The Northern Rivers Echo Main News

Has anyone seen Lucy?

Lucy McDonald disappeared from Lismore 15 months ago.

The morning of Tuesday April 30, 2002, started the same as any other for Joe Watts of Lismore Heights, who said goodbye to his wife, Lucy McDonald, and left for work. Sadly, that was the last time Mr Watts saw her. Lucy McDonald disappeared and has not be seen or heard from since.

Lucy is one of the thousands of people who go missing each year and during Missing Persons Week, August 1-8, police are appealing for help to solve these mysteries.

Lismore duty officer Noel Steele said police would welcome any information on what happened to 38-year-old Ms McDonald, who is 145cm (5ft) tall, of thin build, with medium complexion, of Aboriginal appearance with green/hazel eyes and shoulder length brown hair.

Last year some 8500 people were reported missing across Australia. While around 99 per cent of the people who go missing in NSW are located, statistics alone do little to ease the pain of those who have lost a loved one and face unanswered questions.

Duty officer Steele said police were also seeking information on Nimbin resident Bronwyn Winfield, who was last seen by relatives in May 1993.

"Bronwyn would now be 41 years old and was described as being of thin build with blond or dyed hair and green/hazel eyes. Police believe she may have travelled to Queensland or could have remained in the Nimbin area," he said.

As part of National Missing Persons Week, Police will again hold Operation Safe and Well, a special phone-in line to help locate missing people and put families at ease.

"We urge people who have left home, particularly young people, to make contact with their families to reassure them that they're okay," duty officer Steele said.

Phone 1800 025 091 toll free.

Anyone has information that might help police find Lucy McDonald, Bronwyn Winfield or any other missing person they should also phone 1800 025 091.

Longer the better for baby

Committed to breastfeeding – Carol Gwatking with her daughter Lotus, now 22 months, and Belinda Kirkwood with her week-old son Harrison. Photo: Susan Walker/NRAHS

Babies should be breastfed exclusively for at least their first six months, according to world experts, repeating this time-honoured advice to coincide with World Breast Feeding Week, August 1-8. But research suggests that breastfeeding for longer will help make a baby stronger and healthier.

Local mothers Carol Gwatking and Belinda Kirkwood are in complete agreement, with both of their babies being found to benefit from receiving breast milk.

Carol, of Bangalow, is still breastfeeding after her 22-month-old daughter Lotus had a difficult start to life. Born eight weeks premature at Lismore Base Hospital, Lotus was in a humidicrib and tube-fed with her mothers' breast milk for her first three weeks.

"Finally the day came when we could share the special bond that breastfeeding gives a mother and baby. The closeness is hard to describe, the eye contact between us and the 'blissed out' look on Lotus's face was my dream come true," Carol recalled.

Doctors say it is even more important for premature babies to receive breast milk than formula to keep the baby's bowel healthy and prevent serious complications.

"Providing breast milk to premature babies protects against this problem," explained Sue England, Clinical Midwifery Consultant with Northern Rivers Area Health Service. "As premature babies 'catch up' they need good protection from their mother's immune system through her breast milk."

Carol Gwatking said she believes Lotus now has a strong constitution because she has been breastfeeding for so long.

Belinda Kirkwood, whose son Harrison was also born prematurely, agrees. Belinda, who runs acclaimed Byron restaurant dish with her husband Ben, will continue breastfeeding as long as is advisable for Harrison's wellbeing.

"The longer babies breastfeed, the better protected they are from infection until their own immune system is developed at around 18 months to two years," midwife Sue England said.

"There is much evidence from Australia and around the world that admissions to hospital and paediatric wards are much less in babies who are breastfed."

In Australia, less than 40 per cent of babies are still breastfeeding at six months, a statistic that causes concern to health authorities, as breastfeeding is both, the best nutrition for babies, and gives them protection from allergies, infections, even SIDS. It also helps protect the mother from ovarian and breast cancer.

Comment on CBD laneway revamp

Photo: John McPherson

Amber Hall of OutLook Consulting Agency, talks about the potential for upgrading Lismore's inner CBD streets, filmed by documentary filmmaker Mark Jago.

Thriving shopping arcades, vibrant artworks, verdant plants, and shaded laneways, filled with the bustle of happy people: this is the vision for the revitalisation of laneways within Lismore's CBD block.

Consultant Amber Hall has spoken to more than 600 people to get their views on what they'd like to see done to spruce up the laneways. She plans to present a series of options at a community meeting in October.

