They say winners are grinners, and there were plenty of broad grins at the Northern Rivers Hotel yesterday in North Lismore when the Marist Brothers Rams were still celebrating their first-ever NRRRL Premiership, and their first in 22 years.The NRRRL shield had all the big names, mostly from the northern end of the Northern Rivers, like Cudgen, Bilambil, Murwillambah and even Ballina. The Rams were a noticeable omission until just after 5pm on Sunday evening when the Rams beat the Murwillumbah Mustangs 20-12 to etch their names in Lismore folklore.It was a game that had momentum shifts in the first half, and one of the best defensive efforts in the second half from a determined and spirited Rams outfit in warm conditions that saw players suffer cramp towards the end of the Grand Final.It should be noted that the Northern United Ladies Tackle Team also won the Premiership at Crozier Field on Sunday with a thumping 44-6 win over the Bilambil Jets.As you would expect, the 2025 NRRRL Premiers hit the town on Sunday night, with the majority turning up at the Northern yesterday afternoon with a few hangovers, little sleep and still in their playing gear, some boots and all.Rams Coach Darryl Butcher said he had a two-hour window this morning, but was enjoying the celebrations."It'll end at some point this week," he said with a smile. "I don't think it's like the old days anymore, though a few of the young ones will keep going for days, and most of us will be back on the tools and back in the workforce tomorrow. Back to reality. And then we've got our club presentation on Friday night, so that'll be a big celebration for the whole club. I'd say it'll flow on again on Friday night. We'll have a little bit of a spell somewhere in between."When asked what has turned the Rams from a mid-table team into Premier's in three years, Darryl said it's local footballers coming up through the junior ranks that are tight-knit.(The 2025 NRRRL Premiers soak up the presentation with coach Darryl Butcher holding the shield aloft. Photo: Kevin Hogan)"To be honest, we've added a couple of key figures in, as everyone knows, but we still fielded 13 juniors out of our 17 yesterday. People forget that. They carry on about the people that we put in there that are obviously special, but we've got 13 juniors that have come through our junior system, which is a great thing. It's something that I'm really proud of, because I've done a lot of coaching through juniors."They're really tight, to be honest. Everyone says that, but there's a key group of them, about five or six of them, that all come through together since they've been eight years old, so they're obviously tight. And then there's another, older group that have played a lot of football together as well. As it was shown yesterday, they continually just turn up for their mate. To do it at the back end of that game for seven out of nine sets in a row. It was just so good. I had goosebumps as it was happening. I'm just so proud of where they're at."The older group for the Rams includes Paul O'Neil Jr, Mitch Krause and Lennon Bartlett. These are guys in their early to mid-30s who have been playing for a decade or more to achieve the ultimate goal before they retire, and for Mitch and Lennon, that time may well be now, leaving their playing days on a high.Lennon Bartlett reflected when he knew the Rams would win."When it was about two minutes left, you can never ease off in games. I think I looked at the clock, looked at the crowd, and just took it all in and just embraced it for a bit."I didn't know what to do for about two hours after the game. I think we're sitting there lying in the sheds, and I just didn't have a moment to process anything. But once we sat down and processed, the boys were ecstatic."I've lived in Lismore my whole life. I've played for the RAM since I was six years old, 35 now. So, just to get it done for these boys and my family.Lennon had around 20 family and 20 friends at Crozier Field on Sunday to watch him stand on the podium.At 35, will he go around again or leave on high?"I don't know, I don't know. I'll go through preseason and see how I go. We might have to go back to back, hopefully."Co-captain Mitch Krause had told those around him that this was his last game. But you never say never. Mitch was savouring the shield and not letting it go."They will have to kill me to get this out of my hands," he said with a grin. "It's been a big 18 hours post-game, but it's starting to sink in. It's a good feeling. We worked super hard for it, so it's well deserved. Great coaching staff, great team. Yeah, never in doubt, really."It never felt like we were going to lose. We were in control the whole time when we turned them away for those nine sets. Like, if they didn't score then, they weren't going to. It was a good defensive effort. We're a defensive team, but we can score points. So, yes, a good mixture."The 22 years between Grand Final wins is not lost on Mitch."My old man was the last captain. He won the premiership in 2003, so this means a lot. This town's been through a lot, so has the club. We played at Oakes with no sheds, no hot water, no lights for like, a year and a half. So, man, there's been some dark days. But, we got here, mate. It feels good. It's just hard to believe, really, it is honestly hard to believe that it has actually happened."I think I'll end on a high. It's all well and good to be, like, one more year, one more year, but you play to win premierships. I won my first one. Yeah, two would be nice, but nothing's promised. I'll see how I feel in January. You never know, you never know."For now, I won one with my best mate, Paul O'Neill, job done."The other Co-Captain, Paul O'Neil Jr, has also been training and playing for a decade to get to this moment, and it is a sweet reward."Every year you set out to, obviously, achieve that goal. We've been at it a long time, and it's great to finally get a result. You've got a lot of people, over a long period of time, that have been around and through the club that just stuck at it and kept the club alive. And, days like yesterday, you have this surreal feeling. So, it's been great."Lismore itself has always been a really strong sporting town, but obviously rugby league as well. So it's good. The town itself has been through a lot in the last few years, so this is something that everyone can celebrate a little bit, enjoy themselves and have a good time. Paul is one of the older Rams playing group who will be putting the boots on again in 2026."I'll have another run around. I love footy, so I'll just keep doing it as long as I can. The body side of things is all good. It's just time. You know, family, business, all that kind of thing takes a little bit more out of your life these days. But, I'll try and do it as long as I can."Anyone who knows about the Marist Brothers Rams knows Benny the Ram. He's been involved with the club for about 30 years, is the number one fan and has been waiting 22 years for this Premiership."My heart was racing, but we got there in the end. It's been a great feeling for us. I'm very stoked about our win. I just want to keep it going," Benny told the Lismore App. "We can go back to back and get quite a few wins." With the Lismore Rams playing group so young, and some of the older players going around again, there is talk of going back-to-back."I guess so, obviously, that discussion will happen over the next week or so, where we're at and what we want to do," Coach Darryl Butcher said. "There's a couple of our coaching staff that won't go again, but, you know, we're not just going to win one and be done. We're going to put together some guys and go forward and keep these guys succeeding and the club succeeding."For now, the Rams players, family, friends and the city can celebrate a win that shows further signs that Lismore is looking ahead and ready for growth.

Lismore CBD safety and its impact on the local business community have been hot topics of discussion for the last six months.There has been a call to reestablish the PACER (Police Ambulance and Clinical Early Response) program, so those who need medical care can be diagnosed on the spot and taken to the appropriate facility. Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, has confirmed that the Northern NSW Local Health District is once again recruiting for the PACER Clinician position.“PACER is a unique collaboration between Health, Police and Ambulance, placing a mental health clinician within the local police command to assist in responding to mental health emergencies,” Ms Saffin said. “This program plays a vital role in supporting police officers when they encounter individuals experiencing mental health crises. “The PACER Clinician is a Clinical Nurse Consultant Grade 2 attached to the Richmond Police Command at Lismore Police Station.“This is something that I successfully lobbied to have in our region years ago, and the first PACER clinician started in July 2023.  “Unfortunately, after the clinician left in December 2023, the Local Health District said it faced challenges in recruiting a suitable replacement. “The funding is there for the position.“When I learned that active recruitment had been paused for some time, I pushed for the position to be advertised as a matter of urgency.“This is a role that both the community and local police value highly. The clinician will work directly with police, providing expert assessment and intervention in mental health emergencies. It’s a demanding position, but for the right candidate, it offers a chance to make a meaningful impact.”Applications for the position closed last week.

