One of Lismore's 'must do' events is only eight (8) days away. The much-anticipated Lismore Lantern Parade is set to light up the CBD with its mesmerising lantern parade, Fiery Finale performance and vibrant display of community spirit.This year, the event organisers are thrilled to announce new accessibility features, ensuring that more people can enjoy the magic of the Fiery Finale in Riverside Park.For the first time, the Lismore Lantern Parade will feature a dedicated accessible viewing space at the Fiery Finale. Located at the town end of the Riverside Park car park, this 10x12 metre area is designed to accommodate those who cannot access the grassy areas of Riverside Park. The space includes:10 wheelchair user places20 regular seatsStanding room for 20 peopleNearby accessible bathroom facilitiesThe accessible viewing space will directly face a large screen which will show the events of the main stage of the Fiery Finale. Please note that you can’t directly view the main stage from the accessible space, it is only the screen. We are unable to provide captioning on the screen. An Auslan interpreter will be signing next to the screen.A vehicle drop off point is located approx. 50 metres from the accessible space. It is drop-off only for those with tickets to the accessible space. All drop-offs need to be before 5.45pm or after 6.30pm.People in the parade or walking behind the parade can access the area by turning right into the car park instead of going onto the grassy area of Riverside Park. ACCESSIBLE TOILETS Riverside Park, CarparkThere is an accessible toilet located in the car park area of Riverside Park. The bathroom space is large and equipped with grab rails behind and on one side of the toilet. The toilet is of standard height and has no back cistern. A cold-water basin is available with a round tap handle. The door opens outwards and is quite heavy. The outside of the door has a round handle and on the inside there is a lever handle. There is no adult or child change table facilities. The toilets will be open and do not have a MLAK key entry.Other accessible toilets can be found at Lismore Central – 44 Carrington Street.AUSLAN INTERPRETERTwo Auslan interpreters will be at the Fiery Finale. One at the side of the main stage and the other beside the screen in the Accessible Viewing Space in the car park.The Accessible Viewing Space is ticketed, however it would be possible to still view the Auslan interpreter from the grassed area behind the Accessible Viewing Space.SENSORYThere will be fireworks display as part of the Fiery Finale between 6.30pm-7.30pm and a cultural burn. Whilst the fireworks are low-key they are still loud, bright and smokey.There will be large crowds watching the parade and the Fiery Finale, personal space will be limited, and it will be noisy and busy.There are no designated sensory tents or spaces planned for 2024.BOOKING INFORMATIONBookings are essential for the accessible viewing space. Secure your spot via Humanitix or by scanning the QR code below. Only ticket holders will be permitted entry to the area.(If viewing this on your phone, click to go to the website, www.lismoreapp.com.au, then scan the QR Code)FEEDBACKWe are trying to improve the accessibility of the Parade and The Fiery Finale so that it is suitable for everyone. We welcome your feedback regarding what has worked well and what can be improved for next year. Please email [email protected] or call 02 6622 6333Join the 2,500 participants and the 15,000+ people in celebrating the 2024 Lismore Lantern Parade, where inclusivity and community shine as brightly as the lanterns themselves.

