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 Available early Tuesday at: http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 22 #25 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2007 22,300 copies every week
entertainment pages are on 21 - 34. Gosh!
C H A M PA G N E
Labor sweeps into power
It’s schoolies’ hour in the sun
Elliot holds Richmond Buoyed by the nationwide swing to Labor, ALP candidate Justine Elliot had a comfortable win in the seat of Richmond. She took 39,000 votes on preferences to 27,200 votes for Sue Page of the Nationals. Ms Elliot took 58.9% of the two party preferred vote with a favourable swing of 7.5%. On the primary votes Ms Elliot was well ahead with 44.12% to Dr Page’s 36.58%. Of the other candidates Greens Giovanni Ebono polled well to take 15.3% of the primary vote with a favourable swing of 1.65%. The other runners managed less than two per cent each. Ms Elliot told The Echo, ‘I feel very honoured and privileged to be re-elected to serve the people of Richmond. It’s clear from the election result that people are looking to the future, not the past. ‘It’s a fantastic outcome. Across the whole of Australia people have shown faith in Kevin Rudd’s fresh ideas. I’m really looking forward to representing the electorate of Richmond in the new Labor government.’
Within Byron Shire, Ms Elliot was ahead on primary votes in 11 of the 16 booths while Greens Giovanni Ebono took the rest. Mr Ebono scored best in the smaller country booths, taking 58% of the primary at Wilsons Creek and 40% at Federal, but also had substantial support in Byron Bay (33%), and his home town Mullumbimby (35%). In response to his support Mr Ebono said, ‘It is ďŹ tting that Northern NSW and Tasmania should emerge from this election as rural Greens strongholds. The Green movement began here
P O L I T I C S
with the Nightcap Forest actions and then went on to save the Franklin. ‘On Saturday, we won a string of booths from Byron Bay to Nimbin on preferences, but we still have a lot of work to do in Tweed Heads. The people of Byron Shire know that we will all be living according to Green principles within twenty years and believe that we should start planning for it now.’
Jann Gilbert Like devotees being called to prayer, the sound of the ďŹ nal school bell heralds the start of the annual adolescent pilgrimage to adulthood. It’s that much-maligned three weeks of the year that sees the return of slab-carrying hordes of (hopefully) 18-year-olds; an assortment of mobile ringtones competing for attention that, collectively, sound like an outof-tune orchestra; queues of obviously joyful, bleary-eyed kids at supermarket checkouts; and the sweet voice of exuberant youth that sounds more like a banshee after midnight and a generous smattering of alcohol. Not to mention the beginning of the annual migration of shopping trolleys (as one letter writer last year so eloquently put it). In true Alice Cooper fashion, school is out and while it may be party time for kids, it’s somewhat more like sleepless nights for most parents, some residents, and police, hospital and ambulance services. ‘There’s a lot of kids in town but so far it’s been the
usual stuff, minors using false IDs, under-18s with alcohol, and other alcoholrelated problems,’ says Inspector Owen King from Byron Bay Police. ‘We want to remind kids that, while we encourage celebration, any anti-social behaviour will be acted upon.’ As a relatively recent phenomenon schoolies has attracted more attention than climate change. There’s no doubt that it’s a busy time in a number of ‘chosen’ destinations and, historically, there have been (and probably will continue to be) difďŹ culties with the realities of youth meets celebration, drugs and alcohol. But if kids have learned an over-indulgence response to stress release then it follows that they have learnt it as an inherent part of our culture. Most people can remember their own induction into adulthood. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries it seems alcohol and drug use have become an integral part of the rite-of-passage for most kids but it’s generally the amount or combination not
necessarily the overall presence that can prove to be dangerous. Relieving Principal at Byron Bay High School Ian Davies says, ‘We support the idea of the kids acknowledging the end of their school years in a safe way, and taking responsibility for their behaviour. We don’t give them any speciďŹ c schoolies information but the programs in the PD/H-PE (Personal Development/HealthP hy s i c a l E d u c at i o n ) curriculum cover a variety of issues including sexuality, relationships, and alcohol and drug use, and the Department of Education has a “safe partying packâ€? that’s sent out to schools.’ NSW Health and the State Library of NSW are also involved in a joint initiative druginfo@yourlibrary, which came under fire recently in a media release issued by Ian Cohen MLC condemning the use of the site to advertise accommodation in Byron Bay. ‘I fail to see how advertising a two bedroom apartment in Byron Bay for $3950 per continued on page 6
Q Figures are based on a count of some 78% of the vote. See more at http://vtr. aec.gov.au.
Plans for NYE in the Bay under way The Byron Bay Safety Committee has again been formulating the program for a safe community event for this year’s New Years Eve in Byron Bay. ‘With the success of recent year’s low key, community based, alcohol free, new year event, the same formula is planned for this year to ensure a safe night,’ said chair of the committee, Mayor Jan Barham.
‘Council has again resolved to provide a safe environment by the use of alcohol prohibition on the streets and parks in both Byron Bay and Brunswick. The format for NYE in Byron Bay will proceed as it did last year, focussing the event on the beachfront reserves and minimise the impact on local businesses. ‘The committee is also calling for stallholders to
make an expression of interest to have food and craft stalls on the night and there is an opportunity for community groups to have free stalls to showcase their work and activities. Details of how to apply are available on Council’s website and via advertisements. ‘The event will commence at 3pm with childrens’ activities and market stalls at the continued on page 2
These schoolies enjoy the ocean off Main Beach, Byron Bay. Photo Jeff Dawson
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