 The Northern Rivers Echo Main News
Lismore's Not-So-Secret Garden
 Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens management committee chairperson, Mary Harris, with the Master Plan for the botanic gardens, which has been accepted by Council.
Like a tree that takes many years to grow and reach maturity, the Lismore Botanic Rainforest Gardens have had a slow but steady journey to fruition.
After more than 14 years in the making, a completed Master Plan has been developed and the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Garden management committee hopes work will begin within a month.
The idea for a botanic garden in Lismore first germinated in 1988. But it was to take a decade before the committee finally found the perfect site - a piece of land above the Wyrallah Road Waste Facility.
The Master Plan for the 47 hectare (117.5 acre) site includes a typical dry rainforest, red gum woodland with groundcovers, a restored remnant of swamp woodland, a creek and ponds, rainforest canopy walk, hoop pine plantation and many more plantings.
The site will also feature a nursery, souvenir shop, car and bus parking area, two lookouts and picnic areas throughout. The committee is also looking at turning an old quarry on the site into an amphitheatre.
The Master Plan was also designed to ensure the gardens are as environmentally friendly as possible. Irrigation will come from recycled water while solar power will be used to provide electricity to the buildings on the site.
And while the plan is impressive, Botanic Gardens chairperson, Mary Harris, said the most exciting part of the project is a partnership with the Centre for Plant Conservation Genetics at Southern Cross University.
The centre will examine most common tree species in the garden and use plant genomes (genetic make up) to determine which trees are best suited for planting to ensure the viability of rainforests. The trees will then be grown at the nursery on the garden site. Some trees will be given to landcare groups.
'The whole project really developed into something far more forward thinking than anyone on the committee originally envisaged,' Mary said. 'We happen to be doing the garden at a time when SCU is becoming a leader in the world of genome determination of many plant species. We're very lucky to be able to be working with the University to develop not only the best outcome for the gardens, but for theAustralian environment as a whole.'
The Master Plan can be seen on council's website at www.liscity.nsw.gov.au. It will also be on public display at the Council's Goonellabah chambers and the Lismore Library shortly.
A restoration and rehabilitation plan is currently being developed by 12 bush regeneration students from Wollongbar TAFE. The botanic gardens will be developed by a mix of paid workers, volunteers and Work for the Dole participants. It's hoped that some sections of the gardens will be open to the public within five years.
The gardens are partially funded by Council, fundraising efforts and community donations.
The Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens committee is now looking for more members, to boost the chances of attracting more funding.
Volunteers are also always needed to help in a variety of ways. To get involved phone Mary on 6624 2064. Because from a little help, big things grow.
Story & photo: Terra Sword
$5m Fillip to Homebuyers
First home buyers in Lismore taking advantage of the $7000 first home buyers scheme, as well as stamp duty relief, have enjoyed a $5 million boost towards their mortgage.
Real estate agent Paul Deegan told the residential land workshop held at Lismore City Council on Tuesday night that there had been a 'resurgence' in house sales in Lismore.
From July 2000 to December 2001, there had been 501 $7000 First Home Owner Grants (FHOG) in the 2480 postcode area - around 27 per month. While only 15 people received the additional $7000 for building a new home, 604 people received stamp duty relief from the NSW government - worth around $4000 on a $150,000 home.
'The economic benefit to the Lismore region from the first home owner grants and stamp duty relief represents a total benefit of $5,087,081 over the last 18 months,' Mr Deegan said.
He said the Lismore market was 'extremely sensitive' to interest rate levels, but that the FHOG, combined with low interest rates has helped boost demand from the likes of young families and newlyweds.
'The average sale price of a house in Lismore in 2001 was $127,129,' Mr Deegan said. That figure is half the state average and $50,000 less than the average for the Richmond-Tweed area. Lismore house prices grew by 11 per cent last year, while the cost of land dropped by almost six per cent. This year, the average price is expected to return to the 1993 level of $129,000 for the first time.
'The house prices in Lismore are still extremely cheap. The fact is that nearly 65 per cent of all homes sold in Lismore are below $130,000 and less than three per cent of sales are over $250,000,' Mr Deegan said
The proprietor of LJ Hooker has been keeping meticulous records of house sales in the city for decades and can plot trends in the market.
