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Northern Rivers Echo Main News
Council Says ‘No Tanks’
Lismore City Council has rejected a proposal to make rainwater tanks compulsory in new developments in urban areas.
While the NSW Government has begun offering rebates of up to $650 for Sydney residents to install water tanks – a plan the Opposition wants to introduce across the state – Cr Ros Irwin proposed making tanks compulsory in new residential developments, connecting them to washing machines and toilets, and that Council investigate incentives to encourage existing homes to install a rainwater tank.
Cr Irwin said 10 per cent of Lismore homes have tanks, but they were not connected to the toilet or a washing machine. She argued long-term benefits would come from the initial cost.
“This will give residents in the urban area access to free water. And when you’re paying 86 cents a kilolitre for water, it doesn’t take long to get your money back,” she said.
But Cr John Hampton – who is also chair of Rous Water – was opposed to making the tanks mandatory, suggesting it should be optional.
“I don’t think young people building in town should be made to pay this additional cost,” he said.
Cr Brian Suffolk said he was “a little bit appalled” by compulsory tanks, saying it would be cleaned out in one to two days if hooked up to a washing machine.
Cr Frank Swientek said that collecting the rainwater would mean less went into streams. He argued that people needed to do more with ‘greywater’ – the water from showers and washing.
Council voted 5-4 (Crs Roberts, Irwin, Tomlinson, Gallen against) to abandon the compulsory condition, but backed the idea of incentives for existing households to install rainwater tanks. It will also ask Rous Water to take the idea to other councils, and lobby the NSW Government to extend its subsidy program.
Concerns about water dominated last week’s Lismore Council meeting. Cr Frank Swientek proposed a scheme in which residents would use their garbage wheelie bins to store water. He wants Council, with Rous Water, to open a ‘water crisis management’ shop in the CBD. It would hand out free buckets and basins for people to scoop out greywater to flush toilets and water the garden. Cr Swientek also wanted to give people garbage bags to store their rubbish while their wheelie bin contained water. He also proposed discounts for people who cut their water usage by 50 percent or more. A resident using 60 per cent less water would only pay 50 cents per kilolitre – a saving of 36 cents.
Council voted 9-2 (Crs Hampton, Suffolk against) to put Cr Swientek’s ideas to Rous Water. But at Wednesday night’s Rous Water meeting, it received short shrift. Cr John Crowther declared “This is rubbish. Frankly, I don’t know how it got out of Lismore City Council.” He was absent from the Lismore Council meeting.
Meanwhile Rous Water will invest $2.2 million in a new pipeline to pump water from the Wilson River when Rocky Creek dam falls below 20% capacity, which is expected to occur in late January. Rous will also be recommissioning three bores at Woodburn this month, to supply residents around Woodburn, Evans Head and Broadwater. The bores were last used in 1998.
Rous also deferred any decision on defining level 5 water restrictions, or when they will be introduced. General manager Paul Muldoon said that Rous Water would wait for more information and consider the circumstances in early January before deciding the next step.
However, moves by Mullumbimby to tap into the Rous Water supply in an emergency – deferred following rainfall on the weekend – could place an added strain on dwindling water supplies. Rocky Creek dam is expected to fall below 30 per cent capacity next week, despite 22mm of rain falling in the catchment on Saturday.
A few days before the welcoming downpour, the Tweed-Lismore area became the latest region to be declared drought affected. Now 99 per cent of NSW is classified as drought affected or marginal.
Department of Land and Water Conservation regional director Des Schroder said recent rainfall had little impact on water supplies, flushing some rivers and creeks, but not improving flows.
“There needs to be substantial falls of rain to increase the flows in the waterways in order to contemplate lifting the restrictions and suspensions to pumping for rural water users,” he said.
“The protection of town water supplies is taking priority at present.”
Meanwhile, the warmer weather is causing other problems in the water, with reports last week of blue green algae appearing in estuaries and along the shoreline on the North Coast.
