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Mar 29, 2024
Top 10 restaurants we’re enjoying in Fairy Meadow
From traditional Australian dishes to international cuisine, the Fairy Meadow restaurant scene caters to all taste buds and cravings. Whether it’s Japanese, Lebanese or Australian pub fare, if you’re feeling a bit peckish take a look through the selection in your own backyard. In no particular order, let us take you around the world with some incredible flavours and cuisines that we're loving in Fairy Meadow right now. Fujiyama Teppanyaki Restaurant Love real Japanese food? The teppanyaki experience at Fujiyama includes a master chef cooking your food barbecue-style right before your eyes to create an entertaining experience. Ideal for group bookings and family outings, you’ll watch as the chefs chop, toss, marinade, slice and juggle your food in front of you. For a calmer dining experience, the downstairs or balcony areas offer Asian fusion dishes. Along with specialising in Japanese cuisine, the restaurant also offers a large selection of Chinese food for lunch and dinner. 12 Daisy St The Charles Hotel This Fairy Meadow staple features a beer garden with a huge range of beers on tap, Charlie’s Bistro with burgers and classic Australian pub food with regular specials, large Sports Bar with state-of-the-art facilities, and affordable and recently renovated accommodation by Nightcap Hotels. The bistro menu includes the freshest, locally sourced and house-made ingredients. The Charles Hotel hosts daily events, promotions and giveaways. 98 Princes Hwy Fairy Meadow Bowling Club Centred around bowling competitions, the club also entertains through a host of events, such as musical acts, raffles and trivia. Along with the entertainment, Fairy Meadow Bowling Club is also known for its bistro with a classic menu and generous serves. Menu items include seafood, steak, chicken and burgers, along with a kids menu. The venue also includes specials and seasonal event menus, like New Year’s Eve and Australia Day. 2 Cambridge Ave Fraternity Club A venue packed with dining options and entertainment, you can take your pick. Dining options include La Trattoria, featuring a cosmopolitan menu and authentic Italian flavours with large portion sizes of pastas, meat and poultry dishes, and seafood dishes. You can choose to eat indoors with a dedicated bar and room to seat 300 people or in the al fresco dining area, while the kids play in the enclosed outdoor playground. For something more special, book a two-course banquet. Alternatively, try Il Bene, which has become the home of authentic Italian wood-fired pizzas. Creating a traditional pizza restaurant atmosphere, it features hand-made pizzas using quality ingredients. 11 Bourke Street Spice Kitchen Mauritian and Thai Within an intimate setting, Spice Kitchen offers a fusion Mauritian and Thai cuisine using fresh produce with aromatic spices and herbs. Incorporating traditional cuisine from the owners’ heritage, the restaurant is renowned for surprising guests with unique dishes from its vault of recipes. Each dish has a focus on fresh ingredients from local farmers’ markets. The restaurant also caters for special events, including birthdays, business lunches, dinners and cocktail receptions. Shop 1/128 Princess Hwy Cabbage Tree Hotel Featuring classic pub fare, menu items range from schnitzel to steaks, to wings and burgers. Cabbage Tree Hotel is also renowned for what it says is “the best sports bar in country NSW”, featuring sporting events up on the big screens, meat raffles and trivia nights. The venue also offers function packages for events, including baby showers, birthdays, bridal showers, baptisms, engagements, weddings and Christmas parties. It can help arrange everything from a 2m gold window arches, floral arrangements, balloons, candy cart, light up numbers, and table decorations. 73 Princes Hwy Al Amir Lebanese restaurant An authentic Lebanese restaurant, it prides itself on offering the full flavours of classic Lebanese cuisine. The Al Amir menu includes cold and hot mezza dishes, food from the grill like kafta mishwe, mixed plates for one, banquets to feast for four or more people, salads like tabouli, and traditional mains such as Mansaf chicken and Shish Barak. Ambience Centre, Shop 6, 118-126 Princes Hwy Outback Steakhouse Part of a chain of restaurants in New South Wales and Queensland, Outback Steakhouse is renowned for its steaks and seafood. With an extensive menu, it offers appetisers, signature steaks, Outback favourites like lamb chops, pasta, combination dishes like Surf and Turf, and burgers and sandwiches. It also serves up a range of cocktails and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. 228 Princes Hwy Fairy Meadow Silver Restaurant If you love Chinese food, Fairy Meadow Silver Restaurant caters for everything from honey chicken, to sweet and sour pork, and Mongolian beef. With generous meals, the restaurant also caters for children’s meals. 100 Princes Hwy Dhok Koon Thai Restaurant For authentic Thai food set within fancy decor, Dhok Koon provides a great experience and large portion sizes. Dishes range from pad thai, duck, green curry and red curry. 23-25 Princes Hwy Looking for more cafe style food? Check out the 10 best cafes in Fairy Meadow. To learn more about the area or buying, selling or leasing a property in Fairy Meadow and surrounds, contact Joanne on (02) 4285 7400. Do you want to know what your property is worth in the current market? Search your address for an Online Property Report.
