Kiama Rotary recently held a unique annual changeover to start the 2025/26 year. It was unique for two reasons: Firstly, the club was delighted to welcome three former Rotary District Governors all being current or past members of the Kiama club, a rare occurrence. Current President Phil Whyte was District Governor in 2011/12, former member David Brawn held the role in 2010/11, and current member Tonia Barnes ended her term at the end of last month.Secondly, the event was a continuation rather than a changeover, as president Phil Whyte will stay on as the head of the club for the next year. This is to assist in the ongoing restructure that all the Australian Rotary clubs are undertaking to modernise Rotary nationwide. The club welcomed Kiama Mayor, Councillor Cameron McDonald, as its special guest for the dinner and he expressed the community’s thanks for the club’s 73rd year of committed support. In his report on club activities in 2024/25, Phil pointed to the club meeting all the targets it had set. These included the finalisation of an international program organised by the Kiama club (with assistance from the Rotary Club of Dili in Timor Leste) and with additional funding from Rotary International. This was a pilot program to help in the early diagnosis of Rheumatic Heart Disease which affects many people in indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and in Timor Leste. A total of more than $150,000 has been applied to this ground-breaking initiative. If the pilot is successful, it may help lead to the eradication of this life-threatening disease. The club has worked on this program with Dr Josh Francis of the Menzies Institute, based in the Northern Territory. In recognition of Dr Francis and his team’s work to eliminate this disease, Phil had pleasure in making him an honorary member of Kiama Rotary.The club also continued its support for the international program “End Polio Now”. Rotary clubs around the world have contributed more than $US1 billion to help the World Health Organisation almost completely eradicate the scourge of polio in the world.President Phil Whyte (centre) with members of his executive (left to right): Marilyn Jarrett, Tonia Barnes, John Kenny and Phillip Gall.BBQ bonanzaAt home, the Kiama club has continued its strong support for our youth, providing funds to send students to Rotary youth leadership workshops, annual science seminars and mental health programs, all funded (along with many other projects) through the regular BBQ stalls run by members at the Black Beach markets each month. The club organised the annual Festival of Choirs last October and the Christmas in July Trivia Night, both of which are to run again this year.President Phil was pleased to introduce two new members (Oscar Lewis and Alison Spice) to Kiama Rotary, adding to the growing club membership. He was delighted to present Paul Harris Fellowships to Sue Clarke, Marilyn Jarrett and Alan Waterworth for their work for the club. Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary and the fellowship is one of the Kiama club’s highest honours.The club members also vote each year to nominate the “Club Member of the Year “and the 2024/25 Robert East Memorial award was made to John Kenny. Well done, John!In introducing his board of directors for 2025/26, the president thanked the members for their efforts to support the community over the past year."It has been a great effort in 2024/25," president Phil said, "and I look forward to an even better year ahead".

When 25 women from the Kiama Hospital and Hospital Board gathered in 1970, they decided they needed to help older residents in the community who needed support with meals.Fifty-five years later, Kiama Meals on Wheels has become an essential part of the community, supporting 187 clients in the Kiama and Shellharbour local government areas.Kiama Meals on Wheels manager Joanne North says the organisation will mark its 55th anniversary on 1 September, with celebrations happening on National Meals on Wheels Day, 27 August.“We'll be hosting a thank you morning tea at The Sebel to celebrate Meals on Wheels and to thank our volunteers for their continued support because we can't do it without them,” she said.This anniversary is particularly special as two members from the original inaugural meeting remain involved today, Marion Witheridge and Ann Dawes, who are life members, with Ann also being patron of the organisation.“Fifty-five years on, two people are still committing their time and their energy to supporting the organisation, which I think is a milestone in itself to be able to make that commitment,” Joanne said.The organisation has grown significantly since its beginnings, now with 60 volunteers delivering over 500 meals weekly, and also offering a specialist nutrition and wellness service.Joanne emphasises that the service is "more than just a meal", they provide social and community connection as well as performing welfare checks on clients.“We are a community meal service with volunteers looking at helping people live full and independent lives but empowering them to be able to stay at home in their own home where they want to be,” she said.Meals on Wheels has also partnered with The Bugle, delivering the newspaper fortnightly to clients as a way to maintain community connections and keep them up to date on what’s happening in Kiama.“The local news is in the local paper, so if you know what's going on locally, you feel more a part of the community and more connected,” said Joanne.Joanne credits local volunteers for keeping the service strong for 55 years, which clearly highlights their organisations priorities and commitment to community.“You can't do it without the volunteers…They are local people supporting a locally established organisation that's not for profit. Everything they give goes back to that client,” she said.Kiama Meals on Wheels 55 year morning tea celebrations will be held on Wednesday 27 August at The Sebel, bringing together clients, supporters and volunteers.

As the temperature drops it’s tempting to go into hibernation mode; snuggling on the couch instead of stepping into the cold.But researchers have found that regularly attending events, like last Saturday’s Kiama Winter Festival, can significantly boost wellbeing.The study, by tourism and event management experts at the University of South Australia and Flinders University, found that regularly attending events such as festivals, exhibitions, farmer’s markets and food events can lead to greater positive emotions and feelings such as joy, contentment, happiness and excitement.UniSA’s Associate Professor Sunny Son said although it is often claimed that event experiences can enhance people’s wellbeing, there is limited research examining their overall impact.“Our study took a holistic approach by looking at the relationships between attending events and wellbeing,” she said. “We found evidence that attending events can meaningfully improve individuals’ wellbeing, encouraging communities to leverage events to improve general wellbeing.”The findings are no surprise to Kiama Councillor Yasmin Tatrai, who witnessed the impact events like the recent winter festival and weekly farmer’s market have on boosting wellbeing.Cr Tatrai was full of praise for the Winter Festival saying: “It was heartwarming to see everyone enjoying the festivities.“I am so grateful for amazing events like this one, organised by Destination Kiama, that bring communities together.“It’s a wonderful opportunity to show off Kiama’s delicious local produce, with restaurants like Tory’s serving up their famous seafood platters.“And there’s no better place than our town, by the sea, to enjoy good food and good vibes at any time of the year.”Cr Tatrai said it was important to continue seeking out positive community connections no matter the season, with events like the winter festival or annual Farmers’ Market Solstice swim making it worth braving the cold.Flinders University Senior Lecturer Dr Eliza Kitchen and co-author of the research paper says government organisations like councils hold events not only for tourism purposes but also for community wellbeing. “What we found is that events do much more than just drive tourism and boost the economy, they also play a critical role in enhancing wellbeing,” said Dr Kitchen. “This gives us another strong reason to support events, not just for visitors, but for the benefits of locals as well.”And Kiama locals looking to be “tourists” and have a mini staycation within a few hours of home are spoiled for choice.Kiama is one of five councils in the region who have joined forces with Destination Sydney Surrounds South as part of a winter tourism campaign to showcase the natural wonders, accommodation, food and attractions on the South Coast and Southern Highlands.For Kiama locals looking for a big city experience, a short train ride to Central Station will take you to the heart of some warming winter food experiences.Fancy a bowl of cold-killing soup? Head to Madame Nhu, a traditional Vietnamese eatery that has been warming up Sydneysiders with its gently spiced traditional pho for almost two decades.If ramen is your preferred soup option GOGYO is renowned for its Kogashi-style dishes where miso or soy sauce is caramelised over high heat to bring out the umami flavours, resulting in a rich, smoky broth. Perch at a stool overlooking the open kitchen and watch chefs work the woks and slice and dice delicacies like tonkatsu, pork belly duck to create a delicious, aromatic ramen.Spice I am, a hole-in-the-wall eatery close to Central, serves up pungent Thai dishes like massaman duck curry and Thai eggplant stir fry. For punters who prefer a classic pub meal Forresters is offering a festive feast for Christmas in July. The traditional tavern, which has been connecting the community for over 100 years, is serving up crackling pork belly, mash, braised red cabbage, roast carrots and Yorkshire pudding.Finish off the night with a trip to Golden Age Cinema and Bar - based in Paramount House, the original site of Paramount Pictures in Sydney until the 1970s - where you can watch classic and cult movies, quirky new releases or take part in Tuesday (film) trivia with a choc top and cheeky G&T.“Previous studies have shown that higher levels of wellbeing can lead to a reduced risk of illness and injury and increase longevity,” Professor Son added. “People with high levels of wellbeing also tend to perform better in the workplace and contribute positively to their community, so it’s important not only for public health but also for building strong socially sustainable and connected communities.”So what are you waiting for? Kick off the blanket and UGGs and enjoy the best food and festivals the South Coast, Southern Highlands or city has to offer this winter.

