NOVEMBER 2023

THE ILLAWARRA

November 2023

Keeping community news alive

True Story!

Caroline Baum brings festival of creative non-fiction to Coledale

F r e e t o 1 1 , 0 0 0 l e t t e r b oxe s / www.thei llawarraflame.com.au

Meet Our Contributors Ben Wollen is the director of

Wollen Architecture, an architecture 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 wonders of the Illawarra escarpment with his wife and kids.

Rob Brander – aka ‘Dr Rip’ – is a coastal geomorphologist and professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. A resident of Coalcliff, he’s been studying beaches for more than 30 years, starting in Canada where water temperatures convinced him to come to Australia. He is an international expert on rip currents and beach safety and runs a community education program called The Science of the Surf.

Dr Rebecca Goodman is a GP at Bulli Medical Practice. Rebecca has a special interest in Women’s and Children’s Health and has a Diploma in Child Health and a Certificate of Reproductive and Sexual Health and can provide Implanon and IUD insertions. In her free time, when she’s not chasing after her own children, Rebecca likes to travel, read and spend time with family and friends.

Peter Aubourg is enjoying

retirement in Coledale after spending most of his working life as an engineer, designing automated machines in the manufacturing industry. He is an Electrify 2515 volunteer and a firm believer that electrifying everything will reduce living costs AND carbon emissions at once!

He is also a keen cyclist and campervanner.

Caitlin Sloan is an Illawarra Flame journalist. She was born and raised in Helensburgh and the fifth generation of her family to attend Helensburgh Public School. Caitlin has a passion for writing, travel and wine, and also works as a bartender at the historic Helensburgh Hotel.

T H E I L L AWA R R A

TRUE

STORY. 18-19 November at Coledale Community Hall southcoastwriters.org/true-story-festival

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.

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November

NEXT DEADLINE 20 Nov for the Dec edition

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

TheIllawarraFlame ADVERTISING www.theillawarraflame.com.au 0432 612 168 | T&Cs apply DEADLINE 20 Nov. Contributions welcome.

COVER True Story festival director Caroline Baum at Coledale hall. 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.

KANE DOWNIE

Landcare needs you!

By Merilyn House

Helensburgh & District Landcare Group is celebrating 30 years of trying to protect our local bushland areas from being overtaken by exotic ‘weeds’.

Helensburgh & District Landcare Group had its first weed removal day on 16 September 1993. We worked at Helensburgh Creek. The Helensburgh Band Hall (Patrick McCarthy Hall) was still in existence. Unfortunately, this historical building burnt down in 2000. We still continue to work in Helensburgh Creek. Unfortunately, as with many urban areas, once the initial weeds are removed, the area was subject to weed invasion from other weeds. The lantana and blackberry have been replaced by Madeira vine, asparagus fern, arum lilies and periwinkle.

The environmental, non-native plants that are

Native fauna and flora need your help to save their bushland home. Photos: Merilyn House

invading the Helensburgh bushland have changed over the years since we started. We are now spending more time on removing weeds from our local bushland which some people are still growing in their gardens, e.g. arum lilies, periwinkle, liriopes and Japanese sacred bamboo. Some of the older weeds still persist, e.g. Madeira vine, morning glory, honeysuckle, trad.

Whereas 30 years ago we had up to 10 people come along to our work days to help, these days we are lucky to get four or five.

I’m sure there are still many locals who love and appreciate our local bushland. Why don’t you think about giving nature a helping hand by either removing invasive plants from your gardens, or coming along to one of our Landcare/Bushcare workdays. Membership of Helensburgh Landcare is only $10 for individuals and $15 for a family.

This covers you for Volunteer Workers Compensation and Public Liability.

For more information, please email merilyn@ helensburghlandcare.org.au or ring me on 0414 819 742. There is lots of information on our website, including local environmental weeds, and suggestions for becoming a Bush Friendly neighbour.

Please join us for our annual Wollongong Council Rise and Shine Community Clean-Up on Sunday, 12 November. We will be cleaning up around the Helensburgh Station area and Helensburgh Station Reserve. We will meet next to the sewerage pumping station opposite the Glowworm Tunnel.

Visit www.helensburghlandcare.org.au

Short histories in new book

By Historical Society secretary Jan Lee

Helensburgh & District Historical Society has published another new book about the history of Helensburgh, after the successful release of Historic Helensburgh earlier this year.

Helensburgh Snippets contains snippets of information about various places and buildings in the history of the Helensburgh district. Some of the subjects of the articles still exist, while others live on in the memories of our older generations.

The 21 articles in alphabetical order are: Band Hall, Big Dam, Blue Gum, Burgh on Fire, Cawley, Charles Harper Memorial, Cemetery on the Hill, Chinaman’s Gardens, Co-operative Store, Corner Café, Courthouse, Darkes Forest, Garrawarra 4

clubs & community

Cemetery, Igloos, Miner’s Statue, Movies in the Burgh, Paragon Hotel, Parks in Helensburgh, Pleasure Park, Princess Marina Cliff Walk, Service Stations in the Burgh.

Available now for $20 (plus postage) from our website https:// historichelensburgh.org.au or email us at info@ historichelensburgh.org.au Send an SMS to Jan on 0418 681 384 for local pick-up (cash or Eftpos payments).

Helensburgh

Help us make a difference in our 3rd

Annual SASSHI Christmas Gift Drive SAHSSI is a not-for-profit organisation that supports vulnerable women & children affected by homelessness or domestic violence.

IIf you would like to be part of this year's drive please drop all new & unopened gifts into our office at 1/114a Parkes Street, Helensburgh, NSW by December 5th 2023. Here are some great gift ideas that are sure to brighten the faces of many; Gift Packs, Gift Cards, Vouchers & Hampers Hairdryers, Straighteners & Manicure Kits Jewellery, Cosmetics, Candles & Chocolate Clothing, Shoes, Tote bags & Beach Accessories Homewares, Coffee Cups, Tea & Coffee Books, Stationery, Toys, Puzzles & Board Games Julie York 0405 128 070

julie.york@helensburgh.rh.com.au raineandhorne.com.au/helensburgh

Diary of an EV Driver In his first entry, retired Coledale engineer Peter Aubourg shares his first week with a new EV

We picked up our brand-new EV a week ago.

It has been an interesting week. There was a lovely bow on the bonnet. Do they think we are children? Well, I suppose there is an element of childish excitement about getting a shiny new toy, and we went along with the game.

Okay, it was exciting, and the MG4 was lovely to drive. Very quick acceleration, great handling and SO quiet. As someone with dodgy ears, it was great to have a normal conversation while driving. I liked the regenerative braking. You hardly need to use the brakes at all. Lots of options on the touch screen, which makes it more like a computer than a car. Okay, okay, I was excited like a kid with a new toy.

It was an interesting scene when we were showing the car to some friends. In times gone by, the blokey thing would be to look under the bonnet and point out the latest overheadcarburettor-injector-thingies. Now there is nothing to look at in that department, so you mess about with the touch screens and menus.

After the bow was removed and we left the showroom, I noticed that the battery was only 30% charged, and we had an hour or so to drive home.

I was getting my first dose of range anxiety, even though the screen said we had plenty of kms spare.

A friend has an EV and says that he only charges it with the trickle charger plugged into a powerpoint, unless going on a trip.

This is weird. Like going to the service station and seeing the price on the bowser is 80c/litre, which is great. You take the nozzle from the bowser, put it into the tank and then wait for over an hour for the first litre of fuel to go in! But here is the thing… You now live at the service station.

I took the charger out of the boot and plugged it into the car and the powerpoint. Now down to 20% full after the trip home, I was off and charging, but slowly. The charger would pump enough power into the battery to give me an extra 11km range for every hour I charged. I left it on overnight and in the morning, it was back up to a healthier 60% charged.

I really want to charge the car with the excess power from our solar panels. But that is the next project.

Local EV and E-bike Open Day

By Electrify 2515 volunteer Denise Aubourg

For the curious and converted, mark Sunday, 12 November in your diary for our electric transport event at Club Thirroul.

When we recently surveyed you, our community, 44% said you are ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ going to buy an electric vehicle (EV) in the next two years, and 31% are planning to purchase or lease an e-bike. However, there was still a lot of uncertainty about affordable options, car ranges, charging facilities and model features.

Hoping to address some of these uncertainties, our volunteer group is busy organising what is shaping up to be a great morning out. At the Open Day you can expect to: • View a range of EV models & chat to local EV owners about their experience for unbiased advice • Attend an information session at 10:30am or 11:45am to learn about the practicalities of EV 6

clubs & community

ownership, affordability and range, government incentives, novated leases and more • Take up one of the special offers we have sourced for the local community • Test ride e-bikes and hear of e-bike subscriptions.

We’d love to see as many of you there for this free community event. EV Open Day: 10am - 1pm, Sunday 12 November, Club Thirroul on Station St Information sessions at 10:30am and 11:45am Please arrive at least half an hour before the information sessions to sign-in and get a seat.

Why not become a member of Club Thirroul beforehand to support our local club and avoid the visitor sign-in queue on the day? www.clubthirroul. com.au/membership, it’s just $5!

Visit electrify2515.org/transport

Sunday Sessions EVERY SUNDAY 1PM-4PM ON THE ALFRESCO TERRACE Live music at Club Thirroul from local Illawarra artists.

Paired with cocktails starting at $12 all day and delicious share plates – we have your Sunday afternoons sorted.

Check our website and socials for the line up.

Melbourne Cup Luncheon TUESDAY 7 NOVEMBER TICKETS $65 PER HEAD Includes bubbles on arrival Hot & cold grazing table options Great prizes up for grabs Book at club reception or call 4267 1148

2b Station Street, Thirroul • (02) 4267 1148 • www.clubthirroul.com.au

Artists of the Illawarra Northern Illawarra Art Trail’s Edith McNally introduces Kendal Heyes

Kendal Heyes came to Sydney from New Zealand in 1979 and studied at Sydney College of the Arts in the early 80s. Since then he has held over 50 solo exhibitions of photography, painting, drawing and printmaking. His work is in many public collections including the Art Gallery of NSW and National Gallery of Australia and, in New Zealand, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Otago and the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.

Kendal moved to the Illawarra in 2010 and now resides in Coledale.

“Growing up in New Zealand, my family often lived on the coast or near a beach and I think things like that stay with you, so for me moving to the Illawarra is like coming home,” he said.

For the last four years Kendal has been working on a series of three related drawing exhibitions called Time and the Ocean, which he showed at ArticulateUpstairs in Leichhardt between 2019 and 2022. From this body of work, two drawings became finalists in the Dobell Drawing Prize and another large work was in the Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award. Yet another was a finalist in the Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, which he won with a similar drawing in 2017.

Having focussed on drawing for several years, Kendal has recently returned to printmaking.

“I bought a printmaking press but didn’t have a place to set it up.

“Now I have clear time and a new studio with enough space to make prints.

“I’ve been making linocuts, a medium I especially like for its directness and simplicity, and through printmaking I’ve also returned to drawing with a brush and ink.”

One of Kendal’s recent linocuts was a finalist in the 2023 Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award.

Kendal (@kendalheyes on Instagram) will show his prints in his studio at the Timbermill Studios in Bulli as part of the Northern Illawarra Art Trail Open Studio weekend on Nov 18-19, www.niarttrail.com

a reported reduction in the crime rate Be a Breakfast Buddy including and a decrease in anti-social behaviour.

By Need a Feed founder Shaz Harrison

Need a Feed has provided a much-needed service to those in need throughout the Illawarra since 2012. We take pride in connecting with local businesses and in partnering with more than 30 local support services and charities, including Berkeley Neighbourhood Centre, S.A.H.H.S.I and The Aboriginal Medical Corporation.

Over the past 6.5 years, our partnerships with Wollongong Local Police and Wollongong City Council have provided positive outcomes, 8

arts & culture

Our consistent companionship has allowed us to build strong relationships and a stable foundation with the homeless, people facing addictions and mental health issues.

Our new initiative, The Breakfast Buddies program, will build and maintain relationships we have nurtured. This program is a natural extension of the services we already provide and addresses a critical need in Wollongong: no free breakfast.

Every night 1500 people in the Illawarra wonder where their next meal will come from. The Breakfast Buddies brekky will support residents in our local community who are experiencing homelessness, addictions, food insecurity, mental health issues and loneliness.

In 2022 alone, we provided 4537 meals, emergency food ‘gifts’ and personal care packs to those in need with the help of our local community.

For more details or to sponsor Need a Feed, email shaz@needafeed.org

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November

9

Dear Valued Patients

Helensburgh GP Dr Annette Beaufils will retire in December It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement after more than 40 years of serving the town of Helensburgh.

The time has come for me to close the door of Dr Annette Beaufils’ practice, and while I will miss every one of you, I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life.

Throughout my career, it has been an incredible privilege and honour to be a part of your lives, providing medical care and support to you and your families. I have cherished the relationships we have built over the years, and I am grateful for the trust you have placed in me.

Effective 22nd December 2023 Dr Beaufils surgery will officially close its operations. In preparation for this transition, I want to ensure that your medical records are well taken care of.

If you would like to obtain a copy of your medical records, we will be providing them on a convenient and secure USB drive.

To request a copy of your records, please follow these steps: • Complete the Medical Records Request Form which can be obtained from 4/131 Parkes Street or • Download the form from Dr Annette Beaufils website: https://drannettebeaufils. com.au/ Submit the completed form: • in person: at the clinic (a valid photo ID will be required when requesting records in person).

• mail: PO Box 374, Helensburgh NSW 2508 • email: heather@dramb.com.au Please note that, in accordance with patient confidentiality laws and regulations, your records will only be released to you or your authorised representative. We aim to process all records as quickly as possible, but we appreciate 10 local business

your understanding if there is a slight delay due to the volume of requests during this time.

For any further inquiries or assistance, you can contact us at (02) 4294 3173 or heather@ dramb.com.au until 31st March 2024.

Once again, I want to express my deepest gratitude for allowing me to be a part of your lives and your healthcare journey. I will always cherish the memories and experiences we shared together. Although I will no longer be your physician, I wish you all good health and happiness in the future.

With warm regards Annette Beaufils

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Month 11

Choir sings Alvarado’s praises

By Caroline Baum

In conducting, timing is everything. But the appointment of Carlos Alvarado as Musical Director of the Illawarra Choral Society in 2019 meant the maestro had to skip a beat: the interruption of Covid delayed him showing audiences just how much of a difference his style of leadership has made to the ensemble.

Now, there is a distinct buzz among the singers about Alvarado. Excitement about not just repertoire, but about his expansive style of communication, new standards and energy in performance. Veteran ABC broadcaster Margaret Throsby, who moved to the Northern Illawarra during Covid, recently joined as an alto. “Carlos brings exceptional and sophisticated musicianship to his role but manages to relate, on a deep level to what is after all a grassroots community choir,” she said. “He is incredibly inspiring.”

The Society, founded in 1947, gives just three concerts a year, each intended to show off a distinctive aspect of its repertoire. The next one is a celebratory feast called Crowning Glories, pairing Mozart’s Coronation Mass with Vivaldi’s Magnificat

Friends host literary dinner

By Friends president Jane Pretty

At our annual General Meeting held on 12 October, members voted for a slight change of name. Instead of ‘Friends of Wollongong City Library,’ our new name ‘Friends of Wollongong City Libraries’ better reflects our support for all libraries in the Wollongong city area.

Following the AGM, we welcomed Natasha Lester as our guest speaker. From Western Australia, Natasha is the popular author of seven bestselling books of historical fiction.

Our final event for 2023 will be a Literary 12 arts & culture

to set the mood for Christmas.