Mr Schroder said warm currents and high temperatures were causing the blooms, which may cause skin rashes and eye or ear infections.
“If you see a scum or slick on the water surface, you should avoid swimming in the effected areas,” Mr Schroder said.
Xmas Cheer for Farmers
 North Coast ‘Food for Farmers’ Drought Appeal coordinator Anne Thompson (right) and Shoppe One 17 staff member Lyndal Norris with some of the non-perishable food items that have already been donated to the appeal.
When NSW faced severe drought eight years ago, more than 250 farmers received anonymous food hampers to ease the strain and bring some Christmas cheer.
Little did they know the hampers came from Lismore resident Anne Thompson who, with help from a few friends, ran the North Coast ‘Food for Farmers’ Drought Appeal.
With dry conditions once again threatening the livelihood of farmers out west, Anne is holding another appeal, and hopes to better her previous effort of 253 hampers.
“My husband and I live on a farm between Clunes and Eltham, and I can really empathise with farmers doing it tough,” Anne said. “It’s dry here and we may have water restrictions, but it’s nothing compared to out west. Those farmers are at the mercy of the elements – it must be so depressing to see your animals starving and even more depressing when you can’t put food on your family’s table, especially at Christmas time.”
A person from Byron Bay has already donated $400 worth of Christmas hams, with other locals donating non-perishable food items at drop-off points around the region.
Local business Shoppe One 17 is also supporting the appeal. And in the spirit of giving, anyone who donates food, toys or toiletries at the store will receive a 20 per cent discount on their Christmas shopping.
Other drop-off points for hamper goodies include Jontom Car Sales in Lismore, Eric Box Mitsubishi in Casino, Ballina Tile Centre, Bangalow Professionals Real Estate, Clunes Telecentre, Evans Head Senior Citizen’s Centre, and Lennox Head Butchery.
For more information or to help out phone Anne on 6629 1041 or 0412 910 523.
Terra Sword
Giving Nepali Orphans a Hand
 Doris Williams with her class of Nepalese school children.
Inspired after a five month stint as a volunteer English teacher in Nepal in 2001, Doris Williams of Terania Creek is fundraising to build classrooms and support an orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal. Helping her is Fran Hopkins, who’s visited Nepal twice and was impressed by the hospitality, generosity and friendship of the people.
The women were approached by the principal of the Gokarna Lower Secondary School to help complete a classroom building project begun in 1994 by a Japanese monk. The monk died of cancer in 1999 having built five of 10 classrooms with money raised from begging on the streets of Kyoto.
“We were touched by the compassion and resourcefulness shown by the monk, and felt we’d like to complete his dream,” Doris said. Doris and Fran visited the Shobha Bhagwati Orphanage in Kathmandu, which cares for around 90 children in very cramped and basic conditions. “We took boxes of fruit which were a big treat. The children especially enjoyed the apples, which are a luxury in Nepal,” Doris said.
To help their fundraising efforts Doris and Fran are hosting a Nepalese Night this Saturday, November 23, from 7.30pm at the Parish Centre behind St Andrew’s Cathedral, Zadoc St, Lismore. They’ll be showing a video on Nepal and serving supper. The cost is $20.
The very world-famous “Big in Dorroughby” will be performing and Ollie Heathwood and Jude Belcher of Happy Beings Artworks will exhibit their hand painted prayer wheels and home altars.
For tickets or information ring Fran on 6622 0868.
Lismore Misses Out on Cancer Treatment
Despite a fierce lobbying campaign by Northern Rivers residents to base life-saving radiotherapy services for cancer patients in Lismore, NSW Health Minister Craig Knowles has announced Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie will be the first regional cities to receive the service.
The decision, backed by a federal Government inquiry, is a major blow to more than 16,000 people who signed a petition to base an oncology unit in Lismore. Northern Rivers Area Health Service (NRAHS) figures show that last year, local people were forced to travel to Brisbane for treatment more than 5880 times, costing NSW taxpayers $1.3 million.
While the federal Government is funding the expansion of services in regional areas, it requires the backing of the NSW Government.
