The Northern Rivers Times Edition 147

PRIMEX

CROWDS FLOCK TO ANZAC DAY SERVICES

By TIM HOWARD

Anzac Day was back with a bang in Grafton with organisers stunned at the massive public turnout.

Grafton RSL subBranch secretary Denis Benfield said both the Dawn Service and this year’s march and service were as big as any he

had seen.

He said the turnout was all the more remarkable because the traditional Anzac Day site, Memorial Park, was virtually a construction site for work on the Grafton Waterfront Precinct Project.

Mr Benfield said the only numbers that were down this year were the

schools, but that was understandable because of the school holidays.

“We still had a lot of school children in the march, not quite as many as we normally have,” he said.

“All things considered it was still a good turnout from the schools, which is a good sign for the future of Anzac Day.”

Mr Benfield said the council had performed wonders getting Memorial Park into shape for Anzac Day.

“If you’d come down here last Friday, you would not have thought it possible for us to hold a service here,” he said.

“There was stuff everywhere, holes in the

ground you name, it was there,” he said. “They must have worked tirelessly to get it right for today and it’s a real credit to them.”

He said sub-branch members were looking forward to Remembrance Day in November, when the park will be restored to full functionality.

“It’s going to be great,” he said.

Mr Benfield said the way Anzac Day was pleased with the way Anzac Day had retained its relevance after the Covid-19 pandemic had been remarkable.

“People were so pleased to get a chance to get out and do it after being locked away for so

long,” he said.

“We didn’t have it in 2020 and the last two years there have been restrictions in place,” he said.

“People are really enjoying the chance to get out and do some of the things they’ve been missing out on.”

Mr Benfield was also looking forward to Memorial Park being

finished in time for Remembrance Day on November 11.

“It’s going to look great when it’s done and the park fully open again,” he said. “It’s been tremendous what the council has been able to do to keep it going in the meantime, but when it’s finished it will look fantastic.”

Not all veterans could march, but a contingent of jeeps was on hand to ensure all veterans could take

The Grafton Pipe Band leads the Anzac Day parade down Prince St.

Proud of their service these veterans continue the tradition of Anzac Day in Australia.

These army cadets would later form the guard of honour around the cenotaph during the Anzac Day service in Memorial Park.

Looking to the west, the bugler plays The Last Post.

Standing at attention, Grafton’s Anzac veterans wait for the command to stand easy.

By TIM HOWARD

A feature of the Grafton Anzac Day service over the years has been Anzac Day addresses delivered by local school children and 2023 was no exception.

Four students researched a topic, selected by Grafton RSL sub-Branch secretary Denis Benfield and delivered the results in a short speech to a receptive audience Memorial Park.

Mr Benfield said this has been a feature of the ceremony for a long time and he was always impressed at the level of scholarship the students put into the address.

“We have pupils from primary schools right up to senior high school and each time you can see they have really put in the time to research the topic,” he said.

He said it’s not hard to find an area of Australia’s military history to investigate, but he quickly realised the need there had to be an independent to choose the topics.

“As well researched as they are, it would not be good to double up,” he said.

In summary, these were the efforts from this year’s group.

Amelia Campbell, Westlawn Public School

Amelia gave a stirring account of how the Australian soldiers battled the terrain, the elements and the advancing Japanese army on the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea during World War II.

From defeating the Japanese at Ower’s Corner, just 48km from Port Moresby

Amelia recounted the engagements that have become legendary, like Isurava, Wairopi, Sananda, Buna and Gona.

Amelia’s research also reveals the depth of gratitude the Australia soldiers had for the so-called Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels who carried sick and wounded soldiers to safety and kept the Australia troops supplied.

She captured vividly the troubles all combatants faced fighting on the muddy, mountainous track.

“They didn’t measure distances on the Track in length but on the time it took to travel ,” she said.

More than 600 Australians died during the fighting ad another 1600 were wounded and another 400 were incapacitated with disease.

Kayah Causley. Grafton Public School

The Malayan Emergency is a theatre of fighting often overlooked after the end of the Second World Way, but Kayah Causley from Grafton Public School recalled that time that extended from the late 1940s to the early 60s when the threat of communism in Asia seemed to be spreading.

Australia ground troops joined the British in resisting the Malaysian Communist Party’s growing guerrilla war, taking part in counter

insurgency operations during 1955 and 56.

The 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, the 3RAR and 1RAR all undertook tours of duty in Malaya fighting in the jungle near Perak and Kedah.

The Australian’s effort result in securing Perak and gaining ascendancy over the insurgents.

Kayah said the Australian success in these area was due to a tactic of moving villagers into camps away from the subversive elements, which weakened their influence.

Students examine Anzac spirit

Darcy Deefholts, Grafton High School

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Australian involvement in the Vietnam War, Darcy Deefholts reflected on that period of Australia’s military history.

To illustrate how the soldiers in Vietnam continued the Anzac Legend, Darcy recounted the story posthumous Victoria Cross recipient Kevin ‘Dasher’ Wheatley.

Darcy recounted the bravery and sacrifice of Warrant Officer Wheatley during fighting near the village of Tra Bong on November 13 1965, when his platoon engaged a large contingent of the enemy.

During the fighting another Warrant Officer, Ron Swanton, was severely wounded, but Wheatley chose to remain with his mortally wounded mate rather than leave him and killed while defending him.

He said this example of supreme sacrifice showed the selfless spirit to look after your mates before

yourself was always strong.

“It’s a legacy for us to follow,” Darcy said.

Lynai Cotterill, McAuley Catholic College

In early 1942, just weeks after Japanese planes had destroyed Pearl Harbour, World War II came to Australia when 240 enemy planes, in two waves, bombed Darwin, hit ships, hospitals, port facilities and other targets.

In all 243 people died and more than 400 were injured in that first attack.

Lynai said the attack brought home to Australians that the distance and isolation that had once made us safe, was no longer a protection.

The war had come to our doorstep.

She said the people of Darwin and the Australian troops stationed there showed remarkable bravery and tenacity as more Japanese attacks came in the ensuing weeks as Australians feared an invasion force was coming.

School speakers at Grafton Anzac Day were, clockwise from the top: Lynai Cotterill, McAuley Catholic College, Darcy Deefholts, Grafton High School, Kayah Causley. Grafton Public School and Amelia Campbell, Westlawn Public School.

NEW IDEAS IN PLACE TO HELP TACKLE HOMELESSNESS IN TWEED

EXCLUSIVE

By SARAH WATERS

TWEED has the second highest rate of homelessness in regional NSW, falling only behind the Central Coast, according to recently released data from The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The Northern Rivers Times recently published the story People in Need at an All Time High, in its April 20 edition, which detailed how not-for-profit organisations in Tweed are experiencing a surge in demand for their services.

According to the 2021 ABS Census (released last month) there were a total of 529 people experiencing homelessness in the Tweed Local Government Area (LGA) and another 304 people living in ‘marginal housing’ which is considered a crowded dwelling, improvised dwelling, or caravan park.

Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry acknowledged the census figures were taken before last year’s flood and said the current homelessness

rates would now be considerably higher.

“It is an incredibly significant and impacting issue in our community,” Ms Cherry said.

“Housing uncertainty impacts on every facet of your life.

“If you do not have a safe place to stay, it is very hard to hold down a job or attend school.”

Ms Cherry recently met with the NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson, who is also Minister for the North Coast, to discuss the housing crisis in Tweed.

“I took the opportunity to raise the urgency and seriousness of our situation here on the North Coast.

“She has committed to visiting the Tweed soon to talk through what could be done to help people.”

While there is no set date on when Ms Jackson will come to the Tweed, Ms Cherry said council has ‘renewed its push’ for a Common Ground housing model to be built in Tweed.

Common Ground provides affordable and supportive housing to individuals and families who have

experienced or are at risk of homelessness, or suffer from a disability, including mental health and addiction.

Tenants are provided with a safe, permanent place to live and support to help them achieve stability in their lives.

FACTS

could be built.

“It is land that the state government already owns, and it needs to be repurposed.

“We want to have it built in an area, where people can access everything, they need to.”

to show them how successful it has been in reducing homelessness.

Brisbane Common Ground is a 14-storey, 146-unit building that was opened in 2012. Its success has been attributed to its quality facilities and range of

The ABS uses six groups to present estimates of people experiencing homelessness, including people living in tents or sleeping out, people living in supported accommodation for the homeless, people staying temporarily with other households, people living in boarding houses, people in other temporary lodgings and people living in ‘severely’ crowded dwellings. Census data is taken every five years.

Ms Cherry said the housing model would be ‘a good fit for the Tweed’ and has already flagged, what soon will be, the former Tweed Hospital site as a place where a Common Ground facility

The next step will be to get state and federal government on board to fund the project.

She has invited state and federal members to visit Brisbane’s Common Ground (housing facility)

onsite services.

Tenants are provided with a permanent selfcontained unit and onsite computer rooms (and digital literacy classes), a 24-hour concierge desk, art rooms, green spaces,

The Common Ground Housing model was developed by American housing and community development leader Rosanne Haggerty.

She founded Common Ground Community in 1990 after building an alliance between government, business and philanthropists to convert a run-down ‘drug den’ in New York’s Time Square Hotel into attractive and affordable housing. Common Ground housing models have been adopted in most Australian states.

fitness and wellbeing centre and tenancy management services.

Typically, half of Common Ground’s tenants are people who would struggle to afford market rents but are otherwise stable; the rest are supported tenants, who receive assistance from case workers to help them overcome addiction and mental illness.

Tenants have a standard tenancy agreement with rent calculated as a percentage of income.

NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson has recently said she will push ahead with housing development, no matter what, in a bid to address the housing crisis.

For more information on Tweed Shire Council’s housing development plans visit: www.tweed.nsw.gov.au continued page 5

Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry says homelessness in Tweed has become a significant issue.

NSW STATE GOVERNMENT SCRAMBLING TO MEET HOUSING SHORTAGE

continued from page 4

By SARAH WATERS

IN response to questions about the housing crisis in the Northern Rivers, a NSW Government spokesperson says it will work with local government and the development sector to improve housing and rental affordability.

“Affordable housing is one of the government’s priorities and we will be looking at ways to increase this important type of housing in NSW,” the spokesperson said.

“This includes things like what incentives we may consider to encourage developers to incorporate more affordable housing projects and requiring 30 per cent of homes on government surplus land to be social, affordable

and universal housing.”

The spokesperson said it planned to carry out a range of rental reforms and take pressure off the housing shortage through the appointment of a rental commissioner.

The role of the rental commissioner will be

to ensure transparency between tenants and landlords and to protect renters from unfair evictions, including ending no-grounds evictions.

While, housing developer Landcom, which works on behalf of

the NSW Government, plans to carry out a build-to-rent pilot in the Northern Rivers.

The spokesperson said it would also look at ways to improve the planning system ‘to speed up the delivery of more homes and

infrastructure.’

“We also recognise the need for more social housing in the Northern Rivers.

“The NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) owns 3323 social housing properties in the Northern Rivers

and currently has two projects in East Lismore in design that will deliver 20 homes by 2025.

“NSW Land and Housing Corporation has also acquired one home and has a further 12 projects currently in design that will deliver 195 homes across the neighbouring Richmond Valley, Ballina and Tweed Local Government Areas by 2026.”

The spokesperson did not comment specifically on whether the NSW government would support a Common Ground housing model in the Tweed, but simply said ‘LAHC is committed to working with local council and any community housing providers to fund and deliver additional housing infrastructure for the region to meet its future needs’.

on

By SARAH WATERS

A crowd of more than 12,000 people showed up to honour the fallen at the Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL subbranch Anzac Service at Chris Cunningham Park, in Tweed Heads, last Tuesday. (April 25).

Among them, were direct relatives of those who fought in Gallipoli,

current and former Australian servicemen and others who simply chose to be there out of respect.

President of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL sub-branch Dr John Griffin introduced the Remembrance Service by relaying the historic day the Anzacs stepped out of their boats and onto the brutal battle ground of

Gallipoli 108 years ago.

“At the time, those members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who landed at dawn on the 25th of April 1915, had no idea they were creating a legend that is to remain with us all today and in the years to come,” Dr Griffin said.

Dr Griffin made a special mention of

the Country Women’s Association (CWA) and Legacy Gold Coast, who paid tribute to the Australian Women’s Land Army (AWLA) of WW2, which was founded in 1942.

“In 1944, male farm labour was recruited into the Australian Military to defend the country.

“To meet this shortfall in rural labour, state and local women’s land organisations began to form under the jurisdiction of the Director General of Manpower.

“We thank the Coolangatta Country Women’s Association for bringing the work of the Australian Women’s Land Army to the community’s attention.”

Col Bob Sayce CSC (retired) of Gold Coast Legacy Club, spoke about the charity’s history, with 2023 marking Legacy Australia’s 100th anniversary.

Legacy Australia was established in 1923 by ex-servicemen to support the families of veterans of the Australian Defence Force who gave the lives or health for the country.

“Many soldiers returned home seriously wounded, both physically and

emotionally, and the government did all they could to help these returned soldiers,” Mr Sayce said.

“However, it was quickly realised that, although they had not fought on the battlefield, the widows and children of soldiers who had died were, in a real sense, also

marked the national charity’s 100-year anniversary by leading the Anzac march.

Local high school students each paid tribute to an Australian Victoria Cross recipient.

casualties of the war.

“There was a growing recognition that these widows and children also needed a lot of help.”

Gold Coast Legacy

Betty Ward from Banora Point High School spoke about Lieutenant Leslie C Maygar VC, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing a dismounted man while under severe rifle fire in 1902 during the Second Boer War.

Veterans still going strong reunite for Anzac Day

President of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL sub-branch Dr John Griffin speaking at the club’s 2023 Anzac Remembrance Service.

through as he rescued soldiers, who had lost their horses, during an ambush by about 60

Transvaal, South Africa and then gave the corporal his horse so he could escape.

Federal member for Richmond Justine Elliot noted in August, this year, it will mark the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

“More than 60,000 Australian soldiers served in the Vietnam conflict, 3000 were wounded and tragically 523 were killed,” Ms Elliot said.

“Futures were robbed, and lives were changed forever for those who went and for those who loved them.

“Yet for so long, the truth is, that we as a nation didn’t measure up to them, to those people who served in our name and did their duty in our name.

“So, to each and every one of our Vietnam veterans who are here today, we honour you, we thank you and we are

so sorry it took so long as a nation to do so - you deserve better.”

The many Australian men and women, who are currently serving across the world, were also acknowledged.

Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL subbranch chaplain Reverend Dway Goon Chew praised Australia’s fallen servicemen, who endured war for the country’s freedom.

“No one has greater love than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

“Today on Anzac Day we remember those who have done just that.

“I can’t even begin to imagine the horrors of war, let alone what it might be like to die in a place far, far away from home.”

Wreaths were laid by numerous community members and organisations, including representatives of the Prisoners of War Association, Rats of Tobruk Association, Tweed Heads War Widows Association, the National Servicemen Association, Tweed Heads Naval Association as well as students from local primary and high schools.

The Ode was read by Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL sub-branch secretary Norm Henstridge and the Last Post was played by Bugler Monty Lush.

To conclude the service students from Coolangatta State School sung both the New Zealand and Australian national anthems.

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023 started on Anzac Day in Pozieres France and will run over six months.

After going through London, it will continue to Australia and land in Perth in May.

The relay will then continue its journey across Australia, visiting all Legacy Club locations, before finishing in Melbourne in October.

It is expected to be on the Gold Coast on June 19.

The Torch will travel 55,000 km, through 100 stops and be carried by about 1500 torch bearers during the relay.

This year’s Legacy Centenary Torch Relay aims to commemorate the previous century and also highlight what the future holds for the organisation that looks after over 43,000 veteran’s dependents through more than 40 Legacy clubs Australia wide.

Legacy Australia is a volunteer organisation and one of Australia’s oldest charities.

It supports the widows and children of deceased Members of the Australian Defence Force.

President of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL sub-branch Dr John Griffin paid a special tribute to the club’s flag marshal of 20 years, WW2 veteran Bobby Lominga, at last Tuesday’s Anzac Service.

“When we returned to this ceremony following covid, Bobby asked me whether he would be flag marshal again – I said of course,” Dr Griffin said.

“He asked if we could provide a chair here at the flagpole as his legs weren’t as good as they used to be.

“Sadly, Bobby passed away on April 9, this year, aged 97.

“He had expressed a great wish to his family that he might still be able to attend this Anzac Day.”

A diggers hat sat on a chair at the flag post in honour of Bobby Lominga during the Anzac service.

Dr Griffin said the 2023 Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL Sub-Branch Dawn Service was the biggest he had seen since 2015 with an estimated 15,000 people attending, while the Remembrance Service was back to the numbers of pre-covid days of 12,000 – 15,000 people.

Following the service, he expressed how excellent the high school students were in delivering their tributes to Australia’s Victoria Cross recipients.

Nicola Gee from Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School detailed the events Lieutenant James Rogers VC went

Boers, near Thaba ‘Nchu

in Orange Free State, South Africa.

Montana Markland from Pacific Coast Christian School relayed

how an injured Major Guy George Egerton Wylly VC helped to save a wounded corporal in a Boer ambush at

Representing Legacy, front Legatee Rhonda Niland, from left back: Legatee Peter Franklin, Yvonne Malone, Helen Shepherd and her great grandchildren Sage and Nate and Legatee Ray Niland.

The late WW2 Veteran Bobby Lominga with former Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL sub-branch board director Ken Campbell.

TWEED RESIDENTS URGED TO REDUCE WATER CONSUMPTION

RESIDENTS in Tweed who repeatedly misuse water, risk having their water service restricted or even disconnected.

Tweed Shire Council has adopted a new drought and water restrictions policy to secure the Tweed’s water supply in the face of operational issues and extreme weather events.

It asks everyone in the Tweed to limit their water use to 160 litres per person a day.

Water and Wastewater Business and Assets

Manager Anthony Burnham said council had updated water restrictions, water-use targets, compliance and enforcement measures based on community feedback following recent droughts and floods.

“The year 2019 was our driest year, yet the 2022 flood was the worst in our recorded history and the dry El Nino looks set to be arriving soon,” Mr Burnham said.

“Extreme weather events are increasing

in severity, putting our supply of drinking water at risk.

“We have learned from these events to come up with a better approach to saving water whenever we are at risk of running out - it’s an approach that everyone can readily understand and follow.

Mr Burnham said residents won’t feel any impact from the new policy until council need to trigger water restrictions.

The new policy clarifies when council will introduce and lift water restrictions, based largely on water levels at Clarrie Hall Dam.

Other triggers include, poor river water quality and issues with the water supply network.

Four levels of water restrictions remain for the Tweed and Uki water supply systems.

Tyalgum follows a two-level approach due to its unique operating conditions.

Each restriction level aims to help the Tweed community achieve a

specific water-use target.

After level four, council can introduce emergency measures that will limit water use to 100 litres per person a day, for essential use only.

The revised water restrictions detail what people and businesses can and cannot do and prescribe water-use targets that everyone in the Tweed must follow when restrictions are introduced.

The restrictions aim to initially reduce water use outdoors and focus on water used at home rather than in businesses.

Water-based businesses that do not directly support public health and safety may have to find other ways of doing business, such as not using town water.

Water carting remains banned from the Tyalgum and Uki water supplies at all times.

Carting water from the Tweed to other local government areas is banned whenever water restrictions are in place.

Mr Burnham said

measures outlined in the new policy aimed to ensure the community always had water.

“The Tweed River is the source of most of our water supply,” he said.

“As the flow of water in the river decreases and our water supply relies solely on releases from Clarrie Hall Dam, things will quickly become serious.

“It’s only by working together by following these water restrictions that we will save water and ensure our precious water supply lasts as long as possible.”

Council can fine anyone for breaching water restrictions with the maximum penalty being $2200.

If someone repeatedly misuses water, they may have their water service restricted or even disconnected.

Even when there are no water restrictions, council asks everyone in the Tweed to limit their water use to 160 litres per person a day.

Mr Burnham said with

El Nino soon to arrive, meeting Target 160 was even more important.

“In setting our revised triggers for water restrictions, council assumes we are all meeting Target 160.

“If we are not, we will need to introduce higher levels of restrictions earlier.

“This is because our water supply would last just 12 months if we were all meeting Target 160 and the Clarrie Hall Dam was full at the start of a drought.

“Since December, we have been using too much water.

“At the moment, we’re using 174 litres of water per person a day, on average.

“I urge everyone to save water at all times, indoors and outdoors.”

For more information visit tweed.nsw.gov. au/water-restrictionseveryone and for water restrictions for business, visit tweed.nsw.gov. au/business-waterrestrictions.

NEW SURF RULES IN BYRON

BYRON Shire Council plans to make surfers wear leg ropes, at all times, while surfing at local beaches.

The new rule was unanimously agreed on at the shire’s April 27 council meeting.

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon said council planned to improve community safety in the water.

“The message is that we’re concerned about safety at our beaches - for everyone - and we’ve decided to do something about it,” Mr Lyon said.

“Under the Local Government Act, councils can require the use of leg ropes for surfboards being ‘water-based recreational equipment’ and this is the lever we’re using to take action.

“Ultimately, we’d like the surfing community to take care of itself, but if this is not happening, we’ll lead the way and hope other councils and NSW Government mandate leg ropes with the aim of greatly reducing nasty accidents in the surf,” he said.

The new rule it will come into effect once new signs are installed, along with an education campaign, at beaches around the Byron Shire.

LIMITED SUPPPLY Without rain, the Tweed will head into water restrictions again. Council will need to release water from Clarrie Hall Dam when the flow of the Tweed River at the Bray Park Weir falls too low.

WORKING GROUP TO DRIVE SAFE STAFFING LEVELS IN OUR HOSPITALS

Regional Round-Up

With Janelle Saffin MP State Member for Lismore

The NSW Government last week announced the establishment of the Safe Staffing Working Group, which will plan and drive the implementation of safe staffing levels across the public hospital system, starting with emergency departments.

The Government is committed to boosting the number of nurses and midwives in New South Wales hospitals, beginning with our stretched emergency departments.

This includes delivering safe, high-quality healthcare to rural, regional and remote communities.

The Government will recruit 1,200 additional nurses and midwives in our healthcare system within our first term.

The Safe Staffing Working Group will hold its first meeting early this month (May) and will report to NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM, who will provide regular updates to the NSW Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park MP.

A key member of the

group is Luke Sloane, Coordinator-General Regional Health, NSW Health, who will continue to work to support the Government’s priority of ensuring access to safe, high quality and timely healthcare for all rural, regional and remote communities across New South Wales.

Mr Sloane will provide advice to Minister Park about matters concerning health in regional communities.

Other members of the working group include:

• Phil Minns, Deputy Secretary, People, Culture and Governance, NSW Health.

• Shaye Candish, General Secretary, NSW Nurses & Midwives Association.

• Jo Blackwell, Executive Director for Workplace Relations, NSW Health.

• Michael Whaites, Assistant General Secretary, NSW Nurses & Midwives Association.

• Roisin Beard, Lead Industrial Officer – Public Health, NSW Nurses & Midwives Association.

• Renata Di Staso,

Manager – Public Health Organising, NSW Nurses & Midwives Association.

The group will navigate the complexities of the NSW health system, including:

• The diverse workforce needs of facilities;

• Varying patient acuity levels;

• Differences based on time-of-day and specialty type; and

• Nursing workforce planning and supply.

CB networks for better disaster preparedness

THE failure of our telecommunications systems during the catastrophic floods last year left many local villages and rural areas without communications at a critical time.

It is vital that we have reliable communications during emergencies such as bushfires, floods and storms, to keep us connected to information, services and to check on loved ones.

This idea of using CB Radio networks was raised with me at a flood recovery forum in Nimbin last year and local

community volunteers have followed up. There are now 25 communities from the Queensland border down to Coffs Harbour where locals have set up their own CB radio emergency networks.

I commend the work of Northern Rivers resident and CB expert John Miller, who, with the backing of Rotary, has trained people in setting up and using CB radio networks to stay connected in emergencies.

The Summerland Amateur Radio Club and CREST, Citizens Radio Emergency Services Teams have also been behind this initiative. Next in line is Kyogle. John says he’s had a lot of interest from Kyogle residents in setting up a local CB radio network. If you would like to be part of it you can go to the Community Emergency Radio Network Northern Rivers public Facebook group, or email John john1954@gmail.com

GRANTS DEADLINES

EXTENDED

THERE is still time to apply for grants from the February/March 2022 floods.

You have until 30 June this year to apply for

the Back Home Grants, Rental Assistance Support and grants for businesses, rural landholders and primary producers. Details at www.service.nsw.gov.

au Please note the acquittal deadline for rural grants is 30 September 2023. I am lobbying for this to be extended.

The Lismore Disaster Recovery Hub has also been extended until June 30, as I requested.

MINISTERS’ FEET UNDER THEIR DESKS

NSW Premier Chris Minns during a priority visit to Lismore flagged that his first Cabinet ministers would have their feet under their desks and getting departmental briefings the day after being sworn in.

I, together with my staff, will continue to make strong representations on behalf of constituents to Premier Minns, Deputy Premier Prue Car and all Ministers.

For a full list of Ministers go to www.nsw. gov.au/nsw-government/ ministers

You may contact them directly via this email naming convention – office@minister’s surname.minister.nsw.

