April - Village Journal

THE VILLAGE JOURNAL 

Number 263 April 2011 Circulation 1700 

Serving communities in Bundjalung Country, Northern Rivers… Rosebank, Dunoon, Clunes, Bexhill, 

Federal, Eltham, Whian Whian, Eureka, Dorroughby, Corndale, Goonengerry, Upper Coopers Creek, Numulgi 

Birds of different feathers… 

all fl y together 

Photo by Martin Jacka 

villagejournal.org.au phone 6688 2264 editor@villagejournal.org.au PO Box 6360, South Lismore, 2480

Editor’s Notes 

I’ve been thinking a lot about community lately. Here in Rosebank we have had 

some highs and lows in the last few months. There has been a great reconnecting 

to country bike ride around our hinterland and the release of a fascinating 

book based around Coopers Creek, and many locals have been involved with the 

TOOT team with the launch of a song highlighting our need for the return of 

Northern Rivers trains. 

On more sobering front we have our local co-op and general store has closed, 

with no reliable information at present about the possibility of the store re-opening, 

although I do hear there are a number of people interested in the premises – it is a 

case of wait and see. A number of Rosebank residents are also concerned about the 

possibility of a reasonably large development occurring on their road which may 

put a lot of strain on our wildlife and environment, not to mention infrastructure 

such as roads. 

All of these occurrences serve to remind that wherever you live, it is your 

community, and what happens there is really up to you. Get interested and involved! 

Talk to your councillors, join a local landcare group, get involved with planning at 

your local hall or community organisation, talk to your neighboours, and celebrate 

the great hinterland in which we all live. Don’t let our wonderful life and environment 

pass you by. 

Llyr 

TOOT for the Future Music Video 

Public rallies were held in March at Lismore and Byron Bay Railway Stations in 

support of getting trains back on the Casino-Murwillumbah line after nearly seven 

years absence. 

People were asked to come ready to catch 

a train, some brought backpacks and bags, 

a few came with surfboards ready to hit the 

beach, others brought placards to display their 

simple demand to have train services return. 

The crowd were asked to sing along with 

the ‘Toot for the Future’ song, written and 

performed by Garth Kindred, supported 

by The Tooters. It was recorded at Old 

Dog Studios, Corndale, with Alan Pegg 

engineering. The station events were filmed 

by Paul Tait, David Bradbury and Brendan 

Shoebridge and edited by Andrew Bambach 

The TooT gathering at the Lismore railway Station. 

of In Your Face Productions and Lydia 

Photo by Tony Allison 

Kindred. You can now see it on YouTube 

and please leave your comment – www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyDMKG7063E 

High Quality Child Care in an 

Accredited Home Environment 

150 Laurel Avenue, Lismore 

We currently have vacancies in 

Lismore, Dunoon & surrounding areas 

NORTHERN RIVERS 

FAMILY DAY CARE 

• Flexible hours • Weekends and overnight care • Before & after school 

and vacation care • A safe, loving and stimulating home environment 

• Monitored by professional staff • Small groups of five children 

• Maximum of two babies per group • Subsidised fees (as low as $1.34 p/h) 

Do you live in Rosebank, Clunes or 

Bexhill? Would you like to operate 

your own business from home, 

receive free training & support? 

We have families needing childcare 

in your area. To become a Family 

Day Care Educator contact us now 

for more information. Ask for 

Sandra or Jane on 6621 6437 

As a Family Day Carer Educator, you can earn an hourly rate of $28.50 

(caring for five children), plus another $10 p/h caring for two school 

children, all from the comfort and convenience of your own home. 

Our beloved chicken forgot 

where to lay her eggs so in the 

spirt of the northern rivers she 

layed it on our daybed !!!! We 

all have days like that… 

Photo by Sri 

D i s c l a i m e r … 

The views and opinions expressed in this 

journal are those of individual writers, and 

not necessarily those of the VJ team. Neither 

RCI nor the VJ necessarily endorse products 

and services of the advertisers or mentioned 

in the articles 

All contributions must be original, not 

defamatory or infringe intellectual 

copyrights, and all supporting references be 

properly acknowledged. Pseudonyms are not 

acceptable and authors must supply full name, 

contact address and phone number. 

Full details of our publishing guidelines are to 

be found on the VJ Website. 

leading the way in supplies for professional and domestic chefs… 

• kitchenware • bakeware • glassware 

• crockery • cutlery • chefs knives & 

clothing • gourmet tea range • cookware 

6622 8008 

74 Keen St, Lismore info@thekitchenshelf.com.au 

2 The Village Journal www.villagejournal.org.au

Forum Letter 

Responces to Stan’s letter 

Dear Editor, 

I read with a chuckle and some empathy 

last month’s letter to the editor from Stan 

regarding his woes with wallabies in the 

veggie patch. We live further down the 

same road and also share our property with 

many hungry wallabies foraging for food. 

Although I don’t know if they have increased 

in number over the last 11 years that we’ve 

lived here, we too have learnt of their hungry 

vegetable-loving ways. 

We fence off almost everything we don’t 

want eaten. One exception is the pumpkin 

patch, which the wallabies haven’t taken a 

liking to...we wonder if it is the furry leaves 

that puts them off. Woes aside though, we 

do love having the wallabies around and 

marvel at the little mothers with joeys in 

their bulging pouches. 

I do laugh and wonder at the irony though, 

as I sit by the fire on a Saturday afternoon, 

BBQing kangaroo sausages and steaks 

bought from the supermarket, and a big male 

wallaby hops on by. 

Benny Glasman 

Dear Editor, 

While the wallaby population may seem 

healthy in one part of Rosebank at least (re 

Stan Heywood’s letter March VJ) it does 

not necessarily constitute an “explosion” 

nor justify a culling. Yes, Stan, we do have 

to put up a good fence to protect our veges, 

then we can enjoy these beautiful creatures 

hopping about and helping to keep our lawn 

areas mown. I’ve had to do the same for 

years to keep the scrub turkeys out of our 

garden. Now I’m on good terms with them. 

We can co-exist with the natives even if it 

means an extra effort on our part. 

But while wallabies and turkeys may be 

well represented in this area there are other 

precious natives I’ve seen less and less of. 

When I came to Turkey Creek 30 years ago 

there were many bandicoots and brush tail 

possums to be seen each night, bounding 

about. Lately it’s been very quiet. I’m 

hoping that it is just a lay low time for the 

koalas as well because I’ve not been seeing 

and hearing them nearly as often as I have 

in the past. 

So what is happening to them? Is it the wild 

and domestic dogs left to roam and hunt 

in packs, is it the feral cats or the domestic 

cats allowed to venture out at night by their 

owners, is it the rat baits which get taken up 

by them? Is it other chemical fall-out from 

agricultural production poisoning their feed? 

Is it all the development, clearing, burn off’s, 

loud machinery and cars? I suspect all these 

things have contributed to their demise and, 

added to this, the wild koala populations, 

which were only a few years back very 

healthy, now seem much affected by disease. 

Very recently I have heard of people finding 

a dead platypus along Yankey Creek and 

reports of drift sprays getting into the water. 

Our native animals, possibly with the 

exception of wallabies and scrub turkeys, 

VJ: PO Box 6360 

South Lismore 2480 or 

editor@villagejournal.org.au 

are under severe threat and we all need to 

make sure that we do not contribute further 

to their troubles. 

A world without them would be so much the 

poorer. 

With great concern, 

Garth Kindred 

Fair Go For Aussie Wildlife! 

How disconcerting it was to read Stan’s 

item last month on “Wallaby Explosion”! 

I love Australia and all its native wildlife... 

wallabies being a favourite of mine! Just a 

reminder Stan, that these beautiful creatures 

were long living here before us, and have 

every right to inhabit THEIR VERY 

NATIVE LAND!!! 

Fencing your vegetable garden is simply a 

sensible and reasonable human approach, 

shooting these animals is not going to rid 

you of your grief, I’m sure once the wallaby 

dilemma is dealt with, problems will arise 

with the possums, echidna’s, bush turkeys, 

cockatoos and pink galahs, etc. 

