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. 

It’s taken Helen Laidlaw nearly ten years to research and write her book about the Wadi Wadi people, the First Nations who once lived in the area on the South Coast now boarded by Kiama and Gerringong. On Wadi Wadi country – From the mountains to the sea, explores a little known part of Kiama history. But it’s a story well-worth telling.Putting a face, and a history, to the name“I come from a line of old ladies who like to make cakes,” remarks 85-year-old Laidlaw as she rummages around in her kitchen and brings out a lemon and blueberry. With the cake at hand, she sips her coffee and begins talking about the book, which traces the lives of several local First Nations people. Their destinies, still mostly unknown – both to indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, are deeply intertwined with that of Kiama and the surrounding areas. “It’s about stitching pieces together, and I’ve managed to stitch these families together,” she says.Just the other day Laidlaw spoke to a descendant of the Longbottom family, who had read the book. There’s a whole chapter on them as well as the Dixon, the Weston/Johnston and the Pike families.“It was hidden from them. You see, people didn’t know,” she says, referring to a time not too distant when one’s Indigenous heritage was never openly discussed. For the relatives, and there are quite a few around, Laidlaw wanted to make the people real as opposed to just being a name. “So many were valued by the rest of the clan,” she emphasises. With a keen interest in indigenous history and the Pacific, Laidlaw, a former university librarian and teacher who’s also worked in Tonga, set out to capture these stories before they are lost.“Aboriginal people have been treated quite badly. That’s why they’re all so excited about this book. Because it details their stories,” she says.Laidlaw included the line, From the mountains to the sea, three years ago when she named the book. It comes from the Wadi Wadi/Dharawal language place name for Illawarra (or Elourera, Allowrie), which means “where the mountains meet the sea.”“We’re all equal”When asked what she hopes readers will take away from the book, Laidlaw goes quiet. Then she says softly, “Surprise.”“Because I think Australia is a racist country, still. Anyone who has grown up with Aboriginal people knows that it is.” Her father, the headmaster of Bomaderry Public School, immediately desegregated the school when he began in 1947.“He was respected for it,” Laidlaw says. “Because he was a strong Christian, he just quoted Saint Paul in the Bible, we’re all equal.” Laidlaw says that she thinks the town of Kiama has wanted to acknowledge its Aboriginal heritage for some time.The younger generation, such as her grandchildren, embraces it while she finds that outdated views about Indigenous people still exist among some of the older generation.“But surely they realise, well I make that point in the book, that in 1917 these guys went off and got shot for being Australians,” she states. “They didn’t get recognised and they didn’t get a vote for fifty years.”One Jimmy CarlsonThe book, which spans from the first settlers to WWII to the Kiama tornadoes in 2013, came about through six degrees of separation.“I have lived in Kiama for over 40 years and thought I knew most of the important things about town and yet, page after page, left me gasping as I found new and fascinating things about the town and the surrounding area. It is a book that everyone who lives in, and cares about, this area should devour.” - Bruce ElderJulie Farquhar Nicol, a teacher at the Noogaleek Children’s Centre, an Aboriginal preschool at Berkley – and also Laidlaw’s good friend – enjoyed talking to Jimmy Carlson, an Aboriginal Elder, who drove the bus for the children’s centre. One day, while chatting about Carlson growing up in Kiama, they realised that the small farm cottage where he used to live in the 1930s was close to Laidlaw’s house in Willow Gully.Tucked away in a beautiful corner of Kiama, featuring native vegetation and still frequented by echidnas, wallabies and ringtail possums, Willow Gully holds a rare area of original sub-tropical rainforest, unique for this area.Laidlaw invited Carlson over, who then in his seventies, began sharing memories of his parents and grandparents along with photos and newspaper clippings. Carlson’s grandmother was a Dixon from Crooked River, and before too long, Laidlaw found herself trying to find out everything she could about the family.“I discovered one of his grandmother’s brothers came and lived here. There’s a whole chapter on that crazy guy,” she says. In the process of researching, she discovered several other local Indigenous families and their ties to Kiama’s past and present.The “queen of research”Laidlaw became intrigued by some of the descriptions, such as that of Captain Brooks (Muhhag), a local poet and singer. “Someone described him, very impressed, he didn’t look like a lot of others. He was so dark with aquiline features. Suddenly, you got a picture of somebody that you wouldn’t have otherwise. That’s why it’s all been included in the book” she says.As far as stories go, she found the most amazing ones to be about King Mickey and Queen Rosie. “She was such a character,” Laidlaw notes.Queen Rosie, the last surviving member of the Illawarra tribe, also features on the front cover of the book. The Sydney Morning Herald took the black-and-white portrait of Rosie, smoking a pipe, in 1927.Laidlaw is upset that her English publisher chose to cut some of the images out because they weren’t clear enough.“I tried to explain to them, these were people who didn’t have anywhere to store photos. And the ones I got, of Aboriginal people, were miraculous,” she says.Because the photos depict Indigenous people who have passed away, Laidlaw received permission from their relatives to use them.“Jimmy is now in his 80’s, and the photo is of his mother as a child. It’s remarkable that they were still available,” adds Laidlaw. It’s raining hard now, streaming down the windows, on her house in Willow Gully – a special space where this truly remarkable story began.Book launchDate: Sunday, 28 JulyTime: 3pmPlace: Kiama Uniting Church Hall, Manning StreetTo be launched by Julie Farquhar-Nicol (former teacher at Noogaleek Aboriginal Preschool). Followed by a glass of wine, nibbles and book sales & signing.Date: Saturday, 17 AugustTime: 2pmPlace: The Kiama Library, hosted by the Kiama Historical Society.To be launched by Bruce Elder (author of Blood on the Wattle). Followed by a glass of wine, nibbles and book sales & signing.

On Monday July 1, Kiama community members united in urgent solidarity when a patron at Penny Whistlers stopped breathing.Voytek Lewandowski, a regular diner at the cafe, was having lunch when he began choking. A tourist applied the Heimlich manoeuvre whilst customers rang emergency services, and Penny Whistler barista and local surf instructor, Kane Presland courageously stepped in to apply CPR.Fellow diners helped Kane keep rhythm on his compressions until an ambulance arrived. Bhanu Rathore, owner of Penny Whistler provided support to those impacted by the traumatic event. Tragically, Voytek could not be revived. Voytek Lewandowski grew up in Poland under communist rule and emigrated to Australia on a whim, and immediately set about learning English and establishing his own business. He trained in Film and Television Production in his home country, but was unable to break into the industry in Australia. He moved into the food technology industry and opened his own factory producing roasted capsicum long before it became popular, and was a passionate proponent of yoga and Vipassana meditation. In 2011, he suffered a traumatic brain injury from a car accident.In 2015, Voytek moved to Kiama and wished he had made the move earlier, having a deep appreciation for the Australian birdlife, animals and the ocean. The south end of Kendalls Beach, the Continental Pool, the sauna at the Leisure Centre, and Penny Whistler were places he frequented and felt at home.His sparkling eyes and open smile were easily recognisable, and inviting to those who knew him or strangers that he would meet along his journey. Voytek passed unexpectedly at a place he loved and frequented regularly. July 4th was his 63rd birthday, and his loved ones celebrated enthusiastically and passionately at Penny Whistler to remember him and honour his life.Voytek’s partner Madeleine wishes to hear from anyone who was present or provided help to express her gratitude and support. You can reach out to The Bugle to get in contact with her.

