The Bugle Newspaper July 27 2024 by The Bugle Newspaper

The successful 2024 edition of the Kiama

2024 attracted almost a thousand book braved the wild weather to hear from a wealth

A gala dinner with newspanist, social tator and

was one of the highlights.

Foxground journalist and author Diana Plater had the “great privilege” of interviewing Caro to discuss the Walkley Award winner’s wide and varied writing career. Caro discussed her book The Mother, a work of ﬁction exploring the devastating impact of coercive control and domestic violence on families. Plater also talked to Caro about historical ﬁction and the writing process, particularly the amount of research required.

“I also have elements of history in my books, including my non-ﬁction and memoir, and I ﬁnd the research component absolutely fascinating,” says Plater, who is in the midst of writing her second novel – The Cedar-getter’s Granddaughter –based on the South Coast in the 1800s.

“But writing a novel is a lot harder than

journalism. Anyone who thinks it’s easy to dash oﬀ a novel has no idea!”

Festival organiser Perrie Croshaw admits her ﬁrst foray into organising the event, as president of the Friends of Kiama Library, was “a baptism by ﬁre” but says the festival was a great success. The gala dinner and the opening session at Burnetts on Barney, where guest speakers including local author Fiona Weir discussed permaculture, kitchen gardens and cooking from scratch, were both sold out.

“The Kiama Leagues Club did a great job serving 150 lucky patrons who secured a ticket for the gala dinner with Jane Caro on Saturday night,” says Croshaw. "We had such high demand for the gala event, we could have done two sittings at the Leagues club. In fact, we could have done two or three extra sessions at Burnetts on Barney Garden Centre as well. So many people want to come to Kiama in winter to hear their favourite authors talk.”

Along with avid readers,

the Kiama community is ﬁlled with talented authors including Diana Plater and Kiama author Ryan Butta, who emceed the gala event with Caro.

Plater’s most recently published novel, Whale Rock, is based on her experience as a journalist living and working in Nicaragua in the 1980s and reporting on the aftermath of the Sandinista revolution, where a group of leftist revolutionary guerrillas and intellectuals overthrew the right-wing dictatorship in 1979. Whale Rock was awarded Gold for Popular Literary Fiction in the 2019 Global Ebook Awards.

“Whale Rock is about hidden trauma but it is ultimately a tale of redemption and rebirth,” says Plater. “It is about the serious issues facing Australia today –immigration, the state of the media, politics, the environment and giving First Nations People, particularly members of the Stolen Generations, a voice. But it’s also about love and friendship and dancing.”

Ryan Butta will release his

second non-ﬁction book –The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli – on July 30. Stay tuned for an upcoming interview with Ryan in The Bugle, exploring the inspiring story of the ﬁrst Australian soldier to be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal after his heroic actions at Gallipoli.

Butta will also be a guest later this year at the Friends of Kiama Library author talks, so keep an eye on the Kiama Library website or their socials for more information.

“Our Friends of Kiama Library volunteers worked so hard to put on this festival,” says Perrie Croshaw. “If we had just a few more volunteers signing up to help us for the next festival, we could move mountains! In the future we would love to include more author talks over more days, run poetry slams, run writing workshops, get nature authors to take us on birding walks, or watch whales with other nature writers. The possibilities are limitless.”

Danielle Woolage

Fiona weir at Burnetts

FOKL volunteers Candice and Diane at Kiama Library

sue williams

shock

The Kiama Council has voted to refer The Bugle newspaper to the Australian Press Council to investigate its reporting practices for alleged bias, including favouring developers!

According to a Notice of Motion from Councillor

Mark Croxford ‘The Bugle’s adherence to journalistic standards’, which was passed by Council on 21 May, the owner of The Bugle may be directly involved in slanting the news in favour of property developers.

“Speciﬁc articles published by The Bugle have raised concerns about biased reporting, lobbying for certain development applications, and actions at odds with the journalist code of ethics,” Croxford states.

“While The Bugle are (sic) not acting in an unlawful manner in protecting ownership information … much of The Bugle content is anti-Council.”

A second motion from Council has conﬁrmed their intention to make a complaint to the Press Council.

This newspaper is more than happy to open its ﬁles to any organisation or media outlet investigating these vexatious claims.

The Press Council has no power to impose a ﬁne or other ﬁnancial sanctions, and in any case is an inappropriate venue for this sort of grievance. Making such a complaint is complex and expensive, and if it proceeds will likely prove yet more of a strain on ratepayer funds.

General Manager of The Bugle, Belinda Woodﬁeld, said the paper has held a mirror up to the Council over the last 12 months, the good and the bad. The reporting has been tough at times, because the community wanted answers and the Council could not always provide them.

“We have a council that is not currently supporting the free local paper with any advertising, supposedly due to a conﬂict with developers they are in court with, who they erroneously have surmised, own the newspaper. Re the demand for clar-

ity on ownership by the council, it is bewildering as the Council has always been in correspondence with the owner of The Bugle and has known her identity perfectly well.

The ﬁrst motion passed included sending the owner a welcome letter … 18 months after taking ownership!”

She said much of the pressure was coming from one outspoken Councillor.

“The social media attack tactics by Clr Croxford, has been relentless and left unaddressed by his colleagues and superiors. His social media trolling against The Bugle has been constant and upsetting, placing unfair stress on our staﬀ. Not ideal for someone seeking re-election to represent the community.”

The council said it was concerned the local newspaper was in the pocket of “property developers or construction companies in the Kiama Local Government Area.”

“The reporters are not told what to write,” Woodﬁeld said. “They research and write their own stories. They always have and always will. Their varied life experience lends personality to the newspaper and all sides of an issue are covered through various issues of the paper.

Council reporting, good or bad, is only a small part of the many other articles penned by our journalists. We welcome advertising by developers and businesses alike as that is our sole revenue source – community supporting community.”

Brendon Foye, a former senior journalist at The Bugle, wrote a number of hard-hitting stories on the Council, including The Bugle’s February front page titled “Kiama Council and the sad state of our democracy”.

He said accusations of bias against the Council were unfounded, and the paper’s stance simply reﬂected the sentiments of the public at large. Many complaints and few compliments passed his desk during his time at the paper about the state of aﬀairs in our LGA.

He was not allowed to address Council at a recent public access meeting but felt strongly enough about the issues to make his concerns public.

“On Friday 12 July, I registered my interest to speak at Kiama Municipal Council’s public forum,” Brendon Foye wrote. “I was informed by CEO Jane Stroud that I had been refused my right to speak based on the potential for myself and Kiama Councillors to damage the ongoing complaints handling process into their conduct.

“The Council motions have nothing to do with transparency or accountability from local media.

“While the motions are disguised as genuine questions regarding the potential for bias, Kiama Council failed to provide any context as to its conduct and the complaints it has received from The Bugle since its change of ownership in January 2023 when they were introduced to the new owner."

