Cooked to Order!
THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 25 #13 Tuesday, August 31, 2010 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
A wonderful insight into the best culinary minds of the Far North Coast. Pages 19 -22
NOW WITH IMPRVOED SPELL CHEQUE
Classmates and friends remember Jai one year on Story & Photo Eve Jeffery
Mullumbimby High School students and many of the family and friends of Jai Morcom gathered last Friday to remember the boy who lost his life a year ago. Jai’s death, which was the result of a recess brawl, is still unresolved – and there will be no answers at least until the inquest begins at the end of the year. It’s still fresh in the minds of those affected, and many can’t believe that a year has passed since the 15 year old died. The sense of loss and grief is still very raw.
Minute’s silence Jai’s father Steve Drummond created the space for a minute’s silence at 10.55am in front of the school, as Jai’s family, peers and teachers gathered in a tight circle around mementoes of Jai’s life. Many wore green ribbons and carried white flowers in memory of Jai. Steve spoke to the crowd and a large contingent of media, of a peaceful boy who was well loved and remembered by everyone, but also of his frustration at the lack of closure over his son’s death. ‘It’s mind boggling to think a year later, there was a major brawl in the school, and there is still no resolution
Charity bashes into town
and no satisfactory answers as to why it happened or who was responsible,’ said Mr Drummond as he repeated his appeal for the truth. ‘The reality is that a person’s life has been taken and for the emotional growth of any student there that day, either directly involved as a witness or a perpetrator, the truth can be your saviour.’
Private ceremony Another ceremony was held earlier inside the school away from media. A plaque and flowers were placed in a memorial garden in a grove at the school and Jai’s closest friends and family were invited to attend. School principal Ian Graham said that he and staff had sought advice from experts in the field of grief counselling as to the best way to go about creating a memorial to the student who was so loved by his friends. ‘We invited the year ten students and Jai’s family to come to the memorial garden for a tree planting ceremony,’ said Mr Graham. ‘The garden is in a quiet part of the school and is in an area available for all students to visit any time.’ The inquest into Jai’s death will begin in Lismore Courthouse on January 31 and according to the coroner’s representative, will run for approximately two weeks.
Hangin’ ten and happy to be home – Variety’s beach bums Phil Batson, Ray Crandel and Trevor Watts enjoyed morning tea at the Mullumbimby Public School with Phil’s grandsons Tom and Jacob. Photo Eve Jeffery
After travelling over 3,557km, ‘The Bashers’ can finally look forward to a three course sit down meal at the Byron Entertainment Centre. The Bash is not a race or rally, say organisers, but rather a ‘drive in the outback with like-minded fund raisers, driving miles for the smiles, enjoying travelling to parts of Australia that they may not otherwise see, at the same time as raising money to
support kids in need.’ The Children’s Charity’s annual fundraising Bash has raised in excess of $40 million for kids in need since its inception in 1985. There are only a few rules, and blatant cheating and bribery are encouraged – the only stipulation is that bashers must be in a pre 1974 vehicle, decorated as weird and wonderfully as possible. The first event was the
brainchild of philanthropist Dick Smith, and helped raise $250,000. The Byron Bay Bash Benefit will be hosted at the the Byron Brewery Tuesday August 31, and will be an opportunity to meet with the Bashers and check out some of the vehicles. Entry is $40 per person which includes canapĂŠs, two drinks on entry and entertainment. All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to Variety.
Tallow Beach keeps SLSC busy on Sunday with emergency callouts
Steve Drummond fronts the media at the anniversary of his son’s death
Surf lifesavers from Byron Bay SLSC and the Far North Coast Branch were kept busy last Sunday morning with two emergency callouts to Tallow Beach. The second was a serious incident and resulted in the successful rescue of a body-boarder who was swept around the point and onto rocks, according to Surf Life Saving NSW. ‘At around 7.30am surf lifesavers were called to respond to two swimmers in trouble at the northern end of
Tallow Beach,’ Surf Life Saving NSW said. ‘Rescue craft were dispatched to the scene but were stood down before they arrived after a boardrider managed to assist the swimmers back to shore.’ Less than an hour later they received a call to the same location to rescue the stranded body-boarder. ‘Rough seas and strong winds made for dangerous conditions along this stretch of coastline today and the body-boarder was being pushed up
against rocks.’ The only rescue craft which could safely reach the boarder was the Surf Rescue Jetski. The patient was returned to the shore and was treated for cuts and abrasions. SLSC said the Jetski remained in the Tallow area for some time after, warning swimmers and surfers to leave the water as large movements of rough water continued to make conditions very dangerous along the unpatrolled stretch of coast.
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