They are French, and their name is pronounced Citro-ennn.Local mechanic Graham Dunstan’s specialty has been the Citroen car since he started his apprenticeship in Lismore in the 1970s.In a rare occurrence this week, two of these classic cars have found their way into his Milano Motors workshop on Junction Street. His expertise in doctoring Citroens has made him a sought-after mechanic for collectors of these now-rare cars. But once they, were all the rage.“I was 19 when I started my mechanic apprenticeship in Lismore and we used to have five or six of these cars turn up every morning from all over – Grafton, Tenterfied and the Gold Coast,” Graham said. "So, I learned a lot about them.”What makes them so special? Graham said he loves their unusual shape - they are built for aerodynamics.But the biggest unique feature is the hydro-pneumatic suspension (there’s a song in Grease that talks about this)– that makes the car go up and down.Graham demonstrates and starts the car and pulls a lever near the driver’s seat - and the back end body of the car lowers down over the wheel into the ‘service position’. “It’s so you can change the tyre,” Graham said. “You chock up the car and then, you pop off the rear guard by removing a bolt.“In France, the idea was to be able to drive it in a paddock, by having the car body move up higher gives more clearance between the underside of the car and the wheel.“When I was younger, not many mechanics would work on them at the time, because they were so complicated. People were working on HQ Holdens, which are pretty basic cars. “The suspension freaked them out and they didn’t want to know about it.“I love the Citroen’s uniqueness and how they are built for comfort– they are well thought out in terms of the engineering for the day – the suspension makes the ride hard to beat."Other cars are rough, but you get in one of these and it is like riding on air - they are built for comfort, but they are not a speed car. Graham said over the years, the Citroens disappeared.“Some were crushed, some sold,” he said. “Now people are bringing them back because they are worth money and people are buying them.“They can be worth $40,000 to $70,000 depending on the models. I gave a 1972 one here with air conditioning and fuel injection, the other one is just the carburettor engine.”Now, Graham is teaching other mechanics about the Citroens because there’s not too many people left who know how to work on them.“There’s one mechanic in Penrith, and one in Sunshine Coast, and me – that’s about all,” Graham said.

Another day has passed and Lismore still has 5 confirmed cases of coronavirus. More good news.The Northern NSW Health District (NNSWLHD) still sits at 47 cases too.As it is a good news day, NNSWLHD needs more front line health workers in a range of casual positions. These include nurses, allied health professionals, security, cleaners and wardsperson roles.Chief Executive Wayne Jones said the District was encouraging anyone who has experience in health or related roles to come forward and apply.“We have ongoing casual recruitment opportunities throughout the year, but this is a targeted effort to attract people who can help us respond now and in the coming months as this pandemic continues,” Mr Jones said.“This boost to our workforce will ease pressure on our existing workforce and enhance our capacity – ensuring we can continue to deliver high-quality care for the local community.Interviews are being conducted weekly, in a continual process of application and review.“We encourage anyone who is interested, to visit our website and apply now,” Mr Jones said.“I also want to congratulate our existing workforce on the incredible job they’re doing so far, and thank them for their willingness to adapt and respond as the situation changes.“From clinical care, to support services, to planning and administration, our team is working exceptionally hard, and should be extremely proud of their efforts.” For more information on positions available and how to apply, visit the NNSWLHD Website: https://nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/about/employment/casual-positions- open-now/ . 

