“This is especially important in times of emergency,” said Cr Jenny Dowell, president of the Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils (NOROC).

“Although the new system will show roadworks and scheduled road closures on an everyday basis, it will come into its own during a flood or in other emergency event.

“It is the experience of most councils that the information people request most is ‘what roads are closed?’ and ‘how can I travel from A to B?’

“This new system will put that information at their fingertips.”

Travellers will be able to view a map of the Northern Rivers region, from Clarence Valley in the south to Tweed in the north and out to Kyogle in the west which shows ‘roads closed information’ with markers placed at the location of the closure.
This visual guide will indicate the most reliable routes for travel across the region.

The RoadInfo website, www.myroadinfo.com.au, will be launched at the NOROC meeting on Friday, 26 February at 11am.

The initial idea came up during the post-flood review conducted after the January 2008 flood.

Councils applied for and received $14,000 from the Natural Disaster Mitigation Programme courtesy of the NSW Department of Emergency Services in May 2009.

The past nine months have been spent designing and developing the website.

The development of the website has seen strong collaboration between Lismore, Ballina, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Tweed, Byron, and Clarence Valley councils.

Cr Dowell said, “It is really good to see our Councils working together, especially to provide such a useful service. This project shows just what can be achieved by us working together.

“We have shared resources and kept the cost down to an absolute minimum. I would like to thank all the councils for their hard work.

“Giving people across the region easy access to road closure information will be a real benefit to the whole Northern Rivers community, and although during a flood people should keep their travel down to a minimum, this new website will help to keep people safe when travel is essential,” she said.

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About 12.30pm on 24 October 2009, the body of Jeffrey Ryan, formerly of Casino, was found on his rural property on Gowrie Road at Duri. He had suffered a gunshot wound to his back.

Strike Force Chandler, comprising Oxley Local Area Command Detectives, was formed to investigate Mr Ryan’s death.

As a result of those investigations, on Wednesday Strike Force Detectives arrested a man and a woman in Cessnock in relation to the death. The 45-year-old Cessnock man was arrested after a search warrant was executed at a house in Cessnock.

He was subsequently charged with murder and conspiracy to murder. He appeared in Maitland Local Court yesterday and was remanded in custody to reappear in Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday 17 February.

A 28-year-old Cessnock woman arrested at the same location will reappear in Tamworth Local Court on 17 February. She was subsequently charged with accessory before the fact to murder and accessory after the fact to murder.

Yesterday a 70-year-old Tamworth woman was charged with accessory before the fact to murder, accessory after the fact to murder, conspiracy to murder and solicit to murder. She was refused bail and appeared in Tamworth Local Court yesterday.

She was remanded in custody to reappear in Tamworth Local Court on 3 March.

A 49-year-old Tamworth woman was arrested and charged yesterday with an additional charge of solicit to murder. She appeared before Tamworth Local Court yesterday and was remanded in custody. She will reappear in that same court on 3 March.

A 41-year-old Tyndale woman was arrested after the execution of a search warrant at a house on the Pacific Highway at Tyndale yesterday. She was arrested and taken to Grafton Police Station.

The woman was subsequently charged with accessory before and after the fact to murder, conspiracy to murder and possessing a prohibited drug.

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At around 4.50pm on (Sunday 7 February), police were contacted and told that a 7-year-old boy in company with a 12-year-old boy had headed to the Richmond River after jumping out of a bedroom window of his home, against his grandmother’s wishes.

Grave fears were held for the young boy’s safety due to flooding on the Richmond River, and police immediately set up a Command Post, activating VRA and Westpac Lifesaver 4 to commence searching for the two boys.

Police and VRA made extensive patrols of the riverbank on foot whilst patrols were happening in the air by the Westpac helicopter.

At around 5.50pm the young boys were located by patrolling Highway Patrol Officers, hiding in bushland on adjacent to Simpson Parade, Casino. The young boy and his friend were safe and well.

“Due to this child’s age and the fact that he couldn’t swim was of huge concern for both the police and his grandmother,” said Inspector Gary Cowan.

