The Northern Rivers Echo Main News

Join the Festive Spirit

Five Loaves Mobile Soup Kitchen operator, Darcy Goodwin, will some of the delicious food he'll be serving up at the Orphans' Christmas Party next Wednesday.

While many people will enjoy Christmas in the comfort of their own homes surrounded by family, food and presents, spare a thought for the people who have no family or the money to provide such a Christmas for their own family.

To help ensure they enjoy Christmas just like everyone else Five Loaves Mobile Soup Kitchen operator Darcy Goodwin is hosting an Orphans' Christmas Party in Lismore on Christmas Day.

Families and individuals who attend will be treated to a free Christmas dinner, live entertainment, a visit from Santa and other activities for kids. People are also encouraged to bring along musical instruments for a jam that evening.

"The idea of the party is to let people know that we care and to make sure everyone in the community, no matter who they are, can have a happy Christmas," Darcy said. "A lot of people don't have the money to enjoy Christmas or they have nowhere to go, so we're providing free food, a little Christmas cheer and lots of love."

The Orphans' Christmas Party will held next Wednesday, Christmas Day, in the Gordon Pavilion at Oakes Oval from 3pm onwards.

For details or to volunteer to help, phone Jo-ann on 6624 7312 or Darcy on 6622 0318. - Terra Sword

Power Tastes Sweet

Sunshine Sugar CEO Greg Messiter at the Broadwater sugar mill.

Richmond Valley Council has approved a controversial $50 million plan to turn sugar cane waste into electricity at the Broadwater Sugar mill.

Council voted 8-2 (Crs Jeffery and Thomas against) for the electricity biomass cogeneration plant at Tuesday's meeting, despite vocal opposition from some Broadwater residents, who called out "shame" and "this will be the death of the river" from the gallery.

The plant will convert biomass - including bagasse (a fibrous residue resulting from the sugar extraction from cane) and the cane leaves and trash - into electricity. It will put an end to cane fires in the region.

Tony Gleason from the anti-generator Broadwater Action Group (BAG) warned the Council that this was the biggest decision it would ever make.

"If you approve this then you'll ensure that every Broadwater resident will inhale unchecked fumes. We'll have noise and odour all year round from two stacks," Mr Gleason said.

"Everyone who has moved to Broadwater knew that there would be emissions produced for six months of the year, but it's a different ball game if it's 12 months. There'll be no respite for us or the environment," he said.

But Sunshine Sugar CEO Greg Messiter argued that the plant would help the environment and the sugar industry.

"This project, together with the one at Condong, will be a major contributor to renewable energy in this state," Mr Messiter said. "The two gigawatt generator at Broadwater will produce 180,000 tonnes less of CO2 [carbon dioxide] than a coal-fired power station of the same magnitude.

"The Northern Rivers has always been a leader in the generation and use of renewable energy and this plant will produce up to 25 per cent of the regions' total electricity needs. It will also provide income for the sugar industry at a time when it is under financial pressure," he said.

Cr Eileen Melling asked sarcastically if Broadwater residents knew the mill was there when they moved to the area.

"Anything of concern has been addressed. Such things have a way of moving on. Things either progress or die - nothing stands still. This is a clean, green energy source," she said.

Cr Don Harvey said he thought the 110 conditions imposed on the DA meant the plant would be appropriately monitored.

"There's no way we would have imposed that many conditions in any other area. This council insisted on an EIS [environmental impact statement] and quite appropriately so. We've now heard from the government authorities and this council should take their advice," he said.

The Broadwater plant is planned to be operational by April 2005.

Story & photo: Rudi Maxwell.

Students Share Christmas Spirit

More than 50 needy families in the local area will receive a surprise Christmas hamper next week, thanks to a joint effort between St Vincent de Paul and students at Trinity Catholic College.

Finishing off the last of the 53 hampers last Friday were year eight students (l-r) Murray Clark, Sarah Ford, Robert Weatherby, Monica Senior, Daniel Griffin and Christina Santin.

