The Bugle News 30 August 2025

Minns shares vision p3 Kate’s premier concern p5 Finding focus p15

FREE COMMUNITY PAPER DIGITAL EDITION Covering the Kiama LGA and beyond

Paul Suttor

Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald is calling on the NSW Government and Labor candidate Katelin McInerney to pledge more for the electorate, saying Council does not feel “our community’s needs are being heard”.

McInerney on Thursday announced the delivery of $3 million in accelerated funding to undertake “a road repair and pothole blitz” across the Kiama electorate alongside NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos.

On Friday, McInerney and Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib were in Gerringong to announce a fleet of 26 new rescue jet skis will patrol beaches across the state, including Kiama’s three surf life saving clubs.

Mayor McDonald said on Thursday to say that while investment in roads was always welcome, Kiama Council’s priority items in its State Government Advocacy Plan remain unanswered.

“We would welcome a sit-down with the Premier, the Treasurer, the Finance Minister and the candidate. But right now, we don’t feel our community’s needs are being heard,” he said.

“Our biggest game-changer is Spring Creek employment land. Removing the outdated covenant would cost the Government nothing, but it would transform Council’s financial sustainability, help us lift the Performance Improvement Order, and allow us to deliver more for our community.”

The Mayor renewed calls

Council fuming over lack of government action

for the State Government to take back responsibility for Jamberoo Mountain Road.

“If the Government is serious about roads in our region, then taking back Jamberoo Mountain Rd should be front and centre.”

He said announcements, such as State Government funding for a Special Entertainment Precinct trial and the Liberal pledge of $26 million for Kiama Sports Precinct were positive, but he was concerned

about a lack of commitment to major advocacy priorities.

“Our community cannot continue to be overlooked. Kiama doesn’t want handouts. We want a hand up, through genuine partnerships that unlock our potential.”

A NSW Government spokesperson said no formal request for a meeting between the Mayor, Minister for Finance, the Treasurer, and the Premier has been received outside of Council’s media

release. “The Premier and Treasurer attended the Kiama Business Forum on Monday Morning with the Mayor. The Mayor was given a chance to ask questions and raise any issues at the forum and decided not to.

“The Premier also called the Mayor the day Ms McInerney was announced as the Labor candidate.”

Minister for the South Coast and Illawarra, Ryan Park added: “We know there is still

more to be done. To say we are ignoring this community is just playing politics.”

Mayor McDonald responded by saying his statement was “never about politics”.

“It was about partnership over handouts - about unlocking the potential of places like Spring Creek, and addressing critical priorities like Jamberoo Mountain Road and infrastructure that remains close to home but far from being heard at the

highest levels. “I’m committed to keeping up the pressure and ensuring both major parties commit to our advocacy priorities before polling day.”

A Kiama Council spokesperson said they remained “open and willing to meet with the Premier, Treasurer, Finance Minister and all candidates to discuss the needs of our community. Advocating for our community’s priorities is part of Council’s core business.

“Council records confirm that the Mayor spoke by phone with Premier Minns on 14 August and extended an offer to meet. On the same day, Council sent the draft Advocacy Plan and an invitation to meet to both the Premier and the Opposition Leader. “Following Council’s unanimous adoption of the Advocacy Plan at its 19 August meeting, the final plan was again sent, along with a renewed invitation to meet, to the Premier, the Opposition Leader, and all candidates in the by-election.

“That offer to meet remains open, and Council looks forward to constructive discussions about how we can deliver the priorities that matter most to the Kiama community.”

McInerney did not say whether the Government would reclaim stewardship of Jamberoo Mountain Road but said Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison was “very well aware of the need for this important east-west link to be protected and if I'm fortunate enough to end up in parliament, this will be a matter that I'll be advocating on very strongly in the future.”

Local battery bulk buy information sessions can be very valuable

Kiama-based solar and battery company

The Energy Experts is organising a series of Local Battery Bulk Buy/ Info Sessions on Tuesday, 2 September at The Pavilion – in partnership with Sun People & Easther Electrical.

“We want to educate people about the importance of buying quality when it comes to a home battery systemboth from an efficiency and reliability point of view, but also from a safety perspective,” says Carolyn Lee of The Energy Experts.

“There are plenty of entrylevel brands on the market (a number of which are approved under the Federal Government rebate scheme).

“It's so easy to be lured on a cheap price, but longterm reliability and safety are critical.”

The combined buying power of these three companies will enable Kiama residents to save significantly on a home battery, as they’ll be buying container loads of batteries, rather than pallet loads.

“Most people in our community choose to support local where they can and

that’s exactly what they’ll be doing if they choose to install a government-subsidised battery through our bulk buy initiative,” says Lee. Battery storage enables households to power their homes with solar energy 24/7.

The national battery rebate program began on 1 July. Over 16,000 batteries were installed across Australia in the first 28 days of the scheme.

In the Illawarra alone, hundreds of batteries have been installed since the rebate went live.

Experts in the solar industry have calculated the $2.3 billion in rebates will likely be exhausted within 12 months, based on current battery uptake.

Households and businesses are installing larger batteries than they otherwise would because there’s such a generous rebate on offer (around 30% discount on the average cost of a battery; worth up to $16,500).

As the subsidy can only be accessed the once, it works out to be more economical to install more battery capacity now than do it in two stages.

For households that choose to join a Virtual Power Plant,

where ongoing revenue can be generated by selling the stored energy back to the grid when demand is high, it’s financially more beneficial to have greater storage capacity, as it helps to achieve a faster return on investment.

“The two info sessions we’re running on September 2 will clarify the different tiers of batteries available under the scheme and will also help people understand more about VPPs, which hasten the payback of a battery by around 20%,” Lee added.

What: Local Battery Bulk Buy/Info Sessions

When: Tuesday 2 September, 10:30am11:30am; and 5:45pm - 6:45pm

Where: The Pavilion, Kiama There is limited seating, so register at theenergyexperts. com.au/events.

‘Violence has surged’: Liberals accuse Labor of hospital safety neglect

Mitchell Beadman

NSW Opposition Leader

Mark Speakman has stepped up his attacks on the Labor Government by accusing Premier Chris Minns of sidestepping their focus on the health system in the Kiama electorate.

Speakman was joined by Shadow Health Minister Kellie Sloane and the Liberals’ Kiama by-election candidate Serena Copley at Shoalhaven Hospital emergency department on Monday. The trio slammed the government for the escalation in assaults against hospital workers, where the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District had a 62% increase in physical aggression incidents against health workers over four years.

Speakman advocated for hospital workers and their right to working in a safe environment. “Violence in our hospitals has surged under Labor, no one should have to go to work fearing being kicked, spat on, or attacked with weapons, least of all our frontline workers,” he said.

Sloane highlighted the work of the previous NSW Liberal government and called for action. “In government, the NSW Liberals introduced laws equating assaults on health

and emergency workers to assaults on police with penalties of up to seven years jail,” Sloane said.

“We’re demanding the NSW Government act and outline their plan to keep staff and patients safe.”

Copley sees the region as being neglected by Labor and this has had a flow-on effect.

“Families in our region are facing longer waits and fewer staff because health workers are being driven out of the system,” Copley said.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park was quick with his response to the Liberal attack.

“Under the Liberals, we had cuts to staff, wage freezes, plans for privatisation and higher wait times,” Park said.

“Under Labor, we’ve commenced the trial of body worn cameras for security staff at hospitals.

“It’s part of a range of safety measures we’ve employed and recommendations of the Anderson Review that we’ve implemented.”

Speakman and Sloane were critical of the state the NSW hospital system finds itself in and what it means for the people of NSW.

“This is a direct result of Labor’s neglect of our health system, where it is becoming harder for people to have safe

and timely access to health care,” Speakman said. “What we do know is there is a crisis of morale in our health system in New South Wales, particularly in mental health.”

Sloane added: “Long waits in emergency departments and a broken mental health system are pushing hospitals to the brink.”

In 2020, Peter Anderson led an extensive evaluation of hospital security and in 2021 he handed down 107 recommendations in his final report. Culture was at the top of the list with “a culture of safety and security to be mandated and clearly understood across the NSW health system based on the maxim that ‘security is everybody’s responsibility’”.

This latest tirade from the Liberals in the Kiama byelection is part of a sustained attack on Labor’s handling of infrastructure within the electorate since being elected in 2023 and Speakman did not mince his words.

“By the time we left office, we had doubled the annual expenditure on health operations,” he said. “The NSW Liberals had tripled the infrastructure spending. We had increased the number of nurses by 28% and we had increased the number of doctors and surgeons.

Minns tells Forum about federal funding frustration

NSW Premier Chris Minns has admitted his government needs to do more for small and medium-sized businesses while addressing local business leaders at The Pavilion in Kiama on Monday.

Minns made his fourth visit to the Kiama electorate in the past 11 days to lend his support to Labor candidate Katelin McInerney’s campaign to win the vacant state seat at the 13 September by-election.

important part of being a government that's responsive to the biggest employers in NSW, and that is small and medium-sized enterprises.

“And we need to do more. We want you to grow.

“We want you to invest in your community.

Hospital, putting billions of dollars into our health network.

"But it might surprise you to know that not withstanding the fact that NSW has about a third of the country's population, we get about 24% of the infrastructure spend for the country. And that difference is a massive difference for our state.

“It means that there's a limit on how much we can grow and how fast we can grow. For the GST split, it's even worse.”

Along with Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, he spoke to a large group of Business Illawarra members on a range of topics.

“We want you to know that you've got a government that recognises that it's been a difficult few years, and that you need help in certain instances, in certain parts of the economy, and in other areas you just need to get out of the way.”

“I come to these meetings with a little bit of reticence, particularly in the middle of the by-election, because I can see some people's eyes rolling and saying, well, the election's on, so you're down here, which is a natural human response,” before adding that he had conducted similar forums all across the state over the past couple of years.

“We think it's a really

Minns told the forum that NSW had been left behind compared to other states, particularly Victoria, when it comes to getting their fair share of national revenue from the Federal Government.

‘We need sharper elbows when we're dealing with the feds, particularly for NSW’s share of Commonwealth money. We've got major infrastructure projects right across NSW,” he said.

“We're currently in the middle of building Shoalhaven and Shellharbour

Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald thanked Minns and Mookhey for making the time to engage directly with the local business community but was unhappy with the lack of clarity provided on local issues.

“With a by-election now underway in Kiama, it was disappointing that we heard little about the issues directly affecting our community,” he said.

“Voters in Kiama want to know where the Government stands on the projects and priorities that matter to them.”

A flicker of hope for fireworks

Suttor

Destination Kiama chair, Councillor Matt Brown is holding out hope that the New Year’s Eve fireworks display could still go ahead despite the vote to cancel the iconic event at last week’s Council meeting.

Cr Brown is hoping that the NSW Government can come to the rescue after Mayor Cameron McDonald used his casting vote to veto the Sky Show despite a late bid to have funds from the recently approved Glenbrook Drive land sale diverted to fund the fireworks.

“Our window to provide the best Sky Show outside of Sydney Harbour is closing exponentially by the day,” he told The Bugle, speaking as a Councillor but not on behalf of Council. “We can only provide it if we are granted the $100,000 in the next week or two (by the NSW Government) otherwise the window closes.

“My commitment is to

ensure the budget is in a sound position early next year that we can provide a proper welcome to the 2027 new year.

“NYE without fireworks is like Christmas Day without a Christmas Tree or Easter without Easter Eggs. Traditions and our NYE culture are important. I will fight to maintain our culture for everyone.”

Cr Brown said he would fight any plan to spread funding around so that a series of smaller events are instead held at various locations in the LGA in future on New Year’s Eve. “It would be the equivalent of not having the amazing fireworks on Sydney Harbour but spreading it out to Penrith, Sutherland, Hornsby, Pittwater, Manly and Canley Vale,” he said.

“It’d be a disaster and it certainly wouldn’t be spectacular.

“When you pull important things apart they never fit properly together again.

