The Kiama Cavettes kept their season alive with a dominating win over Albion Park on home soil, chasing down their target in just nine overs.Kiama have been locked in points with Lake Illawarra over the past few weeks, making every match a must-win with only two rounds remaining.The Cavettes chose to bowl first at Bonaira Oval, and Kiama Cricket Club president Bernie Brown says they started strongly.“The Kiama side began well, with Emma Ford breaking through midway in the 3rd over with a caught-and-bowled,” Brown said.“Annette Thornton then came on in the 6th over and took a wicket with her very first ball, expertly caught by Naomi Poole, who snared her maiden catch in four seasons of cricket. "It was a tremendous moment, and the Cavettes converged for an excitable, extended celebration. Albion Park slowed to 2/24.”Albion Park finished with a respectable 73-run total from 19.3 overs. Thornton finished with 3-14 from 3.3 overs, while Ford and Carolyn Perry each took two wickets.The Cavettes' Naomi Poole who got her first official catch. Photo: Kiama Cricket ClubKiama then went out to bat with their very successful opening pairing of Ava Sloan and Ebony Winston, and the rest was history.“It was a classy and complete chase by the Cavettes, with Winston 40* (31) and Sloan 14* (16) carrying their bats and knocking over the total in just nine overs,” Brown said.This Friday, Kiama will face Lake Illawarra in the match of the round at Bonaira Oval, with both teams locked on 24 points in 4th and 5th place, respectively.“Kiama will be eyeing a second finals berth for the first time in three years, although they will need to bring their A-game against a Lake side in red-hot form,” Brown said.“The Cavettes boast some of the best stats in the competition this season, including leading in wickets lost - having only lost 17 wickets from 12 games, which is an amazing statistic.”Kiama had mixed results across the other grades.First Grade continued their winning streak and is almost guaranteed a spot in the finals. Batting first at home against Albion Park, Kiama lost both openers early but recovered thanks to David Coleman (46), captain Jaya Hartgerink (37), and Ryan Butta (42), taking the total to 176.Kiama’s bowlers struck early in the second innings, with Niall Owers taking three wickets and reducing Albion Park to 6-70. A bottom-order partnership lifted Albion Park to 7-110, but Brad Ison’s second wicket of the day broke the stand, allowing David Coleman to take the final three wickets and end the game. Albion Park finished 146 all out from 46.3 overs.Third Grade also recorded a win over Albion Park on the road, keeping their slight finals hopes alive. Kiama batted first, with Robert Miller (31) and captain Daniel Reilly (25*) helping set a total of 112. Their bowlers then dismantled Albion Park, taking all ten wickets in 35 overs, with Lennox Holz taking four, leaving Albion Park just nine runs short of the target.Second Grade and Fourth Grade weren’t as fortunate. Second Grade bowled first and faced Albion Park’s total of 167. Jacob Lee took four wickets and Jacob Lewis three, but despite Nathan Battishal’s heroic 62-run effort, Kiama fell short, all out for 138. They remain third on the ladder.In Fourth Grade, Kiama were bowled out for 90, and Oak Flats chased down the target in 21.1 overs. Kiama sit third, with finals hopes still alive.This Saturday, First Grade will face Shellharbour (away), Second Grade has the bye, Third Grade will take on Jamberoo (away) and so will Fourth Grade (home).

I arrived on the train from Sydney close to midday on Thursday, 29 January.As I went to tap my Opal card on the machine closest to the road, it slipped from my hand and disappeared a long way down into overgrown grass and bushes never to be seen again.Or so I thought given how far down it landed and how steep the terrain was. I knew I would soon be applying for a new one. As my friend and I were about to walk away, a small group of young boys, who had obviously witnessed the event, appeared. Without a second thought, one of them scaled over the fence and, somehow finding a couple of tenuous footholds, lowered himself to the ground. He was able to retrieve the card after fossicking through the dense foliage We all held our breath wondering how he would get back up. The alternative wasn’t a good one. It seemed no trouble for this young man despite the return journey taking longer and being more arduous. A small crowd had by now gathered and along with his two or three mates he was given rousing applause. I was incredibly grateful and in awe of his kindness and ability. His name was Josh, he was probably about 14 (I'm 75), wearing a cap and glasses and he and his mates had skateboards and were off to catch a train. I hope he or someone he knows reads this story because it is my way of saying thank you Josh! What a fine example of youth.Eileen Guthrie Willoughby East

