Paula Gilmour is now confirmed as president, replacing Carole Isaacs who is now vice president, community. Mel Rosamond is vice president, business, replacing Bill Robertson. Neil Cadden is the new secretary. The association has been without a substantive secretary for some time. Steve Doessel remains as treasurer.

In a joint President's report, it was advised that Carole Isaacs has been successful in gaining over $800,000 in grants for various local organisations.

Significantly, the association secured a grant for $110,000 to erect ten bus shelters in Old Bar and Wallabi Point. With assistance from MidCoast Council, particularly Rhett Pattison and Haydon Jones, these have now all been erected.

The OBMP BCA continues membership of the MidCoast Business Chamber and a new project has been submitted to it and MidCoast Council, that being the rejuvenation of the Old Bar beach foreshore. This will again be a long term project with careful planning and consultation required.

Ten thousand copies of the new tourist booklet have been printed and are now on display at various outlets up and down the coast. Residents are encouraged to support local businesses to assist our community to prosper.

The association hopes to have a meeting room and storage space of its own by the end of the year.

Photo: Old Bar Manning Point Business Community Association president Paula Gilmour, secretary Neil Cadden, vice president - community Carole Isaacs and treasurer Steve Doessel (absent Mel Rosamond, vice president - business).

At the most recent meeting of the Old Bar Beach RSL Sub-branch, members were able to discuss the draft constitution recently circulated to them by RSL NSW. The ban on fundraising will continue, probably until some time in 2019, after the special congress in December 2018 to settle on a new constitution.

In the meantime, small sub-branches like Old Bar, continue to stagnate or decline and in our case, no financial assistance has been provided by RSL NSW.

It is not appropriate to take any definite action at this stage until it is known exactly what the constitution will be.

The 2018 Kev Lee Memorial Single Fin Cup event will be held this Saturday, September 29 at Old Bar, Wallabi Point and Saltwater. This is one of the many events in association with the Old Bar Beach Festival, also held this weekend.

Entry is $40 and all proceeds go to the Manning Hospital Oncology Unit. Entries are available from Saltwater Wine, Taree or Network Video, Old Bar. For further information, contact Kirby or Kai Stanley on 0422 624 397 or 0415 654 053 or email saltwaterboardriders@hotmail.com.

OLD Bar Pirates Rugby League Club’s 2019 coaches will meet soon to map out a plan for next year.

As previously reported the club has finalised its coaching staff, with Jamie Moorehead, Jake Wheeler and Shannon Ellem sharing the first grade job; Shane Glass in charge of reserve grade; Darrin Dark, Andrew Wilkes and Lee Hoeweth running the under 18.5s and Lee Hinton and Nigel Lyons coaching the women's league tag. The Pirates were semi-finalists in all grades last season.