CREATE LASTING MEMORIES AT SECRET LAKE

We’re Here to Welcome You

gov.au but please make sure you copy me in – lismore@parliament. nsw.gov.au – so that I am aware your issues of concern.

Early this month (May), my Electorate Office is on the move from our temporary space of 12-14 Carrington Street back to our former address of 55 Carrington Street, on the corner of Conway and Carrington streets, which has been refurbished since the February 2022 flood. We thank everyone in advance for your understanding as we ‘build back better’ to provide services for the next four-year term of Parliament.

Located only 10 mins drive from Lawrence, near Grafton, Secret Lake is the best place to relax and unwind on a fabulous camping holiday. We offer more comfort and style than most campgrounds, with camp kitchen with BBQs, microwave, sinks, electric kettle, hot showers, ushing toilets and more, everything to make sure you have everything you need for a more than comfortable stay.

Secret Lake is a small family run business, recently opened, nestled in the Clarence Valley amongst our abundant wildlife and birdlife, sandstone outcrops, waterholes and creeks. With 60 acre lake the focal point, we provide lakeside and bush sites for tents, caravans, motorhomes, swags and anything in between.

With lots of activities available free of charge, you can do as little or as much as you like at Secret Lake. Enjoy kayaks and in atable tyre tubes on the water, catch and release shing, bush walking, bike riding through the day and laze around one of our communal re pits at night and stargaze. We are pet friendly so all the family can enjoy exploring over 800 acres of natural bushland. Go to our website (www.secretlake.com.au) and book your next adventure.

Facilities:

• Private 60 acre lake bull shark and bullrout free without tides and safe for water activities

• Bush & Lakeside Campsites

• 20km of existing bush tracks for bike riding and bushwalking

• Bush Volleyball court

• Lake is stocked with silver perch, golden perch and bass for catch & release lure shing

• Fire Pits

• Easy access – all wheel drive accessible

• 10 minutes’ drive from Lawrence where you can enjoy an amazing counter meal and stock up at the general store

• Free kayaks to use

CB radio networks are helping local communities to stay connected during emergencies.

Son of an Anzac soldier retells his father’s story

By SARAH WATERS

A Turkish soldier, who fought in Gallipoli, once remarked that he always remembers the blue eyes of the Anzac troops.

When looking into the blue eyes of Ian Stuart, the son of an Anzac soldier, they transport you back to that infamous time in history.

At 93-years-old, Mr Stuart is well aware there aren’t many people left who can say their father fought in - and survivedthe brutal battle fields of Gallipoli.

Mr Stuart’s Father, Douglas Villers Stuart, survived eight months of bombardment in Gallipoli as an Anzac solider.

Aged 23 at the time, Douglas Stuart was then sent to Pozières, a small village in the Somme Valley in France.

Pozières was the scene of bitter fighting in mid-1916.

Australian troops managed to capture the village of Pozières, where the high ground was an essential advantage point during The Battle of the Somme.

But it came at a huge cost to Australian lives.

Douglas Stuart was one of the thousands of Australian troops injured during the relentless artillery bombardment.

A piece of shrapnel broke most of his rib cage on the righthand side and took out his right lung.

“He woke up in the morgue,” Mr Stuart said.

“He was that badly injured, they thought he was dead.”

A commander, who just happened to be passing by the morgue, heard Douglas Stuart calling

out when he woke up.

Douglas Stuart was identified, taken to hospital and underwent six major operations.

It took two years of recovery until he was well enough to leave hospital.

Mr Stuart said when his father returned to Australia, he was discharged from the Army due to the extent of his injuries.

“He took up a clerical job for a while, then he became paymaster for the people constructing the (now closed) railway from Dorrigo to Glenreagh.

“Following that he bought a sawmill, and he was doing alright, but he gave that up when the Americans started delivering timber at a price that he couldn’t

compete with.

“He then went and helped his brother on his orchard, then he was married (in the late 1920s) and following his marriage and my birth, the depression hit.”

Douglas Stuart managed to get a labouring job on a property in rural NSW for the next 18 years, where Ian Stewart grew up as a young boy.

He said his father’s life was hard after the war, but the family managed to get by well enough.

When Douglas Stuart was in his sixties, he needed to have an operation.

As an ex-serviceman, he was able to have the operation at Concord Repatriation Hospital in Sydney, but unfortunately the

operation was botched, and Douglas Stuart’s life was lost.

“He survived Gallipoli, but not Concord Hospital.”

Mr Stuart said his father ‘refused to make any comment’ about his experience as a solider in Gallipoli and Pozières.

“The memory of it was so great that he didn’t want to try and recall it.

“It was too painful for him to talk about it, and he never did.”

Mr Stuart said for the last 10 years he has attended Anzac services.

“As time goes on, I release the extraordinary sacrifice that everybody has made, so I think it’s only appropriate to pay respects to those who were able to secure a safe environment for our families to grow up in.”

In memory of Margy, CWA launch van with $10,000 grant

By SAMANTHA ELLEY

“The worst ever flood in Australian history can’t keep a good bunch of women down.”

These were the fighting words of CWA Lismore evening branch president, Kerry Harvey at the launch of their CWA van, affectionately named Margy after a recently passed member.

“After the flood we lost our rooms and we bought the caravan straight after,” Ms Harvey said.

have been assisting everyone over the last 12 months in relation to the floods.”

Ms Harvey said they were gob-smacked when they received the money.

“The CBA came to our rescue,” she said.

“Helen, our ideas girl, thought of the idea of a van and another member, Margy Smith was very keen to be involved, despite being very sick.

“She gave a very generous amount of money.”

Sadly, Margy passed

“We needed to be a presence, to be visual in the town and straight after the flood we used the caravan to deliver rugs and items to people right across Lismore.”

The van, with its very distinct graphic of a teapot on the side, was made possible through a grant from the Commonwealth Bank, of $10,000.

“The funds were available through our Community Grants program,” said Lismore branch manager, Stephanie Darragh.

“The CBA are investing in the community and

away on 5th April, 2022, but in her memory, the branch decided to name the van after her.

Margy’s husband Wayne and mother Valerie were at the launch to cut the ribbon.

If you are interested in joining a group of fun, friendship and fundraising, the CWA Lismore Evening Branch may be just the place for you.

They meet on the second Monday of the month at 6pm in the Anglican church hall in Zadoc Street, or you can ring 0418 776 546 for details.

CWA Wayne Smith and Valerie Battiztuzzi

CWA Lismore Evening Branch

Tweed Heads resident Ian Stuart marches in the Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL sub-branch Anzac parade in honour of his father Douglas Villers Stuart, who fought in Gallipoli and Pozières.

Car boneyard ablaze again

By TIM HOWARD

For the second time in six months fire brigades and emergency services personnel attended a car boneyard at Trenayr, near Grafton, to put out a fire

The second fire on April 26, which was contained to just 20 cars, was a pale reminder of the blaze on November 29 last year, which burnt through an estimated 1500 wrecks and sent a plume of smoke so toxic into the air authorities warned people in Grafton to stay indoors.

But it was serious enough for Fire and Rescue NSW and the Rural Fire Service to scramble a Hazmat team from Goonellabah and the NSW Ambulance Service kept a vehicle and paramedics on site during the operation.

The Fire and Rescue NSW incident controller at the scene, Inspector Price Conlan, said the blaze had begun during the morning of and by 1pm the fire had been suppressed.

He said Fire and Rescue NSW and RFS personnel had been using

an excavator to pull vehicle carcases out of the fire zone to allow fire crews to wet them down.

“Wetting these down has enable us to suppress the flames,” he said.

Insp Conlan said police had attended the scene earlier, but did not stay long.

“I wasn’t at the last fire, so I don’t know any more than what I read in the media about it,” he said.

“I can’t say whether this fire was connected or if they had any suspicions.”

He said Fire and

Rescue teams from Grafton and South Grafton attended as well as the Hazmat team.

Ulmarra, Lawrence and Southampton RFS crews also attended.

The RFS took over the site from 1pm. Tankers

did shuttle runs to a nearby refilling site so they could continue to pour water onto the smouldering pile of car wrecks.

Police said they had not linked the latest blaze to the fire in November, but

the investigation into that blaze was ongoing.

“As usual, anyone with information should get in contact with their local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” a police spokesperson said.

It’s tee time on the golf course

By SAMANTHA ELLEY

It is that time of year again where golfers dust off big Bertha, collect their woods and try to remember where they left that packet of tees.

The Mid Richmond Education Fund Charity

3 Person Ambrose Golf Day is on again this Sunday May 7th, 2023.

For $30 per person you can enjoy a hot breakfast and lunch, a day of golf with friends and the chance to win some great prizes.

On top of all that you can be happy in the

knowledge that you are helping young people to further their careers and reach their dream goals. Breakfast is at 9.30am with a shotgun start at 10.30am.

Call the Evans HeadWoodburn Golf Club to register your team on 6682 2385.

I think any of us who have been working these past 14 months to get our homes fixed after the floods have encountered delays with tradespeople.

It is incredibly frustrating when you know it’s going to take longer to get things done.

There is a difference, however, when a tradesperson manages your expectations. My painter and my electrician have both told me they aren’t available until such and such time.

Because they have been honest with me, I can accept the delay as I know I won’t see them until then.

In fact, the electrician told me he couldn’t

get to see us until after Anzac Day and he actually got here a week earlier.

Made me a very happy customer.

There are, however, those tradies that need to learn how to handle their customers.

I have a large company who has been doing some internal work for us, and due to a mistake they have made, we haven’t had all of it completed.

After many phone calls they have promised to get in touch, ‘tomorrow at 8.30am’, or ‘in the next 20 minutes after I’ve checked where the order is at’.

Nothing.

I have sent an official complaint but don’t

really expect too much. This is a company whose phones seem to disconnect at times with no one answering them. Then there is also the problem of not knowing who can take care of the work you need done.

I’ve mentioned before that our pool needs to be either torn down or rusted panels replaced to fix it.

I have put a call out a few times to different trades, but it is not really the biggest priority.

Never mind, we plod along and are still very thankful that we have been able to live in our home since last September, regardless of all the fixing going on around us. Little steps.

Our sad little pool with its rusted panels

Till

Over25-years ago I took a subject at uni (back when earning a degree had nothing to do with online research and everything to do with hitting the books) but the subject was called Death and Culture; and it blew my mind in terms of how death was considered, albeit celebrated and dealt with so differently throughout the world.

In western culture, the dreaded word death, let alone the actual phenomenon itself, is overwhelmingly avoided – to the point of being viewed as the ultimate of taboos. And yet it is something that none of us will avoid at some point in our lives. Relatedly, Octavio Paz once said, “Fear makes us turn our backs on death, and by refusing to contemplate it we shut ourselves off from life, which is a totality that includes it.”

Without being morbid or intending to be anything but factual, apparently every minute 110 people die throughout the world (as a result of many things), but it equates to roughly 60 million deaths per year. To say we are never far from the reaches of death is not an understatement, nor is it an overly alarmist thing to proclaim. In some cultures, it is even considered the most natural and nonthreatening of notions.

As such, India’s greatest cultural figure, and the first non-European to win a Nobel Prize for Literature, Rabindranath Tagore once confided, “Death’s stamp gives value to the coin of life; making it possible to buy with life what is truly precious.”

Which is one of the most

death do us part…by Nigel Dawe Farm produce

endearing, if not inspiring responses to the ultimate of curtain call happenings. Our lives exponentially gain something the very moment we acknowledge the fact they are finite, and will not last forever.

Quite the contrary, in the broader scheme of things, even the longest human life passes in the blink of an eye. Which is perhaps not as quick as the shortest lifespan of all, that belongs to the mayfly – its lived existence ranges from a few minutes up to the ripe old age of 24 hours. And whether you’re a human being or a humble mayfly, as the English novelist Terry Pratchett once gleaned, “It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it’s called Life.” And this is something none of us should ever lose sight of at any stage.

While life is arguably the most knowable of things; death is perhaps the least directly fathomable of experiences, and lends itself to all sorts of embellishments and cultural mystifications. As if to offset the finality of it all, us humans have been consoling ourselves with notions of an afterlife for as long as we’ve been able to elevate and mix meaning with words. I’d love to think that our lives go on after we die, but if they did then surely the most outspoken of religious zealots would’ve returned by now to tell us all loudly about it. Perhaps Franz Kafka was being more than merely sardonic when he once reflected, “The meaning of life is that it stops.”

Show reveals its enduring popularity

By TIM HOWARD

Grafton Show is showing its enduring popularity with the community as most categories of exhibits report increased entries says Grafton Pastoral & Agricultural Society president Rex Green.

“We’ve been very happy with the exhibits this year,” Mr Green said. “We‘ve had very good crowds. – in fact Friday was probably one of the best I can remember.

“We’ve also had the pleasure of conferring life membership on some long-serving patrons of the show, Ray and Helen Donovan and Paul

demonstrate the ancient craft of turning fleece into yarn.

President Janice Kent was spinning some 19 micron merino fleece grown by a relative on a property near Walcha into a yarn she could knit into beanies, vests or gloves.

She said the yarn could also be woven into other different kinds of garments.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to take a raw material through to wearing apparel,” she said.

But she said modern technique did also have their benefit.

“For the fine and very fine work, I will get

Annunzio turns out wire jewellery of surprising sophistication and no little charm.

He said business had not been great on Saturday, but knew from experience it picked up later in the day and into the night.

“It’s always good at Grafton,” he said. “Even when business is slow, it always picks up.”

Supreme Champion Glenys Wallbrook has been busy these last two and a half years, working on her entry in the quilting section.

It was worth the effort, with Glenys claiming the Supreme Champion award for her beautiful piece.

taking the old cabinets apart, fitting new frames with caster wheels and putting them back together again.

It’s been more than worth it, Yvonne and every other steward in the pavilion reckons.

Instead of six staff struggling to move a cabinet into position a single steward can now do the job.

Society president Rex Green said Paul’s life membership was not just due to his work this year, but did admit, it was the “icing on the cake”.

There was plenty of glory to go around in the Fletcher household with wife and long-time volunteer Vicki starring

Fletcher.

He was also taking a keen interest in the performance of the new lights that have been erected in the past year at the showground.

“So far, so good,” he said. “I suppose the proof of how effective they’ll be will come after we’ve been using them for a while.”

Mr Green said it seemed the Covid pandemic had created some unexpected benefits for the show.

“It caused some problems for use early on,” he said. “But it seems that the time people had at home gave them a chance to develop their hobbies.

“We’re finding we’ve got so many more entries across all those sections from people who are first time exhibitors.”

There were a lot of good stories coming from the 2023 Grafton Show. Here are some. Grafton Fibrecrafts Group

The group made a return to the show with members setting up spinning wheels to

some mill spun cloth,” she said. “It’s just too time consuming to spin yarn that fine.”

Janice said the Grafton group was preparing to celebrate it’s 40th anniversary next year.

“We’re regulars at the show,” she said. “We don’t come every year, but we’re regulars I would say.”

Annunzio, the Wire King

Operating from perhaps the smallest stall in the Grafton Showground pavilion Annunzio, the Wire King, reckons he had been coming to Grafton for more than 40 years.

His booth in the Pavilion would fit comfortably into a telephone box, but its been a hive of activity.

If you looked carefully at some of the show ground stewards, like chief steward Yvonne Robards or her offsider Max Johnson, you would have seen his handiwork pinned to their shirts.

Working with little more than rolls of wire, pliers and some very sturdy fingers,

Glenys wasn’t around to talk about her work, but everyone at the pavilion was in awe of her work.

“Every stitch was done by hand,” chief steward Yvonne Robards said. “There’s not a single machine stitch in it.”

Life membership deserved

The chief steward in the pavilion, Yvonne Robards, gets a lot of satisfaction seeing awards handed out to people for their efforts.

But she was most happy to see a one of her colleagues, Paul Fletcher, receive the ultimate accolade, a life membership, this year.

The reason was Paul’s ingenuity and industry throughout the year had made her work and all the other stewards in the pavilion “1000%” easier. It was a deceptively simple solution to a problem that had vexed stewards for years: how to easily move exhibits about.

The simple answer was to put the exhibition cabinets on wheels.

But that was easier said than done. It involved

in the hand cooking section.

“Vicki won at local and regional levels and went to the Royal at Sydney,” Yvonne said.

“She missed out on a place there, but only just, which is a terrific effort.”

She said entries this year was so prolific they spilled out into the annexes of the pavilion. And just because people were newcomers to the show, didn’t mean they missed out on awards.

“We had a newcomer, Glen Martin, who’d never entered anything in the show before,” she said.

“He put entries in seven different categories and won prizes in every category.”

The Grafton CWA, which uses the show as its major fundraiser, was also making the most of the show’s record numbers.

By mid Saturday afternoon the kitchen had churned out 43 dozen scones and was firing up the ovens to cook more.

Continued page 16

Grafton Community Shed member Michael Jameson has been creating stunning computer carved pieces, like this work, etched onto a scrap piece of brown pine recovered from the Koolkhan Power Station.

Lilla Bale and Nanny Robyn Bale got up close with one of the poultry exhibits at the show, a silver lacy wyndotte.

1933 to 2023

The Casino Food Co-op turns ninety this year. As a part of the celebrations, we will be recounting some of the achievements and challenges throughout each decade from 1933 through to the present day over the coming months. If any community member has any historic photos they would like to share, please contact Annabelle Toohey at the Co-operative on 0266622444.

LOCAL AUTHOR SHOWS VULNERABLE SIDE IN DELICIOUS NEW MEMOIR

Charlotte Ree’s Heartbake: A bittersweet memoir (Allen & Unwin) is out now.

Twenty four hours before Sydney went into Covid lockdown, Charlotte Ree decided to leave her husband. It was a difficult enough time for those who were locked up with their families or even just other housemates, but to suddenly find yourself alone was a tough time for Charlotte.

“I moved into a new house,” she said. “And was so sad and lonely with no joy in food and life in general was devoid of colour and taste.”

Originally from Goonellabah, Charlotte started reaching out to her Sydney neighbours from a distance.

“I started cooking for my neighbours,” she said.

“I would bake banana muffins and knock on their door.

“Every Saturday I’d pick up baking dishes from their homes and make lasagne from scratch.

“These were people who were essential workers and one was a single mum who had been made redundant.”

After Charlotte wrote a piece for Vogue magazine about the breakdown of her marriage and learning about self-love, the feedback made her realise she needed to go further.

“The article was a ‘divorce coming out’ story and I got amazing messages from strangers of all ages,” she said.

And that’s where Heartbake: A bitter sweet memoir came about.

“I wrote the book as I went through the divorce,” she said.

“I see it as a memoir of self love, about looking after yourself.”

The book is a journey as Charlotte masters each meal following her search for love in friendship, family, romance and self, with recipes included.

“I am a home cook, not a chef, so these are easy recipes with easy ingredients,” she said.

RURAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROMOTES LEADERSHIP

Coffs Harbour’s Dr Liz May has been honoured as one of 24 recipients of the 2023 NSW Rural Scholarship Program.

The one-year scholarship program began with the finalists attending the Future Women Leadership Summit in Sydney as part of the 2023 NSW Women’s Week celebrations.

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said regional women like Dr May are the lifeblood of so many local communities.

“Dr May is training as a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology. Originally from Tamworth, she has a passion for regional healthcare,” Mr Singh said.

“Dr May hopes to connect with like-minded women and access one-on-one

mentoring so she can further her career.

“She already goes above and beyond for our community, and this program will boost her leadership potential as she inspires the next generation of local leaders.”

Dr May said: “I’m particularly passionate about equity in healthcare, in particular equitable access for regional women to essential healthcare including contraception and gynaecology services.”

The scholarship program is designed to connect driven and passionate women from all ages and backgrounds, and help them in developing leadership skills as they progress to the next stage of their career.

The cohort participating in

this program reflects both the creativity and diversity of women in rural, remote and regional NSW, while offering practical support and advice.

Not only do the recipients get access to the coveted Future Women Platinum+ Emerging Leaders Program, valued at over $6,000 each, but all 237 women who entered receive a complimentary one-year Gold membership, which gives them access to FW Advance, a year-long career development webinar series, and a 50 per cent discount to attend last month’s Future Women Leadership Summit.

To find out more, visit: https://futurewomen.com/ rural-womens-scholarship/

“They are what people want to eat, comfort food, healing food.”

Charlotte Ree and The Book Warehouse will be appearing at the Star Court Theatre on Tuesday, 9th May, 2023 at 6pm.

This is a free event with sweet treats on the menu and drinks available to purchase at the bar.

Secure your free tickets by phoning 6621 4204, email lismoreinfo@bookwh. com.au or drop into 107-109 Keen Street, Lismore.

Arial View 2023

Arial View circa 1960

Taking time to journal nature

By Samantha Elley

Title: A Canberra

Nature Journal

Author: Dr Fiona Boxall

Publisher: Shawline

Publishing Price: $28.95

is is a book with a di erence and if anyone has done some nature journaling, or would like to get out more and appreciate nature, then this is a must read.

Dr Fiona Boxall has a gi of bringing the ora and fauna she writes about to life for the reader.

Born out of her practice of writing eld notes, Fiona’s nature journaling is a combination of writing about and drawing or painting the items she sees in their natural habitat.

She is very visual and her notes and pictures are her personal impressions of the world around her.

Fiona sees nature journaling as a practice of spontaneity, relaxation and a pleasurable past-time

Show reveals its enduring popularity -

Farm produce

Over in the farm produce pavilion chief steward

Ian McGaw said his exhibits were “pretty close to target” despite the show being a little earlier than usual.

He said the earlier show date put pressure on growers to get their produce fully ripened, but said mostly the exhibits were top quality.

“Mostly it’s been pretty good, although the pumpkins are a little bit down this year,” he said.

“Some of the citrus fruit is not quite ready yet.”

He was pleased to see local high schools put together some outstanding exhibits in his pavilion.

Poultry pavilion booming

With more than 200

with no strict rules or regulations.

Instead, it is a practice to help reconnect the journaler with the natural world and foster each person’s own sense of wonder.

Living in Canberra, Fiona discovers the dry sclerophyll forest in her surroundings as being more than ‘messy bushland’.

Instead, it is ‘a vital ecosystem full of fascinating interrelationships and mutual dependencies’.

She shares her discoveries with the reader in a fascinating and engaging way, where I challenge you not to want to take up the journaling and drawing tools by the time you have nished the book.

Fiona works with numerous mediums, including graphite, watercolour, and coloured pencils. is is her rst published book of collected nature references, hoping to inspire readers to see and experience the world around them.

You can order “A Canberra Nature Journal” through www.shawlingpublishing. com.au

entries in the cages, veteran poultry judge Barry Reeves was delighted with the turn out.

It’s been a tough time to show poultry right now. A lot of fowls have not gone right through their moults, so it can mean they’re not looking their best,” he said.

But he said the exhibitors at the show had pulled out all the stops with the bird entered this year.

An innovation to please and tease younger viewers this year were several colourful entries from Rainbow Farm.

With their feathers allegedly coloured by the food they had been given, the birds also shared their cages with coloured eggs.

Barry’s wife and

show steward Lorna Reeves let is slip that maybe there was a little “showmanship” involved.

Computer carving

The Grafton Community Shed exhibition was had some surprisingly hi-tech work among its craft work.

Club member Michael Jameson has taken the plunge, in retirement, into CnC 3D carving and his star exhibit at the group’s stall was a stunning example of what it could achieve.

He got hold of a scrap piece of brown pine from the Koolkhan Power Station, which had a stunning blonde streak in the grain.

He downloaded an image of a bucking bronco to feed into the computer controlling the

continued from page 14

engraving machine.

Michael said the novice should not think the computer does all the work.

“There’s a lot to it. Choosing the wood, setting the preference, putting the finish on the job.

“It takes eight to 10 hours and you can’t just walk away and leave the machine,” he said.

“You shouldn’t ever be out of earshot of the machine, or you could find yourself with a nasty fire.”

So, has it been worth it for Michael. Well, he has put a price tag of $475 on his piece, carved on a scrap of pine.

“I feel quite inspired,” he said.

Farm produce chief steward Ian McGaw was delighted with the efforts from the four exhibiting high schools this year.

Steward Max Johnson stands in for pavilion’s Supreme Champion, Glenys Wallbrook, who worked on this quilt for more than two years to get it ready for the judges.

Grafton Agricultural & Pastoral Society president Rex Green and senior vice president Barry Reeves outside the poultry exhibits at

An impressed Barry Mitchell looks over the some of the exhibits in the farm produce pavilion at Grafton Show.

Working from possibly the smallest stall at the show, Annunzio the Wire King shows off a bulls head brooch he is fashioning from coils of wire.

Grafton Fibrecrafts Group made a return to the show this year. Janice Kent is spinning 19 micron Merino fleece into yarn she can use later.

Australian Bass and Estuary Perch closure started 1 May

Recreational fishers are reminded that the annual fishing closure for Australian Bass and Estuary Perch in all coastal rivers and estuaries in NSW have commence from Monday 1 May 2023.

NSW Department

Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries Deputy Director General, Sean Sloan said the zero-bag limit over this four-month period helps protect the native fish species while they spawn over the winter period.

“During winter, these popular native sportfish species form large groups and migrate to parts of estuaries with the right salinity to trigger spawning,” Mr Sloan said.

“It is important that

fishers respect this closure from 1 May through to 31 August, as the spawning period is key for the survival of these iconic species.

