Celebrating Bundjalung Nation Artists

Large Open Weave Basket, 2008

Lelarnie

Childless, 2005

Michael Philp

Life drawing 8, 2007

Joanne Lapic

All images are from Arts Northern Rivers: Visual Arts Network

Foodie Quote of the Week

From the 2012 Causley Fresh Gate to Plate event at the Grafton Showground

“Having moved to the Valley recently from the Granite Belt, a significant food bowl in Queensland, I was overwhelmed by not only the produce on offer in this region but the entrepreneurial ingenuity of some of our locals creating great products, delivering great service and telling great stories.”
{Jenna Cairney, Editor The Daily Examiner, on the subject of the Clarence Valley, 17th September 2012}

Saffin and Gulaptis on the effects of O'Farrell health cuts in their electorates

While NSW Nationals MP for Clarence Chris I refuse to have a personal website Gulaptis rarely tells his electorate anything, unless pushed to it by local media; Federal Labor MP for Page Janelle Saffin makes her views clear at www.janellesaffin.com.au and in accessible media releases such as this on 14 September 2012:

Liberals cut deep into public hospitals while Nationals watch on

PAGE MP Janelle Saffin has warned that doctors and nurses in public hospitals on the Northern Rivers will be axed under the O’Farrell-Stoner Government’s savage cuts, leaving local families waiting longer in emergency departments and for elective surgery.

 
Ms Saffin today condemned NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner for confirming that the Liberal-National Coalition Government will slash funding for health across the State by $3 billion.
 
“That means over 3600 jobs will be lost -- the equivalent of on average more than 16 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals sacked from hospitals like Lismore Base and Grafton Base,” she said.

“I have delivered major Federal funding to redevelop these hospitals, and continue to fight to protect and build on infrastructure and the health workforce for Ballina, Casino, Coraki, Bonalbo and Urbenville hospitals.

“Regardless of what Jillian Skinner says, the NSW Coalition’s attack on health services, which come on the back of cuts to our local schools, will lead to a collapse in health service delivery at the frontline.

 
“The real impact of these cuts is longer queues in emergency departments, hospital ward and bed closures and longer waiting times for surgery.”

Ms Saffin said that when Coalition Premiers pick up an axe – services are the first to face the chop.
 
“Cutting services is what Coalition parties do,” she said.
 
“While Federal Labor is investing record amounts in our local hospitals – the NSW Liberals are ripping it away and the NSW Nationals are there watching on.
 
“This is a preview of what would happen if Tony Abbott ever got into power federally.
 
“After all, we know he slashed $1 billion from public hospitals when he was Health Minister.”

Chris Gulaptis is reported in The Daily Examiner as saying that:

"MPs are panicking too,"….He said local health boards will be responsible for determining where savings are made and while he wouldn't be involved with that, he would "like to be kept abreast of what they propose".

He is yet to get to his feet in the NSW Legislative Assembly and speak against these cuts – preferring instead to buck pass to the Northern NSW Local Health District Board. Forgetting of course that well-known Nationals and Liberal Party members sit on this very board.

Australia Dementia Awareness Week 21-28 September 2012

Brain Health: Making the Connections

This year’s theme for Dementia Awareness Week (21-28 September 2012) is Brain Health : Making the Connections. As part of our week’s activities, we’ll be celebrating the launch of Your Brain Matters around Australia.

The first event will be held at Martin Place in Sydney on 17th September, so come and join us. To find out what’s happening near you during Dementia Awareness Week click here ( http://www.fightdementia.org.au/whats-on/dementia-awareness-week-2012.aspx ).

Memory Walk and Jog Tweed Heads: Sunday 23 September at Chris Cunningham Park, Tweed Heads. The walk will  follow the path around Jack Evans Harbour.

Register, donate or sponsor a walker here

National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500

An interpreter service is available

(The National Dementia Helpline is an Australian Government Initiative)

From fightingdementia.org:

By 2020 there will be around 75,000 baby boomers with dementia.

Part of the local dawn and dusk chorus

A snapshot of Luke Hartsuyker earning his taxpayer funded salary

In the House of Representatives debate on super trawlers being allowed to fish in Australian waters, what was the esteemed Nationals Member for Cowper’s contribution over the course of three days?

Why, this sarcastic interjection on 12 September 2012:

Mr Hartsuyker:  You can count on Sid!

Given that Brisbane is identified by RV Able Tasman's owner-operator as this super trawler's home port and, the NSW North Coast was part of its prospective fishing range, Hartsuyker can hardly say that he was looking after his electorate's interests.

DEX blooper - reprints old race fields

The only things correct in the four-page racing lift-out in today's Daily Examiner are the paper's name and the date. Today's Examiner reprinted the race fields for Saturday 8 September.
The events at Warwick Farm, Doomben and Flemington have been well and truly run and won, so the very least readers could have been provided with was a new lot of tips from the paper. But, oh no, the paper had the temerity to print its original, and in most cases losing, tips.
Who went to sleep at the wheel steering the good ship DEX last night? Was it the night helmsman or the captain? C'mon, who's going to put their hand up and claim bragging rights for this little ripper at the annual Xmas party? Perhaps a stewards inquiry is needed.