The best of the Illawarra community shone through in so many wonderful stories during 2024. Take a look back at the stories that made us a smile (or maybe shed a tear or two) – and see if you can guess what was our most popular read.
18. Summer vibes: Road tripping retro style with Annie and Fannie
by Katrina Condie
You may have seen Annie and Fannie on the roads around the Illawarra. Photo: Retro RV.
Meet Illawarra celebs Annie and Fannie. You’ve probably seen the cool retro Kombi RVs cruising the coast, but who owns them and how can you get behind the wheel?
17. Chilled Kiama Kubes ‘just a bunch of crazy people who like winter swimming’
by Kellie O’Brien
Members of Kiama Kubes during one of their swimming events. Photo: Supplied.
Every Sunday morning throughout winter, a group of cold weather warriors bravely take the plunge into the icy Kiama rock pool, diving into a weekly swim ritual that prioritises fun over fitness.
Known as Kiama Kubes, it is a more social alternative to traditional competitive winter swimming clubs, welcoming people of all skill levels and ages in their spirited gatherings and invigorating swims, treasurer Bronwyn Seiden said.
16. Illawarra arborists spotlight region’s gardens and the personalities behind them in new video series
by Kellie O’Brien
Illawarra Arborist’s Luke and Jhett Warner, who have started their own YouTube series to showcase the region’s backyard gardens. Photo: Supplied.
Got a backyard worth sharing? Luke and Jhett Warner, from Illawarra Arborist, have started a Gardening Australia-inspired series showcasing Illawarra gardens.
15. Rocking through time: The Shellharbour Club’s musical legacy from Elvis Costello to Iron Maiden
by Kellie O’Brien
David Whyte with some of the posters hanging inside The Shellharbour Club. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
Whether it was international acts like Elvis Costello and Iron Maiden or national heroes like Cold Chisel and INXS, The Shellharbour Club was home to some of the biggest names in music from the 80s to early 2000s.
Known then as Shellharbour Workers Club, former club CEO and music lover David Whyte was given a front row seat to some of the Illawarra’s most memorable nights – and backstage pass to the real stories behind them.
14. Cochlear implants open up a whole new world for young brothers
by Michele Tydd
Cochlear implants have made a world of difference for brothers Huxley and Cali Totman. Photo: Greg Totman.
The day Huxley Totman made his first friend at childcare was a milestone worth celebrating for Wollongong couple Harry and Tash Totman.
They saw it as another positive step in clearing the fog of anxiety and confusion that set in three years ago when they discovered newborn Huxley had significant hearing loss, and he would not learn to talk without medical intervention.
“We were in the dark back then and, of course, when you have a child with any disability you worry about issues like bullying and not fitting in,” says Tash.
13. Fibro homes are fading away but memories of families and friendships remain strong
by Michele Tydd
Graeme Morrison (centre, aged about 15) on the Lake South housing estate where he grew up. Photo: Supplied.
The Illawarra’s early housing estates were dominated by fibro homes. As the houses are gradually knocked down to make way for newer models, residents share their happy memories of growing up in the estates.
12. The former Wollongong hoteliers who became murderous Baby Farmers
by Jen White
Child murderers John and Sarah Makin. From the collections of Wollongong City Libraries and the Illawarra Historical Society.
In 1892, a one-month-old baby boy was found buried in the backyard of Sarah and John Makin, former landlords of Wollongong’s Royal Alfred Hotel.
Less than a year later, John was hanged in Darlinghurst Gaol after he and Sarah were convicted for the murder of 14 infants whose bodies had been buried in the yards of other inner Sydney houses in which the family had lived.
The Makins became known as the Baby Farmers, and their infamous trial exposed a black market in the sale and murder of children whose mothers were struggling to survive.
11. Take a drive down memory lane to the Illawarra’s popular theatres and drive-ins
by Jen White
The Savoy Theatre was on the corner of Church Street and Globe Lane, Wollongong. The Returned Servicemen’s Club is at the left. Photo: From the collections of Wollongong City Libraries and the Illawarra Historical Society – P05214.
Illawarra residents have long been fans of the theatre, whether it’s visiting a venue to watch movies or live acts.
In the early 1900s, theatres started popping up regularly in the region, particularly in Wollongong and its northern suburbs.
Wollongong Libraries’ photographic exhibition, Theatre in the Illawarra, celebrated theatres and shows in all guises.
10. Kiama couple leads ‘unplugged’ movement to help families reclaim childhood from social media’s grip
by Kellie O’Brien
Ian Harvey-George and Jane Bourne’s two children enjoying free play while camping. Photo: Supplied.
Kiama couple Ian Harvey-George and Jane Bourne have sparked a movement to help families reclaim the simpler joys of childhood by “disconnecting to reconnect”, bringing some parents to tears.
Their first event Kiama Unplugged aimed to educate parents on the mental health risks tied to social media use and provide tools to help their tweens and teens break free from screen addiction.
