The truth, the whole truth , and nothing but the truth. So help me God.
That is what we swear on the Bible in a court of law in this country. English law. My father Richard Beams (dec. 1984) used to say ‘the law is an ass’ and I agree.
A gross injustice has occurred right now as the justice in the Wallum legal case has just ruled, against our Indigenous owners/custodians’ wishes.
Even though the High Court, the highest court in Australia, ruled in favour of Edie Mabo and terra nullius was disproved, Aboriginal law is still ignored.
My heart is breaking for my friends, the Elders of Wallum, the standing nations and all of the natural world.
These trees have lived for up to 500 years in this place, well before we immigrants came. They have spoken with many who have ears to hear. I weep for the greed, blindness and deafness which can allow this to happen.
So what can I do? I ask myself.
This letter is an appeal to all of the good-hearted people in this shire, who have in their lives accumulated money excess to their needs, and could pay Clarence Holdings the money they require to cease and desist this act of vandalism and desecration, in order to create Wallum Wild Life Sanctuary as a piece of common land.
I appeal to your heart, whoever you are who can hear this.
We have been given one week by the justice. This appeal is directly to your heart from mine and thousands of others across the Shire and the nation who have been touched by Wallum.
If you are the one who is to do this, this letter is intended to pierce your heart with our collective grief and horror at this proposed, desecration so that you will act with courage and heart to change this outcome. Whoever you are.
This act of generosity, to create Wallum Wild Life Sanctuary, will benefit all beings and be a transforming act.
For the highest good of all please act now and know that you have done a really good thing.
Create The Wallum Wild Life Sanctuary.
If this is you and you are moved by this plea, please contact this number 0475 446 993.
A legacy for life.
This letter is written entirely by me without any consultation with anyone else except the ancestors and nature spirits.
Josephine Beams, Byron Bay
• Ed: The Arakwal Corporation supported the development application (DA) for the Wallum housing estate in Brunswick Heads, a fact confirmed by their subsequent written statement to Byron Shire Council (Echo 29 February 2024). Tweed Byron Aboriginal Land Council also supported it.
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. 
