Bega Valley Shire Council has shown its appreciation for the structure by granting the tower a local heritage listing.

I have read that constant exposure to the elements results in erosion of the tower.  For protection, maintenance work is required every 10 years - particularly to safeguard the mortar.  

Having recently completed a book titled “From Eden to Windsor Castle - the amazing life of Sir Oswald Brierly” I have become interested in this tower which was designed for Boyd by Brierly when Brierly was the first manager of Boydtown.

The costly maintenance work every decade should be met by federal or state funding in view of the significance of the lighthouse to the long-gone whaling industry in NSW from 1820-1920. There is little other than the worthy Eden Killer Whale Museum to remind people of this industry. 

Brierly was only in his twenties when he designed the tower which was built in 1846. Brierly went on to become a British Navy artist, official marine artist to Queen Victoria and curator of the Painted Hall at the Greenwich Naval establishment near London.

I have looked at the criteria for inclusion on the NSW Heritage List and believe it meets the criteria.

Residents of the Bega Valley were honoured to welcome the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, and his wife, Lady Lynne Cosgrove, on a two day visit to our area.  

While he was the first Governor-General to visit our district in an official capacity in the last 110 years, 54 years ago another Governor-General and his family enjoyed the beauty of our area.  

This was Lord William Philip Sidney De L’Isle. One and a half months after his wife’s passing in November 1962, Lord De L’Isle, his family and some staff, motored to the village of Merimbula where they stayed for a two-week holiday. 

He arrived with a police escort and two private homes in Merimbula were made available to him and his party.  

On the Sunday the Governor-General and family attended the morning service at St. Clement’s Anglican Church, Merimbula.  Lord De L’Isle held the position of Australia’s Governor-General from 1961 to 1965.

At the same time the Governor-General was enjoying Merimbula’s beauty, another important dignitary was also holidaying in the village with his wife and family.  

This was Sir Eric Woodward who was the Governor of NSW between 1957 and 1965.  

Sir Eric and his wife were guests at the Black Dolphin Motel, Merimbula for several weeks.  At this time the motel was only a little over two years old, and was ‘the’ place to stay, having been designed by the influential Australian architect Robin Boyd.

Recently your paper published a story with an irresponsible headline that showed three local dentists and a doctor had joined forces with anti-fluoridation activists.

The story neglected to mention that professional associations representing thousands of doctors and dentists (the Australian Dental Association and the Australian Medical Association) publicly support fluoridation of water supplies.

The ADA states: “Community water fluoridation continues to be the most cost-effective, equitable and safe means to provide protection from tooth decay and has been successfully utilised in Australia for more than 50 years.” That advice is consistent with every peak dental, medical and scientific body in Australia.

Perhaps local media could survey all the GPs and dentists in our district so readers could more accurately gauge views of those professions rather than just presenting those  aligned with anti-fluoridation lobby groups?