Byron Bay

FLICKERFEST CONTINUES TODAY AND TOMORROW! Saturday 26th Jan – 3 Sessions as follows 2.30pm – ‘FlickerLab‘ Concept to Market: presented by SAE Come and join us for an interesting and enlightening workshop on distributing your short form content across various platforms to audiences far and wide. Panellists include Damian Walshe-Howling, who will share his experiences of the prestigious Locarno Film Festival where Suspended screened in Official Competition, ABC Open Producer Catherine Marciniak and Flickerfest Director Bronwyn Kidd. A must do for all keen film makers out there ! $10/8 conc (free entry for SAE students) 4.30pm – Byron All Shorts programme: Northern Rivers Short Film Competition supported by Southern Cross Credit Union & SAE Byron Bay; Sit back relax and [...]

On Saturday January 12 the YAC Amphitheatre is set to come alive with with the sounds of 20 young hardcore and metal bands in the first festival of it’s kind, the Which Way Festival. It will feature many of the bands who have played at the YACROCKCAFE at the Byron Youth Activities Centre on Friday nights throughout 2012. The Which Way Festival on Saturday January 12 was the brainchild of James Heath, member of local young hardcore band Like Cannons. James wanted to do a fundraiser to help to purchase more equipment for the bands to use on Friday nights. His idea spread like wildfire, with nearly 20 bands signing up to play the festival within a week! Currently the [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Last year, the inaugural Sample Food Festival welcomed a massive 10,000 visitors through the gates at Bangalow Show Grounds. This year is set to top that! Restaurants and food producers from the Northern Rivers will showcase their culinary delights at this today’s Sample Food Festival in Bangalow. Stall holders will offer $5 and $10 tasting plates. When: Saturday October 6th, 2012 Time: 8am to 8pm Where: Bangalow Show Ground Program- cooking stage 8.30am Brookfarm: Bircher Launch 9.00am Ben O’Donoghue & Donna Harper: Farmers Market Breakfast 10.00am Belinda Jeffery: Book Launch/Signing 10.30am Clayton Donovan & Gavin Hughes: Cooking with Kids 11.30am Garden to Kitchen Show: Cooking with Macadamias 12.15pm Madura Tea: Tea Tasting 12.30pm Steven Snow : ‘Chilli as Anything’ 1.30pm [...]

Yes, it’s the earliest announcement in the history of Bluesfest – 6 weeks sooner than usual and it marks the beginning of FOUR exciting announcements to be released in the upcoming weeks. “This is our Year” says Peter Noble, Festival Director. “We are delivering one of our absolute best artist line-ups ever, and the first announcement is only the beginning. Any Festival in the world announcing Ben Harper with his Band, Santana, Iggy & The Stooges (on their final tour), Chris Isaak, Wilco, Bonnie Raitt, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi, Glen Hansard with the Frames, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Playing for Change and lots more on their first announcement – has GOT to make everyone everywhere sit up [...]

THERE ARE NO EXCUSES FOR BORED TEENS IN BYRON BAY ON FRIDAY NIGHTS! THE YACROCKCAFE IS GOING OFF! The YACROCKCAFE is a music cafe for high school and uni aged young people, at the Byron Youth Activities Centre. Open every Friday night, music teachers and mentors are available in the Loud Room from 5-7pm some Fridays, followed by jam sessions and performance opportunities for young bands and musicians on the YAC stage from 7-10pm… There are also special gig nights with special guest artists… The Byron S.A.E. provide sound engineering students on work-placement to manage the sound for these events and a full PA is set up onstage every week for performing artists to use. Young bands and musicians can [...]

Byron Bay’s premier wedding specialists invite you to taste, sample and delight in all things wedding at Ewingsdale Hall on the 20th and 21st July 2012. The free boutique showcase features some of the area’s best event stylists, photographers, videographers, florists and more! A must-see event for any couple planning their wedding in Byron Bay. BYRON BRIDAL ByronBridal.com is a community of wedding vendors who service the ever growing Byron Bay wedding scene. They are Photographers, Stylists and Hire companies, Caterers, Florists, Wedding Gown Designers, Cake decorators, Events Managers, Stationers, Musicians and more. You won’t find a more passionate and diverse bunch of people ready to help make your Byron Bay wedding everything you hoped and dreamed it would be. Within the pages [...]

