KIAMA TRIATHLONLADIES 13TH OCTOBER 2024

KIAMA TRIATHLONKIAMA TRIATHLON CLUB COMPETITIORS13TH OCTOBER 2024

Starting in November, the Kiama Tennis Club will introduce a new monthly social tennis event on the first Friday of each month from 6 to 9 pm.The club aims to attract new members, keep tennis exciting, and provide an opportunity for players to improve their skills.“It’s open to members and visitors who want to come down and play. People can bring their own drinks, and we'll provide snacks for the evening. We’ve arranged for several of our division one and two players to join, so attendees can enhance their skills,” says Kiama Tennis Club President David Lehman.Members will pay a $2 ball fee, while visitors will be charged $10. Lehman hopes that events like this will energise the sport of tennis in the local area, especially in light of the growing popularity of similar sports like pickleball.“It's really a drive to keep tennis alive and vibrant. Obviously, many people are playing pickleball right now, but our courts are synthetic grass, which means we can’t accommodate pickleball. We’re committed to remaining a purist tennis club,” explains Lehman.Lehman emphasises the unique social aspect of tennis, noting how it allows players to meet and interact while enjoying friendly competition.“There’s a social aspect to tennis where you get to meet people, and then there’s the competitive side that can emerge. What makes tennis unique is this combination of social interaction and competitiveness,” he adds.The first Friday night social event will take place on November 1. If you're interested, contact Kiama Tennis Club for more information.In addition to the new social event, the Kiama Tennis Club will also host the 2024 Kiama Seniors Tournament from November 8 to 10. This tournament is for players over the age of 30, and November 1 is also the closing date to enter. Interested participants can email [email protected] to apply.

Gerroa’s Sally Fitzgibbons won the EDP Ericeira Pro in Portugal on October 6 against 13-year-old Tya Zebrowski from France.The 33 year old Gerroa surfer won the final against Zebrowski with a combined score of 13.60 against Zebrowski’s 10.80.In a WSL press release, Fitzgibbons expressed her surprise at the outcome. “I knew she had a good score, but it kind of came as a surprise that I got the win. I’m so happy. This new generation coming through is fierce in freesurfs, and it gives you more drive to beat them when you get them in a heat,” she said.In 2023, the 33-year-old Fitzgibbons dropped out of the World Surf League (WSL) top ten, was cut from the Championship Tour (CT), and was forced to compete in the Challenger Series.With this recent victory, she now tops the Challenger Series leaderboard and qualifies for her 14th CT season.Fitzgibbons shared her excitement with WSL about her return to the CT. “It's mixed emotions; this year is so long. But when you put it into perspective, these women are incredibly talented, and it’s so hard to win a heat.”“It’s such an honour to be in this position, competing at such a high level as we move into 2024. I have so many goals—I want to improve my performances at the tour locations, which feature some of the best waves in the world. That really excites me,” Fitzgibbons said.She also acknowledged the importance of support from her hometown in Gerroa: “The support from everyone back home means so much to me. I aim to show up and give my best, and if that means I head back on tour, then everyone has contributed to that.”

The Penrith Panthers etched their names in history on October 6 by winning their fourth consecutive NRL grand final against the Melbourne Storm, which featured Gerringong’s own Tyran Wishart.Tyran, who was wearing the number 14, came on the field in the 33rd minute and played until the 62nd minute. He then came back on in the 72nd minute and played out the match.In his 36 minutes, Wishart managed to get through a remarkable amount of work. He looked dangerous every time he was given the ball, managing 10 hit ups for 93 metres and 2 tackle breaks. Defensively, he made an enormous 37 tackles to go along with that, an impressive workload to get through in his limited game time.Tyran never gave up and persisted until the final siren, but the Panthers finished off winners of the 2024 NRL grand final, 14 points to 6.Tyran unfortunately joins his father Rod Wishart who also lost an NRL grand final off the bench back in 1999 with the St George Illawarra Dragons.Before the game, Rod expressed his pride in Tyran’s successful season, stating, “Win, lose or draw I’m proud of him, the whole family is proud of him and all of Gerringong is proud of him.”The Panthers’ victory solidifies their place in rugby league history, marking four grand final wins in a row and establishing them as one of the sport's most successful teams.

