Radical hope IF WE MUST DIE, WE DIE DEFENDING OUR RIGHTS – SITTING BULL
Writers Fest program in this issue!
The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 37 #05 • July 13, 2022 • www.echo.net.au
F U N D I N G PA RTNERS
M A J O R PA R T NERS
Byron Writers Festival takes on climate challenge
Pod home village to be built in central Mullumbimby
BWF_2022Program_v4OU
30/6/22 9:41 pm
Paul Bibby Up to 180 locals who lost their homes in the floods will move into temporary ‘pod homes’ on rail corridor land close to the centre of Mullumbimby. But concerns have been raised about the flood-prone nature of the site, and an apparent lack of transparency from the State Government in planning the project. Residents on Prince Street, Mullumbimby received letters last Friday (8 July) from Resilience NSW informing them that around 60 modular homes, each with between one and four bedrooms, would be located on the 2.5 hectare field next to Woolworths. Construction fences started going up three days later, and site preparation works are set to begin almost immediately. The pod village will have power, water and sewerage, and will be supported by a community housing provider that will provide security and support for the residents and ensure that rules and agreements for the site are adhered to. ‘The NSW Government is committed to supporting people impacted by the recent floods every step of the way,’ local residents were told in the letter. ‘These housing units will be located at the site for up to two years, depending on housing needs, to ensure flood-affected residents have time to finalise their long-term housing solutions.’ ▶ Continued on page 4
What robots really want ▶ p15
TLINE.indd 1
Daniel Oldaker aka Dandyman, Australia’s prince of circus and physical comedy; Alice Cadwell, National Circus Festival Festival Director; Brett Haylock from the Brunswick Picture House, presenting Cheeky Cabaret for the Festival. Photo Jeff Dawson
National Circus Festival heads to Mullum A wild circus week is coming to Mulumbimby that will include The Wheel of Death and The Famous Spiegeltent between 26 September and 2 October. ‘After the past 12 months it’s great to come back in such a strong fashion with an amazing program,’ National Circus Festival Director Alice Cadwell said. The 2021 festival was cancelled owing to COVID and then the company and its festival site in Mullumbimby was ravaged by the Northern NSW floods in February 2022. So the upcoming National Circus Festival is an opportunity to
Storylines: Returning to old ways of housing ▶ p17
celebrate the triumphant return of the Festival. One of Australia’s premiere acrobatic companies, Gravity & Other Myths was recently announced, along with Werk It, from Victoria, and international juggling sensation Joe Fisher.
Community event ‘We are looking forward to celebrating this year’s National Circus Festival. It will be a chance for the whole community to come together, enjoy world-class shows featuring amazing artists, wonder at the 25m inflatable globe, join a
Byron’s future and tourism ▶ p19
workshop, and watch out for The Wheel of Death,’ said Ms Cadwell. ‘We have the Outdoor Cinema, music acts in collaboration with Mullum Music Festival, and The Famous Spiegeltent! It will be fun for the whole family, unexpected delights, great food and coffee, and so much more.’ The training program (26–30 September) will be followed by the weekend of 30 September – 2 October that will see the festival go into full swing, with a program of more than 220 performers at five venues including two Big Tops and The Famous Spiegeltent.
World Environment Day Festival in Murbah, Sunday ▶ p21
BUY 3
HANKOOK TYRES AND GET
1 FREE
Offer valid on selected Hankook tyres only. Valid on purchase made between 1st July -31st July 2022. Purchase must be on a single invoice.
14 Bonanza Dve Billinudgel 6680 1347 or 0423 213 559
We are seeing the impacts of climate change around us daily. The upcoming Byron Writers Festival is taking the opportunity to imagine ways to create a future where we can look for and drive positive change. In curating the program, incoming Artistic Director Zoë Pollock reflected on the theme of ‘radical hope’ in the wake of fires, pandemic and floods. ‘Radical hope imagines a future goodness that transcends our current reality. It is a provocation to seek and create a new world in the face of incredibly challenging circumstances. Radical hope is a denial and refusal of cultural destruction and a determination to build a new culture for a changed environment,’ she explained. ‘At this year’s festival you will hear from social and environmental experts on how we can tackle the challenge that is climate change. You will be uplifted by listening to our most gifted storytellers explaining how they celebrate the human condition and render our experiences so magnificently on the page. You will meet talented emerging and established writers who are challenging the status quo. In hearing and engaging with these ideas you are playing your part in making the world anew and I am very much looking forward to welcoming you.’
Full lineup The Festival will feature more than 140 writers, thinkers and commentators, including Trent ▶ Continued on page 2
Seven – chockers with entertaining stuff ▶ p24