A fairy tale romance that doesn’t promise a happily ever after

By Samantha Elley

Author: Gillian Wells

Publisher: Shawline

Publishing Group

Retail: $24.95

When Stephen, a mysterious and charming gentleman, turns up in the remote English village, all tongues are wagging. But his attention is set squarely on Julie, a widow who runs the local forist. She is swept off her feet by this charismatic man and introduces him to her family.

Julie’s twin grown-up sons are not so enamoured and are suspicious of his true intentions. It seems that decisions are taken out of their hands, however, when Julie and

Stephen travel to Australia to enjoy a travelling holiday down under.

The trip soon turns into Julie’s worst nightmare when Stephen shows his true colours and she must fght, not only to get out of the situation she fnds herself in, but also for her life.

In an interesting twist, the twins receive some information that will change their lives forever and may also provide answers to some family secrets.

To follow through with the information they receive and fnd out more, one of them must also head to Australia.

Will this change of affairs, however, be too late to save Julie from her dire circumstances?

Will there be any kind of happy ending for the family?

To order your copy today, go to www.shawline publishing.com.au

But in January the Department of Regional NSW informed the council the grant transfer would not happen and the money had to be spent on the Treelands Drive Centre.

In the meantime a competing options had emerged for the council’s Option A, which called for the demolition of the existing centre, replacing it with a larger complex including a library.

There had been signifcant community opposition to this plan.

Part of the funding strategy for Option A had included the sale of the Wooli St Hall and neighbouring library to help pay for the project.

Another proposal, Option B, emerged as vocal elements of the Yamba community vented their feelings.

They felt knocking down a 24-year-old building to erect a socalled “Taj Mahal” in its place was unnecessary. They also wanted to keep the Wooli St Hall as a community centre. Option B allowed for improvements to the centre, including a library as well as retaining the community zone for the Wooli St Hall. In December last year the council resolved to do it.

At Tuesday’s meeting council’s general manager Laura Black presented a report in which she called for the council to reaffrm its support for Option A, which required the council to rescind part of its resolution at the December 2022 meeting.

Deputy Mayor Cr Greg Clancy immediately disputed this. He pointed out a rescission motion needed the signatures of three councillors and needed to be delivered to the council seven days before the meeting.

But Mayor Ian Tiley said he had anticipated this and requested Ms Black to seek advice from the Offce of Local Government about the legitimacy of such a motion.

Cr Tiley said the council received this reply from the OLG on the morning before the meeting.

“Our view I that Section 372 only applies to a situation where a councillor is seeking to alter, amend or rescind a previous decision of the council,” Cr Tiley read out.

“It does not apply to a situation, where because of changed circumstances a staff report is put up recommending the alteration or rescission of an earlier decision.

“I therefore rule there is no point of order.”

Cr Clancy moved a motion of dissent at the ruling.

He said the rescission motion was invalid because it did not include any new information

“Nothing has changed regarding that motion, not a single thing,” he said.

In a foretaste of things to come, Crs Tiley, Karen Toms, Steve Pickering, Bill Day, Debrah Novak and Alison Whaites voted against the the motion of dissents. Crs Clancy, Peter Johnstone and Jeff Smith were in favour.

In debate Cr Toms was a passionate advocate of Option A.

She described the proposed centre as “aspirational” and said the existing centre had never been ft for purpose and attempts to fx it would never ft in with the long-term growth of the Yamba area.

She also said the council risked losing its $11.1 million BLER funding should council continue with Option B.

Cr Toms also answered critics who claimed council had never voted to demolish the existing building.

She said there had been two votes on the matter in 2018 where council had voted to demolish the building.

Cr Pickering also spoke for the rescission motion.

He argued no amount of retroftting of a building built to 1999 standards would be suitable in 2023.

Not all the support was as enthusiastic.

Cr Bill Day said he had to explain why he would be comfortable wearing a new nickname of Turncoat because he had changed his mind on the matter.

He said he had looked at the advice from the OLG yesterday and it was a “game changer” for him.

He said the grant funding was tied to the a specifc project and he could not countenance the council losing an $11.1 million funding opportunity.

Cr Jeff Smith questioned if changes to a project did threaten its grant status.

He noted Maclean Community Precinct Project, which also attracted BLER funding, had changed direction several times, without its funding being questioned.

During the debate it became obvious which way the council was heading and when a vote was called it went 6-3 in favour of the rescission and the reinstatement of Option A.

A community group, Yamba Community Action Network, had supported Option B and had a contingent of members in the gallery and they responded with laughter as Cr Toms spoke.

After the meeting the groups secretary Lynne Cairns said the group which had submitted petitions with more than 500 signature supporting Option B was devastated at the decision.

She said the group would continue to oppose the decision.

