The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 37.42 – March 29, 2023

Increased margin for MP Smith

Photo & story Eve Jeffery

On Saturday night, a packed Suffolk Park Hotel exploded with cheers at around 8pm, when the ABC broadcast computer popped up a Greens result for Ballina, for the return of Tamara Smith to the seat she has held for the last eight years.

Smith kept her thanks brief but heartfelt: ‘Thank you so much Jan Barham – Jan worked behind the scenes with me for eight years. She has done countless things to assist me, and I recognise her as a former MLC, and former mayor. And also the Deputy Mayor Sarah Ndiaye, Councillor Duncan Day, Councillor Simon Chate and former MLC Ian Cohen, and of course, the former candidate for Richmond, the extraordinary Mandy Nolan, who has helped me so much.

‘We’re on the backs of giants.’

As of Tuesday’s count, published on vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au, Smith had attracted 14,418 votes, (34.98 per cent of the counted total), with the Nationals’ Josh Booyens following with 12,675 votes (30.76 per cent), and Labor’s Andrew Broadley with 9,442 votes (22.91 per cent). Independent Kevin Loughrey attracted 3,219 votes, or 7.81 per cent of the vote.

Sustainable Australia Party candidate Peter Jenkins attracted 1,458 votes, or 3.54 per cent of the vote.

The two candidate preferred (TCP) vote saw the Greens on 57.58 per cent, versus 42.42 per cent for the Nationals.

The NSW Legislative Council (upper house) vote count is yet to be finalised.

Like previous elections, the Greens vote was strongest in the

Byron Shire (the NSW Ballina electorate comprises Byron and Ballina shires).

The Nationals claimed top vote count for booths in Alstonville High, Ballina High, Emmanuel Anglican College, Meerschaum Vale Hall, Rous Public, Southern Cross School, Tintenbar Public and Wardell Hall. The Richmond Room Ballina booth was won by Labor.

On Sunday morning, Smith said she felt humbled and grateful for the support of the community.

‘I’m eager to get to work tomorrow to start preparing for working with a new premier and progressive government. I never want to take our community for granted. We work hard to serve them every day.’

Smith said that given what people in the region have been through in the last few years, she thinks they are demanding real action across key crises – climate, housing, and cost-of-living pressures.

Push further on reforms

‘The Greens are ready to push Labor further across all of the areas of reform that we took to this election. I look forward to working with a Labor government to deliver the second round of flood recovery assistance, flood mitigation measures across the region, and immediate reforms in housing’.

‘We want to disrupt the hold that the clubs lobby have on the Labor party, and deliver fair and equitable

200 road projects in waiting

Paul Bibby

The incoming NSW Labor government says it will spend billions on the state’s roads, but will some of the cash find its way to the hundreds of flood-ravaged roads in the Byron Shire?

As Labor leader Chris Minns and his team swept to power on Saturday, there were 200 separate road repair and maintenance projects awaiting approval in Byron Shire, most of them completely unfunded.

Many of these pending projects, including Upper Main Arm, are the legacy of last year’s floods.

Byron Council is almost completely reliant on state government funding to pay for these works.

Flood grants closed

funding to regional communities.’

Smith said that in the first 100 days of the new parliament, she will be introducing legislation to rein in unfettered short-term holiday letting, and negotiating to see if development slated for floodprone areas like West Byron can be curtailed.

‘Further in the south, I will work with the new government to address the poor health of the Richmond River, and deliver the money we need to clean the hundreds of drains that are so negatively affecting our floodplain farmers and the river.

‘The Greens will be pushing hard to get pay rises for nurses, midwives, paramedics, as well as teachers and aged care workers’.

Additionally, the period during which Council can claim reimbursement for emergency works associated with the disaster closed nearly two months ago.

Council has now gone capin-hand to Transport for NSW for additional funds to pay for interim works, but the state bureaucrats are reportedly yet to respond.

‘The question we’ve put to government is, what is the ultimate strategy to assist councils, not just our Council, but councils across the Northern Rivers to bridge this gap,’ Council’s Director of Infrastructure Services, Phil Holloway told last week’s Council meeting.

▶ Continued on page 3

Greens MP for the NSW seat of Ballina, Tamara Smith, was cheered on by supporters on election night.

Sleepbus: giving the homeless a good night’s sleep

Photo & story Eve Jeffery

A chance encounter with a homeless man in Melbourne was the beginning of a project that has seen Melbourne entrepreneur, Simon Rowe, create a safe place for people to sleep when there is nowhere else to go.

‘I stopped and had a chat to this guy, and I just remember him being the tiredest guy I’d ever seen in my life’, Rowe told The Echo

‘I went home and told my kids about it. And then they said, “you need to do something about that, dad”. That was the catalyst really, it was just seeing the tired guy and thinking, can’t we do better?’

After Rowe left the corporate world, and between seeing a Japanese pod hotel online, and then flicking through an old photo album to see a motorhome that he and his mates had made in their 20s, Sleepbus was born.

‘I launched a GoFundMe campaign just to see if anybody else thought the idea was any good. We raised $100,000 in four days. I knew it had legs.’

Rowe bought a bus and started building it with his

Side by side to provide a convenient, industryleading patient experience to the Byron community

Astrid & Ananda are neighbours at Habitat creating a streamlined, highly supported, patient experience for the medicinal use of cannabinoids.

Walk-ins welcome at Astrid so pop in anytime to chat with expertly trained Pharmacists and learn how plant based therapies can interact with our unique physiology to enhance wellbeing.

Appointments available this week at Ananda Clinics where doctors can explain how our endocannabinoid system helps us achieve health and balance.

kids in their backyard, and over about three years the idea grew into what are today’s Sleepbuses. The Sleepbus service is nothing more and nothing less than a safe bed for a night – a private space to get a good rest and often a respite from a doorway or hidden nook on a street. The buses generally have eight or nine pods, each with a bed, a light, USB charging, ducted heating and airconditioning and a toilet. Guests enter from the street and come in to their own individual space.

Rowe says the service is not an answer to

homelessness.

‘Some of my biggest detractors say: “It’s a bandaid measure; it’s a waste of money, we should be putting efforts into affordable housing”. And my answer to that is always: “You are absolutely right”. However, we’ve been trying for years. I’m just trying to do something about it tonight.’

With services now in Byron Bay, Canberra, Maroochydore and Queanbeyan, the biggest challenge is getting volunteers to work the service. Volunteers needed include drivers, caretakers, service volunteers

and housekeepers, Rowe says.

‘The drivers take the bus to and from the depot; service volunteers settle in the guests; caretakers stay overnight on the bus, and housing reset the rooms for the next guests – the half is the driver’s driver who takes the bus driver back to their car.

Vollies needed

‘We have a few drivers at other services who drive and do caretaker overnight, and drive again in the morning. They are our Holy Grail volunteer.’

Training is provided, and all roles have a buddy system to get you up and running. With a vision to end the need for people to sleep rough and a mantra that ‘sleep changes everything’, currently Rowe is flying up from Melbourne on the weekends to drive the Byron Bus, but he’d love a driver to take over, so he can put his energy into creating more services.

‘I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about people on the street. Then I realised I am somebody.’ For more info, visit: Sleepbus.org.

Melbourne entrepreneur, Simon Rowe, has established Sleepbus in Byron, which provides homeless people a space to get a good night’s sleep.

Byron Bay NRMA to close March 31

The last remaining NRMA agency in Byron Shire is closing its doors on March 31.

According to owners, Warren and Dennise Simmons, NRMA does not consider the agency financially viable, with the increasing volumes of online sales and transactions.

Dennise told The Echo, ‘They have closed many agencies around the state –including us’.

Road service breakdown and towing services will not be affected, the couple say, but for personal one-onone NRMA insurance and member services, customers will now have to travel to Ballina or Tweed.

For approximately 50 years, the Byron Bay agency

A committee that makes recommendations to Council around water and sewage management in the Shire is calling for Mullum’s water supply to remain at Lavertys Gap weir in Wilsons Creek.

All other towns and villages in the Shire are supplied by Rous County Council, who supply water to north coast councils mainly from the Rocky Creek Dam, 20kms north of Lismore.

has been under the ownership of the Simmons’, and was initially run from the Golden Fleece/Caltex Service Station, and then from its

Yet according to the upcoming March 30 meeting agenda, staff are unsupportive, and instead are pushing for the town’s water supply to become part of Rous.

The infrastructure is in place for the switchover, say staff.

Additionally, they say in the agenda that, ‘Drafting of the Mullumbimby Water Supply Strategy has extended well over three

own office, opposite the police station, in Byron Bay.

‘There will be a (sad) celebration held throughout the last trading day’,

years’, and ‘Any additional tasks, including remodelling the secure yield, will add time to the strategy, which in turn also increases the risk of water supply failure for Mullumbimby’.

A closed door workshop with councillors is proposed by staff, ‘to discuss the Strategy’.

Within the motion put forward by the committee, it recognises that, ‘Mullumbimby’s

Dennise said.

‘We would like to thank our local customers, and those who have supported us over so many years’, she added.

‘We are planning to have coffee and cake during the morning, and “other refreshments” in the afternoon. We officially go “off the air” Friday 31, at 3pm’.

Invitation

‘We would like to extend an invitation to our customers to call in, and farewell our valued and loyal staff: Wayne, Noel and Nigel, who have been with us for a combined total of approximately 100 years.

‘A massive effort for any local business’.

FREE EVENT

Winter Pasture Prep Info Evening

A MUST ATTEND event for local land owners NOW is the time to ensure your pastures prevail W

current water source at Lavertys Gap may not supply adequate volumes of water during drought for the supply area (Mullumbimby), but that an emergency supply is secured in the medium term via an option to draw on Rous Water’.

Strategy options include investigating potential dam sites locally, and the ‘impact of climate change on supply and on demand’.

200 road projects in waiting, many without funding

▶ Continued from page 1

‘The ongoing costs involved in maintaining a road network that has failed because of a natural disaster are far beyond our current budget capabilities, and we’re very concerned about it.

‘We do have a meeting with reps of Transport for NSW on April 6 to talk about cash flow issues with our Council, to see if there’s a way to alleviate that. But it is a huge problem.’

‘The biggest issue for us is that we literally have 200 packages of work to go forward, but at this stage, not a lot of them have been formally approved other than the emergency work that we’re doing.’

Pointed questions

Earlier in the meeting, Upper Main Arm resident, Navaya Ellis, asked a series of pointed questions about the process Council uses when deciding which road projects to prioritise when seeking state funding.

‘What criteria do Council use to put forward their

projects to government for flood-damaged infrastructure funding and will this info be made available?’ Ms Ellis asked.

‘What criteria was used to assess risk of flood-damaged infrastructure?’

‘Does Council plan to address the lack of transparency re assessment of roads?’

Fellow resident, Kol Dimond, said Main Arm Road at Upper Main Arm was ‘in the worst condition it’s ever been in’.

‘The road is now in a worse scenario than it was six weeks ago, when we protested outside this building,’ Mr Dimond said.

‘And it is now busier than it’s ever been, owing to the number of trucks coming up there to do private roadworks, the traffic to the new Tweed walk, and the increase in tourists going to spots like Hell Hole Falls, which now have water in them.’

‘It’s all such a duty-of-care hazard.’

Mr Holloway said there are further works to happen on this stretch of road over

the next few weeks.

‘We’ll have ongoing conversations with residents about those works and about those questions that were asked today,’ he said.

However, Mr Holloway also emphasised that residents needed to drive to the conditions.

‘I’m not making any excuses for the road network, but the same people who are wanting the road

fixed are still not driving to the conditions of the road in terms of speed,’ he said.

Prior to the state election, Labor leader Chris Minns promised a $1.1 billion funding package to fix the state’s roads over a three-year period.

‘NSW Labor has a comprehensive plan to deliver the critical infrastructure that NSW so desperately deserves’, he said.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Phil Kemsley (Regional LSS Veterinarian)

Natasha Favaloro (Agronomist)

Q&A & free BBQ to follow Free resources & discounts for attendees on the night

Mullum Co-Op

Wednesday 5th April

From 5.30pm Scan the QR code to register

‘Man - Despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication and his many accomplishments – owes his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains’ – Paul Harvey

Manager Warren Simmons, Wayne Perkins (started ’96), Noel Spear (started ’85), Nigel Skyring (has been with Simmo’s since ’88). Photo Jeff Dawson

After educating and nurturing children in our community for 32 years, Linda Duffey, Director of Durrumbul Community Preschool, is retiring at the end of this term. Linda leaves behind a legacy of being a wonderful teacher, director, colleague and community member.

In honour of Linda’s significant contribution, the preschool hosted a joyful community event on March 21, which brought together past and present students, families and community members.

Linda’s farewell event included an Indigenous ceremony, held by Arakwal Bundjalung woman, Delta Kay, followed by the preschool’s traditional ‘crossing of the bridge’ ceremony and the planting of a Poinciana tree in the preschool’s yard.

A Durrumbul Preschool representative told The Echo, ‘We would like to thank Linda for her dedication and contribution to Durrumbul Community Preschool, and wish her all the best in her next chapter, she will be extremely missed’.

‘Durrumbul Preschool Management Committee would also like to thank

everyone who came to share such a joyful afternoon, and to all the amazing people who made this happen.

‘Special thanks to Danya Alves Vieira, Durrumbul Community Preschool’s nominated supervisor and director, for all your efforts in creating this magical moment’.

‘Also, to the Buzz Byron Bay Coffee cart team, to Dale from the Verse Production for filming and editing so amazingly, to Shorty Brown for entertaining the kids, to

Auntie Delta for the special ceremony, to Inga Shalom, and all the parents who contributed to this event, and to all the preschool’s committee members for putting it all together.

Linda told The Echo, ‘It has been a pleasure and an honour spending so much of my life at Durrumbul Preschool’.

‘Over the past 32 years, I have watched Durrumbul grow from strength to strength, into the excellent

HOUSING SOLUTIONS WORKSHOP SERIES

Are you a flood-affected rental tenant, a working person over 50, a single parent, or someone who wants to learn more about local housing solutions?

Women’s Village Collective proudly presents this informative upcoming workshop series:

Workshop 1: Preparing financially to access secure housing opportunities:

Wednesday April 5th, 10–2pm

Marvell Hall, Byron Bay

Workshop 2: Creative Housing Solutions - What you need to know:

Tuesday May 2nd, 10–2pm

Byron Theatre, Byron Bay

Bookings are essential to confirm your place, lunch and childcare provided for registered ticket holders.

These events are proudly supported by the NSW Government.

learning environment that we share today’.

‘A school is only as good as its teachers, and we are gifted with an exceptional team of committed and quality educators. I am confident that they will lead Durrumbul into the future’.

Linda added, ‘The greatest gift that I take away from a career in early childhood education are the relationships that I have with all of you, and so many local families and children’.

It’s quite an achievement to own and operate a business for more than 30 years with your life partner, and that’s exactly what David and Kim Smith have done.

The couple took over a 40-year-old business from Howard and Val Timms in 1993, and the Pearl Denture Studio has been a successful Mullumbimby venture since then. They now celebrate their 30th year.

‘That time has truly flown by so fast, but when you consider that we have also raised three children during that time, it’s no wonder we didn’t notice,’ says Kim.

‘Just like the Timms family, we have raised and

schooled our family in Mullum, and have all supported our local community and sporting codes’.

It has also been important for the Smiths to be able to live and work in the same place. ‘To provide a world class service not easily found even in our larger cities to a community in the Byron Shire is a real privilege,’ says David.

Kim says there is something special about living within the community you work in, because you’re also supporting other family businesses.

Kim adds, ‘For me, living local and working full-time gave me the ability to do those things that parents need to do, like canteen duty, and attend school events’.

Linda Duffey with students. Photo Jeff ‘Monkey Bars’ Dawson

Kim and David Smith from Pearl Denture Studio.

Photo & story Eve Jeffery

Our community engagement is

Paul Bibby

Is Byron Council doing a good job of engaging with the community on the issues, policies and projects that matter to you?

Our elected councillors certainly think so.

At last week’s Council meeting, they unanimously endorsed a glowing report on the functions and performance of the Community Engagement team, providing a healthy dusting of compliments along the way.

The report listed a series of impressive performance statistics achieved by the engagement team.

For example, during the course of last November, 47,000 people viewed Council’s social media posts, and Council’s website had 106,000 hits.

Council’s e-Newsletter went out to 12,000 people, and at least 45 per cent of people actually opened it. This is a far higher proportion than the industry average, which is between 17 and 28 per cent.

Council’s ‘Your Say’ page,

one of its key engagement platforms, was also popular, receiving 2,820 views during the same month.

Less budget than other councils

All this was achieved, the report said, on a budget of $458,800 per annum, considerably less than Byron’s neighbouring councils.

However, while 71 per cent of respondents to Council’s latest community survey reportedly said they were ‘somewhat to very satisfied’ with Council’s overall community consultation and engagement, not everyone is happy with the job Council is doing when it comes to community consultation.

Council has been criticised for a lack of effective consultation in relation to a number of projects in recent times, including two plans to build affordable housing on government and Councilowned land in Mullumbimby.

At other times Council’s consultations processes have been criticised for failing

Vale Nina Milenko Marzi

to engage the community when only a handful of local residents responded to new plans and strategies.

The head of Council’s engagement team, Annie Lewis, responded to some of these criticisms in her written report.

‘Judging the success of engagement campaigns just on the number of submissions received is a flawed approach, because the number of submissions received is often more of a reflection of the level of controversy of the item, than the reach or influence of the campaign,’ Ms Lewis said in the report.

‘People who are satisfied with a particular service/project often will not participate in community engagement or contact Council because they are happy.’

Ms Lewis also said that sometimes dissatisfaction with an outcome translated into stated dissatisfaction with the processes that delivered that outcome, including the engagement process, when in fact this criticism was not deserved.

One of Byron’s most colourful characters has spread her wings and taken flight for her next adventure – Nina Milenko Marzi died last Thursday in Byron Bay. Nina was born in Krasnodar, near the Black Sea on May 16, 1921, to a world of famine, poverty and sheer hopelessness. Russia was then in the throes of a catastrophic civil war. When Nina was 19, she arrived in Australia via China.

Nina’s father, Alexander

Zhemchuzny (Dr Alexander James, 1882–1976), achieved notoriety for his system of asthma management which did not use drugs.

Nina worked with her father in his asthma clinic, and after her father’s death she continued his work .

Nina moved to Byron Bay in 2015 to be closer to her son Alex, his wife Susie, and their children Simon and Lara. She lived happily at Feros Village for the rest of her life.

The highlight of Nina’s life was the embrace of the Byron Bay community – she

was allowed to express herself and be Nina. Her amazing energy and positivity affected everyone who knew her.

Nina, and her good friend Feather, had a final dance performance at the Beach Hotel on New Year’s Day, dancing to Lisa Hunt’s band. Nina died peacefully on March 23, surrounded by her paintings and wonderful life memories, after weeks of declining health. Family and friends will celebrate Nina’s life in a memorial service at a date in the future.

“The Mullumbimby Chocolate Shop is “T Mu umb mby hoc te S op i he ll i C ola h s y r on sto hop or E ter n!” ou e- p s f as fu

“The Mullumbimby Chocolate Shop is your one stop-shop for Easter fun!”

Photo & story Eve Jeffery

North Coast

North coast election roundup

News from across the North Coast online www.echo.net.au

Residents of Cabbage Tree Island want to go home

Anger and frustration at not being able to go home saw a group of residents reclaim their properties yesterday on Cabbage Tree Island.

Bulga Forest logging ‘suspended’

The NSW Forestry Corporation has changed the status of a contentious area of Bulga Forest from ‘active’ to ‘suspended’.

Ballina council contractor debt waived after company goes bust

The Ballina Shire Council has voted to write off debt owed by a failed private company initially hired to develop six industrial lots six years ago.

Not a ‘bonanza for developers and land bankers’ as local councils lose planning controls?

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment were quick to respond to the article ‘A bonanza for developers and land bankers?’ published on 21 March 2023 in The Echo online ‘to correct the inaccuracies contained in your article’.

Lismore Council wants you to have your say

Lismore City Council is inviting residents and members of the community to contribute to Your Say Lismore, an innovative online platform that creates a two-way conversation between the community and Council.

Corrie’s Frock Shop safe in family hands

Fifty-four years is a long time to be in the workforce let alone in the one business in the one town, but that is how Corrie van Dommele has spent most of her adult life – at Corrie’s Frock Shop in Ballina, but now she is about to call it quits.

More planning powers stripped from councils

Aslan Shand

Pleas by Tweed Council to defer the introduction of a fast-track development policy by the NSW government were ignored, and it is now in force across the state.

Hans Lovejoy

Labor MP, Janelle Saffin, retained her Lismore seat at Saturday’s election, with 45.70 per cent of the vote, while nearest competitor, Nationals candidate, Alex Rubin, secured 27.31 per cent of the vote.

