Hayden Buchanan is yet another Gerringong Lions junior who is close to making his NRL debut with St George Illawarra.Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has included Buchanan in the 20-man squad for this Saturday's WIN Stadium match-up against Canberra.Buchanan has been named among the reserves for the first time in his career after crafting an impressive Knock-On Effect NSW Cup campaign this year.His former Gerringong teammate, rookie forward Hamish Stewart, has been named on the interchange bench.Another Lions product, second-rower Dylan Egan, made his debut earlier this season before suffering a serious knee injury.It has been a bumper year for Gerringong with young halfback Ashton Ward getting his first taste of NRL action for South Sydney last Saturday, playing the final 23 minutes of their narrow loss to Cronulla in Gosford.Buchanan could be a late inclusion between now and game day if there is an injury or if Flanagan decides to tinker with his line-up.The 19-year-old centre was signed by the Dragons four years ago and played up an age group in Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball before earning his first call-up to the NRL training sqaud at 17.He helped NSW win an Under 19s Origin match over Queensland despite also being a year younger than the cut-off mark.Buchanan was given a glimpse of NRL intensity at the start of the year when he took part in the trial wins over South Sydney and the Roosters before lining up in 14 NSW Cup matches for St George Illawarra leading into this week's NRL call-up.With Maroons centre Valentine Holmes and winger Sione Finau out for the rest of the season due to shoulder injuries, there's a fair chance Buchanan will get to make his NRL debut at some stage in the final six rounds.Flanagan has been forced to make changes to his pack for the rumble with the Raiders.Former Queensland forward Jaydn Su’A (knee) is unlikely to play again this season after he was on the end of a hip-drop tackle during last week's loss to North Queensland.Michael Molo will slot into the second row for Su'A with veteran forward Hame Sele added to the interchange.Blake Lawrie has been relegated to the interchange with Emre Guler returning to the starting side at prop.The Dragons have dropped to 12th on the ladder with a 6-12 record after their 38-32 loss to the Cowboys and are just two points ahead of last-placed South Sydney in the race to avoid the wooden spoon.They face a daunting task trying to bring down the Green Machine who are riding high at the top of the ladder on the back of a nine-game winning streak.In the NRLW, the Dragons will be without Teagan Berry (suspension) and Kasey Reh (head knock) when they take on the Parramatta Eels at McDonald Jones Stadium at Magic Round on Sunday.After thumping Canberra in Round 1, they have lost three on the trot, including a 30-6 defeat at the hands of Brisbane in Wollongong last Sunday.

Kiama Council is backing a report from Local Government NSW which is calling on the state and federal governments to commit to genuine reform on regulatory changes, proper budget support and fair funding.An independent report commissioned by LG NSW has found that each ratepayer is being short-changed by around $500 a year due to cost shifting by the NSW and Australian Governments.All up, local councils in NSW are absorbing a staggering $1.5 billion in costs that have been diverted to them from the higher levels of government for responsibilities such as infrastructure, services and regulation without sufficient fundingChief executive officer Jane Stroud, Mayor Cameron McDonald and his fellow Councillors Stuart Larkins, Melinda Lawton and Mike Cains represented Kiama at the National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra last month where the topic of cost shifting was the talk of the conference.“Councils are really struggling to do more with less money,” Cr Lawton said."These days, it’s not like it used to be - there are more services, more choices, and naturally, communities expect more in return for their rates, especially when those rates have gone up significantly. And fair enough. But the reality is, those increases don’t actually stretch far — they mostly just keep pace with inflation, not the rising costs of delivering the services people rely on. She spoke to a representative from another local council who said their plight was so dire that they couldn’t even afford to buy a new garbage truck.Cr Lawton used the fact that Kiama Council now has to foot the bill for the upkeep of Jamberoo Mountain Road instead of the NSW Government as an example of local Councils having to do a lot more nowadays.Council has been advocating since September 2022 to have Jamberoo Mountain Road reclassified from a regional to a state road.“When things like this get pushed back onto local councils, we’re stuck. We don’t get the funding to redesign the road in a way that would actually reduce the risk of landslides - we just get enough to patch it up. "So it ends up happening again, just a few metres down the track,” Cr Lawton said. “There’s just not enough money to go around.“It takes away money reserves that we could allocate somewhere else.“I see this as something that the community could take to and push back at the state election. Relay our current issues to the people who are running - what are you going to do about cost shifting, what are you going to do about these roads that we’ve been given that should not be ours and get some real answers.”Cr Lawton floated the idea of being more transparent with rate notices to show what percentage stays with Council for their operations.“If our rates notices can be more transparent about what monies go where, rather than a general line item, then people might see that some of those monies that they’re paying to us, is by-passing local govt and goes straight up the line,” she said.“People could see that Council’s not getting $500 from me this year; they’re only actually getting $250. These figures as an example only.“That may explain some of the issues around the fact that we can’t always provide what the community would like.”Complicating matters for Kiama is the NSW Government-imposed Performance Improvement Order that they are operating under in order to balance the books by midway through 2027.“Everyone knew it was always going to be a challenge but to date we are looking really positive,” Cr Lawton said. “Although there’s probably going to be some tough calls to get us to that point, I think the community can feel there’s a bit of security there just by the fact things are being righted by these processes and having the OLG looking over our shoulders. “It’s great. Accountability should never be seen as an imposition; it can only benefit us in the long run.”Cr McDonald has described the LG NSW report as a “significant wake-up call” for the higher levels of government.Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips disputes Kiama Council’s claims in relation to federal funding.Phillips pointed to the significant Australian Government funding flowing into the Kiama local government area to assist Council with roads and community infrastructure projects.“The new Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club would not have been built without the $5.5 million federal funding that I delivered,” she said.“The recently completed car park in South Kiama Drive at Kiama High School would not have happened without federal funding.“I’ve delivered federal funding for flag poles at the Jamberoo School of Arts, upgrades to Gerry Emery Reserve Club amenities and repairs for cricket pitches at Bonaira, Chapman and Keith Irvine Ovals ... and much more.“The injection of federal funding reduces the burden on Kiama Council to fund the upgrade of local roads and facilities that are important to our community.“Without federal funding many of the local projects in Kiama wouldn’t even get off the ground.”Phillips said that the federal Roads to Recovery program is progressively increasing from $500 million to $1 billion per year, the Road Black Spot Program is increasing to $150 million per year, and $50 million has been added to the new $200 million per year Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program.“Kiama Council can access funding to help maintain and upgrade local road networks, especially with the severe weather events that have so heavily impacted road infrastructure in recent years,” she said.“Federal infrastructure betterment funding was also provided to Kiama Council to assist with building three disaster-impacted roads back better, including Jamberoo Mountain Road.“I encourage Kiama Council to be proactive and apply for federal funding, and to engage with me about grant opportunities that are available.”

