Issue 741

Main News

It's a Dog's Life at the Show

A dog's day: Reg Smith, Boss and Ray Smith waiting to go through their paces in the open dog trials at the Lismore show yesterday.

When Reg Wadsworth tells his Boss what to do, he listens and obeys without question.

Boss is a nine-year-old border collie and Reg is a working dog trainer from Bangalow. Both are in Lismore this week to compete in the open dog trials at The Northern Star North Coast National Show.

'I've been working dogs in the ring for more than 50 years and training dogs all me life,' 83-year-old Reg said.

Working dogs are exactly that: working around the farm, rounding up livestock and retrieving stray animals. In the dog trials at the Lismore show, trainers command their dog to round up and move four cows and are judged on obedience and time. According to Reg and fellow trainer Ray Smith from Myrtle Creek, it's important to start training a working dog from puppyhood.

'You need a good breed and an intelligent dog and you need to be able to teach it to sit when it's a puppy,' Reg said.

'A puppy that comes right up to you is intelligent - you need one that follows you about and is very obedient,' Ray added.

'You really need one that would follow you off the edge of a cliff - not like the ones you feel like chucking off,' Reg agreed.

Boss and Reg have been doing the show circuit for eight years.

'He's won a maiden, two novices, two opens and I don't know how many times he's come second,' Reg said as he scratched Boss affectionately behind the ears.

Reg has a simple philosophy to training dogs.

'Get the dog under control first. Then you send your working dog out and round and make him bring the beasts to you. It's important to make things simple for the dog so you make your commands as short as possible - it's like pidgin English,' Reg said.

The dog trials are just one of the many events on show at the Lismore show this week. North Coast National Agricultural and Industrial Society president John Gibson believes this year's show should be one of the most successful ever.

'We've got a lot of new things happening this year like the Man From Snowy River horse riding re-enactment and the Man from Susan River, who has performed at the Royal Sydney and Brisbane Shows. There will be bullriding and saddle bronc competitions and fireworks in the ring,' John said.

You can see the Man from Snowy River tonight (Thursday) at 8.20pm, and 8pm on Saturday. On Friday, along with the woodchopping, talent quest finals and showjumping, the night features the bull and bareback riding.

'We've got more trade displays than we've had for many years - both pavilions are full and the show society have organised a magnificent parade for Saturday night to celebrate the centenary of Federation,' he added.

As well as the events in the ring, the Lismore show has live animal judging, an animal nursery, a busking competition, horse riding competitions, a reptile display, arts and craft exhibits, woodchopping, showbags, the usual rides and sideshows plusheaps more!

Admission is $5 for adults, $2.50 for children, $2 for children aged 5-14. Today, October 18, entry is two for the price of one and rides will be half price on Saturday from 3-7pm.

The show opened yesterday and goes out with a bang with fireworks at 9.15pm on Saturday.

Story & photo: Rudi Maxwell

Get Walking For Life

Olympic walking legend Kerry Saxby-Junna will take part in Relay for Life.

The NSW Cancer Council is holding a new, fun event to raise money for cancer research, in Casino on October 27.

The Relay for Life is an event involving teams of 10-15 people taking turns at walking around the track at Queen Elizabeth Park for a 24 hour period.

Don't worry though - it's not a race or a test of endurance merely an excuse to get together, have fun and celebrate people who have survived cancer.

Olympic walker Kerry Saxby-Junna will be on hand to demonstrate the way the experts walk. There will be bands and entertainers performing, events for children and great prizes.

You can become involved a number of ways:

start your own team of 10 to 15 people;
join a Relay for Life team and walk a few laps with friends and family;
join the 'Ceremony of Hope' at 7pm by lighting a candle;
take part in the survivors' walk (10am Saturday) with survivors walking the first lap in celebration of their victory over cancer; and
cancer carers can join in the first lap as a way of recognising their unheralded efforts in caring.

There is a Relay for Life information night at the Casino RSM Club next Wednesday, October 24, at 7pm.

For more information call Sandra Humphrys on 6662 1302, email Huphantom@bigpond.com or visit www.cancercouncil.com.au

Ribbons for Cancer

Encouraging people to buy a pink ribbon during Australia's Breast Cancer Day on Monday is St Vincent's Hospital nurse in a million quest entrant Luke Neven with Palliative Care Unit staff (clockwise from bottom left) Eileen Elderidge, Dr Joanne Doran, Christine McIntosh and Loretta Hill.

St Vincent' Hospital's Nurse in a Million quest entrant, Luke Neven, is encouraging people to dig deep and buy a pink ribbon during Australia's Breast Cancer Day on Monday, October 22.

