The Northern Rivers Echo Main News

800 votes from victory

Richmond 'too close to call' - Big win for Causley

Re-elected Page MP Ian Causley and his wife June, who he credits as one of his biggest political assets.

The battle for the seat of Richmond remains poised on a knife-edge following Saturday's election. MP Larry Anthony remains hopeful of retaining his seat, despite trailing his Labor rival Justine Elliot by 850 votes. With up to 10,000 postal, pre-poll and absentee votes yet to be counted, he remains an outside chance. Mr Anthony won nearly 60 per cent of postal votes in 2001 and needs 55 per cent to catch his rival this time. It may take another week before the result is known.

That a Howard Government minister could lose, despite securing his biggest-ever primary vote, is the surprise result of the federal election, which saw the Coalition returned with an increased majority.

The Greens, along with the Sydney-based Liberals for Forests candidate, have played a key role in potentially ending the political career of the third generation of the Anthony dynasty to hold the seat. After more than eight years in Parliament and three close elections, Mr Anthony has vowed to not stand again in Richmond if he loses.

While Alstonville and Wollongbar remained National Party strongholds, more than 55 per cent of voters put a 1 beside the children and youth affairs ministers name. Both Labor and Greens also increased their primary vote on the plateau at the expense of the independents.

Greens voters in other parts of the electorate have turned against the MP, despite up to 30 per cent giving him their preferences in earlier elections. With Greens candidate Susannah Flower capturing 12.5 per cent of the primary vote, her supporters followed the Party's how-to-vote card, preferencing Labor at an unprecedented rate of 95 per cent or higher in many booths.

Mr Anthony also lost hundreds of votes to the controversial Liberals for Forests, which attracted 1.7 per cent of the vote - coincidentally, Mr Anthony's margin before the poll.

Booth workers, many of them believed to be backpackers paid to hand out Liberals for Forests how-to-vote cards that directed preferences to Labor, wore shirts saying "Liberals".

Mr Anthony said the group misled voters.

"There is no doubt that it has had a negative impact on the Conservative vote. Since the election, my office has received numerous phone calls from voters angry at having been misled by the Liberals for Forests how to vote card, which preferenced Labor over the Nationals," he said.

Mr Anthony said it was too early to tell which way Richmond would go, but admitted one major positive of the delayed result was that he had been able to spend some precious time with his young family, having climbed Mt Warning with them on Monday.

Labor's Justine Elliot managed a three per cent increase in the primary vote and was also sitting back to await the outcome.

On Wednesday, Labor scrutineers from Sydney took part in a recount of Saturday's ballot in which Mr Anthony narrowed the gap by 28 votes today to trail 33,231 to 34,083.

Postal votes are likely to be counted today, but have another week to arrive.

In the seat of Page, which includes Lismore, Ballina and Casino, sitting MP Ian Causley cemented the National Party's hold thanks to a swing of 1.48 per cent. The former NSW politician who turned to federal politics in 1996 received a 6.7 per cent increase in his primary vote - most likely from voters who supported One Nation and independent dairy farmer Tom Cooper at the 2001 election.

Support surged in the Clarence Valley and he also dominated in Ballina, Casino and Kyogle. The big news in his hometown of Chatsworth Island was that someone voted for the Socialist Alliance (candidate Tom Flanagan received just 389 of 70,398 votes cast).

Mr Causley said the swing in his favour was "bigger than expected".

His main rival, Labor's Kevin Bell, performed well in Lismore, winning most booths and improving Labor's primary vote by 4.46 per cent to 33.46%. And Mark Jackson took the Green vote into double figures for the first time in Page thanks to a 3.44 per cent rise in his primary vote to 10.64%. The Greens won five rural booths - Nimbin, The Channon, Jiggi, Rosebank and Cawongla.

Almost 3000 people voted informally.

Mr Causley at 64, just a year younger than the Prime Minister, is now set to serve 11 years in federal politics, following his 12 years in state politics. Like Mr Howard, retirement is far from his mind, although he said he will "make up his mind" about his future in two years.

His key issues for the coming term include vegetation management, road funding and the Ballina bypass.

Mr Causley paid tribute to his wife, office staff and campaign workers for their support.

"Politics is a tough game and you can't do it without strong support from the people around you. I have some very loyal people on the ground," he said.

A grand feast

Acclaimed chef Karen Martini prepares for this Saturday's six-course Lismore Feast under the stars outside Lismore City Hall.

