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Northern Rivers Echo Main News
Flood Criticism Water Under the Bridge
Story & photo: Terra Sword
 Lismore's mayor Merv King (left) and Lismore SES local controller Lindsay Matterson peruse the flood information that has been distributed to the 3000 homes and businesses in Lismore that are directly affected by flooding.
Lismore City Council has distributed important flood information to the 3000 homes and businesses directly affected when Lismore floods to ensure people are prepared during flood season.
Council will also hold a number of free information sessions during the first week of February - Lismore's official Flood Safe Week, falling three years after the city's last flood - on how the unfinished levee would affect water flow in the event of a flood.
"The good rain last week is a timely reminder that we are entering our annual flood season," Lismore's mayor, Merv King, said. "The coming wet season will occur with the levee about three-quarters complete, and if it rains enough to cause floods, the dynamics of the water will be something new to everyone.
"Long-term residents as well as new arrivals will not be able to rely on past certainties. We therefore urge all residents to review their flood safety procedures and make sure they have home emergency equipment, or know the nearest escape routes.
"Council and emergency services were criticised during the last flood for not providing residents with enough information," he said. "The information we have distributed gives people all the details they need should a flood occur so they can take personal responsibility for their home or business."
The flood kits include specific information for property owners about how water affects their place as well as information for new residents on flood readiness and the importance of having a radio with batteries, a first aid kit and a flashlight.
Free flood information sessions - particularly handy for business people - will be held on Tuesday, February 3, and on Thursday, February 5, at Maggie Moores Pub from 12-2pm. Another session will also be held on Thursday, February 5, at the Station Hotel in South Lismore from 6pm.
"Floods can come very quickly and we've always known the old post office is where water first spills over, but now that may well have changed," Cr King said. "A lot of businesses have old flood markers, however, terms have been changed so we now need to look at metric measurements rather than rely on something painted 25 year ago."
For more details, come to the information sessions or visit www.lismore.nsw.gov.au.
New age cows try natural remedies
 Goolmangar dairy farmer Christine Howard and 'Snugglepot'. Their farm has saved thousands of dollars by treating the cows with homeopathic remedies.
Treating dairy cattle homeopathically is saving a farming couple $5000 a year, producing much happier, healthier cows and more milk.
Christine Howard and Geoff Shearman have a 300 acre dairy farm at Goolmangar.
After hearing a speaker on homeopathy at a dairying conference six years ago, Christine decided to try the natural therapies on their herd of 200.
"I bought a kit from the conference, which was $280 at the time - the same cost of a bottle of iodine (which is used for dipping teats), so I thought why not give it a go? I'm a city girl who moved in with this farmer and I think I needed a challenge at the time," she said.
"Once I started using some of the products, I felt other farmers should know about it, so I organised some workshops for locals and began distributing kits and remedies from there."
Homeopathic products have replaced most of the traditional treatments for Christine and Geoff's cows. They get their treatments from Nimbin homeopathist, Tanya Nolte. There are now has around 120 'homeopathically converted' dairy farmers, from Cairns down to the NSW border and in Victoria.
While Christine has only been on the farm for eight years, her partner Geoff is a second-generation farmer who has been dairying for 20 years. He is convinced the alternative treatments work.
The treatments are administered in the drinking water or directly onto the cows.
"We are worming them naturally, which means we don't have to drench the cows," Christine said. "We don't use iodine on their teats after milking anymore. We used to have to inject them with penicillin for most of their health problems, and now we hardly ever have to."
Flea and tick treatments are also homeopathic.
"The cows are really healthy," Christine said. "They're quiet because we're not needling or drenching them and if you have to get them into the crush to do anything with them, they'll go in readily because we're not distressing them, especially the heifers.
"The wonderful thing about the use of homeopathics is it has no withholding period and it is so easy to administer. You don't have to worry about antibiotic residues in the milk or meat."
While some of the older farmers might take some convincing about these new age remedies, Christine believes the results speak for themselves. They say it is saving them $5000 annually.
