In the heart of Kiama's Community Radio scene, a new voice has emerged, bringing with it a wealth of diverse experiences and a passion for the airwaves. Peter Sullivan, a recent addition to our area and Kiama Community Radio, boasts a journey that spans from the microscope to the bonsai garden, with stops at biochemistry, genetics, naturopathy, and even dispute resolution along the way.Born in Manly, Sydney, Peter's upbringing was steeped in the hospitality industry, thanks to his father's role as a hotelier. It was his formative years in Wagga Wagga, surrounded by two siblings, that laid the foundation for his eclectic interests and curious mind.Venturing to Canberra for university studies in microbiology and genetics, Peter found himself immersed in a world of microscopic exploration and meticulous experiments. "Patience," he emphasises, "was key in unravelling the mysteries of microbes and bacteria." It was here that he honed the invaluable skill of meticulous attention to detail, a trait that would serve him well in his future endeavours.Peter's introduction to the world of radio was a journey into the melodies of pop and easy listening, where the dulcet tones of Casey Kasem held sway. With admiration for the American DJ's global broadcasts, Peter reminisces, "We would sit on the beach in Wagga, tuning in to the top 40 on our transistors. I guess the younger generations would have no idea what that meant."His university days were filled with the vibrant sounds of live performances, where the likes of Ralph McTell's "Streets of London," Maria Muldaur's soulful "Midnight at the Oasis," Don McLean's timeless "American Pie," and Janis Ian's poignant "At Seventeen" resonated deeply. Amongst the rich tapestry of Australian music, names like Richard Marks, Sherbet, and an abundance of Aussie rock from the '60s and '70s added to the soundtrack of his youth.Reflecting on his personal style during those rebellious times, Peter recalls with a chuckle, "Yes, I sported shoulder-length locks, though mine tended to curl at the ends, perhaps less cool than intended. Clad in a lumberjack coat, torn jeans, tie-dye shirts, I exuded an air of rugged discontent." During an era marked by protest and societal upheaval, Peter didn't shy away from voicing his dissent, participating in demonstrations against the sacking of the Whitlam government, a stance that brought lectures to a standstill. "I believe it's a rite of passage to embrace a bit of rebellion during your formative years," he muses, "ultimately paving the way to becoming a responsible citizen."During his tenure at the Australian National University, Peter delved into the intricate dynamics of marine biology, focusing on the yellowfin and skipjack tuna and their genetic interactions within the ocean’s currents encircling Australia and New Zealand. Amidst the bustling activity of tuna trawlers along the coast, he meticulously sampled, froze, and analysed specimens, discovering that despite their cohabitation within the same current, these tuna populations remained distinct species, segregated by the nuances of their migratory patterns. This discovery echoed in his subsequent research on rabbits in Urana, where he explored population genetics and the biological intricacies of interbreeding. In his work on the Wallaroos of the Atherton Tablelands he concluded that they also did not interbreed. A major highway effectively prevented interbreeding between the highway and mountain populations, with different skull size, teeth and eye socket measurements showing the differences. It all sounds a little CSI!Peter met Barbara during his university days and that marked the beginning of a lifelong journey together. They have been blessed with three daughters and seven grandchildren, bringing endless joy and laughter into their lives.Peter’s professional trajectory took him through various avenues, from his tenure at ANU to roles in defence science and technology, where he navigated the intricacies of human resources and IT as a business analyst. It was during this time that he honed his skills in dispute resolution, delving into mediation and conflict resolution.Transitioning into a second career in naturopathy ignited a passion for holistic healing, fuelled by an avid interest in iridology and herbal medicine. Under the tutelage of esteemed naturopath Dorothy Hall, he immersed himself in courses, embracing a plethora of "ologies," from astrology to Bach flowers. Though his endeavour to establish a health centre was met with love and enthusiasm, the harsh realities of entrepreneurship led him to reassess, realising his preference was for hands-on involvement rather than administrative duties.Peter’s next focus was on Lifeline, where he volunteered in warehouse operations, and later at Lifeline’s second-hand bookshop, Book Lovers Lane where he managed the music.Retirement three years ago gave Peter time for his bonsai collection, also volunteering at the National Bonsai and Penjing collection at the National Arboretum. Post-retirement last January, Kiama drew him in; he liked the proximity to Sydney. He knew Kiama had a community radio, and there was a Bonsai group in the area!  “The draw to Kiama was real but I had been established in Canberra for over fifty years. Life here is so relaxed, and it is a different climate – much cooler in Canberra and very cold winters. I was beginning to feel the cold in my bones.”In Canberra, Peter worked for Radio Artsound for five years and Queanbeyan FM for four. He got involved with Artsound because they invited seniors (over 55) into broadcasting. He trained with Gabriela, who also does the training at KCR. His own blues program followed.BLUES IN THE NIGHTJoin Peter on Tuesday nights for a soulful journey of “Blues in the Night! “Get your dose of Australian and international blues, R&B, soul, funk, and a sprinkle of jazz, all in one place! From established legends to emerging talents, Peter's got you covered, with a special focus on artists from 2000 to now. But that's not all! Peter will also be taking a trip back in time, diving into the history of blues with some classic tunes from the 1900s. Don't miss out! Tune in every Tuesday from 7-9 pm on Kiama Community Radio, where every Tuesday is Bluesday!

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.”

