27 February 2016

A fortnightly celebration of A fortnightly celebration of A fortnightly celebration of A fortnightly celebration of

people and places on the people and places on the people and places on the people and places on the

Upper South Coast of NSWUpper South Coast of NSWUpper South Coast of NSWUpper South Coast of NSW

Serving the communities of Kiama,

Gerringong, Jamberoo, Kiama Downs,

Minnamurra and Gerroa

and now at www.thebugleonline.com

Help safeguard the

Lloyd Rees Legacy

p 3

Jazz & Blues coming

to town p3

CMRI organises

International

Women’s Day event

p 4

Dementia Friendly

initiatives p 6

Inside this issue

The BugleThe BugleThe BugleThe Bugle

Kiama councillors have

unanimously decided to

take the NSW Government’s

merger proposal to the

people by holding a local

referendum on the issue.

“The process so far has

been like something out of

an Orwellian novel. We

need to introduce an element

of democracy,” said Coun-

cillor Andrew Sloan, when

proposing the motion.

“There has been no oppor-

tunity for residents of this

community to have a say.

More than that, the Govern-

ment had a policy of no

forced amalgamations at

the last election.”

Final approval for the poll

is expected to be given soon

at a special meeting of

Council, once further details

of the costs and timing are

presented. Less expensive

options than the preliminary

estimate from the Electoral

Commission, if it were to

do it, of $120,000 are being

investigated.

Given the passion on show

at the Extraordinary Meeting

of Council on 23 February,

there seems little doubt

the expenditure will be

approved.

Councillor Dennis Seage

said while it was a large

amount, it represented just

$5.21 per resident, and was

well worth spending. “They

have forced our hand and we

have to do it,” he said. “We

need to fight tooth and nail

to make sure we keep our

independence.”

Councillor Gavin McClure

said while some say the

merger is a done deal, that

is even more reason to have

the poll. “How dare the

Government put our com-

munity through this?” he

said. “They have shown total

disregard for our community

- what a waste of money,

what a waste of time and

what a stress to put on the

people who live here.”

Mayor Brian Petschler said

he was concerned about the

undemocratic way the proc-

ess is unfolding.

“Whilst I am concerned

about the cost, it does seem

to me that there is a legiti-

mate right of the people that

are going to be most affected

by this process, a right that

we expect in this country, to

have a say in what happens

to us.

Council endorses a formal poll on merger proposal

Saturday 27 of February marks an end

of an era for Kiama with the closing of

the Simmons family’s hardware store

in Terralong Street. The Kiama Supply

Co (aka Mitre 10) was founded in

1899, with Ross joining the business

in 1975 and brother David in 1980.

The brothers sold the extensive prop-

erty to Kiama Council last year, and

have leased it back since then.

Council is investigating a number of

proposals it has received for future use

of the site, including at least one offer

to buy it from them. The site is consid-

ered pivotal to future planning options. Ross and David Simmons

A link with the past closes its doors

Residents have until 5pm on Sunday 28 February to lodge their submissions

using the form online at www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au

Cont. p4

Lauris Buckman, Gerringong

resident for 51 years, giving

a copy of her submission to

Gareth Ward MP.

2

Appreciate the history behind coats of arms

What’s on?

The BugleThe BugleThe BugleThe Bugle

Editor:Editor:Editor:Editor:

Cathy Law

t 0412 415 101

Sales:Sales:Sales:Sales:

Steve Law

t 0428 662 499

Ian MacDonald

t 0422 736 582

Or email us at

emailthebugle@

gmail.com

Disclaimer:

Every effort has

been made to ensure

the accuracy of

the information

in this publication,

but we are only human.

4 Tingira Cres,

Kiama

Let us know if there’s an event you’re organising. Just email the details to emailthebugle@gmail.com or phone 0412 415 101 Listings are free, and at the editor’s discretion

Every Wednesday Kiama Farmers’ Market

Kiama Harbour 3-6pm

On weekends Live music at The Sebel,

Kiama Leagues Club,

The Mecure, Jamberoo

Pub and other venues.

27 February Kiama Rugby Sevens

Kiama Showgrounds

8.30am start; finals from

5.15pm. $10 entry.

