What a great night enjoyed by 230 music lovers at Gerringong Town Hall on Saturday 15 th November in support of Children’s Medical Research Institute Gerringong Committee. The hall was awash with colour and movement, light and sound as people turned the music trivia into a performance. Quiz master Glenn Isemonger with DJ Bruce Wallace (The Boys) kept the music, the questions and the action going while Mr Music, Chris Cutting, brought Elvis back to the building. A fundraiser for CMRI Gerringong, it was hugely successful thanks to the generosity and support of the community as well as local businesses. Many thanks to the following sponsors: Ray White Gerringong, Cronin’s Liquor, Coastal Flow Body Therapies, Natural Necessity, Foxground Engineering, Gerringong Golf Club, Travel Managers, Kiama Toyworld, South Coast Hair, Gerringong Lions, Pete Matthes and Merelyn Porter. There was a multi draw raffle, dance competition, air guitar and trivia prizes. Ellen Mystegniotis won the $500 voucher for Harbour Rock Hotel donated by Neil Campbell of Ray White Gerringong. Ellen was also a member of the winning team and she was happy to accept a bottle of wine along with other team representatives Rob Mitchell, Jody Lindsay and Warwick Lindsay. All 10 team members won wine donated by Cronin’s Liquor. Competition in the air guitar, best YMCA team, twist and nutbush dance competitions was fierce. Music from the 1950s through to the 2000s challenged all the players to sing along, identify the bands, the singers and complete lyrics. Music lovers of all ages rose to the challenge and kept the excitement levels high. CMRI Gerringong Committee is very grateful for this amazing opportunity to raise funds that will ensure the scientists can continue their work that will improve health outcomes for all children. Don’t miss the CMRI Christmas cake stall on Saturday 6 December outside the Gerringong Pharmacy, Fern St from 8.30am until sold out.The cakes are homemade and always very popular. On Sunday 7 December there will be sausage sandwiches and a cake stall at Bunnings Albion Park - the last fundraiser for 2025.

My sister, Merelyn Pearce, was born in Gerringong in 1951 and has lived almost all her life in the district.She attended Gerringong PS, Kiama HS and spent a couple of years at MLC Burwood.I have fond memories of reading her collection of Phantom magazines and listening to ‘Abigail Beecher, my history teacher’, a great hit by Freddy Canon.Her greatest early-life achievement was being awarded a Queen’s Guide badge with other girls such as Lynn Prosser and Astrid Medenis from the Gerringong Girl Guides.Merelyn and Bob on their wedding day.Merelyn showed early on that she was a gifted artist. After high school she went to Sydney University to study English and Fine Arts. She completed a Dip. Ed. the following year and became an art teacher. During this time, she met Bob Pearce, an Industrial Arts teacher. They married, moved to Gerroa where they still reside. They raised three children, Emma, Cassie and Ben while Bob set up a business designing homes.Merelyn gave up teaching to concentrate on her art full time. For many years she created outstanding pieces from pottery.In 1989 she changed tack and took up quilting. She never imagined her work could become part of a national collection.Recently she was approached by "The Australian Quilt and Textile Collection" to acquire one of her works for conservation.The Collection is focused on preserving the diversity of Australian quilts and their stories, as well as digitally and visually recording the quilt artists and makers. It describes Australia's quilt history and provenance, as well as introducing unique Australian quilt artists. It also enables the experience of viewing these works through exhibitions and study groups. Quilts are housed in a specially designed container which has a humidifier and air conditioner to keep them in gallery standard condition.Merelyn agreed to relinquish her favourite quilt to the collection. This work, entitled "Wheelflower Medallion" is part of her celebration of the woodblock prints of Australian artist Margaret Preston. It measures 245cm2 and is hand appliqued (hand stitched) and embroidered with a massive display of Australian flora and fauna. It won Best of Show and the Hangers' prize at Sydney Quilt Show 2008 and went on to be awarded Best of Australia in 2008.Merelyn said it was gratifying to know her work would go on for future generations to enjoy.One of Merelyn's wall hangings is being raffled by the Gerringong Historical Society to raise funds for this outstanding organisation, similarly dedicated to the preservation of our past. Raffle tickets are available through the Society’s website.