The South Coast Disabled Surfers Association is heading back to Gerroa – and while participant spots filled in just one week, organisers are calling for more volunteers to help make the day possible.“We only do four events a year,” said South Coast DSA president Ian Picton. “They’re very hard to organise. You do need a lot of volunteers.”The event that is Sunday, 1 March at Seven Mile Beach already has 50 surfers booked in, with a growing waiting list. But to safely get participants into the water, the organisation needs between 140 and 180 volunteers.“Our ratio is six to one in the water,” Picton explained. “But when a participant goes out, there’s generally about 15 people in the group looking after that one person.”Six boards typically operate at once, forming a carefully coordinated “runway” of volunteers in the surf. As the wave rolls toward shore, volunteers line up on either side, ensuring safety and support if the surfer falls.“Gerroa is perfect for what we do,” Picton said. “When the waves break there, they roll right in up the beach – It’s fantastic and it’s safe.“It’s about giving back to the community and making an easy day for people that don’t get the opportunity to go into the water.”For some participants, it’s the only time they surf all year.“The only time they go into the surf is when they come with us.”The DSA has been operating on the South Coast for 32 years. Entirely volunteer-run.“Every dollar donated goes to putting stuff on the beach and getting people into the water,” Picton said.“We’re a truly voluntary organisation that’s been doing good stuff for 32 years.”The group supports people with a wide range of disabilities – physical and intellectual – and adapts the program as needed.Swimming or surfing experience is not required for participants or volunteers.“What DSA does is like plasticine,” Picton said. “We mould what we do to suit our participants’ needs.We don’t discriminate against disability. We just make sure we can get them into the water safely.”Volunteers aren’t even required to get wet. Roles range from registration and beach support to water assistance.Local schools, families and community members regularly take part with many returning year after year.“I know a young fellow that started at five years old,” Picton said.“He’s 35 now and he keeps surfing with us. He’s been with us for 30 years as well.It’s just a great place, great way to give back to the community and what a lovely environment to do it in – on the beach, having a good time, helping someone have a surf.“Not everyone’s going to stand up. A lot of people will only lay down on the board. Just that feeling of catching a wave – it’s something that you can’t make up.”And the reward?“What we call smiles on dials,” he said. “Everyone goes home tired, but happy.You’ve got that feeling in your belly and in your heart that you’ve done something really good for the community.”Bunnings South Nowra will provide a free barbecue for all participants and volunteers on the day.Volunteers are encouraged to register via Humanitix by searching “Disabled Surfing – Gerroa/Seven Mile Beach.”Walk-ups are also welcome on the morning of.With community support from Nowra to Wollongong, organisers are hoping this year’s event will once again deliver what they promise every time:“No one goes home disappointed.”

Three members of the Gerringong Lions Club have undergone initial training to take part in Lions National Children’s Visual Screening Program, considered one of the most comprehensive programs in the country.Free Vision Screening is provided to children from three years old, in childcare centres, schools, sporting clubs or community groups. It is a screening service only. If there is any concern about a child’s vision, a full eye examination by a local optometrist may be recommended. Since the program started in 2018, there have been 56,132 children who have been screened, with 11,556 referrals to optometrists recommended.As part of their training, the Gerringong Lions went to the Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club and asked for volunteers to come forward to be screened. Eleven parents consented for their “nippers” to be screened. Three of the 11 were found to have sight issues with a recommendation to follow up with an optometrist.A state-of-the-art piece of equipment, The Spot Vision Screener can be used to identify, myopia (near sightedness), hyperopia (far sightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision), anisometropia (unequal refractive power), binocular vision (eye misalignment) and aniscoria (unequal pupil size).Visual acuity is tested to determine how sharp vision is at longer distances. Colour perception is also part of the screening regime and stereo depth perception, to assess binocular function of eyes at near tasks, rounds out the battery of screening tests.Once their training is complete, the Gerringong Lions are hoping to offer the program to local pre-schools, schools and sporting groups.

Thanks to the generosity of well-known Sydney artist, Robyn Ross, the next Gerringong fundraiser for Children’s Medical Research Institute will be a charcoal drawing workshop. The event will be held on Saturday, 28 March at Gerringong Surf Club from 10am to 3pm with tickets available from the Trybooking website from 2 March. Cost is $95 per person and includes tuition, paper, charcoal and lunch (catered for by CMRI members). This is a great opportunity for artists from beginners to the more accomplished as Robyn is a very experienced and inspiring teacher who will show you how to create images using charcoal and all the techniques required in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Always expressing a particular interest in people, Robyn specialises in portraiture. Her style and media are eclectic. Equally proficient with paint, charcoal and pencil, she draws different qualities from each medium to create a diverse output of work. Fascinated by the personalities behind the faces, Robyn’s zest for life and interaction with people informs her work with remarkable results. Celebrity portraits include Russell Crowe, Sir Tim Rice, Bette Midler, Gordon Ramsay and Harry Connick jnr – and, somewhat controversially – Christine Forster and her now wife, Virginia Edwards. Considering herself to be mostly self taught, her formal art study includes periods at the Gallery School, Meadowbank and Julian Ashton Art School.Robyn’s clearly a woman proficient across the creative spectrum. Her aim is to paint and share something she’s seen in her subject, leaving her audience to further interpretation. Her art practice includes sittings, photographs and constant dialogue with her subjects. Robyn’s been an invited artist at more than 80 group exhibitions and various solo shows. Career highlights include, invitations to exhibit at the Australian Embassy in Washington and the First International Biennale Izmir Turkey, as a guest artist. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Goethe Institute in Germany, Robyn was invited to show one of her works in an exhibition that toured Europe in 2011. Twenty years ago Robyn established Hunters Hill Art Group, has run workshops for Northbridge School of Visual Arts, Charles Sturt University and Lucca, Italy, as well as various art societies. As a long-term supporter of Children’s Medical Research Institute, Robyn’s donated works have raised more than $150,000 in Jeans For Genes art auctions.She recently completed two striking portraits of Professor Frank Martin, paediatric opthamologist, and Jennifer Philps, CMRI community relations manager. The CMRI Gerringong committee is very excited to have Robyn in town to share her knowledge and talent with our community. Book from 2 March at https://www.trybooking.com/DJJOH.

