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.

Sport & Leisure

A labour of love: Highlands couple used Covid lockdown to rediscover, recreate a stunning ‘lost’ bush trek

Exactly five years ago, as the early months of the Covid pandemic sent the nation into lockdown, the majority of us struggled with a strange new life of isolation, disconnection and uncertainty. Not so for a nature-loving Southern Highlands couple...

Jeremy Lasek

14 hours ago

News

Homes NSW seeks to calm Gwynneville locals angry over big new housing plans

Responding to community concerns about a lack of consultation about plans for a major new residential precinct near the University of Wollongong (UOW), Homes NSW has produced an information brochure in an attempt to allay concerns. The glossy...

Jeremy Lasek

April 2025

News

Harbour drowning tragedy prompts calls for education, urgent safety audit

The tragic drowning on Good Friday of a fisherman swept to his death by a huge wave at the entry to Wollongong Harbour has prompted calls for safety fencing to be repaired and improved education of those who fish in the area. Shortly before sunrise...

Jeremy Lasek

April 2025

News

Drowning sparks calls for urgent safety measures at Wollongong Harbour breakwall

The tragic drowning of a 58-year-old Sydney fisherman in the early hours of Good Friday has sparked calls for an urgent review of safety along the breakwall. As reported by The Illawarra Flame a fortnight ago, the breakwall is in a poor state of...

Jeremy Lasek

April 2025

Exclusive

The battle for Beaton Park’s Ted Tobin Hall is on again as fitness groups petition council to keep it in community hands

After a six-month cease fire between Wollongong City Council and users of a popular indoor sports facility at the Beaton Park Leisure Centre, battle lines have been drawn again. This time, fitness groups who fear they’ll be left homeless if Council...

Jeremy Lasek

April 2025

News

‘Horrible’ cycleway from city to the south needs urgent investment, Council told

Four years after Wollongong celebrated being awarded the prestigious UCI Bike City label in recognition of its long-term commitment to cycling there are calls for more to be done to encourage people to get out of their cars and on to bikes...

Jeremy Lasek

April 2025

News

UOW’s ‘tree man’ reflects on his remarkable 50-year legacy

It’s been described as one of the most beautiful university campuses in the world, and this week The Illawarra Flame had the privilege of catching up with the man who can take much of the credit for creating the leafy, bush-like feel of our...

Jeremy Lasek

April 2025

News

It’s too big’! Locals tell Homes NSW go back to the drawing board on massive Gwynneville housing project

There was one common theme coming through the first community information drop-in session for a proposal to dramatically change a residential precinct close to the University of Wollongong – “it’s too big”! At the Wollongong Senior Citizens Centre...

Jeremy Lasek

April 2025

News

No joy for Continental Pool swimmers seeking extended winter swimming hours

There’s disappointment today for a group of dedicated swimmers who have been campaigning to have the opening hours at North Wollongong’s popular Continental Pool extended over the winter months. As first reported in The Illawarra Flame last month...

Jeremy Lasek

April 2025

News

All-conquering Illawarra Hawks to receive the Keys to the City

It’s official, the Illawarra Hawks will be given with the Keys to the City of Wollongong after Council this evening voted unanimously to bestow the honour. In her Lord Mayoral Minute, Cr Tania Brown, one of the Hawks’ biggest supporters, described...

Jeremy Lasek

April 2025

News

No government action proposed as Wollongong Harbour’s popular breakwater starts breaking up

Concerns raised over the deteriorating and potentially dangerous state of Wollongong Harbour’s northern breakwater have been brushed off by the NSW Government. Neighbourhood Forum 5, which represents the community in central Wollongong and its...

Jeremy Lasek

April 2025

News

Clean up continues after this week’s damaging king tides

Many locals are describing this week’s king tides as the biggest and most damaging in memory. All of Wollongong’s beaches were closed as the combination of a huge swell and the surging tides made conditions extremely dangerous. Massive amounts of...

Jeremy Lasek

April 2025

News

Five years on, big celebrations for the Growing Illawarra Natives website

It took many years and the support of hundreds of volunteers before the popular Growing Illawarra Natives website was launched just days before the Covid pandemic lockdowns began in March 2020. Last weekend, about 70 contributors and supporters of...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025

News

Champion Hawks get the heroes’ reception they deserve in city celebration

Tonight the Illawarra Hawks paraded up Crown St Mall to the cheers of a crowd of more than 500 people. Lord Mayor Tania Brown thanked the team for a phenomenal, history-making season that brought the city and the region together and said at the next...

Jeremy Lasek

March 2025