ISSUE NO.14 : SUMMER 2022 - Coal Coast Magazine by Coal Coast Magazine

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Vanessa Denison-Pender vanessadp@mcgrath.com.au 0488 443 174

Ranked No. 1 leading female sales agent in the Northern Suburbs. *source RPData Corelogic

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Eastscape Studio offers a full landscape design service. We create spaces that will inspire and provide a place that will grow with you over the years. We believe in great design.

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what's inside

10 school with a view 12 cptsd.hope 16 bold as bexta 22 italian love affair 30 nutbush schnitty limits 32 lemon, yoghurt + olive oil cake 36 surf rock kings 40 local biz love 42 sister, sister 46 never say never 54 finds for you 58 a different kind of search 62 protect your peepers 66 young talent time

84 70 72 76 78 80 82 84 86 90 92 97 98 100 102 104

young woman of the year bike to brew citrus chicken tacos let's fly away keera vale if walls could talk holiday living thrive through summer investment digs coal coast faves hey brew coal coast pops meet a neighbour what's on calendar the quiz

There is a QUIZ on page 104 and here are the answers: 1. Hotmail; 2. Melbourne; 3. Red, white and blue; 4. His Boy Elroy; 5. A; 6. None; 7. An alarm clock; 8. 50 metres; 9. Fear of dogs; 10. Horse; 11. Brown; 12. 1995; 13. Honey; 14. Anastasia and Drizella; 15. London; 16. Nevada; 17. Bat; 18. Tendons; 19. Leonardo DiCaprio; 20. 290,000.

Scale and succeed in Wollongong “It’s a great place for entrepreneurs from larger cities who are looking for balance in their life and a better place to start a family and scale a company.” Nick Muldoon, Co-CEO, Easy Agile

Isn’t it time to bring your business to our city? Hear from businesses that chose Wollongong: www.investwollongong.com.au/case-studies

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We acknowledge the Dharawal People as the Traditional Custodians of the Illawarra region. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. editor Dani Sherring

info@coalcoastmagazine.com

Woah, what a ride the last few months has been. We are stoked to be back and bringing you the best of the coast in these pages. Plus, it’s summer! So happy times all round.

deputy editor Kate O'Mealley

Our cover artist, Kiama local Becky Guggisberg, perfectly encapsulates what we hope most for all our readers now – salty, sunny days by the water, appreciating the natural vibrancy of where we live. Becky is a tremendous talent with an infectious energy for life, and we’re so happy to tell her story on page 16.

head of sales & marketing Tara Connor

We’re also sharing lots of local business love this issue, because there’s never been a better time to shop small and support the community. Eat out somewhere you’ve never been – Kneading Ruby, Santino (p22) or Pickled Poet (p20) are our picks this issue – grab a coffee from a new-to-you spot, like Fangerz (p97), have a homebrewed beer at Reub Goldberg (p72), choose Chrissie gifts from Illawarra traders (p54) and engage the services of our seriously awesome advertisers. It feels good to buy local and give back – let’s do it together. Wishing you all a warm and wonderful holiday season surrounded by family and friends. Thank you for your unwavering support – it truly means so much.

See you next year xx coalcoastmagazine.com @coalcoastmag

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Coal Coast Magazine is published four times a year and has taken the utmost care to ensure content is accurate on the date of publication. Coal Coast Magazine does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the quality, accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information, product or service represented within our magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Coal Coast Magazine PTY LTD. ABN 49 621 097 461

editor@coalcoastmagazine.com

creative director Therese (tess) McIntosh

design@coalcoastmagazine.com sales@coalcoastmagazine.com

sales & admin coordinator Hadassa (haddy) Rorke

admin@coalcoastmagazine.com

advertising designer Elyshia McKirdy

studio@coalcoastmagazine.com

social media coordinator Taylah Cutting interns Tanaya Joe Olivia Tollardo cover image Becky Guggisberg beingbexta.com our contributors Jo Failes Eliza Jade Matilda Jesiolowski Tom Opie Duncan Rintoul Simon Nutt Roger Fitzhardinge Krystle Manning Emma Smith Adelaide Amourd Hannah Castelli Diana Ioppolo Teel Studios Hayley Griffiths Renee Bridges Dead Horse Branding Grace Gollasch Paul Jones Rich Perin Lachy Starling Grant Reynolds Georgia Matts Rooland Gringa Tacos Matt Castell Adam Souter Jessi Eve Louise Roche Amani Lindsell Petra Ford Kath Gadd Aaron Christie-David

Coal Coast is a term which recognises a prominent rock found beneath our area's surface, while celebrating our glittering coastline.

POSTCARD Hi there, Summer is here & dine-in is back! We have a pretty sensational spot here on South Beach, where you can enjoy our share plates menu on our beachfront terrace. Featuring a la carté dishes from around the globe; crispy soft-shell crab, wagyu steak, a wood-fired seafood board, Korean sticky braised pork belly and an array of vegan options. To top it all off, there is live music every Tuesday & Thursday night. Wish you were here! (psst...We're open 7 days) Love, Steamers Bar & Grill RETURN TO SENDER: 1 MARINE DRIVE, WOLLONGONG 2500

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THE WAY WE WERE

Sir Alexander Stuart, who was a Member for Illawarra, owner of the local Coalcliff coal mine, and later Premier, established the Clifton School of Arts in 1880. The town of Clifton was closely linked to the coal mine, and highly influenced by the School of Arts movement that aimed to bring education to the working class. Sir Stuart was instrumental in the creation of classes, or 'technical education', for the workers in an old weatherboard house across the road from the current building. The classroom was set up with tables, seats, and a bookcase, along with Stuart's further assistance in the form of an educational grant, £30 of his own money, and a nickel silver reading lamp.

school with a view PERCHED ON THE HIGH SIDE OF THE ROAD, WITH AN UNINTERRUPTED OCEAN VIEW, SITS THE HISTORIC CLIFTON SCHOOL OF ARTS Words Jo Failes Sources Clifton School of Arts, Illawarra Heritage Trail and Dawn Crowther Image From the collections of the Wollongong City Libraries and the Illawarra Historical Society

For 110 years, the Clifton School of Arts building has sat snugly under the escarpment, facing the sea, with an impressive 180-degree ocean view. Just moments south of the Seacliff Bridge, it has been a meeting place for the local community for generations.

Times became tough in the coming years with major mining disasters, industrial unrest, and numerous strikes. In 1911, miners who had been on strike assisted with the construction of the new building where it stands today. Over the years the site of the Clifton School of Arts has been home to doctors' surgeries, a shop, a billiard room, an electoral office, and an artist's studio. The condition of the building greatly declined over this time, but with the support of the community and a working committee, it has been restored with care to the beautiful building you see today. 'Clifton Conversations' – a series of online discussions (accessible via the Clifton School of Arts website) with local artists, writers, musicians, historians, and filmmakers – are full of historical musings and memories about the rich history of the Coal Coast. In one conversation, artist Paul Ryan speaks of how the view of the escarpment has not changed. Despite the many historical events surrounding the Clifton School of Arts since it began, the incredible views of the ocean and escarpment from the school have remained constant. ¡

To mark the building's 110-year anniversary, local author Dawn Crowther has released 'Chronicles From Clifton: Clifton School of Arts 1911 - 2011'. The Clifton School of Arts is available for hire for art shows, small weddings and parties, craft classes, yoga sessions, workshops and community events. To buy the book go to Collins Booksellers Thirroul, Gwynneville Post Office or visit artsclifton.org

SPOTLIGHT ON

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SPOTLIGHT ON

cptsd.hope Photo Eliza Jade Photography @elizajade, @chasingcaseclothing

Being mentally well and healthy is important for every person. And yet it is something that is often taken for granted, or worse stigmatised and misunderstood. In the Illawarra, there are many incredible organisations and not-for-profit initiatives supporting those in need, but there’s no hiding that many still suffer in silence.

SPOTLIGHT ON

A place to gain education and hear “ another survivor’s story that might just provide the hope that could save a life”

Everyone has a role to play in protecting and fostering good mental health in the community, and since 2018, 33-year-old single mother-oftwo, teacher, writer and mental health advocate, Jessica Lowe from Thirroul has been using her voice to effect change, provide education, and instil hope by bravely detailing her own, often tumultuous, road to recovery. After being diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, Jessica created Instagram page @ctpsd.hope at a time in her life when she was searching for a community of trauma survivors to lean into. The platform immediately gathered a huge following because it was so needed by many – a now cherished space where important information, support, despair and joy are offered in equal measure. “I created what I needed myself,” she says. “A place to gain education and hear another survivor’s story that might just provide the hope that could save a life.” Here Jess generously shares her personal story of trauma, healing and hope to encourage real conversation around mental wellbeing, and help others feel less alone…

Can you explain what complex trauma/ CPTSD is? CPTSD is short for complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Complex PTSD is a condition that can occur after prolonged and repeated trauma, particularly in the childhood developmental years due to child abuse or domestic violence. Complex trauma is different to the single event trauma that can lead to PTSD. It is ongoing and often relationally acquired through abusive caregivers, violent longterm relationships or in cases of being a prisoner of war. These dynamics create a situation where a child or person is living under constant threat with no ability to escape. As a result, the brain is wired very differently to people without these experiences and causes significant relational and emotional barriers as well as an impaired sense of self, physical health issues, due to chronic stress and nervous system dysfunction, and greatly increases the risk of unemployment, addictions, risky behaviours and suicide. How did this present itself for you? I have always lived with high levels of anxiety, stress, insomnia and flashbacks, but because it’s always been a part of my life, I didn’t know it was an issue – it was my normal. Being quite vulnerable and in need of a support system, I joined the Pentecostal church when I was 21, and in hindsight, I latched onto the institution to provide me with some kind of hope and guidance. The patriarchal culture and pressure of that environment triggered my body into remembering the stress and threat of my childhood experiences. I started to become disordered and obsessive in my eating and developed severe anxiety, which then turned into a 10-month resurfacing of my trauma. My body remembered everything, and I had no control over my mind. I wanted to end my life just to stop it. Psychologists did not know what to do with me and I thought I was going crazy. I was extremely lucky to have a close friend who is a psychiatrist, Dr Karen Williams. She specialises in complex trauma and helped me understand what was going on. Dr Mark Melek from Village Practice in

SPOTLIGHT ON What has the reaction to the page been since you first started? My page grew to 10k followers in a year and is now sitting at almost 15k. I receive constant messages from people all over the world who are now seeking traumainformed care and understand the ways their adverse childhood experiences have affected their adult life. But the most constant message I get is: “You have made me feel normal”. What do you hope the platform achieves? I want to create high-quality survivor-to-survivor education online, including books and resources that promote awareness, recovery and hope for adult survivors of childhood trauma and people who have been diagnosed with CPTSD.

Woonona was also the person who helped me recover. He is a phenomenal doctor. I got out of the church and began a hard road to recovery. What prompted you to set up you Instagram page, @cptsd.hope? I remember feeling so alone and so terrified when my trauma symptoms came up. I didn’t understand anything that was happening to me. What was worse was that nobody around me had an explanation – not even health professionals. If I hadn’t gained access to trauma-informed care I don’t think I would have survived that time. This model of care is still very new in Australia and research in the complex trauma arena is still making its way into the health professions. Social workers are generally far more educated on the ways complex trauma impacts individuals than healthcare workers are. It’s not good enough. I’m a high school English and history teacher, so I’m passionate about education. I also have a background in copywriting and ghost writing so I decided to put my skills and experience together and create an Instagram page for other adult survivors of childhood trauma.

