Friday 22 January 2010

The Nationals Murray Lees gone after four DUI convictions


In the Tweed Daily News yesterday:

MURRAY Lees has resigned from his position as Tweed National Party chairman after being convicted of his fourth drink-driving offence at Murwillumbah Local Court yesterday.

Read the rest here.

Well, that's one blessing in an election year - Mr. Lees' style of election campaigning was always one of the more annoying aspects of NSW North Coast politics.

Lismore Community Garden is underway and wants to help you learn how to produce a bumper crop


The Lismore Community Garden at 50 Brewster Street is a joint project of Rainbow Region Community Farms Inc and the Northern Rivers Social Development Council, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health & Ageing and land supplied by Lismore City Council for the establishment of an urban community garden benefiting all Lismore residents.

Ground was seriously broken at the beginning of December 2009 and numerous training events will be held this year.

So if you live in the Lismore area and are interested learning about healthy food and sustainable productive gardening, here is the timetable for on-site training from early February to early July 2010:

Sat 6 Feb 2010 Making Compost
Tue 9 Feb
Backyard Gardening
Fri 19 Feb
Basic Health Eating
Sat 27 Feb
Introduction to Permaculture
Sat 6 Mar
Backyard Gardening
Thu 11 Mar
Starting a Community Garden
Sat 13 Mar
No Dig Gardens
Tue 16 Mar
Introduction to Permaculture
Fri 9 Apr
Filling Up on Fruit and Veg
Tue 13 Apr
Backyard Gardening
Sat 24 Apr
Introduction to Permaculture
Sat 1 May
How to start a worm farm
Sun 2 May
Permaculture Design Course (Week 1)
Sat 8 May
Backyard Gardening
Sun 9 May
Permaculture Design Course (Week 2)
Tue 11 May
Introduction to Permaculture
Fri 14 May
Fats, Sugars & Fats
Sat 15 May
Seed Saving
Sat 15 May
Introduction to Permaculture
Sun 16 May
Plant Propagation
Sun 16 May
Permaculture Design Course (Week 3)
Sun 23 May
Permaculture Design Course (Week 4)
Sun 30 May
Permaculture Design Course (Week 5)
Sat 5 Jun
How to start a worm farm
Sun 6 Jun
Permaculture Design Course (Week 6)
Tue 8 Jun
Backyard Gardening with Kids
Sat 12 Jun
Good Bugs, Bad Bugs
Sun 13 Jun
Permaculture Design Course (Week 7)
Sun 20 Jun
Permaculture Design Course (Week 8)
Fri 25 Jun
Modifying Recipes
Sun 27 Jun
Permaculture Design Course (Week 9)
Sun 4 Jul 2010
Permaculture Design Course (Week 10)

For more information contact Linda 02 6620 1815 or Carla 0400 680 300 or Donna 02 6620 1800.

Vegetable & Fruit photograph from Google Images

Journalist discovers that Tony Abbott is a living example of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle


I once read a very simple explanation of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle applied to quantum mechanics which went something like this - you can make predictions about how x will behave over the long run but you can never say how x will behave over the short run.
It looks as though Jacob Saulwick from The Sydney Morning Herald is discovering that about Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

"Abbott, therefore, spokesman for John Howard and now Leader of the Opposition, tells us that if you are a certain type of person, he will not be informing you that you are in the wrong. You could be up a pole, starving yourself, on an argument of dubious merit. You could be convinced that rising carbon dioxide emissions are good for the environment. But if you broadly identify as ''Middle Australia'', you'll mostly hear what you want to hear.

A corollary in much of what Abbott says is that if you are that certain type of person, you will not be imposed upon. You will not be hit with taxes or restrictions on living the life that you want. No, if the government does intrude into your life, it will be to entice you with incentives and encouragement.

This argument sets the Coalition up to harangue any suggestions for tax reform that come out of the Henry review in the coming months. It also begs the question of how it will pay for its incentives and encouragements.

And the third, and related, idea is that if this pitch to middle Australia throws up internal contradictions, then let's not spend time worrying about them........

But don't you want to plant more trees to soak up carbon dioxide? Isn't that going to be part of your climate change policy? Never mind."

