Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Council sells old chambers

Richmond Valley Council has accepted an offer to buy the former Casino Council Chambers.

The buyer, who wishes to remain anonymous, confirmed to Notes that Council has written to him accepting his offer following last week's extraordinary meeting of Council that met to discuss a further report on the sale.

He said he plans to turn the building into accommodation for the elderly.

"We've done our negotiations," he said. "It will be a private development but there will be a public use as well. It will be developed with the community in mind."

The buyer said he would take into account the heritage value of the building.

"We're going to preserve some of the heritage aspects," he said. "I will be setting up an art gallery, a memorabilia room and a cafeteria for the use of residents and the community."

Full details of the development are expected to be revealed within a few weeks.

Meanwhile, Council has refused to reveal any details of the buyer or his plans.

General manager Brian Wilkinson would not comment, only saying "negotiations are ongoing."

News of the sale has been met with opposition from community groups who were told earlier this year that Council was looking at a feasibility study to develop the complex into a community Art Deco cultural centre.

Opposition to the sale has also come from the RSL and others concerned about the historical value of the building, which was built in 1938 at the height of the depression by Casino mayor Dr Louis Jabour. The building is listed as a heritage item in the Casino Local Environment Plan and the Council Chambers remain in their original Art Deco style.

Finding your family

Want to know if there are any skeletons in your family cupboard? Then get along to the Casino family history rooms this Saturday and Sunday, September 18-19.

The Casino family history group is holding another of their popular open weekends where members will be on hand to show you how to begin tracking your family history.

Getting started is as easy as starting with you and working backwards, according to member Myree Perry.

"Your parent's names and place of birth are essential. Bring along as much information as you have and we can then check our records and start you on the path to collecting the official certificates," she said.

The family history rooms are located upstairs in the Casino School of Arts building, Walker Street, Casino. The rooms will be opened from 10am to 4pm both days and visitors are asked to make a gold coin donation.

For more information phone Myree on 6662 4142.

Retirement Village future

The future operation of the Mid Richmond Retirement Village at Coraki could pass into private hands under options being investigated by Richmond Valley Council.

Council has advertised for expressions of interest in regard to the management, leasing and/or acquisition of the building.

General manager Brian Wilkinson said that a number of discussions had been held with the village management committee and gave a commitment that representatives of the committee would be involved in the process of exploring options.

"The operations of aged care and retirement housing is a complicated and somewhat specialised activity," he said. "Council's primary focus is to investigate and assess improved ways of providing aged care and retirement housing to Richmond Valley Council's community via the Mid Richmond Retirement Village."

Expressions of interest close on September 24 and a report is expected to go to Council's October or November meeting.

TAFE closes

The Casino campus of TAFE was forced to close last week after an underground power supply cable failed. TAFE area manager Bob Pollack said it would take around a week to dig up and repair the cable, which left the campus without essential power and telephone facilities.

Classes this week were cancelled. Students should ring the Lismore campus on 6626 6400 to check before returning to classes next week.

Safe partying advice for kids

Trent Gilbert, centre, peer educator in the 'Youth Speaks' drug and alcohol program, listens to students from St Mary's High, Casino, talk about the potential risks in teenage partying.

Trent Gilbert enjoys teenage parties more now he knows what to do to help his mates if they get into trouble.

Trent, a year 11 student at St Mary's High in Casino, has been trained as a peer educator in the 'Youth Speak' program run by the Northern Rivers Area Health Service to help young people deal with alcohol and drug issues.

"I now feel a lot more confident at parties," he said. "You can look after your mates. You can help people you see in trouble and give them advice. Most of my mates don't know the strategies. I get to use my skills to help."

Youth Speak is a drug and alcohol peer education project currently running in high schools in Casino, Bonalbo and Kyogle. Residents were galvanised into action by a series of fatal motor vehicle accidents and other deaths involving adolescents.

"We need to find new ways of encouraging young people to think about the risks they are taking when they are out partying," explained Youth Speak coordinator Reyna Dight.

"Peer educators are often seen by other young people as more credible than adults when it comes to drug education. They are in a position to influence their peers in ways that adults are unable to do."