The Northern Rivers Echo Main News

Police tackle crime wave

Darren Donadel and Ashley Grove repair the damage to the front entrance of the Goonellabah RSL Club following a ram-raid on the glass doorway at 1.40am on Wednesday morning. The workmen received the call 20 minutes later and said it may take as long as four weeks until the entrance is properly repaired.

A spate of house break-ins and car thefts in the Goonellabah in recent days has led Police to warn residents to be on the lookout for a group of youths believed to be behind the robberies.

Richmond Local Area Command crime manager, Detective Acting Inspector Andrew Campbell said additional police had been rostered on around the clock in a bid to catch the offenders. A special strike force of detectives and members of the target action group has been formed to tackle the crime spree, which climaxed on Tuesday night with a ram raid on the Goonellabah RSL Club.

Police say thieves used a stolen 1990 Holden Commodore to smash through the club's automatic doors at 1.41am, causing more than $40,000 damage.

The car was driven into the foyer and rammed into the ATM machine, knocking it to the ground. The thieves were unable to get the ATM into the car but did manage to steal some cash.

The car was found a short distance away in Callune Terrace, Goonellabah. A Stihl blower vac worth $500 and two buckets of potatoes were also stolen from the boot.

Club Manager Ken Coughran said substantial damage was done to the club.

"The front entrance was completely wrecked and there were tyre marks on the carpet and floor,” he said. "It's going to be very time consuming to fix the problem, possibly even a month but until then it will be business as usual through a modified entrance.”

The raid was just one of six break-ins and three cars thefts in the area on Tuesday night (see On the Beat, page 13).

Acting Inspector Campbell said youths had been seen loitering in the Goonellabah area and knocking on doors to see if anyone is home.

"If they look like they don't belong or are up to no good, contact the Police,” he said.

"We are urging residents to be vigilant and contact Police immediately”.

Call Lismore Police station on 6623 1599 or phone 000.

Acting Inspector Campbell said he believes there are a number of groups operating in the area, from young teenagers to adults in the 20s, of both Caucasian and Aboriginal appearance.

"There has been a pattern developing over the last few days and it is definitely a cause for concern,” he said.

On Tuesday afternoon, Police arrested five young offenders, aged between 12 and 14, in Goonellabah. Three were charged with various offences, including break and enter. Two of them were charged with breeching previous bail conditions and were remanded in custody.

Police are also seeking those responsible for an armed robbery at the Goonellabah Video Ezy last week. The attackers brandished bars and golf clubs to threaten staff before making off with an amount of cash.

Police are still searching for the offenders.

Acting Inspector Campbell appealed for people who see anything that "looks wrong or doesn't seem right” should ring Lismore Police immediately on 6623 1599.

On with the shows!

It's that time of year again and the local show circuit begins. First cab off the rank is the Nimbin Annual Country Show, this Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25.

Joining in the fun this weekend are Nimbin Show Society secretary Janelle Robinson and her four-year-old son Zeke, a child prodigy in the whip-cracking department, who will be competing this weekend.

The show features two full days of activities, parades and performances, with something for all ages to enjoy. See page 22 of this week's Echo for a full rundown.

Rainwater tank up for grabs

To promote water conservation among urban dwellers, John Fleming from Duraplas Tanks (pictured right, with production moulder Michael Loftus) has donated a tank worth $1580 for one lucky Echo reader to win. Lismore Council and Rous Water will pay for the installation - site levelling, pump, plumbing and labour.

To promote water conservation and better catchment management strategies, Rous Water and Lismore City Council are giving away a fully installed rainwater water tank at this year's North Coast National.

The competition is open to all Lismore domestic rate payers on town water and is being run in the lead up to the North Coast National, where the winner will be announced by Lismore Mayor Merv King on Saturday night.

The prize is worth up to $5000 and includes a 13,500 litre tank donated by Duraplas Tanks. Lismore Council and Rous Water will pay to have the tank fully installed and pumped to the toilet, washing machine and garden tap in the home of the lucky winner.

To enter the competition simply collect all four coupons in the The Northern Rivers Echo, answer each question correctly and send all four in the one envelope to the address on the coupon.

Entry forms are also available from the Lismore City Council and Rous Water tents at the Lismore Show.

On the road again

Lismore mayor Merv King and his grandson Ryan, with one of the road safety signs created by Lismore TAFE students for the park. The official opening of the road safety playground at Wade Park will be held this Saturday, with activities for the whole family.

