Byron Bay articles of interest.

On Thursday July 26, UKE MULLUM has been presenting the monthly UKE NIGHT at Mullum’s Courthouse Hotel for a whole year!!! Prepare yourselves for a UKE-TASTIC FIRST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION with special guest performers:  MAE WILDE, THE THREE LITTLE SISTERS, STARBOARD CANNONS, JOEL SALOM, PLUS newcomer PETER HADDOCK and even more. Some of the songs for this month have been chosen by you in our poll. The most popular song was… you guessed it… You Are My Sunshine followed closely by Pumped Up Kicks and Lonley Boy by the Black Keys. (nice one peoples!) Download the July Song Book Here. Remember, Uke Mullum nights are on the last Thursday of every month at the Courthouse Hotel. Be sure to mark the [...]

International Womens Day Exhibition becomes an Annual Event International Women’s Day will be celebrated in the Shire with an exhibition of photos and artwork, recognising and celebrating the inspiring women from our community. The Exhibition and celebration has become an annual event of the Women’s Resource Service and Byron Shire Council, now in its third year, and continues to evolve into a unique celebration of the women in our Shire who have inspired, enriched and contributed to our community. Held annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. Globally there is a web of rich and diverse local activity that connects women from all around the world that mark the [...]

Margie Wheatley and her dog, Honey, searching for Mrs Wheatley’s missing cows at Main Arm. WITH its hilly surroundings and steep valleys, Main Arm has seen its fair share of floods. But this week’s inundation was like none the area’s long-time locals had ever seen. “It was the biggest I have ever seen,” Main Arm Store owner Marianne Dichiera said. In the six hours until 4pm on Wednesday, Mullumbimby recorded 160mm of rain. By lunchtime on Wednesday, Main Arm Rd was completely cut off and the surrounding, low-lying paddocks resembled a wide and rapidly flowing brown river. Mrs Dichiera, who has lived in the Main Arm area for more than a decade, said she had never seen the area flood [...]

MULLUM MUSIC FESTIVAL LINE-UP FOR TODAY…

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 [...]

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

George Smilovici will play the Lismore Workers Club on Saturday night as part of his Australian tour. GEORGE Smilovici believes he was brought into this funny world by “an act of god.” Now the world is a better place because of his stomach-aching, humor- ous ways and he hopes the Northern Rivers will feel the same after his comedy tour rolls into town tonight. The internationally-recognised comedian, better known for his 1984 humorous musical hit, I’m Tuff, is fours days fresh from setting the world record for the number of jokes told in a minute. “The real reason I chose to tell 20 jokes in 54 seconds with six seconds to spare was because I like to give,” he said. [...]

Police have released an image of a woman who has been missing from an aged care facility since Thursday afternoon at Mullumbimby. Audrey Woods, 82 old, was last seen by staff at the Azalea Street villa about 3.15pm Thursday 18 August. A search commenced Friday morning involving local police, with the assistance of S.E.S and Westpac Lifesaver helicopter. The search has covered nearby bushland and will continue. Audrey is described as being Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall with brown shoulder length hair. She was last seen wearing a long floral skirt and a cream cardigan. Police and family hold fears for Audrey’s welfare and safety as she left the villa without warm clothing and is not believed to have taken [...]

Line of defence: A line of sandbags were laid at Belongil Beach in January last year in an attempt to stem erosion of the beach. RESTORATION work on the storm-battered Belongil Beach will begin shortly after the NSW Government pledged $738,000 for works. A series of storms, resulting in big seas, caused considerable damage in 2009. “Byron Shire Council’s beach front protection works took the full brunt and considerable damage was sustained by these defensive structures,” Don Page, the Minister for the North Coast, said. “As well as seawall repairs, the works undertaken at Belongil Beach will repair public access pathways to the beach front.” Mr Page said the funding had been approved by the Minister for Finance and Services, [...]

Mullumbimby Woolworths store manager Wayne McInerney and his staff have been busy stocking the shelves of the new supermarket in readiness the opening day. IT’S BEEN a rocky road, but Mullumbimby’s Woolworths supermarket is almost complete and ready for business. A small army of tradies has been putting the finishing touches to the building this week, as staff inside pack shelves and learn the ropes in preparation for the store’s opening on Wednesday. The supermarket giant’s arrival in town may have divided the community, but there’s little doubt the investment in Mullumbimby is giving the local economy a boost. Store manager Wayne McInerney said the new supermarket and liquor store had already employed 23 permanent staff from the former Mallams [...]

