The federal government has approved the Illawarra offshore windfarm area as angry campaigners hit their key boards and plan demonstrations.Federal Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen announced the creation of the zone in Wollongong with Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones and local MP Alison Byrnes.“Through this zone, the Albanese government will deliver up to 2.9 gigawatts of reliable renewable power – enough to power 1.8 million homes,” Bowen said.Despite the creation of the zone, the project still needs to be approved under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water originally proposed a zone stretching across 1461 square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean from Wombarra in the north to Kiama in the south.The geographic project size has been cut by one third and power generation will shrink from 4.2 gigawatts to 2.9 gigawatts.One turbine can produce enough electricity in a year to power approximately 20,000 households and save around 38,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. That’s the equivalent of removing 25,000 cars from the road each year.The project zone has also been pushed from 10 kilometres offshore to 20 kilometres. The creation of the zone opens it up for projects to apply to build offshore wind farms within the boundaries. Each application must be approved by the federal government.Credit Nicholas-Doherty, UnsplashFeasibility licence applications for offshore wind projects in the Illawarra zone open on Monday 17 June and close on Thursday 15 August 2024.It is expected that Illawarra Offshore Wind - a partnership between Equinor and Oceanex – plan to start construction in 2028 following approvals and turn the power on by 2030.According to the partnerships website, it plans to create 3000 jobs through the life span of the project.The proposal is controversial in the Illawarra with a number of vocal community groups forming in support and opposition.Opponents have fears it will disturb the path of migratory whales, will drop property prices and look ugly from the shore.Developers must conduct research on how the windfarms may affect the 25-35,000 Humpback whales which migrate past the Illawarra coast.Amid genuine concerns, misinformation has also been rife, including the circulation of a fake journal article claiming 400 whales a year would die.Former president Donald Trump said in the US media, “whales are dying in record numbers because of these wind scams.”A study on the more bizarre claims of the anti-windfarm lobby can be found at ‘Wind turbine syndrome, a communicated disease,’ by Simon Chapman and Fiona Crichton.

Grab a free coffee, courtesy of NSW Police, this Sunday at the Kiama Lighthouse.This Sunday, 16 June, residents and visitors in Kiama have the chance to enjoy a complimentary coffee, courtesy of NSW Police during their ‘Coffee With a Cop’ initiative. Head to the Kiama Lighthouse between 10am - 2pm where the police will be talking about road safety with a particular focus on motorbike riders’ safety. With nearly one third of all local accidents involving motorcycles, the police encourage riders to come down, grab a coffee and learn about the latest rider safety equipment.Diggies Cafe is kindly providing the coffee for the initiative, which is hosted by NSW Police and Transport, as part of the road safety program, and supported by the Kiama Council,. For more information, visit Road Safety. 

