50 minute read
Letters
LETTERS, FEEDBACK AND OPINION
We’d love to hear from you!
letters@nrtimes.com.au
Please keep under 250 words & include address and phone number This material from the originating organization/ author(s) may be of a pointin-time nature, edited for clarity, style and length. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s).
OIL PETROL
It’s about time America, Australia, and Europe out trade embargoes on OPEC countries unless they up production of petrol. In addition, Australia should use its own fuel reserves and take of the petrol excise which is around a dollar a litre this is criminal, and they don’t with it just use it on political campaigns to get re-elected enough is enough.
Alan Mosley
Yamba
FINALLY, AN ENDGAME
witnessing the end game of the totally disgraced Morrison government? They are now selfdestructing, literally tearing themselves apart; it’s like watching the death throes of a dying beast. If Morrison had an ounce of integrity, he would call an election and end this train wreck of a government immediately.
With this level of by MPs who cannot stand each other and if Australia is ever to emerge from the pandemic and resume some sort of normality, they need to stop looking at themselves and begin governing the country. The aged care sector is in complete chaos, the health system is on the verge of collapse, wages and living standards are in decline, childcare and education are becoming unaffordable. We must have a government that takes these issues seriously and is capable of delivering them permanently, not as a elections.
It’s seriously bad when a Liberal Premier badmouths a Liberal PM. in the middle of an emergency by referring to him in text messages as a “horrible person more concerned with politics than people”, “she did not trust the PM. who was actively spreading lies”. A cabinet minister replied, describing Morrison as a “fraud and complete psycho obsessed with petty political point scoring”.
But it actually gets worse, with more leaked emails from the Deputy PM. Barnaby Joyce describing Morrison as a “hypocrite and liar, I have never trusted him, and I dislike how he earnestly rearranges the truth to a lie”. It would be beyond comprehension how these two disturbed individuals could ever work together; we must not succumb again to blatant National Party pork-barrelling and terminate this disastrous government.
Alan Veacock
Cumbalum
5 MILLION DOLLAR TRACT OF LAND
I am wondering what form of public consultation our former mayor Ekins undertook before gifting a 5million tract of land to Mickey Ryan and his indigenous following at a time when Lismore was severely affected by a chronic housing shortage and our council had highly
Additionally, a local government body which increasingly dangerous potholes whilst maintaining one of the highest rating systems in our region simply cannot be making goodwill gestures regardless of the Bonafede’s off the intended recipient.
Such a goodwill gesture condemns poorly housed residents to include housing costs at the expense of putting a nourishing meal on the table and that sort of
Surely, it’s time to put the greater happiness of the most affected people ahead of the selective inspiration of a now defunct council which seemed rarely to step outside their opinionated world into the reality off roads which seem to be creating dwellings for homeless groundhogs.
Our council has made past but this decision beggars’ belief.
Tony Madden
Lismore
VOTE BUYING
Yes, you can tell it’s an election with the redneck liberal stooges throwing money around to buy votes especially in Queensland where it won the last federal election. Spending money on the barrier Reef then opening the international border so far north Queensland a sign an election is coming up. The only thing is the federal government has failed us miserably during the covid pandemic and does not deserve another four years in government even his deputy Barnaby Joyce has called the prime minister a liar and hypocrite so why should we Joe public trust him when his own cabinet doesn’t. We know all liberal national party members are card carrying Machiavellian scumbags that will stop at nothing to get their own way and hold on to power. But like covid we have the chance to eradicate them at the next election and boost our lives for the better given the cost of living is so outrageously high with petrol the number one expense that gets passed on to everything else in transport costs. This government must go at the next election.
Alan Mosley
Yamba
LEFTY BIAS
I want to express my utter disgust at lefty media who continually push the labour- green barrow. The recent press club address by Prime Minister, Mr Morrison was loaded with “gotcha questions”, the chair Lora Tingle continually asked questions of a dubious nature despite being expected to remain neutral. It has been described as a home game for labourgreens at the press club and an away game for the Government, which is glaringly obvious. Take a look at each way (Albanese) appearance a few weeks earlier, it’s easy to see what side the chair and journalists’ bat for. A total disgrace which should be condemned globally. Mr Morrison said he had the blow torch applied to him and expects the same treatment for each way, (Albanese) however we all know the results, the labour -green coalition get a free media ride on every occasion. The same applies to the fake independents who are running against Liberal seats only, are same billionaire and spruik from the same song sheet, a concerted disingenuous disgrace on their part. Surely the smart majority of this great country can see the duplicity being dealt out by this immoral mob. I shudder to think how long an Albanese-Bandt government would take to bankrupt our country. Take the shutting down of coal and gas alone, as I have asked before, what are they going to replace the billions worth of revenue with?, what industry’s will replace it?. If the Laborgreen coalition win Government get ready for blackouts, spiralling electricity prices, a gutwrenching drop in our living standards, just to start with.
G. MacDonald
Pimlico
TWEED REGION COMMUNITY RADIO
www .memphismayhemradio. com Ph: 07 5633 4430
HUMAN RIGHTS
If you contact the Minister for Immigration
LismoreOPEN 7 DAYS 6am-10pm
LismoreLittle convenience in the heart of the CBD! Little convenience in the heart of the CBD!
Lismore Little convenience in the heart of the CBD! 81 Woodlark St, Lismore Ph 6621 9239
lismore@nightowl.com.au @NightOwlLismore nightowl_lismore • ESPRESSO • ICE & WATER • FAST FOOD • GROCERIES • FRUIT & VEG • NEWSPAPERS • AND MUCH MORE...
LETTERS AND OPINION
and ask what can be done about the refugees and asylum seekers being held in detention for up to 9 years in this country, you will get a long answer about how the laws are being administered. You will also be told that it is national security.
That fails to answer the question. If such people, and they are people, are a risk why are they not in a maximum-security prison?
More importantly, to simply argue that you are carrying out the law does not necessarily make it moral. Just because the PM sits behind a desk with a plaque saying “I stopped the boats” does not make the consequent practice right. There seems to have been a loss of memory that those boats actually had people in them. This, and previous governments, have made these laws so they can also change them.
