Helensburgh Tigers and Thirroul Butchers set for big season
Footy’s back!
THE ILLAWARRA May 2022 Keeping community news alive Free to 11,000 letterboxes / www.theillawarraflame.com.au
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TheIllawarraFlame ADVERTISING www.theillawarraflame.com.au 0432 612 168 | T&Cs apply NEXT DEADLINE 18 May 2022 COVER Rugby league season begins! Photos:
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to the sea. DEADLINENEXT May 18foreditionJune ACCOUNTANTS Small Business All Tax and BAS Returns Current and Overdue SMSFInvestmentPartnershipsCompaniesSoleTradersTrustsIndividualsPropertiesCapitalGainsTaxReturnsandAudits Office: 02 4294 4462 John: 0418 162 999 Kerri 0415 117 804 Email: bizacct@bigpond.net.au 9 Walker Street, Helensburgh
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John Corker is a lawyer, author, photographer, and environmentalist based In Thirroul who is helping families of residents in McCauley Lodge to try to keep it open, and to ensure that this community doesn’t lose its heritage residential aged-care facility. Dr Julie Blaze graduated from Newcastle University in 1986 and worked as a General Practitioner in Sydney until she took over Bulli Medical Practice from the late Dr William Feneley in 1999. She has a special interest in Chronic Disease Management, Travel Medicine, Women’s Health, Weight Management and Aged Care. In her spare time Julie enjoys family life, cooking, yoga, reading, exercising and travelling. Ben Wollen is the director of Wollen Architecture, a studio with a focus on sustainable design. “Only build what you need to” is one of his driving mantras. When he’s not working, Ben’s enjoying the natural wonders of the Illawarra escarpment with his wife and kids. EDITORS Gen Swart, Marcus Craft CONTACT editor@theillawarraflame.com.au; 612 PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508. Anthony 692 723
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May2
Brian Kelly first stepped into the Illawarra Mercury office as the new kid from Thirroul nearly 40 years ago and is still managing (just) to hold on tight to a career he is grateful has dragged him to the UK (10 years), then Perth and Melbourne before a return to the district in 2008. He deems it a pleasure to get back into the grassroots stories of the northern suburbs. Iris Huizinga migrated to Australia from The Netherlands, where she was a screenwriter. She graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. Since 2009 she has volunteered locally, at the surf club and with the fire brigade. Iris is making a series of ‘Community Champions’ short films for the Illawarra Flame
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: publishers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples their cultural and spiritual connection this land. Their stories written land great Torres Strait Islander peoples, from mountains
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Amanda De George is a naturalist, writer and photographer based in the Northern Illawarra. Her passion lies in discovering interesting critters in urban environments and sharing them with the followers of her social media pages and website. Oh, and adventures and naps and wine; she’s passionate about those things too!
KANE DOWNIE
For young readers and writers there are free author talks and readings at Wollongong Library.
The festival closes with Poetry with Bubbles featuring live poetry readings by SCWC members. Enjoy three days of events with award-winning authors and fun for readers and writers of all ages at the South Coast Writers Festival, and celebrate the literary talent of the South Coast.
The festival includes writers across many genres including crime fiction, YA, non-fiction, middlegrade fiction, poetry and playwriting. Opening night will feature conversations with stellar women writers Christine Sykes and Jane Caro, and Kathryn Heyman and Caroline Baum. On the Saturday ex-Greens Senator Scott Ludlam and Jonica Newby discuss finding hope against the reality of climate change with the ABC’s Robin Williams. The leaders of the Ngana Barangarai project discuss 10 years of publishing their anthology Dreaming Inside, and a panel of writers will weigh up the pros and cons of decentralising identity in literature.
From Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th June you can join us at the South Coast Writers Festival for readings, conversations, panels, workshops and book launches in venues across the Wollongong Town Hall, Library, and Art Gallery, and discover new Australian writing by talented authors in our region and Presentedbeyond.bythe South Coast Writers Centre, the South Coast Writers Festival will bring together some of the best South Coast writers for a three-day festival that celebrates and elevates the literary talent of the area. Award-winning local authors, such as Helena Fox, Kirli Saunders, Claire Zorn and Dinuka McKenzie will be appearing, alongside bestselling Sydney authors, including Larissa Behrendt and Gary Lonesborough.
Full Festival Program www.southcoastwriters.org/festivalat
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Photo:CentreAdara Enthaler
Andy Muir from BAD: All About Crime will interview debut crime writers Hayley Scrivenor and Dinuka McKenzie, and Western Sydney’s West Words Academy presents a curated panel introducing three of their exceptional emerging writers: authors Zaheda Ghani and Vivian Pham, and playwright James Elazzi.
Celebrate literary talent
June 3-5 will be a big weekend of author talks, writing workshops and book launches, writes Sarah Nicholson, director of the South Coast Writers
We all know that the past few years have been tough for the arts, but we’re thrilled to announce that the Illawarra’s writers festival is set to return!
The major community event will be at Thirroul Beach Reserve on Sunday, 5 June. From 10am there’ll be extensive food and market stalls, as well as live music and performances on the Horizon BankCarnivalstage. rides will also be available for the kids to enjoy. Art and photography exhibitions will be available for viewing in the Surf Club. The festival has been organised and made possible by a dedicated group of community volunteers, as well as major sponsors including Horizon Bank, Beaches Hotel, IGA, Wollongong City Council, WIN TV and i98FM.
After a two-year break due to Covid, the Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival is back again in the first weekend in June. This family-friendly, community event is a project run by the Austinmer Thirroul Lions Club. It aims to promote the arts in the northern suburbs and to fundraise for local community projects.
By Kim Morris, on behalf of Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival
Tess recently won the People’s Choice Award in the 2021 Chan Art Sculpture Competition for her Mosaic Tiger. She is an enthusiastic volunteer in the 2022 Thirroul Arts Seaside Festival after a two-year break.
The Austinmer Thirroul Lions Club appreciates the community’s support over the weekend. Come along and experience a great community initiative that the whole family will enjoy.
Visit www.thirroulfestival.com
Graham Sinclair is a Thirroul-based artist, and member of the Barracks Art Studios. He has been a finalist and prize-winner in many art shows, most recently 2nd prize in the 2022 Royal Easter Show Abstract Sculpture Prize. He has received commissions and exhibited throughout Australia and overseas. Graham has a passion for reconstructing the landscape and still life through painting or sculpture. He seeks inspiration from the typical, such as the sea, as well as the nuances of the natural and built environments.
Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival always attracts a plethora of local talent. Meet two of the many great artists to look out for in 2022
Tess McMaugh was mainly self-taught in the art of stained glass and has been involved in this area for 36 years. She has diversified recently to include sculpture and mosaic, which she sees as a natural progression. In all her works she tries to reduce her footprint on this earth by reusing, recycling and reducing.
The festival kicks off on Friday, 3 June with the Art Exhibition opening from 7pm at the Thirroul Community Centre. A range of works will be on display and available for purchase, showcasing different mediums by well-known and emerging local artists. Tickets are $20 each on Friday evening. A gold coin donation will gain entry to the Art Show over the entire weekend. The Festival continues on Saturday, 4 June with the Art Show and forecourt arts market stalls.
Happy 30th to Seaside Fest!
Talent preview
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Stanwell Park painter Edith McNally introduces collage artist Angie Cass
All entries will be added to the Wollongong City Libraries’ Local Studies collection. The cut-off for entries is 29 July. Enter via library/explore-our-past/local-history-prizewollongong.nsw.gov.au/
Starting in 2016, the Local History Prize gives armchair experts, history buffs and amateur researchers a chance to stretch their investigative muscles for a chance to win $5000.
From now until Friday 29 July 2022, anyone over the age of 18 can enter an original piece of research that explores an aspect of our local history of their choosing, in 5000 to 10,000 words.
arts & culture8 Angie Cass is an analogue and digital collage artist. Part of her process is to gather odd cut-outs together and to scan for relationships of colour, pattern, tone and theme. Sometimes things jump out –dramatic negative spaces, curious juxtapositions and new concepts from worn themes – but, regardless, the end products are dramatic, artistically stunning and the ultimate form of recycling: environmentally friendly art. Birmingham-born Angie arrived in Australia in 2007, and came to the Illawarra in 2011. Moving from a city to the sea created a shift away from graphic illustration to showing landscapes and working in mixed media. Angie’s Illawarra landscapes have the veneer of weathered calm, concealing the process of layering, paring back, painting, sanding, and finally excavating hidden gems of bright colour. Like a geologist, she is interested in what lies beneath. She has exhibited at Black Gold and Egg and Dart, Thirroul, and the Terrarium Gallery, Wollongong. In her collage workshops, Angie uses ‘flow’ techniques to guide people to experience breakthroughs in creativity. Her passion is helping people living with dementia and their carers to connect through materials that elicit nostalgia and reminiscing. She holds classes in her home studio and in regional art galleries and is influenced by Dada, John Stezaker and Eileen Agar. Angie is also an art historian, having studied at Manchester Metropolitan University, and has lectured on illustration and collage in the UK. Of collage, she says: “People are starting to understand its value for wellbeing. It has an easy starting place, requires few skills, and is fantastic for creativity, fun and hanging out withEmailfriends.”Angie at angiecassart@gmail.com, see samples of her work at Angiecass.com or Instagram @angie cass_collage. Write to Edith at mcnallyedith@gmail.com
Make history!
Wollongong City Libraries’ Local History Prize is back and the call is out for new and original research that explores a part of Wollongong’s past.
Artists of the Illawarra
“The Wollongong City Libraries’ Local History Prize is a great way to encourage a love of learning outside the confines of the classroom or university lecture hall,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.
May 9
Austinmer local Graham Thorburn will lead a monthly Film Club. Photo supplied Term 2 Program for Stanwell Park U3A
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Thanks to Doug White
The group meets on Mondays at Hillcrest House. First session starts at 9.30am, second session, Music Appreciation, starts at 11am after Morning Tea. Everyone is welcome. For further information, phone Jenny on 0406 350 025. U3A Term 2 Program Monday May 2 Soil Management (Bring samples of your soil) – Roy Lawrie Mon May 9 Stalin, Churchill & Roosevelt: The Partition – Patrick Heaven Mon May 16 Reconciliation: ‘The Uluru Statement from the Heart’, (The state of the heart and problems confronting remote communities) – Stuart Traynor Mon May 23 Greenland – Anne Brown Mon May 30 Testament: ‘Chronicles and Kings’ – Video by John Romer Mon June 6 An Ecological History of Stanwell Park Reserve – Kieran Tapsell Mon June 13 Queens’s Birthday HOLIDAY Mon June 20 Friendship in Rome – Patricia Henderson
Graham has had a very long and distinguished career in film and television as an actor, producer, writer and academic, but principally as a director. He was President of the Australian Screen Directors Association (now, the Australian Directors Guild) and has taught screen acting, writing and directing, including as head of directing and then head of teaching at AFTRS (Australian Film Television and Radio School).
New Film Club at Coledale
By South Coast Writers Centre director Sarah Nicholson
From June, the South Coast Writer’s Centre (SCWC) will present a monthly Film Club and a Screenwriting group, and we are thrilled that Austinmer resident Graham Thorburn will host both of these at Coledale Community Hall.
The Film Club, open to anyone interested in seeing, thinking and having fun talking about films, will run at 7pm on the first Saturday of each month at Coledale Community Hall from 2 July. Each Film Club session will start with some background details about the film and perhaps even a bit of gossip. After the film screening, there will be a chance to discuss the film.
Films will mostly be feature length, include English language and foreign language films, and fiction and documentary. Graham will initially select and introduce the films, but the plan is that the Film Club will evolve into a group-led event, with participants presenting films.
We are looking for volunteers now to make Film Club a success. Our Screenwriting group, which will focus on the craft of screenwriting for drama, is a fortnightly workshop for eight to 10 experienced writers interested in exploring screenwriting through a shared problem-solving practical approach. Led by Graham, the group will work through the many elements of constructing this reimagined script. Each participant will be challenged to come up with their own solution to each step in this process, and then share them with the group. Over the course of the sessions, we will rewrite an existing contemporary film to shift its point of view – both its political and philosophical point of view, and its literal point of view. These workshops will be held on Thursday nights, starting mid-June. They are free and open to SCWC members by application. Our first Film Club night on 2 July will feature the Oscar-winning short films Kleingeld and Wasp. We look forward to seeing you there! To volunteer, join the screenwriting group or get tickets go to: film-screenwriting-programswww.southcoastwriters.org/
May 11 Anita’s Theatre Shop 10, King St Thirroul Call for an appointment today on 42683933 This is who we are, where we work and what we do See Side ptical
“I do hope to travel to Albert Namatjira country, the MacDonnell Ranges. I want to walk the land, just look and listen, find the colours and the spirit of the place. I am planning a whole series.”
Time to
Janice Creenaune meets Susie Tindall-McDonald who has found fresh inspiration in Thirroul after a long career as a designer and art director at magazines make mosaics Susie workingMcDonaldTindall-loveswithtiles.Photosupplied
“I loved the ocean, loved swimming, I loved being so close to the coast as well as the escarpment and found the bush brimming with life. I have a complete fascination for ornithology so Thirroul worked exceedingly well for me.”
“Hopefully the exhibition will be local but it is exciting just to plan the future. My husband, Ian, is my greatest supporter always and I feel very fortunate.”
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Susie Tindall-McDonald and her studio are nestled in the lush rainforest in the foothills of the escarpment. A wide expanse of glass opens to a view providing light and inspiration for her mosaics. It is as welcoming a space as Susie herself.
Susie moved to Thirroul in 1992.
“There is the traditional way of laying mosaics such as in Roman or Byzantine floors, creating the structure first and then putting it all together. Some may believe there is a limited palette in glass and ceramic colours, but mixing glass pieces together creates illusions of colours, just like Seurat or Pointillism.”Susie’sinspirations include the Australian environment “in particular the desert lines of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, the pebbles, larger rocks, the slate and the huge rock formations which are stunning to view, but also to experience.
Susie’s projects can take months – sourcing, designing, cutting, and grinding – but she is exceptionally organised and works on many projects at once. Her passion for the environment will be evident in her next exhibition with fellow Thirroulians, Helen McCosker and Nikki Mann.
Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation Australia. Email janicecreenaune@gmail.com or ph 4267 4880.
She studied ceramics and wood-firing techniques in Willoughby, Sydney, for over a decade. “It was always more than a hobby, it really was an obsession. I love working tiles in particular, but I experiment continually with different glazes, usually making my own and the skills and techniques have all morphed into mosaics. I just developed my own style from there, and later taught mosaics, initially at Hazelhurst for 16 years, where I was fortunate to make many friends and contacts. To lessen the commute later on I taught at WEA Illawarra in ceramics and garden sculpture.”
Susie was always passionate about clay, particularly hand modelling. The sculptural aspect brings it alive for her. Only after the creation come the“Itmosaics.istheentire creation that I enjoy, pushing the mosaics as an art-form and not a craft.