By Mark Emery - memories from Clive EmeryReading the Bugle’s last issue, I noticed that yet again, Gerringong has won the group 7 rugby league premiership. The club has produced many magnificent players. Some like Paul Quinn, Rod Wishart and Michael Cronin have represented our country.However, the footy boots have now been packed away and attention moves to a different set of sports. One of those, of course, is cricket.A hundred years ago Gerringong was very strong in both cricket and rugby league. Gerringong Rugby League Club played in the very strong Illawarra competition and in 1925 won the premiership in front of 3000 people! Gerringong Cricket Club's A grade won the premiership in the 1925-26 season and again the following year. There was also the Gerringong and District Cricket Competition with teams such as Foxground, Crooked River and Toolijooa in full swing playing on grounds such as the one on Graham’s farm opposite the golf course. These, however, were not as lovely as the ones Gerringong CC are going to play on this season.There are few firsthand accounts of playing cricket from so long ago. However, there is one from Clive Emery, who was heavily involved in the Gerringong and District Historical Society and had a long association with cricket in the Gerringong area. Many great times were had, and lifelong friendships were made. I personally can remember playing on cement pitches as a child around 1970. When you were the home team, the first job was to drag the coir mats out that pitch and cover them ready for the game. Our coach was Norm Carradus, surely one of the most dedicated junior coaches, in any sport, that Gerringong has ever had. But, of course, the grass was always mowed and there were no big holes in the ground if you were the fielder at long on.Cricketers playing around 100 years ago did not have such luxuries. Clive’s account will give you an idea of the difficulty they had to face sometimes. Cricket days by Clive EmeryFrom the 1900s onward Gerringong had a cricket team; likewise, there was one in Berry and further south, so a competition was organised in which many teams played.One member of our Gerringong team of that era explained how he remembered milking the herd of cows in the morning, then the whole team of eleven players rode their horses to Cambewarra, a distance of almost twenty miles to play the local cricketers, and as the locals had no provisions, rode on to Nowra at twelve for a meal, then rode back to finish the game. We then rode home to Gerringong and did their milking in the dark!’The early cricket was played on a farmer’s grass paddock, in the days before concrete pitches were invented, consequently a score of twenty runs for a team took some beating! In Gerringong there were five local teams from which a team was picked to represent us in district games, which were hard fought. In the 20s we had district teams in a local district competition of our own. Omega, Toolijooa, Foxground, Crooked River and Gerringong (called the Seagulls). The Seagulls team was made up of talent from the township, and the other teams were almost entirely of dairy farmers. The pitches were strips of concrete, covered by coir mats, which were laid down before the game was to be played. The pitch at Jubilee Park in Gerringong was of glazed concrete for a time until finely woven green mats were placed thereon. The matches were keenly contested.Other grounds were usually in paddocks belonging to a certain farmer, probably the most level paddock to be found in each locality. It was fortunate if a paddock was mown of the long grass, and the games were played over two consecutive Saturdays during the morning and afternoon, with the exception of the Gerringong team that played their games on the Recreation ground (called ‘the Rec’) in the afternoon. All the others played between milking times as it were, meaning ten in the morning and until three in the afternoon with a luncheon break between twelve and half past, provided by the wives and girlfriends of team.If a farmer did not have a grass mower and mow his paddock prior to a game, it was possible for a fieldsman to trip in the luxuriant growth of the paspalum grass when attempting to field a ball. Likewise, the batsman had his own difficulty in forcing the ball to the boundary, indicated by a few white pegs, sometimes hidden in the grass. As an alternative to mowing the ground, a farmer was likely to put his herd of cows on the ground overnight to eat the grass down, and this brought problems of another nature, that of trying to clear the pitch and grounds of bovine excreta before the game!The long grass was not a problem to the fellow who had the capacity to loft the ball instead of trying to drive it, but there was the danger here of being caught out. Sometimes of course, if the grass had been mown and not raked up, the ball could lie hidden under the mown grass, and perhaps four fieldsmen spent time searching while the batsmen kept on running. All these games were taken very seriously, and in later years the scores were shown on the screen when the pictures were on in the School of Arts on a Saturday night, to the delight of the younger players, whose job it was to take a girlfriend to the pictures or have the cheaper delight of sitting beside one.Foxground team c. 100 years ago. Photographer unknown

