This week is Foster and Kinship Care Week, and the NSW Government is honouring and rewarding the thousands of foster carers across NSW who provide safe, loving homes for children and young people in need. A landmark $1.2 billion was committed in the 2025 State Budget to reform the child protection system. The historic investment includes $143.9 million to support the critical role foster carers play in keeping children safe.From January 1, the base foster care allowance will increase by 20 per cent, representing the first real increase to the allowance in two decades. This will see additional support going straight to the volunteer carers who open their hearts and homes to the State’s most vulnerable children.The NSW Government says it is committed to reforming the out-of-home care (OOHC) system, and in the first two years has already achieved meaningful improvements, including:Ending unaccredited emergency arrangements like hotels and motels as of April this year, to ensure safer placements for children and young people in care Implementing Carer Support letters which clearly explain to carers what financial assistance they are entitled to, and what supports and services are available to the children in their careProviding paid parental leave for NSW Government employees who provide foster careRestarting the recruitment of foster carers by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), recruiting more than 200 emergency and respite carersCreating DCJ-managed Waratah Care Cottages to better support children and sibling groups who would otherwise be in emergency placementsEmploying 300 family time workers to help keep children in OOHC safely connected to their parentsThis Foster and Kinship Care Week 2025, the NSW Government is urging people to take the step and become a foster carer. The Department of Communities and Justice will be there to support carers with training, financial and professional support.Foster caring can be both rewarding and life-changing. To learn more about becoming a foster or kinship carer, visit nsw.gov.au/fostercare.Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said, "Foster and kinship carers are the backbone of our child protection system. They open their hearts and homes to vulnerable kids who need stability, safety, love and support. This week, we celebrate the incredible contribution of foster carers and call on others to consider joining. “Our landmark $1.2 billion Child Protection Package puts foster and kinship carers back at the heart of the foster care system in NSW. After years of being ignored by the previous government, we are backing our carers so they can provide life-changing care for children in need.“Foster carers are everyday people who do something extraordinary – give vulnerable children the futures they deserve. I urge everyone to consider becoming a foster carer.Department of Communities and Justice Secretary Michael Tidball said, “We are working to build a system that puts children first — where every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe, nurturing environment. Our carers are essential partners in this mission.“We thank foster and kinship carers for their wonderful efforts in giving children in their care a solid foundation for a positive future.”

More than 1000 volunteers will be recruited across NSW, to support their communities when it matters most, thanks to a new grants program unveiled by the state government. Four experienced state-wide not-for-profit organisations - Anglicare, Australian Red Cross, Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network and St Vincent de Paul Society – will share in $1.9 million in funding through the Recovery Services Capacity Grants Program.In partnership with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, these organisations will develop flexible volunteering pathways that can be scaled up quickly, ensuring recovery operations are better resourced and more responsive to local needs.These trained volunteers will be activated during the recovery phase and deployed across recovery centres, recovery assistance points and community outreach initiatives – providing practical support, information and comfort to people who have been impacted.With the rollout of the program, the NSW Government is directly addressing a key recommendation of the 2022 Flood Inquiry for better integration of spontaneous community responders and better mobilisation of volunteers during the recovery stage of disasters and emergencies.Projects will focus on recruiting and training formal and informal volunteers, who are often the first to step forward and support their community following a disaster. Volunteers play a vital role not only during emergencies but throughout the recovery process. However, the pool of available volunteers is shrinking at the same time as the frequency of disasters increases, making programs like this essential to maintaining local recovery capacity.By investing in recovery services and partnering with experienced not-for-profit organisations, the NSW Government and the NSW Reconstruction Authority are ensuring that communities across the state have the right support networks in place to recover stronger and faster from future disasters.More information on the Program can be found at https://www.nsw.gov.au/recovery-services-capacity-grants.Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said, “We all recognise and appreciate the incredible community spirit that is evident in times of crisis.“This program harnesses that energy, builds local capacity and ensures volunteers are supported and ready to respond when their communities need them to. “Together we are helping to create more resilient communities that are better prepared for and can recover faster after a disaster.” Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said, “Volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities contributing over 800 million hours a year.“Many people step up during an emergency to help their local communities rebuild. For that, we are incredibly thankful.“This new funding is a crucial injection into the sector to ensure our volunteers receive the training and support they need, as well as making sure we can recruit more volunteers when our communities need them.”NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon said, “Volunteers are a huge part of disaster recovery, and we rely on them to support communities during the long journey of building back.“This initiative is based on lessons learnt from the 2022 Flood Inquiry, which highlighted the need to better coordinate and support those who step up to help their communities during natural disasters.“We look forward to working with our not-for-profit recovery partners to bolster volunteer capacity around the state.”

