Cinema

Gadfly 216 By Robert Macklin I’m one of those for whom too much sport is never enough. But I’m sorry to say, the Winter Olympics leave me cold. There’s a certain oxymoron at the heart of it – and it was articulated neatly by the president of the IOC, Thomas Bach at the flashy opening ceremony. Their mission, he said, was to show the world that ‘fierce rivals’ can live ‘peacefully and respectfully together’. Now Mr Bach is a German lawyer and while his name might suggest a love of orchestral harmony, and his profession a preference for civil over armed combat, he had no sooner exited the stage than we saw the pretend emperor Xi welcoming the KGB thug Putin, while the London clown, the Australian fibber and tottering Joe had publicly boycotted the entire operation. Not a lot of peace and respect on show there. The Channel Seven commentators made light of it. But from the opening bell their entire focus was on Australian competitors whose task was to beat the pants off every other nation’s representative. And here’s the thing – just who actually represents the various countries is a kind of catch as catch can. Some had been born in certain African countries, for example, but had lived virtually all their lives in places much closer to a ski-field. Come time, and they just phoned their birthplace and whacko, ‘Thanks Dad, I’m an Olympian.’ Others had been born and raised in cold climates; but noticing the paucity of participants in hotter places in the Southern Hemisphere (not unlike Australia) had relocated in time to take citizenship and ‘voila!’, another chance for the country to ‘medal’ or ‘podium’.

Watching the national parade and listening to the commentary, it almost seemed as though most of the competitors spent their entire lives going from ski slopes in Switzerland to ice rinks in America and seeing now many bones they could break or ACL’s they might rupture and still turn up to Beijing to be feted as heroes. There were of course, lots of exceptions. In one heart-warming story, an Aussie kid from the boondocks became inspired at 15 to take up the luge. That’s when you lie face up on a little sled and slide downhill with your tender parts protected only by your feet. This kid built his own and zoomed down a bitumen road while his mum stopped the traffic. And then – magically, it seemed – here he was, on his third Olympics preparing to risk his tender parts at 150kms an hour. I couldn’t help but think, ‘Is he nuts!?’ What price ‘podiuming’? Everyone loves the speed skating since the really good sport, Stephen Bradbury entered the Australian language when all about him fell over and he ‘gold medalled’ and we all got a great laugh. I love the way he’s handled it and would happily buy him a beer any day. I’m sure lots of people love the figure skating, especially the pairs when the bloke tosses his partner metres away and she smiles triumphantly when she hits the ice and they end in passionate embrace. Trouble is, they’ve done the same routine hundreds of times so you can’t help thinking all that emotion is less about their undying love for each other as relief that they didn’t muck it up. These days it seems a bit old fashioned, as does the ice dancing made famous by Torvill and Dean doing ‘Bolero’ all those years ago. I can’t help wondering when same sex couples will make an appearance…not under pretend emperor Xi, I suspect. But it would at least cause us sporting freaks to sit up and take notice. And it would certainly warm a few cold hearts.

www.robertmacklin.com

Reading—A beer with Baz

“I’m not here to muck around, Bazza. I need a beer.”

Mick wiped his brow and took a long drink from the offered schooner.

“I’ve spent morning mowing the lawns, Bazza, which is my least favourite job and now I need to fix the computer.”

Bazza shook his head, took a sip and grinned.

“Ahh…… Mick you are an urban warrior. They should make a reality television about you surviving daily life in the neighbourhood. You need a smarter approach.”

Mick ran his hand through his hair and eyeballed Bazza.

“You see, Mick, a while back our street came to the conclusion that some of us are good at some things and hopeless at others. In fact, some of us like doing the very jobs others hate doing.”

Mick rubbed his chin.

“Take Russell at the top of the street. He has the flashest sit on lawn mower you can buy but bugger all grass to mow. He is ckled pink to whip up and down the street at the agreed me mowing everybody’s lawns. He does a top job and the double bonus is not having surround sound lawn movers going off at any given me.”

