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 McInnerney 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.McInnerney, 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.McInnerney 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, McInnerney 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, McInnerney 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, McInnerney 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,” McInnerney 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

The use of handheld scanners by local police has resulted in the seizure of drugs and three knives in the Illawarra and South CoastOperation Ares is a high visibility operation where officers use handheld scanners – or electronic metal-detecting ‘wands’.Last Thursday, officers attached to Wollongong Police District conducted a handheld scanning operation at Wollongong CBD, train station and surrounding shopping precinct between 10am and 10pmTwo weapons were detected and seized, 291 people were scanned and eight charges were laid, including custody of a knife in a public place, possess prohibited drug and shopliftingPolice allegedly seized a knife in the pocket of a 37-year-old man in Crown Street Mall. He was issued with a court attendance notice for custody of a knife in a public place to appear in Wollongong Local Court on 19 August.As part of the operatiokn, police also stopped a 44-year-old man and allegedly located a knife in his pocket. He was issued with a court attendance notice for custody of a knife in a public place to appear in Wollongong Local Court on 5 August.They also found a small ziplock bag of cannabis on a 35-year-old man, who will appear in Wollongong Local Court on 19 August.Officers attached to Southern Region Operation Support Group and Police Transport Command conducted a handheld scanning operation in Nowra CBD and shopping precincts in Bomaderry CBD, train station and shopping precinct, between 8am and 4pm on Thursday as well.One weapon was detected and seized, 84 people were scanned, four were searched and a Firearms Prohibition Order person search was conducted.A 24-year-old man who was wanted for questioning was taken to Nowra Police Station and charged with assault, following an alleged incident on 15 June in Bomaderry. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Nowra Local Court on 29 July.The operation was run concurrently with the state-wide Operation Foil targeting locations known for violent offending, knife crime, possession of weapons and anti-social behaviour.

A third woman in the past five years will now be at the helm of Kiama Lions Club, marking another milestone for the once male-dominated community group.Outgoing president Cheryl Moses handed over to incoming leader Susan Hudson during the club’s 55th annual changeover at Kiama Leagues Club recently.Moses became only the second female president in the club’s five-decade history, following Veronica Dzelde’s breakthrough term five years ago.The new board was sworn in at the changeover night. “All the men have been very helpful over the past year,” Moses said.“My year as president was a big learning curve. I enjoyed it, after I was initially reluctant to take on the role.“Lions Clubs are still relevant today, because of the way we give back to the community.Members and guests applauding at the changeover night.“We raise tens of thousands of dollars each year for various community projects.“It’s all about serving the community, and that’s why I joined, as well as to meet other local people.”Hudson, who joined the club three years ago, now takes the reins.“I’m really positive about continuing the great work of the club,” she said.“All the men have been welcoming to me since I joined the club. And kind. The men are genuinely lovely. All the things they stand for are genuine.“In terms of my goals for the year ahead, I want to further strengthen our fundraising. We support the local high school and surf club, among other things, and I love the thought of keeping that going.“We also want to keep attracting new members. If people want to join our club, of any age, feel free to get in touch with us on our Facebook page.”Women now make up 10 of the 52 members at the club, which distributed more than $66,000 to various projects over the past year.

Heritage in the Kiama electorate is set to get a massive boost due to NSW Government funding and the establishment of a Heritage Advisor Service as part of Council’s new Planning and Development Hub.A total of $8.65 million in investment has been committed statewide under the NSW Heritage Grants Program with the Kiama electorate, which stretches south to Bomaderry and Shoalhaven Heads, will receive $60,000.The money designed to restore and protect properties and sites for future generations.Berry and District Historical Society is receiving $10,000 for the conversion of a 1970s bathroom back to 19th century storage facility at Berry Museum, providing a safe space to store the museum’s collection.A total of $25,000 is going to Shoalhaven City Council to establish heritage conservation areas in Shoalhaven towns and villages, focusing first on Kangaroo Valley and Milton.And the same amount has been granted to Kiama Council for a heritage advisor Service to provide specialist heritage advice to Development Assessment Planners and the general community.Government spokesperson for Kiama, MLC Sarah Kaine said the heritage advisor service would be a valuable community asset.“This is great news for Kiama and a credit to the people and grassroots organisations who preserve our local heritage sites for everyone to appreciate and enjoy,” she said. “This record NSW Government investment in the 2025-2027 Heritage Grants Program is vital in ensuring the stories of our past are never forgotten.“We want to continue to unlock more opportunities for local people and visitors to engage with our heritage and culture.”Council’s new Planning and Development Hub, at the old Westpac Bank, is where people can get face-to-face advice and guidance from its team of planners, building certifiers and lodgement specialists.This will soon include being able to book meetings with a specialist Heritage Advisor.Council director of strategies and communities Ed Paterson said this new service would assist owners contemplating any maintenance or work to their historically significant properties.“Kiama has a rich First Nations and European history which can be seen in the many heritage buildings, landscapes and historic infrastructure found throughout our towns and villages,” he said.“These structures and landscapes, and the stories they tell of times gone by are highly valued by our community and visitors alike.”Paterson said funding this new service would also support initiatives to identify, conserve and promote places or objects that have significance to the local area and community.This will include educational programs and developing a Heritage Strategy for the area.Recruitment for a heritage advisor is underway.

