Voters arriving at Werri Beach on Saturday morning were met with a confronting sight.An installation called Forest of the Fallen had been set up beside the polling booth.Dozens of placards lined the walkway, each bearing a name, photo and story of someone whose family believes they were harmed or killed by a COVID-19 vaccine.The display, peaceful but emotionally charged, is part of a national campaign challenging vaccine safety and advocating for medical choice.As someone who spent years working as a pharmacist, I understand where some of this anxiety comes from.No medicine is without risk. But it is also true that vaccines have protected millions, probably billions, of lives across generations.Before we had vaccines, children routinely died from diseases we no longer see.Back when I was working as a pharmacist, many countries required certain vaccines for entry.Yellow fever was one of the few with strict international rules. If you were travelling to or from parts of Africa or South America, you had to show proof of vaccination or risk being turned away at the border.Other vaccines, like typhoid and cholera, weren’t usually compulsory but were strongly recommended depending on where you were going and how you were travelling.These days, for most destinations, vaccines are no longer a formal requirement but a choice.That’s a sign of how successful public health efforts have been.But it also means we’re losing the collective memory of what life was like before vaccines became part of the background.The danger in displays like this one is not just the stories.It is the doubt they plant, especially among people too young to remember a world before routine immunisation.The personal grief is real and should be treated with compassion, but public health is built on collective protection, not individual anecdotes.Science is not perfect, but it is our best tool for navigating uncertainty.That matters on election day, and every other day too.

There will be delays in waste collection and some cleaning services in the Kiama local government area on Monday due to an industrial dispute.United Services Union (USU) staff in Kiama Council’s waste services team decided on Monday morning to take strike action, as part of the negotiations relating to Council’s decision to exit Waste Hire Services. This means that on Monday there will be no: Cleaning of public amenities and Council facilitiesCommercial waste and public place waste collection, andDomestic waste collection for waste Zone 1 (Kiama Heights/Gerroa) and waste Zone 2 (Kiama township)The weighbridge and Community Recycling Centre at the Minnamurra Waste and Recycling Facility, remains open.All services are expected to resume on Tuesday, with the domestic waste collection being a day behind.Kiama Council is asking all residents to put their bins out one day later than normal this week (if your normal collection day is Tuesday, put your bins out for Wednesday) and waste collection staff will endeavour to service your bins as soon as possible.Council has apologised for any inconvenience caused.Representatives from Council and USU waste staff have been in discussions since 7am and "an agreed plan forward has been arranged", according to a Council statement. "This industrial action is out of step with the actual workplace/award process, which is still in consultation phase with no decision made. The choice to strike now, before any decision is made is unusual."

Monday, 28 April marked the final day of the summer season for Kiama’s volunteer surf lifesavers - but they were on duty right until the final moment, rescuing a rock fisherman just three days earlier.Last Friday on Anzac Day a man in his 40s was swept into the water near the Kiama Blowhole - fortunately, he was wearing a lifejacket.“It was before patrol officially started - around 9:40am - when a member of the public alerted our team that fishermen had been swept off the rocks at Blowhole Point,” says Kiama Surf Life Saving Club president Phil Perry.“Two patrolling members, Ben George and Dave Gorman, launched the IRB (inflatable rescue boat) and found a fisherman floating in the water, conscious. The massive thing that saved him was the fact he had a lifejacket on."George and Gorman transported the man to Kiama Harbour, where paramedics and emergency services were waiting. He was later taken to hospital with minor injuries sustained from the rocks.Perry emphasised the importance of safety gear: “It’s so important for the general public - especially fishermen in that area - to wear a lifejacket. If you get washed in and hit your head, your chance of survival is much higher if you're buoyant.”The rescue capped off a busy and successful season for Kiama SLSC, which recorded 46 rescues and approximately 770 preventions. Perry noted a visible rise in beachgoer numbers.“We’ve definitely seen more people on the beach this year. Our patrolling membership grew from 84 to 102 members, which made a huge difference,” he says. “We’ve also put a big focus on developing our youth and cadet programs. Our board training sessions now attract 50 kids per session, up from 40.”Kiama SLSC patrolling membership grew from 84 to 102 members. Source: Kiama SLSCThis year, the club trialled a flexible volunteer roster system, which proved particularly effective for frontline, shift, and FIFO workers.“It’s a minimum of three hours per shift, and volunteers can come when they’re available. It’s worked really well, and we really appreciate the support,” says Perry.Looking ahead to next season, Perry encouraged more community members to get involved with the club.“You don’t have to be an ironman or ironwoman to be a surf lifesaver. "There are so many roles - from radio operator to first aid and advanced rescue. It’s about being part of the village and having fun.”The club will celebrate the season’s achievements at its annual presentation night on 17 May, held at the Kiama SLSC auditorium.

