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© 2025 The Illawarra Flame
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News

Welcome to the Weekend digital edition

Find out what’s on this weekend across the Illawarra

The Illawarra Flame
23 hours ago
video
What's On

Ride4Rotary this Sunday and raise funds for vulnerable young people

For the first time in the event’s 10-year history, the Ride4Rotary is moving from Unanderra’s velodrome to Marine Drive, joining the Ride Wollongong festival of cycling in the city this Sunday. “There’s a 10k option, a 20k option, a 29k...

Genevieve Swart
13 hours ago
video
Puzzles

Quick Crossword, 16 May 2025

The Illawarra Flame
23 hours ago
video
Sport & Leisure

Guide to Fairy Meadow Beach/Puckeys Walk

The described walk can be shortened by omitting the northern section to Towradgi Point. Pass through the dunes to (3)

The Illawarra Flame
23 hours ago
video
Sport & Leisure

Record turnout of 130 surfers at pointscore #4

A perfect weather day of sunshine and light winds for pointscore #4 with fun waves on offer for all our divisions at Sharkey’s Beach. Waves were a bit on the smaller side, but the April pointscore went off with action a plenty, both in the ocean...

Ian Pepper
May 2025
video
Clubs & Community

Great reviews for NINA’s Cafe Club: ‘One of the best groups I’ve joined in my life’

Local Not-For-Profit organisation, Northern Illawarra Neighbour Aid (NINA) helps clients from Helensburgh to Woonona to live independently. NINA organises social groups such as Cafe Club, which improves quality of life by addressing social...

Tyneesha Williams
May 2025
video
What's On

Vintage and Art Bazaar comes to Coledale hall

By South Coast Writers Centre direct Sarah Nicholson Coledale Community Hall’s delightfully retro interior is set to be transformed into a Vintage and Art Bazaar next weekend, with specially curated stalls offering one-of-a-kind art, handicrafts...

Sarah Nicholson
23 hours ago
video
Food & Travel

Kiama Farmers’ Market set to move over winter

Kiama Farmers’ Market is preparing for a temporary move from its prime location at Surf Beach to allow Kiama Council to rehabilitate the damage done by tidal storm surges in early April. “The park was a mess of sand, debris and fish on the...

Cathy Law
23 hours ago
video
News

NF5 community group joins calls for densities to be scaled back for big housing plans near UOW

The community representative group Neighbourhood Forum 5 (NF5) has added its voice to concerns raised about a large new residential precinct proposed for Gwynneville near the University of Wollongong. Wollongong City Council is currently considering...

Jeremy Lasek
May 2025
News
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Opinion

Lord Mayor’s Column: Participating in the national conversation about natural disasters

From the Lord Mayor’s Office: Thursday, 8 May 2025 On Tuesday night [May 6], I had the pleasure of being a guest on the SBS series Insight and its episode Uninsurable. The program looked at the growing issue of homes being too expensive to insure...

The Illawarra Flame
12 hours ago
video
What's On

Ride4Rotary this Sunday and raise funds for vulnerable young people

For the first time in the event’s 10-year history, the Ride4Rotary is moving from Unanderra’s velodrome to Marine Drive, joining the Ride Wollongong festival of cycling in the city this Sunday. “There’s a 10k option, a 20k option, a 29k...

Genevieve Swart
13 hours ago
video
What's On

Vintage and Art Bazaar comes to Coledale hall

By South Coast Writers Centre direct Sarah Nicholson Coledale Community Hall’s delightfully retro interior is set to be transformed into a Vintage and Art Bazaar next weekend, with specially curated stalls offering one-of-a-kind art, handicrafts...

Sarah Nicholson
23 hours ago
video
News

Welcome to the Weekend digital edition

Find out what’s on this weekend across the Illawarra

The Illawarra Flame
23 hours ago
video
News

NF5 community group joins calls for densities to be scaled back for big housing plans near UOW

The community representative group Neighbourhood Forum 5 (NF5) has added its voice to concerns raised about a large new residential precinct proposed for Gwynneville near the University of Wollongong. Wollongong City Council is currently considering...