May 13 Political picks By the team at Collins Booksellers Thirroul @collinsbooksellersthirroulShop5/264LawrenceHargrave Drive www.collinsbooksthirroul.com.au agesallforgiftsandgamesbooks, collins BOOKSELLERS thirroul With the Federal Election pending, if you’d like to have a deeper understanding of the issues that matter, we have a large range of books covering politics, current affairs and the environment. Here are five of the latest releases on some of the issues that matter: 1. The Idea of Australia, by Julianne Schultz 2. Keeping Them Honest, by Stephen Charles & Catherine Williams 3. The Avoidable War, by Kevin Rudd 4. Waiting for Gonski, by Tom Greenwell & Chris Bonnor 5. Who Needs the ABC? by Matthew Ricketson & Patrick Mullins Our May Events: ‘The Big Switch’: Saul Griffith, 11 May from 7pm, Thirroul Community Centre. ‘The Power of Podcasting’: Siobhan McHugh in conversation with Caroline Baum, 25 May from 7pm, Ryan’s Hotel Thirroul with William Barton BooKinGS ESSEntial via www.SteelCityStrings.com.au www.Merrigong.com.au Earth Connections Saturday 21 May Wollongong Town Hall 7.30pm Sunday 15 May Burrawang School of Arts 2pm Sunday 22 May Berry School of Arts 2pm Also featuring works by Max Richter, Peter Sculthorpe, Paul Stanhope, Stuart Greenbaum and Brenda Gifford Barton SCS B5 Ad.indd 1 22/04/2022 6:30 PM
Above: Set specimen of a fruit-piercing moth and (below) one at Helensburgh. Bottom: Unknown leaf-mimicking geometrid moth. Photos: Chris Reid & WikiCommons
Commonly the fruit fall off the tree just before harvest. Spraying the tree doesn’t help at all, as the caterpillar of this moth doesn’t feed on the fruit tree – it feeds on vines in nearby wetter forest. So this is a difficult moth to control and is a major problem for the fruit industry.
Fruit-piercing moths are generally tropical so I was surprised to find this one down here (we are 34 degrees south). Another example of the impact of climate change? Watch a great video about bats and moths and sonar – scan the QR code above or go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeCmSL_N65A About
This month I was going to write about leeches, because it’s so wet, but I couldn’t find any (OK, I didn’t look very hard). Later. Instead, a couple of photos of moths rescued from the feet of commuters at the Helensburgh Railway Station, where they were sitting after flying in at night.
The first is pretty plain, but even though it stands out like a sore thumb on the platform surface, it still manages to look fairly convincingly like a dead leaf. It is a geometrid – a large family of moths (>1500 Australian species), distinguished by having looper caterpillars and adult moths that often hold their wings like butterflies. Furthermore, unlike most of the larger moths, geometrids have their ears on the abdomen. What are the ears of a geometrid moth? They are two cavities at the base of the abdomen concealed by the long silky scales. Moths fly around at night and their main predators are bats and bats use sonar to locate moths, so moths have evolved ears to detect sonar and then use other organs to either jam the sonar or send an ‘I’m toxic’ signal in return (see Youtube linkThebelow).looper caterpillar of geometrids walks like a leech, because it is missing the middle false legs found on other caterpillars (all abdominal legs on a caterpillar are false legs as they are just swellings of the skin, not properly jointed hard legs like the adults). Losing its middle legs may help the caterpillar to pretend to be a twig but I wonder if in Australia it might also have helped to pretend to be an inedible leech. By the way I haven’t named this moth to species because I don’t know what it is. It’s not in my copy of Moths of Australia by Ian Common. There are no identification guides, but Coffs Harbour Butterfly House runs a useful website mightbeautifulunderneathleaf.largergeometridae/geometridae.html).(lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/TheothermothIfoundonthestationismuchbutalsocryptic,pretendingtobearolled-upHowever,thisoneismodestlycoveringup–thehindwingsaredeepyellow.Whileamoth,theoccurrenceofthisspecieslocallysendalarmbellstoourlocalorchards.Thisisafruit-piercingmoth(species
With Helensburgh entomologist Dr Chris Reid
Beetling
Eudocima phalonia), a major orchard pest, particularly of citrus. The adults fly to ripening fruit at night, pierce the skin with their modified mouthparts (a sharp stabbing syringe rather than a rolled-up tongue) and drink the juice. When doing this they introduce bacteria into the fruit and from this tiny hole the whole fruit becomes rotten.
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May 15 Expansive native display gardens; rainforest & vine forest walks; picnic areas Extensive range of natives for sale including tubestock and grafted plants The Illawarra Grevillea Park Botanic Garden: A Photographic Portrait now available Illawarra Grevillea Park Autumn Open Days Grevillea Park Road, Satwww.illawarrgrevilleapark.com.auBulli&Sun/10am-4pmMay7&8,14&15Entry$7ChildrenFreeDogsonleashwelcomeWANTADVICE? and–bringyourquestionswewilldoourbesttohelp!
Backyard Zoology
Photo: Amanda De George
I’m thankful for a husband with the same interests as me and, after 14 years of marriage, we’ve got the ‘look’ down pat. I rushed past him, slipping into shoes as I grabbed my camera and gave him a quick nod and a frantic, “The birds know!” and he was soon right behind me. Any birders out there will know that the next part, the chase, is the fun part. We hustled down the road, listening for the currawongs and the
Visit www.backyardzoology.comAPowerfulOwl with
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from nature, it’s that birds always know. Sure, other animals are finely tuned in to all the happenings around them, the comings and goings of the bush or their patch of earth, but, let’s face it, no one says what they’re thinking as loudly as birds. I’m looking particularly at you, cockatoos! All I wanted was a quiet Easter weekend, one where we could take advantage of the sun – on that note, can we all just take a moment and give a collective sigh of relief for seven consecutive days of good weather! – but the local birds just would not shut up. First, it was the currawongs obviously distressed about something. That got my attention, but not enough to rip me away from a good coffee and an even better book. But once the kookaburras started up, giving a throatier laugh than usual, now that got me moving.
With Amanda De George kookas and looking into the towering gums for any signs of movement. It didn’t take long before we were able to roughly work out where the ruckus was coming from. It involved a bit of rock-hopping across a creek and a tad more searching once we were in the bush itself, but not very far along the path Matt spotted one very large, very beautiful and very hen-pecked Powerful Owl! These owls are the largest in Australia with a wingspan of up to 140cm. They’re also listed as vulnerable, which means they’re at high risk of extinction in the medium-term future. Finding one just down the road is incredibly special. This owl had its breakfast still tightly clasped in its finger-like talons – an equally beautiful GreyHeaded Flying Fox, albeit missing its head, and a wing and, well, you get the idea. Powerful Owls love to eat these bats, along with brushtail and ringtail possums and gliders. They’re masters of camouflage with their dappled body amongst the foliage and shadows within the tree canopy, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see one. But if, during the night, you hear a deep, slow, almost mournful ‘hoo-hoo’, you’ll know that you’ve got these special birds around you too. breakfast in its talons.
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By Dr Julie Blaze, of Bulli Medical Practice be given on the same day. Pfizer is the preferred vaccine for the winter booster as it has evidence of being the most effective, but AstraZeneca can be used when an mRNA vaccine is contraindicated. Novavax can be used if no other COVID-19 vaccine is considered suitable.
74 Park Road, Bulli 4284 4622 Book online* via our *Pleasewww.bullimedicalpractice.com.auwebsite:scanQRcode:call42844622foranappointmentifyouhaveanyrespiratorysymptoms Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm Saturday: 8am - 12 noon Full range of general practice services including women’s and men’s health, child and adolescent health, older adult health and nursing home visits, and specialised clinics including: y Travel medicine y Weight management y Skin cancer checks QUALITY PERSONAL HEALTHCARE AND TRAVEL MEDICINE
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) JE has been identified in commercial piggeries in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. The virus is spread when Culex species mosquitoes bite an infected animal and then bite a human. Infection risk is highest among people working at and/or living close to piggeries that have tested positive for JE. Until recently, Bulli Medical Practice provided vaccination against JE as part of our travel medicine service for travellers to parts of Asia or the Pacific where the virus is endemic. Now all our stock of the JE vaccine has been sequestered by the government to be allocated to priority groups. For more, read the NSW Health Fact Pages/japanese_encephalitis.aspxwww.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Sheet:
May 17
Prepare for winter
Winter booster and influenza vaccine 2022 influenza vaccination is recommended for people aged six months and over. We expect more cases of influenza this winter compared to the previous two years, as lock-down and other Covid-safe restrictions have eased, and social gatherings indoors areTheincreasing.government is recommending an additional booster (fourth dose) of COVID-19 vaccine to increase protection over the cooler months for: • Adults 65+ years • Aged care and disability care facility residents • People 16+ years who are severely immunocompromised (for this group it will be your 5th dose) • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50+ years. The booster can be given four or more months after the previous booster, or four months after confirmed COVID-19 infection. The roll-out of winter boosters commences in early April, at the same time as the 2022 influenza vaccination program and the two vaccinations can
Email rbrander@unsw.edu.auHerecomesaninfragravity wave!
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Early April brought us a gargantuan swell that once again eroded our beaches. Footage emerged of sudden surges of water, looking very much like a tsunami, rushing much higher up the beach than normal, catching people by surprise, damaging infrastructure, and churning far upstream in lagoons. However, the surges weren’t caused by a tsunami, they were examples of infragravity waves. Infra-what? Have you ever set up your towel on the beach, nice and high and dry, and everything is terrific, until you are swamped by a sudden uprush of water. Then things go back to normal. That was an infragravity wave. In the old days this phenomenon was referred to as ‘surf beat’. On the west coast of the United States, they call them ‘sneaker waves’ and this term has kind of taken over globally. Search for ‘dangerous sneaker waves’ on YouTube and you’ll see lots of videos of tourists in Iceland getting knocked over by the uprush of a sneaker wave and then chasing their backpacks being taken back down the beach by the backwash. Infragravity waves are all about breaking waves as they are mostly created in the surf zone, which extends from where waves start to break offshore to the shoreline. All waves carry energy and most waves we see have wave periods of about six to 12 seconds. When they break, they release most of their energy and some of this energy is lost in noise and by forcing currents. But some of it starts sloshing around in the surf zone creating a new type of wave motion that has very long periods on the order of minutes, but with a small wave height. Yep, that’s the infragravity wave. This transfer of energy to infragravity waves increases as the normal waves get bigger. During big swell like we had in early April, it’s off the charts! The other important thing to know is that infragravity wave energy gets amplified towards the shoreline, so that when they finally ‘break’, the extreme run-up you see is really the crest of the infragravity wave. The strong backwash, where the shoreline can also retreat by a long way, is the trough. Beaches and coasts that always have high wave energy, like the west coasts of the US and New Zealand (and Iceland!) always have infragravity waves and they are considered a big hazard with plenty of warning signs. We only get serious ones that go way up the beach during big swell or storm events when they may occur every five or 10 minutes or so. Still confused? That’s okay, so are most of my students. Why are they called ‘infragravity’? I dunno, something about frequency. Just call them sneaker waves. Have a question for Dr Rip?
This month: Waves that sneak up on you. By Professor Rob Brander
Photo: Rob Brander
Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf
It’s believed that headstones or markers date back to Neothilic and Bronze ages. That’s 3000 to 6000 years ago. These were made from wood or stone, placed over a grave as a sign of respect and to mark the location as a gravesite.
And the future? Think holograms, digital messages, and scanning QR codes linking to life stories of the deceased and the exact location of their final resting place. In fact, all of this is happening now.
markers are an
and evolving human tradition.
Headstones, plaques, gravestones, tombstones, and grave markers are all emblems of the deceased’s final resting place. Like many aspects of death, these emblems are steeped in history, rituals and practicality. The inscription, material used, size and other features can tell us so much about the person, their social status, their religion, the size of their family and even how they died. The historical significance of grave markers is rich, and deserves more attention than can be given in this space.
H.Parsons has chapels in Bulli, Wollongong, Warilla and Dapto Phone 4228 9622 or visit hparsons.com.au
Headstones to holograms
Nowadays, there is more to choose from, including slate and sandstone which were popular up until the 1900s, marble, granite, bronze, limestone, iron and so on. Marble was popular for its aesthetic appeal, and usually signifies wealth, but due to its softness and lack of durability its popularity has waned.
As people became literate, the name, age and date of death would be inscribed on the marker to signify who was buried. This in itself would give a clue to the deceased’s social standing, being available to the educated and well off only. Inscribing a sentimental message or quote came along later when more elaborate funerals became customary. Other inscriptions are used to indicate religion. The dharma wheel or lotus flower is used in Buddhism, a flower represents detachment in Hinduism and in Christian religions the various types of crucifixes, angels, or a hymn or verse are included. With cremations now accounting for over 70% of interments in Australia, a different type of plaque needs to be considered. Sue Rowe, from Mountain View Crematoria, says that plaque sizes are now smaller. Space availability is an issue, and in the Illawarra, families might order a plaque to go in a commemorative wall of approximately 100 x 135 cm. These are either bronze or chrome and will have a small container behind them in which to store the cremains. Larger plaques are used for plinthes which may go in granite walls. Often the cemetery will dictate the size and type of the Theplaque.challenge, according to Sue, can be trying to fit the entire message requested by the family onto the plaque along with any personal symbols, such as images of pets. The trend towards personalising the whole funeral carries right through to the final resting space.
By Edwina Ellicott, Community Engagement Manager at H.Parsons
Grave ancient
May 19
science & nature20
By Banksia Bush Care’s Kieran Tapsell
leptopetala
New home and garden titles at the library
• 50 easy Indian curries: fifty Indian curries / Penny Chawla
A big thanks to Tamara Seeck, Sayuri Takegami and Torin O’Connell for helping with the clearing of Lantana, Senna, Asparagus fern and Ochna that had been impeding the regeneration of native species. The sticks collected will now be used in the existing nests.
Available to borrow now
• The sustainable kitchen / food director, Sophia Young.
• Saka Saka: adventures in African cooking, south of the Sahara / Anto Cocagne and Aline Princet
Backhousia leptopetala (Brush Turpentine) is not found anywhere else in the Illawarra.
• The green planet: the secret life of plants / Simon Barnes
Bill Harris and I recently extended the deer fence in that area. Two Argentinian friends, Pablo Cicoria and Nacho Bastamante, have helped me plant numerous local species including about 100 Bangalow palms inside and outside the deer fence. While the rains have been good for planting, they have also been good for the weeds.
• 10-minute Chinese takeaway: simple, classic dishes ready in just 10 minutes! / Kwoklyn Wan
In Stanwell Park, it is confined to the area between the CWA Hall and the tennis courts and up Stanwell Creek, along the western end of Stanwell Avenue and Lower Coast Road, opposite the shops in Lawrence Hargrave Drive and along the edge of the Reserve close to the Surf Club. It is commonly found north of Sydney to Buderim in Queensland. Stanwell Park is a cross-over point between the trees of Sydney, the Royal National Park, and those of the Illawarra escarpment, which has had a significant effect on the local flora. Backhousia is another example of this cross over. It can grow as high as 10 metres, and although it has bark like the Turpentine, it is not as rough. It has yellow/white flowers, and opposite leaves.
The planting of ground covers and small plants by Bill Harris and others at 33 Stanwell Avenue, next to Doran House, is about half complete, and we have cleared away all the weed material from the western end of Stanwell Avenue.
Tree of the Month
Banksia Bush Care News
• Wild: the naturalistic garden / Noel Kingsbury, Claire Takacs.
• One-pot vegan: easy vegan meals in just one pot / Sabrina Fauda-Rôle
• Creative mending: beautiful darning, patching and stitching techniques / Hikaru Noguchi
• Succulents for beginners: a year-round growing guide for healthy and beautiful plants / Misa Matsuyama
• The Flexible Baker / Jo Pratt
Backhousia (formerly Choricarpia) leptopetala (Brush Turpentine)
Brush Turpentine grows in Stanwell Park but nowhere else in the Illawarra.
