The Kiama community is stepping up to help those doing it tough this winter. Kerry Fahey, owner of local Kiama business Kerry’s Klothes, knows what a difference a cosy blanket, pair of socks or woollen beanie can mean to those doing it tough. So she and a like-minded cohort of community members, including Margie Tweedie from Care Essentials, have taken action at a grassroots level.In June, Kerry and Margie, along with a host of other volunteers, started a winter donation drive for those in need of some winter warmth. She put out a call to the community for donations of winter woollies including blankets, socks, beanies, sleeping bags, doonas and toiletries. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.“It not only warms them up physically, but warms their heart, knowing there are people out there who care,” says Kerry. “Really I’m the lucky one. I get to see the joy on their faces.”The cost of living crisis is biting hard for everyone, but it’s lower income earners who are feeling the pinch the most, with many being pushed out of stable housing due to rising rents. Families across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven are struggling to make ends meet, with many going without essentials like heating and food due to the rising cost of electricity, gas and groceries. Others are unable to afford stable housing, living out of their cars, couch surfing, relying on transitional housing with family and friends or homelessness support services.Monday August 5 marked the start of Homelessness Week and peak national body Homelessness Australia is calling for Homelessness Action Now. In June, when the bitter winter cold began to bite, Kerry reached out to people in Kiama, Berry, Shoalhaven Heads and Gerringong for donations via social media and she describes the response as “absolutely extraordinary”.Each Sunday Kerry joins the Nanak Free Community kitchen - where members of the Sikh community cook heartwarming curries for those who need - to distribute donated items. “People have just been wonderful,” says Kerry. “It’s been a delight to see how thoughtful people are with what they send me. One lady gave me backpacks, others gave me 32 brand new sleeping bags.“My friend Margie also started helping out when she heard what we were doing. Margie runs Care Essentials and she has a wonderful network of people, including knitters, who donate beautiful blankets, scarves and beanies.”Care Essential provide packs to those in needSeven years ago Margie started Care Essentials in Sydney where a team of volunteers collected scarves, beanies and coats throughout winter, and put together care packs of toiletries and other essentials year round for those in need. When Margie moved to Kiama three years ago she continued to put together care packs for those in need. She met Kerry when the Kiama businesswoman was collecting donations for people impacted by the Lismore floods.“We work well together,” says Margie. “Recently Kerry was able to source some donated handbags through one of her suppliers in the shop and I had some lovely toiletries and gift items that have been donated. So we put together 43 bags to take to women’s shelters in the region. We’ve also been able to donate backpacks with toys and other small comforts for families arriving in shelters to escape domestic and family violence. “We can’t thank the community enough for their contributions. Every donation big or small, makes a difference to someone, and all are given directly to the homeless, women’s refuges or homeless hubs to help those in need. Kerry and I hope to create more beautiful handbag donations and children’s backpacks for women’s refuges as a Christmas project, and would really appreciate any donations for these.”The Kiama and surrounding communities have been so generous with their donations that Kerry has had to take over her husband’s man-shed to store all the items until she has a chance to distribute them. “I’ve got about eight tables full of donations set up in the shed,” she says.As well as handing out donations alongside Nanak, Kerry has also donated goods to Salt, a community group in Bomaderry that provides support to those who are homeless, Safe Waters Ulladulla and the Wollongong Homeless Hub. Kerry has asked that the community hold off on any further donations until mid-August. Margie has called on the community to buy a few extras like deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, toothbrushes and small toothpaste, small soaps, tissues, bandaids, combs, razors, hand sanitiser and lip balm, during their shops to donate to Care Essentials. You can find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/careessentials1

Central Jamberoo is festooned with red wreaths and Australian Red Cross memorabilia as the local branch puts their best foot forward to mark the 110th anniversary of the organisation’s work. On Tuesday 13 August, Jamberoo Branch is celebrating by asking locals to wear red as a thank you to the volunteers who have been, and always will be here to help. Formed after the outbreak of World War One in 1914, the Australian Red Cross Jamberoo Branch has played a pivotal role in connecting older or vulnerable community members and raising funds for life changing Australian Red Cross programs. Jamberoo Branch President, Barbara Adams, says turning 110 is a milestone worth celebrating. “We are proud of our long history serving this community and of the volunteers and members who continue to deliver what’s needed to those who are most vulnerable. In celebration of this milestone, we’re encouraging the Jamberoo community to wear red to acknowledge those we have stood beside, and those who continue to make our important work possible,” she said. In celebration of the 110th anniversary, from Sunday 4 August, Red Cross memorabilia will be on show in the vacant shop next to Kings Patisserie in Allowrie St, Jamberoo, and local businesses will display an exhibition of images by well-known Jamberoo photographer Linda Faiers, showing past and current Jamberoo Red Cross volunteers in action. Branch members skilled in knitting and crochet will also be yarnbombing and garlanding the village to “paint the town red”. From 10 till 2 on Thursday 8 August, Ms Adams will host the regional Red Cross Zone Conference at Club Jamberoo, with around 50 delegates expected including members from neighbouring Red Cross branches in Kiama, Gerringong, Albion Park, Dapto and Fairy Meadow as well as dignitaries from Head Office. On Tuesday 13 August, Jamberoo Branch is putting on a free community morning tea from 10am till midday in the RSL hall on Allowrie St, with all welcome to join in the celebrations. From 10am that morning, there will also be a drive-by of classic cars through Jamberoo courtesy of members of the Jamberoo Valley Classic Vehicles Club – look out for red and white vehicles in particular. 

