Narooma not a cookie cutter town
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Regarding extended trading hours in Narooma…John Hunter is onto something here!
All business owners should lash themselves. Shame on you!
What are you doing?
Are you at home relaxing? Are you on the water: boating, kayaking, fishing, surfing, swimming?
Are you out walking in the forest, on the beach or through nearby villages? Are you golfing, cycling, playing sport or just playing?
Are you basking in the glorious sunshine? Spending time with the family?
Or just sitting on a bench, with a spectacular view and just breathing? Fantastic!!
There is more to life than the almighty dollar. Leave the dog eat dog attitude to former idylls like Surfers Paradise, Noosa, Kiama etc.
There are two clubs and two pubs, open long hours, all capable of serving coffee and keeping people employed.
Narooma is not a cookie cutter tourist town.
The small businesses in Narooma have got it so right. And I suspect most visitors have too...coming here to get away from all that, which they can find everywhere else.
Feel fortunate for what we do have. Chill out. Put the kettle on, have a coffee without the froth.
And breathe.
Lesleigh Sayers
Narooma
Support local business
Where do I start in reply to Mr Hunter’s letter…
Let’s start by asking the question of how much do you Mr Hunter support local businesses?
I ask because of the statements you made you obviously don’t patronise our business, otherwise you would know that we are open 364 day a year, Monday to Saturday 8am to 12am and Sunday 10am to 10pm.
Our bistro is open every day from 8.30am to 9pm and coffee is available every minute of our opening hours.
We are a family-run business of two people that employs around 8-12 staff, the Bistro is also a family run business of two people that employs around the same number of staff.
So please tell me Mr Hunter, how can two people roster themselves to cover four public holidays in a row to reduce the astronomical wages that we are forced to pay to keep our business open?
We did open all weekend as usual and I am aware that other business did not open, for Mr Hunter to have an understanding of what employers are obligated to pay employees.
I urge him to check out the award wages and penalty rates that apply on public holidays and then he may have an understanding of why some businesses HAVE to close on public holidays.
Paul and Angie O’Brien
O’Briens Hotel
Supporting local sporting clubs & charities
The cost of doing business
In response to the letter of Mr John Hunter, a few points of fact should be considered.
1. The 'mid-town cafe' referenced in the letter does open on Sundays during the December-January School Holiday period.
2. The management also responds to the stakeholders on special occasions and does open on selected Sundays, such as Easter Sunday and the Blues Festival Long Weekend in October. Cafe management's data analysis after the first year of opening on a Sunday in 2008-2009 proved to be operating at a loss, in layman’s terms 'unsupported by the locals'
3. Frequent trading on Sunday’s has not occurred since 2008-2009, as noted on the hours of operation signage on the front door of the ‘'mid-town cafe'. Any changes to hours of operation are advertised on the blackboard outside the front door of the 'mid-town cafe' three days prior to the change.
4. Cost of employing staff at the legitimate rates on Saturday’s runs at a loss, however the 'mid-town café’s' management does want to service the loyal locals and visitors, who do continue to patronize the café on a weekly/Saturday basis.
5. Research indicates 'mid-town’ is not frequented by locals or visitors post 12.30pm on a Saturday to the following Monday at 6am. At the same time, research has proved that ‘the flat’ has become the hub of business activity with one stop shopping for locals and visitors.
6. I would suggest a letter of concern from Mr Hunter be better directed to our local council to improve the facilities in the 'mid-town' so all small business could flourish in paradise!
Lynne Schroder
Narooma
A word of gratitude
As I was in a lot of pain and walking with a terrible “clunk, clunk” in my knees due to osteo arthritis, I was on the waiting list for a knee replacement in Bega Hospital.
While waiting and on a 12-month waiting list I decided to do some aqua fitness with Kerry Markham, I started off twice a week and soon found some pain relief and
Now I go Monday, Wednesday and Friday and am now pain free.
After six months of aqua fitness the clunks and the pain in my knees have gone, thanks to our Kerry and her wonderful fitness classes.
I had an appointment with my orthopaedic surgeon on March 6 and he basically told me I don’t need the surgery anymore just keep up the good work with aqua fitness.
I have just returned from a 3 1/2 week holiday in Tasmania and also attended aqua fitness classes in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport but I was saddened by the grim faces of some of the instructors and it was quite costly!
How lucky are we to have our Kerry Markham with her happy, go-lucky and selfless attitude and always there to help you where-ever she can.
Brigitte Eichler
Narooma
A message from the Narooma RSL
ALREADY, the month of April is with us while many of us are still trying to comprehend where January went.
This Friday, April 25 is ANZAC Day, the most important and solemn ceremonial commemorative day in the year in which we remember and pay homage to those who fought and died at Gallipoli, 99 years ago and in every war and conflict since, in which our service men and women served, some at a tragic cost.
In Narooma, similar to last year, the Dawn Service will begin at 6am and the Commemorative Service at the completion of the march will begin at 11am.
This then requires the assembly for the march to begin at 10.40am, in the service road in front of the Lighthouse Visitors Centre on ‘the Flat’.
The march will then proceed south to the monuments at the front of Club Narooma. Due to the recent completion of the roundabout and the adjacent traffic islands, the route of the march will change slightly; the parade will now travel along the ‘wrong’ side of the road in order to steer clear of obstacles and into the standing area by the most direct route.
Let me emphasize, all who are eligible are welcome to participate; everyone, visitors included are encouraged to don their medals and march with our local ex-servicemen and women.
The same welcome is extended to those who are descendants of service personnel who were lost while serving and wish to wear their medals in their honour – the medals in this case are worn on the right breast to indicate that intention.
As usual, we hope for good weather and good attendances, in recent years, crowd numbers as well as those participating have steadily increased, hopefully in recognition of what Anzac Day stands for.
We all hope this trend continues and we see you there.
Help us to remember – lest we forget.
Reg Maxted
Jnr Vice President
Parade marshall