The Bugle 8 October 2022

Council committee structure overhaul

The September Meeting of Council endorsed the exhi bition of a new Committees’ Policy and Framework that proposes sweeping reforms to the existing structure and the amount of informa tion considered by Council Meetings.

“Council has operated with numerous committees for some time and while these committees have provided valuable input into Council’s operations, the feedback we have received is that it was time for a review,” says Jessi ca Rippon, Director Environ

mental Services.

“A review of committees also needs to occur as part of a new Council being formed.

Staff therefore took the opportunity to rethink the number and purpose of our committees to ensure they were operating efficiently and supported Council’s strategic direction.”

Community members involved with various com mittees and organisations

The Bugle spoke to were reluctant to comment pub licly on the new structure as they are still trying to work

out what is involved and the implications for community participation.

After analysing what other councils do, staff strongly recommended just five Advisory Committees, with standard formats, in addition to the legislated Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee and Traffic Committee, and two Committees of Council.

“Creating a committee structure that supports the delivery of the Community Strategic Plan is seen as a positive new approach which could more broadly align

Council’s strategic direc tion with opportunities for community input and advice,” says Ms Rippon.

The recommendation is for one of these Commit tees of Council, made up of all councillors and able to make decisions, to be a new Planning and Development Committee.

This Committee would meet monthly and solely deal with planning and develop ment matters. This would include the determination of significant development applications, the endorse

J’roo Mountain Rd may be open for Christmas

Council is hoping Jamberoo Mountain Road will be open by Christmas, but the timing is reliant on factors outside of its control.

Due to the complex na ture of the damage, which includes undermining of the tarmac, it has taken since early July for the design for the repair to be decided on.

Safety concerns have pre vented even one way traffic on the road during this time.

The design has now been approved by Transport NSW, and Council has again

secured State funding for the extensive repairs as it did for the previous closure.

“Our designer is now final ising the design documen tation to enable us to go to tender later this month/early November,” says Director Engineering & Works, Mike Dowd.

“If we can secure the resources we need, such as equipment and crews, and have good weather, we might be able to have the road open in time for Christmas.

ment of recommendations to the Southern Regional Planning Panel and the en dorsement of strategies and planning instruments.

Its meetings will be open to the public except when there is a need to be confidential.

The other Committee of Council would be the Perfor mance Review Committee, which would deal with senior staff employment arrange ments in closed session.

The five Advisory Commit tees would bring together a number of longstanding committees (such as the Cul tural Board and the Kiama Walking Tracks and Cycle ways Committee) under their umbrella:

• Community and Culture Advisory Committee

• Environmental Manage ment and Sustainability Advisory Committee

• Tourism & Economic Development Advisory Committee

• Connected and Liveable Community Advisory Committee

• Finance Advisory Com mittee.

For example, the proposed purpose of the Community and Cultural Committee is to ‘provide expert advice on the development, implemen tation, and monitoring of the following’ (through project reference groups if deemed necessary):

• arts & culture strategy

• youth engagement strate gy and action plan

• open space and recreation strategy

• companion animals man agement strategy

• First Nations cultural heritage strategy

• heritage review projects.

The meetings of all the Advi sory Committees would gen erally be open to the public, and any recommendations would need to be reported to an Ordinary Council meeting for formal decision making/ ratification.

Membership of each Advi sory Committee is outlined in detail in the draft docu ment, and generally include councillors, community representatives (including special mention of youth and Aboriginal representatives), community and government organisations and other specialist input.

The reforms also extend to the existing Precinct structure, including that they are no longer referred to as advisory committees and that councillors are excluded from being able to vote at the meetings.

It is proposed that the Min utes of the Precincts no lon ger be included in Council’s Business Papers, and that any recommendations should be made to the appropriate decision making body.

Resident/ratepayer associ-

Kiama Farmers’ Market

Every Wednesday

Surf Beach or

Kiama Uniting Church, 3-6pm

SENTRAL’S Open Mic

Every Thursday for local youth

SENTRAL Cottages, 5-7pm

Minnamurra Exhibition

Until 13 November Minnamurra Café, 8-4.30pm

In from the Tide

Until 16 October

Fern Street Gallery, G’gong

Gerringong Rotary Market Saturday 15 October

In and around Town Hall, 8.20-1.30pm Bag-Making Day for Breast Cancer Saturday 15 October see page 6

Kiama History Talk

Saturday 15 October see right Community in the Quarry Saturday 15 October see page 3

Kiama Seaside Market Sunday 16 October

Black Beach, 9-3pm Makers & Growers Market Saturday 22 October Black Beach, 10-3pm Youth Council Grill & Chill Sunday 22 October see page 4

Jamberoo Village Market Sunday 30 October Reid Park, 9-2pm

Gerroa Community Association Markets Saturday 1 September 25 Burke Parade, 8.30-noon Holly Throsby: In conversation Saturday 5 November see right Opera in the Valley Saturday 5 November see page 5

One for history & train buffs

Heritage conservation expert, Ben Calvert, is giving the next Kiama & District Historical Society Talk on all aspects of the history of Bombo Railway Station.

The talk will include the history of the station (which is the closest to the sea in Australia), an overview of its current condition, a review of its significance, and an explo ration of some of the issues regarding its current heritage management.

The author of several

heritage impact assess ments across NSW, Ben has recently completed a Masters of Heritage Conservation for the University of Sydney School of Architecture.

For this, he was required to research and prepare a Conservation Management Plan for a State Heritage listed NSW railway station, which led him to his primary and secondary research of Bombo Railway Station.

His research of the station included its planning, con struction, use, development and importance to the local

Bombo Station in 1947

community and State.

“When our train to or from Sydney stops briefly at Bombo, we have little idea of its rich history and its vital importance to our district for over 130 years,” says Kiama and District Historical Soci ety’s Gillian Spooner.

“This talk is our unique opportunity to hear all about its fascinating, and at times, surprising history.”

Saturday 15 October, Kiama Library Auditorium, 2.30pm. Free. Followed by afternoon tea.

Author talk

Early warning not to miss bestselling author and musician Holly Throsby in conversation with publishing legend Richard Walsh about her new novel, Clarke

We hear Holly’s third novel is a story filled with family, violence, identity, unlikely connections and the comedy of everyday life.

Saturday 5 November, Kiama Library, 2 pm.

Free but bookings essential.

rate cap set at 5.1%

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has set Kiama Council a rate peg of 5.1 per cent for the 2023/4 year.

“An increase in our rate peg will be welcomed by our council and all councils who have been affected by previous decisions of the In dependent Pricing and Reg ulatory Tribunal of NSW,” says Mayor Neil Reilly.

