The arrival into Ballina airport last Sunday of a 2480 postcode resident who tested positive for coronavirus has struck fear and uncertainty into the hearts of some local residents – particularly after months of no new Covid-19 cases in the local area. Yesterday, The Lismore App reported that a 20 year old woman arrived on a Jetstar flight from Melbourne and became the 56th case of Covid-19 in the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD).Overnight, social media comments on the story showed community fears that her arrival could be the beginning of the spread of the virus across the local area. Read more news: Lismore resident identified as Covid-19 Jetstar flight passenger So, The Lismore App contacted NNSWLHD chief executive Wayne Jones, who explained the steps taken to mitigate any community transmission - and to allay people’s concerns. Mandatory quarantine“Everyone who was on that Jetstar flight is now under mandatory quarantine for 14 days,” Mr Jones said.Read more news: Ballina flight arrives with one Covid-19 case on-board“They were advised to get tested if they showed any signs of symptoms. We also do welfare checks on them by phone every couple of days - and the police check in on them too. “We drop in to ensure that everyone is abiding by what they should do and we are confident every measure was taken, but we also appreciate the community concerns about the risks.”Flights suspended and restricted travelMr Jones said all direct flights to Ballina from Melbourne are now suspended, and the woman’s Jetstar flight was one of the last ones allowed in.“We can’t restrict travel 100%,” Mr Jones said.“All requests for travel are looked at by the public health department and most are rejected because they offer too much risk and no gain except personal benefit.“If a local resident wishes to return home, she is entitled to.“The risks are mitigated from the start and there is a permit process. If the person meets the criteria, they are entitled to come back as long as they follow physical distancing and other rules in the process.”Passengers sent homeMr Jones said that on the Sunday flight, a number of people were sent back to Melbourne who didn’t have the right permits, or had stories “that didn’t justify them leaving Melbourne under the Public Health Order”.“When they arrive, they are interviewed and assessed, have their temperature taken and their residential addresses looked at," he said.“In order to enter into Ballina, passengers needed to be asymptomatic.“This woman’s flight only had 30 people on board and they were physically distanced. A lot of research shows the risks in planes is low.“I have to praise the woman’s maturity. She is only 20 and kept physical distancing, even at home and she also wore a mask, which makes the transmission risk exceptionally low. She and her parents are now in quarantine together.”Contact tracing and airport cleaningMr Jones said NSW Health were conducting contact tracing of the woman’s contacts, but the said the chance of anyone contracting the virus at the airport was “extremely low”.“In the airport, there are continuous cleaning services,” he said. “Each time someone comes through, someone cleans it.”“Raspy throat”Mr Jones said the woman was not showing any symptoms of Covid-19 when she arrived at the airport, but once she got home, she presented with mild symptoms.“The woman described it as a raspy throat,” Mr Jones said. “While it’s a mild symptom, she took advice and was responsible and had testing done. “We did a rapid test on her with a quick turnaround. When she came in for testing, staff already had notice and were wearing protective gear so there was no risk to them.“This could have been so much worse if she was not compliant.”Compliance “We actually started doing assessments of arrivals into Ballina last week and implemented a system encouraging all Victorians to get tested and we’ve seen a significant number step forward for testing. “I can’t say there’s no risk from earlier flights, but we have seen significant compliance.Humanitarianism“We’ve seen cases where people’s parents are dying of cancer on the North Coast and the children want to be with them,” Mr Jones said. “We gave an exemption to those asymptomatic people who had no contact with any known cases of Covid and who self isolated, had dedicated transport to the hospital and also wore masks and gloves so they could be with their parents. We limited the risk.“We also want to be humanitarian and support people."How do you know if you are recovered?Of the 56 cases of Covid-19 reported in our local area since the pandemic began, three are still listed as not recovered. One of them is the woman who arrived on Sunday, but what about the other two?Mr Jones said the answer to whether or not a person is recovered is “complex”.“The person needs to have no symptoms and also feel well,” he said.“Because of the nature of the virus, you don’t have flu-like symptoms. The original criteria were having a sore throat or loss of taste.“But now, we also ask ‘how do you feel?’ Some cases are still presenting symptoms like fatigue. “The two cases listed as not recovered are still presenting with those symptoms.“We say to people to stay at home if you feel you are not recovered.”Don’t let fear dominateMr Jones said it was important that the community doesn’t allow fear to dominate the situation.“Some people’s social media comments are inappropriate and represent the fear factor and we hope it doesn’t continue,” he said. “The woman who returned is a textbook case of doing everything you should do and she should be praised.”More informationFor information about numbers of people with Covid-19 by Local Health District and Local Government Areas, visit the website https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/stats-local.aspxAnyone displaying any flu-like symptoms is encouraged to attend one of the local Fever Clinics to be tested for coronavirus.Coronavirus