“How does referring The Bugle to the Australian Press Council over these frivolous concerns translate into a constructive relationship and help the community?

“In my opinion, rather than focusing on its precarious ﬁnances, Kiama Council’s modus operandi is to shift blame to everyone else, from unions to the Greens Party, to Councillor Renkema-Lang, and of course, The Bugle.” Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang, who has been engaged in a long legal dispute with the Council, said the motion condemning The Bugle appeared to be driven by personal grievances rather than a genuine concern about journalistic standards.

“It is unclear to me what the concerns are. They need to be articulated clearly with examples and councillors provided with this information. Perhaps correspondence between Council and The Bugle would assist with this,” Clr Renkema-Lang said.

Council on track to b e in the black to be by 2026 -27

serve added $222k. The Leisure Centre’s budget went into the red by $279k but cooler weather (seasonality) and patrons going on holidays, may explain part of that.

Due to high material and service outlays, the council commissioned and reviewed a report on its services as part of the PIO. One of the areas council focused on was the Leisure Centre.

Key challenges in the report for the centre were:

“I think it would be a very sad day if we lost the ability to publish dissenting voices in the local press… Without knowing the details, one could be forgiven for thinking this motion is an attempt to silence dissenting voices and stiﬂe freedom of the press.”

Bugle contributor Malcolm King has also been outspoken in his views. “It’s a witch hunt”, he declares.

“The owner of The Bugle is a woman in her 40s with a passion for the media. She is an entrepreneur with a strong business brain and there should be more like her in boardrooms across Australia. She is not a property developer.”

“Why doesn’t she answer Croxford’s ownership question? For the same reason you won’t tell me how much money you have in the bank or your address and PIN.

It’s private.”

King says the genesis of Clr Croxford’s beat-up allegations lies in two news stories that he wrote some months ago: ‘Minns may pull trigger on housing and NIMBYs’ and ‘Action needed for Council to meet Minns’ housing target’.

He used quotes from property developer Brett Robinson, CEO of Traders in Purple and Michelle Adair, CEO of the Housing Trust. The context of the two stories was a proposed development in West Kiama known as Springside Hill.

“While the development has at least temporarily been blocked by Council, the rental and housing crisis, driven by the pandemic, record levels of immigration etc., is high on the national agenda and central to the wellbeing of many Kiama locals.

“At the upcoming Kiama Council elections, held on the 14 September, vote for people with ideas,” King urges.

While it’s early days, a newly elected council combined with prudent ﬁnancial management, will see Kiama Council’s budget go into the black by 2026-27, without asset sales or capital grants, as per the NSW Government Performance Improvement Order (PIO).

Council will record an operating deﬁcit of $5.4m in 2024-25, excluding grants and assets sales. This is forecast to improve to an operating deﬁcit of $2.7m in 2025-26, before returning an operating surplus of $700k in 202627.

This is a major feat when in 2019-20 the budget deﬁcit was $8.1m – a 35 percent improvement to the bottom line.

There were swings and roundabouts for council ﬁnances in May, according to the July 16 business papers. Revenue is down against budget by $5.5m (5.9 percent) and expenditure is over budget by $2.6m (3 per cent) but these ﬁgures are highly variable month-to-month.

Council’s cash balance increased during June from $46.6m to $48.1m.

General operations contributed $408k in revenue over the budget.

Public fees and rents for the Kiama Showground and Blowhole Points Re-

• The need for a clear strategic long-term direction and market focus

• Internal expertise and skills in aquatic and leisure management

• The age and deteriorating condition of the leisure centre assets and facilities

• Resourcing the extensive range of services currently provided

• Workplace culture, operations management and structure

“The report shows it’s time for big decisions,” CEO Jane Stroud said.

“The Centre is showing its age, our operations need some changes, and overall, a more modern approach to managing the facility is required.”

The report oﬀered three options for the Leisure Centre's future:

• Maintain the status quo

• Implement upgrades

• Pursue redevelopment Council received 725 submissions from a customer survey last year, which showed the centre was highly valued by the community.

“Now that we also have this report,” CEO Stroud said, “we need to go back to those customers, and to the wider community, to further discuss the future of the Centre.”

Malcolm King

Credit: Stock photos

Council’s draft housing strategy ticks boxes for good growth

The Kiama Council’s comprehensive draft Growth and Housing strategy meets state government housing directives and models housing planning, infrastructure and dwelling-size, based on demographic variables to the year 2044.

The Kiama Local Government Area (LGA) is expected to grow to more than 31,000 people by 2044 and will need another 3456 dwellings to meet demand.

The Kiama Growth and Housing strategy, ‘leading growth for good’ provides implementation plans to meet short-term targets and is ﬂexible enough to input variables to meet long term goals.

The draft document draws on previous work such as the Local Environment Plan, the Local Strategic Planning Statement 2020 and the Community Strategic Plan 2022-2023 and puts Kiama

factors and variables.

The shape of things to come will see more demand for smaller dwellings, including medium and high density housing in Kiama and Gerringong. There will be “more people, more jobs, more places to go and entertainment.”

Even though there was considerable community debate about increases in density and building heights, according to the strategy, “density allows for the provision of housing supply that is well located and serviced, thereby reducing the need for greenﬁeld expansion in locations not serviced and where infrastructure to support growth is not aligned.”

According to the strategy the Kiama LGA (including the proposed greenﬁeld release areas) has the capacity to accommodate an additional 4,985 dwellings. Some insights included:

• subdivision potential, including already identiﬁed release area lands, can potentially deliver an additional 3,144 housing lots.

There will be property developments in South Kiama and smaller developments in central Kiama and Gerringong.

“It is expected the targets will be met by existing approval dwellings and land release, ongoing inﬁll development in existing residential zoned land…” the draft strategy said.

Approximately 500-600 lots are already provided through existing greenfield sites located at South Kiama, Jamberoo, Kiama Heights and other infill sites (potentially Havilah Place and the council’s administration building), were identified in in the council’s long term financial plan.

Council at the forefront of organisations who are serious about providing suitable housing.

The council consulted more than 1600 people across the LGA, including businesses, students and young people. It has gathered and analysed numerous demographics, economic, social and environmental

• the potential additional dwelling capacity across the LGA is assessed to be 9,002 lots/ dwellings (or 5,891 excluding the release areas) based on existing planning controls.

• dual occupancy can potentially deliver 3,455, followed by residential ﬂat at 1,583 dwellings.

Whether you’re buying, selling or downsizing, Carter Ferguson senior solicitor Steve Warwick brings a more human, caring and contemporary approach to your property law needs.

A proud Kiama local with deep experience in residential, rural, commercial and retirement villages, Steve provides the expert support, advice and representation you need to navigate the sale process from start to ﬁnish, ensuring you enjoy the best possible outcome. Steve specialises in property legal services, so for expert advice on all things property, get in touch or visit our Collins Street ofﬁce in Kiama.

