Bangalow's Heartbeat February 2014

Heartbeat Bangalow’s

free l February 2014 No.177 l Celebrating the Life and Times of the local Community

Under the hammer As some favourite locals call it a day and prepare to auction off their stock, we should remember how hard it is for local businesses to survive against the giant corporations. See our report page 5.

www.heartbeat.net.au

editorial

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After a long hot summer, certainly a change from recent years, we now move into February and are hoping for rain.

Welcome back Heartbeat readers after our January break.

February is always a difficult month for copy but we have managed, with help from our community contributors, to come up with lots of reports. You’ve probably been looking forward to seeing the Christmas Eve Carnival photos so our photographers have provided a range of great shots (with some extras below).

We also record the history of this event.

We’re sad about losing our hardware store and its owners, Ed and Marie Perry, so are pleased to be able to profile them

in this issue. In the March issue we hope to have news of the concept plan for the site, still not finalised.

Other reports include gardening, history, sport, health, cooking and housing.

Hopefully something for everyone.

Also included is a reader survey, with hard copy and online return options, which we hope all 2479 householders can find the time to complete and return.

Many thanks to our local jeweller David Collins who donated the very generous incentive prize for the survey, a pair of hand-made diamond stud earrings set in either yellow, white or rose gold.

Best wishes from the team for a happy, safe and healthy New Year.

Di Martin

Carousel, photo by Andrea Sturgeon

t: 6687 5573 or 6681 5575

Harry Westera Art Lessons & Workshops Painting & Drawing Streetscape Landscape Portrait 0431 702 255

The Dancing Man has them under his spell, photo by Judy Baker

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bangalow’s heartbeat www.heartbeat.net.au PO Box 132 Bangalow NSW 2479 Editors: Dianne Martin 6687 2592 Ruth Kirby Email: editors@heartbeat. net.au Cover: Georgia Fox Advertising: Janelle Saunders

0422 069 861 advertising@ heartbeat.net.au Ad Production: Allie Leo Design: Niels Arup Editorial team: Judy Baker, Don Brown, Marika Bryant, Sophie Clare, Helen Johnston, Tony Hart, Robin Osborne, Lyn Plummer, Sally Schofield, Andrea Sturgeon, Brian

Sundstrom Distribution: Bangalow P.O., Brian Sundstrom, Peter Bradridge, Neil McKenzie Website: Joanna Wilkinson Accounts: Rob Campbell Chairman: Neville Maloney

DISCLAIMER. This newsletter is published by Bangalow’s Heartbeat Incorporated PO Box 132 NSW 2479.

Hon. Editors Dianne Martin, Ruth Kirby, Hon Sec/ Public Officer Neville Maloney. Membership is open to all adult residents of the 2479 postal district. The opinions expressed by individual contributors are not necessarily shared by the Editors and other members of the Association committee. While every reasonable effort is made to publish accurate information, Bangalow’s Heartbeat Inc. accepts no responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed.

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

local news

The Beginning of the End for Byron Shire?

Last month the Final Report of the NSW Independent Local Government Review Panel was released. Tony Hart has had a quick look at its potential impact in the Northern Rivers.

Many of us have a schizophrenic attitude to our local council, Byron Shire. When it comes to potholes in roads, landslips, noisy holiday-makers, traffic jams on Ewingsdale Road and encroachment of the sea on our sand dunes we blame the council for not providing solutions quickly and effectively.

We blame the council too for overspending on projects like the regional sports centre, for approving developments that don’t fit into the community, and when we don’t think we are getting value for money for our rates.

Yet, any suggestion that our council should be abolished or absorbed into a neighbouring council(s) seems to get most residents and ratepayers up in arms.

The 136-page report of the Local Government Review Panel gives some idea of a possible future for NSW local government structure, but it provides few firm directions. Initial responses from the state government indicate that its oft-stated policy of no enforced amalgamations of councils still stands. But this report does give a basis and structure to encourage or even enforce changes. And, after all, why commission such a comprehensive report and then do nothing?

A key component of the report is the new statutory regional entities (called joint organisations or JOs) with specific functions

and areas, governance and operations. In our area it proposes a Northern Rivers joint organisation of which Byron Shire would be a member, along with Tweed, Ballina, Lismore, Kyogle and Richmond Valley. It also proposes Richmond Valley and Kyogle amalgamate soon.

The panel envisages JOs being embedded within the system of local government with local councils remaining at the core, ‘owning’ and resourcing JOs. Selected regional functions would be referred to the JOs which would then work alongside their member councils in performing those tasks But, given that there is little support for yet another tier of government, one must suspect that this regional structure if adopted, sounds the death knell of local councils. This is especially so given the report’s assessment of Byron Shire’s sustainability. The shire’s financial sustainability is rated as weak, its future as negative and its merger potential as medium. Byron has an overall negative rating second only to Richmond Valley.

Unless our council can come up with an improved, revised, long-term asset and financial management plan and a positive sustainability assessment, Byron Shire’s survival appears doubtful. The report can be viewed and downloaded at www. localgovernmentreview.nsw.gov.au.

Bangalow

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local news The Kangaroo Walk

Tony Gilding announces the upgrade

macadamia castle upgrade The Macadamia Castle has recently completed a major upgrade. This includes a conference centre, a covered outdoor education ‘pond’ stage and a covered family barbecue. The work was jointly funded by the Castle owner and the Federal Tourism Industry Regional Development Fund.

Owner, Tony Gilding says, “This is part of our strategy to deal with the loss of passing traffic

when the highway upgrade is completed, as it will bypass the Castle front door. The improvements have been designed to attract visitors in all weather conditions. For example, covered seating for 85 by the pond allows us to do animal talks from our elevated display platform. Another new development is a roo walk-through, with six new kangaroos. The fences are now doubly reinforced and we are

confident the roos are safe from the packs of wild dogs that have been in the area and caused a lot of trouble last year.”

The Castle has been a popular ‘coffee stop’, tourist and family attraction since 1975.

There is a total of 55 staff on the payroll (an equivalent of about 30 full time jobs), so it is an important employer for our area.

Brian Sundstrom

Jump on Board! Bowlo AGM is coming up.

It’s been nearly two years since the Bangalow Bowling and Sports Club reopened its doors. In those two short years, the club has re-established itself as a live music venue in the northern rivers, launched The Fields restaurant with a delectable tapas menu for family friendly dining and continues to provide a great venue and atmosphere for community members to meet. To consolidate the gains made in the last two years, the Board is looking to strengthen and expand links with the local community by making the Club relevant and attractive to a broader demographic in the coming year.

Next month (10 March to be exact) the members of the Bangalow Bowlo get the chance to elect a board which will set the club’s directions for the following twelve months. This is a great opportunity for fresh, enthusiastic people to jump on board to put their stamp on the future of the club. It would be ideal to have a board that is truly representative of this community, with a diversity of skills and ages and a balance of genders. The board meets monthly in the evening. Apart from that formal commitment, individual board members oversee specific aspects of the club’s operations, advising, guiding

and sometimes, mentoring the staff. The board needs to have a range of skills. So if you have marketing, hospitality, financial, sporting, building, HR or artistic skills or other valuable experience, jumping on the Bowlo board is a great way of being involved in your local community.

