Firefighters are encouraging people to visit their local fire station for the Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) annual Open Day this Saturday, May 20.

Most fire stations across NSW will be open from 10am to 2pm and families are encouraged to come along and meet their local firefighters and learn more about fire prevention.

FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said a range of free activities will be on offer, including firefighting demonstrations, station tours and fire safety presentations.

“Firefighters will also be able to provide advice on installing or replacing smoke alarms, and preparing a home fire escape plan,” he said.

“Children will be able to see the fire engines and firefighting equipment up close – always a highlight of this much-anticipated day.

“They will also be able to take home a “Brigade Kids” activity booklet, which teaches them vital fire safety lessons.”

Commissioner Baxter said FRNSW is this year focusing on fire prevention in the kitchen, urging people to “Keep Looking When Cooking”.

“Almost half of all house fires start in the kitchen, usually when people fail to keep an eye on the stove top,” he said.

“Regrettably, hundreds of injuries occur every year from cooking-related fires, and people have lost their lives as a result.”

Commissioner Baxter said Open Day was also a great opportunity to talk to firefighters about how you can protect your home from fire. For more information about Open Day, visit www.fire.nsw.gov.au

Following the celebration of World Parkinson Day, the Bega Valley Parkinson Support group held their May meeting at the Bega Golf Club with exercise Physiologist Clarra McKinnell as guest speaker. Clarra gave a presentation on her work with people living with Parkinson's disease. A number of members are planning to attend classes arranged by Clarra.

The group received a donation from the Tai Chi for Arthritis group who attend classes at South East Regional Hospital. The donation was well received by the Parkinson’s group. The next meeting will be held on June 5, at Bega Golf Club at 10.30am. Contact can be made with the group through President Bob McDonald on 6495 4108 or mobile 0448 325 002.

Members of the Bermagui Country Club Social Anglers Club are reminded that this weekend, May 19-21, the on and off shore fishing competition is on. Meeting up on Sunday at 12.30pm for the social barbecue, winners of the comp will be announced, so let’s go fishing!

An LGBTI Film Night will be held this Saturday, May 20, at 4pm at Funhouse Studio. The film “Grandma” (M) screened recently at the Sydney LGBTI Film Festival. There will also be two shorts (M). Food is available and everyone is welcome. Entry is by donation. All proceeds go to Bega Women’s Resource Centre Appeal.

The diversity and strength of rainbow families are at the heart of a wide range of community celebrations marking the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) and International Family Equality Day (IFED) across NSW during May.

IDAHOT takes place every year on May 17, the day in 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases. The day aims to raise awareness of LGBTI rights, and the violence and discrimination that many LGBTI people throughout the world continue to experience. Established in 2012, IFED is held annually in early May to promote pride and equality for all families worldwide.

Given the proximity of dates and shared values, IDAHOT and IFED have joined forces this year to come up with the theme Love Makes A Family, with events like tomorrow night’s film night in Bega being held this month.

Recognising the significance of days like IDAHOT and IFED, NSW’s leading LGBTI health organisation ACON has provided a series of small grants to community groups and organisations to help them undertake activities that focus attention on the impact LGBTI discrimination and prejudice has on rainbow families.

In South-East NSW, Bega Women’s Resource Centre has teamed up with ACON and Ability Links NSW to put on tomorrow’s film night to provide a  much needed cultural event for the Gay and Lesbian community, whilst celebrating IDAHOT and the diversity of loving families.

A group from the Bermagui U3A was entertained by the Bega Valley Weavers recently for a day of fun with textiles. The Bega Valley Weavers are not just weavers – members have a wide range of textile interests and skills, and were happy to help U3A members to learn more about them.

People were able to try their hand at weaving on a floor loom and a lap loom; felting; spinning; carding and fibre colour mixing; basket weaving with newspapers; and indigo dyeing.

The Bega Valley Weavers meet every week at the Old Bega Hospital. As well as holding many community based workshops, they actively fund-raise for the Old Bega Hospital trust to raise money for restoring this lovely historic building.

The Can Assist Mothers Day raffle was drawn on Friday.  First prize was won by Ron Atkins, second by Belle Welsh, third Max Peters, fourth Tanya Tolison and fifth Kevin Hetherington.  Thanks to all those that bought tickets.

Join Merimbula’s Million Paws Walk at Rotary Park on Sunday morning. Dog lovers are invited to have fun while also helping fight against animal cruelty. The walk will commence in Rotary Park on May 21 at 10am, to the bridge and back along the lake. Call 0419 267 799 for more information. 

There will be a forum at midday this Saturday at Club Sapphire Merimbula  to learn about the situation for refugees and asylum seekers. Learn from refugees and experts, including Professor William Maley. There will also be a chance to learn how we, on the Sapphire Coast, can be involved. Free entry and lunch by donation. Bring your questions for the panel or send them ahead of time to refugee_asylum_forum@exemail.com.au. 

The schedule for Bemboka Garden Club's May meeting had to be changed, but members were entertained with a challenging plant-identification competition.  Everyone brought a specimen, and their knowledge of plants was severely tested, with prizes going to the lowest scorers!

The next meeting takes place on Monday, June 5 at Bemboka Memorial Hall.  For up-to-date information on forthcoming activities, and general information, please visit the club’s  website at  https://bembokagardenclub.wordpress.com/

Australian Plant Society South East NSW members were treated to a talk by Peter Ollerenshaw of Bywong Nursery last month. Peter began his talk at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden by introducing the range of Correa species and where they occur naturally. Correa is in the Rutaceae Family within the Tribe Boronieae and is a genus of just 11 species endemic to Australia with representation from southern Queensland to just inside the eastern border of Western Australia. 

Some shrubs in Eastern Victoria can grow to 10m tall but most only grow to 3 metres.  C. baeuerlenii, the Chefs Cap Correa is widely grown. It is found in a couple of isolated populations between Bega and Batemans Bay on hillsides adjacent to waterways often in association with rainforest species. It has proved to be a very hardy and long lived reliable garden plant. The foliage exudes a delightful spicy fragrance on warm days or after rain.

Correas are naturally promiscuous and seedlings will pop up over time. This led growers over the past 50 years to propagate those which appeared different resulting in many different forms including Correa “Mannii”, Correa “Dusky Bells” and Correa “Marians Marvel” which have proved very successful and can still be found in nurseries. There has also been released many naturally occurring forms of C. reflexa, C. alba and C. pulchella.  Over the years Peter has also produced many plants that have not been successful commercially.