What’s On …………….... 21 to

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

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

The world’s best new films come to Sydney in cinema and online this year for 19 days and nights of inspiring and entertaining premieres, talks and par es. Join us and be among the first in Australia to see the greatest, strangest and most exci ng work that cinema has to offer. Sydney Film Fes val takes place at our flagship venue the State Theatre, as well as cinemas in the CBD, Newtown, Cremorne, Western Sydney and more, screening films you won’t usually find in the mul plex. 12 films are selected for the Official Compe on, which celebrates “courageous, audacious and cu ng-edge” cinema with a $60,000 cash prize. Sydney Film Fes val also presents seven other cash awards over the course of the fes val.

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How can I find out what’s playing in the SFF On Demand program, and how can I access On Demand?

Visit sff.org.au You can either: • Click on the STREAM ON DEMAND tab at the very top of the SFF website to visit SFF On Demand • Click on the ON DEMAND bu on next to Donate on the top right of the main naviga on bar • You can also visit the SFF On Demand virtual program strand for a full list of films on SFF On Demand here.

Once you’re browsing SFF On Demand, you can scroll down from the On Demand home page to view films, or you can visit Browse By Strand, Browse A-Z or Ticket Bundles in the main menu at the top of the site. You can also browse Talks too—and there are so many to choose from.:

Gadfly 203 By Robert Macklin One of the rare delights that came with Covid was the daily walk among the songbirds in a gully by our Canberra home and the virtual aviary of the Tuross Head bolthole. Un l then, I’d thought of birds as a kind of feathered orchestra endlessly tuning up with no conductor to begin the symphony. But the daily exposure revealed what should have been immediately obvious: birds, like humans, think they are the centre of the universe and that everything revolves around them. What they think of us I can’t say. They usually give us a wide berth the way we do crocodiles, except for magpies who clearly think we’re pesky aliens to be swooped and pecked at breeding me. The inevitable next step was to transfer the proposi on to all other living creatures. That was hours of fun as I tried to see the world through the eyes of our na ve fauna. At the coast we have occasional visita ons from a big buck kangaroo. He hops over from the Tuross golf course and for some inscrutable reason, plants himself on the lawn outside the wri ng room window, pulls himself to his full height and stares. He’s been around our place since his joeyhood and I like to think he’s admiring the extension we put on a couple of years ago. But maybe he’s just reminiscing. No koalas in our area but I suspect they’re s ll in marsupial dream me…twenty-one hours of it every single day. There’s Eric the Echidna, a nosey anteater, who seems to appear when the two young granddaughters arrive. He obviously thinks they’re the ‘ants pants’. However, once that thought struck, the corollary leapt fully formed into the newly awakened cerebellum: Ants! Obvious when you think about it. They really do make the world go round. According to Google, are 11,000 million millions of them. If the ants realised that the Morrisons among us were wrecking the world with phony climate change plans and trumpeted a call to arms (and legs) against the human species, we wouldn’t last a fortnight. The supermarket shelves would be denuded of Mortein by the second day. But at least the lovely blue planet would eventually recover. But then came another fearful thought: what if they had a government as self-referen al as ours. Imagine a Cabinet Mee ng of their ParliamANT. At the head of the table - smug as ever - would be AdamANT, and beside him his shiny-domed War Minister, OffendANT. They have already sent out feelers to the moderate fac on headed by Science and Educa on Ministers, RuminANT and PedANT. Another group, MiscreANT and DeviANT, would vote in a bloc to protect each other while just in from the bush would come IgnorANT and their leader RecalcitrANT. AdamANT opens proceedings. ‘Hoeeizcketliqxbvooo!’ he cries. PedANT turns to his neighbour. ‘What was that?’ ‘Don’t worry about it,’ says RuminANT. ‘He’s talking in tongues.’ ‘We haven’t got tongues.’ ‘All right, palps then. Gee…’ OffendANT jumps on the table and thumps his thorax. ‘The first thing we do, we kill all the Echidnas!’ There’s a sudden silence.

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‘Muxjklopsgeto…’ says AdamANT ‘What did he say?’ asks DeviANT. ‘ MiscreANT sneers, ‘Bags I make the announcement…’ DeviANT: ‘Doesn’t he always?’ MiscreANT: ‘Oo look, here comes the sugary drinks. Over here, CelebrANT.’

