Byron Bay

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!!

Today The Bay Rollers host Gold Coast Roller Derby in a ‘Skate of Origin’ match up at the Byron Bay Regional Sports Complex, Ewingsdale Rd, Byron Bay. Come along and see some of the biggest hitters this side of the border as The Bay Rollers take on the number 3 team in the QLD/ Northern NSW area. Sure to be a night of fun for the whole family, you’ll be entertained at half time by the Border Brats Kids derby at half time. With a licensed bar, wood fired pizza, cakes and coffee, come and enjoy a ‘State of Origin’ of a different kind. Doors open 6pm // Game starts 6.30pm Tickets: Adult $10+bf Conc & 12 – 17 $8+bf [...]

Are you looking for a great destination for your holiday? Do you want to spend some time away from school or office work and just relax while lying on the sand with the sun’s warmth caressing your body? Or, are you on a budget right now and searching for cheap holidays? Then, look no further. Byron Bay is the perfect place for you. Situated in the state of New South Wales, this paradise offers various water sport activities for adrenaline junkies, most of which can be enjoyed at competitive prices. Here are some of them. Kayaking Explore the aquatic beauty of Byron Bay by sailing on a kayak. Bring a friend, lover, or family member, and get the chance to [...]

PCYC TO CALL THE BYRON REGIONAL SPORT AND CULTURAL COMPLEX ‘HOME’ The Police Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) will soon take up residence at Byron Shire Council’s sport and cultural complex. Mayor Jan Barham said the Council decision to agree to the PCYC’s expression of interest to operate from the new facility would see a memorandum of understanding (MOU) initiated. The MOU will then trigger a lease and participation agreement to be drafted. “The draft lease agreement will be reported to the new Council in October, forwarded to the PCYC for signing and hopefully the PCYC will be in the building soon afterwards,” she said. Mayor Barham said the PCYC operates 57 clubs in NSW and is a leading youth organisation [...]

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 [...]

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

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Candy Cracksmacker, Metal Minx and Chook Eye China of the Bay Rollers roller derby team who are struggling to find a home. They are pinning their hopes on the Byron Regional Sports Complex in the background. Fast women leave town THEY’RE part of the world’s fastest growing women’s sport, boast a membership that’s grown five-fold in just two years and their games attract thousands of spectators but their inability to find a permanent home could spell the end of the Byron Bay-based roller derby league team, the Bay Rollers. In the past two years at least 15 local venues have knocked back requests from the league to use their facilities for training and competition, forcing the 50 team members to [...]

Dave Tyrrell and Dave Price, both of Byron Bay, Neil McCarthy of Suffolk Park and Adrian Woodhouse of Byron Bay are not too pleased about the introduction of new fees for parking at Broken Head beach. ANYONE parking at Broken Head beach will now have to pay $2 per hour under fees brought in by the National Parks and Wildlife Service yesterday. Tourists and locals alike must now pay the fee or fork out $22 for a yearly ticket. The move has outraged some local residents, including Dave Tyrrell, of Byron Bay, who regularly surfs at Broken Head. “We just don’t feel like there should be another fee for parking at a beach at Byron,” he said. Mr Tyrrell said [...]

Two young girls on skateboards in Jonson Street traffic last Friday. Byron skaters pushing the limits SKATEBOARDERS know how to push the limits. Some of them push them too far when it comes to the law. Like riding down Jonson Street, Byron Bay, dodging and weaving through traffic. Like riding on local roads at night. Like obstructing pedestrians on footpaths. And like any law, when you are caught breaking it, there is a price to pay. In the cases above, that price is a $59 fine. Byron Bay Police supervisor Sergeant Jack Keough said there had been plenty of skaters paying up this year. Without being able to give an exact number, Sergeant Keough said he was aware of a [...]

“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. [...]

Big swells are expected this weekend. LIFEGUARDS are preparing for a “worst-case scenario” this weekend on the Tweed and Gold Coast beaches. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecasted that a category one cyclone off the east coast of Australia might push a three to four-metre swell onto Tweed and Gold Coast beaches at Christmas. Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Michelle Berry said the weak system in the Pacific Ocean, Cyclone Fina, was likely to move south south-west before turning east on Saturday. “This will create a large ocean swell and dangerous beach conditions,” Ms Berry said. “We do get these conditions often but given the weekend and the timing it is dangerous.” Ms Berry said the one positive was that [...]

READY, SET, SNAP: Some of the photographers who are participating in The Endless Sunrise – a photographic competition raising money for charity. Snap a sunrise IT WILL be an early start next month for more than 60 photographers in the Byron Shire as they rise at dawn each day to capture the sunrise. But, it will all be for a good cause. The photographers are participating in a charity project called The Endless Sunrise – an initiative of Stefan Jose from Byron Bay-based Worx whose joined forces with Common Ground from Byron Bay. Stefan, a photographer/filmmaker and audio engineer, said he had always wanted to raise funds for charity using some form of art. “So I joined forces with Common [...]

