A major coalition has sent a powerful message calling for immediate action to address the mental health crisis in agriculture.Norco Co-operative has joined thirty other rural and healthcare organisations to launch a joint statement to address the crisis disproportionally affecting people in agriculture.Ahead of a federal budget and election, the coalition is calling on the Government to make an immediate investment of $50 million over five years to address the crisis.Norco Chief Executive Officer Michael Hampson comments that the National Farmer Wellbeing Report, that the 100% farmer owned co-operative launched in partnership with the National Farmers’ Federation in 2023, really shone a spotlight on the severity of the issue of mental health in agriculture, and highlights why this funding is so vital. “We knew that farmer mental health was an important area of focus that needed much greater attention. However, the data that we uncovered was incredibly confronting and made it abundantly clear that the issues at hand across our country were much bigger than what Norco could solve on its own. The welfare of our farmers need a whole of industry and government approach if they are to be addressed in a truly meaningful way. “Compounded by what our farmers have endured over the past several years in terms of natural disasters and debilitating weather events – which are predicted to be more frequent and severe by climate experts - Norco has made an unwavering commitment to do everything within the co-operative’s power to champion the importance of improved farmer wellbeing, which is why this coalition and call to action is so critical.“As an industry and as a nation, we simply owe it to our farmers,” he said.Dr Tim Driscoll, Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland Section’s State Manager – Mental Health, and Chair of the steering committee leading this initiative, said the statistics are sobering.“A farmer dies by suicide every 10 days. That’s up to twice the rate of the general working population,” Dr Driscoll said.“Poor mental health and suicide is having a devastating impact on rural families, communities and businesses right now, and we need federal help to fix it.“The wellbeing of people in agriculture is impacted by increasingly complex and compounding events like weather and natural disasters, financial stress, and geographic or social isolation.”National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke said farming could be tough and there needed to be the right resources in place to help them deal with the challenges thrown at them.“A farmer’s greatest asset isn’t their land, livestock or produce; it’s their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of the people around them.“It’s clear the unique mental health needs in agriculture are not being met by existing services, and we need Government to give us a leg up so we can turn these devastating statistics around.”Associate Professor Kate Gunn, a clinical psychologist and founder of ifarmwell, Associate Professor Kate Gunn, ifarmwell, based at the University of South Australia, said it’s a crucial time to invest in the wellbeing of Australian farming communities.“There is an urgent need for coordinated, farmer-friendly, evidence-based approaches to address this critical issue,” Assoc. Prof. Gunn said.ifarmwell is one of the organisations that has endorsed the joint statement for urgent action.“As someone who has worked in the field of farmer wellbeing for more than 15 years, this is the closest we’ve been to finding a meaningful way to bring together farmers, industry bodies and other organisations to address farmer mental health,” Assoc. Prof. Gunn said.“While the philanthropic sector has been generous to date, support from the Australian Government is crucial to quickly and impactfully reach farmers with evidence-based initiatives, on a national scale.”The principles outlined in the Joint Statement emerged from the National Forum on Mental Health and Wellbeing in Agriculture in March 2024, and have been refined by a Steering Committee convened by The National Farmers’ Federation.To join the coalition and support mental health and wellbeing in agriculture, contact the National Farmers’ Federation: 02 6269 5666 or reception@nff.org.auIf you or anyone you know needs help:ifarmwell at https://ifarmwell.com.au/farmer-friendly-mental-health-resourcesLifeline on 13 11 14Farmer Health Support Hub at https://farmerhealth.org.au/support-hubKids Helpline on 1800 551 800Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Headspace on 1800 650 890ReachOut at au.reachout.comMensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) on 1800 008 774Head to Health at headtohealth.gov.au

The growing number of electric vehicle (EV) owners in Lismore and the Northern Rivers may or may not realise a possible benefit of owning certain EVs during a blackout, like many realised during Tropical Cyclone Alfred.Winds howled around us for a few days, with strong gusts knocking down trees that brought down powerlines, causing blackouts for over 43,000 homes and businesses, some for quite long periods.While those who experience regular blackouts may have a petrol or diesel-powered generator, some EV owners were purchasing a V2L (vehicle to load) cable that allows them to run the essential electric items in their house through an adaptor. The same way a caravan or generator would, with extension chords and power boards.This system cannot be used to power your home on a permanent basis, that will eventually be done by a V2G (vehicle to grid) setup, which is currently only legal in South Australia. This would be where your car powers your house instead of a house battery. The issues surround feeding electricity back to the grid, which we are told can be stopped if you really want to pursue that avenue. The rest of NSW residents will have to wait for legislation to change, and we know how quickly that system works.According to a local solar provider, powering your home appliances, such as fridges, computers, and internet devices, takes a minimal charge. As reported in the Lismore App's Talking Lismore podcast series, the average EV battery is about 5-7 times bigger than a home solar battery.Unfortunately, this option is not available for all electric cars. EVs with V2L technology are: BYD: Atto 3, Seal, Dolphin, Shark 6Kia: EV5, EV6, EV9, NiroMG: ZS EV, MG4 Hyundai: Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6Ford: F-150 Lightning, Ranger Genesis: GV60, GV80Mitsubishi: Outlander GWM: Cannon Alpha Renault: 5 E-Tech Peng: G6Zeekr: XThe other disadvantage is that your EV would need to be fully charged when the power goes, so it is dependent on how you use your EV.V2L cables can be purchased from the vehicle manufacturer, and through cheaper sources, but do your research first.The recommendation is to order your cables when there is no storm, because as the storm approaches, the queues get longer.

