Rita Sullivan, owner of Knickerboxes in Kiama has received recognition for her contributions to the community after more than 20 years. Gareth Ward MP acknowledged Rita’s dedication and hard work with a community recognition statement letter. Rita’s impact extends beyond the Kiama community. She and her team travel between several locations across the Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands and beyond to ensure access to not only the lingerie and garments sold but also a safe haven for women who have undergone breast cancer surgeries. Rita has built a space and a service to help restore confidence and provide comfort when it’s most needed. The Knickerboxes name also exemplifies generosity and community commitment by collecting and donating necessities to women in Fiji undergoing breast cancer surgery. Gareth Ward commended Rita’s remarkable contributions, acknowledging her as a beloved and respected member of the Kiama community. As Rita looks at a new chapter of life, she is selling her thriving business in Edessa Arcade. The Kiama community expresses heartfelt gratitude for her selfless dedication. Her legacy of kindness and compassion will forever resonate within the hearts of those she has touched. 

Parishioners and church officials gathered to celebrate the centenary celebration of the Soldier War Memorial at Kiama's iconic Anglican Church at 8am on Sunday morning 25 February 2024. Among the attendees, local dignitaries, Federal Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips and invited guests.The commemorative service was a celebration of the bell tower constructed 100 years ago to remind us of the local brave men and women whose lives were taken in WW1. Reverend Steve Stannis, (Senior Pastor at Kiama Anglican Church) welcomed the congregation as the grand organ played. The sermon by Reverend Rod Harding echoed the words that have adorned the Bell Tower for a century “This tower is dedicated to the glory of God in grateful memory of the men of this parish who laid down their lives in the Great war, and all of their comrades in arms who by divine grace were spared to testify to their glorious deeds.” written a century ago. He expounded on what was meant by these words “To the glory of God” and looked at God’s attributes such as faithfulness, courage and sacrifice echoed by those who served.  The words etched into the tower 100 years agoAs the parishioners and visitors took part in communion they were encouraged to say a prayer or have a moment of reflection for the brave soldiers, nurses and workers who served our country. Upon leaving, Reverend Stannis implored guests to read the names of those whose lives were lost, engraved in stone on the entryway to the church and allowed each attendee to toll the bell on their exit. For some congregation members, the bell tower is close to home. Bryan and Margot Fuller, regular church goers, remember their late cousin who served as a nurse during The Great War. Her name is etched into history in the historic bell tower. Bryan and Margot FullerMs Phillips remarked on the wonderful turn out and support from the community to mark a historic day of remembrance for our fallen loved ones. “They were much loved sons, daughters, husbands/wives, siblings, workers and Kiama community members. One hundred years on, we remember.”After the early morning service, attendees were treated to a marvellous “100” cake to celebrate the momentous occasion before church resumed for the second session.Fiona Phillips ringing the tower bellReverend Steve StannisLocal parishioners - Margret Silburn, Wendy Unsworth, Elizabeth Taylor, Dianne AllenPastor Cameron Webber and Margret Clough

Residents in West Kiama had their feathers ruffled this month after receiving letters indicating the nearby Greyleigh Function Centre was expanding its premises.Bugle readers told us they’d received the letter from Kiama Council on 12 February 2024 advising that the owners of Greyleigh, a countryside accommodation and boutique wedding venue on Long Brush Road, had lodged a development application for the property.Council’s letter states: “Under Council’s notification provisions, a person who owns land that the Council considers may be detrimentally affected by the proposed development, will be notified of that development. “The notification plans and associated documents for the development may be viewed on Council’s DA Tracker during the notification period only at https://da.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Home/Index.”The Bugle received a number of letters from concerned residents about the development, so we reached out to the owners of Greyleigh to ask about the changes.Greyleigh’s General Manager, Hamish McCallum told The Bugle that the system generated description of the DA may be somewhat misleading. The DA instead represents Greyleigh’s application to host farm experiences and farm stay accommodation.“This application is more for housekeeping purposes. It does not include the erection of new buildings or modification of any of the existing buildings on site,” McCallum said.“It does not increase the footprint of the site, nor does it increase the capacity of the site either. As per our existing approval, we can host a maximum of 250 guests, while our average wedding is around 120 guests.”“We find the system generated DA description to be somewhat misleading and our town planner has contacted council regarding this. Under the definitions of the LEP we have applied for a Farm Experience Premises and Farm Stay Accommodation.”You can find all the documents lodged as part of the DA, and any future documents, from Kiama Council’s DA portal here.

