State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin is encouraging Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands residents to nominate local champions for the 2021 Community Achievement Awards for Regional NSW and the ACT

 

Office of NSW Labor MLA for Lismore Janelle Saffin, media release,

10 Jun 2021:

Bring out your best Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands!

STATE Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin is encouraging Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands residents to nominate local champions for the 2021 Community Achievement Awards for Regional NSW and the ACT.

“Everyone knows of someone who really puts in for their local community but for whatever reason may not have received the public attention or accolades for their volunteer service,” Ms Saffin said.

“This year’s Community Achievement Awards are a chance to recognise, celebrate and thank our unsung heroes as we have faced off challenges such as drought, bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Nominations can be made in the following categories:

• Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Individual Excellence in Crown Land Management Award

• Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Crown Land Manager Excellence Award

• Ricoh Australia Customer Service Award

• TransGrid Leadership Award

• Awards Australia Connecting Communities Award

There are prizes for each of the category winners, who will also be presented on stage with a trophy. Every nomination receives a certificate of achievement.

To submit a nomination, simply go online to https://awardsaustralia.com/community-achievement-awards/nsw and select ‘Nominate Now’. Alternatively, make the process that much easier by calling us on 1300 735 445 and passing on their details.

Nominations close Wednesday 11 August, 2021. For assistance, call the Awards Office on 1300 735 445 or email nswactraca@awardsaustralia.com.

A sustainable life rocks! Local award nominations open in the Clarence Valley

A sustainable  life  rocks!

Clarence Valley Council  media release, 7 April 2016:

Living Sustainably Awards now open

Residents or organisations who contribute significantly to a more sustainable Clarence Valley are invited to apply for the council’s annual Living Sustainably Awards.

Nominations are now open, with four award categories for individuals, businesses, education and community groups who enhance environmental, economic and social sustainability.

Mayor Richie Williamson said council was looking for nominees who excelled in any aspect of sustainability such as those who reduced energy and water consumption, acknowledged the significance of local culture, provided sustainable recreation, environmental conservation, sustainable economic development, showed leadership within the community and developed innovative ideas.

Nominations are due by 4pm Monday, May 23, 2016 and will be judged by Council’s Climate Change Advisory Committee. The winners will be presented with their awards at a ceremony during Local Government Week, August 1-7, 2016.

Nomination forms are available at www.clarence.nsw.gov.au, or can be collected from the Council offices at 2 Prince Street, Grafton, and 50 River Street, Maclean.

For further information please contact Suzanne Lynch, on 6643 0200 or email suzanne.lynch@clarence.nsw.gov.au.

How many Walkley Awards did the Our ABC win this year? That many!

Despite a sustained political and economic assault by the Abbott Government and a anti-public broadcasting campaign by Rupert Murdoch's media, the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) had thirty finalists in the 2014 Walkley Awards.

Twelve ABC journalists won on the night in the thirty-four award categories – some coming first in more than one category.

ABC News 5 December 2014:

The ABC's Deb Masters and Mario Christodoulou and Fairfax Media's Adele Ferguson have jointly won Australian journalism's highest award, the Gold Walkley, for a Four Corners investigation of the Commonwealth Bank….

A joint ABC News and Guardian investigation which angered Prime Minister Tony Abbott and upset relations with Indonesia was named the Scoop of the Year.

Reporters Michael Brissenden, Ewan MacAskill and Lenore Taylor were presented the award for their story revealing that Australia's spy networks were targeting Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's personal mobile phone…..

Australian Story's Belinda Hawkins took out the category for Social Equity Journalism with her story on the search by donor-conceived children for their biological fathers.

Middle East correspondent Hayden Cooper was honoured for his coverage of the Peter Greste trial, winning the Walkley for Radio News and Current Affairs reporting.

Matt Brown, Hayden Cooper, Aaron Hollett, Stuart Watt, Michael Carey and the ABC news teams won Best Coverage of a Major News Event or Issue, with their reporting on the Gaza conflict.

Matt Brown and Mark Solomons won the Walkley for TV/AV Reporting for three exclusives about Australian jihadists in Syria.

Radio National's Sarah Dingle won the Radio/Audio Documentary award for her investigation into the Salvation Army's sex abuse cover-up.

ABC News and Foreign Correspondent cameraman Wayne McAllister was honoured for his work in Thailand, the South China Sea and Ukraine.

Four Corners, ABC TV and The Australian shared the Investigative Journalism award for their reports into the treatment of children caught up in conflict in the West Bank.

7.30's Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker and Sam Clark won the TV/AV Daily Current Affairs award for their investigation of corruption, kickbacks, rackets and organised crime within the building industry and the CFMEU.

A joint ABC TV/Mint Pictures and Identity Films won the Documentary award for investigations into child abuse at a Orthodox Jewish boys' school in Melbourne.

Well done, Our ABC!

Tropfest 2011 Winner monkeying around

Tropfest 2011. Make up your own mind........



Damon Gameau, has won the 19th annual Movie Extra Tropfest - the world’s largest short film festival in front of crowds of 150,000 nationwide and a live broadcast on Movie Extra to hundreds of thousands more film fans.

