Southern edition: Summer 2024/25 by The Illawarra Flame

Meet Our Contributors

Lesley Roulston is a passionate writer who enjoys hearing the inspiring stories of the people of the Illawarra. Originally from Newcastle, Shellharbour has become her permanent home. She can be found walking her King Charles Spaniel most evenings around the Shellharbour Marina. Her interests include reading and listening to podcasts on health and ageing well.

Phebe Fidge is a marine ecologist passionate about repairing nature and mitigating the effects of climate change. She has over five years of experience in environmental education and science communications with an Honours degree in ecology and conservation biology from the University of Queensland.

Tamara Hynd is the curator of Shellharbour City Museum which moved to a new contemporary facility at the Shellharbour Civic Centre in 2018. She loves history, heritage buildings and places, and is on the board of Museums and Galleries NSW.

Tyneesha Williams is a journalism student at University of Wollongong. Born and raised in Central West NSW, Tyneesha fell in love with the Illawarra’s stunning scenery and local community. She runs her own business, Neesh Photography, and in her spare time enjoys taking pictures, attending gigs and going to the beach.

Duncan Leadbitter is a director of fisheries and natural resource consulting company, Fish Matter, which advises industry, government and NGOs on the sustainable use of fish. Most of Duncan’s work is in based in Asia. He is a Visiting Fellow at the Australian Centre for Ocean Resources and Security at UOW. A keen scuba diver, snorkeller, spearfisherman and photographer, Duncan lives in Stanwell Park.

Correction

The Spring 2024 edition incorrectly stated that Shellharbour VIEW Club sponsors a student at Wollongong University via the Smith Family’s Learning for Life program. For privacy reasons, no VIEW Clubs know which university their sponsored student attends, nor do students know which VIEW Club sponsors them. Apologies for the error.

Reach 7000 letterboxes & local biz from $79 Book via theillawarraflame.com.au or call Lesley on 0411 025 008

NEXT DEADLINE 14 Feb for the Autumn edition

EDITORS Genevieve Swart, Marcus Craft CONTACT hello@theillawarraflame.com.au.

Features Coordinator Shellharbour: Lesley Roulston, 0411 025 008, shellharbour@ theillawarraflame.com.au

Write to PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508. TheIllawarraFlame

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NEXT EDITION Autumn 2025

DEADLINE 14 Feb. Contributions welcome. COVER Loreta Kocovska and her students at Windang. Photo: Tyneesha Williams

THE ILLAWARRA FLAME is published by The Word Bureau trust, 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.

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.

THE ILLAWARRA

Barefoot Yoga at the Farm

By Lesley Roulston

Tanya Smith wants everyone to experience the joy of combining yoga and nature.

Tanya is the founder of ‘Barefoot Yoga at the Farm’, which is held on Sundays throughout the warmer months at Killalea’s Regional Park in Shellharbour. Her classes start at 9am and run for about an hour.

Barefoot Yoga began for Tanya’s family and friends. Eight people attended her first class; six years on, there are hundreds of participants, with people coming from all over the Illawarra, the Southern Highlands and even Sydney.

Tanya believes practising yoga outdoors has many benefits, including a sense of grounding that helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Her classes are a sensory experience, with the sights, sounds and smells of nature enriching the yoga practice and helping practitioners to feel present and connected to their environment.

“In a world often dominated by concrete and screens, finding a place that reconnects us with nature can be a healing experience,” Tanya says.

The Farm at Killalea offers a scenic backdrop for the yoga classes. Tanya’s goal is to encourage physical and spiritual wellbeing and she has petitioned NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to allow her to keep the class running every year for the benefit of the community.

Tanya says people stay after the class and enjoy each other’s company and the beautiful surroundings. The Sunday class fosters a sense of community and the demand for this is evident in the growth in numbers.

Barefoot Yoga at the Farm is a gentle class that is suitable for everyone from beginners to seasoned yogi.

Tanya loves to see people who may not be comfortable walking into a studio yoga class enjoying the experience outdoors. She says there are all kinds of people participating – women and men of all ages, families and kids. If the kids don’t want to do yoga they have nature’s playground at their feet. It’s a great opportunity for families to enjoy a morning outdoors.

Tanya started her fitness journey as a teenager and has had a very successful career. She has taught overseas, presented health and fitness classes in the US and France, and held numerous management and coordination roles in the health industry.

When she moved to Shellharbour, Tanya founded TOA Online – www.toamoves.com – a platform offering yoga, Pilates, mobility and meditation classes, and mindset training. She is well known for teaching yoga within the Shellharbour area and at her own studio.

Most recently, Tanya has enjoyed helping women on the path to better health, running a 10-week program to help with breathwork, digestion, mobility and symptoms of menopause, such as insomnia.

When: Sunday Mornings from 9am.

Cost: Gold coin donation.

Find Barefoot Yoga at the Farm on Facebook

Albert Orange and his Illawarra Guesthouse

By Tamara Hynd, curator of Shellharbour City Museum

Locals and tourists to Lake Illawarra would all be familiar with the historic two-storey California Guest House at Reddall Parade. It’s unlike any other building in the street.

This impressive edifice was the brainchild of Mr Albert Orange. Albert and his business partner Gunthorpe set up the Rural Land Company, and in 1927 bought 103 acres of land at Oak Flats from the Clout brothers. It included everything between Government and Leamington Roads at Oak Flats today.

In those days Oak Flats was just that; flats full of oaks and not much else. The land had mostly been used as a run for cattle, with the odd ‘holiday house’ on the lake foreshore. Many investors from all across the state purchased building blocks at the first land sale at Oak Flats in 1925, with a view to one day building a holiday home or permanent home on the shores of beautiful Lake Illawarra.

Of course, then the Depression hit. Some owners had to sell, some had to settle for living in tents or primitive shanties. They survived somehow off fish caught in the lake, and by trapping rabbits.

In 1927, with no crystal ball, and no idea of the future stock market crash that would instigate the Great Depression, Albert set about his plans. He had high hopes for his Panorama Estate, the name he gave to the land bought from the Clouts. He surveyed and released blocks for private sale.

The holiday season in 1927 saw over 2000 holidaymakers camped on the shores at Lake South. At night, crowds would gather with flare

lamps and lanterns to go in search of delicious lake prawns that could be scooped out with a bucket.

The sand hills at the lake were up to 70 feet high, depending on the winds. Locals and tourists would spend hours skiing down the sand hills on cardboard or Masonite off-cuts. In later years, some of that sand was used as infill during the construction of the steelworks.

Albert had the idea that Oak Flats would become a tourist mecca. In 1929, to cash in on the bumper tourist trade, he built a two-storey guest house on the lake foreshore, on what is today The Esplanade. He called it Illawarra House. It offered sumptuous furnishings, modern bathrooms, lounges and a music room, a radio player, gramophone and excellent meals.

