Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Village Players

If you've ever harboured a desire to be on stage, then get yourself along to auditions for a new theatre group in Evans Head.

The Village Players is being formed by Maureen Follers - a retired film, theatre and advertising producer who knows how much fun people have.

"Drama is a leveling experience," Maureen said. "People experience a sense of community and enjoyment, whatever their age or background."

Maureen said the group is open to all - young, old, skilled or not skilled, confident or shy. Auditions for the inaugural production, a melodrama titled, Robin Hoodwink will be held on Monday, March 15, at 7pm in the function room at the Woodburn/Evans Head RSL Club.

As well as actors, Maureen said the auditions are also for people who want to be involved in the production, including stagehands, sound, lighting, props and wardrobe assistants.

Assisting her is well known playwright and Evans Head resident, Paul Johnson, who is already writing a script for the groups' next production.

For details phone Maureen on 6682 5841.

Calligraphers Collaborate

An exhibition featuring collaborative books of calligraphy will be held at the Paperbark Gallery, Evans Head, from next Wednesday, March 10, until April 11.

Gallery director Vanessa Crisp is a talented calligrapher and took part in the project.

She said the idea for the collaboration came in 2002 when Di Harris, a renowned calligrapher and paper artist, invited nine calligraphers, papermakers and paper artists to join her in the production of a collaborative book.

"There were to be no rules, other than to alter each side of 20 A4 pages by hand in some way," Vanessa said.

The pages were then passed on to the next artist who worked on them and participants didn't see their work until the finished pages were bound into books.

"The result was 10 of the most amazing books," Vanessa said.

The exhibition will also include collaborative books by an additional 10 calligraphers from the Gold Coast Calligraphy Society.

The Paperbark Gallery is open from 10am till 4pm daily. Follow the signs to the Gallery at the entrance to Evans Head in the industrial estate.

Council ballot

Four groups, all led by current councillors, will contest the Richmond Valley Council election on March 27. All up, there are 18 candidates contesting the eight places up for grabs - down two from the existing council of 10. Only one, Ros Zemcevicius, is ungrouped. Three familiar faces are contesting the mayoral election (in descending order as they appear on the ballot paper) - former mayor Col Sullivan, current mayor Charlie Cox and frequent election contender Robert Mustow.

The groups are:

Group A: Ray Jeffery, Norma Thomas, Neil Crouch, Lloyd Guy and Trevor Leslight; Group B: Colin Sullivan, Shirley Wheatley, John Howard and Terry Toohey; Group C: Robert Mustow, Don Harvey, Steve Drake and Jon Bell; Group D: Charlie Cox, Sandra Duncan-Humphrys, Peter McLennan and Norma Wise.

There is no absentee voting in council elections. Pre-poll voting opens in Casino at the library on Monday, March 15, and Wednesday, March 24, at the Woodburn CWA Hall. Voters could apply for a postal vote from the council offices in Casino and Evans Head.

Fowl play

Move over Beef Week! There were quips that Casino could end up holding 'Chicken Week' after Council approved eight new chicken sheds in the Valley during their last meeting - an extra two sheds at Greenridge, four at Ellangowan and two at North Casino. The farms will supply Byron Bay chicken processor Sunnybrand Chickens.