Kiama Lions Club marked its first gathering of the year with a get-together at Kiama Surf Life Saving Club this week.The evening included special recognition of Warren Steel, who was acknowledged for an outstanding 60 years of service as a Lion, having joined the organisation on 1 January 1966.Club President Susan also thanked members for their continued commitment and announced a $6,000 donation towards disaster relief efforts across Australia. The funds will be shared among several organisations, including the Australian Lions Foundation, Need for Feed Australia, Disaster Relief Australia and Sikh Volunteers Australia.Disaster relief is one of the global causes supported by Lions Clubs International. More information on Kiama Lions Club and its community activities can be found at https://kiamalions.org.au/.

The NSW Government has released a new report outlining the next steps in consultation on the future use of the David Berry Hospital site, reaffirming the long-standing Kiama landmark will remain in public hands with a guaranteed health presence.Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park and Member for Kiama Katelin McInerney announced the update on Friday, confirming further formal engagement will take place in 2026, including Aboriginal-led consultation with the local Aboriginal community.The report follows the second phase of community consultation, conducted by independent consultants RPS, who engaged directly with more than 130 community members and staff through focus groups and pop-up events. It builds on the 2024 Have Your Say survey, which attracted nearly 1,200 responses, with 87 per cent of participants indicating healthcare should remain the primary focus of the site.The Minns Labor Government reiterated its commitment that the historic hospital site will continue to benefit Berry and surrounding communities through future health-related uses, while acknowledging the site’s complex history.Minister Park said David Berry Hospital has been part of the region for more than a century and, while no longer suitable for its original purpose, its future must reflect community values and needs.He also acknowledged the negative impact the site has had on local Aboriginal communities through systemic racism and past government policies, including the Stolen Generations, and said meaningful engagement with First Nations communities is a priority.“Through this ongoing consultation and engagement, we’re ensuring the site will remain a meaningful presence for the health of the region,” Minister Park said.Member for Kiama Katelin McInerney welcomed the progress, saying she had worked closely with NSW Health and the Minister for more than two years to advocate for strong community consultation and community-led decision-making.“I welcome the progress made on working closely with our local Aboriginal community to shape the future uses at the site,” Ms McInerney said.Formal Aboriginal-led engagement activities are expected to commence shortly, with a final engagement report due by mid-2026. The second phase consultation report is now publicly available on the NSW Government website.

You could be excused for seeing double on the cricket pitch during a Kiama Cavaliers fourth-grade match this season, with a remarkable five father-son pairings taking the field throughout the 2025-26 campaign.Those combinations include Shane Wilson and his son Oliver, Adam McCrone with sons Harry and Riley, Andrew Marsh with Heath, Giles Brown with Milo, Brett Nortje with Marlow, Col Bayley with Hayden and Glenn Coghlan with his son William.Kiama Cricket Club president Bernie Brown said the decision to re-form a fourth-grade side in 2025 was driven by the opportunity to connect fathers and sons through cricket.“A number of dads coach junior teams, and through those conversations we discussed the opportunity to form a fourth-grade side again, giving fathers the chance to play cricket with their sons,” he said.“We wanted to use fourth grade as a platform to introduce talented young cricketers into grade cricket - firstly by allowing them to play alongside their dads, and secondly by creating a pathway to nurture talent and progress through the grades.”Brown said the initiative has delivered a double win for the club: encouraging fathers out of retirement while preparing young players for the demands of grade cricket - and creating some unforgettable moments along the way.“Seeing the pride of dads taking the field alongside their sons has been priceless. We plan for this to be a long-term opportunity for fathers to return to the game and play with their boys. There’s no better moment than a parent taking a catch from their child’s bowling - the whole team gets around it,” he said.The father–son dynamic has also fostered a strong family culture within the team, adding to the atmosphere of Kiama Cricket Club as a whole.“Fourth grade probably attracts the best spectator attendance, largely due to the father-son and family connections. We often see siblings, mums, partners and grandparents coming along to watch, which has shaped our culture into one centred on fun and family. It has also brought a lot of energy to training sessions and post-match functions at the leagues club.”The young players in Kiama's fourth-grade team. Photo: Bernie BrownOn the field, fourth grade has also been Kiama’s most successful side this season, currently sitting second on the ladder - a result Brown attributes to strong team chemistry and quality mentorship.“The boys have been key contributors so far this season, often finishing matches with the bat and showing maturity, determination and fight,” he said.“In round five, in a match reduced by hail and rain, 17-year-old Milo Brown guided the Cavs home over Gerringong with three balls to spare. The following week, Oliver Wilson and Harry McCrone finished the job against Oak Flats with three overs in hand. The boys aren’t just participating - they’re competing and winning matches.”Brown said the team culture has played a major role in the development of the young players and is something he hopes will continue into the future.“Our skipper, Andrew Marsh, leads the way by giving the boys responsibility within the team and backing them. There’s also plenty of banter between fathers and sons, which keeps the environment fun and helps take pressure off the boys,” he said.“They’re also learning umpiring and scoring, which are important aspects of the game. Recently, we held a father-versus-son friendly match followed by a barbecue - a great way to return after the Christmas break and, by all accounts, a fiercely competitive contest, with the boys eager to beat the dads.”Following the Christmas break, fourth grade was the only Kiama side to avoid an abandoned match, but they were unable to continue their strong form, falling to ladder leaders Jamberoo.Kiama Cricket Club will celebrate its 170th anniversary on 7 February at Kiama Leagues Club. Tickets are available via the club’s website.