To accommodate the hundreds of visitors he expected to stay, he commissioned a ferry to transport travellers to and from the railway station at Albion Park Rail. The Lady Albion was a 36ft, 70-passenger ferry built at Albert’s request at Middle Harbour, Sydney. The Lady Albion was registered through a firm Albert established, the Illawarra Ferry Company, and it was captained by William Green of Albion Park.

Holidaymakers who arrived at Albion Park Rail by steam train could hop aboard the Lady Albion from the Koona Bay wharf, and be ferried across the lake to Oak Flats. Albert constructed another jetty adjacent to his Illawarra House to offload the passengers. The foundations of this jetty can still be seen today. The Lady Albion took passengers on

Above, the California Guest House and, at left, travellers to Oak Flats Station in the 1920s. Photos: Shellharbour City Museum

tours and excursions around the lake, visiting the lake entrance and Gooseberry Island, which at the time housed a dance hall.

Those carefree years all changed with the onset of the Great Depression in the 1930s. Albert was forced to sell his Illawarra House.

The Chambers family purchased it in 1936. They had come to Lake Illawarra in 1932 to operate a bakery that had come up for sale in Reddall Parade. All bread was made by hand and baked in a wood oven. Deliveries were three times a week to Albion Park, Marshall Mount and Oak Flats.

Tom Chambers had local man Jack Day dismantle the Illawarra House at Oak Flats, transport it in pieces to its new home at Reddall Parade, and rebuild it. Tom and Beulah renamed it the California Guest House.

The guest house today is a private residence. On the floor inside you can see where it was cut in half for transport in 1936. The wall in what was the common area is littered with holes created by flying darts that missed their mark, probably after too many beers.

At Oak Flats, Albert tried to sell his Panorama Estate blocks. Land sales were slow. Unemployed men squatted with their families in tents and rough dwellings made from old fruit boxes covered with hessian and a thin coat of sand and cement.

There are few reminders of Albert’s time at Oak

Flats; the crumbling jetty foundations near the original site of the Illawarra Guesthouse, and four streets in Oak Flats that lie on part of the original Panorama Estate; Malin Road, named after his wife Nellie’s family, and David, Gordon and Eleanor Avenues, named after their three children.

To find about more about the history of Shellharbour City, visit Shellharbour City Museum’s online platform, discovershellharbour.recollect.net.au

Reddall Parade and the California Guest House in the distance c.1950s

Artists of the Illawarra

Lesley Roulston meets Deborah Ellsmore of Shellharbour City Arts Society

Jamberoo-based creative Deborah Ellsmore has been “playing with clay”, as she describes her passion for ceramics, for about 10 years.

Before she retired, Deborah was a textile and design teacher at Kiama High School with plans to do “textile-related things” when she finished working. This changed after a friend invited her to do a Garden Sculptures and Mosaics Course for fun at Wollongong’s WEA. There she used clay and was surprised at how addictive she found it.

“I went in to learn about mosaics and got hooked on clay pots,” Deborah says.

Deborah wanted to pursue her new passion but still loved textiles, so she decided to use both clay and textiles in her designs. She felt this gave her a creative space that was a little different to just focusing on one medium. Deborah builds all her designs by hand and prefers to create decorative pieces rather than focus on functionality.

“For a time, I became a little bit obsessed with using paper yarn,” she says. “I do basketry as well,

Join Probus

Albion Park branch welcomes new members

so I would use the clay and add decorative basketry to it as a point of difference.”

Deborah says she is obsessed with spheres and spherical shapes and is exploring how to incorporate weaving into her work.

Deborah joined the Shellharbour City Arts Society four years ago and she encourages any creative person to sign up as it is a great way to get feedback and to exhibit work.

“I love talking to other creatives who do different things, like painting with watercolours, for example, and with like-minded people who have similar obsessions,” Deborah says.

“My advice for others starting out in ceramics is to have patience. It’s a long process – create, dry, fire, create again, fire again – and don’t be too precious with what happens.”

Follow @necessity_is on Instagram and visit the Shellharbour City Arts Society at www.shellharbourcityarts.com.au

The Albion Park Probus Club welcomes new members who are retired or semi-retired to enjoy guest speakers, outings, luncheons and trips. The club meets every third Monday of the month at Albion Park Bowling Club at 10am. In November, they enjoyed an outing to Kiama Nursery and lunch at Kiama Harbour. The guest speaker from Bendigo Bank spoke about banking issues, including how to spot scams. In December, the club meeting will be a Christmas lunch with games, raffles and entertainment. In 2025, a six-day trip to central west NSW has been planned.

For more information, call secretary Margaret Reed on 0417 229 761.

Great bush camp

By Belinda Dawson, Relieving Principal at Shellharbour Public School

In November, Year 5 and 6 students, for the first time, embarked on an unforgettable adventure to The Great Aussie Bush Camp in Kincumber.

Over three action-packed days, they embraced new challenges, built lasting memories, and grew as individuals and as a team. The adventure began with canoeing, where students worked together to navigate their way across the water. The high ropes course followed, pushing everyone to their limits as they tested their courage on towering obstacles.

The Giant Swing and Power Fan offered heart-pounding moments, as students faced their fears and soared through the air. The kids got hands-on with raft-building, using pioneering techniques to create floating structures that could hold their weight on the water.

The Lost Island Obstacle Course was next, where students climbed, crawled, and waded through mud, challenging their physical strength and having a wonderful time.

Archery was another highlight,

as students learned the art of precision and focus. The camp also featured a disco night and an exciting night of Commando, where teams ventured into the bush on a mission to rescue teammates from a fort.

From the activities to the camaraderie, students and staff had a fantastic time.

It was a memorable three days filled with adventure, teamwork, and personal growth – a trip that will be remembered for years to come!

The Pines opens pop-up farm shop

By Cathy Law

After years of frustration, Mahlah and Kel Grey of The Pines Kiama are finally able to open their dairy farm to the public thanks to changes to state rules promoting agritourism.

“We’ve always wanted to be able to have people visit our farm to connect with their food, but it wasn’t possible,” says Mahlah.

“Having visitors on farm and farmgate sales is now legal without a DA, and we are starting with a pop-up to see how it goes.”

She and Kel are the sixth generation of Greys to farm on Saddleback Mountain, and it is taking all their tenacity and resilience to continue to do so.

The first major decision they made, after taking over the reins of the 100-acre farm in 2008, was to become an independent micro-dairy processing their own milk. The idea was to cut out the middleman and sell direct to the public to make their small herd, 20 this year, economically viable.

This led to making value-added products – yoghurt, gelato and cheese – on-farm, to sell at the Kiama Farmers’ Market, Carriageworks Market in Sydney and their own shop, The Pines Pantry in Kiama.

“Ideally we would have had a farm shop all this time,” says Mahlah. “Elsewhere they have been a popular way of connecting people with food producers for a long time.”

