Although grey clouds gathered at the horizon, the weather stayed nice, clear and (unusually) hot when Kiama Rugby took on Campbelltown in a heavyweight clash at the Kiama Showground on Saturday, April 27.“It’s the biggest side so far,” says Jack Smith, players rep for the Kiama Rugby Football Club. “There’s us, Shoalhaven, Campbelltown and Shamrocks.”He summarises the club’s track record against the Campbelltown Harlequins Rugby Club over the last couple of years as, “pretty good.”Yet, Campbelltown first grade came out strong from the get-go, scoring the first try. The team kept rolling. At half-time, Campbelltown held on to a narrow lead, thanks to two tries, two conversions and one penalty.But Kiama continued to hustle and chase, which eventually paid off. A fantastic conversion resulted in a Kiama 33 - Campbelltown 25 win to the roars of the crowd, which had picked up significantly during the first half. Tries for the first grade were: Elisha Leota, Mark Asquith, Mark Asquith, Mark Asquith and Manu Ahokovi.The Kiama second grade game featured some good running rugby, ending in a win for the home team and a final score of Kiama 56 - Campbelltown 7. “The second grade overall has gone through a massive improvement from last year,” says Smith.Tries for the second grade were: Joe Osbourne, Kadin Cowley, Kyle Hargreaves, Raynold Tafua, Filimoni Volau and Isaac Kaunicaramaki.Saturday, 4 May is a round four bye.

Zara Hall of Moruya SLSC and Archie Weir of Kiama Downs SLSC have been named the Ingenia Holiday Parks Junior Lifesavers of the Year.“I did not expect to win and I was so surprised when I got it,” Hall said. “I went through all the emotions, I was nervous, I was excited, but it means so much to me to represent the Far South Coast and my club, Moruya here.”Weir added, “I’m ecstatic, it’s been a bit of a dream of mine for a while. I’ve been in lifesaving since I was a little Nipper and it means so much to come here to this camp and be with likeminded people, it’s really expanding my horizons.” Formally recognised on Friday, 26 April, after a three-day team building and leadership development program on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the pair represented the South Coast and Far South Coast with distinction, proving that NSW is blessed with talented young lifesavers along the entire coastline.An enthusiastic and motivated lifesaver with a bubbling personality, Zara is passionate and gives so much to her club, Moruya SLSC. There she actively supports the “Same Wave” program for all-inclusive lifesaving and passes on her knowledge to younger members.Judges noted she places a strong value on education, hoping to establish a program at her club that raises awareness of the beach to those visiting from inland.“It makes me so happy to represent Moruya when I think about the things the club is a part of, like the ‘Same Wave’ program,” Hall said.“I love just being at the ocean, around the club, I love competing, I love patrolling, I love everything about Surf Life Saving.”Kiama Downs SLSC's Weir, meanwhile, has several years of club experience. The panel noticed his desire to constantly improve his skills and his understanding of the important role lifesavers play on our coastline.“It was important to me that I showed that I have leadership qualities and the different ways that we can show compassion to the community through lifesaving,” he says.“Lifesavers are that sense of safety for the community and by being a lifesaver, I also get a really strong sense of belonging.”

The 2024 netball season officially kicked off on Saturday, 26 April in great company, with new president Michelle Gregory, former president Rhonda Beedles and lifetime member Karon Dawson at courtside. (Dawson started the Kiama Netball Association with Val Brunker in 1986. Unfortunately, Val couldn’t attend the President’s round as she wasn’t feeling well). Together, these women: Brunker, Dawson, Beedles and Gregory, represent close to 40 years of local netball. The three present for the President’s Round share their thoughts about the sport – the past, the present and the future. “I’ve been here from day 1,” Dawson says. “We’ve had stability over 40 years.” The association has been fortunate in having three wonderful presidents, she stresses.“Val laid the groundwork. It was really lucky that Rhonda took over and grew this further. The NSW government added a lot of restrictions and regulations. Rhonda helped us to become a member of the South Coast Blaze, which plays in the premier league in Sydney. She was instrumental in that. Michelle has newly taken over, and already put through some innovative things.”  Outgoing president Rhonda Beedles held the office for nine years. Before that, she had 23 years on the committee and was involved with her club for seven years. “My oldest one asked to play. The coach asked if I could manage. I started coaching and then got an admin role in the association,” she says. “I’m one of those people who like to help. It’s much more to volunteering - not just work. It’s a lot of fun.”She’s been president for nine years.“It’s great to have a new president taking over the reins. Taking over social media and all those aspects. We have to modernise. Keep up with the times.”What is new president Michelle Gregory looking forward to? “That’s a big question,” she says with a smile. “Just getting the girls back on the court and having fun.”Gregory’s been in Kiama for seven years and became involved with the local netball community when she started as a registrar. “I love the sport. My daughter loves the sport,” she says.

