Proud Old Bar parents, Jeff and Teresa Earley, recently headed to Wagga Wagga to watch their son, Luke Earley, march out of 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Kapooka on completion of 12 weeks initial army training.

Jeff is the Old Bar Beach RSL Sub-branch president and Teresa is a member of the auxiliary.

Luke is a true son of Old Bar who was born and raised in Old Bar and schooled locally, completing his secondary education at St Clare's.

He was a member of many sporting groups in the area, excelling at cricket from the age of 10, playing for Old Bar. He played each season gaining many achievements along the way and played representative for the Manning District.

Some of the Old Bar community may remember Luke who worked for Sasi and Mon at Sai Thai Table and Tea as a part time job after school for four years before joining the Australian Defence Forces.

It was attending an army reunion with his father at Enoggera barracks in Queensland at the beginning of 2020 that led to Luke deciding that the army was the career he wanted to pursue.

An added source of pride for Jeff and Teresa was seeing their son recognised on parade with the award of the Skill of Arms of his platoon.

Now Gunner Earley, he has been posted to the Royal Australian Artillery and will continue his training in Victoria before being based later in the year, perhaps to Queensland or the Northern Territory.

Business and Community Association needs support

At the last meeting of the Old Bar Manning Point Business and Community Association (OBMP), only five members were in attendance. There were several apologies but the projects cannot be advanced without more support.

Initial work has been completed in preparation for the Coles car park wall murals but more funding needs to be secured before completion.

The association would like to produce a new Old Bar tourist map booklet, but again, the cost may be beyond current finance unless the business listings are sold, as in previous issues.

The next meeting will be the AGM on Saturday, July 17 at the Taree-Old Bar Surf Lifesaving Club, commencing at 3pm. Current secretary, Neil Cadden, has given notice that he will not be seeking re-election.

For the association to continue, it must have an executive in place so give serious consideration as to whether you want it to continue or fold. Old Bar does not have a Progress Association or a Ratepayer's Association; the OBMP is the only organisation that has been lobbying continually for improvements to the town and surrounds.

The name was changed from Chamber of Commerce as more community members were showing interest and becoming members and the group wanted to be more than just lobbying on behalf of businesses. However, the OBMP remains affiliated with the NSW Chamber and members are entitled to all the benefits that flow from it.

Over the years, there have been many significant improvements made to the area and events commenced, for example the Old Bar Beach Community Technology Centre; the Old Bar Beach Festival, from which came Ocean Rhythms and Garage Sales-R-Us; the coloured seats in the CBD; the painting of the power poles and picnic tables; footpath from the CBD to the beach; additional bus shelters; the Christmas Bazaar; installation of a town notice board near the Coles car park; town map in Lauders car park; and printing and distribution of a tourist map booklet.

If you would like to see that type of activity continue, come along to the AGM, join up and help make a difference. Contact vice president, Mel on 0401 967-001 or secretary, Neil on 0416 155-795 if you would like more information.