Covid is only the most recent of many disruptions that Alvarado has experienced in a cosmopolitan and unusually turbulent life. A native of Colombia, (ask him about coffee and he waxes almost as lyrical as he does about music), he was raised in Boston where his father was an academic at Harvard University. His musical talents earned him the opportunity to study with some of the great names in classical music in the Soviet Union.

He was also present for its collapse, returning to his home country to find it riven by drug wars.

The violence hit his family directly, resulting in the assassination of his cousins, both humanitarian activists, and his uncle. At which point his Russian wife, violinist Alexandra Loukianova, decided it was time for them to emigrate with their two young children.

Colombia’s loss was Wollongong’s gain and Alvarado threw himself enthusiastically into the musical life of the city at the Conservatorium and at the helm of the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra, which he directed for six years.

“We had many outsiders in the orchestra, but 20 per cent were locals,” he says, proudly.

A resident of North Wollongong, Alvarado is a natural ambassador for the city. “I don’t think we always appreciate what we have here, from the Con, to the amazing history of the steelworks, the rich input of migration… even the coffee is good!”

Asked what frustrates him, he is diplomatic.

Having seen the extremes of regimes buckling under corruption, he says: “I avoid politics. What I really need is more sopranos and tenors!”

Crowning Glories: Nov 25, St Mark’s Anglican Church, www.illawarrachoralsociety.com

Dinner with actor and author William McInnes.

His latest book Yeah, Nah! is William’s amusing take on our colourful and colloquial way with words. Part memoir and part manifesto, it is a warm, witty, and funny collection. This promises to be a very entertaining evening.

The dinner will be held on Wednesday, 15 November at 6pm at the Croatian Catholic Centre, Figtree, catered by Villa D’Oro. Tickets are available at your Library or online via Eventbrite.

School hosts record show

By Scarborough Public School parent Michelle McCosker

The 25th Scarborough Art Show was a resounding success! Thank you for supporting our show. The parent community of our little school between the mountains and the sea presented a wonderful showcase of local artists, professional, semiestablished and emerging, to a receptive and steady crowd of people. This year we took on 60 new exhibiting artists and our storeroom was filled to the brim with gorgeous art. Our curators earned their stripes running in and out of the store-room, fetching new artworks as things sold off the walls!

New to the show this year was our outdoor area dedicated to kids’ activities. A big thanks to our P&C for organising this.

This year was a record-breaking year for the Scarborough ArtShow, raising much-needed funds for the kids. We are hoping the proceeds of this year’s show will go towards maintaining our Art Literacy program, in-class teacher support, playground upgrades and there is a whisper of excitement amongst the parents in support of a music program or the introduction of permaculture education and facilities.

Photo: P05612 from the Collections of Wollongong City Libraries

Ages of art

By Local Studies librarian Jo Oliver

There is a long history of visual art in the Illawarra.

Aboriginal cave paintings, thousands of years old, are hidden in the rocks of the escarpment. Since colonists visited the area, the landscape has been a source and inspiration for drawings and paintings.

In the 1800s, Eugene Von Guerard painted views across coastal plains and the cabbage tree forests so foreign to European eyes. Conrad Martens painted the seascape of what would become Wollongong Harbour and John Skinner Prout sketched Fairy 14 arts & culture

Opening night was a big success. Photo: Matt Houston/Ironbark Photography

A HUGE thank you to our main organising parent, Fraggle and his family, for a fantastic job.

Thanks also to parents Michelle, Narelle, Sam N, Melissa, Amanda and their parent teams for all their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm.

Creek. Charles Kerry took a series of photos showing a landscape changed by settlement and the precarious coast road (pictured is his Clifton cliffs colourised postcard, 1880s).

In the 1900s, the spectacular coastline such as the cliffs at Stanwell Park inspired painters such as Emanuel Phillips Fox. Modernists came to the area seeking to simplify forms and focus on colour.

Adelaide Perry painted the seascapes at Austinmer and Coledale and Grace Cossington Smith, the sea and swimmers at Thirroul. Later, Garry Shead’s distinctive figures frolicked in the surf and socialised on coastal verandahs.

In the 21st century, artists such as Ashley Frost, Paul Ryan and Tanya Stubbles have received global recognition for their work, which has a strong local sense of place. Ian Gentle’s evocative sculptures of organic forms are to be celebrated this summer.

Wollongong Art Gallery holds works inspired by the local area, many of which can be viewed at collection.wollongongartgallery.com/explore The teaching of visual art has been a strength in the Illawarra, through schools, TAFE and UOW. We interviewed artist, curator and teacher Deirdre Armstrong, a great networker in the arts community and generous in mentoring students.

Stream or download the interview at: illawarrastories.com.au/deidre-armstrong

Montessori Based Home Care

A new aged care and disability services provider is coming to the Illawarra Montessori Care co-founders Chris Omeissah and Mary Assaf shared their story.

The Montessori name is famously associated with childcare. What are the principles guiding your aged and disability care services?

At Montessori Care, we draw inspiration from the Montessori method, a revolutionary approach to learning and development pioneered by Dr Maria Montessori in the early 20th century. We’ve taken these principles and applied them to our aged and disability care services, creating a unique approach that respects and empowers the individual.

Our care philosophy is guided by seven key principles: respect for the individual, caring for the individual, intrinsic motivation, individualised care, promoting independence, lifelong learning, and contributing by serving others. These principles are not just guidelines; they are the bedrock of our approach.

We recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of each person, understanding everyone has their own life experiences that shape who they are.

This understanding is woven into the fabric of our care, ensuring that our services are tailored to the individual, not the other way around.

We firmly believe that age or disability does not define a person’s capacity for growth and learning. We see our clients not as patients, but as individuals with the potential to learn, grow, and enjoy life. Whether it’s acquiring a new skill,

pursuing a hobby, or finding joy in the everyday, we are there to support and encourage our clients every step of the way.

What services do you offer?

An array of services designed to support the elderly and those living with disabilities right in the comfort of their own homes.

Our Personal Care services focus on assisting with daily tasks, ensuring that each individual feels comfortable and well-cared for. Our Clinical Care services are delivered by trained & registered professionals who provide medical support and health management, ensuring the wellbeing of those we serve.

We also offer Household Assistance, which includes tasks such as cleaning, maintenance and gardening. These services are designed to create a safe, clean and enjoyable living environment for those we serve, allowing them to focus on what truly matters – living their life to the fullest.

Recognising the importance of community, we provide services that facilitate access to community activities and events. We believe that social connections are vital for well-being, and we strive to foster these connections through our services.

Our social support & mentorship services are another unique offering, providing guidance and support to our clients, empowering them to live independently and confidently.

In Home Aged Care & Disability services Montessori Based Home Care

Contact us today!

1300 918 000

admin@montessoricare.com.au www.montessoricare.com.au

November 15

Image: Anglicare

100 Years of Scouting at Austinmer

By Stephen Turner, group leader at 1st Austinmer Group since 1991

In 1922, the first Scout Troop on the South Coast was formed and registered as 1st Wollongong (St Michael’s) but ceased to function in early 1923, and was reformed in August 1923.

In April 1923 the Port Kembla Troop started and Austinmer Progress Association Scoutmaster approached Charles Jackson to help start a Troop at Austinmer.

On 16 November 1923, 1st Austinmer Troop was registered and started up, sometimes using the original timber Surf Club Hall at Austinmer beach, which would become a template for the new Scout hall to be built in Moore Street in the future.

On 6 March 1924, a meeting of 41 sympathisers and 14 Scouts was held at “Playden”, a guest house near the beach, and a Parents & Supporters Association was formed, a committee was elected and a Scout Troop flag was purchased for £2-10-0.

Fundraising to build a hall began. Miss A E Allen donated £40 to the fund in October 1925.

The land in Moore Street was identified in November 1925 as a suitable site. On 19 November 1925, the price of land was confirmed at £275 and, as the combined funds of the Guides & Scouts was £180, the P & S Association agreed to accept an overdraft offered from ES&A bank of £350. On 3 December 1925, the Guides HQ agreed to pool funds and the Guides paid £57 into the building fund. A Concert raised £74-9-0 and £5 was paid for a deposit on the land, purchased from Mr Juleffe for £275 through Mr A E Young, who

waived his commission of £2-10-0, and the vendor donated £10, bringing the price down to £265.

On 10 August 1926, Mr Lett, a builder, presented a plan 24’ x 46’ with 8’ front and side verandas with material costs of £249-9-0. As Miss Allen had now donated a total of £80 towards the building fund, she was invited to lay the foundation stone on the left side of the north wall footing (it was later moved to a rock in the front yard as it became buried by soil and grass). In Sept 1926 the committee extended the overdraft to £250 and on 14 October 1926 increased it to £400 to complete building works, and the hall was insured for £500.

The Troop started using the hall in January 1927, with the official opening held on the last day of Scout Week, 21-28 January 1928. Hire of hall with piano was set at 25/- for community use. It was the first Scout & Guide hall on the South Coast.

A celebration dinner will be held at Mount Keira Scout Camp on 11 November.

Almost Panto time!

eligible for a free companion ticket.

See our website for details and get in early – these always go like hot cakes!

But first – the SPAT Singers Spring Soiree is on 4 November, 2-4pm. Tickets are $10, and we guarantee a wonderful afternoon of music hall favourites with outgoing musical director Rod Lander at the helm.

Following our AGM in October the newly appointed SPAT Committee is raring to go with planning for our 50th anniversary year in 2024. If you’d like to get involved contact spartstheatre@gmail.com Tickets and information at spat.org.au

By Bethan Farmer of Stanwell Park Arts Theatre With just four weeks to go before our 2023 Christmas Panto debuts at the CWA Hall, the excitement levels are high!

We are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale, so go to spat.org.au and reserve your seats. Adult tickets (17 and over – $20), Concession ($10) and Family (2 adults, 3 kids – $50). Kids under 5 are free, and if you are accompanying a person with mobility or accessibility needs you may be

16 clubs & community

All welcome to an Open Day at the Scout Hall, 20 Moore Street, Austinmer, 10am to 2pm on Sunday, 19 November to see memorabilia.

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Firefighting in the family

By Caitlin Sloan

Darkes Forest captain Peter Field. Photo: Caitlin Sloan

For Darkes Forest Rural Fire Brigade captain Peter Field, fighting fires is a family affair. There are 25 members in his brigade and he’s related to nine of them. This includes his wife, Lisa, the couple’s four children, Nick, Josh, Layla and Olivia, plus three of their partners.

The station is often a home away from home for the Field family, with afternoons and weekends busy with Rural Fire Service commitments. But when the Black Summer bushfires began in September 2019, the family splintered, sent to different fire fronts around the state.

“Doing the work in the 19/20 fires was very memorable, but it’s almost a blur,” Peter said.

“I didn’t see half of my family for five months – they were fighting fires, I was fighting fires.

“On New Year’s Eve in 2020, I think I was at a fire with my son in Nowra; Layla was at a fire with Lisa in Cooma. We were all over the place.

“Sometimes you think about it, or you see a picture, and it gives you a bit of the chills.”

For their firefighting during that time, four members of the Field family were awarded the National Emergency Medal. Four awards in one family in one season is believed to be a NSW RFS record.

“I’m pretty lucky to have that and pretty proud [that] they all love it,” Peter said.

“The proud moments come later – they don’t come on the fire ground, they come later.

“I don’t treat them like my family out there because I treat everybody fairly and evenly. I don’t give many favours – they’ve actually got to work harder.”

18 clubs & community

Peter began volunteering with the Darkes Forest brigade 22 years ago, under the leadership of Glenbernie Orchard owner Glenn Fahey, when the service was “downright old school”. With little more than a truck and a shed, the brigade was heavily reliant on the supplies across the road, often using the orchard’s tools, their fuel, their washing equipment.

“What Glenn did was just unbelievably fantastic… it was a very little brigade and, basically, his orchard was part of the brigade,” Peter said.

“It’s very much the grassroots of how rural fire brigades work.”

Before Glenn stepped aside as brigade captain after two decades in the role, he mentored Peter through the ranks. Peter became a deputy captain, then senior deputy captain and captain in 2015.

One of the major hurdles from the get-go was maintaining an active membership. Out in rural Darkes Forest, the brigade had long struggled to attract out-of-area volunteers.

So, Peter changed their approach, calling on members to strike up friendships, take turns performing different duties and draw upon their skill sets to form more adept, tight-knit teams.

“We’re forever looking outside the box… because to get [volunteers] out here, I’ve got to do something different,” Peter said.

“Whether it’s just that rural atmosphere or the big open grounds that we’ve got, or the idiot running the brigade or whatever it may be, the mix of members that we’ve got – something attracts them to here and they come here.

“I’ve got people now in our membership from as far away as Keiraville – that’s about as far as we go [south] – to Appin, right up into the Shire, Helensburgh, Stanwell Park.”

Peter would encourage anyone thinking about volunteering to contact the team at Darkes Forest.

“I love what I do,” he said.

“So just go and meet the members… have a chat to them and see how it is. There’s lots of opportunities here – [the RFS] take anybody … if you’ve got a good heart and you’re trustworthy, even a bit rough around the edges, like me.

“People in the RFS are strange people – they’re lovely people – but they’re strange, because who would want to go and volunteer all these hours, get smoky, potentially risk their life to save somebody else. You’ve got to be a weirdo to do that. But they’re the best.”

Find the brigade at 302 Darkes Forest Road, on Facebook or visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

October 19

Fest features archi-bike tour By architect Ben Wollen

As I write this, I’m disappointed that the majority of Australians decided an Indigenous voice to parliament was not a good idea. There is a rich and wise culture that could have been very beneficial to our collective futures. However, I am proud that our electorate was a Yes vote overall.

This article is the second in a two-part series leading up to the inaugural Illawarra Festival of Architecture that I’m co-curating on Saturday, November 25. Put it in your diary! There’s going to be Archi-bike tours, open house tours, kids games and great discussions about local architecture. This article will focus on the architecture stream and offer a taste test of the recent renaissance the area is undergoing and pointing to the future.

I’ve been doing a bit of research on this one.

A lot of research! You see I am curating the Archi-bike tour that will travel from Stanwell Park down to Austinmer on the morning of the Festival.

Being an architect, I’m always looking out for interesting and unique buildings whenever I’m cruising on my bike. Often I’ll take note of a building address if I think it was architecturally designed or just somewhat quirky, I’ll jump onto Google and look up its old real estate adverts or zoom into its location on the satellite or street view of maps. In doing so, and in league with a few of my fellow league of local architects, I’ve come up with a wee map of what we call “architectural gems”.

Did you know there was a house in Coalcliff able to rotate at the whim of its inhabitants? “Ocean views too blustery? Let’s move the living room to the West.” “Sunlight moved away from the kitchen in Winter? Let’s nudge it over a few degrees so we can enjoy our morning coffee bathed in sunshine!”

Did you also know that there’s a house in Wombarra that won NSW’s top residential architecture gong – the Wilkinson Award?

Yep, hidden up in the foothills of the escarpment, there’s a house that won that award back in 1992. There’s also a house without a straight line in its floor plan – yes, all interconnected circles. Once owned by fashion designer Peter Morrissey and his then partner hairdresser extraordinaire Joh Bailey. Rumour has it the house sent them round the bend.

Dad jokes aside, there are some remarkable homes in the Illawarra and the archi-bike and open house tour will uncover some of these. What struck me in researching all of this was the rich history of architecture in our local hood as well as its ongoing evolution. The panel discussion on the architecture stream will include some of the leading lights of the local architecture and building scene to talk all things past, present and future.

How has the beauty of the escarpment influenced local design? With the beauty comes the beast – how have architects responded to the constraints of sunlight, unstable slopes, flooding and dense bushland that the escarpment imposes on building design? In an increasingly climate change affected world, what buildings are leading the way in sustainability and resilience? How does a community come together to create better architecture accessible by all?

