The Bugle 4 November 2017
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
Time to bank the efforts of those who help others out Kiama Council is getting behind Timebanking, the State Government’s online community time trading system that facilitates the voluntary exchange of services between members. Timebanking is not a new concept in the rest of the world, having proved popular in countries like the UK and Japan for decades. “There are multiple benefits to be gained in recognising the time that people in our community give to helping each other,” says Council’s Manager of Community and Cultural Development, Nick Guggisberg. “Once you become a Timebanking member, you are able to search through all the offers of service and requests for assistance made by other members. “By giving one hour to help another member or organisation, you earn one hour of time credit. You can then trade it to receive services that are of personal value to you, offered voluntarily by other Timebanking members. “These could be anything - from dog walking, ironing, gardening or massage, to language tuition, help with painting, administrative assistance or music lessons. They are the sort of things that many people in our community are doing for others already.” The time credits earned
can also be donated to other individuals or organisations so they can get the help they need. For example, someone living in Kiama could build time credits by helping an elderly neighbour out with their gardening, and transfer those credits to a relative living in another community who needs help with their shopping. The time credits can also be donated to a special Kiama Community Chest, to help people access services in time of need. Seventy four communities in NSW are registered on the Timebanking system, with one third of participants who have joined up having never seen themselves as volunteers before. However timebanking is a way for work done by traditional volunteers to be recognised, both for themselves as individuals and for the organisations they work with. For the latter, it could help with grant applications by demonstrating the amount of time people are devoting to the cause. Timebanking will also allow organisations to reach out to the community to ask for assistance, such as volunteers for events, board members and working bees. “There are many people who want to help others in our community, but they Continued on page 7
Inside this issue Beersheba remembered p3
Local Chamber ‘best in region’ p3
The individuals and organisation representatives at the information session were enthusiastic about the potential of the system
Shellharbour Hospital to stay public: $251m upgrade After the fate of Shellharbour Hospital being uncertain for 18 months, the State Government has decided to keep it public and finally embark on its $251 million upgrade. The upgrade on the existing site, announced before the last election, will include: two extra operating theatres a new emergency department additional critical care services increased acute inpatient surgical services expanded outpatient clinic space.
“I’ve worked hard to ensure the community’s views about how best to upgrade this hospital were put directly to the Minister and like the rest of the community, I’m relieved and delighted with today’s announcement,” said Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward on announcing the decision. Dr Geoff Murray, Director of Rehabilitation at Port Kembla Hospital and member of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation, says that at the
last of three meetings he was in with the Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard and Mr Ward, he thought the privatisation would still go ahead. “The staff are all over the moon,” he says. “Of the six hospitals mooted for privatisation, only one of them is proceeding. We were the last to get a reprieve.” His major concern was that privatisation would short change vulnerable patients, by not giving them the hospital treatment they deserve due to cost constraints.
Gerringong trio recognised p7
Call to discover Football p 12
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