Northern Rivers Local News
Richmond Valley Council Australia Day Awards recipients
Richmond Valley Council Australia Day Awards recipients
Each year our nation celebrates the achievement and contribution of Australians through the Australian of the Year Awards.
They inspire us through their achievements and challenge us to make our own contribution to creating a better Australia and for us, a better Richmond Valley.
The efforts made by these individuals to excel in sports, to volunteer, to lead, educate or inspire the Richmond Valley community is to be commended.
All nominations were assessed and judged by an Australia Day selection panel consisting of five members of the Richmond Valley community.
The first category is Young Sportsperson of the Year. I would like to call on Mayor Robert Mustow to come forward and announce the winner and to present a gift.
MAYOR ROBERT MUSTOW
This was a difficult decision to make and we received some wonderful nominations. However, the sporting talent and commitment of this young individual goes far beyond their years. I have the pleasure to announce the Young Sportsperson of the Year Award goes to:
Abbie Yourell
Abbie Yourell
Abbie is a dedicated young lady who trains hard, swims hard and gives everything to the sport of Open Water Swimming. She loves competing and representing the sport at a local, State and National level.
Abbie started training and competing at swim club when she was four years old. At the age of 10, she started competing in Mini Ocean swims at Yamba and Byron Bay, and also competing for the Evans Head Casino Surf Lifesaving Club at Nipper Carnivals.
Abbie is a keen member of the Evans Head Casino Surf Life Saving Club and has been the Evans Head Casino Niperette of the Year for the past three years for her sporting abilities, volunteering and contribution to the club.
Last year was a long and difficult year for athletes – training was interrupted, events were cancelled, but through it all Abbie has shown tremendous resilience.
In early January of 2021, Abbie competed and came second at the Yamba Ocean Swim in the 12-15 year old girls 2km race and 10th overall female competitor.
After competing at NSW State Open Water 5m race in Sydney in late January, where she did a massive seven minute personal best and finished 11th place, Abbie’s training increased to nine sessions a week to be ready for the rescheduled Swimming Australia National Open Water Championships, which were held on the Sunshine Coast.
Abbie is a quiet but determined young woman who strives to be the best she can be at everything she does. She is a high achiever in all aspects of life and is always striving to improve and help others achieve their goals.
Richmond Valley Council congratulates you. This award is recognition of your invaluable contribution to our community.
We will now move on to the Richmond Valley Australia Day Sportsperson of the Year Award.
MAYOR ROBERT MUSTOW
We only received one nomination in this category, yet it was for a very worthy sportsman. The winner for Sportsperson of the Year is:
Noah King
Noah King
Noah has been the Casino Cougars most consistent player for the past three seasons. His is dedicated, leads by example and has the respect of his teammates.
Noah is a committed club person who puts his hand up to assist whenever he can. His performance on the field is outstanding and was awarded all major awards for the Casino RSM Cougars in 2021.
Noah was selected in the Northern Rivers Titan Opens Representative Side and was rewarded with a train and trial contract with the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs.
Noah is a dedicated and good role model for the Casino RSM Cougars Juniors and is respected by his teammates and opposition.
Richmond Valley Council congratulates you. This award is recognition of your invaluable contribution to our community.
Our next award is for Young Volunteer of the Year.
MAYOR ROBERT MUSTOW
Volunteering at such a young age is a credit to youth in our community. It is generally a thankless service which helps the people in our Valley greatly and contributes in making this area one of the greatest to be part of. The recipient has not only given invaluable time to the community but to those younger than him within the volunteer organisation.
The winner of Young Volunteer of the Year is:
Jacob Yourell
Jacob Yourell
Jacob is an outstanding young volunteer in all aspects of the Evans Head Casino Surf Life Saving Club. He is an active patrol member, provides water safety at Nippers and carnivals and helps with fundraising.
Jacob has been a member of Evans Head Casino Surf Club since 2007. He began as a Nipper, and then continued to gain his Surf Rescue Certificate and Bronze Medallion and became a patrolling member of the club.
