Severe wind caused havoc across the region on Wednesday, and the ABC Illawarra team covered the drama as it unfolded. You can read about the damage caused by the wild weather in our story below.
 

Also, this week, read the story about the Wollongong man who has spent six years building a steamboat which was recently launched at Shellharbour. ABC Illawarra was there to capture the moment.
 

Plus, divers have captured the first footage of the century-old Nemesis shipwreck lying at a depth of 160 metres in waters off Port Kembla. See the video and pictures in our story below.
 

The 97.3FM ABC Illawarra radio team is currently off air for few days as they attend an ABC Radio training session with other ABC NSW regional radio teams. The local team visited the new ABC studios in Parramatta. Here's picture of ABC Illawarra Mornings producer Jake Cupitt sitting behind the ABC 7pm News desk in Parramatta. I reckon the job of ABC 7pm News host Jeremy Fernandez is quite safe!
 

Have a great week, and remember, if you have a story idea drop an email to 973@your.abc.net.au.

Rory Macdonald,
ABC Illawarra editor.

Winds in excess of 100kph have delayed flights in Sydney, blown roofs off buildings in Wollongong, and left almost 20,000 homes and businesses in the state without power.

A man accusing NSW MP Gareth Ward of sexually abusing him when he was 18, has told a court he reported the incident to police after discovering the politician was responsible for vulnerable children.  

Workers from an underground New South Wales coal mine are facing a lockout after taking limited industrial action over wage negotiations.

A Wollongong man who has spent the past six years building a 20th-century steamboat in his shed has received a huge send-off during his maiden voyage. 

A steamship lost to a fierce storm off the New South Wales South Coast has been seen in person for the first time since it sank 120 years ago.

Hundreds more homes are expected to be converted as part of the Electrify 2515 scheme, which offers subsidies to households looking to cut fossil fuel use and power bills.