All in all GV Byron Bay was proud and happy to supply a workforce of 8 students to work at Splendour in the Grass.

The unusually named “Splendour in the Grass” is now one of Australia’s most famous and popular music festivals. Held in Byron Bay every July it includes many international and Australian performers and has a uniquely Byron Bay flavour. GV Byron Bay secured work for 8 students at the festival . It was a very multicultural group of workers as you would expect from GV Byron Bay and included Spanish, French, Korean and Taiwanese workers. The students enjoyed the opportunity to be able to work at the festival and see and hear some amazing performers and join in the fun – and get paid for being there!

Thanks to Garry from Style Surfing for his informative and entertaining seminar on surfing.

Garry from the Style Surfing School provided a very entertaining talk!

Yolanda has been studying at GV Byron Bay since 6 July…here is what she has to say…..

Yolanda can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Okay, I am from Spain – from Granada which is a town in the south. It is a university town with lots of young people and a great energy – just like Byron Bay!  I am 28 years old and I am visiting Australia with my boyfriend, Javier. When we arrived we hired a campervan and we have travelled up the east coast from Melbourne to Noosa. I read about Byron Bay in the Lonely Planet Guide and some people told us that it was a really good place so we decided to visit.

What can you tell us about Byron Bay?

Honestly for me it is the best place we have visited in Australia. It has really interesting people, lots of live music and the beach. Since I arrived I have become a very interested in surfing. At first I borrowed one of the GV Byron Bay surfboards and one of the schools wetsuits but since then I have purchased my own board. I surf at least 5 times a week after lessons. My favourite place to go out at night in Byron is The Rails Hotel. This is an Australian pub – very friendly and with really good live music every night of the week. It is amazing to me that you can see so many musicians in Byron and all for free.

Who are your teachers?

My teachers are Lynne and David. I am in the pre-intermediate class. Dave is often very funny and he is always happy, he is very dramatic and makes the class exciting and fun. Lynne is quieter than David but also a very good teacher. She is very competent and professional and yet she is a typical Byron Bay person- friendly, happy and caring!

What can you tell us about Global Village Byron Bay?

I can say that it would be hard to imagine a school that is better. The staff are friendly and helpful. It is a very nice school with good classrooms with lots of windows. It has a big student lounge with a large kitchen. This is really good for activities – last week Javier and I did a cooking class for the students and we cooked paella (Spanish food is the best!). The afternoon activities are fun and it is a good way to socialise with the other students. I am happy here…I don’t want to leave!!

Where are you living at the moment?

Javi and I are sharing a house with some crazy young Aussies. They are really nice people and what is extra good is that they have taken me surfing and taught me a lot about how to surf. Before I bought my own board they would always lend me one..so, they are friendly and happy ( and just a little crazy) and the house is close to the beach and GV Byron Bay.

GV Byron Bay's new Director of Studies, Justin Blake, is welcomed to the school by some of the students.

 Justin says that he is enjoying his first week as Director of Studies at GV Byron Bay. He has wasted no time in meeting the students and discussing their study plans with them. He has also announced that he will be commencing an IELTS program from Monday the 10th of August which he will be teaching from 1pm to 3pm Monday to Thursday and students are able to attend this course at no extra cost (provided you can meet the entry requirements). If you are interested in applying for the IELTS program please put your name on the list that is on the noticeboard in the student lounge. Welcome aboard Justin!!!

Congratulations to Nari, Wendy, Young,  Gabriela,  Sam, Renee and Jin on obtaining work at the music festival “Splendour in the Grass” which starts in Byron Bay this week. GV Byron Bay was very happy to be able to secure this work and we know you you will make us proud with your efforts.

With the weather getting warmer and the crowds in Byron Bay growing there is a lot of work around the town.

Breakfast Cook casual, an experienced breakfast cook recquired for Byron B & B. Phone Mark on 0412053030.

Canvassers/Sales team wanted for local business for immediate start. Excellent opportunity to earn great $$$ if you are motivated. Travellers welcome. Please call Chelsea on 0401414681.