“Black Beach at Kiama is

one of the best ampithetres in the country, Kiama Harbour is close to the network of roads and railways, we have a proven track record of being able to manage on of the best fireworks displays outside of Sydney Harbour in all of Australia.”

Kiama Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters said if the fireworks don’t go ahead then she was encouraging residents to still get out and about to support local businesses.

Mayor McDonald said the decision to cancel the Sky Show was difficult but necessary as part of Council’s commitment to reducing its operating deficit and meeting financial sustainability obligations under the NSW Government’s Performance Improvement Order.

“We know how much the Sky Show is loved by our community, but we also have a responsibility to live within our means and ensure that essential services remain our priority.”

Chance to celebrate differently and support local business

Melinda Lawton

My decision not to proceed with fireworks this New Year’s Eve will understandably disappoint many residents who look forward to the tradition each year.

But this change also presents an opportunity – one that could see our communities connect in new ways and deliver a valuable economic boost to local businesses across the local government area.

Rather than gathering in a single location for a display, residents can instead celebrate close to home –by booking a table at their local restaurant, reserving a seat at their favourite bar or pub, or organising a family picnic in a nearby park and supporting the takeaway businesses in their neighbourhood. Staying

local throughout our LGA, alleviates pressure on traffic and crowd management –it keeps dollars circulating in the local economy and supports the very businesses that serve our communities year-round.

Cafés and restaurants now have the chance to offer set-menu New Year’s Eve dinners or special familyfriendly sittings.

Bars and pubs can host early “local countdowns” or relaxed live music nights, and feature pre-booked locals packages.

Business precincts could work together to promote progressive dinners, twilight dining trails, or “shop-andstay” promotions.

Local parks and picnic areas can become focal points for people to gather with neighbours and friends – and small activations such as live musicians, outdoor movies or pop-up performances can deliver all

the atmosphere of a largescale event at a fraction of the cost.

The real opportunity this year is to demonstrate that a celebration of community doesn’t have to rely on a single spectacle.

By choosing to celebrate within our own neighbourhoods, residents can contribute directly to local jobs and strengthen the social fabric that supports our towns and villages.

I strongly encourage businesses in our LGA to get creative and take advantage of this golden opportunity! So while the fireworks won’t take place this year, the spirit of celebration certainly can – and in more places than ever before.

Stay local. Celebrate local. Support local.

Banter Bugle

Thirteen names on ballot ... but it will only be lucky for one

The deadline for candidates to throw their hat into the ring is over and after much murmuring about who will be in the Kiama by-election, we have a field of 13 candidates.

Dr Tonia Gray was the lucky winner of Friday’s ballot draw - she will be the first name on the list followed by the Liberal Party’s Serena Copley when you cast your vote on 13 September.

The big loser was Family First hopeful Kyle Napoleoni, who was excluded after the NSW Electoral Commission did not accept his nomination.

Labor nominee Katelin McInerney was drawn down at the bottom in the 13th spot, one behind Community Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds.

McInerney, Copley, Gray and Dezarnaulds are considered the main chances of winning the seat that was left vacant by former independent MP Gareth Ward’s resignation following his conviction for sexual assault offences.

There are five independent candidates as well as representatives from Legalise Cannabis Party, Libertarian Party, Sustainable Australia, Animal Justice Party and the Shoorters, Fishers, Farmers.

The ballot draw is:

1 Tonia Gray (Greens)

2 Serena Copley (Liberals)

3 Andrew Thaler (Independent)

4 Roger Woodward (Independent)

5 Don Fuggle (Legalise Cannabis Party)

6 Ken Davis (Sustainable Australia)

7 Lisa Cotton (Independent)

8 Cyrille Jeufo (Indpendent)

9 Felix Nelson (Shooters, Fishers, Farmers)

10 Joshua Beer (Libertarian Party)

11 Ellie Robertson (Animal Justice Party)

12 Kate Dezarnaulds (Independent)

13 Katelin McInerney (Labor)

Candidates had until Thursday to nominate and Family First issued a statement after Napoleoni’s bid was rejected because the party had not been registered in NSW for the minimum 12-month period. “These petty rules, which only exist in NSW, seem designed by the major parties to make it

hard for smaller parties,” Family First national director Lyle Shelton said.

“When it comes to election rules, the fix is in by NSW Liberal and Labor. Nothing unites the major parties more than keeping the competition out.”

Copley was happy to get second spot on the ballot and used the draw in Nowra as a chance to continue her attack on the Labor Government’s record in the Kiama electorate.

“This by-election matters. It’s about who will deliver for Kiama. People have a choice between the Liberals, with a proven record of delivery, or Labor and the minor parties who can’t, or have failed to deliver for Kiama,” she said.

“The Liberals have a plan to deliver better infrastructure, services and support for our community. For two years Kiama has been forgotten by Labor, and local households and families are paying the price. They are only paying attention now because there is a by-election.”

Nobody knows where the 20,000 people who backed Ward last time around will vote this time around, which has created major uncertainty among the main candidates.

Labor is the clear frontrunner in this election and the Liberals’ strategy has been to undermine their claims at every possible opportunity.

Everyone else is hoping that the voters have had enough of the major parties’ dominance and will go with an alternative option.

McInerney was philosophical about her poor fortune at the draw.

“I think it’s a number on a page. It’s my partner’s lucky number, though, and it keeps popping up in the campaign, so hopefully that’s a good sign,” she said.

“What’s more important is getting out and talking to voters, which I have been doing over the past couple of weeks, but also over the past couple of years, it’s been a really difficult time for our community, and I’m hearing that people will be voting for a strong and for, quite frankly, a vocal person, for our region to really bring down the investment and so we can rebuild our infrastructure, rebuild our essential services.”

- Paul Suttor

Two conversations in one room at Business Forum

On Monday morning at Kiama Pavilion, at a hastily arranged Business Illawarra Forum with the Premier and Treasurer, we were told this visit was “business as usual”, part of a series of forums with Business Chambers and nothing to do with the Kiama by-election. It didn’t feel that way.

With a familiar campaign gloss - set-piece talking points about hospitals, schools, and long-horizon reforms - the assembled room full of small business leaders was nonetheless taking their rare audience with Labor's economic leadership and bursting with urgent pressures: insurance renewals, energy bills, workforce and housing, approvals that don’t stick, trains that don’t turn up, and support programs that have quietly disappeared.

That cognitive dissonance is exactly why I’m running in the Kiama by-election.

For years I’ve done the unglamorous work of helping small businesses survive and then grow - listening to retailers, tradies and in offices, connecting operators to each other and to practical support.

As president of the Berry Chamber, our community delivered three straight Top Small Tourism Town winsproof that when local business has a plan and the right scaffolding, a whole town lifts.

Later this year I’m a finalist for Business Illawarra’s awards after being named Kiama’s Outstanding Business Leader 2025, recognition that belongs to a region that backs its doers, not just its talkers.

Last week in Sydney, I represented Berry as the NSW Government’s brilliant UPTOWN program kicked off for our cohort: catalytic funding designed to help venues and producers extend the weekend into weeknights with music, collaborations, and smarter marketing.

Berry’s “Extend the Weekend” plan is now moving from pitch to delivery with $200,000 to activate our struggling hospitality sector - it’s the sort of close-to-theground support that turns policy into actual patrons, shifts and gigs.

I’m thrilled to see Labor was back on Wednesday to announce that Kiama has suddenly secured $200,000 for the much-needed Special Entertainment Precinct so our live music and hospitality ecosystem can build audience with clearer rules and less red tape. Momentum matters, but so does consistency.

If we want confidence to return after four tough years, business needs to know that what starts will be sustained. What the forum confirmed is that small business doesn’t need more speeches that admire the problem and shift the conversation back to Macquarie St agendas.

We need six practical shifts - now.

1. Insurance that works. Stop funding essential services by loading levies onto insurance premiums. The Emergency Services Levy on policies is a textbook perverse incentive that discourages people from insuring properly. And as icare costs spiral, and the system groans under the weight of spiralling mental health claims that trap victims to their tormentors, the answer can’t just be bigger premiums for compliant employers - fix the broken settings and the misaligned incentives.

2. Lower energy bills for business. Electrification support has to move beyond households. Help cafés, workshops, and light manufacturers switch equipment, electrify fleets, and cut bills with the same urgency we’ve seen for home solar panels and battery storage. Lower costs would mean more hours, more hires, and more headroom to invest.

3. Housing where the jobs are. Productivity isn’t a slogan - it’s a commute time. Get affordable and social housing near transport so essential workers can live close to shifts, and unlock build-to-rent, social housing investment and key-worker supply that also kickstarts the construction pipeline

4. Trains that are reliable, frequent and fast. We need a Sydney–Bomaderry service

Dr John Salmon • Kiama Dental Practice

Dr John Salmon is pleased to announce that he is practicing full time in Kiama.

Offering

we can plan our days around - and we need to end the single-track handbrake south of Kiama. Tourism, healthcare, education, and tradies all rely on timetables that don’t crumble weekly on infrastructure and timetables that haven’t improved in 25 years of neglect by both major parties.

5. Tailored support that eases cash-flow strain. Reinstate Business ConnectBusiness owners don’t want another compliance seminar; they want an advisor for eight hours who helps them price, hire, digitise, and sell. Scale precinct programs like UPTOWN and guarantee future rounds for regional communities only just getting started. We need to get the life back into our village streets and see our cafes and pubs filled with mid-week life, live music, local producers, and real customers.

6. Commercial and industrial land that’s usable. Open up employment land so operators can expand locally and hire locally. Match planning rhetoric with approvals that stick to evidence, and hold decisionmakers to clear, timely benchmarks so investment isn’t lost to inconsistency.

If Monday’s forum had one redeeming feature, it’s that the Premier and Treasurer heard the gap - between policy horizons and weekly cashflow reality. Close that gap and the rest follows: safer streets with active venues, apprenticeships because books are healthy, main streets that hum on Thursdays, and families who can afford to live near their work. Small business is the engine of our regional economy.

I’ve seen what happens when we fuel it: three years of top-tourism recognition in Berry, new precinct funding rolling out in Berry and Kiama, and operators ready to turn the lights on if government keeps its promises steady.

That’s the work I’ve been doing for years. That’s the standard I’ll hold myself and any government to.

Copley up in arms over Labor’s $100m Service NSW cutbacks

Lleyton Hughes

The NSW Liberals have accused the Minns Labor Government of slashing more than $100 million from Service NSW, with impacts being felt across the state.

On Wednesday, Shadow Minister for Customer Service and Digital Economy James Griffin, along with Liberal candidate for Kiama Serena Copley, spoke outside Kiama’s Service NSW centre - one of the first opened under the former Liberal government.

“This building is emblematic of how much we invested in making people’s interactions with government as simple and fast as possible,” Griffin said.

“Fast forward to today - the Minns Labor Government has cut over $100 million from Service NSW statewide. And it was only thanks to a whistleblower who came forward about nine months ago that we were able to uncover this.”

Griffin said one of the most direct consequences of the funding cut is longer delays for basic services - including driving tests for young people.

“The time to book and sit for an L-plate test has now blown out past two months,” he said. “Some might think

Serena Copley and Shadow Minister for Customer Service James Griffin.

that’s just an inconvenience, but for a young person trying to get their Ps and start a trade or apprenticeship, it’s a real setback. It delays their ability to earn a wage and get on with life.”

Copley added that the cuts have also affected Service NSW programs designed to ease cost of living pressures.

“Support vouchers like Back to School, First Lap, and Active Kids - all of which were introduced by the Liberal government through Service NSW - have now been scrapped or significantly reduced,” she said.

“At a time when families are struggling, cutting these support measures makes no sense.”

Copley also highlighted the end of the Business Connect initiative - a program that provided small businesses with free, tailored advice.

“This service will be cut on

October 1 by the Minns Labor Government,” she said.

“And that’s happening when business insolvencies are at record highs and red tape is increasing. It’s the worst time to pull support away from small businesses.”