I have a rural property, partly bushland, 

partly macadamia trees, partly avocado 

trees, partly assorted fruit trees and a huge 

vegetable garden. As the very earth I stand 

on does not belong to me, I solved wallabies 

nibbling on my vegetables by fencing my 

vegetable garden and placing chook wire 

around small trees I wished to protect. I’m 

able to feed my family by adapting to the 

circumstances - there’s plenty of food to go 

around, so don’t worry, you won’t starve. 

Yours truly 

Rosie Rosella 

Harmony day in the workplace 

Harmony Day was celebrated in March in 

our region. It’s a day where all Australians 

celebrate our cultural diversity. It is also 

the United Nation’s International Day for 

the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. 

It gives people the opportunity to celebrate 

what makes each Australian unique and 

share what we have in common. 

The continuing message for Harmony Day in 

2011 is that Everyone Belongs, which means 

all Australians are a 

welcome part of our 

country, regardless 

of their background. 

It’s a time to reflect 

on where Australia 

has come from, 

recognising the 

traditional owners 

of this land. It’s also 

about community 

participation, inclusiveness 

and respect 

– celebrating the different cultures that make 

Australia a great place to live and work. 

As I reflect on the day I am reminded of 

what I can do locally to foster community, 

inclusiveness and respect i.e. work collaboratively 

with my co workers at Interrelate 

and to foster this belief and wish for our 

entire community. We held a Harmony Day 

lunch and we shared a range of food, Indian, 

Goanna, Italian and Greek. Everyone 

belongs here and is an important part of our 

team! 

Warm Regards, Julie Leete 

Lismore Area Manager 

Family Relationship Services 

Devils Fig or Devils Claw 

Hi Guys, 

There has been some about a reference 

of Mario Maso re this weed - it seems it 

appeared under two different names ie devils 

claw and devils fig. 

I believe this is the one we should be on 

the lookout for...the claw is a therapeutic 

herb, quite different, mind I don’t know if 

its problamatic invader, the fig we certainly 

can see around. Thought the reference and 

photos might help . 

Cheers, Leonie 

Solanum hispidum 

Also known as: Giant Devil’s Fig Family: 

Solanaceae Photo © TBA 

A single specimen of the Giant Devil’s Fig 

Solanum hispidum has been found near the 

first crossing on Upper Wilsons Creek Road. 

It is a shrub or small tree, up to 4 m high, 

growing like the closely related Tobacco 

Weed, but with larger lobed leaves and 

nasty-looking thorns on its stems and leaves. 

The flowers and fruit are also similar to 

Tobacco Weed, though the petals are white. 

It is known from the Nimbin area, Tuntable 

Creek (where it is spreading through bird 

dispersal into the Nightcap National Park), 

Terania Creek and Rosebank. In south east 

Queensland it is declared noxious. 

The plant has 

been destroyed, 

and hopefully, 

if everyone is 

watchful, we 

may be able 

to prevent this 

species becoming 

established in our 

valleys. 

Reference: http://www. 

wilsonscreeklandcare. 

mullum.com.au/weeds/ 

devils_fig.html 

Budget Priced $1500 - $6000 

USED CARS & 4WDs 

* All Mechanical Repairs * 

Petrol, Diesel & Oil Sales 

Clunes Auto Centre 

21 Clunes Rd, Clunes 

ph.6629 1270 or 0419 175 775 

editor@villagejournal.org.au PO Box 6360, South Lismore, 2480 ph 6688 2264 

3

More koala carers 

needed in the 

Northern Rivers 

Friends of the Koala’s mission is 

conserving koalas, particularly in the 

Northern Rivers Region, in recognition 

of the contribution the species makes to 

Australia’s biodiversity. The group has 

achieved much since 1986 but development 

pressures continue to impact on 

koalas, particularly in coastal areas. 

The photo is of Indigo, an adult female 

who was clipped by a car on Ballina Road, 

Goonellabah in early January. She has since 

been radio-collared and is being tracked as 

part of the Urban Lismore Koala Project. 

“We have an on-going need to train koala 

rescuers, carers, leaf collectors, educators 

and advocates across the Region,” said 

President Lorraine Vass. “Directly or 

indirectly, each and every one of us can 

do something to assist the survival of our 

precious koalas. Focussed on a single 

species, Friends of the Koala has developed 

a holistic approach to koala conservation. 

For those people who want to help but are 

not sure how they can contribute, we are 

the answer.” 

Care Co-ordinator, Barb Dobner had this 

to say, “The Koala Care Centre we operate 

in Lismore admits animals from all parts of 

the Upper North East of NSW. It provides 

opportunity for people to work directly 

with koalas in rostered teams. Caring does 

not have to be a 24 hour commitment and 

there is a wide range of other activities in 

which volunteers can become involved.” 

Friends of the Koala will be conducting 

an Introductory Training course on 

Saturday 9 April 2011. Topics will include 

koala behaviour and ecology, an overview 

of Friends of the Koala’s conservation 

effort, assessment, rescue and immediate 

care, leaf identifi cation and collection, and 

an introduction to the Koala Care Centre. 

Bookings for the Basic Training course 

are essential. For more information and 

to register phone 6622 1233, email info@ 

friendsofthekoala.org or visit www.friendsofthekoala.org 

A Tale of Two Brothers 

We fi rst met the extremely handsome brothers, who looked like twins, three years 

ago when they unexpectedly dropped in on us to introduce themselves. They were 

both very colourful characters and competetive showoffs. But as good looking as 

they were and as hard as they tried to impress the opposite sex, they remained 

single. Since then they had a falling out and one moved from the area. 

The alluring Peabody Brothers –Picture by Alex Wilson 

The other brother remained and never gave up hope of meeting someone. He practised 

courting, often strutting his stuff in front of a mirror or window, until he felt that he had it 

perfected. He spent a good deal of time roaming the neighbourhood singing and dropping 

in on neighbours and admirers, carefully avoiding those with dogs, as he disliked dogs. 

There were some places where he wasn’t welcome due to some of his bad habits but his 

many other qualities made up for that. 

Not many people would 

know that he donated regularly 

to charity via his close 

friend Joan. He had also 

made donations to the local 

community, via the local shop, 

leaving a little part of himself 

there (His spectacular tail 

feathers). 

Sadly, his singing will no 

longer be heard around the 

neighbourhood. He won’t be 

dropping in to visit anyone 

any more or making any more 

donations. But his memory will 

live on. Goodbye and thank 

you Mr Peabody. Rosebank 

will miss you. 

Mr Peabody’s life was taken 

by a fox a few months ago…ed 

Delicious food * Friendly welcome 

Wed 

Thur 

Sun 

11 - 3 

6688 2361 

Fri 

Sat 

11 - late 

Minyon Falls Road, Minyon Falls 

thewrensrestminyonfalls@live.com.au 


Community Notices: 

• Wanted House to Rent: Rosebank family looking for a house to rent in local area. 

Property maintenance is currently included in our rental agreement and we have a 

friendly dog. If anyone knows of anything please call Sri 6688 2392. 

• Free Admission to an Alpaca Open Day at Eltham Valley Pantry on the 15th May 

9am - 4pm. Get up close and personal with these extraordinary animals, we will be 

on hand to discuss information on the management of these curious and amazing 

animals. Alpacas are relatively low maintenance and can provide years of satisfying 

fun and enjoyment for you and your family. For more information call MiaJai Alpacas 

on 02 6687 8151. We hope to see you there. 

• Lismore Theatre Company performing “Slippery When Wet” on Saturday the 

9th of April, starting at 7:30 pm at Corndale Hall. Cost is $25.00 for dinner and show. 

BYO. We are planning on painting the hall this year, so we need to raise a bit of money. 

We think that a good way to do that is to have a great night of entertainment with nice 

food. For bookings: Duncan 66895279, Richard 66882052 or Dick 66284317. 

Get those cameras out!!!! 