“Local children who ordinarily swim in these sections of the river are to be reminded of the dangers associated with flood waters.

“Police urge parents to talk to their children and remind them of the danger’s of not going near the water.”

Police urge all parents and guardians to ensure that children learn to swim as well as learning the dangers associated with swimming in local rivers.

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On the afternoon of Saturday (30 January) a 23-year-old Casino woman met a 44-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, both from South Grafton, at a licensed premises in Casino.

Police will allege that the three people went to a caravan park in South Grafton before the man and woman offered to drive the 23-year-old back to her home in Casino later in the evening.

As the trio drove towards Casino the 44-year-old man allegedly pulled the car into a camping ground at Lillydale and threatened the Casino woman.

The Casino woman was allegedly indecently assaulted before she was able to escape the man and woman by jumping into the nearby Clarence River.

The South Grafton man and woman fled the camping ground.

The 23-year-old sought help at a nearby home where police and emergency services were contacted.

A crime scene was established and police conducted a number of inquiries into the incident.

About 12.40pm yesterday (Sunday 31 January) Grafton police arrested the South Grafton man and woman in a car in Grafton.

They were taken to Grafton Police Station where they were questioned before both were charged with detain for advantage and three counts of aggravated indecent assault. The man was also charged with aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Both were bail refused and will appear at Grafton Local Court today.

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Theresa Mason has embarked on her PhD research project – an oral history of the Northern Rivers – and already has many a fascinating tale to tell, thanks to locals sharing their stories for her earlier Honours project.

Her interest in the region’s history began when she was editing and writing for The Village Journal, a local newspaper based in Rosebank, serving the rural areas between Dunoon, Federal and Bexhill.

“I came across all of these older people who had fascinating stories to tell,” she said. “Many of the stories around people’s experiences during the Great Depression and in times of war were particularly interesting.

“People who lived on the land told me how it became essential for them to learn how to make their own fuel, and all sorts of mixes were developed and tested in backyard sheds. Many people also self-converted cars, buses, trucks and farm machinery to run on coal gas. While there were some tragedies from explosions, many of the designs were innovative and worked quite well.”

Theresa said that a lot of people had great ‘flood stories’ to tell.

“One woman told me how, during the big 1945 flood, her father hailed the cream boat that went from Coraki to Lismore, thinking it could drop them on the other side of the river because their house was flooding,” Theresa said.

“Instead, they were taken all the way to town where the boat was tied up to a hoop pine on the riverbank. Their family spent the night on board eating chunks of bread and cream, and early next morning, the waters had receded and they walked around town.

”The woman said the paper-mâché dress shop models in their beautiful gowns had collapsed onto the floors of the dress shops in the most grotesque attitudes, still with silly smiles on their faces.”

Theresa would like to gather as many oral histories as she can and is seeking 50 people aged 65 and over, living in the Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Kyogle Shire areas, who would like to participate in her research.

She can be contacted on 6688 2387 or by email at theresa.mason@scu.edu.au.

PICTURE: Theresa Mason, who is doing an oral history of the Northern Rivers area for her PhD.

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The funding is part of the Rudd Government’s commitment to carers through the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) which this year will provide more than $200 million for respite services and programs in Australia.

Ms Saffin said local respite services provide valuable time-out for people who care for family members or friends with a disability, chronic condition or who are frail aged.

“This funding will help important local services continue to meet the needs of carers in our community,” she said.

“The one-off grants will support respite services by covering the costs of such things as office equipment and furniture, minor office refurbishments and online programs to support carers.

“Caring for someone full-time is physically and emotionally demanding and it’s important that carers are supported to take deserved breaks.

“Respite can allow carers to go to work for a few hours, to socialise with friends and go shopping.”

The organisations to be funded for projects in Page are:

• Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated, Evans Head
• Southern Cross Care, Casino
• Community Programs Incorporated, Grafton
• UnitingCare, Casino
• St Andrew’s Village, Ballina
• St Carthage’s Catholic Care for the Aged, Goonellabah
• The Hills Shire Council (for the Working Carer Liaison Project), Ballina
• United Protestant Association, Alstonville.

