User Profile

Janice Creenaune

Janice Creenaune is a retired English teacher. A wife and mother of three, she sees the life of a retiree as an evolution, something to be cherished, enjoyed. Janice is a volunteer for PKD Australia and her interests include travel, Letters-to-the Editor SMH, letterpress printing and film study.

Clubs & Community

Time to knit with the First Wednesday Knitting Club

Carol Douglas has always been busy, it is simply the way she lives her life. “I can’t just sit down and watch TV, I have to be knitting something. I really do find it nourishing for the body and the soul,” she says. “My teacher at school...

Janice Creenaune

September 2025

Arts & culture

Time to sing with Thirroul’s Slap Dash Choir

Janice Creenaune meets Andrew Pedrana, who had various occupations before becoming a high school teacher and moving to the Illawarra. Andrew Pedrana only began singing fairly recently with The Slap Dash Choir. “A friend recommended the choir when...

Janice Creenaune

August 2025

Clubs & Community

Austinmer local Kevin Donald devoted decades to Legacy, helping veterans’ families

Janice Creenaune meets Kevin Donald, a long-time resident of Austinmer, who worked as a supermarket manager, but has devoted his time to the Legacy organisation since 1956 and remains a stalwart supporter after 68 years of service. After the Second...

Janice Creenaune

July 2025

Sport & Leisure

60 Years of Mateship: Coledale Oysters celebrate winter swimming milestone

“Many of my fellow swimmers have been competing for far longer than me, and some have such lovely strokes and style that is amazing to watch,” Denis says. “But in meeting each week it does not seem to matter. “We all get in and swim. It does not appear to matter what style you exhibit or your speed.

Tyneesha Williams

June 2025

Arts & culture

Time to reflect: Clifton School of Arts president David Roach on turning 70

Turning 70 came as something of a surprise to Wombarra resident, David Roach. “It’s not the age itself, it’s the fact that I am still getting the same kick out of doing the things that I used to do as a teenager; jumping on my bike to go and...

Janice Creenaune

May 2025

Clubs & Community

Time to join your local Community Fire Unit

Jenny and Andrew Newland, an IT consultant and a geologist respectively, have long served the community in their efforts to be fire prepared. Now in their early 70s in retirement, they continue to enable local community action and knowledge with the...

Janice Creenaune

April 2025

Clubs & Community

Time to Garden: Bri Smith digs in at Green Connect

At 63, Bri Smith, has found her own avenue to assist our community in the Green Connect movement, which has embraced the needs of the young people and refugees in the Illawarra. “I was looking for new ventures when I retired and Green Connect was...

Janice Creenaune

March 2025

Clubs & Community

Time to Organise: Why U3A’s Film Group relies on Roy Tang

At 74, Roy Tang relishes the chance to pursue interests he did not have time for while working. “I enjoy discussing and developing ideas with others and communicating generally,” Roy says. “I have always participated in Amnesty International...

Janice Creenaune

March 2025

Arts & culture

Time to join the Illawarra Film Society

Janice Creenaune meets Austinmer resident Lynn Read, who worked in human resources before retirement. She continues to utilise her skills as a past president and current member of the Illawarra Film Society. Inspiring films can make you think and...

Janice Creenaune

January 2025

Clubs & Community

Time to Guide: Retired teacher enjoys volunteer role at Wollongong Art Gallery

Janice Creenaune meets Sharon Pechey, a Scarborough resident and past primary school teacher and assistant principal, who now continues her love of learning and teaching children by volunteering as a guide and workshop assistant at Wollongong Art...

Janice Creenaune

December 2024

Clubs & Community

Time to stitch with the Thirroul Quilters

Gail Cannell may be closer to 80 years than 70, but she is still bringing beautiful hand-made projects to life, thanks to a lifetime’s skill in patchwork, quilting other stitch crafts. “Occasionally I may use a machine for some work, but most...

Janice Creenaune

November 2024

Clubs & Community

Time to … spin and weave

Janice Creenaune meets Carl Murphy, who worked as a public servant in Canberra, before retiring to Austinmer in 2018 and re-engaging with a past passion in spinning and weaving while breaking gender expectations in the process. When viewing Carl...

Janice Creenaune

October 2024

News

Bowls fundraiser helps Thirroul couple who lost everything in April’s floods

On Saturday, April 6 this year Hewitts Creek burst its banks after heavy rainfall, flooding houses at the lower end of Lachlan Street. Gary and Bronwyn Hart lost their family home and everything in it. “We almost also lost our lives too,”...

Janice Creenaune

September 2024

News

Time to coordinate the First Wednesday Knitting Club

Janice Creenaune meets Margaret Groom, a long-term resident of the Northern Illawarra, who owned and ran a bookshop in Sydney. In retirement she co-ordinates The First Wednesday Knitting Club in Thirroul Library. Photos by Janice Creenaune. Margaret...

Janice Creenaune

August 2024