Brunswick Heads Chamber of Commerce president Matt Mayall says the lifting of the sewage moratorium will be good for business and ease pressure on housing. THE towns of Brunswick Heads and Mullumbimby are poised to enter a new period of growth and invigoration following the end of the 14-year Brunswick Valley sewage moratorium this week. With its new $30 million Brunswick Valley Sewage Treatment Plant finally online, Byron Shire Council this week voted to lift the ban on development, opening the door for new and more affordable housing, a 30% growth in population and an accompanying boost to business. Town planner Steve Connelly said the decision was cause for celebration. “People have been stifled from doing anything,” he said. “If [...]

Until The Violence Stops features playwright and activist Eve Ensler in a powerful film that documents how The Vagina Monologues grew into an international grassroots movement called V-Day to stop violence against women and girls. Until the Violence Stops shows women from Harlem to Ukiah, California; from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to the Philippines and Kenya, uniting and courageously revealing their intimate and deeplypainful experiences with abuse ranging from rape to female circumcision. Director Abby Epstein takes us on a poignant journey into the hearts of women and includes revealing testimonies from men, who expose social and cultural attitudes that perpetuate the pervasive violence against women. More than just testimonies and performances, Until The Violence Stops is a film [...]

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 [...]

Wearing their purple International Women’s Day ribbons at Kadina High School yesterday ahead of today’s celebrations are (front) student Ayana Tanaka, 16, and teacher Kirsten Rowan. Also pictured are (rear, from left) Anna Podgorczyk, 15, teacher Julie Bryant, Isabella Tremayne, 15, Chelsea Jones (holding guitar), 12, Jane Newby, Tamika Kennedy, 15, and Natalie Russell, 15. THE up and coming generation of “powerful” young women will be celebrating their gender at Goonellabah’s Kadina High School today. The students will join thousands of other young women on the Northern Rivers celebrating the 100th International Women’s Day. A select group of the students will decorate their uniform in purple accessories, the colour of femininity. The young women lwill have cake and conversation with [...]

A police air wing helicopter searches bushland in the Tweed  and Byron Shires. ABOUT $1.6 million worth of cannabis was found in two days as a police heli- copter, dogs and officers swooped on outlying villages in the Tweed and Byron shires. The NSW Police Drug Squad, along with the police air wing, dog squad and Tweed Byron Police officers began the Cannabis Eradication Program (CEP) in the region on Monday and will continue until tomorrow, Drug Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Nick Bingham said. “So far we have conducted the CEP in Huonbrook, Upper Wilsons Creek, Billynudgel, Yelgun, Upper Main Arm, Mullumbimby Creek, Coorabell and Saint Helena,” Det Supt Bingham said. Yesterday, the searches were staged in the Chillingham, Tyalgum [...]

US musician Justin Townes Earle’s playing a gig in Mullum next Wednseday night 9th of March. He is a phenomenal live performer, definitely one not to be missed!! WHAT: Justin Townes Earle, Harlem River Blues tour WHERE: Mullumbimby Civic Hall WHEN: Wednesday 9th of March, 7pm FOOD BY: Coffee Oasis SUPPORT: Lanie Lane JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE – Harlem River Blues Tour Justin Townes Earle is an anomaly. He’s tall as the day is long, all angles and elbows and a hard stare, both welcoming and deadly serious. He’s Nashville North, all set up in lower Manhattan now, just like his hero Woody Guthrie, with twang and charm intact. That hard working earnestness has paid off, to say the least. Justin won the Best [...]

Mallams supermarket at Mullumbimby closed its doors for the last time yesterday after serving the local community for more than a century. The supermarket was sold to Woolworths, which is due to open in June. THERE was no fanfare – the owners didn’t want to make a fuss – but when Mallams supermarket at Mullumbimby closed its doors yesterday it marked the end of an era. Mallams has had a presence in town for more then 100 years, starting as a general store. Brunswick Valley historian Frank Mills remembers childhood visits to Mallams in the 1930s, when the general store was the hub of the farming community. It was in the same location, but its look and operation was very [...]

Jai Morcom’s mother, Kim Morcom (rear in black), arrives at the Lismore Court House on the final day of the inquest into the death of her son. A LACK of credible testimony and definitive medical evidence has forced Deputy State Coroner Hugh Dillon to return an open finding at the inquest into the death of Jai Morcom. The 15-year-old schoolboy suffered a massive brain haemorrhage during a playground brawl at Mullumbimby High School in August 2009. After two weeks of testimony from more than 40 witnesses, Mr Dillon said it was impossible to determine the cause of the brain haemorrhage that killed Jai, nor was it possible to apportion blame. “Despite the massive effort made by investigators, it has been [...]

