At the Vet Love veterinary clinic in Goonellabah, there is a vet on site for only 2.5 days a week.The clinic’s practice manager Rhiannon Heighes said the clinic hasn’t had a full time vet on site since March this year.Read more news: New dog park in Clunes Village is a dog's breakfast“This causes frustration for concerned pet owners who arrive with medical emergencies,” Rhiannon said.“If people call us, we often have to divert them to other clinics - and they too are often short of a vet too.”Rhiannon said even though they have been advertising widely for a new vet since the last vet left in March, they have had no applications from vets with experience.“We need to have someone with three years’ experience or more in the position,” she said. “We can’t have a new graduate straight out of vet school here by themselves - there’s no support for them.“We are lucky to have a vet at another clinic helping us out and working here to help us stay open. But he’s working more than five days a week – and that puts a strain on him.”Rhiannion Heighes from Vet Love in Goonellabah.Animal welfareAs a trained vet nurse, Rhiannon said animal welfare is her main concern.“I have so many patients coming in - and when a vet is not here, I do what I can do - but I am not a vet,” Rhiannon said.“I can see the patient, triage them and stabilise them. But I feel terrible that in emergency situations, I have to send them to another clinic with a vet.“I can sometimes take samples and run pathology testing and then give the results to vets at other clinics.“We advise people to have compassion and patience with us - and to call us on 6625 1311 first [- before they bring their pets in."This will save the frustration of arriving and finding we can’t help them. We have nurses here and can talk to you over the phone.”National problemThe short supply of vets who want to work in regional areas is a problem that has been recognised at a national level.“It’s a stressful profession that a lot of people don’t want to stay working in,” Rhiannon said.“It also has the highest suicide rate of any other profession in Australia.”Vet suicideThe Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has reported that vets take their own lives at a rate four times more than the general population.Some of the reasons it has been put down to include client abuse, poor mental health, low pay and their access to lethal drugs and daily interaction with euthanasia.The AVA also reported that common causes of stress for vets include working more than 50 hours per week, dealing with difficult clients and problems with interpersonal relationships creating a detrimental effect on their wellbeing.The median wage for a first year vet is $52,800 which will later rise to $84,000.However, vets in regional areas are typically on-call 24/7, and see their salary drop dramatically when compared to the massive hours they work.Compassion fatigueRhiannon said burn out is a big part of the reason vets don’t stay in the profession.“They can suffer from compassion fatigue because on a daily basis with death and the workload is extreme" she said.“Vets also get pressured from clients to work for free, when actually the clinic has to run as a business.“Clients also have unrealistic expectations. I had one person arrive asking for a magical injection to fix his dog.“People don’t realise what the reality is because of Medicare and subsidised medication for humans.“It costs a lot less for us, but animal medicine and treatment costs so much more.”Other local clinicsLismore’s Keen Street Vet Clinic do have a vet on duty vet every day, but are very busy.Lismore Central Vet Clinic also have a vet on duty every day, but are still unable to get a full time vet.Suzie, the clinic’s practice manager said the clinic is staffed by four younger female vets who only work part time in order to have time to raise their children.The women are supported by two retired men who are still working while retired.“They are dedicated to the job and help keep things running and fill in when the other vets have holidays,” Suzie said.“It can be an issue at school holiday time when all the vets want time off. Locums are scarce these days and expensive – so we muddle through as best we can.Regional vet vs city vetSuzie said the low pay was one of the reasons regional vets are in short supply.“Unless you are born on a farm, people don’t really want to do without sleep and get up at midnight to pull a calf out of a cow that’s having trouble,” she said.“Lots of vets choose only to work with small animals and work 8am to 5pm.“The vet course at uni is also very hard and you need high marks to get into it – with all that hard work, people often choose medicine instead and know they can earn more money.”Suzie said these days, the numbers of women studying veterinary courses has overtaken the number of men.“The vet board has done a lot of research and collaboration to see all these issues are happening,” she said.“There is definitely a shortage out there and hopefully the vet board will find a solution."Overseas vetsRecently, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke confirmed vets will be placed on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List, allowing them to apply for an exemption to enter Australia.The special exemptions for overseas veterinarians exemptions to enter Australia will hopefully to address the acute shortage of vets.The minister acknowledged the shortage has been exacerbated by COVID-19, resulting in the pandemic puppy boom and shortage of skilled migrants.

Joanna Kambourian is one of around ten artists bolstering the back alleys of Lismore CBD as part of the Refresh Project.The initiative, in conjunction with The Back Alley Gallery, Lismore Council and Lismore Paint Centre have provided artists with a blank canvas to create new, original works to ‘refresh’ the iconic laneways over the coming six weeks. Ms Kambourian said the Refresh Project was supposed to happen last year at ‘Eat the Street’ yet due to COVID the project unfortunately had to be postponed. “It’s really awesome because it’s lining up really well with the Lismore Laneways project, that the Lismore City Council are doing.“We had to wait until the roadworks in Eggins Lane were done and now we have ten artists coming in, maybe more, doing new pieces.”The Back Alley Gallery posted on their Facebook page that they are ‘excited to be bringing bold and bright new art into the bag after a long hiatus that has seen a lot of unsolicited work and tagging take the shine off Lismore’s laneways.’The Back Alley added that Lismore Paint Centre have assisted in buffing the walls so that artists have a blank canvas to work on.“This is an Armenian tile design of a peacock,” Ms Kambourian said. “My cultural heritage is part-Armenian and so most of my artistic practice encompasses an interest in my cultural heritage.“I work with lots of different symbols, designs and patterns that come from that culture.“The peacock is an iconic symbol in Armenian culture so I went with it.”Lismore artist Beki Davies was invited to participate again in the Back Alley Gallery to be part of this year’s artist line-up.Her piece is based off a lino block print she has scaled up.“I’ve scaled it up and I’m still trying to get that linocut feel to it. “I like that idea of transferring mediums to different spaces and seeing how they work on a larger scale." Originally a tattooist for fifteen years, Ms Davies studied at both TAFE and Southern Cross University and has had a recent exhibition at Lismore Regional Gallery.“The linocut style is quite graphically influenced from tattooing so there is iconography of swallows, bold lines, bright colours.“I take a lot of inspiration from the natural world. “Any day is a good day to have a paintbrush in your hand,” Ms Davies said. 

