Nowra.org.au podcast – with Barron Hanson

Jemma Tribe

Jemma Tribe started her career as a journalist with a simple but powerful goal: to speak up for those who couldn’t speak for themselves. That commitment to advocacy has shaped a career spanning media, business, leadership and community impact. With a Bachelor of Media and Communication Studies and an MBA, Jemma blends storytelling with strategy.

She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has contributed to several boards, alongside her work as an author, speaker, mum and Social Enterprise Ambassador. Jemma currently Chairs the Nowra Community Food Store Board and was recognised as the 2024 Shoalhaven Business Leader of the Year. After six years as President of the Shoalhaven Business Chamber, she now serves as a local government Councillor and runs her own business—where she continues to champion initiatives like Nowra.org.au and the future of her community.”

Alison Henry

With more than 25 years’ experience in events and community activation, Alison Henry brings a deep understanding of how to create places people genuinely want to spend time in. A proud Nowra local, she owned and operated a retail store in the Nowra CBD for five years, giving her firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities facing local businesses.

She later served as Nowra’s CBD Place Manager and is a qualified placemaker, with a strong focus on creating vibrant, connected and people-focused town centres. Now working as an Office Manager and District Coordinator for the Nowra.org.au project, Ali continues to play a key role in shaping initiatives that bring energy, activity and pride back into the CBD.

Crystal Brandon

Crystal Brandon is a District Coordinator for nowra.org.au, a licensed real estate agent, and a deeply engaged community volunteer with strong ties across the Shoalhaven. A graduate of the University of Wollongong Shoalhaven in Nursing, Crystal brings a people-first approach to everything she does, combining professional experience with a genuine commitment to community wellbeing.

Her involvement spans a wide range of local organisations and events, reflecting both her energy and her belief in backing the region she calls home. Crystal is a volunteer with Nowra Players, Vice President of the Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, a registered nurse with Streetside Medics, and Vice President of the Shoalhaven Business Chamber.

Across business, health, arts and community leadership, she is known for showing up, pitching in and helping connect people and ideas. Crystal’s work reflects a strong commitment to service, local collaboration and making the Shoalhaven a more vibrant and supportive place.

Jessica Bromley

Jessica Bromley is the District Coordinator for nowra.org.au and the founder of Good Things Organic, formerly known as Bomo Bulk. What began as a local idea has grown into a thriving South Coast community of people committed to eating well, wasting less and sharing more.

Through Good Things Organic, Jess has helped make sustainable living more practical, accessible and community-driven, while also building a strong local business with real impact. Her work has been recognised through multiple awards, including the Shoalhaven Business Chamber Women in Business Award in 2022, Excellence in Sustainability in 2023 and 2024, and Excellence in Business in 2025. She was also a finalist in the Illawarra Business Chamber Awards.

As the business has grown, Good Things Organic has expanded its footprint, taking over the space at Be Here Nowra and opening a second location in Vincentia. Jess is widely recognised for combining purpose, sustainability and community leadership in a way that continues to shape the region.

Liza Butler MP

Liza Butler was elected as the Member for South Coast at the New South Wales state election on 25 March 2023. With a background as a former Shoalhaven City Councillor and small-business owner, she brings practical experience, local knowledge and a strong commitment to helping communities across the South Coast thrive.

Liza is passionate about supporting the people, places and local businesses that make the region strong, with a focus on ensuring towns like Nowra continue to grow in confidence, opportunity and connection. Her public service is shaped by a deep understanding of community needs and a clear belief in backing local voices.

Alongside her professional and political work, Liza is also a dedicated lover of the ocean, with a strong appreciation for both marine conservation and the simple joy of being in the water. That connection to the coast reflects the values she brings to her role: care for place, commitment to community and a genuine investment in the future of the South Coast.

Paul Murphy

Paul Murphy is a long-time Nowra local, having spent 32 years as a science teacher at Nowra High School, shaping generations of young minds with curiosity, energy, and a love of learning. Alongside his teaching career, Paul has been a cornerstone of local radio, broadcasting on Triple U FM since 1993.

Over more than three decades on air, he’s become a familiar voice across the Shoalhaven, currently hosting “Off the Wall,” with more than 500 shows under his belt. Triple U FM — Shoalhaven Community Radio — has been on air for over 40 years, covering a vast stretch of the region from Gerroa and Gerringong in the north to Termeil in the south, and inland to Kangaroo Valley and beyond. Paul’s contribution has been a huge part of that story, helping keep local voices, music, and community spirit alive on the airwaves.

Two Brown Men

Two Brown Men was founded in Nowra by Ayush and Manisha Chopra, who opened the restaurant in 2022 after building their culinary experience across Australia. Bringing together bold traditional Indian flavours and modern Australian influences, they created a fresh and distinctive dining experience on Kinghorne Street that has helped energise Nowra’s CBD and strengthen its night-time food scene.

Their menu blends global tastes with local hospitality, adding new flavour and vibrancy to the town’s growing dining culture. In 2023, they were recognised as local food heroes, reflecting the strong connection they have built with the community through both their food and their presence in the CBD. In 2024, Two Brown Men moved to a new location, continuing to grow their offering and reach.

Through creativity, quality and a clear sense of identity, Ayush and Manisha have become part of the new wave of local operators helping shape a more dynamic and welcoming Nowra after dark.

Captain Paul Hannigan

Captain Paul Hannigan has built a distinguished naval aviation career spanning more than four decades, marked by service, leadership and a deep commitment to community.

Originally from Scotland, he graduated from Napier Polytechnic in Edinburgh with an engineering degree before entering Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, in 1989. He earned his Royal Navy pilot wings in 1991 and went on to serve for 17 years as a helicopter pilot, with operational deployments in Northern Ireland, the Former Yugoslavia and Iraq. In 2006, Paul emigrated to Australia with his wife and three daughters to join the Royal Australian Navy, where he has since held a number of senior aviation positions.

