Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Hospital turns 100

Coraki's Campbell hospital will celebrate its centenary on August 28-29. Hospital auxiliary member Margaret Williams said the celebrations also mark 100 years of the auxiliary.

"The mayor called a town meeting in April 1904 attended by 17 women," Mrs Williams said. "Mrs William Yabsley was the first president of the auxiliary."

Local historian Bill Bartier has written a book on the history of the hospital and its auxiliary. For information on the celebrations, phone the hospital on 6683 2019.

Coraki art

The Coraki Tea Tree Arts committee is planning to turn this year's annual Art Prize into an Artsfest.

A recent meeting discussed the possibility of running workshops and demonstrations on everything from fibre art to circus skills, music, poetry and ceramics.

For details, contact Jarvis on 66831617.

Retirement village history

Coraki writer and historian, Graham Smith, has written a book on the history of the community effort to establish the Mid Richmond Retirement Village for Coraki 20 years ago. The book, Power to the People, is now on sale from the Village office for $10.

The book details how people power made it all happen.

"I thought the story of it should be told," Mr Smith said.

Having lived in the mid-Richmond area for 50 years, Mr Smith spent 38 years working in the sugar industry. His book on the NSW sugar industry, Sweet Beginnings, is considered a comprehensive history.

Other books written by this local writer include Cricket - How it seamed, detailing the history of cricket in the mid-Richmond and the history of the Coraki Catholic Church.

Shocker of a road

Richmond Valley Council is facing more angry residents over the poor state of the Coraki-Whiporie road at a public meeting next Monday night.

The 46km road is has a large gravel middle section that is taking its toll a more than a few cars. It's also used daily by a school bus taking students to Woodburn and Evans Head.

Council's Director of works, Gary Murphy said the road was graded in early July, however residents report it's already starting to deteriorate.

Mr Murphy said that Council's budget has no money allocated towards the sealing of gravel roads.

He said Council was working on a 'road's hierarchy' to determine which roads are most in need of urgent attention.

"This process will establish a maintenance standard and will allow council to inform the community about council's current capacity to maintain roads."

The meeting is in the Bungawalbin rural fire shed, 2540 Whiporie Road. BYO chair if you want a seat. For info, phone Christine Coates on 66619162.

Page MP Ian Causley and Clarence MP Steve Cansdell are likely to turn up too.

Popular Woodburn

Woodburn's Riverside Park and Visitor Information Centre (VIC) is second only to Byron Bay as a rest stop for people passing through the region.

Visitor Centre coordinator Adam Faulkner is thrilled with the result, saying it's recognition of the hard work the community put into developing the centre.

The VIC sells regional produce and art and craft and is always on the look out for more.

"We want to make this place a showcase of what's best locally and across the region," Adam said.

The Woodburn community is planning further development for Riverside Park following the release of an urban design plan for a boardwalk and improved BBQ and picnic facilities.

Residents battle council sale plan

Silent sentinel - the former Casino council chambers now being eyed off by a private buyer.

A major battle is looming between Richmond Valley Council and residents fighting to keep the former Casino council building in community hands.

More than 50 people called for the building to be kept as a community asset at a public meeting last week.

Council recently announced it was negotiating with a "potential purchaser" for the building to the surprise of many who thought the plan was to turn the two storey art deco building into a cultural centre featuring an art gallery, local government museum, small cinema, and historical display.

"We were waiting for council to come back to us with results of a funding application for the plan," Casino Art Centre president Peter Gallo said. "How can council make an informed decision without receiving detailed proposals from the community?"

Mayor Charlie Cox said "no decision [on the sale] has been made", but the matter will come before next week's council meeting for a decision.

Cr Robert Mustow has answered claims that the building belongs to the community saying any money from the sale would be returned to the community through council.

Artist Greg Hollis told the public meeting that Casino's heritage was being destroyed.

"Many of the building facades have been destroyed," Mr Hollis said.

"I believe the council chambers should be kept in public hands."

Mr Hollis also expressed the concern that Casino didn't need any more offices or shops as the town already had many empty buildings.

A petition is being circulated against the sale and a further meeting planned.

The Casino community is holding its breath hoping the decision to sell is not approved at next week's council meeting.

Have your say

Richmond Valley Council is setting up eight locality areas in the council area - Casino, Coraki, Woodburn, Evans Head, Broadwater/Riley's Hill, Rural North, Rural West and Rural East.

Community network group meetings will be held quarterly and will involve council representatives offering briefings on council issues and work plans. Council says that "discussion and input from the community network group participants will also be part of the meetings".

Healthy Evans Head reads well

Evans Head GP Dr Paul Watterston presents a Building Healthy Communities Guide to Lismore librarian Lucy Kinsley for the mobile library.

A community-led health project in Evans Head has contributed to the development of a guide for small rural communities on how to set up programs that will improve the health of their communities.

Evans Head was one of 30 pilot sites established under the Rural Chronic Disease Initiative in 2002, which aimed to address the health problems facing rural, regional and remote communities with populations under 10,000.

The Evans Head community formed the Integrated Community Action Network (ICAN) to improve health and fitness levels in the town, which has been used with other projects to develop the Building Healthy Communities Guide.

The publication, which is now available through the Richmond-Tweed mobile libraries, is a 'how to' guide for communities wishing to implement similar projects in their area.

"The kit is packed with useful information and ideas for small communities that would like to try to address their local health issues," said Evans GP, Dr Paul Watterston, who was involved with the ICAN project.

Dr Watterston explained how ICAN had established local walking groups, ran cooking classes and CPR training, whilst also successfully lobbying Council to erect a community noticeboard in the main street. It also ran successful health screening days during the project.

To find a copy of the guide visit your local library.