Pete Dupen, Elanora, Qld
One of the legends of the Byron Shire’s environmental movement over the past few decades, Sharon Curry, has passed away after a mercifully brief bout with cancer.
I first met Shaz when she was running the Railway Park visitors centre on behalf of the Byron Environment Centre (BEC) in 1995. I had realised that there might be no way to prevent McDonald’s from moving in if they just bought an existing restaurant, so we hatched a No Mackin Way party (MC’d by Ian Cohen, no less) to let them know we didn’t need one. This was the first of many protests, actions and parties that made Byron and the BEC what it is today.
I can’t really capture how loved by so many Sharon was – she was our rock, our light and our gigglebox for all occasions. I remember one lunch at her home-grown forest, which became an hour-long conga line of massage and giggles all around the house – stuff like that just happened when Shaz was around.
We’re gathering in the Cumbebim Wetlands that she’s been restoring for the past 20 years, on the boardwalk we built behind the old Butler St market grounds. Please join us to celebrate a remarkable life, connected to community so intimately that none of us really knew where she ended and Byron began.
Farewell sweet and darling Shazbat, we will love and miss you always.
