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'Top Tourism Town' releases new 2026 visitor guide
Destination Kiama has launched the 2026 Kiama Visitor Guide, with the new edition officially unveiled at last week’s Tourism After Hours event in Kiama.The guide highlights what the Kiama area has to offer, from beaches and coastal walks to local shops, markets, arts and dining. It is aimed at first-time visitors, returning travellers and locals looking for ideas close to home.The release follows Kiama being named NSW Top Tourism Town for a second consecutive year, reinforcing its profile as a p...
Rock fisherman rescued after being knocked into water at Blowhole
A life jacket has been credited with saving the life of a rock fisherman swept into the ocean at Kiama Blowhole early on Sunday morning.The 29-year-old man was fishing near the blowhole around dawn when he was knocked from the rocks by heavy waves and carried into the water.Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 7am, prompting a multi-agency response involving surf lifesavers, lifeguards, police and paramedics.The man was located between 30 and 50 metres offshore in rough sea...
From Wiggles to Windsor: Twiggy’s journey in Jamberoo
Jamberoo School’s hall was filled recently with the joyful buzz of children eagerly awaiting a very special surprise to kick off the Christmas holiday: three books following the adventures of a ‘Little Twig.’ Dreams Come True, Never Give Up, and Never Walk Alone are more than just stories– they are gentle guides for life, history lessons, and tales of a kind-hearted community.Author Chris Beaven, warm, engaging, and wonderfully approachable, shared the inspiration behind Twiggy’s very first adve...
‘Actions speak louder than words’: How therapy dogs helped Bondi heal
Eight days after the Bondi attacks, while the initial shock had begun to settle but the emotional weight remained heavy, Kiama resident Judi Sandilands arrived quietly with her therapy dog, Miss Ollie.There was no media presence – just a deliberate choice to show up when people were still trying to process what had happened.“Actions always speak louder than words in times like this,” Judi says. “I was never not going. It was always on my radar.”Judi, a former clinical nurse consultant in mental...
New Medicare Urgent Care Clinic to fill Nowra needs
The long-awaited Medicare Urgent Care Clinic for Nowra is set to open next month, following an announcement at the centre’s future site last Thursday.Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, Health Minister Mark Butler and Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips joined Grand Pacific Health representatives at 107 Scenic Drive to confirm the provider and outline what the community can expect when the doors open.The clinic will operate 8am to 10pm, seven days a week, offering fully bulk-billed care...
The Santa of Kiama: Over 65 years and still counting …
At 92, Noel Creighton has become something of a Kiama treasure.He’s lived here all his life, watched the town grow around him, and for more than 65 years has carried the mantle of the South Coast’s very own Santa Claus.He smiles when he recalls that his childhood home once stood where the Kiama Leagues Club is today.“So when I’m having dinner at night, when I do go, I’m actually sitting in my bedroom,” he laughed.One of 11 children, Noel first put on the red suit in December 1957.The extended Cr...
Neon Bushland: A whimsical new world coming to Bundanon
Step into a world where pom-poms grow like flowers and curious creatures hide in rainbow scrub - artist Rosie Deacon’s Neon Bushland is bringing her vivid imagination to Bundanon next month.Described as “a sensory delight for families and the young at heart,” Neon Bushland is an interactive installation that transforms recycled and reused materials into a whimsical landscape of colour and texture.Using crochet, knitting, stitching, beading, painting, clay sculpting and papier-mâché, Deacon invit...
EV rollout supercharges the Shoalhaven
Thinking about a road trip? Driving across NSW in an electric vehicle is about to get easier, with the Minns Labor Government announcing a $5.9 million boost to regional charging infrastructure– bringing 159 new chargers to 48 locations across the state, including a major expansion in the Shoalhaven.The latest round of the EV Destination Charging Grants will be supported by an additional $3.2 million in private investment.The chargers, all powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, will be instal...
Netball great helps deliver huge boost to Shoalhaven’s youngest players
Families, volunteers and young players gathered at Shoalhaven Netball Association for what was expected to be a routine NetSetGO and Coaching Clinic — until netball great Jo Harten arrived with a surprise announcement.Harten, visiting the region to support grassroots netball, revealed Shoalhaven had been awarded a $15,000 Woolworths Netball Grant, recognising the club’s ongoing commitment to growing the sport for local children.The grant is part of the Woolworths Netball Grants program, which ha...
Tucker Carlson to speak at IU after death of TPUSA co-founder Charlie Kirk
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson will replace Charlie Kirk as a speaker at Indiana University on Oct. 21 as part of Turning Point USA's “American Comeback Tour.”According to the organization’s website, Turning Points student program aims to educate young people about limited government, free markets, and individual freedom. The group has a presence on more than 3,000 college and high school campuses, including IU, and encourages students to take on leadership roles while promoting America...