The number of private practice lawyers in the 2480 postcode has dropped 14.1% (74 down from 92) since the floods in 2022, and experienced practitioners has dropped 9.7% (121 down from 134).The numbers may seem relatively small, but Jim Fuggle from James Fuggle Rummery Solicitors, reports that, “If I stopped taking on clients tomorrow, I would still be busy in 18 months.”Tracy Randall from Randall Legal says she “has two full-time lawyers instead of 6.” She has stopped advertising for more, as no one is replying to the ads.The Council of the Law Society, NSW, meets once a year in a remote location. This year, the conference is in Kingscliff, and two members, Brett McGrath, President of the Law Society of NSW, and Sean Radburn, the President of the Far North Coast Regional Law Society, were in Lismore today to unveil a proposal to attract lawyers to the region.The Law Society of NSW said that last month's report of the Independent Review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership recommended that debt incurred under HELP (and forerunner HECS) be forgiven for;Private lawyers who can show that 45% of their work over a 5-year period was funded by Legal Aid, and;Regional lawyers who work for five years with non-government legal assistance providers.Forgiven is a term used to indicate a discounted figure, but that would be determined by the government. The wording indicates that this would also be desirable for those who are still studying and paying off debt.(Recommendation 26 is part of the independent report and how it aims to assist regional areas)The Law Council of Australia (LCA) has produced a blueprint as to how the recommendations can be implemented. Mr McGrath said, “Law is the most expensive degree eligible for HELP. Recent students are likely to amass around $70,000 in debt, including for the post-graduate courses necessary for them to qualify for admission to legal practice.”Mr Bradburn adds, “As Lismore practices continue the long process of rebuilding after the floods, this is the sort of incentive that could attract early career lawyers from the city.“Lawyers in the country are generally exposed to a much broader range of legal work than can usually be found in big city firms. Those just starting out in their careers can also gain valuable client-facing and court work for which they may otherwise have to wait for years to experience.”Lismore is not alone as a regional area suffering from a lack of representation. Brett McGrath says, “The Law Council of Australia, which is the federal body, has led the charge for calling on the Commonwealth Government to institute hex fee help relief for all regional and rural practitioners.”The lack of lawyers in the community can have detrimental effects on individuals. Mr McGrath explained, “When people come before the court, and they don't have legal representation, they are more likely to get worse outcomes, which means they may be bail refused, they may then be on remand for crimes.“What that also means is that you have victims who are waiting for an outcome with court delays. So, having access to solicitors who can speak with prosecutors and work together in the justice system to get better outcomes. It's better outcomes, not only for defendants but also for the victims of crime who want to see justice done.”Lismore and other surrounding communities are concerned about the increase in crime. Mr McGrath said, “When you have an uptick in crime in a region, it puts pressure on all services and service providers and we see solicitors as being a frontline service in the administration of justice. “That volume of matters coming through puts strain on legal aid, and they're often the most vulnerable communities that are affected by an uptick in crime. And so you have victims waiting, but then you have defendants who may not have been before the court.“Someone may be sitting in court today without a solicitor, and one of the first questions a magistrate will ask is, have you sought legal advice? and if they don't, they may be putting an incorrect plea in and it's really difficult to recover. “And that then means that they may get a record when they wouldn't have had one beforehand, or they might not be put into a treatment program that they may have got advice from a solicitor to enter into. So it's creating perverse outcomes by not having solicitors and not having that access to justice in the regions.”The exacerbated attrition of lawyers in the area has been seen due to flood-affected lawyers either moving away or retiring instead of rebuilding their business after the flood.

The latest CoreLogic real estate data for regional Australia was released this week, which included a specific one-page report for Lismore.It is not often that the Lismore real estate market leads a nationwide study, but this study showed that the Lismore real estate market is alive and kicking like a prized stallion.CoreLogic analysed Australia's largest 50 non-capital city Significant Urban Areas (SUAs), examining performance across dwelling values and rents. For the 12 months to February 2024, Lismore had the largest increase in dwelling sales, recording a 103% rise compared to the previous 12 month period. This was the highest number of houses sold in the Lismore LGA in the last 10 years, with 903 dwellings changing hands.It is not certain whether the NSW Reconstruction Authority House Buybacks are represented in the 903 dwellings. However, it would be safe to assume a portion of the sales would be included from March 2023 to February 2024.As the one-page snapshot below shows, Lismore's median value is $488,285, and rents are, on average, $553 per week. In percentage terms, that is an increase of 49.3% in the last five years, with rents increasing 33.6%.Dwelling