Editorial What’s On …………….... 17 to 22 FIND ALL YOUR DAILY NEWS @ www.beagleweekly.com.au

Welcome to this week’s editorial, I first discovered the South Coast in 1977 and immediately fell in love with the area. I was on holiday, aged 21 and living at the me in Canberra. It took another eight years of hard work and saving before I have the funds to buy a home on the Coast and move here permanently. For those who don’t recall 1985 it was an interes ng period. The infla on rate was 6.52% which to the good folk of 2022 might seem a lot, however the interest rate at the me was $13.88%. Before moving to the coast I built my first home in Canberra, down south in one of the new satellite suburbs. It cost $43,000. A nice, simple, three bedroom on a hill with a grand view of the mountains. At the me the mortgage rate was 12.4% and the median household income was $22,000 with a wage growth of around 5% per annum. In moving permanently to the South Coast you had to weigh up the pros and cons. The pros were evident. A quiet life, surrounded by nature with less hustle and bustle giving you me to smell the roses. The cons were there as well. It was understood that you were moving to a region that provided a lesser level of health due to limited resources but you were happy in the knowledge that if anything dras c happened you would be dispatched to Canberra or Sydney. Medicare had just come in delivering publicly-funded universal health care so no-one needed concern themselves too much with private health care cover. In moving to the South Coast at the age of 29 I was also very aware that the educa on on offer was limited to public schools, and to a then thought bubble of a TAFE. It was common knowledge that kids le home to go to the city for jobs or to further their studies. Gong to university back in the mid 1980’s was less of a burden on families as there were no ter ary or university fees. When I first arrive in the Eurobodalla the service levels by the local Council were very basic. The roads were poor, the roadside verges le unmown, reserves were o en le overgrown and building maintenance was a reac ve a er thought. Some newcomers dare to demand kerb and gu er, modern play equipment or an improved library. The Council of the day cried poor that they couldn’t afford to do any more and that if the community wanted a higher level of service then they would have to pay higher rates. In response the majority of people said they were happy to see the shire remain just as it was. The region, because of its beaty, its temperate weather and its affordability became a mecca for re rees. Many were on fixed incomes living simple lives in affordable houses. The region was not a des ny if you wanted a professional career that would “take you places”. For those who did find employment it was o en linked to tourism and had peaks and troughs that saw a high rate of under-employment. But back then rentals were abundant and rents were affordable, even though infla on was going through the roof. Not long a er though the South Coast was “discovered” and up went the real estate prices. We then had a death of nega vely geared holiday houses remodelled to meet the increase demand. Rentals became harder to find and even harder to afford if you could find one as rents increased. At one point, when the housing affordability issue was brought to Council’s a en on, the response was “if they can’t afford to live by the coast they can move to Nerrigundah, and if they can’t afford that then go somewhere else”. It is now 2022 and when you look at it not much has changed. We are driven by peaks and troughs of tourism, we are grossly underemployed serving the largest demographic of over 65 year old’s in the state who are on fixed or limited incomes living simple and barely affordable lives watching their neighbours homes being sold for millions wondering where the money will come from to meet rising rates, electricity, mortgages and infla on. And all the while dreading ge ng sick as health services remain under resourced and pharmaceu cal rebates and Medicare con nually devalued. Kids s ll have to leave home to find work or go to uni, locals s ll need to leave if they require more specialist treatments, tradespeople are as hard to find as they were back then and everything that arrives in the region is more expensive than the city, as transport and handling fees are added. There are those of us who came here in the 1980’s with few expecta ons other than to enjoy the nature, the quite simple life, living within your means, and to enjoy the quality of life that comes from living in a vibrant, caring community. Cafes back then were rare, wine was eli sts and expensive, menus were base with meat and three veg so we cooked at home with Margaret Fulton cookbooks baking quiches. With infla on now returning, mortgage rates increasing, more and more underemployment, rising costs, high electricity charges, under resourced health, public schools underfunded, and roads and reserves a mess all I can say to myself is “Welcome to Regional Australia where the more things change, the more things stay the same”. We are resilient. We need to be. We always have been, and we will be so again. We just need to keep an eye on each other and ask, from me to me, “Are you OK?” As for expecta ons… best not aim too high. Un l next—lei

Community Skipper charged following fatal boa ng crash

Police have charged the skipper of a boat a er a man died when it capsized on the state’s South Coast earlier this year.

