The Northern Rivers Echo Main News

King hit

Lismore's new popularly elected mayor, Merv King, and his wife Bernice.

Lismore shows overwhelming support for Merv as mayor

Two months ago, Merv King didn't even want the job. On Saturday, in a remarkable endorsement by the voters of Lismore, he was elected mayor for the next four years.

Cr King saw off strong support for Crs Ros Irwin and John Chant to become the city's second popularly elected mayor, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Bob Gates.

Earlier this year, after 18 months in the top job following the untimelty death of his colleague, Cr King was ambivalent about the future. But the urging of friends and others who appreciated his diligence and measured leadership convinced him to stand for mayor. Lismore agreed, with almost 6000 people giving Cr King their primary vote, well ahead of his nearest rivals, Cr Chant (3404) and Cr Irwin (3390). After the distribution of preferences, Cr King won with 9213 votes, around 40 per cent of the total vote and almost 3000 votes ahead of Cr Irwin (6256), Cr John Chant (4432), Cr Frank Swientek (3190) and Brian Henry (2822).

Some 860 people voted informally and more than 7400 did not preference either Cr Irwin or King.

Cr King said he was "very gratified" by the support he'd received from voters.

"I'd like to thank everyone who helped and volunteered to support me at the polling booths on the day. I'd also like to thank those who stood with me on Team King. It's been enormously satisfying to see that we have at the least three people, and hopefully Cr John Crowther too, elected to Council," he said.

The mayor called on the remaining 11 councillors to work together "to continue the growth of Lismore".

"I will be working hard to maintain the momentum of the previous council, and keep Lismore ahead of its competitors and moving along," he said.

Cr King's win is all the more remarkable for the fact that in less than five years, he's gone from being Lismore's least popular councillor to its most popular. At the last election in 1999, Cr King was the 12th councillor elected. This election, his popularity saw more than one in every five voters give the King group their first preference. That means he's likely to see three other members of his team - Cr John Hampton, planner Graham Meineke and even Cr John Crowther - on Council. After 30 years on Council, Cr Crowther is hoping a strong personal following in the below-the-line vote will help him get elected as Lismore's 12th councillor.

Saturday's ballot revealed strong support for the Labor Party, which received almost 17 per cent of the primary vote, followed by former car dealer John Chant's group (14.3%), the Greens (12%), Brian Henry's group (11.97%) and Cr Ros Irwin's group (10.58%).

The likely makeup of Lismore Council is as follows: Cr King (mayor), plus team members Cr John Hampton and Graham Meineke, Cr John Chant, Jenny Dowell (Labor) and her number two, Stewart Hase, Vanessa Ekins (Greens), Brian Henry, Cr Ros Irwin and Frank Swientek.

The ballot papers have been sent to Sydney, where the preference allocations will be calculated on a computer later today. While it initially appeared that Cr Chant's number two, Nationals member Peter Graham, would be elected, preferences do not seem to favour him. Cr David Tomlinson, second on Cr Irwin's ticket, now appears to have a better chance -thanks to what scrutineers have reported as a strong surge in below-the-line preferences in his favour.

The remaining position will be fought out between Cr Chant, Greens No. 2 Sue Stock, former Lismore Unlimited president Barry Robinson, and former Workers Club manager Barry Crimmins.

Ungrouped candidate and former councillor Reg Baxter scored the wooden spoon with just 120 votes, two behind Nora Vilder-Blanksby.

Less than 30 per cent of voters decided to vote below-the-line for at least 11 candidates, a fall from the last election. Informal voting was up at around 10 per cent.

Ballina recalls ex-mayors

Ballina voters have gone back to the future, electing two former mayors to Council. Keith Johnson, of Alstonville, mayor from 1988 to '94, topped the poll on the Plateau with 1958 primary votes, more than 200 ahead of mayor Phil Silver (1741 votes), and Cr David Wright (1471 votes). Marilyn Perkins failed in her bid for re-election, coming fourth. Mr Johnson was a fierce critic of the former council in the lead up to the election.

Former councillor Avis Kennedy (1035 primary votes) was also dumped, losing out in B Ward to Cr Alan Rich (1422), businesswoman Sharon Cadwallader (1592) and Cr Peter Moore (1253), who scraped in on preferences after coming fourth in the primary vote behind fellow youth worker Kellie O'Brien (1346). Cr Kennedy, a Nationals candidate at the last NSW election, was seen as a staunch advocate for the Tinkerbell shopping centre redevelopment, while Cr Rich, who topped the B Ward poll, opposed it.

