Braidwood Bugle FREE Independent News for Braidwood & the District www.braidwoodbugle.com.au Number 35 23 December 2020 Christmas Greetings Digger Toirkens get's into the festive spirit. Braidwood Christmas Services More Christmas pets inside ANGLICAN PARISH OF BRAIDWOOD BRAIDWOOD UNITING CHURCH Christmas Eve Christmas Eve at 7pm. St Andrews 6pm A Family Christmas Pageant filled with joy and hope. ST BEDE’S CATHOLIC CHURCH Christmas Day Christmas Masses: 5pm Family Mass; 7pm Vigil Mass. St Pauls Ballalaba 11am Holy Communion (Christmas Service) CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE St Andrews 9am Christmas Service with Holy Communion on Braidwood Community Radio, brought to you by the All services are Covid safe and open to all. Churches of Braidwood. 7pm Christmas night. News for Braidwood & the district Bugle Letters Page 2 23 December 2020 Vale Major General the Hon Michael Jeffery AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC (Retired) Good bye 2020 The recent passing of our Patron, Michael Jeffery, is a great loss The summer holidays are here already! After the to the nation. year we’ve all had, this important break takes on General Jeffery’s service to Australia has been outstanding new significance. including a very distinguished military career followed by his I think it’s fair to say that most people feel like service to Western Australia as Governor and then to the nation they didn’t have a holiday last summer. as Governor General. Bushfires forced thousands of visitors to leave, Following his time as Governor General, General Jeffery while residents dug in to face the unfolding crisis continued to ‘serve’ via his involvement with many organisations at our front door. some being the Royal Flying Doctor Service and his Outcomes Floods and COVID-19 followed, only adding to the Australia that promoted organ donating, addressed obesity and emotional, environmental and financial distress in included the Think Tank, Future Directions International and his our community. beloved Soils for Life. This summer presents an opportunity to I was privileged to have a Governor General/Minister recharge, renew and reconnect following the relationship with Michael Jeffery during my time in the challenges of 2020. Australian Parliament and then while chairing a subcommittee of If you are choosing to holiday here for the first Soils for Life. time or the 100th time – thank you and welcome. I was delighted when he agreed to become the Patron of The You have chosen the most amazing community Mulloon Institute and he has been an inspiration to me, the to share this time with and the most diverse Board and our employees over the past few years. General and thrilling landscape. Jeffery leaves wonderful legacies with many organisations and Your support of this community goes a long way none more so than those of us that shared his passion for in creating the renewal and regrowth we are healthy soils. working towards. I have no He very much understood the role of soil, water, plants and doubt you will be richly rewarded, not just by the animals in repairing and rebuilding our landscapes and their role activities, local products and services and the in regenerative agriculture. T he Federal Government also acknowledged his leadership in this environment – but by the smiles from business area when they appointed him Australia’s National Soil Advocate owners and residents. and more recently instigating the Healthy Soil Award in his For some, the first anniversary of our Black name. Summer will elicit painful memories. Michael Jeffery will be greatly missed by many Australians. We Every person you meet will have their own at The Mulloon Institute send our condolences and warm individual story and experience from this time; regards to his wife, Marlena, and his family at this sad time. We you do too perhaps. This has been a year that have lost a great Australian,but we will be inspired by the has touched us all. legacies he leaves. One of the hallmarks of 2020 has been the Gary Nairn AO empathy we have shown each other; that time, The Mulloon Institute, Chairman warmth and respect is something we need to be extra mindful of as summer builds and anniversaries approach. Some people are still living in challenging circumstances and you may be shocked by some of the damage and destruction that remains. Please respect people’s privacy as you travel our region. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, Australians have worked hard to allow us as many freedoms as possible ahead of this holiday period. That is something we can all be immensely proud of. It’s important to maintain all the healthy practises that have become part of our life in 2020 – hand hygiene, physical distancing and remembering to register your details at venues. We have laughed during 2020 about wanting to reboot this year – I hope this break provides the chance to do that and set yourself and those around you up for a happy and healthy 2021. Kristy McBain Member for Eden Monaro Send your contributions to [email protected] Subscribe at www.braidwoodbugle.com.au News for Braidwood & the district Braidwood Bugle Page 3 23 December 2020 Braidwood CWA Cook Book launched The Braidwood CWA Cook Book was launched last Friday at the National Theatre. The CWA Cookbook features three or more recipes from each member. At the launch by QPRC Mayor Tim Overall, guests were able to taste a recipe from each member and have them autograph the book alongside their photo. The book is now available at VIC and bank $15 a copy. Quilters Christmas Raffle This year’s raffle quilt was made by Dianne Challen and the winning ticket drawn by Geraldine Sutton at the Ryrie Park Markets on Saturday. The Quilt was won by Ann Hopkins. This was Geraldine’s last day of organising the Ryrie Park markets, after 30 years of service to the community. Thank you Geraldine. Photo: Dianne Challen and Ann Hopkins with the Raffle Quilt. Send your contributions to [email protected] Subscribe at www.braidwoodbugle.com.au News for Braidwood & the district Braidwood Bugle Page 4 23 December 2020 RFS volunteer takes to festive freestyle mowing The paddock at Brad and Valerie Barry’s Majors Creek property is sporting a festive cut for the season. While out mowing this week, the idea came to Brad only after starting on the perimeter. Brad said “This year with the abundance of green grass the cattle haven’t been able to keep up. It’s much more fun this year with all the green grass.” Brad did the cut freestyle, using only his eye before putting the drone up to check how it has turned out. Brad also happened to be a commercial drone pilot operating under company, Indigo Aero. www.Indigoaero.com.au “As a drone pilot, I will be offering videography and photography services including Real Estate, Agriculture and 2D and 3D Mapping of land and structures starting January 21” Says Brad. After the bushfires, Brad joined up with his local Majors Creek RFs brigade realising how important it is for the community. Brad said, “I’m also a volunteer member of the NSW RFS for the Brindabella brigade and hope to offer my drone services to support the community in the future.” News for Braidwood & the district Braidwood Bugle Page 5 23 December 2020 School's out for Jill Mrs Jill Clarke had her last day of teaching last week, before taking extended leave. For over 20 years, Mrs Clarke has been instrumental in educating the children and young people at Braidwood Central School. Having started as a student of the school herself, she has watched our school grow and change over the decades. In her time she has seen the classroom wood fire and teachers Jill Clarke with students at BCS: and Braidwood's official rite of passage - A farewell on The Rock piano of her primary days change to smart boards and flexible learning spaces. Jill has supported countless Dangling demountable students with their learning and wellbeing and has been proactive in Last week Braidwood Central School sustaining the rich history of our saw preparations for the next phase school and town. of the new build commence. Her connection with our school In order to begin the phase 2 build extends to her own family, with four works, 3 existing demountable generations of buildings were removed from site. Clarke children to attend the school. It was a mammoth task but the day The entire Braidwood Central went well. Some of our students School community will miss her filmed some of the action for us. passion, care and support and we The next step will be the removal wish her all the best in her next and relocation of L Block to chapter. Narooma High School. All the best, Jill! By Keesha Whitford Send your contributions to [email protected] Subscribe at www.braidwoodbugle.com.au News for Braidwood & the district Braidwood Bugle Page 6 23 December 2020 More Christmas Pet Pix next week. Pets feel the festive spirit Email to [email protected] Kyra Cara and Astro Rosso from Corang Estate Clyde Monty Bonnie Ally Digger The Chief Cara, Jack & Emma with Jess News for Braidwood & the district Braidwood Bugle Page 7 23 December 2020 Kids News launches Bushfire Religious Annals of the Braidwood District : Poetry Competition The People and their Churches HarperCollins is producing a colour photographic book with a narrative Just in time for Christmas, a around the 2019/2020 bushfires new historical book is hot off the and their impact, focusing on the press. stories of the people and the “For many years Brian communities affected by the McDonald OAM and Jill Clarke bushfires.