As the latest wave of COVID-19 shows no signs of abating, University of South Australia experts say it’s not just booster shots that could offer protection – healthy levels of vitamin D may also play a role.In new research conducted in partnership with the King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation, researchers found a clear link between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of being hospitalised by the virus. No association was found between low vitamin D and the risk of catching COVID-19. The study assessed more than 150,000 participants in the UK Biobank, undertaking analyses to determine whether the risk of COVID-19 was higher among people with Vitamin D deficiency (<25nmol/L in their blood) and vitamin D insufficiency (25-49 nmol/L) compared with those who had normal levels of Vitamin D (50+ nmol/L). They also compared risk of being hospitalised due to COVID-19 across these three groups. In Australia, nearly a quarter of adults – about four million people – are vitamin D deficient. Globally, about one billion people have vitamin D deficiency, with 50% of the population showing insufficient vitamin D levels. Australian-based researcher and epidemiologist Dr Kerri Beckmann from UniSA says the findings could help identify vulnerable people and inform future public health advice. “Vitamin D plays a key role in regulating the immune system, so it’s plausible that low levels may influence how the body responds to infections like COVID-19,” Dr Beckmann says. “Our study found that people with a vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency were more likely to be hospitalised with COVID-19 than those with healthy levels of Vitamin D – but they weren’t more likely to catch the virus in the first place.” The study also explored associations between vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes among cancer patients, as well as across different ethnic groups. People of Asian or African/Afro-Caribbean heritage were found to have a slightly higher risk of infection if they had low vitamin D levels, though the association between low vitamin D and severe illness was only seen in people of Caucasian backgrounds. No association was found between vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes among people previously diagnosed with cancer, though researchers caution this may reflect the smaller sample size. Dr Beckmann says that while the risk from COVID-19 has lessened over time, the virus remains a public health concern. “COVID-19 may not be the threat it once was, but it still affects peoples’ well-being,” Dr Beckmann says. “Understanding who is most at risk helps those individuals take extra precautions, including monitoring their vitamin D levels. “It could be that people who are in poor health to start with may also have low vitamin D levels. So, at this stage, we don’t know whether vitamin D supplements in themselves could reduce the severity of COVID-19. “It’s certainly an area worth exploring – especially as we continue to live with the virus.”

A popular Lismore sports team and an entrepreneur have been nominated as finalists in their respective categories.The Lismore Workers Swim Team has been shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious NSW Swimming Club of the Year (Regional) award, as part of the inaugural Swimming NSW Awards.Swimming NSW launched these awards to celebrate the outstanding achievements of swimmers, coaches, clubs, officials, and volunteers from across the state. The awards aim to shine a spotlight on those who have made a significant impact on the sport, both in and out of the pool.Lismore Workers Swim Team say they are honoured to be recognised among the top regional clubs in New South Wales. This nomination reflects the club’s strong performance over the 2024/25 season, its dedication to fostering talent, and its unwavering commitment to community spirit and inclusion in the Northern Rivers region.“This is a fantastic acknowledgment of the hard work, passion, and resilience shown by our swimmers, coaches, families, and volunteers,” said Club President Gary Dardengo. “To be recognised at a state level is an incredible boost for our club and for swimming in regional communities like ours.”The winners of the Swimming NSW Awards will be announced at a special ceremony in Sydney on Saturday, 26 July 2025.Lismore dad Brad Ambridge, founder of inclusive soccer program Rainbow Roos, has been named as a finalist in The Fathering Project’s Australian Fathering Awards. Previous winners include another Lismore man, Craig Foster AM, Jimmy Barnes AO, Hamish Blake and Dick Smith AO.Brad is a father to an autistic child and understands more than most just how overwhelming the world is when it comes to sport. Not wanting his own child to miss out on opportunities, he started Rainbow Roos to provide fun, inclusive and adaptable soccer skills programs to children with additional needs (physical and neurological) in the Northern Rivers. In addition to soccer skills, Brad teaches empathy, understanding and kindness, encouraging each child to be themselves, showing them that it is cool to be unique. Brad runs 15 sessions each week, working with almost 300 children. He also runs school holiday programs and attends community events, helping to promote the importance of inclusive sport in regional Australia. He is described by his wife Jess as “passionate, determined, selfless, relentless and caring”. Brad has been named as a finalist in the “Australian Sports Father of the Year” category. The recipients will be announced on 4 September. To find out more visit: australianfatheringawards.org.au. Good luck to both our finalists.

As forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), the rain has returned, ruining not only our brief dry spell for July but potentially some significant upcoming sporting events.Lismore's rainfall was only 8.2mm to 9 o'clock this morning, and a further 1.8mm since. Alstonville recorded 87mm to 9am, as did Ballina. You could argue that conditions could have been worse for Lismore.As we all know, the water table is high, so even a little rain can cause enough damage to sporting fields, race courses and golf courses to question upcoming events.The NSW Open Golf Qualifier will take place over two days, next Monday and Tuesday, with a Pro-Am on Sunday. The Lismore golf course has cancelled scheduled play for the next two days.The Lismore Turf Club is hosting its first race meeting in a number of months this Friday. Scott Jones and Daniel Kedraika will need the weather's help if the races are to go ahead on race day.The main concern is a strong cold front that is sweeping across the nation tomorrow. The majority of the impact will occur in the southeast of Australia; however, the impact could be felt on Wednesday when up to 7mm is expected before the sun returns on Thursday to dry the ground.Saturday is another day of concern, with 4 to 20mm expected as the winds turn northerly.The BoM has also released its long-range weather forecast, and it is looking normal to wet.The three months from August to October have a 67% chance of experiencing above-median rainfall (greater than 184.3mm) and a 22% chance of an unusually wet period (greater than 319.2mm). Unusually dry sits at 5%.If we focus on individual months, August has a 65% chance of above-median rainfall, 29% unusually wet, and 9% unusually dry.September sits at a 62% chance of above-median rainfall, 30% unusually wet and 7% unusually dry.If the BoM is correct, the ground may have trouble drying out before we start the storm season for 2025/2026.

