THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 [email protected] [email protected] See Centre Pages http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 20 #09 TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2005 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only A THESAURUS IS NOT A DINOSAUR Business booming on God of good conquers evil North Coast says survey Lesley Patterson ‘This is well above the ‘Interest rates also are a Some negative myths regard- national average and also factor. Metropolitan busi- ing business growth on the above results from similar ness and consumers are north coast have been dis- studies conducted in the more highly geared than pelled by the fi ndings of a metropolitan areas. The regional ones. Mortgages are new survey by accountancy Byron Shire showed the also higher in Sydney. A third fi rm WHK Rutherfords. highest results in terms of reason concerns skilled staff ‘This is the fi rst survey of sales growth for any region shortages which are being its kind to look at how busi- within the Coffs Harbour to experienced in metropolitan ness in the Northern Rivers Tweed Heads area,’ said Mr areas. Up here unemploy- and the North Coast is far- Correy. ment is higher, so there are ing, both according to itself A more pessimistic pictured more people around to fi ll and in comparison to busi- had been painted by busi- staff vacancies.’ ness nationally,’ said Graham nesses on the North Coast Undertaken by the Man- Correy, Management Con- and particularly in Byron Bay, agement Consultancy Divi- sultant with Rutherfords. said Mr Correy. ‘You always sion of WHK Rutherfords, Despite claims by business get a vocal minority who will the survey was distributed people in recent times that say things are bad’ he said, with the cooperation of the trade has slumped, the study ‘but the study cuts across all Chambers of Commerce shows that the opposite is business sectors giving a between Tweed Heads and true and over half of those much broader view of the Coffs Harbour. Approxi- surveyed say they have expe- business community.’ mately 300 responses were rienced sales increases in the Explaining why the North received, encompassing 440 Barong, the Balinese symbol of good, above left, conquered Rangda, the Balinese god of evil, above past year. Coast should be trading business locations. right, during the Inspirasi Indonesian Festival in Byron Bay on Sunday. The Balinese believe both gods The survey reveals that better than metropolitan ‘The fi ndings show who is are present in human nature but that good must always reign supreme. Members of the local and Gold 56% of businesses have areas he points to the hous- faring well and why, who is Coast Balinese community joined with students from St Finbarr’s and the audience in a colourful pro- increased sales by more than ing market which has not not faring well and why and cession to start the day’s celebrations. A shadow puppet show telling the story of the recent tsunami 10% in the last 12 months suffered as severe a down- perhaps most importantly,’ brought the day to a close, as the spirtual figure Bima called on the goddess of the Southern Ocean to and 75% of businesses are turn as it has in Sydney says Correy, ‘it looks to the turn those killed in the tsunami into angels so they could fly to heaven. Photo Jeff ‘Spirited Away’ Dawson confi dent about their pros- therefore having less of a future, analysing strategies pects for the forthcoming 12 detrimental effect on con- that businesses are going to months. sumer confi dence. be employing.’ Teenagers out of control in Lennox Head ‘We wanted to listen to the market and understand what Alex McAuley to Mick Marrs, caretaker and intensity of the violence Creativity gets a head start they say are their major issues.’ Many locals were shocked to manager for the Lennox on the increase. Greg Owens, President of hear about a teenage ram- Head Beachfront Apart- ‘The kids are coming to the Byron Bay Chamber of page in Lennox Head last ments, this kind of behaviour Lennox from all over the Commerce, says ‘The survey Tuesday night, when up to is the norm for Friday and place. They get dropped off has been well received by 150 youngsters were rep- Saturday nights. on a Friday afternoon and members of the Byron orted to be behaving in a ‘What made Tuesday night left for the night unsuper- Chamber and we are looking drunk and disorderly man- different was the large vised. They seem to come in forward to Rutherfords pre- ner, causing a disturbance number of kids involved and from Ballina, Lismore, senting the fi ndings.’ and vandalizing property. that it was a week night,’ said Alstonville and Byron Bay as Another recent survey on When the fi rst police offi c- Mr Marr. ‘Otherwise, any well as locally. They’re aged the economy of the North- ers responded to a distress Friday or Saturday night in anywhere from eight to ern Rivers area has con- call, they were verbally Lennox you will see groups twenty years old, but the fi rmed that our economy is abused by the kids, and had of 30 or 40 youngsters in the majority are young teenag- strongly tied to tourism, with things thrown at them. They main street, usually drunk, ers, and they are drinking,’ an industry trade surplus of were forced to call for three creating a disturbance and said Mr Marrs. Displaying their wares at the launch of Byron Creative were local approximately $33 million in lots of backup before the causing damage to people’s A Sydney resident who sculptor André Vanné, above left, with his stylised female heads 2002-2003. situation was brought under property.’ has been visiting her elderly and glass artist Margit Juhasz, holding a glass jug. Byron Creative ‘Byron’s reputation as one control. Mr Marrs claims that the father in Lennox Head sev- is a showcase for local arts and crafts and is one of three business of New South Wales’ most What is most disturbing is situation has steadily wors- eral times a year since 2000 incubators in the Northern Rivers designed to foster self employ- popular holiday destinations that this is apparently not an ened over the past fi ve years, has noticed an escalation in ment and create jobs. Photo Jeff ‘Head Case ’ Dawson continued on page 2 isolated incident. According with the numbers of people continued on page 2 2 July 19, 2005 Byron Shire Echo www.echo.net.au Local News
Thoughts on the practicalities of life inspires budding poet
Finding the confidence to ited to 24 lines, much to enter writing competitions is Joan’s surprise and delight all linked with ‘being the her eleventh hour entry won excellent age of 60’ says the competition. Brunswick resident Joan The essay subject of Mott who has recently won a ‘Change marches on – is this swag of literary awards. good or bad?’ inspired her to Five years ago, at the excel- take two different approaches, lent age of 60 and having just one focusing on the inevita- learned to drive, Joan won bility of change, and the her first prize, second in other refl ecting on the old essay writing in the CWA days, hence her two entries. 5PPIFZT&YUSB statewide competition. This She won second prize for the year, Joan has done even bet- former which was described %SZ ter, winning fi rst prize in the by the judges as ‘refreshingly YNMTUVCCJFT poetry competition as well as matter of fact’. a second prize and a highly ‘I’ve really enjoyed the commended in the essay challenge of entering the writing competition. competitions. Being happy Joan didn’t intend to enter enough with the fi nal result the poetry writing competi- and knowing you’ve done Yvonne Scarabelotti, president of the far north coast CWA, above 3PTFNPVOU tion as she has never felt your best is the greatest left, presents Joan Mott with her first prize for poetry. $IBSEPOOBZ comfortable as a poet. achievement of all,’ said NMCPUUMF Despite her misgivings, last Joan. titions. She also praised the of things through the CWA minute inspiration saw her Joan cites peer support CWA for the range of activi- including singing, cooking, penning her poem and sub- from Brunswick/Byron U3A ties it offers to women from photography, all sorts of arts mitting it for judging. Given as well as the support of her country areas, many of and crafts, said Joan. the title of ‘Where Did I Put family as the driving forces whom are quite isolated. ‘The CWA really helps It?’ (something with which behind her taking the chal- ‘Women statewide can country women realise their we are all familiar) and lim- lenge of entering the compe- become involved in all sorts potential.’ 7JDUPSJB#JUUFS YNMDBOT Business booming allow the Byron Shire Coun- Teenagers in Lennox Lennox Head who has been cil and business people to holidaying in the town with From front page identify potential growth From front page his family for the past eight provides challenges and opportunities,’ explained Mr the violence to the point years is also concerned about opportunities for the region. Senti. where her father is afraid for the ‘pack mentality’ of the ‘The largest exporting ‘For the Council it may his safety. kids in the streets. (PSEPOT(JO industries are retail trade mean fostering a particular ‘It’s like a game for these ‘It’s got to the point where 5POJD and accommodation, cafes industry sector that has kids who know that there is it’s unsafe to confront them; 9NMDBOT and restaurants which refl ect strong export potential, for no police presence in Len- I wouldn’t feel safe asking the strong tourism base of business it gives solid infor- nox Head,’ she said. ‘They them to quieten down or go the economy,’ said Tom mation on industry sectors keep on coming into town away,’ he said. Senti, Executive Director of where there may be invest- and behaving like this ‘It would appear that there the Tweed Economic Devel- ment opportunities.’ because they think they can is a culture developing with opment Corporation Ltd ‘The Tweed and Northern get away with it. the younger kids following in (TEDC) who commissioned Rivers area of NSW is expe- ‘Unfortunately for the the older kids’ footsteps.’ 7JDUPSJB#JUUFS the survey. riencing enormous change police, by they time they The sad reality is that, YNMCPUUMFT ‘Retail trade accounts for with substantial increases in respond to a call, the kids according to Mr Marr, the about $65 million into the population and a fundamen- have dispersed, and once situation is turning people local economy, followed tal shift in its economic base,’ they turn around and head away from this once peaceful closely by accommodation, said Mr Senti. back to Ballina, the kids just seaside town. cafes and restaurants about ‘Population growth alone come back into the main ‘I’ve had families staying $63 million. does not deliver a sustainable street and pick up where here who’ve left at the end of ‘Following a distant third economy. Regional sustaina- they left off,’ explained Mr their holiday saying they will 4UPOFIBWFO is food manufacturing at $38 bility will only be achieved by Marrs. never come back to Lennox 4UFQQJOH4UPOF million. Manufacturing, of developing a diverse, broad- Another regular visitor to Head again,’ he said. NMCPUUMF which food processing is the based economy which encour- largest at 2%, contributes ages job creation through 7% to the region’s Gross investment growth. Funda- / Ê Ê"Ê Ê6 *OTUPSFUBTUJOH5IVST Regional Product, while pri- mental to this process is the mary industries only con- need to establish a robust, fac- tribute 5%. tually-based understanding of , #BTFEPX$BC ‘What this model does is the local economy.’ .PVSWFESF NMCPUUMF TROPICAL MODERN #VZCPUUMFTBOESFDFJWF HOME BGSFFNBHOVNPGXJOF To complementp – home accessories your home and garden – water features )BSEZT7PZBHF – sculptures – art 8JOFT – furniture NMCPUUMFT – garden art 9ÕÊ>ÀiÊÜ>ÀÞÊÛÌi`ÊÌÊ>ÊëiV>Ê ÃVÀii}ÊvÊ>ÊÌ>Ê}ÛiÊLÞÊ > >À>ÊÊ >ÞÊ ÓääxÊ>ÌÊ/ >>Ã>ÌÊ1ÛiÀÃÌÞÊÊ >}° The Byrony Pier Arcade 7 -Õ`>ÞÊÕÞÊÓ{Ì Ê>ÌÊx°Îä« Lawson Street >ÃVÊ iÌÀi]Ê ÞÀÊ-Ì]Ê ÞÀÊ >Þ Byron Bay 2481 -Õ}}iÃÌi`ÊVÌÀLÕÌÊf£ä Ph 02 6680 9766 ÜÜÜ°Üi`}i°À}°>Õ Fax 02 6685 6658 www.tropicalmodern.com.au vÀ>ÌÊiÊÈÈnxÊ££ÓÇ www.echo.net.au Byron Shire Echo July 19, 2005 3 Local News New rehab service in Bruns Win $1,500 for your short story The Beach Hotel, in con- junction with The Echo, is again offering Byron Shire writers a chance to win $1,500 for a short story of 1,000 words or less. The runner-up will receive --6 $500. STOCKCLEARANCESALE This annual event, the Nicholas Shand Beach Hotel )TS OUR 3TOCK #LEARANCE 3ALE AND WERE Short Story Competition, is DOING IT IN STYLE BY OFFERING GREAT SAVINGS in honour of The Echo’s late ON A HUGE RANGE