What’s on—cinema

THE BLOODSHED is directed by Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras (Citzenfour). It follows the inimitable ar st and ac vist Nan Goldin and the fall of the Sackler pharmaceu cal dynasty.

The Travelling Film Fes val is also proud to present three Australian short films from 2022’s Sydney Film Fes val. Steve Anthopoulos’s charming comedy VOICE ACTIVATED, from SFF’s Screenability program, features the voices of Sam Neil and Becky Lucas.

Short film TANGKI (DONKEY), winner of the Yoram Gross Anima on Award and AFTRS Cra Award at SFF 2022, is directed by Jonathan Daw and Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM. Three Anangu women of different genera ons tell the story of how donkeys came to be valuable friends and helpers in the desert communi es in the APY lands of northern South Australia. Twenty ar sts of the Tjanpi Desert Weavers used desert grasses, wool and raffia to create the deligh ul puppets, set and props of this stop-mo on short film.

THE MOTHS WILL EAT THEM UP, from Luisa Mar ri and Tanya Modini, unfolds as a woman’s ordinary train ride home at night turns into a terrifying game of cat and mouse with a stranger.

Gadfly 276 By Robert Macklin

There’s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned dilemma to get the grey matter twirling. Any glance around the world will produce more quandaries than a single cerebellum can handle. But three have such sharp horns they’ve kept prodding me all week. Perhaps a problem shared is a problem halved, so here goes.

The Federal government finds the first so blatant they’re afraid to mention it publicly: The Morrison gang left the place in such a woeful state that enormous funding on health, education, the NDIS, aged care, childcare and especially the transition to renewable energy is needed right now. But since they promised not to raise taxes (or even repeal the ridiculous Stage-three cuts), the only way to pay for them is through the bonanza of coal and gas exports robert@robertmacklin.com

And with interest rates on the pandemic deficit blowing out the budget deficit, the mining industry promises even more income from the 140 or so new developments awaiting Government approval. No wonder Albo gave Tanya Plibersek the job of overseeing the environment while deciding yea or nay to the new mines. He obviously figured that when desperate, you look for the cleverest and most appealing woman to camouflage the dilemma.

The second also involves a woman of high intelligence and appealing mien. Across the Pacific, US President Joe Biden is getting ready to announce his run for a second four-year term in 2024, which would make him 86 by the time he bids a voluntary farewell. So age is a big factor for the voters.

Joe’s supporters in government have been very aware of this, so they’ve deliberately kept his relatively young and attractive Vice-President Kamala Harris in the shadows. While this has allowed Joe to bask in a cleverly controlled limelight, it has undermined the V-P’s profile so that virtually no one sees her as his natural successor; and other ambitious presidential candidates among the Democrats have stayed mum.

If Joe stumbles (or worse) either Trump or one of his scary camp followers like Ron DeSantis, will have a big head start on Kamala simply because of her loyalty to Joe and his team of White House manipulators. Sharp horns indeed.

The third is of a very different order, and it’s been a long time coming. I remember as a wide-eyed youth in the office of Deputy Prime Minister John McEwen, engaging in an all-out campaign for decentralisation of the Australian population. At the time, the move from country to city was gathering pace and McEwen proposed a new Australian Industry Development Corporation that would assist industries to establish in the regions. It was fiercely opposed by Treasurer Billy McMahon and while the boss got it approved by the Gorton Cabinet, when he retired it simply faded away.

However, in recent years, the NBN, for all its faults, has combined with a new generation of progressive farmers – and the mad prices of city property – to rejuvenate many of the small towns of the inland. As the superb ABC series ‘Back Roads’ has revealed, communities across the nation are not only growing and welcoming migrants from Asia and elsewhere, they’re finding life so much more satisfying and engaging. The tree change is happening.

But here’s the other horn, and I guess it takes us back to the first one. Climate change is producing floods, fires, heatwaves and droughts in prospect, with the power to undermine the entire process. Yet there’s no funding to fix it, unless, well, you know what...

Maybe the government should share the dilemma publicly. This might not solve it, but at least they’d show they’re fair dinkum and perhaps even open to suggestion.

Reading—Have a beer with Bazza by John Longhurst

Bazza nodded at the full schooner as Mick joined the regular patrons of a similar vintage at the bar table.

“Thanks, Bazza……..Right……I’m glad you blokes are together. I need to discuss cost cutting measures with this rising inflation and these high interest rates. I see you blokes as our local razor gang.”

Bazza rubbed his chin and took a decent sip.

