Gisela Walker and Pam Veiss of Cooma Library.

Lisa Ashurt
While it’s not common knowledge, it is a fact that around 46 percent of Australians lack the necessary literacy skills to see them through normal day-to-day living and this is what prompted the Australian Library Association and the Australian Government to name 2012 the National Year of Reading.
To coincide with the official launch, libraries around the district launched Library Lovers Day on February 14, taking advantage of St Valentine’s Day to promote a love of books and reading, but it all ties in with the National Year of Reading theme and hopes to encourage more people to discover the pleasure to be found in a good book.
Libraries involved include Monaro, Shellharbour, Bega, Eurobodalla, and Goulburn but there are nine participating libraries altogether who are benefiting from a grant received by South East NSW Libraries to allow library users even more access to fine literature.
Called OverDrive, it is a new download service for libraries that allows library members to download eBooks and talking books (audiobooks) from a virtual Branch website via the South East Region of Libraries (NSW). Library members will also be able to access this convenient service via www.senswelibrary.lib.overdrive.com but access to the site is available on individual library websites as well, where clicking on the logo will link directly to the OverDrive website. The site is easy to use and all people will need is a home computer, a transferable device and their library card and the service offers the option of hearing a preview of the book prior to downloading to ensure it is the one they want. The service is 70 percent eBooks and 30 percent audiobooks and is ideal for the elderly, for readers with mobility issues and for those who live out of town and with 2215 eBook titles and 373 audiobook titles, there are enough subjects and titles to interest anyone opting to use the service. There are also junior titles as well as a selection of Young Adult and these will grow. Visitors to the site can browse by subject and the range includes historical fiction, detective and crime, mystery, fantasy and horror.
Cooma Library Manager, Pam Veiss, is very pleased to have the service up and running.
“We have known for a few months that it was coming but there was a lot of structure to be put in place and a couple of glitches here and there to be ironed out as well.”
But there will be events happening for the whole year, Ms Veiss added, with something special happening every week.
“We have two visiting authors coming in March plus we will have themes set up in various corners around the library which we hope will encourage people to stop and look and hopefully want to check out a book.” Ms Veiss said.
The two local authors set for March are Susannah McFarlane on the 14th and Karen Viggers on the 15th but there are activities planned for every month throughout the year so keep up to date via your local library newsletter or visit www.love2read.org.au to learn more about what’s happening around Australia and especially our local region during 2012.

Cooma Associated Agents, in conjunction with the commercial branch of the Monaro Merino Association, held a special sheep sale on Monday February 13, yarding 8000 breeders.
Very strong competition resulted with prices higher than expected, in places $10-$20 up.
Buyers operated from Bigga, Bemboka, Braidwood, Bendigo, Gundagai, Wagga and Holbrook, while locals accounted for more than 50 percent of the yarding.
The quality and selection of the penning was excellent and a credit to all vendors.
President of the MMA commercial branch, Henry Bridgewater, opened the sale and strongly urged district breeders to support all yearly MMA sales and put the Monaro back on the map as of one the premier sheep breeding regions in Australia.

Sales included
Young ewes (1 1/2yrs – 2 1/2yrs)
Sally Flat P’ship, Lmk, 94, Aug shn, Adina bld, $180;
Fraser Bros, JM, 103, Oct shn, Main range bld, $170;
GM & S Tozer, JM, 94, Oct shn, Main Range bld, $164;
B & RM Adams, JM, 28, Jan shn, Yarrawonga bld, $151;
GC & JM Crowe, JM, 80, Oct shn, Round Plain bld, $130;
RJ Hain, E, 119, Oct shn, Gunyah bld, $148;
AM & MH Goodwin, E, 93, Nov shn, Adina bld, $138;
WH & RJ Bourke, MLP, 80, Sept shn, Adina bld, $136;
Shirley Trust, E, 142, Nov shn, Haz bld, $122.
Merino ewes (4 ½ – 5 ½ yrs)
AM & MG Goodwin, E, 154, Aug shn, Adina bld, $156;
R Maguire, E, 68, July shn, Jilliby bld, $150;
WH & RJ Boate, MLP, 94, July shn, Adina bld, $149;
D & S Baines, Lmk, 112, July shn, Haz/Rose Pk bld, $146;
Ian Davis, BC, 88, April shn, Round Plain bld, $145;
Fraser Bros, MLP, 140, July shn, Yarrawonga bld, $144;
G & J Crowe, E, 117, Aug shn, Round plain bld, $143;
G & P Luton, Lmk, 87, Aug shn, Bibbendale Bld, $144;
G & S Williams, JM, 116,Aug shn, Main Range bld, $142;
Mayfield, Lmk, 80 ewes, Aug shn, Greendale bld, $140;
Bilillingra Pt, JM, 144, May shn, Yarrawonga bld, $134;
LW & MC Brooks, BC, 87, July shn, Arable bld, $131;
Fraser Bros, JM, 100 ewes, Aug shn, Snowy Plain bld, $130;
Ryrie & Son, MLP, 228, Nov shn, Roseville Pk bld, $118.