Jacob is a well-mannered, polite, and a respectful young man with great family values.
Jacob has been patrolling now for six seasons and has matured into a highly valued member of his patrol team. He is a strong swimmer, excels on the rescue board and has courage in the surf.
To ease the burden on its members, Evans Head Casino SLSC has a structure of voluntary patrols throughout the season and top of his normal patrols, Jacob committed to a third of those patrols, including a good part of Christmas Day, amassing 69 hours of patrol.
On patrol, Jacob is always looking at being engaged in the water, communicating effectively with his Patrol Captain and other team members.
He has a sense of wanting to give back to Nippers and regularly provides water safety to ensure their activities are not only safe, but fun for all involved.
Despite having many of his own personal barriers, Jacob’s steadfast commitment to the success of Evans Head Casino Surf Life Saving Club is apparent to all members, and he is a valued asset to the Surf Club and the community he lives in.
Richmond Valley Council congratulates you on your nomination, which is recognition of your invaluable contribution to our community.
Our next award is for Volunteer of the Year
MAYOR ROBERT MUSTOW
Again, this was a difficult category and these individuals have contributed significantly to the community through volunteering. The amount of time and effort these individuals put in across a wide variety of needs is astonishing. You are all worthy of this award. The winner for Volunteer of the Year is:
Dorothy Sullivan
Dorothy Sullivan
Dorothy is a long standing and highly motivated local volunteer with a drive and capacity to help and support other organisations and local formal and informal groups. Dorothy’s volunteering commitment is to be commended as it spans more than 50 years in the Richmond Valley.
For the past eight years Dorothy has been a volunteer at the Casino Historical Society, where she is the Bulletin Editor and administrator of the Facebook page promoting the museum.
Along with her many volunteer hours on the roster she also fundraises through raffles and barbecues, as well as researching history.
Dorothy has written three books, two family and one published on The Mayors of Casino from 1880 to present, which resides in the museum.
Dorothy has had many volunteer roles over the 50+ years, including P&C committees, school canteens, Casino Show Society, of which she is a life member, the Anglican Op Show for more than 30 years, Westpac Rescue Helicopter for 10 years, Casino Beef Week for more than 30 years and Friends of Windara for more than 20 years.
She assists organisations in a wide variety of ways, including administration of Facebook pages for Casino and District Historical Society, Northern Rivers Military Museum and Good Old Days in and Around Casino.
Dorothy is a highly respected, reliable, hardworking, and trusted member of the community.
Richmond Valley Council congratulates you on your nomination, which is recognition of your invaluable contribution to our community.
Our next award is for Young Citizen of the Year.
MAYOR ROBERT MUSTOW
This person, although young, has shown leadership and commitment to our country. Their achievements are outstanding and beyond their years. This person is an amazing representative for our youth in rural NSW and looks to have an amazing career ahead of them. The winner for Young Citizen of the Year is:
Isabella Ennever
Isabella Ennever
Isabella has exhibited excellence and outstanding dedications to her passions of education, gender equality, community involvement and STEM over many years.
She has been an enthusiastic representative of the Richmond Valley through sporting, cultural and science pursuits. After overcoming many personal hardships, Isabella’s perseverance and continued application to her educational goals and aspirations should be acknowledged and recognised.
Isabella has been recognised locally through the Southern Cross University Deputy Vice Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence and the Casino High School’s P&C Student of the Year Award.
Her academic success eventuated in her obtaining the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship with the Public Education Foundation, a scholarship with the Harding Miller Education Foundation, a scholarship with the Youth of the Streets Foundation and, most recently, a Susan and Isaac Wakil Scholarship.
Her academic awards illustrate her hard work, but also demonstrates the many available pathways for other young rural people to fulfil their potential.
Isabella has been a positive ambassador for the Richmond Valley through participation in the National Youth Science Forum and Professor Henry Messel International Science School, providing a role model to encourage other young, rural individuals to strive for excellence in education. Within these prestigious programs, Isabella has represented the Richmond Valley with integrity and excellence.
