Year in review – May 2017

Big cat cynic: Wollongong City Councilor Bede Crasnich offers a $5000 reward to anyone who can show him an Illawarra-caught panther. He doesn’t believe such creatures roam the escarpment.

Care concerns: Hillside at Figtree has sanctions imposed on it for the next six months by the federal health department due to “serious concerns” about residents’ health, safety and well-being. Its approval as an aged care provider was also at risk. In October it would be hit with another six months of sanctions after failing to correct some of the concerns.

Station upgrade: The NSW government commits to an upgrade at Unanderra train station - but declines to give a date for when that would start. Meanwhile the government admits 12 people have been injured at the station - two of whom required a trip to hospital.

Water woes: At least 125 Woonona homes are left without water for most of the day after a large pipe ruptures and causes much of the road surface to crumble away.

Save Dave: The CFMEU launch a campaign to get sacked miner Dave McLachlan his job back. He was sacked by South32 in April over the March 7 “undies protest”.

Dangerous driver: Tarrawanna woman Deborah Sirotich - who was found guilty of drunk driving after hitting six cars -  fails to have her suspended prison sentence downgraded on appeal.

Hell flight: North Wollongong actor Michael-Anthony Taylor is seeking more than $100,000 in damages from American Airlines after he was crushed by two grossly obese passengers during a flight to Los Angeles.

Mine shutdown: Near-explosive levels of gas are detected at Appin mine, leading to the EPA slapping South32 with a prohibition notice. It’s the second time in seven months high levels are detected at the mine.

Helicopter ride: Jai Verma is sentenced to two months jail after an incident in March where he was drunk in the Crown Street Mall, whipped his penis out and twirled it around - a move colloquially known as the helicopter.

Drug trial: A world-first trial that uses cannabis for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is expanded to include 20 cancer patients from Wollongong Hospital.

Hotel changes: Anglicare buys the Steelworks Hotel at Port Kembla and plans to turn it into a 22-bed residence for older people at risk of homelessness.

King hit: A 42-year-old man is in critical condition after being king hit at Kembla Grange Turf Club. Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Patient dies: A major investigation begins after the unexpected death of a 49-year-old man at Shellharbour Hospital’s mental health unit.

Speed limit: In the wake of several accidents - including a fatality - along Windang Road, Roads and Maritime Services decide to drop the speed limit.

Tax probe: Balgownie woman Devyn Hammond is caught up in a $165 million tax fraud, with Australian Federal Police charging her with one count of conspiring to cause a loss to the Australian Tax Office.

Whipping outrage: An eight-year-old boy was allegedly whipped with a metal dog lead at Roy Johanson Park at Figtree. Police will later charge Andrew Slattery over the incident and during a July court appearance he will plead not guilty.

Horror smash: An elderly woman driving the wrong way along the Hume Motorway at Pheasants Nest hits a motorcyclist, who flies over the handlebars and loses an arm in the accident.

Road death: Shane Puckeridge, 19, dies after his motorbike hits a parked ute in Glider Avenue, Blackbutt. He is not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

No evidence: A NSW Health investigation finds that nine cases of brain cancer diagnosed in Helensburgh in the last 15 years is not evidence of a cancer cluster. The investigation comes after residents claimed a high rate of cancers in people living near a particular development site.

Bright sight: Upgrades to Beaton Park are completed and include a change to the colour of the running track - from brown to blue.

Flight on: John Travolta donates his Boeing 707 to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society - and he plans to fly it here. The exact date is yet to be confirmed but the actor will fly the plane to Illawarra Regional Airport some time in 2018.

Shot at home: A Primbee woman is shot in the thigh during a home invasion in Illowra Crescent, Primbee. “I heard one shot at first,” says neighbour Ingrid, “then I heard a scream.”

Towering plan: Developers release plans for a $45 million 11-storey office tower at the eastern end of Crown Street Mall. The news sparks an outcry from the city’s music fans because the development would see the demolition of popular live music venue Rad Bar.

Firestarter: Coniston man Krste Kovacevski burns down his house so his ex-wife wouldn’t get it in the divorce, contending that as he still owned it, it was his to set alight.

Big win: Macinley Butson, a Year 11 student at The Illawarra Grammar School, becomes the first Australian to win a top prize in the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair. No Australian had ever won a category in the awards’ 50-year history.