On August 2, NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen announced a new Boating and Infrastructure Dredging Scheme for NSW coastlines. The program will allocate $28 million towards public boating amenities over four years and $16 million for dredging at key locations along the NSW coast.“Our state’s waterways are the most beautiful in the world, and this program will support local communities to plan for, build and maintain waterways infrastructure to keep it safe and accessible for people now and into the future,” says Minister Haylen.NSW Maritime Executive Director Mark Hutchings says, “We’ve listened to the feedback from the boating community, which highlighted the need for continued investment to support maintenance of local boating infrastructure.”Transport for NSW Maritime have committed to working towards a target of zero deaths and serious injuries on NSW Waterways by 2056.Registrations of interest for the grants programs will be open later this year, with successful applicants to be announced in 2025.

New buyers at The Waterfront, Shell Cove, can now enjoy a unique offer: a free berth at Shellharbour Marina, valued at $50,000. This promotion is available for purchasers of land at The Peninsula and apartments at Vela, with a two-year free berth licence. The offer will be launched at the Sydney International Boat Show at Darling Harbour from 1-4 August.To qualify, buyers must enter into a new contract and settle on a property in The Peninsula precinct by 30 September this year. Similarly, buyers of apartments in Vela need to exchange contracts by 30 September 2024.The Peninsula and Vela, both adjacent to the marina, are prime locations within the master-planned community by Shellharbour City Council and Frasers Property Australia. This offer is particularly appealing to boating enthusiasts looking to enjoy a marina lifestyle.The Peninsula offers a range of land options, including coastal, beachfront, and harbourfront lots, priced between $1,650,000 and $3,000,000. This sought-after location is situated between Shellharbour South Beach and the new 270-berth Shellharbour Marina, surrounded by green spaces.Vela, a luxury five-storey building designed by Candalepas, features apartments with garden, marina, and ocean views. Prices range from $1,850,000 to $2,325,000 for two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments, and $2,325,000 to $3,300,000 for three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments. Residents can enjoy amenities such as a 15m heated pool overlooking the harbour, a gym, and communal areas for social gatherings.The Shellharbour Marina, part of a newly engineered 12-hectare harbour, offers first-class facilities including a Marina Services Centre, maintenance area, modern boat ramp, and fuel dock. The harbour is surrounded by 2.6km of boardwalks, linking The Waterfront’s amenities like dining, shopping, a children’s beach, and waterplay area. A future Crowne Plaza Hotel is expected to open in 2025.Frasers Property Australia and Shellharbour Marina representatives will be present at the Sydney Boat Show to meet prospective buyers. Mathew Gulliver, Development Director at Frasers Property Australia, highlighted the appeal of the marina and the unique positioning of The Peninsula, stating, “It’s a unique amenity that allows buyers to walk out of their front door and straight to their vessel for a day out on the ocean. The positioning of The Peninsula land lots, with the beach on one side and the harbour on the other, along with well-established shopping, dining, and recreation options nearby, offers a lifestyle unlike any other in NSW.”Interested buyers can visit The Waterfront Sales Centre or https://www.frasersproperty.com.au/nsw/shell-cove for more information.

Local Kiama resident and former plumber Bryan Malone has just returned from his latest humanitarian trip to Rwanda. His journey was not only a mission of goodwill but also an educational venture, where he mentored students from the University of Wollongong (UOW) on various building and plumbing projects. These projects, initiated by David Walker, a former engineering lecturer at UOW, aim to uplift and empower Rwandan communities through practical education and support.Rwanda, one of East Africa's smallest countries, shares borders with Uganda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burundi. Despite its small size, with a population of around 26 million, Rwanda's history is marked by the devastating 1994 genocide, in which 800,000 to one million Tutsi people were brutally murdered by Hutu extremists. This horrific event left deep scars, but the country has been resilient in its efforts to rebuild and heal.Bryan Malone works with David Walker, who has visited Rwanda 50 times, and is dedicated to helping the nation recover from its tragic past. With a background at BlueScope, Walker focuses on providing education and mentoring to foster self-sufficiency within Rwandan communities. Their goal is to enhance the students' understanding of global disparities and the importance of social responsibility.Malone, with nine visits to Rwanda under his belt, took the students to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. He said, “The first place we took the students was to the memorial museum where there are 250,000 people buried in a mass grave”. There, they met Frida Umuhoza, a remarkable genocide survivor. Now living in Melbourne, Frida authored "The School of Resilience: Chosen to Die, Destined to Live," recounting her harrowing experiences and her journey towards forgiveness and hope. Her story of survival and resilience serves as a powerful testament to the human spirit's capacity for transformation.Communicating through an interpreter during his visits, Malone and his team have completed various impactful projects. They built an office for the teachers out of a shipping container, complete with fencing, and a water tank installed at a school in Babati, Tanzania. In a primary school in Kigali, they also installed a water tank in line with two other tanks feeding a toilet block. They revisited two Youth Centres where they painted walls, and repaired water tanks. These youth centres have been established for the now orphaned students to learn valuable life skills.In one notable act of kindness, Malone's team renewed a tap they had installed in 2022 for Maria, a genocide survivor who had been bedridden for 30 years. Malone said, “She is the only one to have a tap inside her tiny home. Maria remembered us and beamed with delight when she saw us again.” Her joy upon seeing the team highlighted the significant improvement they had brought to her quality of life.Malone's humanitarian efforts extend beyond Rwanda, into Kenya. Stay tuned for Part 2 of his inspiring story in the next edition of The Bugle.

Four local small businesses have been selected as finalists of the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards.The four finalists are: Miss Zoe’s School of Dance (performing arts), Miss Arda (restaurant), The Collective Beat (specialised retail small business), and Soul Fit Co (fitness services).The awards, which drew thousands of entries, celebrate women in small businesses all across the country from capital cities to rural towns. It’s the only national awards program of its kind, created specifically to highlight the rising economic, cultural and social contributions of female-led small businesses.The awards program features more than 60 categories across retail, services and manufacturing industries as well as individual categories for the year’s most inspiring female small business leaders.Winners of the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards will be announced on Saturday, 24 August in Sydney at a gala event.The Bugle congratulates all our local finalists.

