Byron Bay articles of interest.

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Since it started on March 9, the YACROCKCAFE at the Byron Youth Activities Centre, has seen over 100 young musicians and bands take to the stage. For many, it has been their first public appearances. The YACROCKCAFE is a music-based safe-socialising weekly drop-in program for teenagers, that happens on Friday nights from 5-10pm. The YAC stage is set up each Friday with a full PA system, which is managed by sound engineering students from the SAE, on work placement. The idea of these nights is to encourage young bands and musicians to get together and play music to a live audience in a drug and alcohol-free youth-friendly space. There have been a number of special party nights, including workshops from [...]

YOUTH WEEK PARTY AT THE YAC!! Tonight’s the night!! Huge line-up of local young talent! Open mic happening throughout the night too, so let all your young folk know that if they wanna come down and play a few songs, they’re welcome to do so! There’s heaps of instruments available to use or they can bring their own! Artists playing tonight include Reilly Fitzalan, Chelsea June, Loki Hough & Elliott Cooper Brain, Vanessa & Arna Rogers and Ben Meek & the Paper Navitators!! MC for the night is Byron’s own Dancin’ Man Thomas Franklin, get out your dancin’s shoes and ROCK ON DOWN TO THE YAC and do some dorking- Tommy style!! They’re starting early, 5-10pm…. It’s a Celebration of [...]

Byron Bay’s YACROCKCAFE @ the YAC are celebrating Youth Week with a massive free party for local youth on the 20th of April. The YACROCKCAFE kicked off back in March with a HUGE party. The Youth Week Party is looking at being even better! MC for the night is Byron’s very own Dancin’ Man Thomas Franklin. Young performers booked to play the party include Gabe & Cecilia Brandolini, Reilly Fitzalan, Vanessa & Arna Rogers, Ben Meek & the Paper Navigators, Chelsea June & Zep Hamilton and Loki Hough & Elliott Cooper Brain. YACROCKCAFE Coordinator Nicqui Yazdi said “All of these young musicians are incredibly talented and most of them have just played at the BluesFest. Gabe Brandolini is now living [...]

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 [...]

‘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 [...]

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

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

Byron schoolies working group has not heard from promoter IT IS rare for a Byron Bay development application to receive a unanimous response, but that appears to be the case for a proposed schoolies event in Byron Bay later this year. The rather cheeky proposal has managed to raise the ire of all members of the schoolies working group, including the police and council, by inferring support from key schoolies stakeholders who all say they have had no contact from the promoter. A proposal for a doof party lists the Byron Youth Service, Byron Underage Drinking and Drug Initiative (BUDDI), Project U Turn and volunteer support groups, the Red Frogs and the Byron Schoolies Safety Response team all as potential [...]

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

A BYRON Youth Service (BYS) project aimed at helping young people learn the skills they need to find employment or to establish their own enterprises has been given a boost thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Federal Government. The grant is part of a $16 million Gillard Government boost to community programs encouraging strong communities, leadership and volunteering. Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said the funding would provide practical help for people facing social and personal challenges and also help strengthen communities through locally-developed initiatives. “The Byron Youth Service grant will assist young people to develop their knowledge, skills and community connections in the development of small businesses and community projects,” she said. “It will connect them with [...]

Taking delivery: Ian Leggo, BYS treasurer, is in the driver’s seat with passenger Nicqui Yazdi, BUDDI co-ordinator. From left to right, Di Mahoney, director BYS, Lisa Fensom, youth worker and Deb Pearse, youth worker, Jemma Brunell and Richard Heazlewood-Ross, BYS chairperson. Looking out of the van, Bridget Perry. Photo Hans Lovejoy 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 start on Friday April 1, which is the start of National Youth Week, visiting townships of the Shire on Friday and Saturday nights and engaging [...]

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 [...]

I remember the first doof I went to. I was about 25. It was a three day dance marathon held up at Macca’s campground somewhere in Main Arm. It wasn’t easy to find. In fact, I think that finding it was the first part of the challenge. We traipsed along a winding bush track in the pitch dark for what felt like an hour but was probably only 15 minutes. We couldn’t see it, but we could certainly hear it. A distant throbbing echoed in the forest like the heartbeat of some giant creature. Finally we emerged. A couple of feral fairies wearing fluffy flares crouched around a chai pot in a makeshift teepee at the entrance, gesturing that we make some sort of donation. I left $4 and an angel card affirmation. They smiled their beatific gratitude and handed me a cup. I felt [...]

New liquor store DA questioned. THE lodgement of a new development application for a Dan Murphy’s liquor store in Byron Bay was “sneaky” and designed to minimise public objections, according to a businessman in the town. Darren Pearson, who owns The Cellar liquor store, said the latest application, which was lodged on December 23 and went on exhibition last week, was essentially the same as the DA lodged in late 2009. However, because it was a “new” DA, previous objections would not be considered by the council. “Those submissions will just be filed away. A lot of people will not realise. They’ll think they have already objected and won’t object again,” Mr Pearson said. The latest DA is for conversion [...]

Christopher Dean from the NRCF with grant recipient BUDDI Team Leader Nicqui Yazdi and Luke Karmen MORE than $30,000 in grants to local groups was given out by the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) in Byron Bay last night. Thirteen community-based organisations from Mullumbimby to Casino will share the money, which will take the amount distributed by the NRCF to $270,000 since its inception in 2004. Those organisations receiving grants this year include: Uniting Care Casino for their program of having volunteers drive elderly patients to out-of-town radiology or other medical appointments. INTRA / The Buttery for its outreach program encouraging Aboriginal elders to teach weaving and life skills to Aboriginal youth. Lifeline for professional development training for staff in [...]

