The Bomaderry Dog Park at Thurgate Oval will receive a new upgrade thanks to $56,800 funding from the NSW Government’s Local Small Commitment Allocation Program funding will provide the popular park with a second fenced off-leash area and water stations for parched pooches Mayor Patricia White said the dog park had grown in popularity since it was built on the decommissioned fields of Thurgate Oval in July 2022 “A second fenced section will allow separate areas for dogs of different sizes and temperaments to have a safe and stress-free outing,” Cr White said the Bomo Dog Bowl is the heart of their community which makes this upgrade very important for owners and dogs alike,” she said “People love this special place in Bomaderry because it is designed to be off-leash and open twenty-four-seven who championed the original project and helped secure the NSW Government grant said the dog park provided community benefits from improving mental health to giving people the opportunity to socialise and get out and about in their neighbourhood I love the Bomo Dog Bowl and I acknowledge Kylie Knight and the Bomaderry community who pushed hard to provide a safe place for dog owners their families and our prized pets to play," Mr Ward said  "Dogs play such an important role in people’s lives and this upgrade will make this park the very best in the region,” he said along with all our other four-legged friends will definitely love the new water stations after a good workout in the park." The next phase in the upgrade project involves soil testing before drainage and ground works can begin It is proposed that fencing works will begin in March 2025 The project is due for completion in mid-2025 About the Local Small Commitments Allocation Program The NSW Government’s Local Small Commitments Allocation Program provides grants to fund small local projects enhancing community wellbeing and providing benefits to each of the 93 NSW electorates More information on the program and approved grants can be found at nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/lsca Nowra City Administration Centre36 Bridge Rd, Nowra NSW 2541 Australia Ulladulla Branch Office14 Deering St, Ulladulla NSW 2539 Australia and veterans turned out for the Anzac Day march in a show of appreciation and celebration of all those who lost their lives in service All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThere were many stories heard on Meroo Street of familial pride That mateship was represented in Ian Briggs and Jack Constantine - a 97-year-old veteran of the Korean War Ian Briggs with his former Unit Chief Jack Constantine Picture by Amy BlizzardMr Briggs said it was nice to see people he did not usually see Barry Harper remembered his family's sacrifices The Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Air Arm Deputy Commander thanking service personnel and their families for their sacrifice View +14 PhotosGallery by Amy Blizzard"Throughout our nation's history we have asked brave men and women to put service ahead of self," Deputy Commander Dale said and aviators of the Australian Defence Force answered the call to defend Australia and promote security and stability in our region and across the globe." Deputy Commander Dale spoke about the heroic actions of the HMAS AE2 a submarine that was dubbed the "silent ANZAC" because of the way it snuck behind enemy lines and provided valuable support during the Gallipoli campaign Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Picture by Stm Painting.A man wearing a t-shirt shorts and thongs has rushed to extinguish a burning ute after a two-vehicle crash in Bomaderry All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Princes Highway crash left a grey coloured Holden ute perched on top of a high perimeter fence of the Country Motor Company car yard dark smoke can be seen coming out of the heavily-damaged front end of the ute as a man rushes towards it with a fire extinguisher he starts squirting the extinguisher's contents at the ute's bonnet and wheel arch A NSW Police spokesman said officers were called to the scene at 9.25am on Sunday was taken to hospital for mandatory testing was subjected to a roadside breath test which returned a negative result," she said The car yard's front fence received significant damage during the incident, with multiple panels damage and pushed inwards. Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Get the latest property and development news here Find out what's happening in local business tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Picture by Glenn Ellard.Bomaderry High School has been praised by its very first cohort of students All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThey were due to start at Bomaderry High at the beginning of 1967 but the beginning was delayed as work building the new school had not been completed and so the students spent time at Nowra High before switching across However the delay did nothing to dim the enthusiasm of former students as they gathered for a reunion at the Bomaderry Hotel on Saturday Julie Williamson and Beth Brian were among those at the Bomaderry High School reunion Picture by Glenn Ellard.Several people came from interstate for the gathering There was also plenty of praise about the time they spent at Bomaderry High Among them was Dennis Davis who said his high school years were "the best years of my life" Reunited at the Bomaderry High School class on 1967 reunion were Dawn Pearse Picture by Glenn Ellard."I don't think anyone could have enjoyed high school more than our group," he said The Bomaderry resident praised the school's strong sporting focus that extended to playing rugby union on Saturday mornings Mr Davis also spoke of the strong bonds between students and the teachers even though that occasionally resulted in rules being bent CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced A Thrive Together Pop-up event will take place in Bomaderry on Thursday 14 November providing health and wellbeing services to people doing it tough in our community.  The pop-up event will help the community access local supports including housing free legal advice and a range of health and wellbeing services Mayor Patricia White said the event will include a free BBQ supervised children’s activities area “We want our community to have equitable access to the things they need to support their wellbeing and provide opportunities to improve their quality of life,” said Cr White.  “Based on the annual Thrive Together Fair the pop-up is a localised event which targets communities and will bring together community services and supports specific to the area,” she said “We’re excited to support this pop-up in the Bomaderry community with plans to have more events across the Shoalhaven next year.”  Following feedback from the Thrive Together Fair held in Nowra in 2023 local pop-up events were piloted to focus on specific communities in the Shoalhaven the pop-ups will replace the one annual event This event is a partnership between Shoalhaven City Council and Salt Care We thank them for their guidance and the support of the service providers who will be attending.  