NEW OLD WAYS BOOK LAUNCH
Byron Shire has been through the wringer the last few years with fires, floods and big changes in the community and culture. By now, everyone's been impacted by one or more of these things and there’s a collective sense that something needs to happen.
People are scared of high-rise developments invading from the north, or cookie-cutter subdivisions creeping up from the south, and McMansions dropping in from the big cities, pushing the community out and leaving the Shire a shell of its former glory.
And that fear is rational. It'll happen eventually unless people get together as a community and have a plan for a different path.
Instead of focusing on the negative, Fraser Williams-Martin felt like it was time to create a beautiful blueprint for a sustainable Bundjalung Nation, so people could rally around it. He wanted to discuss another way, a "Byron way", and create a new normal.
"Around here, we’re very good at pointing out what's broken, what needs improving, or just how things used to be" explains Williams-Martin. "I felt like it was time to move past all that, and focus purely on solutions, because there's a comfort and positivity that comes with having a shared plan and vision for the future."
What started out as a 10-page PowerPoint presentation, somehow ended up becoming a 185-page book, New Old Ways.
"Initially, I had no intention of sharing it beyond friends and colleagues," says Fraser. "But I got a bit carried away and 18 months later we had this book, drawing on the wisdom, input, and expertise of some of the best thinkers in the region and throughout Australia."
Based on 10 principles Williams-Martin has gleaned throughout his career in architecture and development, the goal of New Old Ways (NOW) is to inspire people to look after Country, build stronger community, design better developments, and keep the Byron Shire wonderfully weird.
That might sound lofty but flicking through the pages there's nothing that's radical or unachievable. It's more a collection of small and sensible ideas that if done collectively would make for a sustainable Byron Shire / Bundjalung Nation.
"I love this area," says Fraser. "So, it’d be supremely sad to look around in 10 years and think the inevitable happened and we didn't do anything to prevent it. This book is my small attempt at changing the future." With over 400 locals turning up on a stormy evening for the launch, it's obvious he isn't alone.
Sure, the food by Barrio, and drinks from Brookies, Common People, and NOW wines might have drawn the crowd initially, but everyone was completely fixated on the stage by the time Williams-Martin spoke to the panel of four experts and contributors from the book.
First up was Delta Kay, an Arakwal Bumberbin Bundjalung Elder. Delta's ancestors have walked this land for thousands of years. Her dad was raised near Tallow Creek, where Delta lives today, and Delta shares her rich local knowledge and culture through daily tours around the cape, telling visitors stories and showing them the abundance of bushtucker. Delta spoke beautifully about how First Nations knowledge can help create a more resilient Bundjalung Nation.
Next was Andy Fergus, an urban designer at the City of Melbourne, co-director of Melbourne Architours, and studio lead at Melbourne School of Design. Through these roles, Andy engages with the community, government, design industry, and students to advocate for more inclusive, ethical and high-quality environments. Andy presented at the Byron Shire Housing Forum in '22, so he focused on how redesigning the Byron housing market would help create more diversity in the Byron Shire.
Dr Tracey Mackie followed. With over 20 years senior and executive management experience in the aged care, health, and community services, Tracey's the CEO of the Momentum Collective, a group based in the Northern Rivers, that delivers services around disability, mental health, community housing, and social enterprises. Tracey's also on the board of the Byron Shire Community Land Trust. She explained how caring for our most vulnerable is critical in creating a fair and equitable region.
And finally, Roderick Simpson, one of the senior contributors of the book. Rod's an architect and urban designer who's worked at all scales of the built environment, for the Commonwealth as manager of urban design at the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and with state and local governments in planning and urban design. Rod wrote one of the intros in New Old Ways, so he gave his definition of resilience and explained the connection with adaptability.
It was an epic event, by any measure, but there was one complaint, made by a punter after the panel had finished. "What's the call to action?" he yelled. "That was great, but what do we do next?"
Great question.
The launch of the New Old Ways book is just the beginning. NOW has a website, and the mission is to build a community of likeminded people, so there can be more community events in the future. Resilience is about connection and collaboration, so jump on the NOW website, sign up to their newsletter, and join a growing number of people committed to a little less conversation and more positive action.
If their future gatherings are anything like the launch, it's a good time, and you'll leave filled with hope.
Check out the New Old Ways website and download your free copy of the book HERE.
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