Crafting prize haul from The Royal

her retirement in 2005. For the last 15 of those years she served in the position of Honorary Secretary.

Her efforts were recognised with Kiama Council’s Australia Day Sports Award in 1997.

A woman of many interests, Betty was also one of the earliest volunteers at the Kiama History Centre, continuing to be involved for almost 30 years; and an active volunteer in many roles for the Kiama Jamberoo Uniting Church.

She was on the Kiama District Hospital Board for over 15 years and was involved with the development of Blue Haven from the start, continuing on its administration committee for a number of years.

In recognition of her work with all these organisations, Betty received Kiama Council’s Citizen of the Year award in 2010, and an Order of Australia Medal in 2016. She will be sorely missed by the extended Chittick family and the community she served.

Stage 3 involves identifying and evaluating potential actions resulting from earlier stages.

“We want to ensure that each of the 17 proposed actions are practical, realistic and affordable for Council, Government agencies, and our community to achieve,” says a Council spokesperson.

Actions range from controlling pests and weeds to improving coastal amenities and facilities on public land to reduce risks and conflicts.

In addition to offering traditional drop-in sessions for you to provide feedback on each of the actions, it is also utilising an online ‘ideas wall’ developed with the State Government.

“This allows you to comment and ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ each of the proposed actions individually,” says the spokesperson.

Drop-in sessions at The Pavilion Kiama: Thurs 18 May, 5-7pm, Fri 19 May, 9-11am. Or visit the Have Your Say section of www.kiama.nsw.gov.au

Real sound. Really comfortable.

The Kiama Spinners, Weavers and Embroiderers gave Barbara Wyles a round of applause this week when she revealed, at the meetings show and tell, the knitted, woven and felted pieces for which she’d won Royal Easter Show awards.

The former club treasurer brought home a series of firsts at the Berry Show and continued her run of success with two firsts and a third from the much-coveted Easter state titles.

The third place was for a group project showcasing three different techniques: a woven scarf, a knitted fine lace shawl and a felt dress made by Barbara’s daughter Melinda Binkins.

“They were all done deliberately in similar autumnal tones,” says Barbara. Her first prizes were for a fine brown handspun alpaca wrap (which also received a further prize from Spinners’ Haven in Armidale) and a white shawl knitted from a 1910 Scottish pattern in 1ply cobweb Scottish wool.

Barbara, from Kiama Downs, has been a member of the group since 1981.

She says her favourite work is knitting Shetland shawls which she often knits from wool she has spun.

“I’ve entered the Royal Show so many times I can’t remember,” she says and has won many awards.

“In 2017 and 2013 some of my work was chosen for the Glass Case of Excellence.”

Both her mum and grandmother had a hand in teaching her to knit. But during her 40s she went to TAFE to learn how to spin.

“I learned a lot at TAFE but towards the end of my course, they cut out things that were commonly known as ‘women’s craft’,” she says. She encourages anyone interested in knitting, crocheting, spinning and embroidery to come along to the group.

“It’s a place where a lot of talking is done,” she says.

Kiama Spinners, Weavers and Embroiderers meet every Tuesday from 9.30-midday, downstairs at the historic Hartwell House Stables at 3a Farmer Street.

Annual Membership $35 plus $2 per week (for coffee/tea).

by Perrie Croshaw