Kiama turned on a picture perfect Saturday for the 54th annual sevens tournament with Friday’s rain clearing to produce a great spectacle for the fans who flocked to the Showground at Chittick Oval.Sydney clubs Manly and Gordon emerged triumphant in the men’s and women’s divisions respectively with each side pocketing $6000 each in prizemoney.The men’s final was interrupted at half-time by a small bunch of male streakers who ran onto the field before disappearing towards Surf Beach.Manly drew first blood in the final with a superb interchange of passing leading to the opening try.After a scrappy restart, they regathered the ball and spun it wide for a 12-0 advantage.When Angus Bell broke free down the right edge and sprinted away for a 17-0 margin, the match looked all but over before half-time.They added another five-pointer as the siren sounded to take a 22-point lead into the break.With light rain starting to fall during the twilight decider, Easts’ hopes of throwing the ball around to get back into the contest were made even harder.They managed to open their account with a try after a Manly player was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements.Kiama advanced to the country final on home turf. Photo: Brian ScottMarlins speedster Will Hayes spilled the ball with the line wide open after a kick downfield but they added a converted try a short time later to put the result beyond doubt.Manly's Dally Bird was named the player of the tournament, receiving his award from Wallabies legend Glen Ella.In the women’s final, Sydney side Gordon took down the Hunter Wildfires from Newcastle 19-5.Gordon opened the scoring with a sweeping backline movement down the right flank for an early 7-0 lead. They extended their lead by five with a runaway try late in the first half. Hunter had a chance to narrow the gap early in the second stanza after a hopeful kick downfield but they fumbled the ball with the tryline beckoning.Young Yabbettes score a try against Forest RC. Photo: Brian ScottThe Novocastrians cut the deficit to seven with a try midway through the second stanza.Gordon looked to land the killer blow with a long-range try but desperate Wildfires defence kept them out but after earning a penalty, the Highlanders plunged over from close range for the match-winner.Kiama qualified for the final of the Men’s Country division but went down 21-5 to Northlakes United team from Budgewoi.They started the day with a 28-0 shut-out of the Orange Emus and backed that up with a 22-10 triumph over Molong. Kiama produced a 0-0 stalemate with Wagga Readies, a highly unusual scoreline in sevens rugby, in their third pool game to qualify for the final.In the women’s second division decider, Northlakes were way too strong for Young, winning 41-12 while Jindabyne edged out Bateman Bay 19-5 for the women’s country crown.Gunghalin Eagles downed Blue Mountains 31-7 to take out the Bowl final while Western Sydney Two Blues thumped NSW country outfit Leeton in the runners-up final at Chittick Oval.

Emma Young is buzzing around the recently renovated Kiama Golf Club bistro, offering cheese platters, share plates and a glass of bubbles to a group of hungry (and thirsty) golfers.The lucky bunch happened to walk into the club’s bistro at the end of a photo shoot to promote the club’s new menu and opening hours. Rather than have the food go to waste Emma urges the group to dig in. “You can be our Guinea pigs,” jokes the founder and former owner of beloved Kiama Downs coffee shop Stacks. Emma is now bringing her cafe expertise to the golf club, with the bistro open from 6.30am for “grab and go” coffee, bacon and egg rolls, yoghurt and granola bowls. It’s one of only a handful of licensed NSW venues open for the early morning brekky trade. It’s a project Emma and golf club general manager David Rootham have been working on to coincide with the completion of stage one of the large-scale renovation. Emma and her team have created a menu to match the club’s refined new look. The oak-lined walls, blackbutt timber fittings and crisp white tiles give the light-filled space warmth, while display cabinets filled with the Club’s historic golfing memorabilia provide a touch of nostalgia. “We’ve got a great club, and so we want the menu and the service to be in line with that as well,” says Emma.The Youngs successfully built up Stacks from scratch after moving to the area in 2018. Their successful business was beloved by the local community but after Emma’s husband became so unwell his airway collapsed, the pair knew it was time to sell Stacks. “It was quite a big thing with his health so we had to move on from Stacks at that point. “I’ve been speaking to the golf club for a little while about the opportunity to introduce a cafe breakfast menu. “So David got me onboard to help launch the space with a new menu and help train staff. “It’s the first time a club's really opened for a cafe sort of style service, so it is a new adjustment for members and the local community to get their head around.”Now golfers can come in before their round and grab a coffee on the way out to the golf course. “We want to focus on what cafes do well and that’s the grab and go sort of style. “So everyone who’s coming to the golf course, they don't actually have to go to another space first for their coffee,” says Emma.“They can come in, set up, get some nourishing food into their stomachs before they start their game.“We’ve got lots of healthy options like poached eggs, boiled eggs, yoghurt and granola, fruit bowls, that can still be grab and go and the kitchen can make from 6.30am.”The kitchen will then have table service from 8.30am and Emma is hopeful that the new menu and new opening hours will attract local residents looking for a relaxed breakfast option as well as golfers out in the course early. “It’s opening up the golf club to a whole new market that they haven't tapped into yet. “Then we’ve brought back the popular lunch and dinner service with a revamped menu.“There’s a new pizza section - everyone loves the pizzas here - and they’re made fresh each day.”Emma’s role has included helping to redevelop and streamline the kitchen so staff can have a faster and higher service turnover.She has been working closely with the team to source the best suppliers, highest quality stock and ensure the catering staff and kitchen team are focused on “quality of the service as well and the products”.“We also want to make sure in the coming weeks that everybody's aware of our new menu and opening hours,” says Emma.“It’s such a beautiful spot to sit on the balcony and we want locals to come and enjoy what we have to offer.“There are a lot of cafes in Kiama but a lot of them don't have a view like this, north facing where people can sit in the sun while enjoying their food.“We want to really engage our community and make sure that the golf club is their first choice if they want to go out for breakfast, lunch or dinner.”

Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald is getting on the front foot over beach closures and environmental concerns caused by the local sewerage infrastructure being under immense strain. With the LGA under pressure to meet long-term housing targets, Cr McDonald said the Bombo Water Resource Recovery Facility is in serious need of being upgraded or replaced altogether.Cr McDonald is worried that Sydney Water has not included Bombo in its Long Term Capital and Operational Plan which lists priority infrastructure projects over the next decade. He recently met with NSW Minister for Housing Rose Jackson and Kiama MP Katelin McInerney to air his concerns and will next month hold further discussions with the Minister and Sydney Water CEO Darren Cleary.Sydney Water has been in the news over the past week after it was issued with a Pollution Reduction Program by the NSW Environment Protection Authority.A range of significant works, including fat removal from the Malabar Deep Ocean Outfall bulkhead area, will be undertaken as part of the EPA order to reduce the likelihood of further debris balls washing up on the state’s beaches.These “fatbergs” have ended up on various parts of the state’s coastline, including beaches in Kiama and Nowra in late 2024 and again in 2025.“We've been asking Sydney Water to listen to our concerns about fatbergs and the overall capacity of the system for a long period of time,” Cr McDonald said.“The facility at Bombo is an old treatment plant and it's almost ‘end of life’. Lately they did some odour works, which is great to see. But it’s not enough to fix the real harder issues of age of the asset, overall system capacity, water quality treatment at discharge and ability to cope with growth.“The system we've long known is under strain locally and when you have round balls that have broken off from fatbergs washing up on the beaches it's an indication that the whole system is not where it should be.“So we wrote to Sydney Water on the last occurrence and said ‘what are they, what’s their origin and it's a public health issue’ because we don't want these fatballs washing up on our pristine beaches. “It took about 14 months of meetings and letters to confirm that it was small fatbergs round balls, formed from wastewater sewage and fats released in the ocean outfall, many kilometres away from Kiama.”Cr McDonald explained that Kiama was “at the end of the line” for Sydney Water geographically because the area south of Crooked River forms part of Shoalhaven Council’s water supply.“But that doesn't necessarily mean that we should be thought of as last in the line of potential upgrades and works on the system,” he added.“A lot of people come to the Kiama LGA to enjoy our beaches but with fatballs washing up and also after heavy rainfall, we’ve often got to close beaches because our local sewage system cannot meet the pressure that's put on it at that time.“Our system is under enormous capacity constraints and any rain or change to the environment really affects the system.“The system isn’t working at the moment and we’re wearing the environmental consequences of that. What I am after from Sydney Water is a plan, to be part of their long-term plan.”Cr McDonald wanted to know why Sydney Water’s “long-term capital plan for the next 10 years doesn't mention Kiama or the Bombo treatment plant”.“Being not on the 10-year plan is just not really acceptable for local people, especially with the questions about development that we're being asked to answer.“We're being asked to increase housing supply underneath the direction from the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and from the state and federal governments, and so we have always said that without the upgrade and provision of associated infrastructure then for us to do what we're being asked to do is a near impossibility.” A population explosion on the horizon for Sydney and the Illawarra with Kiama looking to add 900 dwellings by 2029 and 3500 by 2040 as part of Council’s Housing Strategy.A spokesperson for Sydney Water told The Bugle that “significant growth has been identified in the Kiama LGA since the development of Sydney Water's Long Term Capital and Operational Plan, and as such, we have been working closely with Kiama Council on its growth planning, prompting a review into our servicing strategy for the area.“Sydney Water is now planning multiple growth projects in the wider Kiama area.“The capacity of the Bombo Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) is being assessed against the latest growth projections to determine when it will reach its capacity limits so that appropriate funding can be sought in a future price period.”McInerney was confident that the NSW Government would step up to deliver the infrastructure needed for the region.She was pleased that Sydney Water had committed to reviewing the Illawarra Regional Master Plan.“We can’t turn back the clock but we are putting in the investment needed to meet the existing challenges and ensure the infrastructure is ready at the same time new communities and homes are coming on line.”The Sydney Water spokesperson added that they would implement the Pollution Reduction Program measures in close collaboration with the EPA.“The PRP outlines a comprehensive set of short, medium, and long-term actions to address the build-up of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in the system and particularly in the hard-to-access bulkhead area of the Malabar Deep Ocean Outfall.“These initiatives align with our broader $3 Billion Malabar System Investment Program, which involves significant infrastructure upgrades to support Sydney's growing population while enhancing environmental performance and reducing discharges via the deep ocean outfall.”

Are you looking at waging the war on weeds? Now is the perfect time to do so. We’ve had some decent rain, and the ground is really soft, which means pulling weeds can be relatively simple. But if we let things go, we can end up with all sorts of problems. Take ornamental agapanthus, for example - if it goes to seed, it needs to be removed promptly before it becomes problematic and starts to germinate.Another weed that can get out of hand is the cat’s ear. It looks similar to a dandelion, though there’s a difference: the cat’s ear has a branched stem, while a dandelion has a solitary stem. Both have yellow, daisy-like flowers. Once they start to seed, children often enjoy blowing on the seed heads, but this spreads the seeds into your lawn, leading to broadleaf weeds taking over if the lawn isn’t properly managed.There are many weeds that need attention in our gardens, and allowing them to grow can quickly create serious problems. One example is the annual fleabane, also known as Canadian fleabane. It can grow to about a metre tall and produces flower heads that are ready to set seed. If a plant snaps off when pulled from the ground, it can regenerate from the root system, so early control is essential. Remember: one year of seeding can lead to seven years of weeding. Fleabane can produce up to 30,000 seeds per plant, making it critical to remove them before they reach this stage.Flatweeds are another common problem. They grow strong taproots and compete with your lawn. Plantain is also a flatweed that can appear alongside others. The best way to control these is by maintaining a slightly higher lawn height — around 35 to 50 millimetres — which prevents flatweeds from competing. Selective herbicides can also help, but make sure you choose the right one for your lawn type, particularly for buffalo grass. If in doubt, consult your local nursery or horticulturist.Manual removal is another effective option. Using a sharp knife or a small hand tool, you can remove weeds entirely, which is good for the environment and can be surprisingly relaxing.Some annual weeds, like pitchforks or farmer’s friend (also called hitchhiker), spread easily because their seeds stick to clothing and get carried to other areas. Weeds are clever at dispersing themselves and often use us as their vehicle.Ornamental plants such as agapanthus or dietes can also become problematic if seed heads aren’t removed. Dietes, for instance, form clumping, grass-like foliage that is low maintenance but still requires deadheading to prevent germination in mulch.The key to successful weed management is early action. Remove weeds before they flower, when they are still small “threads”. You can hand-pull them or use chemical treatments. Glyphosate 360 is a strong non-selective herbicide but must be used carefully to avoid harming desirable plants.Softer options include pelarganic acid, which desiccates foliage without spreading through the plant. Trigger pack sprays and path weeders with pre-emergent chemicals can also prevent weeds from germinating in pathways, gaps, and around pavers for up to a year.Once you’ve removed weeds, the next step is to prevent them from returning.Mulching is essential. Apply mulch to moist soil to cover the weeded area, or consider sheet mulching by laying down layers of cardboard or newspaper topped with decorative mulch. This creates a barrier between the soil and seeds, reducing germination.Regular observation is crucial. Remove weeds when they are small threads, then apply mulch to protect the area. With consistent effort, weed management becomes far easier, and your garden stays healthy and attractive.