Off-duty members of Gerringong Surf Club leapt into action on Tuesday morning to rescue a swimmer at Werri Beach.Shortly after 8am, a man was struggling in the powerful swell at the southern end of the beach and signalled for help.There was no official patrol on the beach at the time.Luckily for the distressed swimmer, he was spotted by club members Mark Booth, Darryl Green and Rose Leamon who were taking part in their daily ocean swim.Other members, Jeremy Marlton and Geoff Royal, raced to the clubhouse to collect a rescue board and additional equipment while Sue Gilbertson, a qualified nurse, was on hand to provide first aid assistance.Darryl was first to reach the swimmer and was quickly supported by Mark and Rose, with the group safely guiding the man through the dangerous conditions and back to the beach."This was a fantastic team effort and highlighted the value of the training and skills of the Gerringong Surf Club members,” Booth said.“We were able to keep him calm which ensured the rescue was managed without incident.”The swimmer recovered well from the ordeal and was very grateful to those involved in saving him.

One of the highest achievements you can attain in cricket is a hat-trick when a bowler gets three wickets in successive deliveries. It is a rare event. It’s only been done 49 times in Test cricket history - Sachin Tendulkar alone scored more centuries (51) in his career than this infrequent feat.It is just as tough to achieve at any level of cricket.A double hat-trick is where you get four wickets in a row, and naturally this is even rarer. One sunny afternoon in 1967, Gerringong’s second-grade side was playing Lake Illawarra. Gerringong batted first and compiled 6-206. In reply, Lake were 2-30 and David Emery was bowling, with three deliveries to go in the over. Next ball he got a wicket. Then another and then another. A hat-trick to finish his over. Congratulations all round. A hat-trick usually means you get the ball mounted on a trophy to remember the event.Alas, Brian Arberry came on to bowl. With his first delivery, he got a wicket. Then another and yet another. Two hat-tricks in a row! Six balls, six wickets. Brian was not finished yet. With his fourth delivery he snared yet another wicket. A double hat-trick. Seven wickets in seven balls. So, Brian got the trophy with the ball mounted on it. The score went from 2-30 to 9-30 in the blink of an eye. Funnily enough, it took a while to get the last wicket but Gerringong won comfortably.Their amazing feats were even reported in a Sydney newspaper the next day.

With Christmas less than six weeks away, Gerringong Rural Fire Service unwrapped an early gift with a powerful Category 11 pumper ready for service across the region. Gerringong RFS captain Adam Walmsley, who has served for over 17 years, told The Bugle it was a privilege to be the first brigade to have access to the Tatra truck and provide feedback on the model. “It’s a significant step up for us in terms of functionality and capability,” he said. “It’s a Tatra, which is normally used in mining [in Western Australia] and often in the Czech Republic military - it’s a beast.” Greg Ball (left) Adam Walmsley (centre) and Annette Wright (right).Averaging around 140 call-outs a year, the new truck provides not only more power to negate the undulating landscape of the Kiama region, but a quicker response time. “It is much more powerful, it’s got adjustable ride height, inbuilt light mast, breathing apparatus in the back of the seats and the pump is a significant upgrade from what we’ve previously had,” he said. “It [also] means we can be getting ready on the way to a call-out and have BA [breathing apparatus] gear on and get out of the truck ready. “It’s saving two minutes on a call-out, but it does make a difference in a house fire situation.” In 2023, Fire and Rescue published research which identified critical factors in fatal house fires in NSW and one of the findings states “response time is a critical factor in saving lives, preventing injuries and mitigating fire extension”. “We also assist both Fire and Rescue and other RFS brigades, so we tend to work most closely with Foxground, Shoalhaven Heads and Jamberoo,” Walmsley said. “But as a primary village brigade, we’ve got responsibility for the primary response for Gerringong and Gerroa, so it is just as busy.” A feature of the new pumper truck is the adjustable height ride, which means work health and safety officers can breathe a sigh of relief. “When we all jump out in a hurry, it is not as big a fall,” Walmsley said. With a tank that can store up to 3000 litres of water to five hoses, it can be a challenge for the pump operators.  “You’re balancing water in and out and making sure that it never runs out, but also that firefighters always have got water,” he said. “You might have everyone using their hoses, so the pressure drops – and then everyone stops using it and the pump operator has to control it quickly, otherwise you can blow up hoses. “The pump is so powerful that if you’re not paying attention, it can all go berserk quite quickly.” Tatra trucks first entered the Australian market in the late 1990s through Larry Gill and his company Offroad Trucks Australia. For those looking to take up their civic duties and volunteer, Captain Walmsley says there are positions for volunteers at Gerringong RFS. “We’re recruiting again, so if anyone’s interested, they can apply online through the RFS website,” he said For more information go to: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/join-the-nsw-rfs

