About 6.45am today, Byron Bay Police received information that a black Mercedes Benz was seen in Bayshore Drive at Byron Bay.

Police attended to confirm that information and a 26-year-old man was found asleep inside the car.

He was arrested without incident and taken to Byron Bay Police Station.

Inquiries are continuing.

About 8.20pm (Saturday 31 December 2011) two men have become involved in an altercation with a number of intoxicated New Year’s Eve revellers at a caravan park on Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay.

The two 19-year-olds were struck by a bottle, possibly fracturing the cheek bone of one of the men, and causing a significant laceration to the face of the other.

Both victims were conveyed to Byron Bay Hospital for treatment.

Police were contacted and an investigation is under way.

Police are encouraging anyone with information about this matter to contact Byron Bay Police, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The show will feature original songs peppered with stylised retro rock ‘n’soul covers from artists such as Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Shirley Bassey, Gloria Gaynor, Stevie Wonder, J.J. Cale and James Brown, just to name a few.

An incredibly passionate and distinct vocalist, Carola’s commanding voice has sung out on concert stages and at festivals across the country.

She took out the highly coveted Song of the Year Award and was nominated for Best Rock Song and New Recording Talent in the North Coast Dolphin Awards. She has also been voted into Triple J’s prestigious Unearthed Top 20 Pop Chart.

Carola’s broad range of vocals, from deep haunting to screaming soprano, enables her to groove her way from velvety tones through to raw sensuality and gutsy power. Her stage presence is sassy, with no inhibitions to cut loose.

“I like to generate good times,” said Carola. “It’s all about how I feel when I’m performing. I feel good and I want people to feel good, to celebrate. Our music is very uplifting.”

The Byron at Byron’s Head Chef, Gavin Hughes, will prepare a lavish celebratory feast of canapés followed by four courses, petit fours, tea and coffee to welcome in the new year.

8:00pm, Saturday 31st December 2011.
$195 per person including canapés, four courses, tea, coffee and petit fours, a glass of sparkling wine and live entertainment. Bookings are essential. Please telephone 02 6639 2105

Menu:
Freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters with finger lime and chardonnay granita
King prawn beignets with chipotle aioli
Chilled vichyssoise with macadamia oil
Crostini of New Zealand smoked salmon, pickled cucumber and salmon roe
Caramelised onion tarts, Nimbin goats curd and honey macerated pine nuts
Marinated yellow-fin tuna, pomegranate molasses, pickled heirloom vegetables and radishes, potato bread crostini
Brioche-crumbed Bangalow pork cheek, King prawn with vadouvan, sweet corn purée and candied corn kernels
Loin of lamb wrapped in prosciutto, braised leeks and peas, smoked tomato fondue, black garlic and thyme jus
Valrhona chocolate tart with black cherry sorbet and macerated berries

NPWS Pest Management Officer, Lisa Wellman, said that the survey is being undertaken from until December 16 as part of the Fox Threat Abatement Plan and will provide important data on shorebird numbers and movements to assist with management.

“The survey targets three key threatened species – the pied oystercatcher, beach stone-curlew and little terns – in order to get a snapshot of their abundance,” Ms Wellman said.

“The region is an important habitat for shorebirds and there are many challenges for conservation in managing an area of high population growth like this.

“This is the second year the survey has been undertaken. Last year’s survey found that the Northern Rivers region had about one third of the state’s pied oystercatchers (102) and about half of the beach stone-curlews (9). Little terns were in comparatively small numbers, with only 27 adults found in the region, out of about 1400 across the state.’

“The survey will target beaches and the estuaries of the Clarence, Evans, Brunswick and Tweed Rivers.

“Visitors to the coastal areas may well see NPWS rangers, Marine Park staff and volunteers including the Byron Bird Buddies out and about in boats and on foot with binoculars.

“We are looking forward to seeing how shorebirds are faring in the region, 12 months on.”

Witnesses have told police they saw a woman on Main Beach undress and walk into the surf sometime between 10.30pm and 11.30pm.

