Move, relax and stretch in a free Tai Chi tomorrow, Tuesday, March 3 is free (yes FREE!). If you have never tried Tai Chi, but have been intrigued watching others doing Tai Chi, tomorrow is your chance to join in, in a friendly and accepting environment - at a regular beginner class.This month Tai Chi instructor, Rhiana, will hold free community sessions every Tuesday starting at 10am on March 3 at The Quad.Health benefits include improved circulation, balance and posture, increased strength and flexibility, and reduced stress.Feel free to drop by any of our classes and meet our instructor.Wear loose clothing and flat footwear, and bring a yoga mat.Rhiana has been a dedicated Tai Chi practitioner for over 10 years, she studied un Chen Zaozen in Chen Jiagou in China. The form that Rhiana will be teaching is a Yong style, developed by one of the sons of Yong whilst doing a 20 year prison sentence, hence can be performed in a 6sqm room. The class will begin with some Toaist yoga followed by some stretching and then form practice with the aim of learning where our bodies are at, keeping in mind that everyone’s Tai Chi is perfect, experience the joy of connecting with our bodies.For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2629727123915719/?event_time_id=2629727130582385

Award winning author, Chris Hammer, will appear “In Conversation” at the Goonellabah Library tomorrow, courtesy of Richmond Tweed Regional Library's new Regional Readers Book Club.Chris's latest best-selling crime novel Silver is the first title selected for the recently launched book club which encourages readers from across our community to enjoy the same book throughout February and March. Readers are then encouraged to join the conversation on the Library's Facebook page and to come along to the talks.Regional Library Manager Jo Carmody, said “the new book club is a great way for people to be able to participate in a book club, without being tied to a time and place as all of the conversation is happening on the Library's Facebook page”.“It's wonderful to have such a well¬renowned, award-winning author visiting our area and we are delighted to be featuring Chris's book, Silver, as our first Regional Readers Book Club title,” she said.Before turning to fiction, Chris was a journalist for more than thirty years, dividing his career between covering Australian Federal politics, and international affairs. He reported from more than thirty countries on six continents for SBS television. While in Canberra, his roles included chief political correspondent for The Bulletin, senior writer for The Age, and Online Political Editor for Fairfax.His book, Scrublands, won the 2019 John Creasy 'New Blood' Award for best first crime novel at the UK Crime Writers' Association, Dagger Awards. Chris has also written two non-fiction books, The River (2010) and The Coast (2012). The River won the ACT Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for the Walkley Book Award.Throughout March, the library will be posting questions about the book on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RichmondTweedRegionalLibrary. There are plenty of copies of Silver available to borrow or download. You can find out more about Regional Readers Book Club on the library website at www.rtrl.nsw.gov.au or on the Library App.Chris will be joined in conversation by former Lismore City Mayor, Jenny Dowell. The talk will be held at Goonellabah Library, 27 Oliver Ave, Goonellabah on Tuesday, March 3 at 7pm.

In line with national advice, NSW Health today urged people returning from Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand to be vigilant in monitoring themselves for respiratory symptoms or fever. In addition to the outbreak in mainland China, there are increasing reports of transmission of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) or the potential for outbreaks in these countries.  NSW Health has daily telephone conferences with the Commonwealth and other states and territories to ensure a national process to assess the risk associated with travel and for developing consistent advice. The Commonwealth Department of health website is regularly updated with the latest health and travel advice. Travellers should check SmartTraveller web site. NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said symptoms may be very mild, and include fever, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath. “If symptoms develop, immediately isolate yourself and call your doctor or health direct 1800 022 222 for an assessment,” Dr Chant said. If you have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or returned from mainland China you must self-isolate for 14 days since last contact or departure from mainland China. “Please avoid gatherings if you have been in contact with suspect cases in countries where there have been outbreaks,” Dr Chant said. NSW Health provides up-to-date information on COVID-19 on its website and will continue to advise the community of developments.“I want to stress there is still no evidence of community transmission of COVID-19 in Australia,” Dr Chant said. “This advice is to protect the community and the health of individuals who have visited higher risk international destinations.” Practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence against most viruses. For more information, find the facts at www.health.nsw.gov.au.