Rural Aid has launched the sixth annual Spirit of the Bush Photo Competition, inviting Australians to share striking images that capture the strength, resilience, and beauty of life on the land.Running until 31 August, the much-loved competition provides a powerful platform for rural and regional Australians to tell their stories through the lens, stories of rugged beauty, resilience and community spirit in the face of hardship.This year’s competition comes after another challenging season of natural disasters, with floods, fires, and droughts once again testing the resolve of the nation’s rural heartland.“Every year, we are humbled by the entries we receive, each photo is a tribute to the unwavering spirit of our farming families and communities,” said Rural Aid CEO, John Warlters.“The Spirit of the Bush competition is more than a showcase of talent. It’s a reminder of the grit and determination that keeps rural Australia going, even through the toughest of times.”Entrants are invited to submit a high-resolution, landscape photograph that represents the true Spirit of the Bush.Photos can be submitted via Instagram or Facebook by tagging @ruralaid in the image and using the hashtag #SOTB2025.Entries can also be submitted, and the competition terms and conditions can be reviewed via the competition website at https://www.ruralaid.org.au/spirit-of-the-bush/.A panel of judges will select 10 winning images, each of which will receive a $250 prepaid Visa card. Winners will be announced on 15 September.“This is a celebration of the people and places that make our regions special,” Warlters added.“Whether it’s a hardworking farmer, a storm rolling across a paddock, or a quiet moment at sunset, every image has the power to connect Australians with the bush.”Rural Aid encourages everyone with a passion for photography and the country to pick up their camera and show the world what the Spirit of the Bush means to them.

Caroline Hartline is the force behind Kiama's quiet achiever. Her eyewear brand, Ozeano Eyewear, stood out from the competition to win the "Excellence in Sustainable Business” award at the inaugural Kiama Business Awards recently.With a 20-year professional background spanning corporate marketing, management consulting, non-profit leadership and eCommerce, Caroline brings a wealth of experience to the table. Caroline Hartline with her award for Excellence in Sustainability. Photo by Peter IzzardHer broad expertise and passion for purpose-led business inspired her to take the leap and build something of her own. In 2024, she acquired the assets of Ozeano Eyewear and set out to bring her vision of a sustainable, socially conscious brand to life.As she describes it, her goal is “a new mission that gives back, more along the lines of a social enterprise.”Ozeano Eyewear focuses on timeless designs, avoiding fast fashion trends to promote thoughtful consumption. The brand proudly supports environmental projects, including the Seabin Foundation, 1% for the Planet and the annual Ocean Film Festival. Indy wearing the 'Coolum Leopard Seal' glassesA new line of plastic-free eyewear accessories is also set to launch soon.Even with their promise to sustainability, they have made an effort to remain affordable without compromising on quality. In fact, the materials used in Ozeano eyewear surpass those found in many products on the market that sell for up to three times the price.For Caroline, building a sustainably focused business was never in question.“I love small business but never wanted to be responsible for additional landfill as a result of running a business,” she explains. Giving back has always been part of her ethos - she has worked with organisations such as the United Nations in Jordan, as well as the Australian Red Cross and The Salvation Army.“I’ve always been interested in humanitarian work and the environment but I also just have a general dislike for plastic. And once you dive deep and realise the havoc it wreaks on the environment and on the human body, it’s hard to overlook,” she said.Upon receiving the award for Most Sustainable Business, Caroline expressed genuine surprise. “I was very shocked to receive the award! It’s genuinely humbling as we are really such a little business and therefore, our impact is quite small. “It’s also a huge morale boost as often the hours put in the business aren’t reflected in the profits.”She also has practical advice for other businesses looking to prioritise sustainability:1. Start with your packaging. “Sustainable packaging is not only better for the environment but customers also appreciate it when your packaging can be put in the yellow or green bins instead of clogging up their red bin!”Ozeano Eyewear's sustainable packaging2. Review your supply chain.“If you’re selling products, have a look at your supply chain - who makes the products, what their sustainability certifications are and whether they’ve had any third-party audits like BSCI or Sedex.”3. Dig deeper into your materials.“Who supplies the materials/textiles that make up the products and how sustainable are these materials? Seek out certifications like Oeko-Tex or FSC, GOTS (for organic cotton) and GRS (Global Recycling Standard). Ask your suppliers and manufacturers how they’re transporting their products to you (often it’s in a lot of unnecessary plastic wrapping). They can switch to no plastic, use cloth, or there are also many cost-effective bio-based biodegradable plastic alternatives available these days (for garment bags, for example).”4. Create a sustainability policy. “It’s a good idea to draft and adopt a sustainability policy for your business including an ethical supplier and sourcing policy. You can get input from staff and also use it as a working document to show you areas for improvement. I’d be happy to provide any local businesses with advice around this.”5. Think beyond recycled plastic and share your journey.“Sustainability means different things to different people but for me, I think it’s about getting back to natural materials where possible. “I think there is a bit of a ‘recycled plastic’ trend going on at the moment but I question how sustainable it really is - because it’s still leaching microplastics into the environment and impacting human health. And then you have the issue about how traceable it really is. “Clothing and eyewear made of plastic bottles doesn’t impress me too much because it still creates a toxic product and a reliance on plastic use. Some people argue that plastic is more durable, but durability is a double-edged sword - it takes centuries to break down, shedding microplastics into the soil and ocean in the process. “Customers are increasingly choosing brands that reflect their values, so even small steps can build loyalty and impact. And importantly - share your progress honestly. It’s OK not to be perfect.”James & Zara wearing Ozeano glasses'in MinnamurraThe main message Caroline wants to share is every choice matters. “Whether you’re a business owner, a parent, a student, the way we consume and produce things shapes the world we live in.“I would encourage people to look at the tags of their favourite brands, how much polyester and nylon are in the clothes and how much plastic is used in its packaging. And also consider - can I wear this item for years to come?“We are so blessed to be surrounded by so much beautiful water and ocean here in the Kiama area. It’s not going to last though at the rate we’re consuming and producing plastic.”Caroline isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Next month, she will be launching a new business for kids and teens called Billie Green, offering undergarments made without any polyester or nylon in the fabrics, the new range will follow the same sustainable principles.To step up your eyewear fashion and support a local, sustainable business, visit the website here or find them on display at The Collective Kiama and regularly at the Kiama Seaside Markets.