One of his most notable contributions came during the devastating 2019–2020 South Coast bushfires, when as Commanding Officer of 808 Squadron he led MRH90 Taipan helicopter operations in support of affected communities. Now promoted to Captain and appointed as Commanding Officer HMAS Albatross, he is widely respected for his inclusive, decisive leadership and steady service.

Sasha Pierzo

Sasha Pierzo is part of the team at Interchange Shoalhaven, an organisation dedicated to supporting people with disabilities and their families through connection, independence, and everyday community participation. Their work spans social programs and activities, respite support for families, skill-building, and creating more inclusive pathways into community life.

Sasha is also the founder of The Local Spotlight, an initiative that creates a safe, inclusive space where people of all abilities can share their talents, build confidence, and feel genuinely seen and celebrated. At its heart, The Local Spotlight is about belonging, opportunity, and giving local people the chance to step up and be part of something bigger.

Uncle Gerry Moore 

Uncle Gerry Moore is a proud Yuin man from Wreck Bay, here in the Shoalhaven, with more than 40 years of experience in Aboriginal affairs and community leadership. A former student of Nowra High School, his journey has taken him from local roots to national influence. Uncle Gerry has held a number of significant leadership roles, including Chair of the Nowra Local Aboriginal Land Council, Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT, and CEO of SNAICC, the national peak body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.

In 2020, his lifelong contribution was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the Indigenous community. Beyond titles, Uncle Gerry’s work is about connection to culture, to Country, and to community. Through his leadership, he continues to guide conversations around respect, understanding, and what it truly means to belong.

Avalon Bourne

Avalon is the CEO and Founder of Sonder Youth, a purpose-driven organisation improving youth mental health through positive action. She is passionate about helping young people build the tools, knowledge, experience and confidence to become agents of change in their own lives and communities. Through Sonder Youth, Avalon empowers young people to strengthen their wellbeing by focusing on prevention, self-efficacy, resilience, social connection and community connection. Her work is grounded in the values of kindness, hope and “doing the thing” turning care into practical action.

By supporting young people to create positive change for themselves, Avalon is helping generate a ripple effect that extends across families, schools and the wider community. Her leadership and impact have been widely recognised, with Sonder Youth winning the 2024 NSW Youth Work Award for Outstanding Youth Participation. In 2025, Avalon was also awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship, recognising her commitment to youth wellbeing and community-led change.

Chance Hanlon

Chance Hanlon is a Second-generation leader of Hanlon Windows, a family business founded in Bomaderry in 1979 that has grown into a nationally recognised manufacturer of aluminium and timber windows and doors.

Under his leadership, the company has continued to build on its strong reputation for quality, innovation and community contribution, earning more than a dozen national awards along the way. Chance is passionate about backing local Trainees & apprentices, investing in sustainable technology and supporting the long-term strength of manufacturing in the Shoalhaven.

His leadership has been recognised with major honours including Shoalhaven Business Person of the Year in 2010 and Illawarra Business Person of the Year in 2017. In 2024, he was named Shoalhaven Citizen of the Year for his outstanding contribution to the community. Beyond business, Chance is also a familiar local voice on Triple U FM, where he co-hosts the morning show with his daughter Bec on Mondays and Thursdays, reflecting his strong connection to community life across the region.

Pastor Jo Barnes-White

Pastor Jo Barnes-White is a representative of Shoalhaven Central Uniting Church, a welcoming and community-minded presence in the heart of Nowra. Based at 29 Berry Street, the church hosts a free Community Lunch every Monday from 12pm to 2pm, offering not only a meal but also connection, companionship and a sense of belonging for anyone who attends. Shoalhaven Central Uniting Church marks an exciting new chapter for the Uniting Church in the central Shoalhaven, bringing together the Bay & Basin, Bomaderry and Nowra congregations.

As part of the Uniting Church in Australia — the country’s third largest Christian denomination — Jo’s work reflects a broader commitment to reconciliation, compassion and the common good. The church’s mission is grounded in living God’s love through practical care, inclusive fellowship and community service. Through initiatives like the weekly lunch, Pastor Jo helps create a more connected, just and compassionate community for people across the Shoalhaven.

Ory Purhonen

Ory Purohen is the Founder and Creative Director of Webics, a Nowra-based digital agency established in 2008. What began as a one-man web design business has grown into a full-service digital and IT company supporting hundreds of local and national clients across website design, hosting, SEO, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and business IT support.

Ory is passionate about helping regional businesses compete at a national level while strengthening the local business community along the way. Under his leadership, Webics has been recognised through multiple industry awards for performance and innovation, a reflection of the business’s strong focus on quality, service, and real outcomes. He has also recently opened a prominent new location on Junction Street in Nowra, further cementing Webics’ presence in the local business landscape.

Barron Hanson 

Barron Hanson is a fifth-generation Nowra local, District Coordinator for nowra.org.au, and the founder of Be Here Nowra, a community wellbeing initiative built around the idea of connection, presence and local change. He is passionate about grassroots, bottom-up action and believes real transformation happens when ordinary people come together with shared purpose.

Through Be Here Nowra, Barron has worked to build community happiness and connection, with an ambitious goal of teaching one percent of Nowra to meditate. His work reflects a deep commitment to helping people feel more grounded, connected and engaged in the place they live.

Alongside his community leadership, Barron is also working on a documentary and hosts HERE in Nowra, a month-long festival of Vedic wisdom that brings people together around reflection, learning and personal growth. Through each of these projects, he continues to champion collective action, local identity and the power of community-led change in Nowra.