Community ………………4 to

The Benefits Of Being a Foster Cat Carer.

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 AWL NSW Eurobodalla Branch has had many happy foster cat carers over the years. Here are two authen c reviews of their very sa sfying experiences. “ As a first me foster carer when I joined in 2015, I was worried whether I could let go of the cats that I fostered, but over me I learnt you can, especially when a perfect match is found. ‘Farrow’ is such a feel good story. A local on daily walks no ced Farrow had been living in the drains for some me. He was very friendly so they took him home. As they couldn't keep him AWLNSW took him in. Well, li le did I know it was going to take 8 months before we found him a home. He had the best nature and got on with everyone, dogs, cats and people. I think his long hair and being black put people off. Then one day I got a text from a young couple wan ng to do a meet and greet, but they lived in Orange. I remember saying to them, ‘Do you realise how far away Eurobodalla is?’ Once I talked to them I realised this was meant to be. As a carer you get a ‘gut feel’ about who is a good match and I do ask a lot of ques ons on what they want from a cat. Their cat, who was called Arrow, had lost his companion cat and had the same easy going nature. It was a long trip but all went well with fi ng into the family and he was a perfect adop on for them. Farrow’s new owners sent this photo of Farrow on the le , Arrow on the right, with the comment that they are Ying and Yang. As a carer this makes the wait worthwhile, knowing the right place was found. So it's very rewarding and sa sfying when these animals get a second chance they so deserve.” Another young woman looks a er new born orphaned ki ens, which is really hard work. It means 2hourly feeds, cleaning them etc., but she loves watching them grow up. As she has some health problems she says it's given her something else to focus on in life, the ki ens entertain her and make her laugh. If you would like to become a foster cat carer, AWL NSW Eurobodalla Branch phone number is 0410 016 612. (Rehoming Organisa on No: R251000222)

Gadfly 196 By Robert Macklin One of the mysteries that has been piquing my interest since they suddenly disappeared from their comic strip in the early 2000s, is the whereabouts of Mandrake the Magician and Lothar, his brawny enforcer. A er all, I grew up with these guys and their adventures in the old Brisbane Courier-Mail before Murdoch turned it into a sad reflec on of his raddled receptors. The comic strips of the old Courier were an absolute joy. And they catered for every taste. The old diggers could always get a chuckle out of Bluey and Curley; the kids (old and young) could chortle over Ginger Meggs’s ba les with that black-haired bully, Tiger Kelly. Then there was Dagwood Bumstead with his big sandwiches, comely wife Blondie and his boss Mr Withers who I always thought was reincarnated as “Sir”, in The Good Life TV series. But Mandrake was easily my favourite morning read (a er the sports pages of course). In fact, when I went for an interview for a cadetship with the Courier’s fearsome editor, Ted Bray, the first thing he said was, ‘So, Mr Macklin, you want to be a journalist, do you?’ ‘Yes, sir,’ I replied. We cha ed for a bit before he fi ed me with a steely look and said, ‘So, what was the page one lead in today’s paper?’ I was totally stumped. I stammered something about Brisbane bea ng Toowoomba in the Rugby League on the back page… but then the only thing that jumped to mind was Mandrake who, I burst out, ‘Gestured hypno cally, disappeared, and Lothar grabbed at Saki, the master of disguise and he cleared out chased by Lothar, and he le behind that li le clay camel like he always does and…’ Mr Bray took a copy of the paper from the shelf behind his big desk and turned to the comics. ‘Hmm,’ he said, ‘So he did. Okay, we’ll be in touch.’ And he actually smiled. I knew at that moment that my life was about to change. Over the years I tried to stay abreast of their adventures but the plotlines lost their bite un l suddenly in 2002 the newspaper strip ended and therea er all the characters were on no ce. I couldn’t bear the thought that they were gone forever. Their actual appearance didn’t ma er so much, it was that great combina on of the magical misdirec on and Lothar’s brawn that I’d miss. Just couldn’t bear it…and that, I’m thrilled to report, is when two poli cians arrived in Canberra and began their run for high office in the Federal Parliament of Australia. First they knocked Malcolm off his perch in a classic double act. Then, you got it – Mandrake Morrison the magician, the master of the art of the hypno c gesture, took over. He’s the one that says, “Look over here…nothing happening in the Defence Minister’s office, or in the A orney-General’s past (which he vigorously denies anyway), or the Member for Hughes’s mad an -vaxxing, or the aged people’s homes, or the climate change disaster, or the goslow on the toothless Federal ICAC, or the Treaty referendum on the Statement from the Heart, or the French…no,

