The Northern Rivers Times Edition 142

By MARGARET DEKKER

In a landslide victory for the new Minns’ Labor Government at the NSW polls last weekend, Northern Rivers voters have instead stuck to their guns – and their incumbent Greens and Nationals MPs - in Ballina and Tweed.

At the Suffolk Park Hotel on Saturday night, there were jubilant scenes as early

primary votes. Ms Smith told The Northern Rivers Times she’s confident after securing 40.51% of the total vote, polling strongly in Bangalow, Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads. Back in the office on Monday, Tamara Smith MP said she feels vindicated her ‘constituentfocussed’ approach to representation is recognised by the people

THE ALP WAY

Tamara Smith is also “delighted” but serious about working with a new, progressive ALP Government, particularly on its commitments to renewable energy, lessening coal mining and logging of native forests, and controlling escalating land-clearing which threatens biodiversity.

“This next four years is going to be very, very testing. We want to push Labor at every turn,” Ms

remain. On the current public sector wage cap, The Greens want the Minns Government to go one further and not only remove the cap but grant pay rises across the sector. Ms Smith also wants to champion gambling and addiction reforms, and a broader acceptance of medicinal cannabis.

“With so much regional representation on the cross bench, we should see better outcomes for Regional New South Wales,” she said.

Top of Tamara Smith’s own list ‘for my first 100-days back in office,’ is to ensure the next $100-million of promised flood recovery funding is paid to her constituents.

She will also continue pushing for legislation banning Short Term Holiday Letting in LGAs with less than 3-percent vacancy rate and wants more done locally on renewable energy.

“Let’s get the renewable boom happening now!” she said.

Tamara Smith MP also praised her electorate office team as “absolute legends,” who she says have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for the people of Ballina.

“They have worked so hard through bushfires, flood and pandemic, I cannot overestimate the work the team has done,”

Tamara Smith, The Greens’ Ballina MP said.

counted.

However, the stalwart Nationals MP is likely to retain the seat he’s held since 2007, having already secured 41.27% of the formal vote (at the time of going to print.)

Geoff Provest’s likely fifth term in office as the Tweed MP speaks to his enduring appeal to, and the conservative bent of the people of the Tweed. ALP candidate Craig Elliot was running second with 30.44% of the formal vote followed by The Greens’ Ciara Denham with 13.74%.

Geoff Provest Tweed MP declined to comment.

results for The Greens’ Tamara Smith in Ballina indicated the incumbent was well on-track to retaining her seat with more than 10-thousand

of Ballina, “I’m humbled and grateful for the community’s support,” Tamara Smith, The Greens’ Ballina MP said.

Smith said.

Tamara Smith is also buoyed by a “huge” new crossbench of mostly progressive MPs, as big cost-of-living challenges

“Labor didn’t make a written commitment to that, which is concerning,” Tamara Smith, The Greens’ Ballina MP said.

In the Tweed, incumbent MP Geoff Provest would not be drawn on his likely victory until it’s formally declared once pre-poll and postal votes are

For the latest and a full breakdown of NSW election results, visit www.elections.nsw.gov.

au

The new, 58th Parliament of New South Wales is due to sit in May.

All smiles; The Greens Ballina MP Tamara Smith (2nd left) with her supporters on Saturday

NSW Premier elect Chris Minns with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrating in Sydney on Saturday night

Too close to call in the Tweed but incumbent, Geoff Provest of The Nationals, is confident

New face for the Clarence, but status quo held across Northern Rivers

By SAMANTHA ELLEY

There is a new kid on the block after last weekend’s NSW state election, although looking across the electorates of the Northern Rivers, there were no changes to the parties that had held the seats before Saturday.

Richie Williamson is the new face for the Nationals in the Clarence electorate, taking the baton from retiring MP Chris Gulaptis.

“I am a little tired but as far as the campaign goes, it is very humbling to see the level of support I had in the Richmond and Clarence Valleys, as did the Nats across the electorate,” said Mr Williamson.

Although not officially taking up his duties until April 16 when the polls will be declared, Mr Williamson is keen to get the ball rolling.

“I congratulate Chris Minns on winning the election on Saturday, and once the new government is bedded down, I will be dealing with some issues to get resolved,” he said.

Among the list of issues Mr Williamson wants to tackle, are flood recovery and the redevelopment of

Grafton Hospital.

“With flood recovery, this is very important for many people still dealing with it,” he said.

“I will be impressing on whichever minister the importance of it. Communication is the key here.

“Also, the former government was committed to the redevelopment of Grafton Hospital, so I will be very keen to talk to the new minister and impress on them the importance of this for our community.”

Mr Williamson said he will be ensuring he is visible in all parts of the electorate moving forward.

“I think I will be more of a high visibility member.

“I really want to engage in all sections of the community. Not that Chris didn’t, he was a quiet achiever.

“I want to be more engaged in the sporting clubs, chambers of commerce and CWAs.

Sustainable Australia Party – Stop

Overdevelopment/ Corruption 1.16%

Other 8.55%

CLARENCE

Animal Justice Party

1.97%%

Labor 23.3%

Socialist Alliance

0.23%

Elizabeth Farrelly

Public Education Party 0.36%

Informed Medical Options Party 0.68%

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers 4.33%

Legalise Cannabis

Party 4.97%

One Nation 4.79%

The Greens 17.37%

Sustainable Australia Party – Stop

“I am planning to hold ‘hot’ offices in Casino and Evans Head so if there are constituents with issues, instead of talking on the phone or driving to Grafton, I will be more visible in those areas at least once a month,” he said.

Mr Williamson is no stranger to the political world, having been mayor of Clarence Valley from 2008 to 2016 and had only left local council in 2021.

“Chris (Gulaptis) has left a terrific legacy and he was a hard worker, quiet achiever and I wish him and Vicki all the success in their retirement,” he said.

“I enjoy that side of politics and I will be forging these relationships.” Summary

Rivers (as at 27th March, 2023)

BALLINA

Animal Justice Party

2.51%

Labor 23%

Socialist Alliance

0.25%

Elizabeth Farrelly

Independents 1.12%

Liberal/Nationals

21.38%

Liberal Democrats

1.48%

Public Education Party

0.38%

Informed Medical Options Party 1.13%

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers 2.38%

Legalise Cannabis Party 4.04%

One Nation 4.01%

The Greens 28.6%

Independents 0.76%

Liberal/Nationals

31.79%

Liberal Democrats

1.38%

Overdevelopment/ Corruption 0.69%

Other 9.73%

TWEED

Public Education Party

0.74%

Informed Medical Options Party 0.45%

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers 8.02%

Legalise Cannabis Party 6.27%

One Nation 7%

The Greens 6.14%

Sustainable Australia Party – Stop

Overdevelopment/ Corruption 0.9%

Other 8.05%

Lismore

Animal Justice Party

2.03%

Labor 30.81%

Socialist Alliance

0.33%

Elizabeth Farrelly

Independents 0.64%

Liberal/Nationals

22.06%

Liberal Democrats

1.21%

Animal Justice Party

2.42%

Labor 28.65%

Socialist Alliance

0.32%

Elizabeth Farrelly

Independents 0.58%

Liberal/Nationals

29.38%

Liberal Democrats

1.82%

Public Education Party 0.56%

Informed Medical Options Party 0.6%

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers 1.91%

Legalise Cannabis

Party 4.52%

One Nation 5.08%

The Greens 11.8%

Sustainable Australia Party – Stop

Overdevelopment/ Corruption 1.15%

Other 11.21%

CLARENCE STICKS WITH NATIONALS

By TIM HOWARD

Clarence voters have resisted the state-wide swing that has swept a Labor government into power for the first time in 12 years.

The retirement of sitting member Chris Gulaptis had a negligible effect on polling day, with his replacement, Richie Williamson, elected with 47.45% of the first preference vote.

Mr Williamson’s tally of 11,703 at the close of counting on Saturday night more than doubled the votes of his nearest rival, the ALP’s Leon Ankersmit, on 5500 (22.3%).

With 18610 pre-poll and 4424 postal votes yet to be counted, the margins could change without changing the result.

Voters in Clarence have bettered the state average in voting early.

By the close of early voting on Friday 18610

Clarence voters – 32% of those registered – had already cast their ballots. In addition there 4424 postal votes.

The ABC’s election guru Antony Green said the state’s final pre-poll vote total was 1,566,493 pre-poll votes representing 28.4% of enrolment. This was up from 21.5% of all votes in 2019.

There have been 540,208 postal votes applied for and despatched to voters representing 9.8% of enrolment. Postal vote applications closed earlier this week.

A total of 92,077 postal votes have been returned representing 17.0% of postal vote applications or 1.7% of enrolment.

Mr Williamson, who served eight years as Clarence Valley Mayor between 2008 and 2016, had an earlier, unsuccessful tilt at the seat as an independent in 2011.

He was born and has grown up in the Clarence Valley in the village of Coutts Crossing, south of Grafton.

M Williamson has a political pedigree with his father Peter Williamson serving as mayor of Pristine Waters Council from 2002 to 2004.

Mr Williamson’s intention to run at this election was one of the worst kept secrets in the Clarence Valley.

The Nationals preselected him in October after Mr Gulaptis revealed in August last year, he would to retire at the next election.

Mr Williamson said the Nationals ran “a disciplined, well funded and well-messaged campaign” in Clarence said he was both humbled and proud to represent Clarence

Valley and Richmond Valley.

Like outgoing premier Dominic Perrottet, who was gracious in his concession speech to Labor leader Chris Minns, Mr Williamson said he was pleased the campaign in Clarence was conducted without rancour and personal attacks.

“There were strong points of difference between the candidates representing the major parties,” he said.

“We were each able to put our respective points of view across without personal attack, which I might add, is what I think the public wants from their politicians and wannabe politicians.”

Mr Williamson said the early voting figures were an indication election day was losing its relevance in the

electorate.

“Nearly half the electorate appears to have voted early in Clarence,” he said.

“I think this is something the Electoral Commission must look at.

“If people are going to vote early, there needs to be more early voting places to make it easier for people to vote ahead of election day.

“Ideally if we can sort out online voting so it can be done without worries about its integrity, that would be even better.”

Mr Williamson said working from from the Opposition benches would not change he commitment to get the most he could for the electorate.

He said his first order of business would be to meet with the Northern

Rivers Reconstruction Corporation’s David Witherdin to get an update on the progress of rebuilding the region.

He said residents deserved to know where they stood with the corporation Mr Witherdin how important it was to communicate with their clients.

But he said the first thing he did on Sunday was start up the mower and whipper snipper tp clean up his yard, which had been sadly neglected in the previous few weeks.

Counting of postal, absentee and pre-poll voting continued from Monday. Figures can be found on the NSW Electoral Commission website: https://elections. nsw.gov.au .

The Nationals candidate for Clarence Richie Williamson casts his vote for the NSW Lower and Upper houses at the Grafton High School multi-purpose centre on Saturday. Mr Williamson was elected as the new Member for Clarence to replace retiring member Chris Gulaptis.

It is a huge irony that a year on from the devastating floods that hit the Northern Rivers, Lismore’s Community Service and Housing Centre, run by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), is still without a site that clients in the Lismore area can access.

Workers at the DCJ have nowhere in Lismore to meet their clients to sign them up as new tenants or provide support, claims the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA).

The PSA also advise that Lismore clients need to travel to Ballina for face to face contact and support and Community Service staff who may need to meet their clients in a secured area have to do this out

of Ballina or Casino.

While some residents have repaired their homes and even sold up, DCJ have not been able to provide a client access site either temporary or permanent in the Lismore area.

A demountable proposed for NSW Government Housing staff at the Lismore City car park remains unused and guarded 24/7.

Temporary demountable sites have been set up in Goonellabah but there is no word on when it will open to clients.

The PSA has raised concerns that these temporary worksites have been built cheaply and safety concerns have been highlighted on both temporary sites in September and November of 2022.

To date, the PSA’s

concerns have not been addressed.

“We have members that work in Child Protection and Housing that lost their houses and their place of work, they are feeling totally abandoned,” said PSA Regional Organiser, Rebecca Reilly.

“Staff are working remotely or from government sites in Ballina.

“And it’s not just a physical workspace, there are not enough staff to provide support to the community.

“According to the DCJ’s own documents, 12 casework positions have been cut from the Northern NSW area since 2020.

“In 2022 in the Ballina office child protection caseworkers suffered a critical shortage of workers as

SECTOR IN CRISIS NOWHERE TO CALL HOME AND NOT ENOUGH STAFF.

the government could not fill these positions as fast as staff were leaving.

“It used to be very hard to secure a transfer to Northern NSW as positions were highly sought after and now, they have few on the eligibility list.”

Ms Reilly said the PSA believes this is due to the housing crisis in the area, unreasonable workloads and that staff are leaving to go to the private out-of- home agencies where they

are offered better conditions.

“This is even more concerning as it’s DCJ’s responsibility to support the community in natural disaster situations,” she said.

“If a disaster were to happen today would DCJ have enough staff to support the community?

Ms Reilly said PSA members report that the sector is in crisis, there are a high number of children in out-of-home care living in Alternative

Care

Arrangements

(ACA’s) formally known as children placed in motels.

“There has been a dramatic increase in the risk of significant harm reports for children that are living in out-of-home care due to dysfunctional placements in the private out-of-home-care sector,” she said.

The PSA is calling for an independent review of Community Services.

Global recognition for SCU department

Southern Cross University’s environmental sciences expertise is now globally recognised and ranks in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, released earlier this month.

It is the first time Environmental Sciences at Southern Cross has ranked in the annual QS subject evaluations, emerging in the top 450 universities worldwide.

The QS rankings by subject is an independent comparative analysis on the performance, as of 2023, of 18,300 individual university programs undertaken by students at 1594 institutions around the world, across 54 academic disciplines.

Vice Chancellor and President Professor Tyrone Carlin said the result demonstrated

SCU’s improved academic and employer reputation metrics along with world-class research output and quality courses.

“Colleagues in the Environmental Sciences field have been refining education programs over the past several years while continuing to pursue research that makes an impact locally, regionally and globally,” he said.

“Many of our researchers have dedicated their careers to understanding and solving some of the world’s greatest problems.

“Their discovery and research generate interest from government and industry and influence public policy.”

Developments led by the Southern Cross Environmental Sciences

team over the past year include:

• A key role in creating

BlueCAM, the world’s first blue carbon accounting model, adopted by

the Commonwealth Government

• Students awarding 5-stars to our courses in Agricultural & Environmental Studies, Computing & Information Systems, Engineering & Technology and Science & Mathematics in the most recent Good Universities Guide

• Expansion of the Engineering offering at the Gold Coast campus, building on the success of the courses at Lismore campus

• ARC

Linkage project driving hemp food crop quality controls for Aussie growers

• Investigating deoxygenation and fish kills in the wake of the disastrous Northern

Rivers floods in 2022

• Professor Bradley Eyre achieving the rare feat of two ARC Discovery Project grants in the same round, worth a total of $893,000

• Uncovering a new species of mountain frog in the rainforests of the NSW-QLD border

• Adult incontinence pads emerging as a worse waste problem than baby nappies

• New demonstration project partnership is set to ReCirculate plastic waste into construction material

Earlier, Southern Cross achieved its best ever result in the overall QS World University Rankings, placing in the top 750 universities globally.

Professor Tyrone Carlin

Land owner seeks mining lease removal

rock-wallaby) using it as a play area,” he said.

“It’s also 30m away from a large waterhole in Tooloom Creek which supports a population of Eastern cod.

“Tooloom Creek is also a tributary of the Clarence River.”

Mr Ross said he found it hard to believe such a “bad miner” could be rewarded with a 21-year

lease extension. He said he attended the CCA media conference where election candidates signed pledges to support bans on mining in the

catchment.

He wanted to hear the candidates views on mining and was looking for signs the lease on his property could finally be revoked.

By TIM HOWARD

A Tabulam landowner who has been battling to get his property free of a mining lease for 32 years can’t believe the lease has been renewed until 2042.

The owner of Clarence River Wilderness Lodge, Steve Ross, attended a media conference called by the Clarence Catchment Alliance in Yamba earlier this month.

At the conference candidates whose electorates influenced the Clarence River catchment, were asked to sign a pledge to ban mining in the region.

Mr Ross said the mining lease held by Tooloom Creek Pty Ltd, had been in place for 32 years by December 2021.

“The property that I own and have lived on for the last 41 years is encumbered by Mining League 1237/1238/1385,” he said.

“The mine had a long history of noncompliance. Failing to meet reporting deadlines, mining off lease in the

riparian area of Tooloom Creek in an extensive way, dumping waste rock off the mining lease area, zero progressive rehabilitation, unbounded fuel tanks and sediment control issues.”

Mr Ross said regulators considered mine high risk and when the lease was coming up for renewal at the end of 2021, no application had been received.

But in early December 2021 after the regulator had ordered the removal of the wash plant and rehabilitation of the mine site, the company applied to renew the lease.

Mr Ross said the NSW Department of Mining Energy and Geo-science had to find an obscure clause in the Mining Act to accept the late application because of “exceptional circumstances”.

“This is a mine that has never produced a cent in royalties, was considered high risk by the regulator, had a Native Title Claim over some of the lease area and had a threatened species (brushtailed

Departure Date: 13 November 2023

$3,385 per person

Single Supplement - $950.00

This 9 day tour of Norfolk Island will have you enjoying all the best that Norfolk Island has to offer. The must do things when visiting Norfolk Island are all included and then some more on this fantastic tour. Sit back and travel in comfort, everything taken care of with this small group.

Price Includes:

• Home pick up and drop-off from the Northern Rivers

• Return airfares from including taxes

• 8 Nights quality accommodation with breakfast daily

• 6 dinners including 4 themed dinners: Progressive Dinner; Commandants Dinner & Show; Who Killed the Surveyor Dinner and Baunti Fish Fry

• Norfolk’s famous High Tea at Foresster Court

• Air conditioned buses throughout

• 6 Tours to discover Norfolk Island

• All sightseeing entry fees per itinerary

The owner of Clarence River Wilderness Lodge, Steve Ross, has been battling to have a mining lease extension on his property overturned.

2023 NORFOLK ISLAND ESCORTED SMALL GROUP TOUR

By TIM HOWARD

It’s taken the new boss at Grafton real estate agent Dougherty Property more than 14 years to move his job one CBD block from where he started.

This year Andrew Brien returned to Grafton after 12 years away, scaling the corporate real estate ladder all the way to the top, to take up the principal/ general manager role at Dougherty Property.

He came to the job after three years as the CEO of Raine and Horne Australia, guiding it through the Covid-19 pandemic and a stellar

ANDREW’S A CORPORATE HIGH FLYER BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME

Australia, Victoria, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.

By 2016 he was the company’s national head of residential real estate.

“We saw a lot of Australia,” Mr Brien said. “It was a Adelaide, then Perth, then Darwin and then Sydney and Melbourne.”

Then, in 2020 Raine & Horne came looking for a new CEO.

“I have found myself back playing golf with the Roches Hackers,” he said, referring to the social golf club formed when his family ran the hotel from 1986 to 2014.

“About 30 of us got together, trying to get the club back together after a difficult time.

“I looked around at the faces who turned up and it felt like I’d never been away.”

in the family business, it wasn’t something I thought would ever happen,” he said.

“The MBA was something that you need when you’re going up in the corporate world.”

Within the Brien family he said the return to the Clarence Valley was also a chance for his wife Amanda to chase her dreams.

period of growth.

Ironically, he’s pitched just an average seveniron away from where he started work in Grafton for mum and dad at Roches Family Hotel.

The 127m stroll from Dougherty Property, on the corner of Victoria and Prince St, to Roches on the corner of Victoria and Hockey streets, might be tee to green on a par 3, but Mr Brien was happy to venture off the fairway.

The first step, from award winning hotel bistro chef, to being a partner at Elders Real Estate Grafton, was longer mentally than physically.

It involved two mates with no real estate experience, he and Dave Dart, taking on an under-performing Elders office in Grafton.

In two years it grew from just two principals and two staff to a cohort of 10 with more than 100 listings that picked up a swag of company awards, marking it as one of Elders best.

Somebody at head office took notice and in 2011 Mr Brien and family packed their bags for Adelaide.

His new role was (southern) zone operations manager for real estate, managing 106 offices in South

“Angus Raine rang and said he wanted to talk,” Mr Brien said. What he was offering was one of the greatest challenges in the industry, running the business during Covid-19 while the company embarked on a program to open more than 300 new offices.

The challenges and rewards were fulfilling, but the constant travel and demands on his time were starting to wear thin.

“This time of the year is awards time and if I was still at Raine & Horne I would be travelling from office to office, a different town or city every night,” he said.

So how good is it to be back?

He said the lessons he learned during his career to date would shape what he does in his latest job.

“Going from being a chef for 17 years straight into real estate and being able to succeed, showed me there a skills that can be transferred between different jobs,” he said.

“That’s actually something I will be looking at as we grow the business here, looking at people outside the business who have skills that can make us and them successful.”

The switch opened up other areas of personal growth, including the opportunity for a university degree and a Masters in Business Administration.

“When dad told me I was going to be a cook

“For the past 12 years it’s been all about me,” he said. “Now It’s time for me to take more of a back seat and let Amanda follow her dreams.”

He said she had always been a communityfocussed person and wanted to take up a role in local government.

“She will be trying to get on the local council, because she has a lot of ideas about how local government can improve,” he said.

It’s something he’s more than happy to do.

“We’ve been back four weeks,” he said. “I’ve been driving the kids to school and picking them up, playing golf with the Hackers and meeting old friends again.

“It’s been great to have got away, but it’s better to be back.”

After 12 years away from Grafton climbing to the top of the Australia’s corporate real estate ladder Andrew Brien has accepted a role leading local firm Dougherty Property in the role of principal/ general manager.

KEVIN HOGAN MP

Diary of a Flood Survivor

Last month I wrote about the events that were happening and about to happen around the region on the anniversary of the floods. Events which aimed to reflect on what had occurred and importantly focus on our future. All the activities that were held in Lismore and neighbouring towns were fantastic, well attended and sent a very positive message about the resilience of our communities and their hopes for the future. I congratulate all those involved in making these events happen. There is a lot more positive business activity coming up in the near future as we return to normality with Primex and Beef Week, both in Casino, being examples of events to look forward to.

The last year has shown the importance of leadership in our communities. I am therefore really looking forward to

our upcoming school leader’s events being held in Lismore and Grafton. Schools place a high emphasis on developing our future leaders and I am pleased to recognise these students at a special event where we can discuss aspects of leadership, share stories and listen to great guest speakers. Naomi Moran is the guest speaker at our Lismore event. As General Manager of the Koori Mail and as a significant community leader during Lismore’s floods her leadership story is one we are all keen to hear.

Cate McQuillan will speak at the Grafton event. She is best known for being the writer and director of Dirtgirlworld but also has an outstanding background in creating “out there” children’s programming which has been shown in over 128 countries around the globe.

Whilst parliament has taken up much of my

time in the last month, we have still been active around the community.

I was delighted to visit the Grafton Rifle Club for example to award them $80.000 to repair and restore their internal roads as part of the joint effort by the Federal and State governments effort with a $36 million program to get community sport back on its feet.

I have been pleased to finally see some activity from the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation in the last few weeks with the house buyback offers starting to trickle out. I have previously raised some concerns about the slowness of the process and there is a lot more information we need to learn to make sure those residents that will be bought out can remain in their communities going forward. I will continue to keep a close eye on the actions taken going forward.

We lost our three cars in the flood. The RAV, which was our family car; my mother-in-law’s Corolla that we inherited when she died, and my son’s little Hyundai Getz that also contained his Learner’s log book in the glove box.

I can’t complain with the speed in which the insurance company paid out on the cars as it was painless and pleasant to have the money in our bank account as quickly as we did.

Thus began our inundation of cars. Firstly, a friend of hubby’s, who spends a lot of time out of the area, offered his Ford Ranger for us to use so we could get around. We actually are still looking after the car as the owner isn’t coming back until May. But it was a God-send in those early weeks after the flood, as we were doing lots

of trips to the house to clean it out.

Then, a friend in Sydney bought us a Great Wall ute (I had never heard of Great Wall before). Complete with second hand fridge strapped to the back and $200 for petrol money. We made the trip to Sydney and picked it up. Our son, after retrieving his log book and replacing it, used the ute to keep building up his hours. It has since been set free on a friend’s farm, as the clutch died and it blew a head gasket.

Hubby decided his way of getting over his flood fears was to buy a four-wheel drive. We had been rescued by a friend with a four-wheel drive on February 28, so we invested much of our insurance money on a Mitsubishi Triton and added a snorkel.

My step mother-in-law

was upgrading her car, so decided she was donating her Kia to us and finally, using the insurance money from his Getz and adding some birthday money, we bought our son a Hyundai I20 for his 18th. Now he has his ‘P’s so it gets very well used.

We are still unable to keep the cars in the garage at this stage, so when the other son is home and the girlfriends are around, our front yard looks like a veritable car yard. I am tempted to put up one of those big, long blow up people that dance in the wind, on our lawn.

I often catch hubby just staring out the window at the cars, the newly gravelled driveway and the neat, mowed lawn and know he is remembering when it was a sea of mud and a wall of rubbish.

The Clarence Valley is the southern frontline of the cane toad invasion in NSW. While toad populations have occurred in the lower Clarence region for some time now, the fires and floods of recent years have enabled toads to move into and populate new areas. Cane Toads are now reported at Shark Creek, Lawrence, Stockyard Creek, and Fortis Creek, with toads managing to ‘hitchhike’ into Ulmarra, Tucabia, and Grafton in recent weeks. These areas are all well inside the Cane Toad Biosecurity Zone and are of significant concern. Thankfully, residents have reported these incursions to ToadScan, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) or the Clarence Landcare office meaning a quick response and ongoing monitoring could occur.

Clarence Landcare continues to map and conduct control on the cane toad frontline; however, the hard work and dedication of Clarence Valley community members and groups need to be celebrated. Clarence Valley Conservation in

Hayden Fletcher with cane toad. Permission granted to use photo. Clarence Landcare Inc

Action group (CVCIA) and the Angourie Participation Team has worked to control and contain cane toad populations in our region for many years. Clarence Landcare receives and sees examples regularly of community members taking the time to control cane toads on their properties and around their neighbourhoods. These efforts remain critical at the invasion frontline and in areas

with long-established populations. Controlling cane toads on private property and public spaces helps create safe havens for wildlife and pets and reduces their spread. Research also shows that community toad-busting is an effective tool in the fight against cane toads, as well as being a fun, social activity.

Clarence Landcare has community toad busts coming up this week

Cane Townsend Friday 14/4/23 Meet 7pm for 7:20 start Townsend Park - next to the general store/servo Yamba Friday 28/4/23 Meet 7pm for 7:20 start Yamba Golf Club Car Park - Museum End

Toad Bust Events Coming Up... Ashby Friday 21/4/23 Meet 7pm for 7:20 start Ashby Hall Reserve Car Park Bring a torch, sturdy shoes and gloves if you have (disposables can be provided) RSVP by texting 0419 941 118 with your name the event you wish to join and the numbers you have attending Watch Clarence Landcare's Facebook page for additional events and information

and throughout April. If you’re interested in learning more about cane toads, how to identify them and what to do if you come across them, join the Landcare teams at one of the bust locations below. It’s an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors while getting to know the native wildlife that come out after dark.

• MacleanFriday 31st March 2023. Meet at Wherret Park carpark 7pm.

• Townsend -

Friday 14th April 2023. Meet at Townsend Park carpark 7pm.

• Ashby - Friday 21st April 2023. Meet at Ashby Hall Reserve carpark 7pm.

• Yamba - Friday 28th April 2023. Meet at Yamba Golf & Country Club carpark 7pm.

Bring a torch and sturdy shoes. RSVP by texting 0419 941 118 with your name, the event you wish to join and the numbers you have attending.

Watch Clarence Landcare’s Facebook

page for additional information and events. Any cane toad sightings or control within the biosecurity zone should be reported to the ToadScan website or App or the online NSW DPI Report an unusual animal form. Helpful resources can also be found on the ToadScan website. Please contact Clarence Landcare on 02 66435009 with any questions or concerns you have about cane toads or to pick up a free Household Cane Toad Collection.

OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF AGRICULTURE IN THE TWEED

Expressions of Interest now open for two Council management committees

Council is seeking expressions of interest from members of the community to join two management committees: the Rural Land Industry Management Committee and the Koala Beach Wildlife and Habitat Management Committee. Manager Sustainability and Environment Jane Lofthouse said the management committees would play a significant role in decision-making, by providing advice, recommendations and support to achieve important sustainability and environmental outcomes in the Tweed.

“To support sustainable primary production on local farmland and the productivity of our agricultural sector,

the newly established Rural Land Industry Management Committee will use their experience and knowledge to provide advice, recommendations and support to Council, which in turn will lead to better outcomes for our Shire,” Ms Lofthouse said.