Jamberoo tradie Mitchell (Mitch) Rosser is being hailed as a hero after rescuing a man from the flash floods which occurred during the torrential downpours in the early hours of Saturday 6 April. But he doesn’t want this story to be about him. He wants to make sure it never happens again.On inspection, it’s very hard to see how the man survived at all. In the pitch dark, the flood water running over the paddocks picked up his car and smashed it through an iron gate on Jamberoo Road, just out of town near Turpentine Creek. All the electronics in the car had died. However, by some miracle, the power window wound down, and he managed to get out of the car as it was being swept into the creek. The car was later found badly damaged a good kilometre further down Turpentine Creek, ending near the 12th hole of the Jamberoo Golf Course. The location where the incident began is approximately 50 metres from the waterway. Driving in the dark, there is no reason to assume that there would be floodwater in that location. Local plumber, Mitch, was out filming the water running through his garage and feeling concerned about protecting his young family when he heard a cry for help.“It was terrifying. The whole yard was under water,” he recalls. “I said to the missus, oh yeah, the front lawn is flooded again. Our gate was gone, a road sign ripped out. It was pissing down. There’s always water when there's 100mm of rain, but I have never seen anything like this.  “I was trying to get all the tools off the floor in my shed, and I heard him screaming out for help. I just heard him yelling, help, help, help. We rang 000, but there was no way they could get there.” Mitch’s house backs onto Turpentine Creek. They could hear the man, but they couldn’t see him in the torrential rain and darkness.“I yelled to my wife, get me a torch. I could hear him screaming for help. I ran along the back fence, trying to find his voice. I was yelling, where are you? He shouted back, I am over here, help me, the water is rising.”Mitch says the only reason he saw him was because he had a reflective strip on his work shirt. “He just had one arm hanging on to a branch, and water was up to his chest. He was grabbing stuff, and it was belting down. I told him, hold on. He was in the bushes. Í could see where he was but the water was smashing through. I couldn’t reach him.“I ran to my shed, looking for a power cord, something, anything he could hold on to. I got the pole for the pool scoop.I tried to pull him out through the scrub. Eventually we locked arms, and managed to get him out.“He was shaken, rattled, and then hugged me. You saved my life, he said. I said, we need to get you inside. The neighbour’s a paramedic.”The Bugle understands the man does not wish to be identified.Mitch himself is shaken up by the event.    “If we hadn’t heard him, he was gone. He’s the luckiest man alive. It gives me chills even to think about it. I just keep hearing him screaming.” And there is one thing Mitch is certain of, and that is this man is very lucky to have survived. The power had gone in the car, but for some reason the power window wound down. His two year old son is an early riser, so for that reason the family were all awake. But if Mitch hadn’t gone out into the backyard at that exact time, they would never have heard him yelling for help. And if he hadn’t been wearing a high-viz shirt, they would never have been able to locate him. One thing is for sure, and that is Mitch never wants to see it happen again. “Every local knows that Turpentine Creek floods, but there is no signage, nothing. And this man was not a local. That is what I hope will come out of this story, to stop it happening again.“An hour later, people were out driving, and two of us were out with flashlights telling people not to drive through. Screaming, stop stop stop!” Local member Gareth Ward said he would be asking Council to install a flood metre at the site and looking at what other warning signage is required to ensure people are aware of the dangers of this section of road. “Based on the experience of locals and feedback I have received, we don’t want this to happen again. I want to consult with Council traffic engineers on what they believe is necessary, and raise the feedback from the community. “I want to commend Mitch for his heroism, and I believe this bravery should be officially recognised. If it wasn’t for Mitch’s quick thinking and heroism, the man would be dead.”Contacted for comment Kiama Council issued the following statement: Kiama residents with concerns about safety and other signage on our local roads to lodge a Customer Request for Maintenance (CRM). These CRM’s regarding road safety are provided to our Manager Design, and then to Council’s Traffic Committee.”

After decades in mainstream journalism, and having written literally thousands of stories, there aren’t too many things I haven’t written about.But there was one story about the world’s last survivor of the Gallipoli campaign, Alec Campbell, that has stuck in my memory all these years. Alec lied about his age in order to enlist in World War One, claiming he was 18 years and five months old. Throughout his extremely colourful life, Alec used to joke that because he was in fact only 16 when he went to war, he could become the oldest surviving Anzac. But thus it came to pass. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 103. I was working at The Australian as a general news reporter when, on the occasion of Alec officially becoming the last surviving Gallipoli veteran, I was directed by the Chief of Staff to do a phone interview. Most people, particularly the elderly, are pretty chuffed if the national newspaper rings them up over one honour or another. Not Alec.In the first instance, Alec’s protective wife said she wasn’t sure if he would feel like talking. An old carpenter, he was way down the back shed “banging away at things”, as she put it, and didn’t usually like to come to the phone.Alec took his time, that was for sure. He hung on the phone for a good 20 minutes or so. And when Alec did finally make it to the phone, he wasn’t honoured. He was grumpy that he had been disturbed. My generation grew up during the Vietnam War and many of us are decidedly anti-war. As a young reporter, I was very reluctant to interview old soldiers. I didn’t want to hear their war stories. But the opposite is true. There is no one more anti-war than a returned soldier. They have seen their mates die in front of them in often pointless conflicts, and do not want to relive the moment, or see anyone else go through the harrowing times they themselves have endured. I found Alec well, taciturn; utterly dismissive of politicians, proud of his union background, “up the bosses”, and contemptuous of the military commanders who had sent his comrades to their deaths in their thousands, the terrible slaughter he had witnessed firsthand.Alec refused to march on Anzac Day until very late in life because he didn’t want to glorify a lie: that war was a noble enterprise. He almost never spoke about his experiences at Gallipoli. There were better, more positive things in life.He joined what was then known as the Australian Imperial Force in July of 1915 and promptly earned the nickname “The Kid”. He arrived at Anzac Cove in November that same year and was wounded in the fighting at Gallipoli. He caught a fever and suffered facial paralysis as a result. He was invalided home and discharged in 1916, a veteran at the age of 17. Unlike many Australian veterans, who never recover from their wartime experiences, Alec got back to his home state of Tasmania and simply got on with life.Alec worked many different jobs, as a stockman, carpenter, railway carriage builder and, in his later years, researcher and historian. He gained an economics degree at the age of 50. His love of life extended to an enthusiasm for sailing, and he also circumnavigated Tasmania.On his deathbed, Alec pleaded: “For God’s sake, don’t glorify Gallipoli. It was a terrible fiasco, a total failure and best forgotten.”He was survived by nine children, 30 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren.On the occasion of his death in May of 2002, I was also drafted to write a story headlined “Tributes and praise pour in for an ordinary hero”.Then Prime Minister John Howard’s media office had done a fine job of polishing up the Anzac myth for public consumption: “On behalf of the nation, I honour his life. Alec Campbell was typical of a generation of Australians who, through their sacrifice, bravery and decency, created a legacy that has resonated through subsequent decades and generations.“All Australians will forever be in debt to the Anzacs. Not only for what they did for us, but for the legend, for the tradition, for the stoicism under fire, sense of mateship and all those other great ideals that, increasingly, young Australians see as part of their Inheritance.”Then Governor-General Peter Hollingworth said Alec’s death was an occasion to reflect on the passing of the generation that helped give us our identity and character as a nation.    “Having recently returned from Anzac Day at Gallipoli and Anzac ceremonies in France, I have a renewed sense of the utter futility of war, which was such a constant message of the Anzacs like Alec Campbell.” Veterans Affairs Minister Danna Vale said Gallipoli held a unique place in the hearts of Australians.   “With Mr Campbell’s passing, we have lost our last living link to the birthplace of the Anzac spirit, which is a great loss,” she said. “Mr Campbell and his fellow Anzacs fought with the kind of courage, integrity and honour that we will never forget. It is a legacy that will live on.”   Alec, it is fairly safe to say, would have been contemptuous of the political sycophancy that accompanied his death, and disapproved of Australia’s involvement in America’s endless wars, including Afghanistan, Iraq and now Ukraine. Lest We Forget.