Amidst the usual hustle and bustle of a school day, the serene atmosphere of Kiama High School's quad was infused with the delightful sounds of music as the school's bands took centre stage for a lunchtime Valentine’s Day performance. Under the guidance of their dedicated educator, Head Teacher of CAPA, Scott Wright, the Kiama High School Band and the Senior Band captivated the passing traffic through the quad.As they played, their passion and commitment shone through, leaving a lasting impression on their peers and teachers alike. As the final notes echoed through the quad, the lingering melodies served as a reminder of the profound impact of live music and the importance of supporting arts education in schools. Principal Catherine Glover and Head Teacher CAPA Scott Wright emphasised the significance of events like these in nurturing students' artistic talents and fostering a sense of community within the school.For the members of the Kiama High School Bands, the lunchtime performance was a culmination of months of dedication and practice throughout 2023. The Future includes to incorporate more wind and brass instruments into their ensemble to enhance their sound to work on more complex musical material, challenging themselves to reach new heights of musical excellence.

In a thoughtful display of generosity, Sheila Lyne, a resident of Kiama, has made a significant contribution to Kiama High School. Sheila's thoughtful donation encompasses top-notch sound equipment for the Music department and a collection of books belonging to her late husband, Ken Methold, a remarkable figure in literature, education, and the arts.The donation of sound equipment, including microphones, mixing desks, recording gear, and audio cables, promises to elevate the learning experience for budding musicians and performers at the school. Sheila's gift ensures that students have access to high-quality resources to nurture their talents and explore their musical abilities fully.HowHowever, the generosity doesn't end there. Sheila also bestowed four boxes of books that once belonged to her late husband, Ken Methold. Ken's legacy is a rich tapestry of accomplishments, spanning various roles as a teacher, writer, publisher's agent, bookseller, and film producer. As a full-time writer from 1974 onwards, Ken's impact on literature was profound. He served as the Chairman of the Australian Society of Authors from 1984 to 1987, demonstrating his commitment to supporting fellow writers and fostering literary talent.Ken's literary contributions extended beyond traditional writing to include over 200 textbooks on communication and readers for students of English as a foreign language. His creative endeavours also led him into the realm of film and television, where he founded his own company in 1986. Among his notable works are two feature films, "Jackson's Crew" (1986) and "Contagion" (1987), a children's miniseries titled "Animal Park" (1991), and an animated children's feature called "Ketchup" (1997). Additionally, Ken's talent extended to writing plays and documentary scripts for esteemed broadcasters such as the ABC and the BBC.The school community extends a profound thank you to Sheila Lyne for her remarkable generosity and celebrates the enduring contributions of Ken Methold to literature, education, and the arts. Sheila's donation, alongside the memory of Ken's legacy, will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact, enriching the lives of students for years to come.

The Quarry Cafe at Burnett’s on Barney has launched a heartwarming initiative to give elderly residents a chance to remain active and engaged in the community. For a long time staff at Burnett’s on Barney have been transporting patrons that had difficulty accessing transport to and from the cafe and garden nursery. With the use of the Kiama Bowling club bus, outings can become a regular fixture on the calendar. Elizabeth Burnett, owner of Burnetts and the organiser of the initiative, is passionate about addressing barriers the elderly community faces. She believes it is very important to make sure older people can remain active and engaged and she has worked hard to offer a solution to the issue of transportation, “we want to make sure that everyone in our community, regardless of their mobility, has the opportunity to socialise and engage in the activities they enjoy.”The bus runs on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from Bluehaven Bonaira with the opportunity for growth moving forward. Bluehaven Terralong may be included in the pick up and drop off system in future.This collaborative effort between Kiama businesses prioritises inclusion over profit, allowing the elderly residents to visit the cafe and nursery for lunch, to meet with friends or to pick up their gardening supplies, “our community has a lot of old people and they’re really vibrant, we just want to be a part of their lives.”The initiative has been made possible by Elizabeth Burnett, the staff at Burnett’s on Barney and Kiama Bowlo in a generous and selfless reflection of the community’s commitment to caring for our elderly. Photos provided by Elizabeth Burnett.

