(all) Ages - Nimbin Good Times

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Lettersnimbin.goodtimes@gmail.comNoticesRegional asset?Over the holidays we havehad a few visitors stay frominterstate and are frequentlyasked, why the local councildoes not do more to beautifyand upgrade facilities inNimbin. Their home townsoften have beautiful parksand gardens, maintained bypaid council staff...not justpaid to come every so oftento prune and chop - butregular maintenance involvingreplanting, feeding andwatering.I can’t help coming back tothis sense of discriminationthat exists when it comes toNimbin. We still have a greatbig ugly fence and containerin the middle of the CBD forTelstra with a row of phonebooths that sit in the fullafternoon sun...it’s all verystrange. In other towns, Ihave seen beautiful creeperscovering such ugly fencesand modern phone facilitiesbuilt with planning andconsideration.I believe we deserveplanning and consideration,beautification, shade andregular maintenance of ourparks and gardens....whichwe need more of. Nimbindoes not consist of only afew hundred people living inthe town (although numbersshouldn’t matter), we aremany thousands of peopleliving in and around Nimbin’shills and valleys.Added to that, manythousands of visitors everyyear hang around in a townthat is sometimes so stiflinglyhot, with very few friendlyfacilities besides the cafesand shops. These visitorsbring in income, not only toNimbin, but to many of thesurrounding towns – it seemsas though Nimbin should beconsidered a regional asset,not a liability!Tarang BatesA WarningI had an associate from theGold Coast visit Nimbin lastyear – a nice woman whofound Nimbin town a tadconfronting, she is marriedto a developer. Over lunch, asshe tentatively brushed theimaginary germs from herDisability Support WorkerJoin a local dynamic team in Nimbin that is really making adifference in the lives of people with disabilities.We can offer you a supportive, friendly workplace with a strongfocus on learning skills you can use throughout your life.• Weekends and night penalties• Salary packaging to increase income• Extensive training• 50+ hours per fortnightExperience and qualifications in the disability field aredesirable. For a selection criteria form, please see our website.People from Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diversebackgrounds are encouraged to apply.If you want to know more before applying, please register forour information session on Wednesday 11th February at 6pm bycalling 02 6627-5000 or emailing employment@multitask.org.auOr for an application pack to apply direct, see our website:www.multitask.org.au/join usClosing date: Friday20th February 2009sandwich, she confided thatthe Mebbin Estate wouldnever go forward because itwas too close to ‘this place’.This place, being Nimbin.It got me to thinking aboutthe blessings of the streetscene here. Nimbin town iscolourful, friendly and a littlegrubby. Personally I wouldnot change it for the world.It is a bit of a dilemma forme because heavy drugs thatblow holes in auric fields andleave one feeling miserableand sick later, are definitelynot my favourite thing.In the days when peopleonly smoked bush gunga,many had an attitude ofcommunity through loveand peace. Nimbin was sobeautiful, although it wasrough living for many as theyattempted to bring in a newway of being.But even then, my developerfriend would have beenbrushing her sandwich andlooking around with nervousapprehension.So this is a little warning tothose who want to clean upthe streets of Nimbin.Even though we all bitchabout it at times, let’s face it,this place is still absolutelyunique. It gives an economythrough the young touristsand most important ofall, apparently it keeps thedevelopers of air-conditionedconcrete pads well away.Perhaps if we clean up thestreets we may soon find ourspecial country spaces beinginvaded by one hundredconcrete blocks or so withincooee of our front doors,such as is happening inMurwillumbah.Tonia HaynesHell bentI’d just like to say that anyarticles I have written in theNGT, unless explicitly statingotherwise, have been my ownpersonal opinions. If anyarticles were on behalf of theNimbin Branch of the LaborParty, then they have beensigned off as its secretary, andfollowing a branch motion onthat issue.Additionally I now am nolonger a member