Courtesy of the Illawarra Mercury;

“Kiama has recorded one of the fastest National Broadband Network take-up rates in the country since commercial services launched late last year.

Of the 2500 Kiama Downs and Minnamurra homes and businesses with access to the network, more than 600 have made the switch, according to government-owned builder NBN Co.

‘‘When we benchmark the take-up rate here compared to what telcos have seen in other parts of the world, it normally takes two or three years to get to 25 per cent take-up that we’ve got in Kiama after a relatively short time,’’ chief executive officer Mike Quigley said.

A similar figure had been achieved at the Willunga trial site in South Australia, he said.

Mr Quigley and a team of NBN Co officials visited the region yesterday on a fact-finding mission and to meet Kiama Mayor Sandra McCarthy.

He linked the high number of early users at the Kiama first release site to the council’s

efforts to work with the community and develop applications for the NBN.

Kiama Downs and Minnamurra residents were among the first in mainland Australia to join the fibre network, which will pass another 5200 sites in Kiama and Jamberoo by the end of the year.

Kiama council recently became the first local government on the mainland to connect, while data is also flowing across the network to a new digital hub at the town’s library.

Mr Quigley said other early release sites could learn from Kiama’s initiatives.

NBN Co announced this week an extra 16,000 homes in Wollongong, Dapto and a new release site at Corrimal would have access to the network by 2014.

However, Mr Quigley was unable to provide information about when the network would reach parts of the region that have so far missed out, including Gerringong and Gerroa.

‘‘We are being lobbied, as you would expect, very strongly from councils all around the country, so we’ll move just as fast as we can and we are keen to get on obviously and do Gerroa and Gerringong just as soon as possible,’’ he said.

He also recognised Shellharbour City Council was keen to join the network, but could not say if it would be included in NBN Co’s three-year plan, to be announced by the end of March.”

Courtesy of the Illawarra Mercury;

Courtesy of the Kiama Independent;

RIDING 650km on a bicycle from Sydney to Mt Kosciuszko might seem like a tough challenge, but Kiama’s Heather McAlpine says that’s nothing compared to fighting cancer.

For Mrs McAlpine, who started the Ride to the Top on Saturday, it is her first full-length endurance ride since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2009.

She is raising money for the Breast Cancer Support Network.

“The network supports you in the cancer journey, particularly in the first month – when you’re diagnosed, your mind goes into a spasm and it’s a time of shock and intense decision-making,” she said.

She started riding 10 years ago when she and her husband, John, moved to Kiama.

“It was a weird time to start because Kiama has so many hills, but it helps you to get fit fast because you’ve got to do the hills – you’ve got no choice,” she said.

“I lead a busy life and I found that if I caught up with friends while riding, I could do two things in the same amount of time.”

After she joined the Kiama Bicycle Users Group (BUG), she took part in her first endurance ride from Sydney to Kosciuszko in 2003.

She hoped to ride last year, but the discovery and removal of a non-cancerous tumour on her ovary meant she could only ride from Bowral to Goulburn.

“It’s very meaningful being able to do the whole distance this year,” she said.

She said the chemotherapy had had lasting effects on her lungs.

“I’ve been told I’ve got 180 per cent higher fitness for my age, height and weight, but the dodgiest set of lungs,” she said.

“But my respiratory physician said cycling is the best thing for me.”

Mrs McAlpine will finish the Ride to the Top this Saturday and is hoping to raise $6500 – she has raised $3300 so far.

To donate, visit http://personalchallenge.gofundra ise.com.au/page/heathermcalpine

Courtesy of ABC;

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Courtesy of the Kiama Independent;

AT A time when other music festivals are struggling or dying, the organisers of the Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival are far from taking the event’s success lightly.In the lead-up to this year’s 25th birthday event, Festival co-ordinator Ross Eggleton paid tribute to the area’s businesses and audiences for supporting what has grown into a major tourism and economic drawcard for the region.Mr Eggleton said in planning this year’s event they didn’t stray too far from the winning formula of top acts but stressed keeping performances free was a priority.”We concentrated on making it free,” he said,. “The first free one we did was last year and that was highly successful so we wanted to repeat that success and make it even bigger.”

More than 20 venues will host more than 50 gigs, more than 35 bands, more than 100 performers over the festival weekend March 9, 10 and 11.

Most of the gigs take place in the Kiama CBD, at the Kiama Leagues Club and the Sebel Kiama, plus a variety of clubs, pubs, restaurants and cafes over the weekend from Gerroa to Jamberoo to Minnamurra.

Highlights include the All Day Jazz & Blues concert on the Sunday in Hindmarsh Park with six bands playing throughout the day, Eat to the Beat, Young Bands Come out to Play, Jazz Gospel Service, Jazz Breakfasts and roaming bands.

Mr Eggleton said formulating the performer’s list was a year-long process of listening, taking note and making a “wish list”.

“You look at who you want, who is available and who you can afford!” Mr Eggleton said.

While the spilt between jazz and blues acts is roughly 50-50, Mr Eggleton said the blues line-up was particularly strong this year.

In the event of wet weather, Mr Eggleton said the festival performances slated for Hindmarsh Park would move to the Kiama Leagues Club.

Festival programs are available from Kiama Tourism and cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs throughout town or visit

www.kiamajazzfestival.com

Tu rn to pages 19, 20 and 21 for more festival news.