Kiama Council is forging ahead with the Kiama Sounds of Jazz & Blues live music weekend in March and is calling on businesses and the community to support the stopgap event.After the Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival organisers pressed pause on their event for 2026, Council is organising a community‑led live music weekend in its place. The Kiama Sounds of Jazz & Blues live music weekend will feature live performances across multiple venues, spanning jazz, blues, and a variety of other music styles.Kiama Council tourism and economic development manager Sally Bursell said the initiative would help local venues and businesses keep live music thriving across the region during the traditional festival weekend.An Expression of Interest is now open for local businesses and venues interested in hosting performances with the deadline to nominate this Sunday (18 January). Bursell said after Mayor Cameron McDonald announced late last year that Council would step into the breach, they have received plenty of interest from local businesses.They held a meeting with business owners before Christmas to map out a plan.“Everyone was sort of on the same page and willing to pull together however they could,” she said. “We asked them what did they think Council's role could be to support them.“We spoke about a few things - how it would be good to have as many businesses involved as possible and how the challenges can be marketing and connecting the businesses.“So we thought that Council's biggest contribution could be those things - looking at how we can communicate what's going on and where, and also looking at using funds to physically connect the businesses through a rotating bus or something along those lines. “We've got the EOI out to try and get as many businesses that are willing to do something in that sort of capacity - live music within their businesses. “We've been really encouraged to see the business support and also the community support and response.“Essentially it's a venue led and paid for exercise and Council’s just supporting through the marketing and pulling everyone together while the Jazz & Blues Festival is on pause for this year. Bursell said Council staff were connecting artists with venues and have reached out to Kiama Business Network to see if they can assist as well.The fact that the Jazz & Blues Festival is on every meant that many tourists had pre-booked accommodation and some venues had lined up live music acts.Council will help coordinate who is participating, preferred performance times and programming opportunities, informing a draft weekend schedule and promotional activity.Cr McDonald hoped the live music weekend would preserve the spirit of the long‑running festival while giving venues the flexibility to curate their own line‑ups.“One of the things I value most about Kiama is the way our community steps forward when something important to them is at risk of being lost.“With the Jazz & Blues Festival taking a break in 2026, it’s been encouraging to see local venues and creatives come together with their own ideas to keep live music part of our town’s identity. “Council’s role here is simple: To support, coordinate and create the space for community-led initiatives to happen.“This Live Music Weekend in early March is a good example of that approach. It’s about backing local effort, strengthening collaboration and letting the community lead the way.“We want to ensure the weekend continues to bring vibrancy, culture and visitors to our towns and villages.”After the long-running Folk By The Sea festival was wound up and the Changing Tides independent music event was cancelled in November, the local events calendar has taken a heavy hit.Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival organisers are planning to return for a 40th anniversary festival in 2027.

Where does the time go? This time last year, The Bugle’s View was discussing the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira, the March 2025 Australian federal election, comments from Gareth Ward regarding housing affordability and the initiatives from a new Kiama Council, led by Mayor Cameron McDonald.How times have changed.From our community’s perspective, it seems we have all but moved on from the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira, we were emphatic in the re-election of Fiona Phillips as the Member for Gilmore and the less that is said about the former Member for Kiama, the better.Housing affordability and the continued ‘community-first, business led’ initiatives from Kiama Council remain, and it looks like it will be a bigger and better 2026 with multiple opportunities for Kiama Council to build upon the strong foundations and policies it finalised in 2025.The cancellation of the New Year’s Eve fireworks was not quite the way the community is used to bringing in a new year, and the mood and vibrancy across the town reflected that.More devastating were the multiple drownings along the NSW coast, including critical incidents that occurred at the Kiama Blowhole and Surf Beach.So as we ring in the new year, we look to the past to see how far we, as a community have come and continue to be vigilant as to where we are going.From an economic landscape perspective, Council is pulling out all the stops to revive our live music and festival scene. With multiple cancellations and the pausing of the 2026 Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival, Kiama Council is leading an expression of interest campaign for a ‘community-led’ live music weekend, to replace the lost festival. Thankfully, Cr McDonald is already on record that the Kiama New Year's Eve Sky Show will return for 2026, though that economic boost is still many months away.From a development perspective, there will likely be dramatic shifts to our landscape. After much division and derision, the South Kiama development is progressing (albeit there appears to be no affordable housing included). The NSW Government is now endorsing eight storeys as the appropriate landing spot for the Akuna Street development. Eight is also the number of storeys that Council’s Shoalhaven Street precinct will reach. Coincidence? We think not…While there is a lot of change in store for 2026, The Bugle’s View is that 2025 has shown us that new regimes and change can bring about some positive outcomes.So, whether you had a good, bad, or indifferent 2025, we wish the community a safe and prosperous 2026, and cautiously look forward to the (positive) changes to come.

For more than 70 years, the Country Women’s Association of Kiama has been a hub for community gatherings, high teas and charitable work. But the local branch faces an unexpected upheaval: their longtime home has been sold, leaving the group to find a new base.CWA Kiama president Cheryl Pearce said the situation has been complicated and frustrating. “We’re not entirely sure when everything has to be out,” she said. “I rang state office, but they’ve been a bit cagey. It’s commercial and confidential. We just don’t have the details.”The property, built in 1953, has served generations of women in Kiama, providing not just a meeting place, but also storage for chairs, tableware and other community resources. Maintaining such an ageing building, Cheryl says, had become unsustainable. “Once a branch decides it no longer wants to upkeep its building, we give permission to state office to take it over and sell it.The maintenance is beyond us,” she said.The sale is part of a larger wave of development in the area. Cheryl described developers eyeing multiple properties in the neighborhood, sometimes approaching older residents directly with generous offers for their homes. “I’ve been here 26 years, and I became aware of developers knocking on doors,” she recalled. “Some of these offers were huge. It can be overwhelming for older women, widows, or those unfamiliar with the process.”With the building scheduled for a potential demolition to make way for new developments, the CWA has been working quickly to move its resources. Finding a new meeting space has also required creative solutions. The Kiama branch has been offered limited use of the Catholic Church hall for monthly meetings, though it doesn’t provide the convenience of their former home.Cheryl emphasised the importance of keeping the CWA community intact, despite the logistical challenges.“We’re trying to enter the building before state office takes over to retrieve anything we need,” Cheryl said. Furniture, crockery, and other items are being offered to local community groups, including the Anglican Church and Jamberoo CWA.“We’re trying to keep it as a real community. Even if we have to share resources with other branches or other groups, we’ll make it work.”The CWA itself has a long history of supporting women and communities.Formed in 1922 to help country women fight isolation and lack of health services, the organisation quickly became a force for change. Members have set up baby health centres, funded bush nurses, built maternity wards and hospitals, and created schools, rest homes, and holiday cottages. Today, the CWA continues to improve conditions for women and children, offering a network of support, educational programs, social activities, and fundraising initiatives – locally and internationally.Though they’ll no longer have their own building, Kiama CWA plans to continue holding meetings, and providing catering and community projects. “We’ve enjoyed the luxury of having our own building for many years,” Cheryl said. “Now we just have to accept it, adapt, and keep going. It’s about the people and the work we do together – that doesn’t change.”

If you’ve spent time around Kiama’s pubs, festivals or folk gatherings over the past decade, chances are you’ve crossed paths with The Water Runners.What began as a loose collection of local musicians has grown into one of Australia’s most respected folk-roots acts and most recently awarded Runners Up for The People's Choice Award for the Australian Folk Music Awards (Folk Alliance Australia).Formed around 2016, The Water Runners have settled into a long-standing lineup since 2017, featuring Kiama local John Littrich on guitar and vocals, Neil McCann on banjo and mandolin, Danita Harris on fiddle, and Gerringong’s own James Turk on double bass.“We’ve had a couple of people come and go over the years,” Littrich says, “but since 2017 we’ve basically had the same lineup. It’s been really solid.”That stability has helped the band refine what many now describe as their signature sound – a lively blend of bluegrass, folk and roots music, anchored firmly in Australian stories.It’s a style that’s even earned them a genre of their own.“People have started calling it ‘bush grass’,” Littrich laughs. “We love the bluegrass sound, but we wanted to sing about Australia – our bushrangers, First Nations heroes, local history– not just American places we haven’t lived in.”That approach has struck a chord well beyond the South Coast.The Water Runners have now played folk and music festivals across almost every Australian state, from Tasmania to Queensland, with Western Australia the only one left to tick off.They’ve just returned from Queensland’s iconic Woodford Folk Festival – one of the largest festivals in the Southern Hemisphere – and are barely pausing for breath.“It’s been busy,” Littrich says. “We’ve got Illawarra Folk Festival this week, then Bulli, then straight up to Tamworth.”The band has been a staple at the Illawarra Folk Festival since the early days, not only performing but also volunteering behind the scenes – helping with production, set design, and sound.  “We're looking forward to that. But we have to keep a bit of petrol in the tank, both literally and metaphorically, to get up to Tamworth and do that,” he says.Tamworth, of course, looms large this year.While the Water Runners might joke they’re not “hanging out with Keith Urban,” they’re heading north with an impressive list of nominations across multiple award bodies — including the Tamworth Songwriters Association, Capital Country Music Association, Capital Country Radio, and the Australian Bush Balladeers Association.Their latest album Shelter has picked up nominations for Best Song and Best Video, while tracks like Viking and Murrumbidgee continue to gain national attention.The latter tells the powerful true story of a Wiradjuri man who saved around 90 people during the Gundagai floods of the 1850s.“There are so many songs about Ned Kelly,” Littrich explains, “but not many about our First Nations heroes. When I saw the statue in Gundagai and read the story, I thought – "this guy needs a song.”That sense of storytelling is central to the band’s connection with audiences, especially at regional festivals.“When you play somewhere like Majors Creek or Braidwood and you sing a song about that area, locals really latch onto it,” he says.“It helps you connect in a much deeper way.”Despite touring nationally, Kiama remains home base and creative hub Littrich speaks about with pride.“We’re really lucky here,” he says. “You’ve got young bands like Pacific Avenue, The Terrys, Joan Montgomery – and then older, folkier artists like us.There's a lot of artistic and musical talent in Kiama. I just hope a lot of these festivals that are sort of falling by the wayside can be resurrected, and we can capitalise on the talent we do have in the town.”That local network feeds directly into the band’s work.The Shelter video, which has been nominated for best video and song, was filmed in Jamberoo, shot by local videographer Blake Lauricella, with a cameo from Littrich’s son Dom – better known these days as a member of Pacific Avenue and part of The Inspired Unemployed circle.The song itself came from a simple songwriting challenge while travelling around Australia with his wife Jane.“She put words in a box and made me pull one out each day and write a song,” Littrich says. “There were threats of no beer if I didn’t.”The result was Shelter, a song about finding warmth, safety and belonging, themes that resonate just as strongly back home as they do on the road.Despite the long drives and packed festival schedules, the band remains grounded.“We take each day as it comes, and there's a lot of work in planning these things,” Littrich said, “But it's really nice when you get nominated for these things, and you get a little bit of recognition, not that we're going to be retiring to the Bahamas anytime soon,” he joked. “Even if we don’t win, it’s just really nice to be nominated,” he adds. “You go along, rub shoulders with other songwriters, make a few connections – and that’s always good.”For a band that’s been playing together for years, Tamworth is just another stop along the road. The Water Runners will head north, play their gigs, catch up with friends, and then return home to Kiama – doing what they’ve always done.