Hundreds of people will gather at Coledale Beach for a landmark event designed to raise awareness, connect the community and support the early detection of skin cancer.Hosted by local not-for-profit Skin Check Champions, the Breakfast of Champions will bring together local leaders, health advocates, business figures and community members for a morning of fire-cooked food, conversation and purpose next Thursday (26 February) at 8.30am.The breakfast coincides with National Skin Check Day and marks a significant milestone for the Illawarra-based charity.“This time of year is critical,” says Scott Maggs, South Coast local and founder of Skin Check Champions. “We’re coming off a long Australian summer — long days in the sun, beach holidays, backyard cricket, worksites, surf and sport. It’s when UV exposure is at its peak and when small changes in our skin often start to appear.”Maggs has been the face — and iconic beard — of the skin cancer movement in Australia for more than a decade. His journey to advocacy began in 2010 after his best mate, Wes, died from melanoma at the age of 26.Since then, Skin Check Champions has delivered more than 36,000 skin checks to Australians in regional, remote and high-risk communities — detecting thousands of skin cancers and building a national movement focused on early detection. In the process, Scott became an unlikely celebrity — famous for the “bushranger beard” he started growing after Wes died, launching a publicity campaign to raise $1 million before he shaved it off. In 2021, the team reached their fundraising target.For Maggs, the breakfast is about celebration, connection and awareness.Breakfast will be served as a long, open-air fire feast by Earth Walker & Co., with the beachside setting created by teepee company, South Coast Tipis. Guests will also have the opportunity to book a skin check on the day via the charity’s Silver Bullet mobile clinic.At the breakfast, the not-for-profit will launch a new national skin health technology platform, developed by Skin Check Champions to help Australians identify skin cancer earlier and stay connected to follow-up care.Ambassador Deborah Hutton will attend, alongside Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown (both of whom have had significant skin cancer scares), as well as Federal Members of Parliament and NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park.“Skin cancer affects two in three Australians, but early detection saves lives,” Maggs says. “This event is about connection, education and action — and showing that looking out for your mates really can make a difference.”To book tickets, visit skincheckchampions.com.

It was Friday the 13th, a cold winter morning. Kiama’s Helen Maitland had just woken from surgery to find her gynaecologist standing at the foot of her hospital bed. “He said ‘you have ovarian cancer’, just like that,” recalls Helen. The devastating news was delivered without preamble. Brutal, blunt and life-changing.In March 2014, three months before her eventual diagnosis, Helen - who was 67 at the time - knew something was not quite right when she started bleeding.“You don't bleed for nothing, not at my age,” she says. “I went to see the doctor the next day, I didn’t muck around, he didn’t muck around. He referred me to a specialist straight away."Helen underwent a series of blood tests and scans. The results showed nothing out of the ordinary, which is often the case with ovarian cancer.“By the time I saw a specialist, my husband Peter and I were about to go on a six-week trip to South America and Europe,” says Helen. “The gynaecologist said ‘go on your holiday’ and come and see me again when you get back. So I went and saw him in May and by June, Friday the 13th, an unlucky day, I was having surgery that morning.”That afternoon Helen was diagnosed with stage one ovarian cancer. Her doctor, not wanting to leave anything to chance, referred her to an ovarian cancer specialist at Sydney’s Prince of Wales Hospital. She had a second operation where “everything unnecessary was removed” followed by four rounds of chemotherapy.Helen has now been cancer free for almost 12 years and says she was “one of the lucky ones” because her ovarian cancer was caught in its early stages.More than 1900 cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed each year and in many of those cases the disease is detected at an advanced stage, which can make it more difficult to treat. “The thing is, women tend to ignore things like that but you just can’t, especially with ovarian cancer,” says Helen. “Nothing was ever picked up, nothing in the blood tests, until they operated on me. Thankfully I listened to my body.”Survival rates from ovarian cancer have not significantly improved since Helen was diagnosed more than a decade ago. In 2011-2015 Australian women with ovarian cancer had a 46 per cent chance of surviving for five years. In 2026, of the five women diagnosed every day, the five-year survival rate is 49 per cent. Ovarian Cancer Australia CEO Debbie Shiell says the disease is the nation’s most lethal female cancer, with three Australian women dying from it each day.February is ovarian cancer awareness month and an opportunity for Ovarian Cancer Australia to “address knowledge gaps, help people recognise symptoms earlier, and prompt more informed conversations about ovarian cancer”.“Many Australians do not know about the signs, symptoms and severity of the disease,” says Shiell. It is often called a silent killer because symptoms are vague - abdominal pain, pelvic pain, bloating, frequency of urination, changes in bowel habits, weight loss or gain.“These are symptoms women might feel most days and often by the time symptoms and signs start to appear the cancer has spread,” she says.“This disease affects women of all ages but we do know that the most common age for diagnosis is around 62, just after menopause."What we ask is for women to listen to their bodies and to get checked out and keep getting checked out until they feel like they have been heard.”It’s a message echoed by oncologist Dr Catherine Shannon, who wants women to be aware that the onset of menopause and perimenopause can sometimes mask life-threatening cases of ovarian cancer.“Ovarian cancer is most common in women over 60, but it can occur at any age, including during perimenopause and menopause,” Dr Shannon says.“Many of the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause overlap with ovarian cancer and this is something that women need to be aware of.”There is no effective early-detection screening test for ovarian cancer and Shiell and Dr Shannon have urged women to know their symptoms, risk factors and family history and to visit their GP “as soon as they notice a change in their body”. Shiell says ovarian cancer awareness month is an opportunity to “elevate the voices of women impacted by this disease” by sharing their real life experiences.“We need women to talk about ovarian cancer to remove the stigma of gynaecological cancers and that's why ovarian cancer awareness month is so important, it shines a light on a disease that has been forgotten,” says Ms Shiell.Helen, who turns 80 in a few months and continues to play golf several times a week, is telling her story of survival in the hope more women will know the signs and symptoms, listen to their body and see a doctor straight away if they notice “anything out of the ordinary".“I felt fine, I was playing golf as normal, there were no signs except for the bleeding, but I knew that wasn’t right so I got it checked out straight away,” says Helen.Ovarian Cancer Australia is encouraging all Australians to buy a teal ribbon this month to raise funds and awareness, and wants every Australian woman to take the ovarian cancer awareness quiz on the organisation’s website.“So much more needs to be done for the treatment of this disease,” says Shiell. “We will continue to advocate for those impacted by ovarian cancer, not just this month but all year round. We need more research funding, policy reform, greater access to affordable treatment options and ultimately better outcomes for all those affected.”While Ovarian Cancer Australia welcomes donations all year, the organisation aims to raise $550,000 on their annual Giving Day on February 18.