With backing from Lismore Council, and the NSW Government, she is continuing to survey shoppers and businesspeople about their ideas to give the area a makeover.

"Lismore's laneways are hugely unique and at the moment, it's a blank canvas. The laneways are degraded and dead, apart from a couple of shops, but being the heart of the CBD, it's the perfect hub for bringing people and business together," she said. "We want to humanise the inner CBD."

Ms Hall said that the block's seven shopping arcades are "struggling" with high vacancy rates, and that giving the laneways a focus will give people more reasons to use the arcades and boost trade.

"People are saying they want a safer precinct, with better lighting so it be used at night. They want outside dining, street theatre and entertainment and shade during the day. One suggestion is for half pots along the walls holding vines and native plants. Sculptures and other artworks are also options," she said.

"There is good scope for us to attract a range of outside funding for this project, which will help drive tourism and business development in the city,"

She hopes to have a major art project underway by November. "We're such an artistic community and tapping in to all of that talent is vital," she said.

While Cr Jack Crowther recently led the charge to divert $1 million in council funding from upgrading Keen Street to other projects, including a revamp of the laneways, Ms Hall's work on the project has already been underway for a year. She believes it will become the blueprint for community input into revitalising a country town, and is making a documentary film to chart her progress.

Lismore Council says work is already underway, with Nesbitt Lane upgraded and murals painted on the walls. Mayor Merv King said Council was committed to revitalising the inner CBD.

Fay Hopf, of Harvey World Travel, whose business backs on to one of the lanes, is supportive of the ideas so far.

"A revitalised inner CBD with painted walls and historic imagery will do amazing things for our tourism industry," she said.

Council city works manager Bill Moorhouse said it should only cost $1 to 2 million to fix the roads. Cobbled laneways are one option being considered.

"Council would like to develop more pedestrian-friendly facilities for that area and funding for the work is attainable," he said. The project is expected to take up to five years.

Encouraging the CBD retailers to create a business entrance in the lanes for easier access for shoppers is another option being proposed.

Andrew Lovett, from Council's economic development unit, said the laneway project complemented other work currently underway.

"This is just one stage of Council's big picture for the revitalisation of the CBD, which includes the Lismore levee scheme and riverbank redevelopment, the old high school site redevelopment and street upgrades," he said.

A public meeting on the laneway project is planned for October 7. The proposal endorsed by the community will then be costed.

For more details on the inner CBD revitalisation process, or to make a comment, write to Amber Hall at OutLook Consulting Agency, PO Box 1475 Lismore 2480, or email amber@nor.com.au and ask for more information.

10 years for guns

A 60-year-old man who pleaded guilty to the supply and sale of semi-automatic weapons was sentenced to 10 years jail in Lismore Local Court on Friday.

The police firearms squad arrested the man last October following a lengthy covert investigation after he was identified as a key player within an illicit firearm distribution network between Queensland and NSW.

The man was charged with a total 18 offences, including one count of unlawfully selling firearms three or more times within 30 days, four counts of selling a prohibited firearm, and one count of unauthorised possession of firearms in aggravated circumstances.

In May 2003, he pleaded guilty to the charges in Lismore District Court.

In passing sentence, Justice Reginald Blanch said that "it is necessary to impose a sentence to send a message to the community that the illicit trafficking/use of firearms will not be tolerated and if caught, you will receive a significant jail sentence".

His Honour imposed a jail term of 10 years with a non-parole period of five-and-a-half years.

The gun runner was the third person to be jailed in the past month under amendments to the Firearms Act, which make it illegal for someone to supply three or more pistols or guns within a 30 day period.

It's all in the signs for Ben

The signs point the way (with a little help from The Echo artroom) for Ben Bruggy as he prepares to defend his world title in the Netherlands.

Lismore's world champion deaf squash player, Ben Bruggy, is getting ready to strut his stuff on the world stage once again. A gold medallist with the Australian team and an individual silver medallist at the inaugural World Deaf Squash Championships in 2001, Bruggy is heading off to the Netherlands in October to defend the team title and try to win the individual gold. The current world champion is fellow Australian Peter Walters.

The event will be held at Zoetermeer, Netherlands from October 10-12.

To get there Ben will need to raise almost three thousand dollars and he is hard at work to make sure that happens. The Local community can help out and have a lot of fun at the same time by attending a Trivia Night to be held in the Gordon Pavilion, Oakes Oval, from 6.30pm Saturday, August 16. Sponsors have been jumping at the chance to help Ben get to Europe, including Daleys Homeware, Jeans House, Instyle Sleepcentre, and the Lismore Squash Centre.