The days when 50 dairy cows were enough to permit you a good, decent life in the prime dairy farming country around Jamberoo have long gone. Geoff Boxsell, 84, remembers the days when there were 96 farms providing milk on a daily basis to the Jamberoo Dairy Coop.Now there’s ten. And the Coop itself has disappeared. Something of a local historian, agricultural consultant Lynne Strong describes Geoff Boxsell as a legend, a living link to the area’s colourful rural past.When Geoff joined the Coop as foreman in 1959 at the age of 20 after studying dairying technology at Hawkesbury College, there were 23 workers at the Jamberoo Dairy Factory and it was a central part of village life. Admired in the industry, Geoff worked at the Coop until 1985 when it merged with Nowra Dairy Co-op to form Shoalhaven Dairy Co-op, which involved building a new dairy in Bomaderry. As he explains, Jamberoo was unique amongst dairy Coops because it focused on producing butter, powdered milk for ice cream and sweetened condensed milk rather than bottled milk. Geoff’ remembers the profound impact of simple things, well simple from the vantage point of 2024, such as electric fencing, mechanisation, and the government run quota system, which ensured a continuous supply of milk throughout the year in the Sydney Zone (from Wauchope to Milton) but also made winners and losers in a tightly controlled system. As he recalls, the manufacturing would start up at 4am, and from 7.30am the forecourt was filled with the noise of carriers and farmers bringing in the milk off the farms building throughout the morning. “The coop employees would be upending the ten gallon cans of milk by hand. Meanwhile we would be supporting the manufacturing operations – the evaporators, the butter churn, the cream pasteuriser and the roller dryers for powdered milk.“When I was a kid, some used to bring milk down to the factory in a horse and cart. But a lot of dairy farmers used carriers rather than bringing it in themselves, the ones down at Jones Beach, East Beach.”Geoff puts down the demise of Co-ops to ageing plants, insufficient capital, and that the coops were owned by dairy farmers, causing a conflict between adequate payment for manufacturing milk and retention of funds for necessary works. Change, as far he’s concerned, was inevitable.One of the most evident signs is the disappearance of the cattle known as Illawarras, or the Australian Illawarra Shorthorn, which are basically gone now but were famous in the day for their rich colouring and milk production. Local agricultural consultant Lynne Strong wants to emphasise that despite the decreased numbers of farmers involved, dairy is not a sunset industry. “Those ten farms produce more milk than the 96 farms once did. After the deregulation of the dairy industry in Australia in 2000, the previously protected milk prices were no longer regulated by the government. This significant change exposed dairy farmers to market forces, removing the price guarantees that had been in place prior to deregulation and milk price per litre of milk dropped by half.“Our Jamberoo farmers were very very proud of their Co-op. We had quite a diversity, from large to very small farms. And the Co-op was an important part of their social life. They would bring their milk to the factory, then spend time talking to the locals, go over to the coop office to buy their butter. Everybody knew everybody. They could also get all their farm supplies there. “The odd farmer would go from the factory to the Jamberoo pub for lunch, it was a very social time.“One local character used to take his bull to the pub, it would stand at the door and wait for him. There were so many stories.  “These days it’s very very serious business, and you would never, never think of doing that.”Nostalgic as memories of the old dairy farming life are, for local historians and for the area’s increasing number of tourists it’s interesting to note that the south coast was one of the major centres for the birth of the coop movement which brought prosperity and certainty to the lives of many rural families.The very first dairy coop, indeed the very first agricultural coop in Australia, was formed in this area. A research paper on Illawarra Cooperatives by Mike Donaldson and Ian Southall from the University of Wollongong records that with poor remuneration from Sydney agents the 1870s had been tough on South Coast farmers. “On Friday, 15 October 1880, farmers met at the Kiama Courthouse and formed the South Coast and West Camden Cooperative and determined ‘by the instinct of self-preservation’ to revolutionise their industry with Australia’s first successful attempt at co-operative marketing. “Illawarra and Shoalhaven farmers immediately withdrew their consignments from ‘the system’ and sent their produce instead to the fledgling cooperative. On Mondays and Thursdays steamers arrived from Wollongong, Kiama and Shoalhaven.” The greatest agitator for the Cooperative turned out to be the owner of The Kiama Bugle’s predecessor, The Kiama Independent. Originally posing as an anonymous “Dairyman”, the then proprietor Joseph Watson used the pages of his newspaper to advocate forcefully for cooperatives. By the end of that decade the South Coast Cooperative was responsible for selling 87% of NSW butter, and the dairy coop movement spread up and down the coast. By the end of the 1880s more than a dozen dairy cooperatives were operating on the south coast. It would be more than a century, in the 1990s, before the Jamberoo coop would close.Dave Hall, a well known Jamberoo resident whose father was the local butcher, remembers the old factory fondly. “It was a real meeting place, because a lot of the farmers used to come down, mainly in the morning, with all the milk in cans. It was pretty social. All the people who worked there were locals. “We used to be friends with one of the farmers, and I used to go up for the milking. They would all put all the cans on the back of the tractor trailer, you could sit on the top of the cans and head through town. It was exciting. I used to love it. You’d never get away with it now. “The farmers are still around Jamberoo, but a lot of them have retired. Everyone knew it was coming.” And remnants of those vanished lifestyles, early hours, hard work, the smell and sound of the cattle you knew by name, trundling your milk cans down to the factory coop, the perhaps not so occasional raucous meeting in the much loved pub, can still be found scattered across the region. Times might have been tough, but they didn’t have to deal with the constant angst created by mobile phones, social media, nor the overwhelming feeling of scepticism which has spread across our country as people lose faith in their government, their politicians and their national identity. The pub is still there, the stone walls which kept the cattle in their paddocks are in many cases being restored, and dilapidated farm sheds still bring back that wonderful atmosphere of yore, a time of hard work and common decency.Jamberoo Factory Achievements:Pioneering Milk Quota System: Jamberoo Factory was the first to propose a quota system to the Milk Board in the 1950s, ensuring a consistent milk supply for sweetened condensed milk production. This groundbreaking initiative stabilized milk supply in the region and set a precedent for managing milk production nationwide.Manufacturing High-Quality Butter: Jamberoo Factory developed a process for improving the quality of butter by adding a bacterial culture, like yoghurt, to the cream separated from high quality milk supplies from local farms.Supreme Champion Dairy Product, 1976: Jamberoo Factory's bulk box of butter was awarded Supreme Champion Dairy Product in Australia in 1976, surpassing all other dairy products including cheese, milk powder, milk, yogurt, and ice cream.Innovative Spreadable Butter: Jamberoo Factory experimented with the creation of spreadable butter by mixing cream and vegetable oils, a highly successful product innovation created before it was legal, so it couldn’t be marketed. Dual Payment System: Milk destined for manufacture of dairy products was always paid for  on the basis of its butterfat component alone. In July 1965, Jamberoo Co-op introduced a dual payment system, the first operating in Australia, involving payment for skim milk solids content as well as for butterfat. The system is now universal in Australia but uses butterfat and protein, protein being the most important component of skim milk solids.

A new report highlights the ongoing challenges faced by working parents, with Australia criticised for not challenging gender norms when it comes to parenting responsibilities. The National Working Families Report 2024, which looked at the impact of work and care on Australian families, has found that gender inequality is still placing a strain on working mothers, whilst working fathers are judged unfairly for taking advantage of flexible working opportunities.“Our survey of 6,000 Australian working parents and carers has brought to light the growing issue of work-related stress and its detrimental effects on family life, including the wellbeing of children,” said Anne Sherry, the chair of UNICEF Australia, who partnered with a number of organisations to release the data.“The survey findings also highlight the urgency to challenge and change persistent gender biases and outdated norms that continue to impede equality and wellbeing in our workplaces,” she added.The survey found that the level of stress felt by working parents and carers is higher compared to 2019, which is felt more acutely among women. Despite working similar hours to men, women continue to bear the majority of the caring load and household duties — nearly double that of men.The biggest challenge in balancing work and family commitments continues to be the ability for working parents and carers to look after their physical and mental health. There is still a perception that it is less acceptable for men to take time off or access flexible work, with men feeling less supported by their employer to take time off to care for their family.Emma Walsh, CEO of Parents at Work, which provides family-friendly advisory to workplaces, says policymakers need to “rapidly invest in and promote family-friendly policies that de-stigmatise, respect and normalise caregiving as something most employees will need to do in their working lifetime, regardless of gender.”The survey also highlighted the ongoing challenge of accessing affordable childcare in regional and rural locations. In 2021, Parents at Work partnered with UNICEF Australia to create the Family-Friendly Workplaces certification program. Any business that employs people can apply to be certified as a ‘Family Inclusive Workplace’ via familyfriendlyworkplaces.com.“We celebrate the companies that have already embraced this journey,” says Anne Sherry. “By joining forces, we can cultivate workplaces where families flourish, and businesses thrive, creating a brighter future for all.”

The Kiama Spinners and Weavers, also known as the Coach House Crafters, are welcoming new members to join their friendly group. They recently held their successful Biggest Morning Tea breakfast complete with a lovely array of cakes and quiche, and a raffle, donated by Blooms Chemist. Meeting each Tuesday at Kiama Art Society’s home base the Coach House, this friendly and lively group of ladies are passionate about their work and sharing it with others. With different crafts on the go, the group produces beautiful quilt work, knitting projects, crochet work and so forth.  The group is active in the community, with several members having won awards for their work at both the Kiama Show and the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Their community quilt hangs in the Coach House, a stunning depiction of life in Kiama and a wonderful testament to the talent and teamwork of the crafters.New members are always welcome, the group is particularly eager to attract younger crafters. One member highlights the therapeutic aspect of joining the group for crafts and a chat each week. Whether an experienced crafter or just starting out, the Spinners and Weavers of Kiama offer a welcoming space to learn, create, and connect. Drop by the Coach House any Tuesday morning from 9.30 am to join in on the fun. 

