The Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA) and The Buttery have called for meaningful reform at the NSW Drug Summit Regional Forum in Lismore on Monday (4 November). Following months of sustained advocacy, NADA CEO Dr Robert Stirling said this Regional Forum is an opportunity for the NSW Government to hear from Lismore and other regional service providers and understand the unique challenges facing the region. “This Regional Forum is an opportunity to bring NSW drug policy into line with modern community expectations and address the stigma and discrimination toward people who use drugs and their families,” Dr Stirling said. “We will have frontline service providers at the Forum, like The Buttery, who can provide on-the-ground insights to the NSW Government so we can create meaningful change. “Some 45 per cent of NADA’s members provide services across regional and rural NSW, so it’s incredibly important that their voices are heard during this process. “There are significant gaps in terms of geographical reach of services into remote communities, and that is a key issue we will raise at the Forum. “We will also strongly advocate for increased, longer-term and more secure funding for our sector. Chronic underfunding has put our service providers on a knife edge and we cannot afford for these critical services to go under. “The best health and wellbeing outcomes for all community members must be the priority, and we look forward to a productive and action-focused discussion that will lead to better outcomes for regional NSW.” The Buttery, a provider of drug and alcohol services in Northern NSW for more than 50 years, welcomed the forum being held in Lismore. The Buttery CEO Leone Crayden said: “Lismore and the Northern Rivers face a complex and unique set of challenges." “We need a comprehensive response to drug, alcohol and mental health issues in our region, and that involves the NSW Government providing long-term and sustainable funding for frontline services like ours. “If we don’t see an improvement to funding security, we won’t be able to shift the dial and deliver better health outcomes for those who need our services.” NADA released a Position Paper on the upcoming Drug Summit, which included a set of recommendations for the NSW Government, How the upcoming NSW Drug Summit can deliver better outcomes for individuals, families and the community.Uniting NSW.ACT has urged politicians from all divides to back life-saving and evidence-based drug law.Emma Maiden, General Manager External Relations and Advocacy at Uniting NSW.ACT said, “This is a golden opportunity for the entire community to share what experts, people with lived experience and front-line services are telling us every day: our current drug laws are failing. “Urgent reform is needed. “NSW is at a critical juncture on drug reform. We must not miss this once-in-a-generation chance to shift from a punitive approach to one that prioritises health and support, based on the best evidence.

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."

It might seem strange, but the connection between ukuleles, Lismore floods and storytelling is taking local SCU academic Jeanti St Clair to the Byron Writers Festival this weekend.Jeanti will join a panel of speakers discussing how creativity plays an important role in communities recovering from natural disasters. “The journey back from the emotional and mental trauma of climate disasters is huge,” Jeanti said. “If we can take part in a gentle creative process, it can help process traumas.“Part of the work is to create events that provide gentle opportunities for people to engage creatively in processing grief and trauma.“Particularly with single experience events, often you can benefit from sharing your stories – it can be a creative and therapeutic expression.”Flood Stories ProjectJeanti’s Flood Stories project began in 2017 after the Lismore flood and culminated in audio walks through the streets of Lismore.The project continued this year after the February and March floods, when Jeanti again gathered flood stories from people in the Lismore community who had been affected by flooding.“I have now updated the Flood Stories website to make space for other projects - and I’ve teamed up with local photographer Raymond De Weerdt to capture pictures of civilian rescuers.“We are talking about holding an exhibition next year and publishing a book called 'Rescue', capturing the experiences of the flood rescuers, their terrifying moments on water and the experience problem solving in doing it.“After some of the rescuers told me their stories, they said ’I didn’t know if I could tell it again, but I feel better for it'.“The creative methodology helped them process their experience – they felt seen and acknowledged.”The Creative Recovery panelThe Creative Recovery panel will be at the Byron Writers Festival at 11.30am, this Sunday, August 28.Jeanti said on the panel will be other locals talking about a similar process of engaging communities in mental health recovery - talking about bushfire recovery and other projects in Wollongbar and Ballina.“I’m involved with a larger collective alliance of creatives, teachers and mental health professionals - and we all came together as the creative first aid alliance,” Jeanti said.Ukelele ClubAs well as her flood stories project, Jeanti is using the power of musical expression to help the Lismore community recover from the floods.