Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Taste the good life in Casino

Producer of the 'All the Best' food range, Maureen Lynch (left) and Pauline Rolfe from Cafe de Scoops try ice-cream with aniseed almond pepper bread wafers - a new taste sensation that will be available at the Lions International Food Festival during the Casino sesquicentenary celebrations in Barker Street this Saturday.

Maureen will be selling products from her newly launched 'All the Best' range of mustards, vinegars, dukkas, marmalades, jams and relishes, and offering tastes of her 'bush tukka dukka', lemon myrtle mustard and finger lime wine vinegar. Pauline will tempt patrons with mouth watering ice-creams in cones and 'fun days sundaes'.

Coraki fights losing hospital battle

Residents have lost their battle to save Coraki's Campbell Hospital after the Mid-Richmond Health Service Advisory Committee recommended replacing it with a multi-purpose service (MPS) to be built at the nearby Mid-Richmond Residents Village.

While residents protested outside wearing "Hands Off" T-shirts, the Committee met on Monday and adopted a proposal to move the hospital's acute care and 24-hour emergency services and an X-ray unit to a wing of the Residents Village. A community health centre will be set up at the existing hospital.

The Committee has been meeting since April to consider options after the North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS) decided to close the hospital and operate a GP-run health clinic and community health centre.

Supporters of both the hospital and the Residents Village are shocked at the decision.

Village management committee secretary Joan Roots said they were assured the Village would not be touched.

"We just can't believe it," she said. "Having been told the Village would be left in its entirety we're staggered to hear that they are going to build the MPS there."

Sandy Weekes, a nurse and member of the Advisory Committee, said the community didn't think an aged care facility is suitable for a community health service.

"It's very disruptive to residents of the Village," she said. "They don't want it there and we don't want it there."

The NCAHS will prepare a report and discuss the proposal with hospital and Village staff and management prior to holding a public meeting later in the year. The proposal will then require approval from Richmond Valley Council and state and federal governments.

Norply Fire Appeal

Kyogle Chamber of Commerce president Tom Rogers is urging people to support the town by visiting and shopping there.

The Kyogle Emergency Disaster Relief Fund was launched this week by Kyogle mayor Ernie Bennett and Chamber of Commerce president Tom Rogers to help employees of the Norply plywood factory, which burnt down a fortnight ago.

Council donated $50,000 to get the appeal running and Summerland Credit Union and the ANZ Bank have also contributed.

The Kyogle Rotary Club will administer the money and at this stage the St Vincent De Paul society and the Salvation Army will distribute the funds according to criteria set by a coordinating committee.

Kyogle Economic Development Committee president Ron Martin said the funds will help the 140 people "who have directly lost employment from the fire".

Chamber of Commerce president Tom Rogers appealed to Northern Rivers residents to shop in Kyogle to support the town as it struggles to get back on its feet.

"If you haven't visited Kyogle before or haven't been here for a while come up and chat with the locals and show your support for a little town that's going through a tough time," he said. "Over the years the Kyogle community has dug deep into their pockets to help any worthwhile cause and at the moment we are going through a rough time, so we're asking people all over the North Coast to help with the appeal and come to Kyogle to shop. We don't want any more jobs lost."

Donations to the appeal can be left at any branch of the ANZ Bank or the Summerland Credit Union.

Kyogle Lotto winner

In a bright moment for Kyogle, an unregistered player who bought a Lotto ticket at the Kyogle Mitre 10 store won a one-third share of last Monday's $1 million First Division prize. The other First Division winners came from Newcastle and Sydney. Each winner will get $333,333.40.

Sesquicentenary program highlights

A slice of history: Willie Simpson's shop, circa 1880, which was next door to the Tattersalls Hotel in Barker Street, Casino.

• Mon-Sat, Sept 26 to Oct 1: 'Essence of Casino' photographic and historical exhibition, 10am-3pm daily, Casino Civic Hall, Canterbury Street.
• Fri Sept 30: Sesquicentenary Traditional Supper Ball, 7.30pm, Relihan Centre, St Mary's High School, Canterbury Street.
• Sat, Oct 1: Heritage Walks, departing 9am and 2pm from the Casino Fold Museum, Walker Street; Lions Club International Food Festival and Street Party, 10am-3pm, Barker Street; 3801 steam train rides, 8am-3pm, Casino Railway Station; National Camp Oven Festival, 8am-late, CMCA Village; Crankfest, 10am-10pm Casino pool; Nostalgia Film Festival, 7.30pm, Old El Gronda Cinema site (entry via El Gronda Arcade, Barker Street).
• Sun, Oct 2: National Camp Oven Festival and 3801 steam train rides.

Contact the Casino Visitor Information Centre on 6662 3566 for more information or to book tickets.