User Profile

Amanda De George

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

Arts & culture

Jonathan Weiss: Creating worlds without limits

As a child, local Sci-Fi/Fantasy author Jonathan Weiss liked to make things. He’d spend hours rifling through the family’s Lego collection looking for pieces to build a contraption he hadn’t yet fully visualised. And while there was a certain...

Amanda De George

September 2024

Science & Nature

How to stay safe in swooping season

It’s that time of year when we don bike helmets whether we own a bike or not and carry umbrellas or sticks on every walk. It’s swooping season. Australian magpies, or ‘maggies’ to you and I, bear the brunt of the bad press. These black and...

Amanda De George

September 2024

Clubs & Community

New season, new skills

Lately, I’ve been throwing myself into learning new skills: crochet, pottery and insect pinning. My office is strewn with notes and half finished projects. But there is one skill that I’d been wanting to learn but hadn’t quite made a start on...

Amanda De George

September 2024

Science & Nature

Wander for waratahs and wildflowers

After what felt like a seriously cold winter, we’re finally feeling the first flush of warmth and I am totally here for it (remind me of this when I start complaining about the heat in a few weeks!) There’s been a lot of argy bargy in the...

Amanda De George

August 2024

Local Business

Ally Thomas: Stepping up from slow fashion to run Thirroul + Co

You can find Malia The Label instore at Thirroul + Co, online and at local markets. Follow on Instagram and Facebook

Amanda De George

August 2024

Arts & culture

Kayla Reay’s art draws inspiration from Australian birds

She started with ‘Bird Bouquets’ a series of pencil artworks featuring iconic Aussie birds perched amongst vibrant native Australian flowers. I’ve got a soft spot for both and trust me, putting the fan -favourite bin chicken aka Australian...

Amanda De George

August 2024