Planning is under way for additional entry and exit ramps on the M1 Princes Motorway to improve connectivity for motorists in Dapto and the surrounding suburbs The new south facing ramps aim to improve access to the Motorway and reduce the distance and time residents of Dapto and neighbouring suburbs must travel to access the motorway We recently asked the community of Dapto and surrounding suburbs for feedback to help inform the planning and potential locations of additional south- facing ramps on the M1 Princes Motorway With over 4200 pieces of feedback received the level of feedback from the community exceeded expectations and we would like to thank everyone who responded as this will be invaluable to shaping the project moving forward All the feedback we received has been collated into a consultation summary report (PDF, 2.08 MB) The M1 Princes Motorway is an important link between Sydney It is a route that provides vital connections for commuters The Illawarra-Shoalhaven region is expected to grow by around 100,000 people by 2041 increasing the total population to around 505,000 people This growth is anticipated to deliver new homes and influence travel behaviours and the demands on the transport network Planning work will include strategic modelling of the broader road network to understand how potential ramp locations meets the community's existing and future travel demands and will also consider the interface between any new south facing ramps and a potential future interchange at Yallah including what impact this would have on the performance of the M1 Princes Motorway Identified opportunities for new south facing ramps include but are not limited to locations at Kanahooka There is no funding available for construction at this stage Initial planning for the project will involve identifying: The south facing ramps at Dapto project aims to benefit the community by: With the Dapto ramps project in the early stages of development the exact location of the ramps is yet to be finalised which is why feedback from the community and stakeholders is so important to help inform the plan forward and Emerson Roads as potential locations for the new ramps as well as other locations suggested during the community consultation Transport is looking at broader transport solutions and connectivity between Shellharbour and Wollongong in response to anticipated changes and growth across the Illawarra including the West Lake Illawarra Growth Area Ongoing investigations are considering alternative options to improve the M1 Princes Motorway’s efficiency beyond providing additional entry and exit ramps in the Dapto area and other options outside of the immediate M1 Princes Motorway corridor to improve the travel experience of road users across different travel modes Once the confirmed locations have been announced more detail on project timeframes will be developed depending on the preferred option There is no current funding for construction at this stage A number of projects are currently being planned to increase network capacity and improve safety for users of the M1 Princes Motorway.  Investigations include transport solutions to improve multi-modal connectivity between Shellharbour and Wollongong These solutions will also address anticipated changes across the Illawarra while providing more options for travelling around the Illawarra region Further details about specific improvements will be announced at a later date Subscribe to stay up to dateSign up to receive updates on the south facing ramps at Dapto Personal Information Collection Notice: Transport for NSW is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your personal and health information is managed according to law. Find out why we collect your personal information and how we use and manage it by reading our privacy statement or phone 13 22 13 to request a copy Distribution Lists  South facing ramps at Dapto email updatesValues to always add Sign up to receive updates on planning for Dapto south facing ramps For further information about this project, please contact:Email: southprojects@transport.nsw.gov.auMail: PO Box 477, Wollongong NSW 2500 Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country. We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present. Picture supplied A man was taken to hospital in a helicopter with a stab wound to his abdomen after emergency services were called out to an incident at Kanahooka in the early hours of Sunday morning where they examined a man in his 60s with a head injury further examination of the patient identified a stab wound to his abdomen and he was then transported to St George Hospital by helicopter The man was in a critical but stable condition Police said officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District had arrived on scene to find a Toyota hatchback had hit the front garden bed of a home "Police are still inquiring into the cause of [the man's] injuries and haven't been able to speak to him while he is injured," a spokesperson said A large number of emergency service crews attended the December 15 incident For further information on emergencies, you can check the Mercury's live blog for the latest breaking news traffic and travel from across the Illawarra Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2011, I'm an award-winning reporter who has helped the paper set the news agenda across our region for more than a decade. 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 Many hands make light work and we’re encouraging Lake Illawarra-lovers to get involved in a series of monthly clean-up events Each event will be held on the first Friday of every month at different locations along the Lake Illawarra shoreline “We know people love the lake and this is an opportunity for community members to get involved in its care and maintenance,’’ Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said “You can come on your own or bring your friends and family to enjoy a morning by the lake helping to protect and care for this important local environment.’’ focusing on cleaning the Kanahooka shoreline and Brooks Creek Here are the dates and locations for future events: Can’t make it to an event? You can still participate by organising your own clean-up at a time that suits you. We’ll provide you with the equipment and arrange rubbish collection after your clean-up. Visit Rise & Shine | City of Wollongong to learn more Rise & Shine is Wollongong’s longest-running environmental clean-up program It encourages individuals and community groups to help maintain the beauty of our public spaces by removing litter and rubbish strengthening pride in our city’s presentation and protecting it for future generations Visit our News page to find out what's happening in your community, or sign up for e-news. We show our respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country, Elders past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. You can also use the number above for after hours Council-related emergencies Email council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au Webchat Picture by Nadine MortonA car crash that left a man in his 60s dead was "one of the scariest things" 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 local man died after his car slammed into a home on Robert Street in Kanahooka creating a gas leak that forced the evacuation of the residents The driver was left trapped inside the vehicle Ms Hill was driving when she said she saw the man's car suddenly swerve "I had to swerve so they wouldn't head-on with my car seconds before he went into the house," she posted to the Mercury's Facebook page The crash occurred at the intersection of Robert and Joan Streets Picture from Google maps."One of the scariest things I have ever witnessed .. Police said emergency services were called to Robert Street Residents of the home where the car crash were evacuated for some time due to a gas leak as a result of the accident A crime scene has been established and investigations have commenced into the circumstances of the crash Police have asked anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. I'm an award-winning reporter who has helped the paper set the news agenda across our region for more than a decade 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. 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. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. 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. 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. 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. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Picture by Robert PeetHidden in a garage in Kanahooka is the barbershop and studio of 15-year-old Will Green 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 Kanahooka teenager has more than 115,000 followers on his TikTok account, CutsByGreeny with multiple videos gaining over a million views Will started posting a series called "Vlogging till I hit 100k" with daily vlogs (eventually becoming a vlog for every three days" Will said he began making content for TikTok to share his passion for cutting hair "I wanted to share my passion with the world and other people who wanted to share their passion with cutting hair as well." Will learnt the tools of the trade at Borgy's Barber Shop in Dapto through work experience and said it is "surreal" to see how big TikTok has grown with the caption "Giving my dad his rizz back" it's maybe like one-quarter of the Australian population "I can't even imagine 8.3 million people standing right in front of me." Customers drive for over an hour to get their haircut by Will who has to knock back requests while attending Corpus Christi Catholic High School in Oak Flats Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, covering business and entertainment most of the time. Got a tip? Send it to me at joel.ehsman@austcommunitymedia.com.au. He/Him The countdown is on for the inaugural Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival to be held on Saturday (7 September) at Kanahooka Hosted by Wollongong City Council in partnership with Screen Illawarra Shellharbour City Council and the NSW Government the free festival will screen the best entries from the associated and water-themed short film competition Written and directed by Angela BlakeWhen two young teens hear about a skull washed up on the foreshore of Lake Illawarra YouthWritten and directed by Nicole StojanovskaAs elderly Tony ventures to Lake Illawarra with his caregiver a poignant journey into his past unfolds when he crosses paths with a young couple in love produced by Phil Crawford (Coequal) and starring Zane Condon Khalani Harris