Feb 23, 2024
Local story: Mass For You At Home TV series
Did you know Australia's longest running commercial television show Mass For You At Home is filmed right here in Fairy Meadow? The television show, which started in 1971, was moved from Melbourne to Wollongong when the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong won the tender in 2021. The 54-year-old show is filmed at the St John Vianney Co-Cathedral in Fairy Meadow four times a year over the span of a week. However, this year the show nearly didn’t go ahead. Executive producer/director Daniel Hopper shares why... Why did Mass For You At Home start? It was done out of Melbourne for 30 years prior to us. My understanding is they would film it at the Docklands Channel 10 Studio. They would film the entire year in January because, with the cadets and all the trainees, Channel 10 would use that as their training base for all their crew. They would shoot it all in three and a half weeks for the entire year. The whole purpose of it is for those that can't get to Mass - and this is way before the internet. The main audience has always been those in prison, in nursing homes and in aged care facilities - those that can't be in their parishes and can't get to church. It wasn't to replace the Mass... it was for those that couldn't be there, giving them some spiritual solace. It’s been going for 54 years now. How did the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong come to produce it? In about 2020, the crew responsible for the production handed it over to the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference, which is the ACBC - the peak body for all dioceses. That's when COVID hit. We started doing our Bishops Masses online. So when COVID hit, we couldn't go to church - we weren't allowed to during the lockdowns - so we started filming our Bishops Masses online and putting them up. We were one of the few that did pre-records instead of livestreaming it. We could do a three-camera shoot, and we could do it properly at the co-cathedral in Fairy Meadow, which is a nice church. We would do that each week. We would usually just shoot two a fortnight. Then when Melbourne said they couldn't do Mass For You At Home anymore, and they were only going to do it up until the beginning of Easter 2021. They'd seen what we'd done with the Bishops Masses and they said, "Would you consider taking this on or tendering for it?” I said, "Well, personally, it would be awesome. I can get the gang back and we get to do this, but it's a lot of work to do on top of your already full-time job”. I hadn't done broadcast TV before. It was another situation with God, saying, ‘Well, if you open this door, I'll walk through it and we'll see where it leads’. We won the tender and then we started. Our first one was on Easter Sunday 2021. How regularly do you film the episodes? We used to shoot five times a year, whereas now we do it four times a year. It takes a week for each of those. The whole thing was that if it truly is a national ministry entity, it shows around the entire country – in every regional station in Australia and every capital city. So I wanted to make sure that it's representative of that (by having priests flown from around the country). Is there a reason for the St John Vianney Co-Cathedral in Fairy Meadow? There’s a couple of things with that church – it’s aesthetically pleasing, which is why I chose that church. There's a tabernacle in the centre - so there's always a centre point of Jesus in the tabernacle. So every angle you're shooting from, you've always got that as a reference point in the background. So when you're shooting between three different cameras and you're editing, there's always a crossover and you're always in that same space. And then theologically, having Christ in the centre is always good. We bring our own lights in, but it has a lot of ambient light... so we can actually use the natural light. The carpet on the floor is better for sound. And the light-coloured background - a lot of churches there are a lot of dark woods and I didn't want that to be the face of what the church is. We want it to be welcoming. It doesn't feel closed in. It feels nice. It's welcoming. And it's reflective of what we're trying to do and what the mass is supposed to be. So the choice of that church is quite intentional. I's part of the Cathedral Parish. You’ve got this, for instance, we have the Xavier Cathedral here (St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Wollongong), and that's a co-cathedral. That's very rare. There are not many co-cathedrals in Australia. Fairy Meadow is bigger. For larger events, they couldn't fit everyone in there (Xaviers), so they use that one. But it means also that it's not used all the time. If you want to book it out