For a while, the future of Lismore’s community radio station, River FM - 92.9 was looking shaky in this Covid-19 restriction-filled world - but for now, it’s still on-air.Recently, community radio stations in Victoria received an email saying the Victorian Government had determined community radio stations were ‘entertainment’ facilities, not essential services. This brought the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) into fighting mode and it is now working with government to ensure the media and broadcasting industry, including community radio, is not shut down.CBAA chief executive Jon Bisset said in an email to River FM “to date, no other media organisation in any state or territory has been deemed ‘essential’. As such, the whole media industry is in this together”.Lismore’s River FM manager Basia Klim said community radio is an essential service that speaks directly to the community.“We have a connection via the groups we are representing – from cultural minority groups to a cross section of the community’s demographic,” she said. “We offer specialist programs, local news and live events in the community. There’s a big difference between us and the ABC – many ABC shows are not locally produced and not embedded in local community. River FM is personal – it’s us taking to you as a fellow member of the community.”Basia said the local station, based in South Lismore, had already changed how they operate to manage social distancing and hygiene guidelines, as recommended by CBAA.“We limit numbers of people in the station to minimise the exposure of people to coronavirus and have a ‘one presenter at a time’ in the studio rule,” she said.“About 50% of our programs are pre-recorded at home by presenters who already have the technology and capacity to do that.“We are training others trained in how to do it by giving them information online.“Some older presenters have been advised not to come into the stations and that marries up with what they government is saying about them staying at home. We’ve been rejigging their old shows and playing them in their time slot, so we still get to experience the show."Basia said some people are still coming into do their shows and that they are following hygiene protocols, using alcohol wipes to wipe down desks before after and shows.Some of the River FM regular programs which are being pre-recorded at home include the Blues and Roots show on Monday, the Italian show on Wednesdays at 6pm, the World Music show on Thuursdays at 6pm, and the Literature Word Nerds on Thursdays at 10am.The Environment show on Saturday afternoon and the Arthouse show at Drivetime are currently in transition to prerecording. For more information about River FM’s programs, visit http://2ncr.org.au/NEWS: NORPA emerges on top of arts sector 'carnage'

The light at the end of the tunnel is now shining for Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA) artistic director Julian Louis.Yesterday, he announced that for the first time, NORPA had been successful in securing a coveted and competitive four year funding grant of $1,295,000 from the Australia Council for the Arts.“It’s carnage out there,” Julian said.“There were 49 major companies across Australia who applied and were not funded. We are lucky and have articulated our body of work so well and connected theatre to community, that it stood out.”Julian said coronavirus restrictions had severely impacted on the whole arts sector, but for him, knowing that NORPA would be able to use the funding to generate new creative works gave him hope for the future.“The funding is a game changer and means NORPA can create more new works that tell stories inspired by place, expand our youth theatre program, employ local artists and create new audiences for regional theatre,” he said.“Recently, it’s been a difficult time and we are all still reeling from the show cancellations and the loss of revenue.Scene from NORPA's production Wildskin.“The biggest concern was maintaining staff and I’ve been working hard at maintaining jobs and advocating for our industry.“We have improvement works going on in the Lismore City Hall venue by individual staff, and we are still working on writing and developing projects so we can get going again later this year.“Our industry not only contributes over $110 billion of value to the Australian economy each year, it keeps our communities connected, resilient and healthy. "We're acutely aware of our role in fostering these qualities in our community through our art."NORPA’s previous works include placed based works such as Railway Wonderland, presented on the disused Lismore Railway Station; Dreamland presented in the Eureka Hall and Bangalow A&I Hall and Open House, set in a residential house starring The Pitts Family Circus; along with Djurra, meaning ‘lore’ in Bundjalung; and Wildskin.NORPA, based in Lismore, was founded in 1993 and is one of a small number of theatre companies creating professional contemporary theatre from regional Australia.“Our body of work, created with associate artists, creative and production personnel, have all made this a reality,” Julian said.“This is a huge win for our area and is a reflection of the creative energy and talent in our region.“We intend to make the most of this opportunity, to tell great stories, to push the art form, and to surprise and delight our community with great theatre.”For information about NORPA, visit http://www.norpa.org.auNEWS: Peggy Popart takes art adventures online

