Byron Bay

Bangalow Lions Billy Cart Derby to be held this Sunday 20th May 2012 If you are interested in sponsoring, volunteering or participating in the 2012 Bangalow Billycart Derby please contact Tony Heeson Phone / Fax 0266 87 2580 A/H 0266 884 236  Mobile : 0419 715 098 or email wallaby@nor.com.au Bangalow Lions Billycart Derby Sunday May 20th, 2012 EVENT PROGRAM (please note: times are approximations only) Cart inspections commence from 7-00am sharp! 7.00am – 9.00am Scrutineering & Registration 8.00am – 8.45am Practice Runs 9.00am Billycart Racing Commences 9.15am Junior Heats 10.30am School Heats 11am Junior Finals 12.pm Junior Presentations 12.30pm Street Parade 1.00pm Senior Heats Mothers & Tag Team Races Novelty & Celebrity Races 2.00pm Schools Final 3.00pm Senior Final [...]

Elsie Smith 14 from Yamba, Mali Dry 16 and Lily Smith 16 from Byron Bay, photographed just after they had won first place in the Open Hip Hop Choreography Competition at the CrankFest Xtreme Festival in Evans Head. Lily Smith, Mali Dry and Elsie Smith all met each other for the first time at the Beats N Roots National Hip Hop Summit and Youth Arts Leadership Conference in Lismore a few weeks ago. Although Lily and Mali both attend Byron Bay High School, they really didn’t get to know each other until they started dancing together at the Beats N Roots Summit. Elsie is from Yamba. But in just two days together, the threesome choreographed a hip hop dance routine [...]

ARIA VIVA – SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME – MOTHER’S DAY AT THE BYRON COMMUNITY CENTRE Following  a sell out performance at The Harvest Old Bakery in March, much loved classical duo Aria Viva present their new show Songs My Mother Taught Me. Described as magical and inspiring, the duo promises a memorable afternoon of sumptuous music featuring an eclectic mix of operatic arias, well known songs and harp and piano solos from the world’s favourite composers – the perfect way to spend a sublime Mothers’ Day Sunday afternoon. Soprano Lecia Robertson has performed over 20 operatic roles in Australia, Europe and the UK. She is currently a principal soloist with Opera Queensland, State Opera South Australia and Victorian Opera. [...]

ARJ BARKER – KEEPER OR CRAPPER 2012 Join Arj, as he digs through his notes and try to figure out which jokes will make it into his new show, and which ones will end up getting flushed away! Some call it a work-in-progress. He calls it… Arj Barker: Keeper or Crapper 2012. Be there to experience one of comedy’s greatest comedy minds at work. Since winning the coveted Perrier Best Newcomer Award in 1997, Arj has firmly established himself as one of the golden boys on the international comedy circuit.  He performed massive sell out seasons at last year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival, as well as a 4 month tour around regional Australia. Arj has made [...]

MARDI GRASS… YOU KNOW WHERE… YOU KNOW WHAT FOR… THIS WEEKEND! For more information go to http://www.nimbinmardigrass.com/

@ ‘Stukelele’ aka Stu Eadie from ‘Uke Mullum’ and Steiner music teacher Tom Whitaker will be bringing a special free ukulele workshop to the YACROCKCAFE, followed by a whole night of funky young uke players taking to the stage! Ilona Harker is coming to play some tunes too!!! Cecilia Brandolini is also on the night’s line-up, fresh from taking off third place in the Tweed Battle of the Bands with her brother Gabe. Cecilia will be joined by her sisters Bridget and Monica, who also all performed in the Bluesfest Groms Buskers Comp this year and at the Bluesfest itself. Alexandra Dickson Matilda Dods, Leila Karni, Leah Garnett-Carol, Maya Duel, Giri, Billy, Lali Gill and more! are on the line-up [...]

