Meet Our Contributors
Brigid Collaery is a resident of Helensburgh, where she has lived with her family since 2007, and loves living between the forest and sea.
Brigid is a strategic project manager at the Opera House, and a member of the Coalcliff Surf Life Saving Club and local Community Fire Unit. One of Brigid’s passions is ‘underwater forest bathing’, aka swimming in the ocean.
Dr Chris Reid lives in Helensburgh and works at the Australian Museum as a research scientist. A NSW government beetle expert, Chris says his work is a mix of research, teaching, and dealing with public enquiries. His two favourite pastimes are travel and bushwalking.
Elsa Evers has over 15 years of experience in strategy, marketing and engagement in the not-for-profit sector, and is a champion of community-led social and environmental change. Elsa lives in Austinmer with her partner and three kids and volunteered with the Electrify 2515 community group before taking up her current role on the pilot project.
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.
Brian Kelly first stepped into the Illawarra Mercury office as the new kid from Thirroul nearly 40 years ago and is still managing (just) to hold on tight to a career he is grateful has dragged him to the UK (10 years), then Perth and Melbourne before a return to the district in 2008. He deems it a pleasure to get back into grassroots stories, dipping a literal toe in the waters of sea pools and a metaphoric one into local theatre or playing bass in a rock band when possible.
Dr Luke Harvey is a northern Illawarra general practitioner based at Bulli Medical Practice. He undertook medical school at Western Sydney University and completed his general practice training in 2019. He is currently undertaking further training in dermoscopy and skin cancer medicine, but also has an interest in Men’s Health, Early Childhood/Adolescent health.
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KANE DOWNIE
Award for Banksia Bushcare
By Genevieve Swart
After a lifetime of Bushcare work at Stanwell Park, Kieran Tapsell has received his first official award.
On December 13, Kieran’s Banksia Bushcare group took home the 2024 Fostering Community Spirit Award at Wollongong City Council’s volunteer recognition ceremony.
Banksia Bushcare looks after 4.5ha around the Stanwell Ave Reserve, weeding out lantana, senna, ochna and asparagus fern, planting and protecting about 80 native species.
The group’s name reflects the humour this retired lawyer brings to the serious business of Bushcare. “There’s nothing terribly formal about it,” Kieran says, laughing. “I named it after Banksy.”
Kieran has cared for Stanwell Park’s bushland for five decades but the group began about seven years ago when council asked him to keep cleared lantana sticks on site. Worried it was a fire hazard, and inspired by Gaby Porter’s Sculpture Garden at
Playground plea
Otford mum Jessica Smith was hoping to make a Christmas wish come true for local children when she started her Change.org petition “Let’s get the kids of Otford a playground!” last month.
At press time, it had 153 signatures – no small feat for a suburb with 145 homes.
A project manager at a health institute and the mum of two young boys, Jess noticed the problem when her eldest was a toddler. “There was/is nowhere for me to go with him without needing to buckle him into the car, pack the pram, find a parking spot, get everything out again, etc for him to play on a slide and with other kids in an outside and safe space,” she said. “I’m finding it hard again now my youngest is at this age!”
More families have moved to Otford recently, and with that comes more children. The 2021 Census recorded 89 children aged 0 to 14, up from 77 in 2016. Currently, Otford has one swing near the hall.
Wombarra, Kieran turned to art. In a big way. “I started making these ‘nests’ out of lantana. And then, because I’m a potter, I thought, ‘Oh, just as a joke, I’ll put an egg in there’.
“I wrote on the back ‘Art in the Park, please do not steal me’. I signed it ‘Banksia’ because they were really three-dimensional graffiti and no one, at that stage, knew who was doing it.”
The real “vandals” turned out to be Rusa deer and dealing with them is a costly business, requiring fencing and hundreds of cages around trees. In addition to a council grant and Kieran’s own money, community members have chipped in. “People have been wonderful.”
Kieran turns 80 this January and, while he’s had to stop surfing, Bushcare will go on.“It’s good exercise. Bushcare is great because I can take my time and, for heavy things, I’ve got young helpers.”
To lend a hand, email kierant@ozemail.com.au.
Help local family
Donations have poured in for Monica Offergeld after her husband, Shaun Wendt, passed away suddenly in December. Almost 200 people rallied round to raise $25,000 to help Monica and her sons, Rhys and Max.
Otford local Natasha Watson started the online fundraiser to relieve the family’s financial stress, including their mortgage and funeral expenses.
“Monica’s family has had a traumatic three years since their little house in Otford was crushed by a huge gum tree, breaking Shaun’s leg and leaving the family stressed and homeless,” Natasha said.
“Their insurance company has delayed assistance, and the repairs still not completed despite nearly three years passing.
“Shaun’s death, on top of all the trauma, has left the little family devastated. Shaun was a much-loved family member, friend and long-term manager at the NRL head office – I hope this GoFundMe is indicative of his legacy.”
Find “In Memory of Shaun Wendt & recovery for his little family” at GoFundMe.com
Welcome to 2025 – We’re looking forward to a happy & healthy year.
We pride ourselves on our deep commitment to serving the 2508 community with integrity & expertise. Trust in our dedication to guide you through each step of the property journey, making 2025 a year of positive transitions & prosperity in real estate.
We are feeling “REFRESHED” & very proud of our new look.
Exciting times have arrived now that our office refurbishment is complete, offering a fresh & invigorating atmosphere. This transformation has rejuvenated our space, perfectly showcasing our commitment to bringing the very best to our community.
Julie York 0405 128 070 1/114a Parkes Street, Helensburgh
Time to watch films
Janice Creenaune meets Austinmer resident Lynn Read, who worked in human resources before retirement. She continues to utilise her skills as a past president and current member of the Illawarra Film Society.
Inspiring films can make you think and feel, and even take action. It’s great to watch movies on the big screen in the company of friends, and thanks to Lynn Read and the hard-working crew at the Illawarra Film Society, you can do this more than 30 times a year on a Sunday night at the Gala Cinemas in Warrawong.
Each year society members spend six months researching films from all periods, genres, cultures and languages. Then they acquire access to the films and curate a diverse, yet workable program.
The Illawarra Film Society was established in 2012 by Theresa Huxtable as a not-for-profit organisation. It now attracts about 500 members a year and is one of the largest film societies in Australia. Three years ago Lynn stepped up into the president’s role, building on what Theresa had created, and the team continues to do great work.
“Firstly, we were successful in obtaining a grant from Wollongong Council and that enabled us to invest further in the online information available about IFS,” Lynn said “Secondly, we are seeing new members come from places such as the Shoalhaven, Jamberoo, Maroubra, and everywhere in between. We still offer a low-cost membership for $99 for the entire year – that’s right, 30-plus films for $99, now that is great value. We also host opening night and closing night celebrations at the
Gala, which are generally a big success.
“Our six-member committee works hard all year round to bring our members a great experience. Our new curator, Hazel Flynn, has come up with a program that aims to surprise and delight.”
The IFS is run by volunteers and each year they donate to a complementary local arts organisation.
“We try to add to the film experiences too, by inviting directors along to introduce their film,” Lynn said. “Just on that, we have exciting news closer to 2025 opening in February. There are also chances for chats in the cinema foyer, and dinner before the film with friends.”
In 2025, the IFS is planning trivia nights and other get-togethers. “Recently, we also held a giveaway with double-pass cinema tickets donated by a film company. There is certainly more happening than film, but film in all its genres, forms and languages remains our essence.”
Ian Hyslop, owner-manager at the Gala Cinemas, is “very supportive”, Lynn said.
The communal viewing experience and a hand-picked program, including films you won’t find elsewhere, are what makes Sunday nights at the Gala so special. A big ‘thank you’ to the IFS committee.
New members are welcome. To join and see the upcoming program, visit www.ifs.org.au
Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation Australia. Email janicecreenaune@gmail.com
READER QUIZ … What films are these famous quotes from?
1. “Who you gonna call…?”
2. “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
3. “These forests they’ve been growing here for at least 65 million years”
4. “Here’s looking at you kid”.
5. “I’ve always felt like a stranger in my own family.”
6. “What we’ve got here, is a failure to communicate”.
7. “I am big. It’s the pictures that got small.”
8. “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! It’s the war room.”
9. “A pig that doesn’t fly is just an ordinary pig.”
10. ”Well, nobody is perfect.”
Quiz answers: 1. Ghostbusters 2. The Godfather 3. The Giants 4. Casablanca 5. All of Us Strangers 6. Cool Hand Luke 7. Sunset Blvd 8.Dr Strangelove or: How I learned to stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. 9. Porco Rosso 10. Some Like it Hot.
If you enjoyed this quiz, check out the IFS 2025 program at www.ifs.org.au
Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf
By Prof Rob Brander
If you’ve spent time on Sharky Beach, Austinmer, Woonona and Puckey’s Beach, you may have seen what’s shown in this article’s picture. But do you know what it is and what it’s for?
It’s an Emergency Response Beacon (ERB), an initiative of Surf Life Saving NSW to enhance safety, primarily on unpatrolled beach and rock platform drowning hotspot locations.
An ERB consists of a telephone and camera triggered with a button pressed by anybody who sees someone in trouble that needs help. The person pressing the button is put in immediate contact with a 24/7 Duty Officer at the SLSNSW State Operations Centre who can talk with the person, give instructions and dispatch the nearest suitable emergency resource(s) to that location.
ERBs are solar powered and 4G/5G enabled so potentially provide a vital link for emergency response where phone reception is not guaranteed.
The NSW Government has provided significant funding for ERBs and there are now 53 installed along the NSW coast with plans to add more. All will eventually have rescue tubes attached to assist in bystander rescues. This all sounds great, but after seeing one near me mostly used as a place to lock up bikes, I started to wonder how many people actually knew what it was for.
If there was an emergency in the water or on the beach – would the average person run to an ERB to seek help? Would they even know one was there? And how long would it take for help to arrive?