Eight days after the Bondi attacks, while the initial shock had begun to settle but the emotional weight remained heavy, Kiama resident Judi Sandilands arrived quietly with her therapy dog, Miss Ollie.There was no media presence – just a deliberate choice to show up when people were still trying to process what had happened.“Actions always speak louder than words in times like this,” Judi says. “I was never not going. It was always on my radar.”Judi, a former clinical nurse consultant in mental health, knows how beneficial a therapy dog can be to wellbeing and had responded the same way after the Bondi Junction stabbings, working alongside Lifeline to support a community struggling with shock and grief.Rather than arriving during the height of attention, she came later, when residents, workers, and volunteers were left carrying the impact once the cameras moved on.“It affects the whole community,” she explains. “Not just the victims and their families, but everyone whose backyard is Bondi.”That reality became clear almost immediately.While buying a coffee near where she and Ollie had set up on 22 December, café staff spoke about how they had not yet had time to stop and process what had happened.“They said, “We haven't stopped, we're just making coffee and we haven't had a chance to actually process. We're here every day, we live in this community and we can't process it.” They actually articulated it very well,” Judi recalls. Miss Ollie, a Guide Dogs–trained therapy dog, wore her Lifeline vest during the visit.Judi noticed a pattern she has seen many times before. People would stop to pat the dogs, begin talking without meaning to, and then naturally move toward Lifeline staff positioned nearby.“The dogs act as an icebreaker,” Judi says. “They buffer people just enough so mental health professionals can step in.”Inside Bondi Junction Westfield, Judi and Ollie sat on the floor while parents spoke with mental health providers and their children quietly patted the dogs beside them.“You could actually see people calming down,” she says. “Lowering their anxiety enough to find the words they were struggling to say.”Judi describes therapy dogs as providing emotional first aid – a kind of support that no human interaction can quite replicate.While research shows dogs can lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormones, Judi says the impact is most powerful when witnessed firsthand.“You see it happening in real time,” she says.On that first visit, Judi was joined by another South Coast resident and friend– who has asked to remain anonymous– along with his Bernese Mountain Dog, Jasper.Although Jasper is not formally trained as a therapy dog, he instinctively did what was needed.“Who doesn’t want to cuddle a Bernese Mountain Dog?” Judi says. “People were so appreciative.”First time therapy-dog Jasper brought smiles to BondiIn the days and weeks that followed, Judi received messages from Bondi residents about what the visits had meant to them.Many also asked about the crocheted Matilda bees that had been shared with children and families.The bees were handmade and sent by volunteers from Jamberoo Red Cross, along with local resident Sue Mawbey, as a gesture of remembrance and support.The bees carry deep symbolism. Matilda, the young girl killed in the attack, had been named after Australia itself.The bees — drawn from the Matildas emblem — became a quiet representation of unity, resilience, and national identity during a time of collective grief.Crocheted bees have been shared and are in high demand to spread unity and resiliencePeople from interstate and overseas told Judi they were taking the bees home to share Bondi’s story and what the community had endured. “I think that's what Matilda's mother wanted to happen for the bees,” Sandilands said,Judi later received a phone call from Matilda’s mother, who had tracked her down to personally thank her for bringing the dogs to Bondi.Bees have become a quiet symbol to represent and honour Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi shootingThe two now have each other’s phone numbers. During their conversation, Matilda’s mother shared that her daughter had been a dog lover, something Judi had not known at the time, and expressed how much it meant to see comfort being brought to the community in this way, sharing a photo of Matilda in a T-shirt with many dogs breeds on it saying ‘it's just a girl and her dogs’.At the request of the Bondi community, Judi returned on 7 January, this time with additional dogs and handlers.Joining Ollie and Jasper were Shiko, Lennon, and Tyler — all involved in Guide Dogs programs, including court companion roles.With extreme heat on the day, the group set up a shaded gazebo with assistance from police to ensure the dogs’ welfare remained the top priority.Once people understood why the dogs were there, they came.Lifeline volunteers again positioned themselves nearby, and the dogs once more created a gentle pathway for people to seek support.Based in Kiama, Judi regularly travels to support schools, courts, ambulance call centres, police, and youth services.She and her dogs work quietly and without funding, motivated by a belief that presence matters.In 2025, her contribution was recognised with her and Ollie being named community champions by the NSW Mental Health Commission. For Judi, the work is not about recognition. It is about responding when something is needed and continuing to show up.“It gives people just that little bit of hope,” she says. “And in that moment, that’s enough.”.

