a202a4655cf2c0f5ce51fef1d35d7fd2
Subscribe
Sign in Subscribe
© 2024 The Illawarra Flame
video
Exclusive

Lolly Run: Santa Claus is coming to town!

By Captain Roslyn Thomas of Fire and Rescue NSW, 325 Helensburgh Station We are very excited to let our community know that Santa will be coming around Helensburgh and Stanwell Tops on Saturday, December 21. Fire and Rescue NSW, 325 Helensburgh...

The Illawarra Flame
November 2024
video
Arts & culture

Catch-up on some of the most popular books of 2024 at Wollongong Libraries

Thanks to Nina Jauncey and the team of librarians at Thirroul for sharing this list of good books. With social calendars filling up, make sure you’re not left out of reading conversations. Borrow these popular 2024 titles at the Library. Funny...

The Illawarra Flame
20 hours ago
video
Food & Travel

Top Thai chef returns to Black Duck Bistro

After a year off, Aksarapak Chotikasathira (known to everyone as Kay) has recently made a welcome return to the kitchen at The Black Duck Bistro at Wombarra Bowlo. “I had cancer, and last year I dropped all my work to concentrate on getting...

Cathy Law
December 2024
video
News

Bushwalk reopens: First look at Wodi Wodi Track

Where once bushwalkers had to scramble or slide, there are now beautiful sandstone stairs. Welcome to the new and improved Wodi Wodi Track. After being closed for repairs for a year and a half, the track reopened today, December 20. It’s another...

Genevieve Swart
22 hours ago
video
Science & Nature

Bird of the Month: Crimson Rosella

The bird of the month is the Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), a colourful member of the parrot family found throughout south-eastern Australia. In the Illawarra, they favour woodland and forested areas dominated by eucalyptus trees but will...

Ewan Auld
20 hours ago
video
History

The Illawarra Guesthouse that Albert Orange built, with high hopes of tourist trade

Locals and tourists to Lake Illawarra would all be familiar with the historic two-storey California Guest House at Reddall Parade. It’s unlike any other building in the street. This impressive edifice was the brainchild of Mr Albert Orange. Albert...

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Arts & culture

What will you be reading this summer? We asked 6 avid readers

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article

The Conversation
20 hours ago
video
Puzzles

Quick Crossword, 20 Dec 2024

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Science & Nature

A classy grass showing off right now

Right now many local grasses are looking simply spectacular. I’ve previously featured the Native Sorghum (S. leiocladum), Basket Grass (Oplismenus sp.), Pygmy Panic (Panicum pygmaeum) and the Love Grasses (Eragrostis species) and they’re all doing...

Emma Rooksby
December 2024
News
View all
video
News

Stanwell Park’s Banksia Bushcare wins award for fostering community spirit

After a lifetime of Bushcare work at Stanwell Park and lots of local love, Kieran Tapsell has received his first official award.

Genevieve Swart
December 2024
video
News

Speaking to power

The University of Wollongong’s Ty Christopher has a cost-cutting clean energy message he says we should be “screaming from the rooftops”. It’s been lost as election-bound politicians debate our electricity mix decades into the future and the...

Genevieve Swart
December 2024
video
News

Donations pour in as community rallies round to support local family

Donations have poured in for Monica Offergeld after her husband, Shaun Wendt, passed away suddenly in December. Almost 200 people have rallied round to raise more than $25,000 to help Monica and her sons, Rhys and Max. Otford local Natasha Watson...

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
News

Bushwalk reopens: First look at Wodi Wodi Track

Where once bushwalkers had to scramble or slide, there are now beautiful sandstone stairs. Welcome to the new and improved Wodi Wodi Track. After being closed for repairs for a year and a half, the track reopened today, December 20. It’s another...

Genevieve Swart
22 hours ago
video
News

Living Connected offers a life-changing service for seniors lost in the digital fog

Ok, all you baby boomers reading this, trying to pretend (as I do occasionally) that we’re so up to date with rapidly changing technology. I could only wish!! Did you know there’s a fabulous service available in the Illawarra (much of it free) which...

