While commending him for his enthusiasm for publicising the merits of collecting and telling the stories of the local area, we have some concern about the negative image he has given in the media as regards the contribution of existing societies over the years.

Preserving the history of the Far South Coast and hinterland in the form of oral and written accounts, photographs and artefacts has been the work of these societies, which has always been accessible to the public and they have striven to share the information with anyone who expressed an interest. 

In no way have the volunteers regarded local history as their “own preserve”, rather their aim has been to spread the knowledge gathered so the whole community understand the history of the area.

It is hard to understand why, instead of setting up his own group, he did not offer to harness his energy and share his own ideas with an existing umbrella organisation covering the area from Mallacoota to Bermagui and inland to Bombala and Cooma, namely the South East History Group Inc. 

The framework is already set up, the group meets quarterly in different regions and venues, has an established communication network and is always looking for new projects which will draw on the knowledge of the volunteers from this very wide area. 

The three events Mr Lacey plans to hold and his newsletter are just the sort of initiatives that would be welcomed.

There is strength in numbers and it is helpful when people with similar interests operate cohesively so their impact on community awareness is concentrated and they can draw on a wider base to fulfil the aim of preserving our mutual history to share now and in the years to come.

In response to Noel Watson's letter (BDN, 28/10), I and others have been working with wombats on farms in the Bega Valley from the seventies.

I am very willing to help him put in wombat gates that will protect his sheep from foxes. The most important thing is to put the gate exactly on the track which wombats have been using for generations. There may have been a fence erected across the established track.

So long as the gate is exactly on the wombat track, there will be no further problem, except if the hierarchy is disrupted by shooting (as happens in Africa when elephant elders are shot).

Wombats breed so very slowly, one young every two or three years, that there is plenty of time for the young ones to learn behaviour from their elders.

The Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association held its 2016 annual general meeting at Wolumla Hall on Sunday, October 30, with the meeting attended by 17 members and visitors.

The meeting papers, including the President’s Report, 2015/2016 Financial Statement and the draft minutes have been posted on the Association’s website, www.begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au/annual-general-meetings.html

The members appointed a new six member management committee for 2016/2017, as follows: President, Peter Rogers (re-elected unopposed); vice-president, Fraser Buchanan; secretary, John Richardson (re-elected unopposed); treasurer, John Richardson (re-elected unopposed); committee members, Peter Brickwood, Greg Ferguson and Rose Ferguson.

A vote of thanks to the management committee for their tireless efforts on behalf of the members and the broader Bega Valley community was voiced by all those in attendance.