User Profile

Amanda De George

Business is blooming at a backyard flower farm in Thirroul

It took a big change – a redundancy from her media job last year – to turn Angie Thompson’s dream of owning a small-scale flower farm into a reality, but now Trampoline Flower Farm’s bloom-laden cart is the talk of Thirroul.

Amanda De George

October 2025

Science & Nature

Stingless beekeeper gives hive splitting demo at Thirroul Men’s Shed

But luckily for me, stingless beekeeper Brian Manahan was about to split the Shed’s hive and Christie Peters, founder of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Branch of the Australian Native Bee Association, had invited me along to watch.

Amanda De George

September 2025

Science & Nature

Everybody dance now: Peacock spiders and how to find them

Have you ever seen a spider dance? I haven’t but trust me, I’ve been looking. Witnessing the elaborate courtship dance of Peacock Spiders belonging to the Maratus family, isa not to be missed event. Easier said then done though when the dancers...

Amanda De George

September 2025

Science & Nature

Nature Shake: Inspiration in the mix at Wollongong Botanic Garden

The sign of a great event is that you get what you went for, but you also walk away having experienced the unexpected. And that’s what happened for me at the fabulous Nature Shake community day held at Wollongong Botanic Garden on Saturday. Nature...

Amanda De George

September 2025

Arts & culture

The Steel City Strings present ‘Forest Bathing’

Shinrin-yoku, also known as Forest bathing is the Japanese practice of spending time in nature for the mental and physical health benefits, for the renewal and for the reconnection that it provides. It’s this restorative healing power of nature...

Amanda De George

September 2025

Science & Nature

Our top 3 spots to whale watch on the southern migration

It’s official, the southern leg of the humpback whale migration is underway! Humpback whales are on the move, heading from their breeding grounds in sub-tropical waters off Queensland back down to their krill-rich feeding grounds around Antartic...

Amanda De George

August 2025

Science & Nature

What on Earth Wednesday: A shelled slug with a taste for flesh

My husband walked inside, thick canvas gardening gloves on, tightly grasping several small sticks. He held the sticks out, as far away from himself as possible and perched on top was a precariously balanced…something. “I don’t know what this...

Amanda De George

July 2025

Science & Nature

The incredible diversity of the Sandon Point rock pools

Just south of the iconic old boat sheds at Sandon Point, lies a pretty non distinct rock platform. Sure, it’s beautiful, and this morning drenched in sun and without so much as a puff of wind, it was heavenly. But I wasn’t there for the scenery...

Amanda De George

July 2025

Science & Nature

Bothered by mozzies? Here’s 1000 reasons a night to love microbats

Over the summer months I’m lucky enough to have microbats visit my yard. I have no idea where they spend the day roosting - in one of the tree hollows across the road? Someone’s shed? Under shedding bark of old growth trees? - but come dusk, they...

Amanda De George

July 2025

Science & Nature

Illawarra abuzz: UOW biologist to give free native bee talk in July

When it comes to native bees, Illawarra folks have a bit of a hive mind; we all love them! The success of the recently launched Illawarra branch of the Australian Native Bee Association is proof of that. Lots of local families have gotten themselves...

Amanda De George

July 2025

Science & Nature

Make every whale count, join Sunday’s ORRCA census

It’s been a big couple of weeks in whale news! Everything from rare behaviours to rare sightings and plenty of the bog standard ‘oh look, it’s just one of largest marine mammals breaching before my eyes’ observations. Here’s what’s been...

Amanda De George

June 2025

Science & Nature

Call of the wild: Where to hear Australia’s best mimic

The Illawarra is full of wonderfully wild calls: the iconic laugh of the kookaburra, the warble of Australian magpies and the screeching of territorial brushtail possums. But right now, the bush is alive with arguably the best show in nature, the...

Amanda De George

June 2025

Science & Nature

Vanessa Risku: From drone operator to published citizen scientist

In late May 2025, an original research article published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science caused a stir in the world of whales. Not only did it share new evidence of where humpbacks give birth, but it also showed the importance of citizen scientists, such as Kiama local Vanessa Risku, whose images informed the study.

Amanda De George

June 2025

Science & Nature

Thousands thrilled as Aurora Australis is visible throughout the Illawarra

I had planned relatively well, or so I thought. My alarm was set for 8:30PM and … that was about it. After an alert went out from the Aurora Australis Facebook page, we rushed out the door earlier than expected and made our way to Bald Hill...

Amanda De George

June 2025