GARDEN WATER FEATURES AND ENHANCING YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE

Garden water features have been a focal point in outdoor spaces for centuries, embodying tranquillity, beauty, and the harmonious sound of nature. From ornate fountains in Renaissance Italy to the serene koi ponds of Japanese gardens, water features have transcended cultures, proving their timeless appeal. Today, incorporating a water feature into your garden is not just about adding a visual element; it’s about creating a sanctuary where nature and artistry meet.

The Allure of Water in the Garden Water features attract wildlife, provide a calming presence, and can even help to cool the surrounding area on hot days. The sound of water moving in a fountain or bubbling over rocks in a stream can soothe the mind, making your garden a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Moreover, water features are versatile; they can be tailored to ft any space, style, or budget, from grandiose fountains to simple birdbaths.

Types of Garden Water Features

• Fountains: Fountains are among the most popular water features, known for their aesthetic appeal and the soothing sound of trickling water. They can be freestanding, wall-mounted, or even foating, suitable for gardens of all sizes.

• Ponds: Ponds can serve as a peaceful focal point in a garden, offering a habitat for fsh and aquatic plants. Whether it’s a small, serene pond or a larger one with a waterfall, ponds bring a sense of calm and an opportunity for biodiversity.

• Waterfalls: Introducing movement and sound, waterfalls can be standalone features or part of a pond. They add a dynamic element to the garden, mimicking nature and inviting relaxation.

• Streams: Artifcial streams can wind through your garden, providing the gentle sound of fowing water while connecting different elements of your outdoor space.

• Birdbaths: Simple yet effective, birdbaths attract birds to your garden, adding life and motion. They can be ornate or minimalist, depending on the garden’s design.

Design

Considerations

When planning a garden water feature, several factors must be considered to ensure it complements your outdoor space:

• Location: Choose a spot where the water feature will be visible and can be enjoyed from multiple angles. Consider the sun’s path, as some plants and fsh require specifc light conditions.

• Size: The water feature should be proportional to the size of your garden. A large fountain might overwhelm a small space, while a tiny pond could look lost in a vast garden.

• Style: The water feature should match the style of your garden, whether it’s formal, rustic, modern, or naturalistic.

• Wildlife: If attracting wildlife is a goal, choose features and plants that provide habitats and food sources.

• Maintenance: Consider the level of upkeep required. Ponds and fountains need regular cleaning and water treatment to remain clear and functioning.

Benefts of Garden

Water Features

Beyond their beauty, garden water features offer environmental and psychological benefts:

• Stress Reduction: The sound of water is universally calming, helping to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

• Cooling Effect: Water features can cool the surrounding area, creating a more comfortable outdoor environment during warmer months.

• Biodiversity: Water features attract a variety of wildlife, from birds to benefcial insects, enhancing the garden’s ecosystem.

• Increased Property

Value: Well-designed garden water features can increase the appeal and value of your property.

Installation and

Maintenance While some garden water features can be DIY projects, others might require professional installation, especially if electrical work is involved. Regular maintenance is crucial to keep the water clean and the system running smoothly. This includes cleaning pumps and flters, treating water to prevent algae growth, and winterising features in colder climates to prevent damage.

Get to it!

Garden water features can transform an ordinary outdoor space into a tranquil oasis, blending aesthetics with the soothing sounds of nature. Whether you opt for a simple birdbath or an elaborate pond with waterfalls, the addition of water brings a new dimension to garden design. With careful planning and consideration, you can create a water feature that enhances your garden, provides a habitat for wildlife, and offers a peaceful retreat for years to come.

27.

Passed away in the loving care of St Andrews Nursing Home Ballina.

Dearly loved wife of Alan Gordon Beckman (dec) for 60 years.

Cherished aunt of Grant & Anne Moehead.

Reunited with her Alan at Alstonville Cemetery

In accordance with Nea’s wishes a private cremation has taken place.

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Warnings

See www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings

Northern Rivers District:

Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a storm. Light winds.

Thursday. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a storm. Light winds becoming south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning.

Northern Tablelands District:

Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a storm. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming northeast to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening.

Thursday. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a storm. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h.