Instead of reaching for the cigarettes and alcohol, start improving your health and immunity and kick start a healthy lifestyle. If you are looking for a healthy project to occupy you and your family during the current Covid-19 social isolation period, free recipes, fitness exercises and coaching are available for you to do online.Northern NSW Local Health District Health Promotion Manager, Jillian Adams, says the free coaching programs cover everything from giving up smoking, to getting more exercise, managing alcohol consumption and eating healthier. “It might seem tempting to reach for the cigarettes or alcohol at the moment, but those substances actually decrease your body’s ability to cope with stress,” Ms Adams said. “Data shows smokers are particularly at risk of poor outcomes if they contract Covid 19, and drinking more than two standard drinks lowers your immunity. “It’s not easy to change to healthier habits, which is why we have programs like Get Healthy and Get Healthy in Pregnancy. “These are phone coaching services backed up with workbooks, that guide you along the path to health and fitness, including support for safer drinking habits. “For smokers there is the Quitline phone support, or ICanQuit website with online information and a network of support to tap into.” The Go4Fun after school program is suspended for time being, but the Go4Fun Online program is still available across the region for Term 2. “Go4Fun is for 7 to 13 year olds above a healthy weight and is packed full of activities that support healthier, more active kids,” Ms Adams said. The NNSWLHD Health Promotion website also has a dedicated recipe page with simple, healthy meals for all ages, including recipes for kids in the kitchen. Quitline: 137 848 or ICanQuit: www.Icanquit.com.au Get Healthy/Get Health in Pregnancy: 1300 806 258 www.gethealthynsw.com.au Go4Funonline:1800 780 900 or www.go4funonline.com.au Health Promotion Recipes: https://nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/health-promotion/ 

Over the past three weeks, it feels as if we always give you bad news. Whether it be increased numbers of coronavirus or local businesses closing their doors temporarily.This afternoon I want to write some good news, to show that there is some cautious optimism around coronavirus. I don't want to underplay the importance of the role we are playing and will continue to play regarding self isolation and social distancing but numbers don't lie.As of 8pm last night there was one additional confirmed case of coronavirus in the Northern NSW Local Health District and that was in Byron.Lismore remains at 5 and has done now for the last seven (7) days.That means we deserve a pat on the back as a community. Our hard work and diligence is paying dividends. I know, we are not finished yet.Acting Inspector Turner from the Richmond District Police told me this morning that Lismore has had only one (1) Penalty Infringement Notice handed out since the tighter restrictions came into place. One. Another reason to be optimistic.As you may have read in our earlier stories, Mayor Isaac Smith has asked visitors not to come to Lismore over the Easter break and the school holidays. This has been reinforced by the NSW Police Commissioner.As a community, we have done it tough (like everyone else) but we are seeing the fruits of our labour. If we continue in the same vain then we can protect the elderly and the vulnerable in our community as well as end our isolation sooner. We all just have to play our part.For now, let's celebrate the good news.

Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions from this week on Lismore Bangalow Road at Nashua for improvement work to be carried out on Wilsons Creek Bridge.To allow truck movements into and out of the work area, there will be intermittent stoppages on Lismore Bangalow Road, west of Booyong Road. A reduced speed limit is in place for the safety of workers and motorists, with truck movements expected to be completed by Friday, April 17, weather permittingMotorists are advised to drive to the conditions, and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.Transport for NSW thanks motorists for their patience during this time.For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

High school teacher Madeline Beveridge has always been good at learning. So, she decided to create a resource to help high school students to become better learners.Madeline said her downloadable six week study guide ‘Structuring Preparation for Examinations’ is perfect for students learning from home at the moment. Madeline, like many others, is now working from her Goonellabah home and teaching students at Xavier Catholic College. As she herself transitions from traditional teaching to a blended learning delivery mode, she is learning what works best for each class and adapting a teaching and learning style to suit different classes.“Now that parents are getting more involved in home schooling, it’s important that they help their children to plan and adapt their days to allow more effective study and stress management,” she said. “My study guide has tips on how to structure a study session, and examples of planners to plan a whole week of learning and allocate time to them.“It’s important to work out when is the best time for you to study. Is it morning? Then plan your day around that. “There’s good tips on setting goals and sections for students to reflect on assessment tasks by looking at feedback and then using that to plan and strengthen their performance in a subject.”High school teacher Madeline Beveridge when she graduated from University.Madeline said she was inspired to write the study guide after she completed her PhD in education and she discovered she was good at art.“I enjoyed studying and found it easy and when I thought about what made me a good learner, it inspired my PhD which looked at developing people’s learning skills,” she said.“After my PhD, I felt there was a gap in what we teach, after speaking to students about it. We needed to have less focus on content, and more support for students’ learning across subjects.“They wanted to know ‘how do I manage exams?’ or ‘what do I study for two hours a night?’“So, I combined my PhD with my love of creativity and art to write the study guide and made it visually clean and aesthetically pleasing – it even has plant drawings which can be coloured in.”Madeline said that parents had already been buying it for their own children or nieces or nephews. The study guide costs $9.95 as a digital download, which can be printed at home.  To access the guide, visit https://www.madelinebevs.com/shop/six-week-study-guide

