St George Illawarra need to win eight of their final 11 matches to have any hope of qualifying for the NRL playoffs.The Dragons have their third and final bye this week before an 11-game unbroken stretch to finish the regular season.They have dropped to 12th spot after last Thursday’s 30-18 loss to Cronulla at Shark Park when they coughed up a 12-point half-time lead in conceding four unanswered tries in the second term. Despite their modest record of five wins from 13 matches, they will likely finish Round 15 just two points outside the cut-off mark for the finals.But they face a daunting task to remain in the finals equation when they return to the field next week. To be any chance of sneaking into the final eight, they need to win eight more times but after losing five of their past seven matches, that is looking highly unlikely.They return to WIN Stadium next Saturday when they will face former Dragons star Zac Lomax and the Parramatta Eels, who are at the bottom of the ladder and will be without halfback Mitchell Moses due to the calf injury which ruled him out of Origin II in Perth this week. The Dragons then travel to Canberra to face the in-form Raiders, take on the Roosters at Kogarah and competition leaders Canterbury at Accor Stadium. In the ensuing seven rounds, Shane Flanagan’s squad faces three more teams - Canberra, Cronulla and the Warriors - who are currently in the top eight as well as premiers Penrith.One of the bright spots for their season has been the rise of Gerringong duo Hamish Stewart and Dylan Egan into the NRL ranks. Egan scored three tries in his eight appearances before an ACL tear ended his season last month during their win over Brisbane.Stewart, another 20-year-old forward, has racked up 12 matches in his rookie season, averaging a fraction over 30 tackles per match. He was only given 22 minutes of game time off the bench against the Sharks last week but still managed to power through 21 tackles.

A showpiece beachfront home in Kiama Downs that evokes the feel of a tropical resort has broken the record for the suburb’s top sale price.With a sweeping resort-style pool, direct access onto the sand and Noosa-inspired design touches, the four-bedroom masterpiece brings five-star coastal luxury to the NSW south coast.Designed by award-winning Queensland architect Paul Clout and built by owner Glenn Jones, the property at 42 Johnson Street channels the look and feel of a luxury retreat, right down to the glass bridge, curved, black-tiled shower, and palm-fringed gazebo beside the pool.After more than 200 days on the market, the house sold on June 2.With a price guide of $5.9 million to $6.3 million, records show it has set the new benchmark for Kiama Downs, eclipsing the previous suburb record of $5.9 million set in October last year. Innovate Property Group director Mark Spinelli, who managed the sale, said it was a privilege to be showcasing a standout property in the area.“This is probably the best home that has been sold in Kiama Downs,” he told The Bugle.“It’s very unique. It’s the builder’s own home, and the attention to detail is next level.“He had to build the beautiful, resort-style pool first, and the house has an amazing entry, with a massive glass door.“When you walk in, you can see the pool and see straight through on to the beach.”A key drawcard is the home’s genuine beachfront position, offering rare step-off-the-lawn access to Jones Beach.“It’s pretty rare now to get actual beachfront around Kiama,” Spinelli said.“A lot of properties are waterfront, around cliffs, but there aren’t many where it’s straight off your backyard onto the sand.“Every single window and door have curved gyprock, and you’re walking on a glass bridge that looks directly down to the pool. It’s pretty cool.”The layout includes four bedrooms, three bathrooms, plus a powder room and underfloor heating.Outdoors, there's an alfresco area, outdoor shower and double garage.The showpiece pool cuts through the middle of the home and is visible beneath parts of the interior floor, connecting different wings of the residence with a flowing, high-end design.A sandstone and timber gazebo beside the pool adds to the tropical holiday vibe.Inside, standout features include louvre windows, stackable doors, polished concrete floors, and a Tasmanian Oak ceiling above the main lounge.One of the bedrooms opens directly to panoramic beach views, while the living area offers uninterrupted sightlines to Minnamurra Headland and Cathedral Rocks.Spinelli said the home, built by high-end operators Glenn Jones Homes, had been the full-time residence of Jones and his family since completion several years ago.The buyer is believed to be a local, despite strong interest from Sydneysiders.The sale adds to Spinelli’s recent string of top-tier results, including a recent property deal in Kiama that also set a new benchmark.“The surprising part was the amount of demand we had for an in-town, single-level weekender for between $3 million and $4 million,” he said.“It was mostly Sydney buyers looking for a weekender. Kiama is still very appealing to out-of-town buyers.”