for a week, it's easier to do with minimal disruption to them. There's many of those days where we can do a Hollywood wrap, which means just leaving it as is, walk out, walk back in the next morning. Do you receive much feedback from viewers? Our whole funding model is on fundraising. It's not cheap to do this. We do the production on the smell of an oily rag. We rely on people... donating to us. We get a lot of feedback from letters, phone calls, comments on our socials and on YouTube. The bishop then gets a lot of letters, and he gets a lot of letters from prisoners. I get emails all the time from children saying their parents had just passed away, but they'd watched the show every single day. It was their comfort, their solace, and their last thing to do before they died. For the first years - 2021 and ‘22 - we went over our fundraising target. It was like, this is brilliant. I thought, how good are we? Then last year, with the interest rate, with the cost of living... we were behind by about $100,000 at the end of last year. Then come early December, we got a letter out of the blue - someone giving us $96,000 in their will. That meant we could do it again. The Catholic Diocese of Wollongong will now continue until its contract runs out at the end of the year, with no plans yet set for the show’s future. Mass For You At Home airs on Sunday at 6am on Channel 10 and Foxtel, and and is repeated five times daily and repeated episodes on Ten Play. To learn more about buying, selling or leasing a property in Fairy Meadow and surrounds, contact Joanne on (02) 4285 7400. Do you want to know what your property is worth in the current market? Search your address for a Online Property Report.
Jan 26, 2024
Local Business: Villa D’oro moves into Fairy Meadow
The opening of Villa D’oro in Fairy Meadow brings its owner Claude Guido back to where his food story all began. Claude started as an apprentice at The Fraternity Club in the ‘70s and today has adapted his own 23-year business from one that caters for functions to now offering a cafe and at-home dining experiences. Over the years, it has transitioned from catering for balls, real estate fundraisers, networking events and weddings at the Flinders Street Function Centre to at-home dining picked up from the Croation Club in Figtree during COVID when functions were no longer possible. The business has kept up this pickup menu long after lockdowns have finished - but is now based in a new home, it's cafe at 12-16 Princes Hwy Fairy Meadow. Here is Claude’s story. When and how did the business start? We were well known for our function centre in Flinders Street. We had that for 23 years and then COVID hit in 2020 and that put a total grind to our business. Obviously everyone was starting to get concerned and staff were getting concerned and me being the owner, I was concerned for my family and our business. So we decided to sell some pastas to make ends meet for a little bit of time and that took off and here we are today. Out of COVID, a new business was born. What was your hospitality experience prior to that? I did my apprenticeship at The Fraternity Club in the ‘70s. I also managed Portafino in its heyday. I bought Villa D’oro in 2001 and was there till 2023, and then we got the sad news that (we had to move out of the venue). We had to think about what we were going to do and I was still umming and ahhing as to whether I still wanted to do functions or if I'd had enough of functions. Then out of the blue, this shop became a thought. We thought well, we've got six to eight months to kill and so we went to the Croatian Centre at Figtree. We kept doing our takeaways and our catering business out of there. That was handy and they were very good to us. They wanted us to stay there. We moved here (in November) and away we’ve gone. Why is at-home catering still popular post COVID? I think the products we were making were a good product for a reasonable price. We were probably fortunate that we've got a loyal clientele base and just kept coming – and still do. That at-home menu, which is our pickup lasagnes, cannellonis, veals, chickens, all those is still more than 60 per cent of our business. Why Fairy Meadow? I guess because the opportunity arose. I kept looking around this area because I thought what we wanted to create here was that someone would come in and order a fresh plate of pasta, we'd put it in a takeaway container and they can go home and eat it or sit outside and eat it. Then the idea of that panini was born and we're doing a fairly good trade of that as well. But it’s our lasagnes and cannellonis - people just walking in grab a tray of lasagna or cannelloni. The trade we’re getting from people just walking in, it’s quite impressive. You had been doing functions like