Biggest surf in 40 years pounds Kiama’s beaches
Lynne Strong
When the waves breach the seawall and soak the park behind Kiama Surf Life Saving Club, even the most seasoned locals take notice.
Kiama SLSC executive member Dave Griffin, a long-time patrolling volunteer, said this week’s enormous swell was the biggest he has seen. “We had a few east coast lows in 2021 and we sandbagged the club then,” he said.
“But, back then I didn’t see waves breaking over the
beach retaining wall and into the park like this.
“This is definitely the biggest I’ve seen.”
The swell was so strong that a wave burst through the lifeguard door at the front of the club.
Local residents recall the water reaching Manning Street in the 1970s, making this likely the biggest surf event in more than 40 years.
“Even when the beach is closed, we still have a responsibility to be here,” Griffin explained.
“During the week, that’s
the council lifeguards, and on weekends it’s our Kiama Surf Club volunteers.
“Most of the time, it’s people unfamiliar with the ocean who get into trouble – they don’t realise how unpredictable and dangerous these conditions can be.
“Some are fishing off rocks where waves can suddenly surge much higher than expected. Others are chasing the perfect action shot, then find themselves in real danger.”
When that happens, it is
not just the individuals who are in danger.
“In conditions like this, it’s not just your own safety on the line,” he said.
“Lifeguards and lifesavers are here to help people stay safe – not to put themselves in danger rescuing someone who ignored the warnings”
Griffin has been part of the club’s executive for several years, running the nippers program and now working with cadets aged 14 to 18.
“Our team of volunteers all contribute in different
ways. And you don’t have to be a great swimmer or even go in the water. There are so many ways to be part of it [the club].”
As the surf peaked just after high tide, Griffin was already helping the Kiama Council team with the next task.
The beach closed warning flag had been knocked over again and the sandbags were running low.
But the sterling commitment from this volunteer crew remained as steady as the tide.
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Phillips fires up over housing for campaign
Paul
Suttor
She’s holding onto a slender margin but Fiona Phillips is confident her track record as the Member for Gilmore will get her over the line again at the May 3 election.
Phillips faces a tough challenge to regain the seat with Liberal veteran Andrew Constance, independent Kate Dezarnaulds and The Greens’ candidate Debbie Killian.
First elected to the House of Representatives in 2019, she won the 2022 election by the slimmest margin in the nation.
“I'm excited to be on the campaign trail and I think I’ve definitely achieved a lot for people in our community over the last three years, but there's certainly a lot more to do,” she
told The Bugle. “I've really loved, for example, delivering headspace in Kiama, which was a much-needed service in our community, and also not so long ago, I officially opened the Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club, which is a really great asset for the community.”
Phillips said she was proud of her efforts to support cost of living relief, particularly around health care and improving access to GPs.
And she is excited by the prospect of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reducing the maximum price of the PBS script down to $25 and providing energy bill relief if the Labor Party is re-elected next month.
“We're slashing student debt by 20 per cent so there’s 14,000 people with a student
debt across Gilmore, another really important issue.”
Housing is expected to be a hot topic on the hustings in Gilmore and Phillips would like to see a rise in mediumdensity housing in areas like Kiama and Nowra.
“We've got some really great policies around housing in terms of our Housing Australia Future Fund to really incentivise more social and rental affordable housing,” she added.
“Kiama Council has their draft local housing strategy out but what we want to see is more well-located homes to provide more housing.
but in those really welllocated areas.
“I'm not talking about greenfield housing. I'm talking about more housing around the centre of the CBD,” she added before taking aim at Constance’s preference for the Bombo Quarry redevelopment, which is 1015 years away.
“What he's effectively saying is he doesn't want any housing at all. And how does that help people? He doesn't want offshore wind and the jobs that that creates. What does he want?
“We have to address housing. It's going to get harder and harder for young people if we don't.
“We don't have enough housing. We have people of all ages, but particularly young people, it's really hard for them so we absolutely have to have more housing,
“I'm a mum. I've got four young adults. And I know that it's a massive issue for young adults.”
Member for Kiama, Fiona Phillips
Jamberoo battered by destructive winds
Lynne Strong
Volunteers removed 14 fallen trees and responded to multiple emergencies during extreme weather on Sunday
As winds gusted over 105 kilometres per hour in the early hours of last Sunday, the Jamberoo Rural Fire Service swung into action. Overnight rain had already softened the ground, setting the stage for trees to topple across the region. By sunrise, calls were coming in thick and fast.
“Even though some parts of the region received up to 400 mm of rain our biggest issue wasn’t flooding, it was wind,” said Hannah McInerney, Jamberoo brigade captain.
“We had trees coming down across the entire area. Hot spots included Barren Grounds, Curramore, Jamberoo Mountain and Knights Hill.”
Over the course of the day, the Jamberoo brigade removed 14 trees, while others were cleared by Council and the SES. On top of that, they responded to a triggered fire alarm, flat car batteries, and oil spills.
While some areas like Swamp Road had flooding, the wind’s persistence posed the greater threat.
“The gusts started early and stayed with us until about lunchtime,” Hannah explained. “It was the combination of rain-loosened
Deidre thrilled to settle into Cedar life
Henham at the rooftop garden at Cedar on Collins
soil and ongoing wind that made conditions so tricky.”
The Jamberoo brigade volunteers had been up since 5am and didn’t finish until well into the afternoon. “The last crew stood down after 1pm, after restocking gear and supplies,” she said.
In some cases, RFS members couldn’t even get to the station. “It works both ways,” said Hannah. “Some of our team were cut off by flooded causeways. Others of us got out and then couldn’t get back in.”
The brigade also relies heavily on public reports during events like this. “We do try to post updates on social media, but the same people doing the updates are also out on the trucks,” said Hannah. “There’s no app that tracks every fallen tree or closed road in real time. It really is a community effort.”
She emphasised the RFS depends not only on the public to notify them of hazards, but on the community to spread the word. “We see locals sharing updates, starting shuttle threads, alerting others. We rely on that just as much as they rely on us. Everyone plays a part.”
Shuttle threads are informal message chains,
often shared in local Facebook groups, where residents offer each other lifts or realtime updates when roads are blocked.
“Someone might say, ‘Tree down on Jamberoo Mountain,’ and that can make a real difference,” said Hannah.
Residents are urged not to hesitate when it comes to calling for help. “Please call Triple Zero even if it’s just a tree down,” Hannah said. “It may not be a fire, but it’s still a hazard. A blocked road can lead to an accident.”
She offered a reminder to those in tree-dense areas. “Make sure overhanging branches are checked and trimmed. If you’re concerned about access or safety, now’s the time to act.”
Despite the challenging conditions, Hannah remains proud of her team and the community they serve.
“We’re here to help. And we’re grateful when people call in hazards. It’’s how we know where we’re needed.”
The volunteers who protect our community need our support too.
Join them at Jamberoo School of Arts for a night of food, fun and live music headlined by The Fukers band to raise funds to keep the brigade strong.
Lynne Strong
When Deirdre Henham first put down a deposit on Cedar on Collins, she wasn’t entirely sure how things would unfold. Now, settled into the newly built retirement complex in Kiama, she couldn’t be happier with her decision.
“It's wonderful,” she says.
“The people here are just lovely, without exception.”
Deirdre’s journey to Kiama began with a different plan.
She and her daughters had purchased a house in Bong Bong Street, intending to create a multi-generational home where they could live separately yet together.
But the uncertainty surrounding the property’s potential heritage listing dragged on for years. This process took more than three years to confirm whether it would be heritage listed,” she explains. “By then, I had already started looking at Cedar on Collins.”
What was once an uncertain step turned out to be a perfect fit. One of the first residents to move in, Deirdre quickly took the initiative to build a sense of community.
“At first, it was just me and one other gentleman. We decided to meet on Friday nights for drinks, and slowly, more people joined in.”
Many of the residents
are local, making it easier for newcomers like Deirdre to settle in. “They already know all the best places,” she says. “The only downside is that when the bus trips are planned, they have already seen most of the sights.”
Originally from the Riverina, Deirdre spent years in Wagga Wagga before making the move to Kiama in late 2023.
