from a joke to owls delight

Visual artist Harold Barrientos talked to us about his upcoming mural project and how his involvement at this years’ Yours and Owls festival began as a joke.

dinners with a difference

Dinners with a Difference - a delicious concept Gretel Van-Lane cooked up in her Mount Ousley kitchen last year. It’s all about skipping the small talk and diving deep.

a first aid approach

Recovery Camp, based in Wollongong, and developed at the University of Wollongong, is a provider of life-changing mental health programs and mental health education. We spoke with Dr. Christopher Patterson about the importance of mental health training.

People, peopleKate O'Mealley19 September 2023Coal Coast Magazinemental health, education, chris patterson, recovery camp

kangaroo unbound

The 100-year anniversary of D.H. Lawrence's celebrated novel Kangaroo, written in Thirroul, is bringing together poet Dr Luke Johnson and artist Garry Shead in a new exhibition.

PeopleSasha Johnson12 September 2023Coal Coast MagazinePoetry, Art Exhibit, Art, Local Artist, Local Author, Poet

breaking barriers

Woolyungah Indigenous Centre is helping First Nations students rewrite their future.

PeopleSasha Johnson8 September 2023Coal Coast MagazineIndigenous, Indigenous Centre, First Nations, UOW, WIC

streets of colour comes to the gala

Streets of Colour will make its Wollongong debut at the Gala Cinema this week. We spoke to Port Kembla-born actor Zoran Gulaboski, who began his acting journey in Wollongong as part of Macedonian Theatre Company, about the film and growing up in Berkeley.

one night with yael stone

Set and filmed on the Coal Coast, the new six-part series One Night tells the story of three women whose bond was all but destroyed by the traumatic events of one night. We spoke to Bulli actor Yael Stone about the series, and the perks of working close in home.

PeopleKate O'Mealley3 September 2023Coal Coast Magazineone night, yael stone, screen illawarra, most popular

white rabbit cafe

Meet Martin Agius from the White Rabbit Cafe in Keiraville

PeopleSasha Johnson9 August 2023coffee, Local Business, Local Coffee, Local Food

meet a neighbour

Meet Ray, who has made Cringila his home since 2014, where he opened Wollongong City Patisserie. Join us as we sit down with Ray and get to know our neighbour better.

PeopleSasha Johnson20 July 2023Coal Coastillawarra

the carnival x travelling film festival

The Travelling Film Festival is set to arrive in Wollongong this weekend. We spoke to South Coast director Isabel Darling about her new film The Carnival, a fascinating fly-on-the-wall journey with the Bell Family, a sixth-generation carnival show dynasty.

electric dreams

Electrify 2515 is a grass-roots community movement that’s helping local households and businesses switch across to renewable energy. We spoke to Kristen McDonald, fresh from a whirlwind advocacy trip in Canberra.

happy hour at home

With warehouses in Bellambi, berlin and Auckland, ikegger appears like a big operation. But in reality, its two founders David Thackray and Oner Nalcioglu are the brains and much of the brawn behind the homegrown mini keg business.

humour from the heart

We spoke to comedian (and former accountant!) Dilruk Jayasinha about the upcoming Multicultural Comedy Gala, touring and how he can now laugh about his heart attack.

PeopleSasha Johnson13 June 2023Coal Coastillawarra

hi neighbour

A new volunteer-based not-for-profit is driving innovation that supports our community as renewable energy development reshapes the employment landscape. With an inclusive approach celebrating our coal and steel heritage, Hi Neighbour is helping locals get ready for the future.

PeopleSasha Johnson9 June 2023Coal Coastillawarra, community

reconnecting through art

The inaugural OpenField Festival in June will connect the local regions through artistry by bringing artists and creatives out of the woodwork to meet and collaborate.

PeopleSasha Johnson6 June 2023Coal Coastillawarra, art, Arts Precinct Wollongong