Calling all aspiring photographers: 

Following on from the success of last 

year, the Northern Rivers Travel 

Photography contest is on again! 

The inaugural contest was held last year 

to help local Bangalow-based travel writer 

Kim Wildman raise money for War Child 

Australia. Thanks to the generosity and 

support of the Northern Rivers community, 

who submitted some 200 entries, the event 

raised $3,100 for the charity on the night. 

The contest this year will be held as part 

of the centenary celebrations of the A&I 

Hall in Bangalow with all money raised 

will go to local charity: Bangalow Land 

and River Care; the Bangalow branch of 

Landcare Australia. 

This year’s theme is ‘City Sights & 

Nature’s Delights’ focusing on travels in 

either the urban or natural environments 

anywhere in the world – even here on the 

Northern Rivers. 

Prizes up for grabs include $350 worth 

of cash prizes offered by the Bangalow 

Chamber of Commerce (www.bangalow. 

biz), Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet. 

com.au) travel guidebooks, and subscriptions 

to some of Australia’s best travel 

magazines, including Vacations & Travel 

(www.vacationsandtravelmag.com) and 

Get Lost! (www.getlostmag.com). 

There are three categories for entries – 

Primary (up to 11 years), Secondary (12-17 

years), and Open (18 years and over). 

Entries cost $5 for Primary and Secondary 

entrants and $10 Open entrants, with a limit 

of two entries per person. 

Photographs must be submitted in print 

form. Each photograph should be mounted 

on black mount board or strong black card 

board and must not exceed 30cm x 40cm 

in size (including mount board). No entries 

will be returned, so make sure you keep a 

copy of your photograph. 

Entries clearly marked with your Name, 

Age, Address and Telephone Number, can 

be dropped off in person at Barebones 

Gallery (www.barebonesartspace.com.au) 

in Bangalow between 10am & 4pm from 

15 June with entries closing on Wednesday 

29 June. With photographers’ permission, 

the winning entries will be featured in the 

spring edition of Ocean Road Magazine 

(www.oceanroadmagazine.com.au). 

The contest will then culminate in a 

fundraising exhibition/auction to be held at 

the A&I Hall in Bangalow on Thursday 30 

June where the winners will be announced. 

Entries close on 29 June 2011, 

so get snapping! For more information 

contact: Kim on 0400 887 991 or 

kim@wildwriting.com.au 

FIREWOOD 

Half tip truck – from $160 

Full Tip truck – FROM $320 

Geoff Nilon 

Do you drive to Mullumbimby 

on a regular basis? 

Perhaps you can help the VJ team by 

distributing the VJ’s in Mullumbimby? 

There are only 6 locations to visit in 

all, including Byron Council, Santos, 

Poinciana, La Table Cafe, the Echo and 

Lu Lus. The VJ is released 11 times a year. 

Help make sure the Mullum-ites get to read 

the VJ each month… 

If you’d like to volunteer for this easy 

but important job, please contact Vanessa 

on 6688 2408. 

Repentance 

Creek Hall AGM 

It’s been great to see more regular 

hiring of the hall by the community 

in recent times, including birthday 

parties, weddings, yoga and dance 

classes. This all helps to pay the bills 

and keep the hall doors open. 

The committee is currently looking 

at grant applications to help fund repairs 

and improve facilities at the hall. The 

hall committee AGM will be held at 

7.30pm, Wednesday April 20th. All are 

welcome. 

Hall Committee. 

ph 6624 3037 


5

Invisible 

Friend 

- Sunroom 

For many 

musicians, the 

European tour 

is the marker of success. If you can do a 

string of shows and sell a bunch of your 

CDs in Europe than you’ve surely made 

it. So what does a band do after touring 

Europe and the UK for months on end? 

Well if you’re from Wagga Wagga you 

move to Whian Whian of course. Invisible 

Friend began life as a band in the 1990s at 

a Wagga Wagga high school and have now 

set up their own studio in the sunny pastures 

of Whian Whian. They have just released a 

new album, ‘Sunroom’, a follow up to the 

very well received ‘Mysterious Maps’ from 

2008. The new album was recorded and 

mixed at their studio (also called Sunroom) 

and I spoke with Nino Haggith, the percussionist 

and vocalist about making the album 

and about the music business in general. 

Audiophiles: How would you describe 

Invisible Friend’s songwriting process? 

NH: We generally write and arrange 

all the material together. Someone might 

bring in an idea and we all contribute to 

the arrangement. Someone might write 

lyrics to someone else’s melody, that sort 

of thing. It is a democratic process where 

everyone has input. Because we have 

worked together for so long we generally 

know each other’s likes and dislikes. 

AP: The tracks have a very energetic 

and dynamic feel to them. What was the 

recording process for this album? 

NH: With this album we wanted to have 

a more live feel. Our previous recordings 

were fairly conceptually based and featured 

a high degree of overdubs and production. 

With these tracks we recorded most of the 

beds [drums, percussion, keyboards, guitars] 

live and only vocals and some percussion 

were done as over dubs. The vocal takes 

also emphasised the ‘live’ aspects. 

AP: One of my favourite parts of the 

album is the ending to the track “Rubber 

Ball” that features a great drum n bass type 

groove and synth/guitar wall of sound. 

Could you talk about that? 

NH: Our keyboard player, Michael 

White, reckons that section best represents 

what Invisible Friend can do in a live 

setting. 

AP: I hear bits of Steve Miller Band, 

www . 

&hosting 

domains 

print design and artworking 

web design & development 

. com . au 

Lenny Kravitz, Steely Dan and The Beatles 

in Invisible Friend, what would you say the 

band’s infl uences are? 

NH: We have quite an eclectic range 

of tastes. When we started out as a covers 

band we did things like Crosby Stills Nash 

and Young. [Guitarist] Matthew Gulliford 

is a big Eric Clapton fan, [keyboardist] 

Michael White likes Dr John, I like a lot 

of soul and Motown tracks and [drummer] 

Brendan Drinkwater has a very diverse 

range of infl uences. 

AP: After touring Europe and doing 

shows in London you moved to this area, 

why? 

NH: Living in London made us realise 

how expensive cities are to live in. We are 

all from the country originally and really 

appreciate the sorts of things a country 

community offers. This area has such a 

strong musical community and also the 

University where two of our band ended up 

studying, doing the technology/engineering 

course. We set up the studio as a long 

term venture and that has given a focus to 

what we do here. I am also now working at 

Vitamin Records. It’s great to be able to go 

to the city, play a gig and then come home 

to the country. 

AP: What advice would you give to new 

bands starting out? 

NH: Try to really hone in on what sort of 

band you are. For example, you might be just 

a studio act, or maybe just a live band. Really 

explore and exhaust as many opportunities 

as you can fi nd for reaching an audience. 

Initially it might be all about doing gigs and 

selling CDs but there are a lot of other things 

like publishing/licensing opportunities 

worth pursuing. Also try to continually share 

with other acts to keep a sense of community 

about what you are doing. 

6688 2408 

Reconnecting 

to Country Bike 

& Bus Ride 

At 9.30am on Saturday March 5th 

almost 20 bike riders started off 

on the 21km ride from Dorrobbee 

Grass Reserve at Dunoon to 

Corndale Hall via Rosebank. 

Photo of Cycle riders supplied by Garth Kindred 

The weather was wet and quite cool 

but the kids and adults of all ages set 

off with a lot of excitement, with TV 

cameras recording the event. Some of 

the riders could see themselves on the 

Channel 9 News that evening! 

The bike ride was part of the grand 

fi nale celebrations for the Reconnecting 

to Country Project (RTC), which has 

been running for almost three years. All 

the bike riders reached Corndale though 

Mark Roberts said some of the kids 

needed a bit of encouragement to get 

up some of the hills – he assured them 

that, ‘this is the last hill’ – whatever hill 

it was! At Corndale they were fed (bush 

tucker from Gunnawannabe) and entertained 

(by Monkey and the Fish). 

