Casino NSW News

Saleyards lurches toward lockdown

Published

10 months ago

27 June 2023

JeffG

Saleyards lurches toward lockdown

By Tim Howard

Former Richmond Valley mayor Ernie Bennett has savaged changes to the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange fee structure which threaten to shutdown operations at the saleyards from next week.
Richmond Valley Council has given local cattle agents an ultimatum to sign a contract for a three-year permit to operate at the NRLX from July 1, when the last agreement expires.
The agents have all refused, creating the possibility there would be no auctioneers available to run cattle sales at the centre, which could affect the big All Breeds sale looming late in July.
Mr Bennett, who was mayor from 2012 to 2016 and instrumental in the $14 million plans to upgrade the saleyards a decade ago, said the council plan was little more than a power grab at the expense of the local farming community.
“This threat of locking them out really disappoints me, that council would take that approach,” Mr Bennett said.
“Councils are meant to be there to help the people, not to hinder them and fight them.
“If they lock the agents out, well that’s all the grazing community locked out, interfering with our livelihoods, all for some power grab.”
The situation has developed since March when Richmond Valley Council resolved it would change the way it collected fees from the NRLX operation from July 1.
The council also planned to increase the number of agents using the NRLX, including looking for agents outside the area.
It asked for expressions of interest from potential agents with a target of seven, but only five expressed interest and one of those has been rejected.
And to cap it off, the council said it would take over the handling of the cattle after they were sold, a task up to now covered by the agents.
The agents have been silent. Casino Auctioneers Association president Andrew Summerville said the agents would allow the current agreements to run, but with June 30 less than a week off, “the clock was ticking”.
While the agents are silent, others like Mr Bennett and grazier and treasurer of the Richmond River Beef Producers Association Holger Zeiler, have been more than willing to speak out.
They have been forthright in their language, describing the council’s tactics as “blackmail”, the approach as “bully-boy”, the motivations for it as “empire building” and clauses in agents’ contracts as “gag orders”.
On June 14 RVC and the cattle vendors met at Kyogle where saleyards manager Brad Willis explained the changes.
All the agents attended, but did not address the meeting, something that Mr Bennett noted.
“The agents were all there, but not one of them opened their mouth, so obviously the council has got them gagged. Too frightened to say anything,” Mr Bennett said.
Mr Zeiler also attended the meeting but had a more charitable interpretation of the agents’ actions.
“Part of the problem is the auctioneers feel that they can’t say anything, which is the first thing that piqued my notice when I was speaking to my auctioneer,” he said.
“There is a clause in their current contract saying that they cannot bring council into disrepute.
“The second thing is they’re in the EOI process, so the perception is that if they make too much noise about what they’re feeling, that’s going to compromise the EOI process
“I’m sure council will say that they wouldn’t let that sway them, but if nothing else, that perception’s there.”
At the meeting, Mr Macdonald and Mr Willis said the council needed to get a better return from the saleyards for the ratepayer and the reforms it proposed would do that.
The key change has been transitioning of the agent business usage fee from a fixed per head charge to 0.2 percent of gross revenue.
He said this equated to $2 for each $1000 of livestock sold, which would be paid by the agents from their revenue of $45-$55 from each $1000, as agent commissions vary from 4.5-5.5 percent.
Mr Macdonald said gross revenue at the NRLX increased from $76,479,965 in 2017-2018 to $210,437,317 in 2021-2022 result in agents’ commissions jumping from $3,823,998 to $10,521,865 during the same period.
He said council must capitalise on this for the benefit of the Richmond Valley community, especially since it had been successful in obtaining $11 million in grant funding from the Federal and NSW governments to fully upgrade the facility to a modern roofed-and-soft-floor livestock selling centre.
To achieve this council had invested more than $4 million as its contribution to the NRLX’s upgrade, requiring borrowings of $3.5 million.
“It is critically important council and all NRLX users work together to ensure the saleyards remain the number one cattle selling centre on the North Coast,” Mr Macdonald said.
“Vendors have historically contributed most of the fees to the NRLX business and council has been implementing an incremental realignment of the cost sharing between vendors and agents from the previous model since the completion of the upgrade.
“The 2023-2024 NRLX Revenue Policy shows no change in core vendor sale fees and these fees will remain fixed to June 2026 – this means there have been no vendor sale fee changes in six years.”

