Rosemary's joy of life

Rosemary Kariuki, OAM –the Australian Local Hero of 2021 – will be at the Kiama Farmers' Market next week selling and signing her recently published memoir, A Joyful Life

Rosemary’s story is remarkable. As a young girl in 1999, she fled sexual abuse, rape, family abuse and tribal violence in Kenya and arrived in Australia with no friends to a strange culture.

Within two decades, she received her national honours for her work helping migrants facing isolation, domestic violence, language barriers and financial distress.

Rosemary says, “I wrote this book to bring empowerment, solace, wisdom, hope, and information to refugees, asylum seekers and minorities all around the world, especially women, to show that even through your darkest and gloomy times, you can persevere and regain your internal strength many have within them.”

Easter fun

Following their successful Christmas Carnival, the Kiama Anglican Churches are hosting an Easter Fun Day for families with young children.

As well as an Easter egg hunt, there will be a donut van, arts and craft activities, a movie zone and kids’ fun zone.

Friend Maria Baden, a Gerringong farmer and Kiama’s Citizen of the Year in 2022, featured in the film about her work, Rosemary’s Way, which was partly about a trip to Gerringong and Kiama.

“I think the title of her memoir sums her up. No matter how bleak the situation is, Rosemary raises you up, she never loses that sense of the joy of life.”

Catch Rosemary near the Schottlander stall on Wednesday March 29, Kiama Farmers' Market, 3-6pm by Perrie Croshaw community events or art exhibitions or workshops, and is valid for five years.

The approval does not cover the use of existing sheds or the barn, of which their website describes as, “Originally a dairy shed established in the 1800's, since re-purposed into a decadent indoor wedding reception venue.”

“We are confident we have the operational plans in place to make things run smoothly,” says Hamish. “We have established good relationships with our neighbours and wish to maintain them.”

In addition to parking being provided on site, traffic control and a bus service will be available for larger events.

The property doesn’t qualify for the new agri-tourism program, which makes it easier for activities like these to be established, as it does not have the right farm classification.

“We encourage parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to come and engage with the kids. That was the best part of the Christmas Carnival," says Marc McLaren, a member of the church community and one of the organisers of the event.

Last year’s event brought in over 200 people but Marc is expecting pull in a much bigger crowd this time around.