Just before 11am (Wednesday 9 February 2022), emergency services were called to North Head, Moruya, following reports a boat had capsized. Police have been told a six-metre aluminium vessel – carrying three men – pped over shortly a er exi ng the Moruya River mouth. Witnesses on the break wall tossed a lifebuoy to the men, and all three were brought back to shore. Witnesses and NSW Ambulance Paramedics performed resuscita on on a 66-year-old man; however, he could not be revived and died at the scene.

The skipper, aged 67, was uninjured and taken to Moruya Hospital for mandatory tes ng. A third man, aged 36, was also uninjured. Strike Force Barragunda, comprising officers drawn from South Coast Police District and the Marine Area Command, was established to inves gate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Following inquiries, inves gators charged the 67-year-old skipper yesterday (Thursday 28 April 2022) with negligent/reckless naviga on causing death. The man will appear at Moruya Local Court on Friday 8 July 2022.

It was smiles all around at the official opening of The Pav in Batemans Bay on Thursday 28th April. The Federal Government contributed $25 million to the $70 million project with NSW State providing another $26.5 million to the project with the balance of $19 million by ratepayers. The facility will be open to the public on June 4th 2022. Also a ending the invita on-only event were past and present councillors, invited dignitaries, representa ves of the project team, local companies involved in the construc on, user groups and key community stakeholders.

Above : The Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips a ended the official opening with Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland.

Will you s ll buy a local newspaper when it is $3.60

Panic is star ng to set in the newsprint publishers as the price of paper is set to skyrocket on July 1. Australian Community Media (ACM), the owner of Bay Post and Narooma News is seeking financial assistance to offset the impact of what they say will be an 80 per cent increase in the price of newsprint by Australia's only supplier. Already thinned to just sixteen pages and only coming out once a week the two local mastheads present as li le more than a vehicle to carry na onal corporate adver sing gained via the 132 masthead coverage that ACM has across the country. Local content has been replaced with region content as staff are thinned and boundaries expanded. The steady exodus away from the once popular and vital mastheads that long served the community has been in place since Fairfax was pulled apart and a new, sharp model was set in place that has steadily been driving readers to subscribe on line or to leave altogether and rely on alternate sources for their news such as The Beagle, The Moruya Mail, About Regional, The Braidwood Bugle and the Riot Act, all delivering quality, informa ve, inclusive and mely local content for free. The demise of newsprint has been coming for some me. Maybe that day isn't so far away given the panic that is now being shown by ACM who are seeing Government support to meet the increased paper costs.

Community Big Pav protests keep shire 50m pool ques on bubbling

Invitees to the official opening of The Pav in Batemans Bay were met by protestors asking "Where is the 50m pool?" While most of the invited smiled or looked at the ground to pay par cular a en on to a rock the protestors were pleased to be acknowledged by an ex-mayor who gave them the "Bird". Speaking to members of the protest group The Beagle was told of the subterfuges, the back room decisions and the coverups, denials and ac ons taken by Council to make sure the community were "kept in the dark". "Our only hope for a 50m pool in the shire is if one can be built in Broulee in coming years in conjunc on with St Peter's spor ng hub as the as the pool in Narooma is fast approaching its use by day and will not be replaced with a 50m because there just isn't the income needed to keep it financial". St Peter's Anglican College received $6,157,847 as part of the federal government's Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program to create an a er-hours community spor ng hub on the school's land on Train St, Broulee. The planned St Peter's Anglican College hub, s ll in a design stage, will see a gymnasium with two basketball courts, change rooms and a front office, replacing the front office the school lost during the bushfires. It is hoped the facility, set to be opened in 2023, will be used for indoor soccer, volleyball, netball, basketball and sport camps during the holidays with sugges ons that the walls might be lined with climbing holds and transformed into an indoor rock climbing centre.

