Wollongong news, sport and weather | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Burea of Meteorology chance of rainfall graph: 75 to 90mm of rain is forecast in the dark blue area south of Shellharbour.

Grab your brollies and prepare for a very wet week

Olaf Scholz is set to be voted in as Germany's newest chancellor this week.

German govt deal clears last hurdle

17m ago

Wayne Cassell has pleaded guilty to 11 offences stemming from his sexual assault of two 15-year-old girls.

SUBSCRIBER'It's going to be okay': Teens held hands, cried during joint rape on Wollongong beach

172 North Marshall Mount Road. Picture: Supplied

Marshall Mount acreages fetch more than $6m under the hammer

Take me on: Justinian Jessup against the Kings last season. Picture: Adam McLean

'Spygate': How the Illawarra Hawks have rattled the Kings cage

An echidna interrupted the Bathurst 1000 race on Sunday. Source: Fox Sports via Daily Motion.

WATCHSee the moment a spiked intruder interrupted the Bathurst 1000

Dubbo to host inaugural Classic

1hr ago

Ag production hits historic heights

1hr ago

Male depression and social support link

1hr ago

Aquaculture boom at our fingertips: study

1hr ago

278,000 Aussies sought homelessness help

1hr ago

OPINIONA well-written political book? What a novel idea

1hr ago

Australian agriculture is enjoying favourable conditions and 30-year price highs, ABARES says.

Ag production hits historic heights

1hr ago

A new report has found a link between between a lack of social support and depression in men.

Male depression and social support link

1hr ago

Some sperm in prawns can be frozen for up to 50 years, Professor Damien Paris says.

Aquaculture boom at our fingertips: study

1hr ago

Most of the people seeking homelessness services in 2020-21 were women, a report says.

278,000 Aussies sought homelessness help

1hr ago

The Clintons lacked self-reflection in their writing. Picture: Shutterstock

OPINIONA well-written political book? What a novel idea

Mark Thomas
1hr ago

A man is in hospital after being injured in a stand-off with police in Brisbane's south.

Man in hospital after Qld police standoff

Laine Clark

A lockdown in the NT Aboriginal community Binjari is being eased to a lockout.

NT toddler tests positive for COVID-19

Aaron Bunch

Premier Mark McGowan is expected to set a date after national cabinet meets for a border reopening.

WA eyes reopening date, loses Ashes Test

Michael Ramsey

DEMOCRACY: A voter submits their ballot papers at St Pius X Catholic Primary School in Unanderra. Picture: Sylvia Liber

COUNCIL ELECTIONSHigh number of Wollongong, Shellharbour votes won't be counted

DEMOCRACY: A voter submits their ballot papers at St Pius X Catholic Primary School in Unanderra. Picture: Sylvia Liber

COUNCIL ELECTIONSHigh number of Wollongong, Shellharbour votes won't be counted

Some of those who opted to vote online rather than in-person found themselves unable to do so after the system crashed. Picture: Adam McLean

No fines for Illawarra's online voters after system crashes

Some of those who opted to vote online rather than in-person found themselves unable to do so after the system crashed. Picture: Adam McLean

No fines for Illawarra's online voters after system crashes

See the state of play in Wollongong Council's election

COUNCIL ELECTIONSSee the state of play in Wollongong Council's election

See the state of play in Wollongong Council's election

COUNCIL ELECTIONSSee the state of play in Wollongong Council's election

RARING TO GO: Dubbo will host the inaugural Country Classic in March next year. PHOTO: NICK GUTHRIE.

Dubbo to host inaugural Classic

1hr ago

FORTUNATE: Howard Kotton believes bowler Mitchell Starc was lucky to secure a spot in the Australian Test team. Photo: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

OPINIONHead, Starc lucky to be given Australian Test caps

Howard Kotton

Fire: Pat Cummins. Picture: Adam McLean

Cummins' long road from North Dalton Park to Ashes captain

Tim Barrow

RARING TO GO: Dubbo will host the inaugural Country Classic in March next year. PHOTO: NICK GUTHRIE.

Dubbo to host inaugural Classic

1hr ago

Take me on: Justinian Jessup against the Kings last season. Picture: Adam McLean

'Spygate': How the Illawarra Hawks have rattled the Kings cage

Tim Barrow

Star power: Sam Kerr scores from a chip in the FA Cup final. Picture: Chris Lee/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Foord falls to Kerr's magic in FA Cup final

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

DIGESTTime to turn up the music and turn down the dysfunction

Another four residents have tested positive for COVID. Picture: Anna Warr

Four more COVID cases in Illawarra

Morocco halts all inbound flights for fear of the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

208 cases and no deaths as NSW vaccination rate stalls

MOVEMENT: The national vaccine rollout for school-age children was one step closer after the Therapeutic Goods Administration's approval of the Pfizer vaccination on Sunday.

