The Bugle 3 March 2018
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 Jazz & Blues Festival:
Inside this issue
Time for us to play
New theatre company in town p2
Get an insight into Council’s new planning director p 3
Photo: Rebecca Rosconi Photography
Becky Guggisberg’s enthusiasm for community, art and life has always been infectious. Now President of the Kiama Jazz & Blues Club, she is bringing her energy to the job of making sure as many people as possible get involved with this year’s Festival, held on 9-11 March. Under her leadership, and with a new musical director, Dan Sullivan, this year’s Festival is looking to make people sit up and take notice. Then get involved. “This is our town’s celebration and everyone is welcome and encouraged to be part of it,” she says. “No tickets, no fences, just pure creative fun. “You can choose your own adventure – from intimate moments with accomplished musicians to whole venues dancing together; from park time picnic play with the family to very adult events in the evening. “Although you may not know too many of the bands yet – you’ll soon be fans. “Music is so healthy for us all, and the shared experience makes it even better. “Come along and be part of this community live music experience.” While sticking to the tried and true formula of presenting the music at numerous
Ways to celebrate International Womens Day p 6 venues around town, with no cover charge, the Festival has expanded to offer 90 performances at 40 venues, including clubs, pubs, cafes, restaurants, and even a church. “This year marks a new turn in the Festival’s growing reputation, with the reintroduction of international artists to the lineup,” says Dan Sullivan. “Headlining the festival will be Mississippi Blues legend Deak Harp, a powerhouse performer, taught by James Cotton of the Muddy Waters band and revered the world over. It’s great he’s
coming Kiama on his first ever Australian tour.” The hard working musician will be playing at the Leagues Club on Friday night, conducting a workshop for harmonica enthusiasts on Saturday morning (the only paid event of the Festival), playing at the Kiama Bowlo on Saturday night, and closing the concert in Hindmarsh Park on Sunday. Joining him on the program are a great range of Australian talent including acoustic bluesman Lloyd Spiegel, gypsy jazz duo Mimosa Duo, blues legends Wards Xpress
and orchestral virtuosos Andy Firth and Kevin Hunt. “I’m so excited about the variety of acts this year,” says Becky. “There’s everything from classic jazz and blues to modern fusion and exciting young local talent.” Becky is also championing a greater emphasis on art. “As a full-time artist, it’s definitely close to my heart,” she says. “Something I remember from the early days of the Festival was admiring the poster art for each year. “Our Festival is already a feast for the ears – I want to
Becky Guggisberg with Dan Sullivan, Mikey Freedom and Steve Vassallo
make it a visual treat too.” To help create a new look for this year, the Festival commissioned popular local artist Mikey Freedom, who last year created a jazz mural in a lane off Terralong during the Festival, was commissioned to create the posters and programs. Details: 9-11 March kiamajazzandblues.com.au Programs available around town at the participating venues.
Rotary finds use for old hospital kitchen p7
Library offers Book Club Kits p8
Let us know if there’s an event you’re organising. Just email the details to emailthebugle@gmail.com or phone 0412 415 101 Listings are free, but at the editor’s discretion
What’s on? Every Wednesday Kiama Farmers’ Market Surf Beach 3-6pm
On weekends Live music at The Sebel, Kiama Leagues Club, Gerringong and Kiama Bowlos, Jamberoo Pub and other venues
Fri 2 March Pics & Flicks: The Salesman Gerringong Town Hall, 8pm $10
Sat 3 March Friends of Kiama
Library Talk: Jacqueline Kent Kiama Family History Centre, 2.30pm $5/$8
Thurs 8 March
Sun 4 March
9-11 March
Shoalhaven Lydian Singers: The Messiah Sts Peter and Paul Church, Manning St, 2.30pm. $30/$25/$10
Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival (See page 1)
Tues 6 March International Women’s Day film: Suffragette Kiama Pavilion, 6-9pm $20 tickets from thrivingwomen.com.au
Opening of Strong Women exhibition (see page 6)
Historical Society talk (see below) Gerringong Village Market In and around Gerringong Town Hall, 8.30-1.30pm
Sunday 18 March Kiama Seaside Market Black Beach, 9-3pm
10-11 March
Illawarra Classic MotorSat 24 March cycle Club’s 22nd Red Scarf Rally Black Beach Gerringong PS Fete (more next issue) 14-16 March Kiama Matinee Theatre (See right)
Sat 17 March Kiama & District
Sun 25 March
Jamberoo Village Markets Reid Park, 8-3pm
Kayla turns losing her locks into a party On Shave for a Cure’s 20th anniversary, 19 year old local Kayla McCormack is taking up the challenge and hoping for your support. You might recognise her and her lovely long hair from around Kiama, as she works at the deli in Woolworths, sells tickets and photos at Jamberoo Action Park, or is a St John Ambulance volunteer at local and regional events. She’s organised for the
shave to happen at a fundraiser where there will be live music, a sausage sizzle, coffee, tea, cakes and more. More than 60,000 Australians are living with blood cancer or related disorders. And every day another 35 people are diagnosed. Blood cancer in the third most common cause of cancer death in Australia, claiming more lives than breast cancer or melanoma. The Leukaemia Founda-
New theatre co
tion is the only national charity dedicated to helping Australians survive their particular type of blood cancer and live a better quality of life. Details: Sat 17 March, Kiama Youth Centre, 11-2pm, with the shave at 1pm. Donations can also be made online at worldsgreatestshave.com by searching for her name in the Sponsor section.
