KEVIN HOGAN MP

Casino Show

Two weeks ago was Casino’s 130th show. Terrifc displays in the exhibits, horsemanship, cattle and horticulture. Fantastic weather, great crowds and exceptional entertainment. Congratulations to the Young Women of Year festival brings up to 30,000 visitors to Grafton over the ten days, this is fantastic for our small businesses. Jacaranda Ball was a great night, beautiful setting at The Barn. Congratulations to all the contestants this year. And a big thank you to Mark Blackadder and the committee. community in the east Coraki area and Helen recounts her experiences and the life that was lived in this lush part of the Northern Rivers. From her growing up years, starting when she was born in 1945, Helen covers subjects such as their day-to-day activities, school, the agricultural shows, local businesses and industry, the devastation of the oods and so much more. e book is generously peppered throughout with photos of the people and places of earlier days that I’m sure many readers from the area will remember or be interested to see.

Descendants of the many neighbours Helen remembers and writes about in this book, would also be interested in the memories of their ancestors.

You can purchase the book by emailing Helen at helen-trustum@ hotmail.com or 0407 431 725

Tayla Dawson who will represent at zone, and runner up Portia Bienke. Margaret and Gordon Clarke also were awarded life members. Thank you to President John Broadrick, Show Secretary Taok

North Coast

NATIONAL

North Coast National had a big crowd last week. Lots of great displays, local produce, cattle, horses

Sollom and the show committee for all your work you put into this great event.

Congratulations

DAVE RUSSELL

Congratulations to Lismore local Dave Russell for fnishing 2nd place on the podium at Bathurst 1000. David will continue his strong partnership with his codriver Brodie Kostecki, with Erebus Motorsport having signed him on for its 2024 endurance program. Such an outstanding effort,

• Noah Enright from Coraki

- Hockey

• Sophie Peters from Casino

- Netball

• Allie Walters from Kyogle

- Netball

• Isaac Coulter from Casino

- Hockey

• Lachlan Allen from McLeans Ridges - Rugby Union

• Isabelle Slater from Wollongbar - Touch Football

• Blake Hughes from Goonellabah - Hockey

• Django Hudson Sheaffe from Goonellabah - Rugby Union

• Judah Heath from South Evans Head - Rugby Union

• Kali Ainsworth from Fairy Hill - Rugby Union

• Oliver Davis from Alstonville - Hockey

• Charles Ticknor from Evans Head - Surfng

• Nate Boxsell from Lismore Heights - Rugby Union

• Jaxon Koroheke from Coraki - Rugby Union

Clarke, Treasurer Phoebe McMillon and the show committee for all your work you put into this great event.

JACARANDA FESTIVAL

Another great start to the Jacaranda Festival. Fantastic to see such wonderful support for the festival. Plenty of entertainment and activity for everyone to enjoy. The and live entertainment. The frework spectacular Saturday night is always a lot of fun and well enjoyed by the community. It was great to catch up with Lilly, who is our 2023 winner of the Young Women Competition and runners up, Tegan Maluta and Eliza O’Toole. Also, the Teen Miss Showgirls, Heidi McClure who will be also representing us at zone and runner up Ashlee Rugendyke. Thank you again to President John Gibson, Secretary Mark the community is very proud of your drive.

LISMORE YOUNG

SPORTING CHAMPS

Congratulations to:

• Jesse Cooper from Goonellabah - Touch

Football

• Sarah Green from Fairy Hill - Netball

• Riley Flood from Goolmangar - Rugby Union

• Coco Zorzo from Goonellabah - Hockey

• Emmett Murphy from Tregeagle - Tennis

• Sophie Mayes from Goonellabah - Swimming

• Darcy Drooger from Casino - Rugby Union

• Kody McQuilty from East Lismore - Ruby Union

• Sam McLennan from Casino - Netball

• Charlie Jung from Old Bonalbo - Swimming

• Caitlyn Halliday from Goonellabah - Hockey

• Tahlia Halliday from Goonellabah - Hockey

• Angus Smyth from Alstonville - Swimming

• Cai Garrett from Wollongbar - Rugby Union

• Lani Blunn from Goonellabah - Hockey

• Jack McLean from Doubtful Creek - Hockey

• Wez Weekes from Caniaba - Rugby League

• Samuel Butler from Deep Creek - Rugby Union

• Hayden Copper from Casino - Rugby League

• Bonnie Llewellyn from Mongogarie - Netball

• Ella Rippon from Mallanganee - Netball

• Lachlan Rippon from Mallanganee - Rugby Union

Last month I held an event to celebrate them and presented a certifcate. They have all excelled at their sport and represented us at a State, National or International level.