Yep, there's no doubt about it - teh Mad Monk is set to say and do anything (go in four different directions at once if necessary) to get himself into Australia's driving seat. But in the long run he's bound to revert to all those regressive 1950's values and discredited political strategies he shares with John Howard and the country will be stuft.

Pic from 2009 astrology reading for Tony Abbott

Thursday 21 January 2010

Australia Day celebrations on the NSW North Coast 24-26 January 2010

Clarence Valley Australia Day 2010 Awards Ceremony
Event Begins at: 10:00 AM
Event Ends at: 12:30 PM
The Event is on: Tuesday, 26 January 2010
The Event will be Held at: Nip Welsh Park, Minnie Water
Event Type: Awards & Presentation, Citizenship Ceremony, Family Fun Day, Food & BBQ's, Music & Entertainment, Novelty Events, Official Ceremonies
This Event is Suitable for: Matured, Family, Disabled Access
Best Vantage Point is: Minnie Water
Getting there: Parking located close by
Event Web Site: http://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/

Coffs Harbour - Australia Day 2010 Celebrations
The day commences at 8.30 am with a Flag Raising Ceremony at the Cenotaph in Vernon Street. Morning tea is being held from 9.00 am in the Blue Room at the Coffs Harbour Ex-Services Club in Vernon Street. New citizens registration takes place during this time. The Citizenship and Award Ceremonies commence at 10.00 am in the Grand Auditorium of the Coffs Ex-Services Club.
Event Begins at: 8:30 AM
Event Ends at: 12:30 PM
The Event is on: Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Event Web Site: http://www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/

Richmond Valley - Australia Day 2010 Celebrations
Event Begins at: 9:45 AM
Event Ends at: 4:00 PM
The Event is on: Tuesday, 26 January 2010
The Event will be Held at: Ellengowan
Event Type: Art & Exhibitions, Awards & Presentation, Competitions, Family Fun Day, Flag Raising , Food & BBQ's, Music & Entertainment, Novelty Events, Official Ceremonies
This Event is Suitable for: Kids (6-9), Teenagers (14-18), Children (10-13), Adults, Matured, Family
Best Vantage Point is: Paddocks around hall
Event Web Site: http://www.visitrichmondvalley.com.au/

Tweed Shire - Australia Day 2010
Main Event Begins at: 10:30 AM
Event Ends at: 1:30 PM
The Event is on: Tuesday, 26 January 2010
The Event will be Held at: Burringbar Primary School Event Type: Awards & Presentation, Citizenship Ceremony, Official Ceremonies
This Event is Suitable for: Tots (<5), Kids (6-9), Teenagers (14-18), Young Adults (19-30), Children (10-13), Adults, Family, Disabled Access
Best Vantage Point is: next to Burringbar Sports Grounds
Getting there: past the Burringbar Village
Event Web Site: http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/

2010 Tweed Village Celebrations
Event Begins at: 7:00 AM
Event Ends at: 8:00 PM
The Event is on: Tuesday, 26 January 2010
The Event will be Held at: Villages across the Tweed Shire
Event Type: Family Fun Day
This Event is Suitable for: Tots (<5), Kids (6-9), Teenagers (14-18), Young Adults (19-30), Children (10-13), Adults, Family, Disabled Access
Event Web Site: http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/

Bellingen - Australia Day 2010 Celebrations
Event Begins at: 7:30 AM
Event Ends at: 3:00 PM
The Event is on: Tuesday, 26 January 2010
The Event will be Held at: Dorrigo
Event Type: Art & Exhibitions, Awards & Presentation, Citizenship Ceremony, Family Fun Day, Flag Raising , Food & BBQ's, Music & Entertainment, Novelty Events, Official Ceremonies
This Event is Suitable for: Family, Disabled Access
Best Vantage Point is: Hickory Street
Getting there: Free Bus from Urunga, Mylestom, Bellingen
Event Web Site: http://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/

Lismore - Australia Day 2010
Citizenship Ceremony

Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Time: 8.30am
Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre, 50 OLIVER AVENUE
Beginning with a Welcome to Country by local Aboriginal elders.
Other activities include Flag Raising, Address by Australia Day Ambassador Craig Foster, presentation of Australia Day Awards and musical entertainment.
The celebrations will be followed by Morning Tea when you will have an opportunity to meet Craig Foster.

