←Volume 35
March 3, 2021
In this Issue:
Tonight is the night to talk menopause
Let’s Talk Menopause is a community conversation that will be held at the Byron Theatre on March 10, from 5–7pm, and brings together four women and their expertise on the topic.
Seapeace: the late Tony Maxwell’s wetland legacy
Many curious minds have pondered the purpose of the rice paddy-like waterbodies that scallop the contour lines out into the Ewingsdale coastal plain that can be viewed from St Helena Road.
Byron’s rail reactivation saga continues
Byron Council will consider funding further investigations into getting trains back on the tracks in the Shire, despite strong criticisms of the reports on the matter that have been prepared to date.
Parking permits
Liz Levy, Suffolk Park Why has Byron Shire Council decided to impose a layer of digital tyranny for residents wishing to renew their locals parking permit? Attempting to renew online I found that I now have first to register for a ‘PayStay’...
Contemporary Byron
David Morris, Byron Bay ‘In Xanadu did Kubla Khan/A stately pleasure-dome decree’, Coleridge. Lines penned supposedly after being woken from an opium-induced daze for a ‘slight indisposition’ (no analgesics then). There seems to me in my despair-induced musings something of...
Not quite ‘too late’
Desmond Bellamy, PETA Australia Sir David Attenborough, the world’s most famous naturalist, has just addressed the United Nations Security Council to say it’s ‘too late’. Climate change is coming, and will cause massive disruptions and suffering. With the destruction we have...
Suspicion and belief
Fast Buck$, Coorabell My suspicion is that the mayor and the senior staff have been helping Michael Lyon become electable as mayor by scripting his PR material. At last week’s Council meeting I lodged the following question: ‘Given that in accordance...
Suffolk Park pump track
Jinesh Attard, Suffolk Park Many in the local community of hillside Suffolk Park have come to understand the impact the pump track will have on our neighbourhood. From increased traffic from outside the area, to destruction of our green space, to...
Rape, the law, and naming the man responsible
David Heilpern tackles key questions relating to the allegation of rape by a cabinet minister.
My dear friend, Philip Rubinstein 1934–2021
I first met Phil on a rain-soaked day outside my house in Brunswick Terrace, Mullum. It was an accidental encounter, but we soon got stuck into a conversation about the parlous state of Australian universities.
Nimbin medicinal cannabis event, March 27
Two experienced medical cannabis doctors and a retired magistrate who is passionate about changing the drug driving rules will take part in the MEDICAN gathering in Nimbin.
Suffolk Park residents pressure councillors over pump track
Councillors, Michael Lyon and Jeanette Martin, met Suffolk Park residents on Saturday to hear concerns around the proposed pump bike track, which is slated for the Linda Vidler park.
Editorial – #ChooseToChallenge the patriarchy
It is easy to think we have almost achieved equality for men and women in a country like Australia – just as long as you don’t think too hard about it.
Supporting independent news or making fat cats fatter?
The recent skirmish between Facebook and the government is hard to miss, even if you rely on Facebook for your news. But what does it all mean?
Koala groups lobby Tweed MP Geoff Provest for action
Local koala groups have been taking action to protect NSW koalas by meeting with Tweed State Member of Parliament, Geoff Provest seeking his support for action on koala protections and asking him not to support the koala killing legislation his government are putting forward.
Leadership lost
Paul Leitch, Ewingsdale Thanks to Hans Lovejoy for commenting on the proposed Ewingsdale Development (24 February). It is worthwhile noting that with the absence of clear leadership from Council at the political level, the default may well be that the bureaucrats...
Top of Mt Warning
Daniel O’Brien, Federal Letters about Mt Warning were interesting. Chris Gee defended National Parks and Wildlife for adopting the views of the Bundjalung nation, suggesting that loss of public access accords with respecting traditional owners and contributing to reconciliation. Gisela Stieglitz...
Heritage Bruns?
David Kolb, Brunswick Head When Mathew O’Reilly spoke to Council regarding heritage listing for parts of Brunswick Heads he was quoted saying ‘The benefit for Brunswick Heads is that we can get architecture that fits in with the holiday village/ fishing...
Interview with Claire Atkins from SHIT
I saw SHIT last year and I was blown away. Incredible script. Incredible acting.
TAFE job cuts not so bad, says Nationals MLC
Ms Saffin said last week that 29 local jobs were going under restructures and that almost 700 frontline TAFE NSW jobs will be slashed.
Nurses call for an improved aged care sector
A ‘walk with nurses’ was held in Mullum last Friday, and aimed to highlight the concern aged care nurses have around fee structures, safety issues and staff training in order to properly care for our elderly.
Rapey Liberal culture is their undoing
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins’ steel-eyed testimony around rape allegations saw spiders crawl from under rocks and spread in all directions last week.
Interview with Janet Swain
Janet Swain is 14. She’s in love with the tragic and brilliant cellist Jacquleine DuPré. But one day her mother arrives home with a bassoon.
Fossil investments
Brian Mollet, Mullumbimby It is with considerable incredulity that I read in last week’s Echo that Byron Shire has a lazy $70 million invested, some of it in fossil fuel (or related) industries. Now you can call me naive or obtuse, but...
Magic mushrooms
David Gilet, Byron Bay As noted in David Heilpern’s article (24 February), with drugs, whether medicinal or recreational, dosage is a critical consideration. You can have bad experiences taking magic mushrooms. If you’re not too greedy this is largely avoidable. At...
