Before you click “submit,” on your Draft Housing Stategy V2 submission, consider this: what does “character” actually mean to you?At the recent Kiama Housing Strategy forum, community housing expert Natalie Allan posed a quiet but powerful challenge to the room.“When we talk about character,” she said, “we need to be honest about whose perspective we’re speaking from.What is the character to a single mum working shifts? To an older person renting? To a young couple trying to stay near family? We need to define it before we defend it”Our perception of who we are directly influences the way we act,” she added, urging attendees to move beyond “my view is my view” thinking.She encouraged residents to see themselves not just as individuals with private interests, but as part of a collective. In her closing remarks, she returned to this theme, asking people to write submissions that reflect what is good for the whole community, not just what benefits them personally.Architect and Greens councillor Melinda Lawton reflected on Natalie’s comments after the meeting. Cr Lawton described community as more than just proximity.“It’s that sense of belonging,” she said. “It’s people knowing you when you walk into a shop. It’s people checking on people. It’s that village atmosphere.”Cr Lawton pointed to Erskineville, a suburb in the heart of Sydney’s 5.5 million–strong population, as proof that a village feel is possible anywhere, but only with the right planning and commitment to connection.All speakers challenged the room to reflect on what values are embedded in their vision of Kiama’s future and whose voices are too often left out.With the strategy on public exhibition until 27 April, residents are being urged to share their views.Not just about density, setbacks or streetscapes, but about the kind of community they want to nurture and the values that should shape it.Listen to • KMC Director of Planning present Draft Housing Strategy V2 at Housing Strategy Business Panel Discussion on 11 April here • Business Panel Discussion here• Housing Expert Dr Tony Gilmour discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here • KMC Director of Plan Ed Paterson discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here Have your sayKiama Council’s draft housing strategy is on public exhibition until April 27.You can read it and share your views here. If the current approach doesn’t reflect your priorities, you are entitled to contact your councillors directly and ask for changes that support a more liveable, affordable Kiama.The forum was rich with insight, lived experience and bold ideas. The Bugle will be sharing more highlights and panel discussions on The Bugle app over the next two weeks.

Saltmarsh ecosystems across the South Coast will get a lifeline under a federal government plan to clean up the degraded habitats.The $600,000 funding commitment, announced by Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips and Whitlam candidate Carol Berry if the Labor government is re-elected, will help not-for-profit Ozfish partner with Batemans Bay, Burrill Lake and Lake Illawarra communities to rehabilitate saltmarsh sites. “Saltmarshes provide shelter for juvenile fish and popular recreational fish species, as well as being prawn-production powerhouses,” said Ryan Lungu, OzFish Program Manager NSW Coast.“But there has been a large decline in saltmarshes across the South Coast.”Recreational fishers, traditional owners and councils will work with OzFish to monitor and improve the saltmarshes, with funding used to remove rubbish and weeds, plant native species and run educational workshops and waterway assessments.    The saltmarsh restoration project would boost water quality and better protect native species living in the waterways, said Phillips, who has called on community volunteers to join Ozfish in rehabilitating coastal waterways. “Our local waterways are so important to our community,” she said. “We have many community groups engaged with keeping our waterways clean, and I am pleased to be giving this money to OzFish so that local volunteers can help maintain our important saltmarshes in the Clyde River and Burrill Lake.”Berry said locals and tourists were drawn to Lake Illawarra for recreational activities like fishing and swimming. “It’s so important that we look after the lake for generations to come,”she said. “I am pleased that OzFish volunteers have put their hand up to look after our important saltmarshes along Lake Illawarra and am proud to be delivering this funding to them.”  

The scones are rising, the teacups are polished, and the tables are filling fast.The Gerringong Committee of the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is getting ready to host its much-anticipated Mother’s Day Weekend High Tea on Saturday 10 May at 2pm, and tickets are expected to fly out the door.Held at Gerringong Town Hall, the event is known for its warmth, elegance and generosity of spirit. Guests can expect delicious homemade treats, dainty sandwiches, and plenty of good company – all served by the hardworking volunteers of one of the town’s most enduring community groups.Tickets are $35 per person with tables of up to eight people, and go on sale from Sunday 28 April at trybooking.com/CZYKA. As regulars know, tickets often sell out within hours.Behind the High Tea is a story of remarkable local commitment. The Gerringong CMRI Committee has been raising funds since 1959 – through catering, craft shows, raffles, trivia nights and, of course, tea."You never know when you're going to need it," says Gwen Wishart, who joined the group in 1964. Now a great-grandmother, she still volunteers, still bakes, and still believes deeply in the cause.CMRI supports vital research into childhood disease, and local committees like Gerringong’s ensure nearly every dollar raised goes directly to science.It’s a cause that inspires loyalty and laughter, from long-standing members to newcomers."I don’t quilt and I don’t cook, but I can wash up and run a Bunnings barbecue," says Brenda Davy, who moved to Gerringong in 2020 and found herself part of the team after Lorraine Peade helped cater her wedding.Lorraine Peade, a member since the 1990s and now the group’s publicity officer, says the strength of CMRI lies in its community."There’s a place for everyone. If you care, you belong."Joyce, 94, is a founding and Life Member who still attends meetings and hand-embroiders coat hangers. Holly Fogarty (née Bailey) and Kate Cutri (née Cronin) represent a new generation, bringing cupcakes and creativity to the cause.And while the tools have changed – events now sell out online, and card readers have replaced cash boxes – the commitment hasn’t."We laugh a lot, and we work hard," says Lorraine. "And if something goes wrong, we just pour more tea."The next meeting is Monday 2 June at 7pm at Gerringong Town Hall. Everyone is welcome. Just bring a smile – and maybe a sponge cake.

