The forecast rain was just under what the BOM predicted with 8mm falling in the early hours this morning and clearing to what has been a brilliant afternoon.

That trend will continue over the weekend with perfect spring temperatures of 24 and 23 degrees. There are no excuses not to get out and enjoy life or get stuck into the garden.

The countdown is on to switch to daylight savings. We are just over three weeks away! when clocks are put forward 1 hour.

While this weekends relatively quiet, there are two big events coming up:

• Nimbin's Mardi Grass starts next Friday evening and runs through to Sunday September 18.
• The 2022 Lismore Cup is on Thursday September 22 at the Lismore Turf Club.
• The 2022 Joeys Mini World Cup kicks off on Monday September 26 in a week long soccer tournament with teams from NSW and Queensland.

The 2022 Lismore Show is in October, however, there will be a Young Woman and Teen Showgirl Competition Information Session for those thinking of entering Sunday 18th of September at the Lismore Heights Bowling Club between 10am and 12pm.

This weekends markets will be operating in near perfect conditions.

The Lismore Farmers Markets gets under way at 8am (until 11:30am) at the Lismore Showgrounds for brunch, coffee and chai and 40 stalls with local meats, eggs and honey, herbs, fruit and vegetables, ferments and jams, cakes and pastries, plants and seeds, compost, leather conditioner, firewood, garment mending and alterations plus live music.

Blue Knob Community Markets will be on between 8:30am and 12 midday.

The Channon Market is this weeks monthly market on Sunday between 9am and 3pm at Coronation Park. Go along and checkout the 220 stalls and enjoy live music from Broadfoot.

The Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) ‘Operation Big Map’ event has it's second day at GSAC (50 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah) tomorrow (Saturday 10 September) between 9am and 3:30am. This unique event is the ‘flag ship’ of Disaster Relief Australia operations across our nation.

DRA explain it this way:

This unique capability allows us to visualise and interpret the bigger picture and by doing so we collectively increase our knowledge and awareness of community vulnerabilities, infrastructure capabilities and capacity and most importantly clearly define where our true risk lies. This unique experience becomes invaluable however when the right people are with us on the map to share with us their experience, their knowledge but above all their passion for the region in which they live. 

We are the first to admit that we are not flood hydrologists nor are we flood mapping specialists. Some of our members are however highly trained in interpreting and evaluating risk and hazards in

a threat space environment. 

Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) is a not-for profit organisation that unites the skills and experience of Australian Defence Force veterans with emergency services specialists to rapidly deploy disaster relief teams in Australia and around the world in the wake of disasters. 

(Image from Janelle Saffin)

Boatharbour Landcare presents “Fairy Wren Garden Day” on this Sunday, 11^th September between 2pm – 4pm at Boatharbour. "If you love the little birds in your garden, like we do, this is the event for you. There is a Plant Sale with Friends of Koala Nursery, an Afternoon Tea with Conversations about little birds, and a Garden walk to show what plants work". Call Dot on 0417203041 or go to their Facebook page:

The Bexhill Quarry Parklands Association (BQPA) is meeting this Sunday at 9:15am. The BQPA wants to develop the old quarry site into regional parkland for local, regional, national and international visitors. If you wish to attend email bexhillquarry@gmail.com to get the address.

In Sport, the NRRRL competition finished last week with Bilambil the 2022 Premiers.

The Lismore Rugby Club has two teams playing in the semi-finlas tomorrow with the Uner 18's playing Casurina and the Ladies 10's v Ballina with a Grand Final spot on offer.

It is the first round of the Men's Premiership finals in Far North Coast Football after Richmond Rovers were crowned Minor Premiers during the week. Due to the shortened season, it is only a Top 4 format so the winners of Sunday's semi-finals goes straight through to next weeks Grand Final.

Alstonville host South Lismore while Richmond Rovers host Byron Bay with both games kick-off at 2:30pm.

Here is this weeks low petrol prices through Fuel Check:

• E10 is 182.9 at the Caltext in South Lismore and in Goonellabah, 177.5 in Casino and 173.9 at The Metro in Ballina.
• Unleaded 91 is 184.9 across the Lismore service stations, 179.5 in Casino and Ballina.
• U95 is 192.9 in Lismore at the Liberty on Wyrallah Road and Ballina Road plus the BP on Conway Street, 194.6 at the Caltex in Casino and 185.9 on River Street, Ballina.
• U98 is 200.9 at the Liberty on Ballina Road and Kyogle Street, South Lismore, 199.9 at the Liberty's in Casino and 193.9 at the Shell on River Street, Ballina.
• Diesel It is 214.9 across all of Lismore with Casino United 203.5 and West Ballina BP 205.9.

Have a great weekend!