It feels like we have missed an entire season of sport since COVID struck us in March.The playing fields have been eerily quiet during this period but that changes this weekend when rugby league, rugby union, baseball, hockey and netball make returns for a shortened season. There will be a buzz around town again on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon which is how life should be in any regional city.In union, Lismore take on Ballina at Rugby Park tomorrow in a full day with colts, women and reserve and first grade all booting up.League sees the Marist Brothers Rams travel the short distance to Casino on Sunday for their first fixture while Northern United have a home game against Mullumbimby at Crozier field.The Lismore App will be cranking up our sports reports now that competition and participation is back in full swing. Please note that there will be crowd restrictions for each code that will be unique to each venue. You are encouraged to make enquiries with your club.If sport is not your go then the markets may interest you. The Lismore Farmers Markets get under way at 8am tomorrow at the showgrounds with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables on offer as well as hot coffee and a hot breakfast if you brave the early morning cold. A reminder that it is strawberry season so there will be plenty to buy!The Blue Knob Community Markets open the gates at 8:30 to 11 tomorrow morning.The weather for any weekend activity is brilliant with sunny skies and maximums of 20 on Saturday and 22 on Sunday. Yes, the earlier part of the day will be cool with 6 and 7 degrees the minimums.It could be a great weekend to go bushwalking or for a picnic. Rocky Creek Dam is open again but note that the water bubblers are turned off but you can refill from the tap. National parks NSW has also confirmed that more bushwalks are now open following the devastating bushfires last year. These include Mount Matheson loop, Big Scrub loop, Protestors Falls and Minyon Falls. The only walk still closed is the Pholis Gap walking track. Check out your different options here Walks.It is the last weekend of the school holidays so check out the family fun which includes Rollerworld Roller Skating here Family Fun.Petrol prices have remained steady throughout the school holidays with the cheapest unleaded E10 at its usual location on Ballina Road at the United station for 112.9. If diesel is your need then Ballina Road is still your best option with 117.9 being offered at the United and just down the road at the locally owned Liberty petrol station.On the Lismore App this weekend, Neil Marks looks at Tuesday nights council meeting while the Sunday Profile highlights the life of Meg Nielson from the Lismore Art Club which is celebrating their 60th anniversary in 2020. There are also games and puzzles to keep you entertained if you have some spare time.Here a few Friday jokes to put you in the right mood for the weekend. Enjoy.

Cafes, restaurants and clubs are now subject to the same new restrictions as announced by the NSW Government earlier this week for pubs and hotels. New restrictions for weddings, funerals and corporate events have also been announced today.Read more news: NSW premier announces tighter restrictions for pubsRead more news: New pub rules bring harsh penalties and covert inspectionsNSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the extra restrictions are to minimise the risks of activities the Government knows are super-spreaders of coronavirus.“We have to stop the mingling,” Ms Berejiklian said. “In cafes and restaurants, even though people are seated, mingling still happens.“We are now imposing the restrictions on clubs, restaurants, cafes and all indoor hospitality activities.“There can be no group bookings above ten people.“Cafés, restaurants, clubs, pubs and weddings – everybody indoors is still subject to the four metre squared rule and strictly 1.5 metre social distancing.“Weddings and corporate events can have a maximum number of 150 people who are seated and there is no singing, dancing or mingling - so there is less chance of spreading the virus.“Funerals and places of worship are limited to 100. “This is important because at these emotional events, people know each other and the chance of mingling and spreading the virus is increased."Ms Berejiklian said the restrictions will be in place from next Friday, July 24, but she hoped people would begin to implement the restrictive measures immediatelyShe also said that the rules about who you can invite into your home will remain the same.“We currently say 20 people are allowed into your home – that’s not changing. But we ask people to be thoughtful about who you welcome in and protect those who are vulnerable.“Training together outdoors can still happen because we know there is less threat of spreading the virus outdoors.“We are doing this based on what happened in Victoria and we ask people with symptoms to stay home.“If you are tested, even though you might show a negative result on day three, you might be positive on day six.“Our message to everybody is that we are doing ok. but we are on high alert.“We are worried about seeding from Victoria – and have a couple of cases with unknown sources and these could be new clusters.“We want to keep NSW open and our livelihoods and reduce risk of transmission.”Currently there are 3346 Covid-19 cases in NSW, with 101 being treated by NSW Health and 1 in intensive care.

The secrets of how to break into the screen and media industry will be revealed in an online zoom event with some of Australia’s leading film, television and music professionals.If you have ever dreamt of working in film and TV but are unsure how to score your break into the big time, Screenworks and Southern Cross University (SCU) invite you to join with the panel on July 24 for ‘Breaking into the Screen and Media Industries’.Multi-award-winning filmmaker Jocelyn Moorhouse of The Dressmaker fame will be joined by screenwriter, director and producer Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean and Collateral), multi-award-winning screen composer Caitlin Yeo (Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan) and Emmy award-winning creator and Ludo Studio co-founder Daley Pearson (Bluey).Facilitating the panel is Northern Rivers based producer and Screenworks founding member Lois Randall (Grace Beside Me).Screenworks chief executive Ken Crouch said the highly-accomplished industry guest speakers will talk about their careers and working in the screen and media industries.“Through this Screenworks and SCU partnership, we look forward to helping create a bridge for students between studying Screen and Media at university and pursuing a professional career in the industry,” Mr Crouch said.SCU academic and media artist Grayson Cooke said the acclaimed line-up was an inspiration to students and early-career practitioners.“Not only will they share stories and advice on possibilities in the screen, media and music industries, they’ll also explain the impact COVID restrictions have had on the industry and where new opportunities are emerging, as well as taking questions from the audience,” he said.“This event was originally planned to be held at Southern Cross University Lismore campus, however, this online format now enables larger scope for early-career filmmakers and musicians around the country to come together and learn from the best.“It’s a must-attend opportunity for anyone who is interested in composing, writing, film and television production and animation.”The Screenworks and Southern Cross University panel event will be held on Friday, July 24 from 11am to 1pm. To register visit http://wwww.scu.edu.au/screenworks   Photo: Multi-award-winning screen composer Caitlin Yeo.