“Member responsibilities for this committee include communication and policy advocacy between industry, rural landholders and government on issues relating to agriculture, delivering on-ground regenerative farming activities in their respective industries and recommending opportunities that will

enhance sustainable agricultural industries in the Tweed.

agricultural businesses or those with a related qualification like

Community members are invited to have an input on future sustainability and environmental outcomes for the Tweed by joining Council’s new Rural Land Industry Management Committee. Expressions of interest close on 19 April.

“Council staff really value the support, advice and recommendations we receive from these management committees and so it is important we have the right representation.

“I encourage passionate, experienced, local people engaged in

planning, agronomy or economics to get involved. There are a number of successful local agricultural enterprises in the area that we can look up to, but it is only by working together that we can make the Tweed better tomorrow than it is

today.”

This new committee will consist of 10 members to be appointed for the current term of Council and will meet twice a year.

Council is also seeking expressions of interest from residents and landowners interested in joining the Koala Beach Wildlife and Habitat Management Committee.

Koala Beach Estate is a residential development located between Pottsville and Hastings Point on the Tweed Coast. The development includes 270 hectares of bushland reserved for nature conservation and is home to at least 24 threatened species and ecological communities.

“Each property owner

in Koala Beach Estate pays a special rate which contributes to the ongoing management of its environmental values,” Ms Lofthouse said.

“The Koala Beach Wildlife and Habitat Management Committee is one formal way that residents and landowners at Koala Beach can provide input to the management of the unique environmental values of the estate.”

Find out more about the committees, roles and responsibilities and complete an Expression of Interest form at yoursaytweed.com.au.

Expressions of interest close on 19 April 2023.

COURT ORDERS SOUGHT OVER RAINBOW TEMPLE

HOW INADEQUATE INCOME SUPPORT IS CAUSING HARM IN OUR COMMUNITY

Lismore City Council has referred the Rainbow Temple in Rosebank to the Land & Environment Court after the owner repeatedly declined to submit a Development Application and associated documentation for the development.

Council is seeking orders from the court that the building not be used and the top five floors, which were added to the structure without approval, be removed due to the lack of a structural integrity certification.

“Lismore City Council has worked closely with the property owner and their consultants and legal representatives to address safety concerns over the past three years,” a Council spokesperson said.

“Unfortunately, the owner has repeatedly failed to submit a DA and, importantly, provide a Certificate of Structural Adequacy to ensure the building is structurally sound and not an endangerment to the owners, any occupants or visitors.

“For the safety of visitors and the community, Council will be proceeding with legal action.”

The principal reasons for pursuing the matter in Court, relate to the owner’s failure to:

• Obtain DA Consent prior to adding another five storeys/ levels to the existing Temple.

• Using the Temple for prohibitive purposes, in particular sleeping & residential purposes

• Obtain Consent for a subterranean tunnel, and rooms 3-5 metres below the surface which is or has been used for tours

• Obtain a Structural Integrity Certification for the temple, the tunnel and other associated structures/rooms

• Meet the requirements of the Building Code of Australia

• Satisfy the Bushfire preventative measures

• Address other ancillary matters of approval or compliance

The surging cost of living is having a devastating impact for people on income support, with 68 per cent eating less or skipping meals, according to a new report by ACOSS.

The research surveyed 365 people living on JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and Parenting Payment over February and March 2023, finding income support payments are completely inadequate.

The JobSeeker Payment is just $50 a day and Youth Allowance is just $40 a day. It costs

approximately $80 to fill a small car with unleaded fuel while average rents for a unit are $568 per week, or $81 a day.

Among the report key findings:

• 68% are eating less or skipping meals while 81% are cutting back on meat, fresh fruit, vegetables and other fresh items.

• 68% have had difficulty getting medication or medical care due to the increased cost of living. 99% said that the inability to cover the cost of living harmed their mental health and

94% said it harmed their physical health

• 93% of people renting privately are in rental stress, paying more than 30% of their income on rent. 75% have received a rent increase in the past 12 months, with 50% reporting a rise of $30 or more a week.

• 76% said they use their car less than normal, and a further 11% don’t use their car at all.

• 65% are cutting back on cooling/ heating and 45% are taking fewer hot showers to reduce energy costs

ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie said income support levels are woefully inadequate and must be raised.

“In the past 12 months the costs of food, rent and energy have all surged by double digits. “This has meant that people on JobSeeker and related payments cannot afford to eat enough, cannot get essential medication or healthcare, and often go into debt to pay their energy bills.

“No one should have to

choose between food and medicine, but these are exactly the choices being forced on people in Australia, one of the world’s wealthiest nations.

“The only way to address this problem is to deliver a real increase to JobSeeker and related payments so that they are lifted to at least the same level as the pension.”

ACOSS is recommending a range of measures for the May Budget including:

• Lift income support payments to at least $76 a day, including JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy, Abstudy, Special Benefit and Parenting Payment.

• Doubling Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

• Establish a disability and illness supplement of at least $55 a week to recognise the additional costs that people with disability and chronic illness face.

• Establish a single parent supplement that recognises the additional costs of single parenthood.

H U R S D A Y

T H U R S D A Y T H U R S D A Y

6TH APRIL 6TH APRIL $15 ENTRY $15 ENTRY

LETTERS, FEEDBACK AND OPINION

vulnerable Centrelink recipients, no-one will take responsibility for the alleged two thousand suicides linked to highly aggressive debt recovery practices.

We’d love to hear from you!

letters@nrtimes.com.au

ENVIRONMENT

The United nations has come out and said it d day for the environment and global warming . But the world continues to carry on like it’s business as usual.

We need leaders who are prepared to make the hard decisions and the good decisions firstly by getting rid of carbon credits which are a con job and do nothing to stop carbon dioxide emissions.

We need to stop logging and get rid of feral animals and plants the army should be out killing feral cats pigs goats as part of army excersises and in their place native animals can thrive and help reduce carbon emissions hows that we don’t have to do anything the native animals will do it all for us along with us planting billions of native trees.

Time to save the planet and in turn will save us billions in natural disaters being reduced to near non existent.

The following Northern Rivers organisations received funding in Round Two of the Create NSW Creative Capital: Minor Work and Equipment Program. The Program provides strategic funding to creative arts organisations for the delivery of new and improved cultural infrastructure.

• Brunswick Valley Historical Society Museum - Mullumbimby Museum Makeover: Display Lighting, Storage and Window Frame Restorations. ($50,332)

• Clarence Valley Conservatorium Inc - Upgrades for the

Alan Mosley Yamba

DUMB AND DUMBER?

Most people who have followed the Robo-Debt Royal commission must surely have suffered extreme nausea by the callous and dismissive evidence given by the conga-line of previous Abbott/ Turnbull/Morrison Govt Ministers.

But really, what did we expect from these pitiful arch conservatives, who think they were born to rule, and treat the “working class” as somehow inferior and to be exploited. Most of these ex-ministers who were guilty of implementing this illegal and immoral scheme have Law degrees, yet no-one knew it was illegal, no-one will take full responsibility for implementing it, no-one will take responsibility for leaking personal information on

These appallingly bad examples of human beings, let alone Ministers of the Crown, are either the dumbest and most incompetent Lawyers in Australia and therefore should have their Govt payments confiscated by debt collectors on fraudulent grounds; or are as most people rightly think, the most evil, duplicitous, self-serving hypocrites who ever drew breath who need to be charged with heinous crimes against the most vulnerable of Australians.

Now if illegally seizing the monies of Centrelink recipients who had done nothing wrong wasn’t reprehensible enough, one Govt Minister (Alan Tudge) allegedly requested the files of every aggrieved person who complained to the media and his department then released personal information to selected news outlets, (mostly NewsCorp, surprise surprise,) to humiliate the complainant, this must be a crime.

This Royal Commission has laid bare the vindictiveness and distain neoconservative forces

hold against the more vulnerable in society, and heads need to roll big time.

Keith Duncan Pimlico

AND SO IT DRAGS ON...& ON...

Well, so-called ‘daylight saving’ of course.

6am and later – lights on – still dark and this, on the coast where we have the sunrise so much earlier than the western areas. Totally stupid and forcing ones body-clock to want to stay asleep, not being able to ‘get going’ easily for the day!

The extended two months is just so very wrong and there were thousands of people who petitioned the NSW Government to at least delete those two months that makes life harder. The body-clock or circadian rhythms react to light, this helping people to wake easy to have time and easily prepare for their day.

The parliamentary discussion to keep the 2 extra months begs the question, “Did they really care or understand”?

I opt for the ‘did not really care’ and as for ‘understanding’, well that was certainly ‘out the window’!

It is time for that 4 year trial without ‘daylight saving’ which causes medical and economic hardships; henceforth to thus then have the actual

experience of life on body-clock time.

Jillian Spring Billinudgel

ELECTION DAY

What an eye opener election day 25 March was. I was handing out How To Votes for upper house Group U who wants to ban late and full-term abortion and bring in a 2% expenditure tax instead of all the other taxes etc. and other volunteers handing out for other parties didn’t even know NSW had late and full-term abortion. A nurse said it was illegal, which I agree with, but it is under the disguise of women’s health. Then I had one lady try and tell me it’s to save the life of the mother. Yes, and what about the baby? I told the Animal Justice Party volunteers that I was for ‘babies’ just like they were for ‘animals.’

LOCAL FUNDING RECIPIENTS

Conservatorium: Provide a more audience-friendly space including the installation of tiered retractable seating to improve sight lines, the purchase of a more suitable grand piano for the performance space and the upgrading of the existing audio mixing desk. ($121,196)

• Drill Hall Theatre Company Inc - Drill Hall Theatre

Backstage Upgrade: Install a shower, toilet, wash basin and partitioning in the dressing room area, improve amenity of dressing rooms, meeting room and

office by repainting, re-carpeting, and general refurbishment. ($31,335)

• Drill Hall Theatre Company Inc - Mullumbimby Clayworkers improvements to pottery studio: Improve the functionality and safety of their studio and kiln room ($19,090)

• New Italy Museum Inc - New Italy’s Italian Pavilion Upgrade: The Building Renovation of Historic New Italy’s Italian Pavilion, Stage 1 of its revitalisation ($250,000)

• Richmond River Historical Society Inc - Lismore Needs

its Museum: Lismore Museum Remediation Recovery project ($123,793)

• Spaghetti Circus - Spaghetti Circus universal access/ road upgrades, essential equipment purchase, building improvements: Flood reparation and access improvement ($250,000)

LIFE-SAVING DEFIBRILLATORS FOR LOCALS

Organisations on the Coffs Coast will receive new life-saving devices under the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Local

Sport Defibrillator Grant Program.

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said the grants cover the full cost of the equipment, enabling more organisations to benefit from the program.

Coffs Harbour Golf Club and South Coffs Community Garden are sharing in more than $5000 for their new equipment.

“These new life-saving devices will have a big part to play in keeping people safe,” Mr Singh said.

“With more and more people of all ages participating in sport

Janelle Saffin also came up to me and at least she admits she was one of the ones who voted for the bill to go through back in 2019, but she got called away, so I didn’t get to talk to her about her reasoning for doing so. Then one lady who knew the difference between common law and statutory law said that if late and full-term abortion was happening someone should put a bill in to correct/stop it etc.

Also, an observant Labor supporter noticed we had ‘Lift all VIP pedophile suppression orders’ also on our How To Vote leaflet and couldn’t believe there was a pedophile order that was being suppressed. I said, there is and it has judges and police officers on it. Need I say more.

Lynette Evans NUMULGI

and recreation across the Coffs Coast, this funding will equip our local organisations to respond to life-threating emergencies.”

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said there was record demand for the devices in the latest round of the program.

“Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time and we want the same number of players that start a game to finish it,” Mr Henskens said.

An initiative of the Rotary Club of Lismore West Inc

A fall can have terrible consequences for an elderly person, their family and the community.

More than 4 million Australians are aged 65 or over - and one third of them have a fall one or more times a year.

The Rotary Clubs of Lismore West and Ballina Satellite are running an “April Falls Day” information campaign to promote falls prevention within the home for older people.

Rotary will have an information table with tips and display products, supported by the health promotion team from Northern NSW Local Health District, at Bunnings in Ballina on Saturday April 1st and at Bunnings in Lismore from Friday March 31st to Sunday April 2nd.

They invite the public to get along to learn

“APRIL FALLS DAY”

Helping to reduce falls by older people

FURTHER POINTS OF INTEREST

• Falls are the leading cause of injury in older Australians

• One in 5 falls requires hospitalisation.

• People over 65 make up 95% of fall deaths.

• There’s 1.3 million falls by people aged 65 and over in Australia every year. Most of them occur at home.

• The likelihood of living alone increases with age. Over 50% of those aged over 85 live alone. Falls can happen to anyone at any location, but falls requiring hospitalisation are more common in older people and are most likely to occur in the home.

• 1 in 2 hospitalisation cases due to unintentional falls occurred on a single-level surface (for example, by slipping, stumbling, tripping or due to a collision). By comparison, only 1 in 15 hospitalisation cases due to unintentional falls involved stairs or steps.

• Nine out of 10 hip replacements are due to a fall.

• Falls by the elderly represents hundreds of thousands of hospitalisations and a huge cost to the economy every year. Falls among those aged 65 and over cost our health systems $2.5 billion every year.

about falls prevention for themselves, their family and their neighbour.

Doing so could be a very valuable investment.

Falls are the most common reason for premature admission into an aged care facility.

Falls are the main cause of injury-related hospitalisation and mortality in older people.

“This is crazy, unnecessary and often preventable” said Rotarian Bob Barnes of Lismore, who is helping to spearhead the information campaign.

“We all know someone

who has had a fall and it can be awful for them, with a domino effect on their family and the community - so we want to get a proactive, preventative message out to the community to do something about preventing falls!

Most of the things you can do to help prevent falls are common sense… but you’ve got to do them!

Remove clutter and trip hazards, get a hand rail, and very importantly; do some balance and strength exercises.

One easy thing you can also do is get a night

light.

They provide a soft glow and either come on automatically when it’s dark (dusk to dawn) or illuminate when movement is detected.

You can put one in your bathroom and hallway to help at night - I have a few and they’re great.

They cost between $6 and $26 and about 2 cents a night to run, and some as low as 5 cents per month.

That’s the price of one cup of coffee a year for a safety light in your home.

Would you rather do a few exercises and get a

cheap light or, have an expensive hospital bed and an early trip to an aged care facility?” said Bob.

Besides obvious social and economic costs of a fall, the stark health consequences are very real.

A fall is scary for older people, indeed falling is one of older people’s biggest fears.

If an elderly person has had a fall, they are also more likely to fall again, and it can lead to a fear of falling, restrictions in activity and social isolation… diminishing life and ultimately

costing everyone, in more ways than one.

“This is for 100% for the community – it’s not a money making activity” said Bob, “it is a public education service to the community.

“With cooperation from health agencies, it would be great if falls prevention can get into the national consciousness as much as road safety and obesity.

We hate to see our friends and fellow Aussies suffer... it doesn’t have to be this way and it important we all do something about falls prevention.

See you at Bunnings on the weekend”.

April Falls Day and Safety Lights for Seniors is a project of the Rotary Club of Lismore West as part of a broad initiative to reduce falls in Australia.

FORUM TO HELP IN-HOME AGED CARE PROVIDERS PREPARE FOR MAJOR INDUSTRY REFORM

Tweed Shire Council, with partners Social Futures and Boosting the Local Care Workforce Program, are inviting Commonwealth Home Support Program providers to attend a free educational forum ahead of major changes to the in-home aged care sector next year.

Strategy In The Face Of Change – Community Aged Care Forum will inform the sector of changes coming into effect in July 2024. The existing Commonwealth Home Support Program(CHSP) will become part of the new in-home aged care program.

The CHSP aims to help older Australians access support services to live independently and safely at home, with services including meals and food preparation, bathing, hygiene and grooming, nursing, overnight respite, cleaning and home and garden maintenance.

Tweed Shire Council’s Community Care Coordinator Joanne Watters said the aim of the forum was to inform and support local providers.

“The point of the forum is to help providers plan for the future of their organisation,” she said.

“We want people

to walk away feeling like they have a better understanding about the impact reform will have on their operations and how the right strategic planning is key for the best possible outcome.

“An in-home aged care workforce that is prepared and ready for change will give the best possible care to our community.”

A range of experts will speak at the forum, addressing opportunities and challenges for organisations ahead of the national changes and sharing strategies to navigate the new environment. The forum will include panel

discussions and small group workshops. The event is suitable for board members and executives as well as service, human resources and finance managers but is also relevant to all staff in the sector. Topics to be covered include:

• applying strategic thinking to changing conditions

• learning from other providers who have navigated similar NDIS reform

• exploring innovative business and operating models

• how collaboration and partnership can enhance your approach to reform

• approaches to business transition.

Guest speakers and panellists include:

• Kathie Heyman

– Business Connect Advisor, Nortec

• David Wallace

– former Regional Manager, Aruma

• Kerry Little – General Manager, Connect You Too (Connectu2),

Clarence Valley

• Gillian McFee –Advisor Social Care, Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals.

Strategy In The Face

Of Change – Community Aged Care Forum will take place on Tuesday, March 28 in the Harvard

Event presentations are also available online via MS Teams. To book your spot at the forum, visit Eventbrite.

If you have a question about the forum, please contact Meredith Elton on melton@tweed.nsw. gov.au.

To find out more about the Australian Government’s proposed new program for in-home aged care, view the Discussion paper at health.gov.au/resources/ publications/a-newprogram-for-in-homeaged-care-discussionpaper.

Room at the Tweed Heads Administration Office.

WITHa groan of near on revulsion and vague indignation, I hazard to say that another State election is upon us (at the time of writing it was only days away) accompanied by the concocted slogans and cantankerous mudslinging from all sides to capture our affections and attention, albeit votes.

There is always something, however slightly, I find fake or juvenile about election campaigns that has me questioning the merits of a system that seems broken, or not quite right in some way. Few and far between are the leaders, or Parties even, that truly come across as being in touch, not to mention true to themselves, and not swayed by fickle concerns and considerations.

Noam Chomsky, who was arguably one of the greatest political theorists of the last century once said, “That’s the whole point of good propaganda. You want to create a slogan that nobody’s going to be against, and everybody’s going to be for. Nobody knows what it means, because it doesn’t mean anything.” As such, I took a quick look at the slogans of the respective two major Parties from this election (the NSW Labor and Liberal Party) and guess what, sure enough, it was just as Mr Chomsky said.

The Liberal Party professed to have a ‘Keep NSW Moving Forward Plan’; while the Labor Party ran at the same time with its own ‘Fresh Start NSW Plan’. Besides the beautiful Forward and Fresh alliteration between the two overarching slogans, there is more than a high-level whiff of what the hell does any of that even mean? Not to mention why should we bother giving such banal

captions even a skerrick of a morsel of our time?

None other than Karl Marx once said, “The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.” Whilst a lot has certainly changed on the world stage since our German economist thundered such theories to anyone who listened, so much has strangely remained the same. There is often a discernible sense of us being considered expendable underlings when it comes to the reckonings of our elected officials and their grand plans.

For all its identifiable faults, democracy is a far cry, albeit an infinitely superior mechanism by which to elect leaders –than having them inflicted upon us as a result of dictatorships: that care for nothing except for serving the wants and whims of those too corrupt and self-righteous to even see that there is such a thing as corruption. Or as Diane Kalen-Sukr once discerned, “Democracy gives us citizens a measure of political power. That power comes with a responsibility to foster a culture that makes it possible to live and work well together for the well-being of all.”

Unless we tread carefully and choose our leaders wisely, we run the distinct risk of going down a path that psychotherapist Anthony de Mello once forewarned, “These things will destroy the human race: politics without principle, progress without compassion, wealth without work, learning without silence, religion without fearlessness, and worship without awareness.”

LIBERALS AND NATIONALS PLEDGE TO DREDGE TWEED

A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will ensure the health of coastal waterways across NSW will be protected for generations to come, thanks to a $33.7 million commitment to deliver the State’s first ever Dredging Strategy.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said regular dredging will provide long-term benefits to the State’s waterways, particularly after flooding events seen over the past 12 months.

“Waterways in our regional communities are not only beautiful, they are a massive drawcard for tourism, fishing, recreation and regional events, generating $2

billion in revenue and economic activity for NSW,” Mr Toole said.

“For too long, dredging in NSW has been funded, managed and delivered in a case-bycase way – reacting to major weather events when they come, river by river.

“While this might have been enough in the past, the sheer volume of water that flowed down rivers during the 2021-22 Northern Rivers Floods and the sediment it carried with it shows that a new, ambitious approach is needed.

“That’s why we’re rewriting the rulebook to make sure the 24 coastal communities with major waterways can plan with confidence, knowing

that their rivers, harbours and estuaries will be dredged regularly and comprehensively until 2053 – ensuring access for everyone who uses them.”

Member for Tweed Heads Geoff Provest welcomed the commitment as a major investment in the Tweed Heads community.

“Everyone here knows that dredging needs to happen regularly to keep the Tweed River open, but we can’t keep starting from scratch every time the river fills up and the safety of users is put at risk, ” Mr Provest said.

“That’s why this commitment is a gamechanger for the Tweed –giving us a clear plan for

the next 30 years so we can keep local business and tourism thriving.”

A Strategic Business Case for the Long-Term Navigational Dredging Program has been developed by Transport for NSW which examined the various options for delivery of a state-wide program, concluding that an out-sourced, long-term contract with private dredging operators in NSW would achieve best value-formoney.

The Long-Term Navigational Dredging Program is a Transport for NSW-led initiative involving the Centre for Maritime Safety and the Maritime Infrastructure Delivery Office.

LANDCARE’S FUTURE ASSURED WITH RECORD FUNDING FROM LABOR

The future of Landcare has been assured with the announcement that a Minns Labor Government will boost its funding to a record $59 million over the next four years to support the 60,000 volunteers, 3,000 local groups and 84 full-time coordinators across NSW.

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin says she has lobbied hard to secure this NSW Labor commitment on behalf of the North Coast Regional Landcare Network and all local Landcare groups within her electorate.

“The network’s chairperson Jim Kinkead briefed me on the need for more funding so that Landcare coordinators and volunteers can continue their great work with landholders across the Northern Rivers and

Northern Tablelands regions,” Ms Saffin says.

“Jim’s network is made up of 11 catchment/local government area-based local Landcare Networks from the Tweed to the Hastings which support best practices for managing land and water across all landscapes for

a healthy environment.

“I particularly want to thank my colleagues, NSW Shadow Minister for Regional NSW and Agriculture Mick Veitch MLC and NSW Shadow Minister for THE Environment Penny Sharpe MLC, for locking in this record funding for

Free solar - savings up to $600 on electricity bills

The NSW Government is ofering a new way to assist people on low incomes with their power bills by installing free solar systems for eligible households in place of their Low Income Household Rebate. This program aims to improve energy afordability by helping households unlock long terms savings on their electricity bills. While this means you will no longer receive the $285 annual rebate on your electricity bill, you could receive up to $600 in savings per year from your new solar system!

The ofer is only available to households that live in the specifed regions and meet the eligibility criteria. When participating in this program households will receive a free, fully installed 3kW solar system in place of their Low Income Household Rebate.

SAE Group are the approved provider, designing and installing solar systems to eligible homes in your region.

To be eligible you must:

- Currently be receiving the Low Income Household Rebate

- Agree not to receive the rebate for ten years

- Own your own home

- Not already have a solar PV system

- Hold a valid Pensioner Concession Card or a Department of Veteran Afairs Gold Card

- If you are not the registered homeowner, but your spouse is, you may be considered eligible collectively as a household

A 3kW system is designed to generate an average of 12.6kwh per day, which will deliver electricity savings depending on each household’s energy consumption. Managing Director of SAE Group Glen Ashton comments “We know electricity bills continue to place a lot of pressure on households, and we are pleased to be working with the NSW Government to help ease the pressure on low income households.”

SAE Group are an Australian owned and operated organisation with over ten years’ experience in the solar industry. SAE Group are a Clean Energy Council Approved Retailer, and hold accreditations ISO 9001, ISO 45001 for safety and quality systems. Safety is paramount to us, and it our goal to ensure we provide quality solar systems to eligible households that will deliver ongoing savings for many years to come.

Want to fnd out more?

Visit: https://energysaver.nsw.gov.au/solar-low-income-households to check your eligibility and apply online or visit www.saegroup.com.au or call us on 02 66 389 439. The Solar for Low Income Household Ofer is supported by the NSW Government.

engagement with young people, and more quickly identify and tackle local environment issues.

Landcare.”

Today’s announcement will ensure the grassroots volunteer organisation can get more boots on the ground to restore natural environments; expanding their program to attract and coordinate more volunteers, increase

Economic modelling shows this investment will generate $218 million in benefits for NSW with $3.70 of value for every dollar spent. The funding will enable Landcare to employ more than 84 community leaders mostly in rural and regional areas, including at least 13 positions for First Nations people, covering land management services for more than 60 per cent of the State.

Through thousands of local groups across NSW, 60,000 Landcare, Bushcare, Rivercare and Dunecare volunteers have worked to care for land and restore ecosystems for 34 years. In recent years,

this work has included restoring landscapes after unprecedented fire and flood. This has been essential to protect threatened species and defend against pests, while at the same time building strong and lasting community connections.

Funding for the current Landcare Program is due to finish in NSW on 30 June 2023. Today’s record funding announcement will ensure this crucial environmental restoration program can continue and expand throughout NSW, benefiting both agricultural sectors and the natural environment.

A file photo of Lismore MP Janelle Saffin with Wilsons River Landcare Group Incorporated’s hard-working members.

The sky is the limit when it came to achieving her dreams

By Samantha Elley

Title: Conquering Clouds

Author: Ruth E Wilson

Publisher: Shawline

Publishing

Price: $24.95

There are not too many places on this planet that Ruth E Wilson hasn’t decided to conquer…from the air.

At a time when the skies were challenged by men, Ruth became a litany of frsts in the space of aeronautics for a woman.

She was the frst female balloonist in New Zealand, frst national champion of the Australian Open Hot Air Ballooning Championship, frst Australian female to compete in the World Open Hot Air Ballooning Championships in the USA, in France and in Austria. And the list goes

1200kgs of rubbish picked up in Byron Shire on Clean Up Day

on.

A near death experience after a marlin fshing accident at Ballina, saw Ruth fghting to regain her life and well-being.

It is just one of the many personal challenges she has had to overcome in her life-time, but she does it.

Beginning with a challenging childhood, this autobiography travels through time, sharing the experiences of a true pioneer in the, dare I say, ups and downs world of hot-air ballooning Ruth has been an aviator now for 46 years, and achieved international fame in her chosen sport.

Conquering Clouds is the story of a remarkable woman who never lets any hurdle stop her from achieving her dreams. The sky truly is the limit.

Conquering Clouds can be ordered through shawlinepublishing.com. au

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

More than 1200kgs of rubbish picked up in Byron Shire on CleanUp Australia Day Volunteers, school students, community groups and Council staff picked up more than 1,200kgs of rubbish across the Shire on the first weekend in March as part of Clean-Up Australia Day.

At Byron Bay, 90 volunteers turned out to help Council and Positive Change for Marine Life tackle the Main Beach area.

“We had backpackers, families, Byron Bay Surf Club nippers, Byron Scouts, and so many people in the community, all picking up rubbish,” Zoe White, Resource

The rubbish collected included:

• 451 cigarette butts

• 422 metal bottle caps

• 306 drink containers (including coffee cups)

• 86 pieces of single use cutlery and straws

• 1,662 plastic items.

Recovery Education and Compliance Officer, said.

“We covered a stretch of one kilometre and in 45 minutes we collected 80kgs of waste.

“What was really interesting for volunteers was that this equated to more than 3,200 items, most of which was micro-litter,” she said.

“Some people were very surprised at the amount of rubbish that was collected and I think

it will prompt them to rethink getting that next takeaway coffee, or buying that plastic bottle of water,” Ms White said.

At Brunswick Heads 21 volunteers collected almost 900kg.

In Mullumbimby, volunteers collected seven wheelie bins of street litter and the Byron Bird Buddies removed an extra 80kg from along the Brunswick River.

“What a massive effort on behalf of the Byron Shire community – thank you to the 400-plus volunteers for caring for the environment,” Ms White said.

Staff will be looking at the data surrounding the clean-up and use this to develop proactive and targeted anti-litter campaigns.

“Thanks again to everyone who took part in Clean Up Australia Day and people can find more tips to reduce waste at @ byronbinfluencer,” Ms White said. Information about waste services and campaigns is on Council’s website.

KRB1 RAINBANK SALE PRICE $995

Seamlessly switches between tank water and mains water, to supply up to two toilets, plus laundry and for garden watering.

HS60-08T SALE PRICE $1170

Suitable for applications such as house supply and irrigation.