Gerringong 82-year-old John Le Carpentier, or “Chippy” as he is known around town, defied Father Time yet again at a gruelling event at University of Wollongong’s recent Illawarra Fitness Festival.Despite his age, Chippy braved the Team Race category alongside 21-year-old University of Wollongong College graduate Cohen Harms and student Max Ferri.His contribution included a 700m run and 700m on the rowing machine, followed by another 700m run before finishing with 140m of a farmer’s carry with two 10kg weights. While he found the weighted exercises breezy, the competitive and intensive nature of running was the event’s most taxing aspect.“I'm quite capable of going out tomorrow and walking 40 or 50km, that would never bother me. But running is a different thing,” he said. Chippy is no stranger to fitness challenges - he has previously been involved in a 12-hour Lifeline walk and the 1000km Oxfam Trailwalker with his family.He also attends spin classes twice a week, takes daily 6km walks and frequently orienteers, also logging a fitness activity for every single day of September as part of Million Moves’ campaign to popularise physical exercise.To train for the Hyrox event at the uni, Chippy called upon his instructor Korin Koutsomihalis and UOW College fitness student Daniel Fleming, both of whom work at Soul Fit Co. “Doing exercise with other people is motivating as opposed to just doing it on your own, because you can always find an excuse to [avoid] it. “But when you do it as a group, you feel obligated to turn up and do it, and you kind of bounce off each other,” Chippy said.He has no intentions of slowing down, with a trip to Japan on the horizon that includes a seven-day mountain hike.“My thing with keeping fit is not about the length of life, but the quality of life,” said Chippy. “So it's kind of advantageous - you spend less time getting treated by doctors because you're healthier.”

If you want to speak to someone overseas urgently these days you can do so in many immediate ways. You can even see the person as you do it.When the European settlers came to Australia in 1788, the only way of communication was by letter that went by ship. This took many months. As the years went by ships travelled a little faster but it was still counted in months. At the end of World War I, wireless telegraphs made it much quicker but on many occasions, written correspondence by letter was the only effective way to communicate important or personal information.What was needed was a fast way of delivering these letters. Intrepid aviators were the answer. Australia’s most famous aviator is Sir Charles Kingsford Smith but a great partner pilot was Charles Ulm.In April 1934, not long before he was lost somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, Ulm carried the very first airmail letters from Australia to New Zealand. Gerringong’s Val Noble wrote one of those very first letters that travelled in the plane Ulm flew.This is the letter and the envelope. The fact that the stamps are missing from the envelope is not unusual. Stamp collectors, including myself, regularly raided letters to add to their collection. The stamps on this letter would have been highly prized.

Gerringong Lions Club had a very busy October long weekend. It started with a very cold Oktoberfest celebration on the Thursday night where members and friends enjoyed some beautiful German sausages and a host of salads as well as the mandatory beer refreshments.Monday it was all action - the Return and Earn operation was in full swing with a near record 12,000 bottles and cans collected.Not all of them would fit into the machines and the rest were stored for processing the next day. All of the proceeds are distributed to charities and organisations in need of assistance. At the same time, another band of Lions were at Bunnings Albion Park cooking sausage sandwiches with the crew for the afternoon shift following them in what was another worthy fundraiser for the Lions. Many thanks to Bunnings.

In a world that often feels like it’s spinning too fast, “slow travel” is making a major comeback. It’s the type of travel that values connection over checklists, taking the time to truly experience a place rather than rushing through it.Slow travel is about how deeply you engage with a destination. It’s the difference between ticking off the Eiffel Tower and spending an afternoon people-watching from a café in Montmartre, chatting with the waiter about his favourite local bakery. It’s wandering through a Tuscan village at your own pace, getting lost down cobblestoned lanes and finding a family-run trattoria that doesn’t appear on Google Maps.When you travel slowly, you notice the small things, the rhythm of daily life, the scent of freshly baked bread, the sound of church bells marking the hour. You give yourself space to connect with locals, to learn a few phrases, and to understand a place’s traditions beyond the tourist surface. These moments become the memories that last long after you’ve returned home.There’s also a sustainability benefit. Fewer flights, longer stays, and locally owned accommodation all help reduce your footprint and ensure more money stays within the community. Many travellers are now choosing to base themselves in one region and explore by train, bicycle, or even on foot, experiences that not only support the environment but also reveal a more authentic side of travel.From our years in the travel industry, we’ve seen the way slower travel transforms people. Clients return not just with photos, but with stories. For example, the Swiss innkeeper who shared his homemade cheese, the Moroccan guide who invited them to his family’s home, or the quiet joy of a sunrise in the Bolivian salt flats. These experiences don’t happen when you’re racing from A to B, they happen when you take your time.Our owner, Peta, has just returned from her own slow travel, multi-generational family holiday through Italy and Greece. Four weeks of long lunches, engaging with the locals, a weeklong houseboat experience around the Venetian islands, another week on a Greek island without cars, and of course shared discoveries. Her journey reminded our team why this style of travel matters. Feel free to reach out to hear about it. For help planning a journey that’s truly about the experience contact Travel Focus Group on 02 4209 2044.Please note - this is paid content