The Northern Rivers Conservatorium is excited to announce the launch of its new First Nations Music Program, a groundbreaking initiative led by the highly acclaimed Bundjalung artist Blake Rhodes. This program is designed to provide First Nations artists with a dedicated platform to share their rich cultural heritage, stories, and music with the broader community. “We are absolutely thrilled to have Blake Rhodes leading this important project,” said Anita Bellman, Executive Director of the Northern Rivers Conservatorium. “Blake’s deep connection to both music and his community, combined with his experience as a respected artist and mentor, will ensure that this program is culturally authentic, impactful, and inspiring for all involved.” The First Nations Music Program will feature a diverse range of classes and workshops, covering everything from music production and songwriting to storytelling and creative expression. “I’m incredibly excited to contribute to this program and to share my passion for music with my community,” said Blake Rhodes. “Music is a powerful tool for connection and storytelling. I hope this program will empower and uplift the next generation of First Nations musicians and creators, especially those from the Bundjalung nation.” The First Nations Music Program will officially launch in April 2025, with three days of dynamic songwriting and music production workshops for Aboriginal youth aged 14-21, held at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium. For more details about the program or to register, please contact Blake Rhodes at FirstNations@nrcac.edu.au or call 02 6621 2266.

"We feel good. We feel exhausted. But I think overjoyed to finally have our occupation certificate and be living in the house." These were the words from Jo and Brendan Kilburn as their three-year epic journey from Pine Street, North Lismore to Modanville is nearly at an end.Nearly because there is a deck to build between the Kilburn's Pine Street house and the original house on the block, plus some landscaping as they look to take advantage of a magnificent rural view.(Jo and Brendan's new view in Modanville)Jo and Brendan's story was first documented on the Lismore App in June 2024 when another couple, Stacey and Ben Wilder, and the Kilburn's were moving their buyback properties to higher ground, much higher ground, in the northern village of Modanville."We feel like we've won the lotto, we really do. We were so very lucky that we were in a position to be able to do it without having to wait for the Resilient Lands (Program)," Jo said.Brendan joked, "We're still Northie's though."In the original story, Jo said they were one of the last families in Pine Street that were rescued because there were people more vulnerable. "It was probably chest height on me when we got rescued."After the effects of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the event reassured Jo and Brendan that they absolutely made the right decision."The relief that you don't have pack up underneath your house and hoping that the high tide doesn't come through, you know?," Jo said.Brendan said it had been a big three years, "But particularly the last eight months getting this place up and running after the relocation, definitely. Putting in every afternoon and every weekend."So there hasn't been much break or much time off, really, since July, when we relocated," Jo added, "We've had the odd weekend here and there, but it's pretty much been full on. Home from work, we had a list of jobs that needed to be done, and then it was every afternoon going, right, what are we ticking off today? And every weekend, what are we ticking off today?"(The cottage at Modanville (top), the finished home, and the Pine Street house before it was moved. Photo" supplied)While there are a few more items to tick off before their new home is complete, Jo and Brendan will not have a break but the pace at which they work will change."We'll just take things a lot easier now that we've sort of crossed that hurdle (occupation certificate). We'll just push on and try and get things done, but not at the pace we were working at before."Brendan joked the final two elements (landscaping and deck) will be finished in 20 years.The one word to sum up the last three years? "Herculean"When the occupation certificate was approved, Jo, Brendan and their son Blake had to wait for Harry (who graduated from Trinity last year) to travel down for the weekend so the champagne could be popped and the celebrations could begin.While they have friends living in North Lismore who are waiting for the North Lismore Resilient Land to come on the market, for Jo and Brendan, the wait is over and normal living, or close enough to normal, can begin.

The Premier of NSW, Chris Minns, sang the praises of Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, at yesterday's media announcement following Ms Saffin's swearing in as the new Minister for the North Coast, Minister for Recovery and the Minister for Small Business."There's not many MPs in the New South Wales parliament with more experience. I don't think there's any with more experience than Janelle," the Premier said."I also can't think of an MP that's got more energy than Janelle Saffin. And the combination of those two things are fantastic, both for the people of New South Wales and our government.""We know that the Northern Rivers has been hit hard in recent months, in recent years, with natural disasters, with floods, with real anxiety that the community has felt trying to get back on its feet in extraordinarily difficult circumstances, but throughout that entire period, there's been steady but relentless and energetic leadership from Jenelle Saffin, often with sharp elbows, often with a very forthright and persuasive argument, but always with the best interests of her community at heart."When we had a position that became vacant, the choice was just irresistible for the New South Wales Government, for myself, for my senior colleagues, when I did canvass people's thoughts within the government about who should fill this crucial position, it was near unanimous that it should be Janelle."She's got enormous respect from her colleagues inside the Labor Party and the government, but I think I can say, without fear of contradiction, also enormously respected across the parliament, from the opposition to the cross bench, she's what the state needs. And I'm very, very proud and happy to report that she'll be serving as a minister in this government."(Janelle Saffin with Premier Chris Minns. Photo: supplied)The accolades continued when Deputy Premier Prue Car stepped up to the microphone."It's been said time and time again, and the Premier said it, Janelle Saffin is the epitome of what an amazing local MP is, and that sort of relentless energy in a minister will be immediately noticeable in the portfolios that she has been sworn in to today, I can just already see her driving her agencies to make sure that they deliver for the people, particularly of the North Coast, that really have been through the ringer.When it was Janelle Saffin's turn to talk, she remained as humble as people would expect and looking forward to the challenges ahead."I firstly want to say thank you to Premier Minns for putting his trust in me to continue to serve on a broader scale, the people of New South Wales in these three portfolio areas. They are three areas that I have experience and familiarity with and I'll bring some of that to bear in all of those areas."The North Coast, of course, I've worked all over the north coast. I live in the Northern Rivers, my home, and it goes out to the Great Dividing Range in the hinterland, and of course, I have Tenterfield in my electorate, so I'll continue to serve, first and foremost, as a local member, but serve the people of New South Wales across these three agencies."In my role as Parliamentary Secretary, I was able to visit New South Wales and meet a lot of communities who've been in disasters and impacted, and even people who were still impacted by the bush fires, and I've continued to work with them. I've got to know some of those communities equally with small business, particularly since 2022. One of the things that came out of it was the closeness with community at large and the small business sector, and that's prevailed ever since."I'm connected with my local business chambers, but equally with the New South Wales Business Chamber. I've read their pre-budget submission, I'm quite familiar with it and the particular issues they have, so I'm here, and I'm pleased I got asked that question, are you proud? I said, No, I'm pleased, but equally, I recognise it's a privilege, and it's a privilege that I will take very seriously. Thank you."Ms Saffin said she her approach is about continuous improvement, so while nothing is perfect, she will continually strive to improve."I particularly want to focus on this trauma in my community, and given the events that happened in 2022, that's understandable, and it's right across the Northern Rivers, also the Central West and other places. So no matter what happened after it, the trauma prevails because of what happened on that night. Continue to support those people, but equally, working with business, our Northern Rivers Business Chambers, they have a small project on economic recovery. We're developing a master plan for the whole region that's done with the CSIRO, and then looking to particularly working to mitigate and adapt. And they're the areas that I want to focus on, because recovery is improved by preparedness."When asked about Janelle Saffin's longevity as a Minister in the Minns Government with two years to run until the next election, the Premier responded, "I just want to make it really clear in relation to Janelle, looks can be deceiving, but there is not a tougher, more resilient MP in Parliament than Jenelle Saffin, and she's not going anywhere, and we need her. I mean, the government needs her experience and her energy."There is no doubt that Ms Saffin has the energy of a 20-year-old.There will be some keen business owners wanting a conversation with Ms Saffin in her role as Minister for Small Business when she returns from parliament in a couple of weeks, to ask why there was no small business grant after Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

