Kiama climber conquers Everest Jamberoo to get new dog park

If you thought Kiama’s hills were difficult to climb, how would you like to traverse 8,848 metres to the top of Mt Everest? Well one Kiama resident has done just that.

John Dover reached the summit of Mt Everest on 17 May after a one-and-ahalf month journey, but his obsession with climbing the world’s tallest mountain started in earnest back in 2017.

Kerry brought husband John on a trip to Nepal to travel to the Everest Base Camp, a 12-day round trip and the final stop before mountaineers make for the summit. Once they arrived, John told Kerry, “Well, that’s great that we’re here but if I’m standing here, then really I want to be at the top.”

John, who is a helicopter pilot Lieutenant Commander in the Australian Defence Force, signed himself up for all the mountaineering and climbing courses as soon as the couple came home.

Over the next few years, he climbed some of the world’s tallest peaks in preparation, including Mt Cook in New Zealand, Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America, Mont Blanc in the Alps and Nepal’s Ama Dablam, known as a “moun- taineers mountain.”

John went back to the Everest Base Camp as soon as he could, and spent two weeks with Kerry trekking to acclimatise to the high altitude.

Before climbing Everest, however, the group climbed a 6,119 metre mountain called Lobouche as additional training. Talk about a warm up!

After a second acclimation mission through the Khumbu icefalls, the group, which included two Americans, a Cuban, lead guide and three sherpas, had to wait for a 7-8 day gap of clear weather before they made the ascent safely. Such a gap appeared on 12 May, and the group set off at midnight.

While the Cuban mountaineer became the first from his country to climb Everest, not everyone in the group was so lucky. One of the other climbers, an American, suffered a stroke at 8,000 metres on the way back down, and was carried back to camp before being helivaced to a hospital in Kathmandu. Thankfully, he is doing fine now, and is waiting to fly back home. While surviving relatively unscathed, even John still suffered from a small bout of frostbite on his feet but feels fortunate to have made it without anything worse happening.

This year has been particularly deadly for Everest climbers, with 12 reported deaths and five others still missing, along with the countless rescue missions that take place.

So, if you’re thinking of making the climb, stay safe and rug up!

Know an exceptional person? Tell us news@thebuglenewspaper.com.au

by Brendon Foyle

Jamberoo is set to get a dedicated dog park in the next financial year, which means dog owners no longer need to do 20km round trips to Minnamurra, Bombo, Gerringong or Gerroa to legally walk their dogs off-leash.

This news comes after years of lobbying and advocacy by the Jamberoo Valley Ratepayers and Residents Associations (JVRRA). At their June meeting, Kiama Council Executive’s Jessica Rippon and COO Joe Gaudiosi confirmed that monies had been allocated for the dog park in the 2023/24 budget.

A dog park’s significance extends beyond our canine well-being; it fosters inclusion, community engagement and improved social welfare.

Local resident and JVRRA member Kate Troy says, “It will be a wonderful resource for the community, and a great way to build new relationships between residents and their animals.”

Over the past decade, the community and Council have prepared reports, reviews, and surveys to address concerns specific to the Jamberoo area, such as environmental impacts on native wildlife, flood plains and the risk of being struck by golf balls.

A June 2022 survey led by Kate, collecting 223 responses, showed that 65 per cent of residents would use the dog park a couple of times a day to multiple times per week. The survey also identified preferred locations for a fenced dog park: between the tennis courts and the golf course and two specific areas along Hyams Creek opposite Gibson Crescent and Peace Park.

This information was shared with the Council via Councillor Stuart Larkin.

Kate says, “It’s wonderful to be able to now let people know that Council has acknowledged the substantial community interest in such a facility.”

While the survey investigated the possibility of unfenced dog park areas, Council guidance and community interest lean towards developing a fenced facility.

Kate adds, “My hope now is the community will have input into the design of the park, to cater for breeds and size.”

The approval of capital work funding for this long-awaited facility represents an achievement stemming from years of persistent efforts. It will create a secure environment for dogs to receive training, exercise, and socialisation and foster a sense of community and wellbeing among Jamberoo dog owners.

By Tracey Henderson