JUNE 2014 by The Illawarra Flame

JUNE 2014

www.2508mag.com.au

DISTRICT NEWS

-WINNING THE AWARD

camellia flower champ! jim powell prepares for show season

2508 CONTENTS LETTERS 03 well done To the winner of a Symbio family pass NEWS 7 Cuddly koala See the ﬁrst photo of young James 14 Land battle back on 2508 reports on the JRPP public hearings held last month 17 Help fight cancer Coastal hike Kids Walk 4 Life is a great community fundraiser BUSINESS 8 Club Makeover CEO Tim McAleer reveals the Tradies’ plans for Helensburgh LIFESTYLE 10 Cover story Meet Jim Powell, our camellia champ 18 Cheer up, Sleepy

Teens ‘Laziness’ may actually be a sleep disorder 20 Breach out Whales! 22 Gardening Explore Wombarra Sculpture Garden 24 What’s on Netball Club’s car boot sale 26 Travel Where dogs can bark till the cows come home 22 History The rise of bushranger Wolloo Jack 29 Clubs News from the Historical Society and VIEW SPORT 40 Sea Eels Well done to new Life Member Barry Allen 43 Golf ‘The Hair’ reports 45 Ironman Nathan Johnston’s spectacular result 47 masters swim star Well done, Al Samuels 48 Go Tigers! Top of table

Cover image by Anthony Warry Photography; www.anthonywarry.tumblr.com

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS Dr Rob Brander ALISON ROWE

– aka ‘Dr Rip’ – is a coastal geomorphologist and Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. A resident of Stanwell Park, he’s been studying beaches for 25 years, starting in Canada where water temperatures convinced him come to Australia to do his PhD. He is an international expert on rip currents and runs a beach safety education program called The Science of the Surf (www.scienceofthesurf. com). He wrote Dr Rip’s Essential Beach Book. Read his column on page 19.

SARA NEWNHAM

is a passionate horticulturist with nearly 20 years’ experience. Starting as a landscaper, she soon discovered a love for plants and design. She has managed many nurseries, retail and wholesale, around Sydney. While raising four children, she worked and studied subjects such as natural area restoration. Sara now runs Creativescapes, a garden design and maintenance business (0451 196 646, creativescapes@iprimus.com.au). Read her column on page 22.

is a Stanwell Park psychologist who has been heavily involved in the community as a President of the P&C, SPAT member, Ethics Teacher and Ethics Coordinator at the local school. She has worked as a psychologist for 13 years and in welfare positions for 20 years. Her services include family therapy and treatment interventions for mental illnesses, including mood, eating, sexuality and developmental disorders (alisonrowe@tpg.com.au or 0409 602 430). She writes about a teenage sleep disorder on page 18.

michael adams

was raised in Stanwell Park and became interested in local history, the Aborigines, Major Sir Thomas Mitchell, and Lawrence Hargrave. He uncovered a nest of bushrangers as a bonus (see page 28). Michael has been a teacher, a principal and a lecturer. He was awarded an educational fellowship to Vietnam, and became sought-after as a Vietnam specialist. His hobby is writing and he has published books on Illawarra history, Lawrence Hargrave and Vietnam. He talks on these topics.

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DISTRICT NEWS Editors

Genevieve Swart, Marcus Craft

Art director Brendon Wise

Consulting editor Angela Fagerstrom

Ad design Wendy Gergos

Regular contributors

Rob Brander, Sara Newnham, Anthony Warry

Printing

Snap! Wollongong

Contact

PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508 editor@2508mag.com.au www.2508mag.com.au www.facebook.com/2508mag There is a contributor’s drop box at Helensburgh Newsagency on Parkes Street.

Advertising

See www.2508mag.com.au for rates, specifications and deadlines. Terms and conditions apply. Email editor@2508mag.com.au 2508: District News is published by The Word Bureau Pty Ltd. ABN 31 692 723 477 Community participation in this monthly magazine is encouraged. Please contact editor@2508mag.com.au with story ideas. Letters should be a maximum of 200 words. The editors reserve the right to edit submissions. Contributors should include contact details for clarification. Disclaimer: All content and images remain the property of 2508: District News unless otherwise supplied. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The views expressed in the letters and other editorial submissions in this issue do not reflect those of the editors. This magazine’s paper is sourced from sustainable forests.

2508 LETTERS Photo: Anthony Noonan/Robert Beazley

have a say LETTER OF THE MONTH

Dear Editor, After reading the “Tunnel Vision” article in the May 2014 edition of 2508 a friend and I decided to go and have a look at the tunnel ourselves. Being new to Helensburgh, we had no idea that they existed and so it was a great tip. We managed to get a pretty good photo of the worms while we were there. We visited the tunnel at about 3:30pm on Saturday so it was still very light outside the tunnel. We were probably 100m into the tunnel to get the picture, where it was pitch black, except for the worms, which looked like stars on the ceiling. It hadn’t been raining, but it was still very wet and muddy in the tunnel. Regards, Bob Beazley Congratulations, Bob. You win our Letter of the Month! The prize is a family pass (2 adults, 2 children) to Symbio Wildlife Park, valued at $75. The zoo’s Koala Sanctuary is now open – read about the latest addition, baby James, on page 7.

COMMUNITY NOTICES RETURN THANKS

Blackwell, Fay – 20th April 2014 The family of our late sister, Fay, wish to thank relatives and friends for the kind expressions of sympathy conveyed to them at this sad time. Special thanks to Dr Peter Crossley-Meates and wife Dawn for the care given to Fay. Also to Bede and Midge for their kind deeds, much appreciated.

IN MEMORIAM

Blackwell, James “Juma”, 29th June 2013. Memories of our time together will be cherished in our hearts forever. So sadly missed, “Juma”. Loving remembrance, all your family and friends.

IN MEMORIAM

Williams, Heather. 22-6-2004. In loving memory of my wife, loved mother

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and grandmother. Always in our thoughts, sadly missed by the family.

THANK YOU

I would like to thank the many people in the local community who welcomed and assisted my mother, June Fisher, during her short time living in Helensburgh. You have helped make the last six months of her life very enjoyable. Thank you also for your kind thoughts for our loss. Helen Hardaker

Hope Church hosts free Money Course

Concerned about personal finances? We provide regular courses over three nights (next one is starting July 28) that will help you take control of your money by doing a budget, and starting a saving plan. This free money management course will help you organise your finances irrespective of your income or financial knowledge. Details: capmoney.org. To register, contact Hope Church 2508, or call 0431 939 171.

MATT SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

Last month 2508 forgot to include contact details for the award-nominated Stanwell Park photographer, Matt Smith. Buy prints via his Facebook page or mattysmithphoto.com 2508 Send your letters and photos to us at PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508, or editor@2508mag.com.au

2508 SOCIETY NINA volunteers at the May luncheon to thank them for their hard work.

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2508 SOCIETY VOLUNTEERS LUNCHEON

Northern Illawarra Neighbour Aid (NINA) celebrated National Volunteers Week with a luncheon at the Centennial Hotel on May 13. “We have 60 current volunteers on our books. This is just our thank you to them,”said NINA assistant manager Tracey Schroeder. Twenty-seven people attended, including four who have been volunteering for two decades: Yvonne Morgan, Eleanor McLeod, Richard Smart and Edythe Wilkin. Other long-term volunteers were Warren Shearer, Dianne Creighton, Bill Dodd, Dennis Hamilton, Mick and Pam Hewitt and Peter Hine. The newest volunteer was 18-year-old Sam Shafer. Volunteers roles include driving buses, doing paperwork and providing social support. “They might take somebody one-on-one shopping or they might just take them for a drive and get some ice-cream,” Tracey said. “Or they might have a cup of coﬀee at their home and provide friendly companionship.” NINA has 191 clients. Contact: 4294 1900, www.nina.org.au. Ex soldier turned anti-violence fundraiser Simon Reynolds, right

CHARITY FUNDRAISER The May 23 event at the Workers Club for Operation Peace Warriors raised $1700. give.everydayhero.com/au/peacewarriors-for-michael-marslew-trek-against-violence

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2508 NEWS

hI, baby

it was a delight to watch Symbio’s newest koala emerge from mum’s pouch for the first time, writes Michelle Aldred. Pictured right is six-month-old James, who was born to ﬁrst-time mum Grace. Grace was born here at Symbio, is four years old, and plays a vital role in the captive breeding programs Symbio proudly participates in. Koalas have a gestational period of 35 days and the joey is only the size of a jellybean when born. Human mums would agree that seems a little easier than a nine-month pregnancy! James will emerge from the pouch more frequently over the next few months, as Mum will carry him around on her back, teaching him all there is to know about being a koala, and how to sleep for 20 hours per day (it’s a hard life). James will be fully independent at the age of 12 months.

