An Investigation is underway following the two-car accident on the M1 earlier this afternoon, where a man has died.About 2.35pm (Thursday, 2 October 2025), emergency services were called to the M1 southbound at Bangalow following reports of a two-vehicle crash.Officers attached to Tweed/Byron Police District attended and were told two vehicles – an SUV and a four-wheel-drive – had collided.The driver of one of the vehicles died at the scene and has yet to be formally identified.The driver of the other vehicle, a 44-year-old man, was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.A crime scene has been established, and inquiries into the incident are underway by the Crash Investigation Unit.As inquiries continue, anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Motorists are urged to avoid the area and follow the directions of police and traffic control southbound on the M1.Reduce your speed, prepare to merge, expect delays. Traffic is expected to remain heavy for several hours.For live traffic updates, visit https://www.livetraffic.com/incident-details/251367.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

UPDATE 6:25PMIncident has ended, and traffic is flowing again. You may experience delays.ORIGINAL STORYA two-car accident on the Pacific Motorway has closed traffic heading in a southbound direction between Ewingsdale Road and Tamarind Drive.The accident happened around 2:45pm.Emergency services, Transport for NSW and tow trucks are in attendance.Southbound motorists, prior to the crash site, are forming a single lane and using the slow shoulder to pass.Ongoing police investigations are expected to take some time.Diversions:All southbound vehicles: Ewingsdale Rd, Hinterland Way, and return to the motorway at Tintenbar.Unless specified otherwise, operators of Class 1,2 & 3 vehicles travelling under a Notice must consult their relevant enforceable network map to confirm a suitable approved alternative route.Operators of Class 1, 2 & 3 vehicles travelling under a Permit must not travel off the approved route listed in the permit unless an updated permit is obtained from the NHVR

The 2022 big flood caused significant structural damage to the majority of Lismore's remote road network. You may remember the photos from Tuntable Creek Road, where the road was completely washed away.The higher traffic roads, such as Tuntable Creek Road and Nimbin Road, were given preference by Lismore City Council to keep the Lismore LGA road network open. The engineering and structural solutions to stabilise the ground on which to rebuild a road took some time in the planning stages before construction could begin.Yesterday, Lismore City Council revealed that the first five roads to be restored under its Landslip Restoration Package have now commenced. Council is embarking on a multi-year process to reconnect communities and villages impacted by the 2022 natural disasters. These initial priority sites are:  Stony Chute Road, Stony Chute (near Zouch Road) Cawongla Road, Larnook (near Martin Road) Oakey Creek Road, Georgica (near McLennan Road) Terania Creek Road, Terania Creek (near Lawler Road) Wyrallah Road / Emily Street, Wyrallah (near Bridge Street)  Up to 60 damages will be repaired through to late 2027 under the package, which is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.   CMC Hull JV – a joint venture between CMC Group and JF Hull Holdings – has been selected as the construction contractor to deliver works on Council’s behalf. To support the effort, CMC Hull JV has established a site office and storage yard on Blue Knob Road in Blue Knob, north of Nimbin.   Motorists may notice increased heavy vehicle movement, noise and dust as work is undertaken, and are asked to please observe traffic controls, including ‘stop-go’ directions from ground personnel and all traffic lights in operation.    Forward schedules for landslip restoration works are now available via Lismore City Council’s new Project Pipeline, www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/Building-and-planning/Flood-Restoration-Portfolio/FR-Landslip-Restoration-Package.   Lismore City Council thanks residents and visitors for their support as it works to rebuild and reconnect our roads and communities as soon as possible.