Beachgoers are being urged to exercise extreme caution at Kiama’s beaches this week, with hazardous surf conditions expected from Thursday due to a deepening low-pressure system off the east coast.Club Captain Natasha Osmond-Dreyer from Kiama Surf Life Saving Club is urging locals and visitors to take the warnings seriously.“We know Easter is a popular time to head to the beach, but these conditions are not to be underestimated,” she said. “We are expecting large, powerful waves and strong currents, which pose a serious risk to even confident swimmers.”The Bureau of Meteorology has issued coastal hazard warnings for much of the New South Wales coast, including the Kiama region, with gusty winds and large swells likely to impact exposed beaches.Ms Osmond-Dreyer recommends:Swimming only at patrolled beaches and always between the red and yellow flagsStaying well clear of rock platforms, cliff edges and exposed coastal tracks, especially during high tideReconsidering plans to go surfing or boating until the swell easesKeeping a close eye on children and weaker swimmers, even in shallow water“The best thing you can do for yourself and for our lifesavers is to follow the advice, be sensible and stay safe. If in doubt, don’t go out,” she said.Conditions are expected to ease after the weekend. Updates will be available through the Bureau of Meteorology and Surf Life Saving NSW.For up-to-date local surf conditions, check BeachSafe.org.au or visit the Kiama Surf Life Saving Club Facebook page.

Regardless of the result of the federal election and who wins the three seats in the Illawarra, the Responsible Future Illawarra lobby group will not give up its fight against offshore windfarms.The possibility of windfarms off the coast to supply renewable energy is set to be a major issue at the May 3 election with Labor aiming to retain the seats of Cunningham, Whitlam and Gilmore. Responsible Future Illawarra held two public forums last week at Warilla Bowls Club and Kiama Leagues Club with around 350 community members turning up to each event.Liberal candidate Andrew Constance and Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds spoke at the Kiama event about their stance on the windfarm project if they were to be elected next month. The Labor candidates in each seat declined the invitation to attend.Responsible Future Illawarra president Alex O’Brien said Cunningham MP Allison Byrnes told his group that she decided not to turn up because of concerns for her personal safety arising from online comments made about her from members of the group.He said they would be happy to sit down with Labor candidates and Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen to discuss their concerns about the windfarms.O’Brien described the prospect of windfarms located off the coast as “insanity in terms of engineering and a cost point of view”.“We have made it really clear that we are not here to take political sides so we wanted to ask our candidates questions on their position - what they would do to oppose the project, what would stop them from proceeding with the project or supporting it on environmental grounds, community benefits, that type of thing and then let the community decide.Kate Dezarnaulds and Andrew Constance. Photo: Supplied“The biggest issue today is cost of living. Now there is an argument to tie offshore wind to the cost of living issue for people along with housing and healthcare so we just wanted to say this is where your candidate sits on this issue.”O’Brien claimed that similar projects in the United States have resulted in debris floating onto coastlines in tourist areas which had shut down beaches for weeks so they could be cleaned up.He said RFI had a wide range of members, both young and old, from various parts of the political spectrum.“The environment is still the number one issue for them because people love that coastline. And they're worried about the impact of industrialising it,” he said.“Throwing transmission lines through Minnamurra Beach and Killalea and potentially Lake Illawarra and North Wollongong, there’s gonna be a lot of disturbance as well and impact on those highly sensitive marine areas. “I appreciate there is no study at the moment that shows either for or against the impact on marine life however there's a lot of environmental groups who have said it's at high risk of an impact, whether that's gonna be injury or displacement.“Irrespective of the election result this campaign will continue,” he said.“This will not stop with this election and we will keep fighting to protect this coastline.”Constance said he was the only candidate for Gilmore that is opposed to the project. Kate Dezarnaulds addresses the crowd in Kiama. Photo: Supplied“This project is just so impactful on the entire region. It just needs to be stopped,” he said.“Bowen has left the door open post-election because the proponent has asked for a pause on it. As I understand it, through Responsible Future Illawarra, there were hundreds of submissions from the Kiama LGA into that process expressing concern.“I think full disclosure by Chris Bowen around his plans post-election is required. Even better still an admission that no one is willing to build it would be even better.“I'm pro climate change and getting sensible policy in to deal with it and I support good renewables. I'm just not prepared to support a bad project like this.”Dezarnaulds said her approach to the renewables debate is “we need to lean into the mix in order to be able to have affordable, sustainable and reliable energy”. “Wind can be a very useful part of that mix and it would be mad to take a technology off the table on an ideological basis but we have got no proposal in the electorate of Gilmore that is currently on the table,” she said. “Until we have a genuine proposal to assess on its merits, I'm reluctant to make any judgement for or against.“All proposals need to be assessed on their financial, environmental, technological and community impacts and there is potential for wind and I'm looking forward to seeing proposals that can be assessed by the experts on that basis“I think the community more broadly understands the energy transition is underway and doesn't want our region to be left behind but is keen to protect the things that we love and value about this place.“We need to make sure that any big business, whether it's a clean energy business or a property development, whatever it is, if it's going to have a significant impact it needs lots of community consultation and it needs lots of detail in order for us to be able to take a balanced view.”