James, age six months.

Did you know that koala joey’s are born blind, deaf, furless and without fully developed limbs. They are able to crawl into the pouch and attach to Mum’s milk teat, where the growth journey begins. James is still suckling, but he will soon start sampling eucalyptus leaves, aka koala food. 2508

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2508 BUSINESS

club makeover “My staff and board are very excited about the opportunity” – Tradies CEO Tim McAleer

After unanimous voting, the Tradies Group is set to take the reins at the Workers Club. 2508 asked CEO Tim McAleer what the future holds. What happens next? We are going to spend a million dollars upgrading the facility. From when it is approved by the office of Liquor and Gaming, it will take us 40 days to complete all of the building works. Which is a kids play area outside, Kids Club inside the club, we are going to put an awning over the rest of the back verandah, put a big barbecue area in there, improve the gaming room, improve the TAB, establish a coffee shop. We’ve also committed to donating $80,000 to local community groups. Which again, will happen within 40 days of us being granted the amalgamation. So we’ve targeted 16 local sporting and charity groups, which, provided they can give us a program to the value of $5000 each, that we will fund in the town. We won’t be processing any of this until we have Office of Liquor and Gaming approval, but they can actually go to the Tradies website and download the grant application... And then the two primary schools – this is

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over and above the $80,000 – we’ll give them 12 months, within a 12-month period we want to receive from them and complete a project to the value of $25,000 in each of those two schools. We want to show the people in the town we are there for the long-haul. We want to support the town and we hope that, in turn, the town will support the club. When will amalgamation to be approved? We’re expecting that to be completed by mid July. [This] allows us to do is get the plans in place. Painting the club is going to cost around $80,000... We want to try and give that – if possible – to a local painter... We’d like a local landscaper to do the work [outside]. So we are trying again, to put some money back into the town, in terms of supplying employment. What are your plans for the restaurant? I’m actually staring at the Monday to Thursday menu, which is going to be any one of 10 meals at $10 each. Roast of the day, vegetarian lasagne, tempura ﬁsh… We think one of the biggest problems with the food down there has been inconsistent delivery of food and service. Now, our caterer up here is more than competent, but part of the

2508 BUSINESS deal we’ve made with him is you have to take the contract at Helensburgh. And you have to deliver the same quality of meals. When we take over both the menu and the pricing, that’s when I think you’ll see a dramatic improvement. Will the club be closed for renovations? At no stage. Most of the work we do, the internal works, will be done out of hours. How much will it cost in total? [We’re spending] $4.5 million dollars all up. Three and a half million to the creditors and a million dollars invested in the property. At best, we’re looking at a 10-year ROI. What will you oﬀer for families? Our whole goal is to make it a family-friendly club. We have a very strict responsible service of alcohol policy. Internally, we will build a Kids Club... The Kids Club holds about 20 children aged between three and 12. We have a carer in there – people pay $5 for a two-hour session where their kids get face painting, electronic games and movies. Very, very popular at both

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our venues, and only open while the restaurant is open, and only available to people who are eating. We are not in the business of minding children while people drink or play a poker machine. We are in the business of helping parents have a little bit of pleasant time. Any chance of a bowling green? Not impossible, but we have to see whether or not we can make the club ﬁnancially viable ﬁrst. At the moment the size of our investment does not really encourage us to spending a couple of hundred thousand building a bowling green and $80,000 a year to run it. Why invest in the Workers Club? Two reasons: One is a philosophical connection between a trade union club and a workers club. And certainly our board, we’re of the opinion if we could possibly save a workers club – certainly the oldest club in NSW, as it is – then from a philosophical, ideological point of view it would be a good thing to do. But from my point of view, I wouldn’t do it if there wasn’t money in it. 2508

2508 REPORT E AT URE COVER F Photos by Anthony Warry Photography; www.anthonywarry.tumblr.com

show time

By summer, he captains Helensburgh’s fire brigade. By winter, he enters flower shows. Meet camellia champion Jim Powell.

In China, people worship the camellia. Every winter, the autonomous people of Yunnan province offer a sacrifice to a tree named ‘Lion Head’ growing on a mountainside. “They sacrifice a rooster and put the blood around a tree every year, and they have been doing that for over 800 years,” says Jim Powell. “We were there for the ceremony last time we were there. “The Chinese lucky colours are red and gold, and this camellia is red with a gold centre, gold stamens. Because it flowers in winter time when everything else is sort of stark and gloomy, this brightness gave them happiness… And they worship it.”

Jim’s camellia collection

We are standing in the tranquil garden of Jim and partner Jenny Donohoe’s Helensburgh home, in a rainforest gully protected from wind and frost. It is crammed with camellias. There are 700, probably “only” about 60 are in the ground, the rest are in pots. “I got my ﬁrst camellias in 1974 from my grandmother and my mother-in-law,” says Jim. “I’ve been growing them ever since. I’ve won six national awards with camellias.” Jim is president of the national body, Camellias Australia Inc, and has cupboards packed with prize ribbons and plates. Every two years, he and Jenny travel to the International Camellia Society Congress. It was in Spain this March, and they brought home the International Camellia Garden of Excellence certiﬁcate for Caringbah’s EG Waterhouse National Camellia Garden. “There are 32 countries that have camellia

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societies, even Georgia has one,” says Jim. A contingent of 28 made Australians the largest group of overseas visitors at the congress. Jim can admire, but not bring any camellias back, as the Lucky Country is the only one without Camellia Flower Blight. “We’ve set up a Camellia Ark project, to preserve camellias,” he says. “Camellia people are camellia people,” says Jenny, president of St George & Sutherland Camellia Society. “They are very passionate.” “They are like orchid growers and rose growers,” adds Jim. “They are probably the three biggest societies in Australia. “Camellias are the only thing with any size that gives you colour in the winter time, as a small tree. Camellias are so diﬀerent – 232 species and 36,000 registered varieties. I could probably name about a thousand or so.” “People are always coming up to Jim at shows, to say, ‘Jim, what’s this one?’ It drives him crazy,” Jenny says with a laugh. “The most common one, of course, is what we drink – tea,” Jim says. “That’s Camellia sinensis. So you can see how popular camellias are – imagine how many plantations there are to provide everyone with a cup of tea.”

Higos from Higo

It is about eight weeks until show season begins, and only a few plants are in bloom. Our photographer choses a sunny spot next to a beautiful Higo with golden stamens. “That’s an Okan,” says Jim. “They come from the island of Higo in Japan. They are all single, with a big centre. There’s a lot of them being bred outside of Japan, but they won’t recognise them as being Higos. It’s like Champagne… only the French can call it that.” In Japan, ﬁghting sticks – ancient weapons of

2508 REPORT

shoguns and their warriors – are made from camellia wood. “It’s very light to carry, but it’s very, very strong,” Jim explains. “All the temples have camellias in them over there, because it was a sign of strength.”

Bushfire survival plan

Jim is the captain of Helensburgh’s fire brigade and has been fighting fires for 40 years. Does he have a bushfire survival plan for the camellias? “Not a problem, it’s rainforest, it won’t burn,” he says. “It’ll go through the top of the trees, but won’t go anywhere near them. “Everybody wants to be on a hill with a view, but that’s the worst place to be in a fire … The crown fires just come through at enormous knots, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” On Christmas Day in 2001, when the last fires swept through Helensburgh, travelling from Appin “in less than an hour”, Jim was living in a property in the Ridge. He lost 700 of 1100 camellias, but not his house. “Two houses opposite were burnt to the ground. But camellias saved my place, because they are fire-retardant plants, they absorb all the heat, they are full of moisture. The backyard looked like there wasn’t a fire within 200m. Everything was green, the front was all just black and grey, right up to the house.”

