The Northern Rivers Times
January 25, 2024!!!
18 NEWS
“Leemo has views on just about anything”
THE ‘TRIPLE 0’ NUMBER IS FORBIDDEN (to cats). ‘Cos I, ‘Leemo Cat’ have an exceptionally high 6th SENSE, I immediately felt an ominous air emanating from the direction of ‘Mum Jane’ as she came toward me. (Quick Leems, hide hide!) Alas, too late. OMG! She rudely & roughly (I shall call RSPCA after this treatment!) plonked me on a chair and started kinda yelling. ‘Leemo, HOW MANY TIMES must I tell you that the Triple 0 Emergency phone number is not there for you or any of your buddies to call when your bowls happen to be empty at 3a.m. Nor does being chased by a dog constitute an emergency. GOTTIT??’ I heard you all having a cosy chat this morning about the horror of finding your food bowls empty whilst roaming your houses in the middle of the night and what you all should do about it. Well, Leems, go get your buddies in here RIGHT NOW ‘cos I have something to say to you all. And before you ask, YES, I will provide treats AFTER I’ve addressed you!’ Crikey! I rounded up my buddies and we sat trying to look interested. She started. ‘OK you lot, I am going to tell you a few facts. Don’t interrupt me. You may ask questions when I’ve finished. Are any of you aware that the Triple 0 number receives between 9 and 9.5 million calls per year and that 30% of these calls are found to be non-genuine emergencies, akin to the ones you make ref empty bowls or a dog chasing you.’ Hmmm?
There were murmurings of audience dissent but the silly old woman continued. ‘So, if your bowl is empty or a dog does chase you, suck it up guys, (dogs are, in general, ‘sposed to chase cats by the way!) but DO NOT call the Triple-0 number. THAT V.I.P number is dedicated to situations of genuine crisis, used to alert the Police, Fire Brigade or Ambulance when urgent assistance is needed. You lot have put yourselves in the category of ‘nuisance callers’ which is another kinda name for ‘total idiots and time wasters’ of this most essential service. Your calls about empty food bowls are as bad, (actually worse) than some of THESE ‘recorded’ calls made to Triple 0. “Can you order me a burger” or “I’m late for my appointment, can you ring them and let them know” or “I’ve been waiting for 20 minutes to talk to someone about my power bill so I’m ringing you” or “my phone is out of order, could you report it” or “I promised my son we could stay in the overnight tents at the Zoo but they’re booked out”. So, please realise guys, you can be fined AND sent to jail for making on-going nuisance calls of little of no relevance, such as the above AND yours. OMG! My buddies were restless; I asked Mum to leave the room whilst we discussed her words. My friend ‘Treasure’ is a most sensible feline; she put her right paw in the air and spoke. ‘Right what we all need to do is talk with our humans. They feed us at around 6pm; cat hunger returns in 5 hours. SO, we’ll get them to drill a hole through the door of their fridges and poke soft tubing through it to a big bowl of food; then we can avail ourselves of a treat at any time by sucking on the tube.’ ‘Treasure’ bowed to loud paw claps & cheers. BUT THEN, mayhem. Crabby faced Mum appeared and shouted at us. “I AM NOT drilling a hole in my fridge.” Oooh. We sprinted off faster than Usain Bolt to ponder our dilemma yet another day. Nitey, Leemo. (up tree!)
Byron Writers Festival announces new Artistic Director and return to Bangalow Showground in August 2024. Byron Writers Festival is pleased to announce a new Artistic Director, Jessica Alice, will join the organisation in February and that the festival will return to Bangalow Showground 9-11 August, 2024. “We are delighted to welcome Jessica Alice to the position of Artistic Director and look forward to her curation of the 2024 Byron Writers Festival and leadership of the organisation in collaboration with Executive Director, Shien Chee,” said Byron Writers Festival Chair, Adam van Kempen. “Jessica’s appointment follows the departure of Zoe Pollock, who resigned in September 2023 to focus on her family. The Board acknowledges the very significant contribution Zoe Pollock made to Byron Writers Festival in her tenure as Artistic Director and CEO over the last two years, including successfully returning the festival to the stage after the pandemic and transitioning to a new site in Bangalow.” Jessica Alice is a writer and arts leader who comes to Byron Writers Festival from her position as CEO of
Writers SA, the peak organisation for writing and literature in South Australia, Chair of the Arts Industry Council of South Australia and Chair of the National Young Writers Festival. Jessica brings extensive experience with her having worked across literature, festivals, media, theatre and visual arts. She was formerly Program Manager of Melbourne Writers Festival, Co-Director of the National Young Writers’ Festival in New South Wales, and a member of the executive leadership team at Regional Arts Victoria. Jessica will commence her position as Artistic Director of Byron Writers Festival in February 2024. “I am thrilled to join
Byron Writers Festival as Artistic Director,” said Jessica. “Festivals are vital sites of civic discourse and democratic participation that place writers at the heart of public life –– and Byron Writers Festival has long established itself as a leader in the sharing of storytelling and ideas.” “I’m honoured to build on the tremendous legacy of the festival to present this joyous celebration of books and literary culture in the Northern Rivers.” Byron Writers Festival returns to Bangalow Showground “We had fantastic feedback about the festival site this year, held for the first time in the beautiful Bangalow Showground, so we are very happy to announce
Byron Writers Festival welcomes new Artistic Director Jessica Alice - Photo by Sia Duff
we will be returning in August 2024 to gather under the shade of those majestic gum trees. We deeply thank the community of Bangalow for making the festival feel so at home,” said Byron Writers Festival Chair, Adam van Kempen. “We will continue our strong engagement with the Byron Bay community, hosting festival events in Byron during the festival week and throughout the year.” The annual Byron Writers Festival is Australia’s largest and leading regional celebration of storytelling, literature and ideas. The festival is renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and for delivering a diverse program of stimulating and entertaining conversations that celebrate storytelling in all its forms. The 2024 Byron Writers Festival will take place from 9-11 August at Bangalow Showground. Keep up to date with Byron Writers Festival announcements and ticket releases via their e-newsletter found at www. byronwritersfestival. com or follow them on social media @ byronwritersfestival.
GET THE GRU-P TOGETHER, CINEMA UNDER THE STARS IS RETURNING TO LISMORE It’s time to go bananas, with Newcastle Permanent’s Cinema Under the Stars returning to Crozier Field on Friday 19 January with the children’s film Minions: The Rise of Gru (PG, 2022). The popular community event will again be free, and lots of fun is to be had with live music and children’s activities before the film begins at sundown. Newcastle Permanent
Lismore Branch Manager Lending David Parker said that Cinema Under the Stars was a highlight of the summer calendar. “Cinema Under the Stars has become a tradition in Lismore, the community loves attending it as much as Newcastle Permanent loves hosting,” Mr Parker said. “As a customer-owned organisation supporting local and giving back is
what we stand for, and Cinema Under the Stars is just one of the many ways we contribute to the local Lismore community. “A relaxed summer evening with plenty for the kids to do and free popcorn, of course; what’s not to love? “Pack a picnic, bring the whole family, and get there early to enjoy all the fabulous, fun, free events and activities that help make Cinema
Under the Stars such an awesome night!” Newcastle Permanent Cinema Under the Stars 2024: Film: Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) (PG) Date: Friday 19 January 2024 Time: Live entertainment from 5.30pm, with the film to commence at sundown Venue: Crozier Field, Cathcart Street, Lismore This is an alcohol-free event.
