LISMORE’S 2024 SENIORS FESTIVAL

From 11-22 March, Lismore’s 2024 Seniors Festival will offer a great range of free activities for people over 55.

The events include: Local historian Adele Wessell will lead a workshop, discussing how family recipes can be valuable pieces of history.

Dr Norman Swan, in conversation with Jenny Dowell, will discuss insights from his new book, So You Want to Live Younger, Longer?

There will be a craft talk with the Goonellabah Library Craft Group and the Men’s Shed, as well as scam-awareness and advanced life planning law talks.

Karen Viggers, author of The Orchardist’s Daughter, will talk about her new book, Sidelines, a gripping portrayal of the volatile world of youth sports. A social trivia night at the East Lismore Bowling Club—with prizes to be won.

There are exercise events and a guided walk in the local Birdwing Butterfy gully. The full Lismore Senior’s Festival program can be viewed here: https://www. lismore.nsw.gov.au/ Community/Eventsand-venues/LismoreSeniors-Festival-2024 or Scan the QR Code below. au or in person at the LCC Corporate Centre at 43 Oliver Avenue Goonellabah. Lismore’s 2024 Seniors

Bookings are required. You can book with Lismore City Council on (02) 6625 0500, via email at contact. centre@lismore.nsw.gov.

Festival is funded by Lismore City Council and NSW Government.

It is supported by: Richmond Tweed Regional Library, Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre, Lismore Regional Gallery, Lismore Croquet Club, Lismore City Bowling Club and Goonellabah Tucki Landcare Inc.

Keep your dog on a lead

Byron Shire Council is making no apology for issuing fnes to people who aren’t keeping their dogs on leads in public places.

In January 2024 Council issued 30 fnes for having a dog off-leash, compared to 3 in January 2023.

Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, said this approach will continue for the rest of the year and if people don’t want to cop a fne, they should put their dog on a lead.

“Some people were upset about receiving a fne, but this could have been easily avoided,” Mayor Lyon said.

“People can expect to see our staff out and about at all hours of the day, seven days a week and they will continue to fne people who are walking their dog off-lead in public areas,” he said.

“We know it is important for people to be able to let their dogs run and walk off the lead and this is the reason Council provide areas where animals do not have to be restrained,” he said.

“Not everyone is comfortable around dogs, including other dogs, and it is not appropriate to have dogs unrestrained in neighbourhoods or near places like schools and busy roads and shopping areas.

“There are places in the Byron Shire specifcally designated for people who want to walk and exercise their dogs off lead.

“Not all dogs are friendly or well-trained and they can be unpredictable,” Mayor Lyon said.

The NSW Government’s Companion Animals

Act sets out the laws and regulations relating to the responsibilities of dog owners and Councils are responsible for enforcing them.

“Last year we allocated an additional $250,000 to enforcement activities, recognising that impact of roaming dogs and other activities, such as illegal camping, have on the broader community not to mention our natural environment,” Mayor Lyon said.

Information on leash-free dog exercise areas in the Byron Shire is on Council’s website or scan the QR Code below:

“Leemo has views on just about anything”

LEEMO & THE ‘TITANIC’ MILO

‘Leemo Cat’ back. I’m rather put-out right now. ‘Mum Jane’ is reading a most ginormous book, totally ignoring me, except for absolute essentials like my treats, playing on the grass with sticks & my brush sessions. Due to my insatiable quest for knowledge and my sharp inquiring mind, I’m most eager to know exactly what this book is all about; so, a er 3 days of her forgetting I exist I bit her ankle and used my bestest pathetic ‘Tiny Tim’ whiny tone of voice to get her attention. ‘Mum, I feel so forlorn. You’ve been truly neglecting me of late and I want to know what it is in that huge book you’re reading that has lead you to almost forget I’m even in your life’ (I forced a tearful sni e & a few tears out!) She looked at me with a most startled & annoyed expression and snappily told me to me to calm myself. ‘Leems, stop being such a soppy snoop cat. Gottit? I’m reading this big book for a reason; you should take note of what I am about to tell you. Firstly Leems, NEVER ever believe again that some of historical movies we watch together on TV are based on TRUTH. Comprende? Remember the MOVIE ‘Titanic’ we watched quite some time ago? About the big ship that hit an iceberg? You know Leems, the where the boy died but the girl didn’t? e one where you cried at the end?’ ‘Eeek, Mum, yep, I do remember being most upset, well why wouldn’t I be? I possess a most caring & sentimental romantic feline soul and I wanted them both to just swim o safely and live happily on an Iceberg forever; have 4 kids and own 2 cats.’ Oh crikey…her voice raised 9 octaves. ‘LEEMO, might I inform you the whole movie was a lot of codswallop. ere was no big blue diamond necklace called the ‘Star of the Ocean’ that was chucked into the ocean by a 94 year old Rose (who’d been given it by her susso ancé Cal) as depicted in the movie version of events. ere were no naked drawings of Rose done by the penniless but handsome Irish Artiste Jack whilst she lay seductively on a chaise lounge) (she DID have the necklace on though Leems!) AND, as for ‘women & children rst’ on the lifeboats, that is a big b. AND, the scene of Rose & Jack standing on the railings with arms in the air at the pointy end of the boat listening to Celine Dion? (as IF!) More Fishwives tales! SO, what I’m telling you Leems is that I am reading the TRUE story of the tragedy of the Titanic sinking and it sure ain’t what we watched in that movie. e book I’m reading tells a much di erent story…the true one. It contains fold-out drawings and maps of the whole ship in incredibly intricate detail. ere are paintings & photos of people and families & extracts of conversations (via family) of those who were on board. Leems, it is just fascinating. So, that’s why I’m so engrossed in this amazing story.’ ‘Hmm, OK Mum, that’s kinda OK I ‘spose. I’m happy in one way but sad in another. (she had a quizzical look on her face) Mum, remember when I cried at the end of the ‘Titanic’ movie, you bought me some warm Milo in a bowl to comfort me. You’ve never given me warm Milo again so do you reckon we could watch ‘Titanic’ just once more, even if it isn’t a truly really true story.. pleeasie Mum! THEN, I promise I’ll read the big ‘true story’ book as well and we can discuss it together.’ Whoohoo… we’re watching it tonite!

Bye now with Titanic dreams of warm Milo. Leemo with purrsies