Copley said that restoring Service NSW funding would be a priority if she’s elected.

“The Minns Labor Government doesn’t see this as important - but we do,” she said. “These cuts mean longer wait times and more red tape, which takes time away from families and communities.

People should be able to access government services efficiently - not spend their weekends sitting in queues or waiting months for a licence test.

“These are the types of services that make a real difference to local families, and I want to see them reinstated.”

Paul Suttor

CKATE WANTS TRAINS BACK ON TRACK

thing to rely on for work.

ommunity

Independent Kate Dezarnaulds says the Kiama electorate has a oncein-a-generation chance to effect real change on the South Coast’s railway infrastructure at the upcoming by-election.

Dezarnaulds was at Bomaderry Train Station on Thursday morning, talking to commuters about their frustrations with the service.

She plans to go to each stop on the line in the electorate, which stretches all the way north to Albion Park, over the next week to get more feedback on how the service can be improved.

The Berry businesswoman asked commuters to give the current standard a rating out of 10 and said that no one offered anything higher than a five.

“We’ve got a problem with frequency, reliability and speed,” she said.

“At the peak hour in the morning, if you miss that 6.37am train, you are waiting until 8.18am for the next one.”

Dezarnaulds is well aware of the problems with public transport as she has teenage children who catch the train to school each morning.

“In reality there are not too many people waiting for the train because it is way too infrequent, slow and unreliable,” she added.

“This is a once-in-ageneration-opportunity for the people on the South Coast to put some serious pressure on the state government to do what they have known they have to do for the last 20 years, which is to upgrade the line.

“People have become habituated to an incredibly low level of services.”

“If you are living in Gerringong, Berry or Bomaderry there are 14 trains every 24 hours, there are three rail replacement buses

“It’s a really challenging

The solution, she says, is obvious - to a deliver the passing loop at Toolijooa between Gerringong and Berry that has long been promised to local commuters.

“The pass at Toolijoa needs to be constructed. As soon as that happens then the insanity of having an hour and half between services in

peak hour can be resolved because you can have two carriages.

“We literally have one diesel train shuffling backwards and forwards so it can never go faster than the hour and a half gap between all the services.

“With a by-election followed by a state election 18 months later, there is no way this can fall down the priority list again. Whoever gets in is going to have an opportunity to make this happen.”

The flow-on effect of the poor rail service is that more and more people clog up the highways by driving up and down the coast.

“The changeover and the delays between the South Coast connections and the services from Kiama are an absolute chokehold on life of and level of services for people in the southern part of the electorate,” Dezarnaulds said.

“The system is just so inadequate because patrons can’t rely on public transport.

“The unnecessary burden financial and otherwise for people having to rely on car transport for everything really isn’t fair.”

Labor candidate Katelin

McInerney believes Kiama is a step closer to becoming “the cultural capital of the South Coast” after the NSW Government has committed $200,000 to Kiama Council towards establishing a Special Entertainment Precinct in the town.

McInerney and Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham joined Mayor Cameron McDonald, Councillors and members of the local hospitality businesses at The Grand on Tuesday to announce the funding.

The money will be used to form a night-time economy strategy and consult with local business owners,

residents and authorities on establishing a Special Entertainment Precinct.

A community petition was submitted to Council last year aimed at reviving the nighttime economy.

Kiama will join 19 other NSW councils that are progressing their own precincts or have passed motions in favour or exploring the option.

After consulting with the community, Council will set tailored trading hours and sound rules within the designated area.

Businesses within that precinct can then take up those conditions without the costly process of amending their individual development consents.

McInerney said the Precinct could do wonders for many

local businesses which rely on the community getting out and about after dark.

“We, as a group of Kiama creatives, have been working with Kiama Council over the past 18 months to design and get our community on board with a Special Entertainment Precinct,” she said. “This is an area that would allow for more activation in the middle of our town, help us build a more vibrant scene, help our venues and our businesses thrive all year round.”

Graham described it as “a big step forward”.

“What it means is it makes it easier to have music, to have venues trade a bit later, to make sure it's easy to move outdoors,” he said.

“That means big backing for some of the local businesses

Funding to deliver boost for nightlife in ‘cultural capital’

but it will also make Kiama a really more interesting place to visit, particularly after dark.

“We know it's worked elsewhere. We're backing this with a couple of hundred thousand dollars to make sure that the process really moves from here. I can't wait to see how this develops.”

Council has already started the night-time economy discussion through its visitor strategy plan.

“Their roundtable members have been a very big part of that conversation,” McInerney said. “One of the things that people who've grown up here have noticed is the town on a Thursday or Friday night, it's just closing at about 9 o'clock, whereas I fondly remember the days of being able to stay out a lot later than that and be able to move from venue to venue and really get the full experience of what our town has to offer.

“This piece of work is so vital to making sure that not only our venues and our businesses have a more favourable environment to get innovative ideas and great music and live entertainment up through the year, but it also helps our local

creative businesses who are really struggling in the current environment to get festivals off the ground, to make sure that we have these great popup events happening.

“Kiama should be an absolute cultural capital of the South Coast. And we just haven't met our potential in the 20 years since I was last playing here at The Grand with my friends’ punk band. We've actually seen it go backwards. Consultation is a really big part of this process. This needs to be driven by the community.”

Local residents are likely to express concerns about the potential for excessive noise or activity late at night but McInerney was confident they could get the balance right between their wishes and making sure that businesses can thrive.

“We are a tourist destination - we've just won our latest award for Kiama being a great place to come. We are a place people want to come for live entertainment and music. As local families, we want more of those opportunities but we absolutely need to balance that with residents' amenity.”

Graham said part of the challenge is that once an entertainment precinct is up and running, “letting people know that this is a lively part of town. “It's what we call an eyes-wide-open clause. If you move into this part of town, you'll be notified that you're moving into an entertainment precinct, you know what to expect.”

Mayor McDonald said Council was “very appreciative” of the financial injection to explore how the Precinct would operate.

“I think it's a real testament to the advocacy of our local community and our council, and reflective of what we've been asking for as a community for a long period of time,” he said.

“Which is more vibrant economy, more night-time options and the ability for our local businesses, our musicians and our artists to come out and have a forum to be able to support our local community and give visitors to our region and our local people a platform that they can come out and enjoy what we have as a region and as a town to offer.”

Nelson takes aim at major parties over bridge

Growing up on undulating farmland of Kangaroo Valley, Felix Nelson grew up in a dairy farming family and has recently been endorsed by the Shooters Fishers and Farmers (SFF) for the upcoming Kiama by-election.

Growing up on undulating farmland in a dairy farming family in Kangaroo Valley, Felix Nelson brings local experience as the Shooters Fishers and Farmers candidate for the upcoming Kiama byelection.

Nelson’s first order of business in his campaign is the Hampden Bridge in Kangaroo Valley which he sees as one of critical importance for the agricultural sector.

“She’s [Hampden Bridge] 127 years old now and has done incredibly well, but unfortunately would appear to have fallen by the wayside with the appropriate maintenance schedules,” he said.

“This isn’t casting stones at one side, both of the two parties [Labor and Liberal] have been in charge in the time that this bridge has been decaying.”

Nelson explained the weight reduction on the Hampden Bridge has been halved to now a 23-tonne load limit which excludes the entire Kangaroo Valley corridor for heavy

vehicles and means the local livestock transport industries have to take a major detour via Picton Road.

“It then forces all those trucks to then come all the way back through the northern end of the Kiama electorate and through Wollongong,” he said. “That’s a huge detour and that is their [the government’s] current working condition.”

The Minns Labor Government has pledged $500,000 in planning for a permanent new bridge and too blamed the previous Liberal-National government’s maintenance for the deterioration.

Liberal candidate Serena Copley said the Liberals see the need for the maintenance.

“We want urgent planning for a solution to be done in consultation with the Kangaroo Valley community,” Copley said.

Nelson said while he is well versed across many industries the one thing that sets him apart from other candidates is the party he is aligned with.

“We get to capitalise on the political experience within the party, in that it is a party that’s been around for a long time and has a good staffing network,” he said.

“It has good connections with the elements of the existing government but isn’t beholden to the government. So, the real advantage I see

with the SFF party specifically, is that we already have two members in the upper house who have, in this term of government, established a good working relationship with the government without selling their values and their constituent base down the river.”

NSW Upper House Member and SFF party member Mark Banasiak shared why it is important for SFF to have a candidate like Nelson in the byelection race as an alternative to the two major parties. “Both the major parties have let the region down in the past, [they] have seen it as a safe seat and probably haven’t given it the attention that it’s deserved,” Banasiak said.

“We’re quite happy to provide the community with an opportunity to place their vote somewhere else and hopefully get some traction and some more things delivered.”

In 2016, the SFF created history in the seat of Orange, where the Nationals, who held the seat since 1981, suffered a devastating 34 per cent swing in the by-election, which Nelson is using as his inspiration.

“[There] is a worked example that a SFF candidate can stand for a seat that is not traditionally been theirs and has been safely held by another party,” Nelson said.

“And I think that’s an interesting example that if people want to have a look at the possibilities of what we’re proposing for the area, that it can be very successful with a smaller party that has good working relationships across the upper and lower house.”

Banasiak was more reserved, but believes if anyone can do it, Nelson can.

“Look it’s going to be a challenge, but Felix is a fantastic local community member, and he has historic roots,” Banasiak said.

“Anything is possible and he’s [Nelson] going to give it a red-hot go, it’s an opportunity for people to see positive change.”

When asked about his political heroes, Nelson confessed to being a student of history and uses this as his political compass.

“My political inspiration comes from what has been achieved by various wartime Prime Ministers for their ability to get things done when things need to get done,” he said. “That is my inspiration that it can be done, [that] we can get the wheels rolling on projects when they need to get rolling.”

Nelson joined the armed forces after leaving high school and served in Afghanistan as an artillery observer in 2012 which he sees as a “keynote of the career”.

Council hopeful of ending Akuna dispute in mediaton

Paul Suttor

Kiama Council and property developer

Level 33 are scheduled to head to court in December after the formal mediation process in regards to Level 33’s Akuna Street development application was terminated.

The Akuna Street site was sold to Level 33 in late 2022 for $28 million. Due to the value and scope of the development application (DA) for the site, the assessment and final decision regarding the proposal was made by the Southern Regional Planning Panel.

The panel were not convinced that the proposal submitted by Level 33 satisfied the objectives of the sitespecific controls for the site.

Level 33 initiated legal proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court in January and a Section 34 mediation conference held on 6 August at which the parties could not reach a mediated outcome, and was therefore terminated. A hearing has been scheduled for 10-12 December 2025.

Kiama Council’s Director of Strategies and Communities, Ed Paterson, said Council is continuing to work in the background on trying to sort out an agreement with Level 33 to avoid further court proceedings.

“Thankfully the courts agreed at the request of both parties to enable us to continue ‘without prejudice conversations’ so that if in the meantime we can come to a mediated agreement, we can go back into mediation formally and avoid the December hearing and additional expenses,” he said.

“A silver lining to the fact the courts are so delayed at the moment is that it does give us a few extra months to keep trying to iron out the issues.”

Paterson said the DA’s

non-compliance with the Development Control Plan was the main sticking point.

“It’s the biggest development site in central Kiama and whatever is built here will set the tone for the rest of the town, so we need to ensure it adheres to the principles Council has endorsed around viewsharing and not being an overly bulky building.

“Some of the issues that arose throughout the assessment process have been taken away, things like laneways and how we’re going to deal with the heritage building, but there’s still, really simply, a bulk and scale issue.”

The best-case scenario is for the dispute to be resolved before December’s court hearing.

The worst-case scenario is that the case will go to the hearing and a Land and Environment Court Commissioner will decide on the outcome.

Local residents are keen to see the Level 33 development get underway because it will mean the removal of one of Kiama’s ugliest eyesores.

The dilapidated area of the old Kiama Independent newspaper headquarters has been decimated by vandals and squatters with abandoned cars, smashed glass and graffiti throughout the site. Level 33 has not responded to requests for comment from The Bugle.