All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueNothing much has changed in Bomaderry's Reid Park "This is a park I played in as a kid," said State Member for Kiama said he used to play in Bomaderry's Red Park as a child and Shoalhaven Mayor Patricia White helped revive memories by pushing him on a swing Picture by Glenn Ellard."Nothing much has changed here since I was a child with Mr Ward handing over $32,000 so Shoalhaven Council can upgrade the playground which for years has consisted just of two small swings hanging from the same wooden structure Mr Ward said those swings were "well and truly past their use-by date" and Shoalhaven Mayor Patricia White in Reid Park where the play equipment will soon be upgraded Picture by Glenn Ellard.Money from the small communities fund would be used to cover the cost of new play equipment and "give the growing community of Bomaderry an investment in public open spaces like this" Shoalhaven Mayor Patricia White said council would talk to community members about what they would like to see in the playground She said the funding would provide a new asset for local residents to use "even if it is only new swings for the community" Watch 45sTwo major silos at the Manildra factory on the NSW South Coast have collapsed. All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDominic Saliba is on trial at the Supreme Court in Nowra accused of murdering his 18-year-old cousin Bailey Jones on December 9 Police arrest Dominic Saliba in December 2022 Picture from video supplied by NSW Police Force.In the court on Friday Jaeman Elfverson said he was living at Saliba's home the night Mr Jones died but lied in two police statements because "I was trying to protect my friends." "I thought they'd get into trouble," he said while being questioned by Crown prosecutor Kate Ratcliffe Mr Elfverson made statements to police on December 11 He had moved into Saliba's home in West Birrelly Street just a week before the death and on the night of December 9 was with a group of friends at the home listening to music talking and smoking Bailey's medicinal cannabis Mr Elfverson said during the evening Saliba and Mr Jones were involved in "slap boxing" playing around and "trying to slap each other's faces and all that" Two white canisters were on a table at the time - "one had weed He said the cannabis container was Bailey's and during the slap boxing Bailey dropped a container he was holding before Saliba picked it up and headed inside but a couple of minutes later he heard what sounded like banging on the walls and door coming from inside "I heard Bailey say 'ahh' like he was in pain," he said He tried to investigate but "I couldn't see past the door." Minutes later Mr Jones walked out the door holding his chest and Mr Elfverson said he could see "blood dripping at his feet and on the floor" "Why do you always do that?" and "I need air," according to Mr Elfverson He said he and others looked for Mr Jones' keys to drive to hospital Mr Elfverson said Saliba told everyone Bailey fell on his knife which was a message he repeated when he called for an ambulance Mr Elfverson told the operator "he's stabbed himself" and "my mate's bleeding really badly" Mr Elfverson went to look for towels to help stem the bleeding as Saliba took over the call "As he was joking around he fell on the knife" "He tripped over and landed on the knife." Saliba said Bailey was going in and out of consciousness The trial before Justice Dina Yehia is continuing October 15) with the first of the English papers All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueTriplets Jenson Wardle Violet Rath and Charli Rath had easy access to study companions ahead of sitting down for the exams However each has different hopes and ambitions for life beyond the exams and said "that's really all my mind's set for" Bomaderry High School HSC students Violet Rath Tobias Binns and Matilda Peer discuss their efforts and answers in the English paper one exam Picture by Glenn Ellard.While he had yet to decide on which field of engineering he wanted to specialise in "recently I've been looking into aeronautical but really with engineering I could do anything Charli also planned to attend university in Sydney or Canberra after a year off to work and earn some money But while her siblings and peers spoke about the pressure and expectations of exams Violet said there was "not much pressure on me" She said she had already organised a future working in trades starting with a position at Manildra when school finished "I could do anything really - I could be a boilermaker or I could manage a few projects," Violet said But first there was another month to complete all the HSC exams "I'm only doing this because I don't want to be the only one in my family that didn't go to year 12." Some of their classmates agreed early entry was a good way of reducing the stress typically associated with HSC exams "The whole idea of early entry takes away that pressure," said Riley O'Connell He said he had received five early entry offers from universities in Wollongong then would probably study economics and international security at Canberra Tobias Binns said he also had a couple of early entry offers - for engineering at Wollongong University and a more recent offer of a Bachelor of Economics and Finance "But I don't know if I'll take that yet." He was planning a gap year to help decide which direction his future Some of those early entries depended on students obtaining particular ATAR results Jenson said one of his classmates had been accepted into the Navy to train as an aeronautical engineer In contrast Matilda Peer said she had not decided whether to go straight to university or try a gap year but either way she wanted to study a course leading to the medical imaging field While the students were ambivalent about their performance in the first exam that required an essay on the George Orwell book 1984 along with short answers assorted questions Bomaderry High School principal Ian Morris said he was "confident" in the results they would achieve "This particular cohort is pretty special - they have just been driven since year 7 to work hard." Picture: Sylvia LiberWollongong City Surf Lifesaving Club is confident they'll come away with gold from the approaching Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships held on the Gold Coast Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe club's Under 17 Female beach sprint and Under 17 Male beach teams are tipped as favourites with the former having taken out the below age division (Under 15) in 2024 "(We're) highly confident," Competition Manager and Publicity Officer Kylie Duggan said "They train well and they support each other well .. The event follows a successful State Titles campaign last week at which Wollongong City SLSC placed 15th out of 55 participating clubs It was a tremendous effort against a field filled with larger clubs that have dominated in past years "We are known as a small club in the scheme of things," Duggan said "Your contenders once upon a time were Bulli and Warrilla whereas we're now exceeding these clubs because of the game plan we have in place for retention of athletes and training programs Duggan said Wollongong's tight-knit community is what has helped the club grow rapidly in both numbers and results of late "We are a very family-orientated club," she said "The longevity of the club shows familiar family names and of course new families who come along "But the club is known for being family-orientated." That approach has attracted athletes from across the region and Duggan there had been a dramatic climb in numbers over the past few seasons "This is the second year we've had a significant jump in competitive members in the past it's been just drips and drabs," she said "It's that supportive and inclusivity of putting teams together to reach goals The Shellharbour Sharks will field a youthful side at the third annual Shellharbour Sharks RLFC shootout tournament at Ron Costello Oval on Saturday Picture by Adam McLean.The third annual Shellharbour Sharks RLFC shootout tournament returns to Ron Costello Oval this Saturday Eight teams will battle it out for the shootout itself The Sharks won the inaugural