The Northern Rivers Echo Main News

A life less ordinary

Life hasn't always been easy for 23 year-old Nicole Sten.

But that hasn't stopped Nicole who, with a bright smile and undying enthusiasm, has worked hard to overcome many challenges and achieve her goals in life.

On Tuesday night Nicole was named winner of the Against All Odds 19-25 year category at the 2003 Kids in Community Awards, much to her delight and utter surprise.

"I got a real big shock when they said my name - I just thought Wow! cool," Nicole said. "I always wanted to get out there and work hard and make a name for myself, and being told you're doing a good job is the best. It's makes you feel appreciated for what you do."

Despite an extremely difficult schooling experience and an intellectual disability, Nicole finished her HSC and went on to study art at Lismore TAFE. She has since completed a Certificate I, II and III in Aboriginal Art and Cultural Practices - drawing on influences from her mother's Aboriginal heritage and her extended family from the Bundjalung Nation - and she's now doing Certificate IV (the highest level of study you can do).

When she started studying at TAFE Nicole also joined RED Inc (a group working with people with disabilities). Five years later Nicole is not only still a client with the group, but she now teaches Aboriginal art classes to other young people with disabilities.

She's even acted in local short films and youth education videos, and her support worker and friend Amanda Soutar can't sing Nicole's praises enough.

"She's passionate about her art and she loves to share her enthusiasm with the community and everyone she meets," Amanda said. "Because of the hurdles she's had to overcome, and they're numerous and varied, she still maintains such a positive attitude and continues to strive for her dreams. She's just such an inspiring young woman and it was absolutely exhilarating to see her being recognised for that."

Nicole was one of many local young people recognised at the annual Kids in Community Awards, which aim to celebrate exactly that - kids in community.

Whether it's young people helping other young people, doing work in their local community or achieving in their own lives, the awards are a way of saying thank you to young people who make a difference.

Kids in the Community Awards

Others winners on the night were as follows:

• Peer Support 13-18 years - Kate Fitzsimmons
• Community Support 13-18 years - Tarrant Fuller
• Community Support 19-25 years - Daniel Hannaford
• Indigenous Youth Support 13-18 years - Nicole Walker
• Indigenous Youth Support 19-25 years - Amelia Roberts
• Homeless Youth Support under 25 years - Bianca Bright
• Homeless Youth Support over 25 years - Darcy Goodwin
• Against All Odds 13-18 years - Krystal Byron (encouragement award to Jeremy Bryant)
• Against All Odds 19-25 years - Nicole Sten
• Mentor or Role Model - Kim Hudson
• Community Group Supporting Youth or Youth Programs - Roadies
• Individual Supporting Youth or Youth Programs - Father Paul Pidcock.

There were more than 85 nominees in total for the awards this year. All nominees were awarded Certificates of Recognition on the night.

Indigenous talent on show

A collection of stunning indigenous art goes on show for one day only tomorrow, June 27, at the North Coast Institute of TAFE's Lismore campus, Conway Street.

The ceramic works have been created by students studying the Aboriginal Ceramics Certificate III course, resulting in an eclectic mix of different sculptural and functional pieces.

Each work is intricately decorated with different Aboriginal symbols and designs, and like most Aboriginal art, the attention to detail and use of colour is exceptional. It's a great chance to see local indigenous art on show, and support these talented artists.

The exhibition opens tomorrow, Friday, June 27, at 12pm in the C Block foyer.

New hospital planned for Lismore

A pair of Sydney developers have unveiled plans for a new 66 bed private hospital in Lismore.

The proposed rehabilitation and medical facility will be located in McKenzie Street and is the brainchild of Sydneysiders Daniel Owens and Kerry Ferguson. Mr owens and Ms Ferguson said that local contractors would also be used.

The developers said the centre would cost more than $6 million to build and employ more than 80 people when completed.

The development application should be lodged with Lismore City Council this week and Mr Owens and Ms Ferguson said the medical centre is planned to be finished by Easter 2004.

