Bangalow's Heartbeat April 2015

Heartbeat Bangalow’s

free l april 2015 No.190 l Celebrating the Life and Times of the local Community

100 years since Gallipoli Our local kids honour the centenary and the soldiers in paint, with the museum holding an exhibition, story page 3

www.heartbeat.net.au

!editorial

! ! ! !

Reports on March activities include updates on the development of a master plan for the Bangalow Parklands and early discussion on rail trail issues affecting Bangalow. There is also a new funding initiative from our devoted Landcare workers. Speaking of land care, Richie Allen has been doing an amazing job creating gardens and play areas at the Clover Hill estate.

On the arts and performing arts fronts there has been a lot of recent

activity. See our reports highlighting the Byron School of Art’s relocation to Bangalow and the establishment of the Bangalow Theatre Company.

In April the museum commences the 100 Years of Gallipoli exhibition, commemorating the landing at Gallipoli in April 1914.

For the handymen (and women) the good news is that a new hardware store will be opening at the end of April!

Di Martin, Editor

Photos by Judy Baker

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Dressed up for Easter Our local shops once again got into the spirit of Easter and created some imaginative window displays. We feature below the windows of Little Peach (top) and the CWA. Eds

bangalow’s heartbeat www.heartbeat.net.au PO Box 132 Bangalow NSW 2479 Editors: Dianne Martin 6687 2592 Ruth Kirby Email: editors@heartbeat. net.au Cover photo: Sienna and Sol

by Terry Bleakley

Advertising: Janelle Saunders 0422 069 861 advertising@ heartbeat.net.au Ad Production: Allie Leo Design: Niels Arup Editorial team: Judy Baker, Jenny Bird, Helen Johnston, Tony Hart, Lyn Plummer, Benny Saunders, Brian Sundstrom, Sue Taylor,

Hilary Wise Distribution: Bangalow PO, Brian Sundstrom, Peter Bradridge, Neil McKenzie Website: Joanna Wilkinson

Accounts: Rob Campbell Chairman: Neville Maloney

DISCLAIMER. This newsletter is published by Bangalow’s Heartbeat Incorporated PO Box 132 NSW 2479.

Hon. Editors Dianne Martin, Ruth Kirby, Hon Sec/ Public Officer Neville Maloney. Membership is open to all adult residents of the 2479 postal district. The opinions expressed by individual contributors are not necessarily shared by the Editors and other members of the Association committee. While every reasonable effort is made to publish accurate information, Bangalow’s Heartbeat Inc. accepts no responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed.

BANGALOW’SBANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT HEARTBEAT

local news

Bangalow Historical Museum 100 years of Gallipoli Exhibition Saturday, 25 April 2015, marks the 100 year anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli and 100 years of the Anzacs. To commemorate this historic occasion, The Bangalow Historical Society will be holding a 100 Years of ANZAC exhibition from April until June at the Bangalow Museum and Tea rooms, Deacon Street, Bangalow.

As part of the exhibition, Bangalow and Newrybar Public Schools were asked to participate with an emphasis on researching members of the Bangalow and surrounding districts who served in Gallipoli or WWI. Newrybar Public School students have been studying the customs and traditions around ANZAC day. They researched and discussed personal and shared values and responsibilities towards Australian history and the ANZAC tradition. The junior class is learning where the acronym/word ANZAC came from and how Australian and New Zealand soldiers joined for the first time. In their studies they have looked at the world map to see where Australia and New Zealand are in relation to Gallipoli, with a focus on the ships leaving Albany, Western Australia and the route taken and comparisons of time taken to sail to Gallipoli compared to flying there 100 years later in 2015. Students have also learned how communication has changed in 100 years from postcards, letters and carrier pigeon messengers to the internet and satellite communications.

The students in the senior class have also learned about our local Newrybar soldiers who were involved in WW1. They

have found it interesting to learn where the men were born and went to school, which families are still in the area and names that are familiar today as landmarks. These studies have helped the students understand why they commemorate ANZAC day today and the major of the contributions our local men made in this significant world event.

The 100 Years of Gallipoli exhibition will include the following displays: Bangalow Public School Years 5 and 6 - digital displays on local

Bangalow soldiers.

Years 3 and 4 - portraits of local Bangalow soldiers inspired by Sidney Nolan’s Gallipoli series Newrybar Public School Soldier paintings, Newrybar soldier profiles, what does ANZAC mean and how do we celebrate ANZAC day?

The Bangalow Museum and Tea rooms are open from 10am till 3pm Wednesday to Friday. Museum entry is a gold coin donation .

Joanna Wilkinson

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local news

Goings on down at the weir Mayor Simon Richardson (below) slices into the 90th birthday cake devoured by a fascinated audience of newcomers to Bangalow, and old timers, who escaped the rain on the March Market Sunday to listen to the Bangalow Parklands team commemorate the history of the Bangalow weir and parklands, and to hear about plans for developing a master plan for the entire area.

On display was an artist’s impression (top right) of the weir-to-be, complete with rockwalled fish ladders, as well as a notional diagram explaining the bigger picture.

Donated rock is shortly to be delivered to the park (opposite Heritage House) and will be used to stabilise the weir wall.

The Parklands team announced an upcoming Community Working Bee, in which the former tennis court is to be removed. In its place, plans are afoot to use the grant recently received by the team to create a bush theatre, similar in design to the original creekside open dance floor built in the 1920s. Details of the working bee to be announced shortly. Christobel Munson

BPA Community Conversation Rails with trail or trail without rails, is that now the real question?

Thank you readers, the community awakes! Many emails this month plus lots of verbal contributions at BPA’s sixty-strong public meeting listening to potential bidders for the government’s $50 million to develop the Murwillumbah to Casino disused rail corridor. Out of these community conversations four important themes have emerged: Impact on Bangalow. Few of the bidders were prepared (or hadn’t thought much about it) to tell us how their plans will impact on Bangalow. Only Rail Explorers gave us some ideas. Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) and Byron Bay Tram Link, provided no meaningful information except the usual mantra – more tourists, business and employment.

Keeping the rails. The key emerging debate is whether the community’s longer term interest is for the tracks 4

themselves to be preserved (rails with trail) or the rails replaced by a surface suitable for bicycles and walking, as is already intended by Tweed Shire on the Murwillumbah to Tweed Regional Art Gallery section of the corridor (trail without rails). Many appeared to feel that rails with trail is the preferable option, retaining a future opportunity for reinstatement of a light rail or even the proposed Byron Bay Tram Link for an old Melbourne tram from Byron to Bangalow.

NRRT indicated that it is considering combined rail/walk/ride use in sections of the corridor.

Planning control. The rail corridor is likely to remain independent of local council planning rules. Possibly therefore, rail siding areas (such as that between Bangalow’s Leslie Street and the current track) could become sites for overnight accommodation, bikeotels, hostels, multi-storied car parking, etc. with no

requirement for consistency with council zoning and building controls.

Contamination. After a century of nasty poisons used as weed killer and preservative, the track is severely contaminated. Nobody knows or seems to have estimated the cost of removing this contamination.

We still have much to learn about the impacts and we would welcome greater resident involvement in the processes of the various bidders, or, perhaps more effective, having a role in the bid assessment process and eventually membership of the management trust.

The next BPA meeting will be held at 5.30-7.30 pm on Thursday, 2 April at Heritage House, Bangalow. We plan to have representatives of NRRT with us to discuss their proposals in more detail.

Members are welcome and others can come along, join BPA for only $2 per year and participate. Tony Hart and Jenny Coman BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

The Red Cross farewells Dot After too many years to count of service to the Bangalow branch of the Red Cross, Dot Gill stepped down from the role of president at the last meeting. Her successor is Del Smith, previously of the Byron branch.

For most of our members, the business of our Red Cross branch is synonymous with Dot. She has given so much to the charitable cause – embodying the care, compassion and integrity that underlies its whole purpose. We were very sad to see her relinquish her role, but happily welcome Del to her new position.

To mark the change at the top, one of our members, Rosemary Hill, put on a magnificent high tea at her home in Binna Burra. Most of the ladies could attend and all bought a plate so that the beautifully set table, laid with treasured vintage china, groaned with goodies. While it was sad to see the end of one era, it was heartening to know that the good work continues.

And Dot remains with the organisation to mentor and remind us of the past and look to the future.