A former rice farmer, she speaks with pride about the industry’s evolution. “Farming teaches resilience. If you are married to a farmer, you learn to do everything, from driving between paddocks to helping with livestock,” she says. Her connection to rice farming runs deep, and she still holds shares in SunRice, a company she praises for its success and support of growers.
For Deirdre, Cedar on Collins is more than just a retirement complex. It is a new chapter filled with companionship and opportunity. “It feels like a hotel,” she laughs. “But you bring your own drinks.”
As Kiama’s newest retirement community grows, stories like Deirdre’s highlight what makes it special, a place where people can feel at home, surrounded by friends, and supported in a way that makes ageing an exciting new stage of life.
Deidre
Headspace a source of hope for our youth
Paul Suttor
The launch of headspace Kiama evolved from an important community need to have a mental health service for young people in the area.
And Member for Gilmore is proud that the office on Manning Street is making a difference in the lives of local youth
“The community were really advocating for that support for families so I fought to get this service up and running,” she said.
“There's a headspace in Shellharbour and Nowra, and Kiama is a bit smaller in population so to actually have it here, is a real win.”
Phillips and Labor Party Senator Tim Ayres dropped in at headspace Kiama during the week to get an update on the impact the centre has made since it opened in August.
“The feedback from the community has been really, really good,” she added.
“Headspace really adapts to the community in terms of needs. There were a number of suicides in the community across the LGA. And from that, there were a lot of good initiatives and just people working together on what can we do to help and that's where that need for a headspace came from.
“It was also to support many adults that wanted to support young people and our local school - teachers needed that sort of support.
“That's certainly one thing that I really remember from
going to many different community sessions where people were just crying out for help, adults saying we need to support our young people. We're trying to do it ourselves, but we need that support. That's what's here and that access to that specialist support as well.”
Senator Ayres described Phillips as “one of the most effective local members in the country”.
“Her advocacy on this question has been relentless and has gone over many, many years. It's a real privilege to come back with her, with this
facility, six months after it's been opened to watch the progress. I know that she'll keep focused on how progress has been made here in working with the staff and the community on this. It is a real achievement. It doesn't happen by accident.
“It is a real honour to meet these staff. The work they are doing is so crucial. In a few years' time, people in Kiama will just assume that this is the way that this has always been - that there's this glue joining young people up to services, supporting families, supporting teachers, supporting community leaders. It will
be as if it's always been here, but it hasn't been here and they're playing a remarkable role.”
Headspace Kiama manager Charo Seventy said they have key workers on staff who draw on their lived experience of mental illness and recovery to provide support in the centre or at the beach or at a safe location out in the community.
“The response from the community has been really amazing,” he said.
“There’s so many people I’ve met in Kiama who are putting so much time, effort and love into supporting young people. Kiama’s been through a lot and it’s really heartening to see people putting in the time and coming to us to get some ideas to support young people with their mental health. One of the main things we’ve done is to work with Kiama High School, providing outreach there. Usually on a Monday and a Tuesday we have counsellors who can see students at school to provide support.”
Headspace Kiama also has a community engagement officer who raises awareness about mental health services at locations like the library and the youth centre.
A free Youth Mental Health First Aid training course will be held on May 21-22 to assist people in the community who support our youth every day.
Contact headspace Kiama on 4225 5640 to enrol.
Shadow Treasurer backs Constance
Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor has thrown his considerable support behind Andrew Constance in his battle to regain the seat of Gilmore for the Liberal Party at the federal election on May 3. Constance and Taylor held a joint media conference last week to criticise the Anthony Albanese government’s track record on a range of topics and also fire broadsides at incumbent Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips over what they believe has been a lack of action in the electorate over the past three years.
Taylor, the Member for Hume which borders Gilmore to the west, and Constance held a business roundtable at The Pavilion in Kiama to speak to local business owners about their plans to ease their financial burden. “Andrew’s been an incredibly important voice in this part of the world for a long period of time, and I’ve been very privileged to work with him when he was in the State Government and now as a neighbouring electorate,” he said.
“We have been talking to small businesses this morning and, of course, we’re seeing enormous pain across the small business sector - 29,000 insolvencies, margins being cruelled by a Labor Government that has lost control of costs and, of course, customers who are much more reluctant than they were a couple of years ago to spend because their own cost-of-living pressures have been bearing down on them.”
Don’t forget daylight savings switch
Turn your clocks back one hour for the end of daylight saving in the early hours of Sunday morning. Daylight saving ends officially at 3am this Sunday when clocks go back an hour to 2am.
Most modern devices will update automatically, but for manual clocks don’t forget to make the adjustment.
Phillips announces multicultural boost
Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips has announced that a re-elected Labor Government will deliver funding to the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra for its Shoalhaven Multicultural Hub.
This $50,000 election commitment will help MCCI to support new migrants arriving in the Shoalhaven region and help them to coordinate local events across all multicultural communities. The funding will ensure MCCI is able to continue to provide practical support to new migrants and promote community participation and social connections. Shoalhaven Multicultural Hub provides a range of services to support the multicultural community making sure they are welcomed and have access to the resources they need to feel at home.
Calls grow for local road safety fixes
Jamberoo and Gerringong residents are calling for action on road safety, highlighting concerns around speed, traffic volumes and pedestrian access. In Jamberoo, residents want developer levies directed to local infrastructure and are requesting traffic calming devices on streets like Drualla Road, Wyalla Road, Macquarie Street and Minnamurra Lane. They are also calling for 40km/h limits on all local roads, including the commercial zone of Allowrie Street.
In Gerringong, parents continue to push for a safer crossing on Belinda Street near the public school, citing ongoing confusion for drivers and pedestrians. Both communities are urging Kiama Council to act with greater transparency and urgency.
Kiama Matters Inc proposal up for vote
Members of the Kiama Central Precinct and Kiama Heights Residents Group will vote on Saturday 5 April to decide whether to merge and form a new incorporated body - Kiama Matters Inc.
The proposed group aims to amplify local voices by supporting residents to raise and lead on the issues that matter to them. Rather than a small leadership team setting the agenda, Kiama Matters Inc encourages collaboration, visibility and community participation. If approved, the merger will mark the beginning of a more inclusive, member-driven approach to shaping Kiama’s future.
Kiama Council finally responding to housing crisis
Lynne Strong
In 2021, The Bugle reported strong criticism of Kiama Council’s failure to respond to the region’s growing housing affordability crisis.
At the time, Michele Adair, Chief Executive Officer of The Housing Trust, gave Council an “F” for its lack of action, arguing essential workers were being priced out of the community.
Kiama Council’s new Draft Local Housing Strategy Version 2 is now on public exhibition but does it deliver on the promise of affordable housing?
The answer is mixed.
On the positive side, the draft strategy clearly acknowledges affordability is a major issue in the municipality. It notes the
region’s high purchase and rental costs, and the pressures faced by key workers, older residents and young families.
It outlines potential tools councils can use, such as partnerships with community housing providers, use of Council-owned land, and planning mechanisms including inclusionary zoning.
It also includes a specific action to develop and adopt an Affordable Housing Policy and implementation framework.
Kiama Municipal Council has confirmed it is investigating potential partnerships with community housing providers on “appropriate catalyst sites”. It also points to planning controls, such as the limited height allowances in R3 medium density zones, as a
barrier to larger-scale mixedtenure projects, like those being trialled elsewhere.
“Scale is required to achieve mixed tenure,” a Council spokesperson said.
“Our draft strategy includes an action to review planning controls associated with the R3 zone to increase feasibility of mid-rise and small-unit development.”
As for the absence of clear targets or land allocations, Council says this is under investigation during the draft’s public exhibition phase. It notes affordable housing targets often apply to large-scale developments (over 50 dwellings), which are uncommon in Kiama, but concedes that “every little bit helps”. Still, for many advocates, the strategy may not go far enough.
There are no affordable
housing targets in the current draft, no committed partnerships or earmarked parcels of land.Council has also not identified funding sources to support delivery, leaving the strategy without a clear implementation pathway. In contrast, other parts of the state are already showing what is possible.