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BOLLOCKS! Trees that are being felled along Araluen Road are not all ';dead or dying'. I have nothing against removing 'dangerous' trees (dead or Vol 16 September 15th 2017 alive) that may impact the road - by falling on it or the roots Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 pulling the road apart when it falls. However, these are not the only trees being removed. *healthy trees close to the road are being felled *all trees on inside bends are being felled *ALL dead trees near the road are being felled, even though they will not impact the road when they fall - many are habitat trees with hollows, and vantage points for the eagles. *trees that have maintained 2 years of healthy epicormic growth are being felled - I think these are the ones being classified as 'dying' - NONSENSE! Epicormic growth is how most eucalypts survive a er fire (but not in the Eurobodalla) *trees have been felled within the Deua Na onal Park(beyond 10m of road centre line) *and they are felling in SPRING while birds, that survived the fires, are nes ng Council has a pile of Disaster Funding to spend, so they are spending up big so they won't have to pay for tree clearing in the future. Council has contracted Asset Arbour : $3,442,257.00 for 11 months and Eurobodalla Tree Services: $4,373,200.00 for 11 months. Now they have another $3m to cut down more trees., ESC - hell bent on destroying 'ALL KINDS OF NATURAL' as it tries to regenerate a er devasta ng fires. WHY? Because they got Bushfire Disaster Funding to do it and it will save them a dollar in the future! IRONY? IGNORANCE? GREED? ......... Tricia Gardner Deua River Sleepy Lighthouse

Here I stand starkly white Warning ships with my light Over the waves and rocks to signal Danger to ships, captains be thankful That you’ve not crashed, because of me Standing tall in the sea! Daylight comes, a welcome break To have a rest and stocktake Any damage overnight Causing worry to my light Now to have a li le sleep So I can guide the nightly fleet Past the jagged rocks and coast Dangers disliked by you most!

By Mary Murray

Le er to the Editor. Congratula ons to the Beagle editor for advising readers of an alleged breach of Local Government elec on rules by a si ng councillor and candidate (Beagle 8 Nov). Our community needs more inves ga ve journalism like this in our Shire par cularly rela ng to Council. It is important that the media, including The Beagle, carry out their role as watchdogs at council mee ngs. Many readers may remember my old friend Eric Wiseman who passed away recently, a journalist with the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner for decades. He a ended just about every council mee ng repor ng on rou ne and controversial issues in the local press. Eric also a ended many mee ngs ‘closed to the public’ and kept readers well informed while juggling the rules of defama on which some councillors were/are eager to apply. One could ask - what were they hiding? The stories Eric told me over a coffee or a glass of wine about back room council discussions were very entertaining as well as illumina ng. There was the one about a stash of cash in a piano, long ago, and another about lands acquired at a song for unpaid rates. A er Eric re red, I don’t recall regular a endance by reporters for the print media. Fortunately, since its founding five years ago, The Beagle has reported on every mee ng. It has been more than apparent that the amount of debate in Council mee ngs has diminished. To the observer it is of concern that Councillors arrive at the mee ngs having already made up their minds on recommenda ons based on Council staff briefings and provided agenda reports. Time and me again presenta ons by the public during Public Forum have li le impact on decision making on the day and rarely are the ques ons and issues raised in these presenta ons discussed. Unless we had councillors par cularly refer to earlier presenta ons the public would be none the wiser as this Council removed Live Streaming and recording of Public Forum and Public Access. The General Manager might offer her assuri es that the purpose of a Council briefing is to inform Councillors on business to be considered at an upcoming Council mee ng and that Councillors must not use the briefing sessions to debate or make preliminary decisions on items of business they are being briefed on. The General Manager a empts to assure us that any debate and decision-making must be le to the formal Council mee ng at which the item of business is to be considered. But look at any Council mee ng archive video and you will find debate is a rare occurrence as Councillors appear to skip through the agenda. The media certainly won’t be permi ed to a end ‘closed’ mee ngs, where real decisions o en happen however, as in days of old with Eric Wiseman, the return of open workshops and commi ee mee ngs would place a watchdog in the room. That’s why it’s important for the media, including The Beagle to con nue as Fourth Estate watchdogs of council. I must declare an interest here as I am a candidate in this elec on with A BETTER COUNCIL group, one of our policies is for an open informa ve council.