Take the regions' finest ingredients, from prawns to octopus, blueberries, macadamias, award-winning Vecchiet salamis and Norco ice cream. Stir vigorously using one of the rising stars of the Australian culinary scene, add a liberal splash of De Bortoli wines and serve outdoors under the stars, accompanied by live music. It's the perfect recipe for this Saturday night's Norpa Lismore Feast. Serves 200.

Karen Martini is probably best known for her fresh, vibrant recipes in the Sunday Life magazine. Acclaimed by restaurant critics for her food at the salubrious Bondi Icebergs restaurant overlooking Australia's most famous beach, as well as the iconic Melbourne Wine Room, Karen has prepared a six-course Mediterranean-style feast using some of the region's finest ingredients.

"I've been inspired by the fantastic lifestyle of the region - the warmth and beauty and the lush rolling hills," Karen said.

"I wanted the food to reflect that easygoing, joyous feeling you get from the sunshine and outdoor living. It's very Mediterranean."

Diners will be welcomed by a complimentary glass of champagne from De Bortoli wines while picking on antipasti featuring salamis and prosciutto by Lismore-based Vecchiet smallgoods. The feast continues with local octopus, prawns and mussels, then a stuffed quail served on a Sicilian salad, followed by pot-roasted spring lamb. For dessert, you'll delight in a champagne and blueberry jelly with macadamias, honey and Norco's Cape Byron vanilla ice cream, recently judged the nation's finest.

Caddies supreme bean Bill Sheaffe has blended a special coffee for this grand feast and there's Turkish delight and other sweet treats to conclude before you dance the night away to hip-shaking Latin-jazz music.

Tickets for the Norpa Lismore Feast are just $88 from Lismore City Hall. Just a few remain, so book now on 6622 0300.

Beautiful young minds

St Carthage's Primary School Tournament of the Minds team (l-r) Xanthea Riordan, Michael Cocciola, Hannah Craig, Kendall Young, Brendan McMahon, Zoë Harlen and Ella Sharpe with the NSW Tournament of the Minds trophy they recently picked up in Sydney.

Seven students from St Carthage's Primary School will be flying to Western Australia next Thursday to compete in the national Tournament of the Minds final.

The year five and six students recently won the state title in Sydney and are now flying to Perth, where they will compete against some of the brightest young minds in the country for the coveted award.

The team are understandably excited about their journey, and can't wait to thrash it out mentally against the other states.

"It's an experience I'm going to remember for the rest of my life," said team member Brendan McMahon. "We're the best in NSW and that's pretty amazing - we were so excited and everyone has been congratulating us. These two people Michael and I met at the competition in Sydney even sent us a postcard to say congratulations. It was so cool."

The team will compete in the social science category. To win, they will have to solve a complex problem and develop a detailed debate.

Fire surrounds Woodburn

Firefighters battle the bushfire near Woodburn.

A huge bushfire that has burnt out more than 1100 hectares of bushland south-east of Woodburn has been contained after a two-day battle.

More than 110 rural volunteer fire fighters from as far away as Kempsey battled the blaze, which broke out of Monday and was fanned by strong winds and high temperatures, scorching 900 hectares of private property, as well as the edge of Bundjalung National Park. Four helicopters were used to water bomb key areas of concern.

On Wednesday, the fire continued to burn within containment lines as Rural Fire Service and National Parks crews continued backburning operations. With temperature above 30°C, a total fire ban was in place across the state.

Incident controller, Superintendent Matt Inwood said helicopter crews used aerial incendiaries on a large unburnt area of bushland in the north-west.

"Crews worked hard today in extreme conditions to strengthen containment lines around the entire perimeter of the fire," he said.

No homes were threatened by the blaze. Weather conditions are expected to remain difficult for the remainder of the week.

Historic house returns to its former glory

A 1911 photo of Crawford House in Alstonville with its original owner, Ambrose Crawford, and his wife Olive. The newly restored building is being opened this Saturday.

After years of hard work by hundreds of volunteers, Alstonville's historic Crawford House is being opened this Saturday, October 16, with an afternoon of activities for children and adults.

Festivities kick off at 10.30am with live music before Ballina mayor Phil Silver hands over the keys to Alstonville Plateau Historical Society, then opens the restored historic property with Dorothy Crawford and her sister Eileen Jamieson - daughters of the building's original owner William Ambrose Crawford.

Historical Society member Ian Kirkland will also be launching his new book Forgotten Railways of the Northern Rivers.

There are prizes for children in the 'best dressed' period costume competition and lots more live entertainment, stalls and activities. The Historical Society has invited everyone to come and celebrate this milestone. Crawford House is at 10 Wardell Road, Alstonville. The celebrations continue until 3pm.

