The Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital (NRWH) had hoped to open its new facility in Wollongbar before Christmas. However, it has suffered delays with its build, so January is now the expected date.General Manager Bronte Potts and her team have learnt to be patient. The journey to build a top-class facility to treat wildlife and rehabilitate them started in 2019."That was by a really enthusiastic and passionate group of conservationists, vets, vet nurses, just people in the region who are passionate about wildlife. Since then, it's been quite a journey to find the perfect site to open a wildlife hospital on, and they've managed to, obviously, get this beautiful site on Crown land in Wollongbar," Bronte explained."We decided we wanted a site for the hospital that was to be centrally located in the region. So, being in Wollongbar, we've achieved that, and we'll be servicing seven local government areas, from Casino to Kyogle, Tweed Valley, along the coast and right down to Clarence Valley.(Jasmine Phillips - media and marketing for NRWH and General Manager Bronte Potts)"We're on five acres, and we've built this facility that's completely focused on the care and rehabilitation of wildlife specifically. So, a lot of thought has gone into the design and ensuring that it's going to be the perfect place for us to treat wildlife and rehabilitate it until we can get it out to the carer groups or released into the wild again."We're really close to being at that goal of opening. We're basically in the final stages of building; the floors are going down, the cabinetry is done, all the little bits and pieces and equipment are being sorted. So, we're, we're super close.While the construction of the NRWH building is phase one, the five acres of land it sits on means the facility will grow into one of the preeminent wildlife hospitals in NSW."We're definitely future-proofed in terms of having enough space to build rehabilitation enclosures as the region needs them, and there's already some facilities in the pipeline. Additionally, we're wanting to be able to plant out native species that we can feed to the more common species that we'll see here, so that we can keep their diets as natural as possible while they're in hospital.(Part of NRWH's 5 acres above the building will be used for wildlife rehabilitation in future years.)"There's room for emergency preparedness. Basically, a slab where we can have a field hospital should something like avian influenza hit Australia or hit this region. So, we'll be able to utilise that for any emergencies that arise or in the event of bushfires or floods, we could essentially set up a field hospital on our site."Bronte explained that the new building will have a triage space, a carer consultation room, a treatment room, an x-ray room, a surgical theatre and a wildlife food preparation room."We have a couple of staff rooms, one for sort of board meetings, and one just for breaks, tea breaks and lunches. And we also have a couple of different wildlife wards. We have a reptile Ward specifically, and we have two wards that we haven't decided exactly how those will be run, that will be for the staff to decide. And then we have an intensive care unit with some really impressive intensive care cages for those really sick animals when they initially come in."On top of that, NRWH has a wildlife hospital transport van to pick up wildlife taken to general practice to save time and expense for their carers."We'll also use it to get those patients backed into the care of the care organisations. As you can imagine, driving all over the region costs those carers a lot of money, and we're hoping to really help them out with that because local vets are under a lot of pressure as well. They often provide their services for free to treat wildlife, but the hospital will help alleviate at least a little bit of that pressure."Bronte gave advice to anyone who comes across an injured animal or bird over the festive and school holidays following a record number of callouts in recent months.“Increased traffic, warmer weather, summer storms, and the movement of many species during and post-peak breeding season make this a particularly dangerous time for our native animals,” Bronte told the Lismore App. “We’re seeing an unprecedented need for support, and everyone can play a role in making a difference.”The NRWH is encouraging the public to take some simple steps to help protect wildlife during the holidays. “Quick action and community awareness can mean the difference between life and death for these animals,” Bronte explained.Easy Ways to Help This Summer:Slow Down: With more cars on the road, animals are at greater risk of collisions, especially at dawn and dusk.Provide Water: Place shallow bowls of fresh water in shaded areas to help wildlife cope with heat stress.Look Out After Storms: Severe weather can displace wildlife, including baby birds knocked from nests or injured animals seeking shelter. Check your garden or property for any displaced or distressed wildlife, and contact a wildlife rescue service if you find an animal in need of assistance.Be Prepared: Keep a DR WILD card handy (available for free on the NRWH.com.au website) and download the IFAW Emergency Wildlife App to know what to do if you encounter an injured or orphaned animal.The NRWH is calling on community members to volunteer in 2025 to help meet the growing demand for wildlife care. Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles, including fundraising, and supporting hospital operations. “As a community-owned, not-for-profit organisation volunteers are the backbone of everything we do,” said Potts. “With the hospital nearing completion, we need hands on deck to ensure we can support the region’s wildlife effectively.”In addition to NRWH, local partner organisations like WIRES and other wildlife rescue groups are also seeking volunteers for critical roles such as wildlife care, transport, and phone support. For some roles, no experience isnecessary and even small amounts of volunteered time are much appreciated.With the NRWH hospital in Wollongbar set to open its doors in the new year, the not-for-profit organisation is currently running a Christmas Appeal to help get the doors open sooner, and the hospital fitted out with life-saving equipment.A generous Foundation Sponsor is matching every dollar donated by the public (up to $50,000), so a gift to wildlife this holiday season will go twice as far. You can donate to the NRWH’ scampaign at https://www.givenow.com.au/end- of-year-christmas-appeal-2024.“We’re on the brink of something incredible for our wildlife,” said Potts. “2025 is going to be a game-changer, and we’re inviting everyone to join us in creating this wildlife legacy.”For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, visit www.nrwh.com.au.

This Christmas, the NSW Government is urging the community to consider becoming a foster carer. Right now, in NSW, there are 339 vulnerable children and young people living in emergency accommodation, children whose parents haven’t been able to provide the safety they deserve. The NSW Government relies on foster carers to provide children with the stability, care and support they need to thrive and fulfil their potential. Fostering is a chance to give these kids a brighter future, but we don’t have enough carers for these kids.Since coming into government, we have: Announced a total ban on Alternative Care Arrangements (ACAs), including hotels and motels, by March 2025Reduced the number of children placed in ACAs by 83% since November 2023, down to just 23 childrenReduced the number of children placed in all types of High-Cost Emergency Arrangements (HCEAs) by 33 per cent since November 2023Opened the Waratah Care Cottages to better support children and sibling groups who are currently stuck in HCEAsFound safe homes for 849 children by commencing recruitment of more than 200 emergency foster carers after the former government stopped recruitingReleased a systems review that provides a roadmap for reform Despite significant progress, hundreds of children remain in emergency accommodation simply because there aren’t enough carers to meet the demand. While work is underway to fix the system, the government needs the community’s help to get there. Foster carers can come from all walks of life – you can be single, in a relationship, or have a family. It doesn’t matter if you rent or own your own home. Emergency care is a great way to get started, with placements ranging from one night to 12 weeks. Foster carers receive training, support and an allowance to help them throughout their care journey. In August, the Minns Labor Government also made paid parental leave available to NSW Government employees who are providing ongoing foster placements for children in OOHC. To learn about becoming a foster carer, go to nsw.gov.au/community-services/foster-relative-and-kinship-care/become-a-foster-carer Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said, "This Christmas, there will be more than 300 kids in emergency accommodation because there just aren’t enough foster carers. “We have found safe and caring homes for 849 children by recruiting 200 emergency carers, but we desperately need more. “If you want to change a child’s life, please consider becoming a foster carer. “I’m so grateful to all of the foster carers who are giving the best gift that they can give this Christmas - a safe and caring home to a vulnerable child. This gift could be yours to give by becoming a foster carer.”