The Nowra Quilters Group has set up a market at the old fire station in Kiama. Running from Thursday 8 February until 14 February, the market features a stunning array of handmade items created by talented crafters from the group. Quilts, handbags, tea towels, table runners and coasters are just a selection of the beautiful handcrafted goods on offer. The Nowra Quilters are a very generous group that are involved in many charities and initiatives to help people in the local community. Terri, Jenny and Helene, along with the other group members love to showcase their creations. The crafters make it a point to organise events like this and other markets a few times a year to provide the community with an opportunity to admire and acquire their handcrafted artworks. Jenny’s work will be on display at the Nowra show this weekend and the group often have a set up at the Berry Markets in the Masonic Hall. The market will be open until Valentine’s Day, offering people the chance to find unique gifts for their loved ones while supporting local artistry and giving back to the community. 

A suicide prevention workshop was hosted by LivingWorks at Kiama Library on 7 February. The event introduced a small group of like minded individuals to a number of critical skills and mechanisms to help make our community more suicide alert. The SafeTALK skills training runs for four hours and emphasises the importance of suicide alertness for everyone, fostering safer communities through education and awareness by teaching life-saving skills of communication and empathy. The group learned about the importance of the safeTALK model, one of the many programs that LivingWorks makes available for free to individuals, communities and businesses or organisations. The TALK part of SafeTALK stands for Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe. These are steps designed to connect a person who needs help to the services that can provide help, it is a framework for engaging with someone who may be contemplating suicide. The program teaches crucial skills in the correct language to use to help someone having a difficult time with their mental health as well as the correct ways to listen and to be present in the conversation. The goal, of course, is to create communities where suicide alertness will be so well embedded within our society that education like this is completely depleted.Throughout the four hour course, the group was shown video examples of individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts that exemplified the right ways to check on someone and to generate open discussions around suicide and mental health. One participant attended the event for personal interest and work development purposes. She said the program is well informed, engaging and an important undertaking for any community member. Another participant said she tries to attend educational sessions like this regularly in order to stay informed and current on new tactics and terminology. Margie Jirgens, the trainer, did an excellent job with a vested interest in the topic and a strong motivation to educate her community. Margie was a friendly, thoughtful and very informed trainer who hosts programs like this often.The workshop emphasises the fact that suicide is preventable and with the right skills and resources, everyone has a role to play in saving lives. Community engagement and education is a vital step in fostering a supportive and informed future for effective suicide prevention. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, you can find immediate help at Lifeline (13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (1300 224 636) and many others. If you are in an emergency please call emergency services on 000. For those interested, there is another course scheduled at Kiama Uniting Church this Saturday 8 February.

Construction will finally begin on the first-ever female changing sheds at Gerry Emery Reserve on Bridges Road, Gerringong on Monday 29 January by local builder DES Constructions.It has been an ongoing issue for the oval, which is used by at least six sporting organisations including the Gerringong Breakers soccer club and the Gerringong Jets cricket team. To this day, female players are forced to change in cars or behind trees. The number of women using the oval is estimated at up to 4000 per year.President of the Gerringong All Sports Club, John Trevenar told The Bugle "We have about 4000 women from different sports who use these fields in a 12 month period, and they have never had a female changing shed.”The current All Sports Club was built around 40 years ago and was built with only one changing room.He said Cricket Australia and NSW Sports provided about half a million in funding, but that will not be enough to finish the project.John is very grateful to the many local sponsors such as Gerringong Hardware, which has stepped up and contributed to make the project a reality.The new changing shed will also include additional toilets and referee changing rooms, including a room designed to be accessible for amputee referees.John also wants to thank the many sponsors including Austin McMahon with his excavator, Gerringong Hardware, Gerringong Physio, Dulux Paint, Cronin Liquor and the many locals and businesses directly contributing their labor and their materials to turn the project into a reality. You can follow the future progress on the build, and the sponsors, on the Facebook Page Gerringong District All Sports Inc Page.

