The Illawarra Flame

Puzzles

Play WordroW - 24 April 2025

Health & Wellness

Bridging the Divide: How to Navigate Tough Conversations with Confidence

The second in a two-part series by local clinical psychologist Dr Esther Davis We all know that tricky conversations – about differences of opinion or even who forgot to take the bins out – can quickly go off the rails. With the federal election...

Dr Esther Davis

History

The Helensburgh Historical Society Has Not Forgotten

Anzac Day will be held in the Charles Harper Park on Friday 25 April 2025 Helensburgh’s RSL Sub-branch has never forgotten and they have held Remembrance Services just-about -every year since WWI. The Helensburgh Historical Society produced two...

Jenny Donohoe

Co-op volunteers share their passion

By Mark Fetterplace On a blustery but beautiful summer’s day, the Flame Tree Food Co-op had a morning tea get-together of their wonderful volunteers on the grass behind the Thirroul Surf Lifesaving Club. There was a fantastic community spirit...

What's On

When and where to see HARS aerial parade on Anzac Day

A parade of six former service aircraft above Anzac Day marches will form a special tribute from the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) above Shellharbour, Kiama, Kangaroo Valley Wollongong, Bundeena, Coogee, Oatley and Sydney on Friday...

Ian Badham

Tree of the Month: Black She-oak

Wollongong area has two genera of species belonging to the Casuarinaceae family. There are three species of Allocasuarina and two of Casuarina, and they tend to grow in different soil types and conditions. The Allocasuarina littoralis grows along...

Kieran Tapsell

Meet two STARS helping to ease bed block in the Illawarra

STARS stands for Support Transition Assistance Response Service. Simply put, these volunteers really are the stars of aged care in the Illawarra, providing practical advice for people stuck in hospital, waiting for a place in a care home. “Our...

Tyneesha Williams

Coledale film screening raises over $1000 for ‘Grandma’s House’

The Coledale RSL hosted a sold-out screening last week of two locally made short films: Grandma’s House (2024) and Dating Violet (2021)

News

Helensburgh Tigers tackle 2025 footy season

Helensburgh Tigers rugby league club has started 2025 off with a successful pre-season including some trial games across the grades. At time of writing, the club’s Over 30’s Ladies League Tag side, who played their first comp season in 2024, had...

Marcus Craft

5 hours ago

Coledale film screening raises over $1000 for ‘Grandma’s House’

The Coledale RSL hosted a sold-out screening last week of two locally made short films: Grandma’s House (2024) and Dating Violet (2021)

Early voting begins in 2025 Federal Election

The 2025 Federal Election has begun, with hundreds of people heading to the booth in Crown Street Mall during the first three hours of early voting today. Given past trends in early voting, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) anticipates that...

3 Ways with Climate Action: The conversation starter

Nearly everyone is worried about climate change. A ground-breaking global survey of 10,000 young people in 10 countries – including Australia – published in The Lancet in 2021 found that 84% were worried, with more than half feeling sad...

Q&A with Nathaniel Smith, Liberal candidate for Whitlam

Ahead of the 2025 Federal Election, the Illawarra Flame is giving all local candidates a chance to share their vision for Australia. Nathaniel Smith is the Liberal candidate for Whitlam, the Commonwealth Electoral Division covering Shellharbour City...

NF1 convenor reelected after council’s major Helensburgh projects discussed

Warwick Erwin is heading towards his 10th year as Neighbourhood Forum 1 convenor, after being re-elected unopposed at the group’s April 9 meeting at Helensburgh Community Rooms.

What's On

When and where to see HARS aerial parade on Anzac Day

Arts & Culture

Playwright dishes up David Walliams’ original Ratburger, with extra puppets and dancing

Tareyn Varley

Q&A with South Coast Readers & Writers Festival author Pip Williams

The South Coast Readers & Writers Festival returns to Thirroul over the weekend of 5-6 July with a vibrant lineup of literary talent, from rising stars to international bestsellers. With a program ranging from soul-stirring poetry readings...

Elizabeth Heffernan

Wit, charm and heart: novelist Kerry Greenwood, creator of Phryne Fisher, was a true original

Also appearing in this scene are many of the Phryne Fisher fans who helped bring the movie to the screen when producers Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox asked for help. The initial crowdfunding target of A$250,000 was reached within 48 hours. A day later...