Tickets for the trivia night are $15 adults and $10 children with bookings available through Jan on 6621 2914 or Ian 6624 1393.

Thyme for Lismore's own sausage

Rene Nugent from Lismore Unlimited and Herb Festival organiser Louise Barry sample the pork and time sausage made especially for the Herb Festival.

Perigord in France is famous for foie gras and truffles, Tuscany in Italy for focaccia, and the Caspian Sea for caviar, but organisers of the Lismore Herb Festival, August 16-17, are hoping this city will be known for its own sausage.

A pork and thyme banger has been especially created for the Festival by Lismore-based Vecchiet Smallgoods. The sausage will debut at the Herb Festival next Saturday and will be sold with chilli sauce (don't worry, there's a mild version) by new Lismore producer Blue Kitchen.

It's just one of a dozen tasty things to try at the Herb Festival in 9 days time – from wattleseed waffles to pasta with Italian herbs. Organiser Louise Barry there will be plenty more delights to taste and learn about at the Festival, which will use the relandscaped riverside parklands for the first time.

"The major focus this year is on culinary uses for native herbs. There are cooking demonstrations using Dorrigo pepper and rainforest spices, to add some unique flavours to someone's cooking repertoire. And Andrew Fielke, one of Australia's leading native Australian cuisine chefs, will host the inaugural lemon myrtle recipe cook-off, and Peter Howard will judge the bake-off," she said.

Anyone is welcome to enter with a recipe using lemon myrtle. The winner will score $250. For competition details, visit www.herbfestival.org or phone 1300 369 795.

There are plenty of other things to do at the Herb Festival, from sitting back and enjoying the music, comedy and dance, to kids shows and games, natural living seminars, and the herbs, native foods and essential oils convention. The Echo will publish the herb Festival program next week.

Meanwhile, the Pepper Tree Kitchen is running herb cooking classes. Phone 6622 0180 for details

Students visit from our sister city

Seven students and a teacher (pictured) from Yamato Takada, Lismore's sister city in Japan, are currently on two-week visit to the region as part of Lismore's sister city student exchange.

As well as taking in school classes at Lismore High and Trinity, the group are enjoying the region's beautiful beaches and lush rainforests on scenic tours. They return to Japan on August 11.

As part of the exchange program, a group of six students from Lismore, Kadina and Mullumbimby high schools will visit Japan in late September.

Iraq eyewitness

Rosemary Gillespie, also known as Waratah, will be speak of her experiences in Iraq as a human shield next Thursday, August 14 at 7pm at the Workers Club.

A human rights lawyer, she served as a human shield during the US bombing of Baghdad, at a water treatment plant and an oil refinery.

"The effects of the bombing and the invasion on the people was horrific." she said. "The majority of Iraqis want the American troops out."

She will also show video "so that people can see first hand what happened in Iraq."

Proceeds from the event will benefit Mahboba's Promise and Medical Aid for the Third World For details, contact Ruth Rosenhek on 6621 3294

Hospital pumps a real Challenge

Lismore Challenge client Paul Jorgenson disassembles a medical infusion pump, watched by Charmaine Swientek, acting CEO of Challenge, Darren Bear from Baxter Healthcare and Doug Foskey from NRAHS's Biomedical Engineering Department.

When Baxter Healthcare won a contract to provide new infusion pumps to Northern Rivers hospitals, it also had to remove the decade-old ones. Normally, they're sent to Sydney for dismantling before going to the tip. But that's when, Doug Foskey, from the Biomedical Engineering department at Northern Rivers Area Health Service, had an idea.

Along with colleagues John Skinner and Scott Huxley, Doug began investigating what else could be done with the blue pumps (which fans of TV hospital drama will recognise).

Discussions with the local charity group Lismore Challenge, which helps people with disabilities to live, work and share in community life, led to the idea of having the 116 pumps disassembled by Challenge's workers for resale as components, which included rechargeable battery units.

Baxter was so keen on the idea that it offered to pay Challenge to take on the work.

"We had no hesitation in deciding to support this very worthwhile local work opportunity," Baxter spokesman Darren Bear said.

Lismore Challenge's acting CEO, Charmaine Swientek, was just as pleased, saying the 'project with a difference' would provide clients with some technical challenges quite different to their normal work, and in the process give them extra skills.