The Bay Rollers roller derby squad tussle for position at the official opening day of Byron Shire’s Regional Sports and Cultural Complex in February. Photo Jeff ‘Roll Another’ Dawson Rollers get the nod for sports complex use A howl of delight greeted a move by Byron Shire Council to allow its brand new sports complex to be used for roller derby competition, despite concerns roller blades may damage its brand new timber floor. The Bay Rollers roller derby squad had recently applied to use the auditorium for training and competition but due to concerns of their impact, councillors asked staff for a report. Councillors last week backed the report’s recommendation for inviting use of the facility by the group, subject [...]

BEATS N ROOTS HIP HOP SUMMIT AND CRANKFEST XTREME FINALE… Today marks day four of the Beats N Roots Hip Hop Summit and Youth Arts Leadership Conference, with a HUGE day planned at the Byron YAC today. Hundreds of young people have been involved in two days of dancing and making beats, keynote presentations, master classes, workshops and performances on Thursday and Friday at Multitask in Lismore, followed by CrankFest Xtreme in Evans Head yesterday. Sunday at the YAC 11am-2pm Special screening of Morganics Documentary with Q&A followed by a Hip Hop Community Worker Master class and artsworker round table forum in Byron Bay at the Byron YAC 2pm-5pm-Beats in the Bay Music Gig – featuring some of the best [...]

Crankfest Xtreme is the region’s largest celebration of youth arts and culture showcasing our young people’s talents and achievements gained as part of the National Youth Week Celebrations across the Northern Rivers. Running from 11am-5pm alongside the river in Evans Head the festival offers youth a chance to step up and shine at the Breakamove showcase stage, learn some hip hop moves or test your xtreme skills in the BMX or Skate competitions. If just kicking back and watching is more your style you can tune into the live sounds of youth bands at the Essential Energy Stage, funky deejays or enjoy the work of original songwriters and musicians. With creative workshops including tumbling, aerial circus and dance, heaps of [...]

Rising up to join a worthy cause can take up a lot of time, money, and effort. However, if you do find one that is close to your heart, then all the sacrifices are nothing compared to the rewards of knowing that you did something for the good of many. In 2008, breast cancer caused the deaths of 458,503 people, which is 13.7 percent of cancer deaths in women–and that number consistently rises every year. Although efforts have been made to educate women on the risks, signs, and symptoms of the disease, a lot of people remain unaware and are still prone to late diagnosis, which is the main reason for the increasing morbidity rate of this or any type [...]

Kevin cringes at binges Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has lent his weight and his 1.1 million online followers to back a Byron Youth Service (BYS) initiative to tackle binge drinking among the young. During a surprise visit to the BYS centre in Byron Bay on Friday to hear about its national project Cringe the Binge and how the federal government could help, Mr Rudd immediately offered to do an on-the-spot video clip to post on YouTube for his legions of fans to promote the campaign that day. Accompanied by Richmond MP Justine Elliot, Mr Rudd said the project aimed to raise consciousness that binge drinking ‘is a problem and can stuff your brain’. After watching a video presentation of [...]

UKE MULLUM special April gig at The Courthouse Hotel on Thursday 26 April. Sarah Grace Buckley From being mentored by Sara Tindley and performing at the opening night of The Mullum Music Festival 2011 to her recent appearance at the 2012 Bluesfest, at the ripe old age of 12 years old,Sarah Grace has been kicking goals in the past 12 months. Sarah, with her family (The Buckley Family), hosts the Alt-Country Music Club at the Billinudgel Pub every Friday Night. Uke Mullum is proud to have Sarah Grace as a guest vocalist this month. Look Who’s Back In Town – Joel Salom!!! To a lot of you local Mullumites, Joel Salom needs no introduction. He’s a mighty talented local who spends the best part [...]

YOUTH WEEK PARTY AT THE YAC!! Tonight’s the night!! Huge line-up of local young talent! Open mic happening throughout the night too, so let all your young folk know that if they wanna come down and play a few songs, they’re welcome to do so! There’s heaps of instruments available to use or they can bring their own! Artists playing tonight include Reilly Fitzalan, Chelsea June, Loki Hough & Elliott Cooper Brain, Vanessa & Arna Rogers and Ben Meek & the Paper Navitators!! MC for the night is Byron’s own Dancin’ Man Thomas Franklin, get out your dancin’s shoes and ROCK ON DOWN TO THE YAC and do some dorking- Tommy style!! They’re starting early, 5-10pm…. It’s a Celebration of [...]