Welcoming new citizens, community events and the Jervis Bay Duck Derby will be among the highlights of Australia Day festivities on the South Coast. There will be a range of activities January 26 but for something totally different, you can win $500 if you enter the Marine Rescue Jervis Bay 2026 Duck Derby at Moona Moona Creek.Tickets are now available via www.raffletix.com.au/duckderbyrace12026 and if your duck is first across the line you will pocket $500.Funds raised go to support the lifesaving work of Marine Rescue NSW Jervis Bay.There will also be Indigenous cultural displays performed by The Gadhungal Murring Aboriginal Community, food stalls, market stalls, and entertainment.Kiama Council, with the assistance of Australia Day Community Event grant funding, is partnering with local organisations to host free BBQ breakfasts at three locations.Reid Park, Jamberoo, 8:30am–10:30am hosted by Jamberoo Red Cross and Jamberoo Rural Fire ServiceKiama Downs Surf Club - 7am-11am, hosted by Kiama Downs Surf Life Saving ClubGerringong Bowling Club car park - 7.30am-11.30am, hosted by Gerringong Lions Club.Pack a camp chair, picnic blanket and sunscreen, and join your community for a relaxed morning of connection and conversation. There will be family friendly activities at each venue for the community to enjoy.Council will also host the Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony at Gerringong Surf Club from 10am, where Mayor Cameron McDonald will officially welcome the LGA’s newest Australian citizens.“Welcoming new citizens is a highlight of the day,” he said. “It’s exciting to see people choose Kiama as their home and bring their stories, energy and commitment to our community. Australia Day is a chance to come together with respect, optimism and pride.”Country singer David Kirkpatrick will be Shoalhaven Council’s Australia Day ambassador with author and gender equality advocate Diana Ryall filling the same role for Shellharbour.Kirkpatrick, who is also an emergency medicine specialist doctor, will be a keynote speaker at the Mollymook Beach Reserve event organised by Council and the Ulladulla Milton Lions Club.Reddall Reserve will be the central point for Shellharbour's activities with a sizzling BBQ breakfast and free family fun, including Slip n slides, jumping castles, a sand modelling competition, a rock climbing wall, laser tag, stand up paddleboarding, face painting, children's arts and crafts, live music and market stalls.

Jamberoo School’s hall was filled recently with the joyful buzz of children eagerly awaiting a very special surprise to kick off the Christmas holiday: three books following the adventures of a ‘Little Twig.’ Dreams Come True, Never Give Up, and Never Walk Alone are more than just stories– they are gentle guides for life, history lessons, and tales of a kind-hearted community.Author Chris Beaven, warm, engaging, and wonderfully approachable, shared the inspiration behind Twiggy’s very first adventures. Chris Beaven at Jamberoo. Photo: Ella Gunning“The very first one is, he’s a little twig, and he says he’s going to be a Christmas tree,” she explained. “The wind knocks him off the tree, but an old lady picks him up, puts him in a pot, and places all her husband’s medals over him. "So he becomes a Christmas tree, and then she plants him at the top of the hill with other trees.”Chris went on to describe the broader themes of the series. “They’re all about history. "The first story touches on a bit of bullying for the little twig. The second one is all about the bushfires, and the third one is about Covid. They’re all beautifully drawn and help children understand history in a way they can relate to.” Through Twiggy’s experiences, children learn about resilience, friendship, and the value of community support.The stories also showcase the rich life of Jamberoo, featuring villagers who play important roles in Twiggy’s life – farmers, firefighters, shopkeepers, pub owners, butchers, and families. Each tale is a snapshot of life in the village over the years, capturing events that will one day become history.Chris also spoke fondly of the books’ wider reach, including her friendship with Greg Page, the Original Yellow Wiggle, who has brought Twiggy’s adventures to life through animated readings online. “They can go online and watch them,” she said, giving younger children the chance to enjoy the stories with Mum or Dad.A delightful anecdote highlighted Chris’s unique journey and beginnings as a children’s author. “The Queen had just had a great-grandchild, and I said to my husband, ‘I’m going to send this to the Queen.’ And I got a letter back from Buckingham Palace saying, ‘Can’t wait to see the next two!’”Jamberoo School, true to its motto “A Small School, Making a Big Difference,” found Twiggy’s stories the perfect way to teach children about reading, history, community, and kindness. As Chris Beaven said, her goal is simple: every child at Jamberoo receives these three books, learning about life, resilience, and the power of support– one little twig at a time.

I read Mike Finnegan’s Letter to the Editor regarding the pausing of the Jazz and Blues Festival with interest, and as a long-term local felt it important to offer a different perspective.Many people who live in Kiama chose to do so precisely because of what it already is: a small coastal town with a strong sense of community, natural beauty, and a slower pace of life.For many locals, Kiama’s appeal is not defined by large festivals, fireworks, or events that draw significant crowds, traffic, noise, and disruption.While events may be attractive to visitors, they often come at a cost to residents - including congestion, pressure on infrastructure, and a loss of the very character that makes Kiama distinctive in the first place.To suggest Kiama risks becoming an “also-ran” without festivals implies that its intrinsic qualities are somehow insufficient.Many locals would strongly disagree.Uniqueness does not have to mean constant activity or a packed events calendar.Kiama is already unique because of its coastline, villages, history, and community atmosphere.Preserving that character is, in itself, a long-term vision worth protecting.Council decisions should balance tourism aspirations with liveability.Pausing or reassessing events does not signal a lack of ambition - it may simply reflect a conscious choice to prioritise residents and sustainability over growth for growth’s sake.For many who call Kiama home, less is not a loss - it is exactly the point.Dexter RabbitKiama

A new Community Postal Agency has opened at Shoalhaven Heads, restoring local access to postal services following the closure of the village post office late last year.The agency officially opened on Monday and is operating from the Shoalhaven Heads Pharmacy.The service allows residents to send and collect parcels, purchase stamps and access basic postal services within the community.Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said she began advocating for a replacement postal service after being contacted by Shoalhaven Heads residents concerned about the loss of the local post office.“The local post office has been an important service for the Shoalhaven Heads community for many years, which is why I worked to ensure a postal service was returned as soon as possible,” Phillips said.Phillips supported a community petition and made representations to the Minister for Communications, Anika Wells, seeking the reinstatement of postal services.The Community Postal Agency will operate Monday to Friday.An Australia Post post box will also be installed outside the Shoalhaven Heads shopping centre, reducing the need for residents to travel to Bomaderry to post letters.Phillips thanked local residents, as well as pharmacist James Zhai and the team at the Shoalhaven Heads Pharmacy, for their role in establishing the new service.