Lismore City Council will open its road safety playground at East Lismore's Wade Park with a special day of activities for children and their families this Saturday, September 25.

The day has been postponed twice previously due to rain, so organisers are hoping for a fine day to open this innovative children's park. As well as traditional playground equipment, the park features a cycleway with a pedestrian crossing and roundabout, road signs and safety murals - all designed to help children learn road rules at an early age.

"I hope this park makes good drivers for the future - it may also make children safer pedestrians,” said Lismore mayor Merv King. "The park is a great facility and we would love families to come and join us for a fun day this Saturday.”

Activities on Saturday include a guided bike ride, bicycle obstacle course, face painting, bubble fun, story telling, a jumping castle and puppet show, plus kids can meet Council's big mascots Chip the Dog and Tucki the Platypus.

Parents can also bring their family car, kids bikes and helmets for free safety checks, and find out all the latest road safety advice. The day runs from 2pm until dusk.

For more information phone 6625 0567.

Alstonville mobile coverage

Telstra has announced it has improved mobile phone reception in Alstonville for CDMA and GSM users.

High-speed wireless data services have also been installed at the Alstonville site to allow portable access to the Internet or their company networks at data speeds of up to 144kilobits per second.

Our Kids hoax

Our Kids fundraising organiser Rebbekah Battista has warned local businesses in Lismore and Ballina to look out for a hoax fundraising scheme exploiting sick children.

Several businesses have been approached or phoned and asked to donate $35 to a sick child to supposedly send them to a magic show.

"We have no knowledge of the scheme and urge people not to donate because it is a hoax,” she said.

Mrs Battista said people should always ask for identification. Our Kids volunteers always carry ID badges.

Police remembrance

Police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty will be honoured on National Police Remembrance Day next Wednesday, September 29.

A service will be held in Casino outside the station in Walker Street, Casino. Former constable Kylie Mackie (nee Smith), who died earlier this year, will be remembered in the service by Police Chaplain Pastor Paul Nicholas at 11am.

Eight horse race for ballot box

Voters in the seats of Page and Richmond will both have eight candidates to choose from when they go to the ballot box on October 9.

In Page, Democrat candidate Julia Melland was a surprise withdrawal after she was ruled ineligible to stand in the federal election because she is not an Australian citizen. The Kenyan-born Lismore resident has lived in Australia for 33 years, but holds a British passport.

Ms Melland, who has previously stood for Lismore Council and state election, said she had sought to clarify the issue with the Australian Electoral Commission before nominations closed and was told there wasn't a problem.

"We had verbal advice from the AEC that I was eligible, but now it seems that was not correct,” she said.

Meanwhile two Sydney residents from minor issues parties have been allowed to contest the seat of Page - Chris Mateer of Bondi Junction will stand for the Outdoor Recreation Party, while Belinda Anderson from leafy Turramurra on the north shore will stand for the conservative splinter group Liberals for Forests.

Serial candidate Doug Behn, the Woodburn service station owner, has once again put his hand up, standing as an independent, along with Kyogle farmer Angela Griffith from the Citizens Electoral Council. At the 2001 election, they both lost their $350 deposits after receiving less than 1 per cent of the vote.

The candidates for Page, in the order they will appear on the ballot paper are:

1. Angela Griffiths (Citizens Electoral Council)
2. Chris Mateer (Outdoor Recreation Party)
3. Mark Jackson (Greens)
4. Doug Behn (Independent)
5. Ian Causley (Nationals)
6. Tom Flanagan (Socialist Alliance)
7. Kevin Bell (Australian Labor Party)
8. Belinda Anderson (Liberals for Forests).

In Richmond, the Labor and Nationals candidates were the last drawn from the barrel and will end up at the bottom of the ballot paper against six other minor parties. Greens preferences are likely to play a crucial factor in who wins the seat, currently held by National Party MP Larry Anthony by just 1.7 per cent. Last week, the Greens struck a deal with Labor to preference them in 30 key marginal seats in return for Labor giving the Greens preferences in the Senate.

Drawing top spot on the ballot was Craig Lees of Tweed Heads from the Adelaide-based group Family First. While most of the candidates live in the electorate, including Allan Watt of Wollongbar, who is representing service veterans, the Liberals for Forests have offered another Sydney-based candidate - Fiona Tyler of Neutral Bay.