Stephanie King.

Weeds Weeds Weeds It seems that at this time of year, more than any other, weeds suddenly take over everywhere. The summer followed by a bit of rain and the triffids arrive!

Bangalow Landcare has been trying to fight them back around the sports fields and wetland but there are never enough hands or funds.

It is also that time of year when we have to think about funding ourselves.

The plan is to keep on with our Patron program of which the details are on our website. We hope the fantastic

supporters we have had over the last few years will continue to do just that, support our work financially. We also wish that more of our community would become financial members of the group to show support for the work we do. A little from many would help enormously.

There is a lot of hoping involved in our funding methods so we’ve come up with something else. We are prepared to work for it. We have worked in private gardens in the past in exchange for a donation to the landcare group so this is what we are

offering to help us keep going. Basically you get a team of gardeners for a few hours working on weeding, pruning, mulching or whatever you need. All proposals will be considered if it’s worth our time. So if you need some help during the coming year in your garden please get in touch and we will see what we can organise.

We can be contacted at www. bangalowlandcare.org.au or bangalowlandcare@gmail.com. Phone: Liz 6687 1309 or on Facebook. Liz Gander

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community noticeboard Daylight saving In case you’re wondering, daylight saving in NSW ends Sunday, 5 April, when clocks go back one hour at 3am. Don’t forget to change your smoke alarm batteries.

Eds

Garden Club Last month on the Social Saturday Visit 30 members and friends visited the garden of Max and Caroline Lassen in St Helena Road. Max, recently

Pavilion.

Helen Johnston

Easter Services All Souls’ Anglican Church celebrates with the following services.

Good Friday, 3 April 9am Communion Service, 12noon - 3pm The Great Three Hours.

Holy Saturday 6pm Easter Vigil.

Easter Sunday 9am Easter Day Eucharist. Everyone welcome - more information at www. bangalowanglican.com or Fr Matthew 6687 1046.

Fr Matthew Smedley

Easter Yum Chocolate making workshop at Harvest deli on Saturday, 4 April from 4pm to 6.30 pm. Bookings required.

Holiday activity Max with his flowering Bat Plant

appointed a Patron of the Club, is a very knowledgeable plants man. On 11 April, the second Saturday of the month, members are invited to the large rural garden of Jan and Chris Gasteen in Eureka. Congratulations to our esteemed member Francoise Teclemariam who became an Australian citizen on 10 March.

The next monthly meeting is on 1 April at 1.30 pm in the Moller

Water Lab We d n e s d a y s are on again for kids in the April school holidays. Come along for water science experiments, investigations and games put on by Rous Water. Telephone 6623 3827 or 0428 618 331.

Barbara Jensen

Red Cross March was an extraordinary month for our Bangalow members. On a personal note, we had a change of president

Heritage House Tearoom

Friends of the Libraries in the Byron Shire are having a monster book sale at Byron Bay Surf Club on Saturday, 11 April from 9 till 5 and on Sunday, 12 April from 10 till 1pm.

All welcome, come along and grab a bargain and even a bag of books. Coffee, tea and refreshments will be available for sale.

Funds raised go the public libraries in our shire including Byron, Brunswick and Mullumbimby.

Mary Nelson

BBW meeting details: Venue: Utopia Cafe Time: 7.30 - 9.00 When: every second Tuesday of the month Who are we: a group of local business women who meet on a monthly basis to support each other, listen to guest speakers and discuss ideas.

BBW group is about business networking, education and support for women in Bangalow and surrounds. https://www.facebook.com/ Bangalow.Business.Womens.

Networking/info Sally Pattison

Good Shepherd Window The restored Good Shepherd window from Holy Trinity

Art feast Don’t forget to view the Archibald Prize portraits being displayed at Lismore Regional Gallery, or the selection at Lone Goat Gallery in Byron before closing on Sunday, 12 April. Lone Goat is open 10 till 4 every day

Bishop Sarah Macneil

Anglican Church, Federal, will be blessed by Bishop Sarah Macneil on Sunday, 26 April

132 500

Booking (p) 6687 2183

• Landscape Design • Structural Landscaping • Horticultural Consulting

Help our libraries

Bangalow Business Women’s Group

For emergency help in Flood, Storm and Tsunami call

open 10am to 3pm Wednesday - Friday

INTERACTIVE LANDSCAPES

(see story page 5) and, in a world view, there were the cyclones that hit Vanuatu – and mainland Australia. Most of our efforts towards the end of the month went into collecting for the Australian Red Cross efforts in assisting those devastated by the disaster. We would like to thank everyone who so generously contributed.

Our next meeting is on Friday, 10 April at 10am at the RSL Hall.

All welcome.

Dot Gill

ABN: 96 790 916 133 Lic: 130656C

Patrick Regnault Ph: 6629 1064 Mob: 0408 429 646

Bangalow

a to 9:30pm Open every day of the year 6:30pm ow Bangal St, Byron 2, Shop

www.facebook.com/Interactive.landscapes 66

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

at 9 am at All Souls’ Anglican Church Bangalow. All are welcome to attend this service as we honour the restoration work and all those who have contributed to this beautiful window. Laus Deo. If you are unable to attend the service, the window is able to be viewed when the church is open, usually every day from 9am5pm. Contact Fr Matthew 6687 1046 for more information.

Fr Matthew Smedley

BYO at Diner The Italian Diner is introducing BYO on Monday and Tuesday nights for wine only ($7 a bottle corkage), until further notice.

Excludes holidays. Sharon Fraser

Woolies parking limit If you’re shopping in Byron Bay, be aware that parking within the north end of the Byron Bay Woolworth’s car park will soon have a two hour time limit. A two hour parking time limit will apply from 9am to 6pm each day. Longer parking is available on nearby Kingsley and Ruskin Streets or in Somerset Street near the Butler Street Reserve. BSC

$10,000 funding for events and festivals Ten thousand dollars is on offer in Byron Shire for events and festivals.

The newly created funding

pool is seeking applications from event organisers who run significant home grown and emerging events. Up to five events each year will be selected to share in Byron Shire Council’s $10,000 sponsorship support program.

Mayor Simon Richardson said the grants have been established to help build community capacity to hold events and encourage organisers to build sustainably principles in to their events.

“Our shire is renowned for hosting and cultivating some of the best events and festivals in Australia. Many have started from very humble beginnings and in the early days relied strongly on volunteer and inkind to support to run each year.

“This is our opportunity to show support for the types of events we value. From sporting, spiritual, food, art and music, Council’s grant funding aims to encourage local events that will showcase the very best of our people, produce and place,” he said.

Find out more on Council website www.byron.nsw.gov. au or phone events and grants officer Claire McGarry on 02 6626 7312. All applications must be received by 17 April. .

Bowlo events

Every Monday and Tuesday mornings at 9.30 am: Tai Chi

with Di Martin Every Tuesday night at 6.30 pm: ‘No lights, no lycra’, a dance jam in the dark to classic dance hits.

One hour of fitness that is heaps of fun, $5 per person - kids, friends, partners, parents!

Every Wednesday night at 5.45 pm: New Swing Fit classes.

Dance your way fit.

Every Wednesday night at 7pm: Lindy Hop Swing 1940s - Classes with Ray Keepence Every Thursday morning at 9.30 am: Pilates. 7.15pm: Rock ‘n Roll classes Friday, 17 April: Mason Rack Band. These guys are a truly amazing local blues/rock trio with over 2000 live performances, eight international tours reaching Canada six times, Germany, Netherlands, Japan and Vanuatu.

They have appeared at many of Australia’s leading festivals including Bluesfest and this year’s Blues on Broadbeach. The three piece band is renowned for their live stage performances including the playing of empty kegs as percussion. The band has played alongside artists including Xavier Rudd, Jack Johnson, Buddy Guy and Keith Urban to name a few.

Doors 6.15 pm; Show 7.15 pm; Presale Tix $20 (+bf) Door Tix $25.

Thursday, 23 April: Rail trail fundraiser. Musicians in the Northern Rivers come together to raise funds for a

benefit concert to support the Rail Trail and preserve our corridor. Featuring SOUL’D with MC Mandy Nolan. Special guests include Lisa Hunt, Rick Fenn, Ken Stubbs and more.

Support the community, support this Rail Trail fundraiser.

