Community ………………3 to

Sharing Footpath Out I go to have a walk Without my phone so I can talk Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 To my neighbours near to me Underneath their shady trees! Oh, but first I must remember Not too close ll October! So I dodge the bikes and scooters, Dogs and strollers, skateboard cruisers! Joggers give me a li le wink So I move across and think Gee you're quick, you do jog fast! Maybe, you'll see me when you pass Jogging back on the grass Then, I can finish with my walk Home to listen to mobile talk! By Mary Murray

Pfizer Covid vaccine available at Moruya General Practice and Skin Cancer Clinic for anyone between the ages of 12 and 59.

Please email us at admin@moruyagp.com.au with the word Pfizer and we will arrange an appointment for you. This will be a booked time, not a walk in clinic.

Gadfly 195 By Robert Macklin When we look back on the era that saw the great transforma on of Australia to a na on that embraced its Aboriginal past and engaged the wisdom of its First Na ons, one whitefella of modest and genteel manner will be found at the heart of it. Henry Reynolds is the very embodiment of the US President Teddy Roosevelt’s admoni on, to ‘speak so ly and carry a big s ck.’ In his case the s ck is actually a switch of more than twenty finely wrought literary canes with which he wakened the Australian

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conscience. Their tles range from 1972’s Aborigines and Se lers: The Australian Experience, to Truth-Telling – History, Sovereignty and the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2021 In between, separately and together, his books chart the course of a revolu on in Australian percep on. Like all revolu ons, nothing was won without a fight; and through the decades Reynolds was pounded by the remorseless opposi on of a Prime Minister leading a raging conserva ve cohort. Born in Hobart in 1938, the son of a journalist and biographer, the young Henry went to state school and the University of Tasmania where in 1960 he gained his BA (hons) before pursuing a teaching career which took him eventually to the Townsville University College in 1965. Asked to lecture on Australian history from a text book that barely men oned the Aboriginal people, he began his own research. He was ‘shocked’, he says, ‘by the revela on of the fron er wars’ that plunged New South Wales and Queensland into a killing field that took the lives of some 20,000 Aboriginal lives. And that didn’t include the death toll from European diseases and starva on when expelled from their tribal lands. His 1982 book, The Other Side of the Fron er detailed the horrors perpetrated by se lers and police. It was also a ‘revela on’ to a popula on weaned on the heroic tales of the pioneers. It inspired other academics and writers to enter the fray and a Culture War erupted. Paul Kea ng gave his celebrated Redfern Speech while John Howard labelled Reynolds and his supporters the ‘Black Armband’ group. Reynolds tagged his opponents ‘White Blindfold’ and the conflict raged for a decade before the progressives gradually gained ground. He was also instrumental in the great victory of Aboriginal land rights through chats with his university’s groundsman and gardener, one Eddie Mabo who doted on his Murray Island land in the Torres Strait. ‘So intense was his a achment to his land,’ Reynolds says, ‘that I began to worry whether he had ay idea about his legal circumstances. I said, “Don’t you realise that nobody actually owns land on Murray Island? It’s all crown land.”’ Eddie consulted lawyers and in 1992 a High Court judgement finally recognized Aboriginal land rights. It is hard to overes mate Reynolds’ influence in the great movement that followed, culmina ng in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. If ever a writer and historian were deserving of a Nobel Prize, whether for Literature or Peace, that person is Henry Reynolds, now in the golden years of a life that has changed a na on. If Literature, he would adorn a cohort of historian laureates from Winston Churchill to Chris an Mommsen, the recipient of only the second to be awarded in 1902, or for Peace such worthies as Shimon Perez or Jose Ramos Horta. While the final goals of the Uluru Statement from the Heart have yet to be enacted, their achievement is within our grasp; and a great Australian helped immeasurably to place it there. robert@robertmacklin.com

October November 2021 issue of ‘Recollec ons’ is OUT NOW

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 The October-November 2021 issue of ‘Recollec ons’ is OUT NOW. Recollec ons Editor Peter Lacey says "We hope you enjoy reading it and discovering a li le more about the absolutely fascina ng history of the NSW South Coast. Paper copies should be available in the usual outlets.

It’s also accessible at www.bit.ly/ Recollec ons30 so please let all your friends, neighbours, workmates know that it’s now available.

"Covid restric ons have played havoc with prin ng and distribu on arrangements of paper copies of this issue – i.e. ul mately ge ng about 3,500 paper copies to those who normally would collect copies. We hope to have copies to outlets in the Bega Valley Shire some me next week, but un l lockdown restric ons in Eurobodalla Shire are li ed we cannot deliver any copies to our distribu on outlets there. This will be a huge disappointment to the many locals who really look forward to receiving each new issue."

