Meet Our Contributors

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.

Beth Farmer works in communications and has been involved with SPAT for the past few years, both on the stage, in Steel Magnolias and in this year’s Panto, Montana Smith and the Raiders of the Lost Land, and behind the scenes as publicity officer and producer.

Barbara Knox has worked for UPA for 17 years as a PA and for the past six years has been Manager of Hillcrest Retirement Village at Stanwell Park. She’s an avid historian and genealogist and together with one of her village residents has recently published a new book about the area, Black Coal to Diamond.

Vicki Christie moved to Wollongong in 2010. She’s always been interested in bush walking and gardening so when she retired in 2020 the Illawarra Rhododendron Garden beckoned. She started volunteering one day a week but that quickly became twice a week and now Vicki is the garden’s secretary. She loves spending time there, working and enjoying the wildlife, flowers and rainforest.

Dr Jeffrey Hall graduated from the University of Sydney in 1995 and undertook general practice training in regional NSW and the UK before settling in the Illawarra in 1999. He joined Bulli Medical Practice in 1999 and became a managing partner in 2001. He supervises medical students from the University of Wollongong and General Practice Registrars from GP Synergy.

Caitlin Sloan was born and raised in Helensburgh and was the fifth generation of her family to attend the local public school, graduating in 2010 – almost a century after her great-great-grandmother. Caitlin studied at UOW and has a passion for writing, travel and good wine.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The publishers acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their cultural and spiritual connection to this land. Their stories are written in the land and hold great significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, from the mountains to the sea.

Merry Christmas to all our readers

It’s been an exciting year, as your community magazine began with a rebrand, then launched a website, digital newsletters and social media before finishing off the year with a celebration of true storytelling at the first I Am Not Making This Up festival in November.

Weekday newsletters will pause from Dec 16-Jan 16. You can still read local news, submit events (it’s free!), book ads and write us a letter via the website.

theillawarraflame.com.au

NEXT DEADLINE

12 Dec for the Jan edition

EDITORS Gen Swart, Marcus Craft CONTACT editor@2508mag.com.au; 0432 612 168; PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508. TheIllawarraFlame

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DEADLINE 12 Dec. Contributions welcome.

COVER Emma Reid & Adam Wade of Stanwell Park Arts Theatre. Photo: Anthony Warry

THE ILLAWARRA FLAME is published by a family business, The Word Bureau, ABN 31 692 723 477

DISCLAIMER: All content and images remain the property of The Illawarra Flame unless otherwise supplied. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission. Views expressed do not reflect those of the publishers.