The Kiama coastline is one of the state’s most iconic and photographed natural attractions, but it is also one of its most deadly.Eleven lives have been lost due to rock-fishing incidents in the past 15 years, including a double fatality last August.Surf Life Saving NSW is set to trial an AI surveillance system near the Kiama Blowhole in a bid to prevent more deaths.Shane Wicks at the Kiama Blowhole this week.As part of the trial, set to begin later this year, high-tech cameras will be installed around the Blowhole precinct. These cameras are designed to detect human activity on the surrounding rock shelves and alert emergency services if someone is swept into the water or appears in distress.Surf Life Saving NSW South Coast branch president Shane Wicks said the technology would work in tandem with existing emergency beacons already installed at the site.“In the last six months, we’ve had at least four rescues off the Blowhole, and we were lucky someone saw them and was able to call it in,” Wicks told The Bugle.“But this AI system doesn’t rely on luck. It links to our Surf Life Saving Operations Centre and automatically alerts police, surf lifesavers and ambulance crews to respond.”He said the organisation would work closely with Kiama Council to finalise the camera locations, with the goal of having the system operational by the start of the summer patrol season.The trial is part of a 14-month pilot program also running at another black spot for rock-fishing tragedies, Little Bay, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, and is being monitored by Surf Life Saving NSW as a potential statewide solution.The technology comes at a critical time. Kiama has had the second-highest number of rock fishing deaths in NSW since 2020. On Easter Sunday this year, Wicks said more than 200 people were fishing off the rocks near the Blowhole, but fewer than a quarter were wearing life jackets.“There were about 50 people with life jackets, which means around 150 weren’t wearing one,” he said. “From my experience in rescues, those in life jackets we’ve been able to bring in safely. They float and give us time to get watercraft or helicopters to them, which can take up to 15 minutes. Without a jacket, you could drown in that time.”One recent rescue from the Blowhole ended with the fisherman suffering severe injuries, including fractures. His mates managed to throw him a life jacket, a move Wicks said likely saved his life.To complement the technology, a series of community education workshops will be held in coming months, including one in Kiama on November 22.Backed by Surf Life Saving and NSW Fisheries, the workshops are tailored for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, particularly visitors from Sydney’s west and south-west, where most previous victims have resided.“These sessions are about showing people the different types of life jackets, how to check if theirs is suitable, and what weather and marine warnings to look out for,” Wicks said. “They’re practical, hands-on events. The aim is to educate before they get to the water’s edge.”Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald praised SLNSW CEO Steve Pearce for launching the initiative, and explained his council’s role in the trial.“Kiama Council's involvement is that we are the landowner, so we've provided consent for Surf Life Saving NSW to come down and put the monitoring system in two locations around Blowhole Point,” Cr McDonald said.“They will be black powder-coated so that they won't be seen. The study will occur during daylight hours, just simply because of the technology.“But, certainly, it's a chance for us to see if this AI is effective so that then it can be rolled across the state and potentially further if the results are good, so that we can reduce the terrible statistics that we're seeing.”

This week's edition of The Bugle brings you full coverage of the much-debated and long-awaited Housing Strategy which was endorsed at Tuesday night's monthly meeting with all but one of the Councillors voting in favour.After extensive consultation on Version 2 of the Draft Local Housing Strategy, a motion was moved to endorse it after director of strategies and communities Ed Paterson updated the Councillors on some minor changes from the document that was placed on public display from February to April.Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald told The Bugle that the Strategy would set the LGA up for a bright future.Click here to view our latest edition“It's about the future of Kiama for the next 20 or 30 years and how we look and how we want the overall environment to be looking for the future so it’s really important.This week's edition also includes a feature on a trial to be held in Kiama to safeguard its coastline - one of the state’s most iconic and photographed natural attractions, but it is also one of its most deadly.Eleven lives have been lost due to rock-fishing incidents in the past 15 years, including a double fatality last August.Surf Life Saving NSW is set to trial an AI surveillance system near the Kiama Blowhole in a bid to prevent more deaths.As part of the trial, set to begin later this year, high-tech cameras will be installed around the Blowhole precinct. You can also read plenty of great community stories including an update on Kiama's New Year's Eve fireworks display which is in jeopardy, a couple of local cafes that are thriving and the latest on the high-speed pursuit which travelled through our local government area on the weekend.And there is more on a pair of Kiama Business Award winners, a new option to help keep your garbage bins shut and all the latest in local sport, including league, rugby, AFL and a local bodyboarder who has scored a big win.Our intrepid photographer Brian Scott has taken lots of pictures of our local sporting community, there is a full list of What's On in our region as well as news from the Kiama VIEW Club and Gerringong Rotary.

It was just after sunrise and the beach was deserted when Kiama photographer Belinda Doyle spotted what she thought was a dolphin thrashing in the shallows of a Wollongong beach.Ms Doyle was at the beach with her drone and camera hoping to capture the best Mother Nature has to offer as the sun peeked over the horizon.The Kiama local, who started her artistic journey creating resin homewares and selling them at local markets, has always dabbled in photography. It became a career almost a decade ago after customers asked to buy the coastal images she captured to promote her market stall.For more than a decade Ms Doyle has been chasing the perfectly composed whale photograph; an in-focus shot of the mammal at play, mid-breach.“I’m always on the lookout, especially when the migration season starts, because I don’t have that elusive whale shot yet,” says Ms Doyle. “But here’s a lot of moving parts in getting a perfect whale photo and proximity is key.“It’s not often that they come close to shore, so you either need to be on a boat or have a really good drone to photograph them from above because you got to maintain that 100m exclusion zone from the air as well as on the water.”Just after 6.30am on July 8 Ms Doyle was at Wollongong’s City Beach, hoping to capture a spectacular sunrise and, if the planets aligned, spot one of the 40,000 whales on their annual migration north along the humpback highway.When the sun rose higher and the light hit the water Ms Doyle noticed “something kept breaking the surface”.“At first I thought it was seaweed, it was only 30m offshore,” she recalls. “But after I watched it for a little while I noticed a little fin.”She launched her drone, thinking it was a seal or dolphin frolicking close to shore, but “it was really obvious, really quickly that something was wrong”.Ms Doyle called ORRCA, a volunteer-run whale, seal and dolphin rescue and research organisation.“They answered straight away and I was able to send them drone video footage from my phone, along with GPS co-ordinates of the location. They assisted really quickly.”Rescuers from ORRCA and the NPWS arrived at City Beach within half-an-hour of Ms Doyle’s phone call and identified the distressed animal as a melon-headed whale.Despite hours of first aid by rescuers, the whale could not be saved and was humanely euthanised by veterinarians on site.ORRCA president Ashley Ryan says it’s rare for rescuers to be able to prepare for a stranding before it occurs and attributes the quick rescue response to the actions of Ms Doyle in filming and geo-locating the mammal.Photo: Vanessa Risku, ORRCA“The phone call and footage meant we were able to respond really quickly to help the distressed whale, even though the outcome wasn’t what we had hoped for,” she says.Melon-headed whales are widespread in offshore waters but are rarely spotted by onlookers, unlike their humpback reklatives where nearly 150 were spotted off Kiama Heights in a single day during June’s annual ORRCA whale census.“This is only the second recorded stranding of a melon-headed whale in NSW this year,” says Ms Ryan. “The first was at Port Macquarie, with another stranding of three melon-headed whales in the West Australian town of Broome in January.“Strandings can be caused by illness, injury, disorientation, or navigation errors - especially in areas with shallow, gently sloping shorelines.“Every stranding is heartbreaking, but they’re also a vital opportunity for us to learn more.”Ms Doyle says while the incident was distressing to watch she was grateful she able to help facilitate a quick rescue attempt.“I’ve seen some incredible marine life in the ocean over the years, and I was really emotionally invested in this whale’s survival,” she says. “While the outcome was upsetting, I am glad I was there. There weren’t many people on the beach so they probably wouldn’t have called ORRCA unless the whale had already beached itself.Photo: Belinda Doyle.“It’s just lucky that I had the drone and could put it up to see what was happening from the air and then send through the footage to ORRCA so the whale could be assessed sooner rather than later so it didn’t suffer for longer.”While it wasn’t the type of whale encounter Ms Doyle had hoped for the photographer was heartened by the community and volunteer response to the attempted rescue.“The ORRCA volunteers were amazing,” she says.The rescue organisation’s hotline operates year-round, 24/7 and anyone who spots a whale, dolphin, dugong or seal emergency is asked to remain a safe distance from the mammal and report the incident on (02) 9415 3333.

