Colemans Bridge in North Lismore will be closed for the next three weekends from this Saturday (November 30) due to maintenance work by the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).The bridge will be closed from 7am Saturday to 6pm Sunday each weekend until December 15.The RMS will carry out the work, which involves restressing the stress laminated timber deck, strengthening trusses, replacing the existing traffic barrier, repairing the bridge surface and walkways, and repainting the bridge truss and walkway handrails.Weekend closures will resume after the Australia Day long weekend in 2020.

At the peak of the recent bushfire emergency in the local area, Salvation Army volunteers were feeding about 180 displaced people from Nimbin communities every day. These volunteers, who were instrumental in helping out evacuees from the recent Mount Nardi bushfires near Nimbin, today met with Shadow Minister for Seniors and Volunteers, Jo Haylen.Ms Haylen visited The Salvation Army headquarters and the Lismore Showground, where she heard about the work done by dedicated locals who gave their time to help others in the community.Salvation Army Lieutenant Reverend Philip Sutcliffe said about 20 Salvos volunteers coordinated assistance and made meals for the people staying at the Nimbin Showgrounds evacuation centre. “We had limited facilities when the bushfires were on, so we did a lot of the food preparation in our kitchen at our Goonellabah premises, then took it out to the Nimbin showground,” he said.“We needed an indoor work space to protect our volunteers from the thick smoke that they would be exposed to in the evacuation site.”“We work year round and are always on call in emergencies – from floods to fires.“We prepare about 1800 meals a year with food donated from our major sponsor Woolworths and the recent bushfire emergency also saw local business supplying boxes of fresh produce.“We’re always looking for more people to put up their hand to help out and volunteer.“This time of year, we are usually preparing for floods, but there’s no rain and we’re instead preparing for the different challenges of fire preparations."MP Jo Haylen meets volunteers at Lismore Showgrounds.VolunteersSalvos kitchen volunteers Norma Elsley and Kathy Preston spent hours in the kitchen preparing salads and food for evacuees at Nimbin Showgrounds.Norma’s parents were ministers and she said she has been a volunteer all her life. Every week she helps out at the Salvos - whether it’s in emergencies or preparing Christmas hampers or whatever is needed. “Volunteering is rewarding - you feel you are doing something for someone else,” Norma said. “Sometimes all people need is someone to listen to their problems, not fix them.“Talking to them about their problems is the best thing.”Sandra is one of the coordinators at the salvation Army in Lismore. She works six days a week with a limited pool of volunteers – doing everything from coordinating the food pantry, to answering the Salvos Connect Helpline (1300 371 28).She said she’s there to help people with whatever emergency assistance they need or to connect them to the right services. “It’s important that people know there’s someone out there who cares, and we try to help them,” she said.  “I have a great team of workers.” The Salvation Army Lismore also played a key role in responding to the Busbys Flat Road-Long Gully Road bushfire which claimed two lives and destroyed dozens of homes and a sawmill in the village of Rappville in the Richmond Valley LGA, as well as the Mount Nardi National Park bushfire, which continues to burn.Strengthen communitiesMs Haylen said the volunteers who come together in times of need “strengthen our communities”.“I’ve already been to the Lismore Showground and it was amazing to see the assistance given to people and animals there,” she said.“With the increasing fires and flood threat it’s great to see community stepping up, and supporting the RFS and SES on the front line.“On the home front, these volunteers help with shelter and emotional support. “It is draining emotionally and these volunteers play a big part in supporting people’s mental health - from the disaster chaplaincy program with the salvos, to neighbours looking out for each other.“While many for these volunteers have been out helping others their own homes and families have been threaten by the fires. “It is truly inspiring to hear that despite this they continued to work for our communities.“I have no doubt that without the dedication of so many volunteers across the Northern Rivers, the outcome would be far worse.”Centralised coordinationThe recent bushfire emergency saw a need for centralised coordination of information and services – which was absent at the immediate beginning of the bushfires. While the Rural Fire service and State Emergency Service were on the ground coordinating the fire response, they had little extra resources to help with coordination of everything else – from feeding the volunteers to pooling donations.In Nimbin, the local community quickly came together after the initial emergency bushfire community meeting on the Sunday. Nimbin local Diana Roberts was approached by members of the local community on the Tuesday to take on a coordination role and ensure everyone had access to information and know where to go to for help.Other locals who were instrumental in coordinating on the ground fire fighting in and around the Tuntable community have been documenting their approach to tackling the emergency in order to share it with other communities in the future. Rev Sutcliffe said having a national volunteer emergency services army would be a great way forward in a times of increasing fire and flood threat.“It would be great to see a group of local people available in crisis times and in the recovery afterwards,” he said.“It’s in the recovery afterwards that tradespeople are needed to help people get their lives back on track.“At the moment the ground is so dry that when we do get rain, it’s not going to soak in and we’ll likely see floods next.”Ms Haylen said in times of emergency there’s a high level of coordination needed, and we need to learn from our experiences at the community level.“This is our reality now that we are facing, and we need people in place to support these ongoing challenges.” 

