User Profile

Genevieve Swart

Genevieve Swart is a journalist who has spent 30 years at newspapers, magazines and websites in London, Cape Town and Sydney. For the past decade, she has run a community news business, which rebranded in 2022 to become The Illawarra Flame, a name inspired by a tree. Genevieve is a director of True Story festival and a founding member of the Local & Independent News Association. On days off, she goes kayaking.

News

Who knew? Locals question quality of consultation on mine modification

The quality of the state government’s public consultation over Peabody Energy’s plans to extend coal mining in the water catchment has been called into question by readers who’ve told the Illawarra Flame they knew nothing about it. Official notification did not even reach James McCormack, the Wild Magazine editor who exposed the “inky black water” flowing through Camp Gully Creek in 2022

Genevieve Swart

9 hours ago

Arts & culture

New street festival coming to Thirroul, because ‘who doesn’t like a good party?’

Thirroul has reason to celebrate, with an announcement that a new street festival will bring live music, family fun and an influx of visitors to King Street on November 29-30.

Genevieve Swart

September 2025

News

Heathcote MP honours ‘caring and selfless’ community members with tea at Parliament House

Heathcote MP Maryanne Stuart recognised the achievements of a Macquarie Room full of dedicated people at NSW Parliament House on Wednesday afternoon. Before introducing NSW Premier Chris Minns, to hand out the awards, Ms Stuart told her constituents...

Genevieve Swart

September 2025

News

Sub-branch president ‘devastated’ to report loss of Thirroul memorial soldier’s rifle

The president of Austinmer Thirroul RSL Sub-Branch, Will Lee, was “absolutely devastated” this morning when he discovered that the wooden soldier’s rifle atop Thirroul’s World War One statue at Woodward Memorial Park had been stolen. “I was down...

Genevieve Swart

September 2025

News

Who said what in over 200 submissions on coal mining in water catchment

Feedback on a State Significant Development that proposes more coal mining in the catchment is in, with over 200 submissions on Peabody’s plans for Helensburgh’s Metropolitan Mine published on the NSW Planning Portal.

Genevieve Swart

September 2025

News

Ex councillor challenges ‘double standards’ after mining in the catchment debate

Former Greens councillor Cath Blakey has challenged Labor’s “double standards” on a proposal that could affect the 8500 people in the 2508 postcode who rely on drinking water from the Woronora Dam. Speaking publicly for one of the first times...

Genevieve Swart

September 2025

Arts & culture

As ‘Julia’ opens at IPAC, the legacy of misogyny speech shines on

“Do you remember when you first heard that refrain from Julia Gillard’s misogyny speech? I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man; I will not.” This was the question ABC Illawarra journalist Melinda James posed to an...

Genevieve Swart

September 2025

News

Lord Mayor on board, as Hargrave naming campaign for new airport terminal takes off

The scenic road that curves along the coast of the Northern Illawarra is named after aviation pioneer Lawrence Hargrave, famous for his world-leading experiments with box kites at Stanwell Park in the 1890s. Now the local Lawrence Hargrave Society is campaigning for the international terminal at Western Sydney’s airport to bear his name too.

Genevieve Swart

September 2025

News

How one-on-one jobs coaching works for young people wanting to find employment

Illawarra local Charley and jobs coach Zoe Matthews are a decade apart in age but connected over a shared love of good coffee after meeting in January through the Strive for Success youth employment program. Eight months, one barista course and...

Genevieve Swart

September 2025

News

Soft plastics recycling is back, with spring pop-ups and a regular drop-off point

Hoarders of soft plastics can heave a huge sigh of relief. For the first time since the collapse of the supermarket REDcycle scheme in late 2022, residents will have a regular chance to dispose of their bread bags, frozen veg packets and clingwrap...

Genevieve Swart

August 2025

Energy Transition

Illawarra’s Offshore Wind Zone enters new research and demonstration phase

Offshore wind in Australia will enter a new research and demonstration phase, which the Member for Cunningham has welcomed, hailing it as “a big green light” for investors. “I firmly believe that the Illawarra has a big role to play in the future of...

Genevieve Swart

August 2025

News

Cracks show in debate over coal mining in water catchment

Despite a show of support by the Illawarra Knitting Nannas Against Greed (IKNAG) and two speakers with coal mining expertise, a motion that Wollongong City Council oppose Peabody’s plans to mine under the water catchment failed to win support at...

Genevieve Swart

August 2025

News

Local volunteers learn how to contact state integrity agencies at ICAC forum

When the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) came to Wollongong last Thursday, the public forum panel led with serious, high-profile cases, including that of disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire, recently sentenced for giving misleading...

Genevieve Swart

August 2025

News

‘Sunlight is the best disinfectant’: How independent media is shining a light on renewables in the regions

After two years of furious debate, the Illawarra Offshore Wind Zone is in a lull. The Illawarra Flame is seizing the moment to find out how other independent papers have coped with the challenges of reporting on renewables. In speaking to other...

Genevieve Swart

August 2025