Recently RFS officer Gary Cooper was invited to attend the club to receive a cheque for $1500.  A large number of club members were affected by the horrendous March 18 bushfire in Tathra. Vice-President Pat McRae thanked Gary on their behalf  for the courageous and selfless efforts of the RFS in their endeavours to save their homes and protect the Tathra community as well as for their continuing efforts in the days following the crazy fire.

She also expressed gratitude for their ongoing commitment to their training and application of current procedures.  Because of  this the community can be confident in the protection and safety they offer us. Gary responded with gratitude and spoke about the magnitude and ferocity of the fire. He said the donation to the work of RFS was greatly valued.

The Sapphire Coast Orchid Club will be holding its annual “Winter Orchid Display” on Friday and Saturday, August 17-18 from 9am–5pm and Sunday, August 19, from 9am–1pm at Twyford Hall, Merimbula. Entry is free and some orchid plants will be on sale.

Some of the best cooks in the Bega Valley will be providing cakes for the silent auction at the Old  Bega Hospital's Trivia Night on Saturday, August 11, at the Bega Country Club, Tarraganda. The auction will run until the end of the quizzing and then the lucky ones who quoted the best price can have their cakes for supper or take them home.

The Trivia Night is one of the three major fund-raisers that Friends has each year with all the proceeds going towards the Old Bega Hospital Restoration Fund.

It costs $10 per person and there are tables of eight. However if you want to come as a couple or by yourself that's fine too and you can join a table with others who can't make up the eight.

Bookings are essential by phoning Claire Lupton on 6492 2570 or emailing her on clairelupton@bigpond.com. Bring your own nibbles and there are also lucky door prizes and spot prizes throughout the night. The Trivia Night starts at 6.30pm for 7pm.

Eurobodalla St Cecilia Youth Music Scholarships invites young music performers to participate in a fun Pop-up Concert.

“There's some wonderful musical talent on the South Coast,” said Youth Music President Chris Heazlewood. “This casual Pop-up Concert is just one way that young people can showcase their musical capabilities.”

Young musicians aged between 8 and 18 are invited to come along and perform for up to five minutes to an audience of fellow performers, friends, families and interested locals. This is not a competition but an opportunity for youth to enjoy themselves and entertain others.

“It doesn't matter what instrument you play ― from guitar to singing or from acoustic to electric,” Mr Heazlewood said. “And it doesn't matter what type of music ― from hip-hop to jazz or from pop to country and western ― even opera.”

Mr Heazlewood believes the concert will be a mix of styles and talents, as young people jam, groove or sing to a local audience. The Pop-Up concert is open to the public and will be held on the afternoon of Sunday, August 26 in St Peters Anglican College in Broulee.

“You can choose what to perform. All you need do is let us know what you will be performing and we will then arrange a program,” Mr Heazlewood said.

To be involved and for more information email Pam Larkin pamlarkin.music@gmail.com or phone 0497 270 882 by Friday, August 17.

The closing date is almost here for the annual conference of the NSW & ACT Association of Family Histories Inc, Sailing into History, which is being held at Batemans Bay Soldiers Club on September 14-16. All details of the activities and speakers are on the website www.sailingintohistory.org.au.

If you don’t hurry the gang plank will be raised. Details can also be obtained from the Bega Valley Genealogical Society at the old Courthouse, Toalla St, Pambula.

This year Bermagui and District CWA has made generous donations to the Bermagui Public School, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, The Same Wave program run by the Bermagui Surf Life Saving Club and the CWA of NSW Disaster Relief Fund. During July, the Bermagui Ladies held two successful fundraisers Bake for Babies (in support of Newborn Intensive Care Foundation) and a Soup and Trivia Afternoon (in support of Endometriosis research). These activities enabled members to help others while enjoying the company and friendship of like-minded women.

At the August meeting, guest speaker Maggie, from the Bermagui Surf Life Saving Club, told members about The Same Wave program which partners people with special needs to lifesavers and other volunteers for a safe and supported beach experience. Bermagui CWA president Paula Rumble presented Maggie with a cheque for $500 to help support the program. 

The meeting also featured local member and cookery officer Jenny Halliday demonstrated a range of home-made tasty pizzas, cooked in a bench-top pizza oven. The ladies enjoyed these for afternoon tea.

The major date claimer for August will be the Far South Coast CWA, Inter-branch Music, Drama and International Day to be held on Monday, August 20, at the Cobargo School of Arts. Branches are busy rehearsing for this day of fun-filled activities. The morning starts at 9.30am for a “cuppa” followed by performances at 10am. Lunch and morning tea are included in the $15 entry. All welcome.

On Thursday, August 16, a solicitor from Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre will be visiting Bega to provide free legal advice to women with booked appointments. Shoalcoast is situated in Nowra but is funded to provide free legal services to women living in South East NSW.

Shoalcoast solicitors are experienced in resolving many types of legal problems in most non-commercial areas of law, including consumer credit and debt, family law involving children, Centrelink problems, employment, tenancy issues, power of attorney and guardianship, discrimination and victims compensation for childhood assault, sexual assault or domestic violence. 

The next Bega free legal advice clinic is on Thursday, August 16, 9am-3.30pm at the Women's Resource Centre, 14 Peden St. To make an appointment or to make inquiries as to whether Shoalcoast can assist you with your legal problem call 1800 229 529 or 4422 9529.