Folk By The Sea organisers have added a charity preview concert at Kiama Leagues Club auditorium on September 11 to launch this year’s festival.Folk By The Sea officially kicks off on Friday, September 12 at Kiama Showground Pavilion with a line-up including some of Australia’s leading Folk, Country, Celtic and Bluegrass artists.But music fans will be able to get a taste of what’s to come over the weekend at the Thursday night charity preview show featuring Bluegrass bands Charley Castles and The Boys in the Well, Kiama’s own The Water Runners, local folk duo Square Pegs and South Coast Indie-Folk artist Kane Calcite, as well as a performance from Kiama High School students to start the night at 7pm.Entry is by donation, with all proceeds going to Lifeline South Coast.Festival director Neil McCann said the preview show was a chance for people who hadn’t attended Folk By The Sea in previous years to come along to a free night of music and get an idea of what Folk By The Sea is all about.“We’re hoping this show will really ‘sell’ the festival to people who may not have been to a folk festival before,” he said. “They’ll see three of the festival’s main acts, as well as a performance from Kiama High School students, and hopefully they will want to come along to the main festival over the weekend.”The Folk By The Sea program has been finalised, with 40 acts and 100 concerts over the weekend. The main festival program gets underway at 5pm on Friday with the Kiama Sea Shanty Club performing on the Pavilion verandah, then at 6pm The Humbuckin’ Pickups take to the main stage in The Pavilion.Things really start to warm up after the official opening and Welcome to Country, with Victorian multi-Golden Guitar-winning Americana duo The Weeping Willows taking to the stage at 7.30pm.They will be followed by celebrated Indigenous performer Jessie Lloyd at 8.25pm and Solomon Islands singer Charles Maimarosia at 9.20pm. Charley Castles and her Boys In The Well will round out the night with some foot-stomping Bluegrass from 10.20pm.There will be two other venues operating with multiple performances at the Showground Pavilion throughout Friday night, while the nearby Kiama Uniting Church Hall will feature a Bush Dance at 8pm with the Southern Cross Bush Band.Kane Calcite.Saturday’s packed program kicks off at 9am, with headliner Darren Coggan sure to attract a big crowd at his only show at 9pm, which will wind up the day on the main stage.A multiple Golden Guitar winner from Tamworth’s Country Music Festival with a large catalogue of original songs, Coggan has also famously toured shows in which he performs the songs of some of the late 20th century’s most popular singer-songwriters, including John Lennon & Paul McCartney, Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Glen Campbell and John Denver.A popular Folk By The Sea tradition, Sirens of the Sea which features acoustic performances by many of the festival’s main female acts, will be held on Saturday afternoon at 2.45pm at the Anglican Hall. This year’s Sirens concert will feature Ally Row, Charley Castles, Chloe Roweth, Fly Little Sparrow, Jessie Lloyd, Karen Law, Oceanique and The Weeping Willows.Sunday’s program again gets underway early, featuring acts like The Weeping Willows (9.30am), The Water Runners (12.05pm) and Jessie Lloyd (1pm).The festival will wrap with another free concert on Sunday night at Kiama Bowling Club from 5.30pm featuring the Kiama Blowhole Buskers, Graeme “The Scotsman” McColgan, Marco and Rusty, Rhys Crimmin and Slippery John Sausage and The Swamper Domper Bayou Boys.The full program and ticket information is available on the festival website folkbythesea.com.au.FOLK BY THE SEA ARTISTS LIST: Alex Randles (ACT), Ally Row (VIC), Balkan Boogie, Charles Maimarosia (VIC), Charley Castles and the Boys In The Well, Chloe and Jason Roweth, Darren Coggan, Fly Little Sparrow (QLD/NSW), Grace Barr, Graeme ‘The Scotsman’ McColgan, Hand Over Hammer (VIC), Good Tunes, Humbuckin' Pickups, Jessie Lloyd’s Sing on Country, Kane Calcite, Karen Law (QLD), Kiama Blowhole Buskers, Kiama Pipe Band, Kiama Sea Shanty, Louzco Fouzco, Marco and Rusty, Noel Gardner and Alex Bridge (QLD), Oceanique (VIC), Oliver Roweth, Robyn Sykes, Rhys Crimmin (VIC), Russell Hannah, Sam Fletcher Trio, Scupriri, Slippery John Sausage and his Bayou Boys, Southern Cross Bush Band, Square Pegs, Stonybroke, The Butter Trackers, The Con Artists, The Lofty Mountain Band (SA), The Water Runners, The Weeping Willows (VIC), Whistle, Wood n' Hide.

Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald is confident Council will be able to maximise returns on developer applications under the new Housing Strategy after a review undertaken by the governance team into how they recoup fees and charges.Councillor Erica Warren raised concerns at Council meeting in the May as part of commentary in the community about concerns over developer contributions.Cr Warren requested an urgent engagement of specialist staff to update the now expired Section 7.11 fees and chares so the Mayor requested a thorough review, also including Section 7.12 contributions.The review was tabled at this month's Council meeting which delved into the history of the two sections, dating back to 2010.According to the report, regular reviews had been undertaken by Council staff in recent years and there had been no wrongdoing by any staff or incorrect information given to Councillors.“It was important to request a comprehensive report to address the history of the Section 7.11 and Section 7.12 contributions applied locally but also as a way to commence conversations about what our local contributions plans might be moving into the future,” Cr McDonald said.“We adopted the Housing Strategy at the last Council meeting and and Director Paterson has commented that we will be reconsidering those Section 7.11 and Section 7.12 contribution policies because with greater development and greenfield development, potentially, one plan may be much more favourable than the other.”Cr McDonald said Director Paterson had been in conversation with the South Kiama development and negotiating a voluntary planning proposal, which is essentially an agreement made with developers on what the contributions will be”.“We won't enter into those unless it's beneficial for ratepayers to enter into those agreements.“It was helpful from a historical perspective for this report to inform us of what Council's treatment of those contribution plans has been and to provide some education and understanding as we embark on these conversations into the future.“It's a comprehensive report attached to the business paper. I would hope it answers some of the questions that have been in the community with regards to developer contributions.“A report like this is a bit of a line in the sand in that we've been presented with the information now.”Cr McDonald added that Council was committed to ensuring they operated efficiently without secrecy.“Members of the public heard during the campaign made it clear that we want an open and transparent local government that consults with the community and is at one with the community.“There has been a lot of grey area with the development contribution discussion in the community so let's try and be as open as transparent about the history of it as possible but also let’s use that report so that we can all be on the same page and make sure that Council is actually trying to maximise the benefit for ratepayers out of any developments that might be at hand.”

Police have released CCTV footage as they reappeal for information following an assault and robbery in the Illawarra earlier this year.About 11pm on Friday, 28 March, a man was walking at the intersection of Queen Street and Shellharbour Road at Warilla, when he was allegedly approached by two people and knocked to the ground, before they stole a mobile phone and fled the scene.A member of the public stopped to assist the man.The 61-year-old man returned to his home nearby and contacted police.Officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police Station responded and transported the man to Shellharbour Hospital, where he was treated for facial injuries.A crime scene was established and detectives launched Strike Force Torulosa to investigate the circumstances.As investigations continue, detectives have released additional CCTV of two people they believe can assist with their inquiries, who were seen in Queen Street prior to the alleged robbery.The man depicted is described as Caucasian in appearance, 25-35 years old, medium to heavy build, with dark coloured hair. He was last seen wearing a black hat, blue t-shirt, red shorts, and black and white joggers.The woman depicted is described as Caucasian in appearance, 25-35 years old, thin build with long brown hair. She was last seen wearing a grey coloured singlet, black full length leggings and white joggers.Police would also like to speak to a person who stopped their car to assist the man, shortly after the alleged assault.Anyone with information, or CCTV footage is urged to come forward and contact Lake Illawarra Police Station on 02 4232 5599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

