When the harbour’s in trouble, call a six-year-old with a phone If you spotted the photo of the submerged yacht in Kiama Harbour in The Bugle last week, chances are you’ve already admired the work of one of our newest contributors. His name is Darcy O’Brien. He’s six. And he has no time to waste.  “I saw the boat sinking,” he said, matter-of-factly. “I told Mum to stop the car.” The car stopped, the phone came out, and before you could say “citizen journalist,” Darcy was framing the shot that would end up in the news.  The phone, for the record, is his mother’s basic Samsung device. Darcy's instincts, however, are anything but basic. He might only be in Year One at primary school, but Darcy already knows how to follow a breaking story.  He looked out the window and saw something strange. His photo was gripping. His theories were, frankly, irresistible. “I think it hit the rocks,” he explained. “Or maybe a shark. And then they got into a little boat and paddled to shore.” Mum, Jennifer, confirmed she was planning to keep driving.  “He begged me to stop. I said, ‘We’ll be late’. But we stopped anyway.” The Bugle was on the scene, with a reporter speaking to early-rising locals, including a pint-sized snapper with big ideas. It turns out this wasn’t Darcy's first shot. He’s been snapping since he was five.Mentors include Mum, Nonnie and Skippy, known as Granddad. His real passion, though, might be farm life. The O’Briens often head out to Neville, a speck of a place near Blayney, where Darcy rides motorbikes, swims in the dam, and helps round up the cattle.He’s learning about Black Baldies, Angus and Speckle Parks. He knows a Belted Galloway when he sees one. He’s already plotting his future.“I want to build dams,” he says. “And take pictures.” So here’s the deal. We’ve offered Darcy the unofficial title of Junior Reporter. His next assignment? “Darcy’s Farm Journeys” - a series of farm photos for a feature for The Bugle. He's agreed. With gusto. We can’t wait to publish the next chapter. And neither, we suspect, can his class at show-and-tell. Watch this space. There’s a new reporter in town.

Mike Hammond, zone commander south with Marine Rescue NSW, has just returned from the trip of a lifetime researching what the increasing popularity of electric-powered boats will mean for marine rescuers.Hammond, who supports around 1000 volunteer marine rescue responders from Port Kembla to Eden and inland to Moama on the Murray River, was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship to travel to nations including Sweden and Germany, two world-leaders in e-boat building and technology.It was a dream come true for the lifelong recreational boater, commercial skipper and Superintendent responsible for the safety of Marine Rescue NSW volunteer crews on the South Coast. Part of his role includes ensuring volunteers have all the safety training and assets needed to carry out what are often perilous maritime rescue missions. Hammond is no stranger to danger. During a stint with the State Emergency Service he helped land-based rescuers respond safely to incidents involving the growing number of electric vehicles on our roads. “We needed to give our road crash rescue teams the tools to be safe when they turn up to a road accident and the car that's upside down or in a ditch is an electric vehicle,” he explained. “The risks are different, big lithium batteries can overheat, catch fire or explode in these kinds of situations. We needed to prepare those responders for that kind of emergency.”Mike travelled to Tokyo and met with officers from the Japan Coast Guard. Photo: Marine Rescue NSWWith a rise in electric boat technology - the Teslas of the sea - Mr Hammond realised he could use this experience and apply it to marine rescue. “We’ve seen the impact e-battery fires can have on land so we need to be prepared for marine rescue responders to know what they need to do if there is a battery fire on a boat, not only to help the people onboard but also how to keep themselves safe in the process.“I'm convinced that electric boat technology is very safe and it's not like we don't have fires on petrol boats either but I want our responders to be prepared for any safety risks posed by batteries.”Hammond began researching how to do this and came across the Churchill Fellowship. After a rigorous application and interview process he was one of more than 100 successful candidates and the first ever from Marine Rescue NSW.The fellowship allowed him to visit one of the world’s largest boat shows, Boot Düsseldorf and also see first-hand how marine rescue organisations in the UK, Sweden, the US and Japan manage electric boat technology.For six weeks, Hammond travelled around the globe exploring the growing electric boat market, which he says is several years behind EV cars but will become more popular over the next decade as the technology becomes less cost prohibitive. Mike was all smiles after riding the amazing Candela P12 foiling electric passenger ferry in Stockholm. Photo: Supplied“At the moment an electric boat can be triple the cost of a petrol boat but in Sweden they are already using a 12-metre, electric, carbon fibre, foiling ferry to carry passengers around Stockholm harbour,” he says. “It’s the way of the future but at the moment it’s very expensive. “Riding several foiling electric boats on the trip was a great experience, they look amazing and get a lot of attention. I’ve seen little dinghies and tenders with electric outboards here in Australia for years, but this was next level.”As to whether or not organisations like marine rescue would adopt the technology, Hammond is circumspect.“I think commercial operators will adopt the technology sooner because they are using their boats every day and so they will recoup the additional expense in a realistic timeframe. “At the moment it’s cost prohibitive for recreational boaters who might take it out once a week if they’re lucky. But I think the cost will come down.“In terms of using them for rescue, I think that's quite a way off because we never know how far we're going to have to travel during a search but there are hybrid electric boats that can potentially have the same distance and range as a traditional boat.“It also means you've got the benefit that you can operate on purely electric power at low speed for that’s helpful in a search situation when you're looking for a fisherman who has gone off the rocks. That sort of technology will allow you to hear someone calling out much more easily than a boat with two diesel engines humming all the time. And of course it’s much better for the environment.”For an organisation like Marine Rescue NSW which is largely funded by charitable donations, it will be a stretch to commit to that kind of cost, he added.“But we may be able to start exploring this technology on a small scale, and while we maintain our primary offshore rescue boats we could trial a smaller electric boat for harbour, river or bay rescue. “But I have no doubt we will start to see more electric boats on the water in the coming years and my priority is to make sure that our people are ready and safe to assist boaters who take up the technology.”