“I’ve started the ukulele club and we will have monthly uke events where people can gather, strum and sing along ,” she said.“It activates positive hormones and switches on the vagus nerve and makes you feel happier.“Byron Music donated ukeleles and I’m giving them away to flood affected people who come to the club.”If anyone wants to join the uke club, look for Lismore Uke Club on Facebook for updates.Byron Writers FestivalThe 2022 Byron Writers Festival will take place this Friday 26 August to Sunday 28 August.More than 140 writers and thinkers will converge on Byron Bay to explore the theme ‘Radical Hope’ and celebrate the power of words with festival audiences.The event takes place on the grounds adjacent to Elements of Byron Resort (144 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay) and includes five stages, hosting sessions on a range of topics such as the environment, social issues, the arts, science, crime, poetry, politics, memoir and fiction.This year’s line-up includes best-selling authors Trent Dalton (Love Stories), Hannah Kent (Devotion) and Rob Drewe (Nimblefoot), artist Ben Quilty (Free Fall) and actor Bryan Brown (Sweet Jimmy), authors and commentators Indira Naidoo (The Space Between The Stars), Sarah Wilson (This One Wild and Precious Life) and Julia Baird (Phosphorescence), prize winning poet Evelyn Araluen (Dropbear) Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis (Costa's World) and British philosopher A.C. Grayling (For The Good of the World) amongst many more. 3-Day and 1-Day Passes are available as well as tickets to a selection of Feature Events and workshops. Tickets can be purchased online via byronwritersfestival.com/tickets or from the onsite Festival box office from Friday 26 August.

Inside the Northern Rivers Pilates studio on Keen Street, the revamped space with its high ceilings and open plan look could be described as ‘Berlin meets New York’. The new local pilates studio has been stripped back to bare bones since the February flood – and the opportunity to create the new studio is something that studio manager Maddi Garlick said was actually a blessing in disguise.“The bare bones studio is flood proof now,” Maddi said. “When we got back in to clean up the mud, we ripped out the roof and loved the high ceilings with the open beams at the top. “We even knocked out the back two rooms to create one big space for the studio.“It’s given us heaps of space and we are opening a new second floor studio up the top now.”Maddi said it was all thanks to the help of family and friends that the family-owned studio got back on its feet after the flood.“Everyone came and gave us a hand and my dad is a carpenter who reused the old timber cut out of the ceiling. He made removable panels to cover the walls – and the panels can be hosed off if another flood comes.”Generosity“We also lost our equipment – even though we moved it to a warehouse in East Lismore, because the warehouse went under too. Everything we put in the upstairs mezzanine also went under.”But thanks to the generosity of the national pilates community, the studio was able to reopen.“We got donations from lots of different studios in Australia and a pilates studios in Brisbane held a gofundme to help us purchase equipment again – we’ve been lucky,” Maddi said. Renowned pilates teacherMaddi’s mum is renowned pilates teacher Kimberley Garlick. Kimberley founded Northern Rivers Pilates when their family moved to the local area 15 years ago. “My mum started doing aerobics and teaching in 1995,” Maddi said. “She was the first in Sydney to teach group pilates sessions and has had many pilates studios since then.”Before the family moved to the Keen Street studio, they were located on Magellan Street for 11 year, above Timezone. New upstairs studio open dayNow expanding again, the new upstairs studio is set to open on September 3 and fitness classes will be held up there.Maddi said an open day on September 3 welcomes people to book in to try mat, barre and reformer classes for free between 9am and 12pm.“We have a booking system and people need to book in advance for the limited spaces,” Maddi said.Why try pilates?“Pilates is for everybody and anybody, aged 10 to 100-years old,” Maddi said.“It’s not just about having a strong core – even though that’s a part of it.“You also need to have spine mobility. The founder of pilates, Joseph Pilates says you are only as young as your spine is - you need to move, flex and bend.“Pilates is versatile and for all bodies. Our downstairs studio is going to focus on rehabilitation where people use the equipment, while upstairs will be for group classes.“My nan is 76 and she’s a pilates teacher too. She is a good example of how pilates can help you as you age. “She is an inspiration and she’ll be at the open day.” The studio will be open for classes every day from 6.30am to 11.30am, then 3.30pm to 7.30pm. Private consultations can also be booked. The studio has teamed up with massage therapists Kevin Privett and Christian Munoz from Olè Wellness.“They rent a room in the studio and have created a beautiful and blissful space for massage and craniosacral therapy.” Maddi said. To find out more about classes or booking a session, you can contact Maddi on 0413 090 265 or visit the website https://northernriverspilates.com.au/You can also visit Instagram: https://instagram.com/officialnorthernriverspilates?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