Flowers on show

Come show time, Jim will pick his best blooms, cosset them in damp and shredded paper, and pack them in polystyrene boxes. “There are hundreds of classes at shows, we might take 15 boxes, a couple of hundred blooms or more.” He’ll display them in a small glass of water. Judges will look at features including form, condition, colour and markings, size, texture, substance and presentation. Do competitors argue much? Jim smiles. “Of course. Not so much about what the bloom name is, but whether it’s been put in the right spot … so too big to be classified as a miniature or too small to be classified as a large…” Camellias are drought-hardy and bothered by few pests and diseases. “If you can only grow one camellia, this is the one I’d suggest,” says Jim, showing us a pink and white flower.

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2508 REPORT E AT URE COVER F “It’s ﬂowering now (May) and it’ll still be ﬂowering in September. It’s called Star above Star, a little vernalis species. It doesn’t matter if it’s in semi shade or full sun, it’s quite happy.”

Secret to show success

“Don’t leave more than two buds on the plant, because that makes flowers poorer quality,” says Jim, who used to lecture horticulture at Padstow TAFE. “They only need feeding twice a year. There’s two products I normally use: one’s called Organic Life, the other one is Kahoona. They’re the same type of stuff – they’re pelletised chook poo pellets that have got blood and bone and seaweed and that added to them – it’s 98 percent organic. “You can put it on anything except native plants. Native plants only need a little bit of blood and bone each spring – just sprinkle it around, blood and bone, nothing else.” A Western-style sacrifice, perhaps. 2508

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Camellia calendar

The Illawarra Camellia Society will have a display at Sunrise Nursery (4294 1307) for about a week from June 27. Also coming up: 45th Annual Camellia Show by the Camellia Research Society at Ravenswood School for Girls, Gordon (July 12-13), Illawarra Camellia Society show at North Wollongong TAFE Centre (July 19-20), Camellia Show by Berry Garden Club (Aug 2-3), Camellias Australia 2014 National Show and Camellia Congress, Canberra (Sept 12-15). More information: camelliasaustralia.com.au

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caring rewarded

Kasey Hahn, left, with Alexandra Zammit, CEO of Thomas Holt Villages

Well done to aged care worker Kasey Hahn, who won NSW Trainee of the Year at last month’s Aged & Community Services awards. The 22-year-old from Helensburgh found work as a trainee at the Sutherland branch of Thomas Holt six years ago. The not-for-proﬁt aged care organisation encouraged Kasey to expand her skills and she has since completed “heaps” of certiﬁcates. “I feel very privileged, it was a bit of a surprise,” Kasey said. “It was particularly nice to be acknowledged and it just proves that

young people can make a career in aged care. “I enjoy seeing people smile and laugh. I like that it’s not just rewarding for them, but it’s also rewarding for me. And I just like learning about their generation and their way of life. “It makes me really respect the elderly on a whole diﬀerent level.” Kasey will now go on to the national awards in Adelaide in September. Good luck! 2508

THANKS TO WORD OF MOUTH

Congratulations to business and life coach Marie Alessi, who launched Muse Coaching in Helensburgh just three years ago. She was a finalist in two categories of the 2014 Illawarra Business Women’s Awards: Business Woman of the Year and Best Small Business. “It adds credibility to my business, which has been built on word of mouth,” Marie said. “By focussing 100 per cent on delivering great results, by changing people’s lives and businesses, my clients naturally love to refer me on.”

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2508 REPORT

land battle back on information] was not new or startling. But certainly it is a diﬀerent feeling when you’re hearing people as to what it is reading a document. “I think the panel as a whole found it very helpful. Even though that’s not an absolute requirement when we go through these The environment was “a convenient excuse”, processes, given the background to this developers were “money hungry”, Council was particular proposal … I think it is very important to let people have the opportunity to “arrogant”, “a culture of bullying” existed and bottles of Grange have probably changed hands express those views to the panel.” Plans to transform bushland into suburbia – these are some of the more colourful exchanges heard at last month’s public hearings around Helensburgh and Otford have been hotly debated for three decades. at the Helensburgh Workers Club. Last July, Wollongong Council decided to With choked voices, tears and laughter, the rezone most of the contested land – formerly re-opening of the land zoning debate was an known as 7d and covering 1556 hectares – for emotional occasion. However, Pam Allan, chair environmental conservation. of the Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel End of story? (JRPP) tasked with the planning proposals’ Not quite. In February, the NSW Department review, had praise for the audience. of Planning and Infrastructure stepped in to “I’ve conducted a lot of similar meetings,” announce that an independent umpire, the JRPP, said Ms Allan, a former member of the NSW would review two proposals: Ensile Pty Ltd and Parliament, and Minister for the Environment the Helensburgh Land Pooling Group’s plans to from 1995-1999. “I thought that was a very productive one, and one of the most productive rezone land for up to 400 residential lots at ones. Generally speaking, people listened very Helensburgh’s Lady Carrington Estate South patiently to people whose views were divergent. and the Land Pooling site, and Wollongong City “Over 60 people took the opportunity to Council’s planning proposal to rezone the address us and I thought their comments were majority of the land for conservation. very interesting and worthwhile. We’ve got The review has involved site inspections, access to all the previous information… so [the meetings with key stakeholders and the May 6

Landowners, residential developers, environmentalists and bushfire safety experts all spoke up at last month’s land zoning public hearings, held as part of an independent review. 2508 reports.

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2508 REPORT and 7 public hearings, advertised in April in the Illawarra Mercury and Wollongong Advertiser. The hearings took place mostly during office hours, with the Tuesday afternoon session attracting about 80 people and the Wednesday morning about 50. Speeches were ruled by the bell, with a maximum of three minutes. Pro residential development advocates extolled the economic benefits. Bruce Bennett, for the Helensburgh Landpooling Group, said that building homes for 400 families would help address housing shortages, create jobs and deliver $500,000 in extra rates for Wollongong Council per year. Ray White estate agent Ron Kissell said an increased population “might see us with a high school in years to come”. Some individual landowners pleaded for rezoning to build “family homes” and past Wollongong Councils copped criticism for being “misleading” and “inconsistent”. Speakers against development included Otford Protection Society president Natasha Watson, Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce president Pauline Lacelles-Smith, Wollongong City councillor Greg Petty and members of the National Parks Association. Environmentalists claimed building hundreds of new homes would destroy wildlife corridors, involve inappropriate tree clearance, put further pressure on the Hacking River and its catchment, affect the Royal National Park’s proposed World Heritage Listing, and ultimately act as a chink through which a wedge would be driven for further suburbia.

Simplistically, the meeting could be divided on familiar lines: developers versus environmentalists. But – interestingly for a town where some spend summers worriedly checking the “Fires Near Me” app – a third camp was also vocal: bushfire safety advocates. Future development would increase bushfire risks to property and residents, captain of Helensburgh Fire Station Jim Powell said in a speech delivered via proxy. Bearing in mind the speed at which fires travel, and limited exit routes, more residents would make the town even more difficult to evacuate, he said. “[Bushfire safety] is a valid issue,” Ms Allan said in response to 2508’s question as to whether this was a peculiarly Helensburgh predicament. “And we’ll of course be seeking comments as well from emergency services agencies and the rural firefighting services.” Although pro development speakers dominated the start of the hearings on Tuesday, Ms Allan said: “I sat there very patiently and very attentively for both days and I didn’t get the feel that the one outweighed the other. I thought that there was actually quite a great variety.” The panel will reach a conclusion after considering a “plethora” of submissions, including a recent fauna and flora report not previously available. “It is a complex issue,” Ms Allan said. “Our report is advisory, we’re not a decision-making body. We can make recommendations, and it’s up to government to decide what to do about the report.” 2508

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2508 NEWS

long walk to melbourne Helensburgh melanoma survivor Andrew Rust is in training for the hike of a lifetime – a 900km cancer fundraiser. Other than a sore ankle, “just from the amount of walking”, Andrew told 2508 training was going well. “I get up around 5am... go for a 10km walk around town every morning. I start oﬀ from my house and head down Gadd Lane through the duckpond park, into town, walk up to the roundabout, down past Symbio Zoo, get to Stanwell Tops, turn around and come back. Then I go oﬀ to work. At the end of the day I do another 10km walk around Cronulla.” Andrew and fellow cancer survivor Jay Allen will hike to Melbourne in shifts of 10km, from July 11-26. 900kmforacure2014.everydayhero.com/au/andrew-rust