In A Ward, former mayor Alan Brown, mayor in the late '90s before dipping out at the '99 election, is back in the saddle. He won the primary vote (1771) ahead of existing councillors John Flesch (1658) and Margaret Howes (1260).

Ballina ready for emergencies

With Ballina MP Don Page and Ballina Mayor Phillip Silver looking on, the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Cherie Burton, had her blood pressure tested by emergency department nurse Kathy McNeill at Ballina hospital on Wednesday.

Ballina Hospital's $495,000 emergency department refurbishment was opened this week by Cherie Burton, NSW parliamentary secretary to the health minister.

The refurbishment has seen improved access, increased space and better privacy for patients. The emergency department now has six beds, including one in a private room to deal with patients with a serious illness or mental health problems.

The latest work follows on from the recent opening of the Ballina Satellite Cancer Care & Haematology Service, expanded renal dialysis services and the transfer of day and short-stay surgery to Ballina.

Ms Burton said that Ballina Hospital's ED dealt with 14,652 emergency attendances in 2002-03, and blamed the falling rate of bulk-billing by GPs as one of the reasons why the hospital was so busy.

"More than 70 per cent of ED presentations were by people in the less acute triage categories 4 and 5, many of whom could probably have been treated by a local GP," Ms Burton said.

She said that population growth and the increased number of aged people were placing an increasing demand on health services.

"The Shire has a growing number of older residents, with about 15% of the community aged 60 years and over. By 2016, this will be 31%," she said.

Ms Burton said a decision on the future of coastal hospital services will be made soon.

"It is a difficult decision for the Minister because the community was unable to come to an agreement. He is considering the best thing for the community as a whole and should make a decision soon," she said.

South Lismore brothel seeks approval

Lismore's new councillors will face their first major test shortly after plans for a brothel in South Lismore were lodged with Council this week. The site is currently being used as a brothel, but Lismore Council has moved to close down the business on the grounds that "there is an adverse impact on the amenity of the locality" and it does not have existing approval.

The Echo understands that there have been a series of complaints lodged against the premises over an extended period. In the middle of last year, Lismore Council had a major crackdown on illegal brothels in the city.

The site is zoned 'Industrial 4(A)', which permits brothels under current planning laws. It means that reasons to refuse the application need to be based on planning issues rather than moral concerns.

The development application for the two-storey, five-bedroom brothel, called Destiny's 2, is at 126 Wilson Street. The applicants are seeking to build a two-metre high fence across the front of the property, and a five-metre wall at the rear, if required. It would be open at various times of the day between 6am and 11pm.

In the "Statement of environmental effects" prepared with the proposal, the applicant observes that Lismore Council has not prepared guidelines on appropriate locations for a brothel.

The brothel is on the other side of the railway from South Lismore primary school.

The applicants say the owners have counted the children passing the site for the last six months and claim only two children pass by - on their way to school and after school. The owner is proposing to close the premises during that time.

Council general manager Paul O'Sullivan said that the timeframe for a decision was uncertain because planners have a number of questions the developers needed to answer.

"There are a series of issues that will have to be considered as part of the assessment process, including the impact on the surrounding neighbourhood. Parking is also a key issue," he said.

The DA is open for public comment until Friday, April 16.

Carmen geddit

Locals can meet Labor Party national president Dr Carmen Lawrence this Saturday, April 3, at the Lismore City Bowling Club.

Dr Lawrence will meet the public between 3.30pm to 5pm.

Later that evening she will be the guest speaker at a fundraising dinner at the Lismore Workers Club for Labor's federal election candidate, Kevin Bell. Tickets are available at Dymocks, Lismore.

Get ready for the wet

Gearing up for NORPA's free Easter show, The Flood, are production designer Kathryn Sproul and mask creator/designer David Rayner with Wollongbar TAFE Clothing Production Certificate IIII students (l-r) Alice Green, Hannah Gamble and Emily Sexton, and some of the amazing masks featured in the show.

NORPA's exciting new production, a free outdoor spectacular called The Flood, will premiere next week, April 8-10, in Lismore's CBD.

The production, full of comedy, theatre, dance and song, is a crazy re-telling of the Noah and his Ark story - in this case with Neville and his ute.

Real life stories and images from Lismore's devastating '74 flood add to the drama.

The play is a travelling show and the audience follows it through the CBD during the course of the evening.

The play ranges from the bizarre to the ridiculous - outboards on the river, regular 'weather reports' and river heights, a frog chorus and even a man playing a piano in a tank as it fills with water.

Hundreds of locals are involved in the production.