A power outage shut down a large part of Kiama Downs for over an hour this morning at around 6:20am Thursday 18 January 2024.Endeavour Energy told The Bugle that the cause of the outage was a magpie on the high voltage mains on Riversdale Road that caused the short circuit. Residents on Facebook described a loud flash and bang before the power went out. The posts indicated power was out on Brown St and Oxley Avenue. All power was restored by 8am.An incident also occurred this morning at around 6:45am on the South Coast Rail Line where a train hit an unknown object on the line and was damaged. Transport NSW told The Bugle that two buses were sent to be used to transfer passengers from the train so they could continue their journey to their destinations. No injuries have been reported.Transport NSW said it was possible the incident was caused by a wild animal, and the train was taken to Sydney for repairs. Buses are replacing trains on the South Coast line. The Bugle will update this article with any further developments. 

Fire and Rescue NSW has issued a warning over the Summer to caravan owners to check that they have a working carbon monoxide detector as well as a working smoke alarm. The sensors in a carbon monoxide and gas leak degrade over time and require replacement every five years or as per manufacturer instructions. An incident occurred at an Eden Caravan park on 5 January 2024 where Fire and Rescue 286 Eden attended a local caravan park at 2pm when a family with two young children were forced to flee their caravan after the piercing alert of their carbon monoxide alarm woke them up.While the battery was found to be overheating, the incident highlighted that even low levels of carbon monoxide when inhaled can be dangerous.In other Summer safety advice for Kiama residents and visitors, Craig Robert, the Drowning Prevention and Education manager for The Royal Life Saving Society has warned against complacency for swimmers over the summer.“Last summer, 100 per cent of drowning deaths were in un-patrolled areas, and of all drownings, 83 per cent were men. Last summer’s drowning toll set a tragic record, and this summer is already on track to surpassing that, with 42 tragedies in Australian inland and coastal waterways since 1st December,” Mr Roberts said.“Older adults - represented a 64 per cent increase in drowning deaths last year. For over 65s, get to know your health and fitness levels in different conditions, check medications and any medical conditions before you go.”“Men - are still at the greatest risk of drowning, representing 83 per cent of the drowning toll.Understanding your swim and survival skills, avoiding alcohol and any water activity, wearing life jackets their swim and survival skills may be different on land, in water, and between pools, surf and rivers (men are still 83 per cent of the drowning toll).Of people born overseas, 35 per cent identify as non or poor swimmers. Even if you don’t intend to swim, adult swimming lessons are key to keeping yourself and your family safe around the water.Alcohol is involved in 16 per cent of all drowning fatalities. Swimming pools are still the leading site of drowning among children and adults over 75 years.Beach safety in particular is a safety concern around Kiama over the summer.Last year, Kiama was a hotspot for near drownings as the beaches filled up with visitors. Phil Perry, President of Kiama SLSC confirmed to The Bugle that a couple of successful rescues occurred at Surf beach on the weekend of 6 and 7 January 2024.“Stay within the flags and avoid known rips, which are signposted,” Phil said. At this time of year last Summer, the recently installed Emergency Relay Beacons (ERBs) were activated for the first time over the 7/8 January 2023 weekend, twice at Bombo Beach and once at Kendalls, the latter due to a shark sighting.Craig Bowley, Kiama’s head lifeguard, has reminded beachgoers to avoid this dangerous spot.“I know it looks like an appealing stretch of water – and many people spot it as they turn off the highway to drive into Central Kiama. But the warning signs are there for a reason. South Bombo is one of the most dangerous stretches of coastline in the Kiama Municipality.”Mr Bowley advises people to instead swim at the patrolled section of North Bombo between the flags. “Or explore one of our other patrolled beaches – besides North Bombo, we have Jones, Surf Beach, Easts, Kendalls, Werri and Seven Mile.”Mr Bowley also warned of rough conditions, rips and currents, including in the Minnamurra River, where the tidal current can be very strong at times.“If you do get caught in a rip, the best thing to do is try not to panic, float and conserve your energy, rather than fighting against it. A rip will often take you out but then bring you back around to a sandbar or shallow area, from which you can return to shore or wait to be rescued,” Mr Bowley said.If you see someone who is in distress, Council urges people to alert the lifeguards and/or use the ERBs rather than going in yourself.

