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Northern Rivers Echo Main News
Region rallies to save train
 Northern Rivers Trains for the Future campaigners James Brown, Dave Wenban and Basil Cameron are leading a grassroots push to save local rail services. Photo: Jeff Dawson/Byron Shire Echo
A grassroots campaign to save local rail services has been launched by a lobby group calling itself Northern Rivers Trains for the Future (NRTF).
They are planning a series of rallies and meetings across the region over the coming week in a bid to show community support for rail services to the NSW Government, which is considering the closure of Northern Rivers CountryLink services as part of a major restructure of public transport in the state.
NRTF spokesperson Basil Cameron said there was strong community support for rail services. NRTF volunteers have collected 1000 petition signatures in Bangalow, Mullumbimby and Goonellabah in the last couple of days, he said.
They will take to the streets of Lismore's CBD this Friday, November 28, to collect more signatures. A public meeting is planned for Lismore City Hall next Thursday, December 4, at 5pm. Another rally will be held in Byron Bay on December 6.
Mr Cameron said many people feared that the branch line from Casino to Murwillumbah, via Byron Bay, would be closed permanently if CountryLink services were withdrawn.
"We believe this may be the last chance we get to save our trains. The response from Sydney decision-makers when it came to listening to branch line communities had been poor so far," he said.
Despite sustained questioning by the Opposition during question time, Ballina MP Don Page said transport minister Michael Costa remained "tight-lipped" over the future of local rail services.
"I have again raised in State Parliament a series of questions on the future of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line, yet Minister Costa still refuses to rule out the closure of the service," Mr Page said.
"Minister Costa is now under increased pressure to come clean on his plans. Even his own Labor MLC has broken ranks and called for the maintenance and expansion of the line."
Mr Page said he had asked the Minister to detail patronage and maintenance figures for the rail line.
Basil Cameron said Northern Rivers Trains for the Future wants to see services expanded, calling for a commuter train on the Casino-Murwillumbah line as the region's population continues to grow and tourism increases.
"The NRTF believes commuter rail services provide an opportunity for Lismore business to benefit from tourist visitors in coastal locations with limited transport options, especially backpackers. An estimated 1.25 million people visit Byron Bay each year and the train would help them adventure inland," Mr Cameron said.
"We are also calling on the federal Government to provide infrastructure support and funding for our rapidly growing North Coast communities."
Northern Rivers Trains for the Future volunteers will be campaigning on the corner of Molesworth and Magellan streets this Friday to raise community awareness of the issues.
"We will be collecting petition signatures, seeking letters of support from businesses and community groups, promoting the rallies in Lismore and Byron Bay, asking people to get involved through letter writing, calling talkback and asking their friends and communities to attend the rallies," Mr Cameron said.
The NRTF has also set up a website - www.nrsdc.org.au/nrtf.htm - featuring copies of the Parry Report into public transport, the NRTF response to it and email links to transport minister Michael Costa and Premier Bob Carr.
Letters of support can be sent to NRTF, c/ Shauna McIntyre, 22 Cathcart, Lismore 2480 or by email to ptdp@nrsdc.org.au. The Echo also has a petition available for signing at it's office.
A ribbon to remember
 Launching AIDS Awareness Week were (l-r) Northern Rivers Area Health Service HIV/AIDS program manager Wendi Evans, ACON education officer Michael Flinn and ACON manager Ron Davis, with the Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt.
Panels of the Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt were unveiled at Lismore Base Hospital this week to launch AIDS Awareness Week, eve of World AIDS Day, Monday, December 1.
Each panel on the quilt is an artistic memorial to an Australian who has died of AIDS, their lives lovingly remembered by family, friends and lovers with collages that even include childhood toys and family photographs.
AIDS Council of NSW (ACON) volunteer Ross Nicholls said the quilt is a wonderful tribute to those who have had their lives cut short by the disease and a timely reminder that discrimination should not be tolerated.
"These panels have been created with love and care and dignity, and that's what HIV positive people should also expect from the community. It's not just a gay man's disease it's a worldwide problem, but unfortunately there's still a lot of intolerance and ignorance about this virus," he said.
Red ribbons made by local school students will be on sale across the region next Monday for $1, or from the World AIDS Day barrow on Magellan Street, 8.30am-3pm. All funds go to helping people living with HIV/AIDS.
