THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 [email protected] [email protected] Available early Tuesday at: http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 22 #18 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2007 22,300 copies every week HANG ON TO THE RUBBER BAND AActingcting uupp iiss ggoodood fforor yyourour sshortshorts Low carbon future for Byron? The Ethos Foundation, Permafor- est Trust and Ebono Institute have joined forces to deliver Pathways to a Low Carbon Future, a forum at the Byron Community Cultural Centre on Thursday October 25. The forum will discuss the urgency for change, the experiences of the Beaudesert Shire across the border in Queensland and a 2020 Vision for the Wollumbin Caldera. The evening will focus on strate- gies for achieving change at a com- munity level, overcoming regula- tory obstacles and the challenges we face as we make the transition to a sustainable lifestyle. As Tim Winton put it recently on the Bay FM radio program The Generator, ‘We have had the technology to reduce our footprint for some time. Most of the challenges are human.’ The evening will include musical interludes and snippets of new and well respected fi lms to comple- ment presentations from the main speakers. The evening will fi nish with questions from the audience and a call for suggestions for com- Emma Hamblin looks serious in Hot Shorts. Playing a committed Christian, Emma argues against euthanasia in ‘It’s a Free Country’. Hot Shorts, eleven short plays munity action from the audience. by local writers, will play the Byron Community Centre theatre, October 19, 20, 26, 27. Bookings 6685 6807. Photo Jeff ‘Histrionics Never Repeats’ Dawson Introduced by Byron Shire Mayor Jan Barham, the speakers are well known in their fi elds. The dogs bark, but the caravans move in Tim Winton has built The Per- maforest Trust as a not-for-profi t The north coast of NSW is the NSW was the most popular state according to caravan and camping ‘Meeting the needs of luxury education centre and demonstra- most popular region for domestic for caravanners and campers with industry research. travellers will see four and fi ve tion farm in Barkers Vale in the visitors, in terms of nights spent in 13.5 million domestic visitor It is estimated that there are star cabins in more parks, larger Tweed Valley. He is well known as caravan or camping accommoda- nights. around 70,000 and 80,000 cara- RVs with all the modern conven- a speaker on Permaculture, Peak tion, according to the ‘Caravan or In total, 42 million domestic vanners travelling on an extended iences will see larger motorhome Oil and transitional lifestyles. Camping in Australia 2006’ report visitor nights were spent participat- tour around Australia at any one and caravan sites in parks. Dr Sally MacKinnon is a direc- released recently by Tourism ing in the caravan and camping time and around 330,000 recrea- ‘The industry is a lucrative one tor of the Ethos Foundation, Research Australia (TRA). industry nationwide in 2006. tional vehicles (for example cara- and one that is progressing to founder of the Gondwana Centre The north coast attracted 2.8 Caravan and camping tourism vans, motorhomes, camper trail- meet the needs of the general and deeply involved in the Austral- million domestic visitor nights in significantly contributes to the ers) registered in Australia. touring public.’ ian water, energy and sustainable caravan or camping accommoda- economy with $6.5 billion spent According to Barry Baillie, CEO ‘Unique experiences’ are a large development industries. tion in 2006 and the south coast of within Australia by domestic and of the Caravan and Camping part of caravan and camping hol- Giovanni Ebono is founder and NSW attracted 2.4 million visitor international caravan and camping Industry Association of NSW idays. producer of the popular radio nights. visitors during 2006. (CCIA), ‘Now more than ever, For this reason, Australian car- show, The Generator, author of Syd- According to TRA’s report, in The growth of the industry is holiday parks and recreational avanners and campers are more ney’s Guide to Saving the 2006 there were 8 million domes- evident with caravan registrations vehicle manufacturers are develop- likely to enjoy activities such as Planet, editor of Sustainable Living tic visitors and 277,000 interna- over the past 10 years increasing ing the products and services to general sightseeing (37%), going for Dummies and the Greens candi- tional visitors staying in caravan from 4,982 in 1995 to 18,000 in meet the “changing face” of Aus- to the beach (36%) and bushwalk- date for the federal seat of and camping accommodation. 