The long-running saga over the installation of boomgates at Kiama Village shopping centre has taken another turn. After the issue was deferred at a meeting in April, then voted down in the June, Kiama Council passed a motion on Tuesday night to allow Woolworths to install boomgates to help manage parking in the precinct. Woolworths Group property development state manager Wesley Dose had addressed the Councillors at Monday’s public access meeting to let them know that the boomgates would not be used for revenue-raising purposes.Under the system that was proposed, the limit on free parking for motorists at the shopping centre was raised from two to three hours while staff members will be given passes so they do not have to pay.After being put to a vote at Tuesday night’s meeting, it was passed 6-3 with Councillors Imogen Draisma, Yasmin Tatrai and Stuart Larkins opposed.Local residents had raised concerns over the impact on traffic in the area and off-street parking.“They've done a survey and determined that of the users of the car park, that only be less than about 3% of people would be staying beyond three hours,” Cr Draisma said in her response to the motion. “So they’re a seeking to manage an issue that really isn't an existing issue at the centre. “They're seeking to put forward some possible amendments to the consents that currently exist. So I just can't support something that just seems to be wasting a lot of people's time. “It's cost a lot of money for them to put in a boomgate to stop people who are definitely not parking beyond three hours from parking at the centre.“It just seems quite ridiculous. And I think it sets a pretty negative precedent for the community about how we manage parking matters at the centre and elsewhere in the LGA.”Kiama Council director of strategies and communities Ed Paterson said one boomgate will be placed at the exit for the Click and Collect section with the other one at the roundabout on Terralong Street. Previous concerns centred around the impact on the broader traffic network,but it was approved by the traffic committee because it's not stopping people entering the site - motorists will pause briefly as they go in, while their licence plates are checked.“There is no impact on the existing street network,” Paterson said. He added that Woolworths, as the owners of the centre, is committed to keeping the flow of cars getting into the precinct “so that people can go up there, expect to get a park, go about their shopping and then get out there”. 

Kiama is on the dawn of a new era after Council endorsed its much-debated and long-awaited Housing Strategy at Tuesday night's monthly meeting with all but one Councillors voting in favour.After extensive consultation on Version 2 of the Draft Local Housing Strategy, a motion was moved to endorse it after director of strategies and communities Ed Paterson updated the Councillors on some minor changes from the document that was placed on public display from February to April.There was further debate on Tuesday night about the Strategy and Councillors indicated they would be comfortable with a community reference group being formed to guide its implementation.The Strategy confirms Kiama Council will add 900 more homes in the local government area by 2029, to meet NSW Government housing targets.Councillor Melinda Lawton spoke against an amendment to the motion because there had been changes made at the last minute to add and withdraw certain sections of land that will be available for future housing. "I'm rather perplexed as to why we can actually change the draft housing document with popping in lands, popping out lands," she told the meeting.Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald told The Bugle that the Strategy would set the LGA up for a bright future.“It's about the future of Kiama for the next 20 or 30 years and how we look and how we want the overall environment to be looking for the future so it’s really important.“[The Strategy will help counteract ] People in the community being disappointed each time they are confronted with a new development just landing in their laps without having any input into what it potentially looks like.“[ Without an endorsed Housing Strategy we risk] being dictated to or told that this is where the development will be because the developer would come in and sometimes bypass Council, sometimes by council not agreeing with it [and it goes to court], but essentially were pathways for a developer to ride roughshod over our local community. “It was an known issue during the Council election for my team to say, look, where do we want our local community to be in the next 20, 30 years with regards to housing growth? And I think that this housing strategy is certainly a major part of our response to that. “We have been reactionary to some degree in the past. This is a way for us to forward plan and take on some self-determination about where we want to be into the future.“We don't want to have urban sprawl going out through our green rolling hills and this is a way to define those boundaries and then set some criteria for what the development looks like within those boundaries.”Cr McDonald added that the Housing Strategy sits alongside an Employment Land Strategy, which will be coming to Council in the next month, followed by a Rural Land Strategy.Paterson has been working extensively with state government bodies to ensure the Housing Strategy will be complemented by the necessary infrastructure, such as roads, schools, electricity, sewerage and public transport.He said Sydney Water has a gross servicing document for the Illawarra but Kiama is not on it. “We're one of the three councils in the Illawarra and we don't show up on their maps. And the reason for that is, prior to having this Housing Strategy, we couldn’t show the state government or any of those agencies that we were going to grow or where we were going to grow,” he said.“From an agency's point of view if there's not growth on the table or where it's going to occur from a Council point of view, they can't plan for it either. “So having this Housing Strategy and working collaboratively with those agencies as part of developing it, they're now in a position to start planning. “Sydney Water have commenced capacity analysis for the entire network and now they'll be able to overlay our Housing Strategy on it and say what other infrastructure do we need to support this growth over the coming decades.”“I think it's important for everyone to understand that it doesn't matter if it's transport or schools or Sydney Water they're not benevolent agencies. They need business cases to stack up funding from Treasury.”Cr McDonald added that Kiama Council needed to think “big picture” in the long term.“There was some comment in the community that the target is 900 houses. How about we plan for 900 and call it quits. But essentially if you took a business case of 900 houses to the state government, it doesn't trigger the investment in the infrastructure that we need,” he explained.“The Strategy has identified an area of growth and development into the future but as far as what that actually looks like, there are still a lot of conversations to come.”Paterson added: “By thinking big means that we keep control. “We're planning for 900 by 2029. Beyond this timeframe the numbers are meaningless and we're just trying to do good planning.”