A new book about the area was 

launched – ‘Coopers Creek – A Place 

of Many Stories’ and all the RTC 

individual projects displayed a photographic 

record of their work. Lots of 

people there - a great conclusion to a 

big project! A big thanks to Michael 

Williams for providing himself and his 

bus for the day free of charge. 

Garth Kindred & Marie Matthews 


Hinterland Domestic Goddess 

Mmm…. cool nights and wanting comfort 

food but I have a vegan coming to dinner! 

How do I make lasagna with no dairy, meaning 

no cheese! Try this delicious vegan lasagna, simple to make 

and delicious to eat. It is even better when it is reheated the 

next day! 

Vegan Lasagna 

Serves 8 

Preparation time: 45 minutes 

Baking time: 1 hour 

Sauce 

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 

• ½ cup chopped onions 

• 4 or 5 garlic cloves, 

minced or pressed 

• 1 tablespoon dried 

basil ( or 3 tablespoons of 

fresh if you have some in the garden) 

• ½ teaspoon salt 

• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 

• 1 ½ cups chopped mushrooms 

• 3 cups tinned tomatoes with juice, chopped. 

• ½ cup dry red wine 

Filling 

• 1 tablespoon olive oil 

• 1 cup fresh chopped basil 

• 300 grams fresh spinach, steamed and drained 

• 3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed 

• 2 cakes firm tofu (300-350 grams each, cubed) 

• ½ teaspoon salt 

• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 

• Enough lasagna noodles to make 3 or 4 layers, try to 

use fresh- much tastier than the dried lasagna noodles. 

1. Warm the oil in a saucepan. Add the onions, garlic, basil, salt, 

and pepper and sauté on medium heat for about 5 minutes. 

2. Add the chopped mushrooms and sauté for another 5 

minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and wine, bring to a boil, and 

simmer for 15 minutes while preparing the filling. 

3. Preheat the oven to 350º. Lightly oil a 9 x 13 inch lasagna or 

baking pan. 

4. In a blender or food processor, process the oil, basil, spinach, 

garlic, tofu, salt, and pepper to make a thick, smooth filling. 

Scrape down the sides with a spatula, as needed. 

5. Spread about one fourth of the tomato sauce on the bottom 

of the prepared pan. Cover with a layer of noodles, then half 

of the filling and ladle on another fourth of the sauce. Repeat 

the layers of noodles, the rest of the filling, and one fourth of 

the sauce. Finish with a final layer of noodles and the rest of 

the sauce. 

6. Cover and bake for about 45 minutes. Uncover and return to 

the oven for another 15 minutes. 

Serve with crusty bread, good red wine and lots of good 

Women‘s Health & Wellbeing 

3/10 Station St, Bangalow 2479 

Dr Jane Re�ell - Women’s health doctor 

(Medicare rebates apply) 

Janelle Angel - Continence & pelvic �oor physio. 

company. 

If you don’t have a 

good lasagna pan, 

go and see the 

great people at The 

Kitchen Shelf in 

Lismore and they 

will advise you. 

Passionate Locals and Great Produce 

According to statistics almost one third of the food 

we eat is from overseas. It’s a shocking statistic 

when you think of the food bowl we live in. Sadly, 

it’s just too easy to run off to a supermarket and 

buy items that are marketed to us as local but are 

anything but. Think of the ‘freshly baked bread’ so 

cheap at the supermarkets at the moment however, 

as we all know the dough is shipped in from main 

distribution regions- guaranteeing uniformity 

but sadly clocking up the carbon miles as they 

go. It’s horrifying to think that flowers from the 

supermarkets in Lismore come from Melbournewhy 

do we put up with this? It’s not as though we 

are short of flowers in the Northern Rivers. 

There is a solution- one that requires a weekly commitment to 

locally produced and grown food from farms around you-that 

is the farmers markets. I personally am a fan of the Thursday 

afternoon market in Magellan Street. As the weather changes this 

market becomes more comfortable to wonder around and grows 

in variety every week. No, you can’t buy toilet paper there but 

you can in the stores around Magellan Street and take it from a 

commercial coffee grower you can get a decent cup of coffee from 

a couple of well respected coffee shops that surround the market. 

So, the usual products are sold at this market-good fruit such 

as reasonably priced bananas from the farmers who grow them as 

well as just mature delicious tomatoes grown sustainably and in 

some cases organically; herbs; freshly bottled garlic freshly baked 

bread from local flours, local wines-and of course seedlings to 

start or extend your own exercise in limiting your own carbon 

miles by growing your own vegies. 

What is constantly amazing is the innovation shown by farmers 

regarding product innovation - just one of these is Nimbin Valley 

Rice. Not only does it taste delicious and nutty but its insecticide 

free; cholesterol free and a good source of fibre. Grown without 

supplementary irrigation and biologically farmed-it’s reasonably 

priced and grown in Goolmangar! 

So, for a little effort why not appreciate and trust a local farmer 

over the marketing of our supermarkets -farmers are multi-skilled 

people who have to constantly evaluate the way Mother Nature 

will act. When things go bad they have to innovate with persistence 

and diligence and patience to deliver food to the table and 

the marketplace. Farmers respect our environment as an asset of 

life and if they don’t, we all have no future. So rather than bank on 

the credibility of the large supermarkets marketing spiel – give 

the markets a burl. I guarantee you will always walk away with a 

couple of tasty succulent treasures! Speaking of which, must find 

my wine glass to enjoy some locally grown organic wine. 

Cheers, Cath 

Lismore Twilight Market is on Thursdays from 4-8pm in 

Magellan Street, Lismore. Lismore Farmers Market is on 

Saturdays 8-11.30 Lismore Showgrounds Lismore Organic 

Market is on Tuesdays 8-11.30 Lismore Showgrounds - 

Check local guides for any changes. 


7

Upper Cooper’s Creek School News 

Hello fellow readers of the Village 

Journal. My name is Sharon Turner and 

I am the Relieving Principal at Upper 

Coopers Creek Public School. I have 

been here now for two terms and I am 

enjoying working in a beautiful natural 

environment with friendly hard working 

students and supportive parents, who 

just happen to be great cooks! 

We are all very excited to fi nally have 

our interactive whiteboard installed and are 

enjoying using it. This week for Literacy 

all students have been focussing on persuasive 

text in writing and for maths Years 

K-2 have been focussing on their addition 

and subtraction with Years 4-6 working on 

algorithms. 

It has also been a wonderful start to the 

year for celebrating. We started last month 

with Chinese New Year. The students 

all participated in the Chinese New Year 

celebrations with a focus on learning about 

Chinese traditions, culture, art and food. 

Here are two of the students’ summaries on 

the Chinese New Year celebration. 

“This Year, Chinese New Year fell on 

3rd of February and ended on the 18th 

of February. On Chinese New Year, the 

Chinese buy new clothes for the New 

Year so they don’t wear old spirits. They 

decorate and clean their houses so that there 

will be no bad spirits for the New Year. On 

the fi rst day of the New Year the children 

get red envelopes with a gold coin. The red 

envelopes are a sign of good luck and the 

children are not allowed to refuse them. On 

the last day of the Chinese New Year it will 

be a full moon. The Chinese have a lantern 

parade and a dragon dance. They let off 

fi reworks to scare bad spirits away.” 

Lily 

“On Friday the 18th of February it was 

a full moon and the end of Chinese New 

Year. All of us dressed up in red and gold 

dresses. We put up lanterns, then had 

canteen with fried rice, spring rolls and rice 

paper rolls and fruit salad and lychees. We 

wrote blessings for the fortune cookies that 

Suzanne made.” 

Shae 

This month we also went to see the 

Boxworld exhibition which was on at the 

Lismore Regional Gallery. We were all 

amazed by this wonderful exhibition – 

there was so much to see. 