Dogs and their owners in the Village of Clunes have a dog park dilemma. With a growing population of dogs and people, it seems the process of getting an off-leash dog park is complicated and expensive.Clunes residents Chrissi and Jack Claff have joined the mission to get support and funds to make the new park a reality.Read more news: Lismore vet clinics struggling to find local vetsChrissi said their family loves taking their dog Millie for walks – and now they have also opened their hearts to two new puppies - Sassy and Chilli.“We’re not the only ones with dogs here,” Chrissi said. “At least a quarter of the households here have dogs.”Growing populationAfter living in Clunes for 32 years, Chrissie said because the village is growing in population of people and dogs, the need for a dog park is greater than ever.“There are frequently dogs roaming free on the street, or at the cooperative,” she said. “They are seen as a problem - and they poop on the street.“The people with dogs here also want to be able to socialise their dogs – and that’s an important aspect of having a fenced dog park.“Old dogs need socialisation and puppies at puppy school need somewhere we can take them so they can meet others.”“We want to gather more support for it – while Council supports it in principle, money is a barrier and we need to fundraise to get more money.“So, we have been finding out what we need to make it happen and see who is interested in getting involved.”Perfect siteChrissi said the old Clunes school site on the hill next to the water tower has a grass block that would be perfect for a dog park – but the catch is, it needs a dog proof fence.“It’s on an unused block of Council land that is maintained by Lismore Council,” she said.“In order to have a dog park, we need a dog fence and the quote we have been given to get it done is very expensive.”Cause for PawsJack said the idea to get a dog park originally started a few years ago with locals who were members of COSA (The Clunes Old School Association) and the Clunes Progress Association.“COSA created ‘Cause for Paws’ so we could apply for and grants and raise for the dog park,” Jack said.Survey“At the time, 197 locals were surveyed - 194 of them supported an off-leash dog park - and only three didn’t want it.’“Then the Open Space Assets officer from Lismore City Council agreed that the site between the Clunes Water Reservoir and the old Clunes Primary School was okay for the park.“We also got some quotes from fencing contractors, and the costs were $16,000 to $20,000.”“It was so expensive that without a grant, we couldn’t afford it.Fencing requirements“The main requirements are that is had suitable fencing and a double gate system, so that a dog can’t get out while another dog is coming in.“We also need separate access for a ride on mower, so that the grass can be kept mown.”Jack said that he thought a fence made from star pickets and pig or chook wire could be a cheaper way to fence the park.“It would keep dogs enclosed and they could run around a decent sized area and play with each other,” he said.More complicationsChrissi and Jack said locals were hesitant to spend money on a dog fence there because future housing development was potentially on the cards for the site.“Lismore Council own the land and may want to use it to expand the water reservoir, or to put in an access road if the land behind the old school is sold and developed into housing blocks,” Jack said.“There are no plans for either event to happen at the present time, but who knows what will happen in the future. “So, I contacted the Open Assets Officer and asked him about us having a cheaper fence.“He told me that Council would not like the idea of a pig wire fence because they want something that looks attractive. “He also said the wire may go rusty and fail which could cause problems with dogs escaping.“He said that Council could only make plans based on the current situation and there was no plans for the land at this stage - but if we put up the fence and they needed the land back, they would look at compensation for moving the fence to a new site. “He also suggested we apply for grants such as the Stronger Country Community grant. “Although our project is known to Council’s grants officer, money is tight and I’m not optimistic about getting a grant anytime soon.”Can you help?Jack then put a call out to the Clunes Co-op Facebook page to gather more local support for the dog park. He said he received overwhelming support for the idea.“The only objections raised were concerns about increased traffic on Walker Street and potential dog poo problems if owners did not clean up after the dogs,” he said“I thought we could satisfy these objections and move the project forward.”If you would like to offer support, money or help in fundraising, email [email protected]

The Richmond River Historical society are a beaut bunch of people with a keen interest and insight into the happenings past of our beloved township.Housed in the old Council Chambers building on Molesworth Street, the Lismore Museum is a true treasure trove for history buffs and tourists alike.President of the RRHS Dr Robert Smith said that recently the society has seen more volunteers come into the fold.“All the historical societies run things their own way with regard to their own volunteers.“We had sufficient volunteers to cover opening the museum during weekdays and now that we have a few more on we’re able to stick our neck out to see whether the community will support us in opening the museum Saturday mornings,”While the museum has opened in the past for special events, such as the Friendship Festival, this will be the first-ever regularly-rostered weekend opening. “It means that we are now open for those who work the standard five-day week — whether locals or tourists,”  Lismore is fortunate to have a national-award winning museum that features a Bundjalung Room, an extensive display on trees and timber as well as coastal shipping. “Of the weekdays we close only on Thursdays. “Researchers may access our extensive Archives on Mondays and Wednesdays, or submit requests by email,” Dr Smith said. Currently, the Lismore Museum is showcasing an exhibition of larger photographs from the popular author Robbie Braithwaite’s book ‘A Stroll around the Block: Exploring Lismore CBD’s Heritage”.Dr Smith added that the RRHS are working on their current project, ‘People who later became famous’.“It’s about what inspired these people who grew up in Lismore, then later became famous. “Ron Casey, the famous TV Host and radio broadcaster, for example, grew up in Esmond Street, it’s a work in progress,” Dr Smith said. Lismore Museum hours:Monday: 10.00 am – 4.00 pmTuesday: 10.00 am – 2.00 pmWednesday: 10.00 am – 4.00 pmThursday: CLOSEDFriday: 10.00 am – 2.00 pmSaturday: 10.00 am – 2.00 pm NEWSunday: CLOSED

World Environment Day is an annual global campaign hosted by the United Nations to prevent, halt and reverse ecosystem degradation.This year's World Environment Day celebrates the huge number of environmental restoration projects around the world, coinciding with the launch of the UN's Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. World Environment Day events occurring across the region this weekend from Lismore to Kyogle and Murwillumbah are focusing on what has been achieved so far in our region.Event ScheduleFriday June 4:6.00 pm Serpentine Art Gallery exhibition launch “Let’s Go Green”.Saturday June 5: 12.00 pm-5.00 pmLismore Environment Centre hosting in Pride Plaza: Bundjalung smoking ceremony, speakers, live music from Chris Fisher, Luke Vasella and Myki Jay.Connect with local environment organizations and don’t miss the Q & A with a local waste collector/ recycling truck operator, and face painting by Brittany for the kids.12.00 pm-5.00 pmLive broadcast on River FM 2NCRFM 92.9 7.30 am – 12.00 pmKyogle Environment Group will be at the Farmers Market in Stratheden Street, Kyogle (next to the library).The stall will feature free tree giveaways and the announcement of prizes for a school art competition. Sunday June 6:10.00 am – 3.00 pm Caldera Environment Centre in conjunction with the Nimbin Environment Centre and the Northern Rivers Guardians will have a workshop by the Hoopla Kids Circus, stalls and speakers amongst many other attractions. Knox Park, Murwillumbah.For further information:Serpentine Community Gallery,https://www.facebook.com/SerpentineArtsKyogle Environment Group,https://www.facebook.com/groups/513117279711050Lismore Environment Centre,https://www.facebook.com/lisenvirocentreWED event page; https://fb.me/e/2AYF1t5TPCaldera Environment Centre,https://www.facebook.com/calderaenvironmentcentreNimbin Environment Centre,https://www.facebook.com/nimbinenviro.centreNorthern Rivers Guardians,http://northernriversguardians.org/WED event info,https://visitthetweed.com.au/event/world-environment-festival/