Police are appealing for assistance to locate a teenage girl last seen in the Lismore area.Jalarna Buchanan, aged 16, was last seen at a shopping centre on Diadem Street, Lismore, about 11am last Wednesday (16 July 2025). When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Tweed/Byron Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.Police hold concerns for Jalarna’s’s welfare due to her age.Jalarna is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, 160cm to 170cm tall, medium build with dyed red shoulder length hair and brown eyes.She was last seen wearing black track pants and black hoodie with hood on covering her head.She is known to frequent the Kingscliff, Coraki, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Inverell, Gosford, and Sydney CBD area. Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Lismore Police, Tweed/Byron Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Phase one of the Lismore community’s long-term vision for a transformed Wade Park has been realised, with Lismore Councillor Gianpiero Battista and State Member for Lismore The Hon Janelle Saffin MP on hand to officially open the park’s new accessible amenities block.Wade Park is located on the corner of Military Road and Ann Street in East Lismore, and has long been a drawcard for young families, pet owners and nearby residents. Creation of this much-needed public asset was jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, under the Public Amenities Resilience Upgrades program, at a cost of $520,000.Bookended by two sheltered picnic areas, the elevated amenities block comprises ten unisex toilets, including ambulant and wheelchair accessible cubicles, and is now better located for access to the playground facilities.The new space is a key element of the wider Wade Park Masterplan, which has been developed through extensive community consultation. The Masterplan was approved by Lismore City Councillors at the March 2024 monthly meeting.The features for the Wade Park Master plan include:Improved Park Resilience through Environmental designImproved stormwater drainage system throughout the park.The creation of a new playful park infrastructure (small bridges/stepping stones etc) to be used as crossing points during periods of inundation. Ensuring all water management initiatives allow for water to flow/move and return to the existing creek and prevent long term pooling and potential stagnation.Improved and Inclusive PlayThere will be a centrally located transport-themed accessible play structure with climbing and sliding elements. Diverse swinging with accessible seats and wheelchair-accessible carousel. A nature play area with in-ground (accessible) trampolines and accessible loop path to play pods. Explore native sensory planting, a water pump and swale feature, picnic settings, shade structures.Included is a ‘Welcome’ entry structure and a 1200mm high secure fence.High-quality amenities and Recreation SpacesMulti-use sports court with diverse line marking for sports and informal games.A table tennis table, accessible picnic settings, bins and drinking fountains. Trees and groundcover will be native species and buffer planting will be included.Accessible Toilet/Amenities will be joined with new connecting pathways.The entry to the car park will be upgraded with new car parking and an open passive area - the design is arranged to minimise impact to existing trees.Improved Cycling (Learn to Ride)New signage, bitumen surface and linemarking, a planted out roundabout, bicycle parking with a pedestrian crossing. Spaces for dogsA dedicated small dog area (1350m2) as well as a big dog area (2625m2) with fenced separation. Dog agility equipment and drinking station for the dogs and seating, signage for the dogs best friends with a planted buffer between fence and path. Central Social HubAccessible picnic settings, accessible BBQs with a shelter, feature planting including trees, shrubs and groundcover planting will make this an enjoyable space for all.Flexible Open SpaceSeating, a senior exercise space and outdoor gym equipment around an open space loop path. Adventure PlayA tall climbing structure with a slide and an embankment/slope. Inclined ropes will go with the existing viewing hut.To complete the Wade Park Masterplan, council must secure more grant funding from the federal or state governments. This is being worked on.Councillor Battista said: "It’s great to see this first piece of the Wade Park Masterplan completed. I know it’s something the community has been wanting for a long time and look forward to helping see it to fruition”.Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin echoes the sentiment, describing the new amenities block as a significant upgrade designed with families and parkgoers in mind.“It is so important to have toilet facilities near the play areas, so parents or grandparents don’t have to trek to the end of the park with all their children when just one wants to go to the toilet,” Ms Saffin said.“With the new facilities this all-weather space is destined to be a popular meeting point for birthday parties, play dates and other social gatherings. I’m proud to open this for the community, on behalf of the NSW Government.”The completed amenity is part of Lismore City Council’s broader effort to maintain and improve public amenities. Twenty-three public toilet upgrades are planned across the LGA, which are currently underway, ensuring access to clean and comfortable public amenities at local parks and rest stops for our residents and visitors.

In February 2024, the NSW Government announced funding of $11 million to build a new Blakebrook Primary School. The reopening date was forecast to be Term 2 2025, and true to its word, the school will reopen to students and teachers tomorrow (Tuesday).The damage caused by the February 28 2022, flood was significant at the 417 Rosehill Road site. Most of the structures were no longer habitable, which is why the NSW Department of Education proposed demolishing the existing buildings and constructing a new elevated school.It will be an exciting and nervous time tomorrow morning for students and staff when they walk through the new Blakebrook Primary School front gates. Nervous because of the memories of 2022, and excited to return to the school that has provided education to locals since 1907.The Blakebrook P&C Facebook page said, "The first day back, Tuesday 22 July, will be an exciting day for our students, families and staff. We want to make it a special day, whilst remembering there will be some nerves. "To make it a special morning, alongside our P and C, the school has organised a light breakfast for students and families. This will include fresh fruit, a croissant and juice. Tea and coffee will be on offer for parents and caregivers. Parents and caregivers will then have an opportunity to walk through our school to see the wonderful new facilities. This will be occurring between 8:30am - 9:15am. "Please note that this event is for parents and caregivers and current Blakebrook PS students only. Our wider school community will have the opportunity to visit during our official opening and 'Back to Blakebrook' celebrations."Meanwhile, the bulldozer is at work demolishing the South Lismore Primary School (PS).Nearly a year ago (4 August, 2024), the NSW Department of Education revealed the new plans for the new South Lismore PS. There was a sense of excitement about how the new school will look when it is complete. That is expected to be in 2027.(An artist's impression of the new South Lismore Public School)

The Northern Rivers Resilience and Initiative (NRRI) first community visit, run by NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) and the CSIRO, is only ten days away. Casino is the first cab off the rank on Thursday, 31 July at 10am. Lismore is next on Monday, 4 August, followed by Ballina (5 August), Woodburn (6 August) and Kyogle (8 August).Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan launched a petition to ask the CSIRO for a model that will take 1 - 2 metres off a flood across the Richmond River Catchment on July 7.In the past two weeks, thousands of people have already signed the petition online and in local businesses across the region, calling on the Federal and State Governments to model real solutions that can reduce future flood heights.Click here to sign the petition: https://www.kevinhogan.com.au/flood-petition/.The encouraging results have been welcomed by Mr Hogan, “This groundswell of support shows just how important this is to our community,” Mr Hogan said.“People want action to keep us safe, protect our homes, our businesses, and our families. Reducing flood risk improves mental health, protects us financially, helps with insurance, and gives our region a future.”The petition calls on the Government to use the newly developed CSIRO hydrodynamic tool to model a catchment-wide scenario where a flood is 1–2 metres lower than it would otherwise be. This includes options to hold back, slow down, and divert floodwaters across the entire Richmond River catchment.Mr Hogan is also encouraging residents to take part in CSIRO’s upcoming in-person consultation sessions to ensure community voices are heard loud and clear.“These meetings are a chance for locals to tell CSIRO directly what they want modelled. We can’t miss this opportunity.”In-person sessions are being held in Casino, Lismore, Woodburn, Kyogle and Ballina. More information here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/national-emergency-managment-agency-91910409563.

