Byron Bay

INITIAL RESPONSE FROM THE SCHOOLIES HUB COORDINATOR, NICQUI YAZDI, TO THE NEWS OF BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL REMOVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE BYRON SCHOOLIES SAFETY RESPONSE HUB in 2013 – “With all of the current high profile alcohol issues in Byron, it comes as a serious blow to the community that Byron Shire Council have essentially pulled all of their support for the Byron Schoolies Safety Response HUB this year. For the last four years, the HUB has provided much needed assistance during this high traffic time, not only to the visiting schoolies, but also to the local community, in making sure that the safety issues of having 10,000 extra young visitors here, are attended to. To clarify for the community [...]

For the youth of Byron!! Hey it’s YOUTH WEEK this week and there’s some special events coming up at the YAC – the first of which is the Youth Week Youth Forum – “Things are getting dire * have your say about the Shire” – happening from 6-8pm at the Byron YAC on Thursday 11th April… The adults of Byron have been having their fair share of ‘community forums’ of late… now it’s time to hear from the young people!! Free yummy food too!! Get along and tell us what you think about the state of affairs in Byron these days!!

PUBLIC FORUM IN BYRON TONIGHT!! Strange Bedfellows-Making the tourist/resident Marriage Work. Byron Bay Community Centre from 5.30pm – In response to the public outcry in relation to the impacts of tourism on the local community over peak holiday periods, a community forum has been organised to discuss how the community can benefit from the industry and how they may be able to address the inherent challenges. Presented by Byron Shire Council in conjunction with The Echo, Byron Shire News and Bay FM, the Public Forum will be conducted in the style of Q&A with former ABC journalist Mick O’Regan as moderator. Panel Members include Jan Barham – NSW Legislative Council, Don Page – NSW Minister for Local Government and local [...]

The YACROCKCAFE will tonight host a Hardcore Party for the launch of Cringe The Binge – National Weekend Of Action! The YACROCKCAFE is a music based drop-in for high school and uni aged young people which happens every Friday night at the Byron Youth Activities Centre (YAC). Since it kicked off in March this year, the YACROCKCAFE has seen young bands from as far away as Launceston & Melbourne hit the stage each week, with many of the bands coming from Byron Shire, the Gold Coast and Brisbane. On average, each week, four bands play between 7 & 10pm. The YACROCKCAFE is supported by BUDDI (Byron Underage Drinking & Drug Initiative – Community Drug Action Team), Byron Youth Service and [...]

YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO PLAY IT SAFE DURING SCHOOLIES WEEK 2012 -  AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that school leavers could enjoy their much-deserved fun and relaxation during Schoolies Week 2012 without resorting to binge drinking, which can often lead to other unhealthy or unsafe behaviour. The Schoolies Week season commences from 17 November in NSW and Queensland, with other States to follow in coming weeks. In the lead-up to Schoolies Week, Dr Hambleton will tomorrow officially open the Cringe the Binge National Weekend of Action in Byron Bay, one of the most popular destinations for school leavers looking to unwind after their exams. Cringe the Binge is a community-wide Byron Bay movement that is [...]

THIS WEEKEND SEES THE LAUNCH OF A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO HAVE ALL AUSTRALIANS RETHINK THEIR BINGE DRINKING HABITS AND DONATE TO AN INITIATIVE THAT IS SET TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE ISSUES OF BINGE DRINKING. Cringe The Binge is the brainchild of Byron Youth Service, leaders in the field of providing essential youth programs and initiatives in Byron Shire for over 25 years. Following on from their massive success with Project U-Turn over the last few years, Byron Youth Service are launching Cringe The Binge – National Weekend of Action from November 9-11, which will be an annual weekend asking all Australians to Cringe The Binge and donate funds that will go towards developing education programs for young people, [...]

New initiative from Byron Youth Service – Cringe The Binge – was launched nationally last Friday, with hundreds of people turning up to the official media launch in Apex Park in Byron Bay. Pictured here is BYTE member (Byron Youth Theatre in Education), Lily Jo Smith with posters for the RISE event, happening as part of the Cringe The Binge National Weekend of Action from November 9-11 What is Cringe the Binge? Cringe the Binge is a grass roots initiative that aims to reverse youth binge drinking by supporting individual and community action. It is time for all of us to work together – families, communities, young people and government agencies to change the culture of binge d inking in [...]