October is Small Business Month, a time to celebrate and support the backbone of local economies in NSW, especially in Lismore, where retailers have been struggling for the last three and a half years.The state’s 870,000 small businesses make up 97 per cent of all NSW businesses. These small businesses employ 1.7 million people in NSW, which is about 40 per cent of the state’s workforce.   This October, Small Business Month is about more than celebration – it’s about action, with government red tape under the microscope as it is one of the biggest barriers to growth, limiting productivity and innovation.Minister for Small Business Janelle Saffin launched Small Business Month at Daleys Homewares in Keen Street this morning."I'm encouraging everybody to come out and say thank you to small business. Not only do they sell great products and deliver great services, we also call upon them all the time to help with social causes, to help with fundraising, all sorts of things that they do in a local community."I want to just make one other announcement, a critical announcement today, everybody in small business says to me, Janelle, we've got too much red tape. I said. I want to do a proper red tape inquiry. I want one that's guided by small business, and today, the acting Small Business Commissioner, Catherine Ellis, will launch a survey that will go to all small businesses in New South Wales. It is asking small businesses, tell me your pain points, tell me about some of the bureaucratic compliance, and we're going to do a deep dive and see if we can ease some of that pressure."Matt Healy, owner of Daleys Homewares, said that one of the biggest and most complicated elements of his business is icare and dealing with the workers comp system."So I'm selling sheets, towels, pillows and blankets. As far as the workers compensation perspective is concerned, it's very, very low risk, but it's eye-wateringly expensive. It's many, many, many hundreds of dollars a month for my little business. That's a big one."And the process of just renewing is really complex. So that's my little one. We did talk earlier about payroll tax and things like that, not really an important part for a small business like me, they tend to be the larger businesses. So in small business months, let's not talk about them."Matt didn't want to preempt the outcome of the Red Tape Inquiry, but would prefer to see what businesses in NSW report and what their pain points are. "Then it's over to Janelle and the Commissioner to actually move it," he said.The result of red tape though, is the amount of time it takes to complete, which should be spent on running his business.Ms Saffin said that business owners have said to her that ti takes around 15 hours per week to deal with government red tape."Some of it's federal, some of it is state. So, I'll deal with the state stuff, but it takes their time, that's money, and it takes their attention away. When asked why this inquiry would be different to previous inquiries, where the results sit in a draw, Ms Saffin replied, "Because I'm committed to help small business, and that's why I said, and I did say this publicly, I didn't want to do a BS red tape inquiry, because I've seen inquiries before, and I've seen them sit on the shelf and with the Acting Small Business Commissioner, we've been doing a deep dive and taking this really seriously. We want to know some of those pain points that Matt talked about, and see if we can we ease that regulatory burden. And that's what we'll do."As Matt said, one step at a time. Even if we ease one particular pain point, that's a good thing. But we'll look at all of them. I've got some examples from local businesses and some of the farmers who are small businesses. Some I already know myself. Even the food vans that go around the markets, what we've done at state level already is that if you're licensed in one LGA, the next LGA can then license you on the basis of that. So, I'll be watching that to see how that plays out as well. It's not like nothing's been done already. We're trying to do things, and with fitness trainers, it's the same thing. So, we'll just continue to work on that.As for small businesses and how they are trading in what has been a tough environment, Matt said it takes a special kind of crazy to be a small business owner."At the moment, everybody knows that it's tough out there. It's everywhere. There's a cost-of-living pressure, so people are holding back. As a result, it's very quiet in towns, Lismore in particular. We've got the additional benefit of the flood we're still recovering from, but we're moving onwards. We're moving upwards. As Janelle said, we're involved in the community, we're part of this community. It's my hometown too. We've been here for 150 odd years, my family. So we're out there in the community, supporting the community, providing products for our community. "People haven't got money to spare, so they're not coming into town to spend. So we're having to find ways of getting through this tight period. It's as simple as that. We just have to find ways. So, we've been here for 36 years, we're about to have our 36th birthday. The family started this during the 80s recession, when they borrowed money to start it was at 17-18% interest. So it's tough now, but it's not our first one."There has been some negative talk about the Lismore CBD recently in the media, but Matt has this advice as people shift into Christmas shopping mode in October."Come on down, Lismore's fun. We've got interesting shops down here; it's not the same beige chains that you see in lots of other towns. We've got weird stuff down here. We specialise in weird stuff. So, come down and enjoy our weird stuff.Once the interviews wrapped up, Ms Saffin truly supported Small Business Month by purchasing some new sheets. You can do your bit by spending locally.Small businesses are encouraged to share their experiences with red tape and compliance via an online survey at: https://www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au/consultation-red-tapeTo explore and register to attend Small Business Month events, please visit: nsw.gov.au/nsw-small-business-month

