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

Picture: Sylvia Liber

LIVEThe Illawarra's likely reopening date identified

Mercury newsroom

INSET: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Photos: File

WATCHNSW's roadmap out of lockdown: travel, sport back on agenda

Kim Chappell

Matilda Peacock, 9, at the Spoonville pop-up on Lawrence Hargrave Drive in Thirroul. There is also a Spoonville colony in Kanahooka on Kanahooka Road. Picture: Supplied

GOOD NEWSSpoonville villages stirring up fun across the Illawarra

Desiree Savage

Photos: File

Fully vaccinated in NSW? Here's what freedoms apply

Kim Chappell
2hrs ago

Wollongong City Council's outdoor pools will not reopen this week.

Illawarra pools are allowed to reopen this week. Only one will

Police and security guards have surrounded the complex since late Thursday. Picture: Anna Warr

SUBSCRIBERCOVID-positive woman 'abused, spat at' residents at locked-down apartment block

Ashleigh Tullis

Destinations Wollongong's Mark Sleigh at the Wollongong Continental Pool. Picture: Sylvia Liber

Regional travel could be delayed due to spike in COVID cases

Desiree Savage

A marquee has this week been installed outside the EDs Darling Street entrance to ensure the hospital is prepared for potential increases in demand due to COVID. Picture: Sylvia Liber

Temporary triage unit set up at Wollongong Hospital

Port Kembla's PeerCo given a 'leg up' to help trauma victims

Heartbreak for Grida after suffering second ACL tear

54m ago

Investigation launched after 10 Norfolk Pine Trees poisoned at Towradgi Park

1hr ago

Tourism Australia boss supports #vaxtheillawarra

Picture: Sylvia Liber

LIVEThe Illawarra's likely reopening date identified

Holly and Josh Ryan, who lost their unborn son at 36 weeks, are fronting a new stillbirth campaign.

Holly's advice to expectant parents after stillbirth heartache

Pictures: Supplied

'Architectural masterpiece' at Coledale attracting $4m interest

Brendon Halsey (left) and Joshua Lay were granted bail in Wollongong Local Court on Friday.

SUBSCRIBERMates 'caught trying to steal' from North Gong surf club site

TOP POSITION: It's now the featherweight division, and not its reigning champion Alex Volkanovski, that has it all to prove. Picture: Getty Images

SUBSCRIBER'Let the doubters hate': Volkanovski swings pendulum his way

INSET: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Photos: File

WATCHVictoria records 705 new COVID-19 cases, one death

2hrs ago

Heartbreak for Grida after suffering second ACL tear

54m ago

Investigation launched after 10 Norfolk Pine Trees poisoned at Towradgi Park

1hr ago

LIVEThe Illawarra's likely reopening date identified

11:15AM

'Seriously deficient': Disability care vaccine failures slammed in new report

11:00AM

GOOD NEWSSpoonville villages stirring up fun across the Illawarra

10:50AM

Illawarra pools are allowed to reopen this week. Only one will

08:39AM

A woman has recounted her front doors lock being blown off and she thought she was about to die.

Darwin shooting survivor got ready to die

10m ago

A man who planned a terrorist act was inspired to fight in Syria by Hamdi Alqudsi (pictured).

Sydney terror offender says he's changed

21m ago

Ex-detective Ron Iddles (pictured) says he believed Peter Keogh was rightly excluded as a suspect.

Killer's threat 'male bravado': Iddles

28m ago

Legal groups say national cabinet discussions shouldn't be exempt from freedom of information laws.

Lawyers blast national cabinet secrecy

34m ago

Unlike the US and the UK, Australia is yet to commit to a target of net zero emissions by 2050.

PM urged to attend climate change meeting

Matt Coughlan
40m ago

Sydney trains will come to a stop at 9am on Tuesday due to a four-hour strike by drivers.

Strike to cause disruptions to NSW trains

Greta Stonehouse
54m ago

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has revealed her government's roadmap to exit restrictions.

Normality beckons for vaxed-up NSW

Angelo Risso
58m ago

Andrew Barr has outlined a roadmap out of lockdown, as the ACT records 19 new cases and one death.