Kiama’s Little Nippers will be the first young people in the district to receive free vision screening tests on Sunday 3 March as part of the Lions Club’s Australia-wide Children’s Vision Screening program.The program, which runs under Lions Eye Health Program Australia, will see members of the Kiama Lions Club carry out screenings for kids in the Little Nippers Club in partnership with the Kiama Surf Life Saving Club.Children will be tested on three different criteria: visual acuity, colour vision, and stereo depth perception. Screens will use a camera standing a metre away that takes a photo of the eye and can look for astigmatisms, near and farsightedness, anisometropia and other visual issues.It’s important to note that Lions members won’t diagnose children for any conditions. They’re results will be sent home and, if necessary, a visit to an eye specialist will be recommended.The screening process is simple enough that anyone can be trained in a relatively short amount of time to perform screenings. Anyone interested can learn online, and it only takes about an hour to become certified. John Larkins, President of the Kiama Lions Club said the club is aiming to have at least six screeners, but preferably half a dozen. Participants will have the opportunity to get trained up on the morning of the first screening on 2 March, and the Lions Club will begin screening around lunchtime.The Children’s Vision Screening is an Australia-wide initiative, but Kiama will be the first club in the N2 district to roll out the program.The Lions Club has made vision one of its core priorities at an international level, and in Australia, the Lions Eye Health Program has been running since 2000. The screening tests are a vital service when you consider that one in five children has an undetected vision problem, which can have a profound impact on their entire lives, especially education. You can learn more about the program here. 

Shine Women has announced its upcoming seminar next month which will address the topic dealing with disappointment. It will be a chance to hear from real women who have dealt with disappointments in their lives and learn strategies to help overcome them. The seminar will be held on Thursday 15 February at 7-8:30pm at Church Point Centre, 2 Terralong St, Kiama. The group was established in Kiama eight years ago and thrives with the local support of Kiama Council and local Kiama churches. It is a volunteer run group with a strong focus on supporting and improving the mental wellbeing of all women in the community. The group is also hosting a free eight week course to encourage women to discover their worth, value, and purpose.The seminar begins on Friday 3 May at 10am. The course is designed to appeal to many women of all ages. With several skills to learn, it is designed to empower women in their various roles at work, home or family. All programs that Shine Women offer are free and welcome women over the age of 18 either alone or you can bring a friend. Please register your interest for the seminar. All women over the age of 18 are welcome either individually or with a friend. Please register your interest, RSVP is essential, [email protected] or 0242 322 066

The Christmas and New Year holidays have resulted in disaster on NSW waters for some. Royal Life Saving NSW (RLS NSW) has warned people to be more prepared in the summer months of 2024. It is crucial to know the risks and limitations around the water to ensure water safety is a priority. Last Summer, 17 per cent of all drownings occurred during heatwaves and on weekends, and 100 per cent of fatalities happened in unpatrolled areas. Men form 83 per cent of that number. RLS encourages men to check in with their fitness levels, know their abilities, check in with their mates and consider learning CPR or first aid.“Last Summer’s drowning toll set a tragic record, and this summer is already on track to surpassing that, with 42 tragedies in Australian waterways since 1st of December.” said Craig Roberts,  RLS General Manager of Drowning Prevention and Education.The RLS NSW provide five key safety messages for staying safe in the water:Know your limitations and the risksNever go aloneWear a life jacket when on the water and fishingAvoid alcoholActively supervise children at all times Knowing your limitations applies in many different ways, and certain ages and stages of life. Different health and fitness levels, different weather and water conditions, medication and medical conditions must all be taken into consideration. Preparedness is key.Older adults account for a 64 per cent increase in drowning deaths in 2023. Men represent a greater risk of drowning - making up 83 per cent of the total fatality tollFive per cent of deaths that occurred last year were rescue attempts that involved bystanders, family or friends. Acknowledging your ability to help someone in trouble and considering learning CPR and water safety and rescue skills is imperative to staying safe in a crisis.Pools are the leading location of deaths for children under five years old and adults over 75.Providing children with ongoing and regular swimming lessons helps to cultivate and maintain their skills in the water. It is crucial to keep young children under constant supervision and within arms reach. “We are lucky to have so many ways to enjoy the water in NSW - whether fishing, cooling off in a pool, gathering at a river, lake or beach, you can make the most of these wonderful community assets by learning the risks.” Though if you are socialising in and around the water this Summer, you must be prepared.Who is most at risk:Men represent 83 per cent of all drownings in AustraliaAlcohol is involved in 16 per cent of all drowning fatalitiesLong weekends account for a spike in the drowning tollOver 65s are represent a 43 per cent increase in drownings over a 20 year averageFour out of 10 primary school leavers are unable to tread water for two minutesRegional areas experienced a 1.7x increase in drownings compared to metro areasMore statistics can be found in The National Drowning Report from September 2023 which can be found here. To find out more and ensure you are Summer ready you can find more information at the Royal Life Saving website.