Every class was given a description of a needy family and it was then up to the students to bring in food and toys suited to those families.

"We want everyone to be able to enjoy Christmas just like we do," Monica said. "These families normally wouldn't have these sorts of things at Christmas time, so we hope it'll make their Christmas a little happier."

Bathwater Worries Health Officials

Using 'greywater' from the bath, shower or washing machine to water the garden is a big 'no no' according to NSW Health, which is worried that the water may contain chemicals and pathogenic micro-organisms - bacteria and virus - that could be infectious.

In a report into greywater reuse, prepared in 2000, NSW Health wrote that people use greywater "poorly" by bucketing bathwater on to garden beds, or diverting washing machine water on to the lawn, exposing pets and children to potential dangers.

The report found that houses generate an estimated 400 litres of greywater daily. NSW Health describes it as "contaminated" by a range of pollutants, including chemicals like oil, fat, soap, detergents and salt, or 'physical' pollutants like dirt, lint, food and sand.

"All forms of greywater are capable of transmitting disease," the report states.

While many Northern Rivers residents believed they were doing the right thing by reusing greywater as water supplies plummet, its use has alarmed Lismore Water's manager Anu Atukorala, who wants local councils to begin a public education campaign on the safe use of greywater.

In his report to last week's Lismore Council meeting, Mr Atukorala warned that if Council encouraged the use of greywater, it could be liable for any outbreak of water-borne diseases.

"Extreme care should be taken when handling greywater or reusing it around your house," he wrote. "Staff are aware that a number of residents are using laundry wastewater to irrigate flower beds. Where residents have made enquiries, they have been requested not to use greywater on edible food crops and avoid handling it."

Only final rinse laundry water should be used in the garden.

Lismore Water's concerns over the use of greywater were part of a report into how to handle the drought crisis.

Council abandoned a plan to introduce discounts on water bills for people who cut their consumption by more than 50 per cent. Cr Frank Swientek also proposed using garbage bins to save water and handing out free buckets - suggestions rejected as inappropriate by Council staff.

Cr Diana Roberts said it penalised people who were already saving water. She wanted to increase the cost of water by 20 per cent during water restrictions, saying it would increase the quarterly cost for a household by only $6. She wanted the additional revenue to go to increased discounts for householders who fit water saving devices.

But Cr John Crowther argued "water prices should not be used as a demand management tool". Cr Roberts countered that the introduction of a 'user pays' system for water was the "most successful demand management tool ever used".

In the end, Lismore Council ended up doing nothing, with both ideas defeated.

Meanwhile, Rous Water has adopted a policy to fund up to 50 per cent of the capital costs to developers who install systems that use reclaimed wastewater in place of drinking water.

Simon Thomsen

ABA Orders Extra Local News

The Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) has imposed an extra requirement on regional television stations to provide a minimum amount of local news.

Under the new code stations must provide 45 minutes of 'material of local significance' per week in prime time.

While both NBN and Prime's programming would remain unchanged, as they both provide local news bulletins, Channel 10, which abolished its local news program in the late 90s, is likely to have to re-establish a local news service.

Fraud Charge

A 42-year-old man was charged with 15 counts of obtaining money by deception, involving around $160,000. The man appeared in Lismore Local Court on Monday and was given conditional bail, to reappear on January 13.

Swamp Fires Blanket Region in Smoke

Black smoke - the result of tea tree burning - billows into the sky at Tuckean swamp. Photo: Michael Woods

The Northern Rivers region once again disappeared under a thick cloud of smoke on Wednesday, prompting health authorities to warn that the young and elderly should stay indoors and rest.

Mark Bartlett, Director of the Northern Rivers Public Health Unit, said ongoing blazes around Copmanhurst, in the Clarence, and Tuckean swamp lands, south of Lismore, have increased air pollution and reduced visibility.