Kiama Business Network has been inundated with nominations for the inaugural Kiama Business Awards. Entries closed earlier this week for the first competition which recognises and celebrates excellence across the local business community.Everyone who submitted an entry will be invited to the Awards Ceremony at The Pavilion in Kiama on Thursday 3 July.At the ceremony, winners will receive trophies for the seven award categories:Outstanding EmployeeExcellence in SustainabilityOutstanding New BusinessExcellence in Micro BusinessExcellence in Small BusinessOutstanding Young Business LeaderOutstanding Business Leader (20 employees and under).The overall Kiama business of the year will then be announced from the seven category winners. Also, the winners in each category automatically progress as finalists to the Illawarra Business Awards later this year.Kiama Business Network executive officer and market manager Mel Scarr said the idea for the Awards came about after Business Illawarra director Coralie McCarthy asked why Kiama did not have a competition of its own.‘We were going to do it for next year because we had six weeks to launch ours but then we thought let's go for it and launch our own one,” Scarr said.“So, we did. And judging by the amount of entries that we had, it's been very well received. “We ended up with a good number of entries. We were surprised by how well it was embraced. And obviously, there was a need for it in the community by the amount of entries we got in such a short time.”The judging period is now underway with a panel of local business leaders going through the various submissions. Finalists for each category will be announced on Monday, 30 June in the lead-up to the awards night. “This being our first awards, we weren't sure what to expect, but the quality of entries and the enthusiasm has exceeded all expectations,” Scarr added.“The response has been incredible so it shows how ready our community is to celebrate local success.”One of the strengths of the Kiama business community is its diversity from microbusinesses popping up all over the local government area to bigger, established businesses which have stood the test of time.

Kiama’s iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks celebrations are in danger of going up in smoke after Council withdrew funding for the 2025 event. Destination Kiama now has to find sponsors to make up the $92,000 cost of staging the popular event or there will be no fireworks lighting up the harbour to ring in the new year.The decision has disappointed Destination Kiama chair, Councillor Matt Brown who said Council should have prioritised money in the budget for this event rather than use ratepayer dollars to fund new Council Chambers. “It’s a shame that that funding has been cut from the budget. The only years we didn’t do it was during COVID,” he said.“We were presented with a choice of New Year’s Eve or event funding. The event funding is important as it spreads spend to attractions right throughout the year.“But a smallish spend for New Year’s Eve results in a nearly 15 times return on investment.”Council director of planning, environment & communities Ed Paterson provided Councillors with Spendmapp's "Event Tracker" data which revealed there was $1.76 million in local spending on New Year’s Eve, which was the highest total recorded across recent major events.Compared to other weekends, that result was 4% higher than the Changing Tides Festival 2023 and 24% above last year’s event, and more than $630,000 higher than a standard non-event weekend. The New Year’s Eve Sky Show drives increased spending in hospitality, retail and related sectors, beyond what is usually expected on a busy summer weekend. Kiama's New Year's Eve celebrations attract visitors to the town all day long. Photo: Peter Izzard PhotographyCr Brown said local families and businesses will be extremely disappointed if the fireworks display vanishes into thin air.“I know how much local businesses and local families enjoy our New Year’s night show. They choose to stay in Kiama rather than go to Wollongong or Sydney,” he said.“It’s a huge financial injection into our local businesses and at a cost of only $9 per household.“I’m disappointed that it’s come to this. We could have gone without a new Council Chambers and had the fireworks, for instance. It’s all about priorities - we spent $250,000 on new desks, carpet and video equipment for our Council Chambers. Now we can’t afford fireworks.”Cr Brown said Kiama’s iconic event is Australia’s biggest coastal fireworks outside of Sydney.“I appreciate our financial situation at Council and I’d love to see businesses wanting to sponsor this event to reduce the burden,” he said.“We might be able to resurrect New Year’s Eve fireworks.”Kiama Council Chief Executive Officer Jane Stroud said in an ideal world, they would be able to cover the full costs but the reality of working under a Performance Improvement Order meant that alternative measures needed to be taken.“What Council has resolved is that they would like Council to self-fund New Year's Eve,” she told The Bugle.“New Year's Eve is great - last year we had over 16,000 people come and watch but it does cost the ratepayers up to $92,000.“We will need to do up a package and put that out to the market and see if there are people, companies, businesses who would like to partner or sponsor, and contribute to the funding of the fireworks.“It's a really lovely way to see the year out. I'm really hopeful we'll find some interested businesses and sponsors who want to be part of it because it's pretty incredible.”Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald was also hopeful that a solution can be found to keep the event alive.“We are mindful that it does cost us a lot of money as a Council and it is ratepayers’ money in this time when we're under a PIO,” he said.“The influx and the dollar spend for our local community and our local businesses is significant, so it's a matter of weighing that up as to how we approach it.”

Don't be concerned if you see emergency services descending on Shellharbour Airport on Saturday.NSW Police have advised local residents that a training exercise will be conducted on Saturday in and around Shellharbour Airport.The exercise will be conducted between 8am and 5pm, and residents are advised there may be an increase in emergency services vehicle movements in the vicinity.There will also be a drone in operation, all part of essential emergency services training.Strict safety protocols will be adhered to at all times.NSW Police have assured the community there will be no risk to the public.