We will have some showers and cooler weather on the way in the next few days but this should be clearing on Friday so we can enjoy some warm weather again for the rest of Easter.Shuant Want from the Bureau of Meteorology said we should see cloud increasing this afternoon due to winds coming from the east/south east. These clouds could bring some light showers today and tomorrow with best chance of rain due on Thursday.As for amounts, only 5mm is expected to some areas.You will notice cooler temperatures with maximums around 24-26 degrees and minimums dropping to 15 degrees. Could mean the use of a blanket for the first time in a while.There will be another warmer system coming into the Lismore area on Friday evening which will bring a return to temperatures between 27 and 29 degrees for the rest of Easter.No excuses to not get the Easter Egg hunt done in your already pristine front or back yards.Weather

Lismore City Council's Mayor Isaac Smith said that Lismore has always been happy to welcome tourists to our region, however, now is not the time to visit.“People should stay home and not visit our community,” Mayor Smith said.“It’s clear from the Federal and State orders that now is not the time for a holiday or a day trip. We are urging regional travellers not to visit Lismore and its villages this Easter school holidays or until restrictions are lifted and it’s safe to do so.”"The NSW Government’s Public Health Order directs the community not to leave their homes unless it’s for essential work, education, food, medical care or exercise.“The State Government has been very clear with what is expected under this order. It’s important people take this seriously and understand the significant ramifications if they do not follow these guidelines.“Lismore and Nimbin caravan parks have been closed to new residents and council is working closely with privately owned/operated caravan parks, boarding houses and backpacker accommodation in the area to ensure compliance with Public Health Orders.“We also urge anyone who requires temporary or emergency accommodation to contact the Department of Family and Community Services on ‍1800 152 152 for assistance to find a safe place to stay.“We need to keep our community safe. Please stay at home, unless you have an essential reason. This is the only way we will overcome this pandemic and save lives.”"Lismore City Council is taking all necessary precautions to keep the community and staff safe."This includes the closure of the Lismore Memorial Baths, Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre, the Lismore Regional Gallery, and restrictions at the Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre and the Nimbin Transfer Station."Council parks and open spaces remain open however, all play equipment, BBQ’s, skate parks, exercise equipment and similar are closed and unavailable for use.National Parks have also closed its campsites and parks, including Minyon Falls. Rocky Creek Dam is also closed to the public.For full details of the changes, visit: https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information-updates

Peggy Popart won’t let a pandemic stop her. The local art buff is taking her love of art out of the Lismore Regional Gallery and into everyone’s homes. Her regular art tours and activities in the gallery have instead gone online, starting with a free Facebook Live event this Thursday at 11am. “The aim of Peggy Popart’s online adventures is making art with stuff you have at home,” Peggy said. “It’s not too complex and super fun and accessible for lots of people – the next one will be Auslan captioned.“Even if people are stuck at home, I still want still wants kids and families to be connected to art and bring them activities and joy.”This week, Peggy’s online art adventures is focussing on abstract art.“I’ll be looking at the paintings of Grace Crowley and showing examples of her works from the local gallery collection,” Peggy said.“Then we’ll do an art activity based on her artworks with art materials that you have at home. “I’ll give you tips on the sorts of things you might want to use - like paper, masking tape, pencils, paints or textas – whatever you have got. We’ll make an abstract artwork of a geometric patten using tape, shapes and colour in negative spaces.”You can find more information about Peggys Online Art Adventures here: https://www.facebook.com/events/248133106238811/And the link to the event is here: https://www.facebook.com/Peggypopart/live/Storytime artAs well as Peggy’s online art classes, she’s just finished filming a storytime story for Richmond Tweed Regional Gallery, and it’s being Auslan captioned at the moment.Peggy reads the story Where The Wild Things Are and presents an art challenge for kids to draw something and share their art and stories via her Facebook page.Art and literacy kit onlineThe Lismore Regional Gallery also has a number of online resources for kids of all ages, to keep them in touch with art while the gallery is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.An art and literacy kit is available to download from the gallery’s website, and it contains printable activity sheets based on works from Lismore Regional Gallery Permanent Collection.To access the resources, visit https://www.lismoregallery.org/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-WYH-06-81-62#.XoV2cIhLhPYQuick Draw Club goes onlineThe Lismore Regional Gallery’s Quick Draw club is also online, with the next session scheduled for April 16, from 5-6pm with local artist Renee Bolten.Réne will give an online tour of his home studio and will present a fun, quick still life drawing session for people of all drawing skill levels. You can find it here:https://www.facebook.com/LismoreRegionalGallery/live/Worlds art events onlineYou can also link to other art events happening online around the world in galleries and museums, all currently closed to the public because of the Covid-19 pandemic.Click here: https://creative-capital.org/2020/03/18/online-arts-events-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/

