On Friday night the Animal Welfare League Eurobodalla Branch held a promise auction at Club Narooma where again the local community spirit shone brightly through.

Currently we might be going through tough and unstable times economically, but when there is a local cry for help the community is always there to support with very deep pockets.

Not only were we thrilled with about 60 lot donations from businesses and local people, Narooma stepped up and excelled itself with very long arms and generous bidding.

Top bids went for Daiva and Sue to be chefs for the night and for a luxury picnic hamper for eight people.

Well Narooma, for a round figure of 110 people that attended the night, the funds raised were just shy of $6,000 - just unbelievable and incredible!

Narooma, you give true meaning to the word Community and I would not want to live anywhere else.

A very big thank you goes to Clare Hooper, Lauren Henry, Bunny Mags Phil, Rosy, their entourage, to our wonderful auctioneer Tim Burke and to all at Club Narooma who made the evening such a great and successful night.

On behalf of all at Animal Welfare League Eurobodalla and the present and future animals that your generosity will help us rehabilitate and rehome, thank you Narooma.

Gabe Eichler,

President, AWL Eurobodalla branch

Nippers yeah, HuntFest letters nay

I agree with Stuart Kennedy, and suggest that the editor dispatch future letters concerning HuntFest strategically into a place where the sun does not shine.

Sadly there is an amazing weekly event that receives little or no such coverage, and that is the Nippers, each Sunday morning 150 to 180 kids converge onto surf beach and scratch, dig, crawl, slide, run, jump, slip, skip, wade, and paddle under the supervision of about 40 qualified volunteers.

It is a truly amazing event that runs like clockwork under the direction of Brendon and Leanne Constable.

In my 32 years in Narooma I have never seen anything to do with kids sport so big and so well organised. This is what the true spirit of Narooma is all about: genuine people taking time out to help kids.

My sincere thanks and congratulations to all involved.

Jim Grant

Narooma

Public education woes

The destruction of our public education system is almost a fait a compli by our Liberal masters in Canberra and NSW.

The complete privatisation of our public education at all levels is well on its way as more and more parents are sending their children into private education because they are in fear of public education failing their kids.

TAFE has been turned into a business rather than a service provided by the state to its people of all ages with a view of gaining new skills and knowledge.

Our kids now require a bank loan to learn a trade or profession via TAFE, so no wonder that there is a shortage of tradespeople around the country. Perhaps this opens the way for more 457 visas and low wages.

State and federal governments have the moral obligation to provide the people in our states and territories world class education paid for by the taxpayer and the private industry if they wish to have a highly educated workforce.

We do not want an American education system in Australia not now not ever.

TAFE fees run into thousands of dollars per year, a large proportion of the courses that were sole domain of TAFE in the past are now run by the private education providers at exorbitant cost to the students to the detriment of our society as a whole.

TAFE colleges are now required to compete with private providers in their fee structures, thus virtually privatisation of TAFE is on its way.

What is happening to our education as a whole is an absolute disgrace, thanks to the Liberals and their philosophy of providing nothing as a service to our nation and its population, a cash grab from the working class people at every opportunity, and slashing the tax burden on business.

Selling of poles and wires is their answer to complex issues, sell the commonwealth is the war cry from the Liberal hill where the light is very dim.

National government is turning itself into a political killing field in Canberra, and yet the same drum beat is deafening.

What are they going to sell when last property or public identity has been flogged to the party hacks?

There are many issues that require proper addressing by the state government prior elections.

Internal affairs within our police force is one: we have no trust in the force due to internal power struggles that is taking place.

Another is the increasing illicit drug trade that is blossoming around the state, including Narooma and the coastal towns; plus shootings around the suburbs of Sydney without arrest being made, and known drug dealers living in the lap of luxury without fear of judgement.

Other issues are lack of public transport, lack of planning in our regional centres, lack of up-to-date medical facilities including Moruya hospital that relies on FIFO doctors and no specialist on duty, deteriorating public education system due to lack funding and lack of continuing teacher education, temporary buildings that are part of our public schools without appropriate air conditioning, nor facilities where children can eat their lunch in comfort.

The current status is absolutely disgraceful as is our willingness to provide for our nation's future with the very best that we can.

I doubt that the Liberal spring will ever change other than continue with the attitude of dash for cash at every opportunity. Yesterday and today is all in one, what was good for grandpa is good for kids of today.

Mark Ikonen

Dalmeny

VRA volunteers wanted

Do you have two hours a week to spare?  Want to learn new skills while helping your community?  Have we got a deal for you! 

The VRA (Narooma Rescue Squad) is your local emergency team, with functions as diverse as cutting trapped victims out of crashed motor vehicles, hauling injured climbers (fallers?) up cliffs, assisting the Ambulance officers carry injured people from accident sites to the ambulance vehicle, searching for missing persons, and assisting police to preserve incident scenes.

We provide all necessary training (first aid, jaws of life, climbing, navigation, radio usage, etc) and equipment, asking only that you give up your time once each week, usually on a Wednesday evening. 

Of course, if you think you wouldn't like hanging from a rope over a local cliff enjoying the view, you can still contribute. The Rescue Squad needs all sorts of people, and all sorts of skills – administration, training, equipment and/or building maintenance, public relations, fund raising, the list goes on.

You are never too old and, if over 18, never too young! So if your interest is piqued and you have the time, come along to the VRA Shed at the end of Golf Lane (next door to Marine Rescue) on Wednesday at 6pm, or call the Secretary, Cheryl, on 4473 7682.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Stuart Kennedy

Narooma Rescue Squad president

Cancer appeal

Hello my community. I am Kathryn Priestley-Davies and I am having a fundraiser to raise much needed funds to be put towards the care of cancer patients and their families.

All profits raised will be donated to the Cancer Council of Australia (CCA). I have been fully authorised by CCA for this event, and my authority number is 51544.

I watched my mum (Eunice Priestley) go from a statuesque 80kg woman to a short, frail 54kg woman over a period of nine months due to multiple myeloma (bone cancer). She went through three progressively stronger courses of chemotherapy.

I lost my mum in 2011. Then 18 months later my dad (Frank Priestley), who had been dealing with melanomas (skin cancers) for years, also succumbed to an aggressive cancer in 2012.

During this I could only watch and be a support, which itself is extremely heartbreaking. I have also lost several friends and I have other friends still fighting cancer today.

Unfortunately, every one of us knows of someone they care about that is currently in the fight of their life or has lost their battle.  Therefore, I am pleading with all of you that have been touched in whatever way by cancer to please help me make this a huge success.

My fundraiser is being held on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/799715233433387/ or donate directly at my page www.katseyes4u.com (Cancer Fundraiser)

Kathryn Priestley-Davies

Narooma

Paper trail to…?

Due to “continuing concern over impacts of NSW government departmental documents on my life”, I approached the offices of my local member, Andrew Constance in May last year.

I was told that, because of the budget, Mr Constance would not be able to help until the end of July.

On September 3, after a reminder to the minister’s office and now with additional documentation necessary, I signed a document provided to me (at the minister’s office), asking that the ombudsman “communicate directly with my MP about this complaint”. I was assured I would be fully informed and documents provided.

Despite numerous claims by the minister’s office as to the progress of the documents lodged with the ombudsman, on December 24, 2014 (Christmas Eve) the minister’s office rang to inform that the ombudsman’s office had no record of them being lodged.

Promises were made by the minister’s office to supply the past lodgement documentation and resubmit copies of the documents with further additional documentation now necessary.

I was told this year by the minister’s office that the documents for the ombudsman were to be withheld from the ombudsman and “filed”. When asked the reason, none was given.

D Pearson

Dalmeny