WHAT a massive year we have had.
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There were so many tragedies – the Barlings Beach plane crash, several fatal road crashes and good people lost, jobs gone as funding was cut, a massive drug bust, break-ins, the death of live music in Batemans Bay, the Colebrook family house fire, and even an alleged murder.
But then there were the triumphs, some of which arose out of life’s darkest moments, such as Kaileigh Fryer’s bucket list inspiring thousands of people around the world.
There was Tomakin’s Rally for Recovery reaching its $1 million milestone, the successful set up of a Eurobodalla PCYC, so many fantastic events in our shire, Batemans Bay CWA celebrating 85 years, the Liberty Swing put into action, lost friends reunited, a very successful inaugural Granite Town and Batemans Bay Writers Festival and now rhinos to bring more people to our beautiful shire, to name but a few.
It was a tumultuous year for Eurobodalla Shire Council to say the least.
We saw an extraordinary power-play of politics and Bega MP Andrew Constance put the council on notice to clean up its act, and advocated for amalgamation with Bega or Shoalhaven.
Sea-level rise took centre stage, as well as biodiversity certification, then there was the extra traffic lights approved for Batemans Bay and the ongoing HuntFest debate.
There are those yet to come to a head – such as the fate of council’s special rate rise, the Muddy Puddles children’s group’s desperate search for land and the state election in March.
Council’s regional equine centre and deep-water marina projects will either progress or fail and the fight for an indoor aquatic centre for Batemans Bay will no doubt continue.
New Year’s Eve is a time to reflect on all we achieved throughout the year, as well as all that we would like to improve.
It is also about making a fresh start.
Bring on 2015.