of the ALP,largely because of the Internetcensorship, which the FederalGovernment seems hell benton imposing on Australia.Peter GoddenRepco RallyWhose idea was it to want torace petrol-guzzling mufflerlessmotorcars through theforested alternative district? IsRepco corporation in dangerof being seen as ignorant, orarrogant?Imagine the media pack,and the uncouth cola-swillingtypes, who would tag along inBig OpportunityNimbinRare shopfront vacancy on the main streetApproved as a bakery, but also suitable for anumber of retail/commercial enterprises.No goodwillWalk in – Set up – TradeThree (3) or five (5) year lease available.Premises will be vacant from 28/4/09Interested parties should contact Mal Rothwell, ph.6689-7228 or write to PO Box 202, Nimbin 2480.Next Market8th FebruaryBand of the Day:Samba BlistasCharity of the Day:Tuntable Creek Hall TrustEnquiries phone:6688-6433“Make It, Bake It, Grow It”Wanted to rentA 3 bedroom house in Nimbin or out of town. Very good,clean and tidy tenant, reliable and honest. Contact Tammyon 0421-153845Room to LetRoom to Let at the Nimbin Community Centre. Nonresidential,52sqm, freshly painted with long termlease available. $89 pw plus bond and bills. ContactMarcus at the NCC Office on 6689-0000 or emailncci@nimbincommunity.org.auRainbow café get-togetherThe date for the evening of reminiscing for past staff of theRainbow Cafe will be Friday 13th February from 6pm.bring stories and photos. Thanks, JodeePeace and Love in Nimbin on Valentine’s DayNear the pond in Nimbin Community Centre groundsfrom 5pm, Saturday 14th February.Food, drinks, sing a song, then dance to love beats andlight show by Kaliedoscope Chris. Donations to NimbinAquarius Foundation Inc., supporting Nimbin’s murals.Tuntable Celtic CafeThe Friday cafe and acoustic folk session is on Friday 6thFebruary from 5pm with down-home leek and potato soupand home brew and again on 20th February with yummyJamaican food. All musicians and singers are invited to joinin, on the terrace at the shop, or inside if its raining.Tuntable Sunday dinnersThe Douvris family is hosting a “Tuntable Cafe” night oneSunday evening a month for members, guests and friendsof the community. Musicians are very welcome too.. Nextdinner is Sunday 22nd February, from 6pm at the shop.the exhaust fumes. The USfried chicken boxes strewnalong the roadside; the toiletstops. Perhaps Repco could goback to Indianapolis.Upson and his crew woulddo well to get to work in anorganic garden. One supposesthat such rev-heads wouldhave no idea the planet is indifficulties.However, I believe our localmen (sic) will be able to defendus against these motorisedcolumns.Vyvyan StottLeycester CreekAbout usEditor: Bob DooleyAssistant Editor: Sue StockLayout: Bob Dooley andAndy GoughPhotographers: Sue Stock,Len Martin, Pam Bourne,Thorsten Jones, Paul TaitDistribution: Angus, Tonia,Geoff & Terry, Peter & Pixie,Pip (Bellingen), Matt (Glebe)Bookkeeper: Jayne WoolfeSkate Park motionI’d just like to point outa factual error in yourlast NGT re the Nimbinskatepark. Vanessa did notput forward a motion tofund the park to the tuneof $50,000 – it was me,seconded by Dave Yarnell.There are on-goingdiscussions about theskatepark and I’m hopefulwe will have a resolution thatwill see the young (and not soyoung) people skating etc on afully functioning facility.Cr Simon CloughWebsite: David McMinnwww.nimbingoodtimes.comNGT is auspiced by theNimbin Community SchoolCo-operative Ltd.Next deadline:Wednesday 25th FebruaryEmail: nimbin.goodtimes@gmail.com or put stuff inthe pigeonhole at the NimbinCommunity Centre.Please limit contributions to600 words or less, includingphoto.Nimbin Visitor Centre“Information for locals and visitors”Souvenirs, maps, books, localarts, crafts and produceMonday to Saturday 10am to 4pmSundays on Nimbin Market Weekend80 Cullen Street Nimbin6689 1388nimbin@lismore.nsw.gov.auPage 8 The Nimbin GoodTimesFebruary 2009www.nimbingoodtimes.com