Fun, energetic experienced bar staff wanted at iconic Byron Bay venue. Apply in writing to: the buddha@byronbaybrewery.com.au

Casual Work single, animal friendly, responsible, reliable, available weekends & nights for house and pet sit in local area. Phone 0407684176.

Chameleon Global Cafe seeks waitperson. RSA and Cocktails. Phone 66807798.

Congratulations to Ronnie Ishii from GV Noosa for this creative entry, which is this year’s GRAND PRIZE WINNER!

It was a close contest, with only 1 point separating the top two photos. Ronnie wins a return flight to Sydney for winning the competition! Well done!

We have received so many entries that we have had to cut the list down to 12 outstanding photos from which the Grand Prize winner will be chosen. Here they are!

Thank you to everyone who submitted photos, they were all truly fantastic and congratulations to the students who have made it on to this list. The overall winner will be announced on the blog on Monday afternoon. Good Luck!

GV Byron Bay is now accepting bookings for it’s student house in a fantastic location five minutes walk to the school.

Keep watching the blog for photos that will be posted in the next few days.

The cost for a shared room is $130 per week and for your own room $170 per week.

If you are interested please see Damian but you will need to be quick. The location is so convenient that it is sure to be popular!!

GV Byron Bay has been able to get several students work on some of the many Macadamia Plantations in area surrounding Byron Bay. Here is Vicki’s story about her experience working on the macadamia plantation.

Vicki at the Macadamia Plantation

Hi, my name is Vicki, I’m from Taiwan. I have worked at the Macadamia farm since GV Byron Bay introduced me to the farmer. My friend Min who is also a student at the school works at the farm as well. I appreciate very much that Dave from GV Byron Bay gave me the chance to work at the farm. My supervisor and the other workers are all very friendly and kind to me and they are always joking and laughing. The job is not really difficult for me – we stand beside the machine and sort the macadamias. This job could train your concentration because we have to watch the macadamia nuts carefully and sort the bad ones from the good ones. There are a lot of Macadamia plantations in the country around Byron Bay and it is the main area for growing Macadamia nuts in Australia. At harvest time there is a lot of work in the sheds sorting the macadamias.

We couldn’t let Yuna have a birthday without celebrating it with her and singing her “Happy Birthday”. Hope you enjoyed the cake Yuna!

Happy Birthday Yuna!

One of our favourite Brazilian students Yuna had a birthday yesterday so we couldn’t let it pass by without giving her a cake and singing her “Happy Birthday”. Yuna is living in Byron Bay with her husband and son and they have become “true locals”.

Bakers Assistant Arts and Industrial Estate, daytime Mon-Wed, casual for about 20hrs per week, some experience in kitchens necessary. Ph 0407807242

Kitchen Hand Flexible hours, good rate of pay. Keen to work and get started? Contact Beach Kitchen Manager on 66856402 at the Beach Hotel.

Short Order Cook 2-3 shifts per week, apply in person with Resume. Munch Juicebar and Takeaway, Byron West Shopping Centre.

Casual Housekeeping Position at East at Byron must be experienced and reliable. Please call Vai on 66807555.

This week we welcome Justin Blake, our new Director of Studies

.

.

.

.

.

..

.

.

Justin writes:

Hi!

I’m Justin, the new Director of Studies for GV Byron Bay and I am very excited to be joining the GV team as well as becoming a member of the Byron Bay community.

This will be the first time that I have lived in Byron Bay and I am really looking forward to experiencing all of the wonderful things that Byron has to offer.  I have just arrived back in Australia after living and working in Asia for 8 years. This means that I can really relate to being a “new person” in this great place, and I am looking forward to learning all about Byron with all of you.

Since I have lived in a variety of different countries I know how it feels to learn and develop another language. I have been working in the EFL/ESL industry for over ten years and find the job to be really rewarding. It is great to be part of helping people learn to communicate well and it is my pleasure to have the opportunity to help you develop your language skills with GV in Byron Bay.