A truly spectacular show

Students from the Karen Ireland Dance Centre will perform in scenes from the 1900s and the 1950s during the Arena Spectacular at the North Coast National Show next week.

The Lismore Show Society is celebrating 100 years in its present location with the Summerland Credit Union Arena Spectacular at the North Coast National Show in Lismore next week.

The massive Arena Spectacular will feature more than 500 talented local artists, dancers, singers, bush poets, comedians and horse riders, who together will celebrate the region's identity over the last century.

Mark Eady of Ozworks Entertainment, say the Arena Spectacular is his largest community-based production to date and will be an exciting part of the show.

"There are 300 children from St Carthage's Primary School in one sequence alone, which will transform the arena into a flood scene," he said. "There's something in this production for everyone, young or old, and no matter what your lifestyle or background. Comedy, fun and a patriotic tear in your eye is assured."

North Coast National Show manager Ian Mulligan believes it will demonstrate the great wealth and depth of local talent.

"We're very excited about this celebration and believe that this kind of community production is exactly what the show needs," he said

The Arena Spectacular will include tributes to early settlers, war veterans, the 50s rock and roll era, the development of the agricultural industry, the age of Aquarius, Lismore's floods and many of the other events and people that have shaped the city's history.

The Spectacular is on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 21-23, from 7pm each night, followed by the ever-popular fireworks.

Of course the Show has hundreds of other activities on offer over the three days with livestock competitions and judging, live music, talent quests, animal nurseries for little ones, circus acts, history displays, bike shows, bush poetry and more.

Then there's all the usual entertainment you'd expect from a good country show, including show rides and Sideshow Alley, plus the pavilions showcasing the region's finest local produce, arts, crafts, gemstone and lapidary work, flowers, bonsai and much, much more.

Tickets are $15, $10 conc., $5 under 16s (under 5 free).

Families can get a $35 day pass or a full show pass for just $50. The Show Society has also distributed free passes to all local school students, so make the most of them.

If you want to save more money, visit the Summerland Credit Union for discounted entry tickets and sideshow ride packs. You can get a pack of eight rides for just $25, a saving of $15.

Elderly first cab off the rank

WWII veteran Cecil Manning of Lismore and Lismore Taxis employee Graham Casey, after a medical appointment on Tuesday using the set fare for elderly passengers.

Lismore Taxis and Casino Cabs are doing their bit to address the issue of affordable transport for the elderly by offering cheaper rates for aged pensioners on Tuesdays between 9.30am and 2pm.

In Lismore, the set rate is $5 for a trip from the CBD to the hospital or Lismore Square, and $8 from Lismore Heights or East Lismore into town. It's $10 into town from Goonellabah.

Casino Cabs is offering a similar structure for trips around the town and reduced fares are available to Kyogle residents on Thursdays.

Bookings are essential. Phone Lismore Taxis on 131 008, Casino Cabs on 6662 1484 or Kyogle Taxis on 6632 1555.

Plant a tree, save a creek

EnviTE supervisor Chris Moran and Landcare coordinator Johanna Kempff are encouraging people to join the community tree planting day at Tucki Tucki Creek in Goonellabah this Saturday.

Residents living near Tucki Tucki Creek in Goonellabah are being encouraged to lend a hand in preserving the local environment by taking part in a tree planting day this Saturday, October 16.

The planting will take place along Tucki Tucki Creek where the waterweeds Cabomba and Cape Waterlily have become a major problem. Cabomba was introduced from South America as an aquarium plant and is believed to cost Australia more than $500,000 to control each year.

"We will be planting over 100 fast growing native trees, which will eventually help to shade the creek and reduce water temperature, hindering aquatic weed growth," said Council's stormwater project officer Vanessa Tallon. "We will also be planting Lomandra, a native grass which grows at the water's edge and protects against erosion."

Hosted by Richmond Landcare Inc, Lismore City Council and Environmental Training and Employment (EnviTE), the event is being held to highlight Water Week and national Weedbuster Week (Oct 16-24).

"Planting native riparian trees along our local creeks is about the best thing we can do to repair degraded creek habitat and poor water quality," said EnviTE supervisor Chris Moran.

A free morning tea courtesy of Gumtree Takeaway and Bernie's Bakery in Goonellabah will be available, and there will be information to take home from Far North Coast Weeds, Landcare and local wildlife service WIRES. A colouring competition and free goodies will also make it a fun day out for kids.