Organisers of the 2012 Splendour In The Grass, have this morning announced a totally HUGE line-up for this years festival! For three days in July, Belongil Fields will come alive with the awesome sounds of - Jack White, Bloc Party, Smashing Pumpkins, At The Drive-In, Lana Del Rey, Azealia Banks, The Shins, Hilltop Hoods, The Kooks, Gossip, Miike Snow, Dirty Three, 360, Tame Impala, Explosions In The Sky, Ladyhawke, The Afghan Whigs, Missy Higgins, Wolfmother, Metric, Kimbra, Mudhoney, Band Of Skulls, Spiderbait, Django Django, Gypsy & The Cat, San Cisco, Last Dinosaurs, Electric Guest, Muscles, Angus Stone, DZ Deathrays, Howler, Lanie Lane, Wolf & Cub, Fun., Big Scary, Michael Kiwanuka, Seekae, Friends, Yacht Club Dj’s, Bertie Blackman, Jinja Safari, Blue King [...]

The Suitcase Royale in Zombatland. The hilariously inventive Suitcase Royale are back bringing you another masterfully-mad tale from the dusty-plains of the Australian outback. Welcome to the Blue Lagoon Caravan Park, an idyllic paradise some-where in the dead heart of Australia. Wombats are the main attraction, loved by all, until something goes wrong, something goes very wrong! A mysterious disease has turned the Wombats into blood-thirsty demons. Packed with smokin’ live music, junkyard sets and a caravan-full of The Suitcase Royale’s famous brand of twisted humour. “Visionary, emancipated and transformational…A work of theatre achingly undiluted joins the soul of madcap anarchy found in the best of the Marx brothers to the self-sufficient purity found in travelling tent shows”. Pittsburgh City [...]

Byron Bay’s YACROCKCAFE @ the YAC are celebrating Youth Week with a massive free party for local youth on the 20th of April. The YACROCKCAFE kicked off back in March with a HUGE party. The Youth Week Party is looking at being even better! MC for the night is Byron’s very own Dancin’ Man Thomas Franklin. Young performers booked to play the party include Gabe & Cecilia Brandolini, Reilly Fitzalan, Vanessa & Arna Rogers, Ben Meek & the Paper Navigators, Chelsea June & Zep Hamilton and Loki Hough & Elliott Cooper Brain. YACROCKCAFE Coordinator Nicqui Yazdi said “All of these young musicians are incredibly talented and most of them have just played at the BluesFest. Gabe Brandolini is now living [...]

Art, music, employment and grant funding for young people’s projects are key themes for this year’s National Youth Week activities in Byron Shire. National Youth Week is the largest celebration of young people in Australia and this year’s theme isImagine. Create. Inspire. Council’s youth activity officer Belle Arnold said the Byron Shire Youth Council has been working with staff and community groups to deliver a fantastic line up for Youth Week 2012. National Youth Week (NYW) 2012 is on from Friday 13 April to Sunday 22 April 2012, with events running all over the country. The first Byron Shire FREE event will be the Youth Arts Exhibition, Friday 13 April from 6 to 8 pm.  The evening will showcase 90 entries from the [...]

Council to focus on employment as part of Youth Week Helping young Byron Shire community members into jobs will be the focus of an employment forum being held as part of National Youth Week. Byron Shire Youth Council will host the Local Youth Employment Forum at the Byron Bay Community Centre on Tuesday, 17 April from 10am. Forum host Karim Kauffman said the event was about helping to create sustainable jobs in the Byron Shire that would foster a permanent community. “I would like to see opportunities for young people to find meaningful employment in our community so that they don’t have to leave the area,” he said. Byron Shire Young Citizen of the Year, Justin Fenwick, said unemployment can [...]