ACON is also holding a fundraising Trivia Night on Monday at the Lismore Workers Club from 7pm. Tables of eight are welcome and entry is $5 per person. To book phone ACON on 6622 1555.
Nearer the Dreaming in the garden
 Launching the Colin Roberts Memorial Bush Food Garden at Nimbin Central School last week were Aunty Agnes Roberts and garden designer Roy Gordon with students Kara Green (left) and Naheena Harris.
The Colin Roberts Memorial Bush Food Garden was unveiled at Nimbin Central School last week with a ceremonial tree planting by Colin's mother, Bundjalung Elder Aunty Agnes Roberts.
The two-acre garden was developed by the Aboriginal community, with help from the wider community and school students. Plans include a bush tucker garden, walking tracks, amphitheatre, campsite and separate 'listening circles' for men, women and families.
"This is a place Indigenous people can belong to and take responsibility for - a space and a forum where Aboriginal people can communicate with each other, with the community and with the school. We will all grow with the garden," Elder Roy Gordon said.
Nimbin Central School principal, Margie Hayes, said she was honoured and humbled by the fact local Aboriginal people wanted to build such a garden.
"It's a wonderful, innovative idea and it will be of great benefit to the students for them to have a hand in nurturing this garden. Anything that connects us more to Aboriginal culture is fantastic," she said.
Battle continues for koala road
A last minute push to finalise plans for the $1.53 million upgrade of Skyline Road has backfired after Mayor Merv King was forced to postpone the decision because councillors had not read a 52-page report on the project.
Cr King used his casting vote against himself after the vote to proceed was tied 5-all (Cr Chant absent). It followed an impassioned appeal from Friends of the Koala (FOK) president Lorraine Vass, who accused Council of reneging on a deal to consult FOK over the final conditions to protect koalas.
Mrs Vass said she was "absolutely flabbergasted and totally disillusioned" by the council process, saying she expected community stakeholders to be properly notified when the issue was before council.
Just a few hours before Tuesday's meeting, a two-page fax was sent to councillors informing them that the upgrade was on the agenda. Many remained unaware of it until they arrived at the meeting and the accompanying 52-page report was tabled.
And unbeknownst to many councillors, general manager O'Sullivan had scheduled work on the upgrade to begin this week. While Council endorsed the project last May, ensuring adequate protection for koalas led to delays in a critical endorsement from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
On Tuesday night, Cr Ros Irwin asked the mayor to withdraw his motion, calling it "anti-democratic" and claiming it forced councillors to make an 'uninformed' decision without reading the reports. Cr King refused, so Cr Gallen proposed it be deferred.
Cr Irwin challenged those backing the upgrade to explain what conditions to protect koalas were being included, but it was left to Mr O'Sullivan to defend the process, saying it was 'appropriate' and that the documents were no different from the original DA approval.
Of the $1.53 million realignment of the gravel road, around half the cost will be spent on mitigation works to protect koalas.
The matter will now come to Council's December 9 meeting.
Funds to help kids
 Announcing more than $550,000 in funding for two local youth services this week was Community Services Minister, Carmel Tebbutt (centre) with (l-r) MP Thomas George, Lismore mayor Merv King, YWCA board of directors president Kate McCann from Sydney and local YWCA youth services manager Frances Trimboli.
The YWCA's Community 4 Kids program will receive $220, 918 over three years to establish three supported playgroups in Goonellabah thanks to a NSW Government Grant.
NSW community services minister, Carmel Tebbutt, announced the funding during a visit to Lismore this week. The playgroups will be established in the Shearman Drive and McDermott Avenue estates, as well as at Goonellabah Public School, for children aged up to 8 years.
YWCA youth services manager, Frances Trimboli, said the playgroups will provide support to families during the transition from preschool to primary school.
"We can detect any problems children may have such as learning difficulties and refer parents to appropriate agencies whilst also helping mums and dads to build on their existing parenting skills," she said.
During her visit the Minister also announced $337,800 in funding for the Ballina/Byron Family Centre to establish a volunteer home visiting service. It will pay for volunteers training so they can work with local families, especially those with babies and young children.