'Most houses that have been sold recently are still below replacement cost. That is not a sign of a market on the move, it is simply the fact that whichever way you look at it, house prices in Lismore are very cheap and any upward movement in average prices is simply a catchup after seven years of falling prices,' he said.
However Mr Deegan believes that gives Lismore a competitive advantage as property prices along the coast continue to soar.
Tuesday night's meeting also heard strategic planner Bruce Blacksford theorise that Lismore will continue to grow by around 300 people per year, giving the city a population of just over 50,000 by 2020. He added that the release of the 2001 census figures in July will give a clearer idea of the future levels of population growth.
Brian Henry, speaking on behalf of the Lismore business community, called for improved branding of Lismore as a great place to live, the release of more land in desirable areas like the North Lismore plateau, the renaming of some areas of Goonellabah as new suburbs, and the removal of brick and tile caveats to allow people to build homes in timber and tin and other materials.
Simon Thomsen
On Your Marks, Get Set, Fire!
 Casino Fire Station Commander David Speed with the fire safety caravan, which will be at the station on Hickey Street, Casino in the lead up to the NSW Fire Brigade Firefighter Championships.
If you're ready to get all fired up then Casino is the place to be during the first two weeks of April.
Local residents have been invited to visit the Fire Safety Caravan at the Casino Fire Station in the lead up to the NSW Fire Brigade Firefighter Championships on April 13-14.
Casino Fire Station Commander David Speed is excited about hosting the championships.
'They're all fire brigade related events - search and rescue, ladder events, pump events - all related to the core business of firefighters,' he said.
'There's even a cart event dating back to the turn of the century when firefighting was done with horses used to pull carts along. Four member teams have a cart loaded with a hose and gear. They have to run 100 metres, unload the cart and put out a fire. It's spectacular to watch and it only takes about 15 seconds,' Commander Speed said.
Commissioner of the NSW Fire Brigades Ian MacDougall will be in Casino for the championships and said the fire safety caravan is worth a visit.
'The fire safety caravan is one of many tools our firefighters use to help teach families how to be fire safe in their homes. Mums and dads can bring along their children, who are taught about fire danger in the home by local firefighters,' Commissioner MacDougall said.
The caravan is currently at Casino fire station and is open every day 9am to 4pm.
The two day Firefighter Championships will also feature displays including the Bushwise Puppet Theatre.
All events, shows and activities are free of charge.
The Show Will Go On
 Robin Francis from Djanbung Gardens in Nimbin is off to the Easter Show with her home-made organic products.
While most of us will be enjoying chocolate Easter treats over the break one local woman will be taking her eggs (and herbs, oils, balms and much more) to market.
Robin Francis, manager of Djanbung Gardens in Nimbin, will be holding a permaculture stall and display of her home-made organic wares in the Horticulture Pavilion at the Easter Show in Homebush this week.
'It's great recognition of permaculture,' she said.
Robin is looking forward to the opportunity of presenting her ideas to people familiar with more traditional methods of farming.
'More and more members of the mainstream are embracing permaculture and seeing that it does have practical solutions to issues,' she said.
Robin also believes that permaculture can be used to help with problems in traditional farming.
'Permaculture is based on principles and processes applicable to all living areas from urban communities to rural villages. The ideas are being used for whole farm planning and all industries now, especially horticultural and agricultural industries in rural areas.'
Rous Denies $2.3 Million Loss
Water authority Rous Water has denied claims by Lismore councillor David Tomlinson that it lost $2.3 million on its commercial activities in the last financial year.
Cr Tomlinson, a former national financial columnist, made the claims at the last Lismore Council meeting after analysing the Rous Water accounts. He said the Perrandenya residential estate at Caniaba was left with a $1.7 million deficit last year.
But at last week's monthly Rous Water meeting, Rous chairman Phil Silver denied it was a deficit calling it 'excessive expenditure over income'.
Cr Tomlinson claimed a number of Rous activities ran at a loss, including:
- a $143,000 deficit on the regional billing system;
- a $424,000 deficit on the Richmond Water labs and;
- a $160,000 deficit on Toonumbar dam.
'Of equal concern is the Rous budget. The actual returns of these non-core activities are way out of line with the budget. For example, over the past 17 months, Rous budgeted for a surplus on Perradenya of almost $918,000. Instead there was a deficit of $1.5 million - a difference of $2.5 million,' he said.
