We had to trim the festival down to respond to the COVID restrictions, but there was no trimming the creative spirit which the participating artists demonstrated so strongly. They were determined to make this festival very special because of what everyone, including themselves, has been through in recent months. That artistic resilience showed through no matter the event - the Open Studios, Art on Parade, the exhibitions and performances or our newest addition, REVIVE murals.

Like the artists who are a keystone to our festival, so too are the shop owners and other local businesses, as well as community organisations, schools and libraries who are so gracious in either sharing their premises with the art or making it possible for it to be created.

This year, the business chambers in Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma as well as our sister festival, the Oyster Festival, played such an important role in helping us introduce REVIVE. And without the support of the Eurobodalla Shire Council both in kind and very importantly, in cash, REVIVE wouldn't exist and our festival would have been a lot poorer.

The theme for our festival this year was resilience and renewal. But that resilience was tested even during the festival when two Narooma businesses featuring the work of local artists, were destroyed in a fire which also badly damaged neighbouring shops and the art they were displaying. Our hearts go out to those affected by this fire.

Overall, a huge thank you to everyone who has helped and contributed in all sorts of ways to this year's festival.

Di Jay and Vicki Lascelles

Co-chairs and on behalf of the River of Art committee

Parents and carers from the Eurobodalla Shire have added their names to an open Letter asking Prime Minister Scott Morrison to provide federal funding for the installation of solar panels and batteries in Australian schools and early childhood centres.

The Solar Our Schools initiative, led by Australian Parents for Climate Action, calls upon the federal government to provide full funding for solar and batteries for every public and non-profit school, preschool and childcare centre in Australia. It also calls for means-tested grants for all privately-owned schools and early learning centres, as part of the nation's COVID-19 recovery plan.

Installing solar and batteries at every school and early childhood centre will create thousands of renewable energy jobs across Australia, as well as free up funds at schools for more teaching staff and learning resources. Solar Our Schools will also reduce Australia's carbon emissions by millions of tonnes per year.

More than 6700 parents have already signed the open letter, which is hosted on Australian Parents for Climate Action website. Eighty volunteer parent 'Champions' around Australia are leading the campaign from the ground up, including using COVID-friendly craftivism to get their message out.

Parents and children are making suns and posting them on social media, using the hashtag #SolarOurSchools. The open letter will be delivered to Scott Morrison at the end of this month.

Visit www.ap4ca.org/solar ourschools to sign the open letter.

AP4CA is one of many local groups that will join the nationwide #FundOurFutureNotGas day of action on Friday September 25. A local protest will take place from 12 noon, outside Moruya Council Chambers.

Kathryn McCarthy

Broulee

Moruya and Bega TAFE NSW Teachers Federation members met with colleagues from University of Wollongong and community members to discuss their concerns about the threat of college closures.

Members are troubled that the planned construction of Connected Learning Centres (CLC) will lead to the loss of Barrack St Bega TAFE and Moruya TAFE colleges.

The State Government has already announced the planned sale of Bega TAFE Barrack St College due to the construction of the CLC and Trades Hub.

The Government has announced another CLC will be constructed in Batemans Bay at Hanging Rock Place.

At Moruya and Bega TAFE colleges, we have already lost several permanent teachers during the last two years. At Moruya, Head Teachers Foundation Studies and Horticulture were made redundant and Early Childhood teacher resigned and not replaced. At Bega, Head Teacher positions business studies and community services have been deleted. Part time casual teachers in courses such as early childhood studies have HD teaching hours reduced.

Local TAFE teachers will be vital in rebuilding the economy during the Bushfire and COVID 19 crisis recovery.

Our local TAFE colleges will be critical to ensure that local South Coast residents impacted by the economic downturn will have access to high quality vocational education. The growing number of people suffering from unemployment and underemployment must be able to access high quality TAFE education delivered by local teachers.

To save face-to-face practical classes and permanent TAFE teaching positions on the NSW South Coast, Federation members will call on Bega MP Andrew Constance to guaranteed Moruya TAFE will not be sold and to stop the sale of Barrack St Bega TAFE.

Robert Long

NSW Teachers Federation TAFE Organiser for South Coast