Have you had any training in the mental health education field? I was studying a Masters of Mental Health but decided to withdraw as I wanted to specialise in the topic of trauma and it just wasn’t covered. I have studied Trauma Informed Care & Practice and was lucky enough to do Bessel Van Der Kolk’s (he discovered CPTSD) trauma neurobiology workshop before the pandemic. The rest is reading complex trauma literature and drawing from life experience living with CPTSD. What are a few things that you believe are misunderstood about CPTSD? The whole idea that everyone is in charge of their own thinking and emotions is completely torn to shreds once you understand complex trauma neurobiology. People with CPTSD and complex trauma cannot regulate their emotions or engage successfully with cognitive behavioural therapies like people who do not have complex trauma. CPTSD doesn’t just affect people from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Wherever you will find domestic violence or childhood abuse, you will find CPTSD. Do you have any daily rituals of self-care – what are some of the things you do to help heal? I am a regular at Coal Coast Fitness in Bulli. Strength training is my number-one mental health drug. I also love Brazillian Jiu Jitsu – it’s trained me to be brave against feelings of restriction, and also to fight back. I have limited my social circle to the kinds of friends who are ‘empathetic witnesses’ and invest a lot into those

SPOTLIGHT ON friendships. I walk and talk with friends regularly. I’m also part of a support group for women recovering from trauma and abuse with local initiative, The Eve Project. I engage in regular trauma therapy and anti-depressants have been life-changing for me. work in preventing men’s suicide. The retreats they do with men are using trauma-informed approaches. I have some incredible friends from Talk 2 Me Bro and am so proud we have something like this for men locally.

What more should be being done to help people suffering from mental illness and trauma? I believe it should be mandatory that anyone who works as a frontline healthcare worker or anyone who works in the justice system, including police, to be trained in traumainformed care and practice. Also, complex trauma has no official funding for recovery. If I am a veteran in this country and have PTSD I can gain access to an array of free treatments, services and medications. However, if the war was in our own home as a child we are not given these same benefits. They are desperately needed. At a local level, do you feel there is enough support offered in the Illawarra – do you have any recommendations for survivors looking for somewhere to turn in crisis? The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre is an amazing service and has been lobbying for funding for a trauma centre to provide ongoing lifelong recovery services for victims of domestic violence and the children that have grown up in these homes. The government rejected the funding, but I am hopeful that this will get off the ground as Australia’s first recovery centre of its kind.

How important is continuing the conversation around mental wellbeing and reducing the stigma attached to it? Stigma around mental health has no place in our society. We all have to care for and nurture our mental health, just as we do our physical health, and we all have trauma to varying degrees. Rather than judging, we should be leaning into one another with curiosity and empathy. The most important aspect of trauma recovery is finally experiencing an empathetic witness to our pain. Everyone deserves that. Stigma only isolates and denies the opportunity to heal. ¡ For more, follow @cptsd.hope

The Eve Project is another a phenomenal local initiative helping women recovering from trauma and abuse. They are doing incredible things locally. Talk 2 Me Bro in Wollongong is also one of the most phenomenal networks that is doing brilliant

Where to get help LIFELINE SOUTH COAST

13 11 14 lifelinesouthcoast.org.au

THE EVE PROJECT theeveproject.org.au THE ILLAWARRA WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE womenshealthcentre.com.au NSW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 24HR HOTLINE

1800 656 463

TALK 2 ME BRO talk2mebro.org.au KIDS HELPLINE

1800 551 800

LOCAL CREATIVE

bold as bexta MEET OUR COVER ARTIST BECKY GUGGISBERG, ALSO KNOWN AS ‘BEXTA’ – LOCAL KIAMA CREATIVE BRINGING THE WORLD AROUND HER TO LIFE IN VIBRANT COLOUR Words Matilda Jesiolowski

LOCAL CREATIVE

Looking through the catalogue of Becky Guggisberg’s works, you can’t help but be drawn to the bright, bold hues. A self-confessed “water baby”, her love of the coast and the natural world is evident throughout her work, with many of her paintings featuring joyful beach scenes and vivid florals. A natural caretaker with a nursing background, not to mention a mother of four, Becky is also heavily inspired by the human form. In her art, she is slowly transitioning from 'Becky Guggisberg' to being 'bexta', for multiple reasons, she says. “I absolutely love her – her boldness, freedom and her sense of humour. She is who I aspire to be.” Newcastle-born Becky spent several years of her childhood in Canberra before moving to Kiama with her family at a young age. “I remember house hunting with my dad when he accepted a position at Wollongong Uni. I still vividly remember looking from the escarpment towards Stanwell Park and thinking I had never seen anywhere so beautiful,” Becky recalls. “The smell of the salty sea and the forest, it took my breath away. We moved to Minnamurra, and I thought I had gone to heaven! I haven't moved from Kiama since. It's home.” Art wasn’t always on the cards, though, with Becky spending a large part of her life as a registered nurse. “I studied nursing at Wollongong Uni, and worked as a registered nurse for 20 years, working mostly in the emergency department,” she says. “The work was real, a service, a privilege and intense – I loved working as a team, helping and nurturing people at a time of crisis.”

Yearning for something more, Becky started studying fine arts at TAFE, in between shifts and change to raising her four children. It was a pivotal moment during her nursing which led her to transition to art full-time. “I was nursing someone who passed away when I had an epiphany that you just get one life,” she says. “I felt like I had been ignoring what I really wanted to spend my time doing. I wanted to show my kids to follow their dreams, to back themselves, to be courageous.” It was that realisation that triggered Becky to resign from her permanent nursing position in 2015 and change careers. She hasn’t looked back. Since then, she has experienced a successful venture into the art world, with career highlights including winning several art prizes such as the Gosford Art Prize, as well as being named a finalist in the Paddington Art Prize, among others. She has also seen her art take her abroad, where she was selected in 2018 to be an artist in residence in Varanasi in India for a month. While her creative career has taken her on many adventures, it’s the humble rhythm of her work which brings Becky the most satisfaction. “Realistically, it's the daily practice, the ritual, the exploring, the playing, the muse, the devotion – bringing it all into being, balanced and complete… That is the highlight, the true gold,” she says. And there is no shortage of people, places, or things she finds influential. “I find inspiration everywhere!” she says. “Both externally and internally. Currently, I have this fascination with music and musicians, and the work is playful and fun.” A wearer of many hats, Becky is also the president (although she prefers the term ‘caretaker’) of the Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival, which she says is a service to her community and to musicians. “The KJBF is filled with so much musical talent – it is fresh, evolving, wholesome, and generous, and has been built from great love and integrity,” she says. “The musicianship is extraordinary and the vibe is amazing. It is a privilege to be a part of!”

LOCAL CREATIVE

I am not predictable, I am “changing, evolving and often playful in my approach” Aside from music, Becky also takes inspiration from the human condition, with the human figure featuring heavily in her work. “The figures have little stories or can at times be deeply spiritual – we can see ourselves, or someone we admire, sometimes it’s a social comment,” she says of the bodies seen often in her art. “I am not predictable, I am changing, evolving and often playful in my approach. I want my work to feel good for the viewer, nice to be around.” The way Becky creates is intertwined with her coastal surroundings and the garden, themes that are also woven throughout her art. “I have a morning ritual – the process starts first thing and includes a plunge into the ocean. I work in my little garden studio, and I tend to work on multiple pieces at a time. I listen to music, podcasts, and, hey presto, it’s dark and time to cook dinner!” she says. Most of her paintings take a month or more from start to finish. In high demand, her work is often commissioned, and she has also found herself working on the occasional mural, which she finds to be a fun journey and a unique, different way of working. Like many others, Becky has felt the impact of the pandemic. “During the early Covid lockdown, I was unable to paint – I felt frozen, stressed, paralysed,” Becky recalls. “I spent my time in the garden, connecting with the soil, nature and growing food. My daughters were studying and on Zoom classes, and I was on the call-back nursing list, should I be required. I obsessed over the news.”

still-life, which was what our life had become – still, slow, beautiful and precious.”

But she soon began to appreciate the slower pace of life that the pandemic provided. “The garden nurtured me and guided me back into the studio and I painted flowers and fruits as a

Becky is optimistic about what the future holds, pandemic or not. “I will keep painting and creating… I will keep enjoying this one precious life and being bexta.” ¡

See more of Becky’s work on her website, www.beingbexta.com. Catch her current exhibition at music, art and culture space Fillmore’s Kiama (@findingfillmores), or at upcoming exhibitions at El Horses Gallery, Nowra in late January, or Worklife in early 2022.

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LOCAL FOOD

italian love affair PIZZA IS WHAT PROMPTED KEVIN AND FRED DUARTE’S FIRST FORAY INTO THE RESTAURANT BIZ, CULMINATING IN BELOVED RUSTIC PIZZERIA KNEADING RUBY. IT’S NOW LED TO TWO NEW OPENINGS IN WOLLONGONG, RESTAURANT SANTINO AND SONNY’S WINE SHOP

It’s the 1930s and Mayor William Louis Howarth has built a number of impressive establishments in central Wollongong. At the time, the father-of-three was a prominent businessman who helped shape the structure of this growing coastal city, these iconic buildings a reminder of the town’s history.

Images Tom Opie @t_opie Kneading Ruby 5 Crown Lane, Wollongong Santino 2/17 Globe Lane, Wollongong Sonny's Wine Shop 17 Globe Lane, Wollongong

Fast forward to 2016, and one these structures has been thoughtfully converted by brothers Fred and Kevin Duarte into a buzzing Italian pizza bar, now known and loved as Kneading Ruby. Taking inspiration from the building’s history, the locally famed restaurant was named after William’s youngest daughter, Ruby Howarth. Nestled in Crown Lane, Kneading Ruby would be easy to miss if you didn’t know where to look – but this only adds to the restaurant’s charisma. The Duarte brothers fitted out the venue to create an intimate space, which still pays homage to its historic roots, with hanging lights, luscious greenery and a woodfire oven on show.

LOCAL FOOD

Home to some of the best Italian cuisine on the coast, with an array of mouth-watering rustic dishes with modern flair, like the humble garlic bread that you pour the butter over at the table, or a sopressata and olive pizza with chilli honey, it’s easy to see why Kneading Ruby has become a fan favourite among locals and visitors alike. Although the journey to establishing the space was years in the making, its rising success has now allowed for new opportunities to flourish. With the brothers recently opening Restaurant Santino and Sonny’s Wine Shop in Globe Lane, there’s no sign of the pair slowing down. We chatted to Kevin about all things pizza and progress… When did the idea behind Kneading Ruby first take shape? The original love affair for me has always been pizza, pizza, pizza! The plan was to open up a restaurant, but when I finally decided to go for it, I was 26 years old with not much experience in a kitchen or a restaurant at all! The smart move was to learn the ropes in a low-risk environment, so I started learning in pizza franchise Crust. This then led to me owning one of the franchises, which taught me a tremendous amount about the business side of things. After six years on this journey, I felt it important to go overseas and learn how to make pizza the true Italian way. After four months travelling Europe and learning all things dough, I came back to Australia to see if I could make things happen. As always, money stress and fear of going it alone was prevalent, so I nagged my brother Fred to join me on this new venture. He eventually succumbed and brought 10 years of marketing experience in booze with him. The restaurant is such a welcoming, vibrant space in a great location – what was the inspiration for the fit-out? We were very lucky in finding the space for KR – the bones of the building really shaped the vision. Being quite interested in architecture and industrial design at the time, I could instantly see the potential it had. It brought about a back-lane, converted-

LOCAL FOOD

warehouse feel, which we really vibed. Hidden bars/restaurants, which are popular in cities like Melbourne, London and New York were inspiring to me. I love the notion of finding something ‘off the beaten track’, secretly tucked around a corner you wouldn’t think to look around, or behind a door you wouldn’t think to open. This idea really inspired the feel for Kneading Ruby. What was the hope when first opening Kneading Ruby? A first it feels like you’re just happy to open the doors, get some bums on seats and hopefully break even! However, the response we received was quite unexpected and we found ourselves having to add more tables and seats earlier than expected. It’s a great feeling to have your ideas enjoyed by the public after all the hard work you put in to get to that point. But it also adds pressure as we were still in training mode, so it was very intense. How do you guys create the menu? We try to stay true to Ruby’s roots – modern Italian cuisine. Apart from that, we try to expose

I love the notion of finding “ something ‘off the beaten track’, secretly tucked around a corner you wouldn’t think to look around” ourselves to as many different venues that we really look up to and have days/nights out with our chefs researching. We’re very lucky to have some super talented chefs on board. Our main man head chef Matt Manning runs the creativity of the team in the kitchen and Eugenio Russomanno runs all things pizza. And we source many of our ingredients from Wollongong, using companies like Passion in Fruit, and Harley & Johns Seafood. What’s the most popular dish on the menu? Without a doubt our potato gnocchi with peas, pancetta and goat’s cheese. It’s been a favourite from day one. And to this day, it’s still our biggest seller.