Although today is a pupil-free day for students around NSW, motorists need to slow down and be aware that school zones return to operation today, Monday, 21 July.School zones will be active from 8am to 9:30am and 2:30pm to 4pm on school days. The NSW Government has released new data revealing that more than 183,000 school zone speeding offences were recorded in NSW during the last financial year.Alarmingly, nearly 70 per cent (125,000+) of incidents occurred during active school zone hours – that's more than 340 drivers every day choosing to speed past schools and young children.Since 2019, 106 pedestrians aged 5 to 16 years have been hit by vehicles in active school zones. Two children have been killed and 38 seriously injured.The NSW Government has also released data that shows seatbelt non-compliance is working, with a 60 per cent drop in offences since camera enforcement and fines were introduced 12 months ago.In that time, 140 million vehicles have been checked, with over 99 per cent of drivers and passengers doing the right thing.However, camera images collected since its introduction have also revealed that some 88 per cent of fines related to incorrect seatbelt use, with nearly two-thirds of these fines issued to drivers whose passengers were not buckled up properly. Wearing a seatbelt correctly doubles the chances of surviving a crash and reduces the risk of serious injury, and the state government is calling on NSW drivers to follow the law and wear their seatbelts properly. In 2024, 34 people died on NSW roads while not wearing a seatbelt. So far this year, it’s another 11 lives. Over five years, 163 people have died not wearing a seatbelt, with 85 per cent of those deaths in regional NSW. While progress is being made, more than 200 fatalities have been recorded on NSW roads this year – that’s one person a day dying on NSW roads.Motorists are reminded that proper seatbelt use means wearing the lap belt low and firm across the hips, with the sash crossing the chest and mid-shoulder, never under the arm.Each offence attracts a $423 fine and three demerit points, or six during double demerit periods. Every dollar raised through seatbelt cameras is reinvested directly into road safety improvements.These fines are completely avoidable if drivers and their passengers are doing the right thing.Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said, “The Minns Labor Government introduced seatbelt enforcement cameras in July 2024 to encourage all road users to buckle up correctly every time they get in a vehicle, and as Minister I am pleased to see such significant improvement in such a short timeframe. Over 140 million vehicles have been monitored since this program launched, with well over 99% of motorists demonstrating compliance.“Some of the images collected are truly shocking, including multiple people in the same seatbelt or no seatbelt at all. “While the improvement in non-compliance is encouraging, we're witnessing far too many offences involving passengers wearing seatbelts incorrectly, with approximately 75,000 recorded offences over the past year."Whenever you enter a vehicle, correctly securing your seatbelt should be instinctive, whether you're driving or a passenger. Just like when you’re on an aeroplane, you need to have your seatbelt low and tight in the lap section. In the car, the sash should go from the top of your shoulder to your hip.“Everyone needs to wear a seatbelt and if you have a genuine medical reason not to, you need a letter from your doctor.“Seatbelts save lives and not wearing one is a gamble, not just for your own life but for every road user. It's essential that you not only wear your seatbelt but wear it correctly.”

Burnout is commonly experienced by Australian workers and business owners, with new Beyond Blue data finding it’s the country’s young people and parents who are most at risk.A community poll commissioned by Beyond Blue found that half of the people surveyed had experienced burnout in the last year, with those aged 18-29 years experiencing the highest rates. The primary drivers of burnout among young people included inappropriate workload (38%), lack of management support (25%), and inflexible working conditions (24%). Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman AO said, despite their shorter tenure in the workforce, there's a lot going on for our young people. “High rates of burnout sit in the wider context of constant change, disruption and uncertainty,” Ms Harman said. “Young people face compounding pressures and concerns, including housing affordability issues, cost of living pressures, climate change and rising loneliness. “We need a rethink in how we support the mental health of our young people, including how workplaces can reduce the risk of burnout early in their working lives,” Ms Harman said. While the sample for small business owners (SBOs) was small, the data suggested that SBOs were the employment type most likely to be experiencing burnout in the last 12 months, with 35% often or always feeling burnt out in the last 12 months, compared to 26% of full-time employees, 18% of part-time employees, 11% of those who are self-employed, and 11% of casual employees. In addition, 89% of SBOs also reported feeling burnt out from work in the past at least sometimes (sometimes, often, always), compared to 67% of full-time workers. Ms Harman said, SBOs are the backbone of our economy, and they should be looked after. “We owe it to them, their families, their employees, and their communities,” she said. “Small businesses employ almost half the private sector workforce, yet they operate in a unique and often challenging context, facing financial pressures, isolation, and long working hours. “These factors, combined with limited access to resources and mental health support, create a perfect storm for mental ill-health.” Across all ages, the poll also found:The primary drivers of burnout included inappropriate workload (49%), lack of management support (32%) and inflexible working conditions (21%).Burnout was closely linked to feelings of loneliness and exclusion at work, with 50% of those who always feel burnt out also reporting loneliness at work often or always.Around 1 in 3 workers didn’t feel they could talk to their manager about feeling burnt out – they feared negative consequences for their job or promotion opportunities, they didn’t want to be seen as weak or incapable, or they just wanted to handle it privately.Nearly 1 in 2 people who experience burnout do not seek professional support for it.2 in 5 workers were unsatisfied or had low satisfaction with what their workplace was doing to reduce burnout in staff, while only 1 in 5 workers was highly satisfied with what their workplace was doing to reduce burnout in staff.Survey respondents wanted support that addressed the root causes of burnout; reduced workloads (41%), more staff and resources (28%), and more support from their manager (23%). Burnout can leave people feeling exhausted, feeling negative about – or less connected to – the work they do, and reduces personal efficacy, so people feel like they’re achieving less than normal.  “Burnout is never a personal failing,” Ms Harman said. “Burnout is the result of someone facing too many demands, for too long, without enough support. It’s a process of someone being worn down to the point they shut down.” The latest data also showed that around 1 in 2 people were experiencing burnout for non-paid work activities, with the top reason attributable to family and parenting responsibilities.  Anxiety and burnout had manifested themselves to the point where single mum and Beyond Blue lived experience speaker Peta Sitcheff could no longer physically or mentally function.   “I would get in the car to go to work and my hands were shaking so violently on the steering wheel I simply couldn’t drive,” she said. “Seven years ago, I abruptly left my corporate sales job in the medical device industry. Not because I wanted to, I simply had no choice – the bad days had been outweighing the good for months.”  In 2003, Peta started a job she can only describe as an education in life. “I was a corporate athlete, managing the prosthesis needs of 20 of Melbourne’s neurosurgeons. I was part of their surgical team and spent most of my time in the operating room. I worked when they worked,” she said. “For more than 13 years, I was on-call 24/7. Patients never presented neatly between 9am-5pm.” The other side of Peta’s role was the work pressure and looming sales targets.  “You couldn’t take your foot off the pedal because you had a sales target to hit. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be paid,” she said. “As a single mum, that wasn’t an option.”  Juggling corporate and customer demands left Peta physically depleted and living in a constant state of hypervigilance. “My life came to a screeching halt. I was instructed not to work for six months,” Ms Sitcheff said. “As I recovered, I realised my priorities had shifted and life needed to look different. I needed to find a sustainable, professional life which worked for my son while also prioritising my wellbeing needs.” Today, Peta is much more self-aware. “I live life more outside than in – nature is my greatest inspiration. My laptop rarely opens after 5pm and my mobile phone is a tool for my convenience, not everyone else’s,” the self-employed coach said. “Today, I’m the mum I always wanted to be. I wouldn’t have had that chance if I continued life the way it was.” Ms Harman said understanding burnout at home and at work helps people to act sooner and protect their health. “In the work context, while there have been significant improvements to elevate mental health at work, there is more work to be done. “Beyond Blue has been a leader in workplace mental health for more than 20 years. Our latest offering is a unique early intervention service, Before Blue, that provides proven mental health support for workers. “It’s never too late to reach out for support, but it’s better to address stress before it reaches the point of burnout,” she said. On July 16, 12pm-1pm AEST, Ms Harman is hosting Beyond Burnout: A Beyond Blue free webinar on preventing and recovering from burnout, with expert panellists; Adjunct Professor Sophie Scott OAM, journalist, author and keynote speaker; Nasalifya Namwinga, senior clinical psychologist and mental health researcher; and Peta Sitcheff, Beyond Blue lived experience speaker. Register for free here: https://beyondblue.tfaforms.net/295 Further information on the event can be found here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-involved/events/burnout-webinar The community poll was commissioned by Beyond Blue and surveyed a sample of 1,000 people nationally representative for age, gender and state/territory in June 2025.

