History | Byron Greens

History of the Byron Greens

The Tweed/ Byron Greens group was formed in 1993 by Ian Cohen, Jan Barham, Richard Staples, Tom Tabart and Bill Ringland. (Over time this group spawned the locality groups of Byron, Tweed and Ballina.)

In March 1995 Ian Cohen was elected as the first Green MP in the NSW Parliament, Legislative Council.

Richard Staples became the first Green elected to Byron Shire Council in September 1995.

In 1999 both Richard Staples and Jan Barham were elected to council.

A council bye-election in 2002 resulted in Duncan Dey and Sandra Heilpern elected.

In 2004, Jan Barham became Australia’s first popularly elected Green Mayor and Richard Staples, Tom Tabart and John Lazarus were elected as councillors.

In 2008 Jan was re-elected as Mayor and Richard and Tom were re-elected and joined by Simon Richardson.

In 2011 Jan Barham was elected to the NSW Legislative Council and Ian Cohen finished his 16 year term.

In 2012 Simon Richardson was elected as Mayor along with councillors Duncan Dey and Rose Wanchap.

A major achievement in March 2015 was the election of Tamara Smith as the Member for Ballina. The NSW Greens first regional Legislative Assembly MP.

In 2016 Simon was re-elected as Mayor and joined by Sarah Ndaiye, Michael Lyons and Jeanette Martin

History of the Byron Greens

FURTHER READING:

2012 Mayoral Report – Achievements, Struggles & Loses

2012 Report to the Community