The global tech outage that hit Kiama and the rest of the world may have caused a few choice words in the office, but it also showed the best in teamwork.With only an hour to go before I was due to hit the airwaves on a regional radio station, the show was looking good. The people we wanted to interview were locked in, the scripts were written, and the remaining time could be used to craft our audio.The grey skies and sudden downpour of rain should have raised my suspicion that despite being prepared, it was about to go downhill.Just as the clock hit three, when I was in the middle of editing audio, the laptop crashed and I unleashed an expletive under my breath. Thinking that I had asked the computer to work too hard, I went about restarting it when out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that my producer’s computer had the old Microsoft Windows Blue Screen of Death.It was in those minutes that I heard a collective surprise from other colleagues as their computers all suffered the same fate. It was a domino effect, as each computer crashed.At this stage of the afternoon no one had any idea that it was a software update pushed through by a cyber security company in the US that had caused the issue. Instead our minds suddenly jumped to the conclusion that we were hacked.Despite the uncertainty, and with the bare basic of systems in operation, the team made a decision that the show must go on. While I familiarised myself with the workings of a CD player, a skill that I hadn’t lost, and pawed through a somewhat vintage collection of CDs, with obscure country artists, the rest of my team were madly writing scripts by hand as we no longer had access to our systems. As the hour of the broadcast drew closer, I was so humbled to see everyone working together in a situation no one had experienced before; no one complaining about the massive task at hand; all working towards a common goal.The outage may have shown the worst in technology when it fails, but it also showed the best in people when faced with a challenge, and at the end of the day, I am so proud to have been able to share the moment with a group of hardworking and dedicated individuals.This is only one story from the global tech outage, and across Kiama, there are many businesses and offices that experienced the collapse of their windows computer. What was your experience? The Bugle Newspaper wants to hear your story.

How can you prepare for an important job interview?Congratulations! You’ve been invited to interview for a job role that you’ve applied for, showcasing your mastery of the application process. Now, it’s crunch time. How well will you stack up verbally against the other candidates?We've all been there – facing a panel of interviewers throwing questions to see how well you can think on your feet. Instead of being stumped by curveballs, you can prepare ahead of time for the likely questions you’ll be asked. This preparation can make you stand out as the preferred candidate over others, who might hesitate and cobble together responses on the fly.Deducing likely questionsOne effective strategy is to examine the job advertisement carefully. Look for sections like “About You,” which describe the qualities the employer seeks. You've already met the educational requirements, as evidenced by the invitation to interview. Now, focus on the other attributes mentioned. Here are some common qualities employers look for and how you can prepare to discuss them:1. Leadership experience If the job ad mentions “a broad range of previous leadership experience,” prepare to give an overview of your leadership roles. Reflect on your professional experience and list the industries you’ve worked in (e.g., hospitality, recruitment and business). Then, identify the leadership skills you have utilised in those roles. Some examples include:Keeping the team focused on their goalsEncouraging team members to share views and ideasUpskilling colleagues and fostering their talentsProviding counsel, advice, and maintaining an open-door policyInspiring, guiding, and motivating individuals and the teamPracticing collaboration, openness, respect, and empowerment.Tie these skills to specific occasions where you demonstrated them, making them more accessible during the interview.2. Attention to detail is the basis of another likely question. For qualities like “high attention to detail in both written and verbal communication,” recall roles and examples that showcase your meticulousness. For written communication, think about drafting, reviewing, and editing documents. For verbal communication, focus on preparation, practice, eye contact, and a measured tone of delivery.3. Ability to work under pressure is a classic. When asked about your ability to work under pressure, provide examples from your current and past roles. For instance, meeting deadlines, staying calm and focused, prioritising tasks, and assisting others can all illustrate this ability.4. Customer service excellence is highly likely to elicit a question. If “proven experience offering a high level of customer service” is a requirement, reflect on what good customer service means to you. As someone who has walked more than five decades on the planet and been the recipient of both good, bad and ugly customer service, I don’t think you can beat three simple rules/skills at the crux. These are ‘listening skills’, ‘politeness’, and ‘timeliness of response’, assuming of course that the response is also accurate. When I think back over my hospitality career, success also came from having good observation skills, empathy and a friendly demeanor. No one wants to wait, and wait, and they expect to get what they asked for, with a smile. If workers are not focused on each customer during the transaction, then mistakes are made. It happens all too often. I also consider it rude if the server also doesn’t look me in the eye and provide basic ‘professional warmth’.So your focus needs to be on key elements such as listening skills, politeness, and timely, accurate responses. Draw on your experiences from various roles to highlight these skills. In hospitality, focus on empathy, observation skills, and maintaining a friendly demeanour. In financial services, emphasise timeliness, accuracy, and politeness. In health and wellness, highlight empathy, patience, and building trust.Additional tip: To further prepare, enlist the help of a clever friend to brainstorm possible questions and practice your responses. Here are some additional questions to consider:How have you improved efficiencies in the workplace?Can you provide an example of leading a team to achieve a specific goal or project?What drives you to become a successful leader? How do you measure your success?When it's your turn to ask questions, what will set you apart from other candidates is the quality of your questions. Be specific to demonstrate your expertise in the field.Wishing you the best in your interview! Remember, preparation and practice are key to success. By anticipating the interviewer’s questions and reflecting on your experiences, as well as having researched the company so that you have some quality questions of your own, you can confidently demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job.