sales in February 2024 were 103.5% higher than in February 2023, the highest increase of the 50 markets.An interesting component of the data is the price range where the most sales occurred (above right).The most dwellings sold were in the $200,000 to $400,000 (36.5%) price bracket, followed by the $400,000 and $600,000 (27.2%) price brackets. This means 63.7% of all dwellings sold were under $600,000, and, given the price range, a large portion must be on the Lismore floodplain.This begs the question: Are all new buyers, both first-time homeowners and investors, aware of the risks they are taking, and will they be excluded from future government aid?The Lismore App spoke to local Real Estate agent Andrew Gordon from R Gordon and Son."Everyone knows they're buying in the floodplain; it's called material fact. So, when you see an ad advertisement from a real estate agent, it will have the word material fact written in it, and it says this property was affected by the 2022 event," Andrew explained."Now, if you look at the sales, 36% of the sales are in that 200 to 400 range. Why is that? Well, it's easy because we're a low-demographic wage earner. That's what it is. What you're seeing is people within that demographic, all of a sudden, post-event being handed a lifeline."They see affordability come back into the picture, and they are prepared to take the risk. That's what it is. The great Australian dream is alive and well."That 36 per cent is made up of probably two groups of people. Those who might invest, seeing the opportunity for capital growth, as well as return, and those who are looking for the first home buyer market. And I'd imagine, out of that 36 per cent, I'd reckon 80 per cent would fall into the category of first home buyer. They're seeking to fulfil the great Australian dream, and that's to own their own home."This event has handed them that lifeline. Prior to the flood, those houses probably would have bought $500,000 to $600,000, which was outside their range. If they're paying 250, they're spending 150 on it. All of a sudden, they're back in the ballpark."When we talk about risk, there are two trains of thought. One group will say that another severe weather event will lead to another large Lismore flood, putting those people left on the floodplain at high risk once gain. The other group will argue that February 2022 was a one-in-500 or one-in-2,500-year event, so it will not occur anytime soon."We hear that all the time," Andrew Gordon said, "Council themselves, in a briefing, said it's a one in 10,000 year event. I've been to several flood forums where people have said it's a one-in-3,500-year event. People are proportioning risk."Housing on the flood plains existed since the late 1800s, and people who have invested and lived on the flood plains accepted the risk. We've had one event which was traumatic, it was devastating, but there's been one, and people are sort of saying, well, I'm hoping that I won't see the next event, at that level. We all know that there's probably a '74 flood or low to moderate flooding in the future, but they're hoping that they will outlive another '22 event."Part of the risk of living in the floodplain is not only risk-to-life, it is the risk of financial hardship or ruin. Flood insurance is virtually non-existent, or the premiums are so high that a low-income family cannot afford it, while another potentially 13 or 14-metre flood would cause a great deal of damage that would cost tens of thousands of dollars or close to one hundred thousand dollars to fix.(A Keen Street, South Lismore house for sale for $359,000)"It is part of that risk. Look, I think that risk is trumped by the fact that people do want that opportunity to put a roof over the heads of their family. And I think people will say they accept the risk to fulfil that. I guess it's a parent's obligation to look after their family."The million-dollar question is what financial help would the government offer if Lismore did see another 14-metre flood, given that people knowingly bought the family home on the flood plain, understanding the risk.The Lismore App approached the NSW Reconstruction Authority to clarify its position regarding what financial help it would offer, if any, when the next severe weather event occurs. However, at the time of writing, no response was received.Of course, this is a what-if scenario. Who knows which government will be in power when the next severe weather event occurs and what impact flood mitigation will have on the remaining properties on the floodplain. TBC.

Can you help police locate Eneeka Laurie?Eneeka. aged 29, is wanted on outstanding arrest warrants.She is known to frequent the Lismore, Goonellabah, Nimbin and Byron Bay areas.Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Eneeka Laurie is urged to contact your local police station, 000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.All information is treated in strict confidence.

