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Bill helps call for volunteers
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Pottsville retiree Bill Brodie, 63, likes to go out of his way to make life easier for terminally ill Tweed residents – 37,000km out of his way, in fact. The former Kmart national operations manager clocked the impressive milage in 2008 as part of the 1,500 hours he put in as a volunteer with Tweed Palliative Support. ‘My life has changed so much for the better since I started volunteering with Tweed Palliative Support,’ he said. ‘I never thought of illness when I was busy making millions for someone else, but now I am overwhelmed by the illness in this ageing community. ‘And I’ve learned that death is just another part of the journey and if we can accept that process of life then it may make grieving a little easier.’ Mr Brodie is supporting a drive for new volunteers at Tweed Palliative Support, which provides personal care for the terminally ill and relief for primary care givers. A volunteer with the group for almost five years, he regularly goes above and beyond the call of duty – transporting goods for the group’s op shops and taking his clients
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Corner Kay Street & Mayfield Street, Murwillumbah Turn off Tweed Valley Way at Buchanan Street
www.advantagetyres.com 6 February 19, 2009 The Tweed Shire Echo
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on joyrides down the beach. ‘The old fishermen really enjoy it,’ he said. ‘My first client I took for a drive along the beach and he just loved it. When he died four days later his family were so thankful that I had done that.’ Last month he was named Tweed’s volunteer of the year. ‘You don’t do this for rewards or awards – I do it because I know I am making
a difference,’ he said. ‘Although we can’t change the world, we can change one person’s world for a little while.’ Tweed Palliative Support is taking registrations for its annual training program. Those interested in becoming a volunteer can call the group on 02 6672 8457. Training takes 10 weeks and begins on April 29.
Residents allege lax drainage Roxanne Millar
RAY HALL TYRES
Bill Brodie with the award he received on Australia Day.
A fight is brewing over a 40 townhouse development that Banora Point residents claim is destroying a picturesque inlet that feeds into the Tweed River. East Banora residents Dale and Nadine Picton fear lax drainage is causing the Seaview Street development below their hilltop home to wash into the river during periods of heavy rainfall. ‘It is a real breeding ground down there for birds and fish and we are just saddened to see what is happening,’ said Nadine. ‘After a big storm the inlet and the river turn absolutely blood red. How can it be allowed to happen?’ Seacove is being developed by Villa de Fabula Antiques and was approved by the Land and Environment Court in the 1980s. Garry Watson, director of main contractor Coastivity Design and Development, blamed the hilltop properties for much of the soil runoff. ‘Stormwater has been running illegally from their properties for 10 years,’ he said. ‘You are not allowed to focus a body of water onto another person’s property and whether it was them or Tweed Shire Council – we have had to rectify the situation.’ He said more than $100,000 had been invested in high-tech
‘After a big storm the inlet and the river turn absolutely blood red’ stormwater and sewerage systems that would minimise runoff when completed in the next month. ‘Most of it is up and operating but there is still a small amount to be completed,’ he said. ‘Everything is being done that can be done but unfortunately you cannot stop the really fine silt. ‘Below certain microns it will flow through any kind of system.’ A council spokesperson
said inspections of the site had found it had ‘generally adequate’ sediment controls and that long grass was acting to reduce run off. She said the developer had been asked to place extra rock protection at major stormwater outlets to reduce scouring. ‘Council officers will continue to monitor the site with the intention of issuing infringement notices if the sediment control devices are not maintained,’ the council said in a statement.
Condolence books on offer Tweed Shire Council has opted to send condolence books to victims of the Victorian bushfires rather than make a lump-sum donation to the bushfire appeal. The council is one of few coastal councils that has refused to make a donation, with Gold Coast City Council contributing $200,000 and Sunshine Coast Council $80,000. A donation would have required consent from Tweed councillors at Tuesday’s council meeting but the issue was not discussed. Instead Tweed mayor Joan van Lieshout has urged local residents to sign condolence books, which are available at council offices. ‘We’re all feeling for the families and individuals caught up in this terrible tragedy,’ she said. ‘Writing a note in the condolence book may be a small gesture but our individual thoughts and prayers can offer some comfort.’ The books will be available until Friday, February 27 from 8am to 4.45pm on Mondays and 8am to 4.30pm Tuesday to Friday. They will then be forwarded to the Victorian Premier’s department.
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