Nomination is a simple process. Just obtain a nomination form at the club, available from any of the staff. You do need to be a member as well, so grab a membership form ASAP and join up. If you would like any further information, contact Gerry Swain on 0428 711 423 or Atosha Clancy on 0409 103 365. Tony Hart

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Letter event at Bowlo

I wrote a memoir called Stillways last year which was launched at the Byron Bay Writers Festival in August.

I talk a lot about my parents in the book and since the launch have received many letters from both men and women who were keen to share memories of their parents. The letters were so uplifting and inspiring that I thought it would be great to give people the chance to share those memories.

‘A Letter to my Father’ will have 10 local men read a letter they have written to their dads. They perform on Sunday, 16 February at 3pm at the Bangalow Bowlo. Tea and scones will be served at the intermission and the club’s bistro will be open for dinner after the event. The bar at the club will be open throughout the day and a string quartet will entertain us. ‘A Letter to my Mother’ will have 10 local women read a letter they have written to their mums. This event will be on Sunday 2, March at 3pm. As above, high tea and music will add to the entertainment.

Come along and be inspired!

Steve Bisley

hardware to close

Old fashioned hardware stores hold a special place in many people’s hearts, and Bangalow Hardware was one of those rare nostalgic gems. But sadly, it is no more.

This month, owners Ed and Marie Perry reluctantly call ‘time’, closing the doors for good. But Ed would like to set the record straight regarding the nature of their departure, and scotch rumours of them being forced out by their landlord. “That’s not the case at all, it’s our decision” he says, citing “a confluence of factors”.

Ed and Marie took over the reins eight and a half years ago from Paul Jarrett and Glen Parrington, however the hardware has traded from its Station Street location since Dave Stewart started the store “30 to 40 years ago” estimates Ed. Following a career in the building industry down south, Ed and Marie moved into hardware as a “later in life sort

of thing”. While it has not been a particularly profitable venture according to Ed, he says it has been a great experience. “This is a nice town. The majority of people here are very nice, very easy to get along with.”

While Marie is excited about getting on with retirement, Ed has somewhat more mixed feelings embarking on the next chapter of their lives. However they both would like to sincerely thank everybody for their custom over the years, and for including them as a part of the Bangalow community.

They will continue to enjoy life in the area, remaining in Clunes where they have lived for the past 15 years.

On behalf of Bangalow, a warm thank you to Ed and Marie and their team, and all the best for the future. An auction will be held of all remaining plants, equipment, fixtures and stock on Saturday, 22 February. Georgia Fox

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February 2014

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community noticeboard Fitness Exercise Classes Monday 5.30pm – 6.30pm at the Newrybar Hall, starting Monday, 3 February. Call Amber 0409 349 891.

Ian Duncan

Museum and Tea Room Heritage House opens from Tuesday to Friday inclusive, 9am to 3.30pm, commencing 4 February. We must apologise for the cancellation of Australia Day festivities – as usual Bangalow has more social happenings on the go than any small town on the FNC. That weekend was Market Sunday and ‘Back to Bangalow’ reunion.

Remember Friday Curry Evenings once a month, and Valentine’s Date Night dinner and movie on Tuesday, 14 February (3 courses $35 per head BYO). Also ANZAC Day will have a special exhibition and a ritzy cocktail party (Friday, 14 March) for the opening.

‘Entertainment’ is the theme and we’ll look at how the troops kept themselves entertained during the different wars, touching on the entertainers who went into war zones in World War II and Vietnam. If anyone out there has some information or photos, we would love to see them and, if agreed, incorporate them in the exhibit. Our display will run from the middle of March to the middle of May. In terms of the Museum upkeep and 2014 plans we are

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Next Chamber meeting The next general meeting for the Bangalow Chamber of Commerce Inc will be Wednesday, 5 February at Bangalow Heritage House in Deacon Street. Come and meet Jane Laverty the newly appointed Economic Development Officer for our Byron Shire Council. Social catch-up starts at 5.30 pm with the meeting at 6. RSVP please for catering by Wednesday morning either phone Eve on 6687 2222 or email: admin@ bangalow.biz.

Eva Heath

Garden Club All members are reminded that the first meeting of the 37th year of the Bangalow and District Garden Club will be held at the Moller Pavilion on Wednesday, 5 February at 1.30 pm. The new President Wendy

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concentrating on the grounds.

The addition of the old tennis courts has required a great deal of thought on how to optimise their possibilities.

Vinnie Bleakley has made a start in using the space by providing archery lessons. Aspiring Robin Hoods and Maid Marians should call Vinnie on 0400 145 885.

Anyone interested in joining our happy and productive team – in whatever capacity seems appropriate – please call us.

Wendy Grissell and Trisha Bleakley

Hearne will be in the chair and the usual flower of the month competition and trading table will be in operation.

Helen Johnson

Bridge Lessons Would you like to try beginners’ lessons for bridge? Byron Bay Bridge Club will be conducting lessons for five to six weeks on Fridays from 10 till 11 am at the Bangalow Bowlo, starting on 7 February. Contact Claudia at 6685 9073 or email pckiernan@ bigpond.com Bridge is a game for all ages and we would love to hear from you. The club meets every Friday afternoon at the Bangalow Bowlo for regular games.

Claudia Kiernan

Bowlo events Saturday, 8 February: Rock n roll from local musicians Anna Free and the Unsolved Crimes plus THE RARED which features St Helena’s favourite musical sons Billy, Dick and James Boyle. Doors: 7.30pm Door Tix: $5.00 Friday, 14 February: Valentine’s Day with the beautiful Miss Renee Simone. “If honey had a sound it would be the voice of Miss Renee Simone,” said Bernard Fanning (Powderfinger). Think fine wine, cocktails, whiskey and romance. Doors: 7.30 pm. Door Tix: $20. Presale Tix: $15 (+bf) Saturday, 15 February: LaSalsa celebrate Valentine’s Day. Feel the romance in the air, dance

to enchanting and seductive Latin rhythms. Dress in white/ red/pink. Door Tix: $15. Dance lesson from 7 pm with Leyla and Robert.

Sunday, 16 February: A Letter to my Father (see pages 4-5) Doors: 3pm. Door Tix: $25.

Presale Tix: $20 (+bf) Saturday, 1 March: A Tribute to Paul Kelly. Doors: 7.30 pm. Door Tix: $18. Presale Tix: $15 (+bf) Sunday, 2 March: A Letter to my Mother. Doors: 3pm. Door Tix: $25. Presale Tix: $20 (+bf)

Kat Antram

CWA news Our next meeting is on 12 February. The Land Cookery and Handcraft competition occurs at the Bangalow Bowling Club on Thursday, 27 February. Applications for entry close 13 February and entries must be at the Bowlo by 9am on 27 February.

Jane Curran

WIRES A two-day course on 15-16 February at Southern Cross University will qualify you to become a member of WIRES by teaching you how to safely rescue and provide emergency care for injured and orphaned wildlife. For more information call our 24 hour emergency help line on 6628 1898 or Muriel on 0432 094 917. Muriel Kinson

Netball Club news We will be holding sign-ons

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lmsharpe@bigpond.net.au BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

in the pool room bar of the Bangalow Hotel on Wednesday, 19 February and Wednesday, 26 February from 4-6pm.

All games throughout the season are played on Saturdays at the Mullumbimby Netball Courts.

Net-Set-Go 6-7 years; Netta 7-11yrs; Netball 10-17yrs, Seniors 18+.

For more information please call Grescha 0439 487 169 or go to http://www. brunswickbyronnetball.com. au/home.