Bill's gone, but help is at hand
 Summerland Credit Union staff who decorated the office in green and gold and donned Wallaby jerseys last Friday may not have helped the Aussies win the World Cup, but they have helped sick kids.
Marketing manager Matthew Hogno (left), sales and development manager Andrew Tucker (right) and staff members (l-r) Cherisse Burley, Rebecca Slade, Sasha Rattray and Joanne Brew-Charles spent the day collecting donations for the Starlight Foundation - the favourite charity of injured Wallaby Ben Darwin - which grants 'wishes' to seriously ill children.
2IC drops by for a chat
 Deputy prime minister John Anderson, and Page MP Ian Causley met with Northern Rivers Division of General Practice representatives Dr Kingsley Pearson and Dr Andrew Binns last Friday to discuss Government plans to change Medicare.
Deputy prime minister and transport and regional services minister John Anderson visited the Northern Rivers last Friday to discuss local issues.
Mr Anderson opened the new $4.2 million Macleans Bridge at Grevillia, 30 km north of Kyogle - the last project in the Commonwealth's four-year $20 million upgrade commitment to the Summerland Way.
He then turned his attentions east to meet with members of the Ballina Bypass Action Group, but while he acknowledged the importance of the project it wasn't enough to open the federal purse.
Mr Anderson blamed the NSW Government, which he said agreed to fully fund the bypass as part of the state-federal Pacific Highway upgrade agreement. But NSW wants the Commonwealth to chip in, as it did for the Alstonville bypass. Ballina residents can only ponder the speed of the buck-passing and the eagerness of the governments who are here and "keen to help".
Mr Anderson also met with local doctors to press the case for the Government's proposed changes to Medicare. GP spokesperson Dr Andrew Binns said the Coalition's plan was "definitely in the right direction".
"However, there are issues that need further thought and discussion: for example, the safety net for disadvantaged people is proposed to be $500, but the Democrats are looking at $300. GPs would back more support for disadvantaged people," Dr Binns said. "And the extra $5 for GPs who bulk bill concession card holders and children is welcome, but at best in rural areas it will serve to underpin bulk billing rates not increase them."
On Tuesday, Mr Anderson met with Lennox Head GP Dr Sue Page, the newly elected president of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, in Canberra.
Assault arrest
An 18-year-old Evans Head has been charged with sexual assault following an incident in Evans Head late last Thursday night. The man was granted conditional bail to appear in Ballina Local Court.
Disability expo
Lismore Council will hold a 'mini expo' of disability services next Wednesday, December 5, at Lismore Library for International Day of People with a Disability. More than a dozen services, including Carelink, the Deaf Community Association, Guide Dogs, Centacare and Centrelink, will be there between 10am and 12.30pm.
Library snakes
The quiet hiss in Ballina library next Wednesday, December 3, won't be from people reading, but live snakes as part of a special evening for young people. Loud in the Library will feature local legend George the Snake man talking about his work, as well as bringing real, live snakes to the library for young people to meet.
The free event is a chance for youth to meet, learn something new, eat pizza and listen to music, as well as touching a snake. It runs from 5.30 to 7.30pm.
Rosebank hots up
The Rosebank Fire Brigade is holding a dance party at Repentance Creek Hall this Saturday, November 29, from 8pm. Tickets are $10 in advance from the general store, or $15 at the door. Food and drink will be available. Phone Eric on 6688 2217 for details.
The long road to recovery
 Advocates for Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA) facilitator Susan Bugeja (second from right) with members (l-r) Betty, Rebecca and Helen.
There is nothing more abhorrent than child abuse, but the sad reality is that it continues to happen and people often need support to heal the lasting scars it can leave.
Betty, 63, of Casino, has been a member of the Advocates for Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA) Lismore support group since it was established 12 months ago, and she says it has made all the difference in helping her recover.
"Abuse effects every part of your life and this group has really helped me to deal with a lot of the negative feelings I've had," Betty said. "Sharing with other people who have had similar experiences and being able to express yourself openly is a huge release - having the freedom to face what has happened to you is life changing. At the support group you can talk to people and be accepted for the way you are. We don't talk about the past, we talk about how we feel in the here and now."
ASCA is a national organisation that has been providing support for survivors of child abuse since 1995.
