Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Electoral boundary changes

Richmond Valley Council will object to proposed state electoral boundary changes that would see Casino moved from the Lismore to the Clarence electorate.

Cr Col Sullivan said Council should also try to reclaim the balance of the Council area from the Clarence electorate.

"We should fight this because it separates us. Grafton is a long way away. Everything in this area relates to Lismore," he said.

Mayor Charlie Cox agreed, saying Council's support for the re-opening of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line is an example of where Casino's interests and future are more directed to the northeast.

"Would we get the same media coverage and support if we were attached to Grafton?" he asked.

"Ideally it would serve us more effectively if the whole of the Richmond Valley Council area was to be included in the Lismore electorate."

At present Evans Head, Coraki and Broadwater are in Clarence. Under the proposed changes Casino would also move to Clarence and Woodburn, Broadwater and East Coraki would be divided by the new boundary.

Bell tolls in Casino

The federal election campaign is finally off and running and first cab off the rank in electioneering in Casino is ALP candidate for Page, Kevin Bell, who is holding a public meeting next Thursday, September 9, at the RSM Club at 7.30pm.

Mr Bell's links with Casino include a two-year stint teaching at St Mary's High School and meeting his wife in the Commonwealth Hotel.

"I know there's issues in Casino over the low level of bulk billing, waiting lists for dental care for pensioners and the lack of opportunity for young people for employment and training," Mr Bell said.

Last call for network

Nominations for representatives on community network groups in eight localities throughout the council area close on September 8.

Council's general manager Brian Wilkinson said the involvement of the community in the process was essential.

"The concept provides a significant opportunity for the community to obtain information and have input into Council's programs and services," he said.

The groups will meet quarterly with two councillors and at least one senior staff member. Phone council on 6660 0300 for more information.

Life in PNG

St Mary's high school student Nathania Hollis didn't realise how good life is in Australia until she visited settlement camps for homeless people in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

"It was confronting seeing young children who had nothing, but were still smiling," she said.

Nathania was part of a group of students from the Lismore Catholic Diocese who undertook the Oceania Pilgrimage to PNG. The students also visited the grave of Peter To-Rot, who resisted Japanese attempts to stamp out religion and was killed. He was Beatified in 1992 when the Pope visited PNG.

The students were told that one third of people in Port Moresby live in settlements that are heavily protected.

"The camps were behind caged wire," Nathania said. "It really touched me. The people were beautiful and generous. It opened my eyes to what we have in Australia."

Local stories in new book

Tabulam author Isabel Wilkinson signs a copy of her latest book Four Legs But No Wheels at the launch last week.

Isabel Wilkinson launched her seventh book, Four Legs But No Wheels, this week, detailing the history and stories of the people from the Upper Clarence district around Yulgilbar, Plains Station, Ewingar and Tabulam.

Isabel's father took up a selection at Yulgilbar in 1908 and she has always been interested in the history of these early settlers. The book offers a picture of life in the area through the stories of people who have worked with cattle, horses and dogs.

Gold mining days are brought to life through stories about a fellow with a team of pack horses who travelled up to 10 miles every day bringing ore to be crushed at Washpool Creek; or a drover who travelled from the Tenterfield district south to Jerilderee, a distance of over 1000km.

One chapter includes the history of Tabulam station.

Isabel has her own interesting story about her mother running a 'subsidised' school in 1928.

"Subsidised schools were set up in places that had too few students to have a full school," Isabel said. "The government subsidised the teacher's wage. The parents often gave the teacher accommodation but my mother ran the school out of our home."

Isabel followed in her mother's footsteps and operated the Plains Station School until 1953, when the bus run started from Ewingar to Tabulam.

The book will be available soon in North Coast bookshops. In the meantime copies are available from Mrs Wilkinson on 6661 3505.