A jam-packed Kiama Bowling Club hosted the 2024 season launch of the Kiama Central Netball Club in the evening of Friday, April 26. For any lover of netball, it was the place to be.Around 120 people – players, parents and siblings, sponsors, umpires, volunteers and committee members alike – came out to celebrate the new season, which officially began the following day (Saturday, April 27).“The girls are still getting to know each other. They’re in their teams but they haven’t met that much outside,” says a spokesperson for the club.Excited players gather for the season launch.Indeed, there was electrical buzz in the air, and hardly a single seat to come by. Friends and families happily caught up, passing around soft drinks and bowls of chips. A long line stretched out to the entrance, with people signing up to participate in the 100 Club and the lolly guessing competition. “For five years, I’ve been president of this amazing club. And we have over 150 players,” president of the club, Kelly Schofield, notes as she welcomes everyone. The 2024 season is about having fun, she says, and “obviously, we want to win.” The last line is met with cheers and laughter.What else is in store?The netball season runs right up until September, which is when both the semi-finals and the grand finals take place. Throughout the season, there’ll be a couple of events going on, such as a pie drive (a fundraiser for the club) on 20 May and a bingo-themed night on 10 August.The club also has a new home at the Kiama Bowling Club.Devrat Rathore, Shaambhavi Rathore and Vertika Rathore from Penny Whistlers.“The bowling club is a new sponsor. They’ve just come aboard this year, and that’s why we’re having our season launch here,” says a spokesperson for the club.One of the bowling club’s goals is to sponsor community sports, underlines Wayne Richardson, board member of the Kiama Bowling Club, as he takes to the floor.“I’ve been involved with a lot of sports. You can’t beat team sports. You make lifelong friendships,” he says. “I don’t have any girls, just two boys,” Richardson adds.“You just got a 100 new girls,” someone jokes with him.All of the club’s existing sponsors have come on board again for this year: the Kiama Rotary Club, BaiMed, First National Coast & Country Real Estate, Penny Whistlers, The Pines, and Gerringong Storage. “It’s fabulous,” the club’s spokesperson says. Wayne Richardson from the Kiama Bowling Club and Kiama Central Netball Club president Kelly Schofield.Finally, the club wishes, “all the girls the best of luck through the season. And, thank all of our volunteers because we got around 30 volunteers in the club.”“Plus the mums and the dads that cheer us on each week. A thank you to all of those people because obviously without them these things don’t happen.”

KIAMA POWER JUNIOR AFLUNDER 15 BOYSKIAMA 85 d WOLLONGONG LIONS 21

KIAMA POWER JUNIOR AFLUNDER 15 GIRLS WOLLONGONG LIONS 26 d KIAMA POWER 16

KIAMA POWER JUNIOR AFLUNDER 11 MIXEDWOLLONGONG LIONS 88 d KIAMA POWER 0

KIAMA POWER JUNIOR AFLUNDER 11 GIRLSKIAMA 150 d WOLLONGONG LIONS 0

KIAMA POWER JUNIOR AFLUNDER 9 BOYSKIAMA POWER PLAAYED WOLLONGONG LIONS

KIAMA POWER JUNIOR AFLUNDER 9 GIRLS KIAMA POWER PLAYED FIGTREE

KIAMA JUNIOR KNIGHTS UNDER 16 GIRLS TACKLEKIAMA KNIGHTS 30 d CORRIMAL 12

KIAMA JUNIOR NETBALLJUNIOR AGERRINGONG 25 d BEACHETTES 10

KIAMA JUNIOR NETBALLJUNIOR A BERRY 37 d GERRINGONG 7

KIAMA JUNIOR NETBALLINTERMEDIATE BBEACHETTES VS CENTRAL

KIAMA JUNIOR NETBALLKANGAROOSBEACHETTES VS BERRY

KIAMA JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUBUNDER 7 COMPETITIONMAROON VS RED

KIAMA JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUBUNDER 7 COMPETITIONORANGE VS PURPLE

KIAMA JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUBUNDER 8 COMPETITIONKIAMA RED vs GERRINGONG BREAKERS

KIAMA JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUBUNDER 6PRUPLE VS ORANGE