Free Summer Movie:

Pitch Perfect 2

8pm, Gerry Emery Oval,

Rowlings Rd, Gerringong

Kiama Makers &

Growers Market

Black Beach, 9-2pm

28 February Jamberoo Village

Market 9-2pm

4 March

Pics & Flicks (see below)

Gerringong Town Hall,

7.30 for 8pm $10

5 March Friends of Kiama

Library Talk (see below)

10-11 March Dementia Awareness

Seminar (see p 6)

11-13 March Jazz & Blues Festival

(see p 3)

11 March

Australian Haydn

Ensemble with

Sara Macliver

Berry Uniting Church

Hall, 7pm. Tickets $50

($40 conc) from

australianhaydn.com.au

First release movie

at the Library

Book in for details, 3pm

CMRI International

Women’s Day (see p 4)

12 March Locals Long Lunch

(see below)

12-13 March Kiama Woodcraft Group

Annual Expo

(see right)

14 March

Spirituality in the Pub

The first speaker for

2016 is Dr Elizabeth

Farrelly, Sydney Morning

Herald columnist and

critic on architecture

and public issues.

Her topic is Beauty,

Sacredness and Change.

All welcome. Jamberoo

Pub, 7.30pm

14-20 March Mardi Gras Regional Art

Prize Exhibition

Old Fire Station, Kiama

18 March Illawarriors Fundraiser

(see p 6)

20 March We Like It Hot: Mardi

Gras Regional Art Prize

After Party

Kiama Bowling Club,

2-10pm, $65, Tickets

from eventbrite.com.au

Is your garden ready for Easter?

With only 4 weeks until Easter, now is the time to get your autumn garden looking good and freshen up your entrance paths with Burnetts On Barney’s new range of sandstone-look granite.

Come and see us 6 days a week at 80 Barney St and let us show you three granite options, as well as other pebble and mulch options to give any garden an instant makeover.

80 Barney St, Kiama t 4233 1322

Open 7.30-4.30 Mon-Fri 7-4 Saturdays

In our last issue we reported that

Aileen Harland would be giving

a talk on Bushrangers to the Friends

of Kiama Library, but now she is

unable to attend.

Ray Thorburn has stepped into

the breach, and will be giving a talk

on Heraldry - Colours, Charges,

Metals and Furs.

Ray was one of the founder of the

Kiama Family History Centre, and

is very knowledgeable on issues of

genealogy and its roots in the his-

tory of Britain and Ireland. He will

be a most entertaining speaker.

Details: Saturday 5 March, 2.30pm,

Kiama Library Auditorium.

$5 members, $8 others.

Woodcraft Expo 2016 Final preparations are underway for the Kiama Woodcraft

Group’s 2016 Expo. “The Expo is a way of displaying

the skills of our members to the community, and also

gives the community an insight into what we’re about,”

says John Daniel.

The range and qual-

ity of the work on

display is always

impressive. There

are demonstrations

of techniques and

items are for sale.

The group has been

together for well

over 20 years and

comprises members

with a shared inter-

est in a wide variety

of woodcrafts.

Meetings are held

on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 7pm, at

Design and Technology Block of Kiama High School.

Visitors and new members always welcome.

Details: 12-13 March, Kiama Masonic Hall Lodge,

Collins St. 9-5 Sat and 9-4 Sun. Free entry.

Enquiries Darren Keen 0415 155 200

Expo co-ordinator Darren Keen

Long Lunch for locals Supporters of local food will be interested

in Kiama Council partnering with anti-

food waste campaigner Hidden Harvest

and local producers to host a Locals Long

Lunch, showcasing local produce, sustain-

able food practices and reduction of food

waste. Three courses, with lots of discus-

sion about how to bring about change.

Details: 12 March, 1pm,

Gerringong Town Hall. $35 + booking fee

tickets from eventbrite.com.au or

call Regan on 4232 0416

Be inspired The March Pics & Flicks,

He Named Me Malala,

tells the amazing story of

Malala Yousafzai. Since

being left for dead by the

Taliban, Youssafzai has

since emerged as a leading

campaigner for the rights

of children worldwide and

in December 2014, became

the youngest-ever Noble

Peace Prize Laureate. Not

to be missed. Details above.