We have had our fair share of rain recently especially on the weekends so it is with pleasure, and a little hope, that I can tell you we will have some sunshine over the two days.Take a look at this photo I took on Wednesday night in Goonellabah just before the storm hit us. The sky can provide some spectacular sights sometimes.The BOM has said a 60% chance of rain later this evening plus the same chance of showers and a possible storm tomorrow evening with the days looking pretty good. Sunday is the pick with only a 20% chance of rain and tops of 28 glorious degrees.Our fingers are crossed for David Lander and the team at Lismore Speedway for this Saturday night's meeting. They haven't had one now for five weeks because of the wet weather so they are due some luck and we are due some great racing action at the Showground track. The V8's Modified Dirt Scramble is the main event with the street stocks, national 4's plus for lovers of old cars the Legend Cars are back at the Lismore Speedway. Action starts at 5:30pm. Get down and show some love for the speedway.Hopefully, we will see a full round of sport this weekend also. Check out what's on in Sport.If your Friday night is vacant, you could try being spontaneous and check out some live theatre at Lismore City Hall. One of Australia's favourite performers Jonathon Biggins plays Paul Keating, our former PM. The Gospel According to Paul is a comedy so no need to worry about which side of the political fence you sit. The show gets under way at 7:30 with tickets $59 adults and $53 Seniors and Concessions.Maybe live music is your scene? Live Baby Live the Inxs tribute show is on tonight at the Workers Club from 7:30 for some more spontaneity. Relive the songs from one of the biggest bands in the world in the 80's with Devil Inside, Need You Tonight and New Sensation.The leap year brings an extra day of entertainment with the Cath Simes Band playing at Mary G's on Saturday night from 9:30.The Lismore Farmers Markets are on again tomorrow morning from 8am. Say g'day to Scott and Kristin in their Mayfields Market Kitchen food van, their omelette is very good but beware it is also large!The Blue Knob Markets open their doors at 8:30am tomorrow then on Sunday the Lismore Car Boot Markets are on again from 7:30am to 2pm.With the weather looking positive, it is a good time to get your walking in for Relay For Life coming up on March 28. I will do a shameful plug for the Lismore App team, you can find us here. We would love as many people as possible to join our team or if you cannot make it for the walk please donate some of your hard earned cash to help those who are suffering from or in recovery from cancer. Like many businesses ours is made up of some wonderful people who have had first hand experience of this dreadful disease. Push on this link to join or donate https://www.cancercouncil.org.au/relayforlife/teams/ei00156614/.If you are in the market for a new or update on your car, check out the Cars/Bikes For Sale button. We welcomed Lismore Nissan, Lismore Used Car Superstore and Lismore Motorcycles this week so there is plenty to choose from Cars/Bikes For Sale.Finally, Saturday March 14 is fast approaching so invite your extended family and friends to the Norco Eat The Street food festival in the CBD now. The food, drink and entertainment has been ordered, now for the weather.Enjoy the sun and enjoy your weekend!

With over 30% less apprenticeships available now in the Northern Rivers than seven years ago, the future for local tradies is more dire that ever.This week, the NSW Government announced a review of the TAFE training system - the largest vocational education and training (VET) provider in the country. The review has been hit by criticism, with fears it could lead to the privatisation of the sector and an increased skills shortage.Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the review would be led by education expert David Gonski and Professor Peter Shergold, who will report to the NSW Government by July 2020.“We want students to think of TAFE the same way they think of university, as a leading institution for furthering their education and gaining the skills of the future,” Ms Berejiklian said in a statement.“This Review will consider initiatives like a HECS-style program for TAFE students, greater industry involvement in co-designing courses and making sure courses are as up-to-date as possible.”State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin is worried that despite the review, NSW TAFE campuses will remain under threat, having already had more than 5000 staff cuts state-wide, and now with 175,000 fewer students.Australia Bureau of Statistics data provided by NSW labor shows about 750 apprentices and trainees in the Northern Rivers region have been lost as a result of the Federal Government’s $3 billion dollars in cuts to TAFE and training. In the electorate of Page, the number of traineeships in 2013 was 2386; while in March 2019, numbers declined by 31% to 1636.Ms Saffin said the TAFE sector needed to be rebuilt, after the Coalition government had decimated TAFE by “slowly cutting the valued public education institution to the bone”.Dire situation She said the situation was so dire that she now had numerous local tradies contacting her about being unable to complete their plumbing courses. “I received a letter from one Lismore man in his early 20s who had recently finished his plumbing apprenticeship and had been trying to further his study to become a licensed contractor for over 12 months,” Ms Saffin said. “He has been unable to do so because his local TAFE is not running the course. “Another tradie complained to me said that they have been told there are not enough students to run the course and he was told to go to Coffs Harbour - but my inquiries tell me there are enough students. “They were told to drive 2½ hours three days a week for a 14-week block, and to take time out of their jobs. How can they do that? It is impossible.” Ms Saffin said the fact that TAFE had had four managing directors over the 12 months of 2018-19 “said it all”, and suggested that the $6 million the Government had spent on consultancy fees would be better spent on not introducing HECs fees for the VET sector. Ms Saffin said she was particularly concerned about the way the Government treats TAFE as a private VET, as it does the higher education providers.“TAFE should be the core of the VET sector, education and the workforce – just like Medicare is to the health sector,” she said. More cuts?NSW Labor has also slammed the Liberals and Nationals, after they refused to rule out cutting TAFE courses and closing TAFE campuses. In Parliament this week, Liberal Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee refused to guarantee TAFE services would not be cut as a result of the newly announced TAFE review.NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay said in a statement “this follows Ms Berejiklian’s failure to rule out the privatisation of TAFE in media reports earlier this week” and that “it should be ringing alarm bells”. Premier Berejiklian said TAFE could become a better option for students than university, when it came to some high-end technical jobs.“We need more tradies in existing trades, but we also need to prepare workers in new areas like 3D printing, robotics and other technology industries to provide the jobs of the future in places like the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and the Sydney Tech Hub,” Ms Berejiklian said.“In 2019-20, the NSW Government is investing $2.3 billion in the Vocational Education and Training sector to build a skilled and employable workforce, which includes approximately $585 million in funding from the Commonwealth.“TAFE NSW is the largest VET provider in the country, with a budget of $1.85 billion in 2019-20.”What the review will look atSome of the issues to be examined by the new Review will include;• Opportunities to resolve current skills shortages to benefit the State’s economy• How TAFE NSW can better work with industry to meet future skills shortages• Better integration of secondary, vocational and tertiary learning opportunities• How findings can be implemented through exemplar projects.

