Editorial

Welcome to this week’s editorial, The season of HoHo is upon us and with that comes the carols and the nsel of the season. Most of us are already planning gi s, decora ons, par es, feasts and events for the month ahead that ends with a firework display, more champagne and a nice sleep in. My first encounters with Christmas were at odds with the norm. For a lad growing up in the lap of a tropical village on a far off coconut lined shore the celebra on of Christmas was a confusion, to say the least. The first issue was the fact that the luluais (priests) in the local churches were ra ling on that Christmas was all about the birthday of their Numba Wan man, Jesus. If you snuck into the Haus Lotu (church) there would be a picture of Jesus with his long blond hair and his beard up on the wall. As I have described in earlier editorials the churches (there were three in the district all trying their best to win souls) would have their contes ng Na vity scenes on display that we, as kids, found intriguing. Firstly it was clear that all the players were white. There was the plump white baby, the mother, a bearded father, three old white men who appeared on camels following a star and came with presents. The priests were very serious about the fact that December 25th was the birthday of their Numba Wan man and they did their best to create fanfare around it by having special Christmas songs that they would sing accompanied by their wives and children strumming guitars or banging a tambourine. The problem arose when we went to town. In town there was a different Numba Wan man. The town hero was a bearded old white guy in a red suit that said HoHo and apparently gave ‘everyone’ a present on December 25th. When I say ‘everyone’ that really meant only white kids and only those who had been good. If you were a local village kid then this man, called Santa, didn’t give you anything. I asked my father if he was one of the Wise Men who bought children presents it turned out that Santa was not from the desert but was in fact from the North Pole, flew around the world in a deer driven sley filled with presents and dropped them down chimneys in exchange for beer and carrots. Apparently it wasn’t an issue that we didn’t have a chimney, nor did we have carrots, but we did have a lot of beer. This fact came into play early in the piece when I discovered my very inebriated parents laughing on the floor, bodily entwined in a tradestore pushbike they were assembling that Santa was ‘bringing’ me. Like an onion, the myths of Christmas were unravelling one layer at a me as my father confessed to me that there was no Santa, there was no Easter Bunny that had rabbits plopping out foiled covered chocolate eggs for privileged white children to find. I already knew that villagers, myself and all of my friends, were not visited by this magical rabbit, and magical it had to be because Papua New Guinea had no rabbits. Layer by layer it was revealed that Santa was a contrivance of a nasty old man who only gave presents to white kids who had been good, and the richer the white kid, the be er the present. I loathed hearing of the presents my school friends received and, bless their nasty socks, they would make a point of asking me what I got for Christmas which was usually tradestore clothing for the next year. It turned out that the Easter Rabbit was equally selec ve and that the Tooth Fairy was equally discriminatory as to who received a coin, and how much. As I look back on all of this I reflect on my father being truthful when he admi ed that it was all “Bullshit”. Santa was bullshit, so too the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. When I asked him about the church, the three wise men, the star and the mother made pregnant by a spirit he told me that it was “Gammon Tasol” which is a nice way to say it was “bullshit” in Pidgin. Should he have perpetuated the lie about Santa and the others and not been honest? I’m pleased he didn’t. I didn’t much approve of racist Santa in the first place. So I come at Christmas and the Fes ve Season of HoHo from a different perspec ve. I am well aware that if there was a Santa then he is pre y selec ve with who he gives presents to. This explains why he fails to give anything to more than half the world’s popula on of children. But yet we perpetuate the lie to our children and celebrate him in every shopfront window. Every home has a decorated tree in readiness of a Santa delivery and our halls are bedecked with nsel, mock snow and baubles —tralalalala. But the period of Christmas does have its upside. It is a me when we come together and share quality me with each other. Be that over a meal or a drink. There might, or might not, be gi giving but if there is then it is the thought that counts. Happy HoHo season to you, however you might enjoy it, and by whatever you might believe in. Un l next—lei

Eurobodalla Mayor Mathew Hatcher will welcome cruise ship Coral Adventurer to Batemans Bay for her maiden visit this Saturday, 3 December.

A Coral Expedi ons cruise, she departed Cairns on 17 October for a 60-day circumnaviga on of Australia. 104 passengers and 48 crew are aboard.