For the residents of the Kiama local government area who are concerned with the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, the NSW Government is introducing greater legislation with tough new measures for tobacconists and businesses caught selling illegal products. With greater power for law enforcers and inspectors, the amendments appear to be on track to provide the community with the assurances they need. “These will be among the toughest penalties in the country and will send a clear message to bad actors that illegal tobacco and vaping goods will not be tolerated in NSW,” Minster for Health Ryan Park said in a statement. This announcement from the government comes on the back of a suspected arson attack on a tobacconist in nearby Corrimal on Sunday evening, which authorities are treating as suspicious.Speaking to ABC Illawarra on Monday morning, Park conceded the issue of illegal tobacco sales was a growing concern. “We need to make sure that we’re continually looking at the fines and prison sentences and increasing those and what the government’s proposed to do,” he said. “It has got ahead of the community; it has got ahead of politicians. We need to pull it back. “I know local residents in my own neck of the woods down there are sick and tired of these shops popping up and this is a big concern. “When there is an element of criminality involved with them, that increases the risk to law abiding citizens who are simply going about their business.” The NSW Government has also established a cross-agency NSW Illicit Tobacco Taskforce with the agency drawing on the expertise of various departments senior representatives to develop options and recommendations. These departments include NSW Health, NSW Police, the Department of Customer Service, the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport, and the Department of Communities and Justice. In the first six months of 2025, NSW Health conducted over 700 retailer inspections, seizing over 90,000 vapes, 6 million cigarettes and 1100 kg of other illicit tobacco products with a combined estimated street value of around $10 million. “We are disrupting the business model of the large-scale criminals who profit from addiction, tax evasion, and putting young people at risk,” Park added. “We understand the community’s frustration at the growth of the illicit tobacco market.” Part of the legislation amendments is the implementation of a new offence for the commercial possession and sale of illicit tobacco with a maximum penalty of over $1.5 million and a seven-year jail term for each. There is also the introduction of short-term (up to 90 days) and long-term (up to 12 months) closure orders for premises selling illicit tobacco, illegal vaping goods, or selling tobacco without a licence.Within the Kiama region there are approximately six shops that are solely tobacconists. This does not include shops like convenience stores that sell tobacco A Kiama Council spokesperson told The Bugle “the policing of illegal tobacco and vaping is the responsibility of the NSW Government”. “Council does not have a role, or the relevant powers, when it comes to policing illegal trading of tobacco and vaping products.”  To report criminal information, call 1800 333 000 or log on to https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au

Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald has written to the NSW Government to emphasise the importance of local representation and request clarity on what Parliament will do following state member Gareth Ward's guilty verdict on sexual assault charges.Councillor McDonald issued a statement on Tuesday to say Council is seeking "clarification on what the next steps will be from the NSW Parliament in relation to this matter".He said the outcome of the nine-week trial had shocked many members of the community and he paid tribute to the strength of the complainants who spoke out after being abused by Ward.The Independent Kiama MP will return to the NSW District Court on Wednesday to be informed of a sentencing date. He is out on bail, reporting twice daily to police, and Crown Prosecutor Monika Knowles has indicated that she will request Judge Kara Shead to detain Ward, who is considering whether he will appeal the verdict.“This is a profound moment for our community," Cr McDonald said. "My thoughts are with the resilient victims and with all involved in this complex and lengthy process. "Their strength and courage deserve our utmost respect.“Gareth Ward served our area for many years, representing the community at a local and state level and serving as a minister of the Crown. We recognise his contribution. “It is not the role of Kiama Council to make comment regarding Mr Ward’s position in Parliament or the future of representation at a state level. "That responsibility rests with the NSW Parliament.“Kiama Council respects the legal and parliamentary processes underway and will continue to focus on serving our community at a local level.”Mayor McDonald has written to the NSW Parliament, the State Minister for the Illawarra Ryan Park, and local Member of the Legislative Council Sarah Kaine to emphasise the importance of local representation and request clarification on what the next steps will be in relation to this matter.“On behalf of the residents of Kiama municipality, I have respectfully urged the NSW Parliament to take swift and decisive action in this matter, keeping in mind the vital importance of local representation in maintaining the public's faith in our political system," he added.“I look forward to hearing what steps the Parliament will take to ensure that local communities like ours continue to have their voices heard.”Ward could remain the Kiama MP even if he is sent to jail under the NSW Constitution although Premier Chris Minns on Monday reiterated his call for the disgraced 44-year-old to resign. Minns and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman have indicated that they will move to not only suspend Ward but to expel him when Parliament resumes next Tuesday.If the expulsion is approved by Parliament, a by-election will be held in Kiama later this year.

Kiama got revenge on Shoalhaven for the second time this Illawarra rugby season, securing a 29–26 win over the weekend.Shoalhaven famously defeated Kiama in last year’s grand final, sending them home empty-handed. But earlier this year, Kiama ended Shoalhaven’s remarkable 43-game winning streak with a 33-27 victory - striking back at the premiers.And last weekend, they did it again, though it was far from convincing.“We started the first half pretty much the same way we did against Campbelltown a couple of weeks ago,” said forward Dante Patrick. “They got out to two quick tries and we spent most of the half defending. Then straight after half-time, they scored another two. So it was like, ‘Come on boys, that first win couldn’t have just been a fluke.’”Patrick said an inspirational half-time speech from coach Chris Meizer turned things around.“Coach said, ‘Boys, even though we’re down, I don’t feel like we’re going to lose this game’."He just had so much confidence in us, and hearing that when you’re behind gives you hope."I think that belief is what got us through.”And they did get through. After conceding those two early second-half tries, Kiama kept Shoalhaven scoreless for the rest of the game and clawed their way back to take the lead.Kiama move to second place while Shoalhaven drop to third. Photo: Kiama Rugby“For us to chase down a lead like that shows how far we’ve come over the last few years,” said Patrick. “We’ve worked hard not to be a one-hit wonder.”Not only did they come back, they held the lead through a tense final stretch - something Patrick is especially proud of.“That last 10 minutes was probably the longest 10 minutes we’ve ever experienced,” he said. “Shoalhaven are a never-say-die team. Whether they're winning or losing, they stay in the game. In tight matches like that, they’re always dangerous, so I’m proud of how we defended that lead.”The match was played at Shoalhaven as part of the club’s annual Diggers Day, which included military displays, a Last Post ceremony, and an after-match function.“Diggers Day is massive. Shoalhaven always host it, and it’s an unreal day,” Patrick said. “We got to meet a few veterans, which is just breathtaking. You see their medals and hear about their achievements - it’s incredibly humbling.”The Kiama players wore special jerseys to honour veterans, which added extra meaning to the match.“We had jerseys made just for the occasion. I think it pushes the boys to lift that extra arm and leg to represent the veterans and make sure they’re not forgotten,” Patrick said. “Shoalhaven always know how to turn it on - there was a helicopter, flags flying, both anthems sung. It was a real moment of pride. With so many cultures coming together, it was unreal to be part of something that meaningful.”Kiama now move into second place on the ladder with just four matches left before finals. They'll be looking to carry this momentum forward, starting this Saturday when they host University at Kiama Showground.