The Lions Club of Gerringong is inviting men and women to come along to an information evening at Cronin’s Hotel on Tuesday 18th June 2024 at 5-6.30pm for drinks and finger food. The Lions Club of Gerringong was established 30 years ago, with among its many aims to work within, assist and support our local community. The same applies today, and along with their many community objectives, Lions is hoping to expand its membership.The club was initially created by Kiama Lions Club, inviting local members of the Gerringong community to a meet and greet at Cronin’s Hotel, with the aim of starting a Lions club in Gerringong. Gerringong Lions would like to refresh that initial concept and is issuing kan open invitation to anyone who may be interested. Come along, meet our friendly members and ask any questions you may have. We are seeking like-minded people who want to assist those in our community in need of help.Lions is not just about sausage sizzles and raffles, there are many and varied activities to help and support our community. Lions Club of Gerringong has a long established reputation as a very social club with a strong focus on fellowship and mutual support of members. Also remember, Lions is a volunteer organisation and therefore nothing is compulsory. We only ask you for some of your spare time, whenever you’re available to help. Contact Club President Peter Jeffrey on 0402802707, or Club Treasurer Bob Stewart on 0407411979 for more details.

The community of Kiama is celebrating Colin Roy Rathbone, who was recently awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) during the 2024 King's Birthday Honours. This prestigious award acknowledges his exceptional service to the local community, particularly through his extensive involvement with local organisations.Colin’s contributions to the Australian Red Cross are notable; he served as Treasurer from 2016 to 2022 and has been an active member since 2010. His dedication extends to the Friends of Blue Haven Aged Care Facility, where he was Secretary from 2012 to 2022, having joined the group in 2011.Colin’s commitment to the Kiama community spans several decades. Since the 1970s, he has held numerous leadership roles, including President of the Kiama District Sports Association from 1976 to 2021. He also served as Secretary of the Kiama Friends of Vision Australia from 2010 to 2022 and became a Foundation Troop Member of the Kiama Light Horse Brigade in 2014.Throughout his years of service, Colin has received multiple accolades. In 2017, he was honoured as Kiama's Australia Day Citizen of the Year. He was also named the Kiama Council Sports Star of the Year in 2010 and holds life memberships with both the Kiama Junior Football Club and the Kiama District Sports Association.Colin is humble about his achievements: “I could not have done the work for the organisations that I was involved in without the support of all of the committee members of those groups, it has been a joint effort all the way.”The local community has expressed immense pride in Colin’s achievements. Karon Dawson posted on Facebook, “Huge congratulations to another Kiama legend, Col Rathbone OAM, on receiving this prestigious and well-deserved award. We are all so proud of you and grateful for everything you have done for our community!” Gordon Bell added, “Col has contributed hugely to our community.”Colin Rathbone's OAM is a testament to his lifelong dedication to service and the significant impact he has made on the Kiama community.

Disaster assistance is now available for Camden, Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Wingecarribee and Wollongong areas following the recent flooding that occurred from 6 June 2024. This support is provided by the Australian and New South Wales Governments through the Commonwealth State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Assistance provided includes: Emergency aid for residents, such as accommodation and small cash payments for essential itemsGrants to replace essential household items and make structural repairs to homesSupport for local councils to clean up and restore public assetsConcessional loans for small businesses, primary producers, and nonprofits, plus grants for sports and recreation clubsFreight subsidies for primary producersFederal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt, stated that the flooding has caused widespread damage, and both governments are ready to respond as the situation is assessed. NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, praised the NSW SES and volunteers for their efforts and emphasised the ongoing support for affected communities.For more information you can visit RecoveryNSW. To apply for loans or grants, contact NSW Rural Assistance Authority at 1800 678 593. More information on disaster assistance can be found here.