When we get a break from work and go on holidays, it’s usually around the same time that crime opportunities arise. This year is no different.Socials have been reporting it, so the Lismore App looked into the facts of what is happening - what to look out for, what to do and the things that can make the summer holidays one to remember for all the right reasons.According to the BOCSAR crime statistics for Lismore, the most outstanding figure is the rise in break and enters over the last two years. It is reported to be up 78%. The next highest figure was breaching bail conditions at 38%, also over a two-year period.Richmond Police District Superintendent Scott Tanner confirms these figures and adds a couple more to be alert to that affect us at present, “We have had increases this year in break & enter and break & enter & steal in residences, stolen vehicles, and steal from retail. They are the three crime categories that have gone up the most, but that is on a 12-month average.”The Superintendent says that usually, the 5-year figure tells more of a trending figure, but those numbers are a little skewed with COVID - the numbers dropped dramatically at that point. They are rising to what they were, or pre-COVID levels - which also distorts break & enter 2-year percentage rise.Supt Tanner added, “Summer absolutely raises the risk of crime, and that's that's for a variety of reasons. Especially in this area, we get a large influx of people, causing more opportunistic crime.”People on holiday, especially camping, are more likely to leave things left around unattended.“Pushbikes, mobile phones and computers and anything left outside can be easily picked up.”The police really want to reinforce the need to lock up in summer, “and make sure your valuables are out of sight. Same thing when you're out shopping for the Christmas period.“What we've reiterated is the days of leaving your homes open are gone. That doesn't exist anywhere anymore. So make sure that your windows and doors are locked.”Recommended security measures around your home don't necessarily mean thousands of dollars on a full security system, ”The best deterrent is motion sensor lights because if the crook can be seen, they will leave. You can go to Bunnings and get a light for around $20 or $30.“A lot of people now have CCTV cameras, and they are really, really good.“And if you've got security alarms, ensure they are installed properly, activated and working.”If you are going away for holidays, it's wise to take some common sense precautions. “Make sure someone's checking on your house and removing mail and catalogues out of your mailbox.“If you can have timed lights that come on over night time or in the evening, it gives the impression that people are home. Go back to talking to your neighbours and let them know you're not going to be there, and they can keep an eye out for you.”It is easy to post things on social media for entertainment and shock value, so be mindful about what you believe and look for credible sources. The problem with social media is that it can distort actually what's happening.This is also a reminder that from yesterday, double demerits are being enforced. Superintendent Tanner can’t speak highly enough about the importance of taking care on the roads, “ There’s nothing worse than having to knock on someone's door and tell them their loved ones passed away while they've still got a Christmas tree up and presents under the tree.” That is their reality.Supt Tanner says, “Hopefully, we won't be busy. Because if we're having a quiet Christmas, that means the community is safe!”There are three ways to report any incident, and the police recommend that you report any incident:Online via the Community PortalBy calling 131 444 and reporting the incidentOr in an emergency, call 000

Finally, Lismore and the Northern Rivers will see a warm, sunny weekend!The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast blue sky with tops in the late 20's and early 30's after minimum temperatures of 15 or 16 degrees.Partly cloudy is the forecast for Christmas Day, with a perfect 26 degrees the top temperature.As you would expect, there is a lot of Christmas activity over the next two days.CAROLSThe Lismore Anglican Bethlem Revisited is on at the Lismore Anglican Church Hill tomorrow (Saturday) between 5pm and 8pm.There will be a petting zoo, carols, a sausage sizzle and Christmas cake.Carols by Candlelight is on at the Bexhill Open Air Cathedral from 7pm tomorrow.Christmas Carols are also on at the Uniting Coraki Community Church on Sunday from 6pm at 15 Adams Street.The Southern Cross Presbyterian Church Carols are also on Sunday from 6pm at Lismore High School, 118 Dalley Street, East Lismore.Now school holidays have started and work has finished for a lot of families, it may well be time to hop in the car for some Christmas Light sightseeing. Check out the list on the Lismore App Lights.The third-ever Alsonville Markets will be held at the Alstonville Showground (6 South Street) tomorrow between 8:30am and 2pm.You can search for Christmas gifts, artisans crafts and products, plants, clothing, family entertainment and more.The Lismore Farmers Markets will swing into action from 7:30 tomorrow at the Lismore Showground on Alexandra Parade, North Lismore.The CWA Lismore Evening Branch will be there, so look for Emily’s famous Ham Jam and Christmas Chutney, Susan’s sumptuous Shortbread, Kerry’s Gingerbread cookies and Helen’s beautiful Christmas cakes.You could also choose the CWA Cook Book for $25 or a CWA recipe Tea towel for $15.The Lismore Region Refuge Settlement Group have second-hand books for sale. Valentina has Italian treats, Nimbin Valley Dairy has cheeses, and the Raw Bee Company has locally-produced honeycomb.All that's on top of the fresh fruit and veg, breakfast and cook/tea.It is worth families checking out the new Gigadome at Heritage Park. The new climbing dome is undercover, with towers and rock walls. The water park and Heritage Train will be running over the weekend, too.For some live music, head to the Northern Rivers Hotel for Hello Ray Duo from 7pm tonight/ Al Cole's Drummer Not Included performs tomorrow night from 7 and the Sunday session is Pistol Whip between 1 and 4pm.The Lismore Workers Club live music returns in February 2025 with Forever Olivia - A Tribute to Olivia Newton-John, Reputation - the Ultimate Taylor Swift Tribute Show and The Fab Four - the Ultimate Tribute to The Beatles.Click here to check out the rest of the live music on offer in 2025.The Christmas/New Year fuel price hikes have seen most types of fuel increase by at least four cents a litre this week, as the price of crude dropped $2.25 US a barrel in the last week.Here are the cheapest fuel options in each town:E10 is 178.9 at the 7-Eleven on Union Street, South Lismore, 169.9 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, with The Metro and the Mobil on River Street in Ballina cheapest at 167.5.Unleaded 91 is 179.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, Lismore and The Shell Goonellabah at 753 Ballina Road, 169.9 at The Ampol Casino on Dyraaba Street and 169.5 at the Metro and the new Mobil in Ballina.U95 is 188.9 at the Independent on Wyrallah Road, East Lismore, Northside Liberty and Bakers Corner at North Lismore and the Liberty on Ballina Road, 184.9 at the Ampol on Dyraaba Street in Casino and 179.9 at The Shell Ballina, 273 River Street.U98 is 196.9 at the Liberty Foodmart on Ballina Road and the Liberty at 113 Union Street, South Lismore, 191.9 at the two Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino and 188.9 at The Shell Ballina.Diesel is 173.9 at the Ampol Foodary at 237 Union Street, South Lismore and the Astron on Ballina Road, 182.9 at the Casino Roadhouse at 86 Johnston Street in Casino and 184.5 at The Metro and the Mobil in Ballina.Have a great weekend!

