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

NEW BOSS; New Shellharbour Anglican College principal Megan Hastie with students.

New era and principal for Shellharbour Anglican College

Agron Latifi

Primbee mum sentenced over $28k Centrelink fraud

SUBSCRIBERPrimbee mum sentenced over $28k Centrelink fraud

Shannon Tonkin

Master of disguise: Cassandra Hingeley went to great lengths to avoid media scrutiny, changing her outfits and wearing wigs during court appearances.

SUBSCRIBER'How much do you want it?' Primary school teacher molested ex-student in Wollongong

Shannon Tonkin

Welcome to the world where the ground still burns

The Shoalhaven town where the ground still burns

John Hanscombe

Teamwork: Dunmore RFS members Les Millier, Greg Hardy, Daryl Kimmins, Cameron Chisholm and Tim Anderson worked well together to remain safe when the Currowan fire front rolled over their truck. Picture: Adam McLean

EXCLUSIVEInside the inferno: Dunmore RFS captain relives moment fire rolls over truck

Ashleigh Tullis

Coronavirus 'confusion' for returning Illawarra students

Coronavirus 'confusion' for returning Illawarra students

Agron Latifi

A police operation is underway on Shellharbour Road, Warilla following an altercation between two men. Picture; Robert Peet

Police hunt pair after man hospitalised following 'axe attack' at Warilla

Ashleigh Tullis

Alex Santauro

SUBSCRIBER'I must have blacked out': Drugged-up driver avoids jail over Bulli crash

Shannon Tonkin

Heavy traffic on Windang Road after three car crash

Rordan the latest Lamb to become a Wollongong teacher

UPDATEDParamedics treat injured surfer at Corrimal beach

Applications for IWD scholarships open

NEW BOSS; New Shellharbour Anglican College principal Megan Hastie with students.

New era and principal for Shellharbour Anglican College

Win tickets to the Illawarra Hawks' last NBL home game in Wollongong

SUBSCRIBERWin tickets to the Illawarra Hawks' last NBL home game in Wollongong

Jailed: Patricia Davis leaves Wollongong courthouse following a previous court appearance. She sobbed as she was taken into custody on Tuesday to serve a 15-month prison term for deliberately lighting fires on Cliff Road.

SUBSCRIBER'Potentially catastrophic': Blue Mile firebug sentenced over early morning blazes

ON TARGET: Ellen Perez. Picture: Getty Images

Perez aims to rebound after disappointing Australian Open campaign

Garrawarra Cemetery. Pictures: Christopher Chan

The forgotten souls of Waterfall's Garrawarra Cemetery

Wala Wildlife near Ballarat, Victoria, supported wildlife organisations in fire-affected areas.

Heroes of the home front: your messages of thanks

Finland confirms first coronavirus case

2hrs ago

Foreigners evacuated from China virus city

01:07AM

SUBSCRIBERPrimbee mum sentenced over $28k Centrelink fraud

20:28PM

SUBSCRIBER'How much do you want it?' Primary school teacher molested ex-student in Wollongong

19:36PM

EXCLUSIVEInside the inferno: Dunmore RFS captain relives moment fire rolls over truck

19:30PM

Coronavirus 'confusion' for returning Illawarra students

18:50PM

FED UP: Shellharbour's Ellen Perez reacts to an umpire's call during the first round of the women's singles at the Burnie International on Wednesday. Picture: Simon Sturzaker

Mixed day of results for Perez in Burnie

Joshua Bartlett

Got there: Stolen Glance owner Matthew Sandblom and trainer Gwenda Markwell enjoy a moment of celebration on Wednesday. Picture: Adam McLean

Glance to future for Markwell after Stolen debut win at Kembla Grange

Tim Barrow

GONE: LaMelo Ball will departed Wollongong on Wednesday. Picture: Anna Warr

LaMelo departs Wollongong to return to US

Mitch Jennings

FED UP: Shellharbour's Ellen Perez reacts to an umpire's call during the first round of the women's singles at the Burnie International on Wednesday. Picture: Simon Sturzaker

Mixed day of results for Perez in Burnie

CHAMPIONS: Warilla's Chris Cusack, Scott Kicks, Aldo Dimartino and Don McLeod will look to defend their fours title. Picture: Mike Driscoll

Fours silverware up for grabs in Illawarra

MIKE DRISCOLL

HOPE: Corrimal BC's amalgamation with Warilla Bowls is a step closer.

