If you love your food, art and music, then Lismore is the place to be on Saturday, March 14 as the much loved Eat the Street festival returns for its sixth year with a new sponsor – NORCO. “This year we are excited to announce that NORCO has come on board as the naming rights sponsor of the event,” Lismore City Council’s Acting City Centre Manager Nathan Dee said. “NORCO is an iconic Lismore business and it is very fitting that they are now an integral part of the Northern Rivers premier food event. NORCO Chairman, Greg McNamara said this is a big year for the local dairy co-operative which is celebrating its 1I25th year of operation and was proud to support Eat the Street. “Lismore has always been a big part of NORCO’s history and to now partner with an event that supports Lismore’s local food industry feels very natural,” he said. The launch of Eat the Street.Now in its sixth year, the event that runs from noon to 9pm, attracts ‘foodies’ and ‘culture’ buffs from far and wide and has become a highlight on the North Coast’s events calendar as a festival not to be missed.Last year, the festival attracted more than 25,000 people and organisers are hoping for an even bigger crowd this year.Mr Dee said the heart of the city will once again be closed to traffic and transformed into a sea of beautiful white marquees with over 50 fabulous food, wine, art & craft stalls.Inspired by a world of street food styles, our local cafes and restaurants will showcase fresh regional cuisine proving fabulous tasting plates priced at $5 and $10. There are tempting treats from every corner of the globe, luscious libations from our region’s boutique beverage purveyors and stalls brimming with spectacular local product. There will also be plenty of entertainment throughout the day with guest chefs cooking on stage and an entertainment stage with local musicians running throughout the event. “Sit out on the street, under the trees, and try food from all over the Northern Rivers region, as well as handcrafted beer and gin, delicious desserts and so much more,” Mr Dee said.“People love our Eat the Street food festival – it has become one of Lismore’s signature events. Special ticketed events will be held in the lead up to March 14, such as the Farm Gate Tour, Progressive Dinner, Celebrity Chef Masterclass and more. To find out more about Eat the Street go to www.eatthestreetlismore.com.au

With more heavy rain forecast for the Northern Rivers area, and an initial flood watch now in place, you’d be sensible to think about what your flood plan is going to be, if you haven’t already done so. With 50mm of rain predicted for today and an unpredictable weather system leading into the weekend, Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecaster Helen Kirkup said, “it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the BoM warnings over the next few days”.“BoM has issued a Severe Weather Warning for heavy rainfall - and the Wilsons River at the moment could see some moderate flooding,” she said. The NSW SES Lismore Unit’s message is “to stay calm, keep informed as the system develops and prepare for the possibility of flooding.”“This is especially important for people in low lying areas or with stock that may need to be moved.”Read more: Bureau of Meterology issues initial flood watchRainfall map over the past 24 hours. Source: http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood/northcoast.shtmlMs Kirkup said the Lismore area will see heavy localised rainfall for the next few days into the weekend, but the heavy rains might move toward the south into next week. “If it does, the Lismore area will still see consistent shower activity,” she said.“At the moment, there’s a broad weather system extending from south east Queensland. Easterly winds are bringing a lot of moisture across from a trough on the coast and focussing the rainfall on the Northern Rivers area - and a number of river catchments will be affected by this. “When we get these troughs, we can get embedded lows which can focus random high rainfall on certain areas - but there is good chance it will lessen over the weekend.“Anywhere with thunderstorms could see localised flash flooding.“Lismore could expect 50mm of rain today and 30mm on Friday, with less on Saturday, depending on what happens with the trough. Higher rainfall totals are expected on Sunday.”Ms Kirkup said the BoM was keeping a close eye on a tropical low developing off the east coast of Queensland, which was being driven by easterly air streams.“In the longer term, this could develop into a tropical cyclone – it depends how it develops – it’s hard to forecast because it’s such a broad weather system.“We are still fighting fires down in the south,” she said. “I knew this was the land of drought and flooding rains, but I didn’t think we would see it in the same fortnight.”Local river heights can be checked at http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDN60140.html#Wilsons_RiverFlood and weather adviceNSW SES offers advice on what to do before, during and after a flood: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/disaster-tabs-header/flood/Lismore Disaster Dashboard (an initiative of Lismore City Council) has links and information to help stay informed: https://disaster.lismore.nsw.gov.au/The Bureau of Meteorology has Warning Summaries: http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/and the radar: http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR281.loop.shtml

