User Profile

Amanda De George

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

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

Science & Nature

Where have all the Christmas beetles gone?

To add this season’s Christmas beetle sighting to the project, head to iNaturalist, the Christmas Beetle Count

Amanda De George

December 2024

What's On

Lights, carols and action: 6 festive things to do

Late to the Christmas fun this year? There’s still time to find your Christmas Spirit™. Our round up will have you jingling your bells and reaching for the eggnog. Christmas Carols You can keep your presents and your trifle (okay, maybe share your...

Amanda De George

December 2024

Science & Nature

Here come the cicadas: Don’t miss summer’s best show

There’s a pulsating shriek, the call of dozens of cicadas yelling into the heat of the early summer morning. Their big, fat bodies thud against the house before careening back off into the sky. Many become food for our local growing family of...

Amanda De George

December 2024

Science & Nature

The magic in Macquarie Pass and why you shouldn’t miss it

I’m not a huge fan of the dark. Sure, I love wandering around my yard at night, especially as the weather warms and the cicadas start to emerge, shirking off their hard shells and transforming before my eyes. I love wandering down the street...

Amanda De George

November 2024

Arts & culture

Attention and Devotion: A workshop with Ailsa Piper

With each step around the room there’s a squelching exhale from her shoes as she insists, “Keep writing. Keep writing. Keep writing”. The sterile room is filled with people I won’t say much to; artists, a teacher, writers of various ilk...

Amanda De George

November 2024

Food & Travel

Thirroul has a thriving food scene? True story

If you’re in town for the True Story Festival or just here on the lovely Coal Coast for the day, rest assured Thirroul has all your food and beverage needs covered. But first you need to get the lay of the land. ‘Little Thirroul’ is south of the...

Amanda De George

November 2024

Science & Nature

Whale season wraps up

Ah November, the month where whale tragics everywhere begin to feel the pull of their obligations, work, family and friends. As daily whale sightings begin to thin out, the spell lessens and then finally breaks and we rub our eyes as if we have been...

Amanda De George

November 2024

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

Science & Nature

The Illawarra branch of the Native Bee Association buzzes to life

Any doubt that the Illawarra was full of native bee enthusiasts was put to rest after October’s sold out stingless bee workshop with entomologist Dr Tim Heard and the successful launch of the Illawarra Branch of the Native Bee Association. Over 50...

Amanda De George

October 2024

Clubs & Community

Rewild your Soul: How Freya Dawson learned to unlearn

There’s a golden thread running through Dr Freya Dawson’s life. A unifying theme. It’s nature, or rather a connection with nature, a sense of being-ness, a blissful feeling of belonging. But there’s also another thread that intertwines with...

Amanda De George

September 2024

Science & Nature

3 unexpected visitors to your Spring garden

Spring has sprung and you’re probably getting your plants in, ready to attract native bees, bugs and butterflies. By encouraging these invertebrates you’re encouraging other native animals, those a little higher up the food chain, to also visit...

Amanda De George

September 2024

Science & Nature

Get the buzz: Workshop on keeping stingless bees coming to Thirroul

Christie Peters has always had a love for animals. When I visit, I’m greeted by a big, boofy bunny and seven silkie chickens free-ranging in the front yard. Winnie, Christie’s rescue dog, comes to say hello before settling down onto a chair on...

Amanda De George

September 2024