Weekly News

MT Vision for 40 hr Famine

Trinity College students Mitra Oliver, Demelza Witham, Lauren Harrison, Amy Tyrrell and Jazz Andrews will take part in the World Vision 40 hour famine this weekend.

Five Trinity College year 11 students who recently returned from the 2001 World Vision Youth Leadership Convention in Brisbane have organised a special fundraiser to draw attention to the 40 hour famine which begins this Friday, May 18, at 8pm.

Mitra Oliver, Demelza Witham, Lauren Harrison, Amy Tyrrell and Jazz Andrews are drawing a large picture of MT, the World Vision mascot, on the Trinity handball courts and asking students to fill the empty stomach with coins.

"It's very symbolic because the money that fills MT's stomach will be used to fill kids' bellies," Jazz explained.

The students were inspired to help World Vision after their time at the convention and are organising the 40 hour famine at their school.

"One thing people should understand is that their spare couple of dollars can help because if everyone gives then it all adds up," Lauren added.

The five students are supporting World Vision in other ways too, sponsoring a child between them and taking part in the 40 hour famine walk on Saturday.

"People should understand that they don't have to take part in the 40 hour famine to help world vision, there are lots of different ways to help," Mitra said.

If you would like to make a donation to the students' feed MT project, call Trinity on 6627 6628 and ask for Mark McMahon or Christine Flood. For more information on sponsoring a child or other World Vision Projects call 133 240.

Rudi Maxwell

Have a Cuppa for Cancer

Getting ready for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea are coordinator, Betty Campbell (centre) with Lismore Workers Club catering staff (l-r) Denise Gale, Dawn Morschel, Sandra Elliott, Kathy Granatelli and Deanne Foster.

Fundraiser can often mean making sacrifices - as a lot of bald people currently know.

But raising money for cancer research is a lot easier, especially next Thursday May 24, as a prelude to Australia's Biggest Morning Tea, when all you have to do is have a cuppa, some cake and make a donation.

Morning teas will be held around the region however, if you don't know a friend who's hosting one, then attend the morning tea at the Lismore Workers Club from 9.30am.

It only costs a $3 donation and as well as a cuppa and cake, participants will go in the draw to win a dinner for two at the Lismore Workers Club Regency room.

Getting into the spirit of things, the Workers Club has offered to match whatever is made through community donations at the event.

"Firstly the Workers Club have been so generous and we thank them for their kind support," organiser, Betty Campbell, said.

"All people have to give is $3 which is pretty insignificant and if lots of people do, the result is something very significant. The morning tea will be really nice too so we encouraged everyone to get down here and support cancer research."

If you'd like to host your own morning tea, phone the Cancer Council on 6681 1933.

More SCU Graduates Make their Mark

It was a day of 'firsts' at Southern Cross University's graduation ceremonies last Saturday. For the first time, nursing graduates received their degrees on International Nursing Day, including the first-ever graduates from a new program for perioperative nurse surgeon's assistants.

It was the first time a graduate had traversed the stage with a guide dog. The previous day, visually impaired Danae Naylor and her dog Renee rehearsed the walk to receive her BA degree from the Chancellor. On Saturday, all went according to plan, with Renae taking the testamur cylinder in her mouth before helping Danae off the stage to the acclaim of a packed auditorium.

And baritone Lyndon Terracini received an Honorary Doctorate to mark his contribution to the performing arts.

Shave day sets new record

As the Richardson family planned to leave Papua New Guinea after three years, they had no idea it would lead them to Lismore on the weekend to thank local people for their kindness in the Shave for a Cure fundraiser for people with cancer.

More than 450 people in the Lismore region have had their head shaved - and many more had their head coloured - to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation. While that figure briefly set a new world record for the most heads shaved in 30 hours, it seems the capital cities were able to top that astounding figure.

The Northern Rivers effort raised more than $80,000 in one of the largest Shave days as part of what is now a national event.

The generosity of locals humbled the Richardsons, who've had first hand experience of the support the Leukaemia Foundation provides for people with cancer.

On the very day the Richardsons were due to fly back to their native South Africa, their eight-year-old daughter, Amy, became seriously ill. A scan revealed she needed specialised medical attention and the family was evacuated by emergency helicopter to Brisbane.

Amy was diagnosed with lymphoma, a very aggressive form of leukaemia.

It was a shock for the family, but the Leukaemia Foundation provided accommodation for them in Brisbane.

Lismore priest, Cameron Venables, from St Andrews, befriended the Richardsons when he was working in PNG. When he heard that Amy was sick, he visited the Richardsons and organised his Lismore congregation to pray.

Amy's mother, Norelle, is extremely thankful for the support the city has given her family.

"Lismore's people have been great - both today and throughout Amy's illness. The sense of fun today has been wonderful and the sharing and knowing you're doing it for a good cause. It's much easier if other people laugh then it doesn't seem so bad," Norelle said.