Friday sees the third Tweed Battle of the Bands kicking off at the Tweed Civic Centre. 10 young bands are competing in this years comp, coming from  as far away as Brisbane and Coffs Harbour. The heats on April 6, 13 and 20 will feature headline acts such as Double Lined Minority and Mason Rack. There will also be a graffiti exhibition, hip-hop and break dancing displays. The winners of the Tweed Battle of the bands will take away $2000 for first place, $1000 for second and $500 for third. It’s $10 at the doors… doors open at 6pm. Tweed Battle of the Bands is an initiative of the Safer Communities Alliance in partnership with Tweed Shire Council and National Youth [...]

As the commencement of Bluesfest draws near, the Bluesfest Busking Comp Finals are takingtaking shape to be one of the biggest events to hit the Beach Hotel, Wednesday 4th April will become the unofficial start of the 2012 annual Byron Bay Bluesfest.  Kicking off at 4pm we will see the three finalists for the Grommets take to the stage with guest judge Minnie Marks (the little pocket rocket that took out last year’s Busking Comp) joining the panel of judges to take on the difficult task of selecting  the cream of the crop. When dusk starts to settle be sure to see the Beach Hotel take on a whole new shape as the open finals kick into full gear commencing at [...]

With the 23rd BluesFest about to get underway, we thought we should give you a few tips on how to make it an easier experience… Take some sunscreen… The sun can be hellish if you’re spending 5 days out in it! Buy some gumboots! Available in every second shop in Byron! The BluesFest has another nickname in wet weather…. MudFest! And whatever you do, leave your thongs at home… there are thousands of them eternally buried in the ground out there from last year! Make sure you drink lots of water! There are hydration stations everywhere! Leave your dog at home… Unless you are a police person and your dog is a drug dog! And don’t try and pat the [...]

David Spiteri will be at the Bangalow Hotel in Bangalow on Saturday the 31st March for a Book Launch and Signing of ‘The Prez’. This is your chance to meet the author and have your own copy of ‘The Prez’ signed. The Prez is a true account of the birth of the outlaw motorcycle clubs in Australia. Names have had to be changed and identities and events obscured. This is the only way the story could be told. Author David Spiteri says of the book ′This story is a true account of the birth of outlaw motorcycle clubs in Australia. There was no template for us, it just evolved. It shows our simple creed: loyalty to the club and respect [...]

Murray Burns of Mi-Sex After just one week back on the road with 70′s super band Mi-Sex, Byron Bay’s Murray Burns has collapsed on stage during their concert at ‘A Day On The Green’ show at Rochford Winery in the Yarra Valley. The band also played the iconic Annandale Hotel last Friday night and are due to play at the Brass Monkey in Cronulla, Sydney, this Thursday night. Byron Bay’s Kirra Pendergast, who good the photo below at Friday night’s Annandale gig, said that she “Can’t begin to describe how awesome Mi-sex were!” Originally out of New Zealand,  Mi-Sex were massive in Australia and New Zealand during the 70′s and 80′s with hit singles including ‘Computer Games’, ‘But You Don’t [...]

Gzi Wisdom sings up a storm in the Byron High Bluesfest Showcase. With the 2012 BluesFest now less than two weeks away, Byron has seen emerging musicians playing all over town for the last few weeks, in the various heats of the Busking Over Byron Competition. Last weekend at Byron’s Youth Activities Centre, close to 20 young performers were involved in the first ever Under 18′s Grommets Buskers Comp. The three young acts chosen to go through to the finals in the overall Buskers Comp were Byron band Lifeline, local girl Annie Plummer and Tom Dodd from Kingscliff. This week saw the School’s Bluesfest Showcases kick off, with Byron High hosting theirs on Friday afternoon. Over 20 young performers took [...]

One of Byron Bay’s most popular cafes has been gutted by fire in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police tape now surrounds the iconic Treehouse at Belongil cafe, in Childe Street. These photos were taken by 16 year old Byron resident Lily Smith. Lily has very fond memories spanning 14 years of many birthdays and other celebrations held at the Treehouse and in it’s previous life as the Belongil Beach Cafe. Many Byron locals and visitors alike, will be saddened by the news of the fire, as Treehouse on Belongil is literally part of the colourful history of Byron Bay. The cafe has played host to hundreds of musicians over the years, and many will fondly remember the old sunset [...]