Above: protestors circled the new facility to voice their disappointment over the previous council's failure to openly and truthfully consult with the community on the removal of the town's 50m pool

Free sessions to help children transi on to school

Parents and carers can find out what to expect when their child starts kindergarten and how to help them prepare at free informa on nights in Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma next week. The Eurobodalla Council Be Ready event will include talks from early childhood professionals to help pre-schoolers get ready now for their first steps into school life. Mogo Public School assistant principal Catrina Niddrie will speak about the school system and what to expect, speech pathologist Claire Price will discuss the key indicators of speech delay and how to help children prepare for school, and Eurobodalla Council’s child development officer Jenny Hogg will talk about developmental stages of childhood. A endees on the night can also pick up a free transi on to school kit, packed full of resources and fun ac vi es for children to do now, before star ng school, that help them learn as they play. The Be Ready: transi on to school informa on night will be held at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club on Tuesday 3 May, 6-7pm, Club Narooma on Wednesday 4 May, 6-7pm and Moruya Golf Club on Thursday 5 May, 6-7pm. Bookings are required through Eventbrite – just search ‘transi on to school’ along with your preferred loca on – or phone Council’s children’s services team on 4474 7333.

Meet the Major Party Candidates May 4th BBay

Next Wednesday May 4th the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club will play host to 'Meet the Major Party Candidates'. featuring the opposing local region candidates for the upcoming federal elec on. This mee ng is open to the public and free of charge, but is strictly limited to 150 guests, and doors will close at 6:00pm sharp. To secure your seat, RSVP via email to: contact@baychamber.com.au Meet The Gilmore Candidates Forum May 2nd at Kyla Hall Tuross Head A Meet The Candidates Forum Is Being Held On

Monday May 2nd 2022 6pm Start Kyla Hall Tuross Head All Candidates Have Been Invited There Will Be Ques ons From The Floor If Time Allows Hosted By Tuross Head Progress Associa on

Phone 44 738 956 With Any Enquiries

www.iga.com.au/catalogue

Wet weather has failed to dampen boa ng ac vi es this summer, pu ng Marine Rescue NSW crews on track to match or exceed the total number of rescues recorded in the 2020-21 boa ng season. Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said 60 per cent of all boa ng rescues were due to preventable incidents like engine failure, flat ba eries and running out on fuel. “The warmer weather over recent weeks has drawn many to the State’s coastline and waterways and there are simple precau ons every boater can take to reduce the risk of running into trouble,” Ms Cooke said. “Taking the me to prepare your vessel, having the necessary safety equipment on board and boa ng safely when you do hit the water can make the difference between a great day out and a poten ally lifethreatening emergency. “I also want to commend all Marine Rescue NSW volunteers for their thousands of hours of dedicated service to keeping our coastline and waterways as safe as possible this summer.” Marine Rescue Commissioner Stacey Tannos said over the course of the boa ng season, Marine Rescue NSW volunteers helped thousands of people and pets safely back to shore. “Some incidents responded to were poten ally life-threatening situa ons in difficult weather and sea condi ons, and I’m immensely proud of the efforts of all our volunteers,” Commissioner Tannos said. “It’s vital that boaters get their vessels regularly serviced and take the me to properly plan their day out on the water to minimise the likelihood of a serious incident occurring. “One of the best way boaters can stay safe on the water is to Log On with their local Marine Rescue base. Logging on means that if you don’t log off as expected, we will come searching for you, saving vital seconds if you are incapacitated in an emergency and cannot call for help. “I urge all boaters to Log On using the Marine Rescue app or on their marine radios using VHF Channel 16.” The official boa ng season runs from 1 October to ANZAC Day. Key sta s cs for the 2021-22 boa ng season are as follows:  41,730 boats carrying more than 140,000 people “Logged On” with Marine Rescue NSW;  Marine Rescue NSW volunteers helped 6,433 people including 664 children and 67 pets;  Boaters aged 35 and over accounted for 70 per cent of all rescues; and  62 per cent of boaters rescued described themselves as ‘somewhat experienced’ or ‘very experienced’.

Community NSW Teachers Federa on State Execu ve has made the unanimous decision to proceed with strike ac on on Wednesday May 4.

