Free disaster training

By Jo Kennett

A COMMUNITY organisation promoting disaster readiness is running free and flexible training sessions starting this month at Tweed Heads.

Plan C is run by a group of academics and community leaders — many of them with local and international aid and disaster experience — who live in the Northern Rivers and help communities handle disasters.

Plan C is bringing its Community Carers and Responders (CCR) training to Tweed on Friday, August 11, with additional sessions on August 26 and September 1.

The free five-day program will train community leaders across the Northern Rivers in self-care, how to handle disasters, how to build stronger communities, and emergency communications.

Attendees also receive first aid and psychological first aid training for free.

The five training days can be completed at different times and different locations.

Plan C is known for its unique approach to helping communities get ready for disasters.

“By strengthening community ties and preparing together for disasters, communities can become more resilient when facing future challenges,” Plan C founder and emergency management expert at Southern Cross University, Dr Jean Renouf said.

Upon graduation, participants are mentored to implement a project that builds their own community’s resilience.

Plan C has already trained over 55 CCRs in the Tweed since the 2022 floods.

Tweed CCRs have undertaken commu- nity projects such as risk reduction plans and community-building events.

CCRs have also played a key role in starting neighbourhood resilience groups in Uki and Pottsville, as well as the set-up of radio communication systems for use during emergencies.

Plan C welcomes interested community members to apply at www.ccrnetwork.org/ apply or email: ccr@planc.org.au for more information.

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Letter of the Week

You

Councillors should put residents first

I totally agree with Deputy Mayor Meredith Dennis to put residents first as we do live here, pay our rates and want to preserve our environment.

Some developers do not live here, and as stated, we do not want Gold Coast-style development.

Sharyn Henderson, Murwillumbah

Preserve our shire

In response to Councillor Warren Polglase’s claims relevant to developments and court costs, the good people of our shire are entitled to know other parts of the facts.

On review of development matters that have been reported to councillors this year for a decision, two were recommended for refusal which were both supported by a 6-1 vote with this same councillor supporting one such refusal.

One matter was not supported by majority vote, all other recommendations were approved with a unanimous and three by 6-1 vote, with this same councillor voting against a recommended approval.

As identified in the ‘Legal Register Services Report’ to councillors at the June meeting, the legal costs also include general legal advice for matters on the management of council operations.

Of note, three court matters listed in the report were all a unanimous vote to engage solicitors/defend appeal by the previous council. Some applications to the court were discontinued/ withdrawn.

The good people of our shire deserve much more than simple political point scoring, and councillors who do not bend to developer demands and the develop at-any-cost mentality riding roughshod over our planning tools are to be commended.

The many surveys over the years have seen the preservation of the shire’s character rather than replicating the Gold Coast, and protection of the environment coming in at the top.

Adherence to our planning tools and councillors’ equitable consideration and decision-making is key to the liveability of our communities and the preservation of environmental and natural resource assets for this and future generations.

Lindy Smith, Tweed Heads Good treatment at local hospitals, thank you

I recently broke my wrist and attended Murwillumbah Hospital initially for realignment, then Tweed Hospital for an operation the following day.

The treatment I received at both places was exemplary.

A big thank you to all the staff involved.

Trevor White, Uki Blame game not helping

The Australian public is furious at Anthony Albanese, who is in the process of spending $10 billion of taxpayers’ money on public housing units to accommodate the first batch of the 190,000 immigrants per annum for the next 10 years, this first group due to begin arriving in 2024.

The public’s anger is based on the fact that Labor has made no mention of public housing for desperate and homeless Australian families, who have their names on the public housing list.

However, when questioned by the media recently regarding Australian families living in cars, and leaky tents, the outrageous response from the PM was: ‘Blame the previous government’.

Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for all your love and care to make those years as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.

You all so often went above and beyond and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love and caring of someone who means the world to us.

