Illawarra Mercury

Books & Arts

A waxwork of Marlon Brando in The Godfather. Picture: Shutterstock

MacLaren traces the Mafia back to locals' engagement in the battle of Calatafimi during the re-unification of Italy.

Mafia makes for chilling reading

Miles Allinson's second novel, In Moonland, was one of the most celebrated works of Australian fiction from 2021.

Miles Allinson knows all about the slippery nature of memory

From early childhood, birdwatching has been a major part of the Mya-Rose Craig's life. Picture: Shutterstock

While the effects of climate change are an ongoing presence, the book is optimistic and inspiring.

Young, passionate and into birds

US President Joe Biden, left, and China's President Xi Jinping during a virtual summit in Beijing in November 2021. Picture: Getty Images

China's rise under Party rule has been neither peaceful nor inevitable.

Timely exposé of China's influence

In this collection you'll meet a colourful bunch of characters, each with their own complex emotional landscape.

Exploring the fraught pursuit of happiness

It is detail, rather than plot, that provides the impetus in Otsuka's narratives.

Swimming against tide of vulnerability and fate

The result is a moodily cast psychological drama.

A compassionate portrayal of a tortured writer

A hero dish, the cassoulet. Picture: Shutterstock

Bigar revels in convivial, collegial cooking.

A humble hero on anyone's table

The voices of Afghan women are not heard enough. Picture: Getty Images

These short stories present the lives of Afghan people in complex, diverse and urgent ways.

Searing voices of Afghan women

St. John Mandel has achieved a lot in a comparatively short novel.

A bold take on time travel, fate and pandemics

Entertainment

Multimedia

Voting will be socially distanced this election, but we'll still be using the traditional paper ballots. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

The pandemic election is upon us. How will COVID-19 impact the way we vote?

How COVID-19 will impact the way you vote

HUNG UP: If neither party obtains a majority of the 151 seats in the House of Representatives, it results in a hung parliament.

Punters are predicting a hung parliament to result at this week's federal election. So what is it and what happens next?

What is a hung parliament and is Australia likely to have one?

BOMBED: A stray left to sniff around Borod Tower in Ukraine. Photo: supplied

As bombs and missiles rain down, artist and filmmaker George Gittoes is feeling increasingly unnerved about his safety in Ukraine.

'War is on our doorstep': Filmmaker fears for safety in Ukraine

Defence Minister Peter Dutton described a Chinese warship's sailing off the coast of Western Australia as "an aggressive act". Picture: Keegan Carroll

"All this rhetoric by Mr Dutton is just politics. His language around war ... all this sort of stuff that's gone on for the last year is highly dangerous," the WA Premier said.

Dutton is 'biggest threat to national security', WA Premier says

South Coast Labour Council's Arthur Rorris, Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips, Ben Steltenpool from the Health Services Union, Shellharbour MP Anna Watson and the United Services Union's Stuart Geddes are concerned about Kiama council's decision to sell Blue Haven. Picture: Robert Peet

Union representatives say the council should have discussed the issue with workers, residents and the community.

'Terrified': Unions call on Kiama council to step back from Blue Haven sale

GORMLESS: Does the way a politician responds to a 'gotcha' question matter to voters?

GST on birthday cakes, the price of petrol, and recall of random statistics: Does the way a politician responds to a 'gotcha' question matter to voters?

History of the 'gotcha' question: How elections are won or lost on a gaffe

NEW VENTURE: CatholicCare Early Learning Centre director To Clark with Xavier in the new Shellharbour centre. Picture: Sylvia Liber

CatholicCare Wollongong has kicked off National Families Week celebrations by launching a new Early Learning Centre at Shellhabour.

Australians endure crippling childcare costs: report

Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra won with their entry Stefania.

Eurovision is like a bag of Every Flavour Jelly Beans - you really don't know what you're going to get.

Eurovision opened my eyes to the exciting world we live in

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: James Croucher

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the Coalition's housing policies, taken together, would have a "marginal" effect on house prices as his new scheme comes under attack.

Unlocking super will have 'marginal' impact on house prices: Morrison

This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning till the end of the election.

Morrison needs to pull off a Houdini

Early start: Party candidates and volunteers handing out how to votes in Wollongong on the first day of pre-poll voting. Picture: Robert Peet

There won't be many queues at polling places on election day this Saturday if the early pre-polling figures are any indication.