Last year my UNSW Beach Safety Research Group surveyed 301 people at beaches along the NSW coast (including Sharky Beach) and only 28% had heard of ERBs. Of those, only half actually knew what they were for.
Why join U3A
By publicity officer Barbara Cranfield
U3A Northern Illawarra, based in the Thirroul District Community Centre, is a community organisation that provides its members with a wonderful variety of special interest groups in addition to a weekly Wednesday Talks program of interesting and thought-provoking topics.
The groups include yoga, drawing and painting, Australian/Pacific studies, gentle exercise, choir, brain games, current affairs, film appreciation and drama. Members join to learn something new in a
After being briefed about their purpose, most people surveyed thought ERBs were a great idea, but unfortunately felt they’d feel safer going in the water if they knew an ERB was present, which is not ideal! Clearly there needs to be a much improved communication campaign to promote the location and purpose of ERBs. Otherwise, this potentially valuable lifesaving resource will never be as effective as authorities assume.
We also worked out that the average time it would take for different types of emergency services to arrive after an ERB activation was eight minutes although this ranged up to 24 minutes for more remote ERBs and these times doubled outside of patrol season.
I think ERBs are ideal for locations that don’t have mobile phone reception, but in locations that do, it might just be faster, easier and cheaper to alert emergency services by phoning 000.
Ultimately though, when it comes to beach and rock platform safety, anything helps. You can find NSW ERB locations at www. surflifesaving.com.au/ emergency-responsebeacons
Have you seen one of these before at a beach? It’s an Emergency Response Beacon. Photo at Sharky Beach by Rob Brander
friendly and supportive environment, to enhance their physical and mental health and, of course, to have fun and socialise. Members pay $50 a year and can join as many classes as they wish.
Thinking of joining? U3A invites you to visit our groups in the first two weeks of Term 1 before enrolling. The Term 1 newsletter will be online after January 18. We hope to see you soon.
The U3A Northern Illawarra Film Appreciation Group begins Term 1 on 29 January with the screening of The General, USA, 1926, starring Buster Keaton.
Visit www.northernillawarra.u3anet.org.au
Tea and seaweed biscuits with CWA
By Tyneesha Williams
The nutritional benefits of edible seaweed impressed Bea Horacek so much that she adapted a Country Women’s Association (CWA) biscuit recipe to include Yaki Nori and the Japanese spice blend ‘Furikake’.
“Some of the potential for seaweed use is just incredible,” said Bea, the agriculture and environment officer at Keiraville CWA.
“It may help with cancer and blood pressure amongst other things.
“Basically, there are three sorts of seaweed – red, green and brown. Some Aboriginal communities in Tasmania particularly used to harvest seaweed when the big storms came, and now we are actually farming it down the coast.”
Bea is a supporter of all things environmental and, alongside her group members, has worked to inform the local community. She has written reports on everything from the more than 2000 species of native bees to pomegranates, the green and golden tree frog and the varied uses of hemp.
Over the past five years, membership of the Keiraville branch of the CWA has almost doubled to about 55 people. “People tend to just think of CWA as the people who make scones, jam and cream, and we do an awful lot more than that,” Bea said. “People don’t realise that CWA has a very big voice with the politicians. There’s a huge array of stuff that we do and things that we support – such as the Homeless Hub, visits to the nursing homes, preschools and organisations like Bush Heritage.”
BEA’S RECIPE FOR SEAWEED BISCUITS
Makes 50 to 60 biscuits.
Ingredients
550g plain flour, 175g butter, cold water, pinch of salt, 1/2 cup almond meal, 2 sheets Yaki Nori, Furikake Japanese Rice Seasoning
Method
• Sift flour with salt in a bowl and rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add 1/2 cup almond meal and stir. Crumble up 2 sheets of Yaki Nori and add to dough mixture. Mix through enough cold water to make a firm dough. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes.
• Take small balls of dough and use your palm to press into flattened rounds about 5cm across. Place on an ungreased oven tray, sprinkle on a good pinch of Furikake Japanese Rice Seasoning and press gently into dough.
• Bake in a 180°C oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
Keiraville CWA meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month; call Liz Corfield on 4285 8121.
Knitting for Wrap with Love
By Stanwell Park CWA publicity officer Jan Johnston
The CWA ended 2024 on a high note. Our final project, knitting a rug for “Wrap with Love”, came together with the joint effort of many knitters. The photo (at right) shows one half of the rug ready for the final effort prior to delivery.
We are now gearing up with a planning day in February to build and diversify our efforts in fundraising and creating interesting experiences for our members. Ideas, so far, include a variety of activities open to the community. These include a Korean night, a Mud and Merlot experience, an information evening on how to use a defibrillator and a talk on Women’s Weekly cooking through the
decades. There is a consensus that our fundraising continue to be directed to women’s issues and, in particular, keeping a light on domestic and family violence.
To find out more about Stanwell Park CWA, call Robyn on 0402 468 197 or just turn up at our next meeting 10am Tuesday, 4 February at the CWA hall, 15 The Drive, Stanwell Park. You will be made very welcome.
Bea Horacek of Keiraville CWA
• Poppy Carter achieved Frensham’s highest ATAR of 98.8 and placed 17th in the State for Biology
• Madeleine Charters achieved First Place in Course for Music 1
• 15% of Year 12 achieved an ATAR above 95
• 33% of Year 12 achieved an ATAR above 90
• Extension studies were undertaken by over 50% of Year 12 with excellent results
Neighbourhood Forum 1 Report
By NF1 convenor Warwick Erwin
This drawing by a forum member represents the community’s ideas for a new centre
New Helensburgh Community Centre and Library (CC&L)
With little information available from Council except that Council wants to build the new centre only on the two vacant blocks, and sell the blocks the current library is on, the hall will have a maximum capacity of 200 and it will be at least two years before building, a forum member has put the comments at the forum into a preliminary design for the new centre. It is based on the principle that “we want at least what we had in the old community centre”. Council has said the Library would be twice the size of the current one but the draft rules out Council’s idea of movable furniture in the library are to create a bigger centre (this concept has failed in school libraries as it never functions due to security needed in the library). Pictured (at top of page) is a draft proposal, with basement parking for about 38 cars with entry and exit into Walker Lane and only on the two vacant blocks. The forum is asking for constructive feedback on the proposal and for local architects and civil engineers who could volunteer to help take this proposal further. Basketball markings are for size comparison to the old centre’s main hall.
Helensburgh Town Centre Project
This project nears its long completion with the ramp railing (mounting holes drilled and waiting)
and a solution to the curb bridges blocking during rain to be completed. Please report blocked drains at pedestrian crossings to Council on 4227 7111.
Helensburgh Community Rooms
Council has completed the refurbishment of the Youth Rooms at the old Community Centre. The rooms reopen from 1 January with large and small meeting rooms and office for hire seven days, 7am–midnight, with a capacity of 60. Main building remains closed. To book call 4227 8181.
Next meeting: 12 Feb in Helensburgh
Q for Council
The Flame asked: “Will residents have a chance to provide feedback on the design for Helensburgh’s CC&L?”
A spokesperson said the aim was to open it by late 2028 and listed past consultation, including “multiple public engagement sessions”, an online poll and survey. They said the next step is to engage a company to help in design and construction. Regular updates are promised and input via the DA process.
Rates on hold in New Year but Feb cut possible
By Ian Pepper of Ray White Helensburgh
At its final meeting of 2024, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) maintained the cash rate at 4.35 percent, a move that was aligned with expectations as headline inflation continued to ease.
That concludes the cash rate decisions for 2024, with the rate remaining unchanged throughout the year.
The next Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures will be released on January 29, drawing significant attention ahead of the RBA’s first meeting of 2025, scheduled for February 17-18.
Among the big four banks, only one predicts a cash rate cut in February, while the others anticipate a reduction in May.
However, in a post-meeting statement the RBA softened its language and stance on defending the timing of the inevitable rate cut due to the current lacklustre performance of the economy.
This has fuelled some expectations of a rate cut in February.
Thinking of selling? Our commitment is to be there for you, every step of the sale. Call us today so we can sell your property at the best price and with the least amount of hassle.
Ian Pepper 0403 570 041 | ian.pepper@raywhite.com Josh Pepper 0437 790 052 | joshua.pepper@raywhite.com ianpepperraywhite @peppersrealestate
Art on the Edge at Clifton
By Caroline Baum
Building on the success of the first Clifton School of Arts (CSA) Art Fair, held in 2022 as the community emerged from the Covid pandemic, the event is back for 2025. Organisers artist Vyvian Wilson and CSA president David Roach have tweaked the event to make it bigger and better.
“This time, we decided it was important for us not to be seen as gatekeepers when it came to who was invited to take part,” says Vyvian, “so we appointed an independent professional curator.”
That curator, Sheona White, played a major role in curating the hugely successful Ian Gentle retrospective in 2023. Sheona, who has lived in the Illawarra and worked at Wollongong Art Gallery, has extensive knowledge and contacts within the arts community across NSW.
“Having a theme has given artists a focus. We’ve called the show Escarpment – Living on the Edge and there are many different ways of interpreting that,” Sheona said. “I’ve invited artists whose work has a distinctive South Coast flavour and sense of place – which goes from the big rainforest images of Riste Andrievski to the house portraits of Nicci Bedson. All of them capture something about what it means to live here.”
Vyvian says, “We’ve chosen to go for a salonstyle hang (layering works on the walls rather than
presenting them in a single line around the space). It means we can fit in more artists. In 2022 we had 12, but this year we are aiming for 18, and we are including small sculptural works and ceramics, alongside photography, works on paper, textiles and oils.”
Artists include internationally acclaimed photographers Anne Zahalka (fresh from a major retrospective at the National Art School in Sydney) and Stephen Dupont as well as favourites like Paul Ryan and Ash Frost alongside Liz Jeneid, Hal Pratt and Ivor Fabok. First Nations printmaker Val West is also participating.
