Club Old Bar provided a venue for the meet and greet on the Friday night as well as the dinner on Saturday night.

Old Bar Public School hosted Sunday's service with the students leading the march.

The students once again played a significant role in running the service with their very professional presentations and they are a credit to the school.

In her opening address, principal Deborah Scanes pointed out that this was the fifth year Vietnam Veterans Day had been held at the school and that she was unsure of how long it takes for it to become a tradition.

Commodore Chris Smallhorn, RAN, who was Reviewing Officer and key note speaker, declared that a Vietnam Veterans Day service at the Old Bar Public School was now a tradition. MidCoast mayor, David West and Kirralie Smith were support speakers.

Commodore Smallhorn presented Lt Commander Jim Buchanan DFC RAN (Ret) a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal from the US Navy for his role in saving life and his leadership in the aftermath of the collision between HMAS Melbourne and USS Frank E Evans.

Commodore Smallhorn also presented the Unit Citation for Gallantry to six members of the RANHFV and an Australian Army Infantryman for their actions at Coral/Balmoral.

Congratulations to the recipients and to the Old Bar Public School for a job very well done.

Old Bar's annual mega garage sale is about to happen again.

Now in its thirteenth year and sponsored by the Old Bar Beach Festival, it is once again set to attract huge crowds of bargain hunters to the town. In the past, they have come from across the state and even from interstate.

Got some trash and treasures? Turn it into cash by taking part in our annual fundraising event with Garage Sales R Us!

It will be held Saturday, September 7 when we will again attempt to host the most garage sales on one day. Registration covers both garage and car boot sales, and includes TV and print advertising up and down the coast. It's much cheaper than going it alone and doing your own advertising. Garage sale is $25 and car boot sale is $15. Funds support the Old Bar Beach Festival.

Register on line, or at Old Bar Cellars or call Chris on 6553 3122 This is a unique opportunity for Old Bar residents to hold a sale as you won't see a bigger crowd of clients at any other time.

The Old Bar Beach RSL Sub-branch welcomed two new members at its last meeting, Jeff Early transferring from another sub-branch and Terry Paff.

Three sub-branch executive members recently attended the RSL NSW sponsored governance training conducted at Club Old Bar and the sub-branch is now preparing to resume fundraising.

It is proposed to resume Saturday morning meat raffles outside the Old Bar newsagency but maybe only fortnightly to start with. They also plan to join in the roster for meat raffles at the Old Bar Tavern.

The meeting received a report from member, John Macartney, on the recently held Vietnam Veterans Day celebrations at Old Bar.

It is planned to hold a Remembrance Day service again this year.

Most small organisations' annual general meetings are pretty dull affairs with just receipt of minutes and reports and then election of office bearers.

The Old Bar Beach Sand Replenishment Group held their AGM last Sunday afternoon at Club Old Bar and dealt with those matters quickly. Unsurprisingly, the outgoing management committee was re-elected. Then they moved on to something different.

Andrew Staniland, coastal management coordinator with MidCoast Council, was present and gave a great talk, supported by a slide presentation, on the processes that have been put in place and where everything is up to at the moment.

Dr Tom Doyle, who has been engaged by MidCoast Council for his expertise in fore dune geomorphography and biogeography, was unable to attend but much of the information supplied was his work.

Mr Staniland kept the discussion very informal and fielded many questions from the group. Council's two main areas of concern regarding beach erosion are Jimmy's Beach, Hawks Nest and Old Bar to Manning Point.

Council is very pleased with the result of the sand scraping carried out on Old Bar Beach in January but is mindful that we have had a very easy winter with no major weather events testing the work.

Apart from Mr Staniland, 16 members were present and president, Elaine Pearce would like to see more members and volunteers.

The re-elected committee are as follows: president Elaine Pearce; secretary Rosemary Probst; treasurer Bob Galvin; committee members Keith Stackman, Barbara Fogarty, Pat Abdoo and David McCoy.

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