“This closure protects the fish during this spawning period to ensure they can remain a popular catch with recreational fishers for many generations to come.

“Australian Bass and Estuary Perch are a commercially protected species and as such commercial fishers are prohibited from retaining or selling Australian Bass and Estuary Perch.”

Mr Sloan said that the zero-bag limit does not apply to Australian Bass and Estuary Perch caught in freshwater dams or in rivers above

impoundments, as the fish do not breed in these areas.

“All fish in freshwater impoundments, like Glenbawn Dam and Glennies Creek Dam in the Hunter Valley,

Brogo Dam near Bega and Clarrie Hall and Toonumbar Dams in the northeast, are stocked fisheries, meaning we physically replace fish stocks annually, with fingerlings bred in our

hatcheries, therefore anglers may continue to fish for these species in these waters all year round,” Mr Sloan said.

“However, any Australian Bass or Estuary Perch caught in estuaries and in rivers below dams during the closure must be returned to the water immediately with the least possible harm to the fish.

“The zero-bag limit for these species does not close any waters to fishing and does not affect anglers fishing for other estuarine species,

such as bream or flathead during the colder months.

“Our DPI Fisheries Officers will be out in full force during this time to ensure that these rules are being followed.”

If any suspected illegal activity is witnessed, the public are urged to contact the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 or via the online report form at https://www.dpi.nsw.gov. au/fishing/compliance/ report-illegal-activity

Kyogle Garden Club

Don’t Bin Your Batteries

The Garden Club held the Flower & Foliage Spectacular last weekend & hundreds of people came from far & wide to view the magnificent Rainforest Display - the beautiful flowers that fragranced the hall & the tables of Succulents were

stunning. There were a variety of stalls selling all sorts of plants ranging from punnets of potted colour, veggies, native trees, palms, fresh flowers & many more. A gardeners dream & resisting the temptation to buy

was very hard. The Committee & Club members were very pleased with the two days & would like to thank all those who helped in any way. We look forward to another exciting presentation next year.

According to the National Battery Recycling Stewardship Scheme, Australians buy enough batteries every year to circle planet Earth 2.3 times and until now 90 per cent of these have been going to landfill!

This is a big problem because batteries should never be placed in any regular rubbish or recycling bins where they can create sparks and ignite fires in the bin, in transport trucks or at the landfill. All batteries eventually corrode, and their

hazardous contents end up in soils and waterways, causing damage to wildlife and people. Lithium ion (rechargeable) batteries are of particular concern due to their high volatility and their increasing use in many everyday appliances.

North East Waste (NE Waste) and their 7 Northern Rivers member councils including Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed are working with Australia’s official battery recycling

stewardship scheme, B-cycle, to encourage Australians to correctly recycle any used batteries including from items such as power tools and toys.

This media release provides an important message to residents across the Northern Rivers about how to safely and conveniently dispose of used batteries at no cost, and in doing so, avoid the risk of battery related fires, environmental damage and the loss of valuable non-renewable resources to landfill.

A purry ‘WELCOME’ to the ULYSSES CLUB

‘Mumsie, I read there is a HUGE contingent of members from the ‘Ulysses’ Motor cycle Club visiting Lismore for their Annual Rally and are staying at our Showgrounds. Could you take me there pleeasie, to see all the shiny roary bikes? You haven’t taken me out in our little car for ages’ (it’s ‘Leemo Cat’ here.)

I didn’t get the normal crabby glare but I did get a look of ‘frowny winkle-faced enquiry’ from ‘Mum Jane’. Yippee! Her book was put aside. I was thence addressed. ‘Leems, enlighten me on a couple of things please.

Firstly, remember, you are still very much OUT of ‘Grace & Favour’ with me due to your weeing on my Jigsaw puzzle pieces last week. Secondly, why your sudden interest in what you describe as ‘Bikies’ and their roaring machines?’ Hmmm.

I had to cautiously word this so decided on a mini meditation session. OK..I’m good to go. ‘Well Mum, I’ve observed, (I’ve truly tried NOT to stare) that you have a small tooth missing smack bang in the middle of your bottom row of front teethies. I therefore gured out that you had already been to see the ‘Bikies’, got into a brawl due to your big mouth & lost one of your teeth. Is my assumption correct?

I ALSO gured you should take me to see the ni y Bikes and meet the ‘Bikies’ anyhow.

I could perhaps, in your defence, ercely

maul the ‘Bikie’ with whom you had a blue, and be welcomed back into your good graces?

Ooooh, she started her deep breathing & muttering the ‘Stay Calm Jane’ pi e. A er an eternity she spoke, or rather ‘shouted’.

‘Leemo, you just listen to me you asinine cat.

e Ulysses Club is a most highly esteemed group of Motorcycle enthusiasts. It was formed in Australia in 1983 and is a SOCIAL Group of like minded people over 40 years of age. ey do wondrous things in their support for the Arthritis Foundation, as well as other needy causes and individuals all across Australia. ey are not ever in the habit of having altercations with old ladies wearing hats & peery glasses, a tooth missing and brandishing a walking stick. I don’t know what balderdash you’ve been reading but I suggest you read Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem about the Greek Hero Ulysses, who, whilst securely in charge of his kingdom in Ithaca found retirement pretty bloody boring. He longed to go seafaring and adventuring with his shipmates of old, which is just what the

‘Ulysses’ Motorcycle Club Members do. ese days, however, they go on motorcycles instead of ships, see wonderful sights, form close-knit bonds of true & lasting mateship, as well as doing ni y kind things. Gottit? AND, before you even try to respond Leems, I did not get into a brawl with anyone SO THERE. I am mighty close however, to having one with you right now. On professional advice, I had a tooth REMOVED and had some bone ll-in done. Once the stitches dissolve I will have a new tooth placed in the gap and be right as rain. In the meantime, please refrain from your preposterous assumptions about people and situations. DO YOU COMPREHEND Leems?’ CRIKEY, I do believe it is time for some BIG grass-staring meditation. Nitey, Leemo.

Ph: (07) 5523 1344

Fax: (07) 5523 1296 marks@coastlinecertification.com.au www.coastlinecertification.com.au

2/47 Greenway Drive Tweed Heads South NSW 2486 PO Box 243 Banora Point NSW 2486

“Leemo has views on just about anything”

Director MAIBS MAIEH AMAIB

SUSTAINABLE AND RENEWABLE MATERIALS ARE IN VOGUE: SPARKING A-LIST ATTENTION AND FUELLING REAL ESTATE SALES

TheByron hinterland real estate industry is experiencing a surge in sustainable and renewable building materials that are ecofriendly and uniquely stylish. These materials have become a vogue choice, attracting A-list designers, influencers and homeowners, and fuelling sales in the luxury real estate market. Off The Rails (OTR), a local business in Byron Bay, is leading the way

in sustainable materials by exclusively supplying reclaimed and recycled timber. Their sustainable materials have become increasingly popular among the largest and wealthiest properties in the region.

OTR has provided sustainable materials to several prestigious properties in the region, including Spell & The Gypsy, Haveli of Byron Bay, The Atlantic Byron Bay, Riverhawk

Ranch, Possum Creek’s Longwood Property, and most notably, The Range Estates, which broke the North Coast house price record at $37 million. For The Range Estates, OTR supplied over 1250 high-quality reclaimed railway sleepers that were used for the entrance, deck, and pathways surrounding the estate. OTR’s commitment to sustainability and quality recently earned them a spot as a finalist for the Northern Rivers Business in Excellence award for sustainability.

Tom and Emma Lane, the owners of The Range Estates, had a strong focus on sustainability during the development of the luxurious farmhouse. Their aim was to create a unique blend of Australian farmhouse with Spanish Finca influences. The property includes a macadamia grove, swimming pool, fire pit, and separate luxury accommodation

options. The Estate was designed and built using adaptive reuse principles, with a heavy emphasis on natural and recycled materials. The Lane family sourced materials from various businesses, including OTR. The property’s sale surpassed the previous luxury hinterland market record by 42%, which was set just six months prior at $26 million, and attracted interest from three potential buyers, ultimately selling to an undisclosed purchaser.

OTR ensures that all materials are 100% recycled and reused,

and nothing goes to landfill. The company’s use of reclaimed railway materials has become synonymous with luxury and prestige in the region’s real estate market. “We have reached our target of reducing 2,400 tonnes of landfill, securing 31,500 railway sleepers which is equivalent to 100 semi-trailer loads,” he says. The company’s railway sleepers are in high demand as they can last a lifetime, and their reclaimed status makes them a sustainably sound choice. As the preferred material

supplier for many luxury homeowners, prestige builders, landscapers, and architects in the region, OTR is sure to continue making waves in the industry. OTR’s commitment to sustainability and quality has helped reduce waste and carbon footprint, while also adding a touch of uniqueness to some of the most significant real estate deals in the area. The company’s sustainable practices and use of reclaimed railway materials have proven that luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand.

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE L SUMMIT RESERVE

By JEFFREY GIBBS

Launched last year, Jeep’s Grand Cherokee L (for long wheelbase) offers three rows of seats for the frst time, giving larger families the opportunity to enjoy the iconic American car maker. However, apart from one diesel Compass, all Jeeps now come with a petrol engine in what has long been a diesel-dominated section of the market. While Jeep has hybrid and electric powertrains on the way, they won’t arrive until the end of the year, which could be problematic for the brand.

At 5204mm in length, with a wheelbase of 3091mm and tipping the scales at 2270kg, the Grand Cherokee L is a big vehicle with an eyecatching long profle. It comes in four favours, starting with the Night Eagle and topping out with the Summit Reserve.

The Summit Reserve comes with all the bells and whistles, including 21-inch polished alloys, four-zone air, ventilated, 12-way adjustable front seats with memory and massage function, open-pore waxed walnut wood fnishes, powerfolding second and third-row seats, auto high beam, auto lights and wipers, poweradjust steering column, a digital rear view mirror, front and rear parking sensors, parallel and perpendicular parking, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go. It is covered by a fve-

year, 100,000-kilometre warranty, along with lifetime roadside assistance when serviced by Jeep.

Service intervals are spaced at 12,000km or 12 months, with a fee of $399 a pop. In terms of infotainment, the Grand Cherokee L features a slick 10.1-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, voice control, built-in navigation, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Summit also includes a bespoke 950 watt, 19-speaker McIntosh audio system specifcally tuned to the vehicle’s layout, plus a night vision system that projects a greyscale image of the darkened road ahead in the centre of the instrument cluster. It also features a unique interactive, front passenger touchscreen integrated into the front of the glovebox. This allows the passenger to stream music wirelessly to the audio system, view the GPS map and send destinations directly to the centre touchscreen. No matter which grade you choose, they’re all powered by the same 3.6-litre Pentastar petrol V6, with 210kW of power at 6400 rpm and 344Nm of torque on tap from 4000 rpm.

The V6 is paired with an eight-speed conventional automatic, with drive to all four wheels, steering wheel mounted gear change paddles and

auto engine-stop-start to help save fuel. Fuel consumption from the 87-litre tank is rated at 10.6L/100km, but this can vary depending on the type of terrain and the driver. The Grand Cherokee L also comes with a fve-star safety rating, with multiple airbags, a surround view camera and autonomous emergency braking (with cyclist and pedestrian detection). It also has blind spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection, active lane management, drowsy driver detection and traffc sign recognition. In terms of off-roading, the car features a Quadra-Trac II Active 4x4 System with high and low range gearing, Selec-Terrain off-road modes and Quadra Lift Air Suspension with semi-active damping. This offers up to 276mm of ground clearance and a wading depth of 610mm.

On the road, the Grand Cherokee L can be quite thirsty, so it is best to plan out longer journeys carefully. The ride can be quite harsh, transmitting the smallest imperfections through the wheels to the cabin. It also has a low 2813kg tow rating. The cabin, however, exudes class with quilted leather and real wood inlays, while the second and third row of seats can be dropped at the push of a button. Ultimately, the Grand Cherokee L is a big and classy car with plenty of toys, but its high fuel consumption

and lacklustre ride quality make it a less than ideal choice for most drivers. It takes standard 91 RON unleaded and has a sizeable tank, but you may fnd yourself needing to refuel more often than you’d like. While the features and safety ratings are appealing, there are better options out there that offer more effcient engines and superior ride quality.

MODEL RANGE

Night Eagle, $82,750 Limited, $88,750 Overland, $103,250 Summit Reserve, $119,450

Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Jeep dealer for drive-away prices.

SPECIFICATIONS:

(Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve, 3.6L six-cylinder petrol V6, eight-speed automatic, high and low range on demand 4×4)

ENGINE:

Capacity: 3.6 litres

Confguration:

Six-cylinder V6

Maximum Power:

210 kW @ 6400 rpm

Maximum Torque: 344 Nm @ 4000 rpm

Fuel Type: Unleaded petrol (91 RON)

Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 10.6 L/100km

DRIVELINE:

Eight-speed automatic, high and low range on demand 4×4

VOLKSWAGEN ID.7 DEBUTS WITH 700KM RANGE

German giant’s biggest EV breaks cover; fve-metre electric sedan to enter production this year

By JEFFREY GIBBS

Volkswagen is set to launch its frst electric sedan this year, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.7. This new EV will join the ID.3 hatch, ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs, and the ID. Buzz van and peoplemover. The ID.7 will be the frst Volkswagen EV on the German carmaker’s MEB platform to use an electric motor developed in-house and will have up to 700km of EV range from its biggest 86kWh lithiumion battery pack. It will

launch in both Europe and China in the third quarter of the year, with North American release planned for next year. The ID.7 will be powered by a rearmounted permanentmagnet synchronous motor and will be launched frst as the ID.7 Pro, with a standard 77kWh (net) battery. Volkswagen hasn’t confrmed the more effcient new APP550 motor’s outputs, but they’re likely to be around 150kW and 310-320Nm

– around the same as the entry-level ID. Buzz. The ID.7 will charge at 22kW AC or up to 170kW on a DC fast-charger, while the later-arriving 86kWh battery in the ID.7 Pro S will charge at up to 200kW. There is a new trick that automatically pre-conditions the battery on approach whenever the driver approaches a programmed-in fastcharger on the navigation system. The ID.7 will be the biggest sedan yet on the MEB EV architecture at 4961mm, which is longer than even the standard ID. Buzz by 249mm.

It’s 377mm longer overall than the ID.4 medium SUV, plus 195mm longer in wheelbase and 10mm in width, at 1862mm wide. It’s also 1538mm high, so it’s no SUV, and its sloping rear

NEW JEEP WRANGLER NEWS

By CHRIS RILEY

Jeep has taken the wraps

off a new-look Wrangler with a redesigned sevenslot radiator grille, 10 all-new wheel designs and multiple open-air options, including the exclusive Sky One-Touch powertop.

The grille, frst introduced on the 2023 Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary, wears an updated look with black textured slots, neutral grey metallic bezels and bodycolour surround (gloss black slots and bezels on Willys, gloss black bezels on High Altitude and platinum silver slots and

bezels on Sahara).

Slimmer both visually and literally, the new grille’s black textured vertical slots improve cooling while also allowing for ftment of the new factoryinstalled Warn winch, which is available on Rubicon models.

The latest evolution of the iconic off-roader adds greater capability, new technology and advanced safety features, all while staying true to the Wrangler formula. In an automotive frst, it will also feature built-in off-road adventure guides with the introduction of

Trails Offroad.

Downloaded to the Uconnect 5 infotainment system and displayed on a new 12.3-inch highresolution screen, Trails Offroad offers detailed trail guides for the 62 Jeep Badge of Honor trails, including the Rubicon Trail in California, Hell’s Revenge in Utah and Jericho Mountain in New Hampshire.

For even more adventures, owners can upgrade to a premium subscription that unlocks the full catalogue of 3000-plus trail guides. The catalogue spans a

roofine does not permit the rumoured third row of seating, so it’s stuck with fve seats. The ID.7 will have a new climate control system with active vents, a new HUD and a new 15-inch multimedia display. It will also feature new massage seats, a 700-Watt Harman Kardon sound-system option with 14 speakers and a 16-channel amplifer, plus four pre-confgured sound ‘packs’ including Pure, Relax, Speech and Vibrant.

The ID.7 will also have a Level 2+ driver-assistance system called Travel Assist, which uses swarm technology to take control of the car at speeds above 90km/h, including autonomous lane-change manoeuvres. A memory function for the parking assistance system allows the car to self-park for

wide variety of diffculty levels and terrains and boasts an unmatched level of information and quality, but unfortunately the guides do not extend beyond the US and Canada.

Wrangler now delivers standard frst- and second-row side-curtain airbags, plus standard forward collision warning and advanced cruise control with stop -- on Sport S and above. Rubicon models add even more 4x4 capability with an optional factoryinstalled 3630kg capacity Warn winch, up to 100:1 crawl ratio and new Dana 44 HD Full Float solid rear axle that allows for tyre upsizing by customers and up to 2270kg maximum towing. New Wrangler will be available in Sport, Willys, Sahara, High

up to 50 metres if it has driven that piece of road or driveway before. It can be controlled via a smartphone app, with the driver inside or out. The 2023 Volkswagen ID.7 is set to be a game-changer

in the electric vehicle market, with its long range and innovative features. It will be a great addition to the Volkswagen ID lineup and will no doubt be a popular choice for EV buyers.

Altitude, Rubicon and Rubicon 392 models.

From the 4.8L/100km 4xe plug-in hybrid to the V8-powered 350kW Rubicon 392, the new Wrangler offers customers the ability to choose from the most diverse powertrain options in the off-road segment.

The advanced 4xe lineup and high-performance Rubicon 392 come exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the 2.0- and 3.6-litre gas engines offer both a six-speed manual transmission and an eight-speed automatic

transmission.

• 2.0-litre turbocharged PHEV 4xe: 280kW and 637Nm of torque

• 2.0-litre turbocharged I-4 engine: 201kW and 400Nm of torque

• 3.6-litre V6: 212kW and 352Nm of torque

• 6.4-litre V8: 350kW and 637Nm of torque

By the end of 2025, Jeep says the entire North American Jeep brand line-up will be electrifed. By 2030, 50 per cent of Jeep sales in the United States will be fully electric.

New Wrangler will arrive here sometime in 2024.

The Finance Sector Union (FSU) has urged the major banks to stop closing bank branches in metropolitan and regional areas while a Senate Inquiry into Regional Branch Closures is underway. The FSU National Secretary, Julia Angrisano, expressed outrage at the National Australia Bank’s refusal to pause regional branch closures. “The NAB’s behaviour is outrageous,

completely out of step with community expectations and in breach of its social license,” Ms Angrisano said.

The NAB has announced branches at Jeparit and Inverloch in Victoria will close in July, as well as branches at Boonah, Qld and Queanbeyan, NSW.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has notifed the FSU that they will close branches at Bull Creek, WA and Aspley, Qld in June, resulting in the loss

UPCOMING SALE DATES

of 12 jobs.

The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) has also notifed the FSU that they will close branches at Clarkson, WA, Patterson Lakes, Victoria and Lane Cove, NSW in June, resulting in the loss of 15 jobs. The CBA and ANZ have committed to pausing regional closures while the Inquiry continues.

Ms Angrisano is adamant that the banks should be compelled to pause all closures, in

metropolitan and regional areas, while the Senate Inquiry is underway. “The major banks are making massive profts and yet they continue to shut down branches and don’t care about customers and businesses who are impacted by these closures,” Ms Angrisano said. “The morale of bank workers is at rock bottom as they wait to hear if their branch and their job is on the hit list. All Australians deserve to have access to

REAL ESTATE

the full range of fnancial services no matter where they live.”

The FSU is adamant that the major banks should stop closing bank branches while the Senate Inquiry is ongoing. Julia Angrisano believes that the NAB’s refusal to pause regional branch closures is outrageous and in breach of its social license.

The CBA and ANZ have both committed to pausing regional closures while the Inquiry continues.

Ms Angrisano has expressed concern for the bank workers who are left in limbo, waiting to hear if their branch and job is on the chopping block. She has urged the major banks to be compelled to pause all closures, in metropolitan and regional areas, while the Senate Inquiry is underway as all Australians deserve to have access to the full range of fnancial services no matter where they live.

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

JEFFREY GIBBS

RECENT CATTLE MARKET REPORTS

CASINO

NRLX MARKET REPORT

WEEK ENDING SATURDAY 29 APRIL

Agents yarded a total of 877 head at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange regular prime sale on Wednesday 26 April. The yarding consisted of a good supply of young cattle and a fair penning of cows. Young cattle were comprised mainly of vealers and weaners with a large percentage being light and medium weights. Quality was fairly mixed, although there were several pens of well bred cattle throughout the sale. The market varied considerably with not all the usual buyers in attendance.

WARWICK

MC DOUGALL & SONS LIVESTOCK MARKETS WARWICK WEEK ENDING

28/04/2023

Agents today yarded a total of 2905 head of sheep and lambs for the weekly sale. The stock was drawn from the New England as well as Maranoa and local suppliers. Th numbers increased for the week and saw an all-round result of an average of stock returning $121.80/head compared to $118.94/head last sale. The yarding saw Lambs top at $190 to average $139.39 ($par), hoggets topped at $130 to average $86.70($4down), Ewes topped at $104 to average $70.80($3down), wethers topped at $108 to average $86.93($8up), rams topped at $170 to

WARWICK

MC DOUGALL & SONS SHEEP & LAMB REPORT

Selling Agents followed the Anzac traditions and cancelled the weekly Cattle sale, to honour our fallen and serving veterans. The Sheep and Lamb sale was held with the numbers up from 2400 to 2905 head this week. This was the only rise for the sales as Pork and Poultry numbers were also back.

Cow prices saw a slight drop on last week averaging 235c/kg and reaching a top price of 265c/kg. Heifer prices were easier with lighter stock up to 250kg averaging 284c/kg and topping their category at 466c/kg. Heavier heifers over 250kg averaged 284c/ kg and reached a top of 372c/kg.

Bull prices remained steady with 13 head sold averaging 225c/kg and 664kg. Steer prices were cheaper with lighter stock up to 250kg averaging 361c/kg and reaching a top of 458c/kg. Heavier steers over 250kg averaged 341c/kg and topped their market at 418c/kg. A small number of bullocks sold on the day averaged 261c/kg and reached a top of 263c/kg.

Vealer prices saw a drop averaging 327c/kg and 254kg and reaching a top of 438c/kg.

T&W McCormack and Ramsey & Bulmer held

average $73.90($5down), Lamb rams topped at $131 to average $83.28($11down), Ewe lambs topped at $174 to average $169.50($42up).

Finlay Family sold Aussie White wether lambs 51 and 49 kg to Eversons for $174 and $169

Vermont Past Co sold Dorset x lambs 50.7kg to Thomas Foods for $150, 50.5kg to Thomas Foods for $152, 1st x ewes to Thomas Foods for $86

Armstrong Family sold Dorper x lambs 51.5kg to GR Prime for $169, 49.2kg to Eversons for $162, ewes to Eversons for $55

Stillwater Past Co sold Dorper lambs 48.3kg to Leslie Lamb for $164

Rory & Kathy Frost sold Dorper lambs 43.8kg to Leslie Lamb for $154, 36.8kg to Luck Meats for $130, ram lambs 58.3kg to Take IT Easy Meats for

Lambs topped at $190 to average $139.39 even par with last week Hoggets topped at $130 to average $86.70 down by $4/head Ewes topped at $104 to average $70.80 down by $3/ head Wethers topped at $108 to average $86.93 a rise of $8/head

Rams topped at $170 to average $73.90 down by $5/head Lamb rams topped at $131 to average $83.28 down by $11/head

a store sale at the NRLX on Friday 28 April with 2,329 head going under the hammer. Steers topped their category at 456c/kg and averaged 370c/kg and 265kg whilst heifers reached a top of 490c/kg and averaged 286c/kg and 244kg. Cows reached a top price of $1,975 whilst cows & calves topped their market at $2,650. PTIC heifers reached a top of $3,450.

Ray White Rural held their ‘Back in Black’

Angus breeder sale at the NRLX on Saturday 29 April with 300 head going under the hammer. The top priced bull of the day went for $11,000. Cows topped their market at $1,800 whilst Cows & Calves reached a top of $3,200 and PTIC heifers achieved a top of $3,000.

George & Fuhrmann will hold a store sale at the NRLX on Friday 12 May. Bookings are welcome!

$131, ewes to Eversons for $85

Owen Mc Auley sold 1st x Dorset lambs 43.7kg to GR Prime for $116, 40kg to restockers for $105, hoggets to GR Prime for $53, ewes to Eversons for $35

Rangemore Estate sold Dorper hoggets 80kg to Thomas Foods for $90

James Cowlishaw sold Merino wethers & ewes to Thomas Foods for $101

Brypine P/L sold Dorper x lambs 48.3kg to Uniplaza for $136, 47.6kg hoggets to Take IT Easy Meats for $70, 49kg ewes to GR Prime for $51

Sloss & Ramsay Family sold Merino wether lambs 36.8kg to GR Prime for $64, 33.9 to 33.5kg to restockers for $50.50, 30.2kg to restockers for $50

Les Holton sold a 4 tooth ex stud Dorper ram to Wilbury P/S for $170

Ewe lambs topped at $174 to average $169.50 up by $42/head Sale total of 2905 head averaged $121.80 a rise of $3/head week on week.

Sows sold to $150, Boars sold to $104, Baconers sold from $58 to $190, Stores sold from $42 to $170, Light Pork from $57 to $144.

