CLARENCE VALLEY ABORIGINAL ARTIST’S WORK HONOURED IN NSW PARLIAMENT’S BICENTENARY UNVEILING

Today marks a significant achievement for Clarence Valley Aboriginal artist Kim Healey, whose artwork has been commissioned as part of the NSW Parliament’s Legislative Council Bicentenary celebrations.

Unveiled today by the President of the Legislative Council, Ben Franklin, Kim’s major artwork titled Ngurra Jagun—meaning “Home Country” will now take pride of place in the Fountain Court public foyer, where it will be prominently displayed for all to see.

Member for Clarence, Richie Williamson, who recently viewed the exquisite piece in Kim’s gallery, expressed his pride in seeing a local artist receive such prestigious recognition.

“Kim is a proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung woman whose work not only showcases her immense talent, but also brings attention to the rich cultural heritage of our region. Her storytelling through art invites deep reflection on the history, traditions, and future of the First Nations people of NSW,” he said.

“The artwork, Ngurra Jagun embodies the deep connection of Aboriginal people to the land and waters, where the NSW Parliament stands today. Kim’s connection to country and culture is reflected in every piece she creates.

“I encourage everyone to visit the NSW Parliament and experience the beauty and depth of Kim’s work, which stands as a symbol of the strong relationship between the Parliament and the Aboriginal community.”

President of the Legislative Council, Ben Franklin MLC praised the significance of the artwork.

“This artwork not only commemorates our past, it also invites contemplation of the kind of future we aim to build together, and our ongoing commitment to reconciliation with the diverse Aboriginal communities of our state,” Mr Franklin said.

Kim Healey describes her artwork as “a correlation between the Southern Cross and how our culture is our compass. The inner design, with traditional overlayed patterns and symbols, acknowledges community, world views, meeting places, and unity. The bordering design pays respect to my Saltwater/Freshwater heritage of my Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr nations.”

The commissioning of Ngurra Jagun is part of the broader commitment by the NSW Parliament to engage with and honour the state’s First Nations communities and will stand as a lasting legacy of the Bicentenary celebrations.

Following today’s unveiling, ‘Ngurra Jagun’ can be viewed by the public during the opening hours of NSW Parliament House (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays). A mini documentary will be released in the coming weeks, covering the journey of the artwork and its creation.

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$30mil aquatic centre looking for a name and a manager

By Tim Howard

Three months from the scheduled opening of its $30 million regional aquatic centre, Clarence Valley Council is looking for a manager and what it might be called.

Departing from its usual practices of contracting out management of its facilities, the council has flagged it will self-manage the facility and want to have a manager in place in time for the December opening.

The report to the August 27 council meeting called for public consultation to help with the naming of the pool, suggested the council manage the pool for two years to allow staff to draw a better picture of pool usage.

The figures for the controversial project have been questioned as overly optimistic and were based on figures consultants Liquid Blu provided to the council in 2018 before the pool’s unscheduled closure in 2022.

Then deputy mayor Cr Jeff Smith alluded to these figures during debate at the last council meeting on August 27.

“I’d like to thank staff for finally putting a disclaimer in that these projections also represent the full operation of all water bodies and features, including the water slides, which have been excluded from the current construction program,” he said

“That’s what I’ve been banging on about for over 12 months.”

But Cr Smith said there were still figures in the report which had no basis.

“It projects that we’re going to have 24,336 visitors in three years to a non-existent gym,” he said.

“Can we just file that whole spreadsheet? Because it just goes popping up and over and over again.”

Cr Smith, who has promised to walk down Prince St (Grafton) in his Speedos if the pool attracts 270,000 visitors a year as projected, pointed to some anomalies that still exist.

“I look forward to that time,” he said. “In fact, I might even trot all the way to the pool, because you won’t get a car parking spot, because despite the 800% increase in patronage, there’s no extra car parking spots.”

Clarence Valley Council has sought help from the community in finding a name for the Regional Aquatic Centre. The first stage of the project, the 50m pool, is due to open in December.

Cr Karen Toms said the figures in the report from Liquid Blu were brought to council in December 2018, and acknowledged requirements had changed since then.

“I’m not sure why we needed to have that in there, but it was an operating forecast estimated in the 10 year, as it says, Budget and Financial based on the full operation of the facility,” she said.

“So, you know, our staff didn’t sort of just dream up those numbers.”

The council described the managerial role as an “exciting opportunity for someone to set up the new $30 million facility located at Grafton and build it into a signature aquatic centre for the region”.

Its release said the successful applicant would be offered a three-year term contract under the Local Government (State) Award.

Council’s manager open spaces and facilities Rachelle Passmore said the council was proud to maintain management of the facility to ensure programs and activities meet the growing needs of the community.

“The new centre includes an outdoor 50m pool, an accessible zero depth splash pad and an indoor centre with two heated pools, a 25m and combined program and leisure pool.

“With December quickly approaching, we’re excited to get the recruitment underway for the new facility.

“In this first round, we are seeking a centre manager. Additional roles, including programs, operations, lifeguards, customer service staff, and various instructors such as fitness and swimming instructors, will be advertised soon.”

The manager position is open now until October 1 with interested candidates encouraged to apply by applying via the Council Careers Page.

The council approved self management of the pool and beginning public consultation to find a name for the centre.

