THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 21 #14 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2006 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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New pathways for girls After enjoying remarkable success with its award winning Pathways to Manhood program, Pathways Foundation is launching its first ever girls’ program this November in northern NSW. A harm prevention charity, Pathways Foundation creates programs based on the belief that strengthening the parent/child relationship is paramount in helping youths achieve their potential by reducing many of the common issues experienced by youth, such as low self worth, depression, underachievement and an inability to communicate with their parents.
With over ten years experience running programs aimed at creating stronger relationships between fathers and sons, Pathways is now expanding its program to include relationship building between mothers and daughters. Based on the same philosophies as the boys’ program, the girls’ program aims to recognise the female transition from child to adult and strengthen the bond between mother and daughter during this crucial phase in the daughter’s life. Aimed at girls aged between and 12 and 15 years old, the program seeks to
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Playful protest for preschools
help young women reach their full potential, equip them with a healthy attitude towards their bodies and a high self worth. Pathways into Womanhood program manager Maree Lipschitz says, ‘This program has been eagerly awaited by parents who have sent their boys on the Pathways to Manhood camp and have been wanting something just as beneficial for their daughters’. One such mother, Ev MacPherson, is eagerly awaiting her opportunity to take her daughter to the inaugural Pathways camp in continued on page 4
Suzuki’s last gig in the Bay The Byron Bay Writers Festival is proud to announce that Dr David Suzuki will speak in Byron Bay, for one night only, on Tuesday October 10. David Suzuki’s appearance in Byron Bay offers local residents their final chance to meet this respected planet watcher in their own backyard. Described by Tim Flannery as ‘the greatest environmentalist of our age’, David Suzuki has dedicated his life to inspiring and equipping people to recognise and preserve the fragile balance of the world they inhabit. In this, his final speaking tour of Australia, David will talk about that life and introduce his much anticipated book, David Suzuki: The Autobiography. This is the story of his passion for the planet, a passion that for several decades he has brought to the world through his research, his writings, his broadcasting and above all through his life. continued on page 2
From back left, Jason, Aidan, Kiara, Jordan, and Chloe join in the Protest Play Day at Mullumbimby Community Preschool last week as part of a statewide protest calling on the state government to address the inequities in NSW preschool education. Director of Albury Preschool, Gabrielle Connell, says, ‘In most other Australian states, families are provided with free preschool education. NSW has the lowest participation rate, with only 59% of our four year olds attending a preschool, compared to 96% nationally. The NSW government is shirking its responsibility for our kids and our future.’ Photo Jane Schneider
Satellite symposium on cancer People living in rural and regional Australia are often disadvantaged due to isolation, and people living with cancer in rural Australia are no different. Every year, approximately 15,000 people living in rural and regional Australia are newly diagnosed with cancer and research shows that their survival rates are substantially lower than those in metropolitan areas due to a lack of information and access to services.
In an attempt to address this problem, Australian cancer organisations in collaboration with patient advocacy groups, clinicians and health professionals have organised a satellite symposium entitled ‘Surviving Cancer in Rural and Regional Australia’ to be telecast from Westmead Hospital on September 23 to 58 regional sites around Australia. During the three and a half hour symposium, an impressive line up of speakers from around Australia
will cover a range of topics relevant to all types of cancers including emotional, social and personal issues; practical tips; physical recovery and nutritional management. A cancer survivor and carer will share their personal journeys and participants will have the opportunity to ask speakers and experts questions through a panel session. Gill Batt, Director of Cancer Information and Support continued on page 2