Clearly the workers were enjoying the task, with Paul Jorgenson, Natallie Henssler and Myles McPhee showing dexterity and considerable patience in taking the ageing, but still high-tech, pumps to pieces.

Ivory tinkling plan for Ballina

After many years of helping bring the finest in classical and contemporary music to the region, Musica Viva Lismore president Marion Buddee (left) recently handed passed the baton to with Hazel Bridgett, who was joined by Sue Dakin, chair of the Regional Arts Steering Committee –an accomplished pianist – at Lismore's grand piano.

The piano, a Yamaha concert grand, was purchased jointly five years ago by Musica Viva Lismore and Lismore City Council. It will feature in Musica Viva next concert, this Friday, August 8, at 7.30pm, when Argentinian pianist Andrea Katz will feature as part of the acclaimed quartet, the Sydney Soloists. (tickets available at the door).

Having helped secure such a beautiful instrument for Lismore, Musica Viva would now like to see a concert grand located in Ballina for its seasideconcert series, which it holds in conjunction with Ballina Arts Council.Photo: John McPherson

Seniors with a tale to tell

Some of the winning writers in the Seniors Week short story competition, with Tim Bowden, who launched the book at the Byron Bay Writers Festival.

A moving, tragicomic tale of a woman facing the loss of a breast to cancer has won the annual Seniors Week short story competition.

Tina Rothbury of Lismore was named the overall winner of the competition when an anthology of the stories, titled Regeneration, was launched by peripatetic author Tim Bowden at the Byron Bay Writers' Festival last Friday.

Judge Larry Buttrose described Tina's story, titled 'She Wanted to not..Panic', as "poignantly candid" as it detailed grappling with the news from the doctors and coming to terms with a mastectomy.

Lismore Council sponsors the competition and the book, along with The Echo and others, and Mayor Merv King praised the work of everyone who entered.

"Older people are living treasures of stories about the place we live, our beginnings and our hopes, and about ourselves. Recording them for posterity is something that will enrich our community for years to come," he said

The other winning works were: Historical: 1st David Parkinson, 2nd Helen Flower, 3rd Anne Paterson; Fiction: 1st Thelma Backshall, 2nd Ros Derrett, 3rd Quendryth Young; Humorous: 1st Glen Sharpe, 2nd – Tamaso, 3rd Marion Whitney; Poetry: 1st Faith Duffy, 2nd Mal Sanderson, 3rd Annetta Dunn; Ed Gaskell Encouragement Award: Agnes Tierney.

The anthology Regeneration is available from Lismore City Council, Dymocks and Noahs Ark bookstores in Lismore.

Entry forms for next year's competition will be published in The Echo from January.

A lifeline for readers

Volunteer Elaine Harvey displays one of the 13 volumes from the complete Oxford English Dictionary

The crisis counselling service Lifeline will run its annual BookFest book and toy sale again at the St Josephs Site Hall Leycester Street Lismore on Saturday and Sunday 16-17 August.

The sale provides the opportunity for people to pick up great bargains on a wide range of reading material and children's pre-loved toys.

On offer will be over 12,000 items including collectable books, fiction and non-fiction works, children's books, magazines, encyclopaedias and atlases, as well as cassettes, CDs and videos.

This year's sale includes a 1961 edition of the 13 volume complete Oxford English Dictionary, one of the world's great books.

Organisers are hoping to raise more than $5,000 this year with all proceeds going to Lifeline, the free counselling service that provides support to people experiencing personal crisis.

Lifeline, celebrating its 40th anniversary in Australia this year and its 20th in the Northern Rivers, is a free community service staffed by trained volunteers who provide their time 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

During the past 12 months Lifeline's Lismore Centre has responded to more than 5,000 local calls.

Expo on sustainable society

A panel of eminent people representing academia, the arts, and the media will meet to discuss what it takes to create a sustainable society next week as part of the Sustainable Industry Expo. The expo is an initiative of the Big Scrub Environment Centre run in concert with the Lismore Herb Festival and will examine issues such as sustainable energy, water management, and human rights. An exhibit will be on display at the Lismore City Hall throughout the week.

The forum will examine the role of the media and the arts in creating sustainable communities and asks how can we nurture cultural diversity and harness the media for social, cultural, and environmental benefit.

The panel, including Professor Judy Atkinson from Southern Cross University's College of Indigenous Australian People, NORPA artistic director Lyndon Terracini, Northern Star editor Russell Eldridge, permaculture expert Robyn Francis, and noted journalist and writer Bob Ellis will consider issues such as: Is the loss of cultural diversity damaging our society? and How can the media maintain objectivity and cultural relevance?