ACT announces path out of COVID lockdown

Andrew Brown
1hr ago

TOUGH BLOW: Dan Grida has suffered a second ACL tear, ruling him out of the upcoming NBL season. Picture: Adam McLean

Heartbreak for Grida after suffering second ACL tear

Mitch Jennings
54m ago

TOP POSITION: It's now the featherweight division, and not its reigning champion Alex Volkanovski, that has it all to prove. Picture: Getty Images

SUBSCRIBER'Let the doubters hate': Volkanovski swings pendulum his way

Mitch Jennings

Desperate chase: Jamaea (second from right) attempts to make up ground on Golden Rose winner In The Congo (far left). Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Price confident Jamaea's best still to come

Cameron Mee

TOUGH BLOW: Dan Grida has suffered a second ACL tear, ruling him out of the upcoming NBL season. Picture: Adam McLean

Heartbreak for Grida after suffering second ACL tear

54m ago

WAR: Alex Volkanovski rocks Brian Ortega in their title showdown on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

UPDATEDVolkanovski sees off Ortega to retain title in instant classic

Mitch Jennings

Impressive win: Jockey Tim Clark celebrates In The Congo's victory in the Group 1 Golden Rose on Saturday. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Robert and Luke Price fall short of Group 1 glory

Cameron Mee

INSET: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Photos: File

WATCHVictoria records 705 new COVID-19 cases, one death

2hrs ago

Picture: Sylvia Liber

LIVEThe Illawarra's likely reopening date identified

INSET: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Photos: File

WATCHNSW's roadmap out of lockdown: travel, sport back on agenda

Health Minister Greg Hunt has previously defended the pace of the vaccine rollout in the disability sector. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

'Seriously deficient': Disability care vaccine failures slammed in new report

Mount Stromlo High School PE teachers Tom Leddy, Angelica Pahina, Marty Desmet and James Farrell. Picture: Keegan Carroll

The PE teachers keeping kids moving in lockdown with chocolate coins and swords

Lanie Tindale

Ballarat butcher John Harbour basking in his team's success. Picture: Jeremy Bannister

DIGESTHope on the breeze for lockdown states as premiers gear up for freedom plans

Harley Dennett

A marquee has this week been installed outside the EDs Darling Street entrance to ensure the hospital is prepared for potential increases in demand due to COVID. Picture: Sylvia Liber

Temporary triage unit set up at Wollongong Hospital

National support: Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison has thrown her full support behind the #vaxtheillawarra initiative.

Tourism Australia boss supports #vaxtheillawarra

Greg Ellis

Matilda Peacock, 9, at the Spoonville pop-up on Lawrence Hargrave Drive in Thirroul. There is also a Spoonville colony in Kanahooka on Kanahooka Road. Picture: Supplied

GOOD NEWSSpoonville villages stirring up fun across the Illawarra

Desiree Savage

SOUL SURFER: Ignacio Salazar has conquered waves up to 80 feet as now trying to conquer the mind. He's offering one-on-one wellbeing sessions to help people focus on present moment and enjoy life. Picture: Sylvia Liber

GOOD NEWSInternational surfer teaching mindfulness, wellbeing at Warilla

Desiree Savage

MOVIE MAN: Stunt double, rigger and safety assistant Jake Bennett - above with Samuel Johnson on the set of Eden. Picture: Supplied

Wollongong miner switched careers to being a stunt double

Desiree Savage

Pooncarie grazier Trevor Smith is frustrated by the revolving door of water management bureaucrats. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

LISTENWater policy plays piggy in the middle with livelihoods

Pooncarie grazier Trevor Smith is frustrated by the revolving door of water management bureaucrats. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

LISTENWater policy plays piggy in the middle with livelihoods

Grape grower Graeme McCrabb stands beside the Darling River where he first saw the fish deaths, at his property in Menindee, NSW. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

LISTENVoice of Real Australia podcast is back with a splash

Grape grower Graeme McCrabb stands beside the Darling River where he first saw the fish deaths, at his property in Menindee, NSW. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

LISTENVoice of Real Australia podcast is back with a splash

Watch the Forgotten River trailer

WATCHWatch the Forgotten River trailer

Watch the Forgotten River trailer

WATCHWatch the Forgotten River trailer

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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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

Is your masculinity complex making you look older?

Is your masculinity complex making you look older?