A 20 year old woman from the Lismore Local Government Area has been identified as the person who tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving on a Jetstar flight at Ballina airport last Sunday, July 12.Read the earlier story: Ballina flight arrives with one Covid-19 case on-boardNorthern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) chief executive Wayne Jones said this afternoon that the woman “did all the right things” and was wearing a mask on the flight from Melbourne.Coronavirus“This person was a resident from the 2480 postcode who was returning home,” Mr Jones said.“She was picked up by family members and because she was wearing a mask and didn’t interact with anyone, she is considered low risk.“It was a best case scenario and I am impressed by how mature she was.”Mr Jones said there were approximately 30 people on the flight and staff had spread everyone out so they were not sitting too close together.“All passengers were screened at Ballina airport on arrival as soon as the flight landed, as well as having their border passes checked,” he said.“Everyone who was on that flight will be contacted and if have they have any symptoms, they will be encouraged to get tested.“The woman is now at home with two family members who are also in isolation now.”

One new case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) in the last 24 hours.NNSWLHD chief executive Wayne Jones said the new case is a person who arrived at Ballina airport from Melbourne on Sunday, July 12, on Jetstar flight JQ466. Read the update: Lismore resident identified as Covid-19 Jetstar flight passenger Read more news: Local Italo Club's future hangs on tonight's meetingMr Jones said the person was screened on arrival at Ballina airport. “Since arriving in Northern NSW, this person has been in mandatory 14-day self- isolation. Any potential close contacts are being followed up,” he said.Now, the total number of cases discovered in the local area since the pandemic began is 56.Mr Jones said of the 56 cases, 53 have recovered and there are no cases being treated in hospital. By likely source of infection, 52 of the cases were acquired overseas or interstate acquired, 3 were locally acquired, with one of those cases not having a source identified and 1 case is under investigation.Mr Jones said NNSWLHD is encouraging anyone with symptoms, however mild, to self-isolate and get tested. “Anyone with symptoms is also advised to refrain from visiting aged care facilities and hospitals,” he said.Everyone is also reminded to maintain physical distancing and hand hygiene. Anyone who is unable to practise physical distancing should wear a mask. More than 4,900 people have been tested during the last fortnight in NNSWLHD. Testing is free and available to everyone in the region, including visitors. The site locations are/can be found at: https://nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/about/covid-19-clinic- information/ Read more news: UPDATE: Skeletal remains found after police search for missing woman

Police have found skeletal remains in bushland near Byron Bay after yesterday's search for missing Northern Rivers woman, Thea Liddle.Officers from Tweed/Byron Police District – with the assistance of Northern Region Operational Support Group officers, the Public Order and Riot Squad, the Police Dog Unit and Police Rescue – were conducting an ongoing operation in relation to Thea's disappearance last year.Officers located the skeletal remains in bushland off Tallow Beach Road, Byron Bay, about 1.20pm yesterday (Wednesday 15 July 2020).A crime scene has been established and an investigation has been launched, with the assistance of the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Missing Persons Registry.Polcie reported it is too early to determine if the remains are male or female, but they will undergo forensic examination which could take weeks to complete."It is also too early to say whether the remains are linked to the ongoing search for the missing Northern NSW woman," Police reported.ORIGINAL STORY: (July 15) Police search bushland for missing woman and call for public helpPolice are searching bushland around the Byron Bay area for a missing woman described as “transient” by police Thea Liddle, 42, was known to frequent Nimbin and Byron Bay. She disappeared late last year and was last seen in the Mooball area on Thursday, October 31, 2019. Thea was known to have been residing in bushland in the months leading up to her disappearance.She was reported as missing in January 2020 and earlier this year, detectives established Strike Force Holby to investigate the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.Police are now re-appealing for public assistance as they continue to investigate her disappearance.At the time of her disappearance, Thea was staying at a Mooball property with a then 46-year-old man. Strike force detectives have previously searched the rural property as part of their extensive inquiries.Tweed/Byron Police District Commander, Superintendent Dave Roptell, said Thea didn’t have a permanent place of residence, so detectives are searching regular locations where many people are known to set up makeshift campsites in the Byron area.“Thea lived a very transient lifestyle – shifting from place to place, changing campsites often and would opt for places in remote bushland away from the public,” Supt Roptell said.“We are conducting thorough searches throughout these locations for any indication of Thea’s presence there.“It wasn’t uncommon for Thea to travel throughout the Far North Coast, however, is it unusual for her to go this length of time without speaking to family members.“As we have said before, we are extremely keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or spoken to Thea in late October or early November 2019, in and around the Far North Coast of NSW. Any piece of information may assist investigators,” Supt Roptell said.Anyone with information about Thea’s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.auInformation is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