Southern Cross University’s Forest Research Centre is seeking landholders willing to collaborate in establishing field trials.These trials are aimed at testing the benefits of different agricultural production systems that include trees and forests.SCU School of Environmental Science lecturer, Dr Graeme Palmer said lots of people in this region have property. “They might be macadamia farmers, or graziers, who have additional land available that isn’t suited to those primary activities,” he said. “We’re wanting to trial planting trees on that land, using different methods, to see if it is complimentary to their business and could potentially produce a secondary income stream or add value in some way.”“Our aim is to gather data to work out if there are benefits to this type of farming – such as enhancing property value, providing tourism opportunities, providing shelter for animals or protecting the landscape – and what value can be gained by adding this agro-forestry aspect to the overall business.” The target region for the proposed research is the Richmond River catchment, and the range of environments the catchment includes.The work itself is about measuring the fate* of water and nutrients in the rural landscape, how these may be managed using physical and biological approaches (including forests), and if these can be managed better over the long-term cycles of climate, such as drought and flood, to lift farm production.Anyone who would like more information is welcome to attend an information session on Thursday, March 5, 10am to 3pm at Southern Cross University A Block, Military Road, Lismore.For more information email graeme.palmer@scu.edu.au or visit https://www.scu.edu.au/forest-research-centre/ *When water or nutrients enter the farm as rainfall or fertilizer, what happens after that? Does the water infiltrate the soil and become available for plant growth? Or does it run off to the creek and take nutrient with it to exit the property at the lowest point.

At the end of Tuesday night’s Lismore City Council meeting, Councillors voted (6-5) to not move into a confidential session, where three issues were to be discussed. Instead of discussing the matters in the public arena, the meeting was then closed by Mayor Isaac Smith, and the agenda items were not discussed.Councillor Nancy Casson was one of the six councillors who voted to keep the session open to the public, and on webcast. She said she concerned about the increasing number of issues being brought into confidential sessions of Council meetings. “We need to be open and transparent,” Cr Casson said. “Why did we vote whether or not to move into confidential if it wasn’t going to happen?”Cr Casson said she and Councillors Bennet, Battista, Lloyd, Guise and Ekins all voted to stay out of confidential session.“I was thrilled when we got six votes to keep the meeting open,” she said. “Then I was disappointed when we should have proceeded, but the mayor shut the meeting down.“The six of us who voted thought the issues to be discussed were not worthy of being confidential.“They were about the outcome of what’s happening at the Recycling and Recovery Centre after the fire because we’ve received a few tenders. “Also, the disposal of Council land on the Bruxner Highway. The ratepayers should know what’s going on with those things.”Cr Casson said the only item she deemed worthy of some confidentiality was about the Council Director role position.“That could have been discussed without mentioning any names,” she said.“We are getting more and more shoved into confidential mode and I don’t like it.”Deputy Mayor Darlene Cook was one of the five Councillors who voted to move into confidential session, along with Mayor Smith and Councillors Moorhouse, Marks and Bird.Cr Cook said she supported Mayor Smith’s decision to keep matters confidential because she believed that staff matters such as making a job temporary or permanent, or Council selling land “shouldn’t be out there in the public arena”.Read more: Lismore Council votes in support of Julian Assange Next meetingThe undiscussed matters are likely to appear on the agenda for the next scheduled Council meeting on March 10. It’s possible that meeting could be another lengthy endurance feat for all attendees.Lismore City Council’s first meeting for 2020 on February 11, was a mammoth five hours long, and involved numerous members of the public speaking on issues before Councillors debated the issues.The meeting then moved into confidential session at 11pm for another 30 minutes of discussion.There were still undiscussed matters from that meeting, which meant a continuation of the meeting took place this week on Tuesday, February 25.After four recision motions were lodged by Councillors following the last meeting/s, the March meeting will again see a return of some of the same matters already discussed. There will be a return of discussion about the proposed Fit Farm at Tuncester, Lismore’s Race Day public holiday, the relocation of a house at James Street, Goonellabah and Council’s public conduct policy.Councillor Casson said she is also introducing a motion for Council to withdraw its Special Rate Variation application to IPART.“It’s my top priority for March,” she said. “It will be a long meeting.” 