“This is not an automatic increase and the elected council will have to consid er the idea and whether to implement it.”

Councillors are yet to de cide whether to apply for a special rate variation would be an appropriate response to Council’s financial situa tion, as it is one option being considered.

The rate peg for each council is set using an index which measures the average costs faced by NSW coun cils and a population factor based on each council’s population growth.

Rate pegs set throughout NSW for this period range from 3.7% to 6.8%, accord ing to circumstances.

The rate peg sets the maximum increase in each council’s general income for the financial year.

The rate peg applies to general income in total, and not to individual ratepayers’ rates.

2023/4 rates will be based on 1 July 2022 land values, but the steep rises in land values won’t be reflected in total rates collected because of the rate capping.

Community steps up for Burnetts

Elizabeth Burnett of Burnetts on Barney says they have been overwhelmed by the support shown to them since Council’s shock decision to seek Expressions of Interest to sell the old quarry site on Barney St.

“So many people have writ ten to councillors expressing their concern and many more have asked how they can help,” she says.

She’s come up with a novel way to harness this support by quickly creating a grass roots event, Community In The Quarry, to showcase all the gardening, arts, music and community groups which appreciate what the site has become under her

Libs looking to run candidate in Kiama

Nominations are now open to be the endorsed Liberal candidate for the State seat of Kiama at the election on 25 March 2023.

The seat is currently held by Gareth Ward, now an independent following his suspension from Parliament earlier this year after crimi nal charges were laid.

Kiama was one of 12 electoral districts opened for nominations, but only in it and Drummoyne – the seat of another former New South Wales Liberal minister John Sidoti – are the nominations going to be open for more than a week. The closing date will be decided by the State Director.

Mr Ward has yet to confirm his candidacy for the elec tion, and says he is relaxed about the announcement.

“I welcome all people who choose to nominate for elected office. We live in a democracy and people have the right to stand under whatever banner or sets of policies they like, so it is not surprising that political par ties would open nomination for the election.”

He continues to say he hasn’t given standing in the election any thought, despite recently changing all of his promotional material to teal.

“When I am ready to make some further comments about it, I will,” says Mr

Law. Human at heart.

Ward, who won the seat from Labor in 2011 and has held it since then.

The President of the Kiama Branch of the Liberal Party, Michael Cains, says, “The Liberal Party have a proven record of delivery and repre sentation throughout Kiama and surrounding areas at all levels of government. It’s natural that we would seek to endorse a strong local candi date to support the return of the Perrottet Government.”

The Labor Party endorsed Kaitlin McInerney as their candidate in August, sig nalling the start of a long campaign.

The Greens are also expected to run for the seat.

stewardship.

“Rather than focus on just protests and petitions we decided to do something that sings to the spirit of this beautiful space and to allow all the community to be involved,” she says.

“There is amazing support for Burnetts to continue operating as a garden and landscape centre and to be able to offer all kinds of extra community activities like Crop and Swap and live local music, such as we’ve done for the Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival.”

To the soundtrack of some of our best musicians, Com munity In The Quarry will of fer a day of events including interactive arts and creative classes, history talks about the Quarry from the Carson family, local food and home grown produce, and even free chainsaw sharpening.

Naturally, there will also be gardening talks, with speak ers including Gardening Australia’s Clarence Slocklee and TAFE’s well known ABC

contributor, John Gabriele.

The day has the support of many community groups, including the Kiama Kubes, Kiama Art Society, Kiama Lions, Kiama Garden Club, Illawarra Rose Society, Kiama Crop & Swap and the Kiama Men’s Shed.

“So many community groups, businesses and indi viduals have put their hands right up high to be part of the day and there’s a real sense of positive community spirit,” says Elizabeth.

“There’ll be something for

everyone and plenty of food and live music to make a whole day of it.”

The event is being held on the Saturday before Council will meet to consider a Re scission Motion to overturn the decision to seek an EOI for the site, which has been leased by the local gardening and landscape supply compa ny for 10 years.

Saturday 15 October, 9.30-4pm, Burnetts on Barney, Barney St. Free entry, but some classes will require booking.

New planning forum

Council is introducing quar terly Planning & Develop ment Forums to keep the community up to date on issues, with the first of them scheduled for the end of October.

“The forums are being held to inform the community about changes to the plan ning system, DA process etc,” says Director Environmental Services, Jessica Rippon. “Council will also continue

to engage directly on a vari ety of specific projects; this is just an additional opportunity to speak face-to-face with our residents and ratepayers and to seek feedback on all things planning.”

The inaugural forum will provide an update and discussion about a number of planning projects currently being developed and final ised.

These include strategic

planning initiatives, whose updated status was provided to the September Meeting of Council.

Our summary of that up date is provided on page 4.

26 October, Jamberoo School of Arts, 5:30-7pm

Focus on local housing affordability

The September Meeting of the Kiama Central Pre cinct included a session focused on the need for more affordable housing, chaired by Kiama resident and urban planner, Dr Tony Gilmour.

In his overview, ahead of a panel discussion, he highlighted facts that put the Kiama situation into a bigger perspective.

This is our summary:

Housing affordability v affordable housing

Housing affordability is the relationship between housing costs (whether buying or rent ing) and household income.

People are said to be in ‘housing stress’ if they are paying more than 30% of income on housing costs.

Affordable housing is a term used for various schemes subsidised or supported by all three levels of government to help low to medium income households (with a recent par ticular emphasis on essential workers) so they are not in housing stress.

These schemes includ ed social rental housing, affordable rental housing and lower cost home ownership.

House prices and income When you compare medi an house price to median household income, it is much

harder to access home own ership in Kiama (16.6x) than it is in Sydney (15.3x), San Francisco (11.8x) or even London (8x).

In 2021, median house hold income in our LGA was the same as for NSW ($95,000pa), but 27% of households had income over $156,000 pa, and 14.5% below $34,000.

Holiday houses

In the 2021 census, 16.5% of homes were unoccupied in Kiama. While figures are hard to come by, it would seem that at least 6% of all homes in the LGA are leased out as short term rentals.

As a warning of what could happen, 28% of properties in the Byron Bay postcode are believed to be short term rentals, which has led to Bryon proposing to reduce its day limit to 90 out of 365 (currently 180 days).

Long term rental costs House rentals in the Kiama LGA are up 18% since the pandemic, with units now $525 per week and houses $650 pw (Aug 2022).

The issue is compounded by a very low vacancy rate of 0.78%, with the number of rental bonds down by almost 10% from 2017 to 2022.