The Rivers Academy of Stem Excellence (RASE) held a workshop for students recently, where they built 10 prosthetic hands for amputees in places such as India, Ethiopia and the Philippines.Forty students in groups of three or four, using STEM engineering principles, an involved handbook, and some packets of parts, had the challenge laid before them. To complete the project, they were only to use their non-dominant hand - their dominant hand was covered and unusable.Under the guidance of RASE Project Officer, Zane Van den Berg, the Years 7 to 12 students from three campuses used the Helping Hands program to assemble LN-4 prosthetics to be distributed and fitted by international agencies - at no cost to the recipient. The prosthetics are a type that can be strapped to an arm, and have a claw that clamps closed around an object and is spring-loaded to reopen with a click.Helping Hands is an Australian-based social enterprise program that has facilitated the creation of almost 25,000 prosthetic hands since 2011. The kids had to work quite hard to achieve results. Oden, Jackson, Sage and Miles were struggling with the complexity. “I’m trying to get the claw bit together, but it's kinda difficult,” said Miles. (Miles, Sage, Oden and Jackson)Lucie, Emily and Zoey were taking the challenge in their stride. Emily said, “We are making prosthetic hands for people that have lost their hands in accidents.”Zoey added, “It seemed interesting to learn about a prosthetic hand and why people need them.” Emily said, “It's fun, a little bit confusing but you get the hang of it.”Lucie was pleased with the progress they were making. “I expected it to be really hard, but it's not as difficult as I thought it would be, so that’s good! It is frustrating not using your dominant hand, though.”(Lucie, Emily and Zoey get a tip from Zane Ven den Berg)Lotte, Stella and Clem were progressing well but were adamant on their opinion of having their hand bound.“I hate it. It's a lot trickier. Even opening a ziplock bag, you need two people. It gives you an idea of what it might be like. It's good for teamwork because you have to work together to do simple things.”Clem had put some thought into what they were doing.“I’d like to give other people the opportunity to use a hand.” Stella added, “It’s very important.”Lotte was also happy about the personal touch that the kids were including.“I’m excited to give a little note and decorate it for them. It will be specialised for them.”(Lotte, Stell and Clem as Clem said, ""That makes sense, it's all coming together."Karen Ramsay, one of the RASE teachers, was impressed by the student's diligence.“The authenticity of their approach, the engagement - all of them are heads down working together. I am so happy for the kids. It’s not something they would normally get to do.”Jay Sellers, one of the supervising teachers, said, “The STEM class is run as an elective class. They are lucky to get the opportunity to do this and look at their smiles. And the mixing of students from different schools, different ages, boys and girls working together - I’m grateful the opportunity was presented.”(Students happy to work on their projects, even if, or probably because it was not easy)Mr Van den Berg said “The program is an opportunity for students to not only help those in need but develop solutions to authentic problems with a focus on collaboration, teamwork and communication.”Helping Hands Founder and Organisational Psychologist Dr Matt Henricks believes the program is highly beneficial for students as it encourages them to step outside their comfort zone and understand another person’s perspective.“It is my hope the activity prompts a life-long curiosity and student love for STEM, and helps each student realise how powerful they each are to make a difference every day,” said Dr Hendricks.“The activity will give each student a taste of how it feels to truly make a difference on a global stage, so I expect for some of the students, it will be the first of many steps they take toward shaping the kind of world that they wish to inherit.”(Karen Ramsay with Charli and Izzy. Charli said, "Even though I don't read well, we managed to work it out and finished first!")The Helping Hands Program is commonly used as a corporate team-building activity. However, the Northern Rivers students have been awarded the opportunity to participate in this STEM initiative thanks to funding by Google through an Australian Schools Plus grant.(Students with the completed products, hands, packages and personalised notes for the recipient to read.)

They’re the humble heroes who save and change lives – quite literally – out of the goodness of their hearts.  This week, Australia’s blood and plasma donors will be celebrated for their generosity. Lifeblood spokesperson Scott Morrison said National Blood Donor Week (now until 16 June ) is an opportunity to recognise Lismore donors and inspire others. “In Lismore, our local donors are the lifeblood of our community,” Scott said. “This National Blood Donor Week, we will be celebrating 14 locals who this past year have achieved a milestone donation of 200 or more.  “One in three people will need blood or blood products in their lifetime, so we want to say a huge thank you to all our donors who made a difference – not only to their community – but to patients and families all over Australia. “Patients receive the gift of life because ordinary people do an extraordinary thing. They roll up their sleeves to help.” Lifeblood needs more people to join the community of blood and plasma donors who save lives by giving 1.6 million donations across Australia every year.  “We are calling on people to become the lifeblood of Australia, the lifeblood of their communities and the lifeblood of those patients who need blood and blood products every day,” Scott said.  “This week, we still need 50 locals to roll up their sleeves and give blood or plasma.” “From cancer patients to road trauma victims, people with blood disorders, surgical patients, and new mums – blood is needed for someone, somewhere in Australia, every 18 seconds. “It takes just an hour of your time to donate blood, and every donation can help save up to three lives.” Everyone who donates during National Blood Donor Week and until 14 July will receive a limited-edition bandage designed by Indigenous Australian artist Aretha Brown. The bandage is a thank you to the more than half a million donors across Australia, who currently make up our life-saving community. Book a donation at www.lifeblood.com.au, via the free DonateBlood App or by calling 13 14 95. 