By Stephanie Kemp From denying to thriving – ocean photographer’s journeyOcean photographer Jaron Oshannessy recently treated us to a slide show of his photography and also shared his journey to acceptance of his autism, ADHD and bipolar disorder through nature and his art.While in hospital, he reflected on a childhood fishing trip when he caught a 4kg snapper. On that trip he saw a whale with a baby, grabbed his mother’s camera and took his first ocean photograph.A stroke of luck led him to a pop-up shop of works by Ray Collins, another ocean photographer. Ray offered to mentor Jarod and has been teaching him and shooting with him for five years. They shoot together on land and in the water. Shooting in the water involves swimming with a 2kg waterproof camera tied to him so he cannot lose it.Over five years in and out of hospitals, Jarod met a variety of people and came to accept his illness. Acceptance opened the door to recovery and he is now passionate about sharing his story to help others. People with mental health issues are still people – they just feel more acutely. They need to feel heard and loved like we all do.Moving to the South Coast helped Jarod as he found himself surrounded by the beauty of nature. He joined Christian Surfers and has at last found somewhere he belongs. His photos can be seen on Instagram, Facebook and on his website.Cath Winley - a wholehearted therapistCath moved to the Gerringong community four years ago with her children after she was widowed. She finished training as an art therapist in July and sees therapy as a way of giving back to the community. She wants to help people unpack their stuff so that they can live their lives to their full potential and become the best version of themselves. Cath Winley. Often we follow the same pattern in our interactions and make the same mistakes again and again. Cath wants to help people realise these patterns so they can move beyond them and lead a fulfilling life, at whatever stage of life.Her particular interests are in helping the elderly and young boys. The beauty of art therapy is when people’s hands are busy doing something, it is easier for them to open up than when they are sitting across the room from a therapist. She gave the example of a World War II veteran who was colouring in poppies.Gradually he opened up about his war experiences for the first time to the point where he asked for help buying a suit so that he could attend his first Anzac Day.She described the satisfaction she finds in group work in care homes, where residents come out of their rooms and begin to form friendships, revisiting and comparing memories of the mischief they got up to in the 1950s and 1960s. Often music provides the stimulus to refresh the memories and help conversation flow.She also shared an instance where she helped a teenage girl overcome her fear of getting in the water. Often when she is working with teenagers, she takes her two poodles and finds that they help young people relax into the session.For further information on Cath’s practice, Wholehearted Therapy and Healing, go to www.healyourheart.com.au. Future speakersFuture speakers at our Wednesday morning meetings in Gerringong Town Hall are publicised on our website - https://gerringongrotary.com.au. Visitors are welcome – please arrive in time for a 7.30am start.Over the next few weeks, we are welcoming:19 November: Dr Zara Fulton, speaking on “Innovation and Impact in Disability and Health". Dr Fulton is the Head of Investment at Remarkable, the startup accelerator run by Cerebral Palsy Alliance, where she supports technology shaped by lived experience to create a meaningful impact for people with complex disabilities.3 December: Meryll Faulkner, speaking on "The Art of Makeup and Mentorship". She is a professional makeup artist and educator, principal of Making Faces Makeup Studio, Kiama and has over 20 years experience in film, TV, and education. She trained under Oscar-nominated artists and mentored many of Australia's leading makeup professionals. New members and friends always welcome - see www.gerringongrotary.com.au or contact [email protected].

