Issue 735
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Letters To The EditorNeighbourhood Centre HistoryI would like to participate in the debate about the Lismore Neighbourhood Centre. As a past Manager of the Centre (1992-98) I view the centre as a community building belonging to the community of Lismore and districts. My understanding is that Lismore City Council purchased the building approximately 20 years ago as a response to a request from the volunteers and staff of the Neighbourhood Centre. They had located the building and agreed to cover the costs of the loan per week in rent. From that time the Centre, with grants from the Department of Community Services and fund raising, has met the rent. The volunteers (many hundreds over that period) helped to maintain the services of the centre at minimal costs, as they gave their time and passion without financial recompense. When the Red Scheme was introduced to assist unemployment, the Management Committee of the Centre applied successfully for a Federal grant of $50,000 to enable the raising of the building out of flood and double the size of the building and the services provided. Many volunteers as well as paid staff assisted in this project. During the six years of my employment, council was most supportive to the centre and my relationships with staff and council members were most cordial. When initial negotiations began with the developers to replace this building, it was recognised by Council that this valuable asset of the community could not be lost. A sum of money ($400,000) was agreed upon to enable the building of a new community centre on land provided by the Council. We (Neighbourhood Centre management) were even requested to have plans drawn up for that building. I implore Council to recognise the valuable work contributed to the community by staff, volunteer and paid, and acknowledge this asset of Council's would not exist without these past activities of community people. The financial contribution made by the developers of the land should be put into a trust fund to enable the Lismore Neighbourhood Centre Inc. to relocate and own a suitable building to continue to service the community. Patti Munro Click here to comment on this letter.
Birds and BearsI really appreciated Dr Effie Ablett's letter (Echo, Aug 30) about the city of Koalas. After a recent visit to Lismore Lake, I wrote to mayor Bob Gates along similar lines as follows. 'I see the creation of Lismore Lake in its present condition as something very special indeed. We hear so often of how the presence of people everywhere is leading to the loss of habitat, and sometimes the extinction of species of wildlife that live on our planet. Here in Lismore the opposite has happened. People have created a small wetland, albeit inadvertently, which is now supporting at least 18 species of waterbirds (the number sighted yesterday). Why not grasp the opportunity to take pride in this achievement, to build on it and promote Lismore as a place that cares? We already have Birdwing Gully with the platypus, and patches of rainforest, plans to beautify our riverbanks. Friends of the Koala and several environmentally friendly enterprises at SCU, so why not add a special wetland for our bird life? September 1 was the start of Biodiversity Month, with a catch cry of 'Hands on for Habitat'. Lismore City Council has the opportunity to lead the way. Yes, all this could attract tourists, but more importantly it could help our wildlife and our planet earth. Molly Crawford Good samaritanFor the gentlemen in the white car who kindly picked up my wallet on Sunday morning on the roundabout between Molesworth Street and Ballina Street and handed over to the Lismore Police, I'd like to say thank you very much for your generosity and kindness. Bless you and Happy Father's Day. Malia Ritaningsih Click here to comment on this letter.
Buyer Beware.comThere have been advertisements in the local press recently offering unbelievable income opportunities in the Internet industry. As one of several local businesses that have been involved with these people in the past two years I must warn any one wanting to take up the offer to be very careful. As it is not a franchise you have no rights other than what is in their contract. Get a lawyer to look at it. Do not be browbeaten into signing or paying before you are sure of what it is that you are getting into. If they won't let you see the deal before you pay then you must draw your own conclusions. They are not in business for your benefit. Get a reference from someone who has dealt with them in the past. Ken Thompson Click here to comment on this letter.
A Great KICFor the second year in succession The Northern Rivers Echo has helped inform the community about the Kids in Community Awards. The committee would like to thank Simon Thomsen and Heather Williams for their wonderful support once again. Without the help of The Echo, we would not have been able to reach as many people. It was a great help to have the nomination forms printed each week. Because of your stories and photos we have been able to acknowledge and share with the community the great works of our young people. The committee would also like to take the opportunity to thank sincerely the major sponsors, Aspect North, Ballina RSL Club, Bennett Industries P/L, Hurford Building Supplies, LJ. Hooker, Mary Gilhooleys, Parkview Funeral Homes and Hazelton Airlines for their continued contribution to the community. A special thanks to all who helped make the awards so successful in particular Community Connections. Kids in Community Awards will be encouraging nominations again in 2002. For anyone interested a video of the evening is available from All Occasions Video. Phone 6624 2376. Maria Kelly, Remy Wood, Chris Hawke, Gaela Hurford, Cheryl Woodlands and Lynne Carr Click here to comment on this letter.