Almost 40% of at risk men are diagnosed with HIV only once they are in the late stage of infection. With statistics like these, Northern NSW Local Health District is urging people at risk who’ve never been tested for HIV or haven’t had a test for more than a year, to get one done, and help eliminate the spread of HIV.Manager of HIV and Related Programs, Jenny Heslop, said HIV Awareness Week (23-30 November) is a good opportunity to take a test.“HIV testing is simple and confidential. There are now a variety of HIV tests available including free tests,” Ms Heslop said.“You can get tested at your local GP or sexual health service. Or, if you want to test yourself at home, the Dried Blood Spot testing kit can be delivered to you and results are sent back by text, email or phone.”“People at risk of HIV, particularly men who have sex with men, can now use a combination of prevention methods to reduce their risk including taking HIV Pre- Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and using condoms, which are available for free.”NSW has made significant progress towards the goal of virtually eliminating HIV transmission by 2020, with a 13% drop in the number of new diagnoses in NSW between January to September, compared to the previous five-year average.NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said this reduction is due to more people seeking early testing and treatment and taking steps to prevent HIV transmission including the use of PrEP.“A late HIV diagnosis can be life-threatening and increases the chances of passing on HIV to sexual partners. Early diagnosis means you can receive treatment, live a long, healthy life and prevent transmission to others,” Dr Chant said.Between January to September 2019, 159 men who had sex with men were diagnosed with HIV in NSW. Of these men, 45% had not had a test in the past 12 months and 18% had never had an HIV test.“With almost 40% of these men diagnosed with HIV in the late stage of infection, we are urging those at risk to get a test,” Dr Chant said.The NSW Government has committed $22.4 million in 2019-20 to strengthen testing, treatment and prevention with 47 state-funded Sexual Health Clinics also making testing easily accessible.For information on HIV testing, visit http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/hiv-test or call NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 (Free-call).

Southern Cross University (SCU) Bachelor of Media graduate Emily Page (24) is a budding filmmaker now on her career path - and she's excited about changes to the SCU media program next year.Thanks to a new partnership between SCU and the screen industry association Screenworks, future filmmakers will have an advantage and receive a complimentary 12-month Screenworks Regional Student Membership.Emily has been a member of Screenworks for five years and said the Screenworks membership gave her a leg up.“Screenworks put me in touch with many opportunities, including working on Deadlock, a five-part web drama series for ABC TV and ABC iView that premiered last year,” Emily said.For her internship on the set of Deadlock, Emily’s was Production Office Attachment and Runner. She was paid a wage while working alongside the highly experienced film crew from Every Cloud Productions. “The experience helped me bridge the gap between being a student filmmaker to a professional. I now also have an industry credit to my name,” Emily said.“And through my involvement with Screenworks, I have been able to gain other work opportunities in reality TV and feature films.” Emily says that despite Lismore being a regional area, the film culture and talent in the area is huge. “This region is such a creative space. I never realised there were so many creative people condensed into one area before I moved here.” The partnership between SCU and Screenworks aims to promote and advocate for media and communications students in regional, rural and remote Australia. Despite the fact that many of the Bachelor of Digital Media and Communications live in rural and remote areas, they will still be able gain exclusive insights into how the screen industry operates, explore latest innovations.This includes tailor-made, screen-related development and networking opportunities with some of Australia’s leading industry figures. Professor Mark Hughes, Dean and Head of the School of Arts and Social Sciences, said it’s a great thrill for staff and students to be involved in this partnership. “Advancing the screen industry in regional and rural areas is a goal shared by both Screenworks and Southern Cross University,” he said. “The Northern Rivers in particular attracts many screen projects and crews given the area’s natural beauty and incredibly rich creative communities. “We want to make best use of the opportunities currently available and build capacity in the industry. “This can happen by investing in the next generation of screen artists and workers.” Screenworks Chief Executive Officer Ken Crouch said regional voices and stories have always been popular in Australian film and television. “Through the Screenworks partnership with Southern Cross University we look forward to supporting the development of new regional voices and talent and connecting them with the national and international screen industry which can provide work opportunities and career pathways for the students,” she said.Screenworks is a registered charity that provides support, leadership and vision for the regional screen industries in Australia. It has a particular focus on the industry cluster in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Bachelor of Digital Media and Communications students will now receive these benefits: • A panel discussion at Southern Cross University in 2020 about how to build a regional screen industry career. It will feature professionals from the Northern Rivers. • Discounted prices to Screenworks events and programs throughout the year, along with the opportunity to apply for Southern Cross University’s Career Pathways Programs and Global Connect Programs. • Industry mentoring for two students each year. Complimentary 12-month Screenworks Regional Student Membership

