PANDEMIC (Post-Apocalyptic Nightmares Don't Ever Mean It's Curtains)
Just days ago my beautiful grandson was just 20 hours away by plane
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Now, the rest of my life may not be long enough to see him once again.
The world has changed so rapidly, and it fills our hearts with dread
Christ! Is New York really digging trenches for its putrefying dead?
And even here we're far more cautious when we venture on the street
Lest an unsuspecting COVID carrier is among the people that we meet.
Jobs have gone, the shops are shut, our economy is surely in recession
But the human toll may be even worse: souls drowning in depression.
Certainly, we must must stay informed, but why overload the senses
With all those corona updates that our media infectiously dispenses?
We're all in this together, so lift your eyes up to the sky
Can you see our brighter future? Come on, now, just try!
John Muldrew
Depot Beach
'Caution still needed'
After many months as a no-go zone, the NSW South Coast will once again be able to welcome tourists back to the area from June 1.
This is welcome news for many local businesses and tourism operators who have struggled with the double hit of the bushfires and coronavirus.
However, tourists and locals need to continue exercising caution to avoid a rise in local infections.
I am delighted that many of our local businesses and tourism operators will be able to open their doors to customers again with the regional travel restrictions set to be lifted on the first of June.
I have heard so many heartbreaking stories of the impact this year has had on local businesses. We love our visitors and it has been so hard to turn them away not once but twice, so it is great to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Our community is still so vulnerable after the bushfires and what we don't want to see is a spike in infections. So I encourage everyone to stay safe, wash your hands regularly and keep observing the social distancing guidelines at all times.
More help will be needed in the weeks and months ahead to ensure the South Coast can get back on its feet.
The Morrison Government has made so many promises to our bushfire impacted communities, but the reality is the money just isn't getting through.
Our tourism operators, small businesses, farmers and families are all still struggling with the challenges this year has brought, and I will keep fighting to make sure local people get the help they deserve.
Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips
'Reinstate meetings'
The Eurobodalla Shire Council normally runs an average of 18 meetings a year.
Two meetings ago, Mayor Liz Innes and her cluster of compliant councillors decided to cancel a number of scheduled meetings until the anticipated caretaker period in July before the scheduled (now postponed) NSW Local Government elections in September 2020.
We have had a seven-week gap between meetings - despite that the community and local economy are reeling.
We have spoken to Councillor Pat McGinlay and he agrees that there needs to be more regular public debate and decision-making by councillors through formal council meetings over matters of concern to the community, such as the 2020/2021 Budget, which foreshadows a proposed 2.6 per cent rate increase.
Councillor McGinlay has submitted a motion to be put to the May 26 meeting that the meetings cancelled be reinstated so councillors meet again more often via Zoom video conferencing. He also noted at least two Public Access sessions had been cancelled, and believes these should be reinstated.
The Nature Coast Alliance is pleased Cr Anthony Mayne is putting forward a notice of motion that live streaming of public forums be reintroduced. Cr Mayne told the Nature Coast Alliance that: "Transparency and engagement require that we televise presentations from our community members. Now more than ever we need to be doing all that we can to ensure that the voice of our community is both heard and shared."
Why are the majority of Eurobodalla Councillors making such an effort to silence the community? What are they trying to hide?
Other councils, including our neighbouring Bega Valley Shire Council, are having no trouble running virtual meetings during the Covid-19 pandemic. Is Eurobodalla a "can't do" or a "won't do" council?