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Northern Rivers Echo Main News
Car Buffs Strut their Stuff
 Gearing up for the North Coast Street Machine Show-n-Shine this Sunday are North Coast Street Machine Inc members with just some of the stunning vehicles that will be on show.
Terra Sword
If you're into cars, then the annual North Coast Street Machine Show-n-Shine in Ballina this Sunday, January 12, is the place to be.
The Show-n-Shine will feature hundreds of cars including street machines, vintage and veteran cars, hot rods, bikes, special interest vehicles and even some old racing cars.
The event is now in its 14th year and North Coast Street Machine spokesperson, Kevin Woolard, said the group is hoping this Sunday's meeting at Ballina rugby league ground will be the biggest and best yet.
"We're expecting more than 200 cars and over 4,000 people - if it's a fine day we should break the record for the biggest show yet," Kevin said. "There's just such a huge variety of vehicles - some that have been restored to showroom condition, others that have been modified with new bits and pieces so they're almost completely different and everything else in between. It's a fun, inexpensive day out for the family and a chance to see just how much money we waste on cars!"
As well as looking at the magnificent machines on display there are plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy, including demonstrations by The Summerland Rockers, drag-the-car races, a variety of automotive trade displays and amusements for the kids, like a jumping castle and merry-go-round.
Entrants can arrive from 6.30am, but no later than 8.30am (there are more than 80 prizes up for grabs). The Show-n-Shine is then open to the public from 9am to 4pm, and entry is just $4 (no extra charge for show entrants). Some of the proceeds will go to the Our Kids Northern Rivers Children's Health Fund.
For more information, email nthcoastsm@hotmail.com or phone Keith on 6621 8827 or Kevin on 6684 7280.
MP Beats Cancer
 Page MP Ian Causley was back in his Lismore office this week after a cancer scare in recent months.
Simon Thomsen
With apologies to Oscar Wilde - rumours of Ian Causley's demise are greatly exaggerated. After a brush with cancer last year, the Member for Page was back at work in his Lismore office on Monday, dismissing recent scuttlebutt that his health was ailing and he was on the verge of resigning as "rubbish".
His doctors have given him a clean bill of health after removing two cancerous lumps in his groin late last year. And while the large wound from the operation, in which 26 lymphatic nodes were removed, is still healing, Mr Causley said he's "feeling good".
While his political career has involved a number of tough scrapes, the 62-year-old deputy speaker of Parliament is pleased to be on the road to recovery from his second cancer scare in a decade.
"My family and friends have known for some time that things have been going well, so I don't know where these rumours started," Mr Causley said when The Echo visited his office on Tuesday. "I'm too tough to rust," he quipped.
But last October, his positive outlook was challenged when he discovered the lumps in his groin. He didn't believe they were cancer, but went to the doctor to have them examined, just in case.
"The lesson is that if you find something, get it checked out quickly," the MP said.
While they were cancer, it wasn't as serious as some.
"I was relatively lucky compared to others. The two cancers were what's known as secondary source - it usually means there's a primary source, but the doctors couldn't find anything else. In about five per cent of cancers that's the case.
After the lumps were removed, it was followed up by a number of x-rays and scans that show there are no other cancers in the body," he said.
Mr Causley said he was grateful for the support of family and friends, and the good wishes he received from constituents, and was also full of praise for the medical treatment he received locally.
"It was proof that you don't have to leave Lismore to get good medical attention. It was good to confirm that there are very competent doctors and nursing staff in this region".
After two months off to treat his illness, and a quiet Christmas with family - "that's the way we like it" - Mr Causley is keen to get back into the political cut and thrust of his demanding job as deputy speaker when Parliament returns on February 4.
"I'm glad to be back after that little episode. It's a tough job, but I enjoy doing the job I'm doing. The deputy speaker actually runs the parliament," he said, relishing the thought of another good battle.
But first he'll he hosting acting Prime Minister John Anderson when he visits the region next Monday to make major funding announcements in Lismore and Kyogle, as well as meeting with constituents in his office.
Retirement? Like the Prime Minister and Steve Waugh, Mr Causley is planning to bat on for a while yet.
Whale of a Time
 You could say year 9 Alstonville High School student Clare McLennan (pictured) is having a whale of a time in Canada.
Clare, 14, recently won a competition run by the Vancouver Aquarium to name their newest baby beluga whale.
Her suggestion, Tuvaq, was selected from more than 900 entries.
Tuvaq is the Inuktitut (the indigenous people) word for 'sea ice'. Clare won a year pass to the aquarium for her family, plus a private visit with Tuvaq and his mother Aurora.
Clare is in Canada with her parents, who are doing a 12 month work experience program at the Vancouver Hospital.
She will return to Alstonville High when her family relocates from Canada in June next year.