D15VAGMA SALE PRICE $395

Suitable for pumping clean water or grey water containing some small, soft solids

D53AB SALE PRICE $880

Designed for pumping clean rainwater and activated by an automatic float This model o ers extra pressure for pumping up to a second storey

SALE PRICE $330

Casino Indoor Sports Stadium back in action

The Casino Indoor Sports Stadium is reopening its doors after major flood repairs, and Richmond Valley Council is keen for it to become a focal point for sporting and community activities.

Competitions in basketball, netball, futsal and volleyball are restarting in the coming weeks, and Richmond Valley Mayor Robert Mustow said it was great to see the stadium back in action again.

“The stadium is a premier sporting facility in the community and an important part of the Richmond Valley,” Cr Mustow said.

“It was greatly missed while the repairs were underway, as it provides wonderful opportunities for everyone from kids to seniors.”

A keen basketballer

himself, Cr Mustow said he was looking forward to trying out the new floor surface at the stadium.

The floor was severely damaged by the floods of February 2022, and now has a new Pulastic floor which will be much more resilient to future flooding.

Facility manager Gary Ellem said the new floor provided a high-impact sports surface for various uses and would allow more activities to be staged at the stadium.

Mr Ellem said the Indoor Sports Stadium would also reopen with a new coordinator, Richard Campbell, who

has extensive experience in sports education and running facilities across the country.

“Richard began his fitness career as an instructor in Casino and was part of the premiership-winning Casino Cougars side in 1985,” Mr Ellem said.

“Richard’s most recent

position was at Southern Cross University managing gyms at Lismore, Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast.

“I’m sure Richard will bring tremendous value to the Casino Indoor Sports Stadium, and we look forward to activities commencing again.”

The stadium provides a

large, enclosed area with high ceilings, ventilation, and two full-sized courts equipped for multi-sport activities. Wheelchair access is available to the Stadium, alongside shower and toilet facilities and a central curtain to allow different activities.

Council is keen for the stadium to be used by the broader community for events and recreational activities.

For more information on hiring the stadium for sporting or community use, contact Richmond Valley Council or visit the Casino Indoor Sports Stadium.

CAPTION: Casino Indoor Sports Stadium Coordinator Richard Campbell joins Mayor Robert Mustow and a group of local basketballers to welcome the stadium’s reopening.

NEWCOLOUR • NEWCOLOUR

Green light to restore Tyalgum Road landslip with award of $16 million contract

Work to repair the significant landslip on Tyalgum Road is set to progress, with a $16 million contract awarded to local construction company SEE Civil Pty Ltd.

The contract was awarded following an extensive tendering process, supported by a Letter of Agreement from Transport for NSW, and will allow the contractor to progress design work from 30% to 100%.

A further $4 million will go towards additional costs on the project, such as land acquisition and site work, bringing the total cost of the Tyalgum Road landslip repair to $20 million.

SEE Civil is also the preferred contractor for the $2.3 million project to restore the two slips on Limpinwood Road – the main alternative access route to Tyalgum village. Transport for NSW is currently assessing the proposed works prior to Council awarding of the contract.

Design work for Tyalgum Road is expected to take until late May to complete, with work expected to start on site around the same time.

The contractor’s design work will include the provision of temporary access through the Tyalgum Road site, with the aim for this to be in place by the latter quarter of this year.

Limpinwood Road will remain open to one lane as per the current situation while reconstruction work takes place, which is also expected to start at the end of May.

Mayor of Tweed Shire

Chris Cherry said it was great to finally see progress on restoration of the Tyalgum Road landslip.

“This is the biggest and most complex of the Tweed’s landslips caused by the devastating flood of February-March last year and today’s announcement represents a significant milestone in

the Shire’s recovery,” Cr Cherry said.

“I know the Tyalgum community has been frustrated by the time it has taken to get to this stage – and the inconvenience caused by the severed roadway – and I thank them for their patience.

“Now we have this contract in place, SEE

of our people who live and work across northern NSW,” Mr Barnes said.

“Following the floods and unprecedented damage across northern NSW and south-east Queensland in 2022, our project teams have launched a number of recovery projects in both states to reconnect communities severed by

Civil will be able to continue the process of designing and working on restoring our road network in a manner that will make it more resilient and able to better deal with the challenges of future natural disasters and climate change.”

SEE Group Executive Director Joel Barnes said as a local company, SEE Civil had seen the devastating aftermath of the severe weather events across the Tweed region firsthand.

“The Tweed region is our home and the home

the damage.

“We will continue to face challenges as we recover infrastructure and livelihoods, and we are confident our expertise and experience in recovery works very similar to the Tyalgum slip will outweigh those challenges.”

Discover Tyalgum owner Brad Sims, whose tourism company promotes the village, welcomed the announcement.

“This announcement today is a huge relief for residents, businesses and visitors to know the

repair is actually going ahead and we’ve finally got a contractor. We now know how long it’s going to take to fix the road and a temporary road is happening with no more delays,” Mr Sims said.

“It’s a relief for locals to know the extra driving hours and time wasted is coming to an end. We’ll all get our normal lives back. Businesses will be able to plan for the future, Kids won’t spend three hours a day on school buses and tourists will return to Discover Tyalgum again.

and construction of the landslips on Kyogle Road and Mt Warning Road.

Civil Mining & Construction Pty Ltd has been selected for three contracts worth more than $28 million to restore three sites on Kyogle Road and also the contract to restore Mt Warning Road worth more than $11 million.

Transport for NSW is currently assessing the proposed works prior to Council’s awarding of the contract.

Combined, these works

“While we’re not there yet, everyone will be happy to see the work is starting.”

Other landslip repairs Tyalgum Road is one of several major landslips in the Tweed that occurred during last year’s record flood, with the others including Scenic Drive, Reserve Creek Road, Kyogle Road, Mt Warning Road and Limpinwood Road.

At its meeting on 2 March, Council selected a preferred contractor which will allow work to commence on completing designs

represent $61 million –or almost half – of the Tweed’s $125 million total repair bill following the 2022 flood.

Work is already underway to complete designs for the restoration of Reserve Creek Road ($6 million) expected to be completed after Easter when on-site work will commence, with the goal of establishing temporary access by mid-year. This is another contract awarded to SEE Civil.

And construction to restore two slips at Scenic Drive, Bilambil Heights was completed in February at a cost of $4 million.

All of these flood recovery works are funded through the Australian and NSW Governments’ Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Follow Council’s Flood Recovery works program at www.tweed.nsw. gov.au/flood-recovery-

HUNT FOR SHARK EGG CASES LAUNCHES IN AUSTRALIA

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, is calling on citizen scientists to find and record egg cases washing up on Australian coasts, so researchers can betterunderstand oviparous chondrichthyans: egglaying sharks, skates and chimaeras.

The Great Eggcase Hunt, an initiative of United Kingdom-based charity The Shark Trust, has launched in Australia in partnership with CSIRO to help provide new data for scientists studying the taxonomy and distribution of oviparous chondrichthyans.

Helen O’Neill, CSIRO Australian National Fish Collection biologist, said recording sightings of egg cases on beaches and coastlines would help scientists discover what the egg cases of different chondrichthyans look like, with some species still unknown.

“Egg cases are important for understanding the basic biology of oviparous

chondrichthyans, as well as revealing valuable information such as where different species live and where their nurseries are located,” Ms O’Neill said.

Cat Gordon, Senior Conservation Officer at The Shark Trust, said

eggcase identification resources,” Ms Gordon said.

“There’s such a diversity of species to be found around the Australian coastline, and with a tailored identification guide created for each state,

black. They range in size from approximately 4 to 25 centimetres.

Some egg cases have a smooth and simple appearance, while others have ridges, keels or curling tendrils that anchor them to kelp or coral. Port Jackson

“We borrow egg cases from other collections, museums and aquariums around the world and use our own specimens collected from fish markets and surveys at sea or extracted from the ovaries of preserved specimens in our collection,” she said.

live embryos, whose incubation times range from a few months up to three years, depending on the species.

the Great Eggcase Hunt began in the United Kingdom 20 years ago and has since recorded more than 380,000 individual egg cases from around the world.

“We’re really excited to be partnering with CSIRO to officially launch this citizen science project in Australia and to be able to expand the Shark Trust’s

they really showcase the different catsharks, skate, horn sharks, carpetsharks and chimaera eggcases that can be found washed ashore or seen while diving,” she said.

Also known as mermaids’ purses, egg cases come in many different shapes and colours, ranging from cream and butterscotch to deep amber and

sharks have corkscrewshaped egg cases that they wedge into rocks.

Each different species’ egg case has a unique morphology that is helpful in taxonomy, the science of describing and naming species.

“At the Australian National Fish Collection, we are matching egg cases to the species that laid them,” Ms O’Neill said.

Chondrichthyans have the most diverse reproduction strategies found among vertebrates, encompassing parthenogenesis (no father), multiple paternity (more than one father of the litter), adelphophagy (baby sharks predating each other in the womb) and various modes of egg laying.

Egg cases found on beaches rarely contain

“Egg cases found washed up on beaches have likely already hatched, died prematurely due to being washed ashore or been predated on by creatures like sea snails, who bore a hole in the egg case and suck out the contents,” Ms O’Neill said.

The Shark Trust is a United Kingdom-based charity dedicated to safeguarding the future of sharks, skates, rays, and chimaera through positive change. The Trust achieves this through science, education, influence and action.

Crested Hornshark

Draughtsboard Shark

Saffin announces more community election commitments

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has announced more election commitments aimed at making local communities safer, keeping public schools open, protecting our natural environment, and removing a costly regulation from one local government area.

Ms Saffin says that while the range of commitments she has secured from NSW Labor is diverse, they tackle issues she has been lobbying on with local community groups, local councils and regional organisations since 2019.

“The Nationals and Liberals in Government have not yet taken up what are essentially community needs despite numerous opportunities to do so,” Ms Saffin says.

“Yes, these projects are needed, and importantly, they have been properly costed and budgeted for.

“I have an even longer list of priority projects to work through across our electorate and the Northern Rivers, and I have the drive to see

them through during a second term.”

On the natural and the built environment, Ms Saffin says: “It is past time now for us to attempt to seek agreement about actions we can take together about big issues that have no simple or easily attainable solution if the parties do not talk to each other.

“Farmers can help us lead the way and we need to ensure that we include them in all decision making processes.

“That has been my goal and will be how I will continue to act if re-elected and I will keep working to ensure our region can address environmental, energy and climate challenges, restoring the health of our rivers, our soils and saving our koalas.”

Some of the commitments a Minns Labor Government will provide include:

• Keep open Murwillumbah’s four public schools, consulting all school communities on infrastructure

WOMEN AND YOUTH DRIVE NSW JOBS MARKET

New South Wales has maintained the lowest unemployment rate among the states for the sixth consecutive month, according to today’s ABS labour force data.

The fgures show employment in NSW grew by 15,900 in February after losing 7,000 jobs in January, while the participation

rate grew to 66.3 per cent.

The NSW unemployment rate is 3.2 per cent, the lowest of all the states.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the fgures showed employment in NSW is now at 242,300 above pre-Covid levels.

“The fgures also show a record number of

upgrades, including the continuation of Murwillumbah High’s capital works.

• Additional policing resources for Murwillumbah Police Station, starting with $3.7 million for recruitment of additional officers, provision of other services and upgrades, and an implementation plan to make Murwillumbah Police Station 24/7. This commitment delivers on a promise made by The Nationals in 2007 but

never kept.

• Deliver $5 million to Resilient Lismore, in partnership with Reece Foundation, for their Two Rooms and a Bathroom rollout to 250 flood-impacted homes as well as restoring essential plumbing to at least 100 homes.

• Allocate $250,000 to develop an Economic and Environmental Recovery Plan for the Northern Rivers region and Tenterfield Shire LGA to help eight local government areas ‘build

back better’ from the 2022 floods and better prepare for future natural disasters.

• Deliver $2 million to Tweed Shire Council to fund urban flood mitigation projects prioritised from the outcomes of the Murwillumbah Central Business District Drainage Study.

• Significantly boost funding for Lismore Women’s Health & Resource Centre.

• Remove the EPA waste levy from Kyogle Local

Government Area.

• Allocate $5 million for four high-priority, shovel-ready projects to start the Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative.

• Deliver $1.4 million to Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital towards construction and commissioning of the purpose-built hospital facility at Wollongbar.

• Provide $110,000 to Lismore’s Friends of the Koala Incorporated for a chlamydia vaccination program and a koala data base.

women employed in the state and a record low youth unemployment rate,” Mr Kean said.

“This is what good economic management delivers. Only a Liberal and Nationals Government has a long term economic plan to keep NSW moving forward.”

Since federal Labor

came to power there have been nine consecutive rate rises and infation has risen to 7.4 per cent.

Consumer sentiment has fallen 19.2 per cent in NSW over the last year, and fallen 22.1 per cent in Australia.

Meanwhile, retail sales have fallen 2.0 per cent since November, down

2.2 per cent nationally.

Mr Kean said NSW cannot risk a Labor Minns Government which would stall the economy and send the state backwards.

“Labor has already announced they will cancel major infrastructure projects like the two western Sydney metro lines and

that means jobs will be lost,” Mr Kean said.

“Now is not the time to risk a Minns-Mookhey Labor government that has no experience and no plan for job creation; the only plan it has is to axe projects and axe jobs.”

WHY LET YOUR CAT ROAM WHEN THEY CAN RULE THE ROOST AT HOME?

“Leemo has views on just about anything”

for lunch somewhere nifty for your birthday.’

JUST A ‘MUNDANE’ DAY FOR ‘LEEMO CAT’

Whilst I am, in general, always concerned for ‘Mum Jane’s’ state of mind, my disquiet has increased. I noted she is actually ‘talking’ with our Robovac foor cleaning thingie of late. (It’s ‘Leemo Cat writing.) She speaks in the manner she reserves for ME! Like ‘don’t go that way, don’t argue with me, do what I tell you to do’. However, like me, my recently acquired new buddie ‘Robo’ does as he pleases. He whizzes around, down the hall, into bedrooms, lounge room, under dining table, into kitchen. On & on he goes. Oooh, he must be so ft! Mum stands in front of him and tries to re-direct where he’s heading, but he just whizzes over her feet, dusts her feet, toenails & ankles and gets on with his chores. At times HE even uses a commanding voice to boss Mum around. (nifty huh!) Like ‘empty the dust drawer,’ ‘clean the brush’ or something dramatic like ‘move ‘Robo’ to another spot. I shall ponder my dilemma further. As ‘Mum’s’ birthday is coming up, I’ll delay calling for help for her behaviour ‘till next week. I engaged her with our tea & cake banter. ‘Mum, I heard that the Red Cross urgently need blood donors. Shall you and I go together and give blood? Don’t you think it would be a lovely ‘Mum & Son’ thing to do? (I’d also heard donors get a free milkshake and a sausage roll YUM!) I shall then take you

Crikey, I reckon she ate a gigantic bit of cake ‘cos she seemed to be choking and ran to our bathroom. On return she informed me that whilst SHE could give blood and get TREATS at Red Cross, “I” would need to give blood at a Vet’s surgery, and ‘probly get NO TREATS at all! Well I never! Mum gave me a big hug and said ‘Never mind Leems, I’ll tell you a wee story. Many years ago I few from India to Greece. I found a Hostel to stay in & went a-wandering around Athens & sat for coffee at a street café. I took in the passing array of people, whilst dreaming about which Greek Island I would go to. I took change from my bag, paid for my coffee and meandered off. Back at the hostel I was sorting my bag and realised my Travel Folder was missing. It contained my passport, air tickets, T/Cheques, Vaccination stuff. EVERYTHING! I had a meltdown Leems but found my way to the Australian Embassy, crying & panic stricken. ‘Oooh, Mum, what happened?’ ‘Well, Leems. I had very little loot, but a traveller at the Hostel told me I could donate blood and get PAID! SO, I DID! I made 3 donations in 2 days at ‘different’ locations. I got paid for all 3. Admittedly the nurse at the 3rd place told me I was very pale! BUT, I did have enough $ for food & my hostel rent.’ ‘OMG Mum, did you then get kidnapped?” She glared at me and told me NOT to be so ridiculous. She went on to tell me that one day when she has more time she’ll tell me the rest, BUT, that 6 days later she was on the Island of Crete smashing plates in a restaurant whilst doing the Queensland version of Zorba’s Dance. I surmised that this tale obviously had a happy ending SOMEHOW, but Mum informed me she’s not telling me the rest ‘till I take her out (AND PAY) for her birthday lunch. Crikey, I now need to donate blood 3 times in 2 days in Greece to get loot? Worried purrsies, Leemo.

Council is offering cat owners in the Tweed a chance to help transform their homes into a cat haven as part of a program to encourage those who have a cat in their lives to keep them safe from harm – at home.

A total of 36 vouchers, valued at $500 each, are up for grabs for eligible cat owners who complete an expression of interest form. Cat owners are being asked to describe why they are keen to keep their cat at home as well as other questions on how they plan to transition their pet from free roaming to stay-athome.

Tweed Shire Council has partnered with RSPCA NSW on its Keeping Cats Safe at Home campaign about loving cats, celebrating the people who love their cats and motivating cat lovers to keep their feline companions safe and fulflled.

A survey of cat owners undertaken in the Tweed Shire in 2021 found some people required support to set up a safe home environment for their cats.

Council’s Program

Leader - Pest Management & Wildlife

Protection Pam Gray said keeping a cat at home had many benefts for both the cat owner and their furry friend.

“The evidence is clear - indoor cats live longer, healthier lives if they don’t roam away from home,” Ms Gray said.

“This is because they’re protected from dangers such as traffc, fghts with other animals, and exposure to diseases. You will also get to spend more quality time

with your cat and help to protect wildlife in the Tweed and our beautiful environment for future generations.

“We know this is an important issue in the Tweed Shire and we want to support cat owners to keep their cats at home. With the funding available, 36 cat owners will be able to buy what they need to make the transition.”

Cat owners who are in need of support to transition their cats from roaming to homebased, are encouraged to submit an expression of interest form. This will put them in the running for a $500 voucher from Catnets, who specialise in cat havens and cat enrichment products.

Complete the expression of interest form online in 5 easy steps before midnight on Sunday 21 May 2023. For terms and conditions and to apply online visit tweed.nsw.gov.au/cats.

Tweed is one of just 11 councils selected to participate in the Keeping Cats Safe at Home project initiative as part of a state-wide project to protect cats and native wildlife in NSW. The project is funded by a $2.5 million grant from the NSW Environmental Trust.

36 Tweed residents to be awarded support to keep their cats safe at home

Specially-designed cat runs help prevent cats from roaming, ensuring they remain safe at home. (Image credit: Catnet)

Cat owners are encouraged to fll in an expression of interest form to be eligible for one of 36 vouchers, valued at $500 each, to help keep their cat safely contained at home. (Image credit: Catnet)

MORE BREASTSCREEN VANS TO SAVE LIVES IN REGIONAL AREAS

Four new lifesaving BreastScreen NSW vans will roll into regional and remote communities under a $21.7 million investment by the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government to make breast cancer screening more accessible.

The NSW Liberals and Nationals are committed to improving health services for women, with re-election announcements of $16.3 million for new endometriosis and pelvic pain services, $7 million in research grants for gynaecological cancers, a $4 million expansion of the $80 million Affordable IVF Initiative, $2 million to help women suffering miscarriage, pregnancy loss and stillbirth and a $95 million infrastructure overhaul for The Royal Hospital for Women’s Newborn Care Centre and Birthing Unit at

Randwick.

The NSW Liberals and Nationals in Government have also committed $40 million as part of the 2022-23 NSW Budget to establish four Menopause Hubs and 12 specialised services across the state.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new BreastScreen NSW vans will visit up to 50 more communities for the first time, including in Northern and Western NSW, saving women significant travel time.

“The NSW Government is committed to making sure that every woman in NSW has the very best opportunity to detect breast cancer early, no matter where they live,” Mr Hazzard said.

“These extra vans will substantially cut travel time for women to access screening, and

reduce barriers for those with mobility and other access challenges. It will also increase choice, providing more options for screening across the state.”

The announcement of $21.7 million over four years will enable the purchasing of four custom-built mobile vans and staff to operate them and is on top of almost $16.5 million in extra funding to help ensure any woman whose screening was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic is able to get a booking as soon as possible.

BreastScreen NSW currently operates 49 fixed site locations and 15 mobile vans, delivering services at up to 200 locations per year. By expanding the capacity of BreastScreen NSW, this will increase to up to 250 locations.

Minister for Women

and Regional Health

Bronnie Taylor said one in seven women in NSW will develop breast cancer and the best time to treat cancer is when it is still very small and confined to one area.

“As a former cancer nurse, I encourage all eligible women to book into a free screening every two years and protect themselves from a potentially deadly cancer. An X-ray of the breast can find cancers as small as a grain of rice, before any changes are noticed,” Mrs Taylor said.

“When breast cancer is found early, it’s easier to treat and most women are able to recover and get back to their normal lives.”

The NSW Government, through the Cancer Institute NSW, has invested more than $512 million since 2014 in the BreastScreen NSW

program, including $371.5 million for free screening services.

Since 2011, the NSW Government, through the Cancer Institute NSW, has also invested $11.8 million into breast cancer research.

Under a re-elected NSW Liberals and Nationals Government, investments in women’s health services will include:

• $95 million to expand and improve the Royal Hospital for Women’s Newborn Care Centre and Birthing Unit

• $16.3 million over four years to improve the management and care of patients with endometriosis and other causes of pelvic pain, with two comprehensive Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Hubs (one in metropolitan Sydney and one in regional NSW) and an extra 14 FTE dedicated staff

• $7 million in research

grants for ovarian and other gynaecological cancers, including provision of a $5 million Translational Research Grant and four $500,000 fellowships to support research for future treatments.

• $4 million expansion of the NSW Government’s $80 million Affordable IVF Initiative announced in the 2022-23 NSW Budget to include a $2,000 rebate for women who undergo egg freezing

• $2 million to provide over the phone, in-person and online support services for bereaved women and families, including grief counselling, suffering from miscarriage, pregnancy loss and stillbirth.

Margaret Olley: Far from a Still Life

Studio? Who needs a studio? I paint anywhere the mood takes me. Easel? Who needs an easel? Margaret Olley

The latest exhibition in the Margaret Olley Art Centre tells the story of Olley’s incredible life and enduring career through her greatest legacy – her art. Presented exclusively at the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Margaret Olley’s birthday, the exhibition is drawn entirely from the Tweed Regional Gallery collection.

Olley painted in her famous Duxford Street home studio in Paddington, Sydney for nearly fve decades, but as a fedgling artist she established herself as a landscape painter and throughout her life, travel was a regular pasttime, making her life far from still.

“This exciting exhibition gives visitors the opportunity to understand Olley the artist, the world traveller,

the friend, the muse, the philanthropist,” Gallery Director Susi Muddiman OAM said.

“But above all else, she was a painter, and her greatest legacy is her art. This exhibition celebrates her 100th birthday anniversary with this dynamic collection of work that provides breadth and insight into her extraordinary career.”

The earliest painting in the exhibition is a still life painting Olley did at high school when she was just 15 years old.

The latest is Cornfowers and Red Lacquer Compote2010/11 painted in the fnal year of her life, age 88 years.

“This is a unique opportunity to a diverse collection of works by Australia’s most celebrated artist,” Ms Muddiman said.

To celebrate Olley’s enormous capacity for friendship, visitors to the exhibition can take a moment to write a postcard to a friend and post it in the Gallery.

This is a free activity with postcards featuring

artwork by Margaret Olley.

Far from a Still Life will be on display in the Margaret Olley

Art Centre from until 8 October 2023. The exhibition is complemented by activities and events

including free, drop-in artmaking activities for families during the summer school holidays and master class painting

workshops for adults. For all activity and event details visit the Gallery website gallery.tweed. nsw.gov.au

… I paint anywhere the mood takes me

Margaret Olley (1923 – 2011) Cornfowers with pomegranates 1991. Oil on board, 67.5 x 90 cm Tweed Regional Gallery collection. Pending – Gift of the Tweed Regional Gallery Foundation Ltd. ©Margaret Olley Art Trust

Margaret Olley (1923 – 2011) Everlastings and apples 1982. Oil on board, 76 x 106.6 cm Tweed Regional Gallery collection. Pending – Gift of the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre Inc. and the Tweed Regional Gallery Foundation Ltd. ©Margaret Olley Art Trust

Solar industry feeling the heat over disposal of 80 million panels

The renewable energy sector is facing a quandary: how Australia will dispose of 80 million solar panels in an environmentally friendly way when they reach the end of their life.

Paradoxically, one of the reasons people are installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in huge numbers is to help the environment, but the industry is now grappling with the anticipated waste generated by 100,000 tonnes of panels due to be dismantled in Australia from 2035.

A new study led by the University of South Australia has proposed a comprehensive product stewardship scheme for solar panels, which was

prioritised by the Federal Government several years ago.

In a paper published in AIMS Energy, UniSA researcher Professor Peter Majewski says incentives are needed for producers to design solar panels that can be more easily recycled if they are damaged or out of warranty.

“Australia has one of the highest uptakes of solar panels in the world, which is outstanding, but little thought has been given to the signifcant volume of panels ending up in landfll 20 years down the track when they need to be replaced,” Prof Majewski says.

“There are some simple recycling steps

that can be taken to reduce the waste volume, including removing the panels’ frames, glass covers and solar connectors before they are disposed of.

“Landfll bans are already in place in Victoria, following the lead of some European countries, encouraging existing installers to start thinking about recyclable materials when making the panels.”

Prof Majewski says landfll bans are a powerful tool but require legislation that ensures waste is not just diverted to other locations with less stringent regulations.

Serial numbers that can track a history of solar panels could also monitor their recycling

use and ensure they are disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

“Several European nations have legislation in place for electric car manufacturers to ensure they are using materials that allow 85 per cent of the car to be recycled at the end of their life. Something similar could be legislated for solar panels.”

Weatherproof polymers used in solar panels pose environmental risks, releasing harmful hydro-fuorite gas when incinerated. Exposure to the gas can severely irritate and burn the eyes, causing headaches, nausea, and pulmonary edema in the worst cases, sometimes leaving

permanent damage.

Another primary material used in solar cells is silicon, the second most abundant material on Earth after oxygen and the most common conductor used in computer chips.

“The demand for silicon is huge, so it’s important it is recycled to reduce its environmental footprint.

“About three billion solar panels are installed worldwide, containing about 1.8 million tons of high-grade silicon, the current value of which is USD 7.2 billion. Considering this, recycling of solar PV panels has the potential to be commercially viable.”

Prof Majewski says a

second-hand economy could also be generated by re-using solar panels that are still functioning.

“Solar panel re-use offers a variety of social and environmental benefts, but consumers will need guarantees that second-hand panels will work properly and provide a minimum capacity in watts.”

Any end-of-life legislation will need to address existing and new panels and support the creation of a secondhand economy, Prof Majewski says.

A levy on the panels may also be needed to help fnance an end-oflife scheme.

Renewables Exceed Coal For The First Time Ever. Advertorial by Diana Gosper.

There was a time when solar panels and the thought of renewable energy for all, seemed

a pipedream, or simply the domain of hippies and fringe dwellers, not so anymore. And this is good news, for both consumers and the environment (in fact let’s call them nonconsumers!).

Now more than 30% of Australian homes have panels, a larger percentage per rooftop than any other country in the world, and soon the renewable energy feeding back into the Aussie energy grid will exceed

that which is coming from coal.

The demand for solar and the rollout has gotten faster; when you take note that the frst 10gigawatt took 10 years to reach, but the

next 10 gigawatt only took another 4 years and the subsequent 10 gigawatt is expected to take 3 years- we are on track for a full solar revolution!

Households and businesses who already have solar, are increasingly coming to us for upgrades and expansions, benefting from reduced bills and or grid independence, and the increase in demand comes at a time when battery technology has improved dramatically, with new batteries much

more affordable and expandable.

The increase in EV’s is also a driving factor for the uptake- and one that we welcome here at RPC. We love our EV and the free charging station here at the headquarters gets a lot of use!

The local experts at RPC, have helped thousands of people go solar since we started in 1987, we have trusted products, designs and after sales care, and we are proud and passionate about what we do. Phone 0266891430 email sales@rpc.com.au or visit rpc.com.au.

HOMES FIRST A PLAN TO REGULATE SHORT TERM HOLIDAY LETTING

for non-hosted Short Term Holiday Letting, with development applications approved by the local council.

• Give local councils planning powers to determine when, where and how much Short Term Holiday Letting can occur, including the power to create “STHL free zones” in their LGA.

NSW is in a rental crisis. Sky high rents are forcing people out of their homes and record low vacancy rates mean they have nowhere to go. Houses that would have been rentals being used as Short Term Holiday Letting is just adding fuel to the fre.

Thousands of homes are listed on platforms like Airbnb because owners can make far more proft from a holiday property than they can from offering an ongoing rental. It’s depriving the rental market of much needed homes.