and Mason HarrisThree cousins follow their Nan’s map to a secret waterhole in order to fulfil a special request written by Elkie Chadwick and Sebastian Chan and directed by Elkie ChadwickThe tranquil waters of Lake Illawarra become a battleground as Little Fish's prized crown sparks a struggle for power among underwater inhabitants Raina Shelton and Lily Piper Set in the 1990s this coming-of-age story follows Fleur as she reflects on her life and her struggle to accept her feelings for her best friend See you there for a fabulous evening under the stars The Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition and Festival are supported technically and financially by the NSW Government under its Coastal Management Program See also: Lakeside film comp shore to impress About 2pm on Thursday, officers arrested a 33-year-old man at a Kanahooka home who allegedly had a knife, electronic stun device and stolen identification documents. Police had attended the property to conduct at firearms and weapons prohibition order compliance check. Police arresting a 33-year-old man on Thursday, November 14, during the statewide Operation Amarok blitz. Pictures by NSW PoliceThe man was charged with a long sting of offences. This included being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, destroying or damaging property, stalking or intimidating with intent to cause fear or physical etc harm (personal), two counts of possessing or use a prohibited weapon without a permit, using a prohibited weapon contrary to a prohibition order and having suspected stolen good in or on premises (not motor vehicle). The man was granted conditional bail in Wollongong Local Court, and will reappear in the same court on Tuesday, December 17. At 5.45pm on Friday, November 15, police arrested a 31-year-old man for weapons offences at an Albion Park home. Officers attended the Amaral Avenue home to conduct a firearms prohibition order compliance check. A search of the premises was conducted and police allegedly located several prohibited weapons and ammunition. The man was charged with two counts of possessing or use a prohibited weapon without a permit, two counts of using a prohibited weapon contrary to a prohibition order, and possessing unauthorised pistol. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday, December 11. Bentley Phillips was destined to take up some form of motorsports 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 seven-year-old from Kanahooka hasn't disappointed Bentley has competed in well over 50 motocross events up and down the east coast of Australia Bentley's success hasn't gone unnoticed nationally and internationally The youngster was accepted to compete in the prestigious 2025 KTM Junior Supercross Program in Texas the program has showcased the talents of over 3000 boys and girls in stadium racing venues worldwide racing on the same tracks as their Supercross heroes Andrew Phillips said his son Bentley couldn't wait to head to the US on February 20 to compete in the prestigious KTM Junior Supercross Program Kanahooka seven-year-old Bentley Phillips will compete in the prestigious 2025 KTM Junior Supercross Program in Texas Main picture by Adam McLean"This really is a dream come true for Bentley He lives and breathes the motocross scene," Phillips said he rode his bike and did tricks in our backyard "He was so keen to get better and compete we got him a coach We take him to Race Pace MX Schools Australia in Oakdale every week he is riding his bike in our backyard from sun up to sun down and just rides and practises new tricks all day It's hard getting him back in the house to rest and have something to eat "Almost all our weekends are devoted to training or competing in events up and down the East Coast Bentley has raced in over 50 events over the last two years." Phillips added being accepted into the KTM Junior Supercross Program was a huge honour for Bentley View +4 PhotosPictures supplied"Thousands upon thousands of kids from all over the world have to apply for this program so for Bentley to make it shows just how talented he is and how much he has impressed the program's selection committee "Bentley is looking forward to heading to the US and racing against the world's best (7-8 year-old) riders It's going to be such a wonderful experience." Bentley gets some support from local businesses but his family would appreciate any financial support We do all we can to support our son in realising his dream," Phillips said Visit Bentley's GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/getting-bentley-to-arlington-tx-usa to support him Wollongong born and bred. 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. It's been a great pleasure. 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 Robert PeetA heartbroken Kanahooka mother who has watched her drug-addicted son cycle in and out of jail has spent the past 11 years desperately trying to help him Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBelinda Clark remembers watching her son Tyson Phipps' baseball talents - also recognised by American colleges who would phone her Casual cannabis use spiralled into taking harder drugs - ice being the one Ms Clark says destroyed her family because now I never know whether my son's dead or alive," Ms Clark said Mr Phipps turned to committing property crimes to fuel the addiction that eventually gripped him uphill battle trying to secure rehabilitation and wraparound support for her son who Ms Clark said has also been diagnosed with drug-induced paranoid schizophrenia "I've been begging for help all this time and he just gets shrugged off as just another junkie he doesn't get proper supervised help in the community I'm not the only person going through this." She supports renewed calls for a drug court program in the Illawarra believing it could help families and reduce the risk of drug-dependent people becoming institutionalised Wollongong magistrates and judges have repeatedly pointed out the desperate need for the program while sentencing "perfect candidates" for it - but they have no power to refer them to one due to their postcode The specialist courts exist in Dubbo Toronto in the Hunter region and offer an alternative to prison supervising offenders as they undergo an intensive drug treatment program likely to be sentenced to full-time jail after pleading guilty to a crime and live in the listed local government areas It excludes those who have committed violent Accredited specialist in criminal law Matt Ward in his Wollongong office Picture by Sylvia LiberCriminal lawyer Matt Ward praising the program as a life-changing alternative to prison has renewed calls to expand it to the Illawarra by writing to the NSW Attorney-General "Seeing the number of people trying to get help and having to tell them they meet the criteria for a drug court but telling them they live in Wollongong or Nowra so they can't get it - that's a really difficult thing to hear," Mr Ward said My cellmate who lives in Parramatta or Dubbo is doing it' "It's devastating for a family who are fighting to help their son and they can't get the help they need without paying significant sums of money to a private residential rehabilitation centre." He said the Illawarra Shoalhaven is a large catchment area and includes Aboriginal communities that could be assisted and that a new building wouldn't be needed with ample space in the Wollongong courthouse "The most frustrating thing about this whole process is that it's not up in the air about whether it works It's been evaluated in Sydney and other areas - it works," he said National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre research published in 2020 found the state's drug courts reduced the rate of re-offending by 17 per cent with participants also taking 22 per cent longer to commit an offence against a person said the program can successfully break the drug dependency cycle and also helps find offenders housing and a job "A good proportion of participants get the help they need and manage to adapt to a more law-abiding life," Dr Weatherburn said "And that's far more productive than putting somebody in jail and not doing anything to address the underlying problem that got them there in the first place." it's also cheaper than keeping someone in jail by a long margin." A spokesperson for the Attorney General Michael Daley said the state government recognises the drug court's success in the reintegration of offenders in the community the Mercury understands there are no plans to expand the program Questions asking how much funding is needed to implement one here what the obstacles have been in establishing in doing so and a response to the community's pleas were ignored HomeTributes & FuneralsDeaths & FuneralsMcCUDDEN (Murphy), Noreen2021 • Kanahooka, NSW Family and friends are invited to St Columbkille's Catholic Church, 99 Princes Highway, Corrimal. Friday 9 July 2021 at 10am. N.B COVID restrictions will apply (mask wearing, seating and social distancing) numbers are limited in and outside of the church. Anyone wishing to attend please contact Noreen's family, at her home. Live streaming details will also be available. HomeTributes & FuneralsView PhotoDeaths & FuneralsCALLAWAY, Betty2024 • Wollongong, NSW Passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, 25th September 2024. Beloved wife of John. Loving mother and mother-in-law of Dean and Christine, Sheree and Matt, and Shane. Proud Nanna of Hayden, Lleyton, Miah (dec), Reid, Nate, and Macy. Loved sister and sister-in-law of the Callaway family. Betty will be sadly missed by her loving family and many dear friends. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Betty’s funeral service, to be held at St John The Evangelist Catholic Church, 24 Jerematta Street, Dapto on Tuesday, 1st October 2024 at 10.00am. Picture by Adam McLeanDapto has a problem with thieves while Koonawarra and Kanahooka are the "wild west" of the Illawarra Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDuring five days with the incidents costing the owners of Aroma Indian Restaurant and Ban Chiang Restaurant thousands A person accused of smashing their way into Ban Chiang, stealing cash from the till and destroying the security door sometime between 9.30am on September 29 and 10am on October 1 a man was accused of smashing his way into Aroma about 1.30am on October 3 and was caught by police after he became trapped inside the restaurant Owner Waquar Raza said footage from Aroma's four CCTV cameras captured the alleged thief as he tried to flee when police arrived "He came in through the back and was trying to run through the front but he couldn't get out through the front because the glass was so thick," he said Police arrested a 39-year-old man at the scene and he was charged with two counts of break and enter dwelling-house etc with intent (steal) and destroy or damage property He was refused bail and will appear in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday Picture by Robert PeetThe restaurants are next door to each other on the busy Princes Highway strip and it was a resident upstairs who heard the commotion of the Aroma break and enter and called the police While Mr Raza praised the police for their response Ban Chiang co-owner Daniel Luck said there are not enough police in the area "I think Dapto's got a bit of a problem with thieves," Mr Luck said "They [police] kind of leave Koonawarra and Kanahooka like the wild west They [police] kind of leave Koonawarra and Kanahooka like the wild west the thief allegedly stole $200 cash from the till and the CCTV's hard drive "They prised open the rails on the side of the roller door and then pushed that up and mangled my security door three windows and a shutter door were broken with Mr Raza was out of pocket for his insurance excess of $500 "They were good and did everything for me," he said of the police response Anyone with information or CCTV of the break and enter crimes are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Dapto Police Station is among four in the Illawarra that are not staffed 24/7 despite residents' calls for an increased police presence A NSW Police spokeswoman said officers conduct covert retail theft operations in the Dapto area, in addition to uniformed high-visibility patrols during peak periods. "Police from Lake Illawarra Police District's Anti-theft Unit, Crime Prevention Unit, general duties officers, as well as officers from youth command, have been deployed to the Dapto area to address retail theft and anti-social activity in the shopping precinct on a regular basis," she said. Residents and business owners are urged to report crime to the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Lake Illawarra Police District officers said there are a few simple steps to help reduce cases of retail theft, including: Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA 19-year-old woman went to the man's home on Lakeside Drive about 9pm on Saturday but the following morning when she tried to leave the house at 6.30am the man allegedly produced a knife and threatened the woman the woman left the property and later reported the incident to Wollongong police Read more: State of emergency declared as NSW prepares for 'catastrophic' fire conditions Lake Illawarra police officers attended the home and placed the 22-year-old man under arrest at about 2.45am on Monday He was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station and charged with taking a person intending to commit intimidation which is a serious indictable offence; and contravene prohibition in an apprehended violence order The man was did not apply for bail and it was formally refused bail in Wollongong Local Court on Monday The case was adjourned to Tuesday in Wollongong Local Court Picture: SuppliedA 24-year-old man is lucky to be alive after flipping his car several times northbound on the M1 at Kanahooka in the early hours of Sunday morning Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt’s believed the sole occupant lost control of his vehicle around 1:48am near the Kanahooka on ramp causing the car to flip and roll several times and ejecting its driver from the vehicle A motorist who was following him found the man lying on the road and semi-conscious shortly after the incident NSW Ambulance Inspector Norm Rees said when arriving at the scene debris could be seen spread over many metres “His car is a write-off,” Inspector Rees said The victim was treated at the scene then taken to Wollongong Hospital with head and back injuries plus multiple abrasions and lacerations On Sunday a hospital spokeswoman said he remained in a stable condition At the helm of Australia's premier publication for people aged over 55, covering hard hitting issues, travel, lifestyle and entertainment. Got a hot tip? Email me - edit@TheSenior.com.au Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueNSW Ambulance paramedics were called to a home on Edgeworth Avenue at about 11.15am on Monday.  He was freed by emergency services about 12.15pm NSW Ambulance acting inspector Robert Kembrey said the man was in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived but was able to be revived It's understood the injured man will be transported to St George Hospital.The Mercury understands the car rolled backwards over his lower body before coming to rest.  An ambulance rescue chopper has flown the man to St George Hospital NSW Ambulance acting inspector Robert Kembrey said: Treatment rendered to him by our staff has managed to secure a cardiac output at this stage the gentleman’s still not out of the woods however he’s being flown by a Toll Rescue helicopter up to St George Hospital.  He was given CPR and adrenaline and as a result of that we were able to start his heart again.”  The man also suffered a possible head injury.  he remains in hospital in a critical condition Read more: Tributes flow for ‘beautiful soul’ Kristie Powell as fundraiser set up for baby son Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBrooks Terrace a residential development offering 81 parcels of land with an average price tag of $239,000 opened for sale on Saturday and buyers have already snapped up 21 lots Greg Pollard of PRDnationwide Dapto said that due to high demand both stages of the development were released we had 19 deposits on stage one and two deposits on stage two which the developer decided to release as well because of the interest," Mr Pollard said The site has made the most of its historical links offering open spaces around the arches and access to Mullet Creek via a public reserve from Saltwater Circuit The smelting works were part of the Lake Illawarra Harbour Scheme which involved building a channel to allow ocean going vessels to come up the lake to Elizabeth Point near Kanahooka Point The smelter was operating at full production by 1899 Picture: Adam McLeanSpeak to long-time residents of the Dapto area and a common theme emerges - Kanahooka has typically been an under-appreciated suburb among the uninitiated Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIn decades past Kanahooka seemingly experienced a less than desirable reputation among some due to its close proximity to other suburbs' social housing and being tucked between some other lower socio-economic areas others within the 2530 postcode viewed it as the "elite" part of the area Read more: 'Oh, you've moved to Berserk-ley': Southern suburb's property market on the rise "I remember as a teenager it was known locally as 'Snob Hill'," Leanne Bridge said Picture: Adam McLeanThey were schooled in Dapto and Kanahooka and have lived in the 2530 postcode most of their lives "It's so much an under-rated suburb," Mrs Bridge said "People tend to hang on to their properties once they buy here we often go for a walk along Kanahooka Road and end up at the lake And we really love that in 90 seconds we're on the freeway And there's plenty of shops and services nearby." Picture: Adam McLeanRenato Garnero and his wife Kaylene live on Kanahooka Road having moved there four years ago after a lengthy stay in Horsley He said they had downsized from a four-bedroom house to a three-bedroom villa said they relocated to Kanahooka because it was well-priced and had easy access to major roads and transport He agreed that Kanahooka was an under-rated place to live "Kanahooka's profile has definitely improved in the past five to ten years and become a sought-after residential area," Mr Garnero said "I would liken Kanahooka to Oak Flats People would never have wanted to live there once upon a time and the pulling power of the suburb is getting better "It's got recreational facilities - there's the lake we go down there and throw a line in with the grandchildren There's good bicycle tracks and walking tracks The Bridges have listed their property for sale as they plan to move to Queensland and be closer to family "I think people's concept of the area (has changed)," she said of Kanahooka so the fact that you can walk to the lake and spend time down there is a good thing Read more: Why house prices in this Illawarra suburb went up 40 per cent currently the median sales price of houses in the area is $630,000 and the predominant age group in Kanahooka is 60-69 years Jason Dorling from One Agency Elite Property Group Illawarra said Kanahooka was becoming a popular option and one of the more sought-after areas within its postcode "A lot of people are wanting to be there.. elderly people who have been there a long time and people who are simply trying to get back into Kanahooka because it's got good-sized blocks and views "We're starting to see people come from new estates to move back there." Bradd O'Brien from Richardson and Wrench Dapto said Kanahooka offered close access to Wollongong the council has done a great job down at the lake there," he said I think Kanahooka is getting more and more popular because it's being increasingly noticed as one of the more prestige areas because it's north of Dapto "It's right on the foreshores of the lake.. That's something you can't get out in the more rural areas." Read more: Why Port Kembla is the new 'Surry Hills of the south' Recent sales in Kanahooka include 2 Thirroul Road for $707,500 Among Mr O'Brien's current listings is 6 Murra Murra Road, Kanahooka three-bathroom home has a price guide of $2,395,000 The two-storey home offers the Lake Illawarra water aspect at its back door Mr O'Brien said the home featured a generous-sized backyard for the kids to play and also offered the ability to go fishing just metres outside the backyard "It's got something that other properties don't have," he said those properties don't back directly on to the lake "Whereas this one goes out the back gate and you're on the water There's not many properties in the whole of the Illawarra that actually have that It would require a buyer who really desires that feel." Read more: Inside the flourishing property market of Jamberoo village 68 Kanahooka Road. Among Anthony Sorace from A-List Property Group's current listings is 68 Kanahooka Road. Set on 594 square metres, the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home is due to be auctioned on September 11. Mr Sorace said there had been plenty of local interest in the property, as well as from Sydney and ACT-based parties. He said there was no price guide, and believed it would sell prior to auction based on the interest received. Mr Sorace said Kanahooka offered "real bang for the buck". "The lake is a big selling point for many people," he said. "Easy access for walking tracks, there's a lot of the schools close by, the shops. It is more affordable to comparable suburbs. "If you pick up that same house and bring it a little closer to Wollongong, say Figtree for example, it's a different price point altogether." 