After almost four decades as a family-led Stock & Station agency, Ian Weir & Son Pty Ltd has been sold to George & Fuhrmann, marking the next chapter for one of Lismore’s most enduring rural businesses.The company began on 1 July 1986 when Ian Weir, his son Glenn, Kevin Cocciola and Neil Short purchased the long-established Keith McLeay Pty Ltd. Since then, the business has grown steadily, purchasing Gil Crawford & Co in 1991 and Walker Gordon in 2003, building a reputation for reliability, continuity and long-standing client relationships.Speaking with the Lismore App, Glenn said the decision to sell was reached only after months of reflection and discussion.“It was yes one day and no the next,” he said, acknowledging the significance of parting with a business that has shaped both his working life and the experience of many local farmers.“It was a big thing to think about. But Dad always used to say you never knock back a good offer because you never know when the next one might come along.”What ultimately gave the founders confidence in the transition was George & Fuhrmann’s commitment to maintaining the existing staff and the way the business operates. Glenn said this was a non-negotiable element from the outset.“We wouldn’t have considered selling if they weren’t going to employ our young blokes or keep the team together,” he said. “They told us everything would stay the same, and that was very important to us.”The partnership between the two companies has developed naturally in recent years, with George & Fuhrmann already working alongside the Weir team on cattle sales and building a strong understanding of the business’s strengths.“They could really see the benefits in how we do things here,” he said. “They respected what we’ve built.”Although ownership is changing, the name Ian Weir & Son will continue to be used at the saleyards, maintaining the long-standing identity that producers recognise.“The saleyards are known as Ian Weir & Son Lismore Saleyards. That will remain,” Glenn said. “We’ll operate as George & Fuhrmann, incorporating Ian Weir. People can identify with that name. It still means something.”With George & Fuhrmann’s broader regional presence, including Casino, Warwick, Bangalow and Murwillumbah, Glenn said the transition offers added stability and opportunity for clients while preserving the trust the business has built since 1986.“It’s good to know the business is in strong hands,” he said. “The staff are staying, the way we operate is staying, and everything will continue on.”For a deeper look at the full history of Ian Weir & Son - from the early days in 1986 through to today - don’t miss the Lismore App’s detailed Sunday Profile with Glenn Weir in the coming weeks.

The NSW Government has established a new, independent early learning regulator, the NSW Early Learning Commission.From Monday, the commission will provide greater transparency for families and issue tougher penalties for providers who breach standards.The state government will invest a further $55 million to fund more than 60 additional frontline staff to conduct compliance checks, the majority of which will continue to be unannounced.In late October, the NSW Parliament passed nation-leading laws to improve transparency for families, better protect children, and increase penalties for poor quality providers.More than 30 nation-leading reforms were introduced under the amended Children (Education and Care Services National Law Application) Act 2010, with services and staff now legally required to prioritise children’s safety and wellbeing above all other considerations.Since the legislation took effect, more than 550 services have been inspected to ensure their short-form compliance and quality ratings histories are clearly displayed for families.Only three of the services inspected did not meet requirements, and the Commission has taken compliance action to ensure these issues were immediately addressed.The Commission will continue to conduct unannounced checks on services to confirm they adhere to the new requirements and will act if services fail to display their information.In the most serious cases, providers who fail to comply face prosecution and a maximum court-imposed penalty of $51,600, or $154,800 in the case of a large provider.The Commission will also take immediate compliance action against educators or services who fail to comply with the ban on personal digital devices inside early learning services, which came into effect with the new laws. Other elements of the new laws, include:Making it an offence for people providing or working in early childhood education and care to subject a child to inappropriate conduct – an ‘anti-grooming’ offence.Increasing maximum penalties for large providers by up to 900 per cent, and up to 300 per cent for all other providers.Allowing the Commission to suspend or revoke quality ratings during or after investigations.Allowing the Commission to suspend or impose supervision orders on individual educators.Strengthening whistleblower protections.Extending the prosecution period for offences - NSW will now measure the limitation period from when the Commission is notified, rather than the date of the offence.Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said, “The Minns Labor Government’s nation-leading reforms ensure the new Early Learning Commission is independent, empowered, and focused solely on protecting children—with effective tools to fight dodgy operators. “Parents deserve to know that when they leave their children at an early learning centre, their child will be cared for, respected, and nurtured.“Our government delivered the biggest early learning safety reforms in 15 years, after an independent review commissioned by the Deputy Premier Prue Car, and it’s continuing to work with the sector to rebuild parent’s confidence.“If educators or operators break the rules and violate the trust of families, the public has a right to know.”

