Cinema

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

Gadfly 207 By Robert Macklin The anti-vax movement is more troubling than first appears. It’s tempting to see it as simply a reaction to the lockdowns that have caused such Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 financial and emotional hardship to so many in the community. Add to that a burning resentment against the oppressive hand of authority at a time when government itself has lost a good deal of the respect it once enjoyed. That might account for a few hundred protestors on the streets. But it’s much more serious than that. A quick glance at the national news shows thousands carrying anti-vax banners while the international scene reveals the symptoms of a political nervous break-down, the consequences of which look pretty scary. Covid-19 deaths are on the rise again in the Northern Hemisphere and the commitment to action on climate change at the Glasgow meeting was grudging at best. I don’t want to overstate it, but it feels as though we’re in a conflict that decides whether or not we descend into the kind of chaos so beloved of Hollywood dystopians. Truth itself, it seems, is at the heart of the struggle. And while that might sound a little strange – something is either true or it isn’t – well, it ain’t necessarily so. And our species is truly expert at muddying the waters. For example, lots of parents tell their children there’s a Santa Claus who comes sliding down the chimney late on Christmas Eve; and if they’ve been very good he puts lots of presents at the end of the bed. But after a couple of years the kids discover that wasn’t true. So they get another story – Christmas is really the birthday of a man called Jesus who wasn’t really a man at all but the son of a god who is so powerful and perceptive that he not only created the entire universe but can even hear our thoughts! It takes a little longer to discover that wasn’t true either. In fact, some people never do. They hang on so desperately to the idea that unlike all the other flora and fauna around them, humans don’t actually die; they live on in some spooky consciousness where the bad people are tortured and the good ones – them – have a fine old time. It doesn’t worry them that millions – no, billions – of other equally intelligent folk believe just as fervently in something entirely different. In fact, the most ghastly wars have been fought between those whose beliefs differ only slightly from each other. And since the election of a TV performer in the most powerful country in the world, that nation is splitting into warring factions that both end their threats with, ‘God bless America!’ Little wonder that the very concept of ‘truth’ is not quite as straightforward as we first thought. But here’s the thing: we can actually measure the amounts of C02, methane and other atmospheric gases that are causing the world to become uninhabitable. And we know precisely how to substitute ‘clean’ energy to avoid that fate. Same with Covid-19. We know the cause and the cure because we can measure it. Yet we’re so addicted to other ‘truths’ that our Prime Minister refuses to engage with the climate change cure, refuses to mandate vaccinations and can no longer distinguish between truth and lies…even when he’s the one lying. This same chap – a proud Pentecostal believer – at 11.32am on Thursday, 25 November, 2021personally introduced a Bill into the National Parliament ‘to protect people of religion, of faith, against discrimination.’ And that’s the god’s honest truth. www.robertmacklin.com

Reading—A beer with Baz Mick ran his fingers through his thinning hair and peered into the screen of his laptop. Pa Smith’s ‘People Have the Power” provided a distant beat from the back bar. He waved a hand at the full schooner as Bazza approached. Bazza had a sip and looked over Mick’s shoulder. “Looking for a new job, Mick? I thought you were all se led with that recent management promo on.” “So did I, Bazza, but I’ve got all sorts of problems. As you know, they put me in charge of the export sec on but I seemed to have stuffed up with our biggest clients in both China and France. In fact, both of them are not even speaking to me.” “That’s bloody rough, Mick.” “On top of that, Bazza, I’ve got a few of my staff not following instruc ons and pre y much doing their own thing. They keep reminding me of stuff I said years ago. They are into me about accountability and credibility. Now, as you know, things change, and we have to be a bit flexible as we can’t honour everything we say, but it’s no reason to call me a bloody liar.” They both enjoyed a long sip. “Worst of all, Bazza, that bloody bald undertaker who masquerades as the Queensland Manager I told you about, has really got it in for me.” “Well Mick, he is the bloke you knocked off for the promo on.” “Yeah, yeah, Bazza……. Anyhow he gave this speech about me at the Board Mee ng last Tuesday. Well, the speech was full of praise about my achievements but he did a good job of reminding the Board about all my stuff ups over the past couple of years. Crikey, he even put his arm around me a couple of mes and said ‘I’m ambi ous for him.’ It was like an eulogy for me whilst I’m standing next to him.” “Bloody hell, Mick, that reminds me of Mark Antony’s speech about Brutus being ‘an honourable man’ in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Yep, I think your me is up. Here, I will give you a hand.” Bazza unfolded his newspaper and scanned the employment sec on, whilst Mick returned to his laptop. Bazza finally put his finger on an adver sement. “Here we go, Mick. This job sounds like you. Even though they can’t say it outright these days, it looks as though they are a er a white male about our age.” Mick raised his eyes from his screen. “It reads ‘must be energe c and op mis c’. Now, I reckon you cover the energe c part well. Some days I think you’re on schooners of red cordial. As for op mis c, I believe you when you say the sun will shine, even though it is pissing down rain outside. You always look on the bright side of life and I put that down to your religious upbringing or maybe you just watched Monty Python’s Life of Brian too many mes as a young bloke.” Con nues…..