"Smoke from fires is made up of very fine particles of soot and high levels of particulates from smoke can impair breathing and put extra strain on the heart and lungs of both the very young and elderly. Particulates may also cause lung irritation in healthy individuals," Mr Bartlett said.

"Everyone in the affected areas should avoid exertion, while people experiencing chest pain or breathing problems should rest and take their medication or seek medical attention."

He said anyone with pre-existing lung disease, such as asthma, or people with heart conditions, should see their doctor.

The Tuckean blaze, which has resulted in thick black smoke from tea tree, has burnt out more than 1500 hectares of peat swamp since it was first reported on Saturday.

NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman Inspector Matthew Inwood said 12 RFS brigades, plus three National Parks crews, spent Wednesday working on containment lines and were hopeful of bringing the fire, which burns underground, under control by today (Thursday).

"The fire started in an inaccessible area and is believed to be the result of a lightening strike from the storms last week," he said.

Insp. Inswood said peat fires - a traditional fuel for stoves - were difficult to control, and highly inflammable tea tree made controlling the blaze difficult.

Meanwhile FRS crews were also battling fires at Bishops Creek, near Nimbin, which had so far burnt out around 100 hectares of land.

"The fire is burning in inaccessible escarpment country, making it difficult to fight," Insp Inswood said. "Heavy machinery is working on containment lines, but on Wednesday, the wind created some havoc causing several spot fires, so we're using helicopters to douse them."

• Solution to fires, page 11

Council Crackdown on Water Abusers

People caught breaking water restrictions in Ballina Shire may have water flow restrictors installed in their homes to stop them wasting water.

Council voted 5-3 (Crs Wright, Kennedy and Howes against; Cr Moore absent) to install water flow restrictors, which reduce the pressure and volume of water into the house of people caught breaking the restrictions. To get it removed, a resident would have to pay either $190 in Council fees, or the $220 fine for breaking water restrictions.

Council's Civil Services Manager John Truman said the restrictors would only be used in cases where an infringement notice had already been issued.

"Much of the community is trying to respect the water restrictions, but enforcement is very important for those not responding," Mr Truman said.

Cr Alan Rich, a Rous Water councillor, said it was important that Council took a "pro-active role" in water management.

"We've already had an inadequate regulatory response and restrictions haven't been enforced - if they were we'd be in much better shape. We're pretty close to a very serious situation and we need to take stronger lines," Cr Rich said.

Cr David Wright said he thought level 5 restrictions were a better way to go.

"If you speed and you're caught the police don't take your car. I can see problems with this," Cr Wright said.

Cr Marilyn Perkins said it was obvious many were ignoring the restrictions.

"This is an equality issue. Why do some people feel they have the right to take more than anyone else? No-one can be unaware of the restrictions at this stage," Cr Perkins said.

The plan has one catch though. Due to the fact that council officers must either catch people "in the act" of using water illegally, or obtain a confession, and get their name and date of birth, so far, no-one in Ballina shire has been fined.

Other councils also have the power to introduce flow restrictors under NSW Government legislation.

Rudi Maxwell

10 Years of Good Grub

When Lismore Base Hospital Auxiliary member Peg Wells celebrates her birthday, she also wishes the Lismore Base Hospital Auxiliary coffee lounge a happy birthday too.

The coffee lounge turns 10 this Saturday, and while Peg turns 86 this week, she still makes the time to volunteer in the lounge every fortnight.

"Celebrating its 10th birthday is definitely making me feel old - I remember the first day it opened like it was yesterday," Peg said. "It's been wonderful to see it grow into such a flourishing business. There are lots of people I know who don't even come to the hospital to visit anyone, they come here specifically to have a coffee and a meal, which I think says a lot about the coffee lounge."

Profits are given to the hospital for equipment. On average the coffee lounge raises about $30,000 each year.

"It gives you a feeling of great satisfaction to know you're one link in a chain that allows the hospital to purchase new things," Peg said. "We also use some of the money to provide every patient in the hospital at this time of year with a Christmas present."