The Richmond candidates in the order of the ballot paper are:

1. Craig Lees (Family First)
2. Dean Jefferys (Nuclear Disarmament Party)
3. Allan Watt (Ex-Service/Service Veterans Party)
4. Fiona Tyler (Liberals For Forests)
5. Susanna Flower (Greens)
6. Timothy Winton-Brown (Australian Democrats)
7. Justine Elliot (Australian Labor Party)
8. Larry Anthony (Nationals).

Contact details for all candidates can be found online at the Australian Electoral Commission website at www.aec.gov.au.

Women protest against Nimbin violence

Story & photo: Gloria Meltzer

Women reclaim the streets of Nimbin in protest against a recent escalation of violence.

Hundreds of women and children marched through Cullen Street in Nimbin on Saturday to voice their anger at the escalating violence in their town.

Nurses at Nimbin Hospital say they have treated more than 25 victims of violence in the past month. Welfare worker Mandie Hale said the problem could be even worse.

"That's only the reported attacks. I hear about violence every day of the week,” she said.

Ms Hale said the community's main concern is repeat offenders "getting away with it”.

"The victims of violence are obliged to leave town for their own safety, while the perpetrators remain. There's a climate of fear and intimidation that stops people reporting violence, and in many cases victims are forced to leave town for their own safety,” she said.

When Natalie Meyer from the Nimbin Neighbourhood Centre was threatened with a gun last week, she claims she called police, who told her they were under-staffed and "can't do anything about it.”

So the women of Nimbin decided to take matters into their own hands with a march through the centre of the town followed by a rally in Alsop Park. The women are calling for more effective policing in the town and support for the victims of violence.

Ms Hale said Nimbin used to be a peaceful place, but now the violence happening on the streets is "creating a toxic environment for our children”.

"We have to do something to change it. Are we going to wait until someone is killed? It's time to stop protecting the perpetrators of violence,” she said.

Kristen, a young mother of five daughters and a recent victim of violence on the street in Nimbin, bravely told the marchers, "I have had to fight for my life to be here today because recently I could have been killed.”

Health professional Deb Woodbridge summed up the defiant mood of the women, declaring "we want to stop the abuse and stop the violence. We won't sit and watch in silence.'”

Disabled protest cuts in Sydney

Mathew Wiggins of Byron Bay, Natasha Ulyatt of Lismore, and Toby Gulliver and Julie Rose of Nimbin, all members of Lismore's RED Inc, who travelled to Sydney yesterday where they were joined by Lismore MP Thomas George to protest against the NSW Government's proposed funding cuts to disability programs.

Local young adults with disabilities travelled to Sydney yesterday to protest against the "heartless” reforms to disability services by the NSW Government.

The group joined around 2000 others in a protest outside Parliament House, voicing their concerns over changes to ATLAS (Adult Training, Learning and Support) programs that would see severe cuts to funding.

"The new funding levels set by the NSW Government are just too low - they're trying to force people back into group settings, rather than concentrating on meeting an individual's goals,” said Perry Libeau from RED Inc in Lismore. "It will effectively mean people with a disability get less hours of support, putting pressure on carers and further isolating these young adults. The Carr Government is wrong if it thinks that it just has to ride out the storm and people will give up. People with disabilities and their carers are not going to simply capitulate and give up the small gains they have made in recent years.”

Perry said the protest was a healthy way for the young adults to advocate for themselves, and left them all feeling empowered and "10ft tall”.

Mathew Wiggins, who has Down Syndrome, hoped to present Bob Carr with a handmade heart that he and his friends made.

"Once he has a heart again we are sure he will change his mind about cutting our funding,” Mathew said. "It's very important to fight back.”

The group was unable to meet with the Premier, but Lismore MP Thomas George gave the group a tour of Parliament House and assured them he would present Mr Carr with their offering.

Young adults with a disability are joining in a 'Karaoke Against the Cuts' protest in Lismore today at 11am. They'll sing classics such as 'The First Cut is the Deepest' in an effort to make their feelings known.

Sewage plant comment

Ballina Shire Council is inviting public comment on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alstonville sewerage treatment plant.

A 1.6 ML concrete reservoir and a 20ML storage dam will be built on land at Gap Road Alstonville to store reclaimed water for use at a nursery and farms.

The Alstonville Reclaimed Water Scheme aims to improve the health of Maguires Creek during low flow conditions and reuse water from the treatment plant.

