THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 27 #25 Tuesday, November 27, 2012 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 23,200 copies every week
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Home & Garden Prinnie and Inside Latest stats on Best gig guide you Mahalia get will ever read in your feature this newspaper circulation personal – p28 – p22–23 week are out! Comment – p12 entire life – p36
Hospital asbestos work ‘not relevant to trial’
p25–27
Byron Shire Council Notices Pages 49
Biggest little festival shines
Luis Feliu
Asbestos remediation work in the ceiling of Mullumbimby Hospital’s emergency unit should not be used as an excuse to delay a decision to replace its overnight doctor with a video link to Tweed Hospital, according to campaigners against the move. The work, which started two months ago and is expected to finish next month, has forced the emergency unit’s temporary relocation to another part of the hospital. A Northern NSW Local Health District spokesperson said the asbestos was being contained in the emergency unit’s ceiling and, ‘therefore, the telehealth trial is on hold’ until some time in December when the unit was back in its original location. The Echo found out about the asbestos work only after inquiring about the trial.
Nurses against bureaucrat Chris Crawford’s plans Save Mullumbimby Hospital steering committee’s Frank Lynch said the district health board and chief executive Chris Crawford had ‘clearly stated’ that a decision on the contentious trial would be made at the next board meeting on November 28. ‘Whether telehealth goes ahead or not with the removal of the overnight doctor from the hospital was always dependent on nurses’ agreement,’ Mr Lynch said. ‘The nurses have unanimously rejected the removal of the doctor part of the trial and there’s been no change in their position. The board has said if the nurses don’t agree, it won’t go
Sunday’s street parade – as part of the Mullum Music Fest – culminated outside Mullum’s Civic Hall. More festival photos by Jeff Dawson on page 18 Mandy Nolan
This year’s fifth Mullum Music Festival was the biggest and most successful to date with over 5000 people attending the event over the four perfect-weather days. In an event that is becoming Mullumbimby’s annual street party, locals are taking it on themselves to get involved and create their own festival initiatives. The festival remained low key with no incidents of public nuicontinued on page 3 sance or disturbance and there was
little or no police presence. ‘It’s not necessary,’ said one attendee. ‘This is just a music loving community loving their music. ‘It just reminds you why we love Mullumbimby. It’s the best little town on the planet!’ Opening on Thursday night to a packed house at the Civic Hall, patrons were treated to a festival taster with Nano Stern, Clairy Browne and the Bangin Rackettes, Jo Jo Smith, Juzzie Smith, Georgia Potter, Rescue Ships, Boubacar Traore and guitar prodigy, Joe Robinson.
Events throughout the six venues were easy to access; patrons either hopped on the brightly coloured Magic Bus, walked or rode bikes to the venues.
United against CSG Many performers over the weekend – Vince Jones and Nano Stern in particular – echoed the need to unite against multinationals like coal-seam gas and mining interests. International acts like Will and the People wowed the crowds with their
punk/ska/rock delivery; Boubacar Traore of Mali spoke no English, but didn’t need to – his music said it all; and high-profile national acts like Husky, Mama Kin, Mia Dyson, Tin Pan Orange, Darren Percival and the like proved to be just as impressive. Local acts also got a chance to shine, with Dave Ades, Sara Tindley, Shelly Hughes, Round Mountain Girls, Gyan and Lifeline drawing packed houses. With over 80 performances, the Mullum Music Festival managed to capture the spirit of Mullumbimby.
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