The Greens can often be pigeonholed into being known as a political party that only cares about the environment but their candidate for Gilmore believes perceptions are starting to catch up with reality.Debbie Killian is putting forward policies on a wide range of issues in the lead-up to the May 3 election and housing is a topic which is not just a nationwide issue but one that is hotly debated on the South Coast.“Housing is a complex dilemma for us. It is a massive issue in this electorate,” Killian told The Bugle.“Up and down our great long stretch of coast that Gilmore covers and in the inland areas, we've got a bit of a wicked combination - we've got working-class communities who don't necessarily have high income although we have pockets of high-income communities. “We have people who are battlers, large amounts of tourism industry but that has a big impact on availability of accommodation for people.“We have that kind of uncomfortable mixture that so much of Australia has where developers want to develop on land that is beautiful, fragile bushland by the beach in the places with the views.“And that's the place they want to develop and we need to protect that so we have to always have the balance between yes we need more housing stock but we need to protect those environments.“Not only our untouched bushland but also our farming land. We're farming communities and we need to hang onto that and we need to not lose the space that grows our food and keep our farmers going.”Killian said the capacity and the taste for high density housing is pretty limited with only the central parts of Kiama, Nowra and Batemans Bay capable of coping with that kind of development.“Our focus is on increasing density in places in urban environments rather than spreading out,” she added. “We definitely strongly oppose any kind of rampant development onto our natural sites, our bushland, particularly by the coast where it's so fragile and also limiting the spread on farmland.”The Greens’ policy is for the introduction of a government-owned developer who would construct more than 600,000 homes across the country in a decade with 30% to be sold below market value at just above construction cost.The remainder would be rented at 25% of household income or 70% of market value whichever is lower.Killian said another major housing-related issue was the amount of accommodation which is being lost to Airbnb-style short-term rentals.She believes it would be beneficial if that could be restricted so that tourists would be pushed back into traditional forms of accommodation with housing stock released for locals to rent, which would be particularly beneficial to people at the lower end of the market.

Kiama has again been nominated as a finalist for the Top Tourism Town Awards in 2025.After taking the top spot last year, KIama is in the running once more and Destination Kiama is calling on local residents to help make it back-to-back victories.If you love Kiama, its charm, coastline, community and character, now’s your chance to show it with public votes counting toward the final result.Destination Kiama would love it everyone in the LGA can support in spreading the word far and wide.Kiama has been nominated in the category for towns with a population over 5000.The other finalists on the shortlist at Ballina, Newcastle, Terrigal, Yamba, Coffs Harbour, Kingscliff, Wagga Wagga and Kiama's nearest neighbours to the north, Shellharbour.Here's how you can help:✅ Cast your vote for Kiama✅ Share the voting link with your followers, friends and mailing lists✅ Use our social tiles and posters in your business and on social mediaLocal councillors and tourism officials gathered at Cin Cin's Wine Bar for the "Tourism After Dark" event last week.Cr Matt Brown proudly held up the 2024 Top Tourism Town trophy and urged locals to vote again.Imelda Laidler, Sally Bursell, Julie-anne Ratz at Cin Cin. Photo: The BugleA second win would lift Kiama into the Hall of Fame, keeping the spotlight on local success.Together, the local community can show the rest of NSW that Kiama isn’t just a beautiful destination, it’s a beloved community worth celebrating.You can cast your vote at the NSW Tourism website.

