Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Col names Shires' president

Richmond Valley councillor Col Sullivan (pictured) said he is both thrilled and a little tentative after being elected president of the Shires Association of NSW at their annual conference in Sydney earlier this week.

"I'm deeply honoured and humbled, and a bit nervous," Cr Sullivan said. "I have a great degree of enthusiasm to get things done."

As president of the Shires Association Cr Sullivan has the responsibility of representing more than 80 member councils throughout NSW and liaising on their behalf with other levels of government to meet the needs of local communities.

Cr Sullivan believes his 30 years in local government, including eight years on the Shires Association's executive and four years as vice president, is sure to help. He is also the fourth generation of Sullivans to hold the position of mayor.

Discussing his new role, Cr Sullivan nominated the drought as his most urgent concern, particularly for western council areas.

"I'm very sympathetic to the farmers out west," he said. "Small country towns are experiencing hardship, and losing businesses. There is also a lot of family breakdown and depression. The Shires Association is looking to work with the government to see if we can do anything like giving relief on rates."

Whilst he vows to continue serving as a Richmond Valley councillor, Cr Sullivan fears his 100 per cent attendance record may come under threat from the demands of his new position.

"I'll be doing my best to be available," he said. "But there's no doubt I won't be able to be at every meeting."

Primex time again

Hot on the heels of a successful Beef Week, Casino will now be host to around 50,000 visitors during the Casino Primex Exhibition, which is on next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 16-18.

Primex marketing manager, Bruce Wright, said the annual event is the biggest agricultural exhibit and field day in northern NSW.

"You name it, it will be at Primex," Bruce said. "It's like the yellow pages in field. You can see everything and everybody."

The Primex grounds will be packed with displays of agricultural machinery, beef and dairy cattle, trade displays and information stands. The pavilions feature a huge variety of products and there are demonstrations on everything from wrinkle-free ironing board covers to the latest camp ovens.

Plenty of food stalls will be on site, or for those who'd like to learn some cooking tips, there are daily cooking demonstrations by Casino RSM Club chefs.

On Saturday from 10am you can also enjoy the heats of the Toyota Outback Series, a national country music talent quest featuring Casino's own rising star, Kate Botfield. The heats will be followed by a free concert at 12pm featuring Beccy Cole and Jake Nicolai and Grafton's Samantha McClymont, who was winner of the 2005 Star Maker Quest at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Primex will be open daily from 8am and entry is $8, with free parking available. For more information or to download the full program visit the website at www.exhibitionmarketing.com.au/primex.

Community theatre

What is it that defines the identity of Casino? That's the question Australian director, writer and dramatist Sue Rider will explore with Casino people at a series of forums this week.

Following the forums Sue will spend a week-long residency in Casino meeting with community members and becoming acquainted with the unique culture of the town as the first step in a proposal to create an outdoor theatre piece in, and about, the community of Casino.

"It's a sharing of ideas, feelings and hopes about Casino and its people," Sue said. "We aren't sure what piece of theatre might come out of the forums, but it will come out of the community of Casino."

Sue's residency has been arranged by NORPA with funding from the Australia Council for the Arts. At the completion of the residency, Sue will prepare a formal project proposal to go before the Theatre Board of the Australia Council to stage a community production as part of the organisation's 2006 season of theatrical events.

Schools go to waste

Caniaba Public School students (l-r) Brianna Taylor, Taylah Harrison and Amy Gordon at the Wyrallah Road Waste facility yesterday.

Students from Caniaba Public School visited Lismore City Council's Wyrallah Road Waste Facility yesterday to learn about recycling and waste management as part of the Resources on Tour, or aptly named ROT program.

Over the next four weeks around 200 students, teachers and parents from eight local schools will visit the facility, looking at everything from rainforest restoration to the on-site worm farm that processes organic waste.

"These programs are important because the children become ambassadors for waste management and take the message home to their families," said Council's waste education officer, Libby Kelly. "Schools also then look within their own grounds and classrooms to make positive changes to reduce their waste. The tour is a great breeding ground for ideas as well as worms."