CSS expanding page down

programming web dev
1

I have a main white background that has a set height and goes down by repeating a graphic like so:

.loc_WhiteTemplateArea{
 background-image:url(CutUp%20Images/mainWhiteCourse.gif);
 background-repeat:repeat-y;
 top:295px;
 left:148px;
 position:absolute;
 z-index:5;
 width:719px;
 height:1398px;
 overflow:auto;
}

and then a footer is placed on the bottom of the whiteArea:

loc_Templatefooter{
 background-image:url(CutUp%20Images/footer.png);
 background-repeat:no-repeat;
 top:1693px;
 left:148px;
 position:absolute;
 z-index:5;
 width:719px;
 height:18px;
}

My problem is I need the white to automatically expand downwards according to how much text is placed in a different div tag. I also then need the footer to move down to where ever the white area ends.

Is there any way to go about this? Any help would be amazing thanks.:stare: