Fifteen-year-old Gerringong surfer Lucy Darragh has claimed her second major Qualifying Series victory of the year, taking out the 2025 Taiwan Open.Held at Jinzun Harbor from November 5-9, Darragh entered the competition on the back of a breakthrough win at the Nias Pro earlier in the year and a 13th-place finish at the Siargao International Surfing Cup, placing her near the top of the Oceania rankings.Darragh had a shaky start in the opening round, placing second in her heat with a combined score of 7.96. From there, however, she dominated every heat, posting totals of 15.33, 12.06 and 11.36 on her way to the final.In the title decider against New Zealand’s Saffi Vette, Darragh struck early with a 5.17 on her first wave. Vette responded with a 5.43 on her second, but Darragh’s fourth wave - a 6.67 - sealed the victory as her rival was unable to improve.Darragh finished with a combined total of 11.84, securing the win and catapulting herself to the top of the regional rankings heading into the final leg of the 2025/26 QS season.“This is so crazy,” Darragh said. “I’m just so stoked and grateful to be able to do these events and travel to amazing places like this and surf with my friends.“It’s been such a good experience surfing against all of these amazing women in this series. I just can’t really believe it, to be honest. I barely have any words.“I didn’t really know if I was going to do these comps this year, so to get two wins is incredible. I’m looking forward to celebrating with my friends.”The 15-year-old recently qualified for the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, to be held in Peru from December 5–14, and is determined to carry her momentum into the event.“My goal, results-wise, is to make the final and win a medal for Australia,” she said. “But personally, I just want to show my best surfing in my heats and represent Australia with pride and determination.”Darragh now sits 2,500 points clear at the top of the Oceania Qualifying Series rankings, with her dream of reaching the World Surf League Championship Tour firmly within reach.

It's been the busiest start to a boating season for Marine Rescue NSW, with volunteers across the state performing 460 search and rescue missions in October - including 130 emergency responses - and safely returning 989 people to shore.Acting Commissioner Todd Andrews said the figures are the highest recorded for an October, continuing the record pace set the month before.“We have seen a 19% increase in demand for our services compared with the same month last year, which was previously our busiest October,” he said.The surge comes as boaters flocked to the water during the warm spring weather and long weekend, with many vessels needing help due to mechanical issues.“It is concerning that 44% of our responses were for engine failure,” Andrews said. “Being the start of the season, many skippers were caught out by a lack of maintenance.”Across the state, volunteers managed more than 21,000 radio calls, including 15 Maydays and four Pan Pans, while keeping watch over 27,390 people who logged on via the Marine Rescue app or VHF Channel 16.Locally, Marine Rescue Illawarra units - covering Port Kembla, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Jervis Bay, Sussex Inlet, Ulladulla, and Kioloa - completed 43 search and rescue missions in October, 17 of which were emergency responses.A total of 78 people were safely returned to shore, with Jervis Bay and Sussex Inlet recording the highest demand (10 rescues each), followed by Port Kembla (8) and Shoalhaven (6).Andrews praised the dedication of the state’s 3500 volunteers, calling them “the backbone of boating safety in NSW.”“Every mission, every call answered - it’s all done by trained volunteers who give up their time to save lives,” he said.He encouraged all boaters to make safety a priority this season.“Log on before you head out so we know when to expect you back. Every safe trip starts before you hit the water.”

Sixteen-year-old Kiama Golf Club member Sage Laird claimed the recent Open and Closed Women’s Golf Illawarra Championship at her home course.Across three days of competition and 36 holes, Laird finished at the top of the leaderboard with a gross score of 143.Club captain Margaret Cooper praised Laird’s dedication and achievement.“She’s only 16 years old, so it’s a fabulous achievement,” said Cooper. “She’s been playing golf for several years now, is a member of the Illawarra Sports Institute, and also receives private coaching. She’s incredibly dedicated and is doing very well at the moment.”The WGI District Tournament is an annual event covering clubs throughout the Southern Illawarra, extending as far south as Mollymook. The competition is divided into three divisions, allowing players to compete at their own level.“We also have what’s called the Champion of Champions, where the best player from each club - the winner of their own club championship - plays off to determine the overall district champion,” Cooper explained.Laird was also crowned Champion of Champions, topping off a hugely successful event not only for her but for Kiama Golf Club.“Kiama is quite a tricky little course,” said Cooper. “Our women did very well! We had great results across all three divisions, with winners in Divisions 2 and 3, as well as the Stableford competition.”Among the other strong results, Kim Parsons from Kiama finished third in Division Two, Margaret Johnson finished second in Division Three, and Trish Laird won the Stableford competition.The runner-up to Sage was another Kiama member, Jane Wall.“Jane is a former professional who’s now returned to amateur status. She’s still a very keen and talented golfer and finished runner-up in the event,” said Cooper. “Having both first and second place go to Kiama members - and on our home course - was just fantastic for the club. It’s something we’re all really proud of.”Cooper said she was thrilled to see the rise in female golfers, particularly at Kiama.“When I joined about 12 years ago, there were around 80 to 90 female members. Now we have about 150,” she said.“Not all play in competitions - some just play socially - but the club has always been very encouraging and inclusive of women in all forms of the game.“One of the key factors behind this increase is the support from our golf professionals.“We’re now on our third since I joined, and all of them have actively promoted women’s clinics and group lessons. These sessions are fun, friendly, and a great way to build confidence and friendships.”Just a week after the WGI District Tournament, Kiama Golf Club hosted the Kiama Women’s Open on November 2. Laird once again impressed, finishing equal first alongside sisters Mimi and Lara Thomsen, before Mimi took the title in a playoff.“When it started, we had about 30 players,” said Cooper. “This year we had 80, and last year we had close to 100. It’s becoming one of the more popular events in the region, and it really helps to promote Kiama and our women golfers.”Cooper said the growing interest in women’s golf at Kiama has created a strong sense of community and excitement for the future.“It’s wonderful to see so many women discovering what a fun and rewarding sport golf can be,” she said.

Wow! Let's hope that the planning approval process to allow 14 storeys above Terralong Street is a slow one. It's taken six years since our promised new fleet of trains arrived, but sit lying idly at various nearby locations while the railway dept tries to work out a way to get things moving.A 2pm train from Central still consists of four carriages. By the time it reaches Kiama at 4.40pm with tradies and schoolchildren on board, many passengers are sitting on the stairs for half the journey. This happens every weekday.So with at least 100 trees that will be bulldozed to get 14 floors up out of the ground in Akuna Street, it seems that the quality and fabric of life in our coastal town will take a huge hit. A good proportion of residents are here because of the life Kiama offers. We left the city for a quieter life.One wonders if Kiama Council continues to cancel major events like the New Year's Eve fireworks and give the nod to developmental greed, life in our award-winning gem of a town might soon resemble Mooloolaba or Terrigal.Why can't long-term plans to get the Bombo Quarry redevelopment be considered for future high-rise living and more supermarkets?Kiama's well-proportioned little town, as it is right now, will sadly just never be the same.Greg Martin Vale,Kiama

This week's Bugle Bulletin brings you the best of the week’s local stories.We lead off with the local reflections for Remembrance Day.At Kiama’s Memorial Arch in Hindmarsh Park on Terralong Street, the strongest crowd in recent years of more than 100 people gathered to listen and reflect on the lived experiences shared during the service.More than 100 community members gathered at the Memorial Headland Flag Pole for the Gerringong RSL Sub-Branch’s Remembrance Day ceremony.Remembrance Day services were also held at Albion Park RSL Club, the Wollongong Cenotaph and the Sussex Inlet RSL War Memorial.We also report on the drama at Peace Park where vandals have struck again, destroying rose bushes, leaving the Illawarra Rose Society questioning their next steps and urging for council action.The Gerringong Rural Fire Service has welcomed a new pumper truck to the fleet.And in sport, history was made at Jones Beach over the weekend, with young surfer Alice Hodgson becoming the first female ever to win the annual Jones Beach Boardriders Robbo’s Round.The Illawarra Hawks are back in business, stringing together back-to-back wins for the first time this NBL season. After a 107–93 win over previously unbeaten Melbourne United, the Hawks backed it up just two nights later with a 107–90 victory over Cairns.At The Bugle, we’re committed to pairing impactful visuals with meaningful local storytelling - delivering a news experience that’s informative, entertaining, and deeply connected to our community.Subscribe to The Bugle News Kiama on YouTube so you never miss an episode!

The local community gathered across the South Coast for a moment of silence to honour the returned service personnel who paid the ultimate sacrifice for Australia.At Kiama’s Memorial Arch in Hindmarsh Park on Terralong Street, the strongest crowd in recent years of more than 100 people gathered to listen and reflect on the lived experiences shared during the service.Kiama Rotary Club chair Phil Whyte said he found the most moving part of the service was during the moment of silence at the 11th hour when The Last Post rang out across the town.“I must admit that it was quite eerie hearing three or four different bugle calls all around town,” Whyte said.“That’s what happens in the big army camps, you have echoes of the Reveille [the call that breaks the silence after the Last Post] to get us up in the morning.“And it was always because of the distance of that the others were out of tune.”The ceremony at Kiama.Kiama Rotary’s Tonia Barnes said that seeing her uncle’s plaque among the others on the wall parallel to Terralong Street donned with poppies “really gave me a shake down my spine”.“The whole connection brings us back to our roots of our community and that’s what is important,” Barnes said.“This will be quite important for our community in Kiama and not only seeing the Kiama -Jamberoo RSL Sub-Branch in play but also Rotary, the Country Women’s Association and the Men's Shed [who all laid formal tributes].”Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald, who was joined by Kiama Council CEO Jane Stroud, said the Remembrance Service was a pause for reflection after the many conflicts Australia has fought in.“It’s a real honour to attend the service today as the Mayor of Kiama and be able to read out the opening prayer,” Cr McDonald said.“I think Remembrance Day - 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month - has always been special, and even more so that people are continuing to further reflect on this day.“And that is the ethos of giving in our community, which is really humbling actually.”Lieutenant Colonel Gary McKay MC OAM (Ret’d), president of the Kiama-Jamberoo RSL Sub-Branch, told the service about his family connection with the Australian military and the camaraderie shared among service personnel.“For my own family, my mum and dad served in the Second World War,” McKay said.“Dad was sent out to western NSW to guard a water reservoir and Dad gave his guys the afternoon off to go to the pub at the same time as the agent who came around and did an inspection.“So, the old man went to jail and was busted back to digger, back to private.“And my mother was a telegraphist, a morse code operator and Mum did very well at that."She finished the war as a full corporal, a fact that she never let my father forget.”More than 100 community members gathered at the Memorial Headland Flag Pole for the Gerringong RSL Sub-Branch’s Remembrance Day ceremony.Sub-Branch president Michael O’Leary spoke about the sacrifices made by 64 local men who went off to World War I with only 50 of them returning home safely.Michael O'Leary, Kiama Deputy Mayor with Gerringong Public School students Hamish Burke, Ivy Payne and Isaac Winchester.A stirring part of the ceremony was when Gerringong Public School students Hamish Burke, Ivy Payne and Isaac Winchester told the tales of four locals who made the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefields of Europe.John William Donovan, a dairy farmer, was killed in action at Gallipoli in 1915 at the age of 23, railway fireman Joseph Bernard Harding was just 17 when he died in France a year later and Foxground brothers Albert and Lindsay Parrish were 28 and 21 respectively when they selflessly gave up their lives “for King and Country”.“We were talking about having something different this year so we asked the school to see if some kids who could talk about the people who were on the memorial wall,” O’Leary said.The Remembrance Day service at Gerringong. Photo: The Bugle“They chose three kids from their leadership group and I thought their speeches went very well.”O’Leary quoted a famous speech by war-time Australian Prime Minister John Curtin in which he said “we only want them to learn about the history so they can keep the respect for the people from those wars - they don’t want medals or thanks, they just want remembrance.”Remembrance Day services were also held at Albion Park RSL Club, the Wollongong Cenotaph and the Sussex Inlet RSL War Memorial.

Young surfer Alice Hodgson made history as the first female to win the annual Jones Beach Boardriders surfing competition in its 43-year history.Held at Jones Beach on Saturday, the event - renamed Robbo’s Round last year - began bright and early at 7am, with 64 competitors going head-to-head.“The competition was first introduced in 1983 when our club started, 42 years ago,” said JBB president Hayden Bombaci.“It’s a specialty event. Instead of the usual four surfers per heat battling for waves and the win, this one is one-on-one - the winner progresses through the draw all the way to the final, knockout style.”The conditions were on the smaller side, perfect for the younger groms but trickier for senior competitors.“The smaller, trickier conditions often give an advantage to the younger, more agile groms,” laughed Bombaci. “Plenty of groans from the oldies could be heard!”After a day full of upsets, the final came down to two young surfers - Hodgson and 13-year-old Lennox Lindsay.“It culminated with two groms in the final,” said Bombaci.“Their tenacity to hustle from round one all the way through was awesome. Both competed with smiles on their faces, inspiring even younger competitors. Dreams start small and local.”Bombaci said the reaction to Hodgson’s win was incredible.“Everyone lost it,” he said. “She took down some huge names and was on a rampage through the draw. "I think this victory was a real coming-of-age moment - her introduction to stamping her dominance in the area and the sport. No one sees the hours of effort she puts in - they just see the result.“She personifies the JBB spirit. As a club, we love her. All our girls are ripping and super supportive of each other. There’s a crew of girls who don’t even surf but come down every event to cheer them on. "They ran down the beach and met her at the water’s edge, giving her the ultimate surfing honour - being chaired up the beach.”The event received strong community support, including professional judging from Surfing NSW, a $50 voucher from real estate agent Aimee Longbottom for the highest heat total, bread rolls donated by Breadrocks Shell Cove, and meat from Superior Meats in Shellharbour.“A huge $2000 was donated by Daniel Mikosic from Multiquip, and a brand-new custom surfboard was donated by Matt Thompson from Indumech through Zink Kiama,” added Bombaci.“You can see there’s plenty of community backing, which is incredible. Every cent we generate comes from members, sponsors, and grants.”It wasn’t just about donations - the event brought the whole community together.“We had members and non-members hanging out. One of the neighbours we checked in on because of the noise had actually set up on the deck with friends, enjoying the music and hilarious commentary,” said Bombaci.“The community are absolute legends and the reason we love our little spot. In this crazy world, it’s cool to provide a safe place for all walks of life to hang out. There’s a real sense of belonging.”This year marked the second under the event’s new name, Robbo’s Round, renamed from Man on Man in honour of community member Pete Robinson. The idea came from JBB life member Grant Mason.“Pete Robinson lived in the house next to where we hold the events most of the time at North Jones,” Bombaci explained. “He’d often come and say hello - we used his power and water, not to mention the hooter, for years.“Pete’s wife Karen still lives there, and the family remains very supportive. Pete’s son Ben earned a wildcard invite this year. Unfortunately, Pete has since passed away, so we fondly call it Robbo’s Round in loving memory of him - and all our members and community who we’ve lost.” Looking ahead, Bombaci said the future of JBB and the event is bright.“We’ve got great surfers coming through and older members returning because it’s a place of belonging,” he said. “Robbo’s Round is a unique event and certainly my favourite. It’s always a great day - no second chances, no making it up next month. The best surfer on the day wins it all.”

Need some inspiration to get more exercise? Months of planning and training will culminate this weekend with a charity fundraiser based around ultra endurance, indoor rowing and cycling on Saturday at Kiama Surf Club.Two of our region's most dedicated athletes, Nardia Guillaumier and Alan Swan, will be leading the charge from 8.30am with personal targets for Nardia to row 100km and Alan to cycle 200km.Nardia, a dual world indoor rowing gold medallist, is no stranger to setting herself physical goals.“I have always enjoyed the challenge of pushing myself to the limit and am delighted that we will be doing so for such wonderful causes," she said."Whilst this challenge will be testing our physical, emotional and mental strength we expect that we will giving over 100,000 heartbeats to our 4 deserving causes."Nardia and Alan will be joined by rowing and cycling teams with each of its members working in rotation to raise money.Participating charities will have an information table at the event, so they can offer support to participants as well as sell merchandise with funds going directly to their charity.A giant raffle is currently running with tickets drawn at the event on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at the event or online at https://www.raffletix.com.au/kiamaultrachallenge2025.Australian Amyloidosis Network (AAN), The Leukaemia Foundation, Breast Cancer Network Australia and Kiama Surf Life Saving Club will receive donations from the event. And the fun doesn’t stop there for Nardia and Alan on Saturday. Following their marathon effort, they will be retiring to Club Jamberoo where local choir leader, Kate Whitworth, will be leading the throng in a club choir. Kate explains: “We have worked together with the team at Club Jamberoo and the band to put on an event for singers of all ages and abilities”. The choir starts at 6.30pm sharp and will climax with everyone singing along with the band.The Swamp Critters will follow the club choir where singer and harmonica player Ian Backhouse, himself having participated in Kiama Ultra Challenge, will join Kate and the band to entertain the audience through the evening.Entry to the pub choir and live music event at Club Jamberoo is free. Should members of the public wish to make a donation to the Kiama Ultra Challenge the opportunity will be available on the night for people to not only do so but also acknowledge and congratulate Nardia and Alan.

Illawarra are clawing their way up the NBL ladder after finally putting together back-to-back wins for the first time this season.After slumping to a 2-6 record, the Hawks kick-started their title defence last Wednesday in Wollongong with a 107-93 victory over the previously unbeaten Melbourne United.They backed that up on the road just 48 hours later with a 107-90 triumph over the Taipans in Cairns to skip up to eighth spot, just one win outside the playoff equation. After a four-game blitz within eight days, they have a mini break before returning to the WIN Entertainment Centre this Sunday for a showdown with their traditional rivals, the Sydney Kings. Former NBA star JaVale McGee rose to the occasion as the Hawks upset Melbourne with 37 points and 14 rebounds.The ex-US Olympic gold medallist hit 13 of his 21 shots and missed just once from 11 trips to the free-throw line.Hawks guards Will Hickey (18 points) and Tyler Harvey (17, including four threes) provided perfect support for McGee’s masterclass.McGee and Hickey again dominated as the Hawks carried their red-hot form north for their tussle with the Taipans.Hickey registered the first triple-double of the season with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists.Recently signed import QJ Peterson drained four three-pointers in his 22-point haul while McGee tormented the Taipans in the paint with 28 points, six rebounds and two assists while making 12 of 13 field goal attempts.Hawks coach Justin Tatum said their performance was really strong, particularly considering they were backing up from their Wednesday clash with Melbourne. “We didn't want to drop that intensity," he said."We understand that Cairns is short-manned and our mentality was to keep coming and putting pressure on them as much as we can.“I loved the effort the guys came out and played with."They found ways to dominate and score in the paint and make it tough for Cairns."

The severe sentence handed down to our hard working and respected Member of Parliament has brought into question the following: are we fighting our political opponents with lawfare or at the ballot box? There is an epidemic of court cases in western democracies today from undeclared payments to porn stars, collusion and conspiracy charges, even racketeering.One of the greatest dangers to functioning democracies, let alone the sheer injustice of it all is bringing cases to court because the accused is a political enemy or political vengeance is being sought.So many violent and humiliating rapes go unreported. But this confronting injustice will not be resolved by ‘me too’ vendettas and/or political fault finding. To send an innocent man to jail in order to punish the guilty is not acceptable. It shows only the breakdown of the justice system.I am happy to put my name down in Gareth’s defence. I know he is in the prayers of many good people who have approached me in despair that a much-loved member of our community should be discredited and impugned so mightily. We await the appeal as we await justice.Gail Morgan, Kiama

Local artist and designer Emma Veiga-Malta has had a busy few weeks - selling six pieces, welcoming more than 200 visitors and filling Kiama’s Old Fire Station with colour, energy and conversation.Her exhibition, which wraps up on Wednesday, features three distinct collections - blue and white ceramic-inspired works, bold abstract florals and expressive nude life sketches - each reflecting the breadth of her 27-year creative career.“Sales were looking a bit bleak at first,” she laughed, “but the weekend changed everything.”Emma's sketchbook: Supplied by The BugleVeiga-Malta’s creative journey began early.“My earliest memory is lying on the floor with my dad as he drew a bus with my name on it. One minute it was blank cardboard, and the next, magic - that’s when I fell in love with art.”After years running her own design business, she decided to “create for herself again”, hosting her first solo show at Gerringong Library and Museum (GLaM) last year.Blue and white paintings: Supplied by The BugleNow based in Gerringong, she’s deeply involved in the local art community - a member of several societies and vice-president of the Shellharbour City Art Society.She’s also the founder of the Creative Business Summit, a conference she launched to help creatives learn how to turn their passions into sustainable careers.“There’s so much creative talent, but not enough education on the business side,” she explained.“So I decided to build something by creatives, for creatives.”For Veiga-Malta, the heart of it all is community.“Nothing beats in-person connection. People are craving it more than ever,” she said.Mini flower painting: Supplied by The Bugle“That’s the best part - meeting people, sharing stories, and creating together.”

Kiama business Marketing Movement has been chosen as a finalist for the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards (AWSBCA) 2025 in the Marketing category. The team of 11 assists businesses with their digital marketing approaches, reviewing performance data to tailor these strategies to meet specific objectives.Their expertise offers clients constructive intervention on aspects such as analytics, digital advertising and promotional campaigns, social media management, website design, and branding.Founded in 2018 by Kiama resident Megan Storey, the company is innovatively modern, undeniably successful, and unapologetically female. “Women tend to bring empathy, collaboration, and a focus on culture that can really elevate teams and client outcomes,” she said.“I think the key is leveraging those strengths, staying confident, and not being afraid to shake up traditional ways of doing business.”Storey is energised by the AWSBCA recognition, stating that “marketing, like many industries, still carries biases” as women are often dismissed by their male counterparts and continue to cop the brunt of a 33% pay gap. She believes that while progress is being made in our culture’s awareness of gender inequality, more can be done to accommodate leadership roles for women. As a dedicated mother of three, Storey often finds herself juggling parenting with hefty workloads and other priorities like volunteering, travelling and the gym.This is where Marketing Movement thrives. Storey has facilitated a flexible and collaborative system for many other strong-willed women in the same boat. She aims to encourage women to get back into the workforce after having children, with an emphasis on support and mentoring to drive success.“It’s not just good ethics, it drives better results,” Storey said.She says that with a close-knit support network of kindness and positivity from the women around her–notably her mother, her daughter, her sisters, her friends, and her elite sports coach–“it’s hard not to be inspired every day”.Marketing Movement has plans to partner with a women's charity to reinforce its commitment to nurturing disadvantaged women in the community.The organisation joins Unyarat Panapunnang of Silver Spoon Thai Restaurant and other local businesses Again & Again Café and Restaurant, Saltwater Café, Expressive Mind Therapy, Always Education, Meats and Greet BBQ, and Evolve Communities as a finalist.The winners of the AWSBCA will be announced on Friday night at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney.

What does a cabbage tree palm have to do with Kiama’s residential development debate?A lot more than you might think!A mature Cabbage Tree Palm (Livistona australis) grows to about 15 metres — roughly the height of a four-storey building.That’s why I'm proposing a “Cabbage Tree Palm Rule” for Kiama: no building should be taller than our iconic palms.Here’s the thing: the NSW Government is framing this as an all-or-nothing choice — arguing that housing supply and affordability can only be solved by building a suite of 8-storey apartments in central Kiama.That’s a false dichotomy.Well-designed four-storey apartments, a la the Cabbage Tree Palm Rule, would also deliver hundreds of new homes without overwhelming our town or losing the character we all value.Places like Bali manage growth by keeping buildings in proportion to their iconic palms. Why can't we? Applying the same thinking here strikes the right balance: we can grow, meet housing needs, and still keep Kiama looking and feeling like Kiama.The Cabbage Tree Palm Rule is simple, measurable, and meaningful. It reminds us that smart growth doesn’t mean ignoring scale or sense of place - it’s about balance.Who’s with me!?Mikayla Thompson-Jones