Former Kiama High School student Danielle Heinecke, has recently taken up residence at the High Commissioner’s residence in Kuala Lumpur, marking a significant milestone in her illustrious career. As a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Heinecke was most recently the First Assistant Secretary of the Pacific Melanesia Division and now serves as the High Commissioner to Malaysia.Danielle Heinecke's academic credentials are as impressive as her career trajectory. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Arts in International Relations from the Australian National University, and a Master of Economics from the University of New England. With these qualifications, Heinecke entered the Australian diplomatic corps and has since served in various roles in Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. She is proficient in Tetum and Tok Pisin, languages spoken in these regions.Australia and Malaysia enjoy robust economic ties. In 2022, Malaysia was Australia’s second-largest trading partner in ASEAN and the second-largest source of foreign investment from the region. The two countries are also close defence and security partners, collaborating under the Five Power Defence Arrangements and the Malaysia–Australia Joint Defence Program.In her role as High Commissioner, Ms. Heinecke oversees 46 departments, including Agriculture, Financial, Tourism, and Intelligence. Her extensive experience and leadership skills make her a pivotal figure in maintaining and enhancing the Australia-Malaysia relationship.On a recent overseas trip with his partner, Councillor Matt Brown took the opportunity to visit his old friend and former schoolmate Danielle Heinecke in Kuala Lumpur. During his visit, he reminisced about their shared history, including memories of Danielle’s mother, Ros Thomas, who was his science teacher at Kiama High School. Brown maintains regular contact with the Heinecke family, noting that Danielle’s father continues to work in Kiama.Danielle Heinecke’s journey from a local high school student to a significant diplomatic role exemplifies the far-reaching impact of dedication and education. Her story serves as an inspiration to many, illustrating how local roots can lead to global influence.

Peter Stuckey, the former Manager of Parks and Gardens at the Kiama Council, passed away on Wednesday, 26 June.Peter was a well-loved member of staff and the Kiama community. He will be remembered for many environmental initiatives for the region, contributing to the Illawarra Biodiversity Strategy and the Lake Illawarra Authority.At council, Peter led a team that established Kiama’s reputation for having some of the best parks and gardens in the Illawarra.Following his retirement in 2010, Peter continued to be an active community member, especially when it came to public open spaces.He most recently campaigned for the extension of the Coast Walk to Gerroa, which is now in its early stages.Photo: Kiama Independent, 14 October 2009.Peter’s funeral was held at St Matthews Catholic Church in Jamberoo, on Monday, 8 July at 11am.

Pickleball is now on at the Kiama Leisure Centre every Sunday, from 2-4pm. Players of all levels are welcome. Bookings are essential as numbers are limited. Cost is $15 per person. Pickleball junior camps will be held on Tuesday, 16 July from 1:30-4pm. The camps involve fun, fitness and the chance to learn a new sport, which is exploding in popularity. Cost is $30  per person and all equipment is provided on the day.Pickleball for beginner adults will be held on Thursday, 18 July from 1:30-4pm. A fun new sport, which provides fun, fitness and energy in a social environment. Spots are limited and bookings are essential. Cost is $30 per person..For pickleball programs and bookings, contact Paul Summerside on: 0437430731 or email: [email protected].

He’s a Kiama legend.Some of his early team mates players - now grown-up men in their forties - still call him “Mister.” But Michael Tierney, who’s been volunteering with the Kiama Knights Rugby League Football Club for the last 44 years, doesn’t make a fuss. “It’s not about me,” Tierney said. “It’s about the kids who want to play footy.”On most weekends, you’ll find him down at the Kiama Showground or the Chittick Oval, helping out.  This Saturday is no different. Around 10:30am, Tierney will take on the ground manager’s job.“That’s fine, I’ll do that for three or four games. And then, I’ll leave,” he chuckles. “You gotta have a break, sooner or later.” Kiama born and bred“I don’t do as much as now as I used to. But then again, I’m 74,” Tierney said.. Born at the hospital at the top end of town, and having spent most of his life here, Kiama is in his blood.Having volunteered for more than 40 years, he hopes to continue. Who would have thought when a mate of Tierney’s offered him the gig of a manager? “I said, yeah - I’ll do it but I had no idea what I was doing. But anyway, it just kept escalating from that,” he says.Tierney won’t forget the very first team that he managed.“The coach had the boys lined up. He introduced them, and I’m thinking, ‘How in Christ’s name am I going to remember all these kids’ names?” The boys in the Under 7s team were all blonde and about the same height.Eventually he knew every single name.Simple as that“They’re in their forties now, most of them still call me ‘Mister.’ I don’t need to be called that. But it’s, I suppose, a sign of respect,” Tierney reflects.“Doesn’t matter where you go, if you run into them, they’ll all stop and have a chat. If you’re at the club having a beer, they’ll stop and have a beer.”“People don’t realise the amount of friendships you make out of a club like this. I’ve made a lot of friends here in Kiama but I’ve also made friends managing the rep side, whether it be Bathurst or Singleton.Tierney has not only been involved with the Kiama junior league but also on the junior and senior rep side along with the Southern Division. The CRL (Country Rugby League) awarded him the Centenary medal in 2008, he was the finalist for CRL’s One Community Award in 2010 and Kiama Council awarded him the Australia Day Sports Award in 2011.But, Tierney says, “It’s not about the pats on the back that you get. It’s about seeing kids play the game that they want to play, and the future – it’s all in their hands. The rewards are what they put in.” The next generationThe only positions that he hasn’t held at the club are those of president and treasurer.“I just do it because I want to. I’ll admit, I’ve had several people in my life who have encouraged me to continue on with it. One of them was my grandmother when she was alive. She always said, ‘whatever you’re enjoying, just stick with it’,“ recalls Tierney.Nowadays, he enjoys seeing the new generation of volunteers coming through.“At the minute, we got some very good people involved with the club who go above and beyond. I take my hat off to them because not only are they involved with this club, they still work with the senior league. It takes a lot of time and a lot of effort to put out there for very little reward.“Without those people wanting to do it, the club wouldn’t exist.”Tierney will soon start his shift as a ground manager. Stepping outside, he points to the sky: “Look!” Across a charcoal-coloured sky, heavy with rain, spans the brightest of rainbows.It's another good day at the club.