"We've listened to the voices and stories of Lismore and turned them into theatre to create a new way of seeing the history of a community," production designer, Kathryn Sproul, said. "People who have lived through a flood will recognise experiences they have in common with the characters and in that sense it's about identifying with what brings people together as a community. Some people might say a flood isolates people but in fact it connects and brings people together."

The Flood will start at the Conservatorium on the corner of Magellan and Keen streets from 6.30pm next Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. All are welcome.

Living for the moment

Story & photo: Julian Ryan

Pat and Peter Murphy are living for the moment while Peter faces motor neurone disease.

Living with a debilitating and ultimately fatal disease became a reality for Peter and Pat Murphy of Alstonville when Peter was diagnosed with motor neurone disease just before Christmas in 2001.

Motor neurone disease is the name given to a group of related diseases affecting the motor neurones in the brain and spinal cord. It leads to a wasting of the muscles that will eventually lead to death, often within just a few short years. Last week, former Balmain rugby league star Scott Gale died from motor neurone disease, aged just 39.

Peter, now in his 60s, is all too aware of what lies ahead. His motto is to live for today. He's a man with a quick wit and ready laugh. Peter's well known around Alstonville for his antics on his motorised scooter, which he likes to take "bush bashing" - as he calls riding on the grass.

"The progressive nature of the illness means that today is the best day of your life and I try to maintain that outlook," he said.

Peter first became aware that there was a problem a few months before he was diagnosed when he began to stumble and trip over the smallest objects.

" Subtle things were going wrong, which were characterised by a lack of strength and dexterity," he said. "And it didn't take long for the flies to figure out that my arms were slowing down and that I couldn't shoo them away."

Peter's wife, Pat, believes he has the right attitude to cope with the difficulties facing him.

"He has always been innovative and positive throughout his life, and his attitude has not changed since he was diagnosed," she said.

Pat is Peter's 24-hour carer, showing the unconditional love that has sustained them through their 39-year marriage.

They are full of praise for the medical assistance and the support that they have received from the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the members of the local community. Helen Gates, wife of the former Lismore mayor, the late Bob Gates, who died from MND, is president of the local MND support group.

This is Motor Neurone Disease week. You can do your bit to help fund the work of the Association by making a donation. Phone 1800 777 175. You'll also find the MND support group at Ballina Fair and Lismore Central shopping centres this Friday, April 2, raising funds and offering information.

Just around the corner

Page MP Ian Causley (centre) opened the relocated Just A Tease hair salon in Keen Street last week, and was joined by general manager Rohan Wijeyekoon (far right), training manager Catherine Wijeyekoon (far left) and salon staff members (l-r) Cassie Van Beek, Susan Sheehan, Desiree Fawcett, Danielle Page, Katrina Fuller and Maree Boyland.

After being forced to move from Magellan Street, Just a Tease hair salon has re-opened at new premises in Keen Street. After eight years in Magellan Street, the non-profit training and employment organisation, which recently helped organise the Shave for a Cure event, was given one month's notice to move. Despite the initial shock staff rallied together to find and fit a new salon, which they did in a marathon three-day effort.

"It was very stressful only being given just one month to vacate - the real estate could have at least discussed it with us before issuing us with a solicitor's letter terminating our lease," general manager, Rohan Wijeyekoon, said. "In the last three years we invested around $3,000 into improvements, so it was a real blow, but we've overcome that now and feel positive."

Just a Tease hair salon is Australia's only Aboriginal-owned and operated training facility specialising in hairdressing.

"Apprenticeships are hard to get so if we give indigenous people a foot in the door they have a much better chance of joining the mainstream workforce," Rohan said.

The new salon is at 114 Keen Street in the AZA Motel complex. To book an appointment, phone 6621 3771.

Fire damages house

Story & photo: Julian Ryan

A house in South Lismore received extensive damage in a fire on Wednesday afternoon.

Two residents of a house in South Lismore managed to escape unhurt after a fire broke out in their weatherboard home on Wednesday afternoon

Lismore fire brigade inspector Rob Comerford said that an electrical fault caused the fire, which left two front rooms in the Crown Street house extensively damaged.

Lismore and Goonellabah fire crews responded to a call from a member of the public at around 2.18 pm and quickly contained the fire.

"The fire started in the electrical box at the front of the house, which was the only part of the building damaged," Insp Comerford said.

Clean up estate

Residents of Shearman Drive, Goonellabah, will have the chance to clean up their neighbourhood this Friday, April 2, between 7am and 3pm.

The community working bee, coordinated by Lismore police, is being supported by Lismore City Council, the Department of Housing, Richmond Waste, and the Yabur Yulgun Aboriginal group.