Centre FanI have been living in this area for a very long time and was vaguely aware of the Lismore Neighbourhood Centre (LNC) existed and where it is was housed. I thought the LNC provided community information only - I never took the time to find out just what services were provided. After recently serving a period of time as Secretary of the LNC Management Committee, I was amazed at the range of services this Centre offers. I also became more aware of the dedication, commitment and efficiency of paid staff, auspiced service providers and volunteers. Caring people who show compassion, patience and tolerance and who are willing to help and to listen to those in need - all of this done with kind hearts and open arms. Statistics show that more and more members of our society are in desperate need of assistance/welfare in a whole range of areas. The staff and volunteers at the LNC provide this support and on many occasions provide this support and on many occasions provide beyond the call of duty, and with limited funding. (I also learnt that the availability of sufficient funding to run a Centre like this is an ongoing problem.) I wonder how many of the other residents of Lismore are fully aware of the range of services the LNC provides or are you like I was know where it is there but ignorant of the tremendous contribution it provides to all those who seek help. Congratulations to all those past and present dedicated people who have been involved in some way with the great work done at the Lismore Neighbourhood Centre over the past 25 years. Happy 25th Anniversary. Barbara Worthington Click here to comment on this letter.
Good MPCongratulations to Aniko Cripps Clark (Echo, Aug 30) who must surely win the prize for the most disgraceful, caustic attack on a gentleman who she does not know and who welcomed her as a newcomer to the Northern Rivers. I haven't read such emotional rubbish since the days of Norm Gallagher and John Halfpenny. One can only assume that at some stage Aniko was rejected by a member of a National Party. May she find peace and contentment in her new home. Ian Causley, besides welcoming newcomers, does some great work on behalf of everyone in his electorate. May I thank Ian for the free publications he has prepared and are available in his Lismore office? In particular the publication on increased benefits available to Veterans, is a must for all Returned Serviceman's organisations and for individuals. It doesn't matter to Ian what political party you favour, he does his best for everyone. A very good and appreciated member. Bob English Click here to comment on this letter.
Tampa CrisisDay 6 of the Tampa ship stand-off and I often wonder how many how many of these people who call themselves 'real Australians' and descendants of the people who fought for our country are in fact related to the first load of uninvited boat people. If the original occupants of Australia had been unified instead of hundreds of small mainly nomadic tribes, European invasion may not have succeeded. The saying 'How quickly they forget' seems to apply to a lot of Aussies. I think it owes a great deal of this to a lack of education regarding history of countries like Australia which came into modern day existence due to invasion. Britain isn't alone in this, Portugal, Holland, Germany, Spain, France USA, Russia, China are just a few well known invaders. Regarding us though, present day Aussies are just lucky there weren't any Aboriginal SAS squads to meet Capt. Cook and his followers. As heard on the media, Christmas Island residents are outraged at the unnecessary bully boy tactics by the Government and SAS troops against them (the local fisher people) and the carrier Tampa with its cargo of human misery. The Liberal Government has now held up Australia to ridicule by the world media. The Prime Minister still can resolve this problem in a humane way with his relaxing of his tough stance. Hopefully none of the asylum seekers come to any harm. If one of the pregnant women loses a baby on board the Tampa, Australia will be condemned for years to come, regardless of legalities. By writing this I know I invite contrary views. But please keep them to the subject at hand. Maybe the editor would like to comment on this to remind us of the rules governing our letters. I myself admit to getting close to the line on occasion. Frosty Grego Debates about the issues, rather than personal denigration of fellow letter writers, would be appreciated by readers, as well as me. - Editor Click here to comment on this letter.