Lismore local Brad Lancaster has a warning for the men of the Northern Rivers: get a simple PSA blood test to avoid more major physical and emotional decisions later.Cancer Australia says that there were an estimated 26,368 new cases of prostate cancer in 2024. It is also estimated that a male has a 1 in 6, or 18%, chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer by the age of 85.Brad Lancaster is now one of those statistics.Brad was doing the right thing, getting regular blood tests to check his PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level, which was always around the 4 mark. In November last year, he received the news that his PSA had doubled to 8 within 12 months.Brad's doctor requested a second blood test in January 2025, in case there was a false reading due to a urinary tract infection or another variable. That test returned an 8.5 reading.The next step was a referral to a urologist, which was only a 2-3 week wait. An MRI scan was ordered to check for the presence of cancer cells. Another positive result led to a biopsy."They go in and take little samples, about the size of cotton threads. They take core samples. And she ended up doing 36 samples on it. Of those 36 samples, 14 were cancerous."Brad explained that from those results, you get a Gleeson score between 5 and 10 that indicates how quickly the cancer will grow. 5 is on the lower level, and 10 is on the aggressive side."I ended up with a five plus a four, which gives you a nine. The first one is the worst one. So, a five has been the aggressive one, and the next lot was a four, so it was nearly as aggressive."With a 9 Gleeson score, Brad's medical treatment was fast-tracked with a PSMA PET scan, a new type of scan used to detect and stage prostate cancer, a CAT scan and x-rays to get a complete overview of the cancer in the prostate and to see if it had spread to other parts of his body."The next day, I got a phone call from the Lismore Cancer Clinic. I had the option of either radiation or the robotic removal of the prostate."After a two-hour consultation with a radiologist in Lismore, Brad learned about the effects of radiation on his body."The option was to have 20 doses of radiation over a month. So, you do Monday to Friday, and it's only a quick process, about 10 to 15 minutes. You have to be sort of consistent, so your bladder has to be so full and your bowels have to be empty."Brad has also had two hip replacements, which could have affected his radiation treatment, given the location of the prostate. Deflection of the pinpoint radiation was a concern because it needed to target all parts of the prostate, rather than a specific location."Then, on top of that, it would have been six weeks of hormone therapy before the radiation starts, and then 18 months to two years of hormone therapy afterwards," Brad recalled."With the hormone therapy, it basically kills the testosterone in your body. The side effects of the ADT or the hormone therapy are that it basically kills your manhood in a way."Testosterone is primarily produced in the testicles. The prostate gland relies on testosterone for its function and development. Hormone therapy blocks the testosterone levels to slow down or stop the cancer cell growth.Brad had two choices. Radiation treatment and hormone therapy, or the complete removal of the prostate.Brad chose the removal of the prostate. This was to be done at the Nepean Hospital in Sydney as part of the public health system.This is where Brad potentially encountered another complication: he is a little person."I'm the first little person in Australia to get the operation done with a robot. They were questioning if they could do it or not. They rang doctors in the UK and America to see if they'd performed the procedure. In the end, I sort of made the decision to just go with the removal of it. And, the doctor said he wanted it all out within 30 days because of the Gleeson score of nine."Part of the pre-operation procedure is performing pelvic floor exercises to minimise the incontinence post-surgery."There is a lot of support. I had Jessica from the public health system at the Base Hospital, she's a prostate support nurse, give me a whole lot of information. She was ringing every two weeks before the surgery to check up on me because it is an emotional roller coaster. In the meantime, I saw David Hughes, he's a private prostate support nurse, who has some valuable YouTube videos that explain a lot. Everyone is different. It could be good for me or bad for me; it all depends on your age and if you're active and fit, which I'm neither.Brad has had to change his eating habits to lose weight before the surgery due to body fat and to aid his recovery. He is now drinking green tea and eating a healthy, balanced diet.It has been nine weeks since Brad's prostate removal. His latest blood test revealed a PSA of 0.008, which he said is the lowest that Sullivan Nicolaides can go in their testing."So, the way they describe it, I've got no detectable cancer," Brad smiled. "I'm not cancer-free at this stage, but I've got no detectable cancer. Every three months now, I'll do another PSA test to make sure it stays there. And if it goes above, if it does creep up, which it could creep up with some microcells still floating around the system, a PET scan will only pick up a clump of cells when they've actually attached to something. So there could be microscopic cells floating around.There are two health issues that Bradnow needs to consider: incontinence and erectile dysfunction."The incontinence is more with the removal side of it, because when they cut the prostate out, they've got to join your urethra back to the bottom of your bladder, so you lose one of your main muscles that controls your urinary stop, start and all that, your memory one, but there is another muscle below it that you manually have to try and use and train. I'm back to about 98% I'd say now. I'm getting better and better all the time."This does affect a lot of relationships where partners break up because the other side effect is the ED, erectile dysfunction. All the nerves are wrapped around the prostate, so a lot of times they can spare the nerves, but it can take up to a year or so for all the actions to come back. And they may be half as good, or for others, they can't save the nerves at all. But there are operations that they can put in a sling, and then there is medication or injections to get you through that drama."But the main thing is you're alive, you're on the top side of the grass, instead of on the other side. I took the risk with the operation, and now, hopefully, I'll get 15 years or more, or maybe longer."Brad has found that support groups have helped him during his prostate cancer journey."I'm part of support groups on Facebook. There's a very good Prostate Australia Facebook group. It's a private group, so it's not out there in the public, and guys discuss what goes on. I'm pretty open about what it is, I'd rather talk about it than hide it, but it's not a walk in the park."Brad wanted to tell his story to warn the men of Lismore and the Northern Rivers that prostate cancer affects more and more males each year, and it is not a pleasant disease."Everyone said, Oh, it's an old man's disease. But it's getting younger and younger. There's a lot of guys in their 50s, and even some in the 40s. And there's another group that I joined the other day in South Australia, that had guys who are in their 40s that have got prostate cancer. And that's the thing, because no one sort of caters for them. They're still active and fit and working, and it messes with your life, the emotional rollercoaster, as I said before, you're up and down all the time.Brad's advice is to get your blood tested once a year."It's only a tick on the box when you're getting a blood test. So, if you're going for a yearly checkup, they do a blood test, and men should say, Well, check my PSA too. In one year, I went from a PSA of four to eight, and I had no symptoms. If I didn't check it, or I didn't say, I'll wait two years to get it done, it could have metastasised. It could have been through my body then, and we would be having a different conversation right now.""But the signs are good, it's been a great outcome, and it's been a great recovery. It's just another hurdle in life. I didn't want this, but you've just got to adapt and go with it."