I live with my family directly behind the Mercure Hotel in Gerringong. I am writing in response to the article 'Residents raise concerns over Gerringong hotel expansion' in The Bugle published on 20 December, regarding the DA which was approved by Kiama Council on 16 December. The DA allows Rob and Steve Bartlett, owners of the Mercure hotel, to build a 'restaurant'/ wedding and event venue with opening times until 11:30pm every single day of the week, on our back fence line which will involve removing the mature trees along Fern Street being the gateway to the township from the north. Surely, this is not in-line with our sleepy Gerringong town’s vibe, where even the most popular eating and drinking establishment, ‘The Hill’, is shut down by 9:30pm on a Saturday night. I attended the Public Forum Access Council meeting on 15 December to try and rescue our peaceful cul de sac, Coolangatta Avenue and the wildlife who reside in the ill-fated trees. It seems our fate was too easily sealed at the following council meeting on 16 December, as one of the council representatives proudly presented the Mercure Hotel expansion as a great way to expand Gerringong's 'late night entertainment' offerings, as 'some people do like to stay up later than 9pm (unlike us councillors)'. Surely then these 'early to bed councillors' would not tolerate late-night parties until 11:30pm in their own backyards, and why is it that they deserve to sleep more than we do, as local residents?Is it really the desire of our local township to increase our late-night party scene as implied in the deciding Council meeting? If you look at the pushback over opening any form of a commercial establishment above the new Surf Life Saving Club or read any of the local Facebook community comments regarding the recent tourist hype on Tasman Drive I would be surprised if our locals would gladly welcome the late-night partygoers spilling out of the new proposed Mercure Hotel 'restaurant'/ event venue. I agree the Mercure Hotel could do with a facelift but clearly this is yet another failed planning permission process in the South Coast area, allowing another big bucks owner/developer promising to invest in our ‘destination tourism’ industry taking precedence over local community and mother nature. Do our residents really want Gerringong to turn into another Kiama or Huskisson? Did we not choose explicitly to settle our family home in a sleepy surf town with generous privacy and green spaces, not to mention the abundant bird and wildlife on our doorsteps? Now it seems we are going to have to sell our home at a huge financial loss or else put up with the equivalent noise and partying as the Huskisson Pub, not just on the weekends, but every single night that the Mercure Hotel is booked out for a tourist destination wedding/ event. April Ruthen-Gough,Gerringong

Kiama Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) will host a special screening of Chasing the Gold, a new documentary about the iconic Coolangatta Gold race, on Wednesday (14 January).Created by Nalu Productions and Walker Films, the film follows athletes Connor Maggs, Lana Rogers and former Kiama Nipper Ali Day as they pursue victory in one of Australia’s most gruelling endurance events.“The Coolangatta Gold is the race that defines the spirit, history and identity of surf lifesaving in Australia,” said Kiama SLSC’s Denita Wright.“It is recognised as one of the most demanding Ironman and Ironwoman races, and Chasing the Gold brings the behind-the-scenes story to life, capturing an iconic Aussie culture with an intimate portrayal of what it takes to be a winner of The Gold.”Wright said Kiama SLSC was inspired to screen the film as a way to share the story of a surf lifesaving legend who began his journey at Kiama, while also raising funds for the club.“Ali Day’s surf lifesaving story began as an eight-year-old Nipper at Kiama Surf Life Saving Club. Kiama SLSC is lucky to secure Chasing the Gold, and we are the only club within our branch hosting the film,” she said.“The long hours and commitment of volunteer surf lifesavers to patrols, training and community service are what it’s all about - patrol teams working together, senior members mentoring juniors, and our club coaches training and supporting our athletes.”In addition to fundraising, the event aims to strengthen the relationship between the surf club and the wider Kiama community, something Wright believes is vital.“Hosting events helps the club stay visible and connected, not just as a patrol service but as a social and cultural gathering place. Chasing the Gold is a way for Kiama SLSC to give something back, and it strengthens the connection locals and visitors have with the beach, the club and the surrounding community.”Wright hopes the dedication and hard work showcased in the film will inspire audiences of all ages.“We hope Chasing the Gold will inspire our Nippers, other young kids and adults too. The movie shows the dedication, commitment and resilience required by athletes to pursue what they love to do,” she said.“For those aspiring to follow in Ali’s footsteps, his advice is simple: ‘I hope the film encourages the next generation to get out in the surf, have a crack, and never give up on their dreams’.”The screening will be held on 14 January at the Kiama SLSC clubhouse, starting at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased here, and Wright hopes the event will sell out.“Your ticket directly contributes to the future of surf lifesaving. Let’s sell it out - bring your family, bring your mates, and settle in for an uplifting night celebrating the athletes, culture and history that make surf lifesaving so special.”

The Gerringong Lions Club put on the much-loved Gerringong Christmas Parade a few days before Santa officially arrived.The crowd-pleasing event, sponsored by Kiama Council and Gerringong Bowling Club, attracted a huge crowd with Fern Street lined four deep on either side from Blackwood St to Belinda St, cheering and waving to each float as they passed by.Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips, Kiama MP Katelin McInerney and Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald led the parade that consisted of 30 three "floats" representing a diversity of organisations and clubs of the local community and surrounds.The Lions Christmas raffle was drawn at the conclusion of the parade with Roz Dalley-Calabine winning the Natural Necessity longboard first prize.Second prize of a voucher from The Core Store was won by Ross Wraight.Third prize - a voucher from Shellharbour Golf Club - was won by Anna Valliere and local car enthusiast Murray Alcock won a voucher from The Hill Bar and Restaurant.