KIAMA JUNIOR KNIGHTSU14 GIRLS TACKLE VS WESTS

Passions are running high, but beneath the noise sits a bigger question.Who really owns the buildings funded by our rates and taxes? And how do we protect essential services in tough financial times?Recent events have sparked a wave of petitions and social media campaigns, suggesting that Kiama Municipal Council is blocking vital volunteer services.In reality, Council is standing by a simple principle: community-owned buildings must serve the whole community.This is not about stopping volunteers. Council is working to open up access, ensure transparency, and manage every community facility responsibly.It is about ensuring the public assets we all fund deliver the maximum benefit for everyone, not just a privileged few.Acting Mayor Melissa Matters said she stood by her election commitment to be both community minded and business focused.“At the November Council meeting, I asked for information on every Council-owned asset, including every building and every parcel of land, to understand exactly what they provide for the community and what they return to Council," she said."This work is about making sure our assets are activated, accessible, and delivering the best possible outcomes for the whole community."That includes improving access, including ambulant and accessible bathroom facilities, financial sustainability, and broader community use."We need to make sure every community asset is working for everyone, not just a few.”Some groups are fortunate to have access to state-of-the-art facilities and built-in fundraising opportunities.Meanwhile, other frontline volunteers, like our rural firefighters, continue their critical work out of modest garages, without cafés, function rooms or private bars to help raise money for their essential services.Councillor Erica Warren said Council must take a responsible approach to community assets.“Given the financial constraints Council faces, it is imperative that we manage community facilities in a way that increases income that can be further spent on the community," she said."What is the alternative? That rates go up? We need to be smarter with what we have.”We must not lose sight of the bigger picture. Every public building must be a living, working part of our community.Council is not taking anything away. It is trying to create opportunities for broader use, fairness, and sustainability.Strong communities are built when everyone has a seat at the table, not when public spaces become private clubs. Protecting our facilities means protecting our future.

The Gerringong Music Club will present Cellissimo - a powerful showcase of Australia’s favourite instrument, performed by four outstanding cellists.Bringing together four talented musicians, Cellissimo celebrates the cello, which was voted Australia’s most loved instrument in 2023.“If you’re a fellow cello fan, this is the concert for you,” says musical director Imogen Stewart.“With its warm, human-like tone and expressive range, it’s no surprise the cello topped the list. "This performance highlights everything that makes it so special.”Expect rich, layered harmonies as the quartet delivers a sound experience that’s both intimate and immersive.The concert begins at 2pm on Sunday 18 May at Gerringong Town Hall. Tickets are available at the door or online. Entry is free for members, children, and students; visitors $30.

She didn’t get to show her slides on the night, but if you asked Jacqui Forst what Kiama should be doing differently, she’d answer with one word: partnerships.At last week’s housing forum, Jacqui - a social worker and service innovator with experience across NSW Health, aged care and the not-for-profit sector - proposed something bold to flip Kiama’s housing narrative from stuck to strategic.Her slide deck, titled “Innovate Kiama”, points to global and local models that are already delivering housing solutions with social, environmental and economic impact.Among them:Nightingale Housing, a not-for-profit group delivering architect-designed, low-energy apartments for low to middle-income residents, underpinned by values of affordability, transparency and community.Havilah Place, right here in Kiama, was named as a potential Nightingale-style demonstration site.International examples like Birmingham Dreaming City, Dark Matter Labs, and Glasgow’s Our Town initiative, all of which use strategic partnerships to drive regeneration and social infrastructure.Jacqui’s key proposal was to activate Draft Housing Strategy V2 Recommendation 26 of the Draft Housing Strategy, the final action line most readers skipped over, and turn it into something real.She wants KIama Council to help convene a housing reference group of local residents, funders, venture capitalists, urban futurists and strategic risk holders such as insurers and superannuation funds.The goal? To co-design and support a portfolio of real world, system-led demonstrations that tackle the housing crisis through local innovation.She also proposed a Kiama Hackathon, where residents, planners, architects and builders could prototype new ideas and break through regulatory constraints together.“This doesn’t have to be a pipe dream,” Jacqui said. “We’ve got the land, the knowledge and the urgency. What we need now is structure, trust and investment.”