Since the 2022 floods, many people have struggled with mental health, financial pain and poor general wellbeing.If that is you or someone you know, the Quest for Life Foundation is hosting free, empowering, and practical one-day workshops for people in the Northern Rivers area who are living with the challenges of rural and regional life. These 'Your Life Matters' workshops will take place in Lismore, Mullumbimby and Grafton.Designed to support individuals who may be facing financial, mental or emotional depletion, this workshop offers an opportunity to learn valuable strategies and skills for building resilience and living well in difficult circumstances. Participants will discover how to strengthen their well-being with practical tools they can incorporate into daily life.“This workshop provides a much-needed opportunity for people in rural and regional communities to take time out and focus on their mental and emotional health,” said Petrea King, CEO and Founder of the Quest for Life Foundation. “We will be sharing proven techniques to help manage stress, build resilience, and promote self-care in everyday life.”The workshop will be facilitated by an expert in the wellbeing field, Quest for Life Facilitator Kate Szymanski. Quest Partnerships Manager, Candice Piper, will also be on hand to answer any questions and connect with other organisations attending on the day.  The dates of the workshops are:Tuesday, 12 August 2025, from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM at the Mullumbimby Golf Club, Mullumbimby.Wednesday, 13 August 2025, from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM at the Lismore Workers Club, Lismore.Thursday, 14 August 2025, from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM at the Grafton District Services Club, Grafton.WHAT PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARNEffective strategies for building resilience in challenging circumstances.How to prioritise self-care and incorporate it into daily routines.Simple relaxation techniques for everyday life.Ways to manage emotions and recognise signs of burnout.A light lunch and refreshments will be served during the day. There will also be the opportunity to visit the Women's Resilience Centre pop-up to browse pre-loved clothing and learn about their support services for women.To reserve a free spot at this workshop, please call Quest for Life on 1300 941 488 or register by visiting these links: Your Life Matters - MullumbimbyYour Life Matters - LismoreYour Life Matters - Grafton

UPDATE 11amPower is still out to 118 homes in South Lismore.Photo of the destroyed homes. Photo: Mark BaileyORIGINAL STORYAbout 5.30am today (Saturday, 19 July 2025), emergency services responded to reports of two houses on fire in Union Street, South Lismore. NSW Fire and Rescue extinguished the blazes. Officers from Richmond Police District have established a crime scene. Initial inquiries have indicated that the fire commenced in one home and spread to the premises next door. Both premises were abandoned homes and have been completely destroyed. There are no reports of any injuries. The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage. Due to the fire, the phone network has been impacted in parts of Lismore and there are power outages for parts of South Lismore and North Lismore. Some businesses in the affected area will be closed today, like Southside Hot Bread. As inquiries continue, police are urging anyone with information about the fires – or was in the area at the time with any available dashcam/mobile phone footage – to contact Lismore Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The fourth round of the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) buyback house auctions was announced yesterday, following a strong community response to the first two auctions across Lismore and the Northern Rivers.There will be a rolling release of homes available for auction and relocation, with 45 flood-affected properties sold already in Lismore, North Lismore, Woodburn, Kyogle and South Murwillumbah.This next release by the NSWRA will include nine buyback homes from Burringbar and South Murwillumbah, going to auction on the 12th of August 2025.(37 Wardrop Street, Murwillumbah is on the auction list)All homes earmarked for relocation have been purchased by the RA through the buyback stream of the $880 million Resilient Homes Program, jointly funded by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.As Australia’s largest climate adaptation initiative, the program was designed to help create safer communities by removing flood-prone homes from the floodplain. Buyers have been a mix of locals, investors and house relocation companies paying between $347 and $101,000 for the houses so far.There is no reserve price on these houses, meaning bidding can start and end at $1, making it one of the most accessible housing opportunities in Australia. Successful bidders will have 12 months to relocate the houses to flood-free land.The RA has said it remains firmly committed to reusing and relocating as many flood-affected homes as possible.More details on the homes available can be found at www.fnmurwillumbah.com.au/pages/real-estate/relocatable-homesMinister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said, "By auctioning these houses, we are helping save historic homes impacted by the floods and making a small but meaningful contribution to the housing challenges we face in the Northern Rivers.”"This innovative program is a creative way of keeping these houses in the community."

Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest-growing chronic health conditions in Australia. Every 8 minutes, someone is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, with increasing rates among young people.1.3 million Australians are living with type 2 diabetes, while 2 million Australians live with all types of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes costs the Australian health system an estimated $9.1 billion annually.Diabetes Australia has marked National Diabetes Week (13 – 19 July 2025) with two major initiatives designed to tackle Australia’s type 2 diabetes epidemic and improve outcomes for people living with the condition.A policy paper released yesterday calls on the Australian Government to more than double its investment in preventive health, lifting it to 5 per cent of total health expenditure by 2030. A second report also highlights the importance of preventing complications, showing more than 560,000 Australians are reducing their risk of diabetes-related blindness through the KeepSight eye check reminder program.Diabetes Australia Group CEO Justine Cain said both reports highlight the urgent need for national leadership and coordinated action to reduce the impact of diabetes on the health system and the lives of millions of Australians.“Prevention is the most cost-effective and sustainable strategy to address the type 2 diabetes epidemic,” Ms Cain said.“Preventing type 2 diabetes is not only possible, it is essential. Around 58 per cent of cases can be prevented or delayed. Early detection of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can also help to prevent serious complications.”Report: A Healthier Future: Reducing the Impact of Diabetes Through PreventionThe diabetes prevalence rate in Australia is increasing rapidly. Since 2000, the number of Australians diagnosed with all types of diabetes has risen by 220 percent from 460,000 to almost 1.5 million. If current trends continue, that number could reach 3.6 million by 2050.Diabetes Australia’s new policy paper, A Healthier Future: Reducing the Impact of Diabetes Through Prevention, outlines four national priority goals:Prioritise reducing disparities and overcoming barriersPrevention and early detection of type 2 diabetesStrengthen support for diabetes self-management  Prevent complications and optimise diabetes management“Many of the most serious complications, such as amputations, kidney failure and vision loss, can be prevented with timely, coordinated care and support,” Ms Cain said.“Lifting investment in preventive health to 5 percent of national healthcare spending will save lives, reduce complications from chronic conditions like diabetes and help keep our health system financially sustainable.”Report: Unveiling the Value of KeepSight: Enhancing Diabetes-Related Vision Care and Preventing Vision LossAs part of its commitment to preventing complications, Diabetes Australia delivers KeepSight, a national reminder program encouraging people with diabetes to have regular eye checks.Since its launch in 2019, KeepSight has helped more than half a million Australians reduce their risk of diabetes-related blindness by over 90 percent. Over 8,000 people join the program each month, and more than 60 percent of those who receive reminders return for ongoing checks within the recommended timeframes.A new report, Unveiling the Value of KeepSight: Enhancing Diabetes-Related Vision Care and Preventing Vision Loss, highlights the success of the program and the importance of regular screening in detecting diabetes-related retinopathy and vision issues before symptoms appear.“Diabetes is relentless. People manage multiple health concerns every day, and eye checks can slip down the priority list,” Ms Cain said.“KeepSight provides a simple, effective nudge that helps people take action. It’s a great example of how digital health interventions can improve outcomes and change behaviour.”Most participants are referred to KeepSight by their optometrist, with more than 80 per cent of the major and independent optometry providers integrated in the program. It is publicly/privately funded by the Australian Government and founding partner Specsavers, with support from the eye sector, including Vision 2020 Australia, RANZCO, and Optometry Australia.Vision 2020 Australia CEO Carly Iles said the program breaks down common barriers to care.“Cost, access, or even fear of a diagnosis can prevent people from getting checked. KeepSight helps reduce those barriers by offering reminders and reassurance from a trusted source,” Ms Iles said.The report positions KeepSight as a national benchmark for coordinated diabetes eye care, bringing together government, optometry, ophthalmology and health bodies to ensure consistency and quality across the sector.Ms Cain said both the policy paper and KeepSight report demonstrate the importance of preventing diabetes complications. “This is a turning point. We must act now to prevent more people from developing type 2 diabetes and ensure better care and outcomes for those already living with the condition.”

Working in one business for 46 years is a feat that not many people can claim. Few marriages last that long.Lismore's Glyn Harding, however, can make that claim. His career with Australia Post started in 1979, and physically ended yesterday at the Lismore Post Office on Conway Street at 5pm when Glyn walked out of the door for the last time.As you would expect after 46 years, there is some long-service leave to use, so Glyn's official last day will be in 2026. But come Monday morning, Glyn won't have to get out of bed and start the familiar routine that gets him to work by 9am."I'm just going to take my long service and fade away," Glyn told the Lismore App. "I'm looking forward to it."Glyn started working for Australia Post in 1978, but took time off to travel overseas; therefore, his official starting year is 1979.Being a Lismore-born and bred boy, he had hoped to complete his training in Sydney and come back home. However, in those days, getting a transfer back to the country was difficult; people held onto their jobs in Australia Post for a long time.Once Glyn completed his 6-month training course in Strathfield, he lived in Sydney for 13 years. Firstly, in Coogee, before he purchased a place in Stanmore for the last four years."And then, when I had kids, I decided to move back and bring the kids up in the country. A better environment for them.""I commenced at the Lismore Post Office, in this building, as the manager in 1996, and I've been here ever since."As you can imagine, a great deal has changed over the last 46 years, with technology being the driving force."We used to use telex machines when I started, so we had to learn to type at the rate of 50 words a minute to pass. We went from telex machines (telegrams) to fax machines, to now emails. So, technology has really driven the changes."Letters have declined, unfortunately. The day of people posting letters is almost gone. It's mainly emails these days."Parcels have increased, as online spending has increased. E-commerce has taken over. Australia Post is now a parcel business, not a retail business."The noticeable difference due to technology is the decline in people physically coming into the post office."Older people still like to visit the Post Office as they like to have that face-to-face contact. They still like to pay their bills through us. But having said that, there are some who have embraced the technology and do everything online, through their smartphones. Some of them embrace it, while others struggle with it."Glyn explained that some people still go into the post office to pay their rates or water bills from council, and people still do their banking through Australia Post."Bank@ Post is still very popular. We've got quite a few banks that use our organisation for their banking. We have three of the major banks using us as their agent, but only for deposits and withdrawals."Technology has not just changed the way Australia Post operates, as people choose different methods to celebrate Christmas and other special moments, but internally, computers have made a big difference to how staff operate."Back when I started, everything had to be written down, so we used to use carbon paper, as everything had to be in triplicate. We had to write down all the telephone accounts and then send them off to Telecom (Telstra). Then, in about '91, we introduced technology into Post Offices by installing computers on the counter. This enabled us to enter everything into the computers, through scanning the barcodes. "Technology has also changed the way we do our training. The training I went through in 1979 ceased to operate in the late 1980s. The training school closed down, and now it's a three-month on-the-job training, which includes online tutorials."Like Australia Post, Glyn's life will change from Monday. More golf is on the agenda, and when his partner retires next year, overseas travel will be added to the list, and as they get older, they will travel around Australia.The Australia Post shop on Conway Street won't be quite the same, but after 46 years, Glyn deserves some time for himself.

