The Bugle 30 July 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
Ballot form shapes up Petschler decides not to stand After a fifty year career in local government, Mayor Brian Petschler has decided to call it a day and not stand at the September election. “I will leave council with a great deal of pride, having watched the extraordinary community response to the recent merger proposal,” he says. “That response succeeded in defeating the plan to amalgamate Kiama and Shoalhaven councils. “Without the community support and the excellent submissions made by so many of our residents, saving our unique area would have been impossible. “I would hope that some of the people who made outstanding submissions to the Delegate will be interested in running for council. I would like to see some new blood on there.” Ironically it was the threat of Kiama being merged with Wollongong and Shellharbour following their period in administration that first prompted him to stand for council. Councillor Petschler says he was tempted to stay for the next term to see major infrastructure works, such as the Blue Haven Centre for Aged Care Excellence, the sale of Akuna St and Mitre
10, and the Gerringong School of Arts restoration and development, come to fruition. “I would like to say thank you to this wonderful community for giving me the opportunity as serving as a councillor for the last eight years, the last four of which I have been Mayor,” he says. “It has been an honour and a privilege.” With the nomination period for potential candidates fast approaching, news is being released on the various tickets that will appear on the ballot paper on 10 September (see page 3). All of the remaining councillors, apart from Dennis Seage, are standing again (Councillor Seage has yet to make his intentions known), In addition, former state Labor MP Matt Brown is heading a Community and Labour ticket. While he stresses the ticket is not endorsed and its members will be free to vote independently, many of the people The Bugle has spoken to doubt that will be the case. Mr Brown says his return to public life has been prompted by the encouragement of others
See who is on the tickets so far p3
Shark listening station to be installed p3
for him to stand and the way the importance of local government was highlighted in the antimerger campaign. Someone who won’t be running is former Mayor Sandra McCarthy, despite strong rumours to the contrary. “I am still passionate about our local community and involved in lots of ways, but I won’t be standing this time” she says.
Remembering our fallen on the Western Front As Australia marks the centenary of the sacrifice made by its soldiers at Fromelles and Pozieres, in France’s Somme Valley, it is fitting for Kiama to remember two of its own who died there. Both men left Kiama in the euphoria of the Waratah March. Joseph Cooper (right) was born in Gerringong and was only 19 when he joined the March in late 1915. He arrived in France the day after his 20th birthday. Richard (Dick) McDonald was born in Queensland who found work in Kiama as a quarry man.
Inside this issue
It was said in a Dick were newspaper report amongst the first. The older man following his death that Dick’s died on 24 July, and the younger on indigenous heritage meant 29 July after being his first attempt wounded up to a to enlist was week earlier. The Coopers reknocked back, but the Waratahs ceived back their welcomed the son’s cigarette popular local to case, testament, their ranks. metal watch, walThe Waratahs let and cotton bag. were thrown into Kiama Library is in possession of action almost Dick McDonald Joseph Cooper the Bible which immediately at Pozieres, where many lost Australians died in the two Dick received from the their lives (over 12,000 week campaign). Joseph and Kiama Salvation Army on
his farewell. It was returned in 2011 after being found amongst a box of second hand books in Sydney. From the research done by the Library’s Ken Donnellan on World War I soldiers born in our district, five other men - Joseph Harding, Herbert Ettinghausen, John Hanrahan, Albert Newman and John Parker - died in France in late July 2016, possibly at Pozieres. Gerringong’s George Weir was wounded there, but was sent back to the Front only to be killed in November. Lest We Forget.
New medium density development guidelines p3 Gerringong Men’s Shed update p6
Art Exhibition nears p7
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