Sport & Leisure

Bushwalk: Helensburgh Ridgetop Walk

By Geoff Whale, author of Northern Illawarra Beachwalks DISTANCE 6 km or 8 km, 50m climb. DIFFICULTY Easy, but many track junctions. SUMMARY Mostly flat family walk through casuarina/banksia/gymea-lily forests. Best in dry weather in the warmer...

The Illawarra Flame

February 2025

Sport & Leisure

Legends in the surf at World Cup

We qualified for the Usher World Boardriders Cup again in 2025. The event was held from January 17 to 19 on the Gold Coast. The top 48 clubs from Australia and all over the world competed, including well-known surfers Joel Parkinson, Layne Beachley...

Ian Pepper

February 2025

Sport & Leisure

Grant secures lifesaving gear at Stanwell Park surf club

By Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club’s secretary, Harley Dreghorn The Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Club building is now more secure with the installation and commissioning of a new security and access control system funded by...

The Illawarra Flame

February 2025

Sport & Leisure

Tee time at Boomerang for Sunday Social Golf Club

By Robert ‘Indy’ Jones On December 8th we played 2 Man Ambrose as the fog rolled in, making seeing and believing two very different things. A definite cover-up, the handicapper (Hcp: 32) needs to be audited pairing up with the Nephew (Hcp: 40)...

The Illawarra Flame

January 2025

Sport & Leisure

U14s earn Surf Rescue Certificates

Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC kicked off summer with a strong start, full of achievements and community spirit. Congratulations to our U14s, who have proudly earned their Surf Rescue Certificates (SRC) and are now officially lifesavers. This...

Christine McDonald

January 2025

Sport & Leisure

Well done, division winners at Scarborough Boardriders

It was the culmination of a huge year for the club in 2024 with our awards presentation at Scarborough Wombarra Bowlo on Saturday, 23 November 2024. The new venue for our presentation worked well, with a grommet-friendly environment. Congratulations...

Ian Pepper

January 2025

Sport & Leisure

Jonno’s 100km run raised funds for Movember

On November 30, 22-year-old Thirroul lad Jonathan Seager took on the massive challenge to run 100kms from Sydney to Wollongong to raise money and Awareness for Movember. I sat down and had a chat to ‘Jonno’ about his epic journey. How far was it...

Tony Ryan

January 2025

Sport & Leisure

Jones Co Tennis to host Kiama’s first Pickleball Social Comp this weekend

Kiama is set to host its first pickleball social competition this Saturday, January 11 at Kiama Leisure Centre from 2-4pm.

Lesley Roulston

January 2025

Sport & Leisure

Take the plunge: Join Coalcliff Ocean Swim Club

Coalcliff Ocean Swim Club is run by Coalcliff SLSC and proudly sponsored by Equilibrium Healthcare. It aims to support community members to improve their ocean-swimming skills in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment. As the club coordinator...

Brigid Collaery

January 2025

Sport & Leisure

Discover the Corals of the Illawarra Coast

If you thought corals were warm-water spectacles exclusive to distant underwater seascapes, think again. Shellharbour scuba instructor Bob McKee has corrected many a tourist who’s assumed it’s too cold for corals on the South Coast. Local divers...

The Illawarra Flame

December 2024

Sport & Leisure

Pickleball’s a hit!

Pickleball is taking off in the Illawarra but it’s not new – the game has been played in the US since the 1960s. The paddle and ball sport is played on a hard surface, either indoors or outdoors. According to Pickleball Australia, it’s an...

Lesley Roulston

December 2024

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

Sport & Leisure

Incredible swim: Three locals cross the English Channel

The English Channel is the busiest shipping lane in the world with hundreds of vessels moving from England to Europe and from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and vice versa, every day. So, it’s not sharks but water traffic, that is the biggest...

Lesley Roulston

December 2024

Sport & Leisure

Surf, Sand, and Success at Stanwell Park surf club

By publicity officer Christine McDonald of Helensburgh-Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club The patrol season is here, and the beach is alive with activity! With the warmer weather drawing crowds, it’s fantastic to see so many beachgoers enjoying the...

Christine McDonald

December 2024

Sport & Leisure

Start Sundays with Barefoot Yoga at the Farm

More info: Barefoot Yoga at the Farm on Facebook

Lesley Roulston

December 2024

Sport & Leisure

‘Exercise is medicine’ - UOW’s Fitness for Life gym group celebrate another big year

Three times a week a group of local baby boomers get together at the UOW Innovation Campus gym to increase their levels of fitness. Over the years it’s also resulted in the creation of a strong, caring social network. Gym manager Kim Faulkner...

Jeremy Lasek

December 2024

Sport & Leisure

First black belt at Stanwell Park Hapkido Club

Benjamin Driscoll has made history at Stanwell Park Hapkido, becoming the club’s first student to earn a first-degree black belt in the Korean martial art.

Zachary Houtenville

December 2024

Sport & Leisure

December’s Golf Reports

Indy signing off: Best wishes for the festive season, keep safe and well. See you here in 2025 in the fabulous Illawarra Flame

The Illawarra Flame

December 2024

Sport & Leisure

Scarborough Boardriders end surfing year on a high

Scarborough Boardriders took out the 2024 Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle South NSW Qualifier after an action-packed day at East Corrimal Beach on 2 November. The South Zone is a huge area from south of Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Victorian...

Ian Pepper

November 2024

Sport & Leisure

Bushwalk: Explore Mt Keira Ring Track

By Geoff Whale, author of Northern Illawarra Beachwalks DISTANCE 6km to 11km, climb 250 to 500m. DIFFICULTY Moderate to hard (summit). SUMMARY Classic track with variations. HAZARDS Stinging trees, leeches after rain. TRANSPORT Park at Byarong Park...

The Illawarra Flame

November 2024

Sport & Leisure

Thirroul Thunder FC prepares for 2025 soccer season

By First Grade coach John Cropper After a hugely successful 2024 season in which Thirroul Thunder Senior Men’s teams were the only club in Football South Coast competitions to qualify for finals football in all three grades, the club will commence...

The Illawarra Flame

November 2024

Sport & Leisure

Big month for Scarborough Boardriders

Firstly 16 of our juniors, eight boys and eight girls, made their way up to Queensland for the annual Junior Boys Kirra Teams Challenge and Women’s Kirra Teams Challenge. The three-day event is the biggest of its kind in the world with 24 club...

Ian Pepper

November 2024