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2508 NEWS lot of other sick kids” in Helensburgh. Family friends had a daughter, Clara, who was treated for leukaemia at the Children’s Hospital. After battling cancer for six months, Clara passed away in April 2012. She was four years old. Her mother, Michelle Brown, is now on the walk’s committee, courageously raising money for other children with cancer. The Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital has about 500 children on treatment at any one time, with about half of them travelling from regional and rural NSW for treatment. Acute leukaemia, including lymphoblastic and myeloid types, are the most common, representing 35 per cent of all childhood cancers. Kate Garrard, Donor Relations Manager at Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, said money raised provides vital funds for funds for childhood cancer research. “I encourage everyone to get involved in this great community fundraising event,” Kate said. About 100 people have done the walk each year. “People enjoy it. It’s not only for a good reason, but it’s a lot of fun, it’s a challenge,” Darren said. It is a family-friendly affair – babes in prams are welcome. A bus will travel up and down the route, so children can hitch a ride if they get tired. Darren said children could also join their parents in Thirroul then scoot or cycle along the bike track to Wollongong. In the first year, the walk raised about $16,000, in the second year about $13,000. Previously, the walk has begun in Helensburgh, but this year the start has moved to Stanwell Park. There will be a partial road closure in place between Stanwell Park and Coalcliff. “We set off about 7am and most people are finished by lunch time,” Darren said. To celebrate, the day will end with a barbecue at Stanwell Park. Kids Walk 4 Life is on Saturday, June 14, 6.30am registration, 7am start at Stanwell Park, $50 per walker. Buses will ferry walkers back to Stanwell Park. See the Kids Walk 4 Life Facebook page and donate at www. gofundraise.com.au/page/walk3 2508

help kids fight cancer

Nicole Watt, Darren’s wife, with their children, Madeline and meningococcal survivor Cooper

Kids Walk 4 Life is a wonderful thank you to Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. On June 14, fundraisers will walk along about 22km of our beautiful coastline, from Stanwell Park to Wollongong Harbour. All money raised goes to the Children’s Hospital. “We nearly lost our son in 2010 and we spent a bit of time in the hospital,” said Helensburgh father Darren Watt, organiser of the third annual charity event. “My son suﬀered from meningococcal, from about six months old – he wasn’t going to be coming out of hospital at all. And he did. “Because we got our son back, I don’t want anything else in life, just to repay them by saying thank you and giving them a donation each year, whatever we raise from the walk.” The walk is also a memorial. After his son’s stint in hospital Darren realised there were “a

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2508 HEALTH

CHEER UP, SLEEPY TEENS By psychologist Alison Rowe Does your teenager go to bed too late and struggle to get up in the morning? This is a common challenge. Teenagers are frequently referred to as being “difficult”, “lazy” and “unmotivated”, particularly in the morning. Studies indicate that about eight per cent of teenagers fall asleep between midnight and 4am and want to sleep in until late the next morning. This can result in poor school performance and attendance, high school drop-out, negative pathways to higher education and vocational training, emotional disturbances, family conflict and poor selfesteem. What teenagers and parents don’t realise is that these teenagers are suffering from a psychological condition referred to as “Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder” (DSPD). The disorder occurs when the teenager’s

“body clock” (24-hour circadian rhythm) is delayed, resulting in insomnia. Teenagers have difficulty falling asleep most school nights, resulting in difficulty getting out of bed on school mornings, they feel fatigued and not alert until later on in the day, such as after dinner. They develop poor sleep patterns by sleeping in until late morning or early afternoon on weekends or holidays. To confirm whether a teenager has this condition they are commonly interviewed by a psychologist and requested to complete a sleep diary to confirm if their symptoms satisfy the diagnostic criteria. Sleep patterns can be returned to the norm in a few weeks by implementing psychological interventions. A mental health care plan can be developed by your GP and a majority of the psychology fees can be claimed through Medicare. 2508 Contact: 0409 602 430 or alisonrowe@tpg.com.au

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2508 COLUMN

Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf those amenities. We’ve just come out of a long La Nina cycle where we’ve had a lot of big storms. Storms erode beaches and when there’s a vegetated dune, that erosion appears worse because of the large erosion scarp carved into it. It’s easy to say “Gee, that looks terrible!” But what would happen if the big dune wasn’t there offering protection? I’m pretty sure the I recently heard that plants put in by the surf club, parking lots, and kiosk at Stanwell Stanwell Park dune re-vegetation group were Park would be long gone. being pulled out. Dune re-vegetation is all When we experience a long period without about stabilising sand dunes to provide storms, as we do in an El Nino phase, the beach protection against storm erosion. So why would recovers and the sand comes back. And nobody someone rip them out? complains about dunes eroding the beach. It seems that over the last few years, a I’ve also heard the dune re-vegetation is “coastal myth” has been gathering momentum affecting the surf. Not true either. The amount in the Illawarra that dune re-vegetation is of sand taken up by the dunes is negligible actually causing the beaches to erode. Part of compared to the sand sitting offshore and the thinking is that the sand taken up by the waves are very good at shaping the beach to growing dunes (thanks to re-vegetation) is been suit their needs. taken away from the beach, so that there’s less Like it or not, we’ve built too close to the sand. Is it true? No. beach in many places. With the spectre of rising Let’s put things in perspective. Beaches sea levels and potentially increased storms, build dunes that are sometimes dewe’re going to have to protect the stroyed or cut through by big storm property behind somehow. So what’s waves. In a natural environment your preference? Concrete seawalls Myth busted that’s fine. But when we build or sand dunes? I know which one I Dune re-vegetation amenities behind the dunes it prefer! 2508 does not cause beaches becomes a problem. Bigger and Buy Dr Rip’s Essential Beach Book to erode, nor does it affect the surf. more stabilised dunes help protect via www.scienceofthesurf.com.

Keep off the sand dunes – we need them, says our local coastal geomorphologist, Rob Brander.

Dunes act as a natural defence against storm erosion. Dune re-vegetation helps stabilise the dune, but does it damage the beach?

2508

2508 NATURE

breach out Boom! Up and down, and she was gone. This is how a whale spotter described one of the first sightings of the season. The crowd at Coalcliﬀ’s Bombie Bar were enjoying an acoustic gig by Powderﬁnger’s Darren Middleton when they were treated to a glimpse of whale tail. Appropriately enough, given the ocean giants migrate north from Antarctica to calve in our warmer waters, the date was May 11, Mother’s Day.

Reason for the season

“The reason for the migration is actually rather ingenious,” Australian Museum naturalist Martyn Robinson explains. “To have an easy birth, the mothers give birth to calves with very little blubber layer. But it means you have got an almost blubber-free calf being born into icy cold waters if they stay down in Antarctica. It’s far too cold for the young ones to survive.” Our winter is like summer for the humpbacks and southern rights, the two most commonly seen species. “Young ones feed voraciously on this very rich, fattening milk and they can put on all of this bulk,” Martyn says. “By the time springtime comes, they can travel south and withstand the icy conditions in Antarctica.”

How it may end

But if water temperature drives the whales’ migration, what about rising sea temperatures? Martyn says this could be “tricky”. “Because the diﬃculty for whales is they have evolved their physiology to live in very cold

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environments. A larger body loses heat more slowly than a small body, and they have got this insulating layer of blubber around them.” In early whaling days, Martyn says, when a harpooned whale finally died – after trying to escape and towing boats through the water – its blood stopped pumping and the heat build-up in its body was so strong, because of the insulating blubber, that its flesh would start to partially cook. “Now obviously any kind of strenuous activity – like a big migration – is going to build up heat. But if the water that you’re travelling through is too warm … you may not cook, but you might be in grave danger of overheating. “So we could find that conditions get very bad for the whales if they can’t adapt for the rising sea temperatures. A lot of the larger whales, particularly those that live in the Arctic or the Antarctic waters, they’re in quite a bit of danger from over-heating oceans.” We don’t know how soon whales might be affected, Martyn says, as research is ongoing. “But if the temperatures in Antarctica get warmer, then we might actually lose some of the whale migrations coming up the East Coast because they simply won’t need to come up this far, because they will be able to breed a lot further south.”