'The same applies to the regional billing activity and Richmond water labs - huge differences from the budget. Yes despite the massive underperformance of these activities, no explanation is given in the budget review statement.
Cr Tomlinson said that over 19 months the deficit on these activities topped more than $2.3 million, met from reserves. He claims there is no proper accounting of where the reserves can be spent and says he is concerned about overcharging.
Cr Silver denied it saying 'that's your view, but it's not the case'.
'We do not make or lose money on the supply of bulk water. We strike and budget and work with that,' he said.
Cr Silver said the only reserves Rous had came from developer contributions. Referring to future needs for water he said '$20 million is not a lot of money' and that Rous will probably have to borrow funds down the track. He said Rous had no intention of using Toonumbar Dam, where they have developed a hydro-electric plant, as a water supply in the future.
Following a rowdy public access session, Cr Silver adjourned the meeting for 10 minutes after repeated interjections from the gallery by outspoken Dorroughby resident Paul Recher, who had accused the eight councillors around the table of 'culpable negligence' over the decisions they had made.
Later on, Rous business manager Elizabeth Brown told the meeting that two properties at Perradenya estate had been sold, and they recently fielded two more strong enquiries.
Hopeful Response to Police Problems
Lismore MP Thomas George is hopeful that a visit to Police Minister Michael Costa last Thursday with Lismore and Casino mayors Bob Gates and Col Sullivan will bring more rapid improvements to police numbers in the region.
Ballina MP Don Page was also at the meeting and said the Police Minister seemed surprised when told of long term vacancies in the Richmond Local Area Command
'I raised the problem of authorised police numbers of 172 being reduced to 137 operational police because 35 officers were either on long term sick leave, light duties or job vacancies had not been filled', Mr Page said.
'The Minister undertook to pursue the unfilled vacancy issue and I am pleased about that'.
Mr George told the Minister there was a problem in the system for filling the vacancies.
'He said that he thought the Northern Rivers would be one area police would want to work in and said he'd get back to us ASAP with a solution,' Mr George said.
Mr George presented a letter from the Nimbin Community Action Group to the minister and discussed whether Nimbin needed special attention.
'If there are any special needs for Nimbin - like extra lighting or street cameras then the minister is prepared to consider them' he said. However, the idea about trialling cannabis cafes in Nimbin was out of the question.
'I indicated that this was one point that the general community and I disagreed on, but the Minister said it was irrelevant any way as it simply wouldn't be happening,' Mr George said.
'However it was good to let him know that the community want to do something out there.'
Mr George also floated the idea that a private tender could be called to construct a badly needed new police station for Lismore.
Mr Page raised community concerns about inadequate police presence at Alstonville.
'I felt his plan to set up a more formal and regular consultation arrangements through Police Accountability Community Teams (PACTs) could be a step in the right direction', Mr Page said.
'At the end of the day however, the key issues are getting the best value for money out of the way policing is carried out, increasing police numbers and visibility, and instituting crime prevention plans where appropriate', Mr Page said.
Rudi Maxwell
Bandit Boss Warns of Pokie Dangers
 NSW Gaming and Racing Minister Richard Face came to Lismore last week to discuss harm-minimisation strategies for gambling. Using arguments that sounded remarkably similar to those put forward by the cannabis legalisation proponents, the minister emphasised education, awareness, counselling and treatment for problem gamblers.
'For the great majority in the community gaming and wagering are enjoyable and harmless pastimes. Gambling can be a double-edged sword, causing significant and devastating problems for a small number of individuals and their families,' he said.
The reforms will involve a decrease in the number of gaming machines in NSW, changes to signage for poker machines and increased availability of literature about treatment for problem gamblers.
Mr Face also had some good news for the Lismore Turf Club.
The LTC will be granted a Governor's Licence, meaning they will be able to hold extra functions on the premises.
Hundreds of homes around Lismore were left without power for up to three hours on Tuesday night following a severe storm that lashed the city around 4pm.
The storms brought high winds and hail that brought down a number of trees and powerlines and forced the closure of Rotary Drive in Lismore while to remove a fallen tree.
Richmond Tweed SES controller Scott Hanckel, says no major damage was reported during the thunderstorm although SES teams responded to calls for help with fallen trees.
The blackout affected Southern Cross University and also forced Lismore City Council to hold a public meeting outdoors using gas lanterns for light since the building was blacked out.