“Well….Mick…… we could start with the multi billion dollar purchase of nuclear submarines under AUKUS. It looks like it will be the most expensive defence purchase in Australia’s history. I don’t even see how it links to defence. These submarines will have a capability way beyond defending our shoreline and are more in line with supporting an attack on another country. You see…….”

Mick tapped the table.

“Woo….woo….hold up Bazza! Get down from your stump. I’m talking cost cutting closer to home…… products we do not need to buy.”

The regular patrons clutched their schooners a little tighter as Mick paused.

“Now….. an obvious one is bottled water. I researched this one. It was introduced in the late 1980’s in Australia. Who would of thought people would pay for something that is free?”

Know All Ron weighed in.

“We can tick off on that one, Mick. I was happy to use the bubbler when I was at school and am just as happy using a reusable bottle when I am out and about these days. Our environment would be much better off without bottled water.”

Mick cleared his throat.

“Ok….that’s a bit of progress. I also nominate the phone landline. It’s now useless.”

Nods of agreement.

Mick bit his bottom lip and leaned in.

“Ok…..now this might be a hard one……..the second fridge in the back shed.”

Wide eyes all round and Timeless Tom leaned in.

“That’s not a goer, Mick……you know……in an emergency….. it’s pretty handy.”

Murmurs of agreement.

Bazza concealed a chuckle as Bella, the publican joined the group.

“Shampoo and conditioner, Mick…..are both unnecessary products.”

A long silence as eyes focused on Bella’s hair before Mick ventured.

“Are you saying you do not wash your hair, Bella? You must be using something because it always looks very healthy.”

“Thanks, Mick but I have not used shampoo or conditioner for over ten years. There is no medical reason to wash or shampoo your hair. In fact, there is plenty of evidence that shampoo and conditioner washes out the natural oils the scalp produces to keep your hair healthy. I just rinse it thoroughly with water when I shower. The transition from shampoo and conditioner to just rinsing with water was a bit uncomfortable for a week or two but it soon settled down. My hairdresser is actually impressed by the health of my hair.”

Bazza rubbed his chin and laughed.

“Now there is a big saving, Mick.”

Mick rubbed his bald head.

“Let’s move on…..how about le er boxes?”

Have a beer with Bazza at john.longhurst59@gmail.com

Health Wins for the NSW South Coast by Fiona Phillips, Member for Gilmore

It's no secret that regional areas like my electorate of Gilmore on the New South Wales South Coast face a number of challenges when it comes to accessing quality health services close to home.

I'm a passionate believer that local people should not have to travel hours to receive the same quality of care as those in the city. That's why I've been a strong advocate for many improvements to our local health infrastructure.

When it comes to alcohol and drug addic on, par cularly for young people, we know that accessing support close to home can make a big difference to health outcomes. That's why, just last week, I was really delighted to represent the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, to officially open the Walawaani Youth-Specific Detoxifica on and Rehabilita on Facility near Batemans Bay.

Run by Mission Australia, this facility received $8 million from the Australian government's Community Health and Hospitals Program. It is well known that alcohol and drug misuse doesn't just affect the one person; it can be disastrous to families and communi es.

Walawaani will provide a safe place for younger people to overcome addic on in a state-of-the-art centre, with youth-specific alcohol and drug case management, counselling and community a ercare. There are also residen al living skills, educa on and sport and recrea on programs, offering a holis c approach to care.

Having facili es like this on the South Coast near Batemans Bay allows vulnerable younger people to receive treatment and support for alcohol and drug misuse closer to their homes and families, and in their communi es.

Even the name Walawaani has very special meaning. It's a local Indigenous word which means, 'We hope you have a safe journey.' Mission Australia worked with the Aboriginal community in the Batemans Bay area, including with Dhurga linguists. The name has also received the blessing of the Walbunja elders. How special is that! It's local health care for local people, and I am proud to be delivering that.

Last week, there was more good news for the Batemans Bay region when we opened the expressions of interest for the new Batemans Bay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. People in regional areas like ours should be able to access good quality, affordable local health care, and our bulk-billed, urgent care clinics will provide just that. Non-life-threatening emergencies make up over 50 per cent of total presenta ons to hospitals in New South Wales.

These emergencies can o en be me-consuming for pa ents as they wait for treatment, and they add pressure to our already overstretched hospital emergency departments. Urgent care clinics will significantly reduce the pressure on our local hospitals by trea ng pa ents with urgent but non-life-threatening emergencies, opera ng extended hours seven days a week, ensuring that local people receive the highquality, affordable health care they need when they need it. That's another promise we made that I am delighted to deliver on.