Doors 6pm; Show 7pm; Tickets $25 in advance or $30 at the door.

Kat Antram

Women’s Health

Women’s Health and Wellbeing and all practitioners have moved around the corner!

We are open as usual at 72 Byron St, opposite the primary school, in front of the Yogalates studio.

Dr Jane Reffell (women’s health doctor), Janelle Angel (continence and pelvic floor physiotherapist), Imelda Johnson (remedial massage and myoarticular therapy), Ra Ansems (theta healing and kinaesiology) and Janella Purcell (naturopath and nutritionist) are all working their usual hours and our phone number remains the same, 6687 2337. Hope to see you soon, just pop in to have a look!

Jane Reffell

Coming up in May: Launch of the Bangalow Theatre Company on Saturday, 2 May. Quilt and Flower show 2 –3 May. Billycart Derby and Mad Hatters Tea Party on Sunday, 17 May. ADFAS, on Monday, 18 May. Poultry show 30 May.

South Indian Night on 2nd and 4th Friday of every month

Bangalow Historical Museum From 5.30pm - 8.30pm starting on Friday, 13 February

We also cater for events and functions Contact John on 0449 252 476 to book

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PH: 6687 2960 77

local news

Bangalow Billycart Derby 2015 It’s time to get the old billycart out from under the house, start greasing the axles, polishing the aerodynamics, or if you are a first timer, it’s time to hit the planning board. Yes folks, on Sunday, 17 May, proudly bought to you by an awesome team of volunteers, it’s the 21st Bangalow Billycart Derby.

We’ve made a couple of changes this year.

For starters, you can have a passenger and a driver in both traditional and homegrown billycarts (but they must both be from the same age category). And for the little tykes who bolt at the gate we have created a brand new race category for the parent and child. So if your little one gets the collywobbles and won’t race on their own – we can transfer them to the parent and child race.

Local primary schools will again be competing for $1000 prize money but this will be split this year between homegrown and traditional race categories. All the other stuff you love will still be there on the day: Tom Hogan handcrafted billycart trophies, celebrity races, mothers races, tag team races, sporting club challenges and those Mad Hatters down at the Bangalow Primary School. Of course Billycart Derby day would not be complete without the lunchtime street parade. If your local group, club, business, sporting organisation, school would like to join the street parade this year please contact Julie-Ann, from Elders Real Estate Bangalow on 0411 081 118 and register your interest.

If you would like to help out as a volunteer please register your contact details at Bangalow Newsagency or email your contact details to bangalownews@ optusnet.com.au Scrutineering and registration starts at 7am outside the Bangalow Hotel.

The Bangalow Billycart Derby has become an iconic event for Bangalow and in 2015 it is proudly brought to you by the Bangalow Chamber of Commerce and Bangalow Lions Club. For more details contact the coordinator, Carolyn Adams, on 0421 176 563. See you on the third Sunday in May. Caroline Adams 8

mad hatting Bangalow Public School is holding a Mad Hatter’s Derby Tea Party to once again coincide with the annual Bangalow Billycart Derby. Kids can play between derby races while families relax in comfort and safety, enjoying familyfriendly activities and wholesome food.

Bangalow Public School Principal, Susie Boyle, said she had high hopes for the major fundraising event as it brings the community together for a fun family day and helps to support much-needed resources throughout the year.

“We enjoy seeing the kids having fun on this great community day and are always humbled by the generosity of our parents and broader community in their support of the school,” said Ms Boyle.

The annual school fundraising event and raffle raised significant funds for the school last year, providing muchneeded resources such as: in-classroom

technology, curriculum resources, state-representative sport funding, FlexiSchools cashless payment and online ordering system, a new BBQ, marquee, and supporting desired programs like You Can Do It and Kids in the Kitchen.

“This year, we hope to contribute to playground beautification, sports nets, playground equipment, sun-safe shelter, and to continue funding the school’s vision to provide high-quality 21st century education via creative, dynamic, innovative and challenging programs for all our students,” added the school’s P&C President Jenny Kennedy.

The Mad Hatter’s Derby Tea Party is a fun family haven for the annual Bangalow Billycart Derby being held on Sunday 17 May from 9am to 3pm at Bangalow Public School grounds. Catherine Rogers BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

local news

GEORGE READING HARDWARE Locals will soon have a hardware store back in Bangalow. Lyn Plummer spoke to the folk at the George Reading building to find out more about this exciting development.

No more last minute dashes to Ballina for supplies that used to be so handy before the last hardware store closed down.

Matt Rafton is restoring the old George Reading Store and says “My goal is to meet all the hardware needs of the Bangalow townspeople and those in the surrounding area.” He has a keen interest in the history of the building and is enjoying the prospect of bringing that history back to life.

George and Fred Reading arrived by boat to Byron Bay and travelled by horse and buggy to what later became Bangalow.

This was the Big Scrub area where there were only a few settlers and a construction team preparing to build a railway to link with Byron Bay and other settlements.

The brothers decided to start a small storekeeping business and so founded the G and F Reading Store in 1891. In the three years before the railway was completed the population grew and the business became successful. Fred later left the business to take up farming, but George kept the enterprise going as George Reading Store until his death in 1942. Fred Junior was the last Reading to run the store and after his death in 1976 Jim and Dawn Rafton purchased the building in 1977. They provided farm and building supplies and also hay, chaff and bulk feed for all the surrounding properties.

Matt (Jim’s son) and his wife Leah took over the business in 1994, running it for some time before renovating the building

Matt Rafton, Kailei Rafton and Justin Godkin

and opening the fruit and vegetable store Charlotte’s in 2007. Matt rented out other spaces to florists, a real estate office, a retro-shop and the video store. However his dream was always to bring new life back into the George Reading Store as a whole. He says “I’ve been involved here for many years. Apart from the video store, I’m no longer renting out the space to other businesses and am looking forward to being in charge of my own destiny. I enjoy the history of the place and want to keep the store’s links with the early days of Bangalow.”

Matt is retaining many of the original features of the old George Reading Store

including the store front and the teak floorboards.

The old Chester Snow display case and the front counter, both built in the 50s, will be reinstalled.

Matt intends to display old Bangalow photographs, posters and memorabilia in the display case and on the walls. The hardware store has expanded into former My Favourite Video which Jared Wyatt has relocated to the other end of the building. In order to have access to all hardware suppliers and to get better pricing Matt has become a member of the buying group Hardware and Building Traders. HBT Pty Ltd has 480 stores nationwide and they are able to negotiate with suppliers and buyers to keep costs low and therefore more affordable for the locals. So take a visit there and check it out for yourself!

George Reading Hardware will be opening by the end of April with three staff Matt Rafton, Justin Godkin (Manager) and a third generation Rafton, daughter Kailei.

The hours of operation will be 7-5 Monday to Friday and 8-12 on Saturday. Contact details are by phone at 6687 0697 or email to georgereadinghardware@gmail.com

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APRIL 2015 9

community radio

BAY FM AIMS FOR ANOTHER 25 YEARS

Back in the 1980s a group of dedicated locals worked passionately and persistently to establish a community radio station for the Byron Shire, reports Nicky Fisher.

Twenty five years ago on 1 April, 1990, test transmissions ran for seven days from five different locations involving 10,000 residents while the The Echo ran a listener questionnaire to help Bay FM select an optimum transmitter site for the locals.

Nancy Jo Falcone, Bay FM President in 1990, remarked in the first ever newsletter, “We have learned a lot from our first transmission.

We feel prepared to give our listeners a much better idea of what we are now capable of and look forward to your help and support as this radio station is for YOU.” Fast forward 25 years, this iconic and award-winning community radio station has come a long way from transmitting inside a van to broadcasting in a shack at the old Community Centre on Butler Street, Byron Bay. Today Bay FM transmits from a tower at St. Helena reaching as far as Ballina, Lismore and Murwillimbah, broadcasting 24 hours a day from the Community Centre in Johnson Street, Byron Bay - a site built 10

entirely on volunteer power.

“The reality is that Bay FM is operating on outdated transmission equipment,” says Rudiger Wasser, Bay FM’s Facilities Manager. “In the last 25 years we have seen a technological revolution with iphones, androids, iPads, digitalized music, yet we still have equipment up at the tower that is as old as the station, operating 24 hours a day in salty sea air conditions. There is an urgent need to replace the gear if Bay FM is

to continue broadcasting great sound quality to our listeners”.

