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

COMPLIANCE: Police check a vehicle in Towradgi during the most recent lockdown. Picture: Anna Warr

Illawarra racks up 1900 COVID breaches in three months

Natalie Croxon
2hrs ago

The man is arrested at Dapto on Wednesday afternoon in connection to the Kembla Grange train crash. Pictures: NSW Police, Seven News

BREAKINGMan arrested over Kembla Grange train derailment

The Caltex servo in Port Kembla is one of a number of Illawarra petrol stations where the prices are high. Picture: Robert Peet

Where to find the cheapest petrol in the Illawarra as prices climb

Glen Humphries

The rider awaits police on the side of the motorway on Sunday morning. Picture: NSW Police - Traffic and Highway Patrol Command

Ducati rider clocks mega-speed on Illawarra motorway

Angela Thompson
2hrs ago

Paramedics and the Toll rescue helicopter at Kirra Mine Oval treating a male mountain bike rider who injured himself while riding at Mount Keira on October 22. Picture: Adam McLean

Why ambo call-outs to mountain bike tracks have doubled

Desiree Savage

A man suffering facial injuries is arrested in Woonona. Photos: supplied

Woonona crash leads to citizen's arrest over 'stolen' trail bikes

Desiree Savage

Fifteen new COVID cases in Illawarra Shoalhaven

UPDATEDFifteen new COVID cases in Illawarra Shoalhaven

Natalie Croxon

Drone footage from October shows the Cringila Hills Recreation Park is near completion. Picture: Paul Wortley

Bird's-eye view of Cringila's near complete mountain bike trail

Desiree Savage

TAFE's Mental Health Living Library event goes virtual

17m ago

SUBSCRIBERCitizen's arrest: Thirroul teen refused bail over motorbike 'theft'

23m ago

Wollongong protest urges climate jobs' plan action

1hr ago

Banned motorist allegedly caught driving after reporting on bail

1hr ago

COMPLIANCE: Police check a vehicle in Towradgi during the most recent lockdown. Picture: Anna Warr

Illawarra racks up 1900 COVID breaches in three months

2hrs ago

Social media sensations: Kylie and Simon Morrisey shoot more TikTok content at Illawarra Print and Signage. Picture: Robert Peet.

WATCHMeet Wollongong's unlikely TikTok sensations with millions of views

2hrs ago

Police will allege they caught the accused man driving without a licence on Monday night. File image.

EXCLUSIVEHow cops caught Wollongong's alleged fake Uber driver

With limited space due to COVID rules, Melbourne Cup bookings at local venues sold out fast.

5 local venues where you can still get a Melbourne Cup booking

FAREWELL: All-rounder Erin Burns will have to support the Sydney Sixers from afar this Women's Big Bash League season. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Burns set to miss whole Women's Big Bash League campaign

2hrs ago

SO CUTE: The two new marmoset babies at Shoalhaven Zoo.

See the cutest new arrivals at the zoo

2hrs ago

TAFE's Mental Health Living Library event goes virtual

17m ago

SUBSCRIBERCitizen's arrest: Thirroul teen refused bail over motorbike 'theft'

23m ago

Wollongong protest urges climate jobs' plan action

1hr ago

Banned motorist allegedly caught driving after reporting on bail

1hr ago

Illawarra in line to host Phoenix again this season

1hr ago

Hawks looking to knock home run out of the park

1hr ago

Police will allege they caught the accused man driving without a licence on Monday night. File image.

How cops caught an alleged fake Uber driver

32m ago

Andrews returns serve over unvaccinated players

DIGESTAndrews returns serve over unvaccinated players

32m ago

MORE AWARDS: Sam Cardow at Pelican Rocks is delighted with being named being named NSW best hot chips.

Chasing the best hot chips in the land? They have been crowned

About 4100 people were flown out of Afghanistan on Australian evacuation flights.

Almost 700 Afghan assistants gain visas

34m ago

A man has been charged over last week's train derailment in the NSW Illawarra.

Man charged over NSW train derailment

35m ago

A man accused of murdering two men following an alleged attempted armed drug robbery is on trial.

Man accused of double-murder stands trial

Gus McCubbing
40m ago

Benjamin Hoffmann was unlikely psychotic when he allegedly murdered four men, a court has heard.

Hoffmann high on drugs 'but not psychotic'

Aaron Bunch
47m ago

A driver accused of having a baby on his lap before a crash says the boy had been in a baby capsule.