Vaccine approval a shot for return to normal for at-risk kids

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the vaccine rollout for school-age children was one step closer after the TGA's approval. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong, CANBERRA TIMES.

FREE15 cases of omicron reported as vaccine approved for kids

Grace Ryan

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the vaccine rollout for school-age children was one step closer after the TGA's approval. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

'Peace of mind': COVID vaccines for kids set to start in January

Dan Jervis-Bardy

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has again urged the public not to focus on COVID-19 case numbers on Friday. Photo: File, AAP.

WATCHNSW records over 300 new cases as Omicron cluster rises to 13

Fleur Connick

Not done yet: Dr Ian Kamerman says we need to decide which protections will be made permanent. Photo: File

VAX THE NATIONMaintain restrictions in face of new variant, rural doctors urge

Andrew Messenger

First look at Warilla bowlo's $4 million alfresco makeover

First look at Warilla bowlo's $4m alfresco makeover

Greg Ellis

National success: Ruby's Mount Kembla chef Jeremy Lackenby celebrates winning gold and recognition for preparing the most sustainable food at the 2021 Nestlé Golden Chefs Hat Awards. Picture: Sylvia Liber.

Ruby's chef wins national culinary comp using Wollongong produce

Greg Ellis

The Imperial Hotel. Photos: Adam McLean

UPDATEDFirst look inside Clifton's grand Imperial Hotel restoration

Ashleigh Tullis

Wally Stewart, applicant for the South Coast native title claim, says cultural fisherman are being harassed. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

LISTENWhen culture is a crime: Fishing on the South Coast

Wally Stewart, applicant for the South Coast native title claim, says cultural fisherman are being harassed. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

LISTENWhen culture is a crime: Fishing on the South Coast

Marki the wombat was treated for mange in captivity. This is very rare. Picture: Supplied.

LISTENWombats are rotting to death, meet the people trying to save them

Marki the wombat was treated for mange in captivity. This is very rare. Picture: Supplied.

LISTENWombats are rotting to death, meet the people trying to save them

K'gari was named for the Butchulla spirit who helped create the land and sea and then never wanted to leave. Photo: Shutterstock

LISTENRestoring Aboriginal place names to acknowledge identity and history

K'gari was named for the Butchulla spirit who helped create the land and sea and then never wanted to leave. Photo: Shutterstock

LISTENRestoring Aboriginal place names to acknowledge identity and history

CITY MOVE: Harcourts Horsham agent Tim Coller has sold St John's Church three times, this time most of the demand came from Melbourne, and ended up with a city owner.

City buyers ditch plans to stay close to the office

CITY MOVE: Harcourts Horsham agent Tim Coller has sold St John's Church three times, this time most of the demand came from Melbourne, and ended up with a city owner.

City buyers ditch plans to stay close to the office

No end in sight in race to the regions

No end in sight in race to the regions

No end in sight in race to the regions

No end in sight in race to the regions

Infrastructure and services racing to keep up across regional Australia

Infrastructure and services racing to keep up across regional Australia

Infrastructure and services racing to keep up across regional Australia

Infrastructure and services racing to keep up across regional Australia

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Get the digital version of the Latest Paper

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STUNNING: The tour will end in beautiful Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast. James Davis Photography / Shutterstock.com

Discover the beauty and wonders of Regional NSW

Under attack: As cyber crime incidences rise, more businesses are taking out insurance to protect from losses.

Cyber crime a growing business threat

COMMUNITY SPIRIT: Fire affected Wondalga residents come together to swap stories and rekindle their community connections at a "Fire Shed Friday" event.

Local communities come together after bushfires

STUNNING: The tour will end in beautiful Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast. James Davis Photography / Shutterstock.com

Discover the beauty and wonders of Regional NSW

Become your own 'virtual power plant' and trade energy with the grid

Become your own 'virtual power plant' and trade energy with the grid

A river round trip to Adelaide

A river round trip to Adelaide

Emma Brown

172 North Marshall Mount Road. Picture: Supplied

Marshall Mount acreages fetch more than $6m under the hammer

172 North Marshall Mount Road. Picture: Supplied

Marshall Mount acreages fetch more than $6m under the hammer

Kiama property 'Fernleigh' for sale after 75 years

Kiama property 'Fernleigh' for sale after 75 years

Kiama property 'Fernleigh' for sale after 75 years

Kiama property 'Fernleigh' for sale after 75 years

Upcycling is super easy now with a host of products that take out a lot of the grunt work. Picture: Shutterstock.