Rain played havoc with South Coast cricket on the weekend with two matches washed out and low scores on tricky pitches in the other three.Ex Servos were rolled for a paltry 52 on a seaming wicket at Hayden Drexel Oval with North Nowra Cambewarra smashing their way to the target in just 33 deliveries.It could have been even worse for Ex Servos after they slumped to 7-21 before tailender Mitchell Janes dug in to score 22, the only batter to get any higher than six.Justin Weller made the most of the conditions to take 6-20 with new-ball partner Cooper Bramley claiming 4-15.North Nowra skipper Nathan Thomas blasted three sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 27 from just 11 balls to seal the win. Lake Illawarra cruised to a nine-wicket win over Bomaderry at Howard Fowles Oval with captain Kerrod White hammering 87 not out as they reached their target inside 14 overs.Five Tigers failed to trouble the scorers but Jarrod Mitchell (69) and Matthew Shea (36) rescued the innings as they posted 134 with Jarryd White (4-11) and Ryan Smith (3-28) doing the damage for the home side’s attack.After losing an early wicket, Kerrod White joined Max Henderson (33 not out) in an unbroken 122-run stand with the skipper reaching the boundary 18 times and clearing it once.Shellharbour got the better of the Kookas in their local derby at Oakleigh Park. Wickets fell at regular intervals for the hosts as they were bowled out for 150 and the Harbour never looked in trouble as opener Alex Brown tallied 72 to get them home with six wickets and 16 overs to spare.Albion Park were 3-44 against Kiama at Keith Grey Oval when Saturday afternoon’s storm washed out play while the Rats were in a similar situation at 3-42 against Bay and Basin Dolphins at Geoff Shaw Oval before the rain intervened.In junior representative cricket on Sunday, the South Coast sides struggled against top-quality opposition. In the Under 17 Watson Shield, Tom Wells top-scored with 58 as South Coast made 157 but Sutherland reached the total three down. In the Under 12 Foster Shield, Harry Kenneally (21) and Will Coghlan (19) were the main scorers in the South Coast total of 82, which Bankstown reached with seven wickets to spare.In the Under 14 Inter Association clash with Illawarra Red, Harry McCrone hit 15 as South Coast tallied 5-62. Illawarra were too strong with 1-167 in their innings.Illawarra Blue posted 6-129 despite Bradley Constantinou (1-3) and Jaxson Smith (1-6) with South Coast making 6-96 as Harry McCrone again did well with the bat to make 23.

Kiama Council has issued a warning to ratepayers to be aware of some solar companies who may be contacting residents and falsely claiming to represent Council or the ISJO Community Solar Bulk Buy Program.Council's only endorsed partner for the solar and battery bulk buy program is ShineHub. This company was selected for its proven track record in delivering trusted, community-based renewable energy programs. ShineHub has gone through an in-depth procurement process designed to ensure residents are confident and protected, and the products and services offered through the program have been thoroughly vetted.They do not engage in unsolicited engagement with residents. This means no cold calls, door knocking, or unrequested visits to your home. All communication from ShineHub will occur only after a resident has registered interest in receiving information about the program through official Council or ShineHub marketing channels.If you are contacted by anyone claiming to represent Council or the ISJO program without your prior consent, please:● Do not share personal or financial details.● Take note of the company name and representative name and report it to Kiama Council at [email protected]● Visit shinehub.com.au/ISJO or contact ShineHub directly at [email protected] to confirm legitimate program details.

