Dream Of Aquarius Garry goes to greener pastures by Wendy Kay Published by Red Cedar Press and Lismore City Nimbin’s police sergeant Council in ‘99 Not Out, Short Stories and Poetry Garry Acton is moving ne Saturday Anthology, Northern Rivers Seniors Week 1999. on after four years in the night recently, job. He is transferring to OI went up to in being bent! I am serious, because I know Murwillumbah, where he buy a plate of Curious there are divisions in Nimbin and I know also will be closer to his family. Curry from a stall in of many positive and good things happening “I’ve always been Garry,” he front of the Nimbin here. said, typifying his personable Town Hall. There If we take our blinkers off and open our approach to policing duties. was Mark Rodriquez, hearts, appreciation of Alternative can dawn. When he first took the doing a great trade, This is a reminder for me too. However, there position at Nimbin, it had selling his tasty vegetarian food and delectable is another side to Nimbin.... Graeme Dunstan been vacant for 13 months. bread rolls, cakes and slices. called it the shadow, when he came to speak Reflecting on his time in As I drove up in my ‘chariot’, I found myself to the Nimbin Older Women’s Forum. In the job, he said he saw a in the midst of an Aquarian celebration. The 1973, Graeme told us, the Australian Union marked changed in attitude, music, the chanting and the melodious rhythmic of Students was given an open-ended budget – both on the street and “The role of the cameras is appointed as the new beating of a small hand held drum, was lively with $20,000 they opened the Rainbow Cafe. amongst police. “Lismore noticeable,” he maintained. sergeant. He had worked and noisy. Soon a procession of children, “When we opened the Rainbow, it was the police were initially reluctant “They make people think previously at Lismore each holding a lighted candle in a homemade most joyous place”, Graeme said. “There was to take shifts in Nimbin, twice before doing an anti- station. “I think he’ll be candleholder, wended their way into the Town talent and luminosity of Spirit; Troubadours but now are volunteering,” social act.” alright,” said Garry Hall; the adults followed. and people came, the flotsam and jetsam of he said. Greg Pike has been In the hall, all these alternative people carried culture. The 1973 Aquarius Festival attracted on their celebration; many singing Krishna or visionaries and prophets, and then on the other Hare Krishna and the music and movement hand, came criminals and emotional cripples. Skate Park progress slow, unsteady accelerated and Benny Zable moved around Nimbin opened doors to lots of good; and then with his beautiful hand painted Nimbin flag, there, was the shadow.” which was literally floating above bobbing heads There is still talent and luminosity of spirit in – a result of Benny’s skill and swiftness and of a Nimbin. For instance, Nimbin has more visual lovely spirit pervading this joyous occasion. artists than anywhere else in Australia. The crowd drifted into the annex for the The ‘73 Festival established a different way to opening of the “Some Children of the Dream” look at Green issues. In ‘73, values were shared photo exhibition. Diana Roberts made a speech as practical experience; “People came to live and said amongst other things “sometimes I these values, in sufficient numbers, to make it feel I would like to put a wall around Nimbin viable, for instance, Green politics”, Graeme (presumably to protect us from undesirable said. “And the homebirthing movement started outside influences) and I think Nimbin has in Nimbin and also Multiple Occupancy.” He changed more in the last couple of years than reflected, “a result of this, is that people on in the first 17 years following the Aquarius MOs are now very good at finding resolutions Festival.” to property disputes.” Diana referred to the “Children of the Dream” Graeme Dunstan told our meeting that the and suggested “perhaps Nimbin can show the shadow is a reflection of wrong in other parts rest of the world, the way”. of the world. “The fact that people, especially These inspiring words were applauded by the the young, are turning to drugs, is a social The future of Nimbin’s small group has been at On the job. Tursa workers people who were packed into the annex. A glass phenomenon facing the whole world. The fault $120,000 steel skate park loggerheads for some time, at the skate park this month, of wine and savoury snacks were offered for $1 for this must be found within our society,” he facility remains unclear, though the official reason for where Commander Bruce Lyons a serve and then the bubble broke, with a burst said. following the postponement the delay is clerical. No date showed his support for physical of spontaneous singing; everyone broke into Everyone who has had a close encounter (of of a Council workshop to has yet been fixed for