Kiama is blessed with a multitude of accomplished authors. Among the list, Trish Griffin, a two time non fiction published author with two more books on the way, finds inspiration writing the stories of people she meets on her travels. She grew up on a large cattle station 180 kilometres north west of Longreach in the fifties. Reminiscing on days spent barefoot, riding horses 24/7, and mastering the art of driving at a young age. "I had my own gun since I was 8 years old, we all did," she shares, on the unique realities of her upbringing. The freedom and tranquillity of her childhood inspired her to explore the world.Her second published book, “Dancing on the Head of a Pin”, was met with rave reviews. It chronicles her journey along the Camino from Barcelona to Santiago, covering a staggering 1300 kilometres in 2012. Her writing only flows when she's deeply inspired, and the individuals she encounters during her journeys serve as the perfect muse.I had the privilege of discussing Trish's current work in progress, a book focusing on post-war immigration in the Snowy Mountains region. She spent time there with locals and again inspiration hit when listening to their stories. Trish is committed to presenting these narratives without any agenda or political bias, allowing the truth to shine through organically. Keep an eye out for updates on her upcoming book release on the Bugle app.Trish gave her advice for those who want to travel in the same way she does, getting involved in the community and immersing herself in the culture. She discourages organised tours like Contiki and volunteer organisations, preferring instead to engage in independent volunteering to truly experience local culture firsthand and witness the direct impact of her efforts. Despite acknowledging the discomfort and fears associated with solo travel, she believes the rewards are boundless, stating, "It's a scary edge, but that's where all the good stuff happens - you learn things you don't learn in school."Trish's approach to travel involves landing in a new place, taking a taxi or bus to find budget accommodations, and relying on locals for insider tips on navigating the area. She describes this style of travel as being "on the edge," where one can gain invaluable experiences and insights that go beyond typical tourist experiences.Trish brings a wealth of incredible stories from her global adventures, and we're delighted to welcome her as a new columnist. Look out for her name on the byline, and stay tuned to Bugle News for updates on her upcoming releases.

In a heartfelt tribute to one of Australia's most revered writers, Charmian Clift, Kiama unveiled a blue plaque at the Kiama Library on Saturday 13 April. Attended by dignitaries, relatives and local historians the event was opened by Mayor Neil Reilly with a welcome to country by Councillor Stuart Larkins. This commemoration stands as a testament to Clift's enduring impact on literature and culture, a legacy cherished by generations.Born in Kiama in 1923, Charmian Clift's journey into the world of words began at a tender age, her pen weaving tales of her beloved hometown's wonders, such as the famous blowhole, even as a child. Her passion for writing flourished, leading her to Sydney where she ventured into journalism, eventually joining the Australian Women’s Army Service during World War II.Dr Sarah Kaine MLC with Dr Graham Tucker in KiamaClift's life took a significant turn when she met George Johnston, a renowned war correspondent, sparking a passionate yet tumultuous love affair. Despite the challenges they faced, their journey together led them to Greece, where the idyllic landscapes of Kalymnos and Hydra became the backdrop for Clift's literary masterpieces. Works like "Mermaid Singing" and "Peel Me a Lotus" echoed her experiences in Greece, captivating readers with their autobiographical essence.In 1960, Clift penned her solo novel, "Walk to the Paradise Gardens," drawing inspiration from her roots in Kiama. Her subsequent works, including "Honour’s Mimic" and the recently published "The End of the Morning," reflected her profound reflections on life, love, and society.Sue Eggins, President of the Kiama District Historical Society was the principal proponent of the submission and all the follow up required to achieve this great milestone. Her enthusiasm, effort and persistence ensured the plaque stood as a testament to Charmian's legacy. Her work is greatly appreciated by the historical society and the Kiama community.