Gerringong’s 11-year-old ballet prodigy, Angel Divine, was just one of 12 dancers in her category recently selected to perform in front of hundreds at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Joan & Monica Halliday Awards at the Seymour Centre in Sydney.Angel, who trains at Gerringong Ballet & Dance, competed in the finals of the prestigious competition on April 6.Melissa Prestedge, principal of Gerringong Ballet & Dance and a Registered RAD Teacher for 30 years, says it’s a remarkable achievement.“As far as I know, no one from Gerringong has0 ever gotten that far in the competition. I’ve had the school for 10 years, and I’ve never seen it happen - so it’s a huge honour for our studio,” says Prestedge.Angel’s journey to the finals was no small feat. After receiving a High Distinction in her Grade 5 RAD Examination, she was invited to enter the Joan & Monica Halliday Awards.She attended a preliminary class and was selected to move on to the semi-final. From there, adjudicator Midori Lotz - from the Australian Ballet School and Houston Ballet - chose Angel as one of only 12 finalists.Michelle Prestedge, Principal of Gerringong Ballet & Dance. Source: Winkipop Media“It was such an amazing experience for her,” says Prestedge. “We were just honoured she got that far. Most of the students who enter come from Sydney, the North Shore, or Newcastle, so it was really special to see a child from Gerringong recognised at that level.”In the finals, Angel performed a contemporary piece choreographed by Rikki Mason of Bangarra Dance Theatre, as well as her RAD Grade 5 solo, Bird Dance.The event was attended by RAD-registered teachers from across NSW, along with Angel’s own teachers from Gerringong Ballet & Dance - and her biggest fans, her Nan and Aunty.“Angel has a natural ability, stage presence, artistry, and musicality,” says Prestedge. “She’s the kind of dancer you’re drawn to watch - and that’s a rare quality. Of course, you also need technical skill, and this was a great opportunity for her to perform alongside Sydney students who likely train many more hours than she does.”Angel performing at Seymour Centre. Source: Winkiepop MediaWhile ballet is a centuries-old art form, Prestedge believes it remains as relevant as ever.“We also teach jazz, contemporary, tumbling, and performance groups - but ballet provides the foundation. "It gives you strength, core control, discipline, and technique to support all the other styles,” she says.Looking ahead, Angel is committed to continuing her RAD examinations and hopes to complete up to Advanced 1.She also has her sights set on the RAD Isobel Anderson Awards in 2026.“I can’t wait to see what she does next,” says Prestedge. “With her strong ballet technique, long limbs, and beautiful lines, she’s an exquisite dancer.”

New President. It’s been a busy month for the Gerringong Lions Club.The elections for the new board, to take over in July, have taken place and Ron Brett is the new President-elect. Ron has served in numerous positions on the board, most notably as Treasurer for 10 years. He has an intimate knowledge of how The Lions organisation operates and he is sure to lead with distinction.Members cleaning up at the Boat Harbour.Return and Earn. The Lions are out and about every Monday morning, in all sorts weather, collecting bottles and cans from a wide range of sources. Since the end of April last year, they have collected and recycled over 650,000 items, well on the way to their second millionth bottle/can. Anyone who would like to donate bottles or cans in the Gerringong/Gerroa area can contact Gerringong Lions by emailing [email protected] to arrange for a crate or bin that will be picked up each Monday.Upcoming Fundraisers. Starting on Easter Saturday, the Lions will be selling tickets in Fern St, in their annual Mothers Day Raffle. Prizes include a $1200 accommodation voucher from Easts Beach Caravan Park, a gift voucher from The Hill, a Woolworths voucher valued at $100, a handmade quilt and an Endota Spa voucher for $150. Ron Brett. They have also been busy at the Oak Flats Bunnings BBQ. In May through the courtesy of The Gerringong Bowlo they will be conducting the Community Raffle for three Sundays from 11 May. Money that The Lions raise is distributed to a variety of worthy causes. Last year each of the junior sporting clubs in the town were given $1000. New AED. Through the generosity of The Bendigo Bank and Wave FM, The Lions have received another defibrillator that will be installed on the amenities block at Boat Harbour, with 24/7 access. They have already, in collaboration with The Gerringong Breakers FC and other local sporting organisations, placed one at the amenities block at the north end of Werri Beach.Boat Harbour remains a project close to Gerringong Lions. They maintain the grounds but they had their work cut out for them last month when the huge seas washed hundreds of rocks from the foreshore well up onto the grass. The mowing team for the month headed by captain Bob Stewart were straight onto it and had it sorted in a couple of hours. The club continues to grow and welcomed a new member Dr Abhishek Seth, last week. New member Dr Abhishek Seth in between Lions Secretary Peter Jeffries (L) and President Steve Pottie (R).