Entry to the site is via the Birdwing Butterfly Gully on Kadina Street. Just follow the path until you find people. Bring drinking water, a shovel or barrow if you can, gloves and a hat.

No butts about it

Story & photo: Julian Ryan

Canberra Hotel manager Pat Flanagan (third from left) with hotel patrons Harry Atta-Singh, Greg Woodroff and Craig Hill.

It's last shout for people enjoying the odd fag or two in a pub or club.

NSW Premier Bob Carr has declared that smoking will be restricted to one designated room of most licensed premises as of July next year and will be totally banned inside pubs and clubs from July 2007.

The news has brought a mixed reaction, with the hotel industry claiming that an end to social smoking will cost thousands of jobs.

But NSW Cancer Council representative Anita Tang said the phased-in restrictions are a positive step, but are long overdue.

"It's good news that a date has been set after many years of deliberation, however, we would have hoped for an earlier deadline," she said. "We are concerned for the workers and patrons who will be exposed to high levels of carcinogens. They are being denied a safe and healthy environment unnecessarily."

But the manager of Lismore's Canberra Hotel, Pat Flanagan, said the ban will put people out of work.

"I'm definitely worried about job security and the future of the industry because the ban will definitely affect our takings," he said. "Customers tell me that if smoking is not permitted inside the hotel they will buy take away alcohol and drink at home where they are allowed to smoke."

Mr Flanagan's views were endorsed by Lismore resident Greg Woodroff.

"I've been smoking for about 30 years and I don't think it will stop me from going out to the pub totally - I will just go less often for a shorter period of time," he said. "It's totally hypocritical for the government to ban smoking inside the pub because the government is treating smokers like lepers, but gaining a lot of revenue from us at the same time."

The NSW smoking ban follows similar legislation in all the other states and other parts of the world, including Dublin and New York.

Following the changes smokers will still be able to smoke and drink in outdoor and non-enclosed areas of pubs and clubs, including verandahs and beer gardens.

Nine decades in the business

Cutting the birthday cake to celebrate 90 years of continual service to the business community of Ballina are Ballina Chamber of Commerce members (l-r) Mark Brady, Keith Davidson, David Johnston, Bryan Marriott, president Don Conson, executive director Sharon Cadwallader, Graham Wappett and Michael Honeywell.

The Ballina Chamber of Commerce celebrated 90 years of continual service to the development of small business in Ballina on Saturday.

Chamber executive director Sharon Cadwallader said that after Ballina was judged the Chamber of Commerce of the year last month, she has every reason to feel proud.

"It's indeed a pleasure and an honour to be associated with such a long standing service to the business community of Ballina," she said.

Starlight joins the club

Local mum Amanda Musgrove and her son Jake (front) check out the new Starlight Fun Centre at Lismore Base Hospital with vice chairman of ClubsNSW David Doyle and Shannon Stores from the Starlight Foundation.

Thanks to a generous donation by ClubsNSW, seriously ill children at Lismore Base Hospital now have a Starlight Fun Centre to help brighten their lives a little.

The mobile entertainment centre has a DVD player, LCD flatscreen, Nintendo Gamecube and computer, with a huge variety of games and movies for young patients to enjoy.

"Starlight Fun Centres are wheeled from bed to bed, bringing hours of distraction, interaction and fun," said Shannon Stores from the Foundation. "It takes their minds off the pain and illness, and allows them to be normal kids again."

The Starlight Foundation and ClubsNSW is now inviting the local community to sponsor a Starlight Fun Centre. They are holding a 'Starlight Information Night' on Wednesday, October 20, at the Lismore RSL Club from 6pm. For more information phone 1300 727 827.

Stepping out for cancer Story by: Kirstie McClean The Cancer Council's Relay for Life was a chance for the community to escape the divisive hustle and bustle of the election and walk together for a shared cause. David Hoffman, one of the three very brave souls who undertook the 24-hour walk in the Relay for Life at Oakes Oval last weekend. It took three shoe changes, two massages and a lot of orange cordial, but David Hoffmann managed to walk the full 24 hours at the Cancer Council's Relay for Life on the weekend. David's support team took turns walking with him, with his work colleague and local rugby legend Ray Taylor, kindly joining him for the graveyard shift between 11pm and 7am. David, a personal trainer from Goonellabah, said that if it wasn't for the support of his own team and the immense encouragement from the other teams and walkers around him, he would not have been able to complete the gruelling 24 hour relay. "It was a great atmosphere and because it was for such a great cause it made the walk just that little bit easier," said David. "One of my team members, who is nine months pregnant, even did some laps with me. The SCU massage therapists also stayed on until 2am, which I know all the walkers really appreciated." David and his team raised more than $800 for the NSW Cancer Council. "Imagine if that extra $1 we raised was that dollar used to find the cure for cancer," David said. In all 37 teams participated in this year's Relay for Life, with more than 500 people coming together at Oakes Oval for the event. The Cancer Council will know the total amount raised in the coming weeks

Nathan's good work to continue

Nathan Willis holding one of the sick children he worked with during his recent visit to East Timor.