The debutThe old idiom ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ hit home for accomplished Gerroa author Lisa Darcy when her first book was published fifteen years ago.Lisa sheepishly admits she cried when she first saw the cover image of her long-awaited novel; and they were not tears of joy. The cover, emailed to her by her publisher, looked nothing like she imagined while squeezing thousands of hours of blood, sweat and tears onto the 384 pages of her debut, ‘Lucy Springer Gets Even’. “Then I got over myself,” laughs Lisa. “I thought ‘okay this is what the marketing and publicity department has decided, I’ll just run with it’. Gratitude soon kicked in after the initial shock and, when Lisa saw her novel for the first time in a bookshop, she thought ‘wow, this is fantastic, I am an author’.”That was back in January 2009 and Lisa’s debut novel was so successful, it was rebranded after her publisher admitted the original cover was a mistake. Sales spiked (with a new cover and title - ‘Lucy Bounces Back’) and the book was sold as a wrapped bundle alongside best-selling author Jodi Picoult. Lisa now has nine hit novels under her belt, yet she remains humble; self-deprecation is her default position. Perhaps because, like all good artists, the journey to becoming a published author was long, and not without rejection. Writing the Great Australian NovelIn a previous life Lisa was a journalist in Sydney, working for Australian Consolidated Press - Kerry Packer’s stable of magazines - on publications including ‘Bride To Be’ and ‘Practical Parenting.’ It was in 2000, after Lisa had just given birth to her daughter and had two sons aged two and four, that she decided to pursue every writer’s dream – create the Great Australian Novel. “I thought it would be the perfect time to quit my day job and write a book, I thought it would be easy, I was so naive!” laughs Lisa. The internet was fairly recent back then but there were plenty of tips on how to write a novel, so Lisa followed a formula, set out by the publisher of blockbuster ‘Mills & Boon’ novels, and wrote a 60,000-word bodice ripper set in Venice. She’d never been there but thought ‘hey, how hard can this be?’ After months of toil, she sent her manuscript to acquisitions teams in Vancouver, London and New York (Australia had none at that stage) and waited for the offers to come in.“God, I was so arrogant - it got soundly rejected. The feedback was something like ‘great first line all downhill from there’,” says Lisa, who can laugh about it now that she is a successful author. At the time, it was a definitive blow to her ego during an already tough time in her life. Three lessons learnedShe was a new mum, pumping out thousands of words each day, while also in the midst of breastfeeding and toilet training. Despite the rejection, Lisa got back on the proverbial horse - this time taking on the lessons she had learned - to be successful you need to write from the heart, about things you know, and for genres you love. “I had that naivety, to actually send it off and think that it would get a good reception,” admits Lisa. “But that initial manuscript was so clunky. I don't regret doing it. It showed me that I could actually write a story that stretched to manuscript length. I knew I could write, I knew I could put a story together and I knew I could complete a task. But what I had to do next was actually write about something I cared about.”“So I went away and looked at my bookshelves and the novels I loved reading. It was the 2000s, so books like ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’ (Helen Fielding) and ‘Watermelon’ (Marian Keyes). Those books are all written in first-person, they’re conversational, the author is talking to me as their best friend, confiding in me. When I looked at that first manuscript, it was in a third person point of view, distant. I was telling a story, but I wasn't involved in the story, so it wasn't coming from the heart.”Lisa believes her latest novel - ‘The Pact’ - is one of her best, written from the heart about complex family relationships and the unbreakable bond between sisters. But it has been almost a decade in the making, and she had to fight hard to get it published.Not a sports book, but one about familiesRewind to 2015. By this stage Lisa had published five books with Allen & Unwin (“the covers got progressively better”) before deciding to take a break from writing. Her kids were navigating the tricky teenage years and Lisa was the quintessential mother of adolescents; unpaid Uber driver, accidental counselor and round-the-clock chef. Once she had survived “teaching kids to drive,” Lisa rediscovered her love for writing and returned with a self-published book which “sold three copies on Amazon.” Unhappy with the final version, Lisa pulled it from the platform but knew that ‘the skeleton’ for a great story was there. “I just needed the heart and the muscle,” she says. “I really wanted to take my time with it and either self-publish again or find a publisher who actually believed in it.”That book became her latest novel, ‘The Pact,’ a compassionate dissection of the love-hate relationship between two sisters, who lost their mother as teenagers. The book explores how this traumatic event impacted their lives, and loves as they climb their way up the ladder as doubles partners on the international tennis circuit. “Samantha and Annie are professional tennis players and while I’ve played social tennis; badly, I am by no means an expert on the subject,” says Lisa. “Publishers would say, ‘oh if it was cricket or swimming maybe … but not tennis. For me, it was never about writing a sports book, I wanted to write a book about sisters, families, mothers. Tennis was a good way to highlight sibling rivalry, but essentially, the book is about exploring the psychological impact of losing your mother at a young age, how this creates a fear of abandonment for Samantha and a need to be loved for Annie.”Lisa threw herself into research for the book, reading biographies by Ash Barty, Andre Agassi, the Williams sisters, Rafael Nadal, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert-Lloyd. But it is the human relationships and connections around her that she draws on for inspiration, admitting that her own relationship with her sister is the typical, love-hate, sibling rivalry archetype. But at the end of the day love wins out. “In most of my novels, but not this latest one, there's also the older mum, or grandmother, who is always based on my mother, but I don’t think she’s even read any of my books,” laughs Lisa. “And my kids have only just twigged to this, but for all their high school years I was forever just passing by their room when they had friends over, basically eavesdropping. I was absolutely stealing their conversations for material and I have no regrets!” “I don’t think my kids have read my books either, in my acknowledgments I always mention them. That was a little test to see if they came back to me. But I do know the boys have given copies to girlfriends, which they say they really enjoyed and laughed at, because they can see my sons in those stories. Without destroying any illusions, I think it's really important to talk about real life experiences, real relationships.” Becoming Lisa DarcyBack in the early noughties rural romance was ‘going gangbusters’ off the back of shows like McLeod’s Daughters. Lisa’s publishers reached out to her saying, ‘this is going to be the next big thing, can you write something like that?’ “I said ‘well, I’m a suburban mother, living in Sydney, yes I’ve seen a sheep and I’ve patted a cow but there’s no way I can do that’,” she chuckles. But what she could do was write coastal romance, with Gerringong the setting for her 2021 novel ‘Lily’s Little Flower Shop..“I’ve had a property in Gerroa for 25 years,” says Lisa. “I moved here permanently in 2021, when the kids had finished uni. I really should have written ‘Lily’s Little Flower Shop’ years earlier but when I finally started writing it, I knew I could do it justice because I know the fictional, but real, township I’m writing about.” The book has since been published in several languages, including French and Italian, and marked the beginning of Lisa’s success as a renowned international author when she signed with UK-based publisher Bloodhound Books in 2020. However, there was a catch. Her new publisher wanted to “completely rebrand” her. Lisa had always published her work under her maiden name, Heidke. By now Lisa knew the drill, publishers have the final say on covers, titles and even with authors’ names. “After I got over myself again, I thought okay I’m in charge here,” she says. She chose a name that she liked, one that resonated. Darcy was reminiscent of Jane Austen. Marketing research shows authors whose last names start with C or D do well in the line-up on bookshops shelves, explains Lisa. She wrote ‘Lily’s Little Flower Shop,’ ‘My Big Greek Holiday’ and ‘Should You Keep A Secret?’ under the pen name Lisa Darcy for Bloodhound Books.“Other than when I am talking to my friends and family and I’m Lisa Heidke, I became Lisa Darcy on all my new novels and socials,” she says.’ Lily’s Little Flower Shop’ has a special palace in her heart and is one of her most beloved novels. But ‘The Pact’ is the one she is most proud of. She fought hard to have it published on her terms.“This book has been so well-received by readers, and I’m really happy with the end result,” says Lisa. “And I love the cover!”