By Prof. Paul Genoni, Curtin UniversityCharmian Clift fans will be excited to learn that The End of the Morning, a previously unpublished autobiographical work by Charmian Clift, has been edited by Nadia Wheatley and will be published in May, and that Nadia will be returning to Kiama Library on Saturday 1 June to discuss this new work.Clift described her work: “The End of the Morning is about a girl called Cressida Morley, who has appeared already in My Brother Jack, but I invented her first and her eccentric family who live in a weatherboard cottage on the edge of a beach. It is a book about young dreams and young longings and filled with sand and sea and sun and wind and seaweed draped on the front picket fence after a storm.”Of course, that front picket fence and weatherboard cottage are in Clift’s hometown, Kiama.This is a Friends of Kiama Library and Kiama & District Historical Society joint event.Please join us for afternoon tea after the talk, when books will be available for purchase and signing.Please note, the Pilots Cottage Museum will have free entry on the 1st and 2nd of June so that people can enjoy the Charmian Clift exhibition after the Nadia Wheatley event at the library.Tickets for Members of the Friends of Kiama Library and the Kiama & District Historical Society will cost $8. Guests $10. All are welcome. Tickets go on sale 1 May and will be available at the library, online, or call 02 4233 1133.The publication of The End of the Morning is a long-awaited moment in Australian literature.Readers familiar with Charmian Clift will be aware this book’s protagonist, Cressida Morley, is the writer’s alter-ego. Morley was to have been the vehicle for Clift’s self-representation in an autobiographical novel she was working on for some years prior to her death in 1969.The End of the Morning marks the arrival of Morley, as seen through her own eyes and represented in her own words.Clift’s suicide has been explained, in part, as the result of her inability to make progress on the novel that was to bring Morley to life. It was to be the tale of a Kiama beach girl whose lust for life takes her to Wollongong, Sydney, London, the Greek islands … and back to Sydney.Protracted gestationIf Clift had completed The End of the Morning, it would not have been the first time readers had encountered Cressida Morley. She was a character who emerged, after a protracted gestation, through the novels of Clift’s husband, George Johnston.Cressida was arguably first glimpsed as Charmian Anthony in the opening pages of Johnston’s Death Takes Small Bites (1948). The novel’s journalist-hero Cavendish C. Cavendish encounters Charmian adrift on the Burma Road. He is immediately taken by her lips “as pink as Danish salmon”, her eyes with the “same tint as glacier ice”, and a figure that is “slim and tight and stiff like a bullrush”.When Cavendish asks what “a girl like you” is doing in remote China, Charmian responds: “Do I look like a missionary?” Cavendish realises he is “a little out of his depth”.Johnston subsequently enlisted Clift as co-author on novels that drew on his wartime experiences in Asia, while inching forward with a series of sole-authored, increasingly autobiographical novels that invariably featured a Charmian doppelganger at the hero’s side.In Closer to the Sun (1960), he presented for the first time David Meredith, his own alter-ego, with whom he is now forever associated. Meredith and his wife Kate battle to keep their fragile Greek island expatriation afloat.Several years later, Johnston completed My Brother Jack (1964) – the first novel of his renowned “Meredith trilogy”. He called on Clift’s help, interrupting her attempts to use Cressida Morley to breathe life into her own roman à clef. When the dust settled on the wildly successful My Brother Jack, Meredith’s wife-to-be had transformed into Cressida Morley.Stripped of her essenceAt this point the famously close, complex and fractious relationship between Clift and Johnston became even more troubled. The depth of Clift’s creative crisis is artfully canvased by her biographer and editor Nadia Wheatley in an Afterword to The End of the Morning.According to Wheatley, once Johnston had snatched Cressida Morley, Clift’s progress on her own Cressida novel was all but stilled.Adding to the sting, the Cressida Morley who appeared in My Brother Jack and its sequel, Clean Straw for Nothing (1969), was stripped of her essence. She was deprived of Clift’s overriding passion: her vocation as a writer.This complex dynamic between authors and characters was brilliantly reimagined in Susan Johnson’s novel The Broken Book (2004), which opens with a National Library of Australia catalogue entry for the manuscript of an incomplete autobiographical novel by a deceased writer named Katherine Elgin.The novel proper begins with Elgin struggling with the knowledge that the world knows her as Cressida Morley, the “breath, muscle, gut” creation of her husband, novelist David Murray. She is unable to complete her own version of Morley, declaring that “my Cressida has died upon the page”. This literary death becomes a prelude to Elgin taking her own life.The incomplete novel Johnson called “The Broken Book” has emerged as The End of the Morning. True to her account, it has been lying dormant in the National Library for nearly four decades.Edited by Wheatley, it is presented as a complete novella. Clift’s seven years of sporadic work has resulted in 20,000 words describing the childhood of Cressida Morley.Essence of the commonplaceThe positives in The End of the Morning are immense. It is definitely more than a curiosity. Readers familiar with Clift’s travel memoirs and essays will find that it bears the hallmarks of her finest work. She writes with customary authority and brilliance. She has a keen ear for a well-crafted phrase. Intimacy, lyricism and expressiveness abound. The writing is taut, yet seems effortlessly paced.Also on show is Clift’s characteristic trait of rendering the familiar and the mundane in a manner that makes them feel like exotic discoveries – an important skill when narrating both the generational and individual memories of childhood.Clift has long excelled at evoking the nostalgic essence of the commonplace, as highlighted by the carefully rendered lists that dot her essays and induce instant recognition and empathy (items on a shelf; tastes of a summer picnic; things seen from a window). Has anyone ever written better lists than Clift?An early manuscript of the End of the Morning. Author providedSimilarly, few have better expressed the sybaritic alliance between sand, surf and sun found on the Australian beach that is essential to so many childhood memories. Whether in Australia or Greece, ocean swimming is a subject that always quickens Clift’s prose. The End of the Morning is propelled by the pulse of the surf throbbing beneath Cressida’s recall of home and the green valley and rail line and the quarry and the town of Lebanon Bay (Kiama) that lies beyond.Clift’s characterisation is also incisive. The Morley family dynamics are convincingly sketched. Cressida’s love of her parents is generous. She knows their strengths and weaknesses. She embraces their idiosyncracies and is acutely aware of their social status as middle-class “oddities” in a working class town.Clift also makes absolute sense of Cressida’s relationship with her older siblings Cordelia and Ben. It is a memorable childhood menage that is deeply affectionate and sometimes competitive. Cressida is constantly overshadowed by Cordelia’s beauty and first-child aspirations.Unresolved mattersClift’s fiction has attracted less attention from readers and scholars than the rest of her body of work. Her two sole-authored novels, Walk to the Paradise Gardens (1960) and Honours Mimic (1964), leave open the question of whether she was, potentially, a novelist of significance. The former is chronically uneven in tone; the latter is a confused romantic drama, a decade out of step with the tastes of the readers she craved.By this measure, The End of the Morning is Clift’s most successful piece of fiction. Its shortcoming is that it is only a piece, and one that leaves two matters unresolved.Firstly, there is the question of whether, in this form, The End of the Morning amounts to fiction. The distance between fiction and memoir can be short. If this book had been published with “Cressida” replaced by “Charmian” and other names similarly reverted, it would be read as memoir, so closely does it adhere to the known facts of Clift’s life.Secondly, with the above in mind, it is worth noting that there is more of The End of the Morning available than these 20,000 words. As Wheatley notes in her Afterword, there are other versions of the novel in the National Library.Wheatley has used her editorial discretion and selected what she calculates to be the latest draft, which overlaps to a considerable degree with an earlier draft that is longer by approximately 10,000 words.The attraction of the shorter version is it is more polished and concludes at a very specific narrative point. Cressida and Cordelia are poised for big changes in their lives: Cressida wins a scholarship to undertake her secondary schooling in nearby Wollongong; Cordelia departs for a Sydney technical college to pursue her love of art.More like fictionBut the section that follows in the earlier draft, not included in this published version, takes Cressida’s story in crucial new directions. The transition between the two is marked by the embarrassing arrival of puberty. It is accompanied by a new group of older friends, the first fumblings of adolescent sex, some academic progress tainted by failure, and the threshold realisation her future lies beyond Lebanon Bay.Also excluded is a telling and, with hindsight, poignant sequence that reveals the dangers in Cressida’s future might be found in the most familiar places. When she rescues a handsome stranger in city clothes after he wanders without caution into the local surf, the reader discerns the life saved is a suicide prevented.The beach at Kiama. Martha Almeyda/ShutterstockIn these unpublished sections, the manuscript begins to read less like memoir and more like fiction. Where the earlier sections rely on Cressida’s rendering of character and place, here the narrative gives way to something more imaginative. The plot is underpinned by motivation and will.And from this emerges the Cressida now associated with Charmian: the young woman enchanted by the “whiff of the world, the promise of something wilder and bolder and grander”, who “knew the town was too small to hold me.”The longer draft does not reach the point where Cressida imagines her future as a writer, but it does bring readers closer to a life that traced such an unlikely and durable arc. Without that section – even, perhaps, as an addendum – this welcome, wonderful, but truncated version of The End of the Morning feels like another slightly broken book.

