FEBRUARY 2026
Not quite here yet but reminders - please read JANUARY below :-)
- Illawaarra Rally Program our Now!
Download Rally Program - Please welcome new office volunteer from Monday 2nd February 2026
Tracey from Shellharbour Group to be the new volunteer to cover the CSO Office on Mondays 9am to 2pm. Starting Monday 2nd February - 1st February Area D Online Assembly - all AA Members Welcome as observers.
Registered General Service Representatives (GSRs) are voting members
Sunday 1st February 2026 from 1pm to 3pm
Zoom ID Meeting ID: 851 0143 9451 Passcode: Area D - Video to show how to request a change to the National Meetings Website,
Always let us know here too -aawollongong@bigpond.com
To see how: what this Video - Sobriety by The Sea - Wollongong Rally Friday Friday 6th to Sunday 8th February
$20 a day or $50 weekend includes Breakfast & Lunch
$25 Saturday Dinner (Book by 31/1/26)
See: Events - Corrimal Step & Traditions & ID Afternoon Tea 4pm Sunday 8th After the Rally
If you are travelling back North or a local, Join us for a cuppa and chat before the meeting,
Free
See: Events - Nowra 20th Anniversary Light Meal and Meeting 5pm Sunday 8th After the Rally
If you are travelling back South or a local, Join us for a light meal before the meeting,
Free
See: Events - Fourteen PLUS (14+) Volunteers Wanted for our Rally Weekend
Yes! You are needed to help greet our visitors, answer questions, take registrations, chair meetings, and much more.
If you can give a few hours please put your hand up. Phone: 0426552392 or email: illawarra.rally@gmail.com -
Zoom Quarterly Service Representatives (Delegates) Meeting - Postponed one week to 23rd Feb 26 -
AA Observers Welcome
6pm Monday 123rd February 2026 on Zoom
Meeting ID: 891 9515 7868 and Passcode: 695615
Note
a. Special Resolution to change the end of the Association's Financial Year to June 30 and our AGM to November.
b. From 6.30 to 6.40 - Guest Speaker Lauren from Penrith Area to share on their Area's Public Information activities and plans.
JANUARY 2026
- New South Coast Meeting - Wandanian Steps and Traditions - Friday morning
8.30 to 9.45 Wandanian Progress Hall D2683 Princes Wandanian 2540 Half way between Nowra and Ulladulla. - NOWRA Sunday Morning Meeting 10am Room Change
Nowra Sunday, Beginners Meeting with a First Nations focus. ALL AA members very welcome. Now in Room 301 Client Service. It is wheelchair accessible with wheelchair access toilet as well.
For Details Click HERE - CSO Committee Email
To reduce the volume of emails to the CSO Office, the Committee has created a Gmail account.
If you have ideas about how the office could assist your Group, or have any question about our service, please feel free to contact the Committee directly; on:
aawollongong@gmail.com - Thursday Night Wollongong Men's Meeting at 7.30pm - CLOSED.
We have been notified that this meeting has unfortunately needed to close. Other Local Meetings here - Illawarra and South Coast Central Service Office Inc Story
Here is our unedited CSO Story we submitted for AA Around Australia - January Issue of AA Around Australia Out Now
You read a little about this newsletter and download a copy from here on the National AA Members Website. - Office Volunteer Needed For One Day per week
See Service Vacancy Notice Opposite - Monday Office Temporary Closure
The CSO will be closed on Mondays until a volunteer can be secured. We thank Tim for his excellent service for the last year. The Committee will be asking for volunteers to take up our Monday Office service soon. Keep an eye on this news page. (See Notice Opposite) - Fourteen PLUS (14+) Volunteers Wanted for our Rally Weekend
Yes! You are needed to help greet our visitors, answer questions, take registrations, chair meetings, and much more.
If you can give a few hours please put your hand up. Phone: 0426552392 or email: illawarra.rally@gmail.com - Wollongong Friday Night
Friday 2nd January 2026 is aback to open as usual. - PIPA Survey
See opposite. Have you had your say?
If not, please do so now.
DECEMBER 2025
- STOP PRESS: Friday Night Wollongong Meeting is closed on Boxing Day night 26th December
Nic apologies as he only had late notice of this - Holiday Season Office Hours
Our Coniston office hours for the Christmas/New Year period will be announced shortly.