3

SHOP ONLINE for regional and local food

Greenbox is a non-profit, regional food co-

op based in Gerringong, run by a team of

passionate volunteers

www.greenbox.org.au Order online every week

from 10am Fri to 7pm Mon for collection or delivery

Thurs from 2.30 to 6pm

Get testing your raft prototype The momentum is building for this year’s revamped

Kiss Arts Festival, to be held at Kiama Harbour.

By bringing all of the international street perform-

ers and activities to the one area, the plan is to

create an arts village

atmosphere for the whole

community and visitors

to enjoy.

The Festival will begin

on the last Saturday

evening in April, with a

lantern wonderland of music and laughter.

While some of the details are still underwraps,

with its maritime, sea shanty theme, there just has

to be a raft race on the Sunday.

The organisers want as many community and

sporting groups as possible to vie for the honour of

being the inaugural KISS Raft Champions.

There will be a fabulous prize and trophy to go

with the inner glow.

Details: To find out more email

contact@kissartsfestival.com.au

Tourism: the latest Tourism industry partici-

pants are bewildered by the

sudden departure of Kiama

Council’s Tourism and

Strategic Marketing Man-

ager, Lisa Evans.

“Just a week ago she sent

out an enthusiastic email

talking about all the things

she was working on,” says

one insider. “We are all

wondering where this

leaves us - is it back to

Kiama Tourism being in

control?”

Ms Evans was appointed

when Council decided to

cut back its funding to

Kiama Tourism and take

the strategic marketing

function in-house. It is be-

lieved there were frictions

in trying to make this new

system work.

General Manager

Michael Forsyth says that

it is a personnel matter and

has no bearing on the way

Council sees the role.

“We said we would look

at how the new system is

working at the end of two

years, and that time is up

at the end of this year,” he

explains. Current projects

will be progressed during

the time before then.

Help safeguard the Lloyd Rees Legacy

As reported in our last edition,

large paintings by Lloyd Rees’

architecture students meant for

Kiama High Hall were recently

uncovered in a school storeroom.

The latest good news is that the

paintings have now been restored

by local artist Auguste Blackman,

under the guidance of his sister,

Christabel, one of the world’s

finest art restorers. She came and

advised on best methods of clean-

ing and varnishing the work.

All involved in the project are

very pleased with the way the

paintings have been brought back

to life.

The work has proceeded despite

the fact that the organisers still

have to raise the money they need

to fund the costs of the project.

They have applied for a Commu-

nity Cultural Grant, but that will

only cover a portion of the $6000

needed.

Details: You can donate via

lloydreeslegacy.wordpress.com or

contact the organiser on

lloydreesfestival2013@gmail.com to

arrange a direct donation.

The program of this year’s Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival

brings together a wide range of musical styles under its

umbrella, from the traditional jazz of Dr Don’s Double

Dose to the modern sounds of Out of Abingdon (above),

which promises shades of Bjork, Nina Simone and

Grant Green.

Then there’s the ‘hot soul, funk and blues’ of Doug

Williams & the Mix. Ex-pat American Doug (below) has

played on tour with Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, James

Brown, Ray Charles, Renee Geyer and Kate Cebrano,

so he should really get the Leagues Club jumping.

With 80 performances on for free

at over 30 venues, and a concert

in the park on Sunday, you really

need to get yourself a program and

start planning your weekend now.

Details: 11-13 March, various

venues. Look for a program

around town or download one

from www.kiamajazz.com

Jazz & Blues Festival is coming to town

4

Drivers

Wanted

A Kiama passenger

transport business

requires Casual Drivers

across all departments.

Taxi Drivers, Hire Car

Drivers, Casual Bus Driv-

ers and Special Education

Drivers are all required.

Applicants with a driver’s

authority preferred, with

immediate start consid-

ered, however those that

will need to obtain this

will also be considered.

Applicants must be able

to work some weekends

and some night shifts as

required. Local applicants

preferred.

Call 0414 377 505 or

email kiamatransport@

gmail.com

Kiama-Jamberoo

RSL sub-Branch

Annual General

Meeting

The AGM will be

held at the Jamberoo

RSL Hall commencing

at 1pm on Friday

4 March, 2016.

Young local woman to inspire others The theme for International

Women’s Day is Planet

50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for

Gender Equality. Given the

achievements of Gerringong’s

Kimberley Abbott, she is just

the person to inspire our

community, especially young

women, to know it can happen

by sharing her experiences,

passion and vision .