Shortly after midnight they returned and found the woman’s clothing still on the beach. They alerted police and patrols of Main Beach and Belongil Beach began without success.

This search has continued this morning and involves a helicopter and surf lifesavers as well as foot patrols of local beaches.

At this time there have been no reports of anyone missing, and police are appealing to the public for information about any missing residents or visitors.

Anyone with information should contact Byron Bay Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

It will be the first time that an Australian artist has ever headlined this iconic musical event.

Bluesfest says its announcement is testament to the special place Cold Chisel’s music has come to occupy in Australian hearts and minds.

The band’s record-breaking Light The Nitro tour is currently drawing to a close, with a final gig scheduled for Brisbane next Tuesday night.

The tour has been the biggest ever by an Australian-based band; drawing nearly 300,000 fans across 36 huge shows. It’s also been unanimously hailed by critics and fans alike across Australasia.

In addition to performing classics like ‘Forever Now’, ‘Khe Sanh’ and ‘When The War Is Over’, this special Bluesfest appearance will also see Cold Chisel premiere new songs from their forthcoming album.

The as yet untitled collection of new tunes was recorded over the last two years – partly with original drummer Steve Prestwich and partly with new drummer Charley Drayton.

“Most of us have played Bluesfest solo over the years, but it feels great to be playing there for the first time as Cold Chisel and also be the first Australian band to ever headline the whole Festival,” said frontman Jimmy Barnes.

“We’ve all had an amazing 2011 and this should be a great way to kick off an even bigger 2012.”

For Bluesfest playing schedule visit www.bluesfest.com.au

“Almost half of the 600,000 Sumbanese, just 500km north of Australia, don’t have access to safe water,” said Claude Graves of the Sumba Foundation.

“Waterborne disease dramatically escalates come monsoon season in December and this is a major cause of the high child mortality rate.”

The group, working under the banner of Onebottleforlife.com, has launched Operation Monsoon, a month-long philanthropic drive which is donating water filtration systems to Sumba each time a water filtration pack is purchased here in Australia.

Operation Monsoon is supported by surfing’s top athletes including Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow and Dan Ross. Click to view their support: www.onebottleforlife.com

An AlkaWay Water Filtration Pack, which costs $475, includes one AlkaStream bench-top filter and two Fill2Pure portable filter bottles. Every pack purchased in turn releases one water filter-pump and 10 advanced filters to Sumba, providing 4000 litres of safe water.

Two-time World Champion surfer Mick Fanning has urged Australians to buy a filtration pack. “As a professional surfer travelling the world I see the effects of pollution in the ocean and the shortages of clean water available to humanity,” he said. “Whilst supporting Mother Nature, you are also giving someone a better opportunity at a healthier life.”

AlkaWay’s General Manager, Byron Bay-based Graham Correy, said: “Only 1% of all the water on the planet is accessible to humans and much of that is so polluted it’s killing thousands of us every day.

“With one bottle for life, you can have filtered alkaline water for about ten cents a litre compared to bottled water for two dollars a litre. Plus you get rid of plastic garbage and help save lives. It’s a win-win-win.”

Onebottleforlife.com is a partnership between Freshmullet.com, Alkaway.com.au, Sumbafoundation.org and Onepercentfortheplanet.org.

Gaelan Brown, Marketing Director of 1% For The Planet, said: “This is a unique campaign to address health, humanitarian and environmental needs through one simple business transaction. Operation Monsoon could save over 8 million bottles from entering our environment.”

Buy + Give to support Operation Monsoon from 11 October– 11 November.
To purchase a pack or for more information, visit www.onebottleforlife.com

PICTURE: Residents of Sumba.

Australian and State gold medalist Josh Brown (Byron Bay), Murray Thomas (Lennox Head) and Ela Heiniger (Byron Bay) have been selected to participate in the High Performance program.
 
The High Performance program will act as a train on squad for the NSW Interstate Team and assist the NSW Interstate athletes and their coaches win back the prestigious Interstate Title from the Queenslanders.

