The Bugle 9 April 2016
A fortnightly celebration of people and places on the Upper South Coast of NSW
Serving the communities of Kiama, Gerringong, Jamberoo, Kiama Downs, Minnamurra and Gerroa and now at www.thebugleonline.com
Inside this issue
Kiama gets behind Brett The whole of Kiama breathed a sigh of relief when the swift actions of friends and nurses on the spot saved the life of young local surfer Brett Connellan. Brett was attacked by a shark while surfing at Bombo, losing most of his thigh and injuring his hand. He is still in intensive care at St George Hospital while specialists decide how to best treat his thigh, but he has been moved down to
Friend Evan Batkin with a donation bucket for Brett at Penny Whistler Cafe
ICU2. It is not the place he expected to celebrate his 23rd birthday. “It is looking very promising that they will save his leg,” says Brett’s best mate Nick Clifford who has spent much of the past week with him. “It was a freak accident and the quick actions of Joel Trist, his partner Agie who is an ICU nurse, another nurse who was out swimming and others on the spot saved his life.” Joel brought him in on his board and together they stemmed the blood loss with a tourniquets made from leg ropes. Their efforts cannot be praised highly enough, along with the professionalism of the paramedics, police and hospital staff. Nick says everyone is being positive and looking to the future. “We have started a trust fund for Brett to help with his recovery expenses,” he says. “There are donation buckets around town, or people can donate direct into
the account [details right]. “We are also planning to hold a benefit night, so if people want to donate items to that they should drop in their details to ZINK Surf on Terralong St.” It is the first time the surf loving Kiama community has had to deal with such an incident, and local surfers are still wary about going back out, even though the beaches are now open. Council has instituted regular patrols and is assessing a number of initiatives to provide warning systems, including drones and a blimp. Brett is well known to be against any suggestion of culling. Nick says that Brett is one of the most talented surfers in town. “With Brett, surfing is more of a passion than a sport,” he says. He has a strong network of friends both within the surfing community and beyond who are there to help him and his family through this ordeal.
Performers for KISS Arts Festival announced p3
A word from Brett
Details: Brett Connellan Trust BSB: 012709 Acc No: 298964661
Hey guys, it's Brett here. Finally managed to get a look at Facebook/ Instagram/messages and I can say I'm honestly so humbled and taken back by the support of so many of my friends, family and strangers at this time. While I may not get the chance to reply to everyone, I want you all to know that your kind words and support means the world to me and I love you all! Thank you so many times over! (from facebook)
Councillors outraged by Minister’s request Just before Easter, the NSW Minister for Local Government wrote to all mayors and councillors of LGAs mooted for merger, asking for ‘expressions of interest from councillors who wish to be considered for a role in shaping the new council’. The premature move was explained as being necessary ‘to ensure effective local representation is in place to meet the unique needs of any new local government area’, despite the fact that ‘no decision has
been taken on any merger proposal’. The suggestion was a red flag to Kiama councillors, who are solidly against the merger with Shoalhaven Council. It came at a time when Council revealed its draft budget, to be considered at this month’s meeting, reaches all of the Fit for the Future benchmarks set by the Government to be met by 2019/20. “I was affronted at the letter and found its content to be arrogant, assuming and alarming,” says
Councillor Dennis Seage (right). “This dictatorial government just keeps getting worse. I will certainly NOT be taking the ‘offer’.’ Councillor Andrew Sloan agrees, “This whole forced amalgamation process has been a disgrace, and Minister Toole should be very, very embarrassed about just how low he is willing to stoop to entice compliant councillors to abandon the people who voted for them and start working for the State instead.
Focus on the merger p4-5
What future for Mitre 10 site? p7
History Expo comes to town p 9
Continued on page 6
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