Reclaim the Night is a global women’s protest against men’s sexual violence held, on the last Friday in October each year. The date for 2012 is October 26. The philosophy of Reclaim The Night encourages grass roots participation in the organisation of events by as many women as possible. In this way Reclaim The Night is able to draw together women from diverse backgrounds and experiences to work together in addressing issues of men’s sexual violence against women and children. With the tragic death of Jill Meagher in Melbourne recently, the timing for Reclaim The Night has never been more important. This year’s Reclaim the Night will have a special focus on young women. We would encourage all mothers to [...]

The 18th WOW (World of Women) Film Festival screens as two sessions from 11am to 4pm with a lunch break. This unique festival gives us glimpses of the world as seen through the eyes of women comprising the year’s best 17 short films primarily produced by women. Plus the very special screening of the two winning films from local female film-makes (under 18 & adult) in the Byron Breast Cancer Support Group ‘Women’s Short Film Making Competition’ Sunday 26 August Screenings: 11am & 1.30pm Tickets on the door: Day Pass (2 sessions) $15 / $5 student 1 session (11am OR 1.30pm) $10 Session 1 ★ 11am Slashed (11 mins) (Comedy) Graham Gates/Rogan Brown – Producer, Rebecca Thomson – Director, Claire [...]

On your marks…Get set…Go! The writers are flying in, the workshops are running, the school students have meet their idols. The week of the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival has arrived, the weather is superb and the festivities are underway. Take a break from the Olympics and head down Jonson Street – you may well see your favourite author wandering the town and getting acclimatised. There’s still time to join in. Tickets for the festival are available online at www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au or you can buy day passes on site at North Byron Events (Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay) on any of the three festival days, starting Friday 3 August. While some feature events have sold out, there are still seats available for the [...]

Award winning documentary I AM ELEVEN is coming to Byron Bay! Come to the special ‘Meet the filmmaker’ screenings and Q&A sessions this Sunday July 22 at 3.30pm and 6pm Pighouse Flicks 1 Skinners Shoot Road, Byron Bay. Ticketing times and information click here or call (02) 6685 5828. Please note this film has been selling out all over Australia so we suggest you purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment. The cinema has limited seating. The film will play select sessions over the coming week so check the Pighouse Flicks website for details Or visit www.iameleven.com for more details and the trailer! Australian filmmaker Genevieve Bailey set off around the world to produce this documentary feature film and online project. [...]

This July Byron Youth Service is celebrating 25 years as the primary provider of youth services in the Byron Shire.  Yay!  We figure that’s reason enough to put on a few special events and activities to celebrate and acknowledge that “Young People Matter” in our community. As many adults would recall, the teenage years are often a time of great change and turbulence for young people.  Not only are their bodies and brains rapidly developing, but their social networks and views of the world are forming also.  They are making sense of a rapidly changing and often challenging world.  They are thinking about their future and their place in the community – what they might like to ‘do’ or ‘be’ [...]

SLUTWALK IN BYRON BAY TODAY! TODAY… June 23, the streets of Byron Bay will see its first SlutWalk.  The main idea of SlutWalk is that it is a protest against explaining or excusing rape by referring to any aspect of a woman’s appearance. On January 24th, 2011, a representative of the Toronto Police, during a lecture to college students, gave shocking insight into the Police Force’s view of sexual assault by stating: “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.” The reaction to this statement has since started a world-wide grassroots movement challenging rape culture, victim-blaming and slut-shaming, and working to end sexual and domestic violence. Over the last 16 months, SlutWalks have taken place in [...]

On June 23 the streets of Byron Bay will see it’s first SlutWalk.  The main idea of SlutWalk is that it is a protest against explaining or excusing rape by referring to any aspect of a woman’s appearance. On January 24th, 2011, a representative of the Toronto Police, during a lecture to college students, gave shocking insight into the Police Force’s view of sexual assault by stating: “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.” The reaction to this statement has since started a world-wide grassroots movement challenging rape culture, victim-blaming and slut-shaming, and working to end sexual and domestic violence. Over the last 16 months, SlutWalks have taken place in almost every country in the [...]

