eastern suburbs Sydney Archives

Maroubra Mourns the Loss of Trent Rutherford

Trent Rutherford, a young man from Maroubra with deep ties to the South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club, has died after spending over a week fighting a severe brain injury, leaving behind a community of people who described him as a rare and genuinely good human being.

Trent, believed to be in his late 20s, passed away on 4 June. A carpenter by trade, he had been living in Uluwatu in Bali’s southwest with his long-term partner Bella Cignetti, where the couple had set up fitness-related businesses after relocating from Maroubra in 2024.

His mother described him as being surrounded by love in his final moments.

The tributes of a community that loved him

Bella Cignetti’s tribute captured something of the person Trent was. “I’d choose you in every single lifetime, my love. You fought harder than anyone I’ve ever known,” she wrote. “You are my soulmate, my greatest love, and now my angel, watching over me, protecting me, guiding me and so many others.”

*Photo Credit: @trentrutherford_/Instagram*

She spoke of being grateful for every adventure, laugh, moment and dream they had shared. “Thank you for choosing me, for loving me the way you did and for giving me the most beautiful memories and life. Until we meet again, my love. Forever and always I’ll love you with my whole heart.”

Tributes flooded social media from people who had known Trent across different parts of his life, with many describing a “special human” with a “heart of gold” and an infectious smile that people remembered long after meeting him.

South Sydney Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray paid his own tribute during Thursday night’s NRL clash against the Manly Sea Eagles, wearing wrist tape emblazoned with “TRENT” throughout the match.

A family known to South Maroubra SLSC

Trent’s connection to the Maroubra community ran deep. His parents, Yvette and Grant “Paddles” Rutherford, are Life Members of the South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club, a club that has been a fixture of the beach since 1963.

The club shared its condolences with the family this week, noting that Trent was a former club member who had been seen at the clubhouse as recently as March, when he presented the Bruce Rutherford Memorial Award to the club’s nippers.

“Trent was a former valued club member and good friend of South Maroubra SLSC,” the club posted. “Thoughts and prayers are with the Rutherford family as they confront this most difficult time. Vale Trent.”

The Bruce Rutherford Memorial Award bears the name of a family member before him, a detail that gives some sense of how long and how genuinely the Rutherfords have been part of the fabric of this club and this beach.

How to support the family

Friend and organiser Sam Owens originally set up a GoFundMe to support Trent’s medical battle, but has since updated the page to help his family cover funeral expenses and ongoing costs. “This has been an incredibly difficult time for his family, partner Bella, and everyone who loved him,” Owens wrote.

Contributions can be made here.

Published 10-June-2026

A Local Favourite: Inside Maroubra’s KokoroYa

KokoroYa

KokoroYa at 665/667 Anzac Parade sits near the Bowen Library and a short walk from Maroubra Junction, quietly cementing its place as the most highly rated Japanese restaurant in the suburb. It carries an impressive average 4.6 to 4.8 out of 5 rating from more than 2,000 reviews across major platforms.

The name itself tells you everything you need to know about its vision. KokoroYa translates from Japanese as a home for the heart, and the restaurant has built its massive following on something closer to a cosy neighbourhood diner model than a formal dining experience.

It is the exact kind of local gem families return to for milestone birthdays, couples drift into on casual weeknights, and solo diners feel comfortable settling into with an iPad and a sake.

An authentic Japanese owner has operated the restaurant since its doors first opened, and regulars are quick to point out that success has not changed its grounded approach or its quality. In a suburb where consistent dining spots come and go, KokoroYa has earned serious community credibility.

The food and how to order it

Ordering happens via an automated self-order tablet at the table, which lets diners control the pace of their meal and add dishes as they go without having to flag down staff. The system has become a signature feature in its own right, particularly for families with young kids who love tapping through the screen.

Standout dishes include the signature sushi, which is consistently praised for its freshness and precision, alongside vibrant sashimi platters and sukiyaki. The steak tofu and wagyu beef are two of the most talked about dishes among regulars, while the matcha mousse and tiramisu desserts draw a dedicated following.

Tempura, ramen, and a broad selection of rolls including soft shell crab and scallop with dynamite sauce round out a menu that covers both accessible entry points and more demanding Japanese flavours.

Google reviewers give the restaurant 4.6 stars. OpenTable diners, who book ahead and tend to rate based on the full experience, have left hundreds of highly positive reviews.

What customers say

Absolutely amazing !
From the entrance the staff are very welcoming, kind and helpful.
The restaurant is extremely clean and a very comfortable layout.
The ordering process is very efficient and a beautiful selection of amazing fresh food.
The flavours are outstanding, and so many delicious options to choose.
It was my first experience here and I’ve already booked to return next week.
This is a must try, great work Kokoroya, this is my new favourite place ❤️
Michael Tonna, Google Reviews

Super fresh sashimi and amazing nigiri. Loved the uni, saba, and the tempura was so light and crispy. Every dish we ordered was on point. One of the best Japanese spots in Maroubra!
Nicole Wang, Google Reviews

We found this Japanese restaurant while driving past, the busy crowd made us curious. The food was amazing, just like the crowd suggested. Super fresh sashimi and perfect sukiyaki. But the best part is Dessert! The chocolate treat melted in my mouth, feeling so good! Easy parking too.
Jiantao Wei, Google Reviews

Getting there and booking

KokoroYa is a couple of blocks from Maroubra Junction, near the Bowen Library, with easy parking in the surrounding streets.