pre-season tournament in 2023 but had to settle for the runners-up medal last year after Windsor Wolves beat them in the final Last season's Group Seven rugby league grand finalists Shellharbour and seven other teams will compete in this year's Shootout on Saturday Collegians will play fellow Illawarra Rugby League outfit Dapto in the opening game of the knockout competition at noon This will be followed by a clash between host club Shellharbour and La Perouse at 12.50pm The other two games will see Tuggerong take on Nowra Bomaderry Jets at 1.40pm before Corrimal Cougars battle last year's champions Games will be played over 20-minute halves in the standard 13 v 13 format Winners of games one and two will play each other in the first semi-final with the second semifinal to feature the winners of games three and four Shellharbour Sharks coach Abed Atallah said the Shootout was a good chance for teams to play some meaningful trials ahead of their respective season starts it is a good opportunity to watch some of our younger players within the club that were part of our reserve-grade grand final team along with a couple of new faces to the club looking for their first opportunity to get some football behind them," Atallah said "We have lost a fair bit of experience with James Ralphs (Avondale Wombats) "We also have a couple of boys in the rep side who will be unavailable for the games at the weekend presenting an opportunity for others to step up and put their hands up for the season start." Entry to the third annual Shellharbour Sharks RLFC shootout tournament is $10 Special Olympics Illawarra is ready for the upcoming NSW titles on March 8-9 in Bomaderry with star athletes Fraser King and Koby Banks prepared for another campaign of fun friends and - fingers crossed - gold medals Both part of the basketball team competing this weekend King has been a member at the club for four years having first joined at Flinders in South Sydney Special Olympics Illawarra Club members Koby Banks and Fraser King. Picture by Robert PeetThe pair share the same love for Special Olympics and all it has provided for them over the years we're all good mates and we're very much at the empower stage as a club," King said "It's been amazing getting to travel to places I never thought I'd be able to as an athlete and I've learned a lot from people at the club I wouldn't have had the same opportunities "It's helped me gain more confidence as myself and as an athlete "We get to travel around Australia and the world making friends." Banks said the organisation had helped him drastically both on and off the court the past 15 years As a 15-year-old who'd found a true passion for basketball five years prior Banks joined Special Olympics in D-grade before slowly progressing up to the top: A-grade In 2017, he was named Special Olympics Australia Athlete of the Year and in 2019 donned the green and gold at the San Diego World Games training three or four times a week to get there," he said it means the world to me and if it wasn't for Special Olympics I don't know where I'd be today." Banks has an important message for anyone on the verge of getting involved and see because you will feel the vibe and never turn back," he said "Moving forward I want to help other athletes reach their potential and hopefully get more people involved "Special Olympics is all about getting involved and having fun." admitting it was easy to feel overwhelmed by the idea of something new but not to let that get in the way "Some people might be scared of competitions and shy away from it but what they should know is everyone is s supportive," he said "There are competitions you can start out in just for fun to have a go and learn new skills "You'll fill your cup so much you'll be amazed at how far you can go." King said he wanted to see the number of athletes "There are only 3000 registered athletes across Australia but hopefully we can get more because there are 250,000 people living with intellectual disabilities across the country," he said "Some people aren't as fortunate as others and Special Olympics has given them a place to go for opportunities and life long friends "Hopefully more can hear about the wonderful things we do at Special Olympics in 216 counties." The upcoming games are set to host 40+ athletes travelling from all over NSW - as far north as Port Macquarie down to the border and out west to the likes of Orange and Bathurst Special Olympics Illawarra Club members Koby Banks and Fraser King Picture by Robert PeetWhat is Special Olympics?People often mistake Special Olympics for the Paralympics The Special Olympics sit under the IOC and are permitted to use the 'Olympic' title They do not coincide with Olympic and Paralympic Games nor do they follow the same competition structure or guidelines for competition The Special Olympics are for people with intellectual disabilities and/ or autism are arranged by 'divisioning' - an act of allocating athletes to a division based on their abilities to ensure a fair-go for all involved "Divisioning puts the athlete where they feel comfortable so they can succeed and that's really important because many come from mainstream competition where they weren't included," Chairperson of Special Olympics Illawarra "Most of our athletes have been competing in mainstream competitions and are the ones who get left out "Now they're in Special Olympics and are the ones that shine because they have the place the ability and people surrounding them who believe in them athletes are very capable but just need the extra support "I've been involved in Special Olympics for 15 years and in that time I've seen athletes go from having confidence to shining on the world stage." I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury Grace Hamilton covers all things sport for the Illawarra Mercury. Born and raised a Queenslander before relocating to Wollongong, she is passionate about telling the story behind the story and supporting clubs from grassroots to professional. Got a yarn? Email her at: grace.hamilton@austcommunitymedia.com.au Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Get the latest property and development news here. Find out what's happening in local business. 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All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFour of the engineering students achieved a band six result in he subject equating to a mark of between 90 and 99 per cent They were among 16 band six results for the school Bomaderry High School engineering teacher Samuel Bergin (right) with students who recorded band six results in the subject - Toby Binns Picture by Glenn Ellard.Among the school's top performers was Daniel Whittaker with an ATAR of 98.8 that included band six results in engineering Daniel said his focus was on understanding the equations and calculations that were at the centre of solving problems The Shoalhaven Heads teenager said that was better than trying to memorise formulas which he dismissed as "the worst thing you can do" Four hours of studying each day helped achieve the result but Daniel said he started studying only in year 11 "I always thought year 11 was when I'd start taking it seriously," he said Studying increased as it got closer to the exams and "I was pretty worn out by the end of it." Daniel plans to continue studying maths with a degree at the University of NSW Only just behind Daniel was fellow engineering and science student Patrick Higgins starting with the new entry officer course at HMAS Creswell as he begins a career in aeronautical engineering He will then spend time at ADFA and HMAS Albatross but described the training as "a break from studying" Bomaderry