WORKING BEE. – About 40 members of the Presbyterian and Methodist churches assembled at the cemetery Vol 16 September 15th 2017 on Wednesday a ernoon and did excellent work in clearing and burning off scrub in their respec ve Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 por ons. The willing band of toilers were supplied with refreshment by the lady members. GIFT AFTERNOON. – There was a happy li le gathering at the Parish Hall on Tuesday a ernoon when Mrs. Preddy and Miss DuRoss received a lovely array of gi s for their Jumble Stall at the forthcoming C.E. Bazaar. During the a ernoon recherche refreshments were partaken of, and a short me spent in “Viewing the tray.” Mrs. J. Hansen correctly giving the names of all the ar cles thereon, won the prize. RUNAWAY. – Some excitement was cause on Tuesday a ernoon through a young draught horse a ached to a milk van, bol ng. While the driver, Mr. W. J. Jeffery, was in the Commercial Bank, the horse pulled away from the post, and freeing itself from the winkers, bolted, but its mad career was stopped at the corner of Vulcan and Campbell Sts. by the capsizing of the vehicle. The horse escaped injury, but the axle and sha of the van were broken. BATEMANS BAY. – (From our Correspondent.) The Brass Band Ball was a great success. A well-filled hall was the response of the public to encourage the bandsmen and to show the Bandmaster Mr. J. La y and the Secretary Mr. A. Ryan that their efforts merit approba on of the public. The door takings were about £10. A feature of the dance was the beau fully ar s c wall decora ons – the stage effect was deligh ul. The arranged palm leaves and clema s effec vely covered up the bare walls and imparted to the Hall a charm to please the most aesthe c. During the a ernoon the Factory played the rest of the town in a game of cricket. It was the first game of the season and it showed that there were some good old sloggers le amongst us. We see from the Gaze e that Bateman’s Bay is now an urban area, and no doubt there will soon be a visit from an official to report on the condi on of the latrines and sundry altera ons such as cemen ng floors, etc., insisted on. It is a pity that improvements mean expense, especially during such an epidemic of impecuniosity which now exists in the Bay. We are glad to see back in Mogo an old iden ty, Mr. Arnie Anne s, who had reopened in the storekeeping line. ADVERTISMENT. – FOR SALE. THE SHAMROCK CAFE. On the advice of my Doctor I am reluctantly compelled to relinquish business, therefore my Up-to-date Tea Rooms, Confec onary, Fruit and So Drinks Establishment, known as the SHAMROCK CAFE, which shows a quick and substan al turnover, is for sale. The shop is well furnished and in a most central posi on. For par culars apply – T. Strahan, Vulcan Street, Moruya. Extracted from the Moruya Examiner by the Moruya and District Historical Society Inc. h ps://

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Missing Inac on : Our Mayor

Where is the Mayor? We are in the middle of one of the most financially catastrophic mes this shire has ever had and there is no sign of the mayor anywhere? If we go back to the bushfires Mayor Liz Innes was pre y much absent there as well. When the community needed leadership there wasn't much at all coming from our illustrious council. Bega on the other hand, thank god, had their Mayor front and centre keeping the community up to date on social media and on the radio but our mayor wasn't to be seen anywhere un l the end of the first fires when she popped up singing along to Canberra Come Back and telling anyone who would listen to bring their Empty Esky. Local businesses were already doing it tough before the fires but they pushed through with whatever money they could muster hoping to reopen. The government grants helped quite a few to keep their heads just above water but there were quite a few who sank and didn't make it. To add to the pain came Covid. Once again business doors slammed shut. Locals were now on their uppers and the number of businesses that have now closed will only be realised once we open up again. But where is the mayor? While there is li le she can say about Covid cases in the region there is a lot she can say about a road to financial recovery once the Lock Downs are over. Instead the community have declared her "Missing Inac on".

