Sara Porter never imagined in her wildest dreams that she would become a published children's author.
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Sure, the UK born Porter has a background in childcare, but that has been on the back-burner since moving to Australia 10 years ago.
The last five years living in Kiama with her husband and two children Jade-Willow, 5 and four-year-old Rio, had been "fantastic", she said.
However, the tight-knit seaside town has been hurting recently for a range or reasons.
It was while thinking about ways to help her struggling community that Porter had a "brainwave" to write a children's book.
"We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place," she said.
"I've never written a book in my life, never published a book in my life. But I just had a brainwave one day when I was walking along Gerroa Beach, about how I could help out our community that had suffered so much during the drought, the bushfires and then COVID.
"I came up with a concept about writing a children's book that enabled me to mention local businesses and get their name out there again."
When Sammy met Sally down at Gerroa is more than just a book.
"Basically the book is a souvenir, not only something you can walk away with but also use like a guide," Porter said.
"The main characters Sammy and Sally may have met down at Gerroa, but they date all around Gerringong.
"They visit the local ice creamery, the chip shop at Werri Beach, Natural Necessity Surf Shop, the local park in town and the Gerringong Collective. I mention all these businesses in the book."
Fellow Kiama resident Davina Abela illustrated When Sammy met Sally down at Gerroa.
"She is amazing. She really is one talented lady," Porter said.
"We both wanted to give back to this great community.
"The book is about helping each other out as a community. When you think about the devastation that has come through our town, especially recently with the suicides as well.
"I think as a community, we are a great community, we really are.
"We all share the same values of coming together and helping one another out, that's really what we are about, helping out locals in their time of need.
"I hope the book can help in some way, especially with tourism. That's why I mention all the businesses names in the book.
"Maybe people will come down the South Coast and want to visit some or all of these places."
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