In a swearing in ceremony being held in Sydney this morning, Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin will be sworn in as the Minister for Recovery, the Minister for Small Business, and the Minister for the North Coast.Premier Chris Minns said, "Janelle is one of the most experienced MPs in the NSW Government. She has been instrumental in helping the Lismore community and surrounds recover from the 2022 floods, as well as the recent impacts from Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred. She has intimate knowledge of the workings of the NSW Reconstruction Authority and will be a very strong advocate and voice for the North Coast, as well as small businesses across the state.In other announcements, the Hon John Graham MLC will remain the Special Minister of State, the Minister for the Arts, the Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy and will permanently take on the role of Minister for Transport. The Hon Jenny Aitchison MP will become the Minister for Roads and the Minister for Regional Transport. Regional roads will now be incorporated into the Roads portfolio. As a regional MP Jenny Aitchison is well placed to ensure the needs of regional and rural communities are met.John Graham will continue to take carriage of the Government’s response to the toll review given the Government is mid-negotiation with toll companies about reforming the system.The Hon Steve Kamper MP will be sworn in as the Minister for Jobs and Tourism, in addition to his responsibilities as the Minister for Lands and Property, the Minister for Multiculturalism and the Minister for Sport. Emily Suvaal will also be appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Small Business.Parliamentary Secretaries perform an important role in supporting Ministers and driving action to deliver on government priorities in Parliament and Emily is an excellent addition to the team.These are important changes to the NSW Ministry that will ensure we continue to invest in essential services that people rely on, and build a better NSW.

Henry Boothroyd is two years old. He was born with a condition called Congenital Femoral Deficiency, which essentially is a deformity in the ball and socket joint of the hip.There is no known cause for the condition and it is not hereditary.Stephen and Hannah Boothroyd, Henry's parents, say the condition is very rare, affecting 1 in every 250,000 children, and even rarer when you consider Henry's subtype. In Australia, there are an average of 290,000 births per year over the last sixteen years.In layman's terms, Henry has one leg longer than the other. Not an insignificant amount like is the norm for most people, but by the time he becomes an adult, it will be 23 centimetres, so close to a rulers length.Right now, the difference between Henry's two legs is 10.5 centimetres. When he was born, the difference between his left and right legs was 2.5 centimetres.To live the life of a typical 2-year-old, Henry needs to wear a special boot with a raised platform that is adjusted every three months in Brisbane.(Henry in his adjustable boot. Photo: supplied)For many, amputation is offered due to the complexity of the condition, and the cost of surgeries that are only available overseas. They are not performed in Australia.Henry requires a SUPERhip procedure in Abu Dhabi in February next year. This is a complex hip reconstruction. Two years later, when Henry will be five, he will be heading to Florida, USA, for the first of three (3) lengthening procedures.Once diagnosed, which took four months, Stephen and Hannah discovered Dr Dror Paley, a Canadian-born orthopedic surgeon who specialises in limb lengthening and deformity correction procedures."He's the one that's created and patented this surgery, super hip, which is essentially a really long, complicated hip reconstruction," Stephen explained."We are comparing a hip replacement, which is an hour and a half under anesthetic, compared to seven hours under anesthetic for this. We are comparing six steps for a hip replacement to 60 steps for this."The procedure is being done in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) because only a few countries around the world will pay for their citizens to fly to the US for surgery with Dr. Paley."What these countries have done is that instead of sending their citizens there. They've just built their own facility for him to then fly in and fly back home. So he spends about a week there with all his team, anesthetists and other surgeons, and he'll do clinics and operate for about a week. So he's flying in and out of Abu Dhabi. He goes to Columbia, and he's about to open another one in China," Hannah said."We are confident he is the best guy for the job."Hannah said that she and Stephen met a Gold Coast father whose daughter was the first Australian to have the lengthening operation. She is 18 years old now. This man has supported about twenty other families to make the trip to Abu Dhabi.Stephen said that funding is not available for limb-saving treatment overseas; only life-saving, which means he and Hannah have had to start their own charity, the CFD Foundation, and begin fundraising.The cost for the procedures that will allow Henry to be like his friends and participate in activities like they do, is $570,000 over three years."Our son is a resilient and extremely capable young boy who (with the help of his boot) runs, jumps and climbs," Stephen said."The main thing he struggles with is any kind of climbing with it because he's got such a small femur. Lifting doesn't make the biggest difference, he's still got this big length from his knee down. And so getting into slide, if he doesn't do it the right way, he can't fit his boot in."Hannah added, "And also up things, like his climbing frame out there, because it's (Henry's boot) so chunky, a 10 and a half at the moment it is too big for the rungs. So, his boots are too big to even climb a ladder. Climbing up to go on a slide or something, he can't get his foot in and he'll want to take his boot off. But he's not in pain.""Our hope is that the CFD Foundation will be able to continue its work beyond Henry to help other families impacted by a diagnosis of CFD.$570,000 is an amount that would frighten and overwhelm most people, but Stephen and Hannah are not ordinary parents. They have grabbed the bull by the horns and have begun three years of a massive fundraising campaign.Since June 2023, when the CFD Foundation was launched, Stephen and Hannah have raised almost $135,000. A monumental effort, but still a significant $435,000 short of their total.The next fundraising event is a concert featuring well-known Australian performer Shannon Noll and his son Blake, plus popular local singer-songwriter Luke Vassella on Saturday, April 5 at the Lismore Workers Club between 6 and 10pm. Tickets are $80.Henry's first surgery, the SUPERhip procedure, will cost about $220,000. This is step one in a multiple step process.Until the surgery is performed in 2026, Henry and Hannah will travel to Brisbane every three months."They have to add a little bit more height to modify his boot because the leg length difference is always growing. Because there's a deformity in the growth plate, it doesn't just stay at two and a half centimeters when he was born. It's now 10 and a half centimeters, and it's always going towards the 23 centimeters. They add a centimetre every time we go up."The CFD Charity Concert will be held on Saturday, April 5, at the Lismore Workers Club. Tickets can be booked through the CFD Foundation website.