While brimming with ideas for future interactions with the public, the Greys are initially opening their farmgate every second Sunday morning for people to enjoy a coffee, a fresh gelato and a wander around paths to see the cows (sometimes in the distance), newly arrived pigs and chickens, a thriving permaculture garden and the amazing view.

On-site parking is limited so Mahlah is hoping

Kel and Mahlah Grey. Photos: Cathy Law & supplied

people consider riding or walking up the foothills to get to the farm to make the most of the morning.

“It’s all self-guided, and low-key at the moment as we are a working farm,” says Mahlah.

“We will be introducing proper farm tours in the coming months, where we will be able to explain what we do and why we do it.

“These will include both tours for families and in-depth tours focusing on our approach to regenerative farming.”

The Pines’ new season, non-homogenised milk – which you decant yourself into a reusable bottle you bring or buy – is also available to take home, along with yoghurt and beautiful organic produce grown on-site by Kerryn McInnis’ Passion Project.

It is a great opportunity to check out the tranquil deck where Inner Seeds’ yoga classes are offered during the week.

As this issue went to press, The Pines was due to host its first on-site masterclass, featuring biodynamics expert, Hamish Mackay.

“It’s for people interested in the interconnections between human health and soil health,” says Mahlah. “We had to go out west to do his course a few years ago, so it is great to bring him across to the South Coast.”

With 20 per cent of the output of the Australian dairy industry already coming from fully-housed cows, fed on cheap grain, the farm visits are an opportunity to reflect on where you want your milk to come from.

“The health benefits of products from animals in a healthy pasture-based system are all well documented,” says Mahlah, noting that the percentage of fully-housed cows is expected to jump to 50 per cent by 2040.

“We know milk from cows in pasture has higher nutritional content, yet the system is all geared towards the big producers and brings crippling costs for small producers.”

The pop-up farm shop is open fortnightly on Sundays, 8-11am. Look for the entrance sign at 152 Saddleback Mountain Road. Visit thepineskiama.com.au and follow on Instagram @thepinesfarm_

The Illawarra’s Curtain and Blind Specialist

Providing professional and friendly advice for all your window furnishing needs, both inside and out.

7 Johnson St, Kiama Downs Phone (02) 4237 8280

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Eliza Grey with the pigs

Wild About Shellharbour winners

By Lesley Roulston

3 2

The theme for this year’s Wild About Shellharbour Photography Competition was ‘Connecting with Country’ and Shellharbour residents submitted stunning images in a bid to win.

The competition, an initiative of Shellharbour City Council, has two categories – 18 Years and Over and Under 18 Years – with a first prize, runner-up and People’s Choice winner selected for each.

We spoke to some of the photographers about their incredible images.

18 Years and Over

1. 1st place: ‘A Time to Dream’ by Simon Theuma Simon has been snapping underwater and its

fascinating marine life for the past 24 years. He used to do a lot of land photography but when he started scuba diving, capturing images of the underwater world became his passion.

“It’s something special for me. I find it really satisfying to take these photos,” said Simon.

His winning image was taken at Bass Point using very specialised equipment. To set up the shot with the prawn on top of the starfish, the subject had to be enlarged.

2. Runner-up: ‘After the Rain’ by Doug Hewitt

A keen photographer for the past eight years, Doug was really interested in capturing the rainforest near his home at Tullimbar.

“We had explored the Cascade Walk in Macquarie Pass National Park before moving here and I have seen it many times since then, so I knew after the rain it was spectacular.”

Doug said he tried to get up there as often as he could to take photos. In addition to the rainforest, Doug enjoys capturing sunrises, the night sky, the Milky Way and beach photos.

3. People’s Choice: ‘Clover Hill Falls’ by Renee Mitchell

Renee Mitchell is looking to turn her passion for photography into a professional career. She has been an avid photographer since picking up her first camera about six years ago, taking it whenever she ventured out, so “she could turn what she saw into something beautiful for both herself and others”.

Bushwalking has always been something Renee enjoys, and she submitted her image of Clover Hill Falls to the competition because she believed it was a great reflection of the beauty of the Shellharbour that could be showcased to locals and visitors.

Under 18 Years

4. 1st place: ‘Bushrangers Beauty’ by Summer Brooks

Summer remembers always being a keen photographer, as a young child asking her mum for her camera so she could take different shots. Once she was given her own camera as a birthday present a few years ago, it was full steam ahead.

Recently, Summer obtained her open water diver’s licence and a GoPro camera, so she was able to take her winning image of a Grey Nurse Shark at Bushrangers Bay.

She remembered that dive and taking that shot in detail: “The clarity was really good and there were sharks everywhere. It was beautiful. This shark was behind me, the light was coming back

through the water and it was a perfect shot. I nearly forgot to take it as I was so in awe of all the sharks.”

5. Runner-up and People’s Choice Award: ‘Beautiful Sky’ and ‘Cute little Moon’ by Leyla Ahishali Leyla was only six when she entered the competition, after hearing her mum Deniz speaking to her older siblings about it.

“I would like to enter,” she told her mum, so when they were next out walking by the lake near the playground at Mount Warrigal, Deniz handed her phone to Leyla who snapped away at the beautiful surroundings. The resulting images were gorgeous and perfectly highlighted the beauty of Shellharbour.

Teen flautist wins award

By Lesley Roulston

Sixteen-year-old flautist Annabel Wouters has won the 2025 Eva Pascoe Award.

Run by the Highlands Music Collective, the award aims to nurture young talent and is for classical musicians aged 14 to 24 who are connected to the Southern Highlands and surrounds. It was established in 2023 by Dr Timothy Pascoe in memory of his wife Eva; today the Pascoe Awards are given in memory of both Timothy and Eva.

Annabel receives a $3000 Eva Pascoe Award, as well as mentoring and chamber music opportunities with the Highlands Music Collective, while finalists each receive a $200 Timothy Pascoe Encouragement Award. Recipients this year were

Oscar Dunn-Luck, 18; Fin Torpy, 19; Hana Lee, 18; Robert Nelson, 14; and Charlie Blake, 18.

The Highlands Music Collective was founded in 2019 by Myee Clohessy, a professional violinist who is now the collective’s artistic director.

The chamber music ensemble was formed during Myee’s nine-year stint as artistic director of the Bowral Autumn Festival and 12-year stint performing professionally with the Acacia Quartet at festivals throughout Australia. Myee realised there was a demand for chamber music in her hometown in the Southern Highlands region, so she gathered a committee and they turned HMCollective into a not-for-profit incorporated association dedicated to bringing concerts to the local community.

Performances feature the music of many Australian composers and the composers themselves often attend. Myee says it’s vital to provide a platform for Australian composers, as well as some lesser-known and forgotten composers (often women).

Visit www.hmcollective.com.au

Art therapist’s guide to wellbeing

By Lesley Roulston

Social Freedom: The Path to Wellbeing is a new book about mental health coping strategies by local resident Deborah Devaal.

