Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

It's all Greek to the Londys

Denise and Jack Londy proudly fly the Greek flag in their Casino cafe following Greece's win in the Euro Cup soccer final on Monday.

With the Olympic Games in Athens just a month away, Jack and Denise Londy were thinking about flying the Greek and Australian flags in their Casino café, Londy's Takeaway.

On Monday, when Greece won Euro Cup soccer final, the Greece-born couple had even more reason to 'fly the flag'.

The Londys watched the final in the Casino home surrounded by family and friends. When the final whistle blew all hell broke loose.

"The atmosphere was unreal. We were all screaming and yelling and jumping up and down," Jack said.

"The Ouzo was pouring out at 7 in the morning," Denise said.

She was soon on the phone to her sister, Maria, in Athens who held the phone out the window for Denise to hear the sounds of celebration on the city's streets.

"I could hear sirens going, people screaming and then the fireworks started," Denise said.

Jack and Denise were keen to point out that with the Olympics looming, they would be barracking for both Australia and Greece.

"We are just as much Australian as we are Greek," Jack said.

And if the Greek athletes - and the Aussies - are up to the quality of Londy's famous kebabs and Greek salads, not to mention the best fish and chips and hamburgers around, then there'll be more screaming coming from the Londy household in August.

Gone fishing at Evans

Fishing TV personalities, "Bushie" and Steve Starling will be on hand at the week-long Evans Head Fishing Classic, which drops its first line this Friday July 9.

Bushie and Starling will run a kids workshop this Saturday and officially open the festival on Saturday at 5.30pm.

All the action - entry, weigh in, and prize draws take place at the rear of the RSL Club.

Organiser Ray Collins is hoping the amazing run of fine weather doesn't come to an end - even if a spot of rain would get the fish biting.

The 9th annual Fishing Classic has a first prize of a $28,000 boat. There are seven nightly draws for a 3.4m tinnie, plus other prizes.

For details, contact the Evans Head Bait and Tackle shop on 6682 4536.

Rate rise wait

Richmond Valley Council general manager Mr. Brian Wilkinson is waiting to hear from the Department of Local Government on council's application for a 9.5% rate rise - 6% more than the Government's 3.5% rate peg. Mr Wilkinson said the decision was crucial and will allow council to raise a further $500,000 annually and address their budget shortfall.

"I'm expecting to hear by the end of next week," he said

Information nights on the rate rise and changes to the rating structure will be held at Casino RSM Club on July 27 at the, and Evans Head RSL Club on July 28, both at 7pm. The new rate structure will be applied differently according to boundaries based on the old Richmond River and Casino council areas.

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