As Kiama Council finalises the $84 million sale of its aged-care facility Blue Haven Bonaira, now under the ownership of Hall & Prior, attention is turning to what comes next – especially for the disused Havilah Place site and the broader challenge of delivering housing that suits the community’s needs.Speaking with Bernie Hems on Kiama Community Radio (KCR), Councillor Stuart Larkins confirmed the deal was settled on 1 April after a $6 million reduction in price and several delays. Compensation was paid by Hall & Prior to cover Council’s extended operating costs. The provider plans to invest $1.2 million in upgrades to the facility’s bathrooms and independent living units.The transition ends Council’s direct role in residential aged care. But it raises the stakes for what remains – particularly the original Blue Haven site at Havilah Place, now fenced off and classified as hazardous after repeated break-ins and reports of people seeking shelter inside.A demolition report is expected at the next Council meeting, but locals can take heart that the adjacent community garden will be retained. “It will be excised from the site and kept as community land,” Cr Larkins said. “That’s something the community made very clear they wanted.”What happens to the remainder of the site, however, is still up for debate. Councillors Larkins and Imogen Draisma have pushed for the land to be repurposed for social and affordable housing, yet it is notably absent from the current draft of the Local Housing Strategy.“That’s a major oversight,” Cr Larkins said. “We need smaller, more accessible housing – not more five-bedroom homes with only two people living in them.”Housing stress is growing across the Kiama LGA, where rents are high and options limited. The community’s feedback has made clear the need for housing diversity – from single-level units for older residents to affordable rentals for essential workers.Cr Larkins pointed to missed opportunities at other sites too, including Iluka Crescent in Kiama Downs, which Council owns and currently maintains as underutilised green space. “It’s a site that could support some well-designed in-fill housing while still preserving public open space,” he said.He also raised concerns about the future of West Kiama and Bombo Quarry, two larger sites included in the housing strategy. While Bombo is earmarked for 1200 homes, its remediation may take up to seven years. West Kiama, currently under state review, remains controversial. “We need to be clear-eyed about what is actually feasible – and how to retain community control,” he said.Cr Larkins believes Council must keep pushing for better planning outcomes – and better infrastructure. “We need to advocate for highway access, public transport, and services that allow our community to age in place and stay connected.”💬 Have your say hereTune into Bernie Hems show at 9am on Tuesdays on KCR.

The Kiama Housing Strategy Forum provided a platform for residents to hear from planning, housing, and design experts while offering reflections on housing affordability, liveability, and the future shape of Kiama’s communities.Hosted by Kiama Council at The Sebel on Friday, it was held to encourage community input into the draft Local Housing Strategy which is on public exhibition.The session was structured around pre-submitted questions, giving the panel time to respond in depth, though this format limited direct audience interaction.Who was on the panel• Ed Paterson – Kiama Municipal Council Director of Planning and moderator of the event• Natalie Allan – Southern Cross Community Housing• Simon Kersten – Property professional, known for his pragmatic lens on local development and economics• Madeleine Scarfe – Architect, with expertise in place-based design and economic impact• Cathryn Lyall – President of Kiama Business Network and business and finance expert, offering a big-picture view of community resilience and sustainabilityMic drop moments💬 Natalie Allan:“Our perception of who we are directly influences the way we act.”She challenged the room to move beyond self-interest and nostalgia when writing submissions. Her message? Think community-first. Define “character” inclusively. And consider who benefits when we protect the status quo.💬 Simon Kersten:“We’re just exporting workers every morning and importing tourists every weekend.”Kersten’s quote hit hard, highlighting the imbalance between local housing and job opportunities, and making the case for tying economic development to housing growth.💬 Madeleine Scarfe:Highlighted the economic distortion of short-term rental accommodation, noting that a property rented at $1000 a night contributes less to the local economy than a long-term resident who buys groceries, uses local services, and sends their kids to school.💬 Cathryn Lyall:Reminded attendees that affordability isn't just about house prices. It is also about building a local economy with enough diversity that people can live, work, and age in place.Takeaway messageThe forum was not just about planning codes or zoning maps. It was a challenge to residents: to think bigger. To ask who is missing. And to ensure that Kiama remains not just a beautiful place to visit, but a place where people can afford to belong.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.