Rotarians Tackle Polio
 Gearing up for the trip to Thailand in January is local Rotarian Noreen Colley (left), organiser Robyn Arnett (right) and visiting polio sufferer Nola McQuade. Absent are team members Helen McGregor and Jordyn Nano.
A team of three local Rotarians will travel to Thailand this month to fulfil a promise made to Dr Albert Sabin, the inventor of the oral sabin polio vaccine, more than 10 years ago.
Before Dr Sabin died in 1993, members of Rotary International made a promise to him that they would eradicate polio throughout the world.
Today only two areas in the world remain affected by polio - Asia and Africa - so local Rotarians are on a mission to finish the campaign, Polio Plus, they started a decade ago.
"We made a promise to eradicate polio by the Rotary centenary in 2005, and we only have a few years left, so we're fighting against time to keep that promise," Noreen Colley said. "No child today should ever have to suffer from polio as it is totally preventable. If we can eradicate it now, we will be preventing future generations from suffering this horrible disease."
The trio, from the Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise, will be part of a team of about 25 Australian Rotarians on the trip. Half the group will go to Chang Mai, in northern Thailand, while the other half will travel to Nepal.
Some will also help construct buildings to accommodate women at risk of being forced into prostitution.
No Pain, No Rain
The storm that hit the Northern Rivers on Christmas Eve may have seemed like manna from heaven to many, but it brought with it extensive damage and flooding in the local area. Lismore Book Traders and Lismore Phone and Car Audio, both on Magellan Street in the Lismore CBD, were amongst the worst affected by the storms, with both businesses flooded with water following the downpour.
In Coraki and along the Lismore Heights ridge rooves and verandahs were ripped from their moorings by winds reaching up to 100km/h, while in North Lismore and entire house collapsed from the ferocity of storm.
The SES answered over 60 calls on Christmas Eve to private homes and properties around the region. A number of road accidents were also directly attributed to the storm.
Local Businesses Duped in Credit Card Scam
Businesses in Lismore and Casino lost more than $15,000 in goods just before Christmas in a credit card scam using stolen card details.
Police are warning local businesses to exercise "extreme caution" about taking credit card details over the phone after they were used to buy expensive items, including a $10,000 4WD bike and electrical goods. The scam involves two young men visiting a business to buy goods, then telling a sales assistant that they're calling their father to arrange payment.
Snr Constable Peter Neville said that after discussing the sale on the phone, the thieves put the sales assistant on the phone, with the man claiming to be the father negotiating payment over the phone using the credit card.
After the sales assistant agreed, the thieves left with the equipment.
The deception wasn't discovered until the real credit card owner received his statement including the stolen goods. Other businesses may also have fallen victim to the scammers.
Lismore police are appealing to the public for help in finding the thieves, who operate alone or in a pair. One is described as aged 18-22, about 170cm tall, with a tanned complexion, and short dark hair. The man was wearing brand name surf-style clothing and was driving either a white Nissan or Toyota van with mag wheels and thin tyres. There are no windows on the rear sides of the van panels.
If you have any information, phone Lismore police on 6623 1599.
Offroaders Offer Their Blood
Members of the Casino 4WD Club came together shortly before Christmas to give a mass donation of blood to the Red Cross Blood Service.
Blood Service acting nurse unit manager Leanne Archer (front-right) is pictured with Casino 4WD Club members (rear l-r) John Parker, John Arthur, Brian Garrard, Robyn Clifford, Deanna Newby, Darryl Clifford, Norm and Elizabeth Taylor, Trevor and Michael Wood, Wendy Klaus and (middle l-r) Shirley Garrard, Jenny Arthur, Karen Arthur, Tony Lavis, organiser Peter Arthur, Kay Wood, Peter Klaus and Jodie Nommensen with her kids Kurt and Dimitri. Front is Emma Arthur with Lucy and Jacob Klaus.
"Local roads are notorious for accidents at this time of year and we wanted the service to have a sufficient blood supply, although we hope they don't need it," organiser, Peter Arthur, said. "We hope to make this an annual event in 2003, and we're going to put the challenge out to the other two 4WD clubs in the area to join us."
Council Meets
Lismore City Council will hold an extraordinary meeting next Tuesday, January 14, to discuss the redevelopment of Molesworth Street, which includes a change in parking arrangements and the loss of carparking spaces. A number of councillors called for the meeting - a month earlier than Council's next scheduled meeting - because the work is due to begin next month. The meeting will begin at 6pm at the Goonellabah Council chambers.
Use your Fingers
Ballina Shire Council decided to push for the retention of the two finger wharves at the redeveloped Ballina Marina site.
Cr Alan Rich moved a motion that extended the proposed public walkway, public access to the wharves and kept the wharves. "Ballina has been the historical port of this district and to cut away our wharves is to cut away our history and that's something I'm not prepared to do," Cr Rich said.