Greens candidate, Adam Guise, came third, with 14.68 per cent of the vote.

With eight candidates, other votes were diluted across two Independents, the AJP, Sustainable Australia Party and the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party.

The Lismore electorate includes, Nimbin, Dunoon, Clunes, Wilsons Creek, Murwillumbah, Tyalgum and Uki, and all of Kyogle Council and all of Tenterfield Shire

(including, Drake, Jennings, Liston, Legume, Torrington and Urbenville).

Nats in Tweed

In the Tweed electorate, Nationals MP, Geoff Provest, fended off Labor’s Craig Elliot, husband to local Labor federal MP, Justine Elliot.

As of going to press, Provest had secured 44.22 per cent of the vote, while Labor held 31.30 per cent.

The Greens attracted 11.54 per cent of the vote, the Legalise Cannabis Party 5.20 per cent, the Sustainable Australia Party 4.76 per cent and AJP 2.98 per cent.

The NSW Tweed electorate covers Tweed Heads, Kingscliff, Fingal Head, Chinderah, Cudgen, Bogangar, Pottsville and Burringbar.

Nats in Clarence

To the south in the Clarence electorate, newcomer Nationals candidate, Richie Williamson, easily won with 48.98 per cent.

He replaces retiring Nats MP, Chris Gulaptis.

The closest rival, Labor’s Leon Ankersmit, attracted 22.54 per cent of the vote.

Clarence includes all of the Clarence Valley Council, including Grafton, Maclean, Yamba, Illuka, Junction Hill, Ulmarra, Coutts Crossing and Glenreagh, as well as all of the Richmond Valley Council, including Casino, Coraki, Woodburn, Evans Head and Tatham.

Election results sourced from www.vtr.elections.nsw. gov.au.

Tweed Shire Council confirmed with The Echo that the state government went ahead with the Rezoning Pathways Program (RPP), without any amendments.

A lack of community consultation was also raised as a concern.

The RPP was announced by then Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes, Brad Hazzard (Liberal) on December 5, 2022, nearly three months before the election caretaker period began.

And despite concerns raised by councils, it was introduced across NSW local government areas (LGAs)

by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) on March 2, the day before the caretaker period started for the elections.

The peak body representing NSW councils, LGNSW, said in a statement, ‘By removing council input and community consultation on these major developments, the government is essentially removing the safeguards that protect communities from inappropriate and ad-hoc development.’

LGNSW President, Darriea Turley AM, said, ‘Councils are best placed to make planning decisions in the interests of their community’.

‘Sidelining our sector from this critical role will only benefit developers, and further degrades the community from having any say about what developments occur in their areas.’

orders over Rainbow Temple

Lismore City Council say they have referred the Rainbow Temple in Rosebank to the Land & Environment Court, ‘after the owner repeatedly declined to submit a Development Application (DA) and associated documentation for the development’.

Council is seeking orders from the court that the building not be used and the top five floors, which were added to the structure without approval, be removed owing

to the lack of a structural integrity certification.

Safety concerns

‘Lismore City Council has worked closely with the property owner and their consultants and legal representatives to address safety concerns over the past three years,’ an unnamed Council spokesperson said.

‘For the safety of visitors and the community, Council will be proceeding with legal action.’

The Byron Shire Echo

Volume 37 #42•March 29, 2023

Established 1986•24,500 copies every week www.echo.net.au

Over

$61

million to fix flood damaged roads in Tweed

As the flood 2022 bills come rolling in for Tweed Shire Council (TSC) it has become apparent that almost half of the $125 million total repair bill will be spent on repairing landslides that have impacted access routes.

Cleaning up the Richmond River

Like many who have suffered in the floods the Richmond River estuary is still feeling the weight of last year’s weather event

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Nationals MP, Geoff Provest (Tweed).

Labor MP, Janelle Saffin (Lismore).

Nationals MP, Richie Williamson (Clarence).

Women’s Village Collective workshop April 5

A community group focused on supporting women to secure affordable housing, will host a series of free events on housing models, financial preparedness, and how to get into your own home.

The first event by the Women’s Village Collective is April 5, and organisers say that despite the focus on women, the workshops are open to everyone.

Organisers say speakers from the Bendigo Bank will be on hand to answer questions about the Shared Equity scheme, and the

federal government’s Regional First Home Buyers Guarantee which helps eligible regional first home buyers to enter the housing market sooner, and purchase a home in regional areas.

‘There is also the Family Home Guarantee Initiative, which provides eligible single parents with dependents the opportunity to build a new home, or purchase an existing home, with a deposit of two per cent, subject to the individual’s ability to service a home loan’.

‘There will also be a mortgage broker, with 25 years of experience with getting people into homes, to explain how to get market ready to buy a home’.

Byron Shire Council planning staff will also provide a presentation, and offer some advice, with a Q&A session.

Town planners and other advisors will be on hand, add the organisers.

‘Join the WVC today to secure your annual membership and go on the register: www.womensvillagecollective.org.au/ become-a-member’.

Federal Drive landslip works to begin

Paul Bibby

More than a year after a major landslip tore through Federal Drive during the floods, major works to reconstruct the damaged section are finally set to commence. But it will be at least a year before the road is fully operational, rather than four to six months, as previously indicated.

Having recently secured

nearly $23 million in state government funding to undertake the project, Byron Council awarded the tender for the job in a confidential sitting at last week’s Council meeting. Work will commence next month, according to Council, and be completed in 12 months.

However, it is hoped that Federal Drive will be open to a single lane of traffic

prior to Christmas.

A year after the landslip tore through the road north of Federal village, it remains unstable and dangerous, according to Council staff.

The $23M repair project will include reconstruction of the road, drainage work – including the replacement of four culverts, stabilisation of the landslip, revegetation of the slip face, and installation of guardrails.

Renowned Australian multidisciplinary artist, Space Cowboy, is showcasing his latest art exhibition at the JEFA Gallery, in his hometown of Byron Bay.

The exhibit, titled Here’s to the Good Life, features a collection of vibrant paintings that fuse figurative and abstract elements, accompanied by immersive augmented reality experiences, ‘that add an extra level of excitement’.

The Space Cowboy, also known as Chayne Hultgren, has been performing and breaking multiple world records for over 20 years, but recently turned his focus to visual art. His art is now garnering international recognition, and captivating audiences worldwide.

The exhibition showcases over 40 pieces of his latest works. The artist’s unique perspective and edgy style are evident in every piece,

capturing the imagination and encouraging introspection and self-discovery.

There will be two grand opening exhibition events featuring live performances, special guests and more.

The first is Thursday, April 6, from 6 till 9pm (show starts at 6.30pm), and the second is Friday April 7, from 12 till 3pm (show starts at 12.30pm). The exhibition runs till April 18. Register for free tickets at www.thejefagallery.com.

The Space Cowboy, aka Chayne Hultgren. Photo Jeff ‘Spaced But No Cow Or Boy’ Dawson

Dispatches from the polling booths

The Byron Shire Echo Volume 37 #42 • March 29, 2023

What did NSW Labor promise?

The most populous and prosperous state in Australia voted for slightly less sociopathic governance on Saturday!

Yay.

As for the difference of political style between the two major parties, reform and big ideas is Labor’s bag.

Yet, as we have witnessed after nearly a year of the federal Labor government, they are unified with Liberal-Nationals on massive military spends, and Labor are also conflicted with political donations from fossil fuel corporations. Such compromise makes reform hard.

NSW Labor’s priorities, according to their website www.freshstartplan.com.au, is to clean up the mess that was left for them.

It reads, ‘We’ll make NSW’s education system world-class again, rejuvenating our preschools, schools and TAFE. We’ll repair and rebuild our health system after 12 years of neglect… We’ll make good, sustainable housing attainable for buyers and renters. We’ll end the privatisation of our energy assets and create a state-owned Clean Energy Corporation to deliver cleaner and more reliable energy. We’ll build an economy that is resilient and works for people and small businesses –not the other way around’.

Locally, what is likely to happen, now that 12 years of LiberalNationals rule has lifted?

The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC), who are (clumsily) overseeing the rebuilding of the flood-damaged region, may finally be pulled into line and become more accountable. During the campaign, Labor’s candidate, Andrew Broadley, promised this.

As for social housing, Broadley said Labor would create a new agency called ‘Homes NSW’ to streamline and deliver social

housing across the state, along with a ‘build to rent program’ for essential workers.

The affordable housing SEPP will also hopefully be reviewed, so that it can actually provide real affordable housing.

Some other housing reforms announced will be abolishing, or reducing, stamp duty for 95 per cent of first home buyers, appointing a rental commissioner, and banning secret rent bidding.

Whether other draconian planning reforms by the former government will be repealed or reviewed is unclear – for example, the Rezoning Pathways Program (RPP), which bypasses council planning powers, came into force just before the election (see page 6).

Other NSW Labor promises include preventing future building on floodplains, and protecting State Significant Farmland as farmland, not as future housing.

But will NSW Labor stop logging native forests, given the alarming increase of deforestation and species loss, including the disappearing koalas?

Broadley replied to The Echo on this during the campaign with lots of motherhood statements, except the word ‘yes’.

Softwood and hardwood plantations across the state will be ‘supported’, he said.

‘We do need to move away from timber from native forests and ensure sufficient plantation timber sources are developed to support a transition plan that is able to supply materials for desperately needed housing and jobs for regional workers’.

Happy days ahead! Time for the electorate to forget about politics until the next election in four years.

Hans Lovejoy, editor

The political pendulum always swings, sometimes quite savagely, knocking out MPs. The late swing to Labor was detected a few days before the election by Newspoll.

Ballina Greens MP, Tamara Smith, was re-elected easily with an increased majority, despite a typically nasty smear by the Daily Telegraph. It had no effect.

This election once again proved the impotence of the Murdoch media in Australia.

Labor’s Janelle Saffin was easily re-elected in Lismore. She and Tamara have worked tirelessly in a multi-partisan way to assist their distressed constituents during these tragic times.

Hard-working, well-known incumbents certainly have an advantage.

Jo and I did our bit to help. We bowled up at 8am to hand out howto-votes at the Tintenbar Public School for the Greens and Animal Justice Party.

We were really impressed with how the entrance was festooned with Greens posters. They had a far more impressive presence than the other parties.

This was a relatively small booth with a majority of National Party voters.

Naturally, we were friendly with people distributing how-to-vote cards (HTVs) for other candidates. I stood out the front, flanked on my right by a woman working for Independent, Kevin Loughrey.

He had placed the Greens last on his preference list, and the Greens put him last.

On my left, was another woman handing out for Nationals candidate Josh Booyens, whose advice was to ‘Vote 1 only’ and not distribute preferences.

Despite having polar opposite political views, we had a friendly conversation for several hours and, why not, we all belong to the same community.

Incoming Premier, Chris Minns, said this peaceful election, with its ‘respect and civility’, was a model for the way democracy can be done

‘It was a very good result for Labor, but disastrous for the Liberals. The latter will need to do some deep soul-searching to work out what they really stand for’.

across the country.

I greeted some voters jokingly with ‘Welcome to the gauntlet!’ With others I was more circumspect. Some clearly didn’t want leaflets thrust at them. All three of us respected that.

A younger man grilled me on my views on chemtrails. I equivocated, not wishing to argue with him.

Then he started on the vaccine mandates. I told him to vote for the Independent, Kevin, whose views were very similar.

He talked about us being ‘communist’. I asked if a universal health care system is communist? Or whether paying unemployed people enough to live on is communist? I asked him what he thought communism was. He said lamely ‘What Stalin did’.

Honestly, I’ve no idea if hours of handing out HTVs influenced a single voter. Supposedly, about twenty per cent of voters decide on the actual day. It was illuminating to meet such a wide cross-section of our community. One rarely gets the chance to encounter people of such diverse opinions in a harmonious atmosphere.

We left there giving everyone a cheery wave, not knowing what was to come. A few hours later it was revealed that the swing was indeed on.

It was a very good result for Labor, but disastrous for the Liberals. The latter will need to do some deep soul-searching to work out what they really stand for.

Right now, they are literally dying out as a party. Their main strength is in what is called the interwar generation – those born between 1928 and 1945, in other words 77 years old and over. It doesn’t take a genius to work out

that doesn’t bode well for the future of the Liberal Party!

The Liberals will be lucky to end up with 21 out of 93 seats in the Legislative Assembly (lower house). It’s looking more and more like a minor party.

It will take several days to work out the final make-up of the Assembly. It’s likely that Chris Minns will have a working majority.

Half a million voted postal, and a quarter of all electors voted before election day.

Traditionally these late-counted votes tend to favour conservatives. It’s not impossible that some seats called for Labor will revert to the Coalition when counting is finalised.

The Legislative Council (upper house) will take much longer to finalise. There’s a good chance that the Greens and Jeremy Buckingham of Legalise Cannabis will hold the balance of power in the Legislative Council.

Perhaps then, we will finally get some action on cannabis reform. Premier Bob Carr failed by only a single vote in the Legislative Council to decriminalise cannabis in 1996.

Let’s hope the Minns government will prove a breath of fresh air and introduce many long-awaited reforms. It didn’t start well though.

As we were watching the results unfold, and it was obvious Labor had won on Saturday night, new Environment Minister, Penny Sharpe, said her government would ‘honour the contract’ for the giant new gas field at Narrabri, although she didn’t look comfortable saying so.

We’ll soon find out if we really do have a ‘fresh start’!

Richard Jones is a former NSW MP and is now a ceramist.

78 Bangalow Rd, Byron Bay 02 6685 6445

Richard Jones

Monthly market

Congratulations to all concerned on the successful relaunch of the Byron market held on the first Sunday of the month. However, as with all new initiatives, issues arise that redesign can improve. I would like to add the following points to what I assume will be an ongoing review of and conversation about the event.

1. Do not close Jonson St: the stalls on the street could easily be fitted into the other areas and in addition, the Rails and Information Centre car park should be used for stalls, not poorly signed parking.

2. More toilets: the existing toilets at the bus interchange and Railway Park were significantly inadequate for the number of people who attended.

3. The ‘food court’: the ambiance and connectivity of the food court and live music area opposite the train station must be improved to be similar to that of the former location.

Finally, I believe the market would be significantly better for all stakeholders if redesigned without the road closure.

Kevin Hunt

Byron

No dog problem – really?!

years here, has only ‘seen’ single digit dog numbers in no-dog zones! I wonder where he goes, because on my regular forays, I come across them, nearly every time!

I invite P. Lawrence to visit the dunes, reserves and non-dog beaches around South Golden Beach and Ocean Shores. You will undoubtedly see dogs offleash above the high tide line, off-leash in the dunes, paths and reserves, and see the ‘entitled’ few proudly dog-walking past the ends of dog zones. All are illegal!

The signage is clear, so ignorance seems to be the issue, as well as irresponsibility. One ‘dude’ recently told me that the nature reserve was a ‘dog reserve’! Some tell me that it’s okay for their dog to repeatedly chase and exhaust the surviving, resting shorebirds, as the dog never catches them!

Then read recent letters about local wildlife (and human) attacks by off-leash dogs.

Peasants revolt

So, let’s assume, for simpleton’s sake that the bread and butter of local council responsibilities is roads and garbage. Those living in Upper Main Arm for the last year have had roads that have been neglected and would fail a basic duty of care and or safety audit. Along with having tank water and their own sewage management in place, you have to ask yourself – what it is we are paying our rates for? So I suggest a 50 per cent reduction per annum in rates for these residents until basic maintenance has been carried out. It shouldn’t need direct action before Byron Council begrudgingly send a grader out to these roads, however, if that is the only course of action available to us then we will be dusting the banners off shortly and continuing to shout for a fair go. Peace.

Kol Dimond Main Arm

The Voice

Nations people in the world and the recent deaths in custody toll (there have been 516 deaths in custody since 1991) keeps rising despite ignored recommendations advised by the Nagle Report over 30 years ago! Shame Australia!

The faces of the pollies in the Coalition remain with pofaced-coat-hanger mouths and even the new glasses do not enhance the intelligence gene of Peter Dutton. They all have a problem with reading, more so Peter who advised the public during the demise of the queen that she had ‘also to endure an Anus Horriibilis year’. Well, Peter, think of us in voting land enduring your illiterate mob for years?

Jo Faith Newtown

Roof on Council land

After the floods, the wonderful folk of the One Roof Byron team identified an unoccupied, but apparently structurally sound dwelling on flood-free Council land. In September they presented a solid proposal to Council, offering to manage the dwelling for tenants needing affordable housing. Additionally they proposed to build and manage a number of affordable tiny homes that could be colocated on the large block, supporting the tenants with permaculture gardens. One Roof Byron has a solid track record on delivering affordable housing. It has built, and manages, one Tiny Home and also manages another house occupied by a family who would otherwise be homeless. Although ORB’s proposal was rejected,

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Bay

So, it is right that Heilpern seeks a solution. Unfortunately, enforcement of some kind should be urgently considered against the selfish few, to protect what little wildlife remains. After all, when was the last time you saw a wallaby in SGB/OS?

David Heilpern was recently roasted here by P. Lawrence, who sees ‘no problem’ with the issue of dogs on local beaches. Lawrence, in his 25

Oh, and thanks to the vast majority of dog owners who do the right thing every time.

Daniel Matthews South Golden Beach

A remarkable example of fortitude, graciousness, consciousness and generosity has been viewed this week with the First Nation people sharing the preparation of the required process to present the democraticallystructured Voice to parliament, a democratic document to enhance the Australian Constitution…. and all citizens.

Per capita Australia holds the most incarcerated First

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Cate Coorey

Mary Gardner, born in 1957, was the eldest daughter of Lithuanian refugees who fled to the US after the Russian annexation of Lithuania. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, often caring for her two younger siblings, especially after her parents separated. It left her with little time to follow her passion for ballet dancing, further inhibited when a car accident damaged her spine, causing her chronic pain.

Cleveland was a polluted, industrial city and Mary told me that the Cuyahoga River there caught fire often.

Reading Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring when she was young changed her life. It is no surprise that reviving water, and the things that live in it, has been the thread through the work of her life.

Mary started college in Boston, but surprised her family by dropping out to get married. Her daughter, Claire, was born in 1980. Two years later Mary left her husband and moved with Claire, first to Hawai’i and then, in 1984, to New Zealand.

In New Zealand, Mary completed her Bachelor of Science and then a Masters of Science; her thesis was about the effect of ocean pollution on shellfish.

Rachel Carson had a devoted disciple.

In Auckland, Mary spearheaded a group that achieved legal enforcement of a customary rāhui that prohibited the collection of shellfish at Kare Kare beach near Auckland, and later other beaches. For several years Mary taught biology at Otago University.

In 2007 Mary came to Australia and visited Byron Bay. She felt she had found her place – and people – and stayed. It didn’t take long before she got involved in protecting the local environment.

From 2007, until she became too unwell, Mary wrote a column for The Echo – deftly and effortlessly drawing together her vast knowledge of science, music, literature, Indigenous culture and so much more. She gave us a prism through which we could see

light, split into a rainbow spectrum, like Mary saw it and, in that revelation, look at our world with greater love and a desire to care.

Mary loved to snorkel and, introduced to each other via their mutual friend, Mungo MacCallum, she met Jim Beatson. She invited him to join her snorkelling and a spark was lit – under water! They married in 2016

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and together hosted many legendary gatherings filled with ideas, debates, laughter, food and friendship.

Mary’s love of our local waterways and all that lived in them became the point at which she and I connected. She was extremely concerned about the proposed development of West Byron that threatens to impact the koala population that lives on the site, Belongil Creek and Cape Byron Marine Park. She was tireless during that campaign and her eloquence about the ecology of the site was persuasive. As an activist she was both an intellectual and heartfelt campaigner.

Mary created an organisation, Caring for Water Places, and enthused the many who joined her in this passion. She was especially insistent that we needed to look at waterways the way traditional owners do. Whilst much has been written about Indigenous cultural fire practices, Mary was first person I knew who stressed how important it was for the future that we take heed of Indigenous water culture.

Dr Mary

Please note that it is free to use this area.

Mary undertook her doctoral studies at Southern Cross University and was awarded her PhD in 2016. Her thesis, titled A socioecological marine history of east Australian subtropics, was a unique cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary work that, unusually for many academic theses, is also enjoyable and interesting reading. She achieved high praise from her examiners.

shapes this place. Because of her, Byron Shire now has a Water Sensitive Urban Design Policy, another layer of protection in this precious water place.

Last year, Mary’s friends and dedicated followers set up the Byron Coastal and ICOLL (Intermittently Closed and Open Lake Lagoon;, such as at Belongil and Tallow Creeks) Centre – the realisation of Mary’s vision to have a dedicated coastal environmental organisation. Had she been well enough, she would have been the figurehead, parting the ocean spray.