The Kiama Matinee Theatre has been established to provide daytime, low cost theatrical entertainment while raising funds for local charities. The brain-child of local playwright Ken Methold and actor/director Veronica Dzelde, the troupe is planning three shows a year. The first play is inspired by the favourite TV shows Downton Abbey, Upstairs Downstairs, Midsummer Murders and the Miss Marple stories. Entitled Murder Upstairs Downstairs at Upton Priory,
the play promises to be a riot from start to finish. All proceeds will go to the Kiama Lions Club’s Community Carers Respite Cottage in Shoalhaven Street, where the cast is pictured. Details: 14-16 March, Kiama Uniting Church Fellowship Centre, 46 Manning St, 2.30pm (plus 6pm on the 14th). Bookings essential. Tickets from Jennie’s Book Nook (4232 3344) in the Centrepoint Arcade, Terralong Street. Tickets $20 each or $15 for groups.
Recollections of Vietnam
Come & See the Miss Zoe's Difference Classes at Kiama High for 2 years to adults
The Kiama & District Historical Society’s March speaker will be Don Pollock, whose book Suggy’s Men tells of the experiences of his unit in the Vietnam War. The RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV), led for the first 9 months by Squadron Leader Chris Sugden DFC, was the first RAAF unit to operate in Vietnam and the last to leave. Mr Pollock was a Caribou pilot in the first flight. Details: Sat 17 March, Family History Centre, 2.30pm.
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The Bugle Editor: Cathy Law t 0412 415 101 Advertising: Steve Law t 0428 662 499
Or email us at emailthebugle@gmail.com Or post to PO Box 304, Gerringong 2534 Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, but we are only human.
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Construction begins on old Hospital site Construction has started on the $103 million Blue Haven Bonaira aged care centre (formerly known as the Kiama Aged Care Centre of Excellence) at the site of the old Kiama Hospital. Richard Crookes Construction will build the 59 independent living units and the care home which will accommodate 134 residents. The complex is expected to be complete by the end of 2019. “The whole site will be developed in a single stage, with all components of the site being finished at approximately the same time,” says Council’s Director of Blue Haven Care, Clare Rogers. “This will cause the least issues both for neighbours, as all construction will occur at the one time, and for any incoming residents, who will not have to move into a new home that is still an ongoing building site.”
Council has invested nearly $80 million into Blue Haven Bonaira. The NSW Government has provided $18 million towards Blue Haven Bonaira, including $8 million through the Restart NSW Illawarra Infrastructure Fund. The Australian Government is providing $2.39 million through its Community Development Grants program. The Independent Living Units will be allocated by ballot, the same manner used to allocate units at Blue Haven Terralong. Residents from the existing Blue Haven Care Home in Havilah Place, will be relocated to Barroul Care Home. Kiama Council is examining options for the Havilah Place site once it is vacant, including moving Council’s Administration Centre there. For more information visit: www.bluehavencare.com.au
Croom DA rejected
A proposal to build an integrated development on an old dairy farm opposite the Jamberoo Action Park has been rejected by Council’s planning staff. The owner proposed a massive 11 bedroom residence, a secondary dwelling and five separate farm stay houses, as well as an education centre, sheds and roadworks. The capacity of the proposed on-site effluent disposal system triggered more onerous ‘designated development’ provisions, meaning the DA was deemed to not be complete.