9. Ryan’s in-jean-ious approach making op shop a fossicker’s favourite
by Michele Tydd
Anglicare’s Dapto op shop manager Ryan Xuereb in the retro change rooms with repurposed jeans for curtains. Photo: Michele Tydd.
Woonona’s Ryan Xuereb has turned a boyhood hobby into an unexpected and highly successful retail career.
He and his team of volunteers have turned a huge, backstreet commercial space in Dapto into a stylish Anglicare op shop with a vibe that attracts return customers from as far away as the Southern Highlands and Sydney.
“Some even describe it as a David Jones experience,’’ says Ryan, referring to the quality and variety of goods on display.
8. Kiama bypass changed the face of the countryside and eased the horrors of summer holiday traffic
by Jen White
An aerial view south towards Kiama, prior to construction of the Kiama bypass. The old alignment of the highway carried traffic over Spring Creek before veering east into Kiama. Kiama Cemetery is at the right, while the South Coast rail line is to the left. Photo: State of NSW (Transport for NSW).
Once upon a time, heading south for the summer holidays meant bumper-to-bumper traffic crawling along the Princes Highway through Kiama’s main shopping centre. Then, almost 40 years ago, along came the Kiama bypass. These pictures from Transport for NSW’s archives show how much has changed since the first sod was turned in December 1983.
7. Janine Cullen farewells her hometown to begin a new chapter in life up north
by Jen White
Janine Cullen waves goodbye after her farewell from The Illawarra Connection and president Graham Lancaster. Photo: Brad Chilby.
For the first time in more than 50 years, Janine Cullen will have an address other than Beach Drive, Woonona.
The well-known Illawarra business and community leader left her hometown – and the street where she’s lived in three homes – to start a new chapter and find new challenges on the NSW North Coast.
6. Drama teacher takes final bow as insightful playwright after 18 years of original plays at Smiths Hill High
by Kellie O’Brien
Smiths Hill High School drama teacher Bryan Cutler will stage his final original play. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
After 18 years scripting original plays that captivated audiences at Smiths Hill High School, much-loved drama teacher Bryan Cutler took his final curtain call as a playwright.
On 1 June, Bryan staged his final original production, the musical Artificial, at the school.
5. How one mother’s determination sparked a 65-year legacy of medical research fundraising in Gerringong
by Kellie O’Brien
During the 65th anniversary event are life members Dawn Miller, Joyce Sharpe, Mena Sharpe, Professor Roger Redell, Marg Weir OAM, Edith Burgess, Rhonda Bailey, Kate Quinn and (back) president Lucy Hill. Photo: Supplied.
When a doctor told a Gerringong mum there was nothing that could be done for her son, just go home and fundraise for medical research, no-one could have known the impact that would have 65 years later.
4. Royal correspondence pays off: Lake Heights teen meets the King and Queen in Sydney after personal invite
by Kellie O’Brien
Tyreese Rodrigues-Sa with Queen Camilla in Sydney on the weekend. Photo: Supplied.
Lake Heights teen Tyreese Rodrigues-Sa has been writing to Queen Camilla since last year’s coronation for her and King Charles III, leading to a personal invite to meet the British royals in Sydney on 20 October.
However, it’s not the first time this 17-year-old has seen the couple in person, having flown to London for the coronation last May for his 16th birthday.
“I’ve always been a fan of the royal family, and not just the British, but the Spanish, Danish, Norwegian and the Belgians,” Tyreese said.
3. Hazeltons store continues its century-long tradition of generosity serving Albion Park
by Kellie O’Brien
A horse and cart outside the Hazeltons store, which Diane believes was likely within the first year or two of business, with her grandfather and great-grandfather. Photo: Shellharbour City Museum.
It was started in 1915 as a general store, but Hazeltons has become more than another business to the Albion Park community – often being its lifeline when times were tough.
Diane Hazelton is the fourth generation of the family to work in the store, alongside her father Bob Hazelton, who’s showing no signs of retiring.
“My dad Bob, who is now 86, still plays a very active role and works six days a week … he’s such a beautiful man, a true gentleman,” Diane said.
2. ‘Begging for slashed tyres’ – what happens if you get stuck at this Thirroul commuter carpark?
by Dione David
Parking at this informal Thirroul carpark is causing headaches. Photo: Facebook.
Social media discussions get intense over parking etiquette at Thirroul train station’s “informal” northern commuter carpark. But is it actually illegal or just really annoying?
1. Graham Lancaster is courting his toughest battle yet
by Kellie O’Brien
Graham Lancaster is determined to tackle ALS head-on. Photo: Supplied.
As a lawyer, Graham Lancaster is accustomed to fighting battles in a court of law.
The well-known Illawarra lawyer is the chair of The Illawarra Connection, a tireless supporter of charities and is easily recognisable at his beloved Illawarra Hawks basketball games with his signature black-and-red horned helmet.
Yet, the much-loved and colourful character is now faced with the toughest challenge of his life: a diagnosis of the fatal motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Loading ...