On the other side of Akuna Street, PSEC Project Services has withdrawn its application after Council advised the developer that amendments were required in order to achieve compliance with Development Control Plan objectives.

Council encourages applicants to withdraw DAs when redesign amendments are required to ensure DA timeframes do no blow out.

Sweet smell of success as family-owned Berry business beats big brands

Shelby Gilbert

Berry business Totem Eco, founded by a husband and wife team, took home the top prize at the Clean + Conscious awards for their brand’s natural deodorant.

Toby and Katie Gibson’s brand, Totem Eco, won gold for Best Deodorant at the Clean + Conscious Awards 2025 with their Blue Gum Natural Deodorant Stick.

Totem Eco also secured silver in the Sensitive category for their Kakadu Rose Natural Deodorant Stick.

The Clean + Conscious Awards highlight the most sustainable and ethical products in Australia and New Zealand, with winners undergoing testing by leading experts across health, beauty,

sustainability and media.

“We were up against some of the brands that we'd really respected over the years and who were sort of the trailblazers and are still doing great stuff in this space,” said Toby.

“But to take home gold and being in that company was just a huge achievement for us, given we're just a little family business and they're very big and established players.”

Totem Eco launched after Toby and Katie relocated to Berry from Sydney as a way for them to reconnect with their roots and for their children to have more of a grounded upbringing.

The couple started becoming more aware about the products they had in their household and how safe they were around children.

“Having kids makes you a little bit more conscious of the products that you have in your house and that you're using on your body,” said Toby.

Toby and Katie made the switch to natural deodorant some time ago and felt as if they could make a difference in the space with their own product.

“Despite being relatively new and coming up to their “three-year mark”, the couple have made a splash in the industry and put their skills together, Toby having been a genetic scientist and Katie being a hair and makeup artist.

Toby explains not all natural deodorant brands are the same, and many tend to be bi-carb based, whereas what sets them apart is their magnesium-based formula.

“It's really more effective on odour control and gentler on your body…We like to say you only need to use it once a day at most,” he said.

“People sometimes might balk that it's maybe potentially more pricey than say their rollon that might be on special on the shelves”.

“One of our sticks will last you between three to four months and you can't really put a price on your health and the planet”.

As Totem Eco grows, the couple still maintain their local connections by regularly going to markets to sell their products and remain dedicated to their founding principles.

More information about Totem Eco and their products can be found online at totemeco.com.au.

locals prevent another empty shopfront The Sea & Beau:

Shelby Gilbert

Kel Swan didn’t want to see another empty stopfront in Kiama when the owner of White Earth didn’t want to renew her lease due to the rising cost of rent.

Kel and her partner Karen Wilson took over the ecoconscious store on Terralong Street themselves, reopening it as The Sea & Beau on 5 July 2025.

“We thought we would take it on because you look up the street and there's so many shops for lease and it looks so bad,” said Kel.

“We already had heaps of beautiful customers and it would have been sad to see it go.”

Kel’s journey to owning The Sea & Beau started during the COVID pandemic, Kel and Karen were both in the travel industry and were made redundant as no one was travelling.

With twin boys Cody and Lennon only 15 months old, Kel applied for a part-time position at White Earth simply as a way to get out of the house.

“I applied to have a job here, just mostly for social. And then ended up loving it. Like, didn't realise how much I would love it,” she said.

“All the customers are awesome, we've become good mates with a lot of people just from being here for the last four years.”

Kel grew up in Kiama and her connection to Terralong Street starts with her first

job at 14 at Scoops, and she has memories of her current store being Classy Lady, a boutique store in the 1990s.

“My mum used to come here all the time and I used to sit out the front waiting when I was a kid,” she said.

“I've actually got heaps of memories from this shop, but I just didn't realise it was the same one.”

The store’s new name holds a special meaning to the couple, with Sea or ‘C’ representing Cody, and Beau being Lennon’s middle name. The store’s palm tree logo represents the boys as Kel says “they keep fighting over who's the tallest one”.

Kel and Karen are locals who are proud to be raising their children in Kiama and giving back to the community. Their focus on community is evident with their Father’s Day window display with drawings and messages from local children to their dads.

“The kids are all really proud. People with kids have come and gotten photos next to their picture,” said Kel. The business supports local causes like school raffle donations and has also introduced three new Illawarra-based brands since taking over.

Having previously worked at Kiama’s Visitor Centre, Kel understands the importance of having a vibrant shopping scene for the town’s success.

The Sea & Beau is open seven days a week and located at 96 Terralong Street.

Death Cafés help make the end of life a ‘supported and sacred time’

Danielle Woolage

Death deserves as much time, attention and love as we give births and weddings, according to end-oflife doula Carolyn Vaughan.

A founding member of Compassionate Communities Illawarra-Shoalhaven makes dying as meaningful an experience as a birth or a marriage. As an end-of-life doula she is a companion, advocate, planner and educator who helps demystify death and all it entails.

The Shellharbour celebrant recognised the need to normalise conversations around death and dying after supporting both her mother through her final stages of life; a difficult, often traumatic experience, filled with frustration.

“Quite often there is a lack of information given to relatives navigating the death of a loved one, and that's because death is not something we choose to talk about, nor ask about,” says Carolyn.

While still grieving her much-loved mum, a process which doesn’t ever end, Carolyn realised that having a support person for death is

support person for life.

While the occasions are wildly different the logistics are not. There’s paperwork, red tape, often hospitals, medical staff, tears, laughter, love and grief.

“We have all heard of birth doulas, so why not death doulas?” she says. “What if people planned for their death in the same way they did for a birth, or a wedding?”

Which is how she came to facilitate Death Cafés in partnership with Kiama Library. Carolyn’s philosophy around the cafés is simple; talking about death over coffee and cake can be an enlightening experience, that normalises the conversation.

“Many times the idea of death might be mulling around in our mind, but we don’t always give ourselves space to think about it, or talk about it,” says Carolyn.

“Our experiences or expectations about this inevitable phase of life can be so different, but talking about it gives us the best chance of making death a supported and sacred time.”

Death Cafés - first held in Switzerland almost two decades ago after Swiss sociologist Bernard Crettaz

revolutionised how the western world began to speak about death and dying.

The cafés have become increasingly popular, particularly after a global pandemic brought daily conversations about death into our living rooms, and are now held in over 100 countries.

Next month, Compassionate Communities IllawarraShoalhaven, in partnership with Kiama Library, will host a Death Café in Gerringong, its third for the year in the Kiama LGA.

Carla James, Kiama Library’s outreach officer, says libraries are “perfectly placed” to host Death Cafés.

“We exist in that democratised zone, a free, safe place for people to come, to have a space to speak freely about something that’s still a big social taboo,” she explains.

“Such emotional weight is given to the word death. In western cultures our relationship with death is very hidden, very cloaked, something that is a long time away.

“Yes it’s hard to talk about because we don't want to face the emotion that comes up. But Death Cafés are such an important part of our social

comfortable even just saying the word death. It normalises the language around an inevitable process and that’s really important.”

Carla says conversations about death “gift people the power to make informed choices about the end of their lives”.

Death Cafés can teach people how to create a practical file for family members about their advanced care directives and end of life choices.

“You then become an advocate for your own death,” says Carla. “If you’re a fun person in life, chances are you want to leave life in a fun way so it’s important to have that conversation.”

Carolyn agrees.

“Death Cafés provide a safe space to talk about the practical aspects of what we might need, or what those we love most might need, when we are dying,” explains

“Formulating those ideas and plans through open conversations before the crushing weight of illness bears down on us, or a sudden loss of life blindsides us, means we are prepared to navigate death without the heavy emotional weight of limited time.

“The goal of the cafes is to increase awareness of death, which in turn helps participants make the most of their lives. As is the Death Cafe way, there is no agenda. You can share a story, ask a question if you wish or just listen and observe, no pressure.

This year’s third Death Café

Library on Thursday September 18 from 2-4 pm. Tea, coffee and cake are provided and bookings, at www.library. kiama.nsw.gov.au/events or by calling 42331133, are required for catering purposes.

“We are very grateful to the partnership we have with the Kiama Municipal Library,” says Carolyn. “I highly recommend that everyone attends a café when they can.”

Please note that Death Cafés don’t provide grief support or counselling and are not ideal for those suffering a recent

Aurora a taste of Kiama’s emerging talent

Talented Kiama teenager Aurora Badami’s taste in music spans a century, but she’s narrowed it down to two very different songs which she plans to perform at Folk By The Sea’s Charity Concert at Kiama Leagues Club on September 11.

Folk By The Sea organisers have invited Kiama High School students Aurora, from Year 9, and Bowie Egan, Year 7, to open the Thursday night Charity Concert, which will be a preview for the festival which runs from September 12-14.

Aurora performed at Kiama High’s 70th anniversary celebrations, but the Charity Concert will be her first “public” performance – one she hopes will lead to more opportunities to share her music and hopefully build towards a career in music.

Aurora says she “grew up in a house of music” and credits her father, anthropologist

and jazz musician Dr Monty Badami, with fostering her love of music, her interest in performing, and a wide, eclectic taste in musical styles.

“Without my dad, I wouldn’t be playing,” she says. “He’s played in a number of jazz bands and has a great singing voice.

“I have no one taste in music. I like music from the 1920s through to now –singers like Etta James (an American soul singer whose career blossomed in the 1950s and ’60s), The Beatles, Radiohead from the 1980s … through to contemporary artists like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish.”

To demonstrate that range in tastes, at the Leagues Club concert she will perform Upward Over the Mountain, by 51-year-old American folk singer-songwriter Iron & Wine (real name Samuel Beam) and a brand new song called The Sick by emerging

artist Bella Kay, released on August 4.

She will accompany herself on acoustic guitar at the concert.

“I had piano lessons when I was younger but I prefer the guitar, so I taught myself to play so that I could accompany myself. I practice guitar and singing a lot, and I am working on my own songs … but they are not quite ready to play in public, so I’ve chosen two songs that I hope will appeal to a folk audience.”

Aurora and Bowie will open the charity concert at 7pm with two songs each.

They will be followed by South Coast Indie-Folk artist Kane Calcite, acoustic duo Square Pegs and Bluegrass bands Charley Castles and The Boys in the Well and Kiama’s own The Water Runners.

Entry is by donation, with all proceeds going to Lifeline South Coast.

Festival director Neil

McCann said the preview show was a chance for people who hadn’t attended in previous years to come along to a great night of music and get an idea of what Folk By The Sea is all about.

“We’re hoping this show will really ‘sell’ the festival to people who may not have been to a folk festival before,” he said.

“They’ll see some of the festival’s main acts, as well as a performance from very talented Kiama High School students, and hopefully they will want to come along to the main festival over the weekend.”

Folk By The Sea artists will also be promoting the festival with performances at Burnetts on Barney on Saturday, September 6 and at the Kiama Seaside Markets on Wednesday September 10. Folk By The Sea tickets and festival information at www. folkbythesea.com.au.

Murder at the blow hole, but you better not kill the groove

Cin Cin Wine Bar was the setting for a night of intrigue as locals gathered to solve The Kiama Blowhole Mystery on a wet Thursday evening last week.

Produced, written and hosted by Mark Whalan, and supported by Mel and Michael Bowden and their hardworking team, the evening wove together history, theatre and plenty of laughter.

Guests were invited to step back to 1889, when a body was seen blasted out of the Kiama Blowhole in front of horrified onlookers.

Was it Blondel, the tightrope walker who had recently disappeared, or something more sinister? The mystery of the Blowhole Body provided a

lively backdrop for an evening of detective work, gossip and accusation, fuelled by the obligatory drink or two

This was no passive theatre. Everyone had to become a character in the dramadrawn from groups created by Whalan: the Salty Harbour Crew, the Larrikin Quarry Workers, the Ladies Reading Circle, the Investigators and the Orange Free Lodge. Each participant received a character sheet with secrets and objectives, ensuring no one could simply sit back and relax.