New planning director to utilise strategic experience Two months into her role as Council’s new Director Environmental Services, Linda Davis isn’t daunted by the challenges confronting her. “I started my career as a DA assessor at Shellharbour Council, and as I moved into a strategic role and then onto the Department of Planning I never forgot to consider how the strategies and policies were going to be implemented in practice,” she says. “Having come full circle back to local government, I am looking forward to setting some good new strategic direction for Kiama, backed by my insight into the expectations for the region as a whole and how it will grow and change.” Before leaving the Department of Planning for a stint in the private sector, Ms Davis had the role as Regional Director for Southern NSW, an area covering 29 councils. In that role she had lead responsibility for the development and delivery of the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Plan, and the urban planning for land release at West Dapto and Albion Park. Ms Davis says, at its heart, strategic planning is about the balancing of competing priorities. “The Regional Plan, for example, isn’t all about growth and change. It also talks of biodiversity corridors, water quality, infrastructure, employment opportunities, management of
Council’s Director of Environmental Services, Linda Davis
our rural lands and more, so there are a lot of different policy settings that need to be balanced out. “I come to this role with an in-depth knowledge of where all of the intersections
of those competing priorities are sitting in a regional scale. “The challenge for me is diving deeper into understanding Kiama – its characteristics, the wishes of the community, the opportuni-
ties and challenges, and the expectations of the council – to provide a local tailored response to that broader strategic context.” Continued on page 8
Concerns expressed over CBD DAs The new Director of Environmental Services, Linda Davis, heard the concerns of residents about the pace and scale of development in the Kiama CBD firsthand when she attended the February meeting of the Central Kiama Precinct. The meeting discussed the revised plans for the Akuna St/Mitre 10 site, which while saving 12 ‘significant’ trees has increased the number of apartments from 94 to 100 (two 3/beds; 60 1/bed; and 38 2/bed) and reduced the size of the commercial space. Serious concerns were expressed about the inappropriate scale of the development, the traffic and parking ramifications for the whole CBD, the difficulty in laypeople comprehending the ramifications of the
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plans, and whether getting an Aldi in that location was worth all the negatives. The Chair of the Precinct, Peter O’Neill, urged people to lodge their concerns with Council by Monday 5 March. The meeting also heard the owner of 33 Collins St has taken the Joint Regional Planning Panel’s deferral of its decision on its 60 unit seniors living development as a deemed refusal, and has gone to the Land & Environment Court for a decision. The Court is also to decide the fate of the redevelopment of the buildings to the rear of the Grand Hotel. Ms Davis has agreed to attend the March Precinct meeting, to do a co-presentation with a lawyer on NSW’s planning system.
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The Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, and the NSW Minister for Disability Services, Ray Williams, have opened a new adult change facility at Kiama Harbour, near the Scout Hall. Lift & Change facilities are larger than a standard accessible changing facility and include extra features such as a ceiling hoist and change table to cater to a broad range of needs. “All members of our community should be able to participate in local activities,” says Mr Ward. South Coast Mother, Annette Pham, whose son has a profound disability has been a leading advocate for
improving change facilities. “It’s wonderful to finally have an adult change facility in Kiama. Something so simple like access to a suitable toilet is something people with profound disabilities cannot take for granted. “Thanks to the new Changing Place Toilet at Kiama Harbour we will no longer have to change our 15 year old son on a park bench or on a public toilet floor.” The NSW Government is running the trial in partnership with Local Government NSW and Spinal Cord Injuries Australia to meet commitments in the NSW Disability Inclusion Plan and the NSW Carers Strategy.
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Games work wonders As well as running the Starfish Education Centre (a Kiama-based educational centre designed to meet the needs of children with a disability or behaviour problems), Kirstie Wishart is a respite foster carer for the William Campbell Foundation. After noticing a growing need for specialised games for children to learn and develop basic sight words, she has developed one particularly for children with learning difficulties. “We are often asked for a good sight word game and resources, so we finally took the plunge to produce our very own game,” says Ms Wishart. “We decided to give it a go on Kickstarter. Our thoughts were that if we raised sufficient funds we
would be able to donate games to disadvantaged families as well.” That wish has come true, with the special donation of over 20 Sea Life Sight Words Bingo Games to the Foundation. “Kirstie is an absolute blessing to our community and the work she is doing,” says William Campbell CEO Sonia Liddicoat. “She shares our passion about improving the educational outcomes of children and young people in out-ofhome-care. “The games will go directly to children who are currently in care with us to help support their learnings and education.” Ms Wishart intends to make a yearly donation of new sets of the games to the South Coast charity.
Kirstie Wishart and David McEwan of Starfish Education Centre with William Campbell Foundation’s CEO Sonia Liddicoat
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Lions’ award Lauren Perry, the girl’s Captain at Kiama High is Minnamurra Lions Club Youth of the Year. “Lauren spoke eloquently and confidently and showed maturity beyond her age,” says Al Thomas. She will represent the Club at the Lions District final to be held in March.