The strategy also provides new ﬁgures on population ageing and worrying data of worsening inequity in the region.

There is every indication the council will meet the state government target of 900 homes to be built by 2029. While the Bombo Quarry development won’t be ready for development until after 2029, Boral is working with the state government and the council to move the development of the site along.

The draft Growth and Housing strategy dictates that all property developments will have state supplied services, protection for environmental lands, a mix of growth options and boundaries maintained between urban interface and agricultural and coastal lands.

• The strategy recognises that the LGA has an ageing population with 36 per cent over 60 years of age and while an aﬄuent area, 25 percent of residents earn less than $400 a week.

• Almost half of all households in Kiama are couple families without kids.

• About 45 percent own their own home outright. Renters make up 17 percent of total tenure share.

• Approximately 32

percent of renter households are in housing stress – that’s when 30 per cent of household incomes goes towards housing costs - compared to 7 percent of homeowners.

• According to the Property Council, there were 744 STRA properties in the LGA during May 2024. In 2021, there were 1701 unoccupied dwellings – some maybe STRAs – which represented 16 percent of LGA housing stock.

• The most unoccupied areas were in Gerringong, Gerroa and Werri Beach area at 24.4 per cent, which is signiﬁcantly higher than the NSW average of 9.4 per cent.

The strategy illuminated

how unaﬀordable the area was for new entrants and this was, “seriously undermining socio-economic diversity, which underpins Kiama’s social fabric. People are moving out of the area because they cannot aﬀord to live close to family or work.”

Qualitative feedback by locals wanted council to protect the local environment and Kiama’s village and heritage aesthetic. There were a number of comments that the development approval process for property developers was not ‘ﬁt for purpose’ and hurdles should be removed

“Council is also committed to working collaboratively with the development industry including hosting regular developer and industry forums, working through roadblocks and impediments to supply…” the plan said. As one participant said, “Stop saying no, start conversations now.”

The draft strategy will go to council and if endorsed, will be exhibited for public comment for 28 days.

Malcolm King

Council: Blue Haven Terralong will not be sold

Following a recent article in The Bugle, “Kiama community wants answers on Blue Haven Terralong vacancies amid housing crisis”, Kiama Council has clariﬁed the situation.

“Council is not seeking to divest Blue Haven Terralong Village,” it stated on its website.

Council reported that there were 17 vacant units with four under renovation.

The slowdown occurred following the retirement of the last Independent Living Unit (ILU) manager, a role crucial for sales, coordination, and daily management of over 250 ILUs and their residents.

The Council is seeking a replacement for this position.

The council noted that due to the age of the units, signiﬁcant repairs such as waterprooﬁng, plastering, and bathroom and kitchen refurbishments were necessary.

These repairs were taking longer due to diﬃculties in securing tradespeople. Some units and common areas require ﬁre safety compliance work.

With 17 vacant units are now available.

Havilah Place, the former residential aged care facility, is dilapidated and is unsafe to enter or occupy.

The Council plans to install security fencing around the premises.

In line with the NSW Government’s varied Perfor-

mance Improvement Order, the Council is preparing plans to explore options for subdividing and divesting the former residential aged care facility.

Council has not indicated whether the original purpose of the facility will be retained.

The Council will keep the community informed on planning, subdividing, and rezoning land at Havilah Place and the Kiama Sports Precinct.

For more details, visit the Council’s website and look for the post entitled “Blue Haven Terralong facts.” Donna Portland

If you have aspirations to run for local council, and you reside in the Shellharbour LGA, you may want to mark your calendar for the Candidate Information Session on Thursday 25 July 2024.

Shellharbour City Council invites community members that are interested in running for councillor or mayor in the 2024 Local Government Election to attend.

The session will take place from 6 pm to 7.30 pm, Thursday 25 July at the Shellharbour Civic Centre Auditorium. Attendees will be provided with information about the roles, responsibilities and commitments

required as a Mayor and Councillor, as well as the nomination process.

The newly elected mayor and eight councillors (two from each ward) will assume office following the election on 14 Sep-

tember and will serve a four-year term.

To attend, please visit https://events.humanitix. com/2024-local-government-candidate-information-session, or contact Customer Service on

To learn more about becoming a Councillor visit www.shellharbour. nsw.gov.au/council/election2024/becoming-councillor

Donna Portland

Kiama Railway Commuter Car Parkthe solution to Kiama’s parking problem?

On July 20, Kiama resident Gordon Bell contacted The Bugle asking us to meet him at the Kiama Railway Commuter Car Park (KRCCP) on Bong Bong Street. We tried to arrive early, but weren’t familiar with it and had trouble locating where it was.

Finally, a little late, we came upon a fairly sized car park with a boom gate that we’d never noticed before. Mr Bell says our inability to ﬁnd the car park was an apt description of his main problem with it.

“I reckon that 95% of people in Kiama don't have a clue about this car park. It was opened in April 2021 and yet it hardly seems to get used,” says Mr Bell.

The KRCCP is a 40-space car park for commuters using public transport. They can use the car park for free for up to 18 hours at a time as long as they tap their opal card at the boom gate after usage. Non commuters are charged at a ﬂat rate after 20 minutes.

Mr Bell believes that commuters are either not utilising this resource, or they have no idea about it. To back up these claims, Bell visited the KRCCP everyday from June 1 to June 28 between the hours of 11am to 12pm and recorded the number of cars parked inside.

He found that on most weekdays there were upwards of 30 available spaces in the car park and on weekends/public holidays there was even less use, with the number of available spaces never getting below 33.

“We have a resource here, on weekends and public holidays, that basically gets no use whatsoever. There's one handicapped and 39 other spots. So what's to stop them saying when you come on a weekend and a public holiday that you can park here even if you aren’t commuting,” says Mr Bell.

Mr Bell presented his ﬁndings to Kiama MP Gareth Ward and presented his solution for the car park to be made available to the public on weekends and public holidays.

spaces that could be used by commuters or locals,” says Ward.

The Bugle attempted to contact Minister Aitchison for a comment and was put through to a Transport for NSW spokesperson. The spokesperson wrote, “To ensure that there is suﬃcient parking for public transport passengers there are no plans to open the car park boom gates on weekends. Public parking is available around the station in local streets.”

So, any action has hit a standstill and with the Akuna Street car park scheduled to be closing soon, Mr Bell has appealed to The Bugle to circulate this information in an attempt to get Minister Aitchison to reconsider her position.

“People are desperate to ﬁnd parking spots,” said Mr Bell. “And it’s a ripple eﬀect and to have 40 spaces here absolutely doing nothing, especially on weekends and public holidays, seems like a waste of a public asset.”

When The Bugle visited the KRCCP on July 20 it was the weekend of the Kiama Readers Festival and there was minimal parking around town, but the KRCCP was almost completely barren with 38 empty spaces.

