Festival a Successful Write-Off
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THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 27 #09 Tuesday, August 7, 2012 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 [email protected] Page Family [email protected] www.echo.net.au 45 fun run CAB 23,200 copies every week AUDIT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT EARTH MISSION Inside Online election Cr Diane Woods Health & Realtor and Writers’ Byron Shire this coverage kicks off announces mayoral Beauty – Festival chair Chris Council Notices week – netdaily candidacy – p5 p17-19 Hanley Q&A – p46 Pages 42 Festival a successful write-off Community united against health service degradation Luis Feliu & Hans Lovejoy dad to know they could be ‘losing our hospital’s overnight doctor’. Chris Crawford, the chief bureaucrat ‘My specialist says if I have a seizure I pushing to replace Mullum Hospital’s need to see a doctor there day or night, night doctor with teleconferencing and I have to be accompanied by a technology, is now more isolated in doctor when I’m being transferred by his bid aft er Ballina MP Don Page ambulance,’ Ethan said. told The Echo he doesn’t support the ‘I’m very worried about what will proposed telehealth trial ‘at this stage’. happen to me next time I have a seizure Th e MP’s distancing from the trial at night and there’s no doctor there; my comes after overwhelming public mum and dad will also be worried.’ sentiment against the proposal was He then put a question to Mr Craw- voiced at last Th ursday’s meeting at ford: ‘Mr Crawford, what if your family Mullum High School auditorium, was in this situation? We must fi ght to where around 500 people attended. save our services in the community,’ Previously Mr Page told The Echo Ethan said to thunderous applause. that ‘health administrators have to His dad Aaron said when his son had make decisions from time to time in seizures, which could happen at any relation to service delivery, which can time of the night or early morning, ‘he impact on some local communities.’ needs to see a doctor’. ‘What right have you got, Mr Craw- 12-year-old Ethan speaks ford, to put my family’s lives in danger?’ Mr Page was in attendance at the Mr Diehm, a local builder, asked to meeting, and Northern NSW Local loud applause. Health District (NNSWLHD) chief Th e Diehm family’s concerns were Political pundit Mungo MacCallum, Byron Shire mayor Jan Barham and Greens party oracle Bob Brown. Photo Tao Jones executive Chris Crawford, who is ad- echoed by many at the meeting. Com- vocating the trial, addressed the crowd. ments included ‘delayed care is care de- Mandy Nolan year’s event, with festival goers packing around a particular theme. The audience also heard a heart- nied’, ‘Skype health is no substitute for tents to pay homage to the recently ‘In a way I guess it is an ideas festival rending plea by a 12-year-old boy prone a real doctor’, ‘this penny-pinching atti- A spectacular winter sun gave warmth retired Greens leader. Local identity explored through the form of writing’. to epileptic fi ts for health authorities tude doesn’t make sense: you can’t pick to the Byron Writers’ Festival last week- Rusty Miller declared the highlight was It wasn’t just festival attendees who not to remove the local hospital’s over- continued on page 2 end as writers, readers, publishers and when ‘Bob Brown walked into the tent experienced enthusiasm about the night emergency doctor as it would Q See the video of this story at the like converged on the North Byron and everyone stood up and clapped event; writers continued to express put him at grave risk. In his appeal, Events site for what director Jonathan for him – he got a standing ovation. It their admiration and fondness for the young Ethan Diehm said it was ‘very Parsons believed is ‘quite possibly on made me cry. Byron Writers’ Festival. Making his netdaily worrying’ for him and his mum and Go to echonetdaily.net.au track as the biggest attendance ever’. fourth appearance at the festival, Mor- Aft er last year’s fi nancial woes that Intellectual stimulation ris Gleitzman said the festival off ered ‘a almost saw the festival close its doors, ‘How a man can have so much re- heady mixture of intellectual stimula- it’s a welcome relief for festival organis- spect and how meaningful his presence tion, rewarding interaction with read- Dan Murphy’s licence open ers and testament to Parsons’ vision ‘to was. It’s something we are missing in ers, romance and a stiff neck from the bring the festival back to its core. It was politics, someone who has stood up for width of the tents’. for public submissions about getting back to the heart.’ something in public without changing Lawyer turned crime writer Shamini Parsons was the fi rst festival direc- his values to meet popular consensus.’ Flint concurred: ‘It is such a relief,’ she Th e Liquor and Gaming Authority will It will be held Tuesday September tor to be employed out of the region, Although while Parsons agreed with said, ‘to come to a country where peo- be holding a public conference to hear 4 from 3pm at the Byron Bay Com- and when organising the event he lived Rusty that it was a festival where Bob ple still read books. But I am shocked public comments on the packaged liq- munity Centre, but seating is limited between Brisbane and Mullumbimby. Brown and Michael Kirby were the you can’t get food aft er 10pm. Luckily uor licence (bottle shop) application by and registration is required. ‘It’s a unique area,’ says Parsons. ‘It’s stars, ‘All of the tents were full, peo- you can still get a beer!’ Woolworths, owners of Dan Murphy’s. To secure a place, call Mr Troy Bell very local but it is connected to the rest ple were listening and engaging in all Q See the video of this story at The corporation has applied to on 02 9995 0355 or email bell@ilga. of the country and internationally; in sorts of topics oft en with writers they transfer an existing licence from Syd- nsw.gov.au. that way I never felt like an outsider.’ may not have heard of. Th e program netdaily ney to shop 11–20, 108 Jonson Street, Registrations close Wednesday Au- Bob Brown was clearly the hit of this was about ideas and bringing sessions Go to echonetdaily.net.au Byron Bay (beneath Dendy cinemas). gust 29. <echowebsection=Local News> Local News Bruns boat ramp closes Bullying tackled though Jigsaw Hans Lovejoy now more expensive to stay at. When asked what alter- Th e boat ramp located at Ferry natives are available for the Reserve Holiday Park in Brun- public, the spokesperson said swick Heads has been closed another public boat ramp is to the public by the state gov- located at the nearby boat har- ernment. bour. A spokesman for Crown Lands (division of the Depart- Many caravan parks ment of Primary Industries) now state controlled told The Echo the road access- ing the boat ramp is now part And when asked how state of the foreshore reserve. control of public assets benefi ts ‘Th e foreshore reserve now a community in light of resi- Lake Eyre and Outback 3 day tour extends to the waterfront with- dents’ concerns, the spokes- Story & photo Eve Jeff ery Public School students Jack Moree, Thargomindah, Noccundra Hotel, Napper Merrie and Dig Tree, Stopover out being dissected by a public person said, ‘Th e [North Coast and Leela and principal Mick Innaminka Hotel, Lake Eyre North, SINGLES road and reserve users do not Accommodation Trust] is A multi-award-winning well- Channells. William Creek Hotel, Lake Eyre & COUPLES have to contend with through upgrading facilities at holiday being program addressing bul- Mr Channells is the NSW South, Flinders Rangers and July & August booked traffi c.’ parks under its management in lying and violence is coming to project offi cer for Jigsaw. Wilpena Pound, Broken Hill, out. Taking bookings Stopover White Cliffs Under- Since the NSW state govern- order to off er the public a range Byron Bay. Th ere will be a professional for September & of accommodation options at ground Motel, Bourke Outback October NOW ment took over the administra- ‘Solving the Jigsaw’ employs development training course Museum, Lightning Ridge Opal tour. tion of some of the Shire’s cara- competitive prices.’ the support of teachers, social for Jigsaw next week in Byron In a Piper Twin Comanche. van parks, many residents have He added that advisory sig- workers, guidance offi cers and Bay. Includes fl ights, tours & accommodation voiced concerns that access to nage was posted at the ramp child-support workers. For more information visit SPECIAL PRICES the river has been blocked to four weeks before the road was Pictured is casual teacher Jan the Jigsaw website: www. public use and the facilities are closed. Daly with Brunswick Heads solvingthejigsaw.org.au. 02 6686 4876 Byron Bay Air Charter Please join us on Thursday 9th August at Keep our doctor, pleads 12-year-old epileptic 5.30pm at the Community Centre to hear what continued from page 1 care category. ‘If patient safety concerns can’t transferred to Tweed Hospital. Byron United your Chamber of Commerce are and choose when people get He said the Connecting Criti- be addressed, then the trial on a Many people said they moved up to, and to have your say.