Tell the difference

The humpback has a very knobbly head and long white side ﬁns just behind its head. “The one that’s got the short ﬁns, which are more of an angular shape, rather than a ribbon shape, that’s the southern right whale.” Their name derives from being the “right” whale to hunt, as

2508 NATURE they swam relatively slowly and were easily co-operated. There are also reports they worked overtaken by men in a rowing boat. with Aborigines, long before Europeans Whales – protected in Australia since 1965 – arrived. Martyn says: “The killer whales would give birth in sheltered, shallow waters. A locate a suitable whale coming up the coast, pregnant female will likely be accompanied by drive it in close to shore ... corral it in, then others who’ll protect her from dangers such some of the pod would come up to the entrance as sharks. Meanwhile, males will be to the inlet where the whaling station was trying to court and mate with the and they’d start to breach, jump out and did you know? females. Male humpbacks are splash in the water and attract the Adult humpbacks famed for their haunting “songs” whalers’ attention – who would then travel at about 7km of clicks, moans and wails. go out and kill the whale.” per hour, grow up to Look out for an all-white male After the killer whales had feasted 18m and weigh up to 50 tonnes. When born, humpback called Migaloo, says on delicacies such as the tongue and calves weigh two Martyn. “He’s seen most seasons. lips, men would tow the carcass to tonnes You’d think a big white whale shore and render it down to oil. would be fairly obvious but it’s “There was one record of one of the amazing how he can escape notice.” whalers falling into the water, when there were Migaloo was thought to be one of a kind, but a few sharks around, and one of the killer another albino humpback has also been sighted. whales just circled round him until the boat “No doubt a relative of the ﬁrst one.” came round and picked him up again.” After being a rarity for 80 years, pods of Killers united killer whales have again been sighted in the The South Coast is famous for a bloody bond area. “But these are probably all much younger between men and orcas, or killer whales. animals that don’t have that same relationship.” At Eden, shore-based whalers and orcas So don’t go falling into shark-infested water. 2508

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2508 OUTDOORS

Gardening with sara Sara Newnham soothes her senses in an enchanting sculpture garden. Recently I had the delight of visiting the inspirational Wombarra Sculpture Garden. The moment I entered the tranquil property I felt unexpected peace. Everywhere I looked my senses were rewarded with sculptures that ﬁlled the garden like hidden treasures in the rainforest. I was lucky to meet Gaby Porter, the very talented and respected international artist who owns and runs the 2.8-hectare property. Gaby and her partner, John, purchased the land 17 years ago as a special location to create and house art. Originally the property was smothered in noxious weeds and exotic plants. The idea of restoring the native rainforest

seemed initially overwhelming, but with persistence Gaby concentrated on cleaning up small pockets of garden at a time. This then allowed the natural plants to re-colonise. Now the gardens are a native semi-rainforest paradise of ferns, trees and grasses – the perfect backdrop for sculptures such as ‘Monty’, a new installation colourfully created to show children and adults alike that snakes aren’t scary. Gardens are open to the public on the ﬁrst weekend of the month from 10.30am-4.30pm, $10 entry for adults, kids are free. Take a walk around and be surprised by art, plants and the occasional wallaby, lyre bird or giant chook.

Trees from the past

I have often sat in Charles Harper Park and wondered where the sad old pines came from – and why are they still there, as most have been long marked for removal because they are diseased, provide little shade and could be Monty the rainbow serpent at Wombarra Sculpture Garden

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2508 OUTDOORS dangerous. On a recent visit to the Old Mine Surgery, helpful members of Helensburgh Historical Society told me that the pines were planted as a memorial to 40 fallen soldiers from Helensburgh and Stanwell Park after the First World War. Each tree once bore the name of a lost digger. This transformed the old pines went from an annoying eyesore to a sombre reminder of a lost generation. The park must once have been a special place of remembrance for grieving families. With this in mind, it would be great to see the pines respectfully replaced with 23 native trees. The new trees would provide habitat for wildlife and a place of remembrance for generations to come.

ground ASAP, so they are ready for spring. First loosen the soil. Then dig a hole big enough for the root ball. Make a small mound of soil on the hole’s base when planting bare-rooted stock (this is to splay the roots gently over). Backﬁll with garden mix to cover roots completely. Throw a handful of Seamungus organic fertiliser around the base and water well. When planting large trees, use a supportive stake while the plant is young. Water when dry and feed again in spring. Now the leaves have fallen, it’s time to start pruning as you can see the plant structure well. Roses love to be pruned by a half to two-thirds – don’t be shy! Prune to just above a growth point or bud on the stem. Prune any branches that are diseased or cross and crowd others. This goes for fruit trees as well as roses. Both should be pruned to a open shape to allow air ﬂow and lessen the risk of disease. 2508

charles harper park must once have been a special place of remembrance for many grieving families

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Now is the time to prune and plant deciduous trees and shrubs. These plants are dormant and can be sold bare-rooted (without soil) or as freshly potted plants where roots are loose as they have just come out of the ground. These plants would love you to get them in the

Send questions or photos to Sara at Creativescapes (creativescapes@iprimus.com.au, 0451 196 646).

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2508 EVENTS

What’s on! send your listings to editor@2508mag.com.au ENTERTAINMENT 01 Dubarray will be bringing their electro/dub sounds to the Bombie Bar in Coalcliﬀ. Joined by Heavy Set Dub. BYO. $15 entry, 2pm start. 14 SPAT ﬁlm night: Frozen. www.spat.org.au CAR BOOT SALE 22 Netball Club’s Car Boot Sale Sunday, 9.30am-3.30pm. Helensburgh Netball Club presents a used and new goods market. Sausage sizzle plus refreshments. Venue: Netball Courts, Robertson Street. Gold coin donation. Car sites and stall sites available. Must be pre-booked. Enquries or bookings, Heather Gray on 0430 096 247 or rosenemmett@yahoo.com.au MARKETS & STREET STALLS 01 10am-3pm, Stanwell Park Village Market,

How to Go Glam, naturally Helensburgh salon Head Quarters HQ has two hair and beauty events coming up. On June 23, a representative from Skin Deep – the New Zealand range specialising in natural products made with kanuka and manuka oil, and manuka honey – will visit the salon to offer a variety of facial treatments. By appointment only. HQ – which specialises in eco friendly products, such as CHI, the ammonia- and PPD-free hair dye – is expanding its range to include Skin Deep products. On July 5, the sisters who run the salon – Sharlene Baker and Monica North – will hold classes for teens on how to apply make-up correctly and how to create the perfect GHD (good hair day) curls. For elderly clients, HQ does home visits. More information and bookings: 0411 268 046.

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CWA Hall, The Drive. 08 10am-3pm, Helensburgh Village Market. Stalls in front of Centennial Hotel on Parkes St. 21 Holy Cross Catholic Church will set up a street stall, from 8am-1pm, outside Coles. Buy cakes, books, knitted clothes and more. For more information, call Bede Parkes on 4294 1530. CLUBS 03 Fellowship of First Fleeters, South Coast Chapter, 10am, Laurel Room, Ribbonwood Centre, Dapto. Guest Speaker Ron Withington who will introduce us to his new book Dispatched Down Under, which seeks to update the book Where First Fleeters Lie with newly researched information. Refreshments. Entry: $2. Regular local history outings arranged for members. Contacts: 4271 3762, 4261 6893. 17 View Club excursion to Bundeena, lunch at R.S.L. Please phone Nerida 0429 004 298 for bookings or cancellations by Wednesday, June 11. CHURCHES H’burgh & Stanwell Park Anglican Church Regular Sunday services, 8.15am, 54 Stanwell Ave, Stanwell Park; 10am and 6pm, 75 Parkes St, Helensburgh. Call 4294 1024. Helensburgh Baptist Church Community Centre, Walker St, Helensburgh. Call 4294 8459. Holy Cross Catholic Parish Weekend Mass: Sunday 8.30am. Reconciliation: Sunday 8am. Hope Church 2508 Sunday services, 9.30am, 6/17 Cemetery Rd, Helensburgh. Call 0404 803 055. Hillcrest Christian Fellowship Sundays, 6pm, Hillcrest House, Railway Crescent, Stanwell Park. Call 4294 3153. PLAYGROUPS Mondays 9.30am-noon, Stanwell Park Children’s Centre, Stanwell Ave. Call Penelope, 0431 593 118. Tuesdays 10am-noon, H’burgh Community Centre, Walker St. Call Rosemary, 4294 1290. Tuesdays 9.30-11.30am, Helensburgh Anglican Church, 75 Parkes St. Call 4294 1024. Wednesdays 9.30am-noon, Stanwell Park Children’s Centre, Stanwell Ave. Thursdays 10am-noon, H’burgh Community Centre, Walker St. Call Rosemary, 4294 1290. Fridays 9.30am-noon, Stanwell Park Children’s Centre, Stanwell Ave. Call Gerri, 0402 477 898.

