The Backyard |  Tales from the North Coast

 Tales from the North Coast 

Tales from the North Coast is a series of six small documentaries about the NSW North Coast done in the Flash format. The stories were produced by Frank Gapinski under funding from the Regional Production Fund.

To load the flash documentaries just click on the title image.

(this requires the Macromedia Flash 6.0 plug-in. If your browser does not already have this plug in it will ask you to download it.)

Doing the Byron Thing

For the international backpacker there are three places you've got to go to when travelling through Australia. Sydney, Cairns and Byron Bay.

The focal point of Byron Bay is undeniably the lighthouse. Bob Beale is the boating management officer based at the lighthouse and long-time resident of Byron Bay. In this story Bob shares his personal observations of the history of the lighthouse and why people each year flock to visit "The Bay."

Click here for a Flash presentation of the story. [duration 4.05 minutes]

[.. more]

Greening the Desert

They laughed at him and said it couldn't be done. Nothing could be grown in that salt laden dustbowl. But Geoff and Sindhu Lawton had other ideas. They travel the world teaching others how to repair trashed environments that are beyond hope of becoming productive.

In this story, Geoff talks about re-greening the deserts of Jordan. By applying the principles of permaculture, they managed to salvage a heavily salted environment and turn it into a green oasis.

Geoff and Sindhu live and teach at their farm near The Channon, a small community not far from Lismore. Geoff boasts that despite not having a police station or church, The Channon has some of the most tolerant and friendly people in Australia.

Click here for a Flash presentation of the story. [duration 4.20 minutes]

[.. more]

Zenith Virago

For Zenith Virago, being a marriage and funeral celebrant in Byron Bay is more than just a day job, -it's a way of life, a profession.

Zenith's alternative weddings have created a boom in demand from Australians and overseas visitors flocking to Byron Bay to seek a wedding with a difference.

In this story, Zenith shares her views on the rituals of marriage and death as well as sharing some of her personal philosophies about life.

Click here for a Flash presentation of the story. [duration 4.20 minutes]

[.. more]

John Dahlsen - Art Alchemist

Each morning, artist John Dahlsen walks the beaches of Byron Bay looking for washed up plastic junk. "I'm wanting to create something beautiful out of an inherently ugly medium." he says.

Back in his studio he painstakingly sorts and categorises the coloured objects and assembles them into art, transforming the original object into something new. "I am simply an artist working with a new found palette."

In 2000 John Dahlsen won the prestigious Wynne Prize for Landscape with his Thong Totems entry. In this story, John speaks about how he became aware of the litter that surrounds our coastline and nature's hand in transforming rubbish into something new.

Click here for a Flash presentation of the story. [duration 4.20 minutes]

[.. more]

Driving Miss Mullum

When Kevin Woolard was 19 and living in Sydney, he stepped into the local Holden dealer's showroom for the unveiling of the first 1958 FC Holden sedans. Unable to afford to own one, he made a promise to himself that one day, in the future he'd get the car of his dreams.

Many years later and now living near Byron Bay, Kevin finally has his hands on one. Or to be exact, he has closer to nine FC Holden vehicles in his garage. An avid collector and vehicle restorer, Kevin's ambition is to build the ultimate museum devoted to the FC Holden.

Click here for a Flash presentation of the story. [duration 4.20 minutes]

[.. more]

Enemies of Rome

High in the hills surrounding Nimbin, war drums are beating as the clans gather. The witchdoctor or shaman shakes his rattle and urges the warriors onwards to glorious battle. A cry roars up and the barbarians storm down the mountain, swords flashing in the sun. They are the Enemies of Rome a Reenactment group hungry for the blood of the Roman tyrants, or at least hungry enough for someone to fight with.

Created by Mat Bryant, the Enemies participate in re-enacting the opposing civilisations that fought the Romans 2000 years ago. Mat believes there are still lessons we can learn from the past.

Click here for a Flash presentation of the story. [duration 3.20 minutes]

[.. more]

print friendly version of this page  | Email this page