As Australia marks National Safe Work Month this October, new data from Beyond Blue highlights demand among employees for meaningful change in workplace mental health practices.Australian employees are calling for more than just awareness when it comes to workplace mental health, with Beyond Blue data revealing a strong demand for real, proactive change that improves people’s day-to-day experiences at work. A community poll commissioned by Beyond Blue, which asked Australians about their experiences of stress and burnout in the workplace, found that 88% of respondents believed burnout was an important issue for workplaces today, while two in three people rejected the idea that burnout was a personal failing.  Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman AO said workers experiencing chronic stress and burnout are at greater risk of mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.  “Employees are voicing a clear need for greater consideration to be given to wellbeing in their working conditions. That means integrating wellbeing into how work is designed and experienced, from manageable workloads and adequate resourcing to leadership that genuinely supports them,” Ms Harman said. “Most businesses want to do the right thing, but need clearer pathways to get started, so there’s more work to be done. “Mental health at work must be built into systems that help people to stay well. That’s why it’s so important to build wellbeing into the systems and culture of work, not treat it as an add-on or something reactive.  “We want more organisations to normalise help-seeking and encourage conversations about mental health, it’s important they make it clear that seeking support is a strength, not a weakness.” Workers pointed to systemic factors such as inappropriate workload (49%), lack of management support (32%), and inflexible working conditions (21%) as the top causes of burnout. The data also highlighted a range of further challenges workers faced, including emotional exhaustion and disengagement.  Many workers reported feeling disconnected at work. The poll found that 44% of workers felt lonely and, 39% felt excluded at work at least sometimes, and 18% said no one at work “had their back”.  Ms Harman said that by fostering connection, inclusion, and psychological safety, workplaces can create environments where people feel safe to speak up and express concerns without fear of negative consequences.  “Embedding flexibility and compassion into workplace culture, along with visible support from leaders who model psychologically safe behaviours, is key to supporting mental health,” she said. “We also need to equip leaders and managers to recognise early signs of distress and have regular check-ins with workers.” Beyond Blue lived experience speaker Craig knows all too well the impact of chronic stress and a lack of workplace support. In a previous role, Craig supervised 60 people at a multinational company and loved his job, having worked there for the majority of his working career – but when the pressure piled on and support disappeared, everything started to unravel.  “For two years, I was doing the work of three people with little support from my manager, clocking 60-hour weeks with limited breaks and then colleagues who I’d trusted and confided in began backstabbing me and setting me up to fail – it was surreal, and the whole experience completely changed me,” Craig said. “The unrelenting stress took its toll, and while speaking up shouldn’t have cost me my career, it did in my case.” Craig was admitted to hospital to address his declining mental health. “Since leaving my management role, I've since gone back to study, built a routine that helps me manage my mental health and stay well, and am linked in with a psychologist – but the damage has been done – and it all started at work,” the 48-year-old said. “No one should have to go through what I did. Mental health support needs to be built into the system – not just a tick-the-box initiative or employing reactive measures after someone’s already in crisis.” Of the respondents who had experienced burnout at work, half didn’t seek support for it. “People who did reach out for mental health support turned to GPs (43%) and psychologists (36%), while fewer people reached out to wellbeing staff within their own workplace (9%) or online mental health supports (7%),” Ms Harman said. Ms Harman said that given Australians spend a third of their lives at work, it needs to be a setting that helps rather than harms people’s mental health.  “Whether you work in a hospital, a school, a construction site or an office, good work should help you to come home feeling fulfilled and connected, bringing real benefits to your mental health and the people you care about,” she said. “Mental health at work is much more than just having an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). It’s about creating a culture where wellbeing is a shared priority and is woven into how we lead, support and show up for one another every day.” The Productivity Commission estimates that the economic loss due to the effects of mental ill-health on participation, absenteeism and presenteeism is up to $39 billion.  With 14.6 million Australians in the workforce, mentally healthy workplaces benefit everyone. “Our message this Safe Work Month is that workplaces can be proactive about how they look after their people by improving their daily experiences of work. It’s good for your people, and good for your business,” Ms Harmansaid. “Beyond Blue’s work and mental health page has practical tips to help Australians stay well at work, assess their mental health and access resources and information about supporting themselves and a colleague at work.”   For EmployersBeyond Blue has been a leader in workplace mental health for more than 20 years, and will continue to advocate for mentally healthy workplaces through initiatives like its latest unique early intervention service, Before Blue, which provides proven mental health support for workers. Beyond Blue’s 24/7 Support Service can be reached on 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au/getsupport or visit Beyond Blue’s Forums.  Beyond Blue’s work and mental health page Beyond Blue’s Burnout Check-In Tool 

On Monday, the Lismore App announced that the state government was funding $500,000 worth of defibrillators to sporting organisations around NSW.Yesterday, Lismore MP Janelle Saffin encouraged more local sporting and active recreation organisations to apply for up to $3,000 in funding under the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program.Ms Saffin said Dunoon United Football Club was one of eight recipients from the electorate in the program’s 2024-25 round and had installed an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at its Balzer Park home ground.Club President Simon Webster said: “As a rural community football club, we believe it’s very important for us to have a defibrillator on site.“Hopefully we will never need to use it, but it is reassuring to know that it’s there, and that if anything should happen to a player, match official or spectator, we will be able to help,” Mr Webster said.Ms Saffin said since the popular program started, more than 2,300 potentially life-saving defibrillators had been funded for use at sports and recreation facilities across New South Wales.Applications for the 2025-26 Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program close 1 December or when funding is exhausted.For further information, including eligibility criteria, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/local-sport-defibrillator-grant-programMinister for Sport Steve Kamper also announced that the Heartbeat of Football Foundation will use a $150,000 NSW Government grant to map facilities that have AEDs and those that do not, guiding future government investment in this critical equipment.