Yesterday's extraordinary Lismore City Council meeting was disrupted by members of the public who were unhappy with a council resolution.There were two rescission motions on the agenda yesterday. Item 11.1 was to rescind its decision from the December 10 meeting to remove all CSG and nuclear-free zone signs and replace them with more welcome or place signs, and 11.2 was to rescind councils decision on moving public access to 9am, before the meeting proper started and having it live streamed.The public gallery was full of people holding what looked to be CSG signs from the successful campaign in 2012, when 87% of the Lismore LGA voted against having a coal seam gas industry in the region.Four public speakers supported the rescission motion, saying how important it was to retain the signs as it part of Lismore's history and a tribute to the 87% who voted no to CSG.Mayor Steve Krieg asked the gallery to abide by the Code of Meeting Practice, which applies to everyone in the chamber."I'll just remind everyone, and I know everyone here is very peaceful and certainly not going to cause any drama, but everyone, public access, speakers, members of the gallery as well as councillors and staff are bound by the code of meeting practice. And although things can get emotional, we are bound by the code of meeting practice, which states that when people are talking, there's to be silence from everyone else, and I know everyone will respect that, but I just wanted to remind everyone about those obligations that we're all under."Unfortunately, this was forgotten following council's vote on the issue.Before the vote, Councillor (Cr) Guise, who moved the motion with Crs Knight-Smith and Waters, said the signs are there with community."It took a whole of community movement to achieve that, and it's worth remembering that was across political spectrums, as people have attested to tonight, it was not just related to a single interest group or a political party. That's what these percentages in the 90% from Community Surveys attest to, and that's what that profound 87% LGA referendum attests to, and that's what proudly sits at the entrances to Lismore."And as speakers have said tonight, we should fly that with pride. We should get a real sense of achievement about achieving that great exercise in democracy, but also, there's not a day I go by or wake up and have deep gratitude for our community, for everyone that stood together to live in a gas field free region."Cr Dalton-Earls asked if this should be the focus of this council at a time when roads, drains, other infrastructure and flood preparedness are more important.Cr Knight-Smith said, "They voted to say that they did not want gas fields in the Lismore LGA, and that's what those signs represent; that we don't want gas fields in the Lismore LGA. Those signs are beautiful. They represent a beautiful thing, a beautiful community, our community. They represent rolling hills and farms. They represent our pristine national parks. They represent a lifestyle that we've all come to love and enjoy. So, my vote won't be changing."Mayor Krieg stood to speak on the issue stating he was in a "No win situation. And I know I'm going to cop it.""This is for me, not about turning Lismore and the LGA into a gas field. It is a very honourable act that happened at Bentley. I drive past there often on my way to work, and that has solidified the Lismore LGA's right to be gas free and nuclear free. That is not what this motion is about in my opinion."I'm not going to get on the phone straight after this meeting to see Montgomery Burns from the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and say after this motion, there is an opportunity here. That is not what this is about. This is about modifying some signage at the entrance ways to our city and to our villages to welcome people to Lismore."Everyone has their own opinions as to what those signs represent, and those opinions are more than valid. And, I accept that the 60 or so people that emailed me, I am grateful, and I read every single one, and I tried to reply to every single one, whether I did or not, if I didn't, I apologise. But the reality is everyone has an opinion. The reality is that this is not going to open up Lismore to become a gas-friendly city or a nuclear-friendly city. That is not the case."The voices of the people have clearly spoken on this. What it is about is welcoming people at our entranceways to our city and our villages with uniform, modern, fresh signage. And that's what I want to see for Lismore, and it's as simple as that, so I'm going to stick with my original decision."The vote was Crs Guise, Dalton-Earls, Knight-Smith and Waters voting for the rescission motion and Crs Gordon, Hall, Battista, Rob, Bing and Krieg voting against. So, the motion was defeated 4/6, with Cr Jensen on leave.It was at this time that Mayor Krieg attempted to move the meeting to the next item on the agenda. However, the public gallery began to leave, with some loudly expressing their disappointment in the result going against the mayors advice at the start of the meeting.Cr Rob became defensive and asked the gallery to leave quietly with the mayor asking him to be quiet. The gallery then proceeded to make more noise outside the chamber through what sounded like a chant.The mayor introduced 11.2, the rescission motion on Public Access, ironically, with the chant clearly being heard in the background.Cr Guise moved this motion and started by saying, "I will speak to this. Another rescission. But there's a bit of a theme going tonight, so I will repeat what I said last meeting in dealing with this item, which is this, to me, is a backward step in democracy and the way that we treat our community."Mayor Krieg then left the chamber to speak to those involved as Cr Guise asked for the chamber doors to remain open, "I understand that there's some noise disruption, but we would adjourn it in that case. But closing the chamber isn't, as far as I'm aware, lawful."Finally, order was restored, and Cr Guise continued.The arguments against were the same as the December 10 meeting, starting at 9am, so not having it part of the monthly council meeting, limiting the number of speakers to two for and two against, limiting the meetings to five hours and not being accountable to the community.Those speaking against the rescission motion pointed out that nothing has happened yet, so all the talk was just that, talk that is casting aspersions on councillors not showing up for public access at 9am. Mayor Krieg called that "The height of arrogance."The vote was again 4/6, with Crs Rob, Guise, Waters and Knight-Smith for and Crs Dalton-Earls, Gordon, Battista, Hall, Bing and Krieg against.The result does mean the public access changes will start from the February 2025 meeting. It means the changes will be put on public exhibition for 42 days. The submissions received will be shared with council and then it will be tabled, debated and voted on in early 2025.That is the council wrap for 2024. We can only hope that councillor behaviour and the public gallery behaviour will be more respectful of the Code of Meeting Practice in 2025.

The rain has gone, the sun will be out and temperatures back in the late twenties and early thirties, perfect weather for a new local business to be in demand.Daniel Peterson and Grace Guiuo have come up with a winning summer treat with their Citrus Bliss Icy Poles.After years of development and research, they have recently been confident to go into commercial quantities to make Citrus Bliss the flavour of summer 2024/25!Based in Goonellabah, these two entrepreneurs are changing the face of what we call a treat! Their recipe is 100% organic fruit juice, no added preservatives or sugar - packed full of refreshing, chilled goodness.Daniel describes the flavour as “Tangy. It strikes that balance between sour and sweet. Of course, it's going to be too sour for some people and maybe too sweet for others. It grabs your attention, and for some, it grows on you.”A flyer caught my eye at a service station during a visit to Woodburn. A new local business with a new product, how could you say no? Citrus Bliss struck me as more of an adult flavour, not over-sweet, and so refreshing with the citrus hit. But Daniel says they are most popular with kids. The Living School is one of his biggest customers.Daniel says they are popular in drinks. Serving suggestions include breaking them up in a cool glass of sparkling water or a dip for an alcoholic drink.The time of year that the icy poles are made is when the fruit ripens, “Production occurs during winter because I'm trying to capture the nutrient of the fruit juice while it's ripe.”The goodness of the icy pole wasn't the only good thing about it. It was important to Daniel to make the whole product sustainable.“We wanted packaging alternatives to plastic. The one we use is a cellophane material, which is the same type of cellophane we used to play with in primary school. It's completely starch-based, and it's backyard compostable.”The fruit that Daniel uses is not A-grade that goes into shops, it's the seconds, where marks or shapes are not good enough for shop shelves. “We are juicing fruit that would otherwise go to waste. Part of the benefit of it for the farmer is that by using that second-grade fruit, I'm reducing the habitat for fruit flies.”“This year is the first year that I've had the product packaged properly, and I've had a commercial quantity of stock.Daniel started a business in juices at markets about eight years ago. The Icy Poles was a different business venture that started 3 years ago after spending some time experimenting with different fruits and veggies and assessing their frozen state and flavour.“I took a lot of inspiration, initially from the farmer who grows the fruit. His orchard is at Rosebank, and he planted those trees himself some 30 years ago. “Based on feedback that he'd been given and his experience, he was encouraging me to try and develop a product like this that could be commercialised.“This is the technical stuff, but it holds its flavour extremely well, and it holds its texture and its other characteristics as a frozen fruit juice.”Daniel and Grace are looking for more retailers interested in stocking their products and more lemon orchards for future stock!At the moment, there are around 80 stockists from the Gold Coast to Coffs Harbour and Bellingen. In and around Lismore, you can find them at:24-hour Liberty Service Station, LismoreAstro Service Station, LismoreThe Smashed Avo grocer at GoonellabahThe IGA on Rous Road, GoonellabahHilltop Station grocerGeneral stores at Bexhill, Clunes Goolmangar, Dunoon and the Channon The FoodWorks at WollongbarThe Village Fresh Fruit and Veg, Alstonville  The Woodburn Service StationCoraki SparCasino at the West post office. The Manor pantry at KyogleYou can also buy them online and have them delivered locally for free!Or follow them on Facebook and Instagram