Senior Constable Michael Hogan said that the clean up was giving the locals the chance to spruce up the housing estate.

"We are expecting a lot of volunteers to contribute and there will be a ute coming from Cabbage Tree Island," he said.

Snr Const Hogan said that if the clean up was a success a similar working bee could be held in parts of Lismore.

The clean up includes a free sausage sizzle in Shearman Drive Park between 12noon and 2pm. All are welcome.

Nimbin plan

A community information day and walk on the site of the proposed Rivendell Eco-Village, at 61 Cecil Street Nimbin, will be held this Sunday, April 4 between 3pm and 6pm.

The information day is designed to explain the aims of the proposed development.

For further information contact Malcolm Scott on 6624 6051 or visit www.rivendell-ecovillage.com

Coral Tree tips

Richmond Landcare Inc is organising a free workshop to assist landholders battling with the major environmental weed, coral trees.

"Coral trees are a concern for many landholders, especially along the watercourses between Lismore and Coraki," says Johanna Kempff, Community Support Officer for Richmond Landcare Inc. "They can be difficult to eradicate, and branches that fall on the ground will grow into new plants. "

Stewart Hanna from Environmental Training and Employment (Envite) will be demonstrating the techniques he has been using to successfully control them.

The workshop will be held at the property of Mark and Leeanne Summers on Tulk Road, Wyrallah this Saturday, April 3, from 9am to 12noon. Morning tea will be provided.

To attend, contact Johanna on 6627 0120.

Ancient find halts pool work

Story & photo: Izzy Wright

Helmut Schweizer of Action Hire points towards the ancient roundabout discovered during excavations of the Lismore Memorial Baths site this week.

Work on the $7 million Lismore Memorial Baths redevelopment ground to a halt this week following the discovery of ancient ruins on the site.

Council has called in leading archaeologist Doug Downe to examine the remains, which are believed to even predate the Aboriginal history of the area.

"This is an important find, because it suggests that people from around the time of the pyramids also visited this continent, which has the potential to rewrite the history of Australian exploration," he said.

Newly re-elected mayor Merv King said he was surprised by the discovery.

"On the up side, it could become a major tourist attraction," he said. "Hopefully people will stop to look at it on their way to the Gold Coast to shop."

But the Mayor cautioned that if the ruins were to be preserved, Council may have to go back to the drawing board to consider a new site for the pool.

"I'm pleased that we have a new Council and I'm confident that we'll be able to make a decision about a new location by August 2008," Cr King said.

In the meantime, Council staff are looking at painting big black circles around the free Lismore Lake pool for lap swimmers.

Following a preliminary inspection of the site, Mr Downe said he believed the ruins were part of a prehistoric roundabout that may have also been used for pagan ceremonies. But local Aboriginal leaders scoffed at the suggestion.

"Since the Dreamtime, indigenous culture has been much more advanced than most anthropologists believe. For starters, we knew 3000 years ago that building roundabouts in Lismore was a silly idea. A midden does the job just fine," one Bundjalung elder said.

Some of Lismore's new councillors have already proposed that the site could be preserved underneath a multi-storey glass-bottomed carpark to show off the ruins, which would be lit by Work-for-the-Dole participants holding lanterns.

Cr Frank Swientek suggested the ruins should be moved to Goonellabah.

Council will hold an emergency meeting today, April 1, to discuss the issue.

50 years later, schooldays are best

School is a formative part of everyone's childhood, but according to former Lismore High School student Peter Axtens, it's often not until later life that you realise just how important and carefree those years were.

Peter travelled to Lismore from Sydney last week to catch up with old mates during the Lismore High School class of 1954 50-year reunion, which attracted around 70 people from across Australia, and even one former student from Canada.

Talking to The Echo at the old Lismore High School site on Saturday, Peter said the reunion brought back many memories and gave him a new appreciation for those schoolyard years.

"When you get older and go to a reunion the relationships have changed dramatically and I think the fascination with your past enriches your experience," said Peter, the brother of the late John Axtens, a well-known Lismore identity. "You begin to enjoy the contribution those years made to your life and it becomes more meaningful because you suddenly appreciate those years more now than you ever did before. It's wonderful to see everyone and one of the greatest delights is seeing the old photographs - they really take you back."

For many it was the first time in 50 years they had seen their old mates, but for Peter and his lifelong friend Graham Wishart, it was just another adventure amongst their many shared experiences.

"We've been friends since third grade and we did everything together, including failing and passing the same classes," Peter laughed. "After school we went travelling through England and Europe together - in fact I think the only interesting thing in our lives we didn't do together was get married!"

