50 Years Ago – 26 March 1976

Construction of the long-awaited breakwater on the Narooma Bar should start within four weeks. The bar has become notorious among fishermen and boating enthusiasts due to the tricky access to the Wagonga River. The bar has claimed many boats and lives over the years with three boats requiring the services of the Surf Rescue within the last three weeks. Mr. Ken Burke, former Councillor with the ESC, was instrumental in raising money through Council for the purchase of the inflatable craft (“rubber duckie”) that is manned by Neville Gough and the surf club boys, which has performed more than 30 rescues to date. Mr. Burke is also the District Coroner and said that one man had drowned in 1968, three men on May 2, 1971, and another in 1972, while crossing the bar.

The new extensions to the Moruya Hospital comprise of a new ward block which has been in use for some months, new casualty, outpatients, x-ray and office accommodation, and more recently, the new kitchen and dining room. The official opening will he held on April 30.

Moruya Fishing Club held a competition day last Saturday after which was held the annual general meeting. The new committee members elected were: President – Les Ziegler; vice-president – B. Atken; secretary – Lorna Mulley; treasurer – George Nelson; committee – Bruce Cameron, Stan Honan, Bob Laverty, Ross Parker, Ivan Mulley, Clarrie Backhouse, Stewart Fryer; club captain – Bill Little.

Miss Elizabeth (Betty) Beryl Bowler died in Canberra last Sunday. She was born at Boorowa on July 24, 1927, and was the younger daughter of Harry and Mary (Ciss) Bowler. Mrs. Bowler was a member of the Mallon family, of Merricumbene, and her grandfather, the late John Mallon is credited with being the third white man to come to Moruya in 1836. He came from the County of Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Betty spent the last sixteen years with her Uncle Managh who still runs the Merricumbene property purchased by his grandfather in 1845. Besides her uncle she leaves to mourn her loss one brother, Fred Bowler of Braidwood and one sister, Peggy (Mrs. L. Laurie) of Church Street, Moruya.

Graham Alexander & Co. Pty. Ltd. reported a yarding of 366 head of cattle with a clearance of 352 at the monthly sale last Thursday. An outstanding yarding of quality vealers and steers were the best seen in Moruya yards for some time. Some quotations were: Heavy hereford cows, $40 – $85; Prime heavy vealers, $50 – $95. Light vealers from $30; Prime hereford steers, $70 – $90. Quality store steers sold well for $30 – $55 while grade steers and heifers were harder to sell and fetched only $10 – $20.