International Women’s Day:
Celebrating strong women
Inspired by the burgeoning social media campaign Project Strong Women, Bruce Ferguson and Jamie Cole of the Little Blowhole Art Bar, asked photographers and artists from the local area to submit up to two photo portraits of a strong woman in their life, family or community that to them embodied strength, resilience, fortitude and compassion. Photographers and artists participating in the project include Matus Bardiovsky, Tanya Wallis, Peter Izzard, Phil Winterton, Jon Harris, Robyn Sharp, Lea Tucker, Diana Thomas, Daniel
O’Neill, Arja Valimaki and Melissa Ritchie, as well as the Art Bar’s founders. Fifty per cent of the sales proceeds from the exhibition are being donated to SAHSSI, a specialist domestic violence and homelessness service for women and children in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven District. Kathy Colyer, SAHSSI CEO, says, “Most of the women fleeing domestic violence come to our services with very little. We support them to resolve their safety and housing needs and with the assistance through donations like this
and our brokerage funds we can purchase much needed household items such as fridges, washing machines, beds, linen and crockery.” Kathy Colyer and Project Strong Women Founder Shauna Ryan will be opening the exhibition on International Women’s Day. Details: Thursday 8 March, Little Blowhole Art Bar, Tingira Cres, Kiama, 5.30pm. The exhibition runs until 1 March.
Suffragettes: The first women’s movement Thriving Women, a business networking group, has teamed up with Kiama Council to present the film Suffragette as their contribution to marking International Women’s Day. “It is only a 100 years ago that the British finally allowed women to vote,” says Triving Women’s Isha Knill. “The IWD theme this year is all about gender parity and #pressforprogress campaign, so the choice of the movie has been very apt. “The Suffragettes were one of the first women empowerment movements.” The film stars Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter, with a brief appearance by Meryl Streep as Emily Pankhurst. Rather than focusing on the leadership the film follows an ordinary woman whose life is changed by political engagement. Details: Tuesday 6 March, The Pavilion Kiama, 6-9pm. Tickets $20 inc pre-show drink and nibbles. Tickets at thrivingwomen.com.au/IWDKiama
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Rotary finds PNG home for Hospital kitchen The Open Day held to mark the closure of Kiama Hospital not only sparked the idea of a book to celebrate its hey day, but also gave Kiama Rotary the perfect solution to a long held ambition. “For over twenty years, Kiama Rotary has been supporting initiatives in Madang Province in Papua New Guinea by working with the local Rotary branch there,” says Trevor Phillis.
“Since observing the state of Madang Hospital’s kitchen in 2014, we’ve been keen to find an affordable way to help. “When some of our members went on a tour of Barroul House at the Open Day, they knew they were onto something.” Kiama Council agreed to a request to give them the fittings and remaining equipment, instead of sending
Barroul House will be restored as part of the redevelopment
them off to auction as scrap metal. The club has carefully dismantled the old kitchen, including a coolroom, commercial dishwasher, large exhaust hood, fridges and stainless steel benches and shelving. “By Australian standards the equipment is old, but it is working and will be greatly appreciated by the Madang community,” says Mr Phillis. “At the moment the kitchen is very dilapidated, with wooden benches and little refrigeration or storage.” Now that an inventory has been taken of the materials and equipment that has been put in storage, a couple of members are going to Madang before Easter to take detailed measurements and work out what can be fitted in where. “We will do any professional adjustments to benches
and the like here before sending it all up in a container in October,” he says. The plan is then that a group of members from the Kiama, Gerringong and Berry Rotary Clubs will go
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up to PNG late this year or early next year to help with the installation, travelling at their own expense. “Over the years we have helped the Madang region in a lot of practical ways, but
this is our biggest project yet and will make such a difference in lifting standards at the hospital,” says Mr Phillis. “Everyone is very motivated to do the work that is needed.”