Terra Sword

Kerbside Parking Preferred

A handful of people who turned up to discuss the redesign of parking in Molesworth Street, Lismore, have narrowly backed a plan involving angled kerbside parking - despite the loss of 60 cars spaces.

Lismore Council's public consultation process on Monday only attracted 20 people - many of them Council staff or councillors. A 7-5 vote at the meeting selected 'option 2', featuring 45° nose-in angle parking over centre angle parking.

The matter will now be discussed by business organisation Lismore Unlimited today at a board meeting before the group puts its preferred option to Council.

Work on the $500,000 redevelopment of the street is due to begin in late February.

Lismore Unlimited president Barry Robinson said that his group will consider a modified version which reduces the loss of parking spaces while providing the maximum amount of shade by 'greening' the street with mature trees.

"We want to make the CBD a pleasant place to shop and do business, so shade is important. By reducing the parking times from two to one hour, it will effectively double the number of parking spaces, but option 2 still means a 20 per cent reduction in the number of spaces," he said.

Alternatively, option 1, featuring centre parking, would lead to the loss of 30 spaces - but a slight increase under the one hour restrictions.

Council's city works manager, Bill Moorhouse said whether to have centre angle parking or nose-in angle parking to the kerb was the "outstanding issue" of the upgrade.

"The community is happy enough with most of the proposal and had no objections to widening the footpaths and increased shade," he said.

Mr Moorhouse said the work required would be "fast and cause minimum disruption" by being carried out on weekends. "It's not a Magellan Street development, and we'll work weekends and nights to minimise the inconvenience. The work should only take a couple of weekends," he said.

CWA Shares Christmas spirit

The ladies at the Lismore Country Women's Association (CWA) are getting into the spirit of Christmas this year, donating the money they would normally use for members' Christmas presents to a local charity.

CWA president Eileen McDonald (left) and member Bernice King gave $150 to 2LM Children's Christmas Appeal representative Bruce Rollo last week.

"We're very pleased to be able to help such a worthwhile local charity, and contribute to the Christmas spirit by helping someone less fortunate than ourselves," Eileen said. "It's not a big donation but every little bit helps."

Youth Responsibilities on Film

On location at the Lismore Skate Park for video about young people were actors (front l-r) Kevin Anderson, Claribel Diza, Clifford Roberts, Luke Hewitt, Brad Walker and Jessica Walker with (rear l-r) director of photography Paul Tait, actors Tess and Joel Satherley, director Aliison Kelly, project manager Karin Ness and sound recordist Rik Cole.

A new video is being developed in Lismore looking at the rights and responsibilities of young people in public and privately owned public places like shopping centres.

The video looks at police powers and how they affect young people, and is being developed by the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre.

"The extension of police powers has changed the nature of youth rights in public places, and hopefully the video will make young people more informed about these changes so they can exercise their rights effectively," project officer, Karin Ness, said. "The video looks specifically at youth rights and responsibilities - including the power of police to give a reasonable direction, and to search for a knife, and the power of security guards in shopping centres."

The video is being made by local company Hatchling Productions and director Aliison Kelly. All actors in the video, aged 13-25, are either students from Nimbin Central School or local Indigenous youth involved in projects at Community Connections in Lismore.

The video will be launched during Youth Week in April, 2003, and distributed to youth organisations, schools, community legal centres and other places throughout NSW.

Simple Solution to Peat Fires

Shane Davies uses a hose to extinguish peat fires in the Bungawalbyn area.

Peat fires burning beneath the ground seemed unstoppable to firefighters, but a Bungawalbin farmer has come up with a simple solution to extinguish the blazes.

Recent bushfires in the lower Bungawalbin went underground when they ignited peat along the Bora - Codrington and Haughwood roads area. (Peat is partly decomposed swamp vegetation and is used as fuel for domestic fires in some countries).

Boyd Townsend of the Rural Fire Service said peat fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and can burn for extended periods.

But property manager Shane Davies has managed to put out the fires by simply digging around the fire perimeter with a shovel, then pumping water into the ditch.

