Rally for Cannabis Law Reform
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 #46 TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2007 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
.IMBIN S TH -ARDI'RASS 4HIS WEEKEND -AY W O R K E R S
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ANZAC Day marked in many ways Proudly wearing her father’s war service medals, Vivien Roberts gets a sprig of rosemary for remembrance from David Roberts. Warrant Officer Roberts served as a member of the airforce, flying Beaufort Bombers over Timor in 1943. Last year David published a book recounting these times called An Early Bird and His Beaufort Crew. Both Vivien and David joined the hundreds of ex service men and women, families, friends, scouts and school children who marched through the streets of Byron Bay on Anzac Day last Wednesday. Photo Jeff Dawson
On Thursday April 26, Mullumbimby High School held a special Anzac Day assembly to remember the Australians and New Zealanders who were killed in war. The year 9 self-select history class conducted the commemorative Anzac Day service as part of their extended histor y program. Students sang and read about the longing for peace. Justin Fenwick’s moving performance of And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda conveyed the naivety
and innocence of the young Anzacs. Other students gained new insights into the Anzac Day tragedy and spoke powerfully about the human toll of war. A letter from a war veteran was read out, exposing students to his personal suffering. Special thanks to trumpeter Aaron Heyning , year 11, who played The Last Post and Reveille at the dawn ser vice, the Anzac march and the school assembly. Also thanks to our guests Mr Walsh and Mr Host
from the Mullumbimby RSL, and to piper Raleigh Kent, year 12, who played a traditional Scottish lament. The suffering of soldiers of all nationalities and their families was honoured by the distribution of sprigs of rosemary, symbolising our remembrance of them and our longing for peace. In this world where 90% of the casualties of war are civilian, it is more important than ever that we remember. – Hannah Thiele, year 9, Mullumbimby High School
Eve Jeffery Reminiscent of market day, pre-dawn in Brunswick Heads saw a scarcity of parking spaces and the gathering of a huge crowd, as over 300 people congregated at the cenotaph in Fawcett Street to see the march from the RSL, and to take part in a ceremony to commemorate the 92nd anniversary of Anzac Day. Both toddler and veteran stood together in the last of night’s shade, and a single globe lit the memorial stone as flowers were laid to remember and honour those gone and those left behind. Blessings along with words of wisdom from the present
and past, mingled with Rev- the assembly quietly contemeille from brass and kooka- plated war. burra at dawns crack, and Very peace-ful.
John Holmes of Brunswick Heads once again led a group of St John’s Primary School students as they marched and played military drums in this year’s Anzac Day Parade held in Mullumbimby. Mr Holmes learnt to play the drums over thirty years ago when he was in the army. Since then he has kept the tradition alive by training young drummers in the Brunswick Valley.
Initially, John formed drum bands with teenagers in the Brunswick Heads Scouts and Venturers Groups. These bands participated in Anzac Day Parades. For the past twenty years he has given his time to train students from St John’s Primary School. Each year a group of students from Years 4 to 6 learn to play tenor and bass drums so that they may lead the Anzac Day Parade in
Don Dickson lays flowers for Legacy.
Mullumbimby. John goes to the school for a number of afternoon training sessions and the students also give up their time to attend practice sessions during the school holidays. He teaches them how to hold the drums properly and how to play a variety of beats. This year was a very special occasion, marking twenty-five years of service to the community.