LOCAL FOOD Tell us about your alcohol offering? In both restaurants, we offer a wide range of beer, wine, spirits and cocktails. Classic cocktails are on offer as well as some house-made, uniquely designed cocktails by our brilliant bartenders. Sonny’s Wine Shop offers lots of different boutique spirits from all over the world, locally made beer and some take-home, ready-made, in-house mixed cocktails that have been really popular during the pandemic… can’t imagine why? Ha! There is a red wine cellar at the back, which offers an extensive collection of wine curated by our brilliant sommelier David Bosanquet. As well as filling up Sonny’s Wine Shop, sourcing fantastic wine from all over the world, he’s also created the wine menu for both restaurants. He’s a great asset! Are there any obstacles when working so closely with your family? I would have to say, Fred and I do very well in that sense. Luckily, our strengths lie in different areas of the business. We understand and respect where each other’s strengths and weaknesses come into play and bounce off each other. Having said that, we are family, which gives us the ability to tell each other to get f##ked and be okay with it after five minutes [laughs]. It’s a rarity but it happens.

LOCAL FOOD

What do you hope for the future of Kneading Ruby? We hope to continue having people come through our doors, regulars and new folk, be able to provide a level of service we’ve been known for and ensuring everyone leaves having had a wonderful time. Having to live through Covid and adopt a pick-up/delivery service for the past year on and off has really opened our eyes to how much we miss our customers and doing what we love. You opened Restaurant Santino and Sonny’s Wine Shop this year too… Restaurant Santino is a tribute to the yesteryear era of art deco, Sinatra and martinis, if you will, with an Italian bistro feel. There’s some classics on the menu and there's some not-so-classics. Sonny’s on the other hand was born from a love of wine and wanting to combine the two businesses as one. What do you mean by that? I hear you ask… well, Santino and Sonny’s have an adjoining door. If you so wish, once you have taken your seats in the restaurant you can walk into Sonny’s wine cellar, pick your wine and head back into the restaurant. Or vice versa – if you enjoyed your wine so much over dinner you can pop through the cellar and buy some to take home on your way out! It’s a bit of theatre and fun but it also allows us to be more interactive with our customers. Obviously, this year has been tumultuous – what was it like opening two new spaces? It’s been a funny old ride, full of mixed emotions and tiring days. Myself, Fred and my dad personally built the fit-outs for both Santino and Sonny's with help from my girlfriend too, so physically it was exhausting! However, the support we received from family, friends and our staff was truly humbling. It was so tough to close Santino for the lockdown – we had only been trading for three weeks and were just getting the momentum going that we all strive for in a restaurant. The majestic flow of service that usually takes a month or two to perfect was

forming, and before we knew it, we had to shut the doors. It wasn’t what anyone wanted, but what can you do… The positive that came out of it, was that we could concentrate on finishing and opening Sonny’s Wine Shop as it wasn't quite ready when we opened Santino. Now we have both venues raring to go!

LOCAL FOOD

Have you received a lot of community support during this tough period? When you get thrown into these situations, you have a mixed bag of emotions – there’s the fear of how to pay the bills and retain your staff, the excitement of new possibilities and how to engage in a different market and the exhaustion that comes with it all. The great thing about Wollongong is the community support and the love that comes from a wide range of people and industries. Everyone here has each other’s backs, which is a special trait for a city. We’re lucky! We are so excited to have now welcomed guests back in and be doing what we love. Do you believe the Wollongong food scene is growing? Definitely, I moved here over 11 years ago, and the food scene has exploded. You can see all the new venues opening and some of the more experienced venues setting the bar. Babyface is coming on the back of a hatted score, you have the very talented Matt and Cassandra Bugeja taking the reins at The Throsby with Ain’t Nonna’s, plus Dan Sherley doing his thing at Débutant and Rookie. And we can't forget our friends up north, Papi’s “having the second best burgers”… we love that! Also, newcomers to the region Bar Franco in Thirroul really shaking things up. Plus, all the other amazing operators out there putting their stamp and flavour on the region. What I’d like to see more of is later licencing for venues. I would

really love to finish service and be able to head out for a bite somewhere apart from Maccas! Or just more of the smaller bars being able to open past 12pm. What’s next for the family business? For now, it’s to chill, breathe, keep doing what we love and get past Christmas [laughs]. ¡

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Spring into Summer SUMMER 21-22

OZ DESIGN FURNITURE WOLLONGONG

A U S T R A L I A N O W N E D & O P E R AT E D

REVIEWS

nutbush schnitty limits Good pub schnitzel is just one of those things. Like a cool breeze on a hot summer night, or finding 10 bucks in those boardies you haven’t worn since last summer – a decent schnitty fills up your tank for days. Here’s four places you can go for a bit of poultry sunshine on a plate. Words Duncan Rintoul, Simon Nutt, Kate O’Mealley, Roger Fitzhardinge

The Balgownie Hotel, Balgownie

The Beaches Hotel, Thirroul

The sign outside the Bally Hotel notes that, in the pre-1950 era, it was renowned for sponsoring successful clay-quoits teams. These days, a recent refit has brought the latest tech to this iconic local pub – the NFC beacon! After ordering and paying at the table, the schnitty arrived quickly, piping hot. The Bally Schnitz passes the ʻas big as your face’ test (shnit-face test?). Flecks of pepper through the crunchy crust bring some zing, but the pepper sauce takes it to a whole new level. Variations on the Bally schnitty are the parmy or the ABC topper (avo, bacon and cheese with hollandaise). Like Brokers Road, the $20 is steep, but you won’t regret the Bally schnitz. RF

With heaps of seating (inside and out), live music and an extensive tap list, there’s a lot to love about this northern light. Schnitties flow hot and strong here, particularly on Thursday nights when they’re a steal at 2 for 1. The stand-out feature isn’t the schnitzel itself – which is good, mind you – but the salad that comes with it. It’s got a distinctly Mexican vibe: beans, grains, baby corn, finely diced tomato, Spanish onion, and a few bits of greenery I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Not over the top though – just delicately awesome, and enough to elevate the schnitty offering from solid effort to solid gold. DR

North Gong Hotel, North Wollongong It’s a big call naming the pub favourite the ‘ultimate’ schnitzel, but when everyone in sight is ordering it… well, maybe there’s some truth in it. A healthy portion of chicken, gently rolled in panko crumbs and herby goodness, plus some freshly steamed greens and corn on the cob (nothing frozen here!), the North Gong can confidently claim a strong schnitty offering. Upside: Get your schnitty on Wednesdays for just $7.50! Downside: Paying for sauce – ouch, that’s a sting in the tail. KO

Five Islands Hotel, Cringila Well, look what we have here! Nowhere to be seen are the ‘Sex bomb waitresses’ and ‘Daddy Daycare’ signs of the Cringila Hotel from days gone by. This old industrial gem has had a fresh major makeover, and they didn’t forget the kitchen. Pull up a booth and soak up the ambiance adjacent to Five Islands Road while enjoying a succulent chicken schnit and your choice of sauce. Often overlooked, you gotta give a big tip of the cap to the nicely seasoned fries and salad. Smashed it all except the cucumber. The $12 Wednesday deal is super value. Well played FIH. SN ¡

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RECIPE

Lemon, yoghurt + olive oil cake

This loaf has the most moist and tender crumb! It’s filled with the sweet and tangy flavours of lemon and honey and is topped with creamy coconut yoghurt and a simple lemon curd. Absolutely scrumptious and so simple to make! This nourishing loaf celebrates all of the gorgeous lemons in abundance at the moment. Enjoy this absolute delight!

RECIPE

Recipe & image Krystle Manning

OF OAT AND EARTH

www.ofoatearth.com @of.oat.and.earth

Krystle Manning from Thirroul is a recipe developer, food photographer and long-time healthy foodie, specialising in nutrient-dense recipes, free of gluten, dairy and refined sugar. After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, she turned her focus to the healing powers of food and shares her love of plant-based goodness at ofoatandearth.com. Head to her website for more delicious recipes like this.

Ingredients

Lemon curd

½ cup lemon juice (3-4 lemons) ½ cup raw honey ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 3 free-range eggs ¼ cup coconut yoghurt Zest of 2 large lemons (about 3 tbsp) 1½ cups almond meal ¼ cup brown rice flour ¼ cup tapioca flour 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp bicarbonate soda

1 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil 2 tbsp raw honey ¼ cup lemon juice 2 free-range eggs (lightly beaten) 1 cup thick coconut yoghurt, to serve

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180C and grease and line a loaf tin with baking paper. 2. Place all wet ingredients into a large bowl – lemon juice, honey, olive oil, eggs, coconut yoghurt and lemon zest – and use hand beaters or a whisk to combine until frothy.

3. Add the dry ingredients – almond meal, brown rice flour, tapioca flour, baking powder and bicarbonate soda – and mix until a smooth batter is achieved.

4. Pour mixture into the lined loaf tin and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a skewer

inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cover with foil in the final 10 minutes if over-browning. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before moving it to a wire rack.

5. Meanwhile, make the lemon curd by melting the coconut oil and honey in a small

saucepan over low heat. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Juice the lemon and whisk the eggs while you wait. Add them to the saucepan and whisk to combine. Return to the stove over low heat and continue to whisk for 3-5 minutes or until it begins to thicken. Once it is smooth and thick, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool.

6. Once the cake has cooled, top it with the thick coconut yoghurt and then drizzle over the lemon curd. Enjoy! ¡

LOCAL WILDLIFE

MIX & MATCH

Unfortunately we had to cancel our inaugural Craft Beer Festival last October, however you can still come down to the Craft Beer Cave to create your own festival! 34

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LOCAL MUSIC

surf rock kings GERRINGONG-BORN BAND THE TERRYS CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK ON STAGE Words Emma Smith Image Adelaide Amourd

Local indie rock band The Terrys have recently celebrated one million streams on their iconic track Our Paradise! Born and bred in Gerringong, it all began when three mates Lukas Anderson (lead guitar), Jacob Finch (vocals) and Ben Salvo (rhythm guitar) moved into a shared trailer house and began jamming together. It wasn’t long before the boys roped in Cameron Cooper (drums) and Trent Cooper (bass) and the five-piece was complete.

As an ode to where it all began, the band was named after their legendary landlord ‘Terry.’ The Terrys released their debut single Video Games in June 2020 and by December that year, they already had over 62 thousand streams – and they haven’t slowed down since. Lead guitarist Lukas jokes that it was probably 10 of their friends alone who were responsible for getting the streams up, but that can’t be true. Since then, they’ve featured on triple j, headlined local festivals, sold out interstate tours, played alongside some of their music idols like Dune Rats, Skeggs and Hockey Dad and launched their Oddpast podcast. One of their first local shows ‘The Tezzfest’ at the Towradgi Beach Hotel sold out in two days. Lukas says Tezzfest is, to this day, his favourite event that the band has ever played. “All of our mates bought a ticket to come and support us and it was so much fun,” he recalls.