Brothers on The Block, Andrew & Mike THE BLOCK IS BACK WITH A BIT OF BYRON THROWN IN! The Block is back and this time it will have Byron Bay handyman and project-manager Andrew adding his own touch of Byron heaven to the show! Andrew will be joined by his brother Mike, who lives in Bondi. Andrew had barely had time to celebrate his engagement to his girlfriend, Emilie, when the call came through to confirm their acceptance as contestants on The Block. It will mean leaving his new fiancé at home in Byron for 10 weeks during the filming. The new season of channel Nine’s The Block will hit our screens just after Easter. This will be the fifth [...]

The Lismore Blisstas in 2011. WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN THE SAMBA BLISSTAS? THEN HERE’S YOUR CHANCE! Hugely popular Northern Rivers percussion band, the Samba Blisstas are recruiting new members across the Northern Rivers through a series of ‘Carnival Drumming & Percussion’ workshops and courses in Bangalow, Kingscliff and Ballina. There are now three versions of the Blisstas across the North Coast, due to their ever increasing popularity!  The Ballina Blisstas at Ballina, Samba Blisstas at Bangalow and the King Blisstas at Kingscliff. The ‘Blisstas’ are running  four-week courses across the North Coast as part of their 2012 recruitment drive. Courses will be held on Tuesdays in Bangalow at the Bangalow Pavilion Hall (starting May 1, 6pm to 8pm), Wednesdays at the [...]

Grommet Busking Comp Bonanza – NEW IN 2012 Under 18′s Grommet heats 17th & 18th March @ YAC. – TODAY AND TOMORROW!!! For the first time, the Bluesfest Busking Comp will be including a Grommet Busking Comp where musicians under the age of 18 have an opportunity to reveal their abilities in their own exclusive category. The Grommet division will be set up in a similar fashion to the original Bluesfest Busking Comp offering heats in Byron Bay on a weekend prior to the Bluesfest with the finals to be held at the Beach Hotel prior to the adult finals. This is an exciting change to this year’s comp and is key to the expansion and development of the Bluesfest [...]

‘Connection to the community makes you feel good, useful and wanted’. Byron Bay at the heart of the Shire is filled with many different people who volunteer to make the community a wonderful place to work and play. TODAY, March 15th 2012, the Byron Community Centre is hosting the second Byron Shire Volunteer Expo. An exciting community celebration showcasing organisations in the shire that rely on volunteers as part of their workforce.Volunteer contributions keep the community vibrant and alive. The Byron Shire has an amazing diversity of organisations that need volunteers - from art projects to theatre, landcare, music performances and community events. The Expo will showcase these organisations and provide an opportunity to recruit more volunteers. Volunteering offers various ways [...]

Do you want to volunteer to do some good things in the community? Then head on down to the Volunteers Expo at the Community Centre on Thursday… Keep your eye out for the BUDDI stall… BUDDI (the Byron Underage Drinking & Drug Initiative-Community Drug Action Team) needs volunteers for the new YACROCKCAFE, a teen music cafe at the YAC every Friday night; the Byron Schoolies Safety Response Schoolie HUB and other community events… Are you up for volunteering?? Head on down and sign up to be a volunteer! BUDDI – the Byron Underage Drinking & Drug Initiative-Community Drug Action Team BUDDI was formed under NSW Health Community Drug Strategies Program and is auspiced by Byron Youth Service. BUDDI Team membership [...]

GET YOUR ENTRIES IN FOR THE UNDER 18′S BLUESFEST GROMMET BUSKING COMP!! Entry deadline has been extended to Monday… Grommet Busking Comp Bonanza – NEW IN 2012 For the first time, the Bluesfest Busking Comp will be including a Grommet Busking Comp where musicians under the age of 18 have an opportunity to reveal their abilities in their own exclusive category. The Grommet division will be set up in a similar fashion to the original Bluesfest Busking Comp offering heats in Byron Bay on a weekend prior to the Bluesfest with the finals to be held at the Beach Hotel prior to the adult finals. This is an exciting change to this year’s comp and is key to the expansion [...]