Ewes (5 12/yrs – 6 ½ yrs0
Sally Flat P’ship, Lmk, 132, Aug shn, Adina bld, $126;
J & T Walters, MLP, 90, April shn, Yarrawonga bld, $130;
AM Reid & Co, E, 158, May shn, Greendale bld, $120;
BM & RM Adams, JM, 134, Jan shn, Yarrawonga bld, $122;
JR & J Cahill, Lmk, 209, July shn, Cottage Park bld, $115;
R Maguire, E, 73, July shn, Jilliby bld, $113;
I Davis, BC, 50, April shn, Round Plain bld, $101;

Wethers
JM & MC Bruce, E, 129 x 2 1/2yrs Nov shn, Merryville bld, $126;
R Coles, E, 96 1 1/2yrs, Nov shn, Cottage Park bld, $91;
DE & DL Whiting, E, 202 1 1/2yr Oct shn, Amaroo-Dry Farm bld, $90;
LA Stewart, JM, 159, 1 1/12yrs, Sept shn, Haz-Greendale bld, $86

Weaners (2011 drop)
EBH P/L, 240, w/l, unshn, Kelton Plain bld, $85;
Caringo Pt, E, 96, w/l, Nov shn, Murrumbucca bld, $80;
Caringo Pt, E, 120, e/l, Nov shn, Murrumbucca bld, $138;
I Davis, BC, 87 w/l, unshn, Round Plain bld, $70.

1st X ewes
PB & B Barron, MLP, 102 lms, A/S drop, unshn, $186;
Shirley Trust, E, 166 1 1/12yrs, Feb shn, $172;
N Curtis, E, 143 1 1/2yrs Dec shn, $143;
KA & RM Weston, LMK, 162 lms, Jan shn, $120;
EBH P/L, MLP, 182, lms unshn, $115;
Amandri Group P/l, E, 219 lms, unshn, $115;
Amandri Group P/l, E, 183 lms, unshn, $101;
R Maguire, E, 66 5 1/2yrs, July shn, $146;
Springmore, E, 113 5 1/2yrs, May shn, $100.

Deane’s Transit Group general manager Jeremy is pictured with Cr Martin Hughes, president of the Cooma Chamber of Commerce David Shelley and Tracy Frazer from The Monaro Post, the first Cooma business to jump on board the Cooma Connector advertising offer.

With the Cooma Connector commuter bus service due to begin a three-month trial next Monday, Dean’s Transit Group general manager Jeremy Wee was in Cooma last Wednesday to talk business.
A small group assembled to hear an update on the trial and how local businesses can support it.
The trial will commence on Monday February 27, leaving Cooma at 6.50am, with on-demand stops between Cooma and Civic.
The service will reach the Tuggeranong Interchange (on request) at 8.05am, Woden Interchange (on request) at 8.20am, Civic at 8.40am, Russell 8.50am, Canberra Airport 9am and Queanbeyan at 9.15am.
On return, the coach will pick up from the airport at 17.05, Civic 17.20, Russell 17.30 and Calwell Shops 17.45.
A second coach will pickup from Woden at 17.30, Tuggeranong 17.45 and Calwell Shops at 17.55. Passengers for the South Canberra pickup will join the coach for Cooma and Calwell, arriving at Centennial Park, Cooma, at 19.00.
The service will operate Monday to Friday except on ACT public holidays, Good Friday and the period between Christmas and January 6, 2013.
Tickets can be purchased on board the Cooma Connector, with prices starting at $15 one-way to or from Williamsdale, Royalla and Michelago, or $20 return
Tickets cost $18 for a one-way ticket for travel from or to Cooma, Bunyan, Bredbo or Colinton, or $22 return.
At this stage there are no concession fares available, but travellers can purchase a Deane’s Rewards card to receive benefits and value for their commuting dollar.
Holders of Deane’s Discount Cards, Transborder Express Discount Cards, Deane’s Buslines or Transborder Express Student Bus Passes are automatically members of the Deane’s Rewards program and are eligible for discounts or deals offered by our corporate partners everytime they dine or shop at their eateries, retail outlets or businesses.
Apart from the convenience of not having to drive their own vehicle to and from Canberra, with the associated wear and tear on the vehicle, travellers on the Cooma Connector will also be able to enjoy WiFi on board the coach, spend a useful hour on the road on the way to work and on the way home, either continue working or just relax.
Mr Wee said Deane’s are investigating having snacks available on board, similar to those available on aircraft.
Deane’s will also be offering commuter specials which travellers will be eligible to win, just by travelling.
Mr Wee said he had heard some of the concerns expressed about the service taking people away from Cooma to Canberra.
He said the opposite was true. With a regular commuter service, people can enjoy life in Cooma while earning higher wages by working in Canberra.
He said young people will also be able to benefit because they will be able to commute to college or university which will be much less expensive than finding accommodation in Canberra.
He said that would allow more young people to stay in Cooma and still study in Canberra.
Mr Wee outlines advertising opportunities Deanes had available for businesses, from banners on the coach exterior to spaces inside and on their website.
He said the service only has to break even for Deanes to be ‘very ecstatic’.

Not so mad now - the Mad Chefs won their heat easily.

Lake Jindabyne’s Flowing Festival over the weekend of February 18 and 19, was bigger than Ben Hur, with two Roman charioteers, Zena Recycla and Maxus the Can there to salute “for the glory of Jindabyne” and stab anyone who neglected to recycle their rubbish.
Amongst the dragon boats competing, there were six local high school teams from St Patrick’s, Monaro High School, Jindabyne Central School and Snowy Mountains Grammar School, plus 200 Canberra students from St Claire’s, St Edmund’s and the Grammar Schools, all challenging last year’s Snowy Mountains Grammar School senior crew which is the reigning Australian National Junior Champions.
In the adult dragon boat competition, there were 20 sports teams from as far away as the South Coast and Canberra, and 13 community teams. Competition splashed off on Saturday evening with a two kilometre race which was won by the Canberra based Ice Dragons.  Sunday’s racing began at 8am on the mist shrouded lake and finished in the early afternoon of the same day with thunder clouds threatening after a warm day.
Viewed from the Strezlecki monument, the Banjo Paterson Park looked like a sea of tents.
There were 26 market holders with an additional nine stalls promoting sustainable energy. An estimated 2000 people were in the Park on Sunday.