Friday, October 17, marks the start of a new summer swim club season, and the Kiama Swimming Club is encouraging all local swimmers to get involved. The summer season, which runs from the beginning of Term 4 to the end of Term 1, takes place weekly on Fridays at the Kiama Leisure Centre. Swimmers of all ages and abilities are welcome to join. Corinna Walker, who has been involved with the swim club for 14 years, says the best part about Kiama Swim Club is its focus on fun and personal improvement rather than competition.“It’s not about being competitive or racing each other. It’s simply for the kids to get up and have a go,” says Walker. “Each week, the kids race against their own times, earning points based on their personal improvement.” Although the heats are set up so swimmers with similar times race together, Walker emphasises that the real competition is with themselves. “They’re racing their own time, not the other swimmers,” she explains. Walker encourages anyone interested in an individual sport, or simply looking to improve their swimming skills, to come along and give it a try.“Swimming is great for kids who aren’t necessarily drawn to team sports or don’t want to commit to one. Plus, our membership fees are affordable, so missing a few sessions isn’t a problem,” she says. “It’s also fantastic for kids to practise starting on the blocks and listening for the starter gun, which is great preparation for school carnivals. We have two technical officials present every night to offer guidance on proper technique and explain disqualification rules, as they would in a race.” Coming off the back of the 2024 Olympics, where swimming was Australia’s most successful sport, Walker hopes the excitement will inspire locals to dive into the new season. “Swimming has always been one of Australia’s strongest sports, especially at the Olympics. Hopefully, this motivates both kids and adults to come and join the fun,” she says. Membership costs $199 and covers both the summer and winter seasons, but new swimmers are welcome to attend two free trial nights to see if they enjoy it before committing. If you’re interested, send your name and age to the Kiama Swimming Club secretary at [email protected], and they’ll provide more details.

Kiama Oztag is set to begin its 15th season on October 14, with over 2,000 players registered across various age groups, making it the biggest participant sport in the Kiama LGA. Oztag is a non-contact version of rugby league that focuses on speed and agility, making it accessible to everyone. Kiama Oztag Association Coordinators Keiron Duncan and Ross Thomas say they never expected the game to grow so large, but they believe its accessibility and fun atmosphere are key draws. “A great part of the competition is that we have that duality. You have competitive players who want to win and play at representative levels, and then you have those who just want to have fun. You don’t need a rugby league background; players come from soccer, AFL, netball—it's all about having a go and running around with your mates,” says Duncan. Thomas emphasises another valuable aspect of the competition: the opportunity for individuals without teams to inquire about joining others. “There have been around 70 individuals who expressed interest in joining teams, and we’ve successfully placed about 56 of them. We hope to find spots for the remaining 12 before the competition starts. It’s a fantastic way to get active, socialise, and meet new people,” Thomas adds. The competition will run through early January and will be played across four venues, including the newly added Kiama Sports Complex fields next to the Kiama Leisure Centre. “We play on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Mondays are for over 35s and senior divisions, Tuesdays are for juniors and some seniors, and Wednesdays feature mixed and men’s teams at the Kiama Leisure Centre, which is a change from previous years,” says Thomas. “This setup allows us to utilise more fields and better lighting, enabling later games, and the parking and facilities are significantly better than at Gainsborough.” In addition to local competitions, Kiama has its own representative team, the Kiama Phantoms, which competes in the State Cup. Players from this team can be selected for national and even international competitions, with both young and older players proudly representing Australia. Duncan and Thomas are optimistic about continued growth, especially in age groups where participation in sports is less common. Since introducing an over 35s men's group and a women’s competition two years ago, participation has surged—from four teams each to eight teams this season. Both coordinators commend each other for their dedication to managing the league, which includes over 150 teams. They also express their gratitude to volunteers, referees, local photographer Brian Scott from The Bugle, and the Kiama District Support Council for their unwavering support. As the season approaches, there’s still time to join in! Interested individuals can contact Kiama Oztag at 0404 204 518. Whether you’re looking to compete or simply have fun with friends, now is the perfect time to get involved!