The other reality is that Bay FM does not receive government funding and relies on monetary donations from the community, local business sponsorship, fundraising and grants.

But the show must go on and Bay FM must raise $25,000 to purchase new equipment for the transmitter site to stay on air for another 25 years as an independent local voice.

Buy a Watt and support independent media

During April, Bay FM listeners, musicians, event organisers, community groups and guests who have been on air at Bay FM can get involved with the Watt’s Up Fundraiser and ‘Buy a Watt’ from as little as $5. The community can donate as many Watts as they wish, to help Bay FM reach its goal of 5,000 Watts.

Supporters of independent media can ‘Buy a Watt’ at the Bay FM website at bayfm.org, or by calling 6680 7999 or visiting the station upstairs in the Byron Community Centre in Byron. All donations are tax deductible.

Supporters of Bay FM can keep up to date with how many Watts the community buys and check out or post classic photos of Byron Bay and Bay FM 25 years ago at Bay FM’s Facebook page.

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the arts

The BYRON SCHOOL OF ART in Bangalow Bangalow has been given a wonderful creative boost with the Byron School of Art (BSA) basing itself in town.

An independent art school, the BSA was established by seven nationally renowned local artists. The Byron School of Art provides a fantastic opportunity for students to work closely with high-profile practising artists, who are also experienced educators.

To find out more Sue Taylor spoke with Christine Willcocks, one of the founding artists of the school.

Welcome to Bangalow Christine. Tell us in your own words, what is the Byron School of Art? Christine: The BSA is an art school based on an international model of artists teaching artists in a studio-based learning environment. It is an art school that can set its own curriculum, not weighted according to other learning institutions’ requirements.

What do you see as the mission of the Byron School of Art? Christine: Our aim is to engender an understanding in the students so that their art practice can be developed and sustained. We do not steer the student into any particular direction, rather we provide an opportunity for them to discover a way relevant for their own practice. We are committed to encouraging and guiding students to develop a strong work practice through creative thinking, while at the same time developing their practical and technical skills. The end result is a well rounded, fulfilling practice that can be sustained over a lifetime.

What motivated you and the other artists to establish an independent art school?

Christine: Due to the lack of interest in the visual arts by state and federal politicians we saw a huge hole that needed to be filled.

Michael Cusack and I both worked at TAFE, where funds have been dramatically cut, leaving many artists without work, including both of us. Michael had always had a great interest in the art school model that has been established overseas and although politicians may lack interest in the arts, that is definitely not the case for the growing number of creative people in this area - and so here we are.

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What is your own background as an artist?

Christine: My background in the arts started from an early age, perhaps that moment I first held a crayon. But it was not until I was 38 that I took myself off to university to study Visual Arts for six years. I was a late bloomer but soon discovered there is no age barrier when it comes to the arts. I majored in printmaking, bought a press and worked hard over the years, eventually establishing myself both locally and nationally. With passion, hard work and a lot of support I was able to establish a professional practice within 10 years. It was about that time I started teaching, something I had never envisaged for myself, but found that I was more than happy to share my knowledge.

Teaching has given so much back to me, keeps me young of mind and strengthens my practice.

What other media do you use, and what are your current projects or exhibitions?

Christine: Although I’m a trained printmaker, I am also a painter, assemblage and installation artist and I have a great passion for drawing. I like to explore ideas based around the past and how we store our memories.

This enables me to have a diverse practice using whatever medium is required.

I have just completed two solo shows, one being about my grandfather and his landing at Gallipoli, Object(s) of War. This is on at the Tweed Regional Gallery until 31 May. The other solo show, Souvenir, about my recent residency in Paris, is at Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, from 14 April.

Who are the other artists involved in the founding of Byron School of Art? Christine: Michael Cusack, Emma Walker, James Guppy, Sarah Harvey and Meredith Crowe - all respected professional artists.

Tell us a few of the courses on offer through BSA – and who are the artists involved?

Christine: Upcoming courses will be run by the fantastic Rene Bolton, Kat Shapiro Wood, James Guppy, Zom Osborne, Michelle Dawson, Dominique Sutton, Michael Cusack and myself. We have upcoming courses in drawing, woodwork, sculpture, printmaking, life drawing and painting, with more details of courses found on our website: byronschoolofart.com Who can attend courses? Are beginners welcome?

Christine: All are welcome. Absolutely, beginners are welcome. There is always something new to be discovered. The feedback from students is very positive.

There is an air of excitement when delving into the creative world.

How do people enrol in courses at the Byron School of Art? Christine: They can contact our fabulous administrator Jo by email, which is available on our website: byronschoolofart.com What do you like about Bangalow village?

Why did you locate here?

Christine: What’s not to love about Bangalow?

It’s a very creative hub in the Shire. It is centrally located, with such a good buzz. It’s such a beautiful and creative atmosphere for our students. Bangalow has heart.

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

a fresh look at fresco ADFAS Byron Bay presents an illustrated talk by Nicole Mezey on Monday, 18 May entitled Virtual Realities: the art of fresco.

Fresco is a technique of mural painting on freshly-laid or wet lime plaster. Water is used to merge the pigment with the plaster and when the plaster sets, the painting becomes an integral part of the wall. The word fresco is derived from the Italian adjective fresco meaning ‘fresh’, and is different from other mural painting techniques which are applied to dried plaster. The fresco technique has been employed since antiquity and was especially popular in Italy during the Renaissance and Baroque periods when it was used to decorate the walls and ceilings of churches, public buildings and private dwellings. Frescos are vulnerable to moisture and may be damaged in a cool, damp environment so the arid Mediterranean climate is very favourable for their preservation.

Through the art of fresco it is possible to trace the ideas and accomplishments of the artists of the Italian Renaissance from Giotto’s work in the Arena Chapel to Michelangelo’s painting for the popes in the Sistine Chapel. The medium of fresco enabled artists to depict complex narratives and to experiment with depth and spatial relationships. Frescos were often painted in a series of scenes for a single space, for example scenes from the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary or the saint to whom a particular church or monastery was dedicated.

Frescos were popular with secular leaders as they gave them the opportunity to create a virtual world which enhanced their status.

In the church they brought a new immediacy and impact to the meaning of the divine story. But what was their appeal for the artist?

Why did the artists consider it “the sweetest and most subtle form that exists”? Why was this particular form so perfectly suited to the

aspirations of the age?

Nicole Mezey will explore these questions in her presentation. Nicole studied Art History at the Universities of Sussex, York and Paris. She was senior lecturer at Queen’s University until 2009, managing and teaching on both the part-time degree and extra-mural programs and conducting annual, international study-tours. She also established the Department of Art History, the first in the north of Ireland. Nicole now lives in Central London and is a freelance lecturer, working for organisations including the national museums, universities, the National Trust and private companies.

Nicole’s presentation will be held in the A&I Hall, Station Street, Bangalow on Monday, 18 May, commencing at 6.30 pm. Doors open at 6pm for a welcome drink. Guests are most welcome - $25 per person. This includes a welcome drink and a light snack and drink after the presentation. Anni Abbink, Chairman

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the performing arts

Theatre Company – Coming soon… …something new and exciting for Bangalow! A pre-launch was held recently, with select community members, to herald the arrival of the innovative new Bangalow Theatre Company. The event was to raise awareness of this exciting new venture and also to rally assistance in the creation, launching, and advertising of this company as it unfolds. The official launch is set for Saturday, 2 May. Anouska Gammon and Adrienne Megan Lester are the instigators of this project and were just bursting with enthusiasm and excitement at the pre-launch. They voiced their hopes that the Bangalow Theatre Company will be “... a communitycentric venture, aiming to create breathtaking productions of a highly professional standard. Through the medium of quality entertainment, we are creating a platform on which to showcase the many talented members of this region, and also offer education and experience in large-scale theatre productions, both on stage and

invitation for those present to workshop an idea for a two-minute mini-musical about Bangalow, including at least one song, brought forth immediate creative performances.

At the pre-launch I met people from all facets of the arts – from scriptwriter to dancer, from props and puppet maker to performer.

