Gwen is returning to Geelong and her family, after residing in Merimbula for 12 years with her husband Gordon.

Pambula Hospital Auxiliary had a good start to the year, when on Jan 10 they were delighted to accept a cheque for $1000 from the group who regularly holiday at Discovery Park, Pambula Beach. This money was raised by Victorians tourists during 2016, at a luncheon, through sales of produce, and with a great boost from the raffling of a week’s accommodation in a Bush Chalet at Pambula Beach Discovery Park, donated by Manager, Laurie O’Shea. Auxiliary members sincerely thank those visitors to our region for their continued support of Pambula Hospital, and also Laurie for his contribution to this fund raising initiative.

Auxiliary members also started 2017 with a successful Sausage Sizzle and raffle held on the weekend following New Year’s Day. 

The first prize voucher from Coffee 22, Pambula, was won by E. Flanagan, Tura Beach, and the voucher from Hungry’s Merimbula, was won by J. Wastell of Merimbula. Thank you to the donors of those prizes.

The first meeting for 2017 is on January 25, at 10am. Due to some changes taking place at Pambula Community Health the venue is to be adjacent to the Sunshine Centre; walk straight ahead to the end of the ramp and turn right. We look forward to welcoming back our current members, and new members are always welcome.

On Sunday 8 January 2017 the Pambula Rotary Village Markets hosted its biggest crowds on record.

The hot weather saw people pouring through the gates all morning, enjoying the huge variety of 108 stalls including fresh fruit and vegetables, clothing, homemade ice creams, meat, jams and pickles, plants, jewellery, bric-a- brac, coffee etc.

Wishing wells were well supported, as was the Rotary Canteen and other food outlets.

A team of 22 Rotarians managed the markets and the Canteen, with an enormous profit of $6325.

This amount included $2779 in coins, showing just how every dollar counts. All profits benefited local community projects

Thank you to all local residents and tourists for supporting such a worthy cause. Anyone interested in seeking further information please email pambula.markets@gmail.com. The Markets are run on the second Sunday of each month.

The Eden branch of the Country Women’s Association will be hosting a cooking demonstation by Nelleke Gorton on Friday, January 20 at 11am. 

Nelleke Gorton – CWA and Master Chef Judge and River Cottage Australia Master Baker – will showcase her favourite pastry and other cooking techniques.

Nelleke completed her judging certificates from the State Cookery committee of the CWA of NSW in Preserved products and farm produce, baked products and sweets from South Africa. She spends a good deal of her time judging at local and regional shows. 

All are welcome to attend the demonstration. Entry fee is $8. Call Anne Hamdorf on 6496 4256 for more information. Eden CWA meets at the CWA Hall, 171 Imlay Street Eden, on the second Friday of the month at 10.30am. 

Be sure to visit the Wyndham Village Market this Sunday, January 22 from 8.30am to 1pm.

Just twenty minutes drive from the Coast, this all weather market is held in and surrounding the historic Wyndham Hall and offers an impressive array of organic, locally grown and produced goods and items made with much love.

There’ll be good food offered by the Wyndham P and C and great coffee to aid the social, friendly and relaxing atmosphere for which Wyndham is so well renowned.

Plants will again feature among the locally grown and produced goods this month together with organic skin products, organic fruit and veggies, free range eggs, nuts, handmade gifts and cards, jams, preserves, beautiful hand knitted items, antiques collectibles and quality pre-loved items, books, lavender products, essential oils, rustic treasures and more.

Stalls cost just $15 for casual sites and $10 for the car boot sale. Buskers are welcome. Book a stall by calling Yvonne on 64 942 443.

On Sunday, January 22, the Pambula Surf Life Saving Club will host a fundraiser with a local duo playing and Cheeky Mango catering. 

Sit on our deck and watch the evening glass-off while enjoying a cool drink and a hot meal!  Kids are welcome.

Join us from 5-8pm

A night for members and their invited guests.

Do you want improved public access at North Tura Beach? If so, please attend a public meeting on Monday, January 30 at 6.30pm at the Tura Beach Library.

For a modern suburb, Tura Beach has very limited recreation areas, such as parks, ovals and public open space.

There is a large area at North Tura Beach zoned RE1 Public Recreation available for community access.

At the time of development, there was clear grassland down to the beach. Plans for boardwalks and landscaping were published.

It has now become overgrown with invasive scrub, Kikuyu grass, African love grass, weeds, and is infested with ticks, termites, snakes, rats and rabbits. A large amount of scrub is dead and considered a fire danger.

By clearing a small part of the area, our community now has the opportunity to restore proper public access to the beach, including for young families and the disabled, reduce fire risk, and provide clear, safe and open recreation space.

This can be achieved through community support.

You can help by coming to this public meeting and by emailing your support Chris Young, for the concerned North Tura Beach residents’ group at chyoung.au@gmail.com

Put on your running shoes, slap on the sunscreen and find a suitable Australia Day hat and join in the fun Australia Day activities starting with the Fun run/ Walkathon at the Eden Skate Park. 

The Eden Killer Whale Museum friends and the Eden Gym have organised the great – life be in it - activity to celebrate Australia Day and to raise money for the installation of a mural on the Eden Scout Hall. 

One of the organisers, Patrick Avery of Eden Gym said they are hoping to make it an annual event.

“We want the people of Eden to have something to look forward on Australia Day, this year we are raising money for the Scout Hall but in the future we will support other local causes,” Mr Avery said. 

Runners, walkers of all ages and levels of fitness are invited to join in and compete in the 5km event starting at the Eden Skate Park then around Lake Curalo and back to the Skate Park. The event begins at 7.30am for registration and runners and walkers head off at 8am sharp.

There are a number of prizes and certificates for first finishers in the open, juniors and seniors age groups.

For some colour and inventiveness there’s an award for the best dressed male and female competitor sporting an Australia Day theme costume.

The entry fee is $15 for adults, $10 for juniors, $35 for families and $10 for pensioners entry fee.

Entry forms are available early January at the Eden Killer Whale Museum and at www.killerwhalemuseum.com.au, and at the Eden Gym and the Eden Information Centre.

Other events on Australia Day are the Australia Day flag raising ceremony later at the cricket ground and the iconic Australia Day cricket matches – a must for families and locals to watch.

Bega’s Funhouse Studio will hold a free two-day workshop for the Indigenous community this week, featuring award-winning hip-hop artist Morganics.

The workshop will run on January 19 and 20 from 10am to 4pm, and will be followed by a show and tell performance by Morganics from 5pm on Friday.

A Morganics workshop in Wilcannia in 2002 lead to the recording of the Deadly award winning song, Down River, by the The Wilcannia Mob.