Through adversity and challenges, Isabella has excelled in many facets of her adolescent life, proving her endurance and determination to achieve her goals. She demonstrates the resilient, adaptable character of the Richmond Valley and shares the community values central to the organisations she is involved in.
Richmond Valley Council congratulates you on your nomination, which is recognition of your invaluable contribution to our community.
Our last but by no means least award to be presented is Citizen of the Year.
MAYOR ROBERT MUSTOW
Nominees in this category lead from in front and are evidently passionate about the place they live and we, as a community thank them. This was an extremely difficult decision to make and this year there are two winners. The first winner of Citizen of the Year is:
Michael Pontefract
Michael Pontefract
Michael gives unselfishly to the community through many organisations in the Richmond Valley. He is someone who embodies community values, spirit and civic pride.
This award is to recognise Michael’s long-term and sustained commitment to the communities he has lived in over the past 40 years and, in particular, the communities of Casino and Evans Head for the past 15 years.
Last year was Michael’s 40th year as an active patrolling lifesaver. Michael is a trainer and assessor across all awards within surf life saving and 2021 was Michael’s 30th year as a Training Officer and 32nd year as an assessor. He is as passionate today about providing quality training, particularly power craft, as what he was when he first started.
For the past eight years Michael has been the Captain of Evans Head Casino Surf Life Saving Club. He is a member of the Surf Life Saving Far North Coast Board of Education, a position he has retained for 15 years.
He is the only Rescue Jet Ski workplace trainer and assessor north of Woolgoolga, training every operator in the region from Yamba to Kingscliff.
For the past nine years Michael has been the Carnival and Competition Coordinator for Casino Swimming Club and before this was treasurer for seven years.
Michael is also the Coordinator and Treasurer of the Charcoal Inn Charity Club, a role he has undertaken for the past 14 years.
Michael has been recognised over the past three years as the Far North Coast Life Saver of the Year, Facilitator of the Year and the prestigious President’s Medal. He was most recently recognised as Surf Life Saving’s NSW Patrol Captain of the Year.
Michael is someone who embodies what community service is all about and lives these principles and values every day. Ultimately, he ensures everybody feels included, has a role to play and feels like they belong.
Richmond Valley Council congratulates you. This award is recognition of your invaluable contribution to our community. Your can-do attitude, professionalism and commitment to the people of the Richmond Valley makes you a worthy recipient of the Richmond Valley Citizen of the Year.
MAYOR ROBERT MUSTOW
The second winner for Citizen of the Year is:
Patrick Power
Patrick Power
Pat has given outstanding service to the community of Casino as a school teacher, serving as a medical officer for Casino Rugby for 43 years, acting as a mentor for young players, supporting the Casino Women’s Rugby team, as well as also playing rugby for many years.
In 1978, Pat began as a project officer with the then Casino Youth Group at the El Gronda Theatre site. This operated after school hours and Pat was working full time as a school teacher at Casino Public School at the time.
As a teacher at Casino Public School, Pat introduced junior rugby to the sporting curriculum and coached the team for seven years. He was an educational leader in personal development and a curriculum innovator. Pat was playing rugby for Casino at the time and continued to play for many years.
In 1980 Pat introduced the award for the Casino Junior Rugby Player of the Year, that award still exists, and Pat presents the trophy each year at the Casino Rugby Union Club end of year presentations. Pat still encourages young men to rise above themselves in giving back to the community.
For his service to the club in Casino, Pat was honored with a testimonial dinner in 2010.
Pat has also been a fundraiser for the Heart Foundation, St Vincent’s De Paul and the Red Shield Appeal.
Pat has given numerous motivational talks to younger rugby players and has taken a great interest in their personal development and character training, encouraging them to be the best player they can be and as a result, many young players – both male and female – have gone on to represent the Far North Coast. Pat is proud of the young men and women he has mentored and still attends all home games of the club.
Richmond Valley Council congratulates you. This award is recognition of your invaluable contribution to our community. Your can-do attitude, professionalism and commitment to the people of the Richmond Valley makes you a worthy recipient of the Richmond Valley Citizen of the Year.
