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Editorial What’s On …………….... 16 to 19 FIND ALL YOUR DAILY NEWS @ www.beagleweekly.com.au
Welcome to this week’s editorial, Several years ago I laughingly commented that New Zealand should rename themselves to “get farked” because that is exactly what you say as you drive around the country, going from one stunning view to the next. It every turn and every twist in the road, from North to south, you find yourself unable to not say “get farked”. Fortunately the Kiwis also has the place name Aotearoa, that sums it up perfectly. But this side of the Ditch we have a variety of other uses for the expression “get farked”. Mostly around defiance. I remember fondly riding in the back tray of my father’s old Holden ute with all of my friends. Wind through our hair as we bounced along dirt roads, fluing up into the air along with the spare tyre, the dog and any tools in the back if we hit a bump. When the rules came in outlawing that my father said the same thing he said when it was ruled you couldn’t have your arm out the window to indicate stopping or turning. “Get farked !” Eventually he came around to the new rules that also included not driving when you were drunk, using indicators instead of arms, and wearing seatbelts. It seemed that there was a universal approach to accep ng new rules with an ini al “get farked” that, more o en than not, came with the addi onal declara on of Australia becoming a ‘nanny state’. If you go back over the decades there were the warnings about skin cancer with the popula on encouraged to Slip, Slop, Slap. Most parents did it, but to the young and older diehards the response was “get farked”, un l having a suntan was unfashionable. Fortunately we have changed. Occupa onal Health and Safety demands sunscreens, hats and appropriate clothing for workers and schools have rules in place. We now wear High Viz, wear work boots on building sites, have scaffolding and safety harnesses and enjoy the monotony of reversing alarms on trucks. We can no longer smoke cigare es in cinemas and on aircra , we are required to wear flota on devices to ensure we don’t accidently drown and homes must have smoke detectors. Rules that all came with resistance and are s ll challenged from me to me, even though it is common sense. This seemingly natural defiance against rules seems to be hard wired into some of our community. Mostly male, and of those it is the young ‘bullet proof’ males or the ‘tough as nails’ old males. The “No-one tells me what to do” males. Oddly there are also the defiant females who join the fray. We are very odd animals, us humans. We are advised, from birth, of all the things that might hurt us. “Don’t do this, Don’t eat that. Don’t touch them and especially Don’t do THAT.” But we do. We drink, we smoke, we speed, we break the law, we do dangerous things and most of us survive…. But that all changes when we arrive at the recogni on of our own mortality. “Why Not?” is replaced with “Best Not”. We become more cau ous. We become far more aware that we are not ‘bullet proof’ and are in fact far more fragile. You can see this at play on any day at your local supermarket. The resilient young and the cau ous old. We know that Covid is s ll out there and that the numbers are once again rising. We are advised daily of the numbers of infected and the number of fatali es. We are told of the symptoms and of the some me dire complica ons that might happen to each, and all of us. But we collec vely ignore this. Its as if Covid doesn’t exist any longer. Unlike the AIDS campaign there is no Grim Reaper to remind you at every turn. Unlike the cigare e warnings there are no photos on packets of mouth cancers. So now, without mandate, most are going without a mask, without appearing to have fear of contrac ng Covid, or having any concern they might carry it and are giving it to others. A collec ve “fark it, and a “get farked” to mask wearing, or cau on. For a while there were the reminders of Covid with crosses on the floor 1.5m apart, sani ser pump-packs at entries, wipes for trolley handles and staff wearing masks. But those warning reminders appear to have gone by the by except in some small shops s ll showing cau on. Looking about however ,“Fark it”, seems to be the general response, mostly driven by “if they haven’t got a mask on then I don’t have to wear one either”. But Covid is s ll out there. A Russian Roule e of unknown consequences, from mild to deadly. I ventured cau ously