We now have two more fantastic Bugle news stands in the community made by the crafty fellows at the Kiama Men’s Shed.If you drop by Khan's IGA in Gerringong or the Fredericks IGA in Jamberoo, you can pick up your weekly copy of The Bugle from one of these brilliantly designed custom-built news stands.Three long-serving members of the Shed – Greg Brown, Steve Dalton, and Eddie Lyon – were commissioned to design and build six custom news stands so that we can continue to spread the word about all the local news that matters.Our new stand in Jamberoo. Two of the news stands were recently placed in Kiama Shopping Village and another one on Terralong Street. Stay tuned for details of where the sixth one ends up.The purpose of Kiama Men’s Shed is to promote the wellbeing of men within the community, to help with camaraderie, social interaction and the swapping of ideas. The 'Shed' has many members with differing professional and trade skills, all of which helps with the safe running and safe working environment.The Kiama Men’s Shed continues to welcome new faces. Those interested in joining the team or seeing their work firsthand can make an in-person inquiry at the Shed at 20 Eddy Street to receive an application or log onto https://kiamamensshed.com.

Kiama’s Seniors Festival is back from 2–15 March, and behind the scenes is a whole lot of community effort.“At Kiama Council, we’re really honoured to celebrate our seniors,” said Community Development Coordinator Lance Barrie. “We’ve run the Seniors Festival for many, many years now and always look forward to putting on events, activities, workshops and information sessions that promote wellbeing and connecting in community.”This year’s theme, Live life in colour, encourages seniors to stay creative, connected and active – celebrating the experiences that have shaped them and the adventures still ahead.The program is a collaboration between Council’s libraries, cultural development, community development and the Kiama Leisure Centre – along with a long list of local groups.A highlight this year is the free live music and barbecue in Hindmarsh Park on 6 March, featuring the Alchemy Choir, Kiama Sing Australia and the Blowhole Buskers, with Rotary providing the barbecue. “Come down to Hindmarsh Park, listen to some great music from local groups, enjoy the barbecue, and have a chat with friends and neighbours” Barrie said. No bookings required.Creative workshops are also expected to fill quickly.“Our art workshops are really popular amongst seniors – they often sell out,” he said. Sketching in Nature, seascape painting and mixed media sessions all feature, alongside Yoga in the Park, tech help at the library and other activities designed to get people “out and about and really connecting with others.”Barrie said the festival is also about recognising the role older residents play in Kiama’s cultural life. “We’re fortunate here to have a really high volunteer rate and lots of community groups we enjoy working with. "It’s a good opportunity to acknowledge their really important contribution.”Most events require registration via Council’s website, and in recent years many have booked out – so organisers are encouraging people to get in early!The NSW Seniors Festival is the largest celebration of older people in the Southern Hemisphere, recognising the contributions of people aged 60 and over (50 and over for Aboriginal people and those with a lifelong disability). Grab a brush, yoga mat, or just a coffee and celebrate seniors as a reminder of just how much they keep the South Coast’s spirit alive. And if you think a local senior deserves extra recognition, Kiama MP Katelin McInerney is on the lookout for the unsung heroes of the community - who volunteer, lead, mentor, or just quietly make life better for everyone around them.Categories cover everything from leadership and volunteering to sports, arts, heritage, community health and wellbeing, and enriching the lives of other older residents.“Our seniors touch lives in ways big and small," McInerney said."They don’t always seek the spotlight, so I’m asking friends, family, and neighbours to sing their praises. If someone you know has made a lasting impact, nominate them - let’s celebrate their contribution.”Nominations are open for the NSW Seniors Festival Local Senior of the Year Awards and close at midday next Friday. Email [email protected] for a nomination form.

Between the cats, dogs and sad-looking rabbits are the snakes, skinks, turtles, lizards, rats, wild birds and reptiles of all kinds. Even geckos.Who knew that the South Coast harboured a vet specialising in reptiles?Well, one person who did was the representative for the wildlife rescue group WIRES, Jamberoo-based Hugh Marriott. For the endless roll call of snakes and reptiles damaged by cars or rescued from neighbourhood backyards, he has relied for years on the services of Kiama Downs Veterinary Clinic’s Dr Amanda Brett.Whether he’s carrying a blue-tongue lizard hit by a passing car or an escaped pet Centralian python that people have found in their back shed, Hugh makes the trek to Kiama Downs several times a month.While your stricken cat or ailing dog won’t be turned away, the clinic particularly specialises in exotic wildlife on Mondays and Fridays each week.Dr Amanda has a lifelong passion for reptiles, including her pet Cunningham’s skink, affectionately known as Pretzel. Their personalities are a subject of eternal fascination.“Pretzel is a really friendly lizard,” she says. “He has really soulful eyes. He loves cuddles.”Hugh is particularly fond of blue-tongue lizards, which are breeding at this time of year and a common visitor to his cages in Jamberoo, where injured wildlife can spend months before being released back into the wild.“They have a personality, most definitely,” he says. “They are amazing, really curious critters. And placid. “They are normally chill. They are outstanding Illawarra residents. They take out snails, like strawberries and eat mice. They are an all-round addition to your garden.“We are getting lots of baby blue-tongues at the moment. They are born alive and are independent at birth.”For Amanda and Hugh, their fascination with reptiles began early in life.“I have always liked the weird and wonderful,” Amanda says. “I grew up around the Australian bush. I was catching lizards and snakes when I was young. My grandparents had a farm on Cambewarra Mountain.“We are lucky in Australia - we have such a variety of really interesting creatures, and they deserve to be preserved.”She says many of her customers bringing in reptiles became acquainted with them because of their children.“One of the major things I have learnt is that when people first decide to get lizards as pets, usually for their kids, they then absolutely fall in love with them,” she says. “The lizards like to sit and watch TV; they want to be part of the family.“They will tap on the glass to be let out. They want to be out there with you.“We grow up fearing reptiles; we are taught snakes are scary, but if you take the time to get to know them it will change the way you feel. They have wonderful personalities and make great pets.”Hugh agrees. “The main thing to remember is reptiles are not out to get you.”That said, if you find an unwelcome visitor in your backyard, he advises to steer clear and ring WIRES.Most lizards can be cheerfully left to their own devices. But if you really have a blue-tongue you want rid of, give them a call. Don’t kill them.Snakes, too, are active at this time of year.“As we move into the cooler weather snakes are looking around for somewhere to spend the winter, and building up on food.”While diamond pythons, native to the Illawarra, are not venomous, others can be deadly or make you very sick. Of particular concern are red-bellied black snakes, which can be lethal.But there are others to be avoided, including golden-crowned snakes and small-eyed snakes.To contact Hugh directly, phone 0401 394 444. Known as the Snake Catcher of Jamberoo, he is also the reptile coordinator for WIRES for the Illawarra. For any other wildlife rescue, ring WIRES on 1300 094 737.