He listed the benefits for agents:
• NRLX gross sales revenue – $744,976,044
• Agent Business Usage fees to Council – $549,915
• Agent Commission at five percent – $37,248,802
• Agent rent as a percentage of turnover – 1.5 percent

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But there are some key figures, like Mr Bennett, who disagree with this assessment.
As a former mayor Mr Bennett said attempting to run the NRLX “profitably” was not in council’s remit.

Former Richmond Valley mayor Ernie Bennett

He recalled when he had become Richmond Valley mayor one of his main challenges was to turn around a push to get rid of the Casino saleyards.
“I’d been getting asked for years by business people in Casino and lots of farmers about council wanting to get rid of the saleyards,” Mr Bennett said.
“That was one of my main reasons for standing there.
“I thought I’d lost the battle when council voted to get rid of the saleyards by leasing it out for $1 a year for 60 years.
“And I was the only councillor that voted against. I was fortunate enough to get a rescission motion in as soon as the meeting was over.
“I held it up and was able to turn a situation around after we had a change of general manager.”
But Mr Bennett said trying to make the saleyards “profitable” would backfire on the council.
“I have always been a believer that council should be able to provide a facility like that and at a less rate than private enterprise,” he said.
“If council had leased it out at $1 a year private enterprise would have jacked the price up because they’re only in the game to make money.
“Council should be there to provide services and they do for every other part of the community.
There appears to be a dislike for the farming community in there.
“All the councillors that were there between 2012 and 2016. Everyone of them did not want the council to hang onto the yards.”
In the farming community there’s also a belief the council was there to provide services, not to make money.
Mr Zeiler said the council needed to be realistic about where the increased revenue it projected would come from.
“I don’t think it’s council’s job to try and make money out of any of their facilities,” he said.
“Council’s job is to provide facilities and not make money off them.
“I know that every time that’s mentioned, the council talks about depreciation.
“I know it’s a cost, but it’s not a cash cost.
“At the end of the day the council didn’t pay $14 million for the saleyards. They paid $4 million out of their money.
“I find it very very difficult to think that in 15 or 20 years time, when they’ve got to do major upgrades at the saleyards, it’s the same as any other project, that council is just going to start looking for grants.
“That’s how councils work. All their big projects get done with grants.”
Mr Bennett was sceptical about the council’s altruism toward ratepayers, instead suspecting a case of “empire building” among some senior staff.
“It appears the council wants to take complete control and I can’t help but think it’s an empire building exercise for council employees, a justification for charging more, all that type of stuff,” he said.
“If you’re managing the saleyards and you have one person under you, your wage would be quite significantly lower than if you had 10 people under you, or 20.
“The more people they take over, the more people underneath, the better your pay. That’s how it seems to me.”
Both cattle producers were sceptical about the council’s plans to handle cattle after they were sold.
Mr Heiler wondered how an employment agency could train people effectively for this type of
“The whole training thing,” he said. “You can’t train people to handle cattle. It’s an experience thing.
“It’s something you learn. You can train people to get better at handling cattle, but you can’t train people to handle cattle.”
Mr Bennett was equally dismissive.
“If I was was looking for people to work cattle, I wouldn’t be looking in Byron Bay,” he said.
Mr Zeiler was worried there were other fees, like the cost of dealing with animals that died at the saleyards, which were not included in the new fee structure.
“For example, sometimes the cattle stay in the yard to collect truckloads from different centres and an animal has died,” he said.
“The auctioneer has gone down there and he’s removed the animal off his own bat.
“His opinion was in the system that’s proposed that’s going to cost $200+ for a call out fee, then that animal would go to the dump and that would be another $200 fee for animal to be put at the dump because its a biological thing that’s very expensive.
“Then that cost would go to the owner of the cattle. Like the buyer of the cattle.
“The auctioneer handles that because they want to keep relationships intact and he said to me if that happens a few times that buyer is not going to buy here.”
Mr Macdonald dismissed a lot of the criticism of the fee changes and operations at the NRLX, which was the culmination of work at the centre since 2016.
“We’ve invested $15 million into the facility with the support of the Federal and State governments,” he said.
“And we’ve been gradually adjusting the fees and charges and basically it’s the way the contributions are share between the producers, the agents and what council needs to continue to run it well.
“The agents have gone from paying next to nothing in 2016. We’ve gradually increased it.
“But even if with the increase council resolved to implement back in March – and we got no feedback on from any of the agents – we are still cheaper than equivalent standard saleyards anywhere else.”
He said other saleyards used a .3% of the sale price of an animal as their saleyard fee.
“We looked at that and our council certainly considered it, but our recommendation to go to the .2%, which is $2 in every $1000,” he said.
“Or $2 of the $45 to $50 the agents make in commission.
“Anyone who looks at this can see it’s a very good deal.
“Our council is very strong on this. It’s a fair deal and they need to sign it.”
Mr Macdonald admitted the council would not have agents ready for the saleyard from July 1.