Information about respite is available by calling Carelink on 1800 052 222 or for emergency respite outside of business hours on 1800 059 059.

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About 5am (on Wednesday the 30th of December, 2009) a man entered a home in Hickey Street, Casino. He allegedly stole property and sexually assaulted the female occupant of the home. The man was last seen running away in the direction of McAuliffe Park about 6am.

Police would like to speak to a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries. He is described as aged between 20 and 40 years old, about 172cm tall, with a medium build and a tanned complexion.

Police are also investigating an incident earlier in the evening in the vicinity of North Street, Casino, where a man was disturbed near a premise in North Street. It is unknown if these incidents are related.

Police are reminding the community to be vigilant in their personal security, ensuring that windows and doors are locked, not only when the dwellings are unattended but also when people are home.

Strike Force O’Rourke comprising detectives from Richmond Local Area Command with assistance from State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad has been formed to investigate the incident.

Anyone with information that might assist police is urged to contact investigators at Casino Police Station on (02) 6662 0099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000.

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“The program was launched in the June State Budget to encourage economic activity,” Mr Cansdell said.

“I congratulate the successful applicants who will now be able to enhance their facilities to the benefit of local communities.

“While the Government pledged $400,000 to electorates with higher levels of unemployment like Clarence, I am pleased that an extra $17,000 was allocated towards projects in the Clarence electorate.

“I believe that was because of the strength of the applications received.

“Commiserations to the 18 groups which missed out on funding. There was nothing wrong with their applications but there simply wasn’t enough money on the table to satisfy everyone.”

Grants:

• Casino Netball – The clubhouse extension & renovation $50,000
• Clarence Valley – Council McKittrick oval makeover, South Grafton $15,000
• Dirawong Reserve Trust – The Dirawong Chinaman`s beach boardwalk access ramp, Evans Head $15,000
• Dougherty Villa Aged Care Hostel – The walkways and sensory gardens with sun shelters, Grafton $19,768
• Ellangowan Public Hall Trust – The relining of the hall with plasterboard, Ellangowan $12,048
• Grafton City Tennis Club – The provision of ancillary support facilities for tennis tournaments, Grafton $19,250
• Grafton Pony Club – The kitchen update for grafton pony club, South Grafton $28,900
• Grafton Sk8ters Incorporated – The Grafton Park extension $30,000
• Greenridge Memorial Hall & Social Activities Club Inc – The building of new toilets to incorporate the disabled, Greenridge $30,000
• Hawthorne Park Equestrian Users Group – The Hawthorne Park maintenance work program, at Gwydir Hwy $15,000
• Maclean Dirt Bike Club – A new disabled toilet/parents room and upgrade to existing toilet block, Townsend $28,000
• Richmond Valley Council – The Evans Head Surf Club upgrade, Evans Head $50,000
• Windara Communities Limited – The Windara Nursery expansion, Casino $17,810

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The body of 48-year-old Jeffrey Ryan, formerly of Casino, was discovered on the Gowrie Road property on Saturday 24 October, suffering a gunshot wound.

Detectives from the Tamworth Local Area Command investigating his death yesterday charged a 49-year-old woman with murder, conspiracy to murder, act to pervert the course of justice, and conceal a serious offence.

Strike Force Chandler, comprising detectives from Oxley LAC and State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, was formed to investigate the man’s death.

The woman has been refused bail and will appear in Tamworth Local Court later today.

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Fire fighters are working to contain several bush fires burning along the Summerland Way, approximately 20 kilometres south of Casino.

The Summerland Way between Casino and Grafton has been reopened to through traffic.

Meanwhile, firefighters are being assisted by water bombing aircraft to establish containment lines around a fire burning 3 kilometres west of the Summerland Way on Busby’s Flat road at Busby’s Flat.

Fire crews are providing property propection to some rural properties in the area, which are under threat.

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