The UNITY festival on 2 October at the Murwillumbah Showground is all about celebrating the dance, music, cuisine and culture of the Tweed’s diverse heritage.

The Caldera Artfest at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre from Friday 1 through to Monday 4 October showcases the region’s bio-diversity through photography, paintings, sculpture, films and displays.

The UNITY festival is a colourful mix of rich and diverse cultural influences from the Tweed and Bryon Shires, infused to create an exciting family event.

The theme for this year is Celebrating Diversity.

Deya Dova (pictured) headlines the Echo Main Stage with her bright and energetic mix of Dance, World and Electro with an Indie Pop twist.

Her exotic sound is based upon her extraordinary vocal talent and draws from indigenous influences from around the world and those echoed in her own ancestry.

The Country Energy Dance Stage showcases African, Indonesian, Filipino, Torres Strait Island, Indian and South Sea Island performers dancing in traditional and striking costume.

For the taste buds, the UNITY festival offers a multicultural menu including Indian curries, Indonesian satays, vegetarian gourmets, bush tucker, Maori burgers and North African Gypsy meatballs and kebabs to name a few. Tickets now on sale at: www.unityfestival.com.au.

The 2010 Caldera Artfest is part of a world-wide celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity.

The exhibition at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre showcases the work of artists concerned about the natural environment and promotes awareness of the significant biodiversity values within Australia’s Green Cauldron.

Artwork and associated product sales will generate revenue for specific land-care projects and artists. Entry to the exhibition if free. For more information visit www.calderaart.org.au

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The Expo theme this year is’Ageing Well’ and will feature a monster book sale organised by Pinevale residents and staff, with the proceeds from the sale of all pre-loved books going to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

‘Ageing Well’ is all about showcasing some of the opportunities that now exist for older people and their families, who want access to information and services that help in continuing to enjoy a good quality of life.  

More than 40 community organisations, private businesses and health promotion practitioners have booked in for the event, together with entertainers. 

As well as being able to provide specific information about ageing – perhaps trying out mobility aids, or having a remedial massage or having your blood pressure checked – the expo this year will have a definite spring flavour with a plant display, a fashion parade, homewares, gifts and accessories, lots of live music and good food.   

Organisers can still take some bookings from community groups and businesses who have a focus on the older population and would like to be involved in this informative and fun event.

Stalls sites are in the grounds of Pinevale and are outside, under cover. Pinevale can help with shades and chairs. 

Entry is by gold coin donation for those attending and stalls are free, however, organisers do ask for a small gift to the resident fund-raising commitee. 

Funds raised from entry into the expo will go to Pinevale Resident’s Fundraising Committee.

For further information phone Anna, Jan or Sonia on 6624 5010.

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Over 80 volunteers are needed to roll out this exciting community event. Most jobs are required on the day of the event, with a smaller number of jobs required prior and post event.

Volunteer team leaders and volunteer team members are needed in the areas of:

·        Set up and dismantling marquees and infrastructure  – Friday 1 & Sunday 3 October

·        Bar service (RSA certificate required)

·        Waste management staff and bin monitors

·        Children’s art workshop assistants (blue card required)

·        Ticketing staff

·        Social researchers – conducting surveys

·        Production assistants

·        Assistant stage managers

·        Performers liaison officers

·        Parking attendants

·        Stage MC

·        Market stall assistants

·        General hands

Each volunteer is requested to work a five-hour shift and will receive free entry into the event, optional free camping on site, a meal pass and complimentary bottle of water.

All volunteers will need to attend a briefing session on Thursday 30 September at the Branding Rail, Murwillumbah Showground, from 5.30-6.30pm. Team leaders will be requested to attend an extra briefing session on Wednesday 29 September (time and venue to be confirmed).

This is an ideal opportunity to meet new friends, learn new skills and be part of the amazing UNITY community. Volunteers can fill out a form online or call Kerry or Lisa on (02) 66723063.