Two months after Australia’s social media age ban came into force, Kiama’s “GenTech” teens are already finding ways around it.“A lot of kids who kept their accounts logged in on their laptops never actually lost access — as long as they don’t log out,” says a Kiama mum of three who works in the education department.“They’ve also created multiple fake profiles with different ages, from 16 to 18. They wanted it to look realistic, not obvious.”The ban, which took effect on 10 December 2025, prevents children under 16 from holding accounts on major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube.But the results have been mixed.“Before the ban even started, they set up new Gmail accounts with fake birthdays so they could verify their new profiles,” she says.“We’ve raised a generation we call ‘GenTech’. We shouldn’t underestimate their savviness, resilience and stubbornness. They survived puberty and social disconnection during a global pandemic.”The app charts tell a similar story.According to data from the Queensland University of Technology Digital Media Centre, the top ten app downloads in Australia on 10 December — the day the ban hit — included Lemon8 and Yope.Yope, a photo-sharing app, is gaining traction with 2.2 million monthly active users. Similarly, Lemon8, an app developed by the creators of TikTok, has been described as an “Instagram clone.”Currently, both are exempt from the ban; however, they are under investigation.Meanwhile, in a surprising twist, local teens report regaining access to Snapchat in late December.“Overnight, kids were saying, ‘check your accounts, they’re open again’,” said a mum. “They were locked out for two weeks after the ban, and then suddenly able to get back in.”Before the ban, Snapchat said it reached 75 per cent of 13–34-year-olds across more than 20 countries.By the end of January 2026, the company had locked or disabled more than 415,000 Australian accounts it says belong to under-16s — either self-declared or flagged by its age-detection tools.Yet in a February media release, Snapchat conceded there are “real technical limitations” to reliable age checks, even as it says it is “locking more accounts daily.”The social media ban has had a unique impact on teens in regional areas such as Kiama, where social connection is already limited by geography, transport and fewer after-school options.Milly Rose Bannister is a youth mental and social health expert and the founder of ALLKND, a youth-led charity working nationally with young Australians aged 15–25.She has spent the past six months analysing the real-world impact of the social media age ban on young people across both metro and regional Australia.Her research highlights three trends: high levels of circumvention, particularly outside cities; a disproportionate impact on regional teens; and the “absence of parallel support.”“Policy has removed access without replacing support,” she says. “Young people consistently report the absence of parallel investment in digital literacy education, safer platform design, or offline alternatives that are genuinely accessible in regional areas.”She supports the advice of other digital experts who say an all-out ban is an overcorrection.“Young people are not asking for unrestricted access to social media,” says Bannister. The compromise? Age-appropriate platform settings, co-designed with young people.“In consultation, young people are repeatedly calling for school-based digital literacy education that goes beyond just tracking screen time,” she says.“They also need adults who are equipped to have informed, non-alarmist conversations about online life.”Holly Pastor is the Careers and Transition advisor at Bomaderry High School and agrees regional teens can feel isolated.“Being a teen in a regional area comes with its own challenges,” she says. “There are fewer opportunities for social activities compared to the city, so social media is often their main way of connecting with friends.”“The age ban might feel more limiting here because it takes away one of the few ways they can stay connected with their wider peer group.”She says this is only the start of a lower-tech transition — and offering alternative ways to connect with peers is vital.“Some students are coping well, others are struggling a bit with anxiety or feeling left out,” she says. “It’s early days, so we’re keeping an eye on things and making sure students have support when they need it.”For adults and young people alike, it is clear more still needs to be done to ease the impact of tech addiction — and the answer isn’t to go cold turkey.A hopeful example is the banning of mobile phones in schools.Beginning with Victorian schools in 2020, mobiles have been banned in Australian schools. According to government data, 81 per cent of students say learning has improved since the ban, 87 per cent say they are less distracted in class, and 86 per cent say socialising has improved.“The effect was immediate,” says a local high school educator. “I used to walk through the playground and every student would be looking at a phone. The week after the ban, they were playing basketball and chatting to each other. It was incredible.”The strategy offers students age-appropriate autonomy.In New South Wales, high school students can leave their phones in lockable ‘pouches’, in lockers, or hand them to school staff at the beginning of the day.In a policy change, which came into effect in February 2025, principals may allow students to use mobile phones in “specific circumstances” such as to achieve health and wellbeing outcomes.As a local 15-year-old told The Bugle, “I hate all the technology in schools. I wish I didn’t even have a phone, but I’d be totally cut off from everyone.”However, young people are finding opportunities to unplug and rebel against the social media giants.A group of students in Kiama are boycotting WhatsApp, which has been repeatedly criticised for being a hotbed of bullying and harassing behaviour.Currently, WhatsApp is not part of the social media age ban because it is technically a ‘private messaging’ platform. However, experts are warning that group chats are part of a hidden bullying epidemic.“Last year, my daughter and her friends all decided to uninstall WhatsApp — and they’re not resorting to reinstalling it,” said a mum. “It’s a dangerous place and even the kids know it. They didn’t get banned, but they’re boycotting it. I love that for them.”Boxout: Supporting Young ScrollersFamily therapist Rachel Schofield says leading by example is key.Be the anchor: Your teen needs to feel your confidence. If they hit a wave of upset at the loss of their social media account, try not to rush in to ‘fix’ the feeling. Their upset is a natural and healthy response to a loss. If we feel anxious at our child’s upset, we can enter a vicious cycle.Check in on the ‘how.’ Help them navigate alternative ways to stay in touch with friends, whether that’s safer platforms or more face-to-face time. We want to ensure their social world stays rich, even while their online world is being protected.Cultivate the long game: Think of this time as a vital digital pause. Their brains are still building the filters they need to handle the complexities and pressures of the social media world. By age 16, they will be better equipped to cope with it.Model healthy tech use: Check in with your own social media use and prioritise face-to-face connection at home. The habits they develop now will stay with them; let’s help make them healthy ones.