weddings, graduations and balls for a long time at Flinders Street Function Centre. What do you now enjoy about catering? We didn't do too much catering. Not that there wasn’t a need for it, but we didn’t probably promote that area, whereas we promote it now because it’s part and parcel of our business. The catering is a huge part of our business now where we drop off food to people's houses, surf clubs, wherever they want us to. We did a wedding last Saturday for a beautiful couple at home and we do some corporate events at places, but most of the catering we do is just for mums and dads that might have 30-40 people over. How have you been finding the response so far? A lot of the community around Fairy Meadow has popped in to say hello to us. We’ve had a massive response from the businesses around Fairy Meadow. It was the pastor who said it to me that you realise a lot of the hospitality businesses are coming towards this area where we are. And I started to think and he’s kind of right, you've got Pizza Hut, you've got us, there's a cafe and a couple of pizza places. I think it’s location. It's easy in and out. You're just off Towradgi Road. Learn more about Villa D’oro. To learn more about buying, selling or leasing a property in Fairy Meadow and surrounds, contact Joanne on (02) 4285 7400. Do you want to know what your property is worth in the current market? Search your address for a Digital Property Report.
Dec 17, 2023
Local event: Sing 2 movie night in Fairy Meadow
Dream big dreams and sing with us this summer, as Wollongong is treated to a free outdoor screening of Sing 2 on a giant five-metre screen on Saturday, 20th January 2024, in Fairy Meadow. Hosted by One Agency JD Property Agents in Fairy Meadow, the free community event will give young and old a great night out nearing the end of the school holidays. Come dressed as one of the characters from the movie or bring along a favourite animal toy. One Agency JD Property Agents proprietor Joanne Danckwardt said after the success of the 2023 “movie under the stars – Kung Fung Panda” and the positive feedback received, the decision to host the event again in 2024 was an easy one. “The event was crafted as a complimentary offering to the community, with the intention of providing a free and enjoyable experience, especially in the summer school holidays,” she said. “Given the resounding success of last year’s event, there was no doubt in our minds about hosting it again.” The school holiday event will be held at Guest Park in Fairy Meadow at the Balgownie Road entrance. Patrons can arrive from 7pm, with screening of the movie from 8pm just as dusk hits. Fairy Meadow Rotary Club will provide a barbecue to raise funds for community projects. Bring a picnic rug or folding chairs, your friends and family, and enjoy an outdoor cinema experience. When Should You Arrive at Guest Park? The movie night will be held on Saturday 20th January 2024. While the movie starts at 8pm, come along from 7pm to give yourself time to set up, grab something to eat from the Fairy Meadow Rotary Club barbecue and find your friends. What Should I Bring? You’ll be experiencing the outdoors, so we suggest you bring along: A picnic blanket, pillow or folded chairs to avoid having to sit on the grass. If it’s forecast to be a bit chilly, bring along a blanket or oversized hoodie to keep yourself warm In case the mozzies are out, insect repellent is a good idea If you’re not planning on taking advantage of the food stalls provided, you can bring your own food and drink. What Is the Cost? This is a free community event for family and friends to enjoy. We know that nearing the end of the school holidays parents, grandparents and carers are looking for something to do with the kids. This is a great way to entertain the kids without the added cost. Will Food and Drinks Be Available? We have organised for the Fairy Meadow Rotary Club to set up a barbecue to allow you to purchase food and drinks on the night. While we encourage you to support the Rotary Club and their fundraising efforts by purchasing food, you are welcome to pack your own picnic to bring along too. How Do I Get to Guest Park, Fairy Meadow? Guest Park is located in Fairy Meadow. From the Princes Highway, navigate onto Balgownie Road. Parking is available near the Guest Park Soccer Fields. There are also bus stops along Balgownie Road. Check bus timetables for running times for that night. What Happens If the Weather Isn’t Kind? In the case of inclement weather, the movie will be postponed to another date. We will make this decision by 3pm on the day and announce it on our Facebook page. Please be sure to follow the page to keep updated on the day. Sing 2 movie night, screening outdoors at Guest Park, Fairy Meadow on Saturday, 20th January 2024 at 8pm.