Alstonville nurse Nathan Willis has recently returned from East Timor where he spent two weeks as a member of a 16-member medical aid team providing clinical support and training to local medical staff.

During this visit Nathan also helped to treat people in remote areas where there is no medical care available and infant mortality rates are at appallingly high levels.

Nathan said the entire experience impacted on him deeply and has inspired him devote more of his time to similar work on a long term basis.

"Whilst in East Timor I saw the human face of poverty, powerlessness, lack of education and resources," he said. "My hope is that East Timor gets a fair deal no mater what party wins the election at the weekend."

"East Timor needs assistance from Australians and funds can be donated via Australian Relief and Mercy Services at www.arms.org.au," Nathan said.

Exam time for last time

If you thought that waiting for the election result was stressful, spare a thought for the

5000 Northern Rivers students who begin their Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations this Monday, October 18, with a 110-minute English test. Music students return for more tests in the afternoon. On Tuesday, it's the languages. In the second week, the students will grapple with maths.

Leading up to the HSC parents have been advised not to pressure children about exam performance but to encourage, support and assist them during this difficult period.

To assist students undertaking their HSC, a telephone advice line has been set up where students can discuss a range of issues relating to their exams for the cost of a local call from anywhere in NSW.

The advice line is open daily from 4pm to 10pm on weekdays, from 10am to 6pm on Saturdays and from 10am to 10pm on Sundays. Phone 13 11 12.

HSC results will be available online from Friday, December 17.

Mobile Library linked to the stars

Richmond Tweed Regional Library manager Martin Field, Lismore mayor Merv King, Byron councillor Jan Mangleson, NSW state librarian Dagmar Schmidmaier, Bundjalung Elder Ron Heron, Ballina councillor Sharon Cadwallader and chairman of the Regional Library Committee Max Boyd pose outside the Library's mobile unit, which has been installed with new satellite technology that will make internet access faster and make library cataloguing more efficient.

The Richmond Tweed Mobile Library has been selected to trial new satellite technology thanks to a $34,000 grant from the State Library of NSW.

The library on wheels, which visits many local small communities, has been fitted with a satellite dish that uses sophisticated software to connect the vehicle to the Library's database at Goonellabah, as well as delivering high-speed internet access.

Regional Library manager Martin Field said the mobile library was one of three in NSW chosen for the trial.

"If it proves to be successful as we expect it will not only improve our service to patrons but also provide significant savings in communication costs," he said.

Local dancer the world's finest

The 'Descendance' Aboriginal dance troupe, which recently won the World Culture Open 2004 dance award in South Korea. Inset: Vivian Anderson from Goonellabah back on home soil after the big win.

It seems fitting that the oldest culture in the world was the first to win the World Culture Open 2004 dance award in South Korea recently.

The Aboriginal dance troupe 'Descendance', which features Goonellabah dancer Vivian Anderson, competed against 40 other countries for the coveted award. Despite the tough competition, Descendance was a clear favourite, with judges and the crowd touched by their unique cultural traditions and highly skilled dancers.

"One of the Korean judges came and told me he was crying after the performance, which was pretty special for all of us," Vivian said. "We wanted Australia to be represented and to win made us feel so humbled and proud. It was just amazing to get that level of recognition."

The seven-member Descendance troupe, which was formerly known as the Ngaru Dance Company, has automatic entry for the next World Culture Open in two years time.

Lucky bookworms

Drawing out the lucky winners for book vouchers at the Lismore Book Warehouse are state librarian Dagmar Schmidmaier, Book Warehouse employee Sarah Morrow, Book Warehouse manager Angela Axford and Richmond Tweed Regional Library manager Martin Field.

When Richmond Tweed Regional Library members purchase a book from Lismore Book Warehouse they are entitled to enter a monthly draw for book vouchers to the value of $5 and $10.

This month's lucky winners are Sue Vallis, Charmian Galvin, Tundra Snape and Elizabeth Raymont.

For more information or to claim your prize phone the Lismore Book Warehouse on 6621 4204.

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