The statement by Mr Constance is an insult to the members of the Old Bega Hospital Reserve Land Manager who have put in hundreds of hours of volunteer work to finalise plans, write business cases and apply for funding.

It is an insult to the people of Bega who have put in countless hours raising money to support the cause. It is an insult to the hundreds of people from Bega, Merimbula, Bermagui and beyond who have written to Mr Constance to support repair of the building.

The fire was in 2004. It is high time the Old Bega Hospital was restored to meet its gazetted purpose, “Preservation of historical sites and buildings and for community purposes”.

Andrew Constance has stated that “the Old Bega Hospital trust already has the funds for the roof” (BDN, 22/1). This is not the case.

Andrew, in February, 2015, promised the trust (and consequently the community of the Bega Valley) $500,000 when opening the Men's Shed. However the promise came with strings attached. The money is still somewhere in government coffers.

Since September 2017, the trust, despite written and verbal requests, has had no correspondence from John Barilaro's office indicating the the roof money is still earmarked for our heritage Community Cultural Centre. The money is certainly not in the trust's bank account.

Since Andrew's statement, the Trust treasurer checks every morning, ever hopeful. No glee as yet.

Leanne Atkinson, Labor contender in our up and coming election, did, on Monday (21/1), promise, with no strings attached, the $500,000 for the roof, assuming Labor is elected.

The trust, whose sole aim since the fire in 2004, has been the restoration of the heart of the Community Cultural Centre, our heritage Old Bega Hospital, was delighted and thankful, to hear Labor does place value on community decision making as one way of keeping regional communities strong, engaged and healthy. 

We are still knitting, if not a roof, then a wall hanging in a newly restored OBH. 

The Bega branch of Red Cross thank the community for their patronage at the tea rooms in Church St and at the Bega Saleyards kiosk. We look forward to seeing you again throughout 2019.

If there are any volunteers willing to help on a Tuesday for around four hours once a month at the kiosk, please call Val Eaton on 6495 9922, or 0427 637 145, or Yetty Mitford-Burgess on 6494 5291 or 0408 426 841.

Australia Day is here once more,

Yes, it’s January twenty-six;

It’s a great day for young Australians,

For going out, to mingle and mix.

The First Fleet sailed from Great Britain,

Arrived here in seventeen eighty-eight;

And they created a brand new colony,

On this day which we celebrate.

From small and hazardous beginnings,

The young settlement grew up fast;

Other colonies were founded too,

And then they created a nation vast.

We salute our explorers and pioneers,

Who laid our country’s foundation;

It was because of the work of people like them, That Australia became a wonderful nation.