Suit asks court to reconsider ‘All Lives Matter’ mural
Corn prices rise despite record harvest forecast
Corn prices are moving higher even as the USDA projects a record harvest of nearly 17 billion bushels this fall.Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), said ethanol demand is a key driver. “Ethanol is helping to keep a floor under corn prices right now,” Cooper said. “We’re on pace to make a record amount of ethanol this year, which means we’re going to use a record amount of corn—about 5.6 or 5.7 billion bushels.”The U.S. Energy Department reports ethanol expor...
Childhood obesity in Indiana: experts call for urgent action
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and new data from the Indiana Youth Institute (IYI), in partnership with Jump IN for Healthy Kids, show that childhood obesity in Indiana is a growing concern. Tami Silverman, CEO of IYI, discussed the findings and potential solutions in her latest column Understanding and Addressing Childhood Obesity in Indiana.The report, Weight Trends Among Children and Adolescents within Central Indiana, finds that one in five Indiana children ages 2 t...
Indiana farm fatalities rise, highest in five years
Indiana recorded 28 farm-related fatalities in 2024, according to Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program. That’s the highest total in five years and nearly double the 15 deaths documented in 2023.Tractors were the leading cause, involved in 12 deaths. Victims under the age of 18 and over 60 accounted for 67 percent of cases. The average age of victims was 57.6, slightly higher than that of the average Indiana farmer at 55.5.Purdue has monitored farm-related fatalities in the...
IU launches first-of-its-kind research on female athletes
Indiana University, in collaboration with Indiana Sports Corp and Pacers Sports & Entertainment, has announced the Female Sports Performance and Research Initiative — a first-of-its-kind program dedicated to women’s health, performance, and recovery in athletics.IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (LAB) President and CEO David Rosenberg said Indiana is uniquely positioned to lead the effort, pointing to the state’s history of hosting major sporting events and the surging popularity of women’s...
Perdue Farms to lay off nearly 300 workers at Washington facility
Perdue Farms has announced it will lay off nearly 300 employees at its Washington, Ind. facility next month.In a notice to the state, the company said it is eliminating the second production shift at the Daviess County turkey processing location beginning Oct. 10. A total of 293 workers will be affected.According to the WARN notice with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, affected workers will receive pay and benefits through Nov. 2, their official separation date. Employees will no...
Martinsville VA clinic to close, new Bloomington facility opens Sept. 15
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will close its Martinsville VA Clinic on September 12, ahead of the opening of a new facility in Bloomington three days later.The larger clinic is designed to expand services for veterans across southern Indiana. VA officials say the move follows the expiration of the Martinsville site’s lease and the completion of the I-69 corridor, which improves access to Bloomington. The new location is about a 20-minute drive from Martinsville.“This is a significant s...
Scooters less visible on IU campus, but Bloomington fleet numbers remain steady
Some IU students and staff said they have noticed fewer scooters around campus this year. But Bloomington transportation officials said the number of scooters and e-bikes in the city has stayed about the same since last fall.Jeffrey Jackson, Bloomington’s transportation demand manager, said Bird is the city’s only operator since Lime left in 2024.“For the last year, with Bird being the only operator that is licensed to provide e-bikes and e-scooters in Bloomington, there’s been 500 … prior to th...
Bloomington City Council examines 2026 budget needs
The Bloomington City Council held 2026 budget hearings this week, highlighting the city’s funding challenges and future infrastructure needs.The Community and Family Resources Department (CFRD) opened its presentation with concerns about the loss of federal pandemic relief. Director Shatoyia Moss told council members the expiration of American Rescue Plan Act funding has left gaps.“We had about $300,000 in ARPA funds left that were reverted back to the general fund,” she said. “That money was su...
Youth advocate applauds laws on school attendance, teacher pay
Several new Indiana education laws took effect this month, aimed at improving student attendance, career readiness, and teacher retention. The Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) said these changes could bring measurable improvements—especially for students facing chronic absenteeism and those seeking affordable postsecondary options.Tami Silverman, president and CEO of IYI, said chronic absenteeism remains one of the state’s most urgent educational challenges—especially for students in K–12.“One in f...
Bloomington to host ADA 35th anniversary celebration
The City of Bloomington will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with a free public event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Fernandez Plaza outside City Hall, near the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market.Hosted by the city’s Council for Community Accessibility (CCA), the event will feature informational booths, games, prizes, and local resources for residents.The celebration is family-friendly and open to all, with the goal of raising awareness about acces...
Wastewater data signals possible COVID uptick
While COVID-19 cases are climbing in other parts of the country, one Indiana public health expert said Monroe County is likely just a few weeks behind.Graham McKeen, a public health advisor and former IU Health director, said the current uptick is typical of seasonal summer trends, though it’s arriving a little later than last year.“We’re not seeing as much here locally—at least not as of yet,” McKeen said. “But the wastewater data has gone up a little in the last couple of weeks.”McKeen said wa...
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