The Conversation

Tap Cats book makes leap to stage

Tap Cats of the Sunshine Coast will open at the end of this month. Performance dates are: Saturday, April 26 at 7:30pm, a twilight performance on Sunday, April 27 (4pm), and evening performances on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5, (both 7:30)...

Lauren Mitsak

‘Party music for party people’ at Port’s free music festival this Saturday

The “all day, all night gig-crawl” that is Port Kembla Festival returns tomorrow for its fourth year, with more than 40 artists performing across 10 iconic local venues from 2pm.

Tyneesha Williams

Q&A with South Coast Readers & Writers Festival author Isobelle Carmody

Energy Transition

Hot tip: Cut costs with the thermal battery already in your home

In April, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen announced a ‘bill busting’ election promise – to roll out a $2.3 billion program to cut home battery costs by 30 per cent and bring down power bills by up to $1100 a year for those...

Energy Transition

Electrify 2515 Pilot welcomes apartment dwellers

By Electrify 2515’s Elsa Evers Catherine is an 84-year old retiree who lives in Thirroul with her husband, Reg. They are the first apartment owners to take part in the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot and recently had a new induction cooktop...

Elsa Evers

‘Let me fight for you,’ says Responsible Future volunteer turned Liberal candidate Amanda Ivaneza

Responsible Future volunteer turned Liberal Party candidate for Cunningham Amanda Ivaneza tonight urged a crowd of about 220 people at Warilla Bowls Club to “fight for the Illawarra”.

Analysis

What will be the Illawarra’s Energy Future? This election could decide

Last week, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, announced a pause to the Illawarra offshore wind proposal, following a mutual agreement between the government and the sole developer who applied for a feasibility license. The reason? Uncertainty over the upcoming federal election, with the opposition pledging to scrap the plan if elected.

Clubs & Community

The Helensburgh Historical Society Has Not Forgotten

Jenny Donohoe

Where to mark ANZAC Day in 2025

City of Wollongong March Crown Street, Wollongong and various locations - from 10am, find road closure information and more here

Scouts stand together

By Paul Rustomji of 1st Austinmer Scouts Austinmer Scout Group held its once-a-year group-wide meeting on Monday, 10 March. It is always an opportunity for all our age groups to get together and see what has happened over the past 12 months...

Sammy’s stellar swing

By Matt McCoy & Nina Sampson Helensburgh Public School is beaming with pride as one of our own, Sammy, a Year 5 student, has achieved an extraordinary milestone by making it to the Primary NSW State Cricket Team. This remarkable achievement...

Helensburgh Lions set for Movie Night Scramble

With Autumn upon us, we have some special events coming, so mark your calendars. 19/4/2025 – First up is the Easter scramble and movie night organised by Mattias Samuelsson and his wonderful team at Ray White Real Estate on Easter Saturday...

Fran Peppernell

Time to join your local Community Fire Unit

Jenny and Andrew Newland, an IT consultant and a geologist respectively, have long served the community in their efforts to be fire prepared. Now in their early 70s in retirement, they continue to enable local community action and knowledge with the...

Janice Creenaune

Celebrate Buddha’s Birthday with art, light and culture at Nan Tien Temple

Nan Tien Temple invites everyone to enjoy a spectacular four-day celebration of Buddha’s Birthday – a vibrant, multicultural festival blending art, mindfulness, and community spirit. From April 18 to 21, the temple will share inspiring program...

Food & Travel

Co-op volunteers share their passion

Pagan loaves, Christian bread, a secular treat: a brief history of hot cross buns

In some ancient cultures, bread was more than just food. It was a symbol of faith. Ancient Greeks baked small round loaves marked with crosses to honour their gods. According to some historians, these marks could represent the four seasons or four...

The Conversation

Here’s who topped the rankings in this year’s scorecard for sustainable chocolate – and which confectionery giant refused to participate

The Gender award went to Mars Wrigley – which produces Mars, Snickers, Twix and Malteasers – recognising the company for work supporting gender equality

The Conversation

Around the world in Wollongong: 11 foodie favourites to visit this Harmony Week

This diversity of culture has contributed a rich variety to local cuisine and the Illawarra is home to specialist supermarkets to purchase ingredients for home cooking.

