Vol 16 September 15th 2017

28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 27th 2018 Vol 154 May 8th 2020 111April July 12th 2019

Your FREE online Eurobodalla weekend magazine.

Image courtesy of Shona McDonald : Loca7on Narooma

Your Beagle Weekly Index Arts ……………………. 0 Cinema ……………….. 0 Community ……………… 4 to 20 Reading ……………………..21 to 32 Food………………………… 0 Fishing ……………………. 33 Editorial ………………….. 2,3 What’s On …………….... 0

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beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

editorial Welcome to this week’s editorial, Irrespec7ve as to whether it is poli7cs or a local group, when you sign up to be ‘on the team’ it is Vol 16 September understood that15th you2017 will do your best. Be it secretary, treasurer or even president, those who nominate 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019 you and vote for you do so thinking that you will deliver your best for THEM. No doubt in the role you take on you will find the unexpected that will demand more from you. Applying for grants, aEending mee7ngs to promote your group and from 7me to 7me the pressure of the role might have you ask yourself “is this all worth it?”. To this ques7on you look to those who had faith in you hoping that when the going got tough it was YOU that they pinned their hopes on. Well the going has got tough in the South East and during the bushfires the community looked for reassurance from those they felt were leaders. While Shane Fitzgibbons was remarkable in his role he was in fact doing his job. And doing it well applying all the skills, experience and resource he could muster. As is expected of somebody in THAT Job. The same applies to Warren Sharpe and the Emergency Opera7ons Centre personnel. All did an outstanding job but…. That was their job. Either they did it well or that didn’t. The ABC was there as an emergency broadcaster… doing their job that they knew demanded that they rise to the occasion when it occurred. With the reassurance that those in control were doing their job we then looked to civic leaders to fill in the gaps and remind us that things were being handled. The Public Rela7ons. And from out of the flames came two civic leaders who stood in front of the cameras and addressed their community. In the south was Bega Mayor Kristy McBain who, from day one assembled her council, took to conduc7ng daily updates with the key emergency personnel and ensured that her community was informed, included and most importantly being represented by a civic leader offering reassurance and cri7cal informa7on. Fortunately to the north of the region Andrew Constance took the same role giving those in the Batemans Bay area the same level of civic reassurance. Each was doing their job. Under difficult circumstances but as expected. When the going gets tough you MUST rise to the occasion. That is the understood of anyone who might choose to step up to a task or duty. But now we have the Eden Monaro by-elec7on announced and both of our civic leaders have decided to stand to represent the region at a Federal level. With Mayor Kristy McBain the decision to stand came from her desire to see the South East beEer recognised by the Federal Government and to bring home the enormity of the impact that bushfires, recessions and Covid have had on the region. There was only so much she could do as a council mayor and the con7nued lobbying on behalf of her community was only reaching deaf ears at a State and Federal level. Those who voted for her at a council level now support her inten7ons to represent them at a Federal level. Even her fellow councillors supported the endeavour and elected a new Mayor in an emergency mee7ng this week to ensure stability, leadership and con7nuity remained at a local council level. But the Member for Bega has not had the same posi7ve response to his Federal aspira7ons. As a State member of the current NSW government, able to do so much more for his electorate with State funding and resources, and with so much ‘unfinished business’ in the region, it was a surprise to hear he intended to walk away from that to aspire to a Federal seat. He had been voted in to do a job, his region had been hammered and even though he had openly declared he would not run again at the next State elec7on here he was now choosing to step down from Bega and aspire to Federal poli7cs. Then it got messier… con7nues Beagle Editor…….. Lei Parker 0405100257 All Enquiries please email beagleweeklynews@gmail.com PO Box 3029 Tuross Head, NSW 2537 Copyright © South Coast Beagle Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. The Beagle Weekly is owned by SOUTH COAST BEAGLE PTY. LTD.

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Editorial con7nues…. Con7nues...

As we know Andrew Constance has said on several occasions that he plans to quit state poli7cs once the bushfire recovery was complete. The Bega electorate saw this as his ongoing commitment to the region and respected him when he was vocal against the apparent withholding of dona7ons by organisa7ons such as Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 111 July 12th 2019 Red Cross. They supported his comment against the Prime Minister around the treatment of the PM on his visit to Cobargo and they respected his appeals for more mental health assistance to the area for the community desperate for financial and emo7onal support. The community saw him as their leader and assumed he was there for the long game doing his JOB. But this week has seen that all come unstuck. Firstly there was the John Barilaro debacle with a nomina7on then withdrawal, his leaked stoush with Federal Na7onal Leader McCormick then his front page exple7ve directed at Andrew Constance. John also had a JOB he was prepared to walk away from ...the NSW Minister for Bushfire Recovery. So with Andrew Constance in the box seat of State poli7cs as the Member for Bega, a senior member of the cabinet able to apply influence on behalf of his electorate and having stated a commitment to the electorate to be there to see out the bushfire recovery it doesn’t make sense that he would then stand against the only other champion of the South East in Kristy McBain who also has the electorate at her heart and stood side by side with Andrew Constance on many an occasion addressing and reassuring the community. Not as Liberal and Labor but as civic leaders with a JOB to do. By rights, now that he has stood down, he should be backing Ms McBain as much as he can for the benefit of the region and those in HIS State electorate. Now more than ever Andrew Constance has a JOB to do as his region begins to come out of isola7on to face once again the reality that has not gone away—the loss of 1000 homes, a region financially crippled by a poor summer season, bushfires and now Covid-19. To date the electorate has received State funding for two bridges and some road works. But these projects had already been budgeted for before the Great Calami7es. At present there are NO STATE funded projects of any substance south of Moruya where the bulk of the Bega Electorate lies. While there is $150m promised for a regional hospital in the Eurobodalla that is s7ll to be proven. $25m was giQed for the pool in Batemans Bay however that too has its own difficul7es. In all, the State funding from the Regional Growth Fund and Transport NSW, has injected $335m to Batemans Bay and surrounds but those funds were forthcoming as equitable alloca7ons of the NSW revenue and asset replacement. Many have asked of the Member for Bega “What about the rest of the region? As Minister for Roads you have poured billions into metropolitan projects.” This is true. He has….. But then THAT WAS HIS JOB. The test will now come to see if he takes on his new JOB as Member for BEGA. Un7l next—Lei beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Sco# Morrison outlines three-stage plan to reopen Australia by July a*er coronavirus crisis

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019

Bay Post closes its Batemans Bay office on Orient Street South. When the restric7ons are liQed locals will find that the Bay Post in Batemans Bay will be one of many doors to remain closed. Australian Community Media (ACM) that published the Bay Post has ceased print opera7ons at four of its press facili7es while suspending a number of non-daily newspapers like the Moruya Examiner and the weekly Independent. More than 30 leases of small offices around the country have also been exited by ACM which appears to also include the Batemans Bay office. It is not know if the Narooma News office has also closed however with the Narooma office only used for a limited amount of hours per week it can be assumed that the same closure policy would apply. The Moruya community are s7ll reeling from their Moruya Examiner being canned with no warning. It is uncertain if the Moruya masthead will return and with flagging sales of the Bay Post and Narooma News papers due to restric7ons both of these mastheads may also disappear in print form. If anyone knows any further details of the closure of the Bay Post office inbox us as there is no sign on their front door to indicate if they are s7ll trading or intending on opening again. beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

www.iga.com.au/catalogue

news

Have your say on the environmental assessment and concept design for the South Batemans Bay Link Rd The community is encouraged to provide Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 feedback on27th the2018 Review Vol 48 111April July 12th 2019 of Environmental Factors (REF) and concept design for the South Batemans Bay Link Road project. Transport for NSW Regional Director Southern, Jo ParroE, said feedback is invited un7l Sunday 24 May. The NSW Government has commiEed $30 million to connect the Princes Highway to Glenella Road, which will complete the project. Key benefits include beEer, safer and more reliable trips for people and business between the Princes Highway and southern coastal villages, improved traffic flow in the Batemans Bay town centre, and increased access to support future growth. The new roundabout would have two southbound lanes, a northbound right turn lane to Glenella Road and a northbound bypass lane on the Princes Highway. To learn more about the project, or to view the concept design and REF, visit the project webpage at nswroads.work/sbblr. To make a submission you can use the online feedback form at nswroads.work/sbblr or email southbatemansbaylinkroad@transport.nsw.gov.au. All feedback must be submiEed by Sunday 24 May.

