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 #49 TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2007 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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This wheel’s on fire, rolling down the road…
It was a case of going, going, gone for Bangalow mum Donna Aboody. Her pirate ship capsized while trying to bridge the gap between her and her rival Samantha Rowling, from Alstonville, in the Broken Head Quarry cart. Donna wasted no time on the tarmac, picking herself up, dusting herself off and raising her hands to encourage the crowd. On the walk back up the hill, Donna’s son was heard asking her, ‘So, did you win, Mummy?’.
Story & photos Lou Beaumont The biggest and greenest Bangalow Billy Cart Derby yet was held on Sunday. With 249 entries in the races (at least 15% more carters than last year), an 8,000 strong crowd and some perfect autumn weather, the derby was a rolling, rollicking success. Green too, with recycling systems in place, organised by Natasha Morton, leaving a significant reduction in rubbish at the end of the day. As always, spectacular stacks were among the highlights of the day, as was the colourful street parade with local charity groups and businesses participating, including the Bangalow firies. Vintage cars and their proud owners formed a steady stream down main street and then it was
time for more races. Three Bangalow teenage boys of the West Side Racing team, A J Wilson, Rian West and Aaron Coleman, saw their late night practice runs pay off when they won every division they entered in their slick, barely audible racing machines. The afternoon saw the seniors races, the mothers races, the novelty races and the celebrity race. Leighton Jones’s spectacular ‘Titanic’ drew gasps from the crowd as it steadily set off down the track. Nothing could stop the giant billy cart with its perfectly regal exterior – it even managed to crash through an iceberg that appeared in its path. The celebrity race featured Scott McGregor from Better
Homes & Gardens who was victorious, a visiting Tashi Lhunpo monk Jampa Lama, Don Page MP, Simon Balcon from the Bangalow Rugby Club and XXXX Beer’s Jacko. Organiser Tony Heeson said, ‘As always the community help was incredible. Mick O’Regan (Radio National) was fantastic. We were short on commentators and he ran the show all day. Ron Murphy of Eden Country Stores donated all the hay bales and Ernie Grono loaded all the bails onto two semi-trailers, unloaded them, loaded them again after the derby and unloaded them once more. Amazing. All of the volunteers, as always, made the day. It was a wonderful family day – it couldn’t have been better.’
Sorry Day referendum anniversary Do you want to know more about the 1967 Referendum and some recent Aboriginal history? If you do, then get along to the Byron Community and Cultural Centre from 2 pm onward on Saturday May 26, Sorry Day 2007. This year marks the 40 year anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, which saw more than 90% of eligible Australians vote ‘Yes’ to count Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in the national census of the population and to give the Commonwealth government power to make specific laws in respect of Indigenous people.
This event is often referred to as the first stage of the reconciliation movement in Australia. There was broad support for the amendments from the general community, church leaders, unionists, sports people and the media. The proposed amendments received 5,183,113 votes or 90.77% in favour, the biggest majority ever to be afforded to a referendum question in Australia. To commemorate the significant change to our Constitution in May 1967, the Arakwal People of Byron Bay, Sisters for Reconciliation (Northern Rivers), the Cavanbah Reconciliation
Group, the Byron Community and Cultural Centre and the Byron Shire Council are sponsoring the event on Saturday. Welcome to Country will begin the program at 2 pm, which will include Aboriginal dancing, speakers, Lousy Little Sixpence video, music, displays, information and souvenir items. Special guest speaker will be Aunty Pauline Gordon. The program will finish around 6.30pm/7pm with a dinner of kangaroo stew, fish, rice and salad. Entry is free, and food and drink are offered for a small donation. Everyone is welcome.
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