Deborah says the book explores how understanding and managing our emotions can lead to better mental health.

“It’s a guide for those seeking to enhance their wellbeing and navigate life’s challenges,” she says.

“As an art therapist and wellbeing coach, I’ve worked with a wide range of clients, from young individuals facing mental health challenges, to entrepreneurs dealing with burnout, to parents struggling to balance daily life. Over time, I developed a method to help each of them improve their wellbeing.

“In our sessions, I often created sketches and wrote down tools for clients to take home. After doing this repeatedly, I realised how beneficial it would be to have all these resources in one place –that’s how the idea for this book came about.”

Her book includes case studies and practical exercises to help readers improve their emotional wellbeing and enjoy a more balanced life.

The title refers to a state of mind where you feel comfortable being yourself, Deborah says.

“With social freedom, you can express your thoughts, connect with others, and handle social situations with ease. It also means setting boundaries, communicating your needs, and facing challenges confidently. In essence, social freedom is about being true to yourself and feeling good about it.”

The book delves into how mastering emotions can positively transform your life.

“My hope is that it will guide readers, empowering them and sparking their curiosity to reach their full potential and live their best life.”

Visit www.devaaldesign.com.au

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Scan the QR Code to visit our website ENTER “flame” at checkout for a 5% discount! rainmakerbushfiresprinklers.com.au

Donate to Need a Feed

$35 to feed 1 family for 1 week or $297 to feed 40 people in the Breakfast Buddies program needafeed.org/ donations

SUP Packages

Splash out on Stand Up

Paddleboarding Shellharbour’s Xmas sale! $899 (rrp $1649)

Contact Supshellharbour@ bigpond.com

Christmas Decorations

Timber Trees (approx 300mm) & Metal Art

Christmas Trees (approx 200mm) with battery-powered lights, $20

Southern Illawarra Men’s Shed, 121 Industrial Rd, Oak Flats (Tues-Thurs 8am-2pm), call Gary on 0434 099 558

Gift Guide

Looking for a little something special this festive season? Check out these great ideas for the festive season

Pilates Gift Voucher

Give the gift of Health + Wellness this Xmas with a Private Reformer session plus x 5 group classes!

Use at any studio location

Warilla | Fairy Meadow | Woonona $120 (valued at $240) www.pilateshaus.com.au 0432 163 589

Modapelle Leather Bags

100% genuine leather bags for ladies and men, featuring beautiful vintage and hand-painted styles. Designed for style and practicality, these high-quality bags are perfect for carrying sunglasses, prescription eyewear, and more. Give the gift of timeless elegance this Christmas!

From just $34.95

See Side Optical Thirroul – 02 4268 3933 www.seesideopticalthirroul.com.au

What’s On

Share community events for free at www.theillawarraflame.com.au

Soft Plastics Drop-offs

23 Feb Collect your soft plastics over the holidays and recycle in the new year at Albion Oval carpark, Ash Ave, 9am-3pm. It’s free and part of a 12-month trial with Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation. Drop-offs will also be held in Wollongong (Dec 27, 28 and 30) and in Kiama on 12 February, 8am-4pm at Minnamurra Waste Facility and Ulladulla recycling & waste depot. Pictured: Shellharbour City Council Mayor Chris Homer (centre), with Ryan Stirling, Executive Manager – Waste Services (left) and Ebony Rutten, Technical Officer – Waste Education (right). Photo: Shellharbour City Council.

Lake Illawarra Entrance Options

20 Dec Cut off for feedback is 5pm. Wollongong and Shellharbour councils want to manage the impacts and changes around the lake entrance and foreshore. Visit https://letschatshellharbour.com

Roo Theatre

14 & 15 Dec 7pm All I Want for Christmas is Roo! Tix $25, www.roo-theatre.com.au

Gumaraa’s Cultural Experience

14 Dec 10am-12pm, Aboriginal Cultural Day, The Farm Killalea. $50-$60, gumaraa.com.au

What’s On @ Shellharbour Libraries

2 Dec Sewing Workshop for Beginners: Mend & Makeover, Shellharbour City, 5:30pm Cost:$5

3 Dec Brain Games, Albion Park, 10:30am Free

3 Dec How to survive a shark attack with Brett Connellan, Shellharbour City Library, 6pm Free

4 Dec Everybody Makes: Clay beaded necklace, Albion Park Library, 10:30am Cost: $5

5 Dec Author Talks in the garden: with local author Jan Merriman, Warilla Library, 10:30am Free

12 Dec Scam awareness and prevention workshop

with NSW Police, Warilla Library, 10am Free

12 Dec Author Talks in the garden: with local author Lyn Behan, Warilla Library, 10:30am Free

16 Dec Merry Makers: Mini macrame wall hangers, Oak Flats Library, 11am Cost: $5

19 Dec Pantry Prep: Gingerbread jars and Christmas carols, Albion Park, 10:30am, Cost: $8

Gingerbread Houses

16 Dec Albion Park Library, 10:30am Cost: $25

17 Dec Oak Flats Library, 10:30am Cost: $25

18 Dec Warilla Library, 10:30am Cost: $25

The Waterfront

13 Dec Santa’s Arrival & Movie Night, 4.30-9.30pm

13 Dec Seniors by the Sea Christmas Sing-along, The Waterfront Tavern 9:30-11:30am

14 Dec Card Making, Sales Centre, 6:30-8pm

Last Sunday of the month. Georgia Rose Boutique Markets, from 10am at The Waterfront Shell Cove Wednesdays @ 8:30am. The Waterfront Walkers.

Shell Cove Community Garden Weekly Wed 9-11am and Sat from 3pm-5pm. Shellcove.community@frasersproperty.com.au

Shellharbour City Arts Society Exhibitions

15 Dec-30 Feb Stoic Brewing,Gerringong 2 Dec-22 Jan Imaginarium, Shellharbour Village 1-6 March GLaM Gallery Gerringong

Shellharbour VIEW Club

2nd Thursday of each month, Warilla Bowling Club. Bookings essential for lunch. Contact president Janice Holzhauser, 0481 481379.

Shellharbour Men’s Shed

Tues, Wed & Thurs Work on projects in a well-equipped workshop. 32A Addison St, Shellharbour Village, 02 42978 005, shell_ mensshed@yahoo.com.au

South Illawarra Older Women’s Network

3rd Friday each month. 2-4pm at St Peter’s and Paul Church, Kiama. southillawarra@ownnsw.org.au

Kiama and Shellharbour Camera Club

Every 2nd Wednesday Zoom meetings, 0419 289 110, www.kiamashellharbour.myphotoclub.com.au

Shell Cove Combined Probus Club

3rd Monday 10am at Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club, Barrack Heights, www.probus southpacific.org

Southern Illawarra Men’s Shed

Tues, Wed & Thurdays 8am-3pm, 121B Industrial Rd, Oak Flats, 0493 058 874, southernillawarramensshed@gmail.com

job Top

By Lesley Roulston

Principal Loreta Kocovska with some of her students at Windang Public School. Photos: Tyneesha Williams

It’s no wonder Windang Public School’s Loreta Kocovska has been recognised as the nation’s top public primary school principal.