This week's release of the annual Rental Affordability Index (RAI) report, proves that nothing has changed in the last twelve months. It is still unaffordable for the average wage earner to rent a house in Lismore and the coastal areas of the Northern Rivers.We all know how expensive Byron Bay real estate is, but now it is one of the most unaffordable locations in the entire country. That mantle normally sits with Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, such as Vaucluse, or Melbourne's inner eastern suburbs, like Toorak.As for Lismore, to achieve an acceptable affordability index for a 3-bedroom house, the household income would need to be $130,000 per year. As you move east, the situation becomes more unaffordable.Alstonville is moderately unaffordable, Ballina and Brunswick Heads are unaffordable, and Byron Bay is severely unaffordable.If you head west, Kyogle is the place to move to, as it is deemed affordable, while Casino is acceptable.To give you some perspective, a Rental Index Score of 100 means that a person or household is paying 30% of their income in rent, which is commonly understood to be the threshold that is affordable depending on your income level, along with paying other cost-of-living expenses. Any more, and it tips people into what is termed rental stress.The scales used in the index are:40 or less indicates critically unaffordable rents40-60 indicates extremely unaffordable rents60-80 indicates severely unaffordable rents80-100 indicates unaffordable rents100-120 indicates moderately unaffordable rents120-150 indicates acceptable rents150 -200 indicates affordable rents200 or above is very affordable rents.Data from the 2021 Census had the average Lismore area wage at $1202 per week (the Lismore region was $879 per week), which equates to $62,504 per year. In Lismore, you need two people earning average incomes to make the rent acceptable.A 4-bedroom home moves you into the moderately unaffordable index in Lismore, unaffordable for Alstonville, severely unaffordable in Ballina and extremely unaffordable in Byron and Kingscliffe.Let's take a look at what the rental position is for one person earning the average income of $62,504 per year.A 3-bedroom house is out of the question, even Kyogle is marked as unaffordable.When you move to a 2-bedroom house or unit, Lismore is still unaffordable, with the rest severely or extremely unaffordable. Casino and Kyogle don't have enough 2-bedroom houses to be included in the index.When it comes to 1-bedroom properties, Lismore is moderately unaffordable, Ballina and Mullumbimby are unaffordable, and Byron and Brunswick Heads are severely unaffordable.Lismore also has a problem housing essential workers, such as police, nurses and paramedics. The average wage for entry-level essential workers is around the $80,000 mark.A 1-bedroom unit is acceptable in Lismore, moderately unaffordable in Ballina and Murwillumbah and severely unaffordable in Byron and Kingscliff.When you start adding more bedrooms, it becomes even less affordable, even when Casino and Kyogle come into play at 3+ bedrooms.The bottom line is that Lismore and the Northern Rivers do not have enough housing or housing diversity. The days of every house being a 3-4-bedroom home on 600-800-square-metre blocks have gone. We need more 1- and 2-bedroom apartments and townhouses to house people earning the average wage.This shows why experts say the government alone cannot solve the housing shortage. The current housing shortage is bigger than that. The solution needs to be in partnership with private developers.Some are saying this is no longer just a social issue but an economic and productivity issue. Worse still, the solution is 15 to 20 years away due to a lack of government foresight and action.What we need is a bipartisan approach from all levels of government to get the wheels continuously turning.

The famous Our Kids 2026 Calendar is out and on shelves at select businesses in Lismore and the Northern Rivers, following the official launch on Thursday evening at La Barraca in the CBD.The launch is when the families and next year's featured children will see their photos for the first time.The Lismore App caught up with Melissa, Brandan and four-year-old Annabelle while they were studying her photo. Annabelle is featured in December.Melissa said that Annabelle was first diagnosed in July 2024, when they noticed a bump on her head."We just kept going from place to place. What is this? What is this? And then finally got redirected up to Queensland Children's Hospital, and they said, Well, this is leukemia. It's been shocking, but we're getting there, getting there slowly."She lost her hair twice. She's on chemo every day at the moment."Annabelle wants to grow her hair long when she gets the chance, which looks likely to be towards the end of 2026."The prognosis is really good, and the B cells are good, we have a good prognosis on that. September 20 next year will be her last day, and then she can get her port removed about three months later, and then she's just a normal kid again."As you can imagine, the journey has been extremely difficult for the entire family. Annabelle spent the first four months at Ronald McDonald House in Brisbane due to the protocols for the start of her treatment. It meant the family were living apart for that period of time because Brandan had to continue working to pay the bills."The world doesn't stop spinning," Brandan explained. "I still had to pay the bills, so I'd work, and then the second I finished on a Friday, I was out the door driving up to Brisbane, and drive back Sunday night, back to work on Monday."It wasn't all bad, though, as Annabelle got to eat her favourite food, mashed potato, and met a new best friend. Indy is the same age and has the same cancer.Following the first four months, Annabelle has spent quite a bit of time at Lismore Base Hospital, where her framed photo will now be displayed for the next twelve months.The Our Kids Calendar has celebrated children who have spent time in the Children’s Ward and Special Care Nursery at Lismore Base Hospital since the inaugural calendar in 2001. For the past 24 years, local photographer Jacklyn Wagner has generously donated her time and talent to photograph each child, capturing their strength and spirit.“The calendar project is an extraordinary body of work. It’s such a privilege to photograph the children each year and to have been part of this project and team for so long,” said Jacklyn.The Our Kids Calendar team has remained unchanged for these past two decades, and in that time, more than 320 local families have been photographed and celebrated by Our Kids.Alongside Jacklyn, the project is brought to life each year by local graphic designer Soren Hjorth from Graphiti Design, who creates the calendar’s layout and design; Shaun McGuiness from Lismore City Printery, who ensures each page is printed to perfection; and Sheila Turner from Picture Framing, who frames one special edition of the calendar.(Jacklyn Wagner, Dr Chris Ingall, Rebekka Battista and Soren Hjorth at Thursday's Our Kids Calendar launch)The twelve framed special edition photos are displayed in the foyer of Lismore Base Hospital for twelve months before being gifted to the featured child’s family at the following year’s launch, along with a handmade quilt from Quilts for Kids.Under the guidance of Dr Chris Ingall and Rebekka Battista from Our Kids, this dedicated team continues to produce a beautiful keepsake each year. Thanks to the generosity of local sponsors, all proceeds from calendar sales go directly to Our Kids to help fund paediatric equipment for hospitals across the Northern Rivers.This year’s sponsors are: Be Seen Eyewear, Goonellabah Medical Centre, McDonald’s, North Coast Radiology, Richmond Waste, Southern Cross University, WCA Accountants, Westpac Bank, Richmond Sand and Gravel, Hurford Hardwood, Graphiti Design, and North Coast Petroleum.(Rosie checks out her handmade quilt from Quilt for Kids at Thursday evening's launch)The 2026 Our Kids Calendar is available for purchase for $25, with all proceeds supporting local children’s health services. Dr Chris Ingall said this year's proceeds will be put towards a new ventilator."It's a Dräger, and it's a step up on the one we have now, which is a few years old," Dr Ingall explained. "They're both very modern ventilator machines, mostly used for newborn babies. We've had a couple of sets of twins born very early in the last couple of months, and we've used our Dräger, plus an older Bear Cub ventilator, which is good, but it doesn't give the babies just the right amount of pressure that we'd like."All of your generosity and time, and allowing your children to be photographed for the calendar, means that we'll more quickly get to that second ventilator. And then, of course, if one goes wrong, we'll always have the backup. It puts children in this neck of the woods in a much stronger position if they are delivered here, rather than, say, the Gold Coast or QCH."You can play your part by purchasing the 2026 Our Kids Calendar for your home or as a gift for family and friends by clicking here or by visiting one of the following business across the region:LISMORE: Book Warehouse, McDonald’s, Angus & Coote, Westpac Bank, Lismore Base Hospital, KidsnestCASINO: McDonald PharmacyKYOGLE: Kyogle Pharmacy, Kym Malwakin DentistBALLINA: Be Seen Eyewear, East Ballina Foodworks, Book Warehouse.Thank you for helping Our Kids build better health services for our children across the Northern Rivers.