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Belated Presenta on Ceremony For The Award Of The US Silver Star To The Late Warrant Officer Kevin Wheatley, VC

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 Our BEAGLE audience may be interested to learn that at long last, a er more than 56 years a er the late Warrant Officer Kevin “Dasher” Wheatley was recommended for the award of the SILVER STAR for his gallantry under enemy fire on 18 August 1965 whilst he was serving alongside US Army Special Forces in Vietnam 1965, this decora on will finally be presented to his war widow, Mrs Edna Wheatley at a presenta on ceremony to be held at the United States Embassy in Canberra on 14 December 2021.

Mrs Edna Wheatley, who never remarried and who singlehandedly raised her four young children on her own, will be accompanied at the US Embassy for the presenta on by her only son George Wheatley from Tuross Head, as well as her daughter Phillis and her grandchildren. Other guests will include the Governor General of Australia, General David Hurley AC, DSC Retd and Michael Madden, the author of the latest military history documen ng the short life of WO2 K.A. Wheatley who died on the ba lefield protec ng his wounded comrade in Quang Ngai Province on 13 November 1965. For this selfless brave conduct as a member of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV), WO2 Dasher Wheatley was posthumously bestowed with the Victoria Cross (VC) for his Valour.

The SILVER STAR is the third highest military combat decora on that can be awarded to a member of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in ac on against an enemy. Ac ons that merit the SILVER STAR must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other US Combat Decora ons, but do not merit the award of the Medal of Honor or the Dis nguished Service Cross.

The award of the SILVER STAR is linked to two separate incidents he was involved in as a AATTV member. Early in his tour he was in an ac on with Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) regular troops in Quang Trị Province. During the enemy figh ng, a child ran across the ba lefield. Seeing the danger, WO2 Kevin Wheatley ran a er the girl through the small arms and machine gun crossfire and brought her back to safety, using his own body to shield her. Later in August 1965, during an a ack on a Viet Cong (VC) held village WO2 Wheatley was recommended for an award by a US infantry advisor a er he single-handedly exploited the posi on, carrying the a ack up a steep slope and

L to R - Mrs Edna Wheatley with her son George, and two of her daughters at the dedica on ceremony for the “Warrant Officer Dasher Wheatley” memorial at Campbelltown NSW on 13 November 2015. beagle weekly : Vol 233 November 12th 2021 31

On the 50

th anniversary of his death in South Vietnam, the City of Campbeltown NSW Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 unveiled a memorial to commemorate the bravery of WO2 K.A. Wheatley fondly known to all his Army comrades as “Dasher”.

CITATION FOR THE AWARD OF THE VICTORIA CROSS

On 13 November 1965 at approximately 13:00 hours, a Vietnamese Civil Irregular Defence Group company commenced a search and destroy operation in the Tra Bong valley, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) east of the Tra Bong Special Forces camp in Quang Ngai Province. Accompanying the force were Captain F. Fazekas, senior Australian Advisor, with the centre platoon, and Warrant Officers K. A. Wheatley and R. J. Swanton with the righthand platoon. At about 1340 hours, Warrant Officer Wheatley reported contact with Viet Cong elements. The Viet Cong resistance increased in strength until finally Warrant Officer Wheatley asked for assistance. Captain Fazekas immediately organised the centre platoon to help and personally led and fought towards the action area. While moving towards this area he received another radio message from Warrant Officer Wheatley to say that Warrant Officer Swanton had been hit in the chest, and requested an air strike and an aircraft, for the evacuation of casualties. At about this time the right platoon broke in the face of heavy Viet Cong fire and began to scatter. Although told by the Civil Irregular Defence Group medical assistant that Warrant Officer Swanton was dying, Warrant Officer Wheatley refused to abandon him. He discarded his radio to enable him to half drag, half carry Warrant Officer Swanton, under heavy machine-gun and automatic rifle fire, out of the open rice paddies into the comparative safety of a wooded area, some 200 metres away. He was assisted by a Civil Irregular Defence Group member, Private Dinh Do who, when the Viet Cong were only some ten metres away, urged him to leave his dying comrade. Again he refused, and was seen to pull the pins from two grenades and calmly awaited the Viet Cong, holding one grenade in each hand. Shortly afterwards, two grenade explosions were heard, followed by several bursts of small arms fire. The two bodies were found at first light next morning after the fighting had ceased, with Warrant Officer Wheatley lying beside Warrant Officer Swanton. Both had died of gunshot wounds. Warrant Officer Wheatley displayed magnificent courage in the face of an overwhelming Viet Cong force which was later estimated at more than a company. He had the clear choice of abandoning a wounded comrade and saving himself by escaping through the dense timber or of staying with Warrant Officer Swanton and thereby facing certain death. He deliberately chose the latter course. His acts of heroism, determination and unflinching loyalty in the face of the enemy will always stand as examples of the true meaning of valour. Above: George Wheatley, son of WO2 “Dasher” Wheatley, VC proudly representing his late father at the 2015 ANZAC Day centenary ceremony at Tuross Head, accompanied by the Secretary THPA (John Tilbrook).

