Sonder Stories: March 2
Southern Headlands Walk: Shoalhaven’s New 20km Coastal Trail
Shoalhaven just scored a brand-new 20km coastal walk, linking Narrawallee to Burrill Lake with epic ocean views, hidden beaches, and plenty of spots to grab a coffee along the way.
Thanks to Restart NSW funding, Shoalhaven City Council has connected and upgraded existing paths, creating one continuous route marked by Banksia trail signs. The walk links 10 beaches, including Mollymook and Ulladulla Harbour, plus headland trails, wildflower-covered cliffs, and even 270-million-year-old fossils near Ulladulla. Expect migrating whales, dolphins, and endangered birds as you go.
The route includes sections of popular tracks like One Track for All, Coomee Nulunga Cultural Walk, and the South Pacific Heathland Walk. There are also picnic areas, cafes, and holiday parks, making it easy to turn the walk into a weekend trip.
If you’re tackling the full 20km, you’ll need a car shuffle—drop one car at the end before starting. Otherwise, shorter sections are perfect for a quick scenic escape.
With upgraded paths, coastal lookouts, and cultural sites, the Southern Headlands Walk is officially open. Lace up your runners and check it out.
For more information, see: https://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/Council/Projects-and-works/Major-projects/Southern-Headlands-Walk#:~:text=The%20new%20grade%203%2F4,wanted%20to%20play%20and%20stay
Photo Credit: https://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/Council/Projects-and-works/Major-projects/Southern-Headlands-Walk
Bringing Art to the Outback: First Nations Stories Hit the Road
Starting in July 2025, five epic exhibitions will tour 36 communities across Australia, thanks to funding from the Visions of Australia program. With $1.4 million backing these projects, incredible art will be brought to regional and remote areas, giving more people a chance to experience it.
Three of the exhibitions will focus on First Nations artists, showcasing their deep connection to Country and how they creatively use different materials. One of them, Too Deadly: Ten Years of Tarnanthi (from the Art Gallery of South Australia), will feature over 30 contemporary works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. For the first time, many of these bold pieces, created for the Tarnanthi Festival, will be shown outside Adelaide, bringing their powerful messages to new audiences.
Another exhibition, Virlkuthalypila and Other Stories from Our Country – Same Like Yesterday (by SharingStories Foundation), will share the stories of Adnyamathanha women and their ancestors. Through a cool animated projection, their memories of growing up on Country will come to life, offering a fresh and unique way to experience their culture.
These exhibitions will give young people across the country the chance to connect with First Nations art, stories, and history in a way that’s never been done before!
For more information, see: https://www.arts.gov.au/news/new-touring-exhibitions-telling-stories-country
Photo Credit: https://www.arts.gov.au/news/new-touring-exhibitions-telling-stories-country
The End of Sickle Cell: Sebastien’s Life-Changing Gene Therapy Journey
Sebastien Beauzile, 21, is officially sickle cell-free—thanks to a groundbreaking gene therapy.
The Queens native is the first New Yorker to receive Lyfgenia, a revolutionary treatment that rewires his own cells to produce healthy blood. Administered at Northwell’s Cohen Children’s Medical Centre, the therapy wiped out his lifelong battle with sickle cell disease.
“This is a cure,” said Dr. Jeffrey Lipton, the centre’s director. “I suspect it will replace bone marrow transplants in time.”
Beauzile’s struggles began at four months old, with relentless pain crises forcing hospital visits, limiting work, travel, and even college. “My back felt like someone was pulling on it, my chest like someone was sitting on it,” he recalled.
But in early 2024, doctors offered him a way out—Lyfgenia. The process took nearly a year, including chemotherapy to clear out defective cells. In December, his modified stem cells were re-infused. By January, he felt like a new man.
“I’m not in pain anymore,” he said. Now, he’s back in the gym, planning his first carefree vacation, and re-enrolling in school—to become a medical professional and help kids like him.
“When I got my cells, it was like a second birthday.”
For More information, see: https://nypost.com/2025/03/13/us-news/long-island-patient-gets-breakthrough-sickle-cell-treatment-called-a-cure-im-not-in-pain-anymore/