General Manager, Richmond Valley Counci Vaughn Macdonald

“Our preference is the local agents sign and get on with business,” he said.
“But they like a stoush and we’ll have to deal with that and pursue some other options to have the saleyards operating as we know it’s important for our community, for producers who work out there or work in an associated industry.
He shared concerns about the Allbreeds sale at the end of July,
“Yes, it’s at risk if there’s no agents operating at the saleyards at that time,” Mr Macdonald said.
“They’re the things the agents should be considering because it’s going to have an impact on their business and those producers who have been loyal to them for a long time.”
But he said council had no choice about introducing the new fees.
“Councils are required to run in a financially sustainable manner and that’s what these fee increases will allow us to do,” he said.
“Vendors like Ernie Bennett won’t see a fee increase. Fees for vendors have not increased for three years and with what council had adopted they won’t increase for another three years.
“Vendors are not being impacted. The increase in fees is to the agent and if the agent is passing that on to the vendor, then the vendor needs to do something about that. Change agents or challenge them.”
Mr Macdonald said the reason the council was taking over post-sale management of cattle was because the agents had not been doing a good job.
“We’ve been telling them for years and that’s not based just on our observations, but feedback from transporters and buyers.
“And this is what saleyards similar to ours are run like. You take control and actually employ staff, train them, look after them and have consistency.
“We’re taking over control of the feed because it’s been below standard.
“It’s all about continuing to improve the standard of how the saleyard operates.
“To take that on, yes there will be fees levied on the agents, but they’re fees that they already have expenditure.
“That expenditure will no longer go to pay those people and outlay those funds. They will just pay a per head fee to us and we will manage the cattle from the fall of the hammer to make sure they are looked after.
“Eight of the top 10 saleyards in the country have that management model.”
He said the agents had been given opportunities to improve this aspect saleyard operations and failed to do it.
He also defended the choice of Byron Bay employment agency Spinifex to provide workers for the saleyards.
He said fact the company had an office in Byron Bay made them an easy target for doubters, but said he was confident they had a good grasp of the people needed at the NRLX,
Mr Maconald said it was likely many current staff would take the opportunity to work there, but did admit there were likely to be some who would not.
“We’re responsible for the saleyards and the best way to manage that is to have control of the operating environment: how long people work, how long they’re out there, how well they’re trained, all those factors,” he said.
He said the fee for dealing with dead animals would be met by council if it was proved the beast had died because of something that occurred after the sale.
He said beasts that were sick or injured when they arrived at the saleyard and subsequently died would not be covered.
The Northern Rivers Times has heard there are issues with contracts council has asked the agents to sign, but as the agents have failed to comment until after the expiry of the current licence on June 30, this will be tackled in a future article.

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Alstonville News

Anzac Day Services Northern Rivers – Comprehensive Guide for the Region

Published

1 week ago

24 April 2024

Liam

Anzac Day Services Northern Rivers – Comprehensive Guide for the Region

This Thursday April 25, 2024, communities across our region will come together to commemorate Anzac Day with various services and marches. Here’s what’s planned for each area:

Richmond Valley

Casino:

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Dawn Service: Assemble at 5:15 AM on Canterbury Street at the Casino RSM Club. The march to the Mafeking Lamp starts at 5:30 AM.
Mid-morning Service: Gather at 10:00 AM in Graham Place for a 10:15 AM march to Casino RSM Club.
Evening Retreat: A brief service at 4:55 PM at the Mafeking Lamp.

