It started without a name and was one of the ‘first communes in the modern era,’ one of the founding members, Paula Morrow told The Echo.
‘The commune is now called Starlight Community but didn’t have a name when the first few of us renegades bought in and lived in very hard but interesting conditions there in 1971,’ said Ms Morrow.
This Saturday, 23 April, celebrates 50 years of the commune in Yandina, that is now called Starlight, and they are looking for some of their original members including one, who apparently came from Mullumbimby.
‘We are looking for Bruce, of Paula, Roger and Bruce, who shared our few acre share with us,’ said Ms Morrow.
‘All I remember was that Bruce was the son of a butcher in Mullumbimby who told us how wonderful (and how much easier) were the green, green hills of Mullumbimby which led to me living there next.
‘Any contacts for Bruce, who would be about 68 now, would be much appreciated! Then he could come to the reunion.’
After leaving the commune in Yandina Ms Morrow was part of the original hippy influx to the area spending time in Main Arm, was part of the Aquarius Festival in Nimbin and then lived in Lismore before moving with her family to Newcastle.
Over the years of gaining six degrees, being arrested six times protesting coal and protecting the environment, she says that it is ‘obvious that you need clean soil, air and water to grow healthy food and herbs to make healthy human beings’.
Ms Morrow has kept up her activist lifestyle and recently wrote the book Alternatives! a Memoir which is available as either an Ebook or a paperback through either Amazon.com.au or through Ingram Spark.
Paula can be contacted at [email protected] or call 0407 612 115.
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