Kiama real estate agent Marnie Beauchamp has returned to the industry, and the town she loves, after stepping away for several years “to heal emotionally, physically and spiritually”.Several years ago, the successful business woman moved from Kiama to Sydney. A series of traumatic events and a mid-life evaluation prompted her to take stock of her life and make some changes, including writing a book, Unread Pages: The Silent Struggles Behind Every Success. The book is a raw account of her struggles, including losing both her parents, surviving financial ruin and two divorces, battling an eating disorder, undergoing spinal surgery and helping bring a stalker to justice, “which was pretty scary”.It is little wonder then that the self-confessed workaholic needed some time out from the daily grind of 15 hour days, seven days a week.“I went overseas, did solo road trips, I laid on the beach and I basically hid away from the world,” she laughs. But the break proved life-changing and reminded her how much she missed Kiama and the real estate industry. “It wasn’t the place that was the problem, it was the place I was in. By giving myself some space I was able to get clarity around where I wanted to be and it’s definitely here in Kiama. Sometimes you need to move away from something to really appreciate it.”Marnie had been working ridiculous hours “her whole adult life,” buying her first real estate agency at 27 while nursing a newborn. She juggled running a business and raising two young children for the next five years until her marriage broke down. When she decided to sell the business, the transaction went pear shaped and ended up in court. Marnie was being sued for damages and came out of the process “hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt from having to fight the claim”.“I lost everything,” she says. “Financially as well as physically, as my health deteriorated.”Marnie put her company, named after her daughters, into voluntary administration. But she couldn’t bring herself to declare bankruptcy or liquidate her business.  “I’m a fighter, I didn’t want to take the easy way out,” she says. “I decided to get back into it and pay every cent back. At the time, I had $1.76 to my name, that's how bad it was. I was sitting in the park and I couldn't even buy my girls an ice cream. It took me about five years to pay off the debt, but I did it.” Around the same time, Marnie’s beloved father passed away suddenly, at just 58 years old. Her dad was her inspiration to find the strength to rebuild her career and her life. Despite vowing to never open another business or franchise again, she did both in 2009, “starting from scratch”. Over the next several years she won a raft of awards, including business person of the year, most outstanding real estate agency, number one agent of the year, and business of the year. Marnie successfully “clawed herself out” of both debt and despair.“You only fail if you give up,” she says. “Failure has been the catalyst for the biggest successes in my life. If you want something bad enough you find a way. A lot of it is about mindset, you just have to be willing to do the hard yards.”Resilience is the underlying theme for Marnie’s book, a project she began working on after taking a career break from the real estate industry and moving away from Kiama in 2019.“For the last few years I haven’t done much at all,” she says. Not much at all for Marnie includes writing her book, industry coaching and business mentoring, guest appearances on business podcasts and, most recently, developing a performance-based app for the real estate industry.“Writing the book was cathartic and very emotional,” says Marnie. “Revisiting all the things I’ve been through was hard, but the book gave me the opportunity to breathe, reflect and think.”Marnie recently signed on with Belle Property and is back home in Kiama, her “happy place”.Marnie will launch her book at Belle Property Berry on August 8 at 6pm. All are welcome for book sales and signings. 

Coolangatta Floor Sanding (CFS), a family-owned and operated business, has proudly served the Shoalhaven region for 26 years, establishing itself as the premier local floor sanding and polishing company. Under the new leadership of Dane Hamill, who recently took over from his father Glen following his retirement, the business continues its tradition of excellence and quality service.Dane, who has been perfecting his craft since graduating high school in 2006, brings extensive expertise in floor sanding, cleaning, and timber maintenance. His proficiency includes providing valuable advice and performing restoration work to repair scratches and recoat floors, significantly enhancing their longevity and overall lifespan.CFS collaborates with contractors, builders, and architects across Shoalhaven and its surrounding suburbs, including Berry, Nowra, Shoalhaven Heads, Kiama, Kangaroo Valley, and Jervis Bay, to deliver exceptional service and expert guidance. Dane proudly notes their use of state-of-the-art European sanding and buffing equipment, which features large belt sanders for expansive areas and smaller edging sanders for intricate work in corners and alongside boards."I have witnessed remarkable transformations in the homes we've worked on," Dane shares. "The results significantly enhance the property's value, as polished floors are a highly sought-after feature in real estate marketing."Homeowners not only seek to improve their living spaces for aesthetic appeal but also to protect their investments. "Our entire team takes great pleasure in seeing our clients' reactions to the finished product," Dane adds.Dane is also knowledgeable about the 'whitewash' technique, which can be applied in various ways. Floors can either be painted with full coverage white paint followed by a clear coat in matte, satin, or gloss finish, or a light tint can be added to the coating to prevent sun-induced discoloration. Additionally, other colour options are available.Whether for domestic or commercial applications, Dane and his team at CFS are invaluable resources for expert advice and floor improvement potential. It is highly recommended to get in touch with them for a quote and experience their exceptional service firsthand.