"So far it is working extremely well with only one fire remaining to be put out near my property. Apart from the fire brigade I'm probably the only person legally using a hose," he said.

Richmond River County Council opened floodgates near the fires to bring water up mitigation channels and help douse the peat. A key concern from peat fires is that it removes protection from acid sulfate soils. Des Schroder from the Department of Land and Water Conservation said that peat acts as a sealing layer over acid sulfate soils.

"Peat forms slowly at around 10scm per 100 years, so it is important to put out the fire and stop the peat layer burning away," he said.

Uni Tops for Tourism

Southern Cross University's Head of the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Perry Hobson, Associate Lecturer Meredith Lawrence (who put the winning application together), and SCU's Executive Dean (Business) Lawson Savery with the NSW Tourism award.

Southern Cross University (SCU) still has the best tourism degrees in NSW, winning the NSW Tourism award for Tourism Education and Training for the fourth year. Tourism Minister Sandra Nori declared SCU the winner in Sydney last week.

"The School of Tourism and Hospitality Management is internationally-recognised for its excellence in tourism and hospitality education and research," the Minister said.

Another winner from the Northern Rivers was the Angourie Rainforest Resort in Yamba, which won the New Tourism Development Award.

There were more than 140 entries for 33 awards.

Head of School, Perry Hobson, said the award was recognition of the hard work by his colleagues at the Lismore and Coffs Harbour campuses, the Hotel School in Sydney and the Centre for Regional Tourism Research, based in Lismore.

Coincidentally, three SCU students are working at Angourie Rainforest Resort, while another student wrote the submission for a local finalist, Ballina Manor.

"I think that's a good indication of the quality of the students we're putting out," he said.

In 1989, Southern Cross University became the first Australian university to offer degrees in tourism and hotel and catering management. Now some 30 universities have similar courses.

"This award shows we're still at the forefront," Mr Hobson said.

Art in the Heart Re-Zoning

Lismore's Art in the Heart has received an official green light with the Minister for Planning formalising the rezoning of the former Lismore High School site.

Council's planning services manager, Helen Manning, said the rezoning brought the project one step closer to fruition. "The new zoning specifies that arts and cultural activities, education, tourism, information technology, retail and commercial development can all be considered for the site, as well as some residential use and the continuation of public car parking," she said.

Council is now preparing a draft Master Plan for the development of the site, which will the go up for public comment. "This means that the community will have the opportunity for input into the design of the site. It is being designed so that the history of the site, its prior uses and its heritage value are taken into account in planning its future," she said.

Pokies Pay for Community Groups

The Lismore RSL Club and Lismore Workers Club presented 28 local community groups with grants totalling $48,760 on Wednesday.

The Family Support Network in South Lismore was one of the groups to benefit. Jack Piper, president of the RSL (pictured), presented a cheque to Debbie Campbell, while Lismore councillor John Hampton, Max Thompson from the Workers Club and Colleen Brash from the Family Support Network looked on. Others who received funding included Northern Rivers Fellowship, the Lantern Parade and Lismore Over 50s learning Centre. The money came from the Community Development Support and Expenditure Scheme, which aims to redirect some of the money raised through gambling to community groups.

Rivers Get a Good Rap

Jason Sines performed the Bundjalung Rivers Rap for the Bundjalung Elders recently.

While rap music often has a nasty reputation, locally it's helping the environment. Jason Sines has written the Bundjalung Rivers Rap to help pass on the message about river pollution.

"I was baking cookies with my kids and it just came to me. I'd write a verse, do another batch of cookies and then write another verse; it just flowed," Jason said. "It's a very important issue for the community. We all use the water system and music is a good medium to bring issues to people. It's a simple message - reduce the amount of rubbish going through the river system."

The song is directed towards educating young people.

"My kids, they love it," Jason said.

It seems to span all ages, with Bundjalung Elders Uncle Norrie and Auntie Lillian Williams saying they enjoyed it too.

