The first and only Aboriginal councillor to be voted onto Byron Shire Council was Jimmy Budd, who was elected in 1991.
There has been no local Indigenous voice since then – but the recent local government elections changed that.
Now there is not one, but two, Bundjalung women taking their seats in the chamber as the 2024 election results were confirmed.
Delta Kay and Michelle Lowe, both running on the Greens ticket, will join the new mayor and six other councillors in governing for the next four years.
Cr Michelle Lowe
Cr Lowe is a long-time resident of the shire – she raised her children here as well as supporting other children in her role as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, academic and cultural mentor and coordinator at Byron Bay High School.
‘I am committed to the long-term sustainability of the Byron Shire, and deeply committed to supporting the solutions to the climate crisis,’ says Cr Lowe.
‘I am deeply concerned about the climate, First Nations justice and the destruction of wild spaces that are habitat to vulnerable species.
‘My priorities for the upcoming term of Council are environmental protection for sensitive habitat, affordable housing and housing and health for Indigenous communities.’
Cr Delta Kay
There are not many who have lived in the area for even a short time who would not have seen Delta Kay advocating for Indigenous people, and volunteering her time at community events to advance the education of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Cr Kay’s mother, Lynda Vidler, was an Arakwal Elder who, with her sisters, was instrumental in a successful native title claim that began in 2004 and was granted in 2019.
Cr Kay lives and breathes her family’s culture, and is constantly educating herself around Bundjalung history and the wider Indigenous community.
Cr Kay said she was delighted by the faith voters showed in her.
‘I think my standing in the community with the work that I’ve done around education and cultural sharing, I think a lot of people trust me and know that I have our community’s best interests at heart.’
Cr Kay runs Explore Byron Bay, which takes visitors on cultural tours of the area.
Delta says the diversity of the community makes it strong.
‘Everyone is so passionate about their loves, in life and their causes. It’s tricky, but super interesting. I’ve been loving listening to residents’ issues – whether it’s too many dogs or cats in a residential area, or dangerous roads, or inappropriate development, it’s really good hearing from our community.’
The community want a Bundjalung person on Council
Cr Kay thinks that the recent Indigenous issues and movements across Australia, with the Black Lives Matters movement and the Uluru Statement of the Heart, and the referendum failing, has helped in the community wanting a Bundjalung person on Council.
Cr Kay also says that the important Indigenous voice has been missing from Council.
‘I’ve been watching the growth of Byron since I was a little kid… Seeing the urban sprawl, seeing how we could have done it better.’
Known to many as ‘Aunty’ Delta, Cr Kay hopes that her place on Council creates a role model for local Indigenous youth.
‘It’s important for our youth to see strong leadership and the Aboriginal way of doing things – so that we look after each other; we listen to each other; we come to a consensus; and we bring our community along with us.
‘That’s how it should be.’
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. 