The support group is there for survivors of any type of abuse, whether sexual, physical, emotional or ritual, and anything people share at ASCA meetings is completely confidential.
"We are here to help survivors heal," Susan said. "A big part of healing is overcoming the shame and guilt of being a survivor and we want to help them retain a sense of normality in their lives and live their life to the fullest. The main aim is to let survivors know they are not alone - that someone out there cares and there is help."
ASCA meets every Monday at 17E Keen Street from 6pm. For more information phone Susan on 6662 7014 or Betty on 6662 3976.
Christmas spirit
The Lismore Neighbourhood Centre is collecting Christmas goodies to stock backpacks for people who are homeless or transient over the festive season.
Centre spokesperson Jeanette Tyler said the most useful items for homeless people include toiletries, first aid kits, insect repellent, caps, melamine bowls, small radios, playing cards and sewing kits. She's also seeking backpacks, new or used, as well as toys and boardgames for children, plus dried and tinned food.
You can drop off items at the Neighbourhood Centre, 76 Carrington Street, between 9am and 4pm weekdays.
The packs will be distributed at the annual Soup Kitchen lunch at Lismore City Hall on Christmas Day.
Roadworks rage
Ballina Council has taken the unprecedented step of asking police to help protect their roadside workers following a series of 'roadworks rage' from angry motorists held up by roadworks.
Council's civil services manager John Truman said there were two incidents last week, in which workers at Lennox Point were forced to avoid missiles thrown from moving vehicles.
"Police have been informed and they will be making regular patrols of the area," Mr Truman said.
He said that if they could identity anyone endangering the Council, press police to lay charges.
Council anyone?
Ballina Council is holding an information session for anyone planning to stand for Council at the March 27 election next year. The session is at the Richmond Room, near the tourist information centre, on Thursday, 4 December at 5:30pm. It will feature a chance for candidates to ask questions as well as receive information on the roles and responsibilities of a councillor.
For further details, contact Council's general manager Stuart McPherson on 6686 1273.
Oz Day awards
Lismore mayor Merv King is calling for nominations for Australia Day awards for 2004.
Nomination forms can be obtained from council's administration building in Goonellabah, by telephoning 6625 0500 or by visiting the website at www.lismore.nsw.gov.au
The award categories include: Citizen, Young Citizen, Community Services, Art/Cultural, Sportsperson (senior and junior), Reconciliation and Environment.
Imported macadamias passed off as local nuts
Ben Hills
Australia's second-largest supermarket chain is investigating how it came to be a victim of a scam involving more than 14 tonnes of fake Australian macadamia nuts. The nuts have been sold in bulk in more than 300 Coles and Bi-Lo shops in NSW and Queensland, as well as other shops and supermarkets.
Documents show the nut kernels, worth more than $200,000, were imported from Kenya in August, repackaged in boxes labelled product of Australia and sold to hundreds of shops.
Coles said it had been made aware of the nut substitution last Tuesday, and was relabelling macadamias in its shops to make it clear to customers that the nuts were a mix of local and imported ones. It said it wanted to revert to Australian nuts "as soon as practicable".
The company at the centre of the scandal, Macadamia Industries Australia, based in Wollongbar, is one of the largest Australian processors of the nuts.
The company's acting chief executive, Stephen Brierley, said MIA had imported the nuts because it could not get enough local macadamias to meet its contract with Coles. The local harvest was down dramatically due to drought.
The false labelling was a packaging error, he said. "We apologised to Coles for this error. We have got our hands up and told them that it won't happen again."
Mick Evans, who was recently retrenched from his job as the company's operations manager, said a shipping container of the nuts was delivered to the company's processing works at Wollongbar on Saturday morning, August 30, when only a handful of staff were working. They were unpacked, and the packaging showing that they were Kenyan produce was immediately burned, Mr Evans said. Staff were told not to discuss the shipment.
Mr Evans said he had protested to company executives, but was told to mind his own business.
The kernels had been mixed with Australian nuts and repackaged into 11.34 kilogram boxes for Coles, each stamped Product of Australia. Mr Brierley denied that the Kenyan nuts had been used in any other brand - the company packs own-brand Pacific Gold macadamias labelled "Australia's finest quality" and the Judy Grainger brand, sold in duty-free shops.