Hens sold to $38, Roosters sold to $20, Pullets sold to $18, Guinea Fowl sold to $17.50, Turkeys to $25, Ducklings to $17.50/unit.

Dairy processors have been provided with additional information on their legal obligations under the Dairy Code of Conduct in advance of the 1 June deadline for the release of new milk supply agreements for the 2023-24 dairy season.

The ACCC’s updated Dairy Code guidance, published last week, provides further detail on how processors need to publish their milk supply agreements, when they can terminate an agreement with a farmer, how they can comply with the ‘single document’ requirement, and the meaning of a non-exclusive agreement under the code.

Importantly, it incorporates the Federal Court’s fndings in the frst ACCC proceedings brought under the Dairy Code.

The updates also simplify various aspects of the guidance to assist dairy farmers and processors to understand their rights and obligations under the code.

“The code has been in place now for almost three full dairy seasons and, generally speaking, we have seen compliance continue to improve. However, we urge processors to remain vigilant,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

“We want processors to familiarise themselves with our revised guidance so they are completely clear on their obligations under the code. For most processors this won’t require any major changes to current practices.” Ensuring compliance with industry codes of conduct in the agricultural sector is a compliance and enforcement priority for the ACCC in 2023-24.

“We’ll be conducting further compliance checks following the publication of new milk supply agreements on 1 June to ensure processors are complying with the code,” Mr Keogh said.

with both Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

Background

The Dairy Code (the Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes – Dairy) Regulations 2019) is a mandatory industry code prescribed under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

The code came into effect on 1 January 2020, and regulates the conduct of dairy farmers and processors by establishing rules for the use of standard form milk supply agreements in the dairy industry.

Under the Dairy Code, all processors that are not a small business entity must publish all of their standard form milk supply agreements on their website by 2pm on 1 June (AEST), and all milk supply agreements must comply with the code.

ACCC updates Dairy Code guidance for industry REINFORCING BIOSECURITY FOR INDONESIA AND TIMOR-LESTE

By Jeffrey Gibbs

Australia’s ongoing commitment to biosecurity remains strong, and the program to boost biosecurity capabilities in Indonesia and Timor-Leste is yet another example of our commitment to protecting our farmers from devastating diseases like FMD and LSD.

The Australian Government has continued to strengthen its commitment to biosecurity with a $770,000 international training program to boost biosecurity capabilities in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. This program is part of a

larger agenda to invest in regional biosecurity, which includes closer collaboration and cooperation with our closest neighbours.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister, Murray Watt, said that Australia is free from Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and wants to keep it that way. He said that by helping our neighbours detect and manage their risk, it will help protect our vital agricultural sector. Since May 2022, following the detection of FMD in Indonesia, the Australian Government has ramped up its work

The funding will create and deliver countryspecifc ‘train the trainer’ programs for Indonesia and Timor-Leste as part of a $14 million package announced by the Australian Government last year.

Charles Sturt University and the department have been working closely with animal and plant quarantine colleagues in Timor-Leste and Indonesia to determine gaps in their capacity to detect and mitigate the risk of exotic disease entering through regulated pathways.

The program will be conducted through Australia’s Biosecurity Training Centre (BTC) from April 2023 and will provide vital support to Indonesia’s efforts to control the FMD and LSD outbreaks while assisting Timor-Leste in

preventing and preparing for an incursion. Indonesian participants will be receiving training in international best practice approaches to biosecurity, including developing an understanding of the practical implementation of these approaches. Areas covered will include import risk analysis, border clearance processes, on shore management, disinfection treatments, and specifc risk management associated with high priority transboundary plant pests and animal diseases including FMD and LSD.

Timorese delegates will have their existing skills expanded with a focus on key animal and plant pests and diseases that are important in the Timor-Leste setting, with the key focus being mitigating the risk of FMD, which is currently

not present in TimorLeste, through border inspection techniques. Both Indonesian and Timorese offcers will learn ‘train the trainer’ techniques to enable them to mentor their colleagues.

The October budget saw the Albanese Government commit to $134 million in new, long-term biosecurity investment to protect Australia from exotic diseases. This funding has seen a surge in frontline biosecurity offcers, the donation of four

million doses of FMD vaccines to Indonesia, the redeployment of detection dogs to northern airports, and the introduction of sanitation foot mats at all international airports with fights from Indonesia. Australia’s commitment to biosecurity remains strong and this program to boost biosecurity capabilities in Indonesia and Timor-Leste is yet another example of our dedication to protecting our farmers from devastating diseases like FMD and LSD.

A return to business as usual

Having only been held twice since 2019, Norco Primex will be back to its normal schedule this year with the field days to be held fromMay 11 to 13 at the Richmond Valley Events Centre in Casino, New SouthWales.

With farmgate production annually in excess of $2 billion throughout the region, encompassing industries such as horticulture, broadacre, livestock, and heavy equipment in addition to specialty and organic cropping and other emerging primary industries, all sectors are covered at the event.

Norco Primex director Bruce Wright said close to 350 exhibitors andmore than 1200 suppliers will present and engage with primary industries and producerswhile showcasing their products and services with the latest information and

innovation to assist and advance opportunities for farmers into the future.

“There is no other event like Primex between Brisbane and Sydney that presents such an extensive and relevant range of brands covering machinery, equipment, products and services.

WELCOME TO PRIMEX 2023

“This is what makes Primex Australia’s largest coastal-based agribusiness trade exhibition. We specialise in the needs of producers from throughout the NSW Mid and North Coast, New England, Northern Rivers, and southeast Queensland.

We welcome all residents and visitors to the Richmond Valley, a community full of people passionate about our agricultural industries.

Richmond Valley Council has been a long-term supporter of PRIMEX, and the business and industry leaders who rely on this event each year to drive economic opportunity and growth.

Enjoy your time at Primex, and hopefully we will see you again soon!

“I’m very pleased Primex is back inMay. We’re rebuilding our capabilities to service and meet the demand of primary producers with the best line-up of exhibitorsand products applicable to business and family living.”

Mr Wright said

producers are expected back en masse as they get set to drive forward with production into a more stable new year.

“This is the one chance in a year to see the latest products and services along with exciting displays, promotions, and demonstrations, all

of which makes Primex a unique and special event.

“Agriculture is changing rapidly and with Norco Primex having always been about connecting suppliers with our rural and farming communities, the timing of this year’s event has the added benefits of EOFY and hosting the world’s biggest and best names in agricultural machinery and supplies.

Norco Primex is themust-see event in 2023.”

Close to 350 exhibitors and more than 1200 suppliers will showcase their products and services with the latest information and innovation at Norco Primex. Picture supplied courtesy of primex.net.au

Norco Primex director Bruce Wright

Primex is working with Government, Support Groups and Organisations to bring together a range of health experts and organisations in a dedicated area of the Event. The objective is to provide visitors with the opportunity to receive health advice and a range of check-ups, including blood pressure checks, blood sugar level testing, hepatitis C testing, and skin cancer spot checks, among many others.

Those participating in the Health & Wellbeing Hub can also connect visitors with support networks across the Region for various health conditions.

This initiative is an affirmative action and proactive response to ensure that the North Coast and specifically

Health & Wellbeing

Northern Rivers, as a vast area of villages and smaller rural communities, have the same health and

wellbeing opportunities as those who live in larger urban areas.

We know it can be difficult to get people

from our farming and rural communities in to see medical professionals and this is the primary objective of the Hub.

VISIT THE CASINO FOOD CO-OP AT PRIMEX

11TH - 13TH MAY 2023

SITE B22

OUR 'BEEF HUB' PROGRAM

View latest technology from AMPC; virtual headsets & 'Spot' the robotic dog

Having a dedicated space for all participating organisations will be a significant step towards generating the

support, information, and resources that our communities need and provide check-ups they can get.

Our own David Carew, will be cooking up a storm showcasing tasty cuts of meat

Talk to Joe Leven, Member Services about our River Crystal Initiative Projects

Our HR team will be on site, looking to recruit our next generation workforce

Heidi Hayes will be there to answer any questions about direct consignments

Come and meet Sue, Irwin & Sam from our Health & Wellbeing Centre

Located adjacent to MLA

Business, Innovation & AgriTech

Primex Field Days has been dedicated to showcasing innovation for decades and are working in conjunction with strategic partners to create new & exciting phases of development and coverage through our Business & Innovation Hub. Solutions that accelerate improved efficiencies in agriculture are driven in many ways by our farming and primary industries and this will only happen working alongside facilitators, enablers & investors.

We are dedicated to

together.

Primex is one of the only agricultural field days, with 350

Scholarship, engaging with our NextGen in Education and Careers within innovation and

Hub

Collaboration is our focus, enabling us to

In conjunction with a number of organisations, government agencies and stakeholders, Primex

• Business networking

• Education

• NextGen

• Advisory for start-ups

• Inventors

• Succession planning

• Future farming

• Finance & investment

• Jobs advisory

• Ag-tech

Business, Innovation & AgriTech

• Sourdough Business Pathways

• The Rural Women’s Network

• Optus

• Uncrewed

presenting the evolution of technology and with that, have identified the demand and importance of working alongside partners who can bring capacity of connectivity

exhibitors, 1100 suppliers and targeted 25,000+ industry delegates and visitors, that’s committed to offering funding through its Innovation

offering a launchpad to support ideas that can revolutionise productivity on a global scale.

PRIMEX Innovation

develop events and activations designed to build strong programs and relationships alongside our stakeholders.

Business Innovation

Hub is a highlight of the Primex program offering a solutions-based hub with an exciting trade exhibition and program featuring:

• JDS Drone Pasture Solutions

• Datamars Livestock

• Skytech Solutions

• Alarm Australia

• Outback Guidance

• Falcon UAV

Primex, in partnership with NSW Department of Education and NSW Local Land Services, is creating the Region’s leading Education & Careers Hub, showcasing the complete primary, secondary and tertiary education opportunities and pathways, highlighting future careers throughout Australian primary industries & the entire primary production supply-chain.

Education and Innovation are strategic pillars of Primex, with the hub providing an engaging centrepiece for schools, job seekers and attendees to learn and access the critical information about our world-class food and fibre production and the opportunities to join and remain in a strong and rewarding career.

Education providers at all levels will join primary industry groups, business and experts providing solutionsbased information designed to attract and retain our educators, youth and next generation as immediate action is required for skilled and passionate advocates sharing the passion in a rewarding industry.

With new and exciting life-long careers available in food and fibre right across the supply chain, the Education & Careers Hub can sow the seed and identify the opportunities of the diversity of careers ranging from work on-farm, in science, technology, business management, innovation, logistics, animal welfare,

Education & Careers

marketing and research and development across our region, nation and globe.

Primex is the ideal location to profile large interactive presentations and career options including job training and vacancies, engagement through presentations and networking amongst educators, industry and employees, while targeting our school groups and programs.

Education & Careers

• NSW Department of Education

• PIEFA – Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia

• TAFE NSW

• UQ Skills

• KSB Training

• Southern Cross University

NextGen Program

With our partner Southern Cross University

Primex is committed and passionate about Australian agriculture and primary industries,

supporting our rural and regional communities and showcasing the latest in innovation, education, and sustainable farming techniques and practices. In partnership with Southern Cross University and some of our country’s most visionary and committed producer organisations, NextGen elevates the profile of the important pathways available in agriculture and primary industries.

NextGen promotes a premier range of campaigns resourced by these producer and grower organisations, creating opportunities for engagement all-yearround and highlighted during Primex. Stakeholders supporting the NextGen program will work alongside career advisors, teachers and agricultural based government agencies to target and assist in a

coordinated approach that offers; Workshops, skills development, and support towards regional-national campaigns and competitions.

• Innovation & Ag-Tech activities (drones, gps, precision ag equipment, apps, etc.)

• Skills development activities including

practical elements

e.g., fencing, livestock & agronomy

• Introductions to regenerative agriculture, risk & safety, national best-practices

• Building relationships and networks through membership, industry and awarding achievement

The NextGen program is continuing to develop and grow, we therefore welcome any interested parties to join several state and national based organisations supporting this initiative to empower Australia’s Next Generation of farmers and primary industry production.

Forestry & Timber Industry Collective

Hurford’s Forest in conjunction with Timber NSW, NE NSW Forestry Hub will be inviting all industry stakeholders to attend the Timber & Forestry Industry Collective at Primex 2023.

This will be the first time, many of our industry have been able to meet and network while seeing the latest in machinery, equipment, products and innovations that are critical to the sustainability of our industry throughout Australia and most specifically the northern NSW and southern Qld timber and forestry corridor.

The Forestry & Timber Industry Collective represents a collaboration between Primex and key industry stakeholders including Koppers Wood Products, Hurford’s Sawmill, Sustainable Forest Management, Local Land Services, NE NSW Forestry and Timber NSW.

Like many other facets that make Primex Field Days such an important

event, supporting primary industry through education and innovation is a pillar, and the Forestry & Timber Industry Collective will initiate the networking and trade presentations to establish the collaboration.

Engaging visitors will also be a critical factor in providing key learnings on one of our country’s great natural resources. Profling important & practical value-adds in

areas such as the use of bark tannin, through to insights into biofuels and timber products including utility poles. With timber part of our low carbon future as we head towards CN30, the Collective will include service providers profcient in supporting landowners from assessment of their land through to reforestation options.

The entire supply-chain is covered where you

can see and be part of heavy machinery demonstrations, landcare with regenerative farming practices and tree planting programs, alongside practical outcomes for plantation forestry with integration of farms and trees for long-term benefts. Linked to our Education and Careers Hub, employment and job opportunities and training in the Forestry and Timber Industries

and processing will offer a range of potential opportunities into the future.

Earthmoving, Construction & Forestry

• OneTrak

• Local Land Services

– Farm Forestry

• Mulchtech Australia

• Komatsu Australia

• Sustainable Forest Managaement

• NSW Department of Primary Industries

• Timber NSW

• NE NSW Forestry Hub

• Equipment Services Australia

• Koppers Wood Products

• Yello Equipment

• Hurfords

• Hercules Loaders

• EEA Group

• Cobra Equipment

• RDO Equipment

• WesTrac

• Active Machinery

• Equipment Specialists

Andrew Hurford Chair, Timber NSW

SPRING GROVE ROAD

FRIDAY

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST SEMI - FINAL

SBS, 5am

With Perth’s fearless, ri -laden, synth-metal band Voyager (above) representing Australia in Eurovision’s second semi- nal, this is the chance for Aussie viewers to get their votes in. Voyager will perform their track Promise on the Eurovision stage – where dreams are made, and anything is possible. The energetic ve-piece are competing alongside 15 other artists, including fellow Aussie Andrew Lambrou, who’ll be singing for Cyprus. SBS’s exclusive coverage will once again be in the capable hands of Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey who will bring witty banter and insights as they guide Australia through the glitz, glamour, and madness

FRIDAY, May 5

SATURDAY CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III

SEVEN, 4pm

Teapots, ritzy headwear and coronation quiches at the ready – the royal-watching event of the year has arrived, happily in prime-time for Australian viewers. Despite reports of a stripped-back event, there will still be pomp and ceremony to spare as King Charles III and Queen Camilla (right) formally celebrate their roles in a service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury at London’s Westminster Abbey – the site of coronation ceremonies dating back 900 years. Seven’s broadcast of the festivities, led by Michael Usher, will include expert commentary from former BBC chief royal correspondent Angela Rippon, palace insider Victoria Arbiter and the King’s biographer Robert Jobson.

WEDNESDAY NORTH SHORE

TEN, 8.40pm

Filmed in Sydney last year, this six-part drama sees Australian detectives team up with their British counterparts to solve the murder of a UK politician’s daughter. Along the way, they uncover a conspiracy with international political consequences. Driven by complex characters, North Shore explores themes of greed, desire and ambition. The series builds to a shocking reveal as the unmasking of the killer brings to light a complex web of lies and deceit which threaten to bring the elite world of the North Shore crashing down. Stars familiar faces such as John Bradley, Joanne Froggatt, Kirsty Sturgess, Dan Spielman (above with Froggatt), Rob Carlton and Matt Passmore.

6.00 The Drum.

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Gardening Australia. Costa meets a team cultivating inclusion.

8.30 Traces. (MA15+a) Two suspects derail the investigation as McKinven and Sarah are consumed by their feelings.

9.15 Mayfair Witches. (Premiere, Mals)

An intuitive young neurosurgeon suspects she may possess supernatural abilities.

10.10 Interview With The Vampire. (Premiere, MA15+s)

A vampire shares his story.

11.15 ABC Late News.

11.30 Aunty Donna’s Co ee Cafe. (MA15+l, R)

12.00 Close To Me. (Final, Mals, R)

12.50 Smother. (Mal, R)

1.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Supertunnels.

8.30 Robson Green’s British Adventure: The Deveron And The Spey. Part 2 of 4.

9.25 Exploring Northern Ireland. (PGl, R)

10.20 SBS World News Late.

10.50 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (MA15+av)

11.45 Reunions. (PGal, R)

1.40 Romulus. (Masv)

3.40 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.40 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 7News Local.

6.30 7News @ 6:30.

7.00 Better Homes And Gardens.

Johanna Griggs visits an eco village, where the homes are energy e cient. Karen Martini makes some salted macadamia and almond caramels. Graham Ross does a walkaround of Willoughby Garden.

8.30 MOVIE: Inferno. (2016, Malv, R) After a professor awakens in an Italian hospital with no memory of the past few days, he joins forces with one of his doctors to uncover the truth about what happened to him and why someone wants him dead. Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Irrfan Khan.

11.05 To Be Advised.

12.30 Home Shopping.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current A air.

7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 10. Manly Sea Eagles v Brisbane Broncos. From Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.

9.55 Golden Point. A wrap-up of the Manly Sea Eagles versus Brisbane Broncos match, with news and analysis.

10.40 MOVIE: American Assassin. (2017, MA15+lv, R) A man investigates terrorist attacks. Dylan O’Brien, Michael Keaton.

12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R) Hosted by Ben Shephard.

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Postcards. (PG, R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news and events.

7.30 Bondi Rescue. (PGal) New Year’s Day arrives and Harrison is on alert as thousands descend on Bondi Beach.

8.30 Ambulance Australia. (Mal, R) Follows dispatchers and paramedics working for NSW Ambulance’s Sydney operations.

9.30 Territory Cops. (Mv, R) Detectives are at the scene of a serious crash that has one woman critically injured.

10.30 Ambulance Australia. (Mal, R) Paramedics are called to a bomb threat.

11.30 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news and events.

12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) Late-night talk show.

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

Norco Primex Site Plan

Affordable Housing

Showcasing the best suppliers, ideas, products and solutions for the North Coast Region, the Affordable Housing, Home & Lifestyle Hub is designed to service the short-medium term needs of our communities.

The Hub will also incorporate the future vision in planning, investment and infrastructure for the region in residential, commercial, industrial and lifestyle sectors.

NSW Government announced it was making changes to planning rules around agritourism.

https:// thefarmermagazine.com. au/red-tape-slashed-foragritourism/

Affordable Housing, Home & Lifestyle

• Adjusta Matress

• AJ Magney

• Australian Concrete Fence Posts & Erosion Mats

• Before You Dig Australia

• Best Sheds

• Bioseptic

• Bunnings

• Bushman’s Group

• Casino Lifestyle Village

• Clarence Property

• Country Tanks

• Duraplas Water

Tanks

• Ecokleen Solar Richmond Valley

• EcoSAT by Station Innovation

• Essential Energy

• Fair Dinkum Builds

• George & Fuhrmann Real Estate

• Kingspan Water Tanks

• Kyogle Council

• Manor Homes

• NBN

• Nickel Energy

• North Coast Local Land Services

• Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation

• Paal Kit Homes

• Premium Solar & Electrical

• Pristine Water Systems

• Profle Solutions

• Quikfence

• Rainbow Power Company

• Red Energy

• Richmond Valley Council

• Rooftech Roofng Solutions

• SCU-Tech Piping Systems

• Septic Science

• Shedfast

• Sleeptime

• Sneddens Fencing Products

• Switchpods

• Wenatex the Sleep System

• Westonfence

• Wheelie Rooms

Lismore Toyota

Lismore Toyota is a leading dealership in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, offering a wide range of vehicles to meet the needs of drivers across the area. From versatile work Utes like the Hi-Lux to fuel-efficient hybrid models, Lismore Toyota has something to suit every lifestyle and budget.

For drivers who need a reliable workhorse that can handle tough jobs, Lismore Toyota also offers a range of Utes including the legendary Hi-Lux. With a reputation for durability and off-road performance, the Hi-Lux is the perfect choice for farmers, tradespeople, and anyone who needs a vehicle that can handle

heavy loads and rough terrain. If fuel efficiency is a priority, Lismore Toyota offers a range of Hybrid vehicles that combine the benefits of electric power with the convenience of a petrol engine. These vehicles are not only better for the environment but

also offer significant fuel savings compared to traditional petrolpowered cars. The Toyota Hybrid’s extensive passenger lineup includes the Yaris, Corolla, C-HR, Camry, RAV4 and Kluger ranges. In addition to offering

Dover & Sons set for Primex

our dairy farmers by only purchasing brandedmilk.

“People within the dairy industry were once our biggest supporters, and now we need to support them and this is as simple as encouraging people not to purchase the dollar per litre milk,” Mr Dover said.

a wide range of vehicles, Lismore Toyota is also committed to supporting the local community. They are proud vehicle sponsors of the Northern Rivers Primex Event, and you’ll find the friendly team at site P31/P32 during the event. Lismore Toyota

guests can expect a high level of service from the friendly and knowledgeable staff, who are dedicated to helping drivers find the perfect vehicle to meet their needs. With a range of financing options available, including competitive interest

rates and flexible repayment terms, Lismore Toyota makes it easy for customers to get behind the wheel of a new Toyota.

Lismore Toyota is a trusted dealership in the Northern Rivers region, offering a diverse range of vehicles to suit the needs of all drivers. With their commitment to sustainability and community engagement, Lismore Toyota is not just a place to buy a car, but a partner in driving towards a better future. To find out more visit the team at Primex or view their showroom online 24/7 at lismoretoyota.com.au

COME along to the Primex Field Days and experience the old-fashion customer service of Dover & Sons while viewing the latest range of machinery and farming equipment.

Dover & Sons industry knowledge stems back 122 years through the one family operation and today, cousins Murray and Bob Dover are committed to providing the latest and most efficient agricultural equipment, from tractors to irrigation supplies and services, to their valued customers.

Dover & Sons has witnessed the evolution ofnfarming equipment and machinery and their team understand all of your currentnpractical equipment requirements.

“We pride ourselves on a progressive and honest approach. Machinery and equipment needs to be safe, as this

leads to better onfarm efficiencies and increased productivity,” Murray Dover said.

Dover & Sons also service what they sell and can supply parts for all of their product ranges. The Dover & Sons team are excited to be exhibiting at Primex this year, being their 32nd year of attendance.

“We have been going to Primex for a long time now, the event ensures we do not lose contact with our valued clients, it’s not just about showcasing our business but also about learning how we can better support people in the industry.”

MurrayDover is a passionate supporter of the dairy industry and uses the Norco sponsored event to promote awareness around issues facing the industry and the importance to support

Dover & Sons will have their ever-popular Munro post-driver on display this year as well as their range of Class tractors and hay-making equipment, Lemken and Hatzenbichler farmequipment

“We always gain as much information as we give out at Primex, we look forward to speaking with farmers and contractors, and enjoy learning about their new and innovative ideas,” Mr Dover said.

Dover & Sons have been supporting people in agriculture since 1900, with branches located at Beaudesert and Boonah in South East Queensland.

Specialising in a wide range of respected agricultural brands, for more information come and see us at Primex this year.

Do you know how to stay safe around electricity, especially during fire and storm season? Essential Energy is here help to you with advice, access to free installation of our ‘Powerline Aerial Marker’ and even a free app to help you plan work around powerlines and poles on your land.

Essential Energy will once again be at Primex 2023 at Stand N27, so call in and chat to our friendly team, who can answer your questions about staying safe during a storm, flood, fire, as well as safety around powerlines and power poles.

The team can also demonstrate our powerline aerial markers and tell you about our free installation program

where our local depot will determine the best placement and fix up to ten highly visible spinners on powerlines, making them significantly more noticeable.

There’s something for all ages – little kids will love learning safety tips while playing our giant

‘Cables and Ladders’ game; older kids can also check out our cool work vehicles and even learn about what it’s like to work at Essential Energy.

All visitors to our stand can enter our competition to win a Honda EU22i Inverter Generator by answering a simple safety question!

Special Acknowledgement

The Management and staff of The Northern Rivers Times and Heartland Media would like to thank Bruce Wright and his staff for allowing us to bring this 16 page lift out on the Norco Primex 2023. It brings so much to our community each and every year.

Our heart felt congratulations to Bruce and his wonderful team for bringing Norco Primex to our communities this year.

Sincerely,

Jeff Gibbs and Sharon Bateman

Primex ‘Nourish Food & Drink’ offers a complete supply chain experience where farmers and foodies meet!

Ducks) shared some of his cooking expertise with the Northern Rivers community at Primex 2022.

See, taste, and share a variety of food experiences and destinations.

The Nourish program showcases the region’s locally produced foods and products, creating the connection between farmers and foodies.