Sarah-Jane (SJ) Loxton has been a fan of the Rocky Horror Picture Show since she was in school.So, getting the chance to play the character of Magenta in the live shadowcast screening of the cult classic, gender-bending film is a dream come true.Andrew Loxton is Riff Raff.SJ said it’s the same for all the local shadowcast characters – from Nixie Wilson as Columbnia, and Christopher (Tiffer) Kitchener as Brad.“We’ve all been devoted to the movie since as long as we can remember,” SJ said.“I first saw it when I was in year 9 at high school and we watched it at a friend’s sleep over.“The film grew on me more and more. I became a regular at the local video shop borrowing it over and over. John McPherson as Dr Scott.“The guy at the shop said to me I had hired it so many times, I could have bought it for myself instead.”The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a musical comedy horror film, originally screened in 1975 – and it will be screened again in the Star Court Theatre on Friday June 18.SJ, who is the venue manager at the theatre said this is the second time the film will have been screened there with the local shadowcast.  “We did it 18 months ago, with most of the same cast,” she said. ”We were going to do it every six months, then Covid happened.“So now we have had a lot of time to upgrade our costumes and props. We are all fanatics and particular about it just getting right.”Kim Orams plays Rocky.What to expect?It’s not a boring movie. It features a monster designed by an alien transvestite scientist for sex, casual dinner-time cannibalism and tacky dialogue. It’s not a standard movie screening. There’s props and heckling involved, as well as live actors in the room, wearing heels and corsets, mimicking the antics on the big screen.SJ said she’s been able to get a copy of the film with all of the subtitles telling the audience what to do to participate – and when to pull props out of their props bags.Ed Mortimer plays Dr Frank-N-Furter.Audience interaction“The whole audience gets a change to participate the fun,” she said. “There’s a lot of heckling.“People in the audience get an audience script with the heckles – like the ones in the ‘Dr Scott, Janet, Rocky’ moment.“We have updated the original heckles though, because the movie is a sexual awakening for Janet, and we should embrace it, rather than shame it with a derogatory heckle.”Junia Wulf who is playing Eddie.Elyse Dallinger, Elyse will be reprising her role as Janet.PropsSome of the props you might use at the screening include a newspaper over your head while it’s raining, water pistols, a rubber glove when Frank snaps his in the lab, toast and glow sticks.The Time Warp dancers will be there and the audience is encouraged to dress up in costume.”SJ said tickets are selling out fast, so get in quick of you want to go – and you can use your NSW Discovery vouchers for it.You are guaranteed to know at least one person in the show. –The cast includes a bunch of actors from Lismore Theatre Company and is directed by Kylie Fuad.The antici...pation is over. The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Shadowcast screens on Friday, June 18, from 7pm to 9pm.To find out more and buy tickets, visit, https://www.starcourttheatre.com.au/shows or https://www.facebook.com/events/1373006343079570/?active_tab=discussionNixie Wilson is Columbia.Lisa Walmsley as The Criminologist.Christopher (Tiffer) Kitchener, plays Brad.

Getting a Covid-19 vaccination can be part of a normal shopping trip to Lismore Square, now that Lismore’s new vaccination clinic has opened in the shopping centre.The new clinic opened about two weeks ago, and a steady stream of people keen for the jab have been filtering through.According to Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) chief executive Wayne Jones, the response from the community to the new AstraZeneca vaccination clinic at Lismore Square has been “exceptional”. “We’ve had people come from across the broader region to be vaccinated here,” Mr Jones said. “The location at the Square is very convenient for the community, and the feedback from the general public has been very positive.  “The booking process is working well, and our team is able to ensure we can maximise the volume of people attending the clinic every day, as well as the supply of vaccines.”Mr Jones said the clinic staff are providing vaccinations continuously throughout the day, and the vax schedulers work with each person to book a time that’s convenient for them.”The clinic is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 4pm and is located at Shop 13, next to Kmart at Lismore Square, corner of Brewster and Uralba streets, Lismore.How do you book in?“In the first instance, people aged 50 and over should go through their General Practitioner (GP) to book their AstraZeneca vaccination,” he said.“But those who cannot access the vaccination through their GP can book directly with the Lismore Square vaccination clinic by calling 1800 438 829 (1800 GET VAX).”Covid testing statistics So, how is NSW going with numbers of people getting tested for Covid 19? Healthy North Coast chief executive Julie Sturgess said of the people who have taken COVID-19 tests in NSW, 61% were tested once, with 39% tested on multiple occasions. More than 52,000 people have been tested five or more times.People in the 30-to-39-year age group accounted for the highest number of tests (1,077,602, 18% of all tests), followed by those aged 20 to 29 (923,657 tests, 15%) and those aged 40 to 49 (855,231 tests, 14%).How many people are getting the vaccine jab?More than 75,000 Covid vaccine doses have already been administered in our region.Across NSW, NSW Health has already administered 73,603 vaccines, bringing the total number of vaccines administered to 1,287,975.Ms Sturgess said 418,996 doses have been administered by NSW Health and 868,979 administered by the GP network and other providers.Vaccine doses increase More vaccines have also been made available across the North Coast region, from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie.Ms Sturgess said supplies to general practice are increasing from 22,550 per week to 26,400 per week. “That means 3,850 more vaccines a week will be available for North Coast residents,” she said.   “Doses at identified high demand GP clinics and Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics will also increase from 400 doses per week, to 600 per week. Sites with 200 allocation will rise to 300 per week, and sites with 150 will receive 200 per week.“These targeted increases are intended to boost access to the vaccines within areas of need and ensure sites that consistently use all doses have enough vaccines to administer second doses.”More clinics on boardHealthy North Coast has also recently called for local GP clinics interested in administering the AstraZeneca vaccine, as they expand the network of vax clinics in NSW.Between March and April 2021, 4,600 primary care vaccination sites joined the vax network (including 4,400 general practices). Now, another 900 additional sites will join the the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program.There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Stay safeNNSWLHD chief executive Wayne Jones said "as well as getting a COVID-19 vaccination, we urge people to remember to take practical steps to stay COVID-safe, including practising good hand hygiene, physical distancing and always using QR codes to check in to and out of venues".“As the recent cases in Victoria show, COVID-19 can re-emerge at any time," he said.NSW Health continues to recommend masks be worn in any situation where physical distancing is not possible, such as on public transport.  Anyone experiencing even the mildest of cold-like symptoms should come forward immediately for testing, then isolate until a negative result is received. To find your nearest clinic, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics or contact your GP.

