Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Wetlands Festival

The Bungalwalbin Wetlands Festival this Sunday is a chance to get hands on experience of a wetlands forest area and have a great time participating in a creative range of activities.

The program includes guided walks through the Yarringully Nature Reserve, hands-on dip netting in the lagoons, poetry readings, entertainment by bush band Kildare, great food, and education sessions on how to manage the wetlands for the future. One of the highlights will be the creation of a community wetland art sculpture of two dancing brolgas, each 3m high.

Yarringully is a new Nature Reserve managed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and is home to endangered wetland birds like the Jabiru and Jacana. Hidden within the forest are beautiful wetlands and paperbark swamps providing a wonderful opportunity to discover and celebrate the importance of wetlands during the Wetland Festival.

To reach the Festival site, follow the signs from the Bungawalbin Creek on the Coraki - Woodburn road. The program begins at 9am and runs all day.

Co-Opera does Carmen

Carmen - the Opera not the politician - is coming to Casino in an outdoor performance of this popular opera by Co-opera.

The one off performance will be held on Thursday, October 2, at St Mary's High School Oval. Grounds open at 6.30pm with the performance commencing at 7.30pm. The idea is to bring your own picnic basket, sit-back, relax and enjoy a fantastic night of opera.

And if the publicity blurb is anything to go on it should be night to remember!

"Carmen has a powerful message of freedom, where a damned woman will not submit to a male moral code. She relishes her freedom in love and life. We watch as Don Jose's love and passion becomes confused with jealousy and possessiveness, having tragic consequences."

Tickets are available from the Casino Visitor Information Centre, priced at $33 for adults, $28 for pensioners and group bookings of 8 or more, and $5 for children under 17.