What's On

Anzac Day

April

Events

Representing Women - a community forum with the Illawarra Federal Candidates

April

Events

Using Gravity to Store Energy – Renew Illawarra Talk

May - 27 June

Events

FREE 8 week Veterans Yoga Program

Health & Wellness

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Health & Wellness

Bridging the Divide: How to Navigate Tough Conversations with Confidence

Dr Esther Davis

Opinion

Where have all the preschools gone?

When my first child was two and a half, I embarked on the daunting process of finding childcare for her two days a week. I was immediately overwhelmed with our fragmented childcare system, and that feeling remains today after two years and my second...

Andy Lawrence

Immunisations for Seniors: Why Vaccinations Are Vital

By Dr Julie Blaze of Bulli Medical Practice Is your immune system working as well as it used to? As we age, our body’s defence system naturally weakens, leaving us more vulnerable to infectious diseases and making vaccines less effective. This...

Dr Julie Blaze

Health & Wellness

Bridging the Divide: Why Difficult Conversations Go Wrong And How to Fix Them

Whether we’re talking about reality TV meltdowns, political clashes, or that never-ending debate in your group chat, tricky conversations tend to get stuck at the wrong level. The Harvard Negotiation Project’s framework for difficult conversations...

Dr Esther Davis

Opinion

Misinformed consent in the birth room

A friend told me a story recently about an online consent module she completed during her uni degree. It was one of those tests that fails you until you memorise the answers and get one hundred percent. My friend kept failing due to one question. It...

Andy Lawrence

Collins Booksellers Thirroul

Parenting

The masks we wear: are they false, or are they us?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the different masks we wear. We like to think of ourselves as ‘whole’ people who walk around being our authentic, whole selves all the time, or at least we aspire to. But really, I think we have different...

Local Business

Poetry & History at the Pub in April

Wednesday 16th Poetry at the Pub launching new books from David Stavanger and Ali Jane Smith. Also appearing will be Joseph Schwarztkopf Jr, Nicole Smede and special guest, Hasib Hourani. If you’ve been to one of our poetry events at Ryan’s...

Family creates streetwear brand: Meet the Helensburgh crew behind Shred Clothing

A Helensburgh-based online enterprise called Shred Clothing is a true family business. “I started Shred with my three boys,” said owner Carla Brittain, who also runs Coal Coast Shutters and Blinds with her husband, Dave. “It started out as...

Home decor for harmony and happiness with CS Interiors

By local interior decorator Claire Cronin-Smith, owner of CS Interiors Communication is at the heart of my work. I believe that understanding my clients and their families is essential to bringing their vision to life. With a degree in...

Networking and training boosts careers, thanks to Junior Chambers International’s Illawarra chapter

Want to give your career a boost? Melannie Thomas, president the Illawarra chapter of Junior Chambers International (JCI), recommends joining her local group of young leaders.

New leaders volunteer at local business chambers

In the north and the south, new leaders are emerging at Wollongong’s volunteer-run local business chambers.

Viking Skip Bin Recycling: Where does the waste go?

Viking Skip Bin Recycling processes and crushes concrete, bricks and tiles, which can then be resold to homeowners or the construction industry. It’s one of just three companies in the Illawarra to provide this service, says Glen Steggles, owner...

Lesley Roulston

Illawarra Flame honoured: Walkley Foundation announces grants for solutions journalism

Yesterday the Walkley Foundation announced that The Illawarra Flame has been honoured with a grant from the new Walkley Solutions Journalism Fund. Eleven new Australian journalism projects will share in just over $180,000 of funding support. The...

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Black She-oak

Kieran Tapsell

Bird of the Month: Golden Whistler

The bird of the month for April is the Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis). This common whistler species mainly occurs in south-eastern Australia. It is abundant in the Illawarra and can be seen in a range of habitats, including eucalypt...

Ewan Auld

What’s in a name? In this case, a marsupial mystery!

Kangaroo Vine (Cissus antarctica) is one of the commonest and most recognisable of our local rainforest vines. Its distinctive toothed leaves with obvious venation, and the coppery-brown colouration of new tendrils and leaf stems, are often visible...

Emma Rooksby

It’s great outdoors: Hewitts Creek Bushcare workers on why they volunteer

“It’s great being outdoors. I feel like I’m improving my local area. So many of us enjoy using the cycleway between Bulli and Thirroul, and appreciate the greenspace and the recognition of the Sandon Point Aboriginal Place. I love having the chance to build on previous community work to beautify a section of the Sandon Point bushland.” – Jane Morrison

Motoring & Property

Why Didn’t the RBA Cut Interest Rates?