Back in August 2024, the Lismore App wrote an article about the Diocese of Lismore investing $27 million in the Lismore CBD through the building of a 29-townhouse complex and a new Catholic School Education Office in Keen and Orion Street.The townhouses were initially proposed to provide accommodation for healthcare professionals who were to be working at the new private hospital, the Diocese said it was looking at building opposite the Lismore Base Hospital. Those plans have no been scrapped.The shortage of accommodation for doctors, nurses and medical staff in Lismore remains, so its initial intentions may well remain.The townhouse site is 9,172 square metres and borders Keen Street and Orion Street (to the left of the roundabout). The site slopes down towards Coleman Street (near the Molesworth Street roundabout, where the old greyhound track operated pre-flood). There is an area of vacant land with shipping containers.The top of the site is surrounded by overgrown plants and weeds, with two houses on the site. The house on Orion Street will remain (shown above); however, the house with a Keen Street entrance will be removed.The development application (DA) said the 29-unit dwellings will be of modular design, so transportable. Fifteen (15) of the 29 will be stand-alone, and there will be a mix of 1-bedroom (5), 2-bedroom (16) and 3-bedroom town homes (8).It is proposed that 41 parking spaces be provided near Coleman Street, with driveway access from Keen Street and Orion Street. There will be a communal BBQ area and landscaping works.Conditions associated with the approval include building all habitable floor levels above the flood planning level, which is 14.03m, a Flood Evacuation Plan, and relocating the homes and associated structures like a caravan park and camping grounds if the habitable floor level is not achieved.As we wrote in August last year, Units 1 – 24 are flood-free during the 1%AEP_CC design event, and Units 25- 29 will have a maximum depth within the lot of 0.42- 1.58m (Figure 7) and a velocity of 0.01-0.05 m/s. These will need to be able to be moved during a flood event.(An aerial view of the new development)There would be some land flood-free in the event of a PMF, at around 17 metres.The second DA to be approved was the construction of a new Catholic School Education Office. To date, no plans have been viewed for this development. The DA pointed to a change of use for the old Trinity Catholic College site that fronts Dawson Street with Keen Street access. The building of the Catholic School Education Office is estimated to cost $8.4 million.This will be a staged development consisting of 5 stages, to change the use of existing buildings from an educational establishment to office premises and associated: · demolition works;· building alterations and additions (including building façade upgrades);· new driveway, additional car parking, tree removal, landscaping; and· a boundary adjustment subdivisionA DA approval has five (5) years to begin construction in Lismore. With these plans fast tracked for approval, it will be interesting to see if the Diocese of Lismore is keen to start work sooner rather than later.

From next Monday, March 17, all newborn babies in Lismore and the Northern Rivers will be eligible for free immunisation against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).It will mean all newborn babies in NSW can be protected against serious illness from this virus, with an estimated 1,150 babies under six months of age avoiding hospitalisation for RSV in NSW each year.   The NSW Government is expanding eligibility for infant immunisation from a more targeted vulnerable cohort.The NSW Government will offer nirsevimab, a type of monoclonal antibody immunisation to:Infants at birth not protected by maternal RSV vaccination;Infants at birth with certain medical conditions that place them at highest risk of serious RSV disease, irrespective of whether their birth mother was vaccinated; and Children up to 24 months of age with certain medical conditions.Nirsevimab will be given to eligible newborns before hospital discharge. Since February, pregnant women have been eligible for a free RSV vaccination (Abrysvo) which passes protection to their babies for the first fives months of life.Maternal vaccination for RSV is recommended for women between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.It is provided through the National Immunisation Program.With the combined coverage of free maternal vaccination and free infant immunisation, all newborn babies in NSW can be protected.RSV is a common cause of respiratory illness infecting up to 90 per cent of children within the first two years of life.It can affect anyone, but the infection is more severe in children under one year of age, who may develop bronchiolitis or pneumonia requiring hospitalisation.In NSW between 2016 and 2023, there were more than 52,000 hospitalisations with an RSV diagnosis, of which approximately 41 per cent were in children aged less than 1 year.Further information on how to protect yourself and others from RSV can be found on the NSW Health website here. NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “RSV can be very serious, and I know how stressful and anxiety-inducing such a condition can be for parents.“Today, we can announce that from next week, all newborns can access protection from RSV for free.“It doubles the options for protection of newborns, either through maternal vaccination or infant immunisation.“This will keep babies out of hospital, and at home with their family.”NSW Chief Paediatrician Dr Helen Goodwin said, “RSV can be a serious illness in babies and young children, and I want to encourage parents to make sure their babies are protected, either through maternal vaccination or immunisation at birth with nirsevimab.“Nirsevimab is safe and effective. It provides antibodies directly to the infant, so they have immediate protection against RSV that lasts for five months.”

