5 Islands Press, named for the islands off Port Kembla, is a small press that publishes Australia’s finest poetry—anthologies, collections, chapbooks, and works on the lyric craft. Founded in 1986 by Ron Pretty and a cooperative of Illawarra poets, the press had several incarnations over the years, and was revived in 2023 by Steve Meyrick and Mark Tredinnick. Its charter, building on Ron’s legacy, is to publish the best poetry we can find, across many forms, cultures, voices, and languages, with a focus on lyric poetry and the poetries of place.

The Illawarra Flame is keeping community news alive against the odds. It is an independent publication run, written and read by locals. Named after a beautiful tree, the Flame shines a light on local people and places. It is free for everyone to read.

The seed for the Illawarra Flame was planted in the 2508 postcode a decade ago. What started as a small monthly paper has grown to become a much-loved celebration of the coastal communities of the northern Illawarra and, since March 2024, Shellharbour too.

Conveniently located in Wollongong, Greg McKay Book Design transforms your manuscript – novel, short story, poetry, memoir, or non-fiction – into professional files ready for Amazon KDP digital and print. From interior layouts to eye-catching covers, Greg McKay Book Design provides full upload support for a seamless self-publishing experience.