Brian Warrick, manager of the A&I Hall, is hoping the hall can be a ‘home base’ for performances. Fletcher Anouska Gammon and Adrienne Megan Lester Potanin, instigator of the behind the scenes,” they said. “We have Bangalow BBQ & Bluegrass Festival, is already been overwhelmed with the offering to assist where he can. It is obvious support, encouragement and kindness Bangalow has a wealth of talent and this of local businesses and individuals, and looks to be the perfect outlet. Keep an are relying on the combined efforts of the eye out for further announcements. It is community in whatever capacity they are possible the first public performance will able to help this vision come to life.” An be staged in November this year. Judy Baker

Igniting the Passion to Dance High Kick Dance creative director, Holly Hayes, had trained as a competitive gymnast before she became a dance teacher over fourteen years ago.

Operating in Bangalow since 2006, her lively dance school now has over 50 girls attending a range of classes in various styles each week.

Girls have a selection of dance styles to choose from including Jazz, Jazz Funk, Hip Hop, Lyrical Contemporary and Cabaret as well as the new Technique and Ballet Basics class on Fridays with the very talented Miss Shianne.

This dance troupe has been very successful at a competitive level on the North Coast, with the open team competing in Byron Bay, Alstonville and Lismore last year. With their eyes on a prize at the Grafton Eisteddfod in April, these girls are abuzz with enthusiasm for their new routines. High commendations and prize winning performances on the regional circuit, including first prize for the under ten Cabaret group in the Lismore competitions last year, confirm that this school is generating a passion for

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dance that is reaping rewards.

Many of the girls have now been dancing together for over seven years and Miss Holly prides herself on the professionalism and dedication of her troupes. “Every class is designed to give each and every student the individual attention they deserve. I like to offer them exciting challenges in a creative environment full of fun.”

Open classes are available for those just looking to keep fit and learn new recreational dance moves. Girls can dance just for the love of it and the many personal benefits that dancing has been well proven to provide or go on to the extended competition teams for

ages 10 and under, 12 and under and open teens. Assistant teacher Miss Lilli Pollard, who has been with the studio for many years, has helped these groups for the past three years. She also dances in the teens extension class herself.

This year, selected students aged 12 to 14 have been invited to join an extension troupe to further develop their recognized abilities in elements of Jazz, Ballet and Lyrical styles. Along with the dance fusion extension troupe for teens and the talented 10 to 12 year old troupe, these are the girls with the ability and dedication to dance at a competitive level. Miss Holly has provided a safe, nurturing and professional dance school environment for girls here in Bangalow. She tells me that technique, flexibility and strength, balance, timing and co-ordination, basic choreography and staging remain a focus in all the classes, but when I visited all I noticed was lots of big smiles and an elevated energy level that almost made my grandson Kodi and me dizzy!

The High Kick dancers are on the right track, with the right moves and motivation to bring home more trophies from the regional competitions this year.

Benny Saunders

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

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local news

bob fowler testimonial The Bangalow Poultry Show 2015 will be dedicated to one of their long serving and dedicated members and poultry fancier of many years, Bob Fowler.

Bob’s interest in poultry was always there from a very young boy. You could almost say he inherited the passion from his mother and his uncles Ross and Allan Lindsay, as they bred and showed large White Leghorns which he always admired.

At the age of 10 years, and as a young Junior Farmers member, Bob became more interested in poultry. Then a grand old poultry breeder from Bangalow, Charlie Law, gave Bob a setting of Large Black Leghorn eggs and his passion for leghorns grew. He never looked back and is still breeding the leghorns today. The Junior Farmers Movement was later changed to Rural Youth, and as a Junior Farmer, Bob once came third in the state for his achievement.

He has travelled widely with his wife, Evelyn, to judge and show at several shows around Australian states. One of the most enjoyed judging trips was when Bob was asked to judge in Tasmania. Evelyn soon organised a few days off work and they had a wonderful time in our southern state.

Bob and Evelyn’s sons Craig and David also share the passion of poultry showing, so one can only guess what the conversations are when they are all together. David also has followed in his father’s footsteps with poultry judging.

The Poultry Show will be held on

Saturday, 30 May and every member of the public is invited to attend to view the birds.

Exhibits will travel from South Queensland, as far south as Coffs Harbour and west to Tenterfield and Stanthorpe.

One of Bob’s favourite poultry breeds is the Leghorn Bantam, so the club has chosen this breed to be the feature of the show. Doctor Brendan Sharpe from Armidale will officiate at the feature judging along with Mr Jim Brown from Tamworth and Mr Geoff Hines and Mr Graham Sharpe from Uralla. On the night of the show the Poultry Club will hold a dinner in Bob’s honour at the Moller Pavilion, which is by invitation only, and over 120 friends and family are expected to attend.

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In 1990 Bangalow Poultry Club Members and exhibitors, brothers Theo Grey OAM and Ted Grey, were honoured at a Testimonial Show. Then in 2004 Hector McKenzie was honoured for his over 55 years of valued contributions to the poultry fanciers’ world.

It is free entry to all who are interested in attending the show. Come and view the 900 to 1000 show birds that will be on display and ask any question because all the answers will be there. Have a cuppa and say g’day to Bob and congratulate him on his life achievements.

You will recognise Bob from his blue club shirt and cap, and the permanent proud smile that won’t leave his face.

Also, a reminder to everyone that the Annual Poultry Auction will be held on Sunday, 19 April, in the Fowler Pavilion.

Many varieties and colours will be up for sale including finches, turkeys, guinea fowl, pigeons, ducks, geese and more.

The auction will commence at 10am but you can view the birds from 8.30 am. It’s a family fun day out, and all purchases are cash only. A barbecue breakfast, morning tea and luncheon will be available. Please note that birds will not be released unless stewards approve of the transportation container. A sturdy ventilated cardboard box is excellent.

Whether you are selling or buying or just need more information, contact Glenda on 6687 1322 or gmckenzie@hotkey.net. au . More information can be found on our website www.bangalowpoultryclub.com. au .

Glenda McKenzie

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BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

local involvement

The Quilters’ Show Raffle Prize

QUILT AND FLOWER SHOW Combining two of the passions of Bangalow’s creative talents, the local Quilters Club has joined with members of All Souls Anglican Church to put on a show to dazzle and inspire. In May, on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3, from 9.30am to 4pm, there will be a grand exhibition of both quilts and floral displays – presented in a way that will marry the colours and form of both.

For example, one of the queen-sized quilts featuring orchid motifs will be displayed with a complementary orchid arrangement and, similarly, one with lilies.

Bangalow’s Quilters are known not

simply for their great skill at creating something glorious from simple fabric swatches, but also their amazing generosity in providing quilts for various charities. For example they make a yearly presentation to our local Feros Village and also to the Children’s Hospital in Brisbane for young children with cancer.

This show is partly to raise money to help fund these projects and there will be a mustwin raffle with a wonderful range of prizes.

First prize will be one of their beautiful quilts, and the third prize of a quilt fabric voucher has been donated by Sue from

Splash into Craft. Second prize will be of the edible kind, with generous donations being made by Brookfarm with a selection of their great local foods, Byron Bay Chili Co with some hot stuff, Imogen Farm’s Lemoncello and Zentveld’s for coffee products.

There will also be a trading table where items made by the group will be on sale – great gifts any time of year and especially leading up to Mothers Day, the following weekend. Refreshments are available at Heritage House Tea Room. Please come and see our beautiful work – it will be sure to make your day!

Elizabeth Casimir

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Are you community minded? Adventurous and want to stay young at heart? Would you like to become a role model for children, and have a desire to help foster their sense of wonder, independence and adventure, and help them develop new skills and interests? If so, perhaps you would consider volunteering in the local Bangalow community to become a Cub Scout leader. We are looking for a special someone with these qualities, to consider training to become a Cub Scout leader for the Bangalow Scout Group (part of Scouts Australia). The Bangalow Cubs are enthusiastic and vibrant boys and girls between the ages of seven and 11.

The 1st Bangalow Scout Group has been going strong for many years; however, we are currently in need of a new leader for our Cub pack. Suitable applicants will

APRIL 2015

have the support of Cub families and other Scout leaders and will receive the appropriate support and training to take on the role of a Cub Scout Leader.

Scouting supports children to gain skills and experiences that encourage physical, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development. It is also learningin-action, taking on new challenges and promoting participation in our wider community. The aim is to help children to gain these important skills and values, so they can become confident, constructive and responsible members of our society.

And best of all, both the children and the leaders have loads of fun along the way!