Budget plays it safe

The 2003-04 State Budget has provided a mixture of good and bad news for the Northern Rivers and is overall a 'safe' budget according to Professor Lawson Savery, Executive Dean of the Division of Business at Southern Cross University.

"Unemployment in the Northern Rivers should decrease slightly because of the amount of money spent on building and the general upsurge in the building profession," Professor Savery said. "This increase will cross to expansions in other occupations and professions. This is a safe budget. If the economy drops off, due to international pressures, then there's enough money there to cover promised spending. If it doesn't then I think we'll see an increase in spending in May-June 2004," Prof Savery said.

Trevor Lucas, lecturer at Southern Cross University's School of Social Sciences, believes "a 5.9% real cut in the public housing budget will impact on the region with less public housing available".

"Although there is increased funding in this budget for key areas such as health, education and welfare, it remains to be seen how much of the funding goes into the Newcastle-Sydney-Wollongong axis and how much flows into regional areas to deliver more for low income families," Mr Lucas said.

Mr Lucas said that the Northern Rivers has the highest rate of families who receive a pension or welfare benefit and hence funding for social welfare greatly affects the region.

"While DOCS has received additional funds for extra child protection staff to investigate a 119% increase in reported cases since July 2002, preventative and alternative childcare programs received a paltry $47 million state-wide," he said. "This is a concern for child protection staff in regional areas who are hard pressed to find appropriate alternative housing for children who are unable to live with their parents," he said.

Other specific announcements for the Northern Rivers are:

• $267 million allocated to the Northern Rivers Area Health Service (up 9.4%)
• A new fire engine for Casino
• $7.4 million for a new health and hospital facility at Kyogle and some money for the planning stage of the refurbishing of Richmond Clinic
• $4.4 million for the Alstonville Bypass; and
• A small allocation for a Community Renewal Program for housing at Goonellabah.

For more information on the 2003-04 State Budget visit www.nsw.gov.au and follow the links.

You dirty dog you

Wash-a-thon coordinators Janet Goodwin (right) and Robyn Lewis (left) with Paul Goodwin from North Coast Alarms, the major sponsor of the wash-a-thon. They are with dogs Kelly, Kip and Buddy.

With water now in abundance again, it's the perfect time to give your pooch a well-deserved bath.

The Wollongbar Dog Obedience School is holding a charity Wash-a-thon this Sunday, June 29, and all dog owners and their families are encouraged to come along and help raise money for the Animal Rights and Rescue Group's new animal shelter.

The Wash-a-thon will run from 8am to 12pm, with a full hydrobath, ear clean and toe nail clip for just $10. At 12pm there will be a pet show ($2 entry) with prizes for the pet most like its owner, the cutest pet and the best-dressed pet. NBN's Big Dog will make an appearance at 12pm and there will also be a BBQ, agility and obedience demonstrations, and unwanted puppies looking for a good home.

"The drought's over and there's a lot of dogs out there who need a bath," Wash-a-thon coordinator, Janet Goodwin, said. "Each dog washed buys one brick for the new animal shelter, so the more people who come the quicker the shelter will be built. It's just going to be a heap of fun and a great family day out for everyone."

Heaps of prizes will be up for grabs during the day including a Gold Coast holiday, gym memberships, doggie accessories and more.

The Wash-a-thon is being held at Hill Park Oval, in Simpson Avenue, Wollongbar.

All dogs that attend must be on a leash.

Show off your myrtle

Launching the Lemon Myrtle Recipe Competition Cook-Off and Bake-Off last week was (l-r) Sibylla Hess-Buschmann and Margo Rutledge from Regional Cuisine, Herb Festival committee member Lois Kelly and coordinator Louise Barry, TAFE student Celeste Lynch and Lismore Unlimited manager Peter Fraser.

If you love using the wonderfully aromatic herb lemon myrtle in your cooking (see Helen O'Donnell's Lemon Myrtle Osso Buco recipe on page 25) now's your chance to show off those delicious lemon myrtle delights.