Coral Adventurer will be at anchor in the waters off Batemans Bay from 6am. Guests will board tenders for a short trip to the new floa ng pontoon on the Batemans Bay waterfront. The Mayor will welcome Captain Ma hew Fryer to the Eurobodalla, presen ng him with the customary port-of-call plaque soon a er 7.30am. Coral Adventurer is the first cruise ship to visit Batemans Bay post-pandemic. A welcoming party led by Mayor Mathew Hatcher together with cruise ambassadors from the Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber will greet guests as they disembark the tenders. Mayor Mathew Hatcher said the cruise industry is good for the region and he’s pleased to see Coral Expedi ons visit on their way to Sydney. “Passengers always enjoy a stop in the Bay, star ng with a li le adventure on the tenders to get to shore, then off on their pre-booked experiences including kayaking and oyster tas ng, a tender cruise up the Clyde, and a trip to the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden.”

From December 1st 2022 more farmers across NSW will soon be swinging their gates open to visitors, thanks to a new policy that makes it easier to set up agritourism opportuni es. Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole today released the Government’s final agritourism policy aimed at helping diversified farm businesses thrive “We’re making it cheaper and easier for our farmers to diversify their income by star ng, running and growing agritourism experiences, such as farm stays, cafes, cellar doors, retreats, roadside stalls, fruit picking and small wedding venues,” Mr Toole said. “Farmers who want to innovate and share a taste of their region with visitors shouldn’t be held back by red tape. That’s why we’ve introduced clear defini ons and new planning pathways to allow ac vi es that meet the policy to happen with either faster or no planning approval.” Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the finalised policy will support the growing agritourism industry and encourage the next genera on to farm the land. “Agritourism is a growing sector for both the Australian and NSW economies and is expected to be worth $18.6 billion na onally by 2030. It’s important we provide a clear and simple pathway through the planning system,” Mr Roberts said. “Our farmers have shown resilience me and me again over the last few years, ba ling through floods, fires, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, and we want to support them however we can.” Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the policy encourages locals to boost their revenue and future-proof their farms. “The last few years have been really tough on farmers as they recover from the drought, bushfires, floods and the pandemic. Reforms like these will help landholders build resilience by providing another source of income,” Mr Saunders said. “Whether they’re building a small shopfront, hos ng events, taking in campers or star ng roadside stalls, farmers can choose from a range of opportuni es made simpler by this policy change.” Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said there are now endless avenues for primary producers to drive produc vity and cash flow on their doorstep. “It’s all about using the land in new and innova ve ways, complemen ng exis ng businesses and giving people more reasons to visit regional areas,” Mr Franklin said. “The pandemic has seen NSW residents spend more me exploring our amazing state, and these ac vi es will a ract tourists and put rural communi es on the map as drawcard des na ons.”

The new policy will commence on 1 December. For more informa on visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/agritourism

community Be er beach access with mobility mats

Eurobodalla’s beaches will soon be accessible to even more people thanks to new wheelchair-friendly mobility mats. Rolled out across the sand like a long, heavy-duty carpet and providing a stable surface for people using mobility aids, the mats will be available at seven of the shire’s patrolled beaches this summer: Surf Beach, Malua Bay, South Broulee, Moruya South Head, Tuross Main, Dalmeny, and Narooma Surf Beach. Eurobodalla Council successfully secured funding for the mats from the NSW Government in a partnership with local lifeguards and lobby group Accessible Beaches Australia. Council’s director of community, arts and recrea on Kathy Arthur said the mobility mats will allow people of all abili es to safely enjoy Eurobodalla’s beau ful beaches. “Mobility mats create a nice stable surface for people using wheelchairs, scooters or walkers, but also for elderly people, those with vision impairment, even parents with strollers,” she said. “The mats are a big hit in beach communi es around the country, making a quintessen al Australian day out possible for even more people. It’s a great result for our residents and our visitors.” The mats are made en rely from recycled plas cs and measure 1.5 metres wide and can be up to 50 metres long. Lifeguards will roll them out for summer patrols and pack them up ahead of storms or large seas to avoid damage. Ms Arthur said encouraging visits to patrolled beaches means beachgoers have access to other facili es like toilets and beach wheelchairs.

“Some wheelchair users might s ll need assistance at beach access points where natural land forma ons make for a steeper path,” she said. “We also know some of the loca ons are not yet fully accessible in terms of parking and toilets, but these mobility mats are a wonderful start to making our beaches places for people of all abili es.” Work will get underway from Monday to build new lead-in paths at South Broulee, Malua Bay and Narooma Surf Beach to accommodate the mobility mats. Workers will move between the three sites over the next fortnight, and beachgoers are asked to use alterna ve beach access during that me. This project was made possible thanks to $495,000 from Round One of the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Ac va on Fund and partnership with Accessible Beaches Australia and local lifeguards.

community The Lost King raises funds for global polio campaign

Narooma Rotarians will host the screening of The Lost King at Narooma Kinema on Sunday 4 December (6.30 for 7pm) to raise awareness and funds to con nue the global fight to eliminate the paralyzing disease polio from the world.