Rain may have fallen over Kiama on Sunday, but it did little to dampen the colour and music at Kiama Surf Life Saving Club’s Pride Sunday Sips.The club marked Surf Life Saving Australia’s Rainbow Beach initiative with a Pride-themed patrol followed by a vibrant Sunday Sips gathering — drawing an impressive crowd despite the drizzle.Event coordinator Jane Bourne said the idea began late last year when Surf Life Saving Australia invited clubs to request free Pride Packs.“My husband and I are very involved with the surf club, and we thought that looks like a great idea,” Bourne said.“We checked with the water committee and they were like, ‘Yep, great.’”While the official NSW date was the 14th, the club shifted celebrations to align with its regular Sunday Nippers and Sippers.“It made more sense for us to do it on the 15th — and they were very happy for us to change the day,” she said.Lifesavers flew the rainbow flag and wore rainbow zinc, armbands and whistles as part of the patrol.“The whistles, the zinc and the rainbow armbands were all part of the pack. It was lovely,” Bourne said.Upstairs, Sunday Sips took on a Pride theme, with local DJ Brendon Reece generously donating his time to keep the atmosphere lively. A glitter and glam station proved especially popular.“It was mainly kids — although some bigger kids got themselves bedazzled and glittered up too,” Bourne said.Moist & Glazed supplied fresh donuts, while a 100-square fundraising board raised $500 for the surf club, alongside $500 in cash prizes.Despite steady rain — conditions that would normally see Sips cancelled — organisers decided to press ahead.“We’ve got an indoor space at the club, and I thought, we’ve got a DJ, we’ve got these people coming — let’s keep it on,” Bourne said.“It was a really good turnout, especially for a rainy Sunday. Loads of new faces, new families — people who don’t normally come.”Members of the local Pride community, including representatives from an Illawarra-based Rainbow choir, attended and expressed interest in future collaborations.“We reached out to Rainbow families and Pride groups in the area, as well as our regular locals. We wanted to make sure that the community knew they were welcome,” she said.Beyond the music, glitter and donuts, the day carried a clear message about belonging in the Kiama community.“Inclusion and visibility are vitally important everywhere,” she said.“The Surf Club serves the community. We teach young children life skills and lifesaving skills. It’s important that everyone feels welcome.”In a regional town, she said, that visibility can be especially powerful.“It’s so important to show people who perhaps feel different that you are absolutely welcome, you are wanted, you can be yourself — and people will support you.”Bourne hopes Pride at Sippers will become an annual event aligned with Rainbow Beach, and a springboard for more Pride celebrations across Kiama in the future.

Kiama residents are leading the charge when it comes to clean energy adoption, with solar rooftop panel installation in the LGA higher than the national average. Steve Heinecke is one of thousands of residents who invested in rooftop solar several years ago to lower his household electricity costs. Now the Kiama resident has supercharged his energy-saving measures by installing a solar battery, allowing him to store the energy produced by his rooftop panels.Last July, the federal government introduced the Cheaper Home Battery scheme, reducing the upfront installation cost of home solar batteries by up to 30 per cent.The incentive cemented Heinecke’s decision to invest in the technology and the timing allowed him to take advantage of the peak summer sun, with Kiama-based business All Australian Energy installing the battery in December.Heinecke is not alone in taking advantage of the solar subsidy. A recent report by the Clean Energy Council found 183,000 solar batteries were sold in the six months to December 31, 2025. This figure is more than the previous four years combined.“I decided to invest in the battery as I thought it was a good thing to do for the environment,” says Heinecke. “But the cost reduction helped my decision to purchase a battery. “While we had low power bills with two people in the household, the battery will allow us to start storing solar energy and over a 12-month period we should have enough so that we don’t get a power bill at all.”He also likes the fact that the battery will provide back-up power during a blackout “and make us self sufficient”.Figures from the Australian Photovoltaic Institute show more than 40 per cent of households in the Kiama LGA now have rooftop solar, higher than the national average. Australia is a world leader in renewable technology, with more than 4.2 million rooftop solar systems installed across the nation. Until recently only one in 40 households used batteries to store their solar production.The Clean Energy Council report - which tracks national trends in renewable energy uptake from 2020 to 2025 - found the “high cost made solar batteries out of reach for many households”.But the Cheaper Home Batteries Program “has reduced barriers to these high upfront costs,” says the report, with the number of battery installations more than doubling year-on-year to 454,753. Now one in 24 households has a solar battery.With rooftop solar producing almost 15 per cent of the nation’s electricity - five years ago it produced just 7.2 per cent of electricity - Heinecke believes the long-term benefit of panel and battery installation outweighs the upfront cost.Heinecke has urged consumers who want to save money and the environment to do their homework and look into how a solar battery could help households turn sunlight into savings.