By John Dawson As a baby boomer, I grew up watching the great West Indies Cricket teams of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, so I’d always wanted to visit the Caribbean.Watching Wes Hall and Charlie Griffiths bowl while sitting on the SCG hill with my father is a very fond memory.Then to watch the likes of contemporaries like Viv Richards and Joel Garner, who were also born in 1952, continued my fascination with Windies cricket.When I realised the Australian men’s team would be playing a series of limited-overs games in the Caribbean in 2021, I started planning a trip.Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to that adventure. So when I checked the Test cricket schedule and saw the 2025 series, I restarted my planning.As often happens in smaller cricketing nations, the details of matches were not released until just before Christmas and only a few months before the first match. That was too late for me so once I knew roughly when the Tests would be, around July last year I started booking flights and accommodation.Australian cricketers fielding to Pat Cummins at Kensington Oval, Barbados.My wife and I initially flew to Houston via Auckland on Air New Zealand for a couple of nights so we could visit the Space Centre. This was another tick off the wish list and extremely interesting, but be warned if you are planning a similar visit.Get there early if travelling independently and book separate tours of Mission Control and the Astronaut Training Facility before arrival, even if on a tour.Then it was on to Miami to stay at the small Ocean Hotel, which is located across the road from the famous South Beach. We were in the middle of the Art Deco area, right where all the “beautiful” people hang out to be seen.Because of the late release of details of the Tests, I decided to fill in some time before joining our cricket tour by seeing some other parts of the Caribbean.This involved doing back-to-back celebrity cruises of the Western and Eastern Caribbean. We visited Coco Cay (Bahamas), Cozumel (Mexico), Grand Cayman (Islands) and Falmouth (Jamaica) on the first cruise.After returning to Miami, we visited San Juan (Puerto Rico), St Maarten (both French and Dutch parts) and Coco Cay before disembarking back in Miami.All of these ports were different, with their own charm and characteristics. Our favourite would be Grand Cayman, while the most unique would be Coco Cay (Perfect Day).Coco Cay is leased by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and it has been “transformed” into a “resort amusement park” for cruise guests.Apart from the beaches and snorkelling this was not our cup of tea, so on our first visit, we decided to do a side trip to a neighbouring island. The purpose was to swim with the pigs and stingrays that “inhabit” the island.John wearing his Kiama Cavaliers Cricket Club shirt at Kensington Oval.Extremely interesting and something that doesn’t come along every day.So after two weeks on our “floating hotel” that was 99% occupied by cruise-obsessed Americans, some of whom had done over 200 cruises, it was time to return to terra firma.After returning to Miami we stayed at The Tony Hotel on Charles Avenue. Again located in the beautiful Art Deco area, we often thought we’d see Frank Sinatra or Marilyn Monroe walk into the hotel.We had five nights there so it was time to explore the city that I first visited nearly 50 years previously.We did a day trip to Key West, known as the most southerly point of continental USA, but also where Ernest Hemingway spent most of his life.Well worth the visit, even though it was a 14-hour day.We took at city tour that took us to the Wynwood (Walls) area where local and visiting artists have painted graffiti murals on the walls of buildings.This was followed by a stop at Little Havana, home to thousands of Cubans who only speak Spanish. We had a chance to sample some real coffee and cocktails, but we passed on the Cuban cigars.The day was finished off with a cruise that took us past the homes of the rich and famous including David and Victoria Beckham, Jeff Bezos, Gloria Estefan, Shaquille O’Neal, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.On our last pre-tour day we travelled to the famous Florida Everglades to “hunt” for alligators on an airboat. While the gators were not in great numbers, the airboat ride was a thrilling way to explore the glades.Now it was time to join our cricket tour which would take us to St Lucia, Barbados (First Test), Grenada (Second Test), Trinidad and Jamaica (Third Test). I did a fair bit of research when deciding whether to take this trip as part of a tour group or to travel independently.Beach cricket in the lunch break at Kensington Oval, Barbados.I eventually selected Australian Sport Tours (AST) which would be hosted by former Australian cricketers Merv Hughes and Geoff Marsh.My wife and I have visited all seven continents and over 50 countries, but this would be our first time to the Caribbean.I had previously attended the 2014 FIFA Football World Cup in Brazil as part of a Fanatics tour with my son, but this would be my wife’s first sport-based trip. The opportunity to watch and talk cricket with like-minded people, while visiting some amazing places was a lifetime dream.Our first experience with flying in the Caribbean was to St Lucia and our first introduction to rum punches. Our main activity here was a catamaran cruise that took us to the famous piton volcanic peaks, Toraille waterfall, sulphur springs and mud baths, Soufrière village and Marigot Bay. The cruise finished off with lunch, more rum punches and swimming or snorkelling in the beautiful clear blue Caribbean water.Then it was onto Barbados, home to childhood cricket heroes Sobers, Worrell, Hall, Greenidge, Haynes and Marshall and the First Test at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown. After a couple of days relaxing we started our pre-test preparation with a special group dinner and visit from Windies legend, Joel “Big Bird” Garner.Australia won in three days by 159 runs and Travis Head was Player of the Match.Each day we had a “briefing” from Merv and Geoff (Swampy) about the day’s play before heading to the ground. We all loved their extremely detailed and insightful knowledge, but delivered with the passion with which they played.When the game finished early we had an opportunity to tour the island, but also enjoy some of the great Caribbean beaches. Our favourite was Carlisle Bay where you could hire deck chairs and an umbrella, buy a beer or cocktail and swim in the refreshing clear water.Caribbean beaches are beautiful.The Second Test was in Grenada at the National Stadium. Dubbed the Spice Isle, it is very hilly and home to numerous nutmeg plantations.Australia won on the fourth day by 133 runs and Alex Carey was Player of the Match.So we filled in our spare day with a tour of the island visiting Swan Street in downtown St George’s, Fort George, St Nicholas Abbey and rum distillery and upmarket Holetown and Speightstown.We spent a lot of our time in Grenada visiting a local bar near our hotel, the Old Skool Pub. Great food and drink that was made very special when Swampy presented me visit an Australian playing vest, worn by his son Mitchell. Straight to the pool room!Before the Third Test in Jamaica our tour took us for a short stop to Trinidad (and Tobago) the home of cricket legend, Brian Lara.Although there was no Test scheduled for Trinidad, we toured the island before we got treated to a personal tour of Queens Park Cricket Stadium by the club president. We walked on the field, visited the club museum that included many prices of cricket memorabilia and had a beer in the clubhouse.Our last stop was in Kingston, Jamaica and the Third Test at Sabina Park. Jamaica has a rich cricket history, having produced champions like Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding.The first two days were very interesting, especially as it was a day-night Test and the series trend of “ball triumphing over bat” continued.The best part was me winning the tour sweep to predict the score at the end of Day 2, which was 6-99 compared to my prediction of 2-100. Karon and John with legendary Windies fast bowler Joel Garner That helped pay for some of this fantastic adventure!What a last day of cricket on tour - the Aussies were bowled out for 121 which left the Windies needing 203 to win. However, they were decimated by Mitch Starc taking 6-9, including his 400th Test wicket, and Scott Boland claiming a hat-trick as they were bowled out for 27 in the lowest number of balls ever. Starc was Player of the Match and Series. What a 100th Test match he had.Australia won the series 3-0 to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy, whose grave we visited in Barbados.It’s a pity, from a cricket perspective, that all three Tests finished early, but this gave us more time to discover the Caribbean islands. West Indies cricket has some big issues to confront, especially their batting weaknesses and lack of local crowds.If the Aussies, both those on tour and travelling independently, were not there then very few people would’ve attended.When they did turn up, on Day 1 and 2 in Jamaica, the atmosphere was fantastic, with music, dancing, food, drink and friendly acceptance, especially in the Kingston Cricket Club Members Stand.After a night of celebrations in Kingston we did a bit of Jamaican sightseeing, by driving around new and old Kingston and visiting the National Heroes Park, Camp Royal, the waterfront and Trench Town.Trench Town is a public housing area where Bob Marley lived and is regarded as the birthplace of Reggae. On our second day off, we visited the Bob Marley Museum, Devon House and the Craft Markets.The museum was extremely interesting and gave us a great insight into Bob’s life, music and untimely death.We then left our Kingston hotel and took a local bus across the island to Montego Bay for our last two nights in the Caribbean. Our trip was delayed when our bus had a mechanical problem en route. Such is the joys of travelling in third-world countries - island time at its best.We stayed at Toby’s Resort, just down the road from the world famous Doctors Cave Beach and the Hip Strip of bars and restaurants.This also gave us a chance to visit the Secret Falls, Blue Hole and Dunn’s River Falls, made famous in the James Bond movie, Doctor No with Sean Connery and Ursula Andress.On our last morning we had a swim with the locals at Sunset Beach just near Toby’s. A great way to start our last day in the Caribbean.Our flights home involved returning to Miami for a night at the airport before flying to Sydney via Houston and Auckland, bringing an end to our eight-week Caribbean adventure following the Australian team.A truly wonderful experience, especially as it may be the last Australian tour here if the Windies are “relegated” to a future second tier of test nations.It was great being part of a tour of like-minded passionate cricket enthusiasts and watching some great cricket played at iconic venues.We visited 12 countries and took two cruises and 12 flights, to gain an in-depth perspective of this fascinating part of the world that I don’t think you can achieve travelling independently.