The Local Sporting Champions program provides fnancial assistance for competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships. If you visit www.sportaus.gov.au and go to Grants and Funding you can apply there.

FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR FLOOD RESTORATION: COUNCIL DEPOT AND COMMUNITY ASSETS BENEFIT

SURVEY REVEALS: NORTHERN NSW RESIDENTS WAITING A WEEK OR LONGER FOR HEALTH ADVICE

New fndings released today show that many Northern New South Wales residents struggle to get a GP appointment and are often waiting a week or more to see their local doctor, as the country’s healthcare worker shortage crisis worsens.

Connect is available for consultation. Where clinically appropriate, nurses can also organise for the patient to see a GP face to face, or schedule an appointment with a pharmacist.

benefts to residents and support our clinicians who are doing an amazing job serving our community.”

Tweed Shire Council Extends Warm Welcome to $26 Million Flood Recovery Funding

Tweed Shire Council gratefully acknowledges the allocation of $26 million in funding from both the Australian and NSW governments to support the restoration and enhancement of community assets affected by the foods of 2017 and 2022.

This substantial funding was offcially unveiled instrumental in the repair, revitalization, and improvement of various community facilities across the Shire. The projects encompass a wide range of areas, including roads, car parks, pathways, public toilets, shelters, parks, playgrounds, community buildings, halls, erosion repair works, landslip repair work, and clubhouses and sports felds/amenities.

• Roads, car parks and at Illawong Crescent, Terranora

• Clubhouses and sports felds/amenities – 9 projects at Bilambil East and West, Mayor of Tweed Shire, Chris Cherry, expressed her enthusiasm, describing the announcement as a signifcant milestone in the food recovery efforts. The funds will make a profound impact on the restoration of critical community assets that would have otherwise taken years to address.

Troy Green, the General Manager of Tweed Shire Council, highlighted the long-term advantages of the $10 million allocation for the Council Depot.

A survey was recently undertaken by Amplar Health in support of a new telehealth service - North Coast Health Connect. The survey of local residents revealed that close to one in three (31%) have had to wait a week or longer to see a doctor – more than double the country’s national average (13%).

With local health systems already under immense pressure, North Coast residents are presenting to emergency departments for ailments that could be addressed outside of a hospital by another health professional in their community.

Dr Peter Baird, Senior Medical Advisor, Amplar Health, said he was unsurprised to hear that more than a third (40%) of locals are concerned about accessibility to healthcare.

He added that overlylong wait times and rising medical costs were also of concern to local residents and clinicians.

“Using this service takes the pressure off existing health services because it redirects people to the right care at the right time.”

“Put simply, North Coast Health Connect is here to offer Northern NSW locals, and their families, the support and advice needed for medical concerns that do not require a visit to the emergency room.” in Murwillumbah, with Federal Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot, and Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffn, taking the lead. The contribution is part of a broader $121 million package dedicated to the North Coast. The package combines resources from the Infrastructure Betterment Fund and the Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package – Community Assets Program.

Within the Infrastructure Betterment Fund, Tweed has been granted $10 million, earmarked for the relocation of the Council Works Depot. This move will see the depot shifted from its current site on Buchanan Street in South Murwillumbah to higher ground in the new industrial estate. This falls under the Council’s Land Swap Program, ensuring a more foodresistant location.

Furthermore, Tweed Shire Council will beneft from an additional $15.5 million through the Community Assets Program (CAP).

This funding will be pathways – 15 projects located at food-affected sportsgrounds and parks at Bilambil, Kingscliff, Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Uki, Pottsville, Terranora

• Public toilets and shelters – 15 projects at food or stormaffected public toilets at Murwillumbah, Chinderah, Chillingham, Fingal Head, Pottsville, Casuarina, Kingscliff

• Parks and playgrounds – 6 projects at Budd Park (Murwillumbah), Overall Drive (Pottsville), Saddle Way (Murwillumbah), Turnock St Park (Chinderah) and Sweetnam Park (Uki).

Shade sail works in 4 locations combined with play equipment upgrade in Cudgera Creek Park (Hastings Point)

• Community buildings and halls – 3 projects at Crabbes Creek Community Hall, Tumbulgum Hall, Tweed Heads Community Centre

• Erosion repair works – 2 projects at Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads

• Landslip repair work

It will facilitate the relocation of the Depot to a food-resistant area, thus enabling quicker responses to future natural disasters. The new Depot project has already received development approval, with tenders for building contractors soon to be issued, targeting a commencement date in June of the following year.