The next Lismore City Council meeting is next Tuesday, September 9, at 10am. One of the topics of discussion among councillors is certain to be the new rules for council meetings that will take effect from 1 January 2026.The NSW Government is seeking to improve community confidence, trust and transparency in local government through a new Model Code of Conduct Practice.The government says that changes to the code have simplified the way meetings are conducted, ensuring disorder is dealt with more effectively, that councillors make decisions in full view of the communities they represent, and dignity is returned to council chambers.Lismore City Councillors have, at times, as seen in the February 2025 ordinary meeting, not acted in a dignified manner, nor has the public gallery at certain times. In the December 2024 meeting, members of the gallery held CSG signs and voiced their disapproval when a rescission motion was lost.The new code expands the powers of the mayor to remove councillors for acts of disorder and members of the public for disrupting a meeting.Under the new Code of Meeting Practice, there are two points pertinent to the above examples:15.20 Members of the public attending a meeting of the council: a. must remain silent during the meeting unless invited by the chairperson to speak, b. must not bring flags, signs or protest symbols to the meeting, and c. must not disrupt the meeting.15.23 If a councillor or a member of the public fails to leave the place where a meeting of the council is being held immediately after they have been expelled, a police officer, or any person authorised for the purpose by the council or person presiding, may, by using such force as is reasonably necessary, remove the councillor or member of the public from that place and, if necessary, restrain the councillor or member of the public from re-entering that place for the remainder of the meeting.Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said, “The council chamber should be a place of dignity, where debate and decision making takes place in full view of the community.“Making decisions on behalf of communities is the very role of a councillor, and all councillors should never lose sight of this core responsibility. “These changes should ensure that, in a council chamber or committee meeting, mechanisms are in place to prevent the derailing of meetings and overshadowing the important work of local government.“Council and committee meetings must be effective, transparent and genuine, and strive for outcomes to benefit the community.“Under the new code, mayors should be given the power to take immediate action against disorderly councillors. This should lessen the need for councils to resort to the broken code of conduct process and instead address misbehaviour immediately in the council chamber.“I know not everyone will agree with these changes, but most people in this state would agree action is necessary to improve transparency, increase community confidence and faith in local government.“They will make councillors more visibly in control of their councils to ensure they – as democratically elected representatives of their communities – drive the vision for their local area.”All councils will need to adopt a code of meeting practice that contains the mandatory provisions of the updated Model Meeting Code by the end of the year (31 December 2025).Some of the key changes to the Model Code of Meeting Practice include:Preventing councils from holding private councillor briefing sessions to discuss matters that should be considered in the public domain at committee and council meetings (unless they are confidential)Encouraging councils to hold public forums preferably before committee meetings, or if they choose council meetings, to enable community engagement in local mattersExpanding the powers of the mayor to remove councillors from meetings for acts of disorderExpanding the powers of the mayor to remove members of the public if they disrupt council meetings  Requiring information considered at closed meetings to be made public after it ceases to be confidentialRequiring councils to give reasons when making decisions on planning matters that depart from staff recommendations (as recommended by ICAC)  Promoting neutrality in the role of the general managerRequiring council and committee meetings to be live-streamed to give the community and media access to council decision-making, and to require those videos to be public for at least the rest of the council term, or 12 months in the case of a meeting in an election yearThe changes to the Meeting Code are part of a broader suite of reforms by the NSW Government to improve conduct and accountability and rebuild public trust in councils.A new Code of Conduct for councillors is being finalised, as well as associated legislative changes, which will see significant changes to how misconduct is dealt with in local government.

Sporting Grand Finals are generally euphoric moments to be savoured for making and hopefully winning a premiership medal.This was not the case on Saturday, when five junior grand final matches were played on Oakes Oval as part of the Football Far North Coast season, and over at Crozier Field, where the 2025 Rugby Grand Finals were played.While the pinnacle of football was being celebrated on the field, players and coaching staff were victims of crime by what Football Far North Coast General Manager Steve Mackney described as "Some selfish, grubby individuals, who took advantage of others by entering various change-rooms and stealing various items.""The rugby grand finals that were in progress at the adjacent Crozier Field were also cruelly impacted, with several motor vehicles stolen, after these lowlifes of society ventured into the change rooms to rifle through personal items."The police were contacted, and investigations are underway to track down the culprits."While I commend the police for their diligent efforts, I am so exceptionally disappointed (even slightly embarrassed) that sport is so innocently implicated in the unacceptable behaviour of individuals living in our community."The message for everyone who attends one of the grand finals (in whatever role you may have) is to please be vigilant at all times with safeguarding your personal property. While reasonable efforts are made to monitor/manage activity within the vicinity of the changerooms and broadly at the venue, there are individuals who will use deception to take advantage of others. "Please make your members aware that the incidents have us cautious about the way forward, and more scrutiny can be anticipated towards individuals within the Oakes Oval precinct during the coming weeks."With more finals and grand finals coming up in the coming weeks, Steve Mackney also took the opportunity to make it clear what the conditions of entry are to Oakes Oval:No alcohol;No glass;No pets;No smoking (or vaping)No public access to the field of play or change rooms"Entry to Oakes Oval is free of charge, and individuals are welcome to share the excitement of our marquee event, as long as their attendance/participation at this event is matched by values that reflect common courtesy."If anyone has any information that might assist the police in their investigations, I invite them to contact the police or me directly, as appropriate," Steve Mackney said.