Council would like naming suggestions for the:

• Regional Aquatic Centre
• 50-metre competition pool
• indoor program and leisure pool.

The engagement period began on September 5 and continues until September 23.

You can fill out an online survey here.

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Clarence voters look past the tattoos and dreads

By Tim Howard

She owns a tattoo parlour in South Grafton, wears her hair in dreadlocks and in her first tilt at becoming a Clarence Valley Council is more than 1000 votes ahead of her nearest rival.

She is Cristie Yager and Clarence Valley voters have overwhelmingly chosen her appeal to community values and straight talking ahead of candidates who have taken a more mainstream approach.

There was no-one more shocked than Ms Yager when the first figures from Saturday’s count came out on Sunday, with 2845 first preference votes putting her on track to be the first councillor elected.

Needing a quota figure of around 4000 votes likely, Ms Yager was almost certain to achieve that figure on the first count.

“I don’t think I’ve absorbed it very well yet,” she said on Sunday. “But there’s time for that I suppose.”

Ms Yager revealed that she had become aware of a strong vein of female support for her and other women on the ballot paper, which might create some surprises when preferences were distributed.

“There was a lot of people who just went, ‘well, I’m gonna vote for you. I don’t really know who, who else,” Ms Yager said.

“So they just went, ‘I’m gonna vote for women’. There was a lot of that.”

While she was grateful for the support and understood the reason for it, she said she really would like to be a representative for all people.”

She said she had met many of the candidates during pre-polling and enjoyed the experience.

Ms Yager put her appeal to voters down to her independence.

“I decided I’d go independent, 100%,” she said. “I’m gonna do it my way.

“Not that I knew what I was doing, but I was gonna do it my way, and I was gonna stay independent.

“If I couldn’t work hard enough to get it, then I didn’t earn it. That was my stance.”

She said that as she’s rubbed shoulders with current councillors and candidates she’s learned a lot.

“It’s been, yeah, very eye opening to see how everyone’s sort of doing their bits and pieces behind the scenes, I suppose,” she said.

“So yeah, I’ve had to sort of tell a few people to sort of go, hey guys, do not bring me into this. I’m just going to be over here doing my thing.”

While the level of support was a surprise, Ms Yager revealed her campaign to get onto council had begun at the start of the year and employed a combination of tactics.

“It was sort of like a trifecta thing I was trying to go for,” she said.

“I sort of wanted to go cover the three angles I wanted to learn.

“So I wanted to go to every council meeting.

“Read business papers, you know, read the Code of Conduct, the Local Government Act, get the basics on those documents.

“I didn’t want to walk through the doors and go, I do not know what I’m doing, or have an idea, you know.’

Her second plan to use social media to create a presence in the community, but there was a catch.

“Trying to say anything on community groups was hard, because they sort of go, ‘Oh, she’s just trying to raise a profile on that.

“And I was, but I tried to make sure I was open about it while being, you know, genuine.

“It was a tricky, tricky balance.

The Yager team, family members and friends, bottom from left: Buddy, Molly and Bella. Middle Sophie, Cristie and Sophie’s boyfriend Chase and rear, Aaron holding Barrie and Violet. The family was celebrating on Saturday as the count put Cristie on target to being the first councillor elected on the new Clarence Valley Council.

The third part of her campaign was pure old-school community campaigning.

“Go and be a part of the community, contribute to different volunteering things, go to community events, all those, yeah, basically all those kind of things.

“Visit a pub for an afternoon lunch and just different areas.”

Ms Yager said the fact she was a fifth generation Clarence Valley person meant she had lots of contacts.

“We’re always in the bush, but in different spots,” she said.

“So I tried to sort of connect with them. And, yeah, understand their perspective in their areas.

“We’ve got, like, you know, beach communities, like, you know, full of beachy, cool people, but then, you know, out in the sticks, we’ve got, you know, the, you know, full bush hippies, but then also farmers. I mean, it’s such a variety, and it’s just so cool.”

Despite her independent approach Ms Yager said she was looking forward to the discipline of working in council.

“I’ve already found out I can’t put in a NOM (notice of motion) straight up, so that’s a shame,” she said.

“So I suppose I’ll just take my oath. I think I’m going to take a step at a time.”

But she said she she wanted to put the community first in council and would not be afraid to press those view when the time comes.

“I really want to be active about it and mainly just include, you know, our people, that’s sort of the point.

“I’ve kind of got some ideas, but I think I’d probably double check with everyone that matters.

“I’m going to be very involved with the community.”

Ms Yager said during her campaign and pre-poll a new idea had come to her to educate high school students about civic involvement.

“I’ve I actually have got a new goal, too, after hanging out with all the guys,” she said.

“I am going to be going and talking to high school students and telling them why this is so bloody important, and why they should be involved, and why they should care, and maybe try and make it exciting.

“You know, there’s just so many people who had no idea, or some who are just like, super keen.

“This is, first time I’ve actually taken an interest and I know what I’m doing. I’m informed, and I’m going to do it right.”

But she said it was not just young people who could benefit.

“I just sort of assumed it would be, you know, the younger generation that would be a little bit clueless with how to vote, but it was just throughout the ages.

“That just was really eye opening for me. So that’s sort of on my new, you know, to do list, something I’d love to do.”

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