Roadworks will continue to cause disruptions in Kiama to make the area safer in the long term.Sydney Trains has been replacing the collision protection beams on Terralong Street and extra work on the underbridge is being carried out until Friday 27 June on weekdays only. The work has included piling and plant movement within the rail corridor and along Terralong Street. Meanwhile, motorists will soon experience safer journeys on the Princes Highway at Kiama Bends with the installation and upgrade of safety and motorcycle barriers.Work will be carried out at night for the next month on Sunday to Thursday from 8pm-4am, weather permitting.Changed traffic conditions including single lane closures, traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will be in place for the safety of workers and motorists.Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.A Transport for NSW spokesperson said due to a poor crash history, three kilometres of barriers will be upgraded, and additional ground level barriers installed along the 80 km/h section of Kiama Bends.“We are making these changes to improve safety to this stretch of road that has seen 26 crashes, seven involving motorcycles, in the five years to June 2022,” the spokesperson said.“As part of this work we are adding ground level safety barriers specifically to reduce the impact and severity for motorcyclists when impacting a standard guardrail barrier.“Known as a motorcycle underrun, the ground level safety barriers are most commonly installed on tight curves, and roads that carry significant numbers of motorcyclists.”The spokesperson said research by Transport found the inclusion of motorcycle underrun as an addition to roadside barriers would result in a 20 per cent reduction in the severity of a single vehicle off-carriageway motorcycle crash.This work is being delivered as part of the Australian and NSW Governments’ Road Safety Program which aims to improve road safety by minimising the occurrence of severe injuries and fatalities, with a focus on vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists.

This week's edition of The Bugle brings you the news of the record real estate sale at Kiama Downs with a majestic beachside residence selling for a whopping $6 million. With a sweeping resort-style pool, direct access onto the sand and Noosa-inspired design touches, the four-bedroom masterpiece brings five-star coastal luxury to the NSW south coast.Click here to view our latest editionDesigned by award-winning Queensland architect Paul Clout and built by owner Glenn Jones, the property at 42 Johnson Street channels the look and feel of a luxury retreat, right down to the glass bridge, curved, black-tiled shower, and palm-fringed gazebo beside the pool.You can also read plenty of great community stories including the Go Grand Tourism winter holiday campaign in our region, the drama over the New Year's Eve fireworks possibly being cancelled and concerns over the plan for Kiama Skate Park. Take a stroll back in time at Kiama Golf Club, check out a local beauty salon which won a national award and the Kiama rugby team has continued its superb premiership campaign - Kiama made it five wins in a row in Illawarra rugby over the weekend, defeating Camden with a dominant 41-25 victory at home.Our intrepid photographer Brian Scott has taken lots of pictures of our local sporting community with a four-page special on the recent Red Cross Fun Run, plus there is a full list of What's On in our region and our puzzles page filled with brain teasers.

Kiama was recently featured in an episode of the SBS series Who Do You Think You Are?, which explored the ancestry of Alone Australia winner Gina Chick.The episode revealed that Chick is the granddaughter of renowned Kiama-born literary icon Charmian Clift, and the great-granddaughter of Clift’s father, who worked at Bombo Quarry as an engineer.The episode shows Chick, known for her deep connection with First Nations culture, finding the discovery confronting. “That was one of the most devastating moments for me in the whole journey,” Chick told SBS during the episode, reflecting on her visit to Bombo Quarry. “The moment where I saw the quarry where my great-grandfather had been working as an engineer, designing the systems that would take stone away from Wadi Wadi land.“There were people living there, and my great-grandfather was directly responsible, along with hundreds of others, for the removal of that stone. "When I got to that quarry, it was like a sledgehammer hit me - when I saw and viscerally understood that there were people living here,” she said.Kiama Historical Society President Sue Eggins was consulted regarding the episode. She said she enjoyed it, though she noted that several filmed scenes didn’t make the final cut.“Not that much of Kiama was shown, except Bombo Quarry,” Eggins explained. “There was filming at the Pilot’s Cottage Museum, but it didn’t make it into the episode. “Nadia Wheatley, who is Charmian Clift’s official biographer, was filmed there and also at Bellevue Guest House.”Eggins hopes the episode, now available to stream on SBS On Demand, inspires viewers to explore their own roots and visit Kiama’s local heritage sites.“I hope the show encourages people to take an interest in local history and visit the Pilot’s Cottage, which currently features an exhibition on Charmian Clift,” she said.“The Kiama Family History Centre, located beneath the library, is an excellent place to begin researching your family history. We’re incredibly fortunate to have this facility - it’s the only one of its kind outside of Sydney, established by the State Government.”The Pilot’s Cottage is a community-run museum managed by the Kiama Historical Society. Eggins emphasised the importance of community involvement in preserving and sharing local stories.“I think community involvement is essential in telling our history through stories. The Pilot’s Cottage has been run by volunteers since 1988.”The Pilot’s Cottage is open Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. Visitors are encouraged to stop in and explore the current Charmian Clift exhibition.