As the election campaign wore on, all signs pointed to Fiona Phillips retaining Gilmore. But the magnitude of the swing towards the Labor incumbent was a major surprise after she had scraped home by a paltry 373 votes three years ago to defeat Liberal rival Andrew Constance after three weeks of counting after election day.This time around, Phillips strolled to the finish line with a swing of 4.9 per cent in her direction to be able to claim victory before 10pm on Saturday to the delight of her supporters who had joined the 55-year-old at Currarong Bowling and Recreation Club.It was a bitter pill to swallow for Constance, who midway through the evening took the microphone at the gathering for his supporters to say there’s still a long way to go and the fight is not over. Constance was putting on a brave face and while the massive gap that Phillips held early in the evening did dwindle away slightly as the night wore on, it was only a matter of time before the nationwide swing against the Coalition wiped out any chance he had of reversing the 2022 result. The unpopularity of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who lost his own seat of Dickson in Brisbane, meant that the Coalition has suffered what is likely to be its worst result in history. With 14 seats still undecided, the Coalition has been able to claim just 36 seats with the ALP holding 88 to comfortably form a majority government. Phillips’ win in Gilmore continued a theme for the Illawarra and South Coast of Labor domination.Alison Byrnes waltzed it in at Cunningham, a Labor stronghold, The Disability Trust CEO Carol Berry won her first election in Whitlam despite a slight swing to the Liberals to replace the retiring Stephen Jones, and Kristy McBain reinforced her stranglehold on Eden-Monaro. When the campaign started in Gilmore, it appeared Constance had momentum on his side. But as the weeks rolled on and Dutton’s policies failed to get any traction and his nuclear solution to Australia’s energy problem was widely panned, Constance’s chances were nuked. A poll compiled by YouGov two weeks before election day pointed to Phillips holding a 54-46 per cent advantage on a two-party preferred basis. Neither camp wanted to comment on the record about the polling in the lead-up to Saturday’s vote but it was clear the Libs were nervous and Phillips’ camp was quietly confident of retaining the seat by a more considerable margin than last time. And in the end the swing to the incumbent was even greater with Phillips enjoying a 55-45 per cent split. The latest count, with 81 per cent of the vote logged, had Phillips a tick under 10,000 votes clear of Constance on a two-party preferred basis with a lead of nearly 4000 on primaries, as of late Sunday afternoon.“We did what some people would say was the impossible,” she said.“I’m here to say this was a win for everyone. This was a win for what is right and for our community.”“I couldn’t be more proud and thankful. To everybody who voted for me and put their trust in me, I thank them.”Community Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds fell short of her expectations to register less than 8 per cent of the primary vote but she said the Independent for South Coast organisation that was established in December will continue to run independent candidates in state and federal elections in the future.

Vivid Sydney 2025 will kick off on May 23, and this year, the Australian National Maritime Museum will present Tunku and Ngaadi  - the story of Mirriyaal, the creator, who shaped the first humans from the stars and entrusted them with the task of creation.Told through striking animation, sound, and storytelling, Tunku and Ngaadi will be projected onto the museum’s rooftop nightly from May 23 to June 14, between 6pm and 11pm.The animation and artwork, created by Walbunja and Ngarigo artist Cheryl Davison, brings to life the story of Mirriyal, the creator of the first humans - Tunku and Ngaadi - who shape the land, animals, and trees using a stick and stone.As exhaustion and conflict emerge, Tunku is cast into the sky as the moon, while Ngaadi’s grief gives rise to rivers, oceans, and the waratah flower - a powerful symbol of life and nature.Developed in collaboration with Studio Gilay, the animation beautifully captures this myth of creation and enduring love.A still from Tunku and Ngaadi. Source: Vivid SydneyThe experience is enhanced by a soundscape performed by the Djinama Yilaga choir, which can be heard from Pyrmont Bridge. Other great vantage points include King Street Wharf and the Vivid Light Walk.Museum Director and CEO, Daryl Karp, says the installation is the perfect place to begin your Vivid journey and connect with this year’s theme, Dream.“We are thrilled to partner with a First Nations artist and animation team - Cheryl Davison and Studio Gilay - and to showcase the choral works of the Djinama Yilaga choir as part of the world-renowned Vivid Festival, bringing this timeless Dreaming story to life,” said Karp.Vivid Sydney runs from May 23 to June 14. For more information and to plan your visit, head to vividsydney.com.