Lleyton Hughes

“I strongly support Gordon Bell’s survey ﬁndings, which clearly observe a vacant and underutilised publicly owned car park at times when our town is full to overﬂowing,” says Ward.

Ward then sent a letter to the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, the Hon. Jennifer Aitchison, who replied in her own letter, “NSW TrainLink is not considering opening the car park on weekends to the Kiama community at this time, and notes that public parking is available around the station in local streets.”

Ward has now requested a meeting with Transport for NSW to discuss the matter further and he hopes that they can come to an understanding about the situation.

“I’m happy to work with the Government and Department to get results for my community. But there is no need to knock back a sensible request coming from the grass roots, such as this, to relieve parking when there are clearly free

Shell Habour Civic Centre

Kiama Labor Announce Council Team

Kiama Labor have announced their team for the upcoming Council elections with a mix of incumbent councillors and new contenders.

Deputy Mayor Imogen Draisma and Councillor Stuart Larkins are attempting to hold their positions in the strife torn council.

Newcomers are mother of two Lucy Abood, law student Harry Ledger and retired school teacher Clare McInerney.

President of the Kiama Branch of the Labor Party Katelin McInerney said the team reﬂected the need for intergenerational civic lead-

ership and the Labor values of diversity, teamwork.

“As President of the Kiama Branch I’m pleased to commend the Kiama Labor team to the community for the September 2024 Council elections,” she said. “Imogen and Stuart have done a great job on Council in the face of diﬃcult challenges. The additional three members bring both energy and experience to the team.”

Deputy Mayor Imogen Draisma said it was important that the new council remained focused on its ﬁnancial sustainability and governance into the future.

“Within the next term of

council we will still have the Performance Improvement Order for two years. During our term, Clr Larkins and I pushed hard for transparency and ﬁnancial accountability as we believe the leaders of our community should be trustworthy, open and honest with constituents.

I am seeking re-election, along with Clr Larkins as we believe there needs to be a mixture of returning and new councillors to ensure local decision making stays in local hands and that our Council remains a non-amalgamated entity.”

Councillor Larkins said he was running to ensure local

government in Kiama remained independent with local democratic control.

“I can assure the community that if re-elected I will continue to work tirelessly to represent the interests of everyone in our community,” he said. “I love helping people in our community and I would love to continue doing so in the next term of council.”

Third on the ticket, Lucy Abood, said: "As a mother of two young children, ensuring we have quality early childhood education, aﬀordable housing options, and a liveable environment for families is extremely important to me. I will be a strong voice advocating for these issues and more if elected to council."

Also on the ticket is Clare McInerney, who has lived in Kiama for the past 35 years. As a retired high school teacher and deputy principal she is a strong advocate for public education.

Youngest contender, Harry Ledger, is only 19 years old, which makes him one of the youngest candidates to ever nominate for Kiama Municipal Council. He is currently studying Law. Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of NSW.

By John Stapleton

Bombo Quarry Staircase prolonged closure frustrates locals

There has been no progress on the Bombo Quarry staircase at 2 Cliﬀ Drive, Kiama Downs.

Photographs submitted to The Bugle by a local resident show no building activity.

The Kiama Council's website states the Bombo Quarry staircase, part of the Bombo Headland Eco Walk, is still closed.

The council states, “Contractors will undertake the required rectiﬁcation work on the Bombo Quarry staircase from Monday, 26 February 2024. The work is expected to take six weeks.” Now, more than 20 weeks later, the staircase is still closed.

The staircase was intend-

ed to connect Bombo Quarry to nearby walking tracks and beaches, allowing walkers to explore the headland.

The design includes a viewing platform oﬀering stunning ocean views south towards Blowhole Point and a spectacular coastal vista, promising to attract more visitors to the area.

The Bugle sought comment from Kiama Council who said, “The contractor has completed the repairs to the majority of the stair treads, with some minor amendments still to be completed.”

“The contractor has also advised Council they are in the process of fabricating the required adjustments

to the handrail to ensure it matches the corrected stair levels.

Once the contractor has completed the works and

demonstrated they are compliant, the stairs will be opened.”

Donna Portland

Silencing the dissenters

If you happen to enter a church in parts of Europe, you’re probably amongst a crowd of tourists taking in the sights and sounds of far-ﬂung places in buildings hundreds of years old.

No doubt there’ll be more than a murmur of chatter and in places of worship that are rightly revered, the leader of the church will bellow: SILENCIO!

SILENCE!

Figures within Kiama Council are positioning themselves as the spiritual leaders of our fair town and when there is more than a murmur, a dissenting voice, an opportunity for members of the public to speak out – they want silence.

We have other ideas.

When the so-called leaders and prominent people of our community try to shut down debate and stiﬂe any diﬀerence of (their) opinion, it means that supporting freedom of speech, reporting the facts and shining a light on this abhorrent behaviour is more important than ever.

News that the Blue Haven Bonaira saga is (hopefully) ﬁnished is somewhat welcome news. To hear that Council is going to enter yet another legal saga with the builder of the facility is not so welcome.

The Bugle does not know the intricacies of the legal action, but we do know that the builder would have had to engage multiple sub-contractors who will likely become involved in this legal battle. That means (potentially) millions more of our rate payer dollars going to lawyers.

As the draft Growth and Housing Strategy demonstrates, the Kiama local government area is preparing for signiﬁcant growth. Signiﬁcant growth requires

signiﬁcant investment and signiﬁcant leadership.

Leaders who shut down dissent aren’t just stiﬂing debate; they’re eroding trust and stalling progress. Good leadership, in contrast, welcomes dissent as valuable feedback. It’s the diﬀerence between fostering a culture of fear and one of innovation and growth.

Kiama Council’s move to refer The Bugle to the Australian Press Council over baseless rumours was framed as fostering a constructive relationship. In reality, it looks like an attempt to control the narrative and silence criticism. This approach is counterproductive. True leadership embraces diverse perspectives and values every voice.

Personal attacks derail dialogue and damage trust. Constructive criticism, backed by facts and a genuine desire to solve problems, is far more eﬀective. Kiama Council’s recent actions show the dangers of leadership that silences dissent.

Instead of shifting blame, leaders should embrace transparency and authenticity, listen to dissenting voices, and involve them in decision-making. This builds trust and empowers the community.

We are two months away from one of the most important local government elections in living memory. It’s the worst it’s ever been – this is now undeniable.

The Bugle’s View is that the community deserves leadership, and a leader who ensures that every voice is heard and valued. Not just a vocal minority, not just their mates, not some councillors’ and not others.

We hope they’re listening.

Bottom of Bombo stairs

Top of Bombo stairs

The Future of Bombo Quarry

A Community-Driven Vision

For more than 75 years, Bombo Quarry has been a cornerstone of the local economy, supplying essential materials across New South Wales. As the quarry operations wind down, we are presented with a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine this iconic site for future generations. The draft Master Plan for Bombo Quarry from the Kiama Council, outlines a vision for a sustainable, vibrant community that celebrates the site's rich heritage and oﬀers diverse housing, job opportunities, and cultural amenities.