Swedish tourists Emma Lund and My Borggren, both aged 20, having fun under the sun while on holiday in Byron Bay. ALMOST 90% of Byron shire’s tourists are happy with their holiday experience, despite growing concerns about parking, traffic, cleanliness of the public toilets and the state of the roads. A new survey released this week – the Byron Shire Visitor Profile and Satisfaction report – was under- taken by Tourism Research Australia in partnership with Byron Shire Council and Destination NSW. Of the tourists surveyed, 87% said they were “satisfied” with their experience, with 44% “very satisfied”. But councillor Basil Cameron, chairman of the council’s Tourism Advisory Committee, admitted there was “plenty of room for improvement”. “The results showed [...]

TRADITIONAL family recipes and clever baking methods are expected to collide in delicious fashion at this year’s Mullum Bake-off. READY, SET, BAKE: Judy MacDonald, Roe Ritchie with son Kai, and Ocean Edmunds get inspired for next week’s Mullum bake-off. It’s a bake-off! One of the regional events that make up the Crave Sydney International Food Festival, the amateur cooking contest has one simple rule – create a dish using seasonal market produce. “There are four categories this year – sweet, savoury, vegan/raw food, and young cooks who are under 18 years of age,” Mullumbimby Farmers Market (MFM) manager Judy MacDonald said. “There will be more freedom to source a greater range of MFM produce, though basic pantry items not available [...]

Just after 8am on Sunday, Geoff Bensley was swimming 100 to 150 metres offshore between the Pass and the surf club – something he does several times a week – when a two-metre white passed close by. KAYAKERS enjoying watching whales and dolphins play at Byron Bay got more than their money’s worth last Sunday when a four-metre great white shark surfaced near them and bared its teeth. The sightseers were reportedly “very excited” at being the subject of the creature’s curiosity, though naturally relieved it didn’t take any greater interest in them. The incident occurred near the “Bombie”, a collection of rocks in the water off the cape, near Little Wategos. The Cape Byron Kayaks guides told the party [...]

The first dedicated Byron Bay Surf Festival – ‘Surf Culture Now’ with major events taking place over 3 days in and around our beautiful Byron community. Form Fri 21st until Sun 23rd October people from all around the world will have the opportunity to be part of a non-competitive celebration of our diverse and unique surf culture in all its form and glory. This community festival where most events are ‘free’ (just like surfing is) is held in different venues & locations all around town; the Community Centre, Railway Park, Retrospect Galleries, YAC, Top Shop, Woodies Surf Shack, Stone & Wood Brewery, Pass Cafe, and last but not least beautiful Wategos Beach. Pure stoke overview - Byron Surf Festival: •                Music: Andrew Kidman, Dan Hannaford, Haldanes [...]

Zorbing at sunset in Nimbin. NIMBIN will soon have a new high for adventure thrill-seekers, with Lismore City Council approving the region’s first Zorb ball park. Zorbing is a new craze popular among backpackers that involves rolling and bouncing down a hill while inside a large plastic bubble. The proposed site in Blade Rd drew mixed reactions from locals with 22 of the 26 public submissions opposing the facility. Most councillors backed the facility, subject to key recommendations from staff, with Cr Neil Marks criticising the “not in my backyard” contingent and saying he would have no objections to a Zorb park next to his house – to which one wag in the gallery responded by suggesting it go 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 [...]

Preparing for the boat and fishing show in Ballina.from left to right on top David Nockolds, Jeff Norton, in front of the boat, left to right, Tony Henseley, Duncan Woodhead (all from Marine Rescue), Bill Hession (from Cape Marine). WITH clear skies forecast for most of the weekend, Marine Rescue Ballina is hoping for a good turnout at its second annual boat and leisure show. Co-ordinator Duncan Woodhead said the fine weather should bring thousands of people along to the event at the Seagulls rugby league grounds at Kingsford Smith Park. It will be held from 9am today and tomorrow, with more than 40 exhibitors. These include Ballina Marineland, Tweed Coast Marine, Wild Water Sports, Out of the Blue Tackle, [...]

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 [...]

Ballina Island paddle challenge, organised by Andrew Dougherty, raises money for Ballina surf lifesavers. Mireille Merlet-Shaw What’s on Saturday Ballina Country Music Festival Ballina Boat and Leisure Show at Seagulls Rugby League Ground North Coast Fishing Bonanza – Tweed River to Clarence River Sunday Ballina Island Paddle Challenge at the Sailing Club on River St, 10am Ballina Boat and Leisure Show North Coast Fishing Bonanza Ballina Rotary Duck Race at Fawcett Park, 11am Ballina Country Music Festival Monday Ballina Country Music Festival IT’S one of the most popular events of the Ballina Big Weekend. In fact, people go a bit quackers. It’s the 19th annual Charity Duck Race, conducted by Ballina Rotary Club at 11am on Sunday. First is the [...]