High School engineering teacher Samuel Bergin (centre) with students who recorded band six results in the subject - Toby Binns Picture by Glenn Ellard.Patrick's interest in Defence started with an information session when he was in year 10 and at the end of the year he won a Defence award for excellence in science and maths He spent close to a year going through the application process because "It's really competitive to get in" before being accepted a week before his HSC exams "That took the pressure off," but he still needed an ATAR of 85 to qualify for ADFA Also reaching band six in the school's engineering course were Charlie Rudd (ATAR 91.3) and Toby Binns (ATAR 86.2) who all paid tribute to the energy and enthusiasm of teacher Samuel Burgin He said engineering was "a fantastic subject to teach" Mr Burgin said the Shoalhaven was an ideal place to study engineering because he was able to take students to places including Navy bases and Sikorsky to show practical engineering applications In addition the University of Wollongong had "an excellent engineering faculty" that offered plenty of support for HSC students "We've got amazing resources here in the Shoalhaven region," he said This year's cohort of students also showed amazing qualities they were all incredibly supportive of each other," he said Picture from footage supplied by NSW Police ForceThe face tattoos of a man accused of murdering his teenage cousin in Bomaderry could so significantly sway a jury that the accused will face trial before a judge alone Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDominic Saliba is charged with killing 18-year-old Bailey Jones on December 9 Mr Jones suffered two stab wounds to his chest or abdomen at the Saliba family home and died a short time later Saliba's murder trial is due to begin at the Supreme Court in Nowra on Monday He applied in February to have his trial go before a judge only based on concerns that a jury could be tainted by prejudice stemming from social media posts and his prominent tattoos Saliba is a heavily tattooed man with conspicuous tattoos on his face and neck including two depicting knives and a scythe under his left eye Justice Peter Hamill said it could be accepted that Saliba's facial tattoos were not immediately obvious in the video of his police interview or from across a courtroom but they may be more apparent if he gave evidence "If a single member of the jury notices a tattoo of a knife or a scythe on Mr Saliba's face be inclined to accept the prosecution case more readily for reasons of emotion rather than logic or rational thought," he said Justice Hamill said he was not "greatly influenced" by an older academic article and study about negative perceptions of tattoos which were provided to the court given how much more common tattoos had become "It is the nature of the tattoos that is of more concern particularly the facial tattoos which are not so common and the depiction of a knife and a scythe which has some resonance in a case involving a stabbing," he said Justice Hamill found that the tattoos were significant when considering the various factors that informed the decision about whether a judge-alone trial was in the interests of justice Prosecutor Kate Ratcliffe had argued that a high-necked shirt or makeup could obscure the extent of Saliba's tattoos Saliba's application also included material published by large media organisations and posts on social media "Much of that material was quite tendentious assumed the guilt of the accused and was apt to engender great (and entirely appropriate) sympathy for Bailey Jones' family The two most significant stories from media organisations had been taken offline but the social media posts were "far more extensive" and it was difficult to work out what was still available online even though Mr Jones's mother - who was active on social media as a way of coping with her loss - had done what she could to take the material down Saliba's lawyer Rose Khalilizadeh submitted that members of the jury may be aware of the social media posts before coming to court and there was a risk they could disobey directions and seek out the material But Justice Hamill said he acted on the assumption that the jury could be appropriately vetted and would follow the directions of the trial judge although accepted there was some "residual risk" Saliba is expected to argue self-defence at the trial Ms Ratcliffe this raised the question of reasonableness and community standards would have to be applied to determine this Ms Khalilizadeh said the other matters outweighed this Justice Hamill found the most significant issues in the case would not require the application of community standards "It seems that the critical issues for the tribunal of fact will be precisely what Mr Saliba did and what Mr Saliba's intention and belief was at the time the knife penetrated the deceased's chest," he said Saliba's trial is listed to begin before Justice Dina Yehia on Monday Justice Hamill has ordered that the media outlets that took down their stories and social media posts can reinstate them once the trial begins Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs and education. Our Watch award winner. If you've got a story, let me know. Pictures suppliedBomaderry High School (BHS) proudly celebrates the remarkable accomplishments of the Class of 2024 in this year's HSC and determination have led to 16 Band 6 scores (above 90 per cent) across a wide range of subjects including Mathematics Extension 1 and 2 Hospitality Examination (Food and Beverage) These impressive achievements showcase the diverse talents of BHS students and highlight the broad spectrum of academic excellence nurtured at BHS Students also achieved an outstanding 64 Band 5 results (80-89 per cent) a testament to their hard work and dedication and BHS celebrates every pathway students pursue after school BHS celebrates every pathway students pursue after school.This success would not be possible without the commitment and expertise of the exceptional teaching staff and role models who inspire students to achieve their best Their passion for student growth creates a supportive and enriching learning environment This dedication is reflected not only in the outstanding HSC results but also in the personal milestones and achievements of all BHS students throughout the year BHS believes in the power and importance of public education Public schools like BHS are places of opportunity Students from all backgrounds are encouraged to dream big A quality public education not only opens doors to future opportunities but also fosters resilience and the confidence to thrive in an ever-changing world The HSC is just one chapter in students' journeys and BHS is confident the Class of 2024 is destined for great things Their achievements are a reminder of the incredible potential of public education and the bright futures it helps shape BHS extends a heartfelt thank you to the families and community members who have supported this exceptional group of young people every step of the way and determination they have developed at BHS Court hears Bomaderry murder accused 'woke up with Bailey in his arms covered in his blood'Saliba's former girlfriend Breanna Robbins was called to give evidence on Tuesday telling the court the pair broke up just before Mr Jones died because Saliba "was seeing someone else" But the court heard she received a Facebook message on the night of the death from a friend Ms Robbins said she was shocked by the news and then she just told me that I'd see it on the news soon And the next day that's when it was on the news and I seen it," she said Ms Robbins said she tried reaching out to Saliba