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Business and sports identity jailed for historic child sex offences

A Grafton business and sporting identity has been jailed for 15 years after he was convicted of historic child sex offences.

National media outlets have reported Colin Geoffrey Rose, 75, was found to have begun a sexual relationship with a girl, aged 12, in the early 1980s and maintained it for two years.

They said Mr Rose ran an automotive business in the Grafton area for decades and has been a prominent name in the sport of speedway in the region.

The court heard Rose came into contact with the girl when she was 12 and he was 33.

The girl’s parents had divorced and her mother became friends with Rose’s wife.

By early 1980 the girl was going on camping trips with Rose, her brother and Rose’s son, during which he gave the children alcohol, the court heard.

The girl told the court she looked up to Rose as a “father fgure” and “felt comfortable” while around him.

She told the court Rose began having sex with her before she realised what it was

For the next two years it became a regular occurrence for the girl and Rose.

“He just helped himself in; come to my bed, have sex with me and leave,” she told the court.

In her evidence the girl said Rose would have sex with her on camping trips, at her home and on one occasion, under the grandstand at Grafton Speedway.

In delivering his sentence last month, Judge Robert Sutherland said Rose had abused his role as a friend of the family to gain access to the girl.

“He was frequently trusted with the care of the child. He took advantage of her disrupted family life to place himself in a position of trust,” he said.

During the trial Rose said he had only had sex with the girl once and she had been the “aggressive” instigator.

The Judge praised Rose’s victim and said her decision to read her statement to the court showed “considerable resilience and bravery”.

In it she told how she had been left unable to trust people and that her childhood had been stolen.

“My childhood died the day you began your abuse. I mourn the loss of my childhood every day,” she said.

Rose will be eligible for parole in 2031.

Mullumbimby RSL set for Major Makeover

Mullumbimby Ex Services Club is set for a $2.4m makeover

By MARGARET DEKKER

For the first time in its 64-year history, Mullumbimby’s landmark Ex-Services club building in Dalley Street will get a major upgrade, after Byron Shire Council approved plans for the big, $2.365m refurbishment.

It represents the start of a new era for the once-ailing Ex-Services Club, which in four years has climbed out of a $184k red hole – largely through new management, new members and an entertainment push - and into the black.

Andrew Spice, General Manager of the Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club, told The Northern Rivers Times, Council’s green light is vindication the new board – appointed in 2019 – is taking the town’s time-honoured RSL Club “first formed post-war, in a singlehouse building” in the right direction.

“We definitely feel that way, we believe we were in a strong financial position to develop the asset, and we’re obviously putting back to our asset, but wonderfully for the community as well,” Andrew Spice, GM Mullumbimby ExServices Club said.

“We’re reaping the rewards of the hard work put in earlier,” he added.

The approved DA allows ‘alterations and additions’ to the Ex Services Club including minor amendments to the ground floor plan to ensure disability access meets current requirements; partial demolition works ‘at the northern end of the building’; up-grading and re-roofing the existing beer garden; refurbishment of the existing sports bar; provision of new female toilets; change of use of the former squash court to new bar / café area; changing the use of administrative offices to a new restaurant/ café; extending building to provide deck and seating for restaurant/ café; outdoor children’s playground and landscaping.

Andrew Spice told The Northern Rivers Times the multi-million-dollar refurb. will hopefully attract a new generation of patrons including young families to the club, which already boasts a 3,300-strong membership base, as well as providing fresh enjoyment for long-term, existing members. “We hope to have a more ‘trendier’ vibe with the new outdoor beer garden and play area for families, to create a vibrant club but still provide for the traditional club space, hopefully the two demographics will cross,” Andrew Spice General Manager said.

“There’s a lot of belief that the town of Mullumbimby deserves to have a club that’s in a strong financial position and the services that come with being a financially-strong club,” he added.

In supporting the proposal, Byron Shire Council staff concluded the proposal raised ‘no significant issues in terms of environmental impacts which cannot be managed, and the site is considered suitable for the development.’

The Mullumbimby Ex Services Club community was quick to share the news on its social media and quell reports the Club sold assets to fund the multimillion-dollar upgrade.

“Mullumbimby Ex Services Club is definitely back in the black and ready to expand, but just to clarify the Club has not sold off properties to allow a $2.36m upgrade that includes a new retro-themed squashcourt café and children’s playground,” it stated.

Environment the winner as Council and Brunswick Valley Landcare renew partnership

(Left to Right): Sharyn French (Council), Shannon Burt (Council), Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon, BVL volunteer committee member Joanne McMurtry, BVL volunteer committee member Felicity Watsford, Peter Ryan (BVL), Aly Ratcliffe (BVL support offcer), Byron Shire Council General Manager Mark Arnold. Byron Shire Council’s partnership with Brunswick Valley Landcare (BVL) was renewed via Memorandum of Understanding today (Monday 5 September) enabling BVL to continue its invaluable work to support and inspire the community in the restoration and conservation of Byron Shire’s natural environment.

Council’s partnership with BVL first started in 2016 and is renewed every three years.