The film is The Lost King, a drama sa on of the story of an amateur historian who ini ated the search to find King Richard III’s remains which had been lost for over 500 years. They were found under a car park in Leicester. Above: Narooma Rotary’s ‘amateur archaeologist’ David McInnes need look no further for The Lost King than Narooma Kinema this Sunday 4th December 6.30 for 7pm, a film fundraiser for the global eradica on of polio

Everyone is encouraged to ‘dress up’ for the occasion (maybe medieval royalty or cour er or a current day archaeologist) for a bit of fun, but not essen al. All ckets $20 (nibbles and drinks from 6.30 before film). Book at Kinema 4476 2352.

“Polio is a vaccine-preventable disease that s ll threatens children in parts of the world today,” Narooma Rotary President Andrew Lawson said.

“When Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradica on Ini a ve more than 30 years ago, polio paralyzed 1,000 children every day. Cases due to wild poliovirus have declined by more than 99.9% since then. Wild poliovirus remains endemic in two countries - Afghanistan and Pakistan. It’s feared disrup ons to rou ne vaccina on programmes around the world are pu ng this progress at risk. Detec on of isolated cases this year in countries where polio had been eradicated for a number of years was a wake-up call. With polio nearly eradicated, Rotary and its partners are trying to sustain this progress and con nue to reach every child with the polio vaccine. Without full funding and poli cal commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to poliofree countries, pu ng children everywhere at risk. Rotary has commi ed to raising US$50 million each year to support global polio eradica on efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Founda on matches that with $2 for every $1 raised, for a total yearly contribu on of $150 million.

community The results are in - the 2022 River of Art Fes val was the ‘best ever’.

Over 12,500 people a ended our 130 events, with 4,000 celebra ng the final show Luminous: Art A er Dark at Riverside Park .

Organisers say "Thanks to our ar sts, performers, sponsors, businesses, supporters, volunteers and of course our audience for joining us. We’re already planning 2023 and your feedback will help make our next Fes val even be er.

"We had a record number of open studios, exhibi ons, and performances … and a lot of happiness. "Our Outcomes Report wraps the Fes val and is available at the link below:

“Congratula ons to our lucky survey responder Ashley Hartge from Gundaroo NSW who won a meal for two at the Quarterdeck Narooma. "Save the Date! 15-24 September 2023" h ps://mcusercontent.com/f1ab4c3fc1e1af0c05d3e521a/files/33d15dff-ca99-25ec-e990-8801c13ace66/ River_of_Art_Impact_Report_2022.pdf

Queen Chow li s the bar for South Coast dining and gains a well deserved hat

Cooking with fire, heightened Thai food and a regional dining boom were key trends at The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2023 awards on Monday night, returning a er a three-year hiatus with a record number of hats.

The awards ceremony at Shell House Dining Room & Terrace in the CBD was a ended by 350 chefs and restaurateurs who snacked on lobster rolls and oysters with finger lime. Winning the very first HAT for a Narooma restaurant was Queen Chow.

community Eden Chipmill Owner Reports $60,453,885 Profit

Allied Natural Wood Enterprises (ANWE), owner of the Eden woodchip mill has just reported a staggering profit of over $60 million for 2021/22. The profit was revealed in ANWE’s Annual Financial Statement to ASIC lodged this week. This contrasts with a $9 million loss on na ve forest logging achieved by the NSW Forestry Corpora on for the same period. Spokesperson for the South East Region Conserva on Alliance, Harrie Swi described the result as devasta ng. “This obscene profit has come at a heavy cost to taxpayers, the environment, biodiversity and the climate,” she said.