Guided by encouragement from Lego Master Andrew Tuppen, a café, a car shop and a museum – all with solar panels and gardens - were built out of lego by students from local schools.Their colourful creations were all part of the Green Innovation Awards, in which students were asked to come up with innovative solutions to environmental problems and create a new, future sustainable City of Lismore.Held at Southern Cross University, students from St Joseph’s Maclean, Dunoon, Bexhill, Wyrallah Road, Goolmangar and Albert Park Public Schools strutted their ideas yesterday – with more schools taking part today.Bexhill Public SchoolBexhill Public School students Djidji Maya-Bertram and Ayla Joankowalezyk have come up with an innovative solution to the school’s mozzie problem.Djidji said in taking on the ‘Future Cities’ challenge, their school team entered the science and environment competition to create a more sustainable and environmental future.“We first interviewed other students at the school and asked them how they thought they should repel the mozzies,” Djidji said.“Then we formed two teams and one team made a microbat box - because microbats eat mozzies“We also made a frog pond with fish in it, because they eat the mozzie larvae too.“It will be in our bush garden and we will put a metal net cover over it, because the birds could eat them.”Ayla said the plan was to actually build the pond and microbat box at the school.“Next we will make a movie and enter it into the competition and say what we will do,” Ayla said.“The other school team has created ‘mozzie busters’ to help work out ways to repel mozzies in an eco friendly way.”Change agentsChiropractor Dr Bridie Cullinaene is the founder of the Green Innovation Awards.She said it was all about getting young change agents to be passionate about the environment, as well as encourage them to develop their ideas for sustainability.“I wanted them to see they can have a successful future for themselves being involved in green innovation and taking science and technology pathways to build the future,” she said.“Young people will be the ones in the future who are calling the shots. Unfortunately, adults don’t always have such free flowing ideas for innovative solutions.“Young people are more open to what they think is possible. Give them a problem and they will come up with all sorts of solutions, and then they can implement it in their community.Prototypes“Today, the schools are building and prototyping their ideas and they get to build a model of a sustainable future for Lismore.”“The students got the opportunity this morning to present their ideas to experts who mentored them through the prototype process.What did they build?While they were building, students needed to consider what will their building will be used for, who will it benefit and what qualities about it contribute to the rest of the cityCommon themes in the built structures were solar panels and gardens.St Joseph’s students built a garden with solar panels and a fish pond where water feeds the trees.Albert Park students built a museum with solar panels, wind turbines and trees – because history is important.Dunoon Public School students built a car shop with solar panels on the top.Goolmangar Public School students built a café with solar panels on the top, as well as a rooftop garden with edible plants.The future City of Lismore Once they were finished, the students put all of their structures together into one connected city and were asked how could they connect up each of their separate structures.The students added gardens and green walkways and created a cohesive and colourful, sustainable new Lismore.What’s next?Dr Cullinaene said at the end of term two, the students will present all of their protoypes and videos.“Then finalists will be selected and a winner will be chosen in August by a panel of expert judges,” she said.“It’s all about solutions for the future– not about what’s wrong with it.“It’s about what can we do - and empower young people to make change.The two day event will be attended by over 100 students at Southern Cross University, who partnered with the Awards to put the event on.

A teenager has died following a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in the state’s north.Shortly before 9am today (Sunday 30 May 2021), a Kawasaki motorcycle was found crashed by a member of the public on Sandilands Street, Mallanganee, about 40km west of Casino.Officers from Richmond Police District attended and found the rider, a 16-year-old boy, deceased at the scene.A crime scene was established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway.The crash is believed to have occurred in the early hours of the morning.Police will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner.

When you arrive at Lismore Croquet Club's green lawns, there’s no Wonderland Red Queen playing with hedgehogs as balls and flamingos as mallets. It’s just locals members, wearing white shirts, who are having a lot of fun.Deborah Matten and Bernadette Ryan are long time members of the Lismore Croquet Club. They have always been ‘cool’ players - but now, they will be even cooler with the new air conditioning system which has been granted to the heritage-listed clubhouse.After a day of playing the sun, it’s not just the AC that makes life better for the club’s members, it’s also the addition of new solar panels on the roof.Lismore MP Janelle Saffin and Lismore Mayor Vanessa Ekins joined the club’s 36 players last week to unveil the new additions to the clubhouse.Ms Saffin said the additions are thanks to a $5356 NSW Government Local Sport Program grant.“This will vastly improve comfort levels for the club’s members during summer and winter seasons, and was installed by JDZ solar and electrical,” Ms Saffin said.Club historyFaye Ross is the captain of the club and has been a member for over 20 years. “The club formed in 1928 and the historic pavilion clubhouse was opened in 1931,” she said.While the commemorative plaque at the clubhouse says Lady Game opened the clubhouse, it was actually opened by her husband, the Governor of NSW, Sir Philip Game.“She was sick on the day, but the plaque had already been made,” Faye said.“The club has been in constant operation. There was only a short period in the second world war when they stopped playing.”Croquet started initially as a ladies’ club, but eventually opened to women and men in 1983.The clubhouse was extended in the 1980s and is now home base for one of the friendliest sporting clubs in the Northern Rivers and has about 70% female and 30% male members.Club President Warwick Fisher said Lismore City Council’s outdoor staff “do a great job of keeping the lawns in tip-top condition”.The gameIn croquet, players take turns to move the ball through hoops. The winner is the first person to get to the end of the game. Each player has a handicap – which is how many strikes until you get a ball through a hoop.“We play two different croquet codes here - golf and ricochet croquet,” Faye said. “To get a point in ricochet, you run every ball through a hoop. In golf you only run one ball per hoop.”Croquet tournaments are played across the NSW region, in a round robin competition and the grand final is on June 20 - and will be held In Lismore.“It’s a sporting club but there’s a big emphasis on the social side too,” Faye said.“We are looking for more people who want to come and play. If you become a member, you can enter the competitions.“We play here every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings and at twilight on Fridays.If you come, wear soft shoes, a wide brim hat, sunscreen and a white top.”To contact the club, phone 0266 226 030.