Kiama Power player and long-time volunteer Shellee Gibson has been awarded a new barbecue as part of Bunnings Warehouse’s Legends of the Tongs initiative.The national campaign aims to recognise and reward community heroes who fire up the BBQ at local games each week - often the unsung champions behind the scenes of grassroots footy.“Our Legend of the Tongs campaign celebrates some of the best parts of our local community,” said Bunnings Shellharbour complex manager Greg Sutton.A couple of other Kiama Power volunteers with the Legends of the Tongs merch. Photo: Supplied“Whether it’s at their local club grounds or as part of our weekly sausage sizzles, unsung heroes like Shelley tirelessly show up week in and week out to support their players and raise much needed funds for their clubs.”Each week, five individuals are selected as Legends of the Tongs, receiving a Jumbuck Club 6 Burner BBQ, a two-piece BBQ tool set, a 3x3m marquee, exclusive merchandise - and a shot at becoming one of eight national finalists flown to the 2025 AFL Grand Final.“It’ll be really good because cooking the barbecue every week raises funds for the club,” said Shellee. “And everyone loves the barbecue - the food, the smell, the atmosphere.”In her application, Shellee shared what makes Kiama Power special: “We’re a small club run by volunteers. We always have music, the barbecue going - it’s just a great vibe and so good for the community.”Shellee’s commitment to women’s AFL runs deep. Fifteen years ago, she was the driving force behind the Illawarra’s first women’s AFL team - the Wollongong Saints - where she took on the roles of president, treasurer, coach, captain, and player.“We had to play in the Sydney competition because there wasn’t one here. So every week we travelled to Sydney. It was a big commitment - but it was the only way we could play,” she said.Now playing and volunteering with Kiama Power for the past four years - including a premiership win - Shellee has witnessed the sport’s dramatic growth firsthand.“When we first started, I was door-knocking businesses asking for $100 just to cover our registration fee - and people laughed at me. They’d say things like, ‘Girls don’t play footy,’” she recalled.“But I kept knocking. Eventually, we raised the money. And now look at it - we went from no teams to one, and now there are around 15 or 16 women’s teams in the South Coast division. And women’s AFL has its own league - it’s on TV. It’s been amazing.”In a couple of weeks, Shellee is set to play her 200th women’s Aussie Rules game for Kiama Power - a remarkable milestone for a grassroots footy pioneer who continues to inspire on and off the field.

A woman who was a mutual acquaintance of both complainants in the Gareth Ward sexual assault trial has told the NSW District Court that they were scared of coming forward to report allegations about the Kiama MP.The trial was interrupted during the week when a burst water main led to the closure of the Downing Centre Court complex with proceedings switched to Darlinghurst Courthouse.Ward is facing five charges and has pleaded not guilty to each of them: sexual intercourse without consent, common assault and three counts of indecent assault.On Thursday, a political staffer took the stand to detail evidence about conversations she had with each complainant who has made allegations against Ward.The older complainant was 24 at the time when he alleged Ward sexually assaulted him at the Kiama MP’s Potts Points apartment a decade ago. Another man, who had just turned 18 at the time of an alleged incident in 2013, has also accused Ward of an indecent assault at the Kiama MP’s Meroo Meadow property in the Shoalhaven.The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke with the older complainant in 2020 after seeing a social media post in which he alluded to a suicide attempt. She said the man blamed himself for the alleged incident and "he kept apologising”.In response, she told him that “it was not his fault, regardless of what happened”.The woman shed tears as she told the Court that she encouraged the man to report the incident to police but the complainant was concerned that Ward had “a lot of power”.Earlier in the trial, the complainant alleged that after he went to Ward’s apartment to go to sleep in a spare bedroom, the politician sexually assaulted him.Ward’s barrister, David Sullivan SC, has previously told the Court that the alleged incident did not happen.On Thursday, the woman also said the younger complainant contacted her later that year to allege that Ward had assaulted him in 2013 at the politician’s Shoalhaven home. The younger complainant sounded distraught, according to her testimony, and he had told her that the incident had led him to serious drug use.The trial before Judge Shead, continues.1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Often when you try to please everybody you please nobody and Kiama Council is in a tricky spot at the moment in trying to navigate its way back to financial strength while operating under the NSW Government’s Performance Improvement Order. Mayor Cameron McDonald is thrilled that Council has hit the 70% mark in its wide range of actions required to progress down the path of getting the PIO lifted at the end of the 2026-27 financial year. Although Council is on the right track, it is still a long way from being out of the woods just yet. And part of that process is having to say no to reasonable requests from local community groups and increasing fees for services.Kiama Leisure Centre and Cemeteries fees have gone up by 5% and domestic waste charges have increased by 10%, which will cost the average household an extra $1.20 per week and has been brought about by waste disposal cost increases to Council of nearly 60% over the past three years.Rates have increased by 3.7% which was set by the NSW Government’s Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal. Kiama Council, at its meeting on Tuesday night, endorsed its suite of high-level strategic documents, including the Community Strategic Plan, Long Term Financial Plan, Budget, Fees and Charges, and Delivery and Operational Plan.Along with Chief Executive Officer Jane Stroud’s tenure being extended for another three years, Kiama Council has something that it has sorely lacked in recent years - stability. But there will continue to be short-term pain for the local community.One such example that would be avoided in a perfect world was Gerringong Rugby League Club’s request for Council to provide a pre-owned lawnmower - free or for a nominal fee - for the Lions to use in their sterling efforts in keeping Michael Cronin Oval in tip-top shape.Councillor Mike Cains brought the motion before Council, arguing that club “continues to voluntarily maintain the grounds that would otherwise be maintained by Council”.“They do this by relying on a 40-inch residential-style mower. Occasionally they borrow mowers and equipment from third parties but essentially they try to be as self reliant as possible.“We are getting the understanding that to be reliant on such meagre assets so that they can maintain their grounds is quite possibly not sustainable in the long term.“The administration of the Rugby League Group 7 has awarded the club with an $8000 grant to construct a purpose-built shed to house that mower so providing a pre-owned mower to the Gerringong Rugby League Club is a modest and meaningful way for Council to show support for our volunteer organisations and ensure that they remain a valuable asset for the community into the future.”After the motion was defeated, Mayor Cameron McDonald told The Bugle that they were concerned about setting a precedent for the future if they agreed to the Lions’ request. He said that Council needed to develop an asset disposal policy that would enable them “to justify those decisions as to why a mower would go here and why something else would go there with regards to those community and sporting groups”.He acknowledged that a lot of local community groups put in countless hours of voluntary work to maintain Council assets but he wanted to ensure that decisions like this one can be done “in a fair and reasonable manner” for all groups.Unfortunately for priceless community groups like the Gerringong Lions, these kind of situations will continue at least for the next couple of years ….but with Kiama Council on track to be back in the black within 24 months, Council’s new-found frugality means better times are on the horizon.