The final weekend of spring may see a return of some thunderstorm activity in Lismore and the Northern Rivers. It does look like it will be hit-or-miss, just like the storms on Thursday evening.Saturday's forecast is for up to 2mm of rainfall and a warm 33 degrees, with strong northwesterly winds of 20-30 km/h. The fire danger will remain moderate.The good news is that the rain and thunderstorms will have a break as a high-pressure system makes its way across the state over the Great Australian Bight. From Sunday on, there will be plenty of blue sky, with temperatures dropping into the mid to high thirties by Tuesday.December and the run to Christmas starts on Monday, but the CASPA Lismore Christmas Carnival kicks off family celebrations at the Lismore Turf Club (Woodlawn Road, North Lismore) on Saturday between 11am and 5pm.CASPA's first-ever Christmas Carnival will feature a Christmas Market, rides for all ages, delicious food trucks, live entertainment and a visit from Santa, of course.The North Coast Road Riders hit the road from Ballina to Lismore on Sunday for the annual Our Kids Toy Run.A large group of Christmas-decorated motorbikes will leave the Ballina Skatepark at 10am and ride to Alstonville, Goonellabah and end up at Browns car park between 11 and 11:15am. There will be a sausage sizzle and drinks in Lismore, and most importantly, riders will be donating hundreds of new Christmas toys to Our Kids that will put huge smiles on the faces of children in hospital over the festive season.MARKETSThe Lismore Farmers Markets have cherries for sale tomorrow (Saturday) morning, a true sign of Christmas, as well as other gift ideas and fresh fruit and veg between 7:30am and 11:30am. Bruce Worrall will providing the live music this week.If you are looking for a different Christmas gift, then the Nimbin Markets is the perfect place to visit on Sunday on Cullen Street. Normally on the fourth week of a month, when a fifth Sunday comes around, the markets swing into action two Sunday's in a row between 9am and 3pm.LIVE MUSICThe Hillbilly Skank will be on stage at the Northern Rivers Hotel on Bridge Street, North Lismore, tonight from 7pm.The Lismore Symphony Orchestra is performing at the Lismore Workers Club on Saturday, 29 November at 7:30pm and Sunday, 30 November at 3pm. Tickets are $35.The concert features a vibrant collection of works, including:The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra - Benjamin BrittenHorn Concerto No.1 in E-flat major - Richard StraussL'Arlesienne Suite No.1 & No. 2 - George BizetMambo from West Side Story - Leonard BernsteinComing Up at the Lismore Workers Club:The Noughty Nineties Party featuring all your favourites like Blink 182, Shania Twain, Britney Spears, Robbie Williams and Beyonce. Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 7:30pmThe Ultimate Superstars of Country Friday, 6 February 2026Faulty Towers The Dining Experience Friday, 6 March 2026The Italian Tenors Sunday, 19 April 2026To book tickets to any of the above concerts, click here.CHEAPEST FUEL PRICESFuel prices were steady over the last week, except for diesel. Diesel rose 2 to 3 cents a litre.Here is the list of the cheapest service stations:E10 is 176.9 at the Shell Reddy Express on Dawson Street, Lismore, 175.9 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 172.5 at the Mobil and The Metro on River Street, Ballina.Unleaded 91 is 173.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, 177.9 at The United and the Casino Roadhouse on Johnston Street, and the Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino, and 174.5 at the Mobil and the Metro on River Street, Ballina.U95 is 182.9 at the two Independents on Terania Street, North Lismore and the Liberty on Ballina Road, Lismore, 198.9 at the Independent at 169 Canterbury Street in Casino, and 185.5 at The Metro on River Street, Ballina.U98 is 190.9 at the Liberty on Ballina Road, Lismore, 197.9 at the Liberty on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino, and 194.5 at The Metro on River Street in Ballina.Diesel is 189.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, 187.9 at The United and the Ampol Casino on Dyraaba Street in Casino, and 193.5 at the Mobil and Metro on River Street in Ballina.Have a great weekend!Now, have a laugh with the Friday Funnies.....

Five men and a teenage boy will face court charged as an investigation continues into an alleged affray and a man's death in Goonellabah earlier this month.About 2.50am on Friday, 7 November 2025, a 31-year-old man was taken to Lismore Base Hospital suffering serious head injuries.He was later airlifted to the Gold Coast University Hospital and has since been released.About 6.20am that day, emergency services were called to Fischer Street, Goonellabah, after the body of a 25-year-old man was located on a nearby walking track.An investigation commenced by officers attached to Richmond Police District, assisted by the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad under Strike Force Pineshaw.Following inquiries, detectives established that the men had been involved in an alleged brawl in Clifford Park at Goonellabah early that morning.About 6.30pm on Thursday 20 November 2025, detectives arrested a 23-year-old man in Lismore.He was taken to Lismore Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of armed with intent commit indictable offence, affray, reckless wounding - in company, and possess unauthorised firearm.He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 1 on Friday, 21 November 2025, where he was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Lismore Local Court on Monday, 1 December 2025.Following further inquiries, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Goonellabah about 6.20am yesterday (Thursday, 27 November 2025).During a search of the home, police allegedly located and seized a range of weapons, including knives, bats, a gel blaster firearm, and a compound bow.Five men – aged between 18 and 27 – and a 17-year-old boy, were arrested at the home and taken to Lismore Police Station.Three of the men – aged 18, 21 and 23 – were each charged with affray, and reckless wounding – in company.A 22-year-old man was charged with affray, reckless wounding – in company, wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and two counts of armed with intent commit indictable offence.A 27-year-old man was charged with affray, reckless wounding – in company, and armed with intent commit indictable offence.The five men were refused bail to appear before Lismore Local Court today (Friday, 28 November 2025).The 17-year-old boy was charged with affray, and reckless wounding – in company.He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on Thursday ,11 December 2025.Inquiries into the incident are continuing.The critical incident investigation, established to review the actions of police in responding to the incident, is also continuing.

