Travel

Bega Pioneers' Museum

The Pioneers’ Museum is in a old hotel built in 1858-59 on 87 Bega St with a few exhibition rooms and outdoor display areas with every aspect of early Bega and district life industry, farming, military, transport, machinery, and domestic history, as well as a awesome range of family histories.

Hours:

Friday 10am–4pm

Saturday 10am–2pm

Sunday Closed

Monday 10am–4pm

Tuesday Closed

Wednesday 10am–4pm

Thursday Closed

Museum Entrance Fees:

Adults $ 5.00
Seniors & Pensioners $ 3.00
Children $ 2.00
Annual membership fee: $10.00 per annum.

The building itself is classified and worth looking at. A horse-drawn ambulance in the backyard, built in Bega, was converted into a Hawkers van and supplied goods to out-lying families. A large collection of local militaria from the Boer War, WW1 & WW2. A very enthusiastic family history collection on local connections.

By Chase Mare-Zanelli

The Prodigious Fishing Guide for Beginners

Most beginners have no idea how to start, or even know where to fish. So if that is the case, then this article is for YOU!

Fishing is one of the best ways to keep active and is also a good starting point to enjoy the ocean. Fishing may seem difficult but that doesn't have to be the case. You'll be able to get into the water and try catching some fish with just a little bit of gear, a fishing license and the details in this guide. This guide specifically involves spin fishing, which only uses a rod to draw fish with a spinning reel and lures/live bait. This guide is basically targeted for new anglers with a minimum investment. Fishing is one of the best ways to get outside and enjoy nature.

Gear you need

Your best bet as a starter is a spinning reel and rod combination. A combo is the reel and rod which are always sold together which typically means that they are easier to set up. In terms of a good beginner rod that will suit your unique needs, an employee at your local tackle shop will be able to guide you in the right direction by assisting you in what sort of fishing you are going to undertake for example, wharf fishing, beach fishing, freshwater fishing and game fishing. Your next move after a rod and reel will be lures and bait. Live baits like worms and small fish are good starting points, lures are decoys which are generally designed to attract the attention of a specified species of fish. Another useful item for your fishing rod would be bobbers which are tiny floating balls that sink or bob in which it helps indicate that you have a fish on it.

Licenses and what you can't keep

Make sure you have a current fishing license for the state in which you will be fishing before you head out. Licenses are available online or in shops for fishing and also in convenience stores. Typically, the price of a day's license is reasonably low (less than $20), but the exact price depends on the state and your citizenship, so the cost of fishing licenses is higher for non-residents. But for your buck, annual licenses have a better bang, usually going for between $30 and $150. Remember to also look out for endangered fish species.

Where to go (best spots for beginners)

Speaking to a real person about where to fish is always the best idea, since they probably have the most up to date and comprehensive knowledge about local water. A crowdsourced fishing app such as ‘Fishbrain’ or the more data-heavy ‘FishAngler’ offers good data on local spots in a pinch. In general, when you're just starting out, wharves and lakes are a great option because they usually have a bank of different fish to get, and they sometimes have a greater volume of hungry fish than you'd find at the beach or stream. Different areas supply different fish so it mainly depends on what you want to fish for, for beginners the best areas to start or get used to fishing could be at your local wharf and beach.

Casting

Casting with a spinning reel is like tossing a baseball, it is as easy and intuitive as winding up and chucking the lure as far as you can. Start out at the end of your rod with about six inches of line with the reel under your dominant side. To keep the line from falling out of the spool, a spinning reel employs a bail (a thin wire arm). You will need to flip this bail, catch the line with your finger, bring the rod tip up and slightly behind you in order to cast, after doing all these steps throw your line out as far as you can and that is how to cast.

With all this information you should have a rough understanding of how to begin your fishing adventure, hopefully this article gave you a rough background on what to do and how to do it, if you would like to see more tips and tricks just follow this website.

By Ethan Mam

Old School Museum Merimbula-Imlay Historical Society Inc.

Museum Opening Hours.

The Museum opening hours are as follows:

Note: The Museum can be opened at other times by arrangement.

Arrange Group tours bookings by email or phone 02 6495 9231.

Admission $5.00 for adults, children free.

Sundays 1:30pm – 4:00pm

Tuesdays 1:30pm – 4:00pm

Thursdays 1:30pm – 4:00pm

Address Main St, Merimbula NSW 2548

The Old School Museum is housed in a building made of local sandstone from 1873, a rare example of the teacher's residence and schoolroom being under one roof.

The actual museum collection comprises 3600 artefacts and over 8000 documents and 3000 photographs relevant to the Merimbula/Pambula/Lochiel/Nethercote region.

General Info

In 1875, the enrolment was 39 children. School fees were set by the local board within limits specified in the legislation. Initially, parents paid a weekly fee of 9 pence for the first child and 6 pence for each additional child, but in 1893 this was reduced to 3 pence per head per week, with a maximum of 9 pence per family. According to the Public Instruction Act of 1880, fees should have changed in 1880 to the new limits of 3 pence per child with a maximum of a shilling per family. The building was vacated at the end of 1945, and the school reopened in new premises, which have been enlarged over the years. The residence was repaired and leased for accommodation, and the schoolroom was used for community purposes for a number of years.

By Harry Raeck