International Womens Day Exhibition becomes an Annual Event International Women’s Day will be celebrated in the Shire with an exhibition of photos and artwork, recognising and celebrating the inspiring women from our community. The Exhibition and celebration has become an annual event of the Women’s Resource Service and Byron Shire Council, now in its third year, and continues to evolve into a unique celebration of the women in our Shire who have inspired, enriched and contributed to our community. Held annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. Globally there is a web of rich and diverse local activity that connects women from all around the world that mark the [...]

“VOLUNTEER AND BE A STAR” BYRON BAY COMMUNITY CENTRE ‘Connection to the community makes you feel good, useful and wanted’. Byron Bay at the heart of the Shire is filled with many different people who volunteer to make the community a wonderful place to work and play. On March 15th 2012, the Byron Community Centre is hosting the second Byron Shire Volunteer Expo. An exciting community celebration showcasing organisations in the shire that rely on volunteers as part of their workforce.Volunteer contributions keep the community vibrant and alive. The Byron Shire has an amazing diversity of organisations that need volunteers - from art projects to theatre, landcare, music performances and community events. The Expo will showcase these organisations and provide an opportunity [...]

Rocky Creek Dam. Photo Jacklyn Wagner / The Northern Star CYANIDE has been detected in Rocky Creek Dam which supplies drinking water to much of the Northern Rivers. Last month, the naturally occurring compound was found in tap water at a level above that recommended under the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Rous Water general manager Kyme Lavellesaid laboratory testing conducted in February found small traces of cyanide in water which had been filtered. However, all testing since has been clear. “It’s a minute amount,” Mr Lavelle said. The cyanide was detected at a level between .04 and .08mm above the acceptable level of .08mm per litre. Mr Lavelle stressed these levels were well below that which would cause health problems, [...]

YACROCKCAFE Opening on March 9th at the Byron Youth Activities Centre – Music-based Drop-in for Teens Something exciting is about to kick-off for young people in Byron Bay on Friday nights. The YACROCKCAFE is a free weekly music-based drop-in program for high school aged young people on Friday nights at the Byron Youth Activities Centre. The YACROCKCAFE will commence on Friday March 9th with a special opening night party sponsored by Project U-Turn. Guest artists on the night include awarding winning young band Lifeline, Mitchell Smith (X-Factor), Cecilia Brandolini, Loki Hough and Haven Hough. There will be giveaways from surf and skateboard company, Bone Machine, including a custom made skateboard and t-shirt packs and free pizza from the new Byron [...]

Byron High Year 10 Vocational Learning Program Students Seek Work Placements 21 students enrolled in the Year 10 Vocational Learning Program (VLP) at Byron High School, are seeking local businesses willing to engage them on work placements for a period of up to 8 weeks at a time. These work placements will commence during March and students will be required to attend the work placements each Friday. These students have a wide variety of requests for experience in industries from building through to hairdressing. Businesses involved would be required to provide the students with employment related workplace skills and an understanding of the work environment. The VLP students are between 15 and 16 years of age. Vocational Learning prepares students [...]

Police assembled for Police Memorial Day in Lismore last year. Police Shortfall: Parsons IT HAS never been a secret that the Northern Rivers suffers from a shortage of police resources and an abnormally high rate of stress leave. But now the State Government has officially recognised the problem with the full release of the statewide audit into police resources, conducted by former assistant commissioner Peter Parsons. The long-awaited audit shows that in the Northern Region – from Newcastle to the Queensland border – the Tweed-Byron Local Area Command (LAC) and Richmond LAC occupy the second and third spots for stress leave vacancies, with 15 and 14 empty spots respectively. Richmond LAC was operating with 32 police officers under strength as [...]

