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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

BYRON BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY AND MINIFIELD OF WOMEN Sunday 14th Oct 10 am Silent Walk from Railway Pk to Denning Pk, Mini Field of Women & Labyrinth, Ceremony and Picnic. Everyone is welcome to join in ·  10am gather at Railway Park in readiness for  silent walk to Denning Park with 100 pink women silhouettes ·  10.30 leave Railway park on footpath in silent pink walk  Denning Park (next to Surf Club) ·  11.00 am to 12  Denning Park; pink Labyrinth walk with placing of silhouettes and moment of silence. ·  12.00 – 2pm  picnic in Denning Park to Celebrate Life ·  Pink info table and raffle available Hosted by the Byron Breast Cancer Support Group byronbcs@gmail.com   66808893 & [...]

THE BYRON SCHOOLIES SAFETY RESPONSE ARE LOOKING FOR SCHOOLIES HUB VOLUNTEERS FOR 2012. THERE IS A SIGN-ON AND REUNION AT THE OWL & PUSSYCAT ON SUNDAY 9TH SEPT 4-6PM Schoolies is fast approaching again. 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 will be open 24/7 for the duration of School Leavers Celebrations from November 16 til December 3. Volunteers are rostered on for shifts of 4 hours around the clock. This year the aim is to find 100 local volunteers who would like to give some of their time to the HUB. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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’ [...]

This coming Friday 6th July in Byron, there is a special fundraiser to send Dr Helen Caldicott to Roxby Downs. Happening at the Mullum RSL from 6pm URANIUM BOOM NUCLEAR DOOM will showcase a huge line-up of performing artists including: Fyah Walk Ras Bin Sam & Lion I The Lucky Wonders MC Mandy Nolan Lewis Walker Nakula Tara Murphy DJ Sheik Yerbooty David Bradbury films and a live hookup with Fukishima This event is supporting Lizards Revenge www.lizardsrevenge.net Supported by Byron Neighbourhood Resource Centre Fukishima: Made in Australia! Stop Uranium Mining! LIZARDS REVENGE – 5 DAY FESTIVAL 14-18 JULY 2012 Lizards Revenge is excited to bring their 5 day festival to Roxby Downs, to protest at the door of potentially [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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

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

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

‘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 [...]

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

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

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

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

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 [...]

L-R; Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Young Australian of the Year Marita Cheng and Australia’s Local Hero for 2012 Lynne Sawyers pose for a portrait outside Parliament House Canberra 25th January 2012. ACCLAIMED actor and arts supporter Geoffrey Rush has been named Australian of the Year 2012 at a public event on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra. Prime Minister Julia Gillard  presented Mr Rush with his Australian of the Year trophy on Wednesday evening and congratulated him on the honour. Women in engineering advocate Marita Cheng was named Young Australian of the Year 2012, Murrungga Island elder Laurie Baymarrwangga was announced as Senior Australian of the Year 2012 and NSW foster parent Lynne [...]

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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, [...]

SES are expecting heavy showers to swell the Bellinger and Orara rivers on Tuesday. STATE Emergency Service crews are on flood watch expecting heavy showers to swell the Orara and Bellinger rivers. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a statement warning that a low pressure trough off the NSW north coast is deepening in response to an upper level trough approaching from the west. Clarence Nambucca SES commanders have been told that scattered showers tending to widespread rain are expected throughout Tuesday. The bureau says there is also the possibility of local heavy falls on the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers. “At this stage there is a greater than 70% chance of minor to moderate main river flooding as well [...]

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 [...]

“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 [...]

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 [...]

Tip pup reward posted A $1000 reward has been posted for the arrest and conviction of the person who bashed a three-month-old pup that was later found under a pile of garbage at Woodenbong tip. Northern Rivers-based convenor of Australians for Animals Sue Arnold said the group decided to take the unprecedented step of posting the reward due to the “brutal and appalling” nature of the attack. “The reason we are doing this is because it was so brutal it is in the interest of the entire community that we track down the person who did this before they do it to another animal or child,” she said. As The Northern Star reported on Saturday, the bitzer was found at [...]

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 [...]

BYRON SCHOOLIES SAFETY RESPONSE -WRAP UP FROM THE HUB COORDINATOR The third year of the Byron Schoolies Safety Response and the Schoolies HUB has come to an end. Once again this year, it has been a very successful event, helping to protect the local community and keep the youngest of our visitors safe while they were here on their special end of year 12 celebrations. Not everyone in the Byron community is happy about these types of celebrations, in fact, many would say that this type of rite of passage is unnecessary and should be stopped. Unfortunately, there’s pretty much nothing that can be done to stop Schoolies, so the best we can do, as a community, is to respond [...]

RENOWNED pianist David Helfgott and his wife Gillian will help release two green sea turtles into the ocean at Byron Bay’s Main Beach tomorrow morning. The Helfgotts are highlighting the message of the Say NO to Plastic Bags campaign. The two turtles have been in the Australian Seabird Rescue’s (ASR) Ballina turtle hospital for three months. The turtles were severely emaciated, and suffering from “float syndrome” as a result of ingesting plastic. Though now fully recovered, ASR general manager Rochelle Ferris, said the turtles faced an uncertain future because of an increase in the amount of plastic debris in the ocean. Mrs Helfgott has just completed a final draft of her book The Insightful Turtle and said they were excited [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

A Tex and good day out in Federal THE community at Federal will party today and tonight to raise funds to buy their local church. The Federal Park Party has been held for nine years as a celebration of arts, music and community in the town. This year the park party will be followed by an all-ages after-party at the Federal Hall from 7pm to try to raise funds to buy a disused Anglican church. The after-party will feature renowned Australian rocker Tex Perkins, folk funk band Mama La La, Irish singer-songwriter Mick McHugh, DJ Pob and Indie songwriter Sye McRitchie. Kicking off at noon, the free park party will include a local artisans market, skate clinic, pirate show, jumping [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

BYRON BREAST CANCER DAY & Mini Field of Women Saturday 22nd October @ Railway Park Byron Bay – 10am to 2pm Celebrating life Everyone is welcome to join in… Yoga from Red Tent Crystal bowls Inspirational speaker Mega raffle Massage Global Healing – Labyrinth Live music from Sara Tindley and Jo Morris Food and drink stalls Information and Minifield of Women Hosted by the Byron Bay Breast Cancer Support Group Breast Cancer Network Australia byronbcs@gmail.com 66808893

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new $8 million Tweed police headquarters facing the beachfront at Kingscliff were last night given the green light despite objections from Tweed Shire Council planning staff and opposition from nearby residents and businesses. Three members of the Northern Region Joint Planning Panel voted to give “in-principle” approval for the complex, which residents fear will cause car parking congestion in surrounding streets and rob beachgoers of parking spots along Marine Pde. Two panel members were absent. The decision came despite a recommendation from council planners for the application to be referred to NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazard, with advice it be rejected largely because of insufficient car parking for police officers and the public. The panel previously [...]