Byron Bay

The 2010 NCPIC Indigenous Music Competition received many thoughtful, creative and high quality entries from Indigenous Australians. The stories told in each song were heartfelt and dealt sensitively with the impact of cannabis on Indigenous communities in Australia.
This year it was won by a local Byron Bay youth, Coedie McCarthy with his song ‘Yandi Zombies’. Coedie is a Year 11 student at Byron High.
Congratulations Coedie!!
To have a listen to Coedie’s song go to the NCIPC website, you can also download the song from there. The following are the lyrics for Yand Zombies:
Verse 1
It’s not called weed for nothing and yes it’s nothing but a weed
If you love it so much then why don’t you go drop a knee
But not me oh [...]

Inspector Owen King signs the agreement with Schoolies HUB Coordinator, Nicqui Yazdi
and John Gudgeon from the HLO.

Respect, Responsibility and Relax were the key messages unveiled by the Byron Schoolies Safety Working Group recently. Last year around 10,000 young people attended their end-of-Year 12 celebrations in Byron Bay over a period of 16 days. In reponse to the large influx, a group of community and business groups formed last year to address the need for safety strategies.
Creating a safe environment
Thirteen key stakeholders signing the Statement included Inspector Owen King, Vice President of Byron United Paul Waters and General Manager for Byron Shire Council Graeme Faulkner.
Before signing, HLO’s John Gudgeon told the assembled media that ‘We want to reiterate that Schoolies chose Byron Bay – they actually come here because they like the quietness and the environment.
What we’ve done is to facilitate that by bringing together the [...]

Operational: Byron youth service worker Deb Pearse inspects the damage to the Mullumbimby Youth Centre after a fire guttered the veranda last week.
MULLUMBIMBY’S youth centre is open for business and – with the help of Byron Shire Council – looks set to carry on following a fire that guttered its veranda last week.
Byron Shire Council’s executive manager of corporate management, Mark Arnold, said the cost of damage to the historic ‘Widow’s Cottage’ was still unknown but was currently being assessed.
“From a first inspection, inside is structurally sound and there are no concerns regarding electrics,” he said.
It is thought last week’s fire was caused by a candle being used by two homeless people sleeping on the veranda.
Youth worker Deborah Pearse had [...]

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. [...]

Ever wanted to climb the lighthouse stairs? The lighthouse at Cape Byron will be open to visitors, with guided tours running on August 21 from 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm. The lighthouse museum will also be open from 10am to 4pm, where artifacts will be on display. Entry to the museum is free or by donation.
Cape Byron Friends volunteers will also host whalewatching activities throughout the day. Cost is $6 concession, $8 adult and $25 family (two adults up top four children).
For tour bookings, call 02 6685 5955.
source: Byron Shire Echo

Byron Council will be asked to mount an all-out attack on cleaning up a ‘neglected’ and ‘run-down’ Byron Bay.
At today’s Byron Council meeting, Cr Patrick Morrisey will seek support for a basic maintenance program to be carried out in the town, including trialling daily removal of graffiti from amenity blocks.
Cr Morrisey also wants plans drawn up to screen a row of rubbish skips behind shops in the Lawson Street North car park.
His plan has the backing of the town’s peak business group, Byron United, whose president, Ed Ahern, in relaunching the Beautiful Byron campaign, said it was time to get serious about graffiti and the state of the town.
Mr Ahern said after recent meetings with Crs Morrissey, Tony Heeson and [...]

Merv ‘The Black Prince’ Watriama.
A service to celebrate the life of Merv ‘The Black Prince’ Watriama will be held tomorrow from 3pm at the Byron Bay Rugby League Club’s ground.
Celebrant Zenith Virago will conduct the service to which all of Merv’s friends are invited.
There will be live music after the service from long-standing Byron Bay band, Zanziband.
People attending the service and celebration are asked to bring a plate.
Merv, a colourful character around Byron Bay for many years, died in his sleep two weeks ago at his Ewingsdale home.
His ‘Black Prince’ nickname came from his grandfather, William Jacob Watriama, who came to Australia from the Loyalty Islands of French-ruled New Caledonia in the late 19th Century.
William, who served with distinction with [...]

At Mullumbimby Community Garden Jo Hoy, horticulture therapy co-ordinator, with (rear, from left) Matijo Beams, Gerard Moate, Maree Murfet, Rameshwar and Alan Grey who are now growing their own food.
FROM a little thing a big thing has grown – the Mullumbimby Community Garden.
Four years ago the garden was but a dream of a few green-fingered enthusiasts.
Now it is a 2ha food-producing oasis on the edge of the village.
Community garden co-ordinator Jeannette Martin said the garden was all about teaching people how to grow their own food.
“There are many people who would like to have a veggie patch at home, but they don’t know what to do,” she said.
The permaculture-based garden is one of seven community-based food groups to receive a [...]

Nicqui Yazdi, director of the MindRight Institute, holds a candle in support of the mentally ill at last night’s Mental Health Vigil at the Byron Bay Youth Activity Centre
EVERY year one-in-five Australians will suffer a mental illness, a vigil in Byron Bay was told last night.
Nicqui Yazdi knows first-hand the tragic consequences if people aren’t properly treated by medical professionals.
Less than a month ago, when her uncle realised his son was depressed, he took him to a GP.
Recognising the symptoms the GP referred him to a phycologist. However, due to lack of services, Ms Yazdi’s cousin could not make an appointment for a few weeks.
The following day, the 30-year-old took his own life. It wasn’t until the family read his [...]

TALE OF WAR: War correspondent Megan Stack at the Keynote Conversation with Kerry O’Brien at the Byron Bay Writers Festival. She talked about the experiences described in her book Every Man in This Village is a Liar.
A LARGE crowd packed the Byron Bay Writers Festival yesterday to see one of Australia’s most respected journalists and one of the world’s most accomplished reporters discuss the trials and tribulations of being a foreign correspondent.
There was nowhere to stand, let alone a spare seat, at the Southern Cross University marquee as hundreds of people listened to the tales of American war correspondent Megan Stack.
ABC television journalist Kerry O’Brien was late for his Keynote Conversation session with Mrs Stack, but when he did arrive [...]