From Keen Street, the Lincraft building looks the same as it has since it was cleaned out after the 2022 flood. However, if you look closely, you can see the roof coming down of the back building at the rear car park.A walk to Hampton Lane shows a completely different story, with a mass of twisted metal and tin sheeting on the ground, displaying the start of the demolition process.Local development consultancy company Newton Denny Chapelle lodged a DA with Lismore City Council to demolish the old Lincraft building at 186 Keen Street, next door to Uncle Lims. The DA was approved on October 24 last year.The building will be completely demolished in the coming months, leaving a vacant block of land.The Lismore App spoke with the Managing Director of Crafty Properties Pty Ltd and Lincraft John Maguire, who said he still has confidence in Lismore.While nothing is confirmed, Crafty Properties is looking to build a multi-story building on the site, with the ground floor being a car park. According to council's Flood Information Certificate, the floor level is 10.05 metres, with the roof at 12.5 metres.Mr Maguire said Crafty would be looking for expressions of interest from retailers or government to rent the building.Some preliminary plans have been drawn up, but no DA has been submitted to Lismore City Council.For now, the CBD will have a large vacant site in early 2025.

Police will be out in force targeting dangerous driving this holiday period as part of the state’s end of year road operation designed to keep people safe on our roads during the busy festive season.Operation Christmas/New Year 2024 began at 12.01 this morning (Friday, 20 December 2024) and concludes at 11.59pm on Wednesday, 1 January 2025.Double demerit points will apply for the duration of the operation for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley is urging everyone to play their part and stay safe on the roads this holiday season.“This is such a special time of year – a chance to celebrate with family and friends but it’s also one of the most dangerous times to be on the road,” Minister Catley said.“Some people think it’s okay to check a text, speed on familiar roads, or drive tired, but road rules exist to keep everyone safe. While police will be out and about patrolling this holiday season, it’s up to all of us to take responsibility – and if you do the wrong thing, you can expect to see red and blue lights in your rear-view mirror.“You don’t want to get a fine in the mail or lose your licence, but even worse, you don’t want to be the reason someone misses out on celebrating with their loved ones this Christmas.“So please, drive like your life depends on it – because it does,” Minister Catley said.Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said sadly six people died as a result of crashes on our roads during the Christmas and New Year double demerit period last year.“Every choice you make on the road can save lives.“With many people expected to be on the roads travelling across the state to celebrate the festive season, I remind everyone to be vigilant and allow extra time to travel, even for short trips.“It’s easy to become complacent about road safety, but unsafe driving can have tragic consequences.“I urge everyone to obey the road rules and make safe decisions every time you’re behind the wheel, so everyone can reach their destinations safely to enjoy the holidays with their loved ones.“You can avoid heavy penalties, and more importantly avoid hurting yourself or other people on the road, by staying under the speed limit, putting your phone away, correctly wearing a seatbelt and giving yourself plenty of travel time.“If you're riding a motorcycle, I also urge you to follow this advice and always wear a helmet and protective gear,” Minister Aitchison said. Traffic and Highway Patrol Command officers, together with local police across NSW, will be enforcing all road-related legislation, including speeding, drink and drug driving, distractions, driver fatigue, and any dangerous driving behaviours which put the safety of road users at risk.Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman, said the holiday period is traditionally the busiest time of year on NSW roads and police will be out in force across the state to encourage compliance with the road rules.“Sadly, we have seen an increase of fatal crashes on our roads in recent weeks, which is devastating to families, friends and whole communities,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said.“Our traffic enforcement activities seek to ensure all road users get to their destinations safely, and I urge people to consider the potential impacts of irresponsible behaviour – which can change lives forever.“The risk of a fine or the loss of demerit points should deter people from breaking the law. However, not putting the lives of others at risk should be the incentive to use our roads safely.“People can expect to see a highly visible police presence on all roads across NSW – from major motorways to backstreets.“We urge people to drive safely; this means not driving while you are tired, taking breaks on long trips, driving to the conditions and not getting behind the wheel if you have been drinking alcohol, have taken illicit drugs or are impaired in any way,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Chapman said.So far this year, as of 17 December 2024, 330 people have died in crashes on NSW roads – 244 of those in regional areas. For the same period last year, 331 people died in crashes in NSW – 235 of those in regional areas.Road Trauma Support Group founding member, Duncan Wakes-Miller lost his 17-year-old son in a crash in 2020 where he was a passenger in a car being driven by a drunk and speeding P-plater."My son Barney was killed by a speeding, drunk driver on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The ripple effect of road trauma is profound, devastating, and long-lasting for our family and in our community. “Dangerous and drunk driving should be treated as socially unacceptable by everyone, just as domestic violence is unacceptable. If you drive drunk you will get caught and if you drive too fast you will lose your licence. Be safe this Christmas holiday.“Please everyone 'speak up and step in' to prevent road deaths," Mr Wakes-Miller said.To help plan your trip anywhere in NSW, up-to-the minute traffic conditions can be found at: https://www.livetraffic.com.Members of the public are urged to report motorists engaged in dangerous driving to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Anyone with information about unsafe or dangerous behaviour on NSW roads is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