Photos: Kieran Tapsell
May 21 OPERATOR, TRUCK, PLANT & EQUIPMENT HIRE TrailersCagedBox (Various Sizes) Car PlantTrailerTrailer Earth ContractorMoving Lots of Equipmentother For Hire Mini Excavator Small Tipper (Car Licence) Stump Grinder Generator High PressureWaterCleaner Call us today 0418 680 255 www.chasenhire.com.au sales@chasenhire.com.au Donate your Discover vouchers, writes Symbio’s Kevin Fallon With the NSW Government’s Dine & Discover initiative ending on 30 June, don’t let your unused Discover vouchers go to waste! At Symbio, you can ‘Pay Discover Forward’ to one of five children’s charities and help kids in need ‘Discover a Wild Life’ and create memories to last a lifetime. You can choose to pay your voucher forward to: Canteen, Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, Starlight Foundation, Kidzwish and Variety (The Children’s Charity). By redeeming your Discover Voucher at Symbio, one of those five charities will receive 2 x zoo entry tickets on your behalf. Your random act of kindness will bring joy to children in need as they get to spend a day meeting the animals, enjoying the splash park or picnicking near our Donatingfarmyard.vouchers is easy: simply use your phone to scan the QR code or visit Symbio’s website. Go to paydiscoverforwardsymbiozoo.com.au/ Boutique law firm specialising in all areas of Wills & Estates EMAIL: info@asquithlegal.com.au WRITE TO: PO Box 3048, Austinmer NSW VISIT: WorkLife Coledale, 741-743 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coledale – by appointment ADMINISTRATIONESTATE PLANNINGESTATEWILLS ESTATES& Try our free bespoke estate planning tool www.asquithlegal.com.auat: 02 4208 0403SERVICINGSYDNEYANDTHEILLAWARRA Give joy to children
This is a deliciously moist and zesty cake with a hint of sweetness that is perfect for Mother’s Day morning tea. It is a cinch to make so the kids can take over the kitchen while us Mums put our feet up. I like to serve this cake freshly baked from the oven, still warm with a dollop of natural yoghurt. It will also keep well in the fridge for up to five days, and the flavours seem to intensify by the day.
By Stephanie Meades, functional nutritionist at Thirroul’s Life Wellness Co.
local businessA22
zesty treat for mum
Lemon Polenta Cake (Serves 12) Ingredients 200g butter 2/3 cup rice malt syrup 1 cup blanched almond meal 1/2 cup polenta 1/2 cup shredded coconut 1 tsp gluten-free baking powder 3 eggs, whisked Zest from 2-3 lemons Syrup: Juice from 2 lemons 1/4 cup maple syrup Directions: Preheat oven to 180°C and line a 20cm round cake tin with baking paper. Add all of the dry ingredients, except the baking powder, to a large bowl and mix well. Heat the butter and rice malt syrup in a small saucepan on low heat, stirring regularly to combine. When butter and syrup are melted, add baking powder and whisk to combine.Pourthe liquid mixture into the dry ingredients bowl and mix well, then add the whisked eggs and lemon zest. Mix all ingredients until well combined. The mixture will be very runny, but it will firm up whilst cooking.Pourthe mixture into the cake tin and bake for 25-30 minutes (take care not to burn). Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Mix the lemon juice and maple syrup in a small bowl, then pour over the warm cake so it will absorb into the cake as it cools. Serve it warm with berries and yoghurt, or wait until it cools fully before storing the cake in an airtight container in the fridge. Happy Mother’s Day.
Our new Perry pear cider is here in its new-look can! Cider made from pears is called Perry! We use dessert varieties in Australia to make light, easy drinking Perry. Our Perry can be a great substitute for a beautiful champagne. It is soft and delicate and is equally lovely to drink with a Thai-inspired meal or creamy pasta. There is a saying ‘grow pears for your heirs’ as Perry pear tree varieties from Europe have been known to live up to 400 years, and can grow to a height of 50 metres. Mature trees can grow up to 2 tonnes of fruit. Pears were cultivated by the Romans, who stewed them with honey and introduced the fruit to Britain. Pears naturally contain sorbitol, which can have a laxative effect for some people. So enjoy them in moderation. As we head into the colder months it’s time for warm cider. Here’s an easy version incorporating pear and apple. Warm spiced pear and apple cider Slice an apple (pink lady) and a pear and place in a pot. Add 2x 375ml can Darkes Perry, 2 x 375ml can Darkes Dry Cider, 1 cup Darkes cloudy apple juice, 1 dessert spoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 whole clove, ¼ star anise. Heat over medium-high heat until boiling. Stir and reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Use a strainer to remove what remains of the apples, pears and whole spices. Serve warm and enjoy! Visit darkes.com.au
New Perry sparkles like champagne
By Jo Fahey at Darkes Glenbernie Orchard
In the can! Try the newDarkesPearPerryCider
May 23
For the meat eater in the group, we have a wagyu carpaccio with truffle and salted ricotta or along with our signature Franco pizza (pork fennel and garlic sausage, N’duja, mushroom and olive) or just a classic pepperoni (we recommend adding mushroom or jalapenos to spice things up). For vegetarians we have plenty of options especially with pizzas – zucchini with basil pesto and toasted pepita, potato with pickled onion and rosemary, margherita, mushroom with garlic and oregano, just to name a few. We have kids’ pizzas available as well with salads and fries to suit. But the big hit for the kids is our Sundae – vanilla gelato, chocolate fudge sauce and a cherry on top. Desserts are a must before leaving; our tiramisu is a must for first-time visitors, vanilla buttermilk panna cotta with rhubarb and pomegranate is a new dessert for our regulars to get excited about.
Wow! Why do I suddenly feel hungry? Okay, back to business… anything special coming up for Franco Pizza Bar? In May (Sunday 22nd) we have a Sicilian event with local duo Cass and Matt Bugeja of Ain’t Nonnas and Ross Curtis (Mondo Imports). We’ll be bringing a taste of Sicily to Franco and exploring the landscape of the region through food and wine alike. We’ll also be getting involved with some more local businesses/producers like Benson & The Mooch (June) and the team from Night Parrot. All of which we are super-excited about. For event updates follow @francopizzabar on Instagram, visit www.francopizza.com.au and sign up to Franco’s enewsletter via the website.
The community vibe down here is amazing, we believe it’s one of most important aspects of living down here. The proximity to the beach is obviously a big drawcard too.
Sounds pretty good, what is it?
Hi! Well, we (the team behind Franco Pizza Bar in Thirroul) have a new addition to our rapidly growing family, Franco Wine Online (visit www.francowineonline.com.au).
It’s an online delivery service specialising in small boutique wine makers/brewers and spirit distillers. Our motto has always been quality over quantity, and with over 54 years’ combined experience in the industry we’ve built strong relationships with our favourite importers from local and international wine producers. It’s these niche suppliers that give us access to all the hard-to-find and highly sought-after wines that our Franco customers have grown to expect from us; it’s our point of difference.
We’ve booked a table for dinner at Franco Pizza Bar, what do you recommend we order to eat and drink? We have a meat eater (adult), a vegetarian (adult) and three children. Don’t forget dessert… The best thing about Franco is that we cater for all occasions, whether it be a family night or date night, a get-together with friends or celebrating a special moment. We offer a set menu which showcases some of the highlights from our menu, like the house-made focaccia with Stracciatella and persimmon or our tiramisu.
Team Franco: Samuel Jones (at back) and husband and wife Matt and Jo Taylor-Watkins (seated). Photo supplied
The team at Franco have exciting plans for events at the pizza bar, plus wine online. Jessica Nelson enjoyed a Q&A with Sam.
There are so many bottle shops in the South Coast selling the same products, but Franco specialises in hard-to-get wines. You won’t see Franco wines in standard bottle shops.
Pizzaactionthe
Okay Sam, let’s get personal – what’s your favourite thing about living on the South Coast?
local business24 Hi Sam, what’s new with you?
Sleep Success!
Your local, experienced and educated real estate professional
There has not been an interest rate rise since November 2010 when the RBA raised its cash rate from 4.5% to 4.75%. At the time, average variable home loan rates were 7.5% and three-year fixed rates were 7.34%. These were considered the long-term average rates, however, it’s now been almost 12 years with rates only going down or staying the same. That’s a massive generation of mortgage holders who bought a home during this time that have never experienced a rate rise. The RBA is fully aware of this and is not likely to rush into raising rates quickly so there is no need for panic. However, the rises coming are inevitable and everyone must prepare for them. You could consider fixing, however, these rates have all risen dramatically already so may or may not suit your needs. My suggestion is to increase your repayments now and build up a buffer.
For local, experienced and educated real estate advice, call Ian today! Ian Pepper 0403 570 ian.pepper@raywhite.com041 raywhitehelensburgh.com.au
State of the market
Helensburgh’s Andie Corrigan is a Certified Infant & Child Sleep Consultant and the founder of Sleep Success. Here, Andie shares why she became a sleep consultant, and what she loves about her job.
May 25
For local, experienced and educated real estate advice, call Ian today! Ian Pepper 0403 570 ian.pepper@raywhite.com041 raywhitehelensburgh.com.au
I became a sleep consultant because I was a sleep-deprived, totally exhausted mum. Waking every 45 minutes and unrealistic expectations took their toll on me until I was referred to a sleep school. It changed my life! I became so frustrated at how easily it could have been prevented. It wasn’t about sleep training. It was just understanding what was happening developmentally, learning to read my baby’s signals a little better and having the confidence to back myself as a mum. But then, of course, my eldest’s sleep went downhill again and I couldn’t figure out why the tips I’d used before didn’t work anymore! So, I started studying baby sleep consultancy, initially just to increase my understanding and give me more tools around my little’s sleep. This job is more rewarding than I ever imagined. It’s making a difference to an entire family, not just one person! I love parents walking away feeling confident in their little one’s sleep. It’s about giving them the reassurance to trust their instincts and make choices that align with their family’s values. I truly believe there is no right way when it comes to your family’s sleep. Everyone has different circumstances, parenting styles and baby temperaments that impact our sleep needs. My support is inclusive and holistic, based on your sleep goals and family values. Every day I am mixing my passion for educating and helping others, constantly passing on little tips and tricks I learn from each family too. It’s the absolute best! Visit www.sleepsuccess.com.au and follow @sleep_success on Instagram
Jessie: “I only had one uniform. One pair of shoes. We used to get things from the government in boxes. Things that never fit you anyway and clumpy old shoes. And I’ve always been a shoe person. I love shoes. “We were poor. It made you appreciate what you get later in life. We have worked very hard through the years to get where we are today. We were really happy here until Bill [Jessie’s husband] went. “Bill used to let me make the decisions ... he used to call me The Boss. He never went to bed ever without kissing me goodnight. He used to tell me every day he loved me. Every day. One day he was sitting in his chair over there and he said to me: ‘You don’t tell me you love me every day, I tell you’. ‘Well’, I said, ‘you know I do.’” Her mother was a tailoress and taught Jessie sewing. She worked as a seamstress in a jeans factory located in Helensburgh. She also worked at the Garrawarra aged care hospital as a seamstress.
When asked what the secret to her long life is, she says: “You just take each day as it comes, because you never know what is in front of you.
At almost 100 years old, Jessie Smith is fiercely independent, productive, and funny.
Photos: Iris Huizinga and the Smith family
clubs & community26
“I’ve always had something to do, I’ve never been idle … I’ve made everything in this house, all the curtains, everything. And I have sewed all myTolife.”this day Jessie still makes her own clothes, with three sewing machines set up in the garage. With a grin she tells me what she is working on: “I’ve got a dress cut out there for me. I haven’t got many dresses. They asked me if I’d have an afternoon tea and invite some of my friends … if it just turns out right and it’s a hot day, I’ll wear it. And if it doesn’t, I’ll wear slacks.” She laughs heartily at that.
“The boss let me work through my lunchtime so I could get off [early] to get home when the kids got home from school.
The former seamstress has lived in Helensburgh for more than 80 years. Surrounded by self-made curtains and countless family pictures, dressed in slacks she has made herself, Jessie is a warm and wilful presence. I get an insight into her character when she refuses the cake her daughter Theresa has cut for her, instead disappearing into the kitchen to Edna Jessie Smith – known as Jessie – has lived sinceHelensburghinshemarried at age 19.
Happy 100th birthday to Jessie!
The former seamstress has cut out a new dress for her party on 18 May, writes Iris Huizinga get a pink slice. Her daughter gives her mum a loving smile and quips: “See, that’s her independence.”Bornin1922 in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Jessie recalls the Depression as a time where she and her family moved around a lot. They “had to live wherever we could find somewhere to live”.
“I don’t think it’s easy to live a life now with just contentment. Like when we [Jessie and Bill] were together, you didn’t have a lot of things to worry about. You just had enough money to go around and you just spent what you could afford. And if you couldn’t afford to buy it, you didn’t buy it.
“If you had a chicken to eat, that was marvellous, even if it did run around the yard with no head.”
There is also a lot of evidence that volunteering is good for health and wellbeing, and it makes me feel like I’m doing something valuable and more connected to the community. After lockdown, I was also a bit desperate to get out of the house, do something different and see different people, after all the studying and home schooling!
May 27
Over the summer school holidays I needed to take my kids with me to transport some clients. The NINA staff made sure the clients wouldn’t mind, and my kids thoroughly enjoyed the outings – they are still talking about the lovely clients they met!
How do you fit everything in? It can be a challenge juggling everything. But I love the fact that NINA is incredibly flexible, and my volunteer work fits in around everything else going on. My availability can vary week to week, depending on casual work and study commitments, and I can accept as little or as much work as I’m able to do.
What have you got from being a volunteer?
Tell me about yourself.
I have met and enjoyed working with many other volunteers who were very welcoming when I started. Some of the volunteers have been with NINA for decades, which is incredibly inspiring.
It has made me feel more a part of the community and feel like I am giving something back.
NINA provides a wide range of training throughout the year, including first aid and CPR, manual handling, dementia awareness and much more. The training sessions have all been valuable and a nice opportunity to get together with other volunteers and share experiences. The NINA staff are very supportive, caring and flexible and host some wonderful social events to show their appreciation to volunteers.
I live in the Burgh with my husband and two kids and have been here for nearly 13 years. As a child I lived in Thirroul, and I feel lucky to have lived in the area most of my life, close to the beach and bush. Besides enjoying these two things, I love Aussie rules football and have supported the Sydney Swans ever since going to my first game at the SCG over 30 years ago.
Why did you start volunteering? When our 2021 lockdown was coming to an end, I wanted to help the local community and do something that aligned with my public health interests. The thing I love about public health is that it is all about supporting the health and wellbeing of communities and addressing inequality.NINAprovides transport, meals and social support to community members, allowing people to access the services they need, visit loved ones,
NINA would not exist without volunteers, and it is a much-needed community service that we all might depend on one day. Visit the NINA office at 18 Walker Street, call 4294 1900 or follow neighbouraid@northernillawarraonFacebook.
‘NINA would not exist without volunteers’
As well as studying, this year I started working with Healthy Cities Illawarra, assisting with some of their health promotion programs, and I started volunteering with NINA about seven months ago.