If you are planning to start university in 2020, avoid the last minute rush and lodge your claim for Youth Allowance or Austudy now. Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan said Youth Allowance provides financial assistance for eligible young people who pursue further study or an apprenticeship after leaving school. Austudy provides assistance to eligible students and apprentices aged 25 or older. “Claiming online is quick and easy, I encouraged students to apply now and avoid the last minute rush at the start of the new semester,” Mr Hogan said. “Claiming early gives new university starters the best chance of having their payment approved when their course begins.” “Eligibility for additional support will also be assessed. For example, students who move away from home to study may get the increased away from home rate of Youth Allowance.” Students are among the first to benefit from the large scale business transformation underway to modernise the delivery of government payments and services. “We know many students want to access services quickly, at a time and place that suits them. We’ve been working hard on improvements with this in mind,” Mr Hogan said “We’ve reduced the number of questions students need to answer when claiming. Students can now also let us know online when they start or stop working, instead of calling or visiting a service centre,” Kevin Hogan concluded. Other improvements include Digital Assistants ‘Sam’ and ‘Oliver’, which are available 24/7 to answer general questions about payments and help guide students through their online claim. These assistants have responded to more than 1.8 million queries since 2017. To apply visit;https://w ww.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/austudyhttps://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/youth-allowance-students-and-australian-apprentices

If you mourned the closing of Muzza’s Milk Bar last year, then you’ll be salivating to hear there’s a new candy shop on the block. Scoops and Candy will be opening soon on Keen Street, and owners Felicity and Philip Hyde said they’ve got the equipment from Muzza’s and will be serving milkshakes just the way you like them.“Maddy Powell who used to work at Muzza’s is coming to show us how to make the shakes - the way she made them at Muzza’s - but we’ll also be adding in a few new touches of our own,” Felicity said. Felicity and Philip already knew the owner of Muzza’s, Petria, (who has now expanded her shop Trea’s Shoes into the old Muzza’s location).Philip used to be Petria’s confectionery sales representative. So, when Petria was closing Muzza’s, Felicity and Philip saw an opportunity to keep Lismore’s love of lollies, icecream, milkshakes and chocolate alive.“Lismore still needs it,” Felicity said. “We also need a place that stays open later, where people can buy dessert at night. So, we thought opening a shop next to The Dirty Wilson restaurant on Keen Street would be great.”Felicity said Scoops and Candy could stay open until 10pm on busy nights, but would begin with a 7 or 8pm closure time.Felicity Hyde stacking the Valentine's theme chocolates on the new shop shelves.Right now, she’s stocking the shelves with all your favourite lollies and chocolate, including a range of special Darrel Lea chocolates for Valentine’s Day and Easter bilbies.The unique smell of sweets envelops you as soon as you walk in and you see your favourites on display – from UFO shaped wafers filled with sherbet to cola bottles, snakes, teeth and raspberries.“I love the puffy cloud sweets in different colours,” Felicity said. “They are chewy and sugary. “The ice cream’s in the shop’s freezer already, with flavours like banana bongo and hokey pokey.“And we have the fridge stocked with American brand drinks like Arizona and Dr Peppers.”Felicity has a background in food, having run flagship pizza stores in the past, and she is keen to open her lolly shop as soon as possible. “We are just waiting for Council to okay our food compliance, which will hopefully be any day now,” she said.Felicity and Philip also own and operate Black Tie Photobooths, and they are keen to bring one of the booths into the shop as a permanent fixture, where people can get a pic while they are in the shop and post it to Instagram. “You can follow Scoops and Candy on Instagram and Facebook and check out the latest about how we are going and which day we’ll open,” she said. Scoops and Candy is located on Keen Street, Lismore, between The Dirty Wilson and Shoppe One-17.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an initial flood watch alert for coastal rivers, including a moderate flooding warning for the Wilsons River catchment.The warning, issued this afternoon, states that river level rises above the moderate flood level are possible across the Northern Rivers area, with increasing rainfall expected along the coast from Thursday.A Severe Weather Warning of heavy rain has been issued for the Northern Rivers area.“As a low pressure trough in the area deepens, intense rainfall is possible for some areas,” the warning states.“Coastal catchments are relatively wet due to recent rainfall and high tides may exacerbate flood conditions in low lying coastal areas.”Catchments likely to be affected include Wilsons River with moderate flooding, Tweed and Rouse Rivers with minor flooding and Richmond River with minor flooding.Flood Safety Advice:This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.Flood Warnings will be issued if Minor Flood Level is expected to be exceeded at key sites along the main rivers for which the Bureau of Meteorology provides a flood warning service.Severe Weather Warnings will be issued or updated if very heavy rain is forecast or observed.For more information on the Flood Watch Service: http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtmlFloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.nsw.gov.auFor emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500For the latest flood and weather warnings see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/For the latest rainfall and weather forecasts see www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood

Love, sweat and tears is the catch cry for this year’s Samson Fitness Challenge on March 6-7, where teamwork can win the prestigious Samson Title.Rebekka Battista, organiser of the annual Our Kids fundraiser, said the catch cry was fitting because all team registrations had to be in by Valentine’s Day, February 14. “All the gyms in the area have members in training for it,” Rebekka said. “You need to have a good fitness level and if you are keen to do the challenge, you can hook into one of the gyms - or band together with others in your level of fitness. “Some runners groups are in training for it too – it’s all about teamwork and working together to win.”Rebekka won’t be entering herself in the Samson Challenge this year, as she’s “not back to her old self yet” after donating a kidney to her son Isaak late last year.“I run the whole event and it’s a Samson just setting it up,” she said. “If anyone wants to help volunteer on the Friday and Saturday of the event, we always looking for volunteers.”Rebekka said competitors were referred to as ‘Samsonites’ and could be seen out and about training around Lismore, running, flipping tractor tyres and doing burpees. “This year the 10th Samson and is one of Our Kids major fundraisers and the proceeds will go towards helping to purchase one of two wireless CTG machines to help monitor babies and mums during labour. This equipment is worth $40,000.” The Samson has four events: Samson Solo, Samson Teen Sprint, Samson Kids and the Samson Team Event. The team event has teams of four people completing 10 gruelling challenges including strength activities, running, swimming and an outdoor obstacle course. The event is based at Hepburn Park in Goonellabah and the run will take the competitors through the streets to the Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre for the swim leg then a run back to the oval where competitors will complete the last two fitness legs. The Fastest team will take home the Samson Title. The 41st Battalion Royal New South Wales Regiment (41 RNSWR) Lismore’s local Army Reserve unit will be there helping to marshal on the day along with over 100 volunteers - and there will be the GSAC Health Expo along with the Southern Cross University Recovery Zone that will ensure everyone is cared for. “The Samson is now 10 years old so we have a Mystery Leg to keep our competitors guessing that may include the number 10 …so watch this space” Jason Clarke, Team Samson organiser said. “The Samson attracts people from all over the state and South East Queensland who enjoy keeping fit and this event is a way to put your body to the test and at the same time help support local children.”  To register online, visit http://www.lismoresamson.com For more information, contact the Our Kids office on 6620 2705.