Korin Koutsomihalis is an inspiring and tireless high achiever and award winner. Via her Gerringong-based small business SOUL FIT CO, located at the Gerringong Bowling Club, Korin proactively seeks out networking opportunities, active community events and awards programs, to inspire all Australians to move together. Korin primarily sees her passion for fitness, her awards and achievements as a means to fulfil her life’s purpose to help more and more people live long, healthy and meaningful lives. Korin has a particular passion for working with and helping older Australians.Situated on Dharawal country, SOUL FIT CO is registered with the indigenous collective  Supply Nation as a multi award-winning fitness and wellness business. It was named Illawarra and South Coast’s Local Business Award Winner for Outstanding Fitness Service 2023, AUSactive Roll of Honour Award 2023, AUSactive National Personal Trainer of the Year 2023 and Break The Bias Platinum Award Winner 2023. The business  is currently a finalist in the National Australian Small Business Awards, with the winners to be announced later this month. Korin winning Illawarra and South Coast business awardSOUL FIT CO strives to foster equality, acceptance and support in a safe and socially inclusive space for people of any background, ethnicity or social group, age, ability or fitness level. Korin says SOUL FIT CO encourages everyone to work at their own pace, celebrate who they are and always empower each other to move together for a better life. Participants have included people with dementia, physical disabilities including visual impairments and Parkinsons, frail and aged participants, and those recovering from knee, hip and shoulder surgeries. Korin says the entire operation is about ‘bringing people together through connection-driven experiences where they can smile, laugh, sweat, challenge, share, meditate and move!’ SOUL FIT CO’s regular classes are named according to their focus – ‘Strong’, ‘Golden’, ‘Woman’, ‘Spin’ and ‘Boxing’. I first met Korin in 2021 at SOUL FIT CO’s indoor/outdoor ‘Strong’ class, towards the end of the Covid lockdowns. Her positivity, drive and determination to encourage participants to push on and stretch ourselves was immediately evident and infectious. The tough workout was easier with her motivational words and sense of fun. Our hard work was rewarded at the end with a lovely, long, relaxed guided meditation in a beautiful setting at the back of the Bowlo, half under the stars with the sound of the surf as background. Korin aims for her classes to be ‘medicine for the body and therapy for the mind’.Korin describes her ‘Golden’ session as ‘a class to celebrate the essence of feeling amazing as a mature and wise Werri local’. Undertaken standing or seated, or a combination of both, it offers strengthening exercises combined with elements of balance, core activation, Tai Chi, relaxation and mindfulness. Golden Class at SOUL FITHer star ‘Golden’ class participant, 103 year old local Bev Sherwood is active and healthy, and was a motivational speaker at the Australian Masters Games in late 2023. Korin describes Bev as ‘an inspiring local Australian, super senior and an incredible role model of healthy ageing’. Korin’s classes cater to all ages, and her youngest participant is 10. Bev Sherwood at Golden ClassPresenting Korin’s award for Kiama Council Australian Citizen of the Year 2023 mayor Neil Reilly enthused ‘She is a worthy recipient of our Citizen of the Year Award for 2023’. Of her classes he said ‘Korin’s method of group fitness instruction focuses on diversity and inclusion. This goes beyond the profession to a sincere involvement in, and contribution to, the holistic health and well-being of our local community’.SOUL FIT CO is currently working with academics from the University of Wollongong to collate exercise data on the older attendees of its weekly Golden class. Class attendees have so far documented their activity level and quality prior to taking classes, any history of falls and so forth, and have shared how participation in the Golden class has improved their health, fitness, quality of life and connection to community. SOUL FIT CO’s proprietor Korin Koutsomihalis is hopeful this will lead to a further regional health study which could increase access to mobility and movement classes nationally for thousands of Home Care and MyAgedCare registered participants, to aid in falls prevention and strengthening, and to enhance the community connection and participation for isolated and physically impaired older Australians. 

Councillor Imogen Draisma may only be 25 years old, but her worldly views and leadership skills demonstrate a maturity beyond her years. Growing up in the Kiama region and now a primary figure guiding the community through a period of rapid change and growth, Councillor Draisma discusses the trials and tribulations that have shaped her.Cr Draisma moved to the region when she was four years old, shortly after the separation of her parents. She recalls a childhood that was a bit of a mixed bag and – despite a supportive community she always had a sense of not entirely fitting in. “I lived with my single Mum and two brothers in the worst house on the best street on the Minnamurra River – but had been in about four rentals prior. Because we moved around a lot, my sense of self and home was based around people rather than place,” she laughs. “I spent a lot of time running around the streets of Minnamurra with no shoes on. “A group of kids used to hang out every holidays. Over the years, I kind of became a leader of the group.”Surprisingly, though, Cr Draisma did not undertake leadership roles during her primary years – apart from being Vice Captain of her sporting team, Bradman, which under her helm rose from the ashes to reclaim the relay title. While feeling like she never quite belonged as a child growing up around Minnamurra, she later went to Wollongong High School of Performing Arts where she focused on establishing her own network. “I used to hang out with all the boys and was very assertive about how I wanted things,”” she recalls. I was the odd duck, but that actually really shaped me.” Cr Draisma can now reflect on the social complexities experienced in her younger years with new-found understanding, having discovered she was on the autism spectrum 18 months ago. Her diagnosis, far from being a barrier, gave her the insightful ability to work with it as opposed to it working against her.“As a result, I have very unique perspectives on things. It has made it a lot easier to understand some aspects of myself and how I operate.”Two influential people in her life who also helped shape her sense of self are her grandparents, who lived nearby and she often stayed with throughout her childhood. Whilst her Mum was busy supporting her children in a practical sense, her grandparents focused on supporting her interests and abilities.“My grandma taught me how to sew. My grandfather made furniture that fit under the coffee table that I could use to draw and paint. They focussed on what I was capable of from a young age.”This relationship offered her curious and creative young mind space to ask complicated questions and digest mature answers – including around politics, which became the fabric of her career. “They made me aware of politics and how it impacted my life. I had a lot of complications with my kidneys growing up. I had intensive surgery for chronic urinary reflux which probably saved my life. My grandparents talked to me about Medicare and explained that the surgery was because of things the Labor Party implemented to ensure healthcare accessibility.”This adult environment nurtured an awareness of the ways politics presented in her life, including: her single Mum accessing Centrelink, school demountables replaced by classrooms as part of stimulus programs implemented during the Global Financial Crisis, and watching Kevin Rudd’s Apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples in a computer lab. Cr Draisma’s former dream of studying costume design at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney following high school was thwarted by the costs. Instead, she embarked on a double degree – Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Law at University of Wollongong. It was there that her involvement with the Labor Party began, back in 2017. With local elections looming, two of her close friends rightfully saw her profound potential and dragged her – admittedly half-heartedly – to her first Labor Party meeting at the Uni Bar. Before long, she became a prominent voice advocating primarily for the marriage equality plebiscite. She was  just 18 years of age. However, her university degree was paused when tragedy struck her family in 2019, the situation compounded by the Covid pandemic. “One of my brothers took his own life, which was really hard. And then we went into Covid. It was a very isolating period going through grief. It is something you never really recover from, but you learn so much about yourself when you go through those intensive traumatic life events. Resituating myself into what I wanted to do with my life really changed after that.”Shortly after, following pandemic-related rainchecks, Cr Draisma ran for Kiama Council in 2021. Given there had previously been very little diversity in the Council, her campaign was met with contrasting praise and pessimism within the community. “There was a movement started by women in the community called ‘more than one’, promoting change within our Council. There was also a push from the Officer of Local Government and minister, who provided a grant and regional workshops for women running for election.”Other parties who were less receptive to political diversity gave Cr Draisma a greater drive to succeed in doing positive work within and for the community. “The biggest thing I had to prove was not that I adhered to the party’s values, but that I was competent. One audience member at a community forum asked if I could actually read a business paper! I wanted to make people feel uncomfortable and rethink their understanding of what leadership looks like. You cannot do the same thing and expect different results.”Cr Draisma has taken some steep professional and personal learning curves following her council appointment, particularly during her periods covering for Cr Neil Reilly as Acting Mayor. She has been involved in unravelling the financial dire straits inherited from the previous Council. And she is often accosted at community meetings, which she views in both empathetic and realistic lights.“People can come across emotively about issues they have with Council or a particular decision – and that is understandable. On the other hand, community apathy towards politics can lead to the worst outcomes. However, a lot of it comes from them not understanding. Community expectations can far exceed the Council's resources.”Particularly with the next election looming later this year, Cr Draisma continues to set her sights high. “I feel I need to be where I can make the most positive change. We desperately need more arts and cultural spaces. Essential workers not being able to live in town is another issue to overcome, so I am also passionate about working with the community and partners to deliver more affordable housing.”As the region inevitably grows, Cr Draisma continues to encourage diversity and change. “You cannot expect this town to look the same, the people to be the same. If you make an enemy of change, you will lose the battle. We have to be part of the change process. I think we need more change, more diversity in our leadership. My legacy is that I am not the last of how leadership can change in our community.”Particularly when someone is a prominent figure leading a community through controversial times, it can be easy to forget that everyone has a story that has inspired their genuine desire and drive to help. Cr Draisma is not shy to tell hers in the hope it may encourage others. 

