THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 23 #18 Tuesday, October 7, 2008 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 22,700 copies every week
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Harleys roar into Lennox Head
Car pooling project for Byron Shire A new Byron Shire based project to assist young people to get to their employment or training through a car pooling club has won funding from the NSW government. In April this year a funding application to the NSW Ministry of Transport (MoT) was developed by Rita Youssef-Price, youth development worker with Byron Shire Council in consultation with Julie Williams, manager of Mullumbimby and District Neighbourhood Centre. In July 2008, Mullumbimby and District Neighbourhood Centre received a funding grant of $20,000 from the NSW Ministry of Transport (MoT) to set up the Shire Car Pool Project. This new project will specifically target young people living in Byron Shire who require affordable, safe and flexible transport in order to attend employment and training opportunities. Other people experiencing transport disadvantage will also be able to access the service.
Members website
Story & photo Eve Jeffery
Without a cloud to be seen in a clear blue sky, the thunder still rolled into town last Friday when over 2,000 members of HOG (Harley Owners Group) converged on Lennox Head for the 18th Annual Australia National Rally. HOG enthusiasts from Australia and all over the world came together to celebrate an important Harley-Davidson anniversary. Not only is it the 18th Australian HOG rally but it is also the 25th year of HOG internationally. Mike Davis from Main Arm is this year’s rally coordinator. He is a member of the northern NSW chapter of HOG which is the second oldest chapter in Australia.
‘This event contributes to the local community and its economy,’ Mike said from the rally base at Lake Ainsworth. He expected a good turnout for the Thunder Run from Ballina to Suffolk and back to Lennox via Bangalow. And he got it. The run, the highlight of any HOG rally, left Ballina at 9.30 on Sunday morning and the stream of Harleys took 20 minutes to pass any given location. The three day event saw more leather than you could shake a Shovelhead at and the perfect weather made for happy HOGsters. Activities included in the rally weekend were HarleyDavidson 2009 new model demonstrations, the Show and Shine competition in Ballina on Saturday and
‘Stud Your Duds’, a Harley-Davidson clothing makeover. As to the bad boy image of bikers, Mike said that the stereotype is a bit outdated. ‘We’re mostly riders of a certain age. I’m 58. We’re family people. We ride safely and stay alive. It’s good healthy fun. ‘Anyone who owns a Harley is eligible to join HOG and their partner becomes an associate member,’ Mike said. ‘I’m a retired high school teacher myself. I joined when I bought my first Harley 11 years ago. Harley riders are the people next door. Women are very welcome to join. We have many women riders in HOG.’ The only cloud on an otherwise pristine weekend was the theft of bikes from the rally. Thieves stole
seven Harleys on Friday night in a well-planned heist. ‘They know what they are after,’ said Mike on Saturday. ‘Harleys are a valuable item and these days are covered in very expensive “bling”. These thieves are highly organised and sophisticated but some of the bikes had GPS and we were able to retrieve all seven. Police found the truck but the culprits got away.’ This reporter’s indelible memory from the rally was the vision of a 6 foot biker in full leather, bandanna and handlebar mo, walking along Pacific Parade delicately holding onto the hand of his missus. Nice. For more info about the Australian HOG club phone 1800 464 258 or visit www.hog.com.
The Car Pool Project is currently developing a website with a moderated online bulletin board to provide a user friendly interface that is password restricted to members. Car Pool club members will be able to post their own messages to seek lifts or to connect with passengers to share car use. Membership requirements of the Car Pool will involve proof of identity, a small membership fee and agreement about the use of the service. Organisers hope to have the Car Pool website and bulletin board operating before the start of the 2009 academic year. ‘The Shire Car Pool Project will be developed over an 18 month period to provide a transport option where previously there was none,’ said Julie Williams, ‘making trips affordable for passengers, reducing the fuel cost continued on page 2