In 2020, Mary and Jim moved to Kandanga in the Mary Valley, Queensland, to be near Claire, her husband David and their son Zachary. Despite the limitations of her illness, she had a joyous time with her grandson – it was a meeting of minds, as Mary never lost the excitement and curiosity that children possess.

Mary’s milestones and only some of her

achievements have been noted here, but of course that is not her life, not really. How to describe the character of one so enigmatic?

Mary had so many very good friends, it is an honour for me to be writing this obituary. But it is a challenge to constrain Mary’s life to a few columns. Like her namesake in The Sound of Music, ‘how do you catch a cloud and pin it down?’.

All of Mary’s friends report joyous and enriching encounters with her, yet that similarity doesn’t diminish the individuality of each experience – how she was with her friends was universally Mary, yet particular, and therefore so special, to each of us.

Mary really saw us all. She also showed us how to look.

Mary died of a blood cancer, at home, on 19 March in the care of Jim, her daughter Claire and her family. Many of her friends were able to visit Mary in her last few weeks. She was also fortunate to have her sister, Rose whom she had not seen for 30 years visit her from the US in her last days.

In memory of Mary

A memorial for Mary is planned in Byron for the afternoon of 22 April. Save the date, details to come.

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We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and co-operation. We look forward to celebrating our 34th year

Mary’s influence on me as a local activist, and later councillor, was profound –she opened my eyes to how water courses through and

Mary’s articles can found under the heading ‘Tangle Of Life’ in The Echo’s online archives at www.echo.net.au/category/articles/ tangle-of-life.

Mary Gardner 1957–2023. Photo Jeff Dawson

Mary and Jim were married in Byron Bay in 2016.

Photo supplied

Council gave the following positive undertakings.

First, that Council will audit its owned or managed properties (many more than the one identified by ORB) for use as crisis and transitional accommodation.

Second, that Council will streamline their processes for considering Temporary Supported Accommodation on Council land, in line with amendments to State Environmental Planning Policy. As we all know, there is still a huge unmet need for affordable housing in Byron Shire. In these times of fastgrowing and changing crises, creative, ‘can do’ local initiatives are often able to move faster and more responsively than less adaptable bureaucracies. It’s time for all our bureaucracies to simplify, streamline, ‘think outside of boxes’ and become supportive partners.

Six months have passed since Council gave the above welcome undertakings. Let’s hear some progress!

Bobbi Allan Mullumbimby

Pet-friendly accommodation

As a flood refugee, flushed out of my home in March 2022, living in Qld and still unable to return to my homelands of 12 years, the Byron Shire, the main problem is not just the lack of affordable housing, but the lack of pet-friendly accommodation.

It is heart-wrenching to read ad after ad that ends with the same words ‘no pets’.

Apparently animal rescue services are bursting at the seams with the constant surge of cats and dogs having to be given up so that families can secure a roof over their heads.

I am wondering if The Echo would consider running a story on this topic and shining a light on an area of life that has become so out of balance and a major cause of distress and heartbreak for many.

The Byron Shire prides itself on being both environmentally and community focused with a sense of inclusion, but the ‘no pets’ policy does not tick any of those three boxes.

Emma Lees Bundamba, Qld

Why not?

Will the disused/ wasted rail line from Byron to Bangalow be ready for cyclists in August now that the Writers Festival is in Bangalow?!

Also, why can’t we ride into Byron from Lilly Pilly at least?

Wally

Hueneke

Byron

Bay

AUKUS submarines

The federal government has allocated up to 368 billion dollars in order to acquire three secondhand nuclear submarines from the USA by the mid-thirties, followed by a further eight purposebuilt subs by 2050. To put that into perspective, the expenditure equates to 33.5 million dollars spent daily for 30 years! Is this a socially responsible expenditure of Australian taxpayers’ money? I somehow doubt it.

Richard Holloway Pottsville

Submarines

Every non-partisan commentator agrees that the promised subs will be obsolete by the time they are delivered. It is likely, by this time, submarines will be unmanned underwater drones equipped with AI.

Richard Marles assures us that the deal involves no automatic support for American wars. You can only be sceptical, if not cynical, about the claim. There was possibly some justification for entering the Korean War, but very little justification for entering the Vietnam, Iraq or Afghan wars, except to support a world bully in the hope that the bully would, in turn, support us. In the past there used to be talk of Australia as the Switzerland of the south Pacific. Unfortunately this no longer possible, due to Pine Gap and all the American military and naval bases now established in Australia, all of which makes Australia more of a target for any hostile government rather than providing protection.

David Gilet Byron Bay

Sidestep

Congratulations to Valley and her crew for the fun Sidestep festival. It was an incredible free community event, full of local artists, next to the river in Banner Park in Bruns.

But after spending a few hours there on both days, it became glaringly obvious that there was something missing – trees and their shade. Now that the river bank has been remediated, it’s time to replant the trees. Maybe time to replant some trees endemic to the area. Decolonise and regenerate in one easy step.

Petrina Hutchinson Brunswick Heads

Invisible hand

Congratulations on another wonderful recnt edition of The Echo full of inspiring pages displaying the wonders of consumer capitalism and the free market.

Three large music festivals with international musicians requiring huge inputs of capital, organisation and technology were advertised. Six beautiful pages extolling the bliss of private property and the brilliance of the banking industry that helps us to own our own part of paradise. The majority of The Echo is dedicated to all those small business owners selling their music, their art, their skill and experience in preparing and selling delicious food in restaurants and clubs, their ability to promote health and wellness through many modalities, and this all happens through the capitalist free market and advertising their wares in the media – such as The Echo

This edition also demonstrates the marriage of democracy and the pres with four pages of advertisements by political parties explaining why voters should elect their candidates in the weekend state elections. Our system is so brilliant that payments for these paeans to capitalism allow The Echo to continue being printed, to pay the wages of its workers and to provide profits to its owners and give social discontents a chance to publicise their views.

A win-win all around.

Tom Gubler Murwillumbah

Mea culpa

I want to offer my heartfelt apologies to the gentleman who was volunteering on behalf of the Independent candidate for Ballina at Ocean Shores Community Centre on Saturday. I let rip very loudly with some vile language, after which I felt immensely ashamed and disgusted with myself. This gentleman was doing his civic duty with grace and composure and did not deserve the treatment he got from me. In my volunteer work, I have never been subjected to the treatment I doled out to him. Volunteers deserve respect (though in this instance I exclude myself here), not scorn. There are no excuses. I wish the gentleman well and offer him my respect for his restraint.

Deirdre Stewart Ocean Shores

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Palestine’s voice

Much is heard currently about the Voice for our Indigenous people, which is a very welcome and urgent initiative seeking to redress centuries of racist abuse. At the recent Melbourne Palestine Solidarity Conference, Aboriginal and Palestinian flags draped together and Aboriginal voices were raised in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for an end to Israeli occupation.

We look forward to the time when the voice of Palestine can be heard in Australia and not strangled, as it was in 2017 when Palestinian activist Bassem Tamimi had his visa revoked just hours before departure.

The Department of Immigration stated that, ‘... there is a risk that his presence in Australia would or might pose a risk to the good order

of the Australian community.’

Both Aborigines and Palestinians are engaged in a struggle against colonialism. It is well past time for Australia to stop supporting Israeli apartheid and to honour the Australians who put their signatures to Amnesty International’s petition, signed by more than 200,000 people in 174 countries and delivered to Mr Netanyahu on March 21, which date commemorates annually the 69 peaceful antiapartheid protesters who were killed by South African police on 21 March 1960.

Gareth W R Smith

Byron Bay

Clogged rivers

The photo accompanying your article on dredging rivers last week clearly shows some of the problems causing flooding north of the Brunswick River.

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The historic man-made design in Marshalls Creek and the ocean end of the Brunswick River show a jigsaw of rock walls that have drastically changed the way water and sediment move over time. This has impacted Brunswick Heads, Billinudgel, Ocean Shores, New Brighton and South Golden Beach, and will continue to do so.

I don’t know the historical origin of the rock works, but I guess it was to create a ‘safer’ place for human dwellings and for boating. Your photo shows two aspects that are glaringly problematic. The bar is known to boaties as one of the worst to navigate on the east coast of NSW, being very narrow and siltladen. I have seen several boats smashed to pieces there.

And further, why was the rock wall or weir across the mouth of Marshalls Creek built decades ago? Maybe for oyster farming? It prevents floodwaters upstream along the north coastline from exiting to the ocean quickly. I remember a conversation with some North Head locals. We needed a ‘rock party’ i.e. a bunch of us to remove that rock dam one moonlit night! Never happened, sorry to say. But in the photo you can see a swelling lake behind the dam and the narrow outlet for all of Marshalls Creek on the upstream end of the island. Not ideal when there’s a torrent coming downstream.

Check BV Flood History online for some background. And maybe Cr Duncan Dey could put his hydrological expertise to the task.

Henrietta Fraser Ocean Shores

Search for meaning

the senate by channelling wide dissatisfaction with the Dutch government, in a sharp challenge to Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s administration.

Some Dutch voters said they viewed the party’s success as a victory against the country’s elites as well as government. The voters rebelled against proposed government takeovers of farms, allegedly to reduce the output of nitrogen. A misguided leftist green agenda pushed by the socialist government.

They are too stupid to realise the farmers feed their nation, a typical socialist green oversight we are so used to witnessing. There is a huge message here that our own socialist government should heed, good honest hard working farming people will only take so much before striking back. An example of the next battle will be Albo and his misguided rabble of socialist Greens ordering farmers to reduce methane levels on their properties.

G MacDonald Pimlico

Real victims

Animals are still suffering and dying on live export ships and in foreign slaughterhouses. More than 200 million animals have been crammed onto filthy cargo ships over the last 30 years, and more than 2.5 million of them died on the journey, before the others had their throats slit in filthy markets abroad. Each one was an individual who experienced fear and pain.

have shown continuing abuse, including the release of footage in 2018 on 60 Minutes showing sheep panting and heat-stricken, lying in piles of their own faeces and the decaying bodies of their flockmates. Yet the torture continues, despite overwhelming public demands that the business be halted.

The real victims of this inhumane industry are not the corporations but the cattle and sheep who continue to suffer and die. It’s well over time to ban live export for good.

Desmond Bellamy PETA Australia

War pollution

The UK is sending uraniumtipped weapons to Ukraine in a move that will contaminate that food growing area for many thousands of years. Our enemy has responded by stating that, ‘if they send uranium to us, we will send uranium back to them’.

the world’s working population. That says something about the direction we’ve taken as a society – good or bad – it’s what we’ve become. I would argue it’s grown from the need to selfsustain rather than relying on corporate behemoths that have little care for individual need. We’ve taken to taking care of ourselves.

Isn’t it fair and just that a person be able to provide the much-needed service of temporary housing for vacationers and travellers throughout the region – using their personal asset to enrich their service staff, local shops and restaurants and, dare I say, themselves?

The news that Gardabaer has won the Icelandic Team Championship might be considered news unlikely to feature in an Australian chess column.

However, Gardabaer – a tiny town of 13,000 but home to the only Ikea in Iceland! – has been recruiting Australians for two decades, and success finally arrived last weekend with an Australian Olympian playing a key role in the club’s victory.

In 2000, Gardabaer’s Johann Ragnarsson, a local player with a handball pedigree, invited myself and my wife Cathy, to try to help Gardabaer avoid relegation to second division, and from there Ragnarsson’s black book of Aussie contacts began to grow.

Over the next years Ragnarsson added Australian Olympic captain Manuel Weeks, rising star John-Paul Wallace, and even talent-spotted a 15-year-old Zhao Zong Yuan. (Zhao’s great rival David Smerdon came to Gardabaer soon afterwards but fate conspired against him taking a board.) A teenage Moulthun Ly, like Smerdon and Zhao, not yet a Grandmaster when first recruited, also appeared for Gardabaer.

In more recent times, Chennai 2022 Olympian Justin Tan has become a Gardabaer mainstay. Tan has been Europe-based for over a decade and this has enabled him to

make more appearances for the club than any other Australian.

The culmination of the 2022/23 season saw Gardabaer and their Reykjavik rivals Víkingaklúbburinn meeting in the final round. Víkingaklúbburinn led 49-47, so Gardabaer needed at least 5.5 points from the final eight games to take the title.

This seemed an impossible task against an opponent boasting four GMs and three International Masters, but Tan showed the way with a decisive win in just two and a half hours.

What followed was a rout, an astonishing 7.5-0.5 win for Gardabaer, with only Polish GM Grezgorz Gajewski holding a draw on board one for Víkingaklúbburinn.

Kvika ISD Team Championship 2023

White: J Tan Black: B Thorfinnsson

Opening: Semi-Slav Defence

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 c6?!

This does not work well with Black’s previous move. 5.e4! dxe4 6.Nxe4 Nf6 7.Bd3

Nxe4 8.Bxe4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Qa5 10.0-0 Bxd2

Nd7 15.Nc4 Nf6 Black could exchange the White knight should it land on d6, so Tan stays patient. 16.Rfe1 Bd7 17.Rad1 Rb8 18.Bf3 b6

19.Rd3 Qc7 20.Qd2 Nd5 21.Nd6! Qd8 22.b3

a5 23.Bxd5! cxd5

Bc6 White now builds up his attack. 25.a3 Qf6

27.Qh6 Bd7? 27...f6 was necessary, although after 28.Rg3 and 29.h4, Black is in big trouble.

28.Nf5!! 1-0 After 28...Qf6, 29.Rh3 is decisive.

meet at Byron Bay Services Club, Sat 2.30pm and Mon 5pm

A sentence that is grammatically and syntactically perfect can be utterly devoid of meaning – utter nonsense, in other words.

Take the old classic ‘The colourless green ideas sleep furiously’; then take ‘music in the soul can be heard by the universe’, recently printed in The Echo

Meaningless is patent in both in both sentences, I wonder if Echo readers may come across others.

Jim Rose Mullumbimby

Inconvenient truth

You will not hear much about the following information in the so called mainstream Aussie media as this is a very, very inconvenient truth. A small pro-farmers party has swept provincial elections in the Netherlands to become the biggest in

Yet some stories this week are reporting the whinges of the corporations that make huge profits from this vile trade, the ones that sued the government for putting a hold on exports of four short weeks in 2011. These corporations are now demanding ‘damages’ of over a billion dollars from Australian taxpayers, a sum likely to hit two billion with interest payments.

Those who watched the Four Corners exposé a dozen years ago will never forget the horrific scenes of Australian cattle being subjected to appalling brutality in Indonesian slaughterhouses. We saw animals pulled down with ropes or stuffed into ‘restraint boxes’ supplied by Meat & Livestock Australia, then killed with seemingly blunt knives while fully conscious. One of the most telling scenes was of a steer, named Tommy, who stood trembling in fear as he waited for the same fate he was watching other animals endure. Regular exposés

When our allies sent depleted uranium to Fallujah in 2003, the consequence was that some women’s babies were born with two heads, other babies had their legs fused together like mermaids’ tails, yet others were covered in ‘snakeskin’, some had blood cancer and many had invisible neurological disorders and problems with their internal organs. It seems that much of the food grown in that vast breadbasket will become contaminated for thousands of years to come and one would obviously expect to see similar birth defects, in European babies, whose mothers eat depleted uranium contaminated food. Remember that food label: ‘product of various countries’.

Peter Olson Goonengerry

Airbnb

I need enlightenment on this Airbnb thing. I hear the argument to limit and constrain homeowners from subletting their property for temporary housing, and believe it’s misguided and even dangerous. It harkens back to the ill-fated remarks: ‘Sure, I believe in free speech, to a point.’

Is it the desire of Byron Shire to limit themselves (or rather, others) of a fair market opportunity to capitalise on their personal property? Rather, opting for said property to be delegated to long-term rental – thus shoring up the lack of affordable housing?

See, this is where I start to get lost… in a world where we’ve all become our own brand, the gig economy has risen to nearly one-third of

Temporary accommodation platforms allow the host to dial-in a market price based on scenarios including, most importantly, demand. Hosts meet the demand, including pricing, amenities and length of stay by allocating the use of their personal property with mitigated risk. This short-term, mutual, well vetted agreement is a win-win for both parties. And, clearly for all of us.

These same temporary dwellers are usually here for a reason – to spend money in local shops, restaurants, venues – where their money contributes to the local economy. The turnover is quick and the cycle starts again. The flow of a featurerich destination, which has created this tourist mecca. Are we no longer interested in tourism? If they’re not rocking up in a caravan, where will these vacationers stay? In tents on our beaches? Off the side of the road? Would we rather build a mega-sized Hilton nearby?

The same government that has not provided the region’s necessary affordable housing is the same government telling you to turn your own house into the solution? Is this not somehow backwards and self-serving?

I humbly suggest that the affordable housing issue be solved by a wealthy government (whose salaries are paid by their constituents in exchange for representing their best interests) and not by those who wish to capitalise on their personal decision to join the world’s gig economy.

If it’s not a ‘war on the rich’ then what is it? Why have we directed the issue at homeowners and not the core of the issue itself – the affordable housing crisis? Solve that one and the argument to disallow or limit Airbnbs goes away.

Brian Wittman Ocean Shores

CHESS by Ian Rogers

Cooler year ‘reprieve’ but trends continue, says Australia’s Environment Report

Satellite data suggests we might have a bit of leeway.

Cosmos Magazine

The latest annual report on the state of Australia’s environment has suggested that 2022’s higher than average rainfall could provide ‘a reprieve’ for Australia and better enable it to cope with the forecast 2023 dry spell.

However, the report from the Australian National University (ANU) also highlights that overall, climate change, biodiversity loss and our greenhouse gas emissions are still on a worrying trend.

‘What’s good about this last year is that at least we had a temporary reprieve,’ lead author, ANU Professor Albert Van Dijk, told Cosmos Science

‘Nature got a drink and can hopefully survive some bad years… it could have been so much worse.’

Environmental indicators

Every year, the team – led by Van Dijk – analyse satellite and field data to calculate 15 environmental indicators.

Overall, in 2020, the national score was high (8.7 out of 10) because of an increase in water availability, plant growth and soil conditions.

‘My specialty is in how to use observations – satellite and on ground – to monitor our environment, natural resources and natural

hazards,’ Van Dijk told Cosmos Science

‘With satellites, we can look at everything from rainfall to soil cover, significant vegetation, we can map tree cover. We can see what is being flooded –what was being inundated in terms of wetlands and floodplains.’

The team found that the amount of biomass burnt was almost 50 per cent down compared to the 20002021 average conditions, and rainfall, river flows, wetland area and plant growth were all up.

Bruns’ Best Day Out Is Back!

Mullum2Bruns is on again for another fun day on the Brunswick River, beginning at Heritage Park in Mullumbimby and ending at the Terrace Park in Brunswick Heads, a distance of 10km.

There’s something for everyone:

Challenges: Competitive events, drawing top athletes from all over Australia (and plenty of locals too) with valuable prizes to be won

Fun Paddle: Bring along any non-motorised with family and friends

Dragon Boat Flotilla: Quite a spectacle – and not something you see every day!

Plus: community food stalls

The event raises funds for three local groups:

Early Bird Registration

Save $$ on standard online entry prices if you register at mullum2brunspaddle.com.au before April 19. It’s quick and easy.

Principal Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

www.mullum2brunspaddle.com.au

On the rise

However, the number of threatened species rose, and Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions have begun rising again. The report notes that per person, Australia’s emissions are 2.8 times the UK’s and seven times India’s.

‘Things are rapidly getting out of hand. Temperatures are going up and it’s getting a lot drier, but thanks to La Nina, we didn’t really experience that this year in Australia,’ Van Dijk said.

‘So, a reprieve, but the underlying issues obviously

haven’t gone away – especially climate change, it is very clear and present.’

Faster action

For what you can do about both biodiversity and climate change, Van Dijk says the most effective thing to do is talk to their local politicians to take faster action.

‘The average person should be pressuring their representatives to act faster on emissions and to put more pressure on internationally for other countries to also

reduce emissions. I think that’s the single biggest problem that we face,’ he says.

‘We really need to fix some of the ways that electricity is being generated, not only how much we use. And we really need to change zoning laws and protection of species, and so a lot of it comes down to regulation.

‘None of us really likes [regulation], but that’s the only way that we can protect the environment, because the environment doesn’t have its own voice.’

Byron enjoys celebrating Harmony Week

Harmony Week saw a range of celebrations taking place across Byron; from Byron High’s Harmony Day Concert to the Harmony Lantern Parade on Saturday.

‘About half of Australia’s citizens were born overseas or have a parent from overseas. Our nation comprises more than 200

countries of origin, claiming 300 spoken languages,’ explained the organisers of Byron’s World Music Lantern Parade, Byron Multicultural Inc.

Celebrating the diversity of Australia there was a great lineup of music, dance and rhythms including Byron’s Taiko drummers. Dozens of

families paraded up Jonson Street to celebrate to the delight of the spectators of who lined the footpaths.