“Well…… it’s almost worth it for the controlled noise. So you are pre y much saying your street only needs one lawn mower? All well and good, Bazza, but what’s in it for Russell?”

They both took a long sip.

“Lots in fact, Mick. The elderly couple in number 10 are really good at growing tomatoes. They pre y much supply the whole street with fresh tomatoes that run rings around the supermarket varie es, as well as homemade pasta sauces and relishes to store. The young woman in number 7 is our resident technology specialist and she quite likes fixing a phone or connec ng up some new computer.”

Mick tapped his fingers on his head.

“So Mick, for mowing everybody’s lawns, Russell gets all the tomatoes he needs, technological assistance, advice on car troubles from Bill at number 9, a sit on the couch, a cup of tea and a chat to our resident psychologist at number 12 and not to men on the best cakes and biscuits in town that come out of number 14. I could go on Mick but that’s not bad value for mowing everybody’s lawns.”

Bazza took a long sip.

“We’ve gone a bit further this year, Mick. We’ve put together a shopping co opera ve. Some of us throw in forty dollars a fortnight and bulk buy produce from bags of potatoes through to a butchered lamb.

Chyou from number 3 and old Errol from number 9 enjoy hun ng down a bargain. It’s then just a case of dividing up their smart shopping.”

Mick shook his head.

“Well Bazza I think there is more than just tomatoes growing in your street by the sound of all this hippy trippy stuff. But I’ve got to ask; what’s your contribu on?”

“I provide the media on for any problems, Mick. I also like to throw on a barbecue every month or so to sort any problems and Viraj from number 2 supplies the home brew.”

Mick took a long sip.

“I can’t see how it would work, Bazza. There is a fundamental breach of human rights at play here.”

Bazza sat bolt upright, his jaw dropped and his raised schooner was frozen in mid air.

“You see, Bazza, every bloke is en tled to a lawn mower.”

by Trevor Moore Today was the day that we had all been wai ng for. Well, perhaps not all of us, but at least a few of us. For our new Eurobodalla Shire Council was scheduled to hold its first mee ng. Those with their ear to the ground were full of an cipa on that live-streaming of the Public Forum would be re-introduced and eager to see how Rob Pollock - who had said during the hus ngs that he opposed its reintroduc on - would vote on the ma er. In the end we were disappointed. It appears that the NSW Office of Local Government had other ideas about the way in which live streaming will be re-introduced. But the viewing gallery was packed with enthusias c members of the public eager to see how the people they had placed into power would perform. The first substan ve piece of business was to confirm the minutes of the ordinary Council mee ng held in October and the extraordinary Council mee ng held in November. Now, the one thing you can say about a Council mee ng - at least the Eurobodalla Shire Council mee ngs - is that ceremony and process are important, indeed cri cal. They are not of course: ceremony neither confirms nor detracts from the dignity of any par cular office. The idea that remarks are made “through the chair” is a piece of anachronis c drivel that makes an eyebrow raise itself involuntarily. Perhaps these peculiar behaviours are designed to prevent fis cuffs. Who can say? But despite that, the minutes of the last two mee ngs needed confirma on. Now, of the eight Councillors and the Mayor only two of them had been present at that mee ng. Nonetheless, the minutes were confirmed unanimously. But back to live-streaming. You will recall that the previous Council was characterised, on the advice we understand of the administra on, by avoiding engagement or consulta on with the community as much as possible. Our new Mayor is made of more representa ve material and he stated in the papers for the mee ng that he is “commi ed to

A likely bunch: newly elected Deputy Mayor Alison A likely bunch: newly elected Deputy Mayor Alison A likely bunch: newly elected Deputy Mayor Alison A likely bunch: newly elected Deputy Mayor Alison Worthington front and centre here. Worthington front and centre here. Worthington front and centre here. Worthington front and centre here.