A Native Title claim covering the NSW South Coast from southern Sydney to the Victorian border is edging closer to formal recognition, with local leaders gathering in Kiama and Gerringong last week to prepare for its impact.The Kiarama Southeastern Seaboard Native Title Partnership Symposium, hosted by Kiama Council and the Gerringong Aboriginal Housing Corporation on February 18 and 19, brought together Traditional Custodians, councils, state agencies and Aboriginal organisations ahead of the pending South Coast Aboriginal Peoples’ consent determination.Aboriginal Elder Uncle Stan Jarrett, the chair of the Kiarama Southeastern Seaboard Native Title Partnership Symposium, said the claim has been nearly a decade in progress.“It goes back about eight, nearly nine years,” he said. “The claim’s just about to be rubber-stamped, probably about another year and a half, I reckon.“It’s not an actual court decision – it is a consent determination.”A consent determination means the NSW Government agrees to recognise Native Title rights without a contested court trial.Uncle Stan said the process had involved extensive genealogical research and years of negotiation.“We had to go back and find all the lineages,” he said.The claim spans coastal land and sea country from Bundeena in southern Sydney to the Victorian border, extending three nautical miles offshore – a component that could carry significant implications.Kiama Councillor Stuart Larkins described it as “quite a significant Native Title claim”.“It’s been on for some years. These things take a lot of time, and we’re probably still a couple more years away, but we’re getting closer to determination,” Cr Larkins said.“The biggest thing for government, whether it’s local, state or federal, is understanding what that claim is going to be and how that works, particularly for local government, which owns or manages Crown Land.”He said the inclusion of sea country rights makes the claim especially important.“One of the biggest things about this claim is that it not just focuses on traditional native title aspects, but it’s also about sea country,” he said.“The big question for the last 30 years hasn’t been so much about land – it’s been about water rights … Once a determination is made on this claim, particularly around sea country, it could have national significance.”Jarrett said the symposium was designed as an information and preparedness forum for councils along the coast.“It was a great information day for local governments from Sutherland Shire to Bega Valley – all the councils in between,” he said.“A lot of people got a lot of great information about what a Native Title claim is and what implications it has for local governments.”He said a key outcome was the beginning of a co-designed framework for how councils and Aboriginal communities will work together once the determination is made.“Part of the aim was to start a dialogue with local government and the Aboriginal communities of the South Coast and to form a network of Native Title officers,” he said.“We’ve started a framework of how government could work with Aboriginal communities up and down the coast. That’s going to be co-designed by councils and communities together.”Uncle Stan said the framework would allow for place-specific relationships, acknowledging that Aboriginal communities along the coast are culturally diverse.“All the communities are different up and down the coast,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is provide a framework where they can initiate local relationships in their own areas.”He noted that only three of a minimum of six councils represented at the forum indicated they had a Reconciliation Action Plan in place – which he found surprising.“You’d think they’d all start a reconciliation action plan,” he said.The symposium also addressed environmental concerns linked to sea country, including the decline of kelp forests along the Great Southern Reef due to sea urchin overpopulation.“Our Great Southern Reef is under threat,” Jarrett said.He described underwater areas once covered in kelp forests now reduced to “white rock, an undersea desert”.Speakers discussed sea country plans developed along the coast and the recent formation of the NSW Aboriginal Sea Country Alliance, which Jarrett said underpins the broader Native Title claim.“Sea country and country – nowadays, it’s everybody’s business,” he said. “We all have to live together and we have to work together.”Kiama Council highlighted its ongoing reconciliation work, including an Aboriginal Advisory Group and a Reconciliation Action Plan nearing final endorsement.“We’re in such a really good place with our community through years and years of open and frank dialogue and relationship building,” Cr Larkins said.The symposium, funded by NSW Aboriginal Affairs, included speakers from Crown Lands, Aboriginal Affairs, Native Title Services and the Native Title Claimant Group, as well as workshops focused on governance, land management and cultural heritage.“It’s a step in the right direction,” Jarrett said.Organisers hope similar forums will be held across the coast as the determination approaches, ensuring councils and communities are ready to work together once Native Title is formally recognised.

The Kiama Rugby Sevens will not just deliver nearly 12 hours of high-octane sporting action on Saturday but a seven-figure windfall for the local economy.Despite the wet weather, Kiama Council on Friday gave tournament organisers the go-ahead despite forecast of more wet weather possibly being on the way on Saturday. Running for the 54th year, the iconic annual event kicks off at Kiama Showground and Chittick Oval at 8am on Saturday with matches running on both fields throughout the day.A helicopter will deliver the trophies late in the afternoon before the semis and finals are held for the men’s and women’s country divisions, as well as the Bowl and Plate categories leading into the women’s final at 6.30pm and the premier men’s decider at 6.50pm.The winning teams in the two main finals receive $6000 each with the runners-up pocketing $3500.Tournament director Mark Bryant said Saturday’s event was shaping up to be one not to be missed.“Everything is done preparation wise, we've filled 44 teams back in November and then we had a few teams pull out and we've had to adjust.“The grounds are coming up quite well. You can't get a room in town because of all the teams - everything is full.“The weather is looking like it's gonna be about 23 degrees and overcast which is actually perfect weather for rugby. You don’t want it too hot.”It’s not just a sporting event but a driver of economic benefit to Kiama.“Through Destination Kiama, we do a post-event report and we bring in $1 million to the town for the weekend. For all the licensed outlets, this is the biggest night of year for them,” Bryant added.And the standard of play is set to be sky high with Shute Shield teams and a squad from the Brisbane GPS lining up.“Manly won the Hamilton Sevens, Warringah Rats are always up there, UTS Gordon will be really strong. Southern Districts are coached by Kiama’s own former Wallabies player Scott Fava so they will go well.“GPS Brisbane are not going to travel all this way and not give it a shake.“In the women’s, Manly and UTS Gordon are always up there and one of the dark horses this year will be Hunter Wildfires from up in Newcastle.”Illawarra premiers Kiama will be taking part in the country division with Wagga Wagga Reddies, Orange Emus and Northlakes likely to be their main competition.“The good thing about the country cup is that it’s pretty even and it could come down to a ref’s call or a bounce of the ball,” Bryant said.Tickets are still available from kiamasevens.com.