Last week was a busy one for health in the Batemans Bay region. It also saw the first sod turned on the new Eurobodalla Hospital. The community has waited a long me for this, and it should have been a proud community moment. But I think the New South Wales Liberal government forgot to check their Rolodex, because—whoops!—they forgot to invite the local state and federal members. That's right—neither I nor the member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland, were invited along to this pivotal local moment. Unfortunately, as is too o en the case, the Liberals just saw it as another poli cking moment in the lead-up to the elec on. Perhaps they were worried that we might have asked them to match New South Wales Labor's commitment to open this hospital at level 4 status—something the community has been asking for years and years. Before being elected as the Bega MP, Dr Holland was a pivotal member of that movement. He is one of the key people responsible for the fact the Liberals even agreed to build a new hospital in the first place. Leaving him out of this event is just shameful. But the shame doesn't stop there. The Liberals are also trying to distract from the fact they refused to build the much-needed radia on therapy centre. Thanks to people like Cathy Hurst bravely sharing her story, we know the impact this is having. The Albanese government has delivered on our promise of $8 million to fund it, but the New South Wales Liberals are standing in the way. No-one should have to go through what Cathy Hurst has gone through to receive her cancer treatment ever again. It is shameful, and I won't stop un l the community gets the health services it deserves.

Another great Literary Lunch for your diaries!

Join us to celebrate the release of Toni Jordan’s latest book ‘Pre er if She Smiled More’, a follow up to her very enjoyable ‘Dinner With the Schnabels’.

Toni will be interviewed by the inimitable Andrew Gray from South East Arts.

Bookings are essen al……

Meet Toni Jordan as she tours Australia to introduce her charming new novel, Pre er if She Smiled More

As the eldest child in a single-parent family, Kylie's always had more important things on her mind than smiling for random strangers. Controlling her job, her home, her roman c life and - most importantly - her family takes all her concentra on. She's always succeeded, though, because that's just who Kylie is.

When her fiercely independent mother breaks an ankle and needs help, it's up to Kylie, as usual, to fix things. She reluctantly packs her bags and moves in, but back in her childhood home, things start to unravel. Could it be that Kylie's carefully curated life is not so perfect a er all?

Pre er if She Smiled More will make you laugh and make you cry. Is it too late to start over?

100 Years Ago—10th March 1923

IN every respect the recent Tilba Show was one of the most successful yet held on the South Coast.

TO augment the funds of St. Patricks Day Sports in aid of the Catholic Church Fund, the energe c Secretary, Mr. C. Carter organized a very successful euchre party and dance in the Mechanics on Monday night. 80 players par cipated in the tournament which resulted in Mrs. Rolfe carrying off the lady’s trophy –an umbrella presented by Mr. F. Russell. Mr. H. McIntosh defea ng his opponents, secured the gentlemen’s prize – a cheese donated by Mr. R. B. Heffernan. Messrs. C. Carter and R. Sebbens ably managed the tables whilst Mr. F. Russell had charge of the door. Supplied by the lady parishioners, dainty refreshments were served prior to the commencement of dancing, which was indulged in for a few hours.

ONE of the best shows that ever visited this district was Worley Bros’. Circus which opened with a good house on Tuesday night. The star performer was Miss Ethel Ashton, and her clever and thrilling aerial acts were loudly applauded. There was a splendid exhibi on of high jumping by War Bond who cleared the bar at 6 3in. … A special feature of interest to the youngsters was a West African Mandrill, a peculiarly marked baboon, which was exhibited as a side show. A camel was also a curiosity to those who had never seen a “ship of the desert.”

AFTER a painful illness of eight months’ dura on, Mrs. Helena Bown, wife of Mr. Elijah Bown of Turlinjah, passed peacefully away at Claremore Private Hospital, Darlinghurst on Friday, 2nd inst. Deceased, who was 59 years of age, was a na ve of Cornwall, England and came to this country with her sister, the late Mrs. W. Coman, when a young girl. She was noted for her benevolent spirit and many who benefi ed by her generosity will regret to hear of her demise. Le to mourn their irreparable loss are a widower, one son, Mr. Cletus Bown, and two daughters, Mrs. L. Graham (Moruya) and Miss Bessie Bown (Turlinjah). …

ON Thursday, 15th ult., Miss Emily Blundell, of Araluen, and Mr. Tom Berriman, of Bodalla, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony by the Rev. Mr. Whiteman, of Moruya. …

Adver sment. PUBLIC INDIGNATION MEETING – A public indigna on mee ng will be held at the Old Shire Hall, Page St., on Wednesday next 14th instant, at 8pm., to protect against the aboli on of the Broulee Pastures Protec on Board, and the merging of the same into the Braidwood Board. T. FLOOD, President Eurobodalla Shire.