The future of the Lismore’s Australian-Italo Club hangs on the outcome of a board meeting at Club Marconi in Sydney tonight.Read more news: You can now take a virtual tour of the proposed new Dunoon damThe local Italo club has been in financial difficulty and looked set to close earlier this year – until Club Marconi chief executive, Tony Zappia expressed interest in amalgamating with the Lismore-based club a few weeks ago.Read more: Lismore's Italo Club could be saved from closureItalo club president Americo Melchoir said the Club Marconi board had been up to visit “and they are all happy”.“We’ve sent down all the paperwork,” Americo said. “Now our future depends on the board agreeing to take us on.“If they agree to the amalgamation tonight, we are ¾ of the way there to saving the club.”Americo said the next step if the board approved would be for Club Marconi’s members to also agree at another club meeting.“They will let me know and then I will call a meeting in three weeks so our board and members can formally accept the amalgamation, then there’s a three week legal process to go through,” he said. “So, it will be about six weeks away until we get the green light.Americo said he had been speaking to Mr Zappia and that Mr Zappia had told him that the Sydney club’s 45,000 members had a good turn out to meetings and passing the amalgamation “shouldn’t be a problem”.Americo said he was confident the merger would go ahead and looked forward to Club Marconi spending potentially a million dollars to redevelopment the Italo Club.“Club Marconi could build a coffee shop, and a hairdresser here and turn the Italo Club into a centre,” he saidItalo Club to reopen soon“We actually wanted to open the Italo Club a couple of weeks ago, but them we got scared because of the virus again and decided to wait,” Americo said.“We will try and open in a couple of weeks, but it costs money to open and if the pubs have to close again, we will lose money.“If we buy $4000 worth of beer we would lose it because beer only has a shelf life of about a month.”Read more news: UPDATE: Skeletal remains found after police search for missing woman

Taking a self-guided virtual tour via drone over the proposed new Dunoon dam is now option.Rous County Council has just launched an interactive map described as a ‘cutting edge tool’ which will allow the community to have a look at what the future could hold for the drinking water supply catchment.The new tool presents the story behind Council’s proposed future water project using real satellite maps and detailed graphics.Rous County Council chair Keith Williams said the interactive ‘map journal’ will help the community better understand its proposed $245 million Future Water Project 2060. “It’s a first of its kind and the community can easily navigate to explore project areas and other crucial information more closely,” he said.Using advanced technology developed by the Queensland University of Technology, the new online tool allows residents to fly a virtual drone over the region’s future bulk water supply system. “People can look at the location of the proposed Dunoon Dam through to sites that formed part of our groundwater, recycled water and desalination investigations,” Mr Williams said.“With the click of a button, residents can take a 360-degree, step-by-step tour of all the new water source options we’ve looked at.“It is important we embrace new technology like this to make it easier for as many community members as possible to get involved in shaping the future of the drinking water supply network they depend on each day.”The proposed Future Water Project 2060 is currently on public exhibition until Wednesday, August 12.The proposal’s preferred option involves two key actions: 1. Upgrading the existing Marom Creek Water Treatment Plant near Wollongbar and utilising the Alstonville underground aquifer’s existing groundwater infrastructure to meet short-to-medium term water demand; and 2. Ultimately, constructing the new Dunoon Dam with a storage capacity of 50 gigalitres to meet long-term water demand through to 2060 and beyond. Rous County Council general manager Phillip Rudd said numerous other resources were also available on the Future Water Project 2060 webpage.There, the community can learn more about what the bulk water supply could look like over the next 40 years – including how to provide feedback via one of the available submission methods.Rous County Council’s virtual drinking water supply catchment tool can be accessed directly here. Before deciding whether to officially adopt the Future Water Project 2060, Rous County Councillors will consider a report on the public exhibition period’s outcomes at their meeting scheduled for October 2020. 

