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 23 #07 TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2008 22,700 copies every week Printed on recycled paper
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Volunteers the backbone of writers festival
Sister singer songwriter sensation Scarlett Affection take advantage of Writers Festival inspiration and compose more musical poetry and lyrical magic. Nerida (left) and Melia Naughton will be performing at the Bangalow A&I Hall on Saturday July 26 as part of the festival at 7.30pm. Tickets available from Jetset Byron Bay and Barebones Artspace in Bangalow.
Story & photo Lou Beaumont
Anyone who has been to a festival of any kind will know that they couldn’t happen without a dedicated team of volunteers. The Byron Bay Writers Festival is no exception. About 130 volunteers will be running the marquees and supervising events at the twelfth annual festival. One such volunteer, Karin Kolbe, who is also busily running for Council, has given her time at at least six festivals. Kolbe told The Echo, ‘There is so much to like about volunteering at the Writers Fest. I love the actual physical setting – sitting in the sun, talking, sharing ideas, and getting to know the works of writers you previously didn’t have a connection to. The festival is a smorgas-
bord of words and ideas and such an amazing showcase for so many local writers.’ Duncan Fitzgerald returned to volunteer at the Writers Festival this year after enjoying his virgin volunteer experience so much last year. Fitzgerald said, ‘Volunteering in a tent is a fantastic way to see the festival. I have sat through things that wouldn’t have automatically appealed to me and thoroughly enjoyed them. ‘I love that you are always meeting new people, likeminded people. I write short stories, and from a writer’s perspective I am so full of ideas when I get home, I start churning out more stories. Fitzgerald, like so many volunteers, got involved after first being
drawn to the festival as a punter. ‘There was a special event I was interested in a few years back so I bought a ticket. I realised then what an inspiring little festival it is and I wanted to get further involved.’ First time Writers Festival volunteer but career volunteer coordinator Shelley Sellors told The Echo, ‘After having organised volunteers at so many festivals for so many years I felt it was time to return to being an actual volunteer to remind myself of why people give their free time. ‘To me, volunteering is about being a part of something bigger than oneself. You are an intrinsic part of a festival with a community base. ‘Volunteers play a key role
between the staff and the festival goers, you feel a sense of attachment to the proceedings and pride in seeing it unfold. With the inside view that you get as a volunteer you realise how much work goes into these events. ‘I always think, “Wow, this is massive, people have worked really hard to make this happen.” It is such a personally expansive experience.’ The Byron Bay Writers Festival runs throughout this coming weekend (July 25-27) with workshops already under way. Download a full program from www.byronbaywritersfestival.com. au or call 6685 5115 for more information. See also an interview with Judith Lucy and a book review on pages 18-19.
Council GM slams Splendour comments Byron Shire general manager Graeme Faulkner has ‘rejected out of hand’ comments made by North Byron Shire Parklands (Parklands) in a media release last week. According to Mr Faulkner, Parklands inferred that Council had caused undue delay in assessing a Parklands development application in 2006 for a trial festival in both 2007 and 2008 and was causing further delay in relation to a development application for a Splendour in the Grass festival in 2009. The development application lodged by Parklands for the 2007 festival was withdrawn by Parklands ‘after a great deal of limited Council resources had been applied to process their request; resources which could have been easily applied to other applicants,’ Mr Faulkner said. ‘In February 2008 staff were about to report on assessment of the DA for the proposed 2008 festival when Parklands abandoned it, informing Council that they would be amending their application and, at the time, issuing a media release stating that they “still had more work to do”. ‘The current DA being considered by Council was amended as late as March this year by the applicant and consequently placed back out on exhibition during April-May 2008. ‘The complexity of the DA itself required referral to a large number of government agencies including the Rural Fire Service, Department of Primary Industries, Department of Planning, Roads and Traffic Authority, Department of Environment and Climate Change, National Parks, and the NSW Police among others, with all agencies’ consequential commentary and requests for further information being relayed to the applicant for comment prior to Council finalising a position on the matter.’