Record numbers highlighted the 2025 edition of the Darrel Chapman Fun Run on Sunday.Over 1,100 runners, walkers, joggers, shufflers, pram pushers and pooches all took to the streets of Lismore on Sunday morning to raise funds and awareness for the beloved local charity Our Kids as they took part in the 4km, 10km and 21km events across a number of categories.The morning was a great success, with several impressive performances across the three distances.Jacob Dwane took out the overall win in the 10km run with a time of 36:04mins, from Richard Mason (36:29) and Luke Saltmarsh (37:06).Tony Curtis was the fastest Male Masters with a time of 38:30, followed closely behind by his daughter, the fastest female, Amber Curtis in a time of 43:40.Beth Lawler finished in second place with a time of 43:54 and Kristin Hilton with 44:03, with just 23 seconds separating the top three finishers.The 21km race was taken out by Peter King in a time of 1:17:46, ahead of Andy Beswick (1:18:27) and Thomas Ryan with 1:21:44.The first female in the 21km race was Larissa Whitton in 1:32:57, from Samantha Nicolls (1:35:20) and Chloe Russell (1:39:34) in third.The 4km event saw a large number of children cross the line before an adult could catch them in the dash to the Lismore Turf Club and back to the CBD.Our Kids is a local charity that raises much-needed funds to purchase lifesaving equipment for our local hospitals. This year, Our Kids will put the funds towards purchasing a GlideScope CORE System for Byron Central Hospital’s Emergency Department – a vital airway visualisation system offering high-definition image quality for intubation. The event is named after Darrel Chapman, a distinguished academic and sporting legend, who lost his own personal battle with cancer in October 1992.Having been both a keen sports person and respected sports administrator, Darrel was a much-loved and highly regarded member of the Australian sporting community. Schooled at St. John's College, Woodlawn, Darrel played Rugby League for Australia and captained South Sydney before becoming NSW Assistant Director of Sport. He also established the highly successful program in Human Movement Science and Sport Management at Southern Cross University. ​The Darrel Chapman Fun Run honours a great man who championed disabilities to be part of mainstream sport.

As reported earlier this morning, NORCO Primex Field Days is proudly relocating to the Lismore Showgrounds in 2026, backing Lismore's remarkable recovery and positioning the region at the forefront of Australia's agricultural future. The event will run from Thursday, 21 May to Saturday, 23 May 2026, marking a new chapter of regional prosperity and innovation.Lismore has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Primex's future with proactive support and substantial infrastructure investment."This isn't just about changing locations, this is about backing a community that's backing us," said Bruce Wright, Chair of NORCO Primex Field Days. "Lismore's post-disaster recovery story aligns perfectly with Primex's evolution. We're not leaving our community behind; we're leading it forward to where we can deliver the best outcomes for our farming and rural communities."For 41 years, Primex has generated over $1 billion in exhibitor sales and delivered nearly $100 million in direct regional economic impact. As Australia's largest coastal-based field day and the only agribusiness event of its kind in Northern NSW, Primex will inject over $4.5 million directly into the Lismore LGA and surrounds."We've long believed Primex belongs in Lismore," said John Gibson, President of the North Coast National – Lismore Showgrounds. "This partnership will deliver enormous economic and cultural benefits during a crucial time in our city's recovery and growth."“Primex is synonymous with the agriculture sector in this region, and it is fitting that it be held at the Showground, which is the home of the annual Lismore Show – The North Coast National” he added.“On behalf of everyone at the Lismore Showground, I congratulate Bruce Wright and his team and wish them all the best as this new chapter in Primex unfolds in Lismore”, Mr Gibson said.Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, welcomed the news that from 2026 the Primex Field Days will be held at the Lismore Show Ground.    “What a significant coup to secure this premier event for Lismore and for it to be based at our much-loved Lismore Showgrounds”, Ms Saffin said. “Bruce (Wright) recognises the Lismore community's steely resolve to succeed against the odds, rebuilding bigger and better than ever, and this attracted him to bring Primex here”, Ms Saffin added. Primex is backing Lismore and Lismore is backing Primex,” Ms Saffin said.Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, also welcomed the news that Primex Field Days has secured its future in the Northern Rivers. “It is great to see it stay in our local area. Primex is one of Australia’s leading primary industry expos. It attracts thousands of visitors each year,” Mr Hogan said.“I congratulate Bruce Wright & his family on their success with this great event. Primex generates millions in economic benefits for our local economy.” Mr Hogan added.Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg has welcomed the announcement that the very popular PRIMEX Field Day will be held at the Lismore Show Ground.With planning for the 2026 event now underway, Mr Krieg said, “My Council is unashamedly pro-business.  We want to grow Lismore and create new jobs. Events like Primex bring people to Lismore who spend money in our local businesses.”“I congratulate Bruce Wright and the PRIMEX team on making Lismore their new home”, Mr Krieg added.The first 2026 Primex Field Days to be held at the Lismore Showgrounds will be held Thursday, 21 May to Saturday, 23 May 2026.

The NSW Government will today begin consultation on potential offences for landlords who knowingly lease premises to retailers selling illicit tobacco and illegal vapes, as part of broader strengthening of tobacco regulation in NSW. The consultation includes engagement with landlord representatives, retailers, health advocates, partner government agencies and other key stakeholders.The outcomes of the consultation will be reviewed by the Government’s cross-agency NSW Illicit Tobacco Taskforce in the coming months.This consultation builds on recent reforms that target the illicit tobacco and illegal vaping market, including the Tobacco Legislation (Closure Orders) Amendment Bill 2025, introduced to NSW Parliament on 6 August. These proposed new laws, expected to be debated in September, introduce substantial penalties and new offences, including:a new offence for the possessing a commercial quantity of illicit tobacco with a maximum penalty of over $1.5 million and 7 years' imprisonment;new penalties for the sale of illicit tobacco with a maximum penalty of over $1.5 million and 7 years' imprisonment;the introduction of short-term (up to 90 days) and long-term (up to 12 months) closure orders for premises selling illicit tobacco, illegal vaping goods, or selling tobacco without a licence; new offences and penalties for anyone who breaches these closure orders, including for entering closed premises or selling products from closed premises;new lease termination powers for landlords where a closure order is in place; andnew nation-leading offences for falsely claiming to be licensed, resisting seizure, and attempting to retake seized products.This comes in light of the recent announcement from the NSW Government to establish a new, dedicated enforcement unit to strengthen compliance and enforcement of tobacco and vaping laws across NSW.The Centre for Regulation and Enforcement in NSW Health comprises a statewide team of 48 full-time equivalent staff, including enforcement officers, policy, and project officers.These staff will operate across metropolitan, rural, and remote locations to ensure a consistent, calibrated, and effective compliance approach.The Centre will continue to work closely with the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce to develop options and recommendations to strengthen compliance and enforcement activities in NSW to reduce the availability of illegal tobacco in the community.From 1 July 2025 – 24 August 2025, NSW Health Inspectors conducted 201 retailer inspections across 12 local health districts, seizing:over 28,000 vaping products and 4,300 nicotine pouches with an estimated street value of around $990,000.over 2.3 million cigarettes and 365kg of other illicit tobacco products, with an estimated street value of over $2.5 million.Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “The vast majority of retail landlords do the right thing, there’s no doubt about that.“But we know there are bad actors out there aiding the proliferation of these outlets pushing illegal tobacco and vapes into our suburbs.“The feedback I’ve received from small business, landlords and the broader community is that there is a real opportunity to smash illegal tobacconists through the people who knowingly let them trade.“If there’s something we can do about that, I don’t want to leave a stone unturned.“This consultation is about getting the balance right.”