Over the weekend, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased to 47.Northern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive, Wayne Jones said this was an additional three cases.In Lismore, we had some good news, the number of cases remained at 5.We can assume that the majority of people in the 2480 postcode are abiding by the Federal and State Government self isolation rules. If everyone does the right thing now, we will benefit quicker than some other areas.The most confirmed cases is in the Tweed (13), Byron (13) and Clarence Valley (8) with Ballina also stagnant on 1-4 along with Richmond Valley. Of the NNSWLHD cases, there is currently 1 patient with COVID-19 being cared for in our hospitals. The Public Health Unit is following up close contacts of cases who are located within NNSWLHD, who are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days from last contact with the confirmed case. They will be contacted daily to check that they are well and anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms will be tested for the virus. If you are considered a close contact of a confirmed case, a Health officer will contact you directly. For advice and information about COVID-19 visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx Residents of NSW can also call new the 24-hour COVID-19 hotline on 13 77 88 for advice and support on non-health related enquiries. For health related advice, please continue to liaise with your GP, or phone HealthDirect on 1800 022 222. NEW STORY - Facemasks - health necessity or functional fashion? Facemasks: health necessity or functional fashion?

To wear a facemask, or not? It’s a simple decision – or is it? The Lismore App was wondering what people are doing locally when it comes to personal protection against Covid-19.With a shortage of available face masks to buy in the local area, some people are wearing their own home made face masks when they go shopping.So, are face masks as effective at stopping the spread of coronavirus as we all think, and should we all be running out to buy one, or make one?The Australian Department of Health is telling us that there is no need for the general population to be wearing masks to protect themselves from coronavirus, but that frontline medical workers should be wearing them, as they could be more exposed to people who may have the virus.The UK Government has said Britons do not need to wear face masks in public, while in America, President Donald Trump is now recommending Americans wear ‘non-medical cloth’ face coverings, after previously suggesting that masks were unnecessary for people who weren't sick.Types of masks and effectivenessShould we make our own gear?Recently, there was a call to action from the NSW Government for Northern Rivers businesses to help out and start making high demand products such as face masks, hand sanitiser, hand wash soap, gloves, cleaning products, protective clothing and paper products. The call comes after supermarkets shelves were quickly emptied of these products and they became hard for many concerned locals to get, and Service NSW were reported as being unable to get supplies from its traditional sources.The call has been hailed by Lismore MP Janelle Saffin as an opportunity for businesses in a downturn due to COVID-19, to adapt to making new things, and thrive. Local businesses can register their interest here.Lismore runs dry (almost)Firstly, The Lismore App checked in with local pharmacies to see how available face masks were and discovered many of them hadn’t been able to get face masks delivered for weeks or months.Lismore’s Southside Pharmacy are out of stock and haven’t been able to get any masks since January. The same goes for Blooms the Chemist on Keen Street and the Chemist Warehouse on Ballina Road. Goonellabah Pharmacy are out of stock, but have them on order.Chempro on Woodlark Street currently has little blue masks for $2 each, with no limits on the number of masks purchased. Priceline Pharmacy has some at a cost of $5.99 each and a limit of one mask per person.Local seamstress Jeht Burgoyne wearing one of her masks.Local masks under constructionLocal seamstress Jeht Burgoyne is making masks in her workshop at home and said she did her research on what was needed to make them, and then experimented with different materials “I knew the linings needed to be from a non-woven fabric,” Jeht said. “You can’t use two woven fabrics. So, the inner lining is different to the cotton outside layer and I put in triple pleats so it fits around head and chin properly. “I’ve also put aluminium strips in so it fits around the bridge of the nose - and they are reusable and hand wash-able in warm water with disinfectant. “A friend of mine who is a surgeon said the nose piece was important, and I’ve been supplying them to medical staff on the Gold coast too.”As a creative person, Jeht has made masks with colourful designs and said she’s also sold some to people in Sydney and Victoria who are buying them for their loved ones with compromised immune systems or in nursing homes. Her masks cost $22 each and you can find them here.Edda Lampis wearing her bandana mask.Bandana mask fashionEdda Lampis wears a home made mask when she leaves the house and washes it when she gets home. It’s made from a bandana, folded and held on with elastic bands.