You don’t have to run - you can walk, ride a bike, or simply sponsor someone else who wants to take part.Nothing is as usual this year when the annual NAB Darrel Chapman Fun Run and Our Kids fundraiser goes virtual from August 24-30.Our Kids fundraising coordinator Rebekka Battista said after much discussion, rather than postponing this year’s event due to COVID-19 restrictions, the local charity is taking the Fun Run online. “It’s a nice way everyone in the community can still go out and walk or run in groups safely, maintaining distance,” she said.“You can pick the distance you want to travel, and take all week to do it. You can walk or run alone or with your dog, your friends or family - and it’s all within NSW health restriction guidelines.”In fact, you can do it anywhere.Our Kids’ chair Suzette Pearce is keen to travel along the coast from Ballina to Lennox Head with the ocean as her view when she takes on the challenge by walking 10km.If you are a cyclist, you can even do your usual distance and do it to fundraise for Our Kids.Participants can nominate their own distance or choose from the Our Kids 4km, Lords Taverners 10km, Lismore Masters 21km and the 42km Southern Cross University Marathon.  So how do you prove you did the run? Rebekka said you download the strava app, or use another health app, or your fit bit to record the distance you travel - then register it with Our Kids.“This year rather than award first, second and third places in the run, the highest fundraiser will be recognised,” she said.“There will be no cost to participate and we encourage people to ask friends to sponsor them for $1 or $1 a kilometre - or sponsor them and amount to raise money for Our Kids.”The money will go towards buying a humidicrib for the Children’s Ward and Special Care Nursery in Lismore Base Hospital.“Please register if you are taking part so we know how many people are in it,” Rebekka said.“You can upload your pictures or videos to the Darrell Chapman Fun Run Facebook group and when you register you get your own fundraising page.”Schools are also encouraged to participate in the fun run as part of PE classes.There’s even a group fundraising challenge with the NAB Corporate Challenge and the NAB Community Challenge, showing leaderboards for work and friend groups. You could even win an Limited Edition Darrel Chapman Fun Run shirt. Who was Darrel Chapman?Darrel Chapman was a Southern Cross University academic and sporting legend who lost his own personal battle with cancer in October 1992. Schooled at St. John's College, Woodlawn, he played Rugby League for Australia and captained South Sydney, before becoming NSW Assistant Director of Sport.He also established the Human Movement Science and Sport Management program at Southern Cross University. His legacy lives on through this event. Barbara Chapman, Darrell’s wife, said the fun run was a competition that everyone could enter and it was about having fun while doing exercise.“Darrell always advocated that – you don’t have to be an elite athlete and he wanted everyone to participate,” she said. Registrations are now open at https://darrelchapman.com/For any questions regarding the event, call the Our Kids Office on 6620 2705.

If you have been impacted by mosquitos in your backyard, your chance to tackle the pesky mozzies is here - and get a $100 voucher while you are at it.Northern Rivers residents are called to take register interest to part in a half day online workshop on July 29. Your insights will inform a new collaborative educational program aimed at creating a mosquito behaviour change program to reduce mosquito exposure risks in local communities. If you are interested in taking part, you can register your Expression of Interest by Wednesday, July 22. If you're chosen to take part, you'll receive a $100 gift voucher to your local farmers’ market.Workshop spaces are limited and participants will be selected to represent a variety of viewpoints. limited. If successful, you will be contacted regarding what to do next.The new behaviour change program aims to reduce mosquito exposure risks in individual homes and regional communities in the Northern Rivers. The aims of this program are to: • reduce backyard mosquito breeding habitats through source reduction behaviours • improve other community behaviours that prevent mosquito exposure risks • to reduce the public health risks associated with exposure to mosquitoes through community action. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the workshop is being held online, but there will be some interactive activities where you will have an opportunity to give your feedback and share your creative ideas. This project has been assisted by the NSW Government and supported by Local Government NSW.For more information and to register your expression of interest for the online mosquito workshop on Wednesday, July 29, from 9.30am to 1pm, visit https://bit.ly/38GSWkQ

The June 16 Lismore City Council 2020/21 Budget meeting saw residents reinstated with one tip voucher per household. A small win in what was a tough budget.Details of how those tip vouchers will be distributed have been announced today by the Lismore City Council.Read more news: Run, walk, cycle: Our Kids Darrel Chapman Fun Run goes virtualWhile each eligible household will be given one (1) tip voucher these will be capped at 5,000 vouchers.Council is currently putting a new automated voucher system in place and expects this to be operational before rate notices are issued in late July for the 2020/21 financial year.To ensure equitable distribution of the 5,000 waste vouchers across the year, the following will apply;A maximum of one voucher per property, per annum.A pre-determined allocation of waste vouchers will be released at the start of each month (e.g. 5,000 vouchers ÷ 12 months = 416 vouchers typically issued per month, depending on the number of vouchers that are redeemed).Each voucher will have an expiry date of 30 days from the date of issue.Once expired, any unused vouchers will be returned to the pool of remaining vouchers and be made available for issue in future months. Returned vouchers will be allocated evenly across all remaining months in the year.Once all vouchers available in a month are used, no further vouchers will be issued until the following month (unless issued vouchers are cancelled). This will be monitored and reviewed depending on take up and may be changed to a weekly or daily issue of voucher allocations.While it is good to get the tip vouchers back for most households, it will be interesting to see how the public will understand the system and its use in the coming months.Read carefully and take note, you may have to explain it to your neighbour or Facebook friend.Read more news: Locals called to help tackle mozzies and get a $100 voucher