The next generation gets equal space alongside more seasoned names, thanks to LEAP (Local Emerging Artists Program), a CSA initiative to showcase talent from UOW’s fine arts graduates: this year there are three, all of them showing for the first time in a commercial group show.
Funds raised will go towards the much-needed extension to the CSA’s heritage building.
There will be an early bird preview at 5pm on Friday, January 17. At 6:30pm, broadcaster, author and artist Richard Morecroft will open the fair.
There will be an opportunity to mingle over late afternoon cocktails with the artists at the Imperial at Clifton on January 23, from 5 to 7pm.
1. Nicci Bedson’s Escarpment Life; 2. Anne Zahalka’s As the Crow Flies; 3. Danielle Creenaune’s Enfold; 4. Abbey McQueen’s Wollumbin Season; 5. Stephen Dupont’s Summertime 1 4 5 2 3
Renovated and well-equipped meeting rooms and office opening January 2025. Enquire now for availability. 26A Walker St, Helensburgh Phone 02 4227 8181 wollongong.nsw.gov.au/centres
The joys of nature watching
Words and pic by Amanda De George
Oh, what a difference a month can make.
In the December edition I wrote about a nest of Tawny Frogmouths, the much-loved, odd-looking nocturnal birds that appeared across the road. As chicks, these birds are even more hilariously funny looking, a puff ball of downy white feathers, two orange, often unblinking eyes staring out, heads bobbing about, ever vigilant.
Over the course of two days, first one and then the other chick disappeared, as did the parents. I scoured the forest, both in the trees and on the leaf-littered ground, and nothing. The loss stung greatly.
Day after day I continued to search. First for an hour or so at a time, and then a few minutes here and there. And then two days ago, fingers in my ears, trying to block out the roar of hundreds of black prince cicadas, I spotted not only the two adults, but two very healthy looking fledged young and… another adult! I had started with four lost birds and somehow ended up with five!
Having thought they were lost, and not knowing when they will be swallowed back up into the depths and shadows of the forest, I have spent a lot of time with them these last couple of days. I have watched them watching me, their eyes closing in the warmth of the sun, their heads curling over to the side, deeply asleep. I have watched the babies snatching at cicadas, gobbling them up and
Bird Watch
By Ewan Auld
hopping after lizards. And I have experienced the most amazing glimpse into what felt like a secret world: with the sun still high in the sky, they took flight down to the forest floor.
I scrambled, trying to find what was happening, all five birds sitting as the sun shone down into a wide opening, the creek bubbling alone next to it. And one after the other, they spread their wings out and flopped down, spread out onto the earth, drinking in the warmth. The ultimate show of trust, vulnerable to the world and to me.
When you watch nature closely, you experience many losses. But it’s these beautiful gains, these very special encounters that make it all worthwhile. Here’s to a fabulous 2025 and may you have many wonderful wildlife moments in the coming year.
Topknot pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus)
The bird of the month for January is the Topknot Pigeon, a unique-looking large pigeon species occurring along the eastern coast of Australia. This species is frequently seen in large flocks feeding on fruiting trees high in the canopy. In the Illawarra region, they favour forested areas around the escarpment and flocks can often be seen speeding across the sky. For a closer view, watch for them feeding in smaller fruiting palms or trees with lower canopies. One such stretch of trees can be found on the University of Wollongong campus, where I was fortunate to spot this bird feeding almost at eye level. Unbothered by my presence, it seems these local birds are accustomed to the steady flow of people around the campus.
Beer traps and other snail remedies
Prompted by readers who reported snails were infesting their gardens and their letterboxes –even eating this magazine! – we asked Merilyn House of Helensburgh Landcare for tips
Is your garden being overcome by snails? Are snails eating your precious plants? It seems like an on-going battle to control them sometimes.
Snails like a moist environment, night time, cloudy days and they especially like it when it rains in the evening. Sounds a bit like some of the weather we have been having recently.
Some garden visitors that snails don’t like include Australian native snails, birds, blue tongue lizards and frogs! They also don’t like dry weather. They are able to seal up their shells to survive until the rain comes again.
To get rid of snails, try natural rather than chemical methods. Some natural suggestions:
1. Spray a coffee mix (one part espresso to 10 parts water) on leaves and around plants.
2. Snails don’t like lime, wood ash, wood shavings, sawdust or diatomaceous earth. Spread them around plants and top up after rain. Egg shells are another suggestion for deterring snails.
3. Make a beer trap. Recycle a yoghurt container, or cut a plastic soft drink bottle and bury it in your garden so that the rim is level with the ground. Make it deep enough so that you can fill it with
beer, just enough to drown the snails, but not so much they can climb out. The snails, drawn to the beer, will crawl in and drown. Ensure you refill the trap every few days. If you don’t want to use beer, you can use Vegemite as a substitute. See gardening4kids.com.au/vegemite-snail-trap
4. Vinegar is a snail deterrent. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Spray around the edges of your garden or in plant pots. Don’t get the spray on the leaves as it can damage them.
If natural methods don’t work, you can try proprietary snail repellents. Make sure you use an eco-friendly snail treatment. You don’t want to kill insects, etc. that are beneficial to your garden, or household or native animals.
For more suggestions, visit the Sustainable Gardening Australia website at www. sgaonline.org.au/ snails-slugs/
NIRAG/NF3 Report
By secretary Ross Dearden
Last year the Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group (NIRAG) celebrated 40 years since forming in 1984 as a reaction to proposals to construct 40m high coal bins at Sandon Point, Bulli. Our group has become a focus for community action, primarily for the 61ha of land east of the railway between Sandon Point, Bulli and Thirroul.
Recently we have renewed efforts to advocate and work with government and the Local Aboriginal Land Council to incorporate the 7ha of C2 (Environmental Conservation) land, marked in dark green on the plan below (Lot 303, a huge area of land at Sandon Point between the McCauley Beach Estate and the northern cycleway, and from the Sydney Water pumping station to
Hewitts Creek), in public ownership. This would link the Sandon Point Aboriginal Place on the coast with the green corridors along Woodlands and Hewitt creeks and achieve the long-term environmental aim of a green corridor from the beach to the escarpment.
We are aiming to get State government and Council support to make this a community asset and environmental resource. It will become more important as more tourists and residents from western Sydney come to our coastal areas.
We need support for innovative ways to keep the C2 zoned part – nearly 70,000m² accessible to the public as a natural reserve and green corridor.
Since 2020 Neighbourhood Forum 3 (covering Woonona, Bulli, Thirroul and Austinmer) has needed a convenor, and residents of this area are welcome to attend NIRAG meetings to contribute to local community issues and concerns. NIRAG meets quarterly on the second Wednesday of February, May, August and November.
Hewitts Creek Bushcare Group
Our volunteers have won many environmental awards for regeneration and clean up work. Each Monday morning the NIRAG Hewitts Creek Bushcare Group meets at the Hewitts Creek cycleway bridge. New members welcome.
Next meeting February 12th, 7pm at Bulli Community Centre Hall.
iBug attracts 100 members
By Liv Lorkin of the Illawarra Bicycle Users Group
2024 was another successful year of cycling, advocacy and community engagement for the Illawarra Bicycle Users Group (iBug). Our numbers ticked over into the 100s the night before our Christmas break-up. iBug president Ed Birt said: “The number of people wanting to contribute and participate in making cycling safe and accessible for everyone in the Illawarra is reflected in the steadily growing numbers.”
In 2024 we successfully rallied and advocated alongside residents and community groups for the reinstatement of a pedestrian overpass in the Mt Ousley interchange project, with the bridge to be built over the next five years.
iBug’s social calendar continues to thrive, with regular Bikes and Beers, University of Wollongong
student rides and laps of Lake Illawarra. iBug was also involved in Wollongong’s first Fancy Women’s Bike Ride, with a streamer and feather-boa led lap of Flagstaff Point Lighthouse.
iBug welcomes new members to dust off their bikes, trikes or unicycles and hit the road with us in 2025. Membership is $5 a year.
Beetling About
Australian Museum entomologist Dr Chris Reid shares a story of painting rare beetles
Many of the world’s rarest species are known to be so rare because their entire populations are easily mapped out. For example, on small islands, where the thing occurs nowhere else and it’s easy for an observer to walk around recording specimens. I’m thinking plants, e.g. the coco de mer of the Seychelle Islands, which is a 30m palm tree with the largest seed in the world, or the Komodo dragon of eastern Indonesia, which is 3m long and stands out like a sore thumb in the Flores savannah (presumably observers there are a little cautious).
with trees and there are only 14 trees, Promethis sterrha has been listed as critically endangered under NSW government legislation. When a species is listed in that category it becomes the target of research to find out as much about it that will help in developing a recovery program.
It’s a little harder with insects. On Lord Howe Island there was once a large black beetle, Promethis sterrha, flightless and feeding at night on green algae on tree trunks. The larva fed on rotting wood. The beetle was collected on the island until 1916. Then rats arrived through the stranding of a supply ship in 1918 and in 10 to 20 years a whole load of different animals went extinct, including several birds and several insects. And Promethis was not seen again on the main island.
However, Lord Howe Island has many small satellite islets or islands or just rocks. Some are large enough to support vegetation and one of these is Blackburn Island, about 300 x 100m of vegetated rock in the middle of the coral reef.
Promethis sterrha was discovered on Blackburn Island in 2001. Because of the small size of the island plus the fact that the species is associated
Thus I found myself preparing to visit Blackburn to individually mark beetles for ‘mark and recapture’. The method is simple – find a permanent marking technique, which doesn’t have an impact on the health of the beetle, mark everything found on a night, then go out again and try to find the marked specimens, comparing them with the unmarked.
