The Bugle
5 October 2019
A fortnightly celebration of people and places on the Upper South Coast of NSW Serving the communities of Kiama, Gerringong, Jamberoo, Kiama Downs, Minnamurra and Gerroa and now at www.thebugleonline.com
Kiama gets a new residential hotel The finishing touches are being put on to the latest visitor accommodation offering in Kiama – a boutique hotel next to The Grand on Bong Bong Street – ahead of its opening on 1 November. “Bookings are already being taken,” says Nova Kiama’s General Manager Yasmin Roberts. “People love the location and the quality of the accommodation on offer. “We’ve already got bookings for the 2020 Jazz Festival.” The facility has been built by the owners of the property (and The Grand), the Salim Group. It is hoped that it will be the beginning of a string of boutique hotels for them, each being individually designed to suit their location. The hotel, built around a central courtyard, has 32 rooms (ranging from an
executive apartment to family and single rooms). Some have kitchenettes and water views, and all have smart TVs, high quality fitouts and French balconies. There is also a pool, gym and conference space, set around the courtyard. The proximity of the hotel to the Pavilion is felt to be ideal for conference and wedding attendees. “Kiama has been lacking in quality accommodation for some time,” says Ms Roberts, who moved here three years ago. She has decades of experience in hospitality, including managing events for major hotel chains. “I’ve been involved with the setting up and launch of venues before, and love the process.” Unlike traditional hotels,
there is no food service or public bars at Nova Kiama. “We see this as a great opportunity for the local eateries, and will do all we can to promote local experiences.” This commitment to local flows on to the art on the walls, which is all by local artists. “We want staying at the hotel to be a real Kiama experience,” says Ms Roberts. Ten people are being employed by the business, chosen from 200 applicants. The venue will be run using the latest technology, including entry to the rooms via a smartphone app key. The Wildflower Studio florist is moving into a retail space on the ground floor, and it is expected that pop-up shops will feature in reception area.
Mayor Honey and Aunty Joyce at the unveiling
Council marks up 160 years p 3
New Business Chamber President p3
Tour event comes to Kiama p5
Nova Kiama’s General Manager Yasmin Roberts
Acknowledging the past A memorial to mark the massacre of a group of First People 201 years ago has been unveiled at a touching ceremony on the banks of the Minnamurra River, just south of the bridge. The massacre of at least six Wodi Wodi people happened across the river from the memorial site. Both Mayor Mark Honey and Aunty Joyce Donovan said there was a need to acknowledge the past in order to move forward. “We need the true history to be acknowledged before we can move forward to-
Inside this issue
gether,” said Aunty Joyce in her Welcome to Country. “This is one of the first ever memorials. It is important we start to bit by bit to mark where these murders happened rather than pretend they didn’t.” Mayor Honey said, “Today is a sad day, but it is important that we embrace all of our history, even the unpleasant episodes, otherwise we can’t move on together.” The plaque, sponsored by Kiama Council says, “Six deaths were recorded on this day, but the real number will never be know.
We acknowledge the impact this had and continues to have on the Aboriginal people of this ancient land. “We are deeply sorry. “They will not be forgotten.” For the record, we publish this excerpt from A History of Aboriginal Illawarra, Volume 2: Colonisation, “In October 1818 Lieutenant Weston, land owner at Dapto, and Cornelius O’Brien, formerly a stockman at Sandon Point and now the overseer of a property at Yallah, organised a group of seven labourers and
Blessed are the cheesemakers p9
Council award winners p 13
Continued on p6
Did you know...
Around 18,000 children and young people are in Out of Home Care in NSW. We need your help. 1300 000 WCF wcfoundation.org.au
Enquire about becoming a foster carer today.