We said goodbye to our fantastic run of winter days today. 7.6mm fell in the early hours of the morning.As far as the weekend is concerned, Saturday is the pick of the weekend weather, with a partly cloudy day and 19 degrees the forecast.Sunday's weather has a 60% chance of rain, a potential of 4mm and 15 to 20km/h southwesterly winds.The BoM says that small amounts of rain will hang around for the rest of the week.Art, films, markets, and live music sum up What's On this weekend.THE ARTSThe arts have the Through the Heart photographic exhibition running at the Lismore Regional Gallery until August 10.Over 100 of Jacklyn Wagner's photographs capture the emotion and heartache of the 2022 floods. The gallery is open 10am to 4pm both days.The 2024 Archibald Prize is also on exhibition at the Lismore Regional Gallery.This is only the second time the Archibald has made its way to Lismore. You have until August 31 to view the works of the 57 finalists.Lismore's 11-based artists at Converge, located at 123 Woodlark Street, have their Bright Light Habits exhibition on display until next Saturday, July 26.The works cover film, ceramics, sculpture, paintings, costume design and participatory projects. You can view them between 10am and 3pm tomorrow (Saturday).To celebrate Bastille Day (July 14), the local Alliance Française Côte du Nord is showing four French movies over the weekend at the Star Court Theatre:Lucky Winner: Saturday, 11:30amMy Everything: Saturday, at 2:30pmThe Good Teacher: Saturday, July 5:30pmHoly Cow: Sunday, 2:30pm and 5:30pm.MARKETSThere are three markets this weekend.The weekly Lismore Farmers Markets get underway at the Lismore Showgrounds from 7:30am to 11:30am.There will be a new stallholder this week as Essential Self Healing makes its debut with massages and Reiki. The CWA Evening Branch are back with their famous scones and dog coats. Plus, there is the usual fresh fruit and vegetables, and live music from Cheese 'n' Crackers.It is the third Sunday of July, so the new Bowlo Markets return at the Lismore City Bowling Club between 9am and 1pm. There will be over 30 stalls for you to browse bric-a-brac, books, fruit trees, honey, ceramics and more.The Lismore Free Markets are on Sunday also, at the Lismore Community Garden at 50 Brewster Street, just down from the Lismore Square between 9am and 11am.Everything is free. There is no bartering, trading or selling of goods.Don't forget to put LOLA, Laneway's of Lismore Arts Festival, on your calendar for Saturday, August 23.LIVE MUSICGhostown are playing at the Northern Rivers Hotel in North Lismore tonight until 10pm.Tahlia Matheson will be playing in the Main Lounge of the Lismore Workers Club tomorrow (Saturday) between 5pm and 8pm.The Workers Club has just announced the Everly Brothers will be performing their big hits, such as Cathy's Clown, Bird Dog, Wake Up Little Suzie and more on Wednesday, August 20. Tickets are only $29.90 with the show starting at 12pm.Ballina is the town to travel to fill up with any type of fuel over the weekend, after it reduced prices by 10 cents a litre across all fuel types during the week. That makes the difference between Lismore and Casino 15 to 20 cents a litre, in all cases, except diesel. A saving of $9 to $12 for a 60-litre fuel tank.Here is the list of the cheapest service stations, saving you the most money in each town:E10 is 174.9 at the 7-Eleven in South Lismore, the Oles Express on Dawson Street and the Ampol Foodary on Woodlark Street in Lismore, 175.9 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 155.5 at the Mobil and The Metro on River Street, Ballina.Unleaded 91 is 174.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, 177.9 at The United and the Casino Roadhouse on Johnston Street in Casino, and 157.5 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 168.5 at The Metro on River Street, Ballina.U98 is 192.9 at the Liberty on Ballina Road in Lismore, and the Liberty on Union Street, South Lismore, 199.9 at the two Independents on Hare and Centre Street in Casino, and 177.5 at The Metro on River Street in Ballina.Diesel is 181.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road in Lismore, 181.9 across Casino, and 179.5 at the Mobil and The Metro in Ballina.Have a great weekend!Now, have a laugh with the Friday Funnies.....

During Lismore's flood recovery over the last three and a half years, the focus has been on the NSW Reconstruction Authority's Resilient Homes Program and the Resilient Lands Program, and on residential developments that will increase Lismore's housing stock and eventually, its population.Another integral part of our local flood recovery is the economic growth that is required to provide jobs for the increased population. South Lismore doesn't receive a lot of media coverage, but in Lismore, it was the engine room for business recovery as the CBD remained without power for six weeks before retail shops could get in, clean out, refurbish and restock.South Lismore presents an opportunity for existing commercial businesses to continue to look for opportunities to change and grow, while there are opportunities for new businesses to open. The latest indication is the construction of a $1.8 million Wilson Street Business Park.174 Wilson Street is one of a number of vacant blocks of land near Three Chain Road, but if Lismore City Council approves the development application (DA), it will transform into a complex of 8 industrial units with 16 car parks.Each unit has approximately 144 square metres with a ground floor height of 12m, a 50 square metre mezzanine level at 15.3m to use when the next big flood hits. The PMF (probable maximum flood) is 16.42m.Just a little further south on Wilson Street, another DA will see a vehicle repair business open, Regal Mechanic.