Organisers of the Northern Rivers Herb Festival, in conjunction with Regional Cuisine, are holding a Lemon Myrtle Recipe Competition Cook-Off and Bake-Off as part of this year's festival activities.

The competition is open to everyone except food professionals, and people who enter can win $250 cash for each winning recipe as well as a swag of other great prizes.

All you have to do is grab an entry form and submit a recipe for cooking or baking that includes dried or fresh lemon myrtle. Three finalists will be chosen for the Cook-Off and eligible entries for the Bake-Off will then be selected by a panel of food experts.

If you're one of the lucky finalists for the cooking section you get to attend the Cook-Off at the Herb Festival with celebrity chef Andrew Fielke. A panel of judges, after trying the three completed dishes, will then announce the winner based on ease of preparation, flavour, texture, creativity, appearance and the use of lemon myrtle.

For the Bake-Off all eligible entries must be baked and brought to the festival for judging, with winners announced that afternoon.

Entry forms can now be downloaded from the festival website at www.herbfestival.org or picked up at the Visitor Information Centre. The website has yummy recipe ideas people can use as inspiration as well as all the information you need to know about the competition.

To make life even easer for entrants Regional Cuisine and Herb Festival organisers have made up $1 bags of dried lemon myrtle, which are now for sale at the Visitor Information Centre.

Entries for the Lemon Myrtle Recipe Competition close on July 28, 2003.

Finalists will be announced on ABC Radio North Coast and posted on the festival website after Friday, August 1.

For more information check out the website or phone 1300 369 795.

Speaking out on justice

One of the constant complaints from young people is that they are not listened to.

The Activating Human Rights and Diversity Conference, to be held at Byron Bay from July 1-4, is offering young people a chance to rectify that problem.

The Lismore and District Women's Health Centre is convening a Youth on Justice Program and conference convener Baden Offord is encouraging young Northern Rivers residents to come along and have their say.

"Throughout the world young people are systematically denied a voice in the decisions that affect them," Baden said. "From racism to sexuality, the impact of armed conflict and global economic structures, young people have something to say. It is crucial to create a space for education and discussion that addresses these issues," he said.

Other aspects of the program include a three-day youth law clinic, which allows young people to access expert legal advice regarding issues affecting their lives, and a multimedia competition.

Lismore Women's Health Centre worker Vivien Clear said that the workshops would feature international speakers and that resolutions formed during the conference would be presented to Federal Minister for Youth Affairs, Larry Anthony, at a special session.

"The conference organisers want to celebrate our young people and their vision for our society," Vivien said.

"We want them to feel the influence of young people as well as reaching out to support them in their role as future leaders and decision makers."

For more information contact Vivien Clear or Kath O'Driscoll at the Lismore and District Women's Health Centre on 6621 9800.

Firies get in touch with young helpers

Photo: Susan Walker/NRAHS

Lismore Base Hospital patient Kane Shields with Goonellabah Fire Brigade officers Konrad Sawczynski, Dean Snape and Peter Williams.

Revealing that an incredible 90 per cent of the fire alert phone calls they receive are from children, members of the Goonellabah Fire Brigade visited Lismore Base Hospital (LBH) children's ward this week to build up relationships with younger people and pass on tips about how to respond in an emergency.

According to fire officer Peter Williams, the team is regarded as benchmark setters for Fire Brigades across NSW, and now they're keen to share their skills with the general community.

"We'll be visiting the kids' ward on a regular weekly basis - Tuesdays and Thursdays - and focussing on teaching the children how to deal with a fire situation, for example how best to avoid smoke inhalation by 'getting down low and Go, Go, Go' or learning to 'stop, drop and roll," Peter said.

The Goonellabah Fire Brigade is currently running various fund raising events for the LBH children's ward, including a Bowling Day, with all money raised to go towards acquiring special medical equipment.