Despite holiday letting being a business, there is virtually no regulation.

Tourist towns like Byron Bay are hit the hardest - some entire streets have no local residents. Communities are being gutted.cross

The Greens will introduce emergency measures to get homes back into the rental market. We’ll take action to regulate Short Term Holiday Letting like the business it is, and make holiday letting business owners pay their share to their local community.

HOUSES FOR HOUSING

Since the pandemic, the housing crisis in NSW has accelerated wildly. This is despite tens of thousands of new homes being built over the last decade, including 267,163 built since 2018.

Many of these new homes have simply been snapped up by investors and used for Short Term Holiday Letting in communities that are desperate for more housing.

A 3% vacancy rate is considered ‘balanced’, with rental demand matching the level of supply. Sydney’s vacancy rate is currently at an historic low of 1.3%, while the North Coast is at a shocking 1.2%1.

In a rental crisis new houses should be homes for families, not money making schemes for investors.

The Greens will introduce emergency

measures that • Prohibit houses built after 1 January 2018 from being used as ‘Non-Hosted’ (otherwise unoccupied) Short Term Holiday Lets in an LGA, until that LGA hits a 3% rental vacancy rate. This emergency measure will be in place for 2 years until the Greens proposed Department of Fair Trading develops vacancy rate requirements for each Local Government Area to suit their unique housing needs. This will ensure that Short Term Holiday Letting does not impact rental availability. Home owners will be able to apply for exemptions with their local council for dwellings that are unsuitable for residential purposes, such as granny fats.

GIVE COUNCILS REGULATION

POWERS

Short Term Holiday

Letting is a business.

But despite this, hosts don’t have to pay commercial rates or require the usual development consent needed to run a business out of a residential property. This gives them an unfair advantage against traditional holiday accommodation providers like hotels and motels and renders council and government powerless to control when, where and how many Short Term Holiday Lets operate in a community.

What’s even worse is the local council receives no revenue from Short Term Holiday Letting. This is even though the Local Council provides many of the services that tourists use and enjoy during their holidays.

The Greens plan to Regulate STHL will:

• Require development consent

• Give local councils the power to place a ‘bed tax’ on Short Term Holiday Letting, as a source of revenue to maintain the local services used by tourists.

• Phase in these regulations over 12 months, honouring existing STHL bookings.

EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION

The horrifc foods and bushfres of the last four years have only exacerbated the housing crisis. The Northern Rivers Floods saw thousands of residential homes rendered unliveable and thousands of families left with no place to go2.

In emergencies such as foods, storms and fres, fnding shelter for displaced people should be the number 1 priority. That’s why the Greens will legislate requirements for non-hosted Short Term Holiday Lets to be made available for emergency housing during a natural disaster, with the operators compensated at a fair market rate by the State Government.

THE GREENS

WILL:

Stop non-hosted short-term letting of houses built after 1 January 2018 in an LGA until the

vacancy rate hits 3%

Require development applications for houses to be used non-hosted for short-term holiday

letting, as required for other businesses

Give local councils planning powers to decide when and where Short Term Holiday Letting can

operate in their LGA

Allow councils to place a bed tax on Short Term Holiday Letting to fund local services.

Require non-hosted Short Term Holiday Rentals to be used as emergency accommodation during a natural disaster.

Pictured (left to right) Kim Goodrick - housing advocate, Tamara Smith - Greens Member for Ballina, Cate Faehrmann - Greens MP and planning spokesperson.

TIME TO RESOLVE SUGAR TERMINALS ISSUE

CANEGROWERS is calling on the owners and operators of Queensland’s bulk sugar terminals to put aside their differences and come together to fnd a long-term solution to the operation of these strategically signifcant industry assets.

Representatives from Sugar Terminals Limited (STL) and Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) fronted grower-leaders at the CANEGROWERS

Policy Council meeting in Brisbane this week, to explain why terminal operations has suddenly become one of the most contentious issues facing

the industry.

Queensland’s sugarcane farmers funded two-thirds of the construction costs of six purpose-built bulk sugar terminals between Cairns and Bundaberg in 1950s and 60s.

For decades these terminals have been operated safely and successfully by QSL as a not-for-proft enterprise, handling around 4 million tonnes of sugar exports annually.

However, despite having no hands-on experience in the operation of sugar terminals, in January STL, the owner of the assets, announced its intention to

UPCOMING SALE DATES

11th

18th May - The Annual Weaner Sale commencing at 9am

wind up the commercial agreement with QSL and insource terminal operations.

CANEGROWERS

Chairman Owen Menkens said growers are concerned the decision poses unnecessary risks to Australia’s international reputation as a reliable supplier of high quality, sustainably produced sugar.

“These terminals are a huge asset to the industry,” Mr Menkens said. “They give us a signifcant competitive advantage in the world market and their effcient, effective and safe operation as a service to the industry is paramount.

“Growers were the major investors in these facilities, so, we’re not about to sit quietly back and see that legacy risked in any way because these organisations are unable to agree what’s actually in the best interests of the industry,” Mr Menkens said. Both parties need to come together and resolve their operational issues in an orderly way. The growerled CANEGROWERS Policy Council affrmed that growers want to be assured that:

• terminals will be operated without increased costs while ensuring effciency and reliability

• there is a forward operating strategy and business plan in place for the terminals

• terminal operations will always prioritise sugar access

• pricing and access arrangements will continue to be on an equitable basis for all customers

“The bottom line is these terminals have operated very well under QSL,” Mr Menkens said.

“And the fact that QSL is an industry-owned, not for proft organisation has given growers confdence that these assets are being managed in the best

interests of the industry.

“It is now up to STL to demonstrate to growers that they can do a similar or better job, possibly at lower cost. But we have yet to be convinced of that.

“If there is a better operating model then surely STL and QSL as two organisations that should be thinking in the best interests of the industry should resolve the situation in a professional manner.

“CANEGROWERS will continue to fght to ensure this issue resolved in an acceptable way as soon as possible.”

REAL ESTATE PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

2844 Big River Way, Cowper 2462

Quality, productive farms close to town are a very rare and highly sought commodity 2844 Big River Way is host to 60 acres of quality alluvial soil and is perfectly situated just 20 minutes(approx) from Maclean and Grafton, and only 35 minutes(approx) from the beach hub of Yamba

The farm has a proven carrying capacity of 60 head of cattle and has enjoyed a history of pastoral improvement Having once been utilised as a horse stud, equine pursuits are also well accounted for, with the property hosting a 5 bay stables plus feed & tack room

If the location and land were not enough, the property also boasts a well appointed, 5 bedroom family home which overlooks the Clarence river from the front and enjoys sweeping views of rural farmland and coastal ridges at its rear For peace of mind and stock security, the homestead and its adjoining paddock sit on a flood free rise For more information please phone Martin Pearce on 0417 690 637

RECENT CATTLE MARKET REPORTS

CASINO

NRLX MARKET REPORT

WEEK ENDING FRIDAY 24 MARCH

Agents yarded a total of 1,182 head at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange regular prime sale on Wednesday 22 March. Young cattle dominated the sale numbers made up mostly of vealers along with a limited supply of yearlings. There was a good run of cows and some very good heavyweight bullocks. The usual buyers were in attendance.

Cow prices held frm on last week averaging 245c/

GRAFTON

BROUGHT TO YOU BY DONOVAN LIVESTOCK & PROPERTY

PH: 02 6643 4411

Once again a very good yarding of Export cattle with Cows making up most of the numbers.

Prime Bullocks sold cheaper with only one processor operating. The Cow market was also cheaper, falling 15c/ kg compared to last fortnight. The best of the Cows making 270c/kg. Young cattle were well supplied and the market was frm on the previous sale.

Sale Highlights Grafton Fat Cattle Sale 21st March

WARWICK

MC DOUGALL & SONS SHEEP & LAMB REPORT

Agents today yarded 1787 head for the weekly sale, the offering was ¾ lambs and hoggets with the balance mutton and rams. The market was frm on last week’s sale with fnished export and trade lambs’ frm, the light lamb market was back as well as mutton that did not have weight or fnish. Lambs topped at $190 to average $128.97($1down), hoggets topped at $130 to average $76.98($1down), Ewes topped at $138 to average $49.17($8up), Wethers topped at $110 to average $95.36($26up), rams topped at $108 to average $77.26($6up), Lamb rams topped at $170 to average

WARWICK

LIVESTOCK MARKETS WARWICK W/E 24/03/2023

Cattle and Sheep and Lamb numbers were consistent with the previous weeks and the markets were on a par with most Southern markets as the rates for most stock fell along the guidelines of most livestock sales. The odd exception was for any lines of back to the paddock stylish cattle and ewes and lambs. Pork numbers were in decline before the rush we usually see coming into the Easter break. Poultry numbers were steady and the market was a bit frmer.

Vealer steers averaged 339.3c/kg topping at 446.2c/kg or $926.38 to $1251.70

Vealer heifers averaged 279.6c/kg topping at 316.2c/kg or

kg and reaching a top price of 269c/kg. Heifer prices saw a slight decrease with lighter stock up to 250kg averaging 300c/kg and topping their category at 462c/ kg. Heavier heifers over 250kg averaged 281c/kg and reached a top of 348c/kg.

Bull prices saw a drop with 22 head sold averaging 217c/kg and 621kg. Steer prices were easier with lighter stock up to 250kg averaging 393c/kg and reaching a top of 458c/kg. Heavier steers over 250kg averaged 339c/kg and topped their market at 440c/kg. A large number of bullocks sold on the day averaged 296c/kg and reached a top of 306c/kg.

Vealer prices were cheaper this week averaging 347c/ kg and 251kg and reaching a top of 430c/kg.

2023:

A/c JM Matten sold Charolais Cross Bullocks 285c/kg averaged 707.1kg - $2,015.36 p/hd

A/c BJ Slarke Pty Ltd sold Angus Bullocks 289.2c/kg averaged 596.3kg - $1,724.36 p/hd

A/c IJ & YC Cameron sold Brahman Heifers 276.2c/kg averaged 560kg - $1,546.72 p/hd

A/c DJ Marshall Trust sold Angus Cows 258c/kg averaged 812.5kg - $2,096.25 p/hd

A/c JA & KA Clancy sold Brahman Cross Cows 263.2c/ kg averaged 597.5kg - $1,572.62 p/hd

A/c Gibson Agricultural Partnership sold Devon Steers 318.2c/kg averaged 333.3kg - $1,060.67 p/hd

A/c MW, MK & SJ Golding sold Angus Steers 460.2c/kg

$64.21($5down), Ewe lambs topped at $100 to average $90.74($71down). The total yarding of 1787 head averaged $98.85 a rise of $/head week on week.

Vermont Past Co sold 1stx lambs 50kg off crop to Eversons for $162

Lloyd Hulin sold Dorper lambs 47.5kg to Take IT Easy Meats for $170

Frost Farming sold Dorper lambs 46.4kg to GR Prime for $171, 43.6kg to Leslie Lamb for $166, 46kg ram lambs to restockers for $170.

Carmichael & Galloway sold 42.66kg Dorper lambs to GR Prime for $150 and 40kg to GR Prime for $100

Warren & Wendy Schelbach sold Dorper lambs 46kg to GR Prime for $159

Widgeegoeara Past Co sold Dorper lambs 49.1kg to

$791.69 to $990.76

Feeder steers averaged 319.3c/kg topping at 390c/kg or $1239.65 to $1646.50

Feeder heifers averaged 285.3c/kg topping at 350c/kg or $1043.70 to $1317.56

Yearling steers averaged 337.2c/kg topping at 430.2c/kg or $1018.68 to $1322.67

Yearling heifers averaged 282.6c/kg topping at 338.2c/kg or $856.72 to $1183.70

Steers averaged 300.4c/kg topping at 318.2c/kg or $1798.03 to $2131.94

Heifers averaged 256.1c/kg topping at 310.2c/kg or $1192.44 to $2024.88

Cows averaged 233.4c/kg topping at 260c/kg or $1261.93 to $1970.93

Bulls averaged 219.4c/kg topping at 298.2c/kg or $1260.59

George & Fuhrmann held day two of their weaner sales at the NRLX on Thursday 23 March with 4,033 head going under the hammer. Steers topped their category at 514c/kg and averaged 423c/kg and 290kg whilst heifers reached a top of 378c/kg and averaged 340c/kg and 277kg.

Day three followed on Friday 24 March with 2,987 head going under the hammer. Steers topped their category at 510c/kg and averaged 417c/kg and 288kg whilst heifers reached a top of 432c/kg and averaged 333c/kg and 247kg.

T&W McCormack and Ramsey & Bulmer will hold a joint store sale this Friday with 1,500 head expected. Further bookings are welcome!

averaged 155.6kg - $716.19 p/hd

A/c Robert Pike sold Red Poll Steers 320c/kg averaged 245kg - $784 p/hd

A/c Timothy Cheers sold Hereford Steers 320c/kg averaged 214.2kg - $685.33 p/hd

Tuesday 28th March 2023 – Grafton Fat Cattle Sale, 8:00am, Grafton Saleyards

Saturday 1st April 2023 – Feature Female Sale, 11:00am, Grafton Saleyards

TUESDAY 4th April 2023 – Grafton Store Cattle Sale, 9:00am, Grafton Saleyards

Tuesday 11th April 2023 – Grafton Fat Cattle Sale, 8:00am, Grafton Saleyards

Eversons for $174, 46kg to GR Prime for $166, 44.3kg to Leslie Lamb for $158, 46.2kg hoggets to Warwick Meats for $108

Michael Wright sold Australian White lambs 51.4kg to Eversons for $178

Rayner F/T sold Dorper lambs 53.1kg to Eversons for $174, 60kg hoggets to Eversons for $117, rams to restockers for $104

Martin Roberts sold Xbred hoggets 51kg to Take IT Easy Meats for $99, ewes to restockers for $80, ewes to Eversons for $60, rams to restockers for $50

Signature Cattle Co sold 1st x lambs 40.3kg to restockers for $95, 26.7kg lambs to restockers for $61, hoggets 46.4kg to Eversons for $86, 42.5kg hoggets to Eversons for $58, Ewes to restockers for $60, $54, $40 and $22

to $2373.75

Lambs topped at $190 to average $128.97($1down)

Hoggets topped at $130 to average $76.98 ($1down)

Ewes topped at $138 to average $49.17($8up)

Wethers topped at $110 to average $95.35($26up)

Rams topped at $108 to average $77.26($6up)

Lamb Rams topped at $170 to average $64.21($5down)

Ewe lambs topped at $100 to average $90.74($71down)

Total sale average of $98.85 was $4/head up on previous sale.

Baconers sold from $98 to $271, Light pork from $107 to $132, stores from $46 to $134

Pullets sold to $24, Roosters to $23, Hens to $24, Drakes to $34, Ducks to $14, Guinea Fowl to $16, Units of Ducklings to $22 of Chicks to $26, Quails to $12, Guinea Fowl to $40

NSW Farmers Poultry

Manager Dave Banham says reports of synthetic chicken nuggets failing to meet food standards are cause for concern.

Plant-based ‘chicken’ nuggets from US-based synthetic food producer Impossible Foods were discovered to contain

calcium pantothenate –which is not permitted under Australian food safety rules – during a random test conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry’s and Fisheries.

As a father of two, Mr Banham said it was concerning to hear

synthetic versions of popular children’s’ foods were not meeting food safety standards.

“You want to be sure that the food you’re giving your kids is safe to eat, and this sort of case shakes confdence in synthetic food products,” Mr Banham

Certainty on synthetic foods ‘impossible’

said.

“We understand synthetic or plant-based proteins are growing in popularity.

“But until we know those processed products are 100 per cent safe, my family will be sticking with natural foods like real chicken.”

The issue of ‘fake’ food labelling was the subject of a recent Senate inquiry, but while consumption of synthetic, lab-grown or plant-based alternatives to meat was slowly growing, Mr Banham said it was important to separate the fact from fction.

“As farmers, we grow the plants that make up these plant-based proteins, but what’s really concerning is that

healthy, natural foods are being demonised by the marketing department of food processors,” Mr Banham said.

“Impossible Foods may like to spruik the ‘healthy’ credentials of their synthetic nuggets, but this case of failing food standards has to be a blow for them.

“Synthetic or natural, the product needs to be safe, and we know animal-based proteins are safe.”

INVEST IN CLIMATE MITIGATION, SAY FARMERS

Farmers are asking both major parties to commit to practical solutions –not empty promises – in tackling climate change.

With polling predicting a very tight election result and a high possibility of a hung parliament, attention is now on what deals and concessions the Coalition and Labor might make with minor parties and independents to secure government.

NSW Farmers Dairy Committee member Kate Hand said climate targets and policies were likely to be the subject of many discussions, but

warned “a target without a way to get there is just a problem”.

“We don’t want to see agriculture become the sacrifcial lamb in the name of climate action,” Mrs Hand said.

“Agricultural businesses contribute an enormous amount of natural mitigation to emissions from industries that don’t have trees and grasses as their bread and butter, but farmers need research and technology for the future.

“What we need is a commitment to a a dedicated Climate and

Emissions Reduction

Innovation Fund to help fnd emissions reduction solutions for farms.”

Australian farmers had a global reputation as natural innovators , Mrs Hand said, but with high business pressures and rising costs, she warned productivity could be lost if rash decisions were made by the next government.

“We must maintain productive farms to continue growing the state’s food and contributing to the economy,” Mrs Hand said.

“Government has

a role in investing in technology and in investing capital to develop new ways for farmers to do more with less inputs, and we believe targeted and specifc investment in ways to make farming even more effcient and reduce reliance on inputs is a smart way forward to protect food supply while supporting industry innovation.

“Ad hoc funding is always a threat to real development and innovation, but a dedicated fund will encourage smart minds and the big solutions

that can build further the agriculture contributions to climate change mitigation.”

02 6642 8600

ALBY AND EILEEN WILSON

By Helen Trustum

Alby was born at Bemboka, near Bega, Southern NSW on 16th May 1903 to parents Robert and Susan Wilson. They were farmers. Alby was born to be a farmer. He married Eileen York, daughter of Edward and Nora York, January 1928 in Parramatta before moving north to Federal then on to Coorabell.

Their family: Nora, Coral, Jim, Norman (Toby), Olga, Shirley, Bob, Kevin, Carmel and Harry. Only Coral, Jim, Toby and Olga attended Coorabell School before the family moved to Main Arm in 1943. The children had to walk about 2 miles to attend school. The family lost Nora at the age of 2 years. Olga can remember those jobs they had to do before and

Alby, a showman most of his life, was involved in showing pigs at a very young age. He joined the

horses and riding classes. Leaving Coorabell in 1943, the family moved to a farm at Main Arm.

it was all hands on deck to wash, rinse and dry the Leghorns. Alby always said, “If you are going to do a job, do it right”. He won many prizes with the poultry and the children won many prizes with their horses.

The children attended Durumbil Public School. The farm was very close to the school and the hall. Functions were held in the hall where a lot of memorable nights were held. Even school concerts and Christmas tree nights were held. Another special event was the Empire Day Picnics held on the 24th May each year. A real great day of sports which everyone loved.

The early 50’s bought

to purchase registered cattle. Alby travelled to Charlie Anderson’s Ayrshire Park Stud at Boambee, C.S. McIntosh’s Denbiegh Stud at Dapto and J

Stud was registered as “Wilgarra” at Main Arm and it was not long before he was on the Far North Coast Show circuit with his Ayrshires. Showing

after school. To get to school quicker and home again the children had to walk through paddocks. If they travelled by road, it would take longer for them to get home and the jobs still had to done.

children with the Pony Club at Mullumbimby during the Second War where they competed in pony club events at the local shows. This led to more intense involvement in showing

The family were all very interested in competing at the shows. Alby decided it was time to add an extra interest: showing bantams and white leghorn poultry. The day before the show

a new challenge – cattle! Along with their nine children, Alby and Eileen Wilson commenced showing their Ayrshire Cattle. Their frst year was 1952 at Mullumbimby. At frst he showed a few head from his dairy herd and then, wanting a better line, he decided

Clarke’s Epping Forest Stud at Camden. The original receipts for these cattle show the prices of £132 for one Ayrshire heifer (including freight), £105 for one Ayrshire bull and freight from Coffs Harbour in 1953 was £11/2/-.

Alby’s Ayrshire

horses and cattle meant there was always plenty to do. The day before the show cattle were washed, horns polished, tails plaited, then socks tied to their tails to keep them clean, headstall and leads were cleaned and sorted as each animal had their own. There was always a band of

Alby & Eileen with Coral and Jim

Alby and Eileen at the Mullumbimby Show- 1953

Alby & Eileen with Olga, Coral, Harry, Carmel, Bob and Kevin at Mullumbimby Show - 1954

Alby

BEST ON THE BOX

FRIDAY BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

SEVEN, 7pm

Fancy checking out the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show but can’t make it to the city?

Here’s your ticket, along with Johanna Griggs (above), Graham Ross, Charlie Albone and Melissa King as your trusty tour guides. Charlie and Melissa both design and create their own garden, revealing what inspired their little piece of green. If you’ve been pottering about your own patch of grass wondering how to jazz it up, this plant-loving episode is prime inspiration. With the latest in oral fashions, landscape design and attainable gardens from a local and international perspective, take a moment to metaphorically stop and smell the roses.

FRIDAY, March 31

6.00 The Drum. Analysis of the day’s news.

7.00 ABC News. Takes a look at today’s top stories.

7.30 Gardening Australia. Jane Edmanson visits a quirky home garden.

8.30 Van Der Valk. (Mav) Part 2 of 3. The use of an Indonesian ceremonial sword as a murder weapon leads Van der Valk and the team deep into the world of colonialism, stolen artefacts and the thorny issue of restitution.

10.00 Jack Irish. (Malv, R) Part 2 of 4.

10.55 ABC Late News. Coverage of the day’s events.

11.15 Close To Me. (Mals, R) A woman loses her memory.

12.00 Traces. (Madl, R)

12.45 Smother. (Mal, R)

1.40 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

SATURDAY UNDER THE VINES

ABC, 8.20pm

Since the pandemic, daydreaming about uprooting to the country to eke out an idyllic life on a vineyard has become a mainstream folly. In this charming Kiwi drama, Rebecca Gibney (Packed to the Rafters) and Charles Edwards (Downton Abbey) play a pair of strangers who somehow inherited a winery in New Zealand together. Of course, it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. As we near the end of this rst season, Daisy and Louis are starting to warm to each other, with Gibney and Edwards exuding a palpable chemistry. Tonight, Daisy is over the moon about Gri (Dean O’Gorman) visiting, but the mood is soured by Louis’ wallowing following his break-up.

WEDNESDAY MICHAEL PALIN: INTO IRAQ

SBS, 8.35pm

Michael Palin was never going to be that travel presenter

lming luxurious shots by a resort pool. The British writer, actor and icon – who even once made a cameo appearance on Home and Away – takes a fascinating journey, shadowed by danger, to Iraq in this threepart special. It’s the almost-80-year-old’s rst trip to the country he has been fascinated by since he was a kid. Palin begins by boarding a train in the stunning snow-capped mountains of Lake Hazar in eastern Turkey, which follows the river Tigris until he reaches the Persian Gulf on the coast of Iraq. It’s a journey of disarming insights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Wrecks That Changed The World: Failed Invasions. (PG)

8.30 Walking Britain’s Lost Railways: Cornwall. (R) Rob Bell explores how copper mining once dominated Cornwall and follows two of the region’s rst railways.

9.25 Viking Empires: The Dynasty Of Ivarr. (PGav, R) Part 2 of 2.

10.25 SBS World News Late.

10.55 Gomorrah. (MA15+av, R)

1.40 Romulus. (MA15+av, R)

3.35 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.35 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 7News Local.

6.30 7News @ 6:30.

7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Johanna Griggs meets the Gelato Queen. Graham Ross, Charlie Albone and Melissa King check out the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. Fast Ed makes lemon and lime crispy sh tacos.

8.30 MOVIE: The Green Mile. (1999, MA15+av, R) Death row guards at a penitentiary in the ’30s nd themselves facing a moral dilemma when they discover one of their prisoners, a convicted murderer, apparently possesses miraculous powers. Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse.

12.30 Home Shopping.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current A air.

7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 5. South Sydney Rabbitohs v Melbourne Storm.

9.55 Golden Point. A wrap-up of the South Sydney Rabbitohs versus Melbourne Storm match, with news and analysis.

10.40 MOVIE: Creed II. (2018, Mv) Adonis Creed faces o against Viktor Drago. Michael B. Jordan.

1.15 Explore: Smithbilt Hats. (R) A look at the Calgary Stampede.

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Postcards. (PG, R) Todd Woodbridge sets o for Somers.

4.30 Global Shop. (R) Home shopping.

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) Clancy competes for a musical scholarship.

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news and events.

7.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Mlv, R) Guests include Jamie Lee Curtis, Eric Idle, David Tennant, Lydia West and Robbie Williams.

9.30 Taskmaster Australia. (PGls, R) Comedy game show featuring comedians performing a series of tricky tasks.

10.30 Just For Laughs Australia. (Mls, R) Hosted by Nick Cody.

11.00 Just For Laughs Uncut. (MA15+als, R) Hosted by Nikki Osborne.

11.30 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news and events.

12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) Performance by Weyes Blood.

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

6am Children’s Programs. Noon

Motor Racing. FIA World Endurance C’ship. 1000 Miles of Sebring. H’lights.

ALBY AND EILEEN WILSON

By Helen Trustum

would wish to see.

dedicated workers on hand right down to the family member as young as four. Eileen was kept busy in her line of duty, especially before show day. Helping prepare cattle, getting meals and making sure dust coats were ironed and

this is your cow today”. The family had a great team going around the shows where one year they had 30 head at Mullumbimby. To polish the horns of the cattle ready for the show ring they would use cut glass at frst then polish with fne sandpaper. Leather

Alby was a great judge of horses also and judged at many shows. Coral and Olga can remember what their Dad said in 1956 when he was asked to judge horses at Murwillumbah. His words were: “You kids can show the cattle, Mum will be there with you”. Alby’s show was Mullumbimby. He was Chief Ring Steward of the horse section for many years. Well before the show was held, Alby and his band of Committee men would prepare the yards, stalls and seats around the ring, top dress the main ring and paint the fence around the ring and a few days before the show the ground would be mowed. On the frst day of the show Alby would be busy showing his cattle but keeping an eye on the activities in the main ring ensuring that everything was running smoothly. He would be almost run off his feet, but he was never too busy to have a word with the competitors and make sure they were looked after.

looked after the show people, giving them milk, eggs, potatoes, pumpkins and a lettuce or two. It was open house at the Wilsons over show week with many a bed found for young girls who had

the 1975 Kyogle Show where he judged the interbreed cattle section.

Alby and Eileen retired to The Pocket, near Mullumbimby in 1964. They milked cows for a short while before ceasing in the

30th May 1996. They are both buried in the Mullumbimby Cemetery. At the time of writing Coral is 92 years of age living in Sydney, Olga is 85 years living in Goonellabah, Carmel is 76 years living at

ready. Eileen wouldn’t parade the cattle a great deal but every now and then Alby would say to her “Come on Eileen,

horn covers were used to keep them shiny before judging. The Wilson Family had some of the best Ayrshire Cattle one

Side show people were very important to Alby. He made it his business for Eileen and himself to speak to them all and do anything he could for them. When Junior Riders competed, Alby would give them each two shillings regardless of whether they won a ribbon or not. He often spoke about the enjoyment he got from the comments and looks on their faces of the little riders.

Alby and Eileen always

travelled long distance to compete at the show.

Alby’s life was showing and judging cattle and horses. Alby judged all over NSW and Qld taking in Royal Shows as well. His last show as a judge was at

early 1970’s where they settled down to retirement.

Alby passed away on 2nd November 1975 a week before his loved Mullumbimby Show at the age of 72 years and Eileen passed away

Goonellabah and Harry is 72 years and living at Mullumbimby.

Ref: Alby and Eileen’s daughters Coral and Olga – Feburary 2023.

Helen Trustum

Shirley with Judge Bill Trihey at the 1955 N.C. National

Alby with “ Miss Viola” at the 1956 Casino Show

Judging at Mullumbimby Show - 1955

Wilson Family

AWARDS WIN RECOGNISES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FOOD ON YOUR PLATE

The ever-improving sustainability of the Australian red meat industry has been recognised with red meat supplier Paradigm Foods and its Roots Regenerative brand, victorious in their category at the Banksia Awards this week.

The Banksia Awards is Australia’s longest running and most prestigious sustainability awards and attracted a record number of entries for 2023. MLA is a proud sponsor.

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Managing Director, Jason Strong, congratulated Paradigm Foods on winning in its category along with the three other red meat industry fnalists from the awards - HW Greenham, Leather Cattle Co, and Future Feed.