146 Edgeworth Avenue.Meanwhile, among Mr Dorling's current listings is 146 Edgeworth Avenue. The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home is set on 601 square metres. Mr Dorling said it had been on the market for a few weeks, and had attracted plenty of local interest, including first home buyers and investors. "It has a dead level block, and backs on to Brooks Creek," he said. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe new charges means three teenagers are now before the courts over the incident in which is is alleged an imitation gun was brandished out a car window while driving past the school last Thursday He was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station and charged with armed with intent to commit indictable offence and intimidation The teen was granted conditional bail to appear before a children's court on November 26 police attended a home in Berkeley and arrested a 16-year-old boy He was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he was charged with armed with intent to commit indictable offence He appeared in Wollongong Local Court last Friday Police told the court they will allege a group of Year 10 students was sitting behind the school's canteen during recess when they heard a car beeping its horn on nearby Joan Street The group said they turned to see a silver Toyota Corolla travelling northbound along the roadway allegedly carrying two passengers and being driven by a man wearing an orange face mask They told police the driver was pointing a rifle out of the side window as the car went past them and they could hear multiple males laughing as the car drove off The students reported the incident to teachers who immediately placed the school into lockdown and called police defence lawyer Cate Doosey said Lewis intended to plead not guilty to the charge She said he "categorically denies" any involvement in brandishing the gun Picture: Robert PeetThe death of a P-plate driver on Lakeside Drive in Kanahooka prompted some residents to raise their concerns about a recently installed pedestrian refuge island 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 areaContinueDapto's Enrico Morosin, 17, died in a single-vehicle car accident on Tuesday night after he sped through the island All residents the Mercury spoke to on Lakeside Drive said reckless drivers used to fly down the road and continued to do so even after the refuge island was installed in May Read more: Witnesses reveal tragic last moments of Dapto crash victim Enrico Morosin "Drivers always speed along here," one resident said "The refuge island made people slow down when it was first put in but then everyone got used to it Motorbike riders and drivers just speed through it." Another resident described seeing a bus driver hit the refuge recently because there was not enough room with cars parked nearby He believes the refuge should be bevelled because wheels bounce off it when a driver hits the island and then they try to over correct Enrico Morosin crashed his car into a tree on Lakeside Drive Inset: FacebookA Wollongong City Council spokeswoman said the reserve was well used by families and the crossing was constructed at the site near the reserve to provide a safe pedestrian connection between the park "Its location not only provides pedestrians a safe connection at an otherwise informal crossing point but it also provides sufficient sight distance either side for road user awareness and visibility," she said "When deciding upon the refuges' location we also took into account the movement of vehicles using car parks at the reserve and nearby shops "The refuge should have the effect of slowing traffic as it narrows the carriageway with clearly delineated signs and line-marking to highlight the pedestrian facility "Council will wait for the police report into the accident which will identify the cause(s) and contributing factors of the crash before considering any associated road or traffic improvements." A resident said only some people used the island to cross the road but many continued to cross closer to the park "If the council want to get serious about reducing speed then they should put in a speed camera or reduce the speed limit to 50km/h," he said Many of the residents recalled a number of accidents that had occurred over the years One resident said a car damaged the front of her house Others remembered when motorbike riders hit a power pole Picture: Anna Warr.A Warrawong teen charged with brandishing a gun at Kanhooka High School students was sentenced to an 18-month Community Corrections Order and fined $1000 on Monday Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDylan James Lewis had not long turned 18 when he and two friends drove past Kanahooka High School "laughing and beeping" while they aimed a firearm out of the drivers' window at students "We looked at each other and said 'was that real?'," one of the students told Wollongong Local Court Read more: Teen charged after Kanahooka High gun sighting Snapchat videos and messages about the incident - including images taken from inside the car - flew around the school In a group chat members were encouraged to bash a student for being a "snitch" Lewis admitted he was in the car with two friends He said they had pointed the firearm - a gel blaster Lewis purchased online - at the school "I was yelling and screaming at them like 'don't we're right next to the school it's f***ing dumb'," Lewis is recorded saying Read more: Teen accused of brandishing gun near Kanahooka High breaches bail He was charged with possesing an unauthorised firearm and being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence Magistrate Gabriel Fleming said she was satisfied by the eyewitness accounts that Lewis was part of an agreement with the passengers in his car to commit an offence there was a change in speed and the drivers window was down," she said "He was in control of the vehicle and laughter was coming from the vehicle "He wore some kind of face cover which suggests an attempt to conceal his identity and there is evidence changes were made to the interior of the vehicle after the fact "The only inference is that he was very much in agreement with the other people in the vehicle Magistrate Fleming was not able to determine whether Lewis held the firearm in a joint criminal enterprise each person is found responsible for the acts of the group regardless of which acts they personally carried out Lewis now has full-time work as an apprentice chef In her sentencing remarks Magistrate Fleming urged Lewis to confront the underlying reasons for his offending but working 'til you drop is not a solution," she said The charge of being armed with intent to commit and indictable offence carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail and an $11,000 fine Lewis received an 18-month Community Corrections Order and a $1000 fine We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here Picture: Facebook.A Kanahooka mum has admitted to faking a medical certificate to get out of reporting to police while on bail after she printed the document on the back of her own criminal record Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueStephanie Wira was released from bail on Monday after she pleaded guilty to providing a fake medical certificate and goods in custody suspected of being stolen at Wollongong Local Court Wira was out on bail for charges relating to another matter - where she and a male co-accused allegedly stole copper wires and pipes from a mine owned by Wollongong Coal after police allegedly found her in the back seat of a Holden Commodore driven by man Wira is required to report to Wollongong police station three times a week Read more: Accused Warrawong bike hoon allegedly found with gel blaster, stolen goods after she produced a fake medical certificate to police to explain her failure to report on Wednesday The certificate - printed on the back of her criminal history record - prompted police to ask further questions of Wira "I was in a hurry and didn't have any blank paper to photocopy it," Wira said the national bulk billing service that was listed on the document Staff there told police Wira had booked an appointment at 8:59pm on Wednesday 17 They also confirmed she hasn't seen any doctor from the company for 28 days and their records showed Wira had never seen the GP on the certificate she supplied and her handbag was searched by police which revealed an American Express card under a different name Read more: Dog to be euthanised after attack in Wollongong street Police managed to contact the owner of the card defence lawyer Anastacia Socorro said she had been participating in a alcohol and drug program and that her PTSD made her vulnerable to staying behind bars but warned her of the seriousness faking documents "You might think that fabricating a false document is a silly little thing but it really does strike at heart of the administration of justice," Magistrate Girotto said but the creation of false documents really is quite serious Wira was handed a four-month corrections order to be served in the community She will face a hearing for charges relating to the alleged copper theft at a future date Read more Illawarra court and crime stories here Kanahooka woman Pamela Hadley was in her mid-30s raising four young children in a council house in Wrexham Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOne Sunday her husband Russell came home from work at the nearby Brymbo steelworks and said he wanted to pack up and move to Australia and he always picked up the Sunday paper on his way home and one Sunday he came in and he said 'they want tradesmen in Australia and I'm applying'," she said "I can still see the ad in the newspaper - there's a golden beach and the blue sea in the background and this family and they're playing with this coloured beach ball and it was the Hadleys were lured with promises of golden beaches and blue oceans - which they found at Port Kembla beach "I think his idea was that we would come and make money and then go back Pamela and Russell - my grandparents - became part of the roughly one million British migrants who came to Australia under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme between 1945 and 1982 Read more: Should I call Richard?' The fight to save Wollongong Town Hall, 15 years on With the passage originally costing 10 pounds these migrants became known as "10-pound poms" and with the release of a new TV show titled as such this month there's been a renewed focused on their arrival The scheme, along with other migration programs had a particular impact on the development of Wollongong where many workers came to staff the growing Port Kembla steelworks With the release of Stan's new show Ten Pound Poms this month, there's been a renewed focused on the arrival of British people through the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme. Picture supplied.Even 40 years after the end of the scheme, Census results show its effects with the Wollongong local government area having a significantly higher proportion of English Irish and Scottish (as well as Italian and Macedonian countries which were also a major part of the post-war migration) ancestry than the rest of NSW or Australia Pamela sees her late husband's decision to leave behind their parents uproot their life in Wales and travel to a country they'd never given any thought to as "the best he ever made in his life But she didn't always feel that way as the family got swept up in the move Many of her recollections about this pivotal part of her life are echoed in the Ten Pound Poms series which is one of the first popular culture explorations of the migration story showing the shared experiences of thousands who have made the Illawarra their home which was about 35 miles - a long way back then over there - on the other side of the Mersey [river] and find Australia House and then we sat down and were interviewed by this guy," Pamela said "We had to take our children with us because they wanted to see them to make sure that they all had their faculties and that they weren't going to be a burden on the country." and coming here was probably the most important thing that shaped all our lives the family sold almost everything from the carpet on the stairs to the family dog except I brought a washing machine with me because I didn't know we'd have one and some bolts of material to make singlets and petticoats," she said until I saw was these people rolling up the carpet on my stairs a big golden retriever - beautiful soft hearted dog - and her name was Lady and we found a home for her and the guy came I remember standing with [my daughter] Jacqueline in our front room both of us tears all down our cheeks watching her going up the road." Pamela and Russell Hadley on board the Aurelia passenger ship to Australia in 1964.Just after Christmas 1963 they traveled to Southhampton to board the Aurelia - the passenger ship that would take them to Australia The journey went through the Mediterranean to the Suez Canal where they stopped in Aden - now Yemen - and got off the boat the buy leather camel souvenirs which they were later told to discard for fear they'd been contaminated Conditions on the five-week journey were simple and unfamiliar - but photographs also show dress up parties for the kids the occasional evening drinks and the family sitting on the deck wearing sun hats Read more: The forgotten story of spirited Hotel Illawarra publican Hilda Condon Pam mostly remembers being seasick below deck "I was on one end of the boat and he was on the other end of the boat and I had the two girls and [youngest son] Christopher so all we had was Italian food and we'd never had Italian food in our lives but mostly you just ate what was in front of you in the afternoon they put afternoon tea on and there was always a queue waiting for the tea and biscuits." They first set foot on Australia soil in Fremantle on Pamela and Russell's 12th wedding anniversary - January 26 It couldn't have been more different to Wrexham as crowds turned out to celebrate the summer public holiday the sun is shining and all these people are out enjoying themselves'," Pamela said as other migrants left the boat to go to jobs in Victoria she remembers being astonished that the first person she spoke to was a relative of a woman she knew in her home town 'you sound as if you just come off the boat "'I said 'Wrexham in North Wales' and he said 'my sister-in-law keeps the newsagent in Brook Street in Wrexham' Many of the other British families they met on the boat - who were also coming to work at Port Kembla - became lifelong friends.With more than half the passengers disembarked the three-day leg from Melbourne to Sydney was the most enjoyable with the family able to bunk together and meet others who were heading to work at Port Kembla Some of those families became their lifelong friends "That first day we sailed in to Sydney Harbour I remember how beautiful it looked," she said Read more: The forgotten souls of Waterfall's Garrawarra Cemetery and she remembers encountering the phrase "whingeing Pom" almost as soon as they disembarked he was a Yorkshire man and he called a spade a spade," Pamela said and he went up and said 'that were the worst bloody meal I've ever had in my life' and the man said 'oh god "Some people also thought we were migrants coming and taking their jobs but really we weren't - they were filling vacant jobs and Russell started work on the Monday at the steelworks." The journey to Australia and arrival at the nissen huts plays a part of the first episode of Ten Pound Poms Picture supplied.The Nissen hutsShe said she remembers knowing they would live in hostel accommodation at first unusual conditions of the Nissen huts at Berkeley Migrant Hostel still came as a surprise "We were a family of six and that meant we had half a hut and when you walked in there was a couch which was a night and day and then there was two bunks for the kids," she said "There was a thin wall dividing the huts and when you went to bed you could hear everything that was going on in the bed next door!" The huts had no kitchens and communal bathrooms Scenes from the voyage to Australia aboard the Aurelia - including the Suez Canal along with a Commonwealth Hostels of Australia plate that the family would use to collect their communal meals at Berkeley migrant hostel."There were a lot of Irish Catholics so they'd always do fish Fridays - fish and chips We'd take up our plates and get six piece of fish "The kids would go up to breakfast themselves but we'd always go to dinners as a family and try to get together enough tables and chairs to eat together Pamela found work in Australia to help them save money starting out at the hostel canteen and as a cleaner when people let This role had the added bonus of allowing her to suss out the best furniture One of the Nissen huts at Fairy Meadow - the other migrant hostel in the Illawarra."When people left either to go to a council house or onto their own land "Each person was given this small chest of drawers and a skinny wardrobe For the first two years in her new country Pam thought all the time about returning to Wales but Russell loved his new job and new life and was determined that they would stay they finished building their own home in Lakelands Drive to be in my own house and so we stayed," she said her family will celebrate 60 years since their arrival with the 22-month stay at Berkeley hostel making up only a tiny fraction of their lives their passage over and first months in Australia loom large in their memories Pamela returned to Wales a handful of times but have never had any hesitancy in calling Wollongong home and now there's a fourth generation of great-grandchildren too," she said and coming here was probably the most important thing that shaped all our lives." Reading this on mobile web? Download our news app. It's faster, easier to read and we'll send you alerts for breaking news as it happens. Download in the Apple Store or Google Play Adrian Abrahams and Kane Van Hout are among 20 students who have graduated from the NSW Rural Fire Service School Cadet Program Picture: Sylvia LiberTwenty Kanahooka High School students are all fired up about what their futures could hold after successfully graduating from the NSW Rural Fire Service School Cadet program on Wednesday Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe students attend the school’s support unit and are the first group of students with learning disabilities to take part in the 10-week cadet program, learning about fire behaviour Kanahooka High School teacher Clayton Rugg said the school approached the RFS about running a modified version of the program as it reflected life skills that they were teaching students. “With a range of ages and disabilities, we wanted it to be interesting and fun so they’d become engaged in the program,” he said “We made adjustments to how much content was being covered in the classroom and how long the students would spend on certain tasks working with the trucks and to keep them engaged. “It’s helped quite a few of the kids become leaders when they didn’t realise they could be It’s improved their self esteem and being responsible for engines and machinery has helped their confidence. This is something completely new to our unit and it’s been really successful.” The students were presented with their graduation certificates by NSW RFS Assistant Commissioner Stuart Midgley Main picture by Sylvia LiberTraffic lights on the motorway on-ramp at Dapto could be a short-term measure to deal with congestion The submission noted that as part of the process of adding ramps the capacity and congestion of the M1 through Dapto also needed to be considered "The project must include the State Government-committed road capacity improvements of additional lanes both north and southbound," the submission said As a short-term measure to deal with congestion the submission floated the idea of "ramp metering"; a simple traffic light positioned at the junction where the on ramp meets the motorway The light lets one car at a time merge onto the motorway when space is detected which has a slowing effect on motorway traffic The council said these have already been used on Sydney's M4 Motorway and extensively in Victoria and could be beneficial at the Kanahooka Road on ramp "The use of signals at the ramps accessing the M1 will assist with inappropriate merging," the submissions stated "There is a comparatively under-utilised section of Princes Highway in the section as an alternative north-south route This could be a short-term solution delivered to address current capacity issues on the M1 in the AM and PM peak." The draft submission recommended Emerson Road - the only one of the three with no ramps at all - as the council's preferred option this appears to be the case because the other two options were worse Adding ramps to Kanahooka Road would increase traffic from the West Dapto area using Darkes Road which has a level crossing and "significant flooding concerns" Fowlers Road was not the preferred option because the council had built the Karrara Bridge extension into West Dapto expecting only north-facing ramps from the M1 "Some historic modelling was undertaken with south-facing ramps at this location which showed very large demand on Fowlers Road to the extent that grade separation would be a consideration for the Princes Highway intersection," the submission stated There was also the issue that Fowlers Road ramps would require the acquisition of a large number of residential properties Councillors will vote on Monday whether to send the submission to Transport for NSW 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. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFire and Rescue NSW acting duty commander Andrew Barber said he believed the woman had a medical episode which caused her to take out a number of trees on the Motorway near Kembla Grange we simply cut the side of the car," Inspector Barber said "She seemed in shock but was conscious when paramedics transported her to hospital "We've cleared the area of trees but traffic is still really bad I'd say it is about four to five kilometres deep.....it goes all the way to Figtree." Motorists are being advised to allow extra travel time Vehicles are slowly passing the crash site using the breakdown lane Traffic is queued back to Five Islands Road Read more: Machete used after Dapto car deal goes sour: court Picture: SYLVIA LIBERIt makes sense to speak to a healthcare professional about your private health insurance according to Kanahooka pharmacist Fabian McCann Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueKanahooka Pharmacy is the first in the region to offer quotes and policies to its customers through new health insurance comparison website Covad Mr McCann said while he aimed to get his customers the best price it was the personalised advice that was priceless so we can make sure their policy really matches their needs,’’ he said ‘‘All were cheaper but I noticed that only one covered palliative care and knowing she’d had cancer a few years ago ‘‘She said she would have not looked at the different options in that level of detail.’’ had not wanted to fork out extra money for the options of podiatry and optical until the pharmacist explained that feet and eye complications were a feature of advanced diabetes ‘‘We are able to help predict what customers might need now and in the future because we know them and have already been serving them for many years,’’ he said The Covad kiosk was set up in the Lakeside Drive pharmacy  this week and is already attracting a lot of interest from customers who are able to evaluate Just over 160 pharmacies across Australia have joined with Covad which will shortly add a ‘‘Chemist’s Own’’ brand of health cover will also soon be able to process health cover claims Covad founder Anthony Huxley said: ‘‘Years ago private health insurance had a presence in pharmacy but the model was flawed because there was no choice .. consumers trust their pharmacist more than any other healthcare professional.’’ Photo: Adam McLeanKanahooka girl Ella-Rose Bevan Valesini is a bubbly sociable seven-year-old who adores her little brother Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBut the little girl's bright smile belies a tragedy: she has months with doctors determining that the acute myeloid leukaemia she suffers from is terminal Ella was diagnosed with the blood cancer last September at the age of six and spent seven months in the Sydney Children's Hospital undergoing treatment Read more: Time stands still for grief-stricken family of Libby Ruge her parents Mitch and Lisa Valesini received the devastating news two weeks ago that their daughter would not survive the cancer friends and the wider community are rallying behind them trying to ensure the time Ella has left is filled with joy View +6 PhotosFamily members are organising a Ride For Life on Sunday raising money to make Ella's dreams come true and support her medical needs There is also an online fundraiser collecting donations to support the Valesinis "It's going to help us give Ella the best life she could possibly have," Ms Valesini said She said they wanted to take their little animal lover to the zoo and the aquarium with Rabbitohs players taking time out to have a run-around with her and brother Hunter Ella-Rose with her grandmother Leeanne Schulte Photo: Adam McLeanThe support they have received during the course of Ella's illness has humbled the family; as Ms Valesini said Mr Valesini said the Illawarra Convoy and Grechys Boxing and Fitness in Oak Flats were among the organisations and businesses that had assisted them Read more: Ambulances stranded at Wollongong Hospital for four hours - again Ella's parents said she was a happy child who still loved to play Ella's nan Leeanne Schulte described her as a girl who was "very bubbly like a social butterfly" who loved to talk to everyone To read more stories, download the Illawarra Mercury news app in the Apple Store or Google Play Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs and education. Our Watch award winner. If you've got a story, let me know. at Lakeside Reserve and right one of the needles found on the beach Pictures by Sylvia Liber and Nadine MortonResidents living near Lake Illawarra have been left in shock after dozens of needles sharps containers and medical waste were found washed up at Kanahooka 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 areaContinueA father of two was walking along the waterline with his young children when they came dangerously close to stepping on a capped syringe on Thursday The paraphernalia was dumped just 100 metres from the children's playground and community barbecue at Lakeside Reserve near the corner of Lakeside Drive and Edgeworth Avenue lives just a few minutes from the picturesque waterway and his family walks the shoreline and plays in the park regularly "I was taking the kids for a walk along the beach and looking under rocks and we walked along the beach a bit further and spotted a bunch of needles," he said "I kicked the kids off the beach and started cleaning them up." he'd already filled a discarded beer bottle with syringes and hand a handful of others Picture by Nadine MortonHe also found three bright yellow sharps containers skin swabs and vials labelled 'water for injections' "I take the kids to the park all the time .. I hope nobody picked them up ]medical waste] and decided to throw them in there," he said especially in these high-trafficked spots." when the Mercury revisited the Lake all traces of the medical waste was gone Kanahooka resident Dean Zorn and his children Remy "It's the first time I've heard about this," he said of the syringes "We keep a pretty close eye on the kids anyway but I guess we'll have to think twice when they're near the water." swabs and medical waste was found along the Lake Illawarra waterline at Kanahooka Sylvia LiberDapto couple Bob and Cine Wiszniowski had chosen Lakeside Reserve to bring their friends from the United States when they heard about the discarded medical waste but usually it's nice and people are really good," Mrs Wiszniowski said Koonawarra resident Joseph Struzka has lived in the area for 40 years and was at the park with his granddaughter Piper Joseph Struzka with his granddaughter Piper at Lakeside Reserve in Kanahooka on Monday Picture by Sylvia Liber"I walk through that area it's usually every morning and I've never seen anything like this Wollongong and Shellharbour councils said no reports of syringes around the lake foreshore have been received "We encourage residents and visitors to use the appropriate bin in public places including sharps bins found in lots of our toilet amenities as well as our city libraries and community centres," a Wollongong City Council spokesman said Health experts advise people to leave needles and not to attempt to dispose of them They should contact the NSW Needle Clean-Up Hotline via 1800 633 353 Non-hazardous rubbish dumped in public areas should be reported to local councils Cine and Bob Wiszniowski at Lakeside Reserve in Kanahooka on Monday Picture by Sylvia LiberIllawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) manages the disposal of clinical waste in line with the NSW Health policy directive Clinical and Related Waste Management for Health Services The NSW Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) has been in place since 1986 and is an evidence-based public health program that aims to reduce the transmission of blood-borne viruses including hepatitis C and HIV within at-risk population groups sterile injecting equipment in a range of locations to reduce the sharing of injecting equipment All authorised NSP outlets provide safe disposal services to reduce the potential for injury swabs and medical waste were found along the Lake Illawarra waterline at Kanahooka on Thursday Picture by Nadine MortonThere are also large yellow community sharps disposal bins at select locations such as selected community health centres and public hospitals NSP outlets also provide information and guidance on the safe disposal of sharps including providing the location of community sharps disposal bins for the disposal of used injecting equipment More than 600 pharmacies in NSW also participate in the Pharmacy NSP a personal use sharps container and safe disposal of user injecting equipment The District works closely with stakeholders in health sharing responsibility to reduce the risk of people encountering sharps in the community For more information about the NSW Health community sharps management, hit this link Pictures supplied by Alethea DuleyA man has escaped uninjured after his van burst into flames in Dapto on Thursday morning Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt is understood the blaze broke out when the driver tried to restart the vehicle after it stalled on Kanahooka Road The man was the only occupant of the vehicle and got himself out of harm's way Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters from Dapto station attended and extinguished the blaze Traffic was diverted for a short time while the situation was brought under control Police and paramedics were also in attendance Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAnd getting dropped off by your parents just won’t do if you are trying to impress the ladies So when your year adviser says no mode of transport is off the table Kanahooka High School student Jordan Chahal knew