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minute. Applications for the NSW Government’s 2022 Community Building Partnership Program open from today (Monday 16 May 2022) and close at 5pm, Friday 10 June 2022. This year the program is unlocking $37 million in funding state-
Rescue service calls for help as appeal launches
The region’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is launching its annual End of Financial Year (EOFY) Appeal and none could be more critical given the impact that the recent Lismore Service’s operations with water inundating the Lismore Base at the peak
Such was the extent of the damage, it is anticipated that the Service will continue to operate from a temporary facility at the Ballina Airport for 3-5 more months as repair and rebuild is undertaken.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service CEO Richard Jones OAM remarked ‘Despite the challenges, our crews, in partnership with medical teams from NSW Ambulance and NSW Health, performed over 50 missions during emergency’.
“I would also like to say to all residents of the Northern Rivers that the hearts and minds of our staff, and I hope you are in the process of a positive recovery.”
On the morning of the departed the Lismore Base and could see their own vehicles, the Base itself and the surrounding community succumbing to the rising waters. It was less than 500m from their Base place, beginning one of the busiest weeks in the Service’s history.
Nathan Scard, Lismore Base Manager and Pilot was on Base as the disaster unfolded.
“It is hard to put it into words just how overwhelming the sight of seeing that much water coming up from all directions was for everyone on shift at the time. It hit home very quickly just how much trouble the town and region was going to be in once the team was airborne.
“Our thoughts quickly turned to the situation at hand and the challenge of relocating our operations to Ballina to enable us to continue to respond to the numerous tasking requests that were coming in.
“Being on the front line, side by side with our community, and the many emergency service personnel who have worked so hard since the disaster started, it has never been so humbling to know that the donation support we receive allows us to respond in such desperate times.”
The Service also suffered the loss of its Helicopter Op Shop in the Lismore CBD, a valuable fundraising vehicle for the Service, the shop, going past the height of the ceiling and into the roof cavity.
Mr Jones commented: “The shop was operated entirely by volunteers, and we hope that one premises to open again.”
Donations to the Appeal will remain local at one of the Service’s three Bases in Belmont, Tamworth and Lismore, which service close to 2 million residents in the Northern half of NSW in communities north of the Hawkesbury through to the Queensland border and throughout the New England North West.
Since March 2020, the Service has responded from its bases in Newcastle, Tamworth and Lismore to almost 3,000 calls for help and in every instance, they have needed to take extra precautions to care for patients and their aircraft crews due to the ever-lingering presence of COVID.
“It has been an unbelievable period for so many people who live throughout the regions that our bases serve and support,” said Mr Jones.
“As a local charity, I would also like to say a special thank you in advance to those who are able to help us once again with a donation, large or small, during our appeal.”
$360,000 available for community events
Community groups or people who have an idea for an event in the Byron Shire, are encouraged to apply now for a share of $360,000 which is available as part of the NSW Government’s Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events Program.
The aim of the funding is to support communities and businesses in the recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic.
For events to eligible for funding they must be: • Open to the public • Free to attend or a small fee • Designed to reconnect communities • Be held before 23 March 2023.
Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, said this for local event organisers.
“The Byron Shire is well known for its wide range of events and COVID-19 hit hard in a lot of different ways, including shutting down many festivals, fetes, concerts and public gatherings which were normally a part of the social fabric of our community,” Cr Lyon said.
“To have this funding available is the perfect opportunity to reinvigorate the events’ calendar in our Shire and see everyone in our community brought together again to celebrate our spirit and connection.
“In the wake of the for us to acknowledge the tremendous spirit, resilience, love and connection in our community.”
Examples of eligible events include: • Community markets • Festivals and fairs • Sporting events • Food and leisure events • Recovery events • Community classes and workshops • Theatre programs • Community public holiday events (e.g. ANZAC Day, Australia Day)
Applications must show how the event will rebuild community cohesion, deliver positive social outcomes and support local businesses. Applications close on Friday 27 May.
Information about the Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events Program is on Council’s website.
Primex event postponed
Primex Field Days has announced the event planned for 19 to 21 May 2022 will be postponed, due to the ongoing impacts of recent floods, combined with continued adverse weather conditions.