New South Wales:

Showers and isolated storms in the northeast, with a few showers in the central and southern coastal districts. Partly cloudy. Daytime temperatures near average east of the divide, tending below average in the west. Southeast to southwesterly winds, fresh along parts of the coast.

Thursday. Showers about the east and northern slopes. The chance of storms about the northern slopes and coast, with moderate to possibly heavy falls. Mostly fine in the west. Daytime temperatures near to below average. South to southeasterly winds, fresh along the northern coast.

Byron Coast:

Winds: North to northwesterly 15 to 20 knots shifting south to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the day. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: 80% chance of showers. The chance of a storm.

Coffs Coast:

Winds: Northerly 15 to 25 knots shifting southerly 10 to 15 knots during the morning. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers. The chance of a storm.

Gold Coast Waters:

Winds: Northerly 10 to 15 knots tending northwesterly during the morning then turning north to northeasterly below 10 knots during the day. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a storm in the afternoon and evening.

Sun6:57am6:41pm

During Local Footy Week, an annual celebration of AFL clubs’ ties to grassroots football, every player from the GIANTS and Swans’ AFL squads will be dispersed throughout Sydney to engage with junior players from the AFL Sydney Juniors competition at 19 different events. Young athletes from various clubs such as the Blue Mountains Kangaroos, Manly Wolves, HornsbyBerowra Eagles, and Camden Cats will have the chance to meet their sporting heroes. With less than two weeks remaining before the start of their season, junior players are encouraged to invite friends to their club’s session with elite players. The AFL Sydney Juniors competition is set to kick off on Sunday, 7th April, and individuals can locate their nearest club on play.af. These visits hold special signifcance as both the GIANTS and Sydney Swans are currently leading the AFL ladder, having won all three of their matches in the 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership season. The GIANTS will have a bye in the upcoming third round of the AFL, while the Swans are scheduled to face Richmond on Saturday.

Tiffany Robertson, Head of AFL NSW/ACT, expressed her excitement for the upcoming visits, stating: “Wednesday’s visits by elite players to local footy clubs provide valuable opportunities for our young footballers. Interacting with elite athletes is a rare experience, and I hope registered junior players and their friends take advantage of this chance to create lasting memories alongside their AFL role models.” Leon Cameron, the Sydney Swans’ Executive General Manager of Football, emphasized the players’ commitment to giving back to the community and their eagerness to meet young fans and players at schools and clubs across Sydney on Wednesday. He highlighted the presence of twelve players from NSW on the Swans’ roster, noting the signifcance of returning to their roots and inspiring the next generation of Swans’ fans.

David Matthews, CEO of the GIANTS, expressed the team’s enthusiasm for visiting local clubs and witnessing the excitement as players interact with their idols.

He emphasized the lasting impact of such interactions on young fans, noting that many players themselves had memorable encounters with AFL stars during their junior football days. Matthews underscored the GIANTS’ dedication to engaging with the next generation and fostering the growth of Australian Rules football throughout New South Wales and beyond.

CHERRY STREET

CROQUET CLUB

SPORTS RESULT

RICOCHET CROQUET:

D.Scott J. Bate 17 d

A.Mangan R.Chapman 13 R.Poynting R.Allen 13 d P.Bolte J.Hannigan 12

M.Russell N.Poynting 12 d B.Wellings N.Watts

9

D.Jones M.Field 10 d

R.Offey P.Scott 9

C.Edlund 12 d

B.Wellings 12

R.Offey J.Hannigan 8 d

C.Woodlands R.Allen 5 N.Watts P.Scott 8 d

B.Waters N.Poynting 8 R.Poynting D.Scott 19 d P.Waters R.Chapman 5

R.Poynting J.Doust 12 d

P.Scott N.Barnes 11

R.Offey B.Wellings 15 d B.Bill 13

J.Hannigan R Chapman 15 d N.Poynting D.Scott 13

J.Bate N.Watts 15 d

R.Allen M.Russell 10

C.Edlund 14 d

A.Mangan 14

GOLF CROQUET:

Club Div 3 Singles

Championships Final J.Bate 7 d A.Mangan 3. Semi fnals.