Costumes set the scene and before long the bar was filled with detectives fumbling their way through clues, quarry workers stirring up trouble

and politicos with far too much to hide.

Over three hours, the story unfolded through whispered alliances, unexpected revelations and plenty of spirited finger-pointing.

The mystery lay in the fact that no one had any idea where the plot would turn, with each player’s actions shaping an outcome (or not).

By the end, the mystery had been unravelled - though not without a few shocks and surprises.

All the while, the Bowdens kept glasses filled and plates laden. Cin Cin’s food and wine service ensured the detectives were well fuelled for their investigations, adding to the sense that this was not just

theatre, but a full night out.

Guests enjoyed the ribaldry and getting to know others in a unique setting, with Whalan enthusiastically guiding attendees through the chaos.

“Australian Freeform Roleplays is a format of interactive storytelling, developed at Aussie games conventions over the last 30 years,” he said.

“They’re unscripted, like a costume party with a storyline, with the plot cut up into tiny pieces and spread throughout the group. Each time the story runs, the outcome is completely different.”

He said the Kiama Blowhole Mystery, an original story run for the first time at Cin Cin, “mixed historical

facts reported in the Kiama Independent, such as the body ejected out of the Blowhole and even Kiama’s notorious trigamist, with fantastical and horror elements”.

“It was great fun on the night to see the story run outside of my head,” Whalan added.

“People began hesitantly, then grew confident enough to make clever and fun contributions. A hilarious twist from the Kiama Harbour Salts worked exactly like a post-credits scene in a film.”

Whalan praised the Bowdens’ willingness to innovate.

“The icebreaker nature of story games fits so well with Michael Bowden’s vision for Cin Cin’s night economy -

offering something no one else is doing. I’m grateful he took the risk in backing this.”

Following the success of opening night, The Kiama Blowhole Mystery returns to Cin Cin on 18 September, with a third performance likely to follow.

Whalan is already working on new games, including “a Tarantino tribute prequel to Pulp Fiction” and “a séance mystery featuring the spirit of Orry-Kelly”.

With a nod to Kiama’s history and a chance to dress up, socialise and sleuth, the Blowhole Mystery proved a hit. Cin Cin looks set to cement itself as the place for those who like their evenings out with a twist.

‘It changed my perspective:’

Dylan thriving thanks to the Building Young Men program

Dylan Bagnall

At 17, Dylan Bagnall is juggling more than most teens. He is training toward a dream of playing professional rugby league, studying electrotechnology, and living independently in Sydney to attend Endeavour Sports High.

But it was a different kind of challenge, in Year 10 at Kiama High, that left a lasting mark on him.

“I would have picked the program over sport any day,” Dylan says of the Building Young Men program, which he joined alongside classmates.

“The connection, the respect, the stories, it stuck with me.”

Delivered in partnership with The Man Walk and supported by Sam Matters Inc, the program offers boys something increasingly rare.

A place to slow down, open up, and connect with one another across backgrounds, strengths and struggles.

“It wasn’t just for the sporty kids,” Dylan explains. “There was a boy who didn’t say

much at the start, kind of kept to himself. By the end, he was opening up. We all belonged.”

While Dylan missed the program’s final wilderness camp because he was trialling for the Canberra Raiders, he says the bonds he built and the lessons he learned still shape his mindset.

“People live differently. They have different stories. That stuck with me,” he says.

“It changed how I think.”

Now living in a granny flat, cooking his own meals and managing his own schedule, Dylan says the experience gave him something that sport alone could notgrounded confidence and perspective.

“I want to play league, but I’m also doing a course in electrotechnology, and later I want to go into business or real estate. I am interested in and having conversations with people.”

Asked if there is someone from the program he would still call for help, Dylan does not hesitate. “Yeah, He is that

kind of bloke. If I ever needed anything, I know I could call him.”

“Programs like this help you grow. They give you confidence you belong. That you are valued, and you can make a difference.”

Each year Gerringong Golf Club hosts the Sam Matters Cup in honour of the talented local footballer and golfer who took his own life five years ago.

The Sam Matters Cup will be held on September 12. Call Gerringong Golf Club Pro Shop on 4234 3333 to book.

All money raised will go to The Saving Sammy Foundation which will again fund the mental health mentoring program, now in its fourth year, to support Year 10 students at Kiama High School during a critical stage of their development.

Anyone seeking support can phone Lifeline to speak to a Crisis Supporter on 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114, or chat online at www.lifeline.org.au (all services are available 24/7).

Kiama gets down to boogie at ‘The Big Night Out’

The dance floor was buzzing, the music was pumping, and even Elvis made an appearance as locals came together for ‘The Big Night Out’ at Kiama Golf Club on Saturday, August 23.

The free community event, hosted by Kiama Community Radio (KCR) in partnership with Kiama Golf Club and proudly supported by Kiama Municipal Council, brought together people of all ages for a night of live music, dancing, and socialising.

With Pearl Noire and her band bringing the funk and a surprise DJ set by “Elvis” (Rick Mackaway), the night turned into a full on dance party.

Thanks to a $2,500 Cultural Grant from Kiama Council,

the event offered affordable food and drinks at the bar, and transport options were made available to help more people attend, with buses running for those who needed a lift.

A highlight of the night was KCR’s 5th Birthday Raffle, featuring a wide range of prizes generously donated by local businesses and community members. Prizes included:

A florist voucher from Posy Florist

A wine gift pack and tasting from Crooked River Wines

Two custom-made cushions from Bombo Blinds

Two artworks by Machteld Hali

A set of four Tsukiglass Japanese whiskey glasses

Two tickets to The Co-Op

Gerringong Flowers and a gift from healthSAVE Pharmacy

A set of Missoni hand towels

All proceeds from the raffle go towards supporting Kiama Community Radio, helping to keep local stories and voices on air.

“This is exactly what Kiama needed,” said local resident, Victoria. “Great music, great people, and a fantastic venue. We hope it becomes a regular thing.”

With such a big turnout, The Big Night Out proved Kiama knows how to put on a proper party and that you don’t need to leave town for a night worth remembering. Stay tuned, this could be the start of a new local tradition.

Murder mystery rides the wave of horror genre resurgence

Danielle Woolage

Author Camille Booker’s novel The Woman in the Waves is not for the faint hearted.

Not because it’s essentially a horror novel and embraces a recent resurgence in the genre. More because it explores the dark side of motherhood, women’s secrets and battles with mental health. “Slasher, Psychological, Folk, Body, Supernatural; whatever type of horror genre people prefer, there’s no denying it’s having a moment,” explains the author.

“I wanted to write about what scared me and, at its heart, this book examines very real issues faced by many mothers. Isolation and loneliness, perinatal and postnatal depression.

“Despite an increase in awareness, many women, especially new or young mothers, experience shame or guilt, and are reluctant to speak about it or seek help.”

The University of Wollongong academic “intended to write something bordering on horror, full of gore, something chilling”.

Instead, she wrote something even more terrifying, a murder mystery couched in reality.

Set in the 1920s in a small fictional South Coast town, The Woman in the Waves explores the heartwrenching question many women ask themselves when they are deep in the trenches of motherhood.

Can I do this?

COVID lockdowns - a time where time and selfreflection went hand-inhand - were the catalyst for the novel. “My husband

would go to work and I would be at home caring for our young son,” she explains.

“Nothing was open so we’d often go to the beach and I remember gazing at the waves one day and thinking ‘what if I just walked into the water and kept on swimming and disappeared’?”

For the first time Camille realised mental ill health precludes some women from being the mothers society expects them to be.

Exploring this idea through fiction forced the writer to be vulnerable about her own feelings towards motherhood.

“New mothers are fearful about their ability to care for their child, to be a ‘good’ mother and live up to society’s expectations of what defines a good mother,” Camille says.

“This often leads to emotional exhaustion, feelings of inadequacy, shame, and a sense of overwhelm.”

In troubled times books can provide a distraction from the terrors of the real world - global pandemics, climate change, Donald Trump. Camille’s novel faces

horror head on, holding up a mirror to society and asking the hard questions.

“When writing horror literature, it’s crucial to look deeply at what’s horrifying about society, to be vulnerable and explore the things that haunt you,” she says.

“Nothing is scarier than the constraints of motherhood and the loss of liberty and identity that comes with it. So often mothers try to reach unrealistic and unattainable ideals, and very rarely seek support.”

The multi-award winning writer has embraced a recent resurgence in the horror genre by shining a spotlight on societal expectations and asking what if a mother, the person at the heart of a family holding everything together, can’t cope anymore? It’s a question she will answer at a Friends of Kiama Library author talk on Saturday September 6 from 2-4pm.

Tickets include afternoon tea and are $8 for Friends members and $10 for guests. They can be purchased online, at the library or by calling 02 4233 1133.

Finding focus: Louise Summerhayes on the joy of bird photography

Lleyton Hughes

For Louise Summerhayes, bird photography isn’t just about capturing the perfect shot - it’s about being present.

“It’s like a form of meditation,” she said. “You’re out in nature and all you’re concentrating on is the birds, so you don’t have to worry about anything else in life.”

Louise finds the experience deeply relaxing.

Whether it's watching a Superb Lyrebird mimic a dozen other birds or quietly observing nesting behaviour, she says birdwatching can be surprisingly entertaining.

“You’ve got to enjoy the process.”

Although she’s always had an interest in birds, Louise didn’t take up photography until 13 years ago. What started as a way to add some excitement to her walks has become a dedicated passion.

Self-taught, she began with a point-and-shoot camera and gradually moved to more advanced equipment as her skills developed.

“You really need every bit of help you can get when you're trying to take photos of birds,” she said.

“Most are constantly on the move - especially the little ones - and shooting

in dark locations like rainforests makes it even more challenging. So, you need a camera that can handle those conditions.”

Louise recommends a lens of at least 400mm for bird photography. “You can sit on a headland at Kiama and capture seabirds if you've got a decent enough zoom.”

Top tips for beginners

Louise shared a few tips with The Bugle for those keen to get started:

1. Invest in good gear:

“Buy the best camera setup you can afford,” she advises. “A 400mm lens or higher is ideal.”

2. Know your equipment:

“Get to know your camera to get the best out of it. There are so many online tutorials to help beginners understand settings.”

3. Don’t disturb the birds:

“Try to get as close as possible without interfering with them.”

Timing is everything Birds are most active early in the morning and late in the afternoon - times that also offer the best natural lighting for photos.

“Midday light is too harsh,” she said. “You get strong shadows on the birds which can ruin a shot.”

In terms of seasons, Louise recommends late autumn, spring, and

summer - when birds are mating, nesting, and raising their young. “They’re more active and much easier to spot.

She also suggests avoiding windy days. “Birds seem to disappear when it’s windy. A little drizzle is fine - they don’t mind that - but torrential rain keeps them away. If you’re in a rainforest, sunny days are best.”

Local birding hotspots

Budderoo National Park is Louise’s favourite nearby spot. “Around Easter is especially good, with the migrating honeyeaters coming through.”

Other local favourites include: Jerrara Dam, Spring Creek, Barren Grounds, Bonaira Gardens, Werri Lagoon, Kiama Harbour and any local headland.

“Headlands are great - you can spot seabirds like gannets, albatrosses, petrels, and various gulls if you have good binoculars,” she said.

Beyond Kiama, Louise recommends Shoalhaven Heads in summer for its abundance of shorebirds. She’s also travelled to Darwin and Queensland for photography adventures.

Species of interest

Alongside photography, Louise keeps a record of every bird she sees using eBird, a global database for bird sightings used for research and education.

“Over 300 species have

been recorded in the Kiama Council area,” she said. “319 to be exact, on eBird.”

Local highlights include: The Superb Lyrebird, Eastern Ground Parrot, Eastern Bristlebird, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Koel, Blackfaced Monarch and the Dollarbird.

“In autumn, migratory birds begin arriving from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia,” she said.