The first day of spring 2025 is expected to bring a few showers to Lismore and the Northern Rivers. This is a sign of the wet weather to come, as the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued the long-range forecast for the 2025 spring season. In general, the BoM predicts that for the September to November period, rainfall is likely to be above average for most of the eastern half of Australia. There is an increased chance of unusually high rainfall across much of eastern and central parts of Australia.Due to the wetter-than-usual rain received since March, there is an increased risk of flooding during heavy rainfall on the east coast of New South Wales and southeast Queensland.As is typical at this time of year, the risk of a wet spring arrives in October and November, with September looking at average rainfall. Only 38mm is the median rainfall for September at Lismore. There is a 64% chance of above median rainfall (greater than 38mm), and a 27% chance of an unusually wet September, which is greater than 101.4mm.When you compare that to October, the pattern changes. October has a median of 64.6mm. The chance of above-average median is 73% and unusually wet (greater than 132.7mm) rises to 36%Currently, you cannot see the numbers for November alone; however, the combined spring forecast still shows strong signs of a wet season.The median rainfall for September to November is 258.7mm.The chance of an above-average median is 66%, and the chance of an unusually wet (greater than 358.3mm) is 33%.Typically, when we have a wetter-than-usual season, temperatures remain cooler than usual, and that is the case for spring.September is similar to the forecast rainfall, it should be on average for the month. However, the story changes when you add October and November.The median temperature is 25.6 degrees for spring. The chances of above median temperatures is 41%, while the chances of unusually cool temperatures (less than 24.9 degrees) is 23%. For comparison, unusually warm (greater than 26.3 degrees) is 6%.The BoM says that warmer-than-usual nights are very likely throughout NSW.While the forecast is not what we want to hear as we head into Christmas 2025, it is a reminder to make sure that you are prepared and that your flood plan is up to date and ready to activate, in case the worst happens and we get another flood.

In a significant coup for the city of Lismore, Primex Field Days will be moving to Lismore in 2026.An email was sent to Primex exhibitors by Director Bruce Wright on Friday. The email read:We wish to inform you prior to our official announcement in the next week that Norco Primex Field Days is moving to Lismore.This is a strategic decision driven by investment and growth, innovation, and a bold commitment to regional advancement. After more than 40 years at Casino in the Richmond Valley and extended efforts to secure a sustainable future there, our focus is now firmly on building the next chapter in a region that shares our vision. With strong backing from Lismore City Council and the NSW Government, Norco Primex 2026 (May 21-23) will create greater outcomes for exhibitors, suppliers, and rural communities alike. Following a comprehensive strategic review, we’re inviting previous and new exhibitors to re-engage through favourable site investment options and targeted initiatives that boost trade, grower and community engagement. As the only coastal-based agricultural field day of its kind in Australia, Primex uniquely serves the specific needs of Northern NSW’s diverse primary industries — from agribusiness and machinery to paddock-to-plate, sustainable farming, and ag-tech innovation. This move is more than a relocation — it’s a transformation. It brings together business and community in a regional hub that’s ready to grow. With Lismore’s support, PRIMEX is set to be the premier event that delivers not just connections, but real outcomes. Lismore is backing Primex Field Days, and we’re backing the future of Australian agriculture and farming in Lismore and servicing throughout NNSW and SQLD. As for the venue, the Lismore App understands the Lismore Showgrounds will be the new home of Primex.Bruce Wright was contacted for further comment; he said that further details would be released later today.Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said, "This is the biggest announcement of the year for Lismore. Given our rich agricultural history and the fact that we want to grow our industry and attract more business to our area, Primex sits perfectly within our community, showcasing everything we have to offer."I would personally like to thank Bruce and everyone involved with Primex for trusting Lismore to not only continue Primex but allowing us to grow the brand and build on what is already a highly successful product."I would also like to recognise John Gibson and the team at the Showgrounds, who have worked behind the scenes to make this possible."Now we wait for the official announcement later this morning.Until then, we can reflect on what impact Primex Field Days will have on Lismore.It is a step in making Lismore the agri-business centre of the Northern Rivers.It will please Lismore's large contingent of Primex exhibitors, who now only have to move their products around the corner to North Lismore.It will mean a substantial revenue boost for local businesses through accommodation, eateries and, hopefully, our retail stores.It is a sign that the Lismore narrative is shifting from flood recovery to one of a city with future prosperity.