2508 EVENTS NORTHERN ILLAWARRA NEIGHBOUR AID Regular outings, including C.A.F.E. Club. Contact: 4294 1900, www.nina.org.au HELENSBURGH LIBRARY 57 Walker Street; 4294 2185 3 What’s On Tuesday? 3.30pm, free program for primary school children 11 Storytime for pre-schoolers, 10.30am 25 Storytime for pre-schoolers, 10.30am

Catch Dubarray at Coalcliff’s Bombie Bar on June 1.

BOOK OF THE MONTH Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (Random House) A missing wife, a suspect husband – but is all as it seems? This book reminds the reader there are two sides to every story. But will the two stories merge in time to reveal the truth, a truth that has been misrepresented. A thrilling story. – selected by senior library oﬃcer Renee Benn

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2508

2508 TRAVEL

Dogs on holiday Gen Swart discovers a tranquil retreat where the dogs can bark till the cows come home. Owner’s guilt is a terrible thing. Which is why we were so excited to ﬁnd Di’s Hill, a petfriendly guesthouse set amid quiet, green farmland near Milton. There would be no memories of mournful

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brown eyes to haunt us – with a fenced enclosure and permission to come inside (except on beds and couches), dogs were welcome too. The house was in a breathtakingly beautiful spot on a hill. One veranda – with a Mexican chiminea for wood fires – had serene views over Lake Conjola. The other deck, where we enjoyed sunny brunches, had views of the Budawang mountain ranges. And the dogs’ enclosure overlooked placid cows grazing on the hillside. Our mongrels barked at the cows to their hearts’ content, tails wagging joyously. And there was no need to rush out and shush them for fear of finding angry notes in the mailbox. We went for walks at nearby Washerwomans Beach, an offleash area. This sheltered arc of squeaky white sand is lined with tall eucalypts. Dogs and children splashed merrily in the aquamarine shallows. The decor at Di’s Hill had tranquil Buddhist touches. Even the big dog enclosure had, in addition to a traditional white doghouse, a wooden platform with a decorative roof where they could enjoy Zen moments in the sun. This allowed us to leave the mongrels at home, go canoeing on Lake Conjola and enjoy pies at Milton’s Heritage Bakery. All guilt free.

Need to know

Location: Di’s Hill is 176 Murrays Road, Conjola. It’s about two and a half hours’ drive from Helensburgh. Gotta love: The serenity. It’s tempting to hide out on the veranda all day just soaking up the silence and the views. Watch out for: Ticks. Give dogs a tick and ﬂea treatment before you go. More info: www.dishill.com.au 2508 2508

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2508 HISTORY

rise of wolloo jack

Illustration by Phil Church

By Historian Michael Adams

This is the first of three snapshots on the bushrangers of Stanwell Park, the notorious Wolloo Jack Gang of the late 1820s. Why are they not as well known as later bushrangers? In the 1820s, convicts outnumbered free settlers in many districts, and many dreamed of escape, roaming fee, and even a return to an old life of crime. Therefore the crimes of gangs were not allowed to be publicised until the gang members were caught, sentenced and hanged. The most ruthless gang of bushrangers in the Colony of NSW in the late 1820s used the “Stanwell Park” farm at Little Bulli as their hideout and headquarters. They were the Wolloo Jack Gang, led by John Paid, assigned convict to the first owner of Stanwell Park, Matthew John Gibbons. Paid came to Stanwell Park in 1825 ostensibly to create a farm. Gibbons, an old man, rarely came to the 1000acre property, so remote was it from Sydney. Paid sought out the company of “bushrangers”, escaped convicts hiding in the “bush”, many working for timber cutters in the dense cedar jungles on the escarpment behind Kiama. In traversing the long stretch of escarpment , including Maddens Plains, to reach the cedar camps, Paid came across branded stray cattle from the fledgling farms below and was soon “duffing” them, finding contacts who could get £10 per head for cattle in Sydney. If caught, stealers and receivers faced the death penalty. Paid took to mustering unbranded cattle, bred from strays, back into “Stanwell Park”.

Gibbons was surprised to visit in 1827 and find a herd grown out of proportion to expectations. He recommended Paid for a Ticket of Leave, a licence to roam freely within limits, but also a licence to plunder further afield. Paid was kept on as manager of “Stanwell Park” farm. Paid’s “fences” at Appin, the receivers and sellers of the stolen cattle, Joshua Clarke and William Middleton, were taken by the authorities. Clarke was executed in 1827, while Middleton died in custody in early 1828. Neither linked Paid to their cattlestealing ring. Paid had been developing a new life of crime – becoming “Wolloo” or “Bulli” Jack and robbing travellers. In 1827, commandants of the Illawarra stockade at the Five Islands settlement were overwhelmed by the many bushrangers, allowing Paid relative obscurity, one among many. Among the “bushrangers” hiding in the dense cedar jungles, Paid probably met his first associate gang member, Will Clarke, an absconder from a Ticket of Leave. With Clarke, Paid soon graduated from lone robberies to more organised gang robberies, gathering willing escapees, and offering a hideout at Little Bulli, its remoteness allowing a gang to develop and operate in absolute secrecy. 1828 was to witness a wave of organised gang crime, with the authorities totally perplexed as to where the gang was hiding. 2508

paid had been developing a new life of crime – becoming 'wolloo’ or 'bulli’ jack and robbing travellers

2508

2508 HISTORY

Do you know this soldier? If so, the Helensburgh & District Historical Society would like to hear from you.

VIEW report

This year marks the centenary of World War One. We know this photograph from the society’s archives was taken during that era. But how old was he? Where was he from? Did he survive? And what is behind that arresting expression of gentle sadness? To honour the young men and women who went to war, historical society researchers are gathering information and photographs to preserve their stories. If you can help, please contact Jenny Donohoe on 4294 2877 or info@ historichelensburgh.org.au.

By Virginia Dowson

At present View (Voice, Interests and Education of Women) Club Helensburgh is preparing to hold its 23rd Birthday Luncheon on 20th May. There will be an “Outback” theme with music and poetry helping to create this atmosphere. We are expecting some visitors from other Clubs in the Illawarra area, and a representative of The Smith Family “Learning for Life” program. It is always a pleasure to welcome them to our celebrations. A number of theatre-goers went oﬀ to see Strictly Ballroom the Musical and by all reports had a wonderful time. Thanks go to Chris for organising this and all our theatre trips. She is also taking bookings for King and I for 1 November, 1pm matinee at the Sydney Opera House, pay by 25 August. For details of all bookings and travel phone Chris on 4294 1103. Members of View Club committee will meet on Tuesday, 10 June 2014 and our next View Club luncheon on 17 June will be an excursion to Bundeena, with lunch at the R.S.L. ($15). Travel by bus ($20) from Centennial Hotel, Helensburgh, leaving at 10am. Please phone Nerida 0429004298 for bookings or cancellations by Wednesday 11 June. New members most welcome. 2508

2508

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0408 874 982

Lic# 24852BC

jewellery Appointments now available in local studio Quality Handmade Jewellery, Repairs or Sydney & Restorations Ph: 02 4294 9242 CBD Suite

Alt Ph/Fax 02 9233 6847

PO Box 57 Helensburgh

www.jpowelljewellery.com.au

PLUMBING & ROOF PLUMBING Lic 226808c

Ruth Walker

P.O. BOX 343 HELENSBURGH 2508

50 DIFFERENT SPECIALS WEEKLY QUALITY ONLINE BEAD SUPPLIER

ruth@beademporium.net.au| www.beademporium.net.au

PH: (02) 4294 3333 DISCOUNTS & WHOLESALE PRICES

Plumber, Roof plumber, Drainer Gasfitter and Emergency repairs Free quotes and advice