Breast cancer affects one in 11 women.

'Breast Cancer doesn't just affect the person diagnosed, it touches their entire family and being a nurse I've seen the traumatic affect it can have on people,' Luke said.

'By wearing a pink ribbon you're not only helping to raise money for research, you're helping to raise awareness. If just one person asks why you're wearing the ribbon and you explain, then it's step forward.'

Pink ribbons are $2 and there's also pens for $5 and teddy bears for $20. Merchandise is available from St Vincent's Hospital and all Cancer Council and Rockmans stores.

Luke is holding another fundraiser for the Cancer Council, this Friday, October 19 - a Dinner and Auction, at the Ballina RSL Club from 7.30pm.

A number of items will be auctioned including a signed Wallaby guernsey, a signed Brisbane Strikers soccer ball and an autographed swimming cap worn by Adam Pine. Luke's target from the night is $10,000.

Tickets are $35 per person. To book phone 6686 2544.

Council Approves Uni Residential College

Dr Iqbal Khan, director of SCU's International students, surveys the land for the proposed residential college for overseas students in East Lismore

Lismore City Council has approved plans for an $8 million 256 bedroom student residential college for overseas students in East Lismore.

The project by Southern Cross University, for international students, is on 4.77 hectares of land off Cynthia Wilson Drive, adjacent to Rifle Range Road. The two-storey student accommodation blocks will feature 16 identical buildings each with 16 single bedroom units arranged in 4 bedroom clusters. Attached to it is a single storey community building featuring with a kitchen, toilets and communal living area.

The first stage of the development will feature four buildings - 64 bedrooms and 20 carparks. The initial development is worth around $2 million. Demand from overseas students for places at SCU's Lismore campus will drive future development of the remaining stages.

While Lismore council staff raised some concerns about the low number of carparking spaces for the development, the university successfully argued while car-ownership among residential students is low, with less than 30 per cent of the residents owning a car, it's even less likely overseas students will own a car.

Council engineers have insisted that no pedestrian or vehicular access to Cynthia Wilson Drive be available from the site.

To encourage koalas, the university will plant 500 koala food trees on the site. No dogs will be allowed at the college. All up the university will pay council in excess of $300,000 in developer's fees and charges.

A similar proposal on the same site was approved by Council in 1996, but did not proceed.

Thieves Steal from Disabled Children

Wollongbar Community Preschool worker Janelle Clarke and students standing on the spot from where thieves stole two wheelchair access ramps.

Heartless thieves have stolen two disabled access ramps from Wollongbar Community Preschool during the school holidays.

Parents discovered the theft during the holidays. It has left the preschool's director Rosemary Gillett, administrative assistant Janelle Clarke and the students devastated.

'To replace them would be too expensive. We got special funding to build them and there's no money there to do it again,' Ms Clarke said.

The ramps were custom-made for the preschool with a non-slip surface so that students in wheelchairs could have access to the classroom and bathroom.

'I can't believe it, it's just so selfish - it's not like they were just there for decoration. They're really heavy - it would take at least two people to move them and they would have needed transport,' Ms Clarke said.

'We're offering a small reward for their return. No questions asked and no charges pressed. They're really integral to school life,' Ms Gillett said.

'We're hoping that the people who took them will now realise what they've done and will make amends by returning the ramps to the school.'

Anyone with information on the ramps should contact Wollongbar Community Preschool on 6628 3800.

Story & photo: Rudi Maxwell

Servo Robbery

Lismore Police are looking for three men after a service station attendant was bashed and robbed at knife point around 4.50am last Thursday.

Police say three men arrived at the Mobil 24-hour service station on Ballina Street early on Thursday morning. While one man began putting petrol into a car, the other two entered the building.

One man threw a full stubbie of beer at the attendant, hitting him in the face causing a gash under his eye. One man then threatened the attendant with a knife while the other male tried to open the till. Unable to do so, the offender stole a small amount of cash from a draw and the three men drove off.

The victim was taken to Lismore Base Hospital and received stitches to his face.

The car used in the robbery was a Toyota Corolla sedan stolen from Coffs Harbour last Tuesday night. It was later found dumped in North Lismore.

The man armed with the knife was described as a Caucasian male, 173cm tall of solid build, aged in his mid 20s, with unkempt sandy-coloured hair, a rounded face, a large wide nose and fair complexion. He was wearing a jumper with yellow a blue panels and shorts.

The second offender is described as a Caucasian male, 173cm tall of thin build with shoulder-length hair and a beanie. The third man was described as Aboriginal, aged between 20 and 30, of medium build.