out to a public mee ng last week and came home with Covid. It is real and is not pleasant. For whatever reason I didn’t wear the mask that I had in my pocket. Most likely because had I done so I would have been the only one in a room of seventy with a mask on. Masks are a bind. They muffle your voice, fog your glasses and are uncomfortable. I muse, recognising I succumbed to peer pressure. I think back to that town hall mee ng and realise that collec vely, with full understanding that Covid is s ll around and that it loves nothing more than a mee ng, a wedding or funeral to spread, we all, including me, decided collec vely to say “fark it” to wearing a mask, and indirectly “fark it” to any consequences. Rules are put in place for a reason. O en to protect the individual, the collec ve, or the collec ve from the individual. With Covid about and no mask mandate rules we are le to determine how we might navigate our day to day. Most will hopefully survive but some, unfortunately the older or weaker, will not, and have not. One day I intend to venture back out in public again but will do so with a mask. For myself and mine, and for you and yours. In the mean me take care out there because Covid is definitely afoot in our community. Un l next—lei
Oceanfarmr, the aqua farming-tech startup, has just closed out a bridge funding round to fuel their interna onal expansion, raising AU$1.45M. The company was founded by marine biologist turned oyster farmer, Ewan McAsh Earlier this year they launched an alterna ve to farming finance, Farm to Buy, allowing aquafarms easy access to capital for water-based farmland. While agricultural farms (land-based) o en have the op on of land as an asset to secure financing, aquaculture farmers have tradi onally found it more difficult to access capital as water-based farmland is not privately owned. Since launching the offer, Oceanfarmr has increased their revenue by 874%, pu ng them 3 years ahead of their original revenue projec ons. They have more than $60M in farm funding applica ons. The new funding will allow them to ramp up their presence, however they are already in 8 countries. Oceanfarmr (formerly SmartOysters) has received AU$1.45M in its latest funding round. Led by Katapult VC, the new funding will allow the aqua farming tech and finance startup to ramp up interna onal growth and expand their market first Farm-to-Buy program.
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Dubbed the ‘google maps of the ocean’, Oceanfarmr allows farmers to accurately record the ac vity of their farm using innova ve GPS enabled technology. Most recently the company launched Farm to Buy, an innova ve offering designed to transform the aquaculture industry by providing aqua farmers accessibility to a finance alterna ve. The aquaculture industry is worth over $19 billion dollars globally, and Oceanfarmr’s offering provides huge poten al for the growth of the market. Since the launch of Farm to Buy in September this year, Oceanfarmr has received over $60 million in farm funding applica ons. Oceanfarmr is in the top 23 impact tech startups to receive investment from Katapult group in its latest itera on. The selected startups represent the top 1%,of all 1,900 candidates from 62 countries into the accelerator program On the investment, Ewan McAsh, Oceanfarmr founder, and CEO says, “We’re proud to be one of the 23 startups that will take part in the Katapult Accelerator 2022 program. Oceanfarmr was built to revolu onise the aquaculture industry, and with this funding we will be able to accelerate our mission. We are already looking forward, and will be focusing on building trac on as we bridge to a series A raise in the new year.” “Before developing the app I was using my memory, whiteboards and spreadsheets – which weren’t fast, were prone to some mes costly mistakes and could be an arduous task at the end of the working day and week. "Over the last few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to meet with our farmers across Australia, the US and Europe and hear first hand the economic and environmental challenges they’ve faced over the last 3 years and how Oceanfarmr has allowed them to do what they do best and remove those typical pain points that have been the standard prac ce for years and years. Those stories are a reminder of why we first launched and the funding is a huge piece of the puzzle in how we ramp up our capabili es to con nue serving the aqua farming industry and the people who make it all happen.”