Primex 2023 is set to deliver its biggest program yet, profiling food, brewery, and distillery products with leading chef demonstrations and associated events offering a whole new culinary experience for Primex attendees.

With a passion for sustainability and love of local produce, Darren Robinson (Three Blue

“We produce some of best food ingredients in the world right here and I think Primex is the perfect place to showcase what we can do. I love connecting our local growers with the food-loving public and can’t wait to be a part of one of our region’s best events”

“It was so great to be asked to be part of Primex this year, especially since it was the first mass gathering we’d been able to have in the region. Seeing so many local faces, and producers coming out and supporting our local area was so good to see.”

PRODUCERS SEEK TO BOOST PRODUCTIVITY AS PRODUCER DEMONSTRATION SITE APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 2023/2024

Funding applications are now open for cattle and sheep producers throughout Australia who are interested in running local projects to demonstrate on-farm benefts of research and development fndings.

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is calling for applications for its 2023-24 Producer Demonstration Sites (PDS) program, with applications opening on 3 April 2023 and closing on 16 May 2023. This includes levy and co-contributor funding options for projects ranging from two to six years.

MLA Group Manager, Adoption and Commercialisation, Sarah Strachan, said the PDS program aims to increase the rate of adoption of key management practices and commercially available technologies that improve business proftability, productivity and sustainability.

This is achieved by supporting livestock producers working in peer-to-peer groups to pursue new skills, knowledge and management practices applicable to their own commercial livestock production systems, and ultimately adoption of these practices.

“Adoption of research outcomes is critical to getting the best return on the research investments that MLA makes on behalf of levy payers,” Ms Strachan said. “This year we are looking forward to seeing applications come forward in a range of areas including cattle and sheep reproductive performance, best practice management of internal parasites, and improved grazing and land management practices to beneft productivity and sustainability.

“MLA’s investment since 2015 has delivered an estimated $12.7m in

Coraki Rural & Hardware Supplies

102-104 Queen Elizabeth Drive CORAKI

annual net benefts or $6.68/hectare.”

There are two funding options available to producer groups wishing to participate in the PDS program, being levy and co-contributor.

• Producer groups wishing to engage in a levy PDS project can apply for up to $30,000 per year for the length of the project.

• Groups wishing to engage in a cocontributor PDS project

can apply for up to $60,000 per year for the length of the project. All producer groups will need to engage a facilitator who is experienced in group coordination and extension, monitoring and evaluation of onfarm practice change and communication and reporting.

Co-contributor projects require cash investment in the project, which is matched by the

MLA Donor Company (MDC).

Levy PDS program applications must be aligned to regional PDS priorities set by the Research Advisory Committees – SALRC, NABRC and WALRC. A complete list and further details of eligible categories can be found on the MLA website ( Terms of Reference ). Co-contributor PDS program applications

must align with industry priorities and targets as per industry and MLA strategic plans

For full details of the Producer Demonstration sites (PDS) program and to watch webinar recordings about MLA’s PDS program and how to set yourself up for success in the upcoming PDS call, visit the Producer Demonstration Site section of MLA’s website

HAVE YOUR SAY ON AUSTRALIAN SEAFOOD IMPORT CONTROLS

‘Have Your Say’ consultation is now open for the discussion paper on measures to prevent the importation of seafood from fsheries involving illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fshing practices.

Assistant Secretary of Fisheries Branch, Mr George Day said Australia is committed to combating IUU fshing through direct domestic action and international collaboration.

“IUU fshing contributes to global overfshing,

undermines sustainable management of fsh stocks, threatens marine ecosystems, and puts food security and regional stability at risk,” Mr Day said.

“While Australia adheres to several multilateral catch documentation schemes, concerns have been raised that Australia does not have a national import control scheme to prevent IUU imports entering the country.

“To take appropriate action, we need to better understand

Australia’s vulnerability to IUU fshing imports, identify risks, and explore options for corrective actions if necessary.

“In assessing the case for additional market-based measures, the department will consider the views of consumers, industry, fshers, governments, and non-government organisations, aided by the ‘Have Your Say’ consultation.

“Your submission will inform a draft report that will be released later this year. We will seek further public feedback

LAST CHANCE FOR OYSTER FARMERS TO CLAIM REBATE

Oyster growers are reminded they only have until Monday to claim a $3000 rebate from the state’s peak farming group.

NSW Farmers Oyster Manager Andy Myers said every Class-A aquaculture permit holder was eligible to apply for a $3000 rebate on eligible items and activities, with close to $800,000 handed out through this process.

“It’s been a tough couple of years for growers –from bushfres to all of the wet weather we’ve seen recently causing havoc for the oyster

industry,” Mr Myers said.

“We’re investing the time and resources to help growers better prepare for the future and offer them a helping hand to improve their businesses.”

Part of the eligibility requirements was completion of a free, online training program for the NSW Oyster Industry developed by OceanWatch Australia, in close partnership with NSW Farmers and the NSW Government, about developing responsible and sustainable farming practices.

Mr Myers said following the Black Summer bushfres NSW Farmers secured funding for an online training program covering aquaculture management, biosecurity, workplace health & safety, water quality and more.

“The oyster industry attracts people from all backgrounds, from hobby farm retirees to multiple-generational farmers operating across the state,” he said.

“This means the knowledge, skills and professionalism of farmers varies considerably, so our

on the draft report before releasing a fnal report in early 2024.”

Stakeholders can provide submissions or complete

a survey via https:// haveyoursay.agriculture. gov.au/iuu-seafoodimports

Consultation on the

discussion paper will open on 24 April 2023 and close at 5:00pm (AEDT) on 23 June 2023.

goal was to help create a bespoke training program for the industry and establish a baseline level of knowledge across the industry.

“Extending this information and details of best practice helps the growers to improve their

businesses and create a more robust industry that can withstand future challenges.

“Anyone who’s spent money on improving their business, and undertakes this online course, will likely be eligible for the rebate.”

Mr Myers said the training and rebate was a great chance for oyster growers to not only build their own business, but also contribute to the overall professionalism of the industry.

NSW RURAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES TO BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSPORT ACCESSIBILITY

By Jeffrey Gibbs

Residents of rural and regional NSW are set to beneft from an investment of more than $2.09 million in improved and safer bus stops. This funding is part of the Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme (CPTIGS) which supports local councils and community groups to upgrade their bus stops. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison, said the CPTIGS will see 475

bus stop improvement programs rolled out across 19 regional Local Government Areas, including the installation of useful aids such as guide rails, tactile ground surface indicators, security lighting, improved kerbside access, better timetable boards and new bus stop seating. Moreover, some locations may get new shelters providing greater protection from the elements and more comfort and security for those waiting for a bus.

These grants will fund councils and community groups to carry out the works, which include 122 new shelters and 353 bus stop upgrades. This is particularly benefcial for small towns and villages, as many people there rely on buses for their daily activities. Making bus stops safer and more accessible will improve the public transport experience in the region, and make it more accessible for those with vision or impairments and those in wheelchairs.

It will also beneft everyone who uses the public transport network, from school children and parents with prams to older people. The scheme is designed to support communities in regional NSW, and is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to more accessible public transport infrastructure across the state. For more information on CPTIGS including a breakdown of the latest round of funding, please visit the offcial website.

Overall, this funding is aimed at providing access to better and safer public transport in regional and rural NSW. The improved infrastructure will beneft all those who rely on buses to go to school,

appointments or connect with larger regional centres and other modes of transport. It will also make public transport more accessible and comfortable for those with disabilities or impairments.

TROUT SPAWNING STREAM RULES NOW IN PLACE IN THREDBO AND EUCUMBENE RIVERS

Recreational fshers are reminded that the annual trout fshing spawning stream rules commence from Monday 1 May 2023 in the region’s two declared spawning streams.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Deputy Director General Fisheries, Sean Sloan said the annual trout spawning stream fshing rules apply to the Thredbo River and its tributaries and the Eucumbene River and

its tributaries (upstream of the backed-up waters of Lake Eucumbene and including Providence Portal).

“While this is a great opportunity to target trophy trout in the Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers, there are some special rules in place to provide protection for spawning trout,” Mr Sloan said.

“A minimum size limit of 50cm, daily bag limit of one and possession

Weather Outlook

The past week saw severe Tropical Cyclone (TC) Ilsa bring heavy rainfall across remote areas of central Australia, with higher totals near the Pilbara coast in Western Australia. The remnants of TC Ilsa combined with a cold front, leading to heavy rainfall being recorded across south-eastern Australia.

Troughs in the tropical north resulted in rainfall across the Northern Territory’s Top End and the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.

Cropping regions saw rainfall totals of between 15 and 50 millimetres, across eastern Western Australia, northern Queensland, southern New South Wales, much of Victoria, and western and central South Australia.

Unfortunately, other regions of the cropping area had little to no

rainfall. This lack of rain was also felt around the world, as average to below average rainfall during March is likely to result in lower-thanexpected winter wheat production potential in the United States and Ukraine. Corn and soybean production across Argentina and southern Brazil have also been negatively affected, this providing a deterioration in global production conditions compared to those seen in March, which were used to formulate ABARES forecasts of global grain supplies and the impact on world prices in its March edition of Agricultural commodities.

As a result, global coarse grain and oilseed production is likely to be lower than that forecast in March. Looking ahead to the next 8 days, a high-pressure system

limit of two trout applies to the Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers from 1 May to the end of the King’s Birthday long weekend on Monday, June 12, 2023.

“Fishers can only use one rod and line at a time, rigged with up to two artifcial fies or lures and they can possess up to three rods, rigged with artifcial fies or lures, however the use and possession of handlines is not permitted, and

is expected to keep much of the country generally dry. However, a trough in the north will trigger storms across the Top End and northern Queensland. Meanwhile, cool onshore winds are expected to bring showers over eastern New South Wales and southeast Queensland. A trough and front crossing southeast Australia should bring showers over Victoria, southeast South Australia and western Tasmania. Rainfall totals of up to between 10 and 25 millimetres are expected for southern New South Wales, and much of Victoria and South Australia in the next eight days. Little to no rainfall is expected for the remaining cropping regions.

Where rain does fall, it will help build soil moisture levels in the lead up to the winter cropping season and also beneft pasture growth rates and availability.

any fshing gear rigged for bait fshing is also prohibited.

“DPI Fisheries Offcers will be patrolling the Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers to ensure that fshers abide by the rules and fshers are encouraged to respect each other and be sure to leave the area as pristine as it was found.”

The public is urged to report illegal or suspected illegal fshing activities to the Fishers

Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 or via the online report form. For more information on fshing rules and bag limits, please visit the DPI website

Dry conditions elsewhere would allow harvest and planting activities to progress.

Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) remained steady at 89 percent of total of capacity between 13 April 2023 and 20 April 2023. Current volume of water held in storage is 19 956 GL, which is 2 percent or 306 GL more than at the same time last year. Allocation prices in the Victorian Murray below the Barmah Choke decreased from $13 on

13 April 2023 to $11 on 20 April 2023. Prices are lower in the Murrumbidgee and regions above the Barmah choke due to the binding of the Murrumbidgee export limit and Barmah choke trade constraint. Overall, it has been a challenging week with regards to global grain production and rainfall in Australia. There has been a lack of rainfall across much of the country, with areas in central Australia seeing the most rainfall. The next week is looking

to be drier, which will allow for harvest and planting activities to progress for those areas that have not received any rainfall.

Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin remain steady and allocation prices in the Victorian Murray have decreased. It is important that we continue to monitor rainfall patterns and global grain production in order to better understand the impact it has on agricultural commodities.

People Product Partnerships

NICK RUSSONIELLO: ONE MAN BAND

The Northern Rivers Conservatorium, in association with Musica Viva Australia, is pleased to present a special event in its Concert Room on Saturday 20th May at 7PM, a “one-man band” mashup presented by award winning saxophonist Nick Russoniello.

From baroque to beatbox, Russoniello presents a virtuosic tour de force of melodies, counterpoint and grooves. Armed with a loop station and multiple saxophones, Russoniello journeys through music from baroque to beatbox and beyond. Audiences will be taken behind the scenes of the creative process as the music is constructed layer by layer before their eyes (and ears!). Russoniello reimagines the music of Telemann, Elena Kats-Chernin, Katy Abbot and Creedence Clearwater.

Bio

Nick Russoniello is a highly accomplished performer and composer with an exciting career in Australia and abroad. Nick has been the recipient of a number of major awards including the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year Award and the Fine Music Kruger Scholarship. Nick has appeared as a soloist with the Adelaide, Queensland, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras and as a guest artist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian World Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. Nick is a soughtafter chamber musician and his ensembles Continuum Sax, Duo Histoire and The Golden Age Project perform regularly across the country for organisations including Musica Viva, ABC Classic FM, Sydney Festival, City Recital Hall and Phoenix Central Park. Nick’s original compositions have been gaining attention at an international level with performances at events including the World Saxophone Congress (Zagreb), the European Saxophone Festival (Porto). In 2019 Nick undertook a European tour, presenting his compositions at the Royal College of Music (London) and the Conservatorio Di Musica G. Verdi (Milan) and the Conservatoire De Strasbourg (France). Nick’s Suite for Saxophone and Loop Station was recently featured on the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra’s Voyages of Musical Discovery Program. Nick is currently a doctoral candidate at the

Sydney Conservatorium of Music where he tutors Composition for the Creative Industries. He is a Yamaha Australia Artist, D’addario Woodwind artist and an associate artist of The Australian Music Centre. The Northern Rivers Conservatorium will continue to offer free tickets to food-affected members of our community through 2023. We have many more fantastic events lined up in our Concert Room and other venues in Lismore. Stay tuned!

BOOKINGS: https:// nick-russoniello.eventbrite. com.au FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ events/1664326893995666

FREE TICKETS FOR FLOOD-AFFECTED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY For more details about the 2023 Visiting Artists Program please visit https://events. nrcac.edu.au For media enquiries please contact Andy Downer 0411 128 346 or andy.downer@nrcac. edu.au

PH: 6686 9600

ballinafaircinemas.com.au

Thurs April 27th - Wed May 3rd

80 FOR BRADY M 95 Min

AIR M 112 Min

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 M 149 Min

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 MA15+ 169 Min

MAFIA MAMMA MA15+ 101 Min

POLITE SOCIETY M 104 Min

THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE PG 92 Min

FOR ALL SESSION DAYS AND TIMES CHECKOUT OUR WEBSITE

have an amazing line up of shows coming to the Saraton.

LUKE KIDGELL HAPPY HOUR

Sunday June 11, 2023 @ 6.30pm

QUEEN BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Friday June 16, 2023 @ 8pm

THE ROBERTSON BROTHERS 60’S

VARIETY SHOW

Sunday June 18, 2023 2:00pm

A TRIBUTE TO “THE DELLTONES”

Sunday July 30, 2023 @ 2pm

MUSIC OF THE NIGHT TRIBUTE

TO ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

Sunday August 27, 2023 @ 2pm

SHE WILL ROCK YOU “THE STORY OF WOMEN WHO DARED TO ROCK THE WORLD”

Friday October 6, 2023 @ 7.30pm

AFTERNOON AT THE POPS THE MUSICALS OF BROADWAY

Sunday, October 29, 2023 @ 2:00pm

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor

Among Thieves is a 2023 American fantasy heist comedy flm, directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. It is based on the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons,

grossed $178 million worldwide, making it a box offce success.

The flm is a refreshing entry into the Dungeons & Dragons franchise, providing an enjoyable blend of fantasy and comedy. The story follows a group of

life for himself and his daughter Kira, he teamed up with rogue Forge Fitzwilliam, amateur sorcerer Simon Aumar, and Forge’s mysterious companion Sofna, as well as barbarian Holga Kilgore. Together, they attempted to steal a

group infltrated Forge’s castle and found that the vault was protected by powerful magical defenses provided by Mordenkainen. Therefore, they decided to retrieve the Helm of Disjunction, an ancient magic relic that could disable the defenses.

Their quest led them to an old graveyard, where they asked Holga’s ancestors for help. With the help of a talisman, they managed to resurrect the dead long enough to answer their questions. As it turned out, the Helm had been given to Xenk Yandar, a paladin who

Forge’s castle during the games. But as soon as they opened the vault, they were ambushed by Forge and Sofna. Forced to participate in the gladiatorial games, the group managed to escape and discovered that Forge had loaded the treasure onto a boat and was planning to fee with it. Knowing that Sofna had organized the games in order to turn the people of Neverwinter into an undead army, the group managed to rescue Kira and steal the boat. With the help of the teleportation staff and

a hot-air balloon, they distributed the stolen riches across the city, distracting the people and preventing Sofna’s spell from taking effect.

In the end, Edgin and Holga were hailed as heroes of the realm, while Xenk sent Forge back to Revel’s End. Edgin used the Tablet of Reawakening to resurrect Holga, accepting that she had become an important part of his family. With their mission accomplished, the group returned home, their lives changed forever

and is set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. The flm stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Hugh Grant.

The flm’s journey through development began in 2013, when Warner Bros. Pictures won a lawsuit over the flm rights to the game, beating out both Hasbro and Universal Pictures. It then moved to Paramount Pictures, with various writers and directors attached. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley were the fnal writers/directors, utilizing elements from a previous attempt by director Chris McKay and screenwriter Michael Gilio.

Production began in April 2021 in Iceland and later Northern Ireland. The flm had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 10, 2023, and was released in the United States on March 31, 2023, by Paramount Pictures.

Critical reception for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was positive. Reviewers praised the performances, the complex narrative structure, the visual effects, and the score composed by James Newton Howard. The

adventurers, led by Chris Pine’s character, on a daring quest to steal a magical artifact. Along the way, they make unlikely allies, battle dangerous monsters, and face off against a powerful enemy.

The characters are feshed out and interesting, and the performances are top-notch. Chris Pine and Regé-Jean Page in particular shine in their roles, delivering wonderful performances. The visual effects and score are also noteworthy, giving the flm an epic feel.

Overall, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor

Among Thieves is a fun, entertaining flm that is sure to please fans of the series. It’s a unique take on the classic Dungeons & Dragons formula, and it’s sure to be a hit with audiences.

What is Dungeon and Dragons - Honour

Among Thieves about:

Edgin Darvis was once a proud member of the Harpers, a peacekeeping organization renowned for its justice and mercy. However, his life was changed forever when a group of followers of a Red Wizard he had arrested killed his wife.

Tablet of Reawakening, a magical relic that could potentially resurrect Edgin’s wife.

Unfortunately, their mission was cut short when they were captured and Edgin was sent to Revel’s End arctic prison, where he spent two years of his life. With the help of Holga, he eventually managed to escape and they headed to Neverwinter, the place where Forge had become Lord after the previous lord fell mysteriously incapacitated.

At frst, everything seemed to be going according to plan. But then, Edgin and Holga soon discovered that Forge and Sofna had planned their capture all along, and were now determined to execute them. Fortunately, the pair managed to escape and came up with a plan to rob Forge’s vault and take Kira home during the upcoming High Sun Games. However, they would need the Tablet of Reawakening to prove their innocence to Kira and resurrect Edgin’s wife.

Realizing that they needed help for their mission, Edgin and Holga tracked down Simon and recruited Doric, a tiefing druid. With Doric’s help, the

was forced to fee his homeland of Thay when the Red Wizards turned his people into an undead army.

After Edgin swore to distribute any gained bounty to the people, Xenk guided the group through the Underdark to retrieve the Helm. However, they were attacked by Thayan assassins sent by Sofna. Fortunately, Xenk managed to fght them off and helped the group escape from Themberchaud, a red dragon.

With the Helm in hand, the group returned to Neverwinter and successfully infltrated

CSIRO Examines Coal Seam Gas Activity’s Effect on Human Health

By JEFFREY GIBBS

Coal Seam Gas (CSG) activities have long been a controversial topic in Queensland. With a new study released into the potential for CSG activities to affect human health, CSIRO and The University of Queensland have teamed up to examine the issue in closer detail. The research, which was funded primarily by the Queensland and Federal Governments and CSIRO, focused on a 2,150 square kilometre study site in the Surat Basin.

Factors that may lead to potential hazards, such as chemicals, air emissions, noise, light and dust associated with CSG activities were identifed and appraised. Existing data related to these

factors was screened to determine whether any factors would require in-depth assessment. The study found that while the majority of factors posed no risk to human health, a small number of identifed factors required further in-depth assessment.

To respond to this, two new CSIRO research projects have been launched, focussing on eight groups of chemical factors. The project was governed by CSIRO’s Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA), an alliance led by CSIRO and a collaboration between CSIRO, commonwealth, state and territory governments and industry with the purpose of working with the community

to undertake research about the potential or actual impacts of gas development, across major environmental and socio-economic topics.

The study’s fndings were welcomed by Dr Damian Barrett, CSIRO Energy Resources Research Director and GISERA Director. He said that the study provided detailed information about the potential hazards to affect human health from CSG activities in the Surat Basin. “The value of this exhaustive study is that it provides certainty about where we need to focus further research,” Dr Barrett said. “By ruling out factors of no concern we ensure cost-effective and targeted use of research resources to zero in on chemical factors with a possible pathway for potential impact on human health.”

Your local family - owned

The study examined all activities relating to coal seam gas operations in the study site, including over 2,400 wells, 5,000km of gathering lines, four water treatment plants, eight gas processing plants, and 15 compression stations. Researchers identifed ‘factors’ associated with CSG activities and appraised them for their hazard potential to human health. The university’s Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Science (QAEHS) appraised the chemical factors used by industry, while CSIRO completed the assessment of chemical factors associated with air emissions and physical factors (noise, light and dust).

Data was supplied by Australia Pacifc LNG’s upstream operator Origin, and

Shell’s operator QGC, as well as Queensland Government data sets. The project was also subject to additional governance and ethics controls, and was supported by local regional stakeholder and technical reference groups. The health study design was based on a framework developed by CSIRO in a previous related GISERA health project. The study found that noise and light emissions from CSG activities did not pose a hazard to physical health in the study site, and that chemical factors associated with air emissions from CSG activities were within relevant health-based air quality objectives. Of the 97 unique chemical factors used in CSG drilling and hydraulic

fracturing operations, 72 were assessed and found to have low hazard potential to human health at the study site. The remaining 25 chemical factors (in eight groups) warranted further in-depth assessment.

CSIRO also conducted an extension study which examined the microbial degradation of these groups of chemical factors in soil and aquifer samples. To respond to the fndings, two new CSIRO research projects have been launched, focussing on the eight identifed groups of chemical factors. The frst project will examine the seven chemical groups that have a potential pathway to affect human health via soils and

groundwater, while the second will focus on the eighth chemical factor, silica dust, which has a potential airborne pathway to affect human health. Both research projects will involve comprehensive feld sampling campaigns. In conclusion, the study has provided an important insight into the potential for CSG activities to affect human health in Queensland, and has identifed areas for further research. With two new CSIRO research projects underway, we can hope to gain a better understanding of the potential risks associated with CSG activities, and ensure that appropriate safety measures are in place for the beneft of the local community.

Roses are one of the most popular fowers in the world and many gardeners enjoy growing them. However, it can be a challenge to take care of roses in winter, especially in Australia. This season brings cooler temperatures, shorter days, and unpredictable weather, which can all affect your roses. Luckily, there are some simple tips and techniques that can help you to keep your roses looking beautiful and healthy throughout the winter months. The frst step when caring for roses in winter is to make sure that you water them adequately.

Roses need more water during the winter than in other seasons, as the cooler temperatures

mean that the soil will dry out faster. It is essential to water your roses regularly, especially during periods of extended dryness. Make sure to check the soil around the roses to ensure that it is moist, as roses can become dehydrated if not watered frequently enough. When it comes to fertilising, you should not use the same fertilisers that you use during the warmer months.

Rose fertilisers usually contain high levels of nitrogen, which can burn the roots of the plants when temperatures are cold. Instead, look for a slow-release fertiliser that is specifcally designed for winter use. This type of fertiliser will release its nutrients

gradually over time, ensuring that your roses stay healthy and vibrant. During the winter months, you should also be diligent about pruning your roses. Pruning is an important part of caring for roses, as it helps to maintain their shape and encourage new growth.

It is best to wait until after the frst frost of the season before you prune your roses, as this will help to protect them from the cold. When pruning, make sure to remove any diseased or dead branches and cut away any shoots that are growing in an undesirable direction.

In addition to the steps outlined above, it is also important to protect your roses from the cold. If you live in an area with

very cold winters, you may need to provide your roses with extra protection. There are a few different methods that can be used, such as using a cloche or covering the roses with mulch or straw. These methods will help to keep the roses warmer and protect them from the elements. By following these simple tips

and techniques, you can ensure that your roses stay healthy and beautiful during the winter months. With a little extra care and attention, your roses will be sure to thrive in the colder weather.

So, if you live in Australia and want to keep your roses

looking their best throughout the winter, be sure to follow these tips and take the necessary steps to keep them healthy and vibrant.

Caring for your Roses this Winter WINTER LAWN CARE

As the winter months draw nearer in Australia, it’s important to start preparing your lawn for the cooler weather. Caring for your lawn during winter can be tricky but taking the right steps can help ensure that your grass remains healthy and vibrant throughout the cooler months.

