Reading—Have a beer with Bazz

Know All Ron’s long defence of Ben Roberts-Smith met nods of agreement and encouraged him to pause, stretch his back and deepen his voice.

“So there you go….. let’s call it for what it is……. tall poppy syndrome….. the bloke won a Victoria Cross…… so of course he is innocent. I am going to stand with Ben Roberts-Smith.”

‘Hear hears’ all round and Mick took a sip of his schooner.

“You are spot on as usual, Ron. Let’s drink to that.”

Four schooners froze mid air and four stares were trained on Bazza’s stationary glass.

Bazza broke the silence with a clearing of his throat.

“Nah……. The bloke was not even on trial. In fact, it was a defamation suit he initiated and it backfired big time. It went for 110 days and a judgement of 736 pages. It gets summarised and tossed around in a media frenzy and we all become instant experts.”

Another awkward silence before Know All Ron leaned in.

“So you’re against a war hero, Bazza? Bloody disappointing!”

Some audible ‘tut……tuts’ spurred on Know All Ron.

“The system is at fault. The same applies to the ICAC finding on poor Gladys Berejiklian……”

Nods of agreement and the conversation became animated about the former Premier. Her performance during the bushfires and Covid lockdowns praised and her choice of boyfriend identified as her only fault. Mick held up the conversation and fixed Bazza in his stare.

“Well…. let’s raise a glass to Gladys’ innocence.”

Bazza again refused and Mick’s face reddened.

“Nah….. Mick. Again, it’s a 700 odd page ruling after months of consideration of evidence we only get a glimpse of…… I mean what’s the point of a legal system based on precedent, hopefully well considered laws, rights of appeal and highly trained legal minds or an ICAC with sweeping investigative powers to unearth evidence if it is overruled by four schooners of pub opinion? Why bother with the new The National AntiCorruption Commission when all the expertise is in the front bar of this pub?”

A very long pause before Mick sucked in a deep breath through gritted teeth.

“Ahhh…..let’s talk about the Second Ashes Test at Lords and Alex Carey’s stumping of Jonny Bairstow……. Unless you have a contrary view on that one, Bazza?”

Bazza leaned back to take in the four stares, sipped his schooner and smiled.

“Same principle, Mick. The umpires were best qualified to apply the rules of the game rather than the gin soaked mob in the Lord’s Long Room. The same rule applies whether Alex Carey knocks the bails off from a metre or ten metres from behind the stumps…… so howzat?”

Mick let out a long sigh.

“Ahhhh…… finally something we can all drink to…….the Australian Cricket Team.”

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

WRITE PLACE, WRITE TIME: Suzanne Newnham (currently 798 words)

Following publica on of a ‘Le er to the Editor’ when I was 14, my parents referred to me as the “writer of the family although fulfilling my crea vity in story-telling tended to mean I was assigned wri ng family Christmas newsle ers!

Early 2007, with the encouragement of the psychic community, I gathered notes on ethics around paranormal and psychic phenomena, and a manuscript eventually emerged ready for a publisher’s considera on. I’d made calls to publishers to gauge their interest. Then everything stopped as decline in my health occurred. Chronic pain intensified, complicated reduced cogni ve abili es from reac ons to medica ons. My world turned upside down. What does a word mean, or the context of a sentence? do I comprehend what seems like a garbled conversa on, when even the words in a story are a blur? This was my life, sounds a acking me, confusing me, robbing me of vitality and hope.

To my surprise a publisher contacted me, just before Christmas 2010, and asked would I be interested in having my published – huge panic. Yes! But how? Slowly, and with lots of support from my husband, as well as prac cal help fantas c editor, Ethics of a Psychic Reading became a reality in July 2012.

My next foray into the wri en word soon followed with a request from the Fellowship of Australian Writers (FAW) 2013 for stories with the theme ‘Sydney’. My desire to encapsulate my mother Patricia’s memory of her childhood overcame my fears, and set me on a journey of discovery. 1500 words seemed daun ng, but receiving feedback from Eurobodalla FAW (EFAW) day group which I had recently joined, my collec on of words towards a story about my mother’s early days as a child living near The Rocks in the 1930s started taking shape. In May 2013 the EFAW night was established, for writers who wished to exchange cri que towards publica on of factual or fic onal novels, opening an opportunity for me. Even though I s ll couldn’t understand the meaning of words, nor comprehend structure, or character interac ons, I worked be er with feedback if it was wri en rather than verbal so I didn’t need to rely on memory. Conversa ons with my mother became richer with detail extending beyond those early years. My journey discovery was two-fold – gradually turning around dysfunc on through developing speech and wri ng skills; and importantly ge ng to know my mother, her impact through – uninten onal – leadership and as an inspira on to family and others throughout her life.