The background story of the man arrested by police under a house in East Lismore has been released by police. The intriguing story starts in Queensland and finishes in East Lismore.About 1.30pm yesterday (Saturday, 30 August 2025), Queensland Police notified NSW Police that a Toyota utility – allegedly stolen from Queensland – had entered NSW.A short time later officers attached to Tweed-Byron Police District located the ute driving North on the Pacific Highway at Yelgun.Police directed the driver to stop; however, when they allegedly failed to do so, a pursuit was initiated.The pursuit continued until the vehicle reached Clothiers Creek, where it was terminated due to safety concerns.About 3.10pm police located the utility driving on Goonengerry Road, Goonengerry.Police again directed the driver to stop; however, the driver allegedly failed to do so, and a second pursuit was initiated.The second pursuit continued until the stolen car reached Federal Drive, Federal, where the pursuit was again terminated due to safety concerns.About 3.40pm police located the utility in a golf club carpark on Barham Street, Lismore, before seizing it for forensic examination. Following inquiries, officers attached to Richmond Police District located the alleged driver – a 31-year-old man – hiding under a home on Garrard Street, East Lismore, about 5.15pm.The man was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station where he was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly (two counts), drive motor vehicle during disqualification period (two counts), receive property stolen outside NSW more than $15,000 (two counts), class A motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45km/h, and enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse.He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court yesterday, where he was further refused bail to appear before Byron Bay Local Court on Monday, 8 September 2025.

Anglers across Lismore and the Northern Rivers are looking forward to the start of this year’s Australian Bass and Estuary Perch season with the annual three-month zero-bag limit on these popular sporting fish ending, and the season opening tomorrow (Monday, 1 September).As part of the NSW Government’s plan to protect the state's waterways and to maintain stocks of these iconic fish, a zero-bag limit is put in place each year in estuaries and rivers below impoundments between 1 June and 31 August.This three-month no-take season protects the fish during breeding season, safeguarding them into the future and allowing them to successfully reproduce and maintain healthy populations.To enhance fishing opportunities, the Government is stocking up to 260,000 Australian Bass into impoundments, where the fish can’t naturally reproduce, across the State from this October.This stocking boosts fishing opportunities as well as employment and economic benefits for our recreational fishing industry which contributes more than $3.4 billion to the State’s economy and generates more than 14,000 full-time jobs.  From the start of September recreational fishers are encouraged to explore the State’s beautiful coastal rivers and streams to experience the thrill of targeting two of our most prized native sportfish.(A young angler with an Australian Bass)Australian Bass are found in coastal rivers and lakes from the Tweed River in northern NSW to remote streams on the Far South Coast.Estuary Perch are commonly found south of the Hawkesbury River but can also be caught further up north around the Richmond River.With a varied diet of prawns, worms and smaller fish, Australian Bass and Estuary Perch are opportunistic hunters and the ideal target for recreational fishers using either bait or lures.$62,000 has also been awarded by the NSW Government to community groups to release the Australian Bass into rivers and dams across NSW as part of the native fish stocking grants program.The government will be releasing Australian bass across the state into Toonumbar Dam, Clarrie Hall Dam, Glenbawn Dam, Lake St Clair, Tallowa Dam, Lake Lyell and Lake Wallace.Fishers are reminded that a strict bag limit of two and possession limit of four applies to Australian Bass and Estuary Perch, either for a single species or a combination of both species. Only one fish is permitted to be over 35cm in length when fishing in rivers. Information about freshwater fishing rules: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishing-rules-and-regs/freshwater-bag-and-size-limits.Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said, “Spring not only marks that warmer weather is on the way, but also the start of the Australian Bass and Estuary Perch fishing season in our coastal rivers and creeks.“Recreational fishers heading into regional NSW for a fishing adventure will not be disappointed by the memorable fishing experience on offer from Australian Bass and Estuary Perch, that are renowned for putting up a solid fight. “The Minns Government’s fish stocking program and investment in the community native fish stocking program are another example of our commitment to boosting recreational fishing opportunities across NSW.“Stocking of Australian Bass into impoundments in Northern NSW and the Hunter region, down to southeast of NSW, provides just another reason for fishers to travel into regional NSW to wet a line.”Kyogle Fishing Club President, Mr Barry Reeves said, “Kyogle Fishing Club has been involved in the Community Native Fish Stocking grants program for about 20 years, allowing us to stock around 200,000 Australian Bass into Toonumbar Dam."Bass are fantastic native sportfish, putting up a great show, especially when targeted on surface lures. They're definitely a huge fishing drawcard for fisheries like Toonumbar.""This popular impoundment offers excellent recreational fishing opportunities to the Kyogle community and travelling recreational anglers."

