The Northern Rivers Times
November 23, 2023
14 NEWS
RELIEF AS ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL AT WOODBURN ESCAPES THE CHOP The announcement by the Board of Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools that it has reversed a decision to permanently close St Joseph’s Primary School in Woodburn is a common-sense decision and a win for local mums, dads, carers and students according to the State MP representing the region, Richie Williamson. “Education was hit hard in the lower parts of the Richmond Valley in the 2022 floods, with both St Joseph’s Primary at Woodburn and Broadwater Public School rendered
unusable,” Mr Williamson said. “Students have been travelling to Evans Head for their learning at temporary sites but now the Catholic Diocese has listened to local families and will reopen its primary school in Woodburn and School Infrastructure NSW will rebuild Broadwater next year.” Mr Williamson said the decisions would help return a sense of normalcy to the two flood-affected towns on the Richmond River. “These two communities need and deserve local schools,
not just for the benefit of families but the flow on effects for community harmony, small business and the local economy,” Mr Williamson said. “Families in Sydney are used to having easy access to schools in their neighbourhood and it is good to see the Diocese of Lismore and Schools Infrastructure NSW both recognise that this right should also be available to regional communities like those in the Richmond Valley. “While I appreciate the obstacles the Diocese of Lismore was faced with around continuing schooling at the flood
prone site at Woodburn, I thank them for reaching this sensible decision which will provide certainty and stability for families and staff.” Mr Williamson said much more still needed to be done to complete flood recovery, but steps like reopening schools were a big leap forward. “We need to keep working together until everyone is back on their feet and we mitigate the risks of future disasters, because everyone counts,” Mr Williamson concluded.
Mullum Recovery Centre recognised
From Crisis to Courageous Title: What Ebony Grey Forgot Author: Kay Lindley Price: $19.95 Publisher: Shawline Publishing By Samantha Elley There are often times in our lives where everything seems to go wrong at once. For Ebony Grey, this was her time. First there was the loss of her husband, then the loss of her job, then finally the discovery that she was a fraud. Introverted by nature, Ebony hides behind a wall of gregariousness as head of risk and fraud in a finance company. However, when her husband leaves her suddenly she develops a loss of confidence and moves back home to her mother’s for some badly needed support. At work, while
investigating, not only a fraud case, but also the whereabouts of her husband, her boss starts gas lighting her, causing her to make mistakes. It is during a board meeting that she experiences an incident that reminds her of a long forgotten trauma from her childhood. From there she starts on a road of healing that will take her from a place of crisis to courageous. Kay Lindley has had a long career in large corporations in the field of risk management, but her larger interest is in helping people with their problems. She has delved into the world of hypnotherapy and worked as a coach in this field. Her other book, available from Amazon, is called ‘Retrain your brain. Stop, Switch, Sustain’. You can purchase a copy of ‘What Ebony Grey Forgot’ from shawlinepublishing. com.au.
The Mullum Recovery Centre has earned recognition as a finalist in the prestigious NSW Resilient Australia Awards 2023, emphasizing its commendable efforts to connect the community with vital recovery services following the destructive floods of February and March 2022. Although not securing the top position in the local government category, the acknowledgment as a finalist underscores the significant impact of the centre’s work. Established at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall from March to August 2022 in response to the devastating flood events, the Mullum Recovery Centre served as a crucial hub for disaster-affected residents. Beyond offering formal support services, it provided a welcoming space for impacted individuals to connect, share information, and support one another. Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon commended the collaborative efforts of the Council, Mullumbimby District Neighbourhood Centre, and Resilience NSW, along with various local community organizations and state and national services. Mayor Lyon expressed gratitude, recognizing the Mullum Recovery Centre as a benchmark for recovery centres across Australia. The NSW Resilient Australia Awards, sponsored by the Australian Government and managed by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
(AIDR), celebrate initiatives fostering whole-community resilience during disasters. The Mullum Recovery Centre also secured the Community Partnerships award category at the 2023 LG Professionals NSW Awards. Council, in collaboration with other government
levels and the community, remains committed to the ongoing recovery journey and addressing persistent climate challenges. Additionally, Council acknowledged Shedding Community Workshop, winners of the Mental Health & Wellbeing category at the awards, for their post-flood repair and
recovery initiative. The organization, transforming their workshop, played a vital role in supporting volunteers and aiding flood-affected communities, earning them the 2023 Community Initiative of Byron Shire award earlier this year.
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