September 4, Byron Shire EchoArticlesAlexandras zebras go gold for HKMoons rising stars in meteoric telco industrySteve Moon and the team from Coastal Telephone Services have won this years Rising Star Award from Telstra Business Systems Pty Ltd. Coastal Telephone Services provide businesses in the region with communications solutions, large or small, from two to handsets. I have found the Northern Rivers a great place to do business and would like to thank all our customers for their support, said Steve. Steve and his wife Jacki came to Ocean Shores three years ago from Sydney. The technology is moving at an exponential rate but often traditional solutions and lower costs are what regional business require. Im pleased weve been able to supply and service all clients individual needs while making sure they are on the right path for the future cost saving technology such as VoIP will bring. We have grown the business signicantly in the last two years by offering the customer hardware that Telstra helps nance through rebates on their phone bill. Its an attractive option for local business a commitment to a carrier in exchange for heavily discounted equipment. The company employs eight people and is growing, according to Steve. Coastal Telephone Services is soon changing its name to Coastal Voice Data and will offer IT and Network support to new and existing telephone customers. The awards were presented by Olympic swimmer Giaan Rooney pictured below with Steve centre and Malcolm Flanagan, Managing Director, Telstra Business Systems Pty Ltd, at this years sales conference held in Coffs Harbour.Alexandra Spyratos body painted by Zen Player and Aly Cat. Photo Rachel MackayEver extending her zones and reinventing her stripey representation of the regal zebra, local artist Alexandra Spyratos takes her Shimmer Show to The Cat Street Gallery in the heart of the business district Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. For this show, her medium sees a new direction from uorescence into the elegance and glamour of goldand silver leaf. Adding a fresh and energetic dimension to her art, the shine and shimmer is reective of the heat of the artists Savannah homelands. Her paintings, rich and heavily layered with thick oils between the metallics, recreate the physicality of the wild that inspires her. With solo shows behind her Alexandra has become known for her contemporarydecorative style, uniquely her own. Between frequent visits to her homeland of Kenya to recapture the essence of the wildlife, the artist travels the world with her vibrant paintings showing her work internationally in New York, Miami, Milan, Sydney, Kenya and Uganda. Her Hong Kong show opens on October 4. See more at Community radioTV rockCommunity radio and TV stations are hugely important to the vitality of local communities, say the authors of a groundbreaking study being the other week In the largest project of its kind in the world, researchers from Grifth University have spent two years interviewing audiences across the country, including listeners of Indigenous stations, ethnic language programs, metropolitan, suburban, regional, rural and remote radio, as well as TV audiences in the emerging community TV sector. The resulting report, Community Media Matters an audience study of the Australian

community broadcasting sector

, reveals the integral role played by community broadcasting as described by some of its more than seven and a half million listeners. Community Media Matters finds that audiences reasons for tuning in were overwhelmingly similar their station offers diversity, alternatives and intimacy, an afrmation of their community and its values and a welcome escape from the predictability of mainstream media. Audience members were passionate in their responses people talked about their stations as if they were part of a big family as accessible and approachable, offering places where communities can connect and providing accurate representations of Australias social and cultural diversity. The community broadcasting sector is a valuable cultural resource, says Griffith University researcher Associate Professor Michael Meadows. It contributes to Australias rich and diverse heritage through its commitment to maintaining, representing and reproducing local cultures. No other media sector is able to do this. Countries around the world look at Australias large and dynamic community broadcasting sector with envy its grassroots vitality providing much needed diversity to the Australian media landscape.Dog owners asked to help wildlifeThe National Parks and Wildlife Service NPWS is asking pet owners to help protect local wildlife by leaving their animals at home when visiting national parks, nature reserves or the marine park in the Byron area. NPWS Area Manager, Sue Walker said everyone is reminded that these areas are important refuge for wildlife and because of their impacts domestic animals including dogs are not permitted. Where conser vation reserves, such as Arakwal National Park, Cape Byron State Conservation Area, Broken Head, Tyagarah and Brunswick Heads Nature Reserves are established the community expects wildlife to be safe from unnecessary human impacts, Ms Walker said. It is important people appreciate that the parks and nature reserves include the beaches. These areas are special places for wildlife and for people to experience a peaceful and natural environment without domestic animals. Domestic animals such as cats and dogs are not permitted in these areas as they prey on and chase native animals, causing them stress and leaving their young unprotected. Dogs can leave a lasting scent that can easily scare small animals and birds away from their homes. Dogs can also interfere with the enjoyment of other people using the parks. There is a high level of awareness within the community regarding the situation where dogs are not permitted in these areas. Advisory signs have been erected to remind visitors that dogs are not permitted in national parks, state conservation areas or nature reserves. People who take their dogs into a national park or a nature reserve risk being issued with an on the spot ne. Dog exercise areas are provided locally and full details of these areas can be obtained from Byron Shire Council.