Lismore City Council has passed an official motion in support of jailed Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange. The decision, made at Tuesday night’s meeting, makes Lismore the first New South Wales Council to move a motion to support him, joining Darebin, Yarra and Moreland Melbourne Councils.The motion of support was introduced by Deputy Mayor Darlene Cook, who said Council would now write a letter to the Foreign Minister calling for the government to provide full assistance to Julian Assange, who is facing extradition from the UK to the US under an Espionage Act (1917) prosecution for engaging in journalistic activity.“This week is the first week of his hearings in the UK,” Cr Cook said. “The motion acknowledges Julian Assange is in poor health and facing torture and extradition to the US and 175 years imprisonment. “He needs urgent Consular support to help him prepare his defence and the Australian Government has failed to support him over the past ten years.“The Deputy Mayor of Byron Council is putting up a similar motion at Byron Council’s meeting today.”Cr Cook said she had received some criticism asking what ‘does Julian Assange have to do with Lismore?’“We are not just a town of parochial people - we are global citizens and he has strong support in the community,” she said.“Maybe some people are still unhappy with Wikileaks, but there’s already been ten years of injustice with people hounding him, strip searching him and calling for his execution.“The Obama government said he hadn’t committed an offence – it’s not an offence to publish government documents. "The New York Times had already printed unredacted versions of the documents and they never got prosecuted. It was President Trump who decided the media is the enemy and punished journalists who criticise his regime – and he targeted Assange."Julian Assange has a connection to the Northern Rivers community. “He spent a few years at Goolmangar Primary School as a young fella and people still think of him as a local boy,” Cr Cook said

St Carthage’s primary school is even closer to God now, with the school roof now heralding a large cross in the centre of its new solar panel installation.The new 100 kilowatt solar set up reaches for the heavens, and can only be seen from an aerial view, or by drone footage – which installer Nick Lake, of Nickel Energy said looked “fantastic”.Nick said when the school approached Nickel Energy to put the solar system on the roof, his team worked on a technical design that incorporated 300 solar panels and encapsulated the spirit of the Catholic school.“When we were exploring ideas for how to lay out the panels, we left a gap in the middle in the shape of a cross - and the staff and kids at the school were really pleased with it,” Nick said.  Nick said the drive to get the solar installation came from the Year 5 students last year.“The class was doing a project on sustainability and the students said they would love to see solar power on the roof,” Nick said. “So, their teacher engaged with the Principal and they got in touch with us.“The idea tied in with the Catholic schools’ drive towards sustainability. The Pope made a statement recently about supporting renewable energy.“We’ve also installed solar panels on a number of other Catholic schools.“The solar installation will save the school about $33,000 a year in electricity costs.”Nick said Nickel Energy has been in business in the local area for 12 years. “Nickel Energy also built the world’s first solar powered train which runs in Byron Bay to the Arts and Industrial Estate,” Nick said“We won Australian engineering awards for it and now we are working with other countries who also want to build solar trains.”

Singer-songwriter Patty Griffin will be playing one show at NORPA in March during her return tour of Australia.  Patty Griffin was last in Australia in 2008 and sold-out her shows. She has attracted a cult-following with her passionate performance style, telling heartfelt stories with her powerful vocals.Over the course of two decades, the Grammy award-winner – and seven-time nominee – has crafted nine classic studio albums and two live collections, a body of work that prompted the New York Times to hail her for “cameo-carved songs that create complete emotional portraits of specific people…(her) songs have independent lives that continue in your head when the music ends.” Widely regarded among the best singer-songwriters of her era, this year’s self-titled album, Patty Griffin collects songs written during and in the aftermath of profound personal crisis, several years in which she battled – and ultimately defeated – cancer.Patty Griffin’s universal songbook has been covered by Kelly Clarkson, Dixie, Bon Iver, Miranda Lambert, Melissa Etheridge, Brandi Carlile, Solomon Burke, Joan Baez, Shawn Colvin, Ben Harper and Linda Ronstadt.Griffin has also collaborated with a wide range of prolific artists, among them Emmylou Harris, Robert Plant, Jack Ingram, Gillian Welch, and David Rawlings. Chronicling love and death, heartache and joy, connection and detachment, Patty Griffin continues with her uncanny perception, and ever-increasing ingenuity. NORPA and Frontier Touring present Patty Griffin at NORPA at Lismore City Hall on Friday, March 13 at 7.30pm.The Secret Chef diner and bar opens from 5pm. Tickets cost $69 - $75.For information or to book, visit http://www.norpa.org.au or phone 1300 066 772.

