DuckHand! Townsville does gallows humour in midst of Cyclone Yasi

clembastow Clem Bastow
Well, I think we can all agree that #duckhand was a perfect example of Australian gallows humour. Hang in there, FNQ! #tcyasi

vanbadham Van Badham
@clembastow I want #DuckHand to run against TAbbott in his seat at the next goddamn election. I will MOVE THERE to vote for DuckHand #tcyasi

Is this man trying to impose a 24hr McDonald's fast food outlet on unwilling New Norfolk residents?

North Coast Voices recently heard from a resident of New Norfolk in the Derwent Valley, Tasmania, with news that the Rockefeller Group had lodged a development application with Derwent Valley Council for a 24 hour fast food outlet in that town and that this was thought to be on behalf of McDonald’s Australia.

The Derwent Valley shares many characteristics with the Lower Clarence Valley where McDonald’s opened another of its fast food outlets in December 2010 in the face of opposition from many Yamba residents.

This is the public face of the Rockefeller Group - Mr Robert Rockefeller.

As Mr. Rockefeller is currently a board member of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry he can presumably be contacted at email admin@tcci.com.au or fax 6420 7541 if any reader wishes to let this developer know what they think of a McDonald’s 'restaurant' in a relatively small town dependent to some degree on tourism based on early Australian history and the natural environment.

Please feel free to discuss in the comments section of this post.

Do you know where your dog or cat is tonight?

A reminder to pet owners on the NSW North Coast from The Daily Examiner on 24 January 2011:

THE Northern Rivers is one of the worst areas in the state for cat and dog attacks on native wildlife.

According to statistics collected by the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) over the past 12 months, 267 native animals were attacked in the Northern Rivers region, 191 in the Clarence Valley alone.

Grafton has been listed as the worst area with 62 attacks recorded.

Paul Johnston from the WIRES Clarence Valley branch said the figures represented only the attacks which had been reported to WIRES and “do not include the thousands of animals which die from unreported attacks or those who fall victim to feral cats and dogs who are more likely to eat their prey compared to domestic ones”.

Following Grafton was Yamba with 19 wildlife attacks, with cats responsible for killing a larger percentage of native animals compared to dogs.

In the Northern Rivers, cats were responsible for 14 out of 25 attacks in Ballina and eight of 16 in Alstonville.

Teresa Woodley has been a WIRES carer for the past 10 years and said despite treating the many animals brought to her as a result of an animal attack, the real culprits were the two-legged kind.

“Owners simply need to be more responsible for their pets, especially in rural areas like the Clarence Valley where wildlife is plentiful,” she said.

Minister joins Page MP for NSW North Coast 'community conversation' on mental health

Media release from the Federal Labor MP for Page on 2 February 2011:

Page MP Janelle Saffin has invited Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, to the Northern Rivers today for a ‘community conversation’ on the Gillard Government’s mental health reform agenda.

Mr Butler, Australia’s first Federal Minister for Mental Health, will be co-hosted by Ms Saffin and Southern Cross University’s Health Clinic. Mr Butler attended the clinic’s opening as Parliamentary Secretary for Health in August last year.

Ms Saffin said she had invited the Minister back to Page to hear from a wide cross-section of Northern Rivers local families and carers, who live with mental ill-health, health professionals, and Non Government Organisation representatives.

“A large number of people have experience or know of a relative or friend or neighbour who has battled bouts of depression, drug or alcohol addiction, or a mental illness,” Ms Saffin said.

“There is a growing number of folk who need professional help to manage their conditions and ongoing community support to achieve quality of life.

“We are fortunate to have some dedicated medical practitioners and health academics -- recognised as leading researchers in the field -- so this is an opportunity for them to help shape mental health policy.”

Today’s ‘Community Conversation’ will be chaired by Southern Cross University’s new Pro Vice Chancellor (Arts and Sciences), Professor Deborah Saltman AM, who was has had a distinguished career in education, health and clinical practice in Australia, Asia and Europe.

A highlight will be the welcoming performance by The Hearing Voices Choir, whose members like to sing their blues away. Formed in May 2008, the choir has recorded a CD and travelled around Australia.

Mr Butler and Ms Saffin later will meet with an expert panel for a roundtable discussion on mental health reform and for briefings on projects being developed in the region.

The expert panel includes:

Professor Saltman AM.

Professor Iain Graham, Professor of Nursing and Head of School, Health & Human Services, Southern Cross University.

Professor Lesley Barclay AO, Director of the University Centre for Rural Health (North Coast).

Associate Professor James Bennett-Levy, University Centre for Rural Health (North Coast).

Mr Jem Mills, Senior Lecturer, University Centre for Rural Health (North Coast).

Dr Doug Andrews, Clinical Director of Mental Health, Northern NSW and Mid North Coast NSW Local Health Networks.

Dr Harry Freeman, Psychiatrist, Lismore Mental Health Unit.

Mr Chris Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Rivers General Practice Network.

Ms Anne Lipzker, Child and Adolescent Coordinator, NSW North Coast.

Mr Warren Shaw, Area Nurse Manager Mental Health.

Mr Niall Mulligan, Counselling Centre Manager, Lifeline Northern Rivers.

Mr Amos Hee, Project Consultant, Improved Services Mental Health Initiative, The Buttery.

Ms Hazel Bridgett, Chair of Northern NSW Local Health Network Governing Council.

The Honourable Dr Brian Pezzutti, Member of Northern NSW Local Health Network Governing Council and the NSW Minister’s Mental Health Advisory Committee.

Ms Leone Crayden, Chief Executive Officer On Track Community Programs, Member of the Northern NSW Local Health Network Governing Council