Order of Australia honour
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Thank-you to the people of Narooma and district, who rang, spoke to me by phone and sent cards. I would like to say thank you for your congratulations for being named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Then to receive the Order of Australia medal it was quite unbelievable and exciting.
Thank you once again for your kind thoughts.
George Bonfield Barker OAM
Narooma
Improving local services says Labor candidate
Why does State Liberal MP Andrew Constance’s want local councils to have merger discussions when a report to his own government saw little value in this happening?
The only conclusion to be reached, is that Mr Constance is out of touch and is more interested in playing political games than improving local services for our community.
Andrew Constance’s calls for Bega Valley Shire and Eurobodalla Shire councils to be merged are just a political distraction from his government’s failure to deliver better services and infrastructure for our community.
The NSW Liberal Government released a review of local government earlier this year. Both Eurobodalla and Bega Valley Shires were recommended to remain as stand-alone councils.
The NSW Liberal Government spent over $2 million on the report and it did not recommend this amalgamation. Then, why is he pushing for it?
There are many local people employed in the two Councils. His support for an amalgamation creates uncertainty over those jobs and the services delivered.
If Mr Constance wants to improve local services, he should use his influence as State Treasurer to secure more funding for our community.
The Abbott Liberal Government has cut around $2.6 million in Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grant funding from both Bega and Eurobodalla councils over the next four years.
That means there will be less money available for Bega and Eurobodalla councils to invest in local roads, community and youth services, libraries and other essential infrastructure.
Mr Constance has failed to stand up for our community against the Abbott Liberal Government’s unfair budget cuts, and he has failed to use his position in the State Government to deliver better services in his own electorate.
If Mr Constance spent more time in our electorate, he’d know that it doesn’t make sense to merge Bega with Eurobodalla Shire.
Bega Valley and Eurobodalla Shires are different communities with diverse needs.
People shouldn’t have to drive for three hours to access services that are supposed to be provided in their local community and yet this is what we will confront if we end up with a large centralised council.
I will work with people in our community to improve services provided by all levels of government, and I will not pander to Mr Constance’s pattern of playing petty political games.
Leanne Atkinson
Labor candidate for Bega
Amazing fundraiser support
I wish to extent a huge thank you to everyone involved in the organising and running of the Clothing Buy Swap and Sell Fundraiser held Friday evening at Club Narooma for the “Weekend To End Women's Cancer”.
Special thanks go to Orit Karny Winters, Gillian Kearney and my sister Catrina Hill along with Club Narooma for donating the room and food for the event. We raised an amazing $1001.15.
Thank you to those who attended, donated prizes, clothing and their time and the patrons of the Club who "topped up" our boobie box to get us over the line.
I would also like to thank all of my other sponsors - Drop in Centre, Jenny Wray, Club Narooma (again), Moruya Flowers Parties and Gifts, Moruya Natural Therapies and my wonderful family and friends for your support.
The “Weekend To End Women's Cancers” is a weekend to remember those whose lives we have lost to breast or gynaecologic cancer and a weekend to celebrate the lives we are saving. This is a weekend creating hope for every woman’s future.
If anyone else would like to donate to this worthy cause and help me with my journey you can do so by heading to the website - endcancer.org.au, search Sydney and donate to Alexia Byard.
As many of you know this is a fight close to my own heart and I will be walking on November 8-9, the third anniversary of my own mastectomy.
Alexia Byard
Narooma
Finding a lost friend
I am writing in the hope of contacting my dear friend Ann Moss who was relocating from Wheeler Heights to Narooma.
Ann and I worked for Warringah Mall Management Service back in 1978. I returned to Scotland but we kept in touch over the years.
For the last few years I have tried unsuccessfully to regain contact but to no avail and am hoping that with the help of your paper I can do so. Ann mentioned in one of her letters that she was going to retire to Narooma a place she loves dearly and visits often.
I am planning a holiday to Australia and would so like to meet up with her.
Perhaps one of your readers know of Ann and pass this article on to her and she can contact you at the paper for my details.
Elizabeth Nicol Cant
West Wemyss, Kirkcaldy Fife
Scotland UK
Caravan park fence
I am referring to the reader's letter in the Narooma News (July 16, p.12), regarding the caravan park fence.
The original plan to renovate "The Flat" some years ago included replacement of the old chain wire fence with a stained timber one.
When construction didn't go ahead, I contacted Peter Tegart who was employed by council at the time, and he told me they didn't have the funds to do the job. Some years later, I contacted Warren Sharp, and all he told me was, they had no plans to construct the fence.
I also mentioned the approach to the township from the south end of the bridge, looking untidy and with puddles after rain. I was told they were waiting for the RTA to finish work on the bridge.
Roger Hilton
Narooma
Sense and sense ability for carbon
Now that the carbon tax is done and dusted by Clive Palmer and his pups, we can finally have reduced costs of a leg of lamb, cheaper energy cost and clothesline pegs from our friendly shops and butchers, and the pigs may fly.
Our Federal Government was deeply divided over the carbon tax, including division among the Liberal members and former leaders of the Liberal party, Mr Hewson and former Prime Minister John Howard. Howard was the father of the modern Liberal philosophy, who also advocated for carbon trading scheme but never had the courage to introduce it to the nation.