Temporary through-traffic closure for Dunns Creek Road Dunns Creek Road will be temporarily closed to through traffic for a major road safety upgrade. A 700 metre sec7on of Dunns Creek Road, Malua Bay, approximately 1.4 kilometres south of The Ridge Road, will be rebuilt to help reduce crashes and road-related trauma to our community. The works will include improving curves, widening lanes and road shoulders, and adding protec7ve fencing. New reflec7ve markers, wide centreline and shoulder line-marking will make night driving easier. The road closure begins Monday 25 May and is expected to remain in place for three months, weather permiUng. During that 7me bona fide commuters will be able to access Dunns Creek Road from either end but will not be able to pass through the construc7on site; traffic controllers will escort authorised vehicles to proper7es within the construc7on zone. The work is a part of upgrades to 4.35 kilometres of Dunns Creek Road, under a $1.25 million road safety grant funded through the NSW Government’s Safer Roads – Saving Lives on Country Roads program. beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

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Batemans Bay bridge is making good headway Batemans Bay bridge work drone shots captured by Jordan Kosalka presents: on 30th March Vol 16 Images Septemberare 15thpublished 2017 2020 here with kind permission 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019

Transport for NSW are extending the standard construc7on hours on the Batemans Bay Bridge replacement project to support the construc7on industry and facilitate social distancing guidelines for workers to allow work to progress. What are they doing? Standard construc7on hours for the Batemans Bay Bridge replacement project will be: • Monday to Sunday (including public holidays) from 7am to 6pm These new construc7on hours will come into eﬀect on Saturday 2 May 2020 and be in place un7l further NSW Government no7ce. How will the work aﬀect you? Transport for NSW say "Extending our standard work hours supports our workers to facilitate social distancing guidelines while keeping the project progressing and allowing our ac7vi7es to be spread across more days of the week. "We will not be carrying out high noise genera7ng ac7vi7es such as rock breaking, rock hammering, and pile driving or similar ac7vi7es during these new construc7on hours on weekends and public holidays. "During this period of extended construc7on hours the project will also take all feasible and reasonable measures to minimise the impact of other noisegenera7ng works, including limi7ng high-noise ac7vi7es on weekends to between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays only.

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Everyone can be a ci6zen scien6st There has never been a more important 7me to monitor our birds and animals. Now 16 7me September 15th 2017 isVol the to don your environmental warrior cape and launch into ci7zen science. 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019 We know our wildlife has been hit hard by drought and bushfire, but how are they coping right now? We need to find out so we can beEer focus our help. The region around Eurobodalla already had many species of animals and plants listed as being vulnerable to ex7nc7on and the fires have worsened this situa7on. With weeks and months passing since the bushfire emergency, we are all in recovery mode – our wildlife too. Like other land managers, Eurobodalla Council have put environmental programs in place to assist wildlife, things like strategic weed and pest control, nest-box installa7ons, wildlife water and feed sta7ons, sediment and erosion control, and other ways to help the natural environment recover. But nature is big. And no one knows the full impact of the Black Summer. Ci7zen science can help and happens when people like you get involved in the collec7on of data for scien7fic monitoring programs, with plenty of plaZorms and apps for you to join. Some are more general, while others focus on a par7cular regions, 7me period or species – it pays to do a bit of your own research to determine if your interests match the scien7sts you’ll be helping.

Above: The greater glider is one of our regions unique species listed as endangered. Photo G Tedder.

If you’re new to the game, NatureMapr is a good place to start. NatureMapr is used by biodiversity experts, environmental groups, and governments – including local councils – across Australia to develop a broad picture of what is going on in the environment. It’s also user friendly, just visit naturemapr.org and away you go. With pandemic restric7ons s7ll in place, it is more diﬃcult to get out and about to collect data but the beauty of ci7zen science is that nature is everywhere. Your backyard, the local bush reserve, the golf-course or even spotligh7ng with the kids … just keep an eye on what is happening; what animals, what plants, and how they interact. Take photos and notes, then upload to your chosen plaZorm or app. Mission accomplished! To learn more about na7ve wildlife and threatened species in our region visit hEps://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/ living-in/natural-environment/animals,-the-bush,-and-the-coast/threatened-species-and-endangeredecological-communi7es.

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Narooma Visitor Informa6on Centre is re-opening to the public from Monday, Vol 16 September 15th 2017hours 10 am to 12.30 pm, Mondays to May 11. Opening 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019 Fridays.

The Centre will be supplying essen7al services to the community including: Bus 7cket sales for travel within NSW and ACT (eg for travel to medical appointments) General community informa7on eg details of what is open, up-to date COVID-19 informa7on Free wi-ďŹ Informa7on for tourists going forward to when restric7ons will be eased Strict COVID-19 control measures will be in place at the Centre including social distancing and the use of hand sani7ser on entry. HAVE YOU DISCOVERED THE SOUTH COAST TRAVEL GUIDE? The South Coast Travel Guide is the most extensive and comprehensive on-line tourism sites for the Eurobodalla, developed to promote the region and to promote equally (and for free) all of our hard working tourism focused businesses - proudly suppor7ng the Narooma Visitors Centre.

h#ps://www.southcoas#ravelguide.com.au/

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Community

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019

Bay Bridge project back on track with Mogo Precast site back in ac6on. Watch VIDEO HERE: hEps://youtu.be/I5O8yY06DI0 VIDEO: the latest in a series of videos around the Batemans Bay Bridge project produced by Transport NSW Nicholas Harfaut-E7enne is the reinforcement engineer (rebar) on the bridge project whose role is to ensure the reinforcement is aligned during segment pours. He explains that no two segments are alike so in all there are 166 segments that each has its own unique reinforcing design. Senior project engineer Jade Bergin said that following the ďŹ res they carried out an in-depth stocktake of materials damaged in the ďŹ res, once the site was safe to access saying "We had to re-order some materials from interstate, as well as overseas, to be airfreighted to site as soon as possible.".

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Meals on Wheels is most relevant in today’s world Meals on Wheels was formed to help older and frail people. This mantra has not changed and today it is just as important as it was in the beginning. “The to 2020 was not what we wanted at all,” said Manager Alan Russell. “But our staff and volunteers Vol 16start September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 111 July 12th 2019 have stepped up to the mark and served our community very well. I am immensely proud of all of them.” For Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels it started in late 2019 when bush fires started to impact the coast. “Our northern clients were the first affected and then over January it spread to all of our area,” said Mr Russell. In January Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels was hit by power failures which saw the three freezers placed throughout the Shire stop working. Some meals were able to be distributed to clients, volunteers, the hospital, evacua7on centers and to the freezer established for the community at Harvey Normans. But s7ll $20,000 worth of food was sent to the dump. AQer Christmas meals and social programmes were due to start on January 8th. Once meals had been secured from the supplier’s meals were delivered on January 9th from the northern part of the distribu7on area to the most southern. “This was a magnificent effort by our staff,” said Mr Russell. Meals have con7nued to be distributed through the heavy rain and now with the Covid-19 virus. The social support efforts have not been so lucky due to social distancing. The team has not been able to provide their group and individual support programmes since mid-March. Mr Russell said that these programmes are back in the planning stages and will be ready to go when the Na7onal Cabinet liQs some restric7ons. The community has been most suppor7ve of Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels. The volunteers have con7nued, and 25 people have put up their hands to help. At this stage, these people have not been called upon but Mr Russell says the Coopera7ve is very apprecia7ve of their willingness to assist. The clients have been fortunate in two sponsorships which New South Wales Meals on Wheels have gained. Toilet paper packs have been distributed and Glen 20 is going to clients this week. These have greatly assisted those who are in isola7on at home. Telephone calls and the occasional visit to clients to distribute the toilet paper has helped those who have social support programmes to stay in touch with our staff, said Mr Russell. “The staff at Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels, both paid and unpaid have been incredible over the last six months,” says Mr Russell. “Some lived in the office during the bush fires and while fires burned around their homes, they kept sending out meals. Amazing efforts through each disaster.” Eurobodalla meals on Wheels remains ready to assist the older and frail people within the community. Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels is relevant in today's world and we welcome interest in its work from the community, and we thank the community for its interest and support. “Especially we thank the three Rotary Clubs of the Shire and Moruya Jockey Club for the Christmas Race Day last year. We also thank Travel Team Batemans Bay and Alan May Holden for their generous support as from this event we were given $24,000 towards a people mover which we share with Yumaro. This is designed to take clients here and there and is most welcomed,” said Mr Russell. While catering for older people, we are also available for those of any age who wish to serve and to those who need a helping hand. “Call us,” said Mr Russell, “and see how you can help us and how we maybe able to help you.” You can learn much more with a visit to the hEps://www.eurobodallamealsonwheels.com.au/ website.