Gender equity outside of the binary is being honoured at Southern Cross University (SCU) in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).SCU has recently been awarded an Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award, by Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE), for its commitment to advancing the careers of women, trans and gender diverse individuals in STEMM.The award was received by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Mary Spongberg at a Gala Dinner, held at the Adelaide Town Hall on February 20.Involvement in this program commits the University to a broad range of actions designed to build gender equity in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) and across the University.The bronze award is confirmation that the University has demonstrated sufficient evidence that it not only understands the current state of gender equity, and the structures, systems and culture which contribute to gender equity in STEMM disciplines; but that it has a solid plan to implement positive change in this area over the next four years.“Our action plan commits Southern Cross to providing a safe and respectful workplace, flexible work arrangements and to developing our women researchers in STEMM and other disciplines,” Professor Spongberg said. “Diversity is critical to innovation and as a Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) it is very important to me to promote diversity in all our research activities.”Vice Chancellor, Professor Adam Shoemaker, is a Male Champion of Change, and chairs the University’s newly-created Gender Equity Committee. He has introduced KPIs in this area for each of the Senior Executive.“There is no doubt that achieving gender equity is a top priority for the University,” Prof Shoemaker said.“I believe our strong participation in the Athena SWAN program will assist us to attract, retain and to advance our talented STEMM staff and students. Beyond the STEMM disciplines, we are equally sure that the initiative will embed cultural change which will enhance the development of the entire University.”“Finally, we have actioned change across the University and – with the strong support of our HR colleagues – have embedded new attitudes towards gender success in operational plans for each work unit.”The project was led by many people across the University. “I want to particularly recognise Professor Anja Scheffers, Professor Mary Spongberg and our Director of HR Services, Ms Sharon Farquhar for their amazing contributions,” said Professor Shoemaker.  The Athena SWAN Awards panel noted Southern Cross University’s commitment to considering gender equity outside of the binary, and the ongoing commitment to equity, and indeed gender equity, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

There's a new attraction at Lismore’s Eat the Street Food Festival this year - it's an Eat the Street Garden Party in the Back Alley Gallery.For the first time the Back Alley Gallery will be transformed into a private retreat, giving festival attendees the option to escape the crowds and relax in a laid-back atmosphere with live music, a private bar, private facilities and lots of seating. Lismore City Council’s Acting City Manager Nathan Dee said "we are really looking forward to running the Garden Party in conjunction with this year’s Norco Eat the Street". “A private area for people to relax and soak in the festival’s atmosphere has been missing in previous years and we are excited to develop this initiative for 2020," he said. “With a great selection of local foods, live music, cooking demos and entertainment, the addition of the Garden Party rounds out what is set to be one of the best Eat the Streets yet.” The Garden Party will be held at the festival on Saturday, March 14. Tickets to the Garden Party are $50 and includes a $20 of food voucher to be spent throughout the festival. More information can be found at http://www.eatthestreetlismore.com.au

It’s not paranoia - Nimbin Village is under camera surveillance.Lismore City Council has recently completed the upgrade of the CCTV camera network within the Nimbin Village. The works have resulted in the upgrading of five cameras at existing locations, as well as the addition of two new locations in the Western Carpark and on Cullen Street opposite the community centre.Council’s Compliance Coordinator Matt Kelly said each location will have one pan-tilt zoom camera and one fixed-camera providing visual monitoring 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “The system does not include audio or facial recognition technology,” Mr Kelly said.The Nimbin system is a stand-alone system that can be viewed remotely from the Nimbin Police Station. The intention is to increase the system’s performance with remote viewing from Lismore Police Station and Lismore City Council CCTV Control Room.“The upgrades have significantly increased coverage within the Cullen and Sibley Street precincts and coverage within the Western Car Park for the first time,” Mr Kelly said.“The new camera technology delivers superior high-resolution imagery and will enable NSW Police to alter camera views in response to unfolding events.”The CCTV network was identified as a key safety action in the Council’s Crime Prevention Plan with the upgrading works ensuring an effective and modern safety measure remains in place.The project, undertaken by Fredon Security Pty Ltd, was funded through Round 3 of the NSW Community Safety Fund – NSW Government Justice. 