Charlie Daoud, a board member of The Man Walk and a developer specialising in social and affordable housing, spoke to The Bugle at the recent Man Walk gala about the success of his Northsea Apartments, Wollongong project. This development is the first in Australia to integrate social, affordable, and private housing within a single building, using shared entrances, communal areas, and consistent design standards throughout.
“There are no red doors,” he said. “You do not know who lives where, and that is the point.It breaks the stigma.”
Daoud argues that models like his should work everywhere, including places like Kiama.
“Why can’t it be in suburban streets? Beautiful design, great landscaping, heritage context - done well, it fits in.”
He is now working with the NSW Government to transform older housing estates into mixed-tenure neighbourhoods where social housing is integrated among private dwellings, revitalising communities without isolating people.
Adair’s comments from 2021 remain relevant.
“What the Local Strategic Planning Statement says is that whoever wrote this statement believes the
barista making their coffee, someone changing the sheets in the Sebel, none of these people can live in the Kiama community.”
While the updated strategy marks a shift in tone and acknowledges housing stress more clearly than past documents, critics may find it too cautious.
For now, it reads more like a preface than a plan.
If you want to shape the future of housing in our area, now is the time. You can read the draft strategy and make a submission by visiting Council’s website. Submissions close Sunday 27 April.And if you do not feel the engagement process is strong enough, it is your right to raise that with your elected councillors.Housing affects all of us. So should the way we talk about it.
The Bugle’s View - Your vote matters!
As we foreshadowed in our last edition of The Bugle’s View, the election has been called for 3 May 2025, alas, we were one week off in our prediction! However, we were right about one thing – the announcements and commitments from both sides of politics are coming thick and fast. As reported by The Bugle, Fiona Phillips MP recently spruiked the benefits for the division of Gilmore as a result of increased funding for the Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters (STAND) program. Part of the $14 million boost will go to 18 sites in Gilmore from Ulladulla to Kangaroo Valley. Not to be outdone, Liberal candidate Andrew Constance announced an allocation of $840,000 to complete the Gerry Emery Oval clubhouse project at Gerringong. Mr Constance threw down the
gauntlet to the incumbent Labor MP, challenging the Government to match the funding commitment. We are yet to hear a response. Here here, we say. The more the merrier. Show us the money!
Our community is in a rare and unique position. As the most marginal key seat in this election, talking heads across the country will be commentating about Ms Phillips, Mr Constance and the division of Gilmore a lot over the coming weeks. Some pundits say that the result in Gilmore could be key to delivering a majority Government.
Last time around at the 2022 election, just 373 votes separate the two and the narrow victory to Ms Phillips handed the Anthony Albanese an even narrower majority. This time around, it could be a different story.
Whilst Ms Phillips won the seat, she received less
first-preference votes than Mr Constance – around 6,700 votes less. Through the compulsory preferential voting system, the rest of 24,589 first-preference votes were filtered through all the other candidates until only Mr Constance and Ms Phillips remained, and ultimately this is where Ms Phillips won the day. Through preferences, the Labor incumbent was able to make up the 6,700 vote deficit and come through with 372 votes to spare.
So, whilst it looks to be a two-horse race in Gilmore, it may be those that initially vote for Kate Dezarnaulds (Independent), Debbie Killian (Greens) or Graham Brown (Family First), and how they preference other candidates, that will decide the result.
Back in 2022, more than 5,000 people or almost 5% of the voting population submitted informal votes.
In an election where just 373
votes determined the result, this is a massive number.
Whilst some of us no doubt submitted protest votes, others may have genuinely been trying to engage in their democratic right/duty but made a slight mistake. People, it might be a cliché in some parts of the country – but in Gilmore, your vote matters!
Over the next four weeks, our votes will shape the country for the next three years.
Sure, we want the major parties to show us the money and give us our fair share of funding, But if history is any judge – one in five of us will not put Labor or Liberal as our first preference and it is this 20% of the population that may hold the key to the election result for Gilmore.
The Bugle’s View is that we all have a duty to vote, and vote correctly, because in Gilmore.
Our vote really matters.
Charlie Daoud Cutting Ribbon at Northea Opening Photo Credit Housing Trust
Constance plays ball with $840K pledge for clubhouse
Paul
Suttor
Liberal candidate for Gilmore Andrew Constance has called on incumbent MP Fiona Phillips to match his commitment to deliver $840,000 in funding to complete the Gerry Emery Oval clubhouse project.
The Gerringong District All Sports clubhouse is home to the Gerringong Breakers Football Club, the Gerringong Jets Cricket Club and the Gerringong Touch Association.
More than $360,000 was raised by the local community for the project which has helped with the installation of dressing rooms for female athletes but more is needed to complete the renovation, including the function area and toilets upstairs, a lift for people with mobility challenges and a stairway.
Constance said the comprehensive upgrade of the clubhouse was long overdue.
“Securing this $840,000 commitment is a fantastic win for our community,” he said. “People living outside the big cities deserve quality sporting facilities and this funding commitment makes it clear that the Liberals will deliver for the South Coast.
“This commitment to modernise the clubhouse at Gerry Emery Oval will only encourage greater participation in local sport and bring our community together.
“I would like to thank the Gerringong District All Sports board and membership for all of their hard work in bringing this project to life and for supporting my advocacy to secure this commitment.”
Kiama Council Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters and CEO Jane Stroud also attended Constance’s announcement at the clubhouse on Tuesday,
along with Gerringong District All Sports president John Trevenar and members of the sporting clubs.
“When John approached me four or five months ago, it was very obvious that the need to build on what the community had already delivered,” Constance added.
“It's exceptional to think that a community such as Gerringong can come together and build an amenities block, which for the first time actually starts to cater for women's sport in particular. Up and down the coast there is just this massive
deficiency in female sporting amenities, and it's got to get fixed. You'd think by 2025 we'd be doing better with disabilities, with women's facilities, with juniors.
“So today I'm announcing that if elected, we'll deliver $840,000 to finish the job. And that caters for everything. It caters to fit out of this room, the bathroom facilities, disability access, the whole lot, to get the job done for all the sports that benefit from Gerry Emery Oval.”
Constance wants Phillips to match his promise so that if
Labor retains the seat of Gilmore, the funding will be delivered.
“I'm calling on my Labor counterpart to actually pull a finger out and actually match the funds,” he said.
“There's thousands upon thousands of people who will benefit from these facilities and they do need to be upgraded.”
Phillips responded with: “I am certainly looking forward to seeing the detail on that.
I haven’t been provided the information on that as yet. I’ll definitely take a look.”
Albo’s election strategy a pain for volunteers
Lynne Strong
Albo finally names the date but here’s why we’re still a bit cranky. Communities doing the real work deserve better than election limbo.
Now that we know the federal election will be held on 3 May, thanks Albo. But next time, could we not wait so long? Because while you and your strategists have been playing political poker, we’ve been stuck holding off on sausage sizzles, postponing Mother’s Day high teas and rethinking raffle rosters.
It’s been a scheduling nightmare. Polling places aren’t just civic buildings wheeled out for elections. They are community hubs, funded by cake stalls and barbecues, powered by volunteers, and booked months in advance for events that matter. It’s no small thing, planning a fundraiser. It’s hours of unpaid labour, borrowed urns, handmade bunting, and spreadsheets for who’s bringing glutenfree. Election strategy is a game. But out here in the Kiama region and across the country, we’re not playing. We’re doing.
BaiMed thrilled with new Kiama location
BaiMed is delivering even better services after relocating to a new multi-disciplinary clinic in the heart of Kiama.
Located at 29 Collins Street, it is home to experienced physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, dieticians and massage therapists.
Senior physiotherapist Ryan Parker said BaiMed’s staff and customers alike were loving the new set-up after relocating from Brown Street, near the Quarry. “We care for a range of clients, from our elite athletes,
weekend warriors, and retirees,” he said.
“From musculoskeletal conditions/injuries, post operative rehabilitation, NDIS, neurological conditions (stroke, Parkinson's, spinal cord injury), recovery from work-related injuries, return to fitness and wellbeing.
“We run our Parkinson's Disease PD Power classes out of the clinic and physiotrained yoga instructors practice from the scout hall in town.”