New research from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, shows Australians' eating habits are on a downward spiral and without significant intervention the nation will fall dramatically short of its ambitious 2030 health targets. Findings from the new study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, predict the consumption of discretionary foods to surge, fruit intake will decline, and vegetables will remain well below recommendations over the next five years. (Australians are missing the target for two and five fruit and veg a day.)Key findings show: Discretionary food consumption (ultra processed foods and sugary drinks) will soar by 18 per cent by 2030. Fruit consumption will drop by nearly 10 per cent. Vegetable intake will remain stagnant at well below recommended levels. Young adults (18-30) are the only age group showing some positive trends, yet still consume excessive amounts of discretionary foods. The research also indicated some concerning trends for older Australians, with those over 71 showing the steepest projected decline in fruit consumption – a 14.7 per cent drop by 2030. Using predictive modelling techniques, CSIRO researchers analysed nine years of data from over 275,000 Australian adults to forecast future dietary trends and compare against the national targets.  Dr Gilly Hendrie, Senior CSIRO Research Scientist, said this innovative approach allows researchers to anticipate and address potential public health challenges before they occur, marking a significant advance in preventive health planning. "Predictive modelling gives us a powerful early warning system," Dr Hendrie said.  "Rather than waiting to see the impact of poor dietary habits, we can now identify concerning trends and intervene before they become major public health issues." The findings come as Australia aims to achieve nutrition targets of:  Two servings of fruit per day Five servings of vegetables per day Reducing discretionary foods to less than 20 per cent of total energy intake The targets are part of Australia's National Preventive Health Strategy (2021-2030), which identifies poor diet as a key risk factor for chronic diseases, as well as accounting for significant healthcare costs and reduced quality of life.  Improving access to and consumption of healthy diets is one of the Strategy's seven key focus areas, highlighting the critical role of nutrition in preventing chronic disease and supporting long-term public health. "The gap between our current dietary trajectory and our national health targets is widening," Dr Hendrie said.  "We have five years to get back on track with our diets and reverse these concerning trends.”  

New data released by Dementia Australia for Brain Health Week shows that Australians are largely unaware that common health issues such as hearing loss, depression and high cholesterol are risk factors for dementia.Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said that dementia is the second leading cause of death for all Australians and there are currently 433,300 Australians living with the condition.“Dementia is on track to become the country’s biggest cause of death within the next five years. While we cannot change getting older, genetics or family history, scientific research shows that looking after our brain health can make a big difference to reducing or delaying the risk of developing dementia,” Professor Buchanan said.A recent iPsos survey of Australian attitudes towards dementia, found that many Australians remained unaware that proactive steps can help reduce dementia risk.Last year, the Lancet Commission identified 14 modifiable risk factors that, if addressed effectively, could reduce dementia incidence globally by 45 percent.The risk factors include smoking, obesity and physical inactivity as well as factors such as hearing loss, high cholesterol and depression.“In fact, people with mild-severe hearing loss are two to five times as likely to develop dementia than those with normal hearing,” Professor Buchanan said.Peter, who lives with younger onset dementia, was shocked to learn that hearing loss could contribute to dementia, especially as he has lived with an incurable hearing disorder for the past two decades.“If we can get the message out there, to help people identify small changes they can make in their everyday – we might just save a life,” Peter said.He said his focus now was to live as well as possible with dementia.“I’m trying to live life to the full – playing golf, spending time with my family and friends, and getting out into the world.”Dementia Australia Honorary Medical Advisor Henry Brodaty AO led a recent three-year clinical trial that has definitively shown that looking after our brain health slows cognitive decline.The University of New South Wales Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing trial – ‘Maintain Your Brain’ – tested whether effectively addressing some of the modifiable risk factors for dementia resulted in better cognition in older adults over a three-year period.“The outcome was a resounding yes – we can improve cognition over three years and, therefore, likely enhance resilience to dementia,” Professor Brodaty said.Dementia Australia is urgently calling on the Federal Government to fund a national discussion about brain health and dementia prevention.Professor Buchanan said dementia was a chronic condition that could impact anyone, just like cancer, heart disease and diabetes.“It’s a chronic condition which must be treated with the same health investment as other major chronic conditions, Professor Buchanan said.“Dementia is the leading health, disability and aged care issue facing Australia. It impacts Australians across their life and nearly 30,000 Australians live with younger onset dementia. The research is clear that dementia is a condition that starts many decades before symptoms appear. So, it is vital that all Australians understand the importance of maintaining brain health throughout our lives.“It is never too early or too late to reduce your dementia risk.”Find out more about the modifiable risk factors that can make a big difference to your brain health: dementia.org.au/brain-health/reducing-your-risk-dementia.

Corndale Hall has been at the heart of the community for more than 130 years. Sadly, it washed away and was completely destroyed during the 2022 floods.Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan today announced that an elected Coalition Government would provide the $1,114,351 needed to rebuild the hall.“Community halls are so important to our country villages, they host everything from school concerts to weddings, scout groups and community fundraisers.”“The hall was tragically lost, but the community has rallied together to plan a rebuild that will meet modern standards while honouring its historical significance.”(Kevin Hogan with members of the Cornwall Hall Committee. Photo: supplied)“This funding will ensure the community can once again enjoy this important local asset.”“The Corndale Hall Committee has done an incredible job in getting the project to this stage, with development approvals in place and a clear vision for the future.”“This has been driven and supported by the local community and a range of local professionals who have in part, volunteered their services free of cost.”“The design of the hall has been completed voluntarily by local architect Steve Lampe, who has worked with the hall committee to design a hall sympathetic to the previous historical building but meeting modern building standards.”“The hall design has been guided by local structural engineers, Greg Alderson’s and Associates, who have volunteered their advice to date and have committed to assisting with post approval structural design required for the project.”The total rebuild cost is estimated at $1,653,211, with The Corndale Hall Inc. covering $538,860 through their insurance. The remaining $1,114,351 required will be funded through this election commitment.