Expressive Art continues with the Wall Trail journey this year by adding a third venue to their list of local exhibitors. The Wall Trail has been exhibiting since last September with Minnamurra Cafe joining as the newest addition to the venues that Expressive Art use to exhibit a range of artworks from local artists. Exhibits can currently be found in Wild Patch Cafe and Smoothie Bar, Kiama and Stoic Brewing, Gerringong where the art can be purchased by the public. The exhibits rotate every six weeks and some featured local talents so far include Phil Winterton, Gay Emmerson, Darren Parlett, and Kathy Karas. Expressive Art is always looking for local artists who want the opportunity to display and sell their work in the area. Expressive Art is offering a discount of 24 per cent off for 2024 for any artist who books and finalises their exhibition dates before the end of January. The Wall Trail has also announced the exciting news that they are the winners of a grant from South Coast Arts which will ensure they can build an independent website for the Expressive Art Wall Trail. The growth of the Wall Trail is ongoing as not just an exhibition of art but a community-driven celebration of creativity. For any further enquiries please contact Expressive Art, Michelle & Tiffany Springett at [email protected]. 

The Kiama Lions Club would like to thank the organisers of the Red Hot Summer Tour held at Kiama Showground over the weekend. The club was given the opportunity to participate in its Kiama Lions Environmental Program run by dedicated member, Mick Fox.Proceeds from the program will go to the Kiama Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC) to help repair the damaged roof. The club would also like to extend its appreciation to all members and volunteers who got involved. The task was completed successfully and The Lions Club reported a huge 20,000 recyclables cleared with a resulting $2000 donated to the Kiama SLSC.Kiama Lions is looking for people to join the team. The club is for people who strive to make a difference in their local community. More information on volunteering and The Lions Club environmental programs can be found here.

This is an appeal to the community, especially around Gerringong, for any details or history of these gates. Quite close to the Gerringong Museum, and on the way to Cronin Cval are the remains of the Jubilee Park Gate on either side of Blackwood Street, north and south.The gate is now about 88 years old. No remains of the actual fate seem to exist, just the pillars on either side of the road.The Bugle is asking the local community if they have any details on the Jubilee Park Gates and the early history of Jubilee Park which was obviously bigger when created as the park must have included Blackwood Street where the gate was situated.The Silver Jubilee of King George V was held on 5 May 1935 and marked 25 years since he took the throne. He was succeeded a year later by his son Edward VIII, who abdicated within the year and was replaced by Queen Elizabeth II’s father, George VI.The Gerringong Museum is currently researching our question on the history of these gates, and would love to add more of the gate’s history for the Gerringong and wider community to their files.Apparently, the Kiama Independent covered the installation of the Gates in an article published 15 August, 1936. This can be found on a search on Trove, the free online research portal operated by the National Library of Australia in Canberra.Further notes via Trove say that the gates and the new sports pavilion were officially opened on Saturday 14 November, 1936 by H. J Bate MLA.The article stated the reconstruction of the sports ground was undertaken by Kiama Council with emergency relief work and much voluntary assistance by the citizen’s committee.One little known fact is the porcelain drinking fountain that was erected in 1939 was famous across Australia after being featured in the iconic Aussie film “Dad and Dave.”

