Extract from the Bega District News Friday 7 May 2004
Copyright © Bega District News/ACM. Reproduced with kind permission of Bega District News/ACM (email 24 January 2025). First published Thursday May 6, 2004, 8:52 p.m.
Tears in fire aftermath
Art, photos, books . . . all gone
THERE were tears and shock as people who had used the Old Bega Hospital donned hard hats on Tuesday to see if anything was retrievable from the building which was badly damaged by fire in the early hours of Monday morning.
The building, built in 1888, had been used by various community groups after it was restored as a Bicentennial project in the late 1980s. The only group with insurance, Bega Valley Family Day Care, had its assessor, Mr John Bell, tour the room to check the damage.
Fortunately for Family Day Care, the paper records were in steel filing cabinets that were not damaged by the fire and water, but everything else it had in the office was burnt, covered in ash or ruined by water.
The co-ordinator, Mrs Ilona Payne, said that although the computer was a write-off the hard drive was intact and Mr Bell had already approved the ordering of a new computer.
She was also grateful to the Bega Valley Shire Council and the Bega Town Hall committee for providing a meeting room as temporary accommodation for Family Day Care.
Another group at the Old Bega Hospital on Tuesday, the spinners and weavers, were relieved to find that the books and materials which were in the east wing of the building were undamaged because that was the only part of the main building where the roof didn't fall in.
However, the inspection was a complete disaster for everyone else.
Drama teacher Ms Janette Crowe lost the work of years, her computer and all her papers in the office she used, the former matron's room.
The owner of the Artisan Garden Cafe, Ms Melanie Kean, also lost everything, her cooking materials reduced to charcoal and ashes.
Photographer Mr Lee Chittick lost all his photographs which had been hung on the walls and many of his films which were stored in the Old Bega Hospital.
The contents of Mr Graham Farram's bookshop were also completely destroyed.
In the room used by the Bega Valley Art and Craft Society, 12 easels were lost, as well as art books and materials.
However, the recently purchased printing press may be saved as it was made of heavy metal.
It needs new parts but the Bega Valley Regional Art Gallery director, Mr Ross Cameron, believes there is still a chance it can get fixed.
The society will now hold its quarterly general meeting at the St Patrick's Church hall at noon on Monday, May 17, when plans will be made to find a venue for the painters who met regularly at the Old Bega Hospital.
The meeting to plan the Festival of Arts at the old hospital site has been cancelled.
The Kings Community Theatre committee lost two 16mm projectors which were stored at the Old Bega Hospital.
The building housing Valley Originals, Edge FM community radio station and the potters' and woodcraft activities were completely unaffected by the fire.
Investigators from the police fire investigation unit at Batemans Bay and the forensic unit at Queanbeyan are preparing a report for the Coroner, but it is understood the fire was cased by an electrical problem.
Minister to the rescue
THE NSW Government has moved quickly to provide accommodation for the community groups affected by the devastating fire in the Old Bega Hospital on Monday morning.
The Department of Lands will provide a portable cabin on-site within the next two weeks until decisions can be made about the future of the building.
The Lands Minister, Mr Tony Kelly, told the NSW Parliament yesterday (Thursday) that the Government had already had talks with the community trust board that administers the old hospital, council and other community organisations to discuss further arrangements.
"The fire is a terrible blow for Bega, but the community has rallied round and, with the help of Government, will overcome this setback," he said.
"It (the Old Bega Hospital) has served Bega in a variety of ways up until the fire and I have every confidence that it will continue to be a community asset for many years to come."
Mr Kelly's announcement came after a visit to the site on Wednesday by the director general of the Department of Lands, Mr Warwick Watkins.
Mr Watkins said the Department would bring in a team of building specialist engineers to see if the facade and brick walls were structurally sound.
The Member for Bega, Mr Andrew Constance, yesterday thanked Minister Kelly for moving swiftly to assist the community organisations directly impacted by the fire.
Mr Constance had recognised the efforts of fire fighters and emergency service in Parliament earlier in the week and called on the Premier to assist the 10 community organisations.
"Gary Hetherington of Pambula Beach Caravan Park and Ron and Gloria Cregan of Alvannex at Batemans Bay were recognised in the Parliament by the Minister for their assistance to the Department of location a suitable cabin and for its transportation to the site," Mr Constance said.
"I too extend many thanks to them for their assistance.
"There is no doubt the community has pulled together strongly following the fire and the old facilities will be sorely missed," he said.
Mr Constance thanked all the emergency service personnel involved, particularly the NSW Fire Brigade and local bush fire volunteers for their efforts to save the building.
Meanwhile, sightseers are being discouraged from visiting the site and anyone with a genuine need to enter the building must be accompanied by a Department of Lands official, phone Mr Danny Hamer on 6491 6200.