With the football and rugby finals upon us for another year, QUT researchers have created a powerful new tool that could predict when an athlete is at risk of suffering another injury when returning to play from a previous injury.It uses data from wearable sensors capturing how the athlete moves in training or gameplay, along with data about the preceding injury and contextual information to quantify the risk.The system was developed by Associate Professor Paul Wu, Distinguished Professor Kerrie Mengersen and Yu Yi Yu from the QUT School of Mathematical Sciences and Centre for Data Science, alongside an interdisciplinary team comprising performance health researchers from the Australian Institute of Sport, statisticians from UNSW and informed potential users.Their hope is that it could help coaches, medical staff and athletes spot danger signs early, avoid costly injuries and keep players performing at their peak.Approximately 40 to 60 per cent of athletes sustain at least one injury in a given season, with 15 to 40 per cent sustaining a second.From a community perspective, Australians suffered some 3.47 million sports injuries in 2023 with 66,500 needing hospitalisation.“With the rapid rise of wearable and other sensing technologies, the time is ripe for building next-generation models to make sense of complex data and patterns, and support anticipative management and prevention of subsequent injuries,” Professor Wu said.“The idea is to integrate training and competition performance data with injury data to link changes in performance to early warning signs for elevated injury risk.”The team developed an approach to infer the internal state of the athlete, which was characterised as more or less susceptible to injury.This was linked to injury risk via variables, or features, obtained from wearable sensor, medical (injury) and contextual data.Importantly, Professor Wu said, the approach was able to capture changing injury dynamics and susceptibility over the course of a season.Using data from an AFL club across one season, the model explained injury occurrences correctly 77 per cent of the time with 90 per cent specificity.“Age emerged as the strongest factor influencing how an athlete might transition from a more susceptible to less susceptible state or vice versa, followed by context (for example, games carry higher risk than training), and the severity of the last injury,” Professor Wu said.“Self-rated exertion and running speed also proved to be key indicators of injury risk.”Professor Wu said the model could be particularly valuable in Return-To-Play situations, where a player is recovering from an injury and wants to minimise the chance of another.“We can run ‘what-if’ scenarios, such as adjusting training or match loads to see the potential impact on injury risk or estimate an athlete’s susceptibility right after a game or training session,” he said.“Our vision is to give athletes, coaches and support staff, whether in elite sport or the community, tools that help them make sense of complex data, to allow them to train and compete at their best while managing the risk of subsequent injury.”Read the full study, Next Generation Models for Subsequent Sports Injuries, published in Applied Stochastic Models in Business and Industry online.

The Federal Government has delivered $1 billion in new funding for low-interest loans used by farmers to manage through drought conditions across Australia.On Friday, the Albanese Government announced the funding would be delivered to the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) to enable loans to be written beyond June 2026, following calls from NSW Farmers to deliver long-term funding and certainty for the tool.NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said it was plain and clear the RIC must continue to operate as drought continued to persist across south and west NSW.“Thousands of farmers have used this tool to prepare, manage and recover through past droughts, so it’s good to see more investment in a service that we know works,” Mr Martin said. “It was positive to see funding to drive drought resilience delivered earlier this week, but that’s only one piece of the puzzle when we’ve got farmers in severe drought across NSW, and in other states, right now.“Farmers are the experts in dealing with all the risks our climate throws their way – and these low interest loans enable them to do what they need to do to manage through these tough times and beyond.” While additional funding for the service was welcome, NSW Farmers urged the Federal Government to respond to the independent review of the RIC as soon as possible.“We need to see real assurance that this service will be available in the long term, and real consultation with industry if there’s going to be a broader scope to these loans,” Mr Martin said. “There’s a difficult road ahead for farm businesses, and listening to what farmers had to say in the review of the RIC will be key to ensuring it remains a reliable tool to deal with risks now and into the future.” 

Richmond Police have charged a man with an outstanding warrant and have located multiple firearm parts at a property in Nimbin.Officers attached to Richmond Police District commenced an investigation following reports a man on a Nimbin property was illegally in possession of a firearm.Police attended the property on Thorburn Street, about 12.15pm Thursday (28 August 2025), and saw a man allegedly running away.During a search of the area, a 24-year-old man was allegedly found in a bathroom at a home on Silky Oak Drive.The man was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station, where he was charged with carry cutting weapon upon apprehension, as well as an outstanding warrant for the offence of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.He was refused bail and appeared via AVL in Parramatta Local Court that day, before being further refused bail to appear before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday, 10 September 2025.Police later executed a search warrant at the Thornburn Street home, where they located and seized firearm parts and ammunition. Inquiries into these items are continuing.

Better protection of Australia’s cultural heritage in the resources sector is at the heart of a new training centre based at Flinders University, with two Southern Cross University (SCU) scientists set to play a leading role.SCU Professors Renaud Joannes-Boyau and Anja Scheffers have been named Chief Investigators in the newly established ARC Training Centre for Advancing Archaeology in the Resources Sector, a groundbreaking initiative to protect Indigenous cultural heritage in Australia’s resources sector.Recently awarded $5 million from the Australian Research Council’s Industrial Transformation Research Program, the Centre is a collaboration between Flinders University, The University of Queensland and Southern Cross University.It brings together Traditional Owners, major resource companies, archaeologists, and cultural heritage experts, as well as the peak body for mining professionals, AusIMM.Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau said the Centre would train a new generation of professionals who could operate in the complex intersection of mining and heritage protection.“This Centre represents an important opportunity to strengthen partnerships between Traditional Owners, archaeologists, and the resources sector. By training professionals who can navigate both cultural and industry perspectives, we can ensure future projects deliver positive outcomes for communities, heritage, and the industry alike,” he said.Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau is internationally known for his work in geoarchaeology and dating techniques, while Professor Anja Scheffers is an expert in coastal geomorphology and paleoclimatology. Both are based at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus.The Centre’s three Traditional Owner partners – the PKKP Aboriginal Corporation, Palyku-Jartayi Aboriginal Corporation and Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka Traditional Land Owners – have been engaging with the resources industry for several decades and will be contributing extensive knowledge and guidance to the Centre’s activities, as well as the time of their Rangers, Elders and infrastructure in research projects.  The Centre will also develop flexible training opportunities, including short courses and standalone units, designed to equip both cultural heritage professionals and those in the resources sector with the skills to work collaboratively and sustainably.Southern Cross University Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Mary Spongberg said it was both heartening and inspiring to see the Centre funded.“It gives me genuine hope for the preservation of Australia’s cultural heritage and this acknowledgement of our deep history.  “Southern Cross University is so proud to be part of this collaboration, actively setting new benchmarks for research, preservation, and engagement with our shared heritage. We look forward to working together with such an amazing collection of partners,” she said.

