Does crime really pay?
In 2015, Tenterfield business owner Richard Merola was on a downward spiral. Threatened by the prospect of losing everything, he purchased a couple of properties on the Queensland border, but they too quickly went sour. Desperate to make money, he moved...
Illawarra Shoalhaven mental illness statistics higher than national average
Recent data has indicated that the scope of mental health related illness in the Illawarra Shoalhaven district is consistently higher than NSW and national averages, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, HealthStats NSW and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide...
Illawarra acrobatics team wows at Australia’s Got Talent
An Illawarra gymnastics and acrobatics club has received a standing ovation at the Australia’s Got Talent auditions. The all-girls team ‘Acromazing’, from Oak Flats, will proceed to the next round in the competition after earning glowing praise from all four judges...
Westpac announces equal investment into NRL and NRLW
Westpac has announced a new partnership with the National Rugby League (NRL), pledging to provide equal financial support to both the men’s and women’s game, through a dollar-for-dollar investment. The multimillion-dollar deal will have a huge impact on many...
Accessibility to NDIS funding made difficult
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been accused of failing to support those with a disability, with funding being denied or the process to access funding being prolonged. A relative of a person living with autism spectrum disorder, Meg Bronner,...
Macarthur residents clutch their wallets as Inflation soars
Campbelltown citizens continue to struggle with the cost of living as Australia’s inflation rates reach 7.3%, the highest level since 1990. Data released this month by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), revealed that the overall cost of living has increased by...
Thrift-shopping: The future of fashion
While rapper Macklemore and Gen Z have romanticised thrift-shopping as ‘trendy’, its true worth is hidden in its impact on the environment and clothing sweatshops. When you walk into a thrift store, do you turn your nose up at the smell of musty clothing and dusty...
Hundreds join local MP in opposing ‘uncharacteristic’ Queen Street service station
More than 800 people have signed a petition to oppose plans for a 24-hour service station in the historical town of Berry. The petition by MP Gareth Ward, comes after changes were proposed to a pre-existing development application for a service station on Queen...
Can Purple Foods Assist in Dementia Treatment?
The Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute is searching for participants for a six-month study into the cognitive benefits of eating purple foods. The study, led by the University of Wollongong’s Professor Karen Charlton and associate Dr Vinicius Andre de...
Wollongong Conservatorium of Music celebrates 50 years
The Wollongong Conservatorium of Music has celebrated 50 years of music education in the Illawarra, with a free music festival in the surrounding Botanic Garden. The music celebration showcased both staff and student orchestras, choirs and bands, along with headlining...
Public art brings colour to Campbelltown City
Campbelltown precinct is set to receive a vibrant cultural boost as acclaimed artists paint the streets as part of the city's revitalisation program. The public art installations are in collaboration with local businesses, and property owners to revive Queen Street’s...
Tribute birthday party celebrates the life of Wollongong’s Big Red.
A Wollongong brewery has hosted a memorial tribute in honour of one of its most loyal customers Brent Kelly, known as Big Red, on what would have been his birthday. Mr Kelly died three weeks ago at the age of 37. Dozens of people attended Seeker Brewing in Unanderra,...