In October 2020, Tyran Wishart was raising the trophy after winning the Group 7 grand final with the Gerringong Lions. Now, only four years later, he’s preparing for an NRL grand final in front of more than 80 000 people.On October 6 Tyran will wear the number 14 jersey as the Melbourne Storm attempt to end the reign of the Penrith Panthers, but Tyran is adamant that it’s just business as usual for the Craig Bellamy coached side.“Obviously, the Panthers have been in this position for five years, so they have that experience. But we also have players and coaches with plenty of finals experience, and I’m leaning on them and asking questions,” says Tyran.“When it comes to facing them, you can prepare as much as you want, but at the end of the day, you have to play your own style of footy. That’s worked for us throughout the year, so it needs to work for just one more game—80 minutes.”Tyran’s father, Rod Wishart, played 177 NRL games for the Illawarra Steelers and St George Illawarra Dragons, along with 22 games for NSW and 17 for Australia.But he was only in one NRL grand final in 1999 which he lost, ironically, against the Melbourne Storm. But Rod says there is no grudge between himself and the Storm, in fact, he says, there is no better place for his son.“A lot of people ask what I think about Tyran playing for the Storm, and honestly, I couldn’t think of anything better to be honest. I have nothing but respect for the Melbourne Storm,” says Rod. “The little things they do are essential, and they’ve given Tyran the chance to develop his rugby league skills. I don’t think he’d be where he is without them.”As they prepare for this momentous game, both father and son emphasise the importance of enjoying the week while sticking to the game plan and keeping things simple.“I just try and simplify everything. In finals games, everything is a lot quicker and harder and contact is much more intense. Everything is going to be faster and naturally I’ll play a bit harder too, but I think I just have to simplify my role,” says Tyran.“At the end of the day it’s a big occasion, but I think you have to remember to enjoy it. I think you just have to be confident in your ability and if you see an opportunity, trust yourself. Trust the process that your team has got. Trust the Melbourne Storm - they’ve been there and done it that many times,” says Rod.Tyran has had an outstanding 2024 season, securing his place in the NRL side. In his 25 games, he has scored 12 tries and kicked 14 goals. Due to unfortunate mid-year injuries, he led the Storm in the five-eighth role for 10 games, achieving 8 wins.When Tyran is not in a starting role he is in a ‘sort of everyman’ position for the team. A utility coming off the bench that can slot into almost any position including wing, fullback, halfback, hooker and lock.Although this unique role does make it hard for Tyran to prepare for a game, the more he has played it, the more he has gotten comfortable with it, and in that way he has become a bit of a Mr. Fix-it for the Melbourne Storm.“I’m very proud of Tyran’s ability to adapt to any position without getting overwhelmed. He just approaches each challenge with, This is my job, whether he’s on the wing, at fullback, or in the pack. The Storm appreciates having someone who can slot into any role and get the job done,” says Rod.“It was different and a little hard to prepare, but I think I’ve managed to find a routine in order for me to get comfortable. And like I said, I don’t like to think about it too much, I just try and tick off what I need to throughout the week to know that I’ve prepared the best that I can,” says Tyran.Rod coached Tyran in the juniors at the Gerringong Lions and both believe that his time there has contributed a lot to the way he plays today, and even his decision to go and play in Melbourne.“That’s where you learn everything in your juniors, and to have those players to look up to back home just made every kid want to do well back home,” says Tyran. “The club at Gerringong is very similar to the Storm in the way that it is run, obviously to a much higher degree here. But in the simple ways: everyone gets along and family comes first,” says Tyran.Rod says that he couldn’t be more proud of Tyran and that the whole town of Gerringong will be behind him when he runs out on Sunday.“I think he’s been humble and he’s just worked extremely hard to get where he is and he deserves where he is. Win, lose or draw I’m proud of him, the whole family is proud of him and all of Gerringong is proud of him. And he is a proud Gerringong boy and he will never forget where he came from and the people who have helped him get where he is,” says Rod.The Melbourne Storm face the Penrith Panthers at 7:30 PM on Sunday, October 6. The Bugle wishes Tyran good luck and congratulates him on reaching this significant milestone!

Kiama is gearing up to host its first triathlon in more than 10 years, with the event set for October 13 and all spots already sold out.The race will kick off with a swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Minnamurra River followed by a bike ride out along Swamp Road and back and finishing with a run from Minnamurra, up into Kiama Downs and then back.There are two races: the standard race (1.5 km swim, 38 km bike and 10 km run) which begins at 8am and a sprint (750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run) which begins at 8:30am.Kiama Triathlon Club Vice President Geoff Besnard says the event will be very good for the community of the Kiama LGA and he hopes that if it’s successful, the event will become an annual occurrence.“I think it’s great for the town, it’s an event that promotes health and fitness and it will bring a lot of people into town. The race will probably only go for a few hours, but people will come down for the whole weekend. They’ll go out for dinner and drinks and go into the local businesses,” says Besnard.“This year is a bit of a trial run, but hopefully if all goes well, we will be able to run this event annually.”While the excitement is building, one concern is the potential for traffic congestion and limited parking in Minnamurra. To address this, Elite Energy, the event organisers whomanage multi-sport events along the East Coast, have devised an incentive for participants to use public transport.“Elite Energy has introduced an idea where racers who use public transport to get to the event will receive a $50 credit toward their next event, which is a nice perk since triathlons can be a costly sport,” says Besnard.Although they aren’t running the event, many of the Kiama Triathlon Club members will either be participating or volunteering to help.“I think we have about 15 of our members participating in it, but a majority of the rest will be helping out on the day. It takes a lot of people to run an event like this,” says Besnard.For those interested in spectating, Besnard recommends watching from the transition areas, particularly the transition between the swim and bike portions, and of course, the race finish.“If anyone wants to catch the action, the best spots will be along the Minnamurra River early on, especially to see the athletes transition from swim to bike,” he says.The Kiama Triathlon Club has had a highly successful 2024, recently winning their fifth state championship in seven years. Between August 15-25, 11 of the club’s members competed in various events at the National Championships, with Tanya Fraser, John Dormandl, and his partner Dan Merange all making it onto the podium.