"I really think this is a good cause. The Leukaemia Foundation was very supportive and helpful. I'd like to thank all those who had their heads shaved here today," Norelle finished.

The other reason the Richardsons have to smile is that Amy's cancer is technically in remission after a recent scan couldn't find any sign of the cancer.

Rudi Maxwell & Terra Sword

Gem Fest Promises Great Fun for Families

Tony Melbourne and Peter Palaziol dig for labradorite in the Hogarth Ranges.

Labradorite is a strange gem, which looks like a smashed windscreen when it's dug from the ground. But in the skilled hands of fossikers and faceters like Tony Melbourne, Lloyd Newton, and Peter Palaziol, members of the Lismore Gem and Lapidary Club, it can end up looking like a yellow diamond.

Under his keen eye, Lloyd likes to turn the stones into beautiful jewellery for his grand-daughters - a give of love they adore.

For the past 60 years, members of the Lismore Gem and Lapidary Club have returned to the same spot in the Hogarth Ranges, west of Casino, to dig out this semi-precious form of feldspar, and you can see it, along with a huge range of gems, precious stones and jewellery, at the annual Gem Festival this weekend at Lismore Showground.

With stallholders and dealers coming from all over east coast, they'll be plenty to see, do and learn about. There's also plenty to keep the kids entertained, with treasure hunts on Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 2pm. Every child will share in the treasure, so no-one goes away unhappy.

There's also sand sieving for crystals, tumbled stones and tokens you can exchange for prizes. Many of the 'tailgaters' (people who find gemstones and then sell them) will be offering lucky dips, not to bargains for anyone interested in gems and precious stones - from opals to sapphires, or if you're a new age type, healing crystals.

On top of that there are fossils - leaves, animals, shells and fish from millions of years ago, plus delicious food and heaps of fun for all the family. And if you don't know what all the fuss is about, then Gem Club members like Peter, Tony and Lloyd can help explain the joys of finding and then cutting your own gemstones.

The Lismore Gem Festival is open this Saturday from 9am to 5pm, and on Sunday, 9am-3pm. Entry is only $2 for adults and 50¢ for children. Parking is free.

Lismore Scouts will also be on hand for their major fundraiser of the year. Don't worry if it's raining, because the festival is undercover, you can still enjoy yourself.

And don't forget to fill out the coupon on page 9 of this week's Echo, bring it to the Festival and you could win the fantastic Lucky Gate Prize from Bunyips Outdoors.

Q Freebie: The Echo has two double passes to the Gem Festival to give away to the first two people who come to our Molesworth Street office at 1pm this Friday and tell us what diamonds are made from.

$5m nursing home planned for Alstonville

Maranoa CEO Dot Smith, chairman Warren Cox and building committee chairman Lyn Lockrey survey the site for the new nursing home.

A new 45-bed extension to the Maranoa aged care facility at Alstonville means that residents will no longer have to move to Ballina or Lismore when seeking nursing-home accommodation.

The $5-million project announced this week provides for a 30-bed nursing home and a 15-bed low-care dementia unit, plus administration block, activities room, outdoor cafe, hairdresser, therapy facilities, kitchen and laundry.

Each room will have its own ensuite, and dining and lounge facilities will be included in each wing. A special landscaped indoor and outdoor area, incorporating Maranoa's own Big Scrub remnant, will be incorporated into the design.

Maranoa CEO Dot Smith said Maranoa had identified the provision of a nursing home as an integral part of the retirement village.

Having it in Alstonville is a big thing for our current and prospective residents," she said.

"Familiar surroundings can play a very positive role in aged care."

The development application will be dealt with at next Thursday's Ballina Shire Council meeting. If approved work is expected to begin in January 2002.

Dave Fawkner

Lismore Council Punts For 4.6% Rate Rise

The next time you hear a Lismore councillors complain that they simply donít have enough money to do the things ratepayers want to do, the truth is that they only have themselves to blame.

At Tuesday nightís budget workshop, Lismore Council had the chance to raise rates in line with inflation - to around 5.6 per cent. But led by Cr John Chant, who felt an increase around 4 - 4.5 per cent was about right, and with a weather eye on any political backlash, they chose the safe option, putting council financially behind the eight ball.

Still, after line-by-line scrutiny of expenditure over the next 12 months, including 108 submissions for special projects, Council managed to keep the books balanced, with a modest surplus of about $30,000 left in the kitty.

Both the NSW Government and NorthPower have done the dirty on local government, lumbering them with additional costs - giving councils no choice in the matter or financial compensation.

Local government minister Harry Woods dealt the first blow with rate pegging, setting general rate increases at 2.8 per cent - half the inflation rate. And with the stroke of a pen, the RTA handed responsibility for 60km of regional roads to Lismore - with an estimated maintenance bill of $174,000.

NorthPower off-loaded the cost of tree-lopping under power lines to councils, which is expected to add around $50,000 per year to Lismoreís costs. To save money, council cut the figure back to $40,000.