exactly what to do Trent Cooper and Kane Hellyer weren’t about to let Jordan grab the limelight just himself On Wednesday night the four said goodbye to their school years in style by taking a helicopter flight to their year 12 formal at Port Kembla Golf Club the 28-minute flight wasn’t cheap but was more than worth the expense as far as Jordan was concerned “It was definitely worth the money,” he said We got on at Albion Park [Illawarra Regional Airport] airport and flew over Wollongong harbour before landing at Port Kembla Golf Club “The best part was definitely the landing. Seeing everyone’s faces was priceless They didn’t think it was going to happen but we proved them wrong.” Jordan said while the chopper ride was his idea “The pilot told us he hadn’t flown that many people to their formals “We wanted to do something different and fun The 18-year-old said the experience was one of the best in his life “It’s definitely something I’ll never forget I think we all felt pretty special on the night,” Jordan said Read more: UOW project encouraging aspiring principals to head back to school “We will be able to look back on this night down the track and remember what a great night we had “I’m definitely glad we decided to do this Their fellow Kanahooka HS year 12 students were also impressed “The teachers were just happy we came down in one piece and didn’t crash or anything like that,” Jordan said Teen charged after 'gun sighting' prompted Thursday's lockdown at Kanahooka HighMeanwhile one of the students checked her Snapchat account at which time she saw a video of the drive-by incident had been uploaded to a mutual friend's account The girl messaged the boy asking if he'd driven past the school and he allegedly replied "yea allegedly prompting the other passenger to threaten her Magistrate Susan McGowan granted Lewis strict conditional bail to live with his mother He must report to police three times a week and abide by a nighttime curfew as part of his release Lewis was supported in court by two female friends and his mother who lashed out at thew Mercury's photographer outside the court but it’s not the first time the 19 year old has been in a talent quest Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe former Kanahooka High student participated in the school’s K Factor competition winning it twice before stepping back from the limelight to encourage others and become a judge Co-ordinator of the alternative education unit Jos Burns created the talent quest five years ago as a positive project for Indigenous students that could still involve the entire school during NAIDOC week celebrations they have pride and respect it,” said Ms Burns The growth for the Indigenous students working to put on the event was phenomenal she said especially as education had not always been a positive experience for them While Kanahooka is not a performing arts school she said the competition still uncovered some exceptional performers over the years with soloists “We’ve had students come out of the woodwork who you wouldn’t even know could sing a tune and all of a sudden get up onstage and launch into something pretty amazing,” she said “Cyrus was obviously one of the first that did that.” Celebrating a young person’s talent helps build their confidence and credibility she said becoming mini-celebrities within their school and the Dapto community “Cyrus’s first standing ovation was on K Factor in front of a crowd with 100 people,” she laughed the humble singer stood down from competing to let others have a turn at being the star Ms Burns remembers he was an all rounder which other students either loved or hated As for Mr Villanueva’s passion to give back to the school community Ms Burns said that was unique to Kanahooka High School as they’ve had many “incredible kids from tough communities” “We’ve had children from the support unit up onstage that have ceberal palsy or down syndrome doing performances and everybody gets behind them - and Cyrus is just a product from that environment,” she said Ms Burns believes there’s a number of other emerging singers from Kanahooka High School which could easily flourish in the entertainment world Cyrus Villanueva remains in the final eight after making it past the double elimination on Tuesday Picture supplied by TAFE NSWWodi Wodi man Jake Bell is looking forward to putting on an AFP uniform soon to provide a positive unlike the experience he had when he was younger Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Kanahooka man said when he grew up the "[police] were never good people to me or to people around me" "I want to try and break that stigma that all officers from every branch are bad people," Mr Bell said Read more: The questions Illawarra young people are asking about the voice - answered The 24-year-old butcher is not planning to join local police but rather travel the country with the Australian Federal Police He is one step closer to his dream after graduating from the IPROWD Indigenous Policing Recruitment Our Way Delivery program The program supports Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples to join the NSW Police Force "We had to make a presentation about ourselves we all get to learn about each other and how everyone's connected," Mr Bell said Read more: How's your mental health? I asked the Illawarra's mayors He graduated with 17 other students across the state at Queanbeyan on September 15 it will definitely last a lifetime," he said The group attended Queanbeyan TAFE NSW one week of each month for about 6 months The program is an intensive fitness and academic program that can accelerate the students' pathway into the NSW Police Acadamy in Gouburn or other emergency fields Read more: Two surprise acts added last minute to Wollongong's Yours and Owls lineup Mr Bell will now apply to train with Australian Federal Police (AFP) to become a protection service officer The officers can travel to remote Australian locations to protect people and places such as politicians and diplomats or places such as the Australian Parliament House or defence establishments I never felt that with NSW [Police]," he said Mr Bell was acknowledged for his leadership at the graduation ceremony with the AFP Recognition Award Read more: Monash Uni and AFP to build AI tool for child abuse analysis Shaylee Davies from Albion Park also graduated from the program and has her eyes set on a role in the AFP "I want to help everyone get on their feet and help our community to stay strong," Ms Davies said The Wiradjuri woman and avid fan of police TV shows graduated from Oak Flats High School in 2022 The 19-year-old said the IPROWD program helped her gain her confidence "If you're young you don't want to go straight into the [police] academies," she said "I've gotten so much confidence being in this course that I feel much more able to join the academy now." Reading this on mobile web? Download our news app. It's faster, easier to read and we'll send you alerts for breaking news as it happens. Download in the Apple Store or Google Play National video journalist at Australian Community Media. Previously a cadet journalist at the Illawarra Mercury and a radio and podcast host at 2SER Radio. Story tips? marlene.even@austcommunitymedia.com.au A Kanahooka man has confessed to raping a family friend's teenage daughter while she stayed with him for Year 10 work experience Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBrett Brunker pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated child sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault in Wollongong Local Court last week but will remain free on bail ahead of his sentencing later this year A set of agreed facts tendered to the court reveal Brunker had agreed to host the 15-year-old girl at his home in Bellambi for a week in 1997 while she did work experience at the Corrimal nursery he worked at Read more: Illawarra dad jailed for breaking baby's bones admits choking, bashing child's mother It was arranged the teen would sleep in Brunker's single bed and he would sleep on the lounge for the duration of the stay The girl told police she was lying on her side facing the wall on the first night when Brunker came into the room and got into bed beside her She said she felt him breathing on her neck and could smell beer on his breath Brunker removed the girl's pants and underwear put her hand on his erect penis and tried to move her hand up and down The girl said she shifted away and removed her hand from Brunker's penis The girl said she felt a burning pain but was stuck between him and the wall and couldn't move Read more: Illawarra man, 21, sentenced for molesting foster sisters when he was 14 She said she tried to scream but "no noise came out" The following morning Brunker acted as if nothing had happened and there were no further incidents for the remainder of the teen's stay She told police she didn't tell her parents about the assault until nearly 10 years later and and only made a report to police in 2019 speaking to Brunker in April in a secretly recorded telephone conversation Brunker apologised for what he'd done and made partial admissions to taking the victim's hand and putting it on his penis He was arrested at his home in Kanahooka on April 22 Brunker admitted trying to have sex with the girl but said he didn't believe he had penetrated her vagina He also said he thought she was only 10 or 11 at the time Brunker was remanded in custody after his arrest but released on court bail four days later after Magistrate Mark Douglass accepted Brunker had no idea where the victim or her family were currently living "He's had ample time to commit further offences and hasn't - there's nothing in the facts to suggest the victim is at any further risk if he's released," he said The bail conditions ban Brunker from having contact with anyone under the age of 28 unless supervised by an adult over the age of 30 He will face Wollongong District Court in October at which time a date will be set for his sentencing is hoping to spread the road-safety message through rap music Picture: ANDY ZAKELIThe accident when Brookes Freitas was hurt.Brookes Freitas can only recall raising his arm to shield his face as the BMW he was driving barrelled towards a power pole at 125km/h.The Kanahooka youth had just left a family gathering at Lake Heights and was doing more than twice the speed limit when he lost control and hit the pole in Katrina St in January 2009.The driver's side of the car took the brunt of the impact and he was trapped for several minutes.The crash nearly claimed his life - he spent 10 weeks in Wollongong and Liverpool hospitals and more than once doctors warned his parents he