1945, Post War Byron Bay - What's a girl to do?

[janice]

[color=red]Hello All... a little bit of local history to chew on this week.........

Girls have always wanted to have fun - even as far back as 1945!!!! but
when the three pubs in Byron Bay are no go zones for females, the women of Byron Bay turned to making their own fun.

The 20 minute doco BYRON RAINBOWS is screening at the BYRON FILM FESTIVAL on THURSDAY 15th at about 4pm. Tickets from the Byron Community Centre

Byron Rainbows covers the history of Byron Bay from 1903 - today through the eyes of 5 local women.

The 5, aged between 85-95, are all members of THE RAINBOW LADIES, a social group of Byron Bay women set up in 1945 in post war Byron Bay and still going strong today.

One of the women, SUE (95) was at the very first meeting of THE RAINBOW ladies in 1945.

BYRON RAINBOWS charts the evolution of Byron Bay from 1945 to the present from coastal hideaway to international tourist hotspot, through the personal experiences of The Rainbow Ladies.

Some of their stories include
• The introduction of the bikini to Byron Bay
• War contribution of Byron women through the V.A.D ( Voluntary Aid Detachment)
• Travels on THE WOLLONGBAR steamer which was sunk at Byron Bay in 1921 and is now known internationally as The Wreck
• Sharks attacks at Byron Bay circa 1950’s
• Days spent fishing off the Byron Jetty ( blown away in 1940’s)
• Attending dances around the district by sulky and or on horseback

During the 1950’s membership of the Rainbow Ladies was so sought a nomination system was introduced and the only opportunity to join was when somebody left the district, thus relinquishing membership, Potential members had to receive 2 nominations.

Today there are 25 Rainbow Ladies who continue to meet monthly just as they have done for over 6 DECADES.

MERYL , member since 1959 has nominated several members and remembers that every person she has asked has enjoyed it.

All of the 5 in the film agree that looking back over the years being a member of The Rainbow Ladies has provided them with companionship that they all deeply cherish.



Director Jane Saunders was inspired to make the film to record the contribution the Rainbow Ladies made to the North Coast community over their lifetimes.

As a young women living in Byron Bay in the early 2000’s Jane enjoyed comparing her own experiences as a young women in Byron Bay with the experiences of her elderly next door neighbour, Meryl, A Rainbow Lady, who has lived in Byron for over 70 years.

The best education is at the foot of our senior citizens. I hope the stories of life in The Bay reach the local audience as they truelly are a wonderful group of ladies.