“Paradigm Foods is at the forefront of sharing the amazing sustainability story of the Australian red meat industry,” Mr Strong said. “They are

connecting consumers around the world with a deeper understanding of the food on their plates, telling the story of the industry’s land, animals and people.

“Through Roots Regenerative, they are deeply committed to regenerative agriculture, reducing food waste, improving animal welfare and overall sustainability. Winning this award is amazing recognition of the hard work and dedication of the Paradigm Foods team and their partners.”

Mr Strong said that many others in the industry are keen to build on their own sustainability story.

“For MLA and the Australian red meat and livestock industry, sustainability means the production of livestock in a way that is environmentally, socially and fnancially responsible with respect to our people, our animals and our natural resources,” Mr Strong said.

“MLA’s research

and development investments are focused on demonstrating that sustainability goes hand in hand with productivity and long term intergenerational success.”

He said the whole industry had a strong sustainability story to tell, including its ambitious plans to be carbon neutral by 2030 (CN30).

To date, the red meat sector has more than halved its emissions from 2005 baseline levels.

“The red meat and livestock industry’s commitment is driven strongly by the Australian Beef and Sheep Sustainability Frameworks. The Frameworks are industry-led but customer and investor focused, demonstrating industries commitment to sustainability and to transparently reporting industry sustainability performance and progress,” Mr Strong said.

FARMERS WELCOME BOOST TO INNOVATION FUND

NSW Farmers has welcomed the state government’s commitment to expand the Farm Innovation Fund if re-elected.

On Friday afternoon

Deputy Premier Paul Toole and Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders announced a $1 billion expansion to the program, along with plans to increase the maximum amount available to farmers to they can adopt new technologies and use automation and robotics to address labour shortages and carbon farming infrastructure.

NSW Farmers Policy Director Kathy Rankin thanked the government for its commitment to farm productivity.

“This puts farmers in the driver’s seat to future proof their business, which will help secure our future food and fbre supply,” Ms Rankin said.

“The proposed expansion of a broader

eligibility for capital works means that NSW producers can be on the front foot of technological innovation as well as being better prepared for the climate variability that they face – and have always had to manage – while growing domestic and international market access.”

The increased value of the individual loans available to farmers –from $1 million to $2 million – meant greater opportunity to have these loans make a real difference, Ms Rankin said.

“Allowing for small improvements to cut costs or to expand key operations will improve productivity, effciency and supply chain management,” Ms Rankin said.

“This is a commitment to the future of sustainable food and fbre production and community well-being.”

DPI SURVEILLANCE DETECTS SIX NEW INFESTATIONS

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) surveillance and tracing activities has confrmed six new Varroa mite infestations in beehives at four locations across the Central Coast,

at Mooney Mooney, Clarence Town, Mitchell’s Flat and Booral. The new detections bring the total infested premises to 137.

DPI Varroa Mite Response State

a testament to the extensive tracing and surveillance work being undertaken, by beekeepers and DPI, to manage the outbreak.

“These new sites have low mite loads, which

“The recent detection on the Central Coast, however, has meant DPI is now concentrating its Varroa response surveillance activities into the northern suburbs of Sydney, to ensure the

“DPI has also had to extend the eradication (red) zone west of Stanhope, and west of Bulahdelah, following the new detections on the mid-north coast.

“We know that this

eradicating this destructive mite is critically important to NSW and Australia.

“Changes in the number of infected premises are expected at this stage in the response, however what is encouraging is that these mites are being found quickly.

Hunter and mid-north coast regions.

The new sites are

Coordinator, Dr Chris Anderson, said the detections were

suggests they are very recent infestations,” he said.

infestation is localised and that there is no mite population in the area.

is a diffcult time for impacted beekeepers, but controlling and

“We thank beekeepers and the community for their cooperation with the response. For more information, visit the DPI website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/ varroa or call 1800 084 881.

BIOSECURITY EDUCATION GOES MULTILINGUAL

Non-English speaking fruit and vegetable growers from northern Australia will now be better prepared for biosecurity risks thanks to a $235,400 partnership with the Northern Territory Farmers’ Association.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister, Murray Watt, said the multilingual program would improve awareness and early detection of pest and disease risks among growers across northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.

“Keeping Australia’s food and fbre industries protected from

biosecurity risks is one of my key priorities as Minister,” Minister Watt said.

“We are helping to reduce the likelihood of disruption to Australia’s agricultural exports by improving important biosecurity information in growers’ frst language.

“The program will deliver culturally appropriate information and education to help build growers’ on-farm biosecurity knowledge and the adoption of best practices across northern Australia.”

The new resources will include videos, articles, blogs, booklets, and websites.

They will be produced in Vietnamese and Cambodian for fruit and vegetable growers located in the peri-urban Darwin area in the Northern Territory; the Burdekin and Gordonvale areas in North and Far North Queensland; and the Carnarvon region in Western Australia.

A biosecurity engagement offcer has also been employed to visit the regions and engage growers directly at their farms and at popular fruit and vegetable markets.

Minister Watt said the program is part of the Federal Government’s $11.149 million

commitment to enhance biosecurity outcomes in northern Australia under the Northern Australian Biosecurity Strategy.

“Northern Australian vegetable, tropical fruit and mango growers are from a diverse group of nationalities, with many from the South-East Asian region,” Minister Watt said.

“Due to on-going engagement and collaboration, this grower group are strong advocates for enhanced biosecurity outcomes in northern Australia.

“We want to do all we can to ensure these growers are supported in the important role that they, and every producer

plays in maintaining Australia’s enviable biosecurity status.’’

NT Farmers’ Association is strategically aligned with a range of peak grower organisations and has capacity to tailor educational and promotional activities to the unique needs of producers in the northern Australia.

CEO of the NT Farmers’ Association, Paul Burke, said his organisation was excited to continue the important work of engaging with non-English speaking growers to enhance biosecurity outcomes on the ground.

“This work has been made possible through a strong and shared vision between the Federal Government, the Northern Territory Government and industry across the breadth of northern Australia.”

Mr Burke said projects such as this are only possible when all key stakeholders work together to improve outcomes on the ground.

“The relationships built over time and the willingness to work together has made this project the success it has become,” he said.

NEW BIOLOGICAL CONTROL RELEASED AGAINST INVASIVE CABOMBA WEED

of this costly weed,” Dr Roberts said.

“Cabomba forms dense clumps that reduce light and water quality. The weed is so thick it makes recreational activities such as swimming, fshing and canoeing both diffcult and dangerous.

“The weed also reduces the water holding capacity of dams and signifcantly adds to the cost of treating drinking water,” he said.

Mechanical methods can be prohibitively expensive and only work in the short term, until the weed rapidly grows back. It costs Seqwater about $170,000 a year to manually remove cabomba from just three of its lakes.

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and one of the nation’s largest water companies Seqwater, are using a tiny defender – a weevil smaller than a grain of rice – to help stop an exotic weed spreading through Australia’s waterways.

Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana) is a fastspreading aquatic weed from South America and unless addressed, could take over many of Australia’s waterways.

After years of rigorous research in South America and Australia, scientists have released cabomba’s ancient enemy, the cabomba weevil (Hydrotimetes

natans), into Lake Kurwongbah, a water asset managed by Seqwater, north of Brisbane. This is the frst release of a biocontrol agent against cabomba anywhere in the world.

CSIRO scientist Kumaran Nagalingam said cabomba was originally introduced to Australia in 1967 as an aquarium plant and has since spread along the east coast of Australia from Cairns to Melbourne.

“Cabomba grows up to 5cm a day, strangling native ecosystems, choking waterways and impacting native aquatic animal and plant populations,” Dr

Nagalingam said.

“We also know that platypus numbers are lower in cabombainfested creeks compared to those un-infested in northern Queensland.

“Our research in South America shows that the cabomba weevil spends its entire life feeding only on cabomba and extensive research in Australian quarantine has confrmed the cabomba weevil is not a risk to native plant species,” he said.

The cabomba weevil was tested on 17 Australian plant species closely related to cabomba as the most likely plants to be a potential food

source for the weevil. Native plant species were offered to three generations of weevils to eat for their entire life cycle. The weevils ignored the Australian plants, feeding only on cabomba.

Seqwater Senior Research Scientist David Roberts recalls the long hard road to get to this point.

“It has been 19 years since Seqwater supported the frst efforts to fnd a biocontrol agent for cabomba in its home country of Argentina. It is great to fnally see a successful control agent that is ready for use in south-east Queensland to halt the ongoing spread

In line with Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry protocols, every cabomba weevil was inspected for hitchhikers in the form of parasites or pathogens before leaving quarantine. The weevils were then mass-reared in glasshouses so there are enough of them for a successful feld release.

Seqwater, in consultation with CSIRO, has constructed a purpose-built weevil nursery near Lake Kurwongbah. Here, more weevils are being reared in preparation for future releases of this promising biocontrol agent across other South East Queensland lakes with cabomba weed infestations.

Biological control is a sustainable, effective and relatively cheap method to manage pests like cabomba.

Further releases of weevils are planned for Lake MacDonald, near Noosa. CSIRO is also investigating releases in central Queensland, northern NSW, and potentially the Northern Territory.

AgriFutures Australia led projects which formed part of this research: ‘Biocontrol solutions for sustainable management of weed impacts to agricultural proftability’ (20162020) and ‘Underpinning agricultural productivity and biosecurity by weed biological control’ (2019-2022). This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, under the Rural R&D for Proft program with co-investment from Seqwater. We also acknowledge the collaborative support from the aquatic weeds team from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

WEATHER SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES

For the week ending 15 March 2023, a tropical low produced weekly total rainfall of 300 to 600 millimetres over the Gulf Country in northwest Queensland; this is about 2.5 to 5 times the March average for these areas. Widespread weekly rainfall of 50 to 150 millimetres in the Northern Territory Top End, most of eastern Queensland and into north-eastern and coastal New South Wales.

Weekly totals between 25 and 100 millimetres were recorded in central New South Wales and western Tasmania. In the cropping regions, 25 to 150 millimetres

of rainfall was recorded in Queensland as well in central and northern New South Wales.

Little to no rainfall was recorded across the remaining cropping regions over the past 7 days. Wet conditions across summer cropping regions would have prevented access to felds for crop maintenance activities and for the harvesting of early sown crops.

As at the end of February 2023, global crop production conditions were generally favourable for the major grain and oilseed producing countries. However, dry

conditions across parts of Argentina, Brazil and the United States have affected the production potential of wheat, corn and soybeans.

Below average rainfall during February is likely to result in lower-thanexpected corn and soybean production in Argentina. This is providing a deterioration in global production conditions compared to those seen back in January 2023, that were used to formulate ABARES forecasts of global grain supplies and the impact on world prices in its March 2023 edition of Agricultural commodities. As a result,

global coarse grain and oilseed production is likely to be lower than that forecast in March. In contrast, improved growing conditions across Brazil, Kazakhstan and parts of India is expected to raise wheat production prospects in these key production regions.

The global climate outlook indicates that average to above average rainfall is more likely between April and June 2023 for most of the world’s major grain- and oilseed-producing regions. This is in part due a return to El-Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral

conditions providing an improved climate outlook in a number of key grain- and oilseedproducing regions.

Over the 8-days to 23 March 2023, a trough is expected to generate 10 to 50 millimetres of rain across the tropical north of Australia. The northeast Queensland coastline, around Cairns and Townsville, is expected to receive up to 200 millimetres of rainfall. A cold front should bring up to 50 millimetres of rainfall to the west coast of Tasmania mid-week. A high-pressure system is expected to bring mainly dry conditions

elsewhere. Little to no rainfall is expected in the cropping regions.

Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) decreased between 8 March 2023 and 15 March 2023 by 224 gigalitres (GL).

Current volume of water held in storage is 22 228 GL which represents 88 per cent of total capacity. This is 0.2 percent or 36 GL more than at the same time last year.

Allocation prices in the Victorian Murray below the Barmah Choke remained steady at $15 per ML from 9 March 2023 to 15 March 2023.

MG ZS EV LONG RANGE

By ALISTAIR KENNEDY

Australia’s fastest growing carmaker, MG Motor, recently launched an extended range version of its ZS EV small-medium SUV at the FullyCharged event in Sydney.

Named ZS EV Long Range it will be on sale from early April alongside the current ZS EV Excite and MG ZS EV Essence models both of which come with a 51.2 kWh battery and 330 km range on the WLTP testing cycle. The Long Range gets a 72.6 kWh battery and 440 km range.

The ZS Long Range will come with the same equipment level as the Essence but with a privacy rear window.

At $55,990 plus onroad costs the Long Range is $8000 dearer than the standard range Essence although that’s more a refection on the bargain prices of the original vehicles.

Power from the Long Range is 115kW, 15kW less than the standard range. Both models generate 280 Nm of torque.

Like the standards range models, ZS EV Long Range is charged via a standard CCS2 socket behind a fap in the front grille. With an 11kW three-phase it can charge in 8 hours, while on a 50kW public charger it takes 63 minutes to reach 80 per cent.

All MG models come with a seven-year / unlimited distance war-

Tugun ca rs

ranty, which includes the lithium-ion battery in the EVs. Roadside assistance covers the same seven years.

At the launch of the new ZS EV Long Range Peter Ciao, CEO of MG Motor Australia said: “Following the success

of the ZS EV in September last year, we have listened to our customer’s feedback and have fast tracked the arrival of our new ZS EV long range.

“We know Australians love to drive and now they can go even further thanks to a larger

72kWh battery pack and a 440km range in the ZS EV Long Range.”

We’re hoping to get into the new MG ZS Long Range within the next couple of months for our normal weeklong road test and will report further at that time.

Tugu

MG has increased the range of its ZS EV by around one-third.

THECHERY OMODA5 2023ISAN IDEALOPTION FORANY MOTORIST

The Chery Omoda 5 is a small SUV with a big presence. Its bold, angular styling is sure to turn heads, with its striking front grille and sleek lines giving it a modern, sporty look. Inside, the cabin is spacious and comfortable, with plenty of room for fve adults and a generous boot space. The Omoda 5 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 110kW and 210Nm of torque. It’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and comes with front-wheel drive as standard. Standard features include a reversing camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, and a range of driver-assist systems. It also has a fve-star ANCAP rating for safety.

The Omoda 5 is great value for money, with a sub-$30,000 headline price and a fve-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. It’s stylish, well-equipped and great value for money, making it an attractive option for buyers looking for a small SUV. It’s a great start for Chery, and we look forward to seeing what else the brand has in store.

Whats it Cost?

The Chery Omoda 5 is a great choice for those looking for an affordable and reliable small SUV. Powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged fourcylinder petrol engine, the Omoda 5 produces

110kW and 210Nm, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The BX and EX models are available in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with the latter adding an extra $3000 to the price. Standard features for the BX include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 7.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, Bluetooth, a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors. The EX adds 18-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and autonomous emergency braking. With a starting price of $29,900 plus on-road costs, the Omoda 5 is an excellent value for money option for those looking for a small SUV..

What do you get for the money?

The Chery Omoda 5 is a well-equipped vehicle, boasting a range of features and technologies. The interior is ftted with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital instrument cluster, a wireless phone charger, and a six-speaker sound system. The EX trim adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a panoramic sunroof, and a 360-degree camera system.

Safety-wise, the Omoda 5 is equipped with a suite of

driver-assist technologies, including autonomous emergency braking, blindspot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffc alert, and adaptive cruise control. The EX trim adds a driver fatigue monitor and a surround-view camera system.

The Omoda 5 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 140kW of power and 250Nm of torque. It’s mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and sends power to the front wheels. Other features include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail-lights, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, PVC-clad upholstery, smart entry with pushbutton start, and a six-way electric-adjust seat for the driver. The Omoda 5 is also covered by a sevenyear/unlimited-kilometre warranty, seven-year capped-price service plan, and seven years of free roadside assistance.

How safe is it?

The Chery Omoda 5 is a safe and reliable vehicle,

with a range of features designed to ensure the safety of the driver and passengers. It has been crash-tested overseas and awarded a maximum fvestar Euro NCAP rating, although the same rating has yet to be adopted locally. The Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has stated that while test results provided by its European counterpart will help formulate a safety rating for the Omoda 5, it will conduct further testing locally frst. The Omoda 5 comes with a range of driver assistance aids, such as lane assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), rear cross traffc alert with rear AEB, blind spot monitoring, tyre pressure monitoring and speed sign recognition. Additionally, the Omoda 5 has an impressive range of safety features, such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and traction control. Chery has pledged to offer only fve-star-rated cars, and we expect that the Omoda 5 will achieve

a fve-star rating here in Australia. With its impressive range of driver assistance aids and safety features, the Chery Omoda 5 is a safe and reliable vehicle that can be trusted to keep its driver and passengers safe.

What powers the Omoda 5?

The Chery Omoda 5 is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 108kW of power and 210Nm of torque. It also has an impressive fuel effciency rating of 6.7L/100km, though our test car sipped an average of 8.2L/100km. Later in the year, a more powerful 1.6-litre fourcylinder turbocharged petrol engine will be available in both front- and all-wheel drive. The Omoda 5 is an impressive vehicle, offering a comprehensive suite of active safety features, six airbags, a reversing camera, and a tyre pressure monitoring system, all as standard. It also has a fvestar ANCAP safety rating, making it a great choice for those looking for a reliable and safe car.

What’s it like to drive?

The Chery Omoda 5 is a great option for those who need a reliable and comfortable family car. Its engine is smooth and quiet, and the six-speed automatic transmission shifts up and down the gears with relative ease. The suspension does a great job of soaking up bumps and potholes, making the ride comfortable and enjoyable. The steering is light and easy to use, and the car is surprisingly agile for its size. It also comes with a range of driver assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and blind-spot monitoring.

All in all, the Omoda 5 is a

great choice for those who want a reliable, comfortable and affordable SUV.

What’s it like to inside?

The interior of the 2023 Chery Omoda 5 is a neat and minimalist space, with a sleek panel for climate control switches and few buttons to clutter the centre console. The leather-appointed seats are comfortable and supportive up front, while second-row passengers are treated to decent legroom, just-okay headroom with the swoopy roofine, a single USB-A port, air vents, outboard ISOFIX anchorage points and a centre arm rest with two cup holders. However, the narrow rear windows and sporty front seats could make it a little claustrophobic in the rear seat for longer trips. The cabin has some design elements – such as felt-lined phone cradles up front and instrument displays – that hint at a bit of Tesla infuence. However, execution isn’t perfect, with small annoyances such as the centre console lid rubbing against the front seats, making it unnecessarily diffcult to open and close. The front USB ports are also in an awkward position near the passenger side footwell, owing to the car’s left-hand drive origins.

The boot capacity for the Omoda 5 is rated at 360 litres with all fve seats in place, which is good but not class-leading. A high-set foor will make loading goods easier, and there’s a space-saver spare tyre on board.

Overall, the Chery Omoda 5 has a well-thought-out interior, with some nice design elements, but there are a few small annoyances that detract from the overall experience.

“John Wick: Chapter 4” is by far the best of the four flms starring Keanu Reeves as the eponymous hit man, the frst of the cycle that I’d recommend—albeit with an asterisk. The new flm (which opens Friday) has many of the same problems as its predecessors; although these problems are interesting, they’re far more fun to contemplate in the rearview mirror of thought than in the realtime forward motion of viewing. But something happens, fairly late in the game, that converts the

flm’s merely technical displays of bloody murder into something suspenseful and romantic, if no less silly. The details are too good to give away, but there’s no harm and much pleasure in considering how the movie climbs, slowly but surely, to that light-headed summit.

One of the curiosities of the John Wick series is that, as an entirely original creation dependent on no prior properties, it has nonetheless given rise to an alluring and self-perpetuating mythology of its own. The

PH:

6686 9600

ballinafaircinemas.com.au

Thursday March 23 - Wed March 2

premise of Wickworld is cleverly paranoiac, built around the tentacular connections between the crude underworld of contract killers and the shadowy overlords who keep them in action. That wicked authority is called the High Table; it dispenses orders to kill on pain of being killed, ratifes contracts for murder, and brokers the deals for bounty hunters. It commands John to kill, and it sets him up to be killed, but it also sets the tone of the movie. The High Table exemplifes a super-élite

of secret societies with elaborate rites, deeply rooted aristocracies, a faunting of mindbending wealth, and the executive ruthlessness of a transnational shadow government that has the power to wreak havoc in public with impunity. It also has the power of information—an enormous database on its registered killers (it apparently goes back centuries) and a terrifyingly comprehensive surveillance network that tracks the hunters and the hunted during their mortal

maneuvers and discloses their whereabouts to devastating effect. Its agents hide in plain sight at, for instance, a hotel called the New York Continental, in Manhattan’s fnancial district. (Delmonico’s plays the role of the hotel.) Its stern manager, Winston (Ian McShane), is John’s handler, and is aided by his discerning and tight-lipped concierge (played by Lance Reddick, who died on March 17th).

Another High Table agent on John’s team, the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), disguises his

crew of spies as unhoused people in a shelter that he runs. “Chapter 4” takes off from the third installment, which concluded with John killing a High Table assassin at the New York Continental, with Winston’s help, and then teaming up with the Bowery King to fght against the High Table. At the start of “Chapter 4,” the King gets John suited up for battle, and the High Table takes devastating revenge against Winston for helping John—for starters, Winston is excommunicated, and the hotel is demolished.

John heads to Morocco (the actual location is in Jordan) to dispatch a High Table overlord called the Elder (George Georgiou) and his minions, then goes to Osaka—to the Osaka Continental hotel, another High Table base—where he learns from its manager (Hiroyuki Sanada), who is his friend, what happened to Winston and the New York hotel. John vows to “kill them all.”

We have an amazing line up of shows coming to the Saraton.

STEVE O: THE BUCKET LIST TOUR DOWN UNDER PT 2

Thursday April 20, 2023@ 7.00pm.

CELTICA: A NEW ERA OF IRISH

HERITAGE

Wednesday May 3, 2023 @ 7:30pm.

LUKE KIDGELL HAPPY HOUR

Sunday June 11, 2023 @ 6.30pm

QUEEN BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Friday June 16, 2023 @ 8pm

THE ROBERTSON BROTHERS 60’S

VARIETY SHOW

Sunday June 18, 2023 2:00pm

A TRIBUTE TO “THE DELLTONES”

Sunday July 30, 2023 @ 2pm

LIAM COOPER’S KINGS OF KEYS

Saturday August 5, 2023 @ 7:30pm

MUSIC OF THE NIGHT TRIBUTE

TO ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

Sunday August 27, 2023 @ 2pm

SHE WILL ROCK YOU “THE STORY OF WOMEN WHO DARED TO ROCK THE WORLD”

Friday October 6, 2023 @ 7.30pm

Most of “Chapter 4” is an amusingly punctuated slog. It’s distinguished from its predecessors by the starkly drawn yet complex lines of confict. The promised duel, ingeniously plotted and cleverly staged, depends on a droll race against the clock—one that gives new meaning to the notion of fghting one’s way through traffc—and a long staircase that becomes a virtual agent of destiny. In short, the last half hour or so of the movie’s nearly three-hour span is giddily intense, swoony, swashbuckling, and sensational yet superfcial fun. Right after I saw the movie, I couldn’t stop talking about that ending. It makes the rest of the movie worth sitting through.

A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $6 million to help bring the biggest names in the music industry to the bush and look at ways to cut red tape around music festivals.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the new Headline Act Regional Touring Fund would support Australian and international artists to take their shows to the regions.

“When a big name performs under the big skies of regional NSW, it

creates a massive boost for the local economy,”

Mr Toole said.

“When Elton John played in Bathurst in 2020, 20,000 people turned out and hotels were booked out months in advance.

That’s heads on beds and a huge boost to business for local shops, cafes and restaurants.

“We want to encourage more global names to shine an international spotlight on regional NSW by adding a regional stop to their tour schedule.”

Mr Toole said the fund would support one-off concerts, extensions of

tours and help regional festivals secure headline acts.

“It will give thousands of people another reason to visit our regions and builds on our commitment of a further $80 million to the Regional Tourism Activation Fund to develop iconic experiences that put regional NSW on everyone’s ‘must visit’ list,” Mr Toole said.

Minister for Tourism and the Arts Ben Franklin said attracting major performers and performances to regional NSW would inject

millions into the NSW economy while supporting local businesses.

“These world-class live music events will bring visitors from across Australia and the world to experience the very best of what regional NSW has to offer. That means booked out hotels, and bustling restaurants, cafes and pubs,” Mr Franklin said.

“This commitment would be an investment in the future that will create moreregional jobs, more opportunities across the sector and give regional audiences access to the

world’s best performers in their own backyards.”

Minister for Hospitality and Racing Kevin Anderson said a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will also review the current Music Festivals Act to cut red tape and streamline approvals for all music festivals across the State.

“Through a dedicated team, we will offer direct support to music festival organisers and will work with industry to identify festival-appropriate sites across regional NSW,” Mr Anderson said.

“We recognise the

important role that live music and festivals play in our regional communities.

“That is why the Liberal and Nationals are committed to ensuring the regulatory environment promotes a vibrant, safe and sustainable sector across the State.”

17/21 Wharf St, Tweed Heads 07 5599 1909

Breaking Down the Barriers to Effective Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolardisorder is a debilitating mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. The condition is characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and behavior, and can be difficult to treat. For decades, the standard treatment for bipolar disorder has been lithium, a drug discovered in the 1950s. However, not all people with bipolar disorder respond to lithium, and the side effects of the

drug can be difficult to manage. As a result, researchers have been searching for new treatments for bipolar disorder that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

One promising approach to finding new treatments for bipolar disorder is drug repurposing. Drug repurposing involves taking existing drugs that were originally developed to treat one condition and testing

them to see if they can be used to treat another condition. This approach has been used successfully to treat a variety of conditions, including cancer and HIV/AIDS. Michael Berk, a psychiatrist from Deakin University, is leading a team of researchers who are using drug repurposing to develop new treatments for bipolar disorder. The team has identified a drug called candesartan that appears to be effective in treating bipolar disorder.

Candesartan is a drug originally developed to treat high blood pressure, but the team’s research suggests it could also be used to treat bipolar disorder. The team’s research involved growing cell lines from the brains of people with bipolar disorder in the laboratory and testing the effects of different drugs on them.

They identified a gene expression signature associated with bipolar disorder and then searched for other drugs that produced a similar gene expression signature. Candesartan was one of the drugs they identified. The team then tested candesartan on animal models for depression and mania and found

that it had a positive effect. They also looked at existing population studies of people taking candesartan for high blood pressure and found that those taking the drug had a lower risk of developing depression or bipolar disorder than those taking other high blood pressure drugs. Finally, they found that clinical trials showed that when people with high blood pressure took candesartan, their quality of life improved. The team is now conducting a double-blind clinical trial of candesartan for bipolar depression in 240 adult participants. If the trial is successful, it could lead to the development of a new treatment for bipolar disorder that is both effective and has fewer side effects than existing treatments.

Drug repurposing is an important tool in the fight against bipolar disorder. By taking existing drugs and testing them for new applications, researchers can quickly identify potential treatments for the condition. Michael Berk and his team are leading the way in this field, and their research could lead to new treatments for bipolar disorder that are more effective and have fewer side effects than existing treatments.

The latest COVID-19 news and case numbers from around the states and territories

The states and territories are now reporting their COVID-19 statistics weekly instead of through the daily updates initially provided from the early days of the pandemic.

New South Wales

The state has recorded 8,563 COVID-19 cases, down from 8,905 last week.

There are 873 cases in hospital; 13 of them are in intensive care.

There were 22 new

BOWEN THERAPY

For all your aches, pains, strains and migraines THINK BOWEN THERAPY (THE AUSSIE THERAPY)

Practicing Bowen Therapy for the past 27 years

deaths announced today.

Victoria

There have been another 4,467 COVID-19 cases, up from 3,960 last week. The rolling average of people in hospital has risen to 152 cases, with 10 people in intensive

care.

There were 25 new deaths announced today.

Tasmania

Tasmania has recorded 748 new cases of COVID-19, up from 722 the previous week. There were 19 new

admissions to hospitals in the last seven days and two new deaths.

Western Australia

WA Health is reporting a total of 3,168 new cases in the past week, up from 2,625 last week. There are 64 people with COVID-19 in hospital. One is in ICU. This week’s report includes seven deaths.

South Australia

There have been 2,888 new COVID-19 cases recorded this week in South Australia, up from 2,347 last week. There are 135 patients in hospital, with three in intensive care.

South Australia has reported two new deaths.

Queensland

Queensland recorded 16 deaths and 3,207 new cases of COVID-19 for

the seven-day period between March 15 and March 21.

As at March 21, there were 176 people in hospital, with five in ICU.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has recorded 105 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths this week. There are currently three people in hospital.

ACT

The ACT has recorded 515 new COVID-19 cases this week. There are 14 people in hospital, including one in ICU.

The Winning Combination: What Makes Singapore’s Tourism Industry So Successful?