Page MP Ian Causley tabled the petition in federal Parliament in September. During his speech to Parliament, Mr Causley questioned figures in Government inquiry’s report, used to identify the mid-North Coast as the area of highest need for radiation oncology services.
Southern parts of the Northern Rivers were used to bolster the case for Coffs Harbour. Lismore was regarded as serving only the Richmond-Tweed area.
A letter last month from the Commonwealth department of Health and Aging to NRAHS chair Liz Rummery confirmed that the figures used did not align with the NRAHS boundaries.
“However, the Government is very aware that other areas of need exist, and a committee has been established… to assess priority areas of need,” the letter stated.
The Northern Rivers has been identified one of three areas, including the mid-North Coast, of highest need, but Lismore mayor Merv King said this region was missing out.
“The regions have similar demographics, population sizes, growth rates and cancer incidents,” Cr King said.
Last week nine local councils backed the campaign for radiotherapy services in Lismore. On Tuesday, a delegation headed by Lismore MP Thomas George put the case for Lismore to NSW Health Minister Craig Knowles. Lismore Council general manager Paul O’Sullivan, doctors Bill Buddee and Chris Ingall, and Northern Meat Co-op general manager Peter Carlill spent an hour with the Minister arguing for Lismore
“The Minister was very responsive to our delegation and appreciates the Lismore position and has now asked for a further submission,” Mr George said.
Mr Knowles will meet with federal Health Minister, Kay Patterson, on November 29, to discuss the regional radiation oncology roll out.
Services on the mid-North Coast are expected to begin in 2004.
Sewage Meeting
The Alstonville Ratepayers Association meets next Tuesday, November 26, at 7.30pm at the Alstonville Bowling Club.
There will be a special presentation by Ballina Shire Council on the Urban Water Management strategy, which has caused some disquiet in the community over plans to pump treated effluent into Emigrant Creek.
Ratepayers’ Association president Cath Robb said all are welcome, but only ratepayers can speak at the meeting.
“It would be great to get as many people as possible there who are interested in the Urban Water Strategy to come and hear all about it from one of the Council people involved,” Mrs Robb said.
Other items on the agenda include the proposed Alstonville brothel, pedestrian hot spots, the Federal Hotel and Council’s recent land sales.
For more information, contact Jan on 6628 0111.
Youth Charged
A 16-year-old youth was arrested in Casino last Saturday after police stopped the stolen vehicle he was driving.
The youth was charged with breaking into Day’s Machinery and the Blue Goose Hotel, Grafton, and attempting to break into Scrivner and Webb Pharmacy, Casino and illegal use of a motor vehicle.
He will appear in Casino Children’s Court on December 4.
Wilko for GM
Former Casino Council corporate services manager Brian Wilkinson will return to familiar territory next month as the new general manager of Richmond Valley Council.
Following a second round of interviews between two candidates on Tuesday, mayor Charlie Cox announced Council’s decision saying Mr Wilkinson had provisionally accepted the position, subject to further negotiations over his package.
Cr Ray Jeffrey voted against offering Mr Wilkinson the position.
Teddy to the Rescue
The annual Red Cross Trauma Teddy Day is this Friday, November 22.
St John’s College Woodlawn students (pictured last with a life-sized Trauma Teddy, affectionately known as ‘Big Ted’) will be selling Trauma Teddy merchandise in the CBD on Friday from 1pm to 3pm.
You can buy $5 bears, $3 pins, $2 pens and $2 slapbands or $1 tattoos.
“All money raised during the Trauma Teddy Day campaign goes directly to providing vital Red Cross services in the Northern Rivers,” fundraising officer, Scott Krueger, said. “We rely on the generosity of the community to keep the services going, which most often help the most vulnerable.”
The programs include the Telecross service for the elderly and isolated, and a tracing program for those who have lost contact with loved ones.
And if you miss the students, you can always pop along to the Red Cross office at 130 Keen Street, Lismore, for a teddy.