Drug Assault

A 34 year-old Lismore man has been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed another male in the groin early on Monday morning while at the Lismore Methadone Clinic, Riverlands.

Craig Connell has been charged with wounding with attempt to murder, bail was refused and he appeared in Lismore Local Court on Tuesday. Magistrate Jeff Linden has ordered the man undergo a psychiatric assessment.

Police allege that he was involved in an altercation around 8am. Connell left the scene, then allegedly returned a short time later armed with a knife and stabbed the man. Police arrested Connell without incident at a Lismore address around 9.30am

The 34 year-old victim from Lismore was taken to Lismore Base Hospital following the incident where he had surgery and is now in a satisfactory condition.

Café Fire

The Blues Cafe in Alstonville's main street has sustained considerable damage after a fire in the building last Saturday around 11.30pm. It is unknown how the fire started and police there are some suspicious circumstances. Investigations are continuing.

Slasher Theft

Police are asking anyone with information about the robbery of a slasher from a property on the Tatham-Tomki Road on the evening of September 29 to contact Police.

The thieves used the tractor the slasher was attached to to load the slasher on the rear of a truck or utility on the side of the road. The thieves then returned the tractor to the property. Phone Lismore Police on 6623 1524.

More Merv

Lismore's deputy mayor Merv King has been elected unopposed for another one year term in the role.

Betting Scam

NSW Fair Trading minister, Jon Watkins, today warned consumers to avoid a computer betting system called Eclipse.

Mr Watkins said Eclipse was a $5,500 software package that the Queensland distributors claimed could help pick horse race winners.

'Punters would be better off throwing darts at a form guide than using Eclipse's software,' Mr Watkins said. 'It's a con.'

Drivers Given Speed Warning

Lismore Council's road safety officer Wendy Johnson and mayor Bob Gates with the digital speed checker than will warn motorists they are driving too fast.

Speeding happens on Lismore's 50km/h urban roads all too often - despite the fact that it puts children at risk, and leaves drivers facing fines, losing points on their licence and increasing their chances of having a crash.

But Lismore City's Council's latest effort to combat speeding is a lot kinder than if the police find drivers going too fast. From this week, Council is conducting 'courtesy speed checks' to help drivers check their speed and slow down. A digital sign will give passing motorists a speed reading.

Lismore's road safety officer Wendy Johnson said the digital display is the result of an $18,000 grant from the Roads and Traffic Authority.

'The council has no power to fine motorists for speeding, but we hope the digital displays can make some contribution to keeping our streets safer.'

Ms Johnson said that more than half the crashes in Lismore in 2000 were on streets with a speed limit of 60km/hr or less, which suggests large numbers of drivers are speeding.

'Council often receives reports of drivers speeding through residential streets. Using the Courtesy Speed Check trailer will help us to determine whether the reports are fact or perception. In areas where speeds continue Council will seek support from the Police to enforce speed limits in the area,' Ms Johnson said.

The courtesy speed checks are to be used at known trouble spots.

Cyclists back chopper rescue

The 49 members of the Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter's Hell On Wheels Cycle Tour stopped in Lismore on Tuesday to present the service with a donation of $1,000.

Keen cyclist, John Barnes of Richmond Waste (pictured) presented the money to the service's fundraising manager, Howard Atkinson.

This is John's second year and he believes it's a great way to get fit, have fun and help a worthwhile community organisation.

'It's like a mild form of adventure holiday - you get to ride through the bush, over mountains, up rough roads, down highways and camp along the way,' John said.

'Most importantly, it raises the profile of the helicopter service and much-needed funds to keep them in the air.'

The eight-day 700km ride from Tenterfield to Coffs Harbour finishes this Saturday. It collects donations along the way and is one of the helicopter's major fundraisers.

Organisers hope to top last year's figure of $40,000 and he says so far it's looking positive.

Worms Turn to New Home

Luke Maunder, Terry Flanagan and Mathew Monk prepare the worm beds at Lismore's green waste processing plant.

Lismore's $6.5 million worm farm is almost ready to start munching its way through the city's organic waste after tonnes of worms 'moved in' this week.

The groundbreaking facility, designed and built by the Triton Group, features two plastic-walled, computer-controlled hot houses 125 metres long and 25 metres wide - or almost 1300 square metres of worm housing.

The worms are expected to eat their way through 25 per cent of Lismore's current waste stream, reducing landfill as well as generating income for council.

Council's Business Group Manager, Craig Kelly said worm farm will produce worm compost for sale.