Submissions on the EIS close on Monday, October 4. The EIS can be viewed at the libraries in River Street, Ballina, and Commercial Road, Alstonville, and at the Ballina Council office in Cherry Street.

Kite surfers warned to stay clear

Kite surfers (pictured) on the Richmond River are being warned to observe safety rules or face on the spot fines of $550 if they caught coming within 30 metres of people or objects in the water.

Ballina Council and the Maritime Authority have begun a crackdown on kite surfers, which can travel at speeds of up to 50km/h, and have become a common sight around Ballina and Lennox Head.

Ballina Shire Council's manager of open spaces and reserves, Jillian Pratten, said one surfer broke his leg after crashing into the break wall at Ballina. There are also concerns that the kite wires may entangle the surfer and cause serious injuries or a death.

She said everyone using the beach should feel safe.

"We would encourage anyone witnessing a kite surfer operating too close to anybody to contact the NSW Maritime Authority Immediately,” she said.

Guidelines for kite surfers can be obtained from any NSW Maritime office or from the Authority's website at www.maritime.nsw.gov.au.

Ron to the rescue

Ron Brady from Lismore Music presents Michelle Pickford, who lost everything in a house fire, with a guitar for her 10-year-old daughter Demi.

When Michelle Pickford lost everything in a fire at her Parrot's Nest home earlier this year, she was just thankful her five children were safe and sound. Three months later Michelle is still reeling from the impact of the fire, but says she has been overwhelmed by gestures of generosity that have flowed in since, often from people she doesn't even know.

Among those who helped Michelle and her family rebuild their lives is Ron Brady from Lismore Music, who recently presented Michelle with a kid's classical guitar for her 10-year-old daughter Demi.

"She will be over the moon and I know she'll absolutely love it - I can already imagine her practising away in her bedroom. This really make you realise what a fantastic community we live in. I can't thank Ron enough for his generosity,” she said.

School has teaching covered

Lismore Public School has a new covered outdoor learning area, thanks to a mammoth fundraising effort by the school and the P&C Association, which raised $25,000 in the last four years.

Standing in front of the open building is principal John Lynch and the year six boys class, who often play basketball or eat lunch under the covered area during wet weather.

"It's taken a lot of hard work but it's a great facility and something we use all the time,” said Mr Lynch. "I'm really proud of everyone who worked together on this project and it will benefit the school for many years to come.”

The project cost $50,000 and the school is now awaiting the dollar for dollar contribution from the NSW government.

Cyclists to go through hell for chopper

Chief pilot Lynton Beggs, tour organiser Tony Keogh, Country Energy regional general manager Col Ussher and crewman Andrew Gordon gearing up for this year's Country Energy 'Hell on Wheels' Cycle Tour.

This year's Country Energy 'Hell on Wheels' Cycle Tour - a major fundraiser for the Life Saver Rescue Helicopter - is shaping up to be one of the toughest on record.

Organiser Tony Keogh said the tour will start at Tenterfield on Saturday, October 9, and continue over nine days for 750km through Glen Innes, Nymboida, Dorrigo, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Maclean and Casino before finishing at Lismore.

"This is the seventh year of the event and one of the toughest yet to challenge 50 mountain-bike riders, with sections of up to 155km a day. The route has been carefully selected with diverse terrain through the tablelands, savage hills across the ranges and rugged coastal dirt tracks,” he said.

Last year the event raised almost $50,000 for the Rescue Helicopter.

Clubs offer a lifesaver

St John Ambulance trainer/assessor Alf Smith (left) and Lismore Workers Club employees (l-r) Terry Crowe, Mary McCulloch and Terry Fields with the new defibrillator that has been installed at the club.

The Lismore Workers Club has purchased defibrillators for each of its three clubs to ensure patron safety in the event of a heart attack.

St John Ambulance trainer Alf Smith is currently teaching staff how to use the machines so that employees can operate it until an ambulance arrives. The initiative was praised by Mr Smith, who believes it will save many lives.

"If a staff member is able to reach a heart attack sufferer with a defibrillator within 20-30 seconds, there is a 95 per cent recovery rate for the victim,” he said. "52,000 people in Australia suffer a heart attack each year, and almost half die as a result, so we see this as an extremely responsible initiative. We would like to see other clubs do the same.”

Clubs, community groups or businesses interested in purchasing and installing defibrillators should phone St John Ambulance on 6621 8044.