When Kiama golfer Margaret Cooper took up the sport more than a decade ago, she never imagined she would one day make history. Margaret was recently appointed Club Captain of Kiama Golf Club, the first time a woman has taken on the crucial role of shaping the culture and community of the club.“I guess I am an accidental trailblazer,” says Margaret who became Club Captain under tragic circumstances when former Club Captain Glenn Whiteford passed away suddenly. Margaret was Vice Club Captain and stepped into the position at a board meeting called after Glenn’s sad passing. She plans to continue the hard work done by Glenn, who she describes as “one of nature’s true gentlemen”.“Glenn was very humble,” says Margaret. “He was friendly but fair, and just a really lovely man who was very dedicated to making sure that golf ran well at the club and nobody was left out. I would like to continue what Glenn started and make sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.”Margaret took up golf when she retired from teaching in 2013. Her husband Jim was a member at Kiama and he encouraged her to join and get lessons. “We thought it would be nice to throw in a set of clubs when we go on holidays and have a game,” says Margaret. At no time did she think she would be at the helm, steering the club into the future. “I didn’t even know if I’d enjoy the game or not,” laughs Margaret. “But once I got started I was hooked, I just love it.” As a former teacher-librarian Margaret is a natural-born leader and always one of the first to put her hand up and help where needed. She was women’s captain for three years, Vice Club Captain and has been on the match committee for five years.‘I’d only been playing for a year when I volunteered to join the women’s golf committee,” said Margaret. “Then I just continued to help out where I could. I don’t think there is anything in the role that says Club Captain should be exclusively a man’s job, even though this is the first time there’s been a female Club Captain at Kiama.”“While it’s not something I keep track of, Margaret is likely to be the only female Club Captain in the Illawarra,” says Club General Manager David Rootham.“The Club has always been very forward thinking in that way,” says Margaret. “Groundbreaking really, with one of the first female professional golfers, Elle Sandak, running the pro shop before she went on maternity leave.”The Club was also an early adopter of abolishing the associate member’s policy, giving women full member’s rights in the 1990s. There are now 150 female members at Kiama Golf Club and Margaret is proud to be involved in a club, and sport, that is inclusive of everyone. She says this inclusivity is something Glenn worked hard to achieve, and a legacy she will continue.“One of the greatest things about golf is having time with mates, for both our men and women golfers,” says Margaret. So I think it’s very important that we have a balance between pursuing competition golf and encouraging visitors and members’ social golf too. Everybody in our Club is very friendly and the staff who work here are wonderful. It really is a community hub here, people come here to play golf, to socialise, families come here for dinner. It’s a wonderful club to be a part of.”The Kiama Golf Club first began on a farmer's property near Kiama High School in 1903. Players would move fences and mow greens onto paddocks before each round, and return the fences once they finished. In the 1930s the Club moved to its current Minnamurra site, with close to 60 members. Fast forward 90 years and the club now boasts just under 1000 members.“That’s not bad for a small regional course,” says David. “With all this rain we are one of the few courses that is still playable.”“There’s rarely a time when someone is not out there playing the course,” says Margaret, who expects to be a whole lot busier in her new role.

Rebecca Collinson-Smith, a remarkably talented photographer and designer from Minnamurra, has captivated the American fashion industry with her latest runway show at Paraiso’s Miami Swim Week. Her swimwear collection, featuring stunning aerial images of Sydney captured by Rebecca herself, has left audiences in awe.Rebecca owns a boutique in The Rocks, Sydney, called Hunting Hue. The name reflects her unique approach to photography, where she never alters or enhances her images but instead seeks out the natural hues that inspire her. Her entrepreneurial acumen and keen eye for colour have resulted in a distinctive and eye-catching swimwear line that appeals to all ages.Proud mother Cheryl Collinson-Smith shared samples of Rebecca’s popular designs with The Bugle, showcasing clothing lines for both adults and children that blend fashion with functionality. Remarkably, Rebecca's current designs were created just two months ago. Within this short period, she designed the garments, produced samples, entered the fashion show, and travelled to America.Rebecca’s Miami Swim Week show opened with the debut of “Hunting Hue” and the innovative “Draw On Swimwear” line, featuring a charming cephalopod named DOS. This interactive swimwear allows children to draw their own designs onto the garments, providing an engaging fashion experience. Practice stencils and a variety of washable and permanent colours are included, allowing for endless creativity.Rebecca’s Instagram, @huntinghue, displays many of her stunning designs. Her collection, which includes complementary scarves, has been praised by American fashion journalists as “a kaleidoscope of style” and “a remarkable splash with its vibrant showcase.”"Hunting Hue's presentation at Miami Swim Week celebrated colour, family, and fashion," one journalist noted. "It set a new standard for summer wardrobes, offering a blend of high fashion and practicality. The collection inspires, warms, and delights those looking to elevate their beach or poolside attire."To capture the breathtaking aerial images featured on her swimwear, Rebecca rented a helicopter, photographing iconic Sydney landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, and the Opera House from 500 feet above. She also flew over the Minnamurra River and Mystics Beach last year, capturing the local area for her picture book “Minnamurra,” which she wrote during the Covid lockdown. The book, now in its seventh reprint, has sold out entirely.Rebecca Collinson-Smith’s innovative and vibrant designs have made a significant impact on the fashion world, demonstrating her incredible talent and unique vision.

Born in Newcastle on June 20, 1924 Olive Cook, known as Lee, celebrated her 100th birthday this week with parties across Kiama. There was lunch at Kiama Leagues Club with the Kiama Beachside Ladies Probus Club, a celebration with the Hospital Auxiliary, of which Lee was a member for many years, a morning tea at Kiama Bowling Club where Lee still plays social bowls. And finally to finish off a big week, cake and candles at Kiama Golf Club, followed by a robust few rounds of canasta with friends. Lee has been a card player since she was five years old and plays canasta at the golf club every Friday. She credits playing cards with "keeping her sharp and off the streets". The centenarian, who has a wicked sense of humour, says it was an honour to have her milestone birthday recognised with a letter from King Charles and Queen Camilla."But I didn't do anything except live," she laughs. And live she has, through world wars and epidemics, all while wearing one of her signature hats."The obsession with hats comes from my mother's side," explains Lee. "She was never without one and I've got the sort of hair that needs a hat. I have about 40 of them, for all occasions. My friends are always buying them for me. But disappointingly I only got one hat for my birthday!"Lee, who has three daughters, three grandchildren and a great-grandson, born earlier this year, says she has had "a very fortunate life".The former nurse and her husband moved to Kiama in the 1980s from the family farm in Molong, west of Orange."Once the girls were grown up we sold the farm, retired and came down here to live," she says. "I have had a pretty good life. I can't complain."Lee still lives independently, takes no medication, plays lawn bowls socially, still drives her car, and only recently got glasses "for distance". Last year her family gave her a walking frame, which she has nicknamed The Ferrari. Up until this week The Ferrari lived in the boot of her car and had never been used."When I got the Ferrari I told my family I would use it when I turned 100. I was true to my word."Throughout her nursing career Lee spent much of her time in hospital infectious disease units, and says one of her most memorable moments was when childhood vaccinations were made compulsory. "I was a nurse through a lot of epidemics, so compulsory vaccinations changed the healthcare system for the better,” says Lee. “It was heartbreaking to see babies dying from polio. Compulsory vaccination was a career highlight for me.”Lee has no secrets to longevity, other than having a good laugh and wearing a hat daily. She doesn't drink. "I gave up the grog four years ago, one day I just didn't like the taste of wine anymore." But if she had to share any tips for a long, happy life it would be a positive attitude, playing cards and spending time with family and friends.