It has been 15 years since Kiama Council adopted its Local Environmental Plan and Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters says it’s high time it had a thorough overhaul.Cr Matters successfully moved a motion at last week’s Council meeting to systematically review the LEP from 2011 and Kiama’s Development Control Plan (DCP) from 2020 with a view to removing any inconsistencies and to facilitate good outcomes for our community.Whether the LEP is reviewed or replaced altogether with an updated version remains to be seen and will depend on Council finances in the near future.“That will come down to where Council can find money from because money is extremely tight,” Cr Matters told The Bugle, expressing her own views on the subject.“But at least we've brought it to the fore because with all the other strategies in place - the employment lands, the housing strategy, the vegetation study and rural lands - unless they all overlap and intertwine, things will still be outdated.”She added that Councillors had been put in a situation where they had to vote against several submissions because “the LEP being outdated, left us with no choice at times”.“We're short on housing so we can’t be restricting people on their own property if they comply with the new housing strategy or the urban strategy but it doesn't fit the box because of the outdated LEP - that doesn't make sense.“They all have to be aligned for us to move forward.”Cr Matters said there had been a 15-year period where there has been a lack of progress in the amount of housing in the LGA and Council is now under significant pressure from the NSW Government to accelerate supply.“Council is now in a position, and so is the government, about rushing housing through when there's been 15 years of basically nothing in our area,” she said.“What worries me is when you do it in a hurry, it becomes a little bit of hodgepodge here and there, whereas I don't want our community to become like that.“I want all strategies to overlay and be aligned. If we don't have a guideline and a criteria for what we meet, there will be no control on how we expand and how we still keep our rolling green hills.”Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said CEO Jane Stroud and Council’s planning department will investigate what can be done to overhaul the LEP.“We've had the housing strategy, we're doing the employment land strategy, we're hoping to be looking at a rural land strategy later in the year - these are all putting blueprints around our LGA for future development, and not just now for the next 20 or 30 years.“Rather than piecemeal adjustments, we've acknowledged as a group that we need to do a significant review of the LEP.“With all these things, they come with the cost. As a community, we've got to update that document and it will involve significant community consultation to ensure that it is how we want to develop as a community for the next 20 or 30 years.”

“I’m so sorry, ladies. I have some bad news,” Slow Dough co-owner Lucy King tells the group who have just arrived at the seaside bakery for coffee. “We’ve sold out of treats.” It’s 11.30am on a Friday and there’s not a spare seat in the house. Only a handful of choc-chip biscuits and focaccia slices topped with seasonal ingredients are left after a busy morning of trade. When Lucy and her husband Richard opened the doors of their artisan bakery two years ago, this is exactly what they hoped to achieve - a community coming together to enjoy baked goods, coffee and each other’s company and empty shelves at the end of the day.“Running a business is really hard work,” says Lucy. “Our team works long hours, everyone’s on their feet all day, it’s very hot in the bakery.“But one of the things that brings us all a lot of joy is when we get a spare minute to look out the window and catch moments where people are biting into their sweet treat. “Seeing the happiness on their face makes all the hard work worth it.”The couple, who moved from South Africa to Melbourne where they worked in high-powered corporate jobs, settled in Gerringong when Victoria’s borders were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. While working from home, Richard, who has always loved baking, dabbled in making sourdough like many during the pandemic.Soon they were baking loaves of sourdough out of their garage and delivering to family and friends throughout the lockdown. Demand was high and they eventually opened a shopfront in Kiama in early 2024.Lucy and Richard King at Slow Dough. “When we decided to leave our corporate careers and do this, it was not only because Richard enjoyed baking and making a really good product, but we saw the impact of coming together around good sourdough in our garage,” explains Lucy.“Introducing neighbours to each other and the sense of community that was created in our garage was the reason we did this, ultimately everything we do comes back to that, bringing people together around good food.”Such good food that Slow Dough was recently rated among the state’s top regional bakeries on popular websites Broadsheet and Delicious. With word quickly spreading among food lovers, and Kiama already a popular destination for travellers and day trippers, the Kings found themselves busier than ever.But an increase in customers brings with it new obstacles to overcome. Namely how much product to make to remain financially and environmentally sustainable while also ensuring local customers don’t miss out on their beloved bread.Richard says knowing exactly how much to bake for each trading day “is the bane of my existence”.“Getting the balance right is challenging,” says Richard. “There are so many factors to consider. “It’s one of the hardest things to get right but I feel like we're getting it right more often now. But there are still days where we don't produce enough or have too much left over.”The Kings use the highest quality ingredients to produce their baked goods and with prices increasing across the board any leftover product is a financial hit. “We use very expensive ingredients so we don't want to be throwing money down the drain,” says Richard. “We go through up to 500 free range eggs and 40kg of butter each weekend,” adds Lucy. “So when we sit down to plan our menu each week we look at not only what’s in season but also our production capacity to make sure we’re not putting undue pressure on our team of three bakers.”“And we look at the weather,” says Richard. “Weather plays a huge role in getting the balance right of meeting customer demand.” The pair are also mindful of their environmental footprint and each week send around 500 litres of kitchen waste and compostable customer packaging to feed a local permaculture garden in a partnership with The Passion Project.Lucy and Richard, perfectionists at heart, are constantly striving to improve their products and sustainability, while ensuring local customers don’t miss out on bread or treats during peak times.“One of the things we're really focusing on this year is creating more experiences for our local customers because we love that we have a consistent group of supporters who get joy out of picking up their bread and having a coffee and connecting with one another on the grass,” says Lucy.The pair briefly considered throwing a birthday party at the seaside store to celebrate two years in business, but finding time in their busy schedules proved difficult. Then an opportunity arose to have local DJ Clay Comber host a Bread and Beats party on Valentines Day.It was a way for the Kings to show their love for the local community who had wholeheartedly embraced them, their business and their ethos - a quality product, created sustainably, which brings people joy.“We want to create experiences that give back to the community, and Bread and Beats was fantastic, we had so many people turn out,” says Lucy.They will hold another community event on 20 March, from 9-11am, in partnership with local artist Amy Kinzett. The event is free and Amy will teach kids and adults how to create a masterpiece using just paper and glue. For more information visit @amykinzett_art on Instagram and Facebook.Local customers can also pre-order their bread and treats to make sure they don’t miss out by visiting www.slowdough.com.au.