The public forum will be held on Friday, August 15, from 6pm at the Star Court Theatre Lismore. Entry is by gold coin donation.

Lismore church helps cancer carers

Lismore Church of Christ Pastor, Phil Ravesteyn (pictured), presented a cheque for $2500, the results of his Goonellabah congregation's fundraising, to Margaret Gorton-Weller, of the Cancer Care & Haematology Unit at Lismore Base Hospital last week.

The funds were raised at a recent 'soup, sweets and auction' night supported by a large range of local businesses.

The money will be used to provide extra seating at the treatment clinic, to boost the 'Quality of Life' fund that helps with excursions for patients' children, and to buy music CDs to entertain younger people who come for treatment.

Church member Darrin Smith, a former patient at the unit, commented, "As much as things are a pleasure when you have cancer, it was just great to come here, the staff are so wonderful – but I felt the music could be improved!"

Darrin will consult on the purchase of some techno, acid house and trance music out of the money raised.

Colours of the earth win for Wendy

Wendy McGain with Federal Art Minister Rod Kemp and her winning entry, 'Red Oxide', in the $1000 Open Section of the Bentley Art Show.

Kyogle artist Wendy McGain won the $1000 open prize at the 19th annual Bentley Art Prize on Saturday. Her entry, "Red Oxide", a mixed media abstract work, features the colours and textures of the outback earth landscapes Wendy finds inspiring.

"I head west until I see the red oxide earth and see patterns, black sticks, and colour combinations," Wendy said. "I respond emotionally to the colour."

Judge Tom Offord said it was "a marvellous painting!"

Federal Art Minister for the Arts, Rod Kemp opened the show and congratulated the artists and organisers for the success of the event.

"There are many things special about Australia," he said, "and the sense of community created by people like organiser Reg Hartley in presenting this art show is special."

Tom Offord described the petrified algae sculpture by, Rod Bates, runner up in the Open Section, as "a most impressive work," and said Aboriginal artist David Nixon's small finely detailed work Watersnake "is a delight."

Other winners were Margaret Brown, David Nixon, Ria Tierney, Geoff Little, Emma Poitthard, Stephen Blanch and Justin Lacey.

Our Kids say thankyou to sponsors

Carl Cadonetti and Pauline Leeson with daughter Madison and Rebekka Battista

Sponsors of the Our Kids 2003 Calendar were thanked at a presentation ceremony at the Lismore Turf Club recently.

Rebekka Battista, coordinator of the project said that without the support received from the local business community the calendar would not have been possible. Principal sponsors included NBN Television, Mayne Investmens, Lismore City Printery, Hard Copy Computers, GlaxoSmithKline, Goonellabah Medical Centre, Alstonville Plaza, the Koori Mail, Graphiti-Designs, the Lismore Turf Club and Lismore Truck Show, Huegill and Carusi lawyers, Quota Club of Alstonville/Wollongbar, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology and Frame-It Picture Framing.

The calendar was the brainchild of local paediatrician Dr Chris Ingall and raised funds for the purchase of equipment for the special care nursery and children's ward at Lismore Base Hospital which services infants and children in the Northern Rivers area.

Two thousand calendars were produced, with ninety per cent so far sold, raising in excess of $25,000.

Dr Ingall said that the support of the sponsors ensured that the production costs of the calendar were fully covered prior to it going on sale. The calendar features the images of talented local photographer Jacklyn Wagner and was designed by Soren Hjorth.

All parents were presented with beautifully framed copies of the pages from the calendar showing their children.

"It's a wonderful keepsake," said Pauline Leeson, proud mother of Madison Cadonetti. "It's something she'll keep for ever".

Plans are already underway for next year's calendar.

Child custody submissions

Written submissions to the Family and Community Affairs Committee's inquiry into child custody arrangements close this Friday.

Page MP Causley said the inquiry would look at the concept of a "rebuttable presumption" of equal time to be spent by children with each parent in the event of family separation.

The Committee is asking for submissions from people and organisations by Friday, August 8, after which the Committee will undertake a series of public hearings.

Guidelines are available from the inquiry website at www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/fca/childcustody/ or phone the Committee Secretariat on 6277 4566.

This week's features: Rainforest Rescue - Health and Wellbeing - Your Shopping Guide - Local Businesses