Australians are nearly five times more likely to prepare for a holiday than for a weather-related disaster, and with high-risk months fast approaching, almost a third of Aussies confess they are not prepared at all for a potential disaster, according to a September poll.The new independent research from Australia Post reveals that when disaster strikes, more than a quarter of Australians say they would turn to Mum first, closely followed by Dad. And when it comes to nominating a ‘household hero’ to create the emergency plan, nearly three in ten households chose Mum, while one in five nominate Dad.  Every day, and during EmergencyRedi week in particular, Australian Red Cross works to remind all Northern Rivers residents of the value in being prepared if disaster strikes. Look out for a 'Prepare' flyer in your letterbox this week, it will be one of 4 million delivered by Australia Post to high-risk areas throughout the country that are likely to be impacted by disaster to raise awareness and drive action. The flyer includes practical and simple tips to help Australians become disaster-ready.Australia Post General Manager of Community & Stakeholder Engagement, Nicky Tracey, said Australia Post’s presence in regional and remote communities allows it to play a unique role in supporting Australians to build their disaster resilience."Our network covers all remote corners of Australia, which means our team members see the impacts of disasters in their communities firsthand.“Our partnership with Australian Red Cross is part of our commitment to Australian communities. Together, we’ve raised vital funds via our Post Offices to support Australians impacted by disaster, as well as building awareness and sharing important information on disaster preparedness.“We know that planning ahead can reduce the impact of an emergency on families and communities, which is why we are working closely with Australian Red Cross to urge people to take the necessary steps to prepare,” Ms Tracey said.The research also highlights what Aussies think the single most essential items to pack in an emergency bag:Important documents such as passports and IDs came out on top, chosen by nearly one in three Australians.First aid kits and water followed closely, with medication also ranking highly.Interestingly, technology like phone chargers was seen as more critical than food, emphasising the importance of staying connected in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. If forced to leave home in just five minutes, more than a third of Aussies said the first thing they would grab is their phone. Pets came a close second, with nearly three in ten saying they’d prioritise taking their furry friends, while one in five would reach for their wallet.Recognising how vital it is to stay connected during emergencies, Australia Post and Australian Red Cross are encouraging Australians to get prepared by completing the co-developed Disaster Quiz on the Australian Red Cross website, with the chance to win an Emergency Radio Torch.With power outages common during disasters, the solar-powered device helps people stay informed through emergency radio updates. The device also acts as a torch and keeps phones charged when they’re needed most.Since 2019, the Australian Red Cross and Australia Post have collaborated to support communities across Australia in building disaster resilience. In 2023, the partnership expanded to support Australian Red Cross’ Pillowcase workshops, an education program for primary school students in high-risk areas. The program teaches children practical skills such as what to pack in their ‘Pillowcase’ emergency kit, as well as how to manage the thoughts and feelings that can arise before, during and after a disaster.Together with Australian Red Cross, Australia Post is encouraging Australians to:Complete the Disaster QuizCreate a household emergency planPack a household emergency kitStart conversations with family members about the importance of being prepared. To take the first step, visit redcross.org.au/prepare.To support Australians impacted by disaster, Australia Post is accepting donations to Australian Red Cross at participating Post Offices or online at auspost.com.au/disaster.

Classic car owners and enthusiasts are in for a treat this Wednesday (17 September) at Humbley Park, corner of Brewster and Uralba Streets in the CBD, when a replica 1925 Citroen stops in Lismore on its way around Australia.In 1925, a small Citroën, nicknamed Bubsie, driven by Nevill Westwood, made history by being the first car to travel right around Australia. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of this historic journey, a group of people funded by the Incredible Journey ministry is replicating the record-breaking trip after restoring a tribute car.Classic car owners from Lismore and the Northern Rivers are asked to bring their classic car along to Humbley Park (opposite the Lismore Square) between 10am and 12noon on Wednesday for an informal car show."If you own a classic car, bring it along to meet Bubsie and be admired alongside her. Entry is free," said local Lynne Waldron."There will also be an after-work display between 6pm and 7pm at the Lismore Seventh-day Adventist Church, 44 Uralba St, Lismore. The evening will finish with a 7pm presentation "Record-breakers", telling Nevill Westwood's story. All are welcome."The Right Around Australia website says:Imagine a world without highways, bridges, or even road signs. No GPS, no mobile phone, no internet. Just a tattered map, a trusty car, and Australia’s vast, untamed landscape. In 1925, two ordinary men, Nevill Westwood and Greg Davies, dared to dream of driving a car right around this incredible continent. Their Citroën 5CV, “Bubsie,” became their companion on this epic adventure, battling scorching heat, mechanical breakdowns, and the sheer isolation of the outback.Nevill Westwood and Greg Davies were two ordinary men with an extraordinary dream, dared to drive a car right around Australia. Their Citroën 5CV, “Bubsie,” became their companion, their lifeline, their ticket to history. They faced scorching heat, mechanical breakdowns, and the sheer isolation of the outback. But their shared laughter, stories, and unwavering support fueled them on. They hoped to inspire others with their journey, sharing stories and books of faith and resilience. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of their historic drive, we’re reliving their adventure, telling their story, and celebrating the courage it took to conquer a continent and the enduring human spirit that makes dreams a reality.(Nevill Westwood and Greg Davies In Perth at the finish of the Right Around Australia journey)The story goes that Nevill bought the second-hand 1923 5CV Citroen in Perth. He named the little car Bubsie and left Perth with his friend, Greg Davies, on 4 August 1925, on his trip around Australia. The original Bubsie can be seen in the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. Check out the replica Citroen journey 100 years later, this Wednesday at Humbley Park between 10 and 12noon as they pause for a night in Lismore before continuing Right Around Australia.

