Byron Bay articles of interest.

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Byron Bay will host a GetUp Mental Healthcare Candlelight Vigil at Main Beach tonight from 5pm (Tuesday 10th) to bring attention to the mental health crisis in Australia. If it is raining at 5pm this event will move to the Byron Youth Activities Centre (YAC) at 1 Gilmore Crescent. The Byron Bay event will be part of an Australia-wide GetUp vigil to raise awareness of the country’s under-funded mental healthcare system. Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry will host the Sydney vigil, while Byron Bay’s vigil will be led by mental health advocate and 2010 Byron Shire Citizen of the Year Nicqui Yazdi. “This vigil is more than just about those lives that have already been lost, it’s also [...]

Byron Bay will host a GetUp Mental Healthcare Candlelight Vigil to bring attention to the mental health crisis in Australia next Tuesday (August 10). The Byron Bay event will be part of an Australia-wide GetUp vigil to raise awareness of the country’s under-funded mental healthcare system. Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry will host the Sydney vigil, while Byron Bay’s vigil will be led by mental health advocate and 2010 Byron Shire Citizen of the Year Nicqui Yazdi. “This vigil is more than just about those lives that have already been lost, it’s also about the lives that will be lost in the future if we don’t stand up and influence the government to recognise just how big the [...]

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 [...]

Hi Everyone, On Tuesday 10th August 2010, community groups across the country will be holding candlelight vigils as part of a nationally coordinated action, to highlight the need for mental health reform. These candlelight vigils will be held to remember those who have been lost and those who still suffer needlessly because of our underfunded mental healthcare system. As part of this campaign, myself and other members of my community are holding a local vigil because we are deeply concerned about the inadequacy of the mental healthcare system, and we want to put pressure on our local candidates for better policies on this issue. This national initiative is being facilitated by GetUp, an independent, nonpartisan, grassroots movement, and is being spearheaded by Australian [...]

Byron Bay to host a GetUp Candlelight Mental Healthcare Vigil for lives lost to mental health. On Tuesday August 10, GetUp Mental Health Candlelight Vigils will be held across Australia to bring attention to the mental healthcare crisis in our country. These vigils will raise awareness for those who were lost, those still lost and those we will lose in the future in the woefully underfunded mental healthcare system in Australia. Australian of the Year Prof. Patrick McGorry will host a vigil at the Gap in Sydney and Byron Bay’s Vigil will be hosted by local mental health advocate and 2010 Byron Shire Citizen of the Year, Nicqui Yazdi. Prof. McGorry and Ms Yazdi have a lot more in common [...]

$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 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 [...]

‘new’ 2 Day 2nd Edition Standard Adult Program – Byron Bay Services Club July 15 & 22 Nicqui Yazdi, 2010 Byron Shire Citizen of the Year and the Director of The MindRight Institute will be conducting a ‘new’ 2nd Edition Mental Health First Aid Certificate Course at the Byron Bay Services Club over two consecutive Thursdays, July 15 & 22. Nicqui said that “MHFA training is now becoming mandatory in many community services roles and is helpful in supporting people who either suffer from or may be developing a mental health problem.”  The First day of the MHFA training will mainly concentrate on depression and suicide prevention, with a focus on direct questioning techniques and the importance of early intervention. [...]

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 [...]

With mental health being the number one health burden in our society today, many people want to know what they can do to help. Byron Shire Citizen of the Year, Nicqui Yazdi has the answer, Mental Health First Aid training. Nicqui is the Director of Byron Bay based training organisation, the MindRight Institute and specialises in mental health and well-being courses. The MindRight Institute will be conducting a ‘NEW’ 2 day Edition 2 Standard Adult Mental Health First Aid Certificate Course for interested community members, in order to help support people who either suffer from or may be developing a mental health problem. The first day of the Mental Health First Aid training will mainly concentrate on depression and suicide [...]

SHADOWBOXING – Fri 25 & Sat 26 June 8pm & Sun 27 5pm One mans journey through heartbreak and horror…and the fight is just as devastating. Starring Aaron Jeffery. Shadowboxing is a knockout punch of raw theatrical energy – a perfect showcase for the talents of its remarkable one-man cast.
He skips at frenzied pace, throws an ongoing clutch of killer punches and ripples with almost demonic energy.
Suffice to say, opponents in the ring are not this man’s only problem. He must also take on cruel social prejudice – and the fight is just as bloody. All up, this is a knockout which will rivet both theatre buff and sports fan alike. Tickets are $30/$25 conc. Tickets available online fromwww.byroncentre.com.au and [...]

Nicqui Yazdi, Schoolies HUB Co-ordinator and the big Red Frog at the recent Red Frog’s Corporate Sponsorship Dinner in Brisbane. Byron Schoolies Safety Response group on facebook is a page to share information, links and all sorts of other stuff about school leavers celebrations in Byron Bay. The Byron Schoolies Safety Response working group was formed in 2009 to assist to make school leavers celebrations in Byron Bay a safer time for both the visitors and the local community. Nicqui Yazdi, the Schoolies HUB co-ordinator said that “As of this week we will start to put this page together to keep everyone informed of what is happening. We will also add links to groups and organisations involved and other  information [...]

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. [...]

Jason Dixon, brother of Byron’s 2010 Citizen of the Year, leads the pack… 2010 Byron Shire Citizen of the Year, Nicqui Yazdi, is getting ready to cheer her brother Jason Dixon on when the Tour De Cure rides into Byron Bay next Thursday, May 13. Jason and the other riders in the Tour De Cure all had to raise a minimum of $10,000 each in order to qualify for the event. All monies raised will go toward cancer research. Nicqui said “Jason has always been a keen sportsman and an incredible athlete and has competed in many sports internationally for 20 years. He’s always been a keen bike-rider from many years of being a World Class Triathlete and has even [...]

At Crystal Castle, 81 Monet Drive, Mullumbimby Guest Speaker - Jenelle Sharman from Lismore Destiny Cosmetic and Wellness Clinic – Before purchasing Lismore Destiny, Jenelle was a Detective Senior Constable in the NSW Police Force for 14 years – specialising in child sexual assault, criminal investigations and was a dedicated member of the Richmond Drug Unit.   She worked in numerous locations throughout NSW and her final years were spent in Criminal Investigations in Lismore. Enjoy a delicious lunch and a couple of glasses of wine $35 per person RSVP by 30 April 2010 to info@byronunited.org.au or 02 6680 8853 (payment at time of booking). Please let us know any dietary requirements when booking. Lucky Door Prizes gratefully accepted! Nicqui Yazdi who is [...]

So it seems that alcohol is the big thing on the list of conversations I had had this week. It was the topic of my first conversations of the day yesterday and also the last and many in between. There are a lot of people talking about alcohol in Byron Bay at the moment. Why? Probably the biggest reason right now has a lot to do with the news that Woolies are putting a Dan Murphy’s Superstore liquor outlet smack bang right in the middle of town. There seem to be a lot of adults excited at the thought of having this giant 1000 square metre alcohol SUPERmarket come to town and just as many totally disgusted at the thought. [...]

With regard to the assorted articles on pages 6 & 7 of the Northern Star on Saturday, February 13, 2010: When it comes to all the articles that are being published in the newspapers at the moment in this region about alcohol-fuelled violence and it’s consequences, I think we are really missing the point when the conversation within these articles turns to how best to promote Byron Bay as a tourist destination. The thing that is sorely missing in these types of articles is the fact that stupid behaviour is what leads to these problems and behaviours are something we learn from a very young age and primarily at home. It is a great idea for the business community to [...]