Funny as. A cast of characters. An odd assortment.They’re the blokes that get together at the Jamberoo Bakery at 6.15am every Monday and Friday.Such a simple idea. And such a huge success. The Man Walks which have now spread around Australia.The Man Walk was founded by Kiama local Mark Burns in 2018. There are now 84 chapters around Australia, as well as one in England and another in New Zealand.Jamberoo’s chapter was started by local real estate agent David Hall in 2019.“Hally”, as he is universally known, worked for many years as the sports editor for the Kiama Independent, the precursor to The Bugle. He is well aware of the issues facing men in the rural idyll of Jamberoo.“Walk, talk, support was the slogan which really attracted me,” he told The Bugle.“I could see the success of Kiama, but it’s a bit of a way at 6am, and I thought it’d be nice to have our own.“We had 10 at the first walk, and it has grown ever since. We were virtually strangers, and now I feel like I’ve got more than 20 new mates. It is just a really good feel.“I was confident it would work but I didn’t think we would get the numbers we’ve got, Now, we have more than 30 who walk regularly.“Getting men involved in something that is not too strenuous, starting early so if they’re working they can get away in time. That’s part of the reason it’s so successful.“We walk in different directions on the Monday and the Friday, about three kilometres each time.”Women network, but men form relationships through what they do, whether it’s working or golfing or drinking. Or in this case, walking.When they retire they are often lost, and feel very isolated. They look forward to their retirement, but when they get there they’re just plain lonely. They lose any social connection very quickly.“One of our walkers believes the whole thing has saved his life,” Hall said.“He was very isolated, and very depressed. This has given him a whole new outlet, and new friends. Another has a small farm out of town, and was just sitting at home. Not to embarrass him, but he says it’s been the greatest thing ever for him.”Ray Burley, a retired construction project manager, said: “Meeting other people, sharing stories, getting out in the morning and having a chat is really good for your mental health.“It’s good to talk about your health, because men don’t ever talk about that, not in front of their wives or girlfriends. You learn about the village and the goings on. It’s a social atmosphere. I enjoy it.”From local farmers to wealthy retirees, from the Snake Catcher of Jamberoo, the man you call when you have unwanted visitors in the back shed, to collectors of antique cars an makers of furniture to movers and shakers from the Big City simplifying their life, all get together at 6am.Always with a smile on their faces. Always with stories to tell.“Since we’ve first started we’ve had more than 250 walks, acquired sponsors and made a significant contribution to Jamberoo life,” Hall added.“From little things big things grow.”

A comprehensive list of unanswered questions about the finalisation of the Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club project has been lodged by Cr Melinda Lawton, who is calling for full documentation to be added to Kiama Council’s Asset Register and made available for public accountability.The detailed question with notice (Item 19.2 on the agenda) for Tuesday's Council meeting) includes more than 50 documentation points spanning compliance certificates, as-built plans, warranties, maintenance schedules, financial reconciliations, environmental assessments and community usage registers.Cr Lawton described the surf club as “the most recently completed KMC project” and is seeking to ensure all builder and consultant documents have been accurately supplied, stored and referenced.She is also requesting a clear record of items purchased by lessees, community use logs, and formalised leasing agreements.“We need to close the loop properly on these major capital projects,” Cr Lawton said. “Our community deserves to know not just what’s been built, but how it’s being maintained, what we’re responsible for, and what’s been handed over.”Cr Lawton clarified her intent was not to single out the Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club, but to set a consistent standard across all Council-owned assets. “I want to make it clear the intention is to do all of this with all assets. I'm using this one as the start because it's the most recently completed,” she said.In a brief response, CEO Jane Stroud advised that the responsible officer is currently attending the Australasian Management Challenge and a full answer will be provided at the May meeting.The motion follows Cr Lawton’s earlier push for a full audit of Council’s asset records, signalling a broader call for governance rigour, particularly around high-profile, community-facing infrastructure.

Graham Brown is entering politics for the first time by running for Family First in the seat of Gilmore because he wants to help fellow small business owners and represent the majority of constituents rather than a vocal minority. The Moruya businessman is the managing director of Euro Civil, a company he started with his wife Julie a quarter of a century ago that installs safety barriers.He will go up against Labor incumbent Fiona Phillps, Liberal veteran Andrew Constance, Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds and The Greens’ candidate Debbie Killian in the battle for Gilmore in the May 3 federal election.Brown said he decided to throw his hat into the ring because he believes Family First’s policies on a range of topics, including housing, immigration and support for small business. “I'm standing because I love this country,” he said.“I've had both sides of working on the farm and also working in the civil industry and you see a lot of stuff going on and I see that the frustration with the cost of living, the power prices going up when we were promised a reduction in power bills.“I'm very passionate about seeing the government being held accountable to and coming back to the core basics of what they stand for. “They're quick to throw money around to try and get people to vote for them but they're missing a lot of the main points.” “I guess I'm representing the underdog in a lot of ways, the people that own small businesses and don't get too much say in politics. “They've got to sit back and put up with what's thrown at them and by people that have never experienced life in the real world. “I left school at 15, worked on the farm and started my own business in between milkings, running mobile discos at night time and fencing contracting in the day.“Through hard work and determination I’ve given the customers what they want and that is what I stand for and I think that can apply to politics.“Giving people what they want without leaning towards a minority. “Basically, I just want to see the right thing done by this country. There are a lot of decisions that are being made that aren't in the country's interest. They might be in the minority's interest but not in the whole country's interest.”Brown’s view is that families are spending too much time working extra hours to cover for the rising cost of living, which is having flow-on effects.“Family values is the biggest thing that I'm all for,” he added.“I see mums and dads working hard, their families are left in daycares and the mums and dads are working on separate jobs and there's no family life.“We're living in a world now where we're paying high interest rates and the families have just got to spend their time working and not spending family time. “They're missing out on a lot of the family values and they don't get too much say. The schools tend to be helping to raise the kids instead of the parents because they're either in daycare or they're in schools and the parents get home at night.“It's causing a lot of issues with juvenile crime going through the roof. A lot of it's because they're not spending enough time with their parents and not getting that proper upbringing.“I think it's because the parents are too busy trying to pay the bills and the kids are left without proper parenting.”Small businesses are doing it tough because of the extra costs imposed, Brown added.“I was talking to a fella the other day who wants to start his own business but he said he just felt like every time he wanted to get going he had red tape and he's banging his head against the wall trying to get going. “Once upon a time it was just so easy to be able to. There were lots of incentives to get started but now it's like everything's against you. “You put in a tender for a contract that lasts five years and you’re not expecting the power prices to go through the roof and the costs of labour to go up.“It's sending a lot of small businesses broke because of the extra costs involved.”

