Programs and Partnerships Officer Scott Baker said that courses at Eden library will cover a range of technology topics including Windows 8 & 10, Basic Internet, Internet Tools and Tips, Email, Privacy, Social Media as well as Online Shopping.

People can pick a combination of sessions to suit their needs. All sessions run for two hours from 10.30am -12.30pm.

The full program at Eden library includes:

Friday 5 February – Intro’ to Windows 8 & 10

Friday 12 February – Internet 1 Basic

Friday 19 February– Internet 2 Tools & Tips

Friday 26 February – Email 1 Basic

Friday 4 March – Online Shopping

Friday 11 March - Privacy

Friday 1 April – eBooks & eAudiobooks

Friday 8 April – Social Media

Friday 15 April – iPads 1

Friday 22 April – iPads 2

Friday 29 April – Tune Up Your iPad (bring iPad)

Friday 6 May – Tablets Introduction

All classes have limited places. To book online go to at www.begavalleyshirelibrary.eventbrite.com.au or call Eden library: 6499 2453. 

The Veterans Community Lunch will be held at midday on Friday February 5 at the Eden RSL hall. Catering is provided by the Eden Lionesses, costing $10 per head for veterans and war widows. For more information please contact Steve Mahoney on: 6496 1522

The results of the Eden Tigers Rugby League football club raffle last Saturday January 23 are as follows:

1^st – Dennis Coom

2^nd – Ron Rawson

3^rd – Mike Shephard

This Saturday night the ARISE team will start off the new year with their first message for the 2016 – “Morph Your Mind”.

Offering great music, food and like-minded company, all are invited to come to this “modern church” experience.

“Anyone who does not know the ARISE team and what they do has been living under a rock!” said one bystander during this New Year’s fireworks’ event at Merimbula’s Ford Park.

The ARISE team handed out 1000 water bottles, 600 hot dogs and 40 kgs of red frogs on New Years eve in just one of their many “change-the-world-we-live-in-for-the-better” initiatives.

So if you are looking to make a positive start to your year and be part of a team of people who are looking to make a difference then this event is for you! The fun starts at 6pm this Saturday January 30 at Pambula’s Baptist Church at 149 Pambula Beach Road. 

Bega Valley Shire Library is starting a new after-school club called The Lab – suitable for children with high functioning Autism or Asperger’s - starting at Bega library from Tuesday February 2.

The Lab will allow young people to explore their own technology interests in a safe and neutral environment, supported by mentors. 

The club format suits children with high functioning Autism or Asperger’s but membership is open to any interested child or teen who needs help socialising or who would like to take their technology skills to a new level.

Programs and Partnerships Officer Scott Baker said a local parent approached the library about running an Autism Lab which would give local kids a space with opportunities to reach their full potential.

“This after-school club can help young people develop their social and communication skills as they connect with each other through shared technology interests,” he added.

Technology interests may include gaming, creating games, coding, computer programming and design or online media.

Mentors with experience in various technologies and online media will be available to provide individual guidance and collaborate with young people as they work on a technology project.

Participants are asked to bring their own device to The Lab but this is not compulsory.

The Bega Valley Lab will be guided by a national not-for-profit company, The Lab Network, and promotes the values of individuality, equity and social inclusion. The first Lab started in 2011 in Footscray, Melbourne with 13 Labs now around Australia.

For more information please contact Scott Baker on 6499 2172, email sbaker@begavalley.nsw.gov.au or Monika Ryan on 0404 798 368, email monikaryanbega@gmail.com.  Alternatively, befriend the Bega Valley Autism Lab on Facebook.

Sapphire Coast Business Women are launching their February breakfast program, and encourage all to visit their web site for full details and to make bookings.

The Eden breakfasts are offered every fourth Thursday of each month, from 7.15am til 8.30am at Sprout Cafe, 134 Imlay Street, Eden. The topic of the first breakfast will be networking.

For dates, venues and meetings at all locations including Merimbula and Bermagui go to the website: http://www.scbw.com.au

Registrations must also be done online as numbers are required for catering purposes.

February only offer: as a special introductory offer SCBW are waiving its additional $5 surcharge for non-members to attend the breakfasts. So this is your chance to come along and see what the organisation is all about, socialise, and at the same time enjoy a wonderful breakfast from one of your local eateries. 

Topics will be discussed in the group, and will be decided each month based on business women feedback.  

For more information contact Julie Novotny on: 0429 970 150 or email: info@scbw.com.au​

This year saw the inaugural Mallacoota Australia Day celebrations. Mark Tregellas was the MC at the event and he was helped out by Mallacoota P-12 student, Tahlia Morris who read the Affirmation Statement, along with poetry written by students.

Kerri Warren was nominated Citizen of the Year.  As well as running her real estate business, Kerri is well-known for her generous involvement in community and youth events, in particular local and interstate soccer events.  Kerri was presented with her award by East Gippsland Councillor, Peter Neal.

There are a lot of kittens available for adoption at Animal Welfare League Far South Coast Branch at the moment.

They include 14-week-old Bess, Mirielle the 11-week-old DSH tabby, Tee Pee the 15-week-old DSH tabby, Xavier the 11-week-old male B/W DSH, Sammy the 16-week-old male dark tabby DSH,  Michael the 11-week-old male black DSH, Scar and Simba the 15-week-old male tabbies and Smokey the nine-week-old male B/W DMH.

The adoption fee of $200 includes de-sexing, microchipping, vaccinations and vet check.

Prices are subsidised in the hope these rescue kittens will be people’s first choice and eventually lead to an end to unwanted litters.

Adult cats in care are Kitty the eight-year-old DMH tortoiseshell, Tom the year-old male black/white DSH, Rani the male one-year-old DSH and Gabby the six-year-old DSH tabby.

Dogs in care are Ayla the one-and-a-half-year-old female English staffy cross, Belle and Jake the 15-week-old Labrador cross pups, Gypsy the year-old female kelpie, Yogi the three-year-old blue/red cattle dog, Coujo the year-old male black Labrador cross, Peppi the white/red merle 14-month-old cattle cross, Coota the nine-month-old male mastiff/wolfhound/koolie, Casper the 14-week-old Maremma cross pup, Maggie the nine-month-old B/W female staffy cross and Tiggy the seven-week-old brindle staffy cross.

If you would like to apply to adopt one of the lovely companion animals available from AWLFSC, or if you would like to have a chat about being a carer, call 0400 372 609.

If you know someone who has an un-desexed pet, encourage them to have their pets de-sexed. If they need financial assistance to do so, applications for financial help with de-sexing are available at all Bega Valley Shire vets.

The branch will be holding stalls around the shire over coming months with lots of great bargains to be had. Proceeds raised go to the branch to help re-home and de-sex animals in our shire.