The North Coast Road Riders are revving up for their annual Motorcycle Toy Run for Our Kids, bringing festive cheer and support to children across the Northern Rivers this Sunday, 30 November.Motorcyclists from across the region are invited to don their best Christmas gear, bring along a new unwrapped toy, and join the colourful convoy as it rides from Ballina to Lismore to support local kids this Christmas.The toys will be shared with Lismore Base Hospital’s children’s ward and local children’s organisations that care for children living with special needs.“Whether you are a novice or a seasoned rider, all are welcome to join in,” said Motorcycle Toy Run event organiser Jillian Challinor.Our Kids Fundraising Coordinator, Rebekka Battista, said, “This is such a beautiful way the community can brighten up the children who are in hospital over the Christmas summer season.“Thank you to all who are taking part. We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday.”Riders are encouraged to embrace the festive spirit with Santa suits, tinsel, elf ears or any creative Christmas attire. On arrival in Lismore, participants will be welcomed with a sausage sizzle and drinks.All donated toys will support Our Kids, helping bring joy to children receiving care locally.Here are the event details to join in:When: Sunday 30 November from 9:00am, stands up at 10:00am sharpMeet: Ballina Skate Park Amphitheatre carparkRoute: from Ballina to Alstonville, onto Goonellabah and through to LismoreFinish: Browns Creek carpark, Keen Street, Lismore.

The Lismore App is introducing Premium Content, a small subscription to help us cover more local news for Lismore and the Northern Rivers.For eight years, we’ve been here every day - sharing community stories, covering government decisions, reporting floods, fires, storms and road closures, and helping people stay connected. We launched in 2017, and from the beginning, our news has been free to download and free to read. That remains true today for most stories.I want to assure Lismore App readers that the news you rely on during an emergency, such as a flood, will always remain free. Severe thunderstorm warnings, accidents, and road closures will remain free to all readers.We live here, and like you, felt every minute of that fateful night on the 28th of February 2022 and the days that followed. We have friends who lost their houses and nearly lost their businesses. Being local means we don’t just report the story, we live it alongside you. That’s why we want to remain independent and not part of a national media network. But to keep doing this, and to do it better, we need support.We want to expand our daily coverage, tell more stories, and be present in more places - community events, local sport, local business and profiles of the people who make this region what it is.The result, after much internal debate, was to introduce Premium Content at $3.99 a month.This $3.99 per month fee will give you full access to every aspect of the Lismore App.We understand not everyone will choose to subscribe, and that’s okay. We’re still here for you. But if you believe local journalism matters, if you want more depth, more stories, more transparency around decisions affecting this region, then we’d love you to stand with us.We have built a trusted daily digital newspaper for the Lismore community, which we are immensely proud of. We love being independently owned and writing about news stories that are true, real and "Good For Lismore".Feel free to email me at simon@lismoreapp.com.au if you have any questions or concerns.Stand with us, and subscribe when you can.HOW PREMIUM CONTENT WORKSSTEP 1: Go to the App Store and search for Lismore App and click on the logo on the left-hand side. You will then see 'Update'. (Androids will be updated as soon as possible.)STEP 2: Click on the person icon (image below) and create an account. All you need is an email address and a password.STEP 3: Click Premium, then select $3.99 monthly or $39.99 for the annual subscription.If you don't subscribe now, when you click on a news story that requires a Premium Content subscription, either via the App or the website, you will see the first two sentences, and then you will be asked to subscribe for $3.99 or $39.99 for the year. The annual subscription will save you a few dollars.You will remain logged in to your account whenever you are using the Lismore App.SCROLLING BAR UPGRADEAs part of this upgrade, we are also introducing a 'scrolling bar' that provides quick headlines of events, weather, and warnings at a glance. We have made the scrolling bar stand out with our yellow brand colour and black font.Thank you for reading and subscribing. We really appreciate you standing by us to keep news and sport local and, importantly, independent.From the Lismore App team.

The BoM have issued yet another severe thunderstorm warning, this time for damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall.Areas in the firing line are Lismore, Casino, Kyogle and Coraki.As has been the case this week, moisture and instability persist to the east of a surface trough over northeastern NSW this afternoon, resulting in severe thunderstorms. This trough is forecast to push offshore during the afternoon, with the storm risk abating thereafter.The heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. The super cells are appearing in the west and moving quickly eastward.Safety adviceThe State Emergency Service advises that people should:* Move your car under cover or away from trees.* Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.* Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.* Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.* Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.* Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.* If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.* Be aware that run-off from rainfall in fire affected areas may behave differently and be more rapid. It may also contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks.* After bushfires, heavy rain and the loss of foliage can make the ground soft and heavy, leading to a greater chance of landslides.* Unplug computers and appliances.* Avoid using the phone during the storm.* Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.* Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.The next warning is due to be issued by 6:20 pm.