Cameron's perfect score

High achievers from Corndale Primary School Cameron Salwat (right), with his gold medal he received for a perfect score in the recent Australasian Schools Mathematics Assessment, and classmate Sam Nilon, who received a distinction in the same competition.

Two students from Corndale Primary School achieved outstanding results in the recent Australasian Schools Mathematics Competition.

Year three student Cameron Salwat had a perfect score of 40 and his classmate Sam Nilon was awarded a distinction for a score of more than 85 per cent.

The competition tested children on arithmetic, algebra and geometry and was contested by more than 335,000 students from Australia and the Pacific region.

For his achievement, Cameron was flown to Sydney, where he was presented with an award at the University of NSW.

"It was really cool to go to Sydney for the ceremony because it was the first time I had ever been on a plane,” Cameron said. His trip was partly funded from the proceeds of a cake stall and a barbeque organised by the Corndale Student Council.

Fundraiser right on song

Celebrating the success of Opera at The Channon recently were (l-r) organising committee chair and member of the Rotary Club of Lismore David Ashton, Life Saver Rescue Helicopter general manager Perry Wells and Rotary Club of Lismore Central members Paul Standish and Geoff Cawley.

This year's Opera at The Channon was the most successful in its six-year history, raising $17,000 for various charities.

The Life Saver Rescue Helicopter will receive $8000, with the Rotary Club of Lismore and Rotary Club of Lismore Central each receiving $4000 for their chosen charities. The remaining $1000 will go to local organisations that helped with the event, including St John Ambulance and The Channon Rural Fire Brigade.

"It's twice what we raised last year - it's a sensational effort and we are over the moon,” said organising committee chair, David Ashton. "It was a brilliant day - already we have people asking for tickets for next year. The feedback has been just fantastic.”

To go on the Opera at The Channon mailing list phone 6621 4274.

Money in a hurry

The friendly team from AMX Financial Services in Lismore (l-r) franchisee Merv White and staff members Sue, Sharon and Kathy.

Lismore's newest lending institution, AMX Financial Services, began operating this week as a quick, no-fuss facility to provide short-term loans for people who need money in a hurry.

An increasing number of Australians don't have access to an immediate line of credit.

For those people who need fast cash, micro lending is becoming the best way to obtain cash quickly in an emergency.

According to Lismore franchisee Merv White, AMX Financial Services can approve a loan advance in as little as 30 minutes.

"If you're having trouble obtaining a small short-term loan, come in and talk to us and we will do everything possible to help you out, even if your credit rating is not the best,” he said. "Some people may not have access to a line of credit because their credit card is up to the limit or they're ineligible for a credit card. A large cross-section of the community, for whatever reason, have stretched their finances and can't get immediate help - and that's where we can assist in those emergency situations.”

The company's limit on the amount it can lend depends on the individual's ability to repay the loan and applications can be made over the phone, usually in about five minutes.

AMX also offers a speedy cheque cashing service (excluding person cheques) that saves people going to the bank and waiting days for the cheque to clear.

AMX Financial Services opened its first two Australian centres on the Gold Coast in 1999 and the company now boasts 18 centres between Darwin and Melbourne.

The business is located opposite the Lismore Memorial Baths in Conway Court, Molesworth Street.

AMX Financial Services is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 1pm on Saturday.

For more information phone 6621 8688.

Tackling breast cancer in younger women

The Northern Rivers Division of General Practice (NRDGP) has been awarded $10,000 to implement a program aimed at empowering younger women with breast cancer.

"Women under 40 years often experience greater emotional distress than older women when diagnosed with breast cancer,” cancer coordinator at the NRDGP, Sara Hurren, said.

"Not only do they fear the prospect of early death, but the main treatments for breast cancer - surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy - can also have a major impact on a young woman's body image, sexuality and fertility, some of them permanently.

"This program aims to develop local support networks to exchange information and meet the supportive needs of younger women with breast cancer in the Northern Rivers area.”

The Empowering Young Women with Breast Cancer program will be launched with an information workshop in October.

Woodlawn transformed

Opening the new refurbished buildings at St John's College Woodlawn recently were (l-r) Lismore MP Thomas George, Fr Dennis Carroll, Fr Paul Pidcock and principal Glenn Roff.

St John's College Woodlawn recently opened its newly refurbished buildings with a special ceremony that recognised the hard work of the school community over the last two years to bring the project to fruition.