If you are interested in finding out more about our local Cubs and Scouts program, or finding out what it takes to become a pack leader, please pick up the phone today and call Jenny Holden on 6687 2047 The Scout Hall (next to the A & I Hall) is also available for hire. Contact Jenny to find out more.

Cyndi Harris

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local writers

The Hidden Camino Louise Sommer is a Danish psychologist who now lives in Bangalow. In 2011 she walked the Camino Frances, a medieval (and now very popular) pilgrim route that begins in the south of France, crosses the Pyrenees mountains, and ends in the city of Santiago de Compostela in the north western corner of Spain.

Louise has independently published a book of her transformational journey on the Camino.

There are many layers to this book – everything from goddesses to Mary Magdalene to blisters on one’s feet, with a love story as well! What is the main theme of this book?

All of it was part of the one experience.

But the main storyline is definitely driven by the discoveries I made along the way about women and Christianity, what I call the ‘Dan Brown’ part of the book. I started the Camino having a lifelong interest in the role of women in society, having studied history, archeology, psychology, Christianity and how gender identity and history are constructed. I also had a series of dreams leading up to the pilgrimage where I was visited by various powerful spiritual women – goddesses in fact.

The Camino for me was a mystery that unfolded as I walked. As I studied the symbols and icons of Mary Magdalene and many other women in the churches along the Camino I began to see hidden secrets emerging and began to understand how the Church had suppressed our innate spirituality which was an integral part of many pre-Christian cultures. I also realised the impact on all women (and men) of the Church’s early denigration of the role of Mary Magdalene to prostitute, and the fact that in 1969 the then pope formally reversed the Church’s position on this, but nobody seems to know about it! For me what the Church did to Mary Magdalene is a symbol of what the Church has done to all women, and I wanted to redress that in this book.

For the sake of both men and women we need to change the way we look at women.

We need to give women and men back their innate spirituality and women’s right to exist within the Church with spiritual authority. We are all in this together.

This is an independent publication. What 18

was that process like for you?

It was 18 months before I started to write the book. The first draft was in Danish, my native tongue, but I realized that I needed to translate the book into English, both because I was about to move to Australia with my new husband (yes, the one I met on the Camino) and because I would reach more readers. My husband and I did the translation, and that turned out to be a very important editing process as well. I would have liked to publish the book with a publishing house but it is very, very hard to even submit a manuscript these days, and if you do it can take years to get processed.

I think it’s easier to climb Mt Everest! I did a few workshops here on the Northern Rivers about independent publishing and after initially thinking ‘no, not for me’ I got excited about the possibilities that this growing industry affords us all to tell our stories and have our voices heard. I chose independent publishing because my book is controversial and that’s what makes it difficult to publish and I wanted to keep the

copyright. But I believe the information in this book is an important contribution to our debate about equality, men, and women, and that’s why I couldn’t wait all those years. I hired an editor here on the Northern Rivers and began a full time exhausting year working towards a final manuscript. I also decided to experiment and publish the book as an e-book. I’m really happy with the decisions that I made in this process.

I see that you have started a blog as well.

Can you tell us about that?

Yes I realized that people wanted to know more about this topic, and that a lot of what is written is not necessarily of a high quality. So I started a blog where I have loaded up links to art, videos, books and other publications that I think have merit.

Readers can visit the blog at http://www. louisesommer.com Readers, if you are interested in the history of the sacred feminine, or what to put in your backpack for a pilgrimage, or anything in between, then this book might be just the thing for you.

Jenny Bird BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

local history

Possum Creek stalwart turns 90

Well-known Possum Creek and Bangalow identity, Margaret Parrington turned 90 in Febuary. She is pictured below with family and friends celebrating her birthday at Bangalow Bowling Club. Brian Sundstrom recently shared a cuppa with Margaret and gleaned the following stories about this hard working and interesting local farmer and telephonist.

Margaret Priddle was born in Woodburn, where her parents ran the Empire Hotel.

Primary and secondary schooling was at Woodburn and then she worked at 2LM before becoming a telephonist at Woodburn manual exchange. “During the World War II it was an extremely busy exchange,” Margaret told me. “Evans Head aerodrome was a very large flying school. The Australian and American trainees were contacting family all over Australia and the US.” Margaret married her husband Bill Parrington in 1950 and they were together for 62 years until his death in 2012. In 1954 they bought a small pineapple farm, “Sunnyview” at Possum Creek. Their first son Bruce was with them, and shortly after, another son Paul arrived. The pineapples were sent to a cannery at Ballina and Margaret told me how hard they were to grow on their steep country. Bill and Margaret therefore changed to farming small crops, peanuts and bananas. In 1964 another change, when they purchased a neighbouring property of 38ha and started dairying. As was common practice on the north coast then, they sold cream to Norco and fed the skim milk to pigs Times were tough in those days, as the family had grown with another two boys, Neil and Glen. To supplement their income from the dairy, in 1967 Margaret took up a telephonist position at Bangalow manual exchange. This was in a small annexe to the Post Office. Local ladies worked in teams of two for eight-hour shifts during the day. Men were on duty overnight, with bunks in the room.

“People who have not experienced a manual exchange may not understand

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Margaret (right) with Eileen Sawtell in the exchange mid 70s

its role in the community and the responsibilities exchange girls had outside our basic duties,” Margaret told me. “Police, fire brigade and other services had little or no radio communications. We helped them get to accidents, fires and medical emergencies. We knew who lived alone and which neighbours to contact for immediate assistance. People did not have mobile phones of course, so the exchange girls were always kept informed of the private and ‘social contacts’ of staff in case of emergencies. One vivid memory is our role in contacting neighbours and fire fighters when the homestead on the Hutchinson farm at Possum Creek burnt down. The parents were out and the children were in dire need of help.”

Margaret also related the story of Gordon

Parker, “who ran a large stock-carrying business. He relied heavily on the exchange girls while he was out in his truck picking up cattle. We would collect and pass on orders for cartage jobs. There were many messages where people were uncontactable which we later passed on.”

Bangalow manual exchange closed and went automatic in 1981. The community lost an asset, a Northern Star article commented that “Bangalow lost its Hello Girls, and at times of emergency, its command post”.

Margaret left and became semi-retired with a more leisurely lifestyle compared to the hard days of telephony, small crops, bananas and dairying. I asked Margaret if the boys were a big help on the farm. “Yes they were, but they took a lot of feeding,” she said. “It was hard work and long hours, but some time at weekends was kept for social tennis at the Possum Creek courts.

(Near the Possum Creek and Friday Hut road junction, but gone now). Another social activity for our whole family was Saturday night dances at Coorabell Hall.”

In retirement, Margaret had time to contribute to, and enjoy, the Bangalow CWA. She also joined Byron Bay Golf Club and played competition golf for many years.

In later years, she travelled to England, New Zealand and several Asian countries.

While checking a draft of this story, her son Paul offered this comment. “Like most people of Margaret’s age she lived a life much more frugal than experienced these days, but has always been surrounded by a very loving family.” Every Sunday for decades a ‘Sunnyview’ baked dinner was enjoyed by family, of course cooked by the matriarch, Margaret.

Brian Sundstrom

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what I’ve been reading This month we review one acclaimed new novel, and celebrate new releases from some local scribes

The Anchoress by Robyn Cadwallader

I’m going to play devil’s advocate here and give a mediocre review of the Robyn Cadwallader debut novel which is receiving rave reviews around the country.

The Anchoress is an historical novel about 17 year old Sarah, a medieval nun from the 13th century who, very early on in the novel, is locked in a room for the remainder of her life where she will pray night and day for the villagers of her parish. Her patron is the Lord of the Manor and he must provide for her physical wellbeing for the term of her life. The arrangement is brokered by the church which must provide for her spiritual wellbeing through weekly confessions to priests from the local priory.

Sarah is haunted by the death of her sister in childbirth and the room where she is entombed bears the presence of the previous inhabitants; one who is buried under the cobblestones, the other who departed in mysterious circumstances. She is cared for by two servants who bring her news of village life and the village women are permitted to come and speak to her through her window.

This is a slow burning novel with which I was happily engaged but left me disappointed once I reached the end. There was a tantalizing sensuality which fizzled (when there was an opportunity to sizzle); the room in which she lived was a mystery to me (despite description) and one of the great mysteries of the book did not appear to be resolved (not to my satisfaction anyway). The author, Robyn Cadwallader, does write very well and I do think that it is a worthy debut novel about an interesting subject. But my opinion, despite all the rave reviews, is that she missed the mark.