On Thursday, 6 June, Fern Street Gallery informed their following that they are making a significant transition and shifting their focus towards becoming a predominantly online gallery. The gallery will be offering viewing of artworks by appointment, either in your home with the selected pieces of interest or in their private studio in Kiama. It will also be, “curating exclusive regional pop-up exhibitions and participating in art fairs.”“Choosing art is personalised and effortless with us at Fern Street Gallery. My specialised in-home consultation process is created to improve your experience, increase your confidence and save you time and stress,” says director Kerry Bruce. Bruce assures, “we are not closing our doors; rather, we are reinventing our approach and redefining our accessibility.”Collectors and visitors can stay connected by signing up to the Fern Street Gallery newsletter, or to the exclusive VIP ART Lovers newsletter, which will inform subscribersabout their future endeavours.Bruce says, “While our physical location may be undergoing changes, we remain steadfast in representing a curated group of talented Artists whose art will be consistently available online. Keep an eye out for featured collections each month.”“Our time spent in Gerringong has been filled with fond memories, and we deeply appreciate the support from the local community and our collectors worldwide.”For the latest news regarding new artworks, exhibitions, pop-ups, and Art Fairs, go to: fernstreetgallery.com.au.Note: The current “June Stockroom Exhibition” remains open until June 30 from 10am – 4pm daily at 2/131 Fern Street, Gerringong.

Gregory Leigh Crofts, a resident of Kiama, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) during the 2024 King's Birthday Honours for Australia. The announcement was made on 10 June, by Governor-General David Hurley.The King's Birthday Honours celebrate the achievements and service of extraordinary individuals across the 15 Commonwealth realms of King Charles III, recognising their significant contributions to society.Greg, as he prefers to be known, was honoured for his remarkable service to scouting. His involvement with the Kiama Scout Group spans 16 years, reflecting a long-standing commitment to the scouting community. In that time, he has accumulated 14 scout awards.Known by his scouting name, “Wonga”, Greg began his scouting journey in 1976. He started as the '1st Peakhurst Cub Leader' and progressed to '1st Peakhurst Scout Leader' in 1980, and to '1st Sylvania Heights Cub Leader' in 1987.In 1996, Greg moved to Nowra and joined the '1st Illaroo Cub Pack.' Two years later, he became the Regional Leader of Cub Scouts for the South Coast and Tablelands Region. His leadership skills were further recognised when he was appointed District Cub Leader for Shoalhaven in 2003 and District Commissioner a year later.Greg's leadership prowess continued to be acknowledged, leading to his promotion as Assistant District Commissioner in the Illawarra South District in 2006. In 2009, he took on the role of '1st Kiama Scout Group Leader,' a position he held for 11 years before becoming the Group Advisor in 2020. When Greg assumed leadership of Kiama Scouts, the group was nearly bankrupt. Through his tireless efforts in fundraising, including organising sausage sizzles, he revitalised the group, making it financially robust and vibrant.A hands-on leader, Greg is actively involved in maintaining the Scout Hall, managing cleaning, maintenance, and liaising with service personnel and contractors. He continues to attend weekly scout meetings and is an integral part of the committee.Greg has secured grants for solar electricity, air conditioning, and plumbing improvements for the hall, benefitting not only Kiama Scouts but also other scouting groups, who use the hall for camps and activities, utilising the scenic Kiama harbour as a backdrop.He has been a staunch advocate for keeping the Kiama Scout Hall under the ownership of Scouting Australia. Amid pressure from developers and the Kiama Council, who have shown interest in redeveloping the harbour area, Greg has tirelessly worked to ensure the hall remains a community asset. Greg has meticulously documented that the land is Crown land with a 100-year perpetual lease, underscoring his commitment to preserving the hall for future generations of local children and families.

Building on past successes with an exciting twist, Destination Kiama is set to host the Kiama Winter Street Festival during the July school holidays. This vibrant event will transform downtown Kiama into a winter wonderland on Saturday, July 13, and Sunday, July 14, 2024.Terralong Street will close to vehicles, becoming a pedestrian paradise, filled with dining options, live music, interactive workshops, dancing, and street entertainment. As night falls, magical light installations will illuminate the sky, creating a festive atmosphere.Community spirit and local supportCouncillor Matt Brown, Chair of Destination Kiama, shared his enthusiasm: “We are excited to create a fun, engaging, and vibrant festival that captures our famous community spirit while supporting local businesses. This event offers expanded dining and shopping opportunities during the typically quieter winter months.”“We invite everyone to immerse themselves in the festivities, enjoy the diverse dining options, and revel in the entertainment that extends into the night (well, 9pm is late for us!).”Cameron Thomas, owner of Central Perk Cafe, expressed his support: “This is a fantastic initiative, and we welcome all community activations that bring everyone together to enjoy our beautiful town, especially during the winter months.”Entertainment extravaganzaEntertainment giants Junkyard Beats will energise the crowd with their dynamic drumming and dancing, creating an electric atmosphere. Local talent, including dance troupes, community groups, solo artists, and bands such as Bronte Alva, Rolling Holy, Prodikal-1, and The Groove, will showcase their skills.The Laughter House will present top national talent on the ‘Kiama Little Big Stage,’ while DJs will keep the party going with lively music. Highlights include a laser show by Flying Pictures, a glow zone, and light installations featuring local art by R & R Production Services.Family fun and interactive installationsKids and families can enjoy illuminated giant puppets by Curious Legends, a giant snow globe, and roving performances by CirqueUm Navigate, including a magic and fire show. Local flavours and extended trading hoursLocal licensed venues are encouraged to stock Destination Kiama’s branded Pale Ale, Kiama Winter Brew, crafted by local favourite Stoic Brewing. Retailers, cafés, and restaurants will extend their hours, offering an eclectic range of fare to tantalize taste buds and join in the winter festivities.Event detailsWhat: Kiama Winter Street FestivalWhen: Saturday, July 13 (12 PM to 9 PM) & Sunday, July 14 (10 AM to 2 PM)Where: Terralong St, KiamaWebsite: Kiama Winter Street FestivalThe Kiama Winter Street Festival is funded by the NSW Government, with support from i98fm.Join in for a weekend of winter magic, community spirit, and unforgettable entertainment in the heart of Kiama!