"Since the deregulation of the industry - with cost cutting - I think they're more willing to try it," she said. "There's one local farmer who shows jersey cattle who's been using the homeopathic stuff and he is absolutely wrapped with the results."
Koori kids air their creative side
 The late Bundjalung Elder Aunty Fay Smith (left) with Faycing Up organiser Judith Light (centre) and Aunty Agnes Roberts (who will be a 'roving Elder' at the Faycing Up workshops this weekend) at the Australia Day Awards in 2000. The three women were the consecutive winners of the Reconciliation Award from 1998-2000.
The late Bundjalung Elder Aunty Fay Smith had a passion for education and cultural creativity, which her many friends, family and colleagues are now ensuring lives on.
Fay's long-held dream to see young indigenous people educated and proud of their culture will take another step forward this weekend when Lismore People for Reconciliation and the Baha'i community stage the Faycing Up Culture Through Creativity workshops for Koori youth.
Named after Fay's all-female band, Faycing Up, the workshops will give young indigenous people the chance to participate in a variety of different artistic workshops and then share their experiences with the wider community.
"Fay was such an inspiration and a great role model - she had no formal education as a child but she self-taught herself as a young woman and in later life went on to study art and ceramics at TAFE and indigenous studies at University," Faycing Up organiser, Judith Light, said. "She achieved a huge amount in her life both personally and professionally and this event is designed to honour her memory. The workshops are really about giving Koori youth a cultural outlet and an opportunity to express themselves - we want to see them enhance their skills and take pride in their culture."
The Faycing Up Culture Through Creativity workshops will be held this Saturday and Sunday, January 24-25, at Lismore City Hall, 9am to 4pm each day.
The program of workshops include painting with respected indigenous artist Digby Moran, dance with the Goobah Goobah Dancers and local singer/songwriter Mereki, hip hop with 'Bex', sculpture with Ruth Park, screening printing with Terri King and photography with renowned local photographer Christabelle Baranay. Local Bundjalung Elders including Aunty Agnes Roberts will also be roving around throughout the weekend, providing 'cultural and storytelling supervision'.
The workshops will culminate in a 'Celebration of Survival' at City Hall on Australia Day this Monday, where the participants will perform and display what they have learnt in the workshops.
Judith encourages the wider community to come and join in. The event will also include an open mike session and any Aboriginal performers are welcome to turn up and share their talents.
Aboriginal youth interested in getting involved can get an application form from Shared Vision, Ngulingah Land Council on Magellan Street, the Koori Mail, the Red Cross office, Lismore City Council's offices in Goonellabah or the CBD and Community Connections.
A free bus is also available to get Koori youth and their parents downtown.
For information, to organise the bus or to get an application form phone Judith Light on 6624 1926.
Green funds restore rivers
Story & photo: John McPherson
 Lismore MP Thomas George, presented the recipients of NSW Environmental Trust grants with certificates this week. Pictured are (from rear left) Linda Stewart and Brendon Torrens of the Boolangle Aboriginal Lands Council, Mr George and Shane Adams of the Blackhorse Creek Rainforest Restoration Group, (front) Nora Caldwell and Noel Caldwell of the Junbung Elders Group.
The $44,899 grant for the Boolangle project will help the group develop the Junbung Walkway along the banks of the Richmond River in Casino; while the $5000 for the Blackhorse Creek project will assist in the management of the Blackhorse Creek waterway, including the removal of water hyacinth.
The Gugin Guddaba Local Aboriginal Land Council also received $10,300 for a Bundjalung Lagoon restoration project, while Lismore City Council received $69,720 for koala habitat restoration, extension and education.
High demand for SCU courses
Southern Cross University (SCU) made almost 900 offers for places in Lismore through the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) Main Round on Monday.
SCU Admissions Manager, Mr Peter Barnard, said the total number of offers for SCU places to date was 4289 on its three campuses. More than half, 2406, are for places at the Lismore campus
Demand for SCU courses has increased right across the board, but particularly in Psychology, Nursing and Business.