The household income needed to rent in Kiama with

no housing stress $112,000 (house) or $91,000 (unit), meaning people we need to work in the area can’t afford to live here.

Social housing

In 1964, the Kiama LGA had 56 social housing options. In 2021, there were 67.

This is despite the total number of homes increasing from 1,709 to 10,311 in that time.

Social housing now makes up just 0.64% of the LGA’s housing mix, compared to 4.16% for NSW, 6.45% for Shellharbour and 3.66% for Shoalhaven. As an interna tional comparison, 3.75% of Australia’s housing mix is social housing, while it is 17% in the UK and 35% in The Netherlands.

Opportunities

• Local leadership via hous ing and affordable housing strategies

• Council land being earmarked for affordable housing

• Encourage smaller and less expensive new homes

• Use the planning system, by working with Greater Cities Commission

• Restrict short stay rentals

• Ensure we gain local benefit from national and state affordable housing programs.

Latest timetable for strategic planning

The September Meeting gave an update of Council’s strategic planning sched ule, with the always am bitious timeframes being extended for most projects given resource and other constraints. This is our summary of the varioius initiatives:

Housing Strategy

It is now proposed to com plete the Housing Strategy (which was originally expect ed to be out on exhibition by now) by June 2023.

This project has been delayed by the suspension of the Housing Reference Group, when councillors objected to developers being included. This led to a sus pension of most committees, while a standard policy was devised (see page 1).

The draft Committee Policy & Framework recommends forming a Connected & Live able Community Advisory Committee. Committees like this could establish project references groups, and as such the Connected & Live able Community Advisory Committee could form a Local Housing Reference Group to provide housing specific expert advice.

In the interim, housing supply feasibility analysis has been undertaken by a consultant and the results of this will be discussed at the Forum (see page 3).

Updated Development Contribution Plans

Work on the new Develop ment Contribution Plans, which rely on forecasts for likely increases in demand on infrastructure, will rely on this Housing Strategy being completed (June 2023), along with the currently be ing worked on Kiama Open Space & Recreation Strategy

and the completed Kiama Traffic and Parking Study.

The Employment Lands Strategy

This key priority of the 2020 Local Strategic Planning Statement is now not ex pected to be completed until December 2023.

The Vegetation Study

Close to completion, this is expected to be included in the December business pa per. It will enable the updat ing of the existing Bushfire Prone Land Map, to ensure land use planning decisions are made using current data. Heritage and Town Centres

With the findings of the Kiama Heritage Review endorsed, and the necessary changes to the LEP in prog ress, work is now underway on the Jamberoo Heritage Review, following input from the Kiama & District Histori cal Society.

A report for public exhibi tion is expected to go to the December Council Meeting.

In Gerringong, both a Heritage Review and a Town Centre Study are about to commence, once a consul tant is appointed, with fund ing provided in the 2022/3

budget.

Rural land use strategy

With the Department of Pri mary Industries now unlikely to complete its Agricultural Lands Mapping project, Kiama has budgeted to com plete its own Rural Landuse Strategy by June 2023.

This work is needed to ensure that agricultural lands are appropriately zoned.

LSPS Review

The later than usual adoption of the Community Strategic Plan, due to the postponed election, has delayed the review of the Local Strategic Planning Statement Review.

It will now be conducted in conjunction with the Local Housing Strategy, as some elements will be transferred to it.

Character Studies

Budgetary and operational constraints have meant this work has not yet been done.

It is envisaged this work will now be incorporated into the envisaged Scenic Manage ment Guidelines project.

Council’s first Planning & Development Forum is being held to discuss the above and more (see page 3)

Gathering for and by young adults

An event that gives young adults the opportunity to socialise with others without any pressure is coming to Kiama by the Illawarra Cen tre for Enablement’s (ICFE) Youth Council.

The idea for the ‘Grill & Chill’ event to be held later this month surfaced from a survey conducted by the Youth Council during COVID lock downs in 2021.

“From the 134 responses to the survey, the overwhelm ing response was that youth wanted a space to connect because COVID had taken all of those situations away,” Youth Council member Julia Messore says.

“Socialising is how young

adults and youth relieve stress and there wasn’t enough happening in Kiama and the Illawarra to allow this to happen.

“We just want to create a safe space for young people to come together and have some fun.”

The event will have live music, a sausage sizzle, and several indoor and outdoor activities, with the hopes there will be a nice intimate group, so people won’t feel overwhelmed by coming.

The activities include a variety of soccer, football, volleyball and potentially tug of war and happy sack, with card and inflatable games inside on offer for those who

don’t want to do physical activity.

The Youth Council’s event is being sponsored by Maku ta Foundation, a charity that raises funds for suicide pre vention initiatives for youth.

With the purpose of the Youth Council to give back to the youth, their goal is to hold more events like this in the future to continue to help the young adults connect.

Saturday 22 October, Kiama Surf Life Saving Club, from 11-3 pm.

Register at YouthGrillandChill. eventbrite.com.au or the ICFE website.

by Cassandra Zaucer

Director Environmental Services, Jessica Rippon, with Manager Strategic Planning, Edward Paterson

Opera returns to the Jamberoo Valley

It is 25 years since the first Jamberoo CWA Opera in the Valley, and hopes are high that its return this year will be the best one yet.

“We have been unable to hold our annual fund raiser since 2019 due to COVID,” says the CWA’s Cathy Del haas.

“It’s great to be able to bring it back in the CWA’s Centenary Year.

“This year’s concert is shaping up to be just as sen sational as in the past.”

She’s delighted that Mae stro Glenn Amer will again be the musical director and pianist on the night, given his international standing and work with Opera Australia.

This year’s singers will be:

• Soprano Mary-Jean O’Doherty, the first prize winner in the 2013 Paris Opera Awards. She won the ABC Symphony Australia Young Vocalist Award and was the first recipient of the Austra lian International Opera Award.

• Mezzo-Soprano Johanna Knoechel, a young singer who completed BMus Studies in Classical Sing ing at the Sydney Con servatorium of Music and

was awarded an AMusA with Distinc tion

• Italian Lyrico Spinto Tenor Lorenzo Rositano, who holds a masters in Opera and has appeared as Principal Tenor in many opera and operetta roles. He is one of The Australian Tenors who have performed extensive ly with Opera Australia at home and abroad.

• Baritone Daniel Macey, who since graduating from the Sydney Conser vatorium with an Ad vanced Diploma of Opera has been singing in the chorus for Opera Australia since 2015 and made his debut in 2020 as Dancaire in Carmen at the Sydney Opera House.