After having a tough time getting through the HSC during Covid shutdowns, former Richmond River High and Trinity Catholic College student, Jacqueline Bodill, wanted to make it easier for others. So, inspired by some of the good online resources she found, she made it a mission to compile them into one easy to find location - for future HSC students.It was a labour of love for her and yesterday, she received a NSW Young Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition for her efforts in establishing the HSC Resource Survival Kit.Now studying at university and working in Sydney, the 22 year old said one of the main reasons she created the Survival Kit was because schools were under-resourced and finding appropriate online content was a minefield.“During Covid when I was in year 12, schools were in transition to online learning and were under resourced when it came to online learning materials,” she said.Under supported“I felt under-supported and under-resourced, while around me was a culture of distributed content.“Then in 2021, I was moderating an online HSC discussion forum with 40,000 HSC students in it and I would distribute resources and my posts got hundreds of likes.“There’s a tradition that students who have graduated will create HSC resources for other cohorts, but a problem with distribution – and often the vast majority of students won’t be doing the same extension and resource will be lost online.“So I decided to approach all the HSC resource creators for content so I could compile it in one place.“Now, you can find things like a table of equations you use in Maths Essential 1 or an analysis of English HSC subjects – or example essays – all in the one place.” Find the resourceYou can find it here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PjjbRmvG6GG_TDyqMg1eAXd1rQnj18IDYesterday at a ceremony in Sydney, Jacqueline received a certificate for being the young volunteer of the year for Sydney City and the Eastern Suburbs region.Now, Jacqueline is studying in mechanical engineering and chemistry at UTS as well as working. Lismore in her heartShe went to Coraki High School, Richmond River High and Trinity Catholic College, then moved to Sydney in 2019. She returned to Lismore recently to visit friends and see Lismore after the flood.“My friend said Lismore was better now, but it devastated me,” she said. “The store fronts were shut – and Richmond River High and Trinity too - and my favourite shop CarringtonBizarre is gone.“I miss the culture here and Lismore still in my heart.”2022 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are in their 16th year and have grown to become one of the largest celebrations of volunteering across Australia. They are an annual program run by The Centre for Volunteering to recognise the outstanding work of volunteers in every region across NSW. Individuals or teams can be nominated in one of eight award categories:• Young Volunteer of the Year • Employee Volunteer of the Year • Adult Volunteer of the Year • Volunteer Leader of the Year • Senior Volunteer of the Year • NSW Club Volunteer of the Year • Volunteer Team of the Year • Not for Profit Voluntary Governance Award 

Just like the gemstone it’s named after, the new premises of Lazuki & Co is beautiful, bright and inviting. Peta Tillett, owner of Lismore’s boutique hairdresser and beauty salon, has rebuilt the salon bigger and better after the February flood.Now located in the upper storey of 180 Molesworth Street, the salon takes up the whole floor of the historic brick building, with its light, airy verandah spaces and high ceilings.“All our clients are excited at the beautiful new space,” Peta said. “It’s such a great building, high above flood and want to make it a comfy safe space for people to relax - and feel welcome and warm.“It’s a space where people can take time for themselves.”Peta lost all her salon equipment in the February flood, despite spending two days moving everything to a higher level. But, instead of giving up, she decided to expand the business. “As soon as we announced we were opening here, our clients were booking in,” Peta saidNot only has she retained all her staff, this week, Peta has a new beauty therapist starting and people can book in for an appointment.The new salon features a beauty therapy and massage room, as well as a two hair salon rooms - and there are plans to have a sauna. People can book in for facials, nails, beauty treatments, massage and maintenance.ConnectingPeta has owned the business for four years and is a make up artist who sells her own brand of cosmetics.  “All my powders are Australian made entirely from natural ingredients, with no preservatives,” she said.“I like connecting with people,” she said. “In this business, we touch people for a living in a massage and beauty way and it is such a nice thing."When Peta moved to Lismore from Victoria, she saw there were single operator salons and medi spas – but nothing in-between.She had previously worked in a day spa, but wanted to create a place where people could have massage and a facial and not feel not intimidated.“A place where they could come in and talk about skin, or buy a voucher to have a massage, pedicure, and blowwave,” she said. TeamworkPeta said keeping all her staff after the flood was important to her because “it’s all about the team”.“Educating my team well is something I’m really into,” she said. “We sublet a place in Goonellabah to maintain their work and keep them engaged with education and volunteering.