At the Illawarra Flame’s 10th Biz Birthday party at Coledale RSL last Friday, guest of honour Maryanne Stuart, the Member for Heathcote, congratulated the entire team behind the independent publication, which is run, written and read by locals.
“Your work has not only kept community news alive but has also enriched our lives in ways that words alone cannot fully capture,” she said.
Named after a beautiful native tree, the Flame is more than just a news outlet, Maryanne said. “It has become a symbol of our community’s resilience, creativity and shared values.
“In an era where local news is increasingly under threat, the Illawarra Flame has defied the odds.
“It has weathered the storms of changing technology, rising costs, and even a global pandemic. Yet, through it all, the Flame has remained steadfast, continuing to deliver trusted and engaging news to the community.
“The Flame has survived and thrived because of the dedication and passion of its owners – Genevieve and Marcus. Their commitment to local news, to mentoring the next generation of storytellers, and to ensuring that our stories are told is something we all should cherish and support.”
Genevieve Swart and Marcus Craft are journalists who have worked at newspapers and magazines in Sydney, London and Cape Town.
Genevieve said a decade has flown by, as a project that began as a way to fill in the hours while the kids were at preschool has become a full-time job.
“We always tell people that this is the magazine the community made. And it really is,” she said.
“Each month is like doing a 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzle and every piece is essential.”
Genevieve paid special tribute to the magazine’s advertising partners.
“Our magazine is almost entirely funded by advertising income from local businesses,” she said.
“Many of these are family businesses like our own. Some of them have been advertising with us for a decade, month in, month out, come Covid, come cost-of-living crisis.
“So today, I’d like to thank all of these business for their constant support. We would not be here without you.”
About 25 people, including local leaders in business, charity and the arts, attended the birthday event. Fittingly for a magazine the community made, the Flame's anniversary event was held at Coledale RSL, the club the community supports with a roster of dedicated volunteers.
The event doubled as a fundraiser for Need a Feed, raising a total of $540 for the local charity.
Need a Feed is dealing with a surge in demand, with more than 1500 people sleeping rough each night in the region, CEO Shaz Harrison said.
For people who are struggling, Shaz said that Need a Feed provides much more than food. “It’s really important to share a meal with someone,” she said. “It increases your confidence, it can have a positive impact on your mental health and wellness, you feel a part of something.
“What we do at Need a Feed is we open up a safe space to share a meal, and it has made such a difference. Everyone feels so comfortable and safe.
“There are so many stories from the positive impacts we are having on people’s lives. The money from today will go towards our food truck.”
The food truck is needed to help Shaz reach even more people.
"There is so much need, but it’s hard to get them to where we are. [With a food truck] we can meet people where they are, physically and mentally, and we can keep making a difference in the Illawarra.”
The Flame’s $540 donation was a small start to a fund-raising goal of $97,000. To help Need a Feed, including to sponsor a Breakfast Buddies event, visit the website.
The event brought together leaders in local business, charity and the arts. Read their stories here.