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Library offers Book Club Kits Ever wanted to join a book club, start your own club, or give your existing club a revamp? Kiama Library is offering a brand new book club membership service to support the many book clubs in our area. Local book clubs can apply for a book club membership card and use this to borrow a set of books for the club for six weeks at a time. Each kit has 9-10 copies of a particular book, a large print edition where available, and a set of discussion questions. There are already more than 35 different book kits in the collection to choose from, by both popular and prize-winning authors including
Jane Harper, Liane Moriarty, George Saunders, Kate Atkinson and Anthony Doerr, with more to be added in the future. Membership is great value and can be arranged in one of two ways: Casual membership allows a book club to borrow up to three kits per year for a cost of $60 (just $6 per member, based on ten members) A full annual membership allows a club to borrow up to 12 kits per year, for a cost of $200 (around $20 per member). Details: More information on the service is available by dropping into the Library or at kiamalibrary.kiama.nsw.gov.au
SCS return New planning director Steel City Strings are including much loved chamber works from the romantic repertoire in the program of their next concert in Kiama: Dvorak’s String Quartet No. 12 and Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 2. Details: Sunday 18 March, Kiama Pavilion, 2pm. Tickets $35/$30 from www.trybooking.com/TCBG or call 0467 869 478
continued from p 3 She joins Kiama Council at a time when the Municipality is experiencing a development boom, leaving many concerned about the pace and direction of the change. It is a time when Council’s major strategic documents the Local Environment Plan (LEP), the Kiama Urban Strategy (KUS) and the Development Control Plan (DCP) - need to be revised, in part due to the new context they are operating in due to State Government changes. Ms Davis says it is important to go about this in a systematic, consultative way that will necessarily take more time. “Rather than diving in and just amending the LEP, we need to take a step back, and address some of the big questions around how we see ourselves moving forward. “Let's be in charge of our own destiny. What's our vision? What do we want our guiding principles to be? “Let's acknowledge all of the challenges, opportunities and values that are going to frame how we move ahead. “We need to establish the principles that we see as important to all, agree on them to set a framework, and then work down to the detail needed in the various strategic documents.” It is the type of work that Ms Davis has a great deal of experience in, and she is looking forward to doing so to get a better understanding of the Municipality and its issues. “The Kiama community has always been much more engaged than others by a long shot, so I have no
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doubt the consultations will bring in good ideas.” She estimates it will take about a year for the process to unfold. “I feel the expectation for us to have our new set of strategic documents very quickly, but sometimes doing things properly does take a bit of time. “When we are tinkering with specifics, let’s do it in a context that we actually know what outcomes we are trying to achieve.” In the meantime, her department will continue to assess applications as they are lodged. “We have a highly skilled team of planners - it is not like there is a void of policy settings guiding our work at the moment, it is just that we know they are due for a refresh,” says Ms Davis. It is a team that is currently down two leadership roles due to retirements. “People probably don't realise how much work goes into any assessment process, in working with the proponent to make sure we can get the best possible outcome for any application.” With planning rules becoming increasingly complex, she agrees it is difficult for the lay person to fully understand both the laws and the need to balance competing issues. “Planning quite often is subjective. Sometimes it is a judgment about how you prioritise and balance between different competing issues.” This explains why there are instances when councillors go against the recommendations of the planners on particular developments. “Our planning profession-
als do an assessment, looking at compliance and outcomes, and on balance will make a recommendation around what we think is a reasonable outcome. “Councillors look at the matter with a different lens, to do with community issues and their own values, beliefs and philosophies. So, on balance, they may prioritise a different outcome over what we would.” She has been impressed with how well the Kiama community is managing to get their points across on applications that affect them. “On our part, we need to be reasonable and appropriate and professional in how we take those concerns on board. “Sometimes the community raise really important and valid issues that we need to ensure are reflected in our planning decisions. Other times those concerns, while real to those people, may not be appropriate to underpin a determination.” She believes the refreshed LCP, KUP and DCP will give a better narrative which will articulate what the community, through Council, is trying to achieve. “I’m all about consistently looking for improvement in all we do,” says Ms Davis. To help facilitate this, she has established an informal group of the planning directors of all the Southern region councils, so they can discuss shared challenges and learn from each other’s experiences and initiatives. Planning is just one aspect of Ms Davis’ role. She is also responsible for food safety, traffic, rangers and environmental services.
Mayoral Column Mayor Mark Honey communicates directly with residents and ratepayers and staying connected. You can register to host a Neighbour Day event or find simple ways to connect with those next door, including sharing the mandatory ‘selfie’. Reading some of the material myself, I came across the old saying ‘It takes a neighbourhood to raise a Sunday 25 March is Neigh- child’. This means children bour Day. If you haven’t (like the rest of us) feel betheard of it before, it started ter when we belong, and if in 2003 in Melbourne, after kids know their neighbours the remains of an elderly they feel safe, and kids who woman were found inside feel safe and supported are her home. Mrs Elsie Brown healthier mentally and had been dead for two years. physically. What started as a day to It all sounds obvious. simply check on your neigh- However, I wonder, if bours has now developed parents nowadays (my kids into something wider – a have long grown up) are celebration of strong comchallenged by the huge munities and friendly streets. amount of information and It’s now run by Relation- expectations that they ships Australia, and the should be able to provide theme this year is The everything their children Importance of a Supportive may need. Neighbourhood for Children Also, whether parents, and Young People. watching the nightly news There is a lot of informa- and headlines with their tion and resources available relentless stories of horrific at the Neighbour Day web- crimes and terrible accidents site (neighbourday.org) to often involving youngsters, help you learn about the find it hard to let their chilimportance of neighbours dren play alone in the front
More money for cataracts As part of a $3 million funding boost to elective surgery in NSW, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District is to receive $512,000 to do more cataract procedures. “This funding boost will make a big difference to a lot of people’s lives, allowing them to get their elective surgeries quicker and let them get on with their lives with improved eyesight,” says Gareth Ward MP. “NSW has the best on-time elective surgery performance in the country. During 2016-17 more surgery was performed on time furthermore the average waiting time across all categories was sustained or reduced.”
