Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Bloomin' good fun

Graham Gamble of Goonellabah, Clarice Adams of Kyogle and president Eric Rankin, were three of the winners at the annual Casino & District Orchid Society Show last week.

Retirement home fight

The Mid Richmond community is galvanising for action to fight plans by Richmond Valley Council to sell the mid Richmond Retirement village in Coraki.

The retirement village's management committee claims they were not consulted before Council placed national advertisements calling for expressions of interest to run the site, despite assurances that their input would be sought.

Committee spokesman Graham Smith said the village belonged to the community and should remain in community hands.

Council operates the village as trustee in conjunction with the management committee.

General manager Brian Wilkinson said Council is only looking at options for the future operation of the village.

"The income and expenditure relating to the village are part of councils' program," Mr Wilkinson said.

He said the private sector was better suited to running the facility.

"Things change quickly in the aged care field. It is a complicated and somewhat specialised activity," he said.

Mr Smith said the Coraki community would not support a privatised village.

"If it was put into private hands community assistance would dry up," he said. "They consider it's their village."

Youth patrol success

A 12-week youth patrol trial in Evans Head has reduced anti-social behaviour by young people in the village, leading to calls for it to be continued over Christmas.

Youth worker Tracey Blokland said the local kids were not always the source of the problems.

"They were fantastic," Tracey said. "Respectful and very caring to other young people. They asked us lots of questions."

A number of issues of concern were identified, including drugs and alcohol and a lack of facilities to young people in the evening.

The trial was sponsored by the mid-Richmond Neighbourhood Centre and funded by Council.

In a report to Council the youth workers called for a youth activities room, new lighting at the skate park, well-lit public toilets and more active monitoring of alcohol sales.

Mayor Charlie Cox said the situation needed to be monitored for the next few months, before a decision would be made.

Dob in a vandal

Reporting vandals to police will be rewarded by Council, which last week approved a $1000 reward or information that led to the conviction of an offender responsible for damage caused at Razorback Lookout, Evans Head, in October 2003.

Getting ready for the show

Brendan Disson of Kyogle and Jacob George of Casino show off Brendan's ute in readiness for the ute muster at the Casino Show on October 16.

Casino Show is set to host its own version of the TV shows Bachelor and Bachelorettes when local guys and gals line up to be auctioned during the evening entertainment at this year's Casino Show on October 16.

Eligible singles will be auctioned to the highest bidder, with the winning bachelor receiving dinner for two with the successful bidder; whilst the highest bidding bachelor will have one hour at the show to make an impression on his favourite bachelorette.

This year will also see the introduction of a ute muster, sure to attract lots of entrants with categories including best B&S, feral, chicks, 4WD and street utes.

Daytime activities will feature the traditional horse, beef cattle and poultry competitions, the best local cooking, needlework, floral, craft, art, and photography displays. And this year there are two new sections - digital art and an Anzac biscuit bakeoff.

Show society president Martin Maloney said it's in the judge's hands - or taste - to decide what makes the best Anzac biscuit; soft or crunchy?

The evening's entertainment will include the crowning of Miss Casino Show Girl and an Outback Showcase display by 10 riders demonstrating horsemanship skills set to music.

For more information, phone 6662 5991.

Police remember fallen comrades

Sergeant Steve Locke placed a wreath in remembrance of officers who have lost their lives in the course of duty, including former colleague Kylie Mackie, during National Police Remembrance Day in Casino.

In a moving ceremony outside the Casino Police station on Wednesday, local mayors, senior police officers, policemen and women and members of the public joined together to remember the 245 NSW police officers who have lost their lives in the execution of their duties in the past 200 years.

Sadly 10 more names were added to the list in the past year.

Casino staff members Debbie Holly and Marlene Wright and sergeant Steve Locke, now based at Tabulam, placed a wreath in memory of colleague Kylie Mackie, who died on her way to work last year.

Kylie's workmates have planted a rose bush in her memory outside the station.

Casino's finest student

With year 12 finishing last Friday in preparation for the HSC, Casino High School's class of 2004 gathered for one final time to honour their finest students. Pictured are the major award recipients - Scott Shephard, Emma Barnes, Stephen Russell, Krista Toovey and Daniel Standing.

Stephen was named Student of the Year for his outstanding academic results in the trial HSC and final HSC assessments. Stephen performed with distinction in advanced English, music, software design and development, information processes and technology and extension 2 mathematics.