Community ………………4 to

The Gang-gang Cockatoo is hard to miss. The males wear a bright red feather helmet with a wispy crest. This rela vely small, stocky and sociable bird was once common but within the last three decades sigh ngs have declined drama cally. We don’t know why, and the future of the Gang-gang is under threat. Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 While Gang-gang numbers have remained steady in Canberra for the last 30 years, other areas in South East Australia have seen declines of up to 70%. We urgently need to be er understand what’s cri cal for this Cockatoo so we can take ac on to ensure its survival. This is a call out to anyone who is interested in helping to be er understand and protect this iconic cockatoo. We need you to be the eyes and ears, spo ng Gang-gangs and observing their behaviour. SeptemberOctober is a busy me for Gang-gangs with couples searching for and preparing nes ng hollows. The loca ons of very few nes ng hollows are known and this project needs your help to find more. We are asking ci zen scien sts to take photographs of Gang-gang ac vity in and around hollows and to note par cular behaviours. This will help us priori se a par cular hollow for checking during the breeding season (October – January). Once known, breeding trees can be be er protected and comparisons can be made of breeding success across the Gang-gang’s range. This will help to be er understand the environmental factors that may be influencing the decline in numbers. The Gang-gang ci zen science project has been set up iNaturalist where you can log your sigh ngs. iNaturalist is a ci zen science pla orm for recording all organisms and it’s absolutely free! Please join the project to become a member of the South Coast Gang-gang Gang and start logging your sigh ngs including photos if possible: h ps://www.inaturalist.org/projects/gang-gang-nests-tree-hollowssearch This is a collabora ve project between Gang-gang research partners from Canberra and two ci zen science projects, Budawang Coast Atlas of Life and Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness

Above: Two male chicks, photo Roy McDowall - and Male and female.

Gadfly 191 By Robert Macklin There was a moment recently when dear old Aunty ABC gave us a national insight so profound that it keeps returning in those silent watches of the night when the busy mind delays that Vol 16 September 15th 2017 last surrender to sleep. It was one of those rare conjunctions - part coincidence, part mischievous Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 programming from Aunty herself. First came the shocking images of the nightly news – Scott Morrison in a blizzard of words defending his government’s tardy response to the rescue of Australia’s Afghan employees from the maelstrom that was Kabul airport; and his refusal to offer the hundreds already in Australia permanent residency. Then soon after came FOUR CORNERS’ little sister Australian Story, with its most heart-warming story of the RAN and the MG99 Vietnamese refugees - a reunion 40 years after their rescue by the flagship HMAS Melbourne in the South China Sea. The motivations behind each were like night and day. For those who missed it, the ninety-nine Vietnamese men, women, children and babies had escaped the persecution by the Communist government of those South Vietnamese on America’s and Australia’s losing side of that 30-year war. By 1981 they had felt the crushing hand of the communist regime. In desperation, they had piled into a timber boat designed for less that a third of that number and headed out under a full moon – in double-bluff to fool the waiting government ships. Their destination was Singapore, but by the fourth day at sea, through stormy weather, a huge whirlpool, and total engine collapse, their drinking water had become contaminated, all food was gone and the boat was leaking so badly those in the hold were knee deep in diesel and motor oil floating on the bilgewater. That’s when Tracker plane 851 on its last surveillance mission spotted thick black smoke from a hasty fire on the wheelhouse roof and signalled Melbourne steaming ten nautical miles away. Half an hour later the great ship reached them and began the perilous task of somehow transferring 99 emaciated, weakened people in darkness the five metres up to the lowest decking on the Carrier. Commander John Ingram, in charge of the rescue, said, “We knew there were sharks in the water [and] there was a lot of wash between the boats. We were extremely concerned [they] would be crushed against the ship.” Navy photographer Rob Patterson made a brilliant record of the event as the sailors joined in willingly. That night was etched on their memories. And when Ingram and one of the leading refugees, Stephen Nguyen decided to organise a 2021 reunion they were overwhelmed by the response. So were Australian Story’s viewers as the former refugees told of their lives and their gratitude to the country that gave them the opportunity. At our place, someone said, “That’s the Australia we used to be.” Next day we followed the News again, only to hear that Defence Minister Dutton was arguing that all Australia’s Afghan employees sweltering at the Kabul airport should be checked again in case they’d swapped sides and become ‘terrorists’. They could be a danger to the country and ‘Australia’s values’ that his Prime Minister so cherishes. Funnily enough, those values were about to be demonstrated once again when a private coalition of Aussies took the initiative to rescue more than 50 female Afghan athletes and their families. One of the organisers, Craig Foster said, ‘This is what Australia should be every day.’ Hard to argue with that. robert@robertmacklin.com