Jeremy Lasek
December 2024
video
News

Support growing for world-class Illawarra regional museum

Momentum is building for ambitious plans to create a world class regional museum and cultural centre in the Illawarra. The Illawarra Flame has revealed exclusively two concept proposals; one to be located on surplus steelworks land at Port Kembl...

Jeremy Lasek
December 2024
video
Opinion

Yours and Owls’ mega foreshore event: why our Council is caught between a rock (’n’ roll) and a hard place

Can I start this piece by being totally up front – you won’t find a bigger lover of noisy, outdoor live music events than me (so put another coin in the jukebox baby). Over the past 25 years, I’ve had the privilege of playing a lead role (together...

Jeremy Lasek
December 2024
Arts & Culture
View all
video
Arts & culture

Catch-up on some of the most popular books of 2024 at Wollongong Libraries

Thanks to Nina Jauncey and the team of librarians at Thirroul for sharing this list of good books. With social calendars filling up, make sure you’re not left out of reading conversations. Borrow these popular 2024 titles at the Library. Funny...

The Illawarra Flame
20 hours ago
video
Arts & culture

What will you be reading this summer? We asked 6 avid readers

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article

The Conversation
20 hours ago
video
Arts & culture

Behind the Lens with Linda Fury, president of Kiama Shellharbour Camera Club

Although living on the South Coast means she is spoilt for choice when it comes to snapping spectacular landscapes, award-winning photographer, Linda Fury from Albion Park, says her extensive travels have definitely played a significant role in the...

Lesley Roulston
December 2024
video
Arts & culture

We Mavericks to launch new album at Illawarra Folk Festival in January

By Nick Hartgerink, honorary publicity officer for the Illawarra Folk Festival Acclaimed folk duo We Mavericks don’t call Corrimal home these days, but in a nod to their time in the region they will be launching their new album at the Illawarr...

Nicholas Hartgerink
December 2024
video
Arts & culture

Claire Foxton’s colourful mural makes a splash at Shell Cove’s Waterfront Marina

Most of Illawarra would be familiar with local artist Claire Foxton’s spectacular 14m high mural of Shellharbour Matilda’s soccer star Caitlin Foord - located on a wall of Wollongong Central. It was unveiled to a flurry of media and public...

Lesley Roulston
December 2024
video
Arts & culture

Honk! Oz exhibition opens at Wollongong Library

The exhibition can also be viewed online

Jo Oliver
December 2024
Energy Transition
View all
video
News

Speaking to power

The University of Wollongong’s Ty Christopher has a cost-cutting clean energy message he says we should be “screaming from the rooftops”. It’s been lost as election-bound politicians debate our electricity mix decades into the future and the...

Genevieve Swart
December 2024
video
News

From volunteer to pilot manager: John Buchelin shares an electrifying journey

John Buchelin started out as an Electrify 2515 volunteer, letterboxing flyers on local streets with his daughter after soccer practice. Two years on, he’s the operations manager for the new community pilot, a partnership by non-profit Rewiring...

Genevieve Swart
December 2024
video
News

City celebrates rise of Green Gravity in Wollongong

Elon Musk’s Tesla home batteries beware – there’s a new, cheaper and more sustainable way of storing rooftop solar on the rise, and it’s made in Wollongong. “At Green Gravity, we are an energy storage developer and we’ve developed...

Genevieve Swart
December 2024
video
News

Electrify 2515 Community Pilot: Locals share their views

After 600 people packed into Anita’s Theatre for Electrify 2515’s Community Pilot launch on Sunday, November 10. After the offical speeches by Dr Saul Griffith, pilot leaders and an audience Q&A, local residents shared their thoughts. Courtney...

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
Clubs & Community
View all
video
History

The Illawarra Guesthouse that Albert Orange built, with high hopes of tourist trade

Locals and tourists to Lake Illawarra would all be familiar with the historic two-storey California Guest House at Reddall Parade. It’s unlike any other building in the street. This impressive edifice was the brainchild of Mr Albert Orange. Albert...