Councillor Melinda Lawton said concerns about the area turning into “little boxes on a hillside” was part of her decision to vote against Kiama Council’s Housing Strategy.Cr Lawton was the lone dissenting voice who voted against the Housing Strategy at this month's Council meeting and she did so because she was concerned about urban sprawl dominating the local government area.The Strategy confirms Kiama Council will add 900 more homes in the local government area by 2029, to meet NSW Government housing targets.“I understood where the other Councillors were coming from - this document had been on the table for a long time and people felt it needed to move forward,” Cr Lawton told The Bugle, airing her views as a Councillor rather than on behalf of Council.“However, I was really disappointed that we included areas that seemed excessive and the community thought they were excessive too.“There’ll be parklands and green spaces to divide up the housing but the way it was put, to me it seemed like a blanket approach. “The idea is that we don’t get all the little boxes on a hillside - there’s nothing I would hate to see more than pure urban sprawl of housing and nothing else.“I think it’s vitally important that we have mini shops, schools and employment areas. “From my perspective I felt the document could have included some more information about the other critical aspects of what’s going to be required to enforce this Housing Strategy.”Cr Lawton believes the name of the document should become Growth Strategy “so that we can see all areas that make up the whole.”.“I’m a big believer in creating a document that takes into account all the issues and then working through timelines, allowing it to be a constantly evolving document rather than a complete, submit and we look at it in five years,” she added.“Potentially it’s something we need to look at every two years, depending on people moving in and out of the area, what employment becomes available, how the LGA changes over time.“Yes, I was disappointed but now you’ve got to move on and work with it and I intend on being very instrumental in being part of the Strategy, working in as many benefits for community that are possible. I know everyone out there is really desperate for housing - that’s a given - but ensuring we do it properly.“It’s always that fine line - you won’t please everybody.” Many local residents have expressed fears that the area will end up resembling other locations already swamped by urban housing sprawl - vast estates with rows of houses with similar design outcomes.Previous urban sprawl does appear to be a case of “here’s some land, let’s put as many houses on it as possible,” she added. “And that comes from demand and developers wanting to maximise their return on investment, which I also understand.“But I think the time for that kind of urban sprawl is coming to an end. Developers are having to think more innovatively, community expectations are very high.“We are wanting more from our developments. We don’t want houses upon houses. We want walking tracks, cycling tracks, cornershops.”Cr Lawton said a community member hit the nail on the head when they told her “we don’t need one of everything in Kiama”. “We need to work regionally to see what other local councils are doing and see where we can share the load in providing services,” she said.As someone who grew up in Jamberoo, she was particularly concerned that the rural township could lose its unique character if there is too much development.“Everyone wants to live there because it’s so beautiful, rural and peaceful, however we need to be careful that it’s not loved to death by overdevelopment.“Our region is lucky that we have independent towns that bring people in.. The beauty, our friendliness and offerings are different from other places, we need to make sure we don’t wipe them out.”Cr Lawton is also worried the Strategy will not do enough to make housing more affordable and said it is not as simple as incorporating smaller houses or blocks into planning.“I’m really concerned that housing will be provided but not at a percentage of affordable housing,” she said.“We’re in a housing crisis so we need to look at things differently. “Social housing is a big issue. There’s such a small percentage in the Kiama LGA. This needs to be looked at in quickly. It should be one of our highest priorities. It can’t be an afterthought. “Part of my ongoing commitment to community is collaborating with various community groups to ensure active engagement during the development of further housing and growth policies.”

