Well done to students, parents & teachers

Helensburgh Public School has been recognised by the NSW Department of Education’s Secretary as one of the most improved NAPLAN 2022 schools in NSW based on NAPLAN Reading and Numeracy top 2 band results for 2022. We are very proud of our students.

The school has been focusing on planning high-impact literacy and numeracy professional learning, data-informed teaching and observation of teaching practice.

Congratulations to Helensburgh teachers, parents and students for the excellent collective effort and achievement!

– Helensburgh Public School principal Ewen Neild

Don't build Bulli Bypass

Ben Wollen ('Build Bulli Bypass', October) points out that in our car-dependent society there are too many roads taking up space that could be better used. Absolutely right. But I have to take issue with his claim that the proposed Bulli Bypass would be “situated for maximum benefit”.

It would be lovely to restore an early 20th-century streetscape in Bulli and create a heritage precinct showcasing the neglected heritage buildings. That’s Ben's dream but is it realistic? Many of us objected to the Woolworths development at the time but look how popular it is.

Let’s consider the “benefit” of this bypass for our escarpment. This is one of the major constraints on Wollongong’s development. The roads are slip-prone and dangerous and there’s only one inadequate rail line. We can’t afford to build transport links that fail. Look how often the Bulli Pass is closed for roadworks.

The bypass road reserve exists as far as the Bulli Showground. But then what? If built it’ll presumably divide the Grevillea Park then proceed through beautiful bush on steep fragile slopes to meet the hairpin bend. Some of this is Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area. Does the rest of the trouble-prone Bulli Pass road remain as is?

Do we really want to sacrifice some of our protected escarpment forests, have a compromised Grevillea Park and lose the showground as a site for great events like the Illawarra Folk Festival? Not in my dream.

– Helen Wilson, Bulli

An ode to Daisy

I was getting old and kinda lazy

So I scanned the net and found Miss Daisy

She’s a farm girl, you know what they’re like

Full of fun and full of fight

She comes from a so-called intelligent breed

But she must have missed out when sowing the seed

She jumps fences, scratches and bites

Runs away with all her might

People are saying behind my back

What were you thinking and I’ll agree with that

A two legged version would have been easier

But I’m locked in now and the exercise is pleasing

Ten k’s some days and still not hurting

But when she’s asleep with her head on my lap

All things are forgiven and I’ll drink to that.

– Kevin, via email