Clive Emery wrote an amusing story of farmers protecting their fruit orchards in Foxground. This was a common story everywhere many years ago. A big thank you to Robyn Sharp who is an artist in Foxground, for the kind permission she gave for some of her works to be used with this story.Today is the 60th anniversary of an amusing event that took place in Foxground in which I played a somewhat minor role, yet in retrospect was sufficient for all our family to have a great laugh over the breakfast table next morning, as Dad revealed the outcome of my discovery that fruit robbers were in action in the orchard next door.In the Gerringong and Kiama area, many stories are told of people who made a practice of raiding neighbours' orchards for the fun or hell of it.Their successes and bravado, while admired by their peers, left doubts in the minds of their austere parents and guardians, for their antics reflected on their upbringing and caused a mark of disapproval on their social calendar.In those early days in our districts, farmers by habit and necessity always developed an orchard for the provision of extra sustenance for their usually large families, as well as taking prizes.Beating your neighbour at the Kiama annual shows with your very own fruit, though minor in monetary terms, left a distinct aura of self-importance to the winner.Some orchards extended over an acre and had more than a dozen varieties of fruit trees, and today, although the homes and their owners have gone, the spot is identified by a few common lemon trees still bearing fruit after a century and a bit of existence. They still exist as the “rubbing-post” for cattle, and a nesting place for wagtails and wrens.The remains of stone walls that provided the fencing of the orchard, although devoid of trees today, may be found overgrown with blackberry and lantana - introduced species like the common lemon itself.The fruit-fly was not in evidence and the fruit was late and juicy, and the trees excelled in the rich red loam of basaltic nature. It was not uncommon for the enterprising to hawk the excess fruit around the town or sell it to local purveyors of fruit and vegetables - Jack Atkins of later fame being one in particular. The wives of those farmers were not idle in the fruiting season and pantry shelves were laden with bottles of preserves of unlimited variety for family use.It was therefore encouraged to fence off the tree enclosure, for swine are not averse to eating fruit, and as they were always included in the farm stocking for more reasons than one, the excess of both products were always added to their diet, so by common consent nothing went to waste.One such farmer who employed a local lad to help him with fencing a larger plot to increase production by more than double, had a suspicion that his fruit was being plundered, so he devised a method for the protection of his crop. He re-employed the lad to assist him. Painstakingly, they erected a trip-string around the entire orchard fence, and having trussed a 12-gauge shotgun to a post, by the use of a pulley were able to pass one end of the string around the trigger of the fowling-piece. The trap was set, and the gun loaded with a black powder cartridge which should not only fire its portion of shot, but would also emit much smoke and sparks into the night air to deter intruders and also warn him of their presence.For the next three nights around midnight the gun went off, and three times the old chap was drawn from his bed in his nightshirt to claim the intruders, but none was there to be found. Each time he reloaded the gun, and discovered during the engagement of the shortening of the string by inches, then it dawned on him that the nightly dew had shrunk it, so more was added to compensate. Each day he told the lad of the problem with the gun, and together they believed they discovered the secret of success.Unknown to the old chap his workmate was one of the nightly fruit-pickers who warned his mates of the danger, and they laid off for a while at his behest.Photo: Robyn Sharp collection.For four nights the gun was silent and the farmer knew his assumption was correct. On the fifth night the unscrupulous lad collected his mates and carefully instructed them in the manner of evading the trip-string, and they had their fill of fruit while the farmer slept. Around midnight, with all safely hidden in the bushes to escape the light of the moon, the more daring pulled the trip-string and the gun boomed forth its deadly charge quite harmlessly, and the old chap came running an and eerie figure in white night-shirt to search helplessly for the body he hoped to find! Twice they did this trick, and tiring of it sought another farmer's orchard for the escapades - to this day a wallaby got the blame for tripping the string!On other nights the tricksters attended the Young Men's Improvement Society in the Oddfellow's Hall!But back to the 60th anniversary event.Our farm of 'Sivan' in the Foxground Valley had two houses upon it. The first was our own dwelling situated beside the Valley road, while the second was separated by a sharp gully. It had been built for the factory manager, but with the closing of the Fresh Food & Ice Co Factory in 1928, the house was lying empty. So Dad engaged Horace Benny to replace the Malthoid roofing with corrugated iron. Upon its completion the Foxground schoolmaster, Hory Kemp, who lived in Gerringong and had to daily traverse the four miles on a push bike or Metz car, made enquiries of Dad re its availability for renting, which was duly organised. This enabled him to walk the short distance to the school upon sealing the deal.During the occupation of the previous tenant, Ted Winney, in his managerial role, a substantial orchard was established on the block, and was in full production upon the arrival of Hory and his family.As a teacher he was entitled to four weeks' holiday over Christmas when the orchard was in full production with delicious peaches abounding. Two in particular were a slipstone Elberta and a white-fleshed clingstone Sharhai, both of quality flavour. During his holiday we feasted on the fruit at his request, a very satisfactory arrangement. One night about the middle of January when I was training for sports, I imagined there was movement in the orchard, so I kept watch each night to make sure and when I saw a flashlight my suspicions were proven.I came home and told Dad and he advised me to get the shotgun and two cartridges for him, and he would give the thieves a surprise. Mother was against the idea, fearing someone might get hurt, but Dad assured her he would shoot discriminately, and marched off into the darkness with the gun. Photo: Robyn Sharp collection.It was not long after when we heard 'Boom! Boom!' a couple of seconds apart. When Dad appeared with the empty gun he was full of humour.“I'll bet there'll have to be some washing done when those two fellows get home tonight! One fellow fell out of the tree, and in their hurry they both fell over the fence. “I heard one say ‘he must have been shooting at flying-foxes' but they cleared out and didn't come back. Foolish fellows - had they come and asked, there's enough fruit to feed all Foxground.”He gave me the gun to put away and went off to bed.Next day, we went over to investigate. Sure enough, there was the broken limb, and a bit of fence to repair, but the best was the two buckets of peaches they had left behind. It was very thoughtful of them Dad opined, the best of the pickings! We patched the fence where they fell over.Clive told me a story once about a lady who lived next door to Gerringong Public School and had a beautiful orchard. Before school some students climbed the fence to help themselves. The lady came out with a shotgun, loaded it with saltpeter and shot them on a fleshy part of the back of their body.The principal knew who the culprits were as they could not sit down at their desk for a week.