Independent MP Gareth Ward could remain the state member for the Kiama electorate even if he is sent to jail.Ward will return to the NSW District Court on Wednesday after being released on bail since he was found guilty on Friday of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault.The 44-year-old, who has protested his innocence throughout the judicial process, could appeal the verdict.Crown Prosecutor Monika Knowles has indicated that she will request that his bail should be revoked on Wednesday.If Judge Kara Shead agrees, Ward will be taken into custody and imprisoned before he is sentenced at a later date.He was found guilty after complaints from a man, aged 24 at the time, over an incident at Potts Point in Sydney’s east a decade ago.The jury also found Ward guilty of indecently assaulting a recently turned 18-year-old at the politician’s Meroo Meadow home in 2013.NSW Premier Chris Minns and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman have called on Ward to resign immediately.The Premier said on Monday said it was "ridiculous" that Ward was able, under the NSW Constitution, to retain his seat even after he had been convicted of such serious offences.“You name me one workplace in the world where that person would continue to be an employee facing that kind of jail time,” he said."We are not dealing with hypotheticals any more. He has been convicted."Minns has indicated the NSW Government will take steps to protect the Legislative Assembly’s integrity because Ward's position is "no longer tenable".Parliament resumes next week and if Ward is expelled, a by-election will be held.Ward has been involved in politics for more than two decades after starting as a Councillor in the Shoalhaven before claiming the state seat of Kiama in 2011 and retaining it ever since, including as an independent - after he resigned from the Liberal Party - at the most recent election in 2023.He was suspended by the NSW Parliament in 2022 after the former minister for families, communities and disability services was charged by police with the sexual assault offences.After he was re-elected the following year, he was allowed to continue in the role after a Parliamentary Privileges and Ethics Committee warned the government to "seriously consider any negative risks to the parliament, constituents, victims of any alleged crimes and the presumption of innocence" in relation to situations such as the one involving the Kiama MP.The NSW Constitution provides for politicians to be disqualified from Parliament if they are convicted of a charge that is punishable by a sentence of a prison term of more than five years, which is the case for all four offences that Ward was found guilty of committing.Sydney University Professor Anne Twomey, a constitutional law expert, told ABC Radio on Monday morning that there is the distinct possibility that Ward could be suspended but that the Constitution was amended 25 years ago to say expulsion ultimately depends on whether there is an appeal and its outcome.“What if you are elected, you’ve been convicted but you appeal and they overturn your conviction?” she said.“So the Constitution now says your disqualification only kicks in if, at the point where you’ve not appealed within the prescribed time, your disqualification kicks in immediately. Or if you have appealed, the disqualification kicks in at the point at which the appeals are all determined, assuming that they don’t quash your conviction.“There’s potentially quite a long period, depending on how long it takes to get an appeal on and whether there’s a further appeal after that, etc.”Professor Twomey said the most obvious path for the Parliament to take if they believe Ward should be removed would be to suspend him during an appeal period.“However in NSW, you can neither suspend or expel for any reason other than protecting the integrity of the Parliament and its ability to fulfil its functions,” she added.“So you can’t suspend or expel for punishment.“Punishment is something that can only be applied by the courts, not the Parliament.“The Constitution respects the fact that someone could appeal and the conviction could be quashed and therefore they should be able to retain their seat. So if you interfere with that with an expulsion, it’s sort of undermining that Constitutional respect for the process.”Professor Twomey said when the amendments were made to the Constitution in 2000, a provision was made so that “nothing in this section affects any power that a House has to expel a member of parliament”.“Expulsion power is still there in extreme cases and it would be a matter for the Parliament to decide whether this is an extreme case,” she explained.“In an extreme case they could say, well it undermines the ability of our House to operate because people will lose trust in us and respect for us and therefore in the circumstances we just simply have to expel (rather) than leave it up to the people to decide (at the next election).“They could do that. It’s a choice but in all circumstances they have to be able to justify it by saying this is for self-protection of the House’s ability to perform its function, it’s not because of the purposes of punishment.“If he appeals then it will take a while until that’s resolved. So you could be a member of Parliament and sitting in prison.”Speakman issued a statement to say Ward's conduct was a "complete abuse of power"."The Member for Kiama must resign from Parliament. If Mr Ward does not resign, then upon its resumption the Parliament should swiftly take all appropriate steps to protect its integrity,” he said.1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Round 14 of the Group 7 South Coast Rugby League was a high-scoring affair for local teams, but unfortunately for Jamberoo, it wasn’t quite enough.Sitting five points outside the top five heading into the match, the Superoos were desperate for a win against the last-placed Berry Magpies at home. But it was a horror start for the Superoos, with Berry crossing for three tries in the opening 10 minutes.It wasn’t until the 13th minute that five-eighth James Asquith scored off a scrum to put Jamberoo on the board, making it 16-06. Five minutes later, winger Nathan Gallastegui finished off a backline play in the corner to narrow the margin.In the 30th minute, fullback Jack Talbott produced a moment of magic. Fielding a midfield kick deep in his half, he beat several defenders, found open space, chipped over the fullback, grubbered ahead when the bounce didn’t favour him, and grounded the ball for a stunning solo try.That effort gave Jamberoo the lead, but a late penalty goal from Berry levelled the scores at 18-18 heading into halftime.Early in the second half, both teams scored again, bringing the score to 22–22, where it stayed until the 72nd minute. Talbott put up a bomb that was dropped by the Berry fullback, and the ball bounced back into his hands before he offloaded to Cameron Brabender, who scored under the posts.The Berry Magpies scored a buzzer beater to defeat Jamberoo over the weekend. Photo: @pdavo68Jamberoo looked to have clinched it, leading 28-22 with just minutes remaining. But a break from the Berry lock in the 77th minute led to a try in the corner. The missed conversion meant Jamberoo still led by two points.With less than two minutes on the clock, a clever kick forced Jamberoo to bat the ball over the sideline, gifting Berry one final opportunity. In the dying seconds, a long ball from dummy half down the short side found winger Charlie Jefferies, who crossed in the corner to steal a dramatic 32-28 win.At Kiama Showground, the Knights were in dominant form, piling on nine tries against the Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs in a 46-6 victory.Kiama ran in four tries in the opening 30 minutes, including a strong solo effort from captain Kieran Poole. Milton-Ulladulla managed a try just before the break to bring some hope into the second half, but the Knights ran away with it.Thistlewaite, Jennings, Andrews, Angel, and Killmore all scored in the second half, with Kiama’s defence holding strong to concede just one try for the game.Kiama are in a great position leading into the final weeks of the competition. Photo: @SticksPix_“It was a great win. It was nice to pile on some points,” said Killmore. “With the top five being so tight, it could come down to for-and-against, so I was happy we not only scored well but also kept our defence solid.”Gerringong also impressed at home, defeating Albion Park-Oak Flats 28-4. The Eagles, fresh off a big win over top-of-the-table Shellharbour, opened the scoring and held a 4-0 lead until the 32nd minute. Gerringong captain Nathan Ford crashed over from dummy half to equal the scores, sparking a late first-half surge with two more quick tries, including a chip-and-chase effort just before the buzzer.The Lions led 16-4 at the break and extended their lead in the 54th minute with a breakaway try to Toby Gumley-Quine off a sharp inside ball. Then, just before full-time, Rixon Russell delivered a mesmerising pass to Jack Quine to seal the win.“We really wanted to fix up our mistakes after losing to Albion Park back in round one,” said Ford. “We got off to a bad start, but defended really well in the first 20 minutes, only letting in one try. We worked hard to stay in the arm wrestle and scored three tries late in the first half which gave us a big boost. “After the half, we just wanted to keep working hard for each other, and not conceding any points in the second half was a great effort as we build towards the most important part of the season.”With only four games remaining, Gerringong now move into equal first place with the Stingrays of Shellharbour, while Kiama move to equal third alongside the Shellharbour Sharks.This Saturday, Kiama will play Gerringong at Michael Cronin Oval in one of the biggest matches of the season, while Jamberoo will face the Stingrays at Flinders Field on Sunday.

Lake Illawarra Police have arrested a 29-year-old man after a high-speed pursuit on the Princes Highway on Sunday between Gerroa and Dunmore.After highway patrol officers attempted to stop the man driving a gold Nissan Patrol for an alleged speeding offence on the highway at Bombo about 2.45pm on Sunday, he allegedly drove away despite police turning on their warning lights for him to pull over.He drove north to Dunmore before turning the vehicle around to head south to Gerroa. Police deployed road spikes at Gerroa which brought the pursuit to an abrupt end.The driver was arrested and transported to Lake Illawarra Police Station before being then taken to Wollongong Hospital.There was heavy traffic in the area during and immediately after the incident from South Kiama to Bombo.Police are continuing their investigations into the incident.It was the second high-speed pursuit involving Bombo in the past three weeks - a 25-year-old man failed to appear in Nowra Local Court last Tuesday due to medical reasons after he was arrested on Saturday, July 12, following a series of incidents that began just before 1pm in Worrigee.Police allege he approached a 66-year-old woman sitting in her Ford Mustang on Illawarra Circuit, striking her repeatedly with an axe before forcing her out of the car and running her over as he fled in the vehicle.He led police on an hour-long pursuit through Nowra, Bomaderry, Berry, Gerringong and Kiama, with police alleging the Mustang reached speeds of 180km/h and was driven on the wrong side of the Princes Highway before crashing into a ute in Kiama Downs.

GERRINGONG BREAKERS UNDER 14 GIRLSDIVISION 1 - VS ALBION PARK FC

In what was a successful launch for the inaugural Barstool Brothers Sunday brunch at the Kiama Leagues Club, with warm hands and full hearts, there were unconfirmed reports of sauce and yolk in moustaches and beards. “It certainly was a successful launch. It is one of those types of events that generally takes time to build and to see that turnout so quickly, it really speaks to the need for that community connection and feeling,” Barstool Brothers general manager Daniel Chin said. For the staff at the Leagues Club, there was much anticipation on numbers for the event and Kiama did not disappoint. “It was a great turnout. There were members as well, and then people that some of us have not seen before, which was nice. So, a nice mix,” catering manager Sarah Rebbeck said. Rebbeck who not long ago traded the stove for the desk in her role as catering manager, donned the apron for the event and was serving up bacon and egg rolls, with vegan options provided to those who requested.“We had one member [who is] vegan and Sarah made him a special vegan roll and he was like ‘that was so nice, I felt so included’,” Leagues Club marketing manager Maddie Battagello said. Chin said the support from Kiama Leagues Club was a testament to the team and gave a vision for the future of the monthly brunch. “It also shows you how seriously Kiama Leagues Club takes this and the kinds of improvements they want to see in the community and how they can help as well,” he said. “To build that [the monthly brunch] up quickly [and] to get that kind of response for the first one was incredible. “Ultimately, we would love to see this brunch continue to grow and continue to build a community presence of healthy men down there to support each other, and it is something that our charity is really focussed on in the Illawarra.”Rebbeck and Battagello were full of praise for the staff, with some even coming in without being rostered on. “It was really great to see staff members coming in to help, like people who weren’t rostered on,” Battagello said. “It was really nice for the staff to do something as well, like we can feel like we are giving back. It just felt like a nice kind of bonding.”   The Barstool Brothers organisation was founded in 2019 and has been an arm around many shoulders within the Illawarra. The organisation aims to provide mental illness relief within society by “building communities of people who understand and are aware of their own mental health around them”. Kiama Leagues Club is a regular meeting place for many groups in Kiama. It is holding an upcoming event for Homelessness Week 2025, which runs in the first full week of August.