Attempted Murder
A Suffolk Park man has been charged with intent to commit murder, robbery and malicious wounding, after he attacked a woman at a nursery near Broken Head on Friday morning.
Julian Haywood, 50, was arrested by Lismore Police at Rocky Creek Dam on Saturday. During a hearing in the Lismore Local Court on Monday, his solicitor entered no plea and made no application for bail.
The victim suffered head injuries and was flown to Lismore Base Hospital for surgery. She is in now a stable condition.
The case was adjourned until December 17.
Make a Date with Weeds
 Lismore City Council waste and education officer, Vanessa Tallon, with the free Bushland Weeds Poster-Calendar, now available to all residents.
To help people identify and eradicate harmful environmental weeds, Lismore City Council has produced a free Bushland Weeds Poster-Calendar.
The poster-calendar features 24 of the most harmful environmental weeds, including wandering jew, camphor laurel, orange jessamine, umbrella tree, asparagus fern and morning glory.
It features symbols that indicate how each weed species is spread (ie. birds, bats, wind, water ), and the methods used to control them (hand removal and various poisoning techniques).
“We are hoping not only to control these weeds, but to influence people in what species they purchase and plant in the future and encourage people to go for native alternatives,” Council’s waste and education officer, Vanessa Tallon, said. “If people can’t tell by looking at a plant if it’s a weed or not, they can bring a sample into Council and we will help identify the plant for them.”
Council has more than 80 species of plants on its environmental weeds list, which is available from Council’s website (www.liscity.nsw.gov.au) and the Big Scrub Environment Centre.
The Bushland Weeds Poster-Calendar is available from Council’s Goonellabah office, at the Big Scrub Environment Centre and The Echo office.
Family Tree Spreads
 Opening the Richmond-Tweed Regional Library’s new administration headquarters and Genealogical Resource Centre last week were (l-r) regional library manager Martin Field, Lismore’s deputy mayor Merv King, and regional library committee chairman, Max Boyd.
The Richmond-Tweed Regional Library’s new administration headquarters and Genealogical Resource Centre was opened last Friday in Goonellabah.
The building (the former ‘Sunbusters’ clothing factory) and adjacent block of vacant land was purchased by the Richmond-Tweed Regional Library in February this year for $500,000 and is jointly owned by local councils.
As well as providing a new home for the administration headquarters, genealogical resource centre and 10-odd staff who work there, the adjacent block of vacant land also provides space for the semi-trailer mobile library.
“We have been able to purchase the spacious premises and refurbish them at a cost far below that of constructing a new building of half the size. We will now be able to sell the remaining part of the adjoining block to recoup some of our costs. The fortuitous acquisition has meant that we are one year ahead of schedule, and at a far lower cost than anticipated,” regional library manager, Martin Field, said.
The Genealogical Resource Centre, where you can trace your family tree, is at 6 Centenary Drive, Goonellabah, and open Monday-Friday, from 9am to 5pm, and on Saturdays, 9am to 12pm.
Don’t Smoke – Breath Easy
 Gus Fagioli from Whian Whian thinks the pulmonary rehab program is great and it has inspired him to do more home-based exercise. He is also planning to take up a martial art. He has just moved onto a farm and wants to be able to work it. A smoker from the age of 13, he gave up easily when he ended up in hospital and realised how badly it had affected his lungs and his breathing.
Nothing else matters if you can’t breathe. About one in 10 people over 45 years of age in the Northern Rivers are sufferers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
As COPD is a progressive disease, many people may not know they have the disease until significant breathing problems begin to dominate their lives.
Yesterday (Wednesday) was World COPD Day. Cecily Barrack, respiratory coordinator at the Northern Rivers Division of General Practice, said that quitting smoking is the single most effective way to reduce the risk of COPD or its progression.
“A person with any changes to their ease of breathing and a history of prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke or other irritants can be diagnosed with COPD by their GP. Early symptoms can often be ignored, but the disease progresses slowly and eventually the sufferer may find it difficult or impossible to walk even a few steps,” she said.
