A new six-episode documentary podcast about Port Kembla, NSW's third largest port, is being launched at The Servo on Sunday, November 1. Radio journalist Jennifer Macey created the series as part of her PhD geography research at the University of Wollongong. Episodes cover water, coal, steel, grain and cars, moving from Indigenous Dreaming stories to the present day. Macey recorded on location, including interviews with migrants and workers. The podcast will be free to listen to on Spotify and other platforms.
A police officer has suffered a serious leg injury after allegedly being struck by an e-bike rider in Shell Cove. The incident happened on Friday 16 October during a NSW Police and Transport for NSW operation targeting illegal and modified e-bikes. Police say an 18-year-old man was arrested and charged over the alleged incident and will appear before Port Kembla Local Court on 28 October. During the wider operation across southern Sydney and the Illawarra, 22 e-bikes were seized and nine penalty notices issued.
Six Halloween events are planned across the Illawarra, from Gerringong to Woonona, on 30 and 31 October. Shellharbour hosts a free family Halloween Spooktacular on 30 October at the Civic Centre. Port Kembla Fearfest, held on 31 October on Wentworth Street, features live performances, armoured combat demonstrations and a horror maze. Science Space runs its Spookfest on 30 October, while the Illawarra Light Railway Museum and Woonona Bulli RSL Club host events on 31 October. The Co-Op Gerringong also hosts a one-night Halloween party that evening with live music.
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An American team has arrived at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Shellharbour to reassemble John Travolta's former Boeing 707 jet. The plane was taken apart and shipped from the United States, but mechanical issues had prevented it from being flown to Australia. The five-man team will spend six weeks on the aircraft, reattaching wings, wheels and possibly engines. The jet will not be airworthy but will be brought to a point where it can be driven around the tarmac. A date for its official unveiling has not yet been announced.
Construction has finished on the Warrawong Community Health Centre, built on the former Port Kembla Hospital grounds in the Illawarra. Once it opens in the coming weeks, residents will be able to reach antenatal care, child health checks, sexual health testing, mental health counselling and drug and alcohol support in one place. The building includes landscaped spaces, an outdoor play area for children and local artwork chosen from submissions by regional creatives and students. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park described the milestone as important for community-based care, while local members of parliament highlighted the wider investment in regional facilities.
Nine events are taking place in the Illawarra region this week, including a stage production by local playwright Stephen Goldrick, an art show at Scarborough Public School, and a Spartan Race at WIN Stadium. Other highlights include a women's health forum, a cultural festival in Kiama, a quilt and craft exhibition in Dapto, a comedy night, and an environmental festival in Port Kembla. The events cater to a range of interests, from theatre and art to sports and community celebrations.
Wollongong City Council has not taken a formal position on a potential AUKUS nuclear submarine base in Port Kembla. Greens councillor Deidre Stuart raised concerns at a council meeting, questioning whether the council had any input or awareness of plans for the base. Council staff responded that they were not aware of any specific documentation or plans from the Commonwealth Government regarding Port Kembla as a potential site. Labor councillors criticised Stuart's questions, with some suggesting they were politically motivated.
Thousands of patrons attended the Yours and Owls Festival in Wollongong, despite a thunderstorm on the first day. Organisers paused the event as attendees sought shelter in nearby venues. The festival's second day featured a new pub-crawl format, which proved popular with crowds navigating the city's central business district. Interstate visitors also attended the event, with one Brisbane resident calling it a bucket-list experience.