If you know of a local resident or community group who should be recognised for their fantastic achievements, nominations for Kiama Council’s Local Government Awards for 2025 are now open.Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald has launched the Awards for this year - an opportunity to shine a light on people in the area who make a difference no matter how large or small.“The best part of being Mayor is meeting the many and varied people who call this place home and give so much of themselves to this community,” Cr McDonald said.“I’m excited to open nominations for our 2025 Local Government Awards to celebrate those people who contribute to our ‘social fabric’ in so many and varied ways.”The awards are presented for the following categories:Citizen of the Year AwardYoung Citizen of the Year AwardSenior Citizen of the Year AwardCommunity Group of the Year AwardCommunity Inclusion AwardSports Honour RollArts Honour RollSports Achievement AwardsMegan Dalley Award, which recognises outstanding performance by a Council trainee, apprentice or cadet.Robert East Award, which recognises outstanding contributions made by Council's volunteers in the community.Nominations close at 5pm on Tuesday 15 July with the awards to be presented on Tuesday 5 August at The Pavilion, as part of Local Government Week (4-10 August).For full information about the Awards, visit the Kiama Council website.

The South Coast Police District Domestic Violence Awareness Cup rugby league tournament kicked off on Thursday morning at Bomaderry Sporting Complex for the third consecutive year.The event was created to educate and encourage people - especially young people - to take a stand against domestic and family violence, all while enjoying a day of footy.The tournament brings together the South Coast Police District, Group 7 Rugby League, NSW Rugby League, the NRL, and more than 200 students from Years 9 to 11 across the Shoalhaven region. It featured an under-16s Rugby League (boys) and League Tag (girls) Gala Day.The six local high schools taking part include Nowra, Vincentia, Shoalhaven, Bomaderry, Ulladulla, and St John the Evangelist Catholic High Schools.South Coast Police District Commander Superintendent Darren Brand said the event was extremely important.“We know there is no single solution to stop domestic and family violence, the NSW Police will continue to work with community leaders, government agencies and the private sector to put a stop to domestic violence offenders and protect our communities,” Supt Brand said.“Educating the younger generation how to seek help and to break the cycle of violence is part of the solution and why the DV Awareness Cup is such an important event for the South Coast Police District.”Leading up to the Gala Day, South Coast police officers visited participating schools to educate students on a range of issues, including respect and how to seek help if they are victims of family or domestic violence.Shoalhaven-based government and community organisations were present on the day, providing information to students and families about services and support available to help break the cycle.“Today’s gala day and the education sessions in the lead up to today’s event, provides a safe space for people to come forward and ask for help, to educate themselves about certain behaviours such as coercive control to better protect themselves, their families and their future,” said Supt Brand.The event is backed by the NRL, with rugby league great and NRL Ambassador Garry Jack attending, along with players from the St George Illawarra Dragons NRL and NRLW teams.