CEO Bruce Wright said it had been a difficult decision to make.
“However, the delay is unavoidable due to the impact that the floods and adverse weather conditions have had on the site at Casino,” he said.
“We appreciate the announcement of postponing may have impact on some of our stakeholders, but we have provided as much notice as possible. We want the 2022 Norco Primex Field Day event to be a great experience for exhibitors, customers, clients and visitors, and this simply is not possible to hold the event now under the current conditions.”
Floods and continued adverse weather have impacted the site in regard to: • Maintenance and restoration of the site to enable a safe environment; • Exhibitors able to access and activate their sites.
Norco’s General Manager Rural Agriculture, Adrian Reck, said they supported the decision to postpone the 2022 event.
“Primex is an integral part of our community, in Norco’s heartland,” he said.
“This event provides, not just economic and educational opportunities in primary industries and agribusiness, but brings the community together in mateship.
“Recent weather events have tested our community’s resolve and Norco, with Primex, is committed to our region’s recovery. We are working with Primex to bring this iconic field event to life at a later date and look forward to celebrating the best our region has to offer in sustainable Australian primary production and food.”
One of the event’s major exhibitors, Dan Hoppy of Days Machinery, said he was also supportive of a change to Primex’s schedule given the recent catastrophic weather.
“Primex Field Days has always been a quality rural event for everyone, and we look forward to exhibiting at the rescheduled event date,” he said.
Organisers of Norco Primex will discuss future options with key stakeholders, with a view to holding the event between July and November 2022.
“We are mindful that some of our local stakeholders are still overcoming the tragic events of the February and March 2022 floods,” Mr Wright said.
“We are also cognisant that the delay will also give many of our exhibitors and attendees additional time to prepare and attend the event.”
Lismore MP Janelle groups and councils to apply for their share of $400,000 in grants under the 2022 Community Building Partnership Program. NSW Government’s popular small grants program, applications for which opened Monday, 16 May, is a proud Labor initiative which has led to $399 million being invested in over 18,000 projects since 2009.
“Our Electorate of Lismore has had to deal years, which is why I believe the electorate allocation should be increased to $1million electorates on the Northern Rivers,” Ms
“I have consistently argued the case for a more generous allocation for all electorates in New South Wales to ensure more worthy projects can be funded.” great to have an annual program designed to help local communities to deliver community infrastructure projects.
“Community halls were last year but each year the list of successful projects is as diverse as our wonderful region,”
“Wherever possible, I like to see the grants spread across the local government areas of Lismore City, Kyogle, Tweed Shire and
Applicants should read the program guidelines to ensure their club or organisation and proposed project are eligible.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet strongly advises applicants not to leave the lodgement of applications until the last minute.
Applications for the NSW Government’s 2022 Community Building Partnership Program open from today (Monday 16 May 2022) and close at 5pm, Friday 10 June 2022.
This year the program is unlocking $37.2 million in funding state gov.au/cbp for more.
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Aussies helping whose hands?
LARA LEAHY
Aussie Helping Hands (AHH) is an organisation that set up in early March to assist with the recovery of the floods in Northern NSW.
However their methods have been brought into question.
Currently, their funds have been frozen and Aussie Helping Hands is being investigated by the Department of fair trading in NSW, the Office of Fair Trading in Queensland and the NSW Police department.
Aussie Helping Hands reported on April 6th that they had fundraised $331,300 dollars in a month.
However, accountability for the spending of that money was limited to a blog post on their website.
They are not a registered charity and actively campaign for donations.
Concerns as to where the donated money is going has attracted enquires into their actions and the validity of their claims.
Officials are looking at where the donated funds are going.
In March, Amar Singh from Turbans 4 Australians (T4A) reported: “One of our supporters asked me about T4A involvement with AHH.”
“We had not had any discussions or business with them (AHH), so when I found what they had posted, I approached them and asked them to take the information down.”
Mr Singh was concerned about being associated with the integrity of a charitable organisation that was not accredited.
They did as Mr Singh asked, and changed the post.
Asking around to other organisations that AHH claimed that they were involved with brought back surprising results and police investigations.
The Quality Used Furniture distribution centre in Lismore was not being run by AHH as they claimed.