via Snapchat which was a platform they used to use to speak but he replied through his mother's Facebook page a few days later Ms Robbins said she travelled to Bomaderry on December 19 spending time drinking with Saliba and his family and she was "very drunk" by the time she and Saliba went to a bedroom "Dom started to cry and we were talking about what happened to Bailey," she told the court and if he done it," but she said all Saliba replied was "He's gone I didn't hear Dom say he done it or who done it he just said Bailey was stabbed twice," Ms Robbins said "He also said that him and Bailey were arguing in each other's faces he doesn't remember what happened - he blacked out and he woke up with Bailey in his arms covered in his blood "He said he had to drag Bailey out of the garage because he needed air and that's when he said the ambulance rocked up." However while being questioned by crown prosecutor Kate Ratcliffe Ms Robbins said Saliba did not say he could not remember what happened - they were "my words" Ms Robbins agreed with defence barrister Rose Khalilizadeh's suggestion that Saliba was distraught and was "bawling his eyes out" while talking about what happened with Mr Jones She was still at the house in Bomaderry when Saliba was arrested on December 22 but told police she knew nothing about the incident In court Mr Robbins said she told police she knew nothing because "I was ripped out of bed early in the morning I didn't remember anything from the previous night But she later came forward to speak with police "cos it's the right thing to do" Earlier in the day Jaemon Elfverson continued his evidence that he lied while making two statements to police "to protect Dom" "Pretty much everything I said in the statements in the 11th and 13th of December was a lie," he said telling them everything he knew in a third statement because he was concerned about being charged as an accessory Mr Elfverson said he was worried from "the very beginning" that he could be charged with being an accessory The New South Wales Government’s developer, Landcom, has contracted Ulladulla based Zauner Construction to deliver 60 new homes in Bomaderry.   Construction of this South Coast build-to-rent project is set to begin in the coming months.   The 48 new homes will be provided at market rates for long term rental, with the remaining twelve set aside for affordable housing for households on low to moderate incomes.  The building will demonstrate best practice sustainable design to maximise energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and provide a healthy environment for residents with fresh air and natural light.  There will be a mix of apartment sizes to suit the needs, lifestyles and budgets of the local community.  Future residents will be close to Bomaderry railway station and have easy access to shops, open space and other amenities.  Construction will take around 18 months with new residents expected to move in by late 2026.  New South Wales Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, said that from the regions to the city centres, the state government is getting on with the job of delivering more affordable, well-built and connected homes to those that need it.  “The New South Wales Government’s program is boosting housing supply in areas where we know people are struggling with the rising cost of rent,” Minister Scully said.   “This will provide a boost to jobs and the local economy in the Shoalhaven region.”  Member for South Coast, Liza Butler, said that the injection of housing is welcome news and will be of great benefit to many families in the area.   “It is developments such as this that have been the missing link for Bomaderry and the South Coast,” Ms Butler said.   “Long term, secure rental housing is important now, more than ever. I am proud to be part of the state government that is taking action to address the housing crisis in New South Wales.”  Disaster recovery support is now available to flood impacted communities in Bourke, Brewarrina and Walgett in northern New South Wales.... Australia’s 537 councils have called on the next Federal Government to ensure that the financial sustainability of local government is... With the federal election approaching fast and renewables still a critical issue for government, the Local Government Association of Queenland... © 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited © 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAs the first students to attend the newly opened high school they will reunite to celebrate the milestone birthday and reconnect with old friends Arthur Lawrence and Sue Gallagher are excited to reunite with classmates after 57 years Picture by Abi KirklandSue Gallagher and Arthur Lawrence shared stories of what it was like being the first class at Bomaderry High School At the time the school was only two blocks but students in the class of 1967 were thrilled to be the first to use the new equipment and make their mark "We were lucky to be there," Ms Gallagher said "In a lot of ways we were lucky to have the teachers we had and I think we felt a bit privileged to be the first ones there at the new school." Ms Gallagher said the students and teachers became a tight-knit community "We've had a ball catching up with people at the reunions," Ms Gallagher said Ms Gallagher and Mr Lawrence are excited to share memories and stories with some of their longest friends "It will also be good to see who's around and get back in touch," Mr Lawrence said He said a few people were travelling from as far as Queensland to attend the celebration If you are from the Bomaderry High School year of 1967 or 1968 and are interested in attending please contact Janette Vaughn on 0429 595 797 Guests are invited to bring a picnic basket All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSalt Care has been working with a developer who is providing seven townhouses for the charity to use to provide accommodation for people in need according to Salt Care founder and CEO Peter Dover and have been designed to accommodate families and NSW Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson met with Peter Dover of Salt Care and Sarah Date from Safe Waters to announce temporary funding for both services Picture by Glenn Ellard.However the innovative plan depends on State Government funding to set up the units with furniture security systems and the things a family will need To date government funding has been hard to come by, despite Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson delivering $250,000 in funding each to Safe Shelter Shoalhaven in Nowra and Safe Waters in Ulladulla in August 2023 as a temporary measure until the services could get into the regular funding rounds At the time Ms Jackson said both services would be included in the Homelessness Innovation Fund but when the money was allocated in January nothing was given to organisations in the Shoalhaven Ms Jackson said the services were "in the second round of the Homelessness Innovation Fund so we are still working with them on that" "We've got a lot of different services that are doing excellent work - as they are - and that require funding," Ms Jackson said "We're just working with them on round two and hopefully we'll have more to say as that round is announced at the end of March." While Ms Jackson said there were "a lot of good services that are underfunded," Mr Dover said he would be happy to get any government funding Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson speaks in Nowra on Tuesday Picture by Glenn Ellard.And without government support Salt Care "wont be going ahead" with the plan to use the townhouses in Coomea Street to provide temporary