THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 28 #24 Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Phone 02 6684 1777 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
MUSIC FESTIVAL 21-24 NOV
LIFTOUT FEATURE AUDIT
Inside The kinkiest of this the Friedmans week – p9
Local man v one of the most Living, as No wipeout, powerful entities on the planet explained in a drop in on Echo – The Catholic Church – p7 feature – p16–17 Beach – p18
Small schools targeted by state Nats/Libs Simon Haslam
Around 16 local small schools could be severely affected by a state government planned shake-up which would see them lose their principal and have their funding transferred to larger schools under a ‘hub and spokes’ schools network system. The recently released government ‘Local Schools, Local Decisions’ initiative says it would provide schools and principals with more authority to make decisions at the school level to improve student outcomes’. But opposition Labor education spokeswoman Carmel Tebbutt says that principals were concerned that a proposal for small schools to operate in a network was a ‘backdoor means to close small schools’. She told The Echo that, ‘Despite being asked in parliament to rule out school amalgamations, education minister Adrian Piccoli refused
SEE CENTRE PAGES
INC GOD WE TRUST
CAB
to do so. Small schools are often the hub of their local community and can provide a wonderful education experience for students. The minister’s failure to provide clarity on the government’s intentions is causing anxiety in local communities, particularly in schools where there are significant numbers of temporary staff or key appointments are not confirmed or extended’. NSW has 600 small schools that would be affected by a principal reclassification proposal that ‘particularly concerns’ the NSW Primary Principals’ Association (NSWPPA). Wilsons Creek P&C secretary Sharon McGrath agrees and told The Echo that, ‘by removing teaching principals at many of the Byron Shire’s small schools and placing their decision-making power in the hands of off-site principals in Mullumbimby and Byron, the continued on page 3
Byron Shire Council Notices Page 42–43
Action taken against an extremist government
A resounding call for tangible direct action on climate change rang out throughout Australia on Sunday, and locally Byron Bay held an afternoon/night gathering at the Youth Activities Centre (YAC) while families took to Torakina Park in Brunswick Heads. PM Tony Abbott’s ‘direct action’ on climate change so far has included attacking the Climate Change Authority and axing the Climate Change Commission. Photo Jeff Dawson
Storm damages Byron Bay hospital Eve Jeffery
Hail and high winds hit Byron Bay on Saturday. Photo Jeff Dawson
A flash storm which ripped through Byron Shire on Saturday night caused damage to Byron Hospital’s roof in the emergency department (ED), causing patients to be relocated to the general ward. Executive director of the Tweed/ Byron Health Service, Bernadette Loughnane said that access to the ED is through the main entrance to the Hospital until further notice. ‘At no time were staff or patients placed at risk’, she said in a statement.
Emergency services including two crews from the Byron Bay Fire and Rescue service rushed to the scene at around 7pm and there were no reports of injuries. The Byron SES later attended to help with the cleanup – one more stop in their busy evening. Byron Shire SES unit controller John Farley said that volunteers were called to assist the elderly in town. ‘We went to both Byron Aged Care and Feros Village Byron Bay to attend to several broken skylights’, said John on Monday. ‘They were
all smashed by hail. Consequently we have been, and are still, busily patching them up in readiness for the professional repairers before any more rain comes.’ John said no residents needed to be evacuated. He said that between them, the SES and the rural fire service had eight units in the field between them with 44 staff including headquarters communications. SES community engagement coordinator Janet Pettit says that of the 90 jobs in the northern rivers, 55 of those were from the Byron area.