The Northern Rivers Times Edition 133

Free Artist Talk and Improvised Sonic Performance at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery this January

The Northern Rivers Community Gallery (NRCG) launches its 2023 Public Programs this January with a free after hours inconversation event with exhibiting artist Marian Tubbs and ABC Radio National presenter Daniel Browning. This will be followed by a live improvised sound performance by Eora/ Sydney-based electronic and mixed-media artist Laura Hunt.

Commencing in the Gallery at 3pm on

Saturday 21 January, Bundjalung and Kullilli man Daniel Browning – an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, documentary maker, sound artist and writer, will provide unscripted insight into Marian’s exhibition Reversible Destiny, on display at NRCG from 11 January

Marian Tubbs

until 5 March 2023, and delve into her practice and career.

This is the frst solo exhibition Marian has held in the Northern Rivers since moving her practice to the region in 2019. Since relocation she has participated in multiple themed exhibitions, curated exhibitions of

Laura Hunt

emerging artists and has overseen three graduation exhibitions as Course Coordinator of the Bachelor of Art and Design at Southern Cross University.

The artist talk will be followed by a live, improvised, ambient, sonic performance by electronic musician and mixed media artist, Laura Hunt. Building on her fve-year relationship of creative and technical collaboration with Tubbs, Hunt will draw samples from the soundtrack to Marian’s video work, and perform a live, improvised collaboration within the

Daniel Browning

Daniel Browning

Gallery space.

Tubbs and Hunt met in 2017 whilst DJing at an art festival in Tasmania, and since then have formed a collaborative relationship across forms and creative mediums, exhibiting together, swapping creative and technical expertise, and learning about permaculture farming in the Northern Rivers.

Date: Saturday 21 January 2023 Time: 2.30pm (doors open) 3.00pm In Conversation with Marian Tubbs and Daniel Browning 4.30pm Sonic Performance by Laura Hunt Where: NRCG, 44 Cherry Street, Ballina Ages: All welcome Cost: Free (registrations not required)

SITE SELECTED FOR GRAFTON EMERGENCY HUB

A new Fire Control and Emergency Operations Centre will be built at Clarence Valley Regional Airport thanks to an $8.5 million investment by the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke joined Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis and Rural Fire Service (RFS) Acting Deputy Commissioner Kelly Quandt to unveil the Centre’s location.

“Having a Fire Control Centre and Emergency Operations Centre co-located will make an enormous difference to the way our emergency services personnel from the RFS, but also other agencies including the SES, Fire and Rescue NSW and Police are able to respond to fires, floods, storms and a range of other emergencies,” Ms Cooke said.

“It will provide our volunteers and staff with modern, purpose-built facilities essential to the coordination and management of hazards to keep Grafton and the surrounding communities safer and stronger into the future.”

Once construction is completed, the facility will consist of:

• An operations and logistics centre;

• Administration offices;

• Training rooms;

• Storage space; and

• Vehicle bays.

Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said the region is no stranger to natural disasters, with the ferocious fires early in the 2019-20 Black Summer as well as last year’s flooding having a devastating impact on

lives, livelihoods and the environment.

“Some of our State’s most experienced emergency service volunteers and staff are based in our community and they deserve the very best facilities and resources, which I’m proud the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is delivering,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“I want to thank Clarence Valley Council who have worked with the RFS to identify the best potential site for develop this state-of-theart facility.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner Quandt said the new facility will replace the existing Fire Control Centre at Ulmarra, which is no longer fit-for-purpose.

“When a major disaster strikes, it is critical all the relevant agencies can come together to coordinate their activities to protect and assist the community,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Quandt said.

“The new centre will ensure the more than 1,100 volunteers from Brigades across the RFS’s Clarence Valley District have access to the latest technology and equipment to support their work.”

Design work is now underway and construction will commence later this year.

In response to the independent Bushfire Inquiry following the Black Summer fire season, the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has invested $71 million in eight new Fire Control Centres in high fire risk areas across the State.