Free sandwiches (and edible Free sandwiches (and edible Free sandwiches (and edible Free sandwiches (and edible flowers) flowers) flowers) flowers) -- what's not to like? what's not to like? what's not to like? what's not to like?

delivering on [his] pla orm of greater transparency and open, democra c, and accountable processes within council. The reinstatement of the live streaming of the Public Forum will provide an important opportunity for community members to watch and listen from their homes, as fellow community members make their presenta ons to Councillors.” It appears that the legal eagles at the Office of Local Government had other ideas. The change required to enable this must be subject to public exhibi on. Any normal human being must find this bizarre but some mes the point of the law is not only to be silly but to be seen to be silly. So, expect to see the re-introduc on of live streaming of the Public Forum in July. In the mean me, there will

be a work-around involving Zoom. The reminder of the agenda did not provide much opportunity for robust and conten ous debate. Each of the new Councillors, and the Mayor, was required to take an Oath of Office. Each of these Councillors and the Mayor made a short statement telling us how jolly pleased they were to be there and to thank the families and supporters that had put them there. I no ced that the Oath contains a commitment to “undertake the du es of the office of councillor in the best interests of the people of Eurobodalla”. The proof of that par cular pudding may well be in the ea ng. But in a con nued spirit of unanimity - and every mo on was passed unanimously - the assembled body elected Alison Worthington as Deputy Mayor. This allowed her to observe that both she as Deputy Mayor and Ma Hatcher as Mayor were new to their posi ons: she used the word “green”. Ho ho. Only two other items are worth recording. One was a decision to use “countbacks” in the event that an exis ng Councillor cannot perform their du es. So far as I can make out, if this happens, then the votes we all cast in December will be counted again as if that Councillor was not eligible and the ninth person discovered is the new Councillor. You can go and read Sec on 291A of the Local Government Act 1993 if you are s ll confused. You may s ll be confused even a er you have read it. The other ma er related to whether superannua on payments should be applied to the Mayor and Councillor allowances. Your Council voted “yes” to this, but Anthony Mayne suggested that Council should be unhappy about needing to vote themselves an increase in their emoluments. His colleagues agreed and a note is to be sent to the state government sugges ng that these decisions are made elsewhere. So, what impressions do we get from the new group of people? Seven of the nine are new to the role and have yet to experience the cut and thrust of local poli cs and representa on. They may become jaded. One of the Councillors commented that the group was diverse and certainly by one measure they are. There are 50% more women on this Council than on the last one: that means there are 3 now. From a na onal demographic point of view, they do not look representa ve but from a Shire point of view they probably are. They all appear to be white, most of them are older rather than younger but they do look a good deal livelier than the last lot. On the face of it, they are more progressive than the last lot though that would not be hard. They have some serious challenges ahead of them: the environment, housing development, the recovery of the tourism industry, the broadening of the Shire’s industrial base to increase employment to name a few. And then they will be vital stakeholders in the Moruya bypass discussions and the building of a Level 4 hospital. Their term - which will only be a shade over 2 years - will be difficult. Some serious leadership will be required. The new Mayor, Ma Hatcher, looks like he is the chap to provide it. Although today’s mee ng was not conten ous, he managed the business with a clear focus, and one gets the impression that he knows what he is about and will manage his team to focus on what ma ers. And we got sandwiches a erwards - our tax dollar at work.

Our Mayor: I'm betting on him Our Mayor: I'm betting on him Our Mayor: I'm betting on him Our Mayor: I'm betting on him being pretty good. being pretty good. being pretty good. being pretty good.