I can’t answer all of these questions, but I can assure you that a good start will be to attend the architecture festival. See you there!

Illawarra Festival of Architecture and Design is on Sat 25 Nov, visit www.ifad.net.au

Could you be a patron of the arts?

By Caitlin Sloan

Culture Bank Wollongong is calling for arts enthusiasts and businesses to sign up as members before the not-for-profit’s next funding round.

The brainchild of community leader Jenny Briscoe-Hough, now the CEO of non-profit funeral service Tender Funerals, Culture Bank is a grassroots initiative that uses a crowdfunding model to support projects from Helensburgh to Nowra. Each month, members contribute as little as $10 to a funding pool to be divvied up between projects pitched by local creatives.

Port Kembla art therapist, day-one member and 20 clubs & community

Jenny’s friend, Lara Seresin is Culture Bank’s coordinator. She’s excited to share that Culture Bank’s kitty is again nearing its $10,000 goal and new members are being invited to contribute the final donations.

“It’s open to everyone – businesses, individuals, families, one-off [payments], payments weekly, students,” Lara said. “You’ll be an active part of enriching your own community. In a perfect world, every neighbourhood should have a Culture Bank.”

Visit culturebankwollongong.org.au

Multi-Award Winner: Grand Pacific Homes Celebrates Best Duplex in NSW

After a nail-biting review of all the Duplex submissions at the prestigious HIA Awards Ceremony, Grand Pacific Homes picked up TWO awards for their Duplex development at 11a and 11b Lighthorse Dr, Woonona.

The HIA celebrates excellence in the building industry at a state and national level and Grand Pacific Homes is now short-listed for the National Duplex award.

The awards are rigorously judged by a highly experienced team of building experts.

The team at Grand Pacific Homes is humbled by this achievement.

We wish to express our deepest thanks to our designer on this project, Adam Roser of South Coast Drafting.

We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to our trades, many of whom have been with us for over 14 years – their consistent attention to detail and impeccable craftmanship is second to none. And of course, a special thank you goes out to our many friends and clients, who have made our work so fulfilling.

We are quiet achievers, dedicated to getting the best results for our clients. To be acknowledged as leaders in our industry is a real honour.

At Grand Pacific Homes, we believe trust is the basis of a good relationship. Need advice? Get in touch with Marlowe: (02) 4227 6405 or info@grandpacifichomes.com.au

November 21

Save your skin

By Genevieve Swart

SEACLIFF H E A LT H C A R E

T. (02) 4202 6900 F. (02) 4229 9298 reception@seacliffhealthcare.com.au seacliffhealthcare.com.au Shop 12, 345 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul (enter off Railway Pde)

BOOK ONLINE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND HOTDOC

Dr Jennifer Bowler Dr Sinead Cassidy Dr Milena Ruiz AND INTRODUCING Dr Romesh Sarvanandan 22 local business

With the UV Index on the rise, a new Seacliff Healthcare GP who studied medicine at Imperial College London is calling on residents to protect themselves from the sun and get their skin checked.

In England, Dr Romesh Sarvanandan could count on his hands the number of times he’d seen skin cancer. “It’s not that common,” he said.

Then, in 2019, he emigrated and started work in Warrawong. “Every second or third patient I saw had a skin cancer … Once I picked up a melanoma because I lifted someone’s arm to do a blood pressure, and I was like, Oh, what’s this big thing.”

Romesh now lives in Bulli – with his wife and 17-month-old son – and has developed a special interest in dermatology, completing further training at the Skin Cancer College of Australia.

Before qualifying as a GP in the UK in 2017, Romesh trained as a vascular surgeon, which means he can perform skin cancer surgery and other minor procedures. “I probably tend to do more advanced things than a standard GP would be comfortable doing,” he said.

With a team of four GPs, all of whom do skin checks, Seacliff Healthcare practice principal Dr Jennifer Bowler is leading an expansion of skincare services at the Thirroul clinic.

“We now offer Molemapping by dermatologists,” she said. “A nurse comes once a week to photograph people’s moles and a remote dermatologist diagnoses whether there is skin cancer or not. This is very important for people with a very large number of moles to do, so subtle changes and new ones can be documented.”

Romesh said it is a mistake to assume melanoma is an older person’s problem. “Melanoma kills young people,” he said. “If you look at the stats, most 20- to 30-year-olds are the ones that tend to get the melanoma, and they die from it.”

Annual skin checks should begin any time from age 16, he said. “I’ll probably say the earlier the better.”

Some people with sun damage or skin changes may need a check every six months, and any moles after age 20 should be viewed as “abnormal until proven otherwise”.

“Always get it checked.”

In addition to skin cancer, Romesh is also interested in working with patients with musculoskeletal injuries. He also prescribes medicinal cannabis.

Born in Sri Lanka, Romesh lived in England from age 10. Since moving to Australia, he’s embraced the outdoor lifestyle, enjoying running and swimming. A shoulder injury put paid to a cricket career – he played under-13s County Club cricket – but he still enjoys the odd game.

However, for any outdoor activity this summer, Romesh recommends sunscreen and a round hat.

“The ozone is very thin around here, you burn very, very easily,” he said.

See Side

ptical

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Anita’s Theatre Shop 10, King St Thirroul Call for an appointment today on 42683933

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If you checked 2 or more risk factors, chances are you have a higher risk of melanoma. MoleMap’s proven mole-mapping system is designed to detect skin cancer early when it’s most treatable.

Use promocode NEW20 to get 20% off any skin check service.

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Book and attend before 30th November 2023

November 23

The boiler

turn, on-sold it for 200 pounds, on the promise of delivery.

By Col Bruton What they did not Ah, that ubiquitous boiler! Ever-present in my realise was that the mind, although I am pushing 90. It all came about boiler had a flange when the SS Waratah ran aground on Jack Jones across the base, Rocks at the southern end of Sharky Beach. which fastened it to To cut a 42-page story into two paragraphs: it all the ship. The flange began when one of our well-known “southerly sat in a natural busters”, walloped the ship at about 60km/h. This grove in the rock then broke one of the mooring hawsers, forcing the platform, ship backwards. Right at this time Captain remaining there McCauley had the ship on dead-slow ahead, with forever. After the propellers just idling over. When the mooring trying to move the boiler – with horse teams, hawser broke, the ship moved backwards onto the bullocks and men with levers – the boiler, like the stern hawser, tangling the steel cable into the Waratah, was stuck firmly within the rock shelf. propellers. The ship was going nowhere!

As young boys, a group of us in 1942-1944, used No doubt, the Captain used typical mariner’s to pretend the boiler was a battle tank. Brian language, such as “Goodness, golly gosh”.

Fergusson was the Tank Captain, Fred Thompson The ship ended up stranded on Jack Jones Rocks. the Lieutenant, while the crew of Gunners included No effort was spared to attempt a refloat. But she myself, Jim Pollock, Reg Mathews, John Split and was stuck and soon being cut up for scrap.

Kevin Cole – the “Sharky boys”, as we were known.

The boiler was still in the ship, sitting quite high.

When the seagulls were returning to the Five Four members of the company, led by Jack Ford, Islands, after feeding on the Tempe Tip (that’s the loco driver, bought the boiler for £20. Rolled it another 1000-word essay), we would pretend they out of the ship onto the rock platform. They, in were Betty Bombers or Zeros from the Japanese Air Force. We would then pretend to shoot them down. As soon as the seagulls approached our battle tank, it was “Brrrr, Brrrr, Brrrr”, with our voices. Whenever a seagull deviated, we considered it “shot down”.

One day a seagull dropped a “white bomb” between Reg and I. “What was that?” shouted the Captain. “A bomb,” we replied. Fred said: “If that was a real live bomb, we would have been all blown to smithereens along with the tank.”

Such was the imagination of young boys.

When our young sisters were rather young, and the seas concordantly rough, we would take them

By Paul Blanksby, Helensburgh Men’s Shed to the boiler, watch the huge waves wash angrily over the rock shelf, then thunder into the side of A bunch of blokes from Helensburgh, the boiler, then fizzle and sputter back across the Otford and Stanwell Park got together in platform, creating a backwash to meet the next 2016. Pictured above are three of them, wave. All this while actually sitting on the “monkey creating a tabletop for a local cafe. Hope bars” within the boiler. It was great fun!

Church and the Anglicans lent their Around the 1970s the boiler had become quite support and the Shed was born, in Stanny dangerous. Mother nature and salt water had made Park Anglican Hall. So, we began. Making some of the boiler’s edges razor-sharp. Although it possum boxes, a play car for a Kindy, was still then a unique attraction, its days were garden seats, toy trucks, rolling pins and numbered. holding crosses. Now we’re in the Burgh, A scrap metal dealer from Coledale was granted since 2019. Still serving the community, permission to cut the boiler up. It was a pity, but it creating Glowworm tunnel signs, rescuing was so rusted and dangerous. Not only did he cut our heritage. And there are lots of our the boiler up, he also “pinched” many of the 3-inch cheese boards out there! Join us at 199A dowels, which were inserted almost a metre deep Parkes St, Mon-Wed 9am-3pm. 0478 892 into the rock platform, on which the piers for the 485, helensburghmensshed.org.au jetty were placed.

Strong since 2016

24 clubs & community

You are invited to NINA’s AGM at 10.30am on Wednesday, 15 November 2023.

BBQ to follow. RSVP required, contact our office 02 4294 1900

NINA supports the Community with transport, social groups and meals for 65+ (50+ indigenous / TSI).

Volunteers needed! We have available spots for Volunteers including Committee members, transport drivers, bus drivers (LR licence), social support, group assistance. If you can spare two hours or more a week on average, please contact us on 02 4294 1900.

Monday–Friday (8.30am-4.30pm) | telephone 02 4294 1900 18 Walker Street, Helensburgh

Guides thank long-serving leaders From L to R: Malynda Flarey, Jenelle McWilliam, Heather Fisher

unit of Junior Guides and Guides.

All three are also part of the Region Water Activities Team at ‘Bindaree’ – Woronora River Boatshed. (Helensburgh District is part of Southern Sydney Rivers Region/Woronora River Division).

These leaders have shown great dedication and loyalty to guiding in Helensburgh and have seen many girls in their care grow into confident, kind and capable young women.

Congratulations to all three for your service.

Want to be a Guide?

Helensburgh Girl Guides has been lucky to have long-serving Leaders running the Unit for our local girls.

Jenelle McWilliam started as a parent helper then took on the role of Unit Leader way back in 1996 – she is now the Resource Leader for the District.

Heather Fisher came into guiding as Unit Leader when her daughter started Guides in 2000 – she has moved on from that role and has been District Manager for the past 11 years.

Malynda Flarey started leading the Junior Guides unit in 2006, then moved across to running the whole Unit – which is currently a combined

Girl Guides Australia embraces girls from all cultures and faiths. Helensburgh Guide unit regularly participates in community activities, including Clean Up Australia Day and collecting donations for local, national and international organisations, as well as building useful skills such as camp cooking, knot tying, abseiling, archery and kayak/canoeing.

Unit meetings are on Thursday afternoons during term time.

Girls are welcome to come along to 2 meetings and ‘try before they buy’. It’s all about believing in yourself – we learn a lot, but mostly we have fun.

Go to www.joinguides.com.au and click on Be a Guide to register your interest.

The Hall is at 4 Chippendale Place, Helensburgh.

And a reminder that Guides will be selling real Christmas trees again this year at the Hall in early December – see ad on page 63.

Mystery of missing flower pot solved

By Heather Fisher, District Manager, Helensburgh Girl Guides

In 2011 the Helensburgh Girl Guide Unit, along with then Leaders Jenelle McWilliam and Heather Fisher, decorated the concrete flower pot that stood outside Coles supermarket. With Jenelle’s mosaic experience and Heather’s experience as a potter, the girls put together a celebration of 100 years of Guiding. Our “Sea Cliff Guides” badge – which was designed by then girl guide, Amber Perrott-Jones – was displayed on one end.

Once the new “streetscaping” commenced in the main street, the pot was removed, and, we thought, lost forever.

After quite a bit of detective work by the Leaders, with help of Wollongong City Council staff, the pot was discovered in the North Wollongong Depot.

Council kindly had the pot returned to the Guide Hall where it is now safely ensconced for the enjoyment of our current guides and their families when visiting the hall.

26 clubs & community

We wish to thank Clinton and Brendan from NW6 Crew at Wollongong City Council for safely transporting and placing the pot in our grounds (see above pic) and Wollongong City Council staff for taking our request seriously and helping to recover the flower pot.

Conveyancing Family Law Wills Estates and Probate Small Business Law Your local lawyer.

Office: 32 Walker Street, Helensburgh Phone: 02 4294 9980 Email: lynda@babisterlegal.com.au www.babisterlegal.com.au

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November 27

Good news: the turbines won’t impact our waves and beaches.

Photo: Anthony Warry

Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf With Coalcliff’s Prof Rob Brander. This month: Wind Farms, Waves and our Beaches

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about the impacts that the proposed offshore wind farm will have on our surf and beaches. There’s a lot of concerns about the issue floating around out there (pun intended!) and while it’s important to ask these questions, the good news is that the wind farms will have absolutely no impact on our surf, or on our beaches. All thanks to our wave climate and fundamental wave behaviour.

‘Wave climate’ describes the characteristics of waves for a region. Ours is dominated by swell waves that are formed by wind hundreds and thousands of kilometres away.

‘Swell’ is defined as waves with wave periods – the time it takes successive wave crests to pass the same point – of between 8 and 20 seconds and our swell comes from the south-east, east and north-east directions. Swell waves can propagate thousands of kilometres without losing their energy, until they hit shallow water and the coast.

Swell is what gives us good surf.

If the turbines are floating structures, they’ll either go up and down with the swell, or the swell waves will simply wrap around and quickly reform thanks to the process of wave diffraction.

It wouldn’t matter if the turbines were only 1km offshore, there would still be no impact on the swell reaching our beaches.

We also get wind waves, which are locally generated waves caused by strong wind and these have periods of between 3 to 8 seconds. Most of our wind waves are associated with the strong summer north-easters and storms – usually not the best surfing conditions. There is some research that 28 science & nature

shows that in wave climates (such as the English Channel and North Sea) dominated by locally generated wind waves, there can be a reduction in the height of downwind wind wave formation, but it’s minimal. But that’s not our wave climate and those are not waves that you would normally surf.

Our beaches are dynamic features that constantly adjust with changing wave conditions.

If the turbines aren’t going to affect the waves, they’re not going to affect the beaches.

There’s also a concept called ‘depth of closure’ which is the furthest offshore distance that the seabed is altered by wave action. At most, even during the most severe east coast cyclones, ours is probably about a kilometre offshore, which is nowhere near where the closest wind turbines will be.

So at least we don’t have to worry about what the wind farms (if they happen) will do to our surf and beaches!

What we should be worrying about is what climate change will do to them with rising sea levels and potentially more damaging storms.

Then we’ll see major impacts and the news won’t be so good.

A new edition of Dr Rip’s Essential Beach Book is out now.

Visit www.unsw.press/DrRip or Collins Booksellers Thirroul

Steps to stop cervical cancer

By Dr Rebecca Goodman, Bulli Medical Practice

Cervical Cancer Awareness week is from 13-19 November. Every year, over 900 Australian women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, which is the 5th most common cancer among women aged 15 and 44.

Cervical cancer is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Thanks to Australia’s HPV immunisation program, combined with cervical screening, rates of cervical cancer continue to decline. We are working towards the elimination of cervical cancer in Australia by 2030. Protection against cervical cancer includes: • HPV vaccination from 12 to 25 years, and; • Regular cervical screening from 25–74 years; • HPV Vaccine.

