SJASC GENERAL MEETING FEBRUARY 12, 2026
5.30 PM, CWA Rooms, 1/24 Toallo St, Pambula
MEETING: commenced 5.30 pm
Attendance: Christine Welsh, Peter Buggy, Jan Reynolds, Denise Perry, Odette Bellicanta, Merril Ralfs, Chris Ralfs, Mick Pryke, Nellie Pryke, Mel Page, Penny Oakes, Sue McGee, Martin McGee, Wendy Wait, Helene Garratt, Mick Brosnan, Simon Hole, David Gallan, Jayne Boughton Manning, Geoff Manning, Sue Chancellor, Roz Hansen, Russell Jennings (minutes), Gavin Bell, Olwyn Morris, Sue Hambelton, Peter Reid, Peter Gorton, Tayah Hill, Marcus Mundy, Robbie Townsend.
Apologies:
Colin Macpherson
Robyn Macpherson
Cheryl Dillon
Jo Riley Fitzer
Cara Haye
Chair: Welcome
Olwen Morris delivered Acknowledgement of Country.
Denise Perry introduced Guest Speakers Marcus Mundy and Robbie Townsend ‘Surfing with the Mob’.
‘Surfing with the Mob’ opens up opportunities for young First Nations people to pursue careers, as accredited surf coaches or lifeguards, creating a pathway for personal and professional growth, all while connecting young locals back to country and culture.
For more information
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-25/surfing-with-the-mob/105901276
Chair: moved that the SJA make a further contribution of $1000 to the program.
Seconder: Pete Gorton.
Chair:
Tayah Hill and Astrid Keaney: incoming Youth co-conveners:
Last Sunday 7 Feb, Jack Gray and Robin Spinks hosted a meeting of the SJA Youth Group at the Youth Hub in Bega.
At that meeting Jack and Robin stood down as Co-Convenors of the Youth Group.
Tayah Hill and Astrid Keaney, stood as nominees to take on the roles of Co-Convenors of the Youth Group and were duly installed, subject to endorsement at GM.
Astrid and Tayah are both 2025 graduates of Eden Marine High, and have been active members of the Eden Marine High chapter of the SJASC.
Robin, Jack and myself offered them the full support of the SJASC as they take up their roles as Co-Convenors of the Youth Group.
Jack and Robin will stay on as members of the Youth Group and act as mentors to Tayah and Astrid. I have also offered them my personal support, and assured them all members will do likewise.
Astrid, due to the short notice, is unable to be here tonight, but Tayah has agreed to speak briefly about her experience with the SJA thus far and her aspirations as Co-Convenor of the Youth Group.
Chair moved:
“That the SJA endorse Tayah and Astrid as Co-Convenors of the SJA Youth Group”.
Seconder: Martin McGee
Chair: wished outgoing conveners well. The attendees at the meeting showed appreciation for Jack and Robin as outgoing Co-Convenors of the SJA Youth Group.
Chair – welcomed newcomers to the meeting.
Mel Page representing Eden Community Access Centre. Looking for links with SJA. Learner driver program looking for mentors.
Secretary – correspondence sent and received.
Duties Exemption Review Revenue NSW completed 08/12/2025. Expires 8/12/28
(Insurance /registration discount as registered charity)
Collate Email News Updates.
Answer Messenger requests (largely furniture donations especially at shop time, and housing requests) from SJA Facebook page.
Forward and answer emails
Monitor PO Box 352 Pambula – bank statements.
Chair – moves that we accept that the minutes of the previous meeting have been circulated to all paid up members.
Seconded: Mick Brosnan.
Treasurer’s Report,
Treasurer moved that meeting accept Treasurer’s report. Report Attached.
Seconded: Peter Reid.
Appreciation for the work of Robyn Morillas Sapphire Bookeeping was expressed.
Chair – Moved that we accept sub-group reports as received by members via email.
Seconder: Jack Gray
Chair– Sub-group conveners present were given an opportunity to expand upon any current sub-group activities.
Bega Group (Jan Reynolds / Denise Perry)
Refugees / Multicultural (Gavin Bell) Stepping down
MARSS program will continue.