Harmony concert

The Harmony Day Concert at Byron High last week also brought together student

musical performers, and enthusiastic classmate audiences.

‘There’s nothing like giving a platform to great musicians, and putting on a show for the eager school population,’ concert organiser, Luca Greig, said.

Tala, Salix, Logan and Charlie putting the finishing touches to the lanterns they were preparing for last Saturday evening’s Harmony Parade.

Zephyr Penhaligon Breeze, Luca Greig, Stu Black and Dylan Buckley at Byron High’s Harmony Day Concert.

Photos Jeff Dawson

Graphics from Australia’s Environment 2022 Report

Call for Labor government to reinstate logging moratorium – now

Aslan Shand

There is no doubt that we need to take action to reduce the impacts of climate change and there are clear ways to move forward on this. One is preserving our native forests, an action that has multiple positive outcomes from carbon capture to helping endangered species survive. Yet our governments and their various bureaucratic arms seem unwilling to move quickly and effectively on this, which has seen frustrated Australian’s taking to the forest canopy, to the courts, and to the media to keep the pressure on for action.

Months of actions across the state forests of NSW have seen logging delayed as court cases progress and activist head to the treetops. And while they are not all successful, with the election of a Labor NSW state government many are holding their breath in hope for swift action.

However, North East Forest Alliance’s (NEFA) Dailan Pugh has pointed out that a Minns NSW Labor government has given no commitment to quick and decisive action on behalf of our forests.

‘Their whole attitude is to go slow,’ Mr Pugh told The Echo

‘They haven’t agreed to a moratorium on logging areas like Doubleduke and the Bulga State Forests or the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) and they are saying it will be four years before they create the GKNP.’

Exclusion zones removed

The Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA) had put in place a number of site-specific conditions, that required various additional measures to reduce impacts, including protection of all hollow-bearing trees and all mapped unburnt and partially burnt areas of Doubleduke State Forest, west of Evans Head, when the NSW Forestry Corporation sought to log Doubleduke State Forest a few months after the Blacksummer fires in 2019-20.

‘This effectively required logging to be excluded from a large area of mature and oldgrowth forest in the Lower Slopes Road valley in Doubleduke State Forest,’ explained Mr Pugh.

The EPA protections have expired and the EPA has refused to reinstate those protections.

‘The EPA were advised by their own experts that logging prohibitions on the remaining unburnt and lightly burnt forests within the firegrounds needed to be maintained for at least 20 years. After a year the EPA removed all the post-fire protections, allowing the Forestry Corporation to revert to the pre-fire logging conditions as if nothing had happened.

‘This vital fire refuge in Doubleduke State Forest has now been roaded and is about to be logged,’ said Mr Pugh.

‘The EPA have told us that their 2020 site-specific operating condition that required protection of the Gully of the Giants in Doubleduke as a fire refuge has lapsed and it can only be reinstated by the EPA at the specific request of the Forestry Corporation of NSW.

EPA required to consider climate change

‘The EPA have a legal obligation to “protect, restore and enhance the quality of the environment in New South Wales”, yet they decided to remove restrictions on logging in burnt forests, despite the massive impacts resulting in koala and southern greater glider being up-listed to “endangered”.

GKNP

The North East Forest Alliance welcomes the election of the Minns Labor government with their promise to create a Great Koala National Park, and calls for a moratorium on logging within the park proposal until the promised assessment is complete.

‘The Forestry Corporation is targeting the proposed Great Koala National Park in smash and grab operations to extract as much timber as they can, while they can.’

‘In Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action Incorporated v Environment Protection Authority [2021] NSWLEC 92 it was clearly established that the EPA have a duty to consider climate change, yet they have made no attempt to change the logging rules to account for its growing impacts.

‘NEFA considers the EPA’s removal of all additional restrictions on logging of burnt forests a dereliction of duty.’

‘They [the NSW Forestry Corporation] have been removing thousands of koala feed trees from one of the best koala strongholds in NSW, compounding the impacts of the 2019–20 wildfires and causing immense damage to endangered koala populations.

‘To avoid compromising the integrity of the Labor government’s assessment process this vandalism needs to stop.

‘We look forward to working constructively with the new government to ensure a comprehensive and robust review of the Great Koala National Park is undertaken,’ Mr Pugh said.

Val Marsh, Lyn Murray, Judy Anning, Patron – Phil Govett, Life Member – Janet Hoffman, Kaye King, Ros Mclean, Joan Mills, and Di Boyd. Photo Jeff Dawson.

Ocean Shores Women’s Golf Club celebrated it’s 50th anniversary last week. Past and present members, including Joan Mills who is 102 years young, enjoyed memorabilia and stories. Joan was vice president and president, from 1976 to 1980.

Locals gather to protect Doubleduke State Forest.

Photos supplied

Save Banyabba’s Koalas Valerie Thompson treesitting to protect the Gully of the Giants at Doubleduke State Forest.

Eateries Guide Good Taste

BYRON BAY

The Rocks

Brunch

6.30am–2pm, every day

16 Lawson St, Byron Bay 6685 7663

Menus at therocksbyronbay.com.au

@therocksbyronbay

KARKALLA Byron Bay

Native Indigenous Restaurant  Cnr of Bay Lane & Fletcher St, Byron Bay 5614 8656

Barrio Eatery & Bar

1 Porter Street, North Byron Mon–Tues: 7am–3pm Wed–Sat: 7am–10pm www.barriobyronbay.com.au

@barriobyronbay 0411 323 165

Wahlburgers

Byron Bay

American style burger restaurant & sports bar

Upstairs at Mercato on Byron, Jonson Street. www.Wahlburgers.com.au

North Byron Hotel

61 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay Ph 6685 6500

Kitchen open Sun-Thu 11.30am8.30pm / Fri & Sat 11.30am-9.30pm Bar open daily 11.30am-late Bottleshop open daily 10am-8pm hello@northbyronhotel.com.au

The Rocks

We have a range of freshly sourced dishes, Reverence coffee, and hand-made juices and smoothies at locals prices. Fully licensed, all-day brunch and happy hour from 11am. Check out our new dishes on Instagram!

Food with history, story & connection DINNER, THURSDAY–MONDAY

Early sitting from 5pm | Second sitting from 7.30pm Bookings highly recommended, via our website www.karkalla.com.au | @karkallabyronbay For exclusive events & catering please contact us via our website.

Barrio brings together the local community in a relaxed environment for all-day dining.

The wood-fired oven and open-flame grill is the heart of the restaurant.

Keep an eye on socials for daily specials.

Now open for Sunday lunch from 11.30am–3pm

American & local sports played live Family Offer Buy 1 kids meal, get 1 free. $8 after 8 $8 drinks from 8pm Thur–Sun.

Live music Fri–Sun.

Open 11am to 9pm daily – dine-in or takeaway.

Step away from the centre of town and into a shimmering oasis away from crowds.

A tucked away treasure, the North Byron Hotel is a thriving mecca of good food, great music, laughter and the ‘chilled Byron Bay vibes’.

Eat Drink Discover

HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY 5–6PM

Local DJ – Friday & Saturday nights, from 6pm $12 Margarita / Lychee Martini

Main Street

Open for takeaway daily, 12 midday until dinner.

Menu, more details –@mainstreet_burgerbar

18 Jonson Street 6680 8832

Success Thai

Open Lunch Wed–Fri 12–2.30pm.

Dinner Mon–Sat 5–8pm.

Closed Sunday 3/31 Lawson St, Byron Bay www.facebook.com/ pages/Success-ThaiFood/237359826303469

BANGALOW

Open for takeaway daily, 12 midday until dinner. Menu and more details

@mainstreet_burgerbar

‘Make a meal of it’

Add chips and a drink, just $5.

All your favourites, every lunch and dinner. Experienced Thai chefs cooking fresh, delicious Thai food for you. BYO only.

Welcome for lunch, dinner and takeaway. Menus available on Facebook.

Bangalow Bread Co.

12 Byron St, Bangalow 6am–3pm weekdays. 7am–2pm weekends. 6687 1209 www.bangalowbread.co info@bangalowbread.co

MULLUMBIMBY Yaman

Mullumbimby 62 Stuart St, Mullumbimby 6684 3778 www.yamanmullumbimby.com.au

Open 7 days from 9am–8pm Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

The Empire 20 Burringbar St, Mullum 6684 2306 Open for brunch and lunch FB/Insta: EmpireMullum empiremullum.com.au Online orders: mryum.com/theempire

5pm

Loft Byron Bay 4 Jonson Street, Byron Bay 6680 9183

Book online: www.loftbyronbay.com.au

The Italian Byron Bay

21, 108 Jonson St, Byron Bay

Open Monday to Saturday 5.30pm to late 5633 1216 www.theitalianbyronbay.com

Legend Pizza

Serving Byron Bay for 30 years. Open 7 days. Delivery from Suffolk to Ewingsdale.

2/3 Marvell Street, Byron Bay 6685 5700 www.legendpizza.com.au

$8 Tap Beers / $7 Natural Wines Book online via website nobonesbyronbay.com.au

#BRUSSELSNOTBEEF

Signature cocktails, and casual dining with ocean views.

Happy Hour | Daily from 4–6pm $6 Loft beer or wine, $10 Aperol Spritz, $14 Margarita & $2.50 fresh oysters

Espresso Martini Nights | Every day 9pm – close 2 for $25 Classic Espresso Martini.

Open weekdays from 4pm and weekends from noon

The Italian Byron Bay provides a bustling, atmospheric restaurant, dishing up contemporary inspired Italian cuisine and some of Byron’s finest cocktails and wines.

OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY. BOOKINGS CAN BE MADE BY PHONE OR THROUGH OUR WEBSITE. WALK-INS VERY WELCOME.

Byron’s Freshest Pizza

Order online and join our loyalty program.

Catering for up to 100 people lunch and dinner.

BYO

Locally owned and operated. Scan code for menu.

NEWRYBAR Harvest

18–22 Old Pacific Highway Newrybar NSW 2479 02 6687 2644 www.harvest.com.au @harvestnewrybar

No Bones, Little vegan kitchen and bar 84 Rajah Rd, Ocean Shores OPEN TUES–SUN from midday until 8pm noboneslittle.com 0422 355 928

CATERING

CELEBRATIONS BY LIZ JACKSON

Celebrations

Cakes by Liz Jackson

Stone baked sourdough, hand rolled pastries, small batch pies, house made cakes. Your local artisan bakery, specialising in all things sourdough. Serving Old Quarter coffee along with freshly made sandwiches using our own sourdough bread, hand rolled pastries, award winning pies and a variety of house made cakes.

Coffee, malawach rolls, pita pockets, falafel, traditional Yemenite spices and all your favourites, always freshly made. Drop in for an authentic atmosphere. Dine-in or takeaway.

Something for all tastes, from epic burgers to vegan delights. Enjoy delectable treats and good vibes at this Mullum icon. Order

COFFEE CART 7 days | 6.30am–3.00pm RESTAURANT Lunch | Wed–Sun | 12–2.30pm Dinner | Fri & Sat | 5.30–8.30pm DELI 7 days | 7.30am–3.30pm

NO BONES OCEAN SHORES

$5 TACO TUESDAY every tuesday from midday til 8pm HAPPY HOUR 5–6PM

$12 COCKTAILS / $7 WINE / $6 BEER Order online via our website noboneslittle.com

E: lizzijjackson@gmail.com

P: 0414 895 441

GLUTEN FREE AND SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS CATERED FOR

More tasty morsels at

BANGALOW BREAD CO.

BYRON BAY continued

OCEAN SHORES

Good Life

The past three years have been a fairly challenging time for the Byron tourism Industry, after fires, floods, and a pandemic. According to local tourism organisation, Destination Byron, now seems the right time to rethink the tourism paradigm for Byron.

Destination Byron have made the first step towards a ‘regenerative tourism’ future by creating a Byron Regenerative Tourism Workshop, to start a conversation on how local tourism can make a positive impact on the environment and community.

According to Destination Byron, regenerative tourism is a good fit for Byron as it is an innovative approach to travel that goes beyond sustainability to actively enhance and restore the natural environment and communities that tourists visit. It seeks to create a positive impact on the local economy, social systems, and ecological wellbeing of a destination, while also providing a meaningful and transformative experience for travellers.

Regenerative tourism is based on the principle of giving back more than what is taken, by working with local communities to regenerate degraded ecosystems, support local cultures and economies, and preserve

natural resources. It is an exciting and rapidly growing movement that aims to create a more sustainable and equitable future for both travellers and the places they visit.

The Byron Regenerative Tourism Workshop will take place on 26 April, 2023, at Crystalbrook Byron, 12.30–4.30pm. The workshop is aimed at exploring regenerative tourism as a means of creating sustainable and resilient tourism for Byron.

The workshop will be facilitated by Dr Dianne Dredge, Director of the Tourism CoLab, Australia’s most notable experts in Regenerative Tourism. Crystalbrook Byron have kindly donated the space for the event and a $250 voucher for Forest restaurant as a lucky door prize.

Everyone is invited, but places are limited so bookings are essential.

Byron Regenerative Tourism Workshop, Wednesday 26 April, 12.30–4.30pm, Crystalbrook Byron, 77-97 Broken Head Road Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/ byron-regenerative-tourism-workshop

These long hot golden days are lulling us into the belief that summer will go on forever – but our produce knows better. Apples and pears are coming into their own – from late February through to July is when they shine – so regardless of the weather it’s time to crunch into the former and sink teeth into the silky, creamy smoothness of the latter.

At the farmers’ markets, both the Costanzo and the McMahon stalls are the places to go. The Stanthorpe region is the base for both these family farms, where they grow Pink Ladies and Granny Smiths, Fujis and Royal Galas, Delicious and Jonathons amongst other varieties, as well as pears. At the McMahon’s, their unsprayed organic fruit is picked only when it is ripe, the apples are allowed to remain on the trees so their sugars develop fully and so the flavour, accordingly, becomes more intense.

Of course, at their peak, the best way to eat them is in their raw state, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be transformed further into delectable desserts. Apples, especially, are conducive to cooking – as Jane Grigson says, ‘the apple is the most important fruit in our cooking and eating’ – whereas pears, according to my partner, are ‘sad apples’, having never enjoyed their popularity, (‘the

aloof, aristocratic pear’, describes Waverley Root, ‘[are] harder to grow, [and] fussier about its surroundings…’).

Well, I’m not choosing one over the other, opting to make a favourite pie; a Harvest Pie whose buttery, caramelised filling of apples and pears is encased in an equally buttery pastry. Again quoting Jane Grigson, ‘for flavour the apple’s best allies are butter and cream’ – and both find their way into this gorgeous Harvest Pie. Recipe on the website!

Both Costanzo and McMahon’s are at New Brighton Farmers Market every Tuesday from 8–11am, and at Mullumbimby Farmers Market every Friday from 7–11am.

To mark the anniversary of the 28 February 2022 flooding of Mullumbimby, which was followed by continued flooding throughout the town and the Northern Rivers, the Red Cross will be joining Byron Shire Council at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market this Friday 31 March for what they call the Red Cross DROPS (Disaster Recovery of People’s Stories) activities and more.

There will be a free weaving workshop and yarning circles to mark the anniversary of the floods, plus free crafts and face painting for the kids from 7am.

The Mullumbimby Farmers Market is held at the Mullumbimby Showgrounds, 51 Main Arm Rd Mullumbimby, 7–11am every Friday.

‘It is in the wild places, where the edge of the Earth meets the corners of the sky, the human spirit is fed.’

~ Art Wolfe

Photo courtesy of Red Cross

Victoria Cosford

The Byron Regenerative Tourism Workshop is on Wednesday 26 April at Crystalbrook, Byron Bay.

Cryptic Clues

ACROSS

1. Tailored empire gown, making you feel special (10)

7. Italian navy in the middle east (4)

9. Ted and Lois – a bad combination. Better kept apart (8)

10. Landed holding in Eastern nation (6)

11. Cool bird – chicken? (6)

13. Negative sign for court officials (8)

14. Pet around – lessen risk of negligence (12)

17. Legends look back pass on: Royal Southern Infantry (4,8)

20. Pitches around horse cargoes (8)

21. Wave to Leo Pacino, perhaps (6)

22. Convincing company man (6)

23. Protect your vision – I heard a ghost! (8)

25. Man and woman, on the edges (4)

26. Very unhappy – faded away round accent (10)

DOWN

2. Failed report – hoon back for aborted hearing (8)

3. One bird beheads another (3)

4. Defeated, decapitated, and consumed (5)

5. Leaves a space at the start of a line for popular impressions (7)

6. Huge amphibious mammal, revered in the USA (5,4)

7. Wild tennis tiger – intriguing! (11)

8. Article over those people – God defend New Zealand! (6)

12. Camera accessories – look, they’re called keepers! (11)

15. Lead on, get confused –stretched! (9)

16. Material to cause vital part of the anatomy to expire (8)

18. Vigorously resists nuns (7)

19. Medical man got out of bed unhappy (6)

21. Curse small dress (5)

24. Holds sounds of merriment (3)

STARS BY LILITH

Pluto’s move into Aquarius puts renewable power resources on the agenda for the rest of this planet’s 21-year visit to the sign fittingly represented by two energy waves...

Quick Clues ACROSS

1. Authorising (10)

7. Previously known as Persia (4)

9. Detached; remote (8)

10. Property (6)

11. Cowardly (6)

13. Public legal practitioners (8)

14. Inattention (12)

17. They are unacknowledged but do most of the work (4,8)

20. Ship’s carrying capacities (8)

21. Gesture (6)

22. Forceful (6)

23. Sun visor (8)

25. Trimmings, borders (4)

26. Agitated (10) DOWN

2. Court case that is terminated before completion (8)

3. Hooter (3)

4. Devoured (5)

5. Notches, dints (7)

6. American symbol of national sovereignty (5,4)

7. Fascinating (11)

8. Hymn (6)

12. They are used to frame subjects before taking a picture (11)

15. Lengthened (9)

16. Translucent cotton muslin (8)

18. Female siblings (7)

19. Sullen (6)

21. Utter an oath (5)

24. Possesses (3)

Last week’s solution #483

REPROBATEDROOP

Why is the ultra-right targeting trans kids? Opportunistic neo-nazis are using transphobia as their PR exercise. Like abortion, trans issues, and in particular issues around schools and the rights of trans kids, are emotionally charged. For those who have chosen bigotry and fear over acceptance and inclusion, polarised viewpoints create ignition points for hate and violence.

It’s painful to watch the conversation around trans rights coerced and manipulated by the right wing agenda. To see the private struggles and pain of members of our wider community played out on the streets of our cities as an ugly protest meant to hurt and marginalise. This is not who we are. Just a few weeks ago Sydney was the host city for World Pride. It is a festival that celebrates Queer communities around the globe. One minute we were hugging each other draped in the Rainbow flag, the next minute there’s masked men in black giving a Nazi salute.

It’s never been more important to understand what the word ‘ally’ means. This is when we, the community of family, friends and supporters of LGBTQI+ people stand up to the ugly transphobic bullies. Is the gender identity of the ultra right so fragile that they must assert dominance over children? What kind of movement needs to do that? What kind of person aligns with values that permit and encourage such unevolved behaviour? These are not smart people. So is it an education issue?

Many trans-phobic people identify as having Christian values – although it tends to be less the Christian God of love and more the evangelical

ARIES: With busy Mercury turning up the volume on expansive Jupiter, this fast-moving week’s astrology supports getting new adventures and enterprises up and running. So ride the wave while the force is with you, but resist overpromising or overcommitting. Make every effort to nurture yourself, your supporters and close crew.

TAURUS: So much energy in your sector of introspection, release and healing suggests pulling back this week from unnecessary obligations and considering a completely different approach, from a totally new perspective. Which could, with application and without exaggerating, literally rearrange the way whoever walks through the door responds to you.

GEMINI: Too many options, not enough time, and insufficient energy… we’ve all got our favorite excuses. This independent, individualistic week recommends radical simplification, advises against paying attention to the commentariat. No, you don’t need to be competitive to advance, so do what you do best and be original and persistent, patient and playful instead.

Christian God of hate. Although it seems none of them have read the good book. Theologians affirm the Bible’s full inclusion of trans and nonbinary people. Creation stories may have been told with a bias towards the binary, but we all know that the binary doesn’t exist. Day/night? Well what about dawn and dusk? We exist in spectrums. We are gender expansive people. I have always thought God was non-binary. It explains the mystery of the holy trinity. That God was three things; God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. No gender, or body, defines the Holy Spirit. Jesus was a man, but not some macho chick-pulling dude on a donkey. He was no Andrew Tate. He was gentle, loving, forgiving, and he was celibate. Some may even say ‘asexual’. I think, when you start a religion and you tell people you are the father, the son and the holy spirit, you are textbook ‘fluid’. I don’t think the right wing evangelists of hate have even read the Bible they are so passionate to defend. Their ‘righteous’ God is a big man in a dress. I wonder what toilet they’d make God use? We need to stop amplifying the conversations that seek to hurt the trans community. Is someone in my family transgender? Yes, of course. I would think that every person has someone in their close circle who is trans. I had

CANCER: As the zodiac’s new year gets into gear with motivational Mars generating activity in your sign, this week could see Crab Casa a hub for entrepreneurial enterprises (renos, extensions, a home business?) with results coming faster than you expect. If the fiery weekend moon ignites differences of opinion, try and find the funny side.