Working at the Gerringong museum the other day, I was having a joke with a lady saying that to be regarded as a local in the town you have to have lived there for more than 40 years.The lady laughed and said that no, you have to have a street or park named after your family. All good fun to pass the time.Like just about every person reading this, there comes a time when you have to clean out the possessions of a family member who has passed away.Often there are many papers and documents to be sorted, some valuable and others less so.When my father died, my family had to do this. I collected all the valuable, interesting stuff and put it into a couple of suitcases.Now to digress for a moment. When the Kiama LGA was first established, Kiama was in charge of the whole area, as it is the case today.The old Walker residence in Gerringong.However, in 1871 the Gerringong residents were not happy with this and established the Gerringong Municipal Council which ran until 1954.That is a story for another day.Going through the suitcase at the GLaM the other day, one piece caught the attention of the assembled (small) crowd.What I found was an Electoral Roll for Gerringong Municipality in 1914.Some names are instantly recognisable and would have many members represented on a similar roll in 2025.Other names have all but disappeared. Maybe the families moved away but another reason could be that there were a lot of girls in the family.As the girls married, the family name disappeared. Speaking of females. Most are mentioned with the occupation of “domestic duties”. Compare that with today.Anyway, I would like to mention just a few. Many of you out there must have lots of other stories to tell from the names. We would like to hear from you.Thomas Bergin is one important one that comes up. He was a man who owned and ran what is now Cronin's pub and is a direct descendant.The Blow family was one my father remembered fondly.The Campbells are a big family in Gerringong, particularly in real estate.I have read so much about the Deverys, especially in the Gerringong CC.The Hindmarsh family, of course, with the famous Alnebank property.Who can go past the Millers.Other names come up: Gray, Johnston, Walker, Langton, Noble and so many others.I could go on with numerous stories about prominent families, either still an important part of Gerringong life today or lost in the mists of time.I suppose I could have offended somebody by not mentioning their family name.Well, if that is the case, or even if it is not, as I said earlier, we here at the Bugle would love to hear some stories about these people who lived so long ago. They all deserve to have their story told.

Remembrance Day commemorates the signing of the armistice when the guns fell silent on the Western Front in France and soldiers laid down their arms. The end of the First World War was declared at 11am on the 11th of November, 1918.Over 60,000 Australians were killed and over 156,000 were wounded in this war. Given Australia’s small population at the time this loss was to be felt for generations to come. Traditionally, a minute’s silence has been observed throughout Australia at 11am where people would stand still wherever they were.Gerringong RSL Sub-Branch invites the local community to commemorate and honour the sacrifice that was made to achieve peace and our way of life. A ceremony will be held at the Flag Pole on the Gerringong Headland, where Gerringong’s Anzac Day is held each year, starting at 10.45am on Tuesday, 11 November. A minute’s silence will be observed at 11am and a short wreath-laying ceremony will follow. After the ceremony, refreshments will be served at the Gerringong RSL Hall, on the corner of Fern Street and Belinda Street. Everyone is welcome.This year is also the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe and in the Pacific.

Gerringong Historical Society recently brought local history to life with its ‘Defining Images of Australia’ exhibition - a celebration of the nation’s icons and stories.The event, held in collaboration with the National Museum of Australia, began with museum provided panels showing definitive Australian symbols such as the wattle, the kangaroo and the humble suitcase - representing migrants arriving in the 1950s.“Our curator reached out to the community for items that represent Australia,” said Historical Society president Geoff Webb. “The response was enormous."Photo: SuppliedLocals contributed everything from 1850s table decorations shaped like palm trees to thongs found on Werri Beach with a bottle opener cut into the sole in the shape of Australia.Vintage Women's Weekly cookbooks, Jenny Kee jumpers, and Arnott’s biscuit tins also featured among the nostalgic collection.Students from Gerringong Public School added a creative touch, crafting Opera House inspired artworks and papier-mache models deco Gerringong rated with fireworks.Local artist Anna Glynn from Jaspers Brush spoke about her works exploring Australian flora, fauna and colonial historyA highlight of the night was an English trunk from 1785, lined with pages from Hansard, believed to have links to the Berry family.The event also showcased a quilt voted by Marilyn Pearce inspired by Margaret Preston’s wildflower paintings which is being raffled to support community projects.Photo: SuppliedLooking ahead, the society is preparing for the centenary of the Werri Beach estate next January, with an exhibition and walking tours planned later on in the year.“People think history is old,” Webb said.“But it’s happening every day. Our job is to remember it for future generations and share it with the community.