The Federa on also placed an immediate ban on all new Government (Department and NSW Educa on Standards Authority) policies/ini a ves due for implementa on on and from day 1 term 2. In addi on, should NSW Government MPs seek to enter school grounds, Federa on members are authorised to walk out for as long as these MPs remain on-site. A new poll of 10,000 teachers was released this week. It found that of the 5,220 teachers polled in regional and rural areas of NSW:  73% say their workload is unmanageable  72% are reconsidering their posi on due to workload  89% disagree that their pay reflects their exper se and responsibili es  88% say shortages are very significant  82% say shortages are leading to higher teacher workloads at their school NSW Teachers Federa on President Angelo Gavrielatos said the Premier has failed students, their parents, and the teaching profession. “If we don’t pay teachers what they are worth, we won’t get the teachers we need. “The Department of Educa on’s own figures show that there were 40 vacant permanent teaching posi ons in Batemans Bay’s electorate of Bega last October.”

The Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) Pallia ve Care Program is excited to receive permanent funding from the NSW Government, which will go towards suppor ng the Pallia ve Care Volunteer Service in the Eurobodalla and a respec ve service planned for the Bega Valley. SNSWLHD will use the funding to employ Volunteer Coordinators, who will play an integral role in ensuring people accessing pallia ve care receive consistent, quality care from the service’s volunteers.

SNSWLHD Pallia ve Care Volunteer Services Project Officer Fiona Sivyer said Volunteer Coordinators will be an important link between pa ents and carers receiving end-of-life care, and the clinicians and volunteers providing the specialised support. “End-of-life volunteers seek to improve quality of life for pa ents and their carers. The Volunteer Coordinators will play an important role in suppor ng volunteers to do this work, as well as ensuring they are ge ng the support they need.” Ms Sivyer, in partnership with Pallia ve Care NSW and COORDINARE, helped establish the Pallia ve Care Volunteer Service in 2020. Star ng in the Monaro region, services have since opened in Queanbeyan and the Eurobodalla, and a new service is planned for the Bega Valley. “We train volunteers in end-of-life care so they can offer compassion, companionship and respite to clients and carers, which helps to reduce distress and improve peoples’ quality of life and bereavement experiences,” she said. “The Volunteer Coordinators will manage these wonderful volunteers in the regions they support, and they will assist in recruitment of volunteers, coordina on of mee ngs, training, educa on and further professional development opportuni es.” Ms Sivyer said SNSWLHD is currently seeking Expressions of Interest for the Volunteer Coordinator roles in the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla. “These are new roles for the Local Health District. We are currently interviewing candidates for the role in Queanbeyan, but we’re keen to start interviewing candidates for the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla in the coming weeks,” she said.

iAccelerate to launch regional entrepreneur program in Eurobodalla INITIATIVE TO BOOST ECONOMIC RESILIENCE, CREATE JOBS IN BUSHFIRE-AFFECTED REGIONS Eurobodalla will be the first region to benefit from iAccelerate’s targeted educa on program, which will help local businesses and entrepreneurs bring their ideas to frui on. On Thursday, 5 May, the University of Wollongong’s business incubator and accelerator iAccelerate will launch Rise, a program to support entrepreneurs in bushfire-affected regions. The launch event will be held at the UOW Batemans Bay Campus and is open to the public. The event will host speakers, including leaders from local industry and government, a panel of entrepreneurs, and a “Test Your Business Idea” workshop will follow. To a end, interested par es can register at iaccelerate.com.au/rise. iAccelerate was last year awarded $999,570 from the Federal and NSW Governments’ combined Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLER) to bring the program to 10-bushfire-affected regions, including four Local Aboriginal Land Council areas. The ini a ve will deliver educa on programs to support 90 of the most promising entrepreneurs and business owners in bushfire-affected areas to create 300 new jobs. iAccelerate Ecosystem Evangelist Chris Petersilge said the Rise entrepreneur support program will increase economic resilience in the Eurobodalla region and boost employment and business opportuni es for young people. “We are delighted to launch this unique program in Eurobodalla and look forward to welcoming entrepreneurs who have a business idea, business owners who may want to step back and look at their business, and community enterprises or government agencies with a project to develop,” Mr Petersilge said. “We value the support and partnership of the Eurobodalla Shire Council and UOW Batemans Bay Campus in the launch and delivery of this economic development program.” The program will begin with an opportunity for entrepreneurs to test their business idea. From there, applica ons will open for the eight-week series of unique sessions designed to work on the idea. It will culminate with a Public Pitch, to be held in Batemans Bay in August. Mr Petersilge explained that this is not your usual business program and the aim is to vitalise and realise the idea, business poten al or project. “Having launched the Bega Valley Innova on Hub in NSW’s Far South Coast, iAccelerate is familiar with the challenges and opportuni es faced with suppor ng regional entrepreneurs. With over a decade of crea ng new industries and over 700 jobs in Wollongong, we’re ready to bring this model created in the Bega Valley to more bushfire-affected areas.” The program was developed in consulta on with Eurobodalla Shire Council and in speaking to the local community. iAccelerate is one of 195 local community projects suppor ng economic or social recovery, strengthening resilience and delivering ongoing community benefit to bushfire-affected communi es in NSW to receive Stage 2 BLER funding. Where and when: The launch event will be held on Thursday 5 May from 11.45am to 1pm at the UOW Batemans Bay Campus. To a end, please register at iaccelerate.com.au/rise. ABOUT IACCELERATE iAccelerate is a unique business accelerator and incubator program at UOW, where start-ups, scaleups, social enterprises and businesses thrive. Businesses are supported by a robust model of educa on, mentoring, seed funding and unparalleled access to one of the world’s most innova ve young research universi es.