Australians are still waiting for the latest official estimate of koala numbers through the National Koala Monitoring Program (NKMP), with the 2025 update delayed for more than seven months. The figures, which guide funding and planning for the endangered species, were finalised earlier this year but have yet to be published.The NKMP began in late 2022 when the Australian Government's Saving Koalas Fund invested $10 million with the CSIRO to build and deliver a robust estimate of koala numbers and build a long-lasting capability to monitor and assess trends in koala populations. This would lead to ongoing recovery and management efforts.The CSIRO developed a Koala Spotter app, to help build the most accurate national population count to date and asked the community for help to record sightings.Populations of the iconic marsupial were officially listed as endangered across New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland in February 2022.  In August 2024, CSIRO Quantitative Biologist, Dr Andrew Hoskins, said a range of technologies and methods were needed to count koalas accurately.  “Koalas can be difficult to spot from the ground, and as they are most active at night, they often rest high in trees during the day,” Dr Hoskins said.  “To count the species, scientists have been using thermal drones to spot koalas from above, deploying acoustic recorders in the field and detection dogs, conducting scat analysis, while also carrying out systematic visual surveys and data integration from previous and historic sources."The first NKMP data-driven estimate of the koala population was released in March 2023. The listed koala population range for Queensland, NSW and the ACT was between 117,000 and 244,440. However, the adjusted NKMP estimate in 2023 was between 86,000 and 176,000.The CSIRO explanation is that estimates are derived from modelling of data with known gaps. Adjusting the model for where there is little or no data gives an anticipated listed koala population estimate between 86,000 and 176,000 koalas. This will be improved by collecting and ingesting additional data over time.The second data-driven estimate was released in March 2024. The listed koala population range was between 95,000 and 238,000. There has been no adjusted estimate.The CSIRO states that the increase in the koala population range is not an increase in the number of koalas but a refinement of the modelled estimate.The third and final data-driven estimate was to include more NSW data, which included data from the NSW Government, to help improve the confidence of the estimates. It was also to include more regional data where sufficient data was available.Those results were due to be released in March 2025, seven months ago.The Lismore App first contacted the CSIRO to get an update on when the numbers would be updated on the 12th of May 2025. The reply said that due to the large volume of data collected over the past year, particularly from the audio recorders, it has taken the CSIRO team longer than expected to process and incorporate the data into the updated model. Additionally, there was the Federal Election in May, which caused further delays because the government went into caretaker mode.They then stated that the estimates were finalised and the update will be published shortly.When no data was published by July 14, two months later, another approach was made to CSIRO.The reply was that CSIRO was waiting on a 'go live' date from DCCEEW (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water of Australia), the client of CSIRO who was funding the NKMP project. They suggested we get in touch with DCCEEW.On August 20, a departmental spokesperson from DCCEEW said, "The Australian Government is partnering with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to deliver the National Koala Monitoring Program (NKMP), as part of the $76 million Saving Koalas Fund. "NKMP updates are published by the CSIRO at nkmp.org.au as they are finalised. The CSIRO is currently finalising the population estimates data, and we anticipate the next update to the NKMP shortly."There is that word again, 'shortly', as DCCEEW clearly pushed the non-publication issue back to the CSIRO team.On September 22, the Lismore App made another enquiry to CSIRO this time. The reply said that they believed the koala estimates are with DCCEEW, and they are still waiting on the timing of an announcement, which they will lead.An enquiry sent to DCCEEW on September 25 has remained unanswered.Following the email trail, it would appear the DCCEEW is holding back on the release of the 2025 National Koala Monitoring Program numbers.As we enter October, there are more questions than answers:If the count is complete and the data shared with DCCEEW, why have the latest koala population estimates not been published?Is the koala population estimate more than was previously published? Or less?We will, hopefully, get the answers 'shortly'.

More women are taking part in breast cancer screening through the BreastScreen Australia program, with over 1.9 million women aged 50–74, or 52% of the target population, screening in 2023–2024. This is an increase from the 1.8 million or 50% who were screened in 2021–2022.Published today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the BreastScreen Australia monitoring report 2025 features the latest data from BreastScreen Australia on breast cancer incidence, mortality and screening participation. The program provides free 2-yearly screening mammograms to women aged 40 and over, actively targeting women aged 50–74. It aims to detect unsuspected breast cancer, providing an opportunity for early treatment that can reduce illness and death.Since the program began in 1991 to 2023, it is estimated that more than 26.7 million mammograms have been carried out and over 137,000 invasive breast cancers have been detected.‘In that time, the age-standardised breast cancer mortality rate for women has halved from 74 to 37 deaths per 100,000 women,’ said AIHW spokesperson Moira Hewitt.‘This decrease is due to the early detection along with advances in the management and treatment of breast cancer.’‘Continued uptake of breast screening is crucially important.’ The proportion of participants aged 50–72 in 2021 who rescreened within 27 months was 54% after having their first screen through BreastScreen Australia, 63% after their second screen and 78% after having their third or higher screen.Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women, with 11,540 new cases diagnosed in women aged 50–74 in 2021. Of these, 49% were detected through BreastScreen Australia. This was an increase from 10,935 in 2020.‘Incidence of breast cancer is much higher in older women, with 81% of breast cancers occurring in women aged 50 and over,’ said Ms Hewitt.‘In fact, women aged 70–74 are most at risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer, with an incidence rate of 427 new cases per 100,000 women in 2021.’

Finker Bubble owner Wen Chua was relieved to finally open her bubble tea shop on Keen Street a week ago. Wen arrived in Lismore about a year ago – and this It was her second attempt at trying to open the shop.In February, she was only three days away from opening - when Lismore’s biggest flood arrived and destroyed the new business.But, Wen knew she was not going to give up. Now, after months of renovations, she is now finally serving bubble tea to the Lismore community.“I always knew I would try and open again, I put a lot of money into the shop – and I had friends who helped me,” Wen said.“I love bubble tea – I know many people here haven’t had it before, and I want everyone to try it.”So, what is bubble tea?Bubble tea is a sweet drink, based on mixing milk with tea and adding toppings like coconut jelly, and popping balls – as well as fruit flavours such as strawberry, lychee and mango.Bubble tea is often referred to as a ‘chunky’ drink – because of the chewy pearls of tapioca that sit in the bottom of the cup – and you suck them into your mouth through a thick straw.It’s a drink that’s been popular with kids and adults all over Asia – and it’s a drink that Wen has grown up with.“As a child in Malaysia, nearly every day after school I would gather with my friends to drink bubble tea,” Wen said.“We would stand around in school uniform at the bubble tea stall on the street and drink bubble tea.”Wen said her favourite bubble tea is the one made with matcha tea, but the most popular one that’s sold in the shop is the brown sugar with fresh milk, cheese foam and boba (bubbles, or pearls of tapioca).“When you drink the cheese foam, you taste it first, then sip the tea, then combine it and the balance should be perfect,” Wen said.Finker Bubble will be open six days a week, Monday to Saturday from 11am to 8.30pm.This photo of the shop was taken by Wen just days before the flood arrived to destroy the shop.