But a change in the State government legislation gave council a loophole this year. It meant Lismore could have doubled the general rate increase, adding an additional $450,000 to the coffers to maintain expenditure in line with inflation. General Manager Ken Gainger reported that Councilís costs had risen by about 6 per cent over the past year.

But instead, councillors chose a cautious approach, deciding theyíd stick with the 2.8 per cent rate increase, then tacking on the additional costs for roads and tree-lopping. Also added to the bill is the $100,000 towards the flood levee. Council planned to apply to the Minister for a special rate variation, but will now use the leeway in the rate increase.

It all adds up to increase of 4.6 per cent for 2001-02, adding around $30 to general rates bill of the average urban ratepayer. A CBD business on property valued at around $170,000 will pay about $260 more, plus $171 towards the flood levee.

But it also means that council is effectively spending $450,000 less in real terms over the next financial year. Staff will have to do more with less.

Other fees and charges will increase at various levels. North Woodburn residents face a 25.6 per cent increase in waste collection fees. The cityís integrated waste collection fee will rise 5.3 per cent, the waste collection service - 8.9 per cent, urban non-domestic waste collection - 4 per cent, and rural non-domestic collection 2.9 per cent.

Council plans to save money by borrowing less for the memorial baths reconstruction next year. Shaving $200,000 off the loan, reducing the borrowing to $1.1 million, will save $15,000 in interest.

Council also saved $55,000 by opting to do a two-year patch job on the Lismore Lake pool rather than spent $80,000 resurfacing it. The decision signals that the demise of the free pool may be imminent. $22,000 will also be spent on the biannual repainting of the existing memorial baths.

The roadworks budget is $12 million, including $2.7m for road re-construction, but $540,000 to upgrade the road around the newly completed Broadwater Bridge was knocked back as too expensive. $170,000 for maintenance on sealed rural roads was also given the thumbs down, despite an impassioned plea from Cr Frank Swientek to include it. $321,000 for urban road rehabilitation identified by the Fix the Roads Committee was also considered unaffordable.

And to help balance the budget, the mayor short-changed the $174,000 allocated to the new roads, arbitrarily reducing the figure by $20,000.

But the city should look at little better, with an additional $100,000 going towards the parks and recreation budget to improve maintenance. Crozier Oval should be completed in the next year, if Work for the Dole labour can be secured.

$71,500 will go to finalising the $500,000 Lismore gasworks remediation program.

Sticking up for the arts and farmers, council overturned staffís ëNoí recommendations and plan to fund Norpa for $25,000 and the North Coast National Show for $10,000.

Cr Brian Suffolk expressed his disappointment that $75,000 was not allocated to restoring Lismore Lake, despite the fact that it rated number 6 on in the councillorsí top 15 preferred projects. But then he didnít suggest raising rates another 0.5 per cent to pay for it.

Other projects which missed out included the Kadina Park ($83,000) and the Goonellabah Indoor Sports Centre ($32,000), more CBD cameras ($95,000) and playground equipment for Elders Park in Goonellabah ($25,000).

Cr Gates said that one of pleasing aspects of the budget was the amount of revenue being raised by the councilís business arms.

ìWaste services, the memorial gardens, the quarries, water and sewerage have now been placed on a commercial footing which means they are generating their own income and reducing the burden to ratepayers,î he said.

Councilís budget and management plan goes on display for public comment for 28 days from Saturday. If you want to pay more rates, for whatever reason, then nowís the time to speak up. If you want to pay less, the same is true.

And if you think a 4.5 per cent rate rise is still too much, then count your blessings that you donít live in Ballina or Byron shires. While Ballinaís planned rate rise is only slightly higher at 4.86 per cent, financially troubled Byron is going for broke, so to speak, with a 13.8 per cent increase.

Simon Thomsen

Support for Prostate Cancer Sufferers

Co-founders of the Prostate Cancer Support Group Byron Wilson (left) and Dick Logan.

When Dick Logan walked out of his doctorís surgery three years after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, he felt like heíd just been handed a ìdeath sentenceî.

Feeling confused and depressed Dick tried to find a support group to attend but much to his dismay there were none. Dick did notice however that there were many support groups for women with breast cancer and Dick decided it was time men suffering from prostate cancer were catered for.

With the help of two friends, Byron Wilson and Ivan Eichorn ñ also prostate cancer sufferers ñ Dick began the first Prostate Cancer Support Group in the Northern Rivers.

ìLots of males donít want to talk about their feelings with their doctor or family, but find the support of other males with prostate cancer very helpful,î Dick said.

ìThe group will be especially helpful to newly diagnosed men because we have been through what they are going through and can provide plenty of support. We will not only provide emotional support but also assist them in selecting treatment and give them up-to-date information on technological advancements in treatment.î

At their first meeting, 30 men attended the group and Dick is now encouraging more men to get involved. Their next meeting will be held on Monday, May 21, at the Alstonville Bowling Club from 10am. For more information phone Dick on 6687 8483 or Byron on 6628 5504.