The newly refurbished Kiama Village has a new addition that’s quickly becoming a local favourite - The Spot Café. Conveniently located with easy parking, it's a must-visit for coffee lovers and anyone seeking a cozy spot to relax.Owned by Luke Gamble-Smith, The Spot Café is more than just a place to grab a coffee. Luke is passionate about sharing what he calls a "piece of heaven" with both the visitors and the local Kiama community alike. His enthusiasm for creating meaningful relationships with customers, staff, and suppliers is at the heart of his business philosophy.“The little conversations you have with people each day can make a big difference in their life,” Luke shared. Through these interactions, he has formed lasting friendships and connected with many on a personal level.Despite his youth – ‘under 30’ - Luke is no stranger to the hospitality industry. His journey began at McDonald's, where he honed his hospitality skills and learned the intricacies of running a business. Growing up in public housing with a mentally ill single mother, Luke faced significant challenges but remained determined to create a better future. Positive role models instilled in him a strong work ethic and a desire to give back to his community.Luke's first business venture, Naturally Tasty in Shell Cove, launched in October 2018. His passion for the Illawarra region has only grown since then. A place to connect: The name "The Spot Café" reflects Luke's vision of a welcoming local hub where people can enjoy great food, excellent coffee, and quality time with friends. His goals are straightforward: provide an exceptional customer experience and consistently deliver high-quality food and coffee.To Luke, customer service goes beyond a simple transaction. He often feels like a friend or counsellor to many of his patrons, sharing advice and brightening their days. His favoritepart of the job is mentoring his staff, watching young employees grow into responsible community members and succeed in their careers.“I believe in giving back to people, treating everyone with respect and aiming to have a positive influence on them. A business is nothing without the people who are a part of it in any capacity,” Luke emphasised.The Spot Café serves Toby’s Estate specialty coffee and offers an inviting space for group meetings. Regular food specials and all-day breakfast are available, with trading hours from 7:30 am to 3 pm daily, extending during the warmer months. Seniors can enjoy a 10% discount with a senior card, and special deals are frequently offered.For convenience, you can order ahead online via Hey You, LOKE (Our website/App), and Uber Eats. With ample parking at Kiama Village, visiting The Spot Café is easy and enjoyable. You definitely need to experience the welcoming atmosphere and exceptional service that Luke and his team provide.

In a proud milestone for RMB Lawyers, Kiama locals Claire Osborne and Tanya Emmett, have been appointed as Partners at the firm, marking a significant achievement in their careers. Their promotions underscore RMB Lawyers' commitment to fostering talent and recognising dedication, leadership, and expertise within their ranks.Claire Osborne's journey with RMB Lawyers began in 2007 when she undertook a work placement as part of her double degree in Arts and Law at the University of Wollongong. She officially joined the firm in May 2008 as a graduate lawyer and steadily advanced through various roles, including associate, senior associate, and divisional leader managing RMB Lawyers’ Family Law team. In 2016, Claire achieved the position of salary partner, a notable promotion that coincided with her maternity leave. Today, she leads the Wills & Estates team, exemplifying her versatility and dedication.Reflecting on her new role, Claire shared, "I think it's a recognition of hard work and commitment but also a big responsibility to continually help the business by mentoring and supporting our staff and delivering results to our clients. Personally, it's about showing my daughters that you can do anything you set your mind to and achieve financial security as a woman."Managing Partner Craig Osborne OAM commended Claire's exceptional blend of legal and business acumen, noting her generosity, community leadership, and clear communication skills. "Claire Osborne has an outstanding mix of legal and business skills, she is generous with her time, is a community leader and a clear communicator. She is trustworthy, has a great personality, and cares very much about her clients and the community she lives in. Claire has consistently earned and maintained the respect of her legal colleagues and clients over a long period of time," he said.Claire attributes her success to consistent hard work, dedication to the team and the Firm, and caring for colleagues and clients. "I also think having interests outside of work, whether it's sport, family, fitness, or meditation, is important to give you some reprieve, balance, and perspective to what a high-stress and demanding job can be," she added. She also encourages aspiring female lawyers, saying, "You can do it. There will be choices and sacrifices, and you may have to be patient as you juggle family life and the law, but if you want to be a Partner, you can do it."Raised in Kiama herself, Claire now raises her own family here. She acknowledges the support of her husband and parents, her fellow partners at RMB Lawyers, and past and present colleagues who have guided and inspired her.RMB Lawyers is equally delighted to announce Tanya Emmett's promotion to Salary Partner. Craig Osborne highlighted Tanya's exceptional technical skills and rapport with clients. "Tanya has an excellent skillset from a technical point of view and a wonderful manner with people – clients love her. Tanya gets outstanding results for her clients’ time after time; leaving aside her glowing skills as a lawyer, she is also an outstanding person," he remarked.Expressing her gratitude, Tanya said, "I’m extremely grateful to the partners and my colleagues for their support over the years. I am very lucky to be able to live and work in a community that I love. Reaching this level in my professional career hasn’t come easy but I have managed to maintain a healthy work/life balance which has been really important."RMB Lawyers proudly congratulates Claire Osborne and Tanya Emmett on their new roles. Their promotions not only reflect their individual achievements but also signify the firm's dedication to nurturing and celebrating exceptional talent. RMB Lawyers looks forward to their continued success and leadership within the firm and the broader legal community.

KD Cellars Bottlemart, a small family-owned business, has been on an exciting journey of transformation since being taken over last July. Over the past year, the owners have dedicated themselves to enhancing the store to better serve their loyal customers.Recently, a major exterior renovation was completed, giving the store a fresh and inviting new look. But it’s not stopping there! KD Cellars is thrilled to announce that in the coming weeks, they will begin a comprehensive interior renovation! This includes expanding the cool room to offer an even wider variety of cold beers and wines, ensuring that everyone’s favourite drinks are always perfectly chilled and readily available.Rest assured, throughout these updates, the Bottlemart store will remain open, and trading hours will not be affected. Director Luke Richardson says, “We deeply value the support of our community and are committed to providing an enhanced shopping experience.”“In addition to our in-store improvements, we offer convenient click-and-collect and same-hour delivery services from Shellharbour to Kiama, Kiama Downs, Gerringong, Jamberoo, and Gerroa areas. We encourage our customers to download the Bottlemart app to take advantage of exclusive promotions and get their purchases delivered right to their doorsteps.”“We’re excited about these improvements and can’t wait to share the new and improved KD Cellars Bottlemart with all of you. Thank you for your continued support.”For more updates and information, visit in-store or check out the latest advertisements in The Bugle newspaper and app.