More than 15,000 people helped make the Kiama Winter Street Festival an absolute blast.Destination Kiama tourism and events manager Sally Bursell said the town enjoyed perfect conditions for the annual festival last Saturday with smiling faces everywhere you looked.“This festival really shone Kiama in a great light,” she said.“From the silent disco for the teens to fire shows for all to watch, it's safe to say everyone had a great time.“The event was a part of the Open Streets funding, which is the Transport for NSW funding that gets the money to run the event through. With this being the fifth year for the Kiama Winter Festival, it’s pleasing to say that there are two more years to go.”Hopefully many more after that.Rock climbing in Hindmarsh Park. Photo: The BugleThe most popular activities were the silent disco, rock climbing, the live art and sculpture trails and the alleyway - which is a really big hit for the kids with fake snow, particularly when it gets dark.There were also live shows for the music lovers and to top it all off, two fire shows drew plenty of gasps from the festival crowd.“What's a winter festival without a bit of fire?” Bursell said.The festival incorporated The Chill Out in Kiama this Winter campaign which is aiming to attract visitors to the area during the off-peak tourist season.“The Chill Out in Kiama this Winter campaign is going fantastically well. There have been a whole bunch of partners jumping on board with that one so that's always nice when we have collaboration, we can amplify our voice and work together to achieve the goals,” Bursell added.Next year she wants to make the Festival bigger and better.More toilets will be at the top of the agenda to reduce the queues as well as more food trucks, which proved a hit with the festivalgoers, although Destination Kiama kept them to a minimum as a way of supporting local businesses.While this year’s Festival was aimed towards kids, Bursell said more entertainment would be geared towards the adults.She noticed that the kids cleared out by 7pm so there is a window later in the evening for the adults to have some fun of their own.Artists at work. Photo: The BugleBursell paid tribute to Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald for his work behind the scenes in making the Festival a success.“It’s such a joy to see our community out and about, even in the middle of winter, gathering together, supporting local businesses, and enjoying everything this festival has to offer”. Cr McDonald said.“Hindsmarsh Park, with its beautiful new upgrade, provided the perfect backdrop for this celebration.Street performers on the move on Terralong Street. Photo: Destination Kiama“It's a space that's been thoughtfully renewed for a moment just like this where families, friends and visitors can come together in the heart of our town.“A huge thank you to all the local businesses who jumped on board by staying open that little bit later, offering something special on their menus, or even trying something completely new, like hosting pop-up galleries or cinema nights.“The creativity and community spirit of our local businesses is a large contributor to what makes our town so special.Terralong Street during the Festival. Photo: Destination Kiama“And a big thank you to our Destination Kiama team and Council staff who helped pull the event together so successfully.”Destination Kiama chair Matt Brown described the Festival as a “huge success”.“It was so great to see so many locals and visitors in their thousands attending our main street winter festival,” he said.“I spoke to a number of businesses on the day. They said it was a real boost for them. One local restaurant had closed their books for bookings by 10.30 in the morning because there was so much demand.“We had some really interesting displays, including igloos, saunas and street performers. We also had a lot of interest in the park at Hindmarsh Park, so much so that we will be moving those sculptures around the area, including up around Blowhole Point in the near future - Kiama will have its own sculpture walk”

The Bugle is pleased to present a fortnightly feature with Kiama High School, bringing you the latest news and events from the school.Kiama High School held their annual High Potential and Gifted Education morning tea recently where students, their family and teachers came together to support student potential and talent.The HPGE Policy was released in 2019 with four key domains - Physical, Intellectual, Creative and Socio-Emotional. KHS started Term 2 deepening their understanding of this framework and ended the term celebrating the students in the program, another example of raising the bar at the school.Teachers use the policy advice to implement effective learning and teaching practices. High potential and gifted students have advanced learning capacity compared to same-age students and, as a result, require talent development opportunities and differentiated teaching and learning practices to ensure their specific learning needs are met. By not only acknowledging and celebrating their successes, KHS can identify students who need to be extended in their fields.Kiama students shine at Zone Athletics ChampionshipsA talented and enthusiastic team of 87 Kiama High School students travelled to Shoalhaven High School to compete in the annual Shoalhaven Zone Athletics Championships.Kiama delivered an exceptional performance across track and field events, coming agonisingly close to toppling long-time zone champions Ulladulla High School in the overall points tally. A group of 45 students have qualified for the upcoming South Coast Regional Athletics Championships at Beaton Park on 4 August.Special congratulations goes to Ava Duck (Year 8) and Finn McNeilage (Year 7) who were each named Zone Age Champions.Sage in the swingKiama High School’s Sage has achieved an outstanding result at the NSW All Schools Golf Championships in Dubbo, a prestigious event featuring the top 100 junior golfers in the state.Representing the South Coast team, Sage delivered a series of strong performances and qualified for the Top 16 Finals Day, a remarkable achievement made even more impressive given that she only narrowly missed out on this opportunity last year.She went on to finish 11th in the state.As a Year 10 student, Sage still has two more years in the same division, giving her a fantastic chance to climb even higher in future championships, potentially even into the top six to qualify for nationals.Sage was widely commended for her sportsmanship, leadership and composure under pressure. Parents, players, and officials alike praised her calm, supportive nature, especially her efforts in helping younger team members stay focused and confident throughout the tournament.Tennis teams excel on courtThe KHS boys’ and girls’ open tennis teams headed to Bomaderry for the South Coast Finals. The boys team of Zane Finley, Clay Allchin, Vinnie Sherrell and Henry Mortimer played Mulwaree High School first up. This tie proved very close and it came down to a tie breaker in the final match which unfortunately didn't go their way. The boys regrouped in the next tie to easily defeat Monaro High in a dominant performance. The girls team of Nyasa Nakhate, Nellie Johansson, Mahala Probert and Savannah Hedstrom are South Coast champions after defeating Batemans Bay first up and then snaring another victory over Mulwaree. They have qualified for the state finals at Nelson Bay in August. Footy girls tackle Sam Bremner ShieldKHS participated in the 2025 Sam Bremner Shield at Bomaderry. The 14 girls played with gusto and grit to lose narrowly to St Johns 4-0 before winning their other two games convincingly.The 16 girls played with minimal subs but came away with three wins from as many matches. Their game against Nowra High was close with Ivy Peseta sealing with the win by crashing over the line.They now progress to the finals at Wagga Wagga on 30 July.Hamish on a hoops highKiama Year 7 student Hamish Mearns has been selected to attend the Basketball NSW Talented Athlete Program in August.This is a specialist junior talent development program which has contributed to the growth of notable players such as Lauren Jackson, Xavier Cooks and Josh Green.As one of only 25 Country NSW athletes selected for his age group, this is a wonderful achievement.

By Stephanie Kemp Service before selfRotary is not just about raising money – it is about helping communities. Rotary International is a global network of more than 1.2 million people across more than 45,000 clubs, who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe and in our local community. Rotary projects are involved in:Promoting peace by fostering cross-cultural conversations.Fighting disease by educating communities and equipping them to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria.Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene and sharing our expertise with community leaders and educators to make sure our projects succeed long term.Saving mothers and children by expanding access to quality care.Supporting education, in particular by projects that promote basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.Growing local economies in impoverished communitiesProtecting the environment.For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.Because of the scale of the organisation, Rotary can take on huge projects like Polio Plus, which began in 1988 and has now immunised nearly 3 billion children against the disease. As of June 2024, Rotary had committed more than US$2.6b to global polio eradication and is working to eradicate the wild polio virus in the two countries where it remains endemic. For further information go to https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary. And next time you buy one of our sausage sizzles, think of all the good causes you are supporting.Gerringong’s role in the big pictureFundraising is essential in making these projects happen. Gerringong’s 28 committed members and their families punch above their weight and are delighted to announce that in the last financial year, we were able to give over $48,000 to Rotary projects and local charities, including:Active Ageing NSW, a new not for profit, which runs our local Active Mindsteps groups, which assist members to maintain cognitive function and physical ability, the Alchemy Chorus, a choir for dementia sufferers and their carers, the Dementia Inclusive Dancing group and the Rock n Dance rock and roll dancing lessons once a fortnight at Gerringong Town Hall.SAHSSI - Supported Accommodation & Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra.SALT Ministries, a charity based in Bomaderry that supports the homeless and disadvantaged.Local educational initiatives, such as support for local students to attend the National Youth Science Forum, the Kiama High School Excellence Awards and the Apprenticeship Award.Flood relief in Queensland and Northern NSW.Shelterbox, an international disaster relief charity that provides temporary shelter and life- saving supplies to displaced families.Rotary projects including PolioPlus, Rotarians Against Malaria, ROMAC (Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children) and Rotary Foundation - a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, cultural exchange programs, and life-changing sustainable projects.With other South Coast clubs, we are also arranging a major donation to supply a desperately needed ultrasound machine for Tumaini Medical Clinic in Kenya.Our major source of income is the monthly market and barbecue, supplemented by the occasional extra BBQ at Bunnings.The Gerringong market is more than just a fundraiser. The monthly social hub it creates is a service to the community. It is a chance for locals and visitors to browse the stalls, have a snack, listen to the band and catch up with friends along with their children and their dogs. Because our stall price is low compared to competitors, our market also supports local small businesses and gives new vendors a chance to get started.To enable us to continue to support the community in this way, we need young strong volunteers to help us set up and take down the markets. This would be a great way for high school students to pick up some practical skills and get some community service onto their CV. If you are interested, contact us at [email protected]. New members and friends always welcome - you can email us or visit www.gerringongrotary.com.au.

