Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Casino celebrates hospital upgrade

The parliamentary secretary for health, Cherie Burton MP, was joined by Hospital Auxiliary members, Bundjalung elder Eric Walker, Lismore MP Thomas George, Dr Bill Nardi and Richmond River mayor Charlie Cox when she opened the $500,000 refurbishments at Casino Hospital last Thursday. The work included the refurbishment of the emergency department waiting room, main foyer, day therapy and aged respite day care.

Robyn Cox hopes she has time to smell the roses now that the election campaign is over and husband Charlie has been elected Mayor of Richmond Valley Council.

Cox returns as mayor

Councillor Charlie Cox is the overwhelming people's choice for Mayor of Richmond Valley following Saturday's election.

Cr Cox received 5417 primary votes, from Col Sullivan 4531 and Robert Mustow 1891. After preferences, Cr Cox received 6185 votes to Cr Sullivan's 4861 in the Valley's first popularly contested poll.

"I'm buoyed by it all," Cr Cox said. "I'm humbled to think people think I've done the job reasonably well and that they've got the confidence in my ability to lead."

And he is already planning future directions.

"We will be looking closely at how council delivers its services. We'll be reviewing the results of our ratepayer's survey and seeing how people's perception dovetails with council's operation and how we can implement these. It will guide us in our strategic planning. And we are continuing to review our programs and services.

"The biggest challenge is to maintain our core services and to access the money that we need to take us past the purely maintenance role."

Charlie said he is grateful to his team and supporters and reserved his greatest compliment for his wife, Robyn.

"She's a 'mayor maker'. I would like to publicly thank her."

Charlie received a majority of votes in Casino and Evans Head, and attributes it to his accessibility.

"It's an indication of the amount of time I put in to meeting people and attending meetings and functions," Charlie said. "I set out to put a human face to the mayor."

Counting is continuing in the election of councillors. It would appear that all of Charlie Cox's team - Beef Week organiser Sandra Humphrys, Peter McLennan and Norma Wide - will be elected, along with Ray Jeffery, Col Sullivan, Shirley Wheatley, and Robert Mustow with the remaining place being fought out by existing councillors Norma Thomas and Don Harvey, and John Howard from Col Sullivan's team.

The final result will not be known until late this week.

Coraki barbie

Coraki Lions Club will take part in the World's Biggest BBQ at Riverbank Park Coraki this Sunday, April 4.

The World's Biggest BBQ will see over 300 Lions Clubs across Australia raise money that will be donated to the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia (CCIA). The fun starts at 7am and all are welcome.

For info phone Anne Gwynne on 6683 2490.

Co Opera

Opera is once again coming to Casino with Co Opera - Opera on the Move bringing the Italian Opera Pagliacci (The Clowns) by Ruggiero Leoncavallo.

Pagliacci is set in a small town where a troupe of travelling players have arrived to present a comedy. The opera is a play within a play where reality and fantasy get confused with tragic results.

This is a once only performance at 8pm on Wednesday, April 14, at St Mary's High School Gymnasium, Casino. Tickets are available at the Visitor Information Centre, Casino. Phone 6662 3566. Tickets are $33/$28 conc/$5 under 17yrs.

Rally for Reconciliation

Organisers of a car rally aimed at helping Aboriginal people learn to drive would like to hear from people willing to join the rally as a driver and supervisor.

Northern Rivers Adult Community Education's Driver Education Project teams up owner-drivers with Aboriginal learners, many of whom live in outlying areas and do not know a licensed driver. The rally was held last year and organiser Steve Fitzgerald said the lack of licensed drivers in remote aboriginal communities has serious consequences for many community members.

"The single biggest reason Aboriginal people come before the courts is for driving offences," he said.

Steve said the rally is also an opportunity for reconciliation.

"It's difficult for non-Aboriginal people to meet an Aboriginal person," Steve said.

"Supervisors hooked up with their learners and many are keen to participate again."

Steve will be joined by Aboriginal co-ordinator Buckey Robinson, the first Aboriginal driving instructor on the north coast.

The rally is on April 24 and will start in Lismore and proceed through Kyogle and Woodonbong to Tooloom Falls.

Supervisors can join and leave the rally where it suits them.

Steve emphasised that the learner drivers are tested to ensure they have sufficient competency. A training day for supervisors will be held next Saturday, April 3, in Lismore, to explain the logbook and provide information about insurance and the rally format.

If you'd like to volunteer to be part of the rally contact Steve Fitzgerald on 6622 1903 or 6624 7070.