One of her main responsibilities has been to teach literary and numeracy skills to guide vulnerable learners with complex needs.“My background is language, literacy and numeracy so certainly for the first 20 or so years, I’ve been dealing with people with low literacy and numeracy skills and being able to provide them the opportunities to learn, and to achieve the things they want to achieve,” she explained.“Some of the people that I remember didn’t know how to read a bus timetable so they’d wait at the bus stop until one came along.“People are very good at being able to disguise it.“I’d work with them with the skills they already have because people have some amazing ways of coping and surviving.“Being able to make a difference is really critical to me."For people of all ages - from very young students who have found school hard and different, and they didn’t fit in, to older adults who might have left the workforce who want to contribute more to their local community.“You get the whole gamut of different people.”Belinda often runs into former students in the community and it fills her heart with pride when she hears how they have improved their lives, emphasising that it was not unique to her and that a lot of TAFE teachers have similar tales to tell.To illustrate examples of mathematics in educating students, Belinda would use a pool table to explain geometry or a darts board to help people learn addition and subtraction.In the second half of her career at TAFE NSW, she played a vital role in bringing the Illawarra and Riverina institutes together as a cohesive entity after the organisation’s structure was changed.Over the past few years, Belinda has led the Education Technology Ecosystem implemented by TAFE.Although she is not an IT whiz herself, she has driven technological, system, and process improvements to deliver a more seamless and enriching educational experience for TAFE NSW’s 400,000 learners and 10,000 teachers.As someone who used Gestetner machines when she first started teaching, the computer age has been an eye-opening experience but Belinda has adapted to the online education revolution to continue doing what she loves.“While ever I can make a difference and I enjoy what I do and I’m in tune with the same values of the organisation, I’ll be around.”

There was standing room only when Yuin Elder Uncle Gerry Moore held a talk with the Berry and District Historical Society at the Uniting Church Hall on the weekend.Uncle Gerry sees it as a form of “truth telling” and spoke about the history of Indigenous people on the South Coast.“The idea was to talk about how we came to live in the Shoalhaven Heads area, as well as Nowra, and how the early settlement and colonisation of our part of the country impacted Aboriginal people,” Uncle Gerry said. Extensively published academic research highlights the impact of early European settlers on Aboriginal people with the clearing of their traditional lands ultimately leading to them being dispossessed.“We lived in harmony on the land, and how eventually we had to coexist with early settlers and the impact that had on our people as far as clearing the land and pushing Aboriginal people off their traditional lands onto reserves or missions,” he said“We wouldn’t be settled in the beautiful areas that we are if it weren’t for our warriors Broughton and Broger who assisted Dr Charles Throsby and later, Alexander Berry,” Uncle Gerry said.Due to the constructs of colonisation, the sharing and the passing on of knowledge was lost until recently.“We had the richest of cultures and ceremonies here on the coast before colonisation,” Uncle Gerry said.“There’s a lot that our non-Aboriginal brothers and sisters don’t know about the way we lived and the different mobs, languages, customs, ceremonies and all these sorts of things that happened in our backyard,” he said.However, it was not just a deficit perspective that Uncle Gerry shared, with much of the talk highlighting the strengths reforming within Aboriginal culture today.  “And things are slowly changing now with Aboriginal studies being taught in some schools, Aboriginal languages Dhurga and Dharawal language being taught in some schools,” he said.Dhurga language is spoken by the Yuin people and Dharawal language by the Tharawal people. The Shoalhaven region borders Tharawal and Yuin countries. “It is actually rekindling the strength of our own Aboriginal kids in the school about their culture and wanting to identify strongly.Within Australia today, there are more than 250 Indigenous languages, with 800 different dialects.Uncle Gerry is a prominent figure within the Shoalhaven region and has been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for his Indigenous advocacy.