With more Japanese students arriving soon in Lismore, the Australia Homestay Network (AHN) is desperate to find places for them to stay.  AHN general manager Cris Rey said the students will be studying at Southern Cross University and need accommodation for two to four weeks.“We need another 15 homestays,” she said. “Households can receive between $245 - $275 per student per week for hosting the students.”“Some Japanese students prefer to be the only student in a household and that’s called a single homestay and the payment is a bit more.“Hosting an international student can be rewarding, but it’s a big commitment. “It’s a cultural experience for them and you need to be around to share meals with them and talk to them. It’s not just giving them a room.“You need to provide meals and give them transport to school and bring them back.“The community minded people who do it are not just doing it for the money. It can be very rewarding and provide company for families if they have young children or are retired.”“Because it’s a cultural experience for them, we like to feed them the same things we eat. So, if you have eggs and toast or cereal for breakfast, that’s fine – sometimes, they just like to eat rice. “For lunch, we often encourage people to make extra food the night before and give it to them for lunch. It’s good for them to sit around the dinner table with you and practice speaking English as part of the cultural exchange.”If you are interested in hosting an international student, Cris said AHN will send an interviewer to visit you and have a chat about what is needed. “You also need to be over 18 and have a working with children check,” she said. “Once you’ve hosted a student, it can be difficult to remember your life without them in it. In a very short time, people from opposite corners of the globe, so to speak, go from strangers to being family. We know from experience that most host families and their host students stay in contact long after the student returns home. “Whether it’s phone calls and Skype, email and letters, or return visits to Australia and trips overseas, not a week goes by when we don’t hear at least one wonderful story about how host families and their international family member remain connected for months, years, and even decades after their exchange experiences have ended.”For more information, you can phone 02 9264 0470 or email lismore@homestaynetwork.orgYou can also visit https://www.homestaynetwork.org/

Water restrictions in Nimbin have been lowered to Level 2 after recent rain and water savings by the community has seen the DE Williams Dam return to full capacity.“I’m sure this will be welcomed news by the Nimbin community who have been on stringent Level 3 restrictions since late last year,” Lismore City Councils director of Infrastructure services Peter Jeuken said.“I would like to thank the community for adhering to the restrictions and reducing their consumption by the target level.“Of course, we will continue to monitor the dam levels and flows in Mulgum Creek to ensure water supply to the village.The new Level 2 restrictions puts Nimbin on the same restrictions as the rest of the Lismore Local Government Area.“While this is good news for Nimbin, we urge everyone across the Lismore Local Government Area to continue to reduce their water consumption,” Mr Jeuken said.The bulk water fill point at Nimbin will remain closed at this stage.Residents are reminded that Rous County Council has installed a new public fill point near the saleyards in North Lismore. Under Level 2 water restrictions residents:• Can only use micro-sprays and drippers/sub-surface irrigation for a maximum of 15 minutes.• Hand-held hoses with an on-off nozzle can only be used for half an hour every second day, between the hours of 4pm and 9am on odd or even days matching your house number.• Other irrigation, such as sprinklers, and unattended hoses are banned.• Filling of new swimming pools is permitted, but topping up is allowed only between 4pm and 9am using a hand-held house with one-off nozzle.• Top up of fountains and water features is not permitted except to maintain fish life.• Washing of driveways, paved areas, walls, windows, roofs and paths permitted prior to sale or lease of property only with council approval. Not permitted for any other reason, except for health and safety. Must use high-pressure low-flow rate cleaner.• Washing of cars permitted with buckets or hand-held hose for ten minutes only between 4pm and 9am on odd and even days matching your house number. The same restrictions apply to commercial premises with the exceptions that:• Sprinklers can be used for up to 30 minutes per day for sports fields between 5am and 7am.• Market gardens, orchids, nurseries can use sprinklers or sprays for one hour a day between 5am and 7am, or 5pm and 7pm. For a Q&A on the restrictions, water hints and tips, and a factsheet please go to the news section of the council’s webpage http://www.Lismore.nsw.gov.au