There were two confidential items that were voted on during last week's Lismore City Council meeting. One was to engage a company that specialises in geotechnical support, GHD, to provide professional services for the Flood Restoration portfolio over the two years to the value of $1.978 million. The other was around a new landfill development project.As most Lismore App readers would know, Council has been shipping its landfill waste to Ipswich in Queensland, as have most other local councils, since the 2022 big flood. The damage caused to Cell 2B, the active landfill waste disposal cell at the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre at Wyrallah, was fatal until it could be assessed and repaired.Lismore City Council has said the consistent wet weather has hindered any progress towards reopening Cell 2B."The process of drying out the cell has been a significant challenge, taking over three years due to the region's heavy rainfall. On numerous occasions, the cell was nearly fully drained, only to be refilled by another downpour, such as during Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March," a Lismore City Council spokesperson told the Lismore App.  "Continued wet weather since March 2025 has been an ongoing challenge for Council and our Contractor (Pentacon), with works continuing to progress despite weather challenges."Construction company Pentacon was awarded the contract in June for Landfill Cell 2B Main Restoration Works.Council said that works undertaken have included restoration of the cell liner, and installation of new pumps, collection pipework and drainage aggregate throughout the cell to support effective drainage and removal of leachate. The project is on track for completion by December 2025, which is three months ahead of schedule. So, Lismore City Council could be in a position to look after its own landfill waste once again by the end of the year.Once reinstated, Landfill Cell 2B is expected to reach its capacity in 7-10 years, so by 2032 – 2035. This leads us back to last Tuesday's Lismore council meeting.The confidential session on 12.2 was entitled: New Landfill Development ProjectThat Council progress the Landfill Development Project to concept design and business case development, including: a) further technical studies and investigations b) direct consultation with key stakeholders c) engagement with councils through the Northern Rivers Joint OrganisationThe vote was 7/3, with Cr Hall absent. Against were Councillors Guise, Jensen and Waters.Back in December 2024, Lismore City Council Chief Operating Officer Brendan Logan told the Talking Lismore podcast that Blakebrook Quarry was one of those options being explored.At the time, it was said that Blakebrook Quarry is much larger than Wyrallah Road and could lead to regional solutions if the opportunity arose.“Any decision would need to consider environmental constraints and the capacity to accommodate a waste facility and quarry operations simultaneously,” Mr Logan said at the time.The Northern Rivers seven councils, that is, the Local Government Areas of Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed, have traditionally operated independently, even with the formation of the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation (NRJO) in 2018. The rule of thumb has been every council for itself.The NRJO is designed to facilitate collaboration between local councils and the NSW Government to deliver initiatives that matter most to regional communities. They represent a commitment to collaborate in the long term to develop and support a shared vision for the region.The February 28 2022, big flood may have just been the tipping point for the seven councils to actually put into practice what their intentions are.Blakebrook Quarry may well be a regional solution for the Northern Rivers waste problem. Time will tell.

A man has died following last night's motorcycle crash in East Lismore.About 7.40pm today (Sunday, 14 September 2025), emergency services were called to Ballina Road, East Lismore, following reports a motorcycle had left the road and crashed into a tree.Officers attached to Richmond Police District commenced CPR on the rider, a 30-year-old man, before he was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, he died at the scene.He is yet to be formally identified.Police established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the crash.A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.As inquiries continue, anyone with information into the crash or dashcam footage is urged to contact police or Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.Road closures remain in place and the public should expect delays and allow extra travel time.Please monitor livetraffic.com for updates: https://www.livetraffic.com/incident-details/249525.Live Traffic was reporting Ballina Road closed in both directions at 11:21pm on Sunday night.

UPDATE: 11:14PMBallina Road remains closed in both directions.Lismore App reader Alan has got in touch about the closure of Ballina Road at East Lismore in both directions following a motorcycle accident.Live Traffic says the incident began at 7:48pm is between Diadem Street and Dibbs Street/Kellas Street.Eastbound closed at Diadem Street, westbound at Kellas Street.Emergency services and Transport for NSW are in attendance.Local diversions are in place for light vehicles. Heavy vehicles are being parked.More to come.

The number of overdue surgeries has fallen dramatically in the Northern NSW Local Health District from 1606 in June 2022 to 194 in June 2025, a drop of 88 per cent.  Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin MP said the NSW Government has invested more than $200 million over the past year to further reduce the number of patients waiting longer than clinically recommended for planned surgeries.  “Since the establishment of NSW Surgical Care Governance Taskforce in 2023, a range of innovative statewide strategies have been implemented to cut down wait times as well as improve and maintain access to planned surgery.  “This includes the expansion of same-day surgery across NSW.   “The Surgical Care Strategic Committee is continuing the work of the Taskforce to ensure public hospital surgical services in NSW are sustainable and patients can continue to access the care they need in the recommended timeframes.  “I thank local staff for delivering these significant improvements, and I note that the Northern NSW Local Health District results are above the state average,” Ms Saffin said. “While these improvements are promising, there is still more to be done, and we don’t want to see anyone waiting longer than they need for life-changing surgery.”

Legislation to strengthen protections for victim-survivors of sexual abuse and toughen penalties for perpetrators has passed NSW Parliament.The suite of amendments to the Crimes Act 1900, which passed the upper house last night, includes ensuring offenders who either sexually assault someone or indecently interfere with their body after death cannot escape prosecution if the time of death is unknown.The state government thanked the families of Mona Lisa and Jacinta Rose “Cindy” Smith for their tireless advocacy for this reform following their tragic deaths in 1987.Under the amendment, when it is beyond reasonable doubt that one of these two crimes occurred, but it is uncertain which due to the timing of death, the accused will be sentenced according to whichever offence has the lesser maximum penalty.Previously, they would have gone unpunished. The reform is in direct response to the 2024 coronial findings into the girls’ deaths.Other amendments to the Crimes Act, which passed the Legislative Council on Thursday, bring NSW into line with other jurisdictions and respond to gaps in existing legislation including:Raising the threshold for the definition of ‘child’ from 16 to 18 years for child abuse material offences in line with Commonwealth offences.Strengthening laws criminalising female genital mutilation, ensuring they are in line with community expectations. The amendments clearly state that female genital mutilation is a crime regardless of the reason, motivation or age of the victim, while ensuring medically necessary practices are protected.Making it easier to prosecute people who commit sexual acts in the presence of children with improper intent because of the presence of the child.This passage of the Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences and Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2025 is part of the NSW Government’s work to build a safer NSW where women and children are protected and perpetrators held to account. Previous reforms include:Making it harder than ever for alleged domestic violence offenders to get bail.Introducing electronic monitoring for alleged serious domestic violence offenders.Strengthening laws to protect against repeated breaches of ADVOs.Making changes to bail courts across New South Wales to ensure bail decisions are made by magistrates and judges – not registers. Attorney General Michael Daley said, ”It is not acceptable for a perpetrator to escape accountability because of a legal technicality.“The passage of this important legislation means the historical injustice inflicted upon the families of Mona and Cindy will never be repeated.“It strengthens protections for victim-survivors while making it easier to hold the perpetrators of sexual violence to account.” Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison, said, “These changes are an important part of the Government’s work to strengthen protections for women and children, as well as holding perpetrators to account for acts of sexual violence.“We are working with stakeholders and advocates to make sure victim-survivors get the protections and support they deserve.”