When two gifted quilters answered a quiet call for help, they stitched more than fabric.They stitched memory, respect and community into every thread.The two quilted panels now hanging in Jamberoo’s RSL Hall began their journey in Broken Hill.Barbara Adams, president of the local Red Cross, saw them in a craft store and immediately felt their potential.Robyn Thomson (L) and Teresa MacPherson (R) at Jamberoo RSL Hall, where their handmade remembrance quilts honour generations of service and sacrifice.Photo: Linda FaiersShe brought them back home, hoping they’d find someone to bring them to life.That connection was made by Annette Hoskins, the Community Coordinator of the Kiama Quilters Guild and a long-time volunteer with the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI). Annette is known for quietly connecting people and projects with purpose. She brought the panels to the Guild and asked if anyone might be willing to quilt them. Two members,Teresa MacPherson and Robyn Thomson, stepped forward.What followed was a labour of love, generosity and quiet pride.Teresa, who moved to Kiama five years ago, discovered the quilting group through The Bugle and has found a deep sense of belonging through her involvement.Though she modestly downplays her role, describing herself as “just one of a team,” it’s clear her contribution was heartfelt.“Anything that involves community, I love to be part of,” she said. “And being able to contribute to the Anzac spirit means a great deal to me. I lost relatives in the World Wars, so this was personal.”For Robyn, quilting has been a part of life for 30 years, but it wasn’t until moving to Kiama that she joined a group.Originally from Australia, she spent decades living in Scotland and the United States before returning with her husband, who now works remotely in immunology research.“It’s a pleasure, really,” Robyn said. “But it’s selfish too. I do it because I enjoy it.”Teresa MacPherson and Robyn Thomson in front of a commemorative poppy quilt at Jamberoo RSL. The quilt, stitched with teamwork and care, honours those who served and includes handmade poppies contributed by fellow community quilters. Photo: Linda FaiersThe pair are long-time contributors to community quilting projects, especially those that support the Children’s Medical Research Institute through the Genes for Jeans campaign.But last Saturday’s unveiling of their Anzac quilts in Jamberoo was something new. They were present. They were celebrated. “A little overwhelming,” Robyn said. “But very, very nice.”Each quilt, while based on a pre-printed panel, was brought to life by hand.Other members of the quilting group were invited to create beautiful crocheted and knitted poppies, which were then carefully attached to the quilts, adding a special handmade touch.The added details, including crocheted poppies and careful stitching, reflect a shared effort. It’s a striking example of what happens when quiet craft meets community care.As Teresa put it, “We thought we’d just send them off and maybe one day get down to Jamberoo to see them.🎥✨ A stitch in time... unveiled! Watch this beautiful moment as Barbara Adams, President of the Jamberoo Red Cross, unveils two stunning quilts honouring Vietnam War veterans.But then we were invited to the march and the morning tea. It was such a lovely acknowledgement.”Now hanging in Jamberoo’s RSL Hall, these quilts are not just beautiful.They are a reminder of those we honour, and of the people who quietly, lovingly, remember them.