With an election around the corner, it is time to ask all parties seeking to be elected to tell us what they would do about refugees in detention.
How dare we talk about human rights in other countries when we imprison people without periods and do so with laws that break our signed obligation under UN legislation. John Edwards Ballina
COVID BOOSTERS
How is it not discriminatory that Australian s need a booster shot and overseas travellers don’t to be considered fully vaccinated this is discrimination one on one.
What happens if tourists get sick and our hospital system overwhelmed again by covid patients then what.
One rule for all or no rule and let people do their own thing enough is enough and who knows we may need to be considered fully vaccinated its insanity plus. Alan Mosley Yamba
EPITOMY OF DECEIT
It seems our rapidly decomposing Federal Govt.is not going quietly or cheaply, they certainly have no shame spending taxpayer’s money. We are now being inundated with publicly funded advertising singing the praises of their “world leading” policy of guiding Australia to net-zero emissions by 2050 and Australia’s “groundbreaking” movement to renewables (wind and solar). “Beating not meeting”, “Australia leading the way”, “reaching our targets in a canter”, “technology not taxes”; what a shameless display of unadulterated duplicitous spin, it’s insulting to intelligent people. This shameless Govt has spent the last decade doing everything within its power to slowdown the transmission to renewables.
In 2014 Tony Abbott repealed the Gillard Labor Govt’s. highly successful Clean Energy Act- that reduced CO2 emissions to ten-year lows within 9 months- and replaced it with the Direct-Action Carbon Reduction Scheme that directly paid big emitters $3 billion taxpayer dollars to fund emission reduction schemes, achieving virtually nothing. Treasury modelling indicated the scheme would cost twice as much and no Australian economist would even support it.
And for the Coalition to claim that their transition “plan” to net-zero is not going to cost Australian taxpayers is the epitome of deceit. The Coalition has a long and egregious history of costing the taxpayer billions of dollars in elaborate, wasteful schemes to do everything possible to prolong Australia’s dependence on fossilfuels.
Until the toxic Party is removed, Australia will continue to suffer. Kevin Hogan’s ongoing silence on this vitally important issue is insulting and indicates he just toes the National Party line; all he seems capable of is continuous pork-barrelling announcements. Stephen McGuiness Wardell
TRAINS
If they can build an inland railway from Melbourne to Brisbane, afford to put the casino to Murwillumbah train back on beside the rail trail. They don’t even need power lines as the train is solar. The only thing you need is the tracks. And station upgrades the train could have a restaurant and cafes and pop-up shops on the station and tearoom furthermore I see the rail trail having E bikes and scooters that could be rented from train stations and when wet weather obviously the train will be a far more viable option stop the politics and put the railway back on it’s a no brainer and will be heavily patronised. Alan Mosley Yamba
NATURAL AND CULTURAL
Now we have new Rous County Councillors, it’s time to reassess the facts around Water security, Aboriginal Heritage and the Big Scrub remnant on the proposed Dunoon dam site. There’s 2 Survival stories in there!
Close to my heart is the extremely rare and unique heritage - natural and cultural. Dunoon dam is not a secure enough solution. • Diverse water options -other than dams- are being advocated by NSW
State government to ensure reliable water supplies in the face of climate change. • Building a second dam on a small creek is not future water security for our region in a 4.5 year drought.
Now, cultural heritage. I’m an archaeology student.
OPEN7 DAYS Contract laundry for servicing pubs, clubs, NDIS & more Safe & well lit - 6am - 7.30pm $1 & $2 coins onlySELF SERVE NEW UPDATED MACHINERY Lorraine’sLOCALLY OWNED
Reality Check by Nigel Dawe
AS far back as I can remember, I’ve been picking and ploughing my way through books trying to find answers to things that perhaps outright defy any form of simple explanation. One such topic, I’ve returned to, and wrestled with time and again is the concept of reality.
As a young child I remember a family friend gave me a copy of ‘Beyond the Mechanical Mind’. To this day I often think it was an apt gift to give a child growing up in an isolated area, prior to the internet, not to mention something that directly set in train an interest I’ve remained quite fascinated by.
Like all the ‘big’ topics in life, that become near impossible to explain, the more you reflect on them; ‘reality’ swirls about everywhere to be seen, and yet in a nowhere to be fathomed kind of way. As such, one of the best explanations I’ve ever read was by a former Polish WWII concentration camp escapee, Stanislaw J Lec: “All of our separate fictions add up to joint reality.”
For mine, whilst reality is something largely ‘given’, a construct greatly determined by the culture and time we find ourselves in, it is also something essentially created through the interconnected perceptions and connections of our own mind and its surrounds. Or as the Bhagavad-Gita wonderfully questions: “What is reality? What compels or impels this exuberant play of infinite possibilities?”
Relatedly, Bryan Singer once suggested: “We don’t live in the world of reality, we live in the world of how we perceive reality.” Thus, without a human brain, or a collective of them to make sense of, or to confirm the ‘substance’ of reality, then there are simply happenings that occur without any interconnectedness that might pose for something reliable or tangibly real.
The origin of the word ‘reality’ thus stems from medieval notions of anything ‘having physical existence’, or something that is ‘not imaginary’; essentially it is that which is real, confirmable, albeit perceivable. And there’s the rub: each of us see and understand the world we live in, in very different ways, there is and has never been ‘one world’ or version of anything. As Sloane Crosley once noted: “Our brains are like bonsai trees, growing around our private versions of reality.”
That said, there is no escaping reality, denial of it perhaps, but there’s no way any of us can exist or function beyond the sane safe haven it provides, for better or worse, it is the very stage upon which all our ‘walking shadows’ live out their days. Or as the sci-fi writer, Phillip K. Dick once discerned: “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”
Not that any of us can control what comes our way at any given time but accepting the potential for unexpected developments is one way of preparing, if not remotely handling the sheer unpredictability of reality. Henry Miller was perhaps more than ballpark astute when he once surmised: “Chaos is the score upon which reality is written.”