Opening a new business can come with delays. That's what has happened to Lismore's new Korean fried chicken shop, Dak Jjang. Earlier this week, The Lismore App reported that the new Carrington Street shop was due to open on Wednesday, May 26.But shop owner Roy Lee said that while the shop fit out is complete and he is ready to open, there have been delays in getting approvals.Roy said it's not Lismore Council that have put up the roadblocks."We are waiting for PCA safety approval for the shop fit out changes," Roy said. "We just need one final document approved."Roy said he hopes the okay will be given today, so he can open tonight."But it might not be until next week on Monday or Tuesday," he said."We will post the exact opening date on our Facebook page once we know, so people can check and be sure we are open."To find out more about Dak Jjang, visit https://www.facebook.com/dakjjangORIGINAL STORY: Korean fried chicken shop opens with secret spices and night diningThe lighting is mellow and there’s black on the walls. Day and night dining is on the way to Lismore with new Korean fried chicken shop, Dak Jjang.Dak Jjang is the new solo venture for Roy Lee, originally from South Korea and who now calls Goonellabah home.Roy said the shop name, Dak Jjang, has two meanings. It means ‘best chicken’ and ‘also ‘chicken cage’. The décor in the shop includes some black cages on the walls, reflecting the chicken cage theme.While he’s not new to running family food businesses, it is Roy’s first chicken and beer shop.His goal is to make consistently delicious chicken pieces that bring smiles to the faces of everyone who eats them – because they are made with love and care.Secret marinadeThe chicken is made with a special – and secret – marinade that Roy said is based on traditional spices that have been honed and refined over generations in Korea.“We’ve spent a lot of time and money on the marinade for the chicken, to get the spice blend just right, Roy said.“It’s made from fresh ingredients that are good for you and take time, cost and effort to prepare.“We don’t just want to keep churning out chicken.“We are looking to sell a limited number of good quality chicken pieces, until we sell out each day.“Each piece should have the same quality and I want customers to know that each time they come back, the chicken will always be of the same high standard and taste.“When they know the food quality is consistent and enjoy it, they will come back.“In Korea, if you have really good food, people will travel a long way to try it.“We don’t want to just sell a lot of food to make a lot of money. We want to sell quality and service.“I want to see lots of people smile over the food and be happy by having food here.”Opening hours and menuDak Jjang will be open seven days a week, from 10am to 9pm and is located on Carrington Street, next to Ciao Belli Café and Lismore Central Shopping Centre.Beer is planned for the menu, but not yet - Roy is still waiting for the liquor licence to be approvedAlso on the menu will also be poke bowl, which is made of rice, vegetables and grilled or fried chicken.Roy said there’s a special radish pickle they use, made with Korean pickle, which is spicier and different to the taste of Australian radish.First of manyRoy said he hopes the Lismore CBD shop is just the first chicken and beer shop he opens in the local area.“If get enough community support and have the staff and family members to help start up another shop in the area, we want to help the community and bring more business to Lismore and surrounding areas,” Roy said.Read more news: Rental crisis sends fulltime workers to live in Lismore caravan park

NSW Health is urging everyone to make sure they and their loved ones get immunised to protect against severe flu this year, particularly those in higher-risk groups.Children under five, pregnant women, Aboriginal people, people aged 65 years and over, those living in aged care facilities, and anyone with medical risk conditions such as severe asthma, diabetes, and heart disease should all get their free vaccination to protect them from severe flu this winter.While flu cases to date are significantly lower in NSW and throughout Australia than in previous years – most likely due to the public health measures which have been taken to limit COVID-19 transmission – that should not deter people from getting their vaccination.Executive Director of Health Protection NSW, Dr Richard Broome said the flu shot is safe and it is vitally important to have the vaccination.“While flu numbers are lower than usual at the moment, most likely due to the public health measures which have been taken to limit COVID-19 transmission, NSW could still experience an atypical flu season – one that begins later in the year or in the warmer months. Getting a flu shot is the best protection against this in the coming months,” Dr Broome said.“It’s also important to remember that when booking your vaccines that you make sure to space your influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccines at least 14 days apart.”The NSW Government will this year distribute more than three million doses of the flu vaccine to GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services, more than 400 aged care facilities, community health centres and 160 public hospitals for health care workers, with more than 1.9 million doses delivered so far.People who are not eligible for a free flu vaccine can get it from their GP, Aboriginal Medical Service or pharmacist for a fee. NSW Health is also reminding GPs of the importance of the flu vaccine and to ensure they are contacting their patients.  Flu symptoms include a sudden high fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, feeling unwell, and a sore throat.In arrangements announced last year by Minister for Health and Medical Research, Brad Hazzard, children over 10 are now able to get their flu vaccine at a pharmacy, down from the previous minimum age of 16. The NSW Government has invested approximately $142 million in the 2020-21 Immunisation Program budget, including Commonwealth and state vaccines.Speak to your GP or Aboriginal Medical Service or get more information here.This message is intended for the addressee named and may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify the sender.Views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of NSW Health or any of its entities.