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By Jason Pamment

A fantasy-adventure graphic novel about two best friends and their discovery of a mysterious village, perfect for fans of Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet or Raina Telgemeier's Ghost. Grand adventures o en begin where you least expect. Iris knows this because she's read them all. But when she and her best friend, Sam, stumble upon an unusually dry riverbed on the outskirts of town, they make a discovery beyond anything Iris has read about: a hidden city, lost in me and shrouded in mystery. Storm clouds gather as secrets begin to surface. Can Iris and Sam uncover the truth in me to keep their friendship afloat, or will history repeat itself and pull them apart forever? 'A beau fully drawn coming-of-age adventure story.' Kazu Kibuishi, creator of Amulet

Reading—A beer with Baz From the bar table of the pub, Bazza stared out the window at his old ba ered ute and sighed to himself. The fresh rain had failed to wash away the reality; it was me to sell it. Bazza rested his elbow on the table with his chin cupped between his thumb and forefinger. Mick joined him and took a sip of the fresh schooner. “Don’t tell me you are having second thoughts about ge ng rid of that bloody old ute, Bazza? It has spent more me in the last century than this one.” Bazza took a long drink. “It’s a good old ute, Mick, but the trade in offer from the dealer has le me a bit stunned.” “Ahhhh…. give that a miss, Bazza, put it on Gumtree and see how you go.” Bazza raised an eyebrow and Mick flipped open his iPad. “Gumtree, Bazza, buy and sell anything…….. here we go….. I’ve put in your contact details. Now we need a descrip on.” “Well, it’s pre y bloody old, Mick.”

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Mick typed in ‘classic’, ‘iconic’ and ‘one owner’. “There’s a few things that need replacing, Mick.” MIck typed in ‘original features’. ‘There is a bit of a ding on the le side where I hit a roo.” “No worries, Bazza. We will just photograph it from the right side, and I will type in a sentence about ‘ge ng close to nature.” “I’ve got to be honest, Mick, it’s been around the clock a few mes. I’ve travelled a heap of kilometres and it chews up a fair bit of fuel.” Mick typed in ‘very reliable and hardworking’ and took a decent drink. He then exited the pub, took a few photos of the ute, returned and spent a few minutes on the adver sement. “Now Bazza, I’ve photo shopped the images a bit to show the ute in its best light and aligned the wording with your descrip on. Now, I’ve asked them NOT to enter into any text exchanges as that could e you down on price and you never know where the texts end up.” Bazza picked up the iPad and his eyes widened. He shook his head. “What’s up Bazza? Do you think I’m lying?” “I don’t think, I know.” They both enjoyed a drink and a long pause before a sly grin crept across Bazza’s face. “Now Mick, would you be able to get up the French President’s contact details in Paris?” Mick nodded, screwed up his face and started typing. “Okay, let’s stay on this ummm….Gumtree. We’ll sort out this mess your mate, Sco Mo, has created with France.” Bazza rubbed his chin. “Let’s start with ‘FOR SALE…….. Unused submarines……….’” Have a beer with Baz at john.longhurst59@gmail.com