A total of 180 call-outs in 12 months and a team of local volunteers who quietly keep us safe. Now it is our turn to step up for Jamberoo Rural Fire Service.They do not ask for much. In fact, the Jamberoo Rural Fire Service volunteers spend most of their time asking for nothing at all.They simply show up, again and again, whenever the pager sounds.Last year, they answered 180 call outs across our region. Fires, floods, car crashes, rescues, you name it, they were there.Rain or shine, day or night, these local legends are first on the scene, bringing calm, skill and courage when it matters most.The vital funds raised help the brigade purchase specific equipment that directly contributes to the incidents they respond to.Recent investments include:🔥 A thermal imaging camera that allows firefighters to see through smoke, assist with search and rescue, and quickly gain control over a fire environment.🔥 A piercing nozzle specifically designed for tackling pile burns, hay fires, car fires and rubbish fires by injecting water into the centre of the fire.These tools can be the difference between saving a life or losing a property.Every dollar raised genuinely helps our RFS volunteers do their job better and safer.This Friday 24 May, you can help — and have a fantastic night while you are at it.The FUKERS Fundraising Concert at Jamberoo School of Arts Hall promises live music, singing, dancing, food, drinks, and a chance to throw your support behind the people who are always there for us.Paul Taylor and the FUKERS are donating their time and talent, and every ticket sold will help Jamberoo RFS stay equipped and ready for whatever challenges come next.If you are thinking of coming, please jump online and book now.Bring your friends, your neighbours, your family, and show our RFS they are not standing alone.”The important details📍 Jamberoo School of Arts Hall🗓️ Saturday 24 May🕖 7 pm till late🎤 Live music, singing and dancing🍷 Food and drinks at bar prices🎟️ $40 from Humanitix here

The first slab of concrete has been poured on the site of the new Shellharbour Hospital, a significant milestone in the construction of the much-needed facility. The concrete forms the foundation of the hospital’s perioperative unit, which will house new state-of-the art operating theatres. As the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region's specialist elective surgical centre, the new hospital will help deliver improved health outcomes and enhance patient care for local communities.The new Shellharbour Hospital is part of the more than $780 million New Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services Project, jointly funded by the NSW and Australian governments.This initial pour used close to 300 cubic metres of concrete, with more than 33,000 cubic metres of concrete expected to be poured throughout the life of the project.It comes after weeks of site preparation and marks the start of a series of concrete pours that will continue in the months ahead as the new hospital’s seven-storey structure begins to take shape.Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said it was exciting to see this construction milestone reached for the new hospital. "I can’t wait to see the building take shape, which will transform the delivery of healthcare for the Illawarra community.“The NSW Government is committed to improving health services and infrastructure for regional communities across the state and is proud to invest in projects like this that will make a genuine difference.”Once complete, the new Shellharbour Hospital will transform access to healthcare for the Shellharbour community, providing a wide range of modern and expanded health services and reducing the need to travel out of the area for a range of treatments. The new hospital will include an expanded emergency department, enhanced paediatric services, including a new Paediatric Assessment Unit that will function closely with the emergency department, rehabilitation and aged care services, acute medical services, specialised elective surgery and mental health services, renal dialysis and outpatient care services, as well as car parking and improved public transport links. Designs for the new Shellharbour Hospital also enables the construction of a future rooftop helipad.“This initial concrete pour represents more than just a construction milestone - it represents our commitment to the future health and wellbeing of our growing region of the Illawarra," said Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson.“Thank you again to everyone contributing to the delivery of our new Shellharbour Hospital. I look forward to seeing the progress continuing over the coming months.”Community members can stay up to date on the project via shellharbourdevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au.

Fiona Phillips has retained the federal seat of Gilmore after Anthony Albanese led the Australian Labor Party to a monumental victory in Saturday’s election.Phillips has received a swing of 4.9 per cent in her favour after 80.4% of the votes have been counted after winning the seat at the 2022 election by a mere 373 votes.She claimed victory late on Saturday night to the delight of her family, friends and supporters.On a two-party preferred basis, she is sitting on 55.1 per cent, well ahead of Liberal rival Andrew Constance at 44.9 per cent.Constance, the former NSW Treasurer who went so close to unseating Phillips last time around, has received 34.6 per cent of the primary vote at this stage.Phillips’ share of the primary vote has risen to 38.2 per cent with more than 107,000 votes counted so far.Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds, who had been hoping to get enough votes to sneak ahead of the major parties on preferences, is is sitting on 7.8 per cent.The Greens’ candidate Debbie Killian has polled well to receive 6.9 per cent in what was a tough election day for her party in other seats.One Nation’s John Hawke (4.8 per cent) was in fifth spot, Legalise Cannabis Party candidate Adrian Carle has exceeded expectations at 3.7 per cent with Melissa Wise (Trumpet of Patriots) at 2.2 per cent and Family First’s Graham Brown (1.8 per cent) not attracting many votes.Around 6.5 per cent of votes were informal.Phillips spent election night at the Currarong Bowling and Recreation Club after a busy final day of campaigning in the vast geographical electorate of Gilmore, which runs from Minnamurra to Moruya.Earlier in the afternoon before the voting had closed at 6pm, she said “it has been an absolute pleasure talking with local voters all day today".“I truly care about this community and I’ve been humbled by so many people who stopped to thank me for helping them or their loved ones.“This year, my team has knocked on nearly 22,000 doors and made more than 14,000 phone calls in an incredible effort right across Gilmore.Fiona Phillips at an election day cake stall on Saturday.“It’s clear that local people want to see cost of living relief and they want to see investment in local healthcare services.“That’s what I’ll be proud to deliver under a re-elected Albanese Labor Government.”Phillips has held the seat since 2019 and the 55-year-old from Nowra has promised that Labor will deliver another tax cut for every taxpayer, open more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics and build more homes in what will be her third term in Gilmore.Albanese will form a majority Labor government while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has not only went down in the election, he has also lost his seat of Dickson in Brisbane.He is the first Opposition Leader in Australian political history to lose his seat.