The Northern NSW Local Health District 2019 Annual Public Meeting will now be held on Tuesday, 10 December 2019 from 2pm to 4pm at Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club. The meeting was previously scheduled for 13 November but was postponed due to the bush fire situation. All residents are invited to attend the meeting, which will include presentations from Chief Executive, Wayne Jones, and Board Chair, Dr Brian Pezzutti on a range of matters including the health district’s performance and achievements over the past year, plans for the future, and an update on the Tweed Valley Hospital development. There will be an opportunity for the community to ask questions, and staff with more than 45 years’ service in the health district will also be recognised. If you had already registered for the original date and plan to attend on 10 December, you DO NOT need to re-register. If you had already registered for the original date and are unable to attend on 10 December, please let organisers know on (02) 6624 0333 or email nnswlhdengagement@health.nsw.gov.au If you have NOT already registered and would like to attend on 10 December, please register online by 3 December via Eventbrite: https://nnswlhd_10dec_meeting.eventbrite.com.au Afternoon tea will be provided following the meeting. Attendance is free, but registration is encouraged for catering purposes. For more information, contact Ged May, Community Engagement Manager on (02) 6624 0333.

Students, farmers and people who had lost their homes in the recent bushfires converged outside Kevin Hogan’s office on Friday to talk about climate action.Molesworth Street in the Lismore CBD saw a crowd of people rally – bringing a message to the Federal Member for Page that the government needs to act now on climate change.Lismore student Alako Miles said the community and school students want the local member to know that climate change is an important issue and Mr Hogan should bring the interests of Australia into the heart of Liberal Party politics. “Scott Morrison should take action on climate change as it is affecting people everywhere in Australia, rural and metropolitan,” Alako said.“This rally gives a voice to people who are directly affected by bushfires here in the Northern Rivers and we are also writing letters to Mr Hogan and telling him our concerns. “We need our government to change its policies. “We need to see stronger action taken to stop mining.“Australia’s G20 ranking is one of the worst in the world.“When we students join the global strike, we bring these demands to government: No new coal, oil and gas projects, including the Adani mine; 100% renewable energy generation and exports by 2030; and fund a just transition and job creation for all fossil-fuel workers and communities.”Maddy Rose Braddon speaks.Maddy Rose Braddon addressed the crowd saying that she was striking from work today.“People are becoming depressed and displaced by the climate crisis,” Maddy said.“It’s no longer something that will happen in the future.“Who has been breathing in smoke from the bushfires for the past two weeks?"Who has evacuated because of bushfire or flood?“Who knows someone whose house burned down because of the bushfires?“A few years ago I met with Kevin Hogan to talk about these issues, and told him how ridiculous his policies on climate change were.“Now we are back here again and nothing has changed.“We all need to take action together.”The rally was part of a national climate change action taking part in many cities across Australia.