“I have them in lots of different colours, so I’m still fashionable and I can colour coordinate with my clothes,” she said.“It’s good to think about fashion at a time like this. It makes me feel good and I look great - no shame."World Health Organisation guidelinesUntil now, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that if you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection, or if you are coughing or sneezing. However, WHO advisers are considering whether to suggest new guidance for the public on wearing face masks as a way to limit the spread of coronavirus.This comes after new research suggests that coughs and sneezes may project particles further into the air than previously thought — six metres for a cough and up to eight metres for a sneeze.The WHO website states “masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water” and if you wear a mask, you need to cover your mouth and nose and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.“Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water,” the website states.“Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.“To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of mask); discard immediately in a closed bin; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.”Matt Farragher wears a home made mask.AustraliaAustralia’s Commonwealth Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said face masks were crucial protective equipment for health workers, but "not recommended for the Australian public".He has also stated that limited supply and the potential for misuse was what informed the Government's advice, and he wouldn’t rule out a move to masks in the future.There are some concerns that if everyone is wearing masks (which are in short supply in places) then it will be taking away precious resources from medical staff who really need to wear them. So, should everyone wear a mask?The question about whether we should all be wearing masks or not is still being debated around the world.The debate depends on understanding how coronavirus spreads and how closely people follow hygiene guidelines when using any protective gear.Some research has shown that people can often shed the virus two days before they begin to show any symptoms – and some people with the virus don’t show any symptoms at all.  Some people believe if everyone wears a mask when they leave their house, then people who have the virus, but who don’t have symptoms will be wearing a physical barrier that can catch infected droplets that escape their mouth or nose. That helps protect everyone.Some believe that the available scientific evidence does not show that masks are effective enough in public settings to warrant a mass recommendation. Wearing a mask could also give people a false sense of protection, where they ignore recommended advice about staying away from other people, or not going out in public if they have a fever, cough or other virus symptoms.Some people believe it causes the wearer to touch their face more often, but for others, it is a deterrent - a reminder to not touch your mouth and nose while wearing it.Government hygiene adviceThe Australian Government’s recommendations for good hygiene practice are as follows:• cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue• put used tissues straight into the bin• wash your hands often with soap and water, including before and after eating and after going to the toilet• use alcohol-based hand sanitisers• avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth• clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces such as benchtops, desks and doorknobs• clean and disinfect frequently used objects such as mobile phones, keys, wallets and work passes• increase the amount of fresh air available by opening windows or adjusting air conditioningAlcohol-free hand rubs have not been shown to be effective against viruses like COVID-19, and experts recommend against using them.Everyone must also stay 1.5 metres away from other people whenever possible.You must self-isolate if you are sick, have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, or have recently returned from overseas. For more coronavirus information, click Coronavirus