“Animal Beatbox” was voted in by some of the film industry’s most respected, including well-known feature film director Bruce Beresford, living legend Olivia Newtown-John, Aussie favourite Jack Thompson, Twilight heartthrob Xavier Samuel, director Stephan Elliott, producer Liz Watts, last year’s Tropfest winner Abe Forsythe and Tropfest Founder and Director John Polson.

Surprise judge ‘Shakespeare in Love’ actor Joseph Fiennes weighed in live from Majorca Spain before casting his vote online.

The winning film is a branch into animation by Underbelly and Balibo actor Gameau, with a catchy lyrical and poetic narrative. The film was shot in his mother’s spare room for just $85 and on a liquid detox diet with his girlfriend by his side – somehow they are still together. “I’m quite new to stop animation, but I find it a quick and versatile way to express any idea that may be lurking in my head,” he says.

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

2009 CHOICE Shonky Awards - lemony winners announced

CHOICE is a not-for-profit consumer protection organisation which started life as a magazine and has been operating in Australia for the last fifty years. The group states it currently has 200,000 members. Every year it now announces annual awards for the worst products on the domestic market. These awards are called Shonkys.

The 2009 CHOICE Shonky for:

• Plugging Stuff and Nonsense goes to Reegen Micro-Plug
  
• Cheese-Fearing Surrender Monkey goes to Tiffany FP807 Food processor
  
• Water at What Price? goes to Chef's Cupboard and Massel liquid stocks
  
• Honey (Oat crisp), I shrunk the groceries goes to Uncle Toby Oat Crisp Honey cereal
  
• Blinding us with dodgy science goes to L'Oréal Elvive
  
• Profit Protection Insurance goes to the Credit protection insurance industry
  
• Sky high surcharges goes to Qantas and Tiger Airways
  
• Teleconfusication goes to Tel.pacific phone cards
  

Stephen Conroy nominated for UK Internet Villain Award

Image from LOLConroy

Click to enlarge

The UK Internet Industry Awards sponsored by ISPA will be announced at a gala black-tie event on 9 July 2009 in London.

The Australian Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Stephen Conroy has been nominated, but not for an Internet Hero award.
The award category he is included in is Internet Villain.

Internet Villain
The Internet Villain category recognises individuals or organisations that have upset the Internet industry and hampered its development - those who the industry loves to hate. The ISPA Council will select the shortlist and eventual winner of the Internet Villain award.

2009 Nominees
European Parliament - "For supporting an amendment to the Telecom Package on cookies which could yet bring the internet to a standstill"
President Nicolas Sarkozy - "For his continued commitment to the HADOPI law, which advocates a system of graduated response, despite repeated arguments suggesting the law is disproportionate from a number of important groups including the European Parliament"
Baroness Vadera - "For excluding a number of ISPs and Rights Holders in agreeing a Memorandum of Understanding that was exclusive and ineffective in progressing relations between the two industries"
Stephen Conroy and the Australian Government - "For continuing to promote network-level blocking despite significant national and international opposition"

NSW North Coast councils didn't make it into the 2009 winners circle at the National Awards for Local Government

2009 NATIONAL AWARDS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT - CATEGORY WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Twenty one council and shire projects have been selected as Category Winners in the 2009 National Awards for Local Government.... Independent judging panels selected the winners across 11 award categories. The 2009 Category Award winners came from every state in the Commonwealth, and included urban, regional, rural and remote councils. The theme for this year's Awards is 'Local Government - Building Australian Communities'. The 2009 Awards were open to all elected councils and shires around Australia. The National Awards have been held annually since 1986 and are intended to highlight innovation in delivering infrastructure and services to local communities. This year's Award categories encouraged innovation in infrastructure, health, natural resource development, environmental sustainability, Indigenous engagement and collaborative service delivery. Since 1986, the Awards have helped councils to share good practice in order to find local solutions for community challenges. Overall, 233 entries were received from local councils, making this year one of the more competitive awards in recent times.

National Awards winners here. Unfortunately this year no North Coast council made it into the winners circle.

Who is Australia's worst boss?

A South Grafton abattoir owner has repeatedly made headlines for allegedly refusing to pay sacked staff their entitlements. Now he is coming under more fire from workers who claim he has banned them from taking toilet breaks.

Workers say boss banned toilet stops

(The Daily Examiner, 22 May 2009)

SOUTH Grafton abattoir owner Stuart Ramsey has repeatedly made headlines for allegedly refusing to pay sacked staff their entitlements.

Now he is coming under more fire from workers who claim he has banned them from taking toilet breaks.

Two workers contacted The Daily Examiner with concerns Mr Ramsey was penalising staff for leaving their work stations to visit the toilet.

The workers did not want their names published, but said Mr Ramsey told staff they could not leave their stations unless they were on lunch or smoko.

The workers said this ban included staff leaving their stations to visit the toilet. If true, this would mean abattoir staff were expected to work for almost three hours at a time without having to go to the toilet.

One of the workers said Mr Ramsey was punishing those who took toilet breaks by issuing them formal letters of warning and forfeiting their Over Award payment.