Following the visit to the old Lismore High School site a special celebration was held to wrap up the three-day reunion.

No reserve in army support

Story: Terra Sword

Lismore-based business Richmond Waste will feature prominently in a new Australian Defence Force campaign launched by General Peter Cosgrove on the weekend.

The campaign recognises the role Reservists play in the armed forces and encourages employers to support them.

Richmond Waste manager John Barnes and operations manager Nathan Shepherd, an Army Reservist, have agreed to spread the message to businesses that an employer's support is vital. In fact, their partnership is so strong that John visited Nathan at the Batuguade Camp border-crossing in East Timor where he was serving last year.

"It was a fascinating day trip involving a flight to East Timor via Darwin, then a 40-minute flight in a Russian helicopter to the border camp to greet our employees and inspect the camp, the aid projects and the border controls," John said. He made the journey as part of the Defence Reserves Support Council's Exercise Boss Lift.

"Living in those camps requires teamwork, skills in logistics and organisation, and tremendous discipline. I can now understand why Nathan approaches his work with such maturity and works so effectively in team situations."

Nathan is one of two Reservists at Richmond Waste, along with Private Philip Barnes. The transport-based business has seen immediate benefits as both Reservists have been trained by the Army to drive a wide range of vehicles.

"I'd encourage other employers to employ Defence Reservists," John said. "It is well managed, sympathetic to employers through its offer of financial compensation and provides great personal development for employees."

Keeping kids safe

Kids and Traffic road safety consultants Analisa Burgio (right) and Louise Cosgrove with the Driveway Display Kit aimed at improving safety for young children.

One child, often a toddler, is run over in their own driveway every week in Australia - a statistic Lismore City Council is trying to reduce with new road safety initiatives.

Members of the Kids and Traffic team from Macquarie University's Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program visited Lismore recently with a Driveway Display Kit that highlights the difficulty drivers may have in seeing a small child behind or close to a car.

"This was a great opportunity to raise parent and community awareness of traffic injury risks to small children in home driveways," Lismore City Council's road safety officer, Wendy Johnson, said. "Children are naturally inquisitive and want to see what's going on. In the time it takes for a driver to say goodbye and start the car, a child can move from a 'safe' position into the vehicle's path. Small children can be impossible to see from inside a car, especially if they are immediately behind."

Wendy said accidents usually occur when a car, often driven by a relative or friend, is reversing slowly. Many children are killed and many are left with severe long-term injuries.

In perfect harmony

Mei-Lin Marlin from the Richmond Community Settlement Services Scheme (front centre with scarf) and some of the many people who attended Harmony Day celebrations in Lismore this week.

Harmony Day celebrations in Lismore on Wednesday were a huge success yesterday with more than 100 people from all walks of life turning up to the Red Dove Cafe for a day of culturally diverse offerings and friendship.

Hosted by the Richmond Community Settlement Services Scheme, the day is designed to foster respect and understanding amongst people from different cultural backgrounds.

"Harmony Day is an affirmation of peace and goodwill amongst the community and a chance to unite in spirit," said coordinator Mei-Lin Marlin.

"As Australians we all believe in the values of fairness, equality and friendship and I think sometimes we forget to cherish those values. We need to celebrate our cultural differences and not be scared of them."

Shed hits the road

Mobile Men's Shed Project coordinator Gary Smith (top) with Mensline coordinator Michael Webb (left), volunteer Doug Jones and the new 'shed'.

A local supporter of the Men's Resource Centre in Lismore recently donated money so the centre could purchase a vehicle for the Men's Mobile Shed Project.

The 1974, ex-ambulance Dodge - or Men's Mobile Shed - will travel around the region, making it easier for men to access counselling, health and support services.

"Donations like this are integral to what we do here and the 'shed' is invaluable - it gets us mobile right now, which means we can start getting out to men in the community," Mobile Men's Shed Project coordinator, Gary Smith, said. "Men by nature are reluctant to access help so we bring the services to them and that tends to break down isolation, both emotional and physical. The role of males is changing and we find men are often looking for a sense of purpose and some guidance. We actively help and encourage men to learn to adapt to a changing society and somehow doing that in a 'shed' makes men a lot more comfortable."

The Men's Mobile Shed covers Lismore, Ballina, Kyogle, Casino, Woodenbong, Byron Bay and surrounding villages. The Men's Resource Centre is still looking for people who can assist with vehicle maintenance and mechanical work. To help out phone Gary or Doug on 0401 095 945.

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