The organisers of the recent IT&T Empowering Small Business: Cyber Security Awareness event (2 May) were surprised that so many business owners had made it to Novotel Wollongong in North Wollongong on this particularly rainy and dark Thursday.“We thought that a few of you might turn out with the bad weather out there,” said business support at IT&T, Anne Reeve. It was quite the contrary. There was almost 100 people (96 to be exact).Although, perhaps that’s no wonder with news about cyber security and -crimes making headlines almost daily. Who can forget about Medibank and Optus being victims of high-profile cyber attacks in 2022?In April of this year, the City of Sydney had data from several public institutions posted online. Now in May, a Sydney man was arrested over an alleged data breach impacting at least 17 licensed clubs in NSW and the ACT, ABC News reported. “The cyberhackers are starting to go for the low-hanging fruit, that’s small and medium-sized businesses,” said Partner Technology Strategist at Microsoft, Philip Meyer. Meyer was one of the night’s three speakers, along with Andrew Bremner of SherpaTech and Peter Eldon of Access4 Telecommunications.Among the most common cybercrimes affecting small-to medium-sized businesses are: email compromise, fraud compromise and bank fraud. In 2023, the Australian Cyber Security Centre revealed that, on average, a cybercrime report is made every six minutes. That is rather terrifying statistics, to put it mildly. But the idea behind tonight’s event is not to alarm business owners but rather to inform them how they can protect their businesses, but how they can utilise artificial intelligence (AI) without putting their data in danger; and to be aware of the implications of the new Privacy Act 2022.Helen Hasan runs a small non-for-profit, Living Connected, and has a few clients living in Kiama. “A little bit of information is always useful,” she said. “For us protecting older people, it’s important. Balancing between not scaring them, and making them aware.”She’s known about AI for a long while after attending university in the 1960’s. The first AI program was actually written in 1967, according to Meyer. ChatGTP launched in November 2022. But for all its wonderful features, Meyer cautioned against using it for work-based queries.“It’s great for mysterious travel planning and writing poems for my wife,” he said. “But please, don’t use it for work. All the data that you put in there becomes everyone’s data.”Meyer also recommended that business owners, with a staff of less than 300 people and who are PC-users, get Microsoft 365 Business Premium, as it includes several security features in addition to products such as Word and Teams.Bremner is an insurance specialist for tech and IT with SherpaTech. “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” he asked the room. “That is, increasing technical complexity, cyber threats and a tougher regulatory environment.”It’s not said to dampen the mood but rather to ensure that small business owners are across how they will be affected by Privacy Act 2022. The review of the act saw 116 recommendations, some have been fast-forwarded and some are waiting to be passed, he noted.In summary, “there’ll be three big builders,” Bremner outlined. “Lowering the dollar amount (which means that businesses with an annual turnover of less than $3 million will need to comply with the Act); fines and penalties (the maximum penalty that can now be applied for a serious or repeated breach will be increased from $2.5 million to the greater of: 1) $50 million, 2) three times the value of any benefit contained, and 3) 30 percent of the company's adjusted turnover in relevant period; and the reporting time threshold. Previously, if you had a material breach, you had to notify the regulator within 30 days - now, it’s 72 hours."

Nobody died and the boat didn’t sink. But nonetheless, the return of the Signa to Kiama Harbour managed to create quite a stir, with locals braving the drizzling weather to occupy vantage points along the foreshore. Many people have memories of the Signa, and a significant number of them showed up in Kiama on May 8 to commemorate its return after two years in dry dock at Albion Park.After an estimated 12,000 hours of volunteer labour, the boat, which was originally launched in 1970, has been lovingly restored to its former glory with new windows, new engines, and new fittings.  Those showing up to mark the event included former charter operators, fishermen who used to hire the boat on weekends and even the children of the original builder of the boat, Bob Riddell, who built the boat in the coffin factory his boss Jack Paton owned. It was one of the first dedicated game fishing boats ever seen in Australia, and large by the standards of the day. Signa being lowered into Kiama Harbour. Photo: John Stapleton.The boat is named after Jack’s wife, Signa. Bob Riddell’s daughter, Jane Dove of Woy Woy, drove down to Kiama for the event. “Just to see the boat is fantastic, my father built it and 50 years later, it is still going,” she said. “We never got a trip on it. My father was a very quiet person, he was just going to work building a boat.”Son Greg Riddell remembers to this day the boat being launched near Silverwater Bridge in Sydney. “My father would have loved to have been here,” he says. The Riddell children might never have gone out to sea in the boat, but plenty of other people did, including, famously, actor Lee Marvin of Hollywood fame, along with Bob and Dolly Dyer of Pick-A-Box, a television program familiar to any Australian old enough to remember the 1960s. For a time, the boat was owned by the famous Sydney restaurant Doyles, which used it for their high-profile customers. A clearly delighted John Hansen, who funded the project, wants above all to pay tribute to the many people who helped restore the boat.Those he wishes to thank by name include his wife Sandra, who has been an enthusiastic supporter, Rex Jones, Richard Roman aka Don, Peter Rook, Lawrie Lovegrove, Graham Williams, Rob Hoffmeister and Geoffrey Farrer. “It was ten times bigger than we thought,” he says. “It was a labour of love. We were all retirees, they all played golf together. And once they started on the boat it was a labour of love, they just loved doing it.”Sandra and John Hansen. Photo credit: John Stapleton.As to how it all came about, John Hansen says he and a friend Rex Jones had previously rebuilt a small fishing boat and as retirees were looking around for another project. The Signa came up for sale, and the rest is history. Except they had no idea quite what they were buying into. The boat was in poor condition, having basically been rotting in the harbour for some time, and having been officially declared unseaworthy. “We suddenly realised when the boat was ours how complicated the project was,” he recalls. “We have basically rebuilt the entire boat.”As Sandra recalls: “The bones of Signa, the hull, was good, it was a good boat, it just needed attention. The deck and the roof and parts of the floor inside were just rotted. We took out nearly two tonnes of rubbish.”Signa is expected to stay at mooring in Kiama Harbour for the next several weeks as the timber boat adjusts to being back in the water, the new engines settle in and the final bits of cosmetic work, including cabinetry and carpeting. “Cosmetic stuff,” Sandra calls the final adjustments. “The kitchen’s been done, the bathroom, all the hard stuff has been done.”Sigma being maneuvered. Photo credit: John Stapleton.And there it is, back in Kiama Harbour, a boat full of memories, as many of those in attendance were quick to recall. Kevin Adams, who went out on the boat with his father, Bruce, who helped build the original refrigeration, said his father, too, would have loved to have been there. “It is amazing what they have done with the refurbishment,” he says. “They have done a great job. At the time Signa was a master, it was one of the biggest boats around built out of wood.” Wayne Hollingsworth, who before he retired to the South Coast used to come down from Sydney with a group of mates and hire out the boat for fishing trips, says: “Seeing it brings back a lot of memories. It was a good boat, solid in the water. I used to see it in the harbour in recent years, it was just rotting away.” One of the most obvious things about the freshly restored Signa is how good the woodwork, including the original teak, looks. Retired carpenter Lawrie Lovegrove, when asked why he was prepared to spend so many hundreds of hours on the project, including countless hours sanding, just shrugs: “Silly old bastard.”Well, thanks to a lot of silly old buggers, Kiama now has a beautifully restored and intriguing part of Australia’s maritime history in pride of place.  

