Funding cut pressures businesses to help schoolies
WITH Byron council last week voting to pull at least $9000 funding from Byron Bay Schoolies, a Facebook campaign asking businesses to make up the shortfall.
Lucy Ashley, chair of Northern Rivers Community Foundation, began the campaign with her post:
"OK businesses of Byron Bay - specifically those of you who make a motza out of Schoolies each year.
"Council has cut $10,000 worth of funding for the Schoolies Hub which is used to cover the marquee, astro turf, electrical fit-out, insurance for the volunteers, extra lighting and a raft of other expenses.
"This leaves Nicqui Yazdi and her team $10,000 behind the eight ball for 2013 for this incredibly well run and valuable community service.
"A group of you need to step up otherwise it will be back to the 'bad old days' for the Byron community for what will seem like three very long weeks..."
The council resolved to use the money to boost New Year's Eve festivities instead, with Mayor Simon Richardson calling for local businesses to contribute to the Schoolies Hub.
