She has given 100 per cent to the issues affecting South Coast communities and people.

I have come to know her as a friend and someone who I enjoy working with on local issues.

She is a warm and caring MP who cares so much about the people of the South Coast.

I am honoured to have worked with Ann on delivering projects such as the Nowra Bridge, the upgrade of Moruya airport and further investments in disability services, including Muddy Puddles early childhood intervention and the all-inclusive playground at Corrigans Beach reserve. I am proud of this record of delivering for local people.

Ann has also been instrumental in delivering support to Yumaro Disability Services Residential Respite Centre and improvements in mobile phone and broadband infrastructure for the region.

I am saddened and disappointed to hear of her decision to retire, particularly as I know how close she is to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who I know she has incredible respect for.

I will be continuing to fight for the South Coast alongside Ann until her retirement at the next election, particularly on the duplication of the Princes Highway south of Jervis bay turnoff and the new hospital required in the Eurobodalla. Together, we will continue to work hard to put our community first.

My daughter Jaimee has just completed the pilot program of YDrive, run by Eurobodalla Shire Council.

She now has her licence, which will make looking for work much easier.

This fantastic program helps young people get their hours up for their driving test. It is designed for kids who don’t have access to a car for lessons, who don’t have the money for lessons or don’t have someone who can teach them.

These wonderful people (in no particular order) have my and Jaimee’s heartfelt thanks. Jaimee is an anxious young lady and their patience, assistance and friendship have truly been a blessing to her. Thanks to the council, Angela McMillan (YDrive coordinator and a kind, caring, lovely lady); driving instructor Charmaine Brereton (as above, with the patience of a saint); the mentors (especially Keith – Jaimee will miss your car chats and happy personality); AMH for generously supplying vehicles for the kids for lessons; Julie and Rachel from Max Employment for giving Jaimee the nudge she needed to keep going and constant support.

I am so happy the program will continue and I will highly recommend parents check the program. Only high praise and gratitude from us.

If Forestry Corporation's logging (Bay Post online, 17 Sep) is an “excellent example of sustainable forest management”, it would qualify for Forest Stewardship Council certification, but it doesn't. 

Reasons for the failure can be found in every harvesting plan. 

At Corunna, Forestry claims the soils are not dispersible. This contrasts with the credible soil landscape mapping finding the soils are dispersible and sodic. This limitation is due to the reduction of native species, like the southern brown bandicoot, necessary for maintaining soil fertility. Coupled with the negative impacts of logging and burning, reduced soil fertility means many tree species do not grow back after logging. Those that do are stunted and unlikely to produce a saw log.

According to Forestry's own research, the forest is like most on the South Coast, subject to extensive canopy die back, associated with dry weather and drought. This threat, also due to reducing soil fertility, explains the large areas of lantana in the compartment. 

An independent review into the key threatening process, bellminer associated dieback, found a reduction in leaf and canopy cover, from dieback or logging, led to an increase in plants like lantana and pittosporum that provided increased nesting opportunities for bellminers.

None of this matters to the corporation, its state regulators or the state government. Rather, because National Parks are managed in a similarly unsustainable manner, the idea is to log them, when the timber resource is totally exploited in state forests.

The Batemans Bay Country Women’s Association branch will hold its spring fashion parade on Saturday, September 22, from 1.30pm, at the CWA hall, 158 Edward Road, Sunshine Bay.

Tickets will be sold at the door for $10 per person and a yummy afternoon tea will be served.

The branch has recently prepared pamper packs for farming families suffering through the drought.

Sixty packs were sent to Nyngyn, Goulburn, Crookwell and Bega.

The branch thanks everyone for their wonderful support, including the Batemans Bay Friendship Group and the Broulee pre-school.