Please feel free to come and see me any time if you have any questions or need any help or advice or just want to say hello!

Please stop by the teacher’s staffroom and welcome Justin to the school….he starts in Byron on Thursday!

We have been receiving so many last minute entries for the photo competition, that we have decided to extend the deadline to Tuesday at 5:00pm.

Please make sure that you have all you photos submitted by that time.

Reminder: All you have to do is send through your name, your campus (GV Brisbane/GV Noosa/GV Caloundra/ GV Byron Bay) and which category you are submitting the photos into. Send you entries to gvphoto2009@gmail.com

Good Luck!

Not content to help out as a surf instructor yesterday, today Mori organised (with the help of Anna) a sushi making lesson. Good one Mori!

Yesterday one of our favourite Japanese students, Mori, took some of the other students for a surfing lesson.

The GV Photo Competition is now closed and we received some really fantastic photos!

The photos have been organised and the judging has begun! Who will win the grand prize of a return flight to Sydney?! The winner will be announced on the blog this Friday, 10 July. Keep an eye out to see if it is you.

The annual migration of the humpback whales along the east coast of Australia is well under way and will continue until November.

From June to August each year thousands of humpback whales travel past Byron Bay on their annual migration from the Antarctica to their breeding grounds further north near the Great Barrier Reef. After the birth of the new calves they then make their way back down the coast with the baby whales. They often stop in the relatively sheltered waters of Byron Bay to allow the young ones to rest before continuing their journey back to Antarctica.

Because the whales are now a protected species in Australia their numbers have been steadily increasing each year. Last year over 180 whales were spotted from the Cape Byron Lighthouse in one day! There is estimated to be over 10,000 making the annual migration. If you want to get closer to the whales the various dive boat operators in Byron Bay conduct regular whale watching tours. Speak to the staff at GV Byron Bay if you want further information about the tours but really you can get a great view of the whales from the lighthouse lookout which will cost you absolutely nothing!

If you need help with your resume you can ask the teacher supervising GIL or any of the staff at GV Byron Bay. We want to do all we can to help you achieve your goals in obtaining employment!

Check out this weeks top jobs:

Kinoko Japanese Restuarant looking for an experienced waiter/waitress.

Applicants must have a working visa. Phone 0416111067

Staff required for 24hr convenience store, please drop reume to shop at 24 Jonson Street Byron Bay

Chef/Short Order Cook weekends at Brunswick Heads, also required experienced Barista part-time. Phone Katy 0402368050.

(There is a regular bus service between Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads)

Congratulations to Wendy and Patrick on their marriage. GV Byron Bay was honoured to be part of their special Australian celebration.

The school director officiated at the wedding and Louisa, a teacher, composed and sang a beautiful love song which was very much appreciated by the bride and groom. The party back at the student lounge was also a big success and many thanks to Sophie, our senior teacher, who prepared much of the food including a beautiful cake. It was great to see not only students but also Australian friends they had made in Byron Bay at the party.

All in all it was a fantastic day and we hope that Wendy and Patrick remember it for many years to come as the highlight of their time in Byron Bay.

Five new students from Japan, Spain, France and Switzerland arrived at GV Byron Bay today.

A big welcome to Arimu, Yolanda, Marion, Angelique and Maeva

Yolanda (from Spain) and Arimu (from Japan) arrived at the school last Friday  in time for the party held at GV Byron Bay on Friday evening. It was great to see them having fun and getting to know their fellow students.  At the party Arimu (who is a keen surfer and has brought her surfboard with her) was able to meet a fellow surfer (our student Mori) who took her surfing on the weekend. The surf was good over the weekend and the weather was beautiful so we are sure they had a good time. Tomorrow Marion, Yolanda, Angelique and Maeva are having a surfing lesson organised by GV. So it’s a big welcome to our new students!

GV Byron Bay has some fantastic activities in July. They are all free so why not sign up and join in!

*GIL= Guided Independent Learning is available every day.

GV Byron Bay