"The fastness of it is good for teenagers. We couldn't understand some of the words until he slowed it down, then we really liked it," Auntie Lillian said.

"Hopefully people will start to respect the places they live."

The Bundjalung Rivers Rap is the result of a partnership between Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Byron and Kyogle councils to improve local water quality.

Rudi Maxwell

We Love the Wildlife

Students from Goolmangar Primary School and their principal Denis Gosper (with Lismore Council's Land for Wildlife officer Stephanie Lymburner). The school is the 50th property to sign up for the Land for Wildlife program.

Lismore City Council's Land for Wildlife program has been so successful that Council has agreed to provide temporary funding to continue it.

The six-month program was due to finish a fortnight ago, but with 50 landowners signing up for the voluntary agreement to preserve habitat for native animals - more than expected - Council has paid for an extension to Land for Wildlife officer Stephanie Lymburger's position while it seeks further state or federal funding.

The latest signatories to the program are the students of Goolmangar Primary School. Principal Denis Gosper said students at the school had been caring for the local environment for the past 14 years.

"Land for Wildlife highlights these efforts and encourages them to continue," Mr Gosper said.

Ms Lymburger said the Land for Wildlife's success was due in part to its voluntary nature.

"It provides people with a wealth of information about specific environmental needs, as well as recognising community involvement in caring for the environment," she said.

"The 50 properties that have signed up show that many landholders are conscious of their environmental responsibilities."

More than 134 Northern Rivers properties have joined the scheme.

Beware of Mozzie Viruses

Summer isn't just about blowies causing problems, the warmer weather also means mosquitoes, prompting health officials to warn people about the dangers of mosquito-borne diseases such as Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses.

Both viruses can have similar symptoms including lethargy, fevers, rash and painful joints, which can be can be long lasting and unpleasant.

The North Coast Public Health Unit said people take the usual precautions, including wearing insect repellent and protective clothing when outside, especially at dusk and dawn. Loose fitting light covered clothing is recommended because it is more difficult for the mosquito to bite through. Repellents containing diethyltoluamide (DEET) are recommended.

To limit mosquito breeding, empty water from containers and pot plants and keep gutters free from water and plant litter. Make sure all windows and doors are screened and if camping, ensure tents have screens that are kept closed Use a knockdown insecticide in bedrooms half an hour before going to bed, taking care to follow the instructions for use carefully.

If you suspect you have contracted a mosquito-borne virus, contact your GP for a blood test.

Home is Where the Heart is

Members of the Lismore Neighbourhood Centre Regional Accommodation Brokerage Service (RABS) presented 22 local businesses with chocolates and certificates earlier this week, as a thank you for helping them out.

Presenting the gifts to Lismore Palms Caravan Park manager Derek Goodwin (right) on Tuesday were (l-r) RABS members Sioux Harrison, John Mumford and Marie Reilley.

As part of the program, local businesses provide crisis accommodation for homeless people - much-needed since there's no overnight crisis shelter in Lismore. "We just wanted to say thank you to these community-minded, compassionate people," Mr Mumford said. "The need to depend on them points to the lack of crisis and affordable short-term accommodation in Lismore. We desperately need a homeless shelter here."

Whiskas to the Rescue

The Echo joined forces with pet food manufacturer Whiskas, donating cat products to the Northern Rivers Animal Shelter last week to help local abandoned cats. The Echo's sales and marketing manager Heather Williams, presented Animal Shelter treasurer Chris West (right) with two Whiskas hampers, valued at $70, and containing a Whiskas cat house and five new Whiskas food pouches for adult cats.

"We have just had 40 kittens aged 6-12 weeks come into our care, so the houses will make great little homes for them, and the food will be used as a thank you gift for new owners," Chris said. "Altogether we have about 200 cats and dogs in care, and any help like this is greatly appreciated.

Thanks to both The Echo and Whiskas for their support." The group always appreciates donations (send to PO Box 406, Lismore NSW 2480) and more volunteers are always needed (phone Robyn Mostyn on 6681 1860 to get involved).

