User Profile

Marcus Craft

The Illawarra Flame's motoring editor, Marcus Craft is a journalist with 30 years of experience; he has worked in the automotive realm for 20 of those. Marcus has been testing and reviewing cars for national car magazines (4X4 Australia, Wheels, Overlander 4WD), lifestyle magazines (Men's Health), as well as adventure travel titles (Australian Geographic Adventure) and websites for a long time and is one of Australia's most respected motoring journalists.

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

Clubs & Community

Retired minister expands The Men’s Well with new women’s group at Bulli

A local men’s support group, which aims to help people deal with adversity, is so popular it is expanding this year to include a women’s branch as well. The Men’s Well (TMW), founded by Mark Beaton, “specifically deals with helping men...

Marcus Craft

February 2025

Arts & culture

Siege hero cop now fights for PTSD sufferers

Illawarra’s Ben Besant, the hero cop who ended the 2014 Lindt Café siege and then in the decade since has fought to have his identity made public, is now hoping to help others with their Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). OR: Illawarra’s...

Marcus Craft

February 2025

Arts & culture

Smash-hit Love Stories to premiere in Wollongong

Best-selling author Trent Dalton is bringing the stage version of his book, Love Stories, to Wollongong for its NSW premiere. The play will be at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) for a two-week season, from February 27 to March 8. Trent...

Marcus Craft

January 2025

News

Olympic BMX champ Saya awarded OAM

After winning gold in women’s BMX at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Saya Sakakibara has now been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the general division for her service to sport.

Marcus Craft

January 2025

Sport & Leisure

Illawarra wall honour ‘very special’: BMX champ Saya

BMX Olympic gold medallist Saya Sakakibara says having her name included on the Illawarra Olympic & Paralympic Tribute Wall is “very special”. OR BMX Olympic gold medallist Saya Sakakibara is already preparing for another huge competition...

Marcus Craft

December 2024

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

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

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

Sport & Leisure

Olympic champ Saya vows to win gold at 2028 Games during ‘heartwarming’ hometown event

Helensburgh BMX gold medallist Saya Sakakibara has vowed to defend her title at the 2028 Olympic Games during a rousing hometown hero’s welcome in Helensburgh. More than 200 people attended the official community welcome home event for Saya and her...

Marcus Craft

September 2024

Motoring & Property

Driven: Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance

The recent official launch of the Polestar 3 means that it’s an ideal time to revisit one of our EV tests from mid-2023: the Polestar 2 long range dual motor Performance. My original review never saw the light of day at the time because of...

Marcus Craft

September 2024

Motoring & Property

Bulli Pass reopens for night traffic

Bulli Pass has been reopened to night-time road users after six months of natural disaster repair work conducted at three major landslip sites on the mountain. As part of the critical repair program, work is now complete on landslip sites on the...

Marcus Craft

August 2024

Local Business

Fees force trike tours to close

Well-known local personality and small business owner Steve Melchior has been forced to shut down his guided bike tour company, Just Cruisin’, due to high government fees, he says. For almost 35 years Steve has been hosting motorcycle tours and he...

Marcus Craft

August 2024

News

Congratulations, Saya! Helensburgh BMX champ wins gold!

Saya Sakakibara is ready to win gold in Paris. The 25-year-old Helensburgh athlete is representing Australia in the sport she’s been doing since she was four years old: BMX. The Paris Games are her second Olympics. The Paris challenge comes in the...

Marcus Craft

August 2024