Red Earth, Red Blood author dies: A Tribute

By Samantha Elley

In  September 2023, I received a phone call from an elderly gentleman, asking me to read and edit some poetry he had written.

At the time, my editing schedule was booked up and I told him I wasn’t available for a while.

I believe someone upstairs had different ideas and due to some changes in my work schedule, I found some time available and rang him back.

The elderly gentleman, Graham Smith, invited me to his place in Tuckurimba for avocado and vegemite on toast, accompanied by a cup of tea.

This became our regular routine every few months and, while we didn’t go through his poetry, he showed me a fictional story he had written, along with a sequel that he decided he wanted to see published.

In November 2024, Red Earth, Red Blood hit the local shelves and Graham was able to see his second book published.

His first book, Sweet Beginnings, a book about the history of the sugar industry on the Northern Rivers, was actually one I referenced in my own publication about the history of Woodburn, called A Bend in the River.

And we had other similarities.

We talked history, literature and the joys of reading.

In Graham I had found a kindred spirit, so I was devastated to hear of his passing last Thursday night when his son, Chris, advised me.

At 95 years old, Graham was still so sharp in mind and spirit and his cheeky humour always made me look forward to our tea and toast.

His family have confirmed they would like to see the sequel of Red Earth, Red Blood published as they know that’s what their dad would like to see happen, so I look forward to sharing Graham’s amazing story-telling talent to readers, especially those who have already read his first book.

No doubt, there is so much more that can be said about the life of Graham Smith, but this is just a snapshot that this journalist had as we shared our publishing project.

Avocado and vegemite on toast with my cup of tea will always be a reminder of a sunlit kitchen table in the Smith farmhouse, discussing our writings and the love of history.

Graham’s funeral will be held Monday, February 17^th, 1pm at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Corner Union and Adam Streets, Coraki.

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Putting out the bin not such a drag now

By Samantha Elley

When it came to putting the bins out down her very steep driveway, Kelly Young realised, while picking up rubbish that had tipped out for the umpteenth time, that necessity was the mother of invention.

“I’ve been (in Broadwater) for about 15 years and I’ve been tying my wheelie bin, hooking it on to the tow ball, using occie straps, putting it into the tractor, every Wednesday night after the kids are asleep,” she said.

“I’ve lost the bin off the back or dropped it down the driveway so many years, it’s raining, there’s rubbish everywhere.

“How many times am I going to scrape rubbish off the driveway?”

So, one night, unable to sleep after losing the rubbish down the driveway again, Kelly decided to design some kind of gadget that would help make putting the bins out much easier.

“Two hours later I had the very first version of (the Ball Dragga),” she said.

“And then I went to sleep.”

What followed was a year of redesigns and adjustments, processing, testing materials and strength, to make sure it was a viable product for the market.

“It had to pass the test,” Kelly said.

“It had to be strong enough so the bin can’t twist off, fly off, bounce off, if you slam on your brakes the bin won’t damage your car.

“How many months did I spend breaking Ball Draggas?”

The Ball Dragga over the tow bar, showing how the bin clicks into it. Photo Samantha Elley

Kelly creates the Ball Dragga in her workshop with 13 3-D printers, her print farm, that works 24 x7, using recycled plastic, making it very light to hold.

“I use PET plastic which is the same plastic as the coca cola bottles,” she said.

“They are so strong and super thin.

“I have this plan of taking waste plastic bottles, putting it in a facility that will be here and it comes out as the material ready to feed the printers, that will print the product.

“Hopefully, (I’d) get a contract with an ocean clean up mob.”

The name “Ball Dragga” came about when Kelly took her invention to the Broadwater Pub and asked opinions of the locals.

“I came up with a list and narrowed it down,” she said.

“I lost the vote in the pub and they all agreed the name that stood out there was the “Ball Dragga” as it relates to tow balls and it drags the bins.”

Now, when Kelly gets home from work, sees her bin emptied at the bottom of her driveway, she takes out the Ball Dragga from her glovebox, attaches the bin and takes it back up.

When her neighbour saw the invention, Kelly knew it needed to go further.

“He’s only got one leg,” said Kelly.

“He saw (the Ball Dragga) and absolutely loved it and asked if I could make him one.