The redevelopment plans for Bombo Quarry did not materialise overnight. Significant groundwork has been laid by community members like Peter O’Neill, who proposed the Kiama Epicentre. His vision for a permanent festival and event site within the quarry exemplifies the potential economic and cultural benefits such a redevelopment can bring to Kiama.

Peter O’Neill's proposal for the Kiama Epicentre is ambitious, aiming to create a multi-functional space that hosts major events, generates local employment, and boosts the economy. His eﬀorts have provided a solid foundation for current plans, highlighting the importance of integrating cultural and community-focused elements into the redevelopment.

While the draft Master Plan is a promising start, the success of Bombo Quarry's redevelopment hinges on active community participation. It's crucial for local residents to take an active role in the design process to ensure the project reﬂects the community's needs and values. This involvement can take several forms:

1. Staying Informed: Keeping abreast of updates and developments regarding the project is the ﬁrst step. Websites like Unlocking Bombo Quarry provide valuable information and regular updates on the progress of the Master Plan.

2. Participating in Consultations: Community meetings and public consultations are opportunities for residents to voice their opinions, concerns, and suggestions. This feedback is vital to shaping a plan that truly beneﬁts the community.

3. Supporting Local Advocacy: Join local groups and initiatives. These groups can amplify residents' voices and ensure their interests are represented in the planning process.

Community involvement is more than just a box-ticking exercise; it is the bedrock of a successful and inclusive redevelopment project. When residents engage with the planning process, they help create a space that reﬂects their needs and aspirations. This participatory approach fosters a sense of ownership and pride, leading to a more cohesive and resilient community.

Moreover, the diverse perspectives brought by community members can lead to innovative solutions and improvements to the plan. Residents often have unique insights into the area's challenges and opportunities, which can be invaluable in creating a well-rounded, eﬀective Master Plan.

As we move forward with the redevelopment of Bombo Quarry, let us not forget the groundwork laid by individuals like Peter O’Neill and the importance of community engagement. By acknowledging past efforts and actively participating in the planning process, we can ensure that Bombo Quarry becomes a beacon of sustainability, culture, and community spirit.

Together, we can shape a future for Bombo Quarry that honours its history, embraces its natural beauty, and meets the needs of current and future generations. Let's seize this opportunity to create a thriving coastal community that we can all be proud of.

Lynne Strong

Jamberoo Mountain Road garbage dump Jamberoo Mountain Road garbage dump

A landslide halfway up Jamberoo Mountain Road meant it was blocked for more than a year, massively inconveniencing local residents and almost destroying the small enterprises of Jamberoo.

The road reopened a year ago but the impacts of the severing of one of the main arteries between the coast and the highlands still linger.

One local who commuted regularly up the road for work and to take his children to school in Robertson had to buy a second car and park it on the other side of the landslides, which he would hike past every day. He estimates that set him back some $12,000.

As part of all this ﬁasco he claims Council trucks began dumping dirt from the road repairs at the east side of the bus stop near the base of the mountains. There is still a sizable mound of rubbish there, by one estimate about 80 tonnes worth.

The local gentleman, who does not wish his name published, is particularly concerned about the unsightly mound. He says he has made frequent complaints via email to the Council and had even met with the Council’s General Manager Jane Stroud over the issue, but the garbage remains.

He says the mound began with the Council dumping rubbish from the road repairs, then attracted people dumping mattresses and other household materi-

al, and has since had further loads of dirt dumped over it. Now vegetation is growing all over it.

“The rubbish has been there for two years,” he said. “They are saying it is too expensive to remove it. Surely, (a) you shouldn’t have dumped it there in the ﬁrst place and (b) people are just dumping other rubbish there.

“If we light a ﬁre we have to ﬁll out forms, get a permit, take pictures. They make sure we do the right thing.

“The Council’s attitude is pretty disgusting in my eyes. I have sent eight emails and they haven’t responded to one of them. They are just terrible. We have met with the Council manager Jane Stroud. Nothing ever happens. They just fob you oﬀ. Their attitude is just not right.”

In response to inquiries from The Bugle Kiama Council issued the following statement.

“Kiama Council has stockpiled material from our 2022/23 emergency clearing and repairs to Jamberoo Mountain

Road adjacent to the bus shelter at the bottom of the mountain.

“The material had originally been planned to be removed by 2023; however, a series of urgent operational issues resulted in the removal being deferred.

“Council is initiating an investigation and design project for improvement works on Jamberoo Mountain Road under the NSW Betterment Program and will be assessing if this stockpiled material can be used for improvements to the road.

“Securing funding for these works has taken longer than anticipated.

“If the material can be used for some of the Betterment works this will save ratepayers funds being spent on disposing of the stockpile at a waste or material recycling centre.

“The stockpile does not contain contaminated material.

“It is composed of soil, clay, rock, trees and pavement materials, which is only suitable for use on road reserves. The material is not creating any road safety or drainage problems.”

John Stapleton

Global Tech Outage Sparks Unforeseen Challenges and Inspiring Teamwork

The global tech outage that hit Kiama and the rest of the world may have caused a few choice words in the oﬃce, but it also showed the best in teamwork.

With only an hour to go before I was due to hit the airwaves on a regional radio station, the show was looking good. The people we wanted to interview were locked in, the scripts were written, and the remaining time could be used to craft our audio.

The grey skies and sudden downpour of rain should have raised my suspicion that despite being prepared, it was about to go downhill.

Just as the clock hit three, when I was in the middle of editing audio, the laptop crashed and I unleashed an expletive under my breath. Thinking that I had asked the computer to work too hard, I went about restarting it when out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that my producer’s computer had the old Microsoft Windows Blue Screen of Death.

It was in those minutes that I heard a collective

surprise from other colleagues as their computers all suﬀered the same fate. It was a domino eﬀect, as each computer crashed.

At this stage of the afternoon no one had any idea that it was a software update pushed through by a cyber security company in the US that had caused the issue. Instead our minds suddenly jumped to the conclusion that we were hacked. Despite the uncertainty, and with the bare basic of systems in operation, the team made a decision that the show must go on.

While I familiarised myself with the workings of a CD player, a skill that I hadn’t lost, and pawed through a somewhat vintage collection of CDs, with

obscure country artists, the rest of my team were madly writing scripts by hand as we no longer had access to our systems.

As the hour of the broadcast drew closer, I was so humbled to see everyone working together in a situation no one had experienced before; no one complaining about the massive task at hand; all working towards a common goal.

The outage may have shown the worst in technology when it fails, but it also

showed the best in people when faced with a challenge, and at the end of the day, I am so proud to have been able to share the moment with a group of hardworking and dedicated individuals. This is only one story from the global tech outage, and across Kiama, there are many businesses and oﬃces that experienced the collapse of their windows computer. What was your experience? The Bugle Newspaper wants to hear your story.