Even though Mat King is a new face on the board of the Kiama Business Network, he’s quickly become one of its most passionate voices.“I’ve volunteered before,” he says, “but it’s always been a bit of a solo journey. This time, it feels completely different, it’s a team. And I’m learning something every time we sit down together.”As Vice President of the Network and owner of Creative Kooks, Mat brings an energy that blends grassroots enthusiasm with a hunger to learn. He’s the first to say he’s not the most experienced person at the table and that’s exactly what motivates him.“I believe if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room,” he says with a grin. “So I know I’m in the right place. I’m learning from people with backgrounds in HR, banking, law, people who’ve led careers, juggled families, and still show up with their hearts in the right place.”For Mat, the standout is the group culture itself - open, inclusive and powered by shared values.“There’s no ego, no hierarchy. If you bring an idea and it’s got heart, the board gets behind you.”That’s exactly what happened when he proposed a partnership with Headspace to run a mental health first aid course. Initially hoping for 10 participants, the event was overwhelmed by demand, with 47 people signing up in just a few days.“The community response was huge. It reminded us we were on the right track - that what we’re doing really matters.”It also showed Mat the unique impact of volunteering as part of a structured, supported team. The Network gave him the space to run with the project and the confidence to think about what’s next.Beyond his mental health initiatives, Mat is now working with the board on refreshing the local “Buy Local” campaign - aiming to better include online businesses and digital-first entrepreneurs.“I’ve realised volunteering like this isn’t just giving back - it’s building up. You grow your own business skills, make meaningful connections, and feel part of something bigger than yourself.”As a father, business owner, and active community member, Mat says his greatest reward is setting an example.“One day, I want my kids to be proud of what I’m doing - to see how important it is to give back, and how much joy and learning can come from being part of a team that genuinely cares.”It’s not just about volunteering anymore - it’s about community, collaboration and building a better Kiama together.

By Jacqueline ForstConsumer and Carer Advocate, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.The Bugle is pleased to announce that Jacqueline Forst will be contributing a series of articles focusing on aged care issues that matter to the Kiama community.Jacqueline brings extensive experience as a Consumer and Carer Advocate with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and Carers NSW. With postgraduate qualifications in Commerce and Social Work, and a background in human services design, she is deeply committed to social equity and community-led innovation.Aged care is heading towards a crisis point.More Australians are living longer, but too many are spending those extra years in poor health.This graphic shows the projected increase in Kiama LGA residents aged 65 and over - from 4,950 in 2021 to 8,550 by 2036. This represents a 32% increase and highlights the growing need for age-friendly services and planning in the region. ​As our population ages, demand for care is soaring, costs are climbing, and both government and providers are under pressure to keep up.Australia’s population is ageing at an unprecedented rate. Over the next 40 years, the number of people over 85 is expected to triple.Yet our health span lags 12 years behind our lifespan, meaning many Australians spend their later years with limited mobility and high care needs.This shift is making aged care more complex and costly to manage.In the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region, the effects are already being felt.Former Warrigal CEO Mark Sewell confirmed that 500 aged care beds have closed over the past decade. ISLHD CEO Margot Mains estimates the region is now short 1,025 beds as of March 2025.At the same time, the cost of care has climbed significantly, with the Productivity Commission reporting that average aged care bed-day costs have risen from $71,420 in 2014 to $85,891 in 2022–23 (adjusted for inflation).In response, the federal government passed the Aged Care Bill in November 2024, with the new Aged Care Act set to take effect on 1 July 2025.It introduces reforms aimed at stabilising the sector, recognising that further closures would have dire consequences.These include increased funding, higher wages for care workers, expanded access to nursing, and more direct care hours.Local governments like Kiama Council have struggled to navigate the evolving aged care environment.Despite the good intentions behind Blue Haven Bonaira, the council underestimated the financial and structural shifts that have reshaped the industry.Meanwhile, larger not-for-profit providers were consolidating, reducing risks, and stepping away from unprofitable ventures.Under the new legislation, around half of new aged care residents will face higher costs.While hardship provisions remain, those with fewer resources may need to travel further to find suitable care.These pressures are particularly urgent for Kiama. According to the 2021 Census, our median age is 48, ten years older than the national median.By 2036, the number of Kiama residents aged 65 and over is projected to grow from 4,950 to 8,550. A 32% increase. Planning for this now is essential.The path forward will require collaboration across all levels - government, providers, community leaders, and residents.Together, we must find sustainable solutions that ensure older Australians.

