Jenna Cairney retires as Editor of The Daily Examiner

Jenna taking a break from preparing for 

the removal van on 27 November 2013

North Coast Voices wishes retiring The Daily Examiner Editor, Jenna Cairney, all the best as she professionally advances to deputy editor of the respected national masthead The Land established in 1911 and widely read by four generations of Australian farming families.

Her interest in and enthusiasm for the Clarence Valley was always appreciated.

I’m sure valley residents look forward to incoming editor, APN News & Media Northern Rivers chief sub-editor and Woolgoolga resident David Moase, sharing that same interest and enthusiasm.

Jenna on Page 7 of The Daily Examiner, 7 December 2013:

It's been a grand ride

THE first five things I thought on arriving in the Valley were:

The Pacific Hwy sucks.

Is this Grafton? Ah no, it's South Grafton. Now how the Hell do I get to Grafton?

The internet on my phone is so, so slow.

Now, that's a river.

Yamba = paradise.

I wonder what will go through my mind as I drive out over the bendy bridge on Wednesday.

You see, this is my final editorial for The Daily Examiner.

I'm off to work as deputy editor for The Land, based in Richmond, west of Sydney.

I guess one of the first things I'll think about will be Grafton Jail. The community response over its closing was something I'd never witnessed. I've never been so proud to stand side by side with my fellow residents and fight for a cause. That experience still gives me goosebumps and it will live with me forever.

A jail was probably one of the last things I ever thought I'd think about.

I'll think about how, as I toddled down my path like a kid on her first day of school, a neighbour pounced: "You're the new editor of The Examiner - I read your editorial today ..." then gave me a critique of my writing and The DEX.

"Wow, they certainly read this paper," I thought.

And I wasn't wrong.

Every word, every slip-up and, of course, every time we got it right, there was a visitor, a phone call or an email.

So, I'll think about how much one region cares about its daily paper and about how privileged I was to sit in the driver's seat.

I'll think of the people I've met and, in particular, the impressive pool of talented and passionate people who work at The Daily Examiner.

Despite massive changes, in the face of big breaking news and even in the everyday humdrum, they've (more often that not) had a smile on their face, a spring in their step but, most of all, fire in their belly.

Because of that team we've been able to achieve some amazing feats - APN Newspaper of the year and the finals of PANPA. But most importantly, we have continued to be the voice of the Valley and to stand up for things that matter.

Now it's time to warmly welcome the new editor, David Moase, whom you will meet on Monday and who brings bucketloads of experience and talent.

Having worked with David in his capacity as chief sub editor of Northern New South Wales, I can attest to his professionalism and quality of his work. He's a worthy leader for such a dedicated team.

Lastly, as I head over that bendy bridge come Wednesday arvy, I'll think:

Please let me find my way back here one day. The Clarence Valley: God's Country.

Quote of the Week

He's never seen a green paddock he would not concrete, 

never seen a bit of pollution he would not reward

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten speaking of Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt

[House of Representatives Hansard,5 December 2013]

Human Evolution: an explanation for the existence of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott

when it comes to evolution, "we're complete mongrels... Everybody was bonking everybody else."

[http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/12/turns-out-humans-are-complete-mongrels.html]

* Photograph found at Google Images

Thoroughly pee'd off

Ramble rave

Well now we know what Mr Abbott means when he says “Stop the Boats” - Stop, {the Australian public from knowing about} the Boats. This is the policy of an ostrich, what you don’t know can't hurt you approach.

This is at the start of his term, so I believe that is how the Government plans to continue.

It is also worrying that faith has won over fact in an Abbott world.

Faith that the coal seam gas extraction is perfectly safe and that us ignorant farmers are holding up the fracking progress of those nice mining companies(busy making millions of dollars for themselves) and denying the state government all that royalty money.

I hope our new member Kevin Hogan remembers his statement that he would cross the floor of the parliament to vote against coal seam gas in this area. My fear is he will vote with his new best mates and be sent back to his electorate with the task of telling us how great this industry will be for us.

Fact that climate change is happening and it doesn’t matter if you believe or not. It will still happen – even if Mr. Abbott as a matter of faith dismantles the previous government’s policies.

A note to Mr Abbott’s media people PLEASE do not publish any more pictures of him smiling - his smile looks like a whip lash in wet cow shit. It is enough to put the chooks of the lay.

Joey

Northern Rivers 

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 AT gmail.com.au for consideration

Hospital mortality rates - not always good news for those living in rural and regional NSW

Bureau of Health Information (December 2013), 30-day mortality following hospitalisation, five clinical conditions, NSW, July 2009 – June 2012: Acute myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, pneumonia and hip fracture surgery:

Acute myocardial infarction - There were 91 hospitals (90%) with mortality no different to expected. Three hospitals (Royal Prince Alfred, Royal North Shore, Prince of Wales), had lower than expected mortality and seven hospitals (Milton and Ulladulla, Cessnock, Bowral, Tamworth, Hornsby, St George, and one not reportable*) had higher than expected mortality.

For ischaemic stroke - There were 57 hospitals (80%) with mortality no different from expected. Four hospitals (Concord, Prince of Wales, Belmont, and Manly) had lower than expected mortality and ten hospitals (Moruya, Tamworth, Dubbo, Lismore, Nepean, Coffs Harbour, Westmead, Royal Prince Alfred, John Hunter, and one not reportable*) had higher than expected mortality.

Haemorrhagic stroke - There were 82 hospitals (94%) within the expected range of results. Two hospitals (Fairfield, and one not reportable*) had lower than expected mortality and three hospitals (Port Macquarie, John Hunter, and one not reportable*) had higher than expected mortality.

Pneumonia - There were 126 hospitals (89%) within the expected range. Seven hospitals (Canterbury, John Hunter, Bankstown, St Vincent’s, Maitland, Shellharbour, one not reportable) had lower than expected mortality and nine hospitals (Inverell, Manning, Tamworth, Blacktown, Wyong and four not reportable*) had higher than expected mortality.

Hip fracture surgery - Results for 33 hospitals (87%) were within the expected range of mortality. One hospital (St Vincent’s) had lower than expected mortality and four hospitals (Tamworth, Orange, Gosford, and Coffs Harbour) had higher than expected mortality.

Click on images to enlarge

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK: Keeping copper wire in ground on coastal flood plains

The Abbott Government intends that the last section of the National Broadband Network which enters an Internet users premises will remain the original copper wire installed by Telstra – unless the user is rich enough to pay for the laying of optic fibre between the street node box and their residence/business.

Giving evidence before the Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network last week, NBN Chairman and Acting CEO Dr Ziggy Switkowski on the subject of fault levels on Telstra’s copper wire-based telecommunications system:

I am certainly familiar with the issue in the sense that long periods of drought tend to be associated with lower fault levels than seasons that are very, very wet. The difference might be two or three per cent out of a 10 per cent to 15 per cent base. I am just guessing here or trying to remember.......

Northern Rivers communities will be alarmed at this statement, given the number of floods and heavy rain periods the region experiences. 

Because what Dr. Switkowski statement indicates is that there is little hope that the Abbott broadband scheme will see any improvement in the rate of server dropouts or in upload/download speeds for Internet users on the NSW North Coast.