There’s plenty of fun to be had at Eurobodalla Libraries this month, with events ranging from a murdermystery night to crea ve wri ng workshops, a cooking demonstra on, classic movie screening, and more. Die laughing at an interac ve murder mystery night with the Eaton George Theatre Company on Friday 18 February. Par cipants will work together at Moruya Library to follow clues, remotely interrogate suspects via Zoom, and uncover who murdered 1923 NSW state tennis champion, Daphne Winningham. Tickets are $25 and include light refreshments. The following day Narooma Library will host the first of three crea ve wri ng workshops with awardwinning journalist and communica ons specialist Kathryn McCarthy. Kathryn, who believes “everyone has a book in them”, will share ps and tricks from her own experiences of wri ng poetry, short stories, novels, memoirs and crea ve non-fic on. The free workshops will be held 10am-2pm on Saturday 19 February at Narooma Library, Saturday 26 February at Batemans Bay Library, and Saturday 5 March at Moruya Library. Other events on at the libraries include an author talk with Bruce Nash at Narooma, 6-7.30pm on Thursday 17 February, a free classic movie screening of Pride and Prejudice (1940) at Batemans Bay on Saturday 19 February, an evening with ar st Irene Harmsworth at Batemans Bay on Friday 4 March and on Monday 7 March basic tech training for seniors will begin at Narooma Library. Best-selling author, cer fied life coach, and influencer Lunaria Gaia will host an inspira onal talk for Interna onal Women’s Day on Tuesday 8 March, 10.30-11.30am at Batemans Bay Library – a endees are bound to leave the talk mo vated, with increased confidence and improved self-body image. Lastly, Sandra Makdessi from SAGE (Sustainable Agriculture & Gardening Eurobodalla) will show how to use local, seasonal produce to create a tasty meal at an autumn cooking demonstra on at Batemans Bay Library on Saturday 12 March, 10.30am-12pm, Narooma Library on Saturday 19 March 10.30am-12pm and Moruya Library on Saturday 19 March 1.30-3pm. To book in for any of the events, or for more informa on, visit www.esc.nsw.gov.au/libraries – you can also follow Eurobodalla Libraries on Facebook.

The Beagle Editor, Your sudden decision to withdraw the curated comments facility from Beagle ar cles is disappoin ng and will all but eliminate worthwhile poli cal debate in Eurobodalla Shire media. As long term readers of the Beagle and occasional but serious par cipants in this debate we ask you to consider restora on of an alterna ve, perhaps more limited, version of this valuable community facility. We appreciate the legal difficulty you face in having to weed out poten ally defamatory and other objec onable comments from a small minority of contributors. But given your long commitment to transparency in government and the very real impact this has had on cleaning up the many excesses and communica on failures of the Eurobodalla Shire Council, please don’t give up now. To reduce the edi ng workload you might limit the comments facility to par cularly important ar cles. Alterna vely, or perhaps as well, you might adopt a policy of ensuring important ar cles are rou nely posted to relevant Facebook pages or to Twi er (using the hashtag #europol)where comments are allowed. Clearly, con nued banning of anonymous contributors and well known local loony trolls must con nue.

As a result of your hard work the Beagle is the shire’s leading online newspaper, indeed it is now Eurobodalla’s newspaper of record. In our view its con nuing success depends on relevant, mely ar cles complemented by lively, informed community discussion. Yesterday nine new councillors were sworn in, all espousing be er communica ons with the community. Have any of them expressed concern to you about losing their best source of con nuous, relevant community feedback?

Yours sincerely Peter Anderson, Batehaven Paul Bradstreet, Canberra With the Ancient Greek exhibit at the Na on Museum of Australia, hype is high for anything ancient Greek The latest to join the ancient Greek family. Pandora by Susan StokesChapman. "Some doors are kept locked for a reason"...

2022 local GP (Anke Dutschke) and author (Anke Zet) held her first Author Talk at the Moruya Library just recently, discussing her debut novel Decep on, Book one of the Unearthly Talents Series.

Accompanied by another local - musician Chris O’Connor - who set the relaxed ambience with acous c guitar themes, Anke invited with champagne and finger food to a mesmerising talk. A er a brief introduc on, guest speaker Kimmi Saker from 2EC breakfast radio indulged the a endees with a chapter of the suspenseful family mystery and futuris c romance set in 2025 Australia.