After 12 weeks of training, it was Rodney Zarif’s turn to step into the ring during the Battle of the Businesses boxing tournament at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday, 20 April.Zarif could give both Adonis Creed and Rocky Balboa a run for their money. The father of three, and manager at KD Cellars in Kiama Downs, who got involved with the Battle of the Businesses purely on a whim, won by technical knockout (TKO) inside the first round.“It was a very successful event and especially for myself,” says Zarif, whose fight on the night was upgraded to a belt fight.The event, which raised money for the i98FM Illawarra Convoy, had its first outing last year and became an instant success.There were 40 businesses battling it out, including Rebecca Moystn of Mostyn Legal, Steve Lozenkovski from Bears Auto Group, Tiarna Katrivesis from Fitness Express Shellharbour and Rob Mitchell from A Class Building.The Battle of the Businesses boxing tournament was sponsored by Tiny Tins, Wollongong Crane Trucks and Grechys Boxing & Fitness.

The iconic Penny Whistlers cafe is well known for its delicious food and stunning outlook across Kiama’s colourful harbour. A firm favourite amongst locals and tourists alike, the beloved establishment has been serving patrons for close to a decade. Last month welcomed the cafe’s new owners, Bhanu Rathore and his family. Born in the vibrant city of Jaipur in India, Bhanu, along with his wife Vertika and their two children, bring with them vast experience and a vision to further enrich the community through their commitment to excellence. "Our native place Jaipur (Pink City) is known globally for its warmth, rich art, culture and heritage, along with its iconic palaces and forts which are standing examples of the royalty and honour of the people of the state,” reminisced Bhanu. Following their move to Kiama, Bhanu admired the beauty of the region whilst finding the strong sense of community increasingly familiar to that of his hometown. "When we came to Kiama, we were mesmerised by the picturesque beauty of the place. As we started spending some time here, we were pleasantly surprised by the extremely positive vibes of the place and the warmth of the community," shared Bhanu. "I had read somewhere that Kiama is one of the best places to live in NSW. Now I am an advocate of this theory and claim."Bhanu recognises the legacy of the café and aims to build upon its foundation of excellent food and hospitality. "A business is as good as its team, and Penny Whistlers’ is a classic example," remarked Bhanu proudly. "Most of our team members have been with us since inception and have been continuously working towards targeting an outstanding customer experience."With a keen eye for promising ventures in hospitality, Bhanu was drawn to Penny Whistlers’ historic performance and its commanding position in the local area. "A combination of excellence in its segment and adorable scenic views of Kiama harbour make it a unique business opportunity, which I could just not miss out on. It struck my heart and mind both at once," he affirmed.Backed by their commitment to quality and community, Bhanu and his family along with the management duo, Eddie and Nick, are ready to infuse new energy into Penny Whistlers Café, promising an unforgettable dining experience for all. Penny Whistlers cafeSunday - Wednesday: 7:00am to 3:00pmThursday - Saturday: 7:00am to late (10:00pm)Now available on UberEats