Ahead of National Volunteer Week (May 16-22), Northern Illawarra Neighbour Aid manager Sharon Gissane asked local volunteer Alison Ainsworth to share her story maintain social connection and live independently. People in the community need to have these basic things in place for good health, and this is what drew me to volunteer with NINA.
For the past two years I have been studying my master’s in public health at the University of Sydney and am completing my final semester. Before then, I had a corporate job as a business events manager and I can thank Covid for leading me to this career change, which I am enjoying and embracing.
On the 1 March 1998 a group of local people chartered a club, part of a global organisation consisting of about 16,600 clubs with more than 350,000 members; which had one purpose, “provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills”. For decades, the club has provided a safe and friendly space for people from all walks of life to build their self-confidence.Helensburgh and District Toastmasters has been going for almost 500 meetings, after fire and storm and now through the pandemic. The club has continued to welcome people from 2508 and beyond. Helensburgh and District Toastmasters meetings are held at The Cupbearer, corner of Parkes Street and Gibbons Lane, and our doors are open every 2nd and 4th Monday night of the month. Come in for a 7pm start. On the 23rd of May, our club will celebrate its 500th meeting. This is the perfect opportunity to come and see what Toastmasters is about. We still have Zoom for anyone who cannot travel or wishes to remain at home or in the office. Our meetings are fun and engaging, allowing an opportunity to talk and get feedback. If you have any questions, need advice on a speech, work presentation or even a school project, we will give you tips and tricks to become better. We don’t meet on public holidays but celebrate events; we didn’t have a meeting on ANZAC Day, but we do honour the brave. We welcome anyone aged 18 or over to walk in and join us on the 23rd of May and watch and learn from others. The first two meetings are free of charge. After that, you will be invited to join our club and be entitled to earn valuable speaking qualifications.Toastmasters, a not-for-profit organisation, is an educational entity and can provide “continuing education” credits in many employment fields.
Toastmasters celebrates 500th meeting
By Paul Blanksby of Helensburgh Men’s Shed
clubs & community28
By Matthew Derbridge of Helensburgh Toastmasters
You might see Wayne working on a postie bike, Rod making a possum box, Alan restoring an item for the Historical Society, or Ian creating a cake tier for a local wedding. Perhaps you’ll witness Bruce building a bespoke birdbox, or John carefully restoring an old pond yacht.
It’d be great to have you along, and we hope to see you soon. First Monday of every month from 2.30pm, or pop in when we are open. Visit helensburghmensshed.org.au, 199A Parkes Street Helensburgh 9am-3pm Monday and Tuesday. Call Michael Croft 0413 401 522; Ron Balderston 0410 564 752; Paul Blanksby 0403 701 788
Enjoy ‘First Monday’ tea at the Shed
Your local Men’s Shed in the Burgh has opened its doors to the community through our usual Mondays and Tuesdays, our Saturday Sale and Open Days, working with different charities and organisations around town, Bunnings barbecues and local fetes and fairs. To add to these, we are starting ‘First Monday’ afternoon teas for men to visit the Shed, meet some of the blokes, have some refreshments and tour the facilities for a look at what we do.
May 29
The Grand Opening marks the launch and opening of the purpose-built Youth Centre. We spend a lot of time around young people and the challenges we see them facing are significant. From mental illness to thoughts of suicide and self-harm, we see a lot of young people who can feel really overwhelmed and stressed. But we see past that and get really encouraged to see young people connect with each other and inspire one another into fun, creative and positive things and spurring one another on! After the launch on May 20th, the Youth Centre will be open from Monday to Friday, 3.30-5.30pm during the school term, with a range of activities, including basketball, pool, air hockey, a quiet study area, music area, dance and“AfterLego.all everyone has been through with Covid, we still just really love our community and are excited to be providing the Hope Youth Centre to young people in 2508,” said Pastor Lionel Rattenbury from Hope Church 2508. “The goal is to provide a fun and safe place for young people to hang out, but we dream of expanding into providing the youth with job skills. We are looking to start a barista training course, and we want to partner with the community wherever we can, to provide skills and training for young people to thrive.”
After some Covid-related delays, the Hope Youth Centre will be celebrating its grand opening on Friday, 20 May by showcasing the top local performers in three different categories: performing arts, basketball and Lego block masters. X-Factor-2508 competitors will have the chance to show off their skills and take their chance at winning thousands of dollars’ worth of donated vouchers and prizes.
X-Factor-2508 heats will be held over the coming weeks, so check out the terms and conditions of entry and details for the Grand Opening at: www.hopechurch2508.org. au/X-Factor-2508.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 3.30 pm-5.30 pm 4/3 Cemetery Rd, Helensburgh Hope Church opens Youth Centre by Youth Pastor PJ Bedwell of Hope Church 2508 with finals of Block Masters, X-Factor 2508 and Basketball Half-court Shoot Off Grand Opening – 20 May 2022 Basketball / Snooker / Airhockey / Music / Coffee Caravan / Quiet Study Area Everyone is welcome! Questions? hyc@hopechurch2508.org.au
By Stephen Le Bas and Louise Wellington, of Save Thirroul Village.
With the fourth exhibition period of the Thirroul Plaza concluding last month, perhaps it is time to reflect on why the community still opposes the DA. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the possibilities for the site if the community had been consulted by the developer. Over the past two years, the community has continued to object to what the developer proposes for the Thirroul Plaza because:
DA
3. The additional traffic lights, and additional vehicles, will add to Thirroul’s traffic woes
Reflections on the Thirroul Plaza
4. The views to the escarpment will be blocked and there will be early shadowing of businesses
The Thirroul Plaza site is too important to have the wrong development proceed. Once an iconic site with huge potential such as this is lost to a very poor development decision, it will be lost to the community forever. We can’t let this happen! Visit www.savethirroulvillage.com.au
5. The size and bulk of the design is not suited to Thirroul’s streetscape 6. The live music at Beaches and Anita’s will be under threat due to the high-density residential complex proposed to be built above these venues. But what is interesting is that both the
30 clubs & community Government and the Community have suggested other solutions that have not been taken up by the developer. Let’s take a look at what they are.
What Option D would do, when combined with well-considered urban and architectural design, is make this iconic site the jewel of the Northern Illawarra. The site should take advantage of the existing character of Thirroul village and fulfil the role of a town square, where pop-up stalls, street festivals and the like can occur.
TfNSW proposed alternate traffic plans to the developer in an email in July 2020, including a traffic plan titled “Option D” (see image titled Option D below.) The developers rejected this traffic-management approach.
1. The loss of street parking on Lawrence Hargrave Drive (LHD) and King Street will affect the village amenity 2. Local businesses viability will be threatened due to the loss of street parking
Option D utilises the existing set of traffic lights at the corner of LHD & Raymond Road, and does not require sacrificing street parking in Thirroul town centre. Under the proposal, Raymond Road would be extended through the current Plaza site and join with Redman Avenue. It would also include 45-degree-angle parking along King St, creating a low-speed shared precinct. The block-like nature of the proposed development would be broken up, presenting greater opportunities to preserve escarpment views, and the existing character of Thirroul’s streetscape. This approach would form the basis of far more creative urban design, architecture, and development on the site. The current plaza proposal displays neither a sympathetic nor sensitive integration of its new building with the character of an existing low-density town centre that has a significant natural feature, the Illawarra escarpment.Theimage, below left, is an impression of how a design utilising Option D may appear at the intersection of LHD and Raymond Road. It shows the view looking west along the proposed extension of Raymond Road through the existing Plaza site. As can be seen, the size and bulk of the proposed development is significantly reduced, and the result is far more in keeping with the current feel of the Thirroul town centre.
So why was Option D rejected? We cannot confirm, only speculate: Option D doesn’t allow for the number of apartments in the current proposal.
Above: TfNSW Option D Below: Potential TfNSW Option D
implementation of
Helensburgh rallies against Liquorland
After The Meeting
May 31
By Iris Huizinga applause. Local resident Jerry Riley, who forfeited his five minutes so speaker Warwick Erwin could continue, concluded the evening by saying: “Well, after this groundswell of arguments, if they [Coles Liquor] have any sense, they’ll withdraw their application.” Scan the QR code to read the full version of this story, published in April on our website.
Community speakers were universally against the proposed Liquorland store at 19 Walker Street, a space previously occupied by a fruit shop and deli on the corner of Walker and Short streets.
The first speaker, Scott Spiers, a resident with a background in town planning, said: “A place where you can turn up and … grab your cheap booze and get out again, is not going to support what the community currently needs. We need places where people can enjoy the town centre.” Dr Trevor Kemper, director of Helensburgh’s Equilibrium Healthcare, said: “From a health perspective, having another liquor store in town is concerning because of the normalisation of alcohol use in the population.”
On 4 April, more than 100 people attended a public meeting with Liquor and Gaming officials at Tradies to voice their thoughts on the Coles-owned Liquorland chain setting up in Helensburgh.
Opposition to the application has been simmering since Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd first filed a notice of intention to apply for a new packaged liquor licence in January 2021. If the application were granted, there would be four liquor outlets within 200m along Walker Street (including the Helensburgh Hotel bottle shop). Each community speaker was met with loud
On 19 April, a spokesperson for the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority, told the Flame that “a total of 297 written submissions have been received from members of the public”. In late April, due to this “significant amount of interest”, ILGA agreed to requests made at the public meeting and published all submissions on its website, ilga.secretariat@liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au.submissionpark).guardclosure;includedcurrentthatdisregarded.opposition”“aPackagedHelensburghilga-and-l-and-gnsw-decisions/consultationsindependent-liquor-and-gaming-authority/www.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au/Ina52-pagesubmission,LiquorlandsaysitsapplicationforaNewLiquorLicencehadbeensubjecttocampaignbyincumbentbusinessestogenerateandthat87%ofsubmissionsshouldbeThesubmissionunderlinesthefactpoliceandcouncilhavenotobjectedtotheapplication,unlikepreviousones.FollowingApril’smeeting,Liquorlandproposalsreducingtradinghours(10pmdaily9pmSundays)andemployingasecurity(whowouldregularlypatroltheColescarAtpresstime,ILGAhadopenedafinalperiod:cut-offmidnight1May.Email
On the societal impact, Helensburgh Baptist Church pastor Brad Blacker said: “Alcohol stays in theOtherscommunity.”whospoke out against the application include Warwick Erwin, convenor of Neighbourhood Forum 1; filmmaker Geoffrey Sykes; Ray White Helensburgh real estate agent Ron Kissell; and disability advocate Fiona Myers.
(02) 9548 0144 heathcote@parliament.nsw.gov.au PO Box 536, Engadine NSW 2233 Shops 1 & 2, 17 23 Station St, Engadine NSW 2233 LeeEvansHeathcote.com.au ADVERTISEMENT Authorised by Lee Evans MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements. Lee Evans Member for Heathcote
The Illawarra Flame reports
Total closure of community centre Helensburgh Community Centre has been closed permanently due to rising damp and mould throughout the building making it unsafe for use. The building will now be sealed and no access allowed until after the UCI Road World Championships (Sept 18-25), when it is expected the building will be demolished and the land turned into green space. This is a clear example of Council not maintaining the building by not responding quickly to maintenance issues. The result of this and the very slow delay in the new Community Centre and Library project means the community of Helensburgh does not have a community centre and is still using an over 45-year-old temporary building library.
By NF1 convenor Warwick Erwin
New Community Centre Project A site at the Helensburgh swimming pool is the preferred site due to being less fire-prone compared to the site at Walker Street, where the present library stands. This is due to the additional cost of a building on the recently purchased sites next to the current library site, which would have to meet the current bushfire standard. Again, Council is looking at the cheapest option rather than the best option for the community of 2508. The pool site will have impacts on the parking available for the pool, sports fields and the all-day parking used by workers in the CBD of Helensburgh. Council Officers will be attending the NF1 May meeting to present further information.
Council has assured NF1 that locals will be able to access the shopping centre at all times and work will be during the day time so as to not disturb residents during the night. NF1 has recommended detours that locals would use as being Gibbons Lane southbound and Stuart St northbound.
DA-2021/1058 Lot 2 Short Lane, H’burgh This is the laneway next to Bear Trader. This DA was rumoured to have been withdrawn by the applicant, but that was not the case and the DA was rejected by Council. The applicant has placed the DA and Council’s rejection before the Land and Environment Court. Wollongong Local Planning Panel recommended rejection and defence of the rejection in court.
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At the ILGA community meeting in early April the Authority heard objections to the licence application from many local residents. ILGA has given another opportunity for community submissions. Unfortunately, the period for these submissions will close on Sunday, 1 May, possibly before you receive this magazine. At the April 4th meeting, speakers expressed anger at Coles shutting the deli and fruit shop, downgrading the supermarket and lacking concern for the community. Many speakers claimed Coles does not support local sports organisations or local charities. A submission by Coles, filed after the April meeting, claimed that existing businesses have orchestrated the opposition to its application.
Liquor Licence Application for corner of Walker and Short St by Coles Group
Neighbourhood Forum 1 report
UCI 2022 Road World Championship course Helensburgh will be the start of the road races for the weekend of 24 and 25 September. Refer to wollongong2022.com.au for details. There will be road closures during the week before and weekend of the road race. There will also be an influx of teams and their support people around this time.
Next meeting of NF1 will be 11 May 2022 at 7pm at Otford Community Hall.
Council officers have promised all works on Walker St will be completed before September’s UCI Road World Championships and that after the race the Western Terrace area will be undertaken. Council Officers have excluded the footpath on the eastern side of Walker St, from Oat and Honey to Witty Rd, from the work, even though this was a separate project that Council has just dropped. No further information has been forthcoming from Council as to why the approved project has been dropped. NF1 has challenged the use of a traffic blister in Short St, southern side, at the intersection with Walker St due to it preventing two lanes of westbound traffic – allowing one to turn left and one to turn right – on the basis of pedestrian safety having a higher priority. There are many examples of right-turn traffic out of Short St being allowed by traffic in Walker St when traffic is stopped on Walker St to allow pedestrians on the pedestrian crossing. Council traffic officers have refused to move on this and are clearly not listening to the community. Approaches to councillors have also not been able to have this blister removed.
Helensburgh Town Centre Project Work Council are working on Walker Street. It is getting reprofiled and parts of Walker St between Lilyvale and Parkes streets will be closed for that work.
Residents are also reporting that the delivery semitrailers to the supermarket take up the full existing width of Short St when turning into it.
Sebastian, adopted Mother’s Day 2017, has brought much laughter and comfort to the Perez family. Holly. Adopted 13 August 2019 by the Smith family in Helensburgh. Julie-ann knew she would be a great fit for our family. She was right and we are very grateful.
Sunny was adopted from RescueCompanionCountryAnimalinFebruary 2020 and lives happily in the Shire with her best buddies, a 16-year-old kelpie and an older rescue cat.
Miko, cross retriever,Wolfhound/GoldenIrishadoptedin August 2021, now two years old. She's very happily living with Narelle in Helensburgh. Korky, adopted September 2019 from Country in October 2016 and he has been such a treasure to the Low family!