100 Years Ago—10th September 1921 HAM WANTED. – The commi ee require a ham for the Hospital Ball supper. Now who will be the generous contributor? PRACTICAL SYMPATHY. – Our Progressive member, Lieut-Col. Rutledge, has generously sent along a cheque for £1 1s to the Hon. Secretary, Mrs. A. W. Constable, for the Hospital Ball fund. ILLNESS. – We regret to report that news came through on Thursday, sta ng that Mr. R. N. Carden who is an inmate of St. Vincent’s Hospital had taken a change for the worst. His sisters, Sister M. Basil (accompanied by Mother De Pazzi) of St. Mary’s Convent, and Mrs. G. Spence, and Master Basil Carden (son) immediately le for Sydney. EUCHRE PARTY. – To raise funds for their Refreshment Stall at the forthcoming C.E. Bazaar, Mesdames A. H. Fox and E. Hawdon held a euchre party and dance in the Mechanics’ Hall on Wednesday night. It was a par cularly successful venture, about 60 couples being present. Messrs. C. de Saxe and J. Hansen capably managed the tournament, the winners being Miss Bella Staunton (prize, a pig) and Mr. B. Flynn (prize, a fowl). The booby trophy, a cake of soap, was secured by Mr. J. Staunton. Under the excellent supervision of Mrs. Fox, whose organizing capabili es are now fully recognized and appreciated, assisted by Mrs. Hawdon, dainty cups of coffee and tea with delicious edibles were served by a bevy of charming young waitresses. A few enjoyable hours were then spent in tripping the light fantas c to concordant music…. TELEPHONIC. – The Deputy P.M.G. advises the Hon. Aus n Chapman as follows: - I have to inform you that a communica on asking that a switch board be placed in the residence of one of the telephone subscribers so that service may be obtained a er the post office is closed, has been received from Narooma Branch of the Agricultural Bureau of N.S.W. (Mr. A. H. Cos n, Hon. Secretary). The ma er will receive a en on, and you will be further advised in due course. OUR ROADS. – Now that the tourist and fishing season is approaching……the roads leading to the various resorts need to be put in trafficable order. Just at present they are in a deplorable state, par cularly the one to Congo Beach, over which travellers have to cross a culvert, dangerous even for a foot passenger to nego ate. The road to Moruya Heads’ North beach is also very much in need of a en on…… NERRIGUNDAH. – At a mee ng held on the 5

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018

th inst., it was decided to tender the patrio c ladies of Nerrigundah a huge Ball in apprecia on of their generous help during war me and at the home-coming of our boys. This func on, I might men on, ought to be worth a ending, as the gents are carrying out all necessary arrangements, even to the catering part of the business. Extracted from the Moruya Examiner by the Moruya and District Historical Society Inc. h ps:// www.mdhs.org.au

Front Door It stands tall Our front door. Coated in varnish But star ng to tarnish Now, that we have the me And we don't hear the chime Of the doorbell ringing clear To tell us that, someone is here. Ding dong, ding dong! “But, someone’s here in their thongs! Oh, I am a li le worried Why should I be so hurried? To answer my old front door? I spot a note on the floor I find my mask To do the task And open it with care to see A li le boy asking me “ Can I get my footy back It's in your yard down the back?” “Of course you can Benjamin It's down there by the bin.”

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 "He was a fattish but active man of paralysing stupidity, a mass of imbecile enthusiasm—one of those completely unquestioning, devoted dr udges on whom, more even than on the Thought Police, the stability of the Par ty depended."

Who is this a descrip on of? Name the book and author.

By Mary Murray

Le : A stack of new science fic on to send us into a galac c world of distrac on adding to our other recent stacks! Book orders available via phone or our socials!

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018