Coraki:

Assemble at 10:00 AM at the Coraki Hotel for a 10:30 AM march to the cenotaph in Riverside Park.

Broadwater:

Community Dawn Service at 5:30 AM at Broadwater Community Hall, followed by a community breakfast.

Evans Head:

Dawn Service: Gather at 5:20 AM on Woodburn Street near the bus stop, marching to Memorial Park for a 5:30 AM service. Breakfast at the RSL Club Evans afterward.
Day Service: Assemble at 10:00 AM on Park Street, marching at 10:30 AM to Club Evans in McDonald Place.
Additional Services: A bus departs the RSL at 8:00 AM for services at the memorial aerodrome and war cemetery, with a special flyover by the Amberley Air Force.

Rappville:

Dawn Service at 5:30 AM at the Anzac Memorial on Nandabah Street.
Day Service: Gather at the Rappville Post Office at 10:30 AM for an 11:00 AM service at the same memorial.

Woodburn:

Assemble at 9:45 AM at the old Woodburn Post Office, marching at 10:00 AM to the memorial in Riverside Park for a service.

Kyogle LGA

Kyogle:

Dawn service at 5:30 AM at the cenotaph.
Assemble at 9:15 AM for a 9:30 AM march through the town center, concluding with a 10:00 AM service at the cenotaph.

Woodenbong:

Dawn service at 5:15 AM at the Woodenbong water tower, followed by a Gunfire Breakfast.
Gather for a 10:40 AM march to the Woodenbong Public Hall for an 11:00 AM Anzac Memorial Service. The day concludes with a wreath-laying at 11:45 AM and a Diggers Luncheon at 12:30 PM at the RSL Hall.

Bonalbo:

Dawn service at 5:30 AM at Patrick McNamee Anzac Memorial Park, followed by a Gunfire Breakfast at the Bonalbo Bowling and Recreation Club.
An 11:00 AM service at the Bonalbo Community Hall.

Old Bonalbo:

A 9:30 AM service at Old Bonalbo Soldiers’ Memorial Hall.

Tabulam:

Gather at 10:30 AM on Clarence Street for a march to the Light Horse Memorial, where a service and wreath laying will take place at 11:00 AM, followed by refreshments at noon at the Tabulam Hotel.

Mallanganee:

A service and wreath-laying ceremony at 11:00 AM at Memorial Park.

LISMORE

Returned and Services League of Australia – City of Lismore sub-Branch ANZAC Day Committee wishes to invite the community to Lismore’s ANZAC Day March and Services, commemorating the fallen from Gallipoli and all other subsequent wars and deployments in which Australian Defence personnel have been involved.

At 5am the traditional Dawn Service will be held at the Lismore Cenotaph, following the March from the “Old Post Office Corner” on the corner of Magellan and Molesworth Streets.

The main March will commence at 9am and will depart Browns Creek Carpark, proceeding along Molesworth Street to the Lismore Memorial Baths. Followed by the ANZAC Day commemorative service at the Lismore Cenotaph.

The Lismore City Bowling Club will host a breakfast for veterans, families and community members.

Clarence Vally

Below is information that has been provided to Council by RSL Sub-branches across the Clarence Valley. If you are wishing to lay wreaths, please contact the sub-branch organiser for your area.

RAMORNIE (Sunday, 21 April)

10:45am – Ramornie Cenotaph
Contact: Barry Whalley – 0428 432 014

GRAFTON (ANZAC DAY Thursday, 25 April)

5:50am – Muster at Memorial Park
6:00am – Dawn Service at Memorial Park
6:30am – Gunfire breakfast at GDSC – $10pp (donated to charity)
9:30am – March from Market Square
10:00am – Commemoration Service at the Cenotaph, Memorial Park
Contact: Denis Benfield – 0412 410 474

SOUTH GRAFTON (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

4:50am – March from New School of Arts
5:00am – Dawn Service at the Cenotaph, Lane Boulevard
7:00am – Gunfire breakfast at South Grafton Ex-Servicemen’s Club
10:50am – March from New School of Arts
11:00am – Commemoration Service at the Cenotaph, Lane Boulevard
Contact: Barry Whalley – 0428 432 014