“We will be continuing with our popular format of the tickets including wine and cheese at interval and a tradi tional CWA supper after the performance where you

Mary-Jean O’Doherty has sung with the Welsh National Opera, the Prague State Opera, the Armenian State Opera and the English National Opera, amongst others. She also was part of the group representing Armenia in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.

can mingle with the artists,” says Cathy.

“Tickets always sell quickly so get in early to ensure you get seats.”

Saturday 5 November, Jamberoo School of Arts, 8pm.

Tickets $60 on sale now at Elders Jamberoo t 4236 0891

Kiama Lions marks two milestones

Australia’s largest service club organisation, Lions Australia, has reached its 75th milestone. Starting from one Lions Club in Lismore, there are now over 30,000 members in more than 1,300 clubs across Australia.

The Kiama Lions Club was formed in 1969 and has a proud history of helping the community through many projects. One of their initiatives, the Cancer Care Trust Fund, is also celebrating a milestone – supporting local cancer sufferers and their carers for 25 years.

Chairman of the Fund, Gerry Mclnerney, says the Fund does practical things like, “Pay for palliative care medicines, financially help families who need to travel to and from Sydney hospitals for treatment, and support people who may be strug gling mentally.

“I get thank you letters on an ongoing basis and we of ten get approached by people telling us how important our contribution was.”

The work Kiama Lions does for the community be gan with helping raise money for the Meals on Wheels Van in 1971, and over the last 50

years they have done a lot more including the innova tive Lions Carers Cottage.

Every year since Wollon gong Lions Club sponsored the foundation of Kiama Lions, they have continually raised and donated money to the Surf Life Saving Clubs and Kiama Pre-School and Primary School, as well as foundations including the Royal Blind Society, Smile Vietnam Foundation Project, Humour Foundation, Spinal Injury Equipment Trust and more.

The Club has also been involved with helping communities that suffered

Lions members in their natural environment

from natural disasters, such as cyclones, bushfires and tsunamis overseas.

They have raised money for extra beds in Blue Haven and hospitals, and have donated educational books to Sri Lanka and Zambia, as well as children’s books to Wollongong Hospital.

The Club also takes part in annual projects including Driver Reviver, Bunnings bar beques, Clean Up Australia, and their Return and Earn Initiative that contributes to several charities.

by Cassandra Zaucer

Detox & Cleanse

WILD ABOUT HEALTH

‘Spring has sprung’ as the saying goes and with that comes new growth and new beginnings

This winter has been especially arduous on us all, with people being more susceptible to the bugs flying around than ever experienced before Let’s be honest, this winter was tough!

But let’s pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and hit the reset button it’s time to detox & cleanse

Why Detox? You ask A famous phrase coined by a Roman poet 'A healthy mind, in a healthy body' recognises that lifestyle choices and diet are significant factors in our ability to ‘live long and prosper’ The importance of maintaining a healthy body is especially relevant today, just so we can keep up with the busy and fast paced lifestyles we have become accustomed to.

A detox is designed to revitalise the body systems and remove various toxins which have built up through exposure to poor diet, external pollutants, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes or vaping, workplace chemicals, heavy metals and just living in the 21st century

Cleansing the body both inside and out is essential for our overall health and while the body generally works very well at coping with our ‘excesses’, like any piece of fine engineering should there are times when ‘preventive maintenance’ is necessary to avoid a serious breakdown! Wild Clinic is located within Stockland Shellharbour, bookings made through store

A simple way to help breast cancer patients

The Simple Gift of a Bag initiative started eight years ago when Lauri Fettell and her family rallied together to form the group after Lauri received a hand-made carry ing pouch for her drainage bag during her breast cancer journey.

“Lauri’s plan for the future was to send out breast can cer surgery drainage bags as a gift to help and support so many going through very sim ilar journeys,” says member, Sandra Williams.

The volunteer group are marking October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month by holding their third sewing, cutting and making day of drainage bags for breast cancer surgery pa tients in post operative care.

Sandra is inviting everyone to come along and help this year with plenty to do, even if

you don’t sew, but urges peo ple who are unwell to refrain from attending.

The event will be held at Kiama Downs Surf Club, and all bags made will be donated to hospitals across Australia.

“There is folding and cut ting out the bags before they are sewn, and ironing before they are packed. We also add a small card to each bag for the patients, so there is ribbon cutting and attaching to the cards to be done. Gen eral help is always welcome,” Sandra says.

The group has now donated over 19,600 bags and Sandra thanks all the volunteers who helped make this happen, and the Surf Club for their support.

“It is with such wonderful support that we are able to continue to make and send out the drainage bags to those in need,” she says.

15 Oct, 9.30-4pm.

KDSLSC. If you are interested in attending contact Sandra at sly.sis@bigpond.com.

by Cassandra Zaucer

Kiama

CMRI Quilt Show celebrates 30 years

After two years forced absence, CMRI Gerringong’s Quilt & Craft Show is back to celebrate its 30th year.

Since 1959 this extraor dinary group of women, recognised as the Kiama Community Group of the Year in 2020, have raised over $2.12 million and over the years the Quilt Show has become their major annual fundraiser.

All of the money raised has gone to funding ground breaking research by the Children’s Medical Research Institute to help the one in 20 children worldwide born with a congenital abnormality or genetic disease.

Already recognised as the major quilt show in the area, the number of entries this year are expected to be the most ever. (Entries close 14 October – contact Rhonda via rbailey1@outlook.com)

“Visitors are always im pressed with the variety of quilts and wall hangings on display,” says CMRI Gerrin gong’s Lorraine Peade.

This year they will include the ABC Landline Quilt of Memories featuring 364 squares reflecting life on the land. Measuring 4.5

metres by 2 metres, the quilt consists of squares sewn onto cotton backing made by CWA and other quilting groups and individuals Australia-wide to mark the 30th anniversary of the ABC programme.

Over the years, the Quilt Show has become the place for people in the know to stock up on gifts for Christ mas, all made by CMRI’s Monday Sewing Group.

“The CMRI Craft Stall will be bigger than past years as the Monday Sewing Group has been stockpiling their best work over the past two years,” says Lorraine.

“There will also be our always popular stall selling cakes, sweets and slices made by CMRI members.

“Refreshments including sandwiches and slice will be on sale, so you can sit down, relax and have a cuppa while you are there.

“There will also be a range of stalls offering quilting supplies, fabric, jewellery and second hand books.”