'Once the worm farm is on line, Lismore will be one of the most advanced places in Australia when it comes to integrated waste minimisation,' Mr Kelly said.

Over the last six months, dozens for recycled Styrofoam boxes have been used to breed up the worms, which were introduced to the new vermiculture (worm) site over the last few days. They will begin processing the first of a green waste in about three months.

'By February there will be an estimated 102 million worms happily chomping through the waste supplied by Lismore residents, ' Mr Kelly said.

Before the worm farm, all that material was going to landfill and thereby reducing the lifespan of the tip.'

Former NSW premier Neville Wran, chairman of the Tryton Group, will officially open the plant on Monday.

Stacey Achieves Excellence

Minister's Award for Excellence recipient and Alstonville High School year 12 student, Stacey Chesworth.

After years of achieving good grades, playing sport and helping out the local community, Alstonville High School student Stacey Chesworth has been awarded a Minister's Award for Excellence.

The award was given to Stacey in recognition of the huge number of activities she has been involved in since starting high school, both in and out of the classroom.

'It must be in the blood because my mother Julie won the same award for teaching two years ago and my cousin Amber also won a Ministers Award for Excellence a few years ago,' she said.

Stacey has been a member of the SRC throughout high school. She was president last year, and is currently the School Captain. A clarinet player, Stacey has been in the school band for five years, has competed at regional and state levels with the school's debating team and attended the Tournament of the Minds competition five times, once as a judge.

An avid sportswoman, she has been on the state relay team and she also plays water polo, volleyball and soccer. And in what little spare time she has Stacey volunteers with the Lennox Head Surf Club, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

'It just makes life more interesting if you get out and experience new things and set yourself challenges,' Stacey said.

Stacey plans to go to university for seven years of study to become a human genetics research scientist.

Overpass Opens for Students

It may have taken 10 years for something to happen, but students at Kadina High School think the new highway overpass was worth the wait.

The cost of installing the 18.3m long bridge was $330,000, funded primarily by the RTA, with Lismore Council contributing $65,000.

The bridge was completed in time for Monday's return to school. Lismore MP Thomas George (pictured with Kadina High School principle Toni Hughes, Lismore mayor Bob Gates and students) said it was one of the first issues raised with him after becoming the local member.

'The support from Kadina High School's students, parents and teachers, as well as Lismore Council, should also be recognized in making this happen,' Mr George said.

Council has also installed an open mesh screen across the bridge to protect motorists.

Care Group Speaks Your Language

Launching the new set of leaflets about Home and Community Care services last week is HACC project officer Sue Canning, Northern Rivers Social Development Council HACC development officer Vince Boss and DAISI manager, Maria Melrose.

To help promote Home and Community Care (HACC) services to people from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESBs), the Disability and Aged Information Service Inc (DAISI) has produced HACC leaflets in 12 different languages.

'We want people who are from NESBs to know the HAAC services are here and feel comfortable enough to access them, something we hope the leaflets will help us achieve,' DAISI manager, Maria Melrose, said.

'The next stage of the project is to promote HACC services and encourage people to make better use of them by making contact with migrant communities and individuals on a one-to-one basis.'

The new leaflets are available in German, Dutch, Serbian, Croatian, Punjabi, Italian, Polish, Cantonese, Turkish, Arabic, Filipino and Spanish.

HACC services are designed to help older people and people with disabilities stay living in their homes or communities rather than in nursing homes or hostels. HACC covers a wide range of needs, from help with housework and assistance with transport to respite care and dementia support.

HACC services are coordinated through DAISI, at 109 Molesworth Street, Lismore.

Phone (freecall) 1800 800 340. For an interpreter, phone 131 450.

Forum on Misunderstood Illness

Dr Brian Heber, a Méniére's sufferer and specialist, who will speak at the Méniére's Disease Forum this Saturday.

A special one-day forum on Méniére's Disease is on this Saturday, October 20 at the Lismore Workers Club from 1pm.

Méniére's mostly strikes men and women in the prime of their lives and if uncontrolled can permanently damage hearing and balance. Little is known about the disease, which is invisible, but can cause severe dizziness lasting more than 10 minutes and often for hours, tinnitus or ringing in either one or both ears, hearing loss and a feeling of fullness in the affected ear.

Keynote speaker Dr Brian Heber will give a personal and professional insight into the disabling and largely misunderstood condition.

Audiologist Jill Kato will speak about the hearing loss associated with Méniére's and Jennifer Scott, who will discuss managing tinnitus and the benefits of joining a support group.

Tickets are $5 at the door which includes afternoon tea.

For more information phone Maree Atkinson on 6628 3761.