THE BYRON SHIRE PAGES 18 & 19
Volume 24 #13 Tuesday, September 1, 2009 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 21,000 copies every week
PRETTY END OF THE MEME POOL
Mullum mourns after schoolboy death Eve Jeffery
The Mullumbimby High School community and the entire shire are still reeling from the sudden and tragic loss of a young man during what has been labelled the ‘table war’ at the school last Friday. Fifteen year old Jai Morcom, pictured, became involved in a melee when two students groups clashed in a territorial dispute over an outdoor table in the school yard. During the brawl, which involved several students from different year levels, Jai collapsed and after being attended to by a staff member, was transported by paramedics to Mullumbimby hospital in a critical condition before being transferred to the
Gold Coast Hospital where he was put on life support. Jai’s family kept vigil through the night and life support was turned off mid morning when it became clear the Jai would not recover from head injuries sustained during the fight. Jai died soon after. The Department of Education says its thoughts are with the student’s family and friends and it is providing additional support to the staff and students of Mullumbimby High School but stated it would be inappropriate to comment further at this point, because police are investigating the circumstances around the fight. The school staff and many of the students have been distressed by the intrusive nature
of the media as they come to terms with their grief and loss. There has been a great deal of comment and misinformation in the media about the circumstances of Jai’s death,
one television station even presented YouTube footage of Mullumbimby students during a supervised PE boxing class as an indication of the perceived violence at the school. Many
rumours have been circulating but nothing will really be known for certain until the coroner and police have finished their investigations. The Echo spoke to a close friend of Jai’s on Sunday evening who was distraught about the loss of her dear friend. ‘I had a class with Jai first period and he sat with my group just before the fight,’ said the year 9 girl who asked to remain nameless. ‘He was fine. Just normal Jai, happy and awesome.’ The student who saw the fight said that it began as a prank but soon got heated. ‘It was bit of joke in the beginning but in the end it got a little more serious but it was never expected to turn into a fight.
At the time I was scared that something so little could become so huge. I felt numb, like I should be doing something, but there was nothing I could do. I was just helpless.’ There has been talk of a backlash but the school is hoping to have as normal a week as possible and there will be a team of about 20 counsellors on hand to talk to students during the week. ‘It will be sad for most and emotions will run high,’ said the girl. ‘I think it will be good for our school community to be together again.To acknowledge what happened, so we can prevent this from ever happening again. ‘There are a lot of angry people that will do stupid things, continued on page 3
Bushfire heralds a warm end to winter weather Local Rural Fire Service crews have been kept busy through the week with an early start to the fire season. Typically the driest time of year is September, but lack of rain for weeks and higher than average temperatures has brought the risk of fires forward. Volunteers from 15 RFS Brigades and staff from National Parks and Wildlife Services attended a bushfire that started around 10pm on Monday, August 24. The fire, with a perimeter of 16.8kms, burnt out approximately 300 hectares of private property and Mt Jerusalem National Park, with a number of banana plantations damaged. With temperatures peaking at 37 degrees and high winds on Monday, two water bomber planes and one helicopter were engaged to help
fight the flames. Investigators are unsure of the cause of the fire at this stage, but the circumstances are being investigated by RFS and Police Fire Investigators. RFS Community Safety Officer for the Far North Coast, Laurence McCoy, told The Echo, ‘The effort from the RFS volunteers and NPWS staff was outstanding. ‘They were working tirelessly 24/7 for five days to contain the fire, and are still continuing to patrol the area. Brigades from Wilsons Creek, Billinudgel, Main Arm, Mullumbimby, Byron, Goonengerry, Federal, Wardell, Newrybar, Lennox Head, Alstonville, Murwillumbah, Tweed Coast, Burringbar, Bilambil were all involved, with local knowledge from the Wilsons Creek crew being particularly valuable. I would like to acknowledge all the crews’
onto maps used by the frontline crews, and together with wind and weather information, standard operating procedures, crew training, local knowledge, technology and equipment, fire control knew exactly how to prioritise placement of their teams on the ground. The fire was contained within identified control lines by the afternoon of Thursday August 27 but will continue to smoulder from burning logs for a number of days. Crews will continue to patrol the area. RFS advises property owners to prepare their homes for the upcoming fire season. Ember attack is the major cause of house fires during a bush fire. The bushfire seen from Left Bank Road looking south west toward Koonyum Range on Tuesday Do not leave stacks of wood or containers of fuel under or last week around 9pm. Photo Michael Rose. near the house, clear gutters, skills and experience.’ none were lost thanks to the at fire control. Helicopter flyo- and remove dry debris (ground Several properties were un- combined efforts of fire fighters vers meant accurate position- fuel) such as twigs and leaves der threat from the fire but and the information collated ing of fire fronts and property continued on page 5
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Lou Beaumont