Andrew Wilson never set out to be Kiama Golf Club’s official historian but, after more than 50 years of membership at the club, it was a gimme. On Saturday Andrew will host a talk for the Kiama Historical Society, sharing 122 years of the golf club’s history from its early years at Chapman Point, to a brief period at what is now Kiama High School, to the past 90 years at Minnamurra. Andrew grew up in the area and became a Kiama Golf Club member in 1971. Four decades later, when a member of the board discovered Andrew’s passion for playing golf with hundred-year-old hickory clubs, he was asked to delve into the club’s dusty archives. “Hickory clubs are the golfing equivalent of driving around in a Model T Ford,” laughs Andrew. “Presumably as a consequence, I was asked to take on the role of Kiama Golf Club historian.” The rest, as they say, is history. Andrew found himself going down the proverbial rabbit hole, and his sleuthing not only uncovered a treasure trove of fun facts but unearthed his passion for research. Nell Caird the 1909 NSW Ladies Amateur Champion. Photo: Kiama Golf ClubWhen he first began trawling through old newspapers and documents, Andrew made an interesting discovery; Kiama Golf Club had celebrated its centenary in 2005 but the club had in fact opened in 1903 not 1905 as first thought. “A story published in 1903 in the Shoalhaven Telegraph says: ‘Kiama can now claim a golf club … and with a goodly number of members there is every prospect of (the club) having a very successful career’,” explains Andrew. He has since spent almost 15 years documenting the club’s ‘very successful career’ after being given a box of documents, photos and old newspapers as the newly-minted club historian. “It was all hard copy,” says Andrew. “I didn’t really know what to do but just started reviewing, scanning and recording the documents. I also used Trove, an excellent research tool, and interviewed long-time club members like Margaret Boyd to fill in the gaps. The Boyds continue to have strong links to the club, 90 years after Cyril Boyd made the land available for the Minnamurra course in 1935. “Margaret won 23 club championships over six decades,” says Andrew. “She could really hit a ball. Her sister-in-law Val Boyd probably stopped Margaret from winning more. Val won 10 out of 12 championships between 1961 and 1972. “Margaret and Val were the respective wives of Alan and Sam, Cyril’s sons. Sadly Alan died suddenly in 1972 while president of the golf club, but the Boyd family continues to play a significant role in the club’s history.” Margaret’s daughter Noni and granddaughter Amy are upholding the Boyd tradition of strong female golfers at Kiama. Andrew’s research also shows the pivotal role a large number of women historically played in the club’s success. Nell Caird plays a shot while Nancy Parbury, the eventual runner-up, looks on in 1909. Photo: Kiama Golf Club“You go right back to the very, very early days and there are quite a lot of women who were active golfers at the club,” says Andrew. Kiama golfer Nell Caird was the runner-up in the Inaugural NSW Ladies Country Championship in 1906 and crowned the NSW Ladies Amateur Champion 1909. Press reports called the club ‘one of the most progressive’ in NSW. In 1935 there were 35 associate members (women were only allowed to be associates at the time, not full members) and only 30 male members. “That was the same year that the new course at Minnamurra was unveiled with great fanfare,” says Andrew. The president of the suburban country golf association did the honours and was quoted in the Kiama Reporter and Illawarra Journal as saying that ‘golf is primarily a man’s game’ but the ladies ‘excelled themselves in serving a truly delightful meal on the verandah’. “I don't know whether he was aware of the fact that the women actually outnumbered the men at the golf club,” laughed Andrew. “But, by all accounts, he got out of Kiama with his skin still intact.” By the 1980 and ‘90s golf was booming, Greg Norman was at the peak of his power, and Kiama’s playing membership grew to over 1000. The battle for places on the competition timesheet was fierce, with ladies and men both playing midweek. This sparked the ‘Great Wednesday Competition Controversy’ with female golfers taking their concerns to the anti-discrimination board. “Increasing pressure on tee times for the Wednesday comp led to a proposal to move the ladies’ comp to Thursdays,” explains Andrew. “This was not well received by the ladies but thankfully the matter was resolved.” If you’d like to find out how, or you just want to know more about Kiama’s rich golfing history join Andrew’s talk – The History of Golf in Kiama – at the Kiama Library Auditorium on June 21 from 2pm. Tickets include afternoon tea and are $3 for members and $5 for non-members.