LETTERS, FEEDBACK AND OPINION
Emily Yantra The Channon
CAN ROUS GOVERN ITSELF?
Nan Nicholson WATER Northern Rivers
COVID PROTESTS
Lynette Evans NUMULGI
DEATH OF RICHMOND RIVER
Richard White East Ballina
RAIL TRAIL
Neil McQuilty NIMBIN
THANK YOU NRTIMES
Ted Rowland Grafton South
‘Steam rolling’ ahead with Cudgen ‘connection’
An artist’s impression of the proposed private hospital and grounds, and (below) the proposed ‘Cudgen Connections’ next to the new Tweed Valley Hospital.
MARGARET DEKKER
Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry says she’s been blindsided by the degree of planning already done for a new, quarter of a billion-dollar private health and education hub, ‘Cudgen Connections,’ proposed for private farmland adjacent the new Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen near Kingscliff.
“What a bombshell dropped today re a new proposal for our Cudgen State Significant Farmland,” Mayor Chris Cherry posted to her own social media last week.
“I attended the Tweed Business Chamber event this morning where the Conversation with the community on the Cudgen Connections project began. You can’t call it a conversation with the community when you begin the formal process for a Planning proposal for the concept on the same day. That is not a conversation.
“The word steam-roll springs to mind,” Mayor Cherry stated.
The $250 milliondollar private health and education precinct complete with community hub, is the vision of Allan Larkin’s ‘Digital Infratech’ company together with Sydney venture capital outfit, Centuria Capital, headed by Centuria’s Head of Development, Andrew Bali.
Cudgen Connections aims to deliver an elaborate range of private health and educational facilities and services to the people of the Tweed, across a 7-hectare site at the busy corner of Cudgen and Tweed Coast Roads.
“.. Delivering a new university campus, aged-care facilities, essential worker housing, private hospital, medihotel, specialist and allied health care, rehab pool and gym, farmers market, eateries and ampitheatre,’ Cudgen Connections’ concept plan states.
“It is a new chapter in the Tweed’s history,” Allan Larkin, Digital Infratech, said.
The marketing for Cudgen Connections references how the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the need for better private health and education options on the Tweed, rather than residents having to rely on services across the border on the Gold Coast.
“The uncertainty COVID-19 delivers to our health, economy and mental wellbeing has created some community challenges. Cudgen Connection endeavours to address these concerns and provide much needed support.
“It will create 1000 new local jobs, act as a catalyst to stimulate the local economy and address recent border closures.
“The opportunity to connect health initiatives, education, community groups, lifestyle, farmers and tourism in a central precinct which respects and celebrates the local environment is an exciting one which holds enormous potential for the region,” Cudgen Connections marketing reads.
“At the heart of the precinct, a proposed community hub would also house a Centre of Excellence for Koala Research operated by the Koala Research Foundation Australia.”
A business incubator for start-up and existing small business together with services for mental health, youth and suicide prevention are also offered as well as “showcasing the region’s farming and arts communities.”
It’s potentially a big one for investors, too. Digital Infratech’s website states, “Cudgen Connection offers a rare opportunity for private investment to deliver infrastructure and social initiatives required to address a range of regional challenges.”
From next month, locally-appointed ‘Community Connectors’ for the project will work with locals and suppliers alike over six months to iron-out any local issues and challenges to hone the development application.
Given the cost - $250 million – and scale of the project, the Cudgen Connections hub will ultimately be determined by state planning authorities.
“No Green Light To Concrete Cudgen Farmland”
State Member for Tweed, National MP Geoff Provest however has cautioned against developers eyeing off State Significant Farmland for their projects, in the wake of community outcry following the positioning of the $723m Tweed Valley Hospital, now under construction, on State Significant farmland on the Cudgera Plateau.
“They should reconsider their position if they think they will be able to re-zone any existing Kingscliff prime agricultural land,” Geoff Provest Tweed Nationals MP said.
“Whilst we are building a state-of-the-art health facility at Cudgen, that should not be seen as a green light to concrete additional Cudgen farmland. This is not welcome.” Geoff Provest, Member for Tweed said.
Tweed leaders Geoff Provest MP and Mayor Chris Cherry aren’t alone in their concerns about the scale and situation of Cudgen Connections. Community Facebook pages lit up with hundreds of residents’ comments about the latest big idea for the Tweed Coast.
“Once a really beautiful beachside town, all in the name of so called progress, just an extension of the legoland Gold Coast, all the way to Sydney we go, so very sad.
“That area of land hasn’t been farmed in a long long time ..
“I noted they were throwing in a proposal for everything but the kitchen sink. Even a koala research centre and aged care facility to win everyone over ..
“.. Open slather now,” one local posted.
New doctors starting in the Clarence, from left, John Quin, Vanessa Hewitt, Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis, Wesley Joh, Myra Pritchett and Alexander Lee.
New doctors start in Clarence
TIM HOWARD
Five young doctors who began work at in Clarence Valley hospitals this month are welcome additions to hospital staff and their pathway could be a template for attracting doctors to regional centres.
Typical of the intake was Vanessa Hewitt, who has been working as a GP at the Ochre Health Superclinic in Grafton for two years.
Dr Hewitt will continue her training at Grafton Base Hospital as a paediatric registrar.
“Completing my final year in paediatrics will establish me as a rural generalist GP with specialist skills,” she said.
She has been ticking all the right boxes so, being named the 2021 GP Synergy’s North Coast Registrar of the Year.
Dr Hewitt, who grew up in Sydney has fallen in love with the Jacaranda City and has no intention of leaving once she completes her training.
“I’ve been waiting for the property boom to soften so I can afford to get into the local market,” she said.
Starting with Dr Hewitt last week were: • Dr Myra Pritchett is a third year registrar who lives in Yamba with her family and is commencing her 24 months core generalist training at Maclean District Hospital. • Dr Wesley Soh will take up a trainee post with the orthopaedic specialists in Grafton who have built an excellent reputation for joint replacement procedures with short recovery times • Dr Alex Lee, a Lismore Hospital resident medical officer will be completing a 10week rural site rotation at Grafton. • Dr Jon Quin from Lismore Hospital will go to Maclean District Emergency Department and will be working with rural generalists in the hospital and this will provide them with the opportunity to appreciate and better experience the important role rural generalist in rural communities. Junior doctors will rotate from Lismore hospitals every 10 weeks during 2022.