Loreta has been instrumental in transforming her school into a place of excellence in learning and development – so much so that the school itself won a prize this year.

On August 5, Windang PS was honoured for its knowledge-rich curriculum with the Secretary’s Award for School Achievement at the 2024 Public Education Awards.

A few days later, at an August 9 gala event attended by 800 people at Star City Casino, Loreta was named ‘2024 Primary School Principal of the Year – Government’ at the Australian Education Awards, run by The Educator

Loreta had been nominated then shortlisted in a group of 17 finalists, but only found out that she had won on the night, with all her team present.

Loreta said she became a teacher because she was “passionate about shaping young minds and fostering a love of learning”.

“I strongly believe in the power of education to transform lives and wanted to play a pivotal role in helping children and young adults develop their knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the growth and achievements of young learners and know that I’ve contributed to their journey.”

Magic of ‘lightbulb moments’

Loreta said she loved teaching because she enjoys “being part of students’ educational journeys as they learn, grow and succeed”.

“Witnessing those magical lightbulb moments

when understanding dawns and confidence blossoms, makes each day deeply rewarding.

“Some of my proudest moments as a teacher include witnessing students grow, thrive, and achieve their goals. A particularly significant achievement has been my appointment as the principal of Windang PS, where I’ve had the privilege of leading a transformative journey over the past five years.

“Together with my staff, we have revitalised the entire school, from replacing roofs and refurbishing every classroom to strategically designing outdoor play areas.

“These improvements were driven by our commitment to providing students with a well-rounded education.

Loreta emphasised that it’s important to balance high-quality teaching and learning in the classroom with opportunities for creative play.

Transformation of a school

Thanks to her leadership, the school has become a place where the kids enjoy learning, and the teachers enjoy teaching.

During Loreta’s tenure, the school has received a complete overhaul: toilets installed in 1942 have been replaced, the basketball court has been resurfaced, the football field has been transformed into a usable play space, and the playground, which had been sealed off, is now open for the kids to use. The roof has been replaced, classrooms refurbished and gardens landscaped.

Teaching has also changed.

Loreta said the teachers “now teach the Windang Public School way”.

“This involves a 30-minute morning routine with all of the children in every year group being readied for the rest of their learning day.”

It seems to be paying off – in 2024, all of the children in Year 3 achieved above the national average in Naplan and, for the first time in a decade, Year 5 achieved above the national average in mathematics.

Introducing joy of music

Loreta believes a well-rounded education is vital, so students now have lots of co-curricular opportunities.

All students are taught music each week and a school band has begun with Louise Luke, an experienced music teacher who secured the position through the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.

Art is taught every week by an artist-inresidence and Angelina Maranesi – the author of the school’s new book, The Island and the Bridge – teaches Italian.

Sport is popular, with experts visiting each week to help coach basketball, football, netball, soccer and swimming. Loreta said three boys were recently selected to represent Australia in touch football at a tournament in New Zealand.

For anyone dreaming of becoming a teacher, Loreta said the job is all about connecting with young people.

“My advice for the next generation of teachers is simple: relationships, relationships, relationships.

“Just like in real estate, where location is key, in education, building strong connections with your students is everything.

“Every day is unique, and with each new day comes the responsibility of caring for someone else’s most precious gift, their child.

“Show up each day with dedication, knowing that by teaching a child to read, write, and understand numbers, you are giving them the tools for a successful future filled with limitless possibilities.”

Kids’ art features in storybook about Windang Bridge

By Lesley Roulston

A new children’s picture book, The Island and the Bridge, is a team effort, written by a local author and illustrated by a local artist and Windang Public School students.

Former student and current Windang Public School teacher Angelina Maranesi wrote the book, former student and local artist Melissa Ritchie illustrated the book, and students’ artwork features in the book.

The Island and the Bridge is a fictional tale set around the time when the Windang Bridge was built. The story follows a friendship between two girls, Thelma and Maggie, who live on opposite sides of the lake and can only play together at low tide. The girls explore Windang Island during their adventures and dream of a forever connection by way of a bridge linking their homes.

During her research, Angelina found Shellharbour City Council’s historical documents indicating that before Windang Bridge was built people could only travel between Wollongong and Shellharbour if they crossed the lake at low tide.

Angelina also discovered that the bridge builders lived in tents on the banks of the lake while working there and a big party was held to celebrate the opening of the bridge in 1938 – she felt it was important to include these details in the book.

The book was a massive project, completed with the help of Windang Public School principal Loreta Kocovska and artist Melissa Ritchie.

Angelina knew it would be a big task to engage and interest 200 children in the project. So the first step was an excursion for all students to spark their

imagination. K-2 went to the bridge, heard stories about the history and the area, and sketched the bridge; Years 3-6 went to the surf club and sketched the ocean.

The children were then ready for art workshops with Melissa, an accomplished local artist who has been a finalist in The Archibald and Doug Moran National Portrait Prizes, and many others over the years. Melissa led three workshops over six weeks, ensuring each child contributed to the book.

Kindergarten and Year 1 painted the background (water, sand, rocks, grass, skies, sun and storm), Years 2 and 3 painted marine animals, boats, cars, trucks, the bridge and foreshores, and Years 4 to 6 painted the main characters and other people in the story.

Melissa then used her skills as a graphic designer and artist to bring the artworks together. The result is a beautiful book with a story of its own.

For more information on The Island and the Bridge or to buy a copy ($20), call the school on 4295 1852

Tender in name and nature

By Susan Luscombe

As a community we tend to keep death and dying at arm’s length, until we experience the death of a close friend or family member. Commonly, with little or no experience, we outsource the whole process to the for-profit funeral industry.

In 2009, a group from Port Kembla Community Centre developed their desire for deeper participation in death and dying through the idea of community-led funerals. Tender Funerals Illawarra, a not-for-profit registered charity, officially opened in 2016.

Tender operates out of the former fire station in Port Kembla and offers affordable, personalised, meaningful funerals. The Tender model has been replicated in Wauchope, west of Port Macquarie, with several other locations in development.

The aim is to change the culture around death and dying, and to work with family and friends to provide an experience according to their needs and the wishes of the person.

I experienced this first-hand following the death of my mother last year.

I first heard about Tender years ago through my friend and Tender’s artist-in-residence, Michele Elliot. The Tender team gently assisted with the care of my mum, offering as much involvement as we wanted, including decorating the coffin and preparing our mum for the funeral.

Tender has 12 paid staff and more than 20 volunteers.

“Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at Tender, from assisting on a funeral service, administrative tasks, gardening, transport or assisting the funeral directors to care for someone in the mortuary,” manager Nadine Giles says.