Property Protest
The Ballina Environment Society (BES) will meet on Sunday, April 7 in the Boulders Beach carpark to try and stop the demolition of a house by former Australian Rugby Union player Michael Lynagh to build a larger complex.
The BES is asking people to sign a petition and donate to the Society's current legal case.
Mr Lynagh and David Coe bought the property for $1.2 million in January 2000, and a year later, received development approval from Ballina Shire Council to demolish the existing property and build a $1.5 million 12 bedroom, seven bathroom dual occupancy residence on the one acre at Skennars Head.
The BES lodged a class 4 action against the Ballina Shire Council over the matter. But instead Professor Bruce Thom from the NSW Coastal Council was called in to mediate. His report, released in September last year, offered an opinion that the Government could offer to buy the existing property and restore the site as crown land.
Youth Charged
A 13 year-old boy was arrested and charged with sexual assault last Thursday, after he allegedly sexually assaulted a nine year-old girl in Nimbin's Peace Park on March 4.
The boy allegedly dragged the girl behind a wall while she was on her way home from school and sexually assaulted her.
After taking part in a line-up and being positively identified by the victim and a witness, he was bailed to appear in Lismore Children's Court on April 15.
Power Mill Model on Display
A mobile display outlining NSW Sugar's plans for the renewable energy plant at Broadwater sugar mill was released on Monday.
The display will be at the Broadwater Community Hall and project consultant Dick Watts, who has a long history of involvement with the mill, will be on hand to answer questions.
The display will be open Mondays from 10am-12pm, Wednesdays from 4-7pm and Fridays from 10am-12pm.
People can also access the plans throughout the EIS submission period, from March 25 to May 24, by phoning 6620 8200 or by visiting the website www.nswsugar.com.au.
Black Rocks Closed
The Black Rocks camping area in the Bundjalung National Park, south of Evans Head, will remain closed throughout the Easter and April school holidays to enable the bridge across Jerusalem Creek to be replaced.
The wooden bridge was ruined in the recent bushfires and the bridge needs to be completely rebuilt. Repairs also been carried out at the Black Rocks camping area.
Access to Black Rocks via Shark Bay is also closed to let the burnt areas of land regenerate. Work is expected to take at least another four months. Alternative areas to visit in the Bundjalung National Park include Gumma Garra picnic area at Evans Head and Woody Head camping area in the southern section of the park near Iluka.
Magistrate Booted
Lismore magistrate Jeff Linden got the boot from an unexpected source. Mr Linden was assaulted on Monday when a man, who was appearing on several charges and had just been refused bail, got up and threw his boot at the magistrate. The boot struck Magistrate Linden, and after a brief struggle with Corrective Service officers the man was subdued.
The man refused to be interviewed by police and he has been remanded to appear again at the Lismore Local Court in May, when he will be charged with offences relating to the incident.
No Email
Thousands of Internet users in Lismore were left stranded in cyberspace for almost a day following a failure at Telstra's Lismore exchange on Monday afternoon.
Something nerds call an ATM (Accelerated Transfer Mode) router (the dorks, call it a big fast internet connection) failed leaving thousands of Bigpond users without email until around noon on Tuesday. The failure also left other Internet Service Providers who use Telstra bandwidth, like Lismore Internet Service, with access for their 2200 customers.
A spokesperson for Telstra said a replacement router had to be sourced from off site, resulting the delay in restoring service.
Park Residents Face New Development
Aged residents at the Tinkerbell Caravan Park in Ballina may have to find themselves a new home following the sale of the site to developer Chris Condon of Lennox Head.
The residents had been concerned about plans by Queensland-based property developers First State to build a major retail outlet on the site. But the company pulled out of the deal last week after it failed to produce a social impact statement for Ballina Council or find an alternative site for the residents.
But under a deal struck between Mr Condon and Ballina developer Frank Burke of Keypac Pty Ltd, a new caravan park will be developed just a kilometre away from the Tinkerbell site, giving residents the option of a short move.
But Residents Action Committee spokesperson Betty Reynolds said the stress of uncertainty about the future of the park was hurting residents.
'The longer this drags on, the more people will end up in hospital,' she said.
Lois Boswell, representing the residents through the Community Legal Centre, said 50 residents had already written to Ballina Council asking for confirmation that the existing conditions remained in place.