A 25 year old engineer with a B Mechanical Engineer-

ing (with Honours) and B Science (Exercise Science)

from the University of Wollongong, Kimberley was the

University’s Young Alumni Award Winner in 2015.

This prestigious award recognised her work as co- founder

of Yes WE (Women Engineers) Can! which aims to edu-

cate young girls about engineering and inspire them to

consider a career in the engineering and science fields.

Kim is also the founder of the social business, Roka,

based in India and providing women with a source of in-

come through making jewellery from the waste product of

the granite quarries around Bangalore. In 2013 Kim was

named in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac’s

100 Women of Influence. In 2014 she was a finalist in the

NSW Young Woman of the Year Awards and in 2015 she

was selected by the Australian Government to attend the

United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

She has also recently founded two new social enterprises:

SheBuild and GenBuild.

Kim will be the guest speaker at a CMRI Gerringong

fundraiser to mark International Women’s Day. She has

strong links to the group as her mother, Sharon Abbott,

and her grandmother were members. “As an past student

of Gerringong Public School and Kiama High School,

Kim knows the opportunities available to youth in our

community and she will certainly motivate and encourage

her audience to make the

most of every chance to

make a difference in the

world, to achieve goals and

to make things happen,”

says CMRI’s Lorraine

Peade.

Details: Friday 11 March,

7.15 for 7.30pm, followed

by supper. Tickets $20/$10

students from Belinda

4234 0224 or 042 134 9505

or belwall@bigpond.net.au

Kimberley Abbott

Sex in the village? The Bugle has been

told people suspect a sex

worker is operating from

a residential address in

Jamberoo, close to the

school.

Council has received

a complaint about this

prohibited activity, which

is the first step in having

the business moved on.

Advertisements in

The Mercury clearly locate

the business in Jamberoo,

but such cases are notori-

ously hard to prove, given

the private nature of the

service on offer.

“If this is the only way we

can do it, so be it. It is im-

portant our voice be heard.”

The poll will back up the

survey done by IRIS that

showed 92% of residents

opposed the merger. While

Council has confidence in

the statistical rigor of the

survey, they are alert to the

tendency of some to dismiss

the results as ‘only a sur-

vey’.

While he voted for the

motion, Councillor Warren

Steel expressed concern that

the action may backfire as

people experience merger

fatigue and there is no com-

pulsion to vote.

Other councillors believed

that, while stressed by the

uncertainty and the holes in

the process, people want to

do all they can to stop the

merger happening.

“This proposal has galva-

nised the community like no

other,” said Dennis Seage.

It is still being clarified

when the poll will be held,

as residents need to be given

54 days notice before it is

conducted, to comply with

Local Government Regula-

tions. There are also consid-

erations such as school and

public holidays to take into

account, meaning the end of

April would be the likeliest

date at this stage.

The Keep Kiama Council

Local Committee, which

now enjoys the status of an

official resident advisory

group, is firmly in favour of

holding a vote.

It is also a strategy that

has been suggested by such

divergent anti-amalgamation

proponants as Gareth Ward

MP, South Coast Labour

Council Secretary Arthur

Rorris and David Shoe-

bridge, Greens MP and Lo-

cal Government spokesman,

who visited Kiama recently.

Council had previously

asked the Delegate, Greg

Wright, to conduct a poll

as part of his investigations

into the merger, but has

received no response to its

request. No other delegate

has instigated a poll.

In addition, he has indi-

cated he expects to complete

his report by the end of

March, leaving no time for

a poll of residents.

We have printed the con-

clusion of Council’s merger

submission, as it appeared

on their website on

24 February, on page 8.

Vote on merger continued from page 1

The merged council area

Plans are afoot to base a running festival in Kiama,

with the main event of the day being a 15km run

along the coast from Gerringong to Kiama. Elite

Energy, which organises a number of triathalons

along the NSW coast, plans to market it as the most

scenic run in Australia.

They are also looking at the idea of holding a

triathalon training camp in the area and establish-

ing a Kiama Aquathon as part of a five race season.

The Kiama Coastal Classic Running Festival would

be held on Sunday 31 July, so there is still time to

get into training. Apart from the 15km run,there

would also be a 2.5km run and a 10km run.

The event has the potential to bring people into

the area over the long winter months, and encour-

age repeat visitation.