By Ray Johnson Welcome to this special edition, a curated review of climate change news throughout the year. The emphasis is on the most significant global and Australian developments, month by month. The year’s events were dominated by COP30, (the Conference of the Parties to the Paris Agreement) where countries provided Nationally Determined Contribution targets (NDCs) for 2035. It’s important to remember that the main drivers of climate change are population and economic growths, unequivocally since 2007 according to the science. There are many vested interests for governments to contend with.January:The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirms “2024 is the warmest year on record, based on six international datasets. The past 10 years have all been in the Top Ten, in an extraordinary streak of record-breaking temperatures.”The United Nations declares 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. “Glaciers are retreating at unprecedented rates, reshaping landscapes and the world as we know it.”US President Donald Trump signs an Executive Order to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.February:January 2025 declared the warmest January on record according to two leading international datasets (Copernicus Climate Change Service and US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Most large emitter countries (e.g Australia) miss key date for submitting updated 2035 NDCs for analysis in the lead up to COP30 (November 2025).March:Thirty years since the beginning of the global effort to engage with the climate crisis. On 21 March 1994 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force. April:China, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, says it will announce 2035 NDCs before COP30. The first time China has set NDC targets.May:WMO forecasts “70% chance that the five-year average warming for 2025-2029 will be more than 1.5°C.”The ALP wins Australia's federal election with low primary vote (34.6%). Preference flows drive a significant House of Representatives majority. In Government but not in ‘power’ as no majority in Senate.June:A University of New South Wales expert says Australia’s latest National Greenhouse Gas Inventory report shows “Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector ... is the single largest reason for the significant reduction in Australian emissions. Without accounting for land use, Australia’s emissions have only decreased 3% since 2005, not 27%.”The 2024 Indicators of Global Climate Change report says “The indicators show that human activities are increasing the Earth's energy imbalance and driving faster sea-level rise compared to the [IPCC] AR6 assessment. ...there is evidence that the rate of increase in CO2 emissions over the last decade has slowed compared to the 2000s.”NSW Environment Protection Agency releases NSW State of the Environment 2024 report. “Drivers” chapter is last in document (p603). “Increases in population and economic activity are driving significant changes in the environment and human health. Planning for sustainable growth can help to alleviate these impacts.”July:World Population Day (11 July): At current rate of growth, global population is doubling every 82 years. (World Population Dashboard) Expected to reach nine billion by 2037.August:World Weather Attribution claims “Weather conditions leading to deadly wildfires in Türkiye, Cyprus and Greece made 10 times more likely due to climate change.”September:President Xi Jinping announces inaugural NDC: “China will, by 2035, reduce economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 7 per cent to 10 per cent from peak levels, striving to do better.” Australia's first National Climate Risk Assessment released, looking at “our economy, communities, agriculture, health, infrastructure, and ecosystems.”Australia announces its second NDC to “set our 2035 climate change target at a range of 62% to 70% reduction on 2005 emissions.”Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water issues the final approval for the extension of gas operations at Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf Project until 2070. The Australia Institute described the decision as “a climate, economic and energy security disaster.” The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research releases Planetary Health Check 2025 showing that seven of nine planetary [system] boundaries have now been exceeded. “We are witnessing widespread decline in the health of our planet … Failure is not inevitable; failure is a choice. A choice that must and can be avoided.”October:A consortium of 160 researchers from 87 institutions across 23 countries releases The Global Tipping Points Report 2025. The report includes case studies on the Amazon Rainforest, the Atlantic Ocean Circulation, Warm-Water Coral Reefs and Mountain Glaciers. “The goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming ‘well below 2°C’ or 1.5°C will not prevent coral reefs from irreversibly passing their thermal tipping point.” Say goodbye to the Great Barrier Reef.ABS says 2024 fertility rate was 1.481, well below the replacement rate of 2.1 (last seen in 1976). Does Australia’s multicultural society want a growing population?November:COP30 (Belém, Brazil 10-21 November) closing address by the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell: “I’m not saying we’re winning the climate fight. But we are undeniably still in it, and we are fighting back.” The World Economic Forum noted [COP30] “ … it fell short of unlocking major progress. Parties advanced on adaptation funding, indicators for a global goal on adaptation and a just transition, but no formal agreements were reached on fossil fuels and deforestation roadmaps.”The BBC described COP30 as “deeply divisive” and noted a failure “to secure new fossil fuel promises.”Australia’s Climate Change Authority releases 2025 Annual Progress Report. Says rate of Australian emission reductions needs to double to reach 2030 target (43%) and triple to meet 2035 target.December:Tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, adopted by 195 parties at COP21 on 12 December 2015. While there are many achievements the main target of 1.5°C seems currently beyond reach.Climate Action Tracker (CAT) shows (as at 10 December 2025) 119 countries have submitted 2035 NDCs. Only two countries of the 59 CAT analyses are compatible with reaching 1.5°C (UK and Norway). 74 countries have not submitted a 2035 NDC target.Statista claimed (12 December 2025): “In 2025, the world's gross domestic product amounted to approximately 117.2 trillion U.S. dollars, compared with 111.1 trillion in 2024.” A rise of 5.5 per cent.Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) releases Estimated Resident Population data for the year ended 30 June 2025. Annual growth was 420,100 people (1.5%) comprising a natural increase of 114,600 and net overseas migration of 305,600.

