Heritage award, nomina ons open next week

Nomina ons for this year’s $1,500 Fergus Thomson OAM Heritage Award – recognising individuals, groups or organisa ons making a significant contribu on to promo on, management, or conserva on of the shire’s heritage – open next Monday, 17 July 2023.

Previous award winners include The Moruya An que Tractor and Machinery Associa on, long- me member of the Moruya & District Historical Society Shirley Jurmann, and local military historian Gary Traynor.

Council’s manager of strategic planning Elizabeth Rankin said nominees must have completed their project in the last two years.

“They may have restored a historic building, wri en a historical book or created a film on Eurobodalla’s cultural heritage. The important element is a contribu on to knowledge and awareness of the shire’s heritage,” Ms Rankin said.

Fergus Thomson was Eurobodalla’s first popularly elected mayor and remained a councillor un l his passing in 2015. Throughout, he was a passionate advocate for the protec on of culture and country, with deep es to the local Aboriginal community.

“This heritage award recognises Mr Thomson’s legacy while bringing well-deserved recogni on to others working to promote our shire’s rich history,” Ms Rankin said.

Nomina ons for the award close at 4pm on Friday 11 August 2023. For more informa on on the award and nomina ons, visit the heritage award webpage or contact Council’s strategic planning team on 4474 1000.

Moruya

RSL Sub

Branch invites all members,interested veterans & serving personnel from the Defence Force as well as our Friends to a end the Sub Branch mee ng next Tuesday--third Tuesday of the month- 18th July at 2pm at the RSL Memorial Hall 11 Page St Moruya.

President Rob Griffith will be talking about the invita on he & Vice President Mick Power accepted on behalf of our Sub Branch at H.M.A.S. Creswell for Gradua on Day.

Other items of interest will be discussed.

Heart Support Australia (HSA) opens a Peer Support Group in Moruya

Heart Support Australia (HSA) opened a Peer Support Group in Moruya this week, giving post-heart event support for cardiac pa ents in the Batemans Bay and Moruya region.

The HSA Peer Support Groups are unique communal support programs offering comfort and guidance to those who have recently undergone a heart event and also for those who have experienced heart condi ons and rehabilita on. The programs derive from a new era of managing heart disease that empowers heart pa ents with educa on, improved self-esteem, and larger support networks that result in less of a strain on our health system with fewer hospital stays and trips to the GP. While heart disease has been the leading cause of death for Australians for years, the COVID-19 outbreak and con nued infec ons in the community have worsened the risk factors, meaning the demand for support systems has never been higher.

Leading the Batemans Bay and Moruya Peer Support Group is Dianne Fee who suffered a heart a ack in the early days of COVID.

The Batemans Bay and Moruya Peer Support Group takes place on the second Thursday of each month at the Moruya Golf Club.

www.iga.com.au/

Keep harm at bay from the rays!

Rays are common around fish cleaning tables and play an important role as scavengers. DPI discourages fishers from deliberately targe ng rays or interac ng with them at boat ramps & cleaning table areas due to their local significance and ecological value. They are wild animals and with any wildlife it is important to act responsibly around them and treat them with respect. Rays also play a valuable role in cleaning up fish scraps at many boat ramps and cleaning table areas.

Despite being equipped with large barbs on their tails, s ngrays will only lash out if they feel threatened and cannot escape. S ngrays will o en swim away before you get too close, but if you startle them or accidentally step on them, they may use their barb to defend themselves.

Rays are o en seen feeding on fish scraps discarded by fishers at many boat ramps and cleaning table areas in NSW. Research by Macquarie University & DPI has shown that the discarding of fish waste into the water can alter the movements and behaviour of these rays, so it is important to dispose of your fish waste responsibly. Use facili es available at the cleaning table to dispose of your fish waste. Some boat ramps in the Bega Valley now have fish waste recycling bins. Make sure you look out for them if you are in the area! Alterna ves to discarding fish waste into the water include taking it home and using it to make fish stock, retaining it for burley/ crab bait, using it as compost or simply disposing of it in your household rubbish. You can also donate your frames to the NSW Research Angler Program. Link in comments below.

The most common types of rays found around fish cleaning sites in NSW are Smooth S ngrays and Southern Eagle Rays. Smooth S ngrays are a large s ngray, and they are dark above with a row of white dots down each side and pale below with a thick tail. Southern Eagle Rays have pointed wings and their upper surface is olive-green, dark brown or yellowish, with grey or pale blue markings, and the underside is white.

Keep a look out for signage popping up in hot spot areas such as je es, boat ramps and near cleaning tables in NSW, this is aimed at crea ng awareness and discourage behaviour that disturb ray species.