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 [...]

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

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 [...]

‘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 [...]

“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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Mental Illness Starts Young CLOSE to 50% of all mental health issues develop by the age of 18. 75% are developed by the age of 25, according to the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. With these statistics in mind, the region’s youth are becoming increasingly aware of mental illnesses and now they are learning to help deal with them. A Group of young people from the Northern Rivers Youth Advisory Council and the Fresh Fruits Youth Group have finished their Youth Mental Health Firs Aid Course in Lismore The two-day course covered depression, anxiety, psychosis, self-harm and substance misuse, issues that commonly arise in the younger community. As the co-chair of Fresh Fruits, the under-25′s sub-group attached [...]

If you’re on Facebook, then you might like to give us a ‘like’ there too… byronbay.org links through to our Facebook site Byron Bay News… all of the news items posted on byronbay.org also find their way to our Facebook site and a lot more… so go to the link below, give us a ‘like’ and start getting our extended updates on all things Byron. If you have anything you’d like to share with us, news stories, information about events and happenings in the Byron Shire, then just post them on our Facebook site and we’ll share them… http://www.facebook.com/byronbaynews

THE FEDERAL Government’s new Minister for Housing came to Byron Bay on a fact-finding mission yesterday and took the time to sit down and listen to local experts in emergency housing. Robert McClelland, also the Minister for Homelessness, met with Richmond MP Justine Elliot, Byron mayor and Greens MLC Jan Barham, people from the Northern Rivers Social Development Council and emergency housing workers at a house for the homeless, managed by the Byron Emergency Housing Project. The minister listened closely to the range of issues discussed, asking questions and making notes. He heard of the need for funding for a regional housing co-ordinator to pick up some of the initiatives that have arisen out of grassroots involvement with community housing, [...]

Chicchan Richards reading tarrot cards at the Starlight Wellbeing Expo in Banaglow. WHEN asked what it is that brings people back again and again to the Starlight Wellbeing Expo in Bangalow, organiser Raym Richards says simply, “It’s the vibe of the place”. “It’s just a great, laidback environment where like-minded people gather, all in the interest of health and well-being. “Apart from the joy people get from being here, the featured workshops are always really popular. “During the week we had a great workshop about the idea that you can reprogram your DNA through sacred journey; that was very popular. “Today we have a workshop about activating your soul’s purpose through the use of Australian bush flower essences.” This is [...]

“I did not have sexual relations with that woman, and the car was not stolen” Reindeer Run Amok at the North Pole North Pole lawyers were busy this week at the Elf County Courthouse, trying to arrange bail and some time sensitive freedom for Dasher, Blitzen and Vixen, three of Santa’s primary reindeer team. Judge Judy Friesfrost denied an early release based on the severity of charges facing the reindeer, choosing to delay arraignment until after the holidays. Reports from the North Pole workshop indicate that Santa may have to postpone gift delivery until his reindeer are released. Facing repeat offender changes this year, all three reindeer had been incarcerated last year on a variety of charges ranging from drunk and disorderly to prostitution. [...]

George Negus in Alstonville interviewing Sandra Kimball of Byron Bay for the documentary on Mandy Nolan’s program for treating dementia with comedy. Dementia ‘a laughing matter’ BYRON Bay comedian Mandy Nolan started doing stand-up gigs for people suffering dementia to entertain, but instead she accidentally created a new form of therapy. Four years after she started working with dementia sufferers, Ms Nolan has developed a program of improvised performance, role playing and theatre sports that has been so successful veteran journalist George Negus is helping put together a documentary on it. “It is really surprising because it was something I was making up as I went along,” Ms Nolan said. “I certainly never intended to create a therapy.” Yesterday, Ms [...]