The state’s peak farming group has welcomed a fresh crackdown on biosecurity controls in the wake of ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred.On Friday NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty announced measures to keep Red Imported Fire Ants out, with a temporary ban on soil and hay coming into the state from infested areas in southeast Queensland.NSW Farmers Biosecurity Committee Chair Tony Hegarty said recent footage of fire ant ‘rafts’ in Queensland’s Scenic Rim region had sparked serious concerns around the spread of the ants in the wake of recent flood events.“We’re seeing thousands of these deadly ants cling together and create massive rafts in Queensland floodwater,” Mr Hegarty said. “While these rafts haven’t been spotted in NSW as yet, floodwater does spread these ants about, and we can’t be careful enough when it comes to protecting our communities against these pests.”  If allowed to spread throughout Australia, it is estimated fire ants would cost the economy a total of $60 billion dollars in damages, with the ants known to attack livestock, people and pests. Fire ants are found in southeast Queensland and are known to gather together as large rafts in floodwater as a survival mechanism.As communities recovered from recent flood events, Mr Hegarty said the measures to stop the ants had come as welcome news to farmers on the front line of the threat.“NSW deserves a biosecurity system that is proactive and effective when it comes to eradicating extreme biosecurity threats – and that includes fire ants,” Mr Hegarty said.“A serious biosecurity regime is what we need the NSW Government to deliver, and we thank them for hearing us in this most critical hour.”

The Lismore Regional gallery has been closed since the artworks were evacuated offsite due to the severe weather caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the imminent threat of flooding in the Lismore CBD, which aligned with Lismore City Council's Emergency Management Plan.Council said that now flood waters have receded, its team has been working on reinstalling exhibitions, carefully unpacking equipment, and setting up the gallery. "This process takes time to ensure everything is appropriately handled," a council spokesperson said."The gallery will remain closed this weekend. We plan to reopen by Friday, 21 March at the latest." "Thank you for your patience and continued support. We look forward to welcoming visitors back to view proppaNOW: OCCURRENT AFFAIR, ARTEXPRESS 2025, and Aafia Ali Shah: To love the empty cup."

An international team of researchers is calling for urgent improvements in deepfake detection technologies after uncovering critical flaws in widely used detection tools. A study by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and South Korea’s Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), assessed 16 leading detectors and found none could reliably identify real-world deepfakes.  (Created by our researchers using Midjourney, these diffusion model deepfakes illustrate the increasing realism and sophistication of the technology.)Deepfakes are artificial intelligence (AI) generated synthetic media that can manipulate images, videos, or audio to create hyper-realistic but false content, raising concerns about misinformation, fraud, and privacy violations.  CSIRO cybersecurity expert, Dr Sharif Abuadbba, said the availability of generative AI has fuelled the rapid rise in deepfakes, which are cheaper and easier to create than ever before. “Deepfakes are increasingly deceptive and capable of spreading misinformation, so there is an urgent need for more adaptable and resilient solutions to detect them,” Dr Abuadbba said.  “As deepfakes grow more convincing, detection must focus on meaning and context rather than appearance alone. “By breaking down detection methods into their fundamental components and subjecting them to rigorous testing with real-world deepfakes, we’re enabling the development of tools better equipped to counter a range of scenarios.”The researchers developed a five-step framework that evaluates detection tools based on deepfake type, detection method, data preparation, model training, and validation.It identifies 18 factors affecting accuracy, ranging from how data is processed to how models are trained and tested.SKKU Professor Simon S. Woo, said the collaboration between CSIRO and SKKU has advanced the field’s understanding of detection model vulnerabilities.“This study has deepened our understanding of how deepfake detectors perform in real-world conditions, exposing major vulnerabilities and paving the way for more resilient solutions,” he said.The study also found many current detectors struggle when faced with deepfakes that fall outside their training data.For example, the ICT (Identity Consistent Transformer) detector, which was trained on celebrity faces, was significantly less effective at detecting deepfakes featuring non-celebrities.CSIRO cybersecurity expert, Dr Kristen Moore, said using multiple detectors and diverse data sources strengthens deepfake detection.“We’re developing detection models that integrate audio, text, images, and metadata for more reliable results,” Dr Moore said."Proactive strategies, such as fingerprinting techniques that track deepfake origins, enhance detection and mitigation efforts.“To keep pace with evolving deepfakes, detection models should also look to incorporate diverse datasets, synthetic data, and contextual analysis, moving beyond just images or audio.”The paper, SoK: Systematization and Benchmarking of Deepfake Detectors in a Unified Framework, was published in arXiv preprint. The paper has been accepted at IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy 2025. This paper is authored by Le, Binh M., Jiwon Kim, Simon S. Woo, Kristen Moore, Alsharif Abuadbba, Shahroz Tariq (CSIRO Technical Lead).The types of real-world deepfake types that outsmarted detectors:Synthesis: Synthesis deepfakes generate entirely new synthetic faces using AI-powered Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) or Diffusion models. They create an artificial identity by blending or generating facial features. These deepfakes are often used for creating realistic looking but non-existent individuals. For instance, a Diffusion model can blend the faces of two famous actors.  Faceswap: Faceswap deepfakes replace one person’s face with another in a video while keeping the original body and background. For example, they can make it look like a celebrity's face is on someone else’s body in a video.  Reenactment:  Reenactment deepfakes transfer facial expressions and movements of one person to onto another’s face in a video. This preserves the target person’s facial features but alters their expressions. They can be used to convincingly fabricate speeches or reactions that never occurred.  