might not make it.He survived but was left with a severe brain injury and has since battled depression mood swings and motor control problems with the right side of his body.He rarely leaves the house and describes his room as a prison.But the accident also sparked a love for rap music and today Lil Brooksie is putting pen to paper for road safety."I just want to get the message across to people in the world that when you're young you're dumb you're not invincible," he said.The 21-year-old has recorded two demos and his songs stem from his Christian faith and a desire to keep other young drivers from suffering as he has."Even if I help just one person in the world not to do what I've done I'll be happy," he said.It took less than 10 days for his demos to rack up hundreds of hits on YouTube and a Lil Brooksie Facebook page picked up 200 fans in less than three weeks But he said he needed sponsors to get into the recording studio and bring his message to a wider audience.Brookes' mother said there was a desperate need for more help for those who had suffered brain injuries as a result of car accidents.She said a State Government scheme created to support people severely injured in motor accidents had failed Brookes and many others like him."You've got these poor parents some of them aren't very well off and they're struggling to support their kids," she said Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueStephen James Martin faced Wollongong Local Court on Thursday over a raft of gun charges after his licence was suspended in May 2019 Lake Illawarra Police Licensing Sergeant Gary Keevers and Martin were the only witnesses to give evidence Read more: De Belin jury may continue into next week Martin operated his firearms dealership from February 2019 out of his Kanahooka home The court heard Sgt Keevers called Martin about 8am on May 9 informing him his firearms licence had been suspended for unrelated matters following "personal family issues" The defence conceded the suspension was legal Martin was told he needed to surrender all of his firearms however upon learning police had recently seized Martin made arrangements for them to be entered into the stock of Extreme Outdoor Sports in Oak Flats as he feared they would otherwise be damaged Martin said he purchased his first Bentley model 30 single barrel shotgun from a firearms dealership website after seeing it advertised in Queensland Martin claims he matched the serial number on the paperwork with the number on the gun before he registered it into his record book sent a form of acquisition to the Firearms Registry and labelled it Police allege that when they assessed the firearm on May 16 which was later proven by a forensic ballistics expert report Police do not allege Martin was the one to deface it but rather that he was in possession of it and would have known it was vandalised by looking at the number Police prosecutor Sergeant Robert Casey questioned Martin as to why he did not notice the serial number was different to the serial numbers of other Bentley shotguns he purchased in the months after "When you looked at the Bentley guns you acquired subsequently did you think anything about them?" Sgt Casey asked "Was there a difference in the serial numbers?" Sgt Casey continued The suspended dealer also went on to deny Sgt Keevers asked him to attend the police station on May 17 so further investigations into the defaced gun could occur Martin denied the accusation he did not follow the directions of Sgt Keevers to provide documentation about the firearms instead claiming the officer never asked him to provide material rather just to "gather" it for further investigations "At no time did Sergeant Keevers ask you to bring in your dealership records?" Sgt Casey asked Police further allege Martin failed to comply with the requirements of his dealer's licence as the labels on the firearms were insufficient when the guns were examined on May 16 Martin claimed he originally had detailed labels on his guns however took those off upon handing them over to Extreme Outdoor Sports He said he provided less detailed tags that still included the gun's entry number that was logged in his records Sgt Casey suggested Martin only made the original detailed labels failure to produce records on demand of police officer dealer not provide information regarding firearms/barrels to police and 15 counts of licensed firearms dealer failed to keep labels and records Fifteen charges relating to allegations Martin was in possession of unregistered firearms were withdrawn in court on Thursday The case was adjourned to August 17 for Magistrate Michael O'Brien to hand down his judgement Picture: Robert Peet Men's sheds aim to help Illawarra males of all ages beat social isolation while also being engaged in meaningful community projects Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueKanahooka man Brian Bullen He joined the Kanahooka Men's Shed several months ago and said it was "the best thing that ever happened to me" Read more: How to get Illawarra news on your smart speaker These guys look after me so well," he said I look forward to coming here every Wednesday." Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones visited Kanahooka Men's Shed on Wednesday The visit was to acknowledge the importance of men's sheds across the Illawarra and to meet with members for Men's Shed Week (September 28 to October 3) non-commercial organisations accessible to all men Stephen Jones and Brian Bullen playing cards at the men's shed Picture: Robert PeetTheir primary activity is the provision of a safe and friendly environment where men are able to work on meaningful projects at their own pace A major objective is to advance the well-being and health of their membership Groups such as the Kanahooka Men's Shed had to close for a few months earlier in the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic (because) I'm sick of sitting around the house looking at the four walls' Among their goals is to help males in the community who may have been feeling increasingly isolated due to the pandemic Kanahooka president Ken Hadden and treasurer Peter Johnston said the group formed about nine years ago Read more: Voices rise as public hearing on Wollongong Coal expansion plan nears Mr Hadden said they had gained four new members during the past few weeks "It's all based on community," Mr Hadden said "And it's companionship for all the boys that are here.. (because) I'm sick of sitting around the house looking at the four walls'." Mr Jones said men's sheds play a valuable role across the Illawarra "The genius of the program is that the health and mental health stuff is embedded in a seamless way," he said "There's a lot of talk about mental health issues in the community and men's sheds are a great answer to that chat with each other and learn a new skill And if there's a need for more intensive intervention they've got referral services available to them." To find your local men's shed, visit the https://mensshed.org website We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice said the alleged victim was walking along Bong Bong Road at 8.20am when he was pushed from behind by another man then allegedly threatened the 19-year-old with a syringe before taking his mobile phone The younger man was not injured during the incident and alerted police Officers from Lake Illawarra command arrested the 29-year-old at a community centre on the Princes Highway about 12.30pm He was searched and police officers seized a mobile phone in his possession The man has been charged with two counts of armed robbery and has been refused bail to appear in Wollongong court on Tuesday Police will allege the second charge relates to an armed robbery at a convenience store in Kanahooka on August 16 Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMany parents claim students missed hours of learning on Monday morning before an official letter was sent home warning anything other than "dress style pants" would not be tolerated Hundreds have since voiced their outrage to the Illawarra Mercury and across Facebook over the uniform "blitz" "I think they need to focus more on the educational (sic) and not uniforms," said Michelle Haigh "I don't think us parents are upset about our child/children are being made wear uniform It's more to do with the way it was handled and not allowing kids to attend two hours of lessons or being sent home," Donna George Vincent Siddle said "Reading these posts makes me think of two things that unfortunately are lacking in some students and their parents PRIDE & RESPECT," wrote Julie Wicken "They maybe are being a bit extreme but I see these kids walking past my house to and from school and seriously half of them look like they didn't even bother to change out of their pyjamas," Rachael Wilson Joyce said The NSW Teachers Federation on Wednesday released a statement in support of principal Chris Toohey and staff in their efforts "to uphold high standards" "It is unfortunate that Kanahooka High School's actions to support students in presenting themselves and their school in a respectable and positive manner in the community has attracted criticism and adverse publicity." The NSW Parents and Citizens Federation did not have the same view and said they were trying to contact the school to determine the course of consultation taken ahead of the crackdown "Certainly you don't want parents to be surprised or kids to be surprised or disadvantaged by things," president Jason Vials said According to the latest Kanahooka High School newsletter on their website pants of any kind were not being sold at the school uniform shop If the school has a uniform policy then students must abide by it The school shouldn’t need to give weeks of warnings as students should just wear the uniform from day one They can’t punish a student for wearing an incorrect uniform as much as they act like they can not forcing students to wear the ‘‘proper’’ clothes I think it’s not an issue if the staff wish to enforce consistency across the school uniform policy The kids could have a lot worse than a bit of discipline in this area One of the things your child learns at school is to respect the rules Maybe their parents missed that lesson at school; this time What does it matter what they wear to school we were marched into the principal’s office to remove nail polish that was any darker than ‘‘clear’’ and earrings that weren’t small studs or sleepers however for some people on budgets it’s about keeping your kids warm I’m sure the major outrage is really that the children were sent home.  there is intelligent life [out] there and they’re trying to teach your kids respect.