“Sometimes life and death can be a matter of inches.”Kiama’s James Hickey knows how close he and many nearby motorists came to disaster during a high-speed pursuit on Saturday.His dashcam captured the moment an allegedly stolen Ford Mustang came screaming towards him on the wrong side of the Princes Highway, near the turnoff to Gipps Street.Hickey had just finished a round at Kiama Golf Club and was heading home when the chaos unfolded.“This guy in a white van overtakes me, and next thing I saw him swerving off the road as the Mustang came towards us on the wrong side,” he said.“In that moment, I was blown away. I couldn’t believe it. It was a great escape for all of us who he was driving towards.”Police will allege the Mustang had been stolen earlier that afternoon during an incident in Worrigee, when a 25-year-old man, armed with an axe and hammer, allegedly assaulted a woman before speeding off in her sports car.South Coast Police officers had been called to Rayleigh Drive shortly before 1pm following reports of a man armed with weapons.As officers from the South Coast Police District arrived, the man allegedly threw an axe at their vehicle, retrieved it, and then ran to a nearby home on Illawarra Circuit.There, he allegedly assaulted a 66-year-old woman while she was sitting in her Mustang, striking her multiple times with the axe before forcing her from the vehicle.Police allege she was then run over as the man drove off in her car.She was treated at the scene by paramedics for serious injuries to her legs and torso before being transported to Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital in a serious but stable condition.What followed was a chaotic hour-long police pursuit that stretched across multiple South Coast towns, including Nowra, Bomaderry, Berry, Gerringong and Kiama, and reached speeds of up to 180km/h in 80km/h zones.With assistance from PolAir, officers tracked the Mustang as it sped southbound on the Princes Highway.Police attempted to deploy road spikes, but the driver allegedly swerved toward a highway patrol officer to avoid them, narrowly missing both the officer and the device.In a final act of desperation, the Mustang was seen driving north in the southbound lanes through Kiama Downs, endangering multiple vehicles, including the white van and Hickey’s car.“Fair play to the person who was driving the van in front of me. He took really good evasive action,” Hickey said.“It was only a bit later on, when I was processing what happened, I thought, ‘shit, that could have been so much worse’. One of my initial thoughts went back to the Liverpool soccer player (Diogo Jota) who was killed in a car crash (on July 3 in Spain).”The pursuit came to a dramatic end when the Mustang collided with a utility and came to a stop. Members of the public stepped in to restrain the man until police arrived to arrest him.The 25-year-old man was taken to Wollongong Hospital under police guard before being released on Sunday.He was then charged with a string of offences, including:· Aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it - armed with weapon· Fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm· Fail to stop and assist after impact causing injury· Police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously· Class A motor vehicle exceed speed >45km/h· Custody of knife in public place· Use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention (two counts)· Goods in custody suspected stolen (not motor vehicle)· Drive while disqualified· LarcenyHe was also charged with three outstanding offences:· Destroy or damage property (domestic violence-related)· Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (domestic violence-related)· LarcenyThe man did not apply for bail on Monday and will return to court in Nowra next Tuesday (July 22).

Fountaindale developer Neville Fredericks is calling on Kiama Council to provide a pathway for more affordable housing through the provision of smaller dwellings.The former Kiama Mayor addressed the Public Access Meeting on Monday night to air his thoughts on the Housing Strategy (Draft v2) and said that outside of social housing, the most effective way of delivering affordable options is by reducing the size of the dwellings. “To really do that well, you need to have good urban structure that's designed for smaller housing, not just reducing the lot sizes,” he said, “so you can deliver a high-quality outcome where people will actually want to visit.“Australia has been on this trajectory of building bigger and bigger houses. In 1960, the average new house size was 120 metres, and there were 3.6 people per household in 1960.“Today, there are 2.4 people per household, and we now have the largest houses in the world, new house built, at 240 metres. “So if you do the math, to house one person today compared to 1960, you need three times the floor space, and that's one of the fundamental issues for affordability. “Our houses are too big, and we're not providing a diverse housing choice.”He added that this was a fundamental piece of the housing puzzle. “You cut the size of the house in half, it's less costly to heat and maintain, it's less costly to build and buy,” he said.“So if we're really going to seriously consider the people who are so badly disadvantaged by our current housing shortage, we have to enable smaller housing to be built.“In the past, I know as a developer I have to say whenever we tried to build smaller housing somewhere, we were attacked publicly for reducing standards, but we've really got to overcome that. “This is where we need political leadership to say, OK, when small housing has been done in the past, it's often been poor quality. How do we do better quality and high quality, smaller product? That's the solution as we see it.”Fredericks reiterated that he wanted to see growth in Jamberoo where Fountaindale’s Golden Valley development can deliver much-needed housing to the village.“It needs growth to support the existing businesses and to expand the range of services that are provided to local residents,” he said.“Now, this is really a cornerstone of genuine sustainability. It's the provision of local goods and services for residents. And the other element of this is, with what we're proposing at Golden Valley, is a wider range of housing typologies to bring to the market. “If you look at NSW, 35% of all dwellings are other than freestanding homes. In Jamberoo, 3% of dwellings are other than freestanding homes. “So the downsizers who want low maintenance, the singles, the renters, the young starters, just don't have the product that's necessary. And this is the core of the housing market.“It's not just in volume of houses. It's the range of houses that right across the board, that we haven't been providing for the marketplace, in particular in regional NSW.”He added that developers face significant challenges in delivering diversity in housing due to current regulations that are “a hiding to nowhere”. Fredericks said they had achieved success in Tullimbar Village after working with Shellharbour City Council on a Development Control Plan “We're proposing to achieve what we're intending to deliver is that 50% of new dwellings at Golden Valley 2 to be diverse housing,” he said.“We're proposing that Council consider allowing us or welcoming us to write a draft DCP that would enable this,” he added while offering the services of the former head of the Urban Design Unit for Victoria to assist in writing a draft which would then be put to the community for a final decision on whether it should proceed.Fredericks said there is a rapid movement worldwide from globalisation back to nationalisation and localisation.He said major changes are on the horizon like the end of oil being used as a primary fuel source in the next couple of generations and that “we have to start preparing for quite a different society to what we've all grown up in.“We should move to strengthen our local communities. And that's what I'm asking for your active consideration to purposefully look at how we build that resilience at a local level, reduce transit demand and develop a wider range of more diverse housing choices for our local people and local employment opportunities.”

