FOUNDING PRINCIPLES
A BIT OF HISTORY
I've always thought that keeping a diary would be a good idea and when called upon to recollect events that occurred more than two years ago, I now see the logic of that. Unfortunately, I'm not a diary type person and so I will have to rely on my memory and give a purely personal account of the events that led up to the purchasing of the land that we now refer to as Beranghi. If in the telling of this story I omit to mention some of the things that may have occurred or fail to give credit to the numerous people who were involved, I apologise. This is not a document of acknowledgement or thanks but just a tale told in the first person through my eyes and memory.
It all began for me I guess, when Guy Crossly (a mural artist and long time member of Bundagen community) asked me if I'd like to help him with a mosaic mural he was doing at Crescent Head. At first I was a bit reluctant, not because of the job as I'd helped Guy in the past on another mural he did at Nambucca Heads, and had really enjoyed working with him and found it a very creatively staisfying experience. No, my hesitation was due to the fact that I had been living on Bundagen for the past five years and in that time had been actively looking for a site to become a member. All this had happened for me and I was expected to attend a community meeting the very days we were supposed to leave for Crescent, to be approved for my last six weeks orientation, ( a mere formality). After talking to the Secretary I was assured there was no problem and I could do my time after I returned from my artistic sojourn in a few months. Another thing that swayed me was Guy's offer to pay the rent on a small flat he had taken in Willow Street and the agreement that I could surf tge classic waves at Crescent asmuch as I wanted to, as long as I helped him on the mural. God deal, I reckoned.
It was mid April '98 when I arrived at Crescent Head and the waves were nearly perfect and they would just keep working day after day, I've never really seen it so good since. I was hooked! I'd had a long love affair with the Crescent ever since coming here as a grommet on surf safaris with my older brother in the early sixties. The mural too was going well, surfing in the morning and sticking pretty coloured tiles on a wall in the afternoon. What more could an artistically minded surfer ask for? It wasn't long before some of the other surfers from Bundagen started coming down on surfing trips and to have a look at and help with the mural. People like Bunny, Greg, Trevor, Will, Rick, Mia, Barry, Ken and his boys and many more. It was a good time.
It was at this time that the germ of an idea had begun to infest
itself in the surf addled brains of Guy and myself. What if Bundagen
were to buy a house here? We would all have somewhere to stay when
we came here on surfing trips and it would be good for the younger
generation to have a cultural interaction with some town folks.
Plus Bundagen could invest some of the lazy money that had built
up over the years in a useless bank account into something more tangible.
I think it was Laura (Greg's missus), who suggested that Bundagen
people weren't really town people and would probably be more happy
with some land that we could maybe use as a summer camp. Bunny then
informed us of some blocks he'd heard about on the back beaches down
down the Point Plomer Road. Sounded pretty cool. So, we took a Sunday
off and with a map from the agents, Greg, Guy and myself went for
a drive to check it out. Although we all agreed that the back beaches
were stunningly beautiful, the only block that hadn't been sold was
a bit of a disappointment. Disillusioned we returned to town and
decided to console ourselves with a coffee in the cafe at the caravan
park, our usual linchtime haunt, while we'd been working on the mural
just up the hill. John Beaumont (the then cafe proprietor), after
seeing our long faces, asked what wed been up to. After telling the
story of our quest, he suggested that the object of our desires was
right before our eyes. With outstretched arm he pointed to thos majestic
hills overlooking Crescent Head saying "That's coming up for aucton
next week". The doow opened and the light shone in, there was no
stopping it now, it was meant to happen, the mountain called us and
we answered. the rest is history.
Peter Farley 2000
The objects of the Co-operative are:-
- To acquire land for the purpose of providing low cost rural housing for members.
- To promote the development of a community of artists, musicians, artisans and craftspeople
- To promote the production and disposal of agricultural products of members and other persons
- To promote the principles and methods of permaculture in agriculture and horticulture.
- To promote and encourage a community where members and families can become self sufficient
- To provide a setting where rural re-settlement in hamlets and village clusters can evolve.
- To preserve and protect flora and fauna on land for such purpose
BY_LAW enacted 1999 states -
a) Dogs, Cats and Firearms are not permitted on the property
b) Physical violence, or threatened physical violence against any person or
property shall be deemed conduct detrimental to the Co-op
and be grounds for expulsion from the co-operative.