For aromatherapist and holistic bodywork practitioner Anne Walker, finding a new space to open in since the floods has been tricky. But now, Anne’s business, Le Petit Aromatique Apothecary, has found a new home in Lismore’s Club Lane.In her new second floor premises, Anne has set up her massage clinic. But unlike her pre-flood shop location in the Star Court Arcade, she doesn’t yet have a shop front to sell her essential oils from. It’s something she hopes will change over time. For now, she’s just glad to be open again. ‘The little aromatic pharmacy’Anne first opened ‘the little aromatic pharmacy’ in 2019 after she visited the South of France and loved it.“Aromatherapy is very affiliated with French culture and I’d always dreamed of having an apothecary,” Anne said.“Usually an apothecary (pharmacy) is associated with herbal medicine but I wanted to open one dedicated to aromatherapy.“So, when I came back, I moved my massage clinic from Nimbin to Lismore and opened a shop front dedicated to selling over-the-counter aromatic medicine.“People would drop in and I would mix oils, creams or lotions on the spot. I would also do massages using essential oils.”The shop lasted three years, until the February flood destroyed her business.Like many other business owners, she had moved her stock up high, but it wasn’t enough.“I saved a few things that I’d put in the Star Court Theatre, but not much,” Anne said.“It was the second time I’d lost a business to flood – it happened to my previous business in 2017 as well.“Reopening this time took a while because I wasn’t emotionally ready for a long time. I needed to be in a good space to look after other people.“Then I found the Club Lane place when I was visiting the naturopath next door.“It’s a nice room with lots of light and a good affordable starting point for me.“I’m taking massage bookings and will have some apothecary items for sale and some flood stock is also available.“People can book in for consultations – I’ve been practicing remedial massage and reflexology for 20 years and bio-dynamic craniosacral therapy for ten years .“I also do aromatherapy massage and facials or feet treats.”Anne said she loves the essential oil single vetiver for grounding - but also likes to use rose, for grief and loss.The new Le Petit Aromatique Apothecary is located at Level 1, Suite 4 Club Lane, 71 Molesworth Street. If you would like to book in for an appointment, you can phone 0408 490 385, or visit Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lepetitaromatiqueapothecary   

When Serpentine Community Gallery volunteers were cleaning up after the February flood, they lamented the lost artworks of Lismore. Not just for the art that was lost from the gallery’s walls – but for all the artworks lost in local houses and businesses.That’s when the idea to put on a free art exhibition was borne - to gift ‘free’ art to Lismore’s empty walls and damaged homes.Now, in a show of good will from Lismore’s art community, an exhibition of free art will be held at Two Mates Brewery on October 8, and the community is invited to get some free artworks – or swap over ones they already have.Exhibition coordinator Cassie Can is now calling local artists to donate some artworks to go into the exhibition. Art is not a luxury“As we rebuild in Lismore, art can be seen as a bit of a luxury, but it’s important to bring beauty back to our homes and businesses too,” Cassie said.“So, we want to make art free to everybody in Lismore – because as a town, we all lost something.“So if you have any artworks you don’t want anymore, you can donate them to this free art exhibition - and give them new life on someone’s walls.“Kids can donate art too – and people can also swap any works they already have for new ones.“You can just show up on the day with art, or donate artworks prior to the event. Then, people can take home the art they like on the day.Uplift spirits“It will be a beautiful gesture of generosity and a part of the vision to uplift the spirits of the people in Lismore.”Cassie said some of the Lismore Art Club members were keen to donate artworks.“They are passionate about holding this event in a region where we have so many artists and art appreciators,” she said.Cassie said the local brewery was donating the exhibition space out of goodwill to help rebuild the local community.Local face painter Rachel Creamer will be at the free day, painting faces.Family friendly day“We can all mingle and it will be a family friendly event with activities too,” Cassie said ““There’s a lovely grassy space out the back with a kids playground and gazebo.“Rachel, a local face painter will be there and we’ll have a needle felting workshop run by Nimbin Textiles – but there are limited spaces in this workshop and you need to prebook for it.“Kyogle gelato cart and Sam’s burgers will be there providing food – and we are also looking for donations of cake for morning tea.”There will also be live music performances from 11am to 4pm, followed by more music until 8pm.On the day, people can also donate money toward helping Serpentine Gallery rebuild the local community gallery space.Serpentine Gallery president, Susan, said the rebuild of the gallery is slowly happening - and it is expected to be open for 'Ink and Mud' - an exhibition by local printmakers in December.Cassie said it’s hoped this networking event can be the beginning of local artists connecting again after the flood.“We can put this community back together and start working and inspiring each other again,” Cassie said.If you would like to get involved, donate art or cakes, contact Susan on 0409 056 976.The exhibition will be held from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, October 8 at Two Mates Brewery at 8 Engine Street, South Lismore.  

