The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 33.33 – January 23, 2019

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RESPECT AND RECOGNITION FOR THE ORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 33 #33 • Wednesday, January 23, 2019 • www.echo.net.au

Brouhaha erupts over !IJĜşĆ† Ĺ&#x;Ç” Ć?IJÄ• ćĹ?Ĺ&#x;ÄˆĹŠ surf school licences Paul Bibby Tensions are running high between the licensed surf schools of Byron and Ballina, with Byron operators accusing their southern rivals of using misleading advertising to ‘drop in’ on Byron’s lucrative learnto-surf market. But the Ballina schools are adamant they have done nothing wrong and say the accusations are simply ‘sour grapes’ and ‘whinging’. Representatives from two Byron surf schools told The Echo that the online and print advertising undertaken by the Mojo Surfing, Stoked Surfing, Soul Surfing and Kool Katz schools gave the false impression that they provided group lessons in Byron. These schools pick up dozens of customers from Byron each day in buses and drive them to Lennox Head or other beaches in the Ballina Shire for a lesson before driving them back a few hours later, the

representatives said. ‘They’re advertising themselves as ‘Byron Bay surf schools’, using the Byron brand to get bums on seats and then driving them down to Ballina,’ said one representative, who asked to remain anonymous. ‘If I were a Swedish backpacker and I came to Byron wanting to learn to surf, I’d want to learn in Byron Bay. Half the time the customers don’t even realise what’s going on. ‘It’s misleading to advertise Byron surf lessons when you’re actually teaching in Ballina.’ The surf schools with licences to teach group lessons in Byron are Black Dog Surfing, Byron Bay Surf School, Style Surfing, and Lets Go Surfing Byron Bay. Soul Surfing has a licence to teach personalised lessons in Byron with no more than two students, as well as a licence in Ballina. While the Byron schools are limited to teaching 10 students per â–ś Continued on page 2

Surf conditions clearly not for the novice. Byron surf photo Jeff Dawson

Another ‘affordable’ housing project for Mullum ▜ p6

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Australia Day politicised, say local politicans Hans Lovejoy It’s unlikely that politicians will see the irony, yet two Byron councillors from different political parties have become bedfellows in accusing the Greens of being divisive with Australia Day‌ while also being divisive themselves. Cr Alan Hunter (National Party aligned) and Cr Paul Spooner (Labor) said in a joint press release they are concerned at ‘just how divisive a separate Australia Day celebration organised by Council on January 25 is for the community’. Yet local Indigenous Arakwal woman Delta Kay told The Echo that January 1 is the ‘true day’

to celebrate the birth of the independent nation. On that day in 1901, the colonies collectively became states of the Commonwealth of Australia. Led by Greens mayor Simon Richardson, Council changed the date for ceremonies and awards to January 26 at their September 2018 Council meeting. The decision was later reversed for the awards ceremony, owing to a breach of the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code and pressure from Liberal prime minister Morrison. Crs Hunter and Spooner question the attempt by Byron Shire Council to gain ‘political mileage’ by changing the Australia Day

Byron Shire Shouty McShouty Vaccines that help Council PM needs a control the planet’s Notices ▜ p10 distraction ▜ p12 epidemics ▜ p17

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Lithgow’s Brad de Losa rips into another 300mm standing block at last week’s Brunswick Heads Woodchop. The annual event wrapped up last week and draws international competitors. It’s one of the biggest events of its kind, and is sponsored by local businesses. Photo Jeff ‘Chipped And Chopped Since 1986’ Dawson

‘Byron Shire doesn’t need this distraction. We are the opposite; we have much in common and our love of the environment and working together in a relaxed lifestyle underpin our strength,’ Cr Hunter said. ‘Drawing attention to the impact â–ś Continued on page 3

Super shorts at Flickerfest ▜ p32

LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS

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ceremony on which individuals are awarded for service to the community over the previous 12 months. Cr Hunter said he believes it is the Greens’ political attempt to divide the community into groups based on origin and a blatant attempt to increase their public profile for short-term political gain.

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