We wanted to know: How many adults were there? How long did they live? Did they move much between trees? But what should I use for marking? I thought paint would be too slow to dry so I consulted with various women colleagues about nail varnish and did some experiments on wing cases of beetles pinned out in the garden.
We have now done this on two trips, with interesting results. The total adult population is 240-400, we recovered several on the second trip with markings that were six months old, and they are generally faithful to trees, even over a six-month period.
I am extremely grateful to those colleagues who sacrificed their nail varnish in the name of science.
All photos by Craig Stehn,
Top Thai chef returns to Bowlo
By Cathy Law
After a year off, Aksarapak Chotikasathira (known to everyone as Kay) has made a welcome return to The Black Duck Bistro at Wombarra Bowlo.
“I had cancer, and last year I dropped all my work to concentrate on getting well,” she says.
“During that time I focused on eating healthy food myself and completely cutting out processed food. It is something I will continue to do.”
Kay’s experience has heightened her enthusiasm for cooking authentic Thai food, backed by the Bachelor of Nutrition and Home Economics she obtained before immigrating to Australia in 2006.
“Traditional Thai food is naturally fresh and healthy, and I want to help people discover some different dishes,” she says.
“I am helping to create a specials menu at The Black Duck which focuses on very traditional street food. We make it all ourselves, using more spices and ingredients that no one else has.”
Think homemade pork dim sims, mango sticky rice, pad cha, beef noodle soup and crispy fish with
three flavours sauce. The reaction to the new dishes, offered alongside the main menu, has been very positive.
“People rave about the pad cha in particular,” says Kay. “It is a spicy seafood stir-fry with young green peppercorn, gourd and chilli.”
Kay went straight into cooking when she arrived in Australia, living in Sydney and working at a number of leading Thai restaurants, including Spice I Am in Darlinghurst. She moved to the Illawarra after her marriage in 2012.
Her brother Sam has run The Black Duck for 10 years, and Kay joined him there a couple of years ago after running her own bistros at the Corrimal and Unanderra hotels. “We are thrilled to welcome Kay back,” says Sam. “She’s been greatly missed.”
Kay has missed being there too. “I love working at the Bowlo as everyone seems like family,” she says. “Locals even supply the kitchen with produce they’ve grown in their gardens – zucchini, cucumbers, herbs and chilli. I love using it.”
Co-op to open 9am weekdays
By Mark Fetterplace
Flame Tree Community Food Co-op is a community-owned non-profit food grocer in Thirroul, on Lawrence Hargrave Drive close to the train station. Our aim is to source local organic produce, support local growers and producers, offer quality fresh produce for our members and minimise plastic packaging. From 2 January we open at 9am on all weekdays, as well as Saturday. There have been other exciting changes to our store, like a new interior layout and new exterior mural. We’re all about minimising waste – we like you to bring your own containers to fill, or we can supply bags and jars. Join our Co-op! You’ll get 10% off on all your shopping!
Latest sun protection guideline
By Dr Luke Harvey of Bulli Medical Practice
A new guideline published in February 2024 aims to update advice about sun exposure and protection for Australia’s diverse population. The guideline was endorsed by leading experts in skin cancer including the Cancer Council. The guideline aims to balance the harms and benefits of sun exposure.
The main risk of sun exposure is skin cancer, while the main benefit is that it allows your body to make vitamin D, which has many important functions including bone health. The guideline divides Australians into three groups based on their risk of skin cancer. Those at higher risk of skin cancer need to be more cautious about sun exposure than others.
Low risk
• Dark brown or black skin. The guideline does not recommend routine sunscreen application for this group. These people may need sun protection if outdoors for more than two hours where the UV index is over 3.
Intermediate risk
• Darker white, olive or light brown skin that burns
Open Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm Saturday: 8am - 12 noon
Full range of general practice services including women’s and men’s health, child and adolescent health, older adult health and nursing home visits, and specialised clinics including:
y Travel medicine - accredited Yellow Fever vaccination centre
y Skin cancer checks
minimally and tans to light or moderate brown.
These people should apply sunscreen as part of their daily routine where the UV index is over 3, and use sun protection as above if they will be outdoors for longer than needed to maintain vitamin D levels (about 10-20 minutes in Sydney during summer).
High risk
• Very pale skin that burns easily and tans minimally
• Prior history of skin cancer
• Family history of melanoma and/or
• Taking immunosuppressant medication. High-risk people should avoid sun exposure when the UV index is over 3, apply sunscreen daily and ensure adequate coverage with clothing, including hats and sunglasses. Shade should be sought wherever possible. Vitamin D requirements should be discussed with your doctor.
If you notice changes in your skin, book an appointment with your GP for a skin check. Contact Bulli Medical Practice for information about their Skin Check Clinic.
Book online* via the website: www.bullimedicalpractice.com.au or scan QR code:
*Please call 4284 4622 for an appointment if you have any respiratory symptoms 74 Park Road, Bulli 4284 4622
Singer returns for Ocean Whisperings
By Felicity Woodhill, founder of Inspire Music Australia
Launching 2025’s Emerging Concert Artists series, mezzo-soprano Olive Cullen will be returning home to Wombarra to present works from Penelope, a song cycle by composer Sarah Kirkland Snider, with lyrics by playwright Ellen McLaughlin. It’s an apt choice. Inspired by Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey, Penelope is a meditation on memory, identity and what it means to come home.
Olive will present her program, Ocean Whisperings: Penelope and Other Stories, at Music and Tea at Wollongong Art Gallery on Thursday, February 6, and at Concerts Across the Lawn, Wombarra on Saturday, February 8.
Now based in Melbourne, Olive is the daughter of Dr Rowena Ivers, a long-time Wombarra resident and a GP committed to justice and equity.
Olive grew up in the Illawarra, where she trained with Karen Cummings and completed short courses at NIDA and the NSW Arts Unit. She holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from Melbourne Conservatorium and has been a Scholar with Opera Scholars Australia since 2022.
Olive is passionate about promoting the value of singing and music in communities. For her work on the UMMTA Chorus, she won the Union House Theatre’s 2021 Community Engagement Award.
Joining Olive to present Ocean Whisperings will be Ronan Apcar, a Sydney pianist and composer renowned for versatility, edge and tenacity. Ronan has just completed studies at the National Academy of Music in Melbourne and has been appointed Ensemble Offspring’s 2025 Hatched Emerging Performer – a coveted position.
Olive and Ronan have woven other works inspired by the sea among their selected works
from the song cycle. Their Ocean Whisperings program is rich with perspectives from different eras, genders and geographical spaces and includes works by Elgar, Piaf and Monte, Dolce Holland, Cecilia Livingston, Rossini and Weill.
The Emerging Concert Artists series offers unique musical experiences curated and performed by exceptional young musicians. Venues include BlueScope Gallery at Wollongong Art Gallery, St Jude’s Church in Bowral and a Magical Garden in Wombarra.
Entry is free or by donation, depending on the location. Volunteers run the series but the artists are always paid. Donations are appreciated, as these contribute directly to their fees.
What’s On
Honk! Oz 9-11 Jan Individuals and bands volunteer their time to perform a fusion of repertoire from diverse traditions – New Orleans second line, Klezmer, Balkan and Romani music; Brazilian Samba and Frevo; jazz, funk and popular music. Held in Wollongong, Honk! Oz is known for its wonderful and outlandish costumes, some of which are on display at Wollongong Library. Visit www.honkfest.org.au
The Illawarra Folk Festival Jan 17-19 Great cross-section of international, national and local artists – almost 100 acts – from the legendary Eric Bogle, making his sixth appearance, to Arnhem Land reggae outfit the Andrew Gurriwiwi Band. Pictured are artistic directors Cody Munro-Moore and Kay Proudlove at Bulli Showground last year.
Tickets: www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au
Ronan and Olive. Photo: Gemma Tong
Thur
Feb 6
Thur
Mar 6
Thur Apr 3
Thur May 1
Thur
June 5
Music & Tea | Wollongong Art Gallery | 11am
Entry Free: Donation Appreciated
Ocean Whisperings: Penelope and Other Stories
Olive Cullen mezzo-soprano | Ronan Apcar piano
Clarinet Trios by Beethoven and Brahms
Dan Thomas clarinet | Elizabeth Ring cello
Maria Stadnik piano
Fantasies for Cello and Piano
Shostakovich, Prokofiev and more...
Alexander Boyling cello | TBA Piano
The Chameleon: Clarinet Reflections
Bassi, Mozart, Gershwin, D’Rivera, Weber...
Anna Chung clarinet | Catherine Shin piano
Shades of Romance
Strauss, Wieniawski and more...
Benjamin Lam violin | Dono Ng piano
YOU CAN BOOK ECA SERIES 6 2025 NOW AT Humanitix: Emerging Concert Artists 2025 Tour
Wollongong Art Gallery | Wombarra | St Jude’s Bowral
For more information, contact Felicity at: e: inspiremusicaust@gmail.com | ph: 0408 422 427
Play time for Little Mermaid
Welcome to our new series on community theatre by Brian Kelly
At a time when most local thespians are locking up the props cupboard, Roo Theatre is doing what it normally does – getting on with the show to treat whatever summer hordes come its way.
The Shellharbour company’s pantomime has a history of lighting the lights in January, unleashing, fittingly, the aquatically themed Little Mermaid for residents and holidaymakers.
As director and Roo president Renee Brighton explains, Roo tends to have large casts of children in such shows ‘’and they can stay up a bit later for rehearsals and during the show run whilst on school holidays’’.
“Roo also likes to stage something at this time of year that will appeal to families,” she says. “Pantomimes, which kids love, also tend to have a lot of adult humour – they have an intergenerational charm.”
Choosing two actors to share the titular role was not so much about sharing the load as it was about burgeoning talent.