LEO: Aristotle coined the phrase, ‘Nature abhors a vacuum’, and right now Mars is busy in your sector of endings winding up what’s reached its use-by date to make space available for an all-over renaissance, especially in your partnership department. And that’s all levels of relationships: private and personal, public and professional.

VIRGO: This astrologically exploratory and out-there week recommends maybe easing up a little on the strict Virgo standards and doing something boldly out of your comfort zone. Not suggesting lowering your personal limbo bar too far, just experimenting with something different and staying open to being pleasantly surprised.

LIBRA: Libran life could be about to get even more interesting, thanks to the current celestial emphasis in Aries, your opposite sign on the astrowheel. This week brings new opportunities to initiate something exciting. No need to be rash or brash or pushy, but don’t wait for an engraved invitation either.

SCORPIO: This week’s quartet of planets in the zodiac sign of contagious enthusiasm and solopreneurs sees the astrology gods encouraging power moves, accelerating shifts, shining a revelatory lens on your wilder side. And guaranteed, should red flags raise their russet heads, to have you swiftly googling the nearest and swiftest exit.

SAGITTARIUS: According to Sagittarian Frank Zappa, without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. So we don’t have to keep doing the same things and getting the same results, and repeating the same mistakes. We can change, and this week wholeheartedly supports your giving outdated attitudes the heave-ho.

one family member who lived a secret life because of their desire to dress as a woman. That was a long time ago. It was seen as a shameful secret. But if it happened now it could have been expressed, could have been in the open.

Humans are nuanced, we aren’t one thing or the other. Binaries kill people. Nearly half of the transgender community have attempted suicide. Around 82 per cent have had suicidal thoughts. Transgender people are among the most marginalised and socioeconomically disadvantage groups in our community. In a peer-reviewed study on the health and wellbeing of transgender adult Australians, 73 per cent reported a lifetime diagnosis of depression. Around one third had reported discrimination from employment as a result of being trans. Being trans is hard enough. Inclusion is the only way forward. To do that, we have to reduce discrimination. It’s not hard to do. It doesn’t cost money. It’s about acceptance by family, friends, schools and workplaces. It’s about sharing our spaces. It’s about finding out who we are when we move beyond the hard –line gender binary. Hate is the anthem of the binary.

Choose love, not hate. Love is beautiful and inclusive. Because love, like life, and like God, is fluid.

CAPRICORN: This week’s astral energetics could spark a creative inspiration or just a timely opening to initiate something that’s been on your radar or to-do list for some time. Rather than thinking of this as yet another thing you have to tick off, welcome it as an irresistible invitation to action.

AQUARIUS: With Pluto now at work in your sign, geek becomes increasingly chic. In Aquarius, Pluto also gives power to the crowd, though collective energy comes with its own special challenges. In the face of this week’s shadow side, tread with extra care around triggering situations likely to provoke emotional reactions in yourself or others.

PISCES: Many-ringed planet Saturn favours experts and mentors, so if something seems too overwhelming to tackle by yourself, call in the pros. Neptune in Pisces says trust your gut, listen to your intuition and anything’s possible. Sensible Saturn riding tandem in Pisces insists that whatever magic happens has practical applications.

I don’t think the right wing evangelists of hate have even read the Bible they are so passionate to defend. Their ‘righteous’ God is a big man in a dress. I wonder what toilet they’d make God use?

MANDY NOLAN’S

Volume 37 #42

29 March – 4 April, 2023

Editor: Eve Jeffery

23

Editorial/gigs: gigs@echo.net.au

Copy deadline: 5pm each Friday

Advertising: adcopy@echo.net.au

P: 02 6684 1777

echo.net.au

BUSKERS FOR BLUES

The Bluesfest Busking Comp is a community engagement initiative, established 19 years ago by a group of dedicated, local musical souls – proudly executed by ACE, and fully supported and fostered by Peter Noble and the Bluesfest family.

LIME CORDIALE se vendaysofente r t ia n tnem

If there’s one thing that indie music fans can all agree on, it’s The Long Sunset – the wanderlust music and camping festival set in the lush surrounds of the Canungra, Queensland hinterland on 29 April

This year’s concert will feature a carefully curated lineup of the nation’s best live acts. After scoring four times in the Hottest 100, headliners Lime Cordiale will bring their suave grooves to the Scenic Rim’s favourite annual event. Joining them will be R&B-soul collective Winston Surfshirt who will showcase material from their third studio album Panna Cotta after a day of sets from Hatchie, Sycco, Tia Gostelow, and more.

The one-day event is the capstone of Qld Music Trails’ Scenic Rim Trail, which guides visitors on a musical expedition around the finest nooks of Southeast Queensland. Now in its second year, The Long Sunset has already captured audiences with its Insta-worthy hillside sunsets, world class live performances, and a pristine patch of grass in a campers’ wonderland.

Located at the picturesque Elysian Fields in the heart of Canungra, home of the Mununjali, Wangerriburra and Ugurapul people, The Long Sunset is within arms’ reach of the Gold Coast and a short hour’s drive from Brisbane. It’s perfect for those looking to get just far enough out of the city to leave the smog behind for a weekend in the Scenic Rim filled with strolling through artisan markets, wine tastings and dancing with friends to Australia’s top acts.

The Long Sunset doubles as a signpost for those looking to embark on a much larger adventure in one of Australia’s natural wonderlands; the Scenic Rim. A weekend getaway is encouraged.

The Long Sunset provides camping and glamping options and there are plenty of boutique accommodation options nearby. Trail-goers are invited to come the night before for the Friday night campfire sessions with Laura Frank, Seasoning and The Inadequates, kicking off a long weekend of camping and chilling with good mates.

Offering some of the country’s lushest rainforests, punters of any fitness level can take a hike on any of the local foot trails. Those looking to explore the best in local food and wine can drive 25 minutes up to Tamborine Mountain, where they’ll also find some stunning accommodation options and the bustling Gallery Walk. For those just coming for the day, there will be parking on site at Elysian Fields, but the best option is to sit back and relax on one of the dedicated bus services operating directly from Brisbane CBD, Logan, Upper Mount Gravatt, Nerang and Ipswich. Head to Mt Gravatt Coach & Travel to book your seat now.

The Long Sunset is a Qld Music Trails event, presented by QMF and Scenic Rim Regional Council and is supported by Aquis. Scenic Rim Regional Council received grant funding for this event from the Australian government, and the Queensland government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Qld Music Trails are proudly supported by the Queensland Ggovernment.

The Long Sunset – Saturday 29 April, Elysian Fields, Canungra; plus Campfire Sessions Friday 28 April exclusive free gig for campers.

A bespoke adventure for lovers of nature, music and friends – the Scenic Rim Trail, and more of Qld Music Trails’ 2023 program, as well as The Long Sunset info and tickets, can all be found at: qldmusictrails.com

The busking project has become the perfect platform for unsigned, original, Australian artists to showcase their talents to an untapped audience, an opportunity providing a key stepping stone for their musical career development. This project is held in Byron Bay in the week leading up to Bluesfest, when the town comes to life with live performances from musicians travelling from all corners of the country for the chance to win this exclusive, sought-after prize: to play a main stage at Bluesfest! Other prizes include recording time in a well-known Byron Bay studio, gigs, mentorships, guitars, produced film clips, hand-painted guitar cases and loads more. The Bluesfest Busking stage is the underground stage, where nobody knows your name – just yet – before a showcase over the Bluesfest weekend of every semi-finalist that enters the comp, and this year Bluesfest busking satge will be hosting some surprise guests! Be sure to check us out at Bluesfest 2023.

Applications close 10 March 2023

Grommet semi-finals, Beach Hotel, Sunday 2 April, 12pm. Open semi-finals, Beach Hotel, Sunday 2 April, 7pm. The finals, Beach Hotel, Wednesday 5 April.

The Bluesfest Busking Comp showdown is a free event at the Beach Hotel.

THE MAY DAY

Forget the first, 6 May is the day that Luna Wine Store welcomes 30 of Australia’s most exciting winemakers and natural wine importers to the region for the Full Moon Natural Wine Festival at the Eltham Hotel

Following on from the raucous success that was last year’s inaugural event, this year’s festival promises to be an afternoon of high energy, beautiful wine, great music and conversation, and is a rare chance to chat faceto-face in a casual, party environment with those who are connected to the land on which this beautiful produce is crafted.

Guests will be able to taste over 100 wines from around the country, with winemakers visiting from Tasmania, Margaret River, Adelaide Hills, Gippsland, Barossa, Mount Gambier and plenty more, welcoming the likes of Dan Graham (Sigurd Wines), Rory Duggan (R. D’Meure) and importers Lo-Fi Wines, Liz Carey (Vivant) and Giorgio de Maria.

Luna Wine Store is Byron Bay’s only natural wine store, focusing entirely on independent organic, biodynamic and natural wine producers.

There will be live music, food created by a joint effort of the Eltham and Ciao Mate kitchens and the Eltham’s bar is open as usual. Wines shown on the day will be available for takeaway after the festival.

Luna Wine Store’s Russ Berry says they want to create an environment that brings people closer to the wine they are consuming. ‘We want to open the dialogue between producer and consumer that is mostly overlooked within people’s relationship with wine, and other drinks’.

‘I love how people engage with their food and its provenance in this region, and Full Moon, with a bit of dancing and live music thrown in, is a place for our community to interact and maybe walk away having learnt something interesting about the direct relationship between soil health and a wine’s qualities.’

Once the tasting ends, the party carries on into the evening with Luna’s ‘Baller Bar’ serving unique and rare natural wines from around the world by the glass.

Tickets are $75 via Eventbrite; click the link on Luna Wine Store’s webpage, or alternatively drop by in-store on Jonson Street to make a purchase. Bookings for Echo readers are available with a 10 per cent locals discount, just use code ‘ECHO23’ at the checkout.

Bookings for the charter bus ride at 7pm or 9pm to Bangalow or Byron Bay are available at the time of ticket purchase, for $12.50.

The Full Moon Natural Wine Festival at the Eltham Hotel, Saturday 6 May, 2–5pm.

FOOLS FOR THE NUDGE

No fooling – with this epic lineup at nUdGe nUdGe WiNk WiNk! You’d be a fool to miss International DJ Stevie G, locally-based DJs Halo and Sammy KC as they join beloved Cunning Stunts resident DJ, Lord Sut, in the Shed at the Billi.

Get ready for an electrifying closing set from international DJ sensation, Stevie G! Hailing from Washington DC, Stevie G has taken his eclectic soulful sound worldwide. As a resident he’s rocked legendary venues like Potato Head in Bali, was hand selected to play for Snoop Dogg and Grace Jones, and spun vinyl or Prince at the infamous House of Secrets.

Returning to the Shed in a later time slot is locally-based DJ, Halo. A house and techno DJ born into the Byron Bay dance scene, Halo is a sonic storyteller.

Making his Shed debut, DJ Sammy KC will showcase his love for all genres with a heavy influence of the UK sound.

Cunning Stunts resident DJ, Lord Sut, mixes and masters the genres of Balearic, world and house, with sprinklings of dub for sensory peaks to every set he plays in the beloved Shed.

Cunning Stunts lift you up on the first Saturday of each month, continuing their seven-year purpose to assist our local communities.

Check it out this Saturday from 4pm at The Billinudgel Hotel.

SHOOT/GET TREASURE/REPEAT

By Mark Ravenhill - Directed by Susan Melhuish Three Free Performances Provocative and Compelling!

Mullumbimby

This week:

Thurs March 30th

Fri March 31st

Sat April 1st at 6.30pm

drillhalltheatre.org.au

AND STILL I SING

Ballina Region for Refugees is holding a fundraising screening at Byron Theatre next Wednesday to raise urgently needed funds for their community resettlement program. The film is And Still I Sing, an extraordinary documentary by Afghan filmmaker, Fazila Amiri. It is the inspiring story of three female singers from Afghanistan who courageously use their voices to stand up for women’s rights despite threats of violence and even death.

Zahra and Sadiqa are contestants on Afghan Star –Afghanistan’s hit version of American Idol. They are mentored by trailblazing pop singer and Afghan Star judge, Aryana Sayeed, fighting against oppression and misogyny as they compete in 2019 to become the show’s first female winner.

Pop music was banned by the Taliban during their previous reign from 1996–2001. As one of Afghanistan’s most famous pop stars, Sayeed received countless death threats and fled the country before returning after the regime’s fall.

As well as being an Afghan Star judge she is also planning a concert in Kabul, hoping to unite the nation in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Independence from British rule. But the threat of violence is ever present, and it has to be organised through the right channels to ensure security, but without tipping off the Taliban who are gaining power throughout the country and moving ever closer to the capital.

The film has many moments that may surprise audiences seeing glimpses of a modern Afghan society blending with older traditional elements. A bowling alley in Kabul is a rather surreal sight to take in, with women freely having fun playing sport in a public space in the company of men.

And Still I Sing follows the heroic personal journeys of all three during the tumultuous time-frame leading up to and including the 2021 American troop withdrawal and Taliban takeover. This is a dramatic saga that will leave you riveted and inspired by female strength and the fortitude of brave Afghan women to keep on keeping on. The proceeds for the event go to Ballina Region for Refugees’ community resettlement program. Two Syrian families are now living in Ballina and Byron shires, with a third family coming in the next couple of months. The group plan to help two more refugee families make new lives in our region before the end of 2023. Funds are needed for accommodation, transport, food and household expenses etc to assist the families integrate into their new communities.

And Still I Sing will screen at the Byron Theatre on Wednesday, 5 April. Tickets are $25 from www.byrontheatre.com.

WOMEN OF SONG AT THE CON

The Northern Rivers Conservatorium (The Con), in association with Musica Viva Australia, is pleased to present a special event in its Concert Room on Friday 28 April – Women of Song

This innovative new show developed by the acclaimed Jessie Lloyd of Mission Songs Project includes themes of intergenerational practices, singing on, and from, Country, commitment to community, and preserving knowledge in song. It’s an intimate celebration of the ‘here and now’ of Indigenous culture, a rare mix of spontaneous conversation and songs exploring the modern-day practice and living heart of the world’s oldest living culture.

As creative producer, Jessie Lloyd brings together the artists for each tour, uniquely shaping the performance to the location: some will be well-known, others are exciting new talent.

Women of Song is an amazing opportunity to experience First Nations cultural practices in music from the women who practise them: this culture exists in contemporary music, and these First Nations women are leading it.

The audience listens in as three First Nations singers and a moderator have a conversation. Someone’s story may remind someone else of a song, or a favourite popular song might start a discussion among them all. Each conversation and each performance will be unique,

as the women explore live-on-stage how their songs preserve the social, cultural, and environmental shifts of a community, deepening connections to Country, genealogy, and custom.

Hailing from a musical family, Jessie’s father, Joe Geia, is a pioneer of Aboriginal protest songs and composed the Aboriginal anthem ‘Yil Lull’. A composer, performer and creative entrepreneur, Jessie is a committed songkeeper of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music, dedicated to the continuation of song traditions through these presentations.

Jessie has travelled Australia consulting with elders, collaborating with peers and nurturing Indigenous songs that reflect a 21st century Indigenous narrative. Additionally, the artists welcome the opportunity to attend a meet and greet with the elders of the local community. During this activity, the artists will be performing some of the songs from the show. The Northern Rivers Conservatorium will continue to offer free tickets to flood-affected members of our community through 2023. The Con has many more fantastic events lined up in the Concert Room and other venues in Lismore. Stay tuned!

Women of Song – The Northern Rivers Conservatorium Concert Room, on Friday 28 April at 7pm. Tickets womenofsong.eventbrite.com.au.

JESSIE LLOYD

DRILL HALL / FUN / REPEAT

Experienced Director and theatre worker, Susan Melhuish, is bringing Mark Ravenhill’s politically charged Shoot/ Get Treasure/ Repeat to the Drill Hall Theatre for three nights as part of the Company’s free Member Nights. Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat opened at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2007 co-produced by The National Theatre, Gate Theatre and Royal Court Theatre.

Three short pieces from this epic cycle of 16 have been chosen for a ‘moved reading’ at the Drill Hall Theatre. Shoot/ Get Treasure/ Repeat questions our civilised worlds’ values such as ‘freedom’ and ‘democracy’, and the members of a western democracy intent on imposing its ‘freedoms’ on the rest of the world. A warning: this material contains strong language. Audiences can expect to find the work disturbing, humorous and entertaining. Don’t miss this provocative and compelling theatre!

These free performances will be the last show at the theatre for several months as the Drill Hall Theatre closes for renovations.

This Thurday, Friday and Saturday at 6.30pm. Book using trybooking at drillhalltheatre.org.au.

MUDHONEY

Seminal Seattle four-piece, Mudhoney, are returning to Australia marking nine years since their last local shows. A mammoth odyssey spanning April and May will see them playing headline shows across six states. Next week they will also release their new album, Plastic Eternity

Seven caught up with bass player Guy Maddison, who last year moved home to Australia.

You’re living in Melbourne now – I bet that makes rehearsals fun?

We don’t all live in Seattle. I’m the person who lives the furthest away. Mark and Dan live in Seattle and Steve is in Portland. Just last year, my family and I moved back to Melbourne so we’re carrying on in different parts of the world.

What we do is we just get together in one place a few days before the tour starts. Last year it was Eindhoven in the Netherlands. We just went to a rehearsal studio and brushed up on our stuff.

How does that work for songwriting?

We have yet to cross that bridge. We’ve just made a new record. We made that over the two years of covid and it will be released to coincide with the Australian tour. The way that we work is, we all come together when it’s time to make a record and we go to our practice room, which is in Seattle in Mark’s basement, and we start knocking out riffs and trying to put songs together. And I’m guessing that in the future, it’ll be the same.

Does Plastic Eternity follow a similar vein to your previous albums, or is it a departure?

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I think it’s probably a blend of those two things. People that are familiar with the band will find the stuff that they’ve known and liked in the past – sort of heavy ’60s, punk garage music – which is kind of the stock-in-trade of Mudhoney and what we’re known for. Over the years we’ve developed more range and I think there’s some interesting tracks on this one. There’s one that was based around just a synthesiser loop called Flush the Fascists, which will probably be strange-sounding in comparison.

You came late to the band and you’re an Aussie – how is it being the only Australian in a band and the new kid?

I am the new kid, but I’ve been in the band for 22 years now, and we were friends before I joined the band, so I’d actually known those guys almost since they started in 1988/89. We’re old friends. In terms of being Australian, I’ve lived there for a long time. There’s some Americans that actually understand Australians, they realise that we’re a pretty easygoing bunch of people.

After 22 years are you still able to keep things fresh?

I think that we’ve done a good job of always trying to stay active. We’ve never been one of those bands that just lives in the past. We’ve stayed busy and I think if you’re in a band and you’re continuing to consistently put stuff out then you stay fresh, just by the nature of that, and the fact that you’re continuing to write new material.

I think sometimes it gets harder as we’re all in our late 50s, early 60s, and not that I want to make out that we’re a bunch of old farts – but some of the other stuff gets challenging; work, travelling, international travel and late nights on the bus on tour are a little more painful than it used to be when we were younger. But I think creatively we’ve remained pretty fresh. I think the new album shows that as well, because there’s a lot of different stuff. Get your fresh dose of Mudhoney at The Northern on Saturday 15 April, from 8pm.

Buddy Guy at Bluesfest.