A heavy police presence helped to improve behaviour last year. A CRIME report on Byron Bay has reinforced the need for a CCTV system in the CBD, with the town’s rate of drunken assaults well above the state average. But cameras may be a while off yet with no funding currently available to Byron Shire Council. Last November, The Northern Star reported on Tweed Byron Local Area Command (LAC) police and Byron Shire Council working to tackle alcohol-related assaults in the Byron CBD. Police put forward CCTV as a solution. Last month, council released their draft Safer Community Compact strategy for 2012-2016. It showed that Byron Shire ranked 11th in NSW for non-domestic related assaults in 2010. Forty-seven per cent [...]

Rosebank author David Spiteri. A Biker’s Tale Men who stick by their mates and who will do anything to defend their code of honour, even if it means violence. What they have in common: a love of motorbikes and “the brotherhood”. Welcome to outlaw motorcycle clubs as they are portrayed in a no-holds-barred book by long-term Rosebank resident and former Lismore fish shop owner David Spiteri. The Prez is a gritty account of the birth of the clubs in Australia, based on David’s own experiences, and it’s already attracting plenty of media attention. It’s packed with sex and violence, explicit language, drug-trading and not a little bit of humour … just the kind of thing that’s sure to make it [...]

Happy to hear that Gaia Retreat and Spa has featured in heavily in the top Trip Advisor awards are staff (from left) co-owner Gregg Cave, accounts Jody Peachey, manager Leanne Schoen, front of house Karen Leggett, reservations Kylie Tuck, head chef Dan Trewartha, and seated with Gio is spa manager Naomi Quarrell. WORLD travellers have recognised the Byron Bay health retreat owned by Olivia Newton-John and Gregg Cave as one of the most luxurious spa experiences on the planet. Gaia retreat and spa has come in at number five in the top Relaxation and Spa Hotels in the World on the 2012 Travellers’ Choice awards. The Travellers’ Choice awards are judged by the editors and travellers of Trip Advisor, arguably [...]

IT’S a big day for the Big Prawn. Today a decision will be made on whether our favourite crustacean lives or dies. Ballina Shire councillors will make the call at today’s ordinary meeting when they vote on the application for a $12 million Bunnings Warehouse at the site at West Ballina that includes a much-needed makeover for the prawn. Council staff have recommended approval. But while Bunnings had some big plans for the Big Prawn, including increasing its height by 1m to 15m, the council staff are keen to see it stay the same height. The report states that the prawn is “too high in relation to surrounding structures”. “It is considered that if council were of a mind to [...]

Celebrating the re-opening are, from left, club chairman Martin Colbert, creditor Bob Dudgeon, member Brian Mackney, employee Caroline Nolan and solicitor Mark Baker. BANGALOW bowling club has survived being put into administration and is now back in the hands of the community. Club members burst into applause at a crucial meeting in Bangalow yesterday when the creditors voted to end the administration period. The club owes $125,000 to the ANZ bank, $63,000 to trade creditors, $27,000 to the Australian Tax Office, and almost $71,000 in administration fees. But administrator John Souris advised creditors the club had a good chance of meeting its debts because community members had worked together to raise $200,000 towards their goal of $300,000. The creditors could [...]

SMILES: Byron Bay International Film Festival director J’aimee Skippon Volke predicts a magic event. Festival Reels In International Filmmakers FIVE venues, more than 170 films, a beachside sunset cinema and filmmakers from around the world. It’s all on offer at the sixth annual Byron Bay International Film Festival from March 2 to 11. With the official line-up of films expected to be announced this week and the possible attendance by Australian actors Jack Thompson and Vince Colosimo, the stage is set for the what festival director J’aimee Skippon Volke says will be the best ever festival. “The festival attracted 950 entries from all over the world and several of the films to be screened this year will be world premieres,” [...]

THE STATE government has released the results of its controversial review of NSW Marine Parks. The Independent Scientific Audit of Marine Parks calls for significant change in marine park management, including that the Marine Parks Authority, Coastal Management Panel and NSW Fisheries be abolished and replaced with a Coastal and Marine Management Authority. The audit, chaired by Professor Robert Beeton AM, also found marine park zoning should have been carried out in a more consultative way by the former Labor government. It said there had been an ‘ad hoc and generally poor approach to social assessment, if undertaken at all’ in relation to marine parks and recommended an independent scientific committee that would give a greater emphasis to social and [...]

