Appeal for information after murder of former Casino man near Tamworth
October 31, 2009
Tamworth Police have renewed their appeal to the public as they investigate the death of a man on a property at Duri at the weekend.
The body of 48-year-old Jeffrey Ryan, formerly of Casino, was discovered on his property on Gowrie Road shortly after midday on Saturday 24 October. He had suffered a gunshot injury and died at the scene.
On the day, police established a crime scene and forensic officers conducted an examination of the property.
Oxley Local Area Command’s Detective Sergeant John Sommers said Mr Ryan’s death is being treated as a homicide.
Forestreno named NRRA Horse of the Year
October 30, 2009
Forestreno has won the coveted Westlawn Finance 2008/09 Northern Rivers Racing Association Horse of the Year.
The award was announced at the awards luncheon held at the Ballina Jockey Club.
Forestreno, who is trained in Grafton by Phil Mcleod, beat four other horses that are trained on the Northern Rivers including turf legend Takeover Target, promising youngster One Lickety Split, and Ballina-trained Multire Music and Shuffle the Cash.
He boasted a record for the 2008 09 racing season that included a win at Eagle Farm in a $100,000 Quality race, second in the $200,000 Doomben Stakes and an outstanding 0.8 length second behind Battlefield in the Ramornie Handicap.
Grafton Hospital upgrade meeting ‘encouraging’
October 29, 2009
A meeting on Tuesday between NSW Labor Deputy Premier and Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt, Clarence Nationals MP Steve Cansdell and Clarence Valley Mayor Cr Richie Williamson has yielded encouraging signs for the long-awaited upgrade of Grafton Base Hospital.
Mr Cansdell said the Minister had provided assurances the State Government would make up the shortfall from Federal funding to upgrade the A&E ward, operating theatres and carpark.
“While Ms Tebbutt was unable to commit to a specific figure because the tender process is still under way, she did say there would be no shortfall and the project would not be left unfinished,” Mr Cansdell said.
“The Minister initially questioned the need for a new carpark, but after convincing her of the dire need for additional parking at the hospital, the Minister was committed to ensuring there would be sufficient carparking.
Communications Minister to visit Grafton
October 29, 2009
Page MP Janelle Saffin and Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and The Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy will consult with business leaders, academics and health professionals in Grafton tomorrow (Friday, October 30).
Ms Saffin has invited Senator Conroy to visit the city during its famous Jacaranda Festival to outline future regional opportunities and benefits under the Rudd Government’s $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout.
Ms Saffin said this ambitious project to wire up Australia for high-speed broadband, which has already started in Tasmania, promised digital technology that would revolutionise our day-to-day activities and the way we do business on the North Coast.
“Southern Cross University’s Executive Dean, Faculty of Business and Law, Professor Mike Evans, and its Professor of Information Technology, Peter Croll, have been building a strong case for the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast of New South Wales to be a high-priority area for the rollout,” Ms Saffin said.
Ballina business wins top State conveyancing award
October 29, 2009
A Ballina conveyancing business has been awarded one of the State’s top honours.
Amanda Edmonds from Edmonds Conveyancing in Ballina was presented with The President’s Award by the Australian Institute of Conveyancers (NSW Division), for achieving ‘Professionalism and Best Practice within the Conveyancing Profession’ in Sydney on 23 October.
Receipt of the award caps off a great year for Edmonds Conveyancing, who in August also received a Ballina Shire Northern Star Business Excellence Award for ‘Best Professional Service (under five workers)’.
Edmonds Conveyancing also won this award in 2008.
Female motorcyclist killed by falling tree at Glenugie
October 27, 2009
A motorcyclist has died after being struck by a falling tree near Grafton today.
The 38-year-old woman was riding a Triumph motorcycle north along the Pacific Highway at Glenugie, near Grafton, just before midday today, when a large tree fell across the roadway.
The tree came down on the woman and, as a result, she suffered significant head and other injuries and died at the scene.
The woman’s boyfriend, who was riding a short distance ahead of her, was unhurt.
John Peard cracks them up at Men of League golf day
October 26, 2009
Former rugby league star John Peard may not move as freely as he used to because of a stroke, but it hasn’t affected his wit and humour.
Peard was the guest speaker at the Men of League Foundation – Northern Rivers Division golf day at Ballina last Sunday, and he had the crowd in fits of laughter as he reeled off joke after joke.
Saffin reaffirms Government’s highway commitment
October 26, 2009
Member for Page Janelle Saffin has reaffirmed the Rudd Government’s commitment to the full duplication of the Pacific Highway by 2016.
“In response to some misleading media reports, and claims by the National Party leader Warren Truss, I can reassure residents of the Northern Rivers that there has been no change to the Government’s timetable for upgrading the Pacific Highway,” she said.
“In Lismore on the weekend the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, confirmed the commitment to the completion of the dual carriageway by 2016.
“Minister Albanese was in Lismore to open the Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre Youth Plaza and to announce a total of $627,000 in joint funding with Lismore and Kyogle councils for local bike paths.
Melbourne Cup at The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa
October 25, 2009
Guests at The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa on Melbourne Cup day can expect the resort’s usual exceptional standard of service within a more relaxed lounge style atmosphere.
“We do not have a degustation, set menu or cover charge,” said the resort’s General Manager Lyn Parché.
“Melbourne Cup is about catching up with friends, watching the races and celebrating what it means to be Australian.”
New laws won’t fix Clarence truancy problem, says Cansdell
October 24, 2009
Tough new laws against parents who fail to send their kids to school will not solve local truancy problems, according to Clarence Nationals MP Steve Cansdell.
The NSW Parliament on Wednesday approved legislation providing fines of up to $2500 for a first offence of failing to ensure children attend school.
“Children who truant are the end result of a major social problem of dysfunctional families. Magistrates can fine parents all they want but they are not going to pay the fine because they have not got the money to start with,” Mr Cansdell told Parliament.
“The whole family needs to be case-managed because not just educational issues are involved.