Private Healthcare Australia says too many Australians are being hit with unexpected medical bills and excessive fees from specialist doctors who are sometimes charging more than $950 for a single appointment.A new survey of more than 5000 people by Patients Australia and Latrobe University has revealed one in five Australians are not attending appointments with specialist doctors such as psychiatrists, cardiologists and surgeons due to concerns about the cost. Under Australian law, health insurers are not allowed to cover these appointments if they don’t occur during a hospital admission, and doctors can charge whatever they think people in their community can afford. Dr Rachel David, CEO of Private Healthcare Australia, the peak body for the health insurance sector, said while most specialist doctors charge appropriately and fairly, there is increasing evidence that more are charging very high fees and billing inappropriately. Some are taking deliberate steps to avoid billing through Medicare and private health insurance channels so they can get away with charging patients additional ‘hidden’ fees. “We have heard reports of people being charged more than $950 for a single visit to a psychiatrist and more than $650 for a single visit to an obstetrician. This is understandably putting people off seeing specialist doctors when they need to, and it’s clearly putting untold numbers of people at risk of worsening health and crises that land them in hospital,” she said.  “It’s also wreaking havoc for private hospitals because people need to be able to see a specialist doctor to get referred into a private hospital for treatment. With 20% of people referred to a specialist doctor skipping attendance or declining treatment due to the cost, it is no wonder some private hospitals are struggling, and private hospital beds are sitting empty.  “We must get specialist doctors charging more reasonable fees if we want to address this unbalanced use of our hospital resources.”   Health funds and their members want the Federal Government to step in with a range of measures including an opt-out system for the Medical Cost Finder website, so all specialist doctors’ fees are disclosed to consumers to view before they book a consultation.  Australia also needs tougher laws to protect consumers from surprise billing for healthcare services. Common examples of surprise billing in Australia’s private system include anaesthetists sending quotes to patients in the days leading up their surgery, causing them to worry their procedure will be cancelled if they don’t agree to pay, and unexpected bills from doctors such as assistant surgeons after surgery. These undisclosed fees can be thousands of dollars. There are also reports of patients being advised of extra fees and charges by text message, which is not informed financial consent and is completely unacceptable. “There was bipartisan political support for the ‘No Surprises Act’ in the US, so consumers can confidently proceed with healthcare knowing they won’t get a financial shock at the end. If people do not receive a proper quote for out-of-pocket costs well in advance of planned surgery, or if financial consent is not provided or provided under duress, they should not be obliged to pay,” Dr David said. Fifty-five per cent of Australians (15 million people) are paying for private health insurance. These people are contributing to their own healthcare and taking pressure off our stressed public hospital system. They should be guaranteed protection from unanticipated medical costs. The Patients Association survey also found 60% of patients treated in private hospitals faced an out-of-pocket fee, with 70% being hit with one more than $500. The rate of out-of-pocket fees is much higher than the Government’s reporting, suggesting a lack of transparent billing. “We are very concerned about reports of doctors splitting up bills with separate ‘booking fees’ and ‘admin charges’. This means one bill is seen by the Government and the health insurer and the patient receives another bill that no one has oversight of,” Dr David said. “Australia relies on the private system to perform two thirds of planned surgery, around one in four births, and most hospital stays for mental health treatment. If people are being stung with unknown fees to access this system, and an increasing number are being priced out of it, we must get it under control.”

There will be plenty of sunshine over the weekend to enjoy and dry things out after a horrendous last seven days in Lismore and the Northern Rivers.The weather will be as we expect at this time of the year, with 28/29 degrees as the maximum and 16 as the minimum.A bit of rain is forecast to return for Monday, so make the most of it.As you would imagine, events have been rescheduled and postponed as TC Alfred wreaked havoc across the Northern Rivers.The ARTEXPRESS 2025 exhibition will reopen at the Lismore Art Gallery next week as the team works to install artwork. No specific date has been given.The Her-Art Work exhibition at Serpentine Gallery was postponed and is holding its opening tonight at 6pm, with Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin.The exhibition runs until Friday, March 28.The Lismore show grounds may be a little soft underfoot, but the Lismore Farmers Markets is going ahead tomorrow (Saturday) from 7:30am.Bring your smiles and bags to fill with fresh fruit and veg, the CWA Evening Branch will have their famous homemade scones and there will be live blues music from Two Tears ina Bucket.This Sunday is the monthly market for the Lismore Free Market at 50 Brewster Street, near the tennis courts from 9am to 11am.All items are free to the public, there is no trading, bartering or exchange of money.Harmony Day is next Friday (March 21) at The Quad in the Lismore CBD (110 Magellan Street).Put on by the YWCA and Women Up North, Harmony Day celebrates our cultural diversity.There will be free music and activities as well as international food stalls.We are getting in early for this reminder so you have plenty of time to adjust, Daylight Savings ends on Sunday April 6 at 3am.The Lismore Workers Club had to postpone The Fab Four - The Ultimate Beatles Tribute to this Tuesday night, March 18. Last minute tickets are available by calling the Workers Club on (02) 6621 7401.You can check out the live music coming up at the Workers Club by clicking here. There are artists like Tommy Memphis (Free show) and Who's Bad - the Michael Jackson Tribute Show coming up in May.The Northern Rivers Hotel will be back with live music next week as they continue to move everything back into the hotel.Fuel prices have been steady throughout TC Alfred. Here are the cheapest fuel options in each town:E10 is 178.9 across the board in Lismore, 174.4 at the NightOwl Puma at 37 Johnston Street in Casino, with The Metro and the Mobil on River Street in Ballina cheapest at 170.5.Unleaded 91 is 179.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, Lismore, 176.9 at the Casino Roadhouse and The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 172.5 at the Metro and the new Mobil in Ballina.U95 is 188.5 at Bakers Corner, Terania Street, North Lismore, 194.9 at the Ampol on Dyraaba Street and the EG Ampol on Canterbury Street in Casino and 183.9 at the Shell on River Street (273), Ballina.U98 is 196.9 at the Liberty Foodmart on Ballina Road and the Liberty at 113 Union Street, South Lismore, 197.9 at the two Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street, and The United in Casino, and 191.9 at the Shell on River Street (273).Diesel is 188.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road and the Independent at Bakers Corner at 111 Terania Street, North Lismore, 189.9 at the Casino Roadhouse and The United on Johnston Street in Casino and 192.5 at The Mobil and The Metro in Ballina.Have a great weekend!Have a laugh with the Friday Funnies.....