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Clubs & Community

Helensburgh Historical Society welcomes new committee

Helensburgh & District Historical Society held our annual general meeting by Zoom on Thursday, 21 November, when we heard president Jim Powell’s report on 2024 activities. Jim thanked the various members who contributed to a successful year...

Janet Lee
December 2024
video
Clubs & Community

A great Grandparents Day

Helensburgh Public School recently celebrated Grandparents Day with an overwhelming turn-out of grandparents and special people, filling the school grounds with joy and warmth. The sight of so many cherished family members gathered together truly...

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Clubs & Community

‘I saw a blank canvas’: Artist shares Tender Funerals experience

Artist Melissa Ritchie, the president of the Illawarra Association for the Visual Arts (IAVA), shares her experience of a Tender Funeral. My aunt Robyn Artho – twin sister to my mother Margaret Owers (nee Compton) and an artist like me – was...

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Clubs & Community

Time to Guide: Retired teacher enjoys volunteer role at Wollongong Art Gallery

Janice Creenaune meets Sharon Pechey, a Scarborough resident and past primary school teacher and assistant principal, who now continues her love of learning and teaching children by volunteering as a guide and workshop assistant at Wollongong Art...

Janice Creenaune
December 2024
video
Clubs & Community

Thirroul Probus turns 5

By publicity officer Yvonne Bryce Five years ago a group of enthusiastic retirees headed by Mike and Gail Brennan started the Thirroul Probus Club. Our club began with 54 members and over five years has increased its membership to 133 people. We...

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Clubs & Community

Christmas wishes from the Lions

By Fran Peppernell, Helensburgh Lions publicity officer This is a happy time of year as we look forward to celebrating the festive season with family and friends. To cap off 2024, Helensburgh Lions celebrated a wonderful and happy occasion at this...

Fran Peppernell
December 2024
Food & Travel
View all
video
Food & Travel

Top Thai chef returns to Black Duck Bistro

After a year off, Aksarapak Chotikasathira (known to everyone as Kay) has recently made a welcome return to the kitchen at The Black Duck Bistro at Wombarra Bowlo. “I had cancer, and last year I dropped all my work to concentrate on getting...

Cathy Law
December 2024
video
Food & Travel

Fresh seafood on the menu this Christmas

Planning a seafood feast this Christmas? Want to do the right thing for sustainable seafood supply, the environment and your health? Here is your guide to making informed choices that support sustainable practices.

Susan Luscombe
December 2024
video
Food & Travel

Where to satisfy Christmas cravings and find festive feasts

If you’re staying in, catching up with friends or spending the Christmas season by the beach, we have you covered. Stay in Can’t live without Miller’s Local Bakehouse iconic croissants, mince pies, sourdough and lemon layer cake over Christmas?...

Amanda De George
December 2024
video
Food & Travel

Lili J Cafe sisters plan pop-up nights in fresh space

Evolution continues at Lily J Sisters Raquel and Meni Jaque are excited by the opportunities that are now possible at their much-loved Lily J Café. Originally confined to two rooms of an old florist shop on Corrimal Street, April saw them finally...

Cathy Law
December 2024
What's On
View all events
09
January - 11 January
Events

HONK! Oz Street Music Festival #10

HONK!
17
January - 19 January
Events

Illawarra Folk Festival 2025

Illawarra
16
March
Events

GreenFest sustainability fun day

GreenFest
Health & Wellness
View all
video
Health & Wellness

Adolescent mental health – how parents can help

By Dr Nikita Robins, Bulli Medical Practice Adolescents are increasingly struggling with poor mental health. The two most frequently cited issues thought to have had a negative impact on youth mental health are: 1) the global pandemic and lockdowns...

Dr Nikita Robins
December 2024
video
Parenting

Cancelled plans and an oddly placed bandaid: The perils of dating your spouse in early parenthood

The task of trying to connect with your spouse in early parenthood takes dedication, patience and a great big dollop of humour. At a time when attempting to drink a glass of water feels like an olympic sport, it can feel utterly impossible to direct...