Carolyn Adams – Bookworms & Papermites

My Life and Other Massive Mistakes by Tristan Bancks

Jo Tracy spoke to local Bangalow author Tristan Bancks about his latest book for kids, My Life and Other Massive Mistakes. Bancks has teamed up with seniors and frail aged residents on the far north coast to create a funny Youtube video The Great Escape, based on his short-story about school boy Tom Weekly who helps bust his Grand-Pop out of a nursing home.

Fourteen residents aged 65 and over, from The Tweed to Grafton, transformed themselves for a day

useful information and contact numbers AA Tues 5.30 Richard 0466 885 820 ADFAS Anni 6684 3249 Angling Club Outing 2nd Sat Ray 6687 1139 Aussie Rules Bill 6687 1485 Aussie Rules Junior Greg 6687 1231 Bangalow Parklands Team Terry 6687 2525 Bangalow Markets monthly 4th Sun Jeff 6687 1911 Bridge Fri 12pm Chris 6687 1597 Cancer support 1st Wed 1-4pm Chris 6687 0004 Childcare Centre 7.45am-6pm Kerry 6687 1552 Cricket Club Anthony 0429 306 529 Co-dependents Anonymous Thurs 7pm/Sat 4pm Guy 0421 583 321 CWA 2nd Wed Di 6685 4694 Garden Club 1st Wed Wendy 0427 963 087 George the Snake Man George 0407 965 092 Groundforce Georgia 6629 1189 Historical Society/Museum/Tea Room Wendy 6687 2183 Land/RiverCare 1st Sat working bee Liz 6687 1309 Lawn Bowls, Men Wed & Sat 1pm Gerry 6687 1142 Lawn Bowls,Women Wed 9.30am Dot 6687 1246 Lions Club 2nd/4th Tues 7pm Brian 0408 899 555 Mufti Bowls 3rd Sat 9am Lynne 6687 1823 Netball Club train 4.15 Thurs Rachel 6687 0402 Op Shop 10-3pm Sat 10-12 6687 2228 Parks Committee 3rd Tues 7.30pm Jan 6684 7214 Playgroup Tues 10am Sue 0421 030 438 Police Peta 6687 1404 20

Pony Club Kim 6687 8007 Pool Trust 3rd Wed Dominic 6687 1425 Poultry Club Hec 6687 1322 Progress Association Tony 6687 0607 Quilters 2nd,4th Thurs Helen 6684 1161 Red Cross monthly - 1st Fri Dot 6687 1246 Rugby Union Richard 0415 773 064 S355 C’mtee Heritage House Don 6687 1897 Scouts Tues 6.30pm Jenny 6687 2047 Show Society Karen 6687 1033 Soccer Club 2nd Mon 6pm Nick 6687 1607 Social Golf every 2nd Sun Brian 6684 7444 Sports Association 2nd Wed bi-monthly Brian 6687 1024 Sporting Field bookings Nick 6687 1607 Tennis Court Hire 6687 1803 Writers Group 1st Thurs Alex 0439 304 911 VENUES A&I Hall Station St Brian 0427 157 565 Anglican Hall Ashton St Matthew 0488 561 539 Bangalow Showgrd Moller Pavilion Karina 6687 1035 Sports/Bowling Club Byron St Kat 6687 2741 Catholic Hall Deacon St Russell 0423 089 684 Coorabell Hall Coolamon Scenic Ouida 6687 1307 Newrybar Hall Newrybar Village Tony 6687 2267 RSL Hall Station St Charlotte 6687 2828 Scout Hall Showgrounds Jenny 6687 2047 Heritage House Deacon St Wendy 6687 2183 BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

in twin-sets, pearls and blue rinses in response to Bancks’ casting call to help inspire kids to read. With a background in film making and acting, Bancks, who is the author of more than 10 books for children, uses video and digital media to encourage creativity. “Kids will devour a book if it sounds good enough, if it speaks to them. Technology can be used creatively and I think that video and interactivity can bring stories to life and inspire young people to pick up a book,” said Bancks.

According to Bancks, reading can also be made appealing if we’re willing to work with kids’ natural energy and curiosity and make it less of a static experience. Bancks believes the cast in the new video exemplify this. “I was blown away by the brilliant performance, all by non-actors. There was no script, they were just given the short story to work from. Then they were given permission to play. They literally let their dentures all hang out! They imagined they were characters from the story and others created entirely new characters. They put together costumes and props and brought the story to life,” he enthused.

The video will be seen throughout March by over 30,000 kids in schools across Australia for the My Life and Other Massive Mistakes book tour, where Bancks will visit more than 100 schools, bookstores and libraries in Sydney, Launceston, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane.

My Life and Other Massive Mistakes is now available in all bookstores and online. The Great Escape video can be seen on Youtube and at www.tristanbancks.com WIN! WIN! WIN! Do you know any young writers (8-13 years-old) who tell funny stories? Enter the 2015 My Life Short Story Competition for your chance to win $1000 plus signed My Life books and $1000 worth of books for your school! All the details and an easy submission page for your entry are on the Random House Australia website: http://www.randomhouse.com.au/competitions/entryform.aspx?id=633

The Blind Tattooist by Bangalow Writers’ Group

The Blind Tattooist was successfully launched to the world on Friday, 13 March. An auspicious event.

The good news is that you can buy your copy of this latest anthology from the Bangalow Writers Group at the Bangalow Newsagency, aka Bookworms and Papermites.

In his welcome to the over 30 writers, friends and well-wishers gathered to celebrate the occasion, Richard Morrow spoke of his own experience as a comparatively new member. This, he said, had been an enjoyable experience while his work has benefited from the sharing and feedback given by the group. He acknowledged and thanked all those responsible for the publication of the anthology.

He introduced Jessie Blackadder, our guest writer, and asked her to officially launch the new anthology. Jessie spoke of her delight and anticipation as each new story took her on a journey to a new place and a different experience. She praised the group for the quality and diversity of their work and reminded us that as writers we make an important contribution to humanity by sharing our stories. She also said the feeling of welcome, warmth and comradeship which greeted her at the launch celebration reminded her of a similar experience in a small far-flung village on the other side of the world.

Carolyn and Richard at the newsagency proved once again to be excellent hosts. In among the bookshelves and stationery stands, the party went on. The champagne flowed, the talk and bonhomie continued until it was time to go home. It was a good celebration. Don’t miss out. Make sure you get your copy of The Blind Tattooist and see what all the fuss is about. Happy reading. Daphne Catchpoole

Lois Buckett Real Estate Bangalow A Buckett Buckett load A load of of service service from fromyour your Property Management Professionals.

Sales & Property Management Team JULY 2014 APRIL 2015 APRIL 2015

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in the garden

Richie’s Landscaping Project Have you been down to the end of Paperbark Place in Bangalow’s Clover Hill estate lately?

It has been transformed over a number of years from a basic grassy park with shelter shed to a wonderful area of gardens, play space and paths for all to enjoy. It adjoins the sediment retention ponds, put in to treat stormwater from the estate.

The genesis of the garden is an inspiring story of community. When Richie Allen had his terrible rugby accident in 2007, his footy mates started to raise funds to support him. Through great fundraising and lots of donations in kind by tradesmen, a purposebuilt house was constructed for him in Paperbark Place. This allows Richie to live comfortably, with access by wheelchair to town along fairly flat paths and roads. As a qualified landscaper he had worked on many local reafforestation projects, such as Mullumbimby, Rosebank and Nashua, and planted tens of thousands of rainforest trees. He was thus very interested in works at the end of the road and wondered how it could be improved for better access and use by the community. Four years ago a friend approached Byron Council and secured some developers’ funding for public space. Ritchie rustled up friends and helpers and they planted out 40 trees, some semi-advanced as specimen trees, mostly around the sediment retention ponds.

Council put in a gazebo with a barbecue and a cement path.