Many Multi cultural families in BVS.
Looking for housing family of six 3-4 bedroom prefer Sth end of shire.
Mel and Gav to liaise re Rachel Patterson Bega Chamber of commerce.
Allies and Mob Sub-group (Olwen Morris / Helene Garrett)
Bega Valley Advocates For Timor-Leste (Dave Gallan)
Mid-march graduation teachers Timor leste
These are scholarship holders supported by SJA
Thanks MB Mark smith work on Bega Units.
Local forests: Glenbog state forest NSW forestry corporation survey found three den trees for Greater Glider.
Volunteers found 110 potential den trees. Working on encouraging protection for this area and others on the South Coast by collecting film footage and making a film.
Environment/Forces for Nature (Wendy Wait)
Working bee Potoroo Palace Saturday March 7 9.30-11.
Potoroo Palace have been most supportive of SJA.
13-15 March Crossing Land education Centre Leadership Camp (Leap-In)
Solar Garden fundraiser Mar 28 Pambula SLSC Music food etc. $50.
Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1527468
March for forests Bega: March 22
https://marchforforests.org/location/bega/
Housing and Homeless (Mick Brosnan)
T hanks Roz Hansen; and Tony working on council and court requirements.
Reflections Pambula update:
Meeting with Operations Manager. Conciliation is working, still 5 crisis accommodation units vacant in that park (since before Christmas 2025)
Requirement for Police check for prospective SJA tenants hopefully removed.
Youth Sub-Group (Jack Ewen Gray / Robin Spinks)
CHAIR – Tea Break ten minutes
Chair – Certificates of Appreciation awarded since previous meeting:
Susan Hambleton in appreciation of very generous donations to, and tireless voluntary work for, the SJA Samaritan shop 2025- 2026.
Eddie Williams and the ABC South East Radio Crew in appreciation of
Providing opportunities for the SJASC to reach out to the people of the Bega Valley.
Chair – Member’s Forum –
Odette Bellicanta
Proposed trivia night.
Ask that those interested contact Odette direct phone number 0478 228 513 (preferred) or bellaoddy1@gmail.com
Date to be decided.
April? May ? June? Fri/Sat night.
Need a free venue: Longstocking? Club Sapphire?
Tickets $20
Fun games in between 3 rounds of trivia.
Need Volunteers to help with:
Making posters/ Artwork Mel Page volunteered.
Possible event Theme wear something related to letter P
On night on door
Visiting retailers for prizes: vouchers?
Scorers on night
Online help with booking.
Games.
Setting up.
Chair – GENERAL BUSINESS:
“Tonight I would like to bring members’ attention to great work done by the SJA in helping to ensure that people in the Bega Valley have access to meals and food.
Mick Brosnan has been very active in regard to this fundamental aspect of Social Justice for over a decade now, and Mick has agreed to give us a potted history / reminder of the great work done by many members of the SJA over the years.
2025 has been another year of excellent service by SJA representatives to the Food Security project in Eden. This has been going on for years and is, in my belief, a fabulous SJA initiative that goes on quietly unheralded. There are many quiet achievers involved.
Each week volunteers pick up discarded and donated perishables from Woolworths & Aldi at Tura Beach and Merimbula and Wild Ryes in Pambula. SJA representatives donate their time and costs to deliver a car or trailer load of goods to the Eden Community Pantry to be sorted and distributed via their Friday Hamper service. The SJA team comprises, and I hope I haven’t missed anybody, Celi and Sue, Allan, Mick, Danielle and Jayne and Geoff all warmly received by Mei, Nikki, Pam, Ann, Annette, Ted, Lindsay and Katie.
Each week depending on supply and demand about 20 hampers are delivered to homes in the Eden area. Recipients are predominantly lacking mobility, are frail aged, unemployed and otherwise house-bound. This service compliments the Thursday Eden Community Pantry which is gaining popularity as a place to buy discounted groceries purchased from Foodbank, and supplemented by other sources of donation: Coles and Oz Harvest. Free light meals and other refreshments are supplied to the public each week during the Pantry opening hours 10am -1pm. This is a service that relieves financial stress and provides a venue for conversation and connection.