Fellow physiotherapist, Kat Dawson, who is
also manager of clinical services, said BaiMed had been operating for 18 years and more than a decade in Kiama. “It’s the same BaiMed team, the same BaiMed principles of always trying to be better and do better for everyone but an upgraded location which is more central and easier for people to get to,” she said.
“We do have some onsite parking as well, which is great and it has been a bit of a facelift for us moving forward into 2025, which we are really excited about.
“We've got a very
humble team here and they really care about the community of Kiama and that's one of the big things about the clinic. It's meant to be a community clinic for everyone.”
Kat said Kiama’s natural beauty made it great for residents to get out and about. “People focus on the sporting side of physiotherapy but we're very diverse and we're really for anyone that's got any pain or wants to improve something,” she said. “We've got a great team that go over and above for everyone and
that's not just clinicians, it’s our administration team here as well.
“If you wanna go for a swim in the ocean, or people that go canoeing and stand-up paddle boarding, all of those different things - really we’re here for anyone that wants to stay active and keep doing all of the things that they enjoy.
“We're very fortunate here in that there's a lot to do in Kiama and a lot to enjoy.”
Principal physiotherapist Scott Muttdon is also available again at
the Kiama clinic for appointments after playing a key role in the Illawarra Hawk’s NBL championship-winning season.
He has even been allowed to bring the trophy into the clinic for a few days before it has to go back to the Hawks’ trophy cabinet.
The new multidisciplinary clinic is open extended hours MondayFriday.
A long drive through time: The history of Kiama Golf Club
Lleyton Hughes
When you sit down with
Golf Club historian, about the course’s changes over the years, his passion for Kiama and its history is immense.
Andrew turned up for his The Bugle holding a portable filing cabinet filled with hundreds of documents, as well as a laptop.
“People value the history of the golf club, and it’s important to make its most significant parts accessible to everyone,” says
To celebrate the club's 90th anniversary (at
Minnamurra), Andrew thought it was about time more people knew about the history, not just of this particular piece of land, but of a sport and a way of life for Kiama residents.
The story begins in 1903: a nine-hole links course was laid out at Chapman Point in Kiama, spanning the paddocks of local residents Mrs Caird, Mr Kendall, and Mr Holden. Thus, the Kiama Golf Club was born.
Six years later, Kiama produced a champion woman golfer, Miss Nell Caird, who won the 1909 NSW Ladies' Amateur Championship.
In 1916, the golf club ceased operations for reasons that remain unclear. “A photo with rows of army tents spanning the site of the
golf course may give us a clue. There is also anecdotal evidence that stray bullets from the rifle range on Kendall’s Beach were a problem,” says Andrew.
Golf was re-established in Kiama in 1927, the year Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Soviet Communist Party, and a new course was laid out at the site of the existing Kiama High School.
In 1934, the golf club tried to improve the course and remove the need to crawl under a barbed wire fence after driving from a certain tee. The request was rejected by the Council, and the golf club advertised for persons with land suitable for a new course.
Mr Cyril Boyd, a keen golfer who had carved out a few holes on his property
in Minnamurra, made land available, leased for 10 shillings per week.
Mr Eric Apperley, a renowned amateur golfer and course designer, laid out the new course, and the first competition round was played on 11 August 1934. It was officially opened by WJ Rumble, president of the Suburban and Country Golf Association of NSW, on 16 March 1935.
The 1935 edition of Golf in Australia praised the course, stating that Mr Rumble was “most eulogistic concerning the course and its designer, the clubhouse and its facilities, and also those responsible for the enterprise.”
Andrew has been using Trove to find articles referencing the golf club, as
well as reading through old issues of Kiama Independent.
“I ended up going through old Kiama Independentsthey're on microfilm at the Kiama Library in the family history centre. I started in 1960 because I knew that was around the time they extended the course to 18 holes, and I’m still going through all the 1970s editions now,” says Andrew.
Golf continued into the early years of World War II, but by 1943, things were becoming increasingly difficult. The annual meeting in April 1943 reported on problems with the supply of golf balls and machinery parts for the greenkeeper.
The associates’ annual meeting in November 1943 reported on the “nonattendance of associates” and
that, “There is no doubt that the lack of interest is due to the times through which we are passing.”
Golf was discontinued at the club from 1943 to 1946 and at the annual meeting in July 1946, it was reported that: “The meeting decided that an effort should be made to have the course in a condition to commence play on 1st September.”
It is not clear whether the 1 September date was achieved, but a golf event staged at the Kiama links on 20 October was reported in the local press. The event involved players from Berry, Gerringong, Nowra, Port Kembla, and Kiama. The main event was won by Cyril Boyd with a net 73.
Sorting through anecdotal stories, beliefs, and occasional
false information about the golf course has been a challenge for Andrew.
“You get a lot of conflicting reports, so you really have to check your information. For example, the club celebrated 100 years of golf in 2005. At the time, the earliest known record of golf in Kiama was from 1905, although we now know that the golf club started in 1903,” says Andrew.
In 1961, Kiama Golf Club’s first 18-hole course was completed under the guidance of Al Howard. The course incorporated seven of the 9 greens from the old course. Only the 8th (now 3rd) hole remained unchanged.
The first game was played on Saturday, 21 October 1961, and a new course record of 72 was set by club champion Laurie Kelley. That score was
bettered by Bill Peck two weeks later with 69, and he backed it up with a 67 the following week.
In 1963, the annual meeting authorised the committee to raise £40,000 to build a new clubhouse. There was a debate over whether the club should enter into an arrangement with Millers Brewery, which was prepared to finance the building, subject to their beer being sold exclusively at the club.A majority of the club members were not fond of Millers beer, and so the option was declined. Instead, funds were raised by issuing debentures. Clubhouse extensions costing £15,000 were opened in November 1966.
In the late 1970s, treated sewage from the new subdivision at Gainsborough
became available for the course.
Members were levied $40 each to cover the cost of a fully automated fairway watering system.
A large batch of low-priced Radiata Pine seedlings was procured and planted.
The clubhouse was renovated in 1983 and the course was flooded the following year before a number of greens were rebuilt during the 1990s.
The last 15 years have seen the pine trees reach maturity and start to die off, one by one. The greens staff now spend a large part of their winters removing dead trees, which are being replaced with
mostly brush box. Stage 1 of clubhouse renovations was completed in 2015. Stage 2 is due to start shortly. The Kiama golf course managed to stay open for all but a few days during the COVID-19 pandemic and the club ended 2024 with 984 playing members.
The history of the golf club illuminates the stories, passions and interests of generations of residents as well as shaping the identity of its place in the heart of Kiama.
Ward wants locals to speak up
Lynne Strong
Gareth Ward MP has urged Kiama locals to speak up while they still have the chance, calling on the community to make submissions to Kiama Council’s Draft Local Housing Strategy before the 27 April deadline.
In a fiery speech to Parliament, the Member for Kiama said it was time to put “Australians first” in the midst of a worsening housing crisis, pointing to long public housing waitlists, skyrocketing rents, and a growing number of people sleeping in cars or couch surfing. He called on the community to get involved in shaping local housing decisions, rather than leaving the future of the area to “big Sydney developers”.
“The strategy anticipates that an additional 6,917 people will call Kiama home by 2040, only 15 years away,” Ward told Parliament. “The New South Wales Government has set a five-year housing target for the Kiama local government area of 900 additional dwellings. I want to see more homes, but they need to be in the right locations, and these locations should be decided by our community.”
Ward also renewed his push for the Bombo Quarry site to be redeveloped in a master-planned, community-
led way, describing it as a prime opportunity to offer “a variety of different housing types” that reflect the needs of locals. He welcomed current collaboration between Kiama Council and the Department of Planning on this project.
But while backing new housing where appropriate, Ward did not shy away from criticising the NSW Government’s broader approach. He questioned the Government’s handling of immigration, foreign
property ownership, and what he sees as a weakening of local planning powers.