The one that got away Every birder has that story, and for Louise, it’s the elusive Palm Cockatoo.

“We looked everywhere, and then, just as we were leaving and filling up the car with petrol, we spotted one through a hole in a backyard fence,” she said.

“I raced over, grabbed the camera, took a blurry photo - and that was it. After searching all the right places, I saw it at a petrol station.”

For Louise Summerhayes, bird photography is less about collecting perfect shots and more about connecting with nature, observing its rhythms, and appreciating the beauty of the moment.

“Even if I don’t get a photo, I’ve still spent time in nature, still watched something beautiful, and that’s enough,” she said. In a world that often rushes by, her advice is simple: slow down, look up, and enjoy the process.

What’s On?

Soul Clay Studios exhibition

Thurs 28 Aug to Wed 3 Sep, 10am-4pm

Old Fire Station Art Gallery

Soul Clay Studios resident artists come together to exhibit their finest ceramic works for the community.

A.L. Tait Author Talk

Sat 30 Aug, 1:30pm-3pm Kiama Library

Join bestselling author Allison Tait as she talks about her new novel, Danger Road.

Second hand book sale

Fri 29 to Sun 31 Aug, 9am4pm

Ss Peter & Paul Parish Hall

Supporting the Kiama High School SRE teacher.

Local Battery Bulk Buy and Information Session

Tues 2 Sep, 10:30am11:30am or 5:45pm-6:45pm The Pavilion

This event is being organised by local solar & battery specialists for people interested in installing a home battery or just wanting to learn more.

Bookings are essential, book through The Energy Experts.

Between Dreams and Truth exhibition

Thurs 4 Sep to Wed 10 Sep, 10am-4pm

Old Fire Station Art Gallery

Featuring works by Jenny Albanis, Claire Donaghy, and Christine Murphy. Book Hour

Thurs 4 Sep, 4pm-5pm

Cin Cin Wine Bar

Bring a book and enjoy a drink and some quiet time every Thursday afternoon.

Second Hand Saturday Car Boot Sale

Sat 6 Sep, 8am-12pm

Black Beach

This community car boot sale takes place twice a year, residents of the area can sell, trade, swap, or give away their unwanted, pre-loved items. Stallholders must register.

Camille Booker

Author Talk

Sat 6 Sep, 2pm-4pm

Kiama Library

Local award-winning author, Camille Booker, is hosting an author talk about her latest novel, The Woman in the Waves. Tickets are available online, at the library, or call 02 4233 1133.

Kiama Unplugged

Father’s Day afternoon

Sun 7 Sep, from 3:30pm

Fillmore’s

Fillmore’s will have the usual fun activities from Lego, board games, and card games and for Father’s Day you can have a family Polaroid to take home for a gold coin donation.

Kiama mobile blood donor centre

Tues 9 Sep to Sat 13 Sep

Kiama Anglican Church

1 in 3 people in Kiama will need blood, and they need people like you to give it.

Don’t forget to pre-book your spot at Lifeblood.com. au, on the app or on 13 14 95.

Kiama Art Society

Group exhibition

Thurs 11 Sep to Wed 17 Sep, 10am-4pm

Old Fire Station Art Gallery

You Am I

Thurs 11 Sep, from 7pm

The Pavilion

One of Australia’s most beloved live acts, You Am I, turn 30 years old this year. Join them to celebrate playing many live favourites across Australia.

Sam Matters Cup

Charity Golf Day

Fri 12 Sep, registration 7am, 8am start

Gerringong Golf Club

You don’t need to be a serious golfer to take part - just come along for a funfilled day in memory of Sam, supporting a great cause.

Folk by the Sea Fri 12 to Sun 14 Sep

Kiama Showground Pavilion

Folk by the Sea is a music festival that showcases a rich blend of folk, world, roots, Celtic, bluegrass, and gypsy music. Early Bird tickets are available on their website.

Illawarra Shoalhaven Dementia Public Forum

Wed 17 Sep, 9:30am-3pm

The Fraternity Club, Fairy Meadow

A free bus will be running from Nowra and stopping at Gerringong railway station. Registration essential, contact Val 0488 114 555.

Kiama Blowhole

Mystery

Thurs 18 Sep, 6pm-9pm

Cin Cin Wine Bar Bookings essential. Kiama Spring Garden Competition

Entries are now open and close Fri 19 Sep

Email kiamagcsecretary@ gmail.com for your entry form and further details

Kiama Triathlon

Sat 27 Sep, from 9am

The Kiama Triathlon is back in September!

Bundanon Artists & Makers Market

Sat 4 Oct

Join us for our biggest market yet! Set alongside the shores of Bangli/the Shoalhaven River, discover ceramics, textiles, jewellery, weaving, and more.

Horizontal Festival

Sat 4 to Sun 5 Oct, 12pm9:30pm Centennial Vineyards, Bowral

Tickets can be purchased online.

The Kazador Mini Spiegeltent Fri 24 Oct - Sun 23 Nov Black Beach, Kiama

The Kazador is back, bringing a month of unforgettable entertainment to Kiama. Jamberoo Car Show 26 Oct, 9am-2pm Kevin Walsh Oval, Jamberoo Approximately 500 classic cars on display, modern and vintage fire trucks and stationary engine displays, and activities for kids!

Shelby Gilbert

South Coast author

A.L. Tait is inviting young readers to Kiama Library on Saturday 30 August to help solve a murder in an interactive event tied to her latest novel.

Tait is a bestselling author who has 11 published middlegrade novels, and will be presenting “Can YOU solve a murder?”, a hands-on experience that combines discussion about her new

book Danger Road with detective work. The free event is aimed at younger readers from 10 and up, and Tait credits the Kiama Library staff for their innovative and interactive approach to the book launch.

“I'd been talking to the team there, including Lauren, Carla, Elizabeth, and I mentioned to them earlier this year that I had a new book coming out,” she said. “We were talking about what we could do, because they're always

Tait’s latest mystery lets kids crack the case

looking for interesting things to do as part of their programs to get young readers involved and engaged in the library”.

Her new book Danger Road, published by Scholastic in July, follows brothers Alex and Leo as they investigate a 25-yearold cold case of a hit-and-run in their regional town.

Tait will be discussing her book and the inspiration as well as leading the charge on the investigation.

“I'm going to show some photos and things of the inspiration of where the story came from and talk about how I came up with that story,” she said

The interactive session at Kiama Library will have participants “inspect the crime scene, dust off fingerprints, decipher puzzles” and work through case files to identify the culprit. Tait will be leading the kids through the investigation that the Library staff have put together.

“This is a hands-on way to kind of experience that for yourself, like figure out what

the clues might be, because the whole point of a mystery story is following the clues, finding the suspects, and then working out the solution at the end,” Tait said.

Tait recently completed Book Week school visits including Kiama Public School, and chose to set Danger Road in regional Australia to represent an often overlooked experience for kids.

“There's a lot of books about kids in cities, but there's not a huge number of books about kids who don't have that experience,” she said.

“It's that idea of being in a town that's not quite the country, not quite the coast, not quite a farm, not quite anything, which is the regional experience for a lot of Australian kids.”

The free event runs from 1:30pm-3:00pm Saturday 30 August at Kiama Library. Books will be available for signing and purchase, registration is essential through Kiama Library’s website.

WHOW welcomes bereavement counsellor to next meeting

Lleyton Hughes

The Women Helping Other Widows (WHOW) support group will welcome a bereavement counsellor to their first September meeting.

Founded by Marion Rattray, WHOW is a local group that provides connection and support for widows in the Kiama area.

Rattray says the decision to bring in a professional came from a desire to offer more structure to the meetings.

“We’ve had a couple of meetings already, and I felt we needed a little more direction,” she said.

“That’s why I’ve invited a bereavement counsellor from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District to join us.”

The counsellor will attend the meeting on Thursday, 4 September, which will be held from 2–3pm at the Lecture Hall, Kiama Uniting Church. WHOW meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at the same time and location.

A bereavement counsellor is a trained professional who helps people navigate the emotional and practical challenges that come with the loss of a loved one.

Rattray started WHOW after losing her husband and realising how valuable it would be to connect with others who truly understand the experience of grief.

“Widows all have one thing in common - we’ve lost our husbands. But each of us faces different challenges,” she said.

“Some are wondering whether to sell their home or find accommodation that better suits their needs.

“What really makes a difference is the companionship of people who understand. If you’ve had a long and very happy marriage, I think the grief hits even harder. That’s why I felt there should be something just for widows.”

WHOW offers a warm, welcoming space where widows can share their experiences - or simply listen. There’s no pressure to speak, and all widows are invited to attend.

Even if you can’t stay for the full meeting, Rattray encourages anyone interested to drop in for a chat and enjoy some afternoon tea.

For more information, contact Marion on 4233 2490.

WIRES puts call out for community support for new Jerrara wombat rehab compound

Lleyton Hughes

The Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES)

Illawarra is urging community members to have their say on a proposed wombat pre-release rehabilitation compound at the Jerrara Rainforest and Wetlands.

The proposal is on public notice until the deadline for community submissions at 4.30pm on Monday (1 September).

“It’s really simple - just contact Kiama Council and say whether you support the Jerrara wombat compound. Even a short message stating you're in favour would be a huge help. Without public support, this won’t go ahead,” said WIRES volunteer and wombat carer Gayle Tarrant.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, WIRES Illawarra responded to 250 wombat rescues, with 150 treated for mange.

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Currently, 25 joeys are in care, and 13 wombats raised from infancy have recently been released.

Rehabilitation typically takes 18 to 24 months, but many of the remaining wombats were sadly dead on arrival, died shortly after capture, or were euthanased due to the severity of their condition.

“Right now, we only have two other rehabilitation compounds in the Illawarra,” said Tarrant.

“They’re full. We’ve even had to send wombats outside the region to other wildlife groups, which puts a lot of stress on the animals. This project is critical if we want to care properly for our local wombats.”

She says the stretch of land from Kiama to Foxground is prime wombat habitat, making Jerrara the ideal location for the facility.

WIRES Illawarra has applied to take over the lease

of 125 Jerrara Road. The compound is intended for rehabilitation only and will not be used as a release site.

“Wombats will be released at other suitable locations,” said Tarrant. “Each compound is 7x7 metres and includes an intensive care shed (2x3 metres) that connects two enclosures. The shed allows us to treat critically ill wombats, administer medications, and prevent fly-blown wounds.”

The facility will accommodate up to two wombats per compounda total of four, or up to six in urgent situations. The shed provides space for an additional critical care case. The entire area will be fenced for safety and not open to the public.

“This isn’t a zoo - the goal is to return these animals to the wild,” said Tarrant.

Beyond the immediate need to support injured and orphaned wombats, Tarrant emphasised the broader

responsibility to protect Australia’s native wildlife.

“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved our native animals. They’re unique - there’s nothing like them anywhere else in the world. The way they move, their habits, their personalities - they’re just awesome animals,” she said.

“We’re incredibly lucky to live in a wombat area, and I’m passionate about doing whatever I can to protect them.”

How to Support the Proposal

Deadline: 4:30pm, Sunday 1 September 2025

To have your say, simply email Kiama Council at council@kiama.nsw.gov.au.

WIRES suggests using the subject line: Wombat Compound at Jerrara

In the body of your message, state clearly that you support the proposal. Even a few words of support can make a difference.

2. Combine dates and water in saucepan, bring to boil, add bicarb and leave to cool for about 5 -10 mins.

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Support Local

Sunday sounds in Gerringong

Carol Goodard

Sunday afternoons are just the best time for doing all manner of lovely things.

Like walking aimlessly, enjoying nature. Or curling up cosily on your sofa with a good book.

Watching Sunday afternoon footy, either at the game or on telly. Catching a cheeky wave or two, or immersing yourself in a round of golf. Meeting up with friends at a cafe or pub for a languorous, long lunch.

Or for doing not much at all. Listening to live music is certainly one of my favourite things to do, at any given time.

