Sonder Stories: December
Big Wins for Small Businesses: The Shoalhaven’s homegrown operators’ success at the NSW Tourism Awards
Shoalhaven’s small businesses have once again stepped into the spotlight, taking home major wins at the NSW Tourism Awards. Over the weekend in Sydney, six local operators scored Gold, Silver and Bronze across multiple categories, proving the region isn’t just beautiful, it’s driven by passionate locals building unforgettable experiences.
Here’s who crushed it this year:
Jervis Bay Brewing Co.: Gold for Tourism Breweries & Distilleries
Mt Hay Retreat: Gold for 5-Star Luxury Accommodation
Cupitt's Estate: Silver for Tourism Wineries
Amaroo Valley Springs: Silver for Hosted Accommodation
Holiday Haven Lake Tabourie: Bronze for Holiday Parks
The Drawing Rooms of Berry: Bronze for Self-Contained Accommodation
These wins highlight something huge: most of the Shoalhaven’s tourism scene is powered by small, family-owned or locally run businesses. They’re the ones crafting unique stays, brewing local flavours, and creating experiences you simply can’t get anywhere else. They’re also the backbone of the region’s economy, with tourism supporting over 5,000 jobs and contributing more than $1.5 billion every year.
The Shoalhaven isn’t just a holiday spot, it’s a community of hardworking locals who pour passion into every cabin, tasting room, trail and tour. And these awards show that their effort doesn’t just attract visitors; it sets the region apart as one of NSW’s most exciting places to explore.
For more information, see: https://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/News-and-feedback/News-and-media/News/Shoalhaven-businesses-shine-at-NSW-Tourism-Awards
Photo credit: https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/newsroom/winners-announced-at-2025-nsw-tourism-awards
From School Bus to Superhero: A split second of brave saved a 92-year-old woman
Luke Mullard, a 13-year-old boy, is being hailed a hero after he helped a 92-year-old woman escape a blazing home in the Hunter region.
It was a regular afternoon; Luke had just hopped off his school bus when a loud “bang” and thick black smoke caught his attention. Without hesitating, he ran toward the house and spotted the elderly woman, alone and trapped by flames and smoke.
Luke called Triple Zero (000), then led the woman, later identified as Roma Wilson, from the yard to a cool, air-conditioned car waiting nearby. Just 30 seconds after he got to her, a massive explosion rocked the property. She was visibly shaken, but unhurt. When she found safety, she looked at Luke and said simply, “Thank you so much.”
Fire investigators believe the blaze was sparked by a battery from an electric scooter.
This moment has inspired Luke even more to pursue his dream of becoming a first responder, showing him exactly how much of a difference he can make when others need help most.
He admitted that he was just in the right place at the right time. But “right place, right time” or not, his guts and quick reaction made all the difference.
When the local police visited him afterwards, the detective reportedly told his mum: “You don’t know what he did, do you?”, then added, “He saved someone’s life.”
For Luke, that day started like any other, and ended with a real chance to change someone’s life.
For more information, see: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-21/teenage-boy-helps-92-yr-old-woman-from-burning-property/106036964
Photo credit: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9117123/brave-teen-rescues-92-year-old-from-thornton-house-fire/
Romania’s Recycling Glow-Up: Proof that smart systems and small incentives can flip national habits
What if an entire country flipped the script on recycling in just two years? That’s exactly what Romania did, thanks to RetuRO and the world’s largest deposit-return recycling plan for bottles and cans.
Since late 2023, whenever Romanians buy a canned drink or bottled beverage, they pay a small deposit, 0.50 lei per container (about AU $0.17–$0.18). Return the empty container in good shape, and you get your money back.
The results have been wild: in under two years, about 7.5 billion bottles, cans, and jars, including roughly 4 billion PET bottles, have been returned and recycled. Most impressively, Romania has hit a 94% return rate for these beverage containers in some months.
What makes this even better is that the system was built from scratch, no old-school recycling infrastructure to replace. That fresh start allowed Romania to roll out a modern, simple, convenient program fast.
Of course, bottles and cans are only a small slice of the waste problem, but this big win shows just how much can change when people get on board and a clever plan meets simple incentives. The chief executive CEO of RetuRO, Gemma Webb, reported “We are the largest fully integrated return system globally.” Romania’s turnaround isn’t just about empty bottles; it’s a reminder that smart ideas and collective action can spark real change.
For more information, see: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/romania-hits-94-recycling-after-launching-largest-return-plan-in-the-world/