Free virtual health care is now available to every person in NSW for urgent conditions, following the completion of the rollout of NSW Health’s virtual urgent care service.Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin says this means people across the Lismore electorate can access urgent clinical care for injuries and illnesses from home, without needing to visit a hospital or GP.“Often people’s first thought for urgent conditions is to go to straight to the Emergency Department, because they can’t find a GP at the time. Our EDs are attended by many people without life-threatening conditions.“Now you can make a phone call to Healthdirect first to have your condition assessed.“A registered nurse will assess your condition over the phone and, if virtual care is appropriate, arrange a video-call appointment with a clinician, whether that’s a doctor, nurse or allied health professional.“You’ll receive expert advice on treatment options, prescriptions if needed, and referrals to follow-up care,” Ms Saffin said.Virtual care is available 7 days a week between 8am and 10pm by calling Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.NSW virtual urgent care services are equipped to manage a wide range of health concerns, including coughs, colds, fevers and flu; treatment for vomiting, diarrhoea or mild infections, rashes and skin irritations; or minor injuries such as sprains and small cuts.This service builds on the NSW Government’s budget emergency department relief package, which includes:$100 million to back in our urgent care services to provide a pathway to care outside of our hospitals;$70 million to expand emergency department short-stay units$15.1 million for an Ambulance Matrix that provides real-time hospital data to enable paramedics to transport patients to emergency departments with greater capacity and reducing wait times;

'To honour the police officers who have served the people of Lismore and in memory of those officers who have lost their lives in the course of their duty'.Those words are written on the Lismore Police Memorial on Molesworth Street. Yesterday, the Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise, representatives from Janelle Saffin and Kevin Hogan's office and Sergeant Ed Howarth from the Lismore Police Station laid flowers at the base of the memorial to pay respect to the two police officers who were killed in the line of duty in Porepunkah, Victoria.59-year-old Detective Neal Thompson and 35-year-old Senior Constable Vadim De Waart had travelled to the rural property, north-east of Melbourne, alongside eight colleagues to execute a search warrant. Another officer remains in hospital after being shot in the lower body.Police say the suspect, local man Desmond Freeman, 56, is heavily armed and still at large.Richmond Police District Commander, Superintendent David Roptell said, “Earlier today, officers attached to Richmond Police District attended a memorial in Lismore to pay respect to the officers in Victoria who lost their lives in the line of duty. Our thoughts are with their families, friends, policing colleagues and the wider community as they navigate this difficult time.”Rotary's Ken Arnett encouraged the rest of the community to lay flowers at the memorial in tribute to the two dead officers.POLICE MEMORIAL HISTORYThe Lismore Police Memorial was officially unveiled on 23 July 2003 by the Honourable John Watkins MP, NSW Minister for Police.Ken Arnett had noticed there was a memorial for the many soldiers who fought and died in all Australian wars, but nothing for our police officers who died in the line of duty."On the 29th of September in about 1998 or 1999, there was a bunch of coppers over here in the Memorial Gardens all standing around a Padre. I thought, what is going on over there? So I went over and had a listen, and found out that the 29th of September is their Memorial Day. And I looked around that park over there and saw a monument for the Boer War, World War Two, World War One, Vietnam, a whole lot more, but nothing for the coppers."It struck my mind that we should do something about this. So, the Reverend Graham Davis was working in council in those days, and I came up with this site to put up a memorial, and it took us two or three years to get it done."The memorial was paid for by the people of Lismore (half) and the state and federal governments.

Northern Rivers residents are being urged not to touch or handle flying foxes or microbats, regardless of how distressed or injured the animals may appear, to protect themselves from infection and viruses, including the deadly Australian bat lyssavirus.The warning follows reports of a high number of sick flying foxes being delivered to local wildlife hospitals in Northern NSW and Southern Queensland in recent weeks. Regional Director North Coast Population and Public Health, Dr Valerie Delpech, urged the community not to handle any bats, particularly those that appeared sick or unresponsive.“Although it may be difficult to ignore the plight of an injured, distressed or sick animal, we urge residents not to touch or attempt to cover any bat they might come across; rather, call your nearest wildlife rescue service to come to its aid,” Dr Delpech said.“If you see a dead flying fox in a public area, contact your local council and ask them to dispose of it.“Anyone who is bitten or scratched by a flying fox or microbat should immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, and apply an antiseptic with anti-virus action (such as those outlined in the NSW lyssavirus factsheet) after washing.“Anyone who has had contact with a bat should also seek medical attention as soon as possible to assess whether they are at risk of infection and to access post-exposure treatment and vaccination if required.“Getting post-exposure treatment as soon as possible is crucial, as there is no effective treatment once the symptoms of Australian bat lyssavirus commence.“It is almost always fatal.”Dr Delpech said the warning was particularly timely with the warmer months of spring and summer approaching, when bats are usually more active.Lyssaviruses are a group of viruses that includes bat lyssavirus in Australia and rabies overseas.Australian bat lyssavirus can only be passed to humans from an infected flying fox or bat. Infection in humans can occur when bat saliva comes into contact with human tissue via an open wound or the eyes or mouth. Rabies is a closely related lyssavirus that can be carried by mammals such as dogs, cats, monkeys, and bats around the world, including in some of Australia’s closest neighbours, such as Bali and Thailand.If you see a bat in distress, injured or on the ground, do not try to rescue it and contact your nearest wildlife rescue service. Some local providers include WIRES on 1300 094 737, Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers on 02 6628 1866 and Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers on 02 6672 4789.For more information, contact North Coast Population and Public Health on 1300 066 055, or visit the NSW Health website.

