Thanks to Eurobodalla Shire Council general manager Dr Catherine Dale and her fellow councillors, the day went off splendidly. 

Dr Dale conducted the ceremonies with just the right degree of solemnity.  The venue was well chosen, providing an appropriate gathering place - especially as the morning tea served after at the adjacent cafe was so delicious (even my gluten-free selection). 

I was extremely amused to note the new Australians relishing the ubiquitous "Aussie scones and jam and cream", even if no one told them to put the jam on first!  The whole event made me proud to be an old Australian.  Congratulations all round. 

Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis needs to clarify her statement (www.batemansbaypost.com.au Apprenticeship drive launched in Gilmore, April 16; story page 7.) suggesting the federal government has a new initiative funding pre-apprenticeships in Gilmore. 

It’s been nine months since federal funding for skills, apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships dried up due to the government’s failure to make national partnership agreements with state and territory governments. 

Since the Coalition took office, apprenticeship and trainee numbers have fallen by more than 140,000, with a 34 per cent decline in Gilmore alone. At the same time, youth unemployment within Gilmore has skyrocketed to the highest in NSW. 

The Turnbull Government’s response has been to cut more than $3 billion from TAFE, apprenticeships and skills. TAFE pre-apprenticeships have been axed.

Labor is guaranteeing the public funding of TAFE. Labor has a fully costed plan to rebuild apprenticeships by ensuring that one in ten workers on major government-funded projects are apprentices, investing $100 million in a new Building TAFE for the Future Fund, and assisting 30,000 young and adult apprentices in their transitions to trade qualifications.

The TAFE system will, under a Shorten Labor government, be the subject of a once-in-a generation independent commission of review to ensure the best architecture for post-school education and training and restore the status of vocational education, TAFE and apprenticeships.

As a resident and businessman of the South Coast, I have long been concerned about the state and design of the Princes Highway, particularly South of Nowra.

This stretch of road is notoriously dangerous and sadly, we have seen many lives lost in tragic accidents.

On Boxing Day 2017 we lost five lives, only a few weeks later another two lives were lost. The road is littered with the deeply distressing roadside memorials of those we have lost.

I cannot and will not accept this appalling loss of life and I am far from alone in my anger.

The #fixitnow campaign calls on both the Federal and State Governments to fund improvements to the Princes Highway with the highest priority.

I add my voice to this call, demanding this funding be provided on the same basis, and with the same urgency, that was provided for the Pacific Highway in 1996.

The upgrade of the Pacific Highway was made without it being a ‘road of significance’. It was also funded on an 80/20 basis.

We demand action. Until they act, the tragic loss of life will continue.