From a deligh ul insight into Patricia’s childhood my desire grew to know more, beyond the adventure of fun and explora on. Snippets of informa on, a chance word, a smile over a cup of tea, Patricia spoke of hopes, challenges, respect, and achievements. Each month the Eurobodalla-FAW night group gave me a set of ques ons to ask her. I child who grew up in a loving family where educa on and strong values of kindness were important; the dilemma being a female, an emerging young woman and the societal expecta ons that were placed on her. I saw a quiet rebellion forging a powerful determina on when obstacles challenged her – not afraid of proving that she was equally skilled working within male-dominated industries; a woman who melded an execu ve posi on and family from only a couple years a er the Australian Marriage Bar was li ed, eventually encouraging family-friendly and diversity prac ces within the workforce for herself and others un l her re rement.

I never knew that a glass ceiling existed for women as both parents’ mantra was “you are capable of doing whatever want to do”, and Mamma led by example. After eight years, researching and wri ng the book, I self-published What Ceiling? Patricia Julianne Evans (nee Morris) a memoir.

100 Years Ago 7th July 1923

Three whales travelling north were sighted off Moruya Heads on Thursday. One was cruising about quite close to the mouth of the river for some me, but, evidently, in fear and trembling of being bar-bound did not venture inside.

Mr. Stevenson, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. G. Mitchell, has secured the contract for building an addi onal ten rooms to Mr. P. Bill’s Bay View Hotel, Bateman’s Bay.

Mr. P. H. Mills. C.P.S., has kindly supplied us with the vital sta s cs registered during the quarter ending 30th June, in the district of Moruya. Births – males 16, females 6, total 22; deaths – males 6, females 1, total 7; marriages – 7.

G. Thomas and T. Allen crushed 9 tons for 20½ ounces of gold at the small two-head ba ery at Utopia, Nerrigundah, which is a very sa sfactory return. The stone was taken from their li le mine which shows a reef 18 inches in bo om of sha , carrying gold equal to the lot that was crushed. They have another reef, a mile or two distant, which prospects well. H. and P. Motbey are working on a reef not far from Utopia ba ery.

Mr. L. T. Jenner, of Newstead, has added to the district’s list of motor-cars having purchased a four-seater Overlander.

Through his horse falling when racing a er stock on Thursday, Mr. Claude Donnelly had the misfortune to break his shoulder. Dr. Cutler set the injured bone, but the pa ent will have an enforced holiday of about six weeks.

Bateman’s Bay (From our Correspondent): Much excitement prevailed here on Saturday, when the new river punt, which is being built for Mr. Fenning, was successfully launched. The ceremony took place at 10 o’clock in the morning and went through without a hitch. There was a big a endance including visitors from other parts of the South Coast. … Congratulatory speeches were made by Messrs. George Mitchell, C. Mitchell, E. Lunn and J. Maloney, and responded to by Mr. Fenning.

The ”Kianga” called on here on Tuesday and completed the loading of a mber cargo and proceeded the same day to Sydney.

Deua River (From our Correspondent): Mrs. Johnson, of the Eurobodalla Public School, spent the midwinter vaca on at Deua River. As a teacher Mrs. Johnson had indeed dis nguished herself. Some me ago we were shown a copy of a magazine issue of “Great Public Schools of New South Wales”, in which her school was referred to as “the far-famed Eurobodalla School.” She was born at Snaphook, Deua River, being a daughter of the late Mr. M. Ryan, of that place. She is a sister of Mr. J. L. Ryan, of Deua River.

Congratula ons John Tilbrook & Eternal Vigilance.

It was a privilege to a end this weeks Tuross Head Progress Associa on to acknowledge Major IRTD) John Tilbrook CSM, RFD final mee ng as the Honorary Secretary.

John has been a tremendous advocate for his community through the Associa on. His commi ed focus to road safety played a significant role in the upgrade to the Princess Hwy intersec on; which was just one of his many achievements.

While at the mee ng, it was interes ng to hear of the Associa on working with SHASHA in their joint efforts to enhance the Coila Hall in prepara on for a dry and warm summer.

Personally, it was a good reminder to dust off my own bush fire prepara on plan following a few wet years that included covid. I think the key takeaway was that we regardless of the rain over the last few years, we all needed to con nue to be vigilant in light of a drier summer.

A mely reminder to ensure that the lessons of 19/20 are not lost as we all face into a drying climate.