John Salmon Dentist, situated on Railway Parade, has been warmly welcomed by the local community. Having arrived at the practice last July, initially under the stewardship of Keith Lester, they officially took over the reins of the dental practice on September 1st, 2023. John runs the practice alongside his wife Rebecca, who serves as the practice manager. Hailing previously from a long practice in the Southern Highlands, they are enjoying the sea change! In an era where dentistry is increasingly corporate, John and Rebecca aim to defy this trend. For them, being a dentist means more than just providing services; it's about creating enduring relationships with their patients, "healthcare should be about caring for people," said Rebecca. John's commitment to his craft is evident in the fact that he has had clients follow him to three different dental practices. Recognising the anxiety that often accompanies dental visits, John is resolute in creating a soothing environment for his patients. Their philosophy is simple yet profound: to bring joy to their work while making a difference in people's lives. Unlike many dental practices fixated on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), John and Rebecca's focus remains squarely on compassionate care.Moreover, they are eager to shed light on a government initiative aimed at promoting dental health among children. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule, administered by the NSW government, offers up to $1,095 in benefits over two consecutive years, covering essential dental services. The Salmon's advocacy for preventative dental care is their belief that early intervention can mitigate the need for extensive and costly dental procedures later on. You can find more information about this initiative here. John describes the transition as somewhat of a blur. The overwhelming support from the community has exceeded their expectations, keeping them busier than anticipated. Despite the challenges, they are steadfast in their commitment to serving the community and are working towards expanding their hours to accommodate the growing demand.John and Rebecca Salmon embody a refreshing approach to dentistry—one rooted in genuine care, empathy, and a steadfast dedication to improving oral health for all. Have you had your regular check up? Give the Salmons a call on (02) 4233 1313 to book your appointment today. 

The NSW Government, in collaboration with the NSW Police Force, has declared a $500,000 reward for information regarding the mysterious disappearance of Pauline Sowry over three decades ago. Pauline, also known as Pauline Lawrence by marriage, vanished under suspicious circumstances in December 1993, with her last confirmed sighting by family members in the northern suburbs of Wollongong.Despite exhaustive investigations over the years, Pauline's whereabouts remain unknown. In 2008, a Coronial Inquest concluded that Pauline had likely passed away, following an unconfirmed sighting in 1994. To reignite efforts in resolving this enduring mystery, Strike Force Anthea was established in 2022 to reassess the circumstances surrounding Pauline's suspected disappearance.To bolster ongoing inquiries, Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley has announced a substantial $500,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for Pauline Sowry's disappearance or death. Minister Catley expressed the NSW Police Force's unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth for Pauline's family.Acting Assistant Commissioner Southern Region, Darren Brand, expressed optimism that the reward announcement could catalyse a breakthrough in the investigation. He appealed to individuals within the community who may possess crucial information about Pauline's fate, urging them to come forward and assist in providing closure to her loved ones.Pauline's son, Jason Lawrence, who travelled from Western Australia for the appeal, expressed his hope that the reward would prompt those with pertinent knowledge to step forward. Jason highlighted the immense loss endured by Pauline’s family over the past three decades and implored anyone with information to come forward and provide the answers they have been seeking.Anyone in possession of information pertaining to Pauline Sowry's disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website. All information provided will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, and individuals are reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media platforms.

Gwen Addison, a volunteer at the Kiama Presbyterian Church Op Shop, has been given a Community Champion Award as part of the 2024 NSW Seniors Local Achievement Awards.Gareth Ward, the Member for Kiama, presented the prestigious Award at the Kiama Op Shop.Mr. Ward emphasised Gwen Addison's remarkable dedication, describing her as a "community champion" whose selfless efforts have left a mark on Kiama. Gwen has dedicated herself tirelessly to managing and working at the Kiama Presbyterian Church Op Shop. Moreover, she has a longstanding association with the Christian Book Shop on Rosebank Place, where she served diligently for many years. Gwen's involvement extends beyond these roles; she has been a driving force behind the annual fundraisers of the Anglican Church of Kiama/Minnamurra and has volunteered with organisations such as Meals on Wheels and the Friends of Blue Haven group.In his tribute to Gwen's service, Mr. Ward highlighted her many contributions, from managing the shop's finances to sorting donated items and collaborating with the Mission Australia truck to ensure support reaches those in need.Describing Gwen as the embodiment of "service before self," Mr. Ward applauded her as a role model for the community, inspiring others to follow her lead in giving back. He expressed his utmost delight in presenting her with this award as a token of appreciation for her exceptional service and contributions to the community.““Gwen continues in many roles from doing the banking for the shop, as well as sorting donated clothes and other items for sale and also working with the Mission Australia truck that comes into Kiama weekly to ensure support is available for others in need,” Mr Ward said. “Gwen is the epitome of service before self – and she is a shining example for others to follow her lead. She is incredibly deserving of this recognition; and I am absolutely delighted to present her with this award to highlight her distinguished contribution as a small way of saying ‘thank you’.”

