Maybe so if you live in Sydney or south of Kiama. But we cannot get a starting date for the Albion Park Rail bypass.

George Mercieca, Albion Park Rail

Thanks to the generosity of Coles customers in Illawarra, Redkite is now able to assist more families with children affected by cancer.

Coles’ nine stores in the Illawarra region combined have raised over $43,400 from customer and team donations, contributing to the $20 million Coles has raised nationwide since 2013.

In addition to customer and team donations, five cents from the sale of every loaf of Coles Brand and Traditional High Top Bread sold in Illawarra is donated directly to Redkite. This support is helping to transform cancer care in Australia.

Every six hours in Australia, a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer. Redkite is the national children’s cancer charity providing social workers and music therapists in hospitals, information and counselling, financial assistance, and  education and career support to children, young adults and their families who are impacted by cancer.

We couldn’t do it without the incredibly generous support of Coles, the amazing fundraising efforts of its team and the big-hearted community of Illawarra that supports Coles’ activities such as its Christmas card campaign.

When a child or young person has cancer, families face increased expenses at a time where they may need to stop work to be at their child’s beside. They may need counselling and information, and kids miss school. Coles’ fundraising has ensured families were helped by Redkite on 80,000 occasions with essential support.

It’s helped us make significant headway in bridging the gap in support for young cancer patients and survivors. Redkite has gone from reaching one in five teenagers and young adults at diagnosis to now one in two.  I’d like to offer enormous thanks to Coles, its charity champions, team and, importantly, generous Illawarra customers.

Jenni Seton, CEO Redkite 

On September 20, the Illawarra Mercury published an article describing how a commercial group from Sydney who are expanding in the Illawarra are undertaking the "Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge on October 22 and 23 is a 100 kilometre walk from the University of Wollongong to St George in support of research at St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation".

Madeline Tynan was quoted as saying that they "are committed to promoting growth in the Illawarra and supporting community organisations. Medical research is an important part of that commitment".

The St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation website states quite clearly in its instructions to applicants that only employees of St George and Sutherland Hospitals can apply for grants to fund research.

While I applaud the donations to medical research, how can the process of taking donations from the Illawarra to a Sydney research institution promote growth in the Illawarra or support community organisations?

Shouldn't donations from the people of the Illawarra be funnelled to an Illawarra research organisation rather than Sydney organisations who do not permit local researchers access to that funding?

Andrew Miller, Mt Pleasant

 I knew it would not be long before they would come down from the trees to protest to the proposed indoor shooting venue.  It is a much needed facility for the Illawarra.

Warren Fleming, Blagownie