7-year-old Mia Merlini of Mullumbimby with her bandaged legs after a suspected shark attack in Cudgen Creek at Kingscliff. MULLUMBIMBY’S Mia Merlini has bandages covering her gashed and punctured legs after a vicious attack by an unknown sea creature. Seven-year-old Mia was swimming in Cudgen Creek, at Kingscliff, at 5pm Thursday afternoon when the creature, believed to be a small shark, began to bite and tear at her legs. She was pulled from the water and taken to a doctor’s surgery before being taken to the Tweed Hospital. The scared little girl received 13 stiches in her left leg and six in her right leg. Mia’s mother Susan Germann said she was terrified when she received news her daughter may [...]

Rain, rain go away: A sightseer keeps a close eye on rising water in the Wilsons River at the Rowing Club car park in Lismore on Christmas Day. THE Northern Rivers is bracing itself for a major flood following a weekend of heavy rain and warnings of more to come. The swollen Wilsons River peaked at 4.91m yesterday morning and the Brunswick, Richmond and Tweed catchments have reached capacity. A minor flood is declared once the Wilsons River rises above 4.2m and a moderate to major flood is more than 7.2 and 9.7m. A flood warning was issued yesterday followed by a severe weather warning, which warned of flash flooding across the Northern Rivers today. The heaviest rainfall was predicted [...]

4th Annual Day of the Dead. Sunday 14 Nov 2010 Honouring Death, Celebrating Life End of Dalley St, Mullumbimby, NSW Ceremony of Remembrance will be held at 4.00 Creating memento  3.00-4.00 This event began in 2007 with an exquisite day, attended by over 120 people, nestled in the roots of three large fig trees in Heritage Park by the river in Mullumbimby.  People brought their photos and mementos which were pegged to the trunk, or placed in the huge roots, along with tea lights, hearts, messages, and even the ashes of their loved ones. The Peace Choir sang and the ceremony held everyone and allowed them to go into their loss, separately yet together. Some people spoke at the end [...]

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 [...]

COUNCIL-OWNED land near the centre of Mullumbimby may be used as a camping site to help shelter the Byron Shire’s growing homeless population. Deputy mayor Patrick Morrisey will put forward a notice of motion at tomorrow’s council meeting to compile a feasibility report into providing a basic camping facility for the shire’s homeless. Under the proposal, the 2.4 hectares of council land, north of the corner of Mill and Station streets, would be used as a place where the homeless could ‘sleep rough without harassment’. The notice of motion report states there is an ‘urgent need for a well-located primitive camping ground’ and an on-site social services facility is ‘worth investigating’. The report also notes that the Byron Shire has [...]

What is R U OK?Day? Thursday 7 October, 2010 Thursday 7 October, 2010 is R U OK?Day. A national day of action that aims to prevent suicide by encouraging Australians to connect with someone they care about and help stop little problems turning into big ones. Today we want everyone across the country, from all backgrounds and walks of life, to ask family, friends and colleagues: “Are you OK?”. Because staying connected with others is crucial to our general health and wellbeing. Feelings of isolation and being alone are major contributing factors to depression and social issues that can ultimately result in suicide. Regular, meaningful conversations can protect those we know and love. It’s so simple but in the time [...]

The Subaru Liberty sedan, in which three young men died after being hit by a B-double on the Pacific Highway 2km north of the Byron Bay interchange, is removed from the scene. THE DEATHS of three young men in Thursday night’s collision at Ewingsdale have sent shock waves through the Byron Shire. Family and friends of Todd Hepner, 25, of Mullumbimby, Jarah Blackett, 22, and Byron Nicholson, 23, both of Ocean Shores, were reeling yesterday as they struggled to come to terms with the tragedy. The three died when a southbound B-double truck smashed into their Subaru Liberty sedan at 8.15pm as they were attempting to cross on to the Pacific Highway from Woodford Lane, about a kilometre north of [...]