The days when 50 dairy cows were enough to permit you a good, decent life in the prime dairy farming country around Jamberoo have long gone. Geoff Boxsell, 84, remembers the days when there were 96 farms providing milk on a daily basis to the Jamberoo Dairy Coop.Now there’s ten. And the Coop itself has disappeared. Something of a local historian, agricultural consultant Lynne Strong describes Geoff Boxsell as a legend, a living link to the area’s colourful rural past.When Geoff joined the Coop as foreman in 1959 at the age of 20 after studying dairying technology at Hawkesbury College, there were 23 workers at the Jamberoo Dairy Factory and it was a central part of village life. Admired in the industry, Geoff worked at the Coop until 1985 when it merged with Nowra Dairy Co-op to form Shoalhaven Dairy Co-op, which involved building a new dairy in Bomaderry. As he explains, Jamberoo was unique amongst dairy Coops because it focused on producing butter, powdered milk for ice cream and sweetened condensed milk rather than bottled milk. Geoff’ remembers the profound impact of simple things, well simple from the vantage point of 2024, such as electric fencing, mechanisation, and the government run quota system, which ensured a continuous supply of milk throughout the year in the Sydney Zone (from Wauchope to Milton) but also made winners and losers in a tightly controlled system. As he recalls, the manufacturing would start up at 4am, and from 7.30am the forecourt was filled with the noise of carriers and farmers bringing in the milk off the farms building throughout the morning. “The coop employees would be upending the ten gallon cans of milk by hand. Meanwhile we would be supporting the manufacturing operations – the evaporators, the butter churn, the cream pasteuriser and the roller dryers for powdered milk.“When I was a kid, some used to bring milk down to the factory in a horse and cart. But a lot of dairy farmers used carriers rather than bringing it in themselves, the ones down at Jones Beach, East Beach.”Geoff puts down the demise of Co-ops to ageing plants, insufficient capital, and that the coops were owned by dairy farmers, causing a conflict between adequate payment for manufacturing milk and retention of funds for necessary works. Change, as far he’s concerned, was inevitable.One of the most evident signs is the disappearance of the cattle known as Illawarras, or the Australian Illawarra Shorthorn, which are basically gone now but were famous in the day for their rich colouring and milk production. Local agricultural consultant Lynne Strong wants to emphasise that despite the decreased numbers of farmers involved, dairy is not a sunset industry. “Those ten farms produce more milk than the 96 farms once did. After the deregulation of the dairy industry in Australia in 2000, the previously protected milk prices were no longer regulated by the government. This significant change exposed dairy farmers to market forces, removing the price guarantees that had been in place prior to deregulation and milk price per litre of milk dropped by half.“Our Jamberoo farmers were very very proud of their Co-op. We had quite a diversity, from large to very small farms. And the Co-op was an important part of their social life. They would bring their milk to the factory, then spend time talking to the locals, go over to the coop office to buy their butter. Everybody knew everybody. They could also get all their farm supplies there. “The odd farmer would go from the factory to the Jamberoo pub for lunch, it was a very social time.“One local character used to take his bull to the pub, it would stand at the door and wait for him. There were so many stories.  “These days it’s very very serious business, and you would never, never think of doing that.”Nostalgic as memories of the old dairy farming life are, for local historians and for the area’s increasing number of tourists it’s interesting to note that the south coast was one of the major centres for the birth of the coop movement which brought prosperity and certainty to the lives of many rural families.The very first dairy coop, indeed the very first agricultural coop in Australia, was formed in this area. A research paper on Illawarra Cooperatives by Mike Donaldson and Ian Southall from the University of Wollongong records that with poor remuneration from Sydney agents the 1870s had been tough on South Coast farmers. “On Friday, 15 October 1880, farmers met at the Kiama Courthouse and formed the South Coast and West Camden Cooperative and determined ‘by the instinct of self-preservation’ to revolutionise their industry with Australia’s first successful attempt at co-operative marketing. “Illawarra and Shoalhaven farmers immediately withdrew their consignments from ‘the system’ and sent their produce instead to the fledgling cooperative. On Mondays and Thursdays steamers arrived from Wollongong, Kiama and Shoalhaven.” The greatest agitator for the Cooperative turned out to be the owner of The Kiama Bugle’s predecessor, The Kiama Independent. Originally posing as an anonymous “Dairyman”, the then proprietor Joseph Watson used the pages of his newspaper to advocate forcefully for cooperatives. By the end of that decade the South Coast Cooperative was responsible for selling 87% of NSW butter, and the dairy coop movement spread up and down the coast. By the end of the 1880s more than a dozen dairy cooperatives were operating on the south coast. It would be more than a century, in the 1990s, before the Jamberoo coop would close.Dave Hall, a well known Jamberoo resident whose father was the local butcher, remembers the old factory fondly. “It was a real meeting place, because a lot of the farmers used to come down, mainly in the morning, with all the milk in cans. It was pretty social. All the people who worked there were locals. “We used to be friends with one of the farmers, and I used to go up for the milking. They would all put all the cans on the back of the tractor trailer, you could sit on the top of the cans and head through town. It was exciting. I used to love it. You’d never get away with it now. “The farmers are still around Jamberoo, but a lot of them have retired. Everyone knew it was coming.” And remnants of those vanished lifestyles, early hours, hard work, the smell and sound of the cattle you knew by name, trundling your milk cans down to the factory coop, the perhaps not so occasional raucous meeting in the much loved pub, can still be found scattered across the region. Times might have been tough, but they didn’t have to deal with the constant angst created by mobile phones, social media, nor the overwhelming feeling of scepticism which has spread across our country as people lose faith in their government, their politicians and their national identity. The pub is still there, the stone walls which kept the cattle in their paddocks are in many cases being restored, and dilapidated farm sheds still bring back that wonderful atmosphere of yore, a time of hard work and common decency.Jamberoo Factory Achievements:Pioneering Milk Quota System: Jamberoo Factory was the first to propose a quota system to the Milk Board in the 1950s, ensuring a consistent milk supply for sweetened condensed milk production. This groundbreaking initiative stabilized milk supply in the region and set a precedent for managing milk production nationwide.Manufacturing High-Quality Butter: Jamberoo Factory developed a process for improving the quality of butter by adding a bacterial culture, like yoghurt, to the cream separated from high quality milk supplies from local farms.Supreme Champion Dairy Product, 1976: Jamberoo Factory's bulk box of butter was awarded Supreme Champion Dairy Product in Australia in 1976, surpassing all other dairy products including cheese, milk powder, milk, yogurt, and ice cream.Innovative Spreadable Butter: Jamberoo Factory experimented with the creation of spreadable butter by mixing cream and vegetable oils, a highly successful product innovation created before it was legal, so it couldn’t be marketed. Dual Payment System: Milk destined for manufacture of dairy products was always paid for  on the basis of its butterfat component alone. In July 1965, Jamberoo Co-op introduced a dual payment system, the first operating in Australia, involving payment for skim milk solids content as well as for butterfat. The system is now universal in Australia but uses butterfat and protein, protein being the most important component of skim milk solids.