NATURAL LOOKS: The face of the Byron Naturally Campaign, Lisa Mae, during the development of the highly successful tourism promotion. THE 2012 Byron Naturally campaign is shaping up to deliver an even greater impact than last year’s highly successful tourism promotion. The campaign, run by Byron United, is being supported by tourism industry heavyweights including Destination NSW. “In 2012 we will achieve additional exposure via more industry partnerships with airlines and airports,” Utopia Creative principal and campaign creator Adrian Nelson said. “We have developed exciting new components for this year’s campaign including a Smart Phone application that expands the functionality of the website with an integrated, trackable redemption system and extended marketing reach using TV on the web. “We are [...]

This business immediately advertised that Splendour in the Grass was returning to Byron Bay. IT WILL BE SPLENDOUR IN THE FIELDS LOCALS, loyal fans and businesses are celebrating the homecoming of Splendour in the Grass, which will return to its old stomping ground at Belongil Fields this year. The excitement was felt outside one Byron Bay business yesterday, where a blackboard inscribed with “Welcome back to Byron Splendour in the Grass” was set up within hours of the announcement. “It’s a godsend,” Byron United president Paul Waters said. “It’s been a hard two years with Splendour away.” Belongil Fields will host Splendour in the Grass on July 27-29. The festival was relocated to Woodford in Queensland two years ago after [...]

The main building and entrance at the new Byron Region Sport and Cultural Complex. YEARS of complaints about inadequate sports facilities in Byron Shire will be consigned to history today when the $17 million Byron Regional Sport and Cultural Complex opens. The complex on Ewingsdale Rd provides 16ha of fields and indoor facilities, and Byron Bay Community Sports Association convenor Paul Irwin couldn’t be happier. “It will be a huge asset not only to Byron Bay and Suffolk Park but to the greater Byron region,” Mr Irwin said. “Probably the biggest asset this facility will create is to foster not only the existing sports like basketball but also sports like futsal, volleyball, badminton and table tennis, which up until now [...]

North Coast indigenous and arts community identity Rhoda Roberts has been appointed Head of Indigenous Programming at the Sydney Opera House. NORTH Coast Aboriginal and arts identity Rhoda Roberts has been appointed to a pivotal indigenous arts programming position with the Sydney Opera House. Ms Roberts will take up the position as Head of Indigenous Programming and is the first appointee to the position. Among her duties Ms Roberts will take carriage of the annual Message Sticks indigenous arts and culture festival held at the Opera House in March and April. Probably best known as a presenter of SBS current affairs program Vox Populi, Ms Roberts was also a founding director of the Dreaming Festival and co-founding member of Australia’s [...]

Blues Fest director Peter Noble spoke at a public meeting at the Byron Bay Community Centre today. EMOTIONS are running high at a meeting in Byron Bay today where almost 100 people have gathered to share their opinions on the contentious North Byron Parklands proposal. Late last year the State Government recommended the approval of the Yelgun site proposal, which would see Splendour In the Grass return to the Byron Shire plus two other major events with maximum crowds of 25,000 and 15,000, respectively, in the first year. The State Government placed the final decision into the hands of the independent NSW Planning Assessment Commission, which hosted a public meeting about the development at the Byron Community Centre today. In true [...]

The lone goat at Cape Byron lighthouse. The picture was taken in 2003. Did Byron pass the buck? BYRON’ Bay’s elusive ‘Wategoat’ leads a lonely life. The goat has wandered the cliffs alone on Cape Byron since 2005, when the National Parks and Wildlife Service removed the rest of the herd. But rumour has it, she (or he) may have found a friend. According to the Cape Byron Trust’s Facebook page, there have been reports that a male goat may have been released to accompany the cape’s long term resident. “If anybody can confirm this, or happens to see Romeo could they please let us know as soon as possible,” the post read. “I assure you that if confirmed he [...]