Mr Brierley would not say now much of the Kenyan product had already been sold. The imported nuts that remained in storage would now be exported and not sold in Australia, he said.
Mr Evans said it was hypocritical of the company to pass off imported nuts as Australian as it had been publicly campaigning for the local industry and criticising competitors who had their Australian-grown crop cracked in China to cut costs. He said the substitution scandal could endanger the livelihoods of more than 1000 macadamia growers, and risk an export industry in which Australia was aiming at global dominance by 2007.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it was not investigating any macadamia nut substitution, but if anyone had a complaint about false or misleading product information it would look into it.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Casino shopping right on Target
Story & photo: Therese Schier
 Target Country Casino manager Nelda McKee in the store's new premises in the Casino RSM Shopping Centre with Marie Karam who retired in 1993 after 40 years with Coles in Casino.
When Marie Karam was appointed office girl at Casino's original Coles store in 1953 there was full counter service, over 60 cash registers and women customers were thrilled to be able to buy frocks 'off the peg'.
"In the war years ready-made clothes were scarce and suddenly we had all these ladies' frocks at cheap prices. It was a big thing," Marie said.
Marie never imagined that she would spend 40 years at the store and rise to the position of manager in 1977. When Coles acquired Fosseys, she managed two stores on opposite sides of Walker Street for some years.
"I was the first female manager in the whole of Queensland and Northern NSW," Marie said.
"I must have been good at figures because I often did relief in the offices of district stores."
Coles Myer later re-branded Fosseys as Target Country, and this week the business moved into the new Casino RSM Shopping complex.
In a fitting tribute to her years of service and the esteem in which current manager Nelda McKee holds her, Marie was invited to officially open the store.
"It is 50 years and one month since the first Coles store opened in Casino," Nelda said. "And Marie was there at the beginning."
Marie retired in 1993 and handed over as manager to Nelda, who she had trained and supervised. Her protégé is proud of the new premises.
"It's going to be a great store," Nelda said. "Customers can move around more easily in the larger space and we can offer a larger range of goods."
District Manager for Target Country Michelle Macfarlane said Casino would benefit from the new store.
"Our biggest hope is that we can keep our customers in Casino rather than going to outlying districts to shop," Michelle said. "We have employed an extra 10 staff so employment has increased in Casino."
Target Country is the first store to begin trading in the new Casino RSM Shopping Centre. Major tenant in the complex, Bi Lo, opens on Tuesday December 9 and a further six specialty shops will open in late January.
Goonellabah granny wins $7.5 million
What do a 58-year-old Goonellabah pensioner and National Australia Bank chief executive Frank Cicutto have in common?
About $7 million.
While Cicutto was named Australia's highest-paid bank executive in 2002-03 this week, with remuneration of $7.77 million, the grandmother of four made her money the easy way after winning the $2 Jackpot lottery on Monday morning.
She won $7.55 million, and when Lottery officials rang, she thought it was a prank by one of her children.
"My son rang me once as a joke and told me I'd won the lottery, but even then he was only joking about winning thousands of dollars, not millions," the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said.
She said she was determined to not "squander" her newfound wealth.
"I could spend and spend, but I'm not going to. It's just wonderful to have enough money not to worry about anything," she said.
The winner said she often dreamed about buying a car or a unit if she won the lottery.
"I suppose it's silly now even thinking about a unit or a car, with this amount of money, you could choose any house or car you wanted."
But she does have a few ideas to start.
"I'll invest it and use the money to help my family. I don't even have a house at the moment. I've always wanted to take my mum on the beautiful train The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide, so I'll do that first," she said.
Council anyone?
Ballina Council is holding an information session for anyone planning to stand for Council at the March 27 election next year. The session is at the Richmond Room, near the tourist information centre, on Thursday, 4 December at 5:30pm. It will feature a chance for candidates to ask questions as well as receive information on the roles and responsibilities of a councillor.
For further details, contact Council's general manager Stuart McPherson on 6686 1273.
Oz Day awards
Lismore mayor Merv King is calling for nominations for Australia Day awards for 2004.
Nomination forms can be obtained from council's administration building in Goonellabah, by telephoning 6625 0500 or by visiting the website at www.lismore.nsw.gov.au
The award categories include: Citizen, Young Citizen, Community Services, Art/Cultural, Sportsperson (senior and junior), Reconciliation and Environment.