Locals are feeling the squeeze as new development outpaces essential services like transport, health and childcare in Kiama.At last Friday's Housing Strategy forum, the audience listened attentively as a panel of experts responded to pre-submitted questions on the future of housing in Kiama.While the format limited spontaneous debate, the issues raised were anything but passive.Frustration was evident over the pace of development outstripping local infrastructure.Local architect Madeleine Scarfe warned that building homes without corresponding upgrades to transport, schools and healthcare risks eroding the liveability that draws people to Kiama in the first place.She also advocated for more walkable neighbourhoods, local employment opportunities and coordinated planning that puts people first.“There’s little point building more homes if people can’t get to work, school, or medical appointments,” one pre-submitted question pointed out.Council staff acknowledged the shortfall and confirmed they are lobbying state agencies for better coordination and funding.But many in the room questioned whether that would be enough without stronger planning controls at the local level.With Kiama’s median house price now around $1.55 million and the average new home loan in NSW sitting at $800,000, the affordability gap is widening.This financial strain, combined with short-term rental pressures and lagging infrastructure, has prompted renewed calls for housing strategies that prioritise community needs.Listen to • KMC Director of Planning present Draft Housing Strategy V2 at Housing Strategy Business Panel Discussion on 11 April here • Business Panel Discussion here• Housing Expert Dr Tony Gilmour discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here • KMC Director of Plan Ed Paterson discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here Have your sayKiama Council’s draft housing strategy is on public exhibition until April 27.You can read it and share your views here. The forum was rich with insight, lived experience and bold ideas. The Bugle will be sharing more highlights and panel discussions on the The Bugle app over the next two weeks.

Community Independent candidate for Gilmore, Kate Dezarnaulds is concerned the two major parties have ignored the full scale of Australia’s housing crisis and how it affects renters, young people and essential workers.While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have focused on boosting home ownership through tax cuts, superannuation access, and deposit guarantees, Dezarnaulds believes a more inclusive and regionally responsive approach is required.“I’m thrilled housing is finally on the national agenda. This is what we’ve been calling for since the start of the campaign,” Dezarnaulds said. “But the only thing that will drastically increase supply is backing low-cost, easy-to-deliver housing. "Where in these policies is the support for modular homes? For tiny homes? For the people already building smart, community-driven solutions right here on the South Coast?“We’re in the middle of the worst housing affordability crisis in a generation. Yet both major parties continue to pour fuel on the fire with demand-side policies that will inflate prices further, while leaving renters and regional communities behind.”Dezarnaulds said in a region like the Gilmore electorate where there is a shortage of nurses, teachers, police and paramedics, "frontline workers simply cannot afford to live in the communities they serve".“This is not just a housing crisis. It’s a workforce crisis. It’s an economic productivity crisis. And it’s a social cohesion crisis.”South Coast tiny house manufacturer, Rick Smith, believes regional communities are often overlooked by state and federal governments.“People are running out of options,” said the founder of Havenwood Tiny Homes. “We’re building high-quality, climate-smart homes for young people, essential workers, and older women with nowhere else to go, like a local woman we built for after her husband passed away. "If politicians were serious about affordable housing, they’d be talking to people like us. What we’re doing is faster, more affordable, and better for the environment but red tape and outdated thinking keep getting in the way.”Dezarnaulds wants the government to remove disincentives for downsizers. "We’ve never had bigger houses with fewer people in them. Let’s make it easier to right-size," she said.Kate with Rick and Shani Smith from Havenwood Homes. Photo: Supplied“When two thirds of Australians are relying on rising property values for their retirement, real reform becomes politically risky but that’s no excuse for inaction.“We need housing models that increase supply without threatening the financial security of current homeowners. "If we don’t get this right, we’re locking an entire generation out of secure housing and failing the ones that come after them too."