Monte Dwyer visits NimbinOne of the legends of brekkyTV, Monte Dwyer, calledinto Nimbin at the end ofJanuary, looking for stories forhis self-produced segmentsBush Postcards on Channel 7’sSunrise program.His Winnebago, ““kitted-outto the back teeth with Telstra’sflashest communication gear”has been around most ofAustralia since he set off fromthe Sunrise Sydney studios on20th October last year, “takingthe pulse of society”.A more practical reasonfor his trip is to promote hisbook and CD of songs, Redin the Centre, written during a70,000 km trip around Australia in 2007.Born in Newcastle and trained as apsychiatric nurse, Monty has worked as aprofessional fisherman, fashion model, foreignaid worker and (failed) property developer,before training in Theatre Arts in Darwin inthe late ‘80s and ending up presenting theweather for the local ABC TV station.His antics were so outrageous that he wasnoticed by Channel 9 and given the same gigon their national breakfast show, Today, a rolehe performed from 1991 until 2002.From 2007, Monte travelled aroundAustralia recording interviews for CharlesWooley’s radio series “Across Australia”, whichled to the Red in the Centre project.He returned to breakfast TV on 7’s Sunriseprogram in October 2008, saying, “Afterbeing away from the medium for so long I’mby Councillor Simon CloughNimbin’s extensiverange of communityorganisations (I sometimesfeel it’s the “CommunityCapital of Australia”) havebeen hard at it, even over theChristmas-New Year break.Good to see you are keepingus on our toes!Unfortunately my motionat the last Council meetingfailed to have the Nimbinskate park funded fromthe “Rudd money”. Sincethen the new ExecutiveDirector of Development andGovernance Brent McAlisterhas taken up the issue andwill be holding a meetinglater in the month. He iscommitted to trying to finda solution for this vital partof community infrastructure.You know it IS vital whenthe Local Area PoliceCommander voluntarilysupports the funding of theskate park.Blue Knob Hall is seekingFullyequipped.Monty Dwyer,with van, andfan (inset),Vicki Hunter.Simon says...some relief from the s94contributions that it has topay for its new workshop.With the $5,000 grants to allrural halls from the “Ruddmoney”, Blue Knob andother local halls should beable to attack some priorityprojects. I wish Councilwas in a position to give allnon-profit organisations acomplete exemption froms94 contributions.I will be proposing at thenext meeting that Councilwaives its requirement thatthe Nimbin NeighbourhoodCentre provide mortgagesecurity before it gives aseriously lookingforward to running amok again.”But Monty’s Odessey has not all been asmooth ride. On 26th November he wrote inhis blog, “Christ, how I’m supposed to keepthis fresh I’ve no idea. I’m six weeks into thePostcards trip now and I’m ready to be takenaway in a bin.”Perhaps that feeling led to his decision tovisit Nimbin. His greeting by the locals wascertainly, well, fresh.Monte’s Sunrise segments air on Fridays.community grant underthe s94 funding. It doesnot seem fair that thisextraordinary communityorganisation should losesome of its independencewhen the Hall Committeehas not had to offer anysecurity for a similar grant.2009 is looking like ademanding year on Council.The February meeting willbe considering Champion’sQuarry at Tucki, a verylarge project. March shouldsee the consideration of theNorth Lismore Industrialdevelopment, another largeproject. I already have 12workshops or Councilmeetings booked in forFebruary and March.They never told me thatwhen I was dazzled bythe glory of becoming aLismore City Councillor!In preparation before theonslaught I have forcedmyself to read a few booksand watch a lot of tennis (thelatter to convince Trish thatwe are spending quality timetogether!).Wishing everyone a happyand healthy 2009.by Jenny DowellMayor of Lismorephone 6625-2206Jenny.Dowell@lismore.nsw.gov.auAustralia DayIt was such a joy to beMayor of Lismore at lastweek’s Australia Dayceremony. Hundreds ofour community attendedthis special day onwhich we reflect on ournational journey. For me,Australia Day is a day ofacknowledging our past,rejoicing in the good thingsof our present and lookingwith confidence into ourfuture. Our Australia DayAmbassador was CraigGoozee, a man who losthis young daughter to arare form of bone cancer10 years ago and has sinceraised thousands of dollarsfor the Children’s CancerInstitute by undertakinggruelling running, cyclingand paddling ultramarathonsaround andacross Australia.At our ceremony, wealso recognised almost60 wonderful andinspirational locals who,through their involvementin a variety of communityorganisations, are makingLismore a better placein which to live. Elevenof those nominatedtook out