Op shop sale
The Life Community Op-Shop will hold their end of month sale this Saturday, November 29, at both op-shops - the clothing store on Wyrallah Road and the furniture store on Cynthia Wilson Drive.
The sale is a great chance to pick up a bargain and there will be clothing as well as heaps of furniture including desks, chairs, lounges, wardrobes, bric-a-brac and lots more.
The sale will run at both stores from 9am-3pm.
Assault arrest
An 18-year-old Evans Head has been charged with sexual assault following an incident in Evans Head late last Thursday night. The man was granted conditional bail to appear in Ballina Local Court.
Bridge St repairs
Work to repair a landslip that swallowed half of Bridge Street, North Lismore, began this week. The work follows an extensive review in to native species along Slaters Creek to minimise the impact of any roadworks.
The reconstruction is expected to take until Christmas and cost $150,000.
Rosebank hots up
The Rosebank Fire Brigade is holding a dance party at Repentance Creek Hall this Saturday, November 29, from 8pm. Tickets are $10 in advance from the general store, or $15 at the door. Food and drink will be available. Phone Eric on 6688 2217 for details.
Xmas spirit
The Lismore Neighbourhood Centre is collecting Christmas goodies to stock backpacks for people who are homeless or transient over the festive season.
Centre spokesperson Jeanette Tyler said the most useful items for homeless people include toiletries, first aid kits, insect repellent, caps, melamine bowls, small radios, playing cards and sewing kits. She's also seeking backpacks, new or used, as well as toys and boardgames for children, plus dried and tinned food.
You can drop off items at the Neighbourhood Centre, 76 Carrington Street, between 9am and 4pm weekdays.
The packs will be distributed at the annual Soup Kitchen lunch at Lismore City Hall on Christmas Day.
Roadworks rage
Ballina Council has taken the unprecedented step of asking police to help protect their roadside workers following a series of 'roadworks rage' from angry motorists held up by roadworks.
Council's civil services manager John Truman said there were two incidents last week, in which workers at Lennox Point were forced to avoid missiles thrown from moving vehicles.
"Police have been informed and they will be making regular patrols of the area," Mr Truman said.
He said that if they could identity anyone endangering, the Council press police to lay charges.
Council anyone?
Ballina Council is holding an information session for anyone planning to stand for Council at the March 27 election next year. The session is at the Richmond Room, near the tourist information centre, on Thursday, 4 December at 5:30pm. It will feature a chance for candidates to ask questions as well as receive information on the roles and responsibilities of a councillor.
For further details, contact Council's general manager Stuart McPherson on 6686 1273.
Time flies for snow boat south
 Scientist Graham Jones in sea ice zone during climate Variability experiment in the Antarctic two years ago.
A visit to the Antarctic will no longer be a major voyage to a long winter for scientists visiting the frozen continent.
Southern Cross University academic, Associate Professor Graham Jones said new air links beginning in late 2004 will revolutionise Antarctic science.
"It means researchers can now get to the continent in four hours, instead of 10 days by ship," he said.
Assoc Prof Jones, a leading Antarctic expert, recently took part in a planning session to help develop Australia's Antarctic Scientific Research program over the next five years. Over the last 12 years he has had a scientific program with the Australian Antarctic Division investigating climate change in Antarctica.
Fourteen scientific voyages have been carried out by Professor Jones's group with recent interest focusing on the seasonal ice zone, which he now believes has been melting since the 1950s.
"The challenge for researchers however, is to better understand regional climate change, particularly the factors that affect the strength and severity of drought in Australia," he said.
Assoc Prof Jones said the key areas of research in coming years will include ice, oceans, atmosphere and climate, Southern Ocean ecosystems and adaptation to environmental change. A fourth applied research program will look at the impacts of human activities in Antarctica. He said that the federal Government was concerned over increased tourism and fisheries exploitation in Antarctica, and how climate change will affect Australia.
Assoc Prof Jones is interested in contacting anyone who have gone down to Antarctica in the hope of organising a mid-winter dinner next year. Contact him on 6620 3009 or email gjones@scu.edu.au
This week's features: Your Shopping Guide - Local Businesses
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