Jeremy Lasek
May 2025
video
What's On

Vintage HARS aircraft to fly Cities Service Boston tribute over Bass Point

By HARS media officer Ian Badham On Sunday, May 18, three vintage aircraft from HARS Aviation Museum will fly an aerial tribute during this year’s service to remember the tragic shipwreck of an American military ship off Bass Point, Shellharbour...

Ian Badham
May 2025
video
News

What’s next for offshore wind? Scientists plot best path for people and planet

Associate Professor Michelle Voyer, one of the leaders of the Blue Energy Futures Lab at the University of Wollongong (UOW), is a co-author of the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s roadmap, titled Improving decision-making in relation to...

Genevieve Swart
May 2025
Arts & Culture
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Arts & culture

Scenes From The Climate Era opens on Wednesday at IPAC

Scenes from the Climate Era opens tomorrow at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC), with nibbles on everything from zombie mice to a post-aeroplane planet. Of the 50 scenes in David Finnigan’s play, actor Nic English is most looking forward to sharing the story of Smiley the frog.

Genevieve Swart
May 2025
video
Arts & culture

Photographer Geoff Smith shoots ‘For the Love of Trees’

Shellharbour’s Geoff Smith has turned his love of photography into a lifelong passion. Since he was a teenager and learnt the craft under the guidance of his father, Geoff has worked in dark rooms producing black and white images, discovering a creative connection with photography that he didn’t feel with painting or drawing.

Lesley Roulston
May 2025
video
Arts & culture

DJ Jordan Quill mixes sunset, stunning views and tropical house music on Windang Island

In April, 21 year old Wollongong-based DJ Jordan Quill performed and recorded the first ever DJ set played at Windang Island. “It was the perfect spot. There’s a beautiful spot at the very end where you can see a bit of the cliff, a bit of the...

Tyneesha Williams
May 2025
video
Arts & culture

Let us entertain you at Coledale

By Wombarra playwright Lindsay Fisher My husband and both my children are professional performers, so I have collected a million stories around what it really means to make a career as an entertainer. From singing in a bar while the footy plays on...

The Illawarra Flame
May 2025
video
Arts & culture

Meet Jessie Tu at South Coast Readers & Writers Festival

The South Coast Readers & Writers Festival returns to Thirroul over the weekend of July 5 and 6 with a vibrant lineup of literary talent. The full festival program is now live, featuring local voices, return guests, and internationally...

Elizabeth Heffernan
May 2025
video
Arts & culture

Full South Coast Readers & Writers Festival program announced

The South Coast Readers & Writers Festival returns to Thirroul over the weekend of 5 and 6 July with a vibrant line-up of literary talent. The full festival program is now live, featuring local voices, return guests, and internationally...

Elizabeth Heffernan
May 2025
Energy Transition
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News

What’s next for offshore wind? Scientists plot best path for people and planet

Associate Professor Michelle Voyer, one of the leaders of the Blue Energy Futures Lab at the University of Wollongong (UOW), is a co-author of the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s roadmap, titled Improving decision-making in relation to...

Genevieve Swart
May 2025
video
News

Health concerns drive calls for new homes to be all-electric

On the eve of World Asthma Day, about 50 people rallied outside Wollongong City Council’s Burelli Street offices. Their goal: to urge council to make new developments all-electric, with research showing gas stove use is estimated to cause 12% of childhood asthma in Australia.

Genevieve Swart
May 2025
video
Energy Transition

Electrify Illawarra busy lobbying for change for all

It’s been a busy month. Electrify Illawarra shared a stall with Renew Illawarra at the Corrimal Rotary GreenFest on April 13. We chatted to locals about how they can reduce their bills and carbon footprint by going all-electric. The BYD Dolphin...

Denise Aubourg
May 2025
video
Energy Transition

kWhrs: Watt is that?

This month I am looking at the way we measure fuel efficiency in our car. I am old enough to remember “Miles per Gallon”. Then we went metric and someone turned it upside-down “Litres per 100km”. Now with EVs, we have kW and kW-hours. So how...

Peter Aubourg
April 2025
Clubs & Community
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Clubs & Community

Where to find a Justice of the Peace (JP) in Wollongong

All times are 10am till 1pm. Thirroul Library – 1st Thursday of the month Corrimal Library – 2nd Wednesday of the month Wollongong Library – 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month, plus 4th Tuesday of the month. Dapto Library – 2nd & 4th...

