Rivers Run Black: exhibition by Bundjalung artists, Yamba NSW 12 January to 7 February 2009

Brolga by Richard Torrens

Arthouse Australia at Yamba is currently hosting a group exhibition by Bundjalung artists Nancy Torrens, Troy Little, Richard Torrens and Elsie Randal.

The official opening of Rivers Run Black is at Arthouse Australia, Coldstream Street, Yamba on Friday 16 January between 6-8pm.

Ph: (02) 6646.1999 or email melinda@arthouseaustralia.com for details.

NSW North Coast harbours Nazis!

If you tour the NSW North Coast it doesn't take long before you realise that a large number of locals are passionate about protecting their little bit of the Australian environment.

Why the Northern Rivers almost rose as one in 2007 and sent governments and vested interests packing when the Howard Government wanted to dam and divert water from coastal rivers.

Thirty years ago the people of the North Coast went toe to toe with government, police and bulldozers for over a month in order to protect the Terania Creek rainforest.

North Coast residents (including a contingent from Nimbin) also took part in the Timbarra River blockade to stop a new gold mine being established which would destroy forest and pollute the Clarence River catchment.

The Big Scrub still exists because locals were determined that the last plots of that once mighty swath of trees would not be lost to future generations and some toil away to this day.

On the Northern Rivers people even turn out to protect a single lonely native fig tree in their neighbourhood and there is much more than a passing concern about the effects of climate change.

So when Senator Barnaby Joyce came out with the following I knew he had very little hope of a switching to a Federal House of Representatives seat via a northern New South Wales electorate:

The outspoken senator warned of the rise of "eco-totalitarianism'' and said he would not be "goosestepping'' along with environmentalists.

"One has to fall into lockstep, goosestep and parade around the office ranting and raving that we are all as one?"

Senator Joyce rejected a suggestion he was a climate change denier and drew a parallel with the Holocaust, the murder of millions of Jews and others by the Nazis during World War II.

"Climate change denier, like Holocaust denier, this is the sort of emotive language that has become stitched up in this (emissions trading) issue," he said.

It is surprising that Senator Joyce may actually be considering giving up his place in the Senate and going after the New England seat.

Now he has trodden on the toes of a legion of 'goosesteppers' he has ensured that, if in 2010 he contests the seat held by Tony Windsor, there will be quite a few voters out stuffing letter boxes with leaflets pointing out his considerable political and environmental deficiencies.

If for no other reason than many on the North Coast realise that the water raiders over the ranges are desperate for another front man to run with their plan to rob us of our fresh water and environmental river flows.

A Northern Rivers voice of sanity concerning the NSW public dental health scheme

From The Northern Star:

LISMORE dentist Dr Brendan White has slammed the Federal Government's Teen Dental Plan as a 'huge waste' of $490 million.

Dr White, who is also president of the North Coast division of the Australian Dental Association NSW, said the $150 vouchers for teenagers would not solve dental health problems.

"It would be better if the money went to treatment for the most needy people," he said.

"It's such a shame. It's a waste of hundreds of millions of dollars.

"The Government could have refunded the school dental program, boosted the public dental system, or started some preventative education programs.

"I hope the Health Minister realises how bad the Teen Dental Plan is and spends the money on something else."

But the Government is set to continue with the five-year program, and this week urged parents to get involved.

Richmond MP and Aging Minister Justine Elliot, said the program would help more than a million teenagers.

"With tooth decay ranking as Australia's most prevalent health problem, and gum disease ranking fifth, untreated dental decay is a major problem for our teenagers," she said.

The problems were worse for local youth. Dr White said we had the worst dental health for 12-year-olds in NSW, and the second worst for five-year-olds.

"The ADA had no input into the Teen Dental Plan," he said.

"But at least the Government is trying to help those who can't afford any dental care."

Another Lismore-dental practice manager, who did not want to be named, said the plan frustrated dentists.

"We've had people who have never been to a dentist before," she said. "When we tell them what needs to be done, parents walk out in tears. They can't afford it."

She said the practice had about 150 teenagers come in for the free consultation. Only three or four have returned for treatment.

"It's been a waste of money and the Government is just not listening," she said.

Vouchers for 2009 will be sent to eligible families from mid-January.

"Better to treat the needy"

It is a thing of wonder to observe both the MP for Page, Janelle Saffin, and the MP for Richmond, Justine Elliot, continue to defend this scheme which offers so little aid to their electorates and the rest of the NSW North Coast.

It is a scandal that the NSW Nationals MP for Clarence, Steve Cansdell, does nothing of any substance on this issue given that the broader public dental scheme is delivered on the ground by the state.

Turnbull's at it again!

Maud up the Street pointed out to me that Malcolm Turnbull is wanting to rob yet another region of its water.
Not satisfied with his inglorious and unltimately unsuccessful early 2007 ministerial attempts to push the barrow for stealing NSW Northern Rivers water, now as Opposition Leader he thinks it a bonza idea to rob two lakes in the Tasmanian highlands.
He still doesn't get the fact that after such a prolonged national drought there is NO spare water anywhere and argues that this robbery would be saving water from evaporating.
Now that's a weird argument if ever there was one - even I could walk through the holes in that tale!
And this man seriously thinks we should vote for his party at the next federal election?

Need a Justice of the Peace?

Congratulations Thomas George MP.





Many an MP has issued a media release that has been poorly disguised as an attempt to make their constituents think the MP might be worth his/her salt.

However, a recent media release by Mr George, the Member for Lismore, is cause to think he is more in touch with his constituents than most of his colleagues who laze on the green and red leather lounges in the NSW parliament.

The Far North Coaster reports that Mr George has provided details about Justices of the Peace in NSW.

Although most of Mr George's release is about how to apply and become a JP it provides a very useful link that enables details to be obtained about JPs in your local area.

PS. Don't blame Mr George for the register of JPs not being 100% accurate.
Also, remember JPs on the register are volunteers.

John X Berlin pleads not guilty to intimidation and harassment charge

Clarence Valley local identity John X Berlin, also known as John Paul Breslin, pleaded not guilty to a charge of intimidation and harassment in Maclean Local Court yesterday. This is what John had to say afterwards; Adjourned to 25.2.09 without hearing a word of evidence, then it will be adjourned again.

Double-Nick'd
Clarence Valley

* GuestSpeak is a feature of North Coast Voices allowing Northern Rivers residents to make satirical or serious comment on issues that concern them. Posts of 250-300 words or less can be submitted to ncvguestspeak@live.com.au for consideration.

Caveat emptor lives!

Which iconic unit in Yamba is being advertised for sale at $1.45 million, even though it is in an area with an estimated statistical 1 in 1,000 chance of sliding towards the ocean in adverse weather conditions?
I'm sure the owners would have experienced at least one subsidence alert during the last three years, so it is passing strange that this unit is thought to be worth so much.
Would you pay over a million for the slide of a lifetime?