“More jobs means more opportunities and I’m putting more juniors so that they can develop their skills, while offering a discounted rate for people who want to work with apprentices.“In Lismore, lots of people are still rebuilding or trying to get their business open in Lismore and can’t afford the full luxury service.”Hair AidSoon, Peta is heading off to volunteer with Hair Aid this September and will be working with people in prison in Bali.  “It’s been over two years since our team’s last project in Cambodia and I’m looking forward to making some positive change in someone’s life once more,” she said.“This project will be working with a women’s prison, a dump community and a street community.”Peta is looking for donations of hairdressing items, capes, scissors, clips and combs.She is also collecting old mobile phones, they are used by the dump community to help with the children’s homework, toiletries such as tooth brushes, sanitation pads, soaps, mini shampoo and conditioners – and bras.Job availablePeta is still looking for another hairdresser, so if you are interested you can call her on 0401636208 or email hello@lazuliandco.com.au.The salon is located at level 1, 180 Molesworth Street and is open Monday to Saturday by appointment. For more information, or to book, visit http://www.lazuliandco.com.au/

When Michelle Sullivan finally reopened her Molesworth Street business MP’s The Meeting Place last week, it was after a long and frustrating journey of dealing with fraud and theft.Michelle had applied for post-flood grant funding after the February flood destroyed her CBD business. That’s when she realised her Australian Business Number (ABN) had been stolen.Michelle had already applied for the first half of the $50K small business grant, so when her application for the second half of it was knocked back by Service NSW, she was stunned and surprised. “When I went to submit the application, Service NSW said I can’t apply, because it looks like you already have all of the $50K grant’,” Michelle said.“But now, they’ve cleared it up through their IT and fraud department.“The staff have been so helpful and next week I have help from them to start the application again – but the money would have been good weeks ago.“I find it difficult to find out how people reopen without $50K in the bank,” she said.More ABNs stolenMichelle said Service NSW told her they had heard of “one or two” other cases of stolen ABNs being used to apply for grant money.“This is the second fraud that has happened to us, Michelle said. “Service NSW asked me if we had applied for the $3K rates rebate. I said ‘no, but I’d love to’ and the lady started the application for that, but found someone else had already applied for it and they had already paid it out.“The case is now with the Federal Police and is escalating to a fraud case.RenovationsGetting the networking hub back open again without the grant money already in their pockets meant long weeks renovating the business themselves.“Me, my husband and our parents worked nights and weekends to do the renovations,” Michelle said.“It’s been exhausting and we had to find money ourselves – so far we are up to $68K in costs – and we are still waiting for the grant money.”Office spaces available post-floodMichelle first opened The Meeting Place in 2020 as a venue where people could have shared work places with private office spaces.“We thought its really needed again right now because so many people are without an office after the flood,” Michelle said.“We have 10 private office spaces and seven are now available.“They are suitable for one occupant and are fully secured, each with its own fob key to the main entry and office. They have their own AC and are fully furnished with a desk, chair and lockable filing cabinet.“They cost $125 a week and wifi and electricity are included- and the office gets cleaned twice a week.“There’s also a cafe barrista at the door, and there are kitchen and bathroom facilities.”HistoryThe Meeting Place opened in 2020 when Michelle wanted to bring a space to Lismore like those she had seen in Melbourne.“Lismore was becoming a funky town after the 2017 flood and was getting its jive back, with new shops cafes and restaurants,” Michelle said.“It had a had a nice vibe and we loved it and thought it would be great to have a modern space in the CBD close to everything and shops.“It’s heartbreaking what’s happened, but we have to keep going and hope for the future.”If you are interested in hiring office space, you can phone Michelle on 0402 234 456 or email bookings@mpsthemeetingplace.com.au.You can also visit the website https://mpsthemeetingplace.com.au/    

Today, on Dying to Know Day, new research has revealed the attitudes, behaviours and experiences of Australians around death, dying and end-of-life planning. Dying to Know Day encourages Australians to ‘get dead set’ having conversations and start planning around end of life.The research study, commissioned by leading not-for-profit The Groundswell Project Australia, reveals that while nine in ten (87%) Australians believe it is important to do some end-of-life planning, only one in three (35%) have actually taken action.The research shows that almost two in three (64%) Australians feel there are challenges and barriers to them undertaking end-of-life planning - including death and dying being too emotional to think about (14%), not knowing where to start (17%), or where to get help or information (16%) and not understanding their