“There are plenty of people in this place who oppose all development without offering a solution. I do not want to be one of those people,” he said, proposing a list of sites and policy changes that could be explored to help meet the region’s growing housing needs. These included:
- Masterplanning the old Shellharbour Hospital site for key worker housing
- Rezoning the Nowra CBD to increase height and density
- Using Governmentowned land for housing those delivering essential services
Ward also took aim at the NSW Rental Commissioner, questioning the independence of the role and calling for more accountability and real action to help renters in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
For now, his main message was clear: local voices matter. Submissions to the Draft Local Housing Strategy are open until 27 April.
“Growth needs to be balanced against the maintenance of village character and the need for people to have a say in the future of our urban and natural environment,” Ward said.
If you want to shape the future of housing in our area, now is the time.
You can read the draft strategy and make a submission by visiting Council’s website. Submissions close Sunday 27 April.
And if you do not feel the engagement process is strong enough, it is your right to raise that with your elected councillors. Housing affects all of us. So should the way we talk about it.
It’s time to talk about vision
heavy rain, poor drainage, outlet pipes discharging into the beach and confusion over who was responsible. It could have been written this week.
Minister for Conservation at the time, WJ Beale, said: “Drainage is not an easy problem to handle” and urged that it be addressed early.
Yet many of those early warnings were never followed through.
Fast-forward to 2025 and we're still hearing about leaking sewer pipes, concerns
are not just fragments of the past. They are reflections of conversations we still have. So it raises the bigger question: What do we want our community to look and feel like 20 or 30 years from now? One idea involves using a strong visual symbol, like a crystal ball with the question: “What does our LGA look like in 20 to 30 years?”, to prompt imagination and invite community input. These conversations will be grounded in lived experience and informed by our own history - not as nostalgia, but as a guide for better decisionmaking.
By asking how we got here and where we want to go, we have an opportunity to shift the conversation. The pipes, the beach, the green hills and the decisions of the past are not just background. They are the foundation of the future we build from here.
Gareth Ward wants to hear from Kiama residents on housing.
Fighting cancer
one gig at a time
Lynne Strong
When Greg Brown picks up his guitar, it is not just for the love of music. It is for his father, for families facing cancer, and for communities that believe in coming together for a cause.
Greg has called Kiama home since 1985, having spent over three decades running his local business, Kiama Landscaping and Mowing. These days, he has traded in the whipper snipper for a six-string and is on a mission to raise money for cancer charities through music.
“My dad died of bowel cancer at 47. I was only 14 at the time,” Greg explains.
“I just want to make as much money as I can for the Cancer Council.”
Over the past year, Greg has begun performing live at local venues, with proceeds directed straight to cancer research. “I did a gig here in April last year and made a bit over $2,000. Another one before Christmas brought in about $500,” he says. “It depends on how much notice I get. The more buildup, the better the turnout.”
Greg travels with his full kit, including amps, PA system and two guitars, and invites venues to donate what they would usually pay him to a Cancer Council QR code. Others attending the gigs are welcome to scan and contribute as well.
Having recently purchased a van, Greg is now preparing to take his show on the road. “I want to travel around Australia in my van and do as many gigs as I can. I would love to perform at events that raise awareness and funds for cancer. That is what is on my bucket list.”
He is eager to connect with other musos along the way. “I’ve been doing this mostly on my own. It would be great to meet others who are out there playing and sharing their music. I’d love to learn how others organise their gigs, what equipment they use, how they manage recordings and sound, maybe even collaborate on a few performances. It’s not just about the music, it’s about building connections, being part of something bigger.”
Though his hands are no longer full of mulch and mower fuel, Greg still volunteers where he can, at Landcare when time allows, and at the Kiama Men’s Shed, where he has been a regular for three years.
Greg’s message is simple: “Let us use what we love - music, conversation, community - to make a difference. If I can raise funds and awareness, then it is all worth it.”
For anyone who wants to support Greg’s journey, invite him to perform, or help him connect with fellow musicians, he is just an email away: gregorybrown976@ gmail.com
Walk the coast and help bring it back to life
Lynne Strong
The Kiama Coast Walk is already one of our most cherished natural assets. But this April, it becomes something more: a classroom, a nursery, and a place for connection.
Supported by a grant from the BUPA Healthy Cities Landcare Australia program, five of Kiama’s volunteer Landcare groups are inviting locals and visitors to join them in a series of guided walks and community planting days, aimed at restoring native vegetation and reviving ecosystems long under stress.
“The walk connects you to nature, but also to the people doing the quiet, consistent work to protect it,” said Meredith Hall, Landcare
Coordinator with Landcare Illawarra.
The program begins on Saturday 12 April with a guided walk from the Little Blowhole to Minnamurra Headland, led by local plant specialist Carl Glaister, who will highlight remnant species clinging to cliffs and share stories of the landscape he has known since childhood.
“I get a real kick out of rediscovering little plants growing out of rocks that I remember from childhood,” Carl said. “Once you know their names, once you hear their stories, they become part of your own. It changes how you see the coast.”
Michael Forsyth, former General Manager of Kiama Council, is now spending time as a volunteer with the
Little Blowhole Landcare group. “There’s a deep satisfaction in contributing to the restoration of degraded landscapes and seeing them returned to the community as places of shared value and beauty,” he said.
“For me, it’s good for the soul and the mind. That social connection is really valuable.”
Throughout May, Landcare groups will host five community planting days across Bombo Beach, Kendalls Beach, Minnamurra, Werri Beach, and the Little Blowhole, each aiming to plant 300 native seedlings. The goal: to bring back coastal plant communities such as Bangalay Sand Forest, Littoral Rainforest, and Themeda Grassland.
The FUKERS are bringing the fire
Paul Taylor might tell you he’s just a bloke with a ukulele, a cheeky nickname for every bandmate and a soft spot for surf breaks.
But don’t let the selfdeprecating tone fool you. Behind the scenes of this riotously named band, The FUKERS (Freshwater Ukulele Recital Society), is a crew of seriously good musicians with a mission.
On Saturday 24 May, they’ll raise the roof at Jamberoo School of Arts Hall, all in
support of the Jamberoo Rural Fire Service.
And yes, they know what the name sounds like. That’s part of the charm.
“We've raised well over $150,000 for charities,” Taylor said. “But it's not just about fundraising. It's about music, mateship and making people smile.”
Their four guiding values? Fun, friendship, finesse and, when those three align, fundraising. This gig is a great example. Proceeds will go to the local RFS brigade, led by Captain Hannah McInerney and powered by a team of quietly heroic women and men who keep the valley safe. Taylor and the band were inspired to support them after local legend Amanda Large
attended a FUKERS gig and asked “Can we do more?”. The answer was yes, with enthusiasm.Imagine a bunch of long-time mates, many who met in their school days or the surf at Manly, now armed with electric ukuleles, smooth harmonies and some of the best nicknames in the business.
Jonny, resident artist, is the “Ace of Bass”, Mike “The King fUKEr” came up with the uke concept before it was cool and filmmaker Paul Clark “the director” (yes, You're the Voice, The Hardest Line and many more) adds professional polish and pitchperfect vocals.
Add to this the ukulele gravel voiced geniuses of Dave the “Duke of Uke” and the dulcet tones of their very own Fireman and big wave surfer “Smokin Tim Tango”.
Then there’s the real serious musos, Greg “Mayor of Snare” on drums, and Jeff
the “Tzar of Guitar”, a guitar player whose solos can make jaws drop.
“People come just to see Jeff,” Taylor added. “He’s as good as any guitarist Australia has ever produced.”
Greg “the mayor” is an incredible musical talent with (to raised eyebrows) an array of the corniest oneliners.
They’re all held together by humour, heart, harmonies and a shared love of music and mischief.
Over the years, they’ve played gigs where the nativity scene featured a doll named Baby Cheeses, headlined Lord Howe Island through a cyclone and held raucous Christmas Eve concerts under names like Brown Trout and Santa’s Illegitimate Children.
Their harmonies are tight, their stories even tighter and their fundraising track record speaks for itself.
Ulysses Club’s Ride rolls into Kiama for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lleyton Hughes
On Thursday, 20 March, the Ulysses Club’s inaugural Ride for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) arrived in Kiama, with Gerringong’s own Cheryl and Patrick Maheady leading the charge.