Another traditional fund raiser is the Quilt Show Raf fle, this year a beautiful quilt made by Elizabeth Dubbelde, Mary Lawler and Suzanne St Clare, which will be drawn on the Sunday afternoon.

Christmas cakes made by members will not be avail able at the Quilt Show this year, with a Christmas Cake Stall being held in Fern St on Saturday 3 December.

Fri 21 and Sat 22 Oct, 10-4pm, and Sun 23 Oct, 10-2pm, Gerringong Town Hall. Entry $5.

Raffle tickets on sale at the IGA 6, 7, 14 and 15 Oct and at the door.

Cup Day fun

Hot on the heels of the Quilt Show is CMRI’s traditional Melbourne Cup Lunch at the Gerroa Boat Fisherman’s Club.

Cost is $55 and includes a glass of bubbles, canapes, lunch, tea/coffee and slice.

There will be live cover age of the Cup, sweeps and a raffle, TAB run and drinks at bar prices.

There is always hotly con tested competition for the Best Dressed Female and Male prizes, so dress up!

Enquiries to Sue on 0421 341 509 or buy tickets at www.trybooking.com/CCQDD

Buy a box of RFS mangoes

The perfect chance to pick up fresh mangoes, straight from the farm, while helping a good cause is back with the Gerringong RFS Mango Fundraiser.

After two years missed due to COVID, locals can now order a tray of mangoes with all profits going straight to the Gerringong RFS.

Started five years ago, Commander Andrew Downes says in the past there has been many happy customers with the RFS raising over $800.

“The money allows us to buy additional things to help us do our job for the bri gade,” Mr Downes says.

The Bowen Special

mangoes will come directly to the RFS from the North Queensland farm, ready to be picked up late November (specific dates to come).

Mr Downes believes the fundraiser will be popular this year with many trays already sold.

“Mangoes are always popular, everyone loves fresh mangoes especially as we head into summer,” he says.

The 7kg trays are $25 each, orders close 19 October.

To find out how to order, email gerringongrfb@ outlook.com

by Cassandra Zaucer

The donated quilt with two of its makers, Suzanne St Clare and Elizabeth Dubbelde (absent Mary Lawler).

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Honouring

cricket history

One policy for commercial waterway use

Like the uniform policy it re cently developed for markets in the area, Council is now developing a new policy to guide the commercial use of our rivers and beaches for recreational activities.

The one policy will include not only the surf schools operating at Gerroa but also any other activities conducted elsewhere, such as stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, setting out the number of operators allowed in approved locations and the maximum number of partic ipants allowed per operator and/or activity.

As a member of the Gerrin gong Cricket Club (GCC), Clive Emery was handed a blazer when the team won their first premiership after the Kiama and District Crick et competition was re-estab lished in 1946.

Now Mark Emery – who enjoys his work as an honor ary historian for the GCC to honour his father, Clive – has handed the blazer over to the Club.

“My father and his broth ers loved the Gerringong Cricket Club, and cricket in

general, so much that I think he would be proud to know that the blazer has found a permanent home there,” Mark says.

The 1946-7 blazer has been framed by the Club and will be displayed in their clubhouse on the Gerry Emrey Oval, a cricket ground that has been named after Clive’s brother, Edgar, who was known as Gerry. Their third brother, Ivor, was also a great cricket player from the Gerringong district.

“It is massive for the GCC

because that team held the majority of the legends of the Club,” Club President Brad Speering says.

The blazer will hang alongside a 1964-5 premier ship blazer, donated by Ross Miller.

“They are from the only two premierships that our Club has won and now we have both of them on the wall,” Brad says.

by Cassandra Zaucer

“The new policy will create consistency and give businesses clear guidelines for what is allowed and how to obtain a licence to operate commercial recreational water-based activities in our area,” says a Council spokes person.

While the policy is needed as part of the new Crown Land Plan of Management process, its timing has come about because of the need to review the existing surf schools licences.

In addition to meetings being held with resident and community groups and existing commercial opera tors, Council has launched a survey on its website until 30 October to get wider input.

Mark Emery and sister Merelyn Pearce handing the blazer over to Brad Speering

Running for NSW

After three years off due to an injury, Kiama’s 13 year old Coco Butch er has come back stron ger than ever, earning a spot to run for NSW in the 2022 Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships.

Coco and her father, Chick, had a goal for Coco to make it to the State, but with a second place win she is one of two chosen to head to the Australian Champi onships in Adelaide to compete in the Under 14 100 metre.

“To surpass that goal has been really amaz ing for her. A lot of the other girls compete all year round, but for Coco to just go back, get through to the finals and place, it is a great outcome,” Chick says.

One of Coco’s last com petitions was in the 2019 Primary Athletics Champion ships held in Darwin where she placed third in the 100 metre, second in relay, and fifth in the 200 metre.

With both excitement and

nerves running through Coco ahead of the Championships, she and her family have a jam-packed few months ahead of them as Coco is involved in another sport.

“Coco has the Australian Oztag Championships in two weeks’ time in Coffs Harbour, then NSW City vs Country Oztag two weeks after that, with training in Canberra, then a month later we are off to Adelaide,” Chick says.

Since Coco started athlet

ics at eight years old, her end goal has been to continue running at state finals until 16, and then move across to the National Women’s Rugby League.

The Championships begin on 9 December.

by Cassandra Zaucer

40 years of ice cream

Kiama’s Original Ice Cream ery has celebrated scooping the sweet treat for locals and tourists on Terralong Street since 1982.

They held two days of fun with a ‘kids party vibe’ on the long weekend, to thank cus tomers, staff and the wider community for supporting the shop.

First opened as The Great Australian Ice Creamery, Geoff and Loris Kelton took over after nine years and moved the shop away from the franchise and created the business as it stands as today.

Geoff and Loris handed the scoops over to Susie Kipa and Colin Child 22 years ago. Together, they formed a family business with their three daughters, passing the business over to them two years ago.

When Susie took over, she says Geoff told her there were three things she must remember: never forget your identity, you are an ice cream shop; always have good lighting; and never be complacent.

“I have remembered those words all these years and I think that advice still stands today,” Susie says.

Over the years, Susie has

enjoyed staffing the shop with young local kids and seeing the energy they would bring into the workplace.

“We help promote the com munity by having the young ones in the workplace and providing them a platform for good work ethics. It is here where their confidence grows, their ability to relate to people gets better and they gain a sense of indepen dence,” Susie says.

Keita Child, who runs the business with sisters Olivia and Tatum, says, “Our staff have gone on to do amaz ing things – some lawyers and others in the army – all starting from a local ice creamery.”