ULMARRA (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

10:40AM – Muster for march at Ulmarra Cenotaph
11:00am – Commemoration Service at Memorial Park
Contact: Robert McFarlane – 0407 415 923

CHATSWORTH ISLAND (ANZAC Day, Thursday 25 April)

5:15am – Dawn service at the Cenotaph
Followed by a sausage sizzle
Contact: John Goodwin – 0419 282 555

COPMANHURST (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

10:45am – Commemoration Service at Copmanhurst Memorial Cenotaph
Contact: Denis Benfield – 0412 410 474

GLENREAGH (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

5:30am – Dawn Service at the Glenreagh School of Arts
Followed by a cooked breakfast in the hall (donation)
Contact: Noel Backman – 0434 197 994

HARWOOD (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

5:15am – Muster at Harwood Hall
5:30am – Dawn Service at Harwood Cenotaph in River Street
Followed by Gunfire breakfast in the Harwood Hall (donation)
Contact: Helen Briscoe – 0431 677 110
Barry Smith – 0427 469 495

ILUKA (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

5:30am – Commemoration service
BBQ provided after service – outside hall (donation)
10:30am – March from Iluka Public School
10:45am – Commemoration Service and wreath laying
Followed by free morning tea
Contact: Phil Bradmore – 0448 465 269

LAWRENCE (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

5:45am – Muster at Lawrence Hall for march to Memorial Park
6:00am – Dawn Service at Memorial Park
9:45am – Muster at Lawrence Hall for march to memorial park
10:00am – Commemoration Service at Memorial Park
Contact: Bryan Whalan – 0417 232 809

LOWER SOUTHGATE (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

3:00pm – Commemoration Service at Lower Southgate War Memorial, Doust Park
Contact: Pauline Glasser – 0419 986 554

MACLEAN (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

5:30am – Dawn Service at Cenotaph
10:40am – March from Esplanade
11:00am – Commemoration Service at Cenotaph
Followed by lunch at Maclean Bowling Club (members only)
Contact: Trevor Plymin – 0415 400 658

TULLYMORGAN (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

5:15am – Muster for march at Tullymorgan School
5:20am – Dawn Service at the Tullymorgan School
Followed by gunfire breakfast (gold coin donation)
Contact: Sue Searles – 0408 408 749

WOOLI (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

5:30am – Dawn Service at the Cenotaph
6:00am – Breakfast for those attending the Dawn Service at Wooli Bowling & Recreation Club (gold coin donation)
10:45 am – Assemble at Wooli Bowling & Recreation Club for march
11:00am – Commemoration Service at the Cenotaph
Lunch for ex-service personnel and partners at the Wooli Bowling & Recreation Club
Contact: Brian Frederiksen – 0421 077 718

YAMBA (ANZAC Day Thursday, 25 April)

5:45am – Dawn Service at the Cenotaph
9:30am – Assemble for a 9.30am march in Clarence Street opposite Stella Motel, Clarence Street, for march to Cenotaph
9:35am – Commemoration Service to commence at completion of the march
Followed by morning tea at Yamba RSL Hall
Contact: Donna Ford – 0498 330 024

CHATSWORTH ISLAND (ANZAC Day, Thursday 25 April)

5:15am – Dawn service at the Cenotaph
Followed by a sausage sizzle
Contact: John Goodwin – 0419 282 555

Byron Shire

Thursday, 25 April 2024 04:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Services will be held across the Byron Shire to commemorate ANZAC Day.

Bangalow

10:30am – March from the Bangalow Hotel to the Cenotaph

Brunswick Heads

4:30am – March from the RSL Hall to the Cenotaph

Byron Bay

5:30am – Meet at the memorial Gates in Tennyson Street
10:30am – Meet at the memorial Gates in Tennyson Street

Mullumbimby

4:30am – Meet at the Cenotaph in Dalley Street
11:00am – March from Railway Station to the Cenotaph in Dalley Street.

Ballina Shire

5:30 AM – Dawn Service

Join us at the RSL Memorial Park Cenotaph for the first commemorative event of ANZAC Day. This service marks the time men of the ANZAC approached the Gallipoli beach and honors the traditional ‘stand-to’ ritual.