The South Coast members of the Ulysses Club met up with the Melbourne riders in Marulan on Wednesday, before riding through Bundanoon, Kangaroo Valley, and down Cambewarra Mountain into Kiama.
A total of 43 Ulysses Club members stopped for dinner in Kiama, and on Friday, 21 March, a smaller group gathered at Kiama Harbour before heading north for the next leg of the journey.
The ride was dedicated to raising funds for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) research, a chronic condition that affects approximately 514,000 Australians each year. RA causes pain, swelling, and inflammation in the joints, as the immune system mistakenly attacks the tissues lining the joints.
It is estimated that the ride
has raised between $10,000 to $15,000 for RA research. Gerringong local Cheryl Maheady, who was diagnosed with RA seven years ago, became the face of the ride for South Coast members of the Ulysses Club. She and her husband, Patrick, were part of the crew that assembled in Kiama.
“I’m very pleased to say that with the help of the local Gerringong community, we’ve raised just over $3,600,” says Cheryl.
She expressed heartfelt thanks to all the local businesses and friends who had donated and purchased raffle tickets, including: Natural Necessity Surf Shop, Oak Home Gerringong, AMX Warrawong, Core Store Gerringong, Beyond the Beach Gerringong, Bunnings South Nowra, First National Gerringong, Gerringong Pharmacy, Gerringong Physiotherapy, Gerringong Family Medical Centre, Gerringong Post Office, Gerringong Rotary Sunrise, Soulfit Co Gerringong, Rosemary Rolles, and all the wonderful friends who generously supported the cause.
Lynne Strong
The Ulysses Club in Kiama. Photo: Supplied
Fukers Perform at Wedding at NSW art gallery
What’s On?
WALK. PLANT. CONNECT.
Join a Landcare event this autumn
GUIDED WALKS
12 April – Little Blowhole to Minnamurra with Carl Glaister
3 May – Werri Beach with Ailee Calderbank
PLANTING DAYS
10 May – Bombo Beach (North End)
17 May – Kendalls Beach
18 May – Minnamurra
24 May – Werri Beach
31 May – Little Blowhole
No experience needed.
Everyone welcome.
More info at landcareillawarra. org.au
Retrospective – An
Exhibition of Contemporary
Photography by FIVE Local Photographers
04 April - 09 April
Old Fire Station
Textile Art Group Kiama
2nd Saturday of each month
Underneath the Kiama Library
Johnny Warren Golf Classic
Thursday 15 May
Jamberoo Golf Course
To honour Socceroos legend, Johnny Warren, who would be turning 82 years old.
OpenField Arts Festival
2025
13 June to 15 June
OpenField Arts Festival 2025 invites travellers to swap the
city rush for a weekend of contemporary art, gourmet dining, and boutique shopping in this charming South Coast town.
Werri Beach/ Gerringong Garden Club
Monthly on day 12 10:00 AM12:00 PM
Uniting Church Hall, 28 Fern St, Gerringong. Attendance is $5.
Sunday Sessions - Live Music
Every Sunday from 2:00PM Yves at The Sebel Harbourside
Michele Skuza Art
Exhibition
10 April to 16 April
The Old Fire Station Art Gallery
Kiama Farmers Markets
Every Wednesday weekly 3pm - 6pm (2pm-5pm in winter)
Coronation Park, Kiama Kiama Seaside Markets
Third Sunday monthly 9am - 3pm
Black Beach Kiama
Gerringong Rotary Markets
Third Saturday monthly 8.30am - 2pm
Gerringong Town Hall Jamberoo Village Markets
Last Sunday monthly 8am - 3pm Reid Park Jamberoo
Share your family notices for free with your local community
Life is full of milestones, big and small, that deserve to be noted. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, new arrival, engagement, wedding graduation or memorial, The Bugle’s digital app is the perfect place to share your news with the community. And best of all? It’s completely free to list your family notices! In a world where we are more connected than ever, taking a moment to acknowledge and celebrate life’s important events brings us closer
together. A simple notice can inform, and keep our community in touch with milestoneswhether celebrating or commiserating.
Listing your family notice is easy! Simply submit your details through The Bugle’s digital app, and we’ll take care of the rest. On the app go to the community button and click on Family Notices and list your details from there.
Let’s keep Kiama connected - one special moment at a time.
Alice Peel’s new book aims to tackle mental health early
Lleyton Hughes
Alice Peel, a Jamberoo local and co-founder of the ground-breaking wellbeing program Grow Your Mind, hopes her new book can help children confront mental health challenges at an early age and promote resilience, emotional regulation and friendship skills.
Her new book How to Be a Fantastic, Sensational, GoodEnough Kid was released on Tuesday. Grow Your Mind is already making waves in over 500 Australian schools, including Ss Peter and Paul Catholic School and Jamberoo Public School.
The program evolved from Alice’s time as a primary school teacher, where she noticed that students who could emotionally regulate and form lasting friendships tended to perform better academically. “I was working as a teacher, and it was clear that the kids who could manage their emotions and build friendships were also the ones feeling more connected and excelling in their schoolwork,” says Peel.
With a background in public health, Alice became increasingly interested in understanding why some
students performed better than others. This curiosity led her to study psychology and neuroscience.
“I was really excited about teaching well-being to kids, but I was the only one who seemed to share my enthusiasm,” says Peel.
“So I started thinking of ways to make it engaging. I introduced stories and animals that represented key parts of the brain, and the kids really got into it.”
The success of the program, which she co-founded with Christina Freeman, alongside the Grow Your Mind podcast, caught the attention of a publisher who encouraged her to write a book.
How to Be a Fantastic, Sensational, Good-Enough Kid is structured into ten chapters, each beginning with a mini comic strip that sets the tone for the chapter’s lesson. “I thought, if that’s the only thing a kid reads, they’ll still get the moral of the whole chapter,” says Peel. Every chapter starts with a question, which Alice answers in a way that’s like having a teacher right there with the reader. Each chapter ends with a true story from a child, a “practice makes progress” section, and space
for kids to write down their thoughts.“One of the fun parts is that each chapter has an animal helper who represents a key part of the brain. For example, the guard dog represents the amygdala, and we explore how the brain reacts to threat responses. It’s all about combining brain facts with real-life stories and lessons,” says Peel.
Each chapter also includes a “Shine a Spotlight” page, encouraging kids to learn about important figures in Australian history, such as Adam Goodes or Gina Chick. “We want the book to feel interactive - like a living, breathing resource for kids,” says Peel. One of the chapters specifically addresses the challenges kids face with their devices. It encourages them to “be the boss of your device” and to replace screen time with “green time”.
might mean court
Lynne Strong
Are you like me and use emojis without really knowing what they mean? You’re not alone.
And you might want to tread carefully, because the little zipped-mouth face can pack quite a legal punch.
Back in the day, LOL meant “lots of love”, not “laugh out loud”. A single smiley could brighten someone’s day, not launch a courtroom drama. But in 2025, our new hieroglyphic language - those innocentlooking emojis - is getting more complicated by the day.
Just ask Sydney lawyer Zali Burrows. As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald she is currently in a legal standoff with fellow barrister Adam Houda over a single emoji he posted on Twitter (sorry, X). No insults, no caption,
just that zipped-mouth face. Burrows claims it was defamatory. The judge says emojis can indeed convey serious meaning, especially if the context is juicy enough. So now, one zipped mouth might be enough to open a whole can of legal worms. But forget the courtroom for a moment. This story is about us. The emoji enthusiasts. The accidental over-sharers. The digital optimists who throw hearts into group chats, thumbsup our way through work threads, and nervously guess our way around Gen Z’s “crying laughing skull” emoji.
We thought we were being friendly. But what if we’ve been sending mixed signals all along?
Maybe it’s time we brought back words. Or at least kept one eyebrow raised next time we hover over a cheeky monkey or aubergine.
Just saying.
support local
Alex walking to save lives, one step at a time
Steven White
“You are not alone. You are not a burden. You are worthy of life.”
For the past 460 days, Kiama’s Alex Glover has been walking across Australia, quietly yet powerfully changing lives. His mission, Strides Against Suicide, is more than a personal journey.
It is a moving, step-by-step call to talk openly about men’s mental health and suicide prevention.
Alex has covered more than 16,000km on foot. Tasmania, the latest leg of the walk, was added with intention.
“I figured, yeah, it's a state, so it needs to have the same respect given to it.”
Respect is what drives him - for people, for place and for pain that too often goes unspoken. On quiet stretches of road, Alex invites conversation simply by being there. A man with a backpack, a mission, and time to listen.
"It's a lot easier to open up to a stranger than to someone you know and love," he says. “Hopefully, that encourages them to talk to their friends and family too.”
His first day on the road brought an unforgettable reminder of unpredictability.
A car burnout happened just metres from where he was camped.
"It was a powerful reminder that you are where you are, and you must accept your surroundings."
Since then, he has crossed deserts, coastlines and cities.
In Tasmania, he chose a more intimate route, walking anticlockwise from Hobart and exploring the small towns off the tourist trail. Flying in, rather than catching the Spirit of Tasmania, meant lighter gear and safer walking on narrow country roads.
He wandered through remote forests, hiked rugged ridgelines, and lay awake at night listening to the wild, eerie cry of Tasmanian devils.
On Black Buff in the Alpine region, he pushed through sleet, wind and rain, falling again and again until his foot gave way.
“I think I’ve torn a few ligaments,” he admits, almost casually.
But there is no pause in the mission. With about 1500km to go before returning home to Kiama, Alex is still walking, still waving at passing cars, still stopping when someone pulls over and says, “Hey mate, got a minute?”
He has already raised more than $13,000.
His bigger dream is to fund nature-based camps for boys facing mental health challenges, creating a space where connection can grow and healing can begin.
For Alex, each step is an invitation to speak.Each conversation is a lifeline And for the strangers who meet him on the side of the road, his presence is a quiet reassurance that someone cares enough to walk this far, just to listen.
Surprise call as Katrina bows out of Whitlam
Katrina Hodgkinson, the Nationals’ Candidate for Whitlam, has pulled out of the race less than a week into the election campaign.
Ms Hodgkinson said when the Nationals asked her to run for Whitlam “it was the last thing on my mind as I was engaged in a variety of other roles” but she eventually agreed, announcing her candidacy in February.
“Since then, it has become clear that the campaign for Whitlam will be between the Labor and Liberal parties, and I want to do everything I can to help enable a change of this seat and the whole of government to the Coalition,” she said.
The former state MP says she put her name forward due to her concerns about “the hardship that families and small businesses in our region are experiencing with the ever-spiralling cost of living” but in a change of heart has now decided to clear the way for the Liberals’ Benjamin Britton.
“I will step aside from the role of candidate in order to keep the focus on the main game, and that is to win government for the Coalition at this election,” she said. Labor’s Stephen Jones, who has held the seat of Whitlam since 2010, announced his retirement from politics earlier this year. Former Disability Trust chief executive Carol Berry was anointed as his successor.
Alex Glover in Tasmania.
Photo: Steven White
SwimwearSale
Unsafe conditions put Surfing Finals on hold
Young Gerringong Queens: Lucy and Holly strut their stuff at all-female competition
Lleyton Hughes
Gerringong’s Lucy Darragh defended her crown in the junior division of the Ocean Queen Classic on the weekend.
The Ocean Queen Classic is an all-female surfing event with a $10,000 prize pool in its second year, featuring both junior and open divisions.
display,” Collinge said.
Only one final of the NSW South Coast Junior Regional Titles was able to take place last weekend due to unsafe conditions.
Held at Kiama’s Jones Beach on Sunday, Surfing NSW South Coast Regional Director Jo Collinge said the day began quite well.
“Although the weather was rainy and windy, the morning started off with plenty of waves and some excellent surfing on
Collinge says the 14s, 16s and 18s boys’ heats were particularly impressive with most competitors getting consistently well-scored waves.
“A very high quality of surfing was showcased throughout the boys’ heats, with standout performances from Jackson Fraser, Jet Bradley, Bowie Gray, and Lennox Lindsay, all of whom consistently posted excellent scores,” Collinge said.
Around midday, the conditions began to
deteriorate and the water was deemed unsafe, and as a result only one final was able to go ahead.
“The only final that could be held was the Under 14 Girls, with Rubylee Neill taking first place and receiving an Urban Surf voucher, while Abigail Woods claimed runnerup, earning $100 worth of gift vouchers from Natural Necessity and their in-store café, The Perfect Break,” Collinge said.
Collinge says the call was made for safety reasons and that the finals will still go
ahead at a later date.
“Competitors will be advised via Surfing NSW and also through the South Coast Surfing Instagram account.
“Thank you to all the judges and crew, particularly water safety, as well as the dedicated parents from up and down the coast who braved the wild weather conditions.
“Special shout-out to natural necessity who kindly and generously donated over $1000 worth of prizes for the event. It will be a big finals day and worth coming down to watch,” Collinge added.
Darragh surfed brilliantly at Wonoona Beach, competing against 23 other talented young surfers.
She led all of her heats and convincingly claimed victory in the final. “The Ocean Queen Classic is one of my favourite events to compete in. It’s both encouraging and challenging,” Darragh said.
“It’s so inspiring to see so many girls surfing so well, especially since the competitions I usually compete in are maledominated and to have won the event two years in a row is so cool. The competition was tough, every heat was challenging, and the
conditions weren’t easy, but I was stoked to finish the day with a win.”
In the open division, Culburra’s Keira Buckpitt emerged victorious after a high quality final which included Gerringong’s Holly Wishart. “It was so inspiring to watch the incredible open women’s final with Holly, Keira, Oceana, and Shyla all surfing so well,” Darragh said. The event featured the inaugural Rising Queens Surf Clinic, led by pro surfer Serena Brooks, aimed at involving younger girls in the competition. Kirby Mowbray, one of the contest directors, explains why the Ocean Queen Classic was created.
“Most competitions around here are really maledominated, and I think that discourages many girls from entering. It’s great to have a competition that focuses solely on girls - it creates such a supportive environment,” she says. Mowbray says the 2025 competition marked a significant step forward.
Fox makes an almighty splash: Visually impaired Gerringong surfer shines at Byron
Lleyton Hughes
From 21-30 March, Gerringong's Steve Fox competed in the 2025 Bright Sky Australian Pro Adaptive Surf Championships in Byron Bay. Fox, who has Retinitis Pigmentosa - a progressive eye disease that damages the retina - participated in both the Australian titles and the World Pro event for blind surfers.
The Australian Pro Adaptive Surfing Championships feature competitors from around the world with various disabilities, including those
who are in wheelchairs, amputees, or visually impaired.
Fox secured second place in both the Australian titles on Monday, 24 March, and the World Championships on Sunday, 30 March. However, for Fox, it’s less about the competition and more about connecting with others who share similar life experiences.
“There aren’t too many people surfing blind, so it’s great to catch up with them and have a chat. It’s also interesting to surf in an event where people are speaking different languages, but we all share the same common interest,” says Fox.
“There’s just such a great vibe at the competition. Everyone is excited to be involved. It’s a really positive event – professional, yes, but without that cutthroat feel. Everyone is supportive, and there’s lots of cheering for each other as we all give it a go.”
Fox surfs with a guide who helps direct him on the beach and calls him onto waves. “Then, we just paddle in, and
from there, I’m on my own, surfing,” he says.
Though Fox’s vision has only deteriorated over the last eight years, he’s always been a surfer, and losing his sight was never going to stop him.
“I feel at home in the water,” he says. “It’s just natural to me. You can hear the waves coming, so you know where to go. And when you’re on the wave, you can feel what it’s doing under your feet, so you just follow the energy of the wave.”
For those facing similar challenges, Fox offers this advice: “You just have to keep making small changes, take it one step at a time, but always stay positive and get out there to make the most of it.”
“When you attend an event like this and see people who are completely paralyzed but still surfing with huge smiles on their faces, you realise that anything is possible. If you're truly committed and want to keep doing it, you can make it happen,” says Fox.
Fox’s determination and spirit make him an inspiration to us all. The Bugle congratulates him on his fantastic achievements in representing Gerringong and Australia.