A group of WATER Northern Rivers Alliance activists who don’t want to see a dam built at Dunoon took the issue to the front doorstep of Rous Water today.Fronted by Cara the koala and Widjabal-Wyabal woman Cindy Roberts, the delegation handed over 1000 hard copy public submissions to Rous County Council. The submissions were responses to the exhibition of the revised Integrated Water Cycle Management plan (IWCM), which is open for contributions till tomorrow.WATER Northern Rivers Alliance spokesperson Nan Nicholson said she would like to see more people make submissions.PolarisationThe future of water in our region has seen a polarisation within the community take place.While the proposed dam for Dunoon was scrapped as an idea by Rous County Council, some people in the community have been calling for the dam idea to be brought back as an option.Read about the Dunoon Dam poll: Dunoon Dam Poll Update: Yes or No Nan Nicholson.Read about the history of the situation: Elders say 'no dam', as future water discussed at tonight's Rous County Council meetingDepolarise the debateIt’s a situation that Nan said needed to be cleared up.“We want to set the record straight and address the many misconceptions that have been circulated by the campaign pressuring Rous County Council to re-introduce the discarded Dunoon Dam,” she said,“Everyone has different ideas about water and some people have different ideas about what’s true – and that has been a problem. The future of water is a community issue, not a political issue.“To begin with this has never been a dam versus groundwater issue. The Future Water 2060 plan includes groundwater with or without the dam.”Read more: Dunoon Dam rescission motion defeated but is the dam now dead?Changing climateKnitting Nanna Jalley said she would like to see people who are promoting the dam to "lift their vision and read the regional water plan and the State Government’s water plan".“Both say we need a number of options to deal with the changing climate," she said."It’s vital that we don’t rely on single solutions with a large outlay and no guarantee in an increasingly unpredictable climate.“The solution is that we need a number of different options to come in in different contingencies. If it’s a dry period or a drought period, we can include different water sources.“I want to move the debate away from local politics – the peak body of water suppliers wrote the all options on the table report. “If you have read it, you will know they say that dams are a possible white elephant and a standard asset. So, we are saying we need many options for our future water.”Cindy Roberts.So, does that mean we also need a dam?“We already have a very good dam and the community was consulted over a decade ago about it,” Nanna Jalley said.“A consultative group did a lot of study over three years looking at all the options and the result was there was no way we can have a dam in Dunoon for different environmental and cultural reasons.“That was a decade ago, since then, technology has changed - and in the future, technology will change and we have to keep up with the times and look at ways to reuse water.”The issuesAccording to WATER Northern Rivers Alliance, some of the ‘polarising’ issues at the heart of the future water debate are the misinformation being spread about the costs of a dam, employment and environmental issues.Costs and water rates“Water rates are likely to go up if the dam is built. The spending on non-dam options is spread out, going up in steps as new water sources are required. For example, several larger projects (e.g. Tyagarah and Newrybar) will not be undertaken for decades,” Nan said.“Population growth forecasts indicate a 37% increase in drinking water demand in this area by 2060. Climate forecasts predict a reduction in available surface water of 22% by 2060.“Demand is expected to exceed current supply from Rocky Creek Dam and other sources by 2024. We need to source water and it’s going to cost money.“The striking picture that emerges is that the financial costs of the dam exceed the preferred scenario in the revised IWCM every year until 2060.“This extra cost will have to be borne by the current generation of ratepayers for the next 40 years. Employment“Advantages of the non-dam options are the boost to long-term regional employment.“These wages however would stay in the economy and boost economic activity via the multiplier effect for years.“This is the opposite in the case of a building a dam, which would only provide a short-term boost to the local economy, taken up by a multinational corporation followed by a sharp drop in employment on completion.Environmental“The environmental destruction associated with the dam option is many times higher than the alternatives.“If the dam went ahead, we would lose rare remnants of lowland rainforest, crucial wildlife corridors used by Koalas and other species as well as endangering many rare and endangered plants and animals.“The Tyagarah groundwater scheme has to be approved by the NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) as well as the National Parks and the Wildlife service.“That means that the level of the aquifer cannot drop and that tapping the water source must not affect the Nature Reserve, or koala habitat. We are required to leave 82% undisturbed for nature alone. Social“The report identifies several adverse social and cultural impacts that a new dam would have if it were built.“It is impossible to put a monetary value on these impacts but the costs are very real and will be disproportionately borne by the local Aboriginal community, the Widjabul-Wiabal tribe of the Bundjulang Nation.“The Aboriginal sites collectively are of State significance and any threat is likely to be fiercely contested. This delay could take years adding to costs including finding other sources of water. Toilet-to-tap“The pro-dam lobby’s cynical references to ‘toilet to tap’ recycling ignore the significant potential to use recycled water for non-potable purposes.“Recycled water is used in many cities around the world. In WA, Perth is already replenishing its groundwater supplies with recycled water.“In NSW, Ballina Shire uses developer contributions to source infrastructure for dual reticulation (the purple pipe scheme). Remember that 90% of treated drinking water actually ends up down the drain.”For more information about WATER Northern Rivers Alliance, visit the website https://waternorthernrivers.org/

Preparing the tea room special of four sandwiches, cake, and tea is something that Norma Blume does for love each week at Lismore's Red Cross Tearooms.Norma is one of the volunteers who keep the Red Cross charity’s Keen Street shop running, selling cheap meals and snacks. Their coffee and cake deal is one of the most economical ways to eat out in Lismore.Now, more volunteers are needed to run the shop and Norma is calling for people who want to join the volunteer roster.Norma began helping out in the Lismore tea rooms in 2007. She said her mother used to be in the Red Cross and it inspired her to volunteer and follow in her mum’s footsteps.“Working here keeps me busy and it’s better than sitting at home,” Norma said. “It’s all about making new friends and having company.“The work also gives me challenges and I learn new skills.”Sandra, Norma Blume and Robyn.What does the work entail?Volunteers will learn how to prepare sandwiches, clean up using the sanitisation station, use the cash register and coffee machine.Norma said part of the training will be to learn how to make the sandwiches in the signature Red Cross Tearooms style.“Working hours are from 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday, but you can just work the days and hours that you want - even just 11am until closing time,” she said.“We need to have three staff members each day to keep the kitchen going.“It means staff can have a lunch break and someone else can keep the sandwiches being made, while someone takes the orders.“Some days there’s a 9am start while the ladies prepare salads for sandwiches - and then there’s the clean up when the tea rooms close.“All our workers are volunteers and it’s the work of the volunteers and the monies raised that keeps the Red Cross going,” Norma said.The Red Cross charity began in 1959 and runs a Telecross phone service, as well as providing emergency disaster assistance to communities in floods and bushfires.If you want to volunteer, then visit the tea rooms on Keen Street (near Fundies) and say you are interested. You will then be given an appointment for an interview to work as a volunteer.