Forget election day - thousands of Illawarra residents have already voted

Postal voting deadline looms

'Illawarra house prices through the roof' under ScoMo's superannuation plan: Labor

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Labor leader Anthony Albanese and Greens leader Adam Bandt appear in TikTok videos ahead of the federal election on May 21. 

If TikTok likes were votes, a Labor backbencher would be prime minister and his party would already have claimed election victory.

Who is winning the Federal Election race on TikTok?

There are 1,437 COVID-19 patients in hospital, with 65 in ICU.

NSW COVID cases drop, hospitalisations rise

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: AAP

The election campaign has hit the home stretch, leaving only five days until polling day.

As it happened: Peter Dutton is 'the biggest threat to national security' says WA Premier

Greens leader Adam Bandt. Picture: Elesa Kurtz

A hung parliament with Greens MPs on the lower house crossbench could position the party to demand support for policies in exchange for its backing in a minority government.

Greens to reveal 'balance of power' list for hung parliament at campaign launch

Here's a thought: if the Prime Minister cares so much about regional Australia, why doesn't he take the time to speak to the country's biggest regional publisher?

It's time for our leaders to talk to the regions: Editorial

Former prime minister Julia Gillard has gone into bat for Senator Katy Gallagher (inset). Pictures: AAP

Australia's first female PM has written a personal letter endorsing Katy Gallagher, asking Canberrans not risk losing her in the Senate.

'Incredible representative': Gillard intervenes to endorse 'at-risk' Gallagher

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The Toll Ambulance Rescue helicopter arrives at Port Kembla harbour.

The man was airlifted to St George Hospital.

Man seriously injured on ship in Port Kembla harbour

Detectives arrested the man in Kogarah Bay and charged him with sexual assaulting a young girl.

NSW man charged with sex assault of child

Warringah MP Zali Steggall wants a future-focused circular economy and return to budget discipline.

Independent policy key in hung parliament

Sandra Mullaly is cheerful in her police photo but her time in the force was anything but.

Former cop says she was driven to breaking point by the organisation she once loved.

An addict broke her jaw. The force broke her spirit

Man suffers head injuries in ship fall at Port Kembla harbour

Carlee Smedley and Grant Petersen. Picture: Facebook

The pair appeared at Wollongong Local Court on Sunday, charged with larceny.

Couple accused of stealing TVs from Harvey Norman Warrawong

Guilty as charged: Wayne West, as he appeared in 2012 as a new recruit to NSW Police. Picture: NSW Police Facebook

The magistrate said the seriousness of the offending required a custodial sentence.

Nowra policeman jailed for recording 12-year-old girl in shower

He went from snoresville to the inside of a jail cell rather quickly.

Snoring man found with loaded spear gun at Wollongong bus stop

Christian Morris leaves Wollongong courthouse after pleading guilty to affray.

One of the men has faced court for sentencing over his role in the brawl.

Two men knocked out in violent Crown Street Mall brawl: court

Sign up to receive our Breaking News Alerts and Editor's Daily Headlines featuring the best local news and stories.

Wollongong man sends ex-girlfriend's OnlyFans pics to her mum

He bombarded her with more than 50 messages at one stage, then sent pics advertising her OnlyFans page to her mother.

Three councillors have opposed the decision to sell off the aged care home.

Kiama councillors call to rescind motion to sell off Blue Haven

Cases steady: The region recorded 3882 cases in the latest weekly figures.

Labor's health spokesman Ryan Park said he remained "very concerned" about the virus as winter approaches - and said vaccination rates, especially for young children, remained worrying.

'Very concerned': Dozens of Illawarra residents hospitalised weekly with COVID-19

ALL ABOARD: The Adventure heads out on its maiden voyage on Saturday. Picture: Adam McLean

Shellharbour Wild operated the first ever tourism venture to operate from Shellharbour Marina

Bushrangers Bay whale-watching cruise concerns unfounded

Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul. Picture: Adam McLean

The controversial Thirroul Plaza development has played a huge part in the decision.

Why Thirroul's esteemed Egg and Dart Gallery is leaving town

Health promise: Stephen Jones and Alison Byrnes joined Ryan Park to announce an urgent care clinic would open in Wollongong, if Labor is elected. Picture: Adam McLean.

Local candidates Alison Byrnes and Stephen Jones announced on Monday that one of the party's 50 promised Medicare urgent care clinics would be established in the Illawarra.