About the UNITY Festival:

• The UNITY festival is an colourful mix of rich and diverse cultural influences from the Tweed and Bryon Shires, infused to create an exciting family event.
• The theme for this year is Celebrating Diversity and will feature world music and dance, exotic costumes, global food and local art.
• The UNITY festival, now in its second year, is being extended to a 10-hour event and will offer a Main Stage headlining DEYA DOVA and a Dance Stage featuring African, Indonesian, Filipino, Torres Strait Island, Indian and South Sea Island communities.
• Free children’s activities include making dream catchers, tunnels, gardens and puppets with recycled materials and drumming and weaving workshops.
• UNITY festival 2010 is a green power and waste-wise event. Save money and book your tickets online – only $15 (adult). Concession $10, Children under 16 free. Tickets also available at the gate. Visit the website for bookings and further information – www.unityfestival.com.au.

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The theme for this year is Celebrating Diversity and will feature world music and dance, exotic costumes, global food and local art.

The UNITY festival, now in its second year, is being extended to a 10-hour event and will offer a Main Stage headlining DEYA DOVA and a Dance Stage featuring African, Indonesian, Filipino, Torres Strait Island, Indian and South Sea Island communities.

Free children’s activities include making dream catchers, tunnels, gardens and puppets with recycled materials and drumming and weaving workshops.

UNITY festival 2010 is a green power and waste-wise event. Save money and book your tickets online – only $15 (adult).
Concession $10, Children under 16 free. Tickets also available at the gate. Visit the website for bookings and further information – www.unityfestival.com.au.

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Come and experience true musical magic when Musica Viva Lismore presents the bubbling personalities and virtuosic talents of Genevieve Lacey [recorders] and Karin Schaupp [guitar] in a program that spans from the Renaissance to the present day, from sonatas to folk songs and much more.

Together they have established an enviable reputation both within Australia and internationally.

They have been performing as a duo since 2004 and are highly acclaimed for both for their individual musicianship and the close musical rapport they convey as performers.

• St Mary’s Anglican Church, Norton St, Ballina,
• Thursday, 23 September, 2010
• 7.30pm
• Tickets: Adult $30, concession $25, student [including TAFE & SCU] $15
• From Lismore Music Magellan St [66213105]
• La Boutique, River St, Ballina
• At the door

PICTURE: Karin Schaupp and Genevieve Lacey.

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Join Sandy Gandhi, Alesha-Nicole (she makes Priscilla look like a desert), Cathy Martin and the fabulous Jackie Loeb who does Julia better than the PM herself!

Jackie brought the roof down several times at this year’s Big Joke Festival, and for those of you who missed it, here’s your chance to catch her  (check her out -  www.jackieloeb.com)

If you’re having a Birthday, come and party with the girls – discounts available for groups of 10 or more.

“Looking forward to seeing you all,” said Sandy, Australia’s most easterly Indian.

Hilarious Hysterical Wickedly Wacky Women Jackie Loeb & Sandy Gandhi in
WET YOUR PANTS
The musical!!
A mostly all-girl environmentally sustainable, drought-resistant Comedy Spectacular
Including a torrent of under-wired support from
‘Funny’ gal Alesha-Nicole … she put the Grrr into girl!
Cathy Martin on her new-age boyfriend, Open Mike
And a special appearance by the raining ‘PM’ herself!

2 SHOWerS only
Friday 27 August The BANGALOW BOWLING CLUB
Saturday 28 August The BYRON BAY BOWLING CLUB
SHOWS START @ 8 PM – Restaurants open at 5.30 PM
Tickets $25 – Early Booking Recommended – 6687 1005 or Email: sandy.gandhi@bigpond.com
Proudly Sponsored by Mullumbimby PRINTWORKS – 6684 3633

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So begins a love affair with Italy and Italian food that stretches over 30 years and several visits as Victoria is tugged repeatedly from her Sydney life back to Gianfranco’s restaurants.

It is an addiction fraught with challenges and difficult to shake.

“Amore and Amaretti”, Victoria’s first book, is a disarmingly vulnerable autobiographical account of growing through love’s seasons.

Structured as a diary spanning 22 years, the book is interspersed with humour, heartbreak and mouth-watering regional recipes – the signature dishes of Gianfranco’s restaurants.

Amore and Amaretti will be launched at the Byron Bay Writers Festival.