For those who do not have COPD, reducing exposure to risk factors, most commonly smoking, is important to prevent the onset of COPD.
“As well as not smoking, reducing exposure to other airborne irritants such as sprays and chemicals in the home and workplace, also prevents the diseases development and progression,” Cecily said.
Cecily coordinates local pulmonary rehabilitation programs, which have proven to be effective in improving the quality of life of people with moderate to severe COPD where breathlessness is a daily issue.
The gentle exercise and education programs slow the progress of the disease, relieve symptoms, improve exercise tolerance and ability to self manage and reduce the number of days spent in hospital.
For more information about courses available next year, contact Cecily on 6622 4453.
Show Goes on at Con, Despite the Stage
 The Northern Rivers Conservatorium’s acting director Gabrielle O’Shannessy and head of dance Michael Hennessy near the dance studios, which were closed last week due to structural instability in the building.
The drought claimed another victim last week, with the Northern Rivers Conservatorium forced to close more than half its facilities due to structural instability. Dry soils had contracted, shifting the foundations of the Heritage-listed building in the CBD.
The decision to close certain areas of the Con building came last week after a Public Works engineer came to inspect cracks in the south-east corner of the century-old building.
Conservatorium acting director Gabrielle O’Shannessy said that last Thursday, Department of Education officials told the Conservatorium to vacate the premises.
“The cracks have worsened in the last month since the drought, and the problem has been exacerbated by the earthworks taking place at the new library site,” Ms O’Shannessy said. “The main thing is the problem was caught before it posed a danger to staff or students, and we can now look at how to fix it.”
Ms O’Shannessy said that despite the setback, the Con itself is still alive and kicking with all courses running as normal.
The Con’s 450 students were relocated, with the dance students moving to Lismore City Hall to continue their studies.
On Friday, an engineer returned to inspect the building and deemed the front section stable, allowing all programs except dance to continue as normal.
“Financially it’s been tough – we had only just cleared out all our past debts and had recently finished paying off a $40,000 loan to professionally fit out the dance studios when this all happened,” Ms O’Shannessy said. “It’s been an inconvenience, but it hasn’t stopped our courses running and it won’t affect the courses for 2003 – we’re still definitely alive and thriving.”
Public Works will brace the building until arrangements can be made to have the foundations properly fixed.
Despite being listed on the NSW National Trust register, Con staff are now trying to get the building listed on the State Heritage Register so they can apply for heritage funding to fix the studios.
In order to be listed on the register, the Conservatorium needs to prove the building is of local significance. Ms O’Shannessy said the community can help.
“The Con wants people who have a history with the building to submit stories of why it’s significant to Lismore, and the more submissions the better,” she said.
Post submissions to The Con, attention Gabrielle O’Shannessy, PO Box 1111, Lismore, 2480. For more information, phone her on 6621 2266.
Terra Sword
Dam Cost Trebles
The cost of building a second dam below Rocky Creek has more than trebled in seven years to $61 million. A report prepared for Tuesday’s Rous Water meeting said that the estimated cost of building the 28,000 megalitre dam had spiralled from $18.6 million in 1995 to $61.1 million if it was built today.
More tests for MP
Page MP Ian Causley will undergo more tests for cancer in his lower body in Brisbane next week. Last week, Mr Causley was examined locally, but the results were inconclusive, requiring the MP to receive more extensive examinations. He remains in good spirits.
Student Advice
Wallet-sized cards for young people, featuring local phone numbers and web addresses for a range of counselling and medical services, are being distributed to Northern Rivers high schools from this week. The ‘School Link’ project addresses mental health issues facing adolescents, such as depression.
Body Found
A decomposed body was found in bush just near Southern Cross University on Sunday.
Police said the body, of a man dressed in shorts and a shirt, had been there for approximately two weeks and a post mortem would be conducted to try to determine his identity and the cause of death.