Speech pathologist Caitlin Guyatt not only gives her clients a voice, she also gives them the gift of time by providing a mobile service that comes to their door.When Caitlin moved from Sydney to Shoalhaven Heads with her family she quickly fell in love with the area. But she also realised that public transport was patchy at best and there were no mobile speech pathology services visiting clients in the comfort of their own home.“It’s reasonably common to have a mobile service in Sydney but when I moved here there was nothing like that so I decided to create one,” explains Caitlin.She set up Shoalhaven Speech and Swallowing Clinic, a mobile service that operates between Nowra and Kiama. Some of the areas of speech pathology she can help with include swallowing difficulties like coughing or choking when eating or drinking, difficulty chewing food and swallowing tablets or food getting “stuck” in the mouth or throat. Caitlin also helps with speech and voice changes - such as slurred or mumbled speech, vocal fatigue and difficulty being understood by others - and language changes like reading or writing difficulties, memory difficulties and problems thinking of the correct word or finishing sentences.“I visit patients in the privacy of their own homes to provide therapy for voice, speech and swallowing changes. “I work predominantly with adults, and many of my patients live with complex health conditions that mean they are less mobile than they would like to be. “Some might even need a carer to help them get out and about to medical appointments. Having a mobile service that comes to their door removes that barrier.“I see people in their homes where they feel most comfortable and if, for example, they have oxygen machines or specialised home supports, these are all set up for them.”Caitlin specialises in voice, speech and swallowing therapy and says many of the people experiencing the issues she treats not only struggle physically but also socially.“Swallowing issues for patients can often be accompanied by a sense of embarrassment if they are eating out and struggle to swallow or constantly cough while they’re having a meal,” she says.Similarly, if someone has voice or speech issues and they are out for dinner in a noisy venue they might struggle to be heard. Caitlin says many people take going out for a meal for granted but if you have voice, speech or swallowing issues it can be a huge barrier to doing the things you love in your community.“I've had patients say to me ‘I don't want to eat out anymore because I'm coughing and spluttering so much and I'm too embarrassed’, or other patients say ‘my voice has become so soft people can't hear me and I have to repeat myself and I actually find myself avoiding conversations with friends and family’. “I want people to know that they don't have to live with this, there is help available and you're not on your own.”Caitlin says her mobile service also means she can work around people’s plans and schedules.“Life can get busy, especially if patients have multiple health appointments or are relying on carers for transport.”Having a door-to-door service means patients often share a small part of their world with Caitlin, “proudly showing her their family photos on the wall, or pointing out treasured items in their home," she says."By allowing me to see them at home it also takes away that pressure or anxiety they might be feeling about going out into the community. “They are in a completely safe space in their own home, their husband, wife or other loved ones are there with them or in the next room, and it can be a much more personal experience."Having meaningful conversations and an insight into who my patients are helps to develop trust in the early stages of treatment, which means it's more likely to be successful.“Since I’ve started working in the area I have just loved meeting so many people."Everyone is so genuinely friendly and just so thankful to have help. It really does make me feel privileged, and it really makes me feel like I'm doing meaningful work.”Please note - this is paid content

The Akuna Street developments are causing concern at Kiama Council and in the community but Mayor Cameron McDonald is confident that the proposal for the Council depot site opposite the Bowling Club known as the Shoalhaven Street Precinct will be a major plus for the town.A 450-home residential community is in the pipeline for the Council depot site and acquired land bordered by Shoalhaven, Barney, Belvedere and Noorinan streets.NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully and Kiama Council announced the rezoning proposal on Wednesday for infill housing on the two-hectare former gasworks site.Council owns the property and under the rezoning proposal, there will be:new buildings ranging between 6 and 8 storeys in height,at least 10 per cent affordable housing,approximately 600 parking spaces for residents and visitors andopportunities for active transport options, such as walking and cycling paths.“The Shoalhaven Street proposal is very exciting,” Cr McDonald told The Bugle.“It's part of our Local Housing Strategy. And Council’s Planning Team have been working with the State Government for over almost 12 months now to rezone the site from industrial to residential.”Council’s director of strategies and communities Ed Paterson said this means all the planning costs would be absorbed by the State Government at the community’s benefit.“Doing a planning proposal like this would normally take Council around two years, so to see my team work strategically with the State Government to bring this together in a matter of months is fantastic,” he said.“The Shoalhaven Street Precinct is one of our ‘catalyst sites’ that’s talked about in the Housing Strategy. It is a perfect location for infill development that fits with our town character.”Cr McDonald added: “We also control the site as we move forward - it doesn't become a State Government venture, its development remains in the ownership of Council and we’re thrilled to be working with the NSW Government to ensure there’s ongoing discussion with the community about what that the site will look like.”Council CEO Jane Stroud said the project would also deliver on affordable housing in perpetuity.“We know that the Illawarra Housing Trust and others have been advocating for our LGA to have more affordable housing for a long time, so it’s heartening to see progress being made on this important community need,” she said.“It’s a strategic block to lock in a minimum 10% affordable housing products for our community. And if you’re talking 450 dwellings, 45 affordable housing options is a really impressive number for this LGA.“This Council made a brave financial move to invest in the adjoining parcel of land and embark on the planning proposal for the site’s rezoning.”“The ROI projections for the site have trebled anything that we expected – which shows Council invested wisely and made the right decision.”Cr McDonald added: “Council has owned the site for 100 years and the depot has been operating there for decades. We all know the depot is no longer fit for purpose and needs a more appropriate location.“A Works Depot in the middle of the urban frame is not a great long-term solution for a growing community, but housing that includes affordable dwellings is.”Scully described the proposal as “an exciting opportunity to unlock up to 450 homes close to jobs, the beach, shops and transport, helping boost housing supply to give key workers and families a choice in where they live”.Kiama MP Katelin McInerney added: "rezonings like this are crucial to provide diverse housing options in our community.“We are fortunate to be living in one of the most beautiful parts of regional NSW but, even here, finding a home, particularly one that suits their needs and is well located, is a barrier for many.”The NSW Government is seeking feedback on the draft proposal, which is on public exhibition until 3 December before it is finalised midway through next year.For more information or to make a submission, visit https://pp.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ppr/under-exhibition/kiama-depot, phone 1300 305 695, email [email protected] or attend a community drop-in session, which will be heldfrom 1-4pm on 11 November at Joyce Wheatley Community Centre3-6pm on 12 November at Kiama Farmers Markets and9-11am on 13 November at Joyce Wheatley Community Centre.