Food trucks, outdoor fitness trainers and other mobile businesses will be rescued from red tape that stops them moving easily across local council boundaries to do business. Under the new Mutual Recognition Scheme, councils can recognise each other’s approvals for mobile businesses. Once mobile businesses have approval to operate in one council area, they may request recognition across multiple LGAs, without needing to duplicate the process for each new council area.Until now, a mobile business wanting to move from one park or street to another, that happens to be in a different LGA, would face multiple new forms, waiting periods and application fees in each council area. Now, a food truck providing an environmental impact statement, food safety plans, and business registration would only need to submit that detailed information once.Councils will have the discretion to not recognise approvals from other councils if they don’t want to, but they are encouraged to take advantage of the new scheme, which includes the ability to require local conditions to be met.This is the latest push from the NSW Government to cut red tape and costs in order to boost vibrancy across NSW. Outdoor operators, including food trucks, market stalls, buskers and fitness trainers, play an important role in boosting vibrancy and economic activity. This reform will reduce their administrative burden and allow them to meet demand where it exists.This responds to this week’s NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner’s Review of regulatory barriers impeding a vibrant 24-hour economy, which recommends further reduction in red tape to unlock vibrancy across the state.The Mutual Recognition Scheme builds on the following vibrancy reforms under the Minns Labor Government including supporting more than 20 local councils planning Special Entertainment Precincts, ending single serial noise complaints, extending trading hours for venues that host live entertainment, reducing red tape around entertainment and outdoor spaces, scrapping the 5km sign in rule at clubs and rolling out $14.9 million in Uptown Grants to support entertainment hubs. Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said, “Mobile businesses should be mobile, not stuck in unnecessary red tape that stops them moving across imaginary lines.“This is another classic example of unnecessary rules getting in the way of fun and economic activity. We’re on a mission to cut this kind of red tape wherever we find it.“These mobile businesses bring colour and life to our streets, they bring people together and allow businesses to meet changing trends and behaviours. Mutual Recognition is about allowing them to do that without burying them in admin. “Councils are our key partners in the vibrancy agenda – so we’re happy to also ease their paperwork burden through this reform.”Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said, “Councils play an important role in building community connections and making public spaces open and inviting to all. “We should be doing what we can to encourage this and that’s why the government has introduced the Mutual Recognition Scheme.  “For mobile businesses, it means fewer hoops to jump through with council approvals. For councils, it means less paperwork with the added benefit of making it easier to run events and activate public spaces.“The scheme has been designed in close consultation with councils to be flexible and adaptive to local needs.”

Since its establishment by the NSW Government in February 2025, the NSW Rental Taskforce has recovered more than $166,000 in unlawful fees for more than 2,000 renters, issued more than 200 penalty notices totalling just shy of $240,000, and conducted 300 property inspections to check compliance with minimum standards.During that time, the Taskforce also commenced more than 300 investigations, with more than 80 currently ongoing and three court proceedings resulting in the successful prosecution of two people for rental bond fraud. To mark the six months since its inception, the NSW Rental Taskforce is unveiling a new automated compliance monitoring tool which detects unlawful re-letting in near real time.The system began operating in July and uses advanced data-matching to track more than 950,000 rental properties across NSW, cross-referencing landlord reports, rental listings, bond lodgements and tenant complaints.In its first two months, the tool flagged 21 potential breaches of re-letting exclusion periods, which were escalated for further investigation, while more than 2000 properties were added to a watchlist for ongoing compliance monitoring.The intelligence-led approach ensures resources are focused on the highest-risk cases while reducing the burden on compliant landlords and agents, forming part of a broader suite of data-driven initiatives introduced by NSW Fair Trading to strengthen transparency and accountability in the rental market.This includes mandatory landlord reporting on reasons they have ended a lease, end-of-tenancy surveys integrated into the bond claim process, and the popular Rent Check website, which has attracted more than 330,000 visits since launching in September 2024.Education has also been a key focus, with renter awareness of their rights and new laws rising from 33 per cent to 80 per cent during the corresponding education campaign period, bolstered by almost 60 stakeholder events, targeted outreach to Aboriginal and multicultural communities and a surge in website traffic from 35,000 to 330,000 monthly visits.The Government has invested $8.4 million across four years to strengthen compliance and enforcement in the rental market through the Rental Taskforce in NSW Fair Trading.Led by the NSW Rental Commissioner, the 21-person multidisciplinary team includes 14 frontline inspectors dedicated to monitoring and enforcing rental laws, improving transparency, and protecting renters.NSW Fair Trading is committed to protecting renters and ensuring a fair, transparent rental market through strong enforcement and education. To learn more about its compliance and enforcement priorities, please visit: www.nsw.gov.au/fair-trading/compliance-priorities.Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said, “The Taskforce’s results in the first six months speak for themselves – from refunding over $166,000 in illegal fees, to issuing nearly $240,000 in fines, to driving 99 per cent compliance on rent bidding and pet advertising, it is delivering real benefits for renters across the state.“We’re using data and innovation to make compliance easier for honest operators while cracking down on those who break the rules. This is about creating a fairer, more transparent rental market for everyone in NSW.“This new automated tool ensures landlords and agents follow the law by harnessing technology to detect unlawful re-letting in real time so swift action can be taken to protect renters from unfair practices.”NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones said, “NSW Fair Trading’s intelligence-led approach means the highest-risk breaches are targeted quickly and effectively, rather than relying on complaints alone. This is smarter regulation in action.“We’ve seen renter awareness jump from 33 to 80 per cent, and that’s critical to making sure people know their rights and where to access help when they need it.“With more than 2200 properties under active monitoring and only 1.1 per cent requiring investigation, instruments like the re-letting tool mean as regulators we can have a greater focus on problem areas without burdening compliant landlords and agents.”

“Moving and inspiring.”  “A beautiful blend of old and new. The connection to land and history is strong and wonderfully presented.”  “Such a beautiful, powerful, and educational exhibition. Curated beautifully and proudly. Amazing work.” These are just a few of the reflections shared by visitors to Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali Exhibition, a touring exhibition that has stirred audiences in Grafton and Tweed Heads. Now, the exhibition will conclude its celebrated regional tour at Lismore Regional Gallery, opening today (13 September).  A major cultural homecoming, the exhibition brings together nine ancestral woven objects—returned to Country from the Australian Museum—with ten newly commissioned works by contemporary Bundjalung, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr and Kamilaroi (Gamilaroi) artists. For many visitors, it offers a rare opportunity to connect with ancestral belongings made by their grandmothers, great-grandmothers and Elders.   Curated by Bundjalung artist Kylie Caldwell and presented by Arts Northern Rivers, the project is a continuation of cultural reclamation, collective storytelling and community care.   “The Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali Exhibition, a unique and unprecedented local Bundjalung exhibition that celebrates women's stories from ancient to contemporary forms, is sadly on its last leg of the tour,” says Caldwell.“It is the last chance to see the outstanding, dexterous skills of our Bundjalung ancestral weavers. We are impressed with the warm embrace from both Grafton and Tweed Heads community members, whose strong support and appreciation have been instrumental in making this exhibition a success.” Lismore Regional Gallery Director Ashleigh Ralph adds, “Welcoming the Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali Exhibition to Lismore feels like the closing of a circle. As the final stop on its powerful journey across Bundjalung Country, this exhibition offers our community a meaningful opportunity to engage with cultural knowledge that is both ancestral and present. We are honoured to host these significant works—held in the care of the Australian Museum—and through them, reflect on resilience, memory, and the enduring strength of living culture.”   The exhibition features artists Bindimu, Casino Wake Up Time, Janelle Duncan, Madeleine Grace, Lauren Jarrett, Tania Marlowe, Bianca Monaghan, Krystal Randall, Rhoda Roberts AO, Kyra Togo, and Margaret Torrens, each contributing a contemporary fibre work that draws from ancient traditions while speaking to present-day identity and connection to Country.   The Lismore season also arrives at a moment of momentum for several of the exhibiting artists. Curator Kylie Caldwell has recently been selected by the Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance (ARAA) as one of five leading regional artists to present at the 2025 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF). This marks a significant moment of national recognition not only for Caldwell herself, but also for NSW First Nations artists more broadly, as ARAA and the Aboriginal Culture, Heritage & Arts Association (ACHAA) bring a strong NSW Mob presence to DAAF for the first time.   Meanwhile, exhibiting artist Bindimu is presenting her first solo exhibition, NUMBUH, at Lone Goat Gallery in Byron Bay (16 August – 13 September). This striking new body of work extends her exploration of woven forms, culture and connection to place. For the Lismore iteration of Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali Exhibition, Bindimu has also created a new sound work; Ngali Yanbala – a sonic reflection of weaving that sings the ancestral objects home, featuring sounds of gathering fibres and weaving on country, as an ode to the skills passed down from Bundjalung foremothers.    Among the works on display are Slumber Party 2022, a collaborative piece by Casino Wake Up Time originally commissioned by the 23rd Biennale of Sydney and Create Australia, as well as their newly completed public woven artwork at Gold Coast Airport.  Lismore-based arts and cultural leader Rhoda Roberts AO describes weaving as more than an artform, but a continuum. A practicing weaver, festival director, curator, writer and broadcaster, Roberts has also contributed a work to the exhibition. Her piece, Continuous Persistence, is made from Lomandra grass harvested on Country.“Weaving is more than art; it’s an essence of the circular rhythm, something continuous, crafted from the provisions of Country,” Roberts says.(Continuous Persistence, Rhoda Roberts AO. Photo: Chloe Van Dorp)Extending this practice into the public realm, Roberts will join Aunty Janelle Duncan and Tania Marlowe to lead a weaving workshop during the exhibition opening event, inviting the community to experience the ancient practice firsthand.  The Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali Exhibition and accompanying book are a community-led project that honours First Nations women’s weaving traditions and cultural reclamation. Roy Gordan was instrumental in providing Bundjalung Language translation associated with weaving throughout the publication, giving the title of both the book and the exhibition, and a glossary of words for language continuation.By sharing interwoven stories across three regional galleries, the exhibition plays a vital role in preserving and celebrating an unbroken lineage of ancestral knowledge.  