Nov 30, 2023
Local Business: New owner for Fairy Meadow Newsagency
Kristy McGrath has taken ownership of the Fairy Meadow Newsagency, after years earlier walking through the business each day to go to school. The business was previously owned by Nick and Kate DiMaggio, who sold the business exactly 16 years after Kate started there. Kristy has been an employee for the past five years but a love of the business and its staff prompted her to want to buy it. Here are Kristy’s plans for the business... Have you had a long association with the newsagency? Yeah, I used to walk through here on the way home from school, so we used to walk through the shop. I've just always been coming in as a customer and known Kate and Nick the whole time they've had it. It's funny, because it still just feels the same. So much has changed, but it just always feels so familiar. Being able to walk through and walk out to the car park and through to Guest Park, it just all still feels the same. It’s weird that it’s come full circle. What prompted you to want to buy the Fairy Meadow Newsagency? I just have thoroughly enjoyed working here. We've got a lot of regular customers that we love seeing every day and the girls I work with are amazing, which definitely helped me buy it. We’ve just got a really great team here, so it was a no-brainer. What were you doing before you worked at the newsagency? I was in childcare before - a bit of a different field. But I worked in retail when I was a teenager too, so it's always been there for me. What’s the history of the newsagency? Kate’s auntie and uncle had it before (they owned it) for I think close to 20 years. I've got an old photo of it when it was down near where Cassa Mia, the bra shop, was. That’s the first place it opened in the 1950s. It’s pretty cool to know it's something that has just been here for so long and is part of the community. (Kate and Nick) they definitely left a good legacy here with customers. Customers are still always asking about them and how they are. What sort of comments have you received since people have found out that you've bought the business? Yeah, really positive. I think because I've been here already for so long, I know all the customers. For Kate and Nick to leave, everyone was obviously upset, but they're happy that's it’s staying the same - that we're all still here and the girls are staying on. Nothing’s changing too much. What do you like about Fairy Meadow in particular and that community? I grew up here, so this is my home. I grew up in Winton Place, so it just feels like home to me. So I'm very familiar with all the shops and the customers and everything like that. What are your goals for the newsagency now? I want to keep that community feel going and making sure we're servicing all our customers to the best of our ability and just bring in a few more gift items. I'm going to go a bit bigger with the party section, so still stay with the times and just bring some new products to Fairy Meadow as well. Has the party side gotten bigger, because it seems to be in a lot more shops? The decorating side of when people are doing events and stuff is getting bigger and bigger. People enjoy it. They like that we do the balloons and everything, so they don't have to go into town and find parking. You can learn more about the Fairy Meadow Newsagency via their Facebook page. To learn more about buying, selling or leasing a property in Fairy Meadow and surrounds, contact Joanne on (02) 4285 7400. Do you want to know what your property is worth in the current market? Search your address for a Digital Property Report.