Some hearing aid providers are using high pressure sales tactics such as touting hearing tests and pushing the most expensive brands, to maximise hidden commissions to elderly locals.Chain stores such as Bay Audio and Audika are ‘vertically integrated suppliers’, which means they are sales-driven and have commercial and preferred supplier arrangements with specific hearing aid manufacturers. Current hearing aid prices range from $1,500 to $10,000 a pair.Bay Audio is now trading in the Kiama Village, 150 metres from Audika Kiama and Hearing Sound Solutions on Terralong Street.HEARING SOUND SOLUTIONSKiama Audiologist Stacey Clark owns Hearing Sound Solutions on Terralong Street. She said there was a significant difference between her independent and Australian-owned clinic and the rest.“Ethically, patients should be offered a full range of hearing devices that are tailored to their needs and budget.”Ms Clark said Audiologists were accredited clinicians with a Master's degree in Audiology whereas Audiometrists have a diploma qualification from TAFE.“Hearing Sound Solutions is the only local private practice with a fully qualified clinical Audiologist in Kiama. We are not aligned with or owned by a hearing aid manufacturer,” Ms Clarke said.“This gives us the advantage of offering, prescribing and fitting the most comprehensive range of technologically advanced hearing aids from all brands to suit each individual.”The President of the Independent Audiologists Australia, Dr Tegan Keogh, warned consumers that the hearing industry was not regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and some businesses used commissions, targets and incentives for their clinical and front-of-house staff.“This might result in patients feeling pressured to engage with a particular service provider, or purchase a specific device, and in our opinion that is not appropriate for a healthcare setting,” Dr Keogh said.In 2017, an ACCC investigation found commissions, incentives and other mechanisms to drive sales created conflict with clinical independence and professional integrity.“This conflict is particularly troubling in the sale of hearing aids, given that consumers who require hearing devices are often disadvantaged or vulnerable due to their hearing loss, age or other medical conditions.”The ACCC was critical of the use of undisclosed sale commissions as high as 15 per cent, in a healthcare setting where consumers expected to receive impartial advice.National Seniors criticised some retailers upselling hearing aids without their members having an understanding of the comparative cost benefit of the product being sold.“Older people can feel pressured to purchase more expensive hearing aids if an audiologist claims that the less expensive model is not adequate. Some of our members are concerned there is an emphasis on selling the product rather than assisting with hearing health,” a National Seniors spokesperson said.AUDIKA KIAMAAudika's head office in Sydney did not reply to questions about the ownership structure of the Audika Kiama business or the rate of sales commission.The Kiama store is part of a chain of more than 300 Australian stores owned by Demant in Denmark.Audika has an interest-free payment plan with a 20 percent deposit using direct debit.BAY AUDIO KIAMABay Audio in Kiama ejected this reporter from its office and did not wish to be part of the story.According to its website, Bay Audio sales staff participate in profit-sharing based on sales. It’s job advertisements on Seek state sales staff ‘must meet daily and monthly targets’.Its staff are now touting for business in the Kiama Village, where people are asked to take a free hearing test.Bay Audio is owned by Amplifon and has preferred supplier agreements with Starkey, Oticon, Resound and Signia.Some sales-driven hearing centres are asking clients to take out loans to purchase hearing aids. Interest charges can be as high as 25.90 percent.Prospective clients may be eligible for subsidised services and devices through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program and they can check their eligibility here.Australians under 26 years of age and who are citizens or permanent residents, may also be eligible for services under the program.

Former Red Rooster owners Steve Willis and his wife Jo have sold more than half a million pieces of chicken to the Kiama community over the past 16 years.Last month the pair, along with their son Grady, who has worked at the store since he was 12, handed over the keys to the new owners with little fanfare.“We slipped out quietly, kept it low key, we didn’t want to upset the apple cart and wanted the transition to be as smooth as possible for staff,” said Mr Willis, who estimates he and his wife have employed around 200 local Kiama kids, including his now 20 year-old son.Now all three family members are putting their feet up for a well-earned break before they decide what their next business move will be. But Mr Willis, who is president of the Kiama Leagues Club, is certain they will stay in Kiama.“We love this community, the 16 years we owned Red Rooster were a big part of our lives. There were a few tears from my wife Jo when we hung up our aprons, but not from me. I’d be happy not to handle another raw chicken again,” he said, chuckling.  Mr Willis, who grew up in Cootamundra, has had 31 jobs across his working life and ran five businesses with his wife by his side. He was an apprentice mechanic straight out of school, worked on the Cootamundra railways for eight years, and spent some time in the meatworks before leaving at the age of 21. He headed to Bowen to pick mangoes, and worked at a seed farm in Griffith, where machinery would knock seed pods from plants and he would sort through the piles and remove the twigs and leaves.“It was a terrible bloody job,” he recalls. But Mr Willis was a hard worker, a trait that stood him in good stead when he moved to Milperra, then Wollongong to manage pubs.He met his wife Jo, a Barrack Heights local, in Wollongong and the pair opened the first of many hospitality businesses in inner city Sydney. One was a sandwich shop near Central Railway Station during the Sydney Olympics. To say it was busy was an understatement. The couple moved to Kiama for a seachange and took over the Kiama Red Rooster store when Grady was four. For the next 16 years they became stalwarts of the Kiama community, feeding hordes of hungry families and tourists alike. It was the longest time Mr Willis stayed in one job.“Red Rooster was a whole different kettle of fish for us,” he said. “The business, which opened more than 35 years ago, was one of only a few fast food outlets in Kiama. “When we took the shop on, my son was a year away from starting kindy,” Mr Willis recalls. “One of the reasons we bought it was so that one of us could be home before he went to school and the other when he came home from school.” The days were long and the couple did everything from cleaning drains, prepping chicken, managing staff and mopping floors. By the time their son Grady was a teen he was working alongside his parents, and never missed a day of work in the six years he helped out, testament to the work ethic instilled in him by his parents.“Two of my son’s greatest achievements is that he’s never missed a day of work or a day of school,” said Mr Willis. “He went to Kiama High School for six years and had 100 per cent attendance. Only a handful of kids before him have achieved that. His number one trait is grit and I’m very proud of him, and all of the other young people we have worked with over the years.“One of the most rewarding parts of this job has been watching staff grow from 13 year-old kids to young adults. We’ve employed several sets of siblings over years, been to two weddings of staff we employed as teens and proudly watched young people move on to roles serving in Afghanistan, as teachers and electrical engineers.“We just wanted to take this opportunity to say a really big thank you to the Kiama community who supported us over the years. It’s a great community and so many of the kids who grew up here have worked for us.”