Opinion A motion to protect the Minnamurra River is testing whether Kiama Municipal Council’s governance reforms have real bite, or just better branding. At first glance, the Strategic Finance and Governance Improvement Plan (SFGIP), adopted in response to a state-imposed Performance Improvement Order, is full of promises, better systems, improved accountability and streamlined decision-making.It is the kind of plan that comes with charts, timelines, and a digital dashboard called Pulse. But at the last Council meeting, the real test of those reforms came from outside the official agenda, through a public access presentation by Minnamurra Progress Association spokesperson Jacqui Forst. Speaking in support of Councillor Melinda Lawton’s motion to undertake a full environmental assessment before a possible relocation of the Council depot near the Minnamurra River, Forst offered more than advocacy.She offered a mirror, asking whether a Council promising high governance standards can justify self-assessment under outdated legislation. CEO Jane Stroud's written response to Cr Lawton’s motion confirmed that a self-assessment under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 would be carried out and stressed that the project was already being managed within Council’s new internal framework, the very one established by the SFGIP.In other words, trust the process. But Forst gently challenged that trust, pointing out that 1979-era assumptions about rivers as “dumping sites” no longer meet modern community standards or expectations.Her call includes quadruple bottom line reporting, economic, environmental, social, and cultural costs, in the assessment process, and collaborating with Shellharbour Council to create a joint strategy for the catchment. This is not the first time the CEO’s approach to transparency has raised concerns.In her Item 13.1 progress update on the Performance Improvement Order (PIO), Stroud noted the governance plan was “operational in nature” and therefore did not require community feedback. But this distinction, as the river debate shows, is exactly what troubles residents - decisions made under the banner of “operations” still affect public land, natural resources, and community amenities.Whether it is selling aged-care facilities or moving a depot near a fragile river ecosystem, these decisions are lived, not abstract. Tellingly, the PIO progress report flags a quiet risk, that councillors might “make new commitments beyond capacity.”In plain terms, it is a warning against councillors overstepping.But it also raises a deeper issue - are elected representatives being empowered to lead, or managed into silence under the guise of reform?Cr Lawton’s motion, and Forst’s evidence-backed support, suggest that community leaders are still trying to ensure environmental integrity is not sidelined by financial convenience.The test is not whether the system can absorb such motions. It is whether it can act on them. Just months after finalising the Blue Haven Bonaira sale and launching a new digital governance tool, Council is now facing a different kind of audit, not by the Office of Local Government, but by residents who are asking what does improvement actually look like? As Jacqui Forst put it, “Safe and inclusive discussions are essential in this time of change.” So is listening.