Despite advances with the HPV vaccine, it’s still essential that you get regular cervical screening. Cervical screening is a simple test either performed by your GP or a selfcollection swab every 5 years to check for HPV. The self-collection swab is a great alternative for eligible patients (e.g. normal previous screening and no symptoms) and is as effective as the GP doing the test. You are eligible for a subsidised cervical screening if you are: • a person with a cervix • aged between 25 and 74 • sexually active or ever have been.

The benefit of HPV vaccine is greater when given before exposure to the HPV virus. The vaccine is ideally given to young people in early high school before they become sexually active. A single dose of the HPV vaccine is funded under the National Immunisation Program for adolescents aged 12 to 13. Adolescents who missed the HPV vaccination at 12 to 13 years of age can catch up to the age of 25.

Come in and see us and keep yourself healthy.

You can book a cervical cancer screen (pap smear) or vaccination online or contact the practice on 4284 4622. An easy way to remember your cervical cancer screening is to sign up with the National Cancer Screening Register. If you are not already on the register, ask your GP at your next appointment.

Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm Saturday: 8am - 12 noon

74 Park Road, Bulli 4284 4622

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:

Cervical Screening (previously known as a pap smear)

Book online* via our website: www.bullimedicalpractice.com.au scan QR code:

y Travel medicine y Weight management y Skin cancer checks

*Please call 4284 4622 for an appointment if you have any respiratory symptoms

QUALITY PERSONAL HEALTHCARE AND TRAVEL MEDICINE November 29

Cover

featur e

Back at Coledale

TRUE STORY!

By Caroline Baum

30 arts & culture

TRUE

STORY.

I always swore I would never run a festival.

I’d watched other festival directors lose sleep over variables from money to last-minute author cancellations to the weather – factors within and beyond their control – and thought that kind of stress was not for me.

In the 30 years I’ve been going to writers festivals, I’ve watched them mushroom all over the country. Each one celebrates the power of storytelling but has its own personality. One capital city audience has a preference for big familiar names and is not keen on discovering new talent, as I found out as a moderator when faced with an audience of just two for an award-winning Indian writer no one had heard of.

Running a festival presents you with all sorts of unforeseen dilemmas; how to be distinctive and whet the appetite of your community? Whether to go with one strand of programming or run two in parallel? What topics to favour, what to ignore?

Whether to have an overarching theme or a looser approach?

Until last year, I’d managed to dodge those decisions. I hadn’t reckoned on the persuasive powers of Dr Sarah Nicholson, the director of the South Coast Writers Centre. She has a gentle persistence that is hard to ignore. “If we do all the admin and you just focus on the program,” she said and, before I knew it, I had agreed. When Genevieve Swart, publisher and editor of the Illawarra Flame came on board, we were set.

A team. We threw ideas around for months over coffees at Earthwalker.

A festival needs a good local bookseller and, in this, we have really lucked out. Deb, Amanda and the team at Collins in Thirroul not only run an outstanding program of free events during the year, but create a fabulous on-site bookstall for us – as well as stocking all the festival titles now, so you can get cracking on reading (and still get your book signed on the day).

I won’t lie, curating the program is a tough juggle. How to balance local with visiting talent?

How to make sure you get a good representative spread of ages, voices, genders? How to make sure that diversity is part of the mix without seeming like a token gesture? When I first went to festivals, no one blinked at an all-white panel of men writers.

You couldn’t get away with that today, I am happy to say.

Of course, our wish list is one thing and reality is another. Writers are not available because of scheduling clashes. We have to be brutal and weed out books that are not as good as we hoped. We didn’t want to be too predictable. Just because we had a star of true crime last year – and a full house for former detective Gary Jubelin – did not mean true crime would get a slot this year. Biggest regret?

An artist who could provide a punchy rap commentary on the state of the nation was just way beyond our budget.

Sponsorship is not easy to find for an event as small as ours, which is why we are so grateful that Culture Bank Wollongong, the local crowdfunding organisation for creatives, came on board. They are not size-ist.

Unpredictable factors come in all shapes and sizes. Last year our festival coincided with a Covid spike, this year we’ve faced a cost of living crisis.

As a result, we’ve set up a variety of ticketing options, including a ‘pay what you feel’ event to close the festival.

Right now, we all need a bit of uplift and new ideas about how to live in this increasingly complex world. The writers at True Story bring fresh perspectives to current challenges. I really hope you’ll come along.

True Story will be at Coledale Community Hall on November 18 & 19. Turn the page for the full program and book tickets at southcoastwriters.org/true-story-festival

November 31

TRUE STORY

TICKETS AT SOUTHCOASTWRITERS.ORG Brought to you by Life Sentences, the Illawarra Flame & the South Coast Writers Centre. With funding from Culture Bank Wollongong & support from Coledale RSL and Collins Booksellers Thirroul.

SATURDAY, 18 NOVEMBER PUBLIC INTEREST

11.30 AM-1.30 PM THINK GLOBAL, WRITE LOCAL

Workshop with Alan Sunderland What is the news? Who can you trust? We all need access to reliable news, but disinformation is everywhere and opinion is easier to find than facts.

Join respected journalist, author of The Ten Rules of Reporting and former ABC Editorial Director Alan Sunderland to learn key principles of telling local stories for local readers.

Drawing on a lifetime of experience in public interest news, Alan Sunderland will guide you through the dangers of fake news and spin and help you deliver the kind of news that builds trust.

This invaluable workshop will appeal to all those interested in writing narrative factual content, including podcasters and issue-driven activists as well as those with a special interest in being part of the regional journalism renaissance.

2:15 HALL DOORS OPEN 2.30-2.40 PM WELCOME TO COUNTRY

Dr Jodi Edwards

2.40-3.40 PM KEYNOTE ADDRESS: AFTERBURN

Bronwyn Adcock Bronwyn Adcock won the PUBLIC Walkley Book Award for INTEREST Currowan, her extraordinary moment-bymoment account of the mega fire that ripped through the South Coast. We are thrilled that she has agreed to deliver an exclusive, specially commissioned keynote address and speak about the tensions that have arisen as affected communities strive for recovery and resilience.

What are the lessons we can learn from that tragedy? An unmissable, once-only event.

32 arts & culture

‘PAY AS YOU FEEL’

4-5 PM DHARAWAL LANGUAGE

Dr Jodi Edwards with David Roach Following her hugely FOOD popular introduction to the Dharawal language at last year’s festival, join Yuin woman with Dharawal kinship Dr Jodi Edwards as she teaches us words for food from her most recent book, an illustrated collection of recipes, Dharawal Bush Tucker: Bawa Dhanjma.

5.15-6.15 PM LAUGHING AND CRYING

Wendy Harmer with Caroline Baum Best known as a stand-up HUMOUR comedian and radio broadcaster, in Lies My Mirror Told Me, Wendy FIRST PERSON Harmer has written a startlingly candid memoir about her disfigurement at birth and a childhood that made no allowance for self-pity, as well as her rise to the top of the international comedy scene and as the most highly paid woman on radio.

Behind the scenes, things were not always as jaunty as they seemed. Unique, brave, uninhibited and fearless, Wendy Harmer has a story to tell unlike any other.

Stay for dinner with our neighbours

COLEDALE RSL!

SUNDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 10-11 AM TRUTH TELLER

Chris Masters with Margaret Throsby A titan of investigative journalism, multi award-winning journalist and author Chris Masters talks to one of Australia’s JOURNALISM most loved interviewers, Margaret Throsby, about his childhood on the far south coast, his remarkable career investigating the powerful and the corrupt and the personal toll of uncovering the truth. This promises to be an eyeopening conversation.

11.15 AM-12.15 PM BELONGING AND OTHER CHALLENGES

Eda Gunaydin with Sarah Ayoub Turkish Australian writer FIRST Eda Gunaydin won the PERSON Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for her fiery debut collection of essays, Root and Branch, in which she combines personal memoir with her thoughts on class, capital, inherited trauma and what it means to belong. A modern-day millennial, Eda combines raw honesty with fierce analysis and humour in her writing – the result is bracing, confronting, and offers a powerful insight into often uncomfortable topics.

FOOD

12.15-1 PM LUNCH SESSION: HUNGER GAMES

Fiona Weir Walmsley with Nick Rheinberger In a mouthwatering session, Gerringong cheesemaker and farmer Fiona Weir Walmsley shares the story of running Buena Vista Farm with ABC Illawarra broadcaster Nick Rheinberger. She tells him about learning to ferment foods, grow coffee, run a cooking school and what prompted her to write From Scratch, a user-friendly, money-wise, un-preachy collection of simple recipes including pantry staples and basics.

To go with this session, you can order a specially prepared lunchbox from our friends at Earthwalker Cafe in collaboration with Buena Vista Farm. Earthwalker Lunchbox includes ancient grain pilaf with organic kale, nuts, currant and saltbush, mat rush crumbed and bulgar falafel, Davidson plum roasted pumpkin, zesty finger lime hummus, kelp salted flatbread and Buena Vista beetroot relish. It can be ordered with the addition of Buena Vista cheese, or gluten-free.

most unexpected places. The result was her best-selling memoir, The Space Between the Stars.

Today, she shares some of the personal insights she gained from looking more closely at the world around her.

2.15-3 PM SHOW ME THE MONEY

Jack Manning Bancroft with Jeremy Lasek In the newly released Hoodie Economics, inspirational CEO and founder of AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience), local social entrepreneur and Bunjalung man Jack Manning Bancroft embraces Indigenous thinking to offer transformational solutions to our current crises. If you want to be part of the solution, come and listen to a mind-expanding thinker who offers refreshingly optimistic alternatives of how we can be more inclusive, share knowledge and do things better.

PUBLIC INTEREST

3.15-4.15 PM

‘PAY AS YOU FEEL’

JOURNALISM

HUMOUR

MY FUNNY FAILURES (AND OTHER STORIES)

Siobhan McHugh & Jackie Dent with Malika Reese Wrapping up the festival, two very game authors confess to unexpected moments of hilarity, humiliation and horror in the line of duty. Join podcast guru, Walkley award-winner and local author Siobhan McHugh, (The Power of Podcasting, The Snowy: A History) and author Jackie Dent (The Great Dead Body Teachers) as they share moments they would rather forget with Malika Reese.

1-2 PM CONSTELLATIONS AND CONSOLATIONS

FIRST PERSON

Indira Naidoo with Caroline Baum When much-loved edible gardener and broadcaster Indira Naidoo lost her sister, her grief led her to find consolation and a new appreciation of life in the

Join us for end-of-festival drinks at our neighbours

COLEDALE RSL! November 33

Causeway of controversy

Rathane owner Sarah and Plantlandia’s Zoe Bell

By Genevieve Swart

Otford community members remain unhappy with Wollongong City Council’s consultation process for a replacement causeway after the old one was destroyed in a February 2023 storm.

The latest Neighbourhood Forum 1 report, provided by convenor Warwick Erwin, states: “Council’s response to NF1’s and residents’ requests for the design details of the replacement causeway was a ‘sketch’ superimposed on an aerial photo, but no design details. Council’s response to an urgent request for design details as the concrete was being poured for the culverts was to supply another sketch. This time a side view of the causeway with a car on the causeway.”

Responding to the Flame’s questions about community consultation and the causeway design, a council spokesperson said: “While we value community input into the work of Council, we also need to balance community feedback with the expertise of those who are industry experts in road design, flood mitigation and environmental protection. Feedback from our community is important to what we do, but there are instances where consultation isn’t appropriate like this case where community feedback would not replace industry expertise on the final design.

“That said, while there has been no formal consultation process on this design and plan, we have incorporated community feedback gathered through forums like Neighbourhood Forum 1 to incorporate additional warning signage and better line marking.”

Find Council’s full response on our website in ‘Causeway of controversy at Otford’

Historic garden opens

By Susan Luscombe

The historic home of Rathane in Austinmer will open its garden for November 11 and 12’s Illawarra Edible Garden Trail. Former Sydneysiders Sarah and James Renwick bought Rathane four years ago and are transforming the half-acre property.

Rathane is on the site of one of the first land grants in the district. The original timber cottage, Sidmouth, was built by Robert Marsh Westmacott in 1837. The property was gradually subdivided and Rathane was built to the Arts and Crafts style of architecture by local master carpenter Don Lett in 1923 for Captain Charles McKenzie Young.

Sarah worked with a landscape designer to draw up garden plans, enlisting local Ranger Landscapes and Plantlandia to help fulfil her vision. The garden design mirrors the style of the house with “rooms”, each displaying different colours, heights and textures. Materials such as steel and railway sleepers have been used for the garden beds in homage to the Illawarra’s industrial heritage.

The garden has several fruit trees, including citrus, as well as herbs, vegetables and salad greens.

Indigenous plants are scattered throughout.

Read more online in ‘Haven in a hostile world’.

Polyscias sambucifolia (Elderberry Panax)

Tree of the Month

By Kieran Tapsell, of Banksia Bushcare

34 science & nature

Elderberry panax can be a small spreading shrub to a medium size tree of 5 metres usually found on the edges of rainforest. Two examples have regenerated naturally in the circle of the Stanwell Avenue Reserve.

As there are no other examples within the Reserve, they most likely regenerated from seed dropped by birds, probably Currawongs, which also like to feed on the fruits of its more abundant cousin, Celery Wood (Polyscias elegans).

Its natural range is from Cape Otway in Victoria to the McPherson Range near the Queensland border with New South Wales. It is reasonably fast growing even in shady conditions, and its fruits are edible.

Elderberry Panax has found its way back to Stanwell Ave Reserve. Photo: Kieran Tapsell

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November 35

What’s On

Submit events at theillawarraflame.com.au Flame Tree Concert

By Rick Warr

Sun 19 Nov The Thirroul

Flame Tree Community Food Cooperative is hosting another concert as a celebration of its members and the community. All performers are volunteering. It will be on Sunday 19th kicking off at 2pm at the Coledale RSL, a family friendly organisation run by volunteers. As with the previous concert, admission is free. The co-op is a member-owned, not-for-profit co-operative with a focus on sustainable, local and ethical food.

We are driven by a commitment to sourcing healthy, fresh, organic produce with minimal or no packaging, and to the democratic business model of the co-operative. The cooperative has been in Thirroul since 2009 and has always been a believer in the power of community. Come and join with us and enjoy the music.

Emerging Artist Concert Series

Music and Tea at Wollongong Art Gallery at 11am.

Free. Donations to the artists welcome.

Thu Nov 2 A Trumpet’s Tale | Jude Macarthur on trumpet with John Martin on piano. Dreams and Melodies | Hana Lee violin and Jack Mao piano Shellharbour SUP Festival Fri-Sun, 3-5 Nov A celebration of SUP at Lake

Illawarra’s Reddall Reserve and Warilla Beach, including SUP Yoga, Surfing, BOP race, Dragon boats, Distance racing, SUP dress up novelty race and the Sunday Pups on SUPs & Goats Afloat.

More info: www.supshellharbour.com/supfestival

Queerstories at Thirroul Library Fri 10 Nov 6-8pm. Join local LGBTQIA+

storytellers for a night of queer stories, unexpected tales, pride, prejudice, love, and humour. This event is Auslan interpreted. Ages 16+. Tickets $25 Bookings via Eventbrite

The Gong Clothes Swap Sat Nov 11 The clothes swap will be held in the

lower Crown St Mall, Wollongong, between 10am and 2pm. www.gongclothesswap.com.au Wollongong Wood Workshops & Market Sat & Sun 11 & 12 Nov Workshops, makers

market and more. 9-5pm at Bulli Showground, visit illawarrafestivalofwood.com

36 clubs & community

Illawarra Edible Garden Trail Sat & Sun 11 & 12 Nov Gardens from

Helensburgh to Woonona open up from 10am3pm. Tickets: tinyurl.com/gardentrailtix

Electrify 2515 EV Open Day Sun 12 Nov 10am-1pm, free event at Club

Thirroul. More info: electrify2515.org/transport

Northern Illawarra Art Trail (NIAT) Nov 18 & 19 10am-3pm, 12 local artists will open

their studios to the public, visit niarttrail.com

True Story Festival Sat & Sun 18 & 19 Nov Authors in conversation

at Coledale Hall. Visit southcoastwriters.org

Illawarra Festival of Architecture and Design Sat 25 Nov With archibike and house tours, and

panel discussions with Deborah Hutton, Saul Griffith and more. Visit ifad.net.au

Dance of the Flames Thu Nov 23 at 7pm Draws together the power of

flamenco, the allure of belly dance, the flair of shadow theatre and the thrill of fire dancers. Free.