Next week is NAIDOC Week and there are a lot of events happening in Byron to celebrate. MONDAY  2nd July – Flag Raising Ceremony at the Byron Shire Council Chambers, Stations Street, Mullumbimby, with the Bigal Nali Dancers at 10am TUESDAY 3rd July- FAMILY FUN DAY – Mullumbimby Neightbourhood Centre from 11am -2pm~ Indingenous Arts Exhibition Opening; Dancers; Yarning Circle; Kids Activities; Art Workshops; Craft; BBQ and more… WEDNESDAY 4th July – ARAKAL WEBSITE LAUNCH – 4-5pm – Byron Cultural & Community Centre FILM SCREENING – 6.30-8pm – Byron Cultural & Community Centre-  $8/$6 conc. – Arakwal documentary “Walking With My Sisters” & premiere of experpt from new film “Back to Country” in celebration of 20 years of Mabo. THURSDAY [...]

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 [...]

The Human Rights Film Festival starts at the PigHouse Flicks in Byron tonight, with four sessions over four nights. The Island President – Tue 13 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/the-island-president-2 Australian Shorts – Wed 14 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/australian-shorts-home-grown International Shorts – Thu 15 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/international-mixtape Fantome Island – Fri 16 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/fantome-island Art is indeed a luminous language. When unbound by culture or borders, it becomes a powerful means of communication, transcending cultural, ethnic or linguistic differences. Harnessing such power, what sort of a world could be built when art is used to explore the difficult issues of human rights? This is the question that we at the Human Rights Art and Film Festival (HRAFF) 2012 seek to answer. In [...]

Reuben Scown – missing since Monday. Police appeal for help to find missing man – Far North Coast Police from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command are appealing for public assistance to locate a man last seen leaving his home in Suffolk Park earlier this week. Police have been inquiring into the whereabouts of 22-year-old Reuben Scown who left in his blue 1994-model Toyota Camry station wagon about 6pm on Monday (28 May). Reuben has not been seen or been in contact with his family since and police have concerns for his welfare. Reuben’s station wagon has NSW registration WNF 683. Anyone who may have seen Reuben or Reuben’s car, or who has information about his movements, is asked to contact Byron [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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IT’S official. The Northern Rivers now holds the unenviable title of the most expensive regional residential land in the country, surpassing popular areas such as the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast for the first time. The median price for a housing block on the Northern Rivers is $238,250 – almost as much as the country’s minor capital cities such as Hobart and Darwin, according to the new quarterly Housing Industry Association/RP Data report. “It is a surprise,” said Colin Buttenshaw, executive director of HIA’s Gold Coast and Northern Rivers division. “You would have thought the price of land around the Hunter and Newcastle or the Illawarra, which have had massive developments and population growth with people now commuting to Sydney, [...]

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 [...]

Lismore City SES volunteers (from left) Neil Coulter, Sebastian Enmark and John Ludlow are among those off to the North West Region to assist emergency efforts. LOCAL SES crews will spend the next few days assisting emergency services in Inverell after the North Coast was put on flood watch yesterday. The Northern Rivers was spared major flooding as of last night, however areas in the Northern Tablelands experienced their heaviest rains in years. Glen Innes has had its heaviest rain in more than two years, receiving 90mm, which also breaks a 130-year November record for daily rainfall, according to WeatherZone reports, while Murwillumbah also recorded heavy downpours of more than 100mm. “We have had a crew of nine volunteers go [...]

Will these railway tracks near Eltham ever see another train? BALLINA MP and Minister for the North Coast, Don Page yesterday released a call for tenders to evaluate the costs of restoring and maintaining the 130km railway line from Casino to Murwillumbah and to look at the costs of extending the line to Coolangatta Airport for heavy or light-rail passen- ger services. Mr Page said the State Government was delivering on its commitment to examine broader transport options in the region, supported by a recent $2 million budget allocation. “The NSW Government is committed to providing the right mix of transport services for customers on the North Coast. These investigations are the start of that process,” Mr Page said. Advertisements [...]

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 [...]