Driver had baby on lap before crash: Crown

Margaret Scheikowski
48m ago

IN FOCUS: Wellington's Clayton Lewis competes for the ball at WIN Stadium last season. Picture: Adam McLean

Illawarra in line to host Phoenix again this season

Joshua Bartlett
1hr ago

BOOST: Hawks players lap up the support of the Wollongong faithful last season. Picture: Anna Warr

Hawks looking to knock home run out of the park

Mitch Jennings
1hr ago

FAREWELL: All-rounder Erin Burns will have to support the Sydney Sixers from afar this Women's Big Bash League season. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Burns set to miss whole Women's Big Bash League campaign

Joshua Bartlett
2hrs ago

IN FOCUS: Wellington's Clayton Lewis competes for the ball at WIN Stadium last season. Picture: Adam McLean

Illawarra in line to host Phoenix again this season

1hr ago

Champs: Neil Unicomb and John Jacka claimed the Major Pairs title at Shoalhaven Heads for 2021.

LOOSE ENDS: Shoalhaven Heads' season of stunning finals

Mike Driscoll

DONE: Former Illawarra Hawk Dave Andersen has called time on his stellar two-decade-long career. Picture: Anna Warr

Andersen calls time on decorated career

Mitch Jennings

Behind the scenes: Staff care for a patient inside the COVID intensive care ward.

PHOTOPhotos | Behind the scenes of a COVID ward

2hrs ago

Andrews returns serve over unvaccinated players

DIGESTAndrews returns serve over unvaccinated players

32m ago

COMPLIANCE: Police check a vehicle in Towradgi during the most recent lockdown. Picture: Anna Warr

Illawarra racks up 1900 COVID breaches in three months

2hrs ago

EXPOSURE ALERTS: More than 700,000 COVID-19 case alerts have been sent to to people through the Service NSW app in the last three weeks, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Image: Grace Crivellaro.

EXPLAINERWhy you may be missing COVID-19 exposure alerts on your NSW Service app

Fifteen new COVID cases in Illawarra Shoalhaven

UPDATEDFifteen new COVID cases in Illawarra Shoalhaven

Natalie Croxon

Ninety per cent of eligible Canberrans have now been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Picture: Elesa Kurtz

ACT passes 90% COVID-19 vaccination threshold

Jasper Lindell

NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty.

Three dead as NSW adds more than 300 fresh COVID cases

Matt Carr

Photo: File

WATCHVictoria records 13 COVID-19 deaths, 1534 new cases

Kim Chappell

SUPPORT: TAFE NSW mental health teacher Belinda Hawker.

TAFE's Mental Health Living Library event goes virtual

Agron Latifi
17m ago

Drone footage from October shows the Cringila Hills Recreation Park is near completion. Picture: Paul Wortley

Bird's-eye view of Cringila's near complete mountain bike trail

Desiree Savage

Philanthropic wine: The lable on the 2019 The Lived Experience Shiraz from Wollongong winemaker Matt Burton, of Gundog Estate, who is giving all the profits from its sale to reduce youth homelessness. Picture: Supplied.

Wollongong wine maker helps homeless youth in the Hunter

Greg Ellis

Bylong's general store has been closed for a few months, it's owned by mining giant KEPCO along side the church and the primary school. Picture by Jonathan Carroll for the Newcastle Herald.

LISTENRegenerating a valley and a community

Bylong's general store has been closed for a few months, it's owned by mining giant KEPCO along side the church and the primary school. Picture by Jonathan Carroll for the Newcastle Herald.

LISTENRegenerating a valley and a community

Owner of Kallara Station Justin McClure preparing to muster sheep inside pens. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

LISTENThere is money in mud

Owner of Kallara Station Justin McClure preparing to muster sheep inside pens. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

LISTENThere is money in mud

Local kids painting cars at the Football Paint-Up at Wilcannia, NSW, to support their local football team the Wilcannia Boomerangs in the grand finals. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

LISTENWhere will the river people of Wilcannia go?

Local kids painting cars at the Football Paint-Up at Wilcannia, NSW, to support their local football team the Wilcannia Boomerangs in the grand finals. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

LISTENWhere will the river people of Wilcannia go?

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 Today's Paper

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Is your own apathy contributing to your hair loss?

Is your own apathy contributing to your hair loss?

Businesses that don't have an app will struggle to compete in the future

Businesses that don't have an app will struggle to compete in the future

Buying a new car during the COVID shortage? You need to know these 3 things

Buying a new car during the COVID shortage? You need to know these 3 things

Is your own apathy contributing to your hair loss?

Is your own apathy contributing to your hair loss?

Chasing sleep: How to get a better night's rest

Chasing sleep: How to get a better night's rest

CONNECTIONS: Susie Watson from East Gippsland received a special delivery this month, thanks to Australia Post and Beyond Blue.