The end of the school year is three weeks away. Those Year 10 students finishing their high school education have another employment option as the NSW Government today announced that it is establishing a new Cadet Traineeship Program to equip young, aspiring police officers with the skills, training and experience to join the NSW Police Force.The 12-month Cadet Traineeship Program will give school leavers and young adults hands-on experience and early exposure to policing culture, values and expectations.  Cadets will complete 12 months of field-based learning, rotating through four placements, including six months in general duties, two months with Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, two months with the detectives unit and two months with the crime prevention unit.At the end of the 12 months, cadets will obtain a Certificate III in business and be able to apply to undertake further study and training at the Goulburn Police Academy.  Entry requirements include:  The applicant must be 16 years old to apply, 17 years old to commence the program.  School leavers – must have completed year 10. Must pass physical, medical and psychometric testing and baseline vetting. The first NSW Police Force Cadet Traineeship Program will begin on 7 April 2026 as a pilot in The Hills Police Area Command and Sutherland Shire Police Area Command. Cadets will also obtain first aid and aquatic sequence rescue training. They will wear a distinct uniform to differentiate them from other officers and will not have access to weapons.  More information can be found here. While there is still more to do, that work includes:  Delivering a once-in-a-generation pay rise for police officers. Establishing an historic scheme to pay recruits to train, resulting in a 70% increase in applications to join the NSWPF. Establishing the Be a Cop In Your Hometown program to give regional recruits the opportunity to serve in or near their hometown after attesting. Establishing the Professional Mobility Program to incentivise experienced officers from interstate and New Zealand to join the NSWPF. Establishing the Health Safety and Wellbeing Command to support officers to have long, healthy and rewarding careers with the NSW Police Force. Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said, “Policing is one of the toughest jobs in our community. The stakes are high but the reward – the pride of serving your community and making a real difference is unmatched. “Just as some choose to go to university or pick up a trade, the Cadet Traineeship Program gives young people the chance to experience life in the NSW Police Force. “These cadets are not just trainees, they are the next generation of NSW Police officers.  “While there’s more to do, we’re rebuilding the NSW Police Force into a modern organisation that reflects and protects the community it serves.  NSW Police Force Commissioner Mal Lanyon said, “I’m very happy to be able to announce the commencement of the Cadet Traineeship Program for school leavers and young adults,” Commissioner Lanyon said.  “Cadets will be exposed to policing culture, values, and expectations, by structured mentorship and support to build confidence and resilience resulting in a smoother transition into the NSWSPF. “We hope the program will attract diverse talent and encourage school leavers to pursue a career filled with opportunity and purpose.” 

Current and former students who have HELP or the old HECS debt will see their fees reduced by 20 per cent at the end of next week as the Federal Government honours an election commitment.Around the country, this will affect more than 3 million people, wiping almost $16 billion in total. Today alone, more than 1.5 million Australians will see their student debts cut by 20 per cent. That’s around half of all people with a student debt.For someone with the average HELP debt of $27,600 this will see around $5,520 wiped from their debt.Backdated to 1 June 2025 before the last indexation, it will reduce the burden for Australians with a student debt, including HELP, VET Student Loans, Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans, Student Startup Loans, and other student loans.The federal government does charge a FEE-HELP loan fee of 20% on certain undergraduate FEE-HELP loans, applied to students in full-fee-paying places and calculated on each unit of study. So, in essence, that 20% is being dropped for those who are charged the fee. You do not need to do anything to receive the one-off reduction, it will happen automatically. In addition to cutting student debt by 20 per cent, the federal government has also raised the minimum amount people earn before they have to start making repayments from $54,435 to $67,000. They have also reduced minimum repayments.For someone earning $70,000 it has reduced the minimum repayments they have to make by $1,300 a year.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “This is another way my Government is continuing to deliver cost-of-living relief to Australians.“Our Government promised to cut student debt, it was the first thing we did after the election in Parliament, and now we’re rolling it out.“Getting an education shouldn't mean a lifetime of debt.“No matter where you live or how much your parents earn, my Government will work to ensure the doors of opportunity are open for you.”Minister for Education Jason Clare said, “We promised it, Australia voted for it, and now it’s happening.“This is the biggest cut to student debt in Australian history.“It means millions of young Australians will have thousands of dollars taken off their back.” Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles said, “We want Australians to get the skills they want, for the jobs our country needs.“The student debt cut means students and apprentices will have more money in their pocket and less stress to pursue qualifications for their future.“Students and apprentices have told me time and time again about how big a difference this will make in their lives.”Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulinosaid, “The ATO is rolling out the biggest cut to student debt in Australia’s history.“It means billions wiped from the debts of young people when they need it.“This will make a big difference as they get started in their lives.”