The Bugle Bulletin is BACK for 2026! 🗞️📻In partnership with Kiama Community Radio, we’re bringing you the stories that matter – local people, local voices, local news.Here’s what’s making news across Kiama and surrounding areas this week: Under-16s are banned from social media — but “GenTech” teens are already finding ways around it. A slice of Jamberoo history restored, with the original plaque returned to the old Council Chambers, now home to Jamberoo Valley Meats. The Sulli-Vans take their family act on tour — from Phillip Island to Tamworth. Calls to expand Seven Mile Beach National Park to help save the endangered Southern Greater Glider.… and more! Read full details all these stories and more on The Bugle app or pick up this week’s edition of The Bugle newspaper from the usual outlets.

A widespread decline of the endangered Southern Greater Glider species across the South Coast has prompted Gerroa Environmental Protection Society to call for the expansion of Seven Mile Beach National Park.The Society has spoken with Kiama MP Katelin McInerney about supporting an investigation into the expansion of the national park to protect the complex vegetation and to assist the survival of the Greater Glider population at Seven Mile Beach. A recent study by Garry Daly in the Journal Australia Zoologist provides evidence that the beach may be one of the last strongholds of the Greater Glider on the South Coast. The Southern Greater Glider has suffered severe declines in abundance and distribution across several National Parks, except for Seven Mile Beach, where populations have remained unchanged. Daly warns a minimum habitat of 1000 hectares is needed to sustain a Greater Glider population and while Seven Mile Beach National Park is less than that, there is adjoining freehold and council managed lands that exceeds the minimum size to support a viable population.GEPS secretary Howard H Jones said the study should be a wake-up call for action to be taken before it’s too late.He said koalas used to inhabit the area around the beach in the 1950s but the ongoing loss of habitat led to their demise.“This Glider population is particularly vulnerable. "The problem is the disconnection from other populations in the hinterland and the small area of habitat within the Park available to support the local population,” he said.“We are very concerned that development and sand mining pressure on land adjoining the Park could lead to further vegetation loss and fragmentation, and over time, to the loss of this Glider Population.”Jones said the area is “unusually rich and diverse” and provides a habitat for 13 endangered and threatened species as well as eight Endangered Ecological Communities, including Coomonderry Swamp, the largest Coastal Freshwater wetland in NSW. “Yet much of this biologically important vegetation, including this great wetland, is not protected within the National Park.“There’s a lot of really good reasons to bring this habitat into the park.“Much of the habitat is threatened by sand mining and development. There has been an ongoing reduction of the bushland and we don’t want to see that continue.”Jones said McInerney seemed to be supportive of the Society’s call for an investigation into the issue but that it would likely take time to come to fruition.GEPS conducts nighttime walks through the national park to spot the gliders when they are active.“It’s a thrill to see them,” Jones added.“The best thing is to actually see them glide but that’s a rare occurrence.“Most people never see the glider because they’re very secretive and they only come out at night so it can be hard to generate community awareness.”

More than a dozen local venues have already signed on for the Sounds of Jazz & Blues weekend which will be held early next month. The live music weekend from 6-8 March will feature local businesses hosting jazz, blues and a mix of other musical styles, with music-lovers encouraged to wander between venues and enjoy live music across Kiama and surrounding villages.To make it easier and safer for people to move between venues, a free Blues Bus shuttle loop service will operate across the weekend, thanks to sponsorship from the Kiama Business Network.KBN president Cathryn Lyall said the shuttle was a practical way to support local businesses.“This weekend is all about collaboration,” she said.“Local venues are hosting and funding their own live music, and the Blues Bus helps people enjoy more of what’s on offer while supporting our hospitality community.”All performances are free to attend, with individual venues managing entry conditions, capacity limits and any booking requirements.The weekend of music is filling the gap after the Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival opted to pause in 2026 ahead of its 40th anniversary return next year.Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said the weekend was about backing local effort and keeping live music at the heart of the community.“Sounds of Jazz & Blues is about local venues, local musicians and locals coming together to keep our town buzzing,” Cr McDonald said.“It’s a great example of what can happen when a community works together to create something special.”A full gig guide and performance schedule will be released shortly, allowing audiences to plan their own music trail for the weekend.Among the participating venues are Burnetts on Barney, Club Jamberoo, Cin Cin Wine Bar, Crooked River Wines, Diggies Kiama, The Grand Hotel, JJ’s Indian Kiama, KG Café, Kiama Beach Tag, Kiama Bowling Club, Kiama Golf Club, Kiama Leagues Club, Kiama Surf Club, Mercure Gerringong, Saltwater Cafe, Stoic Brewing, Yves Kiama as well as the Gerringong and Kiama libraries.

