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by Carol Page
Mullumbimby is situated right in the middle of Byron Shire.
Surrounded by olling hills, volcanic cliffs and six breathtaking
valleys, it' s still only ten minutes drive to the beach.
It' s where the first ' naked, hairy wave' * chose to settle
after Aquarius ( except for a handful of diehard surfers who
worship the Bay) . They prospered -partly due to the cultivation
of an excellent cash crop, which built homes, schools, halls,
and allowed business to boom.
In years they emerged as civic leaders, doc-tors, lawyers,
teachers, editors, writers, poets, thespians, photographers
and technology wizzes. Their sense of belonging verges on
tribal as they have learned through life and death, joy and
sorrow, what community is all about. They share a love of
music and dance and cherish their environment. A river winds
through on its way to the sea and a solitary mountain peak
links Mullumbimby to other sacred Aboriginal sites to the
west. It has a rainforest park like no other, and palms and
trees line its wide, welcoming streets.
A are blend of cosmopolitan and rural gives it an air of sophisticated
abandon. The cof- fee' s excellent but only half price, cafes
are abundant and never crowded, there' s a great little gallery,
the Shire' s independent weekly is produced there, a monthly
market is held in the museum grounds ( 3rd Saturday) , there'
s an annual fiesta in early
September, and the people are eal damn hospitable. God, they
still carry your shopping to the car in Mullum.
Carol Page
* from 1996 interview with Nick Shand, founding editor of
The Echo.
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