The NSW Ambulance Paramedics on the South Coast have been provided greater protection with training and the use of Hazardous Area Rescue Ambulance for the 2025/26 fire season. Matthew Willis, who has been a paramedic in NSW for 16 years and served in the Shoalhaven region for the past nine years, spoke to The Bugle about the features of the vehicles. “It is a German [made] vehicle with some very different capabilities to our normal ambulances and rescue trucks,” Willis said. “Our State Emergency Services use a similar vehicle to access in floodwaters because they can wade into depths of 1.2 metres.“[These vehicles] allow us to get to patients that we previously would have had to rely on other emergency services to get to, whether that is by boat or helicopters. As well as being able to access flood regions, the vehicles are equipped with fire-retardant material so they will not melt or burn in a bushfire situation. The exterior of the vehicle has been reinforced to protect paramedics and patients from falling trees. “We also have the crew protection system, which will set off sprinklers, like little water jets to try and keep it cool as well,” Willis said. Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast Ryan Park said the Minns Labor Government is committed to helping communities when they are most vulnerable. “NSW Hazardous Area Rescue Ambulance (HARA) are the first of their kind in the world and are proving to be an invaluable resource during natural disasters like fires and floods,” Park said. “These vehicles have been built to withstand harsh environments, allowing the highly skilled paramedics who operate them to swiftly and safely access patients in difficult terrain and conditions.” As part of the training, Willis explained it was a four-day course which provided different settings to familiarise paramedics with the vehicles. “The first day was about getting used to driving the vehicle in normal conditions, and working out where all the different buttons were,” Willis said. “The second day was more about off-road driving through the bush, uphills and the third and fourth days were about sand driving on the beach and recovery.” NSW Ambulance chief executive Dr Dominic Morgan said the vehicles were a significant investment in their capabilities. “Now that the 2025-26 bushfire season is officially underway, NSW Ambulance is working hard to ensure staff have the training and resources at hand to deal with emergencies as they rise,” Dr Morgan said.South Coast MP Liza Butler and her Kiama electorate neighbour Katelin McInerney were full of praise for these vehicles and paid tribute to NSW paramedics and front-line workers in the region. “The Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions have faced their fair share of natural disasters in recent years and it’s comforting to know that NSW Ambulance paramedics can access patients during these difficult times,” Butler said.  McInerney added: “I want to thank the hard-working paramedics and other front-line workers who keep our communities safe during bushfire season and year round.” Willis told The Bugle that during the deadly 2019-20 fire season, the emergency services crews “had a lot of access issues with roads being cut off”. “[HARAs] increase our capability massively and they allow us to get into places that we previously haven’t been able to get into.”

Kiama Council's newly formed Finance and Major Projects Advisory Committee held its inaugural meeting this week, marking a significant step forward in delivering strategic oversight and community-focused outcomes.The committee brings together the expertise and energy of community members, Councillors and senior Council staff to guide the financial and major project priorities of the municipality.Mayor Cameron McDonald, who chairs the committee, was enthusiastic about what can be achieved.“There are some big projects on the horizon – including the proposed depot merger and looking at our other identified catalyst sites including Council’s Administration Centre, Havilah Precinct and Spring Creek. "We’ve got the right people on board who are ready, willing and able to tackle these projects.“It was heartening to see all our new committee members roll up their sleeves and get to work this week. I’m excited about what this committee is going to achieve for Council and for the good of our community.”The committee was formed following a Council resolution in August to merge the former Finance Advisory Committee and Major Projects Advisory Committee. The new structure aims to streamline decision-making and enhance collaboration across key areas of Council’s operations.Following a rigorous evaluation process, six community members were appointed to the committee who were selected for their industry experience, community ties, ambition and ability to help deliver on Council’s objectives.Community members appointed to the committee are Multicultural Communities of Illawarra board member Lynette Cuell, Cukuna Sales owner Rob Danby, civil engineer Matthew Dawson, real estate and project delivery manager Marco Maldonado, University of Wollongong Deputy Chancellor Warwick Shanks and Sydney Kings co-owner Paul Smith.The committee also includes Councillors Melinda Lawton and Stuart Larkins, as well as Council’s Chief Executive Officer Jane Stroud, Director Corporate and Commercial Joe Gaudiosi, Director Strategies and Communities Ed Paterson and Head of Implementation Kimberley Norton.