The Gilchrist Foundation is a new charity supporting educational and sporting scholarships for students of all backgrounds and disadvantage.The Foundation has been established by the Gilchrist Family, with the mission of identifying eligible students and young sportsmen and women and assist them to further their education or skills through financial assistance together with active engagement and mentoring.The inaugural Gilchrist Foundation Dinner is set to be an entertaining and educational experience and will be held at the Ballina RSL on Friday 7 October.The dinner will give guests an opportunity to learn about the Foundation, meet current students being supported and hear from former Australian Soldier Anthony “Harry” Moffitt and his story of Eleven Bats….combat, cricket and the SAS. More information can be found about Harry Moffitt at https://www.elevenbats.com.au/ The night will include a unique raffle where attendees can purchase a personally signed Adam Gilchrist cricket ball as a raffle ticket and be in the draw for some fantastic accommodation and experience prizes.There are also a large number of unique prizes on offer in the online Gala Auction. Bidders do not need to be present on the night for the auction as all prizes are online and can be bid on at anytime in the countdown to the night.Prizes include a range of interesting items including a vintage-style bespoke cricket bat replica as used by Adam Gilchrist during his stellar career, the opportunity to brew your own beer and holiday packages. Bidding is open at https://app.galabid.com/gilchrist/itemsGo to the Gilchrist Foundation web site https://gilchrist.foundation/ for all dinner and ticket details or phone Julie on 0431 764 776.

U-buds and Doobers (not Ubers) were on duty last weekend, driving hundreds of people to and from Nimbin’s annual MardiGrass drug reform rally and festival.Nimbin HEMP Embassy president Michael Balderstone said having the drug free drivers was great – allowing people to enjoy the pro-cannabis drug reform celebration without having to worry about the usual police roadside drug testing.“Thousands of people were in Nimbin over the weekend and they came from all over Australia,” Michael said.“There was lots of passion for the roadside drug testing laws to change. Cannabis users are frustrated about not being heard and the lack of reason that goes with police saliva testing.“It has nothing to do with being impaired, it’s just about the presence of weed.”“The police told me they got more people this year with saliva testing than last year,” he said. “But we will have to wait for the official figures to come out.“Were any of those drivers actually impaired? It’s a huge impact on country drivers if they lose their licences – they need to be able to drive around.”“The frustration is also about not being allowed to grow our own cannabis – and then have to pay high prices for the legally prescribed stuff – and then still not be allowed to drive while using it.”Despite the police drug testing van being present on the side of the road on the way into Nimbin, Michael said there were not many arrests this year.“But I’m still waiting for the official numbers from police – we’ll know by next week,” he said.The annual MardiGrass is normally held in May, but was postponed due to flooding earlier this year. Michael said crowd numbers were still good, despite the change of dates. “People seemed to have a good time,” he said. “They enjoyed the weather and it wasn’t too crowded.”“Next year, I’d like to hold it in May again. That coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Aquarius Festival – a week after MardiGrass, so we might do something together.”One of the highlights of the festival were live DJs in Mingle park from 5pm each day – and the spectacle that is the law reform rally parade (complete with the big joint) on Sunday afternoon.“This year, Ponyland made a fantastic float for the parade – it was best rally we’ve had in years,” Michael said.“At the HEMP symposium, speakers included West Australian HEMP party politician Dr Brian Walker who spoke about drug law reform.“The Kombie convoy on Saturday was great, so was the 420 and the HEMP Olympix.“This year was the first time we had the MardiGrass marijuana music awards – and the winner was a Gold Coast reggae group.“Gary the bullet proof monk won the pot art competition with his banner ‘The law is the crime’ that hangs outside the embassy.”

For the local Year 9 and 10 students who attended a problem solving workshop this week – it wasn’t just about finding solutions to real world problems.According to workshop organiser Karen Ramsay, from the Rivers Academy of STEM Excellence (RASE) – it’s all about creating a resilient generation of problem solvers, who are changing things little by little.Read more news: Air quality monitoring program opens to local schoolsThe RASE schools program has recently been recognised for its amazing results – and has won the NSW Government Secretary’s Award for an Outstanding School Initiative.Karen said the program has been running in 12 local schools since 2020 and works with students and teachers in Kindergarten to Year 12. Participating schools include Kadina, Richmond River, Albert Park, Bexhill, Dunoon, Goonellabah, Lismore Heights, Lismore South and Wilson Park.Dunoon Public School students at a STEM Design Thinking Process workshop.“The Rivers Academy of STEM excellence focusses on using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) design thinking practices across the curriculum – in literacy and creative arts too,” Karen said.“It’s not a new way of thinking - businesses use it too.“We get our kids to think creatively and critically, rather than work out of textbooks.“We are getting them ready to face the world.“Today at a workshop, we have Lismore High School and three campuses of kids at a STEM process workshop.“We have Year 10 girls working on a problem about how to engage more year 10 girls in choosing STEM subjects.“This is their third day working on the problem and they brainstorm and identify why it’s a problem and what’s caused it. Then they work on their solution.“The idea is we keep things as authentic as possible, with real world problems - and they come up with amazing ideas.“The Year 9 boys chose any problem they wanted - and they chose to look at how there’s not much mental health help available here for young people Their solution is a mental health app.”Karen said the STEM thinking process they learn now are processes that will stay with the students as they move on from school.“The kids are also becoming more resilient - instead of thinking why the solution didn’t work, they ask why and what can I do about it,” she said.Karen and Zane - another RASE program staff member - attended an awards ceremony in Sydney last week, after successfully submitting the RASE program application into the Public Education Foundation, which manages the awards.They accepted a certificate on behalf of all the principlals in the academy. It was presented to them by Georgina Harrison, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education.