Send a message of hope to someone you care about

Rental prices in the regions are up by more than 12 per cent in the past year. Picture: Shutterstock

'Challenging' market: Regional rents grow at record rate

Rental prices in the regions are up by more than 12 per cent in the past year. Picture: Shutterstock

'Challenging' market: Regional rents grow at record rate

168 Nuninuna Drive, Jamberoo was owned by Lyndey Milan. Picture: Supplied

Celebrity cook offloads Jamberoo getaway for more than $4.25m

168 Nuninuna Drive, Jamberoo was owned by Lyndey Milan. Picture: Supplied

Celebrity cook offloads Jamberoo getaway for more than $4.25m

35 Bootie Street, Balgownie. Picture: Supplied

Balgownie 'masterpiece' fetches more than $2.1m

Jack Needham

PROPERTY: As lockdowns lift home buyers are rushing to make a deal across the country.

Property round-up: Buying frenzy continues but there are still bargains to be had

Jen Melocco

138 Headland Drive, Gerroa recently sold for a suburb record of $7.1 million. Picture: Supplied

The South Coast town giving Byron Bay a run for its money

Jack Needham

Philanthropic wine: The lable on the 2019 The Lived Experience Shiraz from Wollongong winemaker Matt Burton, of Gundog Estate, who is giving all the profits from its sale to reduce youth homelessness. Picture: Supplied.

Wollongong wine maker helps homeless youth in the Hunter

Greg Ellis

Totally Pawsome: Michelina Weatherall with Marilyn the deaf rescue dog ahead of the Street Paws Festival at MacCabe Park - which celebrates canines of all shapes, sizes and abilities. Picture: Robert Peet

WHAT'S ONPups to be celebrated at Wollongong's Street Paws fest

Desiree Savage

Kylie Flament with farmer Shane Clarke at the Green Connect farm in Warrawong. Picture: Adam McLean

Award-winning Warrawong farm reopens to the public

Desiree Savage

Philanthropic wine: The lable on the 2019 The Lived Experience Shiraz from Wollongong winemaker Matt Burton, of Gundog Estate, who is giving all the profits from its sale to reduce youth homelessness. Picture: Supplied.

Wollongong wine maker helps homeless youth in the Hunter

Solar power for the world: Hatch Wollongong team members have been working on the global transmission project involving this seemingly endless solar farm under development in the Northern Territory. Picture: Supplied.

Hatch team work on globally significant renewable energy project

Greg Ellis

Tony and Rose Suttle

Illawarra business wins ninth National Showcase Dealer of the Year award

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

Social media sensations: Kylie and Simon Morrisey shoot more TikTok content at Illawarra Print and Signage. Picture: Robert Peet.

WATCHMeet Wollongong's unlikely TikTok sensations with millions of views

Greg Ellis
2hrs ago

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

CHALLENGE: Australia needs many more aged care workers. Picture Shutterstock

Critical shortage of aged care workers threatens care standards

Eileen Wood

Model Barbara Bingham.

The true beauty of older models

Therese Murray

Caution urged following spike in scams

Caution urged following spike in scams

Samara Ross

Community sport is returning in NSW, bringing with it optimism for the summer. Photo: File

REAL AUSTRALIAThe return of sport is the light at the end of the tunnel

Joshua Bartlett

Gayle Tomlinson with her husband and their two sons.

Support our newsroom so we can speak up for the Illawarra

Gayle Tomlinson

Looking to the future: UOW academics, students and local communities are working together to seek solutions and take action on climate change.

Climate change firmly on agenda at UOW

Grains have been flowing into GrainCorp's sites.

Receival numbers continue to climb as harvest kicks off

Billy Jupp

The $21,800 top-priced ram with buyers John and Luke Palmer, Mt Manara Station, Ivanhoe, Jack and Gary (right) Cullinan, Dust'N Rain Dorpers, Pooncarie, and Darren Old, BR and C Agents, Mildura, Vic. Photo: supplied

Dust'N Rain Dorper hits $21,800 high

Hannah Powe

Growers are likely go into harvest more sold on canola than they ever have been previously and sold percentages continue to rise for wheat as the weather remains favourable and pricing has remained reasonably steady around $290-$300/t.

Getting a handle on grower selling activity

James Massina, AWB

Not all hydrogen is green. Barely any of it is now, but that will slowly change. Photo: Shutterstock.

In a hydrogen economy, where the H2 comes from matters

Sam Hollier

Philanthropic wine: The lable on the 2019 The Lived Experience Shiraz from Wollongong winemaker Matt Burton, of Gundog Estate, who is giving all the profits from its sale to reduce youth homelessness. Picture: Supplied.

Wollongong wine maker helps homeless youth in the Hunter

Greg Ellis

SPRAY AWAY: Pressure washers are a great tool for weekend warriors. Photo: Supplied

Choosing the right pressure washer to save water and time