Hero student saves classmates on bus

By Samantha Elley

It could have been a scene from Speed, the 1990s Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock classic about a runaway bus with a bomb on it.

However, in this story there are no Hollywood stars, Los Angeles streets or a bomb, but there is 14 year old Casino High School student Izzy Miller and her very brave action as she dived behind the wheel of a huge bus to save her classmates.

On Wednesday, November 22 a school bus was parked at Casino High School, at the end of a normal school day.

There was no one in the driver’s seat when suddenly the large vehicle started to roll.

2. You can see Izzy at the wheel of the bus as it is steered safely away from cars and the petrol bowsers

“I was on the bus, not my bus, I was talking to my friends on there,” Izzy said to Channel Nine’s Today.

“And the bus driver gets out of the bus and the bus starts moving.

“It started going towards the shop across the road and it was heading straight where the petrol tanks were.

“Everyone was freaking out…I ran up the front of the bus and steered it away from getting hit.”

Izzy effectively saved the lives of her 20 school mates who were on the bus, as well as a couple of customers at the North Casino Mini Mart filling their cars with petrol, oncoming cars and a couple of pedestrians.

Erin Witton of North Casino Mini Mart presents hero Izzy Miller with a certificate and $100.

Owner of the mini mart, Erin Witton said it could have ended catastrophically and made sure she thanked Izzy for her brave act by awarding her a certificate and $100.

“I was able to show my personal appreciation to Izzy and her family for her selfless and quick thinking act of courage and bravery,” she said.

“I truly believe Kevin Hogan (Federal MP) needs to jump on this and get this girl a well-deserved community bravery award.

“All the team at North Casino Mini Mart are in debt and just super thankful to this beautiful young lady.”

Izzy’s story has gone viral to numerous national media outlets and the story has even made international news, with an article in the New York Post.

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Heading overseas on Lions exchange

By Samantha Elley

Brother and sister Roy and Ruby Beckenham are about to embark on the adventure of a life time, thanks to the Lions Club of Casino and many hours of fund-raising.

The Casino High School students will be heading out on exchange in December, where Roy will go to New Zealand and Ruby to Washington state in the USA.

“I am feeling excited anticipation,” said Ruby.

“I’ve not been overseas before except on a cruise ship when I was 7 and to Fiji when I was 4.”

The idea came to Ruby, when she knew she wanted to go travelling.

“When I was younger we were around backpackers and I have a great respect for them,” she said.

“I just googled what was out there and knew the Lions exchange was a good option.”

At 16 years old, Ruby knew the exchange would be perfect for her.

“Part of the youth exchange is to learn to be adaptable,” she said.

“I’ll fly into Seattle and spend a week at a youth camp with 30 people from all over the world who are 16 to 20 years old.

Passports ready. Ruby and Roy Beckenham on their way overseas on Lions exchange.

“After that, I will go to my host family and I’ve heard that we will be going to a gun range, snow skiing lessons and a hockey game.”

Brother Roy, who is 17, and preparing to do his HSC is also looking forward to discovering New Zealand.

“I’ll be doing my Year 12 project while I’m over there,” he said.

“It’s going to be a 3-4 minute video of the camp, the organisers and the host family. For my multi-media studies.

“I’ll be flying into Auckland, spending one to two days there then catching a bus to another host family in Rotorua , then to a camp in Tauranga, then another week meeting friends.”

Both the students have been selling the Jolly Soles brand of socks at markets, doing sausage sizzles with the Lions Club at Primex, Beef Week and farmer’s markets.

“We are also running 100 clubs and have a Christmas raffle going,” said Ruby.

“My parents are really proud that we are able to have this opportunity.

“My mum went travelling when she was young.”

Mum, Kelly, said she has now joined the Casino Lions Club and they hope to start a Leos club next year for other young people who may want to discover what opportunities they could have with the local group.

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About to do his final crumb

By Samantha Elley

A recent parking fine may be the final straw for businessman Bob Worling.

The owner of Kibbles Bakery in Walker Street, Casino has threatened that his business is on the verge of closure after 46 years of selling bread in the CBD.

“It’s getting to a point with the council where they seem to want to disrupt business,” said Bob.

“We know the cost of living is a struggle but (Richmond Valley Council) are making things more difficult.”

Bob Working in Kibbles Bakery.

Bob is referring to the recent difficulties with the closure of the Casino Livestock Exchange where the associated custom has moved to Lismore.

Even more recently, Bob has been advised that he now has to register his grease trap at $250 a year.

“My viewpoint is that they have lost money on the saleyards, so are trying to get it from anywhere else,” he said.

“I got my grease trap put in 12 years ago and never had to pay to register it before.”

the offending laneway.

Richmond Valley Council said cross-subsidisation of rate payers money supporting council business was not to happen, as stated in their ordinary council meeting of September 19, 2023:

“While it is usual local government practice for ratepayers to share the cost of operating community facilities provided for the social and physical wellbeing of residents, such as libraries, community halls, sports fields, parks and swimming pools, cross-subsidisation of business activities from general rate revenue should not occur.”

And now Bob has had to deal with a parking fine of $300 from one of his staff, who had stopped to load crates of loaves to deliver to customers.

Bob Working in Kibbles Bakery.

No Stopping signs in the laneway beside the bakery, had forced Bob to take and send deliveries at the back entrance.

“She had stopped in the side lane way, next to the bakery, to get the crates, so she hadn’t parked, but was loading the bread,” he said.

Bob said he has written to and visited council to plead his case but had been unable to speak to the mayor or general manager.

“(They) are forcing me in to a situation where there will be no bakery in the main street of Casino,” he said.

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