The new facilities include the Margaret Buckley library and study centre, a state-of-the-art visual arts centre encompassing a photographic and digital imaging area and separate ceramics centre, six refurbished classrooms and a new seminar room.

Naming the library after Margaret Buckley honoured the woman who donated 130 acres of land in 1930 for an agricultural college. With the vision of Bishop Carroll this became a boys boarding college, and Woodlawn's long history in Lismore began.

The opening of the facilities finalises Woodlawn's transition from a traditional Catholic boys boarding college to a Catholic co-educational day school.

Small is beautiful

Numulgi Public School P&C Association member Kim Patch (right) and former soccer star Lisa Casagrande from Brumby's Bakery launch the new parents library with students (l-r) Kyle Pringle, Ayesha Shipway, Jesse Patch, Omar Shipway and Bryce Carr. Brumby's Bakery provides preservative-free bread to the chemical free school.

It's a widely held belief that small class sizes aid learning, and you won't find a smaller class than that of Numulgi Public School.

The tiny country school, just 10 minutes from Lismore, has six students currently enrolled and teachers are now seeking one more enrolment so the school can continue to operate in 2005.

The school is unique for a number of reasons, not the least of which is its commitment to creating a chemical-free environment for children. The school has been a godsend for P&C Association member Kim Patch, whose son Jesse has Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, meaning even the slightest chemical residue in food, water or even the air can adversely affect his behaviour and capacity to learn.

Kim says since transferring Jesse to Numulgi Public School, the difference in both his attitude and school work is nothing short of miraculous.

"There's been a 100 per cent improvement in all aspects of his life - we were previously home schooling Jesse and if it wasn't for Numulgi we simply couldn't send him to school,” Kim said. "There is a real commitment here to be chemical free - the teachers use eco-friendly cleaning products, the kids drink fresh rainwater and even the air in the classrooms is filtered.”

Numulgi Public School recently held a public talk in Lismore with Sue Dengate, who is an expert on food chemicals and their affects on children. The night was attended by more than 350 people and raised $1200, which has enabled Numulgi to create a parents library so families can learn more about the benefits of a chemical free environment.

For more information on Numulgi or enrolment for 2005 phone Kim on 6622 5799.

They like Spike

Christopher Riley and Xanthe Rogers, both aged 5, from Gingerbread House in Lismore recently met Spike, the immunisation echidna.

Getting kids vaccinated is the message behind recent visits by immunisation mascot Spike to local childcare centres.

Rachelle Deaker, immunisation project officer from the Northern Rivers Division of General Practice, said that the current vaccination program recommends that children be vaccinated at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months of age with a booster at four years of age. Chicken pox vaccination is also recommended from 18 months, however, it is not currently funded and costs between $60 and $70.

School-based programs have also been introduced to cover adolescents against hepatitis B, and provide a booster for whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria.

Meningococcal C vaccination is now at 12 months. Any school-age children who missed it can receive free vaccine in 2006. Next year will see the introduction of free pneumococcal vaccine for all children at 2, 4 and 6 months.

For information on immunisation, see your GP or immunisation provider or visit Spike's website on www.vaccination.org.au.

Chinese history symposium a success

Key speakers at the Chinese symposium in Lismore on Saturday were Royal Australian Historical Society president Ian Jack, Chinese Australian Cultural Heritage Project national co-ordinator Henry Chan, and Professor of Asian Studies at La Trobe University, John Fitzgerald.

An Australian-Chinese man, born and educated in Grafton, went on to become one of the founders of the Republic of China, according to research presented at a Chinese history symposium at Southern Cross University on the weekend.

Ms Jane Gardiner, a lecturer in SCU's School of Environmental Science, said the Tracking the Dragon on the Northern Rivers symposium was very successful and there were now moves to seek funding to conduct a research project involving local historical societies and the university.

"Speakers told stories of Chinese miners, market gardeners, shop keepers and banana growers on the Northern Rivers and the contribution they had made to the area,” Ms Gardiner.

One of the Chinese mentioned was Tse Tsan Tai, who was born and educated in Grafton, but later became a key player in political events in China at the turn of the century.

Ms Gardiner said that Tse Tsan Tai was described as the greatest Australian-born Chinese.

"Another North Coast born Australian Chinese Vivian Yung Chow from Lismore considered that Tse Tsan Tai not Sun Yat Sen was the true founder of the Republican China,” she said.

This week's features: Your Shopping Guide - Local Businesses