Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Narelle Jarvis busily unpacking work by Evans Head calligrapher and artist Vanessa Crisp in readiness for the Casino Beef Week art and photography exhibition this Friday and Saturday at the Casino Sports stadium.

Ian and Irene Hamilton with daughter Vicki from Nance's Shoe Store lined up for their 23rd Casino Beef Week dress up competition as King Arthur types.

Playing dress ups at Beef Week

Irene and Ian Hamilton, and their daughter Vicki Donnelly, really love dressing up and in 23 years haven't missed the Casino Beef Week staff dress up competition once. The family operates Nance's Shoe Store in Casino and enjoy thinking up new ideas each year for the Beef Week dress up theme.

"We're a dressing up family," Vicki said. "Whenever we go to parties we dress up and for family occasions we pick a theme and go with the colours and the food. On Boxing Day we picked Italian food and dressed in red, white and green, and cooked Italian food. I even made tiramisu."

The theme for Beef Week dress up this year is books and it didn't take long for the Hamilton's to decide on King Arthur and his Knights for this year's festivities. Even taking time out from serving customers is not a problem as people call in especially for the costumes.

"The children line up to see us each year," Irene said. "We love being part of Beef Week. Casino's my hometown and it's a great promotion for our town."

One of the best days to visit Casino during Beef Week is this Saturday, May 29, for the huge street carnival day. Running in the main street from 8am to 4pm, the day features a huge variety of entertainment, a 'live' beef auction, led steer competition, wood chopping and whip cracking, a car and bike show and several art, photography and craft exhibitions. A massive float parade will complete the day's activities, before the Challenge Rodeo that evening at Casino Showground. There's also a family fun day and draught horse field on Sunday plus much, much more.

For full details visit www.casinobeefweek.com.au or phone the Beef Week office on 6662 8181.

Coraki builds its future

Richmond Valley Council's Community Economic Development Coordinator, Louise Ford, is keen for people of all ages to attend the first of two community workshops aimed at reviewing the two-year-old Coraki Townlife Development Program.

The first workshop is being held at the Coraki Conference centre on Sunday, June 6, from 12pm.

"The workshop will provide opportunities for community members of all ages to come together to formulate a shared vision for their community and create a plan to address local issues," Ms Ford said.

"The main focus of community-based projects implemented under this project is to increase economic activity and employment opportunities in the Coraki area."

Interested individuals or organisations wishing to attend should phone Kate Welch, chairperson of Coraki Townlife Development Program, on 6683 2325, or Louise Ford at Richmond Valley Council on 6660 0393, in order to finalise catering.

Coraki Transaction Centre update

After two years in the planning Coraki's Rural Transaction Centre (RTC) is moving closer to becoming a reality. The RTC is being developed in four empty shops at the end of Terrace Street and will house medical services, provide facilities to process Medicare and Centrelink claims, offer a range of computer and fax services and in the near future will hopefully provide banking facilities. The fourth shop is to be leased to a Coraki local, Daniel O'Sullivan, who will operate an eat-in café and coffee shop.

Committee member, Norma Wise, said the workmen are "getting on with the job" and she's hopeful work will be completed "in the near future".

"We already have a woman doctor ready to move into two of the shops and there's enough room in the complex for extra medical services to be provided in the future," Norma said. "I'm very excited about the Centre finally being finished. I feel it will offer benefits to so many of our people. It will make it so much easier and more convenient for them to access services."

Funding for the purchase of the shops came from the Federal Government's Rural Transaction Centres (RTC) Programme, aimed at helping small communities access services. Norma said that providing a number of services would make the centre "financially self-sustaining."

Please feel free to contact Therese with any Richmond Valley news, events, or story ideas, at or Ph: 6662 7735, or fax: 6662 2811.