Grescha Brewer

Curry Night The traditional Newrybar Hall curry night returns on Saturday, 22 February at 7pm.

We dine on the verandah with an excellent curry prepared by chef Bev Singh, followed by desserts tea/coffee (vegetarian, gluten free and dairy intolerant available).

Following dinner the disco swings for young and old. It is a byo evening. $35/head. Tickets from Lennox Bookmark (Lennox), Barebones (Bangalow) and Driftlab (Newrybar). Tickets online by direct payment to Newrybar Hall BSB 032591 Account 326390 and put name for identification. Tickets also at the door (if not sold out beforehand).

This event is a fundraiser for Newrybar Hall. More information: www.newrybarhall.org.au or newrybarhall@gmail.com or 6687 8443.

Ian Duncan

Networking Breakfast The next breakfast is Thursday, 27 February, 8am at Town Café. Bookings are essential. Our presenter is Ricky Johnston whose passion is people. As a business woman she employed more than 300 nurses. Her involvement in public life included local government and federal government representation.

More recently, she retired as a member of the Migration Review and the Refugee Review Tribunals. Ricky’s talk will touch on the complexities of migration and refugee review aspects. E:rosemarie@ byronandbeyondnetworking. com.au. M: 0412 475 543 W: www. byronandbeyondnetworking. com.au.

Rosemarie Toynbee

Red Cross Our first meeting of the year will be on Friday, 28 February at 10am at the RSL Hall. All welcome.

Dot Gill

Lions Club news We have received full approval from Council to provide 28 additional car parking spaces on the Catholic Church land at the bottom of Deacon Street.

This just about doubles the car parking at the bottom of Station Street. A big thank you to the folk from the Catholic Church for the land, and the Council for approving the work. The Bangalow Lions Club will co-

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ordinate the work and provide the on-going management of the parking. Tony Heeson

Newrybar Hall fair Newrybar Hall is commencing a program of seasonal fairs at the hall – the inaugural Autumn Fair is at the hall 1 March from 8am to 1pm. There will be a number of stallholders selling a range of arts, crafts and local produce. Enjoy a pleasant Saturday morning in Newrybar village and come and visit us at the fair. More information: newrybarhallfair@gmail.com.

Ian Duncan

Bowlo membership Membership of the Bangalow Bowling and Sports Club is for the calendar year and hence all memberships are now due for renewal for $10pa. Renewal can be done over the bar during normal trading hours.

To be eligible to nominate for the Board, or to vote at the upcoming AGM on 10 March, members need to be financial for the current year. Tony Hart

Art classes Painting classes commence in February 2014 in Bangalow, with the venue to be announced (Scout hall, RSL hall or Moller pavilion). Phone 6687 2511 for more details. Antoinette Ensbey

Thank You The

communities

of

the

Chinzea

Northern Rivers have once again proved how much they care about the farmers doing it so tough out in the drought areas. 382 Christmas hampers and countless boxes of toys and gifts were freighted out to Bourke, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Moree and Chinchilla on 7 December and many cards, letters and emails have been received since, saying just how much it meant to these farming families to know that they are not forgotten. Thanks to everyone who helped.

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local legends A concert in the 70s

Fred and Joe Fowler

Socialising at the pool

The brothers hitting their peak

The dangerous sport of fox hunting

Obituary for Joel Wright Fowler Born to Thomas and Selina Fowler at Bangalow Hospital on 4 August 1918, Joel Fowler, known as Joe, died last year at the Crowley Care Home in Ballina at the age of 94. The younger brother of Harry, Eva and Fred, his family was well known in Bangalow, living in Fowlers Lane on a property settled

by Thomas and Selina in the early 1900s.

Like his brothers and sister, Joe went to Bangalow Primary School, and later all the kids took the train to Lismore for secondary school. (Joe would recall buying a meat pie for lunch at Mecca Café for threepence.)

Joe and his siblings had a happy childhood and teen years on the farm, raising dairy cattle, pigs and peanuts, with Sleepy Creek meandering through the valley.

Deciding they needed a place to swim, the enterprising brothers (who had a motto: ‘Ya can’t be a Fowler if you can’t swim!’) spent four pounds on gelignite and concrete to create a four-lane, 50-metre pool, with diving boards, in the farm’s south-western corner.

The Fowler boys taught hundreds of local children to swim there, long before the government sponsored such programs.

Joe was a member of the rifle range club and a scout leader, who loved to fox-trot with the girls, and fox hunt with the local boys and his beagles. When not on horseback, Joe would pile the beagles into his old A Model Ford, with holes in its wooden floor.

Harry and Eva trip the light fantastic

The Fowler family was well-known in the district for dancing and acrobatic displays and exhibitions, performing at charity functions and halls between Bangalow and the Queensland border.

As well, many lively dances were held in the dance hall they built in the 1950s, next to the swimming hole. Most of the music

was provided by the family, with Joe playing guitar and harmonica, and his mother playing accordion.

In 1976, the natural amphitheatre on the Fowler farm was used for countless music concerts. Thousands came to Fowlers Lane for concerts with such names as Split Enz, MiSex, INXS, and Rose Tattoo in their early days.

Though there was much fun, laughter and larrikin times, life was not without hardship.

Joe’s younger brother, Jackie died of a spider bite, and Harry Fowler and Eva’s husband Allan Brown were both away for years during the war. During those years, Joe manned the farm with sister Eva, brother Fred, and his parents. In 1941, his father died, and sadly, his mother Selina died five months later.

Happier times returned with the safe homecoming of Allan and Harry, with Harry’s only injury the loss of his right index finger. Joe’s sister Eva, and Allan, had twins, Janelle and John, who brought pride and joy into Joe’s life. His brother Fred and his wife, Jean, had seven sons, bringing Joe more happiness.

During the war, Harry was interned in a

At Bangalow School Every Saturday morning 9.30am -11.30am 8 8

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

prisoner-of-war camp, where he met the son-in-law of a lady who was caring for two orphan boys. Sight-unseen, Harry of course invited the boys to Fowlers Lane, and when Bob Hulbert turned 18, he left the city and went up north and looked up the Fowler family.

On the second day of his visit, there was a fox hunting outing, with all the usual Bangalow larrikins. As it happened, the new boy scored a bullet wound to the hip – a great welcome. Despite this inauspicious start to their friendship, Bob Hulbert and his brother Roy (who later married Jan), became very close with the Fowler family and shared many happy times.

In 1958 Joe married May Haddin at the church at Springvale. The couple bought Joe’s uncle’s farm at Binna Burra, and had three girls, Lyn, Maree and Evonne. Up the road lived Joe’s brother Fred and wife Jean, and their seven boys. A life of dairy farming and small crops followed, until in 1979, Joe moved his family to Lismore, where Joe lived until 2007.

May Fowler now lives in Ballina. She and Joe were very proud of their grandchildren, Olivia, Isaac, Emily, Maree, Jasmine, Jayden, Eli and Mahlia. Among Joe’s favourite sayings were ‘Kindness never broke the bank’ and ‘Never trouble trouble, until trouble troubles you!’. He is remembered as a funny man with a big heart.

His daughter Evonne concluded her funeral speech, from which this article is based, with, “One thing I can always be grateful to Joe Fowler for is a sense of humour which I think, we can all agree, is so important in life.”

