THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 24 #23 Tuesday, November 10, 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
g)' M A K I N G P E O P L E S AY ‘ C H E E S E ’ S I N C E 1 9 8 6
Ocean Shores ready to turn 40
High Court denies Cohen leave to appeal The High Court of Australia has denied Greens MLC Ian Cohen’s application for leave to appeal on a defamation case ruled against him in favour of Suffolk Park developer Jerry Bennette. As a consequence Mr Cohen says he will be up for court costs of $1 million. ‘I am disappointed with the High Court’s decision and feel that the decision has put a very high price on sticking up for your mates and your community,’ Mr Cohen said. ‘As a result of the court decision I am now facing costs of approximately $1.015 million. ‘If someone wishes to speak their mind in this state then they had better have a million dollars up their sleeve – before they even start counting their own legal costs.
‘Tame by comparison’
A town’s founding mothers, fathers and families, from left, Matthew Denehy, Judy Anning, Charlie and Lyn Diehm, Jan and Jim Mangleson and Jan and Barry Larracy, all getting ready to celebrate the town’s 40th Story & photo Eve Jeffery
Jan Larracy, then Rowley, was the first resident of Ocean Shores. Jan and husband Robert Rowley built the first home on the Ocean Shores Estate in 1969 and she was not a happy Jan. ‘When I first moved here I hated it. We had a lovely house in Kanandah Court but it was 18 months before anyone else moved to the area, but then I joined the golf club and got to know a few people and loved it from then on.’ Judy Anning has lived in the same house since the early days. Husband Jim Anning was sales manager for
developers Princess Properties and the Annings were one of the first ten residents. ‘I have lived in that same house for 36 years,’ says Judy. Barry Larracy is a longtime resident of Ocean Shores and a member of the golf club. President of the Ocean Shores Community Association (OSCA), Matthew Denehy, grew up in the area and is a second generation local. Charlie Diehm was a construction worker at Ocean Shores. Charlie was part of the team that built the Orana Bridge over Marshalls Creek commencing in 1973. Back then the cost of the bridge was $200,000. The ex-
cavation for the foundation pylons was done by hand. The bridge today remains an important link for all local communities. Jim and Jan Mangleson have been locals since 1972, being residents of Mullumbimby and Ocean Shores. Their family has grown up and settled here. These are the founding fathers and mothers of a town which is now home to the second largest population in Byron Shire and Ocean Shores is about to turn 40. ‘The town of Ocean Shores and its surrounding district is an important part of the Byron Shire,’ says Matthew
Denehy. ‘With a catchment population of about 9,000 people, together with Brunswick Heads, the Byron Coastal North contains some of the most beautiful ocean, river and rural areas in Australia.’ OSCA is having a party to celebrate the 40th birthday of Ocean Shores and all are invited. Come on Sunday November 22 at midday to the Ocean Shores Country Club and learn about the early days of Ocean Shores. Cost for lunch is $20, children $5. Phone 6680 1108 or 6680 3137 for a booking, or go to the OSCA website at www. osca.org.au for a lot more information about the town.
‘This was a meeting of friends; a community fundraiser. If you’ve listened to Parliament or players at a football or cricket match, you would realise that what I said was tame by comparison. ‘At a community fundraiser I said a few words in defence of a friend who was being sued and who faced losing his home – the stress later led to his family breaking up. It was an inconsequential, unprepared speech. ‘Seven years and more than a million dollars later I am in an unenviable position. I believe history will judge that I did the right thing by my mates. The result of my case shows that community activism comes at a high price.’ In March this year the NSW Court of Appeal overturned a decision in Mr Cohen’s favour and ordered him to pay Mr Bennette $15,000 in defamation damages plus Mr Bennette’s legal costs. The case brought by Mr Bennette stemmed from a 2001 meeting to which the developer has sent his agent to record Mr Cohen’s comments.
enrich your spirit
www.crystalcastle.com.au Open 7 Days 10am-5pm (NSW time) 81 Monet Drive, Mullumbimby 40 mins from Tweed Heads 20 mins from Byron Bay (02) 6684 3111
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