This week's edition of The Bugle is filled with a range of local news and views from our South Coast community.Our main story is about local environmental concerns caused by waste matter being washed down the coast from Sydney as well as the need to upgrade the Bombo wastewater treatment plant.CLICK HERE TO READ OUR DIGITAL EDITIONWe also bring you the story of the volunteers in Gerringong who have made the difficult decision to wind up the Nearly New Op Shop after more than 50 years serving the community.There is also all the reaction from Jacinda Ardern's surprise visit to Gerringong on the weekend, local cafe Slow Dough getting national recognition and a feature on the rise of voluntary assisted dying in regional areas.You can also read plenty of other community stories about the impact of YouTube on teenagers, the Kiama Golf Club's bistro upgrade and the Native Title Symposium which was held in Kiama and Gerringong.In sport, we bring you the latest on South Coast cricket, the windsurfing event at Gerroa, the upcoming beach tag tournament and the build-up to the 54th Kiama Rugby Sevens this Saturday.And don't miss John Gabriele's gardening column with the best advice on how to get rid of weeds and stop them coming back.The paper is available from all the usual outlets around the Kiama local government area - grab yours before it's too late.

Akuna Street and Caliope Street might have looked like just two more lines on last week’s meeting agenda, but Kiama Council’s decision for them both to proceed marks a quiet turning point for our community and its future.A Council long branded as anti‑development is now, cautiously, putting its stamp on growth. For years, Akuna Street has been shorthand for everything locals feared about overdevelopment, height, bulk and developers trying to remake the town centre for scale the community were not prepared for and did not support. The 14‑storey proposal at the carpark site has become a veritable lightning rod, prompting legal manoeuvres, community outrage and a council that is still seemingly in the dark as to what is happening. Now, with that project declared State Significant and much of the final say shifted to Macquarie Street, Council’s recommendation to progress proposal for a smaller site to the south of the controversial carpark site is less a surrender than a strategic recalibration. By engaging with the process instead of stonewalling it, Councillors are signalling they would rather shape the inevitable than stage another symbolic, losing fight. This is despite a 13% variation to the height limit and a 25% increase to floor space for the apartment building. Caliope Street tells a different, but complementary story: a green light for new homes in a town that has spent years agonising over a housing strategy it desperately needs but struggles to embrace. The planning work already done for Kiama’s urban release and key catalyst sites and the recognition that Council must help meet state housing targets hangs over this decision. Endorsing Caliope to move forward is an admission that saying “no” to density in the centre and “no” to greenfield supply on the edges is no longer an option if locals want their kids to have somewhere to live. The contrast with past terms is stark. Previous Councils often defined success by what they could stop: towers cut down to size, rezonings stalled, strategies sent back for another round of “community reassurance”. This Council, by recommending Akuna and Caliope progress in the same week, is edging toward a different test: how to secure design quality, infrastructure and housing supply from developments that are coming anyway. That won’t silence critics who still see every crane as a crack in Kiama’s character. And if our social media pages are anything to go by, there are a number of locals that are up in arms regarding last Tuesday’s decision and are expecting the four storeys at Akuna Street to become 14. However, this cynicism distracts from the step change happening within Council and through parts of the community who see more housing as a positive move.Kiama is moving from a defensive politics of protection to a more mature politics of negotiation still protective but finally prepared to let some projects through the gate in return for a better, fairer town that is preparing for a future.

Residents and visitors in Shellharbour now have improved access to urgent medical care, with the official opening of the Shellharbour Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC).The clinic was opened earlier this week by Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler and Whitlam MP Carol Berry.Following a competitive tender process led by COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network (PHN), the service is operating from Centre Health Medical Centre in Barrack Heights.The Shellharbour Medicare UCC is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. The service provides walk-in urgent care that is fully bulk billed, making it free for patients with a Medicare card.Butler said the clinic would deliver significant benefits to local families and help ease pressure on nearby hospitals.“The Shellharbour Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is a game changer for families in the region,” he said.“This clinic is part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to strengthening Medicare and making health care more accessible and affordable.“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are taking pressure off hospitals and ensuring patients can get the care they need, when they need it.”Berry said the clinic would provide convenient care close to home.“This is a huge win for our community,” she said.“It means locals can access bulk billed urgent care in the heart of Shellharbour, while also reducing demand on the emergency department at Shellharbour Hospital.”COORDINARE Chief Executive Officer Prudence Buist said the clinic would offer treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions.“This service provides an alternative for people who need to see a doctor or nurse for issues such as sprains, minor fractures, cuts, wounds, insect bites, minor burns, and ear or eye problems,” she said.Shellharbour is one of the fastest-growing areas in the Illawarra, with increasing demand for health services. According to the latest available data (2023–24), almost half of presentations to Shellharbour Hospital were for non-urgent or semi-urgent conditions.The Shellharbour clinic is the 130th Medicare Urgent Care Clinic to open nationwide.Since the first sites launched in June 2023, more than 2.5 million patients have attended clinics across Australia.Other Medicare UCCs in the region are operating in Dapto, Wollongong, Queanbeyan, Batemans Bay and Bega.