A grandstand at the newly refurbished Oakes Oval is now officially named after local cricket icon Lyn Larsen AM, celebrating her extraordinary contributions to the sport and deep connection to the Lismore region. The tribute is an acknowledgment of Lyn’s remarkable professional sporting career as well as the inspiration her legacy provides future generations. Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said Lyn’s sporting achievements deserve recognition.“Lyn Larsen embodies everything we admire in a sporting icon—passion, perseverance and excellence,” he said.“Naming this grandstand in her honour is a fitting tribute to her legacy and a reminder of what our local talent can achieve.“This grandstand will inspire countless young cricketers and sports enthusiasts, reminding them of the heights that can be reached with dedication and passion.”Born and raised in Tuntable Creek, Lyn’s journey to cricketing greatness began on front-yard cricket pitches prepared by her father, George, where she developed the skills that would launch her to the pinnacle of international cricket, captaining her country.Lyn paid tribute to George for also rolling his arm over countless times on their farm and to her brother Peter for taking over when George was worn out.From playing local matches to leading the Australian women’s cricket team at just 22, Lyn’s career featured 15 Test matches and 49 one-day internationals, plus captained Australia to a historic World Cup victory in 1988. Last year, Lyn was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, which added to her impressive list of awards: the NSW Hall of Champions, NSW Cricket Hall of Fame, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, Life Member Cricket NSW, Honorary Life Member of the MCC (Lord's cricket ground) and in 2020 Lyn was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to cricket as a player, selector, manager and coach at an elite level.(Lyn Larsen holding the Women's World Cup trophy in 1988)An emotional Lyn Larsen said she is honoured to be recognised in such a way."To say that this is special is an understatement. To say that I'm honoured is an understatement. When I look around, I see Adam's (Gilchrist) name, I see John's (McMahon) name on this iconic ground. I've had a lot of terrific acknowledgements in recent years, things that have blown me away at the time, but to have your name on a grandstand at an iconic venue in the town that you love, there's no greater tribute.""I've always loved this ground. We used to attract such fantastic events here, back from World Series Cricket. I remember standing behind the sight screen behind Michael Holding when he was running up. We'd have Sheffield Shield games. We'd have the Toohey's Cup matches."We'd be over here in the old grandstand for Lismore Women's Cricket, Marie would be catering, and we'd sneak out amongst all the stars like we had a right to be there. We were just carrying out the meals or collecting cups, but we were rubbing shoulders with them. So, the memories go back a long way."When we played out here, we played state championships and won state championships. To be out in the middle here was so special. City v Country out here. I just love the fact that we got the Sydney people to come here. They didn't realise it was so far from Sydney. Well, it's the same distance in reverse. I loved that they could come here and see what Lismore had. We had facilities like no other in the state, and I was so proud of that."We used to play matches against the Gentleman of Lismore who put their hand in their pocket, $100 or something, just to play in that match, which was a fundraising match in 1987 to get me on that plane to England because, as you know, back then, we had to pay to play. And the support from the Lismore community back then was just unrivalled. And I was so proud to always be Lyn from Lismore.Lyn said one of her favourite matches on the Oakes Oval turf was the first Women's One Day International under lights."We had the old wooden stand at the time. To stand out in the middle under lights, we were beating New Zealand, and that was always good, but there was no prouder moment for me to be looking around and seeing the stands full of family and friends that Lismore people had come out to support.Lyn then acknowledged the crowd of people who turned up to watch their friend receive her grandstand tribute.(Lyn Larsen AM, Mayor Steve Krieg and Lyn's family and friends in front of her grandstand)"So, the connection with this ground is long and strong, and I love it. And to look around, I won't look around to see that because I will burst into tears again. I just feel it's such a privilege, Steve; I can't thank you enough for the honour that you've given me. I want to thank you all for coming today. You're all here as special people for me."I'm so privileged to have Marie Lee here. I would never have played cricket, and there wouldn't have been cricket, except for Marie forming the Lismore Women's Cricket Association and a lifelong supporter. The whole time, Marie was always there, and I can't thank you enough, Marie, I've got former teammates here in Lismore Spot, Scurgy, Shippo and Karen and Julie as former Australian teammates. So, to have you here means the world to me.""And three people I want to acknowledge going back to my Sydney connection. When you get off the bus at five o'clock in the morning at Hornsby, and you've got to get to a training thing, you've got to have someone in Sydney, and it was Aunty Mary, Uncle Charlie and Dean. He'd pick me up, take me wherever I needed to be, and then get me back on the bus on the Sunday night. So it's lovely to have you here all these years later. Dean was my little cousin at the time who carried my kit bag; I was the only person who had their own private kit bag carrier. I thought I was pretty special."It was at this stage that another well-known Lismore cricketing identity, Norm Ryder, presented Lyn with the cricket ball that was used in her favourite Oakes Oval Women's International One Dayer under lights on the 13th of January 1993. The ball was signed by other Australian players, including Lyn as captain.Lyn then shared her favourite innings on Oakes Oval."It wasn't a formal game; it was in the Gentleman of Lismore when we played that fundraising game, and I made 80 odd or something. It was such an enjoyable occasion. The guys were great, playing with my Lismore teammates and playing out here. I mean, I just loved this. That would be the one that I say was special because of the community support from the guys that we played against and playing with my Lismore teammates and to score some runs. The longer you're out in the middle, is always a good time."“I am so privileged and humbled, and this is such an honour,” she said.“To have a grandstand bearing your name is one of the greatest tributes a sportsperson can be paid.

School has finished for another year, Christmas 2024 is less than a week away, and many families are heading off for a festive celebration this week.Police are reminding you to plan your journey and drive safely this holiday period, with high traffic volumes expected across NSW.NSW Police will enforce double demerits for speeding, motorcycle helmet, seatbelt and mobile phone offences from tomorrow (Friday, 20 December) to Wednesday, 1 January 2025.  Delays are expected in the lead-up to Christmas with people hitting the road to visit family, and again between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve as holidaymakers head away to ring in 2025.Transport for NSW will be monitoring traffic at known regional pinch points on the Pacific Highway, including Coffs Harbour, Tugun, and Hexham.A number of major regional road projects will be shutting down during the holiday break, and many projects will still have reduced speed limits in place, you are reminded to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs.If loading up the car, trailer, caravan, or boat, take the time to check everything is secure, all tyres and blinkers are in good condition, and drivers should be across the rules around how to drive safely when towing.Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said, this weekend, we’re expecting thousands of motorists to hit the road and head to the regions to make the most of the Christmas holidays. “We want people to have a safe and happy holiday. Tragically, as of midnight on 17 December 2024, 330 people have lost their lives on NSW roads so far this year which is one less than the same time last year. So, I’m asking everyone to please slow down and take extra care on our roads to make sure this is a merry Christmas.“Stick to the speed limit, never drive if you’re affected by drugs or alcohol, make sure you’re well rested before hitting the road, always wear your seatbelt, wear a helmet if you’re riding a motorcycle and don’t use your phone illegally.”Transport for NSW Executive Director Operations Management Craig Moran said, “This is always one of the busiest periods on our road network with people moving right across the state to visit family and friends for Christmas or to enjoy a summer break, and we’ll have dedicated staff working around the clock to make that journey as smooth as possible.“We want everyone to arrive at their destination safely and full of holiday spirit. The best way to do that is to plan your journey, drive to the conditions and pack some patience.“Our holiday and journey planning website has everything you need to plan your trip, with tools to help avoid the busiest times on our roads, an interactive rest stop map to plan your breaks, and access to Live Traffic, where you can check out real time incident information.”  To find the best times to travel to your destination, use the TfNSW pinch point journey planning tool at myjourneynsw.info and get the latest traffic updates by downloading the Live Traffic NSW app, visiting livetraffic.com or calling 132 701. Check out the NSW Government’s holiday and journey planning website here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/plan-your-trip/holiday-driving/holiday-and-journey-planning.