Anke conveyed her deepest thanks; with beau ful bouquets of flowers from The Wild Rose Florist/Moruya; to her beta reader Lisa Kennedy and local writer’s group member Louise Falcioni of the SSOW (Secret Society of Words) - the night group of the Eurobodalla Branch of FAW (Faculty of Australian Writers), who’s members had encouraged her eight years ago to join them, pursue wri ng further, helping her thus with monthly cri quing to finish her manuscript. The dedicated help and the encouraging words of this group Anke called invaluable. This was followed by an interview, librarian and fellow writer Cat McCarthy lead. Anke answered ques ons about the inspira on for the book, that she’s going to donate 5% of the sales profit to #CancerCouncilNSW to help people with their transporta on and accommoda on costs in a me of need. She talked about how her up-bringing in East Germany had influenced her wri ng journey and style, and how she manages to keep being a GP, a writer and life on one track and more.

Anke answered many ques ons a er the talk and while she signed books, everybody mingled and enjoyed the food and company. She promised to have her next book out in a quarter of the me she took for the first and that she would hold more author talks if asked by the public. Her book is available on Amazon.au and will soon also be available on Smashwords like all the other works/anthologies of the SSOW.

Photo supplied

Photo supplied

Q.C. RESULTS. – The following pupils passed the Q.C. examina on from Dwyer’s Creek Public School: V. Foreman, E. Foreman, L. Stubbs. CRICKET. – Team to represent Moruya against Bodalla at Bodalla to-day (Saturday). Car leaves at 12.30 p.m. : -B. Coppin, C. Selden, C. Carter, F. Knight, P. Feneley, R. Shumack, L. Jones, W. Brierley, H. Li le, W. Doyle, Herbie Li le. LUNACY. – On Wednesday Constable Barry, of Narooma, brought into the lock-up here, a man named William Oliver McGarry, who came to this district with a travelling circus a few months ago. The man whose mind is affected was taken on to the Asylum the next morning. ACCIDENT. – On Thursday just as the Hupmobile car driven by Miss Smith, and containing the Rev. Mr. Rix and party had turned the Campbell Street corner into Vulcan Street, engine trouble resulted and the services of Mr. C. Milgate of Preddy’s Garage were requisi oned. A er rec fying the fault, Mr. Milgate was in the act of cranking up the machine when it back-fired, the handle flying off and severely striking him just over the eye, the vic m was removed to the Hospital, suffering from slight concussion of the brain. DEATH. – At the local Hospital there peacefully passed away in his sleep on Thursday morning a former wellknown iden ty of Major’s Creek in the person of Mr. Edward Rankin, at the age of 76 years. Deceased had lately been residing with his grandson, Mr. E. Rankin, of Kiora Cheese Factory. … Mr. Alan Rankin, of Campbell St. and Mrs. E. Behringer of the Burra, are grand-nephew and niece of the deceased respec vely. … MARRIAGE. – The wedding took place recently of Alice Audrey Stephens, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Cowdroy, of Evans Street, Moruya, to Godfred Arndfelt, only son of Mr. G. Hanscom, also of Moruya. The Rev. Massey of St. James’, King Street, City celebrated the marriage. … Mr. and Mrs. Hanscom will reside in Moruya. EUROBODALLA SHIRE. – The monthly mee ng of the Eurobodalla Shire Council was held on the 1

st

inst., those present being – Cr. Flood (President), Crs. Anderson, Anne s, J. Bate and H. J. Bate. An apology was received from Cr. H. Mallon for his absence through illness; President congratulated Cr. Anderson on his elec on and welcomed him to Council. … Re culvert at Bimbimbie on main road. It was resolved that a new culvert be constructed at once, and that a “warning” no ce in regard to weight of loads, etc., be erected at the old culvert; Re bell at Nelligen Ferry. It was resolved to purchase a bell to be erected on the East side of the Nelligen Ferry at a cost of 37/6; Permission was granted to Mr. C. Hoyer, of Central Tilba to erect two rabbit-proof public gates on the road running through his property, under the usual condi on; Re straying stock. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Shires Assn. in regard to the Liability of Councils and the legality of permi ng stock to stray upon the streets of a town under permit or license. Extracted from the Moruya Examiner by the Moruya and District Historical Society Inc. h ps://www.mdhs.org.au