Andy Lawrence
December 2024
video
Parenting

Do we even like each other anymore? Dating my husband and fighting for our spark in early parenthood

A little over a year ago, my husband and I were attempting to reconnect after wading through an ocean of mutual resentment, imagined slights and increasingly exasperating circular arguments after the birth of our second baby. So much of our life had...

Andy Lawrence
November 2024
video
Health & Wellness

Unlocking potential with Entelechy Living

During my conversation with Anna Carson, founder of Woonona’s health and wellness hub Entelechy Living I have to ask her how to pronounce certain words. Ayurveda is one. Entelechy is another. And as the name of her business, that one’s probably...

Amanda De George
October 2024
video
Partner content

Fertility problems? See your GP

For more information, visit Health Direct

Dr Hayley Glasson
November 2024
video
Health & Wellness

In the US, political division can take a significant toll on people’s health. Australia should pay attention

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article

The Conversation
November 2024
Local Business
View all
video
Local Business

Team HELNO ready the rally car

John Hine from Helensburgh Car Services will join the Shitbox Rally, driving from Perth to Dawin to raise funds for Cancer Council in June 2025. Joined by his co-driver and sister-in-law Nicole Howe, team HELNO are preparing their rally car and...

Tyneesha Williams
November 2024
video
Local Business

ITeC Academy to host new free Business Connections Club

Networking events are making a comeback as local business people show they value the chance to connect with others. On Thursday, November 14, the revival of the Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce (NICC) had a promising start, with Wollongong...

Genevieve Swart
November 2024
video
Local Business

Q&A with the Glow Girls founder

First Helensburgh local Sammy Mahler changed her own life, now she’s changing others’. “After many years in fashion, where I honed my skills in creativity and communication, I realised my true calling lay in supporting young people,” Sammy...

Genevieve Swart
November 2024
video
Partner content

Horizon Bank Celebrated 60 years of Service to the Illawarra & South Coast!

By the team at Horizon Bank This November, Horizon Bank proudly marked their 60th Anniversary, commemorating six decades of dedicated service as a customer-owned financial institution in the Illawarra and South Coast. It all began in 1964 when...

The Illawarra Flame
November 2024
video
Local Business

Collins hosts last author talks of 2024

Invitation to young & old to join our Xmas Fundraising Project raising money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. How does it work? We’ll give you a plain paper carry bag to take home and decorate using your medium of choice: pencils, ink...

Collins Booksellers Thirroul
November 2024
video
Local Business

Gem of a gift idea

As we count down the days to the festive season, how many of us are struggling to come up with a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift which has style, purpose and practicality? Why not consider giving your someone special a unique creative experience, in...

Jeremy Lasek
November 2024
video
Local Business

Well done to Helensburgh’s Todd Brennan, founder of Forkpro Australia

By Michelle Mitchell, general manager at Forkpro Australia Helensburgh’s Todd Brennan, CEO and founder of Forkpro Australia, has won the Australian Forklift & Industrial Truck Association’s H&E Grant Award. It is a prestigious award...

The Illawarra Flame
October 2024
Science & Nature
View all
video
Science & Nature

Bird of the Month: Crimson Rosella

The bird of the month is the Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), a colourful member of the parrot family found throughout south-eastern Australia. In the Illawarra, they favour woodland and forested areas dominated by eucalyptus trees but will...

Ewan Auld
20 hours ago
video
Science & Nature

A classy grass showing off right now

Right now many local grasses are looking simply spectacular. I’ve previously featured the Native Sorghum (S. leiocladum), Basket Grass (Oplismenus sp.), Pygmy Panic (Panicum pygmaeum) and the Love Grasses (Eragrostis species) and they’re all doing...

Emma Rooksby
December 2024
video
Science & Nature

Flooding and Illawarra’s native vegetation

High rainfall events and flooding are regular occurrences in the Illawarra region, as in many parts of the world. The last four years have included three very wet summers (due to influences such as La Niña phase of the El Niño-La Niña Seasonal...

Emma Rooksby
December 2024
video
Science & Nature

Births, deaths and marriages: the perils of nature watching

You’ve heard it, I’ve said it, we all know that spending time in nature is good for us. But as I spent the last few days on tenterhooks, using my camera’s telephoto lens as proxy binoculars, watching a tawny frogmouth family of four swiftly...