The Liberals are also deeply divided over renewable energy; there are some who understand that the burning of coal, along with other hydrocarbons, will cause untold harm. The science is there for all to see; we can't continue in this vain without our living space reaching the point where most of the national tax base is eaten up trying to make our cities liveable again. If you think it can't happen here, visit Beijing and other major industrial centres in China.
It was reported that the Hon Joe Hockey, our national treasurer, was aghast over the wind turbines adjacent to Lake George outskirts of Canberra. Well Mr Hockey, in a few months from now 90% of ACT power source will come from those ugly windmills. Aren't you lucky that there are forward looking people around you that can see the untold benefits from alternative sources of energy?
Mr Hockey and Mr Abbott; it is high time that both of you started looking into a future with alternative energy sources that will provide all of our energy needs. That time will be here sooner rather than later. It is already happening around you, regardless of your outdated views or loyalties to hydrocarbon producing large companies. Please stop playing the song "Yesterday and how I long for the days of yesterday".
Time to act is now, it takes courage to admit ones failures, but it’s not too late. All it takes is the courage and wisdom to know when you are wrong. Do either of you Ministers have the courage?
Mark Ikonen
Dalmeny
Mayor's say… our beautiful Botanic Gardens
Eurobodalla’s Regional Botanic Gardens are going from strength to strength to strength and when I saw that the gardens would be hosting one of council’s popular plant swap days on Sunday, July 27 to celebrate National Tree Day from 9.30am to 1pm, I thought I would dedicate this week’s column to the gardens so that you will all be inspired to visit this valuable community asset soon.
In December last year, Council adopted a four-year strategic plan for the gardens with the vision that the gardens will inspire the appreciation and conservation of our region’s plants through the principles of conservation, education, and recreation.
Some of the key strategies in 2014 to 2018 are to develop a marketing plan, organise events to generate income, increase plant sales, leverage the Seed Bank project, develop self-funding education programs, and to promote the gardens as a premier tourist attraction.
For those of you who may not have visited the gardens, you will find them on 42 acres on the Princess Highway 5 kilometres south of Batemans Bay. They are open from 9am to 4pm from Wednesday to Sunday, and every day during school holidays and on public holidays.
As you meander around the many walking tracks you can see more than 2000 regional plant species; and kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, possums, echidnas, snakes, lizards, frogs and many bird species.
The gardens also have picnic and barbeque facilities, children’s play space, a sensory garden, herbarium, information centre and gift shop, café and a seed bank.
The limited mobility walks are a popular attraction and more recently the Sandstone Garden, Children’s Walk and an Aboriginal Heritage Walk have also been established.
The idea of establishing a botanic garden came from the community in 1985. A citizens’ group was formed and after a few years of work and public meetings, and with the support of Council and in particular our previous Mayor Chris Vardon, work started in 1988 with the work carried out by volunteers organised by the Friends of the Botanic Gardens, and Council staff.
The dedicated group of volunteers and workers carried on despite a major setback in 1994 when a severe bushfire destroyed the buildings and much of the established gardens.
An amazing group of volunteers are still the main workforce at the gardens today and they are always keen to welcome new volunteers so if you’re looking around for something extra to do, this may be for you.
If you’re a photographer you might like to enter a photo of the garden’s people, plant and animal life, structures, and landscape into the 2014 Photographic Competition. Entries close on 4 September and details are on Council’s website.
Please let me know if there are any issues that Council can assist with. You can contact me at mayor@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au or phone 0418 279 215.
Clr Lindsay Brown
Mayor of Eurobodalla Shire
Marine Park report card
When the Batemans Marine Park (BMP) was established, a number of guarantees were given to the Eurobodalla community. These promises included that the community would be able to provide advice on the management of the BMP, that fish stocks would improve, that there would be jobs bought to the area by the BMP, and that infrastructure developments would proceed with minimal hindrance.
An interesting exercise might be to do a Report Card for the 2013-14 financial year.
Subject -Community Consultation:
Comment: It has been over 9 months since the applications closed for the positions on the Batemans Marine Park Advisory Committee, this effectively means that little or no consultation has taken place within the community this year? Generally, a reluctance to share with others. Grade 1/10
Subject – Improved Fish Stocks:
Comment: The claims of improved fish stocks have now changed to’ improved fish stock opportunities’. The opening of fishing opportunities on beaches near Sanctuary Zones represents a slight improvement. Grade 4/10
Subject - Jobs:
Comment: The position of Researcher is no longer located in the area of the BMP (where is it located? Another secret), so there has been a net loss in employment for this period. The 5th Manager of BMP in 7 years will commence shortly, hopefully they are employing local furniture removalists.
Grade 2/10
Infrastructure:
Comment: As there is no advisory committee, and with BMP staff unwilling or unable to say how much projects such as the Narooma Boat Ramp will impact on seagrass habitat it is unable to be accurately assessed
Grade: Not Assessed.
Overall Result: Due to poor grades requires more effort, if results don’t start to improve a visit to the Guidance Counsellor is highly recommended.
Place in class: 6th from 6 Marine Parks from a score of 7/30
John Moore
Narooma