We had the benefit of a free introduction into the 12 principles of permaculture design for a more sustainable and caring life, received expert advice and useful hints for our homes and gardens by Kathleen McCann. 

I booked her for a private session to get professional recommendations for planning and how to tackle certain issues in my garden, to improve the soil, resulting in healthier plants and better food production.

Growing our own produce organically does not just taste better, it is direct action upon climate change, as it avoids extra car driving, transport, packaging, long storage, cooling, the use of chemical fertilisers and sprays. 

It utilises water and energy, what we put into our food returns directly to our own bodies, which ultimately improves our own health. 

The microbes in the soil have been proven to counteract depression, combined with exercise in fresh air.

Excess produce can be shared. 

The result - many benefits, many winners. 

I’m looking forward to the next exchange of ideas at any of the world-wide climate marches between November 27-29, hoping to inspire others.

It is with regret that I feel bound to speak up about the passive responsibilities held by the rural and pastoral protection body, the Bega Valley Shire Council and my neighbouring property dwellers.

I am not averse nor perturbed by the possibility of routine inspections, in fact I welcome them.

However, I do expect the same degree of scrutiny to be afforded everybody else.

I have lived in Nethercote all my life having been born in Pambula.

My parents bought, toiled and then divided properties around where I live over 70 years ago.

Since their demise, I have steadily found an annual increasing lack of control over noxious weeds.

The principal ones that have spread are fireweed and serrated tussock.

The so-called controlling bodies have told me they have given up on containing “fireweed” and have a small and selective inspection of serrated tussock once in a blue moon.

They have targeted some neighbours who only have a slight problem and left the major offenders, believing they do not have an urgent problem, which is infecting my property and that of others massively.

For years I have been constantly digging out and more recently had to resort to poisoning these weeds.

Recommended weed-killer and dyes are very expensive items.

With 60 to 70 undulating acres of cattle-grazing land to manage, I am now at my wit's end.

I am receiving no help from neighbours whose properties share my vast fence line and I cannot keep up with the work that is required of me.

I have been an honest and current ratepayer and I deserve some recompense in regard to all the years of receiving nothing at all as a rural ratepayer.

Even two bordering Crown Land access roads were paid by me and are in disrepair since I stopped paying for them both.

I took up the option of fencing off and gating the access - at my expense of course.

I am desperate, disappointed and disgusted. All I ask is that you realise that your properties are not islands. You have a responsibility and duty of care to your own and your neighbours' land and livestock.