Nadine began as a Tender volunteer in 2017 after the death of her best friend, Suze. Nadine then left

the Illawarra, working as a funeral director in Melbourne, before returning to Tender in 2021.

“We are thankful to receive donations from the community of sheets and cushions, or pillows to assist with the personal care for everyone we look after at Tender,” Nadine says.

A benevolent fund, supported through donations, allows Tender to offer concession rates to families experiencing financial difficulties.

Recently, Tender assisted with the first interment in the natural burial site at Wollongong Lawn Cemetery, Kembla Grange.

Every year, Tender hosts a memorial picnic to honour loved ones. The first one since Mum’s death was on a sunny winter’s day at Mt Keira Scout Camp surrounded by rainforest and calling black cockatoos. Attendees were invited to share food influenced by the memories of their loved one.

Tender also hosts a community choir and a sewing circle. The choir, led by Malika Elizabeth, meets every second Tuesday night and performs at funerals and other events, including the annual picnic. Michele Elliot supports a sewing circle, which meets every second Saturday.

Visit tenderfunerals.com.au

Memorial picnic.

Photo: Susan Luscombe

‘I saw a blank canvas’

Artist Melissa Ritchie, the president of the Illawarra Association for the Visual Arts (IAVA), shares her experience of a Tender Funeral

My aunt Robyn Artho – twin sister to my mother Margaret Owers (nee Compton) and an artist like me – was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease a couple of years ago, so we were somewhat prepared for her death.

Though she didn’t feel comfortable discussing her funeral she had pre-purchased a burial plot, and left details – including a song playlist – to her children. Also, Monique (her eldest daughter) said “Mum hated cut flowers”; she loved living flowers.

The family met with Tender Funerals and Amy (so wonderful) showed us the coffin options. When I saw the plain cardboard coffin, I saw a blank canvas. I knew it was perfect for Aunty Robyn! After a brief discussion with her children, Lauren, Kristian and Monique, and my mum, we all agreed I’d paint her coffin as a memorial for her.

Aunty Robyn had selected an effigy, a tiger, so I painted a tiger surrounded by three roses (representing her sisters), three dragonflies (her children) and seven butterflies (her grandchildren). The hands in a heart shape represent her hands, and the last thing she’d ‘say’ to us in a non-verbal

way in her last few months: “I love you.”

I spent a week painting her coffin and it was extremely cathartic. Then family and friends painted, drew, and wrote their own messages of love on the coffin for Robyn’s farewell.

Tender Funerals were so wonderful and supportive of our family during this difficult time.

Thank you, Amy.

her late

she

Sea shell mural by the sea shore

By Lesley Roulston

A new mural featuring colourful sea shells by local artist Claire Foxton has been unveiled at Shell Cove’s Waterfront Marina.

Claire was commissioned to paint the mural as part of the 2024 PromenART exhibition.

In June, Claire made media headlines when she painted a 14-metre-high mural of Shellharbour’s Matildas star Caitlin Foord on a wall at Wollongong Central shopping centre, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Inspiration for her mural at Shell Cove’s Waterfront struck as Claire started laying down her base colours and she decided to continue the nautical theme of the marina. Her love of realism shines through in the vibrant use of colour, shape and form to highlight the shells’ beauty.

Claire grew up in the Illawarra and studied creative arts at the University of Wollongong. After graduating, she worked for the uni as a graphic designer before taking on mural jobs here and there. She fell in love with the physicality and scale of mural painting, and soon started working for herself as an artist and designer.

Claire is now known for large-scale murals, which she has created in Australia, the United States and New Zealand. She is often invited to work at street festivals in Australia and around the world.

Love her work? Check out the Old Ambulance Station on Terralong St in Kiama, where a big boat mural pays tribute to the town’s fishing heritage.

Follow @Claire_foxton on Instagram

Melissa with

Aunty Robyn, who

honoured with a hand-painted coffin.

Photos: Melissa Ritchie

Locals cross English Channel

By Lesley Roulston

The English Channel is the world’s busiest shipping lane – every day more than 500 vessels move from England to Europe and from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and vice-versa. So, the biggest danger for swimmers attempting to cross the channel is not sharks but ships. Factor in jellyfish, changing tides and currents, as well as physical and mental exhaustion and it’s easy to see why swimming across the English Channel is regarded as one of the world’s toughest swim challenges.

We talked to Kiama endurance athletes Ben Gaffey and Samson Hollywood, Albion Park’s Alex Shoebridge and swim coach Philip McILwraith from PK Swim School in Dapto about the experience.

The Coach: Philip McILwraith

Ben Gaffey

Completed 1 August 2024 in 12hr 51min

Philip McILwraith is a swimming coach with 26 years’ experience in coaching endurance athletes for triathlons and open-water swim events So when Ben Gaffey asked him for help in training to swim across the English Channel, Philip knew it would be a massive commitment. It would take two years of coaching to prepare Ben for the treacherous swim, which can be up to 38km long, then require an international trip of several weeks, no easy task for a man with a young family.

Philip agreed to coach Ben and his training partner, Samson, full-time and to assist Alex, who was making the crossing separately to Ben and Samson, once a week. When interviewed, the three swimmers could not speak highly enough of Phil’s training methods and his exceptional character, which motivated them to finish the gruelling swim.

Phil drew up a comprehensive training program for Ben– five to six sessions per week, including lap and ocean pool swimming – but the regimen had to be flexible enough to accommodate the demands of everyday life.

With Alex, Phil had to monitor his progress and help him with technique.

After years of training, when it came time for the Channel crossings, Samson ended up doing his swim a few days before Ben. Phil spent an arduous 12 to 13 hours at sea on each swim, guiding and encouraging Ben and Samson through challenging tidal and weather conditions.

Channel swims start in complete darkness and both the swimmers depended on Philip to guide them across, to make sure they maintained the correct pace and to help them to overcome physical and mental exhaustion.

Ben had been an elite athlete for several years, completing Ironman triathlons (3.8km swim, 180.2km bike ride and 42.2km run) before he decided to swim the English Channel.

Ben soon realised swimming the English Channel was a complex process. There was a two-year waiting list to book a spot as it could be attempted only three months of the year (JuneAugust), and only 12 boats offered pilot services to athletes. Even if you had a spot booked, the wind, tides and weather could still stop your swim.

It is not so much a race, Ben said, as getting from point A to point B, but you have to keep a certain pace otherwise you miss your chance to swim into the shortest finishing point in French waters, either side of Cap Gris Nez. If you miss that point of entry you have to swim further, sometimes a couple of hours more, to reach land.

During Ben’s swim, the support crew helped with regular feeds – a bottle of liquid every 30 minutes – pain medication and antihistamines. All this had to be dropped overboard on a string as the swimmer is not allowed to touch the boat and the crew are not allowed to touch the swimmer. Even the time it took to refuel the boat had to be calculated accurately so Ben didn’t miss the tide.

