Success for Inaugural Kirra SurfStock Festival

Spread over the 4 nights and three days of Surf, Music, Movies, Art and Lifestyle events, the Kirra SurfStock Festival was blessed with sunny weather, pumping waves, big crowds and has set the scene for a successful annual event.

Damien Norman

World title contenders Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning made their presence felt on Friday morning at Kirra for a Live SEAFM radio outside broadcast with special guests Bob McTavish author of “Stoked”, new General Manager of Surfrider Foundation Kristy Theissling, Movie Man Tim Bonython and Surfer/Musician Lucas Proudfoot of Max Judo.

There were many events over the 4 days including a free concert on Kirra beach with musical artists generously sharing their talents to bring back one of the best surf breaks in the world. One of the bands was The Genes and here’s a YouTube video from the concert.

The Kirra SurfStock raised nearly $8,000 for charity with the beneficiaries being Surfrider Foundation, Kirra Surf Club, Kirra Surfriders and Kirra Point Inc. Organizers are now planning next years event. To see more photos from the event click here

Read Full Post »

Ukitopia Festival Opening Ceremony

The Ukitopia Festival is about celebrating all that is Uki. It was a beautiful start to the festivities with wishes from the community Wishing Wall being sent out to the universe. Armed with a hand held camera and no experience, I filmed some of the event and created my first YouTube videos.

Through the dedicated and untiring work of Natascha Wernick , the Ukitopia Arts Collective and a team of local community groups, they served up the most engaging opening ceremony that set the stage for an extremely unique celebration of Uki life, arts and culture.

Natascha and Sue lead a fabulous sing along with some of the local musicians weaving their talents into the colourful kaleidoscope that is Uki, and with the captivating Deya Dova and Loren lending their vocal talents, the crowd was spellbound and wanting more.

Afterwards we were lead by Natascha to the hall for the opening of the Images of Uki Art Exhibition. When the door opened we were greeted with an amazing display of talent and imagination that filled the hall.

Images of Uki Art Exhibition

The evening festivities had only just begun and things were hotting up with live music and DJ’s getting the crowd going off. Everyone was in a celebratory mood and I tell you, there was dancing in the streets!

Read Full Post »

Byron Events Calendar

Have you heard about the Byron Events Calendar? It’s an on-line Community Noticeboard and Directory for the Rainbow Region. If you’re into dance, music, art, meditation, yoga, martial arts, personal development, you name it – there’s always something going on, in, and around Byron Bay.

The Byron Events Calendar is a great resource of workshops, retreats and events happening around Byron Bay, plus, it includes some events at other major cities on the east coast of Australia. I have found it worthwhile to peruse the Byron Events Calendar for interesting activities as it lists some events that are not advertised in the local Byron Shire Echo newspaper and around the traps.

Late last year I was excited to find a workshop listed on Byron Events Calendar and I knew instantly that I needed to attend it. It was a 3 day workshop on voice and self expression with Maniko from America and it helped me to find my real voice through the medium of writing.

We had to write a song, which was overwhelmingly daunting to me, but after breaking through the barriers of self doubt, I gained confidence in my ability to write and explore more avenues of writing expression. I also attended her second 3 day workshop that really opened me up to freely express myself in many ways.

I was encouraged by Author Laura Shore of Dangerously Poetic Press to explore poetry, and through my web design course I was introduced to blogging which I enjoy. It has given me an outlet to express my creativity and hopefully be of service to the community.

Here’s a YouTube Video of a West African Dance Workshop held in Byron Bay

Read Full Post »

Surfing Byron Bay

There’s not much my husband couldn’t tell you about surfing as he’s been an avid surfer for over 40 years. He has many stories of his adventures in the early 70′s driving from Sydney to Byron Bay to catch the endless tubes of the north coast.

Those were the days when there was a wharf at Belongil where a waste pipe pumped blood from the Abattoir into the ocean, and surfers had to be ever vigilant on the lookout for sharks!

Just last week we were in Byron Bay and my husband was recognised as a big wave rider from Cronulla Point – which was pretty amazing as my husband left Sydney in 1979 to enjoy the great surf on the north coast.

Here’s some YouTube video footage of cyclone swell at Byron earlier this year.

Read Full Post »

Julian Rocks Marine Reserve, Byron Bay

I have often been entranced by the ostensible beauty of Julian Rocks, sitting there majestically while scuba divers explore it’s surrounds. I’ve had no urge to go Scuba Diving, but after looking at videos of the underwater life at Julian Rocks, and reading about the thrill people get from experiencing the beauty and power of the underwater world – I’ve put it on my must-do list.

Julian Rocks

A story from the Bundjalung people is that a jealous husband threw his spear at the canoe of his wife and her lover. The canoe broke in two and sank to the bottom of the ocean. Only the back and the front of the boat stuck out of the water, creating a rock formation just 2.5 km off shore.

Named by Captain Cook in 1776, Julian Rocks became part of Cape Byron Marine Park in November 2002

Here’s a YouTube video showing the beauty of the underwater world at Julian Rocks Marine Reserve

For more information about Julian Rocks and the marine life click here

Read Full Post »