Susanna Freymark, Richmond River Independent

Pollies visited timber operations in Kyogle and surrounds to see how environmental factors could work with the industry’s economics to strengthen sustainability. The focus for the visit was state parliament’s inquiry into the sustainability of the timber and forest industry.

Sunita is an emerging writer from Lismore with a passion for helping people tell their stories. She works with post-disability arts company RealArtWorks and in the past 12 months has started writing poetry. The Kyogle Writers Festival competition is the first competition Sunita has entered.

It was their day. There were tears, statements from the heart and jubilation at the Federal Court hearing that determined native title on 52 parcels of land in the Richmond Valley. His Honour Justice Steven Rares presided over a makeshift courtroom in a marquee on Stan Payne Oval at Evans Head on Friday.

Seven years ago the Josephs and other residents fought against coal seam gas mining in the Bentley valley. When the movement spread to Bentley from earlier activism at Glenugie and Doubtful Creek, the community far and wide was mobilised to take action and the decision to mine was eventually reversed ... Members of the renamed Bentley - Our Sustainable Future group know they can “do it again” and stop the expansion of the basalt quarry.

A healthy herd and healthy habitat are possible. The Casino Food Co-op worked with Coffee Camp landowners Gary and Clare Brown in water catchment health and in establishing a koala habitat ... “It’s a win all-round, the cattle have clean safe drinking water, the creek banks get a facelift after years of erosion and weed infestation and the koalas get a new home,” Casino Co-Op chief executive Simon Stahl said.

In 1865, a boy named Henry – later known as Harry –was born in Tabulam. That boy grew up to be General Sir Harry Chauvel and he was the first Australian to attain the rank of lieutenant general and later general and the first to lead a corps – as commander of the Desert Mounted Corps. At Beersheba in October 1917, his Light Horse troops used speed, surprise and bayonets to capture the town and its vital water supply in history’s last great cavalry charge.

Death or blindness. It’s not a choice anyone would want. But it may be Steve Sun’s only option. He’ll find out after his next brain tumour scan in June. After that, he faces the reality of doctors operating on his tumour – an operation that will leave him blind. If they don’t operate, he is likely to die.