Anne Andersen and Franca Lyon never set out to shatter any glass ceilings but that’s effectively what they did when they became the Minnamurra Lions Club’s first female members.While many might ask why it took almost three decades for the club to have its first female members to join their ranks, Franca and Anne are quick to point out that the once all-male cohort have welcomed their appointment. They chuckle when they are called pioneers, but both agree that the club needs more members, whether they are women or men, as resources are “spread thinly” and the number of people joining service organisations is dwindling.“I don’t think there were ever battlelines drawn,” says Anne when asked about the absence of female members since the club’s inception in 1999. “But we saw the need for new members so we thought why not give it a go. And it’s always good to have a fresh perspective, new blood.”Franca agrees saying: “The club is always looking for more people to commit to doing the good work being carried out by volunteers, so why not use us? "Women are an under-utilised resource that haven’t been tapped into and we often have a different way of approaching things.”She is quick to point out the pair are “not ready to overthrow any regimes” nor are they looking to add to the list of the many good causes that the club already supports.“That’s right,” laughs Anne. “We are just happy to help out. There may be a cause that we would like to initiate or start in time but we are spread fairly thinly and winter is always our busiest time.”“It’s a challenge,” agrees Franca. “Because the club supports Kiama Rugby League, volunteers will work on the gate as well as running the sausage sizzle at the Seaside Markets on the same day, so volunteers are thin on the ground.”Both women have cooked snags or stood at the gate to collect entry fees for rugby league games alongside their husbands - long-time Minnamurra Lions Club members Bill Lyon and Phil Andersen.Now Anne and Franca will now volunteer in an official capacity, as fully-fledged members, after years of working behind the scenes to support their husbands’ involvement in the club.Recently Lions, Australia’s largest service organisation, requested that the more than 1000 individual clubs across the nation take ownership of their own housekeeping, which included creating an online presence.Bringing the club into the 21st century was no mean feat, considering the average age of members is around 70. But Anne’s husband Phil - the club secretary who has signed on for his fifth year in the job - stepped up to the task creating a website for the Minnamurra Lions Club.The club also elected a new president, with Franca’s husband Bill stepping down from the role earlier this week after two years in the position. Bill maintains his active membership and will continue his hard work to recruit more members, including women. “You can’t be stuck in the past, every organisation needs to evolve,” agrees Anne. “The men have been very welcoming of Franca and I to join them.”Minnamurra Lions Club meets several times a month to volunteer for services as well as hosting an informal dinner, which includes a guest speaker, at Kiama Golf Club. Greg Kelly, an ex diplomat from the Department of Foreign Affairs will be the club's next guest speaker. If you are interested in becoming a member visit the club’s website.