Nov 15, 2023
Transitioning into aged care
As life unfolds and the years go by, there often comes a time when individuals and their families must face the transition to aged care. While this step can be accompanied by a mix of emotions and challenges, it's also an opportunity to ensure comfort, safety, and quality of life for seniors. In Australia, a well-structured aged care system provides various options if you need aged care to make this transition as smooth and positive as possible. In this video, Joanne Danckwardt of One Agency JD Property Agents along with Dianne Chalk of Fiducian Financial Services, explore the essentials of moving into aged care, offering insights into the process, available services, and helpful tips. [siteloft_youtube video_id="05ZK_y_u5HE" autoplay="1" suggestions="1"] If you're ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home, download our free insider secrets to being ready to sell checklist. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST Understanding the Aged Care System Australia's aged care system is designed to provide support and assistance to older individuals who require help with daily tasks and health-related needs. The aged care system offers a range of services, including: Home Care Packages: These packages provide assistance and support for seniors who wish to remain in their homes. Services can include personal care, meal preparation, transportation, and more. Residential Aged Care: For those who need a higher level of care and support, residential aged care facilities offer 24/7 assistance, medical care, social activities, and a comfortable living environment. Respite Care: Designed to provide temporary relief to primary caregivers, respite care offers short-term stays in aged care facilities to give caregivers a break while ensuring seniors receive proper care. The Transition Process Assessment: The first step in transitioning into aged care is to undergo an assessment by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). This assessment determines the level of care required and helps guide the choice of services or facilities. Research and Planning: Based on the assessment, families can research and choose the most suitable options. Home care packages, residential care facilities, and respite care should all be considered. Financial Considerations: Understanding the financial aspect is crucial. The cost of aged care services can vary, and it's important to assess how much you or your loved one can afford. The government provides subsidies and financial assistance to eligible individuals. Applying and Waiting: Once a decision is made, you can apply for the chosen aged care service or facility. Keep in mind that waiting lists can be a factor, especially for popular residential care facilities. Transitioning: During the transition, the chosen service provider or facility will work closely with you to ensure a smooth move. This may include coordinating medical care, arranging transportation, and familiarizing the individual with the new environment. Helpful Tips for a Positive Transition Start Early: Begin exploring aged care options well in advance to ensure you have ample time to make informed decisions. Involve the Individual: If possible, include the senior in the decision-making process. Their preferences and input are valuable. Seek Support: Transitioning into aged care can be emotionally challenging. Reach out to support groups, friends, and family members who have gone through similar experiences. Visit Facilities: If considering residential care, visit different facilities to get a sense of the environment, activities, and staff. Stay Positive: Embrace this transition as an opportunity for enhanced care, social engagement, and improved quality of life. If you're ready to discover the secrets to being ready to sell your home, download our free insider secrets to being ready to sell checklist. YES, DOWNLOAD MY CHECKLIST Transitioning into aged care is a significant life event that requires careful planning and consideration. By understanding the available services, navigating the assessment process, and being well-prepared, individuals and their families can ensure a positive transition that prioritizes comfort, safety, and well-being. As you embark on this journey, remember that you're not alone—there is a supportive network ready to help you make the best choices for your loved one's golden years. After completing all this research, you will have your own knowledge on if you should need to sell your property. If this a requirement of yours, pricing your home to sell is of utmost importance along with the timeframes for listing the property for sale. If you feel you could benefit from our experience with buying and selling, or our property management services, we’d love to hear from you. Simply reach out. We hope that has helped you today. If you have any questions, or you know of anyone who may benefit from our real estate services, we’d love to chat. Our number is 0426 264 771. We look forward to talking to you soon. How To Prepare For The Move Into Aged Care Learn how to make the transition from your current home into aged care. Register now for this short course and take the first step to understanding what is associated when transitioning you or your loved one into aged care. Learn how to create an achievable plan and timeline, put together your support team, and manage the requirements to move with ease.