“They both did amazing auditions and we couldn’t choose between them!” says Renee of the relatively experienced Lily Savelli and Madison Isaac, appearing in her first Roo show after a role in Wollongong High’s staging of Mamma Mia
L to R: Madison Isaac, Jesse Gameiro and Lily Savelli. Photo: Lachlan Whitehead
“Both girls bring Ariel to life with perfect comedic timing and both have hauntingly beautiful voices. The little girls in particular will fall in love with Ariel.
“Pantomimes are an eccentric take on a traditional fairy story …We often find ourselves in stitches during rehearsals.”
Little Mermaid will be on various dates between January 10 and 25. Tickets via trybooking.com
Arcadians Theatre Group hold workshop Youngsters are invited to workshops called Imagine That! from January 20-22. Visit arcadians.org.au
Your chance to sing and tap dance
By Lauren Mitsak of Stanwell Park Arts Theatre
SPAT’s Christmas panto Santa’s Secret, written by our own Sage McAteer, was a fitting close to our 50th anniversary celebrations, with five soldout performances.
Director Rod Lander said that this play was particularly inclusive, with performers aged from primary school children to retirees. They were supported by a wonderful crew. Musical director and pianist Catherine Rostron, enjoyed adapting the pop songs in the panto for piano and loved the moments when she improvised to add mood and drama to the scenes. Rod, Catherine and stage manager Eric Alexander all said, this year’s group of children were truly inspiring because they learned both the songs and their lines quickly, sang with gusto and showed amazing dedication and commitment.
SPAT Singers
SPAT Singers under the direction of multi-talented, Lindy Sharp, will present their annual supper show
in late June, early July 2025. The singers recommence in the CWA hall Friday, January 24 at 7:30pm. Soprano and male voices are particularly welcome.
Stop Press
Stanwell Park writer Christine Sykes has submitted her play, Tap Cats of the Sunshine Coast, to the SPAT committee, which was unanimous in its support for staging the production in late April, early May. Inspired by her Auntie Peg, Christine took up dancing when she retired, and the play is a rollicking adaptation of her 2022 novel inspired by this experience. The cast will require six women, from two to 14 additional tap dancers and up to five men. Auditions will be held in late January and rehearsals will start in early February.
SCWC holiday fun
By Elizabeth Heffernan
The South Coast Writers Centre has a fantastic calendar of events lined up for the start of 2025.
On 21 and 22 January, join authors Pat Simmons and Liv Lorkin at Coledale Hall for the SCWC School Holiday Program. Pat will be reading from her books The Cat Thief and Ziggy’s Zoo in a free session for under 8s, and Liv will lead a session on fantasy map illustration, perfect for ages 8-12. Both sessions will be running on both days. Plus, free zine making activities and a kids’ book sale.
Young Writers Groups are back for Term 1 from 10 February. The first Film Club will be at Coledale Hall on 1 February, screening Wes Anderson’s caper The Grand Budapest Hotel. Learn about writing true crime from Campbell McConachie at a workshop on 23 February, or discover pathways to publishing with Ashley Kalagian Blunt on 15 March. Apply for the SCWC & Merrigong Playwrights Program by 17 January, enter SCWC Poetry Award by 2 March, and check out the new Crime Fiction Manuscript Appraisal and Mentorship Session with Dinuka McKenzie.
Visit southcoastwriters.org
Summer at your local library
@Thirroul Library – bookings essential
Wed 8 Jan Summer Craft (ages 5+). 10-11am.
Tue 14 Jan Summer Storytime (Ages 3+).
Stories about the sea, sand and sun. 10-10:45am
Wed 22 Jan Offbits (Ages 8+). Make a quirky robot character. 10-11am.
Thur 23 Jan Fantasy Ink Illustration (Ages 12-17). Create characters and worlds in this ink and watercolour workshop. 10-11:30am
Tues 28 Jan Sustainable Craft (Ages 18+). Create from recycled materials. 10am-12 noon.
@Helensburgh Library – bookings essential
Fri 17 Jan Summer Storytime (Ages 3+). Stories about the sea, sand and sun. 10:30-11:15am
Wed 22 Jan Summer craft, ages 5+, 10:3011:30am. Beat the heat at the library.
New year, new books
From the team at Collins Booksellers Thirroul
Our wishes to all for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2025. January is perfect to redeem those gift vouchers received in 2024 so allow yourself time to browse and make it an enjoyable morning or afternoon in the bookshop. As always, our shelves are filled with tempting new and classic titles for adults and children, and there are plenty of great non-book items. We’re all wanting our kids to balance their free time between screen and other activities. You’ll be able to find fun ideas in the bookstore for family projects as well as games, activity books, puzzles and crafts for kids to do independently. Happy Holidays!
Shop 5/264 Lawrence Hargrave Drive
www.collinsbooksthirroul.com.au
@collinsbooksellersthirroul
collins BOOKSELLERS thirroul
Street activation
By Ben Wollen
During the last Illawarra Festival of Architecture & Design (IFAD), I met so many engaged people interested in our local built environment. One of these encounters has led me to think about street activation. And, no, that’s not anything to do with utilities! You would know street activation if you encountered it. Think tree-lined streets with canopies that extend over the road. Wide pedestrian sidewalks that include things like planters, urban seating, outdoor dining, art, water fountains, kerbside kiosks and enticing glassfronted restaurants bustling with internal energy.
Many famous European cities, such as Paris, Berlin or Barcelona, do this really well. More locally, there is Crown Street in Surry Hills or even closer there’s that one-way section of Wollongong’s own Crown Street just east of the mall.
Unfortunately, I don’t think there are many other spots that you can find good street activation in our hood. The southern side of Thirroul has some elements, but unfortunately with the busy-ness of Lawrence Hargrave Drive, it always feels dominated by through traffic. Bulli village suffers this even more, having to take the brunt of traffic heading up the Bulli Pass. There is a lovely scene now on the corner of Raymond Road with the al fresco diners sitting outside of Ciro’s. We need more of this! I think we can do a lot better.
I’m going to pick on Thirroul because it’s where I do most of my shopping and errand running. Firstly, I think we need more street trees and not just the odd palm tree that offers zero canopy but decent-sized shade-providing behemoths like the two figs either side of the railway bridge. There’s nothing better than jumping into the shade of one of these beauties on a hot summer’s day! They’re a big commitment, but in the long term, they’re worth it!
Cheers to Probus
By publicity officer Yvonne Bryce
Secondly, we need to widen the footpaths or create some sort of buffer between the traffic and the pedestrian so that when the next Harley-Davidson or exhaust-braking truck blasts past, one doesn’t jump out of their skin from the sheer decibels. The east end of Crown has effectively done this by absorbing a lane of traffic and slowing the other lane down to a comfortable 30km/h. Bit trickier to achieve that up Thirroul way, but I’m sure there are some elements we can introduce.
Thirdly, I’d love to see some more urban seating about the place. Outside of the Thirroul Community Centre, the only urban seating exists at the bus stops or in the very sad-looking and under-utilised gazebo structure in W.F. Jackson Park. These seats could occupy some of the feeder streets adjacent to Lawrence Hargrave Drive. These give the chance of a momentary break from carrying the shopping or, if playfully designed, a chance for kids to undertake some balancing acts on their way home from school.
With all that in mind, I’m currently working up some ideas for some urban seating out the front of Frank’s Wild Years on Raymond Road. I would love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to reach out to ben@wollenarchitecture.com.au
Each year our Probus club celebrates Christmas with a sit-down dinner followed by dancing at Thirroul Bowling Club. This year 85 members attended and all enjoyed a wonderful night of Christmas cheer and friendship together! The food was delicious, the music was great and many of us had fun having photographs taken in the Photo Booth. The night ended with many of us having sore feet due to our dancing to a fantastic selection of music! A big thank you to Paul and Cheryl Seagrove for coordinating such a night to remember!
Seats & shade trees, please
Meet the choir starter
By Genevieve Swart
Elliot Peck hit the right note when he started the new Slapdash community choir last year, with 80 people signing up for six weeks of classes in the Excelsior Hall at Thirroul Library.
“I was blown away by how many people turned out to have a crack at singing together – 80 voices raised in song together really is an enormous sound,” Elliot said.
A speech pathologist who lives in Austinmer, Elliot said singing has always been a big part of his own life. “Some of my earliest memories are singing in harmony on long car trips or around a campfire,” he said. “I think the feeling that you get from singing with others is really special and it’s something I’m always seeking out.
“I think singing is something that really makes you feel good in a way that’s quite unlike anything else. There’s lots of fancy science behind that; nervous system regulations and reducing cortisone levels and so on but, long story short, singing in a choir feels amazing and that’s something I felt like we were lacking in the Illawarra.”
He’s had lots of positive feedback, with the choir’s name revealing its appeal.
“Often committing to a choir can be a big buy-in, with lots of rehearsing and practising your part at home, and asks a lot of people. But I wanted to create something that was a little more impromptu and organic and participatory, something a bit slapdash!
“I really do think in our modern lives of connecting online so much, we lose the connection and sense of belonging that comes with community. Slapdash has been an amazing way to meet new people and really feel a part of something!”
In 2025, Elliot would like even more people to join. The choir will return on January 22 for a six-week term, meeting on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. “Absolutely everyone is welcome to join in, we have folks from age 15 to 80 with all sorts of backgrounds and often little to no experience.”
Look up Slapdash Choir on Google or Instagram to find links to tickets. Email questions to elliotp2321@gmail.com
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Thirroul Village Committee update
By TVC secretary Annette Jones
About 40 residents attended the final actionpacked 2024 meeting on 24 November, during which an update was provided about ongoing issues by the local Member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart.
Bulli Hospital staff car park
Opened in late November, providing 17 car spots for staff. Maryanne continues to work towards a longer-term solution.
Old Bulli Hospital
Discussions have taken place with Minister Scully and Minister Park regarding usage of this site for parking. Remediation works are ongoing. Parking will be for owners and visitors, easing parking on the road. In the interim, Maryanne will request if the site can be used for temporary parking.
