Unprecedented drop in school suspensions in Sydney’s South-West ‘proof wellbeing models of behaviour management work’
Sydney’s South-West was the only government school district in NSW to record lowered suspensions between 2018 and 2019., according to the NSW Department of Education, Total school suspensions amongst K-12 students fell from 10,504 to 8,011 in the district - while the...
‘Unfinished business’: the campaign to save Willow Grove
Content warning: this story contains discussion of colonial violence and other themes that may be distressing to First Peoples of Australia. The New South Wales Government announced in 2015 it planned to relocate the Powerhouse Museum to Western Sydney. The backlash...
A most wholesome and continentally-isolated streamer
In the gaming world, Australia couldn’t be more isolated. A comparatively tiny, mostly English-speaking, pocket of the world that shares timezones only with Asia, and which is practically a universe unto itself in video games and streaming. How does someone not only...
The revamped Wollongong Running Festival gears up for a half marathon
Runners from across the country have been preparing to take on the new-look Wollongong Running Festival this year, with the event scheduled to be held at Stuart Park in June. The event will feature a half marathon for the first time in its 10-year history, as well as...
Award-winning international music photographer exhibits new book in Wollongong City Library
A Sydney-based freelance photographer has exhibited her new book "It's only rock 'n' roll but I like it" displaying photographs from her career shooting in Australia, Europe and America. Artist Wendy McDougall has worked with performers such as the Eurogliders,...
Travelling Charity “Brick Show” Weekend in Macarthur
LEGO builders from NSW and the ACT have showcased their building skills to raise money for charity in Camden. The GongLUG (LEGO User Group) has set up the travelling exhibition in the Camden Civic Centre displaying custom built works from original conceptions to pop...
Queerstories in Thirroul
A national LGBTQI+ live story-telling project and correlating podcast, Queerstories was a sell out event at Thirroul’s Community Library in June. Queerstories featured six local queer speakers from the Wollongong community, joining over 250 LGBTQI+ speakers across...
Local author launches new book only months after her debut novel wins prestigious award
A Stanwell Park woman has celebrated the recent release of memoir which examines how a prominent political figure transformed her life in a number of ways. Author Christine Sykes has launched the release of her new book ‘Gough and Me’, a memoir of her life and how it...
Local woman and her charity bettering lives across the globe
A Helensburgh woman is changing lives in Africa as her charity celebrates the success of the opening of its second school and sets its sights on new impactful projects. Sayari Nyuki charity founder Maeve Turner, 21 partnered with Tanzanian non-government organisation...
Duo celebrate milestones as local league referees
A veteran rugby league official has notched up his 300th game as a local first grade referee, becoming one of the first ever to achieve the milestone. William Drury has been a Group 7 referee since 1989, with his 300 game stint in the first grade competition including...
COVID changes Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
The pandemic has caused low attendance at the University of Wollongong’s Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea, while a veteran host in Wamboin was forced to make changes to the annual event. Despite the University of Wollongong’s picnic-style event being planned on a...
Live music revival
Wollongong's music scene has received a financial boost from a NSW Government support package aimed at reviving live music across the state. Jobs, Investment and Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres revealed the funding in late May, with Anita’s Theatre, Diamond Dogs...