Country Companion Animal Rescue
Charlotte came into our family through Julie-ann in Dec 2014 after being rescued in northern NSW. Now living with us in Wollongong. Forever grateful to CCAR for bringing us together.
appearance,Spooky,Couldn’tAnimalCompanionRescue.imaginenothavinghim.aptlynamedbyJulie-annforhisisactuallythebiggestlovablesook!Weadoptedhim
Tink and her siblings were rescued as kittens after their mum was hit by a car. She just turned one a few days ago. We adopted her in June 2021. She is so loved by our family in Helensburgh. Tilly, adopted in December 2021, is a gorgeous mix of cattle dog, kelpie and border collie. She loves the beach life with her mums in Cronulla and we couldn’t be more thankful to CCAR!
rescuedJulie-annPoodle.Grover,hissisterCocoandtheirmother.MybrotherhasCoco,sotheygettoseeeachother.–Sonia,ofSoniaSaysSit
Our beloved Gilbert, a staffy-cross, adopted in March 2022 from Country Companion Animal Rescue. His forever home is at Woronora Heights.
clubs & community34 Grover. Born 29 Nov 2018. Adopted from CCAR at eight weeks. Kelpie x Rottweiler x
Thank you
Yindi (aka Toogood), adopted in May 2020, was a Narrabri rescue. He had a very sad start to life, so it's taken time for him to trust people again. He's still not 100%, but he's perfect to us.
May 35
Julie-ann rescued their pregnant mum from a country pound and we’re the most blessed parents to these two bonded brothers Dino, adopted in January 2022, was rescued by Julie-ann from a pound in Condobolin. He now lives in Engadine with big brother 'Max' who came from Central Coast Pound.
Thank goodness we have Toby –he’s a calming cat for all of us. Just a cuddle and a pat and the world is okay. Archie just adores
Usher, adopted in September 2021, had been terribly sick when Julie-ann rescued him, but he is now thriving in our family and making us laugh out loud everyday. Forever thankful to Julie-ann.
Kora,him.adopted in May 2020. She has brought us so much joy and love. She's loving life in Helensburgh!
Many abandoned animals have found their forever homes thanks to Helensburgh’s Julie-ann Ehrlich and her lifesaving service, Country Companion Animal Rescue. Now CCAR needs help and you can donate at gofundme.com (search for ‘Country Companion Animal Rescue’) or email ccarpetrehoming@tpg.com.au for details. Here some grateful owners share their thanks.
My name is Maverick (formerly Louis). I was adopted on December 1st 2019 and now live with my family in Jannali.
– The Rayners
Kylo joined us in March 2018 and he is living his best life thanks to CCAR and Julie-ann. U-Hoo was dumped at a pound and if not rescued by Julie-ann, we would not have this little four-legged ball of fun. She has made our lives so much happier and we have CCAR to thank for that. Ziggy, a red cattle dog, adopted from CCAR November 2016, now living in his fur-ever home in Medowie. Forever grateful to CCAR for giving us the opportunity to adopt this big ball of love. This is Chief! We adopted him in July 2020. He is an awesome addition to our family and we’ll be forever grateful to CCAR. A great big boofer with an even bigger heart. Jasper and Banjo (prev. Ollie & Ozzie), adopted from CCAR in July 2017.
The Churches of Christ Property Trust (trading as Fresh Hope Care) (“the Church”) owner of McCauley Lodge (“the Lodge”) in Tasman Parade, Thirroul, recently gave notice to all 38 residents that it intends to close the facility, all out by 21 August 2022. A number of residents are over 100 years old. Many had considered the Lodge to be their final home.
The reasons given for the proposed closure are said to be fire safety, infection control and Occupational Health and Safety compliance issues, based on a recent audit of the Lodge by the Commonwealth Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.Thebarriers in the way of obtaining planning approval from Wollongong City Council are said to be that it’s too far from the shops and public transport (even though it’s only 500m from the centre of Thirroul and has been there since 1965), its impact on the amenity of neighbouring properties (some being large new houses built in the last five years), and its impact on the heritage fig trees. Also, the NSW government introduced a new State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) (Housing) on 26 November 2021 where new floor-space ratios make it even harder to comply.
The families of residents are distraught, and to make matters worse the Church is facing significant barriers to obtain planning approval to build a replacement residential aged-care facility.
If a residential aged-care facility can’t get planning approval it will most likely be developed as individual living retirement units, very attractively located on McCauley Hill for an ageing SydneySomepopulation.readersmay remember The Lodge being called the Samuel and Ann McCauley Guest Home, which it was until 2016. This was in memory of Stella Wyndham-Jones’ grandparents, pioneer residents of this district. In 1950 Stella gave her land and money to commence the building of the Lodge as a “rest home for the aged” in Tasman Parade. The Church bought the land from Stella in 1966, but it is not clear whether there is any covenant running with the land as to its intended use. It is a tragedy for this community and its residents to lose a facility with such a good reputation. Regulation at a Commonwealth, State and local level seems to have created a perfect storm. Locals are fighting on!
By John Corker, a Thirroul-based lawyer who is helping families of residents at McCauley Lodge to try to keep it open
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We are increasingly an ageing population, so when an aged-care home in our community is to close, we want to know why.
Are we losing an aged care home?
Residents speak highly of the care they receive and its focus on a domestic and home-like environment. It is, in fact, a best practice “small household model of care” lauded by the recent Aged Care Royal Commission.
Joeys have similar plans and lots of craft. Glitter is still a favourite craft item – sorry, parents! We have also been invited to another Joey camp-out, this time with a Circus theme. We have been promised fairy floss, so it will be a good thing they will be outdoors and running around.
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THE IL L AW AR RA Check out our new-look Becomewww.theillawarraflame.com.auwebsiteHelpusbuildthebestcommunityresourcearound!SubmityoureventsListyourbusinessPostyourjobs–paidandvoluntarySubscribetotheFridayFlameforweeklyupdatesaLocalNewsSupporterandgetinteractivepuzzles!
1st Helensburgh Scouts
Bagheera reports
Thirroul Public School children want to help a flood-affected school restock its library, writes teacher librarian Sonya Engelen
Term Two at 1st Helensburgh Scout Group is shaping up to be exciting. All sections have run their Unit Council planning sessions and have exciting ideas. Cubs will do a climbing night, art rotation, sewing, a cooking challenge, bush-survival skills, light painting, ‘pizza for parents’, and end-of-term campfire (please, no more rain!)
After the devastating floods in northern New South Wales, our Thirroul Public School community wanted to know what we could do to help. The Student Representative Council came up with Wellie Wednesday (very apt considering the weather!), during which students wore their gumboots to school for a gold coin donation. With the funds raised we were, in consultation with Lismore Heights Public School, able to buy 30 backpacks for students who lost everything in the floods. These backpacks contained a pencil case full of pencils and school supplies, sticker books supplied by Collins Booksellers Thirroul, a small Lego toy, a drink bottle, and a handwritten card from a Thirroul PS student, letting the recipient know that we are thinking of them. However, we felt we needed to do more. In consultation with Lismore South Public School, we proposed helping them to re-stock their school library. Recovery for Lismore South Public School will take a long time but having a school library, stocked with carefully selected books, will begin to restore a sense of normality for students who may have lost all of their books in the floods. In collaboration with Collins Booksellers Thirroul, we have curated a list of titles to begin this task. Books can be purchased by popping into Collins (King St, Thirroul), or by calling on 4267 1408. All donated books receive a 20% discount.
Cubs also have a camp planned for June, and a regional archery day in May will include challenges with fellow Cubs from down the coast.
Cubs are nearly at capacity, but if your child is interested in Joeys or Scouts, please contact us at bruce.crawley@nsw.scouts.com.au
Book Drive for Lismore school
Scouts will embark on several challenges this term and solidify their outdoor knowledge and test themselves to build their badge collections. They will also have fun nights away at Lasertag and doing the Mystery Box cooking challenge.
Anyway, a good monthly book; keep up the good work. Regards, Les Editor’s note: Thanks to Les for raising this. The error was not Dr Rip’s but our own. The Flame’s style guide, based on an old Council spelling, has now been updated. A Council spokesperson told us: “We know there is a lot of debate among residents about the correct spelling of Sharky/Sharkey and/or Sharkies Beach in Coledale.
Thanks from Otford Rural Fire Brigade
Re: Dr Rip! March Flame Book Would you be so kind as to pass on my message to Professor Rob Brander. That is, Coledale’s southern beach is and always has been called ‘Sharky Beach’ not Sharkey’s. This naming is incorrect.
Letters to the Editor Write to editor@theillawarraflame.com.au
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Emergency services have been exceptionally busy these past two years but we do not carry the burden on our own. On behalf of all of the members of Otford Rural Fire Brigade I would like to thank some of the businesses that support us in our efforts to help the community and would encourage people to support them. Kristy from the OK Posy Co., for supplying us with quality floral arrangements for Remembrance and Anzac Days and other ceremonial occasions. The Centennial Hotel, for supporting us with the Christmas toy raffle. We would also like to thank the business that host our red collection tins: Binner’s Fruit Shop, Box Road Hot Bread, Box Road Pharmacy, Centennial Hotel, Coles and Coles Liquorland at Kareela, Gymea Chemist, Helensburgh Butchery, Kirrawee Chemist, Otford Pantry, Shell Helensburgh, Speedway Service Station Miranda, Sylvania Heights Newsagency, Sylvania Heights Pharmacy and the Taren Point Bottle Shop. The donations collected from the collection tins make a significant contribution to the welfare and wellbeing of our members. We would also like to thank the Illawarra Flame for allowing us to express our gratitude to the community. – Matthew Sage Secretary, Otford Rural Fire Brigade”
“In Wollongong Library’s Local Studies Collection there is research showing that it is known by two names. The unpatrolled beach, is known as Sharky Beach, while the reef at the beach’s northern end is known as Sharkies.
Sharky Beach is named that and that only. My name is Les Kennedy of Coledale and I’m a local of some 74 years. My dad told me it was called ‘Sharky Beach’ after Darcy Lorenz was bitten by a shark in the northern area near the reef on or about 1955.
“The signage on site was showing signs of its age and has been updated. The signage for Sharky Beach includes a notification that the beach is not patrolled and that swimming is not advised.’’
Ethics teachers needed Could you be an ethics teacher for Helensburgh Public School?
We are seeking volunteers, so that we can provide ethics classes for all the families who have requested it for their children. We currently require teachers across all stages. In ethics classes, children learn how to think logically, disagree respectfully and support their arguments with evidence, rather
Terrible state of Gymea Glades Park
Having recently driven in London where there are 20mph (32kph) limits, I can’t pretend to tell you how stomach churning and painful it is. The campaign is not as popular as they would have you believe. The 30please.org removes any negative comments and doesn’t even bother replying to messages. If you want safer streets put fences along the roadside – but, of course, that costs money.
– Marilyn and Sid Moir (formerly of Helensburgh)
* The Katoke Trust is a Christian organisation; contact Lee (4294 1114, www.katoke.com.au).
Just wondering if you would do a story on the terrible state of Gymea Glades Park smallunsafe,youneverHelensburgh.inCouncilreturnscallwhenringanditisveryespeciallyforkids.
– Lorraine Radzyner, Helensburgh
May 39 than act according to blind habit or peer pressure. No experience is necessary – all training is provided by Primary Ethics. If you are looking for an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to our school, please email ethics.helensburgh@ gmail.com
– Cathy HelensburghDeem, Over to Council: A council spokesperson said that they know the playground is ageing and have plans for a “renewal”. “The planned work includes the replacement of the retaining wall and renewal of equipment and surfacing. The replacement of the retaining wall is scheduled to be completed this financial year, and the upgrade of equipment and surfacing is programmed for the 2022/2023 financial year.” Council – which maintains 147 playgrounds from Helensburgh to Yallah – has also battled wet weather. “We have to be cautious, as putting our heavy machinery on to sodden ground can damage the surface. We are monitoring the conditions closely and mow as the grass and grounds dry out,” the spokesperson said. Re: ‘What if cars were guests?’, April 2022 I read the above article with some dismay. Like Lena, I grew up on streets where children could play – but that was 50 years ago. On a recent visit to the streets of my childhood, there were cars parked on both sides of the road. Regardless of the speed, it would be impossible for children to play on those streets today. It’s not so much speed that is inherently dangerous, it’s lack of attention. At 30kph, a car travels 8 metres in a second. At 40kph the car travels 11m. Personally I would rather someone was looking at the road for those extra 3m than at their speedometer – as a child steps out in front of them.
Shameful View at Start of Road
World Bicycle Championship Stanwell Park Petroleum Station – over 10 years an eyesore welcoming visitors to the Illawarra.
– Kevan Silver, Helensburgh Keep up the good work
Love your little book that arrives in our letterbox every so often. I was going to ask if we could get it in bigger print… Old eyes… and I struggle to read some of the great articles . I have just found out that I can read it on line when it arrives so not a drama now. Although, I am sure that there are others out there who also struggle to read the small print. I loved the story about Mr Charlie and also Tony Ryan’sKeepcontribution.upthegood work.
My husband and I have returned to Katoke-Lweru Secondary School* in a remote rural corner of Tanzania. Sid is again the headmaster. Our school is truly a miracle, enabling children from so many villages to receive a quality education. Thank you to all who have donated and collected cans/bottles. If you would like to also sponsor a student, please contact Lee King, our sponsorship coordinator. 2508, your support and generosity have truly had an amazing impact here. Thank you again.
– Georgia Phillips, Stanwell Park
Won’t we be proud to welcome world bicycle competitors and their followers and the media with this derelict building near the beginning of the Grand Pacific Drive?
– Cheryl Nutt, via email Thank you from the Moirs
Justices of the Peace at libraries
How rail plans tracked with mineral leases
clubs & community40 In October 1862, William Charles Wentworth with his wife and family departed Sydney for England. In the following year a series of advertisements were placed, on his behalf, in the Sydney Morning Herald calling for tenders for the sinking of a coal shaft and the construction of an 18-mile long tramway from Sydney to Port Hacking. The proposed mine site is believed to be in the vicinity of today’s Maianbar or Bundeena. Wentworth did not return to Australia and died there in 1872, aged 82 years. Although the work did not proceed with the Port Hacking mine or tramway, he had perhaps sown a seed of interest for others to follow in that, and nearby, Parishes. In the later part of 1872 increasing interest in a rail link between Sydney and the Illawarra began to appear in various newspapers, with a number of proposed routes being suggested over the following year. The route that was eventually chosen was from the southern side of the Georges River via the Port Hacking Valley, then via a tunnel through the Bulgo Range to Stanwell Park (under Bald Hill). Route details were presented in a talk to Royal Society members in Sydney on 11 December 1873. This proposal did not go unnoticed. On 19 December, just eight days later, a then Sydney businessman, Mr Alexander Stuart, took out five mineral leases totalling 1150 acres (465ha) along the route of the proposed line towards the southern end of the Hacking Valley. These leases were registered in the Sydney Branch of the Department of Lands. (Alexander Stuart entered the NSW Parliament in December 1874 and was Premier from 1883 to 1885. He died in 1886 at the age of Fourteen62.) days after Stuart took out the leases, on 2 January 1874, the NSW Government, by a notice published in the Government Gazette, reserved the following lands from sale: “County of Cumberland, parishes of Wattamolla, Bulgo, Heathcote, and Southerland, about 36 square miles. (9000ha.) The Crown Lands within the watershed of Port Hacking Creek and Port Hacking from its source downwards to the sea.” This reservation did not include Stuart’s newly acquired lands. On the 8th of January, six days later, Henry Wilson applied for a Conditional Purchase of 200 acres (81ha), and he was soon after followed by Michael Cawley (40ha) and James Frew (60ha). These three men had applied for their Grants at the Campbelltown Branch of the Department of Lands, however, unbeknown to the Campbelltown Office, they were within Stuart’s leases. This trio was to spend around three years improving their properties before they were forced to leave. In 1879, after several years of petitioning the then Government, they received compensation: Wilson £500, Cawley £240 and Frew £250. Today the approximate location of their properties is preserved in the names of the creeks that run through these localities. Next time: more on coal and the Hacking Valley Railway route.