Southern Cross University has announced it will continue teaching almost all of its classes online into next year as the COVID-19 crisis bites deeper. All graduation ceremonies, which normally attract hundreds of people, have also been cancelled until further notice.In March this year, Southern Cross was among the first universities to transition its face-to-face classes to online teaching in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Session 2, which began last week, is already being delivered online.The university has announced that to ensure the continued health and safety of both students and staff, online delivery will remain in place for Session 3 as well, running from October 2020 to February 2021.Southern Cross informed staff and students today, specifying:Session 3 will be online: teaching across the university will continue online;Graduations: all face-to-face graduations have been cancelled until further notice;Access to campus is restricted: campus buildings will have limited access to ensure a COVID-safe environment;Work from home for staff will continue: a graduated transition to on-campus work will commence no earlier than September 1, rather than August 1 as previously planned.Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said the decisions reflected the ongoing COVID-19 situation in Victoria and concerning spikes in New South Wales that have developed recently.“We are continuing to maintain our teaching and other operational activities with an abundance of caution until such time that the COVID situation shows signs of easing,” Professor Shoemaker said.  “I understand what a challenge this is for students and staff colleagues. I thank them for their ongoing patience to help us get through a situation that is volatile and changing day-by-day. “At the same time, I am delighted to note the extremely high levels of student satisfaction with the quality of our online offerings in Session 1.”University libraries reopened their doors yesterday with reduced capacity and strict health and safety measures in place.Even though COVID restrictions continue, the University has been given a boost with a 35% increase in student enrollments for Session 2.

Lismore City Councillors will not get an increase in their pay for the 2020/21 financial year after a vote was carried at last nights monthly council meeting to keep the amount the same as 2019/20.However, the vote was not clear cut with a number of amendments and foreshadow motions put forward. This was led by Councillor Adam Guise who asked for the fee to be increased to the maximum amount of $24,230, up from the budgeted $20,245 for Councillors while the Mayor's would increase to $60,080 from $45,400.Lismore City Council has recently been categorised in the new category of Regional Centre, which has a higher maximum fee structure than the previous category."I am not about me asking for a pay rise for a pay rise sake but this amount that councillors get offered for doing the duties they do is a very tiny fraction about how we spend the rest of our $120 million to $130 million budget", Cnr Guise said.All councillors agreed with Cnr Guise that the remuneration for the many hours worked during a month of briefings (as much as three per week), hundreds of pages of documents to read as well as workshops and the monthly council meetings themselves was inadequate. What some councillors disagreed with was the timing of a suggested increase. Councillor Marks adding that "we should work within the budget indicated on the document" and Councillor Battista saying "we do this job because it is our civic duty, we don't do it for the pay. We are nearly half a million in deficit, I can't see how we can accept an increase".Councillor Bird then put up an amendment to increase the fee by the CPI increase of 2.5% which would add about $6,000 to the budget total but this vote was lost.Finally, Councillors Marks, Moorhouse, Battista, Bird, Ekins and Lloyd all voted in favour to keep Councillors and the Mayor's fee the same as the 2019/20 amount.Earlier in the evening, it was decided that councillors and the public would return to council chamber for live (as opposed to virtual) meetings "as soon as practicable". Of course this is dependent on the development or containment of the coronavirus.The Local Strategic Planning Statement 2040 was passed with the addition of a report being presented to council by management will complete the modelling for the council's road network strategy which is already behind.The Sport and Recreation Plan to 2024 was also passed but not without further discussion of the Lismore Lake Pool and the proposed $25 million Lismore Parkland development and the $1million maintenance bill. While some councillors love the overall concept of the parklands project it needs further discussion on how council can afford the maintenance costs and when that might be.

Tough new rules announced for pubs and hotels today will be enforced with “random and covert inspections” and harsh penalties, according to NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard. Read more news: NSW premier announces tighter restrictions for pubsBusinesses breaching the rules of the new Public Health Order can see on the spot fines issued, with Liquor and Gaming NSW having the power to enforce the following penalties:Businesses breaching the rules once can get a fine of $5,500; two offences will see the business closed for one week; and three will see the business shut down for up to one month. Mr Hazzard reported that any business found in breach of the public health orders will be held to account and could face a penalty of up to $55,000 and a further $27,500 penalty may apply for each day an offence continues. Under the new measures, pubs across NSW will be required to implement the following:·    The number of people per booking or table will be reduced from 20 people to 10;·    A cap of 300 people in a venue at any one time;·    Compulsory COVID-Safe registration through Service NSW;·    A dedicated COVID Safe Hygiene Marshall in distinctive clothing must oversee social distancing, cleaning and hygiene at the venue;   Large hotels with a capacity of greater than 250 people are to have a COVID Safe Hygiene Marshall on duty whenever the hotel is open. Smaller hotels with a capacity of less than 250 are to have a COVID Safe Hygiene Marshall employed in peak periods (lunch 12pm to 3pm and dinner 5pm to 9pm).·    Paper sign-in will still be permitted, but hotels must create a digital record of patron names and phone numbers (excel or word) to be submitted within 24 hours;·    Ensure all patrons provide their name and contact details accurately; and·    Encouraged to strongly promote QR code sign-in.Health Minister Brad Hazzard said venues enforcing COVID-Safe plans is a crucial element in reducing the chance of an outbreak and keeping the community safe.“These new measures will reduce the number of people in venues at any one time and ensure customers’ details are recorded accurately so they are immediately available to contact tracers should there be an outbreak at a venue,” Mr Hazzard said.Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said these new rules will be enforced with random and covert inspections “and there will be zero tolerance for non-compliance.”“These new measures strike the right balance in protecting the health and safety of the people of NSW and ensuring venues remain operational,” Mr Dominello said. Australian Hotels Association (AHA) NSW chief executive John Whelan said the NSW Government had worked closely with industry to develop these new requirements which help keep the community safe.“We all know how important it is for our venues to stay COVID-Safe – we are in constant contact with our members and will ensure they understand how vital it is they comply with these new measures.”