Tom recalls our visit … 

“BoxWorld is a small city made up of 

recycled boxes and toy cars. The artist 

Warren Thomas was inspired by the Lego 

land. He did not have enough pieces so he 

created BoxWorld. The second room was 

by an artist called Michael Taylor. His 

exhibition was called Memories from the 

time he spent living in England. The third 

and fi nal exhibition was called The Pigeon 

Archive. The pigeons supported soldiers 

during World World II. They received a 

medal for their work. The lady who created 

it was called Lyndall Phelps. I thought that 

the Art Gallery was a great experience and 

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my personal favourite was BoxWorld. I’m 

really looking forward to making my own” 

So it has been a very busy month ending 

with Questacon last week - we all enjoyed 

the experiments. The students have also 

started making their own “Boxworld” 

following on from our gallery excursion. 

Finally, for those of you who are not 

aware of our school and would like to know 

more about our school please feel free to 

give me a call. Here at Upper Cooper’s 

Creek we provide a caring, supportive 

environment where students participate in 

a range of high quality learning programs. 

Students are also offered a variety of 

stimulating, creative experiences covering 

dance, drama, art and music. 

I look forward to updating you next 

month on what is happening here at Upper 

Cooper’s Creek. 

Sharon Turner 

Relieving Principal 

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Rosebank Public School News 

There were lots of new faces at Rosebank 

Public School this year. We would like 

to say a special Rosbankian welcome to 

everyone of them. 

The First North Group Schools cross 

country event (including Rosebank, Upper 

Cooper’s Creek, Clunes, Bexhill, Eltham 

and Eureka) is being held at Rosebank on 

7th April 10.00-2.00pm. The course will 

be set out on Mr. Carroll’s land opposite 

the school. The Rosebank P&C will be 

cooking a sausage sizzle on the day – all 

welcome. Please come along and cheer 

on the children. We would like to express 

a special note of thanks to Mr. Carroll for 

granting the schools permission to use his 

land again for this event. 

In February, following elections at the 

school, we appointed our new School 

Captain, Isabella, and Peer Support, 

Bronwyn. They will be working really hard 

to make our school an even better place. 

(Issy and Bronwyn) 

Two of our students qualifi ed for Region 

and Zone in the swimming carnivals this 

term. Both Jamilla and Rose were selected 

for the First North Group Relay Team 

and both competed in numerous individual 

and team events. The Relay Team 

achieved a personal best in the Regional 

Carnival. Every child at Rosebank took 

part in an intensive swimming program 

at Goonellabah pool this term and was 

awarded with an achievement certifi cate. 

Our students in the Senior Class 

completed a topic on the Queensland 

Floods at the start of the term, which 

included producing a poster and delivering 

a speech to show what they had learned. 

This really helped us to understand what 

a diffi cult time families are having in the 

affected areas. 

Our Senior Class are presently working 

with Alan Davies, who is a member of the 

Rosebank Reserve Committee, to identify 

native trees and bushes in the Rosebank 

reserve. 

And our Junior Class went to see a 

performance of ‘The Gruffalo’ at the 

Lismore Theatre last week. It was great fun 

and the students did lots of reading and art 

work based on ‘The Gruffalo’ after they 

came back to school. 

Written by Georgia (yr 5) & Jamilla (yr 3) 

Rosebank Couriers 

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(where possible & at our discretion) 

phone 6621 3488 

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Great Opportunity for 

Emerging Performers 

If you or someone you know would make 

a fantastic NORPA Youth Ambassador 

we’d love to hear from you! The program 

is open to anyone aged 16 – 26 who lives in 

the Northern Rivers region and is excited 

to be involved in theatre. Be it performing, 

directing, stage management, design or 

technical production, we want to hear 

from all of you. 

NORPA Youth Ambassadors will be 

young people with a passion for theatre 

and the performing arts. Our Ambassadors 

will take part in a yearlong program of 

behind the scenes experiences, workshops, 

and, of course, see all the NORPA shows. 

As a NORPA Youth Ambassador you 

will be a voice of NORPA with your family, 

friends and peers. You will have the opportunity 

to tell us what you want to see and 

how you want to engage with NORPA. 

NORPA Youth Ambassadors receive: 

• workshops on theatre skills with our 

Artistic Director Julian Louis and with 

visiting artists; 

• a free ticket to all NORPA shows and 

$15 tickets to bring a friend; 

• opportunities to meet with visiting 

artists and learn about their work; and 

• access to backstage on some 

productions. 

“Young people are essential to the 

future of theatre both as performers and 

audiences,” said Artistic Director Julian 

Louis. “The contribution of young people 

is crucial to our industry. I would say to 

any young person who is interested in 

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There are limited places available in 

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9

Goonengerry School News 

Panning for gold 

If you’d driven past the school recently 

you’d be forgiven for thinking we’d struck 

gold with the construction of a mini 

goldfield in the middle of the playground. 

Don’t grab your pans and cradles just yet! 

The students were just re-enacting the gold 

rush, part of a larger assignment they’ve 

been working on in the senior class. Each 

student was asked to write and present 

a monologue from the point of view of 

someone who lived and worked through 

the hard times of the Australian gold rush. 

The kids did a great job and there were 

some lively tales of giant gold nuggets, 

scary bushrangers and the like. 

Venus gets into gold fever 

Running for their lives 

You might also have spotted the 

kids racing around the playground as if 

their life depended on it. That’s because 

they’ve been building up their endurance 

and stamina for the Small School’s 

Cross Country Carnival to be held at the 

Durrumbul School on April 8. Whether 

the children cross the line first or limp in 

at the end, they’re all winners to us and we 

value their effort and participation. 

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Cuddly creatures and goo! 

There have been some fun outings 

lately, too, starting with an excursion to 

Lismore to watch a lively theatre production 

of Gruffalo, one of our school’s 

most-loved, well-thumbed children’s 

books. After the play, they visited the 

Koala Hospital where they were taught 

how to spot and care for sick koalas in 

the natural environment. In fact, this new 

awareness has really opened the students’ 

eyes and they have since spotted the furry 

creature in our own school playground— 

what an amazing environment we live and 

learn in! Thanks to Friends of the Koala 

for their time and wisdom. Thanks also to 

the Questcaon Science Show, who stopped 

in at the school to share their passion for 

all things gooey, and to Spaghetti Circus 

for a fun workshop at the Mullumbimby 

Showground. 

Harmonious ending 

It’s been such a whirlwind term but 

we’re ending on a lovely harmonious note 

with our annual Harmony Day celebrations. 

Held on April 7, this year we’re 

hosting workshops, a student concert and 

a guest speaker from Papua New Guinea. 

He will be sharing his experiences of 

life in the tropics, courtesy of the Living 

Library in Lismore. All are welcome to 

come and enjoy this special day. 

Goodbye and congratulations! 

Finally, a warm farewell to our admin 

guru Margaret who is moving on to Ocean 

Shores, and a big WELL DONE to the 

Goonengerry swim squad who, it seems, 

can not be stopped. After blitzing the 

pool at the Small School’s Carnival, then 

at District and Regionals, they have since 

qualified for the State championships. 

Congratulations to our Butterfly champ 

Daisy and to the relay team Kai, Indya, 

Daisy and Lotus, who are all travelling 

to Sydney to take 

part in the event. 

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Goonengerry Gardening 

With Jean McCall 

This month Jean discusses some simple 

tasks in the garden…clippings, pots of 

colour and economical herbs….ed 

Coleus can be potted out or put straight 

in the garden, in full sun or semi shade. 

This very hardy plant will bring living 

colour among ferns or shrubs which only 

flower for short periods. They will last 

for several years if the mauve flowers are 

snapped off before seeding. The coleus will 

grow to 70cm or so but you can keep them 

smaller if you desire by simply breaking 

off the stems to the required length. These 

cuttings are then easity propogated by 

standing them in water where they will 

form new roots quickly. Then you have 

new plants for the garden or pot it as a gift 

for a friend. 

Autumn is a good time to look under an 

established Convolvulus ‘Blue Eyes’ and 

find erect shoots coming from a spreading 

suckering root. Cut a section with a knofe, 

lift out and place the section in a pot of 

good soil mix, trim back any excessive 

foliage and establish in the pot before 

planting it out. ‘Blue Eyes’ flowers in our 

region for most of the year, so keep it tidy 

and in shape with an occaisional clipping. 