Steve Drummond asks more questions about the death of his son, Jai Morcom, in a schoolyard brawl at Mullumbimby High. Jai Drummond Morcom would have been 16 last month and he was making his mark in this world. He was a caring, unselfish people person with a great sense of humour who enjoyed life and projected a positive light around him. Almost a year ago today Australia was shocked, saddened and appalled at his death at Mullumbimby High after a schoolyard brawl. As a result Jai received bruising, bumps, abrasions and a massive brain hemorrhage. It was alleged he was pushed or thrown into a brick wall then attacked on the ground. Jai’s external injuries and brain hemorrhage appear to back reports of what happened that day. It’s heartwrenching to confront Jai’s medical diagnosis and the sickening knowledge he would have suffered intense pain at some [...]

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. [...]

Oksana Waterfall, of Mullumbimby, won the Artfelt Art Prize for her drawings of her son, titled My True Self. DESCRIBED as tender and vulnerable, Oksana Waterfall’s drawings of her son took out first place in the Artfelt Art Prize at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery on Friday night. The Mullumbimby-based artist did the drawings, titled My True Self, as part of her TAFE diploma. “They didn’t take me very long,” she said. “They’re about my love for my son – he’s 17. “It’s about watching my children, their trials of being teenagers.” Second place went to Wendy Andrews for her ‘powerful’ film, while third was awarded to Michelle King for her photograph, Reverse. The Artfelt Art Prize and Exhibition was [...]

Assess and respond to individuals at risk of suicide A statement of attainment in: Suicide Prevention (CHCCS521A). A short course funded by the NSW Department of Education that gives you a Statement of Attainment from the Diploma of Community Services for the unit: Assess and respond to individuals at risk of suicide (CHCCS521A) is a 6 day in depth training program at Diploma level. Course Content This course will go MUCH DEEPER than ‘Mental Health First Aid’ and include how to build collaborative relationships with persons at risk and how to listen to what lies behind thoughts of suicide.  This course funs for 6 full days (9am to 4pm) of training and will give you a Statement of Attainment at Diploma level. [...]

Uncle Project – Next month, Mark Gasson, CEO of The Uncle Project will embark on a cross country fundraising trip on a Ducati Monster to raise funds for the Uncle Project. The starting point will be the most westerly point of the Australian mainland at Steep Point, WA and the finishing line will be at the most easterly point of the mainland at Byron Lighthouse. They would like to encourage all businesses to support this event as it directly benefits the many young boys in the Byron Shire community who are enrolled in The Uncle Project and mentored by voluntary local men. Just imagine if all the Bangalow, Byron, Brunswick and Mullumbimby members of the Chambers of Commerce each donated [...]

Byron Council’s annual free bulky items kerbside clean-up starts on June 21. The council’s manager of waste and recycling services, Russell Chaplin, said it was a service provided for items that did not fit in a wheelie bin and was available to urban households that had their red-lidded rubbish bin collected weekly. Mr Chaplin said the kerbside clean-up program would be conducted in three stages over three weeks. He said Area 1 included residents in Byron Bay, Sunrise Beach, Suffolk Park, Baywood Chase, Byron Hills and Broken Head. Residents in these areas must have their waste out by June 20 to ensure it would be collected. Area 2 included residents in Ocean Shores (north and south), South Golden Beach and [...]

One minute Kerry Garady of Mullumbimby was shooing the friend’s horse she was looking after off the road and into the paddock, the next she was vaguely aware of her husband bending over her, insistently repeating her name. “I thought I was still in bed,” she said. “And that he was trying to wake me.” But Kerry was flat on her back by the gate, blood coming out of her ears and a big hoof print on her shirt where the huge French Clydesdale, spooked by a tractor coming up the hill, had lashed out. Kerry was airlifted to the Gold Coast for treatment for a broken neck, as well as internal injuries to her liver, kidney and spleen, and she is now [...]

Markets in the Northern Rivers Area Ballina Market Entertainment Area Canal Road Ballina Ph/Fax: (02) 6672 2874 Bruce Williams Art and craft stalls, local home grown produce and a variety of activities. Market held on 3rd Sun of month. Bangalow Market Showgrounds Bangalow NSW 2479 Ph: (02) 6687 1911 Stalls, arts & crafts & performances. 4th Sun of month. Brunswick Heads Riverside Markets Memorial Park Brunswick Heads NSW 2483 Ph: (02) 6684 4437 Gordon Wright Riverside Markets at Memorial Park held from 7.30am to 3.00pm on the first Sat each month. Easter Market held on Easter. Annual Twilight Market held from 4pm to 9pm on the last Wed before Christmas. Byron Bay Community Market Byron Bay Community Market, Butler Street [...]