Local community group Kiama Matters Inc voiced their concerns about the Housing Strategy at the Public Access Meeting on Monday night.Committee member, Dr Alan Woodward, spoke on behalf of Kiama Matters, a local community association for residents in the central and immediate areas around Kiama with about 500 people on board.They recently formed a working group on housing to look after the interests of residents in the Kiama area, as well as Jamberoo, Gerroa and Gerringong.In voicing his support for elements of the Housing Strategy Version 2, which will be voted upon at Tuesday night’s Council meeting, Dr Woodward said it gets a big tick for outlining how Kiama will meet the state government requirement for 900 dwellings in five years. “Everybody wants Kiama to be a thriving and livable place and housing supply, type and cost is a really big part of that,” he said.“The level of community interest in the housing strategy and housing issues reflects people's realisation of that. “Most people, certainly from what we can discern both through our own contacts and members and from the working group, are very open to the notion of growth in population.“There are some people always in the community who will be ‘no growth whatsoever’ but our sense of it is that it’s not the majority of people and that was reflected actually in the community feedback to the community strategy that Council developed where the message was pretty clear that the community wanted growth but for that growth to be managed and managed well. “It identifies opportunities and names some of the issues we have to think about not only of housing but also the commercial lands, possibility for educational and leisure facilities, and environmental constraints. “It also recognises that there is a real need to address the infrastructure issues surrounding any housing growth and population growth in the area and it articulates what some of those infrastructure issues specifically are.”However, he added that Kiama Matters Inc thinks it falls short in a couple of areas.“Firstly it's probably worth just clarifying whether the purpose of the strategy is housing or housing and growth, because if it's simply housing for five years it describes how you reach the state government target and conceivably after that five years another target could be looked at and set,” he said.“But rather it identifies a population growth and an expansion of housing and dwellings in the area and it puts forward some of the arguments around economic activity and other issues including critical mass for facilities or possibly a university site and things like that. “So it really needs to be more clear about what actually it is providing a strategy for - because it's not just a housing strategy as it has been drafted. “It defines the Kiama expansion area as including the western areas and this is probably the most contentious thing. “But it does not identify priority areas for medium density growth and development, and in particular it does not explore the potential for what might be called middle-high density, that is density of around three, four, maybe five storeys which has already been explored both in Sydney and other cities.“Canberra is a particularly good illustration of that where their planning approach is looking at this mid-high density and that surely would be an option in Kiama. “It does not propose any targets for either the dwelling type or the affordability of housing or limits on the use of existing infrastructure that might be constraints in particular areas, nor does it set a target around short-term rentals. “We have a potential large growth in the footprint and expansion of the Kiama area particularly without any real controls or targets around what development might occur.”Dr Woodward said Kiama could end up with more of the same housing.“In short it could allow us to simply have a whole lot more four-bedroom homes that are in the same price range as what's currently on the market for those dwellings,” he said, adding there was “no real addressment of the stresses facing people in terms of housing affordability or location or type”. “It could result in profound loss of character, amenity and livability and it could result in real impacts around the environmental areas and particularly sensitive areas including around the Spring Creek catchment. “So it doesn't have enough there to provide the protections that are matched to the growth strategies. “Notably it does not have any strategies around employment lands, rural lands or environmental assessment. It just says that work needs to be done. So we see this is really the big problem. “It's the order in which things are proposed to happen. It's sort of saying let's set the parameters and then get on with the planning work and that's what the feedback from the community is saying we're concerned about that. No argument with the objectives broadly speaking but the way to get there.”Dr Woodward proposed that Council could create the 900 dwellings in five years udner the Strategy but “take longer to look into the expansion areas and further options”.“And to do that with more intensive and deliberative input from the community, possibly through something like a community forum or a deliberative process, and to report back to the community on that so that innovation options and ideas can come forward.“There's been a lot of input from planning officials, from the state agencies, from the property and and housing industry but I'm putting it to you there needs to also be the input from the residents in the community and those interests need to come forward because in a democracy at the end of the day the people always right.”He called on Council to put a timeframe on a process for another 12-24 months to engage with people in the community “to see what actually are some of the more creative options we could come up with”.“And when you come up with those, that's when you go back to the state agencies on the front foot and go to the private sector and say, this is what we're interested in.”

As scams become a reality for many, it can be financially and emotionally debilitating, especially for seniors.But fear not, Kiama is doing something about it. Kiama Library and Kiama and Shoalhaven Community College (KSCC) are offering two courses: the Tech Savvy Seniors for over 60s and Cyber Security Awareness for over 50s. KSCC vocational and education training manager Robert Murphy explained to The Bugle that the Cyber Security Awareness course is targeted to over 50s to educate people on the threats that are associated with technology. “The idea is to empower people to have some skills to identify any security threats, spam and associated malware and software and give them some practical tips,” Murphy said. With the Kiama Library and KSCC providing their respective classes, manager of library and cultural hubs Michelle Hudson hopes to see many local residents taking advantage of these sessions. “It’s giving people that confidence in that small classroom setting,” Hudson said. “They have a maximum of 10 people, so that (if) people feel that they don’t understand, that everyone is in the same position. “Sometimes they are finding out things from other people’s questions.”Part of the difficulties faced by many people with technology is the ability to decipher scammers who use different techniques to take advantage of the vulnerable. “(It) used to be phone calls, now it’s the text messages,” Murphy said. “The big message out there is if you don’t know who it is and you didn’t contact them, it is potentially a scam.”The terminology for what Murphy is describing is the terminology "phishing", which Murphy explains with an analogy. “If you think you’re going to the river for a fish, well you are out there trying to get the biggest fish you can,” he said. “So, these people are doing something similar. They are trying to extract information out of you. “And that could be something very, very small, but if they get enough information or they piece the bits together, they can do things like take over your identity at the far end of the scale.”Hudson extends on Murphy’s analogy with the focus on providing greater understanding for people engaging with technology.“Acknowledgement that they do need to be careful, but you don’t want that to stop people,” Hudson said. “Giving them that bigger understanding of how they can do that safely (engage with technology) and how they can share information safely. “Unfortunately, that demographic (over 50s) does often get targeted (by scammers).” In the 2024 National Anti-Scam report on scams data and activity “Australians aged 65 and over had the highest overall reported losses to Scamwatch of $99.6 million – almost one third of all losses reported last year.” Recently, it was widely reported of a data breach involving Qantas, where 5.7 million customers have had their information stolen from Qantas. Data breaches similar to this recent one are used to sell users information onto third parties on the dark web.For many who use the Kiama and Gerringong libraries, Hudson and staff work hard for to ensure they are remain safe and welcoming. “The libraries are seen as that safe and welcoming place,” Hudson said.  “We’re trusted and we can gently guide you through those sorts of interactions, and mention things like cyber safety and make sure that they are thinking about all of the different elements of technology.” The Tech Savvy Seniors is a free course and delivered in partnership with the NSW government and Telstra, with the next round of funding imminent for the Kiama Library. The Cyber Security Awareness course at KSCC is free for eligible participants, with limited spaces available at the Kiama Campus and the Shoalhaven Community College. For more information head to https://kcc.nsw.edu.au/courses/cyber-security-awareness/

Residents of Kiama and Jamberoo are advised that the Kiama-Jamberoo RSL Sub-Branch will be conducting a Memorial Service to commemorate Vietnam Veteran’s Day on Monday 18 August.The service will begin at 3pm at the Memorial Arch in Hindmarsh Park. There will be limited seats available for patrons who require seating. Wreaths will be laid during the ceremony. Large medals should be worn.The point of contact for any enquiries is the president of the Kiama–Jamberoo RSL Sub-branch, Gary McKay on 0411 574 019 or email [email protected].