Meet the BEEF WEEK Queens Entrants for 2023

Hi, my names Danielle, I’m 18 years old. from Casino. I’m excited to join the Casino Beef Week Queen Competition because I’ve always loved beef week and thought there’s no better way to celebrate than putting myself right in the middle of it all. I love spending time with loved ones and I believe connection is important because you shouldn’t take things for granted. My best trait would have to be that I am a very caring person and if I win, I’d use my platform to encourage others to not be shy, to give things a go no matter the outcome. Can’t wait to give it a go!

Hi, my name is Kara, I’m 18 years old and from Casino. I’m excited to join the Casino Beef Week Queen Competition because I’ve always been inspired by the past entrants and it’s a fantastic way to be more involved in our wonderful community. It’s also a huge opportunity that I’m so grateful to be a part of. I love surrounding myself with friends and family and I strongly believe that spreading love and kindness is important because it takes zero dollars to be kind. Life’s short and it’s never worth taking anything for granted. My best trait is that I always try to put other people’s needs before my own. If I win, I’d use my platform to continue spreading love and kindness, promoting businesses and encouraging others to give anything that comes at them a red hot go. I’m so excited for this journey and I can’t wait to show everyone what I’m capable of!

11 Days - Various Events - Casino NSW

There’s more to the beef industry than the steak on your plate or the meat in your burger.

Make your way to the Beef Capital of Australia, the picturesque town of Casino NSW, for the Casino Food Co-Op Beef Week Festival May 20th to May 30th 2023, an annual celebration of this iconic Australian industry and the rural way of life. Taking place over 11 days, the festival provides entertainment, education and an authentic country experience for the whole family. With more than 100 vibrant events to enjoy, there is no shortage of fun things to see and do.

Casino is located in the Richmond Valley, in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. The festival provides the perfect opportunity to explore this stunning pocket of Australia, which is located an easy drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and just 40 minutes from Byron Bay.

Celebrating the Australian beef industry, community and our local farmers

Primary school aged children across Australia will make those important steps towards a healthier future by participating in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 19 May 2023. Please save the date and get involved. This May will mark the 24th anniversary of National Walk Safely to School Day. Championed by the Pedestrian Council Australia, the initiative aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that regular walking, or alternative active transport (especially to and from school) can provide for the long term well-being of our children, not just on 19 May, but every day. Apart from the physical benefits, regular walking (or similar) also has a favourable impact on children’s cognitive and academic performance.

Walk Safely to School Day also encourages positive environmental action, better use of public transport with reduced car-dependency and encourages parents and carers to walk more, reducing dangerous traffc congestion around schools. Harold Scruby, Chairman and CEO of the Pedestrian Council of Australia said that “until they are 10, children must always hold the hand of an adult when crossing the road”. The national initiative also promotes healthy eating and encourages schools and P&Cs to Host a Healthy Breakfast on the day. “The extremely disturbing childhood obesity epidemic continues to affect 1 in 4* children at critical levels across Australia.”

“The best exercise for all Australians is walking regularly. Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. We should encourage them to take a walk before school, during and at end of their day,” Harold Scruby said. Being active every day, including walking to school, can help make a difference for many Australians. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or carer - everyone has a role to play in helping children and young people to lead active healthy lives.

*ABS:

National Health Survey: First Results, 2017-18

Walk Safely to School Day

Friday 19th of May

Join the St Brigid’s walk to school group Departing at 8am from ANZAC Park (Skate Park) and walking to school for a family breakfast. Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters are all encouraged and welcome to join in the walk and breakfast.

Free Bush Regeneration Workshop For Tweed Residents

Learn practical skills to control weeds effectively in bushland areas

A free workshop for residents who want to learn practical bush regeneration skills will be held in Murwillumbah later this month as part of Council’s commitment to protecting the Tweed’s environment. The workshop – which will focus on controlling weeds, ecological restoration and flora and fauna considerations – will be held on Wednesday 31 May from 9 am to 12.30 pm.

Weeds are a big threat to the Tweed’s unique environment and can have serious economic and social impacts which is why controlling them is so important.

Council’s private land conservation officer Michael Corke said the workshop aims to improve landholders’ capacity to control weeds in bushland.

“Effective bush regeneration starts with an understanding of key ecological restoration principles and concepts which help us develop effective, site-specific approaches to weed control,” Mr Corke said.

“Bush regeneration involves restoring our native bushland to create healthy and more resilient ecosystems and is part of Council’s commitment to working together to reduce our impact on the natural environment.

“At the workshop, professional bush regenerators will explain ecological restoration and key concepts such as disturbance, succession and resilience. The community will learn how these concepts are used to determine the most effective restoration technique – managing weeds on the ground.

“It will be a valuable, fun and hands-on experience for anyone wanting practical advice and information on how to get started with bush regeneration on their properties.”