Kiama Council’s controversial decision to cancel the New Year’s Eve fireworks display unless a sponsor can be found will have ramifications not just for local businesses but community groups as well.For many local business operators, the festival is their biggest money-spinner of the year while community groups use the event as an opportunity to raise much-needed funds.The local Rural Fire Service, covering Jamberoo, Gerringong, Foxground and Carrington Falls, and Surf Life Saving Clubs have been beneficiaries as the chosen charity.Volunteers worked their way through the heaving crowds on Kiama’s foreshore, collecting donations and raising awareness about their efforts in the community.The Surf Life Saving Clubs were chosen for the past two years with the Rural Fire Service getting the gig the previous two years.By simply having volunteers wander around with donation buckets, around $15,000 has been raised each New Year’s Eve to help fund their vital community services.Destination Kiama chair, Councillor Matt Brown was intending to put forward Landcare as this year’s chosen charity as well as a local mental health group.Kiama Council has put the call out for sponsors to offset the cost of the annual event after recently opting to withdraw its own funding with Mayor Cameron McDonald stating that the NYE Sky Show needs substantial external funding to go ahead.Councillors voted against allocating $95,000 to self-fund the fireworks when the 2025-26 budget was approved last month with Cr McDonald saying they needed to be fiscally responsible while operating under the State Government-imposed Performance Improvement Order.South Coast Surf Life Saving branch president Shane Wicks, who is a member of Kiama SLSC and the Jamberoo Rural Fire Service, hoped that Council can find a solution through a sponsor or change its mind about financially supporting the event.“It’s a great opportunity for community groups to get a large range of people in a small area and a lot of community groups rely on different types of funding to fund a lot of their activities,” he said.“Surf life saving doesn’t get government funding. We do grants but most of the funding comes from ourselves - clubs have to organise fundraising.“With regards to the RFS, we are supplied with basic equipment that we need to fight fires but it’s the things on top like gas detectors and thermal imaging cameras to identify hot spots we have to fun.”Wicks said the volunteers not only collected money but used the opportunity to engage with the community about the services they provide and offer advice on safety matters, such as fire hazards, surf awareness and fishing on the rocks.He added that as a local resident who has been going to the New Year’s Eve show for more than a decade that the town is alive as thousands gather to celebrate together by watching the spectacular fireworks, Australia’s biggest coastal fireworks outside of Sydney.“I’ve been to at least 15 with my kids over the years, there’s a great vibe in the town and you very rarely see any trouble,” he said.“Being able to fundraise during those events that are put on by Council just makes it so much easier for those organisations.“The community absolutely loves the fireworks. It’s a great atmosphere.”Council’s Spendmapp "Event Tracker" data revealed there was $1.76 million in local spending on New Year’s Eve, which was the highest total recorded across recent major events.Little Betty’s on Collins Street is one of the many local businesses which thrives on New Year’s Eve and co-owner Paul Paterno said he would be disappointed if the fireworks display disappeared from the calendar.“The amount of people who descend into town is incredible,” he said.“Without it a lot of businesses miss out on their biggest night of the year.“It’s always good when we’ve got that many people in town - thousands walking around looking for food and drink. It would be a shame not to have it.“Having the fireworks on gives people a reason to come to Kiama. I do believe people are going to go other LGAs that do have events on and it will leave Kiama missing out.“The return on investment for local businesses is much greater than the 80 or 90 grand it costs to put them on.”

When Kelly Morrison joined Gerringong’s Travel Focus Group three months ago she pitched a business idea - solo women’s travel tours - to owner Peta Godfrey.ROAM is a bespoke travel service for adventurous women, travelling alone or with girlfriends, which focuses on good food, good company and lots of laughs.Kelly, an avid explorer whose love for travel began in the late 1980s and has taken her across the globe many times over, created the concept after years of fun adventures, sometimes solo, sometimes with family and friends.Kelly quickly learned “wine tastes better with girlfriends” and Peta knew Kelly was onto something. Who wouldn’t want to travel with like-minded women on tours with no mental load required, where all the organisation is done for you and the only person you have to think about is yourself.Kelly hosted a breakfast meeting this week, not only to get the word out about the services offered by ROAM, but to also tap into the wealth of expertise shared by female travellers.She held the meeting on a Tuesday because “at least one of my friends was off so I knew she’d come along”. The event coincided with one of the most severe weather fronts – an East Coast low – to hit the South Coast in recent times.Despite the 150mm of rain that fell across the region, more than a dozen intrepid female travellers turned up to share coffee, croissants and ideas for future adventures together.“We had 15 lovely ladies brave the wind and rain to join us for our inaugural breakfast,” says Kelly. “Some were single and wanted adventures with other like-minded women, some were girlfriends who wanted to travel together but without the mental load of having to organise an itinerary and, interestingly, we had quite a few married women whose husbands are too busy or don’t want to travel.”All of the women who attended had one thing in common - their idea of a great holiday aligned with ROAM’s beliefs of slow travel, enjoying the location, leisurely mornings and small-group tours.“Our solo women tours are all about slowing down and savouring the journey,” says Kelly. “There are no crack-of-dawn wakeups or rushed schedules. We don’t do alarms unless it’s for pastries!“Delicious food is a big part of the ROAM experience, there are no sad salads allowed. We also offer meaningful cultural experiences, rather than rushed tick-a-box, buy the fridge magnet tours. “You can explore at your own pace and yes, you can skip the museum for wine if you want to.”ROAM’s first tour, in November, will be held in New Zealand and include good food, fine wine, a health spa and jet boat ride. But there are many more adventures on the horizon.“We had a wide range of interests at the breakfast, with women suggesting tours to Africa, Italy, Vietnam and even a pub crawl through Ireland and Scotland,” says Kelly. “There was a common theme of going to a location, such as Italy, and staying for a few weeks in one place and becoming part of the community.“Some of the activities that were of interest included cooking classes, art retreats and hiking tours such as the Camino trail. Everyone wanted off the beaten track, with travel outside the main tourist season that is unique and authentic.”If this sounds like your kind of globetrotting visit ROAM on the Travel Focus Group’s website. You can join the mailing list to stay up to date with upcoming tours and sign up to join waitlists.