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yard where they can chat to people passing by. The material I read pointed out that in rural areas the connection with neighbours and other locals is strong. That was my experience growing up on the family farm. But this material also says there is usually less connection between locals who live in the inner-city or suburbs. So – despite my repeated statements about the strong communities we have here in our municipality – we should not assume everyone feels a part of what is going on around them. It’s not just being polite. Research shows people who are connected with their neighbours enjoy better physical and mental health but those who live alone and feel socially isolated are more likely to be depressed, are admitted to hospital more, have higher blood pressure and are at a greater risk of heart attacks. So being friendly, even just for one day of the year, can literally help save someone’s life.
Funding on offer for community gardens Kiama Council is offering grants up to $4,500 to people wanting to establish new community gardens or expand their existing ones. Its Health Promotions Officer Brodie Brady says, “Community gardens are a great way for people to get together, to grow their own food with all the associated social, environmental and health benefits.” Community gardens are not-for-profit, communitymanaged enterprises operating on public land, including school P&Cs. They can include individual allotments, collective shared gardens or a mix of both depending on the management of each site. Details: The guidelines and application form at: www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/ your-community/ healthy-communities Applications close 26 March.
Club news The Jamberoo Open: a great opportunity to discover croquet From our special correspondent, Stewart Johnston The Annual Jamberoo Open Croquet Tournament is back in town. And with it come the heavy mallets, the fast greens, the allure of ‘the wire’ and the achievement of ‘pegging out’. The Jamberoo Open is, of course, on the International Circuit, but sadly this year we don’t have any internationals, unless you count the Britton (Charles from Marrickville) and the Scott (Diane from Wollongong). But entries do come from as far afield as Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Nowra and Sydney. The four day competition kicks off on Tuesday, 6 March at the Jamberoo Club, just off Churchill St. All the finals for the three divisions are to be held on Friday morning. The Club would like to invite locals interested in seeing the game in action to come along. Someone will talk you through it and, if you are ready to give it a go, lessons will be provided very soon after. At any rate, come and have a Captain Cook (John Cook from Bathurst). You will be able to get a cuppa and a sandwich, and buy a ticket in a brilliant raffle. You might be lucky enough to see players ‘lining up for a peel’, getting stuck in a corner and ‘having to line up a cannon’, ‘getting a lift at 1-back’, ‘loading up with a pioneer’ and ‘getting a crush on the hoop’. After all that, it’s ‘all over Red Rover’. Hope to see everyone there. Let’s face it, if you’re a Bugle sort of person, then you’re a croquet sort of person. We welcome news from clubs. Please send to emailthebugle@gmail.com Page 9 ♦ The Bugle 3 March 2018
Local Real Estate News Millennials understanding the buying process Despite 74% of millennials requiring more help than usual in understanding the buying process, it is anticipated that the next five years will see millennials eclipse baby boomers’ real estate spending power with 66.1% of those born between 1982 - 2002 choosing property over lifestyle, according to First National Coast and Country Kiama principal Terry Digger. With millennials earning more money than earlier generations, their buying budgets are anticipated to be well above those of Generation X and Y, and it won’t be unheard of for some to make their first purchase in the realms of $500,000 to $750,000. “The expectations we have for millennials from 2018 onwards are based on the observations of agents across our national network, which mirror that of data we are seeing from the USA,” Mr Digger said. “The next five years will see the most spending power of baby boomers eclipsed by millennials, with the majority focused on buying apartments as their first home - moderate commutes to work will be acceptable but the majority will not find the outer suburbs of metropolitan areas very appealing. In essence, millennials are driven by lifestyle. “The norm is now I want it, I’ve earned it, I can have it.” Millennials are expected to purchase apartments as their first property and seek out homes in locations that complement their lifestyle, are close in proximity to transport and their employment. “They will also seek out property that is ‘move-inready’ rather than renovator’s specials, with 48% buying newly constructed homes to avoid plumbing/ electrical problems compared to 34% of other buyer demographics” Mr Digger said. RECENT SALES IN KIAMA Kiama Heights: 33 Elenora Rd, 98 Attunga Ave Jamberoo: 122 Drualla Rd Kiama: 34 Minnamurra St, 49-51 Cooinda Place, 41 Hothersall St RECENT LISTINGS IN KIAMA Kiama: 11 Allambie Cres, 6/144 Terralong St, 15 Marsden St, 6 McFaul Place Kiama Downs: 36 Barton Drive