ONE of the strangest and most overlooked quirks of human psychology is the way in which we refer to the topic of our (non-physical) emotional responses, as feelings. Upon face value, the word has a clear, albeit concrete association with the everpacing monarch of the five senses – touch. But in the realm of thought, not one single clump of substance makes physical contact with anything of three-dimensional actuality.

The essence of this interactional truth is somehow reiterated, if not fully conjured in the oft-heard child’s chant, “sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” But hurt us they often do, and perhaps that is where the crossover happens – we physically experience or feel stress and pain when they’re allowed to manifest inside us.

Equally so, are feelings of joy, appreciation and happiness. In a way, nothing compares to these swift chariots that transport human consciousness across all conundrums to the fabled realms of peace and harmony, that eventually coalesce into the blur of utter bliss. Lucky are those that reside in this most elevated of emotional spheres.

Albert Schweitzer, the former winner of a Nobel Peace Prize, once very admirably said, “The interior joy we feel when we have done a good deed is the nourishment the soul requires.” Which is a sentiment self-explanatory enough; but what I’ve wrestled with over the years are the actions of those seemingly motivated by feelings that slink up from the other end of the goodwill continuum.

What drives those that go out of their way to upset others; what degree of self-loathing must you have to delight in bringing about the suffering of your fellow person? Maybe the American surgeon Bernie S. Siegel came close to revealing something of an explanation by noting, “We destroy ourselves when we stop feeling. If you bury your feelings within you, you become a graveyard.” ⁠

Thus, keeping ourselves most alive or living as best we can, is the result of not letting our feelings die through them being outright dismissed. After all, as Audre Lorde once gleaned, “Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge.” Paths we ought to ensure are not obstructed, albeit haunted by the neglected ghosts of our personal regrets, failings and frustrations.

In my experience, those most in touch with their feelings have been the ones that are genuinely considerate of others. A trait of truly well-rounded people is that they put the feelings and importance of others on the same equal footing as their own. Which is a notion touched upon by the American coaching icon, John Wooden, who once said, “Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.”

To get through life as an individual that feels deeply and does the most constructive things as a result, is to have led a life worthy of the highest admiration and praise.

‘The best playgrounds ever’ have opened in the Tweed

A bird’s eye view of the new Livvi’s Place at Goorimahbah Place of Stories, at Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Tweed Heads.

By MARGARET DEKKER

attractions.

Mayor Chris Cherry said she was excited to see the community embrace Livvi’s Place at ‘Goorimahbah - Place of Stories,’ turning it into a destination.

“It has breathed new

The play space celebrates local cultural heritage with Indigenous artwork and storytelling centred around a theme of ‘play’ and an Aboriginal calendar celebrating six seasons. Inground trampoline, carousel and basket swing and new accessible seating, drinking fountains, BBQs and larger picnic facilities are just some of the new physical

A bird’s eye view of the new Livvi’s Place at Goorimahbah Place of Stories, at Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Tweed Heads.

life into Jack Evans Boat Harbour and is a signifcant step in the transformation of the Tweed into a vibrant regional centre that champions good design, the environment and cultural heritage to create attractive and diversify public spaces,” Cr Chris Cherry said.

Justine Perkins OAM, founder of the Touched by Olivia Foundation, was proud to add the new Tweed play space to a national network of inclusive ‘Livvi’s Places,’ created in memory of her baby daughter Olivia who lost her life in 2006 to a rare Lymphatic Malformation at 8-months.

“The Livvi’s Places that have opened around Australia have shone a light on the importance of play, as not only a fundamental building block in a child’s development, but as a medium by which people of all ages can connect,” The Touched by Olivia Foundation states.

“We love that Livvi’s Place has found a home

Feeling what you feel…by Nigel n n Ballina Exclusive Company 02 6681 6038 www.BallinaExclusiveCompany.com.au

Dawe Ballina’s only legal brothel. Private and clean. Open 7 days 10am til very late Call in 34 Piper Dr, Ballina at Goorimahbah Place of Stories,” Justine Perkins said.

Work on Stage 2 of Goorimahbah is now underway, including a youth recreation area, landscaping, yarning circle, and Aboriginal memorial wall. New state funding will also help improve beach access for swimming at Jack Evans Boat Harbour.

Fingal Foreshore Park

The new, revamped Fingal Foreshore Park has also opened in the Tweed, refecting Fingal Head’s rich history and character ‘through art, play and interpretive signage with a natural look to blend into the surrounds.’

The play space was designed to encourage free, nature-based play and is adorned with many natural elements to tie in with the beautiful surrounds of Fingal Head.

The park is located on the Fingal foreshore, near Fingal Rovers Surf Life Saving Club.

Your pleasure is our business...