Kiama locals, if you missed last week’s powerful episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, you can now watch it on SBS On Demand. And you absolutely should.This is Kiama as you have never seen it before. Wild, beautiful, and steeped in the raw emotion of family history. The episode follows Alone Australia winner Gina Chick as she uncovers her tangled ancestry. Along the way, she discovers her great-grandfather Sid worked at Bombo Quarry, and that her biological grandmother was Australian literary icon Charmian Clift.Filmed on Dharawal Country, the episode features two standout Kiama locals, historian Dr Tony Gilmour and award-winning author Nadia Wheatley. Together, they help Gina navigate the deep truths of her family story.Dr Gilmour joins Gina at Bombo Quarry and Hartwell House, sharing the history of Sid’s work and character. Nadia Wheatley meets her at the Pilots Cottage Museum to talk about the life and legacy of Charmian Clift.These conversations are raw and powerful. “This stopped being a theory and became something I felt in my bones,” Gina says, as she faces the emotional weight of colonial impact and personal inheritance.The Pilot’s Cottage Museum display on Charmian Clift is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Entry is by donation, and after watching this episode, you will want to visit.So, who do you think we are? We are a community rich in story, landscape, and spirit. Watch the episode on SBS On Demand and see Kiama in a new light.

Ashley Sullivan started volunteering with the SES as a teenager and 28 years later he is still going strong.Sullivan was recognised with an Emergency Services Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours List on Monday along with several local community members.Former Berry RSL president Raymond Strong and Unions Shoalhaven advocate Joan Craig have been awarded Order of Australia Medals, while Kiama educator Belinda Mackinnon (Public Service Medal) and Gerringong Rural Fire Service captain Andrew Sweeney (Australian Fire Service Medal) were also honoured.For Sullivan, there has never been a dull moment in his time as a volunteer and, since 2010, an employee with the SES.When a series of tornadoes hit Kiama in 2013, he was quickly on the scene with the local SES Unit to help people affected by the damaging winds and then get started on the recovery effort. He described the carnage the confronted SES staff and volunteers as looking like a war zone.“I'll never forget that night,” he told The Bugle.“It was very memorable, just the level of destruction that it did. The one that went right through Kiama itself and then all the smaller ones - one went all the way over the back into Jamboroo and a bit further south towards the Shoalhaven.“I remember flying over it and you could so clearly see the path that it took because it just absolutely destroyed everything in its direction. Amazing. “Tornadoes just weren't a regular thing that we had to manage so to see that scale of that destruction was pretty memorable.”Ashley has been called into action for several flood relief efforts in the Illawarra and South Coast as well as many other natural diasters across NSW as well as interstate, pulling people out of cars when they have been trapped in rising waters.He was instrumental in enhancing flood rescues across NSW following the devastating floods of 2022-23 and has used his corporate and operational background to coordinate the response of the NSW SES following the NSW Government’s Flood Inquiry.Ashley got started when a family friend told him that he should give it a try and he quickly build up his skill set with tasks like driving boats, repairing storm damage and how to correctly use a chainsaw.That led him into full-time work as an arborist before he came full circle to return to the SES in 2010. He now serves as the senior manager of the SES Fleet Service and is also a volunteer member of the Kiama Unit in the South Eastern Zone for the past decade and the Kogarah Unit in the Metro Zone. “SES has been a huge part of my life and and shaped the career I've been given an opportunity to pursue and here I am today 28 years later.“I’ve really enjoyed it. I did operations for many many years particularly when I moved down to Wollongong and for the last eight years, I've been in the corporate side of SES, so I get to build and design the agency's vehicles, vessels and trailers.“And then I still do operations when it happens, like the big floods the big storms. I get to go back out and and and help out where I can.“Kiama’s got some some great people with great skill sets. I’ve made some really good friends out of being in the unit there.”Ashley said the best part of the SES is the huge number of everyday Australians who give up their time to help the community in times of need.“The great thing about the SES is the commitment of the volunteers because these people the drop of a hat, sometimes in the middle of the night, have to go to somewhere that's been affected by a significant weather event,” he said.“They may be tired but they turn up again and again. We've had some pretty crazy wild weather in NSW in the last five years and our membership is growing.“Our volunteers turn up and they keep training and exercising and supporting our communities and it's quite amazing.”He has played an integral role in modifying and enhancing the unimog vehicles that the SES uses in floods which provide deep wading capability to drive through floodwaters.“We call it a high clearance vehicle - it can wade through 1.2 metres of floodwaters, which is phenomenal,” he said.“We've seen them rescue plenty of people and resupply lots of communities where we either couldn't get to them or had to use helicopters in the past which is high risk and very costly.”