Survival plan is a step closer

MIKE DRISCOLL

TIME TO GO BUSH: Head out to the regional areas and support communities get back on their feet. Picture: Shutterstock

Seven reasons to take a break in the bush

Peter Lynch

PRIZE: You could win a cruise from London to Bergen, via Nordkapp and the Norwegian fjords, in Explore. Entries open on Saturday.

Win a cruise to Norway - and other great travel ideas

Even in areas untouched by the fires, beds are empty and jobs are on the line. Picture: Shutterstock

You can help save thousands of jobs with just one holiday

Peter Lynch

Get the digital version of Today's Paper

Get the digital version of Today's PaperRead Now

FILM HISTORY: Gerringong Pics and Flicks is kicking off its 2020 program with a special opportunity to meet Sandy Harbutt (pictured in 2010), the director of the Australian cult film Stone (inset).

A 'Stone' cold classic: 1970s cult biker movie to screen at Gerringong in February

Brendan Crabb

NEW SHOW: The Strangeways Ensemble preparing for the production of Trash Talk. Picture: Robert Peet

Things to do in the Illawarra this week

Brendan Crabb

GIG: Brazen Lyres is one of 12 bands which will perform at Dicey Riley's to raise funds for bushfire affected communities. Picture courtesy bandsintown.com

Dicey Riley's two-night fundraiser for bushfire affected communities

Agron Latifi

Autumnal hues of the USA and Canada

Autumnal hues of the USA and Canada

Emma Brown

Have a break: This summer explore more of our vast continent without worrying about network coverage. With Pennytel you can get 98.8 per cent coverage across Australia's populated areas.

Keeping covered this summer

Stockholm, Sweden.

Cruise the Baltic on a fully escorted tour

Emma Brown

Autumnal hues of the USA and Canada

Autumnal hues of the USA and Canada

BREAKTHROUGH: Businesses will be able to apply for the loans from Monday.

Small business drought loans now on offer

Billy Jupp

Love isn't always eternal... that's why you need to formalise your divorce properly

Love isn't always eternal... that's why you need to formalise your divorce properly

Sponsored Content

MARKET: The Domain report reveals the median price for houses and units across Australia's capital cities and regions, and how it has changed over time. Picture: File image

Illawarra house prices falling good news for first home buyers: expert

Brendan Crabb

HOT PROPERTY: New research has revealed the top 20 locations for forecast annual median house price growth in 2020. The list includes Helensburgh (pictured). Picture: Robert Peet

The Illawarra suburb tipped for significant house price growth in 2020

Brendan Crabb

Parq on Flinders.

Buy a new apartment in Wollongong's Parq on Flinders development with a $5000 deposit

Brendan Crabb

CARER: Illawarra resident Nikki Bushell, whose daughter made an attempt on her own life nearly two years ago. Picture: Robert Peet

‘I thought I had to hide every knife’: A mother’s story

Brendan Crabb

Thanks to rehab and psychotherapy Bruce McMillan has sufficiently recovered from his own mental health problems and is now helping others with theirs. Picture: Robert Peet

How talking helped this Wollongong man after years of keeping suicidal thoughts to himself

Lisa Wachsmuth

CARER: Illawarra resident Nikki Bushell, whose daughter made an attempt on her own life nearly two years ago. Picture: Robert Peet

‘I thought I had to hide every knife’: A mother’s story

Community Billboard

Community Billboard

OAM RECIPIENT: Rob Edwards with Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama at the opening of an It's Time Foundation solar system at Wainimakutu High School.

