Preschools Rage Against Buttery Patrons’ Loving Embrace ‘Dismal’ State Funding
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THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 healthÊ Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 &Ê [email protected] [email protected] http://www.echo.net.au beauty VOLUME 21 #38 TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2007 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only BRIAN BURKE WAS NOT HERE Preschools rage against Buttery patrons’ loving embrace ‘dismal’ state funding Story & photo Lou Beaumont The statewide rallies will tens of thousands of letters, Last week, NSW preschools highlight the exorbitant fees faxes and emails to the Pre- and their families held and low participation rates mier and relevant Ministers, another statewide rally aimed that are proving to be a bug- protesting around the state in squarely at NSW Premier bear for the state Labor gov- April 2006 and lobbying Morris Iemma. The rallies ernment and more particu- local members and candi- were organised by Children’s larly Morris Iemma who has dates. The lobby group, made Choice, the lobby group for staked his campaign on his up of preschool parents and NSW preschoolers. Chil- credentials as a family man educators, is accusing the dren’s Choice, a grassroots in touch with the concerns Premier of mishandling the organisation established by of NSW families.’ preschool issue from the preschool staff, parents and Nikki Kempnich, parent beginning. other preschool stakeholder and spokesperson from Kerry Grigg told The Echo, groups from across NSW, Byron Bay Preschool, said, ‘NSW families pay the high- presently have over 350 pre- ‘We are all busy working est preschool fees in the schools under the Children’s families – we feel very angry country and as a result, NSW Choice ‘banner’. In the past that we have been forced to has the lowest preschool par- 12 months they have suc- protest yet again to get the ticipation rate of any Austral- Two famous musos from David Helfgott, much nator Dee Tipping said, ‘It cessfully lobbied for addi- message across to the Pre- ian state or territory. Accord- opposite ends of the spec- loved patron of The Buttery, was quite overwhelming to tional money for preschools, mier and his government.’ ing to the Productivity trum take time to embrace with his wife Gillian dropped have such wonderful sup- however, they believe there is Ms Kempnich said at the Commission, NSW children the new Buttery building in to give a morning recital porters of The Buttery all still a long way to go. rally in Byron Bay on Friday, have the lowest percentage of project with each other in the to Buttery staff and residents arriving at the same time but Children’s Choice spokes- ‘We are outraged at what our participation in preschool grounds of The Riverview and to update on fundraising it provided an ideal opportu- person and mother of fi ve state Labor government is services at around 60% while Guesthouse, Bangalow. Rick efforts. Rick flew in from nity for David, Gillian, Rick Kerry Grigg said, ‘Mr Iem- doing to our preschools. Pre- other states’ participation Grossman of Divinyls, Hoo- Sydney to pre-record an and myself to discuss some ma’s attempts to position school is not childcare, it is rates are on average 96%. doo Gurus and Ghostwriters onscreen presentation for the exciting news around a fund- himself as the concerned an education system. We ‘In most other states and fame gets a good dose of the Buttery’s fundraising launch raising CD by top Australian family man and father of need more funding in order territories preschool is free or David Helfgott charm and in Sydney on March 15, as artists. After hearing David four in the leadup to the to be able to continue to hire involves a relatively small vol- trademark hug as they dis- Rick fl ies to the US with the play and hug us all at least election are abhorrent given qualifi ed staff without fur- untary contribution, so it’s cuss music industry efforts to Gurus for a two week tour three times each and then his government’s dismal ther increases in fees.’ easy to see why there is such help build the new Buttery, over that period. Rick telling his story of recov- record on preschool funding. Children’s Choice has sent continued on page 4 an alcohol and drug reha- David Helfgott will give a ery barely a dry eye was to be bilitation centre. recital at The Buttery Sydney seen in The Buttery that Rick, an ex resident of The event and Norman Swann morning.’ Buttery some 20 years ago from The Health Report will For updates on Buttery and in recovery for that interview Professor Shane events visit www.buttery.org. amount of time, is coordinat- Darke, an expert in matters au. For more information ing members of the music of drug and alcohol issues. contact Dee Tipping on 6687 industry to get behind fund- The Help Build a Better 1623. raising efforts for the project. Buttery fundraising coordi- Photo Jeff ‘Cuddles’ Dawson $100,000 for Bruns skate park Michael McDonald Greens councillors Tom but felt it was the wrong Mayor Jan Barham used her Tabart, John Lazarus and location, saying it was taken casting vote last Thursday to Richard Staples voted against out of town because of objec- commit Byron Shire Council the proposals with Crs West- tions by business interests. to putting $100,000 towards heimer and Mangleson, In an amendment, which the development of a skate while the mayor found her- was defeated 6-4, Cr Westhe- park at the Stan Thompson self aligned with Crs Woods, imer sought to have a report sporting complex at Bruns- Tucker, Tardif and Kestle. A brought to Council on the wick Heads. Cr Diane Woods Brunswick Heads resident, upgrading of sporting facili- Frustrated teachers, parents and the children of Byron Shire’s preschools rallied for a ‘Day of Rage’, put up the notice of motion Cr Tabart was not opposed ties in the Shire’s north, part of a statewide action highlighting the lack of funding for community based preschools. to get the project started. to a skate park for the town continued on page 2 2 March 6, 2007 Byron Shire Echo www.echo.net.au Local News Dispute emerges over Tallow Creek sludge PRECISION DENTURES Hans Lovejoy David Stanford Smith Suffolk Park residents and Adv Dip. DP (Syd), Dip. DT (Syd) Byron at Byron management are at odds over who is Dental Prosthetist responsible for the buildup Technical & Clinical Excellence of weeds and low water level in Tallow creek. Finely crafted for Comfort Residents say the resort’s bridge and the wire fence Engineered for Function recently installed underneath Designed for Living have choked the fl ow of Tal- low Creek, while the resort’s manager John Parché claims that the low water level is 1µÕi due to the natural cycle of `Û`Õ> the creek. ‘The weed prob- i>ÕÌvÕ lem existed well before the wire fence and bridge were Suite 5/97 Stuart St, Mullumbimby 6684 3677 in place,’ he told The Echo. his [owner Gerry Harvey’s] station at Suffolk Park. ‘It frontal dune is suffi cient to Tallow Creek runs through guests – that we are more has spread throughout the cause the estuary to break The Byron at Byron’s prop- important than our ecol- length of Tallow Creek and out. Lightforce Computers erty, and in the past has ogy?’ unless controlled will poten- ‘In some cases – for exam- Is your Hard Drive getting full? Need more been used by residents to Another resident Geoff tially result in deoxygenation ple Belongil Creek – Byron MP3 - Photos- or Movies storage? Great Deals on External HD’s this week! access Tallow Lake further Wright remembers paddling of the water and fi sh kills. Shire Council has adopted a Don’t dump your old files...add more room! 320GB & 500GB upstream by canoe. It has upstream to the lake before ‘North Coast Weeds have management regime whereby HD’s* arrived this week at great prices along with many new since been closed as it is it was blocked. ‘There is no been spraying Salvinia in the estuary is mechanically external cases w/a variety of Firewire and USB2 connections. private property. drought in the Northern recent years with mixed opened. This has limited the • Icecube II USB2 case w/320GB 5 yr warranty HardDrive $299 • Icecube II USB2 case w/500 GB 5 yr waranty HardDrive $479 Neighbour Tarek Nabi is Rivers – weeds have been results. 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HD $1399 move past the fence and the However environmental Tallow Creek’s water level out.’ • Dual bay Xpress FW800/400/USB2 1X 320 GB 5 yr warr.HD $389 creek is now full of weeds.’ consultant Peter Parker is related to the sand banks Tallow Creek is known to • Dual bay Xpress FW800/400/USB2 1X 320 GB 5 yr warr.HD $599 Soho Raid 3610 Mr Nabi claims the creek claims the weeds are a com- at the mouth of the lake drain out naturally a few Note:Sohos and Dual bays can be purchased w/1 drive w/add’l drives added later Raid 0-1 auto rebuild is dying slowly and calls on mon problem.