NSW Justices Association Wollongong Branch provides free JP services at Community Desks at Thirroul, Corrimal, Wollongong and Dapto libraries. The association holds a monthly meeting for its members and other JPs on the second Tuesday of the month at the City Life Church in Jardine Street in Fairy Meadow from 7pm. Meetings include some training, and special training sessions also take place throughout the year to keep JPs up to date with any changes in the law regarding the duties of a JP. Help is also available for the exam that new JPs have to take, and then repeat every five years to keep their accreditation.Allservices given by JPs are free of charge. They cannot give legal advice and there are certain forms and documents that they are unable to sign or witness, but they can assist you in finding where these can be dealt Representativeswith. of the NSW Justices Association will be available at Thirroul Library on January 6 from 10am to 1pm. For more info contact Ray Vaughan on 0419 293 524.
John Arney, of Helensburgh and District Historical Society, traces the origins of the Illawarra Railway, plus how three local creeks got their names
Australia’s surface temperature, on average, has risen by 1.44ºC since records began and we urgently need leaders who can see what this means for all ThisAustralians.iswhyIwas among a small group of 2515 locals, with different political associations, walking Sea Cliff Bridge on Good Friday morning, waving “Climate Action Now” signs to drivers. We know our signs won’t stop the rain or coal trucks, but every honk, thumbs up and wave gives us hope that together we can make a difference. So, if you see one of our signs in a shop or on a car, show your solidarity with a thumbs up and if you’d like to be involved, or order a non-partisan sign for your yard or house, get in touch at beyondcoalcoast.com.Thetimetoactisnow: vote for a safe climate. working diligently towards our Country Fair in October this year. If you would like to come along and be part of our Helensburgh Lions Club we meet every second Monday of the month at Helensburgh Hotel from 6.30pm. Just a reminder, we are offering free membership for the first 12 months. You can also contact us for more details on our Facebook page and email info@helensburghlions. org.au
Lions offer free membership
Sadly, due to heavy rains over the past month, our Park had not recovered in time to handle heavy foot traffic that would have occurred with our Easter Buzz Fair so we had to make the tough decision to cancel.Wewould like to thank Helensburgh Butchers for allowing us to have an Easter Sausage Sizzle with a chocolate Easter Egg to celebrate with the community on Easter Saturday. Our attention now goes to looking forward and The creek which runs beside our house is usually a meandering, try-hard trickle but two weeks ago it turned into a deep, thundering, muddy torrent carrying boulders belting towards the culvert under the main road. The power and volume of the water coming off the escarpment was evident in the impact of landslides, debris, road damage and erosion across our region. It would be wonderful to say that the east coast rain bombs of the past month are a “one-in-a3500-year event”, as our deputy PM claimed, but these figures are based on historical records, when the earth’s temperature was more stable. Scientists now say we need to see these events as a new normal in a warming climate. The costs to repair, prevent and insure against damage to our homes and businesses will continue to accumulate.
Why we protested Sallie Moffatt (pictured front, at right) was among a group northern Illawarra locals who met on Sea Cliff Bridge on Good Friday to promote Climate Action and support the Australian Conservation Foundation’s “Together We Can” campaign. Here, Sallie shares her motivation.
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By Fran Peppernell, of Helensburgh Lions Club
International Women’s Day 2022 Luncheon WIN Entertainment Centre, 20 May, 11am-3pm, $135pp. Keynote speaker Anna Meares OAM and soul and blues vocalist Mahalia Barnes to Wollongong. iwdillawarra.com.au Free meditation training classes Classes have resumed at Wollongong Central Library on Tuesdays at 7pm.
What’s On May Dates for your Diary Special Storytime at Helensburgh Library for National StorytimeSimultaneous Wed 25 May at 10.30am. Join us, and the rest of Australia, for a reading of Family Tree by Josh Pyke. It will be a fun session with games, songs, and craft!
Green Connect farm tours + workshops
Weird Wonderful Wollongong
Comic Gong Book the Batmobile, fire up your X-wing or tune up the TARDIS – Comic Gong is back for 2022 and it’s going to be epic. Wollongong City Libraries’ pop culture festival is back on Saturday, 14 May, 10am-4pm. Browse the Artists Alley, enter the Cosplay Competition. Events at Wollongong Town Hall, the Art Gallery, the Arts Precinct and Wollongong Library. As always, admission is free! wollongong.nsw.gov.au/comicgong
Men’s Shed Introductory Afternoon 2 May, 2.30-4.30pm. 199A Parkes Street Helensburgh. Email info@helensburghmensshed. org.au or phone 0403 701 788.
Regular Farm Tours at the Green Connect in Warrawong: Alternate Thursdays and Saturdays 9am. Workshops: Sat 7 may 9-11.30am. Composting and Worm Farming masterclass with facilitator Rod Logan. Sat 28 may 9am-12.30pm. No-dig, Small Space Gardening workshop WITH Narelle Happ. Bookings: green-connect.com.au
The Bentley Effect fundraiser 5 May, 7-9pm, Gala Cinema, Warrawong. The Illawarra Film Society is raising funds to donate to NSW Flood Relief through screening The Bentley Effect and conducting a raffle! Tickets are $30 at Trybooking.com. www.ifs.org.au
Enjoy the therapeutic benefits of bead making at Thirroul Library Wed 18 May, 6.30pm. Join us for this mindfulness workshop which will teach you how to make a beautiful collection of polymer clay beads, strung as a necklace, with local maker Chrystie Longworth. Beading is a way to keep hands busy and minds at ease. Over 18s only. Refreshments will be served. Places are limited and bookings are essential via Eventbrite. Go to nsw.gov.au/library/whats-on/eventswww.wollongong.
A Wollongong City Libraries online photographic exhibition to mark Australian Heritage Week 2022. Visit illawarrastories.com.au. Pictured above: Seaweed swimming costumes, Austinmer beach, 1950 (P21413).
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New members welcome, monthly meetings via Zoom, info@historichelensburgh.org.au
Comprising a wooden spinning wheel with 20 oil paintings, Ullmann explores themes of fate, chance, displacement and aspirational dreams. With its dimmed flashing lights and casino sounds playing in the background, Wheel of Fortune will entice the audience to become game show contestants and invite them to take a spin. Spinning the wheel will trigger an eruption of flashing lights and depending on where the pointer lands, a soundscape created by the artist. M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent Griffith, 6-22 May, opening night: 5 May 6-8pm.
For a calendar and to submit an event, visit www.theillawarraflame.com.au
Illawarra Grevillea Park Open Days
With so many important issues that need to be addressed, it’s never been more important to make your vote count than on 21 May.
The Majishans present Nashville: A Rock Odyssey 7 May, 8-9pm, The Phoenix Theatre, Coniston. The Majishans are a group of artists and musicians who combine spoken word with original music to create rock www.trybooking.com/BYQFVpoetry.
The candidates who have so far agreed are:
Localindemocracyaction
10am-4pm May 7 & 8, 14 & 15. Expansive native display gardens; rainforest and vine forest walks; picnic areas. www.illawarrgrevilleapark.com.auVisit
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Readers of The Illawarra Flame are invited to a special event on Saturday, 7 May to hear from the local candidates in the forthcoming Federal election about their views and policies. More importantly it’s a chance to ask them about the issues that matter to you. Attendees will be able to submit questions for the candidates. This can be when you register, or on arrival.
Neighbourhood Forum 1 7pm, 11 May (second Wednesday of each month) all welcome, Otford Community Hall.
Helensburgh & District Historical Society
The Illawarra Socratic Society has partnered with Voices For Wollongong to present the 2022 Cunningham Candidates Forum. All candidates (currently seven) have been invited to participate.
• Dylan Green – The Greens • Alison Byrnes – Australian Labor Party • Alexis Garnaut-Miller – Citizens Party Melinda James from ABC Illawarra Breakfast will host the forum. Each candidate will be asked to speak for five minutes to introduce themselves and outline their policies. After that they will be asked to answer the questions submitted by the audience.
By Helen Lewis
Coledale artist exhibits in Canberra In her upcoming exhibition, Glitch, at M16 Artspace, Canberra, Coledale artist Naomi Ullmann incorporates traditional and digital media in her new work, Wheel of Fortune.
2022 Federal Election Saturday, 21 May. Polling places include schools, churches, surf clubs, community centres and libraries. Visit www.aec.gov.au/election
For those who can’t be in the room, Voices for Wollongong will be live-streaming the event. Tickets to the venue and online webinar are free. Local jazz pianist Kelvin Haisman will perform live. Doors open at 6.30 pm.
Sat 7 May, 7-8.30pm, Thirroul Community Centre, Book eventwww.voicesforwollongong.org/atorscantheQRcode
Socratic Society members meet on Friday mornings, under the guidance of the founder Eric Weddell, to discuss philosophy, great thinkers, democracy and other related topics. Each year (pre-Covid) they organised the popular “Socratic Lecture”. The Society hopes this open forum will further our democracy.
That is the question - Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to live through
clubs & community44 For anyone deciding that their living quarters are no longer suiting their lifestyle or they’re just simply outgrowing their lodgings, it’s the perennial question –that is, can we get what we want from a renovation (a potentially less expensive route) or do we need to start from a clean slate and build entirely new (generally the more expensive route)? And, as you may have guessed it, there’s no easy answer! Well, unless you’re the builder, in which case the answer is generally pretty clear – build from scratch. So, let’s take their perspective momentarily. Building entirely new, means you’ve got a nice fresh site to work with, there’s no quirks you’re inheriting that might have come from another builder or an older building, planning out the build is a lot easier and so is cost. At the end of the build, they can present their happy clients with a new build that has been built to modern standards and feel comfortable that they won’t get any callbacks if all their tradies have done a good job. So, what is it about renovations? If the above is true, why don’t we all just build new? And to answer this, I think it’s better to take the homeowner’s perspective. The obvious one is cost. With building costs moving upwards, keeping any part of a home is going to be a cost saving, that is, if it’s not condemned or full of Mr Fluffy’s asbestos insulation. There might also be an emotional attachment to parts if not the whole of a house, which makes a homeowner prefer the renovation path. If the home is on the heritage register, then there’s most likely no other option but to renovate.
The slings and arrows of outrageous construction, Or to take arms against your bank, And by opposing all rationality borrow more? (Apologies to Shakespeare)
By opting for re-using parts of a building in good condition, we’re also limiting the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere that otherwise new construction would create.
To renovate or (or ameliorate)?ByarchitectBenWollen
detonate
Many homes do lend themselves to an easy renovation whereas some just simply aren’t. For many, this is difficult to discern. Building reports can only tell you so much without opening up walls, floors and roofs and due to our DIY nation, there can be some disastrous makeovers that, when uncovered, can prove very costly to rectify. I’ve seen some disastrous discoveries on building sites that have ended up in considerable costs to homeowners. From backyards used as dumping grounds, to construction across a neighbour’s boundary, and these can apply to both development options. Furthermore, whilst renovations may cost less overall, they generally cost more per square metre than new construction, due to the builder having to ‘make good’ existing construction.Thatbrings me to a third option – what I’ll call ‘the amelioration’. With this option, the original house is kept as much as possible in place with only the very necessary modifications to update. Think new insulation, re-wiring and perhaps the odd bathroom or wardrobe update. Then, if space permits, a new living pavilion wing or a master bedroom suite is added upstairs or preferably off to the side or out the back that gets connected to the existing house via a set of stairs or corridor. With this option, the builder is limiting their exposure to the older construction and the homeowner gets the feeling of a new house by virtue of the extension wing – Win / Win. There are many great examples of this approach taken by architects. One of these is Marrickville house by local architects Studio Weave (www. sweave.net). By leaving the front portion of an existing brick cottage predominantly untouched and building a new pavilion wing to the rear, they have achieved the best of both worlds.
StudioImage:Weave
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YOUR Bob Aquarius 20 to Feb 18
Leo | July 23 to Aug 22 Remember all those years ago your mother said: “I cannot wait until you have kids”. Now, as your kids spit out more dummies than you’d see at a Wiggles concert, the smirk on her face is priceless.
Sagittarius | Nov 22 to Dec 21
Whilst you read my work with great interest, you may still feel the need to see a psychic. Just roll up. They would have known you were coming.
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Cancer
Your new partner was curious when you said your “private parts” were in the Guinness Book of
Always be good to your children – because they’ll pick your nursing home.
Scorpio | Oct 23 to Nov 21
You impress your new partner by saying you were among the first to embrace craft beer. Yet like many people, you hate it. Now you have to drink it all the time and smile when you get it as a gift.
You were outraged when you heard people living in Bulli can’t be buried at Bulli cemetery. After putting it out on social media you learnt that the reason people living in Bulli can’t be buried at Bulli is because they’re still LIVING.
Records. They’ll be less impressed when you say this was only until the librarian told you to take it out and put the book back on the shelf.
Capricorn | Dec 22 to Jan 19
| Feb
| March
FUTURE WITH Starlight
Gemini | May 21 to June 20
Pisces 19 to March 20
Virgo | Aug 23 to Sept 22
Taurus | April 20 to May 20
LICENCE NO. 8987C
You want everyone to know how environmentally conscious you are. Yet the impact of your iPhone and Apple watch is worse than anything. Let alone the fact they’re made in sweatshops.
As your holiday approaches you are catching up with your wife’s family. It is advised that you pack a big coat as the reception you get is always frosty.
| Jan
Aries 21 to April 19
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It’s the first time in 1000 years Venus, Mars, Jupiter and the earth will align. Time to consider the big questions: Was Alexander great?
Libra | Sept 23 to Oct 22
You find old photos of when you were a kid at your grandma’s house. Hiding in the wardrobe you thought you’d found lollies, then you asked yourself why Kool Mints and moth balls looked so alike.
Mercury is the hottest planet and this impacts your love life. Seeing your partner bent over the freezer brought on a spontaneous act, unfortunately, you are now banned from Bulli Woolies. | June 21 to July 22
You did nothing when they made Pluto a dwarf planet. No planet wants to be called this! Get a petition together for it to be called a “little planet”. May 53
sport & leisure54 back! After Covid-impacted seasons in 2020 and 2021, it looks like rugby league in the region is back on track. Here's our exclusive season preview of two much-loved local clubs feature Cover Footy's All photos: Anthony Warry
The Illawarra rugby league landscape has changed dramatically for the Helensburgh Tigers heading into the 2022 season and, boy, we’re very excited aboutAfterit.a Covid-affected 2021, with all of our teams being robbed of semi-final footy due to the season being cut short, 2022 is looking bright. Our men return to the top-flight competition in the Illawarra, entering the eight-team Mojo Homes Cup competition, which combines the best teams from the Sutherland Shire (Cronulla-Caringbah and De La Salle) along with the six remaining Illawarra clubs (Collegians, Corrimal, Dapto, Helensburgh, Thirroul, and Western Suburbs).