As teenagers across the state begin to celebrate the end of exams with parties and Schoolies Week, NSW Health’s STI experts are reminding teenagers to stay safe. According to the NSW STI Data Report 2018, there were more than 30,000 chlamydia notifications last year, an increase of 7% compared to 2017. People infected with chlamydia often do not have symptoms and if not properly treated chlamydia can cause serious complications. NSW Health’s Acting Director Communicable Diseases, Dr Christine Selvey, said more STI cases are being detected due to increased and better targeted testing, as well as likely increases in the number of infections. “Condoms are the best protection against STIs, so if you have unprotected sex it is important you see your doctor for testing,” Dr Selvey said. “Many STIs don’t have symptoms, but are often easy to treat if caught early, so it’s important not to delay testing.” A useful NSW Health resource for parents and teenagers heading off to Schoolies is the NSW Sexually Transmitted Infections Programs Unit’s NSW Play Safe website: https://playsafe.health.nsw.gov.au. “While Schoolies Week should be a fun time after the stresses of exams, look after yourself and your mates,” Dr Selvey said. “This is particularly important if you consume alcohol, as being intoxicated can have significant consequences and lead to increased risk taking like unsafe sex. “Always keep track of how many drinks you’ve had and remember that mixing alcohol and drugs is dangerous and increases personal risk.” The NSW Government has committed $22.4 million in 2019-20 to strengthen testing, treatment and prevention with 47 state-funded Sexual Health Clinics also making testing easily accessible. For information about STI testing and support, call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink https://www.shil.nsw.gov.au/ on 1800 451 624 (Free-call). For information about particular STIs, see the NSW Health fact sheets https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/Pages/default.aspx For information about how parents and carers can provide advice to teenagers at Schoolies, click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-Y3lx_5tto&feature=youtu.be

Although there are bush fires still burning in the Nightcap National Park to the east of Nimbin and backburning continues to consolidate containment lines, for most of us life has been returning to normal. The advice is to still stay away from visiting the National Park for many weeks.It is time to support the communities that were devastated by the recent Mount Nardi fires and you can do that by getting into towns and buying goods that put money into towns.The Blue Knob Markets were closed last weekend but re-open tomorrow at 719 Blue Knob Road from 8:30am to 11:30am. Fresh fruit and vegetables, seedlings and delicious foods for breakfast is whats on offer. Go and vote with your feet.The Lismore Farmers Markets is also on tomorrow from 8am to 11:30am.Then Sunday the Nimbin Markets are on for the first time since the fires at 81 Cullen Street from 9am to 2pm. Christmas is closing in fast so check out the recycled inventions, crafty arts, clothes, furniture and much more.This Sunday is Workday at the Gardens for the Friends of the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens at 313 Wyrallah Road, Lismore from 7:30am to 11am. You can help maintain the gardens in great shape and meet the other volunteers as well.A few dates to put in your diary coming up;The Lismore Speedway has their third race meet next Saturday night and the annual Carols In The Heart is on Saturday December 8 at Crozier Field.Weekend weather is war with 31-32 degrees both days and unfortunately no chance of rain.That is the Weekend Wrap. Enjoy.

Not-for-profit organisations and existing or start-up businesses can apply for one of the new Community and Business Grants from Summerland Credit Union.The grants will give successful applicants such as schools, sporting organisations, social clubs, and community events access to funds of up to $5000.Applications close on Friday, November 29.More information about the application process and eligibility criteria can be found on the Summerland website at https://summerland.com.au/community-grants or contact Bruce Parry on 1300 802 222.

A Koonorigan man who produced a Queensland driver’s licence with a hospital address has been charged with traffic and licence offences by Richmond District Police.Police from the Rural Crime Investigators will allege that on Saturday, November 16, they saw a 36 year old Koonorigan man driving a van along Snow Street in Lismore. The man produced a Queensland driver’s licence.Police investigations revealed that the Koonorigan man has never lived at the Queensland address (which was a hospital), and has been living at Koonorigan for some time.A search of his vehicle revealed three Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN's) on the dash of his vehicle. None of the VIN's have ever been registered to the Koonorigan man's vehicles.He was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for Resident Not Obtain NSW Licence and Knowingly possess identity plate not on correct vehicle. His vehicle was also issued a Red Label defect.He will appear at Lismore Local Court in January. 

An 11 year old girl who is believed to have been bitten by a snake is in a critical condition.The girl was taken to Lismore Base Hospital yesterday, but when her condition worsened, the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter was called take her to Queensland Children’s Hospital.The medical team stablised her condition before transporting her to the children's hospital, where she could receive specialist care.