Richmond Valley Australia Day Awards recipients
We would like to acknowledge all the wonderful nominees who we received as part of the Richmond Valley Australia Day Awards and ask as your name is called to please come up and accept your certificates.
• Hayden Griffen
• Travis Dhu
• Graeme Rooney
• Teena Redman
• Terry Smith
• Iris Hobbins
• Jackson Whitney
• Mark Scofield and
• Fiona White
CASTROL LISMORE SPEEDWAY: MARCUS DUMESNY IS $10,000 RICHER AFTER LIL’ AUSSIE OPEN WIN
By Dennis Newlyn
Marcus Dumesny’s 410 Sprintcar victory in the $10,000-to-win Lil’ Aussie Open at Castrol Lismore Speedway, Wednesday January 8, carried greater significance than just getting to the chequered flag first.
It was a personal triumph over back injuries that stalled his career with a stint on the sidelines which also put his seasonal campaigns on hold for sometime – in fact his last victory was the New South Wales Sprintcar Championship on April 1, 2023 at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Speedway.
Back in Victory Lane for the first time in close to two years, an elated Marcus Dumesny summed it best with just a few words: “It’s been a long road back.”
Dumesny showed all his familiar speed , typified when he put down the fastest lap of the Lil’ Aussie Open at mid-distance with a time of 11.309 seconds for a speed of 127.332 km/h around the tight confines of the Lismore Showground bull ring.
Harry Stewart filled the runner-up position on the podium, while the drive of the night came from Luke Oldfield who started from the back and charged from position 17 into third position!
Late afternoon – early evening rain delayed the start of the meeting, watched by a big crowd including City of Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg.
Several attempts were made to get the first lap of the main event completed in incidents that took out one of the pre-race favourites Alex Attard.
Lil’ Aussie Open winner Marcus Dumesny (centre) pictured with runner-up Harry Stewart (left) and third-placed Luke Oldfield. Photo: Tony Powell.
When the 25-lap feature settled down, Dumesny commanded the role of pacemaker, chased hard by Stewart, while Mitch Randell was right with Stewart.
Further into the race, Brodie Davis gained ground on Randall. Randall became one of the hard luck stories of the race when he rode a wheel and crashed into the fence with 18 laps remaining.
Oldfield was a man on the move as he threaded his way through the field. American Andy Pake ran in fifth as Oldfield loomed into contention. Oldfield passed Pake, then Mitch Gowland in a superb drive into the top three.
It was not an easy night for Oldfield who had an incident in an earlier heat and finished in the fence. Without a heat result it meant he started at the back in the feature race and what followed from Oldfield was one of the highlights of the night.
The top ten finishing order was Marcus Dumesny, Harry Stewart, Luke Oldfield, Mitch Gowland, Andy Pake, Callum Walker, Nash Morris, Tony Bridge, Daniel Bridge and Bradi Owen.
Heat wins went to Dumesny and Stewart.
The main focus of the pre-meeting publicity and mainstream media coverage was the appearance of Americans Pake and Chase Randall. However Randall was an unfortunate late withdrawal from the fixture.
Other feature race winners on what was a very successful and entertaining night of racing were Jacob Jolley (LS 360 Sprintcars), Matt O’Neill (Compact Speedcars), Lindsay Clapham (Production Sedans) and Mitchell Haynes (Wingless Sprints).
For more local news, click here.
Safety Upgrade for Rous Road Roundabout Begins, Temporary Detours in Place
By Jeff Gibbs
Lismore City Council has announced the start of a $1.1 million safety upgrade for the Rous Road and Oliver Avenue roundabout, aiming to improve motorist safety in the area. Funded by Transport for NSW under the Australian Government’s Black Spot program, the project is expected to take eight weeks to complete, weather permitting.
Addressing a History of Accidents
Over the past five years, six accidents have occurred on or near the roundabout, highlighting the need for action. “Something clearly needed to be done,” said Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg. “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our community, and this upgrade will deliver that.”
What the Upgrade Involves
The project will be completed in two phases:
- Initial works: Upgrading existing drainage infrastructure and widening the road pavement to the north of the roundabout.
