FREE SEPTEMBER 2021 www.southcoaster.com.au2 District0 news8 Making History Discover our local society, stories and a new book Waterfall / Helensburgh / Otford / Darkes Forest / Stanwell Tops / Stanwell Park / Coalcliff Meet Our Contributors Dr Lorraine Jones came to NSW after an internship in the Royal Brisbane Hospital. She worked at the 5 star rating based on client reviews Prince Henry Hospital before going into general practice in Regents Park in Sydney. Lorraine moved to Stanwell Park in 1970. After retiring, she joined the Helensburgh and District Historical Society and has published a number of booklets, including one on the 1919 PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT NOW AT influenza epidemic. REGISTERED TAX AGENT 9 Walker St Ben Wollen is the director of Wollen REGISTERED ASIC AGENT Helensburgh Architecture, an architecture studio ATMA MEMBER (at Walker St with a focus on sustainable design. REGISTERED SMSF AUDITOR roundabout) “Only build what you need to” is one of his driving mantras. He feels deeply his accountability, as an architect and environmental scientist, to work towards a sustainable future. When he’s not working, Ben’s enjoying the natural wonders of the Illawarra escarpment with his wife and kids. Edith McNally was born in the Netherlands in 1949 and arrived in Australia in 1952. She was married in 1971, has three adult children and enjoyed a 40-year career in public 1st Consultation Free ! education, culminating in 18 years as the Principal of Menai High School. Her love of nature was nurtured through long-distance walking, gardening and bushwalking. Four years of caravanning around Australia inspired a passion for watercolour sketching. She continues to paint from her home base in beautiful Stanwell Park. NEXT DEADLINE Sept 23 for the Oct edition EDITORS Genevieve Swart, Marcus Craft CONTACT [email protected]. Ph: 0432 612 168 2508mag. PO Box 248, Helensburgh, 2508. ADVERTISING www.southcoaster.com.au | T&Cs apply. NEXT DEADLINE September 23, 2021 COVER Coalcliff circa 1910. Image from the collections of Wollongong City Libraries and Illawarra Historical Society 2508 is published by The Word Bureau, ABN 31 692 723 477. DISCLAIMER: All content and images remain the property If results matter to you, don’t settle for second best. of 2508 Coast News unless otherwise supplied. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission. Views expressed do not reflect those of the Call your #1 Local Real Estate Team for a free consultation publishers. We look forward to speaking with you!!! ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The publishers acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their cultural and spiritual connection to this land. Their stories are written in the land and hold great significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Mattias Samuelsson 0466 627 226 Islander peoples, from the mountains to the sea. [email protected] 2 September 5 star rating based on client reviews If results matter to you, don’t settle for second best. Call your #1 Local Real Estate Team for a free consultation We look forward to speaking with you!!! Mattias Samuelsson 0466 627 226 [email protected] 2508 HQ: the challenges of the modern newsroom cannot be underestimated. Julie York 0405 128 070 [email protected] A Letter from the Editors One day in August, in between rolling out batches lockdown. Just taking it one day at a time!” of biscuits for a Friday the 13th bake-off – a “People keep coming in, and they get angry teacher’s brainwave to cheer up home learners, if when we ask them to put masks on.” not their parents – a brilliant idea popped into the “I’m worried about my husband’s mental health.” 2508 inbox. “If you could please pause my advertising for Marketing professional and local mum Jessica three months.” Nelson had a plan to support local small businesses “At least we’re not in Afghanistan.” struggling through lockdown – ask those doing well to sponsor advertising in 2508 magazine. The #show2508youcare idea helps2508 mag too. The #show2508youcare idea was an absolute Your community magazine is entirely funded by cracker. Bigger businesses helping small businesses advertising and some of its biggest supporters – – a feel-good initiative to lift our spirits and like Tradies Helensburgh – are now closed, with no practical proof of the power of community. light in sight. It could be thanks to such a campaign The Greater Sydney lockdown has been an ultra that our page count doesn’t plummet. marathon for working parents. And the finish line I threw the biscuits in the oven, forgot to set a keeps moving. Many people are now at the timer and rang Jess. We hatched a plan and the crawling