WRITE PLACE, WRITE TIME: Suzanne Newnham (currently 798 words)

Following publica on of a ‘Le er to the Editor’ when I was 14, my parents referred to me as the “writer of the family”, although fulfilling my crea vity in story-telling tended to mean I was assigned to wri ng family Christmas newsle ers!

Early 2007, with the encouragement of the psychic community, I gathered my notes on ethics around paranormal and psychic phenomena, and a manuscript eventually emerged ready for a publisher’s considera on. I’d made phone calls to publishers to gauge their interest. Then everything stopped as a rapid decline in my health occurred. Chronic pain intensified, complicated by reduced cogni ve abili es from reac ons to medica ons. My world was turned upside down. What does a word mean, or the context of a sentence? How do I comprehend what seems like a garbled conversa on, when even the words in a story are a blur? This was my new life, sounds a acking me, confusing me, robbing me of vitality and hope.

To my surprise a publisher contacted me, just before Christmas 2010, and asked would I be interested in having my work published – huge panic. Yes! But how? Slowly, and with lots of support from my husband, as well as prac cal help from a fantas c editor, Ethics of a Psychic Reading became a reality in July 2012. My next foray into the wri en word soon followed with a request from the Fellowship of Australian Writers (FAW) in 2013 for stories with the theme ‘Sydney’. My desire to encapsulate my mother Patricia’s memory of her childhood overcame my fears, and set me on a journey of discovery. 1500 words seemed daun ng, but receiving feedback from the Eurobodalla FAW (EFAW) day group which I had recently joined, my collec on of words towards a story about my mother’s early days as a child living near The Rocks in the 1930s started taking shape. In May 2013 the EFAW night group was established, for writers who wished to exchange cri que towards publica on of factual or fic onal novels, opening an opportunity for me. Even though I s ll couldn’t understand the meaning of words, nor comprehend structure, or character interac ons, I worked be er with feedback if it was wri en rather than verbal so I didn’t need to rely on memory. Conversa ons with my mother became richer with detail extending beyond those early years. My journey of discovery was two-fold – gradually turning around dysfunc on through developing speech and wri ng skills; and importantly ge ng to know my mother, her impact through – uninten onal – leadership and as an inspira on to family and others throughout her life.

From a deligh ul insight into Patricia’s childhood my desire grew to know more, beyond the adventure of fun and explora on. Snippets of informa on, a chance word, a smile over a cup of tea, Patricia spoke of hopes, challenges, respect, and achievements. Each month the Eurobodalla-FAW night group gave me a set of ques ons to ask her. I saw the child who grew up in a loving family where educa on and strong values of kindness were important; the dilemma of being a female, an emerging young woman and the societal expecta ons that were placed on her. I saw a quiet rebellion forging a powerful determina on when obstacles challenged her – not afraid of proving that she was equally skilled working within maledominated industries; a woman who melded an execu ve posi on and family from only a couple of years a er the Australian Marriage Bar was li ed, eventually encouraging family-friendly and diversity prac ces within the workforce for herself and others un l her re rement.

I never knew that a glass ceiling existed for women as both parents’ mantra was “you are capable of doing whatever you want to do”, and Mamma led by example. After eight years, researching and wri ng the book, I self-published What Glass Ceiling? Patricia Julianne Evans (nee Morris) a memoir.

This is the story of Patricia, an extraordinary Australian woman whose determina on and courage against discrimina on from the 1930s onward became an inspira onal leader for future genera ons. Patricia has since been accepted into the Na onal Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame, included in ‘Herstory’, an educa onal database on women’s achievements, and recognised by BORAL for 2021 International Women’s Day. As BORALS’s first female accountant in 1949, Patricia was featured on the company’s 75th anniversary poster for all their employees.

Patricia’s mo o:

“never underes mate what you can do in life” was ever present for herself, and inspira onal for everyone who came in contact with her.

Patricia Evans 1927-2022 R.I.P.

Suzanne Newnham is an author, writer, and contributor to numerous journals and anthologies; a health advocate for chronic pain management; and researcher into chronic pain using tai chi, qigong, and meditation. Her current project is another family inspired social history – 175 years of pubs on the site of Moruya Waterfront Hotel Motel.

What Glass Ceiling? and Suzanne’s other publica ons, purchase and informa on: h ps://www.suzannenewnham.com

The Eurobodalla Fellowship of Australian Writers has two groups that meet monthly. The night group meets from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the first Monday of the month in a private venue. The day group meets from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Red Door Hall in Page Street, Moruya. Annual membership is $45. To join contact: h ps://eurobodallawriters.org/contact-us