Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Dinosaur designs & budget black holes

The 'dinosaur' of local government bureaucracy moved slowly at this week's Richmond Valley council meeting and that's how it should be according to mayor Charlie Cox.

Council spent close to an hour on Tuesday discussing whether to waive an $84 tip fee following an emotional plea from Shannonbrook resident Kay McGrath, who needs to dispose of plastic bags from her husband's home dialysis treatment.

Holding up a box containing one week's supply, which she said amounted to "seven Woolies bags," Mrs McGrath said disposal would cost her $84 a year at the tip.

This vexing issue led Council to get personal as some argued in favour of making a decision on the spot, accusing the general manager of delaying the matter, which had been on his desk since July.

Others wanted to stick to the rules and wait for a policy review, but the problem is, there is no policy. With other residents seeking exemptions on tip fees they felt it was about time.

"I'm compassionate also," said Cr Robert Mustow. "It's not a one-off situation. The reason it's come up is because we don't have a policy. If we did the general manager would have acted."

In the end council voted to establish a credit facility for the McGrath's on compassionate grounds until council reviews its policy for fees and charges at landfills.

"The dinosaur moves slowly, but sometimes it has to move slowly," Mayor Cox observed.

Meanwhile, a budget deficit of almost $2 million was enough to leave most councillors speechless. Only Cr Robert Mustow asked a question after the presentation of the draft financial report, showing an actual operating loss of $1.9 million, up from $706,000 the previous year.

While the accounts indicate an operating result surplus of $11,785,000, that includes a $9 million paper 'gain' in assets following a boundary adjustment from the formation of Clarence Valley council.

The financial report highlights Council's continuing low revenue base from general rates and annual charges as a percentage of total revenue - just 17% compared with Lismore (35-38%), Ballina (22-25%), and Tweed (29-31%).

Despite the red ink, general manager Brian Wilkinson is pleased.

"It's a satisfactory result and provides a good platform for the future of council," he said. "It's a consolidation from last year. We haven't spent more than we've budgeted for."

He said that council is hopeful of improving revenue from rates over coming years to take advantage of population growth rates.

As they who are left grow old

Pastor Roy Wotton, Richmond Valley mayor Charlie Cox, 'Lofty' Cox, Stan Crowther and Jack Ivery swap yarns after the march and wreath laying ceremony in Casino last week during the annual reunion of the 7th AIF division.

They count five VCs among their members, including the late Sir Roden Cutler and the ranks are thinning, but last weekend more than 200 members of the 7th Australian Division AIF Association proudly marched in Casino during their 41st annual reunion.

In a service at the Mafeking Lamp memorial, the deputy commissioner of Veteran's Affairs Gary Collins, joined Richmond Valley council mayor Charlie Cox in a laying a wreath.

After the national anthem, 'Lofty' Cox led the gathering in singing the division's traditional hymn 'Sunshine on the Hill'.

Pastor Roy Wotton. 91, was the division's senior chaplain in New Guinea and Borneo. His love of a good story has obviously helped keep him in good health.

"My mate asked me why I never stop talking," he said. "I said well no-one else is talking! These boys think they owe me. But I buried over 400 of them."

Association secretary Keith Smith said the members look forward to their reunions.

"It's the comradeship and mateship," he said.

Known as the 'silent division' because they quietly went about their task, the 7th saw service in Palestine, Egypt, Tobruk, Syria, New Guinea and Dutch Borneo and returned to Australia as one of the most highly decorated units of the 2nd AIF.

"We were the first division to defeat the Japanese on land," Mr Smith said.

Like most of his comrades, Keith Smith joined the army as a young man aged 17. But it took him a few goes to enlist.

"The recruitment officer kept taking me back home telling my mother: 'he's at it again!' "My mum thought it was safer in the navy, but I slipped the army papers underneath," he said.

Viv (Bill) Fleming said he didn't know much about the army when he joined.

"I was in the air cadets until I was 17, then left to join the army," he said. "I thought the army had more holidays!"

As they drifted off to continue celebrations at the Casino RSM club 'Lofty' Cox refused an offer to be driven to the celebrations at the club, declaring "We're the infantry!"

He marched off down the street with the support of his walking frame.

New wheels for SES

Casino SES members Max and Dawn Pederson, and Casino SES unit controller Bill Higgins watched as parliamentary secretary to the NSW Emergency Services Minister Neville Newell, presented a cheque for $16,880 to Richmond Valley mayor Charlie Cox as part funding for a new emergency response vehicle for the Casino SES last week.

Also present were Jeff Spash, Deputy Controller and Dallyce Nilsson, executive officer, Richmond Tweed SES . The vehicle was jointly funded by Richmond Valley council.