Local skies, lost stories and brave souls remembered ...  It was standing room only at the Kiama History Centre on Friday as fifth-generation local Russell Fredericks took the audience on a wild ride.Or rather, a tragic nosedive through three remarkable military aircraft accidents that took place in the hills and skies around our region.It was the kind of talk that made you lean forward, forget to sip your tea, and wish history had a rewind button. Gordon Bell, who opened the event with affectionate banter, joked that Russell was “chicken” - too young, at least compared to his Jamberoo pedigree.But nobody in the room doubted that his deep local knowledge and knack for detail were the real deal. With warmth, wit and a surprisingly slick PowerPoint for someone who claimed not to do technology, Russell took us through three aviation incidents that had been all but erased from collective memory.  The first story took us to 1939 and the side of Saddleback Mountain.A Hawker Demon fighter, piloted by young Jack Ohlmeyer from Clare, South Australia, spiralled out of the clouds and into the earth.His parachute failed. Locals from Jamberoo rushed to the wreckage.Wal Alexander, a dairyman, got there first.Jack died within seconds in his arms. His body, taken by ER ambulance, was eventually buried with full military honours back in Clare.Site of the Fountaindale Rd crash on Saddleback Mt Jamberoo Russell revealed that Jack was not only the first pilot from No.3 Squadron to die in WWII, but possibly the first RAAF pilot overall.The moment hit hard. Not just for history buffs, but for everyone who has walked the Saddleback trails and never known. On to 1943. A Bristol Beaufort bomber vanished above Foxground in dreadful weather.Beaufort Bomber Its crash was so secretive that locals did not even know it had happened, until Bullocky Brennan came upon the wreckage while carting timber with his bullocks. He found four crew members charred inside the plane, and one slumped against a tree, lifeless. Decades later, Gerringong Scouts and locals trekked to the site to install a plaque.It was a poignant reminder that war often leaves its mark quietly, deep in the bush, under the ferns, and in the memories of people like Molly Irvine, who rode from Clover Hill Rd across Wallaby Hill to milk cows for her neigjbours for two shillings and remembered those men as if they had just fallen.Then came 1957.A Fairey Firefly crashed west of Foxground during a training exercise.Fairey Firefly wreakage below Barren GroundsTwo young naval officers died instantly after mistaking Kiama’s lighthouse for Point Perpendicular. A flare seen shortly after raised false hope. It was just the intense heat igniting ammunition. A naval prayer was said on the hillside that night. It was an accident that could have been avoided by 20 feet. A tragic miscalculation that has haunted the escarpment ever since. Russell peppered the afternoon with vivid asides.A radar operator who was not believed when she tracked a Japanese flight over Kiama.A mysterious 1920 crash near Chapman’s Point. Bullock teams and Scout maps. The room chuckled and sighed in equal measure. The final slide called for a small gesture.To remember the airmen who died here, often in training, far from enemy fire but no less brave.Graham Kenderdine, aviation sleuth and son of a local wartime navigator, helped piece these stories together.But it was Russell’s voice, steady and respectful, that brought the forgotten back into focus. As we filed out, the murmurs said it all. “Incredible,” someone whispered. “I had no idea.” Neither did most of us. Until Russell gave us wings.You can read more about these historical aviation tales here.

Kiama Anglican Church’s free family fun days have been a huge hit at Christmas and Easter time over the past three years and next Saturday’s event promises to be another success.Kids have a great time at the Fun Days with their parents, while hounding them about when the next one is happening!It is a place where families can hang out together and do fun stuff for free. What more can you ask for than that!This Easter no one will be disappointed there will be plenty of things to do:Rolling across the grass in Zorb BallsBig and little kids Jumping CastlesCreative art and craft activitiesFace PaintingIndoor gamesCarnival Alley FoodGiant Easter Egg Hunt and much more.The Easter Bunny turns up each year, trusting the "orange tiger" to lead the hunt!See you on Saturday (19 April) from 1pm to 4 pm at Kiama Anglican Church at 2 Terralong Street, Kiama, and remember there is free car parking on site.

Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips has pledged more than half a million dollars to upgrade Kiama Surf Life Saving Club.Phillips made the announcement on Saturday at the club, promising $512,000 to upgrade the facility if Anthony Albanese's Labor Government is re-elected at the May 3 federal election.The incumbent MP said the upgrade would make the club a fit-for-purpose space for training and social activities for young members.Phillips has previously delive $5.5 million in funding for the new Gerringong Surf Club and she said this election commitment would be delivered in line with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.“I am so proud to be supporting this project because I know how important Kiama SLSC is to the local community here in Kiama," Phillips said.“I have supported Kiama SLSC in multiple funding grants, including supporting them in their successful grant application to fix their roof."I’m also proud to have supported the local Surf Life Saving Community by delivering $5.5 million for the fantastic new Gerringong Surf Club, which I opened in March this year.“I will always stand with our Surf Life Saving Clubs and our coastal community.” She was joined by Kiama councillors Imogene Draisma and Stuart Larkins, and members of the surf life saving club at Saturday's announcement at Surf Beach.

Kiama Councillor Erica Warren has asked for a full breakdown of how much Kiama Municipal Council is spending on councillor conferences and events, prompted by concerns that public funds may be stretched too thin to justify multiple attendees at external forums.Her question with notice (Item 19.3 on the agenda for 15 April) seeks details on average costs per event, year-by-year totals, and what has been allocated in Council’s budget for these expenses.Cr Warren says she’s particularly interested in whether multiple councillors need to attend the same conference, especially when those funds could be spent on community services.“I understand that the Mayor or Deputy Mayor may be expected to attend some events,” she wrote, “but we have to ask: are these trips all necessary, or are we just used to saying yes to everything and are we coming in under budget annually?”The CEO’s detailed response reveals that Kiama councillors have collectively spent:$21,992 in 2023–24$22,336 in 2022–23$37,112 in 2021–22And $13,369 so far in 2024–25 (with more events to come)The 2025-26 budget allocates $15,000 to councillor conference attendance.While some events involve online training or local meetings, others include flights, accommodation, and dinners across destinations such as Canberra, Tamworth, Newcastle, and the Adelaide Hills.The response also notes that only one councillor has submitted a required professional development plan, despite all being asked in October 2024, something that determines what training or conferences are truly necessary.Kiama Council has a policy requiring councillors to be endorsed by resolution to attend events, with reports and costings provided in advance. Still, the item raises broader questions about optics and priorities in an era of financial restraint.Cr Warren also noted: “The new Councillors have already seen that there are many items coming up for the community that aren't in the budget but would benefit the community."Items that have been well supported, such as a disabled parking space at Kiama Med Clinic, or the pool cover at Jamberoo Pool. Funds are also needed to plan for a walking track in Jamberoo, which won't happen until we have the money to do the preparatory work so we can apply for grants."The list is ever growing and luckily, we are a group of Councillors that want to get things done, but without fine-tuning our spending habits, small but impactful changes won't happen."We will begin to see a positive change in our finances over the next 2-3 years, but we need to think about what we can do now, to make an impact.”

Election signs have started popping up across Kiama, and not everyone is happy about it.Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has taken aim at candidates who have installed corflutes on public land leading into the formal election period, calling the practice “visual pollution” and a breach of the rules.“It’s not a free-for-all. The law is clear, and everyone should play by the same rules” the state member said. “It’s time to do politics differently.”He criticised signs being placed on fences, poles and other publicly owned infrastructure, and said he has only ever put his signs on private property. “If a small business was caught doing this, they would be fined – and so too should these candidates.”Kate Dezarnaulds’ team says their campaign has acted well within the law and in the spirit of long-standing Australian electoral practice.“On Saturday 22 March, we placed signs across Kiama in public locations commonly used for community notices, such as fences that regularly display banners for local sporting events and community activities,” a spokesperson said.“The law allows election signage from either the date the election is called or up to eight weeks before polling day, whichever comes first.  “We believe we have followed both the letter and the spirit of the law.”The team also raised concerns that some Kate4Gilmore signs have been taken down, while other signage nearby was left untouched.“If Council’s concern is signage on public land, we would welcome clarity on the approach being taken, to ensure all campaigns are treated consistently.”While Ward encouraged residents to report unauthorised signs to Council, Kate4Gilmore’s campaign struck a different note: “Our focus remains on engaging respectfully with our community about the big issues, from housing and health to the rising cost of living.“Our signs are just one way of letting people know we are here, we are listening, and we are ready to work hard for our region.”With voters watching closely, the question may be less about where signs go up and more about who is willing to listen when they do.

