A painting by former independent state member for the South Coast, John Hatton AO, will be auctioned by the Huskisson Heritage Association next month.
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John Hatton has lived in Huskisson since the 1960s and has always found time to work for the local community.
His role in establishing the Lady Denman Museum (now the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum) is well-known, and he and his wife Vera have given endless hours of voluntary labour to this and other projects.
Before entering state politics, he was president of the Shoalhaven Shire, a precursor to the current Shoalhaven City Council. Joanne Warren, a member of the Huskisson Heritage Association, said John has fought to keep Jervis Bay environmentally viable against plans for coal facilities, a nuclear reactor, steel production.
"You name it, the plans for ruining our beautiful area have been big and ugly, and Hatton has been in the fight at every turn to stop these local disasters," she said.
Today John devotes much of his time to caring for his wife, but he is still actively involved in political and community issues. Back in 2007 he led the fight against height controls for Huskisson that would have given it 6 storey buildings - a fight that is in the forefront again now if the proposed development off the former Huskisson Anglican Church site goes ahead.
"The Huskisson Heritage Association deplores the determination of developers and their Shoalhaven City Council backers to destroy the livability and charm of Huskisson, and John Hatton has been a supporter from the start of our formal protests in 2018," Joanne said.
The support includes the fonation of the a painting of Blenheim's Beach, signed and dated February 2021. Funds raised will go towards the Huskisson Heritage Associations fight to keep the block in the centre of Huskisson as it is today with its Cyril Blacket church, old trees and graveyard.
Joanne said the group continues to fight against the development.
"Just a reminder to anyone who thinks this issue is done and dusted - the land has not been sold," she said.
"It has not been rezoned for commercial uses. The planning proposal is only at a preliminary stage. The community has not yet had an opportunity to comment.
"The independent federal government investigation of aboriginal significance has not yet reported. And the community remains strong in its opposition to this sorry and disrespectful plan to destroy the best of Huskisson."
John Hatton's painting is currently on display at Boobooks on Wen Street, Huskisson. It can also be found at huskissonheritage.com.au
You can place early bids by contacting email huskissonheritage@gmail.com with 'Hatton bid' in the subject line, or better still, head to the live auction at 1.30pm on June 12 at the Huskisson Heritage Association's Husky Heritage Day at the Dent Street Community Centre and the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum.