LOCAL MUSIC In February this year, they released Our Paradise, which catapulted The Terrys into even more success. Fans have gone crazy for the catchy track that feels like summer. “To be honest, Jacob and I have been waiting for the day that it hit one mill for quite a long time, so when it finally happened, we just treated it like a holiday and had so much fun,” say Lukas, who was also stoked when the band were named ‘your new favourite surf-indie outfit’ by triple j following the release of their singles Our Paradise and Cost The Peace. “We put our songs on Spotify in the hope they would get played on triple j because it’s the biggest and most popular Australian radio station. Once Our Paradise got played on triple j, it definitely put our name out there into a different format where people that we don’t even know started following us – and that’s really important because now we can go and play shows all around Australia.” Fast forward a couple of months and The Terrys came full circle, headlining the SurfLife Festival in Gerringong, in their hometown. “Surprisingly, I had never actually been to that festival,” says Lukas. “So when they asked us to play, and we experienced it for the first time while playing, it was pretty awesome.” The Terrys sailed into lockdown on a high – according to music website, The Underground Stage, they were among the top 10 artists getting the most playlist adds in the country in June. During lockdown, the boys sprung into action, launching ‘Terrys TV’ – a free interactive live stream gig to keep their fans entertained at home. Lukas says live streams were ideal at the time, but they don’t compare to the real thing. “It was fun, but definitely weird,” he says. “It’s almost like we were playing to nobody.” While the last six months came with the obvious challenges for the band, Lukas says there were some silver linings too. “A bonus was not having to go to work. And if we aren’t at work, we might as well be writing songs.” The boys released their first ever six-track EP The Terrysonic Mixtape in September. “The songs Cost The Peace and Our Paradise were already out,

while Blue was written a long time ago – it was like the second song we ever wrote together as a band and we really wanted to get it on the record,” Lukas says. “Then Never Going Home was probably one of the more heavy-hitting songs of ours. Hearing it recorded in our studio was a bit of a milestone for us. I hope people listen to that song because a lot of who we are as individuals comes out.” The EP was produced by Jack Nigro, who has an impressive portfolio of work. Jack has worked alongside some real talent in the music industry including Pacific Avenue, DMA’s and Middle Kids. Lukas says when it came to bass and drums and getting the guitar riffs that bit more catchy, Jack was an expert. “When we were going into the studio, we knew he had worked with Sticky Fingers and Skeggs and some of our biggest inspirations but we wanted to keep it really professional and make something as good as we could when we were in the studio. So we all just turned a blind eye to that and met Jack as an individual and he definitely helped us a lot. He is a fantastic bloke.” As life is beginning to look a bit more normal, the boys are looking forward to finally getting back on stage again for their national tour, which is coming up in December. Illawarra fans have already shown their love for the boys, with both local shows at La La La’s in Wollongong and Wombarra Bowlo already sold out. Since their debut, The Terrys have built themselves a large following that they endearingly call ‘The Terrydactyls.’ The boys run a Facebook group by the same name, where they offer fans exclusive access to brand new music, concert tickets, merch drops and memes before they’re available to the public. “We constantly get messages from little kids saying how good our music is, which is really nice. We appreciate that and hope it never ever stops. For every kid that messages us, I try to the best of my ability to reply and tell them, ‘I’m so stoked that you listen to my music and I’m going to keep making it for you’,” says Lukas. “They’re the reason we can do what we do. And we can't wait to get back playing live music to each and every one of them – our fans are the best.” ¡

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

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South Coast Tipis DAVE BOYCE, DEAN BURTON, JONNY O'CONNOR | OWNERS

www.southcoasttipis.com.au @southcoasttipis When, why, how did you first establish your business? Jonny’s Scottish highland tipi wedding six years ago was where the kernel of an idea for the business started. Since then, we have planned and discussed and come together as partners to bring tipis to the coast. Our timing couldn’t have been worse as we established ourselves at the end of 2020 to catch the post-lockdown outdoor drawcard… but we hadn’t planned for Delta! What does your business pride itself on? Honest hard work, professionalism, service with a smile, our sustainable products, and most of all working and collaborating with people and other businesses in the Illawarra and South Coast. What's been your biggest success so far? Covid has been undoubtably our biggest challenge (obviously!). Our biggest success is how we have stuck at it, backed ourselves and never once fallen out as mates! Hopefully, with lockdown behind us we can put some smiles on faces and bring unique outdoor events to the region. What do you enjoy most about running a business in the Illawarra? Soooo many people are happy to help and give us a leg up in so many different ways! We feel like we have a lot to give back and can’t wait to get going. As we are an outdoor business, we are also lucky enough to work in some of the region’s most spectacular spots.

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Fernwood Woonona KIM RIMMER | CLUB OWNER

www.fernwoodfitness.com.au/clubs/woonona How did you first establish your business? My partner Clint and I took over as owners in 2015. I wanted to create a space where women could not only train but have everything under one roof – from childminding, sauna, reformer Pilates, to our in-club hair salon, Shylo Hair and Beauty. Our business is family run. My two beautiful daughters work alongside me and my daughter-in-law Kelly runs the salon. What does your business pride itself on? I am often asked why we have been so successful, and I believe it comes down the community we have created. Our members are not just workout buddies, we have a whole social community outside of the club. We also pride ourselves on our programs – they are tailored by women for women, which is why they are so successful. What challenges have you've faced? Own a gym in a pandemic… said nobody ever! In the first lockdown, we realised we needed to pivot and added an extension to the club as well as our reformer Pilates studio. These decisions were instrumental in our future success. Our awards are also a testament to our hard work. We’ve been nominated for Club of the Year three times, winning in 2019, and nominated for Franchisee of the Year for three years. Our team are just as invested in our business as we are and that is rare to find. What do you enjoy most about running a business in the Illawarra? I love the community support. We have had the pleasure of meeting so many beautiful ladies over the years. When you run a business well, your customers will always be your biggest referrals and we have grown our club thanks to the support from our members.

Little Scientists SYBILLE SEIDLER | PROJECT DIRECTOR

www.littlescientists.org.au Tell us about your business? The objective of the Little Scientists program is to develop enthusiasm, curiosity and interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) among young children regardless of background, gender or ability, whether they live in rural, regional, urban or Indigenous communities. I joined as Project Director in early 2015, and as a mother of three, I was immediately drawn to the topic and could see the need for an initiative like ours. I have grown the team to a core of 10 members – three of us live and work out of Bulli. It’s my South Coast branch. We are a national program and through our network of amazing local network partners, we have been able to have more than 8000 early childhood educators and teachers participate in our workshops. What does your business pride itself on? I love its collaborative character. We get to work with people from all walks of life. Knowing that upskilling our amazing early childhood educators across the country will enhance their ability to identify STEM in the everyday, alongside our next generation of curious Australian children – that is just amazing! What do you enjoy most about running a business in the Illawarra? Apart from absolutely loving working and living in our region that reaches from the mountains to the sea, I also appreciate our amazing business community. If you check out Little Scientists graphics, all the illustrations you see across our branding, they are done by the very talented local graphic designer, Karina Diaz. Whenever I can, I engage our local brains trust – we have it all at our fingertips here in the Illawarra! ¡

ADVENTURE AT HOME

sister, sister WOLLONGONG IS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE TWO INTERNATIONAL SISTER CITIES, AND WHILE THEY ARE A PLANE RIDE AWAY, IT’S SIMPLE TO GET A TASTE OF THE CULTURE RIGHT HERE ON HOME SOIL Words Hannah Castelli

Wollongong is not an only child. In fact, it has two sisters. One is Kawasaki in Japan and the other is Ohrid in Macedonia. Like most siblings, they have unique qualities, but they also share similarities to our coastal town. The best part about these relationships is that you don’t have to hop on a plane to experience some of the culture, instead, there are ways to explore them right here at home.

ADVENTURE AT HOME

Kawasaki, Japan Kawasaki is part of greater Tokyo and is only a 20-minute train ride to the nation’s capital. Like Wollongong, it is a water-facing city, nestled on Tokyo Bay. Similarly, it has roots in industry and has actually made a tourist attraction out of viewing factories on the harbour from a boat at night! Its population is a little larger than Wollongong’s, with about 1.5 million people calling it home. But although Kawasaki may be a bigger city, it has time for its smaller sister. Since the beginning of the sibling-ship in 1988, there has been regular cultural exchanges and every year a group of students from the region come to Wollongong for a visit. The other most notable exchange from Kawasaki is the red traditional Japanese bridge and tea house that can be found in the Wollongong Botanic Gardens – it was gifted by Kawasaki in 1993 as a fifth-anniversary present. If you want to experience Kawasaki in Wollongong, the bridge might be the first place to check out, although it is not the last. Karaoke, which is a shortened mix of the Japanese words for empty and orchestra, has mass popularity all over Japan, and Kawasaki’s streets are lined with karaoke venues. Holey Moley in Crown Street offers karaoke rooms that can be hired hourly and can accommodate up to 18 people, so why not grab some friends and give it a go? Once you’ve finished belting your heart out head to Toro Robata Sushi. The interior is charmingly decorated with artificial cherry blossoms and will make you feel like you are engaging in the traditional Japanese pastime of ‘Hanami’, which means enjoying and viewing flowers.

ADVENTURE AT HOME

Ohrid, Macedonia Like the Illawarra, the small city of Ohrid is situated on the edge of a lake. According to UNESCO, it is one of the oldest human settlements in European history and with its cobbled lanes and ancient monastery it is easy to believe. The monastery is not the only spiritual place around town, with the story going that at one time the city had 365 churches, one for every day of the year, although this has never been confirmed. What can be confirmed, by a Wollongong Council spokesperson, is that Ohrid reignited its sister city status with Wollongong in 1996 and that since then there has been a range of cultural exchanges, including visits from delegations. In 2006, there was an exhibition held at Wollongong Art Gallery of Macedonian Christian artefacts. If you’re interested in learning more about Macedonian artefacts, the Macedonian Orthodox Church on Stewart Street is worth a visit. Opened in 1972, the interior boasts rich iconography, floor-to-ceiling columns and most notably a gold-plated chandelier that hangs in the centre of the church and is made completely from Swarovski crystals. Moving on from spiritual to spirits, the national drink of Macedonia is a fruit brandy called Rakija. When visiting homes of the local Ohrid residents it would be common to be offered a glass of homemade Rakija, with most families having their own recipe. If you would like to sample some right here, it is currently being served at Mr Crown and can be bought by the glass. If eating is more your thing, then a slice of burek is the way to go. A flaky pastry, popular all over the Balkans, it can be savoured at Alexander’s Bakery Southside in Wollongong Central, 5-star Burek in Cringila, as well as a host of other speciality burek shops up and down our coast. ¡

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COMMUNITY

never say never WHEN AN ACCIDENT CHANGED THE COURSE OF DAN HILLIER AND MARYANNE HARRIS' LIVES, THE COUPLE FROM COLEDALE EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY THAT WOULD SEE THEM DISCOVER BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND PROVE DOCTORS WRONG Words Diana Ioppolo ignitecontent.com.au Images Teel Studios