Residents across the Northern Rivers are being invited to shape the region's first Disaster Adaptation Plan through a series of community workshops that bring local voices into natural hazard risk reduction decisions.The What Matters Most workshops will be delivered by Living Lab Northern Rivers with the NSW Reconstruction Authority across the region in September and October.As locals know, the Northern Rivers has one of the highest natural hazard risk profiles statewide, regularly experiencing floods, storms, bushfires and coastal erosion. The recent flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred served as a reminder of the urgency of proactive disaster planning, with the changing climate expected to intensify future disasters.The NSW Government is calling on the community to be part of the development of a comprehensive Disaster Adaptation Plan (DAP), to reduce risks from these disasters and better prepare for natural hazards in the Northern Rivers. The plan will include an analysis of the region’s exposure and vulnerability to natural hazards now and into the future, as well as actions to reduce risks where we can and adapt if we can’t.  Living Lab Northern Rivers - a partnership between the NSW Government, the University of Technology Sydney and Southern Cross University – will lead the workshops so residents can share what they value most about their communities, what concerns them, and what priorities should guide the region's future.These insights will inform both short and long-term actions to reduce future risks. At the same time, expressions of interest are being sought from the community to join a 40-person community reference group to help shape the Northern Rivers DAP.The What Matters Most public workshops are being held in Murwillumbah, Grafton, Mullumbimby, and Lismore (Thursday, October 16). These free workshops welcome all residents, with accessibility requirements accommodated.Workshop Details:Registration is essential due to limited places. Residents can register at llnr.com.au or by contacting livinglabnr@scu.edu.au or 02 6626 9188.Find out more about the Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation Plan at https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/northern-rivers-dap.Minister for Recovery and North Coast Janelle Saffin said, “Our region has lived through the devastation that disasters such as floods can cause, and now is the time for our community to plan for a resilient future. “We need to shift the dial and focus on adaptation and resilience to ensure our communities are better prepared for and can recover faster from disasters. “Government can’t do it alone; we need community insight and leadership to adapt to future risk. “I encourage the community to share their stories and knowledge as we create the first-ever Disaster Adaptation Plan for the Northern Rivers.” Living Lab Northern Rivers Engagement Director Dan Etheridge said, "Sometimes what communities care most about isn't what the data suggests they should worry about most.“The methodology behind the workshops is entirely new—designed specifically for this planning process after extensive research found no existing tools for systematically mapping community place-based values.”Resilient Lismore Maddy Braddon said, “It's important that community members have inclusive opportunities to genuinely engage with decision making that directly impacts us and where we live.” 

Homelessness has been an ongoing issue not just in Lismore and the Northern Rivers, but around the country as the housing crisis continues to affect Australians.This week, the NSW Government made finding emergency housing or applying for social or key worker housing easier with a major digital project bringing all the information people need into one place under the Homes NSW banner on the nsw.gov.au website.Homes NSW delivers quality homes and services that change lives, end homelessness and support more than 260,000 people in social housing across the state.The new easy-to-use tools include a housing office finder and allocation zone locator to determine where people can apply for social housing, as well as a social housing building projects finder, to locate where Homes NSW is delivering new social and affordable housing across NSW.Users can expect a smoother experience with simplified content and better accessibility, such as an embedded translation tool that can instantly translate pages into more than 70 different languages, supporting a diverse range of social housing tenants, of which 23 per cent were born overseas.It also makes the process of paying rent, lodging maintenance requests or providing feedback more straightforward.To access the new Homes NSW website visit: www.nsw.gov.au/homes-nswThe digital transformation helps deliver on the NSW Government’s Digital Inclusion Strategy – an all-of-government approach to help enhance the community’s digital ability, affordability, accessibility, connectivity, and trust and safety.Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said, “People accessing this information are often going through some of the most difficult circumstances of their lives.“I am proud that we are removing some of the stress for those doing it tough by making it easier to get the information they need through simple to access and easy to read web pages all in one place.“Homes NSW’s move to nsw.gov.au is part of our government’s commitment to deliver accessible, inclusive, secure and integrated digital services for everyone in NSW, regardless of age, ability, background or circumstance.”Housing and Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson said, “When we brought housing and homelessness services together under Homes NSW, we committed to making the system more efficient and accessible – this digital transformation is proof of that.“Rather than trawling through multiple different websites, you can now head to the Homes NSW website for everything from emergency housing and maintenance information to design guides for our project partners.”