Local swimmer 17-year-old Ivy Miller, whose long-term goal is the 2032 Summer Games in Brisbane, will swim her first Olympic swimming trials at – that’s right, Brisbane Aquatic Centre –10-15 June.In between school and her daily swim practice, Miller spoke to The Bugle about how growing up on the South Coast has influenced her swimming career, why her role model is Wollongong native and fellow swimmer Emma McKeon and making the Junior Australian Dolphin team.At the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials, which is the most prestigious domestic event on the national swimming calendar and where the Australian Olympic swimming squad will be selected, Miller will compete in the women’s 100 meter, and 200 meter, backstroke.“I’m going into the meet with the main goal of gaining more experience swimming as an open athlete rather than an age group swimmer alongside Australia's world class athletes,” she says.It will also give her an opportunity not just to compete alongside but also to learn from the best swimmers in the country.“While at the trials, I hope to be able to race the best I possibly can, with hopefully swimming some personal bests and making it into a final,” she says.Miller is as home-grown a swimmer as they come. She learned to swim at the Kiama Leisure Centre, and began to swim competitively at the Friday nights’ Kiama Swim Club from around the age of eight.A major influence in her decision to start racing has been the community of swim lovers within, and around, Kiama, she explains.“The South Coast and the Illawarra area has a lot of talented swimmers. I’ve been lucky enough through my competitive career to meet and interact with so many other individuals, who also share the same passion of swimming.”Ivy Miller, an Olympic swimmer in the making. Photo credit: WinkiPoP media.One could also say that watersports run into her blood. Miller’s aunt, Lily Gladstone, and uncle, Greg Miller, are both ex-IronWoman and IronMan respectively, who competed in the Uncle Toby’s Super Series. Her grandma, Geraldine Miller, was an ex-Australian Surf Life Saving (SLS) coach and her dad, Grahame Miller, was a bodyboarder on the world tour.“This naturally led me to be brought into both swimming and SLS as a young girl, but also my parents exposed me to these sports so I would be able to safely enjoy the beautiful coastline of our area,” she says. “Even while just having fun participating in these activities, trying to pursue them competitively was a natural progression for me since I’m a competitive person.”Miller currently swims for the Wests Illawarra Aquatic Swim Club at the University of Wollongong Pool under coach Pat Stellino.She finds her swimming squad to be a major motivator, with everyone working off each other in pursuing their goals.To be committed to her goals is actually one of her main strengths as a swimmer, Miller says, along with being very  driven.“I’m able to get myself up and out of bed in the early hours, get into the cold outdoor pool and put all my energy into having the best possible session I can have, at that point.”Someone who’s shown her that it’s definitely worth putting in the work and effort is Emma McKeon, who made history by winning seven gold medals at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. That is the most medals won by any woman in any sport.“She’s a Wollongong girl that’s now one of Australia’s most decorated swimmers, which is an amazing achievement. She’s also a very kind and humble person, who I’ve been lucky to meet a few times.“It’s also inspiring that she's a local girl, who also started out at Wests Illawarra Aquatic, showing that hopefully I can also do this, too,” says Miller. As she looks to the future, her goals are making the Junior Australian Dolphins Team and/or the Australian Dolphins Team and qualifying for the LA 2028 Summer Olympics or the 2032 Brisbane Summer Olympics. We look forward to seeing her at both.

“5, 4, 3, 2, 1!”About 60 runners join Judi O’Brien, president of the Kiama Red Cross and organiser of the Kiama Red Cross Fun Run, as she counts down towards the start of the half-marathon.It’s 7am on Sunday, June 9, and just like that, the race is off.A couple of minutes earlier, Lokesh (Loki) Thondauada had been standing by Surf Beach, taking in the sweetness of the morning.“If I can do a time of less than 2,5 hrs, I think I’ll be a happy champ,” he says and laughs. Thondauada’s come down from Sydney to do the race as he prepares to do the full Sydney Marathon on 15 September, ahead of his 50th birthday next year. The marathon is literally just 100 days off, although he’s done a couple of half-marathons before. About 25-30 of them.But it’s his first time running the Kiama Red Cross Fun Run.Loki Thondauada enjoying the Kiama sunrise ahead of the half-marathon.“I came for two reasons,” he says, “The coast - just to feel the magic of nature. The sunrise makes you feel alive.”“And I wanted to make a contribution to the Red Cross. This is small, not as commercialised as up in Sydney where I’ve run a lot.”The Kiama Red Cross Fun Run, now in its tenth year, offers three distances: the half-marathon (21 km), 8km and 5km.A total of 341 runners/walkers participated in the race. That’s the biggest starting field they’ve ever had, says Judi O’Brien.“It’s a nice community event that raises money for the Red Cross and gets our name out there.”The event is a brainchild of hers.Judi O'Brien and some of the top finishers in the half-marathon by Surf Beach.“A fun run to celebrate the 100 years of the Australian Red Cross and this was our way of celebrating that milestone,” she says. “It has continued on each year, and it’s gotten bigger and better. Sadly, it had to stop in 2021 due to covid but every other year, it’s been run.”Over the ten years, the Kiama Red Cross has raised over $50,000, and for this year’s edition, they made over $10,000.“It’s been a very good fund-raiser for Kiama Red Cross,” notes O’Brien.As the half-marathon runners sprint across the finishing line, she’s there to greet them, medals in hand. Everyone gets one with the top finishers receiving the anniversary edition.“Check off your name, you could have won a spot price,” she urges them.There are one to two spot prices for each distance. Then, there’re extra prizes for people who booked early, ice-cream for the kids and a dog prize.The medal commemorating the tenth anniversary.“It’s for the first dog that crosses the finishing line,” she says. “One year, we had a dog who ran the whole 21 km. Wow.”But there’s still some time before the four-legged racers will show.Around 9:16 am, Loki Thondauada crosses the finishing line. He’s done it, finishing the half-marathon in 2:16 hrs – well below his goal time.RESULTS21,1 kmMenFirst place: Dan PiercySecond place: Blair JonesThird place: Dan RedmanWomenFirst place: Emma LyonsSecond place: Kelly-Anne HinchcliffeThird place: Jackie Lyons8 kmMenWinner: James BurroughsSecond place: Jonathon HellmundWomenWinner: Jett WarnerSecond place: Amy LoxleyBoysWinner: Finn McNeilageSecond place: Lincoln BuddenGirlsWinner: Makyla Haddad5 kmMenWinner: Nick WooleySecond place: Anthony MurellWomenWinner: Georgia WinkcupSecond place: Emily CrumpBoysWinner: Dash KinsSecond place: Josh ReitzeGirlsWinner: Ava SloanSecond place: Elsie CrumpSpot prize winnersPaul Convey, Evie Berriman, Kevin Foreman, Judith Bibo, Hannah Clarke, Rory O’Sullivan, Debbie Jones, Tim Roff, Amanda Jones, Heather White, Alicia Doolan, Isabella Boniel, Lara Morgan, Kelly Berriman, Navine Koehler and Brenton Wilson.Early Bird prizesChristian Mawhinney, Bronwyn Wiseman, Amanjit Dhonsey and Caitlin Elsley.