Convolvulus can also be found in white. 

A convenient and cheap way of planting 

herbs is in white foam containers, which 

can be found at fruit shops or supermarkets 

where they are used for transporting 

fruit and vege. The boxes have ready made 

drainage holes, and they are a perfect 

depth, so filled with good soil they make a 

great herb garden that can be placed where 

you have an open sunny spot close to the 

house, for convenience. My herb bed near 

the back steps is on sloping ground so I was 

able to level the boxes by placing a brick 

or a small log underneath thus keeping 

them upright. My herb garden is organised 

as follows; thyme and marjoram in one, 

garlic chives and onion chives in another, 

sage and oregano in another (keep this one 

well trimmed). A smaller box will easily 

take 4 parsley seedlings and because of its’ 

invasive habitat, I put the mint in a separate 

container. I find it worthwhile to place the 

boxes in position before filling with soil 

and planting, as it is easier on the back. 

Happy Gardening, 

Jean 


A reflection on my wonderful home… 

I have travelled along the East 

Coast of Australia and around 

the world, yet I fi nd my hometown 

Byron Bay in Northern NSW the 

most beautiful. Salt clinging to my 

eyebrows after a day of swimming 

is what reminds me of home. My 

ideal summertime bliss. 

In the 15 years I have spent here, I 

have watched the place change and grow. 

In Byron Bay, the seasonal transitions are 

vibrant and dynamic. Tourists of all ethnicities 

swarm in the streets and head down to 

the beach seeking the ocean’s glory. Even in 

the off-season winter, although more quiet, 

the buzz of visitors continues as the water 

is still beautiful and the sun often stops by. 

Autumn brings rain. Every Easter lovers 

of Blues and Roots arrive for the acclaimed 

East Coast Blues and Roots Music Festival, 

unperturbed by the wet. The punters of this 

great music festival spend the mornings 

relaxing in the cafes or wandering through 

the shops, recuperating before another 

afternoon and night of dancing. My mouth 

still waters when I think of the waffl e stand at the Blues Fest, 

which is a popular spot for the crowds to take time out from the 

fantastic music. 

Winter brings a different variety of crowd. As Splendour in 

The Grass rolls into town so too do young people from all over 

Australia, ready to dance all night long and sacrifi ce sleep for 

days if the party is still going. I can see them trawling along the 

streets in their outrageous fl uorescent festival gear, every person 

the epitome of unique yet trendy. I join them as we dance along 

the footpaths and sing out at the tops of our voices until the time to 

act more subdued arrives as we line up to enter the Beach Hotel. 

Known as Top Pub or the Beachy to locals it is the heart and soul 

of Byron Bay. Looking out over Main Beach, the Beachy is a great 

place to have a Sunday drink and watch the sunset or dance around 

to local and touring talent on a Friday night. I love it because even 

with all the madness of the continuing tourist crowds you can 

always fi nd a familiar face. 

Spring is when the bay quietens down a little in terms of 

events and festivals, but also when the locals rejuvenate. Like 

new blooming fl owers the community springs to life. With local 

markets holding stalls of a variety of goodies, I can always fi nd 

some yummy wholesome food here, a bunch of spinach at the 

Byron Sunset by Paris McKey 

Farmer’s Market or a homemade donut as a treat. Held every 

Sunday in rotating locations there is no excuse for visitors to miss 

these gems of Byron Shire. 

The beaches are not too crowded and there is little hassle out 

in the surf. Local surfers can become territorial once beyond 

the breakers and it is not too uncommon for a spat to break out. 

However, these are quickly resolved as a new set of waves comes 

in and everyone can catch their ‘dream’ again. Having a natural bay 

that looks North-East it is reported to be one of the best breaks on 

the East Coast of Australia. Surfi ng is a big part of Byron’s culture. 

It was once a small town that only whalers and surfi ng hippies 

knew about. Thankfully the whaling industry shut down and left, 

leaving only the surf culture and a shipwreck as Byron’s legacy. 

Summertime in Byron Bay… Bliss. The waters are cooling 

against the hot heat of January and the feeling of salty 

eyebrows returns. 

by Paris McKey 

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11

Natural Law with Helene Collard 

I acknowledge the original custodians of this land 

the Widjabul People of the Bundjalung Nation 

Greetings One Mob, 

This month we emerge from the depths 

of the jungle back to domesticity, as we 

complete the Moon of the Jaguar and 

begin the Moon of the Dog. Additionally, 

the Mayan Dreamspell Calender neatly 

divides into fi ve sections called ‘castles’, 

each castle lasts 52 days and can be 

likened to a season. As well as moving 

into the Dog Moon this month, on the 8th 

April we enter a new castle (i.e. a change 

in season) – the ‘Castle of Burning’ as 

its name suggests, is the most intense in 

the Calender. Remember ‘intense’ does 

not mean diffi cult, make no mistake the 

energies of this Castle – particularly the 

fi rst 13 days and the last 13 days – hold 

the potential to powerfully accelerate our 

current cycle of transformation. In that 

way, let’s call this a golden opportunity. 

It’s time to step out of the mould 

(whatever that means for you) and explore 

interests and avenues you’ve been closed 

off to. All is One and in an interconnected 

world you are in relationship with everything 

and everyone (your kin). Only you 

can review existing boundaries and limitations 

that govern your ways of relating. No 

longer can we blame society, past government 

policy or oppressive laws, now is the 

time for Self-governance. 

The qualities of the Dog assist us to this 

end – loyalty, protectiveness, love and 

affection. My model of Self-governance 

recommends these qualities be directed and 

applied to oneself: 

• loyalty to honour and act upon your 

needs, desires and deepest truths and, 

• protecting the integrity of your 

physical body, feelings, thoughts and 

spirit/soul, and 

• communicating love and affection to 

your body and mind – particularly when 

experiencing inner confl ict. 

During April indulge yourself in simple 

pleasures, forget about serious talk and play 

like a puppy. The more you allow yourself 

to follow your heart and liberate your ways 

of relating, the more fun and exciting work, 

study and play can be. 

Some may view the outcomes of these 

concepts as fundamentally challenging 

to entrenched ideas on relating however I 

view them as a 

REMEMBERING of 

the traditional laws that 

govern my kinship system and crucially, 

guiding me how to conduct myself to ensure 

the wellbeing and survival of ALL kin. 

Due to the intense energies of the 

castle and other cosmic factors, many life 

changes are possible during April. I see this 

potential as a kind of ‘completion’ to the 

re-birthing cycle we’ve been experiencing 

– metaphorically shedding the skin and 

emerging renewed and healed (fi nally!). 

Another way to describe it is ‘changing 

shape or form’ that is, restructuring the 

way we process our experiences, increasing 

body-mind-soul congruency and 

therefore improving ways of relating for 

all. All is One and everything is all about 

relationship. 

Truth is also a key consideration during 

April, a search for truth about the world 

and about yourself. It’s no good if others 

see your potential and inner beauty, but 

you can’t. You’ve got to see it and you’ve 

got to believe it. This can be diffi cult for 

some because of prior learning, however 

again look beyond that learning and you 

can begin REMEMBERING. There has 

been a time in your incarnation where you 

understood yourself as the Divine Being – 

King or Queen that you are. Remember this 

time now. 

Enter this period consciously, set some 

goals and intentions on the April 3 New 

Moon and use this powerful energy to 

your benefi t. Do this and you will achieve 

amazing results. One thing is for sure and 

that is April will not be boring for anyone. 

So remember, when in doubt (or anxiety, or 

worry...) take off your serious hat and play 

like a puppy. 

In Self-sovereignty 

and Self-love, 

Helene 

b u d g e t t i m b e r s @ b i g p o n d . c o m 

FLOORING & DECKING 

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Would you like to know how to grow taro, 

make cassava fl our or process arrowroot? 

Its harvest time again at Djanbung Gardens 

where we have a diverse range of subtropical 

vegetables, making self-reliance so 

much easier in our climate. 