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'OUT of the ASHES' rises like phoenix for local ar6sts The recent bushﬁres, and now Covid-19, have brought a Vol 16 September 15th 2017 major impact to7th, the South East. From the ashes of the ﬁres 28 December Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 20192017

that destroyed so much of our region there has also come warmth, generosity and a collec7ve community spirit that comes from so many sharing the same traumas and emo7ons. Denise Straty was one of the many recovery personnel called into the region aQer the fires. She saw for herself the impact and she learnt of the lives of those affected. By way of a mee7ng with Amanda, of Amanda's at Mogo, Denise learnt of the impact to the many South East ar7sts and of their responses by way of art to the bushfires. Wan7ng to do what she could for those she met she returned to Sydney with an idea. To hold an ‘Out of the Ashes’ exhibi7on next month at The Wellington Gallery – a stunningly chic warehouse space in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Waterloo.

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, they have had to put the dream of a physical exhibi7on on hold for the moment, but the good news is they’ve created the exhibi7on as a Facebook e-gallery where they invite visitors to read ar7sts’ posts describing their individual tales of survival during the unprecedented deadly ﬁre season and view their spectacular artworks.

The ar6st profiled in this Beagle series is John Sharman John Sharman is an award winning ar7st and has worked as a full-7me exhibi7ng ar7st since 1980 pain7ng landscapes and seascapes on loca7on. John lost his home and studio along with close to 1000 pain7ngs in the New Years Eve fires. John has lived on the south coast most of his adult life, the last 28 years being in Mogo. Mogo is a small goldrush town with a popula7on of about 300, in recent years it has aEracted tourists for its arts and craQs and heritage buildings - sadly much of the town was destroyed when the fires tore through it. You can see more of his work here: hEps:// www.facebook.com/johnsharmanar7st/

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community Amanda Williams is the much loved owner of Amanda's of Mogo. I met Amanda when I visited her store a few weeks aQer the ﬁres, at the 7me I was inSeptember Bateman's Bay oﬀering volunteer work. Vol 16 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019

When, back in Sydney, the inspira7on came to host an exhibi7on in Sydney with ar7sts from the South Coast impacted by the fires, Amanda was the first person I called, without her none of this would have been possible. I'm so grateful, I know it's been a bumpy ride for her, but she's hung in there with me. I asked Amanda to share her experience with us. I grew up in Batemans Bay and aQer finishing school moved to Sydney where I aEained a diploma in fine arts from the Na7onal Art School (East Sydney), majoring in pain7ng. Drawing and other craQs have been a great love of mine also. I moved back to the South Coast in '96 and not so surprisingly purchased an art and craQs supply store with my mother Stephanie. We became ‘Amandas of Mogo’ in 1999. Through this 7me I taught a lot of craQ and mixed media, and twice a year for 12 years we held craQ getaways at 'The original gold rush colony' in Mogo. Unfortunately it burnt down on NYE so that has put an end to these retreats for now. We didn't celebrate our store’s 20th birthday last year as mum was in hospital, but we planned to mark our 21st birthday this February. That was un7l the New Year's Eve bushfires hit our lovely liEle village, wreaking havoc on all our lives. My boyfriend of 20 years, ar7st John Sharman, lost his beau7ful home and art studio-gallery that morning, along with hundreds of others. John evacuated to my home in Malua Bay but within an hour we were evacuated to the local beach where we watched in horror as the fires came towards us, along with thousands of others and a menagerie of horses, birds, dogs, cats and other caged animals. My brother and his family were visi7ng that week from England and he hugged me as I voiced that there was no way my house would s7ll be standing – such was the enormity and ferocity of the fire. To my great relief and astonishment, it was unmarked by the fire but as there had been no power or phone recep7on since 9am that day we could not contact family and friends. While checking on a friend’s house we found the fences, garden, retaining walls and verandah post all on fire. John and I spent an hour hosing to stop the fire geUng up into the house. All this 7me we could only guess at what had happened in Mogo and when we were allowed out the next morning we were amazed to see the shop s7ll standing. I had a glimmer of hope at that stage for John’s home, but it was sadly just a pile of rubble. Mogo had more than a dozen businesses destroyed that day and about 30 homes. Powerlines were everywhere and blackened trees, both fallen and standing, surrounded us. The ground was scorched – it looked like a war zone. How was Mogo going to survive this? Our season had already been greatly effected in December with major road closures due to the fires just north of Batemans Bay and our emo7ons were on high alert as we came to terms with what had happened to our community and lives. The ramifica7ons were enormous and the fires were s7ll burning around Moruya and further down the coast. Then those beau7ful rains came in midbeagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

community con7nues… February and so did the people. There were workers, volunteers, supporters and shoppers from all over the country wan7ng to help. The community was hur7ng but we felt the love from the na7on. I met Denise in January when she was volunteering with Red Cross in Batemans Bay. She rang me a week latVol 16 September 15th 2017 erVolwith this fabulous idea about an exhibi7on in Sydney for South Coast ar7sts. 28 December 7th, 2017 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019 Many had their homes and studios destroyed, while others had exhibi7ons cancelled. Then the covid-19 hit, galleries closed, workshops closed down and the ar7sts have been disrupted once again. On a personal note, we are trying to run our store with the doors basically shut. Wow, what a year! It’s been very harrowing but I'm excited that we can s7ll have this opportunity to showcase our work, albeit not in the ﬂesh. It has helped me refocus, somewhat, away from my own problems. I truly hope everyone gets on board and buys a piece of art they love from one or more of the ar7sts.

Digital Doorknock with the Salvos With the COVID-19 pandemic drama7cally affec7ng the lives of so many Australians, the annual Red Shield Appeal is more important than ever. Batemans Bay Salvos Lieutenants Ben Knight said "For many years we have door knocked the streets of Batemans Bay and stood in shopping centres and street corners. This year has been different in a lot of ways and our Red Shield Appeal will be different too. "Now more than ever Australians need the support of The Salva7on Army and remember - every liEle bit helps. Our community in par7cular has suffered greatly this year - if you have any extra, can you spare some for those who go without? There are those who go without day in and day out and those who are experiencing hardship for maybe the first 7me. We are here for everyone in our community. "In these unprecedented 7mes we know that our services will be in high demand as people face the financial and social fallout of this major global event. "Right now, we are working with our local community, as we have always done, to ensure that we leave no one in need. This includes the people we have always been helping who are living in extreme hardship; people who have never needed us before the devasta7ng impacts of this pandemic; and the people who have never felt so isolated and alone as they do right now. "We can't knock on doors this Red Shield Appeal, but our services are in greater need than ever before. Join us for the Digital Doorknock and raise funds for those in need - it only takes a few clicks! "You can start your own fundraiser, donate to a local Salvos team of your choice or simply contribute what you can to The Salva7on Army. Your help will make sure we leave no one in need this Red Shield Appeal. To support the Batemans Bay Red Shield Appeal CLICK HERE hEps://digitaldoorknock.salva7onarmy.org.au/batemans-bay-salvos/posts/check-out-our-digital-doorknock beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

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Mother’s Day Classic IS going virtual The Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic (MDC), Australia’s largest breast cancer fundraiser, is excited to announce a new collabora7on with Vision Australia Radio (VAR) as their digital community broadcaster to celebrate this iconic event on Mother’s Day. Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019

Unprecedented 6mes require innova6ve solu6ons. Organisers of the event say "In these challenging 7mes, it’s more important than ever to stay connected, keep ac7ve and bring the community together. "Due to the COVID-19 restric7ons, the Mother’s Day Classic is now running as a virtual interac7ve event and offering supporters as well as the broader community the opportunity to par7cipate in a virtual challenge. Registered par7cipants gain access to an exclusive array of interac7ve content to become a part of something big and contribute to making a real difference on this special day. "The Mother’s Day Classic is very pleased to be working with Vision Australia Radio to deliver a two-hour broadcast on Mother’s Day on 10 May, to unite the community and help raise awareness and funds for lifechanging breast cancer research. "There are strong synergies between our two community focused organisa7ons and this collabora7on enables us to celebrate a shared commitment to help communi7es stay connected and healthy. REGISTER HERE For $25 you can register for MDC Virtual 2020 Registra6on which includes: Access to your exclusive virtual page with inspiring community and fundraising content, fun photo compe77on and fitness videos. A series of exclusive wellness 7ps and tutorials, pilates and yoga classes, sponsor prizes and giveaways and a fun kids ac7vity zone – something for everyone! The opportunity to be part of a virtual online community, ensuring that the Mother’s Day Classic family remains connected in these uncertain 7mes. The challenge to walk or run 4km – any7me, anywhere, in your living room, at the local park or even in your backyard – on or before Mother’s Day 2020. For $45 you can register for MDC Virtual Plus which includes your virtual registra6on PLUS: A race bib; 2020 Mother’s Day Classic Medallion; Postage to your registered address; That special feeling when a package arrives in the mail! (woo hoo!) We will make every effort to have your Virtual Plus pack delivered by Mother’s Day, however we do recommend you order before 11.59pm Wednesday April 22, 2020. Virtual Plus packs ordered aQer this date will most likely arrive aQer Mother’s Day. All exis6ng registra6ons will be automa6cally transferred to MDC Virtual 2020. If you have a child registra6on, then you will receive the Race Pack – so all kids will receive a bib, medallion, and tribute card. No maer where you are – you can Make Mother’s Day mean more. Register online now for MDC Virtual 2020 and together we can stop breast cancer. beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

