THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: y Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Page 18 Fax 02 6684 1719 [email protected] [email protected] Available early Tuesday at: http://www.echo.net.au beaut VOLUME 22 #22 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2007 22,300 copies every week FORGET THE SCISSORS AND ROCK & health Community digs deep for O’Mearas GM to leave Council Michael McDonald tract ‘would have carried Council Byron Shire Councillors voted on through the elections in September October 25 in confi dential session 2008 and allowed a new Council not to renew the contract of cur- to settle in before facing the task of rent general manager Pam West- selecting a general manager.’ ing, whose fi ve year contract ends Of her time in Byron Shire Ms on March 10, 2008. Westing said, ‘There have been Ms Westing had offered to stay many challenges and successes. on for a further two years but this The biggest challenge initially was option was not supported by the lack of long term senior staff councillors. and resulting limited corporate Mayor Cr Jan Barham said in a knowledge in the senior ranks of press release, ‘Council extends its Council staff. thanks and appreciation to Pam ‘None of the Executive Team Westing for her contribution to the had been in their position for even Shire. During her term as general fi ve years. Those executives then manager the fi nancial position of left the organisation in quick suc- the Council has strengthened to cession, so that after 14 months, I the point where Byron Shire is one was the longest-serving member of of the few fi nancially sustainable the Executive Team. councils in NSW.’ ‘Despite this, all the major chal- Asked if she had been surprised lenges that the Council wanted the by Council’s decision Ms Westing general manager to address in told The Echo, ‘I made a commit- 2003 have been resolved. The ment when I started at Byron Shire Council is in a much stronger Council to stay fi ve years. There fi nancial position than it has been Ashley, Kristie, and Hayleigh O’Meara at the fun day at the Billinudgel Hotel. had been a succession of general for many, many years. managers over the previous dec- ‘In 2003, the Council had a Story & photo Eve Jeffery having to leave her full time job night held on October 13 raised ade, and my goal was to give the working funds balance in its Gen- Three very brave girls graced the and Hayleigh only working part- $28,000 and a raffl e the friends organisation the stability it had eral Fund of $373,000. Council grounds of the Billinudgel Hotel time. have been running over the past lacked for so long. I have achieved was sending its garbage to Queens- on Sunday afternoon for a fund- Two of Kathleen’s lifelong two months has a fi rst prize of that. land at great cost, there was a sew- raiser held in their honour. friends, Tracey O’Donnell and $10,000 in travel vouchers, kindly ‘I did not presume that I would erage moratorium in Byron Bay As testament to their gratitude Cindy Holland, have headed a donated by Craig Watson’s Phar- be offered a further contract, and and elsewhere, the development to both the community and the group of local women whose aim macy in Mullumbimby. The last I respect the right of the elected application processing times were committee who organised the day, is to get the girls back on their feet event planned was the Family Fun Council to change its management an annual embarassment, and legal Kristie, Ashley and Hayleigh and set up for the path ahead. Day on Sunday at Billinudgel. direction.’ costs were nearly $900,000, taking O’Meara, who are usually very ‘From day one Kathleen lifted ‘The support from the commu- Ms Westing said a two year con- private people, attended the event Kristie. As Kristie grew, Kathleen nity has been fantastic,’ said Tracey, continued on page 7 and enjoyed the festivities, sub- grew stronger,’ said Tracey who ‘and it has not been just from our dued only by the reason all were met Kathleen on their fi rst day of immediate area. Donations have gathered. kindergarten, ‘The day after Kath- come from as far north as Burleigh A swift and tragic death claimed leen died we realised that no-one Heads and south to Lennox. The the girls’ mother Kathleen in July could lift Kristie. I don’t know how response has been over and beyond this year after she fell ill and died Kathleen did it, she was so strong. generous.’ within hours of being struck down We knew straight away we would To date, all goods and costs by meningococcal disease. need a hoist.’ associated with the fundraisers Kathleen O’Meara, a dedicated A hoist is not all the sisters would have been donated in full, so every mother, was the sole carer for her need, and at the funeral, Kath- cent raised has been able to go fi rst born Kristie, who was diag- leen’s friends decided they would directly to the girls’ fund. nosed at eight months with Athe- form a committee to raise funds to Cindy sums up the feelings of the toid Cerebral Palsy and who has buy equipment needed for day to committee: ‘People have been so relied on her mother around the day living, with the purchase of a kind, even to little things like Kath- clock since birth. wheelchair accessible vehicle, val- leen’s brothers helping out with the Kristie’s sisters Ashley, 22, and ued at over $60,000, on top of the rides here at the Fun Day. Kathleen Hayleigh 18, who attended The list. was a lovely person with a great Pocket primary school and Mul- The assistance from the com- spirit, she would have been happy lum High, have now taken over munity has been overwhelmingly to see us all here helping her girls.’ Kristie’s full time care, with Ashley generous. A dinner and auction continued on page 2 Departing general manager Pam Westing. Photo Jeff Dawson 2 November 6, 2007 Byron Shire Echo www.echo.net.au Local News BP Suffolk Park Elliot buttonholed on issues Labor candidate Justine Service Centre Elliot’s pitch to the voters at Ocean Shores last Wednes- Phone 6685 3111 day saw her in turn lobbied over a number of issues, NOVEMBER SPECIAL most notably the push to NOW OFFERING get the Casino-Murwillum- WHEEL ALIGNMENTS* bah rail line reopened and FOR ONLY $40 unrest over the federal gov- ernment’s Welfare to Work Our aim is to service the system. community. With our new The Commonwealth wheel aligning machine, free courtesy car, and our quality Ombudsman John McMil- mechanics we are in keeping lan is investigating the Wel- with our motto – fare to Work system, saying Quality Service – he has found ‘key areas of Ralph KynochQuality People John Wraight concern’ that ‘point to sys- *excludes four wheel drive alignments. temic issues’. Mr. McMillan ASK ABOUT OUR FREE COURTESY CAR cites cases where seriously ill people had their welfare pay- ments cancelled for failing to attend an interview. Members of North Coast BAMBOO FLOORING Social Equity Alliance pre- sented a petition to Justine Elliot demanding an end to the Welfare to Work regime. TOOT president Karin Kolbe hands over 400 letters to ALP candidate Justine Elliot. The letters are Over 350 people, the major- addressed to Mark Vaile, Transport Minister, and Martin Ferguson, Shadow Transport Minister, and ity Centrelink clients, signed call on the candidates to support rail with funding and a program to reopen the Casino-Murwillum- the petition asking the fed- bah line immediately; funding and a program to build a rail link between Murwillumbah and Cool- eral government to immedi- angatta Airport within seven years; and a commitment by all candidates to ensure genuine cooper- ately repeal the imposition of ation between NSW and federal governments (including joint funding) in delivering a commuter rail mandatory ‘mutual obliga- service on the Casino-Murwillumbah line. Letters were also presented to Nationals candidate Sue tion’ and the harsh breach- Page the previous week. Photo Jeff ‘I Hear That Whistle Blowing’ Dawson ing provisions in the Social • The most stable, exotic, environmentally friendly & second strongest hardwood in the world! Security Act. rate of between 50%-70% penalties for non-compli- personal health and threaten • Termite resistant • Free from toxic fumes The petition also sought imposed on disadvantaged ance,’ said Michele Grant, basic survival.’ • Affordable with an added value to your investment an immediate increase in the low income workers. convener of Social Equity NCSEA welcomes the • 25 year residential warranty • Free measure & quote basic welfare payment of ‘Centrelink “Preparing for Alliance. ‘It is certainly not Ombudsman’s review of $210 week; provision of a Work” agreements offer few fair or morally just for Cen- Centrelink’s punitive breach- HUTCHISONS participation payment for all incentives, encouragement trelink to force individuals, ing regime, and urges the 63 Wollumbin St, Murwillumbah 02 6672 1493 essential and compulsory or rewards for compliance, under duress, to sign non- new federal government to activities; and a reduction in but impose onerous obliga- negotiable contracts which give low income Australians the effective marginal tax tions and tough financial may impact negatively on a fair go. Overlooking Byron Bay... thanks to those who have Bangalow rainforest funds O’Meara girls helped them. Speaking on from front page behalf of their sister Kristie, The Commonwealth along this part of Byron ‘We wish the very best for Ashley and Hayleigh Department of the Environ- Creek will eventually com- these girls because that’s expressed their deep appre- ment has awarded an Envi- prise part of the Bangalow exactly what their mum ciation.