AHH had provided the distribution centre with around $100 worth of goods and got the organisation took some footage at the centre.
Using that footage in a Facebook post, they claimed that they were running the distribution centre.
A police report was filed to protect the integrity of the distribution centre, the volunteers and the good work being done.
One of the organisers did recall them stopping in.
“They didn’t have a name at that stage, but they made us feel uncomfortable,” the organiser, who does not wish to be named, said.
“They were more about the show of what they were doing, than what they were actually donating. which wasn’t much.
“We did not want to be ungrateful at all, but they didn’t seem to understand what was actually happening around them. This was about people in real need, not hype.” Dorothy “Dotti” Janssen made herself known early on.”
Dotti, pictured, the face of AHH, prompted further donations from people, using the images and leverage of associating with others’ work and good deeds.
“We made a police complaint based on the misinformation that they were spreading about the distribution centre,” one of the organisers of the distribution centre said.
Initially, Dotti set up Aussie Helping Hands with controversial anti-vax activist Dave “Oneegs” Oneeglio and Hayley Birtles-Eades, owner of Beinc.
On their website, Beinc advertises themselves as “Professional Attention Seekers.”
Hayley is a very active participant on the AHH Facebook page - one of the main methods used to connect with people and campaign for assistance.
Dave Oneeglio lives in Pottsville and is known for his anti-mainstream sentiment. An avid antivaxxer, he was out on jet ski’s with his friend Pete Evans (former judge on My Kitchen Rules) performing rescues during the floods.
He has a strong following, and it is believed that it was his influence that provided the majority of financial contributions to AHH.
Although AHH promotions on their website and YouTube page has stopped, information is available on their Facebook page, Instagram and Telegram sites.
Aussie Helping Hands listed a number of places that they were working with in the Northern Rivers.
One is not set up as a distribution hub, it’s a fire station. The Northern Rivers Times journalist Samantha Elley spoke to two places where AHH report that they are active.
The Coraki Hub were aware of AHH, but had not had anything to do with them since early in the floods.
Woodburn hub is aware the AHH was under investigation, and turned Oneegs away when he was there earlier in May trying to donate whitegoods.
Aussie Helping Hands began their story adamant that they are the answer to what they deem as unconscionable spending of mainstream charities.
As part of the investigations, the pressure to legitimise charitable dealings, has lead to affiiation with the Universal Church of Love Peace and Equality, a registered charity with the ACNC. The church has self nominated Aussie Helping Hands as one of its initiatives. The spending of the church donations is clarified as thus:
At the time of writing, the incoming donations declared on the ACNC website for the charity was at $2411. They have spent $2379. Expenses or running costs consumed by the charity are listed as 93.61% of their financial costs. This leaves a total of 6.39% of the amount collected that has been provided as donations. From the original contribution of $2411, only $152 has benefited their charitable recipients.
Anger over plan to move Scout memorial
TIM HOWARD
A proposal to move a memorial to 13 Cub Scouts who drowned in a boating tragedy nearly 80 years ago has angered elements of the Grafton community.
Since 1993, a small stone memorial bearing the names of the boys and the story of their demise, has stood above the levee wall at the south west corner of Memorial Park in Grafton.
The memorial was built for the 50th anniversary of the drowning of 13 boys returning by punt from a Scout Christmas party on Susan Island in December 1943.
Now the park has been fenced off in preparation for the first stage of the $6.5 million Grafton Waterfront Precinct Plan, which includes moving the memorial about 25m further down the bank.
The move the planners deemed necessary to provide visitors to Grafton waterfront with a “wow feeling” has not gone down well with some in the Scout movement.
Former local Scout leader Kirsty Bransdon took to Facebook to protest against the decision and call for action to stop it.
“We need your help Clarence Valley,” Ms Bransdon posted. “The council want to move the memorial for these children at Memorial Park because it’s doesn’t fit in with their new development.
“This is so disrespectful to those cubs and their families. Please, please let council know this is not acceptable.”
Ms Bransdon said the memorial was in the perfect spot because if faced the place they drowned.
A current Scout leader, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the positioning of the memorial at the edge of the levee near the river was ideal when it came to telling later generations what happened.
“When I take young Scouts down there to explain what happened, you’re standing on the river bank above where it happened,” she said.