Local real estate agent and finance professional Ian Pepper looks at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to keep interest rates on hold at 4.1 per cent after the board’s April 1 meeting. Inflation is Back in Target – So What’s the Problem?...

Ian Pepper

Budget 2025 Update – Real Estate Implications

The Budget was presented last night and below are some of the announcements from Labor that will impact our real estate market: First Home Buyers Help to Buy Scheme Expanded The program involves the government providing eligible home buyers with an...

Ian Pepper

Motoring & Property

Diary of an EV Driver: Charging Away Simplified

Part 12 in Peter Aubourg’s column, Diary of an EV Driver It turns out that it is quite a social affair at the charging stations, with people sharing their experiences, and generally helping each other. On the subject of planning the trip, another...

Peter Aubourg

Opinion

Ladies and Gentrification: A tale of two suburbs

The dictionary defines gentrification as “the process whereby the character of a poor urban area is changed by wealthier people moving in, improving housing, and attracting new businesses, often displacing current inhabitants in the process”. It...

Ben Wollen

Media release

March Traffic blog: Education precinct changes

News from Transport for NSW Windang Bridge improvement work continues Transport for NSW will continue improvement work on Windang Bridge next month to ensure the bridge remains safe now and into the future. Transport for NSW Regional Director South...

Transport For NSW

Motoring & Property

Driven: 2025 GWM ORA GT

One of the major issues plaguing EV usage in Australia – that is, the lack of reliable EV-charging infrastructure – is being addressed, with the Federal Government recently announcing that Australian EV charging company EVX Australia will install 250 kerbside chargers

Marcus Craft

February 2025

Interest rate cut of 0.25% today

At its first meeting of 2025, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) reduced the cash rate by 0.25 per cent, from 4.35 to 4.10 per cent, a move that was widely tipped by the markets and economists across the country.

Sport & Leisure

Is the Wodi Wodi Track upgraded? Yeah Nah

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) announced last December that one of my favourite little walks in the Northern Illawarra had re-opened after a multi-million-dollar upgrade. Our local member, Maryanne Stuart, repeated this announcement in her newsletter shortly after. So with great excitement I set off on the Wodi Wodi track from Coalcliff to walk to Stanwell Park station.

Stephen Young

Sport & Leisure

Local secret turns 70: Join the tennis club at Coledale

Set high on Cliff St, with stunning views of the ocean, St James Park Tennis Club is a well-kept local secret. And that’s the problem. “At one stage, we had upwards of 100 members, the vast majority of them being social,” says Rod Zabell, club...

Sport & Leisure

Unsung Heroes: Cheers to Adam Turner at Austi Surf Club

Austi local Adam Turner is chief training officer at Austinmer Surf Club. (Ironically, while these articles are supposed to be about individuals or families, during my conversation with Adam whenever I said ‘you’ (meaning Adam), he would correct...

Tony Ryan

Sport & Leisure

Hello Fish: Sea sawdust at Bulli

In mid-February astute ocean observers may have seen what looked like dirty brown streaks on the ocean surface, some of which easily extended a couple of kilometres in length. At one point I got caught in some while snorkelling off Sandon Point and...

Duncan Leadbitter

Videos

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On the road with NINA

Ahead of National Volunteer Week (16 to 22 May 2022), Iris Huizinga joins a Northern Illawarra Neighbour Aid bus trip to the Imperial at Clifton. Visit the NINA office at 18 Walker Street, call 4294 1900 or follow @northernillawarraneighbouraid on...

How John Stubbs put patients at the heart of healthcare

A Thirroul resident and now Member of the Order of Australia, 74-year-old John Stubbs is on a mission to put patients at the centre of healthcare treatment. Watch the interview

Lifesaver teaches refugees to swim

When former Scarborough-Wombarra lifesaver Peter Rafferty volunteered as a driving instructor for refugees in Wollongong, he discovered most of his students couldn’t swim. So he decided to do something about it. Peter, who worked with asylum...

Rise in demand for Need a Feed

“Right now, we can’t meet the demand, we have had to knock people back,“ says Need a Feed CEO and founder Shaz Harrison. ”There was one organisation that wanted 70 food packages, we could only give 25.”