An opinion piece by Lynne Strong

Steven White

Old Kiama wall gets a mural make-over

If you wandered past the Old Ambulance station on Kiama’s Terralong street during the last couple of days, you’ve probably noticed that one of the town’s rather dull-looking walls has received a makeover.

But just not any makeover.

Local artist Claire Foxton, selected to station wall as part of the Kiama Winter Street Festival, says: “I wanted it to be a very Kiama-based design. I grew up around here, my mum grew up around here so it’s a special place to us.”

For the Kiama mural, named ‘Tides of Time,’ Foxton explains that she wanted to pay homage to the area’s ﬁshing history and seaside setting.

After doing a bit of research in the Kiama Library’s online archives, she came across “this amazing image”.

Taken back in 1964 down at the harbour, it depicts a boat and a deckhand, a guy standing on the front of the

boat. The boat Shirley Jean was owned by local, Headley Brown.

“I thought it would work really well on the wall,” she says. “I put my own spin on it, in terms of the colours.

Then, I wanted to add something really personal that reﬂected my connection to Kiama.”

She asked her mum, who’s been collecting shells near her home on Jones Beach over many years, if she could pick out her favourites and share images of those. Which she did, and Foxton incorporated them into the piece.

“I’m really pushing the colours in a lot of my work so it’s just not looking like a photo. And I tend to go for these blues and turquoises a lot, and it ﬁts with the Kiama coastal theme,” she says, describing her style as a combination of abstract and realism.

“When you look at the palettes that I use now, it’s

Night-time economy advisory council

Member of Parliament for Kiama, Gareth Ward wants locals to get involved and breathe life back into Kiama’s nightlife scene.

A 24-Hour Economy Advisory Council has been set up following a petition for an entertainment precinct to be established in the town’s centre. The advisory council, which holds signiﬁcant inﬂuence in structuring the future of New South Wales night-time economies across the state, seeks input from community members.

Successful members will help shape policies, identifying opportunities and assessing risks associated with the implementation of the night-time economy.

‘’I encourage passionate members of the community to take advantage of this opportunity in shaping the state’s vision for the nighttime economy,’’ says Ward.

Ward noted that the NSW Government gravitates towards initiatives in Sydney and that regional communities tend to become an afterthought.

“As a musician and a former band member, people want vibrant local communities and I want to see our region represented on this advisory council,” Ward said.

To be eligible for the 24Hour Economy Advisory Council, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, be aged 18 or over, and be a New South Wales resident or be predominantly working in New South Wales. For more information, go to the Expression of Interest - 24-Hour Economy Advisory Council section on the NSW Government website.

Neve Surridge

similar to what I used in the very early days.” Foxton painted her ﬁrst mural in Wollongong in 2016. “The blue has carried through on through my work.”

She has tried not to include it but then, she’ll look at her work and feel like there’s something missing.

“I put a little bit of a blue in it, and I go, ‘ah, that’s what it was,’ ” she laughs, admitting she might even be a tiny wee obsessed with the colour.

To the common eye, it looked like any ordinary brick wall but Foxton says it was a challenging surface to paint because of the unseeded bricks and the deep grooves in the mortar.

“It’s deﬁnitely taken me longer than it usually would on a smooth wall because the bricks take so much paint.”

Which begs the question, how much paint will she be using?

“Oh, it’s hard to say because I’ve dragged out all my old tins of paint. But I probably used at least 20

litres already. Maybe more including the primer. Let’s say 30 litres,” she explains. To paint a mural could be compared to doing an oil painting where the motive gradually develops on the canvas through the layering of paint and sections.

Even with an approved design, Foxton says there’s an element of experimentation happening on the wall.

“A lot of the time, I’m watering down the colours, brushing them lightly over the top and putting some solid colour over the top. Seeing how the colours interact together

on the wall is the most fun part of the project.”

On that note, it’s time to head over to Hindmarsh Park to enjoy these two new, cool additions to the Kiama communal space.

The Council received funding from the NSW Gov-

The role of local councillors in housing and and education policies education to prevent suicide to prevent suicide

The role of local councillors in addressing

As lawmakers in New South Wales consider the profound impact of housing, health, and education policies on suicide rates, it becomes increasingly clear that our local councillors have a crucial role to play in this vital issue.

The proposed suicide prevention legislation, promised by Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson, underscores the importance of addressing the social determinants of health that contribute to suicidal crises. This initiative aims to follow in the footsteps of successful legislation in South Australia and Japan, which have seen signiﬁcant declines in suicide rates.

The consultation process for this legislation has already begun, and it is essential that local councils

actively participate and consider the potential impact of their policies on mental health.

The proposed suicide prevention legislation represents a significant step towards addressing the social and economic factors that contribute to mental health crises. As community leaders, local councillors have a unique opportunity to influence these factors directly. By prioritising affordable housing, equitable education, community engagement, mental health services, lived experience, and economic stability, councillors can play a pivotal role in reducing suicide rates and improving overall community well-being.

Our community's health and safety depend on the proactive eﬀorts of our local

leaders. It is crucial that councillors engage with the consultation process, advocate for comprehensive policies, and work tirelessly to create an environment where everyone has the support they need to thrive. By doing so, we can make a real diﬀerence in the lives of those at risk and build a stronger, more resilient community for all.

Probing questions

How can local councillors eﬀectively advocate for aﬀordable housing projects in our community?

What speciﬁc partnerships with developers and community organisations can local councillors establish to ensure stable housing for all residents?

What types of community-building activities and support networks can local councillors promote to reduce social isolation?

How can local councillors ensure that the voices of people with lived experience of suicidal distress are included in policy discussions?

What mechanisms can be put in place to regularly gather and incorporate insights from those with lived experience into decision-making processes?

How can the inclusion of lived experiences in policymaking lead to more eﬀective suicide prevention strategies?

In what ways can reducing housing instability directly impact the mental health of our community members?

Lynne Strong

ernment for two murals. The one at the former ambulance station, and one at Joyce Wheatley Community Centre, created by the artistic duo Janne (Krimsone) and Scott Nagy.

Malin Dunfors

An opinion piece by Lynne Strong

'Tides of Time', the new mural at the Old Ambulance Station in Kiama, created by Claire Foxton

Claire Foxton

A close up of parts of the Janne Krimson and Scott Nagy mural at the Joyce Wheatley Community Centre

Mark your

Springside Hill is a proposed masterplanned community in Kiama, offering a range of homes suited to all lifestyles.

We are working with local and state governments to progress a planning proposal that will make it easier for locals to buy their own home. It comes with a 25 per cent guarantee to set aside homes for key workers, first home buyers and locals looking for affordable rental housing.

Working together we can deliver our first homes at Springside Hill by 2027.