The community of Kiama is celebrating Colin Roy Rathbone, who was recently awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) during the 2024 King's Birthday Honours. This prestigious award acknowledges his exceptional service to the local community, particularly through his extensive involvement with local organisations.Colin’s contributions to the Australian Red Cross are notable; he served as Treasurer from 2016 to 2022 and has been an active member since 2010. His dedication extends to the Friends of Blue Haven Aged Care Facility, where he was Secretary from 2012 to 2022, having joined the group in 2011.Colin’s commitment to the Kiama community spans several decades. Since the 1970s, he has held numerous leadership roles, including President of the Kiama District Sports Association from 1976 to 2021. He also served as Secretary of the Kiama Friends of Vision Australia from 2010 to 2022 and became a Foundation Troop Member of the Kiama Light Horse Brigade in 2014.Throughout his years of service, Colin has received multiple accolades. In 2017, he was honoured as Kiama's Australia Day Citizen of the Year. He was also named the Kiama Council Sports Star of the Year in 2010 and holds life memberships with both the Kiama Junior Football Club and the Kiama District Sports Association.Colin is humble about his achievements: “I could not have done the work for the organisations that I was involved in without the support of all of the committee members of those groups, it has been a joint effort all the way.”The local community has expressed immense pride in Colin’s achievements. Karon Dawson posted on Facebook, “Huge congratulations to another Kiama legend, Col Rathbone OAM, on receiving this prestigious and well-deserved award. We are all so proud of you and grateful for everything you have done for our community!” Gordon Bell added, “Col has contributed hugely to our community.”Colin Rathbone's OAM is a testament to his lifelong dedication to service and the significant impact he has made on the Kiama community.

