Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Casino beef sale

Paul Boland from Coraki (left) with guest judge Mike Welsh at the Northern Rivers Weaner Sale in Casino last week. The Boland family's pen of 17 Hereford steers attracted the highest sale price on the day of $772 per head.

Herd improvements via genetics and careful selection paid huge dividends for local beef producers at the two-day Northern Rivers Weaner Sale in Casino last week, which grossed $1.04 million on the first day.

Selling agent, Darren Perkins from George & Fuhrmann Casino, said nearly 2000 Hereford weaner calves were sold on the first day alone. Prices peaked at $772 per head for a champion pen of 17 steers bred by the Boland family of Coraki, who sold a total of 71 steers during the sale.

Steer judge, Mike Welsh, said the Boland's yarding was outstanding and the 368-kilogram sale-topping steers were a credit to the Coraki breeders.

According to Mr Perkins the Boland's are certainly not alone, with local breeders becoming a new force in producing top quality young steers.

"Two new buyers told me they had heard the quality of weaners on the Northern Rivers had improved out of sight during the last four to five years," Mr Perkins said. "Our local breeders are spending more time and money on their sire selection and looking at their business management plans."

Woodenbong producers Malcolm and Coral Reid took out the champion pen of heifers, with 15 heifers selling for $530 per head.

Casino Beef Week

The first tickets for the 23rd annual Casino Beef Week festival will go on sale next week, just seven weeks before the event kicks off.

Beef Week coordinator Sue Serone said the 'Fashion, Hair and Beauty Expo' was one of the most popular events of the five-day festival last year, and will no doubt be just as popular this time around.

Sue said the expo is a night of fashion and fun with Casino clothing retailers showcasing their latest fashions and hair salons demonstrating their latest hair designs.

If you want to go all out then why not buy a ticket to the pre-show cocktail parade for $25, drinks included, or choose from table tickets for $12 or theatre seats for $10.

Tickets will go on sale from next Monday, April 11, at Casino RSM Club.

Casino Beef Week runs from May 25-31.

Get on board the opera bus

Richmond Valley Council is trying to coordinate a bus service to take residents of Evans Head, Broadwater, Woodburn and Coraki to Co-Opera's performance of Die Fledermaus in Casino on April 17.

The Council needs to be sure there is enough interest for the bus service, and asks people to register by next Wednesday, April 13. If the service runs, tickets will be $6 per head.

"What we have found is that people from these towns are interested in attending the performance of Die Fledermaus, but that issues like car parking, driving at night, or being unable to enjoy a glass of champagne on arrival at the Opera are proving prohibitive," said Nyree Epplett from Richmond Valley Council. "We already have 25 people from Evans Head and are keen to spread the word so that we can go ahead and book the bus."

To register for the bus phone Nyree on 6660 0203.

Tickets to Die Fledermaus, by Johann Strauss, are also now available for Lismore residents at the Lismore Visitor Information Centre.

Co-Opera's performances aim to entice people unfamiliar with opera by presenting very popular operas in casual settings and sung in English. This particular operetta, performed entirely in the round and includes a host of colourful characters, beautiful music and plenty of hilarious antics.

The show will also include a special performance by the Lismore Show Choir.

Die Fledermaus will be performed on Sunday, April 17, at St Mary's High School oval in Casino. Gates open at 6pm for a 7pm start and people are encouraged to bring a picnic rug and a hamper.

Tickets are $33/$28 or $5 for a school child. For information and bookings phone 6622 0122.

The hunt for hidden treasures

Brisbane antique expert Hans Heiming with Alstonville Plateau Historical Society members Muriel MacKenzie (left) and Margaret Kennedy outside Crawford House in Alstonville, where the society's Heritage Fair will be held this Saturday.

People with old collectables or antiques lying around the house could be sitting on a small fortune, according to Brisbane antique expert Hans Heiming.

Hans will be a special guest at the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society's Heritage Fair this Saturday, April 9, where he will be valuing family heirlooms and antiques for just $2 per item. Hans said everyone is encouraged to dust off their old collectables and bring them along, because they could in fact be valuable treasures.

"There is a lot of colonial history in the Northern Rivers and I encourage people to bring items such as furniture, china, jewellery, photographs and unusual pieces that may have been sitting around the home or shed for years," he said. "Everyone should take advantage of this opportunity and empty out your cupboards because what you may have thought was worthless might be worth a small fortune."

The Heritage Fair will be held at Crawford House in Wardell Road, Alstonville, from 10am to 3pm. As well as antique valuing, the day will feature live music and entertainment, horse shoeing demonstrations by a master farrier and lots more.

For more information phone Margaret Kennedy on 6686 0027.