To be the first to hear about this exciting new address, register your interest at springsidehill.com.au/contact

Hindmarsh Park development on schedule despite rain

The $4.5 million Hindmarsh Park development will be completed in October and to schedule despite the poor weather, said the Kiama Council.

“Growth Civil Landscapes have been moving heaven and earth (including a signiﬁcant amount of mud) to ensure the new Hindmarsh Park playground is ready for the Spring school holidays,” said the council.

The major features of the development are beginning to take shape in the playground, including a new set of swings and a rock climbing wall.

There is also new street furniture, a bike locker and repair station by the bus

stop. Around the stage, the stairs and perimeter path has been completed. Lleyton Hughes

Springside Hill responds to draft Growth and Housing Strategy

Please note this is paid content

The omission of Springside Hill from Kiama Council’s draft Growth and Housing Strategy should have come as no surprise. Yet after working with Council for more than two years on this proposal, the only one oﬀering social and aﬀordable housing, we had come to hope that good sense and the best interests of the town would prevail.

We are disappointed at this initial missed opportunity to provide a short to medium solution to the housing crisis in Kiama, however Traders In Purple and Housing Trust will continue to press the case for Springside Hill through our discussions with Kiama Council.

Kiama has the most unaffordable housing in regional NSW with a median house price 15 times the median income. There is not a single aﬀordable rental home in the entire local government area.

Our commitment, to dedicate 25 percent of homes to those currently locked out of the housing market, had given hope to locals, first home buyers and those who face an uncertain future. The alternative is the difficult choice of leaving Kiama, just to be able to afford a roof over their heads.

Some, like Scott, who runs a local business and whose daughter attends childcare in Kiama, have already been forced out of town. He now commutes from Lake Illawarra and his partner, a nurse, endures a 1-hour drive to the place where she works.

Nathan is another who employs 13 people in Kiama, but escalating rent and the high price and scarcity of land forced him to build his home elsewhere. He knows of many in their 30s and 40s in the same predicament.

“I know some Kiama residents want to have no change in the local area but that is coming at a signiﬁcant cost by damaging local housing aﬀordability for families like us,” says Nathan.

For Patricia, in her 50s, the future looks increasingly bleak. Having endured a 40 percent rent increase on the home she and her family of ﬁve had lived in for eight

Guided Wild Bushwalks

years, only for it to be sold anyway, she saw Springside Hill as her one chance to secure her future. Now she worries that it will not come soon enough, and the family may have no choice but to leave, severing the social and community ties she has worked so hard to build.

“Springside Hill is such a smart development,” she told us. “Why would the council turn it away?”

Why, indeed.

These are just some of the stories that we have been told in our many conversations with the community. As we continue these conversations, we learn more and more about the pressures and the sense of hopelessness, and the relief that Springside Hill might bring.

Every time we have a chat with people like Scott, Nathan and Patricia, we say the same thing – we believe in our Springside Hill project, we are committed to our 25 percent guarantee, we are here to deliver a long-term vision and we will keep working with Council and all stakeholders to achieve this.

Traders in Purple CEO

Brett Robinson

Photo: Rachael Tagg

Times (Installation View), 2024. Photo: Zan Wimberley

Local fundraising success by Local success Katandra Women's A Cappella Choir Katandra Women's A Choir

Katandra Women's A Cappella Choir held two musical events on June 29th. The ‘South Coast Sings’ day included workshops in learning to sing, Singing Jazz latin, Salsa and Tango Dancing and Music Theatre. The evening “Big Swing'' featured the Beachside Big Band and it was a fabulous night of dancing and singing. We were able to raise

$12,000 for our focus charities; The Children's Medical Research Institute and Salt Ministry.

Currently, we are having a well-deserved break and will be back for Term 3, on 23 July in Berry and 25 July in Kiama.

Katandra are looking forward to encouraging new members in our community to join us in Term 3 and we

are also promoting our free high school and uni student sponsorship programme. This is a chance for young singers to learn vocal technique and build their vocal skills and performance conﬁdence.

Local Contributor - Antoinette Raynal

Men raise $13,000 for Men raise for mental health with Sydney-to -Kiama walk Sydney-to-Kiama walk

The CEO of The Man Walk, Mark Burns, left his house to meet the buyer of his caravan. Unbeknownst to Burns that buyer was Brad Halliwell, who was planning to do a 120 km walk and was looking for a cause to raise money for.

Halliwell asked Burns about The Man Walk hat he was wearing. Burns explained what it was and the rest is history.

“We’re going to walk from Sydney to Kiama and we want to raise money and donate it to The Man Walk.”

The Man Walk provides an opportunity for men to get together to walk, talk and support each other in a regular and healthy way.

On July 18 Brad and 10 others started walking from the Sydney Opera House to the Kiama Blowhole, dedicating it to men’s mental health. They have already raised more than $13,000.

“Me and a mate last year decided that we'd do a 60km walk just for fun and we had a few people ask us. This year and we came up with an idea to double the length of that walk to 120 kms,” Halliwell said.

“We’re aiming to do it in 24 hours but we’re raising money for men’s mental health, and at the moment it's more about ﬁnishing it than anything else. So, aiming for 24 hours but completion is our real goal.”

The $13,000 raised for

The Man Walk will help support existing and new walks as well as fund the group’s ‘Mental Fitness for Teams’, a mental health training program.

“It will help fund our mental health training. It’s a 90 minute, online or face to face, mental ﬁtness education program. So we fund that and oﬀer it free to our members. It's been really well received -- we’ve trained almost 100 people in the last 7 or 8 months.”

“Activity, exercise outside, walking and talking, sharing stories. So many blokes out there are lonely. One in three Australian men are lonely. These are crazy stats on how many blokes out there who don't have someone to connect with. So The Man Walk oﬀers that too, decreasing isolation and a sense of belonging.”

During Halliwell’s training, which he has been doing

most nights, he has found that exercise is such a great way to clear your head.

“I think just getting out and going for a walk just helps lower stress. I know I have felt it, even training for this, you get out there and put your headphones on, if you're by yourself, and just go for gold,” says Halliwell.

In addition to helping out The Man Walk with their training and the walks, it will also buy new merchandise that can inspire moments like the one Brad and Mark had when Brad caught sight of a hat with The Man Walk insignia written on it.

You can still donate to Halliwell’s walk via his GoFundMe online.

Lleyton Hughes

‘Big Red Kidney Bus’ sets up in Kiama

Holidays and long trips away from home can be complicated for those requiring regular dialysis. The Big Red Kidney Bus has set up shop in Kiama to reduce the barriers and allow holidayers to receive mobile dialysis.

Kidney Australia launched the year-round program to give those receiving dialysis the opportunity to go on holidays throughout NSW and ensure they still have access to their life-saving treatment.

“Our Big Red Kidney Bus mobile dialysis program is much loved by our kidney community as it gives them the freedom to move

beyond their treating clinic and visit other parts of Australia – a freedom so many of us take for granted” says Kidney Health Australia CEO, Chris Forbes.