Crown St Mall Stage, Wollongong.

Passage of Time 14-26 Nov Group exhibition by members of the

Illawarra Association for the Visual Arts (IAVA).

Opening Friday 17th at 6pm, Clifton School of Arts. Open 10am to 4pm. This exhibition showcases the art of over 20 members of IAVA and addresses the theme: ‘Passage of Time’ from diverse perspectives, including personal and life; relationships; climate; nature; creativity and the local environment (home and garden, built and natural environments). www.iavacontempart.org

Remembrance Day Services Sat 11 Nov Austinmer Thirroul RSL Sub-Branch

will be holding the annual services and welcomes all to attend to pay homage to the fallen, returned and serving defence force personnel. Woodward Park Thirroul, at 10:30am. Austinmer Beach Cenotaph, 10:45am. Helensburgh RSL Sub-Branch will hold a service at Charles Harper Park – arrive 10:30 for a 10:45 start.

Otford Primary School’s Sustainability Fair Sun Nov 26 The P&C are planning a clothes &

toy swap; eWaste drop off; Textile recycling drop-off; Furniture, toy & clothes repairs; Eco-conscious product stalls; Workshops/ presentations (incl Earth Stylist) and a Junkyard Rascals play area. To book a stall, contact otfordpc@gmail.com.

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November 37

Leading a Dharawal revival

By Genevieve Swart

Publisher John Bursill at Collins Booksellers Thirroul. Photos: Anthony Warry

A small Indigenous publisher run entirely by volunteers has a runaway hit on its hands.

Head of Dharawal Publishing, John Bursill, is carrying on the legacy of his late father, Uncle Les Bursill OAM, renowned for tracing the history of Aboriginal people of the Sutherland Shire and Illawarra via archaeology, anthropology and rock art. Today Dharawal Publishing’s star author is Dr Jodi Edwards, a Yuin cultural custodian with Dharawal kinship connections.

Jodi is leading the revival of the Dharawal language with a series of children’s books. Her first book, Dharawal Words, Phrases and Activities, was launched at the Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) by Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney in late 2022 and is already a bestseller.

“It’s sold 5000 copies,” John says.

For all Australians, there’s a spiritual perspective to learning a language spoken for thousands of years, John says. “In Aboriginal culture, language connects you to Country. Jodi’s aim is to get children speaking Dharawal. At least in simple sentences. Say hello; say goodbye – all the basic sort of things so that they can feel that connection.

“Because there’s a belief that by speaking the words, it keeps the spirits alive, of the old people in a way too.”

It’s been a huge challenge, publishing books in a language lost, mixed and suppressed.

38 arts & culture

“Jodi did a lot of work, and a lot of work with the Elders and also with scholarly research into the actual archives, listening to the tracks of people speaking,” John says.

Earlier this year Jodi, a doctor of philosophy, was nominated for NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year. She believes in Reconciliation through learning, helped set up Gumaraa tour and education company and leads Indigenous tours with Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour. She was also, John says, once a champion powerlifter.

“She was in the Olympic team.

“She’s without ego. She’s very open, but she’s also strong. Strong-willed, strong-minded, speaks her truth. But she’s open to everyone else … You can’t just be an author in the Aboriginal space, you’ve got to be a community person, or you just won’t get the support you need.”

The former president of Sutherland Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, John describes himself as the glue bringing people together. “My father left me this legacy. I had to embrace it.

“And I can make a pretty good speech too if I have to,” he adds, with a laugh. “I’ll put on a performance, because I was in a band for many years.”

2508 locals may remember John as the lead singer in popular Helensburgh party band Spindrift, which also starred Joe McNaughton of the Helensburgh Off Road Cycle Club (HORCC).

John no longer lives in Helensburgh, after a

second near-death experience with a deer while riding his motorbike home late at night. Today, he juggles Dharawal Publishing commitments, including book launches and speeches, in between engineering work at Rex Airlines and running his own training business in Bangor. There are no grand offices; books are simply stored at the home of Mary Jacobs, an old friend of Les who volunteers her time to produce the books.

“Dharawal Publishing is quite fledgling,” John says. “All the money we make, we push back in. It’s a perpetual fund to support Indigenous authors.”

A Dharawal man, John is immensely proud of his connections to the people who lived in this area for millennia. He connected with culture in many ways, growing up as an avid bushwalker and Scout, spending time with his dad in boats on Port Hacking, learning the skills of a saltwater man. In his youth, John served in the army. “I was a long-distance canoeist and a champion shot, I was an outrigger canoe paddler for many years. I won the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 111-kilometre race.

“My father encouraged people to embrace their Aboriginality … people of mixed race, like myself, that have Aboriginal history.”

John was raised to advocate for Indigenous people and bridge the gap between cultures, with both his parents pioneers in their own way. Les was a printer – he started in newspapers at the Sydney Morning Herald – then later an educator, who pursued a lifelong interest in archaeology and anthropology, earning the respect of the La Perouse Aboriginal community. His mother, who died tragically young of ovarian cancer, had a degree in English literature and did a doctoral thesis on Australian feminist poets.

John’s dad – whose autobiography was titled The Past is in us, not Behind us – inspired many people to change their thinking. “They were all stimulated by my father embracing his Aboriginality as, predominantly, a white man but that knew he’d had a history – went to university, did anthropology and archaeology and went out into the country and found the sites, and found himself, in the Royal and Heathcote National Parks. And then went to the people of La Perouse and managed to get them to accept him after 20, 30 years of work. And then he took them into the Royal National Park and taught them about lost aspects of their history.”

The seeds for Dharawal Publishing were sown when Les Bursill became an Aboriginal liaison officer for Correctional Services. In 2007, he started producing gazettes to try to connect Indigenous people with their culture. In 2008, Les published a pioneering book, Dharawal: The story of the Dharawal speaking people of Southern Sydney.

Piecing together the past is a work in progress, John says, and the team are looking at revising

this book. “Dad was always very open to having that discussion as things change. Because the problem for people who are trying to present the true history is that because of colonisation effects, especially around disease and smallpox, the history was lost. It was decimated.”

This is why spelling has changed, even of the word Dharawal itself – it used to be spelt with a T, John explains, because the D and the T are one sound. Now the alphabet is evolving to include letters for sounds that are a combination of two letters.

Dharawal Publishing – supported by the cultural wisdom of Elder Aunty Barb Simms – is growing fast, boosted by the success of Jodi’s books.

“We’ve been so lucky with Jodi,” says John, recalling how his father first met her at a university conference when she was making possum skin cloaks (as she did recently for Alone Australia reality show winner Gina Chick).

“My father encouraged her and all the people who are involved with Dharawal Publishing. It was all born from that seed of enthusiasm for the resurrection of the Dharawal history.

“That’s the story of Dharawal Publishing. It was about someone who ignited something. My father did and that’s why I carried his work on – because it brought a lot of meaning to people’s lives. And that’s really what life’s about, isn’t it?”

Dr Jodi Edwards will be at the True Story festival in Coledale on November 18. Visit southcoastwriters.org/true-story-festival

November 39

Cunningham a rare Yes

By Genevieve Swart

Dr Jodi Edwards.

Photo: James Patrick Photography

Australia voted No to enshrining an Indigenous voice in the constitution but Cunningham voted Yes. The 519 sq km electoral division – which stretches from Helensburgh south to Warrawong, parts of Unanderra and Farmborough Heights – achieved a 51.43% Yes vote.

Australian Electoral Commission data showed suburbs with the most Yes votes included Austinmer (77.83%), Wombarra (72.34%), Thirroul (69.6%), Coledale (68.63%) and Stanwell Park.

Longtime resident and former Liberal government minister The Hon. Ted Pickering AM said, “The Stanwell Park booth had a 68.1% yes vote. Proud of my community.”

Asked how her electorate achieved a rare Yes majority, Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes credited the Wollongong Yes23 team with running a “good, strong campaign”.

“Local volunteers put their heart and soul into working on this campaign,” the Labor MP told the Flame after the October 14 referendum.

“We had a lot of people out there explaining what the voice was, what the referendum was about and having a lot of those good conversations in our community – out at the beaches, out on the streets, at people’s doors, on the phones.”

Wollongong’s non-partisan campaign involved more than 600 volunteers. Local Elders who supported it included Uncle Richard Davis, Aunty Sharralyn ‘Shas’ Robinson and Aunty Barbara Nicholson. Dharawal language book author Dr Jodi Edwards was a tireless supporter right through to referendum day, when she started the day by sharing her knowledge on an Indigenous SUP tour before going on to welcome Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his visit to Dapto.

Special features of the Wollongong campaign included seaside Sit In/Swim Outs, a Yes Choir and the Art from our Hearts exhibition at Clifton School of Arts, which raised $14,000 and was the biggest local fundraiser.

“Never underestimate the power of art to make change in our society,” the leader of the Wollongong Yes campaign, John Corker, said at the time.

After the referendum, the retired lawyer from Thirroul was among many campaigners taking time off, as Indigenous leaders called for a week of silence to grieve the outcome of the referendum.

“Our local indigenous community have had a very hard week,” Alison said. “I know that, I’ve been speaking to a few of them from here in Canberra.

“It has certainly been a tough week for a lot of people in our community, and particularly First Nations people.”

MCCI celebrates award winners

By Cristina Sacco, of MCCI

MCCI, the regional peak body for multicultural associations, has celebrated members who’ve made an outstanding contribution to the community.

VoxFM – which provides 23 language radio programs – won the Excellence in Multicultural Service Delivery Award. Nan Tien Temple won the Excellence in Cultural & Community Events Award. Among its achievements have been the Hands in Harmony event attended by nearly 2000 Illawarra school children to promote intercultural wellbeing, sustainability and Reconciliation.

Zinah Hassan, an advocate for participation in sport and wellbeing activities among migrant and 40 clubs & community

Zinah Hassan receiving her award from Alison Byrnes MP and MCCI Chair Ken Habak OAM

refugee youth, received the Young Leader Award.

Bertha Quiros, a tireless fundraiser for vulnerable communities, and president of the George Cross Community Centre at Cringila Louis Parnis were joint winners of the Outstanding Community Contribution Award.

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Kicking off November’s Program on Thurs 2nd is Kate Holden in conversation with Richard Glover on his new book, BEST WISHES. On Wed 15th at Ryan’s, hear poets lift their words off the page at the rescheduled POETRY EXTRAVAGANZA with Ali Whitelock, Tamryn Bennett, David Stavanger and Ali Jane Smith. On Wed 22nd a panel of the authors of EVERYTHING UNDER THE MOON will gather to present this illuminating collection of tales retold through a queer lens. Join Michael Earp, Helena Fox, Will Kostakis and Gary Lonesborough for a lively discussion for teens and adults alike in the bookstore. And finally, as a gesture of appreciation for their hard work, and to launch Melissa Kennedy’s new book, SUSTAINABLE TEACHER, Wed 29th is exclusively a TEACHER’S NIGHT. Teachers, please join us for a special night in store. Call 4267 1408 or thirroul@collinsbooks.com.au

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November 41

Independent experts on board Two leaders at UOW’s Blue Energy Futures Lab will be helping the Flame – and the region – get to grips with the science, the studies and the power of offshore wind, writes Genevieve Swart. This month, meet Ty Christopher

Director of the Energy Futures Network Ty Christopher with Associate Professor Michelle Voyer of UOW’s Blue Energy Futures Lab. Photo: Anthony Warry

When it comes to navigating the uncharted waters of offshore wind, Wollongong is lucky to have the expertise of electrical engineer Ty Christopher.

Uniting the worlds of industry and academia, Endeavour Energy’s former ‘chief engineer’ brings 37 years of hands-on experience in the electricity supply industry to his current role as Director of the Energy Futures Network at the University of Wollongong.

What’s more, he’s a true local.

“I was born in Bulli Hospital,” Ty says.

“I went to Woonona Public School and then to

Woonona High School. My dad was a welder – worked in steel fabrication and that sort of thing, having come out of the mines. A very common story. I grew up in a common blue-collar working-class street, or a couple of them, locally here. Everyone’s dads were coal miners, truck drivers, welders, steelworkers, that sort of thing.

“I was hard-wired to be an engineer from the time I could walk. My fascination was with anything mechanical – cars, motorcycles, trucks, planes. As barely more than a toddler, I used to drive the TV technician mad … I’d be literally

“There was a post put up saying that a Whale of a tale proves University of Tasmania study had done modelling that predicted 400 whales would to be fake news be killed a year from offshore wind turbines.

Local academics, engineers and politicians have agreed to ‘in principle’ support for an Illawarra offshore wind zone. The concept of offshore wind is also supported globally by all major conservation organisations, including fierce anti-whaling ocean defenders such as Sea Shepherd.

So where is evidence of the turbines’ threat to whales coming from?

Some of it is simply well-written fake news, says Associate Professor Michelle Voyer, of the University of Wollongong’s Blue Energy Futures Lab. She suspects AI technology may be involved.

42 news

And that was said to be in the journal Marine Policy,” Michelle says.

Marine Policy is a well-regarded international journal. The post sounded alarmingly authentic but there was just one problem – Michelle, the Keira Endowed Chair in Energy Futures at UOW, also happens to be an associate editor for Marine Policy, and she’d never heard of the paper.

“I straight away got in touch with the editor-in-chief [Professor Quentin Hanich], who’s a Thirroul resident. And I said to him, ‘Are you aware of this paper? I can’t find any evidence of this paper.’

sitting on the floor beside him, handing him his tools and asking him, what’s that? And what does that do?”

In year 9, the careers advisor pulled Ty aside to deliver an unequivocal piece of advice: that he had to become an engineer or he’d never feel fulfilled.

“I had to know how things work, how the world works,” Ty says.

At age 15, Ty saved up enough money from his first job to buy a motorcycle, even though his parents had forbidden it. “I hid it for a year and kept it at a mate’s place before my parents even knew. They only found out when I came home missing half the skin on both of my legs, having had a spectacular stack imitating Evel Knievel.”

Ty survived high school and straight after took on a cadetship with the then Illawarra County Council.

“Then followed what you’d call diplomatically a ‘mailroom to boardroom’ career within the electricity supply industry, having started out on the tools and then studying engineering and finishing up with 10 years on the executive of Endeavour Energy, helping to run the company, as a direct report to the board and the CEO. And the last five years of that… the best way to describe it was I was the chief engineer of Endeavour Energy.”

His very first role with the company was as ‘a quail’, an affectionate term. “When you start out with a line crew, you are a quail, you’re a flightless bird.

They don’t want you aloft.”

Ty would set up ladders, pass tools, boil the billy for morning tea. He progressed to become an overhead linesman, physically demanding work in

the days before cherrypickers. “I was a skinny kid weighing all of about 64 kilograms. So the ladders weighed slightly more than I did. Carrying these, putting them up against the pole, racking them up, climbing the pole with physical belt on … Putting a platform on there, standing on the platform, and then away you go swinging your spanners and repairing the overhead power lines. That was my first job.

“I was a qualified linesman … a qualified cable jointer. I’m still a licensed electrician. And I did my electrical engineering at the University of Wollongong, my undergraduate degree.”

With electrical work comes constant risk.

