Byron Bay
THE TWEED
Writers Festival
Volume 2 #47 Thursday, August 5, 2010 Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 editor@tweedecho.com.au adcopy@tweedecho.com.au www.tweedecho.com.au
PROGRAM LIFTOUT IN CENTRE PAGES
LOCAL & INDEPENDENT
Nine runners in race for Richmond Luis Feliu
Nine candidates, including four independents, were officially declared to stand for the seat of Richmond in the upcoming federal election, in one of the biggest fields of candidates in years. The Australian Electoral Commission’s (AEC) Richmond returning officer Michael Averay officially announced the nominations at his Tweed Heads office last Friday before conducting the draw for positions on the official ballot paper for the August 21 election. The Liberal Party candidate, Joan van Lieshout, of Banora Point, drew the numberone spot on the ballot paper, giving her the ‘donkey vote’, where votes are cast in the order they appear. At the last federal election, local party scrutineers reported around 500 donkey votes cast, which, with over 80,000 voters enrolled, did not make much of a difference. Sitting Richmond MP Justine Elliot, of Fingal Head, drew second spot on the ballot paper, the Greens’ Joe Ebono, 51, a manager from Mullumbimby, drew eighth spot while the last position was filled by independent Stephen Hegedus, 33, a lawyer from Byron Bay. Cr van Lieshout, 61, a former Tweed mayor, was not present for the draw, neither was Mrs Elliot or independent Matthew Hartley, 40, a filmmaker from Byron Bay. The other candidates to nominate are: the Nationals’ Alan Hunter, 61, a company director from Mullumbimby and the party’s Richmond chairman; the Democrats’ David Robinson, 32, a poultry farmer from Alstonville; Hastings Point educational consultant and campaigner against bad development, Julie Boyd (Independent), 51; and Nic Faulkner (Independent), 55, a research consultant, from Brunswick Heads. In the 2007 contest, seven candidates ran in Richmond with Mrs Elliot receiving 35,699 primary votes, Sue Page (Nationals) 30,134, and Giovanni Ebono (Greens) 12,168. Q More election news, right and on page 4
Jarrad patrols for success Kate McIntosh
Even a bad day at the ‘office’ is a good one for Cudgen’s Jarrad Cain, who was recently named NSW Lifeguard of the Year. The Tweed lifeguard supervisor beat out 11 other hopefuls to take out the honour at the 2010 Surf Life Saving Awards held on July 25. The awards recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions by surf lifesaving clubs and their members across the state. Former state manager of Australian Lifeguard Service, Stephen Leahy, nominated Jar-
rad for the accolade on behalf of the Tweed Shire Council in recognition of his outstanding efforts in keeping Tweed Coast beaches safe. During his six-year career as a professional lifeguard, Jarrad has been involved in numerous search and rescue operations which have required him to put his emergency first-aid training into practice. Even so, the modest 23-year-old said the award came as a shock. ‘I didn’t think there was any way I’d win it, [but] it’s a real honour,’ he said. Jarrad said he relished the challenges of the
Greens go for broke in lower house The Greens party will run its biggest campaign to date, with local candidates in all of the state’s 48 lower house seats. Greens lead Senate candidate for NSW, Lee Rhiannon, said there was ‘a good prospect that the Greens’ vote will grow once again’. ‘Our candidates offer voters a real alternative to the blancmange being served up by the major parties, especially on climate change and refugees,’ said Ms Rhiannon, who resigned last
month as an MLC from the NSW Parliament to run in the federal campaign. ‘Our lower house candidates are well connected with their local Greens group and community and environment groups. Their backgrounds are diverse, including union organisers, small business owners, artists, school principals, lawyers, environmental campaigners, retirees, authors and full-time parents. continued on page 4
job and the opportunity to work in the great outdoors. ‘I get to go to the beach everyday. There’s not too many bad days and even when there is that’s what gets me through,’ he said. Originally from Ipswich, Jarrad developed a love of the beach early on, learning to surf when he was nine while on family holidays to the Tweed Coast. He joined the nippers at age 11 after the family relocated to Cudgen, and later cemented his dream of becoming a fully fledged lifeguard following a rigorous training process. Since then Jarrad has patrolled beaches stretching from Palm Beach to Ballina and is now based permanently at Kingscliff ’s Salt Beach. He said people skills, physical ability and confidence were vital qualities for any lifeguard. ‘You’ve got to be able to talk to people and have confidence in yourself and in your training,’ he said. Jarrad is now in contention for the Australian Lifeguard of the Year award to be announced in Sydney next month. Photo Jeff Dawson
In the 2010 Federal election
Who’s the best bet for our children’s education?
Greens
Labor
Coalition
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ET DIS
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These conclusions are based on policy statements. For full details visit www.nswtf.org.au. Authorised by Peter Wilson, Acting General Secretary, NSW Teachers Federation, 23-33 Mary Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
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