June 18, 2008: On the June long weekend the Bega Valley Shire was host to a variety of activities which reflect the community we are.

It was an honour to be present at the opening of the Timber Workers’ Memorial in Eden, commemorating those who have lost their lives in an industry that has had an important role in the development of the region.

The memorial wall, set with historical and remembrance plaques, means that they will be remembered, along with the significance to Australia of the timber industry.

The magnificent sculpture by Rix Wright that is the centrepiece of the memorial serves as a timely reminder of the dangers inherent in all aspects of timber-getting.

I understand the initial concept of the committee was directed at local Eden area workers who died, but there was such interest from people beyond this region that the memorial has become a significant national industry memorial.

The attendance of about 600 people at the unveiling is a clear indication that the memorial has touched the imaginations and hearts of a not just the people in the timber industry and their families, but also those people who appreciate the timber industry’s role in Australia’s history and culture.

With this project the Eden community has proven, once again, its ability to pull together for a common cause, something that is sometimes missing in other communities in this shire.

Thanks must go to the Federal Government and to the South East Area Consultative Committee for funding the sculpture centrepiece through the Regional Partnerships Program.

Thanks also to South East Fibre Exports Pty Ltd, NSW State Forests, the Eden Access Centre and the community at large who made financial contributions to the project.

Another highlight of the long weekend was the announcement of the winner of the 2008 Shirley Hannan National Portrait Awards.

This is the third richest prize for a portraiture competition in Australia, coming in behind only the Archibald and the Doug Moran awards with a $30,000 first prize purse and is proudly hosted by the Bega Valley Regional Gallery.

We are fortunate to have such generous patrons of the arts as the late Mrs Hannan and her family who established a trust to fund the biennial prize.

There were 148 entries this year, 58 more than in 2006, and 35 of them were selected for judging, several of them by Archibald Prize finalists.

The judge, principal of the Julian Ashton School of Art, Paul Ashton Delprat, had some interesting things to say about the arts in regional areas.

Congratulations to the winner of the Award, Melbourne artist Andrew Forsythe with a portrait of his wife, Amelda, and the runner up, Judi Power Thomson, for her portrait of Canberra composer, Larry Sitsky.

The exhibition continues until July 5 and I urge everyone who can to go along the Bega Valley Regional Gallery which is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and on Saturday from 9am to noon.

The Merimbula Jazz Festival on the June long weekend brought visitors from far and wide and some great music to venues around the town.

The annual Jazz Festival parade was a great success again this year and the jazz picnic at the Pambula-Merimbula Golf Club as popular as ever.

That the festival has been running for 28 years is a real credit to the many volunteers to give their time before and during the weekend to ensure everything runs smoothly.

They are part of the reason that the Bega Valley Shire has a higher ratio of volunteers per head of population than any other local government area in the State, something for which we can all be proud and grateful.

The area from Bermagui to Lakes Entrance received a significant boost last weekend with the launch of the National Landscapes initiative in Perth.

The selection of that area as one of the seven initial "landscapes" is acknowledgement that the region has one of Australia’s most distinct and rich environments, making it a highly desirable visitor destination.

Designated the Wilderness Coast, it has been identified as having the various attributes that appeal to ‘experience seekers’.

A landscape goes beyond individual National Parks or iconic visitor attractions.

A landscape is not about shire or State boundaries. Instead, it is united by its topography, environmental or cultural significance.

The Wilderness Coast contains the only large tract of undeveloped coast left in eastern Australia and is, in the main, protected in a series of National Parks, nature reserves and Marine Parks.

It was a welcome announcement from the Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly, last week that the Federal Government has allocated $30 million to building the Bega by-pass.

This is more than fulfilment of a promise of $15 million made by Mr Kelly and the then Roads Shadow Minister, Martin Ferguson, before the Federal election last November.

The next step is to ensure that the State Government steps up to ensure this vital piece of infrastructure is secured for the Bega Valley Shire and the motoring public.