Jamberoo Mt Road

from page 1

“Having Jamberoo Moun tain Road closed is a major inconvenience for many peo ple, and I can assure them we have been wasting no time working on this project.

“As with the last repairs, it is important to spend time getting the investigations done and design right, oth erwise we’ll be literally back at the drawing board if the repairs fail.”

Kiama Council is again to lobby for the road to

be classified a State road, rather than left as a Council responsibility as a Regional road, given its significance as an east/west corridor. An application made for this in 2020 was not successful, and no application was lodged in the 2021 round.

The closure of the road has had a major impact on some Jamberoo businesses, who are losing out on the tourist and commuter trade.

The three sisters are filled with ideas on what to do next with the shop, including being more involved with the community through events and fundraising.

They are also looking into refurbishing the shop, but will insist on keeping some of the original pieces that hold cherished memories for everyone.

“We had someone come in and tell us he used to come here 30 years ago with his family and now brings his kids and their kids. People have a lot of holiday and fam ily memories attached to the shop which is really special,” she says.

by Cassandra Zaucer

Committees

from page 1 tions not currently operating under the precinct system –ie the Jamberoo Valley Rate payers & Residents Associa tion, Minnamurra Progress Association and KAPA – will not be recognised under the new system, and are encour aged to become precincts.

Feedback on the draft policies and guidelines are welcome via the ‘Have your say’ page of Council’s website from 10 October to 14 November.

MONDAY

THURSDAY

Flower power

As the warmer weather kicks in, Kiama’s floral displays delight locals and visitors alike. We spoke to two of Kiama Council’s gardeners, Jason Pappas and Ben Johnson, about how they keep Kiama in bloom.

and take them out between March and May. Our winter annuals are planted in mid-May to early June.

What do you enjoy about your job?

Jason: I started at Kiama Council in 2017 after finishing high school and my Cert III in Horticulture. I like the early starts and being outside on a nice day.

Ben: I’ve been here two years.

Kiama is such a nice place to work, the people are nice too. It’s a great community and we always get good feedback on the gardens.

What are some of the challenges?

Ben: Although it’s out of our control –it’s challenging when there’s difficult weather and a lot of rain.

Jason: In terms of the plants, dealing with diseases and pests on the annuals is a challenge.

Any tips for home gardeners?

What's your story?

Kiama and Gerringong Libraries are excited to invite you to a series of workshops with four popular local authors: Clayton Zane Comber, Meredith Jaffè, Kathe Forsyth and Jonica Newby.

workshops are designed to inspire and motivate your writing journey during November’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

materials,

and coffee are

Celebrating local citizens and groups

Nominations are now open for Kiama Council’s Australia Day Awards 2023.

What flowers will we see in central Kiama this season?

Jason: We’ll have the usual summer display in central Kiama, which is petunias in deep purples. reds, pinks and blues (variety: ‘high society’). As well as salvia ‘blaze of fire’.

The winter display of snapdragons have been amazing this SeptemberOctober. They’ve flowered late, but beautifully. However we’ll be taking them out this week to ensure the displays will be in full bloom and looking great over the Christmas holiday season.

Next summer, I’m considering changing it up a bit by adding some yellow marigolds to the mix, and maybe blue salvia.

What does your typical day involve? We work 6.15am to 3.30pm and our days are spent planting, watering, looking after the soil (adding mulch or compost) and tending the various garden beds around town.

How do you get the annuals looking so good each year?

Jason: There’s several steps – first we pull out the previous plantings, turn the soil over and add mushroom compost for two to three weeks. Then we plant the next annuals. Once the flowers are in, we water every two or three days, depending on the weather.

When do you plant?

For our summer annuals, we plant mid-October or early November,

It’s important to have a good understanding of your soil and surroundings. Some plants only work in certain areas and with certain types of soil.

For example, some plants don’t like salt, some won’t tolerate frost. It’s also really important to look after your soil with mulch, compost and the right nutrients. Finally – prune and deadhead at the right time to ensure your plants look their best. What other flowers can people enjoy in the area?

As well as the eye-catching displays in central Kiama, this year our Parks & Gardens team will create floral displays in Jamberoo CBD.

The roses along Manning Street have also been popular, and they have benefited from the addition of some of our own OK Compost, created from our FOGO collection. (register below for our composting workshop). We also work with natives, particularly in the garden outside the Administration Centre.

There’s some great community gardens in our area – for example in Gerringong and Minnamurra –our Municipality boasts some very talented, creative and committed gardeners!

Our next free home composting workshop is on Wednesday 2 November, 9am-12pm. Places are limited and bookings are essential: www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/HomeComposting-Workshop

We’re encouraging people to nominate someone they know who has made a positive contribution for an award.

“Our Australia Day Awards are a chance to celebrate those people, their stories, their achievements, and the part they play in our community, no matter how large or small,” said Kiama Mayor Neil Reilly.

The Australia Day Awards are for:

• Australia Day Citizen Award Australia Day Young Citizen Award (24 years or under)

• Australia Day Senior Citizen of the Year (65 years or over)

• Community Group of the Year

Nominate your local hero at: www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/ australiaday

Beach patrols begin

Council lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers have begun their patrol season at Surf Beach (7 days per week), Jones and Werri Beaches (weekends).

Beach patrols will increase when summer lifeguards begin work on 19 December.

Kiama Council’s Supervising Beach Lifeguard Craig Bowley (pictured right) said no matter your swimming skills and experience, the same rule applies to everyone: no flags means no swimming.

“We have some of the most beautiful beaches on the South Coast but we also have some of the most dangerous,” Craig said.

“This includes South Bombo Beach, which is one of our most unsafe stretches of the coast.”

Kiama Council, in partnership with Surf Lifesaving NSW and the NSW Government, are providing an unprecedented level of water safety measures this patrol season. This includes new Emergency Relay Beacons (ERBs) at drowning black spots: South Bombo Beach, Kendalls Beach and Blowhole Point.

Go paperless

Jason Pappas and Ben Johnson

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The time has come for bold and decisive action. I have spent a good part of the past 10 months as Mayor receiv ing data and the undeniable conclusion is: as a council, we need to change. It’s time to make difficult choices and be responsible.

We have been more open with our community this year than ever. I appreciate that transparency and I know the community value this as well. It’s part of being the change we need to see.

As anyone who has been following our story will know by now, we are in crisis. We need $30 to $40 million dol lars in the next two years to service our loan repayments and that won’t come without some tough choices.

We have had written warn ings from the Minister for Local Government, statutory committees and our own Finance Advisory Commit tee on this. They all tell us that we need to change and correct our course.