“Never underestimate the intelligence of power workers,” Ty says. “Because if they weren’t highly intelligent people, they would be dying in droves, given the wherewithal that is needed mentally and, in terms of awareness, given the environments that they work in. Similar applies to people in coal mining, in steelworks … these are environments for intelligent people to operate intelligently.”

The real-world experience that Ty brings to the university is vast, including everything from the challenges of introducing new technology to dealing with community consultation to managing electricity supply across the state.

“Endeavour Energy, for example, has around 200 major substations spanning from almost Mudgee down to Ulladulla. In my career with Endeavour Energy, I worked on, planned, designed, built, augmented, or rebuilt at least 130 of those 200 substations.”

Ty retired from the corporate world in 2020.

“There was no bitterness. I have so much love for Endeavour Energy. Endeavour Energy took me from literally a pimply-faced kid from school

“It was completely fabricated. There was no such paper.

“It was quite a convincingly written post, but there were obviously no citation references or authors or anything. I did wonder – it almost looked like they’d put it into Chat GPT and said, can you make me up a convincing argument about anti [offshore turbines]?

“So that is just mischievous. We don’t need that kind of thing inflaming this argument.”

Driven by a love for the ocean, Michelle empathises with people who’ve spoken of their fears for the whales at recent public forums. She believes independent research is vital but takes heart from the fact that there are ways to build wind farms that can minimise their impacts.

“WWF, Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, Nature Conservancy, all the major conservation organisations, including those that are solely focused or very heavily focused on whales, all have in principle support for offshore wind, if it’s done in a way that can manage interactions.

“Those conservation agencies are saying that the biggest issues that whales face come from plastics and from a warming ocean, which has impacts on their food sources.

“So we can’t pretend that by not putting these things [turbines] in the ocean that we’re saving the whales. That logic doesn’t work.

There are impacts of us not doing anything.

“We need to act [on climate change], and we need to do it fast. We’re rapidly running out of time.”

Experience at every level

November 43

through to being a senior executive, running a multi-billion dollar company in private ownership. One organisation took me on that journey.

“I took a year off while our eldest child did her HSC. And that was the gap year that I’d never had.

It only took me until my 50s to actually have it.”

After a while, though, he grew a bit bored.

“This opportunity at the University of Wollongong as the Director, Energy Futures Network presented itself … the way I’ve been accepted by the academics across the university has been heart-warming and delightful.

“In my role, I really form a bridge between industry, certain elements of the community, representative groups and academia and the university; look to build these collaborations so that we can really be applying the university’s knowledge for the benefit of our region, for the training of our people.

“Ultimately, to be positioning our region to be a

far greater success story in the clean energy and clean manufacturing space than it ever was in the fossil fuel-based industry and fossil fuel-based manufacturing. That’s a vision that I bring to the role.”

Where our energy future lies

Today, Ty still rides motorbikes (“I don’t fall off them as often now, thankfully”) and describes himself as “a mad tinkerer around the home” – which he built in Cordeaux Heights almost 25 years ago to be all electric, way ahead of his time.

Four years ago, he put on a solar system.

“Now my home is a net exporter. I generate more electricity over a year than I use. It’s still not net economic because I generate tons of it on days like today, during the day, and then I have to pay a king’s ransom to get it back again once the sun’s gone down. But I’m working on that.”

Ty sees solar as a solution for households, but the strong and consistent supply of offshore wind

Q&A with Alison Byrnes MP

By Genevieve Swart

Consultation on the Illawarra’s proposed offshore renewables zone has had a stormy start, with fake news online and combative real-life forums.

There has also been widespread confusion after the government’s consultation period began on August 15 – two months after offshore wind developer BlueFloat Energy held a consultation session of its own on June 15 at Thirroul Surf Club.

Thanks to Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes for answering questions during a phone interview from Canberra on October 19.

Is this a real consultation?

Alison Byrnes (at left) with Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon at Middelgrunden wind farm off Copenhagen. Her recent study tour to the UK and Denmark was self-funded, apart from Denmark internals covered by the Danish Embassy in Canberra. Photo: Frances Kerkham

44 news

This is absolutely a real consultation. So there are currently no developers.

All we are talking about is a footprint for where we could put an offshore wind farm.

So in the future there will be feasibility, licensing, those sorts of things. There’s another three opportunities for our community to have their say.

I know local companies have been out there doing community consultations, but there has certainly not been any decisions made – or even any applications put in – at this stage for any developments.

How would you describe the mood of the consultation process so far?

I think there’s been a lot of misinformation put out into the community, which has caused a lot of

as the only viable solution capable of powering industry, transport and city centres, and the only renewable poised to challenge coal in Australia.

The proposed offshore wind zone in the Illawarra could generate up to 4.2 gigawatts of electricity and this would be a “pretty good match” to replace Eraring, Australia’s biggest coal-fired power plant, Ty says. (Read more in “Ask an Engineer: Why is offshore wind’s capacity factor so exciting?” on our website.)

FAQs with the facts

The university had no warning of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s offshore renewables zone consultation, which began on August 14, but once the news broke, Ty and the team recognised a need for independent, research-based information and set to work, publishing a list of offshore wind FAQs on the Blue Energy Futures website.

“Every item that’s there is researched. Every angst … but what I am seeing at the moment is as people are starting to check their sources, check their facts, and actually do some fact-based research, they’re becoming, I think, a lot more open than their first reaction based on some of the misinformation that was put out in the community.

Could a rise in misinformation derail or slow the transition to renewables?

There is a bit of a concerted effort out there to slow Australia’s transition to renewable energy through the distribution of misinformation. And I think people need to be really, really careful about that.

Which trusted sources do you recommend?

Government agencies, and certainly people that I have a lot of respect for – the University of Wollongong, Tim Flannery, Saul Griffith, people that have a lot of knowledge in this industry already, and also in the renewable energy sector.

Make sure your sources are from trusted sources and not some of this sensationalist stuff that we’re seeing on Facebook. A lot of that’s coming from overseas, from the US.

answer that is on there has a source going back to an academic paper, a published piece, a trusted factual basis to it (unlike a lot of what we’re seeing on social media at the moment).”

The Blue Futures team supports the development of offshore wind in the Illawarra, provided the developments are done to the highest environmental, social and cultural standards.

Compiling the FAQs involved more than 30 researchers from across all university faculties, including social science, ecology, health, engineering and maritime law.

“We all banded together to put that together to try and get it out there,” Ty says. “In particular, before the public consultation process closed.”

Visit www.uow.edu.au/ancors/blue-energyfutures-lab/frequently-asked-questions.

Next month: Meet Associate Professor Michelle Voyer, a lifelong advocate for the ocean

Once consultation closes on November 15th, what will happen next?

The minister [Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy] will consider all of the submissions that have gone in and he’ll come up with whether he endorses the current footprint or changes it – he’s changed, I think, all of the ones previously. [The time frame] will depend on the volume of submissions and the information that he’s got to consider.

As we head towards the end of this consult, will there be any more face-to-face forums?

I won’t be holding any more personally myself, but certainly people are welcome to email me, ask their questions. I’m happy to ring people. I’m happy to have these hard conversations. It’s something I think we need to do as a community.

Call Alison’s Wollongong office on 4228 5899 or email alison.byrnes.mp@aph.gov.au.

Have your say on the proposed 1461sq/km offshore renewables zone by November 15 at consult.dcceew.gov.au/oei-illawarra

What do you think of Electrify 2515’s response?

I really like Saul Griffith’s approach with the community benefit dividend. Looking at the different things that we can do, whether it’s a community infrastructure fund, an economic development fund, a fund for school, or discounts on electricity – what we can do, what our community can get out of a big proposal like this, besides clean energy and also a lot of jobs.

November 45

o t e Tim paint

Janice Creenaune meets Graham Sinclair, a maintenance fitter and tool-maker before retirement, who now has a passion for reconstructing landscape and still life through painting and sculpture. Photo by Janice Creenaune.

Thirroul resident Graham Sinclair, 71, has been exhibiting his art since the early 1990s and he has been a prize-winner in various art shows.

“While working full time I began studying a Fine Arts Diploma at St George TAFE,” Graham says. “Earlier, I had studied art in many different forms, lead-lighting, printmaking, portrait paintings and photography. I am now concentrating on landscapes (often in abstract forms) and sculpture.

“I have painted alongside portrait artist Dave Thomas and he remains an exceptional mentor to this day, still encouraging me in my artwork.

“Dave opened my eyes to my own capabilities, although I still see myself as a practising hobbyist.

“Detail is really important at every step, and I use a painter’s licence to manipulate colours and create interest in the composition. I paint whatever I feel, and I work on the composition to the point where I think I make it interesting.”

Graham works in acrylic and oils.

“The tonal composition must be correct, the darks are especially important and the use of a palette knife for the big paintings and smaller brushes for the intensity of the detail I need in my work. I play around with the colour and with the lines to capture the effects of the scene or composition.”

He’s often inspired by the sea, but

the bush and the nuances of the natural and built environment have enveloped him as a painter and sculptor.

“The move to Thirroul, 10 years ago seemed to offer me everything I needed to develop my passions. Painting is indeed like a drug in that I just have to do it, and my intuition is developed too within my work.”

Occasionally, Graham has managed to combine his love of sport and his art. One such piece was a limited-edition print “Brothers in Arms”, depicting the Waugh brothers, and raising money to send a junior basketball team to the USA. “I spent hours signing these limited-edition prints for the worthy cause.”

Among his art prizes, Graham won the Thirroul Seaside Festival in 2022 and was a finalist in the North Sydney Art Prize in the same year. He has been a multiple prize winner in the Sydney Royal Easter Show Abstract Sculpture Prizes in 2019 and 2022. He has also been awarded Commended prizes in the 2022 Bowral Small Sculpture Prize, the 2021 John Copes Watercolour Prize, and the Camden Art Prize for sculpture.

“I paint every day and surprisingly my paintings and sculptures has become a focus in retirement. I recently held my first solo exhibition at the Bowral District Art Society (BDAS) gallery and had great sales and positive feedback to encourage more solo exhibitions.”

Family looms large in Graham’s life.

“I am able to continue my art thanks largely to my wife, Deb, who encouraged me to not only retire from work, but to pursue my art. My daughters, Kim and Peta, both busy, yet they continue to show my works on Instagram to a larger audience. I am grateful to them all.“ Graham also appreciates his inclusion in The Barracks Art Studio Thirroul Incorporated.

“I simply would not be able to continue my passions without the generous support from family, friends and colleagues in the local art world.”

Visit @graham_sinclair_art on Instagram Janice is a volunteer for PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation Australia.

Email janicecreenaune@gmail.com

46 clubs & community

What began as a crusade to remediate his local servo has become a statewide concern for longtime Stanwell Park resident Ted Pickering AM

Please write to your local member of parliament to support this campaign.

Sincerely, The Hon. Ted Pickering Member of the Order of Australia (AM) Lions help hospital’s neonatal unit

It is with much delight that we share that – along with other Lions Clubs in Woonona, AustinmerThirroul, Corrimal, Dapto, Figtree, Wollongong, and Australian Lions Foundation – we raised over $120,000.00 to provide the Wollongong Hospital Neonatal unit: 3 new Humidicribs ($30K each) and 4 new Light therapy cots ($8.8K each). We wanted to thank our communities and to let them know that sausage sizzle and those raffle tickets has been used to support where it is needed.

– Fran Peppernell, publicity officer for Helensburgh Lions Club

Your Letters

“Be a journalist not a propagandist”

Re: Oct articles on Yes campaign and offshore wind I wish you people at The Illawarra Flame would just Write to editor@theillawarraflame.com.au be journalists in the older, nobler sense. Your biased, partisan approach just divides our Fossil fuel co’s must be held to account community and adds to the new tribalism of the I am deeply concerned about the growing issue of 21st century. Australia is a multi-cultural, contaminated sites in New South Wales, multi-ethnic society, where differences of opinion particularly redundant petrol stations and historical should be respected and welcomed. That is what fossil fuel industry activities. makes a free democratic society. You are making My name is Ted Pickering, and I had the honour the same egotistical mistakes that are endemic in of serving in the NSW Legislative Council for the sporting codes, the unions, the banks and big nearly two decades. corporations. You have a saviour complex. You It’s alarming to note that there are currently 794 can’t print both sides of the argument because far contaminated redundant petrol station sites in beyond simple reporting... you think it’s your job to NSW, with potentially 130,000 more contaminated save everything. sites throughout the state.

This is not your appointed job. Be a journalist The situation is expected to worsen with the rise not a propagandist. of electric vehicles, resulting in an additional 1,800 – Ross Hyland redundant petrol stations over the next eight years.

I firmly believe that retrospective legislation is urgently needed to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for remediating these sites. We should return to the original requirement for remediation after two years of redundancy, with the responsibility falling squarely on the fossil fuel companies that operated these sites.

The financial implications of addressing these contaminated sites are substantial, with a conservative estimate reaching $30.6 billion. Given the historical role of the fossil fuel industry in returning to the area with over 20yrs experience... creating these sites, it is only fair and just that they bear both the moral and legal responsibility for Austi Surf Club | Wednesdays 4–6pm | Ages 5-17 their cleanup.

My campaign aims to raise public awareness and learn new skills, make friends, build challenge the influence of the fossil fuel industry. I self confidence, have fun $35 pp/week believe that the media’s support and endorsement are pivotal in championing this cause. I urge the contact-bekrah9@yahoo.com.au/0427438770 community to join me in advocating for a cleaner ABN-64322829748 and safer environment for all.

DRAMA with Bek

November 47

NF1 report

Town Centre Plan Phase 3

By Neighbourhood Forum 1 convenor Warwick Erwin

Existing Community Centre

Flooding of Coles Supermarket

Council staff member’s response to a resident’s flooding inquiry was that the floor of the supermarket is too low and Council won’t be taking action. Residents believe it is Council’s lack of stormwater drainage design that is causing the flooding of Coles. There was no issue before Council reconstructed the drainage/curb out the front.

Three years behind schedule and no design update.

Council blocked drainage from under the hall causing water damage. Floors were to be replaced, then mould throughout triggered a demolition requirement. NF1 was told demolition was to be 12 months ago; the health hazard is still standing.

Otford Community Hall

Pedestrian crossings in Walker St

A qualified local resident has measured the crossings and found neither meet Council’s own standard, let alone Australian standards.

Council told the group that runs Otford hall to remove everything from the hall ahead of its refurbishment, due to start late last year. Council did an inspection and found white-ant damage, so the hall has to be totally replaced. 12 months on, Otford residents have not had any engagement from Council about a replacement hall.

Blocked off parking when no Council workers turn up for the day.

Helensburgh Park Crown Land Plan of Management

Traffic controllers are blocking off parking between the pedestrian crossing and Parkes St for the day, then no one turns up to work on the Western Terrace phase of the Town Centre Plan. Simple fix: no workers by 8am, remove the blocking.

Timber Railing on the Steps in Walker St

How long does it take to get a metal railing custom made? Should have been in the project schedule.

TVC Update

By Thirroul Village Committee’s Annette Jones

The TVC was established in 1991 by a group of concerned local residents. TVC members take pride in Thirroul, working to keep the village tidy and to beautify it. This involves members working on garden maintenance and graffiti removal.

Garden news

The garden committee works with Wollongong City Council to help maintain gardens throughout Thirroul, including Grannie’s Garden across from the Community Centre. These garden beds have deteriorated since the drought, followed by Covid and then the rain years, and it is now difficult for volunteers to get them back into a respectable condition without assistance from Council.

Council is looking to develop a new landscaping strategy using more resilient plants, which should improve the look of the garden.

Jackson Park is now tidy and mown regularly.

The undergrowth and dead plants have been removed from the beds around the seats, which makes it a more pleasant park to visit.