A distressed Wattlebird pair and their nesting fledgling have been endangered in a severely pruned Crepe Myrtle tree near the IGA Gerringong front door entrance by the severe pruning of their tree and surrounding trees along the car park outside the IGA. Local and Former Gerringong residents have raised concerns to The Bugle over the severe pruning of the trees; none of the branches have been observed with any new branch growth or leaf growth. Staff at IGA say the pruning happened about 2 months ago.Wattlebird nest in overpruned crepe myrtle treeThe aggressive pruning has left the nest exposed, putting the mother bird at risk from potential predators like crows and magpies.When The Bugle visited the nest on Friday 1 December it was clear the nest is within a few metres of the front door of the IGA, and quite close to the pole where shoppers will normally tie up their dogs.Two Bird rescue organisations contacted by The Bugle (WIRES and WRSC Wildlife Rescue South Coast) confirmed that by the size of the baby wattlebird was a fledgling very close to trying to fly.“By the size, the bird will start learning to fly under the anxious eyes of its parents within a few days. The crisis will occur if the fledging falls so close to so many humans and dogs. The parents will do their best, but survival chances sadly are not good.”The organisations confirmed there was no way to move the nest successfully, as the fledgling would be abandoned by the parents, and it would be moved into other birds’ territories.However, they said the fledgling was most at danger to dogs and a sign could be possibly put on the tree to alert those passing by.Residents who approached The Bugle emphasised the need for greater awareness regarding the challenges faced by Wattle Birds. They stressed that individuals involved in tree pruning must conduct thorough checks to avoid endangering innocent birds.Little Wattlebirds are native to south-eastern and south-western Australia, including Tasmania. They thrive in dry, scrubby environments like banksia heaths, forests, woodlands, as well as urban parks and gardens.The core message is a plea for community awareness about the local fauna and the importance of preserving their habitats. Responsible tree management is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of these vulnerable birds in our midst.

The act of gift-giving is a universal practice deeply rooted in human culture. We all enjoy receiving a gift and there is a certain satisfaction when you hit the mark with a well-chosen gift. There is a multifaceted psychology behind gift-giving, revealing its profound impact on emotional bonds, mental health, and societal connections.  In our locality we are fortunate with such a range of retail and home grown gifts available through our shops and markets. According to Survey Monkey, people allocate various budgets for holiday gifts, reflecting the significance of this tradition. Most people (32 per cent) spend $100-300 on gifts, and 29 per cent spend less than $100 and 7 per cent spend over $1000. Gifts serve as tangible expressions of emotions, allowing individuals to convey love, appreciation, and gratitude. Thoughtfully chosen presents demonstrate understanding of the recipient's interests, fostering emotional bonds and strengthening relationships. This act of kindness not only benefits the recipient but also positively impacts the giver's mental and physical well-being.Research indicates that the act of giving activates the brain's reward centre, releasing dopamine and contributing to increased overall well-being. Gift-giving not only induces pleasure but also provides a sense of purpose and meaning, enhancing self-esteem. Data from ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ supports the idea that expressing kindness through gifts can lead to increased energy, happiness, and even health benefits.Regardless of the recipient, the act of giving a gift signifies recognition and value, fostering strong bonds and building lasting relationships. From customers to friends, the gesture enhances a sense of connection, creating a positive impact on social dynamics.Beyond material exchange, gifts serve as reflections of the giver's identity and values. The choice of a gift communicates information about the giver's personality, allowing for self-expression and creativity. Societal norms and cultural expectations also influence gift selection, reinforcing social roles and projecting desired images.Empathy plays a crucial role in the psychology of gift-giving. Choosing a thoughtful gift demonstrates an understanding of the recipient's needs and interests, promoting empathy and strengthening relationships. Dr. Gary Chapman identifies giving as one of the five love languages, emphasising its role in expressing gratitude and fostering emotional connections.Reciprocity, an innate human tendency, plays a significant role in gift-giving. Receiving a gift creates a social obligation to reciprocate, reinforcing social bonds and maintaining balance in relationships. Understanding the reciprocal nature of gift-giving encourages conscious and meaningful engagement in this age-old tradition.By delving into the intricate psychology of gift-giving, people can approach this practice with greater awareness and sincerity. Thoughtful gift-giving not only strengthens relationships and creates lasting memories but also serves as a reminder of shared humanity and a powerful tool for fostering connections.