Two locals have been pitted against each other for the chance of being named the 2008 Surf Life Saving Hero.

Bowlers have been turned away and children’s parties cancelled as Northern Bowl struggles to recover from damage sustained during a violent storm earlier this month.

Helensburgh’s Ian and Bernadette Baker have reached the stage of life where their children are out of home – but their two grown daughters are soon to be temporarily replaced by a mystery pair of young strangers, perhaps from some far-flung corner of the earth.

Usually Aunties and Uncles are all about helping children from disadvantaged families, but in April the group will be sharing their love with budding artists as well.

Many adults still remember their first day at a new school - the terror, the nervousness, and the gut wrenching worry that they won’t make any friends.

Several thousand protesters could converge on Wollongong’s CBD next month for a scheduled anti-war rally – if the size of previous gatherings organised by the same committee are anything to go by.