Please check the website or contact the CSO for updates 
 - Holiday reading ?
The 2025 AA Membership Survey - Meeting Changes Over the Holidays
We invite groups tosend through any information about:
- Meeting closures
- Temporary venue changes
- Special holiday meetings or extended meetings
- Any changes to wheelchair accessibility or updates if not on
our Meetings List.
3. Tips for Getting Through the Silly Season
The holiday period can be a challenging time.
Here are some gentle reminders and tools many AA members find helpful at this time
of the year:
1. Keep connected to AA
2. Have an Exit plan
3..Use the “one day at a time”
4. Book-end an event - call a fellow member before and after
5. Service helps
6. Remember you’re not alone
7. Take your own drinks
8. Drinks lot of water to stay hydrated
9. Your sobriety is you biggest asset - protect it with self-care.
Can you add a Tip? :
Email US
4.
Public Information and Professional Awareness SURVEY
Our PI/Survey will run to the end of January. More about the work in the
November PIPA Report and associated
PIPA Images
Have you given your opinions yet? If not, use the QR Code or
Click the LINKS OPPOSITE
5. February 2026 Illawarra Rally
If you haven’t booked your place for 6-8 February 2026,
now is the time!
See full details on the Events page.
6. Drop in Afternoon Tea 4pm to 5pm Rally Sunday 8th February 2026
Corrimal Steps & Tradition Groupinvites members to have an afternoon tea before its
5.30 meeting on the Sunday of the Rally.
This is so out of area members who'd like to do the Rally Sunday morning meetings
can make a bit more of a day of their visit, and /or local members
who'd just like some time to chat with us and others before the meetings can do so:
All members welcome - meeting info here.
NOVEMBER 2025
- Public Information and Professional Awareness Sub-committee
The November meeting supported the establishment of a PIPA Sub-committee, and the recommendation to commence with a survey of our local AA members priorities for PIPA work.
Please see the SURVEY QR Code opposite - >>
More about the work in the NovemberPIPA Report and associated
PIPA Images - CSO Committee Members
The November meeting added Elise B (Corrimal S&T - Affiliate Member)to our Committee. Two positions are still vacant.
Other Committee Members are Rusty A - Bellambi Group Rep (Chair); Tony H Corrimal BB - Affiliate Member (Vice-Chair); Rhia B - Lighthouse Weds Group Rep (Secretary); Ro G - Corrimal S&T Group Rep (Treasurer & Public Officer) ; and other Committee Members Steve C - Wollongong Soup Kitchen Group Rep and Danielle R -Warilla Women's Group Rep. - QUARTERLY CSO Association Meeting - All members welcome
6pm Monday 20th November 2025 on ZOOM. Only Group Service Representatives may vote. One vote per group. A Special Resolution for a small change to the Constitution PIPA and Rally Repots, and election of three Committee Member positions are on the Agenda.
As the meeting has passed now, meeting papers are available on this website HERE. - BOOKED for our February 2026 Illawarra Rally?
Be quick. Places are filling fast.
For details see Events
Service Position Vacant
Office Volunteer
Currently the CSO has a one day per week (5 hours) - preferably Mondays - for an AA member to assist with the following tasks:
- answering 12th calls and emails
- referring inquiries to appropriate meetings and/or other AA services
- selling literature - in person, phone or email orders
- packing and parceling orders
- maintaining office systems in cooperation with other office volunteers
- completing associated office procedures - invoicing, receipting, preparing bank deposits, recording inventory changes., recording statistics, doing bank transfers
- maintaining office systems in cooperation with other office volunteers
under the supervision of the CSO Committee.