community South Coast Community Colleges has Summer Skills funding available for these skill sets:
Statement of
A ainment in
Individual Support (Communica on and Empowerment of Older Power) - Statement of A ainment in First Aid
- Statement of A ainment in Individual Support CHCSS00081 - Introduc on to Disability Skill Set CHCSS00097 Individual Support - Ageing Support Skill Set To receive these courses fee free, you must meet this criteria: aged 16-24 not enrolled into school an Australian ci zen, permanent resident, Australian humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand ci zen Currently living in NSW If you are interested in more informa on about these courses, please enquire with our administra on on 02 4472 9202 or visit the website www.southcoastcolleges.edu.au The Shed welcomes males over eighteen with the aim to provide a safe place to be involved in joint projects, snooker, photography, cards, table tennis etc or just have a cuppa and a yarn. Our general open me is Monday and Thursday 8.00-12.00 am We also open Tuesday 2.00-4.00pm for cards (euchre) Wednesday 2.00-4.00pm for snooker and the camera group meet Thursday 2.00-4.00pm. For informa on contact brocky1967@outlook.com or ptuross@bigpond.com
REPORTS OF DOG ATTACKS IN EUROBODALLA By Yve Robinson We are about to enter the Christmas break and can expect Interstate and City visitors to arrive with their dogs for their holidays. A few dog a acks have been reported in our area, none to my knowledge serious. We all need to be aware that suddenly you and your pet may find yourselves in a confronta on, which can be frightening. The NATA Oval, Narooma, is a public park as well as a designated dog leash free area. Always check that dog free areas are being used sensibly and that dogs are playing under the watchful eye of an owner. Check that all gates are shut before releasing your dog. Many parents also take their children to NATA Oval, and can easily be frightened by boisterous dogs. Some beaches are me share only so do check with Council before you let your dog loose. Kianga Reef Beach is leash free all year round and is very popular with local and visitor owners. Try and pick a me when it’s not too busy and watch out for any hazards, and make sure your dog will come back to you when called, then you can take control of most situa ons. If the beach is close to a busy road, as is Kianga Reef which is reached by nego a ng a long flight of steps, always put your pet back on the lead before leaving the beach area. I have seen many dogs run ahead of the owners and straight onto the road. A recipe for disaster. It can happen so quickly. If you are unfortunate to be confronted by an off leash dog that rushes up to your dog suddenly, then do try and stay calm. Tell your dog to Sit/Stay beside you, stand s ll, while the owner collects their dog. DO NOT SHOUT at the offending animal, this only rouses your dog as well as the offender. Ask the owner politely to put his dog on the lead and remind him that all dogs should be on the lead in public places. The Council Rangers will be about and the fines are quite large. The above all sounds quite civilised but some mes dog a acks get aggressive and not all owners are interested in watching their animal’s behaviour. You may happen to own a dog that is shy, nervous or overprotec ve of you. If the situa on gets out of control, make sure you don’t get between the two dogs. Let your dog loose so that it can decide whether to fight or run, most dogs prefer the la er. Most dogs do not fight once the other dog has submi ed by rolling over onto its back. In the event that your dog gets injured and needs veterinary a en on try to get the name, address and phone number of the dog’s owner, so the vet expenses are charged to them.
SUMMER SAFETY FOR YOUR DOG
Did you know it takes only 10 minutes for the temperature inside a car to skyrocket by 20 degrees? That’s why it’s so important NEVER to leave pets in a car on a hot day! Dogs le in a parked car in warm temperatures can very quickly become distressed, dehydrated and even suffer organ failure.
Unlike us, dogs can’t sweat to cool themselves down, so they are more prone to heat stress and more likely to die quickly in hot condi ons, especially puppies and older dogs. Signs of heat stress are excessive pan ng, reddened gums, blood shot eyes, rapid breathing, saliva ng, wheezing, vomi ng, weakness, staggering and loss of consciousness.
If your dog is displaying any of these signs, get them into a cooler loca on quickly. Wet them down with tap water (not iced water) un l their breathing se les down, and offer them a drink of water. If the symptoms persist call your vet for advice. Here are some easy ps from Instructors of the Narooma Dog Training Club that will help keep your dog cool this Summer: • Provide shade, and plenty of cool, fresh water. • Leave your dog in an area that it is well ven lated. • Keep your dog out of the sun between 10am - 4pm. • Hot footpaths and sand can burn a dog’s feet, so take that walk early in the morning or late in the day, as the sun goes down. Give your dog ice blocks to lick. Add vegetable or beef stock and they will love this special treat!