In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the NSW Government has taken immediate action to ensure that fire-ant-carrying materials, such as hay, sourced from both the storm-impacted and infested areas of southeast Queensland are now banned from entering NSW while the after effects are being assessed.Until there is a consolidated understanding of the impact on fire ant mobility and locations in the infected areas and outside that region, NSW must firstly protect its communities, farms and landscape.The Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit, which allowed movements of hay from lower risk areas in the fire ant biosecurity zone of Southeast Queensland under certain conditions, will be suspended for one month effective immediately.To protect our primary industries, the government is cracking down on the movement of materials such as hay, plus instigating increased surveillance and monitoring of movements across the border.The recent cyclonic high winds, rainfall and flooding has disrupted fire ants in southeast Queensland and consequently people in those areas may not be aware of fire ants moving into their businesses and stored materials such as hay, soil, landscaping materials, pots and soils.This follows the NSW Government’s suspension of turf being moved from Queensland Fire Ant-Infested Areas into NSW from November last year.The NSW Fire Ant Team has stepped-up efforts to prevent the spread of fire ants with proactive early detection surveillance across northern New South Wales. The initiative uses specially trained detection dogs and human surveillance teams to monitor high-risk sites to detect and prevent. This swift response follows the surveillance of multiple fire ant colonies moving in flood waters in Queensland, within the Logan River catchment. While the catchment flows to the northeast and into Moreton Bay, the risk of mobile fire ant colonies being transported into NSW in known carrier materials is increased because they may appear in new Queensland locations.  This suspension of hay movement allows the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to further assess the distribution of fire ants following the flooding events and clearly determine the current biosecurity risk.Fodder material such as baled hay could be unsuspectedly transported into NSW without appropriate processing and endanger NSW primary industries.Other materials such as soil, sand, vegetation and debris are also regulated as high-risk carriers of fire ants and must be treated and handled according to the Order before they can be moved into NSW from the Queensland fire ant infested area.Surveillance will target high-risk locations identified through tracing of fire ant carrier materials, along with areas highlighted by habitat suitability modeling.The NSW Government is committed to protecting the state’s primary industries and has instigated record funding for biosecurity, $945 million, and specifically for combatting fire ants, $95 million.Since December 2023, over 390 record of movement declarations have been made for hay, documenting the movement of over 6,500t of hay into NSW.Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said, “We’ve all seen the images of wind and rain in Queensland, and this is making the fire ants mobile over the coming weeks. The temporary suspension of the hay permit is a necessary step to mitigate the movement of these highly invasive pests.“The impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred are being felt in our agricultural sector in the north of the state. They need our support to get them back on their feet and don’t want a fire ant incursion adding stress and strain to their recovery.“We have increased surveillance focusing on high-risk areas and are employing advanced tracking and modelling techniques, taking strong preventative measures to stop fire ants."“Fire ants won’t march into NSW they will either be carried with materials such as soil, mulch, hay and turf, or fly in by natural spread from QLD. Which is why we’re ramping up surveillance in these high-risk areas.“Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, so it’s critical that businesses moving these types of materials comply with the Biosecurity Fire Ant Emergency Order.”NSW Chief Invasive Species Officer Scott Charlton said, “We know that fire ants will raft in water as a survival mechanism and move following rain and flooding events.“The recent videos and images on social media of fire ants forming rafts are no doubt concerning. However, we know from hydrological analysis that ants floating into NSW is not possible.“What we can do is mitigate the increased risks of human-assisted movement of fire ants from the infested areas of Queensland and suspend the hay permit.”

As the cleanup continues following Cyclone Alfred's devastation across South-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, cyber security experts are urgently warning the public to remain vigilant against a surge of online scams preying on victims in the aftermath of the disaster.  AUCyber CEO Chris Wright said it was a sad reality that whenever there was hardship, scammers usually weren’t too far behind. Something that Lismore and the Northern Rivers is only too aware of following the 2022 big flood. “We don’t want to see any more pain for people who have already suffered enough,” said Mr Wright. “Scammers are the lowest of the low and will take any opportunity to prey on people when they are at their most vulnerable—with their guard down, easy to scam.”  Top Scams to Watch Out for as the Cleanup Begins: Unannounced Contractors and Repair Scams - Fraudsters may show up at cyclone-affected properties, posing as contractors or insurance representatives. These scammers may offer to carry out quick repairs for an upfront payment but will disappear with the money and never complete the work. Phishing Emails - Cybercriminals may impersonate insurers, sending emails claiming to verify or update your personal information. These emails can trick victims into revealing sensitive data, such as bank account details, personal identification numbers, or MyGov credentials, which can be used for identity theft. Fake Donation Campaigns - Fraudulent pages claiming to raise money for cyclone victims often emerge across social media platforms, where donors are unknowingly funding criminal enterprises rather than legitimate relief efforts. Impersonation of Government and Relief Agencies - Scammers may pose as representatives from organisations like the Australian Red Cross, Centrelink, or the Government, offering emergency assistance or housing and asking for sensitive information like Medicare numbers or bank account details.  AUCyber’s Top 8 Tips to Protect Yourself During the Cleanup:  Lodge Your Insurance Claim Through Official Channels - Always file your claim directly with your insurer online or over the phone. Avoid third-party websites or unsolicited offers. Keep Your Reference Number Handy - Ensure your insurance reference number is easily accessible, like in your phone case, to streamline any communication with your insurer. Never Pay to Fast-Track Work - Be wary of anyone asking for payment to expedite repairs or insurance claims. Your insurer will never ask for money upfront to speed up the process. Verify Contractor Credentials - No builder or contractor working on behalf of your insurer should request payment. Always check their credentials before proceeding with any services. Don’t Be Pressured into Quick Contracts - Avoid signing contracts under pressure, especially in the aftermath of a disaster. Take the time to read and understand any agreement. Check the Sender’s Email Address - Ensure any email communication claiming to be from your insurer is legitimate by verifying the sender’s email address. If in Doubt, Contact Your Insurer Directly - If you are uncertain about an offer or email, contact your insurer directly using known contact details to confirm its legitimacy. Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect a scam, report it to ScamWatch (Australia). Awareness is key to preventing further exploitation.  “The recent 2025 LA wildfires showed us just how quickly cybercriminals can exploit a disaster. Fraudulent charity campaigns, phishing schemes, and fake contractors were launched in the chaos, preying on the vulnerability of both victims and donors,” Mr Wright said.