Cost Shifting. Two words that anger and frustrate local councils in NSW.Cost shifting occurs when services that were once funded by state and federal governments are now paid for by local councils. A new report, “Cost Shifting 2025: How State Costs Eat Council Rates”, prepared by independent consultants Morrison Low, shows a 10% increase in cost shifting in three years, which results in a $500 cost per ratepayer per year in NSW. For regional town/cities, the total is $429.60.It further detailed how Councils across NSW are now absorbing a staggering $1.5 billion in cost shifting from State and Federal governments each year – a cumulative $11.3 billion over the past decade.The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA), of which Lismore City Council is one of 92 rural and regional members, has reiterated their frustrations and the fact that the impacts are more deeply felt in rural, regional and remote communities.“On behalf of our CMA Board, I extend our congratulations to our sister organisation LGNSW. It is important that our Governments and communities understand the big picture impacts of adding to our expenses, in a time of inadequate funding for rural, remote and regional communities,” CMA Chairman and Temora Shire Mayor Rick Firman OAM said.“The figures are not surprising, but they are disturbing and hopefully enlightening, as unprecedented operational cost increases in recent years and constrained income growth make financial sustainability a mission impossible for some.”“It is clear that the impacts of cost shifting are bigger barriers to financial sustainability for non-metropolitan Councils. Some of our rural and remote members have a small rate base that is essentially stagnant or even declining. Over 70 per cent of some country Councils’ revenue is grants, but that varies annually, and the Federal Government’s (untied) Financial Assistance Grants are half of what they once were. We will continue to lobby the Federal Government to return them to one per cent of national taxation revenue, as we work to raise awareness of the ever-growing demands on rural, regional and remote councils in NSW.”Mayor Firman said that while CMA members feel the brunt of cost shifting and funding reduction impacts, he is optimistic that the NSW Government will make some positive decisions in the near future.“The NSW Government’s Public Accounts Committee handed down some appropriate recommendations after its’ “Inquiry into the assets, premises and funding of the NSW Rural Fire Service”. As one of the most inexplicable examples of cost shifting, our Member Councils in NSW are forced by the State Government to wear the financial impacts of having Rural Fire Service Assets on their books, despite not actually owning them."The ‘Red Fleet’ is something that the CMA has lobbied intensively on, and we acknowledge the NSW Treasurer, the Hon. Daniel Mookhey MLC, NSW Emergency Services Minister the Hon Jihad Dib MP and NSW Local Government Minister the Hon. Ron Hoenig MP have been working hard on resolving the issue.Mayor Firman recalled that Country Mayors were underwhelmed with the recent (seemingly Western Sydney-focused) State budget. “It saw further funding cuts to local galleries and other valued community services, meaning many of our Member Councils will carry more financial responsibility, regardless of their capacity to absorb the costs that the State Government saves.”“The Transport for NSW reclassification program is also to be commended. With that, we could see a good number of road maintenance burdens dumped onto Councils go back into State Government management,” he said.Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg told the Lismore App that he doesn't share Mayor Firman's optimism."Organisations, like the CMA and the Regional Cities Forum, which Lismore councils are part of, both of those are strong and loud advocacy voices, but unless there's willingness from state and federal governments to to actually assume their responsibilities of looking after these things, like emergency services and the like, things aren't going to change in a hurry. "It looks better for their books and balancing their budgets. And that's the problem that local government deals with. We're probably the lowest in the food chain, sadly, and that's why we need to unite with these organisations to present a much louder voice.""Take emergency services as an example. It is cost-shifting because councils have to take on what they call the red fleet. All of those rural fire services, trucks and assets are on Council's books, even though they're supposed to be funded by the state government. We have to take those on and depreciate them through our accounting system. And the fact is that the state government double dips on these things. It's also on everyone's insurance policies, but it's also on everyone's rate notices as well. "So, it's an ongoing problem that country mayors and regional cities, both groups, have been strongly advocating to take the pressure off councils a little bit. The state needs to allocate the funds where they're supposed to go. And like I said before, it's very much creative accounting in a lot of respects of both state and federal governments, but it puts immense pressure on local governments' financial sustainability."

Lismore has hosted two Legends of Cricket games at Oakes Oval. In 2019, it hosted an AFL Community Series game between the Sydney Swans and the Gold Coast, and in 2022, we had the NSW Blues at Oakes for a training run in front of an enthusiastic crowd.Soccer, or football, as the purists will call it, is the next high-profile sport about to grace Crozier Field or Oakes Oval on Saturday, August 9, when the Newcastle Jets play an A-League pre-season game against the Brisbane Roar. The last time Lismore hosted a pre-season A-League match was in 2013.On their way to Lismore, the Jets will also visit Taree and Port Macquarie, where they will host Jets: PLAY clinics, school visits, local football club engagement, an open training session and the exhibition match.Lismore City Council Mayor Steve Krieg said he was delighted to welcome the Newcastle Jets to Lismore."This is what the recovery and the rebuild of Lismore is all about. Attracting world-class teams, world-class players and coaches to the region to explore everything that we've got to offer. The Northern Rivers is more than just the coast. We've got great waterfalls and national parks here, as well as some of the greatest sporting facilities in regional Australia. So, it's great to see our sporting facilities utilised by, as I say, world-class athletes coached by world-class humans.""What they're actually doing is establishing Lismore as a sporting destination for these bigger clubs, and that's the beginning of the legacy that this event will provide for us. So, it's still about the awareness of where we're at, but we're also coming back stronger and bigger than ever. So it's a really positive and strong message that the Newcastle Jets are providing for us."When Mayor Krieg introduced former Socceroo and newly appointed head coach of the Newcastle Jets, Mark Milligan, he enthused over his achievements."For those who are too young to remember 2006, when Australia qualified for the World Cup. Mark was part of that squad. So, he's heavily ingrained in the history and folklore of Australian sport, and in soccer and culture as well. It's great that you're bringing Newcastle up to Lismore for your training camp, to get out of the cities and to see the regional centre. We are really grateful for your support. "We have to acknowledge the support of their sponsors, the Greater Bank. None of this happens without sponsorship and without corporate backing. Mark Milligan said he wants to instil a sense of community into the players at the Jets."We can't expect support from the community if we're not willing to go out and give back where we can as well. And obviously, as you mentioned, with the support of Greater Bank, we've been able to organise this, albeit at late notice, and to be able to cap it off with a game for the locals to come out and watch. It's a fantastic opportunity for our players, and it's a fantastic opportunity for the community, so we're extremely grateful for what you're doing for us and what you're providing."Mark explained that the clinic run in Lismore is an opportunity for 200 kids to be among the players and coaching staff."It's very important that the younger generation have an understanding of who we are and what we represent. We have great numbers that play the game, and parents and kids give up a lot of their time to be involved in that. And as I said, us reaching out and being able to provide not only support from afar, but be a part of it. And you know, we'll have myself and my staff and players involved in these events as well. It's not just about a weekend away for us, it's about really giving back. And the expectation that we have of ourselves as a club is to give what we expect to get back as well.""It's open to all kids and of all abilities, of all ages, boys and girls. And I think that's the most important thing," Mark said.Registration details for the Lismore clinic will be announced soon.As for the facilities at Crozier Field and Oakes Oval?"We've had a good look around. It's a fantastic facility. I believe it's quite new as well. We had a good look downstairs at all the change rooms. We were trying to find a really small change room for Brisbane," Mark laughed, "But, it's a fantastic setup here."From a football perspective, it will be one of the first times that the region will see the new-look Newcastle side. Newly appointed head coach Mark Milligan has added to the squad by signing some stars, including Japanese international Kota Mizunuma and Scottish Premiership defender Joe Shaughnessy.Mark said he is stubborn about how he wants the Jets to play, so that will be on display during the pre-season clash with the Brisbane Roar.2025 Jets TOUR Details: PLAY Clinic:Date: Saturday, 9 AugustVenue: Oakes Oval, LismoreTime: 4:30pm Exhibition Match:Date: Saturday, 9 AugustVenue: Crozier Field, LismoreKick Off: 3pmTickets: On sale from Tuesday through Oztix. They are expected to be $20, with children under 12 free.Crozier Field holds a crowd of approximately 3,000. If that is exceeded, the match will be transferred to Oakes Oval, which has a capacity of 10,000.