An intimate dinner with Victoria Cosford will be held at 6:45pm on Tuesday August 31 at The Byron at Byron Resort, where Head Chef Gavin Hughes will cook recipes from Victoria’s book and guests will hear first-hand of her Tuscan adventures.

Two courses and a glass of Italian wine will be $45 and reservations can be made by telephoning 6687 5674 or emailing caroline@carolinedesmond.com.au

“It is very exciting and tremendously relieving to have finally managed to get my story out, which I have so wanted to tell, into book form,” said Victoria Cosford.

“Most of the recipes are fairly simple and I do hope that they bring some pleasure.”

“Victoria’s marvellous descriptions of restaurant life take us behind the scenes to a Tuscany rarely seen by tourists and travellers,” said Joanna Savill, Director of the Sydney International Food Festival. “She’s an immensely talented writer and cook”.

Outside of cooking in Tuscan restaurants, Victoria’s adventures and achievements to date include achieving a BA in languages at ANU in Canberra, many years selling advertising space for publications such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the Italian newspaper ‘La Fiamma’, teaching Italian cooking at community colleges for 20 years and working extensively in the hospitality industry in Sydney including three years’ co-running a cafe on the Northern Beaches.

She has lived in Byron Bay for the past 10 years, working at The Byron Shire Echo for the past eight.

Victoria is currently leader of the Byron Bay convivium of the Slow Food Movement and for the last few years has worked as a reviewer for the annual Sydney Morning Herald ‘Good Food Guide’.

Amore and Amaretti is available now at Mary Ryans book stores for $24.95.

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And, with more than 350,000 registered caravans and recreational vehicles in Australia today, this industry is among the fastest growing tourism sectors in Australia.

The show is in its 13th year and last year broke two significant records – more exhibitors and more attendees than ever before.

In addition to the hundreds of exhibitors, the show will feature entertainment, including motorcycle sensations the Freestyle Trial Team who continue to thrill their fans with their dazzling motorcycle feats.

There will also be a race-car simulator for race-car fans, and helicopter winching displays.

And those who like Aussie bush entertainment should make their way over to the Country Energy entertainment stage to hear balladeer, Errol Gray, perform.

For fishing fans, the Yamaha Fishing Tank will be there again this year, along with a fishing simulator which will excite the experienced and not-so-experienced fisher.

For the kids, there will be rides, face-painting, stilt walkers, and even a visit from Big Dog to ensure the little ones are entertained.

The show also offers a lucky-door prize. Every paying visitor to the show will have a chance to win a three-metre Quintrex tinny and motor valued at $2100, courtesy of Watson’s Trimming and Marine.

The Yellow Pages 4WD Caravan Camping & Marine Show is a major fundraiser for Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, but also provides a major boost to the Northern Rivers economy.

The first 12 years of the Show has raised more than $800,000 for the rescue helicopter and last year injected approximately $2 million into the local economy, providing spin-offs to local accommodation providers, hotels and restaurants.

The Yellow Pages 4WD Caravan Camping & Marine Show will be held at Lismore Showground this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 9am each day and close at 4pm.

For all the details visit the official show website www.lismore4wdshow.com.au

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The ‘We Love Yamba’ website is the new information hub for the Yamba River Markets, the Yamba Festival of Comedy, Music and Arts and the proposed Yamba Farmers Market.

Live Prawn Productions (LPP) Inc Chairperson Debrah Novak couldn’t be happier with the website and the festival makeover.

“It is such an exciting time for the LPP committee because the fruit of a lot of our weekly meetings and burning the midnight oil is realised with the launch of the website,” she said.

“It looks awesome thanks to some great photos from award-winning photo journalist Mike Larder and the Daily Examiner photographic files from previous festivals.

“Two years ago our committee received a $30,000 grant from NSW Industry and Investment (DSARD) to grow the festival into a North Coast regional flagship event.

“To do this we had to strategically have a good look at our festival and position it to capture not only a local target market but a discerning Northern Rivers market as well.

“The decision in the name change was to capitalise on the existing marketing opportunities that presented themselves last year when Yamba was voted the ‘Best Town in Australia’.