'We are hoping to talk to the new owner and Keypac soon to see if there is a way for the residents to save their homes and quality of life. Many residents can't drive and don't have cars and they have disabilities that stop them catching the very scarce public transport. To shove them out of town where they can't get to doctors and shop would virtually imprison them,' Ms Boswell said.
Ballina Council will now wait for a new rezoning application, expected within the month, before considering how to proceed.
Belt Up or it'll Cost You
Buckle up or pay up the message from police for drivers and passengers over the Easter weekend.
Double demerit points over the next five days mean that you will lose six points off your license and have to pay a fine of $220 if you don't wear a seatbelt over Easter.
Wendy Johnson, Road Safety Officer for Lismore and Ballina Councils, said that recent studies found that a number of road users failed to wear a seat belt, especially truck drivers. A quarter of the people killed in road accidents last year were not wearing seat belts.
'People travelling on roads leading to and from local rural areas also featured highly for failure to wear seatbelts,' Mrs Johnson said.
Acting Inspector Steve Parry from Lismore Police Station said lives were lost unnecessarily in the region and not wearing a seatbelt is a contributing factor.
'Police will be maintaining a continuous high profile for the next five weeks and the wearing of occupant restraints is one of the key focus areas of the campaign,' Act Insp Parry said.
Double demerit points for speeding and not wearing seatbelts began at midnight, on Wednesday and continues until midnight on Monday, April 1.
Council Tries to make Sense of Dollars
All families seem to argue over money and a recent extraordinary meeting of Ballina Council was no different. The meeting to discuss investment policy almost didn't get underway at all when Cr Phil Silver argued that the meeting was 'inappropriate' to consider investment policy. Mayor Peter Moore overruled him.
Cr Silver then moved a motion of dissent against the mayor. He lost it 4-3. What then emerged over the next three hours was a philosophical debate over how 'risky' councilors felt when it came to investing Ballina's $32 million in cash reserves.
After recently losing $5 billion, federal treasurer Peter Costello would have enjoyed the debate.
The high risk road was tossing half the eggs in a managed fund with the Local Government Financial Services (LGFS). Council currently has around 13 per cent of its funds in shares, bonds and property trusts.
LGFS CEO Warwick Hilder said that Council would have earned an extra $200,000 a year since 1996 if he'd been playing with their money.
But it's like deciding what to do with your superannuation. Some are more comfortable with the higher - though negligible - risk for greater returns, while some older councillors preferred a safer nest egg even if it delivers a lower income.
A bullish Cr Marilyn Perkins was ready to roll.
'This policy has been researched and recommended by Council staff. It provides opportunities to maximise our earnings and it meets the requirements for prudent investment. I'm not an accountant but I trust the people we employ to do their jobs properly,' she said.
Crs Avis Kennedy, David Wright and Margaret Howes proposed extreme caution. Cr Howes offered a little homily on how her father had once told her that bricks and mortar were the only safe investment.
Cr Silver said that Rous Water had tried forms of investment similar to those suggested by LGFS, but they hadn't been as successful as needed to justify the extra risk.
The mayor was keen to have a go.
'This is a very cautious investment policy. It meets all the guidelines in the act and will help us maximise returns,' he said.
The proposal came in the wake of Ballina's June 2001 investment policy review, which found that council was faced with falling reserves and less income from low interest rates. The LGFS were appointed as investment advisors to Ballina Council and put forward the more aggressive investment strategy. But the plan was defeated 2-6 (Crs Moore, Perkins for; Cr Daikin absent).
Rudi Maxwell
Nominate Now for Business Awards
Encouraging people to nominate themselves for the Lismore Business Awards are (l-r) coordinating judge Heather Williams, Immediate Reception proprietor Barbara Gosper and Lismore Unlimited manager, Marion Forwood.
The deadline for nominations in the 2002 Lismore Business Awards has been extended to April 12. Businesses are being encouraged to nominate themselves for the awards, and there are 10 different categories to ensure all levels and types of business are reflected.
And the main message is don't be embarrassed to nominate your own business.
'As an employee you have to sell yourself and it's no different when you're in business,' Lismore Unlimited manager, Marion Forwood, said. 'Businesspeople need to overcome the fear of self-promotion - you have to promote your own business to thrive and excel in the business community. It's a lot like advertising.'