Christobel Munson

On the life of Ellen ‘Nell’ Coles On 4 January, Nell Coles died peacefully neighbourhood for the uncanny accuracy at Mullumbimby Hospital. Wife of of her weather forecasting. Originally Gordon for 68 years, she left behind 11 taught by Charlie Coulson (“he could even much-loved children and their partners, tell you what horse was going to win the 12 grandchildren and seven great- Melbourne Cup every year!”), she also learned a great deal by grandchildren.

Several her own observations, as hundred people attended she looked out her front her funeral service at All door over Byron Bay at the Souls Church of England in changing seasons.

Bangalow.

Nell and Gordon were Nell was one of 10 children always close to the in the Bottrell family. When Fowler family, who lived they married, Nell moved immediately to their south onto Gordon’s 35.6ha family in Fowlers Lane. They farm in Coorabell which was were friends for over purchased from the Garvan Nell and Gordon on their 60 years. Well-known Estate by Gordon’s father in wedding day community worker 1912. Their house, built in 1958 and sited at 305m above sea level, Harry Fowler taught Gordon to swim in has expansive views of the ocean and his swimming hole, and to dance in his Byron Bay. It has weathered many storms kitchen, until he was able to waltz carefully along a single board of the polished wood and seen many of life’s ups and downs.

When the farm could not support floor. Harry and his sister Eva were very both Gordon’s parents and the couple’s skilled in ballroom and exhibition dancing, family with six children, Gordon started and often partnered their friends Gordon a business trucking pigs and cattle to the and Nell at dances.

Keenly community-minded all their sale yards in Lismore, which he ran for many decades. On the street outside their lives, Nell and Gordon were always house is an old petrol bowser, measuring involved with the local Anglican Church. A gallons not litres, which has become an people’s warden at the church, servicing people in need in the district, Nell also icon to locals and visitors.

Nell had a keen interest in history and worked regularly at the op shop.

Their old-fashioned values and enduring the past and hung on to documents for years, such as the receipts for the purchase love for each other, their family and of their spotless 1962 Holden E.K. and neighbours, made the Coles an inspiration their trucks. She was well-known in the for a happy marriage. Christobel Munson

TIM MILLER

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in the garden

ballooning problem for landcare

Balloon vine

After a well deserved summer hiatus, the Bangalow landcare group will be back to work on Saturday, 1 February.

Working bees moved to weekly after our near shut-down last year, but a few new members came to the rescue and they have hung in there. We now work every Saturday (weather permitting) starting at 8.30am for an hour or two. The first this year is at the Bangalow Pool Park Wetland to pull weeds. Subsequent working bees are decided week by week. We are always in need of helping hands so if you are looking for a new and very satisfying pastime this year,

please consider joining our team. No great commitment required and a laugh is guaranteed.

As the year closed in 2013 we had been tackling the recent discoveries of large infestations of balloon vine along Byron Creek. This insidious vine grows very quickly, smothering everything in it’s path while producing large amounts of viable wind borne seed. It has since been noted in several places around town so work will continue to try to control it and prevent a much bigger infestation of our creek.

It would certainly help if others would control it wherever it is found. It could very quickly dominate our landscape and, as we are only a handful of workers, we can’t do it all.

Further information about Bangalow Landcare group can be found at www. bangalowlandcare.org.au or contact 66871309 m 0403720950 Liz Gander

Gardening for the future In an earlier article I have written about attracting birds, pollinators, beneficial insects and frogs. I would like in this article to start a conversation on the intrinsic nature of our gardens.

In my view, a garden is there to be shared with countless creatures from the plant and animal realm. A garden is the inter-relationship between organisms: in it lies its beauty and in it lies its meaning.

The difficulty is in creating an artificial place where all those different organisms coexist in a balanced environment.

In the years to come, gardens will have a very important role to play in the conservation and preservation of species.

As the combination of climate change and poor environmental policies takes its toll on a degraded environment, gardens could become oases for biodiversity.

Private gardens, public parks and corporate green spaces could become vital parts of a large scheme linking areas together to create a vast web of integrated corridors. Here plant and animal species could find food and shelter and humans could be reminded of the necessity of all those life forms for physical and mental health, natural and manmade beauty and spiritual wellbeing.

We can start this in our own backyards.

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But for this to be truly working as a vast interlinked web, we need to be able to bring in the local actors such as local governments, town planners, architects. They must come together with the aim of creating what may become a unique effort to preserve our local biodiversity for our children’s future.

Our town parks could be a great place to educate adults and children alike through workshops in bee-keeping, gardening, vegetable and fruit production, planting for wildlife and so much more.

My hope is that this little article can inspire some rethinking of the raison d’être of our gardens and green spaces and follow up actions towards a truly sustainable and bio-diverse future.

In the next articles I will explore ways we can, through planting and planning, promote a bio-diverse environment. I will also talk about what has been done

in Australia and in other countries to achieve those goals.

Patrick Regnault Registered Horticulturist (MAIH) www. facebook.com/Interactive.landscapes

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

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FEBRUARY 2014

FEBRUARY 2014

by appointment only 0405 451 184

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11 11

christmas eve carnival

the 2013 carnival

The four members of the Bangalow Chamber of Commerce Christmas Eve Carnival Committee, Peter Mortimore, Liette Snow, Libby Lund-McDonald and myself, Eva Heath, would like to say a huge and public thank you to those businesses who assisted financially and in kind to make this year’s carnival such a success: Bangalow Cellars, Eden Country Store, The Bangalow Hotel, Ant Packaging, Lend Lease, Beesley & Hughes, Bangalow Lounge, Bangalow Wholesale Nursery, Little Peach, The Italian Diner, Mi Casa Tu Casa, Foodworks, Pantry 29, Windhorse Gallery, Heaths Old Wares, Bare Bones Art Space, Bangalow Newsagency, Bangalow Dining Rooms, Essential Energy, Bangalow Museum and Tea Rooms, Bangalow Hairdressing, Bangalow Post Office, Brauerbirds and Solways.

Thank you to the amazing street performers, the food vans and the ride operators, Santa Vinnie Bleakly and Mrs Lani Claus for her fairy dust and Christmas Cheer, Peta Ericson our fabulous community-minded police lady who also got in and flipped a few burgers with our hard working Lions Club members, Richmond Waste, Bangalow Public School, Tony Buckley and his staff from Byron Shire Council. And to Choir Baby, led by Imogen, for the sweet singing.

Good things come to good people and as Peter Mortimore prepared to sweep the hay off the streets at 5.30 am Christmas Morning and ensure all was in order, his belief in Santa was confirmed as the Byron Shire Council street sweeper truck came over the hill!

And finally a huge thank you to the business operators who have stayed with the Bangalow Chamber of Commerce.

Some may have doubted the significance of membership, or even ceased it. Thank you for coming back and staying with us. Your support is what enables us to continue this fabulous family event.

Eva Heath Photos by Judy Baker and Andrea Sturgeon

12

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

How it started The first Bangalow Christmas Eve Carnival was held in 1962 to raise monies needed to buy lights and ropes for the Bangalow Pool at the Weir. An energetic trio of go-getting ladies, Jean RoseRapmund, Glennis Croswell and Maizey Beckinsale were passionate about their community and the pool.

They approached all of the businesses in Bangalow’s main street to stay open for the evening. The businesses responded by saying if they got council permission of course they would oblige and they did.

The highlight of the evening was a hoop-la table. Prizes for the hoop-la were purchased from local business houses and the funds collected from this stall paid for the prizes. The profits were spent on ropes and lights for the community pool.