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Out & about At the Morgans Kiama Sevens After the 46 years the Cleary Bros Kiama Sevens Cup final heads south. Victorian club Box Hill went through the Morgans Kiama Sevens undefeated, beating 2017 winners Warringah 21 to 7. The standard of play is ever increasing in both the Womens and Mens comp, with the Morgans Kiama Sevens the real pathway to the Olympics. Australia 7’s coach, Andy Friend, had a field day identifying players with five being given the opportunity of invites to train with an extended squad afterthe HSBC 7’s legs in Las Vegas and Vancouver. Matt Hood (Warringah), Matt Mctaggart and James Armstrong (Easts Sydney), and Tristan Reilly and Henry Clunies (Randwick) have all received the call up. The Morgans Hospitality marquee was the success off the field, with many new sponsors and guests enjoying the sundrenched day. With the occasional rugby ball making its way into the marquee, some very ordinary returns to the playing field were witnessed. Touchdown Helicopters flew the trophies in with the Australian 7’s captain and Wallaby legend David Campese presenting the trophies. Tournament Director, Mark Bryant
2018 Cleary Bros Kiama Sevens Cup Winners, Box Hill
Sandy Sharrock and Tong Simmens Paul Sanders with sons Tobi and Henry The Sebel Harbourside Kiama Vase Winners for the fourth time, the Waringah Rats
Callum Cooke and Jock Mitton
Sarah McNeil and Jessica Little with Nullah Brandon at his first Sevens
On the Gate: Lions_Mark Westoff, James Doak and Steve Moore
Photos: Susan Fielding, All Together Creative
Bevan Gardner and Kevin Duncan
The Buckley family
Page 10 ♦ The Bugle 3 March 2018
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The Bugle Crossword
Use a local
ACROSS 5. South African city due to run out of water in June 7. Insect responsible for malaria 8. Woman who sells fish or a loud abusive vulgar female 12. You use this to catch fish 13. Sliding fastener of clothes, bags etc 15. Light rail vehicle 16. First person singular of the verb “to be” 17. Far south coast NSW town 18. Capital of the Philippines 20. Home base of a transport company 22. Dad Joke: “The dead centre of town” 25. Kitchen cooker 26. Small arthropod creepy crawly with lots of legs. Two per segment. 27. American for garbage 28. Photo, painting etc. especially on the computer 29. Two or more utility vehicles 31. Join or combine 32. In an old classic tv jingle known as “Louis da ---” 33. This Australian spider has been found on toilet seats 38. Belch 39. Area of large sea waves breaking over a shallow submerged rock shelf 40. One does up ones shoes with these 42. First name of crime writer Ms Christie 43. Classic name for eye glasses
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DOWN 1. Tissue or blood etc taken for analysis 2. Under surface of foot or shoe 3. We breathe this 4. Well known brand of fly spray associated with Louis 5. Colourless odourless tasteless gas toxic to hemoglobic
CVC Appliances: Repairs to washing machines, stoves, dishwashers, dryers etc. t 0401 294 810
Beauty Services Love Beauty & Tanning Studio: by appointment. Call Renai 0412 277 072
Builders Burrell Builders: Cracked brickwork, underpinning, insurance/structural repairs. All building work. Ln3281c t 0419 378 000
Handymen Athol Handyman: No job too small. Free quotes. t 0481 095 090 Kiama Property Maintenance & Carpentry: Decks, Pergolas, Windows, Painting, Plaster repairs. All your maintenance needs & carpentry. John O’Donnell LIC#R77219 t 0401 301 620 Handyman South Coast: Trade qualified - Painting, carpentry, plastering, pressure cleaning, all repairs & renovations. Property Maintenance Specialist Fast, fixed, fabulous! Danny Fagan t 0407 118 311
Painting Col Whitehurst: Painter and Handyman Honest, Reliable, Insured. Ph 0400 135 128
Plumbing
Last issue’s solution
animals. Generated by cars. 6. Flying insect that can sting 9. Not cold, not hot, not cool but ---10. The bone from the pelvis to the knee 11. Male or female sleeveless under garment 14. A bridge composed of several small spans for crossing a valley 15. Very poisonous Qld snake 17. Insect that makes honey 19. Heavy material placed in the bilge of a ship to ensure its stability 21. Two babies born at the same time 22. Hans Solo's copilot in the Millennium Falcon 23. Sail boat 24. A May Gibbs’ gumnut baby 27. Artificial underground passage 30. Vacuum flask that pre-
Etto's Plumbing: your local blocked drain and maintenance plumbing specialists. Call Mark 0404 009 999
Stonemasonry & Heritage Services For all aspects of stonemasonry, contact Brad Rimmer at BR Stonemasonry & Heritage Services Lic 292667C t 0401 337 629
TV Services
serves temperature 34. Nancy Sinatra reckons these are made for walking 35. 10.5 million of these flower stems were imported into Australia for Valentines Day 2018 36. You have two of these for breathing 37. Retired Swedish pop
group 41. Portion of the circumference of a circle Crossword by Steve Law (He’d like to point out he was not responsible for the missing clues last week. Cathy says sorry.)