Berry was transformed into a living artwork over the weekend as the 2025 OpenField Arts Festival brought the town to life with a vibrant mix of art, music, parades, parties, and community spirit.Now in its second edition, following its debut in 2023, the festival featured 24 artist projects, including installations, sculptures, video works, performance art, workshops, and events held across a variety of local venues.The idea for the festival was born during the COVID pandemic, according to founding member and Artistic Director Lenka Kripac.“It was COVID and I'm actually a musician but at that time I couldn't tour or anything so I was a bit restless creatively,” said Kripac.“But it was also about looking around our town in Berry and seeing that there were lots of artists, lots of creatively engaged people, but no arts infrastructure. We don't have a gallery, we don't have a music venue, we don't have a cinema.“And we thought, you know what? We need to have something in this town where creatives can meet and collaborate and show one another their work and celebrate. So we chose a festival model, partly because we have such fabulous buildings and spaces in Berry that are available to hire.”Photos from the First Nations exhibition. Photo: SuppliedIn addition to the exhibitions and art installations, the festival featured lively evening events such as a cabaret night and a DJ-led discotheque.“Then we had parties at night, like a cabaret night and a DJ night and everything was great. It was really well attended,” said Kripac.“There was a really warm vibe, people were really friendly and there was a feeling of connection and authenticity on the streets. We don’t have the exact number of people who attended yet, but I’d say it was in the thousands.”One of the standout features of the 2025 festival was the inclusion and celebration of First Nations artists, including what Kripac believes may have been a world first.“There was a First Nations hub in the rural youth hall which was amazing. They turned it into a skill sharing, yarning space and there were workshops going all the time, as well as some very talented up and coming First Nations artists showing and selling works,” said Kripac.“And then there was also a panel and a beautiful performance by a violinist from Sydney called Eric Avery, who performs his ancestral songs, but with a classical violin style. We even had Gadhungal Marring performing didge and dance and song at our burlesque cabaret night, which was possibly a world first.Photos from the burlesque cabaret night. Photo: Supplied.“Definitely nothing I've ever seen before to have that combo of local First Nations plus classic French burlesque.”Another festival highlight was the colourful street parade, which saw the main street of Berry shut down as costumed participants and musicians marched with signs and energy.“We shut down the main street of Berry and made a lot of noise with a brass band from Wollongong called the Femme Fatales. People labelled it soft activism. Everyone has the intention of trying to get word out about issues of the day, but it didn't feel like a protest. It felt like a celebration of our artistry and creativity and passion,” said Kripac.Photos from the street parade. Photos supplied.Kripac is optimistic that the festival will return in 2026, especially after this year’s success.“It will be back again, but it's going to be a constantly evolving umbrella brand. We know that this works, but it is really challenging to put on as a non-profit volunteer-run arts organisation,” said Kripac.“We may need to evolve it into something slightly different in the future. But so far for the first two festivals, this has worked, but really because of the blood, sweat and tears of the entire town making it happen. I don't know if that's sustainable forever, but there's so much joy and energy behind it.”

Kiama Council Chief Executive Officer Jane Stroud is ready to build on “the amazing/difficult experience” of her first four years in the job after being retained for another three years.A contract renewal until 2028 was debated and voted on at the Council meeting on Tuesday night after she was rated as operating at a high standard at a recent performance review.Stroud joined Kiama Council as CEO in June 2021.With an extensive background in local government and strategic planning, she previously served as director and deputy CEO at Logan City Council and director at Southern Downs Councils in Queensland.At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, Councillors convened behind closed doors to discuss Stroud’s potential reappointment.Council acknowledged and approved a request from the CEO to renew her contract for a period of three years from 18 June 2025.Stroud’s employment contract will now run until midway through 2028 and she will receive a 3% pay rise as part of Council’s decision to keep her in the executive role.“Firstly, can I just say thank you to the Mayor and the Councillors for their decision. "It's the single biggest decision that Council and councillors ever make - they only get one employee and I'm really honoured and privileged to be their employee and to work with them,” she said.“It has been a really amazing/difficult experience working at Kiama Council over the last four years and I'm really grateful to be able to continue to be part of the direction that the organisation goes in and to keep working with the amazing staff and the amazing team that I have built an incredible relationship with over the last four years. “I have some absolutely fabulous people who work for me and who work on behalf of the community and do an incredible job. I'm proud to be their leader." Stroud joked that she lives in “PIO Land” in reference to the Performance Improvement Order which has been imposed on Kiama Council by the NSW Government due to past governance problems.“That's a shared challenge but that is the challenge,” she said.“I would really love to see the organisation have that PIO lifted and to be able to know that we have a sustainable future in front of us and that you can leave a legacy that nobody has to go through this again because it's been really tough.”Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said he was really happy that the Councillors have decided to support the CEO in keeping her around.“I think it promotes great stability in the administrative arm of Council,” he said.“Council has shown that they have confidence there that things are heading in the right direction. “We've only been here for nine months and essentially we've come in on the back of a Performance Improvement Order that is really important that Council are addressing and we've seen that the results so far are going very well under the CEO and the executive leadership group that the CEO has been able to assemble.“It provides great stability for the rest of our term and essentially I think it's really good to provide public confidence in Council that the councillors and the administrative arm are working cohesively with a set of objectives in mind.”