First preferences for SCU through UAC were up six per cent and the overall increase in SCU applications through UAC was 16 per cent.
The SCU Application Hotline is 1800 626 481.
Hidden hydrants
Residential gardens and lawns that obscure fire hydrants are causing authorities concern and threatening to delay emergency responses in Ballina.
NSW Fire Brigade Captain Dennis Henry said that over time, hydrant locations can become part of a residential garden, making them hard to locate during an emergency.
"A lot of people wouldn't recognise a fire hydrant, and in some cases, things like grass and shrubs can make the hydrants almost impossible to locate or access," he said.
Fire hydrants are located on the footpath and identified by a reflective blue marker and yellow arrow on the road. The hydrant cover is painted yellow.
Ballina Council is asking residents to help maintain hydrants in their area by edging around the hydrant and keeping shrubs trimmed back. Council's water manager Phil Warner said anyone who notices a leaking hydrant should notify Council on 6686 4444.
Free dough for Lismore bakery
 Goanna Bakery proprietor Geoff Haycraft (centre) with Far North East Sustainable Regions Committee member Ernie Bennett (left) and Federal MP Ian Causley. Geoff received a $75,000 grant towards establishing of a bakery/cafe in Lismore.
A passion for making quality organic breads has paid off handsomely for Goanna Bakery proprietor, Geoff Haycraft, who recently received a $75,000 grant from the Australian Government's Sustainable Regions Program to open a bakery and cafe in Lismore.
Geoff established Goanna Bakery 10 years ago after moving to the region from Sydney. During that time decade he has used Henry's Bakery to produce his sourdough and wheat-free breads.
The expansion and relocation will cost almost $250,000, creating six full-time jobs including traineeships for young people. Goanna Bakery currently makes a variety of breads for people with special dietary needs such as gluten intolerance and coeliac. The new Goanna bakery will include gluten-free muffins and cakes, as well as other gourmet-style cafe food.
"I'm really very appreciative of this grant because it gives me the freedom to develop the business in a way I see it has the potential to develop - without the grant I would have had to do this on a much smaller scale," Geoff said. "A lot of people look at this product as a lifestyle choice because it's organic and has that home-made feel rather than being mass produced. Due to different health issues a lot of people are not able to eat conventional bread products so they buy Goanna bread."
Despite having no formal training as a baker, Geoff has worked as a chef and baker for more than 25 years. His move north in the late 80s helped turn his dream into reality.
"I came to the north coast because its a beautiful place to live and has a good community, but the issue was always how can I support myself," Geoff said. "I've followed my own interests and passion and it's worked. Anyone can do this - it's about following your passion and expressing yourself in ways that are meaningful for you. If you're committed and prepared to put in the hard yards it can happen."
The new Goanna Bakery and Cafe hopes to open in late-March at 171 Keen Street (near DJs Aquariums).
Turning water into milk
 Encouraging other local businesses to save water and get a rebate for their efforts is (l-r) Rous Water general manager Paul Muldoon, demand management coordinator Elizabeth Seidl and chairman John Hampton with Norco CEO Roger Ashley and engineering and environmental team leader Elvin Robb.
Rous Water is congratulating Norco for leading the way and installing a water recycling plant, which is saving approximately nine million litres of water each year (the equivalent of around 40 households worth).
Norco installed the plant last year when the water restrictions were in place. The system recycles water that is collected from refrigeration units located at the ice-cream plant in South Lismore and they have since received a financial contribution for their efforts.
Rous is now encouraging industrial and commercial businesses to follow Norco's lead and take advantage of the reclaimed water reuse assistance policy, which rewards businesses that help save potable (drinking-quality) water. Projects that qualify are eligible for a contribution of up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the agreed capital cost of the reclaimed water scheme.
"We have a limited capacity in the water supply system and we have to make it go as far as possible," Rous Water's demand management coordinator, Elizabeth Seidl, said.