Getting ready to party for Halloween are (from left) Yogita Gupta of Ballina and Nicole Pacanowski from Pennsylvania, US, who is living in Lismore. WHILE SOME reject it as an American tradition with no place in Australia, others see Halloween as a great chance to get dressed up and eat sweets. Halloween is seen by some as originating in a pagan holiday to honour the dead, apparently it dates from the ancient Celtic harvest festival, Samhain, more than 2000 years ago. In Australia, Halloween is increasingly marked by children who watch horror films and play trick-or-treat and adults who like to party in spooky costumes. The owner of Let’s Party Lismore, Michelle Stone, said there are plenty of Halloween parties [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Angry Anderson: “I used to cry tears of joy when spending time with my children when they were young. To me that memory is just as important as being Angry Anderson from Rose Tattoo.” ROCK’n’roll bad boy Angry Anderson could be bound for glory in the Northern Rivers seat of Page if he takes Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s advice seriously. About a month ago Mr Abbott suggested the idea in passing to Mr Anderson, who has made no secret of his distaste for the Gillard government’s carbon tax. He described it on his website as a global conspiracy and, as a recent convert to The Nationals, is now planning a serious foray into politics. The Nationals are lapping it up, [...]

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 [...]

Michael Malloy. EVEN though Michael Malloy, the unofficial “Mayor of Bangalow”, died on Saturday, his generosity and community spirit will live on in the town for years to come. Bangalow A&I Hall board of management president Sue Holm said despite battling the final stages of prostate cancer Mr Malloy was still holding court and conducting business as usual from his hospital bed. “He still had us all organised for the next events,” she said. “It was a great comfort to him to know that he had future-proofed Bangalow by appointing teams of people to take over the running of all our events – it really will take teams of people to replace him.” The member for Ballina, Don Page, presented [...]

George ‘Snakeman’ Ellis is busy this time of year as brown snakes become more active. THE big browns are on the move, beginning what should be a bumper snake season, according to a local expert. George “The Snakeman” Ellis was called out 25 times in three days this week to help householders petrified by the presence of the highly venomous reptiles in their yards and homes. This year George predicts snakes will be seen on a “cyclonic” scale, because their favourite tucker – rats and other rodents – had surged in numbers. “If it doesn’t rain too much in the next two or three months it’s going to be one of the legendary seasons,” he said. “Batten down the hatches [...]

Mark Pate with his barnacle-encrusted bicycle. IF HE wanted to, Mark Pate could literally choose from hundreds of good bicycles to ride aroundByron Bay. But the one he uses is a barn-acle-encrusted model he fished from a metre of water in a Ballina creek a couple of years ago. A quick clean-up and a couple of new tyres and it was ready to go. For Mark, getting the bike ready for the road was easy. As the director of Australian Goodwill Bicycles Abroad Incorporated, it’s something he has done thousands of times. Over nearly 13 years he and his wife Jenny have collected and sent more than 10,000 unwanted bikes to developing countries including East Timor, Solomon Islands, Tonga and [...]

Back burning exercise in Ellangowan south east of Casino, with fire fighter Nathan Cawley and trainees Corey, Micke and Max. A THICK blanket of smoke which covered the Northern Rivers yesterday was caused by back burning by landholders and fire fighters in preparation for the fire season ahead. NSW Rural Fire Service Northern Rivers Superintendent Boyd Townsend said although there had been several bush and grass fires in the region over the weekend – Low humidity and high temperatures had made for volatile conditions – the thick smoke was primarily caused by multiple backburns from as far away as Tenterfield. “There is an enormous amount of hazard reduction going on,” Supt Townsend said. Smoke from these operations were reaching the [...]

Sign advertising a possible builders scam in Woy Woy near the Bridge to Koolewong in February. NORTH Coast residents are being warned to be on the look-out for shonky itinerant scammers posing as legitimate tradespeople. NSW Fair Trading has been investigating the travelling con-artists, tracking their movements, gathering intelligence and compiling profiles that paint disturbing pictures of extremely well-organised gangs. Each spring, many of the itinerants travel from the UK and Ireland working up and down the east coast of Australia and travelling in expensive four-wheel drives towing luxury caravans. They are cashed-up, shameless and unscrupulous, said Fair Trading officer Teresa Mullan. “We expect them to be reactivating their scams on the Northern Rivers and we urge the public to [...]