This funding marks a transformative opportunity for the Tweed Shire community, ensuring the resilience and rapid response capabilities necessary in the face of future natural disasters.

For more information, including the full list of successful projects, visit the Infrastructure Betterment Fund https:// www.nsw.gov.au/ grants-and-funding/ betterment-fund/ infrastructurebetterment-fund website and the Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package – Community Assets Programs website https://www. nsw.gov.au/grantsand-funding/2022community-localinfrastructurerecovery-package/ community-assetsprogram.

In fact, close to a quarter (24%) of Northern NSW locals have been to the emergency department for a non-urgent medical problem in their lifetime, with more than 1 in 10 (13%) claiming it took up to fve hours to see a medical professional once admitted.

North Coast Health Connect has been launched in a bid to improve access to health advice and reduce waiting times for locals attending GP practices or presenting to hospitals. Available to Northern New South Wales residents, the telehealth service offers confdential healthcare advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The service connects locals with qualifed nurses who provide clinical support and advice to patients over the phone or via online chat. When healthcare advice is needed but it may not warrant a visit to the emergency room, North Coast Health

“The survey is consistent with our engagement of local clinicians and community members - Northern New South Wales locals are concerned about healthcare access and are in favour of additional healthcare services to address nonurgent medical needs,” he said.

“North Coast Health Connect is a new way to access healthcare that helps overcome these challenges.

A confdential 24/7 telehealth service helps locals get answers to health queries by connecting them to a nurse who will help them manage their symptoms or support them to fnd appropriate care,” added Dr Baird. Dr Baird also believes the service will help relieve a strained healthcare system.

“On average, more than 1 in 3 (37%) locals told us they visit their local emergency room department at least once a year,” he said.

“A similar number (41%) also said they take their child to the local emergency department once a year. Yet, many of these instances may not have required urgent care.

This is where North Coast Health Connect can really provide

Dr Baird concludes that success of the new offering will be based on one key elementsafe and effective care for the North Coast community.

“One in three locals claim being unable to access healthcare in a timely manner has previously affected their employment and social commitments, while more than double that fgure (61%) claimed it has led to signifcant stress on themselves or their families.”

“Working alongside trusted local health professionals, such as GPs and pharmacists, North Coast Health Connect is here for the community. We want to make healthcare available for everyone, when and where they need it. If we do that, we’ve done our job.”

Eligible residents must be based in or around Northern New South Wales - a full list of available suburbs can be found here by scanning the QT Code below.

North Coast Health Connect can be reached on 1800 198 888, or further information is available on their website.

Leemo has views on just about anything” minutes then smack Mum ‘gently’ (initially) on the nose to indicate crisis. Eat brekkie. Go outside, lie on front bench, go under house, wander around and check things, stare at grass, eye o birdies, lie on grass & have nap. Wander in for treat; take more rest whilst Mum rakes leaves. Stare at empty bowl again ref. lunch. Nap a er lunch.

‘LEEMO’S PLOTTING ref. 2am TREATS’

‘Leemo Cat’ here; hiding from ‘Mum Jane’ & here’s why. First and foremost, my ‘Travel In Our Car And Go To e Vet’ carrier has been put right by our front door. Hmmm? Naturally, I’m concerned; apart from the hot weather, I’m feeling most well, but NOT one word has been said to me about a VET visit? en came the nauseous ‘suck-up’ diatribe emanating from Mum? She was wandering about calling ‘Leemsie Weemsie’, my most handsome and u est, cleverest of ‘Catsies’ in the world, come to ‘Mumsie Wumsie’ so we can go out in our little ‘Carsie Warsie.’ OMG, this embarrassing babble from a (supposedly?) mature woman is MAKING me queasy; she’s up to something untoward, and whatever it is INVOLVES ME!

So, I’ll ponder, & use my irrefutable skills of deduction to solve this. (I reckon as a girl cat I would have been VERA!) My ‘deducing’ requires a meditative state, but as I am on the top shelf in our linen closet, behind sheets, there isn’t room enough to do stretches or say OOOHMRMM loudly ‘cos she’ll nd me. It will have to be silent sussing-out, demanding all of my mind focus.

I will re-trace the past few days. NUP.. nothing unusual comes to mind. e normal; wake up, stretch, walk to food area, stare at empty bowl, wait 3