Lismore councillors will again have to debate about the Special Rate Variation (SRV) at next Tuesday’s council meeting.Yesterday, a recission motion was lodged by Councillors Casson, Battista and Bennet. Crs Casson and Bennett were two of the councillors who voted against introducing the SRV at the extraordinary council meeting two days ago.The recission motion means that the council must delay sending to Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) the recommendation to increase property rates by almost 25% over four years, until the issue goes back to council again.With councillor and community opinions divided on the introduction of the controversial property rates increase, Councillor Battista said he hopes that bringing the issue back to a council meeting will give the community a chance to express their disappointment or thoughts before the meeting. “The recisison motion needed three signatures and Cr Casson and I went to see Cr Bennet yesterday to get him to sign it too, then I dropped it off at council,” he said.At the last meeting, three councillors were absent and the vote to introduce the SRV was won with five councillors voting for it, and three against.Cr Battista said he hopes all of the councillors will be at the next meeting when the issue is again discussed.“I encourage everybody to come to council and share their views between between now and Tuesday,” he said.“We need the community’s support behind us.“I advise everyone to look at their rates today and the amount and work out what they will be paying in four years if this SRV goes ahead and think ‘can I afford this?’.Cr Battista said people should question whether they believe council can really deliver on the road works which the extra revenue will fund.  “Last year, only 27% of the work was completed that was supposed to be. So 63% of that has been deferred to this year and on top of that, next year they want four million.“How can they manage this work and money when they can’t spend it every year on the roads like they are supposed to.“It’s a matter of trust and the council needs to build trust with the community before going back to them with any increases.“This is the wrong time - we are between floods and drought and fires and the economic crisis. Things are not going well.“It’s a bit risky to go ahead and charge more to an already super charged community.“The people mostly affected will be pensioners, single parents and people on Centrelink who won’t see more than maybe a 2-3% increase in income.“We’ll be taking money people who can’t then afford to spend money in local businesses. “I ask, why did council spend $70-100K on a consultation with people and ask them what they thought about it, and when they say no, say we’ll ignore it and send the decision to IPART.“IPART does make the final decision, but we can decide not to go ahead. “They have no idea what’s happening in Lismore.“If the recission motion doesn’t pass, we can’t put another one in for three months - and the decision on the SRV must be lodged with IPART by November 30.“Unless we reverse the vote next Tuesday, we will have a SRV.”

The regional water supplier, Rous County Council is implementing Level 1 water restrictions to the area early in an attempt to reduce overall water consumption by 5%. Normally, the trigger point for introducing restrictions is when Rocky Creek Dam reaches 60% capacity, according to the Council’s Drought Management Plan. Now, water restrictions will kick in when the dam reaches 70%.The dam is currently at 75.6% capacity and it is expected it will reach 70% by the end of November.Water consumption has been more than 20% higher across the Rous supply area for October and November - more than the same period in 2018. Council may apply higher restrictions if the target of 5% reduction is usage is not achieved within a reasonable timeframe.The decision was made at an extraordinary Council meeting yesterday and in conjunction with Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Richmond Valley Councils. Restrictions apply to Council’s direct customers and the local government areas it services with bulk water: Ballina (excluding Wardell), Byron (excluding Mullumbimby), Lismore (excluding Nimbin) and Richmond (excluding Casino and all land west of Coraki). Rous County Council chair Cr Keith Williams said the decision is a prudent one. “Applying Level 1 water restrictions before Rocky Creek Dam reaches 60% is a signal to the community that we need to make water conservation an everyday part of our lives,” he said.“The decision has been based on falling dam levels, declining inflows into Rocky Creek Dam, a poor outlook for rainfall for summer, community sentiment that restrictions were required and water restrictions being in place for most of our neighbouring towns and council areas. “A rapid drop in water levels at Rocky Creek Dam combined with a drier than average outlook for the rest of spring are the primary reasons for restricting water use now. “It’s essential we reduce demand now to prolong our water supply. “If dam levels drop further or reductions in consumption are not met, we could be looking at higher level restrictions. “We urge people to reduce their water usage now to delay the introduction of tougher water restrictions. “Water carters will be unaffected by the restrictions. “It is vitally important that this service continues to provide drinking water to the many parts of our community that aren’t serviced by reticulated water. “Rous will continue to work with water carters and our constituent councils to improve access to water to reduce waiting times where possible.Level 1 residential water saving measures include: watering established gardens with hand-held hoses fitted with an on/off nozzle for one hour every second day, between 4pm and 9am on odd or even days matching house numbers topping up swimming pools permitted between 4pm and 9am using hand-held hose fitted with an on/off nozzle washing cars with hand-held hoses permitted between 4pm and 9am on odd or even days matching house numbers. Compliance with the water restrictions is reliant on the community acknowledging the need to reduce their water consumption and reducing the wasting of water, particularly on outside use. To find out more about water restrictions and dam levels on Council’s website. click here: https://rous.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-OWX-54-47-20To find out more about what the water restrictions are for residential urban and rural properties, public facilities, and business and commercial properties, click here: https://www.rous.nsw.gov.au/page.asp?f=RES-QKD-14-08-70