The new cohort were welcomed at Grafton Base Hospital on February 8 came through the University of Wollongong Clarence Valley Regional Training Hub.
The program coordinator, Joanne Chad, said the program has streamlined its ability to develop opportunities for post-graduate medical training in the Clarence Valley, since it set up in 2017.
“In mid-2017 University of Wollongong was awarded federal funding for the establishment of a regional training hub to identify and develop further opportunities for post-graduate medical training in the Clarence Valley,” Ms Chad said.
“The additional resources delivered by this hub has boosted the opportunities available for junior medical officers and registrars to complete more of their training in this region.”
She said one of its key success has been a steady increase in vocational training and retention of clinicians.
She said an exciting new development for the program was the conversion of the old Cowper Homes site into an accommodation block for the trainees.
Ms Chad said a wing of the building had been converted into 12 accommodation units.
Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis was also excited by the prospect of five new doctors starting work in this end of his electorate.
“Junior doctors, resident medical officers and registrars taking up positions with the Clarence Health Service is the best possible news in these still worrying times” Mr Gulaptis said.
“These five young people have chosen a great place to progress their careers and hopefully their families here in the beautiful dynamic Clarence Valley.”
Mr Gulaptis also encouraged young locals to consider a career with NSW Health. For further information visit the careers page at health. nsw.gov.au.
heading
WILLS WEEK
28TH MARCH TO 1ST APRIL 2022
Bookings now open until 25th February and can be made via the contact details shown below
Wills Week is a great opportunity to have a professional solicitor in your local area provide advice to establish your first Will or update an existing one. Wills Week is made possible thanks to the generous support of solicitors who donate their time to ensure that 100% of your booking fee is donated to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. Booking fee - $125 for a single person (1/2 hour) - $225 for a couple making mutual Wills (1 hour) Book now to secure a meeting with a solicitor to receive advice about having a simple* Will drafted. Full details, including *terms and conditions can be viewed at rescuehelicopter.com.au/willsweek.
PARTICIPATING SOLICITORS
Alstonville McVittie Legal Ballina Somerville Laundry Lomax Solicitors Parker & Kissane Baker Mannering & Hart
Byron Bay Somerville Laundry Lomax Casino Kyogle Lismore
Online Parker & Kissane Parker & Kissane Somerville Laundry Lomax Solicitors Parker & Kissane Wills & Estates (Melbourne)
National Cattle Herd set to increase
LARA LEAHY
With above average rainfall predicted across New South Wales and parts of Queensland, the national cattle herd rebuild is set to continue, according to Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) first Cattle Industry Projections update for 2022.
The national herd is projected to grow by 1.1 million - or 4% - to 27.2 million head as the rebuild becomes more pronounced. In addition, slaughter numbers are forecast to rise by 11% in 2022, driven by increased supply.
MLA’s Market Information Manager, Stephen Bignell, said that the ongoing rebuild is positive for the red meat and livestock industry, however the pace of the rebuild will vary across different states, underpinned by a third year of favourable seasonal conditions for southern Australia.
“Herds in the southern states of New South Wales and Victoria will mature favourably, with large numbers of high-quality young breeding females and heifers joined to deliver a large cohort of calves for the 2022 spring,” Mr Bignell said.
“While the southern states are accelerating their rebuilds, success in the north will be ongoing, albeit at a slower pace.
“While Queensland’s rebuild has been aided by excellent spring and summer rainfall events in central and southern parts of the state, the northern pastoral system requires a positive end to the 2022 wet season before its rebuild can definitively begin in 2023.”
The northern systems rebuild is currently reliant upon successive favourable wet seasons occurring in 2022 and 2023 to deliver the core breeding herd an opportunity to increase joining percentages and branding rates.
Locally, an industry specialist said that the sale of females or calf and cows are not as readily available as they are being retained for the farmers own herds. “Weaners require a 2 to 3 year time investment, whereas a cow and calf can show a return on the investment in a year.”
This is reflecting on local sale prices, “For a cow and calf purchase, you can’t get much under $3000 where as 2 or 3 years ago, you were lucky to get $1000. As a result, a lot of weaners are tending to be sold out of the area.”
It’s very early in the year for the figures to show much, but Tegan George at the NRLX reports that, “Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange is already seeing cattle numbers increase in 2022 with the first two store sales of the year bringing in an additional 1,500 head then the same period in 2021.
“Three additional special sale bookings have been added to the sale calendar this year and booking numbers are consistently stronger for all operating agents.”
The MLA reports that overall increased supply will see slaughter numbers increase by 11% in 2022, with production volumes expected to reach 2.08 million tonnes, a positive sign for export markets according to Mr Bignell. “Following a challenging 2021 for export markets, Australian beef will enter a significant high-value export market when the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement comes into effect later this year.
“As many countries continue to recover from the pandemic, demand for Australian beef is expected to grow in line with improving supply of cattle from the second half of 2022.
“However, headwinds remain for the industry in 2022 with transportation, staff shortages and the potential for the Australian dollar to appreciate all challenges for industry to manage.
“While these challenges remain, the beef industry is experiencing market conditions and confidence never seen before at a producer level. Overall, the industry is in an incredibly positive position and will continue to deliver high value, high quality Australian red meat to both emerging and established global markets.”
Photo: Lara Leahy
After the postponement of the event in 2021, Lismore City Council’s SHINE Festival will light up the Lismore CBD from May 2-8 this year.
SHINE is a discovery focused light festival with sites along Molesworth St and its laneways transformed by contemporary light works that will inspire and ignite the imagination.
Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said he was excited that the community could once again come together as we learn how to live with Covid.
“I’m very excited by this innovative festival which I am sure will bring many people into Lismore after dark,” he said.
“It was disappointing that Council had to cancel the festival last year due to Covid, but it’s great that the community can now get back onto the streets of Lismore and celebrate our wonderful city and all it has to offer.