Australian rugby royalty Glen Ella, Charlotte Caslick and Scott Bowen gave their seal of approval to the Kiama Rugby Sevens at the official launch heading into Saturday’s 54th annual event.The current, in Caslick’s case, national star and two Wallabies blasts from the past were the keynote speakers at Kiama Leagues Club last Friday.They kept the rugby-loving crowd entertained with stories from their decorated playing careers.Bowen represented Australia as a fly-half in the 1990s and is now the high-performance chief for the national women’s squads.Ella is one third of the legendary brothers who formed a brilliant attacking combination for the Wallabies a decade earlier while Caslick’s career has unfortunately been interrupted by a broken ankle suffered last year. The Olympic sevens gold medallist from the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro has not competed at the Kiama event but has been a few times as a spectator. Caslick was thrilled that Kiama’s event features equal prizemoney for the champions in the women’s division.“The domestic sevens tournaments were a really important part of growing our squad in the lead-up to Rio,” she said.“It's nice to see Kiama still going strong. A few of them have dropped out. “There are more and more opportunities for girls to play sport and women to keep competing. The more opportunities we give them to create depth within Australia, from grassroots to the elite level, is really important.”While the national sevens squad is off to North America for the World Series, Caslick is undergoing rehab with a view to returning next season.Her goals are to get back in the Olympic squad for the next Games in Los Angeles in 2028 and the 15-a-side format to represent the Wallaroos at the World Cup on home soil the following year.Ella, who made his Test debut in 1982, used to love coming to Kiama with the famous Randwick teams during his playing career for what was then considered the unofficial start to the rugby season.“We looked forward to it, coming down and throwing the ball around,” he said. “And the good thing was that with the two grounds right next to the beach, you'd play a game, you'd go straight in the water, have a swim and come back out.“In those days you used to have a lot of international teams coming to Kiama to play. The standards of the games were really, really high.“And they used to pick the Hong Kong sevens from this tournament so we’d be doing our best to make sure we got on that trip. I think I went there about eight times.”The seven style of rugby, with an emphasis on attack in the open space created by 16 fewer players on the field, was ideal for the Ellas.“It suited us, there's no doubt about that,” he recalled. “It was always good winning and having a few beers afterwards.”He has been coming to the event for the past couple of decades as a spectator and will be watching on from the sidelines this Saturday.Bowen was coached at Southern Districts by Ella in the early 1990s and fondly remembers the pre-season trips to Kiama to dust off the summer cobwebs.“We came here every year, that was the tradition within the Sydney teams,” he said.“You'd come down and play to kick-start the season. “In the last couple of years, some of the teams that have gone really well in the Shute Shield Cup, like Eastwood and Warringah, they've been pretty consistent performers at the Kiama Sevens.“We could tell any youngster that’s playing sevens that it is only going to make you a better 15s player because of the microscope you're under with your skills.“Because of the space when you miss a tackle, it's a try to the other team. A dropped ball or whatever it is, if you make an error it’s a game of high consequence if you're not skilful.”Bowen laughed that a quick dip in the surf was the perfect way to cool off between games, as long as everyone made it back in time for the next game.“Some of the days when the surf's out of control, when you were back on the field you were counting the players to make sure your 12 people all got back rather than being lost down in the water.” The Kiama Sevens gets underway at Kiama Showground and the neighbouring Chittick Oval at 8am on Saturday with matches running throughout the day, culminating in the women’s final at 6.30pm and the premier men’s decider at 6.50pm.Tickets are still available from kiamasevens.com.

Every child at Kiama Preschool knows one very important fact about educator Lindy Verryt – affectionately known as “Lindy Lou” by the children who adore her: she’s “allergic to chocolate.”“If Lindy eats chocolate, her bottom gets bigger,” a five-year-old, who recently graduated from Kiama Preschool, tells The Bugle.She laughs when she hears the story and happily plays along. The children clearly adore her — and she just as clearly adores them.“This is my home away from home,” says Verryt, who, after four decades working at the preschool, celebrates her final day on 27 February. This makes her the longest-serving educator at the preschool, which opened in the mid-seventies.“I’ve been here for 43 years,” she tells a group of children when explaining the concept of retirement. “Now I’m ready to stay home and rest a little.”In fact, she is already planning her next trip to Europe, as well as local caravan adventures. To celebrate the milestone, local families, staff, and the preschool committee contributed to a weekend away at Bannisters hotel in Mollymook.Many of the children will miss her presence at the ‘kissing gate’ – the gate where children say goodbye to their parents or caregivers, and where Verryt is always present with words of comfort.“My favourite thing to do with Lindy is make magic potions,” says a preschooler. “She helps me to collect the chicken eggs,” shares another.For four decades, Verryt has been a constant in the lives of Kiama families, making her retirement not just the end of a career, but the closing of a remarkable chapter in the preschool’s history.She credits the “lovely team” for her impressive tenure, at a time when many childcare centres are struggling with staff retention. “Here, you really feel part of a community,” she explains.The director of Kiama Preschool, Naomi Gates, will feel the loss.“After 43 remarkable years at Kiama Preschool, Lindy leaves a legacy woven through our entire community,” she says. “Her gift for building genuine connections and nurturing, caring relationships has seen her educate two generations of families. "We are deeply grateful for the kindness, wisdom, and love she has shared with every child and family who has walked through our doors.”As a celebration, the preschool held a disco during the daytime, much to the excitement of the children.Now that she’s retiring, Verryt will join the “old gals” of Kiama Preschool – a cherished group of former educators who still meet regularly, a testament to the fact that their years together made them more like family than colleagues.“I feel ready,” she says. “I put in a lot here, but I’m ready for the new generation [of educators] to move in with new ideas.”