A new digital project is sharing the climate changes locals are seeing in their own lives, and in Eurobodalla’s rivers, forests, ocean, and habitats. The With Our Own Eyes Eurobodalla web blog launched online in April, sharing nature observa ons, stories, poetry, podcasts, science and art. WOOEE hopes to widen an apprecia on of the Nature Coast’s beauty and the importance of climate in our lives. The blog also casts its eyes over posi ve local climate solu ons, repor ng on inspiring projects emerging within Eurobodalla’s community. “The WOOEE blogging project began life shortly a er Black Summer, ” said project curator Magella Blinksell. “It has captured some of our community’s responses in art, poetry and personal accounts, but it has also widened into a chronicle of our community’s experiences during bushfire ‘recovery’, the pandemic and now into back-to-back La Nina as we seek to shape a safer future.” “ This season we’re seeing climate-led flooding, not fires, and we’re feeling deeply for our northern neighbours.” Ms Blinksell said. “ We’re all trying to make sense of, and respond to these new mes. So o en in history its crea ve expression - as well as science - that has helped to sign-post and to see posi ve ways forward.” Ms Blinksell said. Art works by local printmaker Julie Mia Holmes, sculptures by bushfire survivor Nick Hopkins - and collages from Mogo visual ar st Lee Honey are showcased on the blog. Locals like Barb Lewis from Malua Bay have recorded their bushfire stories. Rosedale teacher, Jenni Knight has shared prose and nature photography created during walks through Yuin Country a er the fires. Pain ngs by Trevor Hyde record both the beauty and absences observed within Eurobodalla’s forests. Oil pain ngs by Jennifer Taylor from the series “… dear life” - exhibi ng at Gallery Bodalla through to Sunday 1 May - also have a cameo on the blog. www.gallerybodalla.com.au With Our Own Eyes Eurobodalla began life as a community art exhibi on for River of Art in The Pantry’s shop front window on Moruya’s Vulcan street only six months a er the fires, and just on the brink of the global pandemic. “ It is so important that we preserve these important accounts of our journey, and that we con nue to pla orm the artworks and crea ve projects that are now emerging in our community with such vigour. It’s been so hopeful to see the passion for prac cal local climate solu ons emerging in our community,” Ms Blinksell said, no ng the success of The Repair Cafe, community heatwave havens, and locals’ enthusiasm for building a cooling micro-forest in Moruya. “Along with an indigenous ranger youth traineeship program - which is pioneering the way in NSW - and projects that are exploring community solar ba eries and micro grids, there’s so much that’s sprou ng hope amidst despair, and offering great poten al for care for nature and our community” she said. WOOEE will be adding and seeking new content in these ever changing mes. A digital slideshow - previewing some of the WOOEE's content is viewable at Moruya Books on Church street, along with a range of books that speaks to these mes. Updates on the With Our Own Eyes Eurobodalla web blog can be found at /withourowneyeseurobodalla Insta withourowneyeseuroodalla.