6:00 AM – Poppy Collection / Ballina RSL Breakfast

After the Dawn Service, collect your poppies from the ANZAC structure and enjoy a “In The Trenches Breakfast” at the Ballina RSL club for just $5. Open to the public – no bookings!

10:30 AM – ANZAC March

The ANZAC Day March will start at the far end of River Street, near Woolworths, moving towards the RSL and Memorial Park.

10:55 AM – ANZAC Day Service

The main service will be held at RSL Memorial Park adjacent to the Ballina RSL Club.

11:18 AM – RAAF Fly Past
11:30 AM – Ballina RSL Lunch

Conclude the morning’s commemorations with lunch at the Ballina RSL Club.

2:00 PM – Brownie & Friends’ Two-Up

Join us for a game of two-up at Brownie’s. Learn the rules and participate in this traditional ANZAC Day betting game. Open to all of legal gambling age.

Additional Information: Open to the public. All are welcome to join in remembrance and honor of our veterans.

Tweed Heads & Coolangatta

Dawn Service 5.45am

Held at Chris Cunningham Park, Wharf Street, Tweed Heads

Anzac Day Service 10.55am – 11.45am

Held at Chris Cunningham Park, Wharf Street, Tweed Heads

Burringbar – Old Bakery at 0845hrs for the march to the Memorial. Service to commence at 0900hrs. Refreshments and Bowls at the Sports Club after the service.

Cudgen – Assemble at Crescent Street at 0410 hrs. March to service at Collier Street Cenotaph at 0428hrs.

Kingscliff dawn – Assemble at Turnock Street at 0555hrs. Service at Kingscliff War Memorial. Breakfast at the Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club at 0700hrs.

Kingscliff main – Assemble at 1000hrs. March commencing at 1020hrs. Service at the Memorial at 1100hrs. Cars available for non-marchers.

Murwillumbah dawn – Assemble at War Memorial at 0520hrs. Breakfast in the Services Club at 0615hrs. Veterans and children under 12 free, others $5.

Murwillumbah main – Marchers assemble in Brisbane Street. Schools and other organisations assemble Main Street, opposite the Post Office at 1010hrs. March off at 1030hrs for Cenotaph Service at 1045hrs. Transport available for non-marchers at the assembly area.

Pottsville – Assemble at 0730hrs at Pottsville Beach Chemist. March off 0745hrs for the service at 0800hrs at the Cenotaph ANZAC Park. Breakfast at Pottsville Beach Sports Club after the service.

Tumbulgum – Memorial Gates 0430hrs. Breakfast in the hotel after the service.

Tweed Heads – Assemble on pathway behind Chris Cunningham Park at 0545hrs. Short wreath laying service at Chris Cunningham Park at 0630hrs.

🎖 Tweed Heads – Assemble in Boundary Street at 1000hrs, march off at 1030hrs down Boundary Street, left into Wharf Street and left to the Memorial in Chris Cunningham Park. Service of Remembrance from 1100hrs.

Tyalgum – Memorial 0515hrs. Breakfast in the hotel after the service.

Uki – War Memorial 0420hrs. Breakfast in the hall after the service.

These services offer a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our armed forces and provide an opportunity for community members of all ages to come together in remembrance.

For more local news, click here.

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Casino NSW News

DICK AND LEILA BEATTIE – CASINO – Part One

Published

2 weeks ago

17 April 2024

Liam

DICK AND LEILA BEATTIE – CASINO – Part One

By Helen Trustum

When talking with Dick and Leila on the 6^th February 2024 I realised that my initial intention of researching a story from Leila’s early days also required a story that unfolded about her husband Dick.

Richard William George (known as Dick) was born on 22^nd February 1932 to parents Stan and Mary Beattie at Stockton. Dick’s Grandfather, Edward Beattie was a boat builder and even in his 80’s still worked building boats, including fishing vessels and ferries. His Great Uncle Gordon Beattie was one of the men that built the passenger ferry that ran between Yamba and Iluka. Dick’s father Stan was a boiler maker with BHP.

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Dick went to Primary school at Stockton then on to New Castle Boys High School. He later studied at the University of New England in Armidale before completing his Honours Degree at the University of Sydney.

Family of Stan and Mary’s: Dick and Gloria.