Carrington Street
Lismore Council plans to stop traffic turning right across Carrington Street into Conway Street. The move would also prevent cars from crossing Conway to continue down Carrington Street.
Council backed a plan proposed by the traffic advisory committee following complaints by a local business about congestion and near misses at the intersection. The decision follows a complaint from a local business about ongoing problems at the intersection, which is dangerous for motorists and pedestrians.
Cr John Chant said the intersection was an accident waiting to happen, and that he had witnessed a number of close shaves.
Vehicles wanting to turn right will have to use a roundabout to turn around. Council will consult with taxi operators on how the changes will affect them before proceeding.
Bye Bye Barry, the Workers Man
 Lismore Workers Club general manager, Barry Crimmins, retires from his post next Wednesday after 30 years.
More than 200 staff, members and friends of the Lismore Workers Club will farewell general manager Barry Crimmins at a special dinner next Wednesday, when he retires after 30 years on the job.
Barry started with the club in 1973 as financial manager. Just two years later, he was promoted to general manager. And despite having worked in the same office in the same building for nearly three decades, Barry still loves his job.
“I’ve loved every minute of it here,” Barry said. “It’s an interesting job with good security, so why would I want to go anywhere else? I’ll leave with more than a tinge of sadness, because I’ve just enjoyed it here so much. I’ll miss the staff more than anything else, but also the regular routine because I’m definitely a creature of habit.”
Barry says the highlight of his career was the amalgamation of the Lismore Workers Club with the Workers Heights Bowling Club six years ago, and the amalgamation with the Lismore Gold Club two years ago.
“The amalgamation with the two clubs was very exciting – it put us in a really unique position because we were one of the very first clubs to amalgamate like that,” Barry said. “It really lifted the club’s profile and provided much more extensive services to our 12,000 members. It was a great time.”
Barry, a “mad golfer”, plans to play at least three rounds of golf every week now he’s a free man and travel around Australia with his wife Pam, who is also retired.
“Now that I’ve resigned myself to leaving I’m looking forward to it – I want to move on to the next stage of my life,” Barry said. “And I feel good about leaving now because the club itself is in a strong position – all three clubs are totally free of debt with cash in hand in excess of $3 million, and all three are trading very profitably. I’ll miss the place a lot, but I’m satisfied I’ve done the job well and now it’s time to relax a little.”
Story & photo: Terra
‘only 43 years to go’ Sword
Local Protest Against War
A group of 20 local people have formed a new group, No War on Iraq, to give a local voice to people opposed to the USA’s proposed war on Iraq.
The group is planning a march and rally in Lismore’s Spinks Park on Saturday, November 30 from 10am, and they are encouraging other locals to get involved.
“There is widespread opposition to the war in the community, and we wanted to give local people a chance to express those feelings,” spokesperson, Tom Flanagan, said. “We are one of the first regional centres to kick off such actions, and we’re hoping other areas will follow suit.”
One of the group’s members, Sister Margaret Mazzer, says she wanted to join No War on Iraq because she wanted to see peace, not war.
“I want to talk up peace. War has never worked and this proposed war won’t work either – it’s just crazy,” she said.
No War on Iraq wants people to make banners and placards for the rally, and will have a information stall on the corner of Magellan and Carrington Street every Saturday until the rally, from 10am.
Meetings are held every Thursday at the Lismore Workers Club from 6pm. For more information phone Tom on 6622 2862.
Story & photo:
Terra Sword
Council Keeps Crawford House
 Ballina Shire Council is calling for expressions of interest to lease Crawford House (pictured) in Alstonville.
At its September meeting, Cr David Wright successfully moved that Council not sell Crawford House.
“The community have overwhelmingly told us that they don’t want us to sell it, so we have to find other options,” Cr Wright said.
However Cr Margaret Howes claimed Council would be better off financially if the building was sold.
“It’s going to cost us $60,000 to restore. We’re better off to sell it and cut our losses,” Cr Howes said.
On this occasion the economic rationalists lost, with Council voting 5-4 to keep Crawford House (Crs Dakin, Felsch, Howes, Rich against).