accommodation for families He said Salt would use its support workers financial counsellors and psychologists to provide wrap-around assistance to families in the townhouses helping them transition into permanent accommodation to provide stability and get children settled into a school because "there is no decent family accommodation in that temporary accommodation sphere" "There's no family accommodation in the state that is anything like this." Mr Dover said the homelessness model in NSW was increasing focused on putting people into temporary accommodation until permanent places were made available He was optimistic about Salt Care and Safe Shelter being given funding given that Ms Jackson was aware of their predicaments so let's hope we can get that across the line," he said All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThere was a smattering of applause from the gallery when Justice Dina Yehia said Saliba was guilty of manslaughter for causing Bailey's death through a dangerous and unlawful act Justice Yehia also found Saliba not guilty of murder over the death of Mr Jones Man found guilty of manslaughter over cousin's death in BomaderryIn outlining her decision in the judge-alone trial Justice Yehia rejected Saliba's version of events in the kitchen of his Bomaderry home on the night I reject his account that the deceased threw a punch at him causing the accused to shield his face with his left hand and take steps backward," she said "I reject the accused's account that in effect thereby occasioning to himself the fatal injury "I reject the account because I am satisfied that the representations the accused made to Mr Elfverson insofar as they are relied on as an admission to an unlawful killing Surveillance equipment installed in Saliba's home following the death detected Saliba making a range of admissions to friend Jaeman Elfverson, but when he gave evidence in court Saliba said he was just trying to sound tough because "I thought Jaeman looked up to me" "I do not accept the accused's evidence that his representations were all lies told effectively to present himself as tough in front of his friend," she said While Saliba's claims contained "some embellishments and exaggerations" Justice Yehia accepted some of Saliba's admissions as truthful because "they are unguarded representations made at a time when the accused was unaware of the listening devices" Justice Yehia said that they were also made to people Saliba "felt comfortable with and believed would not betray him to the police" Justice Yehia said the comments detected by listening devices that she accepted as truthful included "I f....d up" "yeah but that didn't go through my brain at that point" and "but I just flipped it like when I shouldn't have - I wish someone just had that chance to say 'Dom She also accepted as truth evidence from former girlfriend Breanna Robbins who visited Saliba in the days following the death and told the court Saliba spoke of how he and Mr Jones were arguing and in each other's faces on the night Mr Jones was stabbed Saliba retrieved a large knife from his bedroom and told the court it was to "keep the distance" between himself and his cousin and "keep the joke going" that the accused took possession to assert control and to obtain the upper hand in his interaction with the deceased," she said But she also said she was "not persuaded that at the time he took possession of the knife he had the intention to stab or injure the deceased" Justice Yehia said she was unable to determine the precise movements of Mr Jones leading up to the time he sustained the fatal wound "other than to say he did not advance on the knife" Justice Yehia will hear sentencing submissions in Sydney on Wednesday pleading guilty in Nowra Local Court on Monday to possessing a firearm without a licence or permit Convicted Bomaderry killer pleads guilty to possessing unauthorised rifleFollowing the death at Saliba's home police searched the property and found a .303 rifle in the roof cavity Agreed facts presented to the court said the rifle had been partially spray painted Police also seized CCTV footage from the property which showed Saliba holding the rifle and spray painting it in the front yard during the afternoon on December 9 The agreed facts said there were times the rifle was left unattended and Saliba did not have a firearms licence or permit Information presented to the court said Saliba was subject to an intensive corrections order at the time and was under supervision conditions including electronic monitoring via and ankle bracelet The two-year intensive corrections order was imposed in May 2022 after Saliba was convicted of robbery armed with an offensive weapon The case will return to the Nowra Local Court in April 28 Picture @NSWSupCt TwitterOne of the men in a Bomaderry home the night 18-year-old Bailey Jones died told police the man accused of his murder tried to ensure his friends were consistent when dealing with police Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSaliba has been charged over the death of his 18-year-old cousin Bailey Jones in Bomaderry on December 9 He has pleaded not guilty to the charge One of the men who was at Saliba's home on the night was shown two statements he made to police on December 18 as he gave evidence to the Supreme Court trial in Nowra on Thursday Crown prosecutor Kate Ratcliffe told the court Mr Mitchell said at the time the second statement was made to correct misinformation in the first That second statement included the claim Sailba told his friends "Everyone stick with the story that he fell on his knife," while they waited for an ambulance to arrive The court was told Mr Mitchell said he had left things out of the first statement "because I didn't want to get Dom in trouble But Mr Mitchell said he had no recollection of making that second statement He also said he could not remember saying "my mate stabbed himself" while making triple-0 call Another of the men present in the house on the night - Matthew McAnally - was also called to give evidence on Thursday and also said he could not remember details of what happened on the night "During that period of time I was under the influence of drugs and I was traumatised," Mr McAnally said That became an issue when he was asked about details of a statement he made to police I was under the influence of drugs at the time so I cannot tell you whether I had a clear state of mind when I gave that statement because I don't remember giving it," Mr McAnally told Crown prosecutor Kate Ratcliffe He said he had "about 10 seconds of memory from that day" That included "I was in the garage smoking weed and Bailey Jones walked to the door and moved his hand from his chest Mr McAnally said when Mr Jones walked the the door it was the connection between the garage and the house and blood starting coming out everywhere." He said some of the men at the property helped Mr Jones to get down the driveway he recalled Saliba "was crying" while standing on the driveway investigating police got permission to install surveillance devices in Saliba's home Mr McAnally said he could not remember the conversation During the day Supreme Court Justice Dina Yehia had to issue a stern warning to members of the public gallery As the court returned from a lunch break Justice Yehia raised concerns about behaviour within the gallery "I want to make this clear - members of the public are welcome to watch these proceedings and to sit in court to do so," Justice Yehia said "But they are not welcome to make any comments about the evidence they are not welcome to shake their heads at witnesses and in any other way interact with witnesses "It should be understood that