Her very no ceable absence from her leadership role is becoming widely considered as an insult to ratepayers who are in need of leadership during this most difficult period. More and more o en we are seeing Deputy Mayor Rob Pollock stepping in to fulfill the du es of a Mayor such as chairing Public Forums

and officia ng ci zenship presenta ons. Liz Innes announced to WIN TV that she was not going to stand in the September elec ons. Since that announcement the only me we see her is when there is a council mee ng. She doesn't bother showing up Vol 16 September 15th 2017 for Public Access and Public Forum sessions to listen to ratepayers. Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 The Local Elec ons are scheduled for December 4th, 2021. Hopefully by that date the vo ng op ons will be sorted out with electronic, postal and polling booth processes worked out. The Mayor has said she won't stand for re-elec on in December 2021. But un l then it appears we can expect the bare minimum from her while she con nues to accept her mayoral fees, her mayoral car and her mayoral perks. All up valued at over $100,000 per year (or $1900 per week). In terms of accomplishment there is li le that the Mayor can lay claim to over the past five years. The injec on of Government s mulus into the shire via the Batemans Bay Bridge, the Nelligen Bridge and the Batemans Bay pool and theatre has brought $370 million to the township of Batemans Bay however much of that has le the shire as well to outside contractors. Once complete these projects offer li le in the way of ongoing local employment. Ahead is the Batemans Bay Spine Road at $30 million, the Moruya Bypass at $900 million and the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital at $200 million. Again these projects came from the NSW State Government. So what has Liz Innes achieved in her five years of being Mayor? Not much it appears. On June 24th 2021 "Cr Innes referenced the oyster hatchery at Moruya Airport, tourism industry projects and promo on of the arts as being what she was most proud of during her mayoral term." source It will take me to measure the legacy of Mayor Innes once the community is allowed out to see what remains. Her edifice of the "Gateway to the Shire" will be opened in early 2022 by a new mayor and a new council who will realise that they have inherited a facility that will heavily impose itself on the financial well being of the Council coffers. In the mean me we will con nue to ask "Where is the Mayor?"

Shire Covid Outbreak - Bay Chamber supports call for enquiry

Editor, The Beagle, Sir, Reference is made to the excellent le er from Russell Schneider AM GAICD, President of the Eurobodalla Coastal Alliance (ECA) on 22 September. The Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber also calls for an independent high-level enquiry into the circumstances that have led the latest COVID outbreak in Batemans Bay. As everyone is aware, business has suffered shock a er devasta on in a emp ng to keep their doors open and this latest episode may well be the final blow for many small businesses. Regre ably, media has been silent on the issues that have led to community infec ons and locals can only rely on rumours and scu lebu . If the circula ng stories are only partly accurate, they reflect what appears to be a serious breakdown in procedures to protect us. Our community and business owners need to know what went wrong and what needs to be done to prevent a reoccurrence. Charles Stuart, Vice President Batemans Bay Business & Tourism Chamber

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 Julie and Sarah’s pick. Potent, haun ng and lyrical, Night Blue is a debut novel like no other, a narra ve largely told in the voice of the pain ng Blue Poles.

It is a truly original and absorbing approach to revisi ng Jackson Pollock and his wife Lee Krasner as ar sts and people, as well as a realigning our ideas around the cultural legacy of Whitlam's purchase of Blue Poles in 1973. It is also the story of Alyssa, and a contemporary rela onship, in which Angela O'Keeffe immerses us in the essen al power of art to change our personal lives and, by turns, a na on. Moving between New York and Australia with fluid ease, Night Blue is in mate and tender, yet surprisingly drama c. It is a glorious explora on of how art must never be undervalued

ISBN: 9781925760675 ISBN-10: 1925760677 Audience: General Format: Paperback Language: English Number Of Pages: 144 Published: 1st May 2021

Redhead by the Side of the Road

A love-story gem from the bestselling author of A Spool of Blue Thread

'If Anne Tyler isn't the best writer in the world, who is?' BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour

A perfect love story for imperfect people.

Micah Mor mer measures out his days running errands for work, maintaining an impeccable cleaning regime and going for runs (7:15, every morning). He is in a long-term rela onship with his woman friend Cassia, but they live apart. His carefully calibrated life is regular, steady, balanced.

But then the order of things starts to lt. Cassia is threatened with evic on, and when a teenager shows up at Micah's door claiming to be his son, he is confronted with another surprise he seems poorly equipped to handle.

Can Micah, a man to whom those around him always seem just out of reach, find a way back to his perfectly imperfect love story?

‘Well cheers, Mick. Gladys has s ll confined us to my back shed for a while yet.’ They both took long sips from their stubbies. ‘To tell you the truth, Bazza, I’m bloody confused. Rules, regula ons, dates, percentages, boundaries, dosages, quaran ne, lockdown, curfews. It’s a whole new language and leaves my head spinning. I was down the supermarket the other day, and old ‘know all’ Ron reckons you can’t go more than five kilometres in any direc on.’ Bazza raised an eyebrow and grinned. ‘Ah Mick, I think he has got his LGAs mixed up with his IGAs. Anyway, I can’t blame him, I’m confused seventy percent of the me. At least the local barista is laughing. He reckons everyone orders double shots of coffee these days.’ ‘Anyhow, Bazza, Sco Mo has got the road map to get us out of it all and…..’ Bazza splu ered his mouthful of beer. ‘Bloody road map, Mick? It’s a bloody jigsaw puzzle. You’ve got each state doing their own thing and here in NSW we’re now divided into LGAs. Mind you, I don’t blame the Premiers. When there is a power vacuum it gets filled quickly enough. I just cannot imagine any other Prime Minister, Liberal or Labor allowing the country to split and……’ ‘Hang on, Bazza. Now just hang on. Sco Mo has just sorted out the Chinese with these new submarines…..’