choices when it comes to end-of-life (15%).However, the research also explored the perceived benefits of end-of-life planning at all stages of life. Most profoundly, Australians say that if they were to die unexpectedly, having some end-of-life planning in place would help the people they care about.With almost half (48%) saying it would lessen the mental burden of organising financial and legal affairs on their loved ones; and two in five (40%) believe that their loved ones would be comforted by knowing for certain what they want to have happen after they die. Almost a third (30%) believe it would help their loved ones grieve and heal more readily.Cherelle Martin, Dying to Know Campaign Manager at The Groundswell Project Australia, says that these results reinforce the importance of reshaping the way we approach death in our communities, especially at a time where the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we live, die and grieve.“Death is often over-medicalised and institutionalised. Our superstitions, fears, discomfort, and lack of knowledge about dying affect our approach to end-of-life. This new data emphasises that Australians think conversations – and action – around end-of-life is important,” said Cherelle.“This new research highlights the many ways in which people can feel ill equipped to act or start a conversation. Sadly, this can mean that end-of-life experiences are not aligned with an individual’s values, preferences or wishes.”“At a time where our mortality is a part of our collective consciousness like never before, it is crucial to ensure that we normalise conversations around death and dying, so Australians can ‘get dead set’,” said Cherelle.The Groundswell Project Australia’s Dying to Know campaign - which culminates on Dying to Know Day on 8 August - aims to improve death literacy and positivity in individuals and communities through local events. Death literacy is the knowledge, compassion and practical skills that enable supportive action and active decision-making around someone’s end-of-life choices.The national campaign asks people of all ages and stages of life to ‘get dead set’ around the reality of death and dying – because it’s going to happen to us all.The campaign, which has the support of Australian actress and writer Anna Lindner, invites Australians to overcome their fears or discomfort around death and take action on end-of-life planning in a way that is right for them. It outlines simple steps people can take around end-of-life planning, which is personal and unique to everyone.There are three key ways Australians can 'get dead set':Capture your choices in writing. Like a will, substitute decision maker and guidance on your social media or organ donation. These could be documents, or as simple as a text or scribble on a serviette to start.Have conversations with loved ones and others so they understand your wishes – and you understand theirs.Prepare your send-off. Share what you want it to look like so you can be celebrated and remembered in line with your wishes.“Dying To Know Day provides Australians with an opportunity to come together, join the conversation and get dead set. Our localised events give people safe spaces to engage in meaningful conversations around death and learn more about how we can prepare for end-of-life,” said Cherelle.To register your Dying to Know event, find an event or access support for your end-of-life planning journey, visit www.dyingtoknowday.com. The campaign provides supporting resources and workshops to guide your discussions, and a toolkit to help promote your gathering or event.People are also encouraged to join the conversation and share their experience via social media using the hashtag #GetDeadSet and #DyingToKnowDay. Don’t forget to tag @D2KDay on Facebook and Instagram.

With two floors now open and functioning, Lismore's Harvey Norman store is double the shopping fun.Since the February flood, the store has been operating from the upstairs section only. But after months of work, this week, the lower floor has again opened to the public. Sue Hollingworth is the franchisee of the local Harvey Norman store. She said it was a mammoth task getting the place refitted after it being ‘bulldozed’ by the mega-flood.“It was awful - the water went through roof of the first floor, butut we moved stock upstairs and were able to open again quickly on the second floor,“ Sue said.“The flood was a double whammy for us, the water also flooded our warehouse by 2.5 metres. Our staff helped clean that out so we could start trading again three weeks after the flood.”If you visit the new store, there’s a few differences. Now the electrical and fridge section is at the back and the computers and appliances are at the front.“It was always on the cards for us to fit it out differently – but we never could have imagined it would be because of this,” Sue said.Sue said the store had retained all the previous staff, as well as recruiting a few new faces to the team to help with the reopening of the shop.“We want to thank the community for its support and shopping with us,” she said.“People have been so patient and ordering stock through this store and being happy to wait for weeks till the warehouse was sorted and we could get back on feet.“Even though we are a franchise location operating under the Harvey Norman brand, Leah and me are the franchisees who live and work locally – it’s not all about Gerry and we appreciate the community’s support.