Lismore's filmmaker Jayden Creighton is gaining international recognition with his debut feature film, which has won an award for Best Screenplay in New York.We first met Jayden in March this year when The Matriarch had one of its first screenings at the Starcourt Theatre. The Matriarch is a horror film that took its subject from a theme and borrowed some inspiration from horrific true-life scenarios.Jayden started shooting scripts in 2012. After a few short films and a web series, this is his first feature-length film.  Shot in Bonalbo in mid-2023, the film was ready for release in February this year.The Matriarch was screened locally in Lismore, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, and in various locations in the United States. The film has been selected for several film festivals and has won a few awards.“In New York it has just been awarded best screenplay at the New York Horror Film Festival. Which is cool for a film about a mum trying to kill her daughter - what the film is about. We were blown away. People liked it!“I’ve never been recognised for my writing before, so this is a nice notch in my belt.”Jayden describes the film’s plot. “It's about a 13-year-old girl who kills her mother's abusive boyfriend in self-defence. Then the mother sides with the perpetrator and spends the night trying to catch her daughter and do horrible things to her.”Jayden with his stars (Image provided by Jayden Creighton)There are plenty of things to speculate on what those horrible things might be, as Jayden talks about the motivation behind the subject, “The idea was to try to touch on some societal themes. You hear all the horror stories about things that are going on in the confines of people's homes and parental figures turning a blind eye to it.”The idea came from a pitching competition, “There was a thing called the Monster Pitchers Pitch Initiative. Monster Pitchers is a big distributor in Melbourne. They had an initiative that was designed to bring up-and-coming filmmakers into focus.  “Basically, you had to pitch to them around the theme “mother”. It kind of got the screws turning. We looked into true crime stories - it's very murky waters. We wanted to touch on the issues, but at the same time, make it entertaining and fun to watch, considering the subject matter.”Jayden won the competition - that was in 2022.If you want to see the film, you will have to wait a bit, “I’m just shopping it around to various distributors at the moment. We've had distributors and sales agents reach out to us over the past few months.” However, they are yet to sign on.Jayden does not think it will be a DVD, and a physical showing at a venue is unlikely. He sees it being released to paid streaming like Amazon Prime or Google Play.Jayden working on set (Image provided by Jayden Creighton)“It will certainly be on Tubi; they're a bit more accessible to Indie filmmakers because they tend to take low-budget films.”The budget for this film was $40,000, so think of a well-worn shoestring. Jayden raised the funds himself, “We had a lot of people just jump in, doing favours, a couple of people working back, but really it was just a very low-budget thing. Everyone came out, and we paid them in food and whatever we could afford.”Now the Matriarch is released and opening up to the world, Jayden has turned back to writing, “I’m working on my next feature. We want to take all the things we've learned with the business side of The Matriarch and try and pop that into this one.  “Speak to the people I've spoken to upfront and try and get distribution deals that are early in the piece. Now we've already got one up our sleeve, we can hopefully pitch that and try and get some more funds for the new one.”A Lismore band, Total Buzzkill provided music for The Matriarch. In the new film, they will feature more prominently - and it will still be horror/thriller genre.“We're going to lean into that more with this one. Make it very musically focused. It's about a band, so it should be a lot of fun. We get to tackle a couple of different mediums then.”The new film is set in the US, but Jayden plans to film the fake trailer (used to pitch the show) somewhere nearby.Jayden wants to say, “A big thank you to the cast and crew and all the people that helped, and looked out for our projects. And thank you for for having us on the Lismore App!”You can follow Jayden on Facebook and Instagram, and see the string of interest and attention his film is getting..And you can see the trailer, here!The things you do for the right shot! (Image provided by Jayden Creighton)Jayden was interviewed by the Lismore App in March this year when his film was shown in the Starcourt Theatre. Read the story here.

Lismore and the Northern Rivers will benefit from a $1.7 million funding boost from the NSW Government to upgrade hospitals and health facilities throughout the region. Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park announced a number of projects will be undertaken in the Northern NSW Local Health District as part of the government’s $12 million Regional Health Minor Works Program to help improve the experience of patients and staff at the District’s hospitals. These include:Lismore Base Hospital Cardiac Catheter Lab Chiller upgradesLismore Base Hospital Mental Health High Dependency Unit observation, seclusion area and courtyard upgradesBallina District Hospital General Ward hot water system replacement and upgradesGoonellabah Dental Service roof replacementNimbin MPS façade painting and refurbishmentMaclean District Hospital mortuary upgradeGrafton Base Hospital Emergency Department Short Stay Unit upgrade works The minor works are expected to commence during the first half of 2025. The NSW Government is investing a total of almost $12 million in 61 projects as part of the Regional Health Minor Works Program. Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said, "The Minns Labor Government is committed to investing in health infrastructure to support better health outcomes for rural and regional communities. “The $12 million Rural Minor Works Program allows local health districts to upgrade equipment and health facilities to enhance the working environment for health staff and improve patient experiences. “The program is one of a number of investments the Minns Labor Government is making to strengthen rural and regional health services, so people have access to the best possible care close to home.” Janelle Saffin, Member for Lismore, said, “These works are essential to maintain the high level of health care which our communities deserve. These improvements, repairs and upgrades will enable health staff to continue to deliver excellent patient care in environments that support patients and their families to feel safe, welcome and comfortable.”  

It was a rare but pleasing sight at the Lismore Lifeblood Donor Centre on Bounty Street yesterday, with members of the Richmond Police District and members of the public combining to form a full house to help stock the fridges ahead of the busy holiday period.Operation ‘Bleed 4 Blue’ is an annual blood drive that was launched in 2018 following the stabbing of Detective Sergeant John Breda at Maroubra on Australia Day 2018, with more than 100 bags of blood needed to keep him alive. Yesterday, fifteen (15) officers from the Richmond Police District (RPD) took to the chairs with regular donors.Now in its sixth year, Operation ‘Bleed 4 Blue’ is a national drive between police that sees forces and the community encouraged to visit a Lifeblood donor centre over the festive season and has so far contributed more than 1202 bags of blood donated. The RPD had already seen 18 police officers donating so far for this year’s drive, helping to save the lives of more than 50 Australians relying on blood, including cancer and trauma patients. With blood demand at a 12-year high and the festive period a challenging time of the year for blood supplies, Scott Tanner, Superintendent (Supt) for the RPD, is throwing their support behind the challenge. "I think this is because, as emergency service workers, we see the need for blood. And I'm just reflecting now as we talk: there's a motor vehicle accident down at Ballina where someone's being airlifted to the hospital, and you go, that person may need blood. So what better way for us to give back to our community than by getting our police officers to give blood. It really does sort of hit home."There is a national callout for blood donors. Traditionally, the Christmas/New Year holidays are the busiest time of the year with increased road traffic and domestic matters.(Superintendent RPD Scott Tanner, Constable Courtney Chalmers and Lifeblood's Scott Morrison)"There's a whole different range of things, a lot of added pressures around Christmas time, as we know, in the domestic and family violence space. So, we certainly have an increase in reported crime and calls for service this time of year," Supt Tanner said.Apart from the serious side of blood donation, there is also some friendly rivalry between police districts within NSW and Australia."Last year, we took out the challenge. We beat the Victorians," Supt Tanner explained, "Unfortunately, the Vic's are in front at this stage. So, we've done a bit of a call to arms today, and we've got 15 of our local police that are giving blood."We'll see by the end of the week if we beat the Vic's because every time we put out a call for service, so do they. But look, I'm confident we will be coming home strong."(Probationary Constable Jordan Siemsen giving plasma at the Lifeblood Lismore Donor Centre)Lifeblood Lismore spokesperson Scott Morrison said Lismore needs 100 donors to step forward between now and the second of January."Lismore, as a community, always stands up and responds for us. It's wonderful seeing Scott Tanner and his police officers here donating blood and plasma today."We've just gone to a national call out across the country. In our region, we need 100 donors between now and January 2. That's how many vacant spots we've got. So our normal donors are off taking holidays and a well-deserved break, so we are just asking anyone in the general public who hasn't donated before or hasn't donated in a while but has always thought about it to step forward."Come and register online at www.lifeblood.com.au, or they can simply download the Donate Bllod App on their iPhone or Android, and they can always call 13 14, 95 and talk to someone there to get registered and book an appointment."It's really a critical time of year, Christmas time; we've always seen the need for blood and plasma. It's an hour for a blood donation and an hour and a half for a plasma donation."It's a very altruistic thing to do this time of year. We always have that giving season, and we want to make sure that we get our people to donate in the Lismore and Northern Rivers region so that we can save lives and keep the blood stocks up."(Constable Carolyn Groves giving plasma)

