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Australia's
top selling female novelist and Byron resident, Di Morrissey
looks at what makes Byron special
It was meant to be . . . as we joke here. I stumbled
into Byron Bay via Los Angeles. Sitting at a sidewalk cafe
on Sunset, I was dreading returning to Australia. Newly divorced,
now unemployed, having walked out of a TV career, and contemplating
the challenge of pursuing my life's dream - to write books.
Where was this new life to start? Sydney's northern beaches
had been home, but then across the table I'm introduced to
Diana Young
and some of the team who created Fern Gully - The Last Rainforest.
'Go to Byron Bay," they said. So I did.
The tranquility and beauty I found here, the
inner peace, the strength and energy totake my dream
by the throat and shake it into reality has manifested in
seven novels in seven years.It sounds easy, but it's been
abit of a battle at times but I am incredibly grateful to
this place and its people. Each of my books has been written
here and I fret if I moved away would the stream stop flowing?
Is there really a trapped wellspring of creative force
and power in the basin of this shire? I love living in a
closeknit, supportive, small community.
I know the names of people I see in the post office, the
bank, the dry cleaners, the newsagent. I recognise the locals
to nod to or pass the time of day. Sure we have our small
brawls. Like any family. As a visitor, walk through our
rainforest. Swim in our sea. Stroll our streets and and
smile at strangers. This is Byron. This is special. This
is now my home. And it is home to many creative people-
artists, musicians, sculptors, craftspeople, writers, poets,
even creative politicians! The environment that has nurtured
an expanding creative community has shaped Byron Shire.
There is a vibration, a palatable sense, a safety net wrapped
around Byron that allows everyone here, resident and visitor,
to feel free to truly be who they want to be.
Inhibitions, stress and parochialness are shed with clothes.
Like just hatched new borns cracking through the shell of
their former existence, we accept, welcome and support those
who step out of their egg, shed their skin and creep, vulnerable
and exposed, into a new world. Every age has its time and
place in Byron.
I've seen a sixteen year old girl in sarong, feathers
in her hair, belly and nose ring, talk at length and in
depth with a former dairy farmer fishing for taylor (TAILOR)
along Tallow Beach. She told me he was so spiritual in a
grounded way, that they connected over what was really important
in life - lifestyle and doing what made you happy. Seperately
he told me, he was surprised she was such an interesting
kid and maybe he'd learn this meditating business.
The word is out in the world collective to gather in Byron
where it was once Bali, Maui, Goa.
This melting pot has enriched us.
The locals came to a peaceful co- existance with the surfers,
the hippies, the alternatives, the backpackers.
But let suburbia, the golden arches or big buck greed
threaten us and we unite. We fight not only to preserve
our own backyards but from our valleys, hills and beaches
we make films, write and speak out on global issues.
We care about our world, not just planet Byron. And we
know that in our own unique Byron way we can bring about
change. We've proved people power works.
Now if only we can help achieve reconciliation with our
indigenous people.
I will sit down and be quiet.
But not just yet.
Di Morrissey's latest novel is THE SONGMASTER
published by Pan Macmillian
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