Amanda De George
December 2024
Motoring & Property
View all
video
Partner content

Rates on hold for Christmas and New Year

At its final meeting of 2024, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) maintained the cash rate at 4.35 per cent, a move that was aligned with expectations as headline inflation continued to ease. Current indicators suggest a potential cash rate...

Ian Pepper
December 2024
video
Motoring & Property

Driven: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GSR

Hybrid vehicles are currently a great choice as a happy compromise between driving a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) or driving an EV. A hybrid vehicle – i.e. one with a traditional fuel source (petrol or diesel) and electric power...

Marcus Craft
December 2024
video
Motoring & Property

Driven: 2025 Toyota HiLux Rogue 48V

This is the new HiLux Rogue with V-Active Technology, which is a combination of a motor generator, 48-volt battery and DC/DC converter aimed at improving performance and fuel efficiency and reducing noise, vibration and harshness levels, compared to...

Marcus Craft
November 2024
video
Motoring & Property

Driven: 2025 Abarth 500e

Can an EV replicate the hot-hatch thrills of the original ICE (internal combustion engine) version on which it’s based? We drive the 2025 Abarth 500e Turismo to see if it’s as much fun as it’s hyped up to be – and to see if it can serve as...

Marcus Craft
November 2024
video
Motoring & Property

Diary of an EV Driver: Watt about Horsepower

Like today, back in the 1780s there was a change in the way machines were being powered. Then it was from horse power to steam power, for driving pumps to take water out of mines. Young James Watt had trouble convincing industrialists that his steam...

Peter Aubourg
November 2024
video
Motoring & Property

How to date an architect

No, I don’t mean in a romantic relationship! That’s not to say you shouldn’t date an architect. I mean, many of us make great partners and can show you how to pack a dishwasher like an obsessive-compulsive pro! Jokes aside – how do you find...

Ben Wollen
November 2024
video
Partner content

Rates on hold again and local market performing well

Interest rates remained on hold again this week following the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) meeting on Melbourne Cup Day. Inflation has now dropped to within the target range between 2-3%, however, the RBA are wary of a number of factors. These...

Ian Pepper
November 2024
Sport & Leisure
View all
video
Sport & Leisure

Incredible swim: Three locals cross the English Channel

The English Channel is the busiest shipping lane in the world with hundreds of vessels moving from England to Europe and from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and vice versa, every day. So, it’s not sharks but water traffic, that is the biggest...

Lesley Roulston
December 2024
video
Sport & Leisure

Surf, Sand, and Success at Stanwell Park surf club

By publicity officer Christine McDonald of Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club The patrol season is here, and the beach is alive with activity! With the warmer weather drawing crowds, it’s fantastic to see so many beachgoers enjoying the...

Christine McDonald
December 2024
video
Sport & Leisure

Start Sundays with Barefoot Yoga at the Farm

More info: Barefoot Yoga at the Farm on Facebook

Lesley Roulston
December 2024
video
Sport & Leisure

‘Exercise is medicine’ - UOW’s Fitness for Life gym group celebrate another big year

Three times a week a group of local baby boomers get together at the UOW Innovation Campus gym to increase their levels of fitness. Over the years it’s also resulted in the creation of a strong, caring social network. Gym manager Kim Faulkner...

Jeremy Lasek
December 2024
Videos
View all
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
View all
video
Puzzles

Quick Crossword, 20 Dec 2024

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Puzzles

Play WordroW - 19 Dec 2024

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Puzzles

Quick Quiz: 18 Dec 2024

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Puzzles

9-Letter Challenge, 16 Dec 2024

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Puzzles

Quick Crossword, 13 Dec 2024

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Puzzles

Play WordroW - 12 Dec 2024

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
video
Puzzles

Quick Quiz: 11 Dec 2024

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024
Digital editions
View all issues
December 2024

Summer’s Southern Illawarra edition

The Illawarra Flame
December 2024

December 2024’s print magazine is out now

The Illawarra Flame
November 2024

November 2024

The Illawarra Flame