Cinema

Gadfly 248 By Robert Macklin The light thrown upon the relationship between the Prime Minister and the GovernorGeneral by the Morrison power grab raises intriguing questions about our long-delayed independence from the British monarchy. David Hurley, after all, is essentially the Queen’s surrogate, but without the inherent prestige and experience that Elizabeth II and her lineage bring to the accord with Her Majesty’s Government in Westminster. He might well be a good bloke, but whatever royal baubles she graces him with, he is still a square Aussie peg in a round vice-royal hole. And while constitutional experts are having fun with the niceties of the legality, validity and propriety of Hurley’s agreement to the then prime minister’s demands, the simple truth is that it’s the system that is no longer fit for purpose. In this sense, if no other, Morrison has done us a great favour. Prime Minister Albanese’s inquiry by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell into the power grab is designed in part to devise some systemic changes that would prevent its happening again. But whatever she suggests can only be the equivalent of sewing patches on a threadbare double-breasted suit. They might repair the cuffs and elbows, but next week or next year the shiny bum of the trousers could give way in a much more embarrassing royal quandary. So, what might that be? This is a time when we’re engaged in a fundamental decision that would finally put paid to the British assertion that the First Nations people didn’t actually own the great south land they occupied by force of arms. The Albanese Government’s commitment to the full force of the Uluru Statement from the Heart is unequivocal and thoroughly laudable, as is his plan to enshrine the Voice in the Constitution via a referendum. But here’s the rub. He desperately wants to get that done before taking the next logical step and cutting the final apron strings to declare a Republic with an Australian Head of State. Memories of the last disastrous republic debate die hard; and Malcolm Turnbull who led that chaotic charge did no one any favours by refreshing them with his support for the Voice. The other problem is the official Australian Republic Movement’s ridiculously complex proposal for the election of the Head of State. They not only propose a political tangle of State contenders but a national election that would politicize the process and create another unwonted font of power. They dare not even mention a proposed title – President? Chancellor? Consul? Since it’s generally agreed that this should be delayed until the departure of Elizabeth II, now 96 and not in the best of health, the collapse of the Constitutional shiny bum might well be her demise and the sudden accession of King Charles and Queen Camilla. That would certainly complicate matters for the Government. But not for those of us who are fair dinkum about the final transformation of Australia from adolescent dependency to an independent entity that embraces our real history, and our geography. Combining the two questions in a single referendum would a battle worth fighting, a game worthy of the bright candle of national enlightenment. robert@robertmacklin.com

Bazza stared into the full schooner and rotated it a number of mes, before gazing off into the distance, as Mick approached the bar table. “You seem deep in thought, Bazza. What’s up?” Bazza rubbed an eye and took a decent sip. “I’m missing the big bloke, Mick…….there…..I’ve said it….I’m missing him.” Mick leaned back and his eyes widened. “What?……ScoMo?……. you bagged him out the whole me he was Prime Minister.” They both took long sips of their schooners. “I might have shared the odd cri cism, Mick, but I miss his smiling face and eternal op mism. He could reduce a cyclone to a strong wind or a once in a hundred years flood to rising water levels……..with that smile. It was bloody reassuring. This current mob are hell bent on sharing the problems with us. Let’s be serious, Mick, I’d rather the recipe to a good chicken curry than be reminded of stagnant wage rates, supply shortages and rising infla on. And then there were the updates on Jen and the girls……there were mes where I felt I was si ng around the dining table with them. It’s a bit heart wrenching. Nah…… I miss the bloke.” Mick’s schooner was frozen mid air.