The debutThe old idiom ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ hit home for accomplished Gerroa author Lisa Darcy when her first book was published fifteen years ago.Lisa sheepishly admits she cried when she first saw the cover image of her long-awaited novel; and they were not tears of joy. The cover, emailed to her by her publisher, looked nothing like she imagined while squeezing thousands of hours of blood, sweat and tears onto the 384 pages of her debut, ‘Lucy Springer Gets Even’. “Then I got over myself,” laughs Lisa. “I thought ‘okay this is what the marketing and publicity department has decided, I’ll just run with it’. Gratitude soon kicked in after the initial shock and, when Lisa saw her novel for the first time in a bookshop, she thought ‘wow, this is fantastic, I am an author’.”That was back in January 2009 and Lisa’s debut novel was so successful, it was rebranded after her publisher admitted the original cover was a mistake. Sales spiked (with a new cover and title - ‘Lucy Bounces Back’) and the book was sold as a wrapped bundle alongside best-selling author Jodi Picoult. Lisa now has nine hit novels under her belt, yet she remains humble; self-deprecation is her default position. Perhaps because, like all good artists, the journey to becoming a published author was long, and not without rejection. Writing the Great Australian NovelIn a previous life Lisa was a journalist in Sydney, working for Australian Consolidated Press - Kerry Packer’s stable of magazines - on publications including ‘Bride To Be’ and ‘Practical Parenting.’ It was in 2000, after Lisa had just given birth to her daughter and had two sons aged two and four, that she decided to pursue every writer’s dream – create the Great Australian Novel. “I thought it would be the perfect time to quit my day job and write a book, I thought it would be easy, I was so naive!” laughs Lisa. The internet was fairly recent back then but there were plenty of tips on how to write a novel, so Lisa followed a formula, set out by the publisher of blockbuster ‘Mills & Boon’ novels, and wrote a 60,000-word bodice ripper set in Venice. She’d never been there but thought ‘hey, how hard can this be?’ After months of toil, she sent her manuscript to acquisitions teams in Vancouver, London and New York (Australia had none at that stage) and waited for the offers to come in.“God, I was so arrogant - it got soundly rejected. The feedback was something like ‘great first line all downhill from there’,” says Lisa, who can laugh about it now that she is a successful author. At the time, it was a definitive blow to her ego during an already tough time in her life. Three lessons learnedShe was a new mum, pumping out thousands of words each day, while also in the midst of breastfeeding and toilet training. Despite the rejection, Lisa got back on the proverbial horse - this time taking on the lessons she had learned - to be successful you need to write from the heart, about things you know, and for genres you love. “I had that naivety, to actually send it off and think that it would get a good reception,” admits Lisa. “But that initial manuscript was so clunky. I don't regret doing it. It showed me that I could actually write a story that stretched to manuscript length. I knew I could write, I knew I could put a story together and I knew I could complete a task. But what I had to do next was actually write about something I cared about.”“So I went away and looked at my bookshelves and the novels I loved reading. It was the 2000s, so books like ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’ (Helen Fielding) and ‘Watermelon’ (Marian Keyes). Those books are all written in first-person, they’re conversational, the author is talking to me as their best friend, confiding in me. When I looked at that first manuscript, it was in a third person point of view, distant. I was telling a story, but I wasn't involved in the story, so it wasn't coming from the heart.”Lisa believes her latest novel - ‘The Pact’ - is one of her best, written from the heart about complex family relationships and the unbreakable bond between sisters. But it has been almost a decade in the making, and she had to fight hard to get it published.Not a sports book, but one about familiesRewind to 2015. By this stage Lisa had published five books with Allen & Unwin (“the covers got progressively better”) before deciding to take a break from writing. Her kids were navigating the tricky teenage years and Lisa was the quintessential mother of adolescents; unpaid Uber driver, accidental counselor and round-the-clock chef. Once she had survived “teaching kids to drive,” Lisa rediscovered her love for writing and returned with a self-published book which “sold three copies on Amazon.” Unhappy with the final version, Lisa pulled it from the platform but knew that ‘the skeleton’ for a great story was there. “I just needed the heart and the muscle,” she says. “I really wanted to take my time with it and either self-publish again or find a publisher who actually believed in it.”That book became her latest novel, ‘The Pact,’ a compassionate dissection of the love-hate relationship between two sisters, who lost their mother as teenagers. The book explores how this traumatic event impacted their lives, and loves as they climb their way up the ladder as doubles partners on the international tennis circuit. “Samantha and Annie are professional tennis players and while I’ve played social tennis; badly, I am by no means an expert on the subject,” says Lisa. “Publishers would say, ‘oh if it was cricket or swimming maybe … but not tennis. For me, it was never about writing a sports book, I wanted to write a book about sisters, families, mothers. Tennis was a good way to highlight sibling rivalry, but essentially, the book is about exploring the psychological impact of losing your mother at a young age, how this creates a fear of abandonment for Samantha and a need to be loved for Annie.”Lisa threw herself into research for the book, reading biographies by Ash Barty, Andre Agassi, the Williams sisters, Rafael Nadal, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert-Lloyd. But it is the human relationships and connections around her that she draws on for inspiration, admitting that her own relationship with her sister is the typical, love-hate, sibling rivalry archetype. But at the end of the day love wins out. “In most of my novels, but not this latest one, there's also the older mum, or grandmother, who is always based on my mother, but I don’t think she’s even read any of my books,” laughs Lisa. “And my kids have only just twigged to this, but for all their high school years I was forever just passing by their room when they had friends over, basically eavesdropping. I was absolutely stealing their conversations for material and I have no regrets!” “I don’t think my kids have read my books either, in my acknowledgments I always mention them. That was a little test to see if they came back to me. But I do know the boys have given copies to girlfriends, which they say they really enjoyed and laughed at, because they can see my sons in those stories. Without destroying any illusions, I think it's really important to talk about real life experiences, real relationships.” Becoming Lisa DarcyBack in the early noughties rural romance was ‘going gangbusters’ off the back of shows like McLeod’s Daughters. Lisa’s publishers reached out to her saying, ‘this is going to be the next big thing, can you write something like that?’ “I said ‘well, I’m a suburban mother, living in Sydney, yes I’ve seen a sheep and I’ve patted a cow but there’s no way I can do that’,” she chuckles. But what she could do was write coastal romance, with Gerringong the setting for her 2021 novel ‘Lily’s Little Flower Shop..“I’ve had a property in Gerroa for 25 years,” says Lisa. “I moved here permanently in 2021, when the kids had finished uni. I really should have written ‘Lily’s Little Flower Shop’ years earlier but when I finally started writing it, I knew I could do it justice because I know the fictional, but real, township I’m writing about.” The book has since been published in several languages, including French and Italian, and marked the beginning of Lisa’s success as a renowned international author when she signed with UK-based publisher Bloodhound Books in 2020. However, there was a catch. Her new publisher wanted to “completely rebrand” her. Lisa had always published her work under her maiden name, Heidke. By now Lisa knew the drill, publishers have the final say on covers, titles and even with authors’ names. “After I got over myself again, I thought okay I’m in charge here,” she says. She chose a name that she liked, one that resonated. Darcy was reminiscent of Jane Austen. Marketing research shows authors whose last names start with C or D do well in the line-up on bookshops shelves, explains Lisa. She wrote ‘Lily’s Little Flower Shop,’ ‘My Big Greek Holiday’ and ‘Should You Keep A Secret?’ under the pen name Lisa Darcy for Bloodhound Books.“Other than when I am talking to my friends and family and I’m Lisa Heidke, I became Lisa Darcy on all my new novels and socials,” she says.’ Lily’s Little Flower Shop’ has a special palace in her heart and is one of her most beloved novels. But ‘The Pact’ is the one she is most proud of. She fought hard to have it published on her terms.“This book has been so well-received by readers, and I’m really happy with the end result,” says Lisa. “And I love the cover!”

Congratulations to Kiama artist Michelle Springett, who recently won the 'Ambience of Thirroul' Award at the Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival.The winning artwork was entitled “Matilda Kookaburra.”“This is so amazing, and I'm still in shock,” Springett exclaimed.The art festival is made possible by the support of the Austinmer/Thirroul Lions Club Inc., the volunteers who provide their skills and time, and the generous sponsors who support with funding, facilities and equipment.Springett hung her largest-ever palette knife artwork at Batch10 Cafe in Albion Park’s new shopping complex. This long weekend, 8 and 9 June, Springett has two more exhibitions: one at Kiama Leagues Club and another one at the Imaginarium in Shellharbour Village.Springett, who runs Expressive Art Experience (EAE) has not only been busy with her personal artistic pursuits, but she and her team are actively engaged in numerous activities. “Right now, there’s a lot going on – in fact, a massive lineup of Art Experiences on offer for June,” Springett shared. Here’s a quick rundown:Saturday, 15 June: Painting ladies drinking ‘Tea time or Wine time’ – hosted by Shellharbour City Council.Tuesday, 18 June: A new 'Finish UNfinished Art' class on Tuesday mornings at their studio in Kiama Downs. Participants can bring their unfinished artworks and complete them with materials provided by EAE. Book for one session or for all three.Friday, 21 June: PAINT ‘N’ SIP,  the painting theme is ‘Winter Wonderland’ at Georgia Rose Shell Cove.Saturday, 22 June: ‘Paint and Sip’ palette knife painting of your choice at Wests Illawarra.July promises to be just as exciting! EAE will be at the Kiama Winter Street Festival on July 13- 14. They will be stationed at the Old Fire Station, inviting everyone to participate in painting Daisy the Cow and contributing to the Community Mural titled 'Winter in Kiama.'Have you tried the Expressive Art Experience?EAE made a vibrant debut on R U OK Day in August 2019. Since then, Springett and her team have embarked on an exhilarating journey, bringing EAE to the forefront of diverse events. Their mission: To ignite creativity and foster meaningful connections through artistic endeavours.EAE is committed to building a vibrant community and educating through their unique programs. Whether it's homeschooling, after-school activities, or the exciting buzz of school holidays, EAE aims to unlock the potential within each individual. Their blend of art and therapy creates lasting memories and enriching experiences.