For Immediate Reception managing director, Barbara Gosper, who won two awards including Business of the Year in 2000, the awards were a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
'We went on to become national finalists in the My Magazine Business Awards, and winning the Lismore Business Awards award really helped us get there,' Barbara said. 'Having been part of the awards before and seeing the benefits, I wholeheartedly recommend people enter the awards. It's a fantastic initiative and a very exciting night. As a gala event last year's Lismore Business Awards far outweighed the national awards in Sydney.'
Barbara, who started her company five years ago with just herself, a desk and a phone, now runs a thriving business with a 24 hour stationed office in Goonellabah and seven staff. But don't worry, she's not nominating herself this year.
Nomination forms for the awards are available from Lismore Unlimited, The Echo office or you can cut out the nomination form on page 14 of this week's Echo and send it in.
Alternatively, phone Lismore Unlimited on 6621 4463.
Lismore Business Wastes Away
Looking forward to the new organic service in the outer CBD is proprietor of the Green Frog Cafe in Carrington Street, Jan Murray (right) with Council's stormwater education officer, Vanessa Tallon.
Lismore City Council's organics reprocessing service has been extended to include the Lismore's outer CBD, and proprietor of the Green Frog Cafe in Carrington Street, Jan Murray, is delighted to say the least.
Before the service began on Tuesday Jan was throwing away about two garbage bags full of organic material a week. She is just one of many. More than 200 organic wheelie bins have been delivered to 99 business premises in the outer CBD. The service will see more than 100 tonnes of organic waste diverted from landfill each year.
'I think it's a great idea. Before this service started I was simply mixing everything - glass, plastic and organics - and I like the fact that now I'm contributing less to landfill,' Jan said. 'And everyone seems really enthusiastic about the idea - I was recently discussing the integrated waste service in the store when a passing customer yelled out 'it's the best thing that's ever happened to Lismore', which is pretty positive feedback!'
Council's stormwater education officer, Vanessa Tallon, said the long-term goal was to get all of Lismore on the integrated service. The new service will be trialled and any problems will be ironed out before it starts in the inner CBD.
The organics bins can take all paper including glossy magazines and un-waxed cardboard as well as kitchen scraps and garden waste. Businesses will have organics bins picked up weekly, and the regular bins picked up once a fortnight.
For more information, phone Vanessa on 6625 0532 or the waste hotline on 6625 0559. - Terra Sword
Parade Goes on Despite Liabilities
Lismore's famed Winter Lantern Parade is one of a number of community events threatened by massive hikes in public liability insurance, but parade organiser Jyllie Jackson has vowed that the show will go on, regardless of the cost.
Ms Jackson said she was recently quoted a premium of $7,500 for the parade - an 860% increase on last year.
'We have put so much work into the event this year already, we will find a way to put all the insurance in place and have a fantastic night,' she said.
The Lantern Parade is now eight years old and with 7,000 people attending last year, it has outgrown the Rowing Club site and will move to the Ballina Street Boat Ramp Park for the finale.
In the lead up to the Lantern Parade, there will be workshops in mask making, lanterns, costume, and percussion instrument making, playing in the Street Band, circus skills and the Samba! The first workshops will be held in April and continue non-stop until the parade on Friday, June 21.
'We can't start the workshops until the insurance stuff is sorted out, we are a month behind schedule already, so when we start we would love everyone to join in and make it really the best parade yet, it will be a big job, but I know we can do it!,' Jyllie said
'By the way, if anyone has any fabric, shiny things, old backpacks etc give us a ring and we will come and collect. We would like to see everyone in the parade in some sort of costume, headdress or mask.'
For more information about the Lantern Parade or workshops call 6622 6333 or email festival@nrg.com.au
The Echo is once again sponsoring the parade and will feature regular updates in the coming weeks.
Uni Helps East Timor
Compassion Australia founders Lawrie and Olive McCowan (r-l), Coffs Harbour Education Campus director, Warren Grimshaw, and SCU journalist Robin Osborne, a widely published writer on Indonesian affairs, at the launch of the campaign to support a primary school in East Timor.
Atauro Island, near Dili, capital of East Timor, is lucky enough to have a school.
The 450 students in years 1 to 6 are taught by only seven teachers at present, while the school has no electricity connection or piped water. The power comes from small generators, and water must be brought from a well.