Not everyone is happy about the North Coast Outdoor Leisure Show moving to a new home at Bangalow Showgrounds in July this year.The leisure show is the one of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service’s main fundraising events and has been held at Lismore Showgrounds for many years.The move to Bangalow has disappointed some Lismore business owners who have been exhibiting at the Lismore-based event for a number of years.Nissan Lismore owner, Paul O’Neill, said his business but won’t be going to the show at Bangalow this year.“We have been exhibiting at it for many years and it’s always been a Lismore fundraiser,” Paul said. “But Bangalow is not in the primary network area where we sell cars, so we won’t be going.“Lismore is supportive of the event and it would be good for it to stay. We usually take 20 cars and it costs a lot of money to take 20 cars to Bangalow.“Going to Bangalow won’t get more people through the gate, just less exhibitors.  “The event just needs better promotion to get as many people through the gate as possible.”Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service spokesperson Zeke Huish said the local show had seen some challenges and changes over the years, along with other Australian regional leisure shows.“We didn’t make decision to move the event to Bangalow lightly,” he said.“We are conscious of being a regional service with our roots in Lismore, but the environment has changed for people and business.“The size of the show used to attract over 200 exhibitors and filled the Lismore Showground, but in the last five years, online shopping and the drought has impacted on people exhibiting at the show.“So, we looked for a venue that better suits the size of the show. This year, we are aiming for over 100 exhibitors and if we get to 150 that would be fantastic. “The compact layout of Bangalow Showground show can help deliver a vibrant show. “The feedback we also got is that local exhibitors find it hard to keep their shops open on the weekend, because they also need to bring stock and staff to display. “With the new highway upgrade, we thought we would try to position the show in the long term closer to the coastal population base, but keep it in the Northern Rivers area. “The show attracts audiences from across Australia to exhibit products here and some of them travel a long way to bring the gear.”The North Coast National Secretary Mark Bailey said the Lismore Showground committee regrets the decision of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service to move the Outdoor Leisure Show to the Bangalow Showground. Upcoming Rescue Helicopter Service fundraiser eventsWhile the Outdoor Leisure Show won’t take place until July, Zeke said there are a number of other charity events for the helicopter service taking place before that to raise funds for the helicopter service. This week, a Leader's Leap will be happening in Tweed Heads, where two Lismore local sportsmen will abseil from a ten storey building.Read more: It's football vs rugby as locals leap off a buildingThen the first of the Rescue Helicopter’s Coastal Charity Walk events take place in March. Since 2012 over 11,861 people have taken part in one or more of Coastal Charity Walks. Their combined steps have seen 317,145kms walked in total.This year the Lismore based Helicopter Service invites everyone to register and take part as they look to surpass 384,400kms...the same distance from Earth to the Moon.They have three walks taking place on beaches in: Kingscliff (March 14), Byron Bay (May 30) and the Coffs Coast (June 6) beaches.You can visit http://www.coastalcharitywalk.com.au to register and help them save lives and complete their virtual lunar voyage.

Recent rainfall has brought much-needed relief from drought and bushfires across the North Coast, but the wet weather can also pose risks for livestock. North Coast Local Land Services District Vet, Ian Poe said "now that we’ve had some rain in most parts of the region, it’s a good time to review the vaccination status of livestock and give booster injections where appropriate, particularly for clostridial diseases such as pulpy kidney". Pulpy kidney most commonly occurs in young, growing stock grazing lush pasture or being fed on grain or pellets. Most cases are found dead, though if seen prior to death, clinical signs can include convulsions, kicking at abdomen and diarrhoea. “Recent rain may also increase the risk of internal parasites. Owners of sheep, goats and alpaca especially should be mindful of the risk of barbers pole worm which can kill stock quite quickly,” Ian said.  "Landholders are also advised to check pastures for new weeds and toxic plants that could cause further problems for stock."Floodwaters may also bring with them undesirable weeds, and areas inundated should be monitored for weeds. Pasture toxicities including Kikuyu toxicity and nitrate poisoning are also possible after rain following a dry spell. And while rainfall will hopefully alleviate water supply shortages, when heavy rain occurs after a long dry spell, water can be contaminated by an influx of debris and sediment.  “Water test kits are available from Local Land Services, and we are currently offering free testing services of stock water for drought or fire-affected producers. “We have even seen flash flooding cause some stock losses. It may be wise to move animals to safer paddocks or higher ground where fast-rising floods are more likely while the storm season continues.” For more information about water quality, weeds, diseases and other animal health issues, contact your nearest Local Land Services office.