To apply the volunteer AA member needs to have:
- one year sober and drug free (except prescribed medication)
- a home group
- a sponsor
- completed or are completing the 12 steps
- general knowledge of AA principles such as the Traditions
- have basic computer, numeracy skills and office work skills and/or experience
- have a Working With Children Safety Certificate (required as part of our government Non-profit Association Duty of Care Requirements). This is free and the CSO Committee can assist with your obtaining this)
- the ability to communicate clearly in a calm, friendly manner to the public and other volunteers
The position comes with
- Some induction and training by other CSO volunteers
- A $30 per day Honorarium to cover fuel and out-of-pocket expenses only for the days services
- The satisfaction of being able to be of service in AA
Please indicate your interest by filling out the
following form
and return to the CSO Secretary -
aawollongong@gmail.com
Inquiries: Ro G Treasurer
0419498768
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS SHORT
LOCAL AA MEMBERS SURVEY
ABOUT PUBLIC INFORMATION & PROFESSIONAL AWARENESS
Contribute to AA Service
Help shape our PI/PA efforts
across the Illawarra Shoalhaven AA
Scan the QR code to complete a
Short surve
Public Information & Professional Awareness
CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY without GR Code
More Information about National AA PIPA
Examples about the country
Above and below - a look at the new CSO Office Space
OCTOBER 2025
- NOWRA Sunday Morning Meeting 10am Format Change
Nowra Sunday is changing its format to a Beginners Meeting with a First Nations focus. ALL AA members very welcome. It is wheelchair accessible too.
For Details Click HERE
 - Booked for our February 2026 Illawarra Rally?
Be quick. Places are filling fast.
For details see Events - November CSO Service Reps Meeting
6pm Monday 20th November 2025 on ZOOM. All members are welcome to attend. Only Group Service Representatives may vote. One vote per group. A Special Resolution for a small change to the Constitution and election of three Committee Member positions are on the Agenda.
For Minutes - available soon - Click HERE
 - AA Survey Results are out as is AA Around Australia
The AA Members Hub on the national members web asset is the place to visit for the latest publications and other news from around Australia. We have also set up a link on the drop-down menu under "For Local AAs" so you can easily find national news as well as the link to local news.
Visit the AA Members Hub HERE - Constitutional Changes
All motions were passed, with a note that Motions 1 and 2 will be reput at the November Service Representative Meeting to change the physical abstinence from other drugs (other than during medical treatment) prior to appointment back to six (6) months.
Minutes will be available soon, - In-house CSO Credit Card Purchases
The CSO now has credit card facilities at our Coniston Store, so if you want to drop in to purchase stock for your meeting you do not need to have cash. We still take cash of course!
As usual, we are not able to take credit card payments over the phone or online as yet. But we will let you know the amount of your order so you may pay by direct deposit (from your savings or credit card accounts.
Online order and price-list here; - Check out the YPAA Convention in WA
21-23 November 2025 on our Events page - Updated AA website goes live!
After 2 years of work by the Technology & Social Working Group, especially Sharon L and the General Service Board especially Grant T our Chair we have a brand new beginning to share the message of recovery. Eventually the subdomains of Literature, and Members will come on board with an integrated look and feel, and with much more to offer the general public and members,
See aa.org.au - Reminder of
Area D Assembly in Nowra and find out all the great things happening in AA!
Saturday, 11th October 2025 10am to 3pm - Lunch provided.
Morning Workshop on How Service can aid out Emotional Recovery.
See more details here.
 - Let us know if your venue is wheelchair accessible
and has an accessible toilet - means the venue has no step - ie a person in a wheel chair can join the meeting without a carer.
and that information is not listed on your meeting here!
Contact us - Join our Special General Meeting on ZOOM - 6pm 20th October 2025
There are some changes proposed to encourage more participation in AA service.
See Details here
SEPTEMBER 2025
- Constitutional Changes - Your Feedback
At the August AGM, a decision was made to update the requirements for membership of the Illawarra & South Coast CSO Inc and requirements for Committee members to encourage more participation by newer AA members in our service work.
Also to re-apply for Charity and DGR status we need to update our "Winding Up" clause.
The proposed changes can be reviewed here
2. Our Illawarra & South Coast CSO has moved to Shop 5b, 130 Gladstone Avenue Coniston NSW 2500
Almost opposite Coniston Railway Station, it's small and cosy (one third the space we had at Fairy Meadow), but on street level with only one step into the office itself.
The footpath is sloped up from the Service Station at the Southern end to our office, and if parked on the south side of the side street - Bridge Street - a sloping side walk down to our door.
There is parking across the road (for the railway station) and further down, but no parking on our side of the street.
Contact us first
if you want to collect some literature, but think you may have trouble getting to our door. We may be able to duck out and deliver across the road to you :-)
And if you are in the area on the days our office is open, pop in to have a chat with one of our volunteers.
3. As Indigenous AA member - will you share your experience, strength and hope?
Our Remote Communities Coordinator, Cliff, is reaching out to members for service work in this vital area of AA's outreach.