Gerroa has once again lived up to its title as the spiritual home of windsurfing, with the 2026 Severne East Coast Titles finally crowning champions after a week-long wait for the right conditions.Following an earlier postponement and a nervous eye on the forecast, competitors were rewarded on Sunday when the long-anticipated north-easterly filled in at 15–20 knots, sending shoulder-high sets marching into Seven Mile Beach.“It was worth the wait,” local sailor James Hayward said. “When that NE kicked in, even though it was still a bit marginal at times, it gave us a proper window to run it. That’s all you need here.”While winds across the weekend remained on the lighter side, Sunday’s weather window allowed the NSW Wave Sailing Association to run a dynamic expression session format - a crowd-pleasing shift from traditional heat draws.All competitors first hit the water together, throwing down their best carving turns and aerial manoeuvres in an open expression session. From there, the top performers advanced to a final shootout to decide the champion.In a spectacular finale, Logan Haggerston emerged with the East Coast Title. Duncan Osborne finished second, with Laurie Menviel rounding out the podium in third.“Notably,” said Hayward. “Laurie Menviel’s podium finish further cemented her reputation for delivering a level of superb wave riding that rivals the very best in the field.”In a fresh addition to the program, organisers also introduced the East Coast Wave Rally - a high-energy format that quickly became a crowd favourite. Sailors raced out through the break on their wave boards, rounded a buoy set offshore and charged back to the beach in a test of speed, timing and versatility.Photo: Brian ScottDean Hendrie took out the Wave Rally final, ahead of Haggerston in second.Hayward said the new format added another dimension to the weekend.“It shows how well-rounded these sailors are,” he said. “You’re not just talking about surfing a wave - you’re talking about fitness, tactics and board handling. It brought a real buzz to the beach.”Also running alongside the main competition was a youth training session and in a landmark moment for the association, several of the youngest “groms” caught their first waves under the guidance of seasoned mentors.“For me, that’s the best part of the weekend,” Hayward said. “Seeing the kids get their first proper rides out there - that’s how the sport keeps growing. There’s a real sense of passing it on.”Photo: Brian ScottWhilst the event marked the grand finale of the 2025/26 NSWWSA season, Hayward also pointed out Gerroa’s ability to always have a community vibe.“You’ve got elite sailors pushing through tough conditions, but you’ve also got families on the beach, mates catching up and kids getting involved,” he said. “That’s what makes Gerroa special. It’s high level, but it never loses that community feel.”The NSWWSA extended its thanks to long-time supporters including local icon Natural Necessity Surf Shop and Severne for backing the event.Photo: Brian Scott

A bright yellow reminder is headed down Princes Highway, carrying a question it seems many could use to hear. From 2–15 March, the R U OK? Conversation Convoy will wind its way through the South Coast, stopping in towns from Wollongong to Bungendore reminding others you don’t have to be an expert to ask someone if they’re OK – you just have to care.The Convoy will stop in Wollongong on Monday (2 March), Nowra and Shellharbour on Tuesday, Kiama on Wednesday and Vincentia and Kiama again on Thursday.“Checking in with someone isn’t a one-off moment; it’s about building trust and connection over time,” CEO Lachlan Searle said.  “By coming back to the South Coast, we want to acknowledge what communities have previously shared with us, see how they’re travelling, and continue to walk alongside them.”The Conversation Convoy travels across regional Australia each year, meeting locals face-to-face at community events, schools, workplaces and organisations.There’s no lecture circuit – just a cuppa, a chat and practical tips on how to have a meaningful conversation with someone who might be having tough times. Community ambassador Glenn Cotter, who lives in Bega and works in suicide prevention across the region, said the return visit sends a powerful message.“R U OK? isn’t just about starting conversations, it’s about helping communities feel supported to keep having them, any day of the year,” Cotter said. “Having the Convoy travel back through our region is a powerful reminder that these conversations matter and really do make a difference.”This year’s South Coast route includes stops in Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Nowra, Milton, Batemans Bay, Moruya, Narooma, Bega, Bermagui and Bungendore.Free public events along the way will offer a warm drink and practical tools to help locals feel more confident recognising when someone might be struggling and how to respond. As Searle said, sometimes people simply prefer to talk things through in person and learn what support services are available close to home.“Locals know best,” he said.“Through the Conversation Convoy we can better understand what people need, so our resources and programs continue to be practical and useful.”The Convoy is part of R U OK?’s broader work in regional and rural communities, where connection can be a protective factor against suicide.Research in the field of suicide prevention has long called attention to the importance of belonging and community – something R U OK? aims to strengthen by empowering everyday Australians to look out for their friends, family and workmates.R U OK? Day itself will be held on 10 September 2026, but organisers stress the message applies every day of the year: Ask R U OK? Any Day – because a conversation could change a life.For event details and free resources, visit ruok.org.au.If you or someone you know needs support, Lifeline is available 24/7 on 13 11 14. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can contact 13YARN on 13 92 76 for free, confidential support.

Kiama Beach Tag is back bigger than ever in 2026 for its fifth year, with a full house of teams, a live music line-up and what organisers are calling a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for junior players.The one-day beach tournament taking place on 7 March has grown from fewer than 40 teams to 72 this year - its biggest field yet - with waiting lists in multiple divisions.Founder Keiron Duncan said the growth has exceeded even his expectations.“We started with high 30s, maybe close to 40 teams, and now we’re at 72 and basically at capacity,” Duncan said.“We’ve got about 13 or 14 teams on the wait list, but we just can’t run it across two days. With weather, tides and swell, it’s too risky, so we keep it to one big day.”The tournament will feature nine divisions this year and features a full standalone women's division.“The standalone women’s division is full with eight teams, which is awesome.”Photo: Brian ScottThe event will again feature an exhibition match with NRL and NRLW players and junior winners will also receive Rugby League World Cup tickets, along with what Duncan described as “a once in a lifetime opportunity”.“We’re calling it that for now,” he said. “It’s going to be pretty special for the kids.”The tournament’s $20,000 prize pool also remains a major drawcard.Beyond the football, the event continues to evolve into a full community festival.In conjunction with the Sounds of Kiama Jazz and Blues weekend, organisers will open the bar on Kendalls Beach on Friday, 6 March from 4pm to 8pm, with local musician Ben Gunn performing live.“With the (original) jazz festival being called off, we thought it was a good opportunity to get some live music happening in town,” Duncan said.Saturday will see DJ Clayton Zane playing throughout the day, while Kiama Leagues Club will host an after party featuring two DJs into the night.“There’s plenty to do in town for everyone over the weekend,” Duncan said.Also on the sidelines will be the increased food and market stalls and the return of the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation’s new screening bus, offering close to 100 free skin checks on the day.Duncan shared the story of Australian rugby league star Emma Tonegato, who attended the event last year and underwent a routine check.“It ended up being a melanoma,” Duncan said. “She had to take some weeks off footy at the time. Now she’s an ambassador for the foundation. So that’s a really important part of what we do.”Community involvement remains central to the tournament’s identity, with Kiama Surf Life Saving Club providing beach patrol, Kiama Lions Club assisting with parking and waste management, and strong backing from local businesses.For Duncan, who founded the event and has overseen all five editions, the secret to its success lies in its setting and spirit.“The opportunity to play with your mates on the beach, have a swim between games and be in a great part of the world like Kiama - that’s what makes it special,” he said.“There’s a really good positive energy around the tournament. People are trying to win, but they’re not overly caught up in it. It’s just as much about what’s happening off the field.”