Illawarra Convenors BBQ
30 September 2025 / Words by Bryan Shedden, Photos by Ann Hicks, Senia Gaunson & Zan Dimovski
For the last ten years, Illawarra Chapter has been fundraising to support our social activities by selling Entertainment memberships. A membership to Entertainment provides up to 50% discounts on dining, shopping and things to do at over 15,000 locations across Australia. 20% of each sale comes back to us and over the years we have used it to pay for Illawarra Convenors BBQs at Fitzroy Falls Reservoir in 2018 (organised by Jan & Garry Gibson), and Jamberoo Tennis Club in 2019 (organised by Jeff & Pam Rowe). Covid got in the way after that and we were overdue for another one! If you're interested in supporting our fundraising, please purchase your Entertainment membership via this link.
On Saturday 13 September, we started with our monthly run to Mazdas in the Mist from Haywards Bay. Our usual venue Mumma's Kitchen at Robertson closed a couple months prior, so our brunch destination has temporarily moved to The Sands Kiosk at Shellharbour North Beach.
Meanwhile, Alex and I arrived at Reddall Reserve at the entrance of Lake Illawarra a bit before 10am with a Mazda6 wagon full of gear, to claim a picnic shelter and get the BBQ set up. Rather than risk the dodgy electric BBQs, 1st Albion Park Scouts loaned their large gas BBQ and a mess box, which was perfect for the huge task ahead. Fiona did all the shopping for us on Friday but was unable to attend due to a prior commitment with a Scouts leadership training course - The Wood Badge - a big deal in the movement. We set to work on chopping onions, tomatoes, lettuce and bread rolls. We also laid out cheese slices, beetroot, dill pickles and sauces, put the soft drinks on ice, and made ready with the hamburgers and bacon. Lunch would be gourmet hamburgers provided free to our attending members.
Leaving The Sands at about 11am, 27 members joined Zan & Phil for a 60-minute drive through the Illawarra to our mystery lunch destination. I can't say much about the run since I wasn't there, but judging from Ann and Senia's photos it was pretty special. From Shellharbour, the run went south to Kiama Heights before zipping up Saddleback Mountain to the lookout. It was a glorious spring day and the views were endless! At this stage, many were wondering where the mystery destination would be? Gerringong perhaps? Back down the mountain the route returned north via Jamberoo and Swamp Road to Dunmore and past Shellharbour before turning off to Warilla Beach. The 48km drive ended only 4km north of the starting point!
By this stage, Alex and I had the BBQ roaring and our arriving guests salivated to the aromas of caramelised onion and singed beef and bacon. The dinner bell was rung and the call made to build your own burger. The burgers were bloody amazing, even if I say so myself. And there was plenty to go around with seconds and thirds for those who wished it. Not bad for a free lunch! New member Adam joined the Club only a week earlier and left suitably impressed with the way we do things around here. Better still, I think we still have enough left in the kitty to do it again next year.