Obituary

Margaret "Lillian" Eutick
25 April, 1920 - 29 November 2002

Lillian Eutick with a certificate she received from Lismore Base Hospital earlier this year for her tireless work there.

If there's one thing Lillian Eutick's children remember about her it's that she always had time to help other people. She was well-known as a tireless worker and a compassionate friend.

"She was a very kind-hearted woman who always thought the best way to change things was to get out there and do it, and lead by example," Lillian's son, Malvin Eutick, said. "I don't think I've never known such a hard-working person who would simply help others for the sake of helping others with no desire to get anything back. She always made people feel wanted and important - she could always bring the best out in people."

Margaret 'Lillian' Eutick was born in Kogarah (Sydney) in 1920, the youngest of three children. As a teenager she moved to Lismore with her family and in 1939 married her husband, Malvin Victor Eutick, the father of her two children Malvin and Merylyn.

After her husband passed away in 1958, Lillian put all her efforts into caring for her young family. She worked at Dorothy Edwards Florists for the next 25 years until she retired.

"She cared for us and for her sick mother all on her own, working to support us, while still doing all her volunteer work," Malvin said. "Despite the hardships, I never heard her complain once - she simply got on with what she had to do. There was always joy, and a sense of comfort and security, being with her."

But it was what Lillian did outside the home that gained her the admiration of locals.

She was a member of the War Widow's Guild for more than half a century, and was also a volunteer with the CWA for many years. She is best remembered for her work with Lismore Base Hospital Auxiliary, where she worked selflessly for 53 years, including 27 years as president, a position she only stepped down from earlier this year, due to failing health.

In 1992, Lillian was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (AOM). The honour stunned her, but her friends at Lismore Base Hospital thought was only fitting for such a generous woman.

"Words are not enough to express the gratitude that this community owes Lillian," Lismore Base Hospital director of nursing, Liz Clarke, said. "Lillian's dedication wasn't to the bricks and mortar that forms the building of Lismore Base Hospital, it was to the people who make up the community of Lismore: the everyday families, the mums and dads, the old and the young."

Lillian is survived by her son Malvin and wife Catriona, her daughter Merylyn, and her grandchildren Troy, Jay, Elizabeth, Alec and Laura.

Terra Sword

Obituary

David Alexander
August 30, 1925 - December 8, 2002

This was a life spanning continents, from Gorleston on Sea, Suffolk, England, where he was born, to a final port of rest in Lismore, Australia, and traversing much of the world in between, as a gentleman and an officer of the British Merchant Navery, then working for coastal shipping lines around his beloved Australia.

It was life experiencing war, which he detested. He saw the horror of starvation in a blockaded Malta, with people diving to salvage flour from the ocean floor and eating it raw by the mushy, salty handful. He refused a captain's order to fire upon enemy survivors in the water - at the risk of being shot - but lived to see the captain disciplined. He was truly an idealist, a man for the underdog, with a passion for justice and right.

One high point in his life was his acceptance as a brother by Aboriginal Elder Guboo Ted Thomas, whom he met in full Aboriginal dress on Mt Dromedary - a mountain David used for years as a landmark from ships. It was a potent and spiritual symbol in his life. David travelled from Colonial stock roused by Land of Hope and Glory to earth-loving indigenous 'renewing the Dreaming' camps. An absolute high point of achievement was to sing so late in his life, in the Reconciliation choir.

David's life spanned privilege and hardship. He was placed in an English boarding school, aged seven, by a 'benevolent' uncle who financed the 'best' education. He was impressed by David's potential as a cricketer. His father, an accountant, gave up expectations David would follow his line of business. His mother gave up the nurturing of a small boy who adored his family to a system supposed to make a 'man'. The humiliations, cruelties and initiations of that system accidentally created a true gentleman. He started life as a crusader by eventually convincing his father to support him in the exposure and removal of some of the worst initiation and punishment practices at Pangborn College.