Kiama Downs is the next location in the local government area likely to get a fenced off leash dog area with Jamberoo’s new facility a couple of months away from completion.Councillor Stuart Larkins has led the push for Kiama Council to launch its first Dog Friendly Spaces Strategy, which was adopted at the June Ordinary Meeting.“In the past we had seen a very ad hoc approach to the decisions around dogs spaces, in particular a big focus on the beaches,” said Cr Larkins, voicing his views as a Councillor, not on behalf of Council.“It didn’t really identify the issue, particularly in Jamberoo where not only was there debate about whether a dog space should be fenced or not, or whether they needed one.”With more than 9000 dogs in the local government area among the human population of 23,000, Council needs to provide several friendly spaces for the canine community and their owners to spend quality time together and to get in some much-needed socialisation and exercise.The Jamberoo fenced off leash area is being constructed and is due to be complete in September with recent adjustments to the plan ensuring there will be spaces for small and large dogs to roam.Cr Larkins said the Jamberoo sporting community will be thrilled once the new FOLA is up and running because they have had ongoing problems with dog owners using Kevin Walsh Oval and other sports fields and leaving more than just footprints.He was confident the Jamberoo space would be big enough to give local dog owners plenty of room for their canines to stretch their four legs.“A lot of the sporting community raised feedback through that Strategy around the difficulties they experienced of people using the sports fields for running dogs and the dog waste that is then produced,” he added.“The whole point about establishing the five-year strategy is it outlines where dogs should and shouldn’t go but it also creates the community expectations about the safety and standards for dogs within our LGA.”Kiama Downs is likely to be the next cab off the rank for a designated area for dogs and a location would need to be locked down after a community consultation period.“When I moved the motion in the Council meeting I made an addition that Council explores the opportunity for a fenced dog park in Kiama Downs,” Cr Larkins said. “We’ve got 9000 dogs and a high proportion of them are in the Kiama Downs area.”

Tay Byrne, an emerging young leader from Dharawal country recently completed the 2025 NSW Parliament Young Aboriginal Leaders Program with 20 other young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from around the state. “We all got the chance to come together and workshop some leadership skills, hearing directly from community (leaders) and organisations, how they were successful in making change in their community,” Byrne said.“Pretty much hearing their story, how they were successful in making change in their community and their advice on what that looks like for the next generation going through that process.” Byrne shared that they struggled with identity and figuring out who they were as a young person, but also with their education. “I wasn’t very good at reading and writing, so I struggled a bit with school and lack of support.”Having experienced this within their own schooling, Byrne speaks with authority on the issue of providing greater support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students. One of the issues raised by Byrne is that the initiatives and programs established by governments in schools are unreliable and students, like Byrne, become subsequently displaced educationally. “A lot of the things that were offered to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student would often go for about a year, and then funding would subside and you wouldn’t have anything else for a couple of years until some new government policy would come in and there would be some incentive to do it,” they said.  “The limitations at the moment that we are facing is we’ve lost funding, so we’ve lost the worker. “We’re not able to support our Year 7 and 8 students at the moment to the full capacity that we could be. “It is just the attendance rates of our children, it’s a crucial part of schooling. So those development years are going to impact if that child stays for their senior schooling and their employment.”Part of the NSW Parliament program Byrne attended was preparing and delivering a speech to the Upper House of the NSW Parliament.“I was pretty lucky in the sense that I was able to represent two communities, the Illawarra Aboriginal Alliance Corporation and the Gunya Gurindja team from Vincentia High School, which started under Aunty Gai,” they said. “Just being able to showcase what they do in school, how effective the program is (Gunya Gurindja) and highlight how underfunded these programs and initiatives are. “I’m passionate about preserving our culture and ensuring that all the fight our elders have fought was for something and they can rest.“So we can continue to carry that fire and we (younger generations) continue to represent our culture.“We have the longest living and continuous culture. It is something that all people should be proud of, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, because we both benefit from the knowledge of traditional owners.“Everyone can benefit from embracing Indigenous culture and knowledge as a collective. We have adapted to the westernised and colonial Australia that we live in and it is now time those systems adapt to Indigenous people and grow together.” This year’s national NAIDOC week, which runs from 6–13 July has the theme ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, & Legacy’ highlighting the achievements of the past generations, while looking forward to the future strengths of young leaders, the vision for communities and acknowledging the legacy paved by ancestors.