Back in 2015 Tina Henderson walked into the butcher in the centre of Shellharbour and applied for a job.And some of the first words out of her mouth to the then owner were: “I’m going to buy this business off you one day.”The owner laughed. But thus it came to pass. She became part owner in 2016, and full owner in 2022. Not everyone could have seen the potential, and not everyone could have made it work. But she did. And now, with million dollar apartment blocks under construction up and down the main strip of Shellharbour and the entire area undergoing rapid demographic transformation, she’s sitting on a goldmine. “I just knew,” she recalls. “It was really weird.”Sometimes destiny shakes us all. Sometimes things just feel right. A decade ago Shellharbour was a lost in time surfing village. Finding a decent cup of coffee was an impossibility. Now there are cafes up and down Addison Street, the main strip, and the atmosphere has totally changed. Directly opposite her shop the upscale Harbourside Apartments are under construction, while on the corner at the top of the street, where the old garage used to be, the Areia Apartments are nearing completion. “The butcher trade has always been my passion,” Tina says. “I love food, I love cooking, and I love the relationship you build up with people. “You become part of people’s families, and part of their events. “I get introduced as the Butcher Lady. It makes me proud of the quality and service we have.“Ninety percent of my customers will ask: ‘What am I going to have for dinner?’ People are time poor. They don’t want to think about it.”While small businesses across Australia have struggled in recent years, Superior Meats on Addison has thrived. Tina says there are two planks to her success, a high quality product, and extensive community relationships, including with the 16 local suppliers who service her business, with everything from fruit and vegetables to marinades. As for the community involvement, the business supports the Shellharbour Sharks Under 18s, and charities including supplying events for the homeless. As for the quality, “We don’t talk about Woolworths and Coles. It is a totally different product, a different quality. “That is our point of difference. Ours is a fresh product. If you see meat in a supermarket with a shelf life of more than two days, it has been gas flushed, it is likely to have an additive. “I don’t do any of that. One of the greatest assets is my meat carrier. I have known him for over 20 years. He delivers three times a week. We are called Superior Meats for a reason. I want to be seen as the highest quality butcher on the South Coast. We have grass-finished beef and lamb, free range pork and chicken, a Wagyu range finished on grain to get that marble effect. It is a talking point. “The meat carrier tells me about the product, where it’s from, why he picked it. If I didn’t have him I would be working a lot harder to pick top quality.”Another point of difference is the individualised service Tina offers. She knows her customers by name. “I have a good team who can also cook, so they also pass on their knowledge. I believe in being part of a community, not just with the businesses that supply me, but with the customers. There are a lot of young families around here. “The people who shop with me are people whose parents also supported local businesses. They are the majority.” Social media is a big part of the Superior Meats business. And Tina’s passion is to teach a younger generation to also support local businesses. “By supporting one business, you are supporting an entire ecosystem of small businesses. “I am equally passionate about teaching a younger generation to cook. We target the 18-23 year old demographic. We tell them it is easier to cook a steak than drive through a McDonald’s takeaway. We want to change their mindset.”To that aim, Tina is planning to put out a book of some of her customer’s favourite recipes. To kick it off, here are a couple of hers.REFER TO THE BUTCHERS COOK BOOK. HER RECIPES TABBED IN PINK. 

The Bugle’s amazing photographer Brian Scott is set to unveil his inaugural photography exhibition at Minnamurra Cafe on Monday 1 April. With 15 incredibly eye-catching pieces to line the walls, Brian is excited to have his work on display for the public to browse and purchase his work. The collection boasts some incredible shots of the stunning local landscapes that Kiama, Minnamurra and surrounds can provide. The bright display will take audiences on a visual journey with Brian’s  keen eye for detail and a long career in photography that has allowed him to develop the skills necessary to produce the high quality of work that he so consistently produces. Brian says his favourite thing to photograph is anything unpredictable. He loves the rodeo, the surf, and sports and these interests have helped him to develop some impressive skills behind the camera - his action shots are unrivalled. He has worked for The Bugle for four years and in that time has contributed over 5000 shots to the newspaper. With a long list of photography achievements and accolades throughout his career, this upcoming exhibition is sure to delight audiences. He’s known around the community as the friendly face behind the camera. He has an extensive list of incredible stories and experiences he has been able to witness through his photography. Visitors to the Minnamurra Cafe can expect to be immersed in the world as Brian sees it, each photograph telling a story of passion and dedication to his craft and his community. 

Terry Nicoll is a friendly Kiama local and former Australian Olympian who competed in the 1956 Melbourne Games. He is renowned for his prowess in the modern pentathlon, Terry’’s athletic journey began amidst the vast landscape of outback NSW, where he honed his riding skills while working on sheep and cattle stations. The modern pentathlon comprises five disciplines; fencing, swimming, show jumping, shooting and running. Terry had a keen interest in horse riding, picking it up from a very young age and carrying it with him throughout his life which helped his performance in the Olympics as a young adult. Terry’s path to Olympic glory took an unexpected turn when he was approached by Forbes Carlisle, Australia’s esteemed Olympic swimming coach. Encouraged by Carlisle, Terry took his skills from the bush to the pool, embarking on a rigorous training regime in preparation for the gamesTerry’s riding skills were exemplary and he took to improving his fencing and pistol shooting skills with determination. His dedication paid off when he clinched victory in the Pre-Olympic Pentathlon trials, securing his spot on the Australian team for the Melbourne Olympics. Another chance encounter with legendary swimmer Johnny Weissmuller left Terry with the invaluable advice to modify his swim stroke. Terry’s Olympic journey was not without hurdles, and he was unfortunately unable to participate in the subsequent Olympic games. However, as he continued to excel in the world of pentathlon he was then able to compete in the World Championships in Mexico City and Leipzig. Beyond his sporting achievements, Terry’s commitment to public service and his community is equally commendable. Terry joined the NSW Police Force in 1957, he served with distinction for over two decades, imparting his knowledge and skills as an instructor and mentor. Representing NSW in various Police and Emergency Services games, Terry’s competitive spirit never waned, earning him accolades nationally and internationally.Now 90 years old, Terry lives in Kiama with his wife Gloria, where he continues to be active in the community. Terry contributes to organisations like the Kiama Men’s Probus Club and Probus Choir and he and his wife love to play golf.As a symbol of perseverance and dedication, Terry Nicoll’s legacy extends far beyond the Olympic arena, inspiring future generations to strive for excellence in all endeavours.