David indeed became a gentle man, with a commitment to the defence of the weak, and developed a love and rapport with children and animals that was the essence of the man.

His love of children and their love for him made him the dearest grandparent, known to all as 'Grandy'. He always took the time to give them attention and listen to them and play with them.

In his so-called retirement (retiring was something he did almost as often as he gave up smoking), he assisted in my Laundromat, where indeed we met, and children would run in asking "where is the nice man?"

Among the photographs he treasured is a picture of the present Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, and King George V, reviewing a parade of naval apprentices at Pangborn Naval College. He is out there, a boy who was an athlete and captain of every sporting team, from tennis to swimming, cricket and boxing. He was proud of that picture, yet ultimately anti-royalist, and a rebel who went from the parade-ground to being a Vietnam war protestor. He marched for women's rights in the first Reclaim the Night marches in Canberra with his activist wife Violet, a nurse who gave up her profession to marry this handsome sailor who knocked her down on a skating rink. He lost her tragically to a smoking-related illness after years of watching her struggle for breath. He later married me.

He loved his sisters, Jane, known as Lizzie, and Susan. And his children.

Judith Light

RSPCA Buys Resort

The RSPCA is buying the Tradewinds Park Pet Resort at Woodburn, which it will continue to operate as a first class pet boarding resort. RSPCA CEO Bernie Murphy said that the profits from pet boarding will be used to establish an animal shelter on adjoining land.

"The purchase is expected to be finalised in early February," he said. "The new shelter, when completed in 12- 18 months time, will support the work of the RSPCA in the area as will the recent appointment of a full-time inspector for the region."

Mr Murphy said Inspector Peter Bartley will be based at Lismore to cover the far north coast area.

Kyogle Co Fined

The NSW Land and Environment Court has fined Kyogle company North Coast Plywood Products $15,000 and ordered it to pay costs of $8000 after it failed to properly repair a rupture in a log pit and hot wastewater overflowed into nearby drains last year.

The company pleaded guilty to failing to comply with its Environmental Protection Licence.

Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) director-general Lisa Corbyn said North Coast Plywood knew about the pit rupture a month before the spill occurred.

"The EPA was alerted to the rupture on August 7, 2001, after Kyogle Council asked us to investigate black water flowing through roadside stormwater drains," she said. "We found high levels of tannin and nutrients in the wastewater. Fortunately, the spill was contained." Ms Corbyn said the company was unwilling to fix the leak immediately because it would have meant shutting down for several weeks.

Top Teachers

Three Northern Rivers teachers have been recognised in the Director-General's Awards for Excellent Service to Public Education and Training - Jenny Steinmetz (senior education officer with the North Coast Institute of TAFE), Geoff Cousins (Casino High School principal) and Bert Berghuis (a teacher at Teven-Tintenbar Public School).

"These awards recognise the passion, talent, commitment and plain hard work of those from our state's public education community," NSW DG of Education Jan McClelland, said.

Credit Due

Credit Union Australia has not only won the title of Credit Union of the Year, but its Ballina branch was also awarded Branch of the Year for 2002.

Credit Union Australia managing director, Graham Olrich, had high praise for the team at Ballina.

"Ballina's results have been outstanding and they clearly demonstrate what teams are capable of when they are committed, united and motivated towards a common goal or purpose," he said.

Fraud Charge

A 42 year-old man was charged with 15 counts of obtaining money by deception, involving around $160,000. The man appeared in Lismore Local Court on Monday and was given conditional bail, to reappear on January 13.

Extra Local TV News

The Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) has imposed an extra requirement on regional television stations to provide a minimum amount of local news.

Under the new code stations must provide 45 minutes of 'material of local significance' per week in prime time.

While both NBN and Prime's programming would remain unchanged, as they both provide local news bulletins, Channel 10 which abolished its local news program in the late 90s, is likely to have to re-establish a local news service.

This week's features: Christmas Messages from Local Churches - Local Businesses

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