OF BEDROOM FURNITURE founding editor, who ran lit- erary competitions in the BEDDING AND ACCESSORIES 7HETHER 1980s to help foster local YOURE AFTER A BEDROOM SUITE MATTRESS writing talent, and is a com- OR ENSEMBLE WEVE GOT SOMETHING TO mitment to local arts by the SUIT EVERY BODY AT PRICES Beach Hotel. - The theme of the contest TO SUIT EVERYBODY "1/Ê"1, Dr David Graham, general manager of CRS Australia, came from Canberra to open the new Brunswick is ‘A Byron Shire Story’, so / , -/Ê Heads CRS office last Friday, Also on hand were Rod Hawkins, the regional manager, and local case make your piece of fi ction , Ê manager Jenny Bush. local, topical, historical, amusing or tragic. The two / , - CRS Australia opened its programs,’ Northern Rivers CRS Australia also pro- winning entries will be pub- new rehabilitation unit in Regional Manager Rod vides services to injured lished in The Echo. Brunswick Heads last Friday Hawkins said. ‘If we add workers and their employers There is no entry fee for to give people living in the those people assisted through through the WorkCover sys- the contest. Entrants should Byron Shire better access to WorkCover and other com- tem (or other compensation note that entries submitted vocational rehabilitation pensation systems we’ve systems) and these services in previous years will not be 0)%#% services. helped well over 200 people are paid for by the relevant considered. >>À>ÌÊ i`ÀÊ-ÕÌi 35)4% ./7 CRS Australia has been back to employment.’ insurer. CRS Australia is the The contest closes on Fri- IS SIMPLY GREAT VALUE 1UEEN BED 4HIS TIMBER SUITE f 4ALL BOY fÎ "EDSIDE 4ABLE f{È working with people in the Australian Government only WorkCover accredited day October 14, 2005, so f£Ç -6 ÊÊ Northern Rivers for over 21 funding enables CRS Aus- rehabilitation provider get writing now. Pick up fÓää years and now has 26 staff tralia to provide vocational located in the Byron Shire. your offi cial entry form from across three locations (offi ces rehabilitation services to For more information the Echo offices in Byron also in Lismore and Ballina). people with a disability or about CRS Australia’s serv- Bay and Mullumbimby or at 1Ê The Brunswick Heads unit health condition who receive ices, call 1800 624 824 (free- the Beach Hotel from this 19 has four staff – an occupa- income support through call) or visit the website at Thursday on. tional therapist, a rehabilita- Centrelink. These programs www.crsaustralia.gov.au. tion counsellor, an exercise are usually provided free to The new Brunswick Heads 1UEEN physiologist and an adminis- the client. CRS Australia offi ce is located next to Cen- Free tax help %NSEMBLE trative offi cer. helps people with a broad trelink at Suites 5 and 6, 1 Tax Offi ce trained volunteers f ‘In the past 12 months we range of disabilities includ- Fingal Street, Brunswick will be helping lower income -ÕLiÀÊ vÀÌ helped 126 people get a job ing physical as well as neuro- Heads. earners to prepare their tax 0OSTURE 3UPPORT 1UEEN %NSEMBLE though Australian govern- logical, psychological and Offi ce hours are 8.30am to returns at the Byron Bay ment funded rehabilitation sensory conditions. 5pm Monday to Friday. Community Centre and Mullumbimby Neighbour- hood Centre over the next Young people invited to Sound Barriers few months. Anyone earning Indent, the hub for all-ages held at the Byron Bay Youth ment fundamentals, public- under $35,000 from wages 1UEEN entertainment in NSW, is Activity Centre on Friday ity and promotion. or benefi ts is eligible for the -i>ÞÊ`Ê %NSEMBLE organising a music industry July 22 from 2pm to 5pm. Confirmed panellists free tax return service and *ÜÌ«Ê ÃiLiÊ 3INGLE %NSEMBLE f workshop for young people The workshop will cover include Samantha Clode the threshold is higher for +ING 3INGLE %NSEMBLE ££ called Sound Barriers, to be such topics as event manage- (Cockatoo Island, J Mag), people with children. $OUBLE %NSEMBLE Glenn Wright (Vitamin The service is aimed at +ING %NSEMBLE Records, Red Square Book- people who can’t afford to #URL UP OVER ing Agency) and Shane Mur- go to a tax agent. To make WINTER ON A DAYBED FROM "YRON $ESIGNWORKS phy (Music Oz/Wingspan an appointment call the &OR