COMMUNITY

In 2010, Dan Hillier and Maryanne Harris were like many other couples their age. At 22, Dan worked as a chef while Maryanne was studying an exercise science degree. With dreams to travel and work overseas, Dan was exploring a company transfer while Maryanne planned to continue her studies abroad. But a visit to a friend’s apartment changed their plans and their lives forever. After a balcony railing gave way and collapsed, Dan experienced a four-metre fall that left him with the devastating diagnosis as a quadriplegic. He spent 10 months in hospital, underwent two surgeries to stabilise his spine, and was told he would never be able to move from his neck down again. It was a diagnosis that both Dan and Maryanne, who now live in Coledale, refused to accept. “Once we were given his diagnosis, we noticed his rehabilitation while in hospital was very much focused around how he could adapt and live his life under these new limitations,” says Maryanne. “The options seemed really limited. So, while I was finishing my degree, I began researching different forms of training for people with spinal cord injuries to try and find a better solution.” Maryanne finished her degree and began working in aged care in a role that led her to a major breakthrough. While at a medical conference in Germany to source equipment for aged care facilities, she discovered Cyberdyne and learned about their revolutionary robotics designed to help people just like Dan. Cyberdyne are the founders of HAL, the world’s first neuro-controlled exoskeleton which is used to train, support and enhance a wearer’s strength. Using electrodes, HAL encourages the development of new neural pathways while walking with the human, rather than walking for

Dan’s ‘never say never’ “approach is what’s gotten us through this journey and is what we live by every day” the human. By doing this, over time and with constant repetition, new neural pathways can be created and help the person do things they previously couldn’t. Maryanne and Dan made their first trip over to Japan to explore the technology in 2012. Within three weeks, they saw the amazing results Dan achieved using this technology and began the long process of taking the technology back to Australia. During this time, Maryanne and Dan were faced with the day-to-day realities of life after the injury. Dan needed regular and consistent care from a range of support workers and found that managing the different providers and appointments was a job in itself. In 2018, while still working to bring HAL to Australia, the couple founded tappON. Based at the University of Wollongong's iAccelerate,

COMMUNITY or stroke. Each program combines a custom program using HAL along with strength and conditioning training, which together create the building blocks to help a person regain function. So far, patients have come from across the country and all walks of life, with each person on a quest to regain some of their functionality. tappON is an online NDIS booking platform that enables people to get the most value out of their NDIS packages. It helps people to find, build and manage their support team all under the one system. In April 2021, after a nine-year journey, Maryanne and Dan officially launched HAL into Australia through their second business venture, RoboFit. “The process to bring HAL to Australia wasn’t easy,” says Maryanne. “With Australia being a relatively small market, we had to make it viable. There were partnership details to finalise, TGA approval to secure, and Master training for me to undergo in Japan.” As Australia’s first Cyberdyne-certified rehabilitation clinic right here in North Wollongong, RoboFit provides a range of services to help people living with conditions such as spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis

“Through tappON and RoboFit, we want to do what we can for people who’ve found themselves in this life-altering situation, just like we have,” says Maryanne. “It’s not easy, but it can happen. After a lot of work and perseverance, Dan walked five kilometres across Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2014 as part of a marathon. He also surprised me at our wedding by joining me for our first dance as husband and wife. We’ve seen the progress that’s possible, so we want to help people do the same, be as independent as they can be and take back some control of their life.” When asked what helped get them through this life-altering event, Maryanne credits unwavering support from both their families and friends as well as Dan’s unrelenting drive and perseverance. “When the accident happened, so many of things we planned were just wiped out,” says Maryanne. “We had to switch gears. How could we make the best out of this situation? What else could we do to turn things around? Dan’s ‘never say never’ approach is what’s gotten us through this journey and is what we live by every day.” With a mission to contribute to a cure for paralysis, the duo has big plans and are just getting started. After opening Australia’s first Cyberdynecertified rehabilitation clinic, Maryanne and Dan are looking to share this technology across both Australia and New Zealand. Their plans include expanding the existing clinic, introducing new RoboFit locations and bringing in new devices from the team in Japan. “Those first few years after the accident were quite challenging and dark," says Dan. "I’m proud we can now share this technology, as it wasn’t an option for me coming out of the hospital. While every person’s journey is different, we want to help improve independence through this technology and explore what’s possible.” ¡

For more information, visit robofit.com.au or tappon.co

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FINDS FOR YOU

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FINDS FOR YOU

The Living Hearth This eclectic Thirroul store houses a beautifully curated treasure trove of sustainable eco homewares and artisan brands. You will find exclusive French linen bedding and tableware in unique colours as well as linen clothing for him and her. Shop 5/264 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul 0412 295 048 Malia The Label Made from recycled plastics and discarded fishing nets, this sustainable swimwear range is the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe. We ‘do better’ for the environment so that you can ‘feel better’ wearing Malia The Label! Now available at Thirroul Collective 271-273 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul Open 7 days 0499977993

Pinot & Picasso Wollongong Enjoy three hours of BYO wine, laughter and trying to paint like Picasso! Ideal for birthdays, team building, hens night, Christmas parties or the perfect date! By the end of the night, even the ‘non-creatives’ will be taking home their very own masterpiece. A night out that's good for the soul. @pinotandpicassowollongong www.pinotandpicasso.com.au/wollongong Shop 1/10 Thomas Street, Wollongong

FINDS FOR YOU

Capri Floral Home Be inspired by the flowers and products of Capri. Specialising in locally-sourced and imported farm-fresh flowers, Capri has a bouquet to brighten any day. They also offer a beautiful range of self-care products, homewares and stationery. Shop 3/135 Balgownie Road, Balgownie (02) 4271 8040 @capri_floral

The Dog Mechanic The majority of dogs are surrendered to shelters through no fault of their own and more often than not it’s down to a training issue that can be easily fixed. Our canine pals need guidance and leadership to help them navigate our world and adapt to our lifestyles. Call James on 0407 502 082 for an initial free telephone consultation. Loose lead walking – Basic Manners – Socialisation Separation Anxiety – Behavioural Issues – Reactivity @the_dog_mechanic thedogmechanic.com.au

Nourish by Kay Nordic muesli, classic or grain-free granola homemade to order in Thirroul. Free from refined sugars, vegan and using organic ingredients, it's the perfect healthy start to your day! Follow @nourishbykay on Facebook and Instagram to order.

If you would like to have a product featured next issue, please email hello@coalcoastmagazine.com to book in.

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LOCAL BUSINESS

a different kind of search MEET DOREEN BROWN, SEO EXPERT AND FOUNDER OF LET’S GET VISIBLE Words Hayley Griffiths @hayleyg.creative

A sea change from Melbourne to the sunny shores of Wollongong in 2003 led Doreen Brown on a search for a different career path. She found all that and more, starting her own consulting business in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and assisting many local businesses along the way with their own – albeit different kind of – search. Doreen had been a training consultant in the financial services sector for over 15 years when she decided to transition into the digital marketing space. Landing an entry-level role for a Sydney agency, Doreen spent five years learning SEO from the ground up. It was during this time that Doreen had her ‘a-ha’ moment, realising that SEO was her true passion. Fast forward a few years and unexpectedly the agency closed. “I went from managing teams in Australia and America to being unemployed,” explains Doreen. With a glass half full attitude, she saw this as the perfect opportunity to launch her own consulting business, Doreen Brown Consulting. In 2020, the business was rebranded to Let’s Get Visible, consolidating her offerings including a podcast and online academy. What fuels her passion for the business? Seeing so many business owners missing out on critical support in digital marketing because they can’t afford big agency rates. That’s where Let’s Get Visible steps in: “We support busy businesses that want to outsource their SEO and digital marketing efforts or train their existing internal teams in SEO.” Now, if you’re reading this article and thinking ‘what is SEO?’, don’t worry you’re not the only one! Luckily, Doreen is here to make sense of it all. “SEO has evolved so much over the years and now it's all about creating an online experience for users that will meet their needs. It's not about how many keywords you can get on page one,

LOCAL BUSINESS

it's more to do with connecting qualified searches with your website and being a resource not just a sales pitch once people find you. It's important because SEO is an organic, long-term strategy.” Doreen also offers an online learning platform named Let's Get Visible Academy. It provides online SEO and digital marketing courses to support solopreneurs and small businesses that may not have a budget to work directly with a consultant or outsource their SEO management. As a busy entrepreneur herself, Doreen understands the important of ensuring the courses are not too lengthy and can be completed at their own pace from anywhere. “The courses run for two hours or less, so business owners don't need to carve out six weeks of their busy lives to learn,” says Doreen. Wearing many hats, Doreen manages to fit in time for her passion project – a podcast called Let's Get Visible with Dorz Brown. Her aim of the podcast is to get real about the ups and downs of running a business. “It’s not always unicorns and rainbows – we get to hear real stories and realise that we are not alone with some of those experiences. I especially love and

enjoy this, as I get to interview other business owners and remove the fluff,” explains Doreen. There are some absolute gems of wisdom from each episode, which features creatives, solopreneurs and business owners from a diverse range of industries both locally and across Australia. But it’s Wollongong that has become home for Doreen. She loves the local community of business owners who she says, “support what you do and share it with others, even when you’re not in the room!” In her downtime, you’ll find Doreen on the water paddleboarding or spending time with her family. “I am a mum of two boys and that keeps me pretty busy!” she says. “They absolutely love getting involved in different types of sports, so weekends are always jam-packed with attending matches and games.” ¡

Find Doreen at letsgetvisible.com.au or @lets_get_visible

ADVERTORIAL

1. CHECK THE UV RATING Get familiar with how to check the UV index rating which can be found on the weather app on your smart phone. A rating 3 or higher is generally considered unsafe to be outside unprotected. 2. A SAFE DOSE OF VITAMIN D Get a safe dose of Vitamin D for your health. It is recommended to get 20 minutes a day of sun exposure to as much of your skin as possible, only when the UV is below 3. 3. UPDATE YOUR SUNBLOCK Get yourself a new sunblock every season and check the use by dates. SPF 30 or 50 is ideal with a zinc oxide base - don’t forget to reapply regularly! 4. KEEP SUNBLOCK COOL Keep your sunblock in a cool place when you’re not using it. Leaving it in constant heat (such as in the car) breaks down the product. 5. REGULAR CHECKS Set an alarm on your phone every three months to perform a skin check on yourself. As best you can, check your skin in a well-lit room like the bathroom, and keep an eye out for any new or changing spots.

HEALTH

protect your peepers A GUIDE TO EYE DISEASES AS YOU AGE – THE SYMPTOMS, RISK FACTORS AND TREATMENT Words Renee Bridges, bridgesopticalwoonona.com.au

Causes

Age related macular degeneration

There are two types of AMD: dry and wet. The dry form is more common and less severe. It causes a gradual deterioration in your central vision over time. Dry AMD accounts for 90 per cent of all AMD but can change into the wet type over time. The wet form is less common and occurs when a blood vessel underneath the macula leaks and symptoms can progress rapidly. This type needs urgent treatment.

What is AMD?

Risk factors

The macula is a very small part of the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The macula is responsible for the detailed sharp vision that is used for reading, driving and seeing fine detail. AMD generally occurs because of changes in the macula due to ageing, which cause your central vision to blur.

The major risk for developing AMD is age, with one in seven people over 50 years affected. Smoking is the major controllable risk factor with smokers having twice the risk of developing AMD. You should have an eye exam which checks for the signs and symptoms of AMD if you: • Are older than 50 years • Are a smoker • Have hypertension or cardiovascular disease • Have a family history of AMD • Have a history of UV exposure

Signs & symptoms AMD causes no pain or discomfort and commonly progresses slowly. In its early stages, AMD may be detected in an eye exam before symptoms occur. The first symptom is typically difficulty seeing fine detail in the centre of your vision and over time, this central area may increase in size. In some cases, AMD may cause lines to appear distorted or wavy.

Prevention A low-fat diet rich in green, leafy vegetables, nuts and fish may be beneficial in reducing the impact of AMD. There are even nutritional supplements that may help reduce AMD progression.

HEALTH

Glaucoma What is glaucoma? Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the pressure inside the eye progressively damages the optic nerve. Glaucoma is a problem not only when the pressure is high; in some people it can cause damage when the pressure is normal or low.