J.Bate 7 d M.Rennie 3

A.Mangan 7 d

F.Frederiksen 2

Knockout games.

W.Gilmore 7 d

J.Dorward 5

N.Alfonso 7 d D.Jones 5

F. Frederiksen 7 d

R.Offey 4

M.Rennie 7 d C.Edlund 5

J.Bate 7 d W.Gilmore 6

M.Rennie 7 d D.Casey 5 A.Mangan 7 N.Alfonso

1

TOURNAMENTS:

Parkes Master Croquet Games Doubles.

Jan Allen & John Mills 3rd Block A

CORAKI VETERANS

GOLF RESULTS

THURSDAY 28/3/24

Wet weather keep the feld size down winner P Martin 2nd S Smith, 3rd D Bullock, free game J Sauer chicken/ ball winners T Doyle, G Flaherty, G Tait, S Toms, G Binks, T Foster. Nearest pins 3rd/12th G Binks, 6th/15th S Dawsonay will be the monthly medal for April commencing at 8.00am this will be the last 8.00am hit off for this daylight saving time. AS USUAL TILL THEN GOOD GOLFING

Max

EVANS HEAD WOMENS BOWLS

Ladies Social Day27-03-24 - WinnersLowest Margin

-J.Beckett, A. Eyles, G. Marczan, P. Freeman. Triples Championship Round 1 commences 03-04-24.

Northern Rivers local Leanne Whitehouse joined more than 120 surfers from 16 countries competing in the frst Australian Pro Adaptive Surfng Championship in Byron Bay this week.

The adaptive pro event has nine divisions, including adapted categories for amputation, visual impairment, and neurological impairment affecting limbs.

Among the competitors are surfers from the US, Canada, Brazil, France and Japan.

Leanne has long been an ardent surfer. She dreamed of going professional and competing on the world circuit, but when she was 21 she suffered a traumatic injury in a car accident.

“I was a sleeping passenger,” she explains.

“I didn’t know I was in an accident. I had multiple injuries including a perforated bowel. That was the major injury they wanted to fx.”

Leanne also suffered a traumatic injury to the right side of her brain, paralysing the left side of her body.

But Leanne was determined to return to the sea and surf.

Leanne now accesses the NDIS through Social Futures, a not-for-proft and NDIS Partner in the Community.

Through the NDIS, she sees an exercise physiologist who has helped her develop strength to ‘pop up’ or stand on a surfboard, a challenge for Leanne due to her disability.

“Before the NDIS I was catching maybe 30 waves in a whole year. I think in the frst year of having NDIS support I caught 2,000 because I had support to go out into the ocean. It has supported me to reach my dreams,” Leanne says.

Leanne is a passionate advocate for surfng as a means of building resilience while living with brain injury.

This week her goal is to compete in an international surf competition by qualifying for the Australian Pro Adaptive Surfng Championship as a person with an acquired brain injury.

“I’m a pioneer for people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI),” Leanne says.

“To be able to compete in an international surf competition in my own backyard...I feel absolutely honoured, gobsmacked, everything.”

The Adaptive Surfng Professionals World Championships began in 2021 and include four events: the Hawaii Adaptive Surfng Championships, the Costa Rica Open Pro of Adaptive Surfng, the U.S. Open Adaptive Surfng Championships in Oceanside California, and for the frst time this year, the Australian Pro Adaptive Surfng Championship in Byron Bay.

Leanne surfs adaptively, wearing a helmet and glasses to protect against impacts and to assist with vision and vertigo. Outside of competition she always has a surf support person with her to help her navigate vertigo and special awareness.

“I was approved for NDIS funding on my 30th brain injury anniversary and the difference the NDIS has made to me... it gives me an ordinary life. I can do things like anybody else can do now, with help,” Leanne says.

The NDIS also funds support workers for Leanne.

“Managing my neuro fatigue is a major thing. I can sleep between nine and 18 hours in a 24-hour day, so having someone to support me is huge,” she says.

“For example, the crew at the surf comp went out for dinner last night and without a support worker to take me, I wouldn’t have been able to go. Because when the lights go out, they go out really quick.”