“It is all about supporting our local artists, businesses and local jobs.”
Audiences can expect the unexpected as a program of artists present bold new works ranging from small surprises, large scale projections, the telling of untold stories and immersive light installations that will reframe Lismore’s CBD.
The free event is made possible by a grant from the Federal
Lismore lights up for Shine Festival
Government’s Regional Recovery program.
All of the featured artists come from the Northern Rivers, predominately from Lismore.
SHINE is a platform for artists to produce new public works. more, go to www. au.
Young girl’s death establishes life saving club 100 years ago
SAMANTHA ELLEY
Christmas Eve at Evans Head in 1922 saw the influx of many tourists ready to enjoy the beach and cool off from the summer heat.
One young swimmer, however, wouldn’t make it out alive.
Shortly after lunch, the day before Christmas, 16-year-old Gladys Morrow, her father and sister, along with a party of friends had arrived at Evans Head ready to celebrate their holidays.
Mrs Morrow and her younger children stayed behind at their home in Kyogle, with plans to join them in a couple of days.
The group who had arrived decided later in the afternoon to go for a swim, but unknowingly entered the surf at its most dangerous point.
According to news reports of the day, the group had chosen to go swimming ‘opposite the big hole which extends from near the mouth up towards the recognised bathing place’.
Before long 15 to 20 swimmers were caught in a dangerous undertow with four of them carried out into deeper waters, including Miss Snitzer, Mrs Clifford, Gladys and her sister, all of Kyogle.
With no established or organised lifesaving group at the beach, bystanders did their best to rescue the flailing swimmers.
It was reported that Roy Dolby managed to bring Gladys back to the spit of sand, leaving her there to get a motorboat to rescue the others.
However, poor Gladys was washed out again. This time, Mr J Jordan of Casino, only recently recovering from a severe illness, raced into the water fully dressed and seized her but a large wave dragged her out of his grip.
When she was eventually brought in, her rescuers worked on her for three hours without success.
It is believed she had died in the water before she was brought back to land.
All the other swimmers were rescued and survived.
Kyogle went into mourning at the loss of such a young vibrant life.
Gladys had been a diligent scholar in the Methodist Sunday School and had just become a teacher herself.
She had been gifted in music and showed great promise at becoming a finished pianist.
The minister found it difficult to read the service without breaking down and many joined him in weeping for a young woman gone far too soon.
It was agreed that some form of organised protection on Evans Head beach was needed, especially at holiday time.
According to the memorial for Gladys at the Evans Head Surf Club, beach patrols were established on Boxing Day of 1922, instructions were given in life saving and reel drill to junior and senior teams and the Evans Head Surf Club was born.
The memorial to Gladys Morrow at the Evans Head-Casino Surf Life Saving Club. Photo: Samantha Elley
References • ‘Holiday fatality at Evans Head’, The Richmond River Heralnd and Northern Districts Advertiser, Friday 29 December, 1922, Page 8 • ‘Evans Head Surf Club’, Northern Star, Wednesday 1 October, 1924, Page 4 This story first appeared on Tales from the Grave (talesfromthegrave.org)
Tweed Coast superheroes return to the rescue!
MARGARET DEKKER
In a novel sign social life is returning to normal up the Tweed Coast, an age-old Kingscliff tradition ‘The Fridge to Fridge’ has been revived by a new generation of colourful superheroes.
“Holy Busted Bottoms Batman!” David Field posted on local social media.
“The peace and serenity of Kingscliff was shattered today by a marauding bunch of superheroes from Pottsville on a bicycle pub crawl. The surf club was 4th stop on their itineraries. It certainly brought back memories of the Fridge to Fridge from Kingscliff days of old,” David Field wrote.
Bemused locals and visitors driving along Tweed Coast Road on Saturday afternoon, or enjoying a local watering hole, couldn’t miss the fancy-dressed friends and their bikes who stopped by, bringing a smile to the dial of Tweed Coasters young and old, and deserved special mention given the heavy coastal rains and squalls of the time.
“Saw you guys riding today! You look fantastic have fun!” one local posted.
“Was just telling friends about The Fridge to Fridge the other day. Was a fantastic day.”
A carefree event bringing back countless memories for ‘Kingie’ residents of the fabled ‘Fridgey’ of old.
Reviving an age-old Tweed Coast tradition, the ‘Fridge to Fridge’. Photo: David Field
State Budget key in rebuilding confidence
The ability to trade safely, welcome back customers and staff with certainty, and the ability to plan for the future are top priorities for business.
This sentiment is also central to the state’s peak business organisation, Business NSW, and their submission to Government ahead of the upcoming NSW Budget.
The submission has been formally lodged with the NSW Government.
“As we enter the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ability to action agile and tailored policy making responses remains an imperative.” said Business NSW Regional Manager Jane Laverty.
“The NSW Government’s leadership and collaboration supporting businesses has again been demonstrated, with the delivery of the $1billion business support package including direct payments to businesses of up to $5,000 a week.
“Rebuilding of consumer and business confidence and tailored support for particular business sectors and localities doing it tough are key priorities for the first months of 2022 and may remain an important part of the public policy risk management tool kit should the pandemic evolve further through new variants or a ‘winter wave’.
“Recommendations have been influenced by the economic challenges of a once-in-a-century crisis to an aligned recovery strategy as well as opportunities identified in the 2020-21 NSW Intergenerational Report (IGR).
“Particularly important to the Northern Rivers, and highlighted in the submission, is the need to improve housing affordability and availability. We have asked for a greater emphasis on affordable housing and available housing and highlight the critical nexus between housing and skills shortages.
“Covid has created a structural shift causing many people to rethink the way they live and work. Housing shortages are exacerbating the skills shortage crisis and workforce needs, which are also being amplified by regionally specific attributes.
“They are multifaceted issues needing a coordinated and multi-layered approach involving all levels of Government. Our recommendations have highlighted the barriers to be addressed including NSW’s regulatory framework needing to adapt to changing social conditions in a timely way.