The fire chief of the day Mr Fred Parkes ran a chocolate wheel and barbecue and proceeds from this were also donated to the cause.

Other locals set up small stalls selling their wares and treats. The Byron Shire Council of the day was very supportive and assisted in any way they could;

Glennis Croswell and Jean Rose-Rapmund

the main street remained open and any traffic negotiated the carnival with respect and care.

It was not until many years later when a ‘jolly’ local was knocked by a car that the main street was closed for this event.

The local gent was fortunately uninjured but precautions were taken from then on.

This event’s main focus, apart from

raising needed funds, was for locals to meet up and reignite friendships. There were no street performers, parades or bands just a happy vibe of locals coming together to celebrate community.

The committees of the day were the CWA, Red Cross, RSL, Bangalow Public School P&C and the Swimming Pool Team.

Eva Heath

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the person behind the job Sue Daly is another of the Bangalow dynamos successfully juggling the work/ life balance and managing to fit most things in. Her work as a naturopath involves three areas: the dispensary, the clinics and courses of study.

Sue was born in England but spent time in Cyprus and Malaya when her father, a military officer, was posted to these places.

She went from Malaya to boarding school in Perth, aged eight, but after two years her parents came to Australia because the strain of separation from her family was causing her distress.

She has lived in discusses work and Australia ever since, having completed her schooling in Newcastle and an Arts degree at Newcastle University between 1977 and 1980. After a year as a casual teacher she took a permanent appointment at Swansea High for ten years teaching English and History. During this time she married and had two daughters, Bo, now 24 years old and Elle aged 23.

Bo suffered from asthma and a long period of treatments with conventional therapies made little difference. She began treatments with a naturopath and there was an immediate and lasting difference.

Bo now has no health worries at all. Sue followed up her interest in naturopathy, completing further studies including herbal medicine, nutrition and iridology.

Sue came to this area with her husband and undertook extensive renovating on their six acre property. Although no longer married she and her husband remain friends and share their common interest in the girls.

Sue’s original university studies were in English and History and she retains a keen

Crowded Hours Sue Daly, Bangalow naturopath, other interests with Don Brown.

14

interest in reading and writing. “I’m addicted to teaching,” she said, “and my interaction with the students I tutor in reading is a most rewarding aspect of my work. Some of my students I’ve had for years.” She retains a love of the classics and particularly enjoys books with complicated plots and complex characters. Sue also learned to play the piano at her father’s insistence and this is one of the activities she looks forward to taking up again when there are fewer pressures from her work. Her musical taste covers the widest possible range, from blues and jazz to the classics. She also is a keen walker and swimmer and loves practical tasks in home renovation. “I used to enjoy painting and sculpture,” Sue laments, “though these also have to wait for the time being,” Sue really loves her work, but there are difficulties. “I have to be actively part of my dispensary all through each working day so it’s difficult to get time out,” Sue explains.

However her plan for the future is to leave the dispensary work and concentrate on the interactive clinics and courses. This aspect of her work stresses the importance of the personal relationship between patient and health carer. “When I get to the causal level of people’s health I know I can make long term differences for them,” Sue says. “This is what keeps me doing what I do.”

Sue came to Bangalow in the 1970s.

In those days she used to camp up and down the coast. “I told myself I was going to come here to live one day,” says Sue. “I loved the heritage village and the proximity to the coast.” After her children arrived she found that Bangalow was a small community whose social, cultural and environmental values matched her own. “It’s been a great place to raise kids and I’m proud of the way my girls have worked out.”

Bo and Elle are both keen on overseas travel and their mother envies them their ability to take off overseas to experience living and working in different environments. The girls have both spent holiday times in overseas destinations and gained work experience as well. “I’d like to see more of the world, and to spend time in different parts of Australia with Doug, my partner of fourteen years,” she says.” It will happen one day soon.”

I have no doubt that Sue will achieve what she wants to do. She’s that sort of person.

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

Health & Wellbeing Sara Goldie

BSc Hons (Psych) MPsych (Clin) MAPS MACPA

Dr Jane Reffell

Womens Health Doctor (Medicare rebates apply)

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Continence & Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Julie Streckfuss, Bimbi Gray

Osteopathy for Women & Children

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Imelda Johnson

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FEBRUARY 2014

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health and wellbeing

Yoga and ageing Our bodies and minds change as we age.

Our metabolism slows down so we put on weight, lose muscle tone and stamina, our skin changes and our hair changes colour and thins out. We don’t have as much energy or drive as we did when we were younger; the over indulgences of our youth can catch up with us and many people become depressed, not to mention the decrease in sexual drive. So it becomes more important to have a good health routine in place. But cardio exercise can be

Dr Fabio Miranda Dr Eduarda Miranda General & Cosmetic Dentistry Implants & Orthodontics

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a bit hard on the joints and heart.

Yoga has been used for thousands of years in India to help people stay healthy, happy and strong as they age. It is passive exercise so doesn’t impact the joints or heart badly.

Quite the opposite, it keeps joints and heart strong and healthy.

The weight bearing and balance poses keep us strong, improve blood circulation, bone density and balance. The stretching poses keep us supple, our spines and central nervous system healthy and our digestive system clean. The breathing and relaxing techniques keep us happy and calm, our blood stream clean and our central nervous system in balance. Done regularly, yoga gives a sense of health and vitality, increased strength and suppleness, a good posture, ease and grace of movement. It slows down the ageing process, regardless of your age. It can even correct minor health problems.

I have been giving yoga classes in Bangalow and Alstonville for the past 13 years and practising daily for the past 34 years, so have a deep understanding of the yoga system.

My classes are designed to be accessible to anyone of reasonable health. If done regularly they are guaranteed to improve your health and generally make you feel good.

For more info visit www.bangalowyoga. com.au or call 0406 995 656. Michael Stone

FREE CHEGS COURSE COMMENCING 17th FEB. 2014 STEPPING ON - A 7 WEEK FALLS PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR THOSE 65+ BANGALOW Contact CHEGS Coordinator LEE: 0405 617 426 Mary Ward: 02 6620 7523 For more information visit: www.chegs.org.au

bangalow chiropractic • Applied Kinesiology (AK) • Total Body Modification (TBM) • Sacro-Occipital Tech (SOT) • Neuro-Emotional Tech (NET) • Neuro-Organisation Tech (NOT)

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6687 0522 16 16

4 Granuaille Rd Bangalow BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

We always start the New Year with great intentions to improve our health. Perhaps yours was to lose weight or get fitter, maybe it was to de-tox and give up alcohol or tobacco. Was it to have more energy or motivation? To feel and look younger? Be less stressed, more relaxed and playful?

Almost all of this can be achieved just by changing what and how you are eating.

The number one problematic nutritional concern is our dependence on refined sugars and carbohydrates. These foods are in most cases nutritionally depleted and are meant to give us a quick energy fix. If we don’t use up all the fuel they are meant to supply they get stored as body fat for later when we may require them. The problem is we can just keep accumulating the excess and our bodies get larger, more cumbersome and more and more toxins are stored in the waste.

These carbohydrates also have rigid bonds in their chemical make-up which makes the skin less flexible and facilitates ageing.

Sugars and starches also keep our body acidic and prone to inflammation, mess with blood sugar regulation and ultimately affect hormonal interplay.

