A recent jaunt through the NSW South Coast town of Bermagui sparked a friendly family rivalry over whose forebears had the starchiest, most severe manners. (I doubt many young people could contribute to such a discussion in these fallen days.) This was occasioned by a visit to the Bruce Steer Pool, where a somewhat hagiographic council plaque honoured old India hand and relative-by-marriage, Colonel John Mansel Bruce Steer, fisherman and all-round community developer.