Saffin seeks assurance on future of Coraki’s Campbell Hospital
February 2, 2012
Page MP Janelle Saffin is calling on the Northern New South Wales Local Health District to give a public reassurance about the status of Campbell Hospital in Coraki.
Ms Saffin said it is not fair to leave the Coraki community in limbo about when the hospital will reopen.
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Opportunities to learn about the value of property and farm planning
January 22, 2012
The value of a farm or property plan will be explained to landowners in the Richmond catchment area at a special seminar coming up in March and in a special TAFE course sponsored by Richmond Landcare Inc (RLI), they will be able to prepare their own.
The Value of a Property Plan Seminar will be held on Tuesday March 27 at Wollongbar Agricultural Institute, and the TAFE course supported by RLI will begin on April 2.
“There are many advantages in having a property plan, whether you have a working farm or a lifestyle property and even if it is only a few hectares,” says Communications Officer for Richmond Landcare Inc, Neville Sloss.
“A property plan can make it more productive, more sustainable and contribute to the biodiversity of your region. The development of a land management or whole farm plan is an ideal way to identify issues, set priorities and plan how to address them on the property.”
MP calls for end of Canadian asbestos exports to sub-continent
November 25, 2011
Page MP Janelle Saffin has moved a Private Members Motion in Federal Parliament to recognise the action of Australian governments in dealing with the impacts of asbestos-related diseases.
“We have first-hand experience of the tragic legacy of asbestos with constituents of Page who worked at the James Hardie mine at Baryulgil,” she said.
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Belinda Jeffery says education is the key to regional sustainability
November 25, 2011
Educating consumers to buy fresh, seasonal foods is one of the keys to reducing food miles, according to former restaurant owner, television presenter and acclaimed cookbook author Belinda Jeffery.
Ms Jeffery will be a keynote speaker at the Australasian Regional Food Cultures and Networks Conference on November 29 and 30 at Kingscliff’s Peppers Resort, which is organised by Southern Cross University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management.
New Mental Health Access Line – 1800 011 511
November 2, 2011
Northern NSW Local Health District is currently transitioning to a new Mental Health Access Line. The new number for the Mental Health Line is 1800 011 511.
Trent Taylor, Manager of Clinical Partnerships, Mental Health Services in Lismore, said the Mental Health Line provides 24-hour mental health connection and referral services and is staffed by mental health professionals.
“The new Mental Health Line is a single point, state-wide service that will connect the people of NSW with the right care,” Mr Taylor said.
“Services will continue to be provided at the same level as the existing Mental Health Access Line and callers will still receive the high level of care provided by the mental health professionals.”
Taste of Spring is on this Saturday at Wollongbar TAFE
November 2, 2011
North Coast TAFE Wollongbar is hosting a Tastes of Spring Festival this Saturday, November 5, 2011. Admission is by a gold coin donation.
The Tastes of Spring Festival is an example of the capabilities of its Events students and showcases the region and its produce by incorporating elements of spring such as family, food, wine, garden and sustainability into an interactive event.
The event is run by students completing a Diploma in Event Management and showcases their passion and enthusiasm for the industry with an energetic array of activities and exhibitors.
Tastes of Spring is an opportunity for regional exposure and collections from the day will be forwarded to the Our Kids charity.
Rex to begin Newcastle-Ballina flights
September 30, 2011
Regional Express (Rex) has announced that it will commence Newcastle to Sydney and Newcastle to Ballina/Byron services 7 days a week from Sunday, 30 October 2011.
Rex will provide three return services between Newcastle and Sydney Monday to Friday on a schedule that is convenient for the business traveller wanting to make a day-return trip, as well as those needing to connect on to Rex’s NSW regional network as well as other domestic/international flights.
Saturday and Sunday flights are also provided, making a total of 38 weekly flights between Newcastle and Sydney.
Rex will also commence a new daily return service between Newcastle and Ballina/Byron Bay.
A promotional fully-inclusive one-way web fare of $99 for both Newcastle to Sydney and Newcastle to Ballina will be available from service commencement until Feb 2012.
Rex said it sees substantial growth opportunity between Newcastle and Sydney as the route used to have 100,000 passengers annually, a far cry from today’s 30,000.
Reservations can be made via the internet (www.rex.com.au), phone (13 17 13) or your local travel agent.
Off-duty officer charged with drink-driving – Grafton
September 30, 2011
A police officer has been charged with traffic matters after allegedly failing to stop for a random breath test at Grafton yesterday.