At Lismore Caravan Park, Krista Goddard gets dressed for work each morning and heads into the CBD office when she works five days a week.Her husband and 14 year old son also get ready for work and school, in the camper trailer they moved into last week when they were made homeless.Their routines continue like they did before the house they were living in was sold –and they had to move into the caravan park.Despite her situation, Krista has kept her sense of humour and laughs as she says “don’t call me trailer park girl”.The Goddard family are one of a growing number of working people who are affected by the dire shortage of rental properties in the local area. It’s a situation created the booming North Coast property market, rising house prices and a growing population.In this story, The Lismore App also speaks with local real estate agencies to get the lowdown why it's been so hard to get a rental property and what the process of applying for a house is. Read more news: Rare 'blood moon' total eclipse will appear in our skies tonight“The problem is fuelled by skyrocketing house price values and people taking the opportunity to sell their homes for huge profits,” Krista said.“I work full time and earn good money and now I am living in a caravan park in winter, still trying to find a rental property.“There are a couple of others at the caravan park with the same problem – who were living on properties that sold and now they can’t find rentals.Read more about the housing crisis: Local housing crisis could worsen as new ad campaign targets city dwellers Skyrocketing house pricesKrista said her family been living on a property in Caniaba when the owner decided to sell the house.“The owner was offered $100,000 more than the original value for the property,” she said.“That wasn’t the original agreement with us renters, but he got a quick sale – the house was sold within two weeks, with a quick settlement and contracts signed.“Six weeks after the house was put on the market, we had to move out.”“We couldn’t even find an empty storage shed in Lismore. We had to use a shed on a friend’s property that is not even enclosed to store out stuff in.“We tried to find a rental but there are so many people looking and there’s not enough houses.“The caravan park is a nice place but it’s really cold in winter and I prefer my privacy.Pet problems“We just had to let go of our family dog too. We are putting him on a plane to go and live with family members now because we can’t have him here.”Real estate agents “When the house was put on the market, people were bidding on it in an auction without seeing it.“I saw a Current Affairs report regarding real estate agents who were putting low prices on houses, so more people would bid and send the sale price through the roof.”Read more about house prices locally: Our region tops property value growth nationallyRental vacancy rates snapshot In the month of April, the Northern Rivers region had the second-lowest rental vacancy rates in NSW (with Albury being the lowest at 0.3%).A monthly survey by Real Estate Institute of New South Wales (REINSW) reported that our region’s rental vacancy rates were at 0.4% in April – up from 0.3% in March. The rental problemThis small rise in vacancy rates still isn’t enough to meet the demand for rentals for local people.Krista said she has been in touch with all of the local real estate agents in her search for a rental property and has experienced competition, long delays and big discrepancies in what is needed to apply for a house.Krista said it’s time-consuming and confusing and she wants to know how the successful house applicants are actually chosen.Some real estate agencies require house inspections before applications are submitted- and others want pre-inspection applications made.Wait times“I’ve been looking at rentals every day and request house inspections and often need to wait,” she said. “The real estate agents wait until there are a large group of people before they show us through – and it makes the wait even longer.“There are lots of confusions because some houses are listed for rent but are not actually ready yet and are still being renovated.”“I want to know how real estate agents pick their clients.“I have a job and still can’t get a house and some people are just trying to survive. With some houses, you even need $3000 bond to get a rental property.“I don’t want to leave the area because of this. I love where I work and my job is what keeps me going. Everyone at Biztax are doing what they can to help me get a place.”The Lismore App contacted some local real estate agents to see what the different processes of applying for a rental property were.PRD Real EstateAt Lismore’s PRD Real Estate agency, rental property applicants are required to inspect the house first, before submitting an application.PRD senior property manager Courtney Lane said viewing first was important to make sure people were happy with the house, prior to applying.“We have between 80 to 130 applications for a rental that costs under $500 a week,” she said. “We still have a few properties with three bedrooms under $500 a week, but only three that are under $400 rent a week.“With so many people applying, we wouldn’t be able to get through the workload if we did pre-applications.“Some people might get put off applying by the number of others at the inspection, but some of them might not apply because the house is unsuitable for them.“I advise people to still apply and to do it within one day of looking – because houses are going quickly. They should also make sure they answer all the questions and have all of the correct supporting documents too.Who decides which person gets the property?“We submit all the appropriate applications to the property owners, and they approve which tenants they want.”Ms Lane said anyone with a bad rent history is ruled out, and it was important for all tenants to make sure they don’t get their rent in arrears.30% of income rule“We also look at proof of bank savings and assess house affordability,” she said.“This rules out some people because your rent can’t be more than 30% of your income.“The 30% rule culls a lot of local people out because rents have increased so much – even those with good rental history.“We hold people’s applications for eight weeks and if they are still looking and apply for other houses too, we might just need them to update their ID or provide a newer payslip for income proof.“Most house owners have a clear good applicant they choose. They will look at your income and make decisions based on if you can pay the rent – so they can pay their mortgages.What about pets?“We try to encourage owners to allow pets at their properties. This helps us to have the right clauses in the rental agreement to cover the renters and owners – and might include things like the carpets need to be cleaned or flea sprayed before the tenants leave.”R Gordon & Son Property AgentsReal Estate business owner Andrew Gordon said pre-applications before seeing a rental house were accepted at his business.“The good thing about pre-applications is that we get to check referees and the paperwork first, then we talk to the owners, who make the final decisions,” he said. “This means that when you do view the property, you are ready to go.“But, even though you might pre-apply, we don’t like signing a lease unless you actually inspect the home.“Sometimes people look on behalf of family members – and then the family didn’t like it.”Does a person with a higher income get preference over a lower income?“Capacity to pay is always a consideration,” Mr Gordon said.“But a lot of people don’t work at all and that doesn’t make them lousy tenants.“If there were two applicants and all had perfect applications with the right paperwork, except one earned more, it might give them an edge – because it means you are more financially capable of paying.“In the end, a perfect applicant proves they will honour their obligation. They will have references from previous landlords saying they pay rent and look after the place, and it doesn’t matter about income.What about pets?“There is a shift toward landlords becoming more friendly toward having pets.“When you rent a property, you want 100% of the market to apply and most families have dogs and cats.Rent rises and stockMr Gordon said 90% of renters are renting properties costing less than $500 a week and that the rise in property values and rental prices started in the last year.“The average rental price before that was about $360 a week,” he said. “It’s definitely become a more difficult rental market and more rises are expected.“The problem is not just high rent prices and house sales.“The ideal of accumulating assets over time for others to benefit from later is long done. Times need to change.” Read more about affordable housing: Affordable housing crisis gripping the region sees action at local forum

A rare total lunar eclipse of the full moon, called a 'super flower blood moon', will appear in our skies tonight, Wednesday, May 26.Tonight’s spectacle was last witnessed in 2015 and was not visible from Australia. Tonight, it will only be visible from the Pacific Ocean, Australia, Asia and large parts of the Americas. The next one predicted will be on May 16, 2022 and will only be visible in North America, South America, Europe and Africa.Read more news: Korean fried chicken shop opens with secret spices and night diningSo why is tonight’s skywatching event called a super flower blood moon?Lunar eclipses are called ‘blood moons’ when the moon darkens and turns a dull red as it passes into Earth's shadow.When a full moon occurs in May, they are known as flower moons – and when the full moon reaches the point closest to our planet on its elliptical orbit, it's called a supermoon, and appears larger than usual in the sky.The term blood moon is also sometimes used to refer to four total lunar eclipses that happen in the span of two years - a phenomenon astronomers call a lunar tetrad.When does the eclipse begin?The lunar eclipse will begin at 6.47pm tonight, when the moon goes into the earth’s lightest shadow (or penumbra). At this point, the eclipse will be barely visible, and the resulting shadow is called penumbral. The eclipse will finish at 10.52pm.Read more news: Rental crisis sends fulltime workers to live in Lismore caravan park Why does the moon turn red? When the lunar eclipse begins and the Moon travels through the Earth’s umbra, it obstructs all direct sunlight from illuminating the Moon’s surface.Despite this, some sunlight still reaches the lunar surface indirectly, through the Earth’s atmosphere, radiating the Moon in a reddish, yellow, or orange glow.This creates a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering, where a few colours in the light spectrum are filtered out, leaning more towards the violet spectrum.This happens when the sun rays pass through the atmosphere. The same mechanism is the cause of colorful sunrises and sunsets.The red wavelengths are barely affected by this effect, so the light reaching the Moon’s surface has a reddish hue, which allows the fully eclipsed Moon to acquire a red color.The Moon can also look yellow, orange, or brown during a total lunar eclipse which depends on the composition of the atmosphere where the varied parts of the light spectrum are filtered.