36 Months is a national petition to raise the age of access to social media from 13 to 16. There is concern about access and use and the residual effects of such an influential pastime on young people's health and well-being.  Michael Wipfli (Wippa), co-host of the Fitzy, Wippa & Kate Ritchie breakfast show on Nova 96.9 Sydney, and Rob Galluzzo, founder of film production company FINCH, are behind the movement.(Michael Wipfli and Ron Galluzzo)Rob Galluzzo, father of two, told LBB Online, “As parents, we want to give our kids the best shot at becoming resilient and independent adults.“The prevalent issue of excessive social media use contributing to heightened anxiety among teenagers is a growing concern for many parents and educators.“The aim of 36 Months is to provide a safer environment where kids can foster a secure identity and healthy emotional development by raising the threshold of social media citizenship.”(The 36 Months mission statement)The objective is to remove the onus from parents to decide, negotiate, and compete with the gargantuan marketing machines that are social media platforms. They are aiming to make the government legislate an age increase and provide enforcement regarding children or anyone's need to prove their age.  Many politicians, personalities and people are signing the petition, and discussions by changemakers are underway. Concerns include the maturity of young people to utilise such an impressionable means of communication and how that affects their self esteem. Danger to mental health is such that the feeling is that the age restriction should be enforced like cigarettes or alcohol. This would apply to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube.Kerry-Anne, a local mother of two boys fast approaching the age of 13, said, “I’m already terrified of them having access to social media. It’s hard enough controlling social interaction on things like social gaming. Even bullying in schools is unmanageable for some.“Messenger Kids (which has parental control options) is hard to monitor content going back and forward between my children’s friend groups. Some parents do not even monitor their children so have no idea what’s happening online. “To be honest, I end up monitoring other children’s chats with my kids just to try and do damage control for any potentially nasty words, comments that can be misconstrued as well as exposure to adult themes.” Monitoring everything that goes on is very difficult, and there is the problem of images that are not as easy to curb. “Kids can screenshot social chats and then send a ‘photo’ onto groups outside that chat. You loose control regardless. Kids share and share. It goes on. It’s so bloody dangerous and scary.”Kerry-Anne recognises the need to manage what goes on at a higher level, “I’m 10000% for restrictions and stronger controls for all on social media. Gaming. YouTube. TikTok etc. “Social media and devices are just as dangerous as giving a teenage kid keys to your car without them knowing how to drive.”Wippa told Fear and Greed, a business podcast, “There's two parts to it. The first part is if we look at what goes on in the adolescent years and how challenging that is, you throw social media and smart algorithms into the mix, and you have vulnerable kids that are trying to discover themselves. That's a dangerous play. “The other side of the coin is to consider 36 Months, three years to give back. What can we do in those three years if the kids aren't on social media? And what skills can they acquire and learn knowing that if they choose to get onto social media at the age of 16, they can be armed with everything to expect and know what to do and how to handle themselves if required.”You may see people posting photos of their 13 year old selves on socials in support of the movement. If you would like to know more or sign the petition, have a look at the 36 Months website.

Police have arrested five people and seized over $3 million worth of MDMA across the Illawarra and Tweed regions as part of a multi-agency investigation into the manufacturing and mass supply of illicit drugs.In March 2024, officers attached to State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad and Lake Illawarra Police District – as well as the NSW Crime Commission, Australian Border Force (ABF) and Queensland Police Service – commenced an investigation under Strike Force Culti into the manufacturing and supply of MDMA across eastern Australia.The investigation was launched after ABF officers in Queensland examined a number of packages that were found to contain approximately 50 kilograms of a precursor to MDMA. ABF investigators identified that the syndicate had been importing since August 2023, with approximately 150kg of the precursor seized since that time.Following extensive investigations, strike force officers – with assistance from Lake Illawarra and Tweed/Byron Police District – executed ten search warrants on properties in Tullimbar, Yallah, Calderwood, Albion Park and Kingscliff on Wednesday 5 June 2024. On the same day ABF investigators and Queensland police executed a search warrant on a property in Flagstone, Queensland.During the search of the Illawarra properties, police located and seized over 8.7kg of MDMA, 140 grams of cocaine, two firearms, ammunition, $64,000 in cash, a Ford Raptor, a Porsche Carrera and a pill press.During the search of the Kingscliff property, police and ABF officers located a large clandestine laboratory in the home.Specialist police from the State Crime Command Chemical Operations Team were deployed and dismantled the lab, locating and seizing over one thousand litres of precursor for MDMA and methamphetamine.During the search of the Flagstone property, police and ABF officers located and seized several electronic devices.The total street value of all drugs seized during the investigation was $3.1 million.Police arrested two men during the searches – a 35-year-old at the Albion Park property and a 34-year-old at a Tullimbar property.They were both taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where the older man was charged with 10 charges relating to large-scale drug manufacture and supply, as well as two counts of deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100000, knowingly direct activities of a criminal group, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction.The younger man was charged with supply prohibited drug large commercial quantity, supply prohibited drug indictable and commercial quantity, deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100000, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction.Both men were refused bail and appeared before Wollongong Local Court on Thursday 6 June 2024 where they were formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Wednesday 31 July 2024.On the same day Australian Border Force officers and Queensland Police arrested an 18-year-old man and 44-year-old man in Southport.They have both been charged with importation offences and remain before the Queensland courts.Following further investigations, about 6.30am on Friday 7 June 2024, police arrested a 33-year-old man at White Bay Cruise Terminal.He was taken to Newtown Police Station, where he was charged with six charges related to large-scale drug manufacture and supply, as well as participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and possess unauthorised firearm.The 33-year-old was refused bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court the same day where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Tuesday 6 August 2024.Investigations under Strike Force Culti continue.Anyone with information that may assist investigators 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.