any threat or attempt to intimidate any witness may lead to criminal charges," she said Justice Yehia said she had asked the sheriff to look into the matter "and the sheriff has made his own inquiries that may be ongoing" Filmed at the former Bomaderry Aboriginal Children’s Home – also known as the ‘birthplace of the stolen generation’ in NSW - directors Nick Rae & Jordan Blanch bookend the new visual for 3%’s track ‘Won’t Stop’ with frank descriptions of the dark history of the children’s home, where for decades Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families. Playing into the track’s themes of hope, resilience and optimism, the dark historical significance of the set’s location is set in contrast to the upbeat, pop-forward sound of ‘Won’t Stop’, working to bring joy to a place where it was robbed from so many, celebrating the strength of community, children and family as Nooky, Dallas Woods, Angus Field and Jess Mauboy dance through the sparse rooms of the former children’s home. “The generosity of the community and the kindness with which they took us in and shared their stories were incredibly special” adds Jordan Blanch “It’s a space that holds so much pain, and their ability to heal is truly inspirational. This project reminded me of why I make films and the true strength and love of humanity.” All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueClose to 2000 tonnes of wheat spilled onto the ground and into the Shoalhaven River when two silos collapsed and a third one was damaged about 10.30pm The clean-up of the Shoalhaven Starches site is expected to take weeks The collapse of two silos spilled close to 2000 tonnes of grain onto the ground and into the Shoalhaven River Picture supplied by Fire and rescue NSW.The Manildra Group said it was working "round-the-clock with relevant authorities and regulatory bodies to address this situation" "Manildra Group has engaged independent structural engineers and independent qualified environmental consultants to advise on our incident response which includes the demolition of the impacted silos and clean-up of the site and Shoalhaven River," a spokesperson said the safety of our team and Bomaderry community is our primary priority as we continue to respond to this incident." Pictures supplied by Fire and Rescue NSW Shellharbour station FRNSWA clean-up and investigation is in full swing after two silos at the Manildra Group's Bomaderry site collapsed sending tonnes of grain spilling towards the Shoalhaven River Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAround 10pm Thursday causing a neighbouring silo to do the same There is no indication of what caused the collapse but there were no reports of any explosions at the site The company has issued a statement confirming there were no injuries at the Shoalhaven Starches site "A quantity of grain has spilled into the Shoalhaven River and Manildra Group is actively working alongside SafeWork NSW and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to address this," a company spokesperson said "Our onsite team is working with structural engineers to assess the situation "We remain dedicated to upholding the highest standards of workplace health and safety for our employees and the Bomaderry community." The spokesperson said the Manildra Group's "primary priority is the health and wellbeing of our employees and the surrounding community" Emergency protocols and safety procedures were enacted immediately View +5 Photos"Manildra Group is fully cooperating with Fire and Rescue New South Wales an exclusion zone has been established around the affected silos." Fire and Rescue NSW crews from across the Shoalhaven responded to the incident Inspector Rick Jones from Fire and Rescue NSW said there was "a catastrophic failure of two grain silos each one containing approximately 1000 tonnes of wheat." "We're concerned about it collapsing at the moment and we're developing a plan to remotely access the grain," Inspector Jones said Crews are also dealing with up to 2000 tonnes of grain on the ground on the river's edge "We've got the salvage company on site with the EPA and they're going to get a barge and formulate a plan to extricate the silo and then to get the product out," Inspector Jones said initially we've got a remote control robot that we're going to utilise to remove some of it and once we're certain that the third silo's safe we'll then go in and do ground operations with heavy plant." The crews will remain at the scene today to assist with clean-up and advising Manildra management and the Environment Protection Authority Rain is forecast for the South Coast today which is expected to make the clean-up easier due to the rainfall causing the grain to clump together I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe event will steam into the station from Saturday The community will have the opportunity to experience history onboard beautifully restored heritage carriages from the 1930s and 40s with 50-minute steam train rides from Bomaderry Station towards Berry and return Departure times from Bomaderry Station to Berry and return (non-stop) are 9.05am Tickets can only be purchased ahead of the weekend at thnsw.com.au/shoalhaven or by calling 1300 11 55 99 Transport Heritage NSW Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Moritz said this the first time in nearly a decade that a steam train has operated from Bomaderry Station "We're excited to be bringing transport heritage to life in the beautiful Shoalhaven region," he said "This part of the South Coast Line is some of the most picturesque in the state and was once serviced by steam engines such as locomotive 3265 on the historic South Coast Daylight Express." Customers will have the option of sitting in a compartment Each carriage has been restored by staff and volunteers at Transport Heritage NSW's workshop based at the NSW Rail Museum in the Wollondilly region The South Coast Line opened to Bomaderry in 1893, more than 10 years after initial works began in 1882. it was serviced daily by the South Coast Daylight Express which was originally hauled by 32-class steam locomotives such as 3265 Steam trains continued to operate on the line until 1961 when they were replaced by diesel railcars The Nowra Bomaderry Structure Plan (NBSP) 2006 identified several new living areas to be released in the Nowra-Bomaderry area over a 25 year period Council is seeking feedback on two draft planning documents proposed to guide the development and delivery of a future new residential area in the suburb of Badagarang known as the Moss Vale Road North Urban Release Area These later became Urban Release Areas (URAs) with the commencement of Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2014 The Nowra-Bomaderry URAs are recognised in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Plan as being regionally significant release areas To find out more, visit the Planning for Growth Nowra and Bomaderry Get Involved web page Picture by Robert PeetFour wins on the trot has Stingrays of Shellharbour players buzzing for the Group Seven finals series The home team got out to a fast start in front of their home faithful, leading 16-6 at half-time, before Adam Quinlan's side forced their way back into the contest at 22-all But Stingrays' quality shone through in the end winning the contest 44-22 to claim the fifth and final Group Seven knockout place The result marked four wins in a row for Warner's side his team had been languishing in the middle of the table before making a last minute resurgence to book a finals spot All the boys are in good spirits getting through to the finals," Warner said "It's a lot of good momentum to carry into the finals I knew