Open Street Festival, Art Trail & free calendar for our community
It's another festive weekend across the Illawarra, with the Open Street Festival and Thirroul Music Festival, artists inviting guests to visit studios on the Northern Illawarra Art Trail, a Destash and Handmade Market in Kiama, a Rotary Domestic Violence Awareness Raising Walk, the Berkeley Community Fair and your last chance to see Crescendo 25 at Clifton.
With lots on, we have good news. The Illawarra Flame has a fresh community calendar – to post your event, go to our What’s On webpage and click on the green ‘Add Event’ button at right. There are paid options for extra publicity, but the basics are FREE!
This new calendar is part of our sparkling website revamp. Unlike the Bureau of Meteorology, it didn't cost us $96.5 million and we think it's an improvement. But it did take about 96.5 million hours of work and has been in the pipeline for almost six months, a case of 'needs must'. The website move would not have been possible without the help of the amazing Adrian O'Hagan at the Local and Independent News Association (which is simply the best professional group we've ever joined). Coming soon: free digital business listings!
The Illawarra Flame's new website is hosted by Ghost, a carbon-neutral, open-source, not-for-profit foundation, which we like.
Because – and this is our other big news – The Illawarra Flame is now an officially recognised social enterprise, certified by Social Traders as a business operating in the best interests of people and planet.
Being a certified social enterprise means we join an incredible array of local businesses for good, from Green Connect to Flagstaff, RoboFit, Chocolate on Purpose and Bus Stop Films.
One reason for our certification – aside from producing free, independent, public interest journalism across multiple platforms – is The Illawarra Flame truly is the Magazine the Community Made, as reported in our 10th birthday issue last year. Our team of volunteer contributors is huge, with more than 100 community writers on board, from nine-year-old Girl Guides to retirees in the Men's Shed. We love the diversity of voices and are always humbled by the depth of talent – this week Rob Brander, of Dr Rip's Science of the Surf fame, was up for a Walkley Award, one of journalism's highest honours.
Below are nine local stories making headlines – find more news from the week our website and try our free Friday Crossword – it's a taste of the fun brainteasers we publish every weekday for subscribers.
Support our social enterprise for the cost of a cuppa – $5 a month. Then save our website to your phone desktop and you'll always have something fresh to read with your morning coffee.
Enjoy your weekend reading,
Genevieve Swart, editor
Northern Illawarra needs more dog parks
Wollongong City Council is reviewing its Dogs on Beaches and Parks Policy. This presents a pivotal opportunity for Northern Illawarra residents to call for more dedicated dog parks, which will also help to alleviate pressure on our local environment and protect native wildlife
Sam playing it again at the 39th Illawarra Folk Festival
Multi-instrument folk music maestro Sam De Santi literally grew up at the annual Illawarra Folk Festival – which will be back at Bulli Showground from January 16-18
City lights up with symbolic acts against gendered violence
After Tuesday's Rose Vigil, city buildings are glowing orange at night, people are planning solidarity marches and Corrimal Rotary are launching new “Purple Fridays” as part of UN Women's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign
Family roll dice on card game invention
For Bulli dad Joel Bettson, board games provide hours of quality time with his kids. So when they grew bored with slow shop games, the family invented their own 10-minute card game – The Golden Sausage
How the Illawarra Flame Tree got its (English, common) name
Photographer Brad Chilby recently shared a picture of an Illawarra Flame Tree, asking why such a widespread tree is named for the Illawarra region. So the coordinator of Growing Illawarra Natives took a browse through historic records to see what she could find
It's official, the Tawny Frogmouth is Australia's favourite bird
Last month the Tawny Frogmouth was named Birdlife Australia’s 2025 Bird of the Year – here's why they've earned the title
New leaf turns on books of art
Until Sunday, art lovers can see the Crescendo 25 Artist Book Award – an exhibition showcasing 62 artist books from across Australia and the Asia Pacific – at the Clifton School of Arts. Check out our opening night pics
Thinking about a pet for Christmas? Think hard!
With the countdown to Christmas well and truly underway, cat-loving Wollongong councillor Andrew Anthony is encouraging locals to think carefully before bringing a new pet into the family this festive season. Plus, council wins prize for its program
Pro Palestine protest may close Sea Cliff Bridge
Organisers of a protest planned for Wollongong’s famous Sea Cliff Bridge in a fortnight are hoping hundreds will rally in support of the people impacted by the war in Gaza
