In spite of the recent cold weather, there were plenty of orchids on display, with the ever popular and reliable cymbidiums providing a blaze of color. Australian native orchids were well represented, including a lovely display of terrestrial orchids. Exotic orchids with their flamboyant blooms provided extra interest.

Eden growers Bob and Muriel Bell had an outstanding show, claiming a total of  five championships, including Grand Champion Orchid of the show with their superb Cymbidium Golden Embers ‘Golden Teepee’.

Novice grower Warwick Matthews from Mogareeka proved he can mix it with the best of them, by taking out Champion Cymbidium Under 60mm and Champion Novice of the Show with his beautifully grown and presented Cymbidium Warringah Winter 'National Show'.

Joy and Alf Rizzetti from Tura Beach were awarded Champion Laeliinae Alliance, with their striking cluster Cattleya bicolour. Jeff Knox from Merimbula was awarded Champion Species Orchid for his dainty Osmoglossum pulchella 'Pure', carrying six racemes of perfect snow white flowers.

The tough job of deciding winners fell to chief judge Nette Meggetto from Drouin Victoria with the help of Sapphire Coast Orchid Club president Graham Gray.

Cash mob is this Saturday 2nd September, meet out the front of the IMB @ 9.30 am. Last minute shopping for dad! With 4 shopping vouchers to be won. 

Once again the Eden Community Access Centre is offering the Volunteer Tax Help Program. If you’re tax affairs are simple and you earned around $60,000 or less you may be eligible for free help with your tax return. . Contact us on 6496 3970 to make an appointment.

Basic Computer Training Course to commence on 4th September – limited spaces so get in early – cost $10 per session.

Eden Tennis Club has social tennis every Tuesday night from 6.30pm. Cost is $5 per person or $10 per family and all grades are catered for.

The Bega Valley Parkinson  support group's monthly August meeting was replaced by a Parkinson information seminar at the Bega Community Centre. Almost 80 people attended the seminar and they were  able to gain some excellent knowledge from the  different speakers. The President and Secretary  of the group will be attending a support group conference in Sydney in early September The next meeting will be held on September 4 at 10.30am at the Bega Golf Club with Local Consultant Pharmasist Tania Dwyer  as guest speaker.

Spring is almost upon us and one of the gardener's most annoying pests will be here again. The weekly bait card system is now underway. All financial members are encouraged to collect their cards every Tuesday at the Eden Community Access Centre just as they did last season. New adherents to the cause this season are asked to pay $12 which allows them  access to bait cards weekly from now until April 2018. Any queries contact Ann or Mick on 64962110.

Tune in to Sapphire fm 97.5FM this Friday at 8.30am for Gavin and Col with their special guest Charlie Shepherd who will talk them through the local Aussie rules finals. Then at 9am Senior Sergeant Sarah Bancroft will join Colin to talk about the upcoming youth concert in Eden on September 16. At 10 Colin has a chat with David Francis the Executive Director of Bermagui Four Winds and at 11, Matthew Sierp, the new CEO of Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care, drops in for a conversation about whats going on in the industry. 

Become a Red Cross volunteer and support your community. At the time of a disaster, and long after, Red Cross is there supporting the community. Our volunteers may be called upon to meet people at an evacuation centre, assist in a recovery centre or visit people after an emergency providing them with information and linking them with services. Come to our volunteer training on Saturday, September 9  from 9:30am until 4:30pm at the Bega Valley Learning Centre at 14 Cabarita Place, Merimbula. To register please contact nswemergency@redcross.org.au or call 02 9290 8912 by Monday, September 4. 

The Eagles Wings Model Aircraft Club will be hosting an interest meeting on Saturday, September 9. Designed around children and parents building and flying radio controlled model aircraft in a safe and responsible manner. The club is sponsored by Pambula Baptist Church and the meeting on Saturday, September 9 will take place at 2pm at the Church. For more infomation contact Michael on 0418 333 958. 

We are looking for anyone who would like to have their garden 'open to the public' on October 28 and 29 for our annual Open Garden event. This event, held on the weekend prior to the Whale Festival, has proved to be extremely popular with gardening enthusiasts. Funds raised go back into the community. Please consider sharing your garden.  Please contact Sandra on 02 64961459.