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Aboriginal ar6sts invited to create heritage award artwork Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019

Eurobodalla Council is seeking expressions of interest from Aboriginal ar7sts to design and create an original work for a new heritage award dedicated to former shire Mayor, the late Fergus Thomson OAM. The annual Fergus Thomson Heritage Award will recognise a local person or organisa7on with a signiﬁcant heritage project that has raised awareness and understanding of the shire’s history, and includes $1,000 with the artwork. Mr Thomson had a strong interest in community and heritage and a deep connec7on to Eurobodalla’s Aboriginal community; he was a passionate advocate for the preserva7on of culture and country. It’s appropriate the inaugural artwork be created by an Aboriginal ar7st, who will be paid $500 to design and create the prize. Council may again seek expressions for a new artwork for the award in future years. Expressions of interest close on Wednesday 10 June. Artwork speciﬁca7on and applica7on details can be found at www.esc.nsw.gov.au/eoi, or contact Council’s heritage planner Steve Halicki on 4474 1324.

beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Above: Expressions of interest are sought from Aboriginal ar7sts to create an original work for a new heritage award dedicated to former shire Mayor Fergus Thomson.

community

Rare of rare property at Malua Bay comes on to the Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019 market Many of us have stood on the beach at Garden Bay and looked up at the headland daydreaming of what it might be like to wake with THAT view

The good news is that No. 94 Yugura Street, Malua Bay is now on the market and you can have that daydream for $1,980,000

h#ps://youtu.be/K7p3LWVo8WA VIDEO: Property video of 94 Yugura Street, Malua Bay brought to you by the team at South Coast Pix Exclusive North East Facing Posi6on At the top of a quiet-cul-de-sac electric remote-controlled gates swing open to welcome you to what could be your very own headland with unsurpassed views of the Toll Gates, Garden Bay and the north shore to Batemans Bay. Uniquely private and secluded, nestled in an exclusive corner above Garden Bay protected from the south whilst luxuria7ng in the northern sun. The dwelling is posi7oned on the most easterly boundary adjacent to the headland reserve. It has been recently renovated in a style that is hard to describe other than to say it is a statement of sophis7ca7on and elegance. As it is now, it is ideal as the ul7mate holiday resort retreat. For the future, this dwelling is the basis for further development. The cli]op block is approximately 1037m2 of vast untapped Residen7al R2 zoned poten7al. Engineering reports show the exis7ng dwelling could be readily incorporated into a new dwelling, providing the founda7on for second level living space and garages directly accessible from the street level. The view from the second level is breathtaking. The full brick interior of the exis7ng dwelling has been taken back to its original dis7nc7vely paEerned surface, and exquisitely matched with striking use of black on black interior design. A huge master bedroom ďŹ‚ows seduc7vely out to the living room separated by heavy purpose -built sliding glass doors to allow both privacy when needed and the opportunity to soak up the delights of the north facing view from the bedroom. The kitchen is a masterpiece in design with black quality appliances, black granite benchtops, black cupboards and drawers that complement each other crea7ng a bold daring look. The dining area is divided from the car show case room by a glass wall. Another unique brave design feature. If you are looking for something en7rely diďŹ€erent in a posi7on that is just perfect, make an appointment with South Coast Property Specialists for a private inspec7on. For full details and more photos of the property CLICK HERE hEps://www.southcoastps.com.au/property?property_id=554777 beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

community

Pantry Club - A food relief program for people struggling financially Pantry Club in 15th Moruya Vol 16 September 2017 has been running for twelve years and is open for anyone struggling 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 111 July 12th 2019 financially, on a low income or on a CentreLink benefit. Pantry Club is open to residents of the Eurobodalla Shire. They purchase their food and other products from Foodbank Sydney NSW and are not for profit and non-government funded. Due to COVID 19 they are opera7ng differently to ensure the safety of everyone. Pantry Club is now open on Wednesdays as well as their regular Thursdays from 10am to 1pm. To become a member they briefly interview each person before offering three types of membership, single, couple and family. The Pantry Club is located in the Community Centre of SouthernLife church ( next to the Moruya TAFE) offering Market Days on the third week of the month where members can purchase new personal and household items at bargain prices. This year they have given away hundreds of crisis hampers during the bush fire season and each year they distribute over a hundred Christmas hampers to those struggling in the community. Manager Elizabeth told the Beagle "We welcome people of our community to come and join as a member of Pantry Club." For more informa7on on the Pantry Club contact 0447409844 or 0439514340

beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

community

Click and collect returns to libraries next week Eurobodalla Libraries are welcoming the return of their click and collect service from next Monday 11 May. Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Libraries coordinator Sam Fenton said with pandemic restric7ons easing slightly, advice from the State Library 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019 NSW meant the return of the click and collect service, returning member’s access to physical items like books and magazines.“We’re s7ll working with COVID-19 restric7ons and there’s s7ll no physical browsing within the libraries,” Ms Fenton said. “With click and collect, simply visit the library webpages, choose Click&Collect then browse the catalogue and reserve the items to borrow. Any members unable to access the website can call or send an email and we’ll get them sorted.” Library staff will process the items and advise when they are available for pickup from the libraries’ front foyer during service 7mes; Monday to Friday between 10am and 2pm. Social distancing and other pandemic restric7ons remain in effect. To keep everyone safe, Ms Fenton asked patrons to follow some simple steps at collec7on. “We ask that you bring a library bag and only one family member should collect the items,” Ms Fenton said. “No one will be allowed inside the library and patrons should keep 1.5 metres between each other and staff. Please, do not use the service if you or any of your family are unwell.” Items can be returned using the return chutes at each Library branch. All returned items will be sani7sed and placed in quaran7ne for minimum of 72 hours before being returned to shelves for re-borrowing. “Don’t forget we s7ll have extensive online resources available for members, including ebooks, emagazines and audiobooks as a part of your free library membership,” Ms Fenton said, “and our new Library at Home webpage has a wealth of online resources, learning opportuni7es and research tools to make your 7me at home a liEle easier and a lot more fun.”

For informa7on about the libraries or to access the online catalogue, visit hEps:// www.esc.nsw.gov.au/council-services/community-services/library-and-informa7on-services. For more informa7on email library@esc.nsw.gov.au or call 44741333.

beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Community

Wallaga Lake Bridge essen6al repairs to resume Maintenance work to repair and strengthen the Wallaga Lake Bridge will be carried out later this month aQer delays caused by bushﬁres and ﬂooding.Transport for NSW Regional Director Southern, Jo ParroE, said this16work is the15th second Vol September 2017stage of repairs on the bridge aQer new piles were installed last year. 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019

“Transport for NSW will now repair the deteriorated sec7ons of the bridge deck and install new steel support structures,” Ms ParroE said. “Wallaga Lake is the largest lake in southern NSW and the bridge is an important piece of local infrastructure which has been in opera7on since 1834. The bridge is currently safe to use but the upcoming repair work will ensure it remains safe for all road users well into the future. Every effort has been made to ensure con7nued access for traffic while the work takes place and the bridge will remain open for the majority of this work. “In the event of an emergency, the worksite can be packed up at short no7ce and the bridge can be immediately opened to traffic.” Work will be carried out between 7am and 6pm on weekdays from Tuesday 19 May for up to four weeks, weather permiUng. The bridge will be closed daily between 8.30am and 3.30pm weekdays with a detour in place via the Princes Highway to Cobargo and then the Bermagui-Cobargo Road to Bermagui. Traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will be in place at all 7mes on Wallaga Lake Road for the dura7on of the work.Motorists are advised to plan their journeys, allow an addi7onal 30 minutes travel 7me, drive to the condi7ons and follow the direc7ons of signs and traffic control. Transport for NSW thanks the community for its pa7ence while work is carried out. For the latest traffic updates call 132 701, visit livetraffic.com or download the Live Traffic NSW App.

beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Community

Atlas Advisors Australia and Mogo Wildlife Park partner for bushﬁre recovery with new hospital Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019

Australia’s iconic Mogo Wildlife Park has almost completed construc7on of a new wildlife hospital with the help of funds donated by Atlas Advisors Australia and its investors towards bushfire recovery. Atlas Advisors Australia raised $30,000 for the WWF-Australia’s Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund and Mogo Wildlife Park to help rehabilitate displaced and injured animals and revive natural habitats following the devasta7ng bushfires earlier this year. Director of Mogo Wildlife Park Chad Staples said the funds from Atlas Advisors Australia went towards the construc7on of a new wildlife rescue hospital that would play a vital role in servicing the region. Mogo Wildlife Park is located on the south coast of New South Wales and has an amazing collec7on of endangered and exo7c animal species, many of which came under threat during the bushfires. “We fought very hard to save and protect na7ve animals including koalas, kangaroos, echidnas and wallabies throughout the bushfires but sadly millions of others perished,” Mr Staples said. “Our newly equipped hospital means we will be able to help our community by providing a new hub for protec7ng wildlife.” Mr Staples said exis7ng founda7ons were able to be repurposed to build the hospital. The wildlife park is s7ll seeking some diagnos7c and medical equipment. “Smaller veterinary surgeries around the state are cri7cal but they do not have the resources to assist in large scale disasters,” he said. “We hope this new facility will be the best in Australia, enabling governments, environmental and animal services to be able to turn to us at any 7me to help sick, injured or orphaned animals.” Execu7ve Chairman of Atlas Advisors Australia Guy Hedley said donated funds were also importantly put towards the reforesta7on of fire damaged areas and damaged wildlife habitats. “Mogo Wildlife Park is one of many regional organisa7ons playing a vital role in rehabilita7ng our na7ve fauna and preserving our unique biodiversity,” Mr Hedley said. “We hope to put more funds towards vital causes including helping regional businesses that focus on the environmental protec7on.” Mr Hedley said many investors who had donated funds were wai7ng lengthy periods for outcomes via the Investor Visa and Significant Investor Visa programs, which have been stalled because of the travel restric7ons imposed amidst COVID-19. “Reopening these applica7ons could unlock around $100 million in funds to help ailing entrepreneurs including those in regional areas,” Mr Hedley said. “Boos7ng funding alloca7ons towards venture capital under the complying investment framework and crea7ng a new category for regional investment could channel more much needed funds towards innova7ve environmental startups in regional areas.” beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Le#er to the editor

Deus ex machina To the Editor Deus machina: "an unexpected power or event saving a Vol 16ex September 15th- 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 27th 111April Julyhopeless 12th 2018 2019 seemingly situa6on, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel” (DeusEM) A catchy name to sell motorcycling paraphernalia and a device in the poli6cal theatre. Deus Ex Machina comes from La7n and means “God from the Machine”, and it’s an expression usually used in Greek and Roman theater. When the actors were faced with a problem or a conflict, a crane (machine) introduced another actor (or solu7on) from outside the scene, usually some deity or divine figure (God), to solve this problem and thus allowing the plot con7nue. “Where Does Our Money Come From " Once upon 7me Eurobodalla’s Council's annual rate bill was a roads, rates and rubbish affair which provided a road to your home, maybe a park at the end of the street to kick a footy and took away your rubbish. All residents had similar needs funded from the general fund. Over 7me re7culated water supply replaced the house water tank, sewerage system replaced the sep7c tank which replaced the dunny can. Water and sewerage was accounted separately as a user pay opera7on. 'Rates’ was a cost to service the property. There was liEle varia7on across urban areas - usually struck at an amount affordable to 'princes and paupers’. The level of the service determined by that affordable by the vast majority of the residents. Rates were never, nor are they today, a measure of your income or your ability to pay - rates were never a tax. Income tax and other taxes are determined by the State and Federal governments. Today local government has taken on many more ac7vi7es beyond just servicing property and the funding of these ac7vi7es is less simple, more involved, don’t look here, look over there we have all this grant funding. In short it’s become a ‘dogs breakfast’. State premier Neville ‘NiQy' Wran used DeusEM to buy the pensioners’ vote by offering a healthy rates subsidy - hooray cried the pensioners! Buried in the fine print was 45% of the subsidy would be paid by the other ratepayers! Eurobodalla has 25,000 ratepayers, 4,800 (and growing) receive a pensioner concession. However, DeusEM to the rescue for the ‘other’ ratepayers, ‘NiQy’ brings in rate-pegging. Move on awhile, local government aided & abeEed by state government has taken on evermore ac7vi7es and the rate bill starts to soar. Nick Greiner, the next State premier, with his freshly minted Harvard MBA furled under his arm follows the selling of the State loEeries to ‘LoEo’ by his predecessor and starts the 'big sell' of the peoples' assets in the name of priva7sa7on - toll roads, electricity, etc. the list goes on. "But these are Monopolies who’ll just gouge us" cries the people. Nick has his DeusEM moment and creates the noble sounding Independent Pricing and Regulatory Authority (IPART) to ensure nothing dastardly happens! By 1992 council's ac7vi7es have mul7plied, rate bill con7nues to soar ratepayers bellyache to the state government. Another DeusEM moment; rate pegging will be overseen by IPART to wave its magic cloak of control over those spendthriQ councils. Over the years, costs (environment levy, stormwater charge, garbage charge, availability & collec7on) which were once covered by the rates bill now overseen by IPART have been allowed to slide out from under pegged restric7on. When all else fails go to DeusEM IPART's special rate varia7on. State government wasn’t going to roll back any of councils' ac7vi7es and have them returned as a State responsibility, no sir. Con7nues…… beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Le#er to the editor con7nues…… “Where Does Our Money Go" Well for a start there is us the ratepayers who, survey aQer survey, shows we want more stuff but we’re not willing to pay for it. Each year our Councillors are faced with wan7ng to be progressive - doing at least what was provided last year and maybe a liEle bit more. ‘a liEle bit more' can start, with a bit of State Vol 16 September 15th 2017 government urging, simply as appoin7ng council’s first tourism employee in the early 1980’s to coordinate 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 2018 111April July 27th 12th 2019 the efforts of the ‘mum and dad’ tourist operators who were the lifeblood of the motels and cafes which was Eurobodalla’s tourist industry. One employee who at today’s cost would be say $0.2M. The same cost in the draQ budget for tourism in 2021 is $1.4M. ‘a liEle bit more’ can start, with a bit of State government urging, appoin7ng council’s first community welfare officer in the mid 1980’s, which one councillor strongly disagreed with as it was a State or Federal government responsibility. He only agreed when assured that it would be 100% government funded and cost neutral! The draQ budget for 2021 suggests that its cost is a way bit more than cost neutral! ‘a liEle bit more’ can be a volunteer bookclub looking for somewhere to start a volunteer run library which rolls on to appoin7ng council’s first librarian - "but he’d be par7ally funded by the State government". The Treasurer of that same State who today wants to stop any State funding to council libraries. Take any council ac7vity, dig into its origins, what was promised, what were the expected costs. What are the outcomes and costs today. It usually gives a glimpse of why the council is so strapped for cash. Overcharging of water and sewerage so profit can be siphoned into the general fund raises two issues. 1. Water and sewer funds were once ‘ring fenced’, user-pay opera7ons. Profit crea7on, unspecified, is now permiEed by the NSW Office of Water primarily so water is not assumed to be ‘free’ and wasted. However this aim is distorted by the incen7ve to maximise a dividend for the general fund. Eurobodalla, in the same geographic and clima7c area as Shoalhaven and Bega Councils, charges considerably more for its water. 2. Approximately 20,000 ratepayers (mostly urban dwellings) are connected with water and sewer. 4,000 of these ratepayers are themselves part subsidised by the remaining 16,000. Approximately $0.8M profit is contributed from water and sewer funds to the general fund which has about 25,600 ratepayers. The situa7on is inequitable. It creates the seeds of divisiveness between the urban ‘townies' and the non urban ‘rurals’ with 5,600 of the laEer ratepayers not connected to water and sewer, not contribu7ng to the general fund on an equal basis. This is further exacerbated by a further 100+ lots which will be created by the recently approved Rural Land Study. What should we do now LiEle is known how State and Federal governments will plan the economic recovery following the massive impact of bushfires and COVID19 and the effect on grant funds. 45% of council’s opera7on plan receives external funds and 55% from ratepayers whose ability to pay is also heavily impacted. Perhaps it’s 7me to examine council’s ac7vi7es. If not a core ac7vity are they fully funded? If not should they be? If a State responsibility is it 7me for the State to take then back? Some, like tourism have changed since incep7on. No longer just 'mum and dad’ opera7ons but larger en77es headquartered

beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Le#er to the editor con7nues…. elsewhere outside the Eurobodalla. Is it 7me Eurobodalla tourism as in other regions, be managed by the local tourist industry with council having only a representa7ve on a management board and contribu7ng considerably less than at Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 111 July 12th 2019 present. The State, funded from taxes is responsible for our health, welfare, educa7on and community services. If those ac7vi7es which Council does on the States behalf aren’t fully funded is it 7me to cease and hand back. It’s important that you and I tell Council our dis7nc7on between needs and wants. How much more(!) or less we are prepared to pay. Maybe we need to wind back our expecta7ons. There is no silver bullet there is no magic pudding. Council's draQ opera7on plan (the budget) is on public exhibi7on closing on 20 May 2020. Read it and have your say. DeusEM's are out of stock. Ross Hayward Broulee