With the threat of coronavirus spreading across NSW, the Lismore region is gearing up to deal with any potential outbreaks. Local Lismore Base Hospital staff have been briefed about the contagious and potentially deadly disease and today, Southern Cross University Health Clinic sent out a warning to patients to be aware of coronavirus alerts.Local schools are preparing too, sending warning letters to parents about the virus.Parents of children attending St Carthage’s Primary School and Trinity Catholic College received letters this week, recommending that any student who was in China over the past 14 days “should not return to school or childcare services this week as the incubation period of the coronavirus can be as long as two weeks”.“Students who returned to Australia more than 14 days ago, and have shown no symptoms should be able to return to school this week,” one letter said.“Staff and students who have been in close contact with a conformed case of Novel coronavirus should also be excluded from work and school.”A NSW Health Department spokesperson said the symptoms of coronavirus included fever, cough and sore throat.“If you exhibit any of these signs and you have been to mainland china, you should get tested for the virus,” he said. “The numbers of cases under investigation have increased as we have broadened the definition of the virus.“Symptoms can have a broader presentation of mild to severe and self-isolation is recommended as an additional precaution.“You should also practice good hygiene and wash your hands regularly.”As of today, Tuesday, February 4, there were four confirmed cases of coronavirus in NSW, 29 under investigation and 170 cases already cleared. The NSW Department of Health has also issued the following warning: If you arrived in Australia after 1 February after travelling to, or transiting through, mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) you must isolate yourself at home for 14 days after you left China.If you are sharing the home with others, as much as possible, you should stay in a different room from other people or be separated as much as possible. Wear a surgical mask when you are in the same room as another person and when seeking medical care. Use a separate bathroom, if available.Make sure that you do not share a room with people who are at risk of severe disease, such as elderly people and those who have heart, lung or kidney conditions, and diabetes. Visitors who do not have an essential need to be in the home should not visit while you are in quarantine.Other members of the household are not required to be isolated unless they have also travelled to, or transit through mainland China, arrived in Australia after 1 February after travel to, or are a contact of a case.You should restrict activities outside your home/hotel, except for seeking medical care. You should not go to work, school, or public areas, and you should not use public transportation, taxis or ride-sharing services.When in quarantine, you should monitor yourself for symptoms. Watch for:* fever* cough* shortness of breath (difficulty breathing)other early symptoms to watch for are chills, body aches, sore throat, headache and runny nose, muscle pain or diarrhoea.If you develop symptoms and it is a medical emergency (e.g. shortness of breath at rest or difficulty breathing) you should call 000. Alert ambulance staff of your travel/contact history.If you develop symptoms that are not an emergency, you should call your doctor, or your local Emergency Department or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Tell the person when you call that you have been in mainland China. Call ahead before visiting a doctor or emergency department to ensure your health facility visit is managed safely.More detailed information is available from http://www.health.nsw.gov.au including Chinese translations.

The Public Service Association (PSA) is not giving up on Lismore’s lost half day public holiday. Today, the PSA launched the Give us a Break campaign to bring back the Lismore Race Day holiday.The half day holiday was axed late year by Lismore City Councillors, who voted not to continue with the September public holiday after debating it in a Council meeting.  PSA Northern Regional Organiser Asren Pugh said the PSA is concerned about what the loss means for workers in the area.“We are concerned about the loss of a public holiday across the Lismore area and the loss of the penalty rates that go with it,” he said. “The argument that scrapping the holiday is some sort of ethical stance against horse racing is a red herring.“The race will still go ahead, the only thing to change is that local workers will lose their half-day holiday or their penalty rates.”Mr Pugh said the PSA was not concerned about when the public holiday was – it could be on any day of the year, including as a public holiday for the Lismore Show. “Council can look at it,” he said. “But losing that injection of cash from penalty rates into the community is a big loss – that extra cash is then spent in the town.“A public holiday is an important time for all local workers in the Lismore area – it gives the workers of Lismore a break. “Many people in our community are supporting people in bushfires and they deserve a break.”Mr Pugh said the PSA was writing to all Lismore City councillors asking them to support a recission motion and overturn last year’s decision. He said the public holiday issue would return to the next Lismore City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, February 11, when councillors debate a motion to overturn the original decision.“We will address Council at next Tuesday night’s council meeting about the issue,” he said. “We can get this holiday reinstated – but we need to demonstrate to councillors just how much it means to the Northern Rivers community.”An online petition has been set up, and people can sign it by going to https://www.megaphone.org.au/p/saveourlismoreholiday. 