Saturday, 15 November will be a big night of fun at Gerringong Town Hall for music lovers and funseekers. The Sonic Journey Music Trivia Night sold out quickly as Glen Isemonger and Bruce Wallace reprise the event that had a long and successful history in raising money for Surf Aid before the Covid pandemic brought a sudden stop to the fun. The music, dancing and good cheer will now be held in support of CMRI.Saturday, 6 December is a date to remember if you want to buy a great value Christmas cake made by CMRI members. The cake stall will be outside the pharmacy in Fern St Gerringong from 8.30am. Be early as these cakes sell out quickly.On Sunday, 7 December from 8am at Bunnings in Albion Park, members will sell sausage sandwiches and there will also be a cake stall featuring a range of homemade cakes, slices and biscuits.Monday, 1 December will be the last meeting for the year and a celebration as the year’s achievements are highlighted.Research updateThe Gerringong Committee of Children’s Medical Research Institute has been fundraising continuously since 1959. By the end of 2024 a grand total of $2,333,842 was raised by Gerringong committee. There is more to come from this year’s efforts. Members are committed to the cause and recognise that medical research is the key to ensuring better health outcomes for all children. 1 in 20 children face a birth defect or genetic disease. The key research areas for CMRI are: cancer, neurobiology, embryology, genomics and gene therapy.The Procan research has created the world’s largest database of cancer and is on track towards being able to identify the best treatment option for each patient. Drug development, gene therapy and the Telemere Analysis Centre help to provide new and better cancer treatments with fewer side effects.By-election bluesTo ensure the ongoing success of CMRI, the Gerringong and Kiama community gives very generously to support our fundraising.Special mention must be given to Marilyn and Sarah Atkins of Bombo Clothing, who were set to launch this year’s Fashion Parade (the first was in 2024) with all proceeds going to CMRI. Tickets were selling well but alas, the event scheduled for 13 September at the Uniting Church in Kiama clashed with the state by-election. Sarah Atkins.The church is a major polling booth. Generous ticket buyers donated the cost of the tickets they had already purchased to our cause and over $1300 was received. Hopefully, Bombo Clothing’s Fashion Parade can be held in 2026.Thank youThank you to our community for such generous support, positive feedback and loyalty. Thank you to all of the businesses who donate prizes for the raffles, display our posters, print posters for events and help to further the cause. The consistent hard work of our members can’t be underestimated! New members are always welcome. Contact [email protected] or visit the Gerringong Children’s Medical Research Institute Facebook page.

Julia O’Keefe knows the therapeutic value in taking small steps to effect big change.For the past four years the Gerroa woman has signed up for the Black Dog Institute’s annual walk to raise funds and awareness of mental health and the supports available.The Institute’s One Foot Forward walk, held throughout October, is a way for communities to come together and show their support for those living with mental ill health, while also raising funds for Black Dog to improve national services.Most people know someone experiencing mental illness, or experience it themselves at some point in their life, with 1 in 5 Australians living with a mental illness.According to the Black Dog Institute, of the five million Australians experiencing mental ill health, half won’t seek professional help and this can have a devastating impact on not only those living with it, but those around them.“I originally started walking for One Foot Forward in 2021,” explains Julia.“We had a few tragedies happen within our local community and I started doing it as a way to quietly show my support for those people affected and to raise money for mental health education and support services.”The first year Julia walked in One Foot Forward she set herself a goal to cover 200km throughout October and raise more than $1500.Each year she has increased her goal by 100km and last year she raised a whopping $5499.“This year, I’ve set myself my biggest goal yet – to walk 600km and raise $10,000 to put ground-breaking new mental health treatment, education, and digital services into the hands of the people who need them most.”Julia knows first-hand the difference mental health support services can have on those feeling the "black dog”, a term famously used by Winston Churchill to describe his own experiences with periods of severe sadness and low mood.“I suffer with anxiety and I found that by participating in One Foot Forward each year, it gives me purpose, a fresh perspective and a feeling of community joy, strength and resilience,” says Julia.“One of the not so joyous parts about anxiety is that you never know exactly when it is going to hit or how hard.“But what I have realised over the years of participating is that through talking about it and reducing the stigma and silence around mental health, we also reduce its power to take over.“We can let others know that ‘it’s OK not to be OK, you aren’t the only one’ and that there are organisations you can go to for support and education.”Julia says having resources, training and education available to everyone, through Black Dog’s digital platform, is “absolutely life changing, that’s why I love supporting this charity".Over the four years participating in One Foot Forward Julia has covered 1400km, the equivalent of walking from Gerroa to Bundaberg in Queensland, and raised over $13,500.This year Julia will include an ambitious 24-hour walk, covering 100km, as part of her goal to increase funding and support for Black Dog Institute’s crucial mental health research, education, and digital services.“It surprises me every year how many people say to me when I start to talk about my anxiety that they would never imagine that I would struggle with mental health, because I’m so happy,” says Julia.“But mental health struggles don't discriminate and we all have experience of it, it's just about where on the continuum we are sitting at any point in time.”If you see Julia pounding the pavement with her dalmatian Murray throughout October give her a shout out, or better yet donate through her fundraising page https://www.onefootforward.org.au/fundraisers/juliaokeefe.