The garden committee recently received offers of 48 clubs & community

This is the area including the sports fields, swimming pool, Charles Harper Park. On-theground community engagement has been a Council officer attending NF1 and two kiosks in the park. More is needed for such a critical plan.

New Community Centre and Library

Council has decided where a new combined Community Centre and Library is going to be help which is much appreciated. To help, email the TVC at thirroulvillagecommittee@gmail.com.

Graffiti removal

Wollongong City Council revised the Graffiti Management Council Policy on 28 August 2023, expanding the length of time to remove racist, defamatory, offensive graffiti on Council assets and/or prominent sites or sites of significance from ‘within 1 working day’ to ‘within 2 working days from when it is reported, where possible’. At times graffiti may be placed in hard to access areas, hence the ‘where possible’ qualification as more time may be needed to remove it.

In recent months graffiti attacks have increased around Thirroul and Thomas Gibson Park. If residents see graffiti, please report it to council (details below). Thanks to those TVC members who volunteer to clean or overpaint the graffiti.

Report graffiti crime to: a. Call the Police on 131 444 to report graffiti attacks.

Call 000 if you see graffiti crime in progress. b. Contact WCC via: • Phone (02) 4227 7111 to request graffiti removal and record the incident.

• Email council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au.

• Submit graffiti reports via Council’s website:

placed. Existing centre out due to water problems; land blocks next to existing library are in a flame zone (yet retail and residential multi-storey build may be permitted). What other sites have Council considered? We don’t know as they won’t tell us.

Blocks of land next to Library

A snake haven as no maintenance is being done.

Curb and gutters with developments

Council said, “There is no current formal policy or standard that requires kerb and gutter to be installed for new developments, so it is not applied as a blanket rule, rather it is assessed on a case by case basis.” So decisions are made by Council staff as to whether a developer has to install curb and guttering and footpath. This needs to be addressed by Council so the community has a standard to expect and to close a possible loophole for a developer.

NIRAG/NF3 report By secretary/treasurer Ross Dearden

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water extended the consultation period for the proposed offshore wind zone to 15 November. Have a say at https:// consult.dcceew.gov.au/oei-illawarra/take-thesurvey by 2023.

NIRAG held its last quarterly meeting in August and the minutes are on the Flame’s website.

• Importantly that meeting voted to support the referendum to have a Voice to Parliament to give First Nations people the right to have a say over laws that affect them. The Cunningham electorate voted in favour of YES. • It is pleasing that Council has started work widening the cycleway at Trinity Row, Bulli to 4m.

• NIRAG and the Hewitts Ck Bushcare group participated in the Spring Rise and Shine with a cleanup of the Hewitts Ck / McCauleys Beach area on 9th October (pictured above).

• Recently members attended community sessions about Anglicare’s Seniors Living Development plans for the site between Wilkies Street and Tramway Creek, Bulli. The site will include 229 apartments and a 41-bed “Care Hub”.

This project will have huge impacts on local traffic and the project manager is Matt Theris of Stantec (formerly Cardno). NIRAG is liaising with the team to ensure that the bridge across Tramway Creek connecting Geraghty Street is built to provide an alternative emergency link from Bulli to the eastern part of Thirroul.

It is imperative that the entire Geraghty Street connection is constructed as a Local Area Traffic Management (LATM) scheme, with a design speed of 40kph or less. Construction traffic and local traffic in McCauley Beach estate will then continue on to Sandon Drive, Point St and further south. A LATM design would tend to limit the volume of additional “rat run” traffic generation via residential streets. ARV representatives will attend our November 1st meeting, with more information sessions on 8 and 10 November.

• Pending the outcome of discussion at our next meeting, it is proposed that members support the Electrify 2515 response to the proposed offshore wind zone (see electrify2515.org).

Next TVC meeting: Sunday, 26 Nov, 4pm at TRIPS Hall, Railway Parade, Thirroul. Contact thirroulvillagecommittee@gmail.com.

Next meeting: Wednesday, November 1 at 7pm at Bulli Community Centre. All welcome.

Contact Ross Dearden, nirag@bigpond.com

Abridged item list raised by NF1 members

Failure to carry out court orders – 750 Princes Hwy; failure to enforce DA conditions – motor bike track rear of 159 Walker St; failure to enforce zoning restrictions – 1 Bains Place, 171 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Cemetery Rd, 206 Parkes St. Next meeting: Nov 8, 7pm at Otford Hall

wollongong.nsw.gov.au/my-community/ safety/community-safety/graffiti Wilkies Walk in McCauley’s Estate

The draft Planning Agreement relating to Wilkies Walk is on exhibition for public comment until 5 November 2023. The draft agreement and accompanying documents can be viewed at: • Wollongong and Thirroul branch libraries during business hours; • Council’s Customer Service Centre, Ground Floor Administration Building, 41 Burelli Street Wollongong, between 9am and 5pm weekdays; • On Council’s website: https://our.wollongong. nsw.gov.au/wilkies-walk Offshore Wind consultation extended

November 49

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WELLNESS 56 local directory

Artists’ books on show

By Liz Jeneid

Prelude: Artists’ Books Now will showcase a variety of approaches to making books and the many ways that artists find to share information, to explore ideas and to convey their deep interest in a particular topic from politics to bees, from the environment to past histories and from meditations on place to our personal relationships.

Prelude: Artists’ Books Now will be on show at Clifton School of Arts in November 2023. The exhibition will bring together selected work created by established and emerging book artists, celebrating the book as a dynamic contemporary art form that takes many shapes.

Curated by a team of CSA members who make artist’s books, the exhibition will include 50 works selected from 72 invited artists.

An artist’s book can be many things. The possibilities are endless. For some it is an object – a book that cannot be opened; or an altered existing book such as We Are Volcanoes by Lizzie Buckmaster Dove where the artist has reassembled pages of an old atlas to tell her story. Many of the works include printmaking but other artists have used watercolour, collage, text, and unusual construction techniques as in Alan Purdom’s Babel, a free-standing tower referring to the Declaration of Human Rights, while Mary Rosengren’s wall-hung documentation, Peatlands 1 and 2, is housed in wooden drawers.

The exhibition will be staffed by two artists ready to talk to visitors and explain different approaches and techniques. There will be an afternoon of artist talks by local bookmakers on Saturday, November 11, from 2-4pm.

Prelude: Artists’ Books Now will be opened by Akky van Ogtrop, president of the Print Council of Australia on November 3 at 6pm. The exhibition continues until November 12.

Celebrating the best in regional architecture and design innovation

7AM-12PM ARCHIBIKE RIDE + HOUSE TOURS

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12:30-5:30PM FESTIVAL FEATURE: PANEL DISCUSSIONS FEAT. DEBORAH HUTTON, SAUL GRIFFITH AND MORE

SAT 25 NOV 2023

Horrible Holidays It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey, writes Thirroul’s Tony Ryan

After a two-year delay because of ‘Old Mate Covid’, the bride and I finally got to take our trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. This was to be the last leg of our 30th wedding anniversary celebrations.

For the early flight, we drove to Sydney the night before to beat the traffic. I’d booked a hotel online but on arrival discovered it was for a fortnight’s time. This took about 45 minutes to sort. After settling in and getting the ‘snore monster’ going, we were awoken at 2.30am by the fire alarm. We found all the other guests in the corridor, including the lovely lady across the hall in her neck to toe nightie, straight from the set of Little House on the Prairie. Reception said not to worry; I asked, should I not be worried about the alarm or the fire?

Next day there was a muck up with car parking (long story) but the result was dropping my wife off at the airport with the luggage and going 2km away to park the car and getting a shuttle back at a cost of over $260 for the 12 days.

On returning to the airport, I found my wife still at the back of the queue. She informed me that the booking system had gone down. An hour later, we finally got to check-in, only to find the plane was three hours late and we would miss connecting flight, but they would book us upon another flight.

The flight was pleasant with a bit of a nap; sure, there was a bit of dribble out the side of my mouth but nothing to boast about. After landing in Saigon we made our way to the domestic airport. The heat was confronting but the humidity, at around 100%, proved to be as uncomfortable as your parents sitting you down to explain the birds and the bees.

The airline had changed our connecting flight to Hanoi, but it also had a three-hour delay attached.

The bathroom situation at the airport was unique

as not only could you see the urinals from the main thoroughfare but they were as low as at the local preschool’s toilets, so I had to get into a ½ squat position for a quad-and-hamstring stretch.

We finally arrived in Hanoi and were greeted by 73 people holding signs with people’s names – none were for us. Our chap had not been told of the delays and had gone to the airport at 4pm. Fair to say, he was not keen to come back to pick us up as it was now approaching 1am. The guy at the info counter said he was finishing up and for a lazy $80 would drive us to the hotel. After witnessing a little fender bender and the aftermath of warring parties, we were on our way. Our new friend took us via all the back streets, resulting in the bride squeezing my hand harder than when she was giving birth to our son. After all the shenanigans we finally arrived at our hotel. We had been up for close to 24 hours.

I thought a quick freshen up would be nice. The day ended with me throwing my toothbrush into the vanity. It seemed in slow motion that it landed in the basin and, like a snowboard at a half-pike, slid down one face, only to reappear on the other side and go skyward. I watched helplessly as my toothbrush flew towards the toilet and, with one bounce off the seat, landed in the bowl.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was Day One!

Probus report

coach driver Glen for a great weekend.

At our last meeting, local musicians Wayne and Marcus treated us to a relaxing hour listening to their versions of many well-known songs by famous artists that brought memories back for us all. We hope that they return to entertain us again!

Our next outing is a visit to the Museum of Sydney for the Sydney Opera House at 50 Exhibition, which will be followed by a nice lunch somewhere in town! The following month we are planning a walk and picnic at Sandon Point.

By Helensburgh’s Pete Dawson

Once again a busy time for members of our Helensburgh and District Probus Club! A large group of us took the train and bus to Waverly Cemetery for a historic tour with our guide Greg, followed by lunch at the Tea Gardens Hotel in Bondi Junction.

Then we had our bus trip to Canberra for a long weekend, visiting all the well-known view spots, the Arboretum, and the beautiful spring flower displays at Floriade and Tulip Tops Gardens.

Thank you to organisers John and Michelle and 58 sport & leisure

For more information please contact Lilian, our Membership Officer, on 0408 668 987

Eels celebrate season’s end

By Sea Eels club president Peter McDonald

The Sea Eels have completed their 35th Year of winter swimming (except for their Annual Xmas drinks on Saturday, 9 December), and what a successful and enjoyable season it was.

We only had one bad day with rain but the rest were sunny, with water temperature never dropping below 14 degrees. Five new members joined us and are keen to return next season.

We had five away swims, the first being a visit to the Bulli Sea Lions, a club like ours with men and women swimmers. Once again we did not win the “Jimmy Johns” trophy due to some new rule introduced on the day.

Then came the annual visit by Bondi Iceberg ladies; they brought 35 of their best swimmers to take home the trophy. The ladies are a lot of fun and very generous, buying all of the raffle tickets and happy to pay fines for things they did not do.

On top of that, we were handed a cheque for $500 to go to our main charity CRAM Foundation.

“Bring a Friend Day” followed, shared with the Cronulla Swim club and Era surf club. This season we won back the trophy in the Annual Relay, following the swim we hosted our friends at the Scarborough Wombarra Bowling club.

Our next adventure was the South Coast Winter Swimming Association, unfortunately men only.

The club brought home 2 Bronze, 3 Silver, 2 Gold medals. The championships this season were hosted by Bellambi Blue Bottles and the presentation/dinner was held at the Corrimal RSL. After this we headed off to the Invitational Carnival at iconic Bondi Baths. This is one day we all look forward to. The ladies can compete and thankfully they were there, as three women made the finals, and three relay teams were also finalists.

In our two “Nominated 10 Person Timed” relay, out of 20 teams we finished 6th and 7th.

Our last trip away was to the Australian Championships at Warringah Aquatic Centre,

thankfully our ladies were there again with Christine McDonald, Jodie Cassidy and Michelle Gilmore making the finals along with the O/60s and O/50s relay teams being finalists. Our two “Nominated Time” relays finished 6th and 8th out of 40 teams. After the swim we went to Dee Why RSL for a fantastic buffet lunch and presentation.

To end the season we held our championships, The winners were Russell White in the John Stacpoole Open, Christine McDonald Women’s Open, O/30s Belinda Woodward, O/40s Russell White, O/50s Steven McDonald, O/60s Graham Standen and O/70s Peter McDonald. Dawn Marshall, one of three 100% attendees, won the Slippery Eel and Barry McGuinness was named Club Member of the Year, receiving the Stan McCabe trophy. For overall Point Score results, Christine McDonald won the Open King cup, Frankie Larkin U/14s “Ernie Valbusa” cup, Marley Larkin U/18s “Phil Anger Memorial” trophy and the “Endurance” cup won by Phil Kelly.

This season we donated $3000 to CRAM Foundation to enhance the lives of the residents.

Our friendly club welcomes all local residents.

Hope to see you on the blocks at Coalcliff pool any Sunday from April to September 2024.

Pictured: Eels vice president Dawn Marshall and Cram Foundation CEO Karen Burdett

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November 59

Hello Fish: The Bulls

By Duncan Leadbitter

This is the fourth and last in a series of articles on the sharks detected by our listening station off Stanwell Park for the period June 2022 to May 2023 (12-month period since the station was installed).

Each shark has its own unique number. During the sampling period, 11 different animals visited Stanwell Park of which 7 visited only once. Sharks 795 and 953 visited on four separate occasions in December of 2022 but the frequent visitor award goes to Shark 778 which visited on seven occasions in January to March of this year.

The earliest a detected shark was first tagged was in 2016 and the rest were tagged in either 2019 or 2021. The majority were tagged in various stations in Sydney Harbour and the Whitsundays (Queensland). One was caught in the Manning Monthly average temperature in Sydney

Festival tickets for epic 18’s

By Ian Pepper Photo: Ian Pepper

60 sport & leisure

River and one at Evans Head. Curiously it was two of the sharks that visited most often (778 and 795) that were first tagged in the Whitsundays.

Prior to being detected by our listening station bull sharks were detected in Wollongong, Maroubra, Cronulla, North Steyne and Kiama. This may reflect the fact that they are very coastal and even though most are tagged in northern NSW and they move along the coast a lot, we have not yet had any detections of fish that have missed listening stations before getting to Stanwell Park.

Bull sharks favour warm water, being more common when the water is above 20°C. We got our first detection in December 2022 and the last one in April 2023, which certainly fits this research result. The graph shows the average water temperatures for Sydney by month (www. seatemperature.info). I could not get the specific monthly averages by month for 2022/23.

Listening stations were only installed in the Wollongong area in 2022 and drumlines were installed in March of that year, so it will be in the 2022/23 reporting year that we will get some better data that may help interpret what we are seeing.

Next year I will do an update as there will be two years of data and, hopefully, the background information from the DPI. Safe to say the seniors had some fun on Sunday, October 15th at Sharkey’s Beach for our second last Pointscore of the year!

It was a make-up pointscore for seniors only and the waves were excellent all day. Our 18’s final was epic so we decided to reward them all with Clearly Festival tickets in Kiama on November 11th.

Huge congratulations to Cooper Smoley for getting his first win ever for the club. And well done to junior girls surfer Macey Jolly debuting in the Open Women’s and making the final.

Congratulations to all our winners: • A Grade: Mannix Squiers • Open Women: Shyla Short • 18’s: Cooper Smoley • 35’s: Steve Rainford • 45’s Nigel Parkin • 55’s Brett Davis • B Grade: Jack Kelly Coming up in November is the regional qualifier for the Australian Boardriders Battle to be held at Kiama on Sunday, 18th November. Good luck Scarborough and Sandon Point clubs both surfing to qualify for the national final at Burleigh Heads in Queensland in March 2024.