Kiama Coastal Classic mooted for this July

5

6

Monday Madness Sale 20% off our entire menu on Mondays for a limited

time.* Book in to avoid disappointment.

March special: Bliss Package Our very popular Bliss package is a sensory journey with

rhythmical dry body brushing, followed by a relaxing massage using warmed drizzled massage oil, a refreshing ultra hydrating facial, plus a complimentary hot stone ritual and an exotic foot

bath. A delicious 75 minute treat for the whole body.

Usually $155, our special price $105: save $50

Open 10 am til 5pm Mon, Weds, Fri, Sat and Sun. Open Tues and Thurs by appointment.

Call 4233 2397 or text 0403 707 265 2/5 Railway Pde, Kiama www.jindaleespakiama.com.au info@jindaleespa.com.au and find us on Facebook

* not in conjunction with any other offer not valid on public holidays

Within 25 years, dementia

will be the leading cause of

death in Australia. As the

baby boomers continue to

skew our demographics, it is

a sobering prediction that in

2030 550,000 people will be

living with dementia, rising

to around 950,000 by 2050.

There are currently

thought to be around 300

people in the Kiama area

with dementia, but that is

projected to rise to almost

4000 in 2050.

In 2014 Kiama Council

was asked to join a pilot

project with the University

of Wollongong to create a

dementia-friendly commu-

nity. A dementia friendly

community is a place where

people with dementia are

supported to live a high

quality of life with meaning,

purpose and value.

Initial research found that

while it was a good place

for people with dementia to

live, a local action plan has

been devised to overcome

challenges around commu-

nity understanding, access,

transport options and infra-

structure.

“Our message is that peo-

ple can live happy and ful-

filled lives with dementia,”

says John Watkins, CEO

of Alzheimers Australia

(NSW) and former Deputy

Premier of NSW. “But to

do this they need to have

the support not just of their

family but of the wider

community.”

Mr Watkins was speaking

at a Kiama & District Busi-

ness Chamber seminar to

encourage local businesses

to be dementia friendly. His

organisation is running a

pilot program to encourage

this, and has produced a

Business Toolkit to assist

businesses to implement the

small changes that will

make a large difference to

their customers living with

dementia.

Businesses are encouraged

to use the Toolkit to work

towards being dementia

friendly. There is a process

for formal recognition.

Kiama Community College

is the first local organisation

to achieve this status, and

Kiama Cabs has indicated it

will implement the assess-

ment, processes and training

required.

Members of the public are

also being encouraged to

attend a free training pro-

gram by Alzheimers Austra-

lia. The session on the first

day focuses on dementia

awareness, giving an over-

view, identifying symptoms,

preventative actions and

practical communication

skills. It is open to anyone.

The session on the second

day is designed for people

who want to be Dementia

Friends so they can help to

make their group or organi-

sations dementia friendly.

“We hear a lot about peo-

ple dropping out of commu-

nity groups once they are

diagnosed,” says Melissa

Andrews, Council’s Demen-

tia Friendly Communities

Project Officer.

“We are looking for

people to be trained as a

Dementia Friend so that

they can share their new

knowledge and skills within

their groups and keep their

valued members involved

longer.”

Details: Dementia educa-

tion sessions will be held

10 and 11 March, 10-1pm,

Kiama Anglican Church.

To book, or for more

info contact Melissa

Andrews on 4232 0444

Poidevin and Kearns to pack down with the U/13s

2016 is a huge year for the Under-13 Junior

Illawarriors as they head over for a New

Zealand South Island Tour in the April

school holidays; defend the NSW Country

Championships in May; and prepare for

the NSW State Championships in June.

Given the expenses involved, they have

called in the big guns, Wallaby greats

Simon Poidevin and Phil Kearns, to help

with their fund raising so all the members

can go on tour.

The pair will be guest speakers at a cock-

tail event to raise money for the team.

The Junior Illawarriors is a regional jun-

ior rugby representative team for the Illa-

warra district consisting of players from ten

rugby clubs - Shoalhaven, Kiama, Avon-

dale, Vikings, Tech, University, Sham-

rocks, Bowral, Camden and Campbelltown.

Details: Saturday 18 March, The Pavilion

Kiama, 5.30 for 6pm. $80 for welcome

drink, dinner and entertainment. Tickets

from illawarriors.eventbrite.com.au or

phone 0413 027 939

Different ways to make Kiama dementia friendly

Figs had to go The much loved fig trees

on the western border of

Bonaira Oval are no more.