Call James 0409 875 391

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PLUMBING & ROOF PLUMBING

PROFESSIONAL & FINANCIAL

Quality Roof Gutters Supplied & Fitted

PLUMBING & GASFITTING

SPORT & FITNESS FULLY EQUIPMENT GYM WEIGHTS, CARDIO, BOXING

ADVERTISE HERE For a limited time only, only $38 per month! Book online at www.2508mag.com.au or call 0432 612 168

PERSONAL TRAINING OUTDOOR FITNESS GROUP CLASSES

All Ages, Genders & Fitness Levels Welcome

CALL 0417897473 // 120 Walker Street Helensburgh

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SPORT & FITNESS

Call or SMS

0421 566 312

Party Yourself Into The Best Shape Of Your Life! Tues: 7pm-8pm Helensburgh Public School Thur: 7pm-8pm MacKillop Hall, Helensburgh Sat: 9am-10am Helensburgh Community Centre Cost: $10 per class with discount cards available

Zumba - its fun, its fantastic, its fitness! Enquiries: Nicole Hoffmann | 0433 777 943

security

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Classifieds BAZZA’S HANDYMAN SERVICES: All handyman repairs. Decks, pergolas, tiling, fencing, plastering and all other timber work. Local, reliable, quick and fully insured. Free quotes. Ph. Barry [Bazz ] 0414 492 509 or 4294 8164. BRICKLAYING: All brickwork, block work, extensions, retaining walls, repairs. Ph 4294 3741 or 0413 323 629 Lic. No. 35124C. CARPENTER: Friendly, Honest, Reliable service where manners comes standard. From doors to decks and everything in between. Fully insured. Call Kelvin for a free quote on 0421 952 100. Lic No. 253680C CLOTHING ALTERATIONS: Zippers replaced, hems taken up, minor repairs ﬁxed. Reasonable rates. Ph Melinda 0419 977 658 or 4294 1619. GARDEN SERVICE: Rejuvenate your garden: pruning, weeding, hedging, clean ups, rubbish removal. Regular mowing, edge trimming and gardening service also available. Call Stewart 4294 9726 or 0429 035 192. HANDYMAN: Local service offering a friendly service for all aspects of home improvements, maintenance, construction and repairs. Fully insured. Call Kelvin for a free quote on 0421 952 100. Lic No. 253680C KIMMY’S CLEANING SERVICES: Reliable, professional, friendly & personal. Domestic & commercial cleaning, fully insured with attention to detail. Weekly, fortnightly or a one off. Mention this ad for a 10% discount on your ﬁrst clean. Ph. Kim 0405 950 464. PAMZART: Enjoy creative activity with fun exploring art techniques using acrylics, pencils, inks etc. School students/adults. Helensburgh Community Centre, Wednesdays 4-5.30pm. Coledale, Tuesdays/Wednesdays. Enquiries: Pam 0418 201 587. RAELEEN’S FANCY FACES: Face painting, glitter tattoos, balloon twisting & special effects makeup. Bring the ‘wow’ factor to your next party, fete, christening or corporate event. Local business (will travel), fully insured, exceptional hygiene standards, professional cosmetic-grade face paints used.

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Ph. Raeleen 0413 291 843. SOUTHERN MATHEMATICS TUTORING: Real Tutoring, Real Results. Combined 45+ years of teaching and lecturing experience. Qualiﬁed Maths Teachers/ Lecturers only. Max of 6 students per group session. Individual sessions by appointment. Contact Gavin 0459 550 452; Shaun 0407 213 622. References & information, www. southernmathematicstutoring.com.au SUSAN’S JUST DANCE: Great fun, no pressure, fantastic environment to learn to dance. Jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, boys only hip hop crew. Ages from 3 to adult. Latest music, great teachers. Concert each year at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre. For registration Ph. Susan 4294 8366.

TUTORING: Maths, Physics, Chemistry. Primary, High School, HSC. Final year engineering student Sydney Uni. $25 hr. Ph. Jack 0490 134 480. YOGA STANWELL PARK: Stretch, strengthen, relax. Based on Yoga & Pilates. Suitable for beginners. All classes 1 hour $14 casual or 5 for $60. Tues 9.15am & 7.15pm Thurs 7.15pm Sunday 4.30pm. Stanwell Park Childrens Centre, end of Stanwell Ave, Stanwell Park. www.facebook.com/ yogastanwellpark – call Karen to book 0403 789 617. 2508

CLASSIFIED AD RATES

$120 for six months; $25 for a one-off. Max 30 words. editor@2508mag.com.au

SEA EELS WELCOME NEW LIFE MEMBER Karl Weber reports. The annual general meeting for the Stanwell Park Sea Eels was held on Sunday, April 27. A number of issues were covered including the successful nomination of a new life member – Barry Allen. Barry has been a member for 25 years and has racked up more than 400 swims during this time. He has served in a variety of roles including Club Captain and is an all-round club member. Congratulations Barry! It’s a well-deserved honour. Our executive positions were voted on and our 2014 committee is: President – Peter McDonald; Vice President – Anne Marie Connelly; Secretary – Phil Kelly; Treasurer – Terry Wood; Club Captain - Barry McGuiness; Vice Captain – Gary Marshall; Registrar/Web Master – Steven McDonald. 2013 was an enormous year with the club involved in 25th anniversary celebrations. Many former members attended festivities and lots of memories were shared. As a club we enjoyed a weekend away down the coast and also hosted Bulli and Cronulla winter swimming clubs as an annual visit event. Last year’s club finances showed a dramatic increase in revenue from ‘fines’. Our finemasters work hard at identifying key issues in performance, social behaviours and general stuff-ups. Congratulations to Rod Hampson and Anne Woodward for their hard work with

collecting fines from club members. A special ‘thank you’ also goes out to Margaret and Peter Hunt, who regularly donate and organise our weekly raffles. These combined efforts have led to increased returns over the past season and are all eventually donated to local charities including our patron charity, the Cram Foundation. The Cram Foundation is a charity dedicated to supporting and improving the lives of people with disabilities. It has been in existence since 1932 and has been the Stanwell Park Sea Eels’ main charity for many years. At this stage, the club intends to buy a lifting chair (worth approximately $5000) for the Cram Foundation. Friday nights at the surf club during summer have been a success for the HelensburghStanwell Park Surf club and the four different sections of the club that have had responsibility for running their night once a month. The Sea Eels have a reputation for the home-made rissoles that have become a feature of their Friday nights. Thanks to Gary Marshall and Ian ‘Brains’ Van Zyl for their ‘master chef’ skills in preparing these culinary delights. 2508

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Garie Surf Life Saving is a small club, but on May 24 they brought home big awards. Patrol captain and youth advisor Annie Bretherton, 28, won the SLSS Lifesaver of the Year award at the Surf Life Saving Sydney Branch Awards of Excellence, which covers clubs from North Bondi to Burning Palms in the Royal National Park. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will go on to represent Sydney Branch at the state awards and continue promoting Surf Life Saving,â&#x20AC;? Annie said. Other winners were Nipper Captain Declan Grohala (Under-15 SLSS Lifesaver of the Year) and Mark Forland (highly commended award for the Rookie Lifesaver of the Year). The club also won the Patrol Efficiency Award and Education Award for the Royal National Park. Garie is looking for new members. See www.gariesurfclub.com, email admin@gariesurfclub.com or call 0414 714 008.

Dance Academy Dance and drama classes in our purpose built studio! Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary & Hip Hop. Tiny Tots to Adults, all ages are catered for. Our Showgroup performs on stage! Contact Fleur on 0448 425 594 fleurdelisdance@hotmail.com Dance Studio located at, 26C Walker Street ~ Entry from Club Lane ~ Helensburgh, NSW 2508 Private lessons available. All ages and levels welcome.