Changes to planning regulations
The Housing Delivery Authority is a new state-led approval pathway for major residential housing projects over $60 million in Greater Sydney and $30 million in the rest of NSW. This means that the developer of any project in Wollongong LGA which provides more than approximately 40 homes (that’s roughly the investment value of $30 million) may go through a state-assessed pathway rather than through council. The state-assessed pathway will have a timeframe of approximately 275 days for assessment, compared to the average council timeframe of over 400 days. It is yet to be seen how this will impact on large developments in the area.
Land behind Amy St, Thirroul (Lot 303 Amy St)
The Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group (NIRAG) is working with the owner of the land adjoining the Amy Street block (Lot 303 Amy St)
Tree of the Month
By Kieran Tapsell, of Banksia Bushcare
Trochocarpa laurina (Tree Heath)
with the aim to convert it to public open space as an integral part of the Sandon Point natural environment. The majority of the area is zoned C2 (Environmental Conservation zone), is flood prone and not able to be built on, but it is important habitat and culturally significant. This land would link the coast via the revegetated creek lines of Hewitts, Woodlands and Tramway creeks to the escarpment. A sub-committee to progress this matter is to be established. To find out more, contact Ross Dearden via nirag@bigpond.com.
Presentation by local street artist
Local street artist Jack Hendry joined the meeting to explain how he has been working with local property owners around Bulli in an attempt to reduce the incidence of tagging, or graffiti locally. He painted a 20m wall after approaching the owner, who was pleased with the result. He explained what he does is art, not graffiti vandalism. If business owners are experiencing trouble with graffiti tagging and would prefer street art, they can email jack.miller.hendry@gmail.com
Presentation by Electrify 2515
The federal government has committed $5.4 million to the Electrify 2515 pilot project, which was launched on 10th November. The pilot project will allow 500 eligible households in northern Illawarra postcode 2515 to obtain grants to buy electric appliances, such as hot water, cooking and heating and cooling systems, to replace gas appliances. Visit www.electrify2515.org
Join the TVC meetings at Thirroul Railway Institute Hall at 4pm on the following Sundays: 23 Feb, 25 May, 24 Aug, 23 Nov 2025
This tree can grow as high as 15m, but is more often a bushy shrub or small tree to eight metres. It has distinctive small, shiny, alternate and paralleled veined leaves. The new leaf growth is pink/lime green. It has small, white and tubular flowers from June to September. Its fruits are dark blue-black globular drupes. The tree (at right, in Stanwell Avenue Reserve) regenerated naturally, but we put a cage around it to protect it from deer. Its foliage is striking in late Spring.
Funds for repairs
By Will Lee, president of Austinmer Thirroul RSL Sub-Branch
Since 2021, $18,000 has been spent on a Conservation Report and subsequent restoration work to the Thirroul World War 1 Memorial. The preservation work completed thus far includes rectification of weathering/deterioration to the soldier, minor delamination of the stonework, and moderated delamination of the previous repairs to the stone, major losses of the coating/ painting on the lettering, lifting of several tiles and the removal of biological growth. A recent grant of $9933 from the NSW Government’s Community War Memorials Fund will continue the restoration work, removing and replacing old patches with new synthetic stone.
The Sub-Branch is planning a recruitment
Xmas celebration
Helensburgh Girl Guide Adara Rook, aged 8, reports on a weekend with the Guides
We had to bring a bag with a sleeping bag and a pillow. We cooked a delicious Christmas dinner, set a Christmas table, and had dinner. It was so yummy! We watched Arthur’s Christmas in our blankets. On Saturday, we had Christmas crafts with clay, carving Christmas decorations. We sewed Elf on the Shelf sleeping bags with little pillows, did angel paintings, made candles, and created reindeer ornaments for the shelf. My favourite was the candle making, as you got to use dried-up oranges, leaves, and cinnamon sticks to decorate and make them smell great.
We also made Christmas gift tags that were so adorable. All of the things we made, we sold at the Christmas stall. At the stall, we also handed out flyers to sell Christmas trees. It was great to do things to make Christmas happy for people.
Speaking to power
By Genevieve Swart
The University of Wollongong’s Ty Christopher has a cost-cutting clean energy message he says we should be “screaming from the rooftops”.
It’s been lost as election-bound politicians debate our electricity mix decades into the future and the Australian Energy Market Operator calls for emergency powers to switch off the country’s biggest success story, the four million households with solar panels.
But Ty – appointed Energy Futures Network Director after four decades in industry culminated in serving as ‘chief engineer’ at Endeavour Energy – says there is an immediate, locally proven solution that could bring bill relief to families.
“If we have a situation where we have too much solar generating during the middle of the day, why don’t we just turn all our hot water systems on during the middle of the day and use our hot water as a thermal battery?” he said.
“It’s literally just changing settings on a computer … You could implement that across the entire grid within days.”
So why isn’t the switch being flicked?
Ty claims a mix of corporate greed and outdated governance structures is slowing action, with hot water traditionally heated at night. “The off-peak times and tariffs are determined by the big gentailers – the big three, Origin, AGL and Energy Australia – who own the coal- and gas-fired power stations and retail electricity to you.
“So why would they want to see your hot water heated from your solar during the middle of the
day when they can make sure that your hot water is heated from their burning their coal- and gas-fired power plants through the middle of the night?
“These are companies that make billions of dollars of profit. And that profit comes from one place and one place only – and that is out of the pockets of each and every one of us as energy consumers.”
To those who feel ripped off, Ty says: “You should feel ripped off.
“AEMO should be calling for far more storage in the grid and for the ability to have influence over when that storage is filled up and discharged.”
Scan the QR to read more.
Y2K + 25 = the year we
By Elsa Evers of Electrify 2515
It’s blowing my mind that we are a quarter of a century into the millennium. The good news is 2515 residents are sprinting towards the future by hosting Australia’s first community-led electrification pilot. Since the launch in November, the question that keeps popping up is: ‘Where do I start?’ Or ‘what should I do next?’ In the spirit of New Year’s resolutions, here are ideas to reduce emissions and energy bills. Is 2025 the year to…
Upgrade an old gas appliance with electric?
The average household using gas for their cooking, hot water and heating could save up to $800 a year by switching to efficient electric appliances, and that’s before you add solar or a battery. Apply to the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot and you could save on upfront cost and installation.
Disconnect from gas?
As part of the pilot, we hope to get at least 500
Elsa (left) and Julia at Coledale markets. Photo supplied
Rise of Green Gravity
By Genevieve Swart
Elon Musk’s Tesla batteries beware – there’s a new, cheaper and more sustainable way of storing solar on the rise, and it’s being made in Wollongong.
“At Green Gravity, we are an energy storage developer and we’ve developed a technology called Gravitational Energy Storage,” says CEO Mark Swinnerton. “This is about lifting very heavy objects up a legacy mine shaft, when we have excess renewable energy, and then lowering those weights back down again through the mine shaft when we want to release the energy back to the grid, which means we can take solar energy and we can reproduce it at night.”
An ingenious way to repurpose old mine shafts, the technology also has the potential to be “very
homes off gas. Disconnecting from gas will cut your overall energy bills, and you won’t have to pay the daily gas connection fee, which can add up, especially if you only have one gas appliance in the house. If you call your retailer and ask to close your gas account, you may still receive bills ‘to the resident’ from the gas network, Jemena. Another option is to call Jemena directly and ask them to disconnect your gas service for a fee ($157.30).
Install solar?
The day you start powering your home’s energy needs from your rooftop solar is the day you will save money on your energy bills. While exporting solar to the grid doesn’t pay as much as it used to, it’s still worthwhile generating energy for your own household use. Even though solar isn’t subsidised under the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot, the average payback period is 3-5 years. If you own your roof and it isn’t too shady, it’s a no-brainer.
competitive” price wise, Mark says. “We believe already we’ll be competitive on a capital basis with lithium ion …
“On a levelised basis – so an all-in economic cost – we think we’re extremely low-cost because we’re reusing infrastructure and we have very, very long-life assets.”
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown is excited about Green Gravity’s prospects. “It’s a great showcase for that innovation that we want to be known for,” the Lord Mayor said. “To be here at the coalface of this new innovation, it’s fabulous.”
Mark “very proudly” worked at BHP for 25 years before founding Green Gravity in 2021 as a response to climate change. Already his idea has attracted $15 million in investment – from the likes of BlueScope and HMC Capital – and there’s more to come. Customers are lining up not only in Australia, where we have 100,000 legacy mines, including locally at Russell Vale, Mark says, but also in India, Eastern Europe and North America.
“In calendar 2025, we’re going to complete production testing in mine shafts and be ready for first sales at the end of the year.”
Green Gravity is about sustainable large-scale storage, with the old shaft at Russell Vale potentially capable of powering a suburb. “We have no waste because we don’t use any fuel, and gravity’s free and waste free,” Mark says.
It’s also timely tech, with Australia hitting a milestone of four million rooftop solar installations in November. “Solar needs storage. And so I see our future as very bright,” Mark says.
There’ll be jobs for everyone from engineers to project managers at Green Gravity.
“We’d like to double the team this next year.”
Invest in a home battery?
Until now, they haven’t really been economical as the upfront cost is high and the payback takes an average of 7-15 years. A limited number of subsidised batteries are available through the pilot. Other things to consider are: the new NSW Government Home Battery Rebate and evolving tariffs as retailers investigate options to reward customers who feed-in energy at peak hours.
Get an EV?