Gregory Leigh Crofts, a resident of Kiama, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) during the 2024 King's Birthday Honours for Australia. The announcement was made on 10 June, by Governor-General David Hurley.The King's Birthday Honours celebrate the achievements and service of extraordinary individuals across the 15 Commonwealth realms of King Charles III, recognising their significant contributions to society.Greg, as he prefers to be known, was honoured for his remarkable service to scouting. His involvement with the Kiama Scout Group spans 16 years, reflecting a long-standing commitment to the scouting community. In that time, he has accumulated 14 scout awards.Known by his scouting name, “Wonga”, Greg began his scouting journey in 1976. He started as the '1st Peakhurst Cub Leader' and progressed to '1st Peakhurst Scout Leader' in 1980, and to '1st Sylvania Heights Cub Leader' in 1987.In 1996, Greg moved to Nowra and joined the '1st Illaroo Cub Pack.' Two years later, he became the Regional Leader of Cub Scouts for the South Coast and Tablelands Region. His leadership skills were further recognised when he was appointed District Cub Leader for Shoalhaven in 2003 and District Commissioner a year later.Greg's leadership prowess continued to be acknowledged, leading to his promotion as Assistant District Commissioner in the Illawarra South District in 2006. In 2009, he took on the role of '1st Kiama Scout Group Leader,' a position he held for 11 years before becoming the Group Advisor in 2020. When Greg assumed leadership of Kiama Scouts, the group was nearly bankrupt. Through his tireless efforts in fundraising, including organising sausage sizzles, he revitalised the group, making it financially robust and vibrant.A hands-on leader, Greg is actively involved in maintaining the Scout Hall, managing cleaning, maintenance, and liaising with service personnel and contractors. He continues to attend weekly scout meetings and is an integral part of the committee.Greg has secured grants for solar electricity, air conditioning, and plumbing improvements for the hall, benefitting not only Kiama Scouts but also other scouting groups, who use the hall for camps and activities, utilising the scenic Kiama harbour as a backdrop.He has been a staunch advocate for keeping the Kiama Scout Hall under the ownership of Scouting Australia. Amid pressure from developers and the Kiama Council, who have shown interest in redeveloping the harbour area, Greg has tirelessly worked to ensure the hall remains a community asset. Greg has meticulously documented that the land is Crown land with a 100-year perpetual lease, underscoring his commitment to preserving the hall for future generations of local children and families.

Local swimmer 17-year-old Ivy Miller, whose long-term goal is the 2032 Summer Games in Brisbane, will swim her first Olympic swimming trials at – that’s right, Brisbane Aquatic Centre –10-15 June.In between school and her daily swim practice, Miller spoke to The Bugle about how growing up on the South Coast has influenced her swimming career, why her role model is Wollongong native and fellow swimmer Emma McKeon and making the Junior Australian Dolphin team.At the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials, which is the most prestigious domestic event on the national swimming calendar and where the Australian Olympic swimming squad will be selected, Miller will compete in the women’s 100 meter, and 200 meter, backstroke.“I’m going into the meet with the main goal of gaining more experience swimming as an open athlete rather than an age group swimmer alongside Australia's world class athletes,” she says.It will also give her an opportunity not just to compete alongside but also to learn from the best swimmers in the country.“While at the trials, I hope to be able to race the best I possibly can, with hopefully swimming some personal bests and making it into a final,” she says.Miller is as home-grown a swimmer as they come. She learned to swim at the Kiama Leisure Centre, and began to swim competitively at the Friday nights’ Kiama Swim Club from around the age of eight.A major influence in her decision to start racing has been the community of swim lovers within, and around, Kiama, she explains.“The South Coast and the Illawarra area has a lot of talented swimmers. I’ve been lucky enough through my competitive career to meet and interact with so many other individuals, who also share the same passion of swimming.”Ivy Miller, an Olympic swimmer in the making. Photo credit: WinkiPoP media.One could also say that watersports run into her blood. Miller’s aunt, Lily Gladstone, and uncle, Greg Miller, are both ex-IronWoman and IronMan respectively, who competed in the Uncle Toby’s Super Series. Her grandma, Geraldine Miller, was an ex-Australian Surf Life Saving (SLS) coach and her dad, Grahame Miller, was a bodyboarder on the world tour.“This naturally led me to be brought into both swimming and SLS as a young girl, but also my parents exposed me to these sports so I would be able to safely enjoy the beautiful coastline of our area,” she says. “Even while just having fun participating in these activities, trying to pursue them competitively was a natural progression for me since I’m a competitive person.”Miller currently swims for the Wests Illawarra Aquatic Swim Club at the University of Wollongong Pool under coach Pat Stellino.She finds her swimming squad to be a major motivator, with everyone working off each other in pursuing their goals.To be committed to her goals is actually one of her main strengths as a swimmer, Miller says, along with being very  driven.“I’m able to get myself up and out of bed in the early hours, get into the cold outdoor pool and put all my energy into having the best possible session I can have, at that point.”Someone who’s shown her that it’s definitely worth putting in the work and effort is Emma McKeon, who made history by winning seven gold medals at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. That is the most medals won by any woman in any sport.“She’s a Wollongong girl that’s now one of Australia’s most decorated swimmers, which is an amazing achievement. She’s also a very kind and humble person, who I’ve been lucky to meet a few times.“It’s also inspiring that she's a local girl, who also started out at Wests Illawarra Aquatic, showing that hopefully I can also do this, too,” says Miller. As she looks to the future, her goals are making the Junior Australian Dolphins Team and/or the Australian Dolphins Team and qualifying for the LA 2028 Summer Olympics or the 2032 Brisbane Summer Olympics. We look forward to seeing her at both.

Kiama Bowling and Recreation Club held a special presentation and ceremony for the naming of the Alisdair Tarbert Green on Sunday, 19 May. The number 2 green is the original club green, and is now named after life member and longest serving member Alisdair Tarbert, 90-years-old.Many close friends and family joined Alisdair and wife Jan Tarbert in celebration. Current members and players were in attendance, and Zone 16 representative Peter Ryan extended his congratulations on behalf of the Illawarra Zone. Kiama Bowling Club president Wayne Richardson spoke of Alisdair Tarbert’s achievements throughout his long career. Those include seven club Pairs, nine club Triples titles, five club Fours wins and as a member of two number 1 Pennant Flag winning teams, 1974 and 2002 respectively. Life member Trevor Jones spoke of Tarbert’s outstanding service to the club over many years, attending every working bee in support of all club works, most notably his hard work during the transformation of the number 2 green from synthetic to turf in 1994.Alisdair Tarbert’s association with Kiama Bowling and Recreation Club began many years ago when his father Peter Tarbert served as the club treasurer from 1946-66. He began filling in games at an early age, and made his mark as a talented bowler joining his brother Cameron to win the South Coast District Bowls Association Pairs in 1967. Tarbert won his first club Singles title in 1975, in a very close game 31-30 against his brother Cameron. This game was marked by his father Peter. His bowling records aside, Alisdair has been a consistent supporter of every initiative undertaken at the club and was awarded life membership in 1995. Alisdair Tarbert has now been honoured with the number 2 green bearing his name. 