POLICE who are away on extended stress leave or sick leave will no longer be counted in a police station’s “official” numbers, NSW Police Minister Michael Gallacher has announced. The announcement came with the release by the government today of 22 recommendations from former Assistant Commissioner Peter Parsons, who has been reviewing issues such as police working conditions and resources for several months. The review has become a touchstone of government MPs responding to calls for increased police resources, including on the Northern Rivers where there have been loud calls for more police from across the region, particularly Casino where residents want a 24-hour police presence. It has been anticipated the report from the review would spell out the need [...]

Byron Schoolies HUB Volunteers with their Certificates in Youth Mental Health First Aid ~ the volunteers will be ready for any crisis situation in the HUB. The Schoolies HUB goes up in Main Beach Park on Friday, in preparation for the estimated 8-10,000 school leavers who will be arriving in Byron Bay over the nextfew weeks to celebrate the end of Year 12. These young visitors will have access to the HUB 24 hours a day for 18 days from Friday November 18 through to December 5. The HUB will be run by over 100 dedicated local volunteers in 4 hour shifts. The Schoolies will be able to access water, first aid, tourist information and smiling locals to help them with [...]

A scene from Schoolies 2009 at Main Beach, Byron Bay. The area is expecting 10,000 teenagers. IN A FEW days as many as 10,000 schoolies will descend on Byron Bay to celebrate finishing year 12. In an effort to keep the teens safe, the Byron Schoolies Hub will be open from this Friday and will remain open 24 hours a day for 18 days. Hub co-ordinator Nicqui Yazdi estimated half the schoolies who came to Byron were under the age of 18. Because they were unable to get into clubs and pubs many of them ended up drinking on beaches and in parks, Ms Yazdi said. Police will have a high presence in Byron during schoolies and will set up [...]

Bay FM president Ros Elliott, That’s Amore presenter Sergio Scudery and vice-president Tony Parker, who’ll be joining the community radio station’s 21st birthday celebrations at Ewingsdale Hall on Saturday. JIM Nutter could be BAY FM’s biggest fan. The radio addict has tuned into the community radio station since it began broadcasting 21 years ago and continues to enjoy its company daily from his home in the hills of Main Arm. “Much of my education comes via Bay FM and Radio National,” he said. “There’s such a range of musicologists on Bay FM; people who know their music very well. It also very socially connective; you get to know what’s on and what you want to see. If you’re living on [...]

Starts at 6pm with the march starting at 8pm – tonight – Friday October 28th. The event will commence from 6pm at Apex Park on the beachfront, with lantern decorating and service providers available with information. From 7.30pm young women will be speaking about sexual assault in our community, speakers and entertainment will be provided and the march will be leaving the park to go through town from 8pm. Women are asked to wear red and to bring noise-makers with them. The Samba Blisstas along with Nicqui Yazdi will be leading the march. Ilona Harker will provide entertainment at the conclusion of the march. Music, lantern making, guest speakers such as The Chrysalis Girls Group and street performers start from [...]

Dan Murphy’s applies for liquor licence, meanwhile 2000 object to the new store. Questions have been raised as to the motives behind Dan Murphy’s request to transfer its liquor licence from Sydney to Byron Bay. Woolworths Ltd, owners of Dan Murphy’s, have submitted their application for an alcohol superstore underneath the Dendy cinema in the town’s CBD. However, instead of applying for a new licence from the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR), the retail giant is seeking to transfer an existing licence from Kensington, part of the Randwick Local Government Area (LGA) in Sydney. ‘Byron has one quarter the population of Kensington, yet according OLGR’s own statistics, it has double the liquor licences, three times the alcohol-related [...]

A 40sqm banner hangs on Frog Buttress an internationally renowned rockface on the side of Mt French, just across the Qld border in the Scenic Rim as part of a CSG protest that is planned for this weekend. WITH thousands expected to turn out at several rallies across the Northern Rivers against the coal seam gas industry over the weekend the groundswell of opposition to the burgeoning industry is growing. This week the NSW Farmers Association threatened to walk away from the O’Farrell government’s coal seam gas stakeholder advisory committee. The president of the NSW Farmers Association Fiona Simson said draft documents proposed the loss of agricultural activity would need to be taken into account only when considering mining projects [...]