Being sun smart for yourself and your dog will ensure that everyone in the family has a safe and fabulous Summer. On behalf of everyone at the Narooma Dog Training Club Branch of Animal Welfare League, we wish you a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
community Wheel Chair Access at South Broulee
Broulee Mossy Point Community Associa on advise: · Wheel Chair Access at South Broulee Council has a grant-funded project to improve access to a number of beaches in the shire for people with reduced mobility. At South Broulee (near the new viewing pla orm), Council is installing a recycled plas c ‘floa ng’ decking to connect exis ng paths to the mobility mats. (See sample image to the right.) Council will be installing a sandstone block retaining wall to help maintain the integrity of the path, and minimise the inevitable spread of sand over the path surface. They will be plan ng up the disturbed areas a er the works. The block wall will be approximately 9m long, 800mm high and 500mm wide, and the lead-in path will be up to approximately 13m long and 1.8m wide, connec ng to the exis ng concrete path at the viewing pla orm. Work is planned to be completed during the week 5-9 December, with the plan ng happening shortly therea er. Keep up to date with all the Broulee Mossy Point developments here: h p://www.brouleemossypoint.org/
Just some of the incredible photos you will find in the Narooma History in Photos social media group on Facebook.
community
ALARM: Ticks serum stocks are low or nonexistent
The annual Bodalla Poets' Breakfast event is set to return a er a two-year, Covid induced hiatus.
A warning to animal owners - Paralysis Ticks are back in alarming numbers on the coast with warmer days and following the rains. Local vets are running short, or have already depleted their stock of ck serum.
This means that if your animal is bi en and needs serum treatment there is a strong likelihood that none will be available.
The BEST thing you can do to protect your pet is to ensure they have a ck preven on treatment.
Sunday 27th November is the date and the poetry begins at 9.00am. Due to the unpredictability of the weather at the moment, the event will be held at the Bodalla Memorial Hall instead of the usual Bodalla Dairy Shed venue. The normal breakfast arrangements will not be available this me, but complimentary coffee, tea and biscuits will be on hand at the Hall. This year's programme will feature a poets' pick of their own favourite poems which have been presented over the years. Please join us for a couple of hours of great entertainment - Sunday, 27th November, 9.00am Bodalla Memorial Hall. Gold coin dona on very much appreciated! For further informa on - Sue - 0427 007 649 Be y - 0474 006 863.
community Inaugural Taste Of Seafood Fes val In Bermagui Nov 25 and 26th
The Taste of Seafood Fes val, hosted by the Professional Fishers Associa on will a ract locals and tourists alike with a fresh fish market, informa ve industry displays, cooking demonstra ons, compe ons and games, live music and, of course, plenty of delicious seafood on offer. Tricia Bea y, Professional Fisher’s Associa on CEO said, “It promises to be a fun day for the whole family with plenty of ac vi es for the kids. “Taste of Seafood Fes vals, being held right around NSW, will raise awareness about local professional fishers and provide an opportunity for fes val goers to see, feel and taste locally harvested wild caught seafood whilst interac ng with members of the industry.” “It’s an opportunity to educate the general public on the environmental sustainability of the NSW seafood industry, they will learn how it is caught, where it is stored and where they can purchase it,” explained Gary Howard, PFA Chairman. The Taste of Seafood Fes vals are run by the Professional Fishers Associa on with the objec ve of championing local industry and suppor ng sustainable fishing prac ces. Entry to the Fes vals is free of charge and will welcome both locals and visitors to regional areas.