We have all read about and seen horrific images and visions of the Israeli-Gaza war. One local doctor has seen the devastation first-hand, spending six weeks in an ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) hospital in the humanitarian zone to give support to the local healthcare and humanitarian workers who have been helping injured people from both sides of the war without reprieve since 7 October 2023.Dr Herwig Drobetz is an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Lismore Base Hospital. He has been involved in humanitarian work since 2018. He has travelled to Syria with Doctors Without Borders, Yemen and now, three times to Gaza. He usually goes to protracted European war zones, which means the war has been running for a long time or is in a cease-fire.This was his first time with the Red Cross."I have a contract with the hospital that I can go away once a year for three months. I take unpaid time off between two and three months, Dr Drobetz told the Lismore App."I chose the Red Cross because I wanted to go to Gaza and the Red Cross was the only one who was sending surgeons into Gaza now. Mèdecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) was also going to Gaza, but they didn't send any surgeons. So, it was a win-win situation for this deployment because it's an active war zone."Dr Drobetz explained the deployment was for a maximum of six weeks, which includes travel that takes approximately a week to get to Rafa and another week back.The journey to Gaza is via Egypt, where briefings are held before the final two-day trip to Gaza. It is the same journey on the way home.The European Gaza Hospital was filled with doctors and nurses who treated a thousand patients daily in Rafah."We were in the European Gaza Hospital, which is in South East Gaza on the border between Rafa and Khan Younis, and then I was also working at the ICRC Field Hospital, which was completely newly built. I arrived on the day when it was opened, that was on the eighth or ninth of May. That's in the southwest of Gaza, and that's in the humanitarian zone, also in Rafah, so it's on the beach."In previous humanitarian visits to Gaza, Dr Drobetz experienced different environments. The first time, there was targeted bombing for three days hitting specific buildings, and the second time, in 2022, it was not an active war zone. Everyone could move about freely, and cafès, restaurants and shops were open for business, so the trip offered some downtime to enjoy the people and the culture of Gaza."Gaza is beautiful. There was an old town, there was a life, even though life is always hard in Gaza," Dr Drobetz said about his 2022 trip, "But in 2022, you had this optimism, and people were opening world-class cafès and restaurants. That's obviously all gone now.""There are 1.5 million people living in an area the size of Lismore city in tents. There are 20,000 people living on the hospital grounds. Imagine 20,000 people living in the Lismore hospital. They were living in hallways, scanner rooms, the nursing station, there are tents and makeshift buildings everywhere."Dr Drobetz describes his daily life."Well, you see war wounded. There are patients who get either shot with handguns or machine guns or they have injuries from explosives, like grenades, or a mine. There are patients whose house gets bombed, and they are buried under the rubble for up to 12 to 24 hours. They have severe soft tissue injuries, all sorts of breaks and chest injuries.""You see burns, lots of burns, because many of the Palestinians in Gaza now live in camps for internally displaced people, so they live in tents. Often, there are 5, 7 or 9 people in a small tent. They cook on the floor, there's little children, they throw over the stove, and they have severe water or soup food burns or chemical burns.""We specifically treated war-wounded patients because that's the biggest need. So, currently, there's an estimated 70,000 people injured. That takes decades to work that all up.""At the European Gaza Hospital, we had about 1000 patients per day coming to the emergency department. By comparison, Lismore is about 130 to 160 per day. We had 1000 patients coming in, and there were about six or seven doctors.""I was not working in the emergency department. But, from this 1000 patients, at least 40 are severely injured, statistically, and another 50 are a bit less injured. The majority comes in for relatively small stuff. There are a lot of people who have diabetes, but the health system in Gaza has collapsed. Only 10 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza function. So, they can't get diabetes medication, that's why they go to ED, because it's the only way to get access to regular medications."So, you have this massive mixture of patients, but about 30 or 40 were severely injured."Not all patients were treated by the Red Cross. Dr Drobetz explained there were other organisations from America and Jordan that treated patients alongside the dedicated local staff."There were a lot of surgeons. That hospital is a really big hospital; they have like six or seven theatres. It was the largest, still functioning hospital in Gaza. The Red Cross was working in one of the theatres there, and we also managed a ward where we had 50 beds for patients. We treated whatever came our way. So, we had between four and nine operations every day. Sometimes, you would have four big ones; then it's a long day. If you have nine small ones, it's not such a long day. The