There’s free pre-show entertainment NORPA for the rest of the year.To kick off the theatre season this week, The Essential Collective will be playing jazz music this Thursday and Friday, February 27 and 28, while The Secret Chef diner serves up the food in the NORPA Courtyard Bar at Lismore City Hall from 6pm. The Gospel According to Paul is on stage at 7.30pm.NORPA Artistic Director Julian Louis said NORPA is making your night out at the theatre just that little bit more special."We're making a night out at NORPA the complete experience for all our shows for the rest of the year,” he said. “You come together with friends in our Courtyard Bar, have something delicious to eat, hear some great music and then go and see a fantastic show," Julian said."Everyone is welcome - even if you want to just come and hang out, have a drink after work and listen to some great live tunes."Brisbane jazz outfit The Essential Collective plays this week, before Jonathan Biggins' performances of 'The Gospel According to Paul'.The Essential Collective is a group of jazz musicians led by guitarist Luke Stapleton. Luke is based in Brisbane where he is completing his Masters in Jazz Performance at the Queensland Conservatorium. Joining Luke at NORPA's courtyard bar will be Benjamin Ryan on keys. Together they will explore some of their favourite standards, groovy fusion tunes and a selection of Luke's originals.The music plays this Thursday 27 and Friday 28 February 6-7.15pm at 1 Bounty Street, Lismore.Performances of The Gospel According to Paul featuring Jonathan Biggins will commence at 7:30pm. One of Australia’s favourite performers, Jonathan Biggins, is Paul Keating – visionary, reformer and rabble-rouser – in the return of the smash hit comedy, The Gospel According to Paul. Full of intelligence and wit, The Gospel According to Paul is a funny, insightful and occasionally poignant portrait of Paul Keating.The man that – as he tells it – single-handedly shaped contemporary Australia. “I’ve been playing Paul Keating for many years now – when he saw me appearing as him in the Wharf Revue, his first comment was: “I’d have been wearing a better suit.” Sadly, we didn’t have the budget for a Zegna then and to be perfectly honest we still don’t, but this is the first time I’ve attempted to explore one of Australia’s most enduring political figures in something more complex than the sketch or short monologue format,” Jonathan Biggins said. “Keating is such a great character to write for and perform – he was funny, sharp, emotional and flamboyant; the bovver-boy from Bankstown who was as comfortable writing an essay on neo-classicism and the architecture of Berlin as he was staring down the Head of Treasury to float the dollar."No government has tackled as much difficult reform as the Hawke-Keating ministries and while some of the long-term results have unsettled many, they certainly changed Australia’s perception of itself and where it might find a place and a role in the world.” “I hope we shed the occasional light on the contradictions and complexities of a great leader whose vision, courage and determination are sadly missing in what passes for our contemporary political class. Do better, ya mugs!"For more information, or to book, visit http://www.norpa.org.au

While we love living in Lismore, sometimes, you might actually need to leave the local government area.So, if you are planning to head north or south on the Pacific Highway this week, you might need to plan ahead as essential maintenance work is being undertaken on our major roadways.Tonight (Tuesday, February 25) and tomorrow night (Wednesday, February 26), motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions on the Pacific Motorway at the Tugun Bypass Tunnel.Both the northbound and southbound lanes of the tunnel will be closed over the two nights, between 7pm and 6am. During the Tuesday night closure, northbound traffic will be diverted at the Kennedy Drive off ramp with southbound traffic re-entering the highway at the Kennedy Drive on ramp. Both northbound and southbound traffic will be diverted onto the Gold Coast Highway and Stewart Road on Wednesday night. Motorists are advised to allow up to 10 minutes additional travel time for both diversions, drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control. The tunnel will remain fully operational during the day. Routine maintenance of the tunnel is carried out every three months and involves a range of measures such as inspecting the various operating and safety systems.South of Ballina Nightwork on the Pacific Highway will also be underway until Sunday, March 1 for the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade, weather permitting. On the Pacific Highway at Pimlico, asphalting will be taking place on the southbound lanes and southbound traffic will be moved onto the northbound carriageway. Motorists can expect traffic control and reduced speed limits between 6am and 6pm. From Wednesday, there will be three nights of work on the Pacific Highway at Woodburn to carry out line marking. Motorists can expect lane closures and traffic control between 6pm and 6am. Also, roadworks on the Pacific Highway between New Italy and Woodburn will be undertaken. Motorists can expect traffic control, a reduced speed limit of 60km/h and short stoppages at times between 6am and 6pm, to allow for earthwork and paving to take place. Further south, there will be up to four days of work next to the Pacific Highway between Tyndale and Maclean to carry out survey work. Motorists can expect traffic control and short stoppages at times between 6am and 6pm. Also from Wednesday, there will be up to three days of work next to the Pacific Highway at Mororo to remove traffic barriers. Motorists can expect traffic control and short stoppages at times between 6am and 6pm. Further south from Wednesday, there will be up to three days of work on the Pacific Highway at Glenugie to install signs and remove concrete barriers. Motorists can expect traffic control and short stoppages at time between 7am and 6pm.The Pacific Highway between Halfway Creek and Ballina will also see emergecy road repairs being carried out following heavy rain.  Work will be carried out to inspect road infrastructure, clear debris and fill potholes to restore a smoother, safer surface for all road users. Traffic control and a reduced speed limit will be in place for the safety of workers and motorists. Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions, and follow the directions of signs and traffic control. Transport for NSW assures the community this work is being carried out as quickly and as safely as possible and thanks motorists for their patience during this time. Additional changes to local roads From Monday, work will be carried out on the southbound on-ramp of the Yamba interchange including asphalting, line marking and construction of a concrete median. A temporary detour will be in place for southbound motorists accessing the Pacific Highway from Yamba Road. Traffic control will be in use on Woodburn-Evans Head Road at Woodburn for up to five days to allow vehicles to access the project site and carry out drainage work. Motorists can expect lane closures and traffic control between 6am and 6pm. Also from Monday, there will be five nights of work on Whites Road and Wondawee Way for pavement work. Motorists can expect lane closures and traffic control between 6am and 6pm. Traffic control will be in place on Jubilee Street at Townsend and McIntyres Lane at Gulmarrad for six days from Monday to allow access to site and install signs. Motorists can expect lane closures, a reduced speed limit if 40km/h and short stoppages at times between 6am and 6pm. Further south from Monday, there will be five days of work on Old Six Mile Lane at Glenugie and Wooli Road at Pillar Valley to install guardrails and carry out road maintenance and drainage work. Motorists can expect lanes closures, traffic control and short stoppages at times between 7am and 6pm. The old Mororo Bridge is temporarily closed while drainage is installed. Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the direction 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 http://wwwlivetraffic.com or call 132 701.

