Byron Bay to host Retravision Northern League grand final
August 31, 2008
Byron Bay Red Devils have won the right to host the Retravision Northern League grand final on September 14, beating minor premiers Grafton Ghosts 20-4 in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League major semi-final at Grafton today.
Byron scored four tries to one, with Michael Chapman crossing twice.
Ghosts now will take on Lismore Marist Brothers, who ended the season for defending premiers Mullumbimby 20-10 at Crozier Field, Lismore, on Saturday.
That match will be played in Grafton.
Also through to the grand finals are Mullumbimby in reserve grade and Tweed Coast Raiders in Under-18s.
Summerland AFL grand finals a successful day
August 31, 2008
Summerland Junior AFL grand finals were played for the first time at Oakes Oval, Lismore, to a large enthusiatic crowd on Saturday.
Publicity officer Jill Lyons said the day proved to be a great success for all players in the junior codes who at the end of their games were able to watch the Summerland Seniors take to the field and battle it out for the premiership, which Byron Bay won, beating Ballina.
The Byron Magpies took their 11th flag from 14 grand final appearances when they beat Ballina Bombers 13.16 to 9.11.
“Due to the success of this day it is hoped that future grand finals will be played at this ground and which should ensure the continued growth and interest in the game of AFL in this region,” Jill said.
Under-12: Tweed Tigers 5 – 6 – 36 d Lismore Swans 5 – 5 – 35.
Four local Indigenous artists are NSW Parliament Art Prize finalists
August 31, 2008
Four Far North Coast Indigenous artists are finalists in the Parliament of NSW Indigenous Art Prize, a $20,000 acquisitive prize for Indigenous artists born or living in NSW.
This year is the fourth time the event has been held, and the local finalists are Noel (Charlie) Caldwell, of Casino, Penny Evans, of Lismore, Graeme Walker, of Casino, and Frances Belle Parker, of Maclean.
Frances Belle Parker is a former winner of the Country Energy Art Prize for Landscape Painting Youth Encouragement Award.
This year 54 works by 32 individual artists have been selected.
Plenty to see and do at this year’s Fatherhood Festival
August 31, 2008
“This year’s Fatherhood Festival is about questioning our values and accepting that we don’t have all the answers. That is a great starting point. The quality and depth of presenters, speakers and artists at this year’s festival indicates how far we have come in the past four years,” says Colin George, the director of the Fatherhood Festival, and proud parent of 5 kids.
And indeed the four days of workshops, talks, game show, music, films, activities and events lined up that make up the 5th annual Fatherhood Festival prove his point.
Michael Frante and Spearhead to play at Byron Bay
August 31, 2008
Michael Frante and Spearhead, performing in Byron Bay, headline three big acts coming our way in October, including The Whitlams at the newly revamped Mullumbimby Civic Hall.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday September 3rd for the following shows, except for Michael Franti, with tickets available from Friday September 12:
- Michael Franti and Spearhead / 11th Oct @ Byron High Auditorium. Tickets $49.50 (+BF where applicable) (Standing show)
- Kate Miller Heidke / 17th Oct @ Mullumbimby Civic Hall. Tkts $20 pre-sold / $25 at the door (+BF where applicable) (Standing show)
- The Whitlams / 18th Oct @ Mullumbimby Civic Hall. Tkts $32 adults / @20 under 18s (+BF where applicable) (Seated show)
For all three shows, tickets will be going on sale on Wednesday September 3rd from: All Music and Vision in Ballina, Lismore and Byron Bay, Barebones Artspace in Bangalow, Mullumbimby Books, and Murwillumbah Music.
Extra time needed in Far North Coast rugby union major semi-final
August 31, 2008
Extra time was needed before Coolangatta Tweed beat Lismore 27-19 in the Coopers Far North Coast rugby union major semi-final in Lismore on Saturday.
Coolangatta Tweed led 13-6 at half-time but Lismore fought back to level 19-all at full-time.
Coolangatta Tweed regained the upper hand in extra time, and advanced to the grand final.
Lismore now needs to beat Lennox Head in next Saturday’s preliminary final in Lismore to set up a grand final rematch.
First Grade scores:
Lismore Daleys win Premier Netball League grand final
August 31, 2008
Lismore Daleys defeated Ballina RSL 44-38 in yesterday’s grand final of the Far North Coast Premier Netball League competition.
The opening few minutes saw a goal for goal contest between Lismore Daleys and Ballina RSL by the first quarter Lismore forged ahead to lead 14-8 and in the second quarter advanced this to a 10-goal lead.
Ballina, with a positional change at half-time, held their ground and by the final whistle narrowed the margin to six.
There were outstanding players in both teams but the award for most valued player of the grand final went to Nikki Krause, goal shooter for Lismore, who held her team together when the pressure was mounted by Ballina.
Roads to Recovery funding ‘is new money’
August 30, 2008
Minister for Transport Anthony Albanese and Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin have announced that the Rudd Government is set to deliver a record $1.75 billion in new money to improve local roads, by securing the Roads to Recovery program for another five years.
The funds to councils in 2008-09 include:
- Ballina Shire $803,928
- Clarence Valley $1,306,277
- Kyogle $987,378
- Lismore City $783,267
- Richmond Valley $643,603.
Lismore university now offers English test for migrants, students
August 30, 2008
Migrants and students needing to undertake an English language test to qualify for Australian immigration, or enrolment in university, no longer have to travel to Brisbane or Sydney to sit the test.
Southern Cross University has just become the first regional site outside the major capital cities to be approved as an official TOEFL English language testing centre.
The university is now able to offer the standard Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), generally on a fortnightly basis, at its Lismore campus.
The English Language Centre at the University’s Lismore campus recently conducted its first successful session of this fully online test.
RTA to investigate a Bangalow bypass and interchange
August 30, 2008
Byron Shire Council has welcomed the RTA undertaking to conduct ‘preliminary investigations’ into a southern bypass and highway interchange at Bangalow.
The investigations will occur during the public exhibition period of the recently released Environmental Assessment (EA) of the proposed Pacific Highway upgrade between Tintenbar to Ewingsdale (T2E).
Mayor Jan Barham said: “The investigation of a southern bypass of Bangalow is welcomed and I thank the Minister for Roads for responding to the issues that were raised with him in a meeting in Sydney earlier this month.
“This resulted from concerns raised by community members about the impact of the upgrade, and council resolved to support an investigation of the bypass option.