“Bloody hell, Bazza, I’ve had to rethink his legacy in light of the mul ple ministries…….” Bazza eyeballed Mick. “Don’t be silly, Mick. You won’t find me joining the ‘pile on’. Now……ScoMo would never have needed to hold a Jobs and Skills Summit. He would have put himself in a room of five mirrors, consulted away and have whipped up a quick plan for the nightly news. It would be two thumbs up and away we go……. Just the thought makes me almost teary.’ Bazza paused for a sip. “Now, lets be fair dinkum, Mick……. How many actual workers are at this summit? It’s full of suits and the golden rule has always been ‘the be er the suit the less work you do’.” Mick shook his head “Yeah….agreed….. but Bazza……” “No bloody buts, Mick……. Under ScoMo any shor alls in jobs or skills would have been picked up by his examples. Now, not only was he running half the government, the bloke was not shy about donning an apron to cook croissants or slipping on a fluoro and safety helmet for a bit of mining or construc on. I even reckon the bloke would have taken to a bulldozer to fix the delays in the Snowy Hydro 2.0 and then strum a tune on the ukulele at smoko……. Let’s call it leading by example and inspira on, Mick. I just don’t see this new mob ge ng their hands dirty.” There was a long pause and Bazza stared into the distance. Mick had a drink and rubbed his head.

“You’re almost sen mental, Bazza…..but I reckon you are winding me up. You’re not serious?” Bazza creased his brow.

“Nah Mick……. If there is one thing the big bloke taught me …….it is to stay on message, regardless of the facts.” Have a beer with Bazza at john.longhurst59@gmail.com

A limited number of weekend and day passes are available online now ! If you feel like choosing your own adventure, individual tickets to all sessions are also available.

www.headlandfes val.com.au

HeadLand Writers Fes val is a celebra on of reading, wri ng, sharing stories and indulging the mind. Across three days in October, the spectacular Tathra Headland will serve as a backdrop to an abundance of author in-conversa ons, panels, workshops, poetry breakfasts, theatre and music performances. In the Tathra Hall, we bring you in-depth conversa ons with Wendy Whiteley, Michelle de Kretser, Jock Serong and Hayley Scrivenor and a special performance by author and ac vist Clemen ne Ford. Down the hill to the fes val hub at Tathra Hotel, we bring you the music of the Gypsy Jazz Project and author Deirdre O'Connell's "Harlem Nights: The Secret History of Australia's Jazz Age". This year, Headland will con nue to feature a strong local connect with authors who live in, grew up or have strong connec ons to the area such as Quen n Sprague, Anna Clark, Kate Herd, Philip Cox, Janet Hawley, Gabbie Stroud, Kate Liston-Mills, Emily Sheehan, Ella Caldwell and Chris ne Howe. Locals Philip Cox and Kate Herd will head a panel discussing the intersec on of gardens, art & design. Quen n Sprague will discuss his award-winning social history of the East Kimberley art movement 'The Stranger Ar st' and historian Anna Clark's "Making Australian History" looks at the divisive history wars and who gets to tell the story of Australia. First Na ons author Veronica Gorrie in conversa on with Linda Mo ram will talk about her memoir "Black & Blue: A Memoir of Racism and Resilience", an account of her career as a police officer. Australian Children's Laureate Gabrielle Wang will spark the imagina ons of readers young and old and introduce us to a world of diverse stories and diverse authors. We invite readers from near and far to join us for the first annual Headland Writers Fes val.

Reading The Triangle - September 2022 is OUT NOW

h ps://thetriangle.org.au/ Not many community newspapers operated by volunteers have survived through the years, but our very own Triangle is s ll going strong. The ini al seed of an idea apparently came from a discussion between Rosemary Millard and Louise Brown when Rosemary expressed her concern that the ‘lost triangle’ between Bega and Narooma was neglected as far as local news was concerned. That was way back in 2002. I bet they had no idea it would be s ll opera ng in 2022, twenty years later. Louise is quoted in 2013 when she stepped aside, ‘You can create something, but it can only be deemed a success if it survives when you walk away’. It has survived. On reading through The Triangle from the very beginning, it is amazing how much the produc on has changed in look but also how similar it is in the types of ar cles and issues that frequently appear. We now have a monthly print run of 1800 copies of 40 pages on average, two colours on the front and back covers, the photos are clear and the prin ng is professional. Layout is precise. The other very interes ng fact is how similar the subject ma ers are – climate change, environmental issues, greening the environment, permaculture … and bushfires. It is very interes ng to see the progress and development of our paper, what has been tried, what has stayed or what hasn’t.