Risk factors You should have your eyes checked regularly for glaucoma, if: • You are over the age of 40 years • You have a family history of glaucoma • You have diabetes, high blood pressure or another eye disease

Signs & symptoms

Cataracts What causes cataracts? When the normally clear lens inside your eye becomes cloudy, this is known as a cataract. Having a cataract is like looking through a dirty window. They range from very small to large cataracts that can cause vision loss.

Commonly, glaucoma causes no pain or discomfort, does not affect how clearly you see and progresses slowly. You may not even know if you have glaucoma. Sometimes the pressure will rise quickly and cause intense eye pain and redness. This type of glaucoma is an emergency and needs treatment as soon as possible.

Risk factors

Treatment

While glaucoma cannot be completely prevented and vision loss from glaucoma is permanent, early detection and treatment can reduce damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision. Glaucoma is usually treated with prescription eye drops. Once diagnosed with glaucoma, you will need treatment for life. Sometimes, eye drops alone will not control the damage to the optic nerve and laser treatment or surgery is needed.

Many people with small cataracts that are not advancing can be helped with new prescription glasses and a regular eye health examination. When cataracts begin to affect your vision, interfering with your ability to work or drive, your optometrist will talk to you about the benefits of referring you to an ophthalmologist, or eye surgeon, to consider surgery to remove the cataracts. This operation is generally uncomplicated and has a very high success rate.

Most cataracts are a normal change due to advancing age, but they can be caused by eye injuries, toxic chemicals or diseases like diabetes. Smoking and exposure to ultraviolet light are also risk factors that contribute to the development of cataracts.

HEALTH

Diabetic Eye Disease (Diabetic retinopathy) What is this? Diabetes affects many parts of the eye. Early in the disease, there are often no signs or symptoms. Symptoms of diabetes may be blurred, fluctuating vision, double vision or flashes. Diabetes may also contribute to the development of cataracts and glaucoma. The most serious complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy.

Causes Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar damages the fine blood vessels of the retina – the light-sensitive film at the back of the eye. This causes the vessels to leak blood, the retina to swell and new blood vessels to start growing. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness.

Risk factors The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is greater if diabetes has been present for a long time or blood sugar levels are not well controlled. Other risk factors include smoking, poor diet and elevated blood pressure. To reduce the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, it is important to control your blood sugar levels as much as possible. ¡

Tips for maintaining

good eye health • Regular eye examinations • Eating the right foods: Fill your plate with foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C and E. These nutrients may help lower your chance of developing macular degeneration or cataracts. Green vegies, salmon, eggs and citrus fruits, etc. A healthy diet also decreases your chance of diabetes, which is one of the leading causes of blindness. • Wear sunglasses (UV exposure can result in early cataracts and macular degeneration). • Take regular screen breaks: When you stare at a computer, tablet or phone screen too long, you may experience eyestrain, dry eyes, neck and shoulder pain, and headaches. Take a break from the screen every 20 minutes.

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LOCAL TALENT

ALEXANDER MARJANOVIC

young talent time Words Olivia Tollardo Image Dead Horse Branding

The Australian music industry is not widely known for its jazz and blues scene, but 22-year-old crooner from Coniston, Alexander Marjanovic, is on a mission to change that!

LOCAL TALENT

Alexander grew up listening to the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and the Andrews Sisters, and has now created an on-stage persona, inspired by – and set to rival – his idols. Not simply a singer, Alexander plays the piano, composes and arranges his music himself, while also keeping his audience entertained with his oldschool charm and charisma. With his classic sound made fresh and dapper demeanour, the rising star is breathing new life into the lounge singer genre, working with internationally acclaimed producers to refresh classic tracks. In 2020, Alexander, released his debut album Imagination featuring his original song Winter Shadows as well as arrangements of classic jazz songs. His latest release I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing transforms Aerosmith’s hit song into a smooth blues piece with silky melodies and a hint of sweetness. When he sings, Alexander hopes to transport his audience to another time, another place – an intimate jazz bar in the 1940s. “Music has always been a huge part of my life,” Alexander says. “I want to revive the classic lounge genre and invite a new generation of listeners to enjoy the music I have always had an affinity for.” When did your interest in jazz and blues music begin? I was raised listening to music from the second half of the 20th century, mostly thanks to my parents, who particularly enjoyed tracks from the 70s, 80s and 90s. I also loved watching vaudeville comedy films like Abbott & Costello and Martin & Lewis, which my parents rented throughout my childhood. I started playing piano at 11 years old, when my mum bought me a ragtime piano, and haven’t stopped since – I began singing not long after that. I performed and competed in a few competitions growing up, before starting to work on releasing music. What prompted you to promote yourself online as ‘AlexanderPerforms’? The public attention I received after performing live shows often involved the question: “Where can I find you?!” This encouraged me to create an online platform and stage name for myself that was simple and easy for people to remember.

local talentshi, ning celebratiingon we We lovethis sect up’llandbe comers and in on you ght the li makingngwaves- who are As a young adult in this niche industry, how are you hoping to make an impact? I want to attract an audience who love to relax over a fine wine while listening to smooth crooner jazz and swing music. I’d like to show people that their favourite classic rock songs can sound beautiful as jazz-inspired pieces! Tell us about the process of creating your new single I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing. I began by selecting Aerosmith’s famous song from a list of potential tracks, before rearranging majority of the piece. After completing a demo for my publicist and manager, we sent the track to producers who we thought could help bring the song to life. Legendary Nashville songwriter and producer John Capek, who’s worked with Cher and Rod Stewart, reached out and we began working together via Zoom, changing some of the vocal melodies to morph it best for my style of music. Who would your dream collaboration be? I would love to collaborate with many artists and producers in the future, especially within different genres and industries. It would be an honour to work with Tony Bennett though, as he’s one of the last crooner legends from that period. Is performing live important to you? Live performances are very important to me, more so than recording new songs! Nothing can quite compete with standing on a stage and entertaining an audience. I enjoy playing private functions and at smaller venues to create an intimate atmosphere. When can we expect new music from you? I currently use Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube to release music and I’m aiming to release another swing-style single later this year. I’ll be posting updates regularly on my social media channels, so please check out ‘AlexanderPerforms’ if you’re interested in hearing more! ¡ For more, go to alexanderperforms.com and @alexanderperforms

If you know a local young star we should feature, please get in touch at info@coalcoastmagazine.com

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LOCAL PEOPLE

young woman of the year UOW RESEARCHER DR SAMANTHA WADE RECOGNISED FOR HER WORK IN PANCREATIC CANCER EDUCATION Words Grace Gollasch Image Paul Jones

“You wouldn’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, or something like that…” Is the answer University of Wollongong researcher Dr Samantha Wade gave when asked what piece of advice she would give her 15-yearold self.The real quote goes: “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

The quote accurately sums up Samantha's university experience – her incredible achievements are the outcome of finding her passion, playing to her strengths, hard work, and finding a mentor who would guide her along the way. Earlier this year Dr Samantha Wade was named 2021’s NSW Young Woman of the Year and was acknowledged for dedicating her career to science in a bid to improve outcomes for people living with cancer. She was recognised for her research into pancreatic cancer, most notably the contribution to the invention of a device that can shrink pancreatic tumours.

LOCAL PEOPLE

The award means our lab’s research is getting “ exposure at high profile events and shows that we are doing some really exciting work in Wollongong” “The award means our lab’s research is getting exposure at high profile events, which is always beneficial,” Samantha says. “It allows us to show that we are doing some really exciting work in Wollongong, and exposes me to a range of influential people that I otherwise would not have had to opportunity to meet.” While Samantha is clearly humbled and thrilled by the recognition on a national stage, she credits a lot of her growth to mentor, Dr Kara Vine-Perrow, who saw her talent and ability to thrive in a hands-on environment. “I was really lucky to have someone overlook my undergraduate marks, which a lot of people don’t do, and instead fostered and nurtured my other strengths,” Samantha says. “I often bombed in uni exams, but I worked well in a practical environment.” In addition to her research skills, Dr Vine-Perrow also helped Samantha overcome her fear of public speaking. “I was paralysed by public speaking – I've cried in front of crowds and it's humiliating,ˮ Samantha says. In order for Samantha to tackle her fear of public speaking, she entered pitching and speaking competitions to push her out of her comfort zone as much as she could. From crying on stage to confidently presenting in front of thousands, Samantha’s personal growth and ability to challenge her fears is just one area where she has thrived. Currently working as a pancreatic cancer researcher at the University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Samantha aims to increase education around pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and has an 11 per cent five-year relative survival rate. Samantha’s research focuses on finding better ways to deliver currently used drugs to treat cancer.

“Pancreatic cancer is less represented than other cancer and it gets a small fraction of the funding,” she says. “The big problem with pancreatic cancer at the moment is the only potential way to cure it is by surgically removing it, but 80 per cent of people when they're diagnosed, have tumours that are very advanced and they can't be surgically removed. Therefore, they just receive palliative chemotherapy.” Since being catapulted into the spotlight from winning NSW Young Woman of the Year, Samantha hopes to use her new platform and speaking opportunities to highlight the importance of funding and education around pancreatic cancer.She wants to move away from the phrase ‘raising awareness’ as awareness around cancer is already happening. Instead, she wants to focus on increasing the education around it and sharing ways to help. In addition to her dedication to cancer research, Samantha is passionate about the importance of young girls following their brain for science in a male-dominated industry. The 2021 STEM Equity Monitor, a national data report on girls’ and women’s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), outlined the current state of STEM gender equity in Australia. In recent years, female participation in STEM-qualified industries has grown from 24 per cent to 26 per cent. “We owe it to women everywhere to lift, support and encourage one another wherever possible,” she says. "I would encourage young women to find or create a support network of other driven and passionate women who will push and encourage them to get outside their comfort zone and grow.” ¡

LOCAL DROP

bike to brew REUB GOLDBERG BREWING MACHINE CYCLES IT WAY INTO THE WOLLONGONG BEER SCENE Interview Kate O’Mealley Images Rich Perin @oo7fff, Lachy Starling @lachystarling, Grant Reynolds @grant_f_reynolds, Georgia Matts @_coastalco, Rooland 81 Meadow Street, Tarrawanna

Who cycles 9000km and visits 150 breweries all in the name of business research? We chatted with Anna Suthers and Billy Barnetson, founders of Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine in Tarrawanna, who did just that. Why did you decide to start Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine? Anna: We both wanted to leave our jobs to do something on our own. I was a physiotherapist, but I knew I didn't want to run my own physio practice. Billy had an overwhelming passion and has been brewing since he was 18, so I think that longevity was good for coming into the business. Billy: I have quite the range of adult vocational experience, I guess you could say! Military, super yachts, carpentry, commercial diving, commercial brewer, and now business owner. And it was easier to teach Anna to brew than it was teaching me to physio. My best mate and I started home brewing in our first year of uni, and I've been refining the skills ever since. Tell us about the bike trip that started it all… Billy: Before we even got together, we'd organised to go on a year-long bike trip from Alaska to South America and left in June 2014. It was 100 per cent market research and we called the trip Bike To Brewery. We are not mad keen cyclists – we literally had to do a course before we left on how to change a tyre, fix a chain and tighten your brakes! Anna: We knew going into it that off the back of this market research bicycle trip, we were opening a brewery at the end of it. Billy: We got as far as Costa Rica but everything was against us. It was getting increasingly hot and increasingly hilly and

breweries were getting thinner and thinner on the ground. We hit up 150 breweries exactly and cycled just over 9000km. It was a baptism of fire, and a great way to learn a load about someone. If you can live in a tent on the side of the road for 12 months with someone… Anna:… you can run a small business! [laughs] What’s the significance of naming the brewery after Reub Goldberg? Anna: Reub Goldberg machines were known for overengineering a simple task and using a lot of forced transition. That's the inspiration behind our brew system. Billy: As a stereotypical homebrewer, I got into it for cheaper beer but it ended up being way more expensive buying and building all the equipment. As your experience and expertise grows, you bypass buying equipment and you just make stuff from what you've got lying around. Every serious homebrewer tends to over-engineer their brew system because complicated is cool. It's a fairly common term in US home brewing, that if you “Reub Goldberg” something, you've essentially made it yourself but it's unnecessarily complicated. How is your process different? Billy: We custom designed every aspect of the brew system. It is 100 per cent unique, we pioneered a few different concepts that were very confusing to our manufacturers. We bypass a lot of the issues that other breweries have because of these little modifications that we designed into our system. Big commercial breweries are more like a beer factory rather than a brewery, there's high levels of automation and you're just waiting for things to happen in monitoring. We wanted to feel more engaged with the product and have a more enjoyable and physical brewing experience. Each of our vessels is single purpose. It's all manual, there's no automation at all. We employ gravity at every step that we can.

