THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 [email protected] [email protected] http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 21 #21 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2006 See centre 22,300 copies every week pages $1 at newsagents only THE DEAD CAN DANCE Women call for a world Bring a brolly to warming walk without violence Story & photo Lou Beaumont Mandy Nolan, our mayor sexual violence against Staunch supporters turned Jan Barham, Sharon Brodie women are unacceptable. A up to Reclaim the Night on of the Richmond Sexual quarter of all women under Friday night despite the wind Assault Service (RSAS) and 18 will experience some form and rain that threatened to Zenith Virago of the Byron of sexual assault. This is not keep them away. The mes- Reclaim the Night Collec- acceptable.’ sage was as clear as ever, and tive. The crowd was also pre- Jan Barham added that it there couldn’t have been a sented with red ‘Wishing was wonderful to see so many more appropriate time to Threads’ for their wrists – young women in the crowd. shout it with Sheik Alhilali’s each one an ongoing symbol She said demonstrations like ‘uncovered meat’ comments of a wish for a world without this are vital because, ‘If still ringing in ears across violence. we’re not heard, we can be Australia. Mandy Nolan noted, ‘It’s ignored, and we can’t allow This year the crowd that appropriate we all wear red that to happen. gathered consisted of women on this night. Red is the col- ‘This year I am pleased to of all ages. Mothers and chil- our of love, power and the say Council are implementing dren, and young women, all colour of passion. But it is two strategies using Attorney standing together to publicly also the colour of pain and General’s grants. Expect Umbrella group, Byron High year 10 students Bianca Shaw, Cody Butler, Mitchell Booth and Matt demand an end to all forms rage. You are here tonight to Respect programs will be run- Christie, talk up the walk against global warming. Photo Jeff ‘Rising Sleaze’ Dawson of sexual violence. Clothed demonstrate, by your pres- ning throughout high schools It’s 2070 and Byron Shire is toward not occurring. for both the NCCAG and in red, the crowd was fi red ence and through your voice, in the area, and our Safe experiencing yet another Two NCCAG events being the Rainforest Information up by Sister of Ceremonies that the current statistics on Events Strategy will call on record breaking drought, the held this week give Byron Centre and can be purchased organisers of every event and once verdant ranges have Shire residents the opportu- from Santos stores at both festival to pay particular atten- transformed into a brown nity to become better Mullum and Byron. Infor- tion to the safety of women weedy scrub under the com- informed about the issues mation stalls and sessions are and children. Council is work- bined onslaught of drought surrounding the emerging being organised by NCCAG ing to develop more positive and extreme fi re regime and threat posed by global warm- in conjunction with the fi lm’s and respectful interactions summer day time tempera- ing and more importantly screening. between people.’ tures in downtown Mullum provide a call to action on NCCAG has also organised Mandy reminded the are regularly exceeding 40º the solutions that need to be a local event as part of the crowd that Reclaim is an C. Sun shielding umbrellas implemented. This Thursday national ‘Walk Against Warm- international event – that the have become the fashion Al Gore’s global warming ing’ Campaign which is hap- Byron crowd is a small part accessory de jour for the heat movie An Inconvenient Truth pening this Saturday Novem- of a huge web of women stressed locals. This is the will premiere at the Byron ber 4 in all capital cities and building a sense of connect- scenario that the North Cinemas. Tickets to the 6.30 many regional areas. Local edness worldwide through Coast Climate Action Group and 8.30 sessions are being walkers are asked to meet at this cause. She called for (NCCAG) wants all to work sold as a benefi t fundraiser continued on page 7 women to not just Reclaim the Night, but instead to reclaim 24 hours. ‘We want the whole lot back!’ Youth offi cer job saved (just) Mandy continued, ‘How Michael McDonald which has yet to be fi lled. tied, with Crs Tucker, can we not address the deep The state government takeo- The $43,200 for the job Woods, Mangleson, Tardif issues that fuel the attitudes ver of crown caravan parks was reinstated solely on the and Kestle voting against that lead to this behaviour? has hit Byron Shire Council mayor’s casting vote. Crs the amendment. Rape is not an attractive or hard, with staff estimating a Mangleson and Woods put During public access sexy issue so it is all too often loss of over $800,000 in up a motion which would Byron Youth Service (BYS) silenced. The Reclaim the funding and a net fi nancial have seen the position go as director Paul Spooner made Night movement began in impact of $369,000 for the part of a budget remake, an impassioned speech on Rome when authorities con- 06/07 fi nancial year. Among while Crs Lazarus and Sta- the loss of the YDO. sistently failed to act on sex- the cuts planned to deal with ples put up an amendment ‘How much was Council’s ual assault allegations. Vic- the loss was the axing of the which would see the job stay. 2005 revenue?’ asked Mr tims were not heard and new youth development The votes on the motion Spooner. Women of all ages turned out to Reclaim the Night. continued on page 2 officer (YDO) position and the amendment were continued on page 4 2 October 31, 2006 Byron Shire Echo www.echo.net.au Local News NOW OPEN FOR DINNER Support offered for single parents Beach Bistro Alfresco Dining Story & photo Lou Beaumont sought help from her local Sunset Cocktails If there was a prize for fi lling church. There, she was intro- a niche, Katie Thompson, duced to the Flamingo Club founder of not-for-profit which ran a single parents MEDITER ASIAN TASTES U Soul Parents Inc, may just be support group. The group a contender. The Northern gave her tremendous support An eclectic selection of tastes from Rivers, and in particular and understanding when she the Mediterranean and Asia. Byron Shire, has the highest needed it most. rate of parents receiving the It was this group that #HILDE3TREET "ELONGIL Breakfast UÊLunchU Dinner Single Parent Pension in inspired Soul Parents – an "YRON"AY Australia. Newly formed organisation that aims to Soul Parents will aim to enhance the positives of "92/."!9 address the multitude of being a single parent, or any 42!$).' fi nancial, emotional and spir- parent. With ongoing sup- #/-0!.9 itual issues that arise from port and education pro- 2EJECT3HOP being a sole parent. grams, Soul Parents allows Like so many ideas, Soul parents to revisit themselves, 4OPSHELF'ERMANTITANIUM Parents was borne of a series to nourish their souls in order NON STICKCASTCOOKWARE of diffi cult personal experi- to have something to give .OWOFRYINGPANSWITHREMOVABLEHANDLEFOR ences. back to their children. OVENBAKING PLUSLARGECASTPOTS Katie is a single mother of ‘As single parents so many two boys, Malachi (6 years) of us are, understandably, 4OPSHELF)TALIANFRYPANS and Mischa (4 years), who entirely focused on the needs "ALLARINANON STOCKFRYINGPANS ALLSIZES has been divorced now for of our kids. Ironically, we FROM three years. Soon after the probably become less able to "ALLARINA4ITANIUMFRYINGPANS divorce, she found herself give them the love and true seeking support as a physi- guidance they need as we have CM cally and emotionally drained let go of our true selves, our CM single parent of a one and own needs, in the process. CM three year old. In an effort to ‘Soul Parents will help cre- fi nd that support, she moved ate and maintain a positive Katie Thompson and her boys Mischa and Malachi. +NIVES back to Sydney to be with outlook in the face of adver- doubt perpetuated by wel- are victims and dependent 3HEFlELD PCEKNIFEBLOCK her family. What she hadn’t sity and encourage parents to fare handouts.’ on welfare. Likewise, we as anticipated was that her fam- come back to themselves and With so many parents an organisation are looking 3PECIALON&ELIX3OLINGENAND:WILLING'ERMAN ily was neither willing nor celebrate their strengths. I receiving Government pen- to break free of the system. KNIVESANDBLOCKS able to lend her the support believe as parents we must sion in the area, Soul Parents To do this, we need to create !NDSOMANYMOREESSENTIAL AFFORDABLE she needed so badly. fi ll ourselves fi rst by fostering aims to offer advice and sup- sponsorship partnerships. We ELEGANTTHINGS ‘My siblings are a fair bit our own needs as people and port to reduce this depend- would ideally like to rely on younger than me and I think allowing that fulfi lment to ency. Support will come in sources of income other than */.3/.342%%4 "92/."!9 /00/3)4%"92/.#).%-! 6)3)4/52/.,).%3(/0 they just couldn’t compre- fl ow over into our families the form of workshops, focus government.’ WWW ONLINEBARGAINSHOPPING COMAU hend the pressure that I was and our community.