Image: Anthony Moulay, AVimages

SUSAN MELHUISH

GIG GUIDE

It’s free to list your gigs in the gig guide. gigs@echo.net.au w: echo.net.au/gig-guide

WEDNESDAY 29

, 8PM

JAKE HILL

BYRON THEATRE 7.30PM HAIR

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM

HARRY NICHOLS

BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE

HOUSE 6.30PM FACING UP

BANGALOW BOWLO 7.30PM

BANGALOW BRACKETS’

OPEN MIC SESSION

THURSDAY 30

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, THE SWAMP CATS

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM ARI, 8PM BEN WHITING

DUO

BYRON THEATRE 7.30PM HAIR

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM

DONNY SHADES

BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE

HOUSE 7PM LIZ STRINGER & WILLIAM CRIGHTON

DRILL HALL THEATRE, MULLUMBIMBY, 6.30PM

SHOOT/GET TREASURE/

REPEAT

BALLINA RSL LEVEL ONE

8PM THE BIG GIG COMEDY

NIGHT – MC: ELLEN BRIGGS, WITH LINDSAY WEBB & PETER WILLEY

LENNOX HOTEL HOTEL STAGE

8PM THURSDAY JAM NIGHT

FRIDAY 31

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON

BAY, JON J BRADELY, 8PM

SABOTAGE

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY,

8PM MISMO TEMPO, 10.30PM

DJ KIRA SUNDAY

BYRON THEATRE 7.30PM HAIR

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 7.30PM

THE GIN BUGGS

NORTH BYRON HOTEL 6PM DJ

YAZMIN

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY,

8PM MAT MCHUGH & THE

BEAUTIFUL GIRLS

BANGALOW HOTEL 7PM

DUXIE AND LUXIE

MEMORIAL HALL, BRUNSWICK

HEADS, 4.45PM SHIVA REA +

EDO KAHN

WANDANA BREWING CO.,

MULLUMBIMBY, 4.30PM DJ

TAZ

MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 5PM BALCONY BEATS 1ST

BIRTHDAY – DJ THE WHO’S

WHO, 8PM KRAPEOKEEE

WITH JESS

DRILL HALL THEATRE, MULLUMBIMBY, 6.30PM

SHOOT/GET TREASURE/ REPEAT

ST JOHN’S SCHOOL

HALL, MULLUMBIMBY, 7.30PM ECSTATIC DANCE

MULLUMBIMBY WITH DJ

ISHWARA

ELTHAM HOTEL 7PM TIM

ROGERS & THE TWIN SET

METROPOLE, LISMORE, DJ

BEATDUSTA

WILD THYME CAFE, MURWILLUMBAH, 4PM ROD

MURRAY

REGENT CINEMA, MURWILLUMBAH, 6PM BALCONY SESSIONS W

MOHINI COX AND GUESTS

8PM LIZ STRINGER & WILLIAM CRIGHTON

MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6.30PM ANGUS

HOLMES

SALTBAR, KINGSCLIFF, 7PM

TIN PARLOUR

TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, THE STAGE 8PM ECHOES OF PINK FLOYD

LENNOX ARTS COLLECTIVE

5.30PM EXHIBITION

OPENING: LES AND LIS –

SOMETHING NEW

CLUB LENNOX 7PM SAM

BUCKLEY

COOLANGATTA HOTEL

9.30PM RIDE THE LIGHTNING

– METALLICA TRIBUTE

SHOW

SATURDAY 1

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 7.30PM PINK ZINC

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 1.30PM DAMIEN COOPER

4.30PM KALAKARI, 7.30PM

THE VERSACE BOYS, 9.30PM

DJ MY HAPPY PLACE

BYRON THEATRE 2PM HAIR,

7.30PM HAIR

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 2PM

SHORTY BROWN, 7.30PM

WELTER

BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE

HOUSE 7PM TIM ROGERS & THE TWIN SET

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY,

ANIMAL VENTURA

NORTH BYRON HOTEL 1.30PM

ANIMAL VENTURA, 5PM

DJ ABEL EL TORO

SUFFOLK PARK HOTEL 8PM

RELOADER

MEMORIAL HALL, BRUNSWICK

HEADS, 5.45PM BYRON

KIRTAN + BEIJAFLOR

FREQUENCY

WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 4.30PM

DJ JACOB JON

DRILL HALL THEATRE, MULLUMBIMBY, 6.30PM SHOOT/GET TREASURE/

REPEAT

BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 4PM

NUDGE NUDGE WINK WINK –

FEAT DJ STEVIE G, DJS HALO AND SAMMY KC + DJ LORD

SUT

SHAWS BAY HOTEL, BALLINA, 6PM JORDAN MAC

BALLINA RSL BOARDWALK

6.30PM UNDERCOVER

METROPOLE, LISMORE,

7.30PM JB’S BLUES BREAKERS, 8PM DJ SISTA

RAY

REGENT CINEMA, MURWILLUMBAH, 6PM

BALCONY SESSIONS – JESSE

WHITNEY

MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES

CLUB 6.30PM MARK AITKEN

WILSON’S CREEK HALL

3PM MYSTIC VALLEY

COMMUNITY DANCE –

DJS CORQI, RAHEL, ROB

SYDNEY, APHRODISEA, LUSTR, RIA LISTIC AND JASON LEWIS

SUNDAY 2

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, JOCK BARNES DUO

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON

BAY, 12PM BLUESFEST BUSKERS COMPETITION

SHOWCASE – GROMMETS, 7PM BLUESFEST BUSKERS COMPETITION SHOWCASE

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 4PM

TIJUANA CARTEL

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, BEN WALSH

NORTH BYRON HOTEL

12.30PM OOZ, 4PM DJ JR.DYNAMITE

MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 3PM OPEN MIC WITH THE SWAMP CATS

MULLUMBIMBY EX-SERVICES

CLUB 4PM KINGSWOOD ‘HOMETOWNS’ TOUR

WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM FELICITY LAWLESS

UNITING CHURCH, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM 30 MINUTES FOR FREEDOM

BALLINA RSL BOARDWALK

10.45AM BALLINA COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB, 2.30PM SUNDAY BLUES SESSION

– FEDERAL BLUES INC. (FBI) WITH GUEST KRISTAN BURNNAND

SHAWS BAY HOTEL, BALLINA, 2PM SUNDAY SESSIONS FT DOC ROCK

ELTHAM HOTEL 5PM MINOR

GOLD

METROPOLE, LISMORE, SUNDAY SESSION WITH DJ’S MAGNUS AND DREAMHOUND

LISMORE JAZZ CLUB 2PM

INGRID JAMES QUINTET

KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS

12PM JON J BRADLEY

CLUB LENNOX 3PM JB’S BLUES BREAKERS

MONDAY 3

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, LEIGH JAMES

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY,

3PM LUKE YEAMAN, 6PM

KATIA

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, MARC CHAPMAN

KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS

6PM MEL SCARLETT

TUESDAY 4

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, CHRIS ARONSTEN

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 3PM ISAAC FRANKHAM,

6PM ANGUS KAFTAN, 9PM

KYLE LIONHART

BYRON THEATRE 6.30PM

90S MOVIES TUESDAYS –

THELMA & LOUISE

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, MARSHALL OKELL

KULCHA JAM, BYRON BAY,

7PM ECSTATIC DANCE

BYRON BAY WITH DJ

PUMAH

KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS

6PM TAHLIA MATHESON

TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, THE SHOWROOM 11AM

DEANA PEHER

FLICKERFEST AT THE REGENT

Celebrating 32 years in 2023 Flickerfest remains Australia’s leading Academy® Qualifying and BAFTA recognised short film festival, presenting A-list short film programs recognised amongst the best in the world with films hand-picked from the festival’s record 3,200 entries!

Flickerfest, Australia’s largest short film festival, is excited to be returning on its national tour to the Regent Theatre in Murwillumbah, showcasing the Best of Australian Shorts and Best of International Shorts program highlights across two incredible programs, all handpicked from their recent Bondi festival competitions. The short films screening are all entertaining, inspiring, award-winning and fresh from their premieres in competition at Flickerfest Bondi, giving Murwillumbah Flickerfest audiences a window into the hottest contemporary shorts from at home and across the world today.

The Best of Australian Shorts program, screening on Sunday at 4pm, shines a spotlight on the incredible short film talent that exists in our emerging Australian industry with a host of Australian stories honouring our unique identity and culture.

Don’t miss the sweet comedy Voice Activated, about a florist who stutters, from producer Liam Heyen, a graduate of Mt Saint Patrick’s College in Murwillumbah, and Bangay Lore written and directed by award winning First Nations filmmaker, Jahvis Loveday, from Crabbes Creek.

Flickerfest 2023 – Best of Australian Shorts & Best of International Shorts, 4pm at The Regent Theatre on Sunday.

Tickets and info: www.flickerfest.com.au/tour/murwillumbah.

cetsado:.lc

Select Land Release

byronshirerealestate.com.au

Byron View

4 vacant lots in the FINAL STAGE

We’ve saved the best for last. The long-awaited release of the last vacant land in Ocean Shores. 4 fully serviced, prime homes sites, registered and ready from Pottsville to Cape Byron and the gorgeous green of the national park bordering the subdivision. Duplex and single-dwelling lots. End of street surrounded by nature reserve. Coolangatta airport 30 min, Brunswick Heads 7 min and Byron Bay 20 min. Don’t Miss Out!

24 Player Parade - Lot 165800m²

Duplex compliant, ocean view

2 Thomson Court - Lot 166750m²

Ocean and National park view

4 Thomson Court - Lot 167700m²

Ocean and National park view

6 Thomson Court - Lot 168685m²

Ocean and National park view

Best Offers by 26th April 2023

Todd Buckland 0408 966 421 todd@byronshirerealestate.com.au

The Echo is delivered to almost every home in the Byron Shire, even right up the back of Eureka, Federal, Goonengerry, Wilsons Creek, Clunes and Middle Pocket. We also home deliver in Ballina Shire (East Ballina Lennox Head, Skennars Head), and bulk drop to Ballina CBD, Murwillumbah, Pottsville, Kingscliff, Alstonville, Lismore, Nimbin and Evans Head. 24,500 papers every week.

Is your property for sale advertised in The Echo?

0411 757 425 tim@millerrealestate.com.au millerrealestate.com.au

168 JOHNSTON ROAD, CLUNES

756 COWLONG ROAD, ELTHAM

OPEN HOUSE WEDNESDAY 29 MARCH 12.30

-

SALE

21 Pacific St, New Brighton

2 Bedrooms

2 Bathrooms

4 Car Spaces

Beautiful architecturally designed home by the beach

This stunning elevated waterfront home in New Brighton was designed by architect, Justin Twohill, to be one with the environment. Relax on the large deck and watch the birds play or stroll to the pristine beach, it's time to embrace coastal living. There are views into the treetops from every angle in the open plan kitchen, dining and living area.

JUST LISTED

Adrian Howe 0477 222 457 adrian.howe@manare.au

OPEN HOUSE WEDNESDAY 29 MARCH 1.30 - 2PM SATURDAY 1 APRIL 1.15 - 1.45PM AUCTION SATURDAY 15 APRIL 10AM ON SITE PRICE GUIDE $1,200,000 - $1,300,000

SALE

1/8 Yengarie Way Ocean Shores

4 Bedrooms

2 Bathrooms

2 Car Spaces

Views as far as you can see from this stunning Ocean Shores home

Every day will feel like a holiday in this contemporary home. Designed to make the most of the awe-inspiring view out to Cape Byron Lighthouse and the ocean. Slide open the expansive bi-fold doors in the openplan split-level living area and let the outside in, this home embraces outdoor living.

Adrian Howe 0477 222 457 adrian.howe@manare.au

Contact Agent manare.au hello@manare.au

(02)6680-5000

The Springs – Elevated, Modern Architectural Masterpiece with Spectacular Mountain Views

• The Springs’ is a Master Builders Association multi award winning home featuring swathes of glass, sleek polished concrete and soaring ceilings

• Stunningly set on an elevated ridgeline overlooking 37 acres of verdant pasture including fruit trees, bamboo rainforest and farming land

• The home has an intelligent layout that flows out to the north facing horizon pool and breathtaking mountain panoramas beyond

• A state-of-the-art kitchen boasts quality appliances with ample benchtops and storage while louvred windows and bi fold glass doors promote breezes

77 Robinsons Lane, Wilsons Creek

Price Guide: Contact Agent

• A separate self contained studio completes this unique, luxurious offering Denzil Lloyd 0481 864 049

Open: Thursday, 30th March 5–5.30pm

Architecturally Designed Hinterland Masterpiece – Two Homes

• Positioned on an expansive 5 acres of well-maintained gardens is this stunning mid-century modern masterpiece with breathtaking views and multiple vistas

• The office/studio has access to the pool and is ideal for working from home

• Across the 5 acres are open paddocks, perfect for a couple of horses

• The secondary dwelling is extremely private and features one bedroom, bathroom, separate laundry, and fully equipped kitchen plus a private deck

15 Newes Road, Coorabell

Price Guide: Contact Agent

Open: Saturday, 1st April 12–12.45pm

Reynolds 0428 888 660

Rare Opportunity in Brunswick Heads CBD

3 1 2 613M 2

• Spacious block with commercial zoning giving you endless possibility

• The large block offers an existing 3-bedroom dwelling, but there is opportunity to redevelop or redesign in the best CBD position in Brunswick Heads

• Outdoors is a large, level yard with a separate double lock-up garage situated on the laneway with dual lane access

• Positioned in a convenient central location, walking distance to everything Brunswick Heads has to offer, including the Brunswick River and beaches

23 Fingal Street, Brunswick Heads

Price Guide: Contact Agent

Open: Saturday, 1st April 9.30–10am

Spacious, Modern Home with Vast Outdoor Living and Pool

• Award winning, luxury designed home with multiple living spaces

• Grand outdoor entertaining area equipped with an outdoor kitchen, alfresco dining area, and built in fire place and views of the sparkling pool

• The gourmet kitchen features a butler’s pantry, stone benchtops, quality appliances, an island, and plenty of storage

• Established, manicured, tropical gardens across the large corner block provide shade, privacy, and a lush green outlook from every window

2 Oakwood Drive, Ballina

Price Guide: Contact Agent Open:

Stunning Queenslander Estate Moments from Byron’s CBD

3,420M 2

• Set on 3/4 acre of exquisite grounds is this beautiful, character Queenslander home with a plethora of privacy, gardens and stunning swimming pool home

• The home features a spacious floorplan with extra high ceilings, solid hardwood timber floors, VJ walls and stained-glass windows throughout

• Opportunity to add a detached 2-bedroom self-contained studio (STCA)

• Minutes to bustling Byron centre and world famous surf breaks

38 Avocado Crescent, Ewingsdale

Price Guide: $3.25m – $3.5m

Open: Saturday, 1st April 10–10.30am

Su Reynolds 0428 888 660

Commercially Zoned Home on Expansive Block

• Perfectly positioned in central Mullumbimby is this well- maintained home resting on an expansive 809m2 commercially zoned block of land

• Corner position provides excellent street frontage and there is dual access with Tincogan and Dalley Street

• Classic 3 bedroom cottage with spacious layout and high ceilings throughout

• Walk to local favourites including a buzzing food and beverage scene

20 Tincogan Street, Mullumbimby

Price Guide: $1.55m – $1.7m

Open: Saturday, 1st April 10–10.30am

Vacant, Level Land with Abundance of Opportunity

610M 2

• Rarely does the opportunity arise for you to create your dream home in the highly desirable Tallowood Ridge Estate on level, vacant land

• Two separate vacant lots are on offer, in a family friendly neighborhood

• Each lot is level with views out to Mount Chincogan

• Elevated position, did not flood during the February 2022 event

• Close to tennis court, basketball half-court, full size football field, community gardens and there are endless paved walkways and cycleways

Lot 227 & 229, Tallowood Ridge Estate, Mullubimby

Price Guide: $595,000 – $645,000

Open: By appointment

6 4 3

Unparalleled in luxury, privacy and position, this architecturally designed pristine natural beauty of the Federal Hinterland.

estate is a sanctuary of pure tranquility.

tranquillity and relaxed living.

and sophisticated interior design.

107 Bates Road, Federal

Taking pride of place on a spectacular 12.47ha parcel of land, this exclusive residence takes private and contemporary living to an all-new height, showcasing 467sqm of internal living space in the main house, plus a 4 bed guest house and two additional studios. The main house is immaculately appointed throughout, offering 6 large bedrooms all with large picture windows framing the beautiful countryside views. The palatial master wing enjoys a wall of built-in storage plus walk in wardrobe, a full-sized ensuite and direct access to a private patio. Complete with an oversized garage for 4 cars plus workshop, this is the ultimate family sanctuary in a tightly held position just 9 minutes from Bangalow and a 30-minute drive to the popular Byron Bay.

64 4

Monday 17th April 2023 at 5:00PM Level 1/29-33 Bay St, Double Bay NSW 2028

Grant Dale 0419 199 122 Darren Perkins 0428 660 324

byronbaysir.com.au

gnfrealestate.com.au

NASHUA 604 Lismore-Bangalow Road

ARCHITECTURAL PRIVACY PARADISE ON A PRICELESS PANORAMIC FARMLET

185 COOKS LANE, DALWOOD

Situated high amongst the best views from the Plateau, Ulysses is an estate like no other. Voluminous, elegant and luxurious this is the farmlet to end all farmlets. Beautifully established manicured gardens, neatly slashed paddocks with brand new fencing, an enormous brand-new shed and significant horse stables is just the beginning. The home is an epic masterly built 7 bedroom 7 bathroom palace that cuts not a single corner in delivering a spacious high-end living environment to dream of. Meticulously built and kept, this home awaits as the ultimately private lifestyle property you didn't know existed until now within close range to the best of Northern Rivers.

Contact the Listing Agents

Amir Mian 0401 470 499 amir@amirprestige.com.au

Oliver Hallock oliver@amirprestige.com.au 0419 789 600

Colleen Brunt colleen@amirprestige.com.au 0437 533 943

'Elegant and luxurious'

301 FRIDAY HUT ROAD,

This lush green, 6.6 acre property 160m above sea level, is complete with a beautiful established subtropical garden and stunning views of the Bangalow Hills. It is a scenic 1.8km walk to 'The Hut Byron Bay" renowned restaurant and a 7km drive to Bangalow village where your every boutique retail and hospitality whim is catered for. Another few km's further along Bangalow Road and you're in Byron Bay – with the buzz and world class beaches that completely contrast this country haven. Delightfully kept, light and well-ventilated, there are 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms including a downstairs studio separate to the main residence complete with its own bathroom and deck.

- AUSTRALIA'S MOST BEAUTIFUL HOME!

225 BROKEN HEAD ROAD, NEWRYBAR

8865Acres*

The perfect property is a place where calmness calls, fusing relaxed luxury with picturesque tranquillity. Such a rare destination does indeed exist with "Cedar Hill". Revered as one of Australia's most beautiful homes and boasting lush hinterland and ocean views, it is a spectacular showcase of international design and unique architecture. Cocooned within five acres of absolute peace and paradise, two premium hardwood residences rise up from this elevated, northeast-facing estate.

Linked by a glass-lined walkway that nicely separates social and sleeping quarters, elegance blends skilfully with cuttingedge design, including retractable glass walls, soaring ceilings with exposed timber beams and polished concrete floors.

Disclaimer:*=approx.

AUCTION 15TH APRIL 1:30PM ON-SITE

Please call to RSVP prior to inspection

Saturday 25th March 10:00am -11:00am

Thursday 30th March 5:00-5:45pm

Contact the Listing Agents

Amir Mian 0401 470 499 amir@amirprestige.com.au

Oliver Hallock oliver@amirprestige.com.au 0419 789 600

Colleen Brunt colleen@amirprestige.com.au 0437 533 943

"THE ASPEN MALIBU LOVE CHILD"

"Cedar Hill"

Time

is of the essence...

The time to speak up, act up and protest is now. We are in a climate crisis!