Reduced numbers of patrons in all NSW pubs are part of a new raft of restrictions announced by NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian today.Numbers of patron groups in pubs will reduce from 20 to 10 and large venues will be capped at a maximum of 300 patrons. The reduction takes us back to when pubs first reopened in May and were restricted to 10-person group bookings and no more than 50 patrons at a venue. More recently group bookings had been allowed to increase to up to 20 people.The Premier said “NSW is on high alert” and has been impacted by the spread of coronavirus from neighbouring State, Victoria.“We know in indoor venues where people are not seated, there is high risk of infection,” Ms Berejiklian said. “If we reduce numbers from 20 to 10, it reduces the chance of transmission.”“If a venue has the capacity for more than 250 people, it will need a full time covid safety marshal on staff to take care of cleaning and hygiene.“A venue with a capacity for less than 250 people will need a covid safety person there at all times when operating.”Ms Berejiklian said the government is working closely with the hotel and pub industry to reduce the chances of spreading the pandemic and is monitoring the situation on a daily basis. Mandate“The industry is also mandating the taking of every person’s details and working on making sure it is all done electronically,” she said. Ms Berejiklian said having a Covid safety plan will be now mandatory, not optional.NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said as of 12.01pm on Friday, every pub in NSW must download a Covid safety plan and register it.“Attendance sheets are also mandated for every pub as of 12.01pm Friday,” he said.“Life is not normal and will not be normal until we have a vaccine or cure,” Ms Berejiklian said.Victorian impactMs Berejiklian said NSW has been impacted by the Victorian situation and the recent rise in Covid cases from the Crossroads Hotel in the Sydney suburb of Casula heralded “a new phenomenon for our continent.”“Prior to this, the majority of cases were from overseas - now it’s in community transmission,” she said.“That’s why we closed the border and introduced extra safety measures.“We are living with this for a long time and cumulatively we will have more cases and have to live with it.“We also need to make sure people continue to be employed and continue the economy.“NSW has the resources and we know what we need to do to contain the sources and know we can’t do it without community support. It’s up to us to make sure it happens.Escalate“The spread can escalate quickly over the course of weeks. Don’t let your guard down with hand washing and hygiene and make sure there is enough space in a shop line up between you and the next person.“If you are a voluntary organisation organising an event, do it properly.Covid clusterMs Berejiklian thanked everyone who had already come forward to be tested as a result of the cluster of 28 new cases from the Casula hotel.One of the people who tested positive had worked in the Casula Kmart on July 10, from 5pm to midnight and anyone who may have been there during those time is also encouraged to get tested.“Even if test your test is negative, remain self isolated for 14 days,” she said.Queensland restricts NSW Covid hotspotsQueensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has also declared parts of Sydney COVID-19 hotspots and tightened the state's border restrictions.From midday today, people from other states who have been in the Liverpool and Campbelltown government areas in the past 14 days will not be able to enter Queensland.Queenslanders who have travelled through those government areas will be allowed entry but forced into hotel quarantine.

This week (July 12-18) is National Diabetes Week - and 280 Australians develop diabetes every day.This year, National Diabetes Week focuses on supporting the emotional and mental health of people living with diabetes - and draws attention to gaps in diabetes service and care. In good news for diabetics, Page MP Kevin Hogan has announced the Federal Government has added type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic® (semaglutide) to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), making it a more affordable treatment option.“Ozempic® is a new weekly blood sugar lowering treatment for patients with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes,” Mr Hogan said.  In Australia, type 2 diabetes accounts for over half of all diabetes deaths. An estimated one million Australian adults (5%) had type 2 diabetes in 2017 18.Indigenous communities are one of the highest risk groups worldwide for rapid progression to end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD), most commonly associated with type 2 diabetes. Lack of exercise, weight gain and a poor diet increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Treating this condition is critically important to prevent long-term complications, such as heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. In 2019, over 40,000 patients accessed a comparable treatment for this chronic condition. Without the subsidy, patients would pay more than $1,700 per course of Ozempic®.PBS listing for lung cancer drug Tecentriq®Mr Hogan also said a drug to treat lung cancer Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) has also been added to the PBS.Health authorities say the drug has been expanded and improved to include a new form and treatment regimen to assist patients with small cell lung cancer. “This change will provide patients with a more convenient treatment option,” Mr Hogan said.“Patients will be able to access a four weekly dosing regimen when receiving continuing treatment with this medicine. This means they do not need to go to their doctor as often for their treatment.” “This will particularly benefit those in rural or remote areas.” Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the fifth most common cancer diagnosed in Australia. An estimated 1,000 patients per year will require treatment with Tecentriq. What might have cost them more than $50,000 per course of treatment is available for $41 per script, or $6.60 with a concession card. The new drug listings have been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Since 2013, the Australian Government has approved more than 2,400 new or amended listings on the PBS. This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month—or one each day—at an overall investment by the Government of $11.6 billion.  