Working With Voices – Essential Skills Workshop Byron Youth Activities Centre, 1 Gilmore Crescent Byron Bay, NSW 2481 Australia - Friday 14th October 2011, 9.00am – 4pm: Programme~ The “Working with Voices“workshop will equip participants with a tool kit for working with voice-hearers. It is suitable for front-line mental health staff working in the health, social service and voluntary sectors. ..Using MP3 technology (supplied), experience the world of a psychiatric disability through a simulated experience of hearing voices that are distressing. ..Gain a better understanding of the challenges that people with a psychiatric disability face. ..Identify the difference between voices that are distressing and other voices. ..Voice profiling ..Working within belief systems ..Developing coping strategies ..Facilitating consumer peer support Workbook included [...]

Schoolies is less than 6 weeks away now. 10,000 school leavers from all around Australia are coming to Byron to celebrate the end of Year 12. This year the Byron Schoolies Safety Response is offering free training to any volunteers who sign up before the end of October. These are certificate courses in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) and Senior First Aid. The first 2-day YMHFA training will take place on October 31 and November 7 at the YAC. There will be a sign-on night and reunion at the Owl & Pussycat on October 24 from 6-8pm. This will be a chance for new volunteers to get together with past volunteers and sign up for this years HUB. There [...]

FEEDBACK: Hop online and help out with a youth survey for your chance to win. THE Northern Rivers Youth Advisory Council (NRYAC) is carrying out a survey to find out what matters most to young people in the region. Called the Northern Rivers Youth Census, the survey was released through Facebook and sms. “It’s a chance for us to have a say about what’s important to us, so we’d like to see every single young person under 25 complete the survey by 29 October,” said Jacob Fitzroy, the NRYAC chairperson. Jacob will also represent the Northern Rivers at the 2012 Youth Parliament in Canberra. The NRYAC is offering two prizes to help get the word out. First prize is an [...]

The Northern Rivers Youth Advisory Council are a voice for young people in the Northern Rivers. They have developed a survey to find out info about young people in the Northern Rivers – who they are, what they do, where they live & what matters to them. Just like the national census, but instead created by young people in the Northern Rivers! They want to hear from all young people, so there are two great prizes on offer to help get the word out. First prize is an Apple IPAD, and 2nd prize is a ticket to the Byron Bay Blues Festival! Link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YOUTHCENSUSnorthernrivers Why is the Youth Census important? The Youth Census is a chance for young [...]

Arana Pearson from Keepwell will be in Australia in October for Mental Health Week and will be facilitating two workshops in Byron Bay, at the Youth Activities Centre on October 13 & 14. Hearing Voices That Are Distressing – A Simulated Training Experience- Thursday 13th October 2011, 9.00am – 12.30pm This is a fantastic opportunity to attend this powerful and effective half day workshop. (There is another workshop being offered on the following day, only for those that have completed this Hearing Voices workshop – ‘Working with Voices’ – please refer to the end of this event page for more information) Experience the world of a psychiatric disability through a simulated experience of hearing voices that are distressing. Using new [...]

Interrelate’s Julie Leete says “it looks as though we have a lot of services, but the services don’t meet the current demand,” LAST financial year 663 children across northern NSW were removed from their families by the Family and Community Services department. The region has the second largest number of children removed in the state, according to figures obtained by The Northern Star. That took the number of children in the department’s care across the region at the end of June last year to 2950 – again the second highest in the state behind the Hunter/Central Coast region. FACS used to be known ad DOCS. A FACS spokesperson said the children were removed as a “last resort” after it was [...]

IT’S World Suicide Prevention Day tomorrow, a day which aims to raise awareness about a cause of death that claims more lives than skin cancer and car accidents. Lifeline Northern Rivers Counselling Centre Manager Niall Mulligan said six people on average take their own lives each day. “That means that each year more people are dying by suicide in Australia than on our roads or from skin cancer,” he said. He said these subjects rated highly on the public agenda but suicide remained a taboo. “That’s why lifeline is looking to break down the stigma associated with suicide,” Around 2200 people take their own lives each year but figures are thought to be 20-30% under reported due to different reporting [...]