Byron Shire Real Estate

• 13 Torakina Road, Brunswick Heads. Sat 10–10.30am

• 7A Tathra Glen, Mullumbimby. Sat 10–10.30am

• 7 Yackatoon Court, Ocean Shores. Sat 11–11.30am

• 4 Yemlot Court, Brunswick Heads. Sat 11–11.30am

• 56 Tweed Street, Brunswick Heads. Sat 11–11.30am

Century 21

• 47 Bolwarra Circuit, Wollongbar. Sat 9–9.30am

• 1/119 Elliot Road, Clunes. Sat 9.30–10am

• 22 Campbell Crescent, Goonellabah. Sat 10–10.30am

• 8 Denbos Crescent, East Lismore. Sat 12–12.30pm

First National Byron

• 77 Robinsons Lane, Wilsons Creek. Thurs 5–5.30pm

• 9 Newberry Parade, Brunswick Heads. Fri 10–10.30am

• 41 Gordon Street, Mullumbimby. Fri 11–11.30am

• 891 Main Arm Road, Main Arm. Fri 11.45–12.15pm

• 62 Riverview Avenue, West Ballina. Fri 1–1.30pm

• 7 Ocean Avenue, New Brighton. Sat 9–9.30am

• 6 Jacaranda Drive, Byron Bay. Sat 9–9.30am

• 23 Fingal Street, Brunswick Heads. Sat 9.30–10am

• 20 Tincogan Street, Mullumbimby. Sat 10–10.30am

• 4/7 Oceanside Place, Suffolk Park. Sat 10–10.30am

• 38 Avocado Crescent, Ewingsdale. Sat 10–10.30am

• 16 Omega Circuit, Brunswick Heads. Sat 10–10.30am

• 26 Oakland Court, Byron Bay. Sat 10–10.30am

• 7/19 Teak Road, Federal. Sat 10–10.30am

• 2/54 Argyle Street, Mullumbimby. Sat 10.30–11am

• 3/9 Colin Street, Bangalow. Sat 11–11.30am

• 41 Federal Drive, Eureka. Sat 11–11.30am

• 5/16 Oakland Court, Byron Bay. Sat 11–11.30am

• 9 Newberry Parade, Brunswick Heads. Sat 11–11.30am

• 14 Brooklet Road, Newrybar. Sat 11–11.30am

• 41 Gordon Street, Mullumbimby. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 15 Newes Road, Coorabell. Sat 12–12.45pm

• 11 Dehnga Place, Suffolk Park. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 891 Main Arm Road, Main Arm. Sat 12.45–1.15pm

• 28 Armstrong Street, Suffolk Park. Sat 1–1.30pm

• 132 Scarrabelottis Road, Nashua. Sat 1.30–2pm

• 2E Kalemajere Drive, Suffolk Park. Sat 2–2.30pm Harcourts Northern Rivers

• 3/27 Rifle Range Road, Wollongbar. Sat 9–9.30am

• 22 Karalauren Court, Lennox Head. Sat 9–9.30am

• 30 Linderman Street, West Ballina. Sat 9–9.30am

• 1 Bath Street, Wardell. Sat 10–10.30am

• 10/2 Condon Drive, East Ballina. Sat 10–10.30am

• 950 Pimlico Road, Pimlico. Sat 10.45–11.15am

• 23 Shearwater Close, East Ballina. Sat 11–11.30am

• 36 Surf Avenue, Skennars Head. Sat 11–12.30pm

• 3 Carrabean Court, Kyogle. Sat 11.30–12pm

• 20 Earls Court, Goonellabah. Sat 11.45–12.15pm

• 7 Sweetlip Place, Ballina. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 24 Farrelly Avenue, Cumbalum. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 7 Crandon Court, Goonellabah. Sat 12.30–1pm

• 59 Dolphin Drive, West Ballina. Sat 1–1.30pm

• 731 Teven Road, Teven. Sat 1–1.30pm

• 82 Tyumba Avenue, Teven. Sat 1.45–2.15pm

• 7 Platypus Drive, Uralba. Sat 2–2.30pm

• 2/14 Patricia Parade, Lennox Head. Sat 2.45–3.15pm

LJ Hooker Brunswick Heads

• 19 Moffats Road, Billinudgel. Sat 10–10.30am

• 3 Garden Avenue, Mullumbimby. Sat 11–11.30am

• 46 Mullumbimbi St, Brunswick Heads. Sat 11–11.30am

• 2/85 Andrew Avenue, Pottsville. Sat 11–11.30am

• 8 Gin Gin Crescent, Ocean Shores. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 2 Bower Street, Brunswick Heads. Sat 12–12.30pm

Mana Real Estate

• 46 Narooma Drive, Ocean Shores. Sat 9–9.30am

• 351 Zara Road, Zara. Sat 9.30–10.30am

• 8 Ramsey Close, Goonellabah. Thurs 5.30–6pm

• 8 Ramsey Close, Goonellabah. Sat 11.30–12.30pm

• 8 Ramsey Close, Goonellabah. Sun 10–11am

• 3 Weeronga Way, Ocean Shores. Sat 10–10.30am

• 4/4 Halyard Court, Ocean Shores. Sat 10–10.30am

• 33 Beach Avenue, South Golden Beach. Sat 11–11.30am

• 21 Pacific Street, New Brighton. Sat 12–12.30pm

• 1/8 Yengarie Way, Ocean Shores. Sat 1–1.30am

• 5/4 Binderee Way, Ocean Shores. Sat 2–2.30pm

McGrath Byron Bay

• 51 Pine Avenue, Mullumbimby. Sat 9.45–10.15am

• 77 Parkway Drive, Ewingsdale. Sat 10–10.30am

• 5 Matilda Street, Lennox Head. Sat 10.30–11am

• 13 Brushbox Drive, Mullumbimby Creek. Sat 10.45–11.15am

• 16 Browns Crescent, McLeods Shoot. Sat 11–11.30am

• 5/174 Fowlers Lane, Bangalow. Sat 11–11.30pm

• 66 New City Road, Mullumbimby. Sat 11.45am–12.15pm

• 43 Beech Drive, Suffolk Park. Sat 12.15–12.45pm

North Coast Lifestyle Properties Mullumbimby

• 15 Clifford Street, South Golden Beach. Sat 10–10.45am

• 50 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby. Sat 12–12.45pm

North Coast Lifestyle Properties Brunswick

• 11 Waranga Crescent, Burringbar. Sat 10–10.30am

• 14 Avocado Court, Mullumbimby. Sat 10–10.30am

• 19 Grevillea Avenue, Mullumbimby. Sat 10–10.45am

• 5 Wahlooga Way, Ocean Shores. Sat 11–11.30am

• 4/33 Fingal Street, Brunswick Heads. Sat 12–12.30pm

Real Estate of Distinction

• 2 Giaour Street, Byron Bay. Sat 11–11.30am

• 2 Kolora Way, Ocean Shores. Sat 12.30–1pm

• 35-37 Edwards Lane, Kynnumboon. Sat 3–3.30pm

• Lot 2 Martin Lane, Empire Vale. Sun 11–11.30am

• Lots 1 and 3 Empire Vale Rd, Empire Vale. Sun 12–12.30pm

• 139 Bishop Creek Rd, Coffee Camp. Sun 2.30–3pm

www.echo.net.au/ad/ofi

Ray White Rural Bangalow

• 171 Goremans Road, Eureka. Thurs 2–2.30pm

• 11 Kurrajong Street, Mullumbimby. Fri 11–11.30am

• 37 Clover Hill Circuit, Bangalow. Sat 10–10.30am

• 171 Goremans Road, Eureka. Sat 11–11.30am

Ruth Russell Realty

• 11 Quail Way, Mullumbimby. Sat 11–11.45am

• 44 Pine Avenue, Mullumbimby. Sat 12.30–1pm

• 54 Main Arm Road, Mullumbimby. Sat 3.45–4.30pm

Tim Miller Real Estate

• 8 George Street, Bangalow. Sat 9–9.30am

• 168 Johnston Road, Clunes. Sat 10–10.30am

• 1 Flatley Drive, Clunes. Sat 11.45am–12.15pm

• 1098 Bangalow Road, Bexhill. Sat 12.30–1pm

• 756 Cowlong Road, Eltham. Sat 1.15–1.45pm

New Listing

North Coast Lifestyle Properties Mullumbimby

• 50 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby.

North Coast Lifestyle Propertie Brunswick

• 11 Waranga Crescent, Burringbar.

• 13 Gaggin Street, New Brighton.

• 4/33 Fingal Street, Brunswick Heads.

• 539 The Pocket Road, The Pocket.

• 5 Wahlooga Way, Ocean Shores.

Auctions

McGrath Byron Bay

• 1/11 Korau Place, Suffolk Park. Sat 3.30pm

• 30 Marvell Street, Byron Bay. Sat 1.30pm

0423 519 698| tara@byr onbayfn.com

@taratorkkolafirstnational @taratorkkola_realestate

Service Directory

Fencing.........................................41

Floor Sanding & Polishing..............41

Furniture Maker............................41

Garden & Property Maintenance....41

Gas Suppliers................................41

Graphic Design..............................42

Guitar Repairs...............................42

Guttering......................................42

Handypersons...............................42

Health..........................................42

Hire..............................................42

Insurance......................................42

Landscape Supplies.......................42

Landscaping .................................42

Locksmith.....................................42

Painting........................................42

Pest Control..................................42

Photography.................................42

Physiotherapy...............................42

Picture Framing............................42

Plastering.....................................42

Plumbers......................................42

Pool Services.................................42

Removalists..................................42

Roofing.........................................43

Rubbish Removal..........................43

Self Storage..................................43

Septic Systems..............................43

Solar Installation..........................43

Television Services........................43

Tiling............................................43

Transport......................................43

Tree Services.................................43

Upholstery....................................43

Valuers.........................................43

Veterinary Surgeons......................43

Water Filters.................................43

Water Services..............................43

Welding........................................43

Window Cleaning..........................43

Window Tinting............................43

Writing Services............................43

ALL-WAYS PAINTING

B Timbs Painting B Timbs Painting

Byron Coast Removals

Scotty’s Roof Repairs

INDEX

Birthdays...................45

Business for sale......44

Caravans...................44 For Sale.....................44 Garage Sales............44 Health........................44 Musical Notes...........45 Only Adults...............45 Pets............................45

ECHO CLASSIFIEDS – 6684 1777

CLASSIFIED AD BOOKINGS

PHONE ADS

Ads may be taken by phone on 6684 1777

AT THE ECHO HEAD OFFICE

Ads can be lodged in person at the Mullum Echo office: Village Way, Stuart St, Mullumbimby

EMAIL ADS

Display classies (box ads): adcopy@echo.net.au

Line classies: classifieds@echo.net.au

Ad bookings only taken during business hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. Ads can’t be taken on the weekend. Account enquiries phone 6684 1777.

Tree Services............44

Tuition........................45

Wanted......................44

DISCLAIMER

Advertisements placed in The Byron Shire Echo do not reflect the views or opinions of the editorial staff.

The Byron Shire Echo does not make any representations as to the accuracy or suitability of any content or information contained in advertising material nor does publication constitute in any way an endorsement by The Byron Shire Echo of the content or representations contained therein.

The Byron Shire Echo does not accept any liability for the representations or promises made in paid advertisements or for any loss or damage arising from reliance on such content, representations or promises.

BYRON TWILIGHT MARKET

Every Saturday Railway Park 4-9pm

Mullumbimby & District

Neighbourhood Centre

Connecting the Byron Shire Community

HELP YOUR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

– Baristas –– Gardeners –– Food Sorters –– Cleaners –

The team at MDNC are searching for some dedicated volunteers to help us continue to support our community.

Contact Volunteer Coordinator Kaz

Wednesday – Friday 6684 1286

BUSINESS FOR SALE

DEADLINE TUES 12PM

Publication day is Wednesday, booking deadlines are the day before publication.

RATES & PAYMENT

LINE ADS:

$17.00 for the first two lines

$5.00 for each extra line

$17 for two lines is the minimum charge.

DISPLAY ADS (with a border): $12.85 per column centimetre

These prices include GST. Cash, cheque, Mastercard or Visa Prepayment is required for all ads.

COMMUNITY HOT BRUNCH FREE

FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH

• Sausage sizzle • Hot dogs • Sandwiches

• Coffee & tea • Fruit Salad

EVERYONE WELCOME

Come one come all and join us in a meal or just a chat. Takeaway most welcome: COVID safe rules apply. Frozen takeaway meals now available.

10am to 12pm

In the Ballina Presbyterian Hall

Corner of Cherry & Crane. Just behind the Presbyterian Church.

MIELE WASHERS

Dryers and dishwashers available at Bridglands Mullumbimby. 66842511

ARCHIBALD’S

CHEAP

QUARRY PRODUCTS

Road base, gravel, blue metal and metal dust. ALL SIZE DELIVERIES. Phone 66845517, 0418481617

WANTED

LP RECORDS: good condition, no op shop crap! Ph Matt 0401955052

GARAGE SALES

HUGE SALE

Sat 7.30am. 5 Inderwong Ave, O/S Plants camping, bedding, lots of good stuff!

4 HOUSEHOLDS

Furn, qual. kids clothes/toys, moving OS, household items, bikes and surfboards. 8.30am, Heritage Court Rd, Suffolk Park

HUGE GARAGE SALE 566 Main Arm Rd, Mullum. Surf & skate boards & bikes (inc elec). Peter Brocks 05FX doors & boot lid. Toyota alum tray back. Trailer tent. Windows & doors, furniture, w/iron garden seats. All day Fri, Sat and Sun. Geoff 66845352

EVERYTHING FREE 17 Banksia, A&I. Wed 29 to Fri. Leaving for good, bring trailer for big pieces.

NEW MARKET RSL Hall, Fawcett St, Brunswick Heads. Clothes, vinyl, collectibles and more. Sat 8am–1pm.

CARAVANS

CARAVANS

We buy, sell & consign. All makes & models. 0408 758 688

TO LET

3BDR DUPLEX Byron Bay. Minimum 6 months lease. $650p/w. 0403422476

SOUTH GOLDEN BEACH 3 min walk to beach. 3bdr, 2 bthrm, DLUG. $850p/w. Suit working couple only, good refs. Pet allowed. Available mid April. Please call Bob on 0423904291

LOCAL REMOVAL

& backloads to Brisbane. Friendly, with 10 years local exp. 0409917646

STUDIO OCEAN SHORES Self contained, private with garden view. $430p/w. 0402453304

POSITIONS VACANT

BILLI LIDS LONG DAY CARE CENTRE Is a 29 place centre, located in Billinudgel. We have two educator positions available.

1. Mon–Fri, 28–35hrs per week

2. Wed–Fri, 15–20hrs per week

Qualifications: Diploma or Cert III. Start date can be negotiated. Phone Lyn 0266804025 for enquiries.

SALES / FACTORY DUTIES

Mindfulness @ Work

Bring greater focus, clarity and calm into your workplace.

Certified Mindfulness Educator Paul Bibby 0401 926 090

HYPNOSIS & NLP

www.wendypurdey.com

Make profound changes in your life. Achieve personal goals and reach your true potential within every aspect of your life.

Call Wendy 0497 090 233

CRYSTAL HEALINGS & READINGS

Mullumbimby

Kate is a deeply intuitive, wholehearted, compassionate & sensitive person, who brings humour & warmth into your session.

Take away detailed messages, guidance & tools, as well as a potent healing transmission from the crystals.

0413 003 301 crystalsanddreaming.com.au

Release stress and relieve anxiety with Vedic Meditation, an effortless and effective meditation technique you can practise anywhere (even if you’ve tried to meditate before without success).

Come along to a no obligation information session in Byron Bay on Monday 3rd April at 6pm. Visitthemeditationpeople.com for details and

KINESIOLOGY

Clear subconscious sabotages. Reprogram patterns and beliefs. Restore vibrancy and physical health. De-stress. Ph 0403125506 SANDRA DAVEY, Reg. Pract.

HYPNOSIS & EFT

Simple and effective solutions

Anxiety, Cravings, Fears & Trauma. Maureen Bracken 0402205352

PURA VIDA

WELLNESS CENTRE Brunswick Heads COLON HYDROTHERAPY HYPERBARIC OXYGEN

FAR INFRARED SAUNA REMEDIAL MASSAGE + more  66850498

BEETU FULL BODY MASSAGE A divine experience. Nurturing & healing. 28 yrs experience. Lucy 0427917960

TREE SERVICES

Leaf it to us 4x4 truck/chipper, crane truck, stump grinding. Local, qualified, insured, free quotes. 0402487213

For busy organic skincare & makeup co.

3–4 days. Bring resume in person to Wild Nature, 86 Centennial Cct. Byron A&I Est.

LADIES WANTED, MUST BE 18+ Casual or permanent work available in busy adult parlour. 66816038 for details.

SOCIAL MEDIA GURU for small local

Please

noon Call AWL on 0436 845 542

Shearwater,

At only 1-yearold, ‘Norm’ a desexed male Rhodesian Ridgeback xxx has already lived through a lifetime of pain and pleasure. This has resulted in a very special big-boy with so much love to give. Norm is gorgeous; loving, affectionate, gentle and chilled. He is excellent on-leash and is great with children and dogs (although sometimes bombastic). He will need ongoing training and a fenced property owing to his high prey drive, so no good with chickens, cats or wildlife. Please contact Shell on 0458461935.

MC: 953010005807463

ARCHIE is a 1.5 year old, Mastiff X Rottweiler. He is well behaved and would love a family of his own. He is ok with most dogs and would be ok with older children.

A R C H I E ARCHIE

M/C # 985141003958935

For more information contact Yvette on 0421 831 128. Interested?

Complete our online adoption expression of interest form: www.friendsofthepound.com/ adoption-expression-of-interest/

Visit friendsofthepound.com to view other dogs and cats looking for a home.

ABN 83 126 970 338

Inspired Creative Academic Nurturing

K–6 RELIEF TEACHERS

Cape Byron Steiner School is a vibrant and progressive K–12 school dedicated to the educational principles inspired by Rudolf Steiner.

Primary School Teachers for relief work. Previous experience in Steiner Education would be desirable. Applicants will:

•Be registered or eligible to register with the NSW Institute of Teachers

•Hold a current NSW Working With Children Check Please submit your CV and cover letter to: employment@capebyronsteiner.nsw.edu.au

Meet the very special DYLAN His mother and siblings were wandering strays. Fortunately a lovely person caught them and handed them to our shelter. Dylan and the others are super social with endearing temperaments.

It’s the end of the kitten season so why not pop in, with your carry cage, and meet this lovely family.

All cats are desexed, vaccinated & microchipped. No: 953010006195521

Please make an appointment 0403 533 589 • Billinudgel petsforlifeanimalshelter.net

SOCIAL ESCORTS

NOR MAN NORMAN

Byron Dog Rescue (CAWI)

Community at Work

Regular As Clockwork

DEADLINE NOON FRIDAY

Please note that, owing to space restrictions, not all entries may be included each week. Email copy marked ‘Regular As Clockwork’ to editor@echo.net.au.

Mullumbimby District

Neighbourhood Centre

Mullumbimby & District

Neighbourhood Centre is open

Monday–Thursday 9am–4pm (closed from 12.30–1.30pm for lunch) and offers a range of services and activities. Everyone is welcome. Call reception on 6684 1286 and discover what is on offer.

MDNC services that are running include:

Flood Recovery Support Service: personalised, long-term support for those impacted by the floods.

Community support: Food parcels, meals, showers, assistance with electricity and phoneelstra bills, Work Development Orders.

Listening Space: free counselling.

Staying Home, Leaving Violence

program

Integrated Domestic & Family

Violence program

Financial Counselling: outreach available Thursdays & Fridays

Financial Counselling: free service to resume in February, call 6684 1286 for more details.

Information, referral and advocacy. To enquire about accessing any of these services call 6684 1286 or fill out an online enquiry form.

Byron Community Centre

The Byron Community Centre provides community services and programs including meals, advocacy and counselling for locals in need. Fletcher Street Cottage: A welcoming, safe and respectful space where people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness can come to get practical relief opportunities, find connections and access broader support. Fletcher Street Cottage services are open Monday–Friday. Breakfast: Monday–Friday, 7am–9am. Showers and Laundry: Monday–Friday, 7am–12pm. Office Support: Monday–Friday, 9am - 12pm. Support Appointments: Individual support appointments with community workers or specialist services. For bookings please call 6685 6807. Fletcher Street Cottage, 18 Fletcher St, Byron Bay. More info: www.fletcherstreetcottage.com.au.

Byron Community Cabin: Seniors Computer Club (school term only), 9–11am, Friday, Carlyle Steet. More info: www.byroncentre.com.au

Phone: 6685 6807

Low-cost or free food

Food Box Thursdays 9.30–11.30am at Uniting Church, Mullumbimby. You may purchase cheap food, obtain free veges, and enjoy a cuppa. Free Food Relief Bags for anyone doing it tough, every Wednesday 10–12noon at The Hub Ocean Shores, cnr Rajah Rd and Bindaree Way. No ID or Concession Card required. NILs referral service also available. Check Facebook page The Hub Baptist Ocean Shores for details.

Liberation Larder Takeaway lunches and groceries Monday and Thursday 12 till 1pm. Fletcher Street end of the Byron Community Centre.

Respite Service

Byron Shire Respite Service Inc delivers high-quality respite care to a broad range of clients throughout the Byron, Ballina and Lismore shires. Donations welcome: Ph 6685 1921, email fundraiser@byronrespite.com.au, website: www.byronrespite.com.au.

Alateen meeting

Alateen meeting every Thursday at 5–6pm. Do you have a parent, close friend or relative with a drinking problem? Alateen can help. For 8–16-yearolds meet St Cuthbert’s Anglican Church Hall, 13 Powell Street, corner of

Florence Street Tweed Heads. Al-Anon family groups for older members at the same time and place. 1300 ALANON 1300 252 666 www.al-anon.org.au

ACA

Adult Children of Alcoholic Parents and/or Dysfunctional Families (ACA) help & recovery group meets in Lismore every Friday 10–11.30am, Red Dove Centre, 80 Keen Street. Byron meetings are on Tuesdays at 7pm via Zoom – meeting ID 554 974 582 password byronbay.

Drug support groups

Call Alcoholics Anonymous 1800 423 431 or 0401 945 671 – 30 meetings a week in the Shire – www.aa.org.au. Are you experiencing difficulties and challenges because of the alcohol or drug use of someone close to you? Learn coping skills and gain support from others. Narcotics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. For information and meetings call 1300 652 820 or text your postcode to 0488 811 247. www.na.org. au. Are you concerned about somebody else’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups meetings held Fridays at 2pm by Zoom. 1300 252666 www.al-anon. org.au.

