User Profile

Iris Huizinga

Iris Huizinga migrated to Australia from The Netherlands, where she was a screenwriter. She graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. Since 2009 she has volunteered locally, at the surf club and with the fire brigade. Iris makes short films for the Flame.

Clubs & Community

It’s time to Get Ready with RFS open days this weekend

By RFS volunteer Iris Huizinga Helensburgh Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade will host a Get Ready Weekend event on Saturday, September 20. Learn how to create a Bush Fire Survival Plan – plus, receive FREE gardening gloves and access essential...

Iris Huizinga

September 2025

News

Helensburgh miners strike for job security

“If we accept this new EA, they can turn around, replace us with contractors, leave us locked out, and that’s it” – miner Matt Kiely, July 2025. For over a month, local Helensburgh mineworkers have been protesting outside the Metropolitan...

Iris Huizinga

August 2025

News

Get Ready! Take Helensburgh Fire Brigade’s bushfire safety quiz

Local volunteer firefighters will provide valuable information and resources to ensure you’re ready for the upcoming bush fire season. Please come and visit the station at 185a Parkes St, Helensburgh on the 21st or check the brigade’s Facebook page to be in the know and be safe.

Iris Huizinga

August 2024

News

Get Ready for fire season

Most long-term residents know it is important to understand the bushfire risk, based on the current seasonal outlook for 2023. But for new residents this summer might be the first time they’ve had to think about how to plan and prepare for...

Iris Huizinga

September 2023

Clubs & Community

Lego fans flocked to Helensburgh Lions Brick Fair

Last weekend, Helensburgh Lions Club presented the Brick Fair at Helensburgh Tradies, with all proceeds from the event going towards schools in the local area. From 10 o’clock onwards, it was a busy day as Lego fans admired all the displays. We...

Iris Huizinga

June 2023

Arts & culture

‘It was wonderful’: high praise for AUSTI. dancers

A second show is on tonight, Saturday, June 24 at the same venue. After that, the dance company will be back in October with the performance Uncoiled Unspoiled

Iris Huizinga

June 2023

News

Shoppers enjoy Bubbles & Bargains at Dress For Success pop-up event

The “Bubbles and Bargains” event held on Sunday, June 4 was a big hit. Eager shoppers clutching empty bags began forming a line even before the doors were officially opened. Inside, a bustling marketplace filled with clothes racks, trays with...

Iris Huizinga

June 2023

Videos

How John Stubbs put patients at the heart of healthcare

A Thirroul resident and now Member of the Order of Australia, 74-year-old John Stubbs is on a mission to put patients at the centre of healthcare treatment. Watch the interview

Iris Huizinga

April 2023

Videos

Lifesaver teaches refugees to swim

When former Scarborough-Wombarra lifesaver Peter Rafferty volunteered as a driving instructor for refugees in Wollongong, he discovered most of his students couldn’t swim. So he decided to do something about it. Peter, who worked with asylum...

Iris Huizinga

March 2023

Sport & Leisure

Kids loving the jumps

New, exciting track upgrades, a “clubhouse” and wonderful gardens: the Helensburgh Off Road Cycle Club (HORCC) has been busy. The club is also a recipient of the NSW government’s Local Sports Grant Program, along with nine other community...

Iris Huizinga

March 2023

Videos

Meet the founder of Helensburgh’s animal rescue organisation

Meet Julie-ann Ehrlich, the founder of Helensburgh’s Country Companion Animal Rescue

Iris Huizinga

December 2022

Videos

Rise in demand for Need a Feed

“Right now, we can’t meet the demand, we have had to knock people back,“ says Need a Feed CEO and founder Shaz Harrison. ”There was one organisation that wanted 70 food packages, we could only give 25.”

Iris Huizinga

December 2022

Videos

Mustangs for Maggie

On Sunday, December 4, Wollongong’s gridiron team, the Mustangs, faced a very different kind of physical challenge. Seven players rolled up their sleeves to donate blood

Iris Huizinga

December 2022

Videos

Kids show bucketloads of love for the lake

More than 200 people went on the hunt for rubbish as part of the Seaside Scavenge at Lake Illawarra’s Reddall Reserve on Sunday, November 6. The event was a joint initiative of the Shellharbour and Wollongong city councils aimed at trying to...

Iris Huizinga

November 2022