Council bought the historic house in 1982 for $170,000.
Tomki’s Gone to Pot
 Beth Bostock, Jill Larsson, Glenda Blackman and Kay Hanlon in front of the Tomki station tallow pot, which is now an historical landmark.
In its heyday 150 years ago, Tomki Station (10 km east of Casino) was a leading producer of tallow, which was used to make candles and soap. More than 10,000 head of cattle were killed per annum, and the carcasses were boiled down in a huge pot.
Local residents, many with a direct link to Tomki Station, gathered recently to celebrate the restoration of the station’s old tallow pot, which is now an historical landmark on the road to Tomki.
The late Jim and Mavis Rodgers donated the huge “boiling down pot” to the community and their daughter, Glenda Blackman, unveiled plaques explaining the history of the pot.
“My parents understood the importance of preserving the history of Tomki, one of the original stations on the Northern Rivers,” Glenda said.
“They always welcomed visitors to Tomki to view the meat house and stables, which Dad restored, as well as to see the boiling down pot.”
Scottish emigrant Francis Clark was commissioned to design the tallow factory’s steam driven heating plant in 1846 and the pot was cast at a foundry in Sydney.
It was a history lesson for all as Beth Bostock and Jill Larsson, descendants of Francis Clark, found out more about their ancestor’s relationship to the pot.
“I only learnt yesterday from my cousin Jill that our ancestor, Francis Clark, had been responsible for designing the pot,” Beth said. “This was his first job after beginning work in Sydney.”
Francis Clark must have liked the area, because he eventually settled near Corndale with his family and brothers as one of the early cedar getters.
Also present were descendants of the Pratt family, Marie Shephard and sisters Clare Lamont and Vera Young. The Pratts had a long association with the original owner of Tomki Station, Clark Irving.
Glenda’s ancestors, the Rodgers family, bought Tomki Station in 1915 from the original owner, Mr Clark Irving, who registered the name ‘Tomki’ in 1843.
The Casino Historical Society developed the landmark with help from Richmond Valley Council, Harry Armstrong and John Hendley.
Therese Schier
Sharp Look Out for Diabetes
 Lismore Ophthalmologist, Dr. Niall Aboud, giving George Thacker (not a diabetes sufferer) an eye examination.
World Diabetes Day this week was marked by a plea for all adults to have their eyes checked every two years by an Optometrist, or yearly if there is a family history of diabetes.
Ophthalmologist Dr Paul Beaumont said the eye disease known as retinopathy is a major long-term complication of diabetes and is strongly related to the duration of a sufferer’s diabetes and the extent of their blood glucose control.
“Diabetes damages the very fine blood vessels in the retina and has resulted in diabetes retinopathy being the leading cause of blindness of Australians aged under 60,” Dr. Paul Beaumont explained.
The peak body Diabetes Australia said the national rate of blindness has decreased dramatically because of earlier detection of diabetes and better management practices. The group advises prevention measures such as regular exercise and healthy eating, as well as the testing of Blood Glucose Levels (BGL) by a General Practitioner.
“Diabetes is also one of the leading causes of kidney disease,” Judy Reinhardt, Diabetes Educator with Northern Rivers Area Health Service, said. “Although when detected early, by simple annual urine tests, renal disease is often amenable to intervention.” She stressed that diabetes was a key cause of renal failure, leading to a need for dialysis.
Diabetes Australia’s President, Graham Harris, said “The more we manage and take control of our health, the more benefits we will enjoy in the long run,” and advised people to regard their BCL to be as important a health indicator as their cholesterol or blood pressure readings.
More information is available from a new website – www.eyesondiabetes.org.au
MUMS is the Word for Healthy Babies
 The award-winning MUMS (Mothers Using Methadone and/or other Substances) team includes registered nurse Mandy Carpenter, midwife Kaye Lollback, child and family health nurse Elanor Coochiroff and Special Care Nursery midwife, Ruth Thompson. Ten month-old Xavier is not involved with the program.