Schoolies is only 10 weeks away now. 10,000 school leavers from all around Australia are coming to Byron to celebrate the end of Year 12. This year the Byron Schoolies Safety Response is once again recruiting volunteers for the Schoolies HUB in order to help make the young visitors welcome and ensure that they enjoy a safe celebration. The HUB is a large marquee supplied by Byron Shire Council and placed in Main Beach Park for the duration of the celebrations. HUB Co-ordinator, Nicqui Yazdi said “We would really like to encourage those that have had experience with working with young people to come and give it a go. And also those that might have done first aid training, although [...]

Southern Cross University Researcher John Stevens and comedian Mandy Nolan are doing a research project on humour and dementia. IT seems laughter really is the best medicine – even with the most intractable illnesses such as Alzheimer’s. Its benefit to dementia sufferers has gone unrecognised and its full potential is still unknown but Southern Cross University researcher John Stevens wants to change that, with the help of his wife, comedian Mandy Nolan. They have found that groups of elderly people with symptoms of dementia show remarkable improvement during 90-minute workshops in which they role-play, joke, try to improvise and do stand-up routines and above all, laugh at and with each other. The creative process of generating comedy then laughing, was [...]

BYRON Bay Friends of the Library, which has campaigned and fundraised for the past 20 years to see a new library built in the area, has welcomed the news that Byron Shire Council has awarded the construction tender to Badge Constructions (QLD) Pty Ltd. To be built at a cost of $3.78 million, the construction company will take possession of the new library site early next month. “We’re delighted it’s going to happen,” Byron Bay Friends of the Library president Bob Levett said. “We are excited at the prospect of participating in the many varied and enjoyable activities ahead of us.” Mayor Jan Barham said there would be a lot of excited and relieved residents. “After many long years of [...]

LET’S GO FOR A WALK ~ Young Women’s Health Conference Wednesday 24 August 2011 ~ 9.30am – 3pm ~ Bangalow A&I Hall For young women 13-25 years of age. Why a Young Women’s Health Conference? The idea to run a conference for young women came from two different groups of local young women. The aims of this conference are: • to offer a safe space to get together express concerns about destructive relationships and behaviours around peers, young men, families, sexuality and substance abuse; • to provide relevant and useful information for young women to empower them to make positive choices that lead to healthy success relationships; • to help young women to develop and explore skills and strategies to handle [...]

Paul Waters; Kate Reed; Neroli Jager; Di Mahoney; Mike Clark; Nicqui Yazdi; Graham Pearson; Darren Pearson and Luke Mooney display a Project U-turn poster and petitions. DISCOUNT liquor chain Dan Murphy’s has hit back at claims its proposed outlet in Byron Bay will fan the flames of alcohol-fuelled violence that plague the popular tourist town. Public relations manager Simon Berger challenged opponents to prove how Dan Murphy’s presence was different to current liquor outlets. “What we’re doing is bringing choice to Byron Bay but we recognise we have a responsibility to the community,” he said. “Over 90 per cent of our customers are over 25 and we have a track record of responsible service … we will have over 30 [...]

Facebook has a new page dedicated to stopping Dan Murphy’s from obtaining a license to operate in Byron Bay – Just Say NO to Dan Murphy’s in Byron Bay.  https://www.facebook.com/nodanmurphys Dan Murphy’s are planning a massive super store right in the central shopping area of the Woolworths Plaza in Byron Bay. This one liquor outlet will be three times the size of all current bottle shops put together! Byron Bay already has a massive problem with drugs and alcohol, particularly amongst teenagers. One of the leading problems with teens and alcohol is the availability of cheap alcohol. The cheaper it is, the more they are able to consume. Dan Murphy’s sell alcohol for as little as $1.99 a bottle! There is [...]

Kronic NEW laws banning a synthetic form of cannabis called kronic came into effect last Friday, but police will allow a period of grace before cracking down on suppliers. Richmond Local Area Command crime manager, Detective Inspector Greg Moore, said police must enforce the law, but would give retailers enough time to dispose of the substance. “We will enforce possession from now on but, in fairness to the local traders that might not be aware, we’ve been going around and educating them about the new law,” he said. “Obviously we’re not going to go straight out and jump on people, I know one supplier who had just purchased 13kg of the stuff so we are allowing a certain amount of [...]