LOCAL DROP

Lager styles, showcasing new and emerging ingredients and techniques, so much so that this has become our Reub's Gold Range.

How have your beers changed over time? Billy: We started off with six beers because that's how many vessels and taps we had and used a small reservoir of recipes that we'd designed for homebrew. When we started brewing, we used it as a market research project because we could essentially have any beer we wanted on tap. We've tried hard to avoid overlapping styles – too much of the same style just becomes uninteresting. One of the joys of being such a small capacity, or brew length as we call it, the beer gets turned over quite fast. We now release one to two beers a week and have a pool of 50 to 60 different recipes, so we can mix up the tap lists relatively easily and frequently. It’s always super fresh. Anna: We pay very close attention to what people are liking and how fast things are moving. We can get a good indication of a style's popularity by how long it lasts – and if we ever do take it off tap, how many complaints there are until it comes back on! Every beer, when done well, is delicious and has its own audience. Since Nick, our head brewer, has become more involved in our beer making we’ve delved deep into the New World

How has the Tarrawanna community embraced you? Anna: One of the major reasons we set up somewhere suburban was because on our big cycling trip we found those places that have the community fostered a different vibe, a sort of village pub gathering place. And it's surpassed our expectations, it's been wonderful. Our locals all catch up with their neigbours. There's a regular Thursday night group that door knock on the way down and they all meet at a table at the brewery. Billy: Some of the locals asked to borrow our logo as they had a great idea for a T-shirt. Now they each have their own merch – there are the Tarrawanna AllStars, the Tarrawannabes and the Wallace Road Gang. It's pretty cool. Anna: I think the locals have enjoyed watching us come from nothing. Sometimes they come down and they help with the tiling, and all the succulents are from people's gardens. There's no shortage of volunteers. There’s a sense of belonging and doing something good together for the community. What’s next for RGBM? Anna: We’re excited to release our Reub’s Gold cans this summer – our first canned beer release. We’re also planning a few events this summer, some specialty beer tap takeovers and plenty of live music. Plus, we’re pretty pumped to trial a new delivery style – we’ve ordered an e-bike and are planning on doing growler delivery on demand for people’s outdoor picnics. A solar-powered local brewery delivering fresh beer in insulated, reusable canisters on an electric bike… you can’t get more local or sustainable than that! ¡

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RECIPE THE PERFECT MATCH FOR YOUR LOCAL BEER Recipe Gringa Tacos @gringatacos_illa Mexican taco pop-up stall located in the Illawarra Image Lachy Starling @lachystarling

citrus chicken

tacos

Chicken marinade

½ cup fresh lemon juice ½ cup fresh lime juice ½ cup fresh orange juice 1 tbsp sea salt 1 tsp fresh pepper 1 tsp powdered turmeric 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 2kg boneless skinless chicken thighs

Quick pickle carrots 2 medium carrots ½ cup white vinegar ½ cup of water 1 tbsp sea salt 2 tbsp white sugar

Chimichurri ½ cup olive oil 1 tbsp of fresh lemon juice 1 large bunch of finely chopped coriander 3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 3 small red chillies, (about 1 tbsp finely chopped chilli) 1 tsp sea salt and pepper or to taste

Chipotle sour cream 1 ½ cups sour cream 2 tbsp chipotles in adobo juice of 1 lime ½ tsp salt or to taste 12 corn tortillas (warm)

Method In a large bowl, combine marinade ingredients, add chicken thighs, toss and coat evenly. Refrigerate and let marinate for 2 hours. Peel carrots into thin ribbons with a peeler and place in a heatproof bowl. Put all other ingredients for pickles in a saucepan, bring to a quick simmer, make sure salt and sugar dissolve. Pour hot liquid over carrots. Let cool, cover and refrigerate. Chop all ingredients for chimichurri, place in a bowl. Add oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and mix together. Allow to sit for 5-10 mins to release all of the flavours into the oil before using. Combine all ingredients for chipotle sour cream in a blender and puree until smooth. Bring chicken to room temp before grilling. Heat grill to medium high heat, shake off marinade and place meat on the grill, let cook for 20-25 mins, turning and moving until you get a nice colour and chicken is cooked through. Take chicken off the grill and cover with foil, let rest for 3 mins, then chop into 3cm pieces. Layer the chicken, crema, carrots and chimichurri on tortillas and serve immediately. ¡

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TRAVEL

let's fly away INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL IS BACK! HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE JUMPING ON THAT BIG JET PLANE… Words Matt Castell curatedtravel.com.au

It's been nearly 18 months since Australia’s borders were slammed shut to the rest of the world. But now it’s time to explore – to taste new things, meet new people and not understand what the heck is going on. Somewhere weird, wonderful, and exhilarating – somewhere you’ve never been, perhaps? Like many Australians, I’ve travelled extensively. From dodgy 40-bed dorms in Berlin to overwater bungalows in The Maldives, I’ve dropped my swag for the night in over 70 countries – and that’s not enough. Now, more than ever, I’m itching to be in a place where I don’t speak the local language and don’t know (or want to know) if I’m eating pork, horse meat or squirrel.

Will it still have the same feeling? Will I still get that giddy feeling while skipping down the airbridge at Kingsford Smith Airport? I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to find out! But before we take off, it’s important to note that obviously the world has changed and there are some considerations to make. It’s one thing missing a flight and waiting a few hours for the next one, and another finding out you can’t get home for three months, which has been a reality for many of over the past year. So, some advice advice before jumping on that plane. Booking holidays with an experienced travel agent is a good option, especially at the moment. Booking travel online has become easier and (deceivingly) cheaper recently, but websites are full of pitfalls and it’s always the customer’s fault when things go pear-shaped.

TRAVEL

A lot of nations are starting to implement different sets of rules depending on your vaccine status.You might get to skip quarantine and/or extra testing if you can prove you’re fully vaccinated (with an approved vaccine). If you do book an overseas trip yourself, get ready for a whole new world, and tick off a few must do’s before you even reach for the Lonely Planet guide.

Passports & visas Sounds simple, doesn’t it? You’d be surprised how many people turn up at the airport every day with expired passports. Not expired, you say? Might still be a problem, depending on where you’re heading – a lot of countries won’t let you in without a minimum of six months validity. Check yourself before you wreck yourself. The same goes for visas. More countries are now requiring visas or some sort of online paperwork to be completed before you check in for your flight.

Covid testing & vaccines This will be the unfortunate cause of many ruined holidays over the next year. There won’t be many countries you can travel to without a little brain tickle before departure. While each country has a set of rules, so will your airline and country of transit (if you’re stopping somewhere on the way). Some journeys will require up to four tests before, during and after your trip (at up to $150 a pop) so say goodbye to that cheap holiday to Bali, as travelling in a family of five could cost you up to $3000 for testing alone!

Travel insurance Boring, right? But so necessary – make sure you’re insured. Head to www.smartraveller.com.au, which has a handy section that can help you understand how it all works. Before buying a policy, read the product disclosure statement and ask questions if you’re unsure.

Local rules Think about how you’d respond if you were down at your local beach during lockdown and a bunch of tourists from overseas weren’t following the rules. It wouldn’t be cool and the same goes for Aussies when we’re in a different country. When you’re travelling a lot, you can easily forget what language, money, or dress code to be aware of so it’s worth being respectful and checking the rules and regulations before heading out for the day. Remember that you’re repping Australia, do us proud.

Changes Travellers need to be prepared for changes, so be sure to check government updates. Always have extra budget for cancelled flights, longer stays and forced quarantine with no notice. The last thing we need is another 50,000 Aussies stranded. Now get out there and discover a little bit of old-fashioned, wholesome mischief! ¡

For help planning your getaway, head to curatedtravel.com

LOCAL HOME

keera vale

WEST WOLLONGONG

Built: 1844 First owner: Judge Roger Therry Current owners: Jenny Dixon and Harold Cosier Image Rich Perin @oo7fff

LOCAL HOME

How long have you owned Keera Vale? We purchased Keera Vale in late 2012 and moved in January 2013.

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Why did you decided to take on a restoration project? It was purely by chance, as we weren't actually looking for a restoration project. Jen's parents were downsizing and had a number of lovely old Australian cedar pieces of furniture that they wanted us to have. Jen said to her mum, "Where are we going to put these things?" and her mum replied, "I don't know why you don't buy Keera Vale?" I'd never heard of it so we went home via Keera Vale and within a week our offer had been accepted! I am a frustrated builder and a bush carpenter (I built a mud brick home in the 80s) so I was quite excited at the challenges Keera Vale might offer. What do you love about living in a historical home? Living in a home like this means that you almost become public property – because so many people have a connection with our house, there are regular drive-bys and the occasional visitor who just want to reconnect. Since featuring on ABC’s Restoration Australia many people now feel that they know us and greet us by name – although it is a little disconcerting to have people appear in the kitchen, or my workshop unannounced! The new balconies and verandahs are probably our favourite part currently, as they have given us a whole lot more living area but also they have restored her to what she originally would have looked like, offering magnificent views of the area. Have you revealed any hidden history during the renovation? We have found a treasure trove of artefacts as we've progressed – particularly under the floors, but sadly nothing of huge financial value, and very little from the 1800s. We do have an 1853 English penny with Queen Victoria on it and a large number of bottles. What has impressed us is the incredible workmanship that we've uncovered – beautiful joints in the big timbers, held together with handmade wooden pins, nails and our floorboards are all rough sawn timber.