- Construction phase: Building a new, larger concrete and asphalt roundabout with a 6m-wide travel lane, improving access from Jubilee Avenue and the Caroona Marima Care Facility.
Temporary Traffic Changes
Starting Monday, 13 January, Jubilee Avenue will be closed to through traffic at the roundabout for the remainder of the works. A detour will redirect traffic via Phillip Street, McDermott Avenue, and Oliver Avenue. Stop/go signs and reduced speed limits will also be in place.
“We all have a role to play in road safety, and I want to thank the community for their cooperation and patience,” Mayor Krieg said.
Safety Upgrade for Rous Road Roundabout
Key Safety Features
The upgrade includes:
- Improved sightlines by removing three trees on the northern side of Rous Road, which will be replaced nearby.
- Modifications to the Caroona Care Facility driveways, changing the current entry/exit to an Exit Only and creating a new Entry Only point off Rous Road, approximately 40m west of the roundabout.
- Enhanced safety for vehicles turning at Jubilee Avenue and Rous Road, addressing confusion caused by their close proximity.
Background on the Black Spot Designation
The roundabout’s inclusion in the Black Spot program was based on:
- Limited sight distance due to large trees and low lighting.
- The crest of the intersection reducing stopping time for motorists exiting Jubilee Avenue.
- Historical accident data, with six recorded incidents between 2018 and 2023.
Future Plans
The Council has confirmed the development of another roundabout at Reserve Street as part of the broader Rous Road design, with timing yet to be finalised.
For residents and motorists, the temporary disruptions during construction will lead to long-term improvements in safety and traffic flow. The Council urges all road users to follow the temporary detours and traffic controls during this period.
For more local news, click here.
‘Give It Your All’: Future Students Invited to SAE Byron Bay Info Night on January 16
By Robert Heyward
Future creatives, get ready to kick off the new year with inspiration and direction at the SAE Byron Bay Info Night on Thursday, January 16, 2025. This exciting event offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of Australia’s top creative tertiary education providers and is set to be a night of discovery, learning, and connection.
From food trucks to student success stories, attendees will explore the vibrant world of creative media and technology at SAE’s six campuses across the country.
Discover Your Creative Path
Whether you’re a budding designer, filmmaker, animator, or aspiring music producer, SAE Info Night is the perfect opportunity to dive into your passion. Explore SAE’s wide range of creative courses, including:
- Design
- Film
- Music
- VFX & Virtual Production
- Animation
- Audio
- Computer Science
- Creative Industries
- Games
Guidance and Insight from Experts
SAE faculty will be on campus to offer one-on-one guidance, helping future students find the right course to match their aspirations and career goals. Attendees will also have the chance to connect with SAE’s student services team, who provide support ranging from academic assistance to career advice.
Bronte Dunning, a 2022 SAE Graduate and owner of Bronte Dunning Creative.
Real Stories, Real Inspiration
One of the highlights of the night will be the student and alumni speakers, sharing their journeys and achievements since studying at SAE. At the Byron Bay campus, guests will hear from Bronte Dunning, a Bachelor of Film Production graduate who has been running her own videography and photography business since graduating in 2022.
“My biggest career highlights are definitely filming Blues Fest Byron Bay for the past three years and working recently with NITV for the Australian Women in Music Awards,” Bronte shared.
“SAE gave me the skills and confidence to start my own business and connected me with a wide network of creatives. My advice for new students? Apply yourself in every class and give it your all. What you put in is what you get out. And most importantly, have fun with it!”
A Night to Explore and Enjoy
Attendees will get to tour the campus, enjoy delicious bites from local food trucks, and connect with faculty, staff, and current students. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in the creative environment that SAE is known for and discover how to turn your passion into a career.
Join the Creative Community
Don’t miss this opportunity to step into the world of creative media and technology. SAE Byron Bay Info Night is open to all future students or anyone curious about a creative career.
For more information and to register, visit the SAE website.
Take the first step toward a career that lights you up!
For more local news, click here.
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