it was going to take a bit of time and a bit of patience [with a new squad] We were running out of patience towards the back end of the season "Obviously we lost a lot of cattle last year I think we've seen the same side over the last five weeks and it's really built nicely You can tell in the performances that we've been putting in I feel like it's a good way to go into finals with four wins and playing the right style of footy." Warner picked out a couple of players that performed well in the final match of the regular season "Matt and Liam Scot played quite well in our engine room They've been fantastic all year and they both scored again today," Warner continued They've had cracker seasons and just lead from the front every week It's such a good platform for us to play off "I think now the big focus [going into finals] will be defence If we can turn on our defence and keep points low it will go a long way We've got a lot of points in us and we can go a long way in the finals The top five are now locked in for the Group Seven finals series 2024 Gerringong claimed the minor premiership with a 36-8 victory over Kiama on Saturday meaning Scott Stewart's side will have the first week off finals Shellharbour Sharks are in second after beating Milton Ulladulla 34-12 and will take on Albion Park Oak Flats in their first finals series in 12 years after the Eagles finished the regular season with a 24-8 win against Warilla Lake South The aforementioned Gorillas finished in fourth meaning they will host Stingrays at Cec Glenholmes Oval in an elimination final next weekend "We've had a couple of good clash with them this year," Warner said ahead of the Gorillas clash next week they've got some quality players there that we've got to watch out for Picture by Robert PeetStingrays of Shellharbour confirmed their spot in the Group Seven finals series with a 44-22 win over Nowra Bomaderry at Flinders Field Picture by Robert PeetNowra Bomaderry's Jonah Longbottom looks to break through the Stingrays defensive line Picture by Robert PeetStingrays coach Warner labelled Matt Scott as one of his best on field against the Jets Picture by Robert PeetJake Kamire looks to take a big hit up for Stingrays Picture by Robert PeetNowra Bomaderry player-coach Adam Quinlan looks to weave some of his magic Picture by Robert PeetThe match was do-or-die for both teams Picture by Robert PeetMatt Scott was everywhere for the Stingrays Picture by Robert PeetJayden Harris on the ball for Stingrays Illawarra Mercury sports journalist. Feel free to get in touch jordan.warren@austcommunitymedia.com.au. All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSaliba is on trial in the Supreme Court in Nowra, accused of murdering his 18-year-old cousin Bailey Jones in Bomaderry on the night of December 9 Earlier in the day Jaeman Elfverson continued his evidence that he lied while making two statements to police "to protect Dom" Panoramic aerial drone view of Nowra showing Nowra Bridge along the Princes Highway in the City of Shoalhaven, NSW, Australia with Shoalhaven River in the background The $35 million road project connecting Nowra and Cambewarra is now complete. Fully funded by the Federal Government, the Far North Collector Road links Illaroo Road in Bangalee with Moss Vale Road at Bells Lane. This means improved access to the new urban land release area of Badagarang and provides an alternative connection to the new Nowra Bridge. The road will take traffic off the Princes Highway while reducing traffic times for residents who travel between North Nowra, Bomaderry and Cambewarra. After consultation with local experts in local Dharawal language, Council has named the new connection Bannada Way.  The word ‘bannada’ is southern Dharawal for Bomaderry Creek or ‘running water’. Building the Far North Collector Road network included the construction of four new bridges, including the 108-metre-long bridge over Bomaderry Creek and floodplain, and three new roundabouts. The project involved 60,000 tonnes of bridging and drainage layer (foundation improvement material), 6,000 tonnes of asphalt and 10,800 tonnes of concrete. The project supported 250 jobs during construction. Now the road is open, Moss Vale Road has returned to two lanes of traffic where the final roundabout was being built. Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said the new road will reduce congestion and ensure shorter travel times, which will keep motorists and pedestrians moving between Cambewarra and Nowra. “We have stepped up to ensure final delivery of this critical piece of south coast infrastructure, which will benefit the Shoalhaven and beyond for decades to come.” Mayor of Shoalhaven City Amanda Findley said, “Council is proud to have delivered this city shaping project, which provides residents with better connectivity and liveability. “The community will benefit from reduced traffic and noise on Illaroo Road while being able to commute between the Nowra CBD and Cambewarra more conveniently.” New Medium Density Design Guidelines released by the Tasmanian Government are set to reshape urban development across the state. The... Airstrips in three remote NSW communities will receive a major infrastructure boost, with the state government committing $15 million to... Australia’s biggest airports are maintaining a high quality of service, according to the ACCC. The latest Australian Competition and Consumer... All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Supreme Court is sitting in Nowra for the murder trial of Dominic Saliba accused of killing his 18-year-old cousin Bailey Jones on December 9 The 23-year-old from Bomaderry has pleaded not guilty the court was played a video of Saliba being interviewed by police on the night Jones died The murder trial is being heard at the Supreme Court in Nowra File photo.In the interview Saliba said Jones had been "joking around with a knife and one thing led to another and he ends up tripping over I don't know if he landed on it or it hit him on the way down Saliba said a few of his mates were together at his home in West Birrelly Street on the night He said he was in the kitchen and Bailey was walking in from the adjoining garage area and was "mucking around with a knife" when he tripped He said he wasn't sure how Bailey tripped because "I wasn't even paying attention" I was on the other side of the kitchen," he said But when Bailey lifted his shirt he was bleeding heavily and "I started freaking out" because he was turning blue in front of us," Saliba said However one of the people who was there on the night told the court Saliba and Bailey were in the garage area and had "a bit of banter going" until Bailey grabbed a plastic medical marijuana tub and said "This is mine now." He said Saliba "looked enraged" and "he seemed geed up" "It went from non-physical to physical," Mr Hannigan said He rejected suggestions from defence barrister Rose Khalilizadeh that Saliba went through the door into the kitchen first Mr Hannigan said there were sounds of "a bit of clutter before "My mate Bailey comes out of the house holding his chest." When Bailey removed his hands "blood came out" telling them Bailey fell on a barbecue skewer but he told the court that was "definitely not" the truth He said that was what Saliba told him to tell the ambulance staff The court also heard from forensic pathologist Bernie I'Ons who conducted Baily's autopsy One was in his lower left abdomen and was only shallow while the other to his left upper chest was deeper and had passed through the cartilage in his fifth rib and pericardial sac into his heart so the puncture wound did not require a lot of force The trial continues before Justice Dina Yehia