The payment is given when workers process above their quota. It can add more than $100 to their weekly pay.

Many staff received this payment regularly and had come to rely on it to meet living costs, the worker said.

Stuart Ramsey - owner of Ramsey Meats Processing - did not return The Examiner's calls yesterday. Mr Ramsey's business is being investigated by the Workplace Ombudsman after sacked staff were not paid their entitlements.

Mid-North Coast producer wins gold medal in 2009 Vogue Entertaining + Travel Produce Awards

News Space reported this month on the 2009 Vogue Entertaining + Travel Produce Awards:

The complete list of winners and medallists were:

• WINNER: FROM THE DAIRY - HOLY GOAT LA LUNA, VIC
• MEDALLISTS: Woodside Cheese Wrights (SA), Ballycroft Barossa Artisan Cheese (SA), Bruny Island Cheese Co (Tas), John Bignall Tasmanian Highland Cheese (Tas), Meredith Dairy (Vic).
• WINNER: FROM THE EARTH - DAYLESFORD ORGANICS HEIRLOOM VEGETABLES, VIC
• MEDALLISTS: Cuttaway Creek raspberry vinegar (NSW), Darling Mills Farm herbs and salad leaves (NSW), Bunnyconnellen olive products (Qld), Bauer's Organic Farm sweetcorn (Qld), The Australian Caper Company (SA), Joseph olive oil (SA), Ashbolt olive oil and elderberry products (Tas), Frogmore Creek garlic (Tas), Lentara Grove olive oil (Tas), Murray River Salt (Vic), Thorogoods Cider (SA).
  
• JOINT WINNERS: FROM THE SEA - PRISTINE OYSTER FARM, SA AND SPANNER CRABS NOOSA, QLD
• MEDALLISTS: Ferguson Australia lobster products (SA), Woodbridge Smokehouse Smoked Ocean Trout (Tas), Spring Bay Mussels (Tas).
  
• WINNER: FROM THE PADDOCK - WHITE ROCKS VEAL, WA
• MEDALLISTS: Papanui eggs (NSW), Redgate Farm Jurassic Quail (NSW), Macleay Valley Rabbits (NSW), Mayura Station wagyu (SA), Pure Suffolk Lamb (SA), Daylesford Organics eggs (Vic), Sher Wagyu (Vic), Blackmore Wagyu (Vic), Glenloth Free Range squab (Vic), Castricum Brothers lamb (Vic), Green Eggs (Vic).
• WINNER: PRODUCER OF THE YEAR - HOLY GOAT, VIC
• JOINT WINNERS: THE REGIONAL AWARD - DAYLESFORD MACEDON, VIC, AND ORANGE, NSW
• WINNER: FOODHERITAGE/SUSTAINABILITY AWARD - SPRING BAY MUSSELS, TAS
• WINNER: BEST NEW PRODUCT - REDGATE FARM JURASSIC QUAIL, NSW
• WINNER: CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT PRODUCT - BLACKMORE WAGYU, VIC
• WINNER: OUTSTANDING SUPPLIER - AUSTRALIA ON A PLATE, NSW
• WINNER: OUTSTANDING USE OF REGIONAL PRODUCE BY A CHEF - DAN HUNTER, ROYAL MAIL HOTEL, VIC
• WINNER: OUTSTANDING FARMERS' MARKET - WILLUNGA, SA
• WINNER: THE MAGGIE BEER AWARD FOR AN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIAN FOOD - STEPHANIE ALEXANDER

Congratulations to Macleay Valley Rabbits on the NSW Mid-North Coast for coming away with a well-deserved gold medal this year.

Proud moment for the family of Yamba's Jim Agnew

The Warren Advocate (15/10/2008) reports that the family of Yamba's Jim Agnew enjoyed a "proud occasion" on Friday September 19 when Jim was presented with his Order of Australia Medal by the Governor of NSW Marie Bashir.

Mr Agnew’s OAM was announced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in June and he received his medal on Friday September 19.

His wife Grace, sister Gwen Morrisey (Canberra) and daughter Jan accompanied him.

Jim's daughter, Jan Wilde, who represented family members at the Government House ceremony said, “I’m very proud of Dad and it was a lovely day.”

Mr Agnew left Warren 31 years ago but is best remembered by the community as being the proprietor of Agnews Motors, a local shire councillor, bowling club president and founding president of Macquarie/Bogan District Bowling Club as well as the Warren Trotting Club.

Mr Agnew was awarded the medal for service to the Clarence Valley community where he has lived for the past 20 years. His long list of achievements includes successful lobbying for an ambulance station at Yamba and the widening of the Oyster Channel Bridge. Aged 82, he continues to chair and work on various health and community committees and auxiliaries.

Pictures -

Above: Jim Agnew OAM with his wife Grace and daughter Jan Wilde
Below: Grace and Jim Agnew OAM and his sister Gwen Morrisey (Canberra)

CONGRATULATIONS JIM!

Clarrie expresses his appreciation of the Warren Advocate for this news and the accompanying photographs.