Kiama Council has released the draft masterplans for both the Kiama Sports Complex and South Werri Beach Reserve.The draft masterplans will help the future layout and design of these two community facilities and are important part in attracting the necessary government funding to carry out the work.The masterplan for the Kiama Sports Complex (including the Kiama Leisure Centre) is designed to address the need for significant upgrades to the playing surface, lighting, buildings and amenities, which are nearing the end of their lifespan.It provides options for an integrated design with high-quality infrastructure and amenities, that enhance sport participation.The masterplan for the South Werri Reserve reflects the community’s desire to preserve as much native habitat as possible while creating more opportunities for recreation.This includes an improved playground, picnic area, skate park and pumptrack, new basketball court, renewed tennis courts, seating, pathways, shade trees and vegetation.The drafts were developed with extensive public and targeted consultation to learn what the community would like at each site.They also help realise our vision for a healthy, sustainable and caring community.The draft masterplans are now on public exhibition until Tuesday, 5 August 2025.

They did not perform their outstanding community service for the accolades but Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters was thrilled to honour seven of Kiama’s Hidden Treasures this week.The awards ceremony at Kiama Council on Tuesday honoured and celebrated the outstanding volunteer contributions of seven exceptional women from the Kiama LGA.They were each nominated for the NSW Hidden Treasures Honour Roll for their dedication to community service, leadership, and generosity of spirit.Hidden Treasures is a NSW Government initiative that celebrates the invaluable contributions of women and girls who volunteer in regional, rural and remote communities across the state.Established in 2010, the Hidden Treasures Honour Roll offers a public tribute to recognise those who give their time and energy to support others.“We had a really lovely morning tea,” Cr Matters said.“The common thread from those women was that they said this is what my parents did - they gave back to the community so that’s just what I do. I stepped up and followed what they did.“That’s what I really loved about those women.”One of the recipients, Antoinette Raynal, and the other members of the Katandra Women’s A Cappella Choir performed for the gathering of family, friends and well-wishers with a stirring rendition of Paul Simon’s Love Me Like a Rock and California Dreaming by the Mamas & the Papas.“It was just beautiful,” Cr Matters added.Kay Brennan with Mayor Cameron McDonald and Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters. The magnificent seven are: Kay Brennan: A lifelong volunteer, Kay has quietly supported the Jamberoo and Kiama communities for more than five decades. Inspired by her father’s legacy, she has nurtured young riders through the Kiama Pony Club, stewarded at the Kiama and Sydney Royal Easter Shows, supported school programs, church activities and local hockey clubs, and served in the Jamberoo Bush Fire Brigade.Jenny Judd with Mayor Cameron McDonald and Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters. Jenny Judd: Her community service spans early childhood, education, the arts, and social justice. She has taught scripture for 33 years at Jamberoo Public School, co-founded the Jamberoo Playgroup, and helped establish the town’s Youth Hall.As CWA President, she created Opera in the Valley, a celebrated local fundraiser. She also supports Meals on Wheels and donates essential items to SAHSSI, assisting women and children escaping domestic violence.Joelie Robson: At 20 years old, Joelie exemplifies courage and commitment. A Type 1 Diabetic and a trailblazer for young women in emergency response, she volunteers 20 to 30 hours per week across the RFS, St John Ambulance, Disaster Relief Australia and the Volunteer Rescue Association.Joelie Robson with Mayor Cameron McDonald and Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters. She was recognised in the Youth category at the 2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.Judi Sandilands Cincotta: After a 50-year career in nursing, Judi chose to give back by raising guide dog puppies and supporting therapy programs in local schools.Her dogs bring comfort and calm to children facing adversity, helping them feel safe and seen.Judi Sandilands-Cincotta helps raise guide dog pups.Sue Eggins: A historian, researcher and advocate, Sue has spent over 30 years preserving Kiama’s heritage and honouring the lives of notable Australians like Orry-Kelly and Charmian Clift.As president and secretary of the Kiama and District Historical Society, she has led preservation projects, curated exhibitions and secured landmark recognition.Sue Eggins with Mayor Cameron McDonald and Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters. Antoinette Raynal: The founder of Katandra Women’s A Cappella Choir, a musical community rooted in inclusion, empowerment and joy.What began as a single vocal workshop has blossomed into a choir that supports charities, mentors young singers and creates a sense of belonging.Antoinette Raynal with Mayor Cameron McDonald and Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters. Boni Maywald: Since retiring, Boni has used craft, creativity and compassion to bring comfort to people in need.As coordinator of Wrap With Love in Kiama and founder of the PeaceKnits initiative, she creates and donates handmade blankets to those facing hardship.Boni Maywald with Mayor Cameron McDonald and Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters.

