User Profile

Jeremy Lasek

Jeremy Lasek has many decades of experience in media, marketing, events and PR. His career began in the Illawarra with the Lake Times, ABC Radio and WIN-TV. For eight years Jeremy was news director for WIN in Canberra and was national news director before joining the National Capital Authority as head of media and events. Jeremy was executive director of ACT Government Communications, Events, Arts, Heritage and Protocol for many years, was Chief of Staff to the ACT Chief Minister and had responsibility for the Centenary of Canberra celebrations in 2013. Before returning to Wollongong, Jeremy was CEO of the National Australia Day Council (including the Australian of the Year Awards) and head of communications for the Australian Federal Police. Jeremy is a member of the Friends of Woolyungah Indigenous Centre at UOW and a regular contributor to the Illawarra Flame.

News

“It’s gross, yuk, it hurts” – locals brace for more mass tree removals on Mt Ousley interchange

Residents living near Mount Ousley Road are bracing themselves for a start of work next week to remove hundreds of trees and masses of vegetation for the next stage of the $350 million upgrade of the interchange. Yesterday, consultants representing...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

Sport & Leisure

Swimmers call on Council to extend Continental Pool winter opening hours

Regular swimmers at North Wollongong’s popular Continental Pool are calling on Wollongong Council to extend its opening hours during the cooler months. Amabile Cunzolo, a teacher at Bellambi’s Holy Spirit College, told the latest meeting of the...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

News

Council to review controversial decision to demolish Gwynneville toilet block

Locals in Gwynneville have expressed surprise and disappointment over plans by Wollongong Council to demolish a “well-used” public toilet block in Robinson Park in the heart of the suburb. They’ve also praised the Lord Mayor and Ward Two councillors...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

News

UOW kicks off its 50th anniversary celebrations honouring its golden graduates

Facing dire financial challenges, in recent times the University of Wollongong (UOW) hasn’t had a lot to celebrate. But that is changing, starting this week as the campus begins its celebrations of 50 years as the region’s leading educational...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

Food & Travel

Cosa Nostra sale will mark the end of a local dining era

The big news on the Wollongong restaurant scene this week is that one of the city’s most popular Italian restaurants, Cosa Nostra, is on the market. After decades, cooking and serving meals in Wollongong, Cosa Nostra owners, Neve and Giorgio Piras...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

News

Controversial beachfront bus layover to be relocated this year

It’s been described as an eyesore and a blot on the landscape and after years of discussion and debate Wollongong Council has confirmed the bus layover opposite City Beach will finally be moved by the end of the year. At a public meeting hosted by...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

News

Huge turn out to celebrate 20 years of International Women’s Day in the Illawarra

A record crowd of nearly 1000 packed the WIN Entertainment Centre and witnessed tears and cheers to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on Friday. “This is an amazing community and an amazing event,“ said guest of honour, 2015 Australian of...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

News

Rosie Batty tells sold-out International Women’s Day event it’s time for men to ‘step up’

Amidst tears in the audience and on stage, the 2015 Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty, told Friday’s sold-out International Women’s Day event at the WIN Entertainment Centre that it’s time for men to “step up” to fight domestic violence and...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

News

Strength in the Sisterhood: 3 top citizens meet for lunch

On the cusp of International Women’s Day 2025, Wollongong’s top citizens for the past three years have come together for a special lunch where they talked about the sisterhood, and the challenges facing women, the nation, and the world. In...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

News

New Council to decide whether skydiving should continue at Stuart Park

The familiar sight of skydivers dropping into Stuart Park at North Wollongong is under review as a part of Council’s consultation process for the best uses of the city’s popular waterfront area. In recent months, Wollongong City Council has sought...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

News

End of an era: Iconic Cleary Bros sold for $172m but the name lives on

Marking the end of an era in local business, one of the region’s oldest and best-known companies, the iconic construction service and supply company Cleary Bros, has been sold after nearly 110 years. The sale price was $172 million. The new owner is...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

News

Someone is going to get killed, resident says e-bike risk is now out of control

These days, everyone it seems has a story to tell about a close encounter with e-bike riders who appear to be climbing aboard bigger, heavier and faster bikes each year. In preparing to write this story I was brushed twice this past week by...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

Local Business

New business leader Coralie McCarthy ready to shake things up

Today marks one month in the job for the new Business Illawarra boss, Coralie McCarthy, and she’s clearly loving it. While it’s early days in the role as the most powerful business advocate for the Illawarra, Coralie is excited about the future of...

Jeremy Lasek

February 2025

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