The Different Visions of Nimbin

[Dragonfan]

Northern Rivers Echo

by Terra Sword

9 October 2008

An emergency meeting held in Nimbin just days after the Hemp Bar closed has resulted in the establishment of a new group, the Nimbin Visions Collective, which hopes to reduce violence in the town through grassroots action.

Nimbin Visions Collective member and owner of Happy High Herbs, Nell Berry, says with so must distrust from the community about the way police have behaved this year – citing over-the-top policing tactics in the April Fool’s Day raids and the recent closure of the Nimbin Museum and Hemp Bar as examples – change can only come from the ground up.

She said a letter recently delivered by police to only some business owners and not others made several business people feel the police were using “divide and rule tactics” that did not reflect the spirit of Nimbin.

However, Superintendent Bruce Lyons said the letter was simply to reassure businesses in the village that if they’re not involved in illegal activity they would not be targeted.

“There’s a silent majority in Nimbin who are backing the police in what they’re trying to do in cleaning up the drug trade in and around Nimbin, and I’m of the view that we need those people to become more vocal and tell the police of their concerns. That’s why it’s important that there’s a growing relationship between police and the community,” Supt Lyons said. “I think in recent years there’s been a fear there of repercussions from people dealing drugs. There’s also been an increase in violent crime, a lot of which goes unreported, and we need the community to have confidence in the police so they’re prepared to report crime.”

Nell said while police claim in the letter that an article in the Nimbin Good Times and a weekly radio slot is part of building community partnerships, she said there is little two-way dialogue.

“Nimbin is at a crossroads and we have to accept that a new direction is needed,” Nell said. “Violence and intimidation are concerns for all of us, yet the way that the police have attempted to deal with these problems has created divisions within the community.

“While the police play an important role, it’s vital that we tackle these issues as a community group. The idea behind the Nimbin Visions Collective is positive action and bringing local people and groups together.”

The Nimbin Visions Collective name was inspired by the 1997 Visions of Nimbin festival, which attracted 10,000 people and raised $30,000 dollars towards buying the community centre, which Nell describes as one of Nimbin’s most treasured assets. She said the group spoke to the original Visions festival organisers and they were happy for them to rekindle the name.

Nell said the new group has a broad base of support from shop owners in the village and said the problem with young people and violent behaviour had to be tackled from within.

“Many of us feel there has been a demonization of our culture and our town in the media. We feel strongly that the major issue is not cannabis dealing, the major issue is violence and an atmosphere of intimidation that will effect our business potential and our tourist potential,” she said. “We recognise police are in a difficult situation and they are there to apply the law, but it’s clear the war on drugs is not working.

“We want to work with the local sergeant so he’s aware of what we’re doing and understands we’re a community trying to deal with our problems, trying to bring young people into the fold. We’re planning events throughout the spring and summer months, and are really focussing on incorporating the young culture; training the youth in setting up PA’s for music and helping with events, asking them what they feel they need, recognising them as a part of our community.

“We have identified the problem areas and hot spots, and we want to have a positive presence in those areas. We do not want to push young people out of those spots but instead connect with them and provide a forum for discussion.”

Nimbin Chamber of Commerce president and owner of Daizy clothing shop Kara Forsythe said while people in the group all had different opinions about police and their role in the village, they all believed the new group could create positive change.

“As the Chamber of Commerce we have no problem with the Nimbin Police. It’s a small town and we want to get on with them and facilitate more communication so we can break down that feeling of us and them,” Kara said. “The Nimbin Visions Collective is about keeping Nimbin alive. About having music in the streets, market stalls, recipe and plant swapping days, creating a friendly atmosphere – these are the things that will help change the feeling in the town.”

Nell said many of the group’s members felt there was an agenda coming from outside to “clean up” the town and that it was threatening what is uniquely Nimbin – its freedom and acceptance of alternative culture.

“I couldn’t find anywhere else on the planet like Nimbin – I left my family in Wales to be here. It’s so precious, what we have,” Nell said. “Nimbin doesn’t have more violence than any other town, but how we deal with it is really important, and Nimbin has never been a place where a heavy-handed approach has worked.”