My apologies to those unable to immediately purchase a copy.

A second print run has been ordered and the book should be back in all outlets next week.

It seems to me this has been a powerful example of the continuing effectiveness of local newspapers!

Peter Lacey

Quaama

Thank you to all the councillors and BVSC staff who visited with the Bermagui community on November 5.

It was a valuable opportunity for community members to ask questions, to make suggestions, to raise concerns.

One concern raised is the application by BWS to open its shop in Bermagui.

Many people living in Bermagui and surrounding area are deeply concerned about the impact that a further liquor store will have on the health of our community.

Check the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority noticeboard - your submissions need to be lodged by November 27.

Nadine Hills

Akolele

On November 5, the Bega Valley Residents and Ratepayers Association (BVSRRA) attended the roving workshop organised by Bega Valley Shire Council to allegedly “listen” to the concerns of the local community in Bermagui.

In a number of eloquent, sensible and impassioned addresses, speaker after speaker from the Bermagui community implored the visiting councillors to oppose the Woolworths liquor licence application, raising many significant community concerns.

Perhaps it was an omen that councillors offered nothing but a polite “thank you” in return.

A week later, the residents/ratepayers of Bermagui and the shire-at-large discovered just how little their elected councillors cared for their views and concerns by refusing to oppose the Woolworths licence application (BDN, 14/11).

The shire’s new Mayor, Cr Michael Britten, distinguished himself by reportedly offering the nonsensical claim “In relation to competition among packaged liquor stores, it’s not our business to get involved”, while his erstwhile predecessor, Cr Bill Taylor, also failed the pub test by apparently asserting it “was not council’s job to tell the ILGA what to do”, even though the ILGA had specifically asked council for its opinion.

So there is no misunderstanding, the BVSRRA believes that the residents/ratepayers of Bermagui were betrayed by BVSC’s failure to stand-up for them and place their community’s interests ahead of those of a supermarket chain - a supermarket chain that all along has behaved in a way that caused our community to be misled as to its intentions.

While Crs Hughes, Seckold and Tapscott are to be applauded for attempting to persuade their fellow councillors to take a stronger stance in opposing the Woolworths licence application, the BVSRRA believes the remaining councillors (excusing Cr Mawhinney who was absent) should hang their heads in shame for their appalling failure to stand up for the community they were elected to represent.

For its part, the BVSRRA will continue to support the Bermagui community in opposing the Woolworths liquor licence application.

John Richardson, secretary

Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association

The current Federal Government is trying its hardest to bring in the school chaplaincy program to our public schools.

I have no problem with chaplains, but not in a public school which is a secular institution.

Bega High School has a fantastic group of people who support the students as they need and I am very upset to think that they should lose their jobs due to a new government policy that is a directive rather than a choice by the school.

The $250million proposed to be spent on this policy could be better spent on supporting the existing staff who work our vulnerable young people.

Ingrid Mitchell

Tathra