It is clearly understood that early settlers, both men and women lived a hard life. Something that is often lost forever is the folklore of the times. In order to retain some of this, we print the following anecdotes that epitomise the character and comradeship of the Foxground folk. Cedar-cutting was an early industry. Logs were felled and drawn over a deep pit or gully, where one man, Harry Stokes, as ‘bottom dog’ could saw all day, and then leap out of the 180 cm deep pit in a standing jump!    Another strong man, Frank Herbert, had been known to put two half-grown pigs in bags, and walk out of the Valley over Saddleback Mountain without putting them to the ground.            Pat O’Keeffe spent the whole of his long working life testing milk at the factory, smelling and /or tasting hundreds of thousands of cans of untreated milk. Let it not be said that milk is harmful - he lived to be 98.Pat knew his job, and once rejected a supplier's milk for two days in a row for a foreign odour until it was discovered one cow in the herd was grazing a patch of garlic.    One farmer who hailed from South Africa used to cool his can of cream in a well overnight, raising the lid for ventilation. During the night his greyhound pup knocked the lid off and fell into the cream.The farmer had to rush to rescue said pup. It came out covered in cream. Telling his story, he was asked what he did with the cream. ‘Well, I scraped him down and put the lid on and sent the cream to the factory, of course.’ It was hoped Pat didn’t taste that one! Nearly every wedding in those times was celebrated with a tin-kettling. Neighbours and friends would foregather at the home of the newly-weds and serenade them by banging tins and billies and other objects that could generate noise. On one occasion the newly-weds would not open the door to them, so a wet bag was placed over the chimney to smoke them out! Jokes of all kinds were attempted, and on one occasion a young calf was put to sleep under the young couple’s bed. Like all young calves he woke up for a feed early in the morning, with a hair-raising result!      One early settler was known to have walked over Saddleback Mountain each Saturday night, to court his girlfriend and back home to do his milking the next morning. He should have brought her with him!         Foxground in flood. Date UnknownEntertainment was simple in the early days; corn-husking parties were held on nights with dances on the verandas or in the barns, to the tunes of an accordion. Card-playing was popular with the older folk.Bill Cullen was a proud breeder of red Illawarra cattle, and when one of his best cows calved one night, a joker took the red calf and replaced it with a white one, probably a jersey, to the shock of the owner when he came to inspect the newly born!A true story is told of a farmer who used to balance his one keg of butter with a bag of stones on the packhorse on the trip to the Kiama wharf. When his production required an extra keg, he borrowed another horse to carry the second keg and more stones! Surely it would have been easier..if..?    Late one summer’s night during the war an aeroplane crashed on Bong-Bong Mountain, on the rim of the Valley. In the rush to be first there in the pea-soup fog many got hopelessly lost. Close to one hundred men rushed to the scene. Len Flint and his party reckoned they climbed over the same log three times during the night! Doug Blow and his party arrived home late for the morning’s milking. They all wished the plane had landed on Cullen’s flat!Sly grog was made in the early days, in a still located in a mountain cave. One man used to take along a second can of grog with his can of cream to the factory. One day on being confronted by the police, he took off for the bush with one of the cans in hand - hotly pursued by the Law. In the hurry he had grasped the can of cream, and the can of grog was disposed of by persons unknown!A girl from the same still traded the brew to a Kiama Hotel and for years was never caught. She rode a horse side-saddle with a hooped skirt, with the bottles wrapped in a blanket inside the hoop of the skirt!         Stan Leaney was a great axeman, and followed the profession to the show-ring. It was said his wife chopped the wood at home!   When we were kids at the Foxground school, one of our favourite sports was to see who could be first to tease a funnel-web spider out of his hole in the ground with a grass stem. I still shudder to think about them. Kids were cheap in ‘those good old days!’  

The Bugle attended the highly anticipated “Winter Wine Festival” weekend concert at Crooked River Wines yesterday. Saturday’s headliner was Icehouse, the iconic band that dominated the 80s music scene. As a former fan from that era, it was a nostalgic treat to review this legendary band three decades later. Their enduring talent and energy, even in their late sixties, were evident as they rocked the crowd with timeless hits like "Great Southern Land."After many days of driving rain leading up to the event, the weather gods finally blessed the festival with clear skies and mild temperatures. Though the ground was pretty muddy and many a pair of white sneakers were sacrificed, no one seemed to care. The crowd was clearly enjoying the live music and the ambience of the setting – a phenomenal backdrop of green hills and grapevines.The concert commenced at midday with the supporting acts The Hollywood Waltz, Olivia Coggan, Pallas Haze, Marvell, Ash Grunwald, and Alex Lloyd. Olivia Coggan, a talented performer, was joined on stage by her father, also a musician, who was clearly a proud dad. Pallas Haze got the crowd dancing with a funky rendition of “Staying Alive”. Marvell were an upbeat rock and roll band that enticed many more to the mosh pit. The crowd particularly responded to electric guitar soloist Ash Grunwald who has a big personality and played music that kept the crowd dancing – or toe-tapping if they were over 60! Alex Lloyd kept the crowd engaged, particularly with his rendition of “Hallelujah” and “Amazing”. He also covered ‘Crowded House’ favourite “You better be home soon”, which was well received.Music, as always, serves as a powerful motivator, evoking precise memories and emotions. Many of the ‘oldies’, like this reporter, felt 18 again! It was clear that older audience members relished their favourite classic songs, while younger attendees discovered the magic of Icehouse for the first time. Picnic blankets and foldable chairs dotted the venue, with many enjoying the concert seated, singing along. Those eager to dance found their way to the mosh pit, creating a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere.As expected, the demographic skewed older, reflecting the band’s peak era in the 80s. To gain a fresh perspective, The Bugle asked several young concertgoers about their experience and familiarity with Icehouse's music. Most didn’t know much but were enthusiastic about live music generally and happy to join in.Amid a remarkable lightshow, Icehouse delivered an impressive setlist, starting with “Icehouse,” then “Walls,” “Electric Blue,” “Hey Little Girl,” “Crazy,” “No Promises,” and “Don’t Believe Anymore,” among other smash hits, which received a great response from the audience. There will undoubtedly be a few new younger fans afterward.Reviving live music concerts in the vineyard is a major part of owner Roger Lloyd’s vision. He has ambitious plans for the future of Crooked River Wines, including a wedding and functions centre currently under construction, as well as more concerts of course. However, organising these events involves considerable effort, including fencing the whole concert area, hiring around 20 security guards, ensuring police presence, and providing extra hospitality staff for the VIP area, which, by the way, sold out very quickly! Food vans and a large bar for the general area offered a selection of Crooked River estate wines, beers, and soft drinks.Today’s (Sunday 9th) line up features headliner The Rubens, supported by Daisy Pring, Darling Street, James Burton, Pacific Avenue, and Jack River. Tickets are still available at Crooked River Wines website. You’ll have a great time - but wear your gumboots.

