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by Rusty Miller
"Let no day pass
without discussing goodness." ... Socrates
As we approach the second millennium and Australia's Olympic
Games we find the Byron community more animated than ever.
This little country town that grew up to become a famous icon
of lifestyle in the 90s still deserves its reputation for
being vibrantly different and original.
A natural resource
worth preserving...Photo:
Dick Hoole
Anyone who comes to this place can feel that Byron is a creative
centre. One for good old ideas recycled and a place for new
ways to be tested. Concurrently the Byron community is increasingly
demonstrating its resolve to maintain our special quality
nature areas. These catchments, river, ocean and hinterland
environments are prime sources for our inspiration and belonging.
They are also the home for many plant and animal species as
well as venues for our outdoor physical lifestyle. We must
keep them clean and free like the way we advertise our shire.
So often these days the overload in information, preoccupation
with deficits and interest rates and the nervous 'hurry' accompanying
the situation, dominates our lives. Sometimes it's a challenge
not to let it get you down. But really the true challenge
today, as David Suzuki points out in his book
'The Sacred Balance' is 'the need to find a
way to live rich, fulfilling lives without destroying the
planet's biosphere, which supports all life.'
The constant sparring between developers and community groups
here has become part of our culture and serves us well by
keeping a sharp public eye on inappropriate expansion. Last
year local citizens joined with our green side of council
to save a public lookout from being sold off for development.
This and other successes by Byron citizens in maintaining
this community's special places demonstrates how the focus
is changing as we learn more about the real value of our natural
environment.
Holidays are an opportune time to take a step back and look
at your life from outside the forest. You might decide to
make a rewire change or just re-focus on the endeavours you
are currently pursuing in your life back home. In any case,
Byron is a place that makes people rethink just what one is
doing at this point in their life. We hope that your experiences
in Byron are fun, adventuresome and that you find that perfect
natural balance.
Rusty Miller
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