Lleyton Hughes
Young Gerringong Queens: Lucy and Holly at all female surf competition
Kendall carves out her own slice of history at national champs
Lleyton Hughes
Thirteen-year-old
Kendall Payne made history on Sunday by winning the first ‘water medal’ in the history of Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
Competing in Kirra, she earned a silver medal in the U13 surf race - a 400m swim through the surffinishing ahead of 230 other competitors.
Her father, Richard Payne, who is also the Vice President of Gerringong SLSC, recalls the thrilling moment:
“Kendall led the pack through the break, with four girls in contention. They rounded the can, and the race out was quick, but the return was tricky with heavy water movement,” Richard said.
“As they slowed down, I couldn’t quite tell where she was. But then, all four girls caught a wave together. One of them surged ahead by a metre, and the other three were neck and neck. In a sprint to the finish, Kendall edged out the others, crossing the line in second. It was incredible.”
Kendall was thrilled about her historic achievement.
“I’m very proud and it still hasn’t properly sunk in, but overall I am honoured to represent this amazing club alongside with my teammates and coaches that I wouldn’t be here without,” she said.
Kendall was one of three Gerringong SLSC membersalongside Charlie Miller and Hudson Alchin - to compete at the Aussie Championships.
Richard credits the club’s success to their coaches, exprofessional ironmen Larn Darragh and Greg Miller, who have played a significant role in developing the athletes.
“We’re a small, regional club with two former ironmen coaching. They’ve helped teach the little things - like navigating the break - and that’s been key to our success, especially in tough conditions,” he said.
He also praises the dedication of the young athletes at Gerringong SLSC, highlighting Kendall’s rigorous training schedule as an example.
“I’ve never seen anyone train harder,” Richard added. “Kendall’s the most determined kid. Despite
battling severe asthma and even breaking her toes this year, she never misses a session.
“Most of the kids have four pool sessions and another five outside for running, board work, and more.
“They’re training nine sessions a week, and they would train more if they could. And they absolutely love it.”
For Kendall, the passion for surf lifesaving goes beyond the sport itself. What truly drives her is the supportive and challenging environment at Gerringong SLSC.
“I love everything about surf lifesaving - the hard work, friendships, pushing myself, and the laughs,” Kendall said.
“I train hard because I look up to iron women and men, and I know my effort will pay off. But the best part is my teammates and club, they push me to my limits and always support me, no matter what. There’s no easy session with them.”
Hudson Alchin made the U13 swim final and finished 25th, while Charlie Miller made the quarters in the swim but narrowly missed out on a semis spot.
Group 7 taking a major step forward with Magic Round innovation for new season
Lleyton Hughes
Group 7 kicks off on Saturday and this season promises to be one of the biggest yet, with the addition of the inaugural Magic Round.
With nine first-grade teams, 10 reserve-grade teams, seven Regan Cup third-grade teams, nine U18 teams, and 22 ladies’ leaguetag teams across three divisions, the 112th season of Group 7 proves rugby league is only getting stronger and stronger on the South Coast.
“We’re really excited to work closely with the clubs to focus on the growth, development, and sustainability of the competition moving forward,” says Group 7 operations manager
Ashton Sims.
“Rugby league has been a staple of winter sports throughout the South Coast and has truly been the heartbeat of our winter sports culture. We’re thrilled to build on that this year.”
A key highlight of the
2025 season is the several specialty rounds scattered throughout the season, including a Women in League round, a Mental Health Awareness round, NAIDOC round and, for the first time, a Magic Roundmirroring the NRL.
“We’ve partnered with the Beer, Food and Footy Festival to host our first-ever Magic Round at Artie Smith Oval on May 17,” Sims said.
The Magic Round will feature all four first-grade matches taking place on the day at the same field.
“Everyone is looking forward to this milestone in Group 7, and we’re committed to raising the bar with new initiatives and programs to strengthen rugby league in our region and provide a place for the community to come together each weekend.”
One of the most anticipated match-ups of Round 1 is the rivalry clash between the Jamberoo Superoos and the Kiama Knights, set for Sunday at Kiama Showground. Both teams missed the finals in 2024 and are eager to start their new season strong.
“I’ve heard great things
about both teams,” Sims said. “They’ve recruited well over the off-season and are looking to promote local juniors into the senior ranks to ensure long-term sustainability.
“You can do all the preseason training you want, but it all comes down to Sunday afternoon. That’s when we’ll really see where both teams stand. It’s a big local rivalry, and both sides will be fired up to start the season on the right foot.”
Another major storyline is whether the Gerringong Lions can pull off a historic three-peat for the first time since Albion Park-Oak Flats in 2000. “A couple of weeks ago, in our innerclub challenge match against Western Suburbs, Gerringong was leading for most of the game but got pipped at the last minute,” Sims said. “They’re a team that continues to focus on developing local juniors, and it’s fantastic to see. I’m sure Scotty Stewart, Nathan Ford, and the whole team will be aiming to secure the first three-peat since 2000.”
Gerringong Lions face Berry Magpies at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday.
Group 7 Captains at the season launch. Photo: Game Face Photography
KIAMA 4TH GRADE HOCKEY
Gerringong Lions everywhere you look at Kogarah Egan slays in Dragons debut
Lleyton Hughes
Kogarah’s Netstrata Jubilee Stadium or Gerringong’s Michael Cronin Oval? When the Dragons recorded their first win of the season last Saturday against the Melbourne Storm, you could have been forgiven for confusing the two.
Three Gerringong Lions juniors - Tyran Wishart, Hamish Stewart and debutant Dylan Egan - took to the field for the closely fought 14-8 Dragons win.
Egan seemed right at home in his debut NRL game playing 49 minutes off the bench with four tackle breaks and 34 tackles including a barnstorming run at a crucial moment in the game which led to a penalty and, ultimately, the try that sealed the game.
“It was definitely a dream come true,” Egan said. “I definitely had nerves and butterflies, but overall I was just really excited to get out there.”
Once it was announced earlier in the week that Egan would make his debut after being an unused reserve for the Dragons’ first two
matches, he was flooded with messages of support to the point where he had to put the phone down to focus on preparations for the game.
“I decided not to reply to any messages from Thursday on and just started focusing on what I had to do for the team.
“The older boys and coaching staff showed a lot of
confidence in me, which gave me a lot of belief in myself too.”
From then on, Egan says the whole week felt like a highlight reel.
“From the moment you’re told you’re going to debut, to telling your family and friends, to the jersey presentation, and then running out onto the field for
The Dragons managed to break their duck for the season against the Storm, but it wasn’t convincing in the slightest - only leading by six points for the final 13 minutes.
Egan admits he was all nerves and adrenaline until the very last moment.
“There was a minute to
go and we had a fresh set of six and at that point I pretty much knew that we won the game. That was definitely a highlight,” says Egan.
His fellow Gerringong Lions teammate Hamish Stewart, who debuted in round one this season, says it was an honour to get to share the stage with such a close friend.
“To run out with Dylan was so surreal, we’ve played together from U6s in Gerringong, right through the Steelers pathways and now together in the NRL.
“I love playing with Dylan and so does everyone that plays with him, he’s all effort and competes on everything. He’s the ultimate teammate,” Stewart said.
Stewart made 24 tackles in his 30 minutes on the field and many of those were made with the help of Egan or vice versa.The other Gerringong Lion, Tyran Wishart, may have come away with the loss but was pivotal in Melbourne’s only try, in addition to making 151 run metres and 22 tackles.
Egan believes the dominance of Gerringong in the NRL is due to the passion fostered in the small town.
“There’s just a huge love for footy in Gerringong. You’ll go up to the footy field on any afternoon, and there are always kids kicking the ball and playing footy against each other. It’s a great environment to grow up in,” Egan said.
The Dragons will face the Eels on Saturday at Parramatta and both Egan and Stewart have retained their spots in the Dragons’ 17.
the first time. The whole week was unreal.”
(From left to right) Gerringong Lions juniors Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan and Tyran Wishart after the Dragons defeated the Storm in an upset at Kogarah last weekend. Photo: Game Face Photography