Blue Haven’s Residen

tial Aged Care Facility is currently running at a loss of $75-$119 per bed per day, whereas the average for the industry is only a $24 loss.

We have 134 beds and that means yesterday we lost $16,000, today we’ll lose $16,000 and tomorrow as well and so on and so on.

If we continue running at this level of loss, we will need to severely cut council ser vices and considerably raise rates. That would be nuts.

It’s time for us to re-exam ine our core function, which is as a local council.

To this end, I will be calling for an Extraordinary Meeting to be held next week on 13 October. At the meeting, I will seek to rescind the previous motion from our September Ordinary Meeting (item 20.1) which talked about our cash flow, the long- term financial position of Council, Blue Haven and the Barney Street Quarry.

As well as seeking to rescind that motion, I will be propos ing an alternate motion.

This will be a balanced and sustainable approach, one which demands compromise, a little give from everyone. Compromise is necessary to enact the sort of strategic advantages that will lead to real improvements for the whole community.

Here is the compromise I’ll

be putting to council:

1. The sale of the entire lot of Blue Haven Bonaira, ensuring uninterrupted operations of the Inde pendent Living Units and Residential Age Care Facility.

2. Following the completion of the business case and valuations we retain Blue Haven Terralong and seek the highest levels of res idents’ engagement with any future use.

The time to act is now, while we still control our destiny. Any delay now could be fatal to our council and our future.

I’ll be addressing these ini tiatives with the Minister for Local Government, seeking her assent for the motion to be put. This bold motion will naturally require a majority of councillors’ support to be adopted.

None of this has been easy, we are making big decisions and everyone has had to accept some degree of com promise. But we all know it’s time to change.

To continue to deliver the local government services you need, want and expect, we must return our full focus to our core business. The end result will be the best outcome for Kiama Coun cil, our community and the residents, families and staff of Blue Haven.

family reunion

Mark and Bernadette Con don are inviting all descen dants and relatives of James and Mary (nee Murphy) Con don to come along to their family reunion in Jamberoo, to mark 200 years in the Illawarra.

James, convicted of insur rection, was transported and arrived in Australia early November in 1822.

It was in the early 1850s when he and his wife, Mary, settled down with a dairy farm on Stoney Creek in Jamberoo, now known as Croom. They had 11 chil dren, who spent much of the 1800s in Jamberoo, Albion Park and Kangaroo Valley.

A direct descendant, Mark owns one acre of that origi nal farm, which was passed on from his father.

There are currently two families, derived from James and Mary, who are still dairy farmers in Gerringong, and Mark says they will be com ing to the reunion.

Today, Mark believes there are now thousands of prog enies that have derived from James and Mary.

“Because of the prolific birth rate, being Irish Cath olics, it has been estimated that there are about 5,000 progenies, but having re searched it further, I believe it is more like 10,000,” Mark says.

SPECIALISING

TOURS, DAY TRIPS

DAY TRIPS

St Marys Cathedral, Sydney

Thursday 20 October - $95

Includes light morning tea, guide tour of the main Cathedral & Cathedral Crypt, lunch at Souths Juniors Club and return coach transport. Please note: walking involved

Sydney Opera House Tour

Monday 14 November - $125

Includes light morning tea, guide tour of Sydney Opera House, lunch at Souths Juniors Club and return coach transport.

note: walking involved

Parklea Markets

Saturday 26 November - $85

Includes meet & greet with light morning tea upon arrival, Parklea Markets shop ping bag, shopping time at the markets

return coach transport.

THEATRE SHOWS

EXTENDED TOUR Yarrawonga & Murray River Towns

“As the community in Jam beroo and Albion Park were isolated dairy farmers, most of the families intermarried. Even today, I am still discov ering people I am related to, just because of the amount of intermarriage that happened in the family.”

Mark and Bernadette are organising a two day reunion, sponsored by Jam beroo Valley Milk, on 12 and 13 November.

Some of the activities include Mass at St Matthew’s Church, followed by a tour of the graveyard where all early generations were buried. Lunch and dinner are booked with live music, and presentations with awards and raffles are planned.

Mark hopes donations will be made to be put towards the restoration of James and Mary’s headstones.

The event starts with reg istrations from 12.3 pm at Jamberoo School of Arts on the Saturday.

RSVP to condonreunion@ gmail.com by 31 October.

by Cassandra Zaucer

Oldest residents celebrated

What better way to mark the International Day of Older Persons than getting our oldest locals together for one big celebration.

About 40 people, cente narians and those within a decade of the milestone, came to the party organised by Council with friends and family members.

They were entertained by live music, enjoyed an after noon tea including a cake donated by Parfait Patisserie, and received hand-made cards from the children at Create Imagine Learn Childcare Centre in Kiama Downs.

The Bugle took the oppor tunity to chat with people about their lives and times as they sat around the tables and enjoyed the event, which was attended by the Mayor, councillors, council staff and the local MPs, Fiona Phillips and Gareth Ward.

Bev Sherwood, who recent ly celebrated her birthday, was eating the cake she had the honour of cutting when she exclaimed, “I’m 102 and I’m having a good time!”

She misses her husband, who she explains as a ‘wonderful man’, and often remembers the time she re jected his first offer to dance and how they used to laugh at the memory together.

101 year old Alvin Manning

and his wife Valerie visited Blue Haven for the celebra tion. They recalled that while Alvin would spend his time volunteering with Bankstown Rural Fire Service, Valerie was busy doing all kinds of dancing, including ballroom and Scottish country danc ing.

Valerie now enjoys looking nice with her pink hair and reminisces on the ‘fabulous time’ when she was first married to a light keeper and would live in various lighthouses along the NSW coast.

A local for over 40 years, Iris Champion, who will cele brate her 95th birthday next week, once enjoyed knitting,

sewing and tapestry.

“You name it, I’ve done it,” she insists. She now does crocheting and says she misses her well-working knees and eyes.

Blue Haven resident, Thelma Allman, admitted she came in on accident while on a walk. It seems Thelma hasn’t gotten any less active as she grew older with her usual walk down to the beach and back.

“I had to ride my bike about 8 kilometres to a little coun try school every day. I am sure that is why I have strong legs, I don’t have a stick or anything,” she says.

by Cassandra Zaucer

Record rain

To 30 September Kiama has received 101 inches (2,523mm) of rain in 2022.

This compares to a 20 year average of 39.4 inches (977mm).

Rain has already fallen on 142 days compared with the 20 year average of 108 days.