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 [...]

Rukkus Skate Competition 2011 Sunday 18 September Mullumbimby Skate Park $5 Registration from 11 Comp starts at 12 No Drugs or Alcohol Bring on the sunshine

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 [...]

ONE of the Byron Shire’s best known families looks set to be honoured at the Byron Shire Council’s new regional sport centre. The Byron Bay Community Sports Association has asked the council to name the north-western section of the complex Cornell Family Fields, in recognition of former owners of the iconic Beach Hotel, John and Delvene Cornell. Mr Cornell, best known as Paul Hogan’s sidekick ‘Strop’ in the Paul Hogan Show, moved to Byron Bay with his wife Delvene Delaney in the 1980s and opened the Beach Hotel in 1990. According to the Byron Bay Sports Association, they contributed to the betterment of the community from day one, and have donated more than $2 million to local charities and other [...]

SURF Life Saving is advising rock fishermen and anglers to exercise extreme caution over the weekend with dangerous ocean conditions expected at NSW beaches from Saturday to Monday. Dangerous surf conditions are expected with large waves affecting beaches, rock shelves, cliffs and headlands along the entire NSW coast. The south easterly swell is expected to reach upwards of three metres on exposed south-facing beaches and rock platforms, with swell periods of 10 seconds. Beach wave height is expected to be between 1.8 metres and 2.4 metres. On the North Coast, the swell was expected to peak on Sunday afternoon and remain until Monday afternoon. On the South Coast through to the Hunter, it would peak on Sunday morning, easing into [...]

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 [...]

The Bay Rollers Derby League have a Fresh Meat intake on Sunday, August 14 · 3:00pm - 4:30pm - Lennox Head Community Centre - Cnr Park & Mackney Lane - Lennox Head WHAT IS FRESH MEAT? Fresh meat is a term that is given to all new roller derby skaters. During your time as Fresh meat you will attend our training sessions where you learn fundamental skating skills required to play or referee roller derby. We’ll teach you to stop, start, weave, hop, jump, skate fast, skate slow – all the skills you need to feel comfortable on skates! Fresh meat generally takes around 8 – 12 weeks, depending on your skill level. At the end of Fresh meat you will be assessed to become a white [...]

Dangerous surf conditions are expected across most of the NSW coast. SURF Life Saving is advising swimmers, surfers, rock fishermen and boat skippers to take extreme caution as dangerous surf conditions are expected across most of the NSW coast on Wednesday 20 July – Sunday 24 July. Dangerous surf conditions are expected to affect beaches, rock shelves/headlands, and river bar crossings, with a swell of over 4m in height and up to 12 seconds in ‘period’. These large waves will create dangerous conditions for swimmers, surfers, rock fishermen and boaties. “People need to take extreme care when visiting the coastline in the coming few days,” SLS NSW Lifesaving Manager, Dean Storey, said. “The indications are that this could be the [...]

HOT RODDING is like a bug, says Pete Paynter: “Once it gets ya, it’s hard to get it out of ya system.” The Ocean Shores hot rod enthusiast will be in his element among hundreds of like-minded souls at this weekend’s third annual Back to Brunswick Hot Rod Run. The event was organised by Mr Paynter and his mate from the Gold Coast, Rod Brewer, and will showcase some of the country’s most impressive hot rods. Mr Paynter and Mr Brewer have also managed to attract two of the world’s most respected hot rodding experts, Pete Chapouris and Jimmy Shine, from the US Discovery Channel’s TV program, Hard Shine, to be special guests at the meet. Booking the pair was [...]

A major start has been made on the multi-purpose indoor sports centre at the Byron Regional Sport and Cultural Complex now under construction in Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay. Byron Council’s executive manager of community infrastructure, Phil Holloway, said that with the help of an 80-tonne crane, a total of 41 concrete wall panels were stood up over three days. “The concrete wall panels have been constructed on site over the past several weeks,” he said. “Once in place, the final concrete floor slab will be in-filled and the steel frame for the walls and roof will commence.” When completed the multi-purpose facility will feature basketball and netball courts, volleyball, futsal, badminton, activity rooms, meeting room, toilets, change rooms, storage facilities [...]

