Now it’s silver with (free) style

Triple medallist Scott Brockenshire (left) at the Sydney Paralympics with his silver medal-winning 4x100m freestyle relay team: Ben Austin, Cameron de Burgh and Alex ‘Shakey’ Harris at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre.

Lismore swimmer Scott Brockenshire added a silver medal to his two-bronze haul when he anchored the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay last Thursday night at the Sydney Paralympics

Scott swam the final leg, hitting the water with Australia in third place behind Britain and Canada. Going out hard in the first 50m to post 26.5 seconds, he powered over the top of the Canadian, who began with a 20m lead. Surging home in the last 50m to draw level with the Englishman, Scott was pipped on the touch by just 0.56 seconds to post 4:07.41. The British set a new world record to edge the Australians out.

It was nevertheless a remarkable swim by Scott.

“I was a little disappointed we didn’t get to stand there listening to the national anthem,” Scott said. “But I did top my personal best in the 100m free for the second time at the Games, so I was pretty pleased. But the English guy who just beat me improved his personal best by 1.3 seconds.”

It was an impressive meeting for the 31-year-old accountant, who swam faster than ever before. “I know that with my time for the bronze in Atlanta, I wouldn’t have made the final in Sydney, so the competition here was a lot tougher,” he said.

On Saturday, in his final swim, the 50m freestyle, Scott was unlucky to be beaten in to fourth place with another PB time of 26.07 seconds. Scott said the 11-day Paralympic Games has a number of highlights. “It was amazing to walk into the stadium for the opening ceremony with a crowd of 90,000 people cheering. The crowds at the pool were also amazing – just brilliant.”

Of course three medals also counts as a highlight, but the atmosphere of the ‘best ever’ Paralympics also impressed Scott. “Compared to Atlanta, there was a lot more energy and friendly interaction between the competitors.” The Paralympics also brought success for Ballina’s Brett Boylan who won silver as a member of Australia’s wheelchair rugby team the Steelers (see sport, p22).

Now, after those long months of training, Scott is enjoying a brief holiday on the Gold Coast and a few well deserved beers. And what of the 2004 Atlanta Paralympics?

“Don’t even ask me that question!” Scott laughs. “But try me again in about six months time.”

Story & photo: Simon Thomsen

New pool vote

Lismore Council’s plans to redevelop the Memorial Baths site have been resurrected with the board of the Lismore RSL Club planning to hold a second vote on the sale of club’s bowling green to council.

On Sunday, October 22, RSL club members voted 105-104 against the sale of the bowling green to Council in a secret ballot. But on Tuesday night, the RSL Club board decided unanimously that club members will vote for a second time in early December.

The decision revives Council’s $4-million plan, despite the fact that councillors seem as divided about the project as RSL Club members who said no to the sale of 700 square metres of land, including the bowling green, for $230,000.

Lismore RSL Club President Phillip Kelly told The Echo that the motion was moved “by one of the bowling members on the board”. He said that in the past 10 days he had received a number of inquiries from members on the issue. “A lot of members can see it’s beneficial and necessary for the sale to go through to ensure the financial survival of the RSL Club Ltd,” he said.

The Club planned to use the funds to build new bowling facilities at its Goonellabah Sports Club, as well as pay off part of a $3.7 million bank loan. “With the vote being so close, I think that the biggest reason it was lost was that a lot of people didn’t understand the full details of council’s proposal, what was being sold and what the Club was going to do with the money.”

Mr Kelly said the club had yet to make a decision on a date for the next meeting. Sunday, December 10, is one option. The Club’s constitution prevents members voting by postal ballot. He said the Club will be writing to all 9,500 members giving them 21 days notice of the meeting, with information outlining the rationale behind the sale.

Mr Kelly appealed to Club members to place the Club first in their vote. “At end of day, my main concern is for Lismore RSL Club Ltd. We’re not doing it for the benefit of ratepayers, but people at the last meeting seemed to be there as ratepayers rather than RSL club members,” he said.

In the meantime, Mr Kelly had written to Lismore City Council telling Council not to consider other options before receiving written notice from the RSL Club that the deal was off. Mr Kelly wrote that Council had a legal obligation – a claim denied by council staff on Tuesday night.

A motion by Cr David Tomlinson to hold a workshop to find an alternative option that would unite the council was defeated.

- Simon Thomsen

Lion king honoured

The longest serving Lion in Australia, Lismore’s Douglas Page, was presented with a Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians last week.

Doug (second from left) is pictured with Ian Causley MP, Lismore Mayor, Bob Gates and current Lions Club of Lismore president, Leon Horan.

Doug first joined the Lions Club of Lismore in 1949, two years after it formed and he has racked up 51 years continuous service since then. During that time he has been president, secretary, vice-president and director, as well as being on various committees.

The legendary Lion, now over 80, still keeps watch over his pride during meetings and participates in all club activities. Doug was among five local senior citizens who received the award for their valuable contributions to their respective communities over many years.

Other winners included Frank McKey from Evans Head (for his work with sporting organisations, the fire brigade and P&C), Nancy Masen from Kyogle (for her work with sporting organisations, Red Cross and Meals on Wheels), Elva Jones of Kyogle (for her work with sporting organisations) and Annie ‘Ma’ Matheson (for her work with the RSL women’s auxiliary and local primary school). Each recipient received a certificate and medal.