Having provided shelter for

players and fans for many

years, the six mature weep-

ing figs have contracted a

very rare pathogen which

causes soft rot.

“After consultation with

the Royal Botanical Gar-

dens - and as we are unable

to verify the trees’ struc-

tural integrity - a decision

has been made to remove

the trees,’’ Council’s Envi-

ronment and Health Man-

ager Paul Czulowski said.

“Council will replant

the area with advanced

trees of a suitable species.” The same rare pathogen recently caused the remov-

al of a tree in Chapman St.

No craft beer for Kiama The Bugle is sorry to report

that Kiama Brewing Co

has been unable to find a

suitable premises for their

brewery and have reluc-

tantly decided to shelve

their plans and put their

equipment up for sale.

Let’s hope another local

takes up the mantle.

The Local Dementia Advisory Group: Ray Loveday, Dennis Frost,

Veda Menghetti, Lynda Henderson, Carolyn Smith.

7

Electricians Murray Connerty: Air conditioning and refriger-

ation specialist. t 0408 420 655

Appliance repairs CVC Appliances: Repairs to washing machines,

stoves, dishwashers, dryers etc. t 0401 294 810

Carpenters Straight & Level: Home renovation specialists.

Licensed builder. Contact Geoff on 0407 958 087

Horticultural services Burnett Trees: Kiama Municipality’s own tree

care service - skilled, insured professionals for all

tree care, pruning, removal, stump grinding and

mulching. t 4233 1311

Builders Burrell Builders: Cracked brickwork, underpin-

ning, insurance/structural repairs. All building

work. Ln3281c t 0419 378 000

Plumbers

Kiama Plumbing & Drainage: Affordable, reliable

plumbing and gasfitting services. t 0405 654 035

Our listing of local businesses providing

trades & services is designed as a handy

reference for people wanting to get

work done by a local. At just $10/line,

it’s a great way to grow your business.

Contact Steve on 0428 662 499 or

at bugleadvertising@gmail.com

Need work done? Use a local

The Bugle Crossword ACROSS

1 Indian political leader

4 Frozen dome-shaped

dessert

8 Man in balaclava on

$100 note

10 Footballer or ringer

11 Thespian

13 Scottish male skirt

15 Chemist shop

16 The month in 1966

when decimal currency

came in

19 That which we breathe

20 Gas that makes up 78%

of our atmosphere

21 Member of armed gang

of robbers

22 Old fashioned hat

24 Flue for smoke or gas

25 New transport for

Sydney’s George St

26 Unit of energy

27 Scientist and city

35 Rotary wing aircraft

36 Fragment of incombus-

tible material left after

wood fire

37 First lady of Jazz

38 Shaky NZ city

39 Dog-like mammal of

Africa

41 Australia’s newest big

ship

43 To correct written

material

44 Strip of level surface

where planes land

45 Workplace of a scientist

DOWN

2 Substance of cells

which protects the white of

an egg

3 Breed of Artic sled dog

5 Victa was famous for

these

6 Republic of Ireland

7 Where old fig trees are

to be cut down

9 Another name for the

cox of a surfboat

12 Flatten on impact

14 Chief engineer of the

Harbour Bridge

17 Manufacturer of large

aircraft at Albion Park

Airport

18 Better than tea bags

23 No longer needs to be

warmed up

28 American follower of

the Mennonite religion

29 Week day of the Kiama

Farmers’ Market

30 Afternoon sea breeze

on the coast

31 Canadian French city

32 One who cuts into sur-

face of glass with acid

33 Baked block of clay

34 Tanned hide

35 Hand saw used for cut-

ting metal

40 Sister of your father or

mother

42 Does not matter which

Last week’s solution

8

An Embarrassment of Riches It is estimated that last year 100,000 books of long form

fiction were published. Some of these were crime fiction.

Many of them were issued only as e-books and were never

publicized or reviewed. They did not disappear without

trace: they never really appeared.

Only those us who are sufficiently interested in reading

the latest in quality crime manage to keep abreast of this

torrent of new books. We do this by subscribing to various

on-line newsletters.

The best of these is probably The Times Crime Club.