The most important thing you can do to ensure your lawn remains healthy during winter is to keep it properly hydrated. During winter, grass growth slows down and the grass needs less water. However, it’s still important to keep your lawn hydrated in order to prevent it from drying out and becoming damaged. Water your lawn thoroughly once a week and make sure to water deeply to ensure

the water reaches the roots. This will help to keep the grass healthy and will also help prevent weeds from taking root. It’s also important to make sure you keep your lawn mowed during winter. Keeping your grass trimmed will help to reduce the amount of water it needs and will also help to control weeds. Mowing your lawn during winter should be done less frequently, with a longer cutting height, to help keep the grass healthy.

It’s also important to fertilise your lawn during winter. This will help to make sure the grass is getting the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Fertilising your lawn will also help to encourage new growth, which can help to keep

your lawn looking lush and green during the winter months.

Finally, it’s important to aerate your lawn during winter. Aerating your lawn can help to improve drainage and help the soil to retain more moisture. This will help to keep your lawn healthy and will also help to control weeds.

Caring for your lawn

during winter in Australia may seem like a daunting task, but following these simple tips can help ensure that your grass stays healthy and vibrant throughout the cooler months. By keeping your lawn properly hydrated, mowing regularly, fertilising, and aerating, you can help to keep your lawn looking lush and green all year round.

Grape Expectations by Max Crus

Max Crus is a Clarence Valley-based wine writer and Grape Expectations is now in its 26th year of publication. Find out more about Max or sign up for his weekly reviews and musings by visiting maxcrus.com.au

Haystacks no hurdle to nuclear needles.

Recently a little pill of nuclear extraction was lost somewhere in the wastelands of WA, which everyone laughed at because, frstly, it was pretty funny, but also because they knew they were never, ever going to visit that never neverland and thus would never, ever be irradiated by it, blissfully ignorant that they would receive as much radiation via their mobile phones over the

Château Tanunda Dry Rosé (Counoise-Pinot Noir) 2021, $25. Not sure if this is truly CounoisePinot Noir - try fnding that in a bottle shop – or indeed Barossan, the label has changed from last year’s and doesn’t say. Whatever, it is nicely balanced, subtle but sharp enough rosé. 9.1/10

Château Tanunda Grand

next year anyway.

But yes, very Homer Simpson, and who hasn’t left their coffee, milkshake, briefcase or that very same mobile, on the roof of their car, then driven off wondering what that funny ‘thunk’ was before it dawned that whatever it was this time had been smashed, crushed, squashed and stolen by passing traffc and thieves.

Barossa Grenache

Shiraz Mourvèdre 2021, $25. This is proper Barossan : GSM, 14.9 percent, a circumfex, a grave, it’s got the lot and it’s hot, so get it while you can. Actually it’s hot because it’s 14.9 per cent, but nothing a big chunk of red meat couldn’t deal with. 9.3/10.

Crittenden Mornington

And they’re just the things I’VE left on the roof of a car!

You can imagine a busy Nuclear Courier would have many other things on their mind, not least if they should ask the boss for a lead-lined cabin in the truck, and then there’s all that paper work - by which time it was probably smoko and the coffee van had just pulled onto the site…note to self,

Peninsula ‘Cri De Coeur’ Savagnin Sous Voile, $90. Now here’s a needle looking for a haystack. Sous Voile (using for yeast during ageing) has been all the rage among trendy winemakers for yonks. The results are strikingly different, so turn off your e expectations and be rewarded. It’s like trying

“hey try not to leave it on the roof this time” - so tying down your load is not only the last thing on your mind, it’s the most puzzling.

How do you tie down a button-sized piece of radioactive thorium even if you do remember?

You could Google it, and, as always, the frst thing to come up would be that you can buy thorium on Ebay. Very helpful for

fermented Mongolian lamb’s balls for the frst time, which would be a nice accompaniment, actually. 9.4/10.

Crittenden Mornington Peninsula Kangerong

Chardonnay 2020, $45. We’ve been drinking a lot of chardonnay lately and reminded of the incredible variations but this encapsulates the

the bloke who lost it.

Anyway, of course the story had a happy ending, if not for Mr Zippy Your Local Courier’s Nuclear Division, but actually fnding the thing, just lying beside the road next to ejected Macca’s or KFC wasn’t the most amazing part of the story, it was the number of media reports claiming it would be like fnding a needle in a haystack.

modern approach, bright, with deep and colourful character, yet none of it over the top. The sort of person you’d like to marry. 9.5/10.

Calabria Family Wines

Barossa Valley Alternato

Montepulciano Nero D’Avola 2021, $45. I am swayed by oddities, but don’t tell Ms L. and a monte’ with a dash of nero

Max Crus

Every single story.n Mate, fnding a needle anywhere, specially when you really need one, is hard enough, putting it in a haystack doesn’t change the situation appreciably, but clearly irradiating it with plutonium helps somewhat. Otherwise it would be just as hard fnding one in your wheelie bin for instance, or a bottle shop, as it is for a few wines…

is irresistible. This version is light enough to go with most microwaved meals. 9.1/10.

Calabria Family Wines

Barossa Valley Alternato Malbec 2021, $45. Many in the wine fraternity shy from malbec because of its sweetness which is precisely why I love it. Best enjoyed while sewing a fne seam. 9.4/10.

CLASSIC NO-BAKE VANILLA CHEESECAKE

10 servings 25m prep

Impress your guests with this delicious no-bake vanilla cheesecake. It’s the perfect addition to any special occasion. Enjoy the classic flavour of this easy-to-make dessert. It’s sure to be the highlight of your event! With minimal effort, you can create a show-stopping masterpiece that will have your guests raving. So don’t delay, create this delicious treat today!

8 INGREDIENTS

• 250g packet plain sweet biscuits (see note)

• 150g butter, melted

• 3 tsp powdered gelatine

• 500g cream cheese, softened

4 METHOD STEPS

STEP 1

• 2/3 cup caster sugar

• 2 tsp vanilla bean paste

• 300ml thickened cream, whipped

• Hulled and halved strawberries, to decorate

Grease a 20cm-round (base) springform pan. Using a food processor, process biscuits until fine crumbs. Add butter. Process until combined. Press the biscuit mixture over base and side of prepared pan. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

STEP 2

Meanwhile, place 1 1/2 tbsp water in a small microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle with the gelatine and stir until combined. Microwave for 10 seconds (do not overheat). Use a fork to whisk until the gelatine dissolves.

STEP 3

Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in gelatine mixture until combined. Fold in whipped cream. Pour mixture into prepared pan, levelling top with a spatula. Cover. Refrigerate overnight or until set.

STEP 4

Remove the cheesecake from pan. Decorate top of cheesecake with strawberry halves. Serve.

CRISPY CAULIFLOWER AND FISH BAKE

11 INGREDIENTS

• 600g cauliflower, cut into small florets

• 2 1/2 cups milk

• Salt & pepper

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 small brown onion, finely chopped

• 2 small carrots, diced

• 1 celery stick, diced

• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped

• 400g pink ling fish fillets, cut into 3cm chunks

• 1 tbsp dill, chopped

• 4 slices multigrain bread, torn into large chunks

4 METHOD STEPS

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 220°C conventional/200°C fan forced. Place cauliflower and milk in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat. Bring to low simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, until soft. Strain cauliflower and reserve milk. Puree cauliflower in blender until very smooth and thick. Add reserved milk if needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.

STEP 2

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large frying pan over medium heat and add onion. Cook

for 3 minutes until softened. Add carrots, celery and garlic and cook for 5 minutes until tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

STEP 3

Add fish, cauliflower puree and dill into the pan with the onion mixture and combine well. Pour into small greased baking dish.

STEP 4

Toss bread with 1 tablespoon oil. Scatter over fish mixture. Bake on top rack in oven for 20 minutes, or until bread is golden brown. Remove from oven and serve.

EXPLORING JAPAN

Japan is a country full of culture and history, and many people come from around the world to explore all that it has to offer. From its ancient shrines and temples to its modern cities, there are plenty of sights to see in the Land of the Rising Sun. Whether you’re a frst-time visitor or a long-term resident, here are some of the best places to visit in Japan.

Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital city of Japan, and it’s packed with places to explore. With so much to do, visitors can easily spend days here. There are a number of popular tourist spots such as the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, and the Tokyo Skytree. Shopping is also a must-do, with the Akihabara district known for its electronics and the Ginza district for luxury items. Be sure to also check out the Tsukiji fish market and the Kabuki-za theatre.

Kyoto

Kyoto is one of Japan’s most popular tourist spots due to its many ancient shrines and temples. Fushimi

Inari-Taisha is one of the most photographed sites in the city, while the Kinkaku-ji temple is also a must-see. Other historical sites include the Heian Shrine, the Golden Pavilion, and the Nijo Castle. Visitors can also explore the Gion district for its traditional geisha culture.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima is home to a number of historical sites related to World War II. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is the most popular destination here, and the Atomic Bomb Dome is a reminder of the city’s tragic past. Other attractions include the Shukkei-en Garden and the Hiroshima Castle. For a taste of the city’s culture, be sure to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

CHAPARRAL MOTEL

Nagasaki

Nagasaki is a city with a long history of foreign trade and is home to a number of churches and temples. The most popular attraction here is the Nagasaki Peace Park, which commemorates the atomic bombing of the city during World War II. Other notable sites include the Glover Garden and Dejima, a former trading post. The city also has plenty of museums, including the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is Japan’s most iconic symbol and is a popular destination for hikers. While it’s a bit of a trek to the summit, the views are worth it. The mountain is surrounded by fve lakes, and visitors can also explore the nearby Fuji Five Lakes region. The surrounding area is also home to a number of traditional onsen hot springs.

Japan is full of places to explore and experience. Whether you’re a frsttime visitor or a longterm resident, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

From Tokyo’s modern attractions to Kyoto’s ancient shrines, the country has something to offer everyone. Be sure to check out the places mentioned in this article, as they are some of the best places to visit in Japan.

Japan is a country steeped in culture and history, and it’s no wonder that so many people fock to its shores to explore all that it has to offer. From its ancient temples and shrines to its modern cities, there are plenty of sights to see in the Land of the Rising Sun. Whether you’re a frst-time visitor or a long-term resident, here are some of the best places to visit in Japan.

Tokyo is the capital city of Japan, and it’s packed with places to explore. Popular tourist spots include the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, and the Tokyo Skytree.

Shopping is also a mustdo, with the Akihabara district known for its electronics and the Ginza district for luxury items. Be sure to also check out the Tsukiji fsh market and the Kabukiza theatre. Kyoto is one of Japan’s most popular tourist spots due to its many ancient shrines and temples. Fushimi Inari-Taisha is one of the most photographed sites in the city, while the Kinkaku-ji temple is also a must-see. Other historical sites include the Heian Shrine, the Golden Pavilion, and the Nijo Castle. Visitors can also explore the Gion district for its traditional geisha culture.

Hiroshima is home to a number of historical sites related to World War II. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is the most popular destination here, and the Atomic Bomb Dome is a reminder of the city’s tragic

past. Other attractions include the Shukkeien Garden and the Hiroshima Castle. For a taste of the city’s culture, be sure to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

Nagasaki is a city with a long history of foreign trade and is home to a number of churches and temples. The most popular attraction here is the Nagasaki Peace Park, which commemorates the atomic bombing of the city during World War II. Other notable sites include the Glover Garden and Dejima, a former trading post. The city also has plenty of museums, including the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture.

Mount Fuji is Japan’s most iconic symbol and is a popular destination for hikers. While it’s a bit of a trek to the summit, the views are

worth it. The mountain is surrounded by fve lakes, and visitors can also explore the nearby Fuji Five Lakes region. The surrounding area is also home to a number of traditional onsen hot springs.

No matter what type of traveller you are, Japan has something to offer everyone. From Tokyo’s modern attractions to Kyoto’s ancient shrines, the country has something to offer everyone. Be sure to check out the places mentioned in this article, as they are some of the best places to visit in Japan. From visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to exploring the Gion district, there is plenty to do in the Land of the Rising Sun. Whether you’re looking to experience traditional culture or modern city life, Japan is sure to have something for everyone.

Discover more about the high-speed trains and the 9 rail lines they cover. Shinkansen bullet trains are the fastest and most convenient way of discovering Japan. The Japan Rail (JR) network is extensive and the trains reach a top speed of 320 km/h (199mp/h).

MASSIVE IMPACT OF 650,000 POPULATION BOMB ON AUSTRALIAN CITIES HIGHLIGHTED

With more than 650,000 new migrants expected to enter Australia this fnancial year and next fnancial year, new fgures reveal how this will impact on the rental crisis in the major capital cities throughout Australia.

Kevin Young, President of Property Club, Australia’s largest independent group, said that the rental markets in our cities could not cope with this infux of migrants unless the Federal Government acted quickly to incentivise mum and dad investors back into the property investment market.

“A major population bomb is about to hit our cities in Australia where rental properties are already in very short supply.

“Based on an analysis of the permanent migration fgures recently released by the ABS for the period 2000 to 2021 when 3 million permanent migrants moved to Australia, Property Club is predicting that our major capital cities will experience the following increase in overseas migrants moving into them by the end of 2023/2024.

Sydney 190,000

Melbourne 172,000

Brisbane 63,000

Adelaide 36,000

Perth 78,000

Hobart 3,900

The harsh reality is that our cities cannot even provide enough rental accommodation for the people who currently live in them regardless

of the thousands of people who are now expected to arrive in each of them due to the surge in overseas migration.

“Vacancy rates are already at near record lows in many parts of Australia and as a result rents have been increasing at more than 20 per cent.

“Property Club is predicting that unless the Federal Government does not act quickly to boost the supply of rental houses, then rents will increase by another 20 per cent over the coming year and the number of homeless people will explode.

“Property Club is calling on the Federal Government to reinstate depreciation benefts associated with owning second hand properties

that were abolished in 2017.

“This stupid policy move resulted in property investors not buying cheaper second hand rental properties that could now be offered to renters crying out for affordable rental properties.

“We are also calling on the Federal Government

to reinstate interest only lending without time limits for property investors.

“And this equally stupid policy move by APRA to impose time limits on interest only loans in 2018 resulted in thousands of mum and dad property investors to sell their rental properties because they could not afford

principal and interest loans after being forced to switch from interest only repayments.

“Property Club believes that these two simple policy measures are urgently needed to prevent the rental crisis from becoming a major disaster following the infux of these thousands of new migrants into our cities,” he said.

WORST RENTAL AFFORDABILITY SNAPSHOT CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION

National housing campaign Everybody’s Home says the urgency to address Australia’s housing crisis has never been higher, as an annual report paints the bleakest picture of rental affordability yet.

Anglicare’s Rental Affordability Snapshot shows there are virtually no affordable rentals for those on income support payments and less than one percent available for people earning a full-time minimum wage.

Everybody’s Home spokesperson Kate Colvin said more social and affordable housing is sorely needed.

“Rents, electricity bills, grocery costs, petrol - everything is going up and people are at breaking point. This Budget, we need immediate action to increase income support so people can pay their rent, and a significant increase in social housing investment to provide an enduring solution to the growing housing

emergency,” Ms Colvin said.

“Record low vacancy and rising rents are driving more and more people into homelessness. Across Australia people are having to cut back on heating and eating, medical appointments and flling up their cars, just to make the rent. Even people on fulltime wages are fnding themselves sleeping in tents, caravans and on couches because they’re struggling to fnd an affordable home.

“Every day the Government delays delivering the investment needed to signifcantly grow low-cost rental housing, the longer the rental crisis will continue.

“The Federal Government has the chance to deliver a life-changing Budget by investing in 25,000 social housing properties each year, and boosting income support, including Commonwealth Rent Assistance.”

QUICK CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Of the nest type or standard (7)

5 Destructive insects (7)

9 Able to be maintained consistently (11)

10 Hair product (3)

11 Country (6)

12 My friend (Fr) (3,4)

14 Regulation (4)

15 Timber tree (10)

17 Extremely greedy (10)

19 Poke (4)

20 Inhabitant of Malta (7)

22 Forces out (6)

25 Harass (3)

26 Unfortunate (11)

28 Drink made with wine, fruit and brandy (7)

29 Dressage movement (7)

DOWN

1 Throw (4)

2 Nation continent (9)

3 Graduated measure (5)

4 Following each other (11)

5 Room for scienti c experiments (abb) (3)

6 Neatly (7)

7 Roman soldier’s cloak (5)

SUDOKU

8 Round of beef (10)

16

21

24

1 Which Looney Tunes character has the trademark catchphrase, ‘You’re despicable’?

2 Who was dubbed the ‘Mother of the modern-day civil rights movement’ by the US Congress?

3 What drink’s secret ingredient is codenamed ‘7X’?

4 In 2004, Angelina Jolie (pictured) had an image of which animal tattooed onto her lower back?

5 Who played the nefarious J.R. Ewing in the television series Dallas?

6 How many squares are there on a Scrabble board?

7 What is the only word in the English language that ends in ‘mt’?

8 Do cars travel on the left or right side of the road in Japan?

9 Diverticulitis is a disease that a ects which part of the body?

10 What is the highest point in Portugal?

ACROSS

1 Develop (4)

5 Subtle emanation (4)

6 Thin strip of wood (4)

7 Hide (4)

DOWN

1 Pant (4)

2 Govern (4)

3 Spoken (4)

4 Unit of power (4)

The leftover letters will spell out a secret message.

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included, and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

Secret message:

WORD FILL

Each number corresponds to a letter. Can you crack the code?

CROSS MATH

HIDDEN WORD

Solve all the clues and an eight-letter word will be spelled out.

1 Loud noise when sleeping

2 Pop, rock, jazz etc.

3 A type of tree and its fruit

4 Can add a spoonful to tea

5 To hit

6 Small breed of dog

7 A carnivorous riverside mammal

8 DC super hero, Wonder –

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW...

1. Which TV series has writer/ director Ryan Murphy not been involved in?

A. Glee

B. Nip/Tuck

C. Friday Night Lights

D. American Horror Story

2. Which Australian actress stars in the movie The Prom, directed by Murphy?

A. Margot Robbie

B. Nicole Kidman

C. Rose Byrne

D. Toni Collette

3. The Prom is an adaptation of what?

A. A novel

B. A stage production

C. A lm

D. Nothing, it’s a new creation

4. What have Murphy and fellow writer Brad Falchuk collaborated on?

A. Glee

B. American Horror Story

C. Scream Queens

D. All of the above

In Memoriam

Lynnley Doyle

03.07.1984 ~ 02.05.2004

19 years since we’ve had our cuddles, heard that laugh, saw that beautiful smile and had that last soft kiss goodbye. It is so sad without you. Gorgeous girl you are still a part of every day. Loved and cherished until the end of time.

Mum, Dad, Guy, Nash, Grandpa Tom and Families

In Memoriam

RAMSEY, Laurene Jean

16/10/1929 – 25/04/2023

Loved wife of Fraser Ramsey (dec) Adored and much-loved Mother & Mother in Law to Allen & Carol, Susan & Lindsay, Elizabeth & Ronnie and Helen Cherished Grandmother of 8 and 6 Great Grandchildren

Relatives and Friends are invited to attend Laurene’s Funeral Service to be held at e Uniting Church Casino, on ursday 4th May 2023 commencing at 10.00am

In Memoriam

In Loving Memory

Neil John Sinclair

29.8.1942 – 6.5.2013

It is hard to believe - 10 years have passed, since God closed your eyes and called you to Glory!

“Lovingly Remembered and Sadly Missed”

Del, Tony, Darren & Rebecca, Bryan, Roslyn and 6 beautiful Grandchildren.

In Memoriam

Gregory Noel Hungerford

15.08.1954 ~ 25.04.2023

Death Notice

In Memoriam Funeral Notice

GRIFFITHS, Audrey Ismay

6th January 1927 – 16th April 2023

Passed away peacefully at Casino Memorial Hospital Aged 96 years

According to Audrey’s wishes a private Cremation has taken place. She will be sadly missed by her family and all those who knew her.

Passed away at Lismore Base Hospital and late of Ballina. Adored husband of eresa, dearly loved son of Walter and Lola (both dec), loving brother of Gladys (dec), Ellen, John (dec) and Ronnie.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Greg’s Funeral Service to be held at the Rainbow Chapel, Rainbow Avenue West Ballina on TUESDAY (May 9, 2023) commencing at 10.00am. A er the service a private cremation will take place.

Ballina 02 6686 7036

“Forever in our Hearts”

“In God’s Loving Care”

“Always Loved Never Forgotten.”

This page is dedicated to all those that have passed

Roofng Services

Rooftech Roofing Services For Everything Roofing

• New & replacement metal roofs

• Painting of tile and metal roofs

• Roof repairs: tile and metal

• Guttering: whirly birds: mesh

• Emergency/insurance repairs

Phone office on 66811793 enquiries@rooftechroofing.com.au

2/32 Southern Cross Drive, Ballina Lic 303299C and 301815C www.rooftechroofing.com.au

INSURANCE - COMMERCIAL STRATA - RESIDENTIAL

Technology

Byron Sensor Tech

www.byronsensortech.com.au Call Tony 0459 422 387

TREE SERVICES

CASINO/KYOGLE

HEAD

• Tree & Palms Removed

• 17m Cherry Picker

• Larger Chipper

• Climbers

• Stump Grinder

• Qualified Arborist

• Tree Detailing

ALSTONVILLE

ALSTONVILLE BRANCH OF THE RED CROSS

The Alstonville Red Cross branch meets monthly in Alstonville. As meeting dates sometimes vary, please call Carol on 0424 742 774 for details of our next meeting.

ALSTONVILLE & DISTRICT CRICKET CLUB

Alstonville & District Cricket Club will be celebrating its 50th year of existence since the amalgamation of the two village clubs on the plateau - Alstonville & Wollongbar on 10th July 1973.

The reunion of former and current players will take place on Sat 21st & Sun 22nd October week-end. Plans include a Welcome BBQ luncheon at one of the home competition games being played at either Hill Park, Wollongbar or Geoff Watt Oval, Alstonville on the Sat 21st Oct. (Cricket draw for season 2023/24 still to be determined). Drinks will continue to fow from 4:00pm onwards at the Alstonville Plateau Sports Club.

On Sun 22nd Oct, a special luncheon will be held from mid-day onwards at the Sports Club. Guests will be entertained with cricket stories from each decade and all attending former and current 1st Grade players will receive a key-ring with their playing number attached (in line with the sequence of selection).

Leading into the reunion celebrations, an ‘Old Mates’ group will meet every month at ‘The Crossing Cafe’ Main Street, Alstonville for a social gathering and beverage to renew old friendships and forming new ones. The frst outing will be held on Thursday 4th May at 10:00 am and each month thereafter.

For further enquiries for cricket reunion contact Jack Oates (mob: 0429 533 940) or for ‘Old Mates’ contact Garry Ensbey (mob: 0403 033 227)

ALSTONVILLE QUOTA CLUB

A local women’s service club that meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the Plateau Sports Club. Quota is committed to supporting and improving the physical and mental wellbeing of the disadvantaged in our community through local projects. Contact: quotaalstonville@gmail.com for more details.

CRAWFORD HOUSE MUSEUM

The latest exhibition at Crawford House Museum is “Signifcant Stories and Items from the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society Collection”. It will introduce you to some amazing historical objects which have been identifed during the Society’s Signifcance Assessment Project and have state and national heritage signifcance. By popular demand, the exhibition has been extended until Friday 26th May. The museum also has facilities for research about Ballina Shire families, as well as books about local history and commemorative wineglasses and keyrings for sale. The museum is at 10 Wardell Road Alstonville and is open Fridays 10am-4pm and Sundays 1pm-4pm or at other times by appointment for groups. Enquiries (02) 6628 1829, aphs2477@yahoo.com. au or www.aphsmuseum.org.au. By the way, we have openings for people of any age to volunteer in administration or in the museum and if you’re on a JobSeeker payment and 55 or older, it’s a great way to meet your mutual obligation requirements. If you’re interested, visit us at the museum or phone or email us.

EMBROIDERERS GROUP

Meetings are 9.30am-2.30pm 1st and 3rd Wednesdays and 2nd Saturday of each month except December and January. Our venue is the Resource Centre at the rear of Crawford House Museum, Alstonville. We welcome embroiderers of all ability levels to meet, share and learn. For more information see our facebook page ‘Lismore Group – Embroiderers’ Guild NSW’, or simply turn up.

MCLEANS RIDGES CRAFT GROUP meet at the McLeans Ridges Hall, Cowlong Road, McLeans Ridges on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 9.30am to 3.30pm. Scrapbooking, card making, paper craft, knitting whatever takes your fancy. Come along for an enjoyable day. Bring your own morning tea and lunch. Coffee, tea, milk provided. A small fee to cover hall hire. Ph 0401 047 513.

SQUARE DANCING

Summerland Larrikins Squares Alstonville, Fridays 7.30pm-9.30pm at Uniting Church Hall, 59 Main Street, Alstonville. Contact 0407663017 for further information. New dancers welcome.

THE RETURNED AND SERVICES

LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA (NSW Branch)

ALSTONVILLE SUB-BRANCH

Alstonville RSL sub-Branch will now hold their monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of the month at 11am at the RSL Hall, 13 Bugden Ave (next door to the Alstonville Medical Centre). The next meeting will be on Wed 10th May. All ex-Service persons are welcome to attend, and we have a convivial morning tea on completion of the meeting.