Singapore is an ideal holiday destination for travellers seeking an exciting and unique experience. Located in Southeast Asia, this small island nation is a melting pot of cultures, offering a wide variety of attractions, activities, and experiences.

From its bustling city streets to its lush green parks and gardens, Singapore is a vibrant and dynamic destination. The city of Singapore is a modern metropolis, filled with towering skyscrapers and gleaming shopping malls. It is home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, including the iconic Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Flyer, and the Merlion.

Singapore is also known for its vibrant nightlife, with a wide range of bars, clubs, and restaurants. For those looking for a more relaxed atmosphere, Singapore also offers a range of cultural attractions, such as

the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the National Museum, and the Singapore Zoo. For those looking to explore the outdoors, Singapore has plenty to offer.

The country is home to a number of stunning beaches, such as East Coast Park and Sentosa Island. There are also plenty of nature reserves and parks, including the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, and the MacRitchie Reservoir. Singapore is also a great destination for food lovers.

The city is home to a

wide range of cuisines, from traditional Chinese and Malay dishes to international flavours. There are also plenty of street food stalls, hawker centres, and restaurants, offering a variety of delicious dishes. Singapore is also a great destination for shopping. The city is home to a number of shopping malls, such as Orchard Road, Marina Bay Sands, and VivoCity.

There are also plenty of markets and boutiques, offering a wide range of products, from designer clothes to local handicrafts. Singapore

is a great destination for travellers looking for an exciting and unique experience. With its vibrant city streets, lush green parks and gardens, and a wide range of attractions, activities, and experiences, Singapore is a destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach holiday, a cultural experience, or a shopping spree, Singapore has something for you.

10 top things to do and see in Singapore:

1. Visit Gardens by the Bay: This award-winning

garden is an amazing place to explore, with its towering Supertrees, Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and more.

2. Take a ride on the Singapore Flyer: Enjoy panoramic views of the city and its surroundings from the world’s largest observation wheel.

3. Visit the iconic Merlion: Standing at 8.6 meters tall and weighing 70 tonnes, this iconic symbol of Singapore is a must-see.

4. Check out the city’s skyline from Marina Bay Sands: Head to the rooftop of this hotel for an impressive view of

RUMBA BE ACH RE SOR T, CALOUNDR A

the city below.

5. Tour the historical sites of Singapore: Take a trip back in time with a visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Chinatown, and Little India.

6. Check out the local street food: Sample some of Singapore’s best street food at the city’s night markets.

7. Take a stroll around Singapore’s iconic Orchard Road: This shopping street is home to some of the city’s most popular stores, restaurants, and nightlife spots.

8. Visit the Singapore Zoo: Get up close to some of the world’s most exotic animals at this world-renowned zoo.

9. Relax at the beach: Enjoy a day of sun and sand at one of Singapore’s many beaches.

10. Go to the Singapore Night Safari: Take a night safari around the zoo and spot some of the world’s rarest nocturnal animals.

We invite you to enjoy 4 Nights & Pay for 3 in May & June 202 3 , in your own Premium 2 Bedroom Resor t View Spa Apar tment modern coastal furnishings throughout .

These beautiful renovated apartments o er guests luxurious and

E ach apar tment features :

• Spacious open plan living, dining area and full kitchen • Private balcony

• 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (2 person spa ensuite in the master)

• In room enter tainment includes Fox tel and On-Demand Movies

Grape Expectations by Max Crus

Clandestine Vineyards

Margaret River (Single Vineyard) Malbec 2021, $30

How apt a wine for a submarine party? More your nuclear kind of wine then obviously, but with a Collins class price tag and as much character. 9.4/10.

Clandestine Vineyards

Adelaide Hills (Single Vineyard) Pinot Grigio, 2022, $25

This one could fy under the radar somewhat too, and unlike nuclear subs, very serviceable stuff, but quite bright and light and perfect when coming back from manoeuvres. 9.2/10.

Paracombe Adelaide Hills

Sangiovese 2021, $32

Paracombe almost sounds military, maybe we could just invest a billion in these guys and see how we go? This sanga’ is delicious, perhaps one of the best going round. 9.5/10

Paracombe Adelaide Hills

Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, $27

Such a sensible price for a wine, and almost cheap given it’s fve years old, the perfect amount of time between picking and frst drinks for cabernet many say, and sooner than it takes to deliver a sub. 9.4/10.

West Cape Howe Porongurup Riesling

2022, $30

Lightly foral and brightly citrus, surely that’s two food groups covered? All you need is something fshy to go with it and your daily dietary needs are pretty much done with a couple of Monte Carlos for dessert. Lovely stuff. 9.5/10.

West Cape Howe Mount

Barker ‘Karri Oak’ Pinot Noir 2020, $30

They should plant more pinot in Karri forests if it’s going to taste like this. A lovely bridging wine between normal pinot and, say, shiraz. Indeed if more pinot tasted like this I’d drink more pinot. And look at the price! 9.5/10

Max Crus

Keating torpedoes journos but misses opportunity

Max Crus is a Clarence Valley-based wine writer and Grape Expectations is now in its 26th year of publication. Find out more about Max or sign up for his weekly reviews and musings by visiting maxcrus.com.au

This submarine thing, what’s the big deal?

What’s $368 billion?

Barely a billion a day for a year and anyway it’s over three decades, which is only 12 billion a year. Gina wouldn’t get out of bed for less than that.

More important though, is what it’s being spent on…submarines, oh, and a few Tomahawk missiles which are the most versatile, reliable and tough missiles you can buy, named after the real Tomahawk who plays full forward for the Cats.

Naturally there’s some issues with submarines, and tomahawks too, but nothing that the American gun lobby, the NRA, can’t talk their way out of.

You see the whole American economy is founded on people shooting one another, or

themselves, at which they are very good (about 40,000 last year), but the really big ticket items for the NRA are other countries.

There’s some seriously big weaponry to aim at whole countries, just as a deterrent of course, you don’t actually want to let rip with those things or people will get hurt. They just want to say “don’t mess with us, or people will die, like they do in America” and Australia needs to help its buddies by spending $368 billion dollars to help deter you.

But if we’re never actually going to use these things, sure we could help prop up the American economy and the NRA for 30 years, but what then?

Thus the really important question is “are they recyclable?”

Sure it could kickstart Australia’s domination of the submarine

movie genre but otherwise, like the Coles and Woolies plastic recycle program, they’ll just have to sit in a warehouse for, well, ever - that stuff never goes away rememberalthough perhaps we could make some interesting nuclear-powered street furniture.

Yes, Paul Keating is right, they’re a waste of money and we should instead have 50 obsolete Collins class subs scooting around the coast, but there is an even better solution…jet skis. $368 billion equals about $15,000 per head for each and every Australian. That’s enough to buy all the jet skis listed on every Buy Swap and Sell in the country, one each, and what a force to be reckoned with.

Granted they don’t have much fre power but who would want to live here with that

97 Years of Country Hospitality

ACCOMMODATION RATES

Double $100 Queen $110 Family $130

Enjoy some quality country hospitality when you book accommodation at Tyalgum Hotel. Our renovated pub rooms offer new bedding and linen complemented by the vintage furniture pieces, which remain true to the heritage of the hotel, established in 1926 as the finest public house in the district!

There are thirteen rooms ranging from Doubles, Queen and Family rooms offering ample shared bathroom facilities, guest lounge, complimentary tea and Nespresso coffee and stunning views of the Border ranges. With genuine country hospitality on offer the Tyalgum Hotel is the perfect spot for your next stay in the Tweed area.

The village offers a range of activities from high tea at Flutterbies, regular markets, Jewellery making courses and of course the famous Tyalgum Music Festival.

Or just relax and enjoy the views of the stunning caldera.

yobbo racket going on? There’d probably be enough dough left over for everyone to get a leaf blower as well, and wouldn’t that put the wind up the Chinese?

Creamy salmon piccata pasta

15m cook 4 servings 10m prep

Quick and easy, this creamy-yet-light salmon pasta is the ultimate midweek dinner idea.

10 Ingredients

• 375g dried fettuccine pasta

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp drained baby capers

• 350g skinless boneless salmon fllets, cut into 3-4 cm pieces

• 1 red onion, thinly sliced

Method

Step 1

• 300ml light cooking cream

• 120g baby spinach

• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

• 1/3 cup fnely chopped fresh continental parsley leaves

• Lemon wedges, to serve (optional)

Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of salted boiling water following packet directions or until al dente. Drain and return the pasta to the pan.

Step 2

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the capers, stirring, for 1-2 minutes or until they ‘burst’. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate.

Step 3

Add the salmon to the pan and cook, turning occasionally, for 3-4 minutes or until golden. Transfer to the plate.

Fairy bread jelly slice

Step 4

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the onion, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the cream. Cook for 2 minutes or until the cream reduces slightly.

Step 5

Stir the pasta, spinach, lemon juice and half the parsley into the cream mixture. Season. Cook for 1 minute or until heated through. Gently toss through the salmon. Sprinkle with capers and remaining parsley. Serve with lemon wedges, if using.

15 servings 20m prep

Here’s what happens when you turn childhood party favourite fairy bread into a no-bake cheesecake slice. Oh, did we mention it’s made with condensed milk and Tim Tams?

Recipe Notes

This recipe requires 5 hours refrigeration.

Allergens: Recipe may contain gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, milk and sesame.

11 Ingredients

• 2 x 165g packets white chocolate Tim Tams

• 1/3 cup desiccated coconut

• 100g butter, melted, cooled

• 395g can sweetened condensed milk

• 1/2 cup lemon juice

• 2 tsp gelatine powder

• 2/3 cup boiling water

• 1/4 cup bright sprinkles, plus extra, to decorate

Jelly topping

• 85g packet Aeroplane Jelly Creaming Soda

• 1 cup boiling water

• 1/2 cup cold water

Method

Step 1

Grease an 18cm x 28cm slice pan. Line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above edges of pan.

Step 2

Place biscuits and coconut in a food processor. Process until fne crumbs. Add butter. Process until combined. Press mixture evenly over base of prepared pan. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Step 3

Whisk condensed milk and lemon juice together in a bowl. Sprinkle gelatine over boiling water. Whisk with a fork to dissolve. Stand for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk into milk mixture until combined. Stand for 3 to 4 minutes to cool. Fold in sprinkles. Pour over prepared base. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set.

Step 4

Meanwhile, place jelly crystals into a heatproof jug. Add boiling water. Stir until crystals have dissolved. Stir in cold water. Set aside for 1 hour to cool to room temperature.

Step 5

Gently pour jelly over slice. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or until set.

Step 6

Carefully remove slice from pan and cut into pieces. Decorate with extra sprinkles. Serve.

OPERATION ELBRUS COURT OUTCOME REVEALED: LAWYER JAILED FOR 12 YEARS

Five people have now been found guilty in the Supreme Court of NSW for their roles in a syndicate alleged to have conducted a $105 million tax fraud over a 3-year period.

This brings the 11-month trial to a close and lifts the lid on the sentencing result of another offender, which was previously subject to a non-publication order.

Sydney lawyer, Sevag Chalabian was sentenced to 12 years’ jail in June 2022 for his role in knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, being amounts blackmailed from offenders participating in a syndicate that defrauded the Commonwealth of more than $105 million of unpaid tax over three years.

Mr Chalabian was

found guilty of dealing in proceeds of crime worth $1 million or more. He received a non-parole period of seven years and six months. Assets in a trust account controlled by Mr Chalabian were also restrained.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Assistant Commissioner Kirsty Schofeld said this outcome was the result of diligent investigation and fnancial analysis in the wake of the initial Operation Elbrus arrests.

“This arrest came from a thorough and forensic analysis of the money that fowed out of the largescale tax fraud, highlighting the commitment of all involved in this matter,” she said.

“As we gathered more evidence of the blackmail conspiracy, we were able to link it to

the fow of millions of dollars from syndicate members that were facilitated by this man.

“This sentence should send a clear message to those engaged in criminal behaviour – we will always follow the money, and often it can lead to criminal charges or asset confscation, or both.”

Acting Australian Taxation Offce (ATO) Deputy Commissioner and Serious Financial Crime Taskforce (SFCT) Chief John Ford said the sentence refects the severity of his offending.

“This is a signifcant result, highlighting that we will protect Australia’s revenue, and we will hold criminals to account.

“This was the eighth sentencing outcome for Operation Elbrus, and we have continued to

see successful outcomes progressing through the courts.”

Operation Elbrus was an investigation led by the AFP, with signifcant assistance from the ATO as part of the SFCT, into a large-scale and organised tax fraud conspiracy.

The operation exposed a large-scale and organised tax fraud and money laundering conspiracy that used Plutus Payroll Australia Pty Ltd and other payroll service entities to divert amounts of money payable to the ATO as Pay-As-You-Go Withholding (PAYGW) tax and Goods and Services Tax for the conspirators’ beneft.

Mr Chalabian was a solicitor at the time of his arrest. He provided the mechanism for disguising that over $24

million received into and then transferred out of his legal practice’s trust account was the proceeds of crime derived from other persons blackmailing the Plutus tax fraud conspirators of some of the proceeds of their fraud.

In respect of his role, Justice Peter Johnson remarked he was an indispensable participant in laundering the proceeds of the crime:

‘The Offender, as a solicitor, played a critical role in the offending, utilising his professional status as a solicitor and access to a trust account which provided a level of cover for the criminal activity involved.’

Justice Peter Johnson also found that his offending was in the high range of objective gravity for offences of this kind, refecting

substantial moral culpability.

‘We have a wide net, where we’re focusing on fnancial criminals and professional enablers who choose to commit serious fnancial crime. If you become involved, you will be caught,’ Mr Ford said.

‘Tax crime affects everyone. The Plutus tax fraud ripped off innocent creditors and deprived the public of valuable funds that could otherwise be used to fund essential services,’ Mr Ford said.

For more information on the SFCT and to download the Serious Financial Crime Identikit visit ato.gov.au/SFCT

The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

SCHOOLS OUTREACH PROGRAM ENCOURAGES KIDS ACROSS NSW TO EXPLORE AN EXCITING CAREER IN A TRADE

The Advanced Manufacturing Schools Outreach Program is encouraging kids in secondary schools across New South Wales to explore a meaningful career in the trades. With a skills defcient crisis impacting a raft of labour markets across Australia, industry is calling for the Program to be rolled out nationally. The Program will be demonstrated at a media event on Tuesday 28 March 2023 at Dapto High School.

According to Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia), “There is no magic solution to

Australia’s skills crisis.

We need a radical approach. The same old approach that we’ve taken for years will not arm Australia with the skilled workers needed to deliver the record number of projects we’re seeing in industries like defence and renewables, let alone the $237 billion pipeline of government infrastructure.”

“A veritable army of skilled workers, including welders, will be required to build and install the infrastructure needed to achieve the Federal Government’s 43% emissions

reductions target by 2030 and net zero by 2050. Unless action is taken now, Australia will be at least 70,000 welders short by 2030. And welding is just one trade: similar skills defcient can be found in just about every trade across the nation.”

“Industry is calling out for kids with a practical bent to go into the trades. We need parents to understand that a career as a tradesperson is full of potential and a whole raft of exciting opportunities. The Advanced Manufacturing Schools Outreach Program in New South Wales is helping to do exactly this. It is helping to reverse the mindset that the only path for kids post-high school

is university,” said Crittenden.

“Our STEM Program is unique because it actually engages kids. It is hands-on, fun and educational. It is not just about studying more maths and physics textbooks. The Program uses Seaberry’s Soldamatic augmented reality welding simulators to gamify the learning experience. Anyone can try their hand at the welding simulators and be a star. A lot of these kids have never passed a test in their lives—the light in the kids’ eyes when the simulators gives them the all-clear is really something to see.”

“The gamifcation of learning is particularly effective when trying

to encourage females, Indigenous Australians, people living with disabilities and those from a disadvantaged background into a career in STEM. Training in schools must be refocused to showcase the opportunities in trades and encourage women and other underrepresented groups into careers in STEM.”

Weld Australia has been working with the New South Wales Department of Education on the Advanced Manufacturing School Outreach Program to create a practical solution to the skills crisis in Australia. The Advanced Manufacturing School Outreach Program relies upon the use

of augmented reality welding simulators to give kids a real welding experience. To date, 82 welding simulators are installed at 40 high schools across New South Wales. These simulators are used to teach students in Year 9 to develop an understanding of welding across all common processes in a completely safe and controlled environment. The technology is also being utilised by students in years 10-12 to support the delivery of Manufacturing and Engineering and Industrial Technology (Metal), as part of MEM20413 Certifcate II in Engineering Pathways.

Augmented reality simulators offer a raft of benefts for training. There are no safety issues, its gamifed approach excites and challenges students, it appeals to both sexes helping encourage women into traditionally male-dominated career paths, and offers substantial cost benefts over traditional teaching techniques.

More than 2300 frst home buyers have opted in to the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s First Home Buyer Choice in the frst two months of the initiative, saving a collective $89 million. Under the Liberals and Nationals:

• Eligible frst home buyers can ditch stamp duty in exchange for a small annual fee on properties up to $1.5 million;

• Home owners who choose to pay a small annual fee on their frst home, will also be able to opt

in to the annual fee on future property purchases, until they choose to pay stamp duty;

• Victim-survivors of domestic and family violence can also access frst home buyer support and interest-free rental bond loans.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said First Home Buyer Choice was already helping thousands of families get the keys to their frst home sooner.

“Under the Liberals and Nationals, young people now have choice and they have embraced

it, with 2,330 frst home buyers opting to ditch stamp duty in favour of the small annual fee,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This game-changing policy is making it easier for frst home buyers, many of whom are families, to reach the dream of home ownership sooner.

“Backing frst home buyers is only possible because of the Liberal and Nationals longterm economic plan to keep our state moving forward.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said that a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government would

expand the First Home Buyer Choice to give home buyers that choice for life.

“We want to ensure that frst home buyers who opted into the small annual fee on their frst home, or received a stamp duty exemption or concession, are able to have the choice on their future homes as well,” Mr Kean said.

“This will mean those families who move can pay tens of thousands of dollars less tax over their lifetime, unlike Labor’s policy which will bill them for a large up frontstamp duty every time they move.”

Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence

Natalie Ward said that as part of the Liberal and Nationals expansion of its home buyer support, victim-survivors of domestic and family violence would be eligible for stamp duty relief currently reserved for frst home buyers.

“We know that housing security is one of the most important concerns victim-survivors have as they move on from unsafe relationships and manage their personal fnancial security,” Mrs Ward said.

“We will ensure support is there for victimsurvivors of domestic and family violence so they can look to enter the property market, secure a home and safeguard their long-term fnancial security.”

Labor has pledged to scrap all support for buyers of properties above $1 million and will only offer concessional stamp duty rates to buyers of properties from $800,000 to $1 million.

HOMEBUILDER PAPERWORK EXTENDED TO JUNE 2025 FOLLOWING PLEAS FROM APPLICANTS

By JEFFREY GIBBS

The Australian dream of owning a home is within reach for Michael Thompson, with the fnishing touches being put on his South Australian house.

However, his hopes of securing the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant from the Australian government were dashed when he missed the April 30 deadline to submit his paperwork. The news of the deadline extension on Sunday came as a huge relief for Mr Thompson, who was unable to obtain a completion certifcate from his builder in time.

“On Thursday I was sure that I wasn’t going to get it [the grant], so to now fnd out that we will get it, it is a massive relief,” he said.

The HomeBuilder initiative was introduced by the federal government during the COVID pandemic, and administered by the states and territories.

To receive the $25,000 grant, people had to meet strict criteria, including spending between $150,000 and $750,000 on a renovation or new build, signing a contract between June 4 and December 31, 2020, and being the registered owner on the title. The scheme was then extended, with the government offering a $15,000 grant for eligible contracts signed between January 1 and March 31, 2021. The deadline to submit the relevant documentation to prove eligibility for the grant was April 30, 2021. Mr Thompson was eligible for the $25,000 grant and construction on his home started in February 2022. It was due to be completed by December 2022, but was pushed out to March 2023 due to COVID and supply chain issues.

The HomeBuilder grant initially required work to begin within three months of the contract

being signed. However, due to supply issues and the demand on the construction industry, this was pushed out to six months and then again to 18 months. But the deadline to submit the paperwork to receive the grant remained. Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn said supply and labour shortages had pushed out the time it took to build a home

from nine months to at least a year. She said extending the deadline would take the pressure off builders trying to deliver projects, but getting boots on the ground was continuing to be “really diffcult”. The delays have seen people rallying together to call on the deadline to be extended. In South Australia, a parliamentary committee in February heard that as

many as 1,400 people in the state who had applied for the grants may miss the deadline.

The extension of the deadline is not a done deal, as it is subject to the agreement of states and territories. This is because state and territories administer the grants. If the extension is approved, it will be a huge relief for those who were close to missing out on the grant. For

those who have already missed the deadline, the only option is to wait and hope that the extension comes into effect.

The HomeBuilder grant has been a lifeline for many Australians, and the extension of the deadline will ensure that those who have already invested in their dream home are not left out in the cold.

QUICK CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Feudal workers (5)

4 Assumes the worst (9)

9 Awe-inspiring (7)

10 Progress (7)

11 Yellowish-green colour (4,5)

12 Body of troops (5)

13 Film special e ects (acronym) (3)

14 Insect before butter y (11)

16 Agreement (11)

19 Type of sh (3)

20 Former US president (5)

22 Man-made (9)

25 Refractory (7)

26 Visuals (7)

27 Named for o ce (9)

28 Support (5)

DOWN

1 Actress, – Sarandon (5)

2 Armed resistance to authority (9)

3 Throw (5)

4 Ostensible reason (7)

5 Reading or copying machine (7)

SUDOKU

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included, and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

1 Which sea lies between Australia and New Zealand?

2 Which planet in our solar system has the most moons?

3 True or false: traditionally, marshmallows are not vegan?

4 Which video games studio developed the RPG Cyberpunk 2077?

5 Jodie Comer (pictured) plays which character on UK spy series Killing Eve?

6 Is Penfolds Grange wine made from red or white grapes?

7 Sun ower Seeds (2010), Coca-Cola Vase (2014) and Forever Bicycles (2017) are sculptural works by which Chinese artist?

8 What is the smallest whale species still living?

9 What was the debut novel of sci- author William Gibson, released in 1984?

10 Flädle (pancake soup) is a traditional dish from which country?

ACROSS

1 Hard tissue that makes up a skeleton (4)

5 Antiquated oath (4)

6 Desiccated (4)

7 Depend upon (4)

DOWN

1 Carry (4)

2 Monster (4)

3 Tip of the nger (4)

4 Mini-maelstrom (4)

WORD FIND No. 139

The leftover letters will spell out a secret message.

Insert each number from 1 to 9 in the shaded squares to solve all the horizontal and vertical equations.

HIDDEN WORD

Each number corresponds to a letter. Can you crack the code?

Insert the missing letters to make 10 words –ve reading across the grid and ve reading down.

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

Solve all the clues and an eight-letter word will be spelled out.

1 Native Australian canine

2 Indigenous people of New Zealand

3 Opposite of quiet

4 Small sticky-footed lizard

5 Compass direction

6 Striped African animal

7 To undo a knot

8 Tooth at back of mouth

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW...

1. Nicole Kidman starred in an adaptation of which Liane Moriarty novel?

A. Big Little Lies

B. Nine Perfect Strangers

C. The Husband’s Secret

D. Truly Madly Guilty

2. Which Australian actress co-stars in the production alongside Melissa McCarthy and Bobby Cannavale?

A. Yvonne Strahovski

B. Rose Byrne

C. Asher Keddie

D. Marta Dusseldorp

3. Who does Elisabeth Moss (pictured) play in The Handmaid’s Tale?

A. Ofsteven

B. Ofglen

C. Ofwarren

D. O red

4. Which TV series was inspired by the Codename Villanelle series of novellas?

A. Hunted

B. Killing Eve

C. Ozark

D. Homeland

Funeral Notice

WRAIGHT Suzanne Kathleen

(nee McNamara)

21.04.1961 – 19.03.2023

Passed away peacefully at her residence, surrounded by her loving family aged 61 years. Loved and loving wife of John for 42 years. Adored Mother & Mother-in-law of Jeremy & Jay, and Kim & Stephanie. Cherished Nanna to her Grandchildren Elijah, Jonah and Taatiana.

Loved by the extended McNamara and Wraight families.

Family and Friends are invited to attend the Service of Celebration of Suzanne’s life to be held at the Lismore Turf Club, Woodlawn Road, North Lismore, Friday 31st March 2023 commencing at 11:00am. Followed by private cremation.

ose unable to attend the service in person will be able to do so via the live stream https://streaming.naoca.com. au/e/296c9083-c080-4e3d-8336-15778347aba4?pin=2779

,,Biey FAMILY FUNERALS ALL AREAS • Locally owned and operated Wrick Binney 02 6622 2420

Funeral Notice

CONNOLLY, JAMES FRANCIS ‘BEN’

23/08/1930 – 23/03/2023

Passed away peacefully at Casino Memorial Hospital on ursday 23rd March, 2023.

Aged 92 years.

Beloved husband of Grace. Much loved father of Beverley, Carolyn, Keith, Denis, Narelle, and their partners. Cherished ‘Poppy Ben’ to all his Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. Loved brother of Ron (decd), Kitty (decd), Patricia (decd) and Aileen.

Rest in Peace’

Relatives and friends of Ben are invited to a celebration of his life to be o ered this ursday 30th March 2023 at 10.30am at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Canterbury Street, Casino. Followed by Burial in Casino Lawn Cemetery.

In FuneralMemoriam Notice

BROWN, AMY-JANE SARAH

19.5.1983 – 24.3.2023

Amy-Jane passed away peacefully on Friday, the 24th of March 2023, aged 39 years. Late of Townsend.

Dearly loved wife of Anthony. Adored and loved mother of Jeremiah, Abraham, and Joseph. Cherished Daughter of Mary (dec) & Alan. Beloved daughter-in-law of Larraine & John. Loved sister of Kirsty, Daniel, Clare, and Kim. Dear pet owner of Peach the dog.

Family and friends are warmly invited to attendAmy-Jane’s Funeral service to be held at C3 Church, 24 Endeavour Cl, Ballina NSW 2478, on Saturday, the 1st of April 2023, commencing 11:00 am.

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. ey will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:31 NIV

Funeral Notice

BLIZARD, LESLEY MARGARET

16.06.1946 – 19.03.2023

Lesley passed away peacefully surrounded by her Family on Sunday, the 19th of March, aged 76 years. Late of Lismore. Formerly of Sydney.

Dearly loved Wife of Victor Blizard. Loved Mother and Mother-in-Law Rod & Heidi, Jane, and Christine & Shannon. Cherished Grandmother of Seven Grandchildren. Much Loved Sister to Bruce Loveday. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend Lesley’s Funeral service to be held at e Wilson Chapel, Parkview Funeral Home, 43 Holland Street Goonellabah, on ursday, the 30th of March 2023, commencing at 2:00 pm.

In FuneralMemoriam Notice

... In loving memory of ....

Colin McLaurin Cameron OAM ... Late of Goonellabah. Passed away peacefully on Monday 20 March 2023, aged 86 years.

Dearly loved Husband of Iris. Much loved Father of Beth. Loving Grandfather of Emily.

A lifetime of service in Radio and Community. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend Colin’s Funeral Service to be held at Parkview Funeral Home, Goonellabah on Friday 31 March at 11:30 am.

A er the service, the cortege will leave for Lismore Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Funeral Notice

BURKE, Kay Jennette

04/02/1952 - 20/03/2023

Dearly beloved Mother of Lynne, Lisa, Betty-Jo, William, Brett, Bradley. Kay will be laid to rest with her much loved partner Peter .

Relatives and Friends are invited to attend Kay’s Funeral Service to be held Graveside at the Casino Lawn Cemetery Reynolds Road Casino, on Saturday 1st April 2023 commencing at 11.00am.