They can’t be serious The Beagle Editor, Do you believe the audacity of Eurobodalla Shire Council? This community is on it’s knees because of Bushﬁres and Covid 19 and they are asking the community to comment on their “Delivery Plan” that proposes to gouge another 2.6% increase in rates, as well as a rise in fees and charges. Miserable, out of touch, dumb, not caring….you pick your descrip7on of this mob. All households and business’s have had to make adjustments in the last few months but no….not this council, all they do is TAKE TAKE TAKE. Is the leadership of this council so far removed from reality? Disgruntled Ratepayer Name and address supplied

beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

community

Aerial view helps keep network in top shape Essen7al Energy will take to the sky in the Southern Region over the coming months to capture a snapshot of the condi7on of15th its electricity network as part of its asset inspec7on program. Vol 16 September 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019

From May,11, 2020, a fixed wing plane will be used to iden7fy damaged or deteriora7ng network assets and poten7al vegeta7on encroachments in the Moruya and Bega areas. Opera7ons Manager, South Eastern, Darren Basterfield, said the aerial patrols were part of Essen7al Energy’s Bushfire Risk Management Plan and the data captured would help ensure the safety and reliability of the network. “The program will inspect the pole top condi7on of 107,100 power poles across 14,788 kilometres of our network,” Darren said. “Aerial patrols are an effec7ve way to view our network assets to assess if vegeta7on is encroaching on powerlines or whether pole top hardware is damaged or ageing. “Essen7al Energy may also from 7me to 7me use drones to inspect the electricity network in areas that are sensi7ve or inaccessible using conven7onal methods,” Darren added. If the inspec7ons iden7fy an issue with the network, Essen7al Energy will contact affected landholders and organise crews to aEend and undertake any necessary repairs. Property owners requiring no6fica6on of aerial patrol can contact Essen6al Energy on 13 23 91 to discuss alterna6ve arrangements prior to the aerial inspec6ons. Follow Essen7al Energy on Facebook and TwiEer for updates on aerial patrols or visit: essen7alenergy.com.au/ aerial for further informa7on.

beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

reading

Witness J: My life among the paedophiles By Robert Macklin WITNESS J, the prisoner held secretly in Canberra’s Alexander Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 2018 111April July 27th 12th 2019 Maconochie Centre for more than seven months, is soon to publish a book on his incarcera7on with some of Australia’s most odious paedophiles. Titled “Here, There are Dragons”, it will be published online via Amazon and Lulu. Both paperback and e-book will be available on demand. While it is self-published, it has been professionally designed and edited at a cost of some $2500. All profits will go to Beyond Blue, partly because of proceeds of crime legisla7on but also to acknowledge the work of the charity that assists those like himself who have suffered mental health issues in 7mes of stress. Witness J told “CityNews”: “I’ve spent a bit bringing it to market. I accept this cost as I want my humble story to be told. Due to an unfortunate combina7on of my literary inexperience and ongoing anonymity, I’m rather restricted from promo7ng the book outside of TwiEer.” The official publica7on date is June 1. Witness J’s secret trial and incarcera7on was first revealed by “CityNews” late last year when he brought a civil ac7on against the AMC authori7es aQer his cell and his brother’s home were raided by the AFP. This followed an aEempt to seek literary and publishing advice from myself as the author of some 29 books. The ac7on was unsuccessful, but the revela7ons of his imprisonment made na7onal headlines. The book is an extraordinary and compelling story of a Canberran from a well-respected family who graduated from Duntroon, served with great dis7nc7on for 10 years in baElefields from East Timor to Afghanistan and later with DFAT in sensi7ve civilian posts. The circumstances that led to his trial and imprisonment took place during his pos7ng to Indonesia. However, while the story of his career – and the ac7ons that led to his imprisonment – have yet to be told, the saga of his 7me confined with sexual offenders at AMC is itself a fascina7ng account of the moral conflicts and outrages when forced to deal at close range with the human “monsters” of the 7tle. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the book is the fact that he was able to write the story while actually serving his 7me in the same “Pod” as the characters he was forensically delinea7ng. (Disclosure: I have wriEen a foreword to the book) Since his release, Witness J has been living in Victoria seeking employment while pursuing some redress from his former employer. Right: Robert Macklin has carved out a unique place among Australia’s literary biographers and historians. beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

GeQng Cra*y In Isola6on

By Wendy Macklin

Ping pong balls are really difficult to s7ck together. I discovered this fact while immersing myself in yet another ridiculous Isola7on ac7vity. This Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 7me, itJuly was CraQ. I had dabbled before and for a while my decoupage and Vol 48 27th 2018 111April 12th 2019 mosaic crea7ons thrilled all the rela7ves on their birthdays. But what to use whilst stuck in deepest isola7on in a seaside village? It would have to be something made of Found Objects (as they say in the Arty CraQy world) and I found the ping pong balls. There were at least 50 and since we never squashed more than two a year in the most ferocious games, they would not be missed. Perfect. A beau7ful vision was forming. I had some FIMO - a synthe7c clay- which I’d ordered with pain7ng supplies. I had expected a lump like a margarine tub but what came was the size of a matchbox. My vision shrank but I could see it clearly-a delicate nymph-like woman rising from the shining foam of the ocean. CraQ, sculpture AND pain7ng. Perfect. The balls wouldn’t s7ck together. They bounced and shot around the kitchen leaving behind s7cky white globules of craQ adhesive which was supposed to work with every known material but was useless with ping pong balls. I raced to the Hardware shop which was miraculously open and bought two tubes of the dreaded Super Glue. Now, I know all about this dangerous stuff so I was careful but at the first gentle squeeze, three fingers were stuck together, my hair aEached to the kitchen table and several ping pong balls dangled off a banana in the fruit bowl. But finally, the 12 balls were joining up-yes! I started on the FIMO modelling. It’s lovely to use-doesn’t dry out or crack and bakes to hardness in the oven (110 degrees for 30 minutes) and then you can paint it. But sadly, like clay, one needs some skill to do good work; with great effort and seven fingers I could only produce an ancient raddled hag with a receding chin. Paint and wild coEon wool hair helped a bit. The hands were menacing and the legs skinny but I thought some red nail polish would improve these body parts. The vision was changing. Ping pong balls are really difficult to paint. My husband came into the kitchen to make lunch, took one look at the mess and went off to buy a pie. By late aQernoon, my crea7on was finished and whilst it was grotesque and ridiculous, BOBO BUBBLES-AGING BURLESQUE STAR was unique and I liked her. My husband however, exploded into howls of laughter and suggested she hang on the hook over the ping pong table in the shed. And there she dangles forever-looking a bit startled-to be admired for genera7ons by our descendants. Oh well, it was a s7mula7ng day and the 7me passed quickly which is important in these tedious 7mes. Don’t be put off by my misadventures but have a go and make something because craQ can be relaxing and rewarding. Just don’t use ping pong balls. beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Reading A Bigger Picture—a review by Trevor Moore Malcolm Turnbull, Hardie Grant Books, 2020, ISBN 9781743795637, 704pp September 15th why 2017 I bought this book. In general, my view is that the only IVol am16not really sure 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019 biography worth reading is one that is published some years aQer the death of the subject. It’s important to allow for reflec7on on a life and to set any assessment of the worth of that life against some historical context. I recall that when I saw that Kevin Rudd had published his memoirs, I thought that 800 pages of self-jus7fica7on was more than a body could bear. So, quite why I thought that buying what was bound to be another apologia, although admiEedly one slightly slimmer than Rudd’s 800 pages, I cannot say. Perhaps it was that Booktopia was adver7sing signed copies for sale. Well, you really can’t miss an offer like that can you? So, when the book was Now, that squiggle under his delivered last Tuesday I looked eagerly for the signature. I found it; but name is the signature. Quite to say I was underwhelmed would be oversta7ng my reac7on. what rela1on is has to the leers I saw in the Guardian this morning that the ini7al print run of 45,000 of his name is beyond me. Call in had been cleaned out and that two further 15,000 print runs were on the calligraphers, I say. their way. Sales of the book may well have been helped by its prepublica7on leak (or at least an electronic copy of it) by a man in the prime minister’s office. I do not tweet very oQen, but I felt compelled to offer my views on this to the TwiEersphere. Less than a year ago Morrison had said, in the context of Chinese policy prac7ces, “Intellectual property theQ cannot be jus7fied”. Yet for some reason there has been no men7on that the person concerned has been fired or has resigned. You can see in the picture of my tweet that it was liked 46 7mes and retweeted 27 7mes. For me this is a massive reac7on, unprecedented (to use a word that should be banned) in my twiEer career, which is not extensive.

