The Bugle 18 April 2020

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The Bugle 18 April 2020

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

ANZAC Day in a time of isolation Locals are being encouraged to get behind the RSL’s campaign to Light Up the Dawn this ANZAC Day, while practising isolation. “We normally get thousands of people to the Dawn Service at the Kiama Lighthouse,” says Vice-President of the Kiama-Jamberoo RSL Sub-Branch, Gary McKay. “This is a way for people to continue this tradition at a time when we can’t gather in large groups. “Lining the streets with your neighbours is going to be a very touching way to commemorate the fallen.” At 6am on ANZAC Day, the idea is to go to the end of your driveway or stand on your balcony and listen to a brief commemorative service online, or on the radio, or conduct your own service (format provided on page 12). “People can easily download the Last Post and Rouse to their phones, as it wouldn’t be the same without those bugle calls,” says Gary, a

Vietnam Vet. The ABC will be broadcasting the 5.30am service from the Australian War Memorial. There will also be a 10am service from the Anzac Memorial in Sydney that will be broadcast on ABC and streamed live. Without the usual opportunity to pass the bucket around, people are being encouraged to donate to the ANZAC Appeal online at anzacappeal.com.au Gerringong singer-songwriter Kevin Sullivan is also donating the proceeds of his newly released song, Pilgrimage, to the RSL. This song is partly inspired by his pilgrimage to Gallipoli for the Centenary, and is available via online services. The local Sub-Branches will be ensuring wreaths are placed at memorials throughout the district, including poppies on each of the plaques on the Gordon Grellman Wall of Remembrance adjacent to the Memorial Arch.

parks usually generate $350,000 a week in income. They are now closed. In addition, income lost from the Leisure Centre is expected to be close to $900,000. “We have spent the last three or four weeks dismantling the current year’s budget and looking for savings we can use to offset the

Given the constantly evolving situation the world is currently experiencing, please keep yourself up to date with other reliable news sources and health.nsw.gov.au We remain committed to keeping you informed about local news, at a time when our community spirit will serve us well. Stay safe, and help others stay safe. We are all in this together.

Inside this issue Local youth organise Australia’s first online Show p 3

Tough time for Illawarra businesses p3 How ritual will get us through this p 7 Margot and Gary McKay are hoping the community will take the Light Up the Dawn campaign to their hearts.

$6.4m hit to Council’s income this FY Kiama Council’s General Manager, Kerry McMurray, is expecting COVID-19 to have wiped around $6.4 million from its income in the 2019/20 financial year. This represents 10-15 per cent of the amount expected when the budget was approved last June. As an example, up until ANZAC Day, the holiday

From the Editor

losses,” says Mr McMurray. “We are that far through the year that a lot of the projects have commenced so they are hard to pull back. “We are looking at what we can defer, and obviously our focus is to keep projects going that involve day labour rather than outside contractors, so our staff have work they can keep doing.”

A draft budget for the 2020/21 year is being prepared to go to the May Council Meeting. “We are also currently looking at shifting priorities to potentially do some asset renewal, for example at the library and the leisure centre, while they are closed. “Again that comes at a cost, and we just have to

see what the councillors are prepared to defer to allow that to happen.” Councils are yet to receive any financial support from the State or Federal Governments, despite the wide level of services they are required to maintain and the large number of people they employ. Continued on p5

Snails of approval for 2020 p 9

Help establish Kiama Community Radio p10

OPEN FOR BUSINESS Through these unprecedented times, vehicles will still need Registration Inspections and Servicing.

Phone: 42322757

21B Barney Street, KIAMA Towing Service 0438 424 574

Fax: 4232 2676 ksmr@bigpond.com

We have implemented measures to protect our staff and customers by: • Disinfecting vehicles • Provision of Hand Sanitiser in our office for customers • Social distancing

All of our customer contact (drop off, pick up & payments) can be carried


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