Letter to Beagle Editor,
The annual Animals in the Wild photographic exhibition at Bodalla must be commended.
It is an exhibition that truly identifies with our Nature Coast reputation and "Unspoilt" image promoted by our council in its glossy holiday guide.
"Family, friends and your mind, body and soul will be changed by the spell of this ancient and unspoilt land..." Eurobodalla magic plays out the simple, quiet pleasures of this landscape..."(ESC's official Holiday Guide) So, how does our council reconcile this ideology with its approval of the Huntfest event in Narooma? It's easy! 1. Ignore all Council policies that refer to the "promotion, enhancement and celebration of the character, heritage and culture of our community, towns and villages," and "conserve, manage and enhance the Eurobodalla Nature Coast Values." 2. Simply don't mention the sale and encouragement of firearm/weapon ownership, or promotion of trophy hunting, or the sale of hunting paraphernalia, or hunting simulators, or ammunition sales, or the promotion of hunting as a fun family sport. On the events page of this Holiday Guide Council simply says, " Gourmet game is on the table with Huntfest in Narooma." Nothing else! The promotional add on the "Destination NSW" website states that Huntfest began, "as a photo/DVD competition." No mention of what it has morphed into.
ESC continues to evade publication of the true nature of the Huntfest event, even though they approved it, and all its amendments since 2012, including an extension of the licence 2 years in advance(unprecedented) until 2023. Nature Coast/Unspoilt South Coast aligned with an Arms Fair! A prime example of hypocrisy on a grand scale, with the responsibility lying solely with our own ESC.
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