Cr Phil Silver said the finger wharves were not a long-term solution.
"Even though they don't do the job of a proper Marina they at least provide a public docking facility in the town area in the interim until a permanent site is found," Cr Silver said.
Council voted 4-3 (Crs Rich, Silver, Dakin and Perkins against; Crs Howes and Moore absent) to keep their hand in with the finger wharves.
Water Restrictions Continue
Despite 141mm of rain falling in the Rocky Creek Dam Catchment between Christmas and the New Year, Level 5 water restrictions have been developed and are likely to be implemented in mid to late January.
Following the rain Rocky Creek Dam's water level rose to 28.02 per cent, however, by last Friday it had already fallen to 27.67 per cent and it now currently sits at 26.95 per cent.
If implemented the Level 5 water restrictions will include a total ban on outdoor water use. This means that garden watering, car washing and similar activities are completely banned unless done with water from a rainwater tank, recycled water from inside the house or non-town water supplies.
"A date has not been set as to when the Level 5 restrictions will be implemented, but there are two trigger points that will decided if, and when, they are to be enacted," Rous Water chairman, Cr John Hampton, said. "Firstly, if the dam is falling too quickly and secondly, if water is drawn from the Wilson's River at Lismore."
Rous Water is currently constructing works to pump water from the Wilson's Rivers to the Nightcap Water Treatment Plant, where the water will be filtered and distributed around the region.
It's likely Rous Water will begin pumping from the Wilson's River in late January, which will ensure a continuing supply of water to the region. In spite of this Rous Water's operational services manager, Wayne Franklin, says it's no time to get complacent.
"We still need to take action to conserve water," he said. "Meteorological data suggests the dry weather could last well into 2003 so it's important we recognise that supplies remain limited. We need to continue to limit overall consumption."
Rous Water's target consumption rate is 25 mega litres (ML) per day. Throughout December water consumption remained between 25 and 26 ML per day, however, following Christmas consumption did rise.
"If everyone in the Northern Rivers flushes the toilet once less per day and shortens their shower by one minute we could save two mega litres per day," Mr Franklin said. "That's enough to fill two Olympic size pools."
Rotary Plays Santa
 Rotary Club of Lismore West president Merv Bryant (right) and secretary Norm Robinson (left) with Annette and Kate Hepton, and the new bed Rotary donated.
The Rotary Club of Lismore West gave Santa a run for his money recently, presenting spinal muscular atrophy patient Kate Hepton and her mother Annette a present that had long been on their wish list.
Kate was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at just 17 months - a condition where the muscles slowly weaken and waste away. Kate, now six, cannot walk unaided and as yet there is no cure for her condition.
So when the Rotary members arrived at their Wollongbar home with a $4,200 electric hi-lo adjustable medical bed, it seemed all their Christmases had come at once. "We just can't thank the club enough," Annette said.
The bed will allow Annette to safely roll Kate during the night without injury to her own back, and help in delivering physiotherapy and postural drainage when Kate has one of her frequent chest infections. The bed also allows Kate to independently sit up in bed, and makes getting in and out of bed a whole lot easier.
"It will do a lot for us in the future, in terms of maximising Kate's quality of life and maintaining her health," Annette said.
Kate's bed was the Rotary Club of Lismore West's major community service project last year, which they started shortly after Merv Bryant became club president in July.
Menins Robbery
Police are seeking witnesses to an attempted robbery at Menins supermarket in Leycester Street, Lismore, on Christmas eve. Police say a man in his early 20s, 165-170cm tall, wearing a blue cotton skate hat, light blue shirt, long trousers and a handkerchief on his face entered the store around 7.30am. He approached a woman and handed her a plastic bag containing a note demanding money. He did not speak and the woman told him to leave. No-one was injured and no money was stolen. If you have any information, phone the police on 6623 1599.
First Arrests
Police say they were "generally pleased" by the behaviour of people celebrating New Years Eve in public, despite a number of arrests, including seven for drink driving.
Police said they were concerned by the number of PCA (drink driving offences) and the anti-social behaviour of minors, as well as numerous reports of illegal fireworks being let off.
Power Outage gets Locals in Hot Water
Thousands of Northern Rivers' residents were without hot water for up to four days over the Christmas break, following a major fault at a substation at McKee's Hill, between Lismore and Casino.
Residents in Lismore, Ballina, Casino, Bonalbo, Woodburn, Ewingsdale, Mullumbimby and Byron Bay found themselves without hot water or electricity from around 10pm on Friday, December 27. Electricity was restored at 2.10am the next morning, however, some residents on off-peak hot water systems did not have access to hot water for several more days.
Originally Country Energy issued a statement suggesting that the hot water was only affected because of the timing of the power outage, as it coincided with the time that the off-peak signal would normally be sent. It was later discovered there was extensive damage to the substation component that sends the off-peak signal. The majority of people affected had hot water restored by New Years Eve.