numbers don't really indicate much; it depends on how involved the operations are."We worked six days a week. On Fridays, that's like the Sunday here, we tried to have a rest day, but if something comes in, there is no rest."Living conditions were very basic during Dr Drobetz's deployment."You need to imagine that we were sleeping in five rooms in what used to be a nursing school where there'd be eight people sleeping in a room. I was basically sleeping in the kitchen. It's always loud. Somebody's always coughing, somebody always has a chest infection, everybody gets a chest infection, somebody has gastroenteritis, so they get diarrhoea, you get vomiting because the water is not clean. There's huge noise with people, you have no privacy. There's two toilets and sixteen people trying to make breakfast in a really small kitchen.""That's all okay, you get used to everything. No hot shower for six weeks, not a problem at all. But then all night there are drones flying, there's fighter jets flying, there's bombings very close to the house, there's gunfights close to the house, there's tanks shooting, there's the Navy shooting from the sea over the hospital into Rafa. So, it's mayhem. And you don't notice this because you get used to everything. You do your yoga in the morning on the rooftop, and the Navy's shooting over the hospital, it doesn't become normal, but you get used to it.""But what you don't notice is, because you are constantly in tension, you're constantly working, the stress. You are always in a state of exception and you can't sleep well, even though you don't notice it. So, it's very exhausting. That was the spatial thing as well. Normally I'm not that exhausted when I come back because you go for two months and I can go out and drink coffee and have a restaurant and have nice talks and there's no active hostilities around me. So, the work is only just one part of the whole thing. That work is my comfort zone because that's what I'm used to. That's not the difficult part for me personally. That's what I learned anyway. It's everything else around it. I'm used to it to some extent, but this was very tense.""We were advised not to leave the accommodation. We left in the morning to go to the hospital, that was about 100 meters away, and then in the evening, we went back, and then you don't leave. There is nothing else to do, so you might as well work. It's very simple because life reduces itself to sleeping, eating and working. There's not much else you do. If you have time, on the Friday, you watch a movie, you talk, you play a game, or you do some exercise. I tried do some exercise every day.""You don't have all these daily life things you usually need to do, like I don't need to go shopping, I don't need to take my car for a service, or I don't have to pick up anyone. All these things are gone. So, your day is actually quite long."Dr Drobetz praises the skills and courage of the local medical staff who live in those conditions every day that this war goes on."I have had the privilege and the honour and the luck to work with some of the best surgeons I've ever met, who are Palestinians, who are local plastic surgeons or local orthopedic surgeons. If they would be anywhere else, they would be world famous. They are amazing. What they can do with very little equipment and very complex injuries because Gaza has very specific complex injuries, and they have thousands of people who get shot in the legs, young men mostly, who have severe fractures and soft tissue problems in the lower legs. They reconstruct them, which is extremely involved and difficult, and there's not many people who can do that. The work they were and are still doing is amazing."(Dr Drobetz with Hassan, a translator)"So, I learned much more there than I could teach them, even though that's an interest of mine, this kind of surgery. I consider these people very close friends, so that's why I wanted to go back now because it's important to show them that you don't forget about them and even the fact that you go there already helps. Some of them I've managed to see again, and some of them I couldn't see again. Gaza is only 40 kilometres long, but my very best friend was maybe 20 kilometres away, but it was impossible to go there because there was a frontline with access impeded. It was, unfortunately, impossible. I tried to send him cigarettes and chocolate because they are the most coveted commodities at the moment. A packet of cigarettes was 250 US dollars when I was there."(A Google map showing the 40km long Gaza strip)"You meet lots of dedicated people. The theatre nurses came to work every day, even though they hadn't been paid since October. They were all employed by the Ministry of Health. It's sometimes life-threatening for them to go to work because they have to cross the front line. One of them had his house bombed and lost father, mother, brother, sister, eleven relatives, yet he still came back to work two days later. You cannot imagine losing everything and then still coming to work and still having empathy and still cooking for us, even though they have hardly any food. That's an impressive act of resilience and also heartbreaking."War zones have a massive effect on the people that we see on TV or the internet, but they also have a large impact on the medical staff that go to help."Of course, it affects you because there's a lot of different movies in your head afterwards."It was absolutely heartbreaking to see the pain