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no, over here, look, a Forever Partnership, with Li le England and Big America!” Amazing. He’s even transforming himself with more hair on top, soon to be joined by black suit and e at a White House shindig. Joe Biden is so dazzled by it all he can’t remember his name. And as for Lothar, his reincarnated brawny enforcer with the head as bare and shiny as a peeled potato, well, he hasn’t changed a bit. robert@robertmacklin.com

The Beagle Editor, Last week saw a Sydney–based worker travel to the NSW north coast taking the COVID-19 virus with them. This caused the Byron and Tweed Shires to be plunged into lockdown, at great cost to their local communi es. The worker had apparently been vaccinated and their employer had a CovidSAFE plan in opera on. This same situa on has been occurring in the Eurobodalla, where Sydney-based Transport for NSW contractors have been undertaking survey work for the Moruya Bypass since the start of September. The events that occurred at Byron Bay show that there are significant and real risks associated with this. work on the Moruya bypass While most of us are locked down and can’t leave the Eurobodalla, Transport for NSW has contract survey teams from both Sydney, and other local government areas currently under lock down, out and about in our community conduc ng work on both private and public land around Moruya. ‘Stay at home’ rules apply to everyone in these local government areas and presumably that means members of these survey teams, so what are they doing in the Eurobodalla? Even if they were locals, Eurobodalla is one of the local government areas subject to these same ‘stay at home rules’, so why is it that they are able roam around Moruya with impunity? According to NSW Health, you must not enter regional NSW without a ‘reasonable excuse’, but survey work is not a listed as a ‘reasonable excuse’. These survey teams do also not qualify as ‘authorised workers’ under NSW COVID rules - despite the fact that they may have been vaccinated. While COVID 19 has restricted what most people can do and impacted many of our businesses, the Moruya Bypass project has carried on regardless. The first consulta on for the Bypass was conducted back in March last year just a er the Black Summer bushfires and as COVID 19 first hit our community. Most people were not aware of it because it was en rely online and therefore very few people responded. At the most recent consulta on in May this year, the Eurobodalla community were presented with a preferred route for the bypass. Transport for NSW said their choice reflected the feedback received during the first consulta on period and at a single online workshop which was a ended by only 3 local business and community representa ves who signed confiden ality agreements and have not been able to share any informa on with the people they are supposed to represent. COVID restric ons meant that the most recent consulta on was limited to 2 market stalls and 2 informa on sessions where numbers were limited. So if you aren’t sure about where the bypass will go, who it will impact and what it will look like, you are not alone. COVID-19 has made things much easier for Transport for NSW to push through the bypass route they have favoured all along by limi ng community input and restric ng any community involvement or discussion. Right now during the latest COVID lockdown they are “Zooming in” remotely to discuss acquiring proper es for their preferred route with hapless landowners who are being played off against one another while being told not share the details of these nego a ons with anyone. These ac vi es are occurring before Transport for NSW has even issued its report on the outcome of the consulta on sessions held in May this year, and despite the fact that they have s ll not provided any detailed responses to the many significant technical, social, environmental and cultural issues raised by the community during these consulta ons. These include how the preferred route will align with the new Regional Hospital planned for Moruya, and why this unnecessarily expensive and destruc ve route will be funded to the tune of at least $750 million, while our Regional Hospital is being starved of adequate resources. To find out more, go to the Moruya Bypass Ac on Group Facebook page (h ps://www.facebook.com/ Moruya-Bypass-Ac on-Group-100593015562599/) and our soon to be live website at h ps:// moruyabypass.org/. If you want to support the best possible bypass for Moruya, you can sign the pe on at the link on our Facebook page and website.