Playing tennis is like riding a bike - once you learn you’ve got the skills for life.Ryan Stirling spent his younger years in Cowra and participated in tennis lessons organised by local club members from the age of four. He moved to Tenterfield where he played basketball, volleyball, golf, squash and Aussie Rules but no tennis as there was a lack of organisation.“The courts seemed to be never in use,” Ryan recalled. After completing his secondary studies at Tenterfield High School, Ryan completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Chemistry) at the University. of NSW at Randwick. Ryan then went to work for Masterfoods at Wyong for four years, then travelled to Canada on a skiing holiday before moving to England where he worked for an engineering consulting company from 2004-2008.He made his comeback to tennis when he joined the Jamberoo Tennis Club in 2018 and started playing night competition in Division 4 with Shaun Thurkettle, Ryan Stalgis and Nick Kofod. Ryan came to live in Jamberoo in 2020 and works for the Shellharbour Council at the waste depot at Dunmore.This year he was promoted to Division 3 night comp, teaming up with two of the club’s most experienced members - Noel Faulkner and Joel Edwards. Ryan has performed well in the club championships, winning the B Grade Men’s Doubles in 2023 with Harley Fry and in 2024 with Shaun Thurkettle.

A motion calling for deeper environmental scrutiny and community accountability ahead of any move to relocate Kiama Municipal Council's works depot to the Minnamurra River catchment will be debated at Tuesday's Council meeting.Cr Melinda Lawton has lodged a notice of motion (Item 20.1 on the agenda) urging Council to commit to a formal environmental impact analysis, costed flood and runoff studies, and a comprehensive assessment of road access and long-term maintenance issues.She also wants the findings formally presented to councillors and costed into the upcoming 2025–26 Delivery Program and Operational Plan.Cr Lawton says her motion aligns with the Coastal Management Act 2016, which mandates the protection of coastal wetlands and littoral rainforests, rehabilitation of degraded areas, and strengthened resilience to climate change."We can't pursue economic efficiency at the expense of the Minnamurra catchment's environmental, social and recreational value," she said. "The community deserves to see the full picture, not just the financial upside."While Council staff note these assessments will be required under existing legislation, Cr Lawton's motion seeks explicit commitment and transparency at a public level.In a staff response, CEO Jane Stroud confirmed the proposal is currently in its early scoping phase under a newly adopted Project Management Framework. A working group including risk, finance, waste and infrastructure staff has been formed, and preliminary funding has already been flagged in the draft 2025–26 Capital Works Program.Stroud also noted although the motion does not strictly meet the Code of Meeting Practice, it has been included in the business paper as relevant funding and briefings are already in place.This motion is a call for greater environmental transparency and community accountability before the relocation of Kiama’s depot to the Minnamurra catchment. While Council staff are already required by law to carry out many of these assessments, Cr Lawton is advocating for explicit Council commitment and reporting, with the goal of protecting a sensitive and significant ecological and recreational area.

With the federal election on the horizon, teachers are concerned that a change in government could mean a change in their funding.The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments announced last month they had agreed to provide $4.8 billion for NSW public schools over the next 10 years. Members of the Teachers Federation met with the union's president and Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, at Nowra High School on Tuesday to receive an update on the funding agreement.Mr Rajendra and Mrs Phillips speaking with teachers in front of the Full School Funding Billboard truck. Photos provided.Phillips shared findings from a new survey of teachers across the Gilmore, Whitlam, and Cunningham electorates. The survey revealed more than three quarters (76%) of teachers are concerned that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will scrap this historic funding agreement for public schools if he becomes Prime Minister.Both the President and Organiser of the NSW Teachers Federation, Henry Rajendra and Duncan McDonald respectively, cited the Coalition's history in government as a key reason for concern.“This funding is at risk should Peter Dutton be elected PM. The Liberal-National Coalition government cut school funding agreements the last time they were in power, denying children vital support. Most concerningly, Peter Dutton has failed to offer bipartisan support for the new school funding agreement,” Rajendra said.McDonald added: “Since 2013, successive Coalition governments have delivered cuts to New South Wales public schools. “In fact, just the day after the agreement was signed, shadow finance minister Jane Hume refused to commit to the additional $4.8 billion in funding for NSW public schools. “The Coalition under Peter Dutton has also made no commitments to increasing school funding in NSW.”The 10-year agreement, signed by the federal and NSW governments, aims to raise funding for public schools to 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) - a minimum funding level, as defined by McDonald.“We call it 100% of the SRS, but it’s actually the minimum level of funding required to meet the needs of all students. That’s why it’s so significant. It will allow schools to focus on areas of need and on equity for students,” he said.Mr Rajendra with teachers and students from Gerringong Public School. Photos provided.The same survey released by Phillips showed two thirds of teachers across the Gilmore, Whitlam and Cunningham electorates believe this funding is critical to support students who have fallen behind in literacy and numeracy.“There are teachers in our area expressing these concerns because they see students in need every day. They go above and beyond to support them, but they lack the necessary resources. What we’re seeing is teachers burning out,” McDonald said.“We’re also seeing state-level departments of education struggling to attract and retain teachers due to burnout and heavy workloads.”Rajendra also highlighted the positive impact of the funding agreement on NSW public schools.