He bought his 50 acre property on the plateau at the top of Jamberoo Mountain Road 35 years ago, long before the Southern Highlands became one of the most prized real estate areas in the state. “It was just a backwater,” Jeff recalls. “Much of the road up from Jamberoo past Barren Grounds was just dirt. We brought up the four kids here. No one wanted to live out here, it was just in the sticks. It was a great place for them to grow up, perfect. They could run riot.”All this idyllic rural life changed forever some five years ago, when one of his sons, Peter, fed up with working as a mechanic in Albion Park Rail, came home and declared he needed a hobby, and he wanted to take up beekeeping.Within a short period of time his son moved out to Cowra, and the small number of hives he was keeping around his father’s farm turned into dozens and then hundreds. The regular supply of honey led Jeff to set up his roadside stall, one beekeeper introduced him to others, and he is now a fixture for anyone driving the scenic route between Jamberoo and Robertson. Fast forward to the present, and both tourists and locals drop by to purchase his wears: 14 different regional varieties of honey at any one time. Japanese, Chinese and Indian tourists often stop, and insist on having their picture taken with him. Roadside stalls are common in their home countries but now rare in Australia. The southern highlands were once full of them, selling Robertson’s famous potatoes, tomatoes, basically anything the locals could grow or make. Now Mr Bell’s stall is a nostalgic reminder of homeland for tourists, and for older Australians to a past now replaced by supermarkets.Jeff says the major chain store buyers simply mix tonnes of different styles of honey together before putting it on to the supermarket shelves, destroying its distinctive and varying tastes, “a washy washy” product. “They just put it into one tank and mix it,” he says. “It has no character. And that is when they get into trouble, mixing it in with glucose or corn syrup, which is cheaper than real honey. “I like what I am doing, I like telling people all the different honeys, the different flavours,” Jeff says. “It is one of the only foods that never goes off. They got it out of the pyramids. It gives you a kind of super fix. “I enjoy explaining to the public that honey isn’t just honey, there’s a lot more to it than that. I would have had 50 different varieties since I started.“One Muslim customer tells me honey is the river of life, important in their dreams of the afterlife.”At present his most popular honey “by far” is sourced from flowering Macadamia trees around Byron Bay. The honey is described as creamy and smooth, having a “rich complex flavour of malt and caramel toffee”. “People just keep coming back for it,” Jeff says.His second best seller right now is honey sourced from thistles in the west of the State. “It is a rare honey,” he says. “A lot of beekeepers wouldn’t normally put their boxes out in thistles. It is normally sprayed. The Yellow Box eucalyptus flowering ended and the thistle came out. And this year the farmers couldn’t spray because of the wet conditions.”Thistle honey is described as light gold in colour, with a greenish tinge, with a fresh mild floral flavour.All the regional honeys Mr Bell features are long gone from most grocery store shelves, and are a great loss for a generation who don’t know what they’re missing.One featured at present is Blue Gum honey, described as densely textured and amber with the sweet aroma of fruity eucalypts. Banksia honey is described as having the flavour of caramelised bananas, Grevillia Silky Oak honey as bold caramel with a smooth finish and River Red Gum honey as having a rich golden russet colour that is less sweet than other honeys. Jeff attributes his robust health to avoiding cane sugar and instead drinking honey with his tea every day. “Honey is good for you,” Jeff Bell says. On the available evidence, that would appear to be true. You would be very hard put to find a healthier or happier looking 70-year-old anywhere in the entire country. 

Kiama Historical Society hosted a talk on Saturday 16 March featuring renowned historian Dr. Karl James, the Head of Military History at The Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Dr James presented his talk on ‘A Day in the Life of a War Historian’ to a room full of local history enthusiasts. He shed light on his journey through high school and university in Wollongong, where he completed his honours and PhD, and later his Masters in museum studies at the University of Sydney. The James family have a history rooted in military service. Karl’s grandfather and nanna both served in WWII, serving as his introduction to a love of history. With a career spanning over a decade, his expertise in Australia’s involvement in the Second World War resonates among his peers and his audiences. He has risen to become a prominent figure in Australia’s historical landscape. Attendees were treated to a behind the scenes look into the Australian War Memorial, as Karl discussed his role as a lead curator for major exhibitions, including ‘From the shadows: Australia’s Special Forces’ as well as ‘Rats of Tobruk 1941.’ Karl’s talk examined the challenges and rewards of being a public historian, emphasising that there is work to be done in the industry. His passion for his work shone through and he has been working towards this role his whole life. He touched on the importance of sharing in his historian career, stating that the research is important but disseminating the information is just as important. Karl left the audience with a growing appreciation of the impact of historical research and storytelling and the vital work he and his colleagues carry out on a daily basis. The presentation was a great insight into our military history as a nation and Karl’s as a part of the James family.  Kiama Historical Society holds monthly meetings, the next one is listed here. 

Gerringong Bowlo is installing two EV charging stations in response to limited availability across the Kiama LGA.CEO Nathan Lawrence extended a warm invitation to everyone, whether patrons of the bowlo or beachgoers, to take advantage of their new technology.“We are conscious of our carbon footprint and want to work towards a green future” Nathan said.Nathan saw the scarcity of public EV charging infrastructure in the community, noting that many existing charging stations in public venues are often limited to guests or members. Having been operational for just a week, the EV chargers have already generated considerable interest within the community. Nathan Lawrence will see to the growing demand and affirmed that, if necessary, the club will explore the possibility of adding more chargers in the future, aligning with their ongoing commitment to reduce their carbon footprint.Furthermore, the initiative coincides with the Federal Government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) announcement, which aims to unlock the supply of cleaner cars that are cheaper to run for Australians. The NVES is crucial for driving down transport pollution, which is Australia’s second-largest source of emissions after the energy sector.With the NVES in place, Australians can expect a 3-in-1 deal of cheaper running costs, cleaner air, and more choice in vehicles. The adoption of this standard will result in new cars, utes, and vans using less fuel per kilometre, translating to substantial savings for consumers. An average new vehicle purchaser in 2028 could save $5,710 over five years and $17,000 over the vehicle's lifetime, contributing to over $108 billion in fuel savings for Australians collectively.Moreover, the NVES addresses the pressing need for reducing fuel expenses, especially after record-high petrol prices in 2023 added to the cost-of-living pressures for many Australians. As pollution from inefficient petrol-guzzling cars continues to fuel harmful climate change, initiatives like the NVES become increasingly essential for mitigating environmental impact and alleviating financial strain on households.Despite a slight delay in the installation process, attributed to grant delays and bad weather, the EV chargers are now operational and adorned with the vibrant Gerringong Bowlo logo. While there will be a charge for using the chargers, implemented by the EV company, the cost will be significantly cheaper than traditional gasoline, aligning with the broader efforts towards sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

Kiama resident Nardia Guillaumier has won a gold medal at the World Indoor Rowing Championships this February in Prague. She finished her category, the women's 45-49, 2000m, in 7 minutes and 16.4 seconds. This marked a personal achievement for her, where she clinched a silver medal in the same category the year prior with a time of seven minutes and twenty seconds.In a nail-biting photo finish, Nardia outpaced the competition, securing the top spot over Germany by six seconds. Adding to her achievements, she also claimed a commendable fourth place in the women's 45-49 500-metre indoor rowing category, completing the distance in 1 minute and 33.7 seconds.Nardia told The Bugle that the event being held in Prague opened up the event to the world's best indoor rowers to compete in person or from home - which Nardia did.Because of the time difference, the race began at 8:30pm when most people were winding down for the evening. Nardia agreed with her coach, Alan Swan, that endurance and patience would set up a good race and allow her a new personal best if all went well. But she went well beyond that. At the 1000m mark, halfway, Nardia was 29 metres behind the leaders of the race, in fourth position. The commentators were certain that the leaders were a shoe in for the first two places. She began her power home at the 750m mark. With 350 metres to go, Nardia moved into 2nd and with 300m left powered into 1st. She said she was concentrating so hard she didn't at first realise that she had won “I had practised to concentrate on my split breathing so I didn't get caught up in the moment” said Nardia.  Coach Alan said “This is a moment that I will never forget. I am extremely proud of Nardia, she's a champion athlete and now has the title to prove it” As Nardia continues to prove herself on the world stage, representing Australia, she continues to be an inspiration for us all. We wish Nadia luck as she continues to try to beat her personal bests and earn awards for her hard work.