tvw 4 june 2015

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT Day will once again be celebrated in Murwillumbah with a day of workshops, speakers, information stalls and family friendly activities.

This years event on Sunday 7 June in Knox Park from 10am to 3pm will focus on what people can do within their homes to reduce their carbon footprint while also reducing household costs.

Organiser Ari Ehrlich from the Caldera Environment Centre said the event has been a mainstay on the local calendar since 2000.

The whole point of the day is to inform people about the latest information and resources available to help them live more sustainably, said Mr Ehrlich.

Awareness is really growing of the fact that there are fi nite resources on the planet and we all need to be taking steps to reduce our footprint.

Mr Ehrlich said this years World Environment Day event will focus on two main areas, soil health and solar energy.

Soil health is vital for people who are growing their own food and Tweed Shire Council is launching a major project around composting which will be a huge benefi t in this area, he said.

Solar is our main potential energy source but we are really behind the eight ball in Australia in this fi eld despite the natural advantages we enjoy.

Next year the Federal Governments solar rebates run out and we need to get the word out about what the options are and the latest technologies that are available.

Information stall holders at the event will include Tweed Landcare, Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers, Tweed Climate Action Now, Solar Tek, Sunbeam Solar,

Birdlife Northern Rivers, Northern Rivers Guardians and Farmer's Choice Organics.

Guest speakers will include Dave Forrest from Tweed Richmond Organic Producers Organisation, Gerard Wedderburn Bishop on soil health and sustainable land use, Vincent Selleck from Solar Tek and Tweed Climate Action Now President Greg Reid.

Council's Bushland Offi cer John Turnbull said Council's Water Unit would also be at the event giving away water-saving hose end attachments.

"Council stalls will focus on sustainable agriculture, waste minimisation, water saving and bushland management," said Mr Turnbull.

"The Koala Connections Project will also feature a koala feed tree competition display."

On the lighter side entertainment on the day will feature acclaimed local act the Pitt Family Circus who travel around the country performing at festivals and special events.

Bronte Pitt, who helped to found the Spaghetti Circus in Mullumbimby about 15 years ago, said the act she started as a street performance with her husband grew naturally when they had their children Amelie and Gwyn who are now a big part of the act.

Our show started out as an acrobatics and comedy display and when the kids came along it was only natural to include them as part of the act, said Ms Pitt.

We have toured the world now about seven times and the act now involves trapeze, upside down banjo playing and even a bit of baby juggling.

Other entertainment on the day will be provided by bands Luna Junction and Bunya while the Hoopla Circus will also provide kids activities.

Family fun and sustainability too

Amelie, Bronte and Gwyn Pitt with Ari Ehrlich



13

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A CROWD of more than 200 including mums, dads, kids and eagerly anticipated new arrivals have rallied in support of the re-opening of birthing services at the Murwillumbah District Hospital.

The crowd were protesting at the sudden decision to shut down the service last week, with some expectant mothers informed of the decision just days before their due date.

They have now been told to make other arrangements for their births, with most expected to travel to Tweed, although some mothers present said the Tweed is just too far to travel and are considering other options.

Michelle Seamer, who is expecting her fourth child, said she couldnt believe the news at fi rst.

My third child came within an hour and its a general rule that labour times are cut in half so I have a lot of concerns about having to go up to the Tweed, said Ms Seamer.

I will have to organise my three kids fi rst and to be honest I was looking at cutting it close just to get here.

Im practically resigned to giving birth on the side of the highway, which is just ridiculous considering we have a perfectly good hospital here.

It just seems a joke to shut this down when there are new estates being built and new families moving to the area.

Donna Argus of Murwillumbah is expecting her third child within 10 days and said the decision has left her in a fearful state about her delivery.

The time factor is the biggest issue for me as we are only fi ve minutes from Murwillumbah, said Ms Argus.

I had my fi rst two children at Tweed which is a very busy and hectic environment and I was looking forward to the calmness and

slower pace of delivering at Murwillumbah.My husband now wants to do a home

birth which Im not opposed to but there is that just in case feeling in the back of my mind and a fear of something going wrong.

The idea they are having trouble recruiting someone to come to this area seems like a fairly poor excuse, its hard

to believe they cant convince someone to come and work here.

Tweed Heads resident Nikki Smith, who is due to give birth to her third child in September, said she had been looking forward to delivering at Murwillumbah after having a negative experience at Tweed Heads.

Im still optimistic that I will be able to

have my baby here, said Ms Smith.Im looking for a more natural experience

and the birthing unit here has the right sort of energy.

This is a service which is vital for this area and Im sure the midwives could be upskilled to deal with any situations which might arise with no trouble at all.

One attendee at the rally who spoke out against the closure with some considerable authority was Dr Betty Marks who delivered literally thousands of babies at the hospital before her forced retirement from hospital services 26 years ago at age 65.

This is a real disgrace, I really cant understand the decision, said Dr Marks who only retired from private practice earlier this year.

There have been babies being born at this hospital for more than 100 years and in private facilities for many years before that, to say we now dont have the resources to do it is just ridiculous.

It is so much better for someone to be here with a midwife, even if there is a complication, than to be on the side of the road with nobody but their husband or partner to help.

Also attending the rally were a group of midwifery students from Southern Cross University including Sunae Reilly who said the decision will directly affect their education.

A lot of us were due to start placements here in the next two weeks and now thats up in the air, said Ms Reilly.

Its just so disappointing that a service which is so important has been taken away.

Carmel Rasmussen said she was born in the hospital 70 years ago and cant believe the decision to close the birthing unit.

Its defi nitely a sad day when you think that my mother in 1945 had more resources available to her than the young women living here today, she said.

Mums rally to support birthing unit

Murwillumbah mum Donna Argus at the rally



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tvw 4 june 2015

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