About 4:50pm (Thursday 29 September 2011), police were performing random breath testing duties on the Pacific Highway near Grafton when a Honda Accord allegedly failed to stop at the RBT site.
Police conducted a search of the area and located the car stopped on Armidale Road.
The off-duty officer, a male leading senior constable from a specialist command, was spoken to and subjected to a breath test, returning a positive reading.
He was arrested and taken to Grafton Police Station where he underwent a breath analysis returning a reading of 0.128.
The officer was issued a court attendance notice for the offences of driving with mid-range PCA and failing to stop for RBT. He will appear in Grafton Local Court on Monday 7 November 2011.
His driver’s licence was also confiscated and suspended by police.
Happy poems from Brunei
September 17, 2011
Gayathri Sama-rakoon, an author and contributor to Far North Coaster, is presently teaching in Brunei and she sent us these poems from students …
INTRODUCTION
Happy poems are simple lines of poetry which are used for self-expression. They are aimed at encouraging feelings of joy and sometimes are thought-provoking.
These happy poems are from Sekolah Menengah Rimba, a secondary school in Brunei Darussalam which is located on the island of Borneo. English is taught as a foreign language in Brunei by teachers from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada and other countries. The teachers work for CfBT, a worldwide educational charity and consultancy based in the UK. Students in Brunei have a strong awareness of people from other cultures and countries and study English alongside their national language which is Malay. These poems are from students in Years 9 and 10. We hope you enjoy them.
Happy poems!!!
The colour Blue makes me happy because it reminds me of the cloudless skies,
Green colour makes me happy because it reminds me of tall green trees,
Pink colour makes me happy because it reminds me of my mother’s rose garden,
Fried noodles make me happy because it reminds me of my 100-year old grandma,
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY CARE TO SHARE?
- Azmon Ahmad, 9a Rimba
Red Roses make me happy because it reminds me of my Ferrari back at home – Diyaulhaq, 5R2
Melody makes me happy because it reminds me of a ‘flowing’ day – Murni 10E PMB
Swings in the park make me happy because they remind me of my days as a child – Nabillah, 5R2
The Green fields make me happy because they bring peace to my mind – Farah 5R2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
The pink colour makes me happy because it softens my heart with its softness - Nur N’ Matul Sapar, 9sps
Green Koran makes me happy because it brings peace to my mind
Old pianos make me happy as it reminds me of old melodies
Melted brown makes me happy as it reminds me of ‘yummy’ chocolates,
Nor Nazratul- 9sps2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
The blue ocean makes me happy because it reminds me of my favorite teen cartoon
Azure skies make me happy because of my peaceful country
A toothy smile makes me happy because it reminds me of my naughty friends – Nur Aidatul Yusuf, 9sps
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY CARE TO SHARE?
Saffron yellow makes me happy because it reminds me of SpongeBob’s square pants
Multicolor make me happy because it reminds me of rainbow in a cloudy sky – MD Afiq Hasif 9sps2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
Sushi makes me happy because it reminds me of home, memories and ‘a normal day’
Jokes make me happy because it gives me joyful feelings
Stars make me happy because they remind me of life and freedom – Muhammed Hazim Juhari, 9sps2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
Schools make me happy because it makes me think of my future
Drums make me happy because the ‘dum-dum’ beat gives me a boost
Football makes me happy because it reminds me of freedom – Ak Muhd Yahya
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
‘Boom’ noise makes me happy because it reminds me of my MP3 player
Speed makes me happy because father always drives fast
Candy makes me happy because it reminds me of the ‘sweetness’ of life
Muhd Wafiuddin Sohari- 9sps2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
Breeze on the beach makes me feel happy because it reminds me of ‘niceness’ of life
Indigo, pink, yellow rainbows make me happy because they remind me of God Almighty
Sound of violins make me happy because think of days alone
Hari Raya makes me happy because it brings me money – Nora Aboulaih, 9SPS 2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
PICTURE: Some of the teachers at the school.
Sample Food Festival a delight
September 14, 2011
The inaugural Sample Food Festival, held on September 10 at the Bangalow Showground, was enormously popular with over 10,000 people attending throughout the day.
“We were thrilled with the crowd,” said festival organiser Remy Tancred. “There were of course locals from across the Northern Rivers and I also met many visitors down from the Gold Coast and Brisbane throughout the day.”
