Byron Bay

The 2010 NCPIC Indigenous Music Competition received many thoughtful, creative and high quality entries from Indigenous Australians. The stories told in each song were heartfelt and dealt sensitively with the impact of cannabis on Indigenous communities in Australia.
This year it was won by a local Byron Bay youth, Coedie McCarthy with his song ‘Yandi Zombies’. Coedie is a Year 11 student at Byron High.
Congratulations Coedie!!
To have a listen to Coedie’s song go to the NCIPC website, you can also download the song from there. The following are the lyrics for Yand Zombies:
Verse 1
It’s not called weed for nothing and yes it’s nothing but a weed
If you love it so much then why don’t you go drop a knee
But not me oh [...]

Inspector Owen King signs the agreement with Schoolies HUB Coordinator, Nicqui Yazdi
and John Gudgeon from the HLO.

Respect, Responsibility and Relax were the key messages unveiled by the Byron Schoolies Safety Working Group recently. Last year around 10,000 young people attended their end-of-Year 12 celebrations in Byron Bay over a period of 16 days. In reponse to the large influx, a group of community and business groups formed last year to address the need for safety strategies.
Creating a safe environment
Thirteen key stakeholders signing the Statement included Inspector Owen King, Vice President of Byron United Paul Waters and General Manager for Byron Shire Council Graeme Faulkner.
Before signing, HLO’s John Gudgeon told the assembled media that ‘We want to reiterate that Schoolies chose Byron Bay – they actually come here because they like the quietness and the environment.
What we’ve done is to facilitate that by bringing together the [...]

Steve Drummond asks more questions about the death of his son, Jai Morcom, in a schoolyard brawl at Mullumbimby High.
Jai Drummond Morcom would have been 16 last month and he was making his mark in this world. He was a caring, unselfish people person with a great sense of humour who enjoyed life and projected a positive light around him. Almost a year ago today Australia was shocked, saddened and appalled at his death at Mullumbimby High after a schoolyard brawl. As a result Jai received bruising, bumps, abrasions and a massive brain hemorrhage. It was alleged he was pushed or thrown into a brick wall then attacked on the ground. Jai’s external injuries and brain hemorrhage appear to back reports of what happened that day.
It’s heartwrenching to confront Jai’s medical diagnosis and the sickening knowledge he would have suffered intense pain at some stage. A [...]

Operational: Byron youth service worker Deb Pearse inspects the damage to the Mullumbimby Youth Centre after a fire guttered the veranda last week.
MULLUMBIMBY’S youth centre is open for business and – with the help of Byron Shire Council – looks set to carry on following a fire that guttered its veranda last week.
Byron Shire Council’s executive manager of corporate management, Mark Arnold, said the cost of damage to the historic ‘Widow’s Cottage’ was still unknown but was currently being assessed.
“From a first inspection, inside is structurally sound and there are no concerns regarding electrics,” he said.
It is thought last week’s fire was caused by a candle being used by two homeless people sleeping on the veranda.
Youth worker Deborah Pearse had [...]

At 10am yesterday, Tuesday 24th August 2010, The Byron Schoolies Safety Working Group met at the Byron Youth Activities Centre, 1 Gilmore Crescent, to sign a ‘Joint Vision Statement’ for this year’s Byron Schoolies Safety Response in November/December.
The Byron Schoolies Safety Response aims to provide a safe and secure environment in Byron Bay during the end of year school leaver celebrations using the key messages of Respect, Responsibility and Relax.
In 2009, the Byron Schooies Safety Response was born, in response to the need for safety strategies to cater to this ever-growing School Leavers event. In 2009, around 10,000 young people attended their end of Year 12 Celebrations here in Byron Bay over a period of 16 days. [...]

Merv ‘The Black Prince’ Watriama.
A service to celebrate the life of Merv ‘The Black Prince’ Watriama will be held tomorrow from 3pm at the Byron Bay Rugby League Club’s ground.
Celebrant Zenith Virago will conduct the service to which all of Merv’s friends are invited.
There will be live music after the service from long-standing Byron Bay band, Zanziband.
People attending the service and celebration are asked to bring a plate.
Merv, a colourful character around Byron Bay for many years, died in his sleep two weeks ago at his Ewingsdale home.
His ‘Black Prince’ nickname came from his grandfather, William Jacob Watriama, who came to Australia from the Loyalty Islands of French-ruled New Caledonia in the late 19th Century.
William, who served with distinction with [...]

At Mullumbimby Community Garden Jo Hoy, horticulture therapy co-ordinator, with (rear, from left) Matijo Beams, Gerard Moate, Maree Murfet, Rameshwar and Alan Grey who are now growing their own food.
FROM a little thing a big thing has grown – the Mullumbimby Community Garden.
Four years ago the garden was but a dream of a few green-fingered enthusiasts.
Now it is a 2ha food-producing oasis on the edge of the village.
Community garden co-ordinator Jeannette Martin said the garden was all about teaching people how to grow their own food.
“There are many people who would like to have a veggie patch at home, but they don’t know what to do,” she said.
The permaculture-based garden is one of seven community-based food groups to receive a [...]

Nicqui Yazdi, director of the MindRight Institute, holds a candle in support of the mentally ill at last night’s Mental Health Vigil at the Byron Bay Youth Activity Centre
EVERY year one-in-five Australians will suffer a mental illness, a vigil in Byron Bay was told last night.
Nicqui Yazdi knows first-hand the tragic consequences if people aren’t properly treated by medical professionals.
Less than a month ago, when her uncle realised his son was depressed, he took him to a GP.
Recognising the symptoms the GP referred him to a phycologist. However, due to lack of services, Ms Yazdi’s cousin could not make an appointment for a few weeks.
The following day, the 30-year-old took his own life. It wasn’t until the family read his [...]

Byron Bay will host a GetUp Mental Healthcare Candlelight Vigil to bring attention to the mental health crisis in Australia next Tuesday (August 10).
The Byron Bay event will be part of an Australia-wide GetUp vigil to raise awareness of the country’s under-funded mental healthcare system.
Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry will host the Sydney vigil, while Byron Bay’s vigil will be led by mental health advocate and 2010 Byron Shire Citizen of the Year Nicqui Yazdi.
“This vigil is more than just about those lives that have already been lost, it’s also about the lives that will be lost in the future if we don’t stand up and influence the government to recognise just how big the problems in Australia [...]

Byron Mayor Cr Jan Barham and Bay FM president Ros Elliott at last week’s launch at Italian at the Pacific restaurant.
The Byron Shire’s community radio station, Bay FM has launched its annual subscriber drive which will run from August 16 to 29.
President Ros Elliott said it took more than $250,000 a year to keep the station on air.
Ms Elliott said Bay FM was not publicly funded or owned by commercial interests, but was run on volunteer energy and community spirit.
“We rely on annual subscriptions to allow us to keep broadcasting,” she said.
As usual, there are some great prizes on offer for new and renewing subscribers, including the major prize of a trip for two to the Kimberley region donated by [...]