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

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

Changing lives: The Australian-made AirPhysio device helps clear airways and strengthen lungs. Picture: Supplied

Fast-growing regional business helping people breathe again

FINAL GIFT: Brian Jenkins, pictured in his orchard in 2002, is one of the thousands of generous Australians who have left a gift to a charity in their Wills. His bequest to The Alfred Hospital allowed his family to create a life-changing cancer research fellowship in his name. Picture: Supplied

Australian legends: How to make a difference by including a charity in your Will

10 Dovers Drive.

Going, going, all gone in record Illawarra auction weekend

10 Dovers Drive.

Going, going, all gone in record Illawarra auction weekend

POPULAR: This renovated Hamilton South home has attracted plenty of early interest since being launched to market with an auction guide of $1.15 million.

Newcastle Knight Connor Watson puts home up for sale

POPULAR: This renovated Hamilton South home has attracted plenty of early interest since being launched to market with an auction guide of $1.15 million.

Newcastle Knight Connor Watson puts home up for sale

Why the most important room in the house is not what you think

Why the most important room in the house is not what you think

MITCH AND MARK

Pictures: Supplied

'Architectural masterpiece' at Coledale attracting $4m interest

Brendan Crabb

Picture: Supplied

'Fiercely competitive': Illawarra hotel sold after 36 years

Brendan Crabb

A vandalised tree and a message left by members of the community upset about the destruction. Picture: Wollongong City Council

Investigation launched after 10 Norfolk Pine Trees poisoned at Towradgi Park

Greg Ellis
1hr ago

National support: Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison has thrown her full support behind the #vaxtheillawarra initiative.

Tourism Australia boss supports #vaxtheillawarra

Greg Ellis

SOUL SURFER: Ignacio Salazar has conquered waves up to 80 feet as now trying to conquer the mind. He's offering one-on-one wellbeing sessions to help people focus on present moment and enjoy life. Picture: Sylvia Liber

GOOD NEWSInternational surfer teaching mindfulness, wellbeing at Warilla

Desiree Savage

A vandalised tree and a message left by members of the community upset about the destruction. Picture: Wollongong City Council

Investigation launched after 10 Norfolk Pine Trees poisoned at Towradgi Park

1hr ago

Balinese cuisine just the tonic during COVID: So Many Delicious Years, Murnis Warung Ubud Bali audiobook cover presently being produced in London.

Tourism themed book about Balinese food legend just the tonic during COVID

Shellharbour mayor Marianne Saliba at Oak Flats Pool. Picture: supplied.

Oak Flats pools reopen Saturday

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

Picture: Sylvia Liber

LIVEThe Illawarra's likely reopening date identified

Mercury newsroom

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

Property bonanza: The question is, what is driving up real estate prices? Picture: Anna Warr

Are we in the midst of a real estate bubble?

Alex Frino

Future looks bright: Wollongong 2022 CEO Stu Taggart hopes the UCI Road World Championships can be a huge part of better times for the region over the next 12 months.

UCI titles - a glimpse of better times ahead

Stu Taggart

Are COVID anti-vaxxers being discriminated against? Nope

OPINIONAre COVID anti-vaxxers being discriminated against? Nope

Zoe Cartwright

Working dog breeder Joe Leven, Doubtful Creek via Casino, with record-priced Big under one arm and a handful of others close-by. The yellow Border Collie with uncommon sense and a tough work ethic will educate weaner cattle in North Queensland

New $30k record for Border Collie working dog

Jamie Brown
1hr ago

Photos: File

Fully vaccinated in NSW? Here's what freedoms apply

Kim Chappell
1hr ago

A new report proposals how government can support farmers deploying low-emissions technologies and practices in agriculture. Picture: Shutterstock

Cut farming emissions now: Grattan Institute

Harley Dennett
2hrs ago

NUTRIENTS: Kelp is a low-maintenance high achiever. Picture: Shutterstock

Sea vegetable's superpowers unearthed

Amy Cooper

EXPANSIVE: The curve of the kitchen cabinetry, furnishings and staircase echo the arches which dominate the exterior of the Arcos Villa. The sun-drenched patio and garden add to the home's appeal as a touch of the Mediterranean lifestyle in a suburban location.

A Mediterranean inspired villa with the feel of a luxury hotel

Vickii Byram

SHOOK UP: Animals may feel early tremors but are not a warning system. Picture: Shutterstock

That sixth sense - can our pets really predict an earthquake?

Dr Anne Quain