Broulee : is this now the look of the future for Eurobodalla

The Beagle Editor, We have owned our property in proximity to Smith and Francis St, Broulee for 25 years and in that me have seen the vehicular flow on Francis St increase enormously as has foot, cycle, scooter and skateboard traffic. Weekends see greatly increased traffic flow, par cularly on the Francis/Elizabeth Street intersec on, with large numbers of children especially walking and cycling to and from spor ng events. The new court facili es at Captain Oldrey Park have yet to be used, surely drawing more traffic when they are. Large numbers of Banksia Lodge residents use Francis St as an access point to Corona on Drive. Children walk and cycle to the Primary School through that intersec on. The crea on of a new road behind Banksia Lodge and next to Captain Oldrey Park will effec vely create a 4 way junc on at the intersec on of Francis and Elizabeth Streets. This will create a choke point for all types of users especially at peak mes. Speeding vehicles are a constant hazard on Smith and Elizabeth Streets and even without the proposed new intersec on, they are increasing. The proposed increased use of the area makes the possibility of injury and death to road and footpath users far more likely. We don’t believe that the 2020 traffic impact assessment used in the DA takes these changes into account.

For example:  the new Broulee Brew House was not even contemplated when this report was used to plan the DA and it is drawing large crowds.  far more visitors than ever have been drawn to the South Coast over the last couple of years as I am sure your traffic monitoring shows, with accordingly larger numbers coming to Broulee.  there is now a new shared pathway along Francis St used by a growing number of people Our solu on to the problem is that access to the new subdivision from Francis St and adjacent to Captain Oldrey Park should not be provided and that other op ons be used. Regards Michael and Susan Co er

Beloved Editor My wife, My Heart, fell over her brooms ck whilst talking on her mobile. Complete shambles at the front steps of her sister’s home where it happened. Nylon bristle and aluminium rivets everywhere. She limped into the Emergency Department of the Moruya Hospital, supported by a rather sorry looking broom, with the resident corella flock swirling about her in an -clockwise mo on, keening and sighing. The Gatekeeper, that indomitable soul whose func on it is to make sure that you qualify for medical treatment and are not just popping in for a chat and a cuppa, decided to skip the obligatory interroga on, which seems to have become de rigueur in this COVID world we live in, produced a wheelchair from within the voluminous depths of her uniform, and wheeled My Heart through the sliding glass doors, which were cowering in the open posi on to accept them both. Incoherent tex ng from My Heart about an hour later inferred that she was under the influence of legi mate drugs, taken for medicinal use, and apparently freely available to those who are avia on impaired. Using technology that is way beyond your readership’s ability, images of her right knee were obtained (back in the day the doctor would probe and poke un l you winced, thereby loca ng the injury), and Lo and Behold a fracture or two of one of the li le bones to the side of the knee could clearly be seen. What looks like a cross between a whalebone corset and a pair of crutchless knickers usually bought from an adult shop was then strapped onto her knee, and the brooms ck was replaced with carbon neutral aluminium crutches where no dolphins were harmed In their manufacture. As her leg had to remain absolutely straight, the Gatekeeper (now cooing and offering sweet endearments) managed to jam her into the back seat of the ute, which upset the dog because it had to go outside in the tray. Straight home, and My Heart is where she belongs, loved, valued and just a li le bit worse for wear. I extend my hear elt thanks to Doctor Lavender and the magnificent team at the Moruya ED, without whom this story would have had a different ending. The new hospital will be built to accommodate a Level 4 service, but it is the people, the staff and the corellas that will make it superb. I have no doubt whatsoever that they will rise to the occasion as the me comes. Mervyn Sher Broulee By The Sea