Tigers Helensburgh
The club known for its tough approach on the field –and its loveable larrikinism off the field. Club vice-president Gavin Lennon says the Tigers are ready for a massive year
The majority of our squad from our dominant 1st Division team last season are returning and, with the inclusion of some highly touted new recruits, including classy half David Farkas and experienced utility Haydn Peacock, under the tutelage of Jason Raper and Chris Coleman, we will be more than competitive as we move up in class. Club legend Jesse Cobb takes the reins of our 1st Division team this year as Captain-Coach. His leadership on and off the field, as well as the added depth in the squad, should see 1st Division leading the way again in Unfortunately,2022.due to circumstances beyond our control, we don’t have a team in the women’s
May 55
sport & leisure56 Most of last year's dominant 1st Division squad are back. All Anthonyphotos:Warry tackle competition this year, but we are so proud of the former Tigerlillies – such as Sam Bremner, Kezie Apps and others – who have achieved, and are still achieving, such amazing things at Harvey Norman NSWRL Women’s Premiership and NRLW levels. Even though our club is not fielding any tackle teams, we’re still very passionate about women’s rugby league. We have the return of our muchloved League Tag ladies, who are so entertaining to watch and great to have involved in our club. As a club, we encourage our girls to take ownership of senior and leadership roles within or organisation and, in doing so, April Boughton and Monique Elliot have been appointed co-coaches for 2022.
If we are able to secure a few more numbers, we may once again enter a second team in the League Tag competition, which will be headed up by the extremely talented and professional Lisa Thompson.Inwhatis sure to be an amazing 2022 season, we can’t wait to see you all back at the Tigers’ homeground, Rex Jackson Oval, ready to enjoy the normality of the post-Covid era of rugby league. Don’t forget to head over to helensburghtigers. com.au to purchase your Gold Membership so you can enjoy every minute of Tiger action this year!
Sironen, a northern NSW product who ended up at Gibson Park via a clutch of NRL clubs and a short spell in the UK, said players had been training well despite the constant drenching that soaked the region in the first few months of the year, and he reckons crowds can expect to see a very fit first-grade side.
May 57
“It was super-disappointing for us as a playing group as we felt we had only just started to get into a groove and still had a lot more to show,” says the code journeyman, now 29, vastly experienced and arguably at the peak of his powers.
“The past few weeks have been difficult to get any footy stuff done due to the weather so we’ve been doing plenty of road run and hills,” he says during a recent round of rain. “The boys are training really well – we’ve been getting plenty of numbers to each sessions, which is great.”
The tall forward with the impressive all-round game came to the blue-and-whites a few years ago when playing with St George Illawarra Dragons. Having missed five games after a serious head knock, coaches thought it was best to ease him back at local level. “So I was sent to Thirroul and fell in love with the club … it really made me realise how much I
Butchers Thirroul
'Sense of community' draws top talent
There sat the Thirroul Butchers, “the best team on the coast” as the club song so keenly affirms, bowling along at the top of the comp (only five teams but someone has to lead), when a limo driver working out of Sydney Airport caught a bug and the whole state got locked up again.
In the context of the world and its ways, the premature stopping of a rugby league competition isn’t overly tragic, but, with the 2020 season canned before a ball could even be kicked, the end of season 2021 frustrated everyone involved with the town’s rugby league club, as first-grade captain Damian Sironen recalls.
The club, taking the field for its 109th season, approaches 2022 with a few dynamic new names in its top grade along with its usual strength and Meet the Thirroul Butchers, the rugby league club known for nurturing talent for more than a century. By Brian Kelly depth bolstered by a tradition of nurturing onfield talent which matures into solid off-field support.
New players always promise to freshen a side’s fortunes, and Gibson Park regulars will be keen to see how a few unknown – and previously known – faces go in early rounds. Back in the blue and white stripes come Harry Leddy and Steve Marsters, giving first-grade coach Jarrod Costello a few more options up front and out“Harrywide. can play half, No.9 or lock and has played
Who's in the mix for 2022
“The club is rich in history and loyalty and local community and businesses are always behind us, which makes it a really good experience for our players, but there is always expectation for us to be successful, which drives the whole club.”
“We were leading the competition and looking pretty good when it was abandoned last year due to Covid,” he says, “and the best way for us to place ourselves in that position again is by training hard through the preseason. “It is a new season so nothing we did last year counts; we need to start again and re-establish ourselves. It will be a different competition in 2022 with eight teams and fewer weeks off throughout the draw so preparing well is key.” Other new signings include Wayne Bremner, a specialist fullback and former Paul McGregor Medalist (for the best player in the Illawarra competition), and forward Monty Raper, who has been in Cronulla’s NRL squad and most recently with Newtown Jets in the NSW Cup.
Ron Massey Cup and NSW Cup at Mounties – he played for Thirroul in the 2020 Presidents Cup,” Costello says. “Steve played NRL at South Sydney last season and is a Thirroul junior. He can play in a number of positions in the backline and will add a lot of strike to our Costelloteam.”says the player ranks were largely unaffected by COVID-19 over the off-season and that they have looked keen since returning to training in mid-January. He says the first six weeks of training had been focused on conditioning and fundamental skills. When they progressed to March, practice sessions became more football-focused and work began on how the Butchers wanted to play.
Tom Simpson, a middle forward, returns to the missed that sense of community that comes from local club footy,” he says.
sport & leisure58
It’s a sentiment that all Butcher-folk will recognise, and one club president Brett Jones has lived“Thefirst-hand.factthat former players and coaches remain involved in the club in different roles and take responsibility for its future is something that separates us from a lot of clubs, I feel,” says Jones, who could well be referring to his own involvement with the Butchers, which began in the under 7s in theAsmid-70s.ahardy ball-playing prop, he graced the paddock with the unbeaten 1995 side and, as a coach, led the side to the incredible achievements of 2003, known in club history as the year “we won everything”.
May 59 squad after a knee reconstruction.
Over the past few decades, the Thirroul Butchers have been consistently competitive and often dominant, but they are far from being the bully-boys of the Illawarra Rugby League. It’s been 10 years since they were premiers, but a reason to “once more raise our glasses and drink another toast” (that club song keeps coming back) never seems far away.
Costello says he anticipates that Thirroul’s forwards line-up would be fairly similar to last year’s.
Sironen admitted the newcomers – CronullaCaringbah and De La Salle – were a fairly unknown quantity to him. “To be honest, I don’t really know much about either team or how they will go,” he said. “We’ve got a few Cronulla boys in our team and I think they know a few blokes from up there.
The Illawarra’s 2022 rugby league season was scheduled to start on April 29 and 30.
'Pretty competitive' season ahead It won’t be just players who are completely foreign to the Thirroul faithful as the season unfolds; two clubs never seen in the Illawarra before make their competition debuts this year, and old friends/foes the Helensburgh Tigers, are also returning to the fold.
“Sironen, Josh Starling, Ryan Fletcher and Luke Dodge will lead that group well again,” he says. “We will have some new combinations in our backs with Brem and Stevie coming into the team. “We will try a few combinations at training and see what suits our team best – we have options, which is great. So I am confident we will find the right mix for the group.”
“They’ve got a pretty large catchment area so I’m assuming they’re going to be pretty competitive. It’s great to have some more teams in the comp as last year was pretty dismal with just five.”
Catch King Tide at the Bombie Bar when it reopens on 11 June. Photo supplied Following on from Kalani Ball’s massive win at the Vissla Central Coast Pro in March, Kalani went on to finish 13th in the Tweed Coast Pro and then an astonishing 7th in the Newcastle Pro featuring all the top pros in the world. These results meant Kalani finished 2nd overall in the World Qualifying Series for our region, thus qualifying for the World Challenger Series for a second year in the row. Kalani will now travel to eight events across the globe, competing against 95 other men for a chance to qualify for the World Championship Tour. The first two events are in Australia over May on the Gold Coast and then Sydney. After that Kalani jets off to South Africa, California, Portugal,
• Illawarra Junior Surfing Titles May 21st.
Help get Kalani onto world surfing tour
By Ian Pepper, Scarborough Boardriders contest director
• Two club pointscores, May 1st and May 29th
Scarborough Boardriders news
• Werri Beach Autumn Slash May 28th.
The Bombie Bar brings the community together, giving opportunities to local emerging artists, as well as presenting well-known and much-loved musicians and bands. We will be back at Stanwell Park’s newly renovated CWA Hall and look forward to seeing you all for great music and community socialising.
• Our first female-only development day, Her Wave, on May 15th (positions still available, contact Raylee or Talina)
sport & leisure60 After all the covid lockdowns and disappointments, we are thrilled to announce that Coalcliff Surf Lifesaving Club’s “Bombie Bar” is back. We are kicking off on Saturday, 11 June (7-11pm) with ARIA award nominees King Tide. Bombie regulars will know King Tide’s reggae rhythms that get everyone a-movin’ and a-groovin’. They have been touring non-stop since the release of their third album Roots Pop Reggae. Such a fun and inclusive night with this great band.
Bombie Bar is back!
Well done to our team at the Kirra Teams Challenge in late March at Coolangatta. Nic, Mannix, Josh, Will, Aidan, Fin and Tim all made the trip to the world’s biggest surf teams’ event. Our surfers finished 19th out of more than 30 teams.
Congratulations to Sandon Point Boardriders, who finished 4th overall, an outstanding result. May is a busy month for us:
On 23 July we will welcome back the popular Declan Kelly. Follow our Facebook page (The Bombie Coalcliff) for more details on events. Bookings can be made via southcoasttickets. com.au and early bookings are recommended so as not to miss out – book by 21 May to ensure your place. Hope to see you there. The Scarborough Boardriders have set up a GoFundMe page for Kalani Ball.
Photo: Nicole Ball France, Brazil and finishes up in Hawaii late November. Kalani will base himself on the Gold Coast near the High Performance Centre on NSW’s north coast to focus and train between each event. To assist Kalani meet the giant costs involved, Scarborough Boardriders Club is proudly hosting a GoFundMe webpage to support Kalani. Our region has never had a surfer qualify for the world surfing tour and Kalani has dedicated his life to this goal. To kick-start the campaign, the club donated the first $1000. Please get on board and we wish Kalani all the best in every event and safe travels. Visit www.gofundme.com/f/kalani-ball
By Heather Fisher for Coalcliff SLSC
From Bald Hill to Everest
As part of a Rotary fundraiser to beat polio, Stanwell Park Hang Gliders Club member Ken Hutt planned to fly a paraglider off the ‘roof of the world’ in April. Iris Huizinga reports.
“My comfort zone is probably a little bit larger than most other people, but as long as it is within my comfort zone and I’m prepared to push a little bit, that’s probably enough to achieve what we’re trying to achieve. It’s a four-kilometre descent from Mount Everest.
“We have 40,000 people suffering … they got polio as a kid and they are still having polio symptoms. As they get older, those symptoms get worse. I focus on eradication, although I now have this personal contact with Gary – a guy who walks with callipers and two sticks. He put his hand on my shoulder and he said: ‘You know you’re flying for us, don’t you?’ I wanted to say something and I just choked up.” Only a handful of people have paraglided off Mount Everest’s summit before (reports vary between three and four) and if Ken succeeds, he will be the oldest by a long stretch.
Ken is a long-time Stanwell Park Hang Gliders Club member and a member of the Rotary Club in Berry, where he found his good cause: eradication of polio. Now he aims to fly a paraglider from Mount Everest. Ken and his team boarded a plane to Nepal on March 28. The plan was that, after he was acclimatised, Ken would jump off the world’s highest peak. The 62-year-old has become very passionate about polio eradication. “Polio has been endemic throughout the world for many, many years, way back in the 50s and 60s. We don’t have polio in Australia anymore. Although we still immunise our children for it. Despite polio’s eradication in Australia, there are still people suffering from its after-effects.
May 61
“At Bald Hill, we have air that is very thick. It’s very supportive and paragliding is a sport where we rely on the wind and the air to hold the glider up. On top of Mount Everest there is a third of [air] density of what it is at sea level … “The glider doesn’t perform the same at altitude. They fly much faster and the gliders sink rate – the speed they come down to earth – is much greater. “So I’ve got to take those things into consideration, but I also have the ability to launch a glider from 8000 metres.” Visit polioeradication.org/financing/donate.
Last month the Flame launched a new short film series called Community Champions – watch the Ken Hutt interview on our website or YouTube channel Tune & Service • E Safety Checks All Makes & Models LPG Rego Checks • Blue Slips John Hine (Proprietor) 187 Parkes St Helensburgh 2508 Helensburgh Car Services Child Restraints Fitted Licence no. MVRL 17877 4294 2930
When paraglider Ken Hutt was climbing Cho Oyu, the sixth-highest mountain in the world, someone told him he should bring his glider next time. Ken thought: “If I am going to do such a silly thing, I want to do it for a good cause.”
“We have a saying: there are old mountaineers and bold mountaineers, but there are no old, bold mountaineers ... When I’m on the mountain, it will be most likely just myself [who asks]: is it flyable?