But help and hope is at hand thanks to an initiative by Southern Cross University's Coffs Harbour chaplain, Jan McLeod, with support from staff members at SCU's Lismore campus, to ensure the school's survival.
The four year-long Atauro Island Schools Project, will focus on providing a range of vital school equipment, including English language reading and writing books (English is now the official language of East Timor) to the Pala Sekolah Dasar school.
The funds will be administered by Anna Gomez, a local field officer with the Australian arm of the international aid organisation Compassion. Like many people in a population that dropped by an estimated 250,000 during 25 years of Indonesian occupation, Ms Gomez lost family members, including her father, and experienced the slow pace of social development.
Donations to the project are tax deductible. For details, contact Compassion Australia on 1800 224 453 and specify the Atauro Island Schools Project.
From Nuns to Mums
Hard at work painting the office for the post-natal day stay unit are Lee McDonald, Rod Price's legs, Louise Young and Rosemary Price.
The former convent in St Vincent's Hospital is being transformed into the region's first post-natal day stay unit with the help of volunteer work and the support of local businesses.
'People and businesses have been so generous with their time and donations,' Lee McDonald, post natal project officer for the Northern Rivers Division of General Practice, says. 'We had 11 people here at Saturday's working bee sanding, painting, scrubbing, cleaning, hanging blinds and moving furniture. We would like to thank the volunteers and also local businesses who are giving us such tremendous support. Without them, we could not get this venture off the ground.'
The post natal day stay unit is a collaborative venture between the NRDGP, St Vincent's Hospital and the Northern Rivers Area Health Service. It will have three bedrooms and an educational centre for parents with parentcraft problems.
Donations have been given or pledged by Cummings Retravision, Harvey Norman, Hurford Business Supplies, Northern Rivers Air Conditioning, Panasonic, Pippin Australia and Shaws Office Supplies. Rotary, Quota and Zonta are also behind the project.
More volunteers and business support are still needed Lee says, especially as the job has been much bigger than initially anticipated. For example, the courtyard will need to be refloored and the lounge suites will need to be covered or replaced.
Although the unit will be ready to open to the first mums and bubs on April 8, some of the rooms are very dated. So the volunteers put their heads together at the working bee to form a six month plan.
'Our plan is to completely renovate one room each month when the unit is closed for three days. This will entail steaming off the old wallpaper, preparing the walls and then painting. It's a big job and we'll need help,' Lee said.
Businesses or individuals who would like to help out in any way, contact Lee McDonald on 6622 4453 or Rosemary Price on 6623 3520.
Massive Market
A special two day Easter Nimbin Aquarius Fair Market will be held this Saturday and Sunday, March 30-31 at the Nimbin showgrounds.
The markets are probably one of the best ways to experience the true culture of Nimbin - the fabulous food, exciting music, colourful people and the huge array of handmade arts and crafts.
During the two days market this weekend there will be live entertainment from popular local folk artist Bo Kaan and Jodie and Martin Preedy. A smorgasbord of delicious vegetarian food will be on sale, from Mexican dishes to Indian curries.
New stalls are always welcome at the market. For information phone 6689 1825.
Organic Market Grows
The Lismore Rainbow Region Organic Market has extended its service to include Thursday evenings so people who can't make the regular Tuesday morning market can still get fresh, organic produce.
The market will now be open every Tuesday morning from 8-11am and every Thursday from 4-7pm, both at the Lismore Showgrounds.
The produce on sale at the markets includes in-season vegetables and herbs grown by local farmers within a 50km radius of Lismore, free-range organic eggs, locally grown macadamia nuts, freshly baked bread, organic refreshments and much more.
'Thursday night offers a convenient time to stock up on our fresh organic produce for those who find Tuesday morning too tight for time,' stallholder, Sally Newham, said.
For more information on the market phone 6688 2288.
Cat Homes Needed
The Northern Rivers Animal Shelter is looking for suitable permanent homes for a number of adult cats in their care.
All the cats are desexed, vaccinated and wormed, and they make a great companion for a family or for someone living alone. People interested in becoming a cat owner need to own their own home or have written permission from a landlord, and be prepared to keep the cat indoors at night. A small fee of $27.50 applies to help cover microchip costs.
Interested people should phone Robyn on 6681 1860 or Helen on 6622 0078.
Starlight, Star Bright in Bangalow Tonight
Chicchan and her extraordinary crystal singing bowls, that will be a feature of this weekend's Starlight Festival in Bangalow.