‘We’ll debate that one another day, Mick. Why we are even talking about 8 submarines to apparently defend 34,000 kilometres of Australian coastline in the middle of a pandemic is beyond me. According to all the exper se, we are about to go into a health crisis in the next few months. At the moment, they are bringing back re red nurses, doctors, paramedics and even pharmacists in prepara on. There is going to be an incredible strain on the health system and we need a na onal approach. One might even say some na onal leadership.’ ‘Yeah but, Bazza….’ ‘No buts, Mick. Your mate, Sco Mo, reminds me of a new ki en with a bag full of balls of wool. Le unsupervised, it grabs one, gets excited, turns it over a few mes, runs it out, plays with it for awhile, gets bored but manages to get itself out of the tangles, leaves a mess and then heads straight back for a fresh ball of wool. Look at the track record; the bushfires, the aged care debacle, quaran ne fiasco, vaccina on stuff up, the response to sexual harassment and the list goes on. I’m cynical, but the latest ball of wool is this foray into Foreign Affairs and it seems to be leaving a pre y big mess beyond our shores.’ Mick shi ed in his seat.

‘I will bet you the first beer back in the pub a er lockdown, Mick, that we are talking more about the shortcomings of the health system, rather than submarines and AUKUS. We might even agree that hospitals are more important than submarines. That is, of course unless our ki en finds a new ball of wool.’

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Reading

Asleep on the “Growth” Plane

You might wonder, “Who’d be silly enough to get on a Vol 16 September 15th 2017 plane just because it was there?” Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 But what’s now become glaringly obvious is that we all got on board the “economic growth” plane for that very reason. Nobody bothered to ask such ques ons as “Where are we going?” “When will we get there?” “What will it cost us? or, “Who’s flying the plane?” No, we just sleepwalked, donkey and carrot like, up the stairs, down the aisle, obligingly took our seats, and fell asleep. Now, I’m not a emp ng a “point the accusing finger” exercise here, because almost without excep on we all did precisely this, myself included. I guess we all just assumed that the whole concept of endless “economic growth” somehow had the best interests of ourselves and our families at heart. I fear many s ll believe this. I suppose the warning signs should have been there when we saw the poli cians manning the check in desk and the exploitable migrant labour handling the baggage. But the dead give-away should have been the motley collec on of characters flying the ship and paying for the adver sing. The fossil fuel lobby, the property developers, land speculators, money lenders, consumer chains, mass media & other assorted planetary parasites. But we were all dazzled by that shiny, magical winged marvel of the 20th century, resplendent with impressive logos and some mes crea ve artwork, brilliantly marketed with implied but never stated promises- the GDP “growth” economy. We all took our seats on that endless flight and focussed on the entertainment screens, the food and drinks trolley and the nicely presented flight a endants- one of whom I think, “might just have a bit of a thing for me”. We all fell in love with a fantasy. But an airplane is a er all, just a vehicle we choose to take us to a place where we want to be. Invariably a place somewhat be er than our departure point, be it for work or play. Who willingly gets on a transport and travels to somewhere worse? We could discuss endlessly whether or not the idea of economic growth was ever going to be the best vehicle to take us to our des na on. Perhaps a topic for another me. But if it was, and its whole purpose was to take us to that point where human wellbeing would be sustainably maximised, and I can only assume that was its original purpose, although I’ve never heard this explicitly stated, then surely, surely we’ve overshot our des na on? … and no one seems to have no ced? The cold hard reality is, as we are just star ng to realise, to our extreme terror, that no des na on was ever men oned. Neither were the costs, the arrival date, nor who would be taking charge. It’s now evident that this plane was never about a des na on it was always about loading up with as many passengers as it could possibly pack in and a emp ng to keep them in the sky for as long as possible, while the staff cleverly ran up their credit card debts. Oh, and by the way, if anybody had bothered to check the parachutes they’d have seen that there were only enough for the captain and crew. So now the plane has begun its downward trajectory. But it’s not a controlled descent towards a so