Way of the Worm A Rockpool Ramble with Amanda De George

There’s comfort to be had in always being able to find something new. Although I’m not sure I mean that about my life in general, where there’s comfort in surrounding myself with the people and things that I love and know well.

But when out in nature, one of my very favourite things is knowing that every moment is an opportunity for discovery, be it a time of day that’s new for a familiar walk, the way clouds flow during the storm that caught you unawares and the delicious smell of rain that is somewhat different depending on where it falls.

It might be a behaviour you’ve never seen or a creature that you’re spotting for the very first time.

And for me, that’s the beauty of rock pools – they are ever-changing ecosystems, shifting with the Your local, experienced and educated For local, experienced and educated real tides and the weather and also moment by moment real educated estate professional For local, and as the fish dart for cover or the octopus curls outexperienced a estate advice, callreal Ian today! tentative tentacle.

estate advice, call Ian today!

Ian Pepper

0403 570 041 Ian Pepper ian.pepper@raywhite.com 0403 570 041

raywhitehelensburgh.com.au ian.pepper@raywhite.com

raywhitehelensburgh.com.au

Middle East mayhem may lead to rate hike That might explain the utter giddy excitement I felt when finding my first Southern Fan Worm (Sabellastarte australiensis) and watching as it unfurled its gills from its tube-like home that it had constructed with mucous and sand. These creatures, endemic to Australia, use their two elaborate fans to breathe, to filter phytoplankton and zooplankton for food and particles to help in the building of the tube.

I wonder how many times I’ve wandered past these worms. When they are inside their dwelling – and, trust me, they can retract those feathery gills at lightning speed if they feel threatened – the tube is just another structure amongst the nooks and crannies of the rock pools. It’s not until the gills unfurl slowly and hypnotically that these magnificent creatures reveal themselves.

I have come across quite a few now, around Port Kembla and Shellharbour. If you do spot them and they happen to dart back into their home for safety, hang around and watch quietly. It might take a while, but this worm’s hesitant return back out into the water is a sight not to be missed.

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock’s first board meeting last month warned world oil prices being pushed higher by the conflict in the Middle East could prompt it to lift interest rates again in November.

Calls are being made by some to exclude fuel prices from the inflation measure on the basis it is not a discretionary item of expenditure for most consumers. It is doubtful that our new governor will revise this any time soon so poor mortgage holders look set to feel more pain as the Middle East conflict ignites. In our local real estate market, listing numbers in 2508 and 2515 postcodes continued to climb to 102, compared to 93 this time last month, according to RealEstate.com.au. But premium sales along the coast recently show good prices may still be achieved. ianpepperraywhite @peppersrealestate November 61

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Port Kembla Tidal 2023Chart

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2023

29 23

29ʼ S are LONG 55ʼ Etime (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times in local150° standard 319 1.06 1.10 0519 0011 0.29 0.56Local 0.57 0.44 0.11 0305 0.34 Low 0329 0.32 1.21 0.46 0.44 0357 0.48 1.46 0434 0019 0138 1.09 0559 0413 1.07 0351 0330 1.21 0014 04070414 1.18 0419Time 1.41 0625 Heights of High and Waters New Moon First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full0.58 Moon 837 0.67 1114 1045 0633 1051 1.77 1.56 1108 0658 1.71 1.69 1.65 0921 1.55 0.70 1.80 0.60 1.78 1.32 1.90 0653 0.66 09170952 0.78 0915 1003 0.65 0634 0937 0.76 1016 1034 0.59 1248 NOVEMBER DECEMBER OCTOBER 522SA1.54 1712 1246 0.31TH0.42 0.35 0.39 0.18 0.36 0.21TU1.61 0.27 0.18 1.25 1335 1.56 15421626 1.37 1538 1.56 1541 1.32 1618 1.39 SA 1830 MO 1740 TU TH 1229 FR SU 1345 TH 1748 SA 1800 SU 1535 MO WE 1649 FR 1730 MO1.42 WE0.61

21 15 9

630 24 21 15 9

630 24 21 15 9

30 24

233m 0.39 1845 1.14 2358 1930 1.16 1.21 1.70 2135 2245 1.24 2051 Time 0.43 1.44 22482226 0.501.36 0.30 1828 22282345 0.49 2245 2329 0.37 1.23 m Time m Time m 2233 Time m 1.38 Time m 1.46 0054 436 0000 0.41 0.60 0.47 05090406 1.14 0451 0411 1.31 0047 0459 0455 1.26 0515 0448 1.50 0028 0254 0334 1.07 0031 0.36 0.46 0.50 0.46 0515 0104 0.50 0.41 0.610.30 0.181.13 0444 0.500.26 0719 956 0612 1.80 1.65 1.75 10311034 0.74 1031 1046 0.59 0709 1048 1131 0.73 1133 1124 0.54 0703 0804 0954 0.69 0640 1.61 1.18 1.78 1.41 1.88 1.56 1145 0745 1.701.67 1.700.60 1116 1.751.33 1345 633 1153 0.25 0.39 0.33 1646 1.36 1645 1.53 1642 1.28 1726 1.30 1445 1.54 0.34TU0.63 0.27TH0.53 0.19 0.48 0.37 0.20 1809 0.31 FR 1315 SA SU 1337 MO 1437 TU 1211 WE TU SU 1836 WE0.49 FR0.34 SU1.63 MO 1615 WE1717 FR 1832 TH 1738 SA 1822 1940 1.40 2025 1.19 330 1812 1.25 1.65 23342315 0.47 2325 2337 0.29 1911 2311 0.48 2332 0.41 1920 1.25 2203 2214 0.39 1830 1.38 1.46 1.20 1.38 1.560.28

22 16 10

731125 22 16 10

7 125 22 16 10

31 25

0135 0148 534 0047 0555 0007 1.22 0545 0456 1.43 0119 0544 0032 1.36 0607 0023 1.60 0104 0414 0404 1.12 0108 0.40 0.41 1.110.33 0.55 0.39 1.23 0.46 0.281.23 1.150.20 ealth of Australia 2022, Bureau of Meteorology 0803 0830 103 1.26 0659 1.46 1135 0.68 1142 1133 0.51 0743 1153 0538 0.66 1244 0544 0.47 0741 0928 0.67 0716 1029 1.64 0.661.76 1.76 1.51 0.53 1.66 1.710.50 0523 0.59 1439 1423 0.39 TU 1523 733 1253 1741 1.37 1748 1.50 1739 1.26 1831 1.24 1602 1.56 1658 0.34 1.62 0.29FR0.45 1.82 AND 0.25 1.67 SA 1359 SU MO TIMES WE 1258 TH WE0.56 TH0.38 SA0.28 MO1.74 TU SA 1213 FR 1832 SU 1215 TH 1200 Lowest Astronomical Tide 1951 1.38 2032 2009 2114 2350 1917 0.47 0.33 1911 OF 1.31 1.49 19011906 0.421.34 1915HEIGHTS 0.21 1.25 1.39 2307 2256 0.391.66 dard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect HIGH AND LOW 0140 0130 0.46 020 0215 0231 0519 0437 0014 0100 0.44 0011 0033 0.29 0150 0625 0121 1.46 0019 0120 0.44 0143 0.46 0.37 1.090.38 1.16 0.39 1.23Last 0.400.18 1.080.18 WATERS New 1.21 Moon First Quarter Quarter Full Moon 0744 0820 623 0846 0912 1045 1106 0.60 0749 0634 0606 1.32 0633 0548 1.56 0815 1248 0626 0.58 0658 0643 1.69LAT 1.65 1.34 0.701.82 0.60 1.60 0.56 1.691.35 0.671.59 3401.75 29’ 1349 1507 0.30 202 1530 1712 1.61 1229 0.61 1246 0.42 1830 1.25 1345 0.39 0 0.36TH0.49 1257 1.53 1.72SA0.38 1.73150 0.33 1.58 TH 1339 FR SU 1440 TULONG TU0.38 FR0.29 SU0.24 WE 1745 SU MO SA 1225 MO 1310 FR 1245 55’ WE 1606 1957 827 1.82 2342 1948 2158 1828 1958 1.38 1845 1932 1.46 2031 1930 2009 1.21 2057 1.23 1.51 0.471.28 0.31 1.36 20042123 0.25 1.25 0.451.64

23 17 11

8 226 23 17 11

8 226 23 17 11

26

0.49 1.79 0.29 1.19

24 18 12

9 327 24 18 12

9 327 24 18 12

27

0.52 1.81 0.28 1.18

0211 105 0254 0314 0000 0514 0.26 0210 0047 0159 0.41 0054 0136 0.30 0221 0028 0214 0.46 0104 0220 0.47 0224 0.53 0.34 1.14 0.40 1.100.44 1.27 0.46 1.240.11 1.040.19 0827 708 1.68 0929 0902 1.83 0952 0612 1148 1.33 0820 0709 0657 1.41 0719 1.67 0849 0703 1.56 0745 0748 1.75 1.63 1.41 0648 0.64 0720 0.74 0.59 0.521.47 0.741.69 MOON PHASE SYMBOLS New Moon First Quarter Full 1.84 Moon Last Quarter 1443 257 1521 1617 0.24 1153 0.49 1315 0.53 1345 0.34 1337 0.48 1437 0.33 0.39FR0.43 1323 1.62 0.24Tide.TH 1645 1.63 1.49 FR©1418 SA MO TU WE 1553 WE0.28 SA0.22 SU0.33 MO TH 1837 SU MO 1345 TUis1408 SA 1335 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2022, Bureau1.66 of Meteorology.

Datum of1.45 Predictions Lowest Astronomical 2046 1.57 916 2212 1.23 1.24 2239 1812 1.65 2024 1911 1.38 1940 1.40 1920time 1.25 2025 1.19 2145 2035 0.32 1.33 2053 0.49 0.29 0.421.84 2057 0.50 Times 1.51 are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or2114 daylight savings (UTC +11:00) when in2102 effect.

The Bureau of

0.53 1.79 0.29 1.18

25 19 13 10 428 25 19 13 10 428 25 19 13

28

Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise in respect to the availability,

0.33 147 0250 0333 0.50 0254 0309 0.47 accuracy, currency, completeness, quality or reliability the information or1.12 that the information be fit for any 0119 0.39 0135 0.33 0104 0.46 0148 0.49will 0047 0035 0.20 0238 1.15 1.110.09 0305 1.040.24 0245 1.15of0.42 0311 0320 1.32 particular purpose or will not infringe any0759 third Intellectual rights.

Bureau’s liability for any loss, 1.49 752 0910 1.77 1010 1.82 0925 1.74 0947 1.88 0743 1.51 0803 1.76party 0741Property 1.66 0830 1.79 0659 0558 1.46 0850 0.59 0.621.57 0802 0.77 0.66 0825 0.76The 0900 0.60 damage, cost or expense resulting from use of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded.

350 1535 1703 1359 0.45 1439 0.28 1423 0.39 1523 0.29 1253 0.38 1.60SA0.39 1.55 1.41 1.60 1440 1.37 1.50 0.19 SA 1456 SU TU 1603 TH 1641 SU0.20 MO0.29 TU0.26 TH0.21 FR 1236 SU 1435 MO 1429 TU WE WE 1512 005 2136 2300 1951 2155 1.38 2032 2137 1.34 2158 2009 2142 1.25 2114 2155 1.19 2236 1906 1939 1.66 2059 0.42 1.49 0.491.80 0.521.47 0.32 1.29 0.501.18 0.33 1.24

0.55 29 0354 1030 1.76

0414 228 0.34 0329 0150 0.39 0143 0407 0.46 0130 0138 0.18 0215 0351 0.38 0330 0231 0419 0.52 0357 1.09 1.030.11 0413 1.070.32 1.21 0.46 1.180.56 1.41 0.48 620305 sport & leisure 1051 836 0952 0815 0917 1.60 0820 0937 1.75 0744 0653 1.59 0921 0846 0915 1.82 1003 0912 1016 1.81 1034 0.66 1.55 0.711.65 0.781.80 0.65 1.78 0.761.77 0.59 1.90 1748 443 1626 1440 0.38 1507 0.30 1349 0.29 1530 0.24 1606 0.28 1.56 1.47 1542 1.37 1.56TU0.27 1.32 1.39 0.18 TH SU 1535 WE 1649 FR 1730 SU0.36 FR0.18 MO0.21 WE0.31 SA 1335 MO MO TU 1538 WE 1541 TH 1618 2345 054 2226 2031 2248 1.36 2057 2228 1.25 1957 2051 1.64 2135 2123 2233 1.28 2245 2158 2245 1.18 2329 0.43 1.44 0.531.70 0.501.36 0.30 1.24 0.491.14 0.37 1.23

0.57 30 0434 1108 1.71

26 20 14 11 529 26 20 14 11 529 26 20 14

27 21 15 12 630 27 21 15 12 630 27 21 15

0.19 1.07 1.00 0211 0254

0406 0221 0509 0.40 0254 0451 0.44 1.31 1.140.41

0224 0459 0.46 1.26 0314 0515 0.53 1.50

FR 1723 0.31 2318 1.17

SA 1800 0.35 2358 1.16 0515 0.60

Golf

news

Tradies Social Golf Barry Thompson reports

I have decided to sell my TV – Terry, Sparrow and Jammu gave me enough entertainment to last a lifetime. Conditions were perfect for golf and our field of 19 produced some credible results.

Dave Astill beat Dave Tipping into first position by count-back, each scoring 36. Terry Maney won bronze on count-back on 34. These lucky members will be off to Helensburgh Butchery and Gallardo’s Pizzeria for their prizes.

Gary Overton became our 2023 Match play champion by beating Geoff Hammond on the first play-off hole. Downtowners captain Roger Hendry won the Helensburgh Driving Range Bucket of Balls voucher.

By our December 4 presentation night, many members will be golfed out after playing the Corrimal Rotary charity event, the uptowndowntown battle (Nov 18) and the Gold Jacket tour.

Still, it beats work.

We welcomed Handon Overton and hope he joins us for our Nov 4 Stableford event at Boomerang – 7am tee-off.

Helensburgh Sunday Social Golf Club Robert ‘Indy’ Jones reports

The Norman and Brenda Bell event on Sunday, Oct 8 was run and won at Hurstville Golf Club.

Josh Smith having secured a handicap at the last event, maybe the handicapper will need to look again, scored 34 and survived a count-back to win the coveted plate. Mark Buckley was the unlucky one, also on 34, to be second with Daniel Gersback scoring 33 to come home third.

On course there was a good spread of members collecting prizes. We welcomed Ben Clarke, who handed in his first card with onlookers admiring his efforts; I heard some say: “Who cares about a short game with those drives!”

Our next events are at Campbelltown on Nov 12 and Hurstville on Dec 10.

The BIG news is the return of the HSSGC end-of-year presentation. This gala event at Red Nectar in Helensburgh, on Sunday, Dec 17. Fine food, stories and with Tony as MC. Please make your presence and partners known asap.

Contact Tony on 0418 863 100 for membership info. Please support our prize sponsors Christian’s Premium Meats and Helensburgh Golf Range and join us to enjoy a game of golf, the great outdoors and good company.

Indy signing off: Why do golf pros tell you to keep your head down during lessons? So you can’t see them laughing.

PUPS NEED A HOME! This little pup and her brothers and sisters are in foster care right now, but would dearly love a home of their own. They are crossbreeds of unknown extraction but should be on the smaller size of medium size.

For more details, email ccarpetrehoming@tpg.com.au Country Companion Animal Rescue

Helensburgh Car Services

4294 2930 Tune & Service • E Safety Checks All Makes & Models LPG Rego Checks • Blue Slips Licence no. MVRL 17877

Child Restraints Fitted John Hine (Proprietor) 187 Parkes St Helensburgh 2508 November 63