Patricia Warren, Brunswick Heads
Jason Van Tol needs to focus on the issue (Letters, 20 January). What social compass carries with it an entitlement to inflict the noise impact of a drumming circle on such an extensive area in Brunswick Heads for hours upon end?
Why now, and not before, do we have signage stating that ‘events’ must be licensed by Reflections? It’s a response to the volume of complaints!
Why did the drummers ignore the requirements when holding an ‘event’ on 3 January in full knowledge that it would induce a crowd? What COVID restrictions did this event or previous events adhere to?
Given both the publicity about the signage and where it’s sited, it would be difficult if not implausible to argue, ‘I/we did not know’ as a defence. So, why wouldn’t the drummers’ behaviour not trigger the warned of enforcement of being shut down?
Moving to the area in front of the surf club on subsequent Sundays is still locating this ‘event’ on Crown Land, for which a licence is required.
Why has the drumming circle been moved on several times, what does this signal?
It would be remiss of me not to challenge any attempt to ‘sell’ or mythologise that this is a ‘valued’ community event or has ‘traditional’ standing. There hasn’t been any drumming circle to my knowledge in Brunswick for the last 30+ years. To claim an alleged ‘community value’ and to satisfy the notion of ‘traditional’ it has to be supported with evidence of continuity. Where is the evidence for either?
Furthermore, just to advise the drummers; Torakina Park was only engineered into existence in the 1960s and there are extensive areas of the foreshores in Brunswick that have been created by infill, a fact that long-term senior locals and history can attest too.
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. 