Corrimal's Rob Edwards awarded an OAM on Australia Day 2020

Agron Latifi

CHUFFED: Shell Cove resident Richard Farrant has received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to golf. Picture: Sylvia Liber

Australia Day 2020: Richard Farrant awarded Medal of the Order of Australia

Joshua Bartlett

Community Billboard

Community Billboard

Gerroa educator Leoni Degenhardt awarded an AM

Agron Latifi

Colleen Mandicos has been awarded an OAM for service to aged welfare. Picture: Robert Peet

Wollongong's Colleen Mandicos recognised for service to aged welfare with OAM

Brendan Crabb

Garrawarra Cemetery. Pictures: Christopher Chan

The forgotten souls of Waterfall's Garrawarra Cemetery

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

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

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

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

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

Teamwork: Dunmore RFS members Les Millier, Greg Hardy, Daryl Kimmins, Cameron Chisholm and Tim Anderson worked well together to remain safe when the Currowan fire front rolled over their truck. Picture: Adam McLean

EXCLUSIVEInside the inferno: Dunmore RFS captain relives moment fire rolls over truck

Ashleigh Tullis

Lying fallow, but not for long. Best-selling author Judy Nunn is fermenting ideas for her next blockbuster book. Photo: David Hahn bauersyndication.com.au

Judy Nunn on life, ageing, being positive and a good yarn

Eileen Wood

GENERATIONS: BlazeAid volunteers Tom, Charlotte (14) and her grandfather Ian at the Ebor in camp in NSW. Photo: Ken Guymer

BlazeAid volunteers do flamin' lot of good

Simon Garner

STRETCH AND SAVE: Only a quarter of Australians over 65 are meeting the national physical activity guidelines of 30 minutes activity per day, says ESSA.

Affordable exercise classes a 'game changer' for older Aussies

Geraldine Cardozo

Australian tributes for NBA legend Kobe Bryant

Australian tributes for NBA legend Kobe Bryant

Counting the hidden costs of bushfires

Counting the hidden costs of bushfires

HEART: A Hawks fan showing the passion out fans are renowned for. Picture: Anna Warr.

OPINIONOpen letter to Larry Kestelman: Help Hawks go from 'surviving' to 'thriving'

It's hoped backburning will slow the spread of the 10,000-hectare Orroral Valley fire in the ACT.

Firefighters rushing to backburn ACT blaze

1hr ago

Temperatures in Melbourne and Victoria's north will climb up to 40 degrees on Thursday and Friday.

Victorian heat raises fire spike concern

1hr ago

Another person is being tested for the coronavirus in WA, a day after the state was cleared.

Person in WA being tested for coronavirus

1hr ago

There have been more than 40 people in NSW tested for the deadly coronavirus infection.

Coronavirus testing ramping up in NSW

1hr ago

The first coronavirus case has been confirmed in Queensland, bringing the Australian total to seven.

Seventh Aust coronavirus case confirmed

1hr ago

A Victorian resident in his 60s has become infected while travelling in China's Hubei province.

Victorian virus case family awaits results

1hr ago

A 44-year-old Chinese national remains isolated in a Gold Coast hospital with the coronavirus.

Qld coronavirus case remains in isolation

AAP reporters
2hrs ago

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says an inquiry into the NSW bushfires will 'leave no stone unturned'.

NSW govt announces bushfire inquiry

Steven Trask
2hrs ago

Respected agronomist, Paul Parker, Young, uses his decades of experience to judge the best crops in the state.

Use herbicides wisely, carefully to keep them

Mark Griggs
31m ago

SURVIVORS: Brigid and Andy Jordan on their property, Runfree, on Duffys Lane. They prepared well, physically and mentally, and stayed to fight the blaze. Photo: Robert Peet

Welcome to the world where the ground still burns

John Hanscombe

Rob Bulle's daughters Bec and Ali on one of the family's properties that was hit by both fire and floodwaters. Rebuilding after fire was interrupted by tsunami-like flash flooding.

Jingellic hit by flood after fire

Olivia Calver

DIY OR OUTSOURCE: If you're looking to outsource some of the work at home, tackle jobs such as ironing yourself and call in the professionals for the trickier chores.

Rise of DIFY (do it for you)

Cost of building a garage

Cost of building a garage

Classic blue: Acid soils produce blue hydrangea flowers and alkaline soils, pink ones. For true blue flowers, hydrangeas need to be grown in acidic soil (pH 5.5 and lower).

Add a little contrast with beautiful blues

John Gabriele