Local Government News

Larry Anthony
National News

Season's Greetings

May I take this opportunity, on behalf of my family and I, to wish you a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous 2004.

The Christmas-New Year period is a great opportunity to spend valuable time with families and friends - many of whom we may only catch up with at this special time.

After a busy year, like many of you, I will be looking forward to spending some quality time with my wife, Jenny, and our three children.

Sadly, not all in our community have the same opportunity to celebrate the season. Some are far from their families, or do not have any contact with their family, or live alone.

They may be struggling financially and therefore unable to afford the special little treats, or presents, which are part of the season.

And while it is easy to become self absorbed with our own activities, I would encourage all residents of Richmond to be aware of those in their own community who would probably love the opportunity to share a bit of Christmas cheer with you and your family.

It is all about being good neighbours.

At this time of year the demands on our welfare organisations are always stretched and a small donation from you can make the world of difference to not only them but also a needy family.

May I appeal to you all to be safe on our roads during this Christmas and New Year period.

Many a family holiday is ruined by one careless or inattentive act on our roads.

So, if you are planning to drink don't drive and if you are planning to drive ensure that you stop and rest at least once every two hours.

Let us all aim to make the far North Coast fatality-free this Christmas. There could be no better gift for our dedicated emergency service teams.

And please go easy on the credit cards over the new few days. It may seem like free money but putting yourself into debt just to provide loved ones with the gifts they always wanted will only lead to pain and sorrow come next year.

And if you are going to break all the dieting rules this Festive season a brisk 30 minute walk a day will keep the pounds away!

Larry Anthony MP
Federal Member for Richmond
Minister for Children & Youth Affairs
PO Box 6996 Tweed Heads South 2486 ph: 07 5524 2466 fax: 07 5524 9366
www.larry.com.au Toll Free: 1800 812 125 larry.anthony.mp@aph.gov.au

Ian Causley
Canberra Connection

Bands play Lismore

Australian bands Butterfly 9 and Tracky Dax will be performing in Lismore in the New Year.

Butterfly 9's management company, Pussycat Music, received $10,000 from the Australian Government's Contemporary Music Touring Program to undertake a four-state tour. The band will be playing at Lismore's Southern Cross University in March. The tour will be used to promote the release of the band's second album.

A $7000 Contemporary Music Touring grant will also see self-described parody band, Tracky Dax, performing at the University in March, following the release of its second album in February.

Australian Presenters Group will present Company B Belvoir Street's production of The Underpants at the Star Court Theatre in Lismore in May.

The Presenters Group received a $521,182 Playing Australia grant to take The Underpants, and a Pork Chop Productions/Sydney Opera House performance of Last Cab to Darwin, to a number of regional centres in the ACT, NSW and the Northern Territory.

Underpants is a light-hearted, zany romp about a woman called Louise who is at a street parade for the Kaiser when her underpants fall off.

Lismore Regional Gallery continues to attract top ranking exhibitions with the Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery bringing its large exhibition of the paintings of John Peart to town in 2005.

John Peart has had a long and distinguished career in Australian painting. He came to prominence through The Field exhibition of 1968 and has remained at the forefront of Australian abstractionist painters since.

The Campbelltown Gallery received a $50,000 Visions of Australia grant to tour to regional galleries, including Lismore.

Centrelink holiday payments

Centrelink makes special arrangements during the Christmas period to ensure people are not disadvantaged by the holidays.

Arrangements have been made to ensure pension, parenting or family payments due on Christmas Day will be available on Wednesday, December 24.

People paid allowances or special benefit payments who are due to be paid on Christmas Day, but who don't have to return a form, will receive their payment Tuesday, December 23.

People paid Newstart, Youth Allowance and most other payments, and who need to return forms on either December 24 or 25, can return their forms early.

People who were due to lodge on December 24 should now do so on Monday, December 22. Those customers due to lodge on December 25 should now do so on Tuesday, December 23.

If customers return their forms on these new dates, they will avoid payment being delayed by the national Christmas Day holiday.

Christmas greeting

It's Christmas again. The time of year which is filled with wonder and joy. At this time of year our thoughts naturally turn to loved ones, as we look forward to getting together with family and friends over the festive season and this is perhaps most keenly felt by the families of our servicemen and women.

There are many human situations which demand our neighbourly response, the volunteering of our time, as well as our prayers, generosity, encouragement and support.

In the Northern Rivers, with our strong sense of local community, we are well placed not only to do this for one another this Christmas but also to set our minds generously on needs further afield.

We can make a difference if we take a little time to ensure that all of those within our circle of friends, relatives and associates feel a part of Christmas, and feel they belong.

I wish everyone who reads this column a happy and joyful Christmas.