2005 – an increase of 261 per cent tralian travel. ing (24%). Richmond. "%!#(&2/.4 3HOP"AY7HALERS,AWSON3T Is moving... Massive moving sale ends October 13 New Shop opens October 15 at 21 Fletcher Street 2 October 9, 2007 Byron Shire Echo www.echo.net.au Local News 6/*26& Fashion show raises funds for O’Meara family 41"$& ÀÊi>ÃiÊÕÕLLÞ /«ÊyÊÀÊ«ÀiÊ«ÃÌÊ £ääõÊV°ÊL>VÞ -ÕÌÊ«ÀviÃÃ>ÊÃÕÌiÃ] vwÊVi]ÊÀiÌ>]Ê i>Ì ÊÀÊ>ÀÌÊ }>iÀÞÊÊ }Êi>ÃiÊ>Û>>Li iÊä{££ÊÓÎÎÊÇxx -i>Ã>ÊViÀÌwi`Ê ÃÀi À}>VÊÛi}iÌ>LiÊ>`Ê ,ÕÀ>Ê ÕÞ}Ê-iÀÛVi ,>LÜÊ,i} iÀLÊÃii`}ÃÊ>ÀiÊ "À}>VÊ>ÀiÌÊ/ÕiÃ`>ÞÊq >Û>>LiÊ>Ì\ n>££>ÊÃÀiÊ- Ü}ÀÕ`à "Vi>Ê- Àià /ÀÕiÊ6>ÕiÊ>À`Ü>Ài ÕÕLLÞ ,ÕÀ>Ê « " Ê>}ÊÌÊ*ÌÊÌ ÞÀÊ >Þ `iÊ>ÌÊ ÞÀÊ>À`iÊ iÌÀi ÜiÀÃÊ"Ê/ iÊ,Õ äÓÊÈÈn{Ê£Ó{ ÀÊÀiÊvÀ>ÌÊÛÃÌÊ À}>VÃii`}ðV°>Õ -Ê °ÊÓx£È Four of the Byron designers, Indigo Pollard, Kim Fowler, Mayee Tjintana said she hopes this will become an annual event not only Carlyle Herlow and Shirley Harman met with Jules Reid, top left, raising the profile of local design talent but also raising funds for and organiser Tjintana Matahari on Saturday to help plan Byron a local need. This year money will be raised to aid the daughters Couture, their December fashion expo. The fashion showcase of Kathleen O’Meara whose tragic death from meningococcal event will feature a trade fair meets expo come catwalk parade virus made the full time care of Kristie who has cerebral palsy the ,$)&(&$)('(# # plus cabaret to be held on the afternoon and evening of Decem- responsibility of her other sisters Ashley and Haleigh. &')!('#) #'&* %!' ber 8 at The Buddha Bar. Photo Jeff ‘Totally Frocked’ Dawson $#((&(($##!($, Further vandalism last straw for fire brigade &((!&'$") Eve Jeffery weeks. Stuart claims that Gaggin Park made an alco- the community at risk, espe- Recent damage amounting vandalism is caused by local hol free zone to give police cially when it affects the to over $6000 to the Suffolk youths who live in Suffolk more scope for moving the mobilisation of the fire +++,&$#,&!'(($") Park Fire Station, Gaggin Park. kids on. trucks. Park and the surrounding ‘They are regular and Damage caused to the sta- ‘Last Friday morning we area in Alcorn Street is the known faces. In the past we tion has seen the need for could not get the truck out last straw for brigade mem- have taken photographs and new roller and security of the station to attend a fi re bers and local residents. forwarded them to police.’ doors, repainting, new lights, because of the damage to the Byron Bay Bromeliad With an average 100 fi re He also believes that it is repairs to a timber ramp, door.’ calls a year, responding to alcohol use that is fuelling and water pipes that have The Suffolk Park Associa- & Air Plant Nursery fi res outside of Byron Bay the attacks. ‘We are continu- had to be replaced twice. tionwill be hosting an open including the Sydney and ally reporting to police, Last week the station was forum for residents of Suf- Tues 10–3 Canberra fi restorms, Cabar- groups of underage kids vandalised four nights in a folk Park on Monday night Phone 6680 1887 ita, Gold Coast and the cur- congregating in the park and row and though the police October 15 at 7pm in the Wed 10–3 or 0414 510 345 rent Evans Head fi res, the drinking alcohol.’ have told residents they are back room of the Park Hotel Fri 10–3 Turn into Tandys Lane (next to Uncle Toms, Mullum) crew has enough to do with He also believes that the patrolling Suffolk Park to discuss the increasing Sat 10–3 We’re 800m on the left. their time without repairing alcohol is coming from out- around the clock, there are problem with kids in the ~ damage from unthinking side the area. strong concerns that this area and the lack of policing. vandals. ‘The Park Hotel has been isn’t happening. The Mayor, Senior Police ~ Stuart Amos, president of proactive in managing ‘Parents need to be more and Don Page have been www.offshorebistro.com.au the Byron Bay Rural Fire underage drinking and I can accountable for their under- invited to attend. Brigade, says that vandalism prove that the alcohol that age children being on the The Association feels the in Gaggin Park and minor the kids are consuming in street,’ said Mr Amos. Police need to attend as the damage to the station occurs Gaggin Park is a brand that ‘Kids are seen congregat- community have lost faith in each school holidays, but the Park Hotel does not ing in groups between 8pm them. For more information major destruction has sell.’ and 2am some nights. The about the meeting phone occurred in the last two Mr Amos would like to see destruction caused is putting Diana on 6685 3565.