Leila with her calf

Leila was born Leila Madge Roberts in Casino on 10^th September 1931 to parents Donald and Madge Roberts who were living on “Manifold Farm”, Bentley.

Family of Donald and Madge Roberts: Eileen, Leila and Nelda. The family lost little Nelda with whooping cough at the age of two and half years.

Donald was born at Cowra NSW and at the age of 14 years moved with his parents to Dunoon. They later relocated to Mongogarie from where Don enlisted in World War 1 in December 1915. He arrived at the Military Camp in Tell EL Kebir, Egypt in May 1916. After training in England, Don was transferred to France where he performed 10 days of training in the infamous “Bull Ring”, training camp on the dunes between Etaples and Camiers, near Boulogne, before joining the 31^st Battalion at Armentieres.

Shortly after joining the 31^st Battalion, Don was attached to the transport section, where his reputation as an excellent horseman had become known. The 31^st transport section contained a number of top horsemen. Alongside Don was Gus Hosking, also from Mongogarie. They were both reputed to be the best. Don and Gus were sent to Abbeville, where the commandant of the riding school, became so impressed that he gave them the honour of leading the column of artillery on parades.

Don and Madge Roberts

Don served with distinction in the unit and was made sergeant shortly after joining it. The work of getting supplies through to the front line, units was difficult and dangerous, most of the hauling being done at night. Don was awarded the Croix de Guerre (Belgium).

Returning from the War, Don married Madge Collison and worked at the Coombell Brick Works before settling on Lot 12 on the Runnymede Soldiers Settlement, calling the property “Manifold Farm”. This settlement came about when the owner of Runnymede Station, James Chester Manifold, gave three thousand acres of rich scrub land on the eastern side of the station, to be developed into twenty dairy farms. The farms were to be made available, by ballot, to ex – servicemen from Tomki Shire (now part of Richmond Valley Shire) and Kyogle Shire. James Chester died in 1918. His son Thomas Chester Manifold inherited Runnymede and keenly supported the scheme. These twenty farms with applicants were required to pay three hundred and twenty – one pounds ($640) for the improvements on the farms. They received a Life Estate Title. Now in 2024 there are five families from the original residents still on their block of ground.

Don also enlisted in the army in World War 11 and was in camp at Goonoo Goonoo Station, near Tamworth. After a while he left the army and returned to Bentley where he organized the local V.D.C. (Volunteer Defence Corps). Since there was a shortage of rifles they drilled with wooden rifles until they were properly equipped. Later a firing range was established on the property at Bentley. While in the V.D.C Don was promoted to the rank of Captain.

House at Bentley

Don was one of the many farmers in the district who had Italian P.O.W.’s working on the property towards the end of the War. He also served as bushfire brigade captain and was involved with the Bentley Hall Committee. Madge supported her husband in his community involvement and took over running the farm while he was away.

In 1929 a school was built on land donated by Charlie Beck, from the Manifold Settlement. The school was called Manifold Public School and is still operating today. Both Eileen and Leila went to school at Manifold. Leila remembers attending school and talks readily about it. On her first day at school Leila arrived with a bunch of flowers for the teacher Mr Charlie Steele. The flowers were from her mother’s garden. Madge excelled in nurturing floral beauty.

Leila rode a horse to school called “Creamy”. The older boys would catch “Creamy” and saddle her and have her ready for Leila to ride home. Leila competed in athletics and interschool sports day. Hockey was played on Becks flat. Hockey sticks could not be purchased so the children had to scout around and find a lantana stick with a bend at one end. A tin can was used as a ball.

Manifold Farm at Bentley

Leila remembers Mr Steele taking the children up towards Boundary Creek into the forest to cut lawyer cane (Calamus Australis). The fibre was used at school, teaching the children weaving baskets. There were over 50 children that attended the school at one time: – All in one room – 1^st to 6^th class. Long desks and seating stools were used. Children from the families that Leila remembers at the time she attended were Owen Casey, Bob Knapp, Bill Moore, Jack Doman and family names Armstrong, Bulmer, Ball, Doman, Knapp, Hartley, Moroney and Childs. Mrs Steele, wife of teacher Charlie, taught the girls sewing in the weather shed once a week.