“This is the highest quality squad we have had, almost every person medaled at State or Aussies last season. We received over 180 nominations for the squad and of that 53 have been selected. This squad of 53 will have be to trimmed down to 28 for the NSW team, so these guys will be training hard for the chance to wear the sky blue of NSW and bring home the gold,” said Chris Parker, SLSNSW Surf Sports Manager.

The camp will also provide elite NSW athletes with the development pathway in order to be selected in the Surf Life Saving Australia High Performance Team.

“It forms a vital pathway from club through to the elite level of competition giving competitors the skills and experience required to perform on a national level,” said Parker.

The High Performance Program will be led by Head Coach and NSW State Coach Jeff Mowbray and NSW State Assistant Coach Scott Jones.

The athletes will take part in a variety of physical training sessions in surf, beach and pool rescue disciplines as well as relevant theory sessions conducted by leading industry professionals in the field of sports performance. The team will also compete in Round 1 of the Sydney Water Series.

“As the former Shadow Minister for Small Business, I am very pleased to see the realisation of the policy that we took to the election to give small businesses an independent voice and advocacy,” Mr Page said.

“I am hoping a diverse range of small-business representatives will attend functions with Ms King at Byron Bay and Ballina so she can get an idea of what issues are concerning people in the Northern Rivers.
 
“This is an opportunity for local small business owners to speak directly to the Small Business Commissioner where they can directly express the pitfalls they encounter running a small business on the Far North Coast.

“This region is home to some incredibly successful businesses operated by very talented people and I know many of them have faced challenges in their quest for success.

“This visit to the Ballina electorate is an opportunity for small business operators to share their views on policies and what they think the State Government can do to better represent and help the 650,000 small businesses in NSW.” 

The Small Business Commissioner’s visit to the Northern Rivers is part of a regional listening tour – Giving Small Business a Say.

“I encourage all small business owners in the Ballina electorate to be a part of Ms King’s visit. This is a great opportunity for our businesses to have a say and effect real change in the corridors of government,” Mr Page said.

Small business owners can meet the NSW Small Business Commissioner, Yasmin King, at the following free events organised by the NSW Business Chamber:

Ballina

• 18 October 2011
• Lunch 12:00pm – 1:30pm
• Ramada, 2 Martin Street Ballina
• Cost: free
• RSVP: we.listen@smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au

Byron Bay

• 18 October 2011
• 3:00pm – 4:00pm
• Byron Bay Community Centre, Jonson St Byron Bay
• Cost:  free
• RSVP:  we.listen@smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au

For more information contact Samantha Day – 0408176475 (Yasmin King)

Chris Taylor – 0419 692 236 (NSW Business Chamber)

The Talented Athlete Program exposes NSW’s leading U13-15 athletes from throughout NSW to the beginning of the Surf Life Saving NSW High Performance pathway.

Athletes who have been previously involved in this program have gone on to be selected in the NSW team and win Australian gold medals.

Far North Coast Ironman Josh Brown found the program very useful.

“The last few days has given me a greater understanding of the surf better, I learnt more about sport psychology and have met new friends. I have got a lot out of it,” he said.

Chris Parker, Surf Life Saving NSW Surf Sports Manager, said the program is important to ensure the future of Surf Sports in NSW.

“By educating these gifted junior athletes in best-practice sports science and training techniques, it will assist them in achieving their full potential as athletes,” Chris said.

“The quality of the junior athletes involved in this year’s program is the strongest to date. The future of surf sports in NSW is looking very bright, which is very exciting.” 

All eleven Branches from NSW were represented in this year’s program. Athletes travelled from as far north as Byron Bay and as far south as Tathra.

Forty-two competitors were selected to participate in the three-day program at the Sydney Academy of Sport, from over 160 nominations received. Eight elite coaches from throughout NSW worked with the squad in their chosen disciplines.

The action-packed program is supported by NSW Sport and Recreation – SLSNSW State coaches took the squad through surf sports specific training aimed at developing skills, technique and building the athletes’ understanding of the physical training required to reach their goals in surf sports competition.

The Sydney Academy of Sport educated the participants on performance-enhancing theory including sports nutrition, sports psychology and goal setting.