Alstonville RSL sub-Branch have a ‘Lower Deck Luncheon’ at 1200 each Friday, everyone is welcome, we sit out the back of the Hall, order lunch from local suppliers, and have great conversations with good mates. There is always plenty of support & advice on any issue! (But not much sympathy)

BALLINA

BALLINA ARTS & CRAFTS CENTRE INC. (BACCI)

We are a diverse group of Artists and Crafters that participate in wonderful group exhibitions. Over 50 members are from all over the Northern Rivers. Meetings are usually on the 1st Monday of every month

at the Cherry Street Sports Club. Social gathering at 5, for a 5.30 start.

For more information - info@ bacci.com.au or phone Deb on 0432105540

BALLINA BRIDGE CLUB

“Social play every Monday

9-11.30am”. Sessions for all levels of players on Mon, Wed, Sat from 1pm to about 5pm. Be seated at 12:45. Restricted session (under 300 Masterpoints) Thu 1pm – about 5pm. Friday mornings – Help with Play – open to anyone who would like some help with their game from teachers on duty. 9am to about 11:15pm. Sessions are $5 for members and $7 for visitors at 13 North Ck Rd, Ballina Please call Judy Forsyth (president) on 0407664337. www.ballinabridge. org.au

BALLINA COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB INC

“LIVE COUNTRY MUSIC

DAYS” of The Ballina Country Music Clubs are scheduled for the frst Sunday of the Month. It’s nearly “MOTHER’S DAY TIME” and our next “Music Social” will be a “Live Music with the “SMOKEHOUSE” band, on SUNDAY 7th May 2023 at THE BALLINA RSL CLUB, Grant Street BALLINA. While Mother’s Day is a week later, still one of the best Mother’s Day gifts one could give mum is a “afternoon outing” of Live Country Music at 10.45am at the “RRIE”and share part of the afternoon with KEITH HOLMES (Life Member) as our “MEMBER SHOWCASE” Artist. A fabulous host of “WALK UP-ARTISTS” and the “SMOKEHOUSE gals and guys” are sure to turn the afternoon into a memorable “music day” hearing renditions of “many top recording artists” of great Country Music from all walks of life, while the Lione Dancers will leave yoy breathless. Aside from the Great Country Music, there are Raffes with great prizes, Lucky Door Prizes, BCMC Members draw and Walk-up Artists Draw.

After you recover from our Mother’s Day “boot scootin day”, put this date in your calender “SUNDAY 4th JUNE” another big day cause we’re gonna celebrate our 17th year, yeah, we started in 2007. ‘Our Club’ would appreciate it if you could include details of our day in your “public announcements and/or GIG Guides”.

BALLINA CWA

Ladies that are at a loose end on a Wednesday morning, might like to come and join our happy band of members. We meet every Wednesday from 9.00am to noon and can learn many crafts from fellow ladies. Barbara, our Handicraft’s Offcer (0428116668) is there to lend a hand when help is needed. She also teaches us new handicraft techniques. Why not call in to see us for the morning? Morning tea is served at a cost of just $3. All are welcome.

Mahjong is played in our rooms Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12 noon until 4.00pm at a cost of $4. Everyone is welcome.

BALLINA EVENING VIEW CLUB

Meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Ballina RSL Club at 6.30 for dinner at 7pmGuests are always welcome. Our members support the education

of disadvantaged children in Australia by fundraising activities and social events in our local community for The Smith Family - by sponsoring 5 Learning for Life students. Contact President Julie Stephan 0434988770.

BALLINA LADIES PROBUS CLUB

Coach trip to Grafton on Wednesday 14 June. Visitors Welcome. $45.00 payment by 7 June 2023

Included in cost: coach, morning tea/coffee, scones with jam and cream at New Italy. Time to browse at gift shop and museum. Drive to Grafton, look around shops and get lunch at own cost. Then visit historic Sheaffer House Museum, cost of entry included, Pick up at Alstonville and Ballina

Phone Wendy 0410 560 916 or Pamela 6681 1022 for more information.

COMING UP; SHOPPING TRIP TO ROBINA TOWN CENTRE 12 JULY, $26.00

BALLINA LIGHTHOUSE RSL DAY CLUB

A Day Club for elderly and isolated people in our community, held every Thursday at the Richmond Room Ballina.

Enjoy morning tea and a mental stimulation exercise like Tai Chi, followed by lunch and afternoon musical entertainment.

Every Thursday 10am to 2pm cost

$10 Richmond Room, Regatta Avenue Ballina

RSVP Lorraine Fox 66874350, 0439 301249 lorraineafox@ gmail.com

BALLINA SENIOR CITIZENS BRIDGE CLUB

Social Bridge Play in Seniors Hall. Swift Street Ballina on Wednesday & Saturdays @ 12.05 pm

Enquiries Phone: 0493425002 for details.

BALLINA TOY LIBRARY

Welcomes families from Ballina Shire. 9 Regatta Avenue, Ballina.

Open Tuesdays 1pm - 3pm, and Saturdays 10am - 1pm.

Ph. 0411 719 074 for enquiries

ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT RETIREES

“The next meeting of the Association of Independent Retirees Far North Coast Branch will NOT be held on the usual date of the frst Friday of the month, but has been moved to the following Friday, 12 May. This meeting will be the 30th Anniversary of the Branch and will be held as usual at the RSL Club, Ballina, at 9.30 for 10.00am. The guest speaker will be Noel Whittaker, well known author, newspaper columnist and fnance expert. The meeting will be followed by a celebration luncheon and to book your place at this function, please contact Anne on 0437 309 250.

BACCI Celebrates 25 years

A great night was had by all at the Cherry Street Bowling Club to celebrate the 25th anniversary of BACCI- Ballina Arts and Crafts Inc. 25 years ago Grace Cruice called for interest in starting a local arts and crafts group, 12 people turned up and BACCI was born. Over the years, membership has fuctuated between 70 and 120 artists, who have many different BGs and art and craft styles. From the beginning the organisation worked tirelessly to raise funds for a new gallery and were instrumental in opening the Northern Rivers Community Gallery, which is now run by

Ballina Council. Sadly, Grace passed away in 2005 and in 2007 the inaugural Grace Cruice Memorial Exhibition was held at the NRC Gallery in her honour. In July and August this year, the 12th exhibition will be held. BACCI also stages 2 additional exhibitions each year. The next exhibition is coming up soon.

May 6th and 7th at the Masonic Hall, Cherry Street, Ballina, open 9am – 3pm. This is a great opportunity to drop in and chat with a local artist and view a wide variety of art and craft.

So, Happy 25th Birthday BACCI and here’s to another 25 years of showcasing budding and established artists in the Ballina region.

IN FOCUS TOASTMASTERS CLUB

How about trying something different? If you would like to improve your communication and leadership skills or simply make new friends and have fun, you are warmly invited to attend the In Focus Toastmasters Club. We meet the 3rd Wednesday evening of each month. You may attend either from the comfort of your own home via zoom or join us in person at the Cherry Street Sports Club, Ballina. For more, contact our President via email at: president-3209990@ toastmastersclubs.org or our PR offcer at: vppr-3209990@ toastmastersclubs.org

NORTHERN RIVERS NAVAL & MARINERS ASSOCIATION

This association was formed to attract veterans for companionship, wellbeing and to supply advocacy to veterans. We hold an informal gathering every Friday, 2.30pm at Ballina Angling Club (families are welcome). Contact Allan Watt for more information on 0402 749 582 or email jakknco@bigpond.net.au

BRUNSWICK HEADS

BRUNSWICK VALLEY VIEW

CLUB

Brunswick Valley VIEW Club’s monthly luncheons are held at Brunswick Heads Bowling Club on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 10.30am for 11am. Apologies to Wenda on 0449 563 580 or email wjhunt@yahoo. com no later than the Monday before. VIEW stands for Voice, Interests and Education of Women. The club supports seven disadvantaged students in The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program. Info: view.org.au, call 1800 805 366 or email view@ thesmithfamily.com.au.

CASINO

CASINO & BONALBO UPPER

CLARENCE LIONS CLUBS

Casino Lions club now meets each 4th Wed at the RSM.

CASINO COMMUNITY MEN’S SHED

Mon, Tues, Wed, attendance limited to 50 members, 8am1.30pm. Contact 66626423 DH or casmenshed@live.com.au

CASINO CWA DAY

The CWA Casino Day sends a big thanks to everyone who helped make our street stall on Saturday such a success! All proceeds will go to help little Arlo Sonnex who suffers from congenital insensitivity to pain. Everyone is invited to our May meeting at the Casino Community Centre 9.00am Thursday May 18th (3rd Thursday of the Month), 2023.

All welcome. Our Mother’s Day Raffe tickets will be on sale outside Coles Thursday 4th May, Woolworths 6th May and Coles 13th May. Enquires Margaret Good 66621746, Jennifer Baker 043892060.

CASINO & DISTRICT FAMILY HISTORY GROUP INC

We are open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 2pm, Wednesdays from 12pm to 4pm and every third Saturday from 9 am to 11.30 am. We are in Room 5, upstairs in the School of Arts building in Walker Street, Casino. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 10 am. For a small fee we can do research for you as well. Call us on 6664 1118 or email us at casinofhg@gmail.com

CASINO EVENING BRANCH OF CWA

The Casino Evening Branch of the CWA meets on the frst Thursday of the month at the Casino Uniting Church Hall at 6pm. Come along and have supper and fnd out what we do. All welcome. Enquiries to Jo on 0417798622

CASINO GALLERY-ART at the CASSINO GALLERY.

The Casino Art Group meets here every Thursday to Saturdays 10am to 3pm Interested in promoting YOUR medium? Come to the gallery for information. Cassinoartgallery@gmail.com

CASINO HOSPITAL AUXILIARY needs volunteers to work in the hospital kiosk. Roster days are negotiable and can be discussed with the Kiosk Supervisor by contacting Barbara on 0439607788 or phoning the hospital kiosk during the day on 66600539.

CASINO LADIES AND FRIEND CRAFT GROUP

Meets 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month. Bring your own morning tea. Names to be in by lunch time Monday. Phone Vivian on 66621838 or Jan on 66626424.

CASINO MEALS ON WHEELS

If you would be interested in volunteering your time to help with meals on wheels give the offce a call on 66621217.

WEEK 3

MONDAY V.Gray & N.Nowlan

TUESDAY S.Forrester

WEDNESDAY H. Hurst N.& K.Ryan

THURSDAY B. Bennett

FRIDAY Richmond Valley Council B & H.Elford

CASINO MINI RAIL

Every Sunday 10am to 4pm. Weather permitting. West Street Casino. Phone 0455673722.

CASINO MIXED PROBUS CLUB

Meeting 4th Thursday of the month. For more information call the secretary on 0419886119.

New Members most welcome. Call Fran on 0419 886 119 for more information.

CASINO UNITING CHURCH

CAFÉ PRAISE….All Welcome @ 10-11am

10am Morning Tea Fellowship. Welcome and Chat

10.30am Praise and Worship

CASINO VIEW CLUB

Monthly luncheon meeting at Casino RSM Club at 11am, second Thurs of every month. Contact Jan on 0418715374

AA-LIVING SOBER MEETING is held every Tuesday 12:001:30pm At the Casino Baptist Church Cnr. West & Canterbury Streets Casino Each week the group will discuss a chapter on living sober out of the AA Living Sober Book. Contact George on Ph: 0427133372 (due to so many scam calls) please leave your name and number and I will call you back.

LION’S CLUB CASINO

Lion’s Club meeting is held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month at Casino RSM Club from 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start.

Secretary: Denise Green 0448014682 Email: deniseg. vip@outlook.com

LISMORE CASINO NAVAL ASSOCIATION

Meets bi-monthly at Casino RSM, new members welcome. For more information phone Chris 66293269 or Jim 0427400625.

THE PLATYPUS RSL DAY CLUB operates every Tuesday at the Community Centre from 10am to 2pm. The day consists of gentle exercises, mental stimulation, games and entertainment. Members are asked to pay $7 for their morning tea and lunch. Transport can be provided within the town limits. If you are feeling socially isolated or just need a day out, please contact Robyn on 66623871. New members are welcome.

EVANS HEAD

EVANS HEAD CWA BRANCH meets every third Tuesday for lunch at noon. New members welcome. More info Roz 0427825560

EVANS RIVER RSL DAY CLUB

The Evans River RSL Day Club meets each Monday in the Remembrance Room at Club Evans RSL Evans Head from 10am until 2pm Cost $10 includes Morning Tea and Lunch. We have several vacancies for volunteers and members, anyone who is feeling in need of some company are welcome to attend. Come along and join in the fun. Contact Merilyn on 0401493316 for more details.

EVANS HEAD SEAGULLS CRAFT & QUILTERS GROUP

Meet every Tuesday 9am12noon in the Recreation Hall (opposite the Kiosk). We invite you to join us for a relaxing morning of crafting, friendship and sharing ideas. Beginners are very welcome. Finishing UFO’s, Embroidery, Gold Work, Hexagons, & Group Projects are just some of the crafts done.

GOONELLABAH

TABLE TENNIS AT GOONELLABAH

Tuesday and Thursday mornings

COMMUNITY NOTICES

social playing: 9am-12noon; Monday and Wednesday nights social playing: 7-9pm; Training Monday mornings: 9am-12noon; Junior coaching after school Wednesday 3.30pm-4.45pm, $6 a session. Everybody is welcome – all levels. Phone centre on 66251602. Mon-Thurs 9.00am1.00pm or visit website www. fnctabletennis.com.au.

THE PROBUS CLUB of Goonellabah meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Workers Sports Club in Oliver Ave. All welcome. Goonellabah Probus is solely a social club. We have a guest speaker each month and go for outings throughout the year. Meetings on Thursday commence at 10am and fnish at midday. For further information, please contact Gloria Francis on 02 6629 1442.

GRAFTON

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 4th May at the Joan Muir Centre, 194 Turf St Grafton. 10am to midday.

Instead of our usual meeting we are holding a High Tea to raise money for the Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser. Entry for this month only is $10 which includes morning tea and a raffe ticket. Bring plenty of change for raffes and games. We will also have our Bring and Buy table so if you have some plants, cuttings or produce you would like to donate, they are greatly appreciated. All money raised on the day will go towards the Cancer Council. RSVP was due back on 1st May. Huge thank you to our most recent Open Garden host at Jackadgery, such a beautiful day for a stroll through a much-loved garden with a beautiful view. I believe the vege garden and fruit trees were much admired. May will bring the opportunity to see two more open gardens.

Publicity

Offcer: Jane Rhodes

0438 593032

GRAFTON CWA

The next meeting of Grafton CWA is being held a week early due to State Conference, so will be on Friday,5th May, and then we go back to meetings on 2nd Friday of each month. The meeting starts at 10am, with morning tea at 9.30am. Craft mornings are on 2nd and 4th Mondays at 9.30am, the next one is Monday, 8th May. New members are always welcome.

Anne McLellan

GRAFTON’S MIGHTY CLARENCE TOASTMASTERS

CLUB

Perhaps it’s time to fnd out what it’s all about! If you would like to improve your communication and leadership skills. Make new friends and have fun, you are warmly invited to attend the Mighty Clarence Toastmasters Club. We meet on the 1st & 3rd Wednesday evening of each month. You may attend either from the comfort of your own home via zoom or join us in person at the Joan Muir Community Centre: 194 Turf Street, Grafton. For more information please contact: Vice President on email Jan Coleman janetlcoleman@ gmail.com or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ graftontoastmasters.

GRAFTON SENIOR CITIZENS

Grafton Senior Citizens

Trips: Daytrip, New Italy, Windara, Casino. 12 May, spare

seats. Mystery trip 23 June,,iust on sale. More bookings needed for 8 day tour Narrabri, Dubbo, Tamworth areas from 12 August.

General Business: morning teas. meeting days. have resumed; reminder of scams: 6 rnonthlv newsletter will be distributed at May meeting.

Soup Day: arranged for Monday, 19 June, morning tea, games, soup lunch.

Fees: I l9 members have renewed memberships. Others can still pay.

New members: always welcome.

Next meeting: Tuesdav, 9 May, 10.30am. Guest speaker, to be fnalised.

Enquiries: Sandra 6642 7720, or 0417 464 946.,,

GRAFTON SENIORS BE FIT

EXERCISE CLASSES

Every Friday at the Uniting Church, Prince Street. Join us for gentle exercises designed for Seniors. We meet at 10.30 a.m. for a cuppa and a chat with the exercises commencing at 11. All equipment is provided and there is no cost to the participants. Further information can be obtained from Joan or Brian on 6644 7347 or 0416 067 315, or from Dot on 66423248 or 0477 213 017

GRAFTON U 3 A JABBERFEST

THE GRAFTON U 3 A JABBERFEST FOR THE MONTH OF MAY WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY THE 8th COMMENCING AT 10 A.M. AT THE NEW LIFE CHURCH IN ARTHUR STREET

Another interesting and informative meeting is assured with proceedings being opened by President ALYSAN who will bring us all the latest news and Rebecca Spence will follow with her talk “ CONNECT YOU TOO “

Following the morning tea break the Guest Speaker for the second session will be Greg CROMPTON with his subject being the HISTORY OF WOOD TECHNOLOGY.

Advances in this feld now make it possible for very large buildings to be entirely constructed of wood, there being several such already with one multi storied building in Brisbane completed. We look forward to another great roll up of members at the New Life Church on the eighth for what promises to be another “ must be there “ Jabberfest

Regards from Brian Carter

GRAFTON VIEW CLUB

Grafton VIEW Club meets on the 4th Tuesday each month at Grafton District Services Club, Mary Street, commencing at 10.30am. Please come along, enjoy yourself with a tasty meal, a motivated guest speaker & ultimately disadvantaged children will be helped. Please phone Vorna at 66424719 for catering purposes no later than the Friday before the meeting. As well, a social outing is held each month. You are warmly invited to come along to the next meeting to have some fun & help disadvantaged children. See you there!

CLARENCE RIVER

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

“Schaeffer House Museum at 190 Fitzroy Street, Grafton. Is in full swing for 2023 with visitors starting to arrive by the busload! What do they see? First and last, the pretty gardens with a wide variety of plants, fowers, herbs and sheltering trees for the birds,

butterfies, bees, and resident skinks. Inside the cool house they experience time travel as they see how people led their lives on the Clarence over 170 years ago, building for us a rich heritage to value forever! They will also see how to value the knowledge and help given by the original inhabitants on whose land the newcomers settled. It’s a never-ending story in your “Story House” museum. Our vintage clothing collection will soon be stored away to make way for a new display, so pay a visit soon to Your Schaeffer House Museum! Don’t forget we have nine other great museums in the clarence Valley just waiting for another visit from you! PS: Our resident gnomes can be found somewhere in the garden. Others are tiny and hiding away!! Museum opening hours are Tues to Thur and Sunday 1pm to 4pm $12 – Family $5 – Adult and $2 – Child. Research hours are Tues to Thur only from 9am to 3pm. There is a small charge for researching. Our contact number for special openings is 6642 5212”. Should you wish to discuss this matter further please do not hesitate to contact me on either (02)66425212 or 0406397404.

ROTARY CLUB OF GRAFTON Rotary Club of Grafton celebrates 90 Years.

The Rotary Club of Grafton was formed in 1933 by virtue of sponsorship by the Rotary Club of Lismore. There were 27 charter members.

Subsequently, the Grafton Rotary Club sponsored the establishment of other Rotary Clubs in Coffs Harbour (1949), South Grafton (1950) and Maclean (1953).

Rotary has been a constant presence in Grafton and the Clarence Valley since its inception. Over the years there have been many signifcant contributions to the community largely because of the tremendous support provided by the community to the various Rotary projects.

Some of the major projects undertaken by the Grafton Rotary Club include the development of See Park with restoration and construction of the facilities there commencing in the 1950s. The arboretum was planted in 1983 and the two rotundas at each end of See Park were built during the 1980s. The facilities at See Park and the development of the park itself were largely a result of the member’s work in building and developing the Park.

Another very signifcant contribution to the well-being of Clarence Valley and the New England area around Glen Innes was the leadership provided by Grafton Rotary in raising $86,725.00 in 1985 to purchase and provide for a Life Education Van which became a facility available to practically all school children over the next serval decades.

The Wishing Well at Market Square was built in the 1960s and continues to provide a source of charitable donations by locals and visitors towards the many Rotary projects. Grafton Rotary Club sponsored the development of the Grafton Meals on Wheels program. An organisation that still operates very effciently today.

The Grafton Rotary Club has been a regular participant in the Rotary Bowel Scan program for many decades before that program was taken over by the Commonwealth Government. Statistically, we

know that many lives were saved by this very valuable Rotary program. Another signifcant and ongoing involvement by the Grafton Rotary Club has been in the Rotary Youth Exchange program in which the club frst became involved in 1964. The long-term Youth Exchange Program has seen countless students leave Grafton to spend a year being hosted overseas and in return, the Rotary Club hosts youth exchange participants from all corners of the globe to spend 12 months in Grafton. There is also a variety of youth development programs provided by Rotary and sponsored by the Grafton Rotary Club. There are many young persons who have benefted by attendance at one or another of these programs. The President of the Grafton Rotary Club, Richard Pryor said, “The club is proud to be involved in so many different projects and community events in its 90-year history. We look forward to the club continuing this involvement for the beneft of the community for many more decades to come”. The club will celebrate the occasion with a dinner at the Grafton District Services Club on 6 May 2023. All are welcome and tickets to the event can be purchased directly from the venue.

SCHAEFFER HOUSE MUSEUM, 190 PRINCE STREET, Grafton, NSW

Many items are being ‘rested’ and replaced with different interesting historical photographs, paintings, and objects. Come to see if you can “spot” the changes! Our museum is constantly changing, just like the lovely garden that surrounds it!

When did you last “drop in?”

All our museums have different collections and are entertaining so check out the opening times for Alumy Creek, Iluka, Yamba, Glenreagh, Maclean, Lawrence and Copmanhurst. Schaeffer House hours: Tues, Wed, Thur, and Sun 1-4pm

Admission Family of four $12.00

Adults $5.00 and children $2.00 We have been welcoming many new members lately, if you would like to join our historical society, you too, can receive our quarterly newsletters and receive many benefts in the Research Area.

HASTINGS POINT

HASTINGS POINT COMMUNITY CHOIR

Do you enjoy singing. Our repertoire covers a variety of music styles – both unison and part singing We would love you to join us. New members needed. You will be made most welcome

When: Tuesday Evenings from 7pm – 8.30pm Where: Tricare

Residential Village Community Room Tweed Coast Road, next to Shell Petrol Station. For more information, contact Jean Berry 0414 794 380

PROBUS CLUB OF HASTINGS POINT

The Probus Club of Hastings Point Tweed Coast meets at 10am on 3rd Tuesday each month, in the residents’ lounge at Hastings Point Tricare. Retirees and seniors are welcome to join this happy social group. Phone the Probus president 0409872773 for additional information.

KINGSCLIFF

HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE AT KINGSCLIFF

The Tweed Hospital, it recognises that the new hospital will be located south of Tweed Heads and residents in those areas may be interested in volunteer work when the new hospital opens. The branch welcomes the opportunity to talk to those who are retired, unemployed or simply looking for a chance to give back to one of our most critical services – our hospital. There is a range of jobs that can be performed. The branch runs raffes, a gift shop, fashion parades, jumble sales and luncheons. People with cars are very important to the running of these operations to transport material to the various venues. The branch meetings are held monthly, and the cost of membership is only $5 per year. There are some procedures that must be processed, such as police checks. Full vaccination is required for those volunteers who are working in the hospital. So, the public in the Kingscliff area and surrounds are invited to talk to our volunteers about our UHA branch of The Tweed Hospital. For more information contact John on 0421085985.

KINGSCLIFF 500 CARD CLUB

Kingscliff 500 Card Club.

Monday and Wednesday afternoons 1pm to 4pm Cudgen Surf Club

New players WELCOME

For further Information contact: GARY on 0499869992

KYOGLE

KYOGLE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION

Kyogle Country Music’s next day is on Mother’s Day. To be held at Kyogle Bowling Club on 14th May at 11am with a short meeting and the music to follow. Food and Drinks will be available, All Welcome.

KYOGLE SUNSHINE CLUB

Meets every Thursday at 9.30am. For more details contact 0499824274.

ROTARY KYOGLE BAZAAR

Fourth Saturday of every month. See Rotary Kyogle Bazaar on social media for all the details or call 0459 512 249.

KYOGLE TIDY TOWNS

FARMERS MARKET

Held every Saturday morning in Stratheden Street from 8am -12. Come along grab some local fruit & veggies, experience all Kyogle has to offer. New Stall Holders welcome. Enquiries Anne 66321851

LION’S CLUB OF KYOGLE

Meeting is held on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday each month at the Kyogle Lion’s shed from 6.30–7pm For more information contact Neville Moon on 0448222334.

RICHMOND RIVER BEEF PRODUCER’S ASSOCIATION

Meet on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at Kyogle Showgrounds in the luncheon room at 7pm. For more details Phone Jan on 0427293455.

LENNOX HEAD

LENNOX HEAD CWA

Handy Craft Mornings on Mondays 9.30am-12noon in the community centre at Lennox Head. Call Jan on 66816150.

LENNOX HEAD DAY VIEW CLUB

The Lennox Head Day VIEW Club meets on the frst Monday of each month at the Lennox Head Community Centre with the meeting starting at 11am and includes an interesting speaker and concludes with a light lunch. An informal Coffee and Chat meeting is held on the third Monday of the month. The Club sponsors three students through The Smith Family Learning for Life scholarship program that provides educational items for disadvantaged Australian children. New members and guests are most warmly welcomed, and enquiries may be made to Enid 047187511 or Dawn 0466717435.