Healthy North Coast hosted the 2025 Primary Care Excellence Awards on Tuesday at Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour. The event brought together 175 primary health care professionals and sector partners to recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals and teams delivering exemplary primary health care in our community. This was the first Awards ceremony held since 2017.The program received 57 nominations across nine categories, reflecting the depth of commitment and expertise within the North Coast primary care workforce. The event also included a tribute to the late Dr Michael Davis, a respected GP from Alstonville Clinic, acknowledging his significant contribution to general practice and community health.Locally, Tracey Harris from the Lismore Super Clinic was awarded Excellence in Practice Management, and Human nature Adventure Therapy in Ballina was awarded Excellence in Mental Health Delivery.Healthy North Coast CEO Monika Wheeler said the awards highlight the dedication of the local primary care workforce:“These awards recognise the exceptional care being delivered by GPs, nurses, pharmacists, mental health and allied health professionals every day across our region.“The nominees and recipients demonstrate the innovation, collaboration and commitment that underpin high-quality care on the North Coast. Healthy North Coast is proud to acknowledge their achievements and the positive impact they have on our communities.“By celebrating outstanding achievements, we also help to inspire and retain our talented workforce that is so essential to the future of our communities.”List of 2025 Award recipients:Emerging Leader: Dr Grace Gillon (GP Registrar), Bullinah AMS: Recognised for trauma-informed, culturally safe care and mentoring, enhancing outcomes and trust.Excellence in Practice Management: Tracey Harris, Lismore GP Super Clinic / Lismore Urgent Care Clinic: Established Lismore’s Urgent Care Clinic, integrated mental health, and introduced AI tools to improve efficiency and outcomes.Excellence in Allied Health Achievement: Trent Renshaw, Coffs Coast Sports Physiotherapy: Pioneered male-focused oncology rehab and pelvic health, reducing barriers and improving survivorship outcomes.Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Innovation in Pharmacy: James Yoo, Plunkett’s TerryWhite Chemmart Port Macquarie: Recognised for pioneering full scope pharmacy services on the North Coast, advancing clinical care and integrating pharmacy into collaborative, patient-centred health models.Excellence in Nursing Achievement (sponsored by Larter): Amanda Moss, Maclean Medical: Embedded nurse-led pathways and Advance Care Planning, enhancing access and team-based rural care.The Dr Michael Davis Award for Excellence in General Practice Leadership: Dr Monica Taylor, Bullinah AMS: Embedded CQI and cultural safety at Bullinah, improving chronic disease and maternal care outcomes.Excellence in Mental Health Delivery: Human Nature Adventure Therapy, Ballina: Provided nature-based care for adolescents, improving resilience and engagement among vulnerable groups.Excellence in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health: Nicole Dein, Bullinah AMS: Created a culturally responsive NDIS model, improving access and mentoring Aboriginal staff.Excellence in Innovation: Maclean Medical: Created nurse-led Access Health Clinic, delivering thousands of low-cost, same-day appointments. Dr Monica Taylor, who won the Dr Michael Davis Award for Excellence in General Practice Leadership, was quick to thank her team:“We’ve developed a CQI [continuous quality improvement] program, which is embedded into GP workflow, which has now become a standard of care. It helps us look at what we’re doing and how we can do it better.“I feel very lucky. I have an excellent team, so I feel like that makes my job very easy. And to be given an award named after Mike [Davis] is very, very humbling.”Haley Hodgson, owner of Maclean Medical, was also thrilled to accept the award for Excellence in Innovation:“We’ve created a space where the public can come in and have same-day access to care, at affordable prices. It’s something that’s sustainable, we can duplicate it, and we can change how the primary health system works in Australia.“This award amplifies what we’re doing and reinforces that we’re doing the right thing for the community. It’s very exciting for us.” A number of North Coast primary health professionals were also recognised for their service:Chris Clark – Registered Nurse, Evans Head Medical Centre – 20+ years of serviceJudi Bray – Psychologist, Grafton – 25+ years of serviceDr Jay Ruthnam – General Practitioner, Northside Health Centre – 40+ years of serviceDr Warwick Wickham – Founder Eastport Medical Centre – 40+ years of serviceFor more information on the awards, including the finalists and recipients, keep your eye on hnc.org.au/primary-health-care-excellence-awards-2025.

The future of the East Lismore Sewage Treatment Plant is still unclear, despite Ministerial meetings in Sydney and the issue being raised in Question Time last week during the final state parliamentary sitting week for the year. The sticking point is how much funding Lismore City Council will receive to fix the sewage treatment plant to make it operational, and within EPA guidelines, or rebuild it so it is out of danger of being damaged in the event of future 14-meter-plus flooding.Former Flood Recovery Minister Steph Cooke asked whether the State Government would fully fund and deliver the complete refurbishment and rebuild of the East Lismore plant. Minister for Recovery and Minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin, said the project “will be done”, but also said the original announcement was not intended to cover “betterment” or growth for increased population.She told Parliament that some councils had wanted to “build to betterment and projecting for numbers increasing in the area,” but that “when it was announced, it wasn’t announced for betterment or for population projection.” She also said she and the Mayor had “differing memories” about the commitment made in 2022.However, the original 2022 media release issued by the then State Government stated the exact opposite. It said the $145 million fund would “repair and upgrade critical water and sewerage infrastructure” and would include “upgrades that will help futureproof this critical infrastructure.” Lismore City Council’s allocation explicitly listed a “new East Lismore wastewater treatment plant” as part of the works.That point of difference is now adding more uncertainty to a project already delayed for more than three years. Mayor Steve Krieg says what happens next remains unclear.“It's still the great unknown. I watched the clip of that particular question get raised, and it was good to hear the Minister actually say that it will happen. Exactly what will happen is the great unknown,” he said.“Disaster recovery should never become a political football or used for any particular gain, but it's something that I will continue to fight for and advocate for because it was something that was promised and we're still years off the delivery of that project, even if the funding rolled out tomorrow.”Krieg said the treatment plant remains the only major piece of critical infrastructure still unfunded and untouched.“It's the last big piece of infrastructure that hasn't been funded and hasn't even been started with works there. Back in 2022, the instruction from all the state government agencies was to get it back to operational with the plan to rebuild that particular sewage treatment plant down the track.”He said the delay and confusion around funding is not something Council controls.“For whatever reason, and I can't answer that, it's something that the state and federal governments need to answer, but the original promise of rebuilding that, there is a sticking point around the funding and who's going to fund it and how much funding.”Last week, the Mayor travelled to Sydney to meet with Ministers again, but says the messages remain mixed.“There's mixed stories. To redo this project properly is expensive. You can't hide away from that, you're looking at around 90 to 100 million dollars to completely rebuild this treatment plant.”“As a council, we're always under the impression that that would be funded and we would be able to rebuild it so that it is flood resilient, to be able to withstand that 14.5 to 15 metre flood if we ever saw something like that again.”But he says the funding currently on offer falls short of the standard required by regulators.“What's on offer currently is funding to basically patch it up, and even with the money that they have, and they being the state government, have said is available for that project, it would not be up to the requirements of the EPA.”“So quite simply, the funding that they've set aside is not enough to get to where we need to go.”With the rebuild still not underway nearly four years after the floods, the biggest unanswered question remains the same: who will fund the full project, and when will it start?