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Reading—A beer with Baz Mick adjusted his glasses, glanced at the adver sement and took a long sip. “Ah thanks, Bazza. I reckon I can handle the media skills requirement. I like to spin a bit of a yarn and keep the punters happy. And this bit about some overseas travel suits me, as long as it’s not to China or France.”

Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 “Now Mick, I think this bit here, has your name wri en all over it. It says ‘an innova ve and crea ve approach to the implementa on of policy.’” Mick frowned.

“That pre y much means you can make it up as you go along, Mick. Now the job is not available un l early next year but you will have to move to Canberra.” Mick ran his fingers through the furrows in his brow. “But they throw in some top accommoda on, Mick……at a place called The Lodge.” Have a beer with Bazza at john.longhurst59@gmail.com

Come along to Art on the Path, a sustainable market held on the footpath in Broulee

Local ar sts and makers will be showcasing and selling their products on Sunday 19 December between 8am and 12pm. Council's sustainability team will also be there with advice and ps on caring for the na ve wildlife in your backyard, and you can even trade your weeds for a na ve plant. Come along and be inspired by local ar sts and makers who can help you lead a more sustainable lifestyle and take charge of your own war on waste.

HEIFERS FOR JAVA. – By the steamer Benandra, which le here on Sunday, Mr. Hutchison, manager of the Bodalla Estate, shipped ten Holstein heifers to Sydney, where they will be transhipped to Java. WORKING BEE. – Mr. R. L. Dawson is arranging a Working Bee to repair the culvert over Congo Creek, leading to one of our many beauty spots on the coast, for the convenience of picnickers, tourists and fishermen. Anyone willing to give a helping hand is kindly requested to meet at the scene of the opera on at 9 a.m. on 30th inst. Now then, sports, roll up! DEATH. – It is with the deepest regret that we have to record the death of Mr. “Jack” Skehan, of Mullenderree, aged 52 years….Three brothers, Messrs. Michael (Milton), William (Sydney), Daniel (Mullenderree) and two sisters, Miss Lizzie (Mullenderee) and Mrs. H. A. Ryan (“East Lynne”, Bateman’s Bay) are le to mourn the loss of a devoted and affec onate brother. SURFERS, BEWARE! – A number of our exchanges report that sharks are numerous along our coast at present. Several 14-feet specimens have lately been observed patrolling the surf further south. NEW SETTLERS’ LEAGUE. – A public mee ng will be held at Moruya on Thursday, 1st December, for the purpose of forming a branch of the New Se lers’ League of Australia. Divisions of the League have been formed in three States, and are contemplated in the others, for the purpose of s mula ng immigra on and ensuring the proper recep on and assimila on of immigrants….About 100 branches should be formed in N.S.W. by the end of the year. HOSPITAL MEETING. - …Correspondence received from H. W. Strong, secretary of Bateman’s Bay effort in aid of Hospital, sta ng that a sum of £54 1s 4d had been realized by the effort and that they would endeavor to make it an annual affair. The secretary was instructed to acknowledge same and convey thanks for those splendid results on behalf of this ins tu on.

From Australec c Ltd., enquiring if our hospital required an X-ray set installed as they would do it on easy term. The commi ee decided they were not in a posi on to install a set at the present me.

Matron’s Report. – Number of pa ents in hospital…,one admi ed since last report, five; total treated at hospital since last report, six; discharged since last report (recovered), three; remaining in hospital on 16th November, three; fees received from matron and received by Treasurer £3. Dona ons in kind received. – Mrs. W. Stephens, vegetables, eggs and flowers; Miss M. White, old linen; Mrs. J. F. Lou , eggs, fruit and flowers; Mrs. Donovan, eggs; Mrs. M. Whelan, eggs; Mrs. P. Lynch, eggs and fruit; Miss E. Mason, eggs and vegetables; Mrs. T. Flood, Flowers.