Ships were a major hazard during his swim. Ben even saw the Ever Given, the 220,000-tonne megaship that ran aground and blocked the Suez Canal for six days in 2021.

The biggest challenge, however, was mental. Ben relied on Phil’s expert coaching, and a white board (with words of encouragement on it) that was dangled in front of him. At certain times during the swim Phil was allowed to swim alongside Ben to encourage him to keep going.

Ben eventually finished the swim in 12 hours and 51 minutes, ending at Cap Gris Nez.

Samson Hollywood

Completed 27 July 2024 in 13hr 27min

After training for 12 months with Ben, Samson was keen to book a spot to complete the English Channel crossing himself, but no available time-slot lined up with Ben’s. When Samson arrived in England, he tried again and while most boat pilots said ‘no’, one told him to keep checking – and a time-slot came up.

Samson knew Alex had already completed his swim and that was “really encouraging”.

On the Thursday after he had arrived, Samson asked his pilot if he could swim on the Saturday. The pilot said the weather was a little rough, but it was doable for a strong swimmer. When Samson received a call from the pilot at 1am on the Saturday to meet at 3am to start, he doubted himself, but Phil knew what Samson was capable of and said: “Tell him we are going!”

After the first hour, Samson started to relax in the rough conditions, because he knew if he became frustrated he ran the risk of not finishing. He was cold for the entire swim and his main fear was the risk of hypothermia and that he would get pulled out of the water before he finished.

Samson credits Phil, Ben and the support crew with helping him to push through and finish. He missed the Cap Gris Nez landing and had to swim a couple of extra hours into the bay to finish.

However, when he stumbled to shore he received a hero’s welcome. He could hear people yelling out his name but didn’t understand why. The whole experience was surreal, he said.

Samson said Phil’s coaching and mentoring during training and the swim itself was crucial to his Channel crossing success.

“If I wasn’t feeling great, he lifted me up.”

Alex Shoebridge

Completed 18 July 2024 in 13hr 33min

Alex had intended to swim the Channel in 2020 but Covid-19 prevented that, so he rescheduled to 2024. Phil had been his swim coach on and off for several years and, in 2005, Alex did a team relay Channel crossing with his brother and father, but he wanted to do a Channel swim by himself.

Alex said his training regimen was not typical but he managed one two-hour session, five to six times a week, fitting them around a demanding work schedule and family commitments.

He arrived in the UK on a Monday and his pilot called him about a cancellation on the Thursday. If Alex took that booking, he would only have 72 hours to overcome jet lag and prepare. Conditions were good, so he decided to go ahead: he hired a swimming coach and a support person because his support crew hadn’t arrived in the UK yet.

The biggest challenge Alex faced – apart from jet lag and not having his own support crew – was a shoulder injury. He said he swam the last one and a half hours with one arm. He drew strength from the fact his support person swam with him for the last 45 minutes to make sure he finished the race.

Unfortunately, he missed Cap Gris Nez so he had to swim another two hours to reach land.

He was exhausted, in excruciating pain and couldn’t talk as his tongue was three times its normal size. (Saltwater burns the tongue and often after a long swim like this people can’t swallow for days). He had jellyfish stings and sore eyes from leaky goggles, and he was seasick on the way back to the UK – but he had done it.

He arrived back in Dover, went to The White Horse pub and wrote his name on the wall, a Channel swimmer tradition.

ANBA branch buzzes to life

By Amanda De George

Any doubt that the Illawarra was full of native bee enthusiasts was put to rest after October’s sold-out stingless bee workshop with entomologist Dr Tim Heard and the successful launch of the Illawarra Branch of the Native Bee Association.

More than 50 people attended the event in Thirroul and it was all thanks to the hard work of local stingless beekeeper Christie Peters, who said: “It was a booked-out event. It was like a rock concert. People were contacting me at all hours of the night saying, ‘Can I get a ticket?’”

There are 2000 species of native bees in Australia, Tim told attendees. “If you compare that to birds, there’s only 800 [bird] species in Australia.”

Tim – a former CSIRO research scientist and author of The Australian Native Bee Book – lives in Queensland, where he keeps more than 500 hives and runs Sugarbag Bees (Tetragonula carbonaria).

As cute as the name sounds delicious, the sugarbag bee is a sub-tropical species that occurs naturally from North Queensland down to around Bega. While they are a relatively easy species to keep, Tim said of having a hive in the Illawarra,

“You are getting close to the margins and everything works a little slower here.”

That means that while small amounts of honey are created in a stingless bee hive, it may not be advisable to take it for your toast, as the bees will likely need most of it.

A motion was passed to create the Illawarra’s own branch of the Australian Native Bee Association (ANBA) and an executive voted in, creating a space where locals can learn from each other, attend workshops and create a bit of a, ahem, buzz.

“I’d like to see more hives get out to schools and into parks and just have a lot more awareness down here about our beautiful native stingless bees,” Christie said.

More info: www.australiannativebee.org.au or call Christie on 0412 497 312

For the Birds

By Genevieve Swart

How many birds are on the Five Islands?

“Ah,” says University of Wollongong scientist Dr Bethany Hoye, “that’s a tricky one.”

Wollongong’s Five Islands are famously home to a large colony of silver gulls, but the nature reserve is also an avian meeting place where land and ocean foragers come to breed.

“Historically, there were estimates around 30 to 50,000 pairs of silver gulls breeding out there,” Bethany says. “But there aren’t, to my knowledge, good numbers for the other species.

“There’s – on again, off again – white-faced storm petrels, short-tail and wedge-tail shearwaters, ibis, little penguins, pelicans, and probably two species of terns.”

The prospect of wind turbines 20km off the Illawarra coast has shone a light on how little we know about what lies beneath or flies above our ocean.

“It’s a zone that we’ve never had the opportunity

to look at,” Bethany says. “And now it’s absolutely critically important.”

She has seen “wildly inaccurate” information bandied about, from concerned birdwatchers who haven’t been able to quantify risks to climate scientists who haven’t taken into account key differences between seabirds in northern and southern hemisphere wind zones.

“Essentially, in high winds their birds flap near the surface, our birds soar on the wind,” Bethany says. “Theirs migrate on predictable schedules (including periods of absence), while the Illawarra hosts different species that come and go on different schedules throughout the year.”

Bethany believes more information is needed so we can make evidence-based decisions. She is among the UOW scientists part of the new Australian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy (ACOWE) launched in August. ACOWE would like to assist with robust, transparent, shared research associated with offshore wind.

Scan the QR to read more, including why scientists believe it’s vital that wind research should be shared

or fan

Corals of our Coast

By Phebe Fidge

Photos: local diver Max DallAsta

If you thought corals were warm-water spectacles exclusive to distant underwater seascapes, think again. Shellharbour scuba instructor Bob McKee has corrected many a tourist who’s assumed it’s too cold for corals on the South Coast.