This weekend's weather is a mixed bag, with shower or two for Saturday and a partly cloudy Sunday.The maximum temperatures will be rising with 21 and 23 degrees respectively, as they head towards a warm 27/28 degrees for Tuesday and Wednesday.We will still feel the early morning cold, with 7/8 degrees; however, this will also start to rise early next week.Conditions will be perfect for the finals sporting action around Lismore this weekend.Netball finals are on at the Marie Mackney Courts on Ballina Road. Football Far North Coast Men's and Women's Premier League Grand Finals will be played at Oakes Oval, with South Lismore taking on Byron Bay in the Men's on Saturday night from 6:15pm and the Women's on Sunday afternoon from 12:15.In the NRRRL Grand Final, the Marist Brothers Rams play their first GF in 21 years at Crozier Field on Sunday from 3:15pm when they take on Murwillumbah. Two other local teams will also play in a Grand Final; the Marist Brothers Rams Ladies League Tag and the Northern United Women's Tackle Team.Good luck to all the local Lismore teams.The Jiggi Spring Fair is on at the Jiggi Hall tomorrow (Saturday) from 11am until late.Get along for a day of arts & crafts, a white elephant stall, heritage display, flowers & produce, raffles & auctions, music & open mic, food & drinks, including a bar and loads more.For those looking to extend their fitness following the Darrel Chapman Fun Run two weeks ago, the Alstonville Wollongbar Fun Run is on Sunday morning from 7am starting at the Alstonville High School. There are multiple options, depending on your fitness; 10km, 5km, 3km and a 1km junior dash.A Community Hub will be held with market stalls at the same time.MARKETSThe Lismore Farmers Markets swing into action from 7:30am tomorrow morning (Saturday) with fresh fruit & vegetables, flowers, seedlings, coffee/tea and breakfast and live music from John Trapp.The Channon Craft Markets is a nice way to spend part of your Sunday at Coronation Park. You can wander through the stalls, enjoy live music, and treat yourself to delicious food while supporting our incredible local makers, bakers, and growers until 3pm.ARTThe Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali exhibition …we weave together, has its official opening tomorrow at the Lismore Regional Gallery.In this exhibition, nine ancestral woven objects held in the Australian Museum collection will return to Country for Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali ...we weave together. These historic pieces stand alongside ten newly commissioned works by contemporary Bundjalung, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, and Kamilaroi (Gamilaroi) artists, who have drawn from their great-grandmothers’ wisdom to breathe new life into ancient weaving traditions. Featuring Bindimu, Casino Wake Up Time, Janelle Duncan, Madeleine Grace, Lauren Jarrett, Tania Marlowe, Bianca Monaghan, Krystal Randall, Rhoda Roberts AO, Kyra Togo and Margaret Torrens. (Continuous Persistence, Rhoda Roberts AO, credit Chloe Van Dorp)Curated by Kylie Caldwell. This touring exhibition is an Arts Northern Rivers project, in partnership with Grafton Regional Gallery and presented by Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, and Lismore Regional Gallery.The Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali exhibition will run until November 9, 2025.COMING UPNimbin Show - Saturday and Sunday, September 20 & 212025 Lismore Workers Club Lismore Cup - Friday, September 26, from 12 noonDaylight Saving Time starts Sunday, October 42025 Lismore Show Thursday, October 16LIVE MUSICThe Northern Rivers Hotel in North Lismore has Fox Hat on stage from 7pm on Saturday night.Next Wednesday at the Lismore Heights Sports Club David Mitchell has some stand-up comedy between 11am and 1:30pm. $35 gives you a laugh and lunch.There are two major nights coming up at the Lismore Workers Club in September and October:Oh What A Night! - A musical tribute to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons: September 20 at 8pmThe Flying Forties - Penny Pavlakis, Greg Gould and friends celebrate the music of Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole and more with their 9-piece big band: October 4 at 8pm.CHEAPEST FUEL PRICESLismore saw a small increase in fuel prices this week. As usual, Ballina is still the cheapest town to fill the tank over the weekend, especially if you are there after 8pm, when prices tend to drop another 10 cents a litre.Here is the list of the cheapest service stations, saving you the most money in each town:E10 is 176.9 at the EG on Diadem Street near Lismore Square and Coles Express on Dawson Street, 172.3 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 165.5 at the Mobil and The Metro on River Street, Ballina.Unleaded 91 is 174.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, 174.3 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 167.5 at the Metro and the Mobil on River Street, Ballina.U95 is 184.5 at Brad's Independent on Terania Street, North Lismore, 198.9 at the EG Ampol on Canterbury Street, and 179.5 at The Metro on River Street, Ballina.U98 is 194.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, 194.9 at the two Independents on Hare and Centre Street in Casino, and 187.5 at The Metro on River Street in Ballina.Diesel is 180.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road in Lismore, 181.9 at The United and the Casino Roadhouse on Johnston Street, and the two Liberty's on Hare and Centre Street in Casino, and 185.9 at the EG Ampol at 44 Pacific Hwy in Ballina.Have a great weekend!Now, have a laugh with the Friday Funnies.....

Dementia is now the leading cause of death for Australians, according to the latest update of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) Dementia in Australia report.  The update, which was released today, also found that without a significant intervention, the number of Australians living with dementia will exceed 1 million by 2065. Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said the report, released in the lead-up to Dementia Action Week (15-21 September), reveals the enormous impact dementia has on Australian families. “These figures highlight just how many families are impacted by dementia across Australia. Most of us know someone who is or has been impacted by dementia,” Professor Buchanan said. “People affected by dementia often tell us that friends and family drift away after a diagnosis, because they are unsure of how to interact.   “That’s why the theme for this year’s Dementia Action Week – which starts on Monday 15 September - is ‘Nobody can do it alone’. We are challenging Australians to reconnect with someone impacted by dementia to help combat the high levels of social isolation many experience.” Dementia Australia Dementia Advocate Lil Mirtl, who lives with dementia, said the report highlighted how important it was to act now to provide the support and services for people living with dementia.   “We don’t have time to feel uncomfortable or awkward about these conversations about dementia – we need to have them now.” “We have to pull together as a community to do this. We can’t do it alone as individuals, the government can’t do it alone, we need to all act together.” The update to the Dementia in Australia report also revealed that 43 per cent of the dementia burden in Australia can be attributed to six modifiable risk factors: being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure in midlife, smoking and impaired kidney function. "With dementia now the leading cause of death for Australians it is more pressing than ever that the federal government commit to funding a national conversation on dementia to raise awareness and promote brain health at all ages,” Professor Buchanan said. “By taking a comprehensive approach to addressing dementia, we can reduce the impact of dementia into the future. With aged care across the country already under pressure, and the number of people living with dementia expected to exceed 1 million by 2065, we simply cannot afford to wait. We call on the government to take decisive action. People living with dementia, their families and carers are depending on us to do this right, and to do it now.” Visit dementia.org.au/dementiaactionweek to access a range of resources and information to support Australians to reconnect with someone impacted by dementia.  