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the workers’ golf club Despite ball-stealing crows and occasional showers, our day at Camden was a success and further trips will be arranged in the near future. Karl Foster has cried off yellow balls; feathered thieves stole eight off him. The weather was kind to us during our April and May tournaments and some impressive scores were recorded as we vied to stay in the match play and get off to a good start in the championships. Steve Egbers won the May event then raced

off to Wollongong to play in the club championships. Steve and April winner Rod Vaughan won pizza vouchers donated by Parrino’s Restaurant. The Helensburgh driving range prize April winner was myself and Geoff Hammonds took out the May voucher. These two sponsors, along with the Workers, are greatly appreciated by our membership. The ever-unpredictable Terry Maney pipped Al Wagner by one stroke for second and Karl Foster usurped my normal Bradmans position. Survivors of the early match play carnage are: Steve, Rod Luck, Rod Vaughan, Terry, Geoff and Mark. Don’t rest on your laurels, lads; there are many waiting in the wings. It was great to see Geoff back after his hand operation and I hope he can join us at our next tournament on June 14 at Boomerang. Tee off is 7am and golfers of all standards are welcome. This month’s musing: Golf was once only for the wealthy, now it is open to anybody with garish clothing, For any further information please contact me on helgolf@outlook.com 2508

NEIL LYON Solicitor

Buy your part of the picture

A Helensburgh Workers Sports and Social Club report, by Barry Thompson

• Conveyancing • Wills • Administration of Deceased Estates • Challenging and Defending Wills • Power of Attorney • Enduring Guardianship • Family Law • Litigation

5 Walker Street, Helensburgh PO Box 99 Helensburgh Upstairs above the liquor shop Tel (02) 4294 2076 Fax (02) 4294 2238 Email: nlyonhelensburgh@bigpond.com 2508

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sunday social golf club THE HAIR HITS THE HARBOUR, THE SLOGGER HAS WINNING WIND AND THE LOVE MUSSEL RETURNS! Nothing much to write home about this month, as it’s very hard to report on a game that you weren’t at! Instead I was cruising beautiful Sydney Harbour with good friends, good food and good wine. I think I had the better end of the stick, instead of being at the Royal having my head blown off. But, hey, we do what we do! The weather has played a big part in golf over the last few months but it mustn’t have worried Mitch ‘Slogger’ Sullivan who had the wind on his side. I’ve always said he was a bag of wind. Well, it paid off for him; he came in first with 34 points. Peter ‘Doc’ Howes was very happy with second as he won the best prize: the Heritage grog voucher.

Rob Miller’s second place means he can now go and slog a few balls with his golf range vouchers. The boys did well considering the conditions. A few familiar faces turned up: Russell ‘The Love Mussel’ Jars returned after having a foot operation. Hopefully, he has got rid of that foot and mouth disease, and Freddie Tilden returns. Coming up in June is Joe Doherty Day; anyone would be proud of to have their name on that beautiful mug. This is one of the many games that we play for during the year that makes the golf day interesting! To our good mate Tony ‘Beautiful’ English: hope you’ll be back soon! From The Confused Golfer: A typical game of golf is: one minute you’re bleeding; the next minute you’re haemorrhaging; the next minute you’re painting the Mona Lisa. Vicki ‘The Hair’ Little 2508

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netball triumph TNT edged out rivals Pink Panthers 29-26 in a thrilling extra-time summer night netball grand final on May 13. It was the second year in a row the team won the title. Captain Mel Anderson lead her charges to the nail-biting win after a hard-fought clash. The nine-team comp was played out over two divisions, A and B, from February to May. All teams played each other once over the season. Teams played 12 rounds leading up to the ﬁnals.

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TNT beat the Pink Panthers to win the title trophy.

The next season starts in September. If you’re keen to play, or would like to be involved with local netball some other way, email summernetball@hotmail.com. Check out page 24 for details of the club’s Car Boot Sale on Sunday, June 22. 2508

PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT REGISTERED TAX AGENT REGISTERED ASIC AGENT ATMA MEMBER REGISTERED SMSF AUDITOR

NOW AT 9 Walker St Helensburgh (next to Civic Video)

Simon Beauﬁls 0417 001 140 Ron Kissell 0410 148 397 Rowan Impey 0417 001 130 Stuart Woodhead 0425 215 924 Dirk ten Cate 0413 785 073 Christine Kissell 0448 141 649

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www.rwshire.com.au | Ph: 4294 7000 2508

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IRONMAN nathan Blind triathlete Nathan Johnston has smashed his second Ironman.

Nathan Johnston (rear seat) and Glenn Gorick on the bike

The Helensburgh athlete finished his second Ironman triathlon, the 2014 Ironman Australia Port Macquarie, in 13hrs 39mins. Last year, in his first Ironman, he finished in a little over 14 hours. The Ironman is a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, and 42.2km run. Nathan, who is now a Coates Hire ambassador, completed this year’s May 4 race with Cronulla triathlete Glenn Gorick. He swam with Glenn tethered by a rope to his foot, biked on a tandem and they did the marathon connected by rope on their hands. 2508

PONY CLUB REPORT Helensburgh Pony Club held its May Day rally on

Sunday, May 25, and a great day was had by all. Thanks to Robyn Johnson of Rojo’s Riding 4 U for donating her time to help riders improve their skills. It’s always great to have experienced local instructors sharing their knowledge. Helensburgh riders recently represented the club at the Royal Easter Show, State Sporting and State Equitation where they achieved great success. For more info on the club, please look for us on Facebook or call the Secretary, Pam, on 0432 884 885.

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port kembla tidal chart  

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                                                                                                                                                                                    

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2508 SPORT

freestyle masters star Allan ‘Al’ Samuels, 50, blitzed his rivals in the 50-54 age group at the 39th Masters Swimming Australia (MSA) National Championships. Al won gold in the 400m freestyle with a time of 5:01.87 and silver in the 800m freestyle with a time of 10:33.44. The competition was held at Rockhampton’s Southside Memorial Pool Complex from April 23 to 26. It included 23 pool events over 18 age groups. The MSA Open Water Swim was staged oﬀ the coast of nearby Yeppoon. Al competed in 12 events in total, including 400m individual medley and the 50m backstroke.

He swam competitively as a young bloke, left the sport, then took it back up at the ripe old age of “about 35”. “I usually do well at those races [400m and 800m freestyle]; they’re my races. I usually get a top three spot.” Al, who is owner and manager of Al’s Gourmet Meats in Helensburgh, says he trains ﬁve to six days a week and swims between 25km and 30km a week as part of his training schedule. 2508

ALL BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION DEMOLITION WASTE DISPOSAL Brick & Concrete • Construction & Demolition Waste • Green Waste Timber • Soils & Mixed Fill Steel • No Hazardous Waste (just prove you’re from the Burgh) Sands • Aggregates Road Bases • Soil Blends Mulch & Compost 2nd Hand Building Supplies

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2508 SPORT

TOP TIGERS! The Tigers are going well, reports first grade captain steven mccallum A three-match winning streak has put the Tigers atop the points table at the season’s half-way mark. Coach Ryan Powell has the boys hitting their straps; strong defence has been the key. Also, the women’s rugby league side, the Tiger Lillies, are undefeated so far. When the Tigers faced reigning premiers Collegians, they overcame a poor ﬁrst half to score four tries in the second, including Wayne Bremner’s length-of-the-ﬁeld try. 30-12. Jason Raper and Khan Salamakis were best. Next, the Tigers took on Dapto at home, winning 34-12. Brock Gilmour and Dan Fepuleai were among the Tigers’ best. Against the Thirroul Butchers, Jarrod Boyle scored a great try in the 35th minute. Azan Turoa crossed shortly after. In the second half, Blake Phillips put Wayne Bremner away down the right touch line, Eamon Hillen scored.

A Jarrod Boyle field goal, then a Raper try sealed a 25-0 win. Congratulations to Phillips, Raper, Bremner and Chris Lewis – all were selected to represent Illawarra in the country championship. Good luck, boys. Reserve grade and under 19s should be right in the hunt come finals time. The Tigers will face Wests in Helensburgh on June 7. Come along and support breast cancer awareness (see flyer, above). Gold memberships are still available. Big thanks to our sponsors Menai Civil, Canavan Building, Gurnett Plumbing, Andy Offord Contracting, Peabody Energy and Helensburgh Premium Liquor. 2508

Paddle for Poverty Cheers to the North Wollongong Christian Surfers who paddled 15km and raised $16,000 to help poor children around the world. At 7am on May 10, about 100 people set off from Stanwell Park to Thirroul, paddling on boards, surf skis and kayaks. The eldest paddler was 73, the

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youngest was eight. “Three hours paddling along one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world to help kids that would otherwise not be eating, it is totally worth it,” said event organiser Daniel Hatton. Money raised will go to the five children the group supports, plus others in need, via Compassion Australia.