Jan Barham, Broken Head
The sale of the Byron at Byron resort will see Lyn and John Parche leaving the management role. They set high standards, delivering five-star tourism and also supporting our community.
After a legal case with the previous owner, the new owner, Gerry Harvey, engaged the internationally experienced Parche duo and an excellent architect, Ed Haysom, to redesign the resort to complement the unique environment.
The Parches have shown great respect for Arakwal from the beginning and ensured that visitors understand and appreciate their connection to country and cultural heritage.
The degraded swamp has been given years of regeneration attention to create an outstanding nature experience. Lyn and John have been generous supporters of the community; donations, accommodation for local events, and hosting community events. I was also fortunate to serve with Lyn on the regional tourism board and learnt so much from her vast tourism experience.
To the new owners, it’s a hard act to follow, but welcome. And I hope you follow their lead.
To Lyn and John who will remain as local residents, I wish you all the best for your retirement and thank you for understanding why Byron is unique and your commitment to quality tourism and our community.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