Yesterday evening's storm was just a taste of what is coming our way in the next few days. So, today is the calm before the storm.The NSW SES has sent a warning for Northern Rivers residents to get ready for the possibility of heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms for Wednesday and Thursday and leading into the weekend.The Bureau of Meteorology are predicting slow moving thunderstorms across the Northern Rivers bringing heavy rainfall to localised areas with flash flooding possible. With the possibility of wet weather on the way, NSW SES Deputy Zone Commander Mark Somers urges residents to prepare their homes. “Bring in or secure any outdoor items in the yard or on the balcony, check your gutters are clear and your roof is in good condition, trim any overhanging branches and take care when travelling in poor weather conditions.” Mr Somers added, “The Northern Rivers has experienced drier conditions over the past 12 to 18 months and this rain event will be a welcome relief to many.” “NSW SES urges residents and visitors to take care when driving in wet weather on the local roads and especially if you are driving in upper catchment areas where low lying causeways overflow and are dangerous to cross when flooded.”“Its important that drivers slow down as roads may have trees, branches and debris covering them.”NSW SES reminds people to never drive, ride or walk through floodwater as this is the main cause of death during floods. The NSW SES and Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) are continuing to monitor the weather system closely. Abra Shabren from the BOM said "there will be not much shower today but we should be aware of heavy rainfall and thunderstorm activity through Wednesday and Thursday". "There is a slow moving thunderstorm system originating on the coastal areas and slowly moving inland", he added.The BOM rainfall prediction is for 25-70mm tomorrow with Thursday delivering another 25-80mm. The rainfall will lessen on Friday and into the weekend.Stay alert this week, listen to any updates and advice and monitor the Bureau of Meteorology website on www.bom.gov.au or through the Lismore App weather buttons (Weather / Weather Radar)

With some areas of Lismore still without power after last night’s storm, Essential Energy has reported it is currently assessing the damage in order to restore power. Essential Energy spokesperson Raelene Myers said 6000 customers were affected by power outages last night, but the majority had been reconnected to the electricity supply. “Customers are still especially affected in the north east of the Lismore area,” she said.  “We have about 300 customers still off at the moment and we are working on getting them back up” Ms Myers said. “It’s taken a bit longer because we had crews on stand down as they worked last night.“We have them back on the ground now and we hope to have supply restored to the majority of customers later today.“Some customers may not get power back on today and we will contact them by text message, if we have their mobile numbers on record.“Last night’s storm caused significant damage and blew down power lines and damaged a power pole.“The storm damage has affected individual properties and we have to go property to property to check them and assess the damage.“With about 300 affected customers, we may not get through all of them today.“Essential Energy thanks customers for their patience while we assess the widespread damage.”Ms Myers said Essential Energy would continue to post updates about any outages on its website.