The reviewer provides details of the new titles she thinks

are worth reading. Then there is the CRA – Crime Read-

ers Association newsletter. Always worth reading. There

are half a dozen others, but these are probably the best.

They are completely free and arrive as emails.

There is also a page of crime novel reviews in the

monthly print magazine, The Literary Review. This is a

truly excellent publication for those of us who are serious

readers of non-fiction and the best fiction. This is avail-

able by subscription.

My most recent discovery – and The Times reviewer

positively glowed about her – is Eva Donlan, whose po-

lice procedurals are all set in the Hate Crime Unit of

Peterborough police station in the UK. Very well written,

gripping, and frighteningly authentic, they are about an

aspect of life in a multi-cultural society that I pray we

never allow to develop here – though tragically there are

already worrying signs. Her debut novel is Long Way

Home. She’s now written three. All good. She’s on Kindle

for a few dollars. I strongly recommend her. She’s one of

a kind. A Kiama resident, Ken has been a full-time writer

for almost 50 years and is an elder statesman of the publishing

world. The Bugle is honoured to have him as an occasional col-

umnist. He is the instigator of a monthly lunch group of local

male readers and/or writers of crime which meets on the last

Thursday of the month. There are currently a few vacancies.

Contact ken@kenmethold.com

The conclusion of Council’s

exhaustive merger submis-

sion appears here in full:

Kiama Council has care-

fully considered the

merger proposal with

Shoalhaven Council. We

have consulted our com-

munity and we are clearly

of the view that the

proposed merger will be

a significant disadvantage

to the residents of Kiama.

We have demonstrated

that the basis of the

merger proposal was based

on error and wrong or

misleading assumptions.

We have addressed all

the heads of consideration

that are required to be

reported on and consider

that under each head of

consideration individually

and when associated

together, the Kiama

Community will be signifi-

cantly worse off should

the merger proceed.

In summary

• Kiama is in a considera-

bly stronger financial

position meeting all the

FFF benchmarks by

2019/20 whereas the

proposed merged Coun-

cil will only meet three

of the benchmarks.

The merged Council

will have a significant

ongoing asset expendi-

ture gap of $14.8 million

per year which will not

be addressed as part of

the merger.

• There is clearly no

community of interest

between the communi-

ties of Kiama and Shoal-

haven, both are diverse

and vibrant communities

but are clearly different.

They have different

needs and expectations

from their Council which

will be difficult to pro-

vide for by a merger.

• The proposed merger

will put at risk the sig-

nificant historical and

traditional nature of the

area, highlighted by our

strong and vibrant com-

munity groups.

• Clearly and overwhelm-

ingly the residents of

Kiama have demon-

strated that they wish

to standalone and are

strongly opposed to the

merger, a significant

majority of Shoalhaven

residents have opposed

a merger.

• Kiama currently receives

a high quality of repre-

sentation from its

elected representatives,

this will be significantly

reduced under the pro-

posal and it is clear that

the views of the Kiama

community will be sig-

nificantly diluted under

the proposed merger

• Should the merger pro-

ceed, harmonisation of

services and the balanc-

ing of the current ser-

vice levels across the

merged council will take

place. Continuation as

a centre of excellence

in aged care would be

at risk as a result of the

merger. There will also

be difficulties in manag-

ing service delivery par-

ticularly given the varia-

tion in current mix of

service delivery by the

organisations.

• For the merged Council

to make the necessary

efficiency gains it will

clearly need to reduce

staff numbers. Whilst

there are employment

protections in place for

a short period of time,

ultimately there will be

significant staff losses in

Kiama. These staff losses

will have a flow on

effect in the local econ-

omy and will also result

in additional costs for

the new organisation in

terms of travel time and

lost productivity.

• The rural communities

will also suffer from the

merger as they will risk

the unique status in

a larger more diverse

organisation.

• Finally it should be

pointed out that, whilst

there are maybe some

benefits to be achieved

from a merger, there is

a significant and greater

risk that these benefits

will not be realised; such

risks must be considered

when making decisions.

If this is the case then

the merger will come

at a significant cost to

the rate payers of both

Kiama and Shoalhaven

communities.

Kiama Council is in a bet-

ter position to represent

the diverse views of its

community. It is Fit for the

Future and should remain

as a standalone council.

Last word on the merger proposal Methold on books