Refugee FiguresI read with growing incredulity David Estreich's missive (Echo, Aug 30) and thought I had better correct his misinformation. The figures I am going to quote are from the Department of Immigration's website - www.immi.gov.au David berates Frosty Grego for making up data, but a quick check of the figures reveal that Frosty was right and David seemingly misread or misinterpreted the figures. The actual figures for overstayers in 2000 is 47,157 overstayed visitor visas, 3768 overstayed student visas, 3,365 overstayed temporary resident visas and 4383 overstayers in other visa categories. David's figure of 1,100 is close to the number of people who arrived on visitor visas and were denied entry at the airport. As Frosty says the largest group of these overstayers are from the UK (10.5%) and the US (8.4%) which equates with approx 11,000 illegals from these two countries alone. The Dept. further estimates that based on past figures, 24.5% of them will stay in Australia for more than 10 years. That's a lot of Aussie jobs. It seems that David has been to quick to accept at face value the racist and unreasoned attack on these would be refugees. It appears that approx 85% of all boat arrivals at Christmas Island are successful in proving refugee status, so that means the Australian Govt. heavied 350 probable real refugees escaping Taliban persecution of minority faith in Afghanistan or Turkish and Iraqi persecution of Kurds in those two countries. May God forgive us all for our lack of charity. In the whole sordid affair I feel almost as sorry for the poor Norwegian Captain, pilloried by the whole political spectrum for daring to bring the rescued would be immigrants into Australian waters. But everyone seems to forget he was ordered to pick up those survivors by Australian Air-Sea Rescue and followed a circling Australian plane to the sinking ship, in waters allocated to Australian Rescue authorities (which would undoubtedly be claimed by Australia if oil was discovered there). But wait, it is all okay. Johnny Howard has pilfered a large section of One Nation's voters with his blatantly racist rants and ensured us that those illegal feet will never sully our oh-so-white and pure shores. Nauru has agreed to process these refugees so long as we foot the bill. Since Nauru will not have any facilities for housing these people it seems that we will be building (with David's much begrudged tax) a detention centre in a foreign country. I would lay good odds that the whole exercise will end up costing three times as much as it would if we had just taken them in as normal. But it is true, Johnny has sent a new message to would-be illegals - 'Go to Australia and they will even send you to an exotic tourist destination like New Zealand or Nauru while your refugee claim is settled'. The only way Johnny could send a message to stop the boats arriving would be to order the Navy and the RAAF to sink boats on the way here and the Army to hunt and kill anyone who makes it to land. Mr Howard doesn't have enough guts to do this and yet hasn't enough heart to welcome these people as possible future Australians, which, after the refugee claims of these people are examined, many may be. Ross Macdonald Click here to comment on this letter.
Council Mea CulpaOver the past couple of weeks I have listened and read about the amalgamation proposed by the General Manager of Lismore Council, Ken Gainger. I was against the merger of Richmond River Shire and Casino councils and I must say over a year into the new Richmond Valley Council - I was wrong. The benefits appear to be there by better utilisation of plant and equipment and better services. I have heard that the relocating of the workshop and the building of the new Richmond Valley Council Offices and other works in relocating would bring the figure conservatively to a cost of $3.5 to 4 million. By amalgamating with Lismore and or other councils this would be a saving straight away. It is no good building the new building then in the future end up amalgamating with Lismore and/or other councils. The pro-amalgamation councillors of the former Casino and Richmond River shires always said the main reason was to save money and better utilisation of plant and equipment. So this proposed amalgamation by Mr Gainger would definitely be more beneficial, there will be substantial savings and better use of equipment so the councillors must proceed. Therefore, I request that the Mayor and the councillors of Richmond Valley Council start the amalgamation process with Lismore and surrounding councils immediately and to have the same determination as before, as this proposed amalgamation by Mr Gainger would certainly have more benefits to the people of all council areas. That's what it is all about isn't it - better services. Steve Cselka Click here to comment on this letter.
Floodplain LandIf you own land on the Lismore floodplain it would be a worthwhile investment to have a good look at the proposed Management Plan recently gone on display at the Council Chambers and Library. This is your chance. For two months only to have your say, by written submission, on what you feel is appropriate use for your land, for now and the future before the gates are closed and what is written in the Draft Plan becomes implemented. For example, you may find that the Draft Management Plan has now identified a lessened flood risk to your property (ie reclassified from Floodway to High Risk) thereby allowing the possibility for wider land uses. If you have had a problem in the past, with Council over mixed messages received, regarding your appropriate land use in the floodplain and in particular governed by clause 22 of the LEP (Local Environmental Plan) and this is your opportunity to contribute your written suggestions or objections to the Draft Plan and thereby help determine the future of your land. I would be particularly interested in hearing from owners who have land that was rezoned from 'Residential' to 'Non Residential' due to previous flood related planning instruments. Circumstances may have changed. Paul dos Remedios Click here to comment on this letter.
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