When I analyse most people’s diets it is amazing how little education there is around protein, which is found in lean meats, eggs, dairy or soy products, nuts, seeds and legumes. We need protein at every meal. It satisfies us whereas carbohydrates don’t. Protein is needed to make the essential building blocks of the body - our cells and tissues, organs, ligaments muscles etc. More importantly they make up our neurotransmitters, the chemical hormones which regulate our mind state and moods. A person with low protein and a high refined carbohydrate diet can be irritable, aggressive, moody and even depressed, let alone tired and overweight.

The third important requirement is to

add plenty of good omega 3-6-9 oils (fatty acids). Deep sea fish, vegetable and nut oils, and of course nuts and seeds are important sources and have significant health benefits. From a weight loss point of view these oils are like the metabolism accelerators. Gone are the days of advocating ‘fat free’. It is important to have these good oils to stop inflammation and nourish the skin. They are important for heart health, joint health and brain health, all of which are important to stave off the long term effects of ageing.

The last important requirement is to eat plenty of low-glycaemic index fruit and vegetables for all our vitamin, mineral and antioxidant requirements. These are essential precursors for all the chemical processes in the body and for a healthy immune system.

Of course each person has specific health challenges which may need individual dietary or supplementary attention but if you can stick to these general principles and at the same time avoid alcohol, tobacco and excessive coffee, you can be the healthy, energetic lean machine you have the potential to be!

Sue Daly www.thebangalownaturopath.com

What are your health intentions for the New Year?

ACCOUNTANT Possum Business Services Rob Campbell CPA

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FEBRUARY February 2014

2014

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www.bangalownursery.com 17 17

housing

A Queenslander Relocation: part1 While out and about in the Bangalow streets, snapping photos for Bangalow’s Heartbeat streetscapes, I too caught the Queenslander relocation bug. Not only can you achieve a low budget character home, it’s just a great way to Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.

My relocation journey began last July.

I found a house privately advertised on www.gumtree.com.au. The house was located near Brisbane and was going to be demolished to make way for a new build.

The demolished house could have been landfill by now. Instead, the owner decided to advertise it.

Buying the house was the easy part.

Speaking to those who have already taken this journey was invaluable and set me off on my path to relocating the house.

I went about things in a backward way.

I bought the house first and then had to rush about finding a suitable patch of land to plonk it on. I discovered a covenant was attached to most land contracts and vendors required substantial bonds upfront when relocating a Queenslander to ensure the house would be completed to a particular standard and within a particular timeframe.

Once I had the land secured, I organised to have the soil tested. At this stage I also made the decision to become an owner builder and completed the required online training courses. Being an owner builder bears more responsibility but when working on a minimal budget it gives the freedom to hire trades according to the least expensive quote.

Next step was hiring a planning and engineering company to draw up plans for the house. This involved such questions as whether to low or high set the house.

It’s also at this step when local council involvement must be considered.

18

My house was a straightforward relocation, requiring minimal alteration. A Development Application fortunately was not required.

Instead my plans had to meet less rigorous scrutiny to be awarded a Complying Development Certificate.

By this stage l was overwhelmed. Acting on advice, I hired the private company Techton Building Services in Ballina to help me through the compliance process. So instead of dealing with local council, I was now dealing directly with Techton and on my way to having compliant house plans.

With house plans finalised and compliant I was issued my owner-builder licence from the Fair Trading NSW office in Lismore.

I now had to engage a relocation company to move the house. There are several to choose from. Some even have houses for sale ready to be relocated. The companies vary in price and vary in the services they provide.

Generally most of the relocation companies pre-relocation will strip the house of any asbestos products, remove the existing roof, cut the house into pieces for transport and gather the required permits to transport the house (this may also include a police escort depending on the width of the load). Post relocation, companies will join the house, pitch the roof, replace the existing roof sheeting or put on new sheeting, and then stump the house. The company I hired was required to clean up the site from which the house was removed. The previous owner of the house provided a demolition certificate allowing the house to be removed from its Brisbane address.

My house is now sitting on the land in Bangalow looking very forlorn on temporary stumps with tarps blowing on its pitched but not yet sheeted roof. Stump holes were dug

using a Dingo stump hole digger and have been successfully inspected

by Techton. Then the Christmas holidays came along and everything stopped!

The project has not been smooth at all and is definitely not for the faint of heart.

If you are considering a Queenslander relocation for the first time it would be worth contacting Kendall Casey, the director of Heritage Designs and Management Pty Ltd. So six months from first viewing the house on Gumtree, relocation is almost over and then renovation fun will begin.

Andrea Sturgeon Costs* to consider when relocating a Queenslander house: •• Purchase of land, including stamp duty and legal costs (varies) •• Possible up front bond ($35,000) •• Purchase of the house (varies) •• Soil testing ($600) •• Owner builder course, including purchasing course content ($303) •• Owner-builder licence ($163) •• House, pest and asbestos inspection ($1175) •• Building services for compliance ($2640) •• Long Service Levy NSW (varies) •• Council fees •• Roads Act inspection ($405) •• Sewerage and waste inspection ($535) •• Stormwater ($330) and •• Water meter ($208) •• Demolition site clearance (varies) •• Excavation for house relocation (varies) •• Relocation and stumping of house (varies) •• Temporary fencing and toilet (varies) •• Roof sheeting, new gutters and downpipe (varies) •• Electrics and plumbing post relocation (varies) •• Fences (varies) •• Landscaping (varies) and Garage/ carport (varies) *The above costs are based on my recent experience but they may vary.

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

readers’ views

Welcome to Bangalow’s Heartbeat 2014 Readership Survey!

This survey is designed to help us improve Heartbeat for readers and advertisers. It takes just a few minutes to complete. Return your readership survey the following ways, 1) Post: Heartbeat Readership Survey, P.O Box 132 Bangalow 2479 2) Return your completed entry into the survey box at the Bangalow Post Office 3) Complete the survey online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/DSMR3D8 Deadline to return completed surveys: March 31 ABOUT YOU What age group are you in?  Under 18   18-24   25-34   35-44   45-54   55-64   65-74   Over 75 Which of the following best describes your current occupation?   A Student   Working Full time   Working Part time   Retired   Other

  Yes - Sometimes   No - Never

The entry with the most helpful suggestions for future development will win a prize (donated by David Collins Jeweller) to the value of

$600

OUR CONTENT What sections of Heartbeat interest you?   Local News   Community Noticeboard   New Horizons   Business and Services   Local events   Local Food   Health and wellbeing   What I’ve been reading   The environment   Useful information and contacts numbers   The arts   Town talk (back page)

Where do you currently live?   Resident in 2479   Northern Rivers   NSW   QLD   VIC   Other State/Territory   Overseas

PREFERENCES: List below those features/topics that you like, don’t enjoy, want more or less of I enjoy best, articles and features about...

READERSHIP How many people in your household read Heartbeat?   1   2   3   4   5 or more

I would like to have more...

How well do you read Heartbeat?   Cover to cover   Pretty well   Flip through   Front page, maybe the back too Do you visit Heartbeat online at www.heartbeat.net.au?   Yes   No

I am not interested in articles and features about...

I would like to have less...

SOCIAL MEDIA Would you like or follow Heartbeat on social media?   Facebook   Twitter Would you subscribe to a Heartbeat online newsletter?   Yes   No Please list your name and contact number if you wish to be eligible for the prize...