Courtesy of The Daily Advertiser;

GROUP Nine club Junee missed the boat, but Group 20 counterpart Tullibigeal Lakes United rode a wave of success at the Kiama Nines tournament at the weekend.In a head-turning performance, TLU surged into the Kiama Nines final at Kiama on Saturday, only to lose 14-6 to powerful The Entrance from the central coast. 

Playing at picturesque Chittick Oval, the Sharks swept past Gymea Gorillas 12-10 in a semi-final before The Entrance ended their streak at the tournament.

 

In contrast, Junee, which was the only other Riverina team to enter the Kiama Nines, never left home, telling organisers the team was stranded by the floods.

 

Kiama rugby league secretary Steven Patterson yesterday reported the Diesels and Bathurst St Pats were the only teams from the 20 nominated that did not clock in for the Nines.

 

Speaking from Kiama, Patterson said the loss of two teams had not had a detrimental impact on the tournament.

 

“Even allowing for the wet weather, it was a terrific day,” Patterson said.

 

“There was a lot of water, but no mud.

 

“We were actually astounded the council let it (Nines) go ahead.”

 

Patterson said TLU had emerged as a “crowd favourite” at the tournament.

 

“They (TLU) were a real bush football team,” he said.

 

“They were here to have some fun and they also played it tough.

 

“I think the crowd was right behind them (in the final).”

 

With Junee pulling the plug on Friday, the Sharks were left to carry the flag for the Riverina – and made a slashing impact.

 

A week after making an impressive impact at the West Wyalong Knockout, TLU was defied by arguably the strongest team at the tournament.

 

Patterson said The Entrance is a team which plays in the Bundaberg Cup, a third tier competition on the NRL schedule.

 

“You can imagine, they’re a really strong team,” he said.

 

“It was a great effort by Tullibigeal Lakes United to make the final and be so competitive.”

 

Patterson said the Kiama Nines had attracted a cross-section of teams from Sydney, Canberra and country areas.

 

“We had Warilla and The Oaks play-off in the Plate Final and Tullibigeal and The Entrance in the main final,” he said.

 

“That’s a good spread of teams from different areas.”

 

Yet again, TLU has shown it could be the big improver in the Group 20 premiership in 2012, with dynamic fullback Jaden Kelly set to steer the team to a real shot at the title.

Courtesy of the Illawarra Mercury;

They never played together previously and had trouble remembering each other’s names.

But by the end of the day, a ragtag bunch of Fijians had taken out the Kiama Rugby Sevens in entertaining style.

Playing under the name of team sponsor Kiama Inn, the squad consisted of players from various country areas.

After kicking off the annual seaside tournament with a 14-5 over Illawarra-based side Avondale, Kiama Inn upset favourites West Harbour 10-7.

A 14-5 defeat of Uni Norths was next before Kiama Inn drew 12-all with Manly and advanced on a countback.

Taking on Tupou College from Tonga in the semi-final, Kiama Inn prevailed 26-7, setting up a meeting with Parramatta in the final.

They completed the fairy tale with a 24-17 triumph in the decider.

‘‘The boys didn’t know much about each other at the start of the day but you wouldn’t have known it watching them play,’’ Kiama Inn coach Mark Bryant said.

‘‘They only dropped about two balls all day and it was like they’d been together for a few years.

‘‘Kiama Inn is a sponsor of Kiama Rugby Club and they just wanted to have a Kiama Inn team in the Sevens. It started as a chat over a beer – just an idea to bring some blokes together and give them an opportunity to be involved – and it’s culminated in winning the whole thing. The guys played great rugby all day and deserved to win it.’’

The Ha’ateiho Spartans beat Tupou College 17-12 in the third v fourth playoff, Queensland downed the ACT Brumbies 17-12 in the women’s final, Kiama prevailed 17-12 over Engadine in the Country Cup and West Harbour conquered Southern Districts 28-17 in the Bowl final.

‘‘We had a fantastic day,’’ Kiama Sevens games manager Richard Statham said.

‘‘The weather was perfect and the rugby was great. The crowd got bigger as the day progressed and I’m sure everyone enjoyed themselves.’’

Courtesy of Kiama Independant;

“WHEN Michelle Scales-Springett started a business in Kiama last year, she wanted to provide a forum for others to do the same.

Inspiring Women Kiama is an offshoot of Inspiring Women in Sydney, helping to create business and personal relationships between women. It also aims to provide advice on sales and marketing, investment, real estate, media and manufacturing as well as health, beauty, fashion, and personal development.

Ms Scales-Springett said she hoped to emulate its success.

“It’s full of really down to earth, honest, authentic women and I was looking for a group in Kiama that was similar,” she said.

“Forming the group is my way of giving back to the community.”

The first meeting will start at noon with time for mingling, lunch and a guest speaker.

Ms Scales-Springett said she would start with the Sydney model, focusing on how women can improve their businesses, but the future format was flexible.

“I want it to be based on what the girls want,” she said. “In Sydney, they’ve had a lot of ‘how to’ speakers talking about how to grow the business and a lot of motivational stuff.

“I’ll have a questionnaire at the first lunch asking what they want out of it.”

Ms Scales-Springett said women running businesses from home could suffer from isolation, but were powerful when put in a room together.

“It can be lonely, but this will allow women to network,” she said.

Inspiring Women Kiama will be launched as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations on March 2 at the Sebel Harbourside Schoolroom.

Tickets are $35. The group will meet monthly.

To book, call Ms Scales-Springett on 4233 1825.”