From drab to fab, change the look of your home with furniture upcycling

Reality Reno with Mitch and Mark

Celebrity sheep promised bag of chips when owner's 'wacky' house sells

Celebrity sheep promised bag of chips when owner's 'wacky' house sells

Hamish Geale

Price growth is strongest in coastal and lifestyle markets, CoreLogic said. Picture: Shutterstock

Property round-up: Near 10 years to get a deposit together for a house in the regions

Jen Melocco

Scout

Man's best friend supported by Illawarra community

Greg Ellis

Cool, cool summer: South32 families show off the new shade cover at Western Suburbs Pool.

Mining company provides pool goers shade this summer

Greg Ellis

Burea of Meteorology chance of rainfall graph: 75 to 90mm of rain is forecast in the dark blue area south of Shellharbour.

Grab your brollies and prepare for a very wet week

Greg Ellis

Scout

Man's best friend supported by Illawarra community

ENRICHING: Cram Foundation participant Lisa Dale checks out part of the new sensory garden with Whitlam MP Stephen Jones. Picture: Sylvia Liber

The sensory garden in Albion Park providing new experiences

Natalie Croxon

Looking forward to seeing you: Mogo Wildlife Park's family of animal kingdom favourites are ready to welcome Sydneysiders this Christmas holiday season.

Giving the gift of a wildlife experience this Christmas

Greg Ellis

Submit a photo of your child for our Babies of 2020 feature

Submit a photo of your child for our Babies of 2020 feature

8 of the most haunted places in the Illawarra and South Coast

8 of the most haunted places in the Illawarra and South Coast

The Imperial Hotel at Clifton from a new angle — at Mt Mitchell, Stanwell Tops. Photo: Bushwalk the Gong

Is this Wollongongs most spectacular bushwalk?

Blue pool. Photo: Bushwalk the Gong

This Southern Highlands bushwalk has a blue pool, cascades and multiple lookouts

A video tour of the majestic Wollongong garden tucked under Mount Keira

A video tour of the majestic Wollongong garden tucked under Mount Keira

Bushwalk the Gong

Burea of Meteorology chance of rainfall graph: 75 to 90mm of rain is forecast in the dark blue area south of Shellharbour.

Grab your brollies and prepare for a very wet week

Greg Ellis

The view from Burragorang lookout and picnic area. Photo: Chris Piazzo, Piazza Wood Works

7 wilderness walks near Wollongong to add to your bucket list

Ashleigh Tullis

A still from footage of the fire by Top Notch Video.

Watch dramatic footage of massive Corrimal High inferno

Guests toast being aboard Coral Geographer. Photo: Jeurgen Freund

Cruising set to make comeback

Sue Preston

TRAILBLAZER: Bill Onus in Fitzroy (1946). Still from Ablaze. Photo: Eric Onus

Film a key to leader's hidden history

Rowan Cowley

STAYING CONNECTED: Lex Marinos and Patricia Amphlett take radio and podcast listeners on a romp through the perils, pitfalls and precious moments of ageing.

Radio and podcast show targets older Australians

Eileen Wood

CHRISTMAS: Charlie White with his dog Max. Charlie has been sleeping rough in Wollongong for about four months. Picture: Adam McLean

Editorial: Max and Charlie won our hearts

Gayle Tomlinson

Find out why we've locked this article (actually this one is free)

Find out why we've locked this article (actually this one is free)

Gayle Tomlinson

Reaching in: Letting someone know you've noticed that they don't seem to be travelling well, and listening with compassionate curiosity can be a powerful act of suicide prevention. Picture: Shutterstock

How conversations can make a difference

Jo Riley

Future Farmers Network director Samantha Noon.

Agriculture, the career of opportunity

Samantha Noon

File photo.

Queensland borders set to open early

Newsroom

ANSWERING THE CALL: Harvest casuals Fergus Ewart and Briana Brown at GrainCorp's Murchison East site.

GrainCorp puts out a further call for workers

Gregor Heard

TWIRL: Inside the Asteroid belt seen against the sun in deep space. Picture: Shutterstock

How the asteroid belt formed in space

Lauren Fuge

Physician Dr Saundra Daulton-Smith, author of the book 'Sacred Rest', says we need to replenish our drained selves in seven different ways. Picture: Shutterstock.

Replenish yourself with seven types of rest

Wellness with Amy Cooper

One of the most stunning perfumed plants of summer is the gardenia. Picture: Shutterstock.

ADVICEBest of gardenias, the unofficial scent of summer gardens

John Gabriele