Most of this weekend, Lismore will be outdoors barracking for their favourite sporting team as Finals Fever reaches its peak for the 2025 winter sports season.The Lismore netball courts on Ballina Road will be full as the finals continue. The Football Far North Coast Men's Premier League Grand Final is at Oakes Oval on Saturday between arch rivals Byron Bay and the South Lismore Celtics, with kick-off at 6:15pm. The Women's Premier League Grand Final will be played on Sunday (September 14) at Oakes Oval from 12:15pm between Pottsville Beach and Lennox Head.In the NRRRL, the Marist Brothers Rams' first Grand Final in 21 years is prompting local businesses to show their support, with Grand Final signs appearing in many windows or out the front of their premises.JJC in South Lismore, Scoops & Candy on Keen Street, MT&T Tyres on Woodlark Street and La Barraca on Zadoc Street are just a few that are displaying support for the blue and gold in this Sunday's Grand Final match against Cudgen at Crozier Field.Rams coach Darryl Butcher told the Lismore App that the home ground advantage is a huge plus for the players."Huge, huge, it's so big. We're so excited to be here. It's a great field. We love playing here. There were rumours going around that they were trying to move us to Oakes, but we just wanted to be here on Crozier. We've played all of our footy here. There's been some big games around the area on Oakes, but Crozier is what we call home, so why would we abandon it in our biggest game?"We want to be here, and we want to see the hill and the stands and everywhere full and plenty of blue shirts around. We're excited. It's really good just standing here right now, like it's exciting just to picture what this place will be like on Sunday. I'm really excited for the town and our families to get behind us."Darryl said he was proud of the season his players and coaching panel have put together so far."It's been a bit of a three-year journey with the boys; we've built every year. There's a lot of the same lads that have been there since the start of the last three years, and obviously, we've added some key blokes around them, and we've been kicking goals.The Rams are in that sweet spot for a rugby club, with a good balance of older, more experienced players and some strong youth who come through the junior ranks.(The forwards going through their paces in training on Tuesday night at Crozier Field)"A lot of the guys in there are all about 20 years old now, a lot of the young ones that have come through from the juniors, so there's a lot of youth, and then there's some senior guys in there too. There's at least one with his last game, I'd say, and maybe a couple others.Darryl confirmed that Mitch Krause is the player who will call an end to his playing career in the blue and gold on Sunday. Mitch is co-captain with another Rams stalwart, Paul O'Neil Jr. Both would dearly love to hold the NRRRL trophy in front of a large Crozier Field crowd at 5pm on Sunday afternoon."Mitch wanted to hang up his boots last year, but we won him over, got him back in for one more go. He's happy he played this year.(Mitch Krause scoring in the corner for the Rams on Saturday against Bilambil)Mitch's dad, David Krause, won a few premierships with the Marist Brothers Rams, the last in 2003."I spoke with DK today, he was willing to give a few away so we could get one on the weekend. He said he'd give anything to see Mitch, get one this weekend, but you don't always get what you want. But we'll be working hard for it."The good news for Rams supporters is that all players pulled up well from last Saturday's win over Bilambil."I think everyone's fresh, everyone's good to go, everyone's recovered pretty well. We've actually come out better this week than we were a week ago from training. So that's exciting. That's good."This is the first time the Marist Brothers Rams have played in the NRRRL Grand Final. Back in 2003 and 2004, and earlier, the division was split into groups, with the power teams from the north, like Bilambil, Cudgen, Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah playing in Group 18. The only time the two groups (1 and 18) would play each other was in representative games.This makes this Sunday's Grand Final a little sweeter for the first-grade team.Kick-off is 3:15 this Sunday at Crozier Field. Three of the five Grand Final games to be played feature local teams as the Marist Brothers Rams League Tag get the day underway at 9:30am, the Northern United Dirawongs Women's tackle team play Bilambil at 11:50am, and the first-grade team at 3:15pm. In between will be the U18s, Bilambil versus Mullumbimby, and the Reserve Grade at 1:20pm when another Bilambil team takes on Byron Bay.If you only go to one rugby league game this year, make it to Crozier Field this Sunday.

The Lismore App has reported the poor performance of the Lismore Base Hospital's (LBH) Emergency Department for the last two years following the release of the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) latest quarterly statistics.Each release would see LBH's critical benchmark data fall, and when compared to other Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) hospitals, it would consistently sit at the bottom. It was also consistently below the NSW state average.We can happily report that this quarter, there has been a turnaround for the LBH Emergency Department (ED). One of the key areas, Starting ED Treatment on Time, had dropped to 52%; however, this week it had risen to 65.2%, an improvement of 13.2%.It appears as though the plans put in place by NNSWLHD CEO Tracey Maisey and her team last year are paying dividends.It was in September 2024 when we asked Ms Maisey what was being done to turn the hospital's fortunes around. Twelve months later, the Lismore App had another conversation to discover what mechanisms had been put in place and whether they are sustainable."We have groups of clinicians focused on different parts of our flow system, and there's been phenomenal engagement from the teams, medical nursing, allied health, admin, management, they've all been very strongly engaged. This time last year was the beginning of the process, and then we put some things in place, which I'll talk about in a second, and then embedded them over the summer, autumn periods."We've just had another go at putting a new cycle of improvement initiatives in in the last two weeks. We've seen transfer of care results, which is the time it takes to move a patient from an ambulance into an ED, make material improvements, our step change and improvement, and it's all because we have our staff willing and really keen to make improvements to the system that they work in. We've empowered them to do that."We've given them permission, for want of a better description, and it sounds a bit old-fashioned, but we just get on with it. You guys, you know what you're doing. This is your business. You're the experts in this. What can we do to support you? And it's very pleasing."The treatment On Time result was exceptional. Lismore is still a very busy hospital, and we have permanently opened some more beds. But that's not the reason for this. This is all about clinical engagement."To get a clearer understanding of the new patient flow system, we asked Ms Maisey to drill down on the details."We've had some expertise, international expertise. Dr Ian Sturgess, who's a renowned patient flow clinician and geriatrician, has been providing us with some clinical advice and support around our patient flow processes. He's made two visits now to Lismore, and we've created some small clinically led working groups focused on those areas that we most want to improve on. I'll give you some examples."We're really focused on enabling our patients who are clinically suitable to be cared for in their home virtually. It's called Hospital in the Home Service, and so there's been a big focus on that, looking at early intervention around frailty assessment. As you'd appreciate, the average age of our patients is in the older age groups, and so ensuring that we've got really comprehensive frailty assessments early on in their journey, and then education about how to stay safe in the ward and the ED and when they go home. That's the support of the allied health teams; it is pretty critical."We've been looking at the different flow patterns, so different patient groups have estimated lengths of stay that vary. We have an acute assessment unit for those people who just need some more observation. The clinicians aren't sure about sending them home. They want to run a few more diagnostics. That runs in our short-stay unit."And then we have those patients who are admitted for what we call short stay, three to five days. They need stabilising, or they need some medication, or they just need more clinical intervention."The third group are what I would describe as complex elderly, long stay patients that have social needs. They may be waiting for a discharge to a residential aged care facility, or they have behavioural complexities around treatment."I read a statistic the other day that 50% of the patients in residential aged care facilities in northern New South Wales have some level of dementia diagnosis, and yet we don't have anywhere in northern New South Wales for what's called memory-assisted beds. So, we don't have any dementia beds, specialist dementia beds. We've been talking through the Ministry of Health to the Commonwealth Government about that, because, as you'd appreciate, in order to admit people, we need free beds. We need to have beds for those patients to go into."When we have patients in our wards that are better elsewhere, this isn't the right care environment for them, and a busy medical ward with somebody with complex behavioural challenges who can easily get confused, and they acquire different complications. Hospital-acquired delirium or dementia would be one of those. And so we want the person to be in the right place for them, and quite often, once they're medically stable, a medical ward is not the right place for them."Over winter, we did open as a pilot, a ward in Byron for patients who are waiting for residential aged care placement, who aren't medically complex. They're just needing to go somewhere else. That seems to have been successful."We have been putting a lot of focus on what's called the Enhanced Care Program, which is a district-wide program that is working with those patients who require that additional support. It tends to be behavioural support, or it's called diversional therapy, so, to calm them, to make sure that they're feeling socially connected, that they have activity so they don't become aggressive, because we do have some of these patients, unfortunately, part of their condition is they can become aggressive, and obviously we want to keep them in a calm environment."So that pilot was trialled on one of the wards in Lismore, and that's been highly successful, and the executive yesterday approved for that program to roll out across the district. This isn't a one solution that's going to fix all of this. There's a whole lot of things that we need to do to continue to improve our performance, but we've had really good feedback from our patients.Twelve months ago, Ms Maisey spoke about people staying in our hospital system for 20+ or even 28+ days. Has that number been reduced?"Unfortunately, when I looked a couple of weeks ago, we had 104 patients across the district, not Lismore, across the district, that were medically cleared for discharge, that were waiting either for a residential aged care bed or an NDIS package. That's 104 patients, which is three wards of beds with patients that are not in the right place for them."Having some of those patients cohorted in Byron has absolutely made a difference, because we've also been able to centralise some of that expertise and specialist resource, and so they are moving through our processes faster. But most importantly, the environment is calm, and they're receiving sort of far more dedicated care than they would on a busy medical acute ward. It's not that those staff don't want to, but they're there for medical reasons, not necessarily social reasons. So, the right environment for them, and it's better for the staff, better for the patients, better for their families."This pilot has worked in Byron because of the spare available ward. The other seven NNSWLHD hospitals don't have a spare ward, so the Enhanced Care Program cannot be rolled out beyond Byron Bay Hospital unless resourcing and funding can be sourced or the patient flow improvements turn up further opportunities.As for the long-term success of the improved patient flow process, is Ms Maisey confident that the J-curve has started the upward trajectory?"I really hope so. The clinicians are very keen and very focused on improvement, and that's why it will be successful; they want to do it, and they're determined to do it. So I'm pretty hopeful."I would like to say that if we could get a few more memory-assisted beds in our community, I think that would make a difference overnight. If we could have those patients in the right place, we would have more beds. We would be able to admit people quicker, they would move through our system faster, but, actually, more importantly, they would be in the right place at a certain time. So, that's something I can't influence. That's a Commonwealth funding matter."It will be incremental gains, but for now, we're pretty pleased with where we were at the moment.""I did just want to take the opportunity to say thank you to our amazing staff, who really, every day, go above and beyond caring for our community and continuing to look for ways to enhance the care."LBH BHI SUMMARY LISMORE BASE HOSPITAL had 10,058 ED attendances during the quarter, with 2,974 patients arriving by ambulance (up 1.6 per cent or 48 arrivals).Of all ED attendances, 65.2 per cent of patients started their ED treatment on time, an improvement of 13.2 percentage points (was 52%) on the same time last year and above the average (58.7 per cent) for NSW hospitals of a similar size or NSW 65.7%Of those patients treated in the ED who did not require admission or transfer to another hospital, 71.1 per cent were discharged within four hours of arriving, again above the result for peer hospitals (61.4 per cent). In numerical terms, that was 3 hours 35 minutes, now it is down to 2 hours 50 minutes. The new Tweed hospital leads the way with 2hours and 8minutes)Patients transferred from paramedics to ED staff within 30 minutes was down 1.5%, 58.8% to 57.3%. Tweed is 79.9%.Planned surgery remained relatively stable compared with the same quarter last year, with 1,529 surgeries performed during the quarter.