The total number of COVID-19 cases in residents of Northern NSW Local Health District remains at 55, with two of these cases still considered ‘not recovered’. It has been 76 days since the last confirmed case in a resident of the District and 107 days for Lismore and surrounds.To keep these numbers steady Northern NSW Local Health District is urging anyone who may have attended the Crossroads Hotel in Casula last week to come forward for testing at a COVID-19 clinic, even if they don’t have any flu-like symptoms. Chief Executive, Northern NSW Local Health District, Wayne Jones, said the call for people to get tested follows confirmation of 14 new cases of COVID-19 in NSW today, and a number of cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel. “In light of the trajectory of the pandemic in Victoria, and more recent cases being identified in NSW, we’re asking any Crossroads Hotel patrons who may be currently in Northern NSW to self-isolate and have a COVID-19 test as soon as possible,” Mr Jones said. “Even if you don’t have any symptoms at present, please come and get tested as soon as you can, so that we can identity any cases which may be circulating in the community.” People who visited the Crossroads Hotel, Casula between Friday 3 July and Friday 10 July should present for testing as soon as possible. A Public Health Alert is currently in place for the Crossroads Hotel, urging patrons to: immediately self-isolate until 14 days after they were last at the Crossroads Hotel attend a clinic for testing even if they have no symptoms watch for symptoms and get retested should any respiratory symptoms occur stay in isolation for 14 days, even if you have a negative test result. Mr Jones also reiterated the call for anyone who has been to Victoria to watch for even mild symptoms and keep their distance from others for 14 days. “The message is clear, if you have been in Victoria, don’t mix with other people until two weeks has passed,” Mr Jones said. “If you develop even mild symptoms, a cold or cough, get tested and stay home until you’re cleared. “If you have previously returned a negative test, and develop symptoms at a later date, it’s critical that you get tested again.” Byron Central Hospital has increased its testing capacity in order to meet increased demand during the holiday period.Across the Northern NSW Local Health District, there have been over 4,900 tests in the past fortnight. “We’ve seen increasing numbers of people present for testing, particularly at Byron Central Hospital fever clinic, and I want to thank everyone who has come forward to date,” Mr Jones said.

STATE Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin has ensured that Lismore’s first memorial for the Great War is now showcased in the National ANZAC Centre’s multimedia experience in Albany, Western Australia. Ms Saffin today (Monday 13 July) joined Vietnam Veteran Ken Jolley OAM and other veterans to mark the memorial’s exposure on the other side of the continent and the culmination of Mr Jolley’s three-year labour of love in having it restored to its former glory. Ms Saffin said the obelisk -- first erected on the corner of Bridge Street and Alexander Parade, North Lismore in 1926 -- honours 145 Lismore district men who sacrificed their lives during World War One and holds special significance for their family descendants. “In 2017, the memorial was returned ‘home’ to its original site after two previous moves around town, and its close proximity to the Lismore Showground is fitting because it was the site of a transit camp for newly-enlisted men,” Ms Saffin said. “Young men from all different backgrounds answered the nation’s call to fight for king and country and camped at the showground before boarding trains at the North Lismore Railway Station to take them to Army training camps. “The National ANZAC Centre is located in Albany, where our servicemen and women disembarked on ships bound for Gallipoli and other battlefields during World War One.” Mr Jolley, who is a Life Member of the RSL City of Lismore (NSW) Sub-Branch, said he visited Albany last October for an Army reunion, saw all the memorials at the National ANZAC Centre and wondered ‘why not bloody Lismore?’(from left to right: ex RAAF veteran and Sinai Peacekeeper Bob Mowle, Afghanistan-Iraq-East Timor veteran Patrick Steere, Vietnam veteran and Lismore RSL Sub-Branch Chaplain The Reverend Graeme Davis OAM CSM, Vietnam veteran and Life Member/former President of the Lismore RSL Sub-Branch Ken Jolley OAM, Vietnam veteran and former Lismore RSL Sub-Branch President Cec Harris, State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, Namibia Peacekeeper Graham Bruton and Chris McKee representing the family of local World War One Victoria Cross winner Paddy Bugden.  “I approached Janelle (Saffin) for some help and I cannot thank her and her staffer Ronny Susanto enough for arranging to have our North Lismore memorial permanently added to the projection reel, which is seen by thousands of visitors every year,” Mr Jolley said. “It’s the icing on the cake; I’ve been working for the past three years to restore the memorial and the fact that North Lismore now sits between two New Zealand memorials, Kaitaia and Wellington, is marvellous recognition for our fallen Diggers and for the City of Lismore.” Mr Jolley thanked local businesses for supporting the memorial’s restoration, including Richmond Sand and Gravel, Beckinsales Monumental Masons, Matthews Metal Fabrication, Holcim Concrete, Onesteel and Twin View Turf, and Lismore City Council’s outdoor staff. The memorial was moved from near the Showgrounds to the South Lismore RSL Hall’s garden in 1988, but when the RSL sold the hall in 2004, it was moved to the Railway Station before returning to North Lismore in 2017.