Chill out a bit

With the season for flu and colds moving into full swing, residents have been advised to take the time to recover properly from illness or run the risk of developing even worse problems as well as infecting other people.

The warning came this week from local health authorities, who said people were at greater risk of complications from colds or flu if they do not take care of themselves from the start of their illness.

"When you've been bowled over by the flu or a bad cold, it's a relief to feel better and it can be tempting to go back to work, or to exercise, or even party, before you've fully recovered your strength,' Justine Waters of the Northern Rivers Division of Population Health and Research said.

"The best strategy is to take things easy - just chill out - until you're well again," Ms Waters said. "If you go back to work or school too early you run the risk of infecting other people as well as prolonging your illness and running the risk of more serious complications or secondary infections, which may necessitate a course of antibiotics."

She said it was a "matter of common sense, not self indulgence" to spend an extra couple of days at home to regain strength.

"While it seems acceptable to take time off when you're feeling really bad, it's easy to underestimate the effect illness has on our body and wellbeing," Ms Waters said.

"A secondary infection is likely to take a high personal toll, as well as having a greater impact on workplace productivity, than it does taking a little extra time to recover properly. "

The best prevention against the flu is vaccination according to Justine, with the shot available free to those of the highest risk - those over the age of 65, or 50 for indigenous people.

Evans Head community at loggerheads

The Evans Head community is facing difficult decisions about its future development with community divisions creating tension in the 'Village by the Sea'.

With an antiquated and overloaded sewerage treatment plant (STP) struggling to cope at peak times, and a new plant not due for completion until 2006, community members involved in recent Main Street planning workshops are divided over the future growth of the town.

Environmental groups are continuing to press for a moratorium on development until the STP is upgraded and strategic plans for the village complete.

However business owners and many community members are calling for controlled 'Village style' development.

Spokesperson for the Evans Head and District Water Committee, Dr Richard Gates, asserted that the level of faecal coliform in effluent from the Evans Head STP are more than 8000 times established guidelines resulting in pollution of the Salty Lakes wetland system.

Dr Gates also noted that signs posted by the National Parks and Wildlife Service indicate that the Lakes are polluted and not fit for swimming or fishing.

"I'm not against appropriate sustainable development," Dr Gates said.

"But I find this level of pollution completely unacceptable and I want a moratorium on development approvals until the STP problem is fixed."

Real Estate agent Brian O'Farrell and other business owners disagree, arguing that a 'critical mass' of up to 6000 people is desirable to provide a vibrant community and to enable sufficient business infrastructure.

"We want to maintain the village atmosphere and we want Evans Head to be family friendly. But we need development to keep the infrastructure to allow for business development," Mr O'Farrell said.

Meanwhile Richmond Valley Council's processes for the STP upgrade and strategic planning are coming under fire with both sides claiming council is taking too long and not consulting widely enough.

Doug Behn, president of the Evans Head Chamber of Commerce, is calling on the State Government to fund the planning process.

"We can't decide the impact of different development options without a full planning process," he said.

"We got an amalgamation we didn't want - so now they can give us the planning we want," Mr Behn said.

Input for coastal directory

Organisers of exercises and activities for coastal residents aged 50 plus are invited to publicise their groups with a listing in a new resource directory.

The directory is being compiled by staff at Ballina and Byron Community Health and the listings are free, according to its coordinator, Anna Dicker.

"We would like to hear from people coordinating therapeutic activities focused on promoting a more active lifestyle for the over-50s," Ms Dicker said. "The directory will be a valuable resource for health professionals in the area. It will be updated regularly, and make it a lot easy to direct clients towards the specific exercise services that would provide the best benefit for their specific needs."

To enter a listing phone 6687 0008 from Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5pm.

LINC doubles air time

Launching the new computer at the Tullera transmitter is (l-r) LINC TV technical manager Greg Neal, CTS Multimedia owner/manager Tristan Griffin, LINC's audio engineer Joan Peña and station manager Jamie McDonald.