Residents of NSW are moving into a new digital era with the NSW Government previewing the new Digital Birth Certificate ahead of its release next year.Planned for initial release to people aged 16 to 21, the Digital Birth Certificate is built to the international standard and will be available within the Service NSW app. The new digital document aims to make it easy to locate a birth certificate on your phone, whenever and wherever you need it, without having to dig through drawers and storage boxes for the paper version.A Digital Birth Certificate provides secure access to this vital identity document and will allow the user greater control over which information they share and who they share it with.In the first stage of the roll-out planned for March 2026, the Digital Birth Certificate will be made available to 16–21-year-olds born in NSW who hold a photo card or driver's licence. Service NSW and the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages are engaging industry leaders to ensure the document will be widely accepted in future by government, businesses, schools, clubs and sporting organisations, making it easier to register and apply for services people need.Young adults with a Digital Birth Certificate will initially be able to use it at Service NSW centres to apply for certain NSW Government transactions like the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) competency card.The Digital Birth Certificate will be optional for those who are eligible to participate. Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said, “We are making it safer, simpler and faster to confirm your identity through the release of the Digital Birth Certificate.“Not only will it help you prove your identity, it will safeguard your information and give you more control of your personal data through better consent and privacy measures.“The Digital Birth Certificate means you will have access to this important document anytime, wherever you are, and removes the issue of where to safely keep a paper copy.“During natural disasters, we often help people whose birth certificates and other documents have been destroyed; a digital version provides a solution for those who need to verify their identity quickly to access services and apply for grants, rather than waiting for a replacement and delaying timely support.”Acting Secretary of the Department of Customer Service Greg Wells said, “The Digital Birth Certificate will be easily accessible in the Service NSW app.“A birth certificate is a vital part of a person’s legal identity.“The Digital Birth Certificate will help keep your identity protected by reducing the need to share a paper copy.”

More thunderstorms are sweeping across the state from the west, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a severe thunderstorm warning for damaging winds for the entire Northern Rivers, including Lismore, Casino, Ballina, Kyogle, Byron Bay.The BoM has shifted its warning in the last hour to include all of the Northern Rivers, after initially issuing a damaging wind warning for Casino and Yamba. The BoM say that a cold front moving through NSW is combining with an upper-level trough and an unstable airmass to produce further severe thunderstorms this evening.The thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging in the Northern Rivers warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Lismore, Grafton, Tenterfield, Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah and Byron Bay.Examples of wind gusts that have been recorded earlier this afternoon are:98 km/h wind gust recorded at Merriwa at 6:04 pm.96 km/h wind gust recorded at Taree Airport at 4:08 pm.96 km/h wind gust recorded at Murrurundi Gap at 3:03 pm.119 km/h wind gust recorded at Nobby's Head at 2:12 pm.100 km/h wind gust recorded at Maitland Airport at 2:03 pm.3.5 cm hail reported at Denman at around 1:20 pm.109 km/h wind gust recorded at Dubbo at 12:25 pm.111 km/h wind gust recorded at Trangie at 12:01 pm.110 km/h wind gust recorded at Orange at 11:52 am.98 km/h wind gust recorded at Parkes at 11:02 am.Safety adviceThe State Emergency Service advises that people should:* Move your car under cover or away from trees.* Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.* Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.* Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.* Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.* Unplug computers and appliances.* Avoid using the phone during the storm.* Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.* Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au , or by calling 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.The next warning is due to be issued by 10:40 pm.

With the four-year anniversary of the 2022 natural disaster only three months away, Lismore City Council wants residents to ask themselves, 'Am I bloody ready?'A recent survey of Lismore LGA residents found that while 82% were “very” or “somewhat” concerned about future floods, only 29% felt they were well prepared for a future flood event.“This is why Lismore City Council is joining with NSW Reconstruction Authority, SES and the Red Cross to hold a free Be Flood Ready event to provide residents with localised information to help people better understand their flood risk and take practical steps to prepare,” Mayor Krieg said.“Those attending the event at the Lismore Regional Library next Wednesday, 3 December, will get hands-on help downloading and learning how to use emergency apps and other emergency resources, including Council’s individual Property Flood Certificates for those living in urban and southern areas of the LGA, with northern rural areas to be included soon.”The certificates provide specific details for individual addresses, including natural ground levels and building floor levels, along with definitions for commonly used flood terms. Long-term residents who have been living in the flood plain for sometime, will know this, but new residents or those living on the fringe of the flood plain can get a realistic view of what size floods would affect their property.Lismore has a long history of experiencing floods, the Mayor said.“Understanding your flood risk is crucial for effective planning. Knowing how floods may affect your property helps you make informed decisions before, during and after a flood,” he said.“As well as a new SES video showing how the water flows through our catchment during a flood, there is also a special Storytime session for young children to help them understand floods and minimise trauma.”Council is also doing its part to support the community to prepare for floods.“We have taken on board the lessons identified in the 2022 disaster,” Mayor Krieg said.Since 2022, Council has installed solar-powered, digital advanced flood warning signs with monitoring cameras at key locations on Boat Harbour, Wyrallah and Nimbin roads, the lowest points. Photos will be uploaded onto Council’s website and updated every 15 minutes during a flood, so people can see if the road has water over it and when it has receded. These cameras will go live from next Wednesday, 3 December.This year, to improve flood intelligence across the catchment, five new river and rain gauges have also been installed, including at Nimbin, Keerong and South Lismore.Jessica Anderson, Lismore Council's Emergency Management Coordinator, explained that Council's 10 flood and rainfall gauges or flood warning infrastructure were transferred to the Bureau of Meteorology following a recommendation from the 2022 Flood Inquiry."That was done with a recommendation because of the lack of maintenance and the issues experienced in 2022, that gauges in New South Wales are transferred to the bureau with a significant budget for maintenance and upgrades in order to bring to their service level standard, which will link into the flood warning system in order to improve things from 2022."Jessica said that council has confidence that the rainfall gauges will perform under similar rainfall events, such as the February 2022 flood.In addition, the Browns Creek pump station overtopping digital display will be live on Council’s disaster dashboard, so that those who are interested can monitor future events in real time, safely from home. Below are the details for next week's in-person events:Event #1Go along to a fun story time hosted by the NSW SES for children aged 3-5. A variety of trauma-informed activities have been planned, including reading the children’s book Birdie and the Flood. Written and published by Children’s Health Queensland, the story is designed to help young children:learn what happens when it rains a lot and causes floodinglearn who can help in a floodwork through sad or scary feelingsunderstand they will feel safe and happy again Date: Wednesday, 3 DecemberLocation: Lismore Library, 110 Magellan Street, LismoreTime: 10.30-11.30amPresenters: NSW SES and Lismore Library staff Event # 2BE FLOOD READY: Feel more confident and prepared for future floodsGo along for a free, interactive flood preparedness community event at the Lismore Library to help you stay safe. You will:Learn about flood preparedness and emergency resourcesGet hands-on help downloading and using emergency appsUnderstand your property flood risk and how floods behave locallyHear about new local flood resilience initiativesEnjoy light refreshments It’s a relaxed, hands-on session with friendly faces from the NSW Reconstruction Authority, Red Cross, NSW State Emergency Services, Lismore City Council and Lismore Library staff.Register for the free community event by clicking here. Date: Wednesday, 3 DecemberLocation: Lismore Library, 110 Magellan Street, LismoreTime: 12-1pm: Flood preparedness presentation Presenters: NSW RA, Red Cross, NSW SES, Lismore City Council 

Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, has stated that Labor is wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on a new review of the Far North Coast’s bulk water supply, accusing the state and federal government of deliberately excluding Dunoon Dam from the review, despite more than 10,000 locals signing a petition calling for it to be assessed.Mr Hogan, said the review cannot be taken seriously unless Dunoon Dam is put back on the table.“Labor’s refusal to consider Dunoon Dam undermines the credibility of the entire review. Their approach is ideological, not practical. This is millions of dollars being wasted on a study designed to ignore the very option that could actually fix our water security,” Mr Hogan said.“It is also extraordinary that the review will examine desalination, even though Rous County Council has already found it to be high-cost, complex and unsuitable for supplying inland communities. Rous’ own reports state the capital and operating costs for desalination are ‘extremely high’, and that water from a coastal plant cannot be easily or economically transferred inland.”Here is a link to the Rous Water Desalination Options Assessment Report (June 2024), which outlines the high cost and constraints of desalination: https://councilpapers.rous.nsw.gov.au/documents/s6350/Desalination%20Options%20Assessment%20Report.pdf. The NSW and Australian Governments have jointly committed $5 million to develop a preliminary business case. The Australian Government is contributing $2.5 million through the National Water Grid Fund.

The NSW Government is committing more than $3 million over the next two years to partner with sporting organisations to deliver programs that address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence.The Game on for Change – Preventing Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence (DFSV) Through Sport Grant Program is the result of $38 million funding delivered under the 2024/25 Budget to roll out primary prevention activities across the state.Last year, the government launched the State’s first standalone Strategy for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence 2024-2028, which aims to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence by working with communities, schools, workplaces, sporting clubs and local organisations.The government is taking a whole of community approach to addressing domestic, family and sexual violence. Sport reaches and influences many people in our community – as sponsors, players, volunteers, fans and families. Through the Game on for Change grants, the government is seeking innovative ideas using sport to address gendered violence and promote equality.It is part of the broader work the NSW Government is doing to respond to domestic, family and sexual violence, which includes crisis response, strengthening protections, holding perpetrators to account, earlier intervention and primary prevention. Grants from $15,000-$450,000 are available to professional sporting organisations, State Sporting Organisations, community sports clubs, not-for-profit community-based organisations with prevention expertise and higher education institutions. The Game on for Change Program features multiple streams with applications closing 18 February 2026 and 4 March 2026. Further information on the Program is available at: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/game-on-for-change.NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said, “Sport is part of the fabric of NSW, and with our sporting organisations, we’re sending a clear message that there is no place for domestic, family or sexual violence.“The Game On for Change Program uses the power of sport to shift attitudes, drive cultural change, and build a safer NSW for women and children.”NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said, “Sport has incredible influence and reach in our community and can be a way to promote positive and healthy behaviours and attitudes.“The Game on for Change Program is an important initiative of our primary prevention strategy to address the drivers of violence against women where people play and socialise.“We aim to engage players, coaches, administrators, spectators, communities, and other key stakeholders to change community attitudes that condone or tolerate violence in our community.“The NSW Government is creating a safer state and stopping the violence before it starts is how we work towards eliminating domestic, family and sexual violence.”NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin and Chair of the Multi-Sport Coalition for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence said, “Sport has a huge impact on Australian society. It helps shape community attitudes, values and behaviour, which is why sporting organisations can play a powerful role in preventing domestic, family and sexual violence. “The Game on For Change program will give NSW sporting organisations the opportunity to apply for grants to deliver their own initiatives to prevent gendered violence. As we approach the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, I urge sporting organisations to consider how they can use their unique influence to help create a safer community. By stepping up to challenge the drivers of gendered violence, sporting organisations have the opportunity to help deliver real, lasting change.”

Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) is urging residents to take precautions against tick bites, following three recent cases of tick-related anaphylaxis in local hospitals.Tick anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can occur immediately after being bitten by an adult tick. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, hives, dizziness and fainting. Immediate treatment with an adrenaline autoinjector (such as an EpiPen) and calling Triple Zero (000) is critical.People who know they are allergic to ticks should always carry an adrenaline autoinjector and have an anaphylaxis action plan. While most tick bites are harmless, they can occasionally lead to mammalian meat allergy and some rare bacterial illnesses.Robin Auld, Associate Director of North Coast Population and Public Health said preventing tick bites and knowing how to remove ticks safely were key to prevent illness.  “Protect yourself when outdoors by applying insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants, especially in bushland or areas with tall grass,” Mr Auld said.“Check your body for ticks after outdoor activities, particularly your scalp, underarms and groin, and avoid sitting or lying in long grass or leaf litter.“If you are bitten by a tick, leave it in place and do not disturb. Freeze the tick using ether-containing sprays such as Medi Freeze before removing. Ticks should be removed as soon as possible to prevent allergic reaction.“For smaller ticks, a permethrin-based cream like Lyclear can be applied. Both are available over the counter at pharmacies.”For more information on tick bite prevention, management, and recognising allergic reactions, visit: Tick bite diseases and symptoms attributed to tick bites | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.