Start decorating your shop windows, because Purple Week is coming.Lismore is going purple for cancer on February 17 and your business could win the inaugural Purple Week trophy from the Cancer Council.Today, Tuesday, February 4, is World Cancer Day and Lismore & Villages Relay For Life committee chair Leanne Thompson is calling on local businesses to help with promoting the annual Cancer Council Relay For Life fundraiser in March. “Purple Week is about raising awareness and having fun,” she said.“For the week of February 17 to 23, we are asking Lismore businesses to decorate their shop windows purple and help get the message out about the event on March 28 and 29.“It’s important that we get the community involved in attending the event and raise money and awareness of the services the Cancer Council makes available in the local area – like the free Cancer Council Information Service at St Vincent’s Hospital, the free Transport to Treatment service assisting local people getting to appointments and free financial and legal assistance to local patients.Already, 40 businesses have registered for Purple Week, but Leanne wants to see more involved.“If you register your with us, you can be in the running to win the Purple Week trophy,” Leanne said. “The best dressed window wins.“You can also decorate your window without registering, but you won’t be in the draw to win the coveted trophy.”Managing pharmacist Dan O’Connell of Chempro on Woodlark Street was the first to register his business to go purple.“It’s good to be involved,” Dan said. “We are a community pharmacy and it’s a great program to be on board with,” he said.Leanne said the boys at The Boys Hair and Makeup are already planning how the window their will be dressed, but it’s still a secret. The Library is on board too, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Lismore Shopping Square.If you register, the Purple Week team will deliver a kit to you with purple streamers, balloons and posters - and Relay For Life shirts can be borrowed to put up in the windows as decorations.“We are also encouraging businesses to hold a workplace fundraiser that week to assist us raise the vital funds needed to continue to provide essential Cancer Council services to our local community,” Leanne said. “You can hold an office morning tea, a team BBQ, a dress-up day or have donation boxes in your business during this time.”The Lismore & Villages Relay will be held at Southern Cross University, Lismore Campus and will feature entertainment while the Lismore community celebrates, remembers and fights back against cancer. For more information, visithttp://www.cancercouncil.org.au/lismorerelayTo register your business for Purple Week, contact Leanne on 0419 695 636 or Erin on 0490 912 323.Read more: Cancer doesn't rest: Relay for Life calls you

The storm that has swept through area has cut power for almost 2000 properties in Goonellabah since 7:30 pm.The NSW Bureau of Meteorology issued a Severe Storm Warning for the Northern Rivers and Essential Energy said power was cut to 1934 properties in the Goonellabah area and crews were trying to restore power. Nimbin and the Channon had also been hit by power cuts.

A severe thunderstorm warning has just been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology for the Northern Rivers damaging winds and large hailstones.Weather Situation: A trough over north-eastern NSW is slowly tracking east combining with very moist and unstable conditions will combine to bring thunderstorms to the northeast today.Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Woolgoolga, Sawtell and Dorrigo.98 km/h wind gust was recorded at Grafton Research Station around 4.20pm.The 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.

If you are living with type one diabetes, soon you will have free access to a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system.Federal member for Page Kevin Hogan said the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system measures glucose levels without the use of lancets, test strips and blood, which will make life a lot easier for those who live with type 1 diabetes.“The Federal Government is investing $300 million in the initiative,” Mr Hogan said. “Without Government subsidy, the cost would be $92.50 every two weeks for the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system – over $2,400 per year.” A sensor worn on the back of the arm connects to a reader or mobile phone application, which in turn stores glucose levels day and night to help people manage their diabetes, and avoid dangerous hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia. “We are also streamlining the eligibility criteria, to increase the number of Australians who can access fully subsidised glucose monitoring devices through the CGM scheme to 58,000 people, up from 37,000. An extra 21,000 people with type one diabetes,” he said. Mr Hogan the clinical criteria for people with type 1 diabetes aged 21 years or older, and who have concessional status will be simplified. The scheme will kick in on March 1, when the Government will provide fully subsidised CGM products to a wider range of Australians, including:• Children and young people, under 21 years of age, with type 1 diabetes. • Children and young people with conditions very similar to type 1 diabetes, such as cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and neonatal diabetes, who require insulin. • Women with type 1 diabetes who are planning for pregnancy, pregnant, or immediately post-pregnancy. • People with type 1 diabetes aged 21 years or older and who have concessional status.