Have you ever taken up an offer, or called an advertiser after seeing an ad in Heartbeat?  Yes - Extremely Often   Yes - Quite Often

FEBRUARY 2014 19

what I’ve been reading A novel of the cruelty of war, the tenuousness of life and the impossibility of love.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North

by Richard Flanagan

A funny thing happened at book club the other night! I was giving Barracuda (written by Christos Tsiolkas – the author of The Slap) a particularly bad rap and in the process of telling my cronies how much I disliked it and couldn’t wait for it to be finished, I convinced two of them to read it – go figure!

Richard Flanagan’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North, on the other hand, is an absorbing novel centred round the construction of the Thai-Burma death railway built by prisoners in the Japanese POW camps. Flanagan is an amazing writer adeptly sowing seeds which will germinate on later pages and creating stories of characters which stand out from the central story about Dorrigo Evans, a commander and surgeon in the POW camp. Fellow prisoners call Dorrigo Evans ‘The Big Fella’ on account of his natural leadership skills and his ability to remain humane as he struggles to save the men from starvation, dysentery, cholera and other diseases. Flanagan’s technique of changing narrators enables the reader to be inside the heads of prisoners, prison guards and camp commandants, thus presenting the reader with thought provoking reasons regarding the behaviour of individuals and of combatants at war in general.

This is not a book for the fainthearted: Flanagan’s descriptions of the horror of the POW camps are graphic and horrible and they continue for a fair chunk of the book.

Whilst this novel at times felt like a construction of many short stories, the central character is Dorrigo Evans. We meet him as a young man, engaged to one woman but deeply in love with the wife of his uncle. He departs for war with this issue unresolved and, after the carnage, returns to Australia where he is lauded a war hero, rises to be an esteemed doctor, marries the wrong woman and becomes a serial philanderer. This book goes some way to explaining how this might have happened and the strangeness of it all to Dorrigo, who seems somewhat estranged from the person that people perceive him to be. A very engaging book to read, highly recommended.

Carolyn Adams – Bookworms & Papermites

useful information and contact numbers AA Tues 5.30 Richard 0466 885 820 Angling Club Outing 2nd Sat Ray 6687 1139 Aussie Rules Bill 6687 1485 Aussie Rules Junior Greg 6687 1231 Bangalow Community Alliance (BCA) Terry 6687 2525 Bangalow Markets monthly 4th Sun Jeff 6687 1911 Bridge Fri 12pm Steve 6688 4585 Cancer support 1st Wed 1-4pm Chris 6687 0004 Childcare Centre 7.45am-6pm Kerry 6687 1552 Cricket Club Anthony 0429 306 529 Co-dependents Anonymous Sat 4pm Gye 0421 583 321 CWA 2nd Wed Claire 6687 0557 Garden Club 1st Wed Hazel 6687 8409 George the Snake Man George 0407 965 092 Groundforce Georgia 6629 1189 Historical Society/Museum/Tea Room Wendy 6687 2183 Land/RiverCare 1st Sat working bee Liz 6687 1309 Lawn Bowls, Men Wed & Sat 1pm Gerry 6687 1142 Lawn Bowls,Women Wed 9.30am Dot 6687 1246 Lions Club 2nd/4th Tues 7pm Roger 6687 0543 Mufti Bowls 3rd Sat 9am Lynne 6687 1823 Netball Club train 4.15 Thurs Rachel 6687 0402 Op Shop 10-3pm Sat 10-12 6687 2228 Parks Committee 3rd Tues 7.30pm Jan 6684 7214 Playgroup Tues 10am Sue 0421 030 438 Police Peta 6687 1404 Pony Club Kim 6687 8007 20

Pool Trust 3rd Wed Dominic 6687 1425 Poultry Club Hec 6687 1322 Progress Association Ian 6687 1494 Quilters 2nd,4th Thurs Leonie 6687 1453 Red Cross monthly - 1st Fri Dot 6687 1246 Rugby Union Richard 0415 773 064 S355 C’mtee Heritage House Don 6687 1897 Scouts Tues 6.30pm Jenny 6687 2047 Show Society Karen 6687 1033 Soccer Club 2nd Mon 6pm Nick 6687 1607 Social Golf every 2nd Sun Brian 6684 7444 Sports Association 2nd Wed bi-monthly Brian 6687 1024 Sporting Field bookings Nick 6687 1607 Tennis Court Hire 6687 1803 Writers Group 1st Thurs Alex 0439 304 911 VENUES A&I Hall Station St Brian 0427 157 565 Anglican Hall Ashton St Matthew 0488 561 539 Bangalow Showgrd Moller Pavilion Karina 6687 1035 Sports/Bowling Club Byron St Luke 6687 2741 Catholic Hall Deacon St Russell 0423 089 684 Coorabell Hall Coolamon Scenic Simon 6684 2888 Newrybar Hall Newrybar Village Ian 6687 8443 RSL Hall Station St Charlotte 6687 2828 Scout Hall Showgrounds Jenny 6687 2047 Heritage House Deacon St Don 6687 1897

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

local food

cooking with cec young If you would like to spend a very enjoyable and informative time in the lovely setting of Cec and Dianne Young’s home in Bangalow then enrol in one of Cec’s cooking classes, suggests Lyn Plummer.

Cec is a professional chef with many years of experience cooking on the North Coast. He was born in the Seychelles and was exposed to different styles of cooking including Creole, French and Italian. After moving to Australia Cec completed his qualifications at several well known restaurants in Sydney.

On relocation to the North Coast Cec established his own business, Gourmet Bay, in Byron Bay which featured Asian fusion specialties. After running Gourmet Bay for fifteen years he continued his interest in Asian cuisine and established Bamboo in Bangalow which he ran for three years.

Cec says, “I’m now looking to pass on my extensive culinary knowledge. I love people, food and fine dining and aim to combine all these elements in my cooking classes.”

The cooking classes are limited to six or seven so Cec is able to demonstrate food preparation and cooking and answer any questions the group may have. He has a

very relaxed style so nothing seems rushed or stressed. The menu my husband Greg and I enjoyed was a four course Asian meal with deep fried chicken wontons, chicken wonton soup, crispy whole chilli snapper, Thai style vegetable fried rice and finished off with a delicious sweet black rice with caramelised banana and ginger.

Cec comments that, “Throughout my life I have always sought to highlight the value of locally sourced produce combined with innovative cooking styles that are simple but wholesome and healthy”.

Some of his future classes will include menus for Spanish tapas and paella, easy healthy dinners for busy working people and another on special barbeque meals.

Dianne greets those attending the cooking class with a glass of champagne and at the conclusion of the class everyone moves onto the verandah to enjoy the food and conversation. International and Australian wines are provided to complement the meal.

Cec’s cooking classes will be monthly and are held at 16 Rankin Drive, Bangalow.

The next class will be on Sunday, 16 February. For information email cookinginbangalow@gmail.com or phone 02 6687 1253. Your email will be returned with menu details for the next class.

Cec has a Facebook page and is working on a web page for the future.

INTERACTIVE LANDSCAPES • Landscape Design • Structural Landscaping • Horticultural Consulting

ABN: 96 790 916 133 Lic: 130656C

Patrick Regnault Ph: 6629 1064 Mob: 0408 429 646

www.facebook.com/Interactive.landscapes

RF Byrne Earthmoving Construction & Paving

 Access Roads  Plant Hire - grader etc  Driveway & Car Parks

 Erosion Control  Hot Mix & Bitumen Seal Phone

Dick on 6687 8418 or 0412 831 944 549 Friday Hut Rd Brooklet 2479

21

FEBRUARY 2014 FEBRUARY 2014 21

local sport match last year’s record.

