CBD business occupancy rates on the rise

thoughts (in the form of notes that they never expected or intended to be published) are unlike any in all of literature.

It’s hard to imagine anyone, let alone these two leaders, being able to construct deeply personal reflections, life insights, and behaviour of the most ethical nature all whilst performing the roles they were tasked to do. Hammarskjöld was known to have regularly worked 20-hour days; while the same is not known of Aurelius, it is known that the bulk of his ‘Meditations’ were written while he was on active military campaigns in the years between 170 and 180 AD.

No one before or since Dag Hammarskjöld, has ever performed the position of SecretaryGeneral in the United Nations at a younger age (being 47-years old upon appointment) or carried it out with such distinction; Hammarskjöld is also the only person to have posthumously won a Nobel Peace Prize. His book, which comprises essentially his personal reflections, were published under the nondescript title of ‘Markings’.

The most appealing facet of these two philosophy imbued leaders are the time-defying immediacy of their reflections.

Aurelius for example suggests, as if he had written it just last week, “Nowhere can a person find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in their own soul.” Likewise, Hammarskjöld expands in similar sage-like fashion, “We have to acquire a peace and balance of mind such that we can give every word of criticism its due weight and humble ourselves before every word of praise.”

Lismore’s CBD is edging closer to pre-February 2022 occupancy rates, the latest CBD business occupancy audit conducted by Lismore City Council has found.

In a positive sign for the local economy, the audit conducted at the end of June, found an occupancy rate of 70.1% across the inner CBD area, which includes street-front and upstairs premises. This is an increase from 60% in the January audit.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said the strong result showed business confdence was returning to the CBD following the worst natural disaster in Australia’s recorded history.

“There is hardly a week that goes by that I don’t represent Council at a CBD business reopening or the opening of a new business,” he said.

“It’s clear that these businesses have confdence in the future of Lismore, and I encourage the community to come into the CBD and support them. Now, more so than ever, it’s important to shop local.”

“It’s fair to say that the Lismore CBD is well and truly back in business, and we are on the way to our predisaster occupation rate of 90.2%.”

The higher occupancy rate includes businesses returning to the CBD and new business start-ups, with industry types ranging from retail, food and professional services to healthcare and wellbeing, and arts and recreation.

The audit also revealed a signifcant increase in occupation rates in upstairs premise.

“It is very encouraging to see the increase in upstairs occupation rates, which are primarily professional services that have returned to our CBD,” Mayor Krieg said.

“When professional service industries invest in the CBD, it means our community can receive the services they need.”

Council’s Destination and Economy team audited 595 street front and upstairs premises, including businesses, organisations, residencies and pop-ups. The audited area covered central portions of Keen, Molesworth, Woodlark, Conway, Magellan and Carrington streets.

Below are the street-bystreet occupation rates for June 2023 compared with the January audit:

• Keen Street occupancy rate – 74.5% (up from 67%)

• Molesworth Street occupancy rate – 73.6% (up from 61%)

• Conway Street occupancy rate – 69.8% (up from 58%)

• Carrington Street occupancy rate – 69.2% (up from 51%)

• Magellan Street occupancy rate – 62.7% (up from 56%)

• Woodlark Street occupancy rate – 60.2% (up from 59%)

This is the third Lismore CBD Audit following the February 2022 natural disaster, with previous audits undertaken in January 2023 and August 2022 (post-disaster) and February 2022 (immediately prior to the disaster). Council staff have audited the same area annually since 2017.

Winter To Spring With Voices And Strings

The Semitones, Kyogle’s own community choir, will be combining with the Northern Rivers Conservatorium Chamber Strings of for its annual Beneft Concert on September 9. The great composers have been inspired to write some of their most soaring and transcending music for this combination of choir and orchestra.

Mozart’s Laudate Dominum, from the Solemn Vespers, is a hymn of praise which transports us to the realm of the angels.

Solo soprano Jessica McElroy, a Kyogle local who has appeared with the Twelve Sopranos, will perform the angelic descant which crowns it.

Nigra Sum, by the great

Saturday 9th. September 2.30pm Kyogle Memorial Hall

Guest cellist Pablo Casals, is a setting of a beautiful passage from the Song of Solomon from the Book of Psalms.

We have our own fne cellist in alto Louise Lander, who swaps voice for bow to join pianist Lindsay McGregor in the lovely accompaniment to an atmospheric song cycle from Canada called A Winter’s Day. Ubi Caritas is a haunting setting of a Gregorian chant.

Guest performers the NRC Chamber Strings play on their own from sonatas by favorite Baroque composers Handel and Corelli. And our dynamic choir director, Fiona Kerr, has some promising students to introduce to the public.

But the program is fascinatingly varied, and roams from Africa to the Caribbean. The lilting Calypso strains of Island in the Sun, made famous by Harry Belafonte, will be familiar to many. Then we have some playful Elizabethan madrigals about the cut and thrust of love. And there is even a round for some audience participation!