As reported earlier, emergency services are at the scene of a single-vehicle crash just north of Ballina this afternoon.About 12.25pm (Wednesday 18 December 2024), emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway, Tintenbar, after a vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a tree.The driver of the car, a 35-year-old woman, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics.She was taken to Lismore Hospital for the treatment of injuries believed to be minor and for mandatory testing. The front passenger, a 97-year-old woman, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics.She was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition.(The Westpac Rescue Helicopter at today's accident. Photo: WRHS)The two rear passengers – aged 15 and 16 – were assessed at the scene for minor injuries.Police from Richmond Police District have commenced inquiries into the incident.As inquiries continue, anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Traffic remains heavy past the scene northbound. For traffic updates visit: www.livetraffic.com.

There was a car crash on the M1 at Cumbalum near Tamarind Drive at 12:24 this afternoon that closed the northbound lanes.Initially, one of two southbound lanes were closed as well. However, at 2:22pm that changed to one of two northbound lanes remains closed.Emergency services, the Crash Investigation Unit and Transport for NSW were in attendance.The advice from Transport for NSW is to reduce your speed, exercise caution and allow extra travel time.

Lismore City Council meetings will be different at some stage in 2025 as the NSW Government continues to progress reforms to strengthen local government, announcing changes to the way council meetings are conducted to ensure greater transparency and increase community confidence in council decision-making. All councils are required to adopt a code of meeting practice based on the Model Meeting Code issued by the Office of Local Government.The government has now released a consultation draft of amendments to the Model Meeting Code for public comment.The changes aim to simplify the Model Meeting Code and ensure councillors are making decisions in the full view of the communities they are elected to represent.They also aim to increase the dignity of the council chamber and remove the general manager’s involvement in council politics.Key changes, some of which have been recommended by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) include:preventing councils from holding private councillor briefing sessionsrequiring information considered at closed meetings to be made public after it ceases to be confidentialrequiring councils to give reasons when making decisions on planning matters that depart from staff recommendationsde-politicising the role of the general manager by removing the requirement for them to prepare reports on councillors’ notices of motion expanding the powers of the mayor to expel councillors from meetings for acts of disorderrequiring councillors to stand when the mayor enters and when addressing the meetingThe scenario that immediately springs to mind is point 5, where the mayor can expel a councillor from a meeting for acts of disorder. This would be a last resort; however, there have been times during a Lismore City Council meeting in the last three years where debate turned into bickering, personal attacks and a lack of respect for the position of mayor.Changes to the Model Meeting Code were flagged in a discussion paper outlining the government’s proposed reforms to the councillor code of conduct system.Submissions will be accepted until Friday, 28 February 2025. To learn more and provide feedback, go to: https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/councils/governance/model-code-of-meeting-practice/reforms-to-the-model-code-of-meeting-practice/. Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said, “Council meetings are where a council’s most important decisions should be made.“It concerns me that these decisions are increasingly being made behind closed doors in private briefings, locking out the community and protecting councils from public scrutiny. “As a former mayor, I want to see all councils conducting their business in an open and public forum, where communities can engage with their council on issues that directly affect them. “The current Model Meeting Code has become unwieldly and is prone to drawing the general manager into political disputes which should be left to elected councillors to resolve. “These changes are part of the government’s commitment to restoring public trust in local government, which has been eroded by years of neglect and a cultural shift towards secrecy over public service.”There will be an extraordinary Lismore City Council meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at 4pm to deal with two rescission motions that have been lodged following last week's Ordinary monthly meeting.The rescission motion includes the removal of all CSG and nuclear-free zone signs and the new Code of Meeting Practice, which included moving public access before the start of a council meeting at 10am. Public access will be live streamed.

Students, teachers and families in Lismore and across the Northern Rivers are waiting anxiously as Higher School Certificate (HSC) results land for students across the state this morning, including a record 69,962 attaining their HSC and another 9,522 who have completed at least one HSC course.The Class of 2024 are the largest cohort in NSW and Australian history, with 57,205 students eligible to receive an ATAR, and 18,430, or a quarter of students completing a VET course. This year’s graduates have bright futures ahead, with 12 per cent of all course results in the top band, 42 per cent in the top two bands, and 74 per cent in the top three bands.    Yesterday, 131 students were recognised for achieving first place in their HSC course, while another 19,460 students have been recognised in Merit Lists today.Some 1,457 students have also featured on the All-round Achievers list, achieving results in the top band across 10 units of study, while 779 students were placed on the Top Achievers list for earning one or more of the top places, and a result in the highest band.An impressive 19,591 students received at least one band six and have been recognised on the ‘Distinguished Achievers’ list – making this year the largest HSC honour roll in NSW history.Visit the NESA website to view the 2024 HSC Merit Lists from 12pm today: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/awards-and-events/hsc-merit-listsGovernment school students are also celebrating today as they mark the final day of Term 4, with teachers and school staff also set to put their pens down for a well-earned Christmas break at the end of the week.Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “Congratulations to all our students from the Class of 2024 who have worked hard to complete their HSC. It is fantastic to see hard work helping students to reach their full potential.“Reaching the end of your schooling journey takes grit and dedication, and every student deserves to feel proud of their efforts and everything they have achieved.“Whether you are moving into the workforce, furthering your education, going into a traineeship or joining TAFE, I wish all our students the very best as they take their next steps forward.”Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said, “Congratulations to all students who have sat an HSC course and exam this year.“I wish you all the best for whatever comes next, whether that is taking on a VET course, university, taking a gap year or heading straight into the workforce.“Today is also a really important day for teachers, principals and support staff who guided HSC students along the way. Thank you to all staff in schools and TAFE who have worked with year 12 students.“Thank you also to the parents, carers, families and friends who supported young people through such a momentous time.“I am sure many communities across the state are celebrating the achievements of students today."NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) CEO Paul Martin said, "What an exciting milestone for the HSC Class of 2024.“Today can bring with it a range of emotions and reactions – so I am reminding all young people now leaving school – this is only the beginning.“There are many pathways to achieve your goals. And goals change over time.“Continue learning and finding ways to feed your passions and interests.”

