Happy birthday to Leanne Cusack, Erin Mudie, James Grant, Shaun Austin, Heath Umback, Jane Hull, Therese Finucane, Jane Ogilvie, Joan Boyle, Rebekah Graham, Michelle O'Connor, Gwen Britten, Sharon George, Bev Collier, Darren Mitchell, Maureen Scott, Alison Hibburd, Julie Sirl, Robyn Koellner, Frances Buckle and Chris Twyford who all have celebrated birthdays over the last week.

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Volunteers needed

The Bega Red Cross and Netball Club are now asking for volunteers for the Meals on Wheels roster for March 18 to March 22.

Volunteers are asked to ring Sharlene Smith on 6492 3547 with preference for day.

It only takes an hour to deliver the meals on your day. A $5 petrol voucher is given to each driver.

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Smith-Keys Wedding

On November 3 last year Michael Keys and Jennifer Smith were married in the gardens of the Brogo Homestead with the Reverend Owen Lukins officiating.

Michael is the eldest son of Graham and June Keys of "Clydebank", Bemboka, and Jennifer is the only daughter of Dennis and Donna Smith of "Nareva", Quaama.

The Reverend Lukins gave a lovely service, his last wedding before leaving the area, and two majestic wedgetail eagles made a beautiful backdrop as the happy couple made their vows.

This was followed by the blessing of the couple's daughter Eleanore.

The bride wore a cinderella style gown of sparkling organza beaded with tiny pearls and diamantes.

She added a long three-layered veil trimmed with silver and diamantes, held in place by an antique silver hairclip of two lovebirds which was a gift from the groom.

Her flowers were a Victorian posy of pink and white roses dotted with lavender and baby's breath.

Jennifer was attended by Helen Watson, Linda Miskeiwicz, Michelle Fisher and Tania O'Connor who wore full gowns of blue silk with small trains and shoestring straps and each carried a single white long stemmed rose.

The groom was attended by Shane Cameron, Edward Maddern, Darrell Troy and Andrew Keys.

They wore black suits and shirts with blue silk ties to match the bridesmaids' dresses, gold fob watches were tucked into the pockets of the black vests. Michael's vest was trimmed with silver pinstripes.

The flowergirls were Eleanore Keys and Tegan Smith who were dressed in full gowns of sparkling organza with blue silk sashes and trim and beaded with tiny pearls and diamantes.

They carried baskets of pink and white roses dotted with baby's breath and lavender and matching flower rings trimmed their hair.

All the gowns were made by the bride, who is a designer.

Eighty guests enjoyed canapes in the garden followed by a sit down meal in The Homestead's function room.

A beautiful two-tier cake trimmed with white icing roses Trish Beasley and served for dessert.

The guests then danced the night away to the great sounds of the Matt Kimber band.

Michael and Jennifer spent the night at Rock Lily Cottages before heading off to the Melbourne Cup, a trip along the Great Ocean Road, visits to the Barossa Valley and Ayres Rock and then a couple of days relaxing on the Murray River.

The happy couple have made their home in Bemboka on the family farm.

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Netball

The Sapphire Coast Netball Association will host a rules night at the Merimbula RSL Club on Wednesday, March 6, from 7pm till 9.30pm.

Carole Phillips from NSW Netball will discuss the new rulings and new rule books will be on sale at $6.60. All welcome.

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Staunton-Scott wedding

Natalie Jane Stanton and David John Scott were married on December 29, 2001, at "Eastwood" Tarraganda, the home of Mark and Kylie D'Arcy, by celebrant Ron Doyle.

Natalie is the daughter of Betty Beasley and was attended by four friends, Mandy Jay, Megan Whitford, Wendy Carless and Karan Duffy.

She wore a backless ankle-length gown of lace with a long train. The gown and straps were beaded with crystals.

The bridesmaids wore orange chiffon mid-length dresses and carried bouquets of oriental lilies and orchids.

David was attended by Gary Cochrane, his brother Graham, Bob Deighton and Saul Duffy.

The reception was held at the Bega RSL Golf Club and 135 guests had a great evening.

Guests travelled from the Gold Coast, Cairns, Melbourne and locally to help David and Natalie celebrate their big day.

The cake was by Murphy's Cake Productions, master of ceremonies was Stuart Carless and Tony Lockerbie was the photographer.

After an enjoyable honeymoon on the Gold Coast, David and Natalie have made their home in Bega.

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Youth of

the Year

The Bega Lions Club held its Lions Youth of the Year competition at the Bega RSL Club last week.

Four girls contested the quest, Hannah McCann and Sarah Winkworth from Bega High School and Karrina Ahkin and Alice Leser from the Bega Valley Christian College.

Hannah won the overall contest and Sarah was first in the public speaking.

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Rabbit's birthday

Happy 50th birthday to Russel (the rabbit) Northey.

Love from Robyn, Cathy, Karen, Candice, Russell Jnr, Wayne, Jonathon and Hannah.

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Pleasant

afternoon

A Pleasant Afternoon will be held in the Presbyterian Hall, Upper St Bega, tomorrow (Saturday) at 2pm.

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Breastfeeding

The Bega-Imlay Group of the Australian Breastfeeding Association will hold a fundraiser stall at the Candelo Markets, this Sunday.

Their aim is to raise enough money to send several volunteer breastfeeding trainee counsellors to a breastfeeding conference in Canberra later this year.

The group will be selling good quality second hand baby and children's clothes, maternity wear, toys and furniture as well as raffle tickets, plants, homemade cakes and biscuits.

A comfortable corner for breast or bottle-feeding your child will be available and local breastfeeding counsellors will be available to answer any of your questions about breastfeeding and the local group.

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Old time dance

The Bega Old Time Dance Club will hold a dance tomorrow (Saturday) at 8pm.

There will be the usual Monte Carlo and lucky door prizes.

Everyone is welcome, including children. Music will be by Black Rose. Tea and coffee will be provided.

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St John's

deb ball

The St John's Anglican debutante ball is to be held on Friday, June 7.

Any young women wishing to make their debut should contact Isobel Dixon on 64922 888(W) or 6492 1480(AH) as soon as possible, so arrangements can begin to be made.

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Tathra

singalong

The next singalong at Tathra Uniting Church will be held on Wednesday, March 6, at 2pm.

A great program of Aussie music is planned with talented musicians Eileen McCoy on fiddle, Cor Brandenburg and accordian player Bill Nichols.

It is a time of friendship, fun and laughter with a delicious afternoon tea also provided.

Bill, who worked on the Snowy Scheme for over 30 years, will play ballads and tell yarns about those times.

Phone Leona Cairns 6494 1464 for further information.

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Ambulance farewell

At a well attended function on February 15 at the Bank Hotel, 61 friends and work colleagues farewelled Robert Whiting after 25 years of service with the NSW Ambulance.

Bob began his career in August 1975 when he joined the service as a mechanic at Caringbah, Sydney.

In January 1977 Bob decided the uniform service looked more appealing and transferred to that section.

Then in 1979 Bob and Sharyn, along with their two boys, Kym and Glenn, moved to Bega.

Bob continued his ambulance career until he decided to retire in October 2001. The Whitings have decided to remain in the Bega Valley where they have made many good friends, and Bob should have no trouble filling ion his retirement hours.

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Engagement

Deanna and Ray Daley of Bega are pleased to announce the engagement of their second daughter, Selina, to Tony, only son of Shona and David Hight of Dorrigo.

The happy couple celebrated their engagement with family and friends at an Hawaiin-style pool party on the Gold Coast.