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Extracted from the Moruya Examiner by the Moruya and District Historical Society Inc. h ps://www.mdhs.org.au

Here’s more intriguing South Coast history – Issue 31 of ‘Recollec ons’, the last issue for this year. Copies are also available now at: www.bit.ly/ Recollec ons31

Paper copies will be available from local libraries and about 80 other distributors between Batemans Bay and Eden from the end of this week.

As always, any comments or feedback is welcome, and the editors value any sugges ons you might have about stories that they should include in future copies of ‘Recollec ons’. As you will see on page 21, there are more Carp Street Walks scheduled for early next year to meet a con nuing demand from those wishing to learn more about this fascina ng main street in Bega. The first will be on Thursday morning 13th January (not 15th January, as incorrectly shown in ‘Recollec ons’). To reserve your place, simply call 0448 160 852. We thank you very much for your con nuing support throughout 2021. It has been greatly appreciated.

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

Le er to the editor Council elec on mes are here again and unfortunately this me we see an expansion of poli cal par es compe ng for your vote. As well, we have to understand groups running at least 4 candidates fully aware that in all cases the number 1 on the cket has any chance to get elected and lower than number 2 do not want to be elected. The successful Mayoral team, depending on how split the vote is, will elevate possibly 2 councillors from their cket into council.

I have always encouraged voters to vote BELOW the line so that you actually choose the preference pathway of the councillor's you want to be elected. Never give a vote to a candidate you DO NOT want to be elected.

Below the line though you must pick a minimum of 4 candidates remembering in reality normally only the top two on each cket in reality want to be elected. Looking at the way ckets have been organized I found it interes ng that on the Mayne cket the head of the cket is not running to be Mayor though should his number three, if Karyn Starmer fails to get the numbers to be the Mayor then her chances to be elected as a councillor is slim. Perhaps she does not wish to be a councillor if she fails to get the top job. The field this elec on is much smaller, and in my case when you exclude three groups it certainly narrows the field selec on. Therefore selec ng 8 councillors is a challenge and possibly I will have to stop at 6. Anyhow may I wish all poten al councillors the best of luck and those elected you are in for a ride. Cheers. Keith Dance

The Beagle Editor, I feel privileged to have moved from inland Australia to the Eurobodalla area. A er two years this s ll feels like paradise. Choosing who to vote for at the Eurobodalla Council elec ons is for me a ques on of which candidate priori es align with my priori es. For me considera on of our environment comes number one.

I note the increasing numbers of people who desire climate calming ac ons. The Lowy Ins tute Climate Poll 2021 states: “Three-quarters of Australians (74%) say ‘the benefits of taking further ac on on climate change will outweigh the costs”. I hope to see a Council that will priori se environmental sustainability alongside facilita ng business growth.

Climate Solu ons 4 Eurobodalla stared with a forum in May and lead to a survey of candidates. All candidate groups were asked ques ons including what their priori es are in addressing climate issues in Eurobodalla. The survey responses have now been published on the South Coast Health and Sustainability Alliance (SHASA) website - Community - SHASA

Being rela vely new to the area I came without knowledge of the candidates. Reading over the responses to the survey has given me the informa on I needed to make an informed vote. The Labor Team, the Anthony Mayne Team, and the Greens all scored extremely well across all ques ons, and all took me to add their own sugges ons and comments. I recommend taking me to read the responses. Given the significance of climate change, it will likely be an issue that will influence voters. I am hopeful that our new Council will be prepared to commit to making a difference and take posi ve climate calming ac ons. Susan Cheetham Surf Beach

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

Reading - Le er to the Editor NO, NSWLHD: It’s the bureaucrats in the dock, not our medical team

The Beagle Editor, Vol 16 September 15th 2017 Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 Vol 48 April 27th 2018 ‘NO, NSWLHD: It’s the bureaucrats in the dock, not our medical team’ The response from the SNSWLHD execu ve to the resigna ons in the Moruya maternity team brilliantly demonstrates why these doctors are leaving. Just going back to Dr Holland’s tes mony to the Inquiry into Access to Rural and Regional Health Services, he described how the maternity team in Moruya was performing miracles in clearly unacceptable working condi ons. He later disclosed how the medical team was so concerned about the absence of neonatal care that they were considering closing the unit un l the situa on was resolved. Now instead of listening to the people on the ground, the health bureaucrats did what bureaucrats do: they engaged an external expert consultant and engineered the (damning) report to make it look as if the vic ms (the medical team) were in fact responsible for the situa on. Are we surprised this was the final straw for the 2 doctors who resigned, with who knows how many more s ll to follow?