Electrifying your vehicles is the biggest impact your household can make from a bill and emissions savings perspective. You could save $1600-$2500 a year on petrol. With prices dropping, and more finance options, EVs are becoming appealing. New federal government regulations mean they will soon work as giant storage batteries for our homes.
www.electrify2515.org/household-guide
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Ocean SWIM CLUB
By Brigid Collaery, the Coalcliff Ocean Swim Club coordinator
Front row, L-R: Kate Cora, Rowena Kostos, Sophia Taylor, Belinda Elliot. Back row L-R: Jaye Bailey, Nathan Bourne, René Christen, Jen Hearn, Stacey Taylor, Bruce Taylor, Anne Dernee, Brian Elliot, Anneke Evers, Trevor Kemper, Brigid Collaery. All photos: Anthony Warry
Coalcliff Ocean Swim Club is run by Coalcliff SLSC and proudly sponsored by Equilibrium Healthcare. It aims to support community members to improve their ocean-swimming skills in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.
As the club coordinator, I decided to ask two regulars, Mel Garrick and Bruce Taylor, a few questions about their ocean-swimming experience and how they got into it.
Can you tell me a bit about yourself, where you grew up, and what brought you to the Illawarra?
Melanie Garrick: I grew up in Balmain. I moved to the Illawarra a few years ago on a whim for affordability reasons and to be closer to nature and the beach.
Bruce Taylor: I was born at Canterbury Hospital in 1971. I had a condition called Hydrocephalus at birth, which is fluid on the brain. Over time and with the right care, I beat it and have gone on to live a normal life. I grew up in South West Sydney in a suburb called Padstow.
After I met my wife-to-be, we moved around a bit, but ultimately moved to Figtree in 2015 as my wife got a job in Sydney.
What sort of swimming did you do as a kid, any swim lessons, Nippers etc?
Mel: My local was the Dawn Fraser Pool. I probably spent more time lounging around there than swimming, but dodging jellyfish in the murky harbour pool may have set me up for ocean swimming later.
Bruce: As a young fella living in Padstow, it was close enough to the coast that my brother and I joined little nippers at Elouera Beach. I did that for a few years and in my mid-teens, I turned my hand to competition swimming with Padstow RSL swim club. I wasn’t the best, but wasn’t the worst and had a great time, meeting new people. I was pretty much self-taught and did a lot of swimming in my cousin’s pool on the weekends.
How did you start ocean swimming?
What got you to try it out for the first time?
Mel: My mum is an obsessive ocean swimmer. She’s done many adventurous long-distance swims, even in places like the Galapagos Islands. I was mostly a pool swimmer until COVID-19. When the pools closed, I started doing longer swims in the ocean.
Bruce: My brother is an ocean swimmer down in Melbourne and after a few seasons of knowing he was doing it, I wanted to get in on the action. Being a swimmer, but not having done ocean swimming before, I thought it would be a great challenge. I’ve loved it from the start. So I went online to see who did weekend ocean swims and
I came across Coalcliff Ocean Swim Club, through the Coalcliff SLSC.
What sort of swimming do you do at the moment?
Mel: I swim for leisure in the ocean all the time. I’d do maybe 20 laps a week in the warmer months for stroke swimming, with the occasional longer ocean swim.
Bruce: I swim every Sunday with a small group of people I met through the Coalcliff swim club. We swim early on Sundays for about an hour each time. If I can’t get to swim with the group, I try to get to a local pool and do laps, usually around 11/2km.
What do you enjoy about ocean swimming?
Mel: It’s challenging, invigorating, refreshing. You are immersed in nature. It lifts your mood, brightens your day and helps you sleep well.
Bruce: I enjoy a few things about ocean swimming:
1. I like the comradeship of the group swimming. We look out for each other.
2. Although we swim in a group, you’re swimming by yourself and challenging yourself to be better than the last time.
3. I love the ocean.
What do you find challenging about ocean swimming?
Mel: I have all the rational and irrational fears –getting caught out, waves, cold water, stingers,
Bruce Taylor and Melanie Garrick
Stacey and Sophia Taylor
sharks… The fitness aspect is challenging too, because I’m not super experienced with long distances.
Bruce: The conditions can make it challenging. You can’t just swim when it’s calm. I like to push myself to get out no matter the conditions.
How do you overcome any fears you have about getting into the ocean?
Mel: Finding a group to swim with is fantastic for building confidence. A wetsuit and short-blade flippers are a big boost, too.
Bruce: To be honest, I don’t have any fears of getting in the ocean. I know there’s dangers in the ocean, but I don’t think about them. If you allow yourself to think about what’s out there, you may never do it.
What was your best experience in the ocean?
Mel: Last year I swam in the middle of the Coral Sea during a boat trip to Vanuatu. The ocean was so deep, clear and blue. Also, surfing for the first time at Waikiki Beach was special.
Bruce: I’ve had a few really good swims over the past couple of years, but three stick out: The 1st was back in June when we swam from Stanwell Park to Coalcliff. It was the longest swim I had ever done. The water was clear and it was an awesome swim.
The 2nd was down in Huskisson when we joined a few swim groups for a swim from Murrays Beach
in Booderee National Park over to Bowen Island and back. The 3rd and best was a smaller swim, but for a brief time, we swam with some dolphins. You don’t get to do that on dry land. It was a great experience.
How do you feel after an ocean swim?
Mel: Exhausted, hungry, satisfied, refreshed :)
Bruce: I feel great after an ocean swim. I feel accomplished. It’s a great way to start a Sunday. If I miss a swim because I need to, that’s fine but when I miss a swim for no reason, I get annoyed with myself.
What do you enjoy the most about Coalcliff Ocean Swim Club?
Mel: It’s inclusive. It’s not cliquey or competitive. You can rock up by yourself, and it’s not awkward. You don’t need to have much experience in the ocean. It’s very safety-orientated, with the rubber duck and board-riders ready to rescue you at all times. It’s quite a dramatic and unusual beach and can be wild at times, which makes for challenging and varied swims throughout the season.
Bruce: I love the community spirit and the comradeship of the swim club, swimming with the group is sensational.
To find out more about Coalcliff Ocean Swim Club and how you can join, visit www.coalcliffslsc.com.au/oceanswimclub
Jaye Bailey and Kate Cora
Melanie Garrick, Brigid Collaery, Trevor Kemper
Dive in – it’s good for you!
By Dr Trevor Kemper of Equilibrium Healthcare
Plato once said, “The sea cures all ailments of man,” a sentiment echoed by thinkers like Hippocrates and Aristotle, who recommended time by the ocean for healing and pain relief. For centuries, doctors prescribed sea bathing to improve health, and salt water therapy has been practised as long as humans have lived by the sea.
Today, research suggests ocean swimming offers numerous physical health benefits.
It’s an excellent fitness workout, boosting cardiovascular health, building muscle strength and improving core stability. The low-impact nature of swimming reduces strain on joints, making it ideal
for those with injuries or joint conditions like arthritis. Swimming in salt water, rich in nutrients like magnesium and iodine, nourishes the skin. Cold water stimulates circulation, boosts metabolism and strengthens the immune system. Controlled exposure to sunlight helps regulate sleep patterns by boosting vitamin D levels.
Ocean swimming has mental health benefits too. Swimming increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, enhancing memory and alertness. Swimming releases natural endorphins that elevate mood and relieve stress, while being immersed in nature, especially around water, can enhance mood and cognitive function.
Social swim groups also provide a sense of community and safety, making the activity even more enjoyable.
L to R: Trevor Kemper, Anne Dernee, Melanie Garrick, Ian Moate, DI Capper, Dana Orth, Jaye Bailey, Kate Cora, Daniel Scobie. Photo: Jenelle McWilliam
Swimming
U14s earn Surf Rescue Certificates
By Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club’s Christine McDonald
Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC kicked off summer with a strong start, full of achievements and community spirit.
Congratulations to our U14s, who have proudly earned their Surf Rescue Certificates (SRC) and are now officially lifesavers. This dedicated group worked hard, completing online theory and perfecting CPR during Thursday night training sessions at the Surf Club. On December 1, they tackled every challenge, from a timed run-swimrun to rigorous assessments, showing commitment and resilience. The club is incredibly proud of their efforts and excited to have these young lifesavers helping keep our beach safe this summer.
Later that day, the Surf Club hosted its annual Nippers fundraiser, Santa Photo Day. Despite a sudden storm forcing a quick move to the clubhouse, the event ran smoothly thanks to our amazing volunteers. Santa (Gav) brought smiles to families, and the photography team, Dean Lewins and Mel Russell, have generously volunteered their time for nine years, capturing unforgettable moments. We truly appreciate the support for this fundraiser. Every dollar raised goes directly to our
Nippers, helping to provide equipment, team clothing, education, and more. Thank you.
We remind everyone to stay surf safe this summer. Always swim between the red and yellow flags, follow lifeguards’ advice, and never swim alone. Let’s work together to ensure a safe and enjoyable time at the beach.
New Lifesavers: Eva, Ria, Mia, Elske, Charlotte, Thomas, Sonny, U14 Age Manager Anita Giusti, Winni, Sienna, Sienna, Trainer Iris Huizinga, Oliver. Not pictured: Nate, Lucille.
Well done, division winners
By Ian Pepper of the Scarborough Boardriders
It was the culmination of a huge year for the club in 2024 with our awards presentation at Scarborough Wombarra Bowlo on Saturday, 23 November 2024. The new venue for our presentation worked well, with a grommet-friendly environment.
Congratulations to all our division winners:
• 1st Jnr Girls Roxanne Stancourt
• 1st U14s Jesse Fitzgibbon
• 1st U12s Sam Kornek
• 1st Mixed U10s Ella Campbell
• 1st Jnr Girls Parent Assist Tahlee Martin
• Most Improved female Ella Campbell
• Most Improved male Oliver Keed
• Snr Club Person of the Year Christian de Clouett
• Jnr Club Person Savvy Savostos
• Micro of the Year Ruby Forbes
• 1st A Grade Mannix Squiers
• 1st Open Women’s Macey Jolley
• 1st B Grade Clinton Browne
• 1st 55s Nick McLaren
• 1st 45s Nigel Parkin
• 1st 35s Christian De Clouett
• 1st 18s Ashton Mekisic
Thanks again to everyone who attended and helped out. Thanks to all our sponsors. Looking forward to starting up again in 2025!