The third week of Kiama MP Gareth Ward’s trial at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney has concluded with a colleague of the complainant at the centre of an alleged incident in 2015 recounting a conversation with the man.A political staffer, who was 24 at the time, told police that Ward sexually assaulted him at the Kiama MP’s Potts Points apartment a decade ago. Ward’s defence barrister, David Campbell SC, earlier in the week suggested to the complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, that the incident never happened. He rejected that suggestion under cross-examination.The man said he went to Ward’s apartment and that after he went to sleep in a spare bedroom, the politician sexually assaulted him.Ward is facing five charges and has pleaded not guilty to each of them: sexual intercourse without consent, common assault and three counts of indecent assault.On Friday, a colleague of the complainant told the Court of a conversation years after the alleged incident in which he said Ward had “done somthing to him”.The witness recalled telling the complainant during the conversation that he was exaggerating and it was “just Gareth being Gareth”.They also said the complainant told them that they felt uncomfortable around Ward in the parliamentary office environment.Another man, who had just turned 18 at the time of an alleged incident in 2013, has also accused Ward of an indecent assault at the Kiama MP’s Meroo Meadow property in the Shoalhaven.Also during Friday’s trial proceedings, a former president of the local Young Liberals branch told the court how Ward would host the division of the party’s meetings at his home.Crown Prosecutor Monika Knowles asked him about the nature of the meetings and he told the Court that a social gathering such as a barbeque, where alcohol was served, was held.He told the Court that the meetings were held at Ward’s house to save costs, rather than at a local club or pub.The trial before Judge Shead continues next week.1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Jamberoo Mountain Road has been reopened with Kiama Council wrapping up the repair work on Friday afternoon.Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald thanked the contractor, Ground Stabilisation Systems, as well as Council’s own engineers and work crews for getting the repairs done on time and under budget.“Capital works of this scale are always notoriously tricky to deliver without delays or additional costs,” Cr McDonald said.“That’s a credit to everyone involved.“I also want to thank the people who rely on Jamberoo Mountain Road, especially local residents and businesses, for your continuing patience with the disruptions of recent years.”The five-week repair program addressed the damage caused by a landslip to about 50 metres of the road just above The Abbey.Council contractors installed 24 soil nails to underpin the road, with a concrete capping beam, and 40 square meters of shotcrete to the face of the supporting wall.They were also able to repair two extra minor slips above and below the main work site.The works crews have also been busy with maintenance and betterment works, cleaning out more than 1000m of stormwater drains, 8km of vegetation maintenance to improve line of sight for motorists, tree trimming to remove hazardous branches, replacing damaged road signs, guard rails and guide posts.Cr McDonald also thanked the Australian and NSW Governments for funding the repairs under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, NSW Betterment Program, and the Transport for NSW Block Grant Assistance Program.Kiama Council continues to advocate for Jamberoo Mountain Road to be reclassified from a local (council-managed) road to one managed by the NSW Government.Changing the classification would reduce the burden on Council’s financial position and Council continues to lobby for this change of management to the relevant Minister in meetings, correspondence and through our advocacy priorities.Night works from 8pm to 4am are still being conducted on Macquarie Pass until 18 July.