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon said renewal of the partnership showed Council’s solid and ongoing commitment to the prioritisation of bush regeneration and natural resource management. “Our partnership with Brunswick Valley Landcare has been hugely successful over the years and I extend my sincere thanks to all 280 members of BVL, the two staff members who go above and beyond to deliver excellent outcomes for our Shire and the large numbers of volunteers who step in to help with bush regen, tree plantings, education and all the other grass roots work this amazing organisation does. “I congratulate Brunswick Valley Landcare for their substantial contribution to our environment and encourage everyone who wants to do something practical about Climate Change and biodiversity conservation to get involved with the work BVL is doing,” the Mayor said. Some of the recent projects Brunswick Valley Landcare has been involved in include publication of the Climate Resilient Landscapes guide, the Hunks of Mullum project in which Tallowwood tree hollows have been lovingly reshaped to provide shelter for a huge range of native animals, numerous bush regeneration projects including Mooibal Spur Corridor, Tallowood, Broken Head Corridor and regenerative farming soil and water projects with regional farmers. Brunswick Valley Landcare’s Vice President Sue Haining said she was proud to continue the partnership with Byron Shire Council. “We are fortunate to have forged strong and mutually beneficial relationships with Council and its staff over many years. “There is much work to be done and so many ways in which we can assist our community, be they from schools, individuals, landholders, farmers, and other community groups. “BVL exists for community, and this MOU allows BVL to more effectively operate in many ways, including better administrative facilities, communications, media, inter-relationships and access to sophisticated mapping and bio-data to assist community,” Ms Haining said.

Rural Landholders Grant closing soon

LISMORE MP Janelle Saffn says food-affected rural landholders who do NOT earn ffty percent of their income from primary production only have until September 30 to apply for funding.

The Rural Landholders grant of up to $25,000 is for landholders and aquaculture farmers who don’t qualify for existing programs because they don’t meet the requirement that they make 50% of their income from primary production.

Funding is available to those impacted by the

LISMORE MP Janelle Saffn foods from February 2022 onwards in the Northern Rivers region and in Tenterfeld Shire.

To be eligible you must normally be charged rates under the Local Land Services Act 2013 on a property of at least 10 hectares, or hold a Class A Aquaculture Permit for a lease on at least 1 hectare.

Applicants must also: • not receive the majority of their income from primary production • be in a LGA declared as a natural disaster approved for this program • hold an Australian business number (ABN) • earn no more than $180,000 from gross off-farm income • not have gross off farm assets exceeding $5 million (excluding superannuation) • have been active in primary production at the time of the declared natural disaster event and plan to re-establish or continue the primary production enterprise • be able to demonstrate costs and proof of payment for clean-up activities, losses or damages from the disaster. https://business.gov. au/grants-and-programs/ rural-landholders-grantnsw

REGISTER FOR THE AT-HOME CARAVAN PROGRAM

The successful at-home caravan program will be expanded to include residents in 15 areas across the Ballina, Lismore and Tweed local government areas (LGAs).

Flood-affected residents will be able to register for a caravan to be placed on their own property in the following areas: • Ballina, East Ballina, Empire Vale, Keith Hall, Patches Beach and West Ballina • East Lismore, North Lismore and South Lismore • Burringbar, Chinderah, Condong, Mooball, South Murwillumbah and Tumbulgum.

Caravans will be sourced from Camplify, and located on the resident’s private property at no cost, with properties assessed during a face-to-face application process between owners and Resilience NSW to ensure it can safely accommodate a caravan.

Residents can register for the at-home caravan program this week at: • Ballina Indoor

Sports Centre, 63

Cherry Street • Wednesday 7 and Friday 9 September between 9am and 4pm • Lismore recovery assistance point,

Harold Fredericks carpark • Tuesday 6

September between 9am and 4pm • Murwillumbah

Civic Centre, 10-14 Tumbulgum

Road • Thursday 8

September between 9am and 4pm

Find out more about the at-home caravan program and other temporary housing solutions for foodaffected residents at https://www.nsw.gov. au/temporary-housing

MEET WITH YOUR INSURER

The Insurance Council of Australia and insurers will be in Ballina this month to meet with customers impacted by the severe storms and fooding that hit our region in February/March.

When: Wednesday 21 September 2022, 12pm to 8pm

Where: Ballina RSL, 1 Grant St, Ballina

If you can’t make it to this in-person meeting, virtual consultations are also available.

Bookings are essential for both the in-person and virtual meetings at www.insurancecouncil. com.au/Bookings

MOBILE VISIT TO BALLINA

The NSW Government’s Flood Property Assessment team and Resilience NSW will be visiting Ballina this week in the mobile registration vehicle.

The team will be at the Missingham Park carpark, Ballina from 9am to 3pm on Friday 9 September 2022.

They can assist residents, businesses and primary producers with accessing: • A free property assessment, including an inspection report and repair schedule with estimated costs. • If required, an electrical make safe and structural inspection. • Free property demolition if applicable and only with the property owner’s consent.

You can also register for the program by calling 13 77 88 or by visiting the Service NSW website.

FLOOD RECOVERY BUSES

Three food recovery shuttle bus services are operating to the Distribution Hub on Gallans Road, Ballina: • 693 Wollongbar Sports Fields to Ballina • 694 South Ballina to Ballina 695 Camp Drewe and Lennox Head to Ballina