The winners of the 2022 REIA Na onal Awards for Excellence presented by realestate.com.au have been announced in Melbourne. Congratula ons to My Agent of Batemans Bay for taking out the na on’s top tle, acknowledged as the best of the best Small Residen al Agency in real estate. The winners of the REIA Na onal Awards for Excellence 2022 were announced on 7 April 2022 with women domina ng the awards. REIA President, Hayden Groves said 2022 has proven to be the year for women who took out 10 of the 13 individual awards. “It was encouraging to see many more female par cipants in the 2022 NAFE with 45 women finalists which was a staggering 60% increase on last year.” “The REIA Na onal Awards for Excellence 2022 feature 21 categories across all aspects of the real estate sector: residen al and commercial agencies, residen al and commercial sales, property management, business brokers, buyer’s agents, community service, innova on and communica ons.” Photo: My Agent Chris ne Ewin

Community Twelve Million Aussies are Concerned About Rising Grocery Prices

Savvy’s 2022 survey of 1005 Aussies learns how infla on and increasing grocery prices are affec ng the cost of living in Australia. 62% of Australians are concerned about increases in the price of food and groceries 31.1% said they spend over $100 per person per week 48% said they will simply buy fewer groceries if infla on con nues to rise 56% intent to switch to cheaper brands A new survey of 1,005 Australians commissioned by Savvy shows that 62% of respondents, or twelve million Australians when extrapolated to the en re adult popula on, are concerned about rising grocery prices as part of their weekly recurring expenses. Weekly spends already high The survey revealed that 31.1% said they spend over $100, which could mean 6.05 million Australians are spending over $100 per person each week on groceries. 26% of those surveyed already spend between $76-$100 per week on groceries, or 5.1 million Australians if generalised to the en re adult popula on. The median spend seems to be $51-$75, with 29% repor ng within that band. When it came to which age groups were most concerned about the cost of groceries, people aged 35 and over were more heavily represented, quite possibly due to family commitments, while older age groups would o en be living on reduced incomes. “The increase in food prices is spurred on by ongoing supply chain issues, the recent floods in New South Wales and Queensland, and flow-on effects from global conflicts,” says CEO of Savvy Bill Tsouvalas. “Higher fuel prices cascade into food prices, especially when much of our supply chain is dependent on trucks. Energy prices, which have been high for many years, also don’t help the situa on. Families will need to budget for the increase in food prices as well as any shocks in the system such as the inevitable increase in the RBA cash rate, typically used to combat rising infla on.” Tightening belts As for what families will do in the face of rising grocery prices, 48% said they’ll simply “buy less,” and 56% will change to cheaper brands. 54% will be more judicious with their grocery shop, only shopping during clearances or buying on-sale items. Interes ngly, 27% of men surveyed said they’ll simply absorb the price increase, while only 17% of women will do the same. With prices set to rise, it could mean that harder mes are ahead for Australian consumers at the checkout.

allow more kids to experience the amazing, unique and fascina ng wildlife that calls Mogo home.

Simply purchase an full-priced adult, concession or senior cket from www.mogowildlifepark.com.au or at the park, and you’ll get up to 4 children into Mogo Wildlife Park for FREE!

Mogo Wildlife Park is a wildlife experience not to be missed– eyeball a gorilla, hear lions roar metres away, watch graceful giraffes graze, and incredible primates – from marmosets to lemurs - many you’ve never seen before! Keeper talks are back too - ask our team when you visit.

At Mogo Wildlife Park, you can leisurely stroll along flat pathways, transpor ng you on your very-own South Coast safari through to Australia’s most diverse home of wildlife.

There’s nowhere else in NSW where you can get faceto-face with gorillas, lemurs, marmosets, tamarins, a snow leopard, red pandas, lions, gers, giraffes and so much more in one home.

Plan your road trip today! Mogo Wildlife Park has been commi ed to the care of rare and endangered wildlife for over 30 years, and we look forward to school holidays and the opportunity to inspire and engage you, your children and grandchildren to share our passion for wildlife.

Save more – Discover NSW, Dine NSW and Parent NSW vouchers are accepted and you’re welcome to use them to save more on admission ckets, annual passes, encounters and purchases at the café and our Mogo Gi Shop.