Even though the Illawarra and South Coast is over the worst of the wild weather that hit the region this week, boaters in particular are being reminded to stay safe over the weekend.Dangerous surf and strong winds are forecast along the NSW coast with Transport for NSW Maritime urging boaters to stay off the water. NSW Maritime Executive Director Mark Hutchings said this week's powerful weather system is expected to continue to bring large waves and hazardous conditions along the east coast. "While the rain and wind are beginning to ease, the swell remains hazardous. We strongly urge all boaters to stay off the water until conditions improve," he said. “We’re asking all boaters and water users to stay off the water while these conditions pass.“A strong low-pressure system is moving down the coast, bringing rough seas and big swells. “Crossing coastal bars or heading offshore in this kind of weather is extremely dangerous. "If you’ve brought a boat or jet ski on holidays, don’t risk it, leave it on the trailer and stay off the water.“We’re seeing lots of debris into the waterways; the debris not be able to be seen which makes it extremely dangerous for boaters."There are safer times to enjoy the water, now is not one of them. Taking risks puts your life and others in danger, including emergency services who may need to respond. “If you absolutely must go out, stick to sheltered inland waters and wear a properly fitted lifejacket at all times. Check the weather before and during every trip, and if in doubt, don’t go out.”

NSW Police are urging drivers to take extra care on the roads during the next two weeks, with data indicating 20 per cent of fatal or serious crashes occur during school holiday periods.Motorists who plan to travel across the state are being urged to drive to the weather conditions which are typically adverse in the month of July.The winter public school holidays begin on Monday 7 July and conclude Friday 18 July 2025.Officers will be conducting enforcement patrols and operations over the next two weeks to deter drivers from making poor decisions.In the July school holidays last year, eight people lost their lives in fatal crashes; the same number of deaths were recorded for the same period in 2023.NSW Police data shows almost 20 percent of crashes involving injuries or fatalities occur during the 12 weeks of public school holidays.So far this year, 190 lives have been lost, 29 more deaths than for this time last year.Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said the July school holidays was typically a time when weather conditions could contribute to serious crashes.“Drivers need to be aware of the risks when travelling in wet and snowing conditions, with black ice a serious hazard on our roads at this time of year,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.“Our data shows one in five serious or fatal crashes happen in the school holidays.“We also know that about two thirds of fatal crashes occur on regional areas.”Assistant Commissioner Driver said the school holidays were a time when families typically go on road trips, often in unfamiliar territory.“Take extra care, reduce your speed, and remain focused so you and your family can arrive at your destination safely.“As always, don’t speed, wear a seatbelt, never drive when tired, do not use a mobile phone while driving and never drive if affected by drugs or alcohol.”NSW Police figures:- 2024 School holiday period (12-week period) there were 2106 crashes where people were injured, including 63 fatalities.- 2023 School holiday period (12-week period) there were 2228 crashes where people were injured, including 56 fatalities.- 2025 January and April school holiday period there were 1305 crashes where people were injured, including 37 fatalities.- The July school holidays are typically the third worst period for fatal crashes compared to the other school holidays.Driving Tips:- Look out for black ice, a coating of glaze ice on the surface of the road which is transparent and hard to see and can cause a loss of traction.- Stay alert during heavy rainfall as it can cause pooling on the road, leading to an inability to control the vehicle and poor visibility.- Avoid driving in dark and wet conditions as it carries the risk of not seeing wildlife.- Drive to the conditions especially in regional areas like the Snowy Mountains, Orange, Bathurst and the Blue Mountains.- Check your cars are roadworthy before travelling – monitor tyre pressure, fluids, brakes, lights, wipers and car battery to ensure they are in good working condition.