“Rubbish is done in five minutes now, compared to half an hour for him.”

Everything used is all Australian, with plastic coming from a manufacturer in Melbourne and all waste plastic is recycled back to them, which it goes into making more of the material.

The Ball Dragga came on to the market just before Christmas, so interested buyers can go to balldragga.com or Ebay to buy your own.

The Ball Dragga currently retails for $89 but the price will eventually retail at $119 by Easter.

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Clean out your household chemicals for FREE this summer

Advertorial by Newaste

You can take household problem wastes including paint, batteries, oils, gas bottles and fluoro lights to your local Community Recycling Centre all year round, but for 2 days this December you can also safely dispose of household chemicals for free at 2 regional locations.

There’s never been a better time to get rid of unwanted or out-of-date stuff from your shed including pool, garden and hobby chemicals, household cleaners, and even poisons. It’s a free service that will help you prepare your home for the summer season by reducing the risks that hazardous chemicals can present to your family and property, especially in emergencies such as cyclones, floods and fires.

So don’t miss out! Add these Chemical Cleanout event dates to your calendar:

• Saturday 7th December at the Nammooona Waste Facility, Dargaville Drive, Casino
• Sunday 8th December at the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre, 313 Wyrallah Road, East Lismore.

Both events run from 9am to 3pm and are free for all Northern Rivers residents.

You can bring paints – up to 100L (in 20L containers), batteries – up to 10kg, other household problem waste and chemicals – up to 20L or 20kg per waste type.

For more information you can contact Lismore Council ph. 6625 0500 or Richmond Valley Council ph. 6662 6580 or visit here.

This project is proudly funded by the NSW government.

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Little Stray opens in Woodburn

By Samantha Elley

If you have tasted the coffee from Stray café in Evans Head and loved it, you are going to be delighted to hear that owners, Damo Robertson and Jessica Grace, have opened Little Stray in Woodburn.

In the premises of the old Rich River Café, they have set up their espresso bar where people can grab a coffee and bagel or any of the dessert delights with gluten free options on offer.

“I started in the coffee business 15 years ago in West End Brisbane as a way of getting out of being a bartender,” he said.

“(I was) sick of the night life.

“When I moved back down to this area, I started the coffee cart in a converted horse trailer at Evans Head Fish Co-op.”

Damo had the cart for 18 months before the flood damaged the co-op, so then he found the old Evans to Betsy site, where he had worked as a barista before starting the cart.

“The owners asked me if I’d like to take on the coffee shop,” he said.

“I didn’t have anything at all, I put the coffee machine from the cart at the front door as the shop was empty.”

With Stray now established as an eat-in café and thriving with a good local following, the couple and their family of two young girls bought a house in Woodburn.

“This opportunity came up to open here (in Woodburn),” he said.

“I always wanted to own a couple of coffee shops that supports us.

“I now have 10 staff (at Evans Head) and I’ve employed someone for Woodburn but I am looking for more staff.”

Little Stray opened on Saturday, November 16 and despite there being a number of coffee shops on River Street, he hopes that he will bring more people to Woodburn.

“We will offer freshly squeezed cold pressed juice, toasted bagels and gluten free pastries,” he said.

“We use Old Quarter coffee, all hand-picked, nothing mass produced.”

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Kylie Maunder – Richmond Valley meet your candidates

By Tim Howard

The Northern Rivers Times has asked all of the candidates for the September 14 local government elections to introduce themselves to voters identify the issues they want to address and policies they would pursue if elected.

A number of candidates did not meet the deadline for publication but are welcome to send in copy for coming editions of The Northern Rivers Times before the election date.

Kylie Maunder

Yamandhu marang, my name is Kylie Maunder and I’m a proud Wiradjuri woman, blessed to be living breathing and learning on Bundjalung country for most of my life.

I grew up in a small village outside of Casino and have experienced first-hand the lack of supports and infrastructure for regional communities.

My background has been in leadership in community services, disability, family support, aboriginal engagement, reconciliation and aboriginal leadership.

My goals and passions are educating and inspiring the broader community through culture, closing the gap on education, health, and support healing through connection.

For more 2024 Local Elections News, click here.