For further information contact Council on 1300 87 83 87

Kyogle - Australia Day 2010 Celebrations

Kyogle & Woodenbong Celebrations will be held at Woodenbong Hall on 26 January 2010.

Formal proceedings commence from 9.15 am, presentation of awards together with a showcase of local students performing.
Free lunch available including spit roast rolls, sandwiches, cakes, tea coffee & cool drinks.
Weather permitting, a fun afternoon of Cricket at the Woodenbong Recreation Ground—all welcome.
Contact Chris 66305900.
West of the Range Celebrations will be held in Tabulam at the Racecourse commencing 10.00 am.
Lots of fun for the family with jumping castles, street stalls, sumo wrestling,
BBQ and award ceremony
Ph: Neville O’Malley 0427 285 144 for more information.

Byron Bay - Australia Day Paddle 2010
The Australia Day Paddle January 26 2010
Wategos Beach at 10am Two courses – the original 2.2km course as well as a 6.5km course for the more serious paddler.
Seven divisions for men and women:
Nipper paddle boards
Surfboards up to 7'
Surfboards 7'1" to 9'
Surfboards 9'1" to 10'
Open divisions:
Stand-up paddle boards
Racing skis


Ballina - Australia Day Celebrations 2010
Fawcett Park, Ballina at 9am January 26

Ballina Shire Concert Band performing and East Ballina Lions Club serving a barbecue breakfast.
Official proceedings will begin at 10am with the flag-raising ceremony, followed by the Citizenship ceremony and the Australia Day award ceremony.


Bangalow - Flickerfest 2010
19th International Short Film Festival
22rd - 24th January 2010 - A&i Hall, Bangalow
Screening: International 1 on Friday night
International 2 on Saturday night
Best Of Australian Shorts on Sunday night
Doors: 7.30pm each night - Films start: 8.30pm Tickets(available @door):
Friday: $20/15conc includes Opening Night Party with Jameson whiskey, Coopers beer, Rosnay organic wine & Phoenix drinks.
Sat or Sun: $15/10ea
Festival Pass: $35/30con

www.flickerfest.com.au

Say again - you did what??


A friend sent me a link to Just Answer Law (Ask an Australia Law Question, Get an Answer ASAP!) which had me wondering where on earth some people park their common sense as they grab the keys and decide to take a little ride on the NSW North Coast.

I was riding my un-registered, unregisterable mottorbike with no bike lisence. I was pulled up by a police officer on yamba rd and he let me off with a warning. One month later I received 3 fines in the mail, all adding up to over $1500. All fines stated that I was done riding on "Angourie rd". All i know is that I was pulled over by an officer on yamba rd and given a warning, I get fines saying I was riding on "angourie rd", when i was never pulled over by an officer, let alone ever riding on that angourie rd. I have sent the fines back so the matter can be resolved in court. Please let me know what you think.

Who's driving drunk on our roads?


When the subject of driving while on the turps comes up at my local watering hole quite a few fellow greybeards immediately start pointing a finger at young drivers.
Now if there's one thing northern NSW is known for it's the imbalance between age groups in the local population - with the number of older people steadily growing over the years and those in the late teens to twenties thin on the ground in towns and villages because many are moving away to get steady work .
So who exactly is responsible for the high number of drink-drivers on our North Coast roads?
Well a clue or two can be found in The Daily Examiner piece on 17th September 2009 when it reported that the Coffs-Clarence Area Command district had twice the state average of recorded driving under the influence nabs by police.
That works out as about 1 in every 75 drivers pulled over clearly testing positive for over-the-limit alcohol consumption.
But are they mostly youngies?
Nup and they're not tourists either.
Of the 49 drink-drivers mentioned in that newspaper since the very end of August 2009 up to last Monday, a whopping 33 of these drivers were between 30 and 68 years of age (half of these were middle aged and older).
They clearly trounced the young when it came to being caught with a skinful and accounted for all the high range PCAs highlighted.
Only 8 of the 49 drivers could be definitely tagged as tourists.
So the next time a mate at the bar starts mouthing off about the trouble with the young generation - tell him to pull his head in and watch how much he's knocking back himself.

Pic from Google Images