Kiama TV & Video Service: Govt approved antenna installer. Over 30 years experience. t 4232 3780
Just $10/line + gst to advertise. Contact Steve on 0428 662 499
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Postcard home We jumped at the chance of going back to Sri Lanka for the wedding of the son of an old friend. Matt was to marry Lara. Both her parents are from Sri Lanka, and she met Aussie Matt at Sydney Uni. The wedding had taken more than a year to come together, so we had plenty of time to plan our return to Sri Lanka and make the most of it both before and after the actual event. Sri Lanka is like a little India. Not so frenetic but with massive cool tea plantations, old ruins, wildlife galore and very five star accommodation experiences if you want them. The wedding was held in the hills behind Mirissa, a beachside town, in an old cinnamon plantation at a very beautiful villa, late on a January Saturday evening. My partner Nicki is an old friend of Matt’s family and was the celebrant of the wedding (not the legalities). Just before the service began, Matt was introduced to the elephant that was to escort him to the ceremony. This took place backstage, out of sight of all the guests.
If you’d like to share your travel story, send your postcard home (even when you are back) to emailthebugle@gmail.com
Issues in law By Cameron McDonald, Carter Ferguson Solicitors
Which retirement village?
Matt suddenly realized his family heirloom signet ring was on the finger where his wedding ring would soon go. He quickly moved it to an ill-fitting smaller finger, reached out to bond with the elephant and the elephant promptly sucked it off his finger, swallowing it! This was a very important family heirloom, melted down from various family jewellery of the past and given to the family’s sons. There was no time to
dally, however, as it was the “Get me to the church on time” moment. Needless to say, when word got out, there was furious Googling to find out how long it takes for an elephant to digest ‘stuff’. Fourteen hours was the answer, so Matt made sure that the elephant’s handlers started combing through the ‘results’ ASAP the following morning. We were all glued to our phone screens waiting for
the answer throughout the next day. Matt was supposed to then be in honeymoon mode, but we all needed to know – had it appeared? This story does have a happy ending , the ring did re-appear and the handlers were given their reward. Such a story to tell the children. “Do you have any idea where this ring has been?” he will say. Greg Martin Vale, Kiama
Page 12 ♦ The Bugle 3 March 2018
Dealing with the paperwork that comes with moving into a retirement village can be very stressful. The laws that govern retirement village residents and operators set out the key rights and obligations of the parties, ensure prospective residents are given important information before they sign a contract, require standard form village contracts and provide a system for resolving disputes. Retirement village operators must provide a general inquiry document and a disclosure statement before a new resident enters into a contract. The general inquiry document sets out basic information about the village, including the village type, village rules in force, costs to enter the village and the village facilities. The disclosure statement is more detailed and contains specific information on financial arrangements particular to the village and the unit. From 1 March 2018, the
disclosure statement must include an ‘average resident comparison figure’ that expresses the main charges likely to be incurred when living at a particular village as a single monthly figure. This will make comparison an easier exercise, however it is important to check the underlying assumptions used to calculate the figure as contract terms may differ. The standard contract, introduced in NSW in 2013, covers matters including residence rights, entry costs, the settling-in period, recurrent charges, services and facilities, alterations and additions, repairs and maintenance, sharing of capital gains and departure fees. Prospective residents should carefully consider the information provided in the disclosure documents and the standard contract, particularly as retirement village offerings are becoming more varied, and always seek professional advice before entering into a village contract.