The concert proceeds are to beneft Kyogle Public School and Kyogle Lions Community Food Pantry. Afterwards, there will be a warming supper for a gold coin donation.

A raffe is to be drawn with great prizes. Raffe tickets are available prior to the concert at Semitones Choir street stalls.

The concert will be held at the Kyogle Memorial Institute Hall (corner of Summerland Way and Stratheden Street) at 2.30 pm. Admission will be cash only and will cost $10 a person and children free.

WINTER TO SPRING

Kyogle Semitones

Beneft Concert

Saturday September 9 at 2.30 pm Kyogle Memorial Hall corner of Summerland Way and Stratheden Street

Admission cash only $10, children free

Fast Jet Training At Evans Head Air Weapons Range

The Royal Australian Air Force has fnalised its Evans Head Air Weapons Range training program. The Evans Head training area is located south of the Evans Head township on the north coast of NSW.

Air Force currently operates F/A-18F Super Hornet from RAAF Base Amberley and F-35A Lightning II aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown over the range.

F/A-18F Hornets from Number 1 Squadron Training Flight have fnalised their program and will operate on the range from 28 August to 1 September and 23 October to 10 November.

F-35A Lightning II aircraft from Number 2 Operational Conversion Unit will visit the range on 14 September and 18

October, with backup days being 19 October and 2 November 2023.

Commander of Air Combat Group, Air Commodore Peter Robinson said the range was suited as a gunnery and bombing practice area for aircrew completing their operational conversion to F-35A Lightning II and F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft.

“Fast jet military aircraft will conduct low-level fying and gunnery and bombing training during each mission within the range airspace,’’ Air Commodore Robinson said.

Air Commodore Robinson said training activities could involve up to two waves of aircraft per day with live strafng, pattern application and the possible use of lasers.

“Local residents are advised that access to the range (land areas) remains restricted whether activities are being conducted or not. This is due to the historical use of range and the possibility of unexploded ordnance remaining at the site,” Air Commodore Robinson said. For safety reasons, the Southern Defence Practice Area (overwater) will be closed from 10:00am to 5:00pm during all operations, except where specifcally indicated.

Residents are advised training on the range can change due to weather or other considerations.

Defence appreciates the ongoing input and long standing support the local community provides in terms of our operations.

Navigating life with a child that is disengaged from mainstream school: Stories from our MSA families

The Evans Head Air Weapons Range Community Advisory Panel has been advised of these activities. Defence personnel display red fags whenever live fring activities are conducted and carry out patrols to ensure people don’t stray into the area.

For further information please refer to the Air Force Operations website on https:// www.airforce. gov.au/operations/ fying-operations/fyingactivity.

For a copy of the overwater DPA map and GPS co-ordinates please refer to the Defence website at http://www.defence.gov. au/aircraftnoise; and go to Ops Near Me Evans Head tab.

Darnelle is a parent of an MSA student who was disengaged from mainstream school and struggled to read at the pace and level of what was required of him. Her son would pick up sounds without understanding what he was reading. As a parent, it became diffcult for Darnelle to support her son academically, not to mention socially and emotionally.

Unfortunately, Darnelle’s family is not alone with these struggles. A wide variety of data indicates there are a signifcant number of middle school-aged students disengaged from mainstream schooling due to social, emotional, or behavioural diffculties. In addition, data from the Grattan Institute suggests that up to 40% of students in Australian schools could be classifed as disengaged.

A student who is disengaged from mainstream school is generally working at a level that is below what is expected of them in one or more subjects. If a student is disengaged, this can lead to low attendance, behavioural issues, school stress or school refusal. The pressure to keep up in a mainstream school when a student is unable to meet the required expectations can burden a child to the point of disengagement.

Darnelle said, “It is really diffcult to watch your child fall further and further behind and not be able to do anything. We tried so many things to help our son, but nothing was working, and it was so hard because he was happy at his previous school, but we just couldn’t do it any longer. The struggle for him to just read the basics was impacting all of us on an emotional and fnancial level.”

Darnelle invested in speech pathology, occupational therapy, and alternative therapies to assist with her son’s learning. Unfortunately, he showed no signs of improving. It wasn’t until Darnelle discovered MSA that things started to improve for her son.

Darnelle initially committed to trialling her son for six months at MSA to see if he would experience any improvement in his learning. Darnelle’s son has now passed the two-year mark at MSA and can now fuently read and write, which is something, Darnelle’s son said, “I never thought I would be able to do.”

One of the focuses at Mastery Schools Australia is meeting a disengaged child where they are at academically, socially, and emotionally. In doing so, the child can feel more confdent in their ability to learn and re-enter mainstream schooling when they are ready.

If your child is disengaged or struggling in a mainstream school, you can contact Mastery Schools Australia by calling (07) 5551 4080 or visiting our website https://msa.qld.edu.au/ contact-us/

Written by Ashlee Thomas