The sheer joy of rounding off the weekend with an inspiring musical experience, now that's the best activity of all, in my humble opinion.

And so last Sunday afternoon in Gerringong, I joined many other grown-ups introducing their children and grandchildren to an exceptional presentation, brought to us by the wonderful Gerringong Music Club. Four members of the

band Sonido treated us to an hour's musical journey through South America. And indeed it was a treat.

Sonido is the Spanish word for "sound", and that is exactly what we got. Glorious, South American sound, performed by four very talented

musicians, Eddy, Cesar, Stephen and Marco, playing traditional instruments, and also giving us delightful snippets of Latin musical information along the way.

We were introduced to the gorgeous sounds and rhythms of the traditional

flute of the Andes. Then there was the Bombo, the Latin American bass drum; the charango, the lute-like stringed instrument of the Andes strongly resembling a uke. And my favourite, the panpipes, or zampona, made of cane tubes, mostly bamboo, emitting the archetypal sound of the Andes.

Throughout the show we the audience were invited to speak Spanish, to tap our feet and clap our hands, to dance, to share in moving to the sheer rhythmic delights of music from the Andes, Peru, Chile.

We engaged, we learned, we interacted. All of us, from age two to, well … my age. It was a fabulous, fun hour of intoxicating Latin music where the children were invited to join in, to play some percussion, to have the pleasure of an interactive and joyous musical experience. Well done, Sonido!

The very best news is that they will be back to Gerringong in March, this time with a seven-piece band, to bring us more vibrant, fabulous, hip-wiggling music. Don't miss them.

‘Between Dreams and Truth’ exhibition will captivate at Old Fire Station

Lleyton Hughes

Acompelling new exhibition, Between Dreams and Truth, featuring work from four local artists, will be on display at the Old Fire Station from September 5-10 - and it’s one not to miss.

Artists Jenny Albanis, Claire Donaghy, Christina Murphy, and Hannah Gray of Hub Ceramics have come together to present a diverse and inspiring body of work.

“I've always loved painting, ever since I was a kid,” said Albanis. “But it wasn’t until I retired that I was able to take it up more seriously.”

She describes each artist's unique style and contribution to the exhibition.

“Claire Donaghy has a very painterly style. She’s been painting for quite a while, and her work is vibrant and colourful - ranging from still lifes and landscapes

to portraits of beautiful women with gorgeous floral headdresses.”

“Christina Murphy, also a Kiama local, paints in a realistic style. She often focuses on landscapes and flowers, inspired by her incredible garden.”

“And then there's Hannah Gray of Hub Ceramics, who creates stunning, practical ceramics - the kind of pieces you’d love to use in your home

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Gerringong Sub-Branch NSW RSL Hall, on the corner of Belinda and Fern Streets in Gerringong, will be used for the NSW by-election for the seat of Kiama on 13 September.

Notice is hereby given that no election signs are to be placed on the RSL Hall as the building is designated as a National War Memorial. Offending signs will be removed.

Michael O’Leary President Gerringong Sub-Branch NSW RSL

every day.”

Albanis explains that the exhibition brings together both realistic and dreamlike works, offering a rich mix of artistic approaches.

“I tend to paint quite realistically, with fine detail. Claire, on the other hand, takes a reference and transforms it - her work is looser, more expressive,” said Albanis.

“Christina explores contrasts, like edible fruits

alongside poisonous plants, highlighting how both can be beautiful in different ways. She also paints fantasyinspired scenes - like women in metal plate armour with wings.”

Despite the realism in her own work, Albanis says her creative process is deeply meditative - another layer in the contrast suggested by the exhibition’s title.

“For me, painting is something immersive. I’ll look at the same object for weeks, painting and thinking I know it - then suddenly, I’ll notice something new I hadn’t seen before.”

“I go into quite a dreamy state. It’s almost meditative. I paint a lot of reflectionsespecially silver reflectionswhere a flower, for example, is echoed subtly in the surface. It’s those little discoveries that keep me going.”

The exhibition will be at the Old Fire Station from September 5-10.

PETER FRANCIS KEARNS

15/11/1950 - 21/6/2025

Son of Frank and Peg Kearns (deceased), formerly of Kiama and Sydney.

Loving brother of Bill, Maree, Pat, Patricia and Margaret and brother-in- law to their partners.

Loving uncle and great uncle to all his nieces and nephews and their children.

Peter spent over 30 years of his life in the Northern Territory. His final residence was Lismore NSW.

Homewares

Burnett

Turf

KCitizen of the Year shines a light on Kiama Public School and public education Kiama High: Kiama

iama’s 2025 Citizen of the Year, Sabrina Kelly, has praised Kiama Public School as a leading example of the benefits of public education, highlighting its commitment to responsibility, resilience and respect.

Kelly, who volunteers as the school’s P&C President, ethics teacher, reinforced reading tutor, and a regular helper with the animals and

garden, says the school’s inclusive approach is key to its success.

“Kiama Public School is a place where all abilities, religions, and ethnicities are welcomed and celebrated,” Kelly said.

“We focus on multiple intelligences, because learning is so much more than just literacy and maths.”

While proud of its strong NAPLAN results, the school

Out and About

The Bugle is pleased to present a fortnightly feature with Kiama High School, bringing you the latest news and events from the school.

Science & Engineering

Challenge

A team of brilliant Year 9 and 10 students had the pleasure of attending the Science and Engineering Challenge day at University of Wollongong.

The expert team of girls who took on the bridge-building competition blitzed the field, scoring third out of 15 schools,

Junior secondary speaking award

Kiama High proudly hosted the local finals of the Junior Secondary Speaking Award earlier this month, welcoming talented students from schools across our Zone.

Representing Kiama High were our incredible Year 7 students, Indi and Frida, who both delivered powerful prepared speeches on topics

a massive improvement from last year's 11th place.

Students participated in brain-squeezing tricky but nonetheless exciting challenges throughout the day, from designing and constructing wind turbines, aeroplanes, sustainable model homes to 'Confounding Communications'.

The hardworking and

of their choice and followed up with engaging impromptu speeches on the topic “Walking away”, with just five minutes of preparation time.

Both speakers impressed the audience and received positive feedback from the adjudicator. The top three speakers were selected to progress to the Regional Finals next month and Indi qualified as one of them.

Kiama High also entered a

diligent teams earned Kiama High boundless points, displaying an endlessly bright future in STEM.

Kiama High, led by Ms Giacon and Mr Moeser, were runners-up behind reigning champions, Smiths Hill High School, with an astounding score of 1292.31 out of 1600.

places equal emphasis on student wellbeing. Each year, a catered breakfast is hosted before NAPLAN testing to remind students that their worth is not defined by test scores.

The school’s strong community spirit is reflected in events such as family fun nights, discos, and Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls, which also support local businesses and artists.

“Our values of responsibility, resilience and respect are taught in every classroom and modelled in every interaction,” she said.

“If world leaders made decisions with these values front of mind, the world would be a kinder, fairer and more united place.”

“Public education is about opportunity, inclusion, and connection – and Kiama Public School lives those values every day,” she added.

team of five enthusiastic Year 7 students in the Premier's Debating Challenge.

Over the course of three rounds, the team showed remarkable growth, developing confidence, teamwork, and persuasive argumentation skills.

After a challenging first debate against Oak Flats High School, the team bounced back with impressive wins over Albion Park High and

Science Week

To celebrate National Science Week, the science faculty hosted a trivia championship for all year groups to see which students know the most about science. There was laughter and there were tears, but in the end, only one team could be crowned champions.

Congratulations to Harrison

Lake Illawarra High. In the final debate, the adjudicator praised their arguments as mature, well-reasoned, and impressively in-depth for their age.

And a huge congratulations to Kiama’s 9A Debating Team – Sarah, Rory, Mahala, and Nyasa!

They’ve gone undefeated in this year’s Premier's Debating Challenge, winning all three of their debates.

Burton, Eddie Peade, Marley Giles, Zoe Cox and Lyla Morris, who have earned the honour of having their names forever engraved on the Kiama High School Science Week Challenge Trophy.

This year’s Science Week theme is “Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden Language.”

National Tree Day

On 4 August, students from Year 7 participated energetically in National Tree Day.

The classes went to Bombo Headland (The Boneyard), Minnamurra Headland Whale Watching Platform, Currys Mountain (Gerringong), Seven Mile Beach, Shoalhaven Heads and Minnamurra Rainforest.

Community volunteers commented on how enthusiastic the students were and complemented their behaviour.

The best workers at each site were rewarded with a $10 canteen voucher.

Tennis team success

Kiama’s girls’ tennis team made the trek to Nelson Bay to play in the state finals of the CHS competition.

The finals consist of all the regional winners and Nyasa Nakhate, Savannah Hedstrom, Mahala Probert and Meg McCorkell got Kiama off to a winning start with an emphatic victory over Gunnedah High.

The opposition faced after this was of a very high standard, but the girls continued to play well and enjoy the two-day carnival with games against Endeavour Sports, Bathurst High and Toormina High. Kiama ended up ranked eighth in the state - a fantastic achievement.

Kiama makes major history with double home semi-final

Lleyton Hughes

For the first time in Kia-

ma Rugby Club’s history, the club will host a major semi-final - with both the first and reserve grade teams taking the field.

The major semi-final, played

and Shoalhaven in reserve grade. Redding expects both visiting teams to bring strong supporter groups.

"Campbelltown usually travel well, and Shoalhaven do too," he said. "Plus we’re expecting a big turnout from Kiama, with both teams

between the top two teams on the ladder, offers a direct path to the grand final for the winner. The loser gets a second chance the following week in the preliminary final.

After finishing second in both grades, Kiama will play for a spot in the grand final this Saturday at Kiama Showground.

"It's a great milestone for us," said club president Mark Redding. "We've never had a home major semi-final with both grades in it before."

“We’ve had minor semis way back in the early 2000s, but never a major semi-final with both teams involved, so it’s a big moment for the cluband very exciting.”

Kiama will face Campbelltown in first grade

involved. We’re focused on making sure everyone is looked after and has a great day."

This semi-final is the culmination of several years of rebuilding and development, with Kiama first grade making last year’s grand final and reserve grade finishing in the top four.

“Both sides did really well last year,” said Redding. “We were hoping to build on that, especially because we didn’t lose many players - and we picked up a few.

“We were very confident coming into this season."

Redding credited coaches James and Trevor Patrick for their leadership and recruitment, noting the strong culture they've fostered.

“James and Trevor deserve a lot of credit. They’ve put together a great squad, they’ve got a strong reputation, and players want to play for them,” he said.

“The playing group is a great bunch of blokes - they work hard and enjoy themselves on and off the field. That shows in the way they play. Plus, the club is fully behind them. The support they get really helps.”

Kiama Rugby is eyeing an historic double - winning the premiership in both grades, something Redding can’t recall ever happening.

“Not in my time,” he said. “The last grand final we won was first grade in 2003. I’m not saying it’s never happened, but I’ve never heard of both grades winning in the same year.”

Heading into the weekend, Kiama’s reserve grade holds a 1-1 record against Shoalhaven this season, while first grade has lost both encounters with Campbelltown.

Reserve grade will kick off at 1:30pm at Kiama Showground, followed by first grade at 3:00pm.

Redding called on the local community to get behind the teams.

“I’d love the community to come down and support both teams,” he said. “To host a home major semi with both sides involved is a big achievement - it doesn’t happen every day.”

“We’d love to see that reflected in a big crowd on the sideline, cheering, wearing the black and white.

“Let’s get both teams into the grand final - that would be fantastic.”

Power surging on and off the field

Lleyton Hughes

Arained-out weekend brought an early end to Kiama Power’s 2025 season, but despite all three grades missing out on finals, the club is calling it a step forward in its ongoing rebuild.

Kiama Power’s Premier Division teams - men’s and women’s - finished fifth on the ladder, just one spot shy of finals contention. The reserve-grade side wrapped up their season in sixth place.