Children and teenagers who would like to be on stage in the pantomine Puss in Thongs are invited to audition on December 7.Puss in Thongs is the next children’s production of Lismore Theatre Company (LTC) and will be coming to the Rochdale Theatre in the April 2020 school holidays. The pantomine’s director Danica Taylor said Puss in Thongs puts an Australian spin on a well known story.Danica is the teaching director of The D-Vine Drama Company that provides after-school drama classes for children and teens on the Northern Rivers. Danica loved directing last year’s Happily Never After pantomime and she in the cast on the LTC stage in the 2018 production of Cagebirds.  Puss in Thongs will be produced by Jade Johnston and LTC rising star Katie Knowles will be assistant director. This Pantomime that puts an Australian spin on a well known story, is sure to be another hit with audiences.  The production team is seeking 20 children and/or teens to attend the pantomine’s audition at the Wollongbar Community Hall on December 7 from 12.30pm. Potential cast members will need to be available on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings in February until the school holiday performances in April 2020.  For more information or to request an audition package, e-mail Jade – jaderjohnston@gmail.com or Danica – dvinedrama@gmail.com  

Summerland Tool Supplies owner Santé Verardo (aka Butch) and Jeff Little donned pink shirts and held a fundraising bbq yesterday on Pink Tradie Tuesday.They joined the many businesses in the Lismore Industrial Estate flying pink streamers and balloons in a show of support for cancer awareness organisation Jodie’s Inspiration. "i know lots of people who have died from cancer," Butch said. "We always like to hold a fundraiser for this each year."Pictured: Lismore City Council got together for Pink Tradie Tuesday.Jodie’s Inspiration committee member Sally Sullivan said while cancer is a serious issue, the day was meant to be fun.“Everyone has a bit of pink hiding at home, it’s a good chance to get it out and wear it,” she said.“Every third Tuesday in November, we hold Pink Tradie Tuesday.“It’s important that we get men more aware about cancer too. Men often don’t go and get tested.”Pictured: Lifeline staff get into Pink Tradie Tuesday.Sally had been distributing pink tins for money donations to 126 businesses in the area which had registered their support for the cause.“We ask tradespeople to put in a gold coin donation and wear pink,” she said.“Furniture Wiz on Casino Street held a morning tea today too to raise money.”Jodie’s Inspiration is founded by Jodie McRae with the aim of raising funds to help purchase essential and non-essential medical equipment and resources for Lismore’s oncology units. Jodie’s Inspiration also seeks to promote the importance of early cancer detection and awareness.Pictured: Furniture Wiz staff got together for Pink Tradie Tuesday.Jodie McRae is a Lismore local who was diagnosed in May 2013 with a rare aggressive form of triple negative breast cancer. After being given the all clear in December 2013, Jodie was diagnosed in September 2014 with secondary breast cancer and then launched Jodie's Inspiration in mid-2015. Run by volunteers, all the money from the charity is invested in supporting the local area.Its first goal was to raise money to fund cold cap therapy machines, which keep the scalp cool during chemotherapy so cancer patients do not lose their hair.Jodie and her team wish to raise funds and awareness to bring Jodie’s Inspiration’s mission to life.For more information, visit http://www.jodiesinspiration.com.au/ or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jodiesinspiration/Southern Cross Credit Union staff.CASPA employees.