LINC TV has been donated a new personal computer, allowing the community television station to double its programming hours as of this weekend.

After this weekend LINC TV will have Rage-style video clips running from 11pm at night to 3pm the next day.

"The new programming means we're getting a lot closer to our goal of a 24/7 air presence," station manager, Jamie McDonald, said. "Broadcasting off a computer means quality will be better and it's a great opportunity for us to give local musicians some airtime. In future we envisage working with groups like the NCEIA to exclusively showcase north coast talent. We're now looking for local musicians to give us their music clips or contact us on 6622 0144 to see about creating one."

LINC TV is always looking for more volunteers and programming contributions from the local community. To get involved phone the above number.

Environmental workshop

The Environmental Defender's Office (NSW) will be conducting a one-day on environment and law on Saturday, July 12.

The workshop will provide practical information in an accessible and easy to understand forum. Topics covered include the legal system, key environmental laws, the planning and development system, threatened species law, coastal protection law, pollution law, access to information, effective submission writing, rights of appeal, taking a case to court and activists' rights.

The workshop will run from 10am to 5pm, and the cost is $50 waged or $20 unwaged or for students (ID required). For info, registration and venue details phone 1800 626 239.

Celebrating NAIDOC Week

Students from Goonellabah Preschool display some of the Aboriginal artworks donated by local artists

Goonellabah Preschool is inviting family and community members to help them celebrate National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration (NAIDOC) Week from Monday, June 30 to Thursday, July 3.

The preschool is holding an open day next Monday, June 30, and on Tuesday, July 1, there will be a sports day, followed by a BBQ and cultural concert. On Thursday there will be another outdoor BBQ day with activities including basket making, didgeridoo playing and boomerang painting.

Everyone is invited to attend these events and celebrate all that the indigenous community has to offer.

Power up

Country Energy will increase electricity prices by 3% from July 1.

Managing director Craig Murray said the increase would be less than 60 cents per week for most households, based on an average annual account of $794.

"Country Energy has worked extremely hard to minimise the impact of the price change as part of our ongoing commitment to support business investment and lifestyles in rural and regional NSW," Mr Murray said.

"Country Energy operates the second largest electricity network in the world and this price change is necessary to ensure that we deliver city-standard energy services," he said.

Country Energy also offers Country Support services for any customer who may be experiencing financial hardship. Customers should contact Country Energy on 13 23 56 if they have any questions or check out the website www.countryenergy.com.au.

$200,000 for Nimbin preschool

The NSW Government has announced $200,000 in funding for the development of new preschool premises for children aged 3-5 in the Nimbin area.

State Member for Tweed Neville Newell said the existing premises have structural problems.

"This preschool is well attended but new premises are needed in order for the service to continue to operate. The preschool has already been offered land and this funding will enable building to proceed," Mr Newell said.

"The funding will mean that families do not have to travel for half an hour to get to the next nearest preschool - welcome news in an area with no public transport," he said.

Funding for Wollongbar TAFE

The NSW State Government announced $7.1 million for Wollongbar TAFE and Mullumbimby High School on Tuesday.

Duty MLC for Ballina Amanda Fazio said that under the 2003/04 State Budget $1.198 million has been allocated to continue the $10 million upgrade of Wollongbar TAFE.

"This includes the establishment of a small hospitality unit, expansion of general learning spaces and the student services area," Ms Fazio said.

Trade courses will be transferred from Lismore to Wollongbar as part of the project and the new space at Lismore will be refurbished.

$5.9 million has been allocated for Stage 1 and Stage 2 improvements at Mullumbimby High School.

Funding for carers

Federal Member for Richmond and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Larry Anthony announced $60,000 in funding for the Far North Coast Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre at Alstonville.

The funds will be used to assist aging carers faced with the demanding task of caring for younger people with disabilities.

Mr Anthony said the Alstonville centre played a critical role in helping carers obtain the respite care they need.

Carers can contact the centre by ringing the freecall number 1800 059 059.

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