Leila has many memories of those days when on Sundays, tennis would be played over on the Moroney family’s property and meeting up with her friends the Moroney girls, Joyce and Clare. Cricket would also be played with a picnic lunch. Leila loved the dances held in the Bentley Hall where Hillary and Leila Doohan from Back Creek would be the musicians playing.

To be Continued

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Casino NSW News

Casino RSM Club expands its horizon

Published

2 weeks ago

17 April 2024

Liam

Casino RSM Club expands its horizon

THE Casino RSM Club is venturing into new business endeavours through the refurbishment of the Royal Hotel, the purchase the Clydesdale Motel and Steakbarn, and acquiring the former Sil Gava site on Walker Street.

The expansion plans were shared with Club members at a recently-held forum, which also provide attendees an opportunity to raise issues and hear from the Board.

Board President Brad Birney said over the past year the Club had undergone significant changes, however, the Board remained steadfast in its confidence regarding the direction the Club was now heading.

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Mr Birney said with new CEO John Walker leading the helm, supported by a capable management team, the Club was poised to not only expand its core operations, but also diversify its offerings.

He said in light of tightening regulations surrounding gambling, it was imperative the Board and management looked ahead to secure additional revenue streams.

“This foresight ensures the Club’s ability to uphold its commitment to providing exceptional services to the community and supporting vital local organisations,” Mr Birney said.

“For more than 70 years, our Club has proudly contributed monetary support to various local sports, charities, and community groups – a testament to our dedication.

Mr Walker said the Casino RSM Club’s foray into new business ventures aimed at further enriching the local economy and providing enhanced services to members and the broader community.

He said in an era marked by innovation and adaptability, the Club’s Board and management team recognised the importance of diversification and sustainability.

“With this vision in mind, the Club has embarked on a journey to explore and develop new business opportunities which align with its core values and commitment to excellence,” Mr Walker said.

“Our goal is to not only enrich the lives of our members but also contribute positively to the broader community.

“These new ventures represent an exciting chapter in our journey, and we are committed to upholding the same standards of excellence and dedication which have defined the Casino RSM Club for decades.”

The detailed plans include:

The $3.5 million ground floor refurbishment of the Royal Hotel building, including the addition of a cafeteria, sports bar, corner bar, gaming room and enhancements to the beer garden and motel rooms, will offer a modern and inviting atmosphere with something for everyone.
Around $1 million worth of renovations are planned for the RSM Club premises. Recognising some areas are showing signs of wear, the Board and management team understand the importance of maintaining a top-notch environment.
The Board and management team are committed to supporting the Casino RSM Bowling Club by expanding the undercover bowling greens. At a minimum it will be a half green, but could evolve to a full rink following an evaluation. By enhancing capacity, the Club aims to attract larger bowling events, welcome new members, and explore opportunities to host diverse functions and events.
The successfully acquisition of the former Sil Gava site on Walker Street marks another strategic investment within the Casino CBD, strategically located near the Club’s land holdings. Anticipating substantial population growth in Casino over the next decade, the acquisition of commercial land becomes paramount for the community.
The purchase of the Clydesdale Motel and Steakhouse presents another exciting opportunity for the Club. This acquisition not only furthers efforts to diversify beyond gaming but also opens new avenues in regards of functions, events, and accommodation. The Board and management team believe this venture complements the Club’s existing business model and offers prospects for expansion, given the site’s existing development approval for additional accommodations.

Mr Birney said the Board understood its responsibility to make decisions which benefited all members and ensured the Club’s long-term sustainability.

He said the Board, alongside the management team, remained steadfast in support of local sporting organisations.

“We firmly believe sports are an integral part of the Richmond Valley identity, offering significant social and community advantages,” Mr Birney said.

“We recently agreed to continue our major sponsorship of the Casino RSM Cougars and the Casino RSM Bulls, and have remained committed to the Casino RSM Cobras and Casino RSM Cavaliers.

“We will look to continue our investment into community beyond sport however, and the Board has identified an investment into the Valley’s youth as a priority.

“How this looks we do not know, but will be sure to keep our members and the Richmond Valley community informed of any developments.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each member for their unwavering support. With membership approaching the 10,000 mark, we are excited about the future and remain committed to placing all our members at the forefront of every decision.”

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