A large and impressive new play park is the new feature at Lismore’s Heritage Park.Designed by a team at Lismore City Council, they wanted something not seen before in the Northern Rivers, giving it a point of difference and another thing to do when the family comes into the city!As the name suggests, it is dome-like in shape, and the dome provides shelter for participants below. There is a wide range of things to climb, swing and balance on, as well as towers and rock walls to defeat.The look and colour scheme is in keeping with the park, and it looks like a lot of fun to take on.MP Janelle Saffin opened the park by talking about its development and providing appreciation where it was due, “It's been much anticipated, and it was made possible firstly, through the brilliant engineering and design of Lismore City Council, who did it in-house with value for money. “It cost $798,121 through a state government grant for Stronger Community, Stronger Countries.” Ms Saffin spoke of her grandson, with whom she enjoys visiting the park to spend some time and enjoy the facilities.Despite the drizzle, kids from the Living School were playing on it in the background, and Councillor (Cr) Gordon got a laugh when he likened the Gigadome to the Thunderdome! He praises the fact that the Gigadome provides a much-needed pastime for families.The allure of the new playground saw bigger kids who couldn't help but have a play... Ms Saffin and Mr Gibbons were happy to test out some of the features!Jon Gibbons, Lismore City Council General Manager, was impressed at how many children were content to play on the new structure despite the rain, “I can only imagine how many children they'll be here on a nice, sunny day. It's great to see.”Brian Gray couldn’t be happier with the way the park has developed, “The Gigadome cements the park as being Lismore’s number one park, and possibly also the Northern Rivers. With all the upgrades that have happened in the last four years, it has made this park awesome.”Tony Duffy and his team designed the park. Tony said, “We wanted balanced motor skill ability, but we also wanted to offer something that was unique to Lismore. “So we've created a piece of equipment that is challenging to keep the kid's interest.”Cr Dalton Earls reflected on being at the park and his fondness for it - the new addition being another thing for kids to get excited about.Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg praised the new playground additions, highlighting how important this investment is to the community. "What sets the Gigadome apart is the uniqueness of the play structures. The design was carefully chosen to offer something truly special for our community. This is a space where children can challenge themselves, have fun and create lasting memories."Brian is very happy with the addition. After being at the park for 30 years and seeing all kinds of developments, this one is a big one. School holidays start this Thursday, and Brian will be operating the trains 6 days a week (not on Mondays); he is looking forward to seeing the difference the Gigadome will make.The new playpark has seen all the original features replaced, now, Brian mentions.“The big central fig tree originally came from Dalley Street. There used to be two.”  The towering tree provides a beautiful, cool centre to the park. Adjacent to it is a train carriage.“The plan for that will probably be the next change to the park. Council are looking at turning it into a venue to hire for parties.” But that may be some way off yet. Meanwhile, Heritage Park will be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike over the festive holidays.

The last of Lismore's iconic pubs opens its doors today for the first time since 28 February 2022. The Station Hotel front bar is open to the public once again.The iconic hotel, on the Union Street/Casino Street roundabout, has been operating the bottle shop and a small bar section at the rear of the pub for two years while proprietor Mark Neilson worked out what he wanted to do with the front bar.There was no rush, as the bottle shop is the main part of the business, and Mark wanted to get the design, look and feel right.Mark reflected on the damage done nearly three years ago."The roof caved in; it just collapsed. There were two Bobcats working out there for two days, 10 skip bins of rubbish.""This pub has been through so many floods. It's designed for it really, that's why we don't over pretty it. It's very important that it's able to be washed through. So, what we did this time was take it to another level."Enter well-known local builder Joel Jensen Constructions. Mark had seen some of Joel's work around town, did a bit of research and gave him a call. Mark sat down with Joel and his designer, Emily, to get the brief."The brief was they wanted to make it feel like stepping back in time going into an old school," Joel Jensen explained, "Somewhere where people, you know, blokes, women, families feel warm and welcome, but then also creating a good vibe. Plus, having the rail trail opening, we want to sort of keep that heritage and give the station respect."We sourced a lot of local timbers. So, all the bridge timbers you'll find around the bars and around the TAB machine. That's all locally sourced off rail lines, which we got from Jules at Off The Rails in Byron. He goes and sources a lot of the timbers. We actually made the bar tops out of salvaged timber from the old St Mary's. It was demolished, and rather than chuck it out, we tried to bring back a bit of that history. We screwed and fixed them all together, sanded them up and repurposed them into bar tops. So they're, I don't know, 150-odd years old.The tiles on the floor and on the bar wall, once again, have the heritage look, and as Joel says, it gives you the feeling of stepping back in time.(The rebuilt Station Hotel showing off the tiles, St Mary's bar top and pressed tin ceiling. All keeping with the history of the building)"Locally sourced once again," Joel said, "Ray from Lismore Tiles & Mosaics went nuts for us and sourced a heap of tiles. He was brilliant.""I was actually just saying to Mark before, it was a pretty tight timeline, so to speak. They didn't put me under any pressure, but we wanted to get it open for Christmas, and around the rail trail opening, and all the local trades and suppliers were just typical of what this town's all about. Everyone was just like, yeah, we're on."The other component of the Station Hotel is its flood-resilience.Mark explained that "No mud can get behind anything, nothing. The flood comes through, we hose the bastard down, put the electrics back in, and we're ready to go again.Mark explained that if a big flood goes through the Station Hotel, all the electrics need to be rewired. "That's just par for the course, but that's pretty much cheap compared to the rest of the job."Right now, the tellie's can come off the wall. It's all old railway sleepers. This floor is designed to come up, it's in squares and taken upstairs very quickly.(The timber wall in the TAB room)"The bar is designed to be washed down, scrubbed and start again very quickly. Everything's been designed that way for this bar. So, hopefully, it'll stand the test of time. Doug Hogan was here for about 50 years, and that old bar did the job, and hopefully, this bar will be the same."Mark estimates that the flood-resilient changes made will only cost him 10% of this rebuild for any future floods.There is no doubt that this flood rebuild, using some modern materials, is certainly true to the character of the building.The Station Hotel South Lismore is open seven days a week. It closes:Monday and Tuesday: 8pmWednesday and Thursday: 9pmFriday: 11pmSaturday: 9 or 10pmSunday: 7pmMark doesn't want to spend $200,000 on putting in a commercial kitchen as it will be damaged during a flood. So, he has Skimmos Food Truck on site, supplying food to his customers.Mark had a soft opening on Monday with the tradies that were involved in the rebuild. He wanted to test the new beer lines and to make sure everything else was working as expected.(Federal member for Page Kevin Hogan, Station Hotel proprietor Mark Neilson and Joel Jensen share a beer at Monday's soft opening)Today is the first day the Station Hotel will be open to the public in nearly three years. Go and check it out.