All Stops out for Redevelopment
 Inspecting The Stops, a vacant piece of land beside Fawcett's Bridge used by the RTA as a depot up until last week, is acting mayor Merv King (centre) with RTA Operations' Ballina and Bridges works manager Greg Evans (right) and RTA regional manager Peter Collins.
An eight-year battle fought by North Lismore businesses and Lismore Council over the Roads and Traffic Authority's (RTA) use of parkland beside Fawcett's Bridge ended last week when the RTA moved out, leaving the area ready for redevelopment.
The RTA used the site as a depot while refurbishment was done on Fawcett's Bridge and later heritage-listed Coleman's Bridge. Local businesspeople, regarding it as unsightly, campaigned for its removal. Now they have their wish.
The land will now become part of the Riverbank Redevelopment Project, and Lismore Council will undertake community consultation shortly to decide what local residents would like to see done with the site. Council's current idea is to landscape the area and construct a viewing and information building.
"Now the RTA has vacated the site, it can be rehabilitated and returned to the people of Lismore," acting mayor, Merv King, said. "The area is very close to the CBD and alongside a bridge where lots of people can see it. Being in such a visible area we would like to create something accessible and attractive for the whole community that will fit in well with the rest of the Riverbank Redevelopment Project."
The site was named The Stops by cedar getters in the 1870s, being the place where a heavy chain was spread across the river to stop and hold timber.
About 40 Evans Head residents held a protest rally outside the Richmond Valley Council Chambers in Evans Head on Monday, voicing concerns about the proximity of an Optus mobile phone base station to their homes.
The base station, which will provide mobile coverage for the town, is being installed at the water tower in Wirraway Ave, Evans Head - just metres from the backyards of some local residents.
During the protest a number of residents were admitted into the Council Chambers to meet with Optus representative Peter Bellus and discuss the situation.
However, when a distraught resident emerged from the meeting saying Optus planned to start work that day and had no plans to move the base station, the angry residents promptly moved their protest from the Council Chambers to the installation site in Wirraway Avenue.
There they blockaded the access road with vehicles, and when construction workers arrived, denied them access.
Local police quickly diffused the situation and work began on the mobile phone base station that afternoon as planned.
Evans Head residents intend to continue their fight in court.
It's in the Stars
 Coastcare coordinator Russ Glover, Australian Seabird Rescue members Marnie Bonner and Lance Ferris (second and fourth from right), Zodiac representative Linda Sutherland and Morag Page christen the new rubber duck The Zodiac.
If you believed the members of the Australian Seabird Rescue (ASR) you'd think the 13th sign of the Zodiac was a pelican.
ASR (best known for the work of Lance Ferris, the Pelican man) received the best Christmas present - a $20,000 donation from Zodiac (the inflatable boat makers) and a rubber duck (of the boat, not bath, kind).
Marnie Bonner from ASR was over the moon.
"It's a dream come true for us, because we have realised for some time that we need an inflatable. We have at times been unable to reach injured birds who have isolated themselves in inaccessible areas," Marnie said. "The Zodiac will increase our effectiveness and efficiency in rescuing waterbirds because it has greater manoeuvrability, can reach areas inaccessible by conventional craft; and is more easily handled by female volunteers."
Marnie said the donation couldn't have come at a better time.
"We anticipate a very busy summer season. More pelicans are staying in the river than we have ever seen before. Apparently they are not going west to breeding areas because they are greatly reduced by the drought," Marnie said.
"The $20,000 is extremely welcome in light of ASR having to relocate premises. The money will help establish an educational display centre focussing on the coastal environment when new premises in Ballina are secured," she said.
Zodiac's Linda Sutherland said the company was impressed with the work of Lance Ferris and ASR.
The rubber duck was christened in the traditional way, with Morag Page, wife of Ballina MP Don Page, very careful not to waste too much champers.
TAFE Study Pays Off
 The TAFE Student Association recently announced the winners of the TAFE Discount Passbook Competition, supported by Summerland Credit Union.
Drawing the winning tickets recently were local MP Thomas George (right) and Summerland Credit Union Lismore office supervisor Debbie Davidson.
The passbook has been produced by TAFE since 1997 with sponsorship from Summerland Credit Union, and this year was used by more than 8,000 students.
"The discount passbook enables TAFE students to get discounts on a range of services they use frequently, from photography, to furniture, to fashion," Summerland Credit Union Lismore office supervisor, Debbie Davidson, said.
Winners of the competition are: 1st prize ($500) to Susan Cai of Lismore, 2nd prize ($300) to Jennifer Connors of Ballina and 3rd prize ($200) to Julie Wilkinson of Lismore Heights.
This week's features: Motoring News - Local Businesses
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