Fiona Phillips cast her vote in Bomaderry on Saturday morning as the Gilmore electorate turned out in their thousands to have their say in Australia's most marginal federal seat.The incumbent Labor MP is quietly confident of retaining the seat for the third straight term despite holding on by just 373 votes last time ahead of Liberal rival Andrew Constance after preferences were distributed.Constance and Community Independent nominee Kate Dezarnaulds are her main threats this time around and the three leading candidates for the seat were busy getting around to polling booths on Saturday.Volunteers at the Kiama Uniting Church on Saturday handing out how-to-vote cards Photo: The Bugle.Phillips voted at Bomaderry Public School before heading to Nowra and visiting several spots in the electorate before her team will settle in at Currarong Bowling Club and Recreation Club after the polls close at 6pm as the counting gets underway.“It has been an absolute pleasure talking with local voters all day today," she said.“I truly care about this community and I’ve been humbled by so many people who stopped to thank me for helping them or their loved ones.“This year, my team has knocked on nearly 22,000 doors and made more than 14,000 phone calls in an incredible effort right across Gilmore.“It’s clear that local people want to see cost of living relief and they want to see investment in local healthcare services.“That’s what I’ll be proud to deliver under a re-elected Albanese Labor Government.”While Phillips and Constance did not want to comment on polls in the lead-up to election day which tipped Labor to hold on to the seat, Dezarnaulds has been vocal in saying she believes she can sneak under the guard of the major parties to secure the seat on the back of preferences.The Australian Labor Party and Coalition are staring down the barrel of their lowest nationwide primary vote as smaller independent parties gain traction.Constance also voted in the morning, completing his ballot at Sanctuary Point, as part of a hectic final day on the campaign trail which included visits to Illaroo Public School and Berry."It's been a tough few years for families and small businesses, and people are ready for a better path forward," he said.Andrew Constance on the campaign trail on Saturday in Berry.Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne has been by Constance's side on election day, trying to help him reverse the agony of the 2022 election defeat by such a slender margin.Dezarnaulds traversed the length of the coastal strip as part of her election day campaign, starting in the south at Moruya and dropping in at Nelligen, Batemans Bay, Mogo, Ulladulla, Milton, Sussex Inlet, Sanctuary Point, Vincentia, Nowra, Bomaderry, her home town of Berry where she voted, Gerringong, Kiama and Minnamurra.Kate Dezarnaulds with supporters on Saturday.Debbie Killian (The Greens), John Hawke (One Nation), Melissa Wise (Trumpet of Patriots), Adrian Carle (Legalise Cannabis Party) and Graham Brown (Family First) are also on the ballot with their preferences expected to have a considerable say in the final outcome.A beautiful autumn day greeted voters as they made their way to the polling booths throughout the Gilmore electorate which covers a 200km coastal area from Minnamurra to Moruya.If you have not voted, you don't have much time left with polls closing at 6pm.

Kiama’s Acting Mayor, Cr Melissa Matters, says it is time for the State and Federal Governments to stop turning their backs on regional communities like Jamberoo.From early childhood education to critical transport links, Cr Matters says Kiama Municipal Council is being forced to carry the load while higher levels of government remain silent.“Kiama is a childcare desert,” she said.“Families are stuck on waitlists for months. In Jamberoo, our community pre-school is on a floodplain, one heavy rain away from being unusable, and we still have no funding commitment for a safe, modern facility.”The need for a new Jamberoo Community Preschool is now listed as a top priority in Kiama Council’s Draft Delivery and Operational Plan.Cr Matters is encouraging residents to make a submission and show their support during the public exhibition period.“This is more than just education,” she said. “It is about safety, equality and whether young families in our region are given a fair go.”Another pressing concern is Jamberoo Mountain Road, a vital route for locals, tourists and emergency services, which will again be closed for major repairs in May.Council will carry out the work, but under disaster funding rules, the repairs must follow outdated standards.“We are doing the heavy lifting, rebuilding a road from the 1800s, but the funding rules stop us from building it to modern safety standards,” Cr Matters said. “That is not just frustrating. It is dangerous.”Kiama Council is calling on the NSW Government to assume responsibility for Jamberoo Mountain Road and for both levels of government to fund a long-term solution before another landslip or tragedy occurs.“We are not asking for handouts,” Cr Matters said. “We are asking for common sense and a fair go. Until we get it, Council will keep fighting.”