Easter is a special time of year and if you would like to attend a church ceremony in the Kiama local government area, here are your options this long weekend.Anglican Church Gerringong Good Friday 8am Morning Prayer, 10am Communion Easter Day 8am Communion, 10am Family Service, 6pm Lords Supper ServiceAnglican Church Jamberoo Good Friday 9am Communion Easter Day 9am & 4pm servicesAnglican Church Kiama Good Friday 9am Combined Communion ServiceEaster Saturday Easter Family Fun Day 1-4pmEaster Day 6.15am Service at the Blowhole (combined Kiama Churches), 8am Communion Kiama, 8.30am Communion, St Pauls Minnamurra, 10am All age serviceBaptist Church Kiama Good Friday 9am Easter Day 9amUniting Church GerringongEaster Day 9am & 5.30pmUniting Church Kiama Good Friday 9.30amEaster Day 6.15am Combined Churches Service at the Blowhole; 9.30am All-age Celebration

From a bra fitting to a lifelong bond, Rita Sullivan’s boutique has done far more than clothe women.It has comforted, connected and empowered them.When she rang her friend Kerry Nash one afternoon and asked, “Would you like to come and play with me on a Saturday?” it was more than a casual invitation.It became the beginning of five years of shared purpose, kindness and deep friendship at Knickerboxers in Kiama, where women found care, comfort and something they didn’t always expect from a lingerie shop, genuine connection.After decades of supporting women through every stage of life, Rita has sold her beloved business.But her story is sewn with far more than stitches. It is a story of listening, helping and lifting others up.Her retail journey began in Berry, where she and her daughter Catheryn opened The Fairy Shop, a small business that brought a touch of magic and imagination to their customers.With a background in nursing and a heart for helping others, Rita brought empathy into every aspect of her work.When she sold The Fairy Shop and moved into more specialised retail with Knickerboxers, she brought Kerry on board too, who also came from a nursing background.Together, they created a space of care and dignity for every woman who walked through the door.In Kiama, Knickerboxers became a sanctuary for women who needed understanding as much as they needed a proper fitting.“It’s not easy to buy a bra,” Rita said. “But we make people feel comfortable. We help them feel like themselves again.”Many of the women who came through the door had undergone surgery, including mastectomies or lumpectomies.Others just needed time and kindness.With every fitting came a story, and often a few tears. “Sometimes all it takes is a gentle hand on the arm and an ‘Are you okay?’” Kerry said.“Then they turn to the mirror and see themselves as whole again.”Word of mouth carried Knickerboxers far beyond Kiama. Customers came from Bathurst, Orange and the Sutherland Shire.Some became long-term clients through mail order. But for Rita, it was never about sales. It was about creating a space where women felt safe, seen and supported.That same spirit continues in her volunteer work.Rita helped found the Kiama chapter of Zonta, a service organisation focused on empowering women and girls through education, advocacy and local projects. Rita’s strength has always been in building connections. She believes local businesses thrive when they support one another.Whether introducing new shop owners to the community, or creating pathways for women to lead and belong, she brings people together with grace and good humour.Although she has stepped away from daily shop life, Rita will continue mentoring Pia De la Vega, the new owner of Knickerboxers.She will stay involved in Zonta and other local efforts, while her husband John carries on with his car hire and wine tour business.In Kiama, a town built on community spirit, Rita’s story reminds us what business can be when it is grounded in empathy and purpose.Her farewell is not an ending. It is a passing of the torch, from one woman to another, from one act of care to the next.

Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters took the chair for the first time at Kiama Council’s 15 April meeting and did so with poise, patience and good humour in what proved to be one of the most packed and passionate meetings of the year.From funding calls to facility fees and fiery exchanges over car parks and coastal impact, there was no shortage of material to test her mettle.But Cr Matters remained calm and composed, steering a marathon agenda with the support of councillors and staff, and making space for a range of views across the chamber.The night began with a debate over Council’s unsuccessful bid for the state’s Entertainment Precinct Kickstart grant.Cr Stuart Larkins pushed for a revised approach, arguing Kiama met the eligibility criteria under point (c), which allows for councils that have passed a resolution to develop a night-time economy strategy and have supporting plans.“This motion should be about advocating for our application, not attacking the rules,” he said.Cr Matt Brown, Cr Imogen Draisma and others backed the move, with Cr Michael Cains urging a stronger stance in lobbying the state. “Our community keeps getting the rug pulled out. Aged care, roads, tourism funding.”The amendment passed five to three, and Council will now ask the state to reconsider Kiama’s application based on its existing commitments.Council also deferred Round 2 of the Community Grants Program to review policy compliance, but not before approving $2000 in funding to ensure the Jones Beach Boardriders' May event could go ahead.A proposal from Woolworths to introduce time limits and boomgates in its Kiama car park raised major red flags for councillors.The move could displace staff parking into residential streets and affect older patrons and long-stay diners.Council voted to defer the decision, seek feedback from the Traffic Committee, and to consider the impact on vehicle flow and pedestrian safety.Meanwhile, a development application for a Kennards self-storage facility on Shoalhaven Street was formally refused. Despite late efforts to find a compromise, councillors said the bulk and scale of the proposal were not appropriate for a residential zone.Cr Brown noted it exposed a deeper issue. “We’ve got serious employment land located in the wrong places. This is a legacy planning problem we have to fix.”The mood sharpened over a last-minute amendment proposing venue hire fees for the upstairs space at the newly built Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club.Cr Melissa Lawton and Cr Erica Warren argued it was time to monetise the space and reduce Council’s maintenance burden.The building was built with grant funding and sits on community land, making the question of access and revenue particularly sensitive.Others, including Cr Brown and Cr Larkins, criticised the process as rushed and lacking consultation with the surf club.“This was dropped on us at one minute to midnight,” said Cr Brown. “It’s not how we build trust.”Council opted to progress core planning documents to public exhibition and consider hire fees separately, allowing time for community input and clarity. Cr Matters ended her first meeting in the chair with good grace and a steady hand. It was not an easy gig, but she made it look that way.