Tuntable CoOp community resident Teresa Biscoe (aka Biskit) has already returned to her home after the recent Mount Nardi bushfire caused her and her family to flee.She is one of the many Nimbin residents affected by the bushfire in the heritage listed Nightcap National Park, which is now at a watch and act advice level.Teresa said Lismore City Council and the Rural Fire Service issued a directive stating residents could return home.“But we are now still doing spot fire patrols on affected hamlets and maintaining communications and striker rosters so we can handle any fires that cross the containment lines,” she said.“Falling trees still pose a significant hazard and we are doing an ongoing assessment.”The Tuntable community is the largest community in the Nimbin area, with 137 homes on the property.Thankfully, only two buildings were lost, but the community’s water infrastructure pipelines were damaged.“It will be a huge job to replace,” Teresa said.Pictured: Charlie Cohen from Nimbin Rural Fire Service was one of the tireless workers who was instrumental in coordinating the fire fighting efforts."And it was the amazing and heroic effort by the young men and women in Nimbin, the wider community and the RFS that saved so many homes.“At the moment, we are researching where we can get external financial support and we have a Tuntable / Nightcap Fire Nov 2019 gofundme page set up to seek assistance from the wider community."Click here to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/tuntable-nightcap-fire-nov-2019?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheetTeresa said the community's treasurer is looking into the community's finances, but their budget is limited.“We have decided to allocate payments to key people involved in the management and organisation of the emergency response," she said.“These people took time off work time off work and we want to allocate funds to them so they can document the organisation they did.“We organised quite well and that’s why we saved so many homes.“The people who worked with us were experienced and trained enough to work with the RFS and go into places the RFS was not able to access due to their protocols.”Max Pike, another Nimbin local who was instrumental in coordinating the fire fighting effort said the best tool in a home defender’s arsenal is a leaf blower.“They can cut control lines back to bare earth and can also be used to fight fires," he said in a Facebook post. "I highly recommend a petrol model as in a fire you may lose power and not be able to recharge batteries. Plus, you can use them to clear your gutters."GenerosityTeresa said she was also involved with the local Country Women’s Association (CWA) which worked with the local firies and RFS to provide food and help where it was need through the emergency.“The CWA in Lismore was awesome – their compassion was incredible and the wider community has been so generous throughout this emergency,” she said. “The generosity in Lismore and all over was overwhelming. We received so many boxes of food and things donated to us.“Bunnings donated fire equipment and the Thai shop at the university provided all the meals to the RFS one night.“All of us will be making a list of all groups who provided assistance and we want to thank Casino RFS central control for the incredible support we were given.“This is indicative of what communities in this region are capable of when we work together.”Coordination and sharing informationNimbin’s overall fire emergency coordinator Diana Roberts said her job was scaled back now.“Most of the people in communities affected by the fires have gone home now - with one exception on Siddah Farm where they still need to bring trees down,” she said.“The evacuation centre at Nimbin Showground may close tonight once the last few people go home.“Now, I’m sharing information as much as possible and following up on requests from people not resourced to it.“The ongoing message from the Rural Fire Service (RFS) is to be vigilant. “I’m also talking to Lismore City Council who want to support us in disposing of waste generated by the fire, but as a community we don’t have a lot of that.”Pictured: Protestors Falls. Teri Nicholson reported on Facebook that some parts of the Protestors Falls area remain unaffected by fire.Diana said she stepped up as coordinator on the Wednesday after the fires started after being approached by locals to take the job on after “a frantic Tuesday”.“It would have been good to have that central coordination in place at the beginning, but it’s a good lesson for us that we are now sharing with the Uki community in response to their fire emergency.“It should be a small group of people with access to all different lines of communications and networks, because the people on the ground are so busy.“The people in Tuntable are already documenting everything into a plan for working on disaster relief.“This is the way forward for all communities in the future.“We think we’ve learned a lot and we can bring that plan to fruition in floods or fires, or whatever disaster comes, so we are better organised.“Our organisation says a lot about the strength of our community.”Diana said one of the things that could have been done better was how to share information with people who don’t use social media. “Our reception out here is so dicey, so the internet is not a great option.“We used to use CBs, but a having a mobile phone and a phone network is important. “At Tuntable, they have a warning siren. The community is as big as Nimbin and they have a school and a shop and a fire brigade. “Other communities can learn from that too.”Diana said the amount of support that was still being offered to people who had helped out was huge.“We had people offering massages to the firies,” she said. “There are government support services and counselling activities with children who are traumatised.“Everybody is exhausted. It’s emotional exhaustion rather than physical and its testimony to our strong resilient community that we’ve pulled through.”

A man has died following a single-vehicle crash near Nimbin yesterday.About 4.50pm on Tuesday, November 19, emergency services were called to Stoney Chute Road, Stoney Chute, about 8km west of Nimbin, following reports a utility had struck a tree.The driver, believed to be a 38-year-old man, died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified.Officers from Richmond Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