“It was a few rough seasons, with the men's first grade team averaging a 100-point losing margin for two years,” said Power committee member Anthony Grady.

“So it was good to turn that around and be competitive again.”

A highlight of the season came in the form of individual accolades, with four players across the premier teams selected in the AFL South Coast Teams of the Year.

“We had Hamish Robertson and Josh Simpson named in the men's team, and for the women, Dakota Mason and Teneale Keene were both selected,” said Grady.

“Our women’s coach, Arthur Chilcott, was also named coach of that women’s team of the year, which is a great recognition.”

In the league’s medal count, one of Kiama's new recruits, Jack Eastwood, made a big impression - finishing runnerup in the Best and Fairest despite only joining the club in Round 7.

“I think if he’d played a full season, he could’ve taken that

award out,” Grady said.

Off the field, Kiama Power has worked hard to build a stronger club atmosphere and sense of community.

“We're really proud of the culture we've built this year,” Grady said. “We had a lot of new players join the clubincluding some top recruits who were recognised at the league awards night or selected for representative honours.”

A major achievement for the club was securing more than 60 player sponsors - a number Grady says is almost unmatched in the league.

“We’re very proud of that,” he said. “It’s allowed us to put on more events for members, players, and supporters, which strengthens the connection between everyone at the club.”

The club also invested in growing its online presence, recently passing one million views on Instagram. Grady believes that’s been a key tool in attracting new players and sponsors.

“We like to think that if a new player is looking around, we’re now front of mind,” he

said.

“And with that, it brings in new opportunities and partnerships that also benefit local businesses through sponsorship. It also gives people a chance to get to know the players behind the scenes, which really helps connect the community.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Kiama Power has its sights set on expanding its women’s program.

“Our biggest goal is to field a second women’s team next year - both a Premier Division side and a reserve grade team,” Grady said.

“Adding a second side will boost depth and performance, but more importantly, help grow the club culture by bringing more women into the fold. That’s a really important step for us heading into next season.”

While the on-field action has wrapped, the season isn’t over just yet. Kiama Power’s Presentation Night is set for Friday, 19 September, where players, coaches, and supporters will come together to celebrate a year of progress - both on and off the field.

Ashton following in famous footsteps

Mark

Emery

When a young bloke gets the chance to play a higher grade of rugby league he can have a number of highlights, if he is lucky, in a career.

The first-grade debut is certainly one of these.

A lot of great players never get the chance to run on the field in ONE premiership match. I certainly did not.

Ashton Ward is a young player who sought a chance at South Sydney this year.

In the normal course of events, he most likely would have just played in the lower grades and hoped for a chance next year or the one after. This would be the same for many young men and women in all the NRL clubs. But this has not been a normal year for Souths.

Almost a whole NRL team has been on the injury

Fourpeat: Knights U18 girls eyeing off fourth straight premiership

Lleyton Hughes

Forget the Penrith Panthers - the Kiama Knights Under-18s girls team is chasing a fourth consecutive grand final victory this weekend when they take on the Liverpool Catholic Club Raiders.

The Knights had a shaky start to the season, losing two of their first three games. But coach Geoffrey Greatz said the team’s Round 12 win over Engadine marked a crucial turning point.

“We had a few injuries at the start of the year, plus some players were called up to play elsewhere, and a couple pulled out,” Greatz said.

“But we turned the tables when we played with just 11 players at Engadine - and actually won. That turned our

season around.”

Kiama finished third on the ladder, meaning they’ve had to win every game in the finals series to keep their title hopes alive.

“We played Engadine in the first semi-final and won that at Kiama, 32-18. Then we faced Corrimal last week and just scraped through with a 26-20 win,” said Greatz.

Corrimal has been Kiama’s grand final opponent for the past three years - but this time, the Knights knocked them out in the semis.

As a result, Kiama will face Liverpool Catholic Club in the decider. Due to wet weather washouts and the structure of the draw, it will be the first meeting between the two teams this season.

“We haven't actually played Liverpool because of the

washout rounds and the way the draw worked - so we don’t know much about them. But they’ve always been a top team,” Greatz said.

Having coached the team for the past four years, Greatz says the girls’ tackle competition has gone from strength to strength.

“It’s getting more and more competitive, especially in the Southern Corridor competition. We're also seeing more teams enter,” he said.

“There are a lot of juniors coming through now - Kiama has Under-14s and Under16s. Because they’re starting younger, the quality of play is just getting better.”

Greatz credits his team’s success to their work ethic, tight bond, and experience playing together.

“They want to learn, they’re very skillful, and they’ve played together for a long time. They know each other’s game and they’ve got each other’s backs.”

The Kiama Knights U18 Girls will play Liverpool at 3pm on Saturday, 30 August at Hillier Oval, Liverpool.

list on many occasions. This meant Ashton got a chance to play first grade, and he has made every post a winner.

He has played in five premiership games. By coincidence (or is it coincidence?), Souths have won the last three games in a row after a horror run of losses.

Last week was the highlight in his brief career when he starred in their 40-0 win over St George Illawarra.

Ashton's old teammate from his Gerringong days, Hayden Buchanan, was playing at centre for the Dragons so this game had a special meaning for him.

And what a game it was. Ashton played no small part in a great victory. The highlight was the try assist for the first try of the match.

Ashton threaded the needle with a little kick behind the line for Jacob Host to pounce.

In fact, he was heavily involved in just about all of the significant attacking plays in the match.

Ashton’s defence has

Stewart’s out of action as Dragons take cautious approach

Gerringong forward Hamish Stewart may not suit up again this season due to the heavy concussion he copped recently.

Stewart was knocked out in the loss to the Warriors a fortnight ago and because he had suffered a concussion earlier in the season, St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan is erring on the side of caution with the young lock. He has not been selected in the team to take on Manly at Kogarah on Saturday in the penultimate round of the season although his veteran teammate Jack de Belin, who Stewart clashed heads with against the Warriors, will make his return after he also sat out last week’s loss to South Sydney.

Another Gerringong Lions product, young five-eighth

been notable in all games. He has a beautiful style of “grasscutting”, an old term meaning he tackles around the legs. Everybody did that in the olden days.

On top of this, the rookie five-eighth was in sensational goalkicking form with six goals from seven attempts.

The commentators were generous in their praise of him although they made jokes at his expense about his size and the fact that he looks very young.

Interviewed after the match, Ashton did make a comment about how tough it was when huge bodies headed his way.

Mind you he and Jye Gray share the ‘little blokes’ tag in the team and the fullback has also been in sensational form.

They only have one more match this season after the bye when they face their bitter rivals, the Sydney Roosters next Friday.

Ashton will hopefully get to have extended time playing alongside Cody Walker next season. Cody is a brilliant,

highly experienced playmaker and would be a great mentor.

South Sydney’s supporters certainly hope so - they have been lavish in their praise on The Warren fan forum with comments like these ones:

“This kid is not ready for first grade, but no one told him. He has stood up with one of the smallest frames to play the game in a long time. The kid tackled his heart out and stood in front of anyone.”

“We’ve had two wins straight with Ward starting.

“Ward is a very legitimate chance to be one of our longterm halves.”

“Ward reminds me of a young Keary. If he’s half as good as Keary, he’ll be a fine player.”

“Take a bow Ashton Ward, and a ten-year contract.”

Will Ashton be able to compare with the other Gerringong legends who made it in the premiership like Eels legend Mick Cronin, Paul Quinn and Rod Wishart? Time will tell but he’s off to a great start.

Ashton Ward tore St George Illawarra Dragons to shreds in the Rabbitohs' rousing NRL win at Accor Stadium.

Ward was exceptional in the 40-0 flogging of the Dragons, getting the last laugh on centre Hayden Buchanan, another Gerringong junior who recently made it into the NRL.

The 21-year-old playmaker booted six goals from seven attempts and had a hand in South Sydney's attack all night, setting up tries for the outside backs in just his fifth match in first grade.

Andrew Johns, considered the game's greatest halfback of all time, was mightily impressed with Ward's contribution.

“He’s got the foundations to be a 200-game half. He’s tough and he competes," the Knights Immortal said from

the Nine commentary box. The Dragons targeted Ward, who is the smallest player in the NRL, but he got through 31 tackles without missing any and one of his hits jarred the ball free from a Dragons attacker, leading to Souths scoring just before half-time. They led 16-0 at the interval before scoring four more tries in the second half to join the Dragons in a share of 12th spot on the ladder. They had plenty of players out injured but coach Shane Flanagan said they should have performed a lot better against a Rabbitohs side which was also heavily depleted.

"Souths had a shorter turnaround than us, they've got injuries. We're not tossing up any excuses," he said.

"If I start tossing up excuses, then I become one of the weak ones.”

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@SticksPix_

Our BT Under 14-1 Reds team played Berry in their grand final on Saturday and won 18-6.

Our Under 16-2 Girls tackle team played their Grand Final at WIN Stadium on Friday and went down in a nail biter 1210 to Milton Ulladulla.

our BT Under 16-1s defeated Gerringong 2216 in their grand final. Both games were played in Bomaderry.

LIONS ON THE PROWL FOR FINALS TILT

Lleyton Hughes

The Gerringong Lions shocked Group 7 competition leaders, the Stingrays of Shellharbour, on Sunday with a hard-fought 22-10 win at home.

After more than 150mm of rain hit the Illawarra last week, Group 7 officials were forced to cancel all grades except first grade for Round 17. With just two rounds remaining and every topfive position still up for grabs, the clash between the first-placed Stingrays and fifth-placed Lions had the potential to either shake up the ladder or cement key positions - and it did not disappoint.

The Stingrays opened the scoring in just the second minute when replacement fullback Josh Maude stepped off his left foot to break through the Gerringong defence.

The score remained 4-0 until the 32nd minute when Gerringong centre Tyrell

Taione responded with a similar right-foot step to level it at 4-4.

Just before the break, a penalty in front of the posts gave the Stingrays a chance to edge ahead, with halfback Trey Barlow slotting the goal to make it 6-4 at halftime.

Gerringong struck first after the restart when halfback Rixon Russell executed a show-and-go to slice through the defence and score in the 48th minute, giving the home side a 10-6 lead.

Five minutes later, a slick flick pass from Kayne Brennan put Kye Deane over in the corner, again levelling the scores at 10-10.

A tense passage of play followed, with both sides trading sets and defending strongly.

Eventually, Gerringong forward Wes Pring broke the line, putting the Stingrays on the back foot. A few tackles later, centre Beau Doosey finished off the movement to push Gerringong back in front. With time winding down,

the Lions attempted a field goal to stretch their lead but it missed the mark.

A few minutes later, however, they were handed a full set on the Stingrays' line after a penalty. Winger Liam Holland pounced on the opportunity, grubbering through and regathering to seal the win for Gerringong.

Injured Stingrays fullback Jimmy Scott said: “We were pretty good in defence, but we just made far too many mistakes and gave away too many penalties.

“Having the last two weeks off probably didn’t help as well. I think the loss might give the squad a much-needed wake-up call. Hopefully we can get a win against Kiama next week to build that confidence into finals.”

Meanwhile, a depleted Jamberoo Superoos side were soundly beaten by Albion Park away from home.

The hosts, sitting fourth on the ladder, opened their account in just the second minute and added three

more tries to lead 22-0 at halftime - a deficit Jamberoo might have recovered from under better circumstances.

However, Albion Park ran in two quick tries in the 48th and 51st minutes to put the game out of reach, before piling on four more before full-time to finish 54-0 winners.

It marked Jamberoo’s ninth straight loss in a season plagued by injuries, and Albion Park’s third win on the trot as they build momentum for the finals.

This Saturday, Jamberoo will face competition leaders Shellharbour Sharks, while Kiama, who had the bye in Round 17, return to action against the Stingrays. Gerringong take on the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets on Sunday.

With only three points separating first and fifth on the Group 7 ladder, both Kiama (third) and Gerringong (fifth) will be desperate for wins in Round 18 to secure a double chance in the finals beginning on 6 September.