The Kiama LGA will join the rest of Australia and New Zealand in commemorating 110 years since the Gallipoli campaign - honouring all Australians and New Zealanders who have served during times of peace and war.Starting on Saturday in Jamberoo, there will be events in the local area and Chris Mosley, honorary secretary of the Kiama-Jamberoo RSL Sub-Branch, says the enduring importance of Anzac Day lies in both remembrance and education."I think it really underlines that we care about the sacrifices that have been made," says Mosley.“We're talking about 103,000 Australians who gave their lives for the country - that’s something that must be recognised. ANZAC Day also provides an important opportunity to educate younger generations about our history.”Mosley says it’s not just about remembering the past, but also acknowledging the present."It recognises everyone who serves the country - men and women - even in peacekeeping operations. “They all put their lives on the line to protect their country, and they deserve our respect."He also reflects on the personal connections many in the community still have to this day.“I’ve known people who served in the Second World War, and others who can trace their family history back to those who served in the First World War,” he says.“We also have Australians currently deployed in operations around the world, some in extremely tough conditions - and it’s important to honour them too.”Kiama ANZAC memorial service in 2024.ANZAC Services in the Kiama LGAJamberoo – Saturday 19 AprilThe ANZAC March will begin at 10:15am from the RSL Hall, proceeding along Allowrie Street to the memorial at the Jamberoo School of Arts. Allowrie Street will be closed during the event, with detours in place.Kiama – Sunday 20 AprilA church service will be held at 8:00am at Kiama Anglican Church.Kiama – Friday 25 April (ANZAC Day)Dawn Service: Blowhole Point at 5:30amBreakfast: Kiama Leagues Club following the dawn service, until 8:30amANZAC March: Begins at 10:00am from the Old Council Chambers (Manning Street), proceeding to Terralong Street and concluding at the Memorial Arch for the official service. Road closures will apply.Gerringong – Friday 25 AprilDawn Service: Eastern end of Belinda Street at 6:00amBowling Club Service: Gerringong Bowling Club at 11:00amGerroa – Friday 25 AprilANZAC Day Service: Gerroa Boat Fishermen’s Club at 7:30am

With only three more weeks until the Federal election on May 3, both major parties have come out with signature policies which they think will directly address one of the biggest election issues that is facing the nation – housing. Labor’s policy centres around a $10 billion build to 100,000 homes specifically for first-home buyers. Simultaneously they will allow first home buyers access to 5 per cent deposits (purchasing a home normally requires a 10–20 per cent deposit) through a loan guarantee from the Federal Government.  The Liberal-National Coalition has announced it will allocate $5b to fund essential infrastructure like water, power and sewerage to unlock up to 500,000 new homes. In addition, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has announced that interest payments on mortgages taken out by first-home buyers on newly built homes would be tax deductible for five years.  There is a clear focus on first home buyers and ensuring "the Australian Dream" still exists for the younger generation, some of whom will be voting for the first time at this year’s election. Both parties have also committed to a two-year ban on foreign investors purchasing existing homes. While on paper, the policies are well meaning and well intended, they have been lambasted by economic and housing experts. Chris Richardson, a former Australian Treasury official and economic commentator labelled both parties’ platforms "a dumpster fire of dumb stuff", and Saul Eslake who has worked for ANZ and the Bank of America Merrill Lynch called the Coalition’s tax deduction on mortgage payments the "candidate for dumbest policy decision of the 21st century".  Ouch.  Ultimately, it comes down the laws of supply and demand. Tax offsets, subsidies and making it "easier" to purchase a home will inherently drive up demand. If this demand is chasing the same number of homes, prices will go up.  The national discourse on housing has collided with Kiama Municipal Council's draft Housing Strategy v2 that our community is currently reviewing in the context of our own housing predicament. As the most expensive place to buy a home in regional NSW and in the running (again!) for the Top Tourism Town in Australia award – this is an issue we must grapple with. Kiama Council has shown incredible foresight by reaching out to the community and running the Housing Strategy Forum at The Sebel, which laid bare the state of our situation and the needs for action.  We think community housing expert Natallie Allan put it best when she referenced historical news articles from the Kiama Independent. The articles covered "controversial" decisions that were decried at the time, but ultimately "all the things that we now look at and say this is the character of Kiama, were the things what we were arguing against when they came in". Another panellist, real estate expert Simon Kersten, noted it is almost impossible for a young person in Kiama to achieve buying their own home and Ms Allan noted that there were probably three people under the age of 30 in attendance at the Forum.  The Bugle’s View is that we need to change our ways, our thinking and our views. Our views can be our views, but we need to also understand that adopting self-righteous approach from some sections of our community might compromise the future and next generation of that very same community.

Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips and Labor Senator Jenny McAllister have announced that $840,000 will be delivered for the Gerringong District All Sports Clubhouse at Gerry Emery Oval if Anthony Albanese retains government at the May 3 federal election.The clubhouse is home to the Gerringong Breakers Football Club, the Gerringong Jets Cricket Club and the Gerringong Touch Association, who will all benefit from this upgrade.The local community has already helped raise money for the project, which has contributed to the installation of dressing rooms for female athletes. This election commitment will help complete the upgrade of the clubhouse.“I’m proud to be supporting the club house at Gerry Emery Oval in Gerringong,” Phillips said. “I know how well used it is by local sports clubs and how strongly the community has been calling for this renovation.“The community fundraised to help build female changerooms, which shows just how popular this facility is, and I am happy to be supporting this project further with this election commitment to help modernise the whole clubhouse.”Liberal candidate Andrew Constance recently pledged the same amount for the clubhouse if Opposition Leader Peter Dutton were to be elected.

The Kiama Quarriers Football Club women’s teams have made a flying start to the season, with both sides undefeated after their first two games. The Division 1 team, in particular, is shaping up as a serious title contender.After falling just one game short of the grand final last year - eliminated by eventual premiers Fairy Meadow - the team wasted no time exacting revenge. In their season opener, wearing the new Kiama Quarriers kit, they defeated Fairy Meadow 3–0.KQFC Secretary Nerissa Peterson says much of the team’s early-season success can be attributed to coach Wayne Paton’s leadership.“They’ve got quite a few new players, and many are playing really well. Wayne has a very structured training schedule, and I think a few players came over specifically to play under him after our strong season last year,” she says.Kiama Quarriers women's over 30's team. Source: Nerissa PetersonThe club’s Over 30s Division 1 women’s team is also off to a perfect start, winning both of their opening matches. They, too, are hoping to go one better this year after making the semi-finals in 2024.“They beat last year's league champions, Oak Flats Kraken, which was a fantastic win and a great sign of what’s to come,” says Peterson.Things have been more mixed on the men’s side of the club. KQFC fields two All Age men’s teams - one in Division 3 and another in Division 4. The Division 3 team is off to a strong start, with two wins from two, while the Division 4 side is still searching for their first victory.“The Division 3 team is looking strong, with a lot of talent. We're expecting them to do well this season,” Peterson says. Action shot from the Kiama Quarriers vs Jamberoo Ravens game last year. Photo: Brian Scott“Several players have returned from the District League to play in the Community League for Kiama, which is a great sign.”The Division 4 team, on the other hand, is in a development phase.“They’ve got quite a few new players, including about half a dozen who have come up from juniors and are only 17 or 18 years old. It’s all new for them - they’re just finding their feet.”In the Masters divisions, the Over 35s men’s team, who moved down a division this year, have recorded one win and one loss. The Over 45s team, who moved up a division, have had a tougher start, losing both their opening games.All teams will take a break over the Easter weekend before returning to the field on the weekend of April 26–27. The club’s major fundraiser, a trivia night, will be held on May 10 at Kiama Leagues Club - a great chance to support local sport.