"Rous Water has plans to build a new dam near Dunoon but that is several years off so in the meantime we have to use the water we have as efficiently as possible. There are lots of ways to use recycled water or rain water instead of drinking water, and we're more than happy to talk to businesses about ways in which we can assist."
Norco's team leader of engineering and environmental, Elvin Robb, said the decision to install the water recycling plant was made irrespective of the financial assistance available, but it was something they felt was in the interests of the whole community.
"We're all part of the community and if we all do our bit and carry some of that load everyone benefits. It saves dollars and conserves a precious natural resource," Elvin said.
The art of good dental care
 Julie Hornibrook, general manager of the Northern NSW Oral Health Network, Gail Loader, Oral Health Coordinator at Goonellabah dental clinic, and visiting NSW Chief Dental Officer, Peter Hill, inspect the Koori mural at the clinic.
Helping patients to feel more comfortable is an important prelude to dental treatment, and in the case of the public dental clinic in Goonellabah the efforts begin in the carpark where a Koori-themed mural has been painted by artists Kevin Anderson and Paul Paitson.
The work features goannas, green tree frogs and other highlights of local fauna and flora. According to Oral Health Coordinator, Gail Loader, it is doing a great job of getting Aboriginal people into a more relaxed frame of mind before they begin their treatments.
The mural was also given the thumbs-up by the Chief Dental Officer of NSW, Peter Hill, when he visited Lismore this week for meetings with local dental staff.
"We regard the mural as another step in cementing a close partnership between Northern Rivers Area Health Service and the Koori community," Mr Hill said, noting that since the mural was finished the level of graffiti in the carpark and surrounding area had dropped significantly.
"It's a brilliant mural and I'm sure it's valued by all members of the local community."
Never too old to learn
Older people in the Nimbin community can now learn about everything from tropical gardening to basket weaving with the establishment of the Nimbin Over 50s Learning Centre.
Modelled on the Lismore Over 50s Learning Centre, this new venture by the Nimbin Community School will offer a diverse and unusual array of classes and workshops, providing people with a social outlet and a chance to learn new things in a friendly, supported environment.
Enrolments are now being taken for the first program, which starts on Wednesday, February11, and runs for eight weeks.
Classes starting in February include creative writing, computers for beginners, creative basketry, Hatha yoga, 'Let's Write and Play' (a workshop that involved script writing, producing and performing a play), experimental drawing and gentle exercises.
The term fee is $40, which allows participation in up to three classes, plus an annual administration fee of $5.
Enrolments will be held over two consecutive Wednesdays - January 28 and Feb 4 - at the Nimbin community school room. The Nimbin Over 50s Learning Centre is also interested in hearing from people who would like to present a class.
For more information phone 6689 1477.
Pain management website now online
A new pain management website offering a range of information and specialised links about pain management has been launched by Northern Rivers Area Health Service (NRAHS).
The website covers key issues such as pain after surgery, living with chronic pain, pain control in labour and back pain in the workplace.
Jenni Prince, Clinical Nurse Consultant/Pain Management, said the website outlines various options for coping with pain.
"Pain is the body's way of telling us something is wrong, and we all have pain at some time in our lives. Pain is generally categorised as either Acute or Chronic," she said.
"Acute pain follows physical injury, surgery or trauma, and is located around the injury/surgical site. The causes of chronic or persistent pain, which affects about 20 percent of the population, range from non-specific back complaints to arthritis to injuries to cancer."
Other helpful information includes tips about Morphine for pain control, Paracetamol use guidelines and helping children deal with pain, as well as an introduction to the Acute Pain Services offered by NRAHS.
Back to school
A back to school hotline and website has been set up by the NSW government as kids return to school next week.
Parents can get advice on common questions, from school uniforms to immunisation and homework.
Call 1300 738 338 between 9am & 5pm, until Friday, February 6, or log on to www.det.nsw.edu.au
For enquiries about the $50 back-to-school allowance, phone 1300 656 056.
This week's features: Your Shopping Guide - Local Businesses
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