Future dates for your diary
• AGM at Wombarra Bowling Club, 28 January 2025 (to be confirmed)
• Usher Group 2025 World Club Challenge, Snapper Rocks QLD, 17-19 January 2025
• Australian Boardriders Battle National Final –Burleigh Heads, QLD, 8-9 March 2025.
Jonno’s 100km run for Movember
By Tony Ryan
On November 30, Thirroul’s Jonathan Seager, 22, ran 100km from Sydney to Wollongong to raise money and awareness for Movember. He received 109 donations for a total of $7435 – a sensational effort! I had a chat with ‘Jonno’ about his epic run.
Tell us about the run.
I ran from Blues Point in Sydney to Wollongong Harbour … representing Movember, a charity organisation dedicated to promoting men’s health, specifically men’s mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
This run was 100km and I took it on with some of my best mates joining me along the way. I started at Blues Point, ran over the Harbour Bridge, past the Opera House then all the way to Cronulla.
Once at Cronulla I caught the ferry across to Bundeena, where I started the run through the Royal National Park and popped out at Otford.
From there I followed the coast to Thirroul and then finally to Wollongong. All up it took 15 hours and 40 minutes to complete, starting at 4:15am and finishing just before 8pm.
What inspired you to do this?
The inspiration came from a couple of different places. First was about two years ago when Nedd Brockmann was running across Australia. I had recently torn my ACL and was recovering from surgery watching this man break all odds.
Secondly, after a few drinks at the pub talking about Nedd’s run with my mates, we figured out that every day he would run the equivalent of running from Sydney to Wollongong. The question was asked if we even knew anyone who could do that, I said that I thought I could. He wasn’t very convinced and challenged me by telling me to go out and do it. Almost a year later I did.
The last is that over this year, my friends and family have helped me out so much and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. What started as a
personal challenge turned into a dedicated run to give back to my mates through such an important charity.
What training goes into this?
Lots of running. I started properly training for this at the start of August this year but had been training with this goal at the back of my mind for quite a while. I would typically do around three to five runs a week with the focus on keeping as much “time on the legs” as possible by running long and slow for the majority of my runs.
Towards the last couple of months before the run, I was averaging around 25-45km a week running. I would also do two sessions on the bike at the gym and a legs session to strengthen up my legs for the run. I actually only ran my first marathon three weeks before doing my 100km run and when my legs pulled up fine the next day I knew I could finish the 100km.
What went through you mind while running?
Most of the time I was talking to my friends running alongside of me or thinking about the next refuel station set up along the way. Getting to those meant I had a fresh pair of socks and dry clothes which didn’t last long but was a massive comfort when I’d been wet and on my feet for hours.
Is it true your dad held the ferry up at Cronulla to make sure you got on?
Luckily yes, otherwise I probably would have been screwed. He held it up for about five minutes while I finished my 38th kilometre in Cronulla. Luckily the guys running the ferry were very on-board with what I was trying to accomplish and very supportive when I did jump on.
How important was your support crew?
I wouldn’t have been able to finish without having them there and having them get around me the way they did. Lots of family, friends and coworkers supported me all week and on the day, I received a tremendous amount of messages. Had a lot of close friends joining me along the way with most running with me or riding alongside me for hours and doing long distances of 15km+ with me.
What were you thinking when you crossed the finish line?
I felt relieved and very appreciative. I was extremely proud and happy with myself, but also could not have done it without all those who had helped me along the way.
2
17 FR 0457 0.53 1122 1.73 1806 0.33
Port Kembla Tidal Chart
1 WE JANUARY Time m 0317 0.51 0956 1.85 1647 0.24 2242 1.23
2 TH 0402 0.50 1038 1.86 1730 0.23 2327 1.25
3
4
5 SU 0104 1.31
6
7
8
9
18
19
20
PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES
LAT 34° 29ʼ S LONG 150° 55ʼ E Times and Heights of High and Low Waters
January 2025
15
3 FR 0450 0.50 1122 1.84 1814 0.23
4
5
6
7
8
18 SA 0008 1.26 0538 0.57 1158 1.62 1838 0.39
19 SU 0047 1.27 0621 0.62 1233 1.51 1910 0.45
2 SU 0533 0.40 1151 1.77 1825 0.22
3
26 SU 0643 1.57 1345 0.48 1929 1.12
20 MO 0128 1.28 0710 0.67 1312 1.39 1944 0.50
TIMES AND HEIGHTS OF HIGH AND LOW WATERS LAT 340 29’ LONG 1500 55’ TIME
16 SU Time m 0515 0.51 1126 1.55 1747 0.41
17 MO 0000 1.40 0555 0.56 1200 1.45 1815 0.46
27 MO 0045 0.60 0730 1.67 1427 0.39 2015 1.17
21 TU 0213 1.31 0806 0.72 1356 1.27 2021 0.55
4 TU 0126 1.51 0730 0.49 1332 1.45 1950 0.40
28 TU 0132 0.55 0814 1.76 1507 0.30 2057 1.23
22 WE 0303 1.33 0915 0.74 1452 1.16 2106 0.60
5 WE 0220 1.53 0841 0.54 1434 1.28 2040 0.50
9
26
18 TU 0036 1.41 0640 0.61 1236 1.33 1843 0.53
19 WE 0115 1.41 0730 0.66 1318 1.22 1916 0.60
29 WE 0219 0.49 0856 1.84 1545 0.22 2138 1.28
20 TH
14
28
23 TH 0358 1.37 1036 0.73 1604 1.09 2200 0.64
6 TH 0321 1.55 1004 0.56 1551 1.15 2139 0.58
30 TH 0305 0.43 0939 1.90 1625 0.17 2220 1.34
21
24 FR 0456 1.42 1153 0.67 1724 1.06 2258 0.65
7 FR 0428 1.59 1132 0.52 1721 1.09 2247 0.62
31 FR 0352 0.40 1022 1.91 1704 0.15 2303 1.39 FR 1721
15
© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2024, Bureau of Meteorology. Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide. Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect. The Bureau of Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise in respect to the availability, accuracy, currency, completeness, quality or reliability of the information or that the information will be fit for any particular purpose or will not infringe any third party Intellectual Property rights. The Bureau’s liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense resulting from use of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded. Scan the QR to download a fresh Tide Chart each month
25 SA 0552 1.49 1256 0.58 1834 1.07 2353 0.64
8 SA 0537 1.63 1247 0.45 1840 1.11 2355 0.61
26 SU 0643 1.57 1345 0.48 1929 1.12
9 SU 0640 1.69 1345 0.37 1939 1.16
27 MO 0045 0.60 0730 1.67 1427 0.39 2015 1.17
PORT KEMBLA – NEW SOUTH WALES
10 MO 0056 0.57 0735 1.75 1432 0.31 2026 1.22 11 TU 0149 0.52 0823 1.79 1513 0.28 2107 1.27 12 WE 0235 0.48 0905 1.80 1549 0.27
28 TU 0132 0.55
MOON PHASE SYMBOLS New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
First black belt for hapkido club
By Zachary Houtenville
Benjamin Driscoll has made history at Stanwell Park Hapkido, becoming the club’s first student to earn a first-degree black belt in the Korean martial art.
“The feeling of just the culmination of hard work really is incredible,” said Ben, who enrolled in the children’s class in 2015 and has risen through the grades to achieve his dream.
Chief instructor Christopher Currey, who is a 4th-degree black belt in hapkido and a 1st-degree black belt in taekwondo, said Ben’s achievement was “a real boost” for the club.
“To get my first black belt [student], I feel honoured, as well that he had the passion to stay with it,” Chris said. “As an individual … he’d come from this shy person, [he’s] still a bit shy, but the confidence within him has grown.”
Chris founded Stanwell Park Hapkido at the CWA Hall 13 years ago, running evening classes for children and adults.
Ben signed up for the kids’ class to help improve his focus and over the years he’s increased his training commitment from a single weekly class to rigorous sessions several nights a week.
To prepare for his black belt grading, Ben concentrated on his fitness and technical training.
“You need to put on the pressure to get there,” he said. “[I was doing] a lot more running, going to the gym so much more, trying to pick up the fitness and all the skills necessary, which was a lot of work, but I think it turned out well.”
A first-degree black belt is just the beginning in Hapkido, as the martial art’s black belt ranking system goes all the way to 10th degree.
“I really have no plans of stopping,” Ben said.
Sunday Social Golf Club report
By Robert ‘Indy’ Jones
On December 8th we played 2 Man Ambrose as the fog rolled in, making seeing and believing two very different things. A definite cover-up, the handicapper (Hcp: 32) needs to be audited pairing up with the Nephew (Hcp: 40) to deliver the coup de grâce. Yes, who would have guessed the President’s Cup went to Tony and Daniel who came home first (54), followed by Ben Clarke and Josh Smith (56.25), and a gang of three (Indy, Brett Carazzo and Mark Hardick) with 58.
Dylan, Brett P., Craig Blake, Tony C. and Ben Clarke shared the on-course spoils.
Our end-of-year luncheon at Red Nectar was a culinary delight with golfing honours presented to the champions of the year and reminders of funny times, as well as a shout-out to Treasurer Scott, Blotto Manager Frank and BBQ host Mark, whose efforts keep the buggies coming back for more.
Our 2025 adventures begin on January 19th, tee time 8:30am at Boomerang. Remember to support our sponsors Christian’s Premium Meats and the Helensburgh Golf Range.
Call Tony, 0418 863 100, for membership details and register your attendance and cart requirements on the Tuesday ahead of the date of our next event.
Good luck and the best of health, and putting in 2025! Indy signing off …
Three golf clubs walk into a bar. The putter orders a beer, and the pitching wedge orders a gin and tonic. The barman asks the third one if he wants anything to which he replies: “No, thanks. I’m the driver”.