Sydney is experiencing its second wettest year on record, indicating it must be a local record. To date in 2022 Sydney has received 84 inches (2,112mm), behind the 1950 record of 87 inches (2,194mm).

by Noel Edgell

Nominate someone for local recognition

Nominations are open for Kiama Council’s annual Australia Day Awards, which celebrate the achievements and contributions of people and groups within our com munity.

Residents of the Kiama LGA with an outstanding and ongoing record of personal and community achieve ments are eligible to be nom inated for the Citizen, Senior Citizen (65 years or over), Young Citizen (24 years or under), or Community Group of the Year.

If you’re unsure on who to nominate, take inspiration from last year’s winners.

Citizen of the Year 2022, Maria Baden, was nominated for her humanitarian work and efforts in inviting vul nerable migrant women and their families to her Gerrin gong farm.

The 2022 Senior Citizen of the Year went to Helen Mc Dermott, for her many years of community work in her leadership roles at Ss Peter and Paul, and St Mary Star of the Sea, and especially her contribution to the Gerrin gong & District Historical Society.

Kiama High School stu dent, Lara Farrell, received the Young Citizen Award as a member of the Makuta advi sory board, a group that was recognised for its work in the 2021 Australia Day Awards.

Last year the Community Group of the Year Award went to WIRES Illawarra for their efforts in rescuing and sheltering native wildlife in the 2019/20 bushfire.

Nominations close 30 October at www.kiama.nsw.gov.au

by Cassandra Zaucer

Hay fever and Itchy Eyes

Spring is lovely, but it is also the allergy season. If your eyes have become itchy recently, it could be hay fever affecting your eyes, which is called allergic conjunctivitis.

Your first step is a trip to your optometrist, who can discuss the following treatment options with you:

• cold packs

• lubricating drops

• antihistamine drops

• anti-inflammatory eye drops

• oral antihistamines - your pharmacist can help with a recommendation.

If your child has this problem, it is important they don’t rub their eyes. We have some great ways to reduce the effects of pollen and avoid hay fever.

Read more in the blog section of our website - www.eyeq.com.au

Jean Anderson

EyeQ Optometrists

124 Terralong St, Kiama 4232 2610

Convenient online bookings eyeq.com.au

STAN CRAPP FUNERALS

Stan Crapp Funerals, supporting the community for over 50 years

At Folk By The Sea

Far left: Jeannie and Geoff Thomson from Dapto Middle left: Cathy and Joe Ahearn of Kiama

Left: Illawarra Folk Festival President Russell Hannah and musician Johnny Spillane at Folk By The Sea

Performer Daniel J Townsend, from Hobart, warms up

Peter Moggach, Margaret Dowell and Max Osborne, all of Kiama

Folk By The Sea organisers Judy Cork and Robbie Jackson

John Littrich of The Water Runners with wife Jane and James Turk

Box

mailing address

French queen

for the

DOWN

Eastern religion

bottomed

boat

of birthday holiday

used to be the

of singing marked by

1st reserve player

carrier

nest of an eagle built

in a tree or clifftop

club

when one churns

of a hat or top edge

an open container

rescue boat

ACROSS

Job Search

Local RL wins

My days in Athens carried on just the like city does. The city doesn’t seem to have a care for a tourist like me.

It isn’t unwelcoming but it doesn’t stop. There’s constant movement and whether you’re a visitor or a resident, if you don’t keep moving, you’ll be left behind, so I moved on.

The train tripped east of Athens and shuddered along the summer landscape. Olive, wine and cereal farms along with dead sunflowers stood up in the dry sun. The further out, the more mountainous and greener it became.

Four hours away is the town of Kalabaka, home to around 12,000 people, and sitting below the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Meteora.

The massive sandstone rocks stick out of the earth like a giant’s fingers reaching for the sky.

The name Meteora means ‘suspended in the air’ and is derived from the ancient Greek word meteoros mean ing ‘raised from the ground’.

On top of these tall stand ing pillars, twenty four mon asteries were built by monks from the fourteenth century onward as a place of safety from Turkish raiders.

Now only six monasteries are still there and tourists are allowed inside but the beauty is still evident and withstanding.

After kilometres of hik ing in the foothills below Meteora, following the ring road from the Holy Trinity Monastery, I reached The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron. It is the biggest and oldest of the six, and was founded by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite.

Despite the many others also wanting to get their mo ment with history, the monas tery was mind opening.

Life with a completely different trajectory went on within the walls, practicing Orthodox Eastern Christian ity and hoping that when all of this finished, god would

welcome them with open arms in a paradise probably much like Meteora itself.

The church inside made up for its width in height. Great ly coloured artworks covered the walls all the way to the roof, with many depicting Christ in an all-empowering light looking down upon his followers with an aura the size of the sun.

Saints and monks whose names I don’t remember (forgive my small amount of knowledge in this field) stood together in robes and looked forgivingly towards him.

Gold and silver lined the architraves and the light

fittings were so grand in their size, I can only come to the understanding that a major majority of the monastery’s funds were spent on giving this church a makeover.

I sat, pondered the view and thought about my home in Australia. Thousands of kilometres away yet I can I still feel it in my blood.

I know I’ll be home but it isn’t yet time to return.

Jack Wallner, Kiama

Grand final weekend saw the Reserve Grade Superoos bring home a grand final win for the first time since 1969, and the Under 18s Gerrin gong Lions wining the pre miership after an undefeated season.

The Superoos played the Gerringong Lions in what was a close game that ended with them winning 22 to 16.

“Gerringong was the benchmark of the competi tion right through, so to beat them in the grand final was very special, especially as we had come from fifth spot at the end of the season to winning the cup,” says Vice President of Jamberoo Rugby Leagues Club, David Hall.

“During those last four games we played in the semi-finals, we were behind by ten in one game and twelve in two of them, but we came back and won each of them. It was a big effort from

the guys to reverse scores like that.

“They showed a lot of resolve and bought the cup back to the ‘Roo after 53 years so it was really good.”

For the Under 18s Gerrin gong Lions, their win against the Milton Ulladulla Bull dogs, 30 to 6, marked the end of an undefeated season.

“With the majority of the team having been with the Club since Under 6s, and not losing a premiership since Under 10s, it was a great way to mark the end of an era.

“They will be back next year, but they will go into grades now, with a few of them potentially heading into representative roles in lower grades NRL. We are all sad that we are splitting up but that’s what happens when teams get to that stage,”

Coach John Ford says.

by Cassandra Zaucer

If you’d like to share your travel story, send your postcard to: news@ thebuglenewspaper.com.au

Photo: David Hall