These young skaters from Bangalow are ecstatic with Byron Shire Council’s decision to give the go ahead for a skate park in the town. AFTER 14 years of lobbying, Bangalow’s skating youth can finally celebrate after Byron Shire Council gave the village’s long-awaited skate park the go-ahead last week. Following a public consultation process with residents in June the council last week prioritised Bangalow’s open space projects to be funded with Section 94 developer contributions. After the skate park, the council endorsed the release of funds for the hard-surfacing of the netball courts, solar lighting for the walking track, construction of a sculpture park, additional sports field lighting and a series of cycleways. The council’s endorsement of the skate park [...]

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 [...]

THE NSW Parliamentary inquiry into coal-seam gas will this month hold its first hearing into the burgeoning industry in Lismore. Keerong Gas Squad member Ian Gaillard said his group had already made a written submission, but hoped to address the General Purpose Standing Committee, which is conducting the Inquiry, at thehearing. Given the opportunity to speak, Mr Gaillard said he would focus on the constitutional protection of water and the use of the precautionary principle in maters relating to the environment. “We can’t run this experiment without a scientific understanding of the long-term consequences of this industry,” he said. “The scale and the size of the current gas rush should be of concern to all Northern Rivers residents.” There will [...]

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 [...]

PARENTS of school-aged children who were intending to spend today at the Ballina Cup race meeting will have to revise their plans. While the nags will be leaving their stalls, primary and secondary school teachers will be staying away from their classrooms in a 24-hour statewide strike against proposed wage caps and job cuts. It means parents will either have to miss out on the pleasures of the cup, or treat their offspring to a day at the races. Alstonville High School principal David Silcock said no parent had complained specifically about missing out on the races, although some had expressed concern about how they were going to look after their children during the strike. Most parents had been supportive [...]

POLICE are investigating the emergence of organised groups of shoplifters who “steal to order” at various retail spots around the Northern Rivers. While the term shoplifting is usually associated with teenagers with a need for brightly coloured lip glosses and candy from the corner store, the groups under police scrutiny are targeting the finer things in life. And they are allegedly doing the dirty work for other people. Last week police attached to the Richmond Local Area Command Target Action Group seized $20,000 worth of suspected stolen goods from a residence in Mullumbimby. Richmond Local Area Command crime manager Detective Inspector Greg Moore said the raid came after an investigation into professional thieves in the region. “There were reports of [...]

Picture: Leslie and her kids love their land – but it’s under threat from coal seam gas mining. Currently, Australia’s laws do not take proper account of the irreversible impacts of coal seam gas mining. If we don’t act now, we’re losing precious time to protect the health and livelihoods of communities, the quality of our water, and the sustainability of our farmland. From Sydney’s water supply catchment to the rich agricultural lands of the Liverpool Plains and the Darling Downs, the coal seam gas industry is expanding at breakneck speed. Government regulators are playing catch-up, leaving local communities to deal with a poorly regulated, rapidly growing industry. They’re doing so by locking the gate to their properties, writing to [...]

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 [...]

SMILING for the camera. Bangalow residents put on their happy faces as Sunrise TV presenter, James Tobin, goes live to air yesterday morning. Photo Gary Chigwidden. NOW the whole country knows. Bangalow is the happiest town in Australia. Well, at least according to the Sunrise TV breakfast show it is. And yesterday, one of the show’s presenters, James Tobin, broadcasting live, showed the rest of the nation why the town won the title. There was a bit of quickly-organised fun for the TV cameras on a chilly, but clear, morning including a mock billycart race down the main street and a mini-horse parade. It all came about because Eva Heath from Heath’s Old Wares and Collectables was thinking one morning [...]

TWEED Byron police command is trialling a new online community policing concept using Facebook to combat crime. The NSW Police Force yesterday announced the trial of Project Eyewatch, created to allow local area commands and their communities to exchange information using police co-ordinated homepages on social media network Facebook. Crime co-ordinator Sergeant Stuart Crawford said the project was all about timeliness. “It’s all about getting timely information to the public,” Sgt Crawford said. “It will enable us to communicate with the community quickly and easily.” Sgt Crawford said Tweed-Byron officers and members of the Banora Point Neighbourhood Watch had attended a training day in Sydney to learn how to best utilise the new communication tool. “We will continue to work [...]