Ex Servos put a huge dent in North Nowra Cambewarra’s finals hopes with an upset win in round 15 of the South Coast cricket season on Saturday.With three rounds left, North Nowra are now 13 points adrift of Kiama in fourth place and need other results to go their way even if they peel off three wins to finish the season.Ex Servos managed only 98 in their low-scoring affair at Bernie Regan Oval, anchored by John Bowern’s 41 as Jason Moschioni (4-22) and Matt Hickmott (3-41) tore through the batting line-up.After progressing to 1-41, Andrew Wilson (3-17), Kuldeep Singh rana (2-4) and Jovan Croese (3-54) triggered a dramatic collapse to bowl North Nowra out for just 80.Their 18-run win, the first for the season, gives Ex Servos hope of offloading the wooden spoon, now just three points behind Albion Park.The Eagles went down by 30 runs to Kiama after the Cavaliers posted 7-176 on the back of solid contributions from David Coleman (46), Ryan Butta (42) and captain Jaya Hartgerink (37).Park’s top order crumbled to be 4-38 and they had no answer as Coleman completed a fine all-round performance with 4-30.Bomaderry’s playoff hopes are also fading after they lost a nail-biter to competition leaders Lake Illawarra at Artie Smith Oval. The hosts only managed 87 with the bat as allrounder Jake O’Connell (4-25) and fellow seamer Jarryd White (3-30) ran amok.But the premiers went from cruising at 1-76 to losing 6-11 before limping over the finish line after Lachlan Duggan took 4-7 and Brad Cross bagged 3-25.Shellharbour maintained a share of second spot with a five-wicket win over the Kookas, chasing down the total of 182 with 4.4 overs to spare while Bay and Basin beat Oak Flats by eight runs in another rain-shortened game with Dolphins skipper Brock Balgowan (41 and 4-34) guiding his team to victory.This Saturday, North Nowra host Bay and Basin, Lake Illawarra take on Oak Flats at Geoff Shaw Oval, Kiama are away to Shellharbour in the match of the round, Albion Park are away to Ex Servos and the Kookas visit Bomaderry.Ladder: Lake 90, Harbour, Bay & Basin 79, Kiama 75, North Nowra 62, Bomaderry 60, Oak Flats 41, Kookas 35, Park 33, Ex Servos 30.In the women’s competition on Friday night, the Kookas sealed the minor premiership by thrashing Oak Flats Ratatouilles by 78 runs.Mel Nolan’s 48 and an unbeaten 34 from April Wells powered the Kookas to 2-133 before five bowlers were among the wickets in restricting Oak Flats to 8-55.Oak Flats Ratettes sunk Shellharbour 128-77 with Anne Boatswain top-scoring with 46 while Lake Illawarra trounced Ex Servos.Nakita Boatswain and Anthea Godwin made 43 apiece but Kiana Dovern belted 55 not out as Lake chased down the total with seven overs up their sleeve.Annette Thornton took 3-14 as Kiama bowled Albion Park out for 73 before Ebony Winston blasted an unbeaten 40 as the Cavettes hauled in the target without losing a wicket.This Friday, the Ratatouilles meet Shellharbour and the Ratettes face Ex Servos at Myimbarr, Kiama host Lake and Albion Park take on the Kookas at Albion Oval.Ladder: Kookas 44, Ratettes 30, Ratatouille 28, Kiama, Lake 24, Park 18, Ex Servos 16, Harbour 4.

Landcare Illawarra is pleased to announce the formation of two new community-led groups, launching at Loves Bay on the coast in Kiama’s south and inland at Jerrara Dam Reserve.The community-based, volunteer-led Landcare movement features local residents working together to care for their environment. Projects may take place on private land or public reserves and are driven by local priorities and local knowledge.Within the Kiama local government area there are already four Landcare groups working on private land and seven on Council reserves. These groups are formed by people who want to improve their immediate surroundings and make a positive contribution to their community.The new Loves Bay Landcare group was initiated by Alan Woodward, a Kiama Heights local who lives near the popular starting point of the final stage of the Kiama Coast Walk. Alan approached Landcare Illawarra in late 2025 after recognising the opportunity to improve the ecological health of the area for the benefit of both nature and the community.“Loves Bay is a beautiful place, but it could be better with the regeneration of vegetation and the environment around the creek that flows into the bay,” he said. “Already there are remnants of the rainforest that once covered the local area, with plants, seeds and water-life that could thrive through the removal of weeds and native plantings. “This Landcare project will restore a truly unique coastal place for the future.”The first meeting of Loves Bay Landcare will be held on Saturday, 28 February.Jerrara Dam Reserve is a 54-hectare site surrounded by farmland between Kiama and Jamberoo.Ros Neilson, who lives in Jamberoo, is passionate about the reserve’s value as an important parcel of community land. She hopes the formation of a Landcare group will support continued public engagement with the area, which is already well used by birdwatchers, wildlife carers and walkers.“This new group will focus on small, practical actions to support the regeneration of rainforest and wetlands in the face of ongoing weed pressure,” she said. “The site contains valuable and endangered remnant rainforest species, and what was once Jerrara Dam has naturally evolved into a wetland that provides important habitat for migratory birds and other native fauna.”The group’s first working bee was held earlier this month and a follow-up session has been planned for Sunday, 22 February.All community members are welcome to attend working bees at both sites, and no previous experience is required.Landcare Illawarra vice chair Michael Andrews said the organisation was proud to support new community-driven initiatives.“At Landcare Illawarra, we’re always excited to support new grassroots groups who are taking action to care for the places they love,” he said.“Community-led projects like these don’t just improve the environment on the ground, they also show decision-makers at all levels how much our natural places matter. “We’re proud to support volunteers with the training, knowledge and technical support they need to make a real, lasting difference.”

A man has been refused bail after an incident in Kiama in which he was arrested over domestic violence allegations.About 9.30pm on Sunday, police attended a home in Cooinda Place, Kiama, to arrest a man in relation to an alleged DV incident.During the arrest, police allege the 32-year-old man punched a male constable in the throat and face before the constable deployed OC spray to effect the arrest.The 32-year-old was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he allegedly made threats towards the same male constable and a male leading senior constable.NSW Ambulance was called and attempted to treat the man, who allegedly declined.Police will allege that while in custody, the man punched the leading constable in the face, breaking his glasses and causing cuts to his eyebrow and nose.Officers then deployed OC spray, and the man was handcuffed again.Both officers were treated and have returned to duty.The 32-year-old was charged with assault police in execution of duty without actual bodily harm, two counts of hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty, two counts of intimidate police officer in execution of duty and assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm.Police also charged him with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm.He was refused bail.