A life jacket has been credited with saving the life of a rock fisherman swept into the ocean at Kiama Blowhole early on Sunday morning.The 29-year-old man was fishing near the blowhole around dawn when he was knocked from the rocks by heavy waves and carried into the water.Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 7am, prompting a multi-agency response involving surf lifesavers, lifeguards, police and paramedics.The man was located between 30 and 50 metres offshore in rough seas.He was winched to safety by the TOLL Ambulance Rescue Helicopter within about 30 minutes of entering the water.Apart from minor cuts, he was not seriously injured.Surf Life Saving NSW South Coast emergency coordinator Josh Douglas said the life jacket allowed the man, who was not a strong swimmer, to remain afloat away from the rocks while waiting for help.He said attempting to climb back onto rocks in heavy conditions often leads to further injury, particularly at hazardous locations such as the blowhole.Authorities continue to urge rock fishers to wear life jackets and take extra precautions when fishing from exposed rock platforms.Kiama MP Katelin McInerney posted on social media: "LIFE JACKETS SAVE LIVES."Thanks to everyone involved in the rescue effort this morning. We are fortunate to be taking part in an AI camera trial to help keep rockfishers safe, but the best protection is wearing a properly fitted life jacket."Rock fishing has claimed several lives along the Illawarra coastline in recent years.Seven people have died at Kiama in the past decade, leading to the trial of artificial intelligence cameras designed to detect when someone is washed off rocks and automatically alert emergency services.

So, you think Gerringong in 1953 was a backwater and did not have any special shows.Well, you would be wrong. In spring of that year, a fashion establishment from Wollongong put on a show for the ladies at Gerringong Town Hall. Of interest is the term “mannequin” which refers to the live female models who modelled the dresses on the night. Nowadays the name is only used for plastic models of human figures, not live ones.Young girls or married women could go to Wollongong to have lessons in deportment and become a mannequin. Another interest is the sponsors for the show. A large ad from A.J. Campbell and Son for auctioneering and a ‘Shopping Guide’ list businesses from the Gerringong district. Some notable names appear such as Bergin, Chittick, Rutledge, Lumsden and Carradus.The grand news for this year's show was the extensive use of nylon. It appears in just about every garment that the discerning lady might require.I can imagine that it was a popular night in Gerringong. Looking at Google maps, it is quite sad to see the shopfront in Wollongong. Long gone are the deportment classes.

Christmas is always hard on the hip pocket so families will be looking to find ways to save in the new year. Those banking on lower interest rates to boost their post-silly season finances might need to consider other ways to top up the coffers, with the bulk of the nation’s economists predicting the rate-cutting cycle is over.Brent Rollings, director of Astute Brent Rollings, says one of the best ways for people to improve their financial health is by reviewing one of their biggest debts. “Your home loan should work as hard as you do,” he said. “Reviewing it from time to time can help ensure it still suits your lifestyle, financial goals, and borrowing needs.“If you’ve had the same loan for several years, chances are your circumstances have changed and so have the options available to you.”Refinancing is an opportunity for people feeling the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis to find a new loan that may better suit their needs. “This could help lower repayments, reduce a loan’s term and provide more flexibility,” he added.“It puts people in control of their finances and potentially helps them pay off their home sooner.”There are many reasons for home owners to refinance but Rollings said the key driver is usually to find a lower interest rate. “Often people only see the upfront monthly saving of refinancing and then they shrug it off like it’s not worth the hassle. But it can be long term.”People can save approximately $45,000 by reducing an interest rate from 5.75 to 5.25 per cent over 25 years on a $500,000 mortgage. On a $700,000 loan the saving is approximately $63,000 and for a $1,000,000 loan the rate reduction saves $90,000. “Banks might offer discretionary discounts when you take out a home loan but that might change over time,” he said. “So unless you're doing your own homework you may have lost any advantage you had when you initially took out the loan. “My advice to people is to continue to check that banks are doing the right thing by you and offering the best competitive outcome for your needs. If not, that's where we can help.”Home loans can also offer a range of features such as redraw facilities, offset accounts, or flexible repayments that people might need at different stages in their life.“Refinancing can give home owners access to equity for renovations, investments, or lifestyle goals and better options when a fixed-rate period ends,” he said.“Some homeowners also refinance to switch loan types. They might want to move from a variable-rate loan to a fixed-rate option, or choose a split loan that combines the certainty of fixed repayments with the flexibility of a variable rate.”Rollings also suggests those looking to consolidate their debt by rolling personal loans, car loans, or credit cards into one manageable repayment should investigate their refinancing options.While refinancing can offer financial benefits, it’s important to weigh up the costs involved. These may include exit fees on your current loan, as well as establishment, settlement, and ongoing fees on the new loan. People with less than 20 per cent equity in their property could also face additional costs for Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance or a low-deposit premium when refinancing. “Comparing the overall cost, not just the interest rate, can help you make an informed decision,” Rollings said. Loan packages with an annual fee may also be worth considering, as they often include interest rate discounts and flexible features to help reduce the interest you pay over time. “It’s also wise to review your insurance cover to ensure it still suits your needs throughout the life of your loan,” he added.“If you are considering refinancing your home loan or if you would like a free home loan health check, we are here to help.”For more information contact the mortgage broking team at Astute Brent Rollings on 0408 455 454, visit them at Office 3, 88-90 Terralong Street or email [email protected] note - this is paid content