The venue is wheelchair accessible and accepts credit cards. Delivery and takeaway are also available for a cozy night in. It is incredibly family friendly, complete with a dedicated children’s play area inside.

KokoroYa is located at 665/667 Anzac Parade, Maroubra. Opening hours and bookings are available at kokoroya.com.au or through OpenTable. You can follow their latest updates on Instagram at @kokoroyasydney.

Published 5-June-2026

Work Begins on Long-Awaited Amenities Building at Malabar Ocean Pool

Sam Crawford Architects

Construction has started on a new amenities building at Malabar Ocean Pool, bringing toilets and change facilities to a popular coastal swimming spot that has had no on-site amenities since it was built, with the nearest public toilets currently located 700 metres away at Malabar Beach.

The building will include toilets, change cubicles, a regraded car park section and new landscaping. A planted roof has been incorporated into the design to keep the structure low-key and unobtrusive within the landscape. Construction is expected to take eight months, with the building due for completion in late January 2027.

The ocean pool itself remains open throughout the construction period.

A pool that has needed this for a long time

Malabar Ocean Pool is particularly valued by older people and those recovering from injuries, who use its rare stair-free access to the water. The lack of any on-site amenities has long been a friction point for those users, who have had to walk 700 metres to the facilities at Malabar Beach or forgo the pool entirely.

The stair-free access is genuinely uncommon among Sydney’s ocean pools. Most rockpool entries involve steps or ladders, making Malabar a specific destination for people who need gentler access and who have the most pressing need for nearby facilities.

A design shaped by the community

The amenities building went through a public consultation process before its final design was settled. Community feedback was clear: any building should be modest in size, located away from the pool deck, and should not impact views or sightlines for nearby properties.

The design reflects that feedback. The building sits unobtrusively within the landscape and the rooftop plantings help it blend into the surrounding vegetation rather than sitting above it as a visual intrusion.

It is the kind of outcome that tends to result when community feedback actually shapes the brief rather than simply appearing in a consultation summary.

What to expect during construction

There will be a temporary reduction in available parking near the pool and some construction noise and higher traffic levels during the eight-month build. Visitors planning to drive to the pool should allow extra time to find parking along Marine Drive or the surrounding streets.

The pool and Coastal Walkway remain accessible throughout. Further updates will be released at key stages during construction.

Malabar Ocean Pool is at the end of Marine Drive in Malabar, accessible from Maroubra via the Coastal Walkway or by car along Marine Drive.

Published 4-June-2026

Maroubra Triathlete Determined to Race Again After Crash Leaves Him With Life-Changing Injuries

GoFundMe

Thales Henrique da Silva Souza, a 26-year-old triathlete who has lived in Maroubra for seven years, is recovering at home after being struck by a car while cycling through Sydney’s south, sustaining injuries that required a 12-hour jaw reconstruction surgery, a second surgery on his arm and a nerve block in his spine.

The incident allegedly occurred on Princes Highway in Engadine near the intersection of Anzac Avenue at around 8am on Sunday 19 April. Police confirmed a 34-year-old woman driver was uninjured and was arrested at the scene and taken to Sutherland Hospital for mandatory testing. A Sutherland Shire Police spokesperson confirmed the investigation is ongoing.

More than $34,000 has since been raised through a GoFundMe campaign to support Thales and his partner Isabelle Molinari Fontes with medical expenses and living costs.

Three days unconscious, a jaw held together by rubber bands

Thales was three hours into a cycling journey when the alleged collision occurred. Other cyclists at the scene told Isabelle that a car struck him from behind and kept driving before stopping when members of the group gave chase.

View this post on Instagram

The injuries were severe. Thales lost approximately half his teeth, broke six ribs and was left with rubber bands holding his reconstructed jaw together. He lay unconscious in hospital for three days while Isabelle waited.

“The first three days were the worst,” she said. “Doctors said he might wake up in two days or two months, or might not recognise who I am.”

The first signs of recovery arrived in small moments. “The first moment when he squeezed the doctor’s hand, we were all so excited,” Isabelle said. “When he asked for me and said my name, I thought ‘Thank God’.”

A couple who built their life in Maroubra

Thales and Isabelle met as high-school sweethearts and have lived together in Maroubra for seven years, part of a community they have put down genuine roots in. The impact of the incident has extended beyond Thales’s physical recovery, with both of them out of work due to the full-time care required during his rehabilitation.

Thales is currently on a liquid diet and cannot put weight on his injured arm. He does not remember the collision itself.

*Photo Credit: @thales_henriquess/Instagram*

Despite all of it, his competitive instincts remain intact. He is still targeting a return to elite triathlon competition later this year. “It’s still on the cards,” he said.

His response to the community fundraising effort has been one of genuine gratitude. “It’s amazing what they did,” he said. “I don’t have the words to say thank you.”

How to support Thales

The GoFundMe campaign for Thales and Isabelle remains active.

Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage of the Princes Highway, Engadine incident on the morning of Sunday 19 April is asked to contact Sutherland Shire Police Area Command or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Published 3-June-2026