NSW Health is again reminding people to take necessary precautions in periods of hot weather and poor air quality to reduce their risk of illness, with heatwave conditions forecast for parts of the state this week. The forecast heat will potentially break November records, while health risks will be compounded by smoke from bushfires which continue to affect large parts of NSW. NSW Health Director of Environmental Health, Dr Richard Broome, urged people to avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day, to minimise physical activity and to keep well hydrated. “We’re expecting temperatures over 40 for some rural areas of NSW and the high 30s for western Sydney. This is the first really hot period of summer and I’d encourage everyone to take the risk of heat related illness seriously,” Dr Broome said. “We know that heatwaves cause severe illness, hospital admission and even deaths, and that people are more sensitive to heatwaves early in the season. The combination of heat and poor air quality adds to the risk.” “Hot weather puts a lot of strain on the body, causes dehydration and can make underlying health conditions worse. It also causes heat stress and heat stroke. People over 75, people with chronic medical conditions and people who live alone are particularly vulnerable.” “Simple precautions can reduce the risk of heat-related illness,” said Dr Broome. “It’s best to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, which is generally from about 11am to 4pm. Staying indoors also protects you from bushfire smoke. If you don’t have air conditioning, using a fan can cool you down and keeping curtains shut helps to keep the heat out of your home. It’s also important to minimise physical activity and to drink plenty of water. “It’s also really important to stay in regular contact with elderly neighbours, friends and relatives because they may be more vulnerable to the heat. “Signs of heat-related illness include dizziness, tiredness, irritability, thirst, fainting, muscle pains or cramps, headache, changes in skin colour, rapid pulse, shallow breathing, vomiting and confusion,” he said. Dr Broome said it’s important to get to a cool place quickly if symptoms occur. People showing severe signs of heat-related illness should seek urgent medical attention, in an emergency situation call Triple Zero (000). More information can be found at the NSW Health website: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat

A new service which provides free psychosocial support to people with moderate to severe and/or episodic mental illness is available in Lismore.The service, Footprints2Wellbeing, can be accessed by anyone aged 12 and over who is not registered for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and who has intermittent moderate to severe mental illness and reduced psychosocial functioning.The new $1 million mental health service is delivered by Healthy North Coast through their North Coast Primary Health Network (PHN) funding, part of the Australian Government’s PHN program.Healthy North Coast chief executive Julie Sturgess said signs of reduced psychosocial functioning can include experiencing difficulty maintaining personal or family relationships, housing, employment or other daily tasks, as a result of poor mental health.Footprints2Wellbeing staff are based in Lismore, Grafton, Ballina, Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, and also support people in surrounding areas and in smaller local towns via outreach visits. Around 500 people are expected to benefit from these activities which will be available to community members who do not already have access to similar supports. Many people experiencing significant challenges with their mental health have difficulty achieving their goals within the community. North Coast PHN’s 2018 Needs Assessment identified that people within the region with severe mental illness had a number of unmet needs. These include loneliness (68%), daytime activities (67%), psychological distress (57%), employment/volunteering (52%), relationships (36%), budgeting (36%), looking after the home (32%) and transport (31%). Footprints2Wellbeing manager Stuart Nunan said that not only would people with significant mental health challenges be able to access both individual and group capacity building activities, they would also be able to access NDIS application support. “This program will go a long way towards helping people struggling with day-to-day activities,” Ms Sturgess said.“So many things that we take for granted, people with severe mental illness find very difficult. “It’s very normal that people could benefit from coaching to enhance their everyday functioning and social capacity. “We would like to reduce the stigma that can sometimes prevent people from reaching out for help.”  What is Psychosocial Support? Psychosocial support aims to address both the psychological and social needs of individuals, families and communities. Some of the ways the Footprints2Wellbeing service will help people living on the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW include supporting community members to: • recover from mental health challenges through group and individual sessions.• develop their capacity to live productive and meaningful lives• access education and supports to relevant to the management of alcohol and other drug issues• live a healthier lifestyle by providing information and training relating to healthy eating and regular exercise• develop daily living skills such as budgeting, cooking and shopping• access and navigate housing, employment and education services• develop the skills for maintaining positive relationships with other people• apply to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) if desired. The Footprints2Wellbeing service is being delivered by a group of local partner organisations led by The Buttery and includes Wellways, Rekindling the Spirit and Werin Aboriginal Medical Service. These organisations will collectively service the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie. Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan said “psychosocial support can include mental health counselling, education, spiritual support, group support, and many other such services.”“The services are a critical component of our mental health care system”, Mr Hogan said.“They will make a dramatic difference to many people who are currently struggling to get through each day.”\The Government has made a strong commitment to the mental health of all Australians, and is ensuring people from all walks of life have affordable access to the services and support they need now, and in the future.  If you or someone you know would like to find out more about Footprints2Wellbeing, you can self-refer or simply get in touch for more information. Phone The Buttery 02 6687 1111 during weekday business hours.