This page is dedicated to all those that have passed

FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEMALE SALE FEMALE SALE FEMALE SALE

SATURDAY 1ST APRIL 2023| 11AM

GRAFTON SALEYARDS

A/c Perthville Pantry Pty Ltd

30x30 Charbray Heifers & Calves, Calves sired by Angus Bulls

A/c Figtree Pastoral

35x35 Brahman Cows & Calves, 3-4 years, Calves sired by Franco & McPherson Hereford Bulls

45 Brahman Cows, PTIC, (Franco & McPherson Hereford Bulls)

A/c Matt Dyer

20x20 Santa/Charbray & Brahman Cross Heifers & Calves

A/c THEG Brangus

4x4 Santa/Droughtmaster Cows & Calves

2nd Calf @ foot, sired by a Droughtmaster Bull

A/c Athlyn Pastoral Company

40 Brangus Heifers, PTIC

19 Angus/Braford Heifers, PTIC

42 Angus Heifers, PTIC (Heifers PTIC LBW Angus Bull)

A/c Tom Payten

7 Santa Cross Hereford Cows 10yrs PTIC (Charolais Bul)l

2 Angus Cross Cows 4yrs PTIC (Charolais Bull)

1 x 1 Santa Cow & Calf 6yrs

A/c Tooloonki

8 Brangus Heifers, PTIC (Angus Bull)

30 Santa/Brahman Cows 3-5 years, PTIC (Santa Bull)

5 Santa/Hereford Heifers PTIC

A/c Kiabra Plains Beef

30 Ultra Black Cows, PTIC 3rd Calf (Angus Bull)

20 Charolais Cows, PTIC (Angus Bull)

A/c Valley View

6 FI Hereford/Brahman Cross Heifers,18mnths,

6 F1 Hereford/Brahman Cross Heifers,8-10mnths

A/c AJ, PJ & SM Williamson

10 FI Hereford/Brahman Cross Heifers,18mnths,

6 F1 Hereford/Brahman Cross Heifers, 8mnths

A/c Gibson Agricultural Partnership

2 x 2 Braford Cows & Caves, 1st Calf @ foot,

3 x 3 Devon Cows & Calves, 1st Calf @ foot, (All running back to Texas Angus Bull)

A/c

Tree Services

Low rates, friendly service

Low rates, friendly service

EXPERIENCED, FULLY INSURED, ALL SIZE JOBS

EXPERIENCED, FULLY INSURED, ALL SIZE JOBS

TRADES & SERVICES, COMMUNITY NOTICES

the hope and love of Jesus with us. Palm Sunday 9.30am, Maundy Thursday 7.00 pm; Good Friday 9.30 am and Easter Sunday 9.30 am.

EMBROIDERERS GROUP

Meetings are 9.30am-2.30pm

All welcome. From 10am to 12 pm In the Ballina Presbyterian Hall, the corner of Cherry and Crane St Just behind the church.

BALLINA ARTS & CRAFTS CENTRE INC. (BACCI)

(0428116668) is there to lend a hand when help is needed. She also teaches us new handicraft techniques. Why not call in to see us for the morning? Morning tea is served at a cost of just $3. All are welcome.

For a free quote and advice contact NOEL

For a free quote & advice

P 6688 6136

P 6688 6136

M 0427 886 136

P 6688 6136

M 0427 886 136

M 0427 886 136

Email: northernriverstreeservice@gmail.com

The Channon covering all areas of the North Coast

Email: northernriverstreeservice@gmail.com

The Channon covering all areas of the North Coast

WATERPROOFING

SPECIALIST

Ryan Deagan

28 years’ experience

0411429057

QBSA 1141534 NSW Lic 118380C

COMMUNITY NOTICES

ALSTONVILLE

ALSTONVILLE BRANCH OF THE RED CROSS

The Alstonville Red Cross branch meets monthly in Alstonville. As meeting dates sometimes vary, please call Carol on 0424 742 774 for details of our next meeting.

ALSTONVILLE PROBUS CLUB meets on Thursday 30 March at Plateau Sports Club at 10.00 am. The guest speaker will be Patricia Smithyman, a multimedia artist. All visitors welcome.

ALSTONVILLE QUOTA CLUB

A local women’s service club that meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the Plateau Sports Club. Quota is committed to supporting and improving the physical and mental wellbeing of the disadvantaged in our community through local projects. Contact: quotaalstonville@gmail. com for more details.

ALSTONVILLE UNITING CHURCH. Join us for a truly unforgettable Easter week. We warmly invite you and your family to come and commemorate what Jesus did for us. This year we are excited to have a special guest preacher, Rev Keith Garner, who will share his inspiring message. Come and experience

1st and 3rd Wednesdays and 2nd Saturday of each month except December and January. Our venue is the Resource Centre at the rear of Crawford House Museum, Alstonville.

We welcome embroiderers of all ability levels to meet, share and learn. For more information see our facebook page ‘Lismore Group – Embroiderers’ Guild NSW’, or simply turn up.

MCLEANS RIDGES CRAFT

GROUP meet at the McLeans Ridges Hall, Cowlong Road, McLeans Ridges on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 9.30am to 3.30pm. Scrapbooking, card making, paper craft, knitting whatever takes your fancy. Come along for an enjoyable day. Bring your own morning tea and lunch. Coffee, tea, milk provided. A small fee to cover hall hire. Ph 0401 047 513.

SQUARE DANCING

Summerland Larrikins Squares

Alstonville, Fridays 7.30pm9.30pm at Uniting Church Hall, 59 Main Street, Alstonville. Contact 0407663017 for further information. New dancers welcome.

THE RETURNED AND SERVICES LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA (NSW Branch) ALSTONVILLE SUB-BRANCH

Alstonville RSL sub-Branch hold their monthly meetings on the second Saturday of the month at 0900 at the RSL Hall, 13 Bugden Ave (next door to the Alstonville Medical Centre). All ex-Service persons are welcome to attend, and we have a convivial morning tea on completion of the meeting. Alstonville RSL sub-Branch have a ‘Lower Deck Luncheon’ at 1200 each Friday, everyone is welcome, we sit out the back of the Hall, order lunch from local suppliers, and have great conversations with good mates. There is always plenty of support & advice on any issue! (But not much sympathy)

BALLINA

Free community Brunch is now on the frst Saturday of every month.

Everyone is invited. So, join us for a free bacon and egg roll, sausages cereal, toast, rissoles, tea and coffee, or just come for a chat.

We are a diverse group of Artists and Crafters that participate in wonderful group exhibitions. Over 50 members are from all over the Northern Rivers. Meetings are usually on the 1st Monday of every month at the Cherry Street Sports Club. Social gathering at 5, for a 5.30 start. For more information - info@ bacci.com.au or phone Deb on 0432105540

BALLINA BRIDGE CLUB

“Social play every Monday 9-11.30am”. Sessions for all levels of players on Mon, Wed, Sat from 1pm to about 5pm. Be seated at 12:45. Restricted session (under 300 Masterpoints) Thu 1pm – about 5pm. Friday mornings – Help with Play –open to anyone who would like some help with their game from teachers on duty. 9am to about 11:15pm. Sessions are $5 for members and $7 for visitors at 13 North Ck Rd, Ballina Please call Judy Forsyth (president) on 0407664337. www.ballinabridge. org.au

BALLINA COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB

The Ballina Country Music Club’s “LIVE COUNTRY MUSIC DAYS” are scheduled for the frst Sunday of the Month. It’s nearly EASTER TIME and our next “Music Social” will be a “Live EASTER (Eggs!) Music Day”, on SUNDAY 2nd APRIL, 2023 at THE BALLINA RSL CLUB, Grant Street BALLINA. For the best of Live Easter Parading Country Music, be there at 10.45am and share part of the afternoon with RAY HUGHES (Life Member) as our “MEMBER SHOWCASE Artist, to be sure there will be some great Easter hats!.

There will be a fabulous host of “WALK UP-ARTISTS” and with “THE CLASSICS” stage and backing band, what more could you ask for other than some original Australian Country styles, so it’s gonna be a “boot scootin’ Easter days” of great Country Music

BALLINA CWA

Ladies that are at a loose end on a Wednesday morning, might like to come and join our happy band of members. We meet every Wednesday from 9.00am to noon and can learn many crafts from fellow ladies. Barbara, our Handicraft’s Offcer

Mahjong is played in our rooms Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12 noon until 4.00pm at a cost of $4. Everyone is welcome.

BALLINA EVENING VIEW CLUB

Meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Ballina RSL Club at 6.30 for dinner at 7pmGuests are always welcome. Our members support the education of disadvantaged children in Australia by fundraising activities and social events in our local community for The Smith Family - by sponsoring 5 Learning for Life students. Contact President Julie Stephan 0434988770.

BALLINA LADIES PROBUS CLUB

Coach Trip to Grafton with Ballina Ladies Probus Club on Wednesday 14th June.

Visitors Welcome. $45.00 payment by 7 June 2023. Included in cost: coach, morning tea/coffee, scones with jam and cream at New Italy.

Time to browse at gift shop and museum, Drive to Grafton, look around shops and get lunch at own cost. Then visit historic Scheaffer House Museum, cost of entry included.

Pick up at Alstonville and Ballina. phone Wendy 0410560916 or Pamela 66811022

BALLINA SENIOR CITIZENS BRIDGE CLUB

Social Bridge Play in Seniors Hall. Swift Street Ballina on Wednesday & Saturdays @ 12.05 pm

Enquiries Phone: 0493425002 for details.

BALLINA TOY LIBRARY

Welcomes families from Ballina Shire. 9 Regatta Avenue, Ballina. Open Tuesdays 1pm - 3pm, and Saturdays 10am - 1pm. Ph. 0411 719 074 for enquiries

ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT RETIREES Far North coast Branch.

The next meeting of the Association of Independent Retirees, Far North coast Branch, will not be held on the frst Friday of April, being Good Friday, so will be held on the following Friday 14 April.

Any enquiries to President/ Secretary: John Ritchie on 0437 509 618.

FREE COMMUNITY BRUNCH

BALLINA

We are now pleased that our hot brunch centre can be held twice a month, the 1st and third Saturday. Everyone is welcome, so come and enjoy a free sausage sizzle, hot dogs, tea, coffee, or juice or just come for a chat. This is held at the Ballina Presbyterian Church Hall, on the corner of Cherry and Crane St 10am to 12pm for more information call Chris on 0411510430

IN FOCUS TOASTMASTERS CLUB

How about trying something different? If you would like to improve your communication and leadership skills or simply make new friends and have fun, you are warmly invited to attend the In Focus Toastmasters Club. We meet the 3rd Wednesday evening of each month. You may attend either from the comfort of your own home via zoom or join us in person at the Cherry Street Sports Club, Ballina. For more, contact our President via email at: president-3209990@ toastmastersclubs.org or our PR offcer at: vppr-3209990@ toastmastersclubs.org

NORTHERN RIVERS NAVAL & MARINERS ASSOCIATION

This association was formed to attract veterans for companionship, wellbeing and to supply advocacy to veterans. We hold an informal gathering every Friday, 2.30pm at Ballina Angling Club (families are welcome). Contact Allan Watt for more information on 0402 749 582 or email jakknco@bigpond.net.au

BANORA POINT

BANORA GARDEN CLUB

Guest Speaker: Grace from Rise & Shine Candles

The next meeting will be 4th April 2023. 10 am start. Doors open 9.30 am.

Where: Club Banora, Leisure Drive, Banora Point NSW 2486. AVAILABLE: Coffee and tea, benching, raffes, lucky door, Lucky Bencher, Trading and Cuttings tables. Guest Speaker when available.

Next meeting speaker is Searles Nursery, Jan.

New members welcome. Hope to see you there.

For more information ring Maria Harry 0448 531 055

BRUNSWICK HEADS

BRUNSWICK VALLEY VIEW CLUB

Brunswick Valley VIEW Club’s monthly luncheons are held at Brunswick Heads Bowling Club on the 2nd Thursday of each

month at 10.30am for 11am. Apologies to Wenda on 0449 563 580 or email wjhunt@yahoo. com no later than the Monday before. VIEW stands for Voice, Interests and Education of Women. The club supports seven disadvantaged students in The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program. Info: view.org.au, call 1800 805 366 or email view@ thesmithfamily.com.au.

CASINO

CASINO & BONALBO UPPER CLARENCE LIONS CLUBS

Casino Lions club now meets each 4th Wed at the RSM.

CASINO COMMUNITY MEN’S SHED

Mon, Tues, Wed, attendance limited to 50 members, 8am1.30pm. Contact 66626423 DH or casmenshed@live.com.au

CASINO CWA

We would also like to invite everyone to our monthly meeting held the 3rd Thursday of the month. Everyone is welcome. Enquires Margaret Good 66621746, Jennifer Baker 043892060.

CASINO CWA EVENING BRANCH

The Evening Branch meets on the 1st Thursday of the month 6pm at the Uniting Hall in Canterbury Street. For more information, contact Branch secretary Jo Piccoli 0417798622”

CASINO & DISTRICT FAMILY HISTORY GROUP INC

We are open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm, Wednesdays from 12 pm to 4 pm and every third Saturday from 9 am to 11.30 am. We are closed from mid-December to late January.

We are in Room 5, upstairs in the School of Arts building in Walker Street, Casino.

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 10 am.

Upcoming events: 10 April meeting – guest speaker on older drivers and tips for tests 17 April is an outing to Mara Seeds.

28 April is a workshop on Google Maps and its use in family history research.

For a small fee we can do research for you as well. Call us on 6664 1118 or email us at casinofhg@gmail.com

CASINO GALLERY-ART at the CASSINO GALLERY.

The Casino Art Group meets here every Saturday 10am - 3pm. The Gallery is also

open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10am to 3pm. Interested in promoting YOUR medium? Come to the gallery for information. Cassinoartgallery@ gmail.com

CASINO HOSPITAL

AUXILIARY needs volunteers to work in the hospital kiosk. Roster days are negotiable and can be discussed with the Kiosk Supervisor by contacting Barbara on 0439607788 or phoning the hospital kiosk during the day on 66600539.

CASINO LADIES AND FRIEND CRAFT GROUP

Meets 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month. Bring your own morning tea. Names to be in by lunch time Monday. Phone Vivian on 66621838 or Jan on 66626424.

CASINO MEALS ON WHEELS

If you would be interested in volunteering your time to help with meals on wheels give the offce a call on 66621217.

WEEK 2

MONDAY

B.McEnerny & C.Moulden

J. Yates

TUESDAY B.Bennett

K.O’Reilly & L&N O’Reilly

WEDNESDAY

M.&M. Ayshford

G.Mannix

THURSDAY

J.Crooks

S. Garrard & E. Grogan

FRIDAY M.Anderson

J.Connell

CASINO MINI RAIL

Every Sunday 10am to 4pm. Weather permitting. West Street Casino. Phone 0455673722.

CASINO MIXED PROBUS CLUB

Meeting 4th Thursday of the month. For more information call the secretary on 0419886119. New Members most welcome. Call Fran on 0419 886 119 for more information.

CASINO R R COUNTRY

MUSIC CLUB

will be holding their next social upstairs at the Casino RSM Club on Sunday the 16th of April from 10.00am - 4.00 pm. Come along and enjoy some great country music. and take advantage of the meals & drinks offered by the RSM

Club. New Artists always welcome. Free entry, raffes, and lucky door prize

More Info contact Carole 0438641500

CASINO UNITING CHURCH

Corner of Canterbury Street and Hickey Street.

Easter Service Times: 7th April: Good Friday @ 9am Easter Day Sunday: 9th April @ 9am

CASINO VIEW CLUB

Monthly luncheon meeting at Casino RSM Club at 11am, second Thurs of every month. Contact Jan on 0418715374.

AA-LIVING SOBER MEETING is held every Tuesday 12:001:30pm At the Casino Baptist Church Cnr. West & Canterbury Streets Casino Each week the group will discuss a chapter on living sober out of the AA Living Sober Book. Contact George on Ph: 0427133372 (due to so many scam calls) please leave your name and number and I will call you back.

FAIRY HILL CRAFT GROUP

Fairy Hill Craft Group will meet on Thursday, April 6th 10 a.m. at the Fairy Hill Hall. This month bring you U.F.O.’s to work on and some ideas for a project/ charity to support. Show & Tell: A completed project to share with the group.

LION’S CLUB CASINO

Lion’s Club meeting is held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month at Casino RSM Club from 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start.

Secretary: Denise Green 0448014682 Email: deniseg. vip@outlook.com

LISMORE CASINO NAVAL ASSOCIATION

Meets bi-monthly at Casino RSM, new members welcome. For more information phone Chris 66293269 or Jim 0427400625.

THE PLATYPUS RSL DAY CLUB operates every Tuesday at the Community Centre from 10am to 2pm. The day consists of gentle exercises, mental stimulation, games and entertainment. Members are asked to pay $7 for their morning tea and lunch. Transport can be provided within the town limits. If you are feeling socially isolated or just need a day out, please contact Robyn on 66623871. New members are welcome.

EVANS HEAD

EVANS HEAD CWA BRANCH

meets every third Tuesday for lunch at noon. New members welcome. More info Roz 0427825560

EVANS RIVER RSL DAY CLUB

The Evans River RSL Day Club meets each Monday in the Remembrance Room at Club Evans RSL Evans Head from 10am until 2pm Cost $10 includes Morning Tea and Lunch. We have several vacancies for volunteers and members, anyone who is feeling in need of some company are welcome to attend. Come along and join in the fun. Contact Merilyn on 0401493316 for more details.

EVANS HEAD SEAGULLS

CRAFT & QUILTERS GROUP

Meet every Tuesday 9am12noon in the Recreation Hall (opposite the Kiosk). We invite you to join us for a relaxing morning of crafting, friendship and sharing ideas. Beginners are very welcome. Finishing UFO’s, Embroidery, Gold Work, Hexagons, & Group Projects are just some of the crafts done.

GOONELLABAH

TABLE TENNIS AT GOONELLABAH

Tuesday and Thursday mornings social playing: 9am-12noon; Monday and Wednesday nights social playing: 7-9pm; Training Monday mornings: 9am-12noon; Junior coaching after school Wednesday 3.30pm-4.45pm, $6 a session. Everybody is welcome – all levels. Phone centre on 66251602. Mon-Thurs 9.00am1.00pm or visit website www. fnctabletennis.com.au.

THE PROBUS CLUB of Goonellabah meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Workers Sports Club in Oliver Ave. All welcome. Goonellabah

Probus is solely a social club. We have a guest speaker each month and go for outings throughout the year. Meetings on Thursday commence at 10am and fnish at midday. For further information, please contact Gloria Francis on 02 6629 1442.

GRAFTON

GRAFTON AND DISTRICT GARDEN CLUB

Last Sunday we were so lucky to view a couple of gardens down river. They were both a piece of paradise with orchids, Heliconias, palms, gingers, ferns and lots of mosaics and bird baths. Such a peaceful and beautiful part of the Clarence Valley. Big thanks to

both our hosts and the morning tea was fantastic. Just a couple of small showers then the sun popped out again.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 6th April at the Joan Muir Centre, 194 Turf St Grafton. 10am to midday.

$2 entry at door to cover the venue.

Please bring morning tea to share if you are able.

We will have our Bring and Buy table so if you have some plants, cuttings or produce you would like to donate, they are greatly appreciated. A guest speaker will also be with us on the day. Hope you can make it.

Publicity Offcer: Jane Rhodes 0438 593032 graftondistrictgardenclub@gmail. com

GRAFTON CWA

The next meeting of Grafton CWA will be held on Friday, 14th April, starting with morning tea at 9.30am, followed by the meeting at 10am. Meetings are held on 2nd Friday of each month, at the CWA Rooms, cnr Duke and Pound Sts. New members are always welcome. Members are asked to bring along necklaces for our Cultural display at this meeting. The CWA North Coast Group Cultural/International/ Agriculture and Environment Day is to be on 26th April at Woolgoolga, and several Grafton members will be attending. Other upcoming events that members will be attending include the State Conference at Bathurst on 8-11th May. Craft mornings are held on 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, starting at 9.30am. Everyone brings along their own craft, whatever they are interested in doing, and it is also a good opportunity for a chat and morning tea. Publicity Offcer: Anne

McLellan

https://www.facebook.com/ graftontoastmasters.

GRAFTON SENIOR CITIZENS

Trips: Day trip to new ltaly, Windara, Casino, 12th of May, now on sale. Bookings open for 8-day tour Narrabri, Dubbo, Tamworth areas from l2 August, more bookings needed. June Mystery Trip will go on sale next meeting. General Business: activities leafet, seniors travel card, Ellen Mulherin moved to Dougherty Villa, reminder of scams. Fees: now due $10 per year. New members: always welcome. Competition winners: P. Cooke; G. Patricks; J. Berry; G. Waffers; K. Smith; L. Grayson: Y. Hall;L. Sewell. Next meeting: Tuesday, 1 I April, 10.30am. Guest speaker, Maria Wormald, Service NSW. Enquiries: Sandra 6642 7720, or 041 7 464 946.”

GRAFTON SENIORS BE FIT EXERCISE CLASSES

Every Friday at the Uniting Church, Prince Street. Join us for gentle exercises designed for Seniors.

We meet at 10.30 a.m. for a cuppa and a chat with the exercises commencing at 11.

All equipment is provided and there is no cost to the participants. Further information can be obtained from Joan or Brian on 6644 7347 or 0416 067 315, or from Dot on 66423248 or 0477 213 017

GRAFTON VIEW CLUB

years ago, building for us a rich heritage to value forever! They will also see how to value the knowledge and help given by the original inhabitants on whose land the newcomers settled. Its’s a never-ending story in your “Story House” museum. Our vintage clothing collection will soon be stored away to make way for a new display, so pay a visit soon to Your Schaeffer House Museum! Don’t forget we have nine other great museums in the clarence Valley just waiting for another visit from you! PS: Our resident gnomes can be found somewhere in the garden. Others are tiny and hiding away!!

Museum open hours are Tues to Thur and Sunday 1pm to 4pm $12 – Family $5 – Adult and $2 – Child.

Research hours are Tues to Thur only from 9am to 3pm. There is a small charge for researching.

Our contact number for special openings is 6642 5212”.

Should you wish to discuss this matter further please do not hesitate to contact me on either (02)66425212 or 0406397404.

SCHAEFFER HOUSE MUSEUM, 190 PRINCE STREET, Grafton, NSW

Our display of vintage clothing will be continuing until Easter to enable more visitors to view these rare items before our new display is put on show.

Many items are being ‘rested’ and replaced with different interesting historical photographs, paintings and objects. Come to see if you can “spot” the changes! Our museum is constantly changing, just like the lovely garden that surrounds it!

When did you last “drop in?”

All our museums have different collections and are entertaining so check out the opening times for Alumy Creek, Iluka, Yamba, Glenreagh, Maclean, Lawrence and Copmanhurst.

GRAFTON’S

MIGHTY CLARENCE TOASTMASTERS

CLUB

Perhaps it’s time to fnd out what it’s all about! If you would like to improve your communication and leadership skills. Make new friends and have fun, you are warmly invited to attend the Mighty Clarence Toastmasters Club. We meet on the 1st & 3rd Wednesday evening of each month. You may attend either from the comfort of your own home via zoom or join us in person at the Joan Muir Community Centre: 194 Turf Street, Grafton. For more information please contact: Vice President on email Jan Coleman janetlcoleman@ gmail.com or Facebook page:

Grafton VIEW Club meets on the 4th Tuesday each month at Grafton District Services Club, Mary Street, commencing at 10.30am. Please come along, enjoy yourself with a tasty meal, a motivated guest speaker & ultimately disadvantaged children will be helped. Please phone Vorna at 66424719 for catering purposes no later than the Friday before the meeting. As well, a social outing is held each month. You are warmly invited to come along to the next meeting to have some fun & help disadvantaged children. See you there!

CLARENCE RIVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY

“Schaeffer House Museum at 190 Fitzroy Street, Grafton. Is in full swing for 2023 with visitors starting to arrive by the busload! What do they see? First and last the pretty gardens with a wide variety of plants, fowers, herbs and sheltering trees for the birds, butterfies, bees, and resident skinks. Inside the cool house they experience time travel as they see how people led their lives on the Clarence over 170

Schaeffer House hours are:

Tues, Wed, Thur and Sun 1-4pm

Admission Family of four $12.00

Adults $5.00 and children $2.00 We have been welcoming many new members lately, if you would like to join our historical society, you too, can receive our quarterly newsletters and receive many benefts in the Research Area.

HASTINGS POINT HASTINGS POINT COMMUNITY CHOIR

Do you enjoy singing. Our repertoire covers a variety of music styles – both unison and part singing We would love you to join us. New members needed. You will be made most welcome

When: Tuesday Evenings from

7pm – 8.30pm Where: Tricare

Residential Village Community Room Tweed Coast Road, next to Shell Petrol Station. For more information, contact Jean Berry 0414 794 380

PROBUS CLUB OF HASTINGS POINT

The Probus Club of Hastings Point Tweed Coast meets at 10am on 3rd Tuesday each month, in the residents’ lounge at Hastings Point Tricare. Retirees and seniors are welcome to join this happy social group. Phone the Probus president 0409872773 for additional information.

KINGSCLIFF

HOSPITAL AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP DRIVE AT KINGSCLIFF

The Tweed Hospital, it recognises that the new hospital will be located south of Tweed Heads and residents in those areas may be interested in volunteer work when the new hospital opens. The branch welcomes the opportunity to talk to those who are retired, unemployed or simply looking for a chance to give back to one of our most critical services – our hospital. There is a range of jobs that can be performed. The branch runs raffes, a gift shop, fashion parades, jumble sales and luncheons. People with cars are very important to the running of these operations to transport material to the various venues. The branch meetings are held monthly, and the cost of membership is only $5 per year. There are some procedures that must be processed, such as police checks. Full vaccination is required for those volunteers who are working in the hospital. So, the public in the Kingscliff area and surrounds are invited to talk to our volunteers about our UHA branch of The Tweed Hospital. For more information contact John on 0421085985.

KINGSCLIFF 500 CARD CLUB

Kingscliff 500 Card Club.

Monday and Wednesday afternoons 1pm to 4pm Cudgen

Surf Club

New players WELCOME

For further Information contact: GARY on 0499869992

KYOGLE

KYOGLE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION

Our usual monthly show will NOT be on in April as it falls on EASTER SUNDAY and the Bowling Club will be Closed. So please come and join us for our next Show which will fall

on MOTHER’S DAY. Meeting at 11am Music to follow. This event fully catered for by the club including Bistro Meals.

KYOGLE SUNSHINE CLUB

Meets every Thursday at 9.30am. For more details contact 0499824274.

KYOGLE TIDY TOWNS

FARMERS MARKET

Held every Saturday morning in Stratheden Street from 8am -12. Come along grab some local fruit & veggies, experience all Kyogle has to offer. New Stall Holders welcome. Enquiries Anne 66321851

HAPPENING’S ON THE HILL: 20th March 2023 St James Anglican Church days and times for Easter Services: Thursday, 6th April – Dinner to share at Church Hall at 6pm to be followed by Foot Washing Service at 7pm in the Church. Good Friday, 7th April - 3pm at Church for Service “Seven Words from the Cross”

Easter Sunday 9th April – Easter Day Service at 8.30am Your help is urgently needed! Do you play a keyboard instrument? We are seeking your help with our 8.30am Sunday Worship Services. If you can help, please make contact to Margaret Armstrong – 66 321 021 or Mobile 0487 330 284. Many thanks in anticipation

LION’S CLUB OF KYOGLE

Meeting is held on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday each month at the Kyogle Lion’s shed from 6.30–7pm For more information contact Neville Moon on 0448222334.

RICHMOND RIVER BEEF

PRODUCER’S ASSOCIATION

Meet on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at Kyogle Showgrounds in the luncheon room at 7pm. For more details Phone Jan on 0427293455.

LENNOX HEAD

LENNOX HEAD CWA

Handy Craft Mornings on Mondays 9.30am-12noon in the community centre at Lennox Head. Call Jan on 66816150.

LENNOX HEAD DAY VIEW CLUB

The Lennox Head Day VIEW Club meets on the frst Monday of each month at the Lennox Head Community Centre with the meeting starting at 11am and includes an interesting speaker and concludes with a light lunch. An informal Coffee and Chat

meeting is held on the third Monday of the month. The Club sponsors three students through The Smith Family Learning for Life scholarship program that provides educational items for disadvantaged Australian children. New members and guests are most warmly welcomed, and enquiries may be made to Enid 047187511 or Dawn 0466717435.

LENNOX HEAD EVENING

VIEW CLUB

Meets on the second Tuesday of each month upstairs at the Lennox Hotel at 6.30pm for dinner at 7pm. Guests are welcome. “VIEW members support the education of disadvantaged Australian children by raising much needed funds for The Smith Family. Through fundraising activities and social events in local communities, members raise money that goes directly to The Smith Family’s learning and mentoring programs for disadvantaged. students.” Lennox Head Evening VIEW Club currently sponsors two Learning for Life students. Contact Sue Brennan 0409728814.

LENNOX HEAD LIONS CLUB

New members welcome to join our close-knit club where the emphasis is on community service in a fun environment. Meetings are on the frst and Third Wednesday of each month at Club Lennox starting at 6.30pm. Members do what they can, when they can to facilitate the needs of our club.

PROBUS CLUB OF LENNOX HEAD

Meets 9.30 for 10 at Club Lennox, 10 Stewart Street, on the frst Thursday of each month. Visitors are welcome, also retired or semi-retired people wishing to join our non-service club to hear interesting guest speakers and to join in trips and outings are invited along. Phone June Zentveld on 66871004

LISMORE

LISMORE BASE AUXILIARY

Lismore Base Hospital Auxiliary is holding a ‘Made from The Heart ‘ Craft Market.

Saturday 29th April 2023 10am3pm.

Sunday 30th April 2023 10am -2pm.

At the Lismore Workers Club Sports Club 202 Oliver Avenue Goonellabah..

Local Artisans and the Auxiliary. will have a showcase of wares. Mother’s Day gifts and local crafts will be for sale.

We have a raffe 1st prize $500.00, and 2nd prize $100.00. Please note: EFTPOS is not offered by all vendors.

For more information contact Colleen 0401081747

LISMORE CITY CONCERT BAND

Rehearsals are held during school terms on Mondays, 6.15-7.45pm at Southern Cross University. If you can play a concert band instrument: brass, woodwind, or percussion, please come and join us! All ages welcome. We have some instruments available for loan.

For more information, Tel: 0432575911 visit: www. lismorecityconcertband.org.au, and our Facebook and Instagram pages.

LISMORE CWA

IT’S ‘23’ SO COME AND SEE what being a member of the Lismore CWA DAY BRANCH could mean to you. We would like YOU to join us for the opportunity to be involved with a truly friendly group of fun, diverse & interesting women of all ages. You will make new friends who will support you, plus you’ll be part of contributing to the lives of Women and Children in our area through our fundraising endeavours. PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT! Why not come along as a ‘guest’ to see how you feel and experience the difference. being a CWA Member could bring to you and your life. We meet on the frst Thursday of each month at 9:30am for a 10am start. Our 2023 meetings commence in February. FOR MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION call our President Allison Kelly on 0428 216 079. We also run CRAFT meetings each Friday. You’ll learn new things, once again meet new friends, and enjoy creating beautiful craft in great company.

FOR CRAFT INFORMATION call Vicki Boyle on 0437 465 642. WE LOOK FORWARD SO MUCH to meeting you.

LISMORE HOME GARDEN & EDUCATION CLUB next meeting will be held. Thursday 13th April 1pm at East Lismore Bowling Club. Special Flower for April is Rose or Hibiscus please bench before 12.45pm. Morning Tea Saturday 1st April 10am at Ryan`s Place 63a Esmonde Street East Lismore.

Coach trip to Kyogle`s Foliage Festival on Friday21st April. More info contact: Sec 0448294496.dcoles39@outlook. com

LISMORE LIBRARY NEW LOCATION IN THE CBD

While the Lismore Library is under repair, you can fnd a PopUp Library at 146 Molesworth Street (Was Williams Shoes), for all your reading, watching and information needs. The library has a fresh collection of donated community books, DVD’s, Puzzles and more, with weekly programs and events. The library is open 7 days a week and more information can be found at www. rtrl.nsw.gov.au

LISMORE MEN & COMMUNITY SHED

President: Don Abrahams 0437576837

Vice President: Bob Greig 0404860504

Email: lismoremcs.contact@ gmail.com

Opening Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9.00am – 3.00pm

We are a community based nonproft organisation. Everybody is welcome: men, women & people with a disability of all ages. We encourage social inclusion. Our aim is to promote the mental, physical & emotional well-being of people in our community.

Shed Activities

Members work on their own projects

Mentoring is available

General woodworking

Welding & light engineering

Repair & restoration of items for the public

Constructing projects, of items for the public

Constructing projects for preschools, hospitals & other organisations

Assembling fatpack

Minor maintenance work for the elderly & disabled

Working with the disabled

Talking with other members or simply having company

Memberships: $40-year

Attendance Fee: $3 tea/coffee

Location: 15 Industry Drive East

Lismore

LISMORE ORCHID SOCIETY INC.

ORCHID SHOW - JUDGING

LISMORE CENTRAL FRI 14TH - SAT 15TH APRIL

Lismore Orchid Society now meets 3rd Wednesday each month, 1:30pm to 4:00pm at Goonellabah Community Centre in the Goonellabah Public Library, 27 Oliver Ave

Goonellabah . . .’ Contact Bev on 0400326289

LISMORE SENIOR CITIZENS

Meet at the Goonellabah Community Centre every second Thursday starting at 9am where we have morning tea followed

by games bingo how etc we play cards Monday and Friday and play bowls Tuesdays and craft every second Tuesday afternoons come and join our friendly group you will be very welcome.

LISMORE SPINNERS & WEAVERS

Please join us…... Weaving, Spinning, Felting, Dyeing, Knitting, Crochet, Workshops, Chat….

Sharing Craft & Ideas.

From 10am, on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays of each month. (Formal business meeting is 10.30-11.30 every 1st Friday)

McLeans Ridges Hall Cnr

Cowlong and McLeans Ridges

Rds (off Bruxner Hwy) Morning Tea provided. Bring your lunch (and a mug) Contac: Kim- 0423935060

Linda- 0419489987

Email ~ lismorespinnersandweavers@ gmail.com

LISMORE TARGET RIFLE

CLUB for .22 calibre rifes, meets Wed nights from 6.30pm & the 1st & 3rd Sat of each month from 1.00 pm. Air rife shooting for .22 & 177 air rifes will also be available at the Saturday shoots. For more information, please phone Derek on 66282082 (ah).

EAST LISMORE BOWLING

CLUB Community Bingo

Tuesday night 7.30pm start. 20 games of bingo + progressive jackpot Neilson Street East Lismore. Everyone Welcome

EAST LISMORE SOCIAL TENNIS

Social Tennis is played at East Lismore Tennis Club, Cnr Neilson St & Oakley Avenue every Tuesday from 8am. We invite social players of all abilities to join us, we are a mixed group who enjoy a morning’s tennis without the commitment of competition. Feel free to call in or phone Fay Ross 0412910487 for more information. Everyone welcome.

MAINLY MUSIC

Fun, interactive, music sessions for young children [birth to school age] and their parents/ caregivers in a relaxed setting on Tuesdays starting at 9:30am during School Terms. Children will be introduced to music, creativity and more. They will develop gross motor skills, as well as socialise with others in a loving, shared family environment. Morning tea with snacks included. Mainly Music at Lismore Anglican Parish Centre, 10 Zadoc Street, LISMORE. T: 0266213200

COMMUNITY NOTICES

NR U3A LISMORE INC. (UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE)

Have you retired or just about to, from the workforce?

Are you looking to exercise your mind and body and keep both well oiled?

Well, Lismore U3A [university of the third age} could be just the place for you. This worldwide organisation has been running in Lismore for the past 30 years and thousands of local people have benefted from its programmes. It’s a great place to meet likeminded people and make new friends.

The last three years have been diffcult for us as they have for everyone, and we are on a recruitment drive to meet and greet you!

We start 2023 with a choice of at least 30 classes, which include, Languages, Photography, Science, History, Qigong, Genealogy, and many others. We also have a social calendar each term. All our courses are listed on our website www.lismoreu3a.com.au

U3A is entirely run by volunteers, with the committee and tutors coming from our membership. The joining fee Is $50 for 1 year and entitles you to attend any course you choose throughout the year; you can go every day if you wish. Why not peruse our site to see if there is a course that would be of interest to you. There is an online enrolment form that you can complete and any queries you have can be directed to our secretary, Pat, McLarenSmith Ph. 6622 7408 We look forward to meeting you. On behalf of Lismore U3A committee.

PARKINSONS NSW LISMORE REGIONAL SUPPORT GROUP

“Parkinsons NSW Lismore Regional Support Group. We meet every third Friday of the month. Next group Meeting is Friday, 21st April. Commences at 10am to 12pm at the South Lismore Bowls Club, 25 Wilson Street South Lismore. New members welcomed. Tea, coffee, snacks & cold drinks available. April is Parkinsons Awareness month so wear purple. Any inquiries contact Marie 0448871290 or SG_lismoreparkinsons@hotmail. com ”

if this is not the correct email -please don’t hesitate to contact for correction.

PROBUS CLUB OF LISMORE HEIGHTS

Our mixed group meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at the Lismore Heights Bowling Club in

High St.

Our brief meeting is followed by morning tea and a guest speaker. Senior’s lunch for $15 at noon is optional. Guests and visitors are welcome. Ring/text Pam on 0418766247 for details of our other monthly social gatherings and outings.

ROTARY CLUB OF LISMORE NETWORKING

Want to be part of an innovative, interesting, and inclusive networking group who meet fortnightly to share ideas, meet other professionals and work together to make a difference in your community? Then Rotary Club of Lismore Networking could be the answer for you! Meets fortnightly at The Civic Hotel (210 Molesworth Street Lismore) on Wednesdays at 5.30pm. For more information contact Rita on 0413300578 or Gae 0412742095.

ROTARY CLUB OF LISMORE WEST INC

East Lismore Bowling Club each Thursday at 6pm. New members would be made most welcome. Further information available on 0428151934.

ROTARY CLUB OF SUMMERLAND SUNRISE

Interested in contributing to community? Local and international?

The Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise meets every Friday at 7.05am for Breakfast at Options Cafe, Main St. Alstonville until further notice. Join us at Options please. Phone 0435 990 919 for more details.

SPRUNG

Sprung!! is a registered charity and a not-for-proft community organisation that offers Dance, Theatre & Movement workshops, and training to people with disabilities. We are currently looking for volunteers to assist our organisation in a number of ways including supporting our Tutors and Disability Support Workers; transcribing; catering; professional skills; technical support and backstage support. Our workshops and performances run in Lismore, Mullumbimby, Tintenbar and Lennox Head expanding to Ballina and the Tweed. Any interested volunteers can reach us here and for general information please contact us on info@sprung.org.au

SUMMERLAND AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

Meetings of the club are normally held on the second Sunday of each month at the clubrooms: 412 Richmond Hill Road, Richmond

Hill at 1pm. Visitors are welcome. The clubrooms are usually open on Sunday afternoons from about 1pm onwards. We are primarily amateur radio enthusiasts and welcome persons interested in radio, electronics, astronomy and similar subjects. For more details about the club and its activities see the club’s website: https:// sarc.org.au/

ZEN AND INSIGHT MEDITATION – LISMORE HEIGHTS

INSIGHT (VIPASSANA)

MEDITATION and practice: This mindfulness-based meditation group sits on Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30pm. The evening includes meditation instructions, sitting and walking meditation, Dharma talks and discussion.

For further details, please contact Rosie - 0402 682 925

ZEN MEDITATION and practice

The Zen meditation group sits on Mondays from 6:30pm-8:15pm. The evening includes instructions, sitting meditation, Dharma talks and individual interviews with the teacher.

For further details, please phone: 0427778837

Website: https://www. kuanyinmeditationcentre.org/ Beginners and experienced meditations are warmly welcomed at both groups.

MACLEAN

MACLEAN VIEW CLUB

Monthly meetings the 3rd Thursdays of each month at 11am. Contact Ruth Toyer on 0409844212 by Mondays, no later than 7pm. Numbers are required for catering purposes.

MURWILLUMBAH

COMMUNITY PRINTMAKERS

MURWILLUMBAH

Fine art printmakers. Meet at studio space 224 Stokers Rd, Stokers Siding. Prints, gallery, workshops and more! E: cpmmurwillumbah@hotmail. com - T: Peter 0498399640 or Sue 0408493253. Find us on Facebook & Instagram.

MURWILLUMBAH COMMUNITY GARDEN

Members and visitors are invited to join the group for activities and gardening tips most Sundays. Time 3-5pm (NSW time), street parking, BYO, covered footwear, comfy clothing, hat and water. Children ok with strict supervision. Covid plan operating.

Enquires: phone Bob Johnson (02)66225792.

POTTSVILLE

POTTSVILLE FUN CROQUET CLUB

Meets at Black Rocks Sports Fields on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8.30am. New members are welcome to come and join us for a hit and a bit of fun. For any further enquires please call Jean on 0431606375. We will have a new starting time at the end of daylight saving. We play at Black Rocks Sports Field. New members are welcome. For further enquires please ring Jean on 0431606375.

POTTSVILLE LADIES

LIFEBALL

Every Thursday morning 9.30am to 11.30am. Pottsville Community Hall, $5 per session includes morning tea. No joining fees. For enquiries, please call Jan 0431909760.

TWEED HEADS

Poets and writers on the Tweed meet every Tuesday at the South Tweed Sports Club 1.30-3.30pm. Beginners welcome. Phone 0755248035.

TWEED HEADS PROBUS CLUB

Probus Club, Coolangatta/Tweed Heads. Be at Club Tweed at 10-00am on the frst Wednesday of the Month. Visitors and new members are very welcome.

TWEED PATCHWORK GROUP

Meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at South Tweed Community Center from 9-1pm at 18 Heffron Street Tweed Heads south all beginners welcome phone Moira on 0418686643. A friendly group of people with common interest in seeing, quilting and related craft.

TWIN TOWNS & DISTRICT

GARDEN CLUB

Twin Towns and District Garden Club meets every second Monday of the month. Meetings Venue: Tweed Heads Civic Centre Auditorium next to Library, Brett Street, Tweed Heads.

Guest Speaker January - Tropical Fruit World “Growing Tropical Fruit”

• We offer raffes, lucky door prize, presidents award, trading tables, cuttings table, members prize draw, Benching of plants and fowers and foral art both novice and senior. Begonia

Society, Social Morning teas, bus trips and best of all friendship. • Come along, bring a mug to share a coffee or tea with likeminded gardeners. See you there, bring a mug. Gwen: 0468 872 199, (leave a message please).

YAMBA

YAMBA DAY VIEW CLUB

Yamba Day View Club’s monthly luncheons are held at Yamba Bowling Club on 3rd Monday of month, starting 10am for 10.30am. Acceptance and apologies to President Lyn 66463164 by Friday prior to luncheon for catering purposes. We hold a monthly social outing either for lunch or morning tea and visitors are always welcome.

YAMBA LIONS CLUB

Yamba Lions Club’s meetings are held 2nd & 4th Thursdays of month at Yamba Bowling Club, commencing at 7pm for 7.30pm. For further information, please contact the Secretary Peter 0417546097. Social outings also held at various time and visitors and new members’ welcome.

ALL NORTHERN RIVERS

NORTHERN RIVERS

BUSHWALKING CLUB

Are you interested in exploring the beauty that our region contains. The Northern Rivers Bushwalking Club offers a variety of activities for people of all abilities and ages in bushwalking, cycling, kayaking, abseiling, qigong and social interaction. Visit our Facebook page or our website nrbc.org.au for more information.

NORTHERN RIVERS

EVENING PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

The next meeting of the Northern Rivers Evening Prostate Cancer Support Group is to be held on Wednesday April 5th - 7pm until 9 pm at the LISMORE WORKERS SPORTS MAIN CLUB – 202 OLIVER AVENUE, GOONELLABAH – Meals available at the Club if requiredMen previously and newly diagnosed with prostate cancer are urged to join with the group to experience the personal cancer stories told which give a great opportunity for all to share, learn and beneft from each otherPartners and Carers are also most welcome to attend as family are very much involved with the process and treatment of those

with this diagnosis –Guest Speaker – Member of the “Tinny Army” to tell his own story -Enquiries phone Bob Johnson (02) 6622 5792 -

NRCF WOMEN’S GIVING CIRCLE

The Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRFC) is inviting Northern Rivers women to play an active role in empowering vulnerable women and girls in our region. The newly formed NRFC’s Women’s Giving Circle brings Northern Rivers women together to achieve equality and human rights for women and girls in our region and enable them to realise their full potential. Visit the Women’s Giving Circle nrcf. org.au/women’s-giving-circle/ on the NRFC website for more information and to join the Women’s Giving Circle. murbahcommunitygardens@ gmail.com - follow us on Facebook #MurwillumbahCommunity Garden

The NORTHERN RIVERS HASH HOUSE HARRIERS is a non-proft community group that is part of a worldwide organisation. The Hash House Harriers meet every Monday at 6pm for a run/walk from various locations around Lismore, Alstonville and Ballina. The run/ walk lasts for approximately an hour, followed by friendship, banter and grub.

We are very friendly and welcome new members. For more details email: nrhhh@freelists.org.

NORTHERN RIVERS

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP

Covering Wollongbar to Ocean Shores.

Meets 2nd Friday of each month at Summerland Farm, Wardell Road, Alstonville. A general catch up & chat with the opportunity to join in a casual Q&A session with Rebecca, our Parkinson’s nurse. She will be there to answer any questions that you may have about anything to do with living with Parkinson’s or supporting or caring for a loved one. Maybe you want to know about symptoms, medication, treatments or services etc.

Rebecca is there to support us and help you manage your disease so that you live your best life. All those living with Parkinson’s Disease or those supporting them are most welcome.

Please RSVP Cheryl 0428286753.

Warnings

See www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings

Northern Rivers District:

Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a storm. Light winds.

Thursday. Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a storm. Light winds.

Northern Tablelands District:

Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a storm. Winds north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending west to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.

Thursday. Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a storm. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening.

Weather

New South Wales:

A few showers and possible storms across the eastern half, tending to rain periods about the western slopes. Severe storms possible across the northeast. The chance of a shower elsewhere in the west. Daytime temperatures well below average across the southern inland, tending near average in the far northeast. Northwesterly winds, freshening about the ranges and coast, tending westerly in the middle of the day. A drier southwesterly change spreading across the west and south. Thursday. A few showers and possible storms in the northeast. The chance of a shower elsewhere along the coast and ranges. Possible patchy morning fog. Dry and mostly sunny elsewhere. Daytime temperatures well below average across the southern inland, tending near average in the far northeast. South to southwesterly winds, tending southeasterly near the coast in the afternoon.

Byron Coast:

Winds: Northerly 15 to 20 knots turning northwesterly 10 to 15 knots during the evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore during the afternoon. Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a storm.

Coffs Coast:

Winds: Northerly 15 to 20 knots turning northwesterly 10 to 15 knots during the evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore during the afternoon. Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a storm.

Gold Coast Waters:

Winds: Northerly about 10 knots increasing to 10 to 15 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Cudgen Headland Surf Sports News

From March 25th to April 2nd 25 members from Cudgen Headland Surf Lifesaving Club head over to Scarbrough, Perth to compete in the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championship. Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th our Youth competitors gave Cudgen a dominating name for beach and water events with our competitors

making the fnal top 10 and podium fnishes in all of Australia.

The master’s event run from the 27th to the 28th with under 17s, under 19s and opens from the 29th to the 2nd with the fnals on Sunday. Surf Lifesaving Australia a providing a free live video of the whole Aussies on Facebook for anyone to watch. So far for Aussies these are the

podium fnishes:

1st Place:

• Jules Loemkerunder 15s Board Race

2nd Place:

• Fletcher Burdekin, Jules Loemker & Phoenix Prestonunder 15s Board Relay

3rd Place:

• Isabella Tateunder 15s Ironperson

AOC CALLS FOR STAND-ALONE DEPARTMENT OF SPORT AS SPORT INVESTMENT FACES BLACK HOLE

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) Chief Executive Offcer Matt Carroll has told the National Press Club in Canberra that a $2 billion black hole in sports investment over the next decade threatens to derail Australia’s ambitions for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria.

In his address, Mr Carroll cited the continued and signifcant decline in Federal Government sport investment, in spite of successive national sport plans and other reviews which identify that sport returns $7 for every $1 invested.

Mr Carroll has proposed a package of measures, including a new partnership between sport and the Government, stand-alone Federal Department of Sport and a national “statement of purpose for sport” to address the decline.

“Successive sports plans over many years have not achieved their ambitions, because they have been funded to fail.

“On the forward projections based on the work we have done with our 44 Member Sports, Australian sport will fall over a fnancial cliff. Sports are fghting each other for a share of a cake that keeps getting smaller.

“Our analysis shows

that based on the forward estimates, there’s a $2 billion shortfall in direct funding to sports across the ten years leading to Brisbane 2032. The shortfall consists of half a billion for participation and $1.5 billion for high performance, spread over the ten years.

“That’s not nearly enough to retain the current levels of sports performance, let alone to maximise the Brisbane 2032 opportunities.

“These are the same sports which are played by more than 9 million Australians and which bring to the table an army of volunteers, coaches and offcials. To be clear, this is not funding for the AOC. We ask for

none, but it is investment directly to the sports so they can fulfl their mission for the Australian community.

“Every national sports plan recognises the enormous value of sport in tackling the crises in obesity and chronic diseases including mental health problems. Plus, the value of sport in bringing communities together, creating social harmony, creating economic beneft and helping a generation of young people negotiate the future.

“The investment benefts are universally acknowledged and yet the decline continues.

Mr Carroll has proposed:

A Statement of Purpose

for sport which clearly defnes where sport sits as a national priority.

A new sport investment model that ensures a holistic view of sport that yields a measurable and objective return on investment and which improves transparency and accountability.

A stand-alone Department of Sport, incorporating the Australian Sports Commission, Sport Integrity Australia and the National Sports Tribunal.

A partnership between sport and government with sport contributing to policy development across multiple portfolios.

Investment in the

Australian Institute of Sport to transform it into the CSIRO of sport – a research giant supported by State and Territory sports institutes.

A national sports events strategy to maximise the benefts of hosting major global sports events in Australia led by the new Department of Sport

The AOC, in conjunction with Commonwealth Games Australia, is refreshing it’s 2021 Sport: Powering Australia’s Future (10+10) submission to refect the fact Brisbane will now host the Olympic Games in 2032, while Victoria will host the Commonwealth Games in 2026.

CASINO SOCIAL GOLF RESULTS

26-03-2023

The single stableford played on the top 11 on Sunday was won by Wayne Jackson with 29 points from Trevis Jenkins with 27. The putting trophy went to K.Ruttley with 14 putts and B.Yates won the players draw. Nearest to pins: 8th, C.Hatfeld. 9th, J.Rankin. 10th, T.Jenkins.11th, K.Ruttley.12th, R.Ruttley.13th, P.Piccoli. 14th, G.Randall. 15th, G.Skennar. 16th, D,Roberts. 17th, D.Slade. 18th, S.Shephard. Next Sunday’s event

Sponsored by Newstead Automotive Services Casino will be a single stroke on the top 11 holes for the monthly

medal and visitors are welcome to play with hit off from 6-30am till 7-30am, Remember daylight saving ends next Sunday.

CORAKI VETERANS GOLF RESULTS

THURSDAY 23/3/23

54 golfers contested the Thursday event winner

G TAIT, 2ND i Welsh,

3rd B Collyer, free game

P Martin chicken/ball winners B Waterson, M Fairfull T Newton, S Ormond, E Reddell, R Mackay, W Lunnon, T Patch, T Foster,S

McDonough, T Doyle, W Swindle, L Newton, K Lloyd. Nearest pins

3rd/12th K Osborne, 6th/15th L Newton. This Thursday 30/3/23 will be an 18 hole single stableford commencing with a shot gun start at

8.30am followed by our monthly barbque.

AS USUAL TILL THEN GOOD GOLFING MAX

BALLINA MAHJONG RESULTS FRIDAY

24TH MARCH 23

Joy Lowien 1, Shirley Atkinson 2, Ronda Taylor 3, Sally Lowry

4, Robyn McRae 5, Carol Meyer, Jeanette Henwood 6, Shirley Coleman 8,Lorna Simpson 9, Margaret Bryant 10, Valda McLerie 11, Kath

Hubbard, Pauline Bolte

12, Gail McDonagh

14, Jenny Lang 15, Susan Scott 16, Lesley Richie 17, Lisa Wong

18, Yvonne Weddup 19, Barbara Ellan 20, Shirley

Henry, Vanessa Reynolds

21, Coral Lavelle 23,

Jan Small 24, Cindy Smith 25, Jan Henley 26, Susan Allan 27, Deborah Green, Janena Bird, Pam Farrel 28, Diana Auret 31, June Greenaway 32. Mahjong is played on Friday at 12:30pm at the Ballina Bridge Club North Creek Road. Enquiries for new players phone Vanessa on 66874181.

CHERRY STREET CROQUET CLUB

SPORTS RESULTS

RICOCHET CROQUET

: N.Watts 20 d B.Wellings 12

G.Kerr N.Poynting 9 d

R.Poynting D.Scott 9

N.Barnes J.Doust 14 d

C.Edlund P.Scott 12 CLUB

CHAMPIONSHIPS : J Hannigan 9 d P.Bolte 15

GOLF CROQUET : CLUB

CHAMPIONSHIPS :

D.Scott 7 d G.Porter 5

R.Chapman 7 d D.Scott 6

R.Chapman 7 d G.Porter 6

Division 1 Club

Champion 2023 Ray Chapman. Runner up David Scott.

PENNANTS : Byron Bay 5 d

Alstonville 1

Casino 4 d Ballina 2

NSW WOMENS

GOLF CROQUET

CHAMPIONSHIPS :

J.Sulivan 1, S.Sellers 2, P.Markwell 3, G.Lambeck 4.

PLATE :

L.Montague 1, K.Bisley 2, R.Mulvaney 3, G.Carnegie 4, B.Lee

Peet 5, R. Johnston 6.

Friendship Day Raffe : 1st prize Wendy Fryer

Ballina

2nd prize. Debbie Jones Ballina

3rd prize Richard Hughes Ballina Jump Shot winner Sue Oeding Alstonville.

Pictured: Ray Chapman Club Champion Division 1 David Scott Runner Up.

continued from back page

By TIM HOWARD

Grafton hockey legend Brent Livermore has just released a new range of hockey sticks he has helped redesign to bring them up to speed with the modern game.

Livermore, capped 317 times for the Australian men’s team and now the NSW Institute of Sport head coach, is also the co-owner and founder of Croc Hockey, which has just released its Croc Predator LB12 and XLB14 range of sticks.

The sticks, developed over two years of rigorous design and testing have consigned the bulbous head of traditional sticks to the history books, giving more players access to 3D skills, overheads and tommas (tomahawk reverse stick hits).

Livermore, whose introduction to hockey began in Grafton more than 30 years ago, has a history of equipment innovation in the sport.

In 2010 he worked with Mazon to develop what became and still is their best selling stick, the Mason 360 and he has worked with sports footwear giant Asics on the their Ultimate Field Hockey shoe.

“Over the years I have been keen to assist companies in their equipment development, but more recently I have turned my attention to combining all my years of experience and knowledge to developing my own brand of world-class hockey equipment,” Livermore said.

He asked himself why sticks have not kept pace

Hockey legend rethinks stick design

with the evolution of players’ demands.

“I teamed up with some like-minded business and design partners and we set ourselves a task to evaluate the traditional stick design and rebuild it for the modern player,” he said.

“After two years of designing, prototyping and testing we have achieved what we have no doubt is the fnest hockey stick ever produced, the Croc XLB14.”

Livermore said the traditional stick had some obvious drawbacks.

“We could not believe how most manufacturers were making sticks up to 8mm narrower than allowable under the rules,” he said.

“Obviously the wider your stick the easier it is to trap and hit. It’s not rocket science.”

Livermore and the Croc team also brought in the reverse toe angle, Livermore frst introduced in the Mason 360 more than a decade ago.

It increased the head area by fattening the toe end, helping players trap the ball.

“This makes a noticeable difference for players accepting backhand receives,” he said.

“We then fattened it off and angled it back towards the shaft to create a hook to catch the ball when doing spins and penalty corner injections.”

He said the importance of overheads to the modern game also infuenced the development of the new design.

“We saw obvious

restrictions in the traditional bulbous head so we shaved it back and adjusted our carbon

of the tomma edge drastically increasing the players chances of making a clean

where modern players now actually position their bottom hand.”

He said players often wrapped several extra grips onto their sticks to achieve a desired trip thickness thereby affecting the weight and balance point of the stick.

“We have increased the raw diameter of the handle from the traditional 23mm to 27mm to eliminate the need for so much grip wrapping,” he said.

“Along with this we have extended the handle further down the shaft to maintain the circular shape for the bottom hand.

them.

“Unfortunately there is no right or wrong answer here, both sticks are designed for high performance players,” he said.

“But that doesn’t mean that the average club player can’t beneft from the features built into both models.

“We have high performance elite athletes using both models, but most club level players would be more comfortable with the less extreme LB12 which will have a little more kick in the head than your standard mid bow stick bit not as much as the XLB14.”

construction to allow the stick to slide further under the ball allowing more of the head to be in contact with the ball at the point of lifting making it effortless to lift the ball,” he said.

The Croc sticks also make it easier for players to make good contact when attempting the thrilling reverse stick hit, the tomma.

“We have dramatically increased the width

strike on the ball when tommaring,” he said.

The changes don’t stop there as the team noted defciencies in stick design around player grip and handle length.

“For far too many years stick handles have been way to skinny to effectively control the stick in the hands,” he said.

“Added to this that stick handles too quickly transition into the shaft

“This means the stick can rotate smoothly in your bottom hand without the need to excessively loosen your grip.”

The introduction of a cricket bat-like ridge down the back of the stick along with a high carbon to kevlar ratio (98%-2%) has resulted in a hard hitting stiff stick like no other.

We asked Livermore how players would know which stick was right for

“Elite players using the boundaries of stick skills may be more inclined to move towards the XLB14 purely for the Extreme Low Bow 14 degree head.”

The sticks, released this month have been a hit, with one version of the LB12 already listed as sold out on the Croc online shop.

For more information and online shopping go to: https://crochockey. com.au .