Byron
Shire Echo October , 7Local News gyuto monks
come to MullumUntil the Chinese occupation of Tibet, Buddhism was widely practiced and the Gyuto monks were a thriving community. However the occupation led to the decimation of the monk population. About monks escaped to India with the Dalai Lama where they have lived as refugees, preserving their ancient traditions and rebuilding the monastic community. In , an Australian woman named Maureen Fallon organised her first Gyuto Monk Harmonic Chanting performance in Adelaide. This, the monks rst visit to Australia, was to be the start of a long association with Australia for the monks. In , Gyuto House was formed in South Australia. A voluntary organization which brings the Gyuto monks of Tibet to Australia and facilitates opportunities for them to display their cultural and spiritual heritage, it became a fully edged public benevolent institution two years later. Entirely self funded, any money raised by the organization is sent back to India to help the monks living in exile.Labour of love to screen on SBSPioneers Of Love is the story of a Russian nobleman who eloped with a tribal Aboriginal woman in the rainforests of far North Queensland, and began a dynasty spanning five generations and most of the th century. Their story is a graphic account of how one determined family struggled and triumphed in the face of institutionalised racism. For local film-makers Michael Balson and Andrew Bambach, Pioneers of Love became a labour of love. Their struggle to complete the series as well as possible with the limited time and money available, echoed the struggle of this Russian-Aboriginal family to overcome adversity. During post-production, Sydney-based Wiradjuri director Julie Nimmo lived in Byron on and off for over four months. The series went through countless changes, from four to ve half-hours, nally settling on two one hours. When a Brisbane on-line production house realised the scale of the project and pulled out, local computer wizzes Mark Burton, Mitchell Foy and Miles Bennett all rallied, and breathed life into the hundreds of historical photographs that help to illustrate the series. Series editor Michael Balson recalls, I worked for a year without pay, supported by my wife, and Andy gave his heart and soul, working hours a day, seven days a week for six weeks. But the series is so worthwhile, we just had to give it our best. The rst episode of Pioneers Of Love screens on SBS in their Storyline Australia timeslot at 8.pm this Thursday.Summer FairThe life of a Gyuto monk is one of compassion and kindness for the benet of all. The monks achieve this by the practice of Tantric arts, the best known of which is their deep, harmonic, overtone chanting. With each monk having the capacity to chant in three octaves at once, the sound is reputed to have a transformative effect on the physical as well as emotional body. You can experience the power of Tibetan Buddhist culture at the Old Drill Hall in Mullumbimby on Sunday October from am to 6pm when tantric meditation master Gen Phende, pictured above, and the Gyuto monks present a diverse program including culture for kids, meditation classes, tantric art and the magnificent har monic chanting. Entry is by donation with all proceeds going to the Gyuto Monks in India. For more information phone Melinda on . Lennox Head Public School will hold its Annual Spring Fair on Friday from 2.pm to 7pm. The Fair is not only the schools major fund raising event for the year it is also an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate each and everyones contribution. This year the Lennox Community Pre School, 1st Lennox Head Scouts, Lennox Head Playgroup and Lennox Head Country Womens Association will all be participating. The school has planned a host of entertainment to suit all the family.Local picked for Games relayA local resident has been selected from thousands of entries to carry the torch in the Queens Baton Relay for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. Sturt Coleman, pictured, moved from Sydney to Ocean Shores four years ago and was nominated for the relay by his father Barry who felt that Sturts lifetime commitment to childrens sport qualified him for the job. Both Barry and Sturt, however, had not expected their entry to be successful. Its one of those things you do and then forget about, said Barry. I was so surprised to hear that hed youngsters in various sports and recently coached the U Giants rugby league team to their premiership win in . He was also nominated for the northern rivers junior rugby league Coach of the Year. Despite his swag of achievements, Sturt was a humble recipient of this great honour. I knew dad had applied but I didnt think Id get picked, said Sturt. Im really excited about it its a fantastic opportunity for me. The relay will be run on January , , and Sturt will hear more about his role closer to the time.actually been chosen. Sturt is a past state weightlifting champion and was heavily involved in coaching Little Athletics for several years. He has trained numerous