If you have been a resident of the Northern Rivers for a while, it will come as no surprise that a new national report confirms that the Richmond-Tweed area has topped the Australian housing market in property value growth over the last 12 months.The new quarterly Regional Market Update report by CoreLogic shows Australia’s regional housing market has far outpaced value growth across all of Australia’s capital cities.Regional area house values are rising twice as fast as city counterparts, sitting at 13%, compared with a 6.4% gain in capital city values.Read more news: Council asks for patience as record number of DAs submittedThe report looks at capital growth over the 12 months to April 2021 in Australia’s 25 largest non-capital city markets.The new report shows that Richmond-Tweed area topped the list, with capital gains across both house and unit markets of 21.9% and 15.5% annual growth respectively. Bunbury was the worst performer across both house and unit markets, with 3% and - 4.4% yearly growth respectively.Best & Worst Performing Regional House Markets – April 2021Best & Worst Performing Regional Unit Markets – April 2021Housing and rentersLismore, sitting in the Richmond-Tweed profile area has already been experiencing an affordable housing crisis for some time now.The Northern Rivers region currently has the lowest rental vacancy rates in NSW - reported to be at 0.3% in March – while in April 2020, it was 2.7%.Read more: Local housing crisis could worsen as new ad campaign targets city dwellersRegional living CoreLogic’s research director, Tim Lawless, says the faster pace of growth reflects stronger demand flowing into the regional areas of Australia through the COVID-period to-date. “This can partly be explained by the new popularity of remote and flexible working arrangements, but also increased demand for lifestyle oriented properties and holiday homes. No doubt the more affordable housing options across many of Australia’s regional markets is another incentive; in April there was a $247,400 difference between the median value of capital city dwellings and regional dwellings. “Playing into the lifestyle trend, it’s no surprise to see the Richmond-Tweed area topping the list for capital gains over the past 12 months. This region includes high profile beachside destinations such as Byron Bay, Suffolk Park and Lennox Heads as well as popular hinterland villages such a Bangalow. The median house value across the Byron council area is now $1.4 million, which is higher than Greater Sydney’s median of $1.147 million,” says Mr Lawless. “No doubt the more affordable housing options across many of Australia’s regional markets is another incentive; in April there was a $247,400 difference between the median value of capital city dwellings and regional dwellings.\\Richmond-Tweed “Playing into the lifestyle trend, it’s no surprise to see the Richmond-Tweed area topping the list for capital gains over the past 12 months. “This region includes high profile beachside destinations such as Byron Bay, Suffolk Park and Lennox Heads as well as popular hinterland villages such a Bangalow.“The median house value across the Byron council area is now $1.4 million, which is higher than Greater Sydney’s median of $1.147 million.“Looking forward, regional housing markets remain well placed to record higher than average levels of demand, especially those markets that are located close enough to capital cities to provide a commuting option, and those lifestyle markets that are popular with sea and tree changers. “While surging values are probably good news for homeowners in these regions, for those that don’t own a home, affordability is being stretched. Particularly for long-time locals whose incomes are unlikely to be rising at anywhere near the pace of house price appreciation, they may be forced to seek out housing options further afield.”Read more:Affordable housing crisis gripping the region sees action at local forum

Samuel Todhunter has lived through the Korean war, the Vietnam war and spent his whole life working in the aviation industry.Last week, he received an Order of Australia Medal for his service to aviation – and at the age of 89, aviation is something he’s still passionate about.Bill Kiernan and Nathan Parker with Sam Todhunter. Read more: Nathan's Wings Award sets his aviation career flying even higherSamuel still works in Lismore as a flight instructor at the Northern Rivers Aero Club (NRAC). He’s one of three flight instructors at NRAC – along with Bill Kiernan and Nathan Parker.While he retired years ago, Samuel has never wanted to stop flying and kept busy instructing people in how to fly planes and get their recreational or commercial pilot’s licences.He wants to encourage more people to pursue their dreams and passion for flying.Inspired to fly as a child by the wide open skies of Western Australia and the courage of Korean war pilots, Sam followed his heart and passion into flying.It’s a life that has taken him all over the world, working in nearly every possible role the aviation industry has to offer – including setting up his own aviation company.He’s flown a lot of different planes and said he’s never felt scared of flying.Samuel tells his life story to the Lismore App in this week’s Sunday Profile. So, to find out more, follow his story this Sunday, May 23.

Receiving a Wings Award has seen Northern Rivers Aero Club (NRAC) flight instructor Nathan Parker fly even higher this week.Earlier this year, he received the NSW Young Australian of the Year Award for 2021. Now, at the age of 25, Nathan has been recognised by Australia’s peak aviation bodies as Australian Aviation Young Achiever of the Year 2020.Read more about Nathan: SUNDAY PROFILE: Losing a hand won't stop Nathan Parker flyingSetbacks didn't stop Lismore's Nathan Parker being NSW Young Australian of the YearNathan Parker with his mentors at NRAC, Samuel Todhunter and Bill Kiernan.Nathan's catch cry is “come and chase your dreams and goals regardless of your situation".Despite losing an arm when he was involved in an army vehicle accident, Nathan never let go of his dream of becoming a pilot and went on find a successful career in aviation.Nathan was-chosen as the winner of the national award by The Royal Aeronautical Society of Australia, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Australian Flying Magazine.In the award citation, the editor of Australian Flying magazine wrote “despite setbacks that prevented a military flying career, you have nevertheless worked hard to pursue your aviation dream and in the process have achieved the key milestones of a career in civil aviation.“Your passion for aviation and willingness to contribute are not lost on your peers who value your input and respect the way you have approached the challenges that are behind and ahead of you.“This award recognises the esteem in which you are held and what you gave achieved with dedication and hard work, so thank you Nathan you are Australian CASA Wings Awards 2020 winner.”Nathan said it was humbling to receive the award, but recognised the role his NRAC instructors played in giving an opportunity to fly after this accident.“I’ve been lucky,” Nathan said. “There are a lot of young people out there trying to start a career in aviation that don’t have such an impressive club full of support behind them.Nathan with NRAC members and representatives from The Royal Aeronautical Society of Australia, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Australian Flying Magazine.“Without my instructors Sam Todhunter and Bill Kiernan, I wouldn’t be able to chase the dream.“They took a risk giving me a chance and the opportunity to see what is possible.“I think their words were ‘shut up, get in the plane and see what is possible’.“I see myself as a normal guy who is chasing an aviation dream and I’m sure many young people have that dream too.“As an instructor at the club, it’s cool that I have been able to help people of all ages - young and old who have always wanted to fly.“If you have always wanted to do it, come in and partake in aviation and be a part of the club as well.“Anyone can do it and its easier than you think – bring your love and passion for it and share it.”