the categoryawards in Sporting, Art/Cultural, Environment,Multicultural,Reconciliation andCommunity Services. Ourtwo overall winners forCitizen of the year wereGrahame Bonamy (Senior)and Sam Stead (Junior).Graham has been a tirelessvolunteer and treasurerfor a variety of communitygroups including Mealson Wheels, Lions andhis local golf club. Samis a Richmond River HSstudent with impressiveleadership credentials bothFrom the mayor’s deskwithin his school and atthe regional level as well asbeing a great role model forAboriginal students.In addition to presentingthese awards, I had thegreat honour of presidingover the taking of theoath or affirmation for 16applicants for Australiancitizenship. This is the finalstage in the citizenshipprocess and gave theaudience an opportunityto warmly welcome peoplefrom Iran, UK, Germany,Switzerland, Papua NewGuinea, Italy and USA asnew Aussies.Council meetingAfter the Christmas andNew Year break, Councilmeetings resume onFebruary 10 at 6pm. TheBusiness Paper is not yetavailable, but readers whoare interested to see whatmight be on the agendamight like to check outthe Council web site oneweek prior to the meeting– www.lismore.nsw.gov.auMeetings are open to thepublic and often providemuch more entertainmentthat the usual Tuesdaynight TV viewing so whynot give us a go sometimethis year?One motion that willbe of interest to Nimbinpeople is the proposal thatwe waive the need for amortgage over the NimbinCommunity Centre asCouncil’s security forSection 94 contributions.The major item expectedon the agenda will be theproposed expansion ofChampions Quarry atTucki but as to other items,we’ll just have to wait alittle longer to see what isup for debate.WorkshopsApart from the monthlyCouncil meetings,councillors are usuallyat Chambers on otherTuesdays from 6pm toparticipate in workshops ona variety of matters likelyto come before Councilat a formal meetingat some future date.Workshops are less-formalgatherings that provide anopportunity for staff topresent information and forcouncillors to ask questionsand engage in discussionon a topic without theconstraints of meetingprocedure or time limits.Again the community iswelcome to attend althoughthere is no scope forparticipation.While subject to change,the proposed schedule ofworkshops for the comingmonth is:• February 3 – ChampionsQuarry;• February 4 – The newStrategic Plan;• February 17– CommunityConsultation;• February 24 – NimbinVisitor InformationCentre, Budgetparameters, Section 94plan, LEP update;• March 3 – NorthLismore Industrial Landproposed rezoning.GSACLast week I had a tourof the nearly completedGoonellabah Sports andAquatic Centre and wasgreatly impressed. This$17 million facility has a2 court sports hall, youthactivity centre, gymnasiumand recreational swimmingpool and is sure to be apopular place not only forGoonellabah residents butthose from the broaderCouncil area and beyond.Developer contributionshave been accumulatingfor 10 years for this facilityand Council can finallydeliver on a promise madea long time ago to thecommunity’s young peoplethat we would build a pooland activity centre forthem. With the help of theFederal government’s recentinfrastructure grants, theoutdoor youth plaza willalso be delivered ratherthan being shelved throughlack of funds.PersonalThank you to the manyNimbin GoodTimes readerswho enquire about myhealth and continue towish me well. I am verypleased to say that I havecompleted chemotherapyand am starting to feelbetter. It will be sometime before I have my hairand energy levels backcompletely but I knowI’m well on the road torecovery. The next step isa daily hormone-blockingtablet that I will gladlytake for at least five yearsin an effort to keep thosepesky cancer cells at bay.Tax Returns from $80Saturday mornings, other times by appointmentDr Michael J. KiddLawyerP.O. Box 77 Nimbin 2480Barrister (NZ), Solicitor (NSW)Mobile: +64(0)2102794611michael.kidd@xtra.co.nzStill serving the Nimbin areaNimbin PostOpen 7am- 5pm Mon - FriFull counter postal services.Open 7am - 5pm Monday - FridayFull counter postal servicesHome of the Next Grange of pre-paid phonesNew stocknow in!New stocknow in!Locally owned and operatedwww.nimbingoodtimes.com February 2009 The Nimbin GoodTimes Page 9
Page 1: Tuntable kitchen fundraiserRock of
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