By Stephanie Kemp Gerringong Rotary is organising a Trivia Night at the Gerroa Fishermen’s Club on 25 October with all proceeds going to Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC).ROMAC brings medical support to sick children in our region. When there is no appropriate medical equipment on an island, the sick child and their parents are brought to Australia for treatment. They are hosted by a Rotary family while they are here.ROMAC started in March 1988 out of the actions of an Australian Rotarian who, with a group of surgeons, visited Lambasa in Fiji. They found the child mortality rate was as high as 25% in some places and quickly identified that the lack of medical and surgical facilities and skills for children of the island nations in Oceania was a major cause.Today, ROMAC is providing surgical treatment to around 30-40 children from Oceania every year – we are making a huge difference in their lives.Our trivia night is supporting this important work.You’ve got to be Stoic to start a microbrewerySteve Prosser, co-founder of Stoic Brewing in Gerringong, together with his son Andrew, told us his story of setting up a small business from scratch. They founded Stoic in 2018 with a vision of creating a space where the community can come together and enjoy locally brewed beer and cider in among the vats, and at the same time creating a sustainable business for their family to operate in years to come.Steve emphasised the most important thing was a passion for what you want to do. Working for money or recognition will not carry you through the 100-hour weeks that are in store for the small businessperson. You also need a goal, but you will never achieve it – when what you thought was the goal gets close, you realise how much more is possible.The first thing they needed was a location, and fortuitously, Steve already owned an industrial unit with zoning that permitted use as a brewery. The next thing they needed was money and Steve’s tip was that you always need more than you think and you have to get used to the feeling of being massively in debt, especially when you start a business just before a pandemic. They also surrounded themselves with good advisers, but were prepared to discard advice that was not right for them.After finding the location they needed a DA, which required a plethora of licences and approvals for Kiama Council, including electrical, engineering and plumbing reports, fire safety, bushfire and flooding risk, traffic impact, liquor and gaming permits and finally overall sign-off by the certifier and the council. Each one of these reports cost at least $1000 – it was an expensive and time-consuming exercise.Now he is a brewer, Steve visits other microbreweries regularly and has discovered most of them started with an enthusiast working in the garage or someone who had worked for a big brewer wanting to do their own thing. Steve and Andrew were electricians and had run their own electrical business, but had no background in brewing. They experimented and once Andrew could brew a small batch of good beer, they ordered the equipment to scale up to the brewery they have now. Their electrical background saves them significant costs – they can do most of the equipment repairs and maintenance.They are passionate about using the best ingredients and have now employed a professional brewer. Their Belgian-style Amber Ale uses ingredients from Belgium and even the water in the beer is manipulated to mimic the water used in the style of beer they are making. All this work has paid off and their New Zealand Pilsner won a gold medal in the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards against international competition.Where does the name come from? Andrew was adamant that the name should not contain place names, animals or colours. While they were pondering what to call their fledgling business, they were in church and the talk referred to the Stoics, Greek philosophers who believed that everybody should work together for the greater good and that happiness is found in embracing the moment, no matter how great or gloomy. It was a perfect philosophy for the journey they were about to embark on.It is stressful – one microbrewery goes broke every week and the tax and regulatory environment is complex. Working 80 to 100 hours a week, small business is a lifestyle not a job. As Steve put it, they have made lots of friends but not much money! But they love what they do.Wrapping SAHSSI with loveThe Gerringong Rotary knitters and friends have donated a colourful pile of hand-knitted blankets to Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra Ltd (SAHSSI), a specialist service supporting vulnerable women and families in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions.Behind the daily caffeine fixTwelve Rotarians spent a recent morning at the Daily Grind in Gerringong industrial estate, learning about the coffee business and how Australia’s favourite drink is produced.Daily Grind has a farm in Colombia dedicated to producing their beans but supplements them from other sources. The roasting is done here in Gerringong and the Rotarians saw the whole process from raw bean to drink.Pat and Ricky, of Daily Grind, make their own deliveries to their customers and stack the shelves. This enables them to have a chat and check whether they are meeting the customer’s needs.New members and friends always welcome - see www.gerringongrotary.com.au or contact [email protected].

