The Northern Rivers Times
February 1, 2024!!!
12 NEWS
Tweed Shire 2024 Citizen of the Year – dedicated firefighter and disability support worker Julie Lowe Communities often thrive because of the dedication of a few to improve the lives of others. Kingscliff resident Julie Lowe is one of those people who has continuously put others before herself for most of her working life. Her 17 years of service as a firefighter and 10 years of work as a disability support worker was recognised last Thursday when she was announced the Tweed Shire 2024 Citizen of the Year. Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry presented her with the Shire’s top honour at its Australia Day awards ceremony, held at the Tweed Heads Civic Centre and Auditorium. Ms Lowe said it was an honour and very humbling to be named citizen of the year. “I’ve got a lot of gratitude for whoever nominated me,” she said.
“I put a lot of work and time into both jobs and it’s just amazing to be chosen. “But it’s not just for me, it’s for the people I support.” An innate desire to help people during some of their toughest moments, motivated Ms Lowe to become a firefighter. Originally, she started her firefighting career in Toronto, Lake Macquarie, before joining Kingscliff Fire Brigade 10 years ago as a part-time firie. The Tweed Shire has kept Ms Lowe busy during the past 10 years. She has been first on the scene of numerous incidents, including car crashes, house fires and hazmat spills. One particular incident still stands out to her. “Cudgen Leagues Club fire, which happened four years ago, was the biggest incident I’ve attended,” she said. “We were the first to arrive - there was a fire in the front foyer and
Lismore CBD occupancy rates continue to edge
By Sarah Waters
The Tweed’s Citizen of the year is Kingscliff resident Julie Lowe
by the time we got there it had already spread upstairs.” The fire took four hours to contain, with firefighters spending six hours on site after the blaze destroyed the complex. The other unforgettable incident was the 2022 floods, which Ms Lowe described as surreal. “Kingscliff fire station worked beside the only two paramedics to attend 000 calls for medical
help for nearly two days. “But the thing that will stay with me forever is how many members of our community came together to risk their own lives to rescue those in flood waters or help them once they were on dry land and even for weeks if not months to come.” Ms Lowe’s firefighting colleagues described her as a leader and problem solver who is exceptionally courageous, and a
Despite rising interest
Across the Lismore
rates at December 2023,
rates and other economic
Local Government Area,
compared with June
closer to pre-February
pressures, businesses are
spending increased by
2023:
2022 levels with local
returning to the CBD.
a total of 3.89%, with
• Keen Street occupancy
businesses experiencing
Now, more so than ever,
visitor spending increasing
rate – 81.1% (up from
an increase in customer
it’s important to shop
12.75%.
74.5%)
spending, according to
local,” he said.
“Leading up to
• Molesworth Street
“I would like to thank
Christmas, Council
occupancy rate – 74% (up
our local businesses for
organised numerous
from 73.6)
CBD Audit in the days
re-investing in our city and
events to encourage
• Conway Street
leading up to Christmas
community.”
locals and tourists to do
occupancy rate – 72.1% (up from 69.2%)
two reports. A Lismore City Council
found 73.4% of all inner
In another positive sign
their Christmas shopping
CBD premises are now
of the Lismore’s recovery,
in the CBD, including
• Carrington Street
occupied. This is an
an independent analysis of
two Lismore Delights
occupancy rate – 73.1%
increase from 70.1%
credit card expenditure in
weekends and the popular
(up from 69.3%)
when the audit was last
the DBD during December
Carols in the Heart, which
• Magellan Street
conducted in late June.
found a 6 per cent increase
was obviously successful,”
occupancy rate – 76.3%
The occupancy rate of
in total spending compared
Mayor Krieg said.
(up from 62.7%)
CBD shopfronts jumped
with a year ago, this
An estimated 3800
• Woodlark Street
7.3% from June to 68.8%,
includes a 22% increase in
people Carols in the Heart
occupancy rate – 60.7%
while upstairs rates fell
dining and entertainment.
and 1500 visited Santa’s
(up from 60.2%)
1.2% over the same
Significantly, the report
Wonderland to meet
This is the fourth
period due to CBD office
found spending by visitors
Santa, with more than 600
Lismore CBD Audit
renovations as the city
to our city jumped 13%,
youngsters claiming prizes
following the 2022 natural
renews.
compared with December
in the popular cheeky Elf
disaster, with previous
2022.
Hunt.
audits undertaken in June
Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said the strong
“These reports show not
The Lismore CBD Audit
and January 2023 and
result showed business
only is Lismore open for
covers central portions
August 2022, and February
confidence was returning
business, but importantly
of Keen, Molesworth,
2022 (immediately prior to
to the CBD following
locals and tourists are
Woodlark, Conway,
the February disaster). The
the worst natural disaster
returning to the CBD to
Magellan and Carrington
same area of the Lismore
in Australia’s recorded
support our businesses and
Streets.
CBD has been audited by
history.
economy,” Mayor Krieg
Below are the street-
Council staff each year
said.
by-street occupation
since 2017.
“This is great news.
compassionate person driven by duty. Last year, she was promoted to Deputy Captain of the Kingscliff Fire Station. It’s a role she has also juggled with the disability support service she started four years ago, called Full Circle Support. The service offers people with a disability a wide range of programs, including fitness classes, bike riding, photography, cooking, art classes, work ready courses and even excursions to music festivals. All the programs are designed to support participants to achieve their goals, increase their independence and be a part of the local community, Ms Lowe said. “When NDIS started, I thought I could do more for people with a disability and focus on their dreams and goals. “I started out with two clients, now we’ve got 22 on our books and six support workers.” Ms Lowe uses the money she earns as a disability support worker to rent a cottage in Kingscliff which is the base that Full Circle Support operates from. It provides a safe space where differently abled community members learn practical skills, including gardening, cooking and how to do their own laundry. “As costly as it sometimes is, the participants have a safe space to be,” she said. “You see them with their support workers at shopping malls, but
they don’t have a place to go to (outside of their home). “At Full Circle Support they have that space and can find out about the different activities we offer. “It’s definitely helped them with their independence - they’ve learnt cooking, gardening and how to hang out washing. “They go home with these skills and their parents are so grateful. “We can also take them to many different activities – even festivals, things their parents might not be able to take them to.” Two of the participants, who attend Full Circle, have gone on to gain employment and four others are doing courses at Kingscliff Tafe. Ms Lowe receives no government funding for Full Circle Support or the programs it offers. Recently she saved up her own money to purchase an 11-seater bus, with a wheelchair hoist, to transport the growing number of participants to different activities and excursions. Her goal is to continue to help people with a disability, live life like everyone else does. “I want to keep focusing on getting them employment, so they can be part of the community and give them that confidence and understanding of how to get into the workforce,” she said. “I’d also like to introduce more music programs, we have a client who is autistic and blind, but he can play any song you want him to. “We have a girl Jess with down syndrome, but she plays the drums so well - they certainly have a lot of talent.” Ms Lowe describes the Kingscliff and the wider Tweed community as ‘fantastic’ with a really close network of many great people, doing great things. If you would like to learn more about Full Circle Support or think you can help in anyway, please contact Julie Lowe at: www. fullcirclesupport.com.au