“We recognise that a significant part – about 20% - of this huge profit has come from new forestry assets - some of them in the planta on sector - acquired by ANWE during the financial year, but overwhelmingly it has come from the Eden chipmill. “To make such a massive profit from the destruc on of forests s ll struggling to recover from bushfires exacerbated by decades of woodchipping is hard to take,” Ms Swi said. The Eden chipmill con nues to be the driver of all na ve forest logging on the South Coast, with some opera ons in the Eden Region yielding 100% woodchips. The profit has been boosted by tens of millions of taxpayer dollars in subsidies, especially a er the bushfires. Generous subsidies have gone to both ANWE and its partner company, Pentarch, with which it shares facili es in Eden. “ANWE’s shocking profit is probably just part of the story since Pentarch is yet to lodge an Annual Financial Statement to ASIC,” she said.

community The Batemans Bay Hospital Auxiliary Handmade Market - Dec 3rd

The Batemans Bay Hospital Auxiliary will be running their fabulous annual Handmade Market at the Soldiers Club on the 3rd of December with 52 stalls of Handmade goods by local cra s. This is a major fund raising event for the Batemans Bay Hospital.

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/

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

community University of Wollongong Des na on Australia Scholarships NOW OPEN

Des na on Australia Scholarship (Domes c Students) - Open from 28th November 2022 to 19th March 2023

The Australian Government has partnered with the University of Wollongong (UOW) to offer the Des na on Australia scholarship program. This new program will support both domes c and interna onal students to study in regional Australia. For more informa on please visit Des na on Australia Scholarships Value$15,000 per annum Dura on Various Level of Enrolment First Year Graduate Type Postgraduate (Coursework), Undergraduate Year of Scholarship 2023 Degree Enrolled in a Bachelor, Bachelor Honours, Graduate Cer ficate, Graduate Diploma, Master or Doctoral degree at either the Batemans Bay, Bega, Shoalhaven or Southern Highlands campuses. Offer Type Scholarship Category Commun y Broad Study Area Arts & Interna onal Studies, Business, Crea ve Arts, Educa on, Engineering, Graduate Medicine, Health & Medicine, Informa on & Communica ons Technology, Law, Mathema cs & Sta s cs, Media, Communica ons & Journalism, Physics, Psychology, Science Faculty Faculty of Business and Law, Faculty of Engineering and Informa on Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humani es

Applica on Criteria Applicants be commencing as a new student at UOW in Autumn 2023 Applicants must maintain ongoing residency in a regional area as defined by the Australian Bureau of Sta s cs for the dura on of each study period; Applicants must be enrolled and study at either the Batemans Bay, Bega, Southern Highlands or Shoalhaven campuses, Applicants must be full- me in an on-campus course that can be fully delivered at one of the campuses listed above; and Applicants must be enrolled in a Bachelor, Bachelor Honours, Graduate Cer ficate, Graduate Diploma, Master or Doctoral degree.

How to apply Students are required to submit an online scholarship applica on. Students will be requested to provide personal details, degree, living address (or intended living address if not currently residing in a regional area), campus and wri en responses.

community Urgent Calls To Properly Staff Moruya Emergency Department

NSW Shadow Minister for Health Ryan Park was joined in Moruya today by the Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland to speak with local healthcare workers about the state of crisis our regional hospitals are currently facing. Dr Holland, an obstetrician gynaecologist in the region for 20 years has been a vocal advocate, calling on the Liberal-Na onal Government to urgently address the cri cal understaffing and poor condi ons of healthcare workers and allied health professionals at Moruya Hospital. “I’ve been informed that the new extension to the Moruya Accident and Emergency is ready to go but they don’t have the staff to open” Dr Michael Holland said.

“This government like to point out the number of hospitals they’ve built, but it seems there are never enough staff to make them func onal. Our hardworking healthcare professionals are the ones that provide lifesaving care and this government have not supported them.” "Hospitals across the country have been overwhelmed, under-resourced and severely neglected by the NSW Liberals and Na onals – but par cularly in regional and rural NSW. "Underfunding, capped wages and poor condi ons have compounded over the years leaving our health system in crisis and staff leaving the profession in droves. "A Minns Labor Government have plans to redesign and repair the structure of the New South Wales health system by introducing minimum and enforceable safe staffing levels to public hospitals, star ng with emergency departments" Dr Holland said. NSW Shadow Minister for Health Ryan Park said “I’ve heard too many stories from hospitals such as Moruya about serious bed block and rampant ambulance ramping. The staff are doing an amazing job with the situa on they are forced to work within, but they need help. It’s astounding they have had construc on begin and finish, yet they couldn’t organise the staff to open the new facili es. This government is obsessed with ribbon cu ng at shiny new buildings but they have failed to ensure there are sufficient staff to provide the cri cal services the community needs.” “Our hospitals system is experiencing unprecedented pressure as a result of understaffing and under resourcing over a long me. There needs to be a change in the way in which we staff our hospitals.” Dr Holland added “We have one of the highest propor ons of older persons in New South Wales. This is a region where health services are falling behind the changing needs of the community. We have buildings and buildings and buildings. We have structures that do not func on. Our services have been stripped and the community is missing out on receiving the care they deserve “