The Illawarra Flame
7 hours ago
video
Clubs & Community

Great reviews for NINA’s Cafe Club: ‘One of the best groups I’ve joined in my life’

Local Not-For-Profit organisation, Northern Illawarra Neighbour Aid (NINA) helps clients from Helensburgh to Woonona to live independently. NINA organises social groups such as Cafe Club, which improves quality of life by addressing social...

Tyneesha Williams
May 2025
video
Media release

Wollongong Harmony Chorus delights crowd

By Isabelle Ghetti, events coordinator at Wollongong Harmony Chorus The Wollongong Harmony Chorus wowed a crowd of approximately 100 enthusiastic supporters at their Family and Friends Concert in May, delivering a heartwarming and high-energy...

The Illawarra Flame
May 2025
video
History

‘A million ways to remember mother’

‘A million ways to remember mother’ was the newspaper slogan used to draw shoppers into Anthony Horderns for their 1963 Mother’s Day Sale. Featured items included; tomboy spotted flannella pyjamas ($4.99) and brunch coat with satin bow...

Jenny McConchie
May 2025
video
Clubs & Community

Fashion parade highlight at Wollongong weavers and spinners expo

Crocheted bunting and mandalas hung from the sprawling branches of trees and adorned benches and the entry to the community centre in Fairy Meadow. Before even making it inside the annual exhibition from the Wollongong Handweavers and Spinners...

Amanda De George
May 2025
video
Clubs & Community

Stanwell Park CWA to host talk about much-loved cookbooks

CWA members have since undertaken training in CPR and use of the defibrillator with the Dave Winner Foundation. We urge other community members to take advantage of this free CPR training, which we can highly recommend. Go to...

The Illawarra Flame
May 2025
video
Clubs & Community

Helensburgh Lions to sponsor a hearing assistance dog

It was a busy April with a lot of activities, such as supporting Warwick’s Boot Scooting Fundraising event, the Easter Scramble and the Anzac Day Service at Stanwell Tops memorial park. Now it is with great pleasure that we announce your...

Fran Peppernell
May 2025
Food & Travel
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Food & Travel

Kiama Farmers’ Market set to move over winter

Kiama Farmers’ Market is preparing for a temporary move from its prime location at Surf Beach to allow Kiama Council to rehabilitate the damage done by tidal storm surges in early April. “The park was a mess of sand, debris and fish on the...

Cathy Law
23 hours ago
video
Food & Travel

Impact Hour group toasts to local, sustainable food at Tarrawanna meetup

On Tuesday, May 6, Impact Hour Illawarra hosted a sustainability meet-up and ideas exchange at Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine, Tarrawanna. About 40 people attended the event, eager to learn about local, sustainable food.

Tyneesha Williams
May 2025
video
Food & Travel

Community-run food co-ops can reduce food insecurity and boost healthy diets, research shows

By co-ordinating their orders, members can reduce food costs, limit packaging waste, and avoid supermarket markups. Co-ops can also help lower transport emissions by reducing long supply chains

The Conversation
May 2025
video
Food & Travel

The Brooke Bellamy accusations join a long tradition of cookbook scandals – from Belle Gibson to bone broth formula

Issues with recipe plagiarism have been around for a long time. In the 1980s, a legal stoush ensued between Richard Olney and Richard Nelson

The Conversation
May 2025
What's On
View all events
16
May
Events

Greenplan Plant Sale

Greenplan
16
May
Events

“May Daze” - Women Illawarra 2025 Annual Fundraiser

“May
17
May - 1 June
Events

Art in the Shops in Thirroul

Art
17
May
Events

Tune In free festival

Tune
Health & Wellness
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video
Partner content

Food Intolerances: What To Watch For

By Dr Amy Harkness of Bulli Medical Practice Is your child experiencing unexplained symptoms after meals? Unlike food allergies that cause immediate reactions, food intolerances can be subtle and difficult to identify, affecting up to 25% of...