LENNOX HEAD EVENING

VIEW CLUB

Meets on the second Tuesday of each month upstairs at the Lennox Hotel at 6.30pm for dinner at 7pm. Guests are welcome. “VIEW members support the education of disadvantaged Australian children by raising much needed funds for The Smith Family. Through fundraising activities and social events in local communities, members raise money that goes directly to The Smith Family’s learning and mentoring programs for disadvantaged. students.” Lennox Head Evening VIEW Club currently sponsors two Learning for Life students. Contact Sue Brennan 0409728814.

LENNOX HEAD LIONS CLUB

New members welcome to join our close-knit club where the emphasis is on community service in a fun environment. Meetings are on the frst and Third Wednesday of each month at Club Lennox starting at 6.30pm. Members do what they can, when they can to facilitate the needs of our club.

PROBUS CLUB OF LENNOX

HEAD

Meets 9.30 for 10 at Club

Lennox, 10 Stewart Street, on the frst Thursday of each month. Visitors are welcome, also retired, or semi-retired people wishing to join our non-service club to hear interesting guest speakers and to join in trips and outings are invited along. Phone June Zentveld on 66871004

LISMORE

LISMORE CITY CONCERT

BAND

Rehearsals are held during school terms on Mondays, 6.15-7.45pm at Southern Cross University. If you can play a concert band instrument: brass, woodwind, or percussion, please come and join us! All ages welcome. We have some instruments available for loan. For more information, Tel: 0432575911 visit: www. lismorecityconcertband.org.au, and our Facebook and Instagram pages.

LISMORE CWA

IT’S ‘23’ SO COME AND SEE what being a member of the Lismore CWA DAY BRANCH could mean to you. We would like YOU to join us for the opportunity to be involved with a truly friendly group of fun, diverse & interesting women of all ages. You will make new friends who will support you, plus you’ll be part of contributing to the lives of Women and Children in our area through our fundraising endeavours. PLEASE THINK

ABOUT IT! Why not come along as a ‘guest’ to see how you feel and experience the difference. being a CWA Member could bring to you and your life. We meet on the frst Thursday of each month at 9:30am for a 10am start. Our 2023 meetings commence in February. FOR MEMBERSHIP

INFORMATION call our President Allison Kelly on 0428 216 079. We also run CRAFT meetings each Friday. You’ll learn new things, once again meet new friends, and enjoy creating beautiful craft in great company.

FOR CRAFT INFORMATION call Vicki Boyle on 0437 465 642. WE LOOK FORWARD SO MUCH to meeting you.

LISMORE HOME GARDEN AND EDUCATION CLUB will hold monthly meeting

Thursday 11th May 1pm East Lismore Bowling Club. Special for May, Daisy or Salvia. A speaker will talk on Salvias. Please bench fowers by 12. 30pm.New members and visitors are welcome. Next Morning Tea

Saturday 24th June.Next day coach trip sat17th June Gold Coast Nursery visits. More info contactSec0448294496 ordcoles39@outlook.com

LISMORE JAZZ CLUB

The next Lismore Jazz Club gig is coming up, this time with a band of renowned local musicians, supported by a young up-andcoming local band—two bands for one low entry price.

Date: Sunday, 7 May

Time: 2 to 5 pm (doors open 1.30 pm)

Name of gig: Lismore Jazz Club

Band: Devil’s Advocates, supported by Plywood Venue Lismore City Bowlo

Cost: $10 members/$15 non-members, cash at door

LISMORE LIBRARY NEW LOCATION IN THE CBD

While the Lismore Library is under repair, you can fnd a PopUp Library at 146 Molesworth Street (Was Williams Shoes), for all your reading, watching and information needs. The library has a fresh collection of donated community books, DVD’s, Puzzles and more, with weekly programs and events. The library is open 7 days a week and more information can be found at www. rtrl.nsw.gov.au

LISMORE MEN & COMMUNITY SHED

President: Don Abrahams 0437576837

Vice President: Bob Greig

0404860504

Email: lismoremcs.contact@ gmail.com

Opening Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9.00am – 3.00pm

We are a community based nonproft organisation. Everybody is welcome: men, women & people with a disability of all ages. We encourage social inclusion. Our aim is to promote the mental, physical & emotional well-being of people in our community.

Shed Activities

Members work on their own projects

Mentoring is available

General woodworking

Welding & light engineering

Repair & restoration of items for the public Constructing projects, of items for the public Constructing projects for preschools, hospitals & other organisations

Assembling fatpack

Minor maintenance work

for the elderly & disabled

Working with the disabled

Talking with other members or simply having company

Memberships: $40-year

Attendance Fee: $3 tea/coffee

Location: 15 Industry Drive East

Lismore

LISMORE ORCHID SOCIETY INC.

ORCHID SHOW - JUDGING

LISMORE CENTRAL FRI 14TH

- SAT 15TH APRIL

Lismore Orchid Society now meets 3rd Wednesday each month, 1:30pm to 4:00pm at Goonellabah Community Centre in the Goonellabah Public Library, 27 Oliver Ave Goonellabah . . .’ Contact Bev on 0400326289

LISMORE SENIOR CITIZENS

Meet at the Goonellabah Community Centre every second Thursday starting at 9am where we have morning tea followed by games bingo how etc we play cards Monday and Friday and play bowls Tuesdays and craft every second Tuesday afternoons come and join our friendly group you will be very welcome.

LISMORE SPINNERS & WEAVERS

Please join us…... Weaving, Spinning, Felting, Dyeing, Knitting, Crochet, Workshops, Chat…. Sharing Craft & Ideas. From 10am, on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays of each month. (Formal business meeting is 10.30-11.30 every 1st Friday) McLeans Ridges Hall Cnr Cowlong and McLeans Ridges Rds (off Bruxner Hwy) Morning Tea provided. Bring your lunch (and a mug) Contac: Kim- 0423935060 Linda- 0419489987

Email ~ lismorespinnersandweavers@ gmail.com

LISMORE TARGET RIFLE

CLUB for .22 calibre rifes, meets Wed nights from 6.30pm & the 1st & 3rd Sat of each month from 1.00 pm. Air rife shooting for .22 & 177 air rifes will also be available at the Saturday shoots. For more information, please phone Derek on 66282082 (ah).

EAST LISMORE BOWLING

CLUB Community Bingo Tuesday night 7.30pm start. 20 games of bingo + progressive jackpot Neilson Street East Lismore. Everyone Welcome

EAST LISMORE SOCIAL

TENNIS

Social Tennis is played at East Lismore Tennis Club, Cnr Neilson St & Oakley Avenue every Tuesday from 8am. We invite social players of all abilities to join us, we are a mixed group who enjoy a morning’s tennis without the commitment of competition. Feel free to call in or phone Fay Ross 0412910487 for more information. Everyone welcome.

MAINLY MUSIC

Fun, interactive, music sessions for young children [birth to school age] and their parents/caregivers in a relaxed setting on Tuesdays starting at 9:30am during School Terms. Children will be introduced to music, creativity and more. They will develop gross motor skills, as well as socialise with others in a loving, shared family environment. Morning tea with snacks included. Mainly Music at Lismore Anglican Parish Centre, 10 Zadoc Street, LISMORE. T: 0266213200

NR U3A LISMORE INC. (UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE)

Have you retired or just about to, from the workforce? Are you looking to exercise your mind and body and keep both well oiled?

Well, Lismore U3A [university of the third age} could be just the place for you. This worldwide organisation has been running in Lismore for the past 30 years and thousands of local people have benefted from its programmes. It’s a great place to meet like-minded people and make new friends.

The last three years have been diffcult for us as they have for everyone, and we are on a recruitment drive to meet and greet you!

We start 2023 with a choice of at least 30 classes, which include, Languages, Photography, Science, History, Qigong, Genealogy, and many others. We also have a social calendar each term. All our courses are listed on our website www.lismoreu3a.com.au

U3A is entirely run by volunteers, with the committee and tutors coming from our membership. The joining fee Is $50 for 1 year and entitles you to attend any course you choose throughout the year; you can go every day if you wish. Why not peruse our site to see if there is a course that would be of interest to you. There is an online enrolment form that you can complete and any queries you have can be directed to our secretary, Pat, McLarenSmith Ph. 6622 7408 We look forward to meeting you. On behalf of Lismore U3A committee.

PARKINSONS NSW LISMORE SUPPORT GROUP

“Parkinson NSW Lismore Regional Support Group. We meet every third Friday of the month. Next group Meeting is Friday, 19th of May Commences at 10am to 12pm at the South Lismore Bowls Club, 25 Wilson Street South Lismore. New members welcomed. Snacks & cold drinks available. Tea and Coffee with a Gold Coin Donation. with a Guest Speaker, Parkinsons Support Nurse, carer/spouse group and social network. Any inquiries contact Marie 0448871290 or SG_lismoreparkinsons@hotmail. com ”

PROBUS CLUB OF LISMORE HEIGHTS

Our mixed group meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at the Lismore Heights Bowling Club in High St. Our brief meeting is followed by morning tea and a guest speaker. Senior’s lunch for $15 at noon is optional. Guests and visitors are welcome. Ring/text Pam on 0418766247 for details of our other monthly social gatherings and outings.

ROTARY CLUB OF LISMORE NETWORKING

Want to be part of an innovative, interesting, and inclusive networking group who meet fortnightly to share ideas, meet other professionals and work together to make a difference in your community? Then Rotary Club of Lismore Networking could be the answer for you!

Meets on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month at 5.30pm at The Civic Hotel (210 Molesworth Street Lismore). For more information contact Rita on 0413300578 or Gae 0412742095.

ROTARY CLUB OF LISMORE WEST INC

East Lismore Bowling Club each Thursday at 6pm. New members would be made most welcome. Further information available on 0428151934.

ROTARY CLUB OF SUMMERLAND SUNRISE

Interested in contributing to community? Local and international?

The Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise meets every Friday at 7.05am for Breakfast at Options Cafe, Main St. Alstonville until further notice. Join us at Options please. Phone 0435 990 919 for more details.

SPRUNG

Sprung!! is a registered charity and a not-for-proft community organisation that offers Dance, Theatre & Movement workshops, and training to people with disabilities. We are currently looking for volunteers to assist our organisation in a number of ways including supporting our Tutors and Disability Support Workers; transcribing; catering; professional skills; technical support and backstage support. Our workshops and performances run in Lismore, Mullumbimby, Tintenbar and Lennox Head expanding to Ballina and the Tweed. Any interested volunteers can reach us here and for general information please contact us on info@sprung.org.au

SUMMERLAND AMATEUR

RADIO CLUB

Meetings of the club are normally held on the second Sunday of each month at the clubrooms: 412 Richmond Hill Road, Richmond Hill at 1pm. Visitors are welcome. The clubrooms are usually open on Sunday afternoons from about 1pm onwards. We are primarily amateur radio enthusiasts and welcome persons interested in radio, electronics, astronomy and similar subjects. For more details about the club and its activities see the club’s website: https:// sarc.org.au/

ZEN AND INSIGHT

MEDITATION – LISMORE HEIGHTS INSIGHT (VIPASSANA)

MEDITATION and practice: This mindfulness-based meditation group sits on Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30pm. The evening includes meditation instructions, sitting and walking meditation, Dharma talks and discussion.

For further details, please contact Rosie - 0402 682 925

ZEN MEDITATION and practice

The Zen meditation group sits on Mondays from 6:30pm-8:15pm. The evening includes instructions, sitting meditation, Dharma talks and individual interviews with the teacher.

For further details, please phone: 0427778837

Website: https://www. kuanyinmeditationcentre.org/ Beginners and experienced meditations are warmly welcomed at both groups.

MACLEAN

MACLEAN VIEW CLUB

Monthly meetings the 3rd Thursdays of each month at 11am. Contact Ruth Toyer on 0409844212 by Mondays, no later than 7pm. Numbers are required for catering purposes.

MURWILLUMBAH

MURWILLUMBAH

Fine art printmakers. Meet at studio space 224 Stokers Rd, Stokers Siding. Prints, gallery, workshops and more! E: cpmmurwillumbah@hotmail.com - T: Peter 0498399640 or Sue 0408493253. Find us on Facebook & Instagram.

MURWILLUMBAH COMMUNITY

GARDEN

Members and visitors are invited to join the group for activities and gardening tips most Sundays. Time 3-5pm, street parking, BYO, covered footwear, comfy clothing, hat, and water. Children ok with strict supervision. Covid plan operating. Enquires: phone Bob Johnson (02)66225792.

POTTSVILLE

POTTSVILLE FUN CROQUET CLUB

Meets at Black Rocks Sports Fields on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8.30am. New members are welcome to come and join us for a hit and a bit of fun. For any further enquires please call Jean on 0431606375. We will have a new starting time at the end of daylight saving. We play at Black Rocks Sports Field. New members are welcome. For further enquires please ring Jean on 0431606375.

POTTSVILLE LADIES LIFEBALL

Every Thursday morning 9.30am to 11.30am. Pottsville Community Hall, $5 per session includes morning tea. No joining fees. For enquiries, please call Jan 0431909760.

TWEED HEADS

Poets and writers on the Tweed meet every Tuesday at the South Tweed Sports Club 1.30-3.30pm. Beginners welcome. Phone 0755248035.

TWEED HEADS PROBUS CLUB

Probus Club, Coolangatta/Tweed Heads. Be at Club Tweed at 10-00am on the frst

Wednesday of the Month. Visitors and new members are very welcome.

RICHMOND-TWEED FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY INC

The Society holds its monthly general meeting on the frst Saturday of every month at Players Theatre, 24 Swift Street, Ballina, from 2pm-4pm and at each meeting we have a presentation of a topic at that meeting we hope you will continue to support us announcing this through your relevant media outlet, I have listed some upcoming meetings:

Saturday 6 May Meeting: Occupations

– At What Did Your Forebears Work?

Coordinated by Judith Cosgrove.

Saturday 3 June Meeting: First Clue that Sparked a Line of Enquiry. Co-ordinated by Robyn Hilan.

Saturday 1 July Meeting: A Photograph

That Tells a Story. Co-ordinated by Jackie Chalmers.

Saturday 5 August Meeting: AGM plus talks on The Black Sheep in the Family co-ordinated by Joy Conlon

TWEED PATCHWORK GROUP

Meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at South Tweed Community Center from 9-1pm at 18 Heffron Street Tweed Heads south all beginners welcome phone Moira on 0418686643. A friendly group of people with common interest in seeing, quilting and related craft.

YAMBA

YAMBA DAY VIEW CLUB

Yamba Day View Club’s monthly luncheons are held at Yamba Bowling Club on 3rd Monday of month, starting 10am for 10.30am. Acceptance and apologies to President Lyn 66463164 by Friday prior to luncheon for catering purposes. We hold a monthly social outing either for lunch or morning tea and visitors are always welcome.

YAMBA LIONS CLUB

Yamba Lions Club’s meetings are held 2nd & 4th Thursdays of month at Yamba Bowling Club, commencing at 7pm for 7.30pm. For further information, please contact the Secretary Peter 0417546097. Social outings also held at various time and visitors and new members’ welcome.

ALL NORTHERN RIVERS

NORTHERN RIVERS BUSHWALKING CLUB

Are you interested in exploring the beauty that our region contains. The Northern Rivers Bushwalking Club offers a variety of activities for people of all abilities and ages in bushwalking, cycling, kayaking, abseiling, qigong and social interaction. Visit our Facebook page or our website nrbc.org.au for more information.

NORTHERN RIVERS DAY PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

The next meeting of the Northern Rivers Day Prostate Cancer Support Group is to be held on Wednesday May 10th - 10am until 12 noon at the Alstonville Plateau Sports Club (previously known as Bowling Club), Deegan Drive, Alstonville –THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be conducted on this occasion therefore member attendance is requested –Men previously and newly diagnosed with prostate cancer are urged to join with the group to experience the personal cancer stories told which give a great opportunity for all present to share, learn and beneft from each other - Partners and Carers are also most welcome to attend as family are very much involved with the process and treatment of those with this diagnosis –Enquiries phone Bob Corney 0493 075 612 -

NRCF WOMEN’S GIVING CIRCLE

The Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRFC) is inviting Northern Rivers women to play an active role in

empowering vulnerable women and girls in our region. The newly formed NRFC’s Women’s Giving Circle brings Northern Rivers women together to achieve equality and human rights for women and girls in our region and enable them to realise their full potential. Visit the Women’s Giving Circle nrcf.org.au/women’s-giving-circle/ on the NRFC website for more information and to join the Women’s Giving Circle. murbahcommunitygardens@gmail. com - follow us on Facebook #MurwillumbahCommunity Garden

The NORTHERN RIVERS HASH HOUSE HARRIERS is a non-proft community group that is part of a worldwide organisation. The Hash House Harriers meet every Monday at 6pm for a run/walk from various locations around Lismore, Alstonville and Ballina. The run/walk lasts for approximately an hour, followed by friendship, banter and grub.

We are very friendly and welcome new members. For more details email: nrhhh@ freelists.org.

NORTHERN RIVERS PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP

Covering Wollongbar to Ocean Shores. Meets 2nd Friday of each month at Summerland Farm, Wardell Road, Alstonville. A general catch up & chat with the opportunity to join in a casual Q&A session with Rebecca, our Parkinson’s nurse. She will be there to answer any questions that you may have about anything to do with living with Parkinson’s or supporting or caring for a loved one. Maybe you want to know about symptoms, medication, treatments or services etc. Rebecca is there to support us and help you manage your disease so that you live your best life. All those living with Parkinson’s Disease or those supporting them are most welcome.

Please RSVP Cheryl 0428286753.

Warnings

See www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings

Northern Rivers District:

Sunny. Light winds.

Thursday. Mostly sunny. Light winds.

Northern Tablelands District:

Sunny. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then tending west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.

Thursday. Sunny. Winds northwest to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the afternoon.

New South Wales:

Showers about the central and southern ranges and slopes, extending into parts of the southern inland. Snow possible

above 1600 metres. Daytime temperatures near to slightly above average. West to southwesterly winds. fresh about the ranges.

Thursday. Mostly sunny. Areas of morning fog and frost. Daytime temperatures near to below average. Light west to southwesterly winds.

Byron Coast:

Winds: West to southwesterly about 10 knots tending north to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots during the afternoon then tending west to northwesterly during the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. 1st Swell: Southerly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore during the morning. 2nd Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.

Coffs Coast:

Winds: West to southwesterly about 10 knots tending north to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots during the afternoon then tending west to northwesterly during the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. 1st Swell: Southerly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore during the morning. 2nd Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.

Gold Coast Waters:

Winds: Variable below 10 knots becoming southerly 10 to 15 knots during the morning then tending southeasterly during the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Sun6:14am5:12pm

Moon3:44pm3:29am

By TIM HOWARD

Nineteen-year-old South Australian cyclist Zac Marriage has taken out the new-look Squadron

BALLINA MAHJONG

28TH APRIL 2023

Barbara Ellan 1, Sally Lowry 2, Pauline Kearney

3, Diana Auret 4, Susan Allan 5, Margaret Bryant

6, Jeanette Henwood 7, Valda McLerie 8, Shirley Atkinson 9, Lorna Simpson

10, Deborah Green , Kath Hubbard, Vanessa Reynolds

11, Shirley Coleman 14,Joy Lowien 15, Bev Lasater

16, Cindy Smith 17, Lesley Richie 18, Rosemary Russell 19, Jan Small 20, Shirley Henry 22, Pam Farrell 23, Robyn McRae

24, June Greenaway 25, Jenny Lang 26, Jan Henley, Janena Bird, Wendy Thornton 27, Susan Scott 30.

Mahjong is played on Friday at 12:30pm at the Ballina Bridge Club North Creek Road. Enquiries for new players phone Vanessa on 66874181.

CASINO WOMENS BOWLS RESULTS

Results from Wed 26/4: There were 2 more games played for round 2 of the club Major Consistency championship :

D. Grice def J. Creighton

R. Skirrey def C. Haynes

Congratulations to the winners & good luck in

Teen takes cycle classic title

Energy Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic in a time under six hours.

Marriage, riding for Team Bridgelane, completed the 229km

distance in a time of 5hrs55min29sec, maintaining an average speed of 38.48kmh.

Organisers opted for a streamlined approach to

their next games. We had 2 rinks of social bowls games:

M. Jordan, C. Doyle & D. Skinner def M. Jordan, J. Cooke & I. Watson V. Cole & K. Jonsson def

K. McKay & H. Lavelle

Come along & join us, if you haven’t bowled before coaching is available. New members welcome to join in with a lovely group of ladies

CHERRY STREET CROQUET AUSTRALIAN CHAMPS

David Scott & Raymond Chapman recently returned from competing in the Australian Ricochet Croquet Singles & Doubles Championships plus the NSW Golf Croquet Open Singles Championships in Sydney.

Over 12 days play David & Ray, Cherry Street won the Inaugural Australian Ricochet Doubles Championships with a close win in the fnal over Rob Elliott & Don Wright Cooks River, 15/14, 15/19, 9/8.

In the Singles Ricochet Championships David made it through to the fnal and went down to Peter Freer Canberra 20/8, 26/9.

Ray was knocked out in the semi to eventual winner Peter Freer 19/26, 21/6, 14/26.

In the NSW Golf

the 2023 event, ditching the traditional division and challenge categories.

Instead the race was split into National Road Series and Non-NRS

categories, simplifying the racing into three basic groups: the Grafton to Inverell men’s event, the Grafton to Mt Mitchell for women riders and the rest.

Queensland rider Mia Hayden made it a double for the TBL team, winning the Grafton to Mt Mitchell race in 3hrs59min32sec.

She crossed the line virtually level with

The gruelling event up the Gibraltar Range and across the tablelands to Inverell or Mt Mitchell has been rated one of the toughest road races on the Australian calendar. The 2023 event was the 62nd running of the event, which has attracted cyclists from around the world and Australia in that time.

achievement, a just reward for two very fne players through team effort and hard work. Both players are very

Handicap Singles :

R.Poynting 13 d D.Scott 11

OBE Doubles Club

Championships : B.Wellings M.Russell 13 d

N.Watts J.Doust 11

OBE Ricochet Doubles

Champions

Norma Watts & Joan Doust

Runners Up Noelene

Barnes & Peter Doyle

DIVISION 2

GOLF CROQUET

CLUB SINGLES

CHAMPIONSHIPS :

R.Poynting d N.Watts

M.Russell d J.OSulivan.

F.Duncan d P.Scott

R.Poynting d G.Frederiksen

R.Rille1, B.Martin 2, W Hart 3, G.Giles 4, C.D.Vene 5, S.Ohara 6, M.McMahon 7, G.Spencer 8. Plate Division : J.Hull, J.Molyneux, P. Nicholson, M.Mabbutt.

Croquet Open Singles Championships David won his way to the fnal going down to Peter Landrebe Cammeray 4/7, 7/2, 7/4, 0/7, 7/4. in the best of 5 games.

Ray Chapman made it through to the top 16 but was eventually knocked out by none other than his team mate David Scott 7/6, 3/7, 7/4.

Both David 8 years & Ray 7 years at the club have both won many local, country, and State titles, NSW & QLD Championships. This is the frst time they have won an Australian Title and to do it together was an outstanding

dedicated to Croquet and have not only helped the club grow but have committed a lot of time helping players from all clubs across the Northern Rivers Area in Croquet. A blessing to have two fne gentlemen involved in the sport of Croquet.

Thank you David & Ray.

CHERRY STREET CROQUET CLUB SPORTS RESULTS RICOCHET CROQUET

G.Kerr C.Lane 12 d

C.Edlund N.Barnes 12

N.Poynting 13 d R.Allen

P.Scott 13

H.Young 15 d J.Hannigan 10 Club Championships

D.Taylor d P.Bolte

M.Russell d L.Hudson

F.Duncan d J.Doust

R.Poynting d D.Taylor

M.Russell d F.Duncan

Final to be played R.

Poynting v M.Russell

PENNANTS :

Byron Bay 4 d Alstonville 2

Ballina 4 d Casino 2

TOURNAMENTS :

NSW Golf Croquet Open Singles Championships : P.Landrebe 1, D.Scott 2, M.Powsy 3, G.Denyer 4, P.Freer 5, D.Bull 6, E.Gumbrell 7, T.Woodley 8.

Plate Division :

K.McLoughlin 1, K McGlynn 2, P.Markwell, S.Burns.

QLD Golf Croquet Open Singles Championships

OBE Ricochet Doubles

Club Champions

Norma Watts, Joan Doust

EVANS HEAD WOMENS

BOWLS

Ladies Social Day -26-0423 - Lucky Rink - 2 Bowl

Triples

Winners - B. Cameron, A. Viney, (G. Marczan/P. Freeman).

Runners/up - M. Adams, B. Montague, S. Downs. Club Pairs Championship entries close 03-05-23 commence on 10-05-23.

TBL teammate Talia Appleton.

Zac Marriage celebrates winning the 2023 Squadron Energy Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic as he crosses the fnish line in Inverell, fnishing the 229km distance in 5hrs55min29sec.

Just 229km to go as the feld for the 2023 Squadron Energy Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic heads off from in front of Grafton’s Crown Hotel for Glen Innes.