Opinion: It is easy to assume that if you criticise government decisions, you are taking a side.I am not. What I am challenging is the process, not the party.A perfect example is the Labor government in NSW.When they came to power, they swiftly shut down a raft of vital programs funded by the former Department of Regional NSW, programs that were quietly changing lives for young people in rural and regional areas.Mentoring schemes, skills development, and youth leadership initiatives were scrapped almost overnight.Not because they were failing, but because they had been set up under a different political banner.That is not reform, that is vandalism.And before anyone thinks this is an attack on Labor, let us be clear. The Liberal and National parties have been just as guilty.Remember Barnaby Joyce’s push to decentralise government agencies by relocating them into his own electorate?The idea was sold as supporting the regions, but the outcome was a hollowed-out public service.Staff refused to relocate, expertise was lost, and millions were wasted on temporary contractors and consultants.The agencies involved became weaker, not stronger, and the real losers were the farmers and rural communities who needed skilled, experienced support - not a shell of an agency run from a half-empty office hundreds of kilometres away from Parliament House.There are career public servants still trying to work out what job title they are supposed to have.The bigger the change looks on paper, the more it feels like 'something is happening'.In reality, the actual work on the ground grinds to a halt.Energy that should go towards delivering better services is instead wasted on finding new logos and rewriting organisational charts.This is not about blue or red. It is about the chronic addiction to 'optics over outcomes'.It is about a political culture where dismantling the past is valued more than building the future.And the real losers are the people who rely on services that do not make headlines.Young people in country towns who were finally getting a leg up.Farmers trying to deal with biosecurity risks. Local communities fighting to hold onto their hospitals, their schools, their chances.Every time a government wastes millions rearranging the deckchairs, it is our lives, not theirs, that are made harder.The challenge for all of us is to stop falling for it.Let's stop cheering when our team gets into power and starts tearing down everything built by the last one.Ask instead, who benefits? Who loses?And what good work might we be throwing away, just because it came from the 'wrong' side?The answer, too often, is that the work we need most is the first to go.

Melissa Wise, the Trumpet of Patriots candidate for Gilmore, says her party wants to bring commonsense back into Australian politics. The party, which is bankrolled by billionaire Clive Palmer, is shaping as a disruptor at Saturday’s election nationwide, and Wise is one of eight candidates standing for Gilmore. Wise would like to clarify after incorrect information was distributed on her how-to-vote cards that she would be directing her preferences to Family First candidate Graham Brown, One Nation’s John Hawke and then Legalise Cannabis Party’s Adrian Carle. She is putting Liberal hopeful Andrew Constance fifth, followed by independent Kate Dezarnaulds, The Greens’ Debbie Killian with Labor incumbent Fiona Phillips last.“The Australian community needs a change. We need a change for good. We need a change of government,” she said.“Trumpet of Patriots would be invested in this area in things we need. Housing, free university education and fast trains. “I'd be focusing on the gaps in the system with domestic violence and working with the community with policing and working with different agencies that support women and children and men for domestic violence and working towards, on a federal level, the family law reform. “And we would be investing in these critical issues, as well as the needs of the community.”Wise believes the Trumpet of Patriots will cause a few surprises in the nationwide vote.“We’re about helping everyday Australians and bringing back some commonsense to politics and that's what I'm about. “I'm a trained flight attendant and I've worked a long time in the corporate world for 30 years so I can bring a different set of skills to politics that the everyday Australian can benefit from. “I can offer my global thinking within the community.“We need to bring things back on Australian soil and use the resources and community in Australia to work for Australians and focus on our national needs rather than shipping things overseas.“I think we're going to go really well.”

Five of the candidates for Gilmore fronted up to the Minnamurra Progress Association during the week to hear from the locals on the issues that matter most to them.And get the chance to convince them that they have the solutions to their problems. Minnamurra Progress Association secretary Cliff Mason said around 50 residents attended the meeting which was attended by Labor incumbent Fiona Phillips and fellow candidates Andrew Constance (Liberals), independent Kate Dezarnaulds, Melissa Wise (Trumpet of Patriots) and Graham Brown (Family First).“They all spoke pretty well and there were a lot of questions,” he said.“We raised a number of issues with them. One of the mains ones was the poor mobile reception we get in Minnamurra. "It’s very patchy so we asked the candidates to follow that through to see what they can do about it.Mason said one of the other main topics raised was the need for the different levels of government to work more closely together.Phillips said she estimated that throughout the strenuous election campaign that she had attended around 30 meet the candidates forums. “That is very unusual for an electorate. It is a bit of a challenge but that’s because of our long coastal strip but it's good that people come along,” she said.