Since then new highway work has cleared the bush adjacent to the end of the Clover Hill development and put up a high fence, changing some of the landscaping goals. Richie looked up the hill, dominated by a very large fig tree. The tree was in poor health and so he decided on treatment and improvement of the area with local plant species. Richie carefully designed the area with a concrete path, vehicular access, enough lawn for young children to have ball games and gardens displaying many local plant species. Richie contacted Shane, the greenkeeper at the Bangalow Bowlo,

and they worked on the turf, with aeration and fertilising to encourage a buffalo lawn, without other grasses and weeds.

Now more funding was needed to plant out the area around the fig tree. RMS and LendLease were approached and they came up with equal funding for the plants.

Knowing how important mulch was to cover the ground and feed the microbes, Richie organised 150 cubic metres to be spread (about 1500 wheelbarrows full!).

The mulch was donated by local tree lopping companies, Pacific Plantations and Essential Energy.

Mates with excavators and posthole diggers had prepared the area and, in a huge one-day effort, friends and volunteers helped plant around 1,000 tube stock: a diverse range of trees, shrubs, palms, ferns, lomandras, vines, and epiphytes, including some bush tucker plants. LendLease provide a marquee and barbecue lunch

BEESLEY & HUGHES

Open 8am5.15pm

and Greg Nash brought in the Lions Club mobile cool room.

Currently the area is maintained by paid workers, for six hours, three times a week, as weeding is so important for maintenance.

A new path and garden area has recently been constructed adjoining the existing garden (see photo, the timber-arched entrance). This will become the Kindred Spirits contemplation garden, in memory of Garth Kindred, a tireless Landcare worker around Rosebank, who died recently.

If you have a look now you can see how well the plants are growing and how beautiful the area is. The grass is now ‘lawn’ and locals have been weeding, fertilising and watering to maintain healthy growth. The barbecue is well used by locals and Richie hopes the area will attract residents of the nearby Feros village, with their visitors, for a peaceful, relaxing time outdoors. There is now plenty of wildlife in the retention ponds – many bird species as well as frogs, water dragons and even a blue-tongue lizard, have taken up residence.

And for the future? After consulting Dave Pont about suitable species, Rous Water was approached to supply tubestock of rushes, sedges and reeds for the wetland area, as the ponds are part of the catchment of Byron Creek. Another community day is planned for next spring to plant out the tubestock and do some maintenance work in the gardens. Richie hopes the wider community might also use the area, for example school groups learning about endemic plant species and ecology.

I asked Richie about his dreams for the future. “I want to make the area one of the most diverse collections of species for its size in the area, and for function and form, on the planet,” he said. “I want it to be good habitat for the local fauna and a great place for people to enjoy: some open space, some playing space, some shady space. As houses now have less open space around them, then public spaces become more important.”

Judy Baker

Companion Animals Welfare Inc

LAWYERS of BANGALOW

We provide a confidential, competent and prompt legal service with sensitivity appropriate to the current economic circumstances.

Owen Hughes: Principal Solicitor Cassandra Bennett: Solicitor www.beesleyandhughes.com.au 22 22

16 Byron Street, Bangalow

Ph: 6687 1717

Pick up service available

t: 6685 1444

CAWI provides care and finds homes for unwanted or surrendered animals.

We rehabilitate orphaned or sick animals and promote responsible pet ownership.

CAWI is run by volunteers and is now raising money to build a BYRON ANIMAL ADOPTION CENTRE. Our main source of income is from our Op Shop and we are always in need of household goods and furniture to sell.

Visit: cawi.org.au for more information or to make donations

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT

market forces

five minutes with a farmer

Owners Jane Boniface and Jose Falagan grow certified organic, premium quality limes, lemons, mandarins, oranges and custard apples in their beautiful rich volcanic soil in the hinterlands of Byron Bay. They use only premium limes and mandarins to produce their much-loved Rancho Lime and Rancho Mandarina handcrafted cordials.

“I started making my lime cordial in the early days for friends and visitors.

Everybody loved it,” said Jane. After much persuasion she was encouraged to do

something about it and began the process of bottling the product. Jane got in touch with a food scientist friend who helped her with perfecting the method, creating a cordial that retained the fresh flavour and goodness of her fruit, without the use of preservatives.

“We’ve been winning awards for our cordials since the first year of entering in the Fine Food Shows,” Jane said. “At the Sydney Fine Food Show in 2006 we won a silver for our lime cordial; at the Hobart Fine Food Show we won two gold medals

for the lime cordial and also won gold and silver for our Mandarin Cordial.

How long have you been farming?

We’ve been farming since 2002. We use our limes every day in drinks and with most of our food. Great in Thai cooking and with grilled fish, which makes up a big part of our diet.

What new products have you added to your business?

We’ve added elderflowers to our farm in the past two years and have been making an elderflower cordial using our certified organic lemons with our elderflowers to make a fabulous summer drink. It’s proved a winner and I’m struggling to keep up supply.

We’ve expanded our elderflower crop and I hope to have a new drink for next spring/summer – ‘Elderflower Champagne’. Anybody who’s tried it will know how fabulous it is!

What is the best advice you have been given?

Grow crops that suit the climate. You don’t need heaps of chemicals to get a good crop. If possible, go organic and don’t use any pesticides. Don’t panic about the things you don’t get done in the day, as there’s always another day.

Why do you have a soft spot for Bangalow Farmers Markets?

It’s the customers that make Bangalow Market. It’s seeing the same faces week after week and their kind words of encouragement that keep us there.

Jane has some great recipes and cocktails. Drop by and ask her about them. They sure will spice up your next party!

Remy Tancred

Get the freshest produce weekly.

Direct from the people who grow it

bangalow - every saturday - 8-11am behind bangalow hotel byron bay - every thursday - 8 - 11am butler st reserve Byron Farmers Market

APRIL APRIL 2015 2015

Byronfarmers

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april diary

town talk A Winning Team Our Bangalow CWA ladies excelled at the Land Cookery & Handicraft Day bringing home the highest number of points in the Northern Rivers. Shirley Boyle, our top winner, and Jan Guest will have their crafts entered at the State Conference.

Other prize winners The Head Girls Team rock trivia night are Adrienne Bucknole, Barbara Sayer, Rebecca The smartest people in Dickson, Jane Curran and Sharon O’Meara. Bangalow?

The 3rd annual Bangalow Public School CWA winners Trivia Night was held at the Bowlo on Saturday 7 March and raised $4330 for Bangalow Public School. Attendees heartily embraced the ‘Saturday Night Detention’ theme, donning their worst school uniform and bad boy/girl get ups all in the name of fun and fundraising. MC Sharon Fraser and her crew of head girls relished the task of ‘caning’ latecomers and rowdy trivia buffs throughout the night.

Congratulations to them and to all the other So who are the smartest people in members who entered.

Bangalow? The teachers, Susan Gow of course. Teacher’s Team took out the top prize. “It was a great Peaceful Living social night enjoyed Up and coming fashion label by all,” said principal Sahana Peaceful Living, by Susie Boyle, adding that local designer Inosha Campion, ’collaborative teamwork’ hosted a high tea/fashion show was definitely the at the Heritage House Tearoom highlight of the evening. in March. The show featured “Parents - bring it on next silk kaftans, maxi dresses and year!” kimonos .

Inosha Campion Sally Schofield Photo - Christina de Water

For the

“RIGHT ADVICE” Whether it is SELLING or RENTING or any PROPERTY needs...

1

Starlight Fest begins; Garden Club

2

BPA meeting

3

Good Friday

4

Harvest chocolate workshop

8

Water lab

10

Red Cross meeting

11

Libraries book sale

12

Archibald display closes

13

ADFAS: Fresco

15

Water lab

17

Mason Rack band

19

Poultry Auction

23

Rail Trail fundraiser

25

ANZAC Day

26

Market; All Souls window blessing HB deadlines: 15(ads) 20(copy)

Zentveld’s Roastery on the plantation

roastery door sales Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm

193 Broken Head Road Newrybar 5 mins from Bangalow

full range of fresh roasted coffees, chocolate, tea, barista tools & new 3rd wave brewing methods 500g & 1kg bags our speciality

6687 2479 Visit our new website & read comments from recent clients who are happy with “THE RIGHT ADVICE” they received!

www.bangalowrealestate.com.au

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Barista Training Specialists

We have a barista course to suit you! students, working baristas & coffee enthusiasts

See our website for dates & details ph. 02 6687 2045 e. coffee@zentvelds.com.au

www.zentvelds.com.au

BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT BANGALOW’S HEARTBEAT