Local Government News
 Don
Page
State Matters
Congratulations to Australia Day Award recipients.
I would like to congratulate all recipients of this year's Australia Day Awards across the Far North Coast. The list of worthy winners have contributed significantly to our communities.
In the Ballina Electorate, I would especially like to congratulate Bob Wilson of Alstonville who was presented with Ballina Shire's Citizen of the Year Award and Rodney Halpin, the recipient of the Byron Shire Citizen of the Year Award. Special mention should also go to Peter Mair, the recipient of the Emergency Services Medal.
Student Guide
The Office of Fair Trading's Student Guide is available for students wanting to know their rights on a range of important issues such as renting a house or unit, managing credit cards, buying goods or services, shopping on the internet, buying mobile phones and purchasing a car.
The Guide gives numbers and web sites for further information as well as useful tips for making purchases. It is a practical way of helping students get started in areas with which they might not be familiar.
Unfortunately, students can sometimes find it hard to be treated fairly in areas such as renting and dealing with credit agencies.
Guides are available at the offices of John Turner in Tuncurry, or copies can be sent out by calling the office on 6555 4099.
Seniors Week Activities
I was pleased to announce last week details of funding for Far North Coast Seniors Weeks projects to be held during Seniors Week, March 14-21.
The Seniors Week project funding in the Ballina Electorate include;
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$500 for Alstonville Adult Learning to assist Seniors writing their life history,
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$1000 for the Ballina District Community Services Association to stage the 'Lifeball a sport for all sorts carnival',
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A further $1000 for the CTC@Pottsville's Milestones and Memoirs project and,
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$500 for the Merrymakers Seniors Week Concert.
These projects give Seniors an opportunity to have some fun, explore new activities and record their reflections during the busy Seniors Week.
I congratulate each of the grant recipients for their participation through vibrant and innovative projects. Seniors Week can only be a success with the support and participation of local organisations.
Seniors Cards
Seniors may also be interested in signing up for the popular Seniors Card scheme if they have not already done so.
The Seniors Card scheme encourages older people to enjoy an active and healthy retirement and is free to join and is not assets or means tested.
To qualify applicants must be a NSW permanent resident, aged 60 or over and work no more than 20 hours a week in paid employment.
Application forms for Seniors wishing to join the scheme are available from my office. Forms for businesses interested in joining the scheme are also available from my office.
Heritage Incentives Program
Applications for funding under the Heritage Incentives Program are now being accepted. The Heritage Incentive Program provides funding for eight Heritage categories;
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Site work and presentation on listed heritage items
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Thematic studies, promotion projects, publications and similar projects
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Aboriginal heritage projects
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Conservation management plans (up to $2,500 per project)
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Emergency small grants (up to $5,000) per project)
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Local government heritage management ($ for $ funding provided to councils)
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Heritage organisations support
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Local history and archive projects (up to $4,000 per project)
Applications for categories 1 and 2 are only called for and assessed every two years.
Residents interested in finding more specific information on the Heritage Incentives Program and each of its categories should contact my Electorate Office or visit the website at www.heritage.nsw.gov.au.
The program will close on Friday, February 13, 2004.
I can be contacted by writing to PO Box 1018, Ballina 2478 or by telephoning my Electorate Office on 6686 7522 or faxing 6686 7470. For those on-line my e-mail address is Don.Page@parliament.nsw.gov.au
 Thomas
George
Canberra Connection
IPTASS Petition
The Nationals have launched a petition calling on the Carr Labor Government to review the criterion country cancer patients had to meet to access financial assistance under the NSW Isolated Patients' Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS).
In order to qualify for financial assistance in NSW, cancer patients must travel in excess of 200 kilometres one way for treatment, whereas in South Australia and Victoria, the distance is 100km, and in Queensland it is 50km. These distance criteria are the toughest in Australia and this inequity is simply unfair. The petition also called on the Sydney Labor Government to give patients the chance to choose their own specialist.
Patients are currently required to see only their nearest treating specialist. This not only restricts patients' access to the best available treatment but also fails to take into account that the waiting times for the nearest specialist may be sky high. These conditions meant rural and regional cancer patients faced an unfair financial burden and were detrimentally affected by waiting times, varying quality of care and an inability to participate in clinical trials.
The petition for a better deal for cancer patients in country areas had the support of a number of cancer advocacy and support groups. I would strongly encourage people to come into my office or call for a copy to join the state-wide push for a fair go for country cancer patients.
Seniors Week grants
The following organisations in the Lismore Electorate have been successful in gaining funds to contribute to the Seniors Week 2004 theme "Best Time for Ages" and activities which will be held March 14-21.
$500 Caroona Kalina Nursing Home, The Merry Widows of Kalina; $2,500 Casino Neighbourhood Centre, The ATSI Healthy Ageing and Wellbeing; $1000 Casino/Kyogle HACC Flexible, Seniors Month of March Celebrations 2004; Service Inc, "A Time to Remember"; $500 CPSA Lismore Branch, Annual Seniors Week Picnic Day; $500 Lismore Neighbourhood Centre Inc, You're never too old to get involved; $500 Nimbin Health & Welfare Assoc Inc, Across Generations; $500 Richmond Valley Council, Seniors of the World; $500 Upper Clarence Valley Seniors Week, Cabaret and Concert; $2,500 Bundjalung Aboriginal Home Care, Koori Seniors Get Together.
Reporting of Crime Statistics
The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research have recently announced that from April this year onwards, it will be posting quarterly updates on State crime trends in its web-site www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/bocsar.
The quarterly updates will cover the same range of offences as the annual report but the regional analysis will cover statistical subdivisions in urban areas and statistical divisions in rural and regional NSW.
Seniors & IT Grants Program
The NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care is seeking the services of organisations with experience and practical strategies to assist with the training of older people in the use and application of information technology (IT).
Applications are invited from incorporated organisations that have strong links with their local communities. Expressions of Interest must be lodged with the Department by 12noon Friday, February 20. www.dadhac.nsw.gov.au/seniorsit.
NSW Dairy Roundtable
The Nationals will convene a NSW Dairy Roundtable to be held on 19 February at Parliament House in a bid to address the difficult situation facing dairy farmers. The agenda for the day will focus on the farm gate milk price and realistic ways to improve it, such as the collective bargaining exemption under the Trade Practices Act.
Key dairy farmers' representatives, such as Norco Co-operative, have been invited to join with spokespeople from the NSW Farmers' Association, Dairy Australia, the retail sector and both State and Federal Government.
I welcome and invite your feedback in relation to any of the above matters, please do not hesitate to contact my office regarding any matters on (ph) 6621 3624, (f) 6622 1403, by writing to PO Box 52 Lismore, e-mail; thomas.george@parliament.nsw.gov.au or www.thomasgeorge.com.au
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