All recipients are most grateful to SJA for their loyal support.
New volunteers are always welcome for any aspect of these activities. Contact Mick Brosnan 0410687229 for food collection roster or Pam Skelton, 0493029594 for food relief and Eden Community Pantry operations.”
Chair – KEY ACTIVITIES SINCE LAST MEETING:
I wish to acknowledge the great work done by Mick and so many volunteers (50) in running the 25/26 Op-Shop. A massive success, raising over $20,000 for the SJA coffers and a significant profile raiser for the SJA
COMING KEY EVENTS
In November SJASC Executive voted in favour of donating $5000 to the Yuin Birriga Bunaan to be held in Tilba on 17th January 2026.
The Yuin Birriga Bunaan is an annual event that has been running for some years now and is well attended by local mobs from Eden, Bega and Wallaga Lake as well as Yuin peoples from farther afield. SJASC has in past years made a small contribution of a few hundred dollars to purchase water etc.
It is the Allies and Mob’s wish to walk together with the local Yuin groups & promote Yuin culture to the wider community.
Our $5000 donation will provide large weatherproof and tables and chairs that will allow Elders and families to gather comfortably, protected from the elements.
By doing so SJASC becomes an "Official Infrastructure Partner."
In late November an SJA crew, including Wendy Wait, Russell Jennings, Mick Brosnan and Gavin Bell again headed north to join the Rising Tide Stop the Ships blockade in Newcastle.
On December 4, SJASC donated $500 to the Bega Valley Women’s Resource Centre, an organisation that helps many victims of domestic violence.
On December 8 Bega Transitional Crisis Accommodation: the NSW Land and Environment Court decided in our favour versus Bega Valley Shire Council with conditions which are being fulfilled. These units are rear of Bega Uniting Church in a partnership with SJA.
In December, SJASC handed out $500 Arts Grants to students in each of the four secondary schools in the Valley. $500 per school. Managed very well by Deputy Chair Martin McGee.
The SJASC Samaritan Op-Shop opened on 17 December. Huge success.
Fifty one volunteers were involved.
In January SJA volunteers worked with Pambula Rotary to raise funds through the preparation and sale of meals to campers at the Pambula Beach Caravan Park. Run over three nights, this annual initiative is a good source of funds and another fun way that we work with other community groups.
On January 7 I met with Jack Ewen Gray and Tracy Fleming and Jon Webb of Pambula Merimbula Lions. Tracy and Jon have offered the SJA Youth Group the opportunity to take on board the running of a youth focussed event to promote mental health awareness. The project comes with a $15k grant.
On January 27 work commenced on painting the SJA’s crisis housing units at the Bega Uniting Church.
In late January Gavin Bell proposed that SJA takes up a regular advertising and on air time arrangement with Community radio Sapphire fm. Gavin gained Executive support and is assembling a team to manage it.
On February 1 a gang of Advocates got together at the Pambula Surf Club BBQs for our annual picnic. Lots of fun and great to catch up over a sausage and a beer.
Chair – Coming key events…………….
2026 SJA Youth Leadership Camp (Leap-In), at the Crossing Land Education Centre, Bermagui, from Friday 13-15th March. Contact Wendy Wait for details
Solar Garden Fund Raiser Pambula Surf Club. March 28. Tickets available online via Trybooking.
I encourage everybody to come along to this fun event. So many people are working so hard on the Solar Garden Project and attending this fun evening will really help support. Entertainment by Frankie J Holden, Garry Carson Jones and many others including young local musicians. Supper is included in the $50 donation price. Should be loads of fun and a great way for you to support the important Solar Garden project. Get with this great SJA initiative. Tickets available NOW – buy tickets!!
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1527468
Next meeting April 16. 5.30 pm. CWA Rooms Pambula
Guest speaker Dr Michael Holland, Labor Member for Bega, NSW Parliament.
CHAIR – Thank you for attending, and thank you all for your contributions large and small.
***AGM JULY 9 Guest Speakers Kate Mamone (year 7 SCAC, leading SCAC Circularity Project) and Andrew Taylor, CEO Circularity Project.
Meeting closed 7.30 pm
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