“Given that the focus of the 2022-23 budget is on productivity and NSW businesses are a key component of the productivity agenda, we have alsorecommended that the NSW Government support the NSW workers’ compensation scheme to the extent necessary to minimise premium increases for business in the medium term.
“We have also recommended expanding the voucher system enabling those businesses who need to obtain advice from either an established turnaround management specialist or financial adviser who is already familiar with the business’s operations and systems to do so, in hope we can stem closures and create new opportunities in local economies.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is that we increase both business and consumer confidence right now.”
D’vine, the pin-up koala of The Channon dies
The much-loved koala D’vine, whose image has highlighted the importance of our local koalas, has died at The Channon.
She was healthy until recently but was noticed with a dark-stained rump, a sign of possible chlamydial infection.
Her condition was reported to the Lismore Friends of the Koala.
The koala rescue team came out immediately and set up a trap around her favourite Swamp Mahogany.
When captured she was taken to the koala hospital where she was examined and found to be seriously diseased. She was euthanased.
The Channon community is devastated as she was well known as the koala on the February page of the WATER Northern Rivers 2022 calendar.
Koalas are in serious trouble in the Northern Rivers, as they are almost everywhere.
She went on to have three babies before her death.
The last one was not seen again after the big storm on the LGA election day.
Illegal Dumping is not OK!
MANY people don’t realise that putting household or commercially generated waste into a public place bin is considered illegal dumping and there are good reasons why this activity should be avoided.
Public bins in parks, reserves and streets are provided for the people using that space, so placing household or commercial waste in them is likely to result in over ow, littering and less capacity for those using or transiting through that area to dispose of their recreational waste responsibly.
Councils already increase the servicing of some public bins during busy holiday times, to account for increased use. Allowing them to be used for household or commercial waste would impose unfair costs on local residents, cause unattractive and dirty public spaces and threaten our region’s waterways and wildlife.
What’s even more of a problem is when unwanted items are dumped on the street! is is never ok as it poses a signi cant and unnecessary cost to the community to remove and can be a health hazard to both people and wildlife. e dumping of bulky household items including mattresses and furniture account for more than 60 percent of reported incidents across the region but there are plenty of ways to dispose of unwanted items responsibly and help keep our streets and open spaces clean and safe for everyone.
If your unwanted items are clean, in good condition and operational:
Hold a garage sale or sell or give them away online at Gumtree, eBay or a local Facebook buy sell page;
Give them to friends or family, or donate them to a local charity but only if saleable and not stained, dirty or broken. Just think - if you wouldn’t buy it yourself, probably no one else will.
If your items are destined for land ll – that is damaged, dirty or just not saleable:
Take them to your council’s Resource Recovery or Waste Management facility, where many items can be recycled for free including electronic waste, light globes and tubes, batteries, gas bottles, oils, paints and smoke detectors.
To nd out more about the options and services available for dealing with unwanted household waste in your area, contact your council.
If you see dumped waste in a public space, it’s easy to report it at www.ridonline.epa.nsw.gov.au or by contacting your council with the details. e sooner reports are received the more chance there is of nding and ning those responsible and it will also assist in a speedier clean up.
EG I R ONAL ILLEGAL DUM P I NG SQUAD
‘Change agent’ appointed as council’s new GM
Lismore City Councillors last night voted to terminate the employment contract of its General Manager Michael Donnelly under a nofault clause, effective immediately.
Mayor Steve Krieg said John Walker has been appointed as interim General Manager for up to 12 months, during which time a recruitment process will be undertaken to permanently fill the position.
“Council thanks Mr Donnelly for the work he has done over the past 12 months. He has had a positive impact on staff morale and turning Council on to the path towards financial stability,” he said.
“Councillors voted last night to appoint Mr Walker to the role of General Manager as we were elected to bring a new direction and vision to Lismore City Council which requires a different style of management.
“John is a change agent and well credentialed with a very strong background in leading local government organisations and businesses.”
Mr Walker said he was excited to take up the role.
“This is a part of the world that I know very well and I am happy to be back in Lismore and the Northern Rivers,” he said.
“We have a lot of challenges ahead of us to return Lismore City Council to financial sustainability and make it the great and vibrant city it once was.
“Tough decisions must be made but by working together we can achieve a lot for our entire community.”
Mr Walker was previously the Chief Executive of Richmond Valley Council where, within four years, he turned around its financial position and changed its approach toward business and economic growth.
After leaving the Northern Rivers to be closer to his family in Western Australia, Mr Walker was appointed as the Chief Executive of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
During his tenure, the City jumped from having the secondworst financial health indicator in the State with a rating of just 18 out of a possible 100 to being in the top 10 with a rating of 91 in 2016-17 and has maintained a high standing since, with a rating of 93 making it the seventh-best in the State for the 2019-20 financial year. He also drove a very successful economic development and growth strategy for the City resulting in substantial private sector investment.
Mr Walker was also the founding Chief Executive of AFL’s West Coast Eagles and Westpac’s General Manager of Retail Banking, as well as holding chief executive roles in companies such as pizza giant Dominos and car rental business Thrifty.
Mr Donnelly was appointed as interim General Manager in February 2021 after the then Council terminated the employment of its previously appointed General Manager.
At the time, then newly elected Mayor Vanessa Ekins said Council decided to appoint him for 12 months “because it is important that whoever the new Councillors are after the September elections, that they get to decide their priorities and attributes they want in a General Manager”.
VALE: Baillieu ‘Bails’ Myer addresses the crowd at the Grafton Regional Gallery. Mr Myer, of the department store dynasty, died on January 22 aged 96. He was a huge supporter of the gallery and the Northern Rivers through his family’s philanthropic venture the Yulgilbar Foundation. Photo: Simon Hughes ‘Bails’ Myer leaves legacy of agriculture and philanthropy
LESLEY APPS
The Clarence Valley and Australia lost one of its most business. agriculture and philanthropy Baillieu “Bails” Myer AC on January 22, 2022 aged 96.