Kiama has joined forces with four other local government areas to Go Grand in promoting the tourist attractions of the South Coast and Southern Highlands. The coordinated regional tourism campaign is designed to boost visitation during the winter months and support local tourism operators across the Grand Pacific Drive.Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven and the Southern Highlands have united under four key themes for the winter tourism season: Grand Experiences, Grand Flavours, Grand Nature and Grand Stays.Destination Kiama chair, Councillor Matt Brown said when he was NSW Tourism Minister nearly 20 years ago he helped launch the Grand Pacific Drive campaign and a lot of that infrastructure is at the centre of this latest push for most tourists to discover the region.“It’s really good that our local tourism organisations and councils are coming back to that campaign,” he said.“We have these amazing rounds, starting up north with the Sea Cliff Bridge and going down south. We really want to make it more than just a drive, we’re looking at grand experiences and grand food. Illawarra Fly's zipline tandem.“In Kiama at this time of year, one of the best things you can do is go to the Illawarra Fly and spend beautiful winter days looking over the escarpment. It’s really special and now that the Jamberoo Mountain Road is open, it’s one of the best experiences families can enjoy locally.“It’s a fully iconic experience. You get put in a harness and whiz through the trees on a zipline, it’s very fun.” The Go Grand is not just targeted at tourists from the rest of NSW and beyond with local residents also being encouraged to explore the region’s many eye-catching destinations.“We are spoilt for choice as locals. If people haven’t seen the new and improved Minnamurra Rainforest and its walking tracks, or gone to the Illawarra Fly, make sure you do,” Cr Brown added.“At the Kiama Visitors’ Centre you can get tickets for these things and really good advice on spending a day out and about. “We don’t need to travel very far to have a great experience, whether it’s up in the Southern Highlands or down in the Shoalhaven, there’s so much to do - walking tracks, wineries, bed an breakfasts, there’s so much to see and do. Killalea State Park. Kramer Photography“I encourage people to visit something new or something they haven’t seen for a while in their own backyard."Kiama is proud to be part of the Go Grand campaign, celebrating our undeniably grand landscapes – from volcanic cliffs and rolling green hills to hidden waterfalls and iconic coast walk. “But it’s the warmth of our community and the richness of our experiences that make a visit truly unforgettable. “Whether it’s browsing seaside markets, indulging in local flavours or joining a vibrant winter event, Kiama offers moments that linger long after you leave. “Partnering with our Top Tourism Town neighbours across the South Coast and Highlands shows that when we work together, the journey becomes even grander.”You can pre-purchase tickets online on illawarrafly.com.au.Shannan Perry-Hall, GM, Destination Sydney Surrounds South, said the Go Grand initiative was a landmark example of regional collaboration, “positioning the South Coast and Southern Highlands as NSW’s premier winter road trip destination”.The established touring route of the Grand Pacific Drive offers a connected and easily navigable itinerary for holidaymakers to plan a winter getaway through some of NSW’s most picturesque and experience-rich destinations.“From the National Surfing Reserve at The Farm, Killalea, and the Shell Cove Waterfront Precinct, to HARS Aviation Museum and the lush Macquarie Pass National Park, Shellharbour offers diverse, unforgettable grand experiences,” Shellharbour City Council Mayor Chris Homer said.Shoalhaven Tourism cultural & community services manager Kristy Mayhew said the Go Grand campaign would benefit their tourism operators in the off-peak season. “Data tells us that spend is down and cost of living is hurting local businesses, so if you can take a short break and make it grand, the South Coast and Highlands await,” she said.Grand Pacific Drive is a 140km scenic touring route that begins in the Royal National Park and winds its way through spectacular coastal and hinterland landscapes.

For those with wedding bells in their ears or thinking about bending the knee, the upcoming Kiama I Do event on June 28 is not to be missed. The event features highly sought-after venues and exhibitors from Kiama and its surrounding districts, with the focus on showcasing the many facets of the wedding industry. This year’s venues include The Pavilion Kiama, The Sebel Kiama, and Greyleigh, offering a mix of seaside charm or hinterland rustic elegance to suit couples. At The Pavilion Kiama, Culinarius general manager Rebecca Armstrong said “we will be set for a wedding, so guests can experience The Pavilion looking its best for a wedding, thanks to some amazing local suppliers. “They’ll be able to really be transported into some wedding inspiration at our venue and the other venues will be doing the same with local suppliers as well. “All venues will have their wedding coordinators and team there to answer questions and help couples on their journey to find the perfect wedding, stylist or florist.” There will be food samples provided. Even a lucky door prize. At Greyleigh, general manager Hamish McCallum said they were excited to be a part of Kiama I Do to welcome potential couples through showcasing the venue as a wedding destination. “We are going to have a selection of our favourite vendors and suppliers from locally based wedding businesses.” Greyleigh will also have their venue set for a wedding and will be providing samples of their food. Whether you’re newly engaged with no firm planning, booking those forgotten suppliers, or just looking for inspiration, the Kiama I Do event is for everyone. Kiama I Do is on June 28 from 11am to 2pm. Entry is free to the event. For more information head to www.kiamaido.com.au.

The Gerringong Golf Club, joined by Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips, officially opened its new fuel storage tanks and cart wash bay on Wednesday morning.Funded in part by a $17,500 grant from the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program, the project marks the first stage of the club’s long-term clubhouse development plans.The new facilities will provide safer and more environmentally friendly ways to maintain the club’s golf carts, helping to improve compliance with fuel storage safety standards and reduce water use through recycling.“It really is a delight to be able to fund projects that not only benefit our environment, but assist organisations that bring so much joy to people in our community,” Phillips said.“These upgrades will improve safety for members, visitors and golf club staff and the water recycling facility will help keep the course looking fantastic as well.”As one of the few golf courses in Australia where you can see the ocean from every hole, Gerringong Golf Club welcomes around 18,000 visitors each year. The upgraded infrastructure helps ensure the club continues to offer high-quality facilities for locals and tourists alike.“This stunning golf course, in the most sublime location overlooking the ocean, is a huge attraction for visiting golfers who support our local economy and jobs year ‘round,” Phillips added.Gerringong Golf Club was one of 17 community organisations in Gilmore to share in $134,500 worth of funding through Round 8 of the Stronger Communities Program.