On Monday Leanne, who was invited to the competition as an unclassifed invitational adaptive surfer, competed in the ‘standup 2 unassisted below knee’ category.

When she’s not carving waves Leanne dedicates her time to her notfor-proft organisation, Ability ID.

Ability ID provides free identifcation cards for people with hidden disabilities, including brain injury, stroke, dementia, and autism.

“The ID cards are designed to help when people with disability fnd themselves in emergency situations or situations when they can’t speak,” she said.

Leanne’s advice for others living with disability is to dream big, and to keep at it.

“Never give up. That is my adage on everything. Never give up. And ask for help. Put your ego in your back pocket and ask for help,” Leanne says.

By Dennis Newlyn

The inaugural Bruce Maxwell Classic at Castrol Lismore Speedway March 30 and 31 in honour of a man who was a vital part of the local racing scene for many years, has attracted an impressive entry list across all divisions.

It typifes, the high regard and respect this affable character with the gravel voice, matched with a heart of gold courtesy of his Variety Club of Australia charity work, was held in by so many. Bruce, 79, passed away in his Thailand home land on November 18 after he sustained injuries as the innocent party in a road accident.

For many years he sat beside long serving Lismore venue commentator Neil Marks calling the action after his racing years fnished. A former Sydney sedan competitor and headliner at Sydney’s Liverpool City Raceway after Bruce started his career during the 1969-70 season, he is also remembered for his later seasons racing V8 Dirt Modifeds. It’s therefore ftting a very impressive V8 Dirt Modifed entry list will race for honours in the Bruce Maxwell

Classic, culminating with a 40-lap main event, March 31.

All the heavy hitters at national level, headed by Mark Robinson, Andrew Pezzutti, Kevin Britten, David Clark and including Phil McNamara, Trent Scofeld, Scott Quirk, Brayd Stephenson, Sam Bruggy, Seiton Connor-Young, to name but a few from the cast of the fast are, among the 29 entries received by race organisers. Also included in the V8 Dirt Modifed nominations is another representative from the Herne family, namely Josh Herne, cousin of Nathan. Josh, who will make his debut in the V8 Dirt Modifed class, previously raced Modlites and is also an accomplished Go-Kart racer. In 2023 he was awarded Sportsman of the Year in Lismore.

Victoria will be well represented by a driver who is one of the best in the business Steven Milthorpe.

A regular traveller to all the major east coast V8 Dirt Modifed shows, Steven was one of the frst entries received. Drivers from three states – New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria – have nominated.

Castrol Lismore

Speedway promoters

Kim and Mick Sauer have put a lot of planning into this very special Easter meeting and are delighted with the response.

“Every year from now on we want to honour Bruce Maxwell at this track because of his magnifcent contribution not only to this venue, but also the sport,” Kim Sauer said.

“We understand there will be people coming from near and far to be a part of what will be two very special nights of racing for the man nicknamed Rocky. He was a larger than life identity whose work for the Variety Club of Australia was also legendary.”

The V8 Dirt Modifeds will be supported with racing for RSA Stockers (Saturday only), RSA Sedans (Sunday only), Production Sedans, Junior Sedans and AMCA Nationals (Sunday only).

There’s no doubt the passing of Bruce Maxwell has left a void in the sport that will never been flled.

For so many years he was such a devoted worker travelling on the Variety Club of Australia “Bash” circuit around

Australia raising money for children.

Bruce was that kind of bloke.

Through this involvement, he was a man of the people and became friends with entertainers, namely John Paul Young and “Angry” Anderson, among others.

This was the popularity and magnetism Bruce Maxwell possessed.

He was a dedicated husband and father.

From a personal note, I got to know Bruce in 1971 and a strong bond of friendship followed. He was also a journalist’s dream when it came to getting that vital quote for a news story. More than a colourful, charismatic character, there was also something inside Bruce that made him a such very special person.

While it’s an old cliché, it’s so accurate in the description of this wonderful man who was the typical likeable rogue, larrikin, prangster, but more importantly all round good bloke, they threw away the mould when they made Bruce Maxwell. He was one of a kind!