The son of the department store founder Sidney Myer, the Myers were based in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsular but had a deep connection the Clarence Valley and Northern Rivers since Baillieu and his wife Sarah took ownership of father-in-law Samuel Hordern’s Yugilbar Station at Baryulgil when he passed away in the 1960s.
While still at the helm at one of the country’s most successful department stores, the couple managed to spend a great deal of time with their three children Sidney, Rupert and Sarah over the decades transforming the property into an award-winning cattle stud.
During their tenure, the Myers also instigated complementary additions to what many know as Yulgilbar Castle including a tower extension in 1999 and reclamation of the cellar space to create an archive room dedicated to keeping the colourful story of Yulgilbar alive.
The Myer family continued to visit and spend time whenever possible, often attending functions down in Grafton to support the regional gallery.
Gallery Director Niomi Sands said Mr and Mrs Myer had been long term supporters of the Grafton Regional Gallery through the Yulgilbar Foundation they established.
“Their generous support over the years has allowed the Gallery to present outstanding arts and cultural experiences for the community of the Clarence Valley.”
In 2021 after the multimillion dollar extension was completed, the Grafton gallery named the studio Sarah and Baillieu Myer Creative Studio in recognition of their ongoing support while Galleries 2 and 3 were named the Yulgilbar Galleries.
“The philanthropic assistance provided by the Yulgilbar Foundation has supported the gallery to present a number of exceptional projects and curatorial exhibitions that have quality, and far reaching positive impact within the Clarence Valley,” Ms Sands said.
“With the opening of the renovated building, the Yulgilbar support would three-year period.”
Some of the projects that the gallery is most proud of that would not be possible without the support of Mr and Mrs Myer include: • Clarence Valley Indigenous Award (CVIAA) which supports artists from the Bundjalung Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl nations to create and present new work • The Yulgilbar Travelling Fellowship which supports Clarence Valley artists to broaden their artistic practice through travel both nationally and internationally culminating in the presentation of an exhibition at the Gallery. • Much needed capital works and improvements to the Gallery supported by the Gallery Foundation in partnership Yulgilbar Foundation, including the multi-million-dollar upgrade.
Last year 22 projects in the Clarence Valley and surrounding Northern Rivers region have received a muchneeded boost this year from the Yulgilbar Foundation, with community groups sharing in $1,214,206 in grants.
The Yulgilbar Foundation Fund supports communities in the Clarence Valley and surrounding regions who have a desire and need to strengthen their capacity and resilience in response to and continued challenges across the region.
Cancer Council is calling on cancer patients and carers in the Northern Rivers area to have their say in cancer support needs
Cancer Council NSW is inviting Northern Rivers residents affected by cancer to share their cancer support needs to help identify services needed in the area.
As part of Cancer Council’s efforts to improve the quality of life of cancer patients and carers, the charity is conducting a survey that will investigate the supportive care needs of people affected by cancer. The aim of the research is to identify needs that are not being that people experience when accessing cancer support services. The study will ask participants about their supportive care needs such as physical and daily living, psychological, access to needs.
Graham Hearn, Community Programs Coordinator at Cancer Council’s Byron Bay with a current or past cancer diagnosis and those caring for someone affected by cancer can take part in the research. this research will be used to plan Cancer Council services and to campaign for broader health system changes to make sure all people affected by cancer are they need,” said Graham
“We know that people affected by cancer in rural and remote areas of NSW may experience barriers when accessing cancer care and support compared to those living in metropolitan areas. These may include travelling long distances for their treatments and out-of-pocket costs.
“By Northern Rivers locals sharing their cancer experiences for our research, we can gain a better understanding about what the gaps are in supportive care and the current unmet needs of those affected by cancer in our community,” concluded Graham.
Northern Rivers residents affected by cancer can learn more and participate in the study by visiting cancercouncil.com.au/ research/communityinvolvement-research/ research-studysupportive-care-needsof-people-affected-bycancer-survey/
For cancer information and support, call Cancer Council’s free phone line on 13 11 20 or visit cancercouncil.com.au/ get-support
Bumper 18 months of support for farmers
Byron Shire Council’s work with rural communities in the last 18 months is paying massive dividends for property owners, and more importantly, for the environment.
As part of its support for farmers, Council was successful in obtaining a grant as part of the Australian Government’s ‘Combatting Pests and Weeds During Drought’ project which has farmers and landholders in the Byron Shire.
The aim of the project was to: • Help farmers increase drought resilience • Reduce the impact of weeds and pest animals • Stimulate the local economy by buying materials in the Shire and • Help farmers sustainably improve productivity on their properties.
Council’s Agricultural Andrew Cameron, pictured, said an innovative part of the project was aimed at educating property owners about how to control weeds by managing grazing of livestock or through bush regeneration.
“We are trying to encourage people away from the conventional approach to weed control of chemical spraying on paddocks, to regenerative grazing,” Mr Cameron said.
“This involves regular rotation of cattle through many smaller paddocks which helps to reduce weeds, improve soil fertility, sequester carbon, increase drought to increase agricultural production on the land.
“We started this part of the project with the aim of planning and implementing regenerative grazing on at the last count we were up to 366 hectares which said.
Other achievements include the eradication of all known outbreaks of the invasive tropical soda apple weed in the Shire the trapping of 11 wild
Bush regeneration contractors were engaged to work with farmers to control environmental weeds on over six hectares of grazing land and riparian zones bordering creeks.
“All of our work is based on improving the productivity of land in a sustainable way which the natural environment,” Mr Cameron said.
“Our focus for the next 18 months is to continue to work with farmers by providing mentoring opportunities, hosting sustainability and drought resilience days, as well as helping them increase productivity on their land,” he said.
People interested in receiving great primary production/regenerative farming information and opportunities, can join the Byron Farmers Network via Council’s website.
STUDENTS SET TO GET SKILLED AT TAFE NSW
Tens-of-thousands of students will commence study at TAFE NSW this week, with a robust plan in place to minimise the risk of COVID-19 on campus and help staff deliver classes safely.
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said TAFE NSW students attending TAFE NSW campuses will need to check in with QR codes, wear a mask and observe social distancing.