What unique skills have you learned when renovating the house? We have learnt an enormous amount about early 19th century building, particularly around lime-based mortar and plaster in walls that do not have damp proof courses. Walls like ours (the external walls are triple brick with no cavity) are designed to "breathe". They absorb water and then evaporate it out again, so you cannot put waterproof coverings like render or modern paints on them because they just retain the water inside, with the bricks eventually turning to mud. Jen has learnt so much about lime-based paints, and I've learnt skills around mixing lime mortar and laying bricks using no cement at all! What's your favourite story about the house? Our research has shown that Keera Vale has had a very diverse past – for much of its life it has been a rental. The original owner Judge Therry was posted to Port Phillip before he could take up residence so it was rented from 1844 until 1852 when it was bought by John Stewart, the first large animal vet in the colony. It has also been a girls' school, a boys' school, and in later years was divided into three flats. One of our favourite (though rather ghoulish) stories is that of one of the men in the household died from an infected tooth and was carried out on one of the doors! We really want that door back, as they are unusual, oversized six-panel Australian cedar doors and we only have five of the original 11! What are your future plans for Keera Vale? While it is a very long-term project, we want to continue restoring Keera Vale to its original beauty, remaining as true to the original details as possible. We do have approval to add an extension to the rear of the building, in which we can have the modern amenities, but which would also complement the beautiful old building. Ultimately, we would like to be in the position where we could periodically open it to the public so that other people can share in its beauty. ¡

LOCAL STYLE

if walls could talk VINTAGE HARDWARE, CLASSIC ARCHITECTURE OR KNOWING THAT SOMEONE WE HOLD DEAR LIVED IN THE HOME BEFORE US, THERE IS OFTEN A LOT TO LOVE ABOUT HISTORIC HOMES Words Adam Souter @souter.built

Older houses can have many quirks and tales to tell – if those walls could talk, right? Taking on a restoration can be a daunting task. Often there are guidelines regarding the renovation of heritage houses that need to be considered, particularly if the building is officially heritage listed or within a heritage conservation area. Many cities, like Wollongong, realise the value of heritage homes and historical buildings to a community and acknowledge its role in their culture, history and what makes their town unique. These buildings have a lot of history and it is important to preserve them. Wollongong is home to a range of classic architectural styles, with mid to late Victorian styles

often seen in the city centre, Coledale, Austinmer, Thirroul, Bulli and Mount Kembla. If you’re lucky enough to live in one of them, you’ll know how beautiful heritage homes are. But some period homes aren’t made for modern-day comforts or perhaps they’ve not seen some love for a while and need a little TLC. Working with a heritage builder who understands and values the history and story of your home is critical, helping you to restore your home respectfully, maintain its unique character and create newer spaces or additions that complement the existing structure. Specialist heritage builders can also utilise construction and design contacts, including access to unique trades and craftsman to get the historical details right. ¡

Know Your Classifications

THE CLASSIFICATION OF YOUR HOME CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT WHAT CHANGES YOU CAN MAKE

Heritage listed

Heritage conservation areas

A property that is heritage listed can be the most restrictive and often requires development approval from local or state government. However, it is possible to make changes to a heriatge-listed building if the character of the property and significant historical elements are maintained. Heritage conservation areas (HCA) ensure that groups of buildings, suburbs and streetscapes maintain a particular heritage style – but allow a little more room for variation compared to a heriatge-listed property, such as paint colours, metalwork or window treatments. Most local councils are supportive of additions or extensions if it sympathetic to the original building and its design era.

ILLAWARRA’S LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST COMPLETE EARTHMOVING SERVICES RETAINING WALLS, DECKING, PERGOLAS, PAVING P 0402 438 397 W coastallandscaping.com.au @coastalle @coastal.landscaping

LOCAL STYLE

holiday living BRING THOSE VACAY VIBES HOME! Styling Jessi Eve Interiors @jessi.eve, jessieve.com.au Words Hayley Griffiths @hayleyg.creative Images Louise Roche of Villa Styling Studio, Amani Lindsell, Petra Ford of Paper and Pate

Would you like your home to feel like you’re on a permanent holiday? Having spent so much time at home recently, bringing a relaxed ambience into the comfort of your own abode has never been more appealing. Embrace these simple styling tips to recreate a breezy holiday vibe. Introducing the hero of vacation style – a seamless blend of natural materials, textures and tones. These elements reflect a natural coastal landscape and provide the base colour palette. Think wicker or rattan furniture and light, weathered woods throughout the home. Adding rugs, baskets and accessories made from woven seagrass or jute are a perfect addition to any space. Incorporating dried foliage like palm leaf spears and thistles will also add texture and interest. The key to a holiday vibe is ensuring the styling is light and breezy. Sheer, billowy fabrics for curtains create movement and let muchneeded light into a home. Another versatile favourite is linen – whether it’s thrown casually over a bed or sofa, or featured in throw cushions, linen is a great fabric to keep your home feeling fresh, laid-back and welcoming.

LOCAL STYLE

When choosing artwork for a space, there is no shortage of gorgeous photography of palms, seascapes and holiday spots to set the tone. This gives a more literal nudge to the holiday ambience you desire in your space. If you prefer to keep your vacation vibes a little more subtle, you might prefer to opt for abstract art in soft, muted, coastal hues.

A little practical and pretty styling trick is to hang your straw hats and beach totes from some cute wall hooks – this just says relaxed living and makes wall art by simply storing and displaying your day-to-day accessories! A selection of beautiful coffee table books is another styling element that adds a laid-back touch to a living area. Pop a tropical scented candle on top to finish off the look, while allowing your senses to take you back to your last sunny getaway. Connecting the indoors with the outside is also essential when styling. Try incorporating leafy, tropical plants in oversized pots throughout the interior or succulents and cacti to bring in those Palm Springs vibes. Display your smaller plants in pots of various shapes and sizes to create a relaxed grouping that can easily be arranged or use dramatic large plants to fill an awkward corner or void.

Natural light is also an important aspect of bringing the outdoors in and creating those calm vibes we all love and know when we're away. Incorporating mirrors of different shapes and sizes opposite or next to a window will not only look beautiful but will also increase the amount of natural light cast into a room. ¡

GARDENING

thrive through summer GET YOUR GARDEN READY FOR THE HEAT Words Kath Gadd, Mallee Design malleedesign.com.au

Summer is here! A reason to celebrate! However, for many gardeners, this season is welcomed with some apprehension. What will the weather be like and how will gardens cope? Are we going to have another stinking hot, dry, windy summer like a couple of years ago? Or will it be wetter and more humid like last summer? In light of weather uncertainty, here are a few key things you can do to help prepare for summer change and keep everything alive and thriving…

GARDENING

Plant choices Plant choices are the most important thing when it comes to powering through an erratic summer. The right plant for the right place is sage gardeners’ advice. Silver and grey foliaged plants tend to be more water efficient as do plants with finer foliage. Another group of plants that can withstand extended periods of heat and dry are plants with a succulent leaf. Use these in the hotter more exposed positions in your garden, especially as ground cover as they will protect the soil from moisture loss. Dense plantings also reduce evaporation and the drying effects of wind, and they require less mulch. Grouping plants according to their water requirements is another good strategy. For example, place low water-using plants together in areas that tend to be constantly dry, such as adjacent to walls and fences or under large established trees. Then place high water-using plants in low lying areas where the natural drainage will help keep the soil moist.

Mulch, mulch, mulch Mulch is so important in a garden – it keeps the weeds at bay, withholds moisture in the soil and acts like a thermal blanket to keep the soil temperature low. It slowly breaks down to add an extra organic layer to your soil, benefiting soil structure, biota and thereby your plants. The summer period requires a thick layer of mulch, around 50-75mm is a good depth. The ideal mulch for minimising soil evaporation is a coarse, chunky material that traps air to create

an insulating cover. Colour of the mulch will also affect the soil temperature. For summer conditions, it is best to use light-coloured mulches and avoid the risk of overheating your soil, which stresses plant roots. And make sure your mulch is clear of the base of the plant. This ensures there is good air circulation so the plant doesn’t suffer from fungal problems, which can be especially problematic during humid conditions. If you make a dish shape around the plant base this will also funnel water straight down to the root system.

Water Watering during the summer months is best done in the cooler periods of the day, so either early morning or in the evening. This ensures as little water as possible is lost through evaporation. Most established plants in your garden will tell you when they need a drink by beginning to droop. Their leaves may fold up, so it's a good gardener's job to just observe your garden at the end of the day and let your plants talk to you. A deep water is necessary during extended dry periods when your garden may come under stress. A deep water is considered to be 8-10 litres for tree or shrub and half that for grasses and ground covers. This water should be delivered directly to the root zone and not splashed all over the leaves and surrounding soil. If you are installing irrigation, make sure it’s a drip system and it delivers plenty of water to the base of each plant. Directing water straight to a plant’s root system increases the chance that roots will go deeper into the soil instead of developing as shallow roots on the surface where temperatures are higher and moisture is less available. Lastly, make sure there’s a shady spot for yourself in the garden to relax and keep cool. Have a wonderful summer in the garden! ¡

Mallee Design A Specialised Landscape Design Practice - Australian Native Landscape Design - Spun Copper Bird Baths, Water Bowls & Water Features - Sustainable Landscapes - Wildlife Habitat Gardens - Knowledge of Illawarra Local Species malleedesign.com.au birdbaths.malleedesign.com.au

Health cover with heart! Call Peoplecare to find the right health cover for you. You don’t need to go bigger to get brilliant health cover.

1800 808 706 peoplecare.com.au Peoplecare Health Limited. A registered private health insurer. ABN 95 087 648 753

MONEY

What is equity? Equity is the difference between the value of your property and the outstanding debt on your home loan. For example: if your home is worth $1,500,000 and your current debt on your home loan is $850,000 then you will have $650,000. But it’s super important to note that while you have $650,000 of ‘total’ equity, you can’t use all of it. Total equity and useable equity Banks will lend you up to 80 per cent against the value of your home, less the amount of your home loan balance. This is your ‘useable equity’ that you can borrow.

investment digs HOW TO USE YOUR EQUITY TO INVEST Words Aaron Christie-David, Atelier Wealth

My home has increased in value – how can I use equity to buy an investment property? With property values in the Illawarra increasing at unprecedented levels, interest rates at record lows and rental properties in hot demand – the Australian property market has experienced its highest quarterly growth rate since November 1988. The question then starts to arise about what you can actually do with an increase in the value of your home. Some homeowners may opt to draw out equity to undertake renovations.

If we continue with the numbers from above: Value of your home = $1,500,000 Loan Balance = $850,000 Useable equity = $350,000 This $350,000 can now be used towards purchasing an investment property. This $350,000 can form the deposit and stamp duty towards your next purchase. This doesn’t limit your ability to buy for $350,000 – this becomes your deposit towards an investment property. Buying your first investment property Purchasing your first investment property is an exciting but sometimes daunting decision. Common questions that arise are:

** ** *

W here should I buy – locally or interstate? H ow much will my repayments be? S hould I buy a house or a unit? W hat are the costs involved in buying and maintaining an investment property? S hould I be negative or positively geared?

Is there a risk of using the equity in my home to buy an investment property? The hurdle for many an investor is the risk of having their home used as collateral to buy an investment property. To avoid this perceived risk, make sure you avoid cross-securitising your home with your investment property. ¡

If you want to know what your home is worth and how much useable equity you have available, please feel free to reach out to the team at Atelier Wealth. Send an email to hello@atelierwealth.com.au

If you have any issues at all that you require assistance with do not hesitate to contact my office on 4285 1588, email keira@parliament.nsw.gov.au, or come in at 247 Princes Hwy Corrimal. Scan the QR code for more information Authorised by Ryan Park MP, 247 Princes Hwy, Corrimal. Funded using Parliamentary entitlements.

COAL COAST FAVES

things we love around town... Hot stone massage

Harmony Naturopathics, Thirroul

Dirty martini

Juniper, Wollongong

Lemongrass beef banh mi

Egg & Flour Bakery, Woonona

Wine tasting

Dirty Wine Shop & Tasting Room, Wollongong

Christmas tree

Santa's Farm, Tullimbar

Shop 1, 407 Princes Highway, Woonona, (02) 4283 5511 www.woononaflorist.net.au

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SLUG

THE ART OF

FEATURING

CLAIRE ZORN

JOSH PYKE

Design - Max Hamilton www.mhdesign.com.au

NEW DATE!

ELANA STONE

GARY

LONESBOROUGH

Sat 12th Feb, 3 - 5pm Corrimal RSL

$40 per ticket / $35 for CBCA members + booking fees

Ticket price includes nibbles and the bar will be open for drink purchases.

Hear four of Australia’s most exciting creative talents share their insights on ‘The Art of Storytelling’, at this very special fundraiser event for the CBCA NSW Illawarra South Coast sub-branch. This promises to be a fantastic afternoon of storytelling and music.

Tickets at www.trybooking.com/BRLGK Be quick, places are limited and are sure to sell fast!

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ISSUE NO.14 : SUMMER 2022 - Coal Coast Magazine

Articles inside

keera vale

bike to brew

a different kind of search

never say never

italian love affair

lemon, yoghurt + olive oil cake

surf rock kings

cptsd.hope

nutbush schnitty limits

bold as bexta

school with a view