By Carol Goddard I very much enjoy taking an impromptu road trip with friends. The excitement of the planning, the anticipation of spending a few carefree days with besties, enjoying spur of the moment adventures has always appealed.The over 60s were given a travel gift a few years ago, when a new fare of $2.50 a day enabled us to explore NSW by public transport. This put joy into the hearts of many a frugal senior, including one of my best mates Ron.He is a chook farmer, an egg producer, extremely entrepreneurial and very talented musically.Music, particularly rock music, is Ron's passion. Not only is he self taught on guitar and harmonica, but he is also a gifted songwriter.He can belt out a tune with a raspy rock voice which usually brings the house down, wherever he's performing with his band, which is quite awesome considering he only discovered very late in life that he could sing.I recall one day commenting to him that some of the establishments he played at seemed a little rough. Ron's response?"Ahh, the seedier the better, Carol.”This reminded me of that pub scene in The Blues Brothers movie where the band had to play behind netting for fear of being hit by the odd flying beer bottle from a rowdy crowd. We had a good old laugh.A few years ago, a bunch of Ron's friends, including hubby and I, decided to take advantage of the $2.50 a day travel. Ron was our designated leader and took on the responsibility of organising a two-day escape to Lithgow and Katoomba.Not only did Ron choose the destination. He also put himself in charge of finding accommodation.Most of the couples lived in the Newcastle area, while hubby and I lived in Cronulla. So we met at Sydney's Central Station and caught a train together to Lithgow.This was like a school excursion with naughty children, except that we were naughty 60-plus.As station by station flew by, we laughed all the way, encouraged by the antics of one very funny lady. Though we had not met most of the group before, and there were 10 of us, we almost immediately became mates. This was shaping up to be a fun two days.We arrived in Lithgow and set off to tour a pottery factory which Ron had researched, and organised as our first point of interest. According to Google Maps, it was within walking distance of the station.When we arrived at the site we found a derelict building, looking forlorn, ancient paint peeling, weeds escaping from rusted downpipes, windows shattered as if a bomb had hit.This was the pottery factory. No sign of life, except for the sounds and the prints of our footsteps on the uneven gravel.With much ribbing and guffawing, poor Ron immediately became the butt of many a joke. The factory had obviously not produced pottery for a long time.Back to the station we strolled, our funny lady being pushed all the way in a discarded shopping trolley we'd discovered in the long grass. The spontaneity and the silliness was going to continue. We'd definitely started well.Arriving in Katoomba, we made our way to our accommodation, which quite coincidentally happened to be a pub, advertising an open mic night that night.But it wasn't a coincidence. Ron loves performing. Ron loves an open mic night. So he booked our trip, and our place to stay, accordingly. He figured he'd at least have an audience of nine. The tariff was very low, in keeping with our $2.50 per day travel budget. It was a win all round.Now this pub from first appearance couldn't be described as five-star. In fact, it gave the impression of an old, rundown watering hole. There was a smell of stale beer lingering in the entrance way, history in that smell, with the inside gloom adding to the atmosphere.The formidable bar person, who was completely lacking in the art of welcoming, gave us our old-fashioned room keys, and off up the very worn carpeted staircase we climbed, to our rooms.Imagine our dismay. Struggling with the door key, hubby and I finally manage to break into our room to discover double bunks, and in one corner a vintage sink complete with dripping tap and a greenish stain decorating the basin.Added to this was the joy of shared bathroom facilities, situated a veritable kilometre down the draughty, cold and exceedingly drab hallway. History notwithstanding, the place needed a makeover.Hubby grimaced. A change of room was needed. We tossed up to see who was to confront the formidable bar person, and I lost.Back down to reception, and with the utmost diplomacy, I successfully negotiated another room, complete with a double bed, no sink, and an open window , which unfortunately was stuck open.In Katoomba, in winter.Worse still, this window was over the pub carpark. Fabulous. But I wasn't going back down those stairs to change our room again - this was our room for the night. Unfortunately, we were still sharing that uninviting and draughty bathroom.Meeting up with our mates, drinks, pub grub and more drinks were the order of the night. The dining area had the aroma of beers, burgers and deep fry. The tables sticky from years of patronage, and as the glasses clinked and the cutlery scraped, we took part in that noisy revelry that temporarily brought us back our youth.The best was yet to come, the open mic competition. Ron had strategically signed up as late as possible, and so was 11th on the runsheet. It was going to be a long and boozy night.The calibre of performers that night ranged from the very, very good, to the not so good, to the downright awful. There were poets, singers, musos all having a go, and the audience was large, sympathetic, noisy and merrily inebriated.At last it was Ron's turn. He got up and took the mic with ease, his face a picture of concentration. And then he launched into his first cover and it was immediately obvious he was in a league of his own.The first chords brought an end to audience chatter, the atmosphere in the room became electric, heads turned towards him, drinks to lips momentarily paused.Ron's gravelly voice had the audience rocking, they were spellbound, they weren't used to someone so talented just walking into that pub, signing up, playing and seizing the night. Everyone was with Ron, everyone was in the band.The applause, the happiness, the shared enjoyment was at fever pitch. Ron had once again brought the house down.Too soon, the entertainment was over. We slowly staggered to our room, having had a few drinks too many, and upon opening the door, were greeted with not only the acrid fumes of cigarette smoke, but the chill of winter Katoomba air.The voices of many a drunken patron were rising loudly and incoherently from the carpark and through our window. The prospect of a good night's sleep seemed somewhat far off, but mercifully the carpark cleared relatively quickly, the bed was very snug, and we were a little the worse for wear.After indulging in a hearty breakfast the next morning, and fossicking through the shops of Katoomba Street in search of a treasure or souvenir of our two-day getaway, it was time to head for the station, and home.We all settled back to enjoy the train trip back to Sydney, having had an eventful, exhilarating, and relatively cheap two-day romp.We were content, the contentment that comes from a full heart. We'd had a lot of fun with good mates, slept in a dubious space, drunk far too much, enjoyed some great music and laughed constantly.I still have vivid memories of that Katoomba pub room. I do wonder if the window ever got repaired. I'll tell you one thing: I won't be going back to check.