All dialysis sessions on the Bus are free of charge, and there is no limitation to the number of sessions someone can receive.

The bus features three chairs with dialysis machines and is staﬀed by renal technicians and dialysis nurses.

The bus will be parked at Big4 East Beach Holiday Park, 30 Ocean Street Kiama from 8 July until 3 August.

To make a booking for the Big Red Kidney Bus, follow the appointment system at: kidney.org.au

Neve Surridge

John 'Coco' Comber brings two new shows to Kiama Community Radio

Kiama Community Radio welcomes John ‘Coco’ Comber as he brings two exciting shows: 'The Old Schoolyard' and 'Coco's Outback Club.' These programs will delight listeners with a diverse selection of music spanning decades and genres, curated by Comber himself.

Join us as we tune in to 'The Old Schoolyard,' where Comber takes us on a nostalgic journey through classic hits and forgotten gems.

And don't miss 'Coco's Outback Club,' where Comber shares his passion

Two men charged over alleged armed robbery

Police have charged two men following an alleged armed robbery in Kiama. The incident occurred on Saturday, 29 June after a man approached a vehicle on Terralong Street. When he got inside the vehicle, he was allegedly held at knife point. Police will allege cash was stolen, before he got out and the car drove oﬀ

Oﬃcers from Lake Illawarra Police District attended the scene and commenced an investigation.

for country and roots music, transporting us to the heart of the Australian outback with every tune.

Comber’s journey in radio began in 1978 when he was appointed the ﬁrst music director of Sydney's 2WS. He held various roles, including the position of music director at 2DAY-FM. However, it was his time as the afternoon announcer at Nowra's 2ST during the 1980s and 90s that earned him the aﬀectionate nickname, Coco.

After a hiatus from the radio industry, Comber returned in 2015 as a member and presenter of Shoalhaven Community Radio. Hosting programs under his old moniker, Coco, he quickly became a beloved ﬁgure among listeners.

Bernie Hems

Following an investigation by Strike Force Awinya, around 1pm on Thursday, 11 July, police attended a licensed venue in Memorial Drive, Shellharbour. A 27-year-old man was arrested and taken to the Lake Illawarra Police Station. He was charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon, supply of a prohibited drug and possession of a small quantity of a prohibited drug. Later that same day, at approximately 6.45pm, a 24-year-old man was arrested at Lake Illawarra Police Station and charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon, part supply of a prohibited drug, aggravated robbery and inflict actual body harm. The pair were refused bail, and fronted Wollongong Local Court on Friday, 12 July.

Neve Surridge

Credit : Kidney Health Australia

Brad Halliwell (Left) and Mark Burns (Right).

Brad Halliwell

The Life and Times of

Daisy the Decorated e Dairy Cow

Just outside of the Old Fire Station Community Arts Centre, in the centre of Kiama, there is a cow. You may have noticed her. The cow’s name is Daisy. You’ll often see her playing with kids or painted in various styles which reﬂect what is going on in the Kiama community.

Former Mayor Sandra McCarthy once wrote about Daisy, “It’s funny to think a paper mache cow, that stands solitary and rather longingly on a main street, can embody a town’s community spirit and culture.

But that is exactly what ‘Daisy the Decorated Dairy Cow’ does.”

But where did Daisy come from? What’s her story?

In 1991, a crazy haired

Italian born sculptor named Ernesto Murgo created Daisy, using paper mache and wire, for the Seaside festival that ran in October of that year. He based her on a real cow called ‘Meadowhaven Daisy the 47th’ who was a breed of cow that was popular on the dairy farms of the Illawarra and was owned by Jamberoo farmer Tom Walsh. Sue Blanchﬁeld was the ﬁrst artist to paint Daisy at the Seaside Festival saying, “Rather than having the cow in the landscape, I’m going to put the landscape on the cow.” Somewhere along the way Daisy was given a tougher outer skin of plaster and sisal by Grahame Kime. Kiama council bought

Daisy from Ernesto after this and she has since become a reﬂection of the town.

A cultural and historical, ever-changing piece of art. If there was some sort of time lapse video showing each one of Daisy’s designs throughout history, you’d be presented with a pretty thorough history of Kiama since 1991.

She has been covered in musical notes for a jazz festival, words for a poetry happening, butterﬂies,

Daisy covered in new coats for Winter Festival

On Saturday July 15, during Kiama’s Winter Festival, the community was invited to paint Daisy the Decorated Dairy Cow at the Old Fire Station.

The day marked a new chapter in the biography of Daisy and Kiama’s strange and endearing fascination with her.

“It was packed, I reckon we probably had 500-600 people through here on Sunday and probably almost

the festival inviting visitors to come inside and paint. Whether it be painting Daisy, painting the Kiama mural inside the building or just simply getting some paint and some paper and making something.

“One person said, how nice is it that there's six or seven children around the cow painting, and they’re not home on their mobile phones? Yeah, it was really lovely. We’ve had kids hang-

stopped in to have a go at it and he says that the festival was an incredible success.

“The festival was a success and I just want to congratulate Destination Kiama, Sally Bursell and her team, who did a terriﬁc job and I’m just really pleased to have supported them in a request for a government grant to help make the festival a success,” says Ward.

Ward says that although the festival brought in a lot of people, he is interested in garnering the response from the local businesses involved as it is important that they are tting from all these community

“I’ll be interested to hear some feedback from small businesses in the main cally, as they have to pay ongoing rents and overheads. Just to make t out of it because we need to think about our small businesses and the impact on them,”

This article is another episode in the continuing saga of Daisy the Decorated Lleyton Hughes

lilies, daisies and she has even been a conduit for protest. She was dressed to resemble condoms to warn against aids, a private part of her anatomy was highlighted to spread awareness about chlamydia, she has been pink for breast cancer awareness and had a red nose for cot death appeal. She is covered in hearts for Valentines Day, covered in tinsel at Christmas, green for St Patrick’s Day, ﬂagged for Australia Day and she’s been a cheerleader for sports teams. In a classic story she was once

cownapped by high school students.

Most recently she was painted to represent NAIDOC week and for the Kiama Winter Festival, on July 13 and 14, the Expressive Art Experience was inviting the Kiama community to paint her.

“We’re all going to paint Daisy the Cow. We’re inviting the community to come and we’ll give them a little pot of paint and a paintbrush and there’s lots of diﬀerent spaces they can paint on Daisy,” says artist and Experience Art facilita-

Michelle Springett. Daisy has seen a lot in her almost 35 year old life, but she has never abandoned her post or her town. She sits there day after day absorbing new information and reﬂecting it back to the world. She is an unoﬃcial mascot for the town and she will be an important piece of Kiama history for years to come.

Note: Most of this information was taken from Phyl Lobl’s book ‘Daisy the Decorated Dairy Cow’. Lleyton Hughes