Whether you want to listen to crystal bowls singing, get in touch with your inner self or simply enjoy a relaxing massage, then the 12th Starlight Festival in Bangalow is the place your chakras should be this weekend.
During the four day event people can enjoy a session with one of the 40 practitioners at a discounted price, join in the numerous workshops or listen to hourly talks.
Festival director, Raym Richards, said the festival is a celebration of all that is alternative and a chance for people to experience alternative and complimentary therapies in a peaceful environment.
'My aim is to create a space where visitors can enjoy themselves, be revitalised, experience peace, relaxation and healing,' he said. 'Through experiencing modalities, talking to practitioners and enjoying the program of talks and workshops, visitors are able to judge for themselves the effectiveness of alternative and complimentary medicine. The focus of the Starlight Festival is accessibility and affordability.'
Some of the free entertainment includes singing crystal bowls with Chicchan each morning from 10am. Chicchan performs music on her pure quartz crystal singing bowls, running a special tool around the rim of the bowls to create amazing sounds which are good for relaxation and general health and well-being.
There will also be a free yoga class every afternoon from 4pm and every hour on the hour there will be free talks by the practitioners, focusing on everything from acupuncture and feng shui to extra terrestrials and UFOs.
There are also a number of workshops being run over the weekend, including Numerology with Sydney-based mystic, Gypsy, who uses Pythagorus' theory of numbers to do readings. There's a Wholly Men workshop run by local Vietnam Veteran John Russell, which helps men of all ages reclaim their self respect and deal with old wounds, mental or physical. Other workshops include Radical Marketing for Small Business, the Joy of Singing, Creating Abundance and more.
The Starlight Festival will be held from Friday-Monday, March 29-April 1 at the Bangalow A & I Hall from 9.30am-5.30pm. Tickets are $5/7 at the door.
Tickets are also still available for the Blue Healers comedy show being held tonight, March 28 at the Bangalow Bowling Club from 8pm. The show features Byron Bay comic Mandy Nolan and touring comic Peter Willey, and tickets are $15/10. To book phone 6688 4435.
The Right Trees, Please
Identifying eucalypt species on SCU's Lismore campus was a challenge for Doug Johnston, co-author of Forest Trees of Australia, Prof Jerry Vanclay, head of SCU's Forestry program, John MacGregor-Skinner, the Northern Rivers Regional Development Board's plantation officer, lab technician Maxine Dawes, lecturer Dr. Doland Nichols and Alstonville horticulturalist David Cameron.
They were joined by other enthusiasts in celebrating last Thursday's World Forestry Day, an event hosted annually on the north coast by SCU and the Subtropical Farm Forestry Association.
This year's theme was 'Dead or Alive - The right tree in the right place for the right reason' and according to the SSFA's president, Martin Novak,
'We have a concern that there are some plantings going in, particularly larger commercial plantings, which are not suited to the sites chosen and result in large numbers of tree deaths,' he said.
'In most cases these are tax payer funded developments. It is our contention that this is totally avoidable and needs to be addressed.'
World Forestry Day began in 1971 and falls on March 21 to coincide with the first day of Northern Hemisphere spring.
'Although it marks the autumnal equinox here, it is still a good time for tree planting and a time of vigorous growth,' Prof Vanclay said.
Visitors give families a helping hand
A group of about 20 volunteers have just completed training so they can be part of the Volunteer Home Visiting Program (VHVP), run through the Lismore Family Support Network.
Celebrating their recent graduation were (front l-r) VHVP coordinator Gail O'Brien, support workers Penny Cook and Elaine Catton, VHVP coordinator Rose Hogan and some of the volunteers who have completed their training.
The VHVP is designed to help local families with children under three. The volunteers spend a few hours every week with a family, promoting positive parenting by providing practical support and general encouragement.
'The volunteers help in a number of different ways, from the weekly shopping to simply having a chat and giving some support,' VHVP coordinator, Rose Hogan, said. 'Most of the volunteers are all parents themselves or have extensive parenting experience. They each bring to the program a huge amount of personal experience and empathy - they remember what it's like to have young children and be isolated without a lot of friends or family around to support them.'
Volunteers are comprehensively trained and screened before being matched with a suitable family or parent. More volunteers are always needed. If you're interested phone Rose on 6621 2489.
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