The sheer number of people who have been involved is impressive, but also in contrast to that how consistent the commi ee has been over the twenty years. Some people worked on The Triangle for over ten years! See the list below (or on the next page). ones. Some businesses have been suppor ng us from the get go – Marshall and Tacheci, Cobargo Hotel, Cobargo Co-op, Miracles by the Sea, 777, Dromedary Hotel, Benny’s Butchery and By Hook or by Crook. I’m sure there are others I have missed out. Thank you, we wouldn’t be here without your support. Sadly, some long-term businesses are with us no more: Salt Water, Antes Pizza, Train Stop Café, Bangles Gallery and Cobargo Home Brew Supply to name a few. Some or our regular sec ons have made it through the twenty years such as Tilba, Cobargo, and Bermagui sec ons, My Triangle profiles, Service Directory, Thumbs (up and down), the Entertainment page – changed to Fridge Door, Garden Magic – changed to Gardening Gabble, Quintessen ally Quaama (joined in 2008) and the Book Review (joined in 2009). R We have had lots of other sec ons some of you might remember over the years like the Police Report, Spor ng News, Brogo Babble, Mullet Ova (the fishing report), Blokes of the Triangle, Horse Hype and Water Watch. It would be great to see those sec ons make a comeback. From being a print-only community newspaper, we gained a virtual presence as part of the begavalley.com site ini ally, before se ng up our own domain in 2015. Colour front pages made a big impact in 2015. And now we have a newly redesigned website. We have really progressed from a humble, small publica on 20 YEARS The adver sers too are important. This publica on survives thanks to the support of our adver sers, especially the long-term to something the commi ee and all the Triangle community can be proud of. And what a marvellous record it is of this area – the issues that ma ered enough for people to write about it. The Triangle is now well established as an integral part of the community. Let’s hope it has another 20 years of life in it. Triangle Editorial by Deb Worgan

The Beagle Editor, Crown Lands are currently assessing the suitability of the sale of a road reserve, a sec on of Lagoon St, Moruya, to the neighbours. The residen al neighbours to the east of the reserve would be required to pay approximately $70,000 for 500 sq m whilst the rural neighbour on the west would only be required to pay approximately $2000 for the same area. Crown Lands deems this a 'Fair Process’. The use and/or sale of the reserve land was first raised in 2019 and following a Crown roads inquiry an agreement was reached in 2020 -that it should remain as a road reserve. Two years later, the issue of selling this reserve has popped up again. The neighbour to the west of the reserve has an agreed DA for developing 97 housing blocks and possibly wishes to add the reserve land to his proposed housing estate. Residents on the east of the reserve, who have been managing the land for over 5 years, believe the land is a significant green buffer with some important trees and wildlife. It is a valuable open space for the local environment and would provide an alternate walking and recrea on space for the people who currently use Turnbulls Lane —soon to become the principal access road for 97 houses. If Eurobodalla Council were to obtain the road reserve, the neighbours would con nue to manage the land under a Community Management Agreement (a Sec on 355). Although some local Councillors stated support for retaining the road reserve as open space, council planning empha cally stated they wanted the land sold as they do not want any land management responsibility. The neighbours on the east of the reserve recognise the need for suitable land to be made available for houses in Moruya and were pleased that the agreed Development Applica on west of the reserve protected the large trees on Turnbulls Lane and within the reserve. However, the current proposed land sale of the reserve appears to have been engineered to favour the interests of a developer over that of local neighbours, NSW rate payers in general and the environment. Prepared by: Swan Ridge Place neighbours of the Turnbulls Lane road reserve

State representa ve, Dr Holland with some of the residen al neighbours of the Crown road reserve

The Beagle Editor, I have a ached a photo of a beau ful male Sa n Bower Bird I cut out of a tree this morning. It had a lump of discarded plas c ne ng wrapped around its leg with the leg evidencing significant trauma inflicted as it tried to escape – must have been a painful, prolonged and totally unnecessary death.

Bower birds are renowned collectors of many things – my point being if the plas c had been responsibly disposed of the beau ful bird would s ll be singing in the treetops. Human nature, some mes I applaud it, mes like this otherwise… Mark Witenden, Longbeach