“It’s so easy to look out and visualise the boys coming across the river on that boat that afternoon.
“If you were further back from the river it would not have the same effect.”
Ms Bransdon said the planned new location near steps to the rowing shed was not the problem.
“They wouldn’t move any of the other memorials,” she said.
The project manager Andy Seaman said during planning the location of the Scout Memorial had not proved to be ideal.
“The Boy Scout Memorial pays tribute to a significant event in our history that is important to Grafton and the Scouting community,” Mr Seaman said.
“In its current location the memorial would sit lower than the adjacent path. Its new location would be considered more prominent.
“It will need to be relocated to enable all to access the memorial and avoid having to look down on the memorial.”
He said the plan aimed to connect the city to the Clarence River and revitalise the waterfront parkland with a continuous shared path linking Prince St to Clarence St and footpaths connecting it to the new bridge.
He said the redevelopment would raised the levels, widen the path and rebuild the flood levee at the end of Prince Street, for the purpose of creating a clear sense of arrival at the lookout point within the park.
“We ultimately wanted to provide the visitor with a ‘wow’ feeling upon arrival at the lookout point overlooking the mighty Clarence River,” Mr Seaman said.
“The Indigenous Dreamtime story of Dirrangun has a strong connection to the Clarence River and will be told at this location.”
It was determined to relocate an electrical panel (in Stage 2), one of two Indigenous Dreamtime story signs and the Boy Scout Memorial.
The new design has the memorial moved approximately 25 metres to a higher location within the quadrant of Memorial Park with a garden bed and adjacent seat, maintaining a prominent view to the river to which it holds significance.
“The input of the Scout’s Group has been sought through the CEO during the detailed design phase and before any works start,” Mr Seaman said.
The waterfront area is currently fenced off and work is expected to continue throughout 2022.
Scouting NSW has been asked for comment, but did not reply before deadline.
The memorial to the 13 Cub Scouts tragically drowned in the Clarence River in 1943 is to be moved as part of the Grafton Riverside Precinct Plan.
How it happened
Freelance writer Peter Langston has written extensively about the tragedy and in this excerpt described what happened as the Scouts returned from the party on Susan Island on December 11, 1943, just two weeks before Christmas.
About 4pm, two scouting friends of (Grafton 1st Scout Troop leader, 17-year-old Charlie) Penn – Rex Oxenford and Jimmy Doust – swam across the Clarence from Oxenford’s grandfather’s place to Susan Island, to fulfil a promise to Penn and assist in bringing the cub scouts back across the Clarence in a punt owned by Oxenford’s grandfather’s company. The larger scout floodboat was unavailable, having been found to be unseaworthy due to vandalism the night before.
The majority of the cubs had come across the Clarence with Penn that morning. The punt was wooden, with a shallow draft. It was 4.9m long, about 1m wide at either end and slightly wider at the centre. The punt had no propulsion but oars and carried a passenger cargo of young boys wearing back packs and most wore leather shoes.
The vast majority either could not swim or were hardly competent to tread water. Oxenford suggested two trips but Penn felt confident they could make one, as the water was calm, despite an approaching storm from the south-west.
This proved true until the boat escaped the lee of the wind caused by the large trees on Susan Island and the water became choppy and the strength of the wind apparent. Penn had his oarsmen, Oxenford and Doust, point the craft into the approaching waves, but the craft was sluggish under the load and its freeboard was only three inches. (Freeboard is the distance from the water line on a boat up to the top of the side. It should have been seven inches.) Penn ordered Doust and Oxenford into the water to get behind the boat and push with their considerable leg power.
Two things happened almost in unison.
Some of the younger boys panicked at the sight of the older scouts going over the side and moved to one side as a larger wave broke over the boat and swamped it. In the ensuing panic, the boat capsized, throwing the remaining 29 boys into the water.
Bowlers at the nearby green, including police inspector BH Baxter, heard screams but it took a few minutes to realise the boys were in trouble and not skylarking. They then raised the alarm, rushing to the shore and launching any craft they could find, borrow or even steal. Constable Anderson raised another rescue group from around the Crown Hotel. Meanwhile, the cubs turned to their older Scouts and splashed or dog paddled to them in any way they could, five and six clinging to them and sinking them to the channel floor. There were many heroes that afternoon but none more than Oxenford and Doust, who were in the water for more than 45 minutes effecting rescues and performing resuscitations on rescue boats, and Penn, who carried on despite near drowning.