Free short courses are now available online from TAFE NSW. If you want to upskill during the Covid-19 pandemic, you can choose out of 21 fee-free courses on the TAFE study menu.The short courses include: eMarketing for Small Business; Engaging Customers Using Social Media; Writing and Presentation Skills; Computing Skills; Team Leader Skill Set; and Administration Skills for Team Leaders.State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the pandemic response has had a dramatic effect on communities and working life, but these select courses will assist job seekers and workers looking to diversify their skills during these times. “TAFE NSW has been a reliable educational institution for more than 130 years supporting communities all across NSW. These fee-free courses will be put to good use on the Northern Rivers during this challenging time,” Ms Saffin said. NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Dr Geoff Lee said TAFE is committed to ensuring people have access to the highest quality education. “The NSW Government understands that circumstances have changed for a lot of people and business owners, which means the way they work and how they conduct their business has also changed,” Dr Lee said. “The TAFE NSW fee-free accredited courses will contribute to helping businesses stay in business and people stay in jobs. “It’s vital we keep people employed and ensure we have the ability to rebound when things do improve. “We also understand that many industries are in hibernation, so using this period to upskill for the future is time well spent.” More information, including a full list of courses, is available here or by calling 131 601.

The stage lights are dimmed, but the spirit of Rochdale Theatre is still alive.Despite the “hibernation” of the Lismore Theatre Company’s (LTC) next production, Educating Rita, the cast are still running their lines with each other –online.LTC president Sharon Brodie said the show was due to open at the Goonellabah theatre two weeks ago until the LTC committee, cast and crew made the decision to postpone the show and the children’s pantomime Puss in Thongs due to be staged on April 22.‘We were so disappointed,” Sharon said. “But the concern for our community, plus the thought of putting all that effort into playing to a handful of people, made the decision the right one.“Educating Rita would have had to close mid-run anyway due to the increased Covid-19 restrictions.”“Education Rita has gone into hibernation - the set is ready and the people who loaned us pieces for the show are allowing us to retain them.Despite being offered ticket refunds, Sharon said many people who had already booked tickets to both shows had decided to keep their bookings for when they are rescheduled. “The actors, Elyse Knowles and Gray Wilson are now meeting weekly on-line to run lines and LTC’s technician Luke Kane is using this down time to test and tag all the electrical equipment in the theatre,” Sharon said.“We are also considering doing online play readings for interested members and the committee is meeting via Zoom.“While the theatre lights are dimmed, the company is also taking the opportunity to revisit many of the shows staged in recent years by posting photo montages on its Facebook page.”“This year is also the 50th anniversary of LTC and although plans for some workshops may need to be amended, the company is committed to celebrating this milestone later in the year.”

As we head into the weekend, I can tell you that Lismore remains at 5 confirmed cases of coronavirus.While the world has ballooned over the 1,000,000 cases mark with over 53,000 dead, Australia sits at 5,315 cases with 26 deaths and NSW 2,389 cases and 12 deaths.As the number of confirmed cases in the North Coast Local Health District increased from 37 to 45 this week, Lismore's zero increase was welcome news.Out of those five cases the locally acquired with an unknown source of infection remains in the 1-4 range.With Easter and school holidays coming up, there was a message from the Richmond District Police's facebook page to 'Stay At Home".The message read, "Please stay home over the holidays. School holidays are nearly here, and many of you will be keen to get out of town to relax in one of our beautiful regional communities. While we understand that everyone needs a break, the current COVID -19 situation means that the best thing you can do for our regions, and for yourselves, is to stay at home. We all need to work together to stop the spread".A reminder that Daylight Savings finishes this weekend so don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour before you go to bed or when you wake up on Sunday morning.

The Weekend Wrap will be pretty short, as you can understand, although we can recommend some family board games as you spend most of your time at home.I do notice that people's lawns, hedges and general gardens are looking very nice now!Before I go on, Daylight Savings finishes this weekend so before you go to bed on Saturday night or when you get up Sunday morning, set your watches and clocks back an hour.The BOM forecast is for some rain tomorrow afternoon (1-4mm) and the slight chance of a shower on Sunday so it will be mostly a fine two days with tops of 27 or 28 degrees.The Lismore Farmers Markets are on from 8am to 11:30am and Blue Knob Community Markets from 8:30am to 11:30am.Golf is also on but there are restrictions in place like playing in groups of two.As we head into the weekend, I thought we needed a laugh to lighten our lives for a few minutes. Sometimes you just need to relax and smile.I don't know about you but I feel lighter now.That is the Weekend Wrap.Don't forget to buy local over the weekend. If you're getting takeaway or want home delivery, this is the button to press Takeaway/Home Delivery.The Lismore App wants to remind you to support local businesses at this time. Your patronage keeps the doors open and protects the livelihoods of people in our community.

