THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 P]SQTPdch Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 [email protected] [email protected] Available early Tuesday at: http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 22 #09 TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2007 22,300 copies every week GO THE BLUES! *>}iÊÎÓ Farewell, Geoff Williams Music and sunshine make for November 19, 1950-July 30, 2007 Splendour in the Grass Hans Lovejoy alcohol overdoses, drink- Ride, The Hoodoo Gurus, Geoff Williams, Echo adver- drug driving and party- Arctic Monkeys and The tising manager and Bruns- For the first time in four related injuries were recorded Hilltop Hoods were some of wick Heads resident, died of years it wasn’t reduced to a by the local hospital and Sunday’s highlights. Despite cancer at John Flynn hospital mudpit. Winter sunshine police. Fines for sleeping in the cancellation of two inter- on the Gold Coast on Mon- broke through the morning cars were also issued by national drawcards, The day July 30, aged 56. drizzle last Saturday, setting Council Rangers according Klaxons and Damien Rice, His life was celebrated by the stage for possibly the best family and friends last Thurs- lineup Splendour In The to at least one witness, and replacement bands The Waifs day on the banks of his Grass has ever seen. Over complaints ranged from tres- and The Hot Chip DJs were beloved Brunswick River. 17,500 music lovers danced, passing to public urinating. luckily available to perform Born in Melbourne on partied and sent each other It’s all about the music, at late notice. November 19, 1950, Geof- text messages throughout the however, and this year’s line- Police kept a visible pres- frey Kenneth Williams grew two day event, bringing a up of local and international ence throughout the town up in the city and was edu- colourful and vibrant atmos- acts did not disappoint. and festival site. A learner cated there before moving on phere to Byron Bay. Car- Local bands Sara Tindley driver and his nominated to a career in newspaper park, tent and festival capac- and the Kingfi shers and Wild supervisor were charged with publishing. ity was also pushed to the Marmalade opened the fes- drink driving on Sunday Among the many speakers limit. The best T-shirt slogan tival on Saturday with Aussie night at Ewingsdale, accord- at his service, Geoff’s father of the festival? ‘No politics. favourites Grinspoon, Pow- ing to NSW Police Online. Ken recalled his natural gre- Just parties.’ derfi nger and London song- The pair will appear at Byron gariousness, how he would as As with any major musical stress Lily Allen headlining Bay Local Court on Friday a child sit astride the family festival, cases of drug and the night, while local act The continued on page 2 letterbox and chat with pas- sersby. He also noted Geoff’s sporting prowess, in athletics and rowing, and recounted how the great distance run- ner Ron Clarke arrived at the family doorstep to encourage Geoff with a gift of running gear. Geoff also backpacked through Europe, said Ken, who had overheard him watch the volume of sales before being employed in the spouting his own verse at the increased hugely, but just as newspaper industry at The local river. importantly he taught us to Age in Melbourne, Towns- Another pub was owned treat the business with pro- ville and with Rural Press at by the then retired Australian fessionalism, and to keep Merimbula. world champion boxer Lionel leavening it with good sense His friend from Caulfi eld Rose, and Tony remembered and humour as he did. He Grammar, Tony Maine, Geoff dancing the pugilist fi tted in so well at the news- recalled their rowing days publican around the room to paper because he had things together and his stint at the strains of the just-released to say, and I regret that we Latrobe University, where American Pie. didn’t insist on Geoff writing Geoff graduated in Arts/Sci- Geoff came to The Echo in more because when you ence. Geoff had a great love 1999, and as Echo publisher drew him out on the subject of science, exhibited in an David Lovejoy remarked, of Australian rural media he impressive knowledge of ‘immediately impressed his was a fund of anecdote and physics and geography. stamp on the newspaper. He insight. There was even more to was well-organised, far- ‘He loved the paper and Geoff, however – he loved a sighted, and clear about his he loved the area where he punt and a drink and was an plans, and he accompanied it found himself after years avid Carlton AFL supporter. all with a delicious probing