The ques7on is whether you would be wise to invest your $50 (or close to it) on this tome. Perhaps the reason I bought it was that I was sort of interested in the comparison between the two men that are Turnbull and Morrison. I suspect that I bought it because I am constantly appalled by Morrison’s lack of empathy, lack of leadership capability, inability to communicate and his innate superciliousness. I was not always 100% with Turnbull’s poli7cs but he is at least interes7ng, communicates reasonably well and seems moderately genuine. We do not get to poli7cs proper un7l about a quarter of the way through the book. But by this 7me Turnbull seems to have met and dealt with nearly everyone who maEered; that is, maEered either in the context of Australian poli7cs or who would maEer to himself. One of the reasons I buy biographies is in an aEempt to understand why successful (or perhaps I should say notorious) people are successful (or notorious). What, for example, are the characteris7cs that made Stalin or Mao what they were? Or, what was it about Churchill – who does not always seem to be the most balanced individual – that made him the man on whom Britain pinned its hopes in 1940? Reading Turnbull’s book beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Reading A Bigger Picture—a review by Trevor Moore brought to mind Geoffrey Robertson’s 2018 autobiography Rather His Own Man. Much seemed to happen for Robertson at university; he seemed just to meet the right people (and to date Nigella Lawson). Turnbull was the same; he seemed to connect with people. He was – and is – clearly a people person. It is perhaps arguable that being a people person is not a good skill for a poli7cian. Perhaps the problem with empathy is Vol 16 15th like 2017Mr Arabin in Trollop’s Barchester Chronicles, to subscribe to each side of an that it September enables you, 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019 argument with equal fervour. In the end I was less interested in the poli7cal machina7ons of what Turnbull refers to as “The Coup” than I was interested in his earlier life. This accounts for only 105 pages of the book. There are three hunks of the story here: his 7me in the media, the Spycatcher trial and his 7me as an investment banker. The Spycatcher trial, as Turnbull remarks, was bigger in the UK than it was in Australia and I can confirm this; I remember it well. The trial arose as the Bri7sh government aEempted to prevent publica7on in Australia of the memoirs of Peter Wright, a former MI5 officer. The impact of the trial in the UK was the greater because its outcome seriously discomfited the Thatcher government and gave rise to one of the most wonderful pieces of bullshit that a Bri7sh civil servant ever uEered. Turnbull quotes the exchange, which was a huge thing in the UK media at the 7me. Turnbull is the ques7oner and Sir Robert Armstrong (then the Cabinet Secretary) is the answerer: Q: What is the difference between a misleading impression and a lie? A: A lie is a straight untruth. Q: What is a misleading impression – a sort of bent untruth? A: As one person said, it is perhaps being economical with the truth. Turnbull does not tell us that the phrase “economical with the truth” was not Armstrong’s own – it was first used by the philosopher Edmund Burke, as Armstrong told the court. But it was too late. The damage was done, and the exchange would have done credit to an episode of the BBC’s Yes, Minister. Turnbull devotes a

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Reading A Bigger Picture—a review by Trevor Moore chapter to this, and it is good reading. That it is good reading is probably due to the years Turnbull spent as a journalist. The man is a good and engaging writer and I suspect that the editorial team at Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 2018 Hardie Grant Books did not have a lot to do by way of 111April July 27th 12th 2019 wordsmithing. I suspect the legal team was more exercised in checking that no one was going to sue or be sued. I did not know of his 7me with Kerry Packer and this is also an interes7ng piece of Australian media history, even if perhaps only a footnote. Turnbull covers 65 years in 700 pages. What interested me most about the book was his 7me as Underneath is Dominic Sandbrook's Who an investment banker. The idea that you can start an Dares Wins which takes 800 pages to cover 3 investment bank with almost no money is an idea that I years (1979 - 1982). struggle with though my son, who is an investment banker, would probably not be fazed by this. I suspect that the trick is always to use other people’s money. But he was, without a doubt, a successful banker. He pulled oﬀ some seriously complicated deals and made himself a lot of money in the process. He could not have done this without some highly tuned stakeholder management skills. In his 730 interview with Leigh Sales he remarked that someone had told him that he should trust no one. Yet that advice is not only relevant to poli7cs; it would also be relevant in banking and especially banking with interna7onal stakeholders. I cannot help concluding that he was a beEer banker than poli7cian. So, back to the ul7mate ques7on: should you spend your $50 on this book? Well, it’s a good read … and it’s an easy read and it tells a good story. But it’s a contemporary story so if you are going to read it , then you should read it now because in a year’s 7me probably no one will care very much. The story will s7ll be there, but we will be further from the detail. In twenty years’, it will be even less relevant. A dusty copy will be pulled from the shelves of the Na7onal Library by some researcher and may provide a quote for a PhD thesis. But today? Well, we’re all locked down. What else are you going to do?

beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Reading—history

Moruya Examiner May 8th 2020 MINING.- Mr. J. Masters, represen7ng the Moruya Gold Mining Syndicate, lately came over from Melbourne to inspect and report on the leases held by that syndicate at Condoin, or Dwyer’s Creek. The main object of the visit Vol 16 15thof 2017 was forSeptember the purpose preparing a report for the Board of Directors, giving the best means of working the 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019 property, showing the facili7es for treatment, and also to ascertain the class of machinery and the power required for working and development. We are in a posi7on to state that Mr. Masters, who visited the leases three 7mes during his stay in Moruya, was pleased with the results and commented very highly on the future of the sites, and will carry to Melbourne sufficient data to give the Board a glowing report of the oldest silver mine in Australia, for it was on this property that silver was first mined on the con7nent, and we will welcome the Syndicate with a big W. We understand that the Company has already been successfully floated for a substan7al amount and that very shortly a start will be made in further development pending the arrival and erec7on of plant. We congratulate Mr. Masters and our genial “General” George Gordon on the result of their efforts in bringing this property under the no7ce of mining speculators, and hope soon to see our local miners employed, as it is the inten7on of the Company to give local men first employment. We wish the Moruya Gold Mining Syndicate every success. DEATH.- The demise of another old and well known iden7ty in the person of Mrs C. Ison took place on the 30th ult. at the age of 72 years. Mrs Ison, whose maiden name was Miss Bridget Donovan, was a na7ve of Sydney, but aQer her marriage to Mr. Chas. Ison resided at Mogo for about 40 years, where she reared a respectable family of five boys and three girls. Her husband predeceased her 16 years ago. Mrs. Ison was of a genial disposi7on and a generous and thoughZul neighbor. Many of her deeds of kindness are oQ recounted by old pioneers of the Mogo hamlet. During the past few years she had not enjoyed good health and during that 7me was tenderly and devotedly aEended by her daughter, Mrs J. Burke, of Gundary. The funeral took place on Sunday, the remains being taken to Mogo and laid to rest alongside those of her husband. NAROOMA PORT.- The Narooma Port is now in beEer order than it has been for a long 7me. The dredge Antleon, which was in work for some 7me, has succeeded in deepening the channel and making it navigable. The Wee Clyde was enabled during the week to nego7ate to the new sawmill at Foster’s Bay. PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE An uncharted pinnacle of rock has been discovered near where the steamer Aughinish struck at Montague Island. ADVERTISEMENT THE LITTLE AMBER BOTTLE. A FAMILIAR OBJECT IN THOUSANDS OF HOMES. The amber boEle in which Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills are packed is probably beEer known as a familiar object about the home than any other boEle of a like kind. It is not there as an ornament, but for prac7cal, everyday use. In the best regulated families the liEle ills of life will creep in. Some member of the family circle may occasionally suffer from Biliousness or Indiges7on, -and one or the other will from 7me to 7me exhibit the well known symptoms of Cons7pa7on. From these liEle troubles more serious complaints arise and should, therefore, not be neglected. The slight headache, bad breath, and discoloured tongue, are the index to a disordered stomach, and the necessity of keeping a safe, sure, and reliable remedy in the house is apparent. By following such a course the more expensive method of calling in a doctor may be avoided. Be your own doctor, prescribe Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills, and always keep the liEle boEle in the house, so that when sickness invades your home you will have a sure and reliable remedy to banish it from your threshold. beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Reading