sport & leisure62 May 2022 Port Kembla Tidal Chart TIMES HIGHHEIGHTSANDOFANDLOWWATERS LAT 340 29’ LONG 1500 55’ PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES LAT 34° 29ʼ S LONG 150° 55ʼ E Times and Heights of High and Low Waters 1 SU MAY Time m 0236 0.43 0832 1.42 1422 0.49 2047 1.73 2 MO 0316 0.43 0913 1.36 1452 0.55 2120 1.74 3 TU 0357 0.44 0953 1.29 1522 0.61 2154 1.72 4 WE 0438 0.47 1035 1.24 1554 0.67 2229 1.69 5 TH 0521 0.50 1119 1.19 1630 0.73 2307 1.64 6 FR 0608 0.54 1208 1.15 1713 0.78 2351 1.58 7 SA 0702 0.58 1305 1.12 1805 0.83 8 SU 0043 1.52 0800 0.59 1412 1.13 1912 0.86 9 MO 0145 1.48 0900 0.58 1518 1.17 2028 0.85 10 TU 0250 1.47 0952 0.54 1615 1.24 2140 0.81 11 WE 0352 1.48 1038 0.49 1700 1.35 2242 0.72 12 TH 0446 1.52 1117 0.44 1740 1.47 16 MO Time m 0210 0.31 0806 1.51 1355 0.40 2024 1.94 17 TU 0302 0.25 0900 1.46 1440 0.45 2112 1.99 18 WE 0358 0.22 0959 1.39 1528 0.52 2201 1.99 19 TH 0457 0.23 1059 1.33 1620 0.59 2255 1.94 20 FR 0559 0.27 1202 1.28 1718 0.66 2352 1.86 21 SA 0702 0.31 1310 1.26 1824 0.72 22 SU 0055 1.76 0806 0.36 1419 1.27 1936 0.75 23 MO 0202 1.67 0905 0.39 1522 1.32 2051 0.74 24 TU 0310 1.59 0958 0.42 1618 1.40 2204 0.71 25 WE 0413 1.52 1045 0.44 1707 1.48 2310 0.65 26 TH 0508 1.47 1125 0.46 1751 1.57 27 FR 0007 0.59 0558 1.42 1201 0.48 1 WE JUNE Time m 0338 0.44 0933 1.24 1449 0.66 2126 1.77 2 TH 0417 0.45 1015 1.22 1526 0.69 2202 1.74 3 FR 0459 0.47 1058 1.19 1606 0.73 2242 1.69 4 SA 0542 0.50 1144 1.18 1650 0.76 2323 1.64 5 SU 0628 0.52 1234 1.17 1741 0.79 6 MO 0009 1.58 0717 0.53 1330 1.19 1838 0.82 7 TU 0101 1.53 0807 0.53 1426 1.24 1945 0.82 8 WE 0159 1.48 0855 0.51 1520 1.31 2056 0.79 9 TH 0300 1.46 0940 0.48 1609 1.42 2204 0.72 10 FR 0400 1.45 1024 0.45 1655 1.55 2308 0.61 11 SA 0459 1.44 1107 0.43 1740 1.69 12 SU 0007 0.49 0557 1.44 1151 0.42 16 TH Time m 0350 0.16 0949 1.35 1513 0.52 2148 2.06 17 FR 0446 0.17 1048 1.33 1610 0.56 2243 1.99 18 SA 0544 0.21 1148 1.32 1709 0.60 2338 1.89 19 SU 0640 0.27 1248 1.32 1812 0.65 20 MO 0035 1.76 0734 0.34 1347 1.34 1917 0.69 21 TU 0135 1.61 0826 0.41 1445 1.38 2029 0.72 22 WE 0236 1.48 0914 0.46 1540 1.44 2142 0.71 23 TH 0337 1.37 0957 0.51 1630 1.51 2252 0.68 24 FR 0436 1.29 1038 0.54 1716 1.58 2352 0.63 25 SA 0531 1.25 1117 0.56 1759 1.64 26 SU 0043 0.57 0622 1.22 1155 0.58 1838 1.69 27 MO 0126 0.51 0708 1.22 1233 0.60 1 FR JULY Time m 0356 0.41 0951 1.22 1507 0.64 2142 1.75 2 SA 0433 0.42 1031 1.22 1547 0.66 2219 1.72 3 SU 0512 0.43 1114 1.22 1630 0.68 2259 1.67 4 MO 0551 0.45 1158 1.23 1717 0.70 2339 1.61 5 TU 0632 0.46 1245 1.25 1810 0.73 6 WE 0025 1.53 0715 0.47 1336 1.30 1911 0.74 7 TH 0116 1.46 0800 0.47 1429 1.38 2020 0.73 8 FR 0216 1.39 0846 0.47 1522 1.47 2135 0.67 9 SA 0324 1.34 0936 0.48 1615 1.59 2247 0.57 10 SU 0433 1.31 1028 0.47 1709 1.72 2354 0.44 11 MO 0541 1.30 1121 0.47 1802 1.85 12 TU 0054 0.31 0644 1.32 1215 0.46 16 SA 17 SU 18 MO 19 TU 20 WE 21 TH 22 FR 23 SA 24 SU 25 MO 26 TU 27 WE © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2021, Bureau of Meteorolog Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight Moon Phase Symbols New Moon First SA 1805 0.83 8 SU 0043 1.52 0800 0.59 1412 1.13 1912 0.86 9 MO 0145 1.48 0900 0.58 1518 1.17 2028 0.85 10 TU 0250 1.47 0952 0.54 1615 1.24 2140 0.81 11 WE 0352 1.48 1038 0.49 1700 1.35 2242 0.72 12 TH 0446 1.52 1117 0.44 1740 1.47 2337 0.62 13 FR 0536 1.54 1156 0.39 1818 1.60 14 SA 0028 0.51 0624 1.56 1233 0.37 1859 1.73 15 SU 0118 0.40 0714 1.55 1314 0.37 1940 1.85 SU 1419 1.27 1936 0.75 23 MO 0202 1.67 0905 0.39 1522 1.32 2051 0.74 24 TU 0310 1.59 0958 0.42 1618 1.40 2204 0.71 25 WE 0413 1.52 1045 0.44 1707 1.48 2310 0.65 26 TH 0508 1.47 1125 0.46 1751 1.57 27 FR 0007 0.59 0558 1.42 1201 0.48 1830 1.64 28 SA 0057 0.54 0644 1.37 1235 0.51 1907 1.70 29 SU 0141 0.50 0728 1.33 1308 0.55 1943 1.75 30 MO 0221 0.47 0810 1.29 1341 0.58 2016 1.77 31 TU 0300 0.44 0851 1.27 1414 0.62 2050 1.78 TU 1426 1.24 1945 0.82 8 WE 0159 1.48 0855 0.51 1520 1.31 2056 0.79 9 TH 0300 1.46 0940 0.48 1609 1.42 2204 0.72 10 FR 0400 1.45 1024 0.45 1655 1.55 2308 0.61 11 SA 0459 1.44 1107 0.43 1740 1.69 12 SU 0007 0.49 0557 1.44 1151 0.42 1826 1.82 13 MO 0103 0.37 0654 1.42 1238 0.43 1915 1.94 14 TU 0159 0.26 0752 1.40 1327 0.45 2004 2.03 15 WE 0254 0.19 0851 1.38 1418 0.48 2056 2.07 WE 1540 1.44 2142 0.71 23 TH 0337 1.37 0957 0.51 1630 1.51 2252 0.68 24 FR 0436 1.29 1038 0.54 1716 1.58 2352 0.63 25 SA 0531 1.25 1117 0.56 1759 1.64 26 SU 0043 0.57 0622 1.22 1155 0.58 1838 1.69 27 MO 0126 0.51 0708 1.22 1233 0.60 1915 1.73 28 TU 0204 0.46 0751 1.22 1311 0.61 1951 1.76 29 WE 0242 0.43 0832 1.22 1348 0.62 2028 1.77 30 TH 0318 0.41 0912 1.22 1428 0.63 2104 1.77 SU 1422 0.49 2047 1.73 2 MO 0316 0.43 0913 1.36 1452 0.55 2120 1.74 3 TU 0357 0.44 0953 1.29 1522 0.61 2154 1.72 4 WE 0438 0.47 1035 1.24 1554 0.67 2229 1.69 5 TH 0521 0.50 1119 1.19 1630 0.73 2307 1.64 6 FR 0608 0.54 1208 1.15 1713 0.78 2351 1.58 7 SA 0702 0.58 1305 1.12 1805 0.83 8 SU 0043 1.52 0800 0.59 1412 1.13 1912 0.86 9 MO 0145 1.48 0900 0.58 1518 1.17 2028 0.85 10 TU 0250 1.47 0952 0.54 1615 1.24 2140 0.81 11 WE 0352 1.48 1038 0.49 1700 1.35 2242 0.72 12 TH 0446 1.52 1117 0.44 1740 1.47 2337 0.62 13 FR 0536 1.54 1156 0.39 1818 1.60 14 SA 0028 0.51 0624 1.56 1233 0.37 1859 1.73 15 SU 0118 0.40 0714 1.55 1314 0.37 MO 1355 0.40 2024 1.94 17 TU 0302 0.25 0900 1.46 1440 0.45 2112 1.99 18 WE 0358 0.22 0959 1.39 1528 0.52 2201 1.99 19 TH 0457 0.23 1059 1.33 1620 0.59 2255 1.94 20 FR 0559 0.27 1202 1.28 1718 0.66 2352 1.86 21 SA 0702 0.31 1310 1.26 1824 0.72 22 SU 0055 1.76 0806 0.36 1419 1.27 1936 0.75 23 MO 0202 1.67 0905 0.39 1522 1.32 2051 0.74 24 TU 0310 1.59 0958 0.42 1618 1.40 2204 0.71 25 WE 0413 1.52 1045 0.44 1707 1.48 2310 0.65 26 TH 0508 1.47 1125 0.46 1751 1.57 27 FR 0007 0.59 0558 1.42 1201 0.48 1830 1.64 28 SA 0057 0.54 0644 1.37 1235 0.51 1907 1.70 29 SU 0141 0.50 0728 1.33 1308 0.55 1943 1.75 30 MO 0221 0.47 0810 1.29 1341 0.58 2016 1.77 WE 1449 0.66 2126 1.77 2 TH 0417 0.45 1015 1.22 1526 0.69 2202 1.74 3 FR 0459 0.47 1058 1.19 1606 0.73 2242 1.69 4 SA 0542 0.50 1144 1.18 1650 0.76 2323 1.64 5 SU 0628 0.52 1234 1.17 1741 0.79 6 MO 0009 1.58 0717 0.53 1330 1.19 1838 0.82 7 TU 0101 1.53 0807 0.53 1426 1.24 1945 0.82 8 WE 0159 1.48 0855 0.51 1520 1.31 2056 0.79 9 TH 0300 1.46 0940 0.48 1609 1.42 2204 0.72 10 FR 0400 1.45 1024 0.45 1655 1.55 2308 0.61 11 SA 0459 1.44 1107 0.43 1740 1.69 12 SU 0007 0.49 0557 1.44 1151 0.42 1826 1.82 13 MO 0103 0.37 0654 1.42 1238 0.43 1915 1.94 14 TU 0159 0.26 0752 1.40 1327 0.45 2004 2.03 15 WE 0254 0.19 0851 1.38 1418 0.48 2056 2.07 TH 21481513 17 FR 2243161010480446 18 SA 2338170911480544 19 SU 181212480640 20 MO 1917134707340035 21 TU 2029144508260135 22 WE 2142154009140236 23 TH 2252163009570337 24 FR 2352171610380436 25 SA 175911170531 26 SU 1838115506220043 27 MO 1915123307080126 28 TU 1951131107510204 29 WE 2028134808320242 30 TH 2104142809120318 PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES LAT 34° 29ʼ S LONG 150° 55ʼ E Times and Heights of High and Low Waters 1 SU MAY Time m 0236 0.43 0832 1.42 1422 0.49 2047 1.73 2 MO 0316 0.43 0913 1.36 1452 0.55 2120 1.74 3 TU 0357 0.44 0953 1.29 1522 0.61 2154 1.72 4 WE 0438 0.47 1035 1.24 1554 0.67 2229 1.69 5 TH 0521 0.50 1119 1.19 1630 0.73 2307 1.64 6 FR 0608 0.54 1208 1.15 1713 0.78 16 MO Time m 0210 0.31 0806 1.51 1355 0.40 2024 1.94 17 TU 0302 0.25 0900 1.46 1440 0.45 2112 1.99 18 WE 0358 0.22 0959 1.39 1528 0.52 2201 1.99 19 TH 0457 0.23 1059 1.33 1620 0.59 2255 1.94 20 FR 0559 0.27 1202 1.28 1718 0.66 2352 1.86 21 SA 0702 0.31 1310 1.26 1824 0.72 1 WE JUNE Time m 0338 0.44 0933 1.24 1449 0.66 2126 1.77 2 TH 0417 0.45 1015 1.22 1526 0.69 2202 1.74 3 FR 0459 0.47 1058 1.19 1606 0.73 2242 1.69 4 SA 0542 0.50 1144 1.18 1650 0.76 2323 1.64 5 SU 0628 0.52 1234 1.17 1741 0.79 6 MO 0009 1.58 0717 0.53 1330 1.19 16 TH Time m 0350 0.16 0949 1.35 1513 0.52 2148 2.06 17 FR 0446 0.17 1048 1.33 1610 0.56 2243 1.99 18 SA 0544 0.21 1148 1.32 1709 0.60 2338 1.89 19 SU 0640 0.27 1248 1.32 1812 0.65 20 MO 0035 1.76 0734 0.34 1347 1.34 1917 0.69 21 TU 0135 1.61 0826 0.41 1445 1.38 1 FR JULY Time m 0356 0.41 0951 1.22 1507 0.64 2142 1.75 2 SA 0433 0.42 1031 1.22 1547 0.66 2219 1.72 3 SU 0512 0.43 1114 1.22 1630 0.68 2259 1.67 4 MO 0551 0.45 1158 1.23 1717 0.70 2339 1.61 5 TU 0632 0.46 1245 1.25 1810 0.73 6 WE 0025 1.53 0715 0.47 1336 1.30 © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Times are in local standard time (UTC Moon Phase Symbols New TU 1615 1.24 2140 0.81 11 WE 0352 1.48 1038 0.49 1700 1.35 2242 0.72 12 TH 0446 1.52 1117 0.44 1740 1.47 2337 0.62 13 FR 0536 1.54 1156 0.39 1818 1.60 14 SA 0028 0.51 0624 1.56 1233 0.37 1859 1.73 15 SU 0118 0.40 0714 1.55 1314 0.37 1940 1.85 WE 1707 1.48 2310 0.65 26 TH 0508 1.47 1125 0.46 1751 1.57 27 FR 0007 0.59 0558 1.42 1201 0.48 1830 1.64 28 SA 0057 0.54 0644 1.37 1235 0.51 1907 1.70 29 SU 0141 0.50 0728 1.33 1308 0.55 1943 1.75 30 MO 0221 0.47 0810 1.29 1341 0.58 2016 1.77 31 TU 0300 0.44 0851 1.27 1414 0.62 2050 1.78 FR 23081655 11 SA 174011070459 12 SU 1826115105570007 13 MO 1915123806540103 14 TU 2004132707520159 15 WE 2056141808510254 TIME TIME TIME TIMEM M M M MOON PHASE SYMBOLS New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2021, Bureau of Meteorology. Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide. Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect. The Bureau of Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise in respect to the availability, accuracy, currency, completeness, quality or reliability of the information or that the information will be fit for any particular purpose or will not infringe any third party Intellectual Property rights. The Bureau’s liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense resulting from use of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded.
May 63
Tradies Social Golf Barry Thompson reports Vale Brian Taylor. Our club has lost a staunch member and friend with Brian’s untimely passing. Brian was a born and bred ’Burgher and even before serving in Vietnam he was an active member of the Workers golf club. He held several committee positions over the years and when our club transitioned into Tradies Sports and Social Golf Club he became our President, a position he held for manyPerhapsseasons.hecame to the fore when he worked with the late Bob Britten, Bill Dodd and other stalwarts of the day in organising the frequent charity and family days we held. We need corporate sponsorship for two more holes, someone would say. “See Brian Taylor” would come the reply and generally Brian would deliver the goods. Brian was a real club man, and we will miss watching him stride up the fairway, trakkies tucked into his socks and wearing that signature ’orrible hat. We reflect with appreciation on Brian’s
No doubt Mick will organise something interesting for next year; or maybe sooner? Our April numbers were down due to ban on carts. Let’s hope conditions allow a greater roll up for our May outing. This is the first round of our Championships and Tee-Off is 7am on Sat 21st.
Email: www.babisterlegal.com.aulynda@babisterlegal.com.auYourlocallawyer.
Jerry Reilly won the Helensburgh Driving Range certificate. Should have gone to a desperate 36 handicapper who really needs it (only saying). We welcomed Tang Nguyen back to the fold, Tang vied against his father Tung who gave him a thrashing winning by one point. Welcome back Tang. All other results will be on our Facebook page. Please don’t scoff when you read them, it was pure murder out there. The Golden Jacket is in mothballs (literally) after another postponement of the tour.
Golf news contribution to our club and extend our condolences to Jean and daughter Alana. Club report: Roger Henry proved to be a real mud runner when he mastered the atrocious conditions to win our April tournament with 38 hard-won points. His shot on the tenth plonked within the 1m circle of the Eagles Nest… a sure winner until Steve Facey put one even closer to take the prize. Can’t win them all Roger but you still claim the Helensburgh Butchery prize. Iain Birss and Dave Astill both carded 34’s. Iain won the Gallardo’s Pizzeria voucher on count back.
Office: 32 Walker Street, Helensburgh Phone: 02 4294 9980
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Paul will be inviting entries nearer to the event.
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