Fifteen boys were saved but 13 drowned, the last of them dragged from the water by grappling hooks until the head count was reconciled at 10pm.
State Member for Lismore Janelle eligible early childhood education and care (ECEC) services impacted by major grants of up to $30,000 to help rebuild. hoped ECEC services in Lismore City, Tweed and Kyogle local government areas would get their share of $9-million in funding from the NSW Government.
Services in the neighbouring LGAs of Byron, Ballina, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley can also apply for funding by 30 May 2022.
“Many early childhood education and care operators in the Northern Rivers were severely impacted by the we experienced a few months ago, and said.
“I hope and trust that this application process runs smoothly so that eligible services receive funding quickly to undertake repairs or replace valuable resources. Many local families rely heavily on ECEC services so the sooner they return to normal, the better it will be for our local communities.”
The ECEC Flood Recovery Grants are available to community preschools, mobile preschools, long day care services, multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services, Aboriginal Child and Family Centres, family day care services, occasional care services and outof-school hours care services.
Volunteering dynamo vies for prestigious award
Coffs Harbour’s Helen Mears is a finalist in the 2021 NSW Health Awards, which honour the outstanding contributions of our NSW Health heroes.
Member for Coffs
Harbour Gurmesh Singh said Helen - a finalist in the Volunteer of the Year category - is a wonderful ambassador for the Coffs Coast and he wishes her every success in the awards.
“Helen Mears has been a United Hospital Auxiliaries volunteer at Coffs Harbour
Health Campus for the past 40 years and has been President of the local UHA group, affectionately known as the
Pink Ladies, for over 30 years,” Mr Singh said.
“The Pink Ladies under Helen’s leadership have raised more than $3 million for the hospital. Helen has tirelessly raised funds for medical equipment, staffed the hospital’s café and gift shop, and recruited, managed and inspired countless volunteers.
“Helen’s remarkable contribution to Coffs Harbour Hospital can truly be regarded as going above and beyond.”
In December last year, Helen was named the NSW 2021 joint Senior Volunteer of the Year in the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards for her outstanding service to the Coffs Harbour community.
The 23rd Annual NSW Health Awards will be livestreamed on the NSW Health website at 12.30pm on Thursday 19 May.
The full list of finalists and their projects is also available on the NSW Health website.
Five NSW local councils increase rates
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved 4 councils’ special variation applications to increase their income above the rate peg.
“We received submissions from ratepayers on the applications and considered them in making our decision.
“We considered community concerns along with the councils’ demonstrated need for additional revenue sustainability and service provision,” said Chair Carmel Donnelly.
The councils were required to consult with the community, establish that the impact on ratepayers is affordable, and make productivity and cost savings.
“We approved an extension to Central Coast Council’s current 3-year temporary 15% rate increase for a further 7-year period, starting from 2024-25. The increase is a one-off and does not compound over time. This will allow the council to secure sustainability and maintain its services to the community.
“We approved Hunter’s Hill Council and Snowy Valleys Council’s permanent rate increases both over a 2- year period. Hunter’s Hill Council’s special variation will allow it to reduce its asset backlog and fund its capital works program. Snowy Valleys Council’s special variation will allow it to improve its long-term
“We also approved Kyogle Council’s permanent rate increase of 2.5% for 2022-23, which will allow it to deliver on commitments from its long-term
The rate peg for 2022-23 is set at 0.7% (excluding population growth factors). Some councils received a higher rate peg in 2022-23 due to having a population growth factor higher than zero. The rate peg is the maximum percentage amount a council can increase its income from rates. Councils that need additional revenue can apply to IPART for increases above the rate peg, known as special of Local Government (OLG) also announced an additional special variation (ASV) process for 2022-23.
Our Final Reports on each councils’ application are available on our website.
Kyogle Special variation
Permanent 2.5% increase in 202223, applied across residential, business and farmland ratepayers. Deliver the council’s commitments in its continue delivering existing services and infrastructure programs,