The mercury has hit a sweltering 38 degrees today in Lismore. But the heat is not expected to hang around, with a possible severe thunderstorm predicted for later, and wet days to come.Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Abrar Shabren said a low weather front moving into the Northern Rivers area was pushing the hot air ahead of it.“Conditions are expected to ease off overnight and tomorrow should be mild with temperatures in the low to mid 20s,” he said.“There is the possibility of a severe thunderstorm today and we might see strong gusty winds and rainfall.“Tomorrow, the cool change will bring a 90% of rainfall with about 10-30 mm rain and thunderstorm activity.”Mr Shabren said from Wednesday onwards, widespread rainfall was expected and would continue throughout the rest of the week.“This is due to a coastal trough lingering along the north which is expected to deepen and drag tropical moisture over us,” he said.“There are wet days ahead of us, with more likelihood of gentle thunderstorms and heavier bursts of rainfall.”So, if you are heading out, don’t forget to pack your umbrella!

Community organisations are encouraged to apply for grants to support their volunteers.The grants provide small amounts of money that organisations and community groups can use to help their volunteers, such as purchase equipment like laptops, pay fuel costs, train volunteers and improve their fundraising.The objectives of Volunteer Grants are to:• Help community organisations to support the efforts of Australia’s volunteers• Help community organisations to support the inclusion of vulnerable people through volunteering.• Encourage, support and increase participation in volunteering.If you would like assistance, please call the Community Grants Hub Hotline on 1800 020 283 or email support@communitygrants.gov.au.More information about the Community Grants Hub can be found on the Community Grants Hub website https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/volunteer-grants-activity-2019-20Please quote 2018-2647 – 2019 Volunteer Grants when you phone or email the Community Grants Hub.Applications close Monday, 6 April 2020.

Lismore nurse Leanne Seiffert is one of the many caring nurses working at Lismore Base Hospital. Now working as a nurse manager in peri-operative services at Lismore Base Hospital, her story of how illness steered her on to a career as a nurse is one the many that celebrate 2020 being the World Health Organisation’s International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Leanne had never had anything to do with illness, let alone hospitals, before choosing nursing as a career. As luck would have it, within her first six months of training at Lismore Base Hospital, Leanne found herself on the other side of the equation, getting her appendix out. “I came from a family who were quite healthy, and I had never actually set foot in a hospital,” Leanne said. Born and bred in Lismore, Leanne said being a Girl Guide helped form her caring outlook that eventually drew her to nursing, but it was her first experience as a patient that taught her the true value of great nursing care. “I had a fantastic Enrolled Nurse who looked after me,” Leanne said. “During that stay in hospital I really got to learn how important it is to listen to your patients, and what you can actually do as a nurse to make their stay a lot better.” Starting out as a junior Registered Nurse in 1984, Leanne worked her way up over the years, and is now the Nurse Manager of Lismore Base Hospital’s Peri-Operative Department, overseeing five surgical units including the Operating Theatres and Day Surgery. During her 36-year career, Leanne has become a multi-skilled nurse and educator, working across anaesthetics, recovery and as ‘scrub scout’, retrieving surgical instruments for the surgeon during a procedure. As a young nurse, the excitement of being a part of big cases helped fuel Leanne’s passion for the job. “We used to get a lot of complex trauma cases come through, and quite a few where you’d have two teams operating at the same time in the theatre. Our theatres back then were so tiny, but it was amazing what you could do in those spaces.” “I was here in the 1980s when we had the two very old theatres. In 1992 we moved into the new theatres, and we thought it was amazing to have such a big space with four theatres!“In no time at all we’d outgrown it, and now, to move over to the new facility, it’s just amazing.” Technology and infrastructure has changed a lot over the years, bringing benefits for patients as well as staff.  In the new LBH theatre complex, Leanne’s team are now working with the latest technology in state-of-the-art surroundings. “With the new theatre and the vascular work that we do, we’re no longer opening up patients for major surgery. We can use non-invasive techniques and it means we can operate on patients who before you might have said were unfit for surgery. “Now they can have that procedure and get a better quality of life.” Even though she chose to stay close to home, Leanne said the possibilities for anyone going into nursing are endless. “It gives you so many opportunities, there are so many different areas you can go and work in. You can continue to broaden your skills, and it’s a profession that can take you anywhere in the world.”