The Byron Schoolies Safety Response will be getting a big helping hand from Byron Youth Service (BYS) and BUDDI-CDAT (Byron Underage Drinking & Drug Initiative) for this years school leavers celebrations. BYS and BUDDI received a grant from the NRMA to provide a ‘Summer Safety in the Bay’ campaign and will be launching their program at Schoolies this year. Amongst other things, the NRMA funding has purchased 150 identifiable t-shirts for the volunteers of the Schoolies HUB and also volunteers for other high traffic times over summer, including New Years Eve. In an effort to reduce the amount of disposable cups that were used at last years Schoolies HUB, the NRMA grant will also enable the purchase refillable, biodegradable water [...]

The Byron Schoolies Safety Response will be getting a big helping hand from Byron Youth Service (BYS) and BUDDI-CDAT (Byron Underage Drinking & Drug Initiative) for this years school leavers celebrations. BYS and BUDDI received a grant from the NRMA to provide a ‘Summer Safety in the Bay’ campaign and will be launching their program at Schoolies this year. Amongst other things, the NRMA funding has purchased 150 identifiable t-shirts for the volunteers of the Schoolies HUB and also volunteers for other high traffic times over summer, including New Years Eve. In an effort to reduce the amount of disposable cups that were used at last years Schoolies HUB, the NRMA grant will also enable the purchase refillable, biodegradable water [...]

BYRON shire locals are now putting pen to paper as part of their campaign to get a nightly bus service. The Petition for Byron Shire Night Bus started with a Facebook page earlier this year which now has the support of 800 members. Most recently, a hard copy petition has evolved. Two petitions are available to sign at the Byron Youth Activities Centre and at the Santos Natural Food Store in Mullumbimby. Nicqui Yazdi from the BUDDI (Byron Underage Drinking & Drug Initiative) said more than three pages had been signed at the youth centre since the petition was put there a few days ago. “There are 800 people on the Facebook site and we have got to get the [...]

THE person behind a Facebook page honouring dozens of young people killed on roads in and near Byron Shire says abuse by ‘older’ residents has forced the site’s closure. The page, Byron Shire Youth Road Toll A Tribute To Our Fallen Friends RIP, carried a list of about 35 people killed on roads – mostly young and mostly within the Byron Shire. It included photos of victims, tributes from friends and family members, and road safety messages. It gathered more than 2500 supporters in little more than a week, but was shut down on Monday after the unidentified site administrator claimed to have been lashed by older Byron residents over a post urging young drivers to be careful over the [...]

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

Byron Shire Citizen of the Year, Nicqui Yazdi, with Australian of the Year, Pat McGorry at the first International Youth Mental Health Conference in Melbourne Byron Shire Citizen of the Year, Nicqui Yazdi and Australian of the Year, Pat McGorry got together in Melbourne last week along with 1000 others from all around the world to talk about youth mental health issues. ‘Heads Up’, the first International Youth Mental Health Conference was a resounding success, according to Nicqui. She said “Youth mental health is a big topic all around the world. Young people are our future and their mental health and well-being is the most important issue in health today. This conference allowed those of us that are working with [...]

$127,000 POCA grant recipients – Di Mahoney Director of BYS and Nicqui Yazdi Team Leader of BUDDI at this years Australia Day Awards where Nicqui received the award for 2010 Byron Shire Citizen of the Year Byron Youth Service is celebrating! It has recently secured a 2010 Proceeds of Crime Act Community Grant that will fund a mobile youth outreach service for the Shire, in partnership with BUDDI, the local community drug action team. The “Turning the Tide on Local Youth Crime” project aims to provide an early intervention service for young people on Friday and Saturday nights in Byron Shire and at peak times during events, festivals, schoolies & summer tourism. Director of BYS, Di Mahoney, said “We are [...]

Byron Youth Service director Di Mahoney (right) and Kate Reed, the new co-ordinator of the service’s Project U-Turn. Working with traumatised women and their children in the violent slums of Nairobi for five weeks this year revealed to counsellor Kate Reed just how deep she could “dig”. It gave her, she said, a new sense of perspective of what in life might ‘rattle’ her and how to deal with different situations. Part of a Healing Hands team, Kate said some of the stories she had heard from women in the slums were ‘indescribable’. “The stories the women told me will stay with me forever,” she said. “There is so much violence over there. They are in physical danger every day. [...]

Byron Youth Service and the BUDDI-CDAT (Byron Underage Drinking & Drug Initiative – Community Drug Action Team) got some  fantastic news yesterday…….they received $127,400 from the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) community crime prevention grants to implement  a new project, ‘Turning the Tide on Local Youth Crime’ Amongst other things, the grant will enable the purchase a vehicle for use as a mobile youth outreach service – particularly addressing Fri & Sat nights in the Shire and the additional action that comes with events, festivals & peak tourism. Di Mahoney, Director of BYS said “I would like to thank all of those who supported this application with letters of support and encouragement – and am absolutely delighted that we have brought more [...]

A development application for a super-sized Dan Murphy’s liquor outlet underneath Dendy Cinemas in the Byron Bay Plaza has been withdrawn. But Byron Council says the Woolworths-owned operation may lodge a fresh application once unresolved traffic issues, including those related to loading and unloading of liquor, are dealt with. Council environment and planning executive manager Ray Darney said the issue was complicated by the fact the site, including the car park, had three separate owners, one of which was AMP. Mr Darney said the council was concerned the consent of all property owners for the planned development had not been obtained, which the council believed was necessary. He said the council also was waiting for a social impact assessment from [...]