Oct 26, 2023
10 key community services in Fairy Meadow
We’re fortunate to have a vast array of community services in Fairy Meadow to help at different stages of life and cater to different needs and interests. Whether it’s clothing through St Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army, or getting your kids involved in nippers through the Surf Life Saving Club. Here are 10 key services: 1. Fairy Meadow Community Centre Located in Guest Park, the centre is managed by Wollongong Nga Hau E Wha Ethnic Culture Group Inc. It has one hall and two rooms that can be hired out and comes with kitchen facilities, PA/sound system, tables and chairs, and stage. It’s ideally located, with on-street parking, a three-minute walk from the nearest bus stop and being 800m to the train station. The Fairy Meadow Community Centre also provides free meals. 2. St Vincent de Paul Society Right on the Princes Hwy, the shop features books, toys, jewellery, furniture, clothing and accessories and is always open to accepting donations. The funds raised from the Vinnies shops allow members, volunteers and staff to help everyday people in need of support and hope. Those include homeless services for men, women and families; migrant and refugee assistance; support for those living with mental illness; home, hospital and prison visitation; supported employment services for people with intellectual and other disabilities; budget counselling; and youth programs. 3. Salvation Army Store Fairy Meadow The Salvos store in Fairy Meadow, right on the Princes Hwy, sells pre-loved goods generously donated by the community. However, it also has an online store, making shopping even more convenient. It has new arrivals daily in bric-a-brac, homewares, books, toys, CDs, records and clothing. You can also make donations of goods to the store. 4. The Illawarra Disability Trust Located in Jardine Street in Fairy Meadow, The Illawarra Disability Trust provides highly professional care and support to people with disability and their families. It offers a range of services, including NDIS, Case Management, Respite and In-Home Care, Community Services, Vocational Services, Kids Fund, Registered Training Organisation, Self-Managed Services and Trusted Travel. 5. Kids Fund Managed by The Disability Trust at Fairy Meadow, the Illawarra-based charity Kids Fund purchases essential aids and equipment for children with special needs and significant disabilities. Examples of equipment includes walkers, orthotics, communicators, hoists, wheelchairs, and seating systems. These items help the child and family achieve greater levels of independence and takes away a significant financial burden. 6. Health Cities Illawarra Working to create healthy environments and enable healthy choices for people in the Illawarra, Health Cities Illawarra believes prevention is the best cure. It aims to address the underlying social, economic and environmental causes of health inequity and is committed to taking action to prevent and control diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, asthma, dementia, depression and anxiety. 7. Fairy Meadow Rotary Club Formed back in 1967, the Fairy Meadow Rotary Club has become an integral part of the community, supporting many community based projects in the region, nationally and internationally. The club offers good fellowship, interesting speakers at its meetings and implements community based projects. 8. Fairy Meadow Surf Life Saving Club As one of 17 Illawarra clubs, the Fairy Meadow Surf Life Saving Club runs a nippers program for children and offers high quality training and introduction into lifesaving for those looking to patrol beaches as a volunteer lifesaver. It is always looking to welcome new members. The club also has a function room for hire with ocean views. 9. Greenacres Disability Services It started as Greenacres Special School by a group of Wollongong parents in 1953 with 16 pupils with intellectual disabilities. Later, parents were concerned about the lack of employment opportunities available to their children when they left school, so fundraised to create a workshop in 1963 for participants to build blackboards and easels. Greenacres continued to be an innovative pioneer in disability services, constantly adapting and evolving with the needs of the people who used their services. As a leading disability service providers in the region, its goal has always been to enrich the lives of people with disabilities by giving them choice. 10. Illawarra Woodworkers Group The Illawarra Woodworkers Group has grown since it began with just a handful of members in 1988 who had a shared interest in woodworking. Members have made everything from simple projects like small boxes, to more unusual items like jousting sticks. Starting in each other’s garages, they moved to the Fairy Meadow Demonstration School in 2001. Other services include Anglicare Fairy Meadow – Social and Wellness Centre, Food For Life and Food Fairness Illawarra, Family Pathway Solutions, TappON Disability Service and Support Organisation, and COORDIERE Wollongong. To learn more about the local area and buying, selling or leasing a property, contact Joanne on (02) 4285 7400. Do you want to know what your property is worth in the current market? Search your address for a Digital Property Report.