Kiama optometrist Joan Comber has been helping the community see clearly for more than 40 years. Joan’s business first opened in Edessa Arcade in 1977 before moving into Kiama Centrepoint in 1983. She remains a loyal tenant and was one of the first businesses to move into the centre, which holds many cherished memories for her and her family. Joan’s youngest son, Clayton, learned to walk in Centrepoint’s arcade and played on the floor of her optometry workshop. In a lovely twist of fate, Clayton now runs a cafe and bookshop, Bouquiniste, out of the same space. “I think it's wonderful that things have come full circle,” says Joan. “Clayton finds it quite ironic that all these years have gone by and he's now working in the shop he played in when he was a toddler.”When Joan reflects on her own career of almost five decades, she marvels at how far she has come. Born in Malaysia, Joan and her family emigrated to Australia after her older brother moved here to study engineering.“He told my Mum and Dad he had no intention of coming home, so we all followed him here,”  said Joan, who planned to study medicine. She got the required marks, but six years of university was not financially feasible. So she “played it safe” and started a science degree but found it “quite frustrating”. “There were thousands of us, and it was quite overwhelming,” she says. “So, a friend suggested optometry.” It was 1969 and the class was a small one, with just 11 students. “Our year was quite unusual at the time because 50 per cent of our group was female,” recalls Joan. After graduating in 1973, Joan began her career in Sydney before moving to the South Coast with her husband Arthur in 1976, where she took over the Warrawong Gibb & Beeman franchise. Joan had no intention of opening a second optometry store, but working for a large optical retailer had its challenges. When the opportunity to own an independent optometry business in Kiama came up, Joan took it, as it gave her the chance to provide a more personalised service. "Kiama was always going to be a part-time practice because I was already a franchise owner in Warrawong," says Joan. However, her business was quickly embraced by the Kiama community and, a year after it opened, Arthur quit his job in Sydney to work in the store as an optical mechanic, building, fixing and dispensing glasses.“Arthur was a very practical hands-on person,” explains Joan. “When he was still working in Sydney, I was sending out my jobs to be done to another contractor. It was great to have him come on board and do the practical part of the optics.”Optometry became a family affair. Joan’s sister moved to Australia from England in the late 1970s to help with the day-to-day running of the business. By 2006, Joan decided to focus solely on the Kiama store, with the help of her sister and Arthur."My sister still comes in to help me on a voluntary basis sending out appointment reminders, which I don't really get the time to do,” says Joan. Arthur continued to work alongside Joan until his passing in 2018. She admits it was “difficult to continue without Arthur by her side”, and was grateful when Clayton stepped in to help.  “Clayton grew up watching, then helping Arthur when he was doing the mechanics,” says Joan. “I’m very thankful he continues to do what his Dad used to do for me, as well as running Bouquiniste.”As an independent optometrist, Joan prides herself on making and dispensing glasses with Clayton’s help. She admits dispensing is a dying artform, with big franchises like OPSM and Specsavers sending glasses away to external contractors. “Not many places offer optometry as well as dispensing,” says Joan. “Along with bulk-billing, it's a service I am very grateful to still be able to provide, and the community of Kiama seem to really appreciate that. Clayton has been known to make up glasses and deliver them directly to customers.”Joan credits her loyal customers and a sense of community for keeping her in business for so long. "I still have a passion to do optometry,” she says. “I think it's great to meet all sorts of people and help them with their visual problems. I have built some beautiful friendships over the many years of looking after customers. I have seen things come full circle; people I tested as children have now grown up and bring their children to me. It's quite rewarding in that sense.”Joan says retirement is on the cards, but she won’t be putting her feet up anytime soon.“When I first started working as an optometrist, I thought my retirement age would be 45," chuckles Joan. Whatever the future holds, there is no question that Joan will remain a stalwart of the Kiama community. Each year, from 1984 until 2016 when Arthur became unwell, the family would host an annual Christmas lunch for the community at Kiama Leagues Club.“Clayton and my older son Brendon would entertain those who attended and play the golden oldies for us," laughs Joan. Brendon now owns a sound and lighting company and works part-time at the Kiama Leagues Club as an entertainment manager. Clayton is also a DJ when he finds time between working at Bouquiniste and Joan’s optometry business.“Growing up in Kiama, Clayton and Brendon used to be known around town as Joan and Arthur's sons,” says Joan. “Now the tables have turned and I'm Brendon and Clayton's Mum! It's funny how history works, but I am very proud that they are such an important part of the community. They love Kiama, as do I.”

What a multi-sensory adventure unfolded for our intrepid local dragon boat paddlers Ann Bolton, Heather McAlpine, Ann Harrison and Julie Campbell.Dragons Downunder competing in the Venice Vogalonga. Photo credit: Heather McAlpine.There were chaotic scenes as over 2,000 non-motorised craft, including traditional Venetian rowing boats, racing skulls, kayaks, gondolas, stand-up paddlers and our Dragons Downunder team lined up. There was argy-bargy and jockeying for position as we awaited the starter's cannon. The number of different countries represented proved that 'colourful language ' had the same multilingual impact across all cultures. There were also near misses, and some boats capsized. But amidst all this was a palpable sense of shared enthusiasm and life celebration. Finally, the cannon boom echoed across the Venice lagoon entrance, and the event could begin.Carnival atmosphere. Photo credit: Heather McAlpine.The field spread out as we made our way across the lagoon, around the island of Burano and through the central canal of Murano. By now, the hard work of paddling through the exposed open water kicked in as well as the side effects of trying to keep hydrated, so we had a quick pit stop on a deserted island…Thirty-three kilometres later, the highlight was the final push to the finish line through the Grand Canal and under the Rialto Bridge. There were cheers from the crowds hugging the canal edges and every bridge; locals banging saucepans from top floor balconies and the customary "Aussie, Aussie" chant from random Australian tourists as we passed them by.The Venice Vogalonga 2024 poster. Photo credit: Heather McAlpine.As we wound down while returning our hired dragon boat (which answers the most common question we were asked prior to leaving, "Do you put the dragon boat down the aisle on the plane?"), we reflected on the camaraderie that we had formed as 20 paddlers representing different clubs from the Illawarra, Moruya, Narooma and Jindabyne.There was a sense of pride in waving the Aussie flag through our five-hour journey, and a yearning for an appropriate limoncello celebration. Salute!Written by Heather McAlpine.