Lismore's Social Futures won two of the seven awards presented at the 2025 Resilient Australia Awards. Social Futures won the Resilient Australia Community Award for delivering a pioneering model of disaster recovery to help people recover from natural disasters by building resilience through empowerment.Every year, Australians face devastating impacts from disasters and emergencies. The NSW category of the Resilient Australia Awards is an opportunity to celebrate initiatives that are making communities safer, more connected and better prepared.As the state convenor of the awards, the NSW Reconstruction Authority has brought together a judging panel made up of experts in disaster resilience.Following yesterday’s ceremony at NSW Parliament, NSW winners will go on to represent the state at the national Resilient Australia Awards in Canberra later this year.Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said, “In the wake of recent disasters, we’ve seen Australians rise to the challenge as individuals, communities and organisations working together to rebuild, support one another and strengthen our resilience.“The Resilient Australia Awards are a chance to celebrate these efforts and ensure they don’t go unnoticed. “Whether it’s a local council, a school, a research team or a community group, every contribution matters, helping to create more resilient communities for the future.”NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon said, “These awards bring a spotlight to the remarkable resilience and innovation we see across NSW every day. “It’s an honour to award and celebrate the individuals and groups whose efforts have helped us recover, adapt and thrive in the face of natural disasters. “Their stories remind us that resilience is not just about bouncing back - it’s about being innovative and responsive to local needs and communities.”THE WINNERS ARE:Resilient Australia Community AwardWinner: Recovery Connect - Social Futures.A Lismore-based support service delivering a pioneering model of disaster recovery to help people recover from natural disasters by building resilience through empowerment.Highly commended: Care2Prepare: inclusive household and community risk reduction - Carers NSW and Better Together – Community Connections - Community Connects South Shoalhaven and Business Milton Ulladulla.Resilient Australia Business AwardWinner: Flood Defence Fund - Insurance Council of Australia.A policy initiative that calls for the development of a $30.15 billion Flood Defence Fund to protect communities on the frontline of floods, while moderating insurance premiums and reducing future recovery costs.Resilient Australia Government AwardWinner: Australian first Aboriginal Cultural Incident Management Exercise - NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW Crown Lands and NSW Rural Fire Service.A hands-on exercise connecting First Nations rangers and emergency responders for real-time bushfire planning and response, ensuring cultural sites in southeast NSW are protected during emergencies.Resilient Australia Local Government AwardWinner: Heat Taskforce: Heat Smart City Plan - Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC).Sydney’s first multi-sector plan for heat hazard developed by a collaboration of leaders across health, planning, infrastructure, emergency management, community and corporate sectors.Resilient Australia School AwardWinner: Our River - Richmond Agricultural Centre: Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Education.A school program delivered in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment to teach flood awareness through science, history and creative wellbeing activities and help students positively reconnect with the river and learn mental health coping mechanisms.Resilient Australia Mental Health and Wellbeing AwardWinner: Resilient Kids: Empowered Young People Can Weather Life’s Biggest Storms - Social Futures.A program launched in response to the devastating 2022 floods in Northern NSW, focusing on youth-centred mental health and wellbeing program.Highly commended: The Resilient Kids Program: disaster risk reduction for the next generation - Health North Coast.Resilient Australia Photography AwardWinner: Social Futures, Strong Mind in the Early Years Program – Catherine Piltz.The photography category is decided by public vote via social media. This year’s winning image captures resilience through a moment of safety, trust and connection in early childhood disaster recovery.More information on the Resilient Australia Awards can be found at https://www.aidr.org.au/programs/resilient-australia-awards/.