The exhibition ‘Defining Symbols of Australia’ will open next Thursday (9 October) at the GLaM Gallery in Gerringong, exploring the identity of Australians through objects donated by the community. Included in the exhibition are some stunning works by Anna Glynn, drawing on images from Australia’s rich and complex history. Glynn’s work is beautiful and challenging with its layers of meaning. In keeping with the theme of the exhibition, Anna will arrive at the GLaM Gallery in one of Australia’s favourite historic cars, a 1954 FJ Holden Special sedan owned and driven by Malcolm Lambert.She is a Dharawal-based, award-winning Australian artist whose rainforest home is tucked below the steep cliffs of the Illawarra escarpment. Filled with curiosity, she has a passion for investigating the complex relationships between humans, history, nature, land, place, physical and ephemeral. Her diverse practice includes painting, drawing, video, sculpture, installation, photography, writing, music, sound and international interdisciplinary collaborations between art and science. She has been recognised with numerous awards, including the 2023 International Women’s Day Arts Award, and her work is held in esteemed public and private collections such as the Australian Parliament House Art Collection, the National Museum of Australia Collection, Shoalhaven City Art Collection, Art Gallery of Ballarat and the Kedumba Collection of Australian Drawings.She has an active international practice of projects and exhibitions in Japan, Estonia, USA, Sweden, Norway, Hong Kong and China.Her ‘Promiscuous Provenance’ exhibition toured 2018-2021 to 10 galleries across Queensland, NSW, ACT, Victoria and South Australia with the support of the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program. For an enjoyable evening and the opening of the exhibition by our Patron, Sandra McCarthy, join us at Gerringong Library & Museum: GLaM Gallery from 5.30-7.30pm. Doors open at 5pm and the $10 entry fee includes refreshments.

Have you ever wondered what the animals in your garden are thinking? What their little lives might be like? Local author Diann Rodgers-Healey has and she's bringing that imagination, curiosity, and creativity to her children’s books.Diann is a dreamer first and an author second, sharing her sense of wonder with everyone she meets. She has written several books, but her personal passion project is Shirley’s Imaginarium, a series about a gardener named Shirley and the world of animals that live in her yard.Next Tuesday (7 October), from 10am to 11:30 am, Diann will be reading from one of her books, “When Mr Toad Wanted Everyone To Notice Spring in the Garden”, at Gerringong Library and Museum (GLaM) - followed by a fun decorating session in the new herb garden.Speaking about the book, Diann described how Mr Toad becomes enchanted by the beauty of spring and frustrated that the other animals don't seem to notice. “What afterall is a garden like in spring?” she explained, is the question Mr Toad asks as he launches a garden contest, hoping to get others to stop and pay attention. But, as she noted, “no one's interested,” with the animals “just doing business as usual” - foraging, and going about their day.By the end, Mr Toad's perspective shifts, thanks to Miss Kookaburra, who helps him see that the point isn’t to simply observe nature, but to live in it. “He learns the lesson that it’s not about observing,” Dianne said, “it’s actually about being in it and living in the garden.” The story gently encourages kids (and adults) to connect with nature by appreciating the quiet moments and little corners that are easy to miss.Make sure to bring the kids along for this magical reading and a chance to get hands-on in the garden. To learn more about Diann, check out her work here - https://animaginarium.com.

Close your eyes for a moment and picture yourself standing in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The early morning mist is lifting, scooters weave past in every direction and the aroma of broth drifts through the air. A woman ladles steaming pho into your bowl, scattering fresh herbs on top. You take a sip, and it’s delicate and rich - the flavour of generations past.Culinary travel in Asia offers something special with every meal. Each country, each city, even each street corner, offers something unique. In Bangkok, the evening markets come alive with sizzling woks, skewers of smoky satay and bowls of fragrant green curry. The energy is electric. You find yourself perched on a plastic stool, elbow to elbow with locals, grinning as the spice makes your eyes water.In Cambodia, food takes on another rhythm. Imagine sitting by the riverside in Phnom Penh as the sun sets, the scent of lemongrass and galangal rising from a bowl of Amok, Cambodia’s signature fish curry, steamed in banana leaf. It’s gentle yet bold, the kind of dish that lingers on your palate and in your memory.Further north in Siem Reap, you might wander through a night market, where everything from crispy fried tarantulas to sweet coconut pancakes tempt the curious traveller.Then there’s Japan’s Osaka, where the fun of eating is as much part of the experience as the food itself. You watch a vendor expertly flip Takoyaki on a hot griddle, the golden spheres hiding tender octopus inside. A few steps away, an Okonomiyaki pancake, layered with cabbage and pork, and drizzled with tangy sauce, is slid onto your plate. It’s hearty, messy, and utterly unforgettable.Not every meal needs to be grand. Sometimes the most meaningful ones are simple: dim sum shared with new friends in Hong Kong, naan pulled straight from the tandoor in Delhi or bibimbap stirred together in a bustling Korean kitchen. The act of eating here is communal, warm, and deeply connected to culture.Food has the power to transport us, to slow us down, to connect us with people we may never otherwise meet. Travelling through Asia is about seeing new places, but it is also about tasting them, one dish at a time.If we have made your mouth water, then you may be keen on Travel Focus Group’s women’s tour to Vietnam and Cambodia departing in March, where food plays a starring role. Otherwise, there are plenty of other ways we can help you taste Asia. Call the team on 02 4209 2044 to start planning.Please note - this is paid content