From May 7th to June 21st Permaculture 

College Australia will once again be hosting 

the “Growing Abundance” series of short 

courses at Djanbung Gardens with Robyn 

Francis and Janelle Schafer. A 7-week 

comprehensive course every Monday and 

Tuesday to learn all aspects of planning, 

growing, harvesting, storing and preserving 

your own food for year round abundance 

from the garden. 

The “Growing Abundance” short course 

series begins with Plants in Permaculture 

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families for crop rotation and seedsaving. 

Discover the potential of Food Forests and 

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‘Coopers Creek, A Place of Many Stories’ 

Members of the Coopers Creek Landcare 

Group have published a book called 

‘Coopers Creek, A Place of Many 

Stories’. The book’s launch at Corndale 

Hall was part of the Reconnecting to 

Country fi nal celebrations where the local 

community came together to celebrate 

the achievements of the Coopers Creek 

ecological and cultural restoration project 

that received $45,000 from the NSW 

Environmental Trust, plus support from 

project partners Rous Water, Sustainable 

Futures Australia and Widjabul people of 

the Bundjalung Nation. 

Coopers Creek, A Place of Many Stories 

is a compilation of stories and historical 

accounts from the Coopers Creek 

catchment, about water, land and people, 

and provides a deeper understanding of 

people who have had a connection to 

Coopers Creek: Aboriginal Australians, 

early Asian settlers, European settlers and 

others up to the present time. The stories in 

this publication include those of: creation; 

attitudes to land; sites of signifi cance; 

resource use and life on the land; early 

accounts of life in Coopers Creek; fl ora and 

fauna; changing quality of the water; the 

changing community; spirituality, connection 

and hopes and visions for the future. 

“Water is the basis for our survival. 

Water and land link our stories from 

the past to the present” said Mayor of 

Lismore, Jenny Dowell, at the launch 

of the publication. Project offi cer from 

Sustainable Futures Australia, Shannon 

Baunach-Greenfi elds, says “The book 

achieves the intention of the publication 

committee, which is to strengthen our 

sense of belonging by looking deeply at 

the history of the land on which we live. 

It is a thought provoking read.” 

Aunty June Gordon, a Widjabul Elder of 

the Bundjalung Nation, formed a relationship 

with the publication committee whilst 

working with them to provide information 

about the cultural heritage and values 

relating to Widjabul /Wiy-abul country, for 

inclusion in the book. At the launch Aunty 

June said to the publication committee: “it 

has been a long three years but now we 

can come together and see the wonderful 

result. Without your dedication this 

wouldn’t have happened”. 

Agricultural Services 

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Aunty June Gordon and Mayor Jenny 

Dowell co-launch the publication. 

Copies of ‘Coopers Creek, A Place of Many 

Stories’ are available from Marie in the 

Dunoon/Dorroughby area on 6689 5261 or 

mariematthews1@ 

bigpond.com or 

Lydia on 66882220 

or kindred@nrg. 

com.au The regular 

cost is $10, plus $5 

if you want it posted 

to you and…. 

As a special offer 

to VJ readers the 

fi rst 30 copies are 

being given away to 

readers. Just email 

the above contacts 

to arrange a collection 

point. 

For information 

on the Reconnecting 

to Country project 

see: www.sustainablefutures.com.au 

Shannon Baunach- 

Greenfi elds 

Dozer 

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Tipping Bucket 

Road Roller 

Picnic at Federal 

On Saturday last the annual picnic 

in connection with the Federal Public 

School was held. 

At an early hour the playground presented 

a festive appearance being gay with fl ags and 

bunting and by noon a very large number of 

people had assembled. 

The air was full of laughter and joyous 

shouts as the young folks indulged in various 

games. Soon it was announced that the “billy 

was boiled.” This was welcome news, and 

the sandwiches and dainties provided by the 

ladies of Federal disappeared at an astonishing 

rate. Still the supply was more than equal 

to the demand and showed clearly that the 

catering was in excellent hands. 

The next couple of hours proved a very 

busy time for the teacher, handicapper, 

starter and judges and an exciting time 

for the children, as fully 100 prizes were 

completed for and awarded to the winners. 

The prizes were much admired. 

By this time, duty at the milking yard 

called many away who would rather have 

stayed. Afternoon tea was partaken of by 

those who were free to stay, and thus ended 

a most enjoyable day. 

Northern Star, 1/12/1909 page 4 

This article refl ects the dairying industry that 

was most dominant in the Federal/Rosebank 

area at the time and the hardships that were 

expected of families having to milk by hand 

twice a day and then attend school. 

Ian Murray 


13

RCI Happenings 

Hi everyone, it’s time for another RCI meeting. The next 

meeting will be held on April 11, 7.30pm at Rosebank Hall. 

Recently we’ve been finishing up the paperwork on an 

EnviroFund grant project that was undertaken several years ago 

by local landcare groups. The main purposes of this project was to 

reduce the amount of sediment erosion in local creeks and regenerate 

rainforest in waterway gullies in Fox Road and surrounds. 

Last week Sharon McGregor took me on a tour of the various 

sites to have a look at what had been achieved. I was impressed to 

learn that several acres of previously bare and eroding gullies and 

hillsides had been beautifully underplanted and that a lot of work 

had been done creating sediment ponds in the creeks. The result of 

this work means cleaner creeks, reduced topsoil loss and generally 

greener, healthier forested areas, which, in another 100 years or so, 

will begin to resemble the natural rainforest as it was before we 

came and ripped most of it out. 

Sharon has kindly offered to present an overview of this project 

at the next RCI meeting – I urge you to come along and find out 

Local Business and Service Directory 

Accommodation Imogen’s Farmstay &Winery 6689 5672 

Suzanne’s Hideaway 6629 1228 

VerdeVista (Federal) 6688 4796 

Antenna & Satellite Service Vision Clear 6624 5202 or 0428 458 068 

Bobcat Hire Scott Hosking BobCat Hire 6688 2243 or 0438 291 489 

Chiropractic & Craniosacral Balancing David Ackerman 6688 4136 

Courier Rosebank Couriers 6621 3488 or 0427 100 961 

Domestic Cleaning Karen Keys (call in the evenings) 6688 4212 

Earthmoving Ron Field 6688 2153 

TomThumb 6689 5414 or 0457 895 414 

Electrical Contractor Afterglow Electical Services 0432 331 633 

Barry Connor 6688 2114 

Furniture (2nd Hand) Lizzy’s Furniture 6622 3533 or 0414 714 111 

Graphic & Web Design Websmiths 6688 2408 

Graphic Design & Sound Studio Ottopia Studios 6688 2264 

Hairdressing Salon Salon 29 6629 1345 

Health Educators Hinton Health 0404 843 676 or 0407 358 375 

Hen’s Night Entertainment / Bartender toplessevents.com.au 6689 5956 

Hotel Eltham Hotel 6629 1217 

Kitchen Supplies Kitchen Shelf 6622 8008 

Landscaping Troy’s Landscaping 6622 8890 

Leadership & Vision Coach AnD Consulting 02 6684 9362 or 0418 164 260 

Massage Inspiring Remedial Bodywork - UtaWeidemeier 0421 826 639 

Medical Practice Womens Health &Wellbeing 6687 2337 

Community Directory 

Schools and Associations 

Public Schools Bexhill 6628 4233 Clunes 6629 1278 

Corndale 6628 4305 Dunoon 6689 5208 

Eureka 6688 4272 Goonengerry 6684 9134 

Rosebank 6688 2126 Whian Whian 6689 5240 

Upper Coopers Creek 6688 2128 Eltham 6629 1321 

Preschools Clunes 6629 1551 Dunoon 6689 5396 

Fede ral 6688 4371 Rosebank 6688 2096 

Playgroups Clunes - K Battistuzzi 6629 1747 Eureka - J Jacob 6688 4527 

Rosebank - B Clark 6629 1537 Whian Whian 6689 5223 

Dorroughby Environmental Education Centre 6689 5286 

Federal Film Society Anita 6684 9313 

Girl Guides Australia Helen Hargreaves 6689 5254 

Dunoon Scouts Cubs: Lyn Black 6628 8588 

Scouts: Graham Pringle 6628 2820 

Community Services 

JP Dianne Horton 6688 2396 

Hall Bookings Whian Whian 6689 5488 Dunoon 6689 5577 

Corndale 6628 4260 Rosebank 6688 2116 

Dorroughby 6689 5013 Federal 6688 4217 

Repentance Ck 6688 2194 Eureka 6628 4599 

about this project’s history and potential future actions. 