with the corporate press. He Poetry was another string to wit. threw himself into local his bow and Tony told how ‘Geoff’s infl uence on The Brunswick issues and got to Geoff once impressed the Echo was therefore entirely know everybody. Melbourne musician Wally De Backer as his solo project Gotye attacks the drums at Splendour. See locals at the Jingellic pub, benefi cial. Certainly on his continued on page 2 more pictures on page 18. Photo Jeff ‘Pit Bull’ Dawson 2 August 7, 2007 Byron Shire Echo www.echo.net.au Local News Splendour in ALL SCRAP METAL WANTED the Grass Local artist tangos for Oz , Ê* Ê1*Ê- ,6 Ê From front page Well-known local artist Jan 7 Ê 19Ê/ Ê"/ September 7. Police were Rae is also a tango star. With happy with the cooperation her partner George Milu- UÊ,Ê +1* / novich she will be competing UÊ ,Ê " - of the majority of the crowds, UÊ/,1 Ê " - event and emergency staff, at the World Tango Champi- UÊ,"" according to Inspector Ross onships in Buenos Aires. UÊ "** , Wilkinson. On Easter Sunday on the UÊ ,-- stage of the Concert Hall of UÊ1 1 ‘There was a large increase UÊ in numbers this year,’ he told the Sydney Opera House, UÊ-/ -- The Echo, ‘though it was dis- George and Jan entered the UÊ9Ê - appointing to see the num- semi-fi nals of the Australian UÊ /, Ê"/",-ÊUÊ, /",-ÊUÊÊ7 -Ê Tango Championships. UÊ // , -UÊÊ7 Ê"7 ,-ÊUÊÊ ,Ê "8 - bers of drug and alcohol related offences.’ Together with more than 30 " 9Ê"7 Ê Ê"* ,/ Inspector Wilkinson said other couples they danced -/Ê "-/Ê there were 33 DUIs for alco- three tangos before the /Ê, 9 ,- hol and nine were charged judges from Buenos Aires for driving under the infl u- and won. 1300 788 412 ence of other drugs. There They will be dancing was also 30 arrests for drug ‘Salon Tango’ which is possession. regarded as the more elegant Numbers of hospital style danced in the tango "03UFFOLK0ARK admissions and ambulance salons of Buenos Aires. assistance were up from last More information about 3ERVICE#ENTRE year, according to figures the Championships can be from North Coast Area found at www.tangodata. 0HONEÈÈnxÊΣ££ Health Service (NCAHS). com. An interview with Jan Last year 105 people needed and George is available medical attention, while this online at http://tangoaus- -* year the number was 153. tralia.com.au. fÓä Photo Claire McClelland ‘Less aggressive’ Ài}ÊV iVà spokesperson Fay Gleave vviÀÊi`ÃÊΣÃÌÊÕ}ÕÃÌÊÓääÇÊ NCAHS spokesperson also added, ‘With an Farewell, Geoff Williams Robin Osborne told The extremely busy weekend, the >Ê,>« ÊÀÊ ÊÌÊ Echo, ‘From what I’m told, St Johns team worked very From front page ‘Coco, when we got µÕÀiÊ>LÕÌÊÕÀÊ the crowds were less aggres- well together and managed ‘In particular I remember married I made a vow to stay , Ê "1,/ -9Ê ,Ê 2ALPH+YNOCH *OHN7RAIGHT sive than last year, possibly all facets of treatment. We’re how much he did for our with you in sickness and in >`ÉÀÊÕÀÊiÜÊvviÀÊvÊ Bangalow correspondent health, until death do us ÈÊÌ ÃÊÌiÀiÃÌvÀiiÊÌiÀÃÊ due to a decrease in crystal very grateful to our staff, methaphetamine use, though event security and the NSW Kaye Hall when she contrac- part. Ê>ÞÊiV >V>ÊÀi«>ÀÃÊÛiÀÊfxää ted cancer, ironically lung ‘We were together through ÌÊ>««ÀÛi`Ê>««V>ÌÃ°Ê there were reports of dehy- Ambulance Service for their dration despite drinking splendid cooperation and cancer, and fought it for sickness and now death has /iÀÃÊ>`ÊV`ÌÃÊ>««Þ° water being available for response.’ many months. parted us, I want you to free.’ More than 31 per cent of ‘She died last year and just know I did this not out of a He also said emergency attendees at the sold-out fes- six months ago Geoff lear- sense of duty and not because admissions were concentrated tival bought special ‘green’ ned that he faced the same I made the vow, but because 26*5 largely in the 20 to 40 year tickets to offset their carbon battle.’ I love you.’ age group, and were mainly emissions, according to a fes- The most heart-breaking Among the celebrations 4.0,*/( due to adverse reactions to a tival spokesperson. speech came from Naree, on the Thursday there was "GUFSPOFUSFBUNFOU mix of alcohol and drugs, pre- ‘With our current location Geoff’s wife of three years, also music and song. Zan, dominantly ecstasy. at capacity we look forward and was read out by her Geoff’s daughter from a pre- ‘Byron Shire clinical staff to working towards a new friend Eve Jeffery. vious marriage, sang the -04& did a terrifi c job in coping home at Yelgun for Splen- It said in part: ‘If Coco 23rd Psalm and his nephew with the unusually high dour 2008,’ she said.