If you thought the taco love had left Lismore after the February flood, think again.Taco Love Bros owner Dylan Morris said it’s been a slow journey to get back to Lismore – but that he will reopen the Conway Street restaurant later this year.But first, he’s bringing all of his popular menu items from Taco Love Bros back to Lismore, at The Met, every Sunday.“Our home was innundated in the flood and we were forced to move to Casino - and we opened a business there on Barker Street,” Dylan said.“We are still displaced and living in Casino and not yet ready to open two businesses.“Before we open Taco Love Bros again, we want to be back living in Lismore again, but it’s going to take a while.“We will offer a better service to community when we are back home.”When the February flood hit Dylan’s Lismore business in February, he said it was fortunate he managed to save most of the shop gear.The building also fared well compared to other Lismore buildings that were completely submerged in the flood. Read about the shop beginnings: New taco business jumps another hurdle Still keen to be a part of the Lismore community, Dylan said he recently went to the Met for a beer one day and talked to Simon who is running the restaurant there.“Simon mentioned it would be nice to do a food collaboration,” Dylan said.“It would be a good way to be visible again and we could let the people of Lismore know we are coming back to our original location, while still having access to our food locally.“I loved the idea – it was a bigger venue and gave us a chance to offer our taste back to Lismore.”Taco Love Bros will be offering a taste of what they used to sell on their menu every Sunday at the Met on Keen Street from 1pm to 7.30pm. The menu includes tacos, nachos and quesidillas. Read more about Dylan: SUNDAY PROFILE: Taco Love Bros' Dylan Morris

Bread rolls, pies and Vietnamese food will be back this week when Millers Bakery opens its doors again.Six months after the flood, Millers Bakery owner Trent is happy to see work on the Woodlark Street bakery almost complete and hopes to be open this Wednesday or Thursday.“We are nearly ready to open – it just depends on the electrical work being finished,” he said.“It’s been a big job to get open again, but we have a good landlord who has fixed the floor and electricity to get the shop ready.“It’s lucky I have a big family here to help clean and repair things - without them, maybe we never would have come back."Trent said he and his family had taken on running the bakery only nine months before the February flood came - where he lost his bakery equipment to the water. “We have a big family business and have shops in East Lismore and Central too,” he said.The new Millers bakery will sell salad rolls, bacon and egg rolls and coffee – as well as pies, bread and a selection of Vietnamese favourites.“We’ll have pork belly roll and vermicelli rice dishes and beef soup,” Trent said.Millers Bakery will be open Monday to Friday, 5.30am to 4pm; Saturday 7am to 4pm and Sunday 7am to 2pm.

With our history of alternative lifestyles, it may not be surprising that microdosing psychedelics such as LSD or psilocybin is gaining popularity in the Northern Rivers region. So, Psychology student and Honours researcher Rebecca Bushby has decided it’s time to explore just what effects microdosing is really having on those who try it.Rebecca lives locally, but studies at Edith Cowan University – and she’s calling out for people to get involved with a confidential research study she’s doing for her Honours thesis.  “Lots of people are choosing to take psychedelics for depression, anxiety and ADHD,” she said. “But there’s not a lot of current research and we are still picking up from what was done in the 1980s.“There are considerable anecdotal reports of microdosing and a big interest in the topic of psychedelics in the Northern Rivers region, so I was hoping people could get in touch with me.“My study explores emotional competence and wellbeing in people who microdose psychedelics compared to those who have never consumed psychedelics.“The survey is confidential – we don’t take details from the person we are talking, particularly because we are talking about illicit substances.“We just want to understand why they are taking it and how.“Are they taking regulated doses and what are the effects? How does that correspond to their wellbeing.“We would like to see the practice decriminalized so people don’t have to do it unregulated.“With big pharma, we have to be careful how we approach it and bring some science behind it.“There have been clinical trials for psilocybin coming out and with mushrooms, we are able to extract at a certain growth size and calculate the correct amount to use.“Microdosers not have hallucinations or visual effects, but the underlying benefits combating suicide and depression are powerful.”Rebecca would like to hear from people in the next couple of weeks and is compiling an email list for people who want to find out the study results later. “This study will help contribute to the expansion of psychedelic research and education, and is an important extension to the growing field of psychedelic science,” she said.The study involves completing a one off anonymous online survey expected to take approximately 20-30 minutes.The study has been reviewed and approved by Edith Cowan University Human Research Ethics Committee. To take part, visit https://eaecu.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5ckZRrQe0ndyapgIf you have any questions or need more information please contact, you can contact Rebecca Bushby on rbushby@our.ecu.edu.au.