Help us reach brothers, sisters, aunties, uncles, children of your Indigenous communities.
Learn more here
4. Batemans Bay Tuesday - Change of Venue
Batemans Bay Tuesday has moved from
2nd September 2025 to
Bay Pavilion Arts & Aquatic Centre, 12 Vesper Street (Cnr. Princes Highway) Batemans Bay 2536
5. You can now order AA literature & other resources online here.
Sorry , not a shopping trolley but the next best option. Any hassles call us when we are open or
contact us.
The
Price List has been updated -
download here
- as well as a
New Order Form if you prefer to
mail your order in.
6. Our new domain
aawollongong.org.au is now active. We have
aawollongong.com.au diverting to our new domain
7. Come to the next Area D Assembly in Nowra and find out all the great things happening in AA!
Saturday, 11th October 2025 10am to 3pm - Lunch provided. Morning Workshop on How Service can aid out Emotional Recovery.
See
more details here.
8. Your new Illawarra & South Coast Central Service Inc Office Committee
At the AGM the following CSO Inc Delegates and Affiliate members were elected as your management Committee Members:
Rusty A -
Chairperson (Service Rep Bellambi);
Tony H -
Vice-Chairperson; Anne S -
Secretary (Service Rep Bulli Sat);
Ro G -
Treasurer
(Service Rep Corrimal S&T)
and Committee members -
Steve C
(Service Rep Fri Soup Kitchen);
Danielle R (Service Rep Warilla Womens Sat);; Rhia B and Dennisse M.
We thank them all for being willing to offer their voluntary service to help us all "carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers".
9
Can we carry our message of hope better to your local community?
In AA our outreach to the general public is called public information (PI) and to doctors and other health workers, welfare, legal, social and other workers Professional Awareness (PA). The National PIPA Committee circulates its work via PI Patter.
Read more about this AA Outreach, especially local PI projects such as buses (p10), local forums (p9), billboards on local football fields (p13), posters (p12), radio ads and more
AUGUST 2025
- The Illawarra Rally publicity is now out
SAVE THE DATES - 6 TO 8TH FEBRUARY 2026 - and see more information Scroll to the end of the page
Then register here:
- The Illawarra and South Coast Central Service Office is moving at the end of August.
Our new address is: Shop 5b, 130 Gladstone Avenue Coniston NSW 2500
Opposite Coniston Station (and next to New Age Book Shop)
The CSO will be closed the week starting Monday 25th August
Re-opening Monday 1st September 2025
- AGM News:
A new Committee has been elected. Wie will update this point as soon as possible.
- CSO Mailing List
Please help us create a new updated mailing list please
If you want to continue receiving news from us or join our mailing list, please click here to Subscribe
If you don't wish to receive news, special notices, and meetings update by email, please click here to Un- Subscribe
- Our website Domain Name change
Because we are now an incorporated non-profit association, we can no longer use a .com.au domain as this is a commercial for-profit type of domain.
Our domain now is www.aawollongong.org.au
We are endeavouring to have our old .com.au domain redirected to this new domain as soon as we can.
Please make a new Favourite or Bookmark for our new domain, www.aawollongong.org.au
JULY 2025
- Our Legal Status and Name has changed.
We are now an incorporated non-profit association under NSW Department of Fair Trading, called Illawarra and South Coast Central Service Office Inc. - Our Constitution has been updated.
Read by clicking this link here - Individual AA members can now join our association as Affiliate members as well as local AA Groups who may nominate two Service Representatives (previously called delegates)
Individual members and group service representatives need one year of sobriety and 6 months clean from non-prescribed substances.
No Fees apply.
Each member must apply or re-apply for membership every year by filling your Group or Individual membership FORM HERE
NB So far 9 Wollongong groups have registered - Area D Assembly Next Assembly: 1pm to 3pm Sunday July 27th via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86143991561
Meeting ID: 861 4399 1561 No passcode required - Our Central Service Office will be moving to Coniston by the end of August 2025.
Details will be available via our Mailing Lists and at our Annual General Meeting at 6pm Monday 18th August 2025 - Annual General Meeting at 6pm Monday 18th August 2025.
The AGM will be held at our Fairy Meadows office and also on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 825 4196 6483 and Passcode: 695615
Please register your group at least a week before so your group can vote.