The final weekend of winter is expected to be mostly sunny, with a windy Saturday, and cooler temperatures than the springlike 25 degrees we have experienced this week.Tomorrow (Saturday) is the day to secure any loose items, as the winds turn westerly and strengthen to 20 to 30 km/h in the morning, then tending southwesterly in the late afternoon. The winds are expected to be light on Sunday.The top temperatures being forecast by the BoM are 20 degrees, after a cool start, especially on Sunday, which is expected to be 6 degrees.There will be colder-than-normal conditions for the thousand or so participants in the 2025 Darrel Chapman Fun Run on Sunday morning.The 10km and Half Marathon runs get underway at 7am from Woodlark Street, just after the coldest part of the day, and the family-friendly 4km Walk/Run starting at 9am. Registrations are available on the day from 6am.Road closures will be in place on Sunday in the CBD and along Winterton Parade and Woodlawn Road.The run will begin on Woodlark Street, turn right into Molesworth Street and continue along Winterton Parade and Woodlawn Road, with runners looping back near the railway bridge on Numulgi Road.All roads adjoining the route will be closed to traffic between 5am and 12noon. Residents living along the route who have no alternative way to exit their properties are asked to speak with the on-site Traffic Control. They will assist with safely escorting vehicles within the closure area. However, where possible, residents are asked to stay off the road for the duration of the road closures (5am to 12noon).The other big event over the weekend is the Wardell River Festival. It is not within the Lismore LGA; however, the short 20km drive will see you in the middle of a celebration of music, community and river culture.The Wardell River Festival is a new one-day event by the Richmond River at the Richmond Street Community Greenspace (western end). It will showcase music, markets, food, art and activities between 1pm and 8pm.On Sunday, the monthly Lismore Rainforest Botanic Garden Butterfly Guided Walk will take place from 10am at 313 Wyrallah Road, Monaltrie (enter the Lismore Waste Facility and turn right).Linda will tell you about the mysterious habits of our beautiful local butterflies and the plants they depend on.Meet at the visitor's centre at 9:45am for an easy 1-hour walk. The cost is $5 for adults, with children free. Cash only.Email bookings are essential through publicity@friendslrbg.com.au.ARTSIt is the final weekend of the 2024 Archibald Prize exhibition at the Lismore Regional Gallery.That leaves six sessions to view the incredible portraits created by the 57 finalists. The cost is $15 for general admission, $10 for concession holders, and children under 16 are free. Click here to book your tickets.MARKETSVisitors to the Lismore Farmers Markets will appreciate the sunny weather tomorrow at the Lismore Showgrounds in North Lismore.Fresh fruit and veg, breakfast, tea & coffee, live music by Croaker & the Honeybee and a happy community spirit will take place between 7:30am and 11:30am.The Nimbin Markets are backing up because August is a five-Sunday month. So, head to Cullen Street for food, coffee, recycled inventions, innovative ideas, and unique artisan wares that can only be made in Nimbin between 9am and 3pm.FREE STUFFThere are plenty of free activities for the family to do over the weekend, including the Rail Trail at South Lismore, the new skatepark in the CBD, bush walks and Heritage Park on Molesworth Street in the CBD. Check out the Things To Do button in the Lismore App.COMING UPAlstonville Wollongbar Fun Run - Sunday, September 14, from 7:30amNimbin Show - Saturday and Sunday, September 20 & 212025 Lismore Workers Club Lismore Cup - Friday, September 26, from 12 noonLIVE MUSICThe Northern Rivers Hotel in North Lismore has Short Fuse performing Saturday night from 7.There are two major nights coming up at the Lismore Workers Club in September and October:Oh What A Night! - A musical tribute to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons: September 20 at 8pmThe Flying Forties - Penny Pavlakis, Greg Gould and friends celebrate the music of Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole and more with their 9-piece big band: October 4 at 8pm.CHEAPEST PETROL PRICESFuel prices were stable across the region this week. Ballina is still the cheapest town to fill the tank over the weekend, especially if you are there after 8pm, when prices tend to drop another 10 cents a litre.Here is the list of the cheapest service stations, saving you the most money in each town:E10 is 176.9 at the Coles Express on Dawson Street and the EG on Diadem Street near The Square in Lismore, 171.9 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 165.5 at the Mobil and The Metro on River Street, Ballina.Unleaded 91 is 174.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, 173.9 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 167.5 at the Metro and the Mobil on River Street, Ballina.U95 is 184.5 at Brad's Independent on Terania Street, North Lismore, 198.9 at the Independent on Canterbury Street, and 179.5 at The Metro on River Street, Ballina.U98 is 192.9 at the Astron and Liberty on Ballina Road in Lismore, and the Liberty on Union Street, South Lismore, 194.9 at the two Independents on Hare and Centre Street in Casino, and 187.5 at The Metro on River Street in Ballina.Diesel is 180.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road in Lismore, 181.9 at The United and the Casino Roadhouse on Johnston Street, and the two Liberty's on Hare and Centre Street in Casino, and 187.5 at the Mobil and The Metro in Ballina.Have a great weekend!Now, have a laugh with the Friday Funnies.....