We and all our local media should have a closer look at the SNSWLHD statement. For example: - It [the report] considered a range of factors including service capability, safety systems, clinical governance, leadership, culture and models of care. All of these are the responsibility of the health bureaucrats, they are the very reason for the existence of the health bureaucracy - SNSWLHD remains commi ed to the safety and care of women and their families. Very poor performance of the bureaucrats here, knowingly allowing the busiest maternity unit in the region to func on without neonatal and paediatric services and therefore poten ally endangering babies’ lives. And is it really safe and caring to force mothers to travel hundreds of kilometres by road to find medical care for themselves or their babies? - …the higher-level services that will be provided at the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. This new hospital will not have higher level maternity/neonatal services on ribbon-cu ng with the proposed number of maternity, neonatal and paediatrics beds! And they fool absolutely no one but themselves when they promise The resigna ons will not result in any disrup on to service delivery. Of course there will be disrup on, e.g. no local outpa ent clinic and services running on fly-in-fly-out nonresident locums... What sort of bubble are these people living in up in Queanbeyan and St Leonards? And of course we can also look in amazement at the fact that despite their anguished wringing of hands about the difficulty in recrui ng medical specialists (you may wonder why medical staff won’t come) they have miraculously already appointed a Senior Obstetrician to fill the gap. This would not have taken just a week to arrange. The dal wave of public support and hear elt valedictories for Dr Holland and his team from the women and mothers of Eurobodalla and beyond eloquently illustrates that it is the health bureaucrats who have everything to answer for, NOT the Moruya Maternity and Neonatal unit. Fitzroy and Mylene Boul ng, ONE New Eurobodalla L4 Hospital Advocates & Head Pe oners

Editor, It is time, perhaps, as we are not only preparing for local elections, but a federal election in the very near future, to remind voters how other countries and their politicians deal with public housing. All the best Segundo Martin Public housing in Singapore is subsidised housing built and managed by the government in Singapore. Initially built by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) from the 1930s in a similar fashion to contemporary British public housing projects, housing for the resettlement of squatters was built from the late 1950s. In the 1960s, under the SIT's successor, the Housing and Development Board (HDB), public housing was constructed as quickly and cheaply as possible at high densities and used for resettlement schemes, consisting of small units with basic amenities. From the late 1960s, housing programmes focused more on quality and a scheme was introduced allowing residents to own their flats with public housing being built in new towns. Through the 1970s and 1980s, more public housing options were provided for the middle class, and efforts were made to increase community cohesion within housing estates. The government began portraying public housing as an asset from the 1990s, introducing large-scale upgrading schemes and loosening regulations on the resale of public housing, while additional housing programmes for the sandwich classes and elderly were introduced. Rising housing prices led to public housing being seen as an investment from the 2000s, while new technologies and ecofriendly features were also incorporated into housing estates..

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Le er to Beagle Editor- Will Council Elec on Day be a Shambles ? Due to new regula ons this elec on is turning out to be like no other. The familiar posters we tradi onally saw at elec on me along roadsides are not permi ed, only on private property with permission. So a lot of people may not realise an elec on is due on 4th December let alone who is running. The posters did provide helpful early advice about candidates, they were up for a couple of weeks then removed, no drama. However, Council wisdom has now banned this source of useful informa on. But wait there’s more. Also banned by the government is the handing out of important How-to-Vote flyers near polling booths, but they can be handed out 100m away from the building which is almost unworkable and certainly inconvenient for voters. The reason given is Covid, even though shops, cafes, cinemas, clubs etc are open. This means you, the voter, hopefully will do homework on-line before elec on day to know who to vote for – which numbers to put beside which name for which Group and Mayor.

As a candidate I have a ended Pre-Poll booths in the Shire and am concerned elec on day will be very frustra ng with long slow queues as many unprepared voters line up to read and photograph the candidate info posters on how-to-vote. Then consult the small photo inside when filling out the two vote forms. Plus the usual Covid entry requirements of QR codes or wri ng down your details with masks on. If it’s raining on elec on day I predict even more of a shambles. If you haven’t voted early, I’m sure the informed Beagle reader will be prepared and be pa ent on the 4th . Gary Smith . Tuross Head