Thankyou to all those who have renewed their membership – your support is greatly appreciated.
Our email list is being updated and this may be your last correspondence from us if you have yet to renew.
Renew HERE:
https://sjasc.org.au/product/sja-membership/
Next SJA Meeting is September 3 in Pambula
Social Justice Advocates invite all members and friends to come along to Littleton Gardens Bega on Wednesday August 5 @ 11am-2pm.
(*See Poster below)
'Annie' the SJA caravan will be there and I request that we have a blue shirt / hoodie presence please for this core issue .
Having met with Bega Valley Shire council staff yesterday and a call to Crown Lands spokesperson this morning, BOTH to discuss our five empty community transitional units in Pambula (six months empty), our efforts for action can at the very least be demonstrated at this small public showing .
## Staggeringly I'm also still trying to organize a site for each of the 8 FREE two bed self contained units for our shire —— REALLY !!
What can I do ??? How might I help ????
Come along and up for the homeless in our shire!
Cheers and have a great day folks .
Mb
# AND A RECENT REPLY FROM DR MICHAEL HOLLAND'S OFFICE:
From: ElectorateOffice Bega <ElectorateOffice.Bega@parliament.nsw.gov.au> Subject: Response
Date: 29 July 2026 at 3:25:39 PM GMT+10
To: Michael Brosnan <annmickbrosnan@gmail.com>
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your email and for sharing your thoughts.
While I appreciate this was not the outcome you were hoping for, I wanted to assure you that Dr Holland remains committed to supporting SJA and the incredible work you and your volunteers do for people experiencing homelessness in our community.
Dr Holland will continue to raise these issues with Minister Jackson, Minister Kamper, and other Ministers, policy advisers and caucus colleagues as opportunities arise. He remains committed to advocating for practical solutions that strengthen homelessness services and improve access to transitional housing across our region.
Dr Holland also greatly values the insights of local organisations such as SJA and will continue meeting with volunteers and community organisations to better understand the challenges on the ground and ensure those experiences are represented in discussions with Government.
Please be assured that this issue is not going away. We recognise the importance of the work being undertaken by SJA and other local organisations, and Dr Holland will continue advocating for the support needed to improve outcomes for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Thank you again for your ongoing advocacy and the compassion you continue to show our community.
Kind regards, The Bega Electorate Team
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ALSO
There has been a very generous offer of a household of furniture from Merimbula . Really fabulous offer by a local couple who have been so very involved in our community .
I am calling for help to move this furniture from Merimbula to Pambula on Sunday (yes Sunday ) 9th at 8:30 am at 3 Patrick Crt Merimbula .
VERY generously Robert Smith are donating one of their moving trucks to assist .
A GREAT START to make this a safe and successful furniture project .
‘
I will have the SJA trailer and can use at least one other just in case please .
BUT IT IS people that will make this happen with a coffee at Wild RYE’S to finish please . What can I do? How may I help?
Cheers
Mb
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Friend of SJA Neil Dawson is organising a fundraiser for a small hospital in the Kokoda Track area of PNG. Please support if you can
https://www.gofundme.com/f/penny-farthing-ride-for-kokoda-hospital
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In October 2025, six young people from the Bega Valley travelled to Timor-Leste with the support of the Social Justice Advocates. The journey gave the group an extraordinary opportunity to experience Timorese culture, visit communities connected to SJA, learn directly from local people and participate in the International PermaYouth Convergence.
A report of the trip is attached below
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Hi SJA,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Bega Valley Data Collective to let you know about our ‘Living Well in the Bega Valley’ initiative. We are a community volunteer organisation with a mission to empower our community to thrive together through a community wellbeing framework based on collaboration, data, and action.
This year we are undertaking intensive community engagement to better understand what ‘living well’ means to our community. We are doing this through a ‘living well’ community survey and workshops across the Bega Valley.
We would be incredibly grateful if you could promote the survey and our initiative to your community and networks. An initiative like ours can only be successful if all the diverse groups that make up our community have the opportunity to be involved.
A poster and link to the survey is attached below.
We are also looking to host workshops throughout the year with community groups to dive deeper into the topic of what living well means to the community – if this is of interest please contact kate@begavalleydata.com.au.
Please reach out to me or Kate (email above) if you have any questions or would like to chat further. We really appreciate your support.
Regards,
Jack Gray
You can also find out more here:
https://www.begavalleydata.com.au/about-living-well/
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Whats on at the Women's Resource Centre Bega: https://mailchi.mp/33d4da303cc7/monthly-zine-17284254?e=e649d37ade
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In partnership with the NSW Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing (MACA), I am hosting a roundtable to discuss Ageing Well in the Bega Valley, and you are invited to attend.
The roundtable will provide an opportunity to explore ways we can work together to support our ageing population to live their best lives at home and in community
When: Wednesday 9th September 2026
Time: 9:30am- 12:30pm
Where: Bega Community Centre & Showground, Level 2
A more detailed agenda and the Ageing Well in NSW: Seniors Strategy 2021–2031 NSW will be sent prior to the event.
For more information, please contact Deputy Chair of MACA Margie O’Tarpey via email mot@live.com.au
Please indicate your ability to attend via email to my office before 26th August 2026 bega@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Yours sincerely
Dr Michael Holland MP
Member for Bega
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A fabulous morning Saturday July 25 spent at Potoroo Palace, gardening, pruning and beautifying the main entrance area and Pretty Garden. Mick on his bobcat too, re-arranging and organising burning piles and mulch area.
Thanks Mick, Martin, Sue, Jan, sue and Caroline, Burak, Lucy, Russ and Ann for all your hard work, laughs and support for Potoroo Palace.
A fabulous cuppa and catch up afterwards in the sunshine wound up a wonderful morning.🥰 Wendy
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NEXT MEETING SEPTEMBER 3 .
Regards,
Russell Jennings
Email: secretary@sjasc.org.au
Postal: PO Box 352 Pambula NSW 2549
Web: https://sjasc.org.au/
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The Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast acknowledge the Yuin People as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
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