RCI is a local not for profit group of residents whose aim is 

to support community engagement in whatever form. There’s an 

open invitation to locals, newcomers and ‘old-timers’ alike, to join 

in. Please contact rci@villagejournal.org.au or come along to the 

meeting for further information. 

Julian Smith 

il Presidenté 

Federal Films Presents - “Best in Show” 

2000, USA, Comedy, Rating: PG - Competition is take-no-prisoners 

at the Mayflower Kennel Club. Everything you always wanted to 

know about dog shows but were afraid to ask. Now you will never 

have to. Ever. 

9th April @ Federal Hall. 

Delicious meals with coffee/tea & cakes at interval. 

BYOG and cushion. 

Doors open 6.30pm for dinner. Movie starts 8pm Enquiries: phone 

6684 9313, or email us at reelfilmsoc@yahoo.com 

Federal Films – bringing community together through film and food. 

get listed for $3.30/issue or $30/year – ring 6688 2408 or contact 

advertise@villagejournal.org.au or PO Box 6360, South Lismore, 2480 

Mobile Sawmilling Nicolaus Jungmann 0428 962 708 

Mulching, Slashing etc. Tobias Raeth 6689 5228 or 0427 005 638 

Odd Jobs Roundtuit - Les 6689 5727 

Painting Contractor Mick Cordin, Rosebank 6688 2169 

Pet Minding Clunes Menagerie 6629 1773 or 0434 389 805 

Photographer Sri 0419 627 981 

Plastering Michael Hill 6688 2020 

Printing Martin C 6622 3111 

Real Estate Elders, Bangalow 6687 1500 

Removalists Lizzy’s Furniture 0414 714 111 or 6622 3533 

Restaurant TheWren’s Rest, Minyon Falls 6688 2361 

Slashing Ron Field 6688 2153 

Sports Club (licensed) Dunoon 6689 5444 

Solar Hot Water Quality Solar & Plumbing 6684 4131 

Tank Cleaning Smart Rainwater Solutions 6629 1212 

Timber/Hardware Tradesman, Goonellabah 6624 8366 

BudgetTimbers 6622 2299 or 0416 395 800 

Travel Agent Travel Counsellors - Bonnie Martin 0438 458 622 

Tyres Pirlo’s, South Lismore 6621 3561 

Used Cars Col Johnston Cars, Clunes 6629 1270 

Waste Disposal RichmondWaste 6621 7431 

Yoga Class Camilla’s DynamicYoga with CamillaTierney 6688 2356 

Yoga & Pilates Class Federal Hall,Weds 10am with Olive McLeod 6688 4553 

Not-for-profit groups listed for free – ring 6688 2480 or 

contact advertise@villagejournal.org.au or PO Box 6360, South Lismore, 2480 

After School Care 

Clunes Out of School Care 6629 1750 

Landcare Fox Road 6688 2217 

Phoenix 6629 1162 

Rosebank 6688 2220 Whian Whian 6689 5696 

Wildlife Carers Rosebank Koala Rescue 6688 2217 

Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers 6628 1866 

WIRES Northern Rivers Rescue Hotline 6628 1898 

Emergency Services 

Friends of the Koala Hotline number 6622 1233 

FIRE / AMBULANCE / POLICE Dial 000 

Hospitals 

Fire Permits 

Lismore 6621 8000 Byron Bay 6685 6200 

Rosebank De Condos 6688 2263 Eric Kinchin 6688 2217 

Doug Rowley 6688 2137 

Federal Nardi 6688 4151 Rhonda 6688 4217 

Goonengerry Hodgson 6684 9153 Martin 6684 9234 

Boat Harbour Waddell 6628 4382 Butler 6628 4118 

Clunes Johnston 6629 1270 Battistuzzi 0412 742 741 

Dunoon Feebrey 6689 5438 Watts 6689 5359 

McDougall 0409 425 551 


The Village Journalists . . . 

Editor : Llyr Otto 

Layout & Website : Websmiths (Julian & Vanessa Smith) 

Accounts : Vanessa Smith 

Advertising : Sarah Ogier 

We thank the following contributors to this issue: 

Martin Jacka, Benny Glassman, 

Sri, Lorraine Vass, Leane, Kim 

Wildman, Cath Ford, Julie 

Leete, Alex Wilson, Mark 

Scotton and Students, Sharon 

Turner and students, Christina 

Larmer, Leonie Hangan, Rosie 

Rosella, Julie Hooten, 

Garth Kindred, Marie Matthews, 

Helene Collard, Matt Hill, Paris 

McKey, Shannon Baunach- 

Greenfi elds, Janelle Schafer, 

Jean McCall, The Reel Film Crew, 

Ian Murray, Norpa, Vanessa 

and Julian Smith, Llyr Otto and 

the wonderful rain monitors. 

small $29 $83 $162 

regular $50 $142 $279 

medium $77 $220 $430 

quarter page $99 $282 $552 

half page $160 $456 $893 

The VJ is owned and 

published by RCI. 

Printed by Martin C’s Print 

Shop Lismore on chlorine-free 

paper made from sustainably 

farmed eucalypts. 

Classifi ed Ads - $5.50 for up to 

25 words pre payment required 

Service Directory Listing 

List your business phone number 

for $3.30 per issue (free with 

paid ad) or $30 per year. 

The VJ is GST exempt 

ABN 70106816600 

Enquiries: 6688 2408 or 

advertise@villagejournal.org.au 

Rainfall Report 

Goonengerry........................................185.5mm 

Rosebank ...............................................166.5mm 

Numulgi ....................................................145mm 

Dunoon/ Numulgi ................................149mm 

Rocky Creek Dam is 

currently at 100.24% capacity 

Monthly rainfall totals are offi cially 

taken to 9am on the last day of the month. 

Everything after that is counted 

into the next month’s tally. 

We’d love to receive rainfall totals from 

other parts of VJ land. 

Please phone your rainfall though to 

66882264 (leave a message if no one is 

home) or email editor@villagejournal.org.au 


March 

2011 Totals 

15

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 

Clunes Playgroup 10am 

RCI Meeting 7.30pm 

Rosebank Hall 


Rosebank Hall AGM 

7.30pm 


Bluesfest 

Easter Monday 

Anzac Day 


Mmmmm… 

wonder what’s down there? 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

Lismore Organic Market 

showground 8-11am 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 



Eureka Playgroup 9.30am 

Whian Whian Playgroup 

9.00am 



9.00am 

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 



25 26 27 28 29 30 

Bluesfest 

Anzac Day Public 

Holiday 



Photo by Martin Jacka 

Repentance Creek Hall 

AGM, 7.30pm 



9.00am 

VJ Deadline 5pm 



9.00am 

Lismore Twilight Market 

4-8pm 


4-8pm 

Bluesfest 


4-8pm 


4-8pm 

VJ Meeting 6 pm, contact 

the Editor on 6688 2264 

for details 

April 2011 

Rosebank Playgroup 

10.30am 

Lismore Grower’s Market 


10.30am Lismore Grower’s Market 


10.30am 

Bluesfest 

Good Friday 


10.30am 


10.30am 

Landcare at Rosebank 

Reserve 8-11am 

Mullumbimby Markets 


Bluesfest 

Easter Saturday 



Lismore Carboot Market 

Byron Community 

Market 

Pluckers ‘n Poets 

Dunoon Club, 3.30pm 

The Channon Market 

Lismore Carboot Market 

Nimbin Market 

Bluesfest 

Easter Sunday 

Bangalow Market

April - Village Journal

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