Dr Amy Harkness
May 2025
video
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
April 2025
video
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
April 2025
video
Partner content

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
April 2025
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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
March 2025
video
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
March 2025
Local Business
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Local Business

Collins hosts talk by journalist Jess Hill at Coledale

At Coledale Community Centre on 10th May, Jess Hill, a journalist and the author of Quarterly Essay ‘Losing It’, will be in conversation with Regina Featherstone, a senior lawyer from the Human Rights Law Centre. Bookings essential for what will...

Collins Booksellers Thirroul
May 2025
video
Partner content

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...

The Illawarra Flame
April 2025
video
Local Business

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...

Genevieve Swart
April 2025
video
Partner content

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...

Collins Booksellers Thirroul
April 2025
video
Local Business

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.

Genevieve Swart
March 2025
video
Local Business

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.

Genevieve Swart
March 2025
video
Partner content

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
March 2025
Science & Nature
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video
Science & Nature

Why fungi hunting is for everyone

Fungi are popping up everywhere right now. I’ve had a couple of rounded earthstars (Geastrum saccatum) burst up from under the clothesline. Side note: I often use common names, despite the confusion they can sometimes cause. I’m all about...

Amanda De George
May 2025
video
Science & Nature

The Hare’s Foot Fern of happiness

In some cultures, carrying a rabbit’s foot has been considered to bring good luck. Perhaps it still is? I’ve certainly never tried carrying one around, but I’m always reminded of this bit of folklore when I see one of my favourite local ferns around...

Emma Rooksby
May 2025
video
Science & Nature

New Campus Tree Walk a golden opportunity to celebrate UOW’s 50th anniversary

Nearing the mid-point of the University of Wollongong’s (UOW’s) 50th anniversary celebrations, and to celebrate the campus’s unique landscape environment, plans have been unveiled to create a special walk to highlight the special beauty of the...

Jeremy Lasek
May 2025
video
Science & Nature

Fruiting now: all sorts of Lilly Pilly

We’re into the European month of May and well into the season of autumn, although it’s still very warm compared with the long-term average for this time of year. In the D’harawal calendar, the indications are that we are in marrai’gang, when it’s...

Emma Rooksby
May 2025
Motoring & Property
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video
Partner content

Whatever the election result, first home buyers will be the winners

Ian is a regular advertiser in the Illawarra Flame

Ian Pepper
April 2025
video
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
March 2025
video
Partner content

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
April 2025
video
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
March 2025
video
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
video
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
March 2025
video
Partner content

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
March 2025
Sport & Leisure
View all
video
Sport & Leisure

Guide to Fairy Meadow Beach/Puckeys Walk

The described walk can be shortened by omitting the northern section to Towradgi Point. Pass through the dunes to (3)

The Illawarra Flame
23 hours ago
video
Sport & Leisure

Record turnout of 130 surfers at pointscore #4

A perfect weather day of sunshine and light winds for pointscore #4 with fun waves on offer for all our divisions at Sharkey’s Beach. Waves were a bit on the smaller side, but the April pointscore went off with action a plenty, both in the ocean...

Ian Pepper
May 2025
video
Sport & Leisure

A labour of love: Highlands couple used Covid lockdown to rediscover, recreate a stunning ‘lost’ bush trek

Exactly five years ago, as the early months of the Covid pandemic sent the nation into lockdown, the majority of us struggled with a strange new life of isolation, disconnection and uncertainty. Not so for a nature-loving Southern Highlands couple...

Jeremy Lasek
April 2025
video
Sport & Leisure

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
April 2025
Videos
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video
Videos

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...

Iris Huizinga
video
Videos

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

Iris Huizinga
video
Videos

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...

Iris Huizinga
video
Videos

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.”

Iris Huizinga
Puzzles
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video
Puzzles

Quick Crossword, 16 May 2025

The Illawarra Flame
23 hours ago
video
Puzzles

Play WordroW - 15 May 2025

The Illawarra Flame
May 2025
video
Puzzles

Quick Quiz: 14 May 2025

The Illawarra Flame
May 2025
video
Puzzles

Easy Sudoku, 13 May 2025

The Illawarra Flame
May 2025
video
Puzzles

9-Letter Challenge, 12 May 2025

The Illawarra Flame
May 2025
video
Puzzles

Quick Crossword, 9 May 2025

The Illawarra Flame
May 2025
video
Puzzles

Play WordroW - 8 May 2025

The Illawarra Flame
May 2025
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