Local divers can attest to the wonders waiting in offshore kelp beds, from massive rays to weedy sea dragons. However, with a mask, fins and scuba tank you can also spot several species of hard and soft corals on the temperate reefs of the Illawarra.

Here are just two of the corals that adorn our coastline.

Plesiastrea versipora

First up is small knob coral (Plesiastrea versipora), a hard coral that encrusts rocks and debris. It has a wide distribution across tropical and cold waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and can survive for hundreds of years! Small knob corals range in colour depending on the algae (called zooxanthellae) that they adopt into their tissues, providing the corals with the sugars they need to grow and reproduce. This symbiotic relationship is common to many coral species.

Photo by local diver and mermaid Bonnie Harris

Pictured is a small knob coral off the Gutter at Bass Point Reserve. If you look closely, you can see the coral polyps that make up the colony of animals inhabiting its skeleton. You may notice that they resemble little upside-down jellyfish and that is because they are closely related on the evolutionary tree.

Melithaea zimmeri

Melithaea zimmeri is a kind of Gorgonian or “fan coral” (pictured at top). Branches fan out from flexible nodes on a central “trunk”, so these soft corals look like bushes exploding against the blue ocean in vivid reds and oranges. Their spectacular appearance makes them popular subjects for underwater photography and distinctive landmarks for navigating dive sites. Like many corals, they are also popular habitats for small fish, as their intricate structures offer protection from predators.

Corals are not only beautiful, but also incredibly useful! With the global average sea surface temperature expected to rise by up to 4.8°C by the end of this century, it will be important to detect

Small knob coral (Plesiastrea versipora) near the Gutter at Bass Point Reserve, Shellharbour.

Gorgonian

coral (Melithaea zimmeri) near The Gutter at Bass Point Reserve, Shellharbour.

Hello Fish at The Farm

By Duncan Leadbitter

I remember going to The Farm when I was very young. It cost 20c to get through the gate and cross the farmer’s land. Now part of Killalea Regional Park, it is managed by National Parks and access is free. You can follow the road down to the parking area near the beach where surfers access waves at the national surfing reserve known as The Farm.

Some free-diving friends and I jumped in at the beach and swam west towards Mystics. Beach access was easy but it’s worth noting that the area is exposed to southerly swells, which can make all of the southern side of Bass Point undiveable.

The first part of the journey was near gently sloping rocky reef, but this gave way to a series of cliffs and gullies, dropping down the sand in depths

changes in our beloved temperate reef systems.

Using corals as “warning systems” will help us better manage the impacts of climate change. Corals are sensitive to environmental conditions, which regulate their growth and internal composition. In this way, the skeletons of long-lived corals record historical climate information and provide clues as to how environments are changing.

Other clues can be found in the composition of coral communities. ‘Tropicalisation’ or replacement of temperate corals with warm-water species has been observed in Western Australian temperate reefs after repetitive marine heatwaves from 2010 to 2012. Research is needed to characterise the baseline condition of the Illawarra’s unique

of 6m or more. The reefs were covered with a mix of seaweeds (kelp and cray weed) plus cunjevoi. Some of the drop-offs had carpets of the colourful red jewel anemone.

It was winter so fish life was not overly abundant but we did see schools of black drummer, yellowtail and the occasional luderick and red morwong.

We also saw a Port Jackson shark, a wobbegong and two grey nurse sharks. The grey nurses of nearby Bushrangers Bay have become a major attraction for divers, but they are also seen in other parts of Bass Point, including The Farm.

Scan the QR to watch Duncan’s video or follow his YouTube channel, Illawarra Underwater

temperate reef systems and to monitor their responses to future environmental change.

Want to see them for yourself?

If you are ready to explore the corals of the Illawarra coast and meet some local legends, Shellharbour Scuba offers social dives every Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting) at 8.30am. Dive Near Me also offers weekly social dives at 8am on Sundays. Not a diver (yet)?

Learning to scuba dive is one of the best things you will ever do. Become PADI-certified with a local provider and discover new blue horizons.

Visit www.shellharbourscuba.com.au and www.divenearme.com.au

Photos from Duncan’s YouTube channel ‘Illawarra Underwater’

Port Kembla Tidal Chart

4 WE 0414 0.56 1051 1.76 1747 0.31 2345 1.17

5 TH 0459 0.59 1135 1.73 1835 0.32

6 FR 0035 1.16 0549 0.61 1222 1.69 1926 0.33

7 SA 0130 1.17 0646 0.64 1314 1.64 2018 0.34

DECEMBER

December 2024

18 WE 0430 0.53 1105 1.85 1802 0.25

25 WE 0500 1.36 1120 0.71 1656 1.16 2302 0.55

19 TH 0001 1.19 0517 0.58 1149 1.75 1846 0.32

20 FR 0049

28 SA 0029 0.56 0714 1.60 1405 0.47 1946 1.15

29 SU 0110 0.55 0753 1.67 1446 0.39 2032 1.17

30 MO 0151 0.54 0833 1.74 1527 0.32 2115 1.19

15 SU 0206 0.42 0844 1.92 1537 0.17 2131 1.26 SU 1400 1.40

31 TU 0233 0.52 0915 1.80 1607 0.27 2158 1.21

11 WE 0521 1.51 1133 0.52 1730 1.39 2342 0.35

12 TH 0613 1.64 1244 0.42 1835 1.34 13 FR 0030 0.37 0704 1.76 1346 0.31

TIMES AND HEIGHTS OF HIGH AND LOW WATERS LAT 340 29’ LONG 1500 55’

© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2023, 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

Pickleball’s a hit

By Lesley Roulston

Pickleball is taking off in the Illawarra but it’s not new – the game has been played in the US since the 1960s.

The paddle and ball sport is played on a hard surface, either indoors or outdoors. According to Pickleball Australia, it’s an inclusive game, easy to learn, requiring tactics and patience.

Rob Mitchell, president of the Shellharbour Smash Pickleball Club, describes it as “a hybrid between tennis, table tennis and badminton”.

The club was formed in 2022 to promote the sport and help players reach competition level.

Rob says the club plays at Shellharbour City Stadium and runs four sessions a week.

Participants play 8 to 10-minute sets – the first person to reach 11 points is deemed the winner. It’s a social sport and players range in age from university students to seniors.

Shellharbour Smash Pickleball Club recently partnered with Illawarra Sports High School to run even more pickleball sessions.

Daniel Jones, from Jones Co Tennis, runs two sessions of pickleball a week at Kiama High School. No commitment is required, and players can book their spot on the Jones Co website. At the start of each 90-minute session, the team runs through the basics for new players.

Outdoor pickleball courts are located at Shellharbour War Memorial Park, Benaud Crescent, Warilla and Dawes Park, Barrack Point. These are free but can’t be booked, and players must take their own net.