While dentist services are currently limited, there’s nothing stopping podiatrists from looking at your feet. The Covid19 health and hygiene restrictions our health system is working under has been causing some confusing messages for people needing teeth or feet care.Dentists are operating under level 3 restrictions, meaning only emergency cases can be looked at and no aerosols can be used. This has resulted in some Lismore dentist surgeries closing or reducing operating hours. PodiatryFor husband and wife team Lara Ivanchenko and Tom Murray Prior, their Lismore podiatry practice, A-Foot In Front Podiatry, has been hit hard, with many customers cancelling appointments, and some ringing up to see if the practice is still allowed to remain open.“We are open and we are considered an essential service,” Lara said. “We are getting a lot of cancellations because many of our clients are elderly and are isolating because of Covid, but some people thought we were not allowed to be open too.”Tom said many of their clients are “high risk” and are in need of regular treatments to avoid infections and ongoing health issues and hospitalisation.“80% of people over 65 see a podiatrist,” Tom said. “Health condition like diabetes, arthritis and vascular problems increase with age and put different pressures on feet and the way you walk and can cause things like ingrown toenails, corns and calluses.“As health professionals, we always follow stringent infection control procedures and our instruments are sterilised and we are always wiping down, cleaning and following the new rules to stop the spread of the virus.”The couple said they have been practicing in Lismore for 25 years and after the 2017 flood moved to their current location at 6 Diadem Street, opposite the Kmart loading dock.“Any elderly people coming here can park right in front of the door and we are following social distancing measures,” Lara said.If you want to contact them, phone 66214200.DentistryGoonellabah’s Sapphire Smiles Dental Care practice manager Amit Thaker said a lot of planned treatments were cancelled when the Government announced level three restrictions for dentists.“We can’t perform procedures that generate aerosols, but we can help people and look at them if there’s an emergency,” Amit said. “We can check if you have an infection and address it and make sure it doesn’t flare up - and we can write medication scripts.“We do need to use personal protective equipment and have limited supplies, so if we need to, we might need to send clients to the hospital, or to a specialist if it’s something we can’t deal with.“We are discouraging walk-ins to the clinic and have been receiving phone messages, where we go through a Covid-19 questionnaire to make sure the client is clinically safe.“Things are changing rapidly and every day it seems new restrictions are in place, but we are following the advice of the Dental Association, which is working with the health authorities.”Amit said the practice would be open next Monday, but intended to close Tuesday until after Easter because it was difficult to keep operating when there were few patients they can help at the moment.

The North Coast Outdoor Leisure Show has been cancelled for 2020.The news was delivered in a social media post from organisers today, as the major fundraising event joins the myriad of others cancelled as the pandemic isolations and lockdowns continue. The annual event, organised by the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, has been held in Lismore for many years, and was due to move to Bangalow this year.“As we are seeing across Australia, the COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on many large scale events,” organisers posted. “To ensure public safety the organisers of the Outdoor Leisure Show, the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, has taken steps this week to cancel the event for 2020.“At this stage it is too early to provide further information with regards to the planning or availability of dates for 2021.”Other cancellationsThe event joins other events in the area to have been cancelled, including Lismore Youth Festival, which was due to be held on April 15, and Thai New Year Songkran celebrations, which were to be held on April 5 at Lismore Showgrounds.Anzac DayAnzac Day, on April 25 will see some changes locally this year, after the Federal Government announced that all Australian-led international Anzac Day events, including the Dawn Service at Gallipoli, will be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.Discussions are currently underway within the Lismore Returned Servicemen’s League (RSL) about how the people of Lismore can participate without gathering together, to commemorate fallen soldiers.Watch this space for more information on Anzac Day in Lismore.The Lismore App wants to remind you to support local businesses at this time. Your patronage keeps the doors open and protects the livelihoods of people in our community.