Scientific research highlights the danger of chronic, low-grade inflammation, which contributes to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and various other health conditions. With three out of five deaths attributed to inflammation-related diseases globally, the urgency to address this issue cannot be overstated.When the body detects foreign elements like invading microbes, plant pollen, or chemicals, the immune system springs into action, initiating a process known as inflammation. While intermittent bouts of inflammation serve to protect against threats, persistent inflammation -occurring even in the absence of imminent danger -poses a significant risk. Chronic inflammation is increasingly linked to many prevalent diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer's.Medical experts advocate for an anti-inflammatory diet as an effective strategy to effectively combat inflammation. Choosing foods with anti-inflammatory properties can potentially reduce the risk of illness. Conversely, consistently consuming inflammatory foods may exacerbate the disease process.Dr. Frank Hu, from the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, emphasises the pivotal role of dietary choices in inflammation management. He asserts, "Many experimental studies have shown that components of foods or beverages may have anti-inflammatory effects."To minimise inflammation, it is advisable to reduce or avoid certain foods known to trigger inflammatory responses, such as refined carbohydrates, fried foods, sugary beverages, red and processed meats, and unhealthy fats. Not surprisingly, these same foods are generally considered bad for our health. Unhealthy foods also contribute to weight gain, which is itself a risk factor for inflammation. Yet in several studies, even after researchers took obesity into account, the link between foods and inflammation remained, which suggests weight gain isn't the sole driver. "Some of the food components or ingredients may have independent effects on inflammation over and above increased caloric intake," Dr Hu says.So what foods should we be eating? An anti-inflammatory diet should prioritise foods rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, such as tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy vegetables, nuts, fatty fish, and select fruits like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges. These dietary components have been linked to reduced inflammation markers and lower risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.Incorporating coffee, which contains anti-inflammatory compounds, into one's diet may also provide protective benefits against inflammation.For overall inflammation reduction, adopting a healthy diet is paramount. The Mediterranean diet, characterised by its emphasis on fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, and healthy oils, aligns closely with the principles of anti-inflammatory eating.In addition to lowering inflammation, a more natural, less processed diet can have noticeable effects on your physical and emotional health. “A healthy diet is beneficial not only for reducing the risk of chronic diseases, but also for improving mood and overall quality of life," Dr. Hu says.Photo source: Harvard Health

On Wednesday, 5 June, Kiama MP Gareth Ward, wrote to the Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns MP and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey MLC regarding the upcoming 2024-25 State Budget, which is being delivered by the NSW Treasurer in Parliament on Tuesday, 18 June.Ward highlighted in his letter several local projects, promises which the Minns Labor Government made to the local community and other key budget priorities for the Kiama electorate.According to Ward, the 2024-25 State Budget should address the following:Commit NSW Government funding to the Nowra Bypass and release a start date.Commit to reinstating the Regional Seniors Travel Card, and restoring the full funding for the Active Kids Rebate, the Creative Kids Rebate and the First Lap voucher.Commit NSW Government funding to the East Nowra Sub Arterial Road Project, which Labor promised.Commit to a full suite of maternity services, and a helipad, at Shellharbour Hospital.Deliver funding to upgrade Bomaderry High School.Deliver on Labor’s promise of ‘an additional’ $20 million for the Tripoli Way Bypass.Commit funding to start construction on Calderwood Public School.Commit NSW Government funding to deliver the Toolijooa Passing Loop, the upgrade of the South Coast Line, new carriages on the South Coast line and the complete roll-out of Wi-Fi services on the South Coast Line from Bomaderry to Kiama.Deliver a detailed progress update and a completion of works timetable for the finalisation of road works on Cambewarra Mountain on Moss Vale Road.Commit NSW Government funding to adequately fund and support homelessness service providers across the region, including Salt Care and Safe Shelter Shoalhaven to ensure crisis overnight accommodation services are adequately staffed and funded.Commit to removing bureaucratic red tape and supporting the over 5,000 small and family-owned businesses in the Kiama electorate by cutting the payroll tax.Commit to installing defibrillators in all public buildings and on all forms of public transport.Deliver funding that supports the aims and programs delivered by our local Landcare and Bushcare and other environmental conservation groups to help ensure a sustainable environment for future generations; andDeliver a commitment to maintaining public open green spaces to help preserve the heritage and unique character of our towns and villages.

Kiama Council is set to upgrade the Headland Drive playground in Gerroa, with installation starting next week. Funded by the NSW Government, the upgrade includes a range of new features: tower with climbing, rope bridge and slidesswings with toddler and nest swingvoice tubesnoughts and crosses panelrocker, andbalance trail. This upgrade follows delays to the upgrade for Emery Park, due to the discovery of significant Aboriginal artefacts. The Emery Park project will proceed after heritage investigations and permit approvals are allowed. For more information, head to the Headland Drive playground update.