Lismore based subcontractors and small businesses can apply to help Richmond Valley in the clean up after the recent bushfires. The NSW Government has appointed Laing O’Rourke to coordinate the clean-up of fire damaged residential and eligible commercial properties in the area. This includes both insured and uninsured properties.Laing O’Rourke are now accepting expressions of interest from local suppliers and subcontractors that may have capability and capacity to provide goods and/or services in affected regions.Project spokesperson Ian Hudson said subcontractors are being sought from all regions, but preference is being given to those directly affected by the fires, followed by regional suppliers.The clean-up of bushfire-impacted properties may include the removal of known hazardous materials, including asbestos; the removal of materials destroyed by bush fire and hazardous trees, and; with the consent of building owners, removal of concrete slab foundations.Laing O'Rourke will work with subcontractors and local small businesses to ensure they are engaged in the delivery of the clean-up process – providing much-needed stimulus to local economies.Information about work packages and submitting an EOI is available through the icngateway website https://gateway.icn.org.au/project/4510/nsw-bushfire-clean-up-program

The Boys Hair & Make Up salon on Magellan Street have stunned the judges with an amazing Purple Week window display. They were one of two local businesses to take home the inaugural Purple Week Best Dressed Store trophy.Across Lismore, over 60 businesses turned purple last week to raise awareness for the upcoming Cancer Council fundraiser event on March 28 and 29 - Relay For Life. Read more about Relay For Life: Relay For LifeMakoda Boutique also took out a Best Dressed Store prize.Cancer Council’s community relations coordinator Erin Turnbull said the week was a success, with so many businesses decorating their shops purple to raise awareness for the event.“Store shopfronts from Lismore’s CBD, to the Lismore Square and Goonellabah were decorated in the name of cancer,” Erin said.“We are so grateful for the efforts put toward purple decorations and the awareness that has been spread.”Lismore & Villages Relay For Life chair Leanne Thompson, said awarding the Best Dressed Store prize was extremely difficult.“The committee paraded the streets thanking businesses for their support and snapping photos along the way,” she said.“All the stores looked incredible and we really appreciate the efforts of everyone involved. However, The Boys Hair & Makeup in the Lismore CBD and Makoda Boutique in the Lismore Square took home Best Dressed Store this year.”The Lismore & Villages Relay For Life is now on a four week countdown.Leanne said the much-anticipated biennial event will have great food trucks, live music and activities for all ages at all hours at the Southern Cross University Campus in Lismore.The 18-hour event on March 28 and 29 will begin Saturday afternoon from 3pm until 9am the following morning.  “We could not run our Relay For Life event without the support of our local community,” she said.“We’d like to give special thanks to our major sponsors Wal Murray First National Real Estate, Magenta Community Services, Lismore Toyota, BCU Lismore and Southern Cross University.”To register your team, contact Erin Turnbull at Cancer Council NSW on 6639 1300 or visit https://www.cancercouncil.org.au/lismorerelayCancer Council NSW is a community funded, community focused cancer charity dedicated to the defeat of cancer.Through the development of prevention strategies, research into new treatments and cures, and by providing clinical and emotional support to those affected by cancer, the Council work towards realising a vision of a society where lives are not cut short by or their quality diminished by cancer.