The rest of the beach was almost deserted, but a grey and windy day didn’t stop this group of American students enjoying their stop-off at Byron Bay’s Main Beach yesterday AFTER a string of picture perfect days, weather on the Northern Rivers has returned to wet, windy and wintry. The Bureau if Meteorology says it won’t last long – the skies should clear by late Saturday – but it is cold comfort to the scores of Queenslanders who are in Byron Bay for the first week of the school holidays. Main Beach was all but deserted at lunchtime yesterday as northern tourists huddled in cafes and stuck to window shopping. A spokesman from the bureau said the current conditions were [...]

A THREE-day surfing festival planned for Byron Bay from October 21-23 will be a celebration of surf culture. Organisers Vanessa Thompson and James McMillan said the new festival would focus on surf culture which would include surf art, music, film and surfing events at Wategos Beach. There would also be workshops, surf expression sessions, a celebrity surf event, children’s art competition and more. “We really wanted to showcase everything to do with surfing and what better place to do it than Byron Bay,” Vanessa said. “The festival is a celebration of surf and everything that goes along with that. “There will be no competitive surfing events, rather surfers can express themselves in the surf.” The festival will be held at [...]

A surfer at Rainbow Bay makes the most of the oustanding conditions. SURFERS along the central east coast of Australia have enjoyed ideal conditions over the past month. JS surfboards salesman John Hookham said business had been better than June last year. “We are definitely selling more boards, I’d say 15-20% more,” Mr Hookham said. He said he had noticed a large number of international surfers coming to the Gold Coast. “There are lots of Europeans, Japanese and Brazilians coming for the waves … 60% of our trade is international customers,” he said. Tag Team creator Jay Carter, who organises youth surfing events, said young surfers were getting invaluable experience on the waves. “Yeah, it’s excellent. People are getting the [...]

LEROY ROBINSON, JON FALIGUERHO & GEORDIE WRIGHT at the launch of  the Southern Crossing at Clarks Beach in Byron Bay on Sunday May 15, 2011. Travelling across Australia from the most Eastern mainland point to the most Western, Leroy, Jon and Geordie Left Cape Byron (Byron Bay) this morning and will travel in virtually a straight line along the 26th parallel to Steep Point in Western Australia. Followed only by the production crew, who will also need to endure these harsh Australian conditions, the boys must fend for themselves with no outside help… surviving with only the supplies they can carry on their bikes! Three everyday Aussie’s on the challenge of a lifetime. They will attempt to cross the harshest [...]

Bangalow Public School principal Peter Flannery and 2M students who will be cheering for their school in this Sunday’s Bangalow Billycart Derby. THE BANGALOW Public School cheer squad are warming up their vocal chords as the school prepares to defend its title in the Bangalow Billycart Derby school challenge this Sunday. The school has won the challenge for the past two years. This year’s pilot, Year 2 student Sam Jiminez-Swain, is confident he can do it again, on the same cart his older brother Emilio rode to victory in 2010. Introduced in 2008, the school’s challenge is becoming a highlight on the annual derby, with 12 schools from across the region expected to line up to race this year. There [...]

On their final patrols for the 2010/11 season at Byron Bay yesterday are (from left) Byron Bay SLSC president Neil Cameron and lifeguards Tod Martin, Ian Callan, Brendan Irwin, Jake Brumley (rear), Michael Stevens and Kelli Stevens. Dominic Feain THE familiar red and yellow flags came down at Byron Bay for the last time yesterday as surf lifesavers around the State called it a day for the holiday season. The end of the Easter holidays marks the last day of surf lifesaving patrols by volunteer lifesavers and paid lifeguards for the 2010-11 season. While Surf Life Saving NSW said the 14 drownings on NSW beaches this year was a major concern, Northern NSW Lifeguard co-ordinator Scott McCartney praised swimmers on [...]

The New Byron Youth Service Bus This week Byron Youth Service (BYS) takes delivery of its new Toyota 12 seater minibus for use as a mobile youth outreach service aiming to prevent and reduce youth crime around the Shire on weekends. The “Turning the Tide on Local Youth Crime” project will be commencing service on Friday 1st April, which is the start of National Youth Week, visiting townships of the Shire on Friday & Saturday nights and engaging with young people that are hanging out on the streets.  The aim of the new service is to reduce the likelihood of young people, particularly those under 18 years of age, becoming involved in criminal activities such as alcohol & drug related [...]

Thousands turn out to watch a previous Kites and Bikes Festival at Brunswick Heads. EXPECT to see some weird and wonderful bikes at next Sunday’s Kites and Bikes Festival at Brunswick Heads. Among them will be a modern take on the Penny Farthing, developed by Huon, a Year 10 student at the Shearwater Steiner School. The art bike project has the goal of adding some whimsy and wonder to the growing world of self-powered transport. “The bike activities are all about encouraging people to swap the car for a bike,” festival bike co-ordinator Nick Bowden said. Bring along your decorated bikes, scooters and strollers to The Terrace for the bike parade, or decorate them at the festival. Throughout the day [...]