on hands and knees stage. For almost promo came together shortly before deadline. Big every ad you see in this magazine, imagine a local thanks to everyone who so generously took part! family business under pressure. Please look out for the “Supported By” banners Some of the things we heard in August: in this and future issues. If you’d like to sponsor a “We’re absolutely drowning.” small business or charity ad at discounted rates, “UGH, I hate this lockdown, make it stop!” simply email [email protected] “Our income is down to a trickle since choosing And if you need anything this month, be it a new to close our shop.” house or a cup of coffee, go local! “I have adapted to offering online classes but this By the way: the gingerbread men were badly is a much smaller list of clients.” burnt, but we patched over disaster. Plastered them “This is much harder than last lockdown.” in white icing, decorated with ghostly faces, they “Homeschooling has me on the backfoot.” turned out to be a class prize-winner. Spooky. Our shop front is closed at the moment but our “We used to get a lot of government contract A metaphor for our pandemic coping strategy? work, now it’s all dried up.” team is here to help.. “As you can imagine, no business wants to Happy reading, everyone. commit while we are in this horrid continual Genevieve and Marcus, the editors 2508 We are still listing, selling & leasing properties. 4 September Julie York 0405 128 070 [email protected] Our shop front is closed at the moment but our team is here to help.. We are still listing, selling & leasing properties. he was knocked unconscious and failed to resurface. Dave was under the water for more than Coalcliff surf club three minutes while witnesses on the beach rushed to his aid. community rallies It took five people to retrieve him from the water and carry him to safety where he was given immediate, life-saving CPR by members of the to help fund rehab public, including several off-duty first responders. By Bethan Farmer Emergency services arrived and, more than two hours after leaving the water, Dave was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital, where he remained in an induced coma for three days. After an agonising wait with his family by his side in the ICU, Dave regained consciousness. The spinal cord damage he sustained has affected his fine motor skills, but thankfully he has movement in all his limbs. The good news is that after two weeks, he is going to the gym twice a day in an electric wheelchair, sitting up for longer periods despite his broken ribs, and has requested his hat and sunnies as he wants to sit in the courtyard sun! Got to keep topping up that famous tan! Despite his ordeal, Dave was lucky. On the beach that day were a number of individuals whose quick actions and first aid skills are the reason he survived. The Winner family and the 2508 community would like to thank Andrew Massey, Damian Lloyd, Harry Balaskas, Jim Dalmer, Kane Faust, Luke Dalton, Luke Morgan, Mitchell Loveday, Roger Blairs, Tim Lloyd and Yaan Keller Dave Winner is a man who needs no introduction Bergmann as well as NSW Ambulance Service, in this part of the world. The Winners have lived in NSW Police, Scarborough Fire Brigade, Toll Coalcliff since 1980, when Dave and Judy moved Helicopter and any others involved. into the village, where they raised their kids Carly A fundraiser has been set up to help Dave’s and Steven and welcomed their four grandkids. family with the costs of his treatment and Locally, Dave is beloved for his easygoing charm rehabilitation. and generous character. Regionally, he is regarded To donate, go to https://www.gofundme.com as a pillar of the Illawarra Surf Lifesaving and search for ‘Dave Winner’s Rehabilitation Fund’. Let’s help get Dave back on his feet and doing what community – he is the reigning SLS NSW Patrol 2508 Captain of the Year and has been awarded Life he loves most – teaching others to save lives. Membership due to his many years of dedicated Donate to Dave Winner’s Rehabilitation Fund service. Maybe you’ve met this affable, sunburnt, via www.gofundme.com gentle giant relaxing at Coalcliff Beach, working Photos thanks to the Winner family out at the gym in Helensburgh, or walking on the coastal track. Maybe he taught you First Aid, CPR, Advanced Resuscitation, Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue Certificate during his 21 years as an educator, where his favourite saying is: “I’m teaching CPR because one day, the person being saved might be me!” Well … On Thursday, 5 August the ocean was cranking again after what seemed like weeks of being like a millpond – glassy and flat. Dave is a lifelong, all-season surfer and sea-swimmer.