On September 16 Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips met with Kiama District Sports Association President Craig Scott and Secretary John Dawson to discuss future upgrades to the Kiama Sports Complex.Kiama Council was recently awarded a federal grant under the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to support the renovation of this important facility.“With over 3,000 players plus school groups using the Kiama Sports Complex, there is no doubt that it is a much loved and utilised facility, however it is in dire need of an upgrade,” says Phillips. The upgrades are now awaiting the appointment of the new Kiama Council so that they can work out the masterplan for the future of the complex “I look forward to working with the new Kiama Council, Kiama District Sports Association and community, to progress the masterplan and proceed to a shovel-ready project that can obtain further grant funding,” says Phillips.The Kiama Sports Complex is home to a wide range of activities, including Little Athletics, cricket, soccer, Oztag, netball, and features a skatepark and the Kiama Leisure Centre. 

The Kiama District Sports Association (KDSA) held their annual general meeting at the Kiama Leagues Club on the evening of 23 September.The KDSA acts as a conduit between the Kiama Council and sporting associations on booking sporting fields and awarding grants to affiliated clubs.With 40 years of operation, the association has built strong relationships with local clubs and Kiama Council to promote sporting competitions and meet the significant and growing demand of the local sporting community.Retiring Mayor of Kiama and KDSA Patron, Neil Reilly, attended and congratulated the newly elected life Members; Craig Scott and Paul Condon. “Craig and Paul [have] been long time servants of sport in the Kiama LGA and the Kiama District Sports Association,” Secretary John Dawson said on the night.Craig has been a stalwart supporter of the Kiama Little Athletics Club and has spent countless hours tending to his beloved athletics track at the Kiama Sports Complex. He is the current serving President of the Kiama Little Athletics Club, and has previously served as the President for the state division of the organisation. Paul has been a member of the Gerringong sporting community since birth. He has been a player, coach and office bearer at Gerringong Rugby League Club for Juniors and Seniors and the Gerringong Touch Association. Paul is the go-to for anything sport related in Gerringong.“Craig and Paul have served the association with distinction over the many years of their involvement and were worthy nominees as the second and third Life Members after Col Rathbone was awarded Life Membership four years ago,” Dawson continued.The sporting community in Kiama relies heavily on the support of Council grants that the KDSA award to clubs. Council increased their annual grant from $30,000 to $60,000 and over the past seven financial years more than $270,000 in funding has been awarded to affiliated clubs of the association. This funding has gone on to purchase replacement football goalposts, refurbish canteens including the purchase of new refrigerators, point of sale systems and replacement turf wicket covers and defibrillators on the grounds. The association has commented on their eagerness to work with newly elected councillors and Mayor this term to see the completion of the long-awaited Strategic Plan for Outdoor Space and Recreation and the Masterplan for the Kiama District Sports Complex. The executive team were announced as; President Craig Scott, Vice President Ross Thomas, Secretary John Dawson, Treasurer Gail Gaynor and Trust Fund Coordinator Craig Scott. 

KIAMA JUNIOR BASKETBALLSENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PLAY-OFFSPURPLE 92 d GREY 83

KIAMA JUNIOR BASKETBALLSENIOR HIGH SCHHOL GRAND FINALBLACK 59 d BLUE 41

KIAMA JUNIOR BASKETBALLJUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION PLAY-OFFSRED 57 d GREY 45

KIAMA JUNIOR BASKETBALLGRAND FINALJUNIOR HIGH SCHHOL DIVISIONBLUE 49 d PINK 35

KIAMA JUNIOR BASKETBALLYEARS 5 & 6 PLAY-OFFSYELLOW 27 d BLUE 23

KIAMA JUNIOR BASKETBALL FINALSYEARS 5 & 6GREEN 45 d PURPLE 24

KIAMA JUNIOR BASKETBALL YEARS 3 & 4 PLAY-OFFSBLUE 27 d PINK 20