Here we wrap up the Bega District New’s 10 biggest stories of 2017, as determined by Google Analytics.

These are the stories that caught the most attention from readers, whether for happy reasons or sombre.

Which was your most memorable moment of 2017?

February 23

When orthopedic surgeon Chris Phoon was given one week’s notice that his contracted would not be renewed by South East Regional Hospital, in February it sparked outrage among hospital staff and our readers alike.

It was the biggest story of the year on our website with over 12,885 views, almost 5,000 more than our next most popular story. 

The head of the hospital’s orthopedic department was informed by the acting general manager and acting director of medical services the decision was made due to a “difference in core values”. 

Dr Phoon and his colleagues believe the decision was payback for the advocacy work at the facility.

February 22

When a truck driver went over the edge of the road on Brown Mountain, we brought you rolling coverage from the time of the crash to his condition update from hospital two days later. 

Police, Ambulance, Volunteer Rescue Association, Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue attended the scene after the driver had difficulty braking. 

The driver tried to move the truck onto a small flat storage area at the road’s edge, but the vehicle still went over the embankment and down the mountain side.​​

February 14

When Lawrence Aldridge was tragically found dead, he left behind three small children and funeral costs for his family. His close friend Trent McCarthy set up a crowdfunding page to help ease the burden on his family. 

Only a few weeks earlier, Mr Aldridge helped to save a helped save a young couple and their six-month-old son from a house fire in Union Street, Bega.

Neighbours praised Mr Aldridge for his efforts to save the occupants of the house in January, as it was quickly engulfed in flames.

October 6

This year we reflected on one of the darkest aspects of Bega’s history that shook not just the town, but the whole nation. 

On the 20 year anniversary of his sister Lauren Barry and her best friend Nichole Collins’ abduction and murder, Nathan Barry spoke of the tragedy. 

The two Bega High School students were abducted by Leslie Camilleri and Lindsay Beckett while walking from their campsite at White Rock near Tathra to a nearby party. Their bodies found five weeks later at Fiddler’s Green Creek after Beckett confessed to investigators.

May 10

The thought of packing up and moving north into the idyllic River Cottage Australia property in Tilba crossed a few of our reader’s minds this year when the property was listed for sale. 

The three bedroom home was on the market after River Cottage host Paul West packed his young family up and moved to Newcastle. He intends to return to the area in the future, saying “the South Coast gets under your skin”.

The property was snatched up by 36-year-old Sydney builder Tristan Diethelm and his dog Paddo in August. 

January 19

The cheese that made Bega famous had a busy year in 2017, becoming the new owner of the iconic Australian food spread Vegemite.

The sale includes brands such as Vegemite, ZoOsh and Bonox – and other products using the Kraft brand under license for items such as peanut butter, nut spreads, processed cheese slices, ambient cheese spread, mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, Kraft Easy Mac and Kraft Mac & Cheese. 

The deal also included the Port Melbourne site and a license to the Dairylea brand for use in Australia and New Zealand, although Philadelphia is not included.

In other Bega Cheese news, our story about the company’s halal certification from 2015 resurfaced again, ranking as one of our top five stories for this year. 

January 4

A holiday swim ended in 10 stitches for Mornington man Mitchell Collins when he was bitten by a shark at Merimbula Main Beach.

Mr Collins was in waist deep water, about 10 to 15 metres from the shoreline, when he was attacked by a bronze whaler. His cousin Jayden of Melbourne was also in the water, and felt the one-and-a-half to two metre shark brush past his leg after the bite. 

Mr Collins’ brother Harry was surfing further out in the water at the time of the attack. The next day he was back out in the surf, describing it as a “one in a million thing”.

February 20

When an unwelcome guest made its way into the Mimosa Winery’s restaurant one peaceful afternoon, French waitress Samia Lila quickly took control of the situation and earned herself the title “Goanna Girl”. 

The 25-year-old grabbed the 180cm long goanna by its tail and dragged it outside across the veranda to avoid it coming to close to customers. 

Ms Lila had been in Australia for a few months when this story broke and it was only the second time she had seen a goanna, after scaring one away from the winery’s vines a week earlier. 

May 18

A Bermagui doctor pleaded guilty in May to the aggravated indecent assault of a victim under his authority at the Bermagui Medical Centre. 

Cedric Schmaman, 61, of Sunset Boulevard in Kianga made headlines when court documents revealed he threatening to reduce a female patients medication if she did not wear high heels or boots to her regular appointments. He also touched her and gave her money during consultations. 

In March 2016, NSW Police lawfully recorded a conversation between Schmaman and his victim, where he is heard apologising for his “inappropriate” behaviour. Schmaman was arrested seven days later at the medical centre and taken to Narooma Police Station where he denied the assault.

March 3

Dr Chris Phoon was back in the news when he made the unorthodox decision to buy a pair of bolt cutters from a hardware store and try to use them in the operating theatre at South East Regional Hospital. 

Hospital management did not allow Dr Phoon to use the tool in surgery, which he bought to remove a large steel pin that was stabalising a compound fracture in a patient’s leg.

Dr Phoon said the procedure would have involved risks, but management needed to listen to its specialists’ advice when assessing risks. 

A health district spokesperson said there was no guarantee the bolt cutters purchased by Dr Phoon met any of the specifications as set down by NSW Health Guidelines.

November 6

Although it fell outside of our top 10 stories for the year, the long awaited re-opening of the Tathra Hotel generated a lot of excitement on our Facebook page and drew in over 4500 readers. 

After almost 18 months out of action due to delayed and complicated renovations, The Tathra Hotel opened it’s doors again in November.

The restoration team has weaved the old and the new together, with modern lighting and features meeting the old world charm of one of Tathra’s oldest buildings, turning the building into the jewel of the Tathra headland.