Lubricated or not, the Clunes boys hoe into the run making, one bloke clipping over-pitched deliveries off his toes with the slightest effort, barely leaving the crease as the ball streaks to the boundary.

Unlike some local fields where this version of sub-district cricket is played, Bangalow is a fair sized oval and the heavy grass slows down a well-struck drive. But not enough to dampen the run rate.

Worse is when under-pitched balls are sent to the boundary in one hop, or smacked right over it for six.

Just as it’s looking like the Clunes openers will be there all day, a thought that no doubt appeals to the Clunes drinkers, it is revealed that every batsman must retire at 30 (runs, not years), while no matter how careless/ unlucky/pissed you are, no one can be out for a ‘duck’. The only way you can be removed for nil runs is to get three ducks in a row, a kind of compound hat trick.

If that happens, you will really need a beer or three to handle the shock.

It’s hard to get a proper fix on the rules, except the one to have fun, as even the number of overs seems to be up for discussion, usually 40, but it could be 30.

The more serious prefer the longer form, the thirstier, the latter.

Everyone must bowl three overs, including the wicket keeper who presumably is not required to leave his pads and gloves on, which is a pity as that would add greatly to the theatre and give real meaning to the term ‘duck’.

A lunch break between innings is mandatory and especially welcome at a catered (and licensed) venue like Bangalow. Games take place every three weeks, and the current teams are Bangalow, Clunes, Dunoon, Corndale, and Eltham. New players are always welcome, and should contact Andrew on 0427 942 184, or Billy on 0427 441 556.

If you’re wondering about the result, Clunes (239) defeated Bangalow (160) – scores approximate – but the game of cricket was the clear winner on the day. Alas, I couldn’t last it out: the day was hot and I went home for a cold beer or three, even if I hadn’t scored a triple-duck. Robin Osborne

The game is the real winner A Sunday game of Village Cricket at Bangalow’s home ground.

The pavilion is the verandah of Bangalow Bowling Club, but drinks are not being served at 10am on a Sunday.

This doesn’t deter the visitors from Clunes, proud winners of the previous year’s comp – as they keep reminding me – who have set up a marquee by the oval and already cracked open a few cold ones.

While the Bangalow boys don’t get off scot-free in the alcohol stakes, at least they’re only wearing Coopers t-shirts, donated by the pub, not yet imbibing the amber fluid.

In the best tradition of the English Test team, Bangalow loses the toss and is sent in to bowl. This enables nine of the 11 Clunes players to remain in the marquee’s shade and allow a few cold ones to settle gently, rather than flooding their tummies as they chase around in 30-degree plus heat.

Heaven knows, it’s already hot enough for a cold drink, but there’s a comp to be won, and Clunes is clearly determined to

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BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

local sport

tennis year in review

Local coach Denis Hopking reviews activities in 2013 and earlier at Bangalow Tennis Club, the coaching arm of which is called Bangalow Tennis Academy. Denis has been coaching at the club since 2008.

The Bangalow coaching program has been running for many years with up to 60 students and two coaches in the past.

Many went right through from age 6 to 16 or so. For example the very talented 2012 champions Joel Ashworth (17) and Tahlia Bourke (15). Now, with one coach, and some older students leaving, the numbers are smaller with emphasis more on quality than quantity. The oldest boy is currently 11 and the oldest girl, 14.

The coaching is with Tennis Australia programs. All juniors play Hot Shots tennis, allowing each age group to work with particular-coloured balls that are decompressed and appropriate for them in terms of lower ball bounce. There are also options of lower nets, smaller courts and smaller, lighter racquets. All students are coached according to ability and age and grouped accordingly.

2013 saw the start of a new era of younger players take up the challenge to become Junior Champion. In the girls section Mia Sharman, 12, took on Kasey Basso, 11, in the final. The tennis was of a high standard with good serves and returns, powerful attacking forehands defended with loopy lobs. The match showed a lot of heart from both girls. Congratulations to Mia as 2013 girls champion and Kasey as runner up.

The Boys Championship was also hotly contested in a round robin format. The standard was excellent. Max Schoeman,

11, showed his class, competitive spirit standard. Tennis has even developed a new and ability to turn defence into attack using game: Cardio Tennis – a high-energy tennis good serves to back his game up. Max did workout. This is available to anyone whether not lose a match, becoming the 2013 Boys or not they have played, but requires at least Champion. Runner up and close on his four and up to eight participants. (Women heels was his friend Dylan Kennedy, 11. can burn up to 500 calories in an hour, men Unfortunately this year all doubles matches up to 800!)

The 2014 coaching season begins on had to be cancelled due to rain.

Coaching these students has been a real 3 February at the Bangalow Tennis Club. joy and fulfillment. The amazing part of Contact Denis at deniscoachestennis@ gmail.com and 0406 277 459 for coaching is to see kids learning private or group lessons, racquet to hone their motor skills. This re-stringing or other information. can take up to 10 hours over the year (catching, throwing, hitting, kicking; running, Denis learned tennis from jumping, hopping, skipping; his father on the clay courts of balancing) then, the eye to ball a small copper mining town coordination suddenly kicks in Zambia. He trained as a in, the neurons in the brain are high school teacher in UK formed and all comes together Denis Hopking specializing in the Visual Arts in a collision of creativity. What and sport as a second string. was difficult now becomes easy, what was Since arriving in Australia in 1996 rarely good now becomes proficient. But he has been playing and re learning this is just the start! Tactics have to be learnt, the modern game of tennis. He was mental strength developed and application assistant coach to Justin da Candia, at to agility and fitness training. Not forgetting Mullumbimby Tennis Club, becoming a good healthy diet! a Junior Development Tennis Australia Coaching adults to improve their Coach. He also coaches Bangalow technique can be very quick because and Coorabell Public Schools. of maturity, focus and immediate

Brian Sundstrom understanding. Tennis is a science now.

How to hold the racquet for each stroke, prepare to hit the ball, then complete the action makes for better technique and

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february diary

town talk

A possum’s passion The possum was sprung eating passionfruit on my verandah. Poss off!

Judy Baker

1

Landcare working bee

3

Fitness classes begin

4

Museum and Tea Room open

5

Chamber meeting; Garden Club meeting

7

Bridge Club lessons begin

8

Anna Free and THE RARED

12

CWA meeting

14

Valentine’s Date Night; Renee Simone

15

WIRES course begins; LaSalsa

16

A Letter to my Father

19

Netball sign on

21

Newrybar curry night

22

Hardware clearance auction

23

Bangalow market

26

Netball sign on; Saddle Up

27

Bangalow Networking breakfast

28

Red Cross meeting; RSL AGM Memorial Hall 1.30pm HB deadlines: 12(ads) 17(copy)

Chooks mislaid?

Macadamia Castle The covered outdoor education ‘pond’ stage at the recently upgraded Macadamia Castle. See our report on page 4. Eds

Photo by Judy Baker

For fans missing our Heritage girls – the beautiful and highly productive egg-laying chooks – please note that they have returned from their holiday resort and are back on the job of meeting and greeting our visitors. Wendy Grissell and Trisha Bleakley

Photo by Terry Bleakley

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