Candidate Briefng Sessions Announced for Upcoming NSW Local Government Elections

Are you considering a role in local government?

If you’re thinking about running for Council in the upcoming NSW Local Government elections, you’re invited to attend a candidate briefng session. The sessions are designed to provide prospective candidates with essential information about the responsibilities and operations of being a council member.

Former Lismore Mayor, Jenny Dowell (pictured), will host four candidate briefng sessions in the Tweed area during May and June. With extensive experience in local government, Ms. Dowell will share valuable insights and guidance for those looking to serve their community. Ms. Dowell emphasized the signifcance of the role: “Being a councillor is an enormous honour but with that honour, there are big responsibilities. Communities expect and deserve all candidates to go into the election with eyes wide open.”

The briefng sessions will cover critical topics such as:

• The steps to becoming a candidate.

• The operational functions of councils

• The governance role of elected community representatives Understanding these aspects is crucial for anyone considering entering the local government arena.

$33.7 Million Upgrade Begins at TAFE NSW Kingscliff to Boost Regional Vocational Training

TAFE NSW Kingscliff has embarked on a signifcant development journey with the initiation of a $33.7 million upgrade to enhance its facilities and expand vocational training opportunities in the Tweed region.

The Minister for Skills, TAFE, and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan (pictured), offcially marked the commencement of construction by turning the frst sod at the site of the new multi-purpose building.

This pivotal $25 million building is designed to be a versatile educational hub, poised to host a diverse array of courses, including animal studies, aviation, creative services, and electrotechnology. Its establishment is aligned with the regional goals to bolster skills in key sectors such as construction, healthcare, wildlife conservation, and aviation, which are essential for supporting local industries and economic growth.

The initial phase of this extensive upgrade is set to conclude in June of this year. It includes a substantial $8.8 million allocation for refurbishing several existing structures on campus, particularly those used by health and community services.

This refurbishment is aimed at enhancing the training environment for health students, who will beneft from a state-of-the-art simulated hospital setting, thereby gaining crucial hands-on experience.

Minister Whan highlighted the strategic importance of this upgrade in response to the growing local demand for skilled professionals across various industries. “The demand for skilled nurses, builders, and electricians in Northern NSW is expected to rise signifcantly over the next decade,” he stated. “This new facility is not just a building; it’s a future-proofng project intended to meet the increasing enrolment fgures and workforce demands in the Tweed region.”

TAFE NSW Kingscliff is integral to the local economy, providing residents with the necessary skills to meet employer demands and supporting the anticipated regional growth as more individuals and families choose to relocate to this desirable part of the world.

“The investment in TAFE NSW Kingscliff is not only about expanding our capacity to train the next generation of professionals,” Minister Whan explained. “It’s also about ensuring our students and educators have access to modern, functional classrooms and the latest equipment to facilitate industryready training.”

This ongoing investment in infrastructure at TAFE NSW not only aims to enhance the learning experience but also ensures that the institution remains a cornerstone for meeting the educational and employment needs of the community. With improved facilities and resources, TAFE NSW Kingscliff is set to deliver better educational outcomes and play a pivotal role in addressing the state’s critical skills needs.

Who’s amused?... by

Nigel Dawe

Just to make it clear from the outset, I have nothing against TV or technology, if anything, I’m just as hooked and dependent on it as the next person, but this doesn’t excuse the all-pervasive way in which it has come to utterly consume our lives.

The next time you sit down to watch your favourite show, look at how the furniture is even arranged in our ‘living’ rooms, to ensure that we are immersed in the flickering spectacle that so utterly negates any face-to-face interaction with the ‘real’ people that we are in the actual presence of. Sadly, most of us enter a trance once we take a seat, fully absorbed by the fictitious, made to seem real, world of television.

One of my all-time favourite songs is called Working Class Hero by John Lennon, and it contains a rather haunting reflection of this modernday predicament. Wittily, albeit prophetically, Lennon observes, “Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV, and you think you’re so clever and classless and free, But you’re all f@#%ing peasants as far as I can see.” Offensive and unflattering – yes, but touching on something that can’t be denied –most certainly. Where did our need for escapism and distraction become the overwhelmingly dominant trait that so outright defines us? Or am I just flattering the ‘uniqueness’ of us modernites to suggest that we are anything new in terms of being drawn to the frivolous; after all, there was an ancient Roman saying, ‘Panem et circenses’ or ‘Bread and circuses’ which alluded to the same simple