NSW Shadow Minister for Health Ryan Park was joined in Moruya today by the Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland to speak with local healthcare workers about the state of crisis our regional hospitals are currently facing.

community Proposed Shared Pathway on Sunpatch Parade – Update from Council

Eurobodalla Shire Council have provided Tomakin Community Associa on with an update on the proposed Shared Pathway on Sunpatch Parade saying: “We are currently preparing designs for an extension to the shared pathway network along Sunpatch Parade, Tomakin. The design includes a pathway from the entrance to Tomakin Social Club along the western side of Sunpatch Parade to the Rivermouth Café, a length of approximately 500m. The concrete pathway will be 2.5m wide and be suitable for both pedestrians and cyclists. Council has obtained grant funding for the first stage of this pathway which will provide a connec on from the Tomakin Social Club to the exis ng pathway at Jack Buckley Park". Council add "We are hopeful that further funding will be available shortly to enable the project to proceed through to the Rivermouth Café. "We are in the process of engaging contractors to undertake the required construc on work. The project is likely to occur in stages over the coming months as contractors and concrete supplies are available. Council advises

"During works, residents can expect heavy machinery to be ac ve on the nature strip and along the road. Traffic control will be in place and on-street parking may be limited at mes. The site supervisor will contact residents if access to proper es will be affected. "The pathway was iden fied as a priority in the Eurobodalla Pathways Strategy 2017. The strategy helps determine which pathways are built on a priority basis when the annual budget is adopted or when we receive grant funding or a contribu on from the community. "These sec ons of the Tomakin pathways are funded through the Federal Government’s Stronger Communi es Program and Local Roads and Community Program with a contribu on from Council. We are in the process of seeking funding from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communi es Program.” h p://tomakincommunityassocia on.com/

community Council's Environment Calendar 2023 launched

25 years of Council's much enjoyed environment calendar was marked this week with a fresh bunch of young ar sts from Eurobodalla’s primary schools. Their winning works appear on the 2023 calendar, now available free at Council offices and libraries.

Council's environment educa on officer Bernade e Davis was there at the start in 1998 and she welcomed today’s winning students, telling them what a challenge it was for her and the other judges to choose 14 winners from 560 entries.

Councillor Amber Shutz helped Bernade e with the judging and today presented the winners with their book vouchers. Bernade e thanked the shire's teachers who provide “amazing support” for the compe on every year.

And the 2023 environment calendar winners are...

Didier de Celis, St Bernard’s Primary School Jess Elekessy, Sunshine Bay Primary School Elka Hampson, St Mary's Primary School Amiirah Nye, St Peter's Anglican College Blake Southan, Moruya Public School Cheylyra Ladmore, Narooma Public School Trinity Van Luin, Broulee Public School Ethan Harvey, Central Tilba Public School Felix Poole, Bodalla Public School Penny Fletcher, St Peters Anglican College Anika Higginson, Batemans Bay Public School Addison Green, Sunshine Bay Public School Chloe Kay, Narooma Public School Zara Dawson, Moruya Public School Above: Winners of the 2023 Eurobodalla environment calendar were announced today by Councillor Amber Schutz and Council's environmental educa on officer Bernade e Davis.

The final club mee ng of the year with our AGM for the elec on of the officers and commi ee for 2023, was held on 22nd November. The first club mee ng for 2023 will be on the 24th of January at 7.00 PM, Tomakin Community Hall. During the break, the club will hold promo onal stalls and exhibi ons of members' work at the local “Bunnings Christmas Fair” from 6 pm un l 8 pm on Thursday 8th December and on the weekend of 21st and 22nd January 2023, at the “Eurobodalla Agricultural Show”. If you have an interest in the art of photography come along to either event and talk to our members on the stands about the 2023 programme, and join our diverse group of fellow enthusiasts in the new year. The November compe on was an open subject with 40 images entered for judging by Colin Pass. To conclude the evening Mick Newnham gave an interes ng and humorous talk on the techniques and frustra ons of photographing the Bathurst 1000 motor race. Illustrated with some outstanding images taken at the event. Congratula ons to one of our youngest members Daniel Bateman for taking out the overall winner award in the Eurobodalla Botanical Gardens photographic compe on. His winning image of an Echidna is shown below.