“We as a group could never have afforded that much advertising, however, we can piggy-back on it now.”

The festival makeover was done in consultation with long-time music industry expert Glenn Wright, who was one of the co-ordinators of Sydney’s Live Bait Festival and the current Mullum Music Festival.

Ms Novak said: “One of the key issues for LPP was to make this an annual festival and a sustainable one.

“We met with Mr Wright, workshopped ideas and his industry experience combined with our local knowledge will hopefully now see Yamba’s only cultural and lifestyle celebration given an extended life-line.

“The work we have done will make it easier for anyone who joins the committee to step up and run the festival and markets.

“A strong foundation means the festival can grow and better reflect the diversity and eclectic lifestyle factors that continue to enchant those who live here and for those who want to visit our beautiful part of the world.”

Some of the notable differences for the festival this year include the addition of comedy, food and literature, and all activities up until the Sunday will be venue-based.

“We wanted to broaden the base of the festival to better reflect and capture the existing family tourism footprint and at the same time involve the licensed venues,” Ms Novak said.

“By utilising the existing venues and their areas of expertise we can invest the money that was previously used in setting up the festival infrastructure into a more diverse range of activities and at the same time keep our costs down.

“The main thing now is the festival is an all-weather event.

The Live Prawn Productions team has also created a new brand around the ‘We Love Yamba’ tag which they hope will promote the town and event far and wide. The ‘We Love Yamba’ tag and Facebook page surfaced as a response to the Valentine’s Day riot in Yamba.

Ms Novak said: “We wanted to show people out there that Yamba wasn’t all doom and gloom and in actual fact you don’t have to look far to see all the great things.

“Everyone on the festival and market committee lives and works here because we all love Yamba. There are over 500 people on the Facebook site now and a lot of them were born here and have had to move away for whatever reason and this website is a way for them to stay in touch with a place they love and see what is happening in their home town.”

Along with the website and festival launch is the launch of two competitions both of which will get the creative juices flowing.

“Live Prawn Productions Inc wants to tap into the amazing graphic artists in the area and have two t-shirts designed,” Ms Novak said.

“One is to reflect the ‘We Love Yamba’ brand and the other is the Yamba Festival of Comedy, Music and Arts. There is only one prize for each t-shirt and that is a free family ticket to all events within the 2010 festival and one night’s family accommodation.

Check out the website at http://weloveyamba.com/

PICTURE: Five members of Yamba’s event management team, Live Prawn Production Inc, were out early for the launch of the ‘We Love Yamba’ website and new look festival on Main Beach, Yamba, (from left) Gary Brisbane, Bev Mansfield, Jen Smith, Ilma Hynson and (front) Kirra Muegge.

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Primex are continuing to integrate more sustainable practices into their annual event, including a strategic Waste Management Program in partnership with Richmond Valley Council, the North East Waste Forum (NEWF), Southern Cross University and North Coast TAFE, to make the Primary Industry Exhibition ‘Waste Wise’.

The aim is to minimise waste, maximise recycling and reduce the waste that ends up going to landfill from the event.

Primex organiser Bruce Wright said: “As a Waste Wise Event we are focused on waste avoidance as a priority.

“All exhibitors and stall holders are encouraged to avoid any unnecessary and non-recyclable packaging, particularly for the serving of food and drinks, and to recycle all cardboard boxes and drink containers.

“We will be providing numerous waste and recycling bin stations at convenient locations across the exhibition site and request that participants and visitors ‘recycle right’ by using the right bin for the right thing.

“These small steps will not only reduce the volume of waste to landfill, but will also save valuable natural resources and reduce pollution and littering.”

The NEWF’s ‘Green House’ mobile waste education unit with street performer ‘PET’ will be visiting Primex again this year to show how easy it is to be ‘waste wise’. 

The Green House promotes sustainable lifestyles, waste avoidance and efficient energy and water use through smart shopping, reuse, composting and recycling – simple things we can all do every day that can make a big difference to the future of our world.

PICTURE: North East Waste Forum Green House performer PET with Kirsty Howton (SCU) and Alicia Bales (TAFE NSW) at PRIMEX 2009.

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