User Profile

Marcus Craft

The Illawarra Flame's motoring editor, Marcus Craft is a journalist with 30 years of experience; he has worked in the automotive realm for 20 of those. Marcus has been testing and reviewing cars for national car magazines (4X4 Australia, Wheels, Overlander 4WD), lifestyle magazines (Men's Health), as well as adventure travel titles (Australian Geographic Adventure) and websites for a long time and is one of Australia's most respected motoring journalists.

Local Business

End of an era as Australis Canoes & Kayaks set to close after 40 years

After more than 40 years of making top-quality watercraft for private paddlers and commercial tour companies, the owners of Australis Canoes & Kayaks are taking a well-deserved retirement. Started in 1984 by paddlesport-mad brothers John and...

Marcus Craft

September 2025

Motoring & Property

Driven: 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 250 Series

The new-generation Prado (aka the 250 Series) is larger than the previous Prado and is now able to tow the industry-standard 3500kg, rather than the 3000kg the previous generation is limited to. The new Prado, now based on the same TNG-F chassis as...

Marcus Craft

July 2025

Motoring & Property

Driven: 2025 Ford F-150 Lariat LWB 3.5L Auto

US utes are very popular in Australia and the Ford F-150 Lariat long wheelbase – the top dog in the F-150 line-up – is the latest arrival in America’s full-size pick-up invasion of our car market.

Marcus Craft

July 2025

News

Steven’s Law: Family calls for change in memory of paramedic son

To read the magazine layout, click here, or continue reading the text version of May’s cover feature below On April 14, 2023 NSW paramedic Steven Tougher was fatally stabbed in Campbelltown while on a break during his shift. Steven’s family –...

Marcus Craft

May 2025

Sport & Leisure

Helensburgh Tigers tackle 2025 footy season

Helensburgh Tigers rugby league club has started 2025 off with a successful pre-season including some trial games across the grades. At time of writing, the club’s Over 30’s Ladies League Tag side, who played their first comp season in 2024, had...

Marcus Craft

April 2025

Motoring & Property

Driven: 2025 GWM ORA GT

One of the major issues plaguing EV usage in Australia – that is, the lack of reliable EV-charging infrastructure – is being addressed, with the Federal Government recently announcing that Australian EV charging company EVX Australia will install 250 kerbside chargers

Marcus Craft

February 2025

Clubs & Community

Retired minister expands The Men’s Well with new women’s group at Bulli

A local men’s support group, which aims to help people deal with adversity, is so popular it is expanding this year to include a women’s branch as well. The Men’s Well (TMW), founded by Mark Beaton, “specifically deals with helping men...

Marcus Craft

February 2025

Arts & culture

Siege hero cop now fights for PTSD sufferers

Illawarra’s Ben Besant, the hero cop who ended the 2014 Lindt Café siege and then in the decade since has fought to have his identity made public, is now hoping to help others with their Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). OR: Illawarra’s...

Marcus Craft

February 2025

Arts & culture

Smash-hit Love Stories to premiere in Wollongong

Best-selling author Trent Dalton is bringing the stage version of his book, Love Stories, to Wollongong for its NSW premiere. The play will be at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) for a two-week season, from February 27 to March 8. Trent...

Marcus Craft

January 2025

News

Olympic BMX champ Saya awarded OAM

After winning gold in women’s BMX at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Saya Sakakibara has now been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the general division for her service to sport.

Marcus Craft

January 2025

Sport & Leisure

Illawarra wall honour ‘very special’: BMX champ Saya

BMX Olympic gold medallist Saya Sakakibara says having her name included on the Illawarra Olympic & Paralympic Tribute Wall is “very special”. OR BMX Olympic gold medallist Saya Sakakibara is already preparing for another huge competition...

Marcus Craft

December 2024

Motoring & Property

Driven: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GSR

Hybrid vehicles are currently a great choice as a happy compromise between driving a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) or driving an EV. A hybrid vehicle – i.e. one with a traditional fuel source (petrol or diesel) and electric power...

Marcus Craft

December 2024

Motoring & Property

Driven: 2025 Toyota HiLux Rogue 48V

This is the new HiLux Rogue with V-Active Technology, which is a combination of a motor generator, 48-volt battery and DC/DC converter aimed at improving performance and fuel efficiency and reducing noise, vibration and harshness levels, compared to...

Marcus Craft

November 2024

Motoring & Property

Driven: 2025 Abarth 500e

Can an EV replicate the hot-hatch thrills of the original ICE (internal combustion engine) version on which it’s based? We drive the 2025 Abarth 500e Turismo to see if it’s as much fun as it’s hyped up to be – and to see if it can serve as...

Marcus Craft

November 2024