A team working to help pregnant women whose use of mood-altering drugs, tobacco or alcohol would be likely to affect their babies has been judged as best overall project in the Northern Rivers Area Health Service’s 2002 Quality in Health Care Awards.
§ubbed ‘MUMS’, for Mothers Using Methadone and/or other Substances, the program was launched in mid-2001 as a response to the area’s high levels of illicit drug use.
Michelle Daly, coordinator of the program, said research showed that pregnant women who use substances often have irregular antenatal care.
“This is largely because they fear being judged and fear that welfare services might intervene and remove their infant,” Ms Daly explained.
Substance use may lead to such complications as low birth weight (low birth weight babies are often sicker), miscarriage, growth deficiencies, placental abruption (bleeding), still birth, prematurity, growth retardation, congenital defects, neonatal withdrawal and foetal alcohol syndrome, characterised by intellectual disability, poor coordination and motor skills, physical defects and slow growth. Mood altering drugs can enter breast milk, and thus may affect feeding infants, Ms Daly said. When the program started, there were six newly born babies withdrawing from drugs in the Special Care Nursery at Lismore Base Hospital.
“MUMS was established as a multi-disciplinary team that included drug and alcohol specialist clinicians, consultant paediatricians and obstetricians, child and family health nurses, midwives and social workers,” she said. “The aim is to access women with substance use problems and encourage them to pursue regular ante- and post-natal care. In addition, as a trial, some GPs were provided with an intervention package and a suggested pathway for referring their patients.” Currently, there are 30 mothers in the MUMS program, some of them pregnant, others with babies up to 18 months, and the outcomes have been highly encouraging. Ms Daly said a test of one group showed that “MUMS has successfully attracted mothers into treatment who might not normally have accessed services.”
“As well as being beneficial for the mothers-to-be, the complications for babies were minimal and secondary complications were absent,” she said.
“Future plans to assist drug-using mothers include establishing a postnatal baby clinic at the Riverlands Drug and Alcohol Centre in Lismore, and exploring culturally appropriate intervention strategies for Aboriginal communities.
Local Women’s Business Explained
 Bundjalung Elders Aunty June Gordon, Aunty Agnes Roberts and Aunty Irene Harrington with Richmond River Historical Society’s coordinator of the Aboriginal program, Jennifer Hoff.
A new project should help dispel commonly held misbeliefs about Aboriginal Australians – like the idea that only men are allowed to dance the Corroboree.
Ngah Nganyah Mirunjgan Budharam (Women Elders Tell our Sacred Stories) is a new local project, which will record the histories and stories of Bundjalung women, like Aunty Irene Harrington.
“Different tribes have different laws, but we were allowed to dance the Corroboree,” Aunty Irene said.
“I performed the Corroboree in front of the Queen when I was 12 years old. Sometimes I think the young people miss out on these experiences – to them it’s the rap.”
Aunty Irene has recently become the Bundjalung Custodian of Lismore, following in the footsteps of Uncle Fletcher Roberts, who died earlier this year.
“With the changes in society I worry about future generations. This way we can leave them something of value that they understand – something they can identify their grass roots from; something that is really tied up in this area,” Aunty Irene said.
“Back in our day we lived off the land. We sat around the fire. We were happy then, we loved it. We had no wireless, no recorded music. The didgeridoo and the clap sticks, those were our music,” she said.
Aunty Irene said she hoped that by recording the histories of the Bundjalung women, younger women would be inspired.
“It’s very important to have this. It means a lot to have our own separate program because we needed something. For example none of the young people have knowledge or experience about living on an Aboriginal mission. I hope that gives an insight as to why the project is so important to us.
“We need to get the message across to young ones. I hope they’ll be lead by experience,” she said.
“This is an example of how two cultures can coexist and the future be brighter for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.”
The project is a collaboration between the Gudhum Wadjelah Aboriginal Association and the Richmond River Historical Society.
Story & photo: Rudi Maxwell
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