“TAFE NSW is responsible for training 80 per cent of all apprentices across the state and is also delivering critical skills to prospective workers in industries like healthcare, community services and hospitality,” Mr Henskens said.
“It is important that we get people back in the classroom where they can get the skills and training, they need for the jobs they want.”
TAFE NSW has secured a supply of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and has set up a dedicated COVID-19 Taskforce to provide staff and students with advice about testing and isolation protocols.
Test kits have arrived at TAFE NSW campuses. TAFE NSW will supply RAT tests for use by employees and students, where there is an industry or employer requirement to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test.
Employees who are exposed to COVID-19 at a TAFE NSW site, will be provided with advice about their testing and isolation requirements via the TAFE NSW COVID-19 Taskforce. Students who are required to take a RAT as part of their work placement program will be supplied with test kits if the workplace is unable to provide a test.
“Thank you to all the TAFE NSW teachers and staff who have worked with us during this challenging time to ensure that students can return to class in a safe way in coming weeks,” Mr Henskens said.
“There has never been a better time to study at TAFE NSW. If you want real-world skills for a job that is in-demand, explore the range of course options available at a campus near you.”
Details about TAFE courses and upcoming information sessions is available online.
Public help sought after dog attack
Council’s Rangers are asking for help in identifying a dog involved in an attack that has left a woman with bites on her leg and hand.
According to the victim and her family, the attack happened on the creek shore at Moonee Creek Reserve near the children’s playground on Sunday 30 January around 1.30pm.
A dog, described as a brindle-coloured, cross-bred, male American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, bit a woman on the back of her thigh as she paddled with her sons in ankle-deep water.
It then lunged towards a toddler and the woman that it had bitten - concerned that it could maul the child - intervened by kicking at the dog and was again bitten on the hand. The bites required medical attention.
The dog was on a lead held by a woman thought to be in her 40s with tattoos on her arms and legs who was unable to control the animal.
During the attack, the woman called the dog Oscar.
Bystanders came to the aid of the victim and shortly afterwards the woman with the dog left the reserve with a female companion in a white SUV driven by a man.
“This was a nasty attack by a dog that was actually on a lead, but not under any effective control,” said Gordon Polkinghorne, Council’s Team Leader Rangers/Animal Shelter.
“We gather that there were a lot of people at the reserve at the time of the incident and we’re hoping that they will get in touch and provide us with information or photos that can help us identify the dog so we can take appropriate action.
“Please call us on 6648 4000 or email us on coffs. council@chcc.nsw.gov.au”
“Even if the dog or owner what you can provide after an incident, it’s worth reporting as we may get further information from other people that will help us take action,” added Mr Polkinghorne.
Anyone who is ever attacked or witnesses a dog attack is encouraged to contact Council with as many details as possible. These could be: • The time, place and date; • Description of the dog, whether it has a collar and any name used; • Description of owner, age, build, identifying features; • Car description, registration; and • Any photos.
Free RSA courses to help ease staff shortages
The NSW Government will fund 5,000 fee-free Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) courses to support new workers to enter the hospitality industry and on licensed hospitality venues.
Treasurer Matt Kean said the free courses will be available from 7 February and will allow more people to get the enter the workforce during this critical time.
“The hospitality sector makes up over 2 per cent of total gross value added to the NSW economy and supports more than 300,000 jobs, which is why we are committed to supporting this critical industry,” Mr Kean said.
“By providing these free RSA courses we are not just supporting the hospitality sector during the current downturn, but are supporting the future of people who courtesy of NSW Government funding.”
Minister for Hospitality and Racing Kevin Anderson said the funding will help thousands of people to gain the skills to enter an in-demand industry.
“Staff shortages are adversely impacting the hospitality sector which is why we are supporting more people to obtain skills and work to drive our economic recovery,” Mr Anderson said.
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said refresher RSA courses will also be available free of charge from 7 February until the end of June.
“We are encouraging former hospitality workers to return to the sector by allowing anyone whose RSA competency card has expired within the past two years, or will expire before 30 June, to complete a short online refresher course to free,” Mr Henskens said.
The RSA courses will be available through TAFE NSW and private providers who already offer government subsidised programs.
Byron Music Festival (BMF) has been carbon negative event.
Organisers of the at Byron Bay’s iconic beachfront Dening Park with environmental Consultants this week that carbon offsets in the form of tree planting festival was able to reach this ambitious goal in it’s the festival to this status BMF Festival Director Nick Sergi.
“There are many challenges to getting a festival to even a as there are so many working parts – multiple suppliers who run their offsetting can be really an ambitious goal for us to aim for neutrality being environmentally responsible is important to us.
“We’re so grateful that parameters of any other same site to ensure minimal impact on the
Partnerships with emissions for the working together on community partnership festival’s environmental impact.
“They truly are transforming the music
Byron Rangers CEO of the BMF2021 team event. [The] festival beaches were left extremely clean. We environmental promise
The BMF team also Byron Bay) prior to the festival to learn about country the festival is operating on.
BMF Operations Manager Monique event management.
“It is possible to put the right thing by the environment at the same time.
“It’s an extension of the festival ethos of ‘keeping it Byron’. It makes total sense that if you’re going to have any it consciously. We are growing this aspect of
Byron Music Festival has been the only music NSW Northern Rivers since December 2019 showcasing a 100% vision to reinvigorate tourist season.
Plans are in place to bring BMF back in 2022 seeking partnerships to for its environmental policies. investment opportunities are also now available.
For more information visit www. byronmusicfestival.com. au
Funding provided for veterans projects in NSW
The Catholic Parish of the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society have NSW communities commemorate veterans across the state.
Minister for Transport that commemorate communities about the servicewomen. Community Grants that recognise Australia’s wellbeing of the NSW Mary’s Commemorative Walk at St Mary’s employing an artist to paint aspects of the to the paling fence on school. They will be intervals like a walk of fame. Each image will be facing the same way the fence. The ‘walk’ will be visible from the of the school. the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society for letter relating to Patrick has two components. a very frail form letter written in 1917 by is preparing this letter Both the conservation of will be following best conservation principles. NSW veteran community