We would also like to thank the team at The Tweed Hospital Medical Ward 2 where Mum spent her last days, particularly Chloe, Robyn (an absolute angel who helped us so much), Dr Thomas, Susan and Noah from the kitchen, amazing Grace the cleaner, and the rest of the team who kept up all our spirits with your kindness, jokes and caring, as well as putting up with our tears, laughter, snoring, dodgy singing of all Mum’s favourite songs and general celebration of a life well lived.

Thank you so much. Thanks also to Ben at Dolphin Funerals, Kim at Eden Place Florals and Viki at Inki Graphics for all your work to make it the most beautiful life celebration.

Also thanks to the great team at Cabarita Beach Surf Club for a perfect wake, including providing the whales at the end of the rainbow just as we arrived. Love your work.

A huge thanks to our beautiful friends here for your love and support as well as the wonderful team at Tweed Valley Weekly.

We know Mum would have loved it all, and her children and husband Allan can’t thank you all enough.

Karen, Jo, Wendy and Scott Kennett, Hastings Point Can you help open this?

these items.

You will say there are plenty of easy opening tools in the market, but they don’t always work.

I think I know the reason for the explosion of safety locks and devices. So that children cannot tamper with them.

Parents should be responsible for placing these items in a safe place, as many seniors cannot get into the packaging.

A N Doerr, Tweed Heads South Consider coming to Murwillumbah Day View Club

We, the new members of the Murwillumbah Day View Club, highly recommend joining this great club.

You will be made very welcome and there will be other people with the same interests as you.

Not all our members come for Murwillumbah.

They come from Uki, Bilambil and Banora Point, as well as the immediate Murwillumbah area.

Two examples of happy members are Margaret Rolf and Sandi Avis.

Ms Rolf came from Mossvale where she retired with her husband from Sydney.

Here she took up a new hobby that used her art skills and didn’t involve cooking or knitting, but she decided to downsize after the loss of her husband.

Ms Rolf came to Murwillumbah to relocate to a retirement village.

One of her fellow residents invited her to View Club to demonstrate her wonderful talent in egg decorating.

Winning the raffle and the lucky door prize on the first day may have helped as well.

Ms Avis came from Canberra to house sit for two weeks and found a place at the same time to move closer to her great-granddaughter.

Not only has Ms Avis joined but she has taken on an executive position and is now on the committee.

If you are interested and want more information, visit our website (type in View Club and scroll to the NSW clubs for Murwillumbah Day View Club).

You will see details of meeting and some reports of the recent activities of the club and a Facebook page. For further information, and if you are not using the internet, please ring one of our friendly members president Shirley Kuhnell or treasurer Carol Kerr on 0407 910 693.

Annette Adsett, Murwillumbah

Tweed Heads Thank you from Kennett family

Ken Wade,

Our mother, Liz Pearce, passed away peacefully on July 29. We would like to thank the amazing staff at Bupa Pottsville, who took care of her in the last years of Mum’s life.

To the manufacturers of goods such as food, laundry and medical product packaging.

Could you spare a thought for pensioners in their 70s when designing the packaging please.

Some seniors do not have the strength to open or attempt to open

Tweed Valley Careers Expo

Saturday 12 August 2023, 11am – 3pm

Mantra on Salt Beach, Gunnamatta Avenue, Kingscliff

The friendliness and the welcome Ms Rolf received encouraged her to join the View Club and she has been glad to have the opportunity to be part of the community, as well as helping with a good cause.

Ms Avis is also a View Club member and after moving closer to family in Murwillumbah, it didn’t take long to persuade her to join.

Sandi Avis is delighted to be here

Please note the views on the letters page are that of the letter writer and not of the Tweed Valley Weekly. Letters must include a suburb and contact number for verification. Letters may be edited for length or legal reasons. Send your letters to editor@theweekly.net.au.

Connect: with our hospitals and health teams and learn about the skills needed to join us. Find: jobs, training and volunteering opportunities at hospitals and services in Tweed, Murwillumbah and Byron, including Allied Health, Aboriginal Health, Mental Health, Support Services, Nursing and Midwifery, and the new Tweed Valley Hospital.

Seeking: cleaners, administration staff, nurses, doctors, and more.

High quality healthcare. Quality of life.