the activities for youth in the village. song, obviously a well loved and old familiar a colourful kind!) with Nimbin since the ‘73 report on progress. postponed workshop. tune that I had not heard before. It was sung Festival, has been touched by the place in one The workshop was to The rusting half-pipes over and over again with great sincerity and way or another. have been held in Lismore have been the target of documentary, it was warmth. These are the moving words: Sometimes the street scene will stir one’s soul to inform Councillors and heart-felt graffiti in recent described as “Nimbin’s white May the long time sun shine upon you, with compassion; emotions often run high in the public on the current weeks, mostly unflattering elephant,” and was screened All love surround you, Nimbin; anger and disgust run rife at times; situation, the noise studies to Council’s resolution to mayor Merv King at the 39 And the pure light within you generally though, it’s a town of great tolerance and the options to deal with process. In a Youth Club Hours film-making premiere. Guide your way on. and the acceptance ‘of difference’ makes our the issues surrounding this The singing of this lovely song, spontaneous town a special place. long-planned facility. and joyful, yet gentle and sweet, seemed to me Along with the breathtaking beauty of the Work halted on the to be, in effect, ‘un grand finale’ as these happy scenery, we have the scenario of a fascinating construction on the multi- people, the alternative people of Nimbin, tried and extremely diverse bunch of struggling challenge SK8 Park in an to show, by their luminosity of spirit, that the individuals living their lives for real. These are advanced stage following Spirit of Aquarius is still alive. Actually, many not plastic people, often faltering along life’s complaints to Council from were not trying .... Their ways are of gentleness way, sometimes hanging it all out for all to nearby residents last year. A and peace. see. The ageless words ‘fellow feeling make us consultative committee was So when you see someone who might appear wondrous kind’ cameos, the essence of Nimbin. formed, representing the a bit scruffy - perhaps with dreadlocks and It’s the people of Nimbin from all walks of interest groups in the park’s garb of hippie garments, let us remember (we so life, from the different spheres of society that development. called ‘straights’) that there is real beauty, often, make the place the wonderful place that it is. It is understood that this NimbinNimbin LifestyleLifestyle Real Estate 66 Cullen St, Nimbin 6689 1305 Geoff, Peter, John, Grant, Liz & Rita www.nimbinrealestate.com.au Page 2 The Nimbin GoodTimes March 2006 www.nimbingoodtimes.com Since when are we out of control? An unfortunate incident at the cemetery locals gather in a mob and try and intimidate first place was turn-off, involving a motor accident and an the officer,” apparently in reference to an pretty lazy alleged assault on a woman police officer, has isolated incident last year involving a plain- journalism. become a public relations disaster for tourism- clothed detective, which is currently before the Surely no dependent Nimbin. courts with the facts of the matter untested. investigative It is predictable that Thomas George Police commander Bruce Lyons was able journalist, and would inflate the incident to further his long- to provide good back-up to George for the there were standing case for additional police resources, Star: “Nimbin is an extremely difficult area to several there, particularly as, facing pre- police and it is dangerous. would let selection for his now-difficult Many times our police have such an arrant re-distributed seat, a law- been injured and police do generalisation and-order campaign would get intimidated.” These stand without be handy. But he went too far comments stand markedly a follow-up by extrapolating to the non- at odds with the everyday question. sensical comment, “Nimbin pleasant experience of Or was Jane (is) a Cronulla-style riot a peaceful co-operative Gardner’s waiting to happen.” It does village, noted by millions original piece no justice to his case, or his throughout the world, edited beyond The Star’s offensive slur gratuitously repeated in on response to Tarang Bates’ credibility. but if it helps get more recognition well-meaning letter. He was at it in the Daily resources…. by a lazy Telegraph as well on Friday, As for Lyons’ unfortunate sub, looking in ‘A bad trip for Nimbin,’ comment at his press to play it up to reflect house style with Lyons’ absurd comment that “business suggesting we would “become conference, filmed by sensationalist gusto? people have stretchers in their shops as part the next Macquarie Fields or Prime, “This is a typical The Weekend Star’s editorial was a well- of the furniture.” One phone call would have Cronulla,” and in Monday’s Thomas George.