Support after suicide

StandBy provides support to people who have lost someone to suicide. They provide free face-to-face and telephone support and are accessible 24/7. Follow-up contact is available for up to one year. Find out more at: www.standbysupport.com.au or call 13 11 14. If you, or someone you are with, are in need of immediate support please call an ambulance or police on 000.

End-of-Life Choices

Voluntary Euthanasia End-of-Life

Choices are discussed at Exit International meetings held quarterly. Meetings are held at Robina and Tweed Heads South, this month. Attendees must be Exit Members. For further Information www.exitinternational.net or phone Catherine 0435 228 443.

Carers’ support

Mullumbimby Mental Health Carers’ Support Group for family members and friends who have a loved one with a mental health issue. Meeting on 4th Thursday of each month 9.30am at the Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre.

Info: Susanne 0428 716 431.

Rainbow Dragons

Rainbow Dragons Abreast (RDA) welcomes breast cancer survivors for a paddle at Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head (and sometimes at Ballina) on Sundays 7.30am for 8am start. Contact Marian 6688 4058, mazzerati2010@gmail.com.

$5 pilates classes

Pilates for the price of a coffee! Come and join us for $5 Pilates classes every Thursday at 8.45am in the Memorial Hall, 22 Fingal Street, Brunswick Heads and Monday at 8.45am in Mullumbimby. It doesn’t matter what level you are, as beginner to advanced options are shown. Just bring a mat and water. My goal is to keep the Shire active and feeling great one person at a time. No need to book just show up. For more information contact Di on 0427 026 935.

Language exchange

Byron language exchange club runs every 2nd last Friday of the month from 6pm (alternating Ballina/Byron). Practise other languages or help

someone with your English! Find us on Facebook. Contact byronbaylanguages@gmail.com.

Brunswick Valley Historical Society Inc

The Museum is on the corner of Myocum and Stuart Sts Mullumbimby, open Tuesdays and Fridays 10am–12pm and market Saturdays 9am–1pm. Discover your local history, join our team – 6684 4367.

Library fun

Baby Bounce and Storytime for toddlers and pre-school children are at: Brunswick Heads Library, Monday – Story Time 10.30 till 11.30am; Friday – Baby Time 10.30 till 11am. Mullumbimby Library, Monday – Story Time 10–11am; Tuesday – Baby Time 10–10.30 am.

Social sporting groups

Mullumbimby: Tuesday Ladies Group of Riverside Tennis Club welcomes new players 9.30am every Tuesday next to Heritage Park, for social tennis, fun and friendship. Info: Barbara 6684 8058. South Golden Shores Community Centre Women’s table tennis every Monday at 10am. Phone 0435 780 017. Byron Bay Croquet at Croquet Club next to the Scout Hall at the Byron Rec Grounds every Monday at 3.30pm. Ring 0477 972 535. Pottsville Fun Croquet Club at Black Rocks Sportfield. Beginners and visitors welcome. Game starts 8.30am Tuesday and Thursday. $5 per game. Enquiries 0413 335 941.

Exercise for older adults

Chair Based Older Adults Exercise Classes run by a qualified instructor, that feel more like fun than exercise, are held every Thursday at 10.15am in the Brunswick Memorial Hall. Cost $10. All welcome. Just show up or if you have any questions please contact Di on 0427 026 935.

Toastmasters

Byron Cavanbah Toastmasters meetings coaching in communication and self-development run on 1st and 3rd Mondays, 6.15 for 6.30pm at Byron Bay Services Club, Byron Bay. Online attendance allowed. Mullum Magic Toastmasters: Mullum Magic provides a safe and fun environment for members and guests to develop their public-speaking and leadership skills. Meeting 6.30–8.30pm every second and fourth Thursday of the month at the Mullum Ex-Services Club. New members and guests welcome. Contact Bruce 0418 515 991 or Ninian 0411 629 982.

Meditation

Dzogchen meditation and study group 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month at Mullumbimby CWA Hall. Didi 0408 008 769. Buddhist meditation and conversation with John Allan, Mondays 6.30–8.30pm, The Yurt, Temple Byron. No fees. John 0428 991 189. Byron yoga philosophy club free meditation classes Monday, 7pm, 1 Korau Place Suffolk Park. Go to www. wisdom.yoga or phone Kris 0435 300 743. Byron Bay Meditation Centre, Tuesday 6.30pm at Temple Byron. For more info: byronbaymeditationcentre. com.au or contact Greg: 0431 747 764.

Brunswick Heads CWA

Brunswick Heads CWA Crafty Women meet Fridays 10am–2pm, cnr Park and Booyun Streets, Brunswick Heads. Join us for a chat and cuppa, bring along your craft projects including sewing, knitting, crocheting, or quilting. Beginners welcome. Gold coin donation for morning tea.

Lions Club

Interested in making new friends and helping our community? Lions Club of Brunswick Mullumbimby meets 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at 7pm Ocean Shores Country Club. Info: Joan Towers 0400 484 419.

Byron Gem Club

The Bryon Gem and Lapidary Club is open weekly to members new and old. Visitors welcome to view club facilities. Activities semi-precious

and gemstone cutting, shaping and polishing, gem faceting, silver work, gem setting and jewellery making etc. Facebook @ Byron Gem Club. Club workshed located past Sky Dive Byron at Tyagarah Airfield. Contact 6687 1251 or 0427 529 967 for more info.

Craft group

The Uniting Craft & Social Group meets every Monday 9.30am–2.30pm at the Uniting Church in Carlyle Street, Byron Bay. Bring lunch and whatever else you need. Small cost. All welcome. Do you prefer patchwork and quilting? Come along on Monday evening same place at 6pm. Enquiries Tilly 6685 5985.

Op shops

Uniting Church Op Shop, Dalley St, Mullumbimby – open each Saturday 9am–12 noon. Byron Bay Anglican Op Shop opens Tuesday to Saturday 9am–1pm. Volunteers needed. Enq Cathy 0432 606 849. Mullumbimby Anglican Op Shop opens Monday to Friday 9am–4pm, Saturday 9am–12noon. Volunteers needed, enq to shop 6684 4718. Mullumbimby Seventh-Day Adventist Op Shop opens Tuesday to Friday 11am-3pm. Companion Animals Welfare Inc (CAWI) op shop Brunswick Heads (next to supermarket) open Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 9am–1pm, Sun closed.

Mullumbimby Potters & Sculptors

Mullumbimby Clayworkers Gallery in the Drill Hall complex is open every Thursday to Saturday 10am–2pm with pottery and sculpture from community members for sale. Applications for studio membership open in January. www.mullumclayworkers.com.

Toy Library

The Byron Shire Toy Library is open Mondays and Thursdays 9am–12 noon, at the Children’s Centre, Coogera Cct, Suffolk Park. Come and see the large range of preschoolers toys available for loan.

Up your skills

Come to Upskill in Mullumbimby, a free introductory building and carpentry workshop. Workshops are held every Saturday, 9am to 1pm at Shedding Community Workshop. Bookings Essential via shedding.com. au. Contact Sophie Wilksch via email at shedding.communityworkshop@ gmail.com.

Muslim prayer

Friday Muslim prayer. Jumu’ah service held weekly at the Cavanbah Centre at 1.30 pm. Come to the remembrance of Allah.

Free ESL

Free English as a Second Language classes suitable for beginners to advanced learners. Kingscliff 6674 7267.

Landcare

Bangalow Land and Rivercare working bee every Saturday 8.30–10.30am. Email: bangalowlandcare@gmail.com. Noelene 0431200638.

Soap Aid saving lives

Soap Aid is a not-for-profit organisation recycling and sending critical soap to communities facing major hygiene challenges. Please drop in your partly used household or holiday rental soap for recycling to Kim at Raine & Horne Byron Bay 39 Fletcher Street 0499 839 566. Small and large quantities welcome. https:// soapaid.org.

Sex & Love Addicts Anon

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous is peer-support group of men and women for whom sex and/or romance have become a problem. For details of weekly meetings, phone 0452 074 974 or visit www.slaa.org.au.

Volunteers sought

Volunteers sought for Northern Rivers Volunteering, representing more than 100 community organisations. Info: 6621 7397.

Bridge club

Brunswick Valley Bridge Club meets every Monday, seated at 12.15 to commence play at 12.30. Visitors welcome. See bridgewebs.com/ brunswickvalley/home.html or for partner ring Lesley 0468 807 306. Facebook Brunswick Valley Bridge Club.

Bosom Buddies

Ballina Bosom Buddies Support Group meets the third Thursday each month 10am–12pm at the Ballina Kentwell Community Centre. Contact Karen 0439 438 576 for further information.

Play and sing playgroup

Meet at The Hub Baptist Church Ocean Shores (next to Target) 69.30 am-11.30am Fridays druing school term. For families with children 0-5 years. More info facebook or ph.Katie 0438 531 011.

Prostate Cancer Support

We invite men who have had or are newly diagnosed to join this active prostate cancer support group at these meetings held on the third Monday of

On The Horizon

DEADLINE NOON FRIDAY

Email copy marked ‘On The Horizon’ to editor@echo.net.au.

Sing in support of Feros residents

Be part of Raised Voices, a Community of Voices that are coming together to sing in support of Elders at Feros Village in Byron Bay who have been evicted by the Feros board. They wish to remain in their homeland their community until the end of their lives. Join us to sing this Thursday at Butler Reserve, behind the Farmers Market at 11.15am and every Thursday after that until we know our elders are safe in their home. Everyone welcome, for information call and enquiries Matijo 0435 049 489.

BV Probus Club

The Brunswick Valley Probus Club meeting is on Tuesday 4 April at 10am at the Ocean Shores Country Club. Guest Speaker is John Tranter a Retired Scientist returning by popular demand. Visitors welcome. After the meeting is our Changeover Lunch in the clubs dining room for those that have booked. Inquires ring Margaret 6680 3316.

each month at 10am at Ballina Cherry Street Bowling Club – partners or carers are most welcome to attend –This is a great opportunity to share, learn and benefit from other people’s experiences. Meetings also held on Wednesday nights in Lismore. Enquiries phone Bob: 6628 1527

Hearing Voices Group

Hearing Voices Peer Support Group in Mullumbimby. Anyone with present or past experience of voice hearing (or visions) is welcome. Offer your experience, gain support, knowledge and explore meaning in a safe accepting space. Every first Friday of the month. Info call 6687 1111.

Overeaters Anonymous

Is food a problem for you? Do you eat when you are not hungry? Do you binge, purge or restrict? Is your weight affecting your life? Brunswick Heads Uniting Church Fridays 5–6pm cnr Fingal/Byron St. www.oaqld.org

Australian Shareholders Association

ASA meets every third Tuesday at 10am at Ballina Surf Life Saving Club. To learn about shares and investing. For networking. Guest presenters discussing news and current trends in the market. Any questions 6686 4144 or www.australianshareholders. com.au.

Bruns Progress

Residents, come and have your say at the Brunswick Heads Progress Association. We meet on the first Monday of every second month at the Brunswick Heads Community Centre at 6pm. Find us on Facebook.

Amitayus Home Hospice

Our trained volunteer carers at Amitayus Home Hospice Service provide practical, compassionate, and quality palliative care to those who wish to die at home. To find out more about this free service, or to train as a volunteer carer, please contact us: M 0468 483 857, info@amitayus.org.au, www.amitayus.org.au.

Play chess

Tireless chess promoter Peter Hanna, who has already started a successful group of players at the Byron Bay Services Club (Saturdays 2.30pm and Mondays 5pm), is now trying his hand in Ballina. The first meeting is due at 5pm on Wednesday 7 December at the Ballina RSL Club. All chess players, beginners or experts, are welcome.

Please note: This section is intended for the benefit of non-profit community groups.

Bangalow Museum

The Bangalow Museum is open Thursday to Saturday 10–2pm. Volunteers are needed so if you have a few spare hours either weekly, monthly or for special events call in at 4 Ashton Street, Bangalow or contact Trisha 0429 882 525.

Byron

Mitre 10

A grateful bunch of Byron Mitre 10 supporters are planning to have a few drinks with James, Lisa and their wonderful staff to thank them for 21 years of supplying nuts and bolts and outstanding service to the people and district of Byron Bay. We are meeting in the old Mitre 10 Store on Friday, 31 March. Bring something to eat drink and share, to simply say, thanks for all that you have done for the community over the years! RSVP Christopher Wright on 0427 758 515.

Jehovah’s witnesses

A free 30-minute presentation at 1.30pm or 4pm on Saturday, 1 April at 9 Tandys Lane, Brunswick Heads

will offer reasons for powerful hope despite the widespread economic strain and uncertainty. The special Bible-based talk will be held in the local Brunswick Heads congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses as part of a global program on April 1. Admission is free and no registration is required. Video conferencing options are also available.

CWA Bruns

CWA of Brunswick Heads Crafty Women meet Fridays 10–2pm, corner of Park and Booyun Street, Brunswick Heads. Join us for a chat, a cuppa and bring along your craft projects including sewing, knitting, crocheting, memory books or quilting.

Byron Bay library Scrabble Club

If you are a word enthusiast come along and join our community led Scrabble Club which meets every Thursday at 2pm at Byron Library. Open to players of all levels, make new friends, play a few games, and join the fun! For more information 6685 8540.

Please note: This section is intended for the benefit of non-profit community groups.

Roller derby rocks the Cavanbah Centre

Last Saturday saw grand final cricket action across all grades on the Far North Coast with Tintenbar-East Ballina (TEB) winning third grade, but losing the second grade match after rain stopped play.

TEB were sent in to bat by Byron Bay and they took advantage reaching 5/245.

Opener Nathan Clement made 103 not out, supported by Reuben Saric’s 38, and skipper Ben Crawford’s 33, Byron’s best bowlers were Brendan Mitchell, 1/32 and Laura Box 1/47.

Six highly competitve teams muscled up at the Northern Rivers Revolt where participants noted the organisers and officials were ‘friendly and professional’. Photo Richard Tompsett.

The local roller derby season got underway for the year with local teams hosting the Northern Rivers Revolt earlier this month at the Cavanbah Centre in Byron Bay.

Competing teams included: the Red Kennedys–Brisbane City Rollers, Velociraptors–Sydney Roller Derby League, Banshees–South Sea Roller Derby, Van Diemen Rollers, Sirens–Northern Beaches Roller

Derby League and the River Valley Rollers (a combined team made up of Tweed Valley Rollers and Northern Rivers Roller Derby).

‘Despite an unseasonably warm weekend the teams all enjoyed fun but competitive games,’ tournament organiser, Lisa ‘BustHer’ O’Leary said.

The Red Kennedys ultimately won the tournament and were very proud to take the lighthouse trophy for the

second time.

But the River Valley Rollers provided very strong opposition.

‘Both teams won each of their two lead up games and faced off in the final,’ Lisa said.

‘It was a real nailbiter, a 100-all tie, a real rarity in roller derby’.

Because there was no clear winner, the trophy recipient was determined on points differential.

Byron lost early wickets as TEB took all their chances. Byron’s Doug Jarvis led the way with 34 and a counter attacking Oscar Jarvis, was next best with 29. Byron were bowled out for 133 and TEB claimed minor and major premierships for 2022/23.

Seconds

In second grade Cudgen Hornets choose to bat and put on a steady 7/191 on the back of Callum Prichard’s 61 and Harrison Hall’s 49.

TEB’s David Dirou returned 3/36 off eight overs.

In reply TEB were at 5/114 with 13 overs to play. Kai Dalli was on 41 no (43 balls) and David Dirou 11 no (11 balls) as heavy rain stopped play.

Umpires determined via the Duckworth Lewis System that TEB were behind by 11 and had lost the game.

Firsts

Goonellabah Workers (GWS) also secured the LJ Hooker minor and major premierships for the season after they beat Cudgen in their final.

Local skateboarders ready for Ballina contest and NCAS tryouts

The Fair Go skate competition will take place at the Ballina Skate Park from this Friday March 31 and will include a sign-on day for the Northern Rivers Skateboard Club, as well as tryouts for a new North Coast Academy of Sport skate program.

‘We encourage anybody to sign up no matter their level of ability,’ Northern Rivers Skateboard Club organiser Hayden Brain said.

‘Over the year we will be having four to six club rounds with coaching, to help everybody get a fair skate.’

The competition is

being sponsored by the state government and local businesses.

The Friday timetable sees the youngsters, aged nine to 11, work though park heats and bowl jams, with the finals taking place early on Saturday morning.

For the rest of the day the open and master skaters get to work their magic through heats and finals.

The day finishes with an open bowl jam before presentations at 6pm.

NCAS skate

There’ll be plenty of aerial action at the Ballina Skate Park this weekend for the Fair Go competition. Photo supplied

The contest will also provide the chance for skaters to try out for the North Coast Academy of Sport’s newest program – Skate.

Supported by Australian

Skate Federation, the program will bring together coaches and athletes from across the north coast region, with the aim of identifying, monitoring, and developing the skills of young skate athletes from the ages of eight to 14.

The six-month program, running from April to September 2023 will expose athletes to expert coaching services and sport-specific education in areas such as strength and conditioning, nutrition, sport psychology, sport media and communications.

Trialling skaters are asked

GWS won the toss and batted first and by the last innings of a low scoring twoday match, had set Cudgen a target of 140 to win.

Cudgen fell for 97 and handed the silverware to GWS.

Cudgen’s James Julius collected ten wickets for the match (7/32 and 3/54) and Anthony Kershler nabbed 5/47 in the second innings.

GWS batter Kale Hare adapted best to the conditions, top scoring in both his innings with 38 and 60.

to bring ‘passion, drive and killer tricks’.

Byron skate park

The new Byron Bay skatepark situated behind the library is scheduled to be finished by the end of April.

Nathan Clements scored 103 as TEB claimed the thirdgrade premiership at Kingsford Smith Oval. Photo supplied

Backlash

Liberal Party strategists may well be in panic mode now, after another election wipeout on Saturday. Labor now controls all state and federal politics on mainland Australia – Tassie has the last remaining Liberal government. Will it also go the way of the Tassie Tiger?

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is projecting an energy shortage when gas demand outstrips supply by 2027. This country is the biggest exporter of gas on the planet, so calling it ‘market failure’ doesn’t really cut it. How about: ‘We have treasonous governments who are denying its citizens affordable gas, because they instead sell it to their global cartel mates who pay little to no tax’.

Child homelessness up 12 per cent, and the number of Australian billionaires is also up. It’s the little coincidences…

FYI: Independent federal Senator for the ACT, David Pocock tweeted on March 23: ‘Labor, Liberals and Nationals voted against making ministers’ diaries publicly available, as is done in other countries and in states here in Australia’.

Australia’s leading Academy® qualifying and BAFTA recognised short film festival, Flickerfest, will screen its ‘best of’ international and Australian shorts, followed by a Q&A with filmmakers, on Sunday April 2 from 4pm at Murwillumbah’s Regent Theatre. See www.flickerfest. com.au/tour/murwillumbah for more info.

Mindfulness Meditation teacher, Bodhi Shuddhaanandaa, is returning

to Byron in March–April. To learn more visit, www. babalokenath.org.

The SMH (Nine) is reporting that tacks and nails have been found on the new 24 kilometre rail trail between Murwillumbah and Crabbes Creek in Tweed Shire. Reporter Catherine Naylor writes it was an ‘act of sabotage that has left riders stranded and the local community fuming’.

The BayFM subscriber drive is underway – and as always, there’s great prizes on offer to help the radio station continue to do its great work – visit www.bayfm.org/ subscriber to get involved.

The job to repair the flooddamaged Council chambers in Mullum is now up for tender, over a year after the event. Work is expected to start in May/June, and will hopefully finish in August,

say Council staff. This long timeframe for repairs does not benefit the public, given

Ride

the public’s ability to attend meetings has been limited.

E-Bike Hire and Return Shuttles and Transfers

Enjoy a ride along the 24km trail through picturesque hinterland, native forest and villages between Crabbes Creek and Murwillumbah

Ride one way or return for the same price. Bikes & Transfers

Contact: info@betterbybike.com.au u www.betterbybike.com.au u Ph: 0408 444 858

Let’s

$149

You are invited to attend a focus group on coastal erosion, urban planning & resilience.

If you would like to take part in this research and want further information, please contact the lead researcher at mark.ellis2@student.bond.edu.au or text yes to 0451 249 817.

from Bond University Human Research Ethics Committee.

Bangalow Theatre Company has brought tribal love-rock musical Hair to Byron audiences. Set in ‘The Age of Aquarius’ in New York City, Hair explores the counterculture movement of the hippie era of the late 1960s. The production runs till April 1, and tickets are available at www.byroncentre.com.au. Photo Jeff ‘Losing Hair Follicles Since 1986’ Dawson