and the suffering and sadness every day when we walked from the nursing school to the hospital. And for the people, it was extremely important that we were there because as long as there are NGOs, so non-governmental organisations or humanitarian organisations, then they feel there is much less chance that the hospital will be impacted by hostilities. "The people were panicking because the Israeli Defence Force gave evacuation orders for Rafa, and that was very close to the hospital. We were still in a humanitarian zone, but it was close to the hospital. People were very nervous. It was important that we were there. Just the simple fact that we were there gives them some sort of security.""We got stuck for 10 days because the borders were closed, so we couldn't get out. We had to wait for 10 days after our date, and we were supposed to go, and then it was not really clear when we would get out and how we would get out because the border into Egypt was closed, and there was no indication when it was opening again. So, we had to go out via another border into Israel, and it was all very difficult.""Of course, you're relieved to get out because the war was getting closer and closer. But you are also really sad because you have survivor's guilt or you leave people behind you are really close to. It is all the same. Every mission is the same. I was in Yemen, I was in Syria and Gaza, and every time, it's the same: you're happy to go home, and you are sad that you go home.""Of course, it takes time to settle because you have all the movies in your head, you can't sleep well from jetlag, you think about it a lot, so it takes a while to settle, and that's okay. That's the price you pay for doing these things, you know, whether you call it PTSD or whether I call it working through it, in six to eight weeks, it settles down until it becomes a memory. You also experience really nice things there, like we were sitting with the nurses and talking and even joking and they cook for us and it's very bonding and if you give out cigarettes to the drivers and then you have a cigarette and the tea together that's really nice.""These people are all highly intelligent people, the drivers have been engineers, and many of them have a university background. They're really interesting people to talk to. Their English is really good. I was together with a Serbian and Dutch surgeon who were really nice, and I was also with the principal nurse from Brisbane who travelled with me. We were in Egypt together, and we were in the hospital together, and she became a really good friend. It also has really good things and then it settles down after eight weeks. Then your life here becomes a routine again."(Brisbane nurse Ruth Jebb travelled with Dr Drobetz to Gaza)"What I want to take away from it is that I don't want to get upset about little things ever again in my life after seeing what these people can tolerate and how hard their life is, and they can still show empathy.Dr Drobetz wants to praise his orthopaedic team at Lismore Base Hospital for picking up the workload when he is deployed each year for two to three months."I'm always looking forward to going back to work. I love Lismore Base Hospital. I think it's the best hospital in the world, and I work here with the best colleagues, the best nurses; everybody is so nice, and everybody's so supportive."Because I'm an orthopaedic surgeon, I usually need to plan it. I can't go on short notice because it is very unfair towards my team to leave them on short notice. So I always need to plan. I tell MSF, I tell the Red Cross that I can go next year in April and then they will try to find something for me for April. Then I tell my team who are awesome. The Lismore orthopaedic department is amazing, they compensate for me being away. They have to work more, and they always make it possible that I can do these things. So, I'm super, super grateful that we have such a great team.""It's usually difficult for me to go on short notice. This was a bit different because I said I would like to go to Gaza, and they asked me five weeks before I left, and my team was so nice to make it happen. But usually, that's difficult."For anyone thinking of going to Gaza to offer their help, Dr Drobetz has some advice."I think it's hugely important that you only do this with a big organisation like the Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders. It has to be a big organisation because they have teams who are dedicated to the management of safety and security of the staff. "If you can't go, then you can always donate. That's the second best thing you can do to help. Reputable organisations like the Red Cross or MSF, they can use that money. It doesn't matter who's right or wrong in this war. The work of humanitarian organisations is based on reducing the human toll of armed conflict on all people impacted by the violence. The Red Cross, MSF, they treat anyone. Anyone who comes in gets treated, it doesn't matter whether they are Palestinians or Israelis. The hostages get treated by anyone. It doesn't matter. It's never a solution; the purpose of humanitarian medical assistance is not about providing a resolution to any conflict. It is just help. Essential help. That's what this is about." You can donate to the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) by clicking here.

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 [email protected].

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. “