Rock of ages or ageing rockers We’re all geQng old by Trevor Moore Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 27th 111April July watching 12th 2018 2019 I was idly something mindless on NeZlix last night

when the phone gave its familiar “you have a message” sound. It was my pal Macman. Anyone who have read my scribblings before will know that Macman and I are con7nually trying to outdo one another with rock ’n’ roll trivia. I have reproduced our SMS exchange in the picture on the right. Millie Small had died, not as it turned out of COVID19 but, aged 73, of a stroke on 5 May. I had failed to no7ce this event, but I was able to tell Macman that My Boy Lollipop was released under the name of Millie rather than Millie Small. Contrary to what Macman thought – and I always need to get one over on him – the single was released by Fontana. Listening to it now makes you realise how diﬀerent things were in 1964 when it reached number 2 in both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard 100. It made number 1 in Australia. The lyrics start: My boy lollipop You make my heart go giddy-up My word, we were easily pleased by anything but a deep and meaningful lyric. You can ﬁnd the song on Spo7fy as part of a compila7on called Trojan presents: Mod Ska. Strange that, I had never thought of it as ska but when I listened just now, it certainly is. (In fact, the rest of the compila7on is excellent with Winston Samuels, The Skatalites and Lord Kitchener among others).

My boy lollipop: the cover. (Source: Wikipedia)

I had seen that same morning that Macman had texted me about Millie that yet another rock ’n’ roll great had died. The band KraQwerk are stylis7cally about as far away from Millie as you could wish. It would be difficult to over-es7mate KraQwerk’s influence on almost every genre of music. As a bit of an amateur muso myself the mysteries of the synthesiser are a con7nual source of entertainment. But they are all soQware these days. KraQwerk were using equipment that was not perhaps as reliable as one might wish and whose sounds could be jarring if not created with great skill, effort and 7me. Florian Schneider, who died aged 73 on 6 May 2020, was a co-founder in 1970 of KraQwerk. In 1970 synthesisers were in their infancy; the first Moog was released in 1964 but it wasn’t un7l the late 60s that they became more mainstream. Interes7ngly enough it was a classical rather than a rock composer who made this happen: Bach. Switched-On Bach released in 1968 was an album of Bach composi7ons arranged for synthesiser and sold well. This album is featured on an Australian KraDwerk circa 1975, with Florian Schneider pictured second from right. Photograph: KraDwerk/Gey Images podcast called One Dollar Vinyl (22 January 2020) which is perhaps testament to its durability – or lack of it. On the other hand, as the podcast tells me, it won loads of awards and was a best-selling classical album between 1969 and 1972. But I am digressing. As the 1970s progressed KraQwerk’s influence on rock music deepened. David Bowie’s 1977 album Heroes contains the song V-2 Schneider, whose only lyrics are “V-2 Schneider”. Bowie would play KraQwerk’s beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Rock of ages or ageing rockers We’re all geQng old by Trevor Moore con7nues

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019

Radio-Ac1vity before his concerts. Later KraQwerk had a major inﬂuence on 1980s groups like Depeche Mode and Human League and you cannot deny that hip hop and techno are children of albums like Autobahn and Radio-Ac1vity. There is a great video on YouTube from 1982 of the band playing Das Model. It’s a perfect example of synthesised music. Look a bit further and you will ﬁnd them playing Die Roboter. Just brilliant.

But it is not enough to lose two great musicians this week. The Stranglers’ keyboardist Dave Greenfield died aged 71 on 3 May 2020 aQer contrac7ng Covid-19. Greenfield wrote the music that became their best-known song Golden Brown. This song has had over 75 million hits on Spo7fy. The Stranglers came to prominence in 1977 with the punk explosion. In retrospect, punk was a much needed jolt to a complacent record industry that was making money selling the same old stuff to people like me. We found punk hard to take but we needed it. 1977 saw the release of their debut LP, Raus Norvegicus, which featured the singles “Peaches” and “(Get a) Grip (on Yourself),” the laEer of which used Greenfield’s intricate keyboard - probably a Moog synthesiser lines. Another rock ’n’ roller who will be missed. As Jack Black said in School of Rock: “s7ck it to the Man”. Greenfield was certainly part of s7cking it to the Man. Greenfield in concert with The Stranglers, Paris Olympia, 13 April 2012. (Source: Wikipedia)

And while we’re on the subject of Jack Black, there’s a remake on iView of the 2000 ﬁlm High Fidelity that starred Jack Black (and that is based on Nick Hornby’s 1995 novel. It’s worth watching. The genders have been switched around a bit but Zoe Kravitz’ (daughter of Lenny) performance is very good. And while we’re thinking about rock ’n’ roll trivia, I was pleased to remind Macman that it is 50 years since the release on 8 May 1970 of The Beatles’ last studio album, Let It Be. Not one to be outdone, Macman replied, as you can see in the exchange pictured here, that it is 49 years since Simon and Garfunkel’s Concert in Central Park (released as an album early the following year). I leave it to you to decide whether being able to recall a 49th anniversary of anything is the ul7mate deﬁni7on of trivia. Be that as it may Let It Be and Concert in Central Park have one thing in common; there’s not a dud track on either of them.

beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

Your Up to Date fishing report from the team at Tackle World Moruya Moruya River This week has Vol 16last September 15thseen 2017 a con7nued reduc7on in both the reports 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 111 July 12th 2019 and the numbers of fish being caught in the Moruya system. I’m guessing that the freezing temps we had last week, kept most people off the water - can’t say I blame them! Those southerlies that dumped large quan77es of snow in the mountains, certainly made for cold winds last week. For those that did brave the winds, a few fish were caught. Flathead and bream around the weed beds off Preddy’s wharf were the main reports this week, with smaller soQ plas7c grubs worked slowly producing the best results. Burley for those using baits this 7me of year can really help spark some interest. Just be sure to allow enough 7me for the burley to work, usually around the 20-30 minute mark is sufficient. If nothing has been tempted into the burly trail by then, it may be 7me to try another area. Bream, garfish, luderick and tarwhine can all be tempted into a burley trail, not to forget tailor and flathead hanging at the back of the trail. Tuross River The lower sec7ons of Tuross con7nue to see the most ac7on this week, with flathead and bream star7ng to move into the deeper channels as the water temp drops. The oyster racks con7nue to hold good numbers of bream around high 7de. SoQ plas7cs, hard bodies and fly can all tempt these fish. Just be prepared to go hard on any fish hooked on top of the racks, lest they cut you off on the very line unfriendly oysters. Again, a good burley trail for the bait fishos will see an increase in interest in any baits presented. Rock and beach There are s7ll good reports of trevally, drummer, luderick and salmon coming off Moruya break wall this week. Pilchards on gang hooks have offered the best results, but metals cast out and retrieved are deadly when the salmon are hanging off the wall in good numbers. There are s7ll schools of yellow eyed mullet on the beaches, so sharks, tailor and even the odd jewfish are all on the cards. The numbers of drummer off the rocks are also star7ng to increase as the waters cool. These hard-figh7ng fish offer a good feed to those prepared to fish in some 7ght snaggy country. Strong hooks, and a heavy give no line aUtude are what is required to extract these fish at 7mes. Offshore. There are s7ll good numbers of flathead, snapper and mowies around on the inshore grounds. Try in around the 30-40m mark for best success. If anchoring up, a good burley trail will get the snapper on the chew. Squid or pilchards will be the go to baits, but micro jigs and soQ plas7cs will also catch quite a few fish as well. With Thursday’s full moon, expect the 7dal movements to be big this week, so if you are fishing off the rocks be aware that the highs will be higher than normal. Don’t get caught out fishing in an area that usually is safe with extra water around. Always err on the side of cau7on! Congratula7ons to Brian Critchlow, who finally managed to collect his Haswing Electric motor he won back in a march last weekend. We hope you enjoy many years of sneaky fishing with it Brian. Also, don’t forget this Sunday is Mother’s Day. We are offering 30% off Rapala Femme Fatale combos to celebrate. This includes a free pink cap as well. Keep safe everyone and remember “every day’s a good day for fishing … “ Team Tackle World Moruya beagle weekly : Vol 154 May 8th 24th 2020

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Published on May 8, 2020

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