community Free Christmas Lunch for those in need
While most people look forward to Christmas, some dread it. It is an expense they simply can’t afford. And for those who are alone, Christmas day lunch for one is not a par cularly pleasant thought. If you or someone you know is likely to miss out on having an enjoyable Christmas lunch, the Combined Churches of Batemans Bay is offering a 3 course Community Christmas day lunch for those in need or who are alone on Christmas day. And it is all free. Every year the Community Christmas Day lunch is organized and catered for by a dedicated group of volunteers, and generously funded by some of our local supermarkets, local business, clubs and the Combined Churches of Batemans Bay. In previous years the lunch caters for over 120 people and this year we are expec ng to cater for up to 140 guests. And for the guests the Community Christmas Day Lunch is everything that a Christmas day lunch should be – a full 3 course lunch with an entre of prawns followed by a main course of chicken, ham and/or turkey and salad, with Christmas pudding, custard and cream, and so drinks, tea and coffee in between. And there are gi s and shopping vouchers for all who a end. Young and old, singles, families, couples and kids are all invited. This is the real spirit of Christmas – joining together to make this a special day to make sure everyone gets to enjoy Christmas day – especially those who have struggled in recent years. The Combined Churches Christmas Day Lunch is a great team effort. The day would not be possible without the generous funding and supplies provided by some of our local supermarkets, businesses, clubs and the Combined Churches, to whom we are eternally grateful. We are also blessed with a small team of volunteers who work for several months to arrange funding and supplies, then a number of volunteers who give up their day on Christmas day to greet and transport guests, prepare and serve on the tables, keep the so drinks, tea and coffee flowing on the day, and play Santa and his helper to distribute gi s and shopping vouchers to all the guests. The Community Christmas Day Lunch is run at the Salva on Army Hall and the Anglican Church in Batemans Bay. For those without transport, or who would prefer to have their Christmas Day Lunch at home, we have a courtesy bus and can provide home deliveries. If you or your family are struggling to afford a Christmas Day Lunch and would like to join us for this special day, we would love to hear from you. Bookings are essen al to assist with catering, so please book early. Please call the Salva on Army in Batemans Bay on (02) 4472 9644 by 18 December.
On Sunday morning 18 th December at 10am, U3A are having a Christmas Gala, which will tell the story of the na vity in song and drama. The morning will feature The Three Tenors- Steve Johnston, Paul Marshall and Duncan McDiarmid, all having glorious and powerful tenor voices. The U3A Singers, conducted by Lyn Brown, happily accepted the invita on to par cipate, and numbers swelled when they heard more about the morning’s events. Members of the church congrega on gleefully agreed to dress up and perform the Christmas story. The much coveted roles of Mary and Joseph were given to Yemi and Oscar Gouillet; ideal candidates, since they produced twin babies earlier this year, Jada and Jus n. Of course the twins will star as the babies Jesus. Obviously the Three Kings will be our tenors, and the angels will be the U3A Singers, with Gabriel being acted by Meredith. We will not be reading from the bible. Instead the actors will be pu ng the message into their own words. As well, some favourite carols have been chosen to enhance the story. In the tradi on of the Uni ng Church, this will be a fine example of Inclusivity, with Mary of Nigerian heritage, Jesus portrayed as a boy and a girl, and Believers, Agnos cs and Atheists all enthusias cally welcomed. Come and have fun. Remember, 10am at the Batemans Bay Uni ng Church on Sunday morning 18 th December. For further informa on, call Kay on 0438 717606.
www.iga.com.au/
Christmas beetles emerge each summer around Christmas me a er wai ng underground all year.
In the past, millions of these large, colourful beetles used to fly around in December and January. Sadly, Christmas beetle sigh ngs appear to be in decline. There is currently no formal monitoring program, so we don't know how bad the decline really is, or if it is affec ng all of the 35 Christmas beetle species. As soon as we know more about the decline, researchers can begin conserva on efforts. How you can help Associate Professor Tanya La y from the University of Sydney - School of Life and Environmental Sciences needs the public's help to track the popula on of Christmas beetles so that we can iden fy species that may be at risk. You can play a big role in the project by becoming a ci zen scien st (or ge ng your kids or grandkids involved) and sharing any sigh ngs of Christmas beetles from your local area. If you would like to learn more, register by comple ng an online form and Associate Professor Tanya La y will send you detailed instruc ons on how to par cipate. Register your interest in becoming a ci zen scien st h ps://university-comms.sydney.edu.au/survey.php? sid=30092&name=register-your-interest-in-becoming-a-ci zen-scien st Learn more about the Christmas Beetle at the Australian Museum
Image: h ps://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/christmas-beetle/