South Coast’s junior representative cricket teams have trailed slightly behind regional benchmarks in recent years, with Illawarra sides often dominating competitions. But South Coast Cricket’s General Development Officer (GDO), Trent Glover, is determined to change that.Glover has been involved with the South Coast District Cricket Association (DCA) for five years and stepped into the GDO role last year. He says there's plenty of potential to build on.“Since I’ve been involved, we’ve generally been a bit behind the benchmark for rep cricket,” Glover said. “That’s something myself and the other coaches are working hard to change. Our results haven’t been terrible, but there's definitely room for improvement.”In 2024, South Coast’s Under 18s won their inter-association competition, the Under 16s reached the final, the Under 14s struggled, and the Under 12s were winless. But Glover says recent signs are promising.“Just this past January, our Under 12s team won three out of five carnival games, so we’re seeing improvement. There’s momentum building, but we know we can do better.”To help raise the level of performance, Glover introduced a new head coach, Jack McDonald, a South Coast junior who also plays second grade for St George in the Sydney Premier Cricket competition - and rugby league for the Kiama Knights.“Jack’s young, enthusiastic, and the kids really relate to him,” said Glover. “He’s leading our winter development program. We’ve selected 20-player squads for the Under 12s, 14s, and 16s, and he’s already run two sessions. We’ve got three more to go before the season starts in mid-September.”South Coast representative teams in action. Source: Trent Glover“The goal is to expose more kids to the standards of rep cricket. We’ve got mixed ability levels - some are first-timers, some have been playing for years - but the idea is that everyone takes something away to improve their game and help lift the standard of both rep and club cricket.”The representative season begins in October, following the school holidays. The Under 12s, 14s, and 16s will compete against the five major cricketing associations across October and November, with the season concluding in January.Glover believes building more competitive rep teams will help retain young players in the sport.“I’ve seen participation numbers drop over the years - not just here, but across the country,” he said. “Exposure to rep cricket can help maintain kids' interest and excitement.”“If they have some success, it fuels their passion. They bring that energy back to their clubs, and that helps strengthen local competitions too. Cricket’s a tough sport - you fail more than you succeed - so if we can give them the tools and opportunities to grow, they’re more likely to stick with it.”In a significant development for 2025, South Coast has also entered Under 12 and Under 17 teams into the Sydney Youth Championships for the first time. Those competitions will run during October and November, offering another high-level platform for junior talent to test themselves.

With the recent announcement of investor BlueFloat Energy’s withdrawal from the Illawarra Offshore Wind Zone, it seems divine intervention may be needed to get the turbines spinning and remain afloat.The Illawarra has long been promoted as one of the pilot regions for Australia’s renewable energy transition, with communities along the coastline divided in their support for offshore wind.While funding issues were cited as the reason for BlueFloat’s withdrawal, hope remains among the region’s federal representatives.Despite the BlueFloat setback, Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips remained optimistic that the project could still eventually happen.“Offshore wind developers around the world are facing challenges with high costs and supply chain uncertainty - but there still remains a high level of investment interest in Australia’s emerging offshore wind industry,” Phillips said.A recurring theme during the federal election campaign in May was that the outcome would act as a mandate for renewables. Good for the Gong founder Sean Moran said the election results in the Illawarra have shown that there is support for offshore wind as a renewable energy source.“Good for the Gong has had thousands of conversations with Illawarra locals about offshore wind, and we’ve found that most people are either supportive or don’t give it much thought,” Moran said.“Local support for offshore wind has been demonstrated again and again in representative surveys, and in both local and federal elections.“If there was significant opposition, it would have shown up in the polls and it simply hasn’t.”A vocal opponent is Responsible Future Illawarra president Alex O’Brien, who made headlines after disrupting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s media conference on the shores of Lake Illawarra earlier this year.Responsible Future released a five-page statement after the recent BlueFloat announcement titled “A Respectful Message to Government”.“To our local Labor MPs and the Minister - we want to be part of the energy transition. But we’ve long said offshore wind is the wrong technology for the Illawarra,” the statement read.“It is not economically viable, not technically suitable, and it puts our region at risk.“Let’s reset the conversation - and build something better.”For Illawarra residents still undecided, the withdrawal of the seventh and final known investor may feel like two steps forward, one step back for offshore wind and perhaps for the broader renewable transition in the region.Good for the Gong echoed this sentiment in a statement.“The group acknowledges that global financial uncertainty may affect energy projects, but says the Illawarra continues to stand out as an attractive place to invest - thanks to its industrial strengths, skilled workforce, and strong communitysupport for climate action and renewable energy.”NSW Shadow Minister for Energy James Griffin placed the blame squarely on the state government for being out of touch with voters.“Offshore wind or not, two years into this NSW Labor Government and energy prices haven’t dropped. The state is on track to miss its own legislated net-zero targets, and the only people they should blame is themselves,” Griffin said.A spokesperson for NSW Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast Ryan Park said: “Offshore Wind is primarily a Commonwealth responsibility.”Kiama and Jamberoo Uniting Church minister Reverend Kath Merrifield is an active member of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change and told The Bugle that she is encouraging a collective approach.“The way we understand the challenge before our whole community is that we have to be part of these conversations and move in that direction,” Reverend Merrifield said.“I want to encourage the university and the industrial businesses and leaders in the region who I know are already engaged, to actively seek solutions and possibilities.“Just like there’s no one fossil fuel we’ve relied on for centuries, there’s no one renewable solution we’ll rely on into the future. It takes all of them.”For information on Good for the Gong head to www.goodforthegong.orgFor information on Responsible Future head to www.responsiblefuture.com.au 

In a free event at Kiama Leagues Club on August 7, titled Her Story, Our Crisis: Homelessness Among Older Women aims to raise awareness of the plight of older women at risk of homelessness, and to foster conversation about this largely invisible issue in the Kiama regions. The internationally acclaimed short film FRANCES will be screened which is a film made in the Illawarra by filmmaker Sharon Lewis about a problem which is becoming increasingly prevalent in society with the many living pressures attributed to displaced persons.   “The film shot in the Illawarra is a fictional story, but is based on the very real circumstances about an older woman who has had a divorce and is finding it difficult to secure rental accommodation she is living in her car,” South Illawarra Older Women’s Network (SIOWN) foundation committee member Julie McDonald said. “The character has a lot of pride and dignity but the film shows her declining health, both physically and emotionally, as well as safety, as she tries to keep herself going, and living in a precarious existence.” The event will also hold a Q&A with Lewis (producer and director) and a panel discussion highlighting the increase in older women experiencing homelessness, cost of living pressures, and the changes to create and maintain safer, more secure futures for older women. “The panel includes Yumi Lee the CEO from the Older Women’s Network of NSW, Penny Dordoy the CEO of Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra (SAHSSI) and Kim Bailey, who is an older woman with lived experience,” McDonald said.With a recently published snapshot analysis by Homelessness Australia, there was a 20% increase in women and girls who were already homeless across the last three years. Speaking passionately to The Bugle regarding the issue of homelessness specifically for older women, McDonald explained that the closest refuges for women in the Kiama region are in the Shoalhaven and Wollongong. With no crisis or transitional short-term accommodation in Kiama, this highlights that the existing accommodation does not specifically consider nor meet the needs of older women. “You just can’t have older women going to just an ordinary [service], like homelessness services that predominantly serve men,” McDonald said.  “They have got to be gender specific in that sense. Particularly because a lot of them [the cases] are about women escaping.” Through the advocacy work by a small group of local women who identified the need to have information available on Kiama council website on crisis services. This information is now available. According to the Australian Homelessness Monitor 2024, of the 118 responding councils across Australia, 88 per cent established partnerships with specialist homelessness services (including referral pathways). While important, these initiatives do not address the needs of older women at risk of homelessness who McDonald explains are rarely visible as what rough sleepers are. “A lot of older women aren’t rough sleepers; they tend to be quite invisible. They may be living in their car, couch surfing, or living in a caravan,” McDonald said. McDonald is a former senior research fellow at the University of New South Wales at the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity and has published multiple research papers.This event is the initiative of the Older Women’s Network (South Illawarra), Kiama Community Radio and SAHSSI and is held during Homelessness Week which runs from August 4-10. This is a free event, and all are welcome. Patrons are advised to book tickets in advance via Humantix, with the link below. RSVP by Sunday August 4, 2025 https://events.humanitix.com/homelesswomen Donations are appreciated to help offset event costs and any funds will go to SAHSSI. If you or someone you know needs support with homelessness in the Kiama region, head to https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Services/People-and-community/Homelessness for relevant information. If you or someone you know needs support, reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.