News

News

3 women set to contest the seat of Cunningham

Download a map of Cunningham here

The Illawarra Flame

19 hours ago

News

Q&A with Carol Berry, Labor Candidate for Whitlam

To enrol to vote or update your details, visit the Australian Electoral Commission’s website

The Illawarra Flame

19 hours ago

News

Q&A with Amanda Ivaneza, Liberal Candidate for Cunningham

To enrol to vote or update your details, visit the Australian Electoral Commission’s website

The Illawarra Flame

19 hours ago

News

Q&A with Jess Whittaker, Greens Candidate for Cunningham

Jess Whittaker is the Greens Candidate for Cunningham in the 2025 Federal Election. This Commonwealth Electoral Division covers the Wollongong region from Helensburgh south to Windang and Unanderra – download a map here. To enrol to vote or update...

The Illawarra Flame

19 hours ago

News

Regional mayors go bush and return with backing for the regional escarpment track

An ambitious proposal for an epic new walking track stretching 150 kilometres across the top of the Illawarra escarpment took a significant step forward today. The project’s champion, former Kiama Mayor Neville Fredericks invited regional mayors...

Jeremy Lasek

February 2025

News

Yours and Owls prepares to welcome 20,000 music lovers at Flagstaff Hill

Meanwhile, the Flagstaff Hill site, described by the event organisers as one of the best in the world, was a major construction zone on Monday when the bump in began. Two large stages are being constructed on the site and the first bank of portaloos...

Jeremy Lasek

February 2025

News

Lord Mayor’s Column: Draft Model Code of Meeting practice

By Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown First published by WCC on Friday, 21 February 2025 Have you ever been to, or watched the livestream of a Wollongong City Council meeting? It’s a great way to engage with local government and the decision-making...

Wollongong City Council

February 2025

News

Shellharbour’s Young Citizen of the Year leads at school, on stage and in the SES

A school leader, theatre performer and NSW State Emergency Service (SES) volunteer, 17-year-old Tori Henderson is Shellharbour City Council’s Young Citizen of the Year.

Tyneesha Williams

February 2025

News

NIRAG Quarterly Meeting Minutes: 12 February 2025

NIRAG Quarterly Meeting Minutes, 7pm, Wednesday 12 Feb 2025 Bulli Community Centre (upstairs meeting room) Present – Cr Jess Whittaker, Ross Dearden, Annette Jones, Susannah Cavill, Tony Horneman, Neil Walker, Kirk Bendall, Stephen Young, John...

Ross Dearden

February 2025

News

Hawks finals mania growing: playoff opener sold out amid big moves at Beaton Park

After a history-making year in which the Illawarra Hawks finished the regular season on top of the NBL ladder, it’s now down to the business end as the playoffs begin on Friday, 28 February. The high-flying Hawks will go into the game against...

Jeremy Lasek

February 2025

News

Project Smile: Shellharbour Citizen of the Year Mohit Tolani champions dental care for all

Local dentist Dr Mohit Tolani was awarded Citizen of the Year at Shellharbour Community Awards in January. “I feel very honoured, and I see it as an encouragement to sustain what I do. It’s a great opportunity to invite collaboration and network...

Tyneesha Williams

February 2025

News

Vietnamese community celebrates Year of the Snake with song and dance at Dapto

A celebration of Vietnamese Lunar New Year was held on February 15th at Dapto Ribbonwood Hall. Organisers Teresa Tran OAM and Hong Phong Le OAM say the family event was an important celebration for the Vietnamese community of Wollongong. “Everyone...

Tyneesha Williams

February 2025

News

State, local politicians get behind the grand escarpment walk project

The grand vision for an epic Illawarra escarpment walk linking the Royal National Park to Wollongong’s north with Cambewarra Mountain in the Shoalhaven is gaining significant support. The proposal which was first proposed in the 1970s and has been...

Jeremy Lasek

February 2025

News

The Weekend edition is out now

The Illawarra Flame

February 2025

Opinion

Lord Mayor’s Column: Time to get behind our finals-bound Illawarra Hawks

By Lord Mayor Councillor Tania Brown It would be an understatement to say being an Illawarra Hawks fan has been a roller coaster ride over the years, both on and off the court. When you’re a Hawks tragic like me, you ride every climb, drop and...

Wollongong City Council

February 2025

News

Thirroul Village Committee’s February Report

DA for 5 and 7 George Street Just before Christmas the owners of 5 and 7 George Street submitted a development application (DA) to Wollongong City Council (WCC) to build a residential flat building with 10 apartments and basement parking. The...

Annette Jones

February 2025

Opinion

Our Bed Block is the nation’s worst, but STARS volunteers can help

You can listen to our podcasts via YouTube, Spotify or Apple iTunes

Nicky Sloan

February 2025

News

Community forum seeks new stormwater plan to help protect our suburbs from future flood disasters

At its first meeting for the year, Neighbourhood Forum 5 (which provides advice to Wollongong City Council on issues relating to the city centre and central suburbs) has urged Council to develop a detailed Stormwater Asset Management Plan...

Jeremy Lasek

February 2025

News

Deep dive: How oil rig rehab is inspiring ‘nature positive’ wind farm design

It’s early days but new research – ironically coming out of the oil and gas sector – has given scientists hope that offshore wind structures could boost biodiversity by becoming artificial reefs, home to sponges, crustaceans, molluscs and...

Genevieve Swart

February 2025

Media release

Community Update: Yours and Owls Flagstaff Hill Event

Wollongong City Council shared this update yesterday, 12 February 2025 For some time, Wollongong City Council has been working closely with representatives of Yours and Owls in the planning of their upcoming event on 1 and 2 March, 2025. With an...

Wollongong City Council

February 2025

History

Summer freedom of camping holidays at Windang

By Local Studies Senior Library Service Officer Lisa Hutton Summer holidays spent at a caravan park with long days in the sun, swimming, fishing, riding bikes and enjoying the freedom of school holidays brings back fond memories for many Illawarr...

The Illawarra Flame

February 2025

News

Behind the headlines: Women are leading local, independent media

We call it Cocktail Hour, but in truth most of us are exhausted after the week and sipping tea. It takes a lot of work, long hours and the shape-shifting skills of a chameleon to run an independent media business. Stella, the owner/editor of Melbourne’s Manningham Life, describes herself as a “one-woman show”. I call it “wearing many hats” and have been switching from one to another since 2013, when we first planted the seed for The Illawarra Flame. Even The Pineapple founder Vivienne Wynter, whose cheerful energy transmits over Zoom from Gympie, admits being a solopreneur is “very demanding”.

Genevieve Swart

February 2025