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SERIOUS ILLNESS. – On Saturday last a ten-year-old son of Mr. Mark Whelan, of Bodalla, was admi ed to the local Hospital, suffering from pneumonia and blood poisoning. On Tuesday the worst was feared, but, we are pleased to state, the following day a change for the be er had taken place. CRICKET COMPETITION. – At a mee ng held on Wednesday night last it was decided to start a Cricket Compe on in this district. It was decided to purchase a shield as a trophy to be played for. The following office bearers were elected: President, Mr. C. de Saxe; Vice-Presidents, Messrs. W. Doyle (Moruya), H. W. Strong (Bateman’s Bay), G. Veitch (Mogo), A. Pollock (Nerrigundah), F. Woodward (Bodalla); Secretary, Mr. C. Carter; Treasurer, Mr. F. Knight; Delegates, Messrs. Carter and Selden (Moruya), Molloy and Barling (Mogo), Marsden and Smith (Bodalla), Strong and Fenning (Bateman’s Bay). The rules of the old Associa on were revised and adapted. The Compe on commences on last Saturday in October. A terrific gale blew here on Thursday. In its course it carried away the verandah roof of Mr. D. Buckley’s residence, and many panels of fencing were razed to the ground. OPENING OF THE NEW BODALLA SCHOOL. - … took place under happy auspices on Saturday last, 24

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th inst. It has for some me been a ma er of general knowledge that the Bodalla school was one of the worst Government buildings on the South Coast; now, a er much and prolonged agita on, the residents of Bodalla may fairly claim to possess the best public building of similar size on the South Coast….The building should easily accommodate 80 or 90 pupils, which should meet present requirements. VITAL STATISTICS. – Following are the vital sta s cs for the quarter ending Sept.,30th, 1921: - Births 19, Marriages

4, Deaths, 15. SIGNS OF PROGRESS. – Having just completed an up-todate garage, Mr. Preddey is about to erect a picture and dance hall on the allotment adjoining. More anon. POLICEMAN’S SUICIDE. – Constable Kenneth Anderson shot himself at Avon Dam lockup on Tuesday. He le a note on a desk. It read: “Dear Mother, - I have broken a big obliga on, and good-bye. Say good-bye to Lill. Give this note to my mother.” Constable Anderson, who was a na ve of this district, was well known in spor ng circles, having owned that pre y li le pony Daybird. ACCIDENT. – We are sorry to report that the Rev. Sanders met with a painful accident on Saturday. In cranking up his Ford car he unfortunately fractured his wrist. Mrs. Sanders is assis ng her husband to fulfil his district visits by capably handling the wheel.

Reading - Moruya Books—Alison’s Pick Full Circle—A search for the world that comes next

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 By: Sco Ludlam A visionary book for our wild mes.

In Full Circle, Sco Ludlam draws on his unique experience as senator and ac vist to capture our world on a precipice and explore what comes next. We are now in the Anthropocene - humans are changing the earth's climate irreversibly, and poli cal, human and natural systems are on the cusp of collapse. Ludlam shines a light on the bankruptcy of the financial and poli cal systems that have led us here - systems based on the exploita on of the earth's resources, and 99 per cent of the world's popula on labouring for the wealth of 1 per cent. One way or another, we are headed for radical change. Ludlam seeks old and new ways to make our systems humane, regenera ve and more in tune with nature. He travels the globe to see what happens when ordinary people stand up to corpora ons and tyrants. He takes the reader on a journey through me to discover the underlying pa erns of life. And he finds that we are at a unique moment when billions of ny ac ons by individuals and small groups are coalescing into one great movement that could transform history. Just a li le spot of news, we've updated our Website.

h ps://www.moruyabooks.com.au/ It turns out Julia has a secret talent! She's given us a much classier image. :) We're s ll opera ng behind closed doors, give us a call or drop by between 9am and 12pm weekdays to get your book fix. Stay tuned, October New Releases have started floa ng in so keep your eyes peeled for a fresh new Newsle er full of tempta ons.....and life ra s!