While NSW Forestry Corporation invites us to celebrate National Forestry Day today, conservationists are calling it a “day of shame for Australia”.At the heart of the issue is the logging of Australia’s native forests.Behind Forestry Corporation’s promise to plant 14.7 million seedlings to grow timber this year, is a long history of logging that doesn’t use plantation forests as the source.North East Forest Alliance spokesperson Sean O’Shannessey said the native forest logging industry “hides its appalling record of environmental vandalism behind the achievements of the sustainable plantation timber industry”.“There is no such thing as sustainable industrial logging in native forests,” Sean said.“Houses are not built out of native forest timber, they are built of softwood plantation timber.“Most of what they rip out of our threatened species homes is used for low value disposable products.“The most valuable products of our forests are water, carbon, biodiversity and tourism.“These are about 10 times the value of the trees taken by loggers, and are destroyed by driving bulldozers and chainsaws through them.“Courageous community volunteers are standing up for our forests all over NSW and will keep doing so until they are safe from forestry loggers."Forestry Corporation Forestry Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Anshul Chaudhary said “wood is the ultimate renewable resource, and the forestry cycle means organisations like Forestry Corporation can keep supplying the community with essential materials for generations to come”.“Native forestry is essential for sustainably supplying wood products for wharves, bridges, telegraph poles and our homes,” Mr Chaudhary said. “NSW’s two million hectare State forest estate and the renewable wood products it supplies actively sequester and store carbon.  “National Forestry Day also highlights the positive impacts of the state’s native forestry industry and the stringent environment it operates in. “NSW’s strict environmental regulations mean timber from native State forests is amongst the most sustainable in the world with the forests careful managed to provide timber while also supporting wildlife populations in concert with surround national parks and other forested land,” Mr Chaudhary said. “Timber harvesting operations take place in around 0.1 per cent of NSW forested land and all harvested areas are completely regenerated.” “In NSW State forests have been harvested for timber and regrown for over 100 years.“Today these forests are open to the public for free camping, mountain biking, four wheel driving and so much more. “

Lismore’s longest running vegetarian restaurant and ashram, 20,000 Cows, is about to be reborn in a new format - as the Wolf and Lamb Cafe.Since the North Lismore venue was destroyed in the February flood, owner Marijonas Vilkelis (Mari) has been trying to find a way to reopen, including running a GoFundMe fundraiser to reconstruct the building.But now, thanks to his inspired collaborators Jodie and Manny, Mari has found a new home for his signature dishes, in Nimbin.Mari, cooking inside the 20,000 Cows North Lismore venue.“Jodie was inspired to create a vegan restaurant for Nimbin,” Mari said. “So now we are working together to bring a vegan menu to the new cafe.“Manny makes Maltese vegan food at the markets and will do part of the menu.“Some of the 20,000 Cows menu faves like potato croquettes, mellawah and middle eastern dishes and curries will be too.”Damage inside the 20,000 Cows North Lismore venue after the flood.Opening dayWhile the new cafe is not ready to open yet, Mari said the three of them (and a handful of volunteers) have been working hard to get it finished. He hopes to be open before Mardi Grass on September 16.“We keep hitting snag after snag,” Mari said. “We said we’d be open two weeks ago, about a month ago and we are still not there. “So we aren’t taking bookings - we’ll just open doors when we are ready.”The cafe will be open days and evenings, from Wednesday to Saturday and is located on Cullen Street, next to Tribal Magic.The new cafe’s name Wolf and Lamb, refers back to Mari’s famous cookbook of his recipes. Maris said he chose the name because in the bible, the Prophet Isaiah wrote a prophesy about "a day will come when wolf and lamb ... will be at peace”.“It seemed like a worthwhile thing to work toward,” he said. “Most people say a wolf won’t be vegan, but the way nature is now, is consequential and we don’t know what it was at the begin of existence – it’s become that from something else.“Humans aren’t the same as back then. I like to think that if we stop creating death and suffering, then the load on the planet will lessen.”His vision of a safe haven inspired the concept of calling the restaurant an ashram – an ancient Sanscrit word for sanctuary.Damage inside the 20,000 Cows North Lismore venue after the flood.History and futureMari first opened 20,000 Cows in Bridge Street, North Lismore in 1996. It was his sixth restaurant.Mari said his love of making food started in 1979 in Melbourne after he did his first 41 day fast.“I had a vision to create a restaurant and so I went on to do that,” he said.“Opening again in Nimbin gives me a chance to finish off the tracks that I started.“Now, the new restaurant is hopefully stepping a stone to heaven.“I have a theme I like to work with – that the definition of professionalism is a procedure toward self redundancy“So I’ll be teaching other people to make the food.“It will be a relief to have income again, as I’ve been living off my savings all year."