Gerringong junior Ashton Ward is making a strong case for a spot in South Sydney’s Round 1 side after a strong performance in the Charity Shield win over St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium on Saturday night.The 22-year-old five-eighth, who did well in his six first-grade appearances when he made his debut late last season, came up with a try assist in the 28-24 victory over the Dragons. There is a vacancy in the halves for the Rabbitohs in the opening round with Jamie Humphreys out suspended so coach Wayne Bennett may use Ward alongside Cody Walker for the clash with the Dolphins in Brisbane on 8 March.Ward was thrilled to play his part in the triumph with Souths fielding an inexperienced side against what was virtually a full-strength Dragons line-up.“It was unreal, it was good to get back out there with the boots back on. It’s been a long pre-season so it was good to get a bit of footy under the belt,” he said.“Especially for something like the Charity Shield it’s always good to get one up on the Dragons. “We were completing well, kicking to the corners, not try and complicate things too much - that’s what we did and it got us the win.”Ward also scored bragging rights over fellow Gerringong products Hamish Stewart and Hayden Buchanan, who turned out for the Dragons.Stewart peeled off 37 tackles to be the equal leader in that category for the home side with prop Emre Guler while Buchanan made a couple of tackle breaks in racking up 56 metres from just three runs after he also entered the fray from the bench.They will both be in contention for the squad that travels to Las Vegas at the end of this week to take on Canterbury at Allegiant Stadium next Sunday.St George Illawarra have now wrapped up their pre-season campaign while South Sydney will take on Manly at Glen Willow Oval in Mudgee this Sunday.

An extra public holiday will be handed out to NSW residents this year and in 2027 with Anzac Day falling on a weekend.The NSW Government has announced an additional public holiday on the Monday following Anzac Day on both occasions - in 2026, Anzac Day will fall on a Saturday, and in 2027 it will fall on a Sunday.Dawn Services, marches and community ceremonies held on that day will continue to be the central focus of remembrance across NSW.Each year, thousands of families rise before dawn, gather at local memorials, march alongside veterans and reflect on the service and sacrifice that shaped our nation.The additional holiday on Monday does not replace Anzac Day. Rather it reinforces its importance and significance as well as making it consistent with other major public holidays.Unlike New Year’s Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, there are currently no additional public holiday arrangements in place in NSW when Anzac Day falls on a weekend, which occurs on average twice every seven years. NSW has fewer public holidays than all other mainland states and territories.Prior to the addition of the Anzac Day holiday, NSW had 11 public holidays in 2026, compared with 15 in South Australia and the Northern Territory and 14 in Queensland, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory and on par with Tasmania’s 11 public holidays this year.The experience of the additional public holidays will form part of a NSW Government review of the state’s public holidays to commence in 2027, that will consider:the current number of state-wide public holidays in NSWwhether NSW should have an additional public holidaywhether there should be a permanent change to Anzac Day public holiday arrangements when Anzac Day falls on a weekend The review will be informed by community, business, veteran groups and other stakeholder feedback, as well as the economic and social impacts of the additional public holiday in 2026 and 2027.Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said Anzac Day was "one of the most important and solemn days on our national calendar, and that will not change".“We have a tremendous amount of reverence for Anzac Day across our communities, especially among our veterans and their families.“Each year, thousands of families rise before dawn, gather at local memorials, march alongside veterans and reflect on the service and sacrifice that shaped our nation.“Adding a public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend will not diminish that tradition. If anything, it is a reminder of its importance and another reason for people to get up, attend a local service and ensure the spirit of remembrance continues to be passed on to the next generation.”RSL NSW acting president Vince Williams said their primary concern is that “the sanctity and significance of Anzac Day is protected".“Having consulted members, RSL NSW does not oppose the introduction of an additional public holiday, and looks forward to continuing to work constructively with the defence and veteran community and the NSW Government as the trial progresses. “Additionally, a public holiday on Monday will also provide many serving Australian Defence Force personnel who are required to work on Anzac Day itself with an opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones.”

You must have been hiding under a rock if you did not hear the Reserve Bank’s announcement recently about interest rates. RBA governor Michele Bullock announced an increase in the cash rate from 3.60% up to 3.85% - an increase of .25% and the first rate hike in over two years, following a series of cuts in 2025. Happy New Year from the RBA to every mortgage holder in Australia!This decision was primarily driven by a "material" pick-up in inflation during the second half of 2025, which indicated that the economy was running "hotter" than previously estimated.The real debate was around the main driver behind the inflationary numbers - was it the private or government sector that contributed to the increase? While the debate raged in the media, there is unfortunately nothing we can do to reverse last Tuesday’s announcement.All is not lost, however. You do have a few things in your control that might help manage the increase and reduce either your repayments or the term of your mortgage.If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Contact your bank or your mortgage broker and ask them for a home loan health check or an interest rate review. You might be surprised by the outcome.If your bank doesn’t come to the party, contact a mortgage broker to test your current interest rate or home loan product against what is available from other lenders in the market.You could also consider making additional repayments or leveraging your redraw or offset account to reduce the term of your mortgage.The team at Astute Brent Rollings is always here to help. Feel free to reach out to us if you need help to talk through your options to make sure you are getting the best outcome in the market.Please note: This is paid content