Sep 30, 2023
6 best parks and reserves in Fairy Meadow
As the weather warms up, you might be looking for some outdoor activities for the kids. Fairy Meadow has an abundance of parks and reserves ideal for different ages and skill levels. We’ve compiled a list of the best parks and reserves in Fairy Meadow, along with a few extras you might not even know about. Whether it’s for a stretch of grass for a picnic, equipment for kids to play on, or ramps for the keen skateboarder, we’ve got you covered. Fairy Meadow Beach Park Situated near the beach and the Puckeys Estate Nature Reserve on Elliots Road, this playground has a large play area with the always popular spider web rope climbing structure, along with public toilets and spacious car park. Speaking of the beach, North Wollongong Park Run starts at Fairy Meadow Beach every Saturday and is a free community event that brings the area together. Guest Park Playground This playground was recently opened after undergoing construction of a more inclusive playground. A beautiful open-plan play area, situated between the tennis courts and community centre, it’s built on soft-fall rubber with concrete paths. The continuous path connects the areas and makes for a great scooter path for the young ones. It includes a wheelchair-accessible spinning carousel, inground trampoline, musical chimes, make-believe shop stall and swing set. However, the main attraction is a play structure featuring two slides, climbing steppers and a sheltered play area. Take a look at Joanne at Guest Park. Thomas Dalton Park Located on Elliots Road, visitors describe it as being family and pet friendly with great space. It also features public toilets with an outdoor wash off area. It’s an ideal park to visit if you are looking for a tranquil and open place for the kids or pets, with the park also being pet-friendly. The park consists of grounds and courts for various sport activities, picnic areas, tracks for cycling and walking, and access to the beach. The large open space makes it ideal for catch ups with friends, a space to play cricket or footy or simply sit and enjoy a picnic. Fairy Meadow Skate Park Fairy Meadow Skate Park is one of Wollongong’s more famous skateboard parks due to its element of fun and featuring the only vert ramp in the area. It has a large concrete slab with a vert ramp and a comprehensive street section surrounded by a collection of transitions that almost form an open bowl. Initially made in the late ‘90s, it has undergone significant refurbishments, resulting in smooth concrete that riders appreciate. Puckeys Estate Nature Reserve An annex of Wollongong Botanic Garden, it is a rare coastal habitat that includes rainforest, dunes and marshland. Home to about 130 types of birds and several endangered plant communities, Puckeys Estate is also an important heritage site that was originally inhabited by local Aboriginal people. In the early 20th century, the site was used as a salt mill by the late Courtney Puckey. Some historic remains of the salt works and Puckey’s homestead can still be found at the southern end of the reserve. You can explore the reserve via the 1.5 km network of boardwalks and informal paths, from Squires Way through to Elliotts Road. Bassett Park Corner of Basset and Verica St, this is a great little neighbourhood park. Often used by Mt Ousley Public School, it’s common to see children playing there. It features a few park benches and has the Evil Eye Cafe right across the road. There’s also a little mini mart supermarket so you pick up groceries before heading home. Additional best parks in Fairy Meadow Some other popular and hidden parks and reserves in the Fairy Meadow area include WK Bate Park, a little unknown land strip that is handy for playing cricket. Dymock Street Reserve, situated near Hopewood St, is a nice little quiet pocket to kick a ball without worry about traffic. It does have a gentle slope to it and connects Hopewood Cres to Ryan St, which gives you access to Cabbage Tree Lane. This has become a nice access point for residents. Robert Cram Park is located on Cabbage Tree Lane and is used by the Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School. You often see the kids running around there, along with friends playing a game of soccer or cricket. Kemps Reserve is in Carters Lane and is a gently sloping space. It adjoins a creek, but often gets flooded in wet weather, so best to avoid it during these times. Also note that it is a busier location if children happen to be kicking balls. What’s your favourite park in Fairy Meadow? Do you have a regular or do you like to try a variety? To learn more about the local area and buying, selling or leasing a property, contact Joanne on (02) 4285 7400. Are you wondering what your house is worth? Get an instant property report.