Byron Bay Australia

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Byron Bay Community Issues & News Wednesday, November 16, 2005 Byron Bay New Years Eve We've been recieving plenty of requests for information on what's happening in Byron Bay this New Years Eve. I've been in touch with the NYE organiser who sent me this; NEW YEARS EVE 2005 in Byron Bay is about reaffirming the spirit of the community. Peace and Environment has been chosen as the theme to reflect this. The focus for the night is to provide a safe and enjoyable evening for all. There will be an alcohol prohibition on the streets and plenty of low key family style entertainment including a parade that will feature the diversity of our community. Please note there will be no dance party or fireworks. We'll keep you posted on any further information we hear. posted by byronbaynow @ 3:31 PM   Tuesday, November 01, 2005 No sympathy for Rex I can understand Rex Hunt's distress at having a cut head from his recent encounter with a "gang of youths" in Byron Bay on Friday night, but his confusion and self-contradiction engenders no sympathy from Byron Bay residents, or even credibility after he failed to report his alleged attack to police. Mr Hunt's confusion in his various media reports that the problem lies with the "anti-tourist attitude in Byron Bay, with lack of local police and with teenagers that "police can't touch" is illustrative of his lack of understanding of the issues. The Northern Star, ever eager to report bad news about Byron Bay, launched into the attack by publishing a front-page picture of Mr Hunt, supposedly bloodied, and saying he had been "held back by two little brats [while] watching a bloke kicking [his] son in the head" (Northern Star 1.11.05 p1). The brats in question must have been of a certain size, as Rex Hunt, according to his son Matthew is "six foot four (193 cm) and quite a big man at 110-odd kilos". Mr Hunt said after the incident that anti-tourist attacks were "common in Byron Bay" and that he thinks "Bali is safer than Byron Bay at the moment" (Daily Telegraph 1.11.05). Those of us living in Byron Bay see this as a gross insult to the people of Bali and all victims who have endured horrific terrorist attacks. Australia simply does not know what terrorist attacks are on its own soil, and to compare the shenanigans of a street altercation to the real suffering of the Balinese and their guests is gross egotism at its worst. The one-eyed picture of Rex Hunt published in the Daily Telegraph (1.11.05) is purely a "look what they've done to me" expression that will get the has-been footballer no sympathy in Byron. We all agree that there should be more police presence in Byron, but this is a state-government decision and beyond our control. And yes, we'd like young people to behave more responsibly, but is this a problem confined to Byron Bay? Like Mr Hunt and his family, we like to be treated with respect. We feel we've earned it, as we share our town and surrounds with hundreds of thousands of law-abiding visitors a year. posted by katharine @ 4:10 PM