It seems like 2025 is both rushing at us and rushing by. Everything seems to be accelerating, the 24/7 news cycle on permanent fast-forward, social media algorithms magnifying a sense of crisis around every corner.Overseas, at breakneck speed President Trump is upending international alliances that have underpinned the fragile geopolitical stability much of the world has enjoyed since 1945. In Ukraine, a miserable war grinds on, while in its rubble-strewn streets, Gaza remains in the grip of a humanitarian crisis.Here at home, the cost-of-living crisis continues to squeeze family budgets to breaking point, all while we continue to come to grips with a housing catastrophe decades in the making and which, truth be told, will take decades to fix. While the rich get richer, many of us are seemingly powerless in an economy that we feel has left us out and left us behind. With a federal election soon upon us, we are being bombarded daily with promises many of us don’t believe.More than a century ago, Vladmir Lenin said that ‘There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.’ Given the pace of change washing over us, and the various crises mushrooming around us, it seems 2025 is a year where, to borrow Lenin’s phrase, decades are happening.In these uncertain and anxious times, many of us are feeling overwhelmed. Through 2024 Lifeline recorded 8 of its 10 largest daily call volumes as ordinary Aussies from every demographic and nearly every postcode sought help. Whether we recognize it or not, many of us are grieving – a dream that’s fading, certainties that are disappearing or hope that’s receding.Jesus, the central figure not only of the Easter story but of human history, was described by a prophet as a ‘man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.’ On the night he would be betrayed, arrested and imprisoned, knowing the unimaginable suffering that lay head for him, Jesus told his friends that his soul was ‘overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.’In that moment in the Garden, Jesus had a choice. He could have let the cup of suffering he was to drink pass him by. Compelled by perfect and pure love, Jesus willingly walked the loneliest roads of suffering, pain and death. Decades after his death, one of his friends recalled Jesus’ own words, ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but will have everlasting life.’Whosoever is you and me – all of us, everywhere and across every time – without exception. God’s love for us is without limit.It was love that compelled Jesus to walk the way of suffering, love that stretched out his hands on the cross and love that forgave his enemies with his dying breath.It was love that saw him lay down his life so that we might enjoy friendship with God. There is no greater love than this.It was love that rolled the away the stone of Jesus’ tomb, revealing not only his empty graveclothes, but that in the end, that love has the first and final word – that when all is said and done, love wins.The story of Easter is the story of God’s love overcoming our failures, our sins, our shame, our guilt, and the power of death itself. God’s perfect love is the power than can overwhelm all our fears.In a world changing at overwhelming speed, when we can feel overwhelmed by uncertainty, anxiety and fear – the Easter truth that love overcomes, that love wins – echoes down two millennia of history and stretches out into eternity, and reaches out for you and for me, embracing us with the assurance that God will never leave us, that there is always hope.This truth invites us into a personal and utterly transformative relationship with God. Freely God is offering you his love, and freely you can receive and be forever changed by it.

Two stunning quilted wall hangings honouring Vietnam veterans will be unveiled this Easter Saturday in Jamberoo, just before the town’s heartfelt Anzac Day commemoration.The panels were first discovered in Broken Hill by Barbara Adams, who immediately saw their power.She brought them home with the hope they would find the right hands, and they did.Lesley East showed the panels at a U3A Textiles in Art session in Kiama, where Theresa MacPherson one of the members offered to ask her local quilting group in Kiama if they might be interested.Two generous women Annette Hoskins and Robyn Thomson from the Kiama Quilters stepped forward, each taking on one of the panels and transforming them into artworks stitched with care, memory and immense skill.Lesley East from Jamberoo Red Cross hanging the quilt artworks created by Annette Hoskins and Robyn Thomson from Kiama Quilters The result is a breathtaking tribute to those who served, just in time for Anzac Day.The quilts feature stirring imagery of silhouetted soldiers, blazing skies, blooming poppies and references to the Vietnam War.Lesley East with a job well done - ask a busy woman With help from the community the quilts will be permanently displayed in Jamberoo RSL Hall.Everyone is welcome to attend Saturday’s service, which includes a short march down the street before a reflective gathering at the hall.Afterwards, community members are invited back for tea, Anzac biscuits and a chance to admire the new memorial quilts.

As Kiama Municipal Council invites public feedback on the Draft Local Housing Strategy, residents have a unique chance to shape the future of our region. Amid the maps, forecasts and planning jargon, one vital word deserves more attention: liveability.Dr Alan Woodward, a long-time Kiama local and respected national leader in mental health and social policy, believes the people who live here are the real experts in what makes a place liveable. In a recent interview with Bernie Hems on Kiama Community Radio, he reflected on how community knowledge can be the difference between a good plan and a great one.“We know our community best,” he said. “We know what works and what doesn’t. That local expertise matters, and now we’ve got a platform to use it.”That platform is the Draft Housing Strategy, and submissions are open until 27 April.Dr Woodward, who helped establish the new incorporated group Kiama Matters, urged residents to move beyond cynicism and speak up.“Participation is one of the ways that the community can have a say and influence what occurs for them,” he said. “Individually, it’s easy to feel powerless. But groups, especially ones that work collaboratively and share good information, can really influence outcomes.”It’s a timely reminder. The Housing Strategy lays out where, what and how we’ll build over the coming decades. Housing is not just about rooftops and lot sizes. It’s about how we move, connect, raise families and grow older. It’s about sustainability, infrastructure and design, but also the quieter things: feeling safe, being seen and knowing your neighbours.His message is simple. “There are no better experts than the people who live here,” he said. “The liveability questions associated with population growth are things that people in the local community have expertise in.”Whether it’s access to green space, traffic impacts, housing diversity, affordability or the character of your street, now is the moment to reflect on what liveability means to you, and tell Council.Submissions can be short or long.A single story, a list of priorities or even a question is enough to make a difference.💬 Have your say hereAnd if you need a little inspiration, put on Imagine, Alan’s song choice to close the interview, and think about the Kiama you want to leave behind for the next generation.Tune into Bernie Hems' show at 9am on Tuesdays on KCR.