At the workshop, participants will learn about:

• controlling weeds

• ecological restoration

• flora and fauna considerations

• ecological restoration and disturbance, succession and resilience

• identifying invasive weeds

• practical opportunities to assess weeds on site.

“Professional bush regenerators will identify the most invasive weeds and discuss the impact they are having on bushland. They will then demonstrate the best-practice weed control techniques used to kill them. Participants can then have a go themselves under supervision,” Mr Corke said.

“Although weed control techniques may look simple, learning good techniques saves time and money and helps achieve the best ecological outcome and helps us conserve our unique habitats.

“Landholders with high conservation value habitat on their land, especially those with Conservation Agreements, are encouraged to attend.”

Find out more and book online at bush-regenerationworkshop.eventbrite.com. au. Bookings are essential. The workshop is a collaborative effort between Tweed Shire Council and Tweed Landcare Inc.

Council is funding the workshop, which is part of the Landcare managed Filling the Gaps 6 project assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust. For further information, contact Council’s private land conservation officer, Michael Corke, on 02 6670 2592 or mcorke@tweed. nsw.gov.au.

In a tight job market, you can afford to be choosy when you’re looking for a job. But finding a position you enjoy with good conditions and pay, and a supportive boss is still a challenge. That’s exactly what bus driver Allan Hancock has found driving buses for Buslines Group.

Since retiring from full-time work around 20 years ago, Allan has worked part time, responsible for hundreds of school runs in and around the Ballina area. “I love the flexibility of my job. I start the morning around 7am and I’m finished by 9.30. I’ve then got plenty of time to do other things until the afternoon shift starts at 3 o’clock,” explains Allan. “You’ve also got the school holiday breaks. And to be honest, I really enjoy the kids. Because I’ve been doing the school run for years, I’ve seen many of them grow up into fine young adults.”

“There’s also something very satisfying about driving a big vehicle. It attracts people from all sorts of backgrounds. We’ve got an ex-fighter pilot, builders, brickies, as well as office workers. To be a good driver, you’ve always got to be alert and mindful of the safety of your passengers and others. It’s a great job as you get a little older because it’s less physically demanding.”

Maria Amber has been driving buses for 20 years. With a degree in Counselling, Maria admits that bus driving was her ‘Plan B’ choice. “I’d been working with a local youth support organisation and planned to be a social worker. But one day on the way to uni I was passing the bus depot and I thought, ‘now that’s a job I could do’.”

Having gained her license and Bus Driver’s Authority, Maria found she enjoyed the experience of driving a big vehicle. She especially loves her daily interactions with the kids. “There’s not really any one thing that keeps me in the job. I just love it. Every day is such a positive experience. The negatives are so few and far between that they don’t matter.”

Workshop Foreman Callan Wunsch is also a long-time Buslines employee. Callan started his career as a diesel mechanic apprentice. He’s now in charge of maintaining the Northern Rivers bus fleet. “I’ve worked for the company for 17 years now. I’ve always found the bosses to be very supportive. We’ve got a great team here in the workshop. And when we get busy, there’s a bit of overtime – great if you need a bit of extra cash to pay the bills.”

New Services from the Country to Coast

The rising cost of living, especially fuel costs, is a serious challenge for people living in the Northern Rivers region. Luckily, bus services offer locals a reliable and cheap way to travel to and from work or enjoy a great day out.

This year, TfNSW has improved bus services in Lismore and surrounding regional areas, encouraging more people to travel by bus. As well as adding extra services on weekends and public holidays, they’ve also increased operating times on selected existing routes.

Buslines, in partnership with TfNSW, has had a long and proud history of delivering safe, reliable, and quality local transport networks to our customers.

“People rely on our services to travel to and from work, to the CBD, local shopping centres, school, TAFE, universities, medical centres, hospitals, and to retirement villages,” says Ballina Buslines Manager Kellie Creighton.

“Buslines also operates our timetable-free B-ConX Service. B-ConX is a flexible and convenient, on-demand public transport service. Customers can book a bus to pick them up near their home using a smartphone app or by calling 132 669. All B-ConX buses are wheelchair accessible and run Monday to Sunday and on Public Holidays.”

Buslines Group also supports the community by providing a range of charter services.

“Our experienced drivers transport groups to and from their destinations safely and reliably. Our charter bus service is available for groups both large and small. We’re available